Greetings Friends~
First of all, let me welcome Sharon who joined our group yesterday. We are glad to have you with us on our journey.
When I think of dieting, and the foods that I should eat to be successful, I always think that the "correct" foods to eat are those that are flavorless and devoid of much nutritional value. I mean things like rice cakes. Hey, I know some of you think these are great, but to me, it is like eating little circles of Styrofoam packing peanuts.
I was talking with a person on Weight Watchers yesterday and she got a puzzled look on her face when I started talking about "diet" and "allowable" foods. She explained that on her diet she could eat any food she wanted, as long as she had the points available. This got me to thinking about the whole subject of food.
First of all, it really doesn't matter what I eat, as much as it does the quantities involved. Pizza is probably fine as long as I have one slice, blot the grease and add a garden or dinner salad to go with it. Also, I should look at the things that I am eating and figure out if there is a tastier alternative. For instance, why would I eat a 35 calorie rice cake when I can have 16 ounces of Sugar Free Strawberry Jell-o or 1/2 of a medium apple?
We really don't have to punish ourselves for being fat by eating bland, unappetizing foods. We've punished ourselves enough along the way with self guilt, depression and many other things. Let's start rewarding ourselves by making, and eating, food that is worth every calorie.
Another thing that I am discovering since I fled the Adkins coop is that there is a lot to be said for variety. Eating the same things day after day gets to be boring and unsatisfying for me. So add some spice to something that you usually wouldn't or choose a different fruit to have that day which you haven't had for awhile. Then take your time and savor the flavors. I find that a banana tastes better if I don't wolf it down on my way out the door.
Take some time, search for new food ideas and talk with your friends and family. You will be surprised with the ideas that other people have. I have found that if I ask people what they eat, I will usually get ideas because their "boring" foods are new to me, so those foods become my new "exciting" foods.
One good thing to do that really is not cost prohibitive is to build your own little salad bar that you can have in your refrigerator. Right now if I want to make a salad, I can grab the basic salad stuff (romaine, cucumber and tomatoes) out of the container and then I have other individual containers that hold things like (hide your eyes Mrs B) shredded beets, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, cheddar cheese crumbles, etc. for a really great flavorful and filling salad. Other ideas are roasted or raw peppers, diced eggs, turkey taco meat, shredded Costco rotisserie chicken, raw vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower and shredded or sliced carrots. The combinations are endless. The idea that you have all this stuff also helps you to keep from giving in to splurging. Hungry? Go make a large fiber filled salad and drink a tall cold glass of water with it. Wait 20 minutes and you will no longer be hungry. If you decide to go eat even after this, then you aren't eating because you are hungry. You would then be eating for a whole different reason that we can cover at a future date.
Experiment with healthy foods and food choices so that you too can discover that losing weight is now possible even when you eat GREAT tasting food.
Inspiration of the Day
I have often been afraid, but I would not give in to it. I made myself act as though I was not afraid and gradually my fear disappeared. -Theodore Roosevelt, 1858-1919, Twenty-sixth President of the USA
Recipe of the Day
Salmon is a delicious source of Omega-3 fatty acids which are crucial in maintaining a healthy mind. Give this a try (and remember, Safeway has salmon on sale this week) http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/honey-soy-broiled-salmon-recipe-5772
Link of the Day
Top 25 Healthy Recipes
In 2010 we are lucky because there is a wealth of resources available to us which can assist us in our journey to being slim and fit. So if you are not on your way there yet, get going. My small steps for today are to get in a workout, write my blog and create a fun meal for the family. Do one thing today that moves you forward and you are One Step at a Time closer to the new you.
Happy Trails!
2 comments:
Thanks Chip for stating what may no longer be obvious to the travelers on this journey. You all have already made that horrible decision to curb your eating and make yourselves be active. I say "horrible" not because it's a bad decision but because it was a hard decision. You don't have to punish yourself by eating foods you don't like. You don't have to hide your midnight cravings. I am a parent. At my house it is ok to eat dessert first sometimes or have a cookie with your breakfast. My deal is I don't eat dessert everyday and I don't eat a high calorie dessert with a fatty carb loaded dinner. When I have a cookie for breakfast I have ONE cookie and I still eat a "normal" breakfast too. Yes it takes self control but I gotta do it. I am the one who pays the price and I am the one who is in charge of this body I'm walking around in. Don't hide your food and don't hide yourself behind your food. It doesn't control you. Look at yourself in the mirror tomorrow and ask "who's driving this crazy thing?" The answer? "Oh yea, that would be me!" Drive yourself to a beautiful destination.
Well said to both of you. It is all about portion control and balance. It is okay to treat yourself every once in awhile, but just remember it is a small treat, not a feast of goodies. Getting back into shape is going to take some time and you need to do whatever it takes to keep you on the straight and narrow. It will be worth it in the end.
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