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mchen01
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 12 Jan 2009 05:06 pm |
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Hi Midge! It's been a while since I've had a chance to read your diary, and it looks like a lot has happened to you. I'm glad that you had such a great holiday. I totally identify with not having a type for a guy, having married someone 4 inches shorter than me. 
I admire your fortitude in watching your calories. Adjusting to a life with a boyfriend caught me by surprise and I gained 40 lbs my first year with him. Some exercise, while really fun, just doesn't burn enough calories. 
BTW, congrats on being in the size 14s - that's awesome! (Sorry I'm so behind on posting.)
Michelle
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mollymoo24
Distinguished Member
| Joined: | 30 Dec 2007 |
| Location: | Chicago, USA |
| Posts: | 9953 |
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Posted: 12 Jan 2009 08:48 pm |
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| Midge, going through the self sabotaging thing myself. It's amazing to me to read what you are writing right now. Deep breaths and take it slow....
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mj36
New Member
| Joined: | 25 Dec 2008 |
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| Posts: | 1063 |
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Posted: 12 Jan 2009 10:01 pm |
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Midge, I was thinking about the happiness factor too. When I am alone and feeling lonely (like lately) then I start to focus on changing me to make me "better"... but when I am with someone and reasonably happy, I tend to be lulled into a false sense of satisfaction- in other words, I start to convince myself that I am OK as I am (even though I know I want more for myself)...
Something to think about while you try to figure out your next turn on this path~
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 13 Jan 2009 11:44 am |
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Thanks for the comments guys.
I?óÔé¼Ôäóve been thinking a lot about what is going on with me right now. I still don?óÔé¼Ôäót have it all figured out, but here are some of the things I have been musing about.
1. I am simply tired. Months of not eating enough, not exercising enough and mentally beating myself up have taken a toll and I am physically exhausted.
2. Food for me is love. I have someone in my life now. Feeding him is one of the things I have been looking forward to for years. Dangerous territory.
3. The oldest demon I have has been awakened. Pretty little girls need to protect themselves, so how do they do it? By cloaking themselves in a big layer of fat so that no one would even think about hurting them.
4. My life is ruled by the scale. My self worth can be boiled down to a number.
5. I only think of the now, of the gratification of right now instead of the future.
6. This journey of mine has turned into my whole life
So let?óÔé¼Ôäós see if we can address these.
1. I have been eating to get smaller, not eating to get healthier. Not really anyway. So what am I going to do? Yes, veggies and lean protein. Healthy grains and the occasional fruit. But I need to do more. Signing up for the water aerobics class is a good start. Maybe rejoin a gym? I could get MM a membership for Vday with me, maybe?óÔé¼?ªThere are possibilities. I need to sleep more?óÔé¼?ª and not dip below 1200 cals a day. Oh, and stop it with the sugar ?óÔé¼ÔÇ£ I am diabetic after all.
A more detailed plan will follow later?óÔé¼?ª
2. Yes, I can cook healthy stuff. Already do. To be honest I?óÔé¼Ôäóm not sure I want to do anything about this. Be conscious of WHAT I am making, yes. Not comfort food but food that will nourish the ones I love, but taking this away from myself is too sad to contemplate. So, we will just press on and see how it goes.
3. Ah. The tough one. I need to keep telling myself that I am stronger now then I have ever been. You have to accept the possibility of hurt and disappointment if you are ever going to achieve anything great for your life. You have to be open to let it in. But unlike the me of years past I am strong. I have the ability to turn all hurts into lessons instead of scars. That ability took me DECADES but I have it. So I will be OK ?óÔé¼ÔÇ£ no need to hide inside a fat girl.
4. Tonight. After work. Scale at home gets tossed ?óÔé¼ÔÇ£ hard ?óÔé¼ÔÇ£ into the dumpster. Really. For the next few weeks I will weigh myself once a week at work to make sure what I am doing has me on the right track, then down to weighing once a month. It?óÔé¼Ôäós appeareance and general feeling of well being I?óÔé¼Ôäóm looking for. I do need to weigh occasionally just to make sure I am not doing something stupid and not realizing it, but once a month should do it.
5. I want it, I want it now. That?óÔé¼Ôäós been my thinking about food lately. But the best thing I can do for myself is give myself a healthy and long life. I want a long life, a life with someone. I need to be healthy for me, and it's a gift for the people I love, too.
6. My weight is the only thing I think of. Everything else is thought of within the context of my weight. I have other interests, I swear. I need to explore them. The class, again, is a good example, I always loved being in the pool. Maybe cooking classes, too. I worked in 2008 to give myself good health, now in 2009 I want to give myself a good life.
Ok. So that?óÔé¼Ôäós it for now. Thank goodness, eh? Thanks for reading. I?óÔé¼Ôäóm sure I?óÔé¼Ôäóll have more details later.
Last edited on 13 Jan 2009 11:45 am by MidgeH
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cportwine
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 13 Jan 2009 03:53 pm |
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Ok, I have a comment on number 5. I think you need to be more of a procrastinator when it comes to food. I mean really if you are going to live a long healthy life then why do you need it right now. Just tell yourself you don't need it now. Maybe you will have it tomorrow. I use to do that. Then by time tomorrow came I had forgot all about it or I was off on to something else. I would also tell myself. I got the rest of my life to eat that, I don't need it today. You know what I am getting at.
That's all I suggest for now.... Keep writing.... and we all will keep coming up with ideas...
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mj36
New Member
| Joined: | 25 Dec 2008 |
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| Posts: | 1063 |
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Posted: 13 Jan 2009 07:05 pm |
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| I am completely with you on the sugar thing, as a fellow diabetic. I find it so ironic that I always order diet soda, and use artificial sweeteners in my coffee, conscientiously paying attention to this aspect, but then I cram regular ice cream or a candy bar down my throat! I'm going to work on this one too, so we are in it together. I also love the idea of a good life to go with your good health. Great list! Very focused! I am sure you can do it.
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mollymoo24
Distinguished Member
| Joined: | 30 Dec 2007 |
| Location: | Chicago, USA |
| Posts: | 9953 |
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Posted: 14 Jan 2009 01:02 am |
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MidgeH wrote: I worked in 2008 to give myself good health, now in 2009 I want to give myself a good life.
 You are learning to love yourself in stages. Taking the steps you did last year is a great foundation. You have so much good living ahead of you. 
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 14 Jan 2009 11:43 pm |
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I'm here, I'm posting, but right now I just don't care. I AM SO TIRED.
Lord, i need to pull it together. Not a bad day, not a good day, just a day. Tomorrow is another day...
Only news is that I have decided to read Eat to Live. So, Nir, if you are listening to this on your reviewing software, I am reading it!
Maybe it will inspire me...
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cportwine
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 15 Jan 2009 12:04 am |
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LOL, I am sure Nir will be proud!
I hear ya, god it's been hard lately. And you know what I don't care either. That sucks... I am up in weight, and I don't care. Normally, I would be freaking out. But, with everything thats going on...don't care... 
It's all so stupid.... ugh!!!!!!
Don't feel alone.... cause I am there... 
Stupid husband
stupid cholesterol
stupid smoking thing......
ugh....
Sorry, shouldn't vent in your diary......
Hope things get better for you...
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mj36
New Member
| Joined: | 25 Dec 2008 |
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| Posts: | 1063 |
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Posted: 15 Jan 2009 12:17 am |
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| Midge, I hope you find the inspiration you are needing. We all get into a slump at one point or another, but you will work through it and get back into your "A" game that got you this far!
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 15 Jan 2009 11:03 am |
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Do hope you get something out of Eat To Live. I'd be re-reading it myself for re-inforcement if it wasn't for the fact that Eat For Health (the 2008 revised edition of the book) is on my reading list (which it is, because I'm currently reading a different book - it is about OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). Not to do with eating - well not directly, anyway)
(And no, I didn't find this out by listening to your post. I'm slowly reclaiming back my life and part of that involves not reading every last bit of CPH. Call me vain though, I do search for my name )
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 15 Jan 2009 12:47 pm |
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So, that means, if someone was inclined to make your day as annoying as possible all you have to do is start each post with "Nir!"?
hmmm, interesting. Not that anyone here would do that...
I think I'll get a something out of ETL, maybe I should go hang out in those threads...
Anyway, It's 10:42 am and I haven't eaten anything stupid yet. Yea me! Too much sugar yesterday, terrible cravings. Today I have a baby shower at work this afternoon, so we'll see if I can resist, and tonight MM is coming over. The plan is to see a lot of each other the next few days, but eating will be involved (Chinese for the Battlestar Premiere tomorrow and out on Saturday). Tonight though I have a healthy meal planned of chicken baked with yogurt and a little panko and a big serving of roasted mixed veggies. I'm taking my healthy dinner staple and just zinging it up a little for company. We'll see how it goes.
Ok, 10:47 am and nothing stupid! i can do it !
Last edited on 15 Jan 2009 12:48 pm by MidgeH
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Fitb450
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 15 Jan 2009 01:51 pm |
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| Hey midge I have been doing ETL and find it verry rewarding. Not that I have lost alot of wieght yet but I FEEL good about what I eat and know it will kick in. Right now I am eating more like fit for life which is protien ( in form of mea, poultry and cheeses) friendly, just properly combined. I found the beans were leaaving me a little lacking whilw I am still nursing a baby. I hope you enjoy what you read. It is enspiring! OH one of the woman hear is aithful w/ ETL and she is shrinkinG rapidly! GO FOR IT!
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 15 Jan 2009 02:58 pm |
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Post lunch I am at 695 cals. I am on track for 995 cals which means (since I don't want to starve myself again ) I have some clas left. Cake at the baby shower or hold on to them for this evening? I'm leaning towards cake. Since these cals will be spent in a less then healthful way I figure it's better to have them early. Plus dinner will be kinda late.
So far, so good. Tomorrow and Sat are going to be much bigger challenges... i'm glad I threw out my scale...
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mj36
New Member
| Joined: | 25 Dec 2008 |
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| Posts: | 1063 |
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Posted: 16 Jan 2009 12:18 am |
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| Sounds like you are in planning mode, so that's definitely a good thing! Hope you have a great weekend and that your resolve remains strong~ I have to go to a "game night" at my friend's house tomorrow, and everyone will bring snacks to eat while we play board games (parents and teenagers). I am going to have to make a plan before I go there for sure!
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 16 Jan 2009 11:57 am |
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Yesterday turned out fine cals wise.
(note: fat free yogurt mixed with ranch dressing mix, then put on a chicken breast with a sprinkling of panko then baked - pretty good and only adds about 40 cals to the chicken.)
today is chinese. Expecting everything to be fine. Oh, I'm eating chinese, but I'm not freaking out about it. Then dinner out tomorrow... God I need to be more organized. Luckily I have told MM that after tomorrow I don't want to eat out again until Valentine's. I doubt that will happen, but it means I'll be eating out less which is good.
Haven't gotten started on the ETL yet. I REALLY want to get to it though...
Maybe I'll have a superstrict veggies and fish diet next week. My form of a cleanse. and having a superstrict diet, forcing it on myself, might jolt me back to my usual control.
I'll have to think it through...
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Scoobees
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 16 Jan 2009 12:42 pm |
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Hey Midge, I wanted to pop in and say hi, it's been ages.
It's been awhile, but ETL opened up my eyes quite a bit. In fact the short time I actually loosely followed it I lost the last bit of weight and made goal. I just got lazy. It was hard to find the time to eat that quantity of veggies for me - without proper planning that is. I'd actually like to re-read it sometime. My only problem was the week or two of withdrawals - ugh. I didn't realize how much junk I was actually eating lol.
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 16 Jan 2009 02:26 pm |
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Huh. Well I hjave managed o eat 1000 cals already. Not really sure how. Well, i know how but they weren't all #%@&! or anything. Just a lot of cals. some #%@&! cals.
What am I doing? It's mindless.
and weird thing - I feel hungry. I'm a bottomless pit! ]
Argh. Can't do this anymore. gotta get thin.
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OnceUpon-A-ThinGirl
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 16 Jan 2009 04:27 pm |
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Midge I figure it this way, I've been doing this for almost three years (counting calories and losing weight) and I'm not about to stop now. I may not be doing great, but this has been a lifestyle change for me, and even if I mess up sometimes I'm sticking to it for life!
We all seem to be in a rut since the holidays so keep up hope midge, we can fight this!
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mj36
New Member
| Joined: | 25 Dec 2008 |
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| Posts: | 1063 |
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Posted: 18 Jan 2009 11:39 pm |
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Hey, Midge, sorry to hear you are struggling. The eating out thing kills me, I always underestimate. For a long time, I never ate out, or if I did, I ate at places with calorie facts on the website!
I think Thin makes an excellent point. As formerly overweight people (yes, we will be able to say that one day!) we will always have to work to maintain a healthy lifestyle and make good choices, to be aware of our triggers and monitor our progress. In a lot of ways it is like being an alcoholic in that it never goes away, or perhaps more like being a former smoker- we have to be careful not to fall back into bad habits which will negatively impact our health. Get the veggies and fish, and get to it girl~
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 10:53 am |
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Thanks for your comments guys.
Well, been reading Eat to Live and I have a couple of thoughts.
- I'm not finding the book all that inspiring or revolutionary, but in it's defense it's been talked about here, on oprah, etc., so much that I would have had to have been in a cave not to have heard a lot of this. Plus I grew up with a couple of organic hippies. the superiority of fruits and veggies has always been drilled into me.
- What Dr. F proposes isn't that much different from how I lost the weight that I did lose. High veggie, low grains. Biggest differences are the amount of fruit he proposes and the lack of animal products (and the fact that he classifies fish and seafood as 'animal')
- Dr. F is definately not a quack and I buy into what he is saying, but this book is typical of nearly all "weight loss" or "health" books I have read. they don't really address the issues. IMO.
So what are the issues? (Maybe I should say my issues)
- It has nothing to do with appetite. To be honest I could have 2 grapes and a crust of bread everyday and run just fine. My stomach doesn't need a lot of food. However my head needs it all. And because it's a psychological thing, not a true appetite thing, all the green veggies in the world won't satiate it.
- If you eat nothing but veggies and fruit and the occasional seed you will be thin. Um, can I just say... DUH. Again, not the issue. Not for me. I love veggies, I love fruit. I love everything and that is my problem. When I say I love food I don't just mean eating, although that's a big part of it. It's the community food. It's food and love. It's food as art. Food as life. Food as chemistry. When I cook it's like a Zen exercise for me. I'm trying to take this love and turn into just a love of food in a healthy context, but the idea of not being able to create with abandon, to not be able to lavish love on people in this way is more depressing then I can express.
i am very willing to adopt some of Dr. F's suggestions though. So here is Midge's ETL plan for the next 6 weeks (Dr. F's suggested starting phase)
Start Weight 200 (yes, that's right. I don't want to talk about it)
Goal Weight - haven't a clue. Don't really care, but if given a choice and since Dr F seems to think you can lose tons I'm going to say 181. But whatever will be will be.
Breakfast - Fruit (today I had pineapple, blueberries, grapes, strawberries and canelope. I also had a non-fat Starbucks hot chocolate, but we'll write that off as necessary for the temp. It's cold!)
Lunch: BA Salad (BA stands for Big Ass). Lots of greens, lots of other no limit veggies. Plus beans & nuts. No animal products at lunch. Vinegar for dressing. Perhaps a few bacos. This is actually a typical meal for me with 2 differences. Size of salad for one - I'm going to go even bigger, and the no animal thing.
Dinner: Salad again, mix of no limit veggies and lettuce, vinegar. Probably about 1/2 the size of what I eat at lunch. Plus another veggie, but cooked. (2 if I am feel especially peckish) . Plus a lean protein. For the first 2 weeks I am committing to fish only. 3-4 oz.
This should come out to about 1100 cals a day by my calculation, but according to the book this should be Ok because the main souce of the cals are veggies which means that by measure i am eating a lot. today I will be at 1300 cals because of the starbucks, so that is Ok.
So I'll be reporting and revaluating on a weekly basis. So here we are, week 1, day 1. Let's see how the rest of the day goes.
Last edited on 19 Jan 2009 11:10 am by MidgeH
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mj36
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| Joined: | 25 Dec 2008 |
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| Posts: | 1063 |
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 11:43 am |
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Midge, I think for many of us it isn't about the foods, as you said, but about the mental and emotional aspects of eating. It makes me nuts that I cannot get that part worked out since I am a counselor and help others work out their issues daily... talk about a blind spot! Anyway, I know what I am supposed to eat, and I know what makes sense. BUT, when it comes down to it, I fall into the social trap of eating, the comfort aspects, or yes, just the taste of some amazing, terrible-for-you concoction. I guess the answer is to know those things about ourselves and find ways to get over those bumps in the road.
Your plan sounds really solid. I am going shopping this afternoon, and like you I am going to load up on fresh fruits and veggies. My bank account is going to groan but I need to do it to get myself in gear and on track and all those good things. I'll be cheering for you and for your new plan to be effective~
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 11:47 am |
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Just an update. I had that giant bowl of fruit this morning.... it's 9:45.... I AM STARVING.
I have said before that eating fruit just, for some strange reason, seems to make me more hungry, but I thought I was crazy. apparently not. I was hungry before during and after eating it, and now? Nawing hunger.
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mj36
New Member
| Joined: | 25 Dec 2008 |
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| Posts: | 1063 |
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 11:51 am |
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| I have the same issue, so I always eat it with some sort of protein or slow to absorb food. What about having a scoop of low-fat cottage cheese with it? Hope you can hang in there til you get the kinks out of your new plan! It probably just needs some adjustments.
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 12:20 pm |
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You are not allowed dairy with ETL. I should have a serving of veggies with the fruit.
Or just stop eating the #%@&! fruit. Ugh. Tomorrow I'm going to have to figure out something else. Working on it.
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cportwine
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 01:31 pm |
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| Hey Midge, I haven't got my book yet. But, wanted to ask, are you allowed any kind of meat on the etl... not sure I can go without any meat. Fish in particular...
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 01:51 pm |
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cindy, the first 6 weeks you are not supposed to have any animal or dairy products, and Dr. F classifies fish as an animal.
I am not following that. But I am taking my consumption of "classic" protein sources down to 1 a day and, at first at least, I am doing fish only.
We'll see how it goes.
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 02:24 pm |
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Post lunch - had huge salad of spinach (lots), iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, onion, mushrooms. With a little red wine vinegar and pepper. Oh and a little salt on the tomates but I watched it (sorry - i'm willing to watch salt, but not cut it out. I love food remember? Salt on certain things is about a chemical reaction, not just saltiness. Tomatoes are one of those foods. ) The sald weighed almost 2lbs. the only non veggie thing I added to it was 2 tbs of bacos, which according to the ETL book are allowed.
Just realized I will get no beans today because I was at the BFs last night and could not pack a lunch and am at his place again for dinner tonight. But that is good because this morning was bad (the hot chocolate and um... hershey kisses. Yeah, I know. That fruit just isn't gonna work)
But if I make it through the afternoon to dinner and have salad and fish as planned we are looking at about 1100 cals, about 50% from veggies/fruit.
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cportwine
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 02:28 pm |
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Yea, I am thinking that I will have to make adjustment to the diet as well. I can only do certain things. As far as I am concerned I am already on a strict diet and it don't look anything like his. lol
I've been watching some of his lectures on you tube and so far, I am thinking, I need to learn how to make soup, lol.
But, I do think I will get allot out of his book. I love to cook, so this will give me some ideas of new healthy meals and should give me allot more information on what foods are the healthiest. So, I am looking forward to that part of it.
More power to you Midge!.....go on now....and eat some mustard greens.... lol
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 02:43 pm |
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Yeah he is a big soup advocate, which is weird because of how anti-salt he is. You are not allowed to use salt in any of his recipes. It just makes me think even more that he is one of these lucky people who doesn't have much interest in eating anyway. Wish I was like that.
The other thing is that the soup recipes all need equipment. Maybe you could get away with just an immersion blender. I'm not sure. I think I'm going to try making his standard soup sometime this week or weekend. Just to see how it is, I want something easy for the evenings...
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desperategirl
New Member
| Joined: | 15 Sep 2008 |
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| Posts: | 286 |
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 03:55 pm |
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hey midge,
just wanted to drop into your diary as i always read it, but don't often post here. the first thing i want to say is how brilliantly you've done so far. i have nowhere near your self control. i have been grapling with some of the topics you brought up, about how emotional hunger is not the same as physical hunger. might be worth thinking about. i have been trying to understand why i want to eat when i'm not hungry. not sure if it stops me eating, but it helps to know why. also, and i don't want to offend anyone, i read ETL a few years ago, and thought it was a bit ridiculous. i mean, of course you're hungry. fruit is sugar and water! it didn't seem balanced. again, apologies to those who love it - it's always strange that what works for some doesn't for others!
anyways, good luck getting back on track, and seriously congrats for getting so far. you are an inspiration.
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 04:15 pm |
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Well, thanks DG! I needed the encouragement.
Yeah, the emotions behind our need to lose weight are rarely even mentioned. It's kinda like when "experts" talk about quitting smoking as breaking an addiction to nicotine. No, that's just a small part of it. You can give me a patch for that, but now what am I supposed to do with my hands and mouth when they are craving something? Or the anxiety I feel because of it? They never answer that part.
I think I'm going to addethe allowed 1oz of nuts to breakfast. It's supposed to be fruit only, but maybe the proteing will help me get through the morning. and I have a bunch of prepacked 1oz nut servings at home. Almonds mostly. That'll go good with fruit...
It's been 2 1/2 hours (almost) since I finished lunch. Still doing Ok...
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cportwine
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 04:24 pm |
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desperategirl, I am sure I will think allot of his ideas are ridiculous also. But, I think allot of what he has to offer will help with cholesterol issues.
Midge, the salt thing won't even come close to working for me. I need the salt for my thyroid. I doubt his diet can make my thyroid work again. So, I will stick with my salt.
I am getting impatient....I want my book... it better come tomorrow.
I love soups, so maybe allot of his soups would work for me. I have never even had carrot juice...sounds gross... lol
What about vitamins? I heard him say on one of his things that you won't need them if you eat his way. Well, how will I get my fish oil if I don't eat fish.....I suppose you could get your omegas from something else. Oh, I can't wait to get it, I have so many questions...
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 04:30 pm |
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Cindy, you can get a lot of the omega's from nuts. He talks a lot about the things we think we get from meats and fish and how you can get them through plant based foods.
Honestly, if you boil down what he Dr. F is talking about and take away all of the scientific mumbo-jumbo, all he is doing is talking about eating whole foods. That's it. And that's not shocking or too hard for anyone on this board.
It's like almost any diet - stick with it most of the time and you'll do great. Stick with it 100% of the time and you'll suck all the joy out of your life. Gotta find the balance.
I'm just glad something has gotten me worked up again so I'm looking forward to seeing how many veggies I can cram down in a day!
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desperategirl
New Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 04:45 pm |
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good luck with ETL - as i said, i didn't hope to offend anyone with my ideas about it, and indeed commend anyone who can stick to it.
also, midge, the thing about smoking or any other addiction is that you can go cold turkey. but you have to eat. maybe it would be easier if you just didn't have to eat at all? or is that just me?
anyway, so glad to hear ETL has put the fire in your belly once more...
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 04:53 pm |
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Don't worry DG - I'm far from a hardcore ETL-er. Plus it's my diary and here you get to say whatever you want!
And you're not so far off with the no eating thing. If only we could take a single pill in the morning and be fine all day. Science needs to catch up already! (plus - no more spaghetti sauce stains on my shirt! And the wall. And the, um , ceiling. I don't eat pasta much anymore so when I do I get excited, OK?  )
Last edited on 19 Jan 2009 04:55 pm by MidgeH
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cportwine
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 05:42 pm |
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| LOL, Midge you are just cracking me up today. First the cramming of veggies, now the spaghetti on the ceiling...
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 06:19 pm |
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Ok, getting ready to wind down here so that I can go back to the BFs.
I'm stopping at the grocery store and picking us up a salad and some fish (at a grocery where they will cook it for me with just a little lemon and pepper). He will be all "just come over then we'll figure something out..." you know how men are, but then I'll end up with pizza or something. Nope! not tonight!
Plus I know I'm going to find out he barely ate today. Rice cakes are not a meal!
Probably won't be on again so talk to everyone tomorrow!
Last edited on 19 Jan 2009 06:20 pm by MidgeH
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mj36
New Member
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Posted: 19 Jan 2009 10:49 pm |
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Hey, Midge, way to go on bringing the salad and fish with you to the bf's. I always plan because otherwise my blood sugar dips (meds for diabetes are time released and don't care if I eat or not). If I let myself get low glucose levels, I get out of control eating anything just to raise them.
As for the fruit, after reading your diary I did get tons of fruit today at the store- bananas, green and red grapes, strawberries, pineapple. However, I would never consider it a breakfast! I always eat protein at breakfast. For my diabetes, and for my own style of eating, this works well for me and helps me stay on track for the day. If I eat something low-protein for breakfast, I can find myself craving carbs all day! I do agree with the ideas of eating more whole foods, and staying away from the processed stuff. That is what my current goal is- "cleaner" food choices, if you will.
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MidgeH
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Posted: 20 Jan 2009 11:10 am |
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Ok, so I had my fruit again, this time I also had my 1oz of almonds. That is a 375 cal breakfast, so if I am hungry before lunch Dr F can just bite me as far as his breakfast plan goes. (I mean REALLY hungry. Because if it's just "oh, I could eat something" hunger that doesn't count. I can ALWAYS eat.)
MJ, I always eat protein for breakfast too, but since I am experimenting with the ETL plan that isn't an option. Not in the tradional sense. I could, I suppose, eat a bunch of broccoli in the morning for breatfast because it has a lot of protein. But I don't wanna.
If I am really honest, though, no breakfast fills me up. Never has. Not cereal, not eggs - well a huge stack of pancakes, sausage and eggs would do the trick! ha - I've always had the problem of being very hungry in the morning all the way through lunch. Anyone have any idea as to why?
Anyway today is my first really "clean" day. Yesterday I ate lots of veggies, but I also had hot chocolate (x a jillion) and kisses and I tried some of the BFs salad dressing... Not today. Raw veggie lunch w/edamame for the beans, then repeat for dinner but with an added little piece of baked fish.
We'll see how it goes, but I'll tell you today is the first day in a long time that I can see sparks of the old me - you know, the one who got excited by the prospect of whole foods and who didn't diviate from the path for over 7 months. Those feeling are coming back. Not strong yet, but I can feel them.
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cportwine
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Posted: 20 Jan 2009 11:56 am |
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Are you eating enough in the evenings? I am always starved in the mornings when I have a lite supper. But, I think that's the way it suppose to be. Anyway, I never use to eat breakfast, I had to train myself to do it. Who knows, maybe your burning allot when you sleep.
Yea, I wouldn't be much up for broccoli in the morning either, unless I could have eggs and cheese with it.  I am glad you are getting back some of your feelings.
Well, have a good day Midge....
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Fitb450
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Posted: 20 Jan 2009 11:58 am |
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Heh midge I just caught up with your diary! Way to go on the ETL! I have been doing it for a while and although not as faithful as my dear friend that I cook for I definately notice a difference in alot of areas!: 1- the fruit thing DOES get easier! It just takes your body a while to adjust to it, maybe a week? And I uasualy add a tbs of tahini which is only 90 cals extra. But to be honest, if you follow all the principles closely you do not need to count calories at all! The weight is just falling off my friend and she follows this religiously. But she has some fibroid tumors she is dealing with. In any case, as far as the being a creative cook go for it! I have alot of bean recipes I have come up with and real yuy ways to cook the greens and other veggies if you are interrested.
For myself I started loosing right away but had stoped exercising ( for stupid reason) and so I hit a platue. But then my baby is still nursing quite a bit so I was needing o add some protien as well. All and all started exwercising again,following main principles and seeing a decrese in the bod once more. But like you I realy LOE  my sweet coffee drinks and need to replace them with yerba mate or green tea.
Also the salt issue can be solved in 2 ways-1-braggs aminos abd 2- celtic sea salt. I know his salt speach but honestly the celtic sea salt is verygood for the body and is a whole mineral salt not just sodium chloride. It also makes every thing yummyier.
Sorry to write so much but I thought you would be interrested in a little info. Have a good day
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MidgeH
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Posted: 20 Jan 2009 02:26 pm |
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I probably don't eat enough at night and I wait too long after waking up to eat breakfast. Tomorrow I will try eating within 30 mins of getting up and see if that helps too. I made it to about 10:15 (from 8:15) today before I wanted to chew through my desk leg. Yesterday it was only 9:30 so improvement!
My salad today calculated out at 325 cals. It was HUGE. Spinach, iceberg, beets, mushrooms, onion, tomatoes, edamame, bacos and broccoli. (I hate raw broccoli though so I cut it into teeny tiny pieces. Just added crunch so it was pretty good.) this was 295 cals, then I put vinegar and s&p on it. Now the vinegar on the counter here says 0 cals, but that is not right I don't think. I'm counting it as 30 because I used quite a bit.
I am full. Yesterday the salad took me to 6pm OK. I started getting a little hungry about 4, but not badly. So we'll see today how I do.
Weird though - man, am i craving a sweet! I think I got myself into some bad habits with the sugar...
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cportwine
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Posted: 20 Jan 2009 02:56 pm |
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| I know, I think that every afternoon I should get a sweet treat...bad habit I got into and have never really been able to break it. I just try to make it a healthy treat and go from there.
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mj36
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Posted: 20 Jan 2009 08:45 pm |
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| Midge, that is a huge salad, and the cals are still so low! That is one of the only things I love about fruit and veggies haha. No, really, there are definitely some I like, but it is a struggle for me to eat them as the center of my diet. I do eat about 1/2 hour after getting up, and I go for about 4.5 hours til lunch. The protein carries me through. Maybe there is some merit to the idea that you are still hungry from the day before, and you could always try adding a little snack at bedtime. Not sure with your options! However, it is so good to hear that you are feeling a glimmer of your old motivation and dedication. I hope it comes back full force.
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MidgeH
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Posted: 21 Jan 2009 11:47 am |
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Last night I could not face eating another veggie. I had fish, then a small peanut butter and jelly sandwich (thanks for talking about it so much in the challenge thread, guys! I had to have one  ) + some extra peanut butter.
Lots of protein and a small amount of refined grain (the low cal bread). But still ended the day with healthy food and a good calorie count.
Today I had fruit (red and green grapes and a few cherries) and added a small baggy of baby carrots for that extra bit. The carrots are my starchy veggies for the day (per ETL).
So far so good, but we shall see...
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mj36
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Posted: 21 Jan 2009 12:35 pm |
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| Ohhh, PB and J... a definite fave. I just got this double fiber bread and made my son a great PB and J for lunch today, and kept thinking ohhh, I'll have the same. But, since I have to go to his game an hour away tonight, I always pack a sandwich to eat while I watch and need more protein than just PB, so I am going with the tuna fish and veggies tonight... I'll have to save the PB and J for Friday, after weigh-in. Something to look forward to, and it's not chocolate!!
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MidgeH
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Posted: 21 Jan 2009 12:53 pm |
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10:50 and starving. Made it a little later today, but my stomach is GROWLING and I have a headache. Woke up with one too.
Got a big salad to eat, but I don't want to. Ugh. Back later.
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MidgeH
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 21 Jan 2009 01:56 pm |
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I had a piece of pizza. It was medicinal.
Now I am slowly eating my salad. I don't think I will be eating it all, but enough so that it's still good for me.
One piece of pizza does not a ruined day make. It's fine.
ETL may not be for me though. Yes, I agree that it is the healthy way to eat, but - well, just, no. I think I will -
1. stick to the fruit + a veggie in the morning. I get almost to lunch with it + eating a veggie and staying away from eggs or anything that calls for margarine or butter is a good thing.
2. eat raw foods (a salad) every day for lunch. i will eat it first, then have something else of the nonveggie variety (still healthy though - not pizza ) if I want.
3. Eat a lean animal/fish protein and a minimum of 1 veggie (cooked) in the evening. #%@&!, this worked for me before.
So, a healthy plan, more forgiving, some changes. The breakfast thing I think might have a big impact.
I only have 1 day to really worry about this week, Friday evening dinner with my sister. It will be the meal I don't worry about. Other than that I shold be spending most of my time with the BF cooking for him. He knows it's fish and veggies week!
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mj36
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Posted: 21 Jan 2009 09:31 pm |
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| You are absolutely right- perspective is key. One piece of pizza is fine. As long as it doesn't lead to two, or more of something else. I will never follow a plan that prohibits the good things. I just need to learn to eat them in moderation. I am trying to make it through one more good day. Kind of like an alcoholic, just get through today!!
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