Changing my
diet has been so rewarding and exciting in a lot of ways. I feel better, I’m
not as tired, I’m sleeping well, and I’m more active. I’ve gotten back into the
kitchen, rather than just grabbing something on the go, and I really do love
cooking. I’m jumping again, walking faster, and moving more.
1.
Planning
is hard. In order to eat a well-balanced and healthy diet, a certain amount
of planning is required. Gone are the days when “grabbing something on the way”
was a possibility. Did you know that even something that is seemingly healthy
is a calorie and fat bomb in disguise? I
used to zip through the drive-thru at Wendy’s for a Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad.
I was appalled to discover that the full size salad I just mentioned is 770
calories. 770 CALORIES. Over half of those calories are from FAT. And don’t
even get me started on the chicken, which in my enlightened opinion really isn’t
chicken at all.
Weekly menu planning is a MUST. Browsing through recipes
and coming up with ideas for a meal is fun, but a grocery list for the week is essential,
and Sunday shopping is the key. Not only do I have to plan what we’ll be eating
for the week, but because of my busy schedule I have to plan what meals will be
eaten on what days. I can’t plan chicken enchiladas when I don’t get home until
after 7 PM!
2.
Cooking
for Jameson sucks. Paybacks are a bitch, for sure, and I happen to have the
pickiest kid on the planet living in my house. I feel so sorry that my parents had to put up
with my food idiosyncrasies when I was a child, now that I know how it effects
dinner time. If I don’t plan a meal with at least ONE component that Jamo will
eat, I have to either send him to bed hungry, or make him a Nutella sandwich.
It’s tough, but we’re powering through. Every week we’ve discovered one or two
new items that he’s willing to try, and that he likes, so we are slowly
building a list. Turkey sausage is a godsend.
3.
Staying
off the scale is impossible. I know I should, but I just. can’t. do. it. I’m
obsessed with weighing myself, and it’s becoming detrimental to my journey. I
stepped on this morning, and was pleased that I’m down another pound, but I
need to find my Zen about this. I am committing to you today, my dear friends, that
I will put the scale away and only weigh in once a week.
4.
I’ve
bought stock in Tupperware. Why didn’t anyone tell me that my use of
storage containers would multiply like rabbits? I feel like I take my entire
kitchen to work every day. Thank goodness I have a dishwasher.
5.
Instant
gratification goes OUT THE WINDOW. Even though I’m not dieting, I still
have a goal of losing a lot of weight. A LOT. It’s so tempting to go for the
quick fix – Body by Vi, Xingular, Slim Fast – are all effective products for
instant weight loss. If I was only
concerned with short term, these would be my products of choice. But here’s the
thing: all of those fad diets and products don’t teach you how to lose weight
or how to keep it off; they only teach you to lose, and lose fast. The quick
fix is simply not an option for me. I
feel like I need to walk before I can run, and learning HOW to eat and WHAT to
eat is the first “step” towards my ultimate goal.
I hope that
this post will let you know that, even though it might seem like I’ve had an
easy go it’s not all flowers and hearts, or rainbows and unicorns. It’s hard.
Every day is hard.
But I’m so
worth it.
I thought I had the pickiest kid on the planet! He wants me to make him "something else" every time dinner rolls around. And I'm not even talking about anything that's necessarily healthy. We used to endure crying and fits at every dinner time. He will now at least sit through dinner and I always make at least some item that he "likes" although that may change daily. But it comes down to "this is not a restaurant" and "this is what we're eating". It's painful but we make it through. Just thought I'd let you know that you're not alone in that department. And I'd say that the progress you've made with Jameson in the last few weeks are giant steps! He and you should both be proud!
ReplyDeleteKeep forging ahead Erin! Jameson is young enough now that he will get used to eating right a long side you, instead of you cooking just for him. I'm repeating myself.... but you are giving him such a gift! And I believe you are doing this change the RIGHT way. Looking at this as a life change instead of a diet.
ReplyDeleteHere is my tip for prepping greens. On sunday night, wash your romaine, spinach and kale (or whatever you like) wrap them in a clean dish towel and store them in a ziplock or just a recycled grocery bag. That way when you want a salad for work or dinner time your greens are all cleaned and ready to go. I find if this step is done I eat a lot more greens. It's also cheaper and way better for you if you don't get the salad that is already cleaned in the bags. I think it tastes better too.
You are doing so well Erin! Good for you!
God bless you.
Cathy