I was lucky as a teen and an early 20-something; I could eat everything and anything I wanted and not gain weight. When I got a little older, I noticed a few pounds creep up, but I'd cut back a little and they'd fall right off. I've never dieted, but I did keep a food diary for awhile in my 20s when it occurred to me that I might not have the healthiest diet. Okay, I didn't need a diary to tell me that sugared jelly donuts didn't make a good lunch, but it did help me see the error of my ways.
In my 30s, I was eating healthy, well balanced meals, but I could still eat desserts, snack on junk when I felt like it and still maintain my weight. But recently, something happened to change all that. Although, I felt like my eating habits hadn't changed, I put on 8-10 pounds last winter.
In addition to my vigorous walks, I thought I should re-evaluate my eating. I was browsing at Borders a few weeks ago, and bought "Skinny Bitch" by . I got about half way through the book and quit. They recommend not eating meat, dairy, sugar or drinking alcohol. No wonder they're bitches. That takes all the fun out of food.
But I am going to make some changes. First the scary one... I'm giving up all alcohol for almost three weeks until school starts. I won't give it up forever because it's a taste and ritual I love, but I'm hoping it might jump start the weight loss. I haven't looked up the calorie count of one mixed drink or glass of wine, but that along with the nuts or cheese and crackers every night, must add up to a lot over the period of a week.
Other changes:
- fewer chips with a sandwich at lunch. I'll be counting them out instead of grabbing a handful. And I will never, EVER again eat them out of the bag.
- drinking more water.
- eating more fruit, especially as snacks
- cutting way back on sweet treats, but not denying myself because I'd only want it more.
- portion control
- no finishing Pipsqueak's leftovers
- eating slower.
It's really just being more conscious about what goes in my mouth. I don't want to do anything that I can't keep doing or isn't well-balanced. I also have to think about the example that I'm setting for Pipsqueak. I don't want her to be a dieter; I want her to be a healthy eater.
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6 comments:
god i love food.
i feel the same way you do. i dont feel like my diet is that bad, but im obviously doing something wrong since ive put on a few pounds.
my biggest sin is finishing off the kids leftovers. i dont need to eat the buttery crusts of two grilled chesse sandwiches. but they are so damn good!
It's an ironically wonderful feeling of liberation when you begin to take control of what you eat. I've been following the basics of the Blood Type diet for the past couple of months (something that has served me well in the past) and I've taken off about 10 pounds of useless junky stuff. Not drinking (or drinking FAR less) makes a big difference. But as you say, trying to completely deprive yourself of anything only makes you want it more. Enjoy the journey, but remember that anything in excess makes it less special.
That sounds like a very sane and healthy way of doing things. Just remember, if you eat healthy and exercise, you've succeeded, regardless of what happens with your weight.
I couldn't agree more. I try so hard to keep fresh fruits and veggies in the house. It's challenging in mid-February when everything has to be delivered by plane and snowmobile, but I try.
Sigh. I am one of those twenty-somethings like you were who can eat anything and stay thin. I am already mourning the day when I can't do that anymore.
I want to suggest you read the Julia Child autobiography. Now that was a woman who really loved food in all forms, though she didn't become any sort of good cook til she was 40. And from the sounds of the book it began to be a struggle for her and her husband to keep their weight at reasonble level when she really got good. They had to cut back on alcohol several times.
But oh its a yummy book. I bet you'd like it (and the 'Julie & Julia' movie that just came out, though its longish and silly).
Food everyone needs food that's the basic thing of life!!!
Carol
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