Wednesday January 30, 2008 [Archive]

Anette

01-30-2008, 07:36 AM

Good morning to all,
I got up way early today so I have some time to do a post.
I have to be honest with myself and this forum and admit that I have been having thoughts of "slacking off" a little bit with my food. The thought just kinda crawled in over the last fews days and I dont like it a bit. I have been successful on PP since mid November and now I am getting the "bold, oh I can add some carbs" attitude and I know,, I CAN'T because that wicked circle will start again.
So, here I am talking about my thoughts and being aware of these thoughts and not letting them turn into actions. I need a lot of reminders how bad carbs are for me (like I don't know)
I have logged my food for today and I should be ok. Someone said once " I am not cured from carb overeating, because I am not a ham). yeah silly I know but I like it. It amazes me how I can go from total motivation to ahh what the heck.. a little bit of this can;t hurt me. Oh the mind, what a wonderful thing huh? Why can I be my own worst enemy? Well, thanks for letting me share this with you and being honest about my thoughts. Any support is greatly appreciated.
Food
2 mozzarella sticks wrapped with prosciutto, coffee cream spenda
lettuce with l'c chilli and sour cream
dinner chicken/pork gyros home made, cabbage salad homemade
snack if needed

Mitra

01-30-2008, 07:49 AM

Hello, Anette :). Those are the sort of thoughts we all face at some time or other. Some people deal with it by saying that they won't touch certain things - sugar, flour... either because they have some intolerance or allergy, or just because they know they can't stop at one bite. I find the problem foods are certain combinations - I can eat just one or two small squares of dark chocolate, even if it's made with real sugar, but milk chocolate, or chocolate brownies just bypass all my "I've had enough" signals, even if they're low carb (though the after effects are not so bad if they're low carb). My approach is generally that I do include small quantities of grains and beans and the like - but every so often I have to pull back because the small quantities that I can manage OK sort of creep into bigger portions over time :(. We all have to find some way that allows us to feel satisfied emotionally as well as physically with our food, including feeling better both emotionally and physically after we've eaten it :). It sounds as if you're doing a good job of working through all this to find you own solution.

I had a piece of uunijuustoa (baked cheese) with shrimps for breakfast, then a yoghurt smoothie at lunch (ended up a bit rushed and just grabbed something quick and easy). So I'm on track with protein and carbs so far for the day. I'm planning to have moussaka tonight.

Tresses

01-30-2008, 08:23 AM

Anette, hang in there. You've been at it since November and haven't slacked off yet? That's great! :D Is there, perhaps, a way that you can plan ahead to treat yourself? This would be different from saying, "Hey, I've been good long enough, it's time for a reward," but rather, "I'm going to stay on track for this many more days, and then I will allow myself this portion of carbs." And then plan your serving (a reasonable one). Maybe? At least then it won't be an impulse, but planned and prepared for, and less likely to turn into a binge. Declaring that certain foods are always forbidden makes them more tempting for me. Just a thought.

I'm holding steady at 157.5 for the second day...and I'm perfectly ok with that. I was worried I'd bump up again. I just want to see some loss by the end of the week. :nod:

Breakfast was 2 eggs, 2 lite sausage, 1 lc toast, and 1 70% sq. chocolate.
Lunch will be the rest of the tuna salad from yesterday and....something. Maybe leftover broccoli from last night's dinner.
Dinner will be leftover chicken from last night. Probably over a nice spinach and veggie salad. Yeah. That sounds good. :)

I've got a cold yet beautiful day here today. At least the blue sky will make errands easier. ;)

Have a great day, everyone!

maxlharris

01-30-2008, 08:31 AM

Winter is a month and change old and I'm sick of it already. This has been a teasing winter. It will get nice. Two days later it will be abysmal. If it would simply make up it's mind, I think I would resent it a little less.

I miss being with the wife. She keeps me structured. I don't know if I've mentioned this before. I've lost 20+ lbs five times in my life. I have never done it when I was single. I don't know if that talks to needing an external pressure or what, but it is what it is. This is maybe my first real attempt to maintain a diet when I'm alone.

I have not weighed since New Year's Eve. I don't know how some of you do this. I want to know. I am so looking forward to getting on a scale on Feb 9 (when I'm home next), you have no idea. I am terrified of getting on the scale on Feb 9th. 40 days is a long enough time to get a lot of movement one way or the other. Any rate, in a week and a couple of days, I will have knowledge. And that will be a nice change.

Other than that, things are good. Steak is a good dinner. A little dreamfields on the side was nice too. Calorie rich, but still, nice.

Claudette

01-30-2008, 08:33 AM

Annette,
I have to confess, I still struggle with the carb craving problem and the "a little bit of this won't hurt" therory. I started this plan in earnest in 2004, just last year got a real handle on my carb cravings.
I am tempted to slack off when the scale moves or I register inches lost, mentally thinking, now, "wow, I am doing so good, alittle of this won't hurt".
I know mentally the carbs will, but emotionally, it is another matter.

I wish I had a answer on how to never have to deal with carb cravings again. (If I had the permanent answer, I'd publish, be wealthy, retire and have fun).
What consistantly helps me, is to keep those carbs low and the thought, "this one bite will set me back" from : healing my insulin resistance & getting to the weight I need to weight.

Hang in there, you can do it.

Today:
b-eggs, hood choc milk,(emotionally satisfiying), 1/2 small potato roll
planned:
l- beef bratwurst, homemade german red cabbage, sf jello
s- pumpkin seeds
s-lc yogurt from kroger
d- beef sirloin steaks, non-starchy steamed veggie, green salad.

Have a great day, all.

Claudette

Mal Lady

01-30-2008, 08:37 AM

Anette,

Those thoughts run through everyone's mind, especially in the beginning. Even though we don't want the temptations, that little devil is always lurking. Mine is M&M Almonds - especially right before bed. I think - Wow I've done so good today, I can have just a few of them and it won't hurt. Well, I've done that the last two nights and it DOES HURT! :mad::(:jawDrop::peeved: !!!!!!!! I haven't dropped a pound and it will probably affect me for at least the next 4 days! I feel so guilty - but, I just can't help it. I need to try and remember what these items are doing to me! So, I guess all of us have our downfalls or temptations. I just can't seem to get pass mine at night. I have started going to the "Y" and then, I undo the good by one bad action. Max, here will ask you - What is it that is triggering your actions? Boredom? Anxiety? Not enough protein? We need to replace this bad action with a good one? Easier said, than done! I'll step down off of my soapbox now, sorry if I sounded like I was preaching - It's more about me than you :o !!!!!!!

Well, the roads don't seem as icy as they predicted. We sure got a sudden change in weather. Yesterday, it was 48 degrees and raining - even thundershowers with lightening and felt like summer. Today, it's sunny and 12 degrees with wind chill of 16 below zero!!!!! :eek::jawDrop::eek:. Only a high of 18 degrees. Tomorrow we have a winter storm warning out. My Rheumatiod Arthritis really doesn't like all these abrupt changes.

Today the meal events will look something like this:

BF: eggs, ham, fruit
Lunch: chicken breast on bed of salad, 3 cheese ranch dressing
dinner: not sure

Everyone have a beautiful day!

Sharon

Ammy

01-30-2008, 09:09 AM

You can do it Anette...thoughts are thoughts...but ACTION is what moves us!!

Slow day today...working on putting away 2007 stuff and opening up my file drawers for 2008!!
Plan on Pilates 2 today, then out to lunch. Hopefully the restaurant lets me order a breakfast omelet, otherwise I'll do the salad.

7am mexican casserole, 1/4c hot cereal, Hoods milk
10:30 20 almonds, 1/2 yogurt with 1/4c blueberries
12:30 sausage and cheese omelet (or salad with chicken), 1 slice toast
5pm pork chop, cauliflower with cheese

Pro: 140
Ecc: 41
Fat: 121
Cal: 1864

Rhyme'n Reason

01-30-2008, 09:21 AM

Anette--talking about your thoughts/feelings now is a good thing. You have been doing so well! When I lost my way the last time I did PP, it began with "carb creep." I became overconfident and sloppy. That slows weight loss and leads to frustration. It is the attention to detail that makes the difference.

That being said, I need to deal with my bit of a slide last night. My totals for the day were fine, but I found myself munching late (after I arrived home from a b-ball game). I ate about 13 g carbs, including some cheese to minimize the impact of the carbier stuff. I was not hungry, just tired, and food habitually has been comfort at those times. Normal people just go to bed!

I don't think I did any damage, but this is a habit I do not want to get back into. So today, I'm doing protein shakes for breakfast and lunch, just to rein myself in a bit. I have chicken/broccoli casserole at home for supper, and I plan a snack of nuts for later.

Hope everyone has a profitable day!

Ammy

01-30-2008, 09:57 AM

Hey WAIT A MINUTE!!
Isn't it WACKY WEDNESDAY???

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/uc/20080119/lad080119.gif

Ammy

01-30-2008, 09:58 AM

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/uc/20080126/lga080126.gif

maxlharris

01-30-2008, 10:11 AM

I feel so guilty - but, I just can't help itIf you can't help the guilt, this is an excessive focus on the past. I was/am a dweller in the past. The past is okay, but to get things done, it's about the future. As I tell my supervisor here (a pessimist), pessimism doesn't accomplish things. It's useful as a check on optimism, but alone, it doesn't really get you anything or anywhere. Past focus is the same way. Doomed to repetition warnings aside, take a look at the past, understand it and move on to the future. That's where the best things are.

If you cannot help having the M&M Almonds, then we have another discussion. Why do you own M&M Almonds? While almonds may grow on trees, the milk chocolate and candy coating certainly does not (actually, the chocolate does, but not as a milk product and not in climates amenable to almond trees). So, somehow, this luxury item is entering your house. I suspect you are buying them. If this is the case, the solution is simple. You have to take some time off from buying them.

Funny story here. I read a productivity blog called lifehacker.com. They will occasionally talk about dieting. They are mostly calories in calories out, but that's besides the point. They will have a tip about beating temptation. And one guy shared a story about putting a twinkie on a high shelf in his apartment to see how long he could go without eating it. This story begs the question:

"Why torture yourself?"

If this person didn't buy the Twinkies in the first place, he wouldn't have to "resist" temptation by putting it on a high shelf.

With M&M's, if you don't have them around the house, you're not going to eat them at night. Or any other time when you are home. And think on this. Imagine a 2 pack a week habit. $.75 per package. This works to $80 a year. That works to a nice night out at a nice restaurant (without wine or dessert).

Back to the root. There are two cures for carb cravings. Neither one of these is going to make me rich.
1- Give in. Forget LC dieting. (this is a crap solution, but if you want freedom from worry about carb cravings, it will not be beat).
2- Eat clean for a year or two. No honey pot. (This is the hard road. That's why it's not going to make me, or anyone else, rich.)

There is a third solution. I dunno that it's a solution, but it's been said to help.

3- L-Glutamine. 500 mg. Many reports of it fighting/reducing/eliminating carb cravings.

But since low carb is about treating the underlying problems, L-Glu seems like a symptomatic approach. However, if you're really struggling (rather than getting sloppy and having carb creep), maybe this is something to help you get over the hump.

maxlharris

01-30-2008, 10:14 AM

http://www.musclehedz.com/ecards/toons/forearmhair.jpg

Peachy

01-30-2008, 10:50 AM

Annette -- Please don't think that it shows weakness to have those thoughts. It shows strength that you have not given in. I have found that planned cheats keep me from caving in and eating non-stop. My birthday is at the end of February and I am definitely having cake. But I will give the rest of the cake away and not eat it for the next three days. That's what always gets me. The week of eating crap turns into a month turns into a year. Don't give up!

gitfiddle

01-30-2008, 11:11 AM

This is maybe my first real attempt to maintain a diet when I'm alone.
You're not alone, Max. You've got us. :D :rolleyes: ;)

Anette, when I have thoughts like that it helps to replace them with the knowledge that I have been strong before and I will be strong again. I also start looking for the dissatisfaction hidden in my life that might be triggering, or sloppy carbs that might have caused it. Whatever you do, don't quit coming to the board. We all have ups and downs. I had a down that lasted almost a year where I gained some weight back, even. I never quit coming here.

Breakfast was weird today, a cup of coffee and a peanut butter and cheese sandwich late in the morning. I'm home today because of the weather and I have no idea (but lots of lc options) what lunch will be.

DH had to thaw the storm door latch with my hair dryer to get outside. I'm running my car to warm up and melt the ice from the pouring rain we had last night. Snow is still blowing, but once in a while the sun will break through for a few moments. Ah, winter!

Rhyme'n Reason

01-30-2008, 11:16 AM

gitfiddle

01-30-2008, 11:24 AM

Just a quick word here about planned cheats... this is very much a YMMV sort of thing.
Ruth, I agree. Planned cheats snowball with me.

This past Christmas season I didn't plan to eat anything off-plan--and I didn't! Being in that state of mind already, I didn't have to "clean up" the leftovers and spend the month of January in a miserable pity party. That's freedom!

I only came to that place after much trial and error to discover what works for me.

Rhyme'n Reason

01-30-2008, 11:26 AM

Yep--that's it exactly. It was absolutely liberating to go through the holidays cheat-free. I have never felt so empowered to deal with my attitude toward food!

maxlharris

01-30-2008, 11:45 AM

Just a quick word here about planned cheats... this is very much a YMMV sort of thing. Some find that planning days off or specific meals is helpful. For me, they're just another rationalization for going off plan. My game throughout my life has been rationalization and justification, and it is just too easy to keep on finding reasons for more planned cheats. Another thing...when you have been off carbs, you begin to lose your taste for them. For some of us, just one taste can reawaken all of those old cravings.

I am rapidly coming to this conclusion. For me, a taste doesn't blow it, but going over say 30g of carbs in a meal will mess up the rest of my day. It is AMAZING how badly having something carby at lunch will screw me up. I go to lunch at this diner here. I get steak and eggs for lunch sometimes. They come with potatoes. I ask for them not to bring them, but only one server is good about this. They come with toast. I have rationalized eating the toast a couple of times. It's whole wheat, whole grain. Just a half slice on an otherwise very low meal. Once, I ate 3 halves. Three hours later, I was hungry. Dinner was a mess. The weekend was a mess.

That said. I have a birthday coming up. DW is taking me out. I will have a dessert. Maybe we will split it. If I can't do this, the planned cheat will no longer be a part of the plan.

I miss being a robot about this. It was a lot easier.

gitfiddle

01-30-2008, 01:26 PM

I miss being a robot about this. It was a lot easier.
You got that right. There are certain situations that can derail me. Nostalgic things from my past, or specialties my mother makes, anything that will feed a pity party, blood sugar drop with nothing at hand to fix it, etc. Never just plain hunger.

When I decided to eat the hash browns (my personal binge food) I have to be on guard for days. If I could find the button that de-activates the potato urge, I'd be better off.

That said, I have come so far in my way of eating that I don't even remember the feelings I had on some of the world-class eating patterns of the past. I have to remember, during trying times, to look back at the progress and be at peace with the process.

maxlharris

01-30-2008, 01:45 PM

Diet 7up is really really really sweet.

I probably mentioned this. I'm working on getting back to water, water water and less soda. First step is to kick caffeine. So, clear sodas w/o caff is step #1. First Diet 7up of this program, and man is it sweet. Maybe my palate has changed, carb sinner that I am. I am a sinner. I am a yogurt sinner (actually, not a yogurt sinner, but this is for wacky Wednesday, right?).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4Zi2BBQ4y8

I see nothing worth liking in these carbs. I cannot hold on much longer with these.... CARBS.

Ammy

01-30-2008, 02:17 PM

yep...really really sweet....
I agree...I choose Fresca instead of 7up.

So...I just had the weirdest lunch...I tried to go to a nice bar/restaurant but the person I was meeting ended up at the wrong one, so we went to a place I'd been to before and didn't find many options. A really "potatoes with/in/around everything" place.

I ordered a burger (no bun) that came with cabbage slaw...okay, sounds good right?

I get it...and it's a little 1/3lb processed burger (that cooked down to nothing), slice of american cheese on a sad little plate with 1oz (yes, an actually 1oz container) of cabbage swimming in slaw sauce...

UGH...

so I ordered a side salad with ranch..."we only have fat free ranch"...No full fat?? "no" fine, but I want it on the side.
It comes...sad little bowl of plain lettuce with a package of fat-free ranch, SEVEN carbs per serving...UGH...

So, I had a bitty burger with an overprocessed slice of American Cheese, drowned cabbage and plain lettuce (not even a slice of carrot)....the salad came AFTER I ate the slaw...or I would have put them together.

:peeved:

For $16.

:suspicious:

And what sucks the most is that I had it after a TOUGH workout...I was HUNGRY!!!!
Man-o-man...that's twice that restaurant let me down...
So, it's 2:18 and I'm hungry...and have no pure protein here to eat...

:jawDrop:

Guess I can run over to Target and get some processed meat...be better than nothing. My headache is already approaching...this is sucking...THIS is why I like to pick the restaurants, so I can plan my meals ahead of time!
:(

Mal Lady

01-30-2008, 02:28 PM

The m&m's were my dh bed side snack at night. I will be removing them shortly and they will not be in the bedroom for a temptation. That said, I will "go clean" this week because going to the "Y" to exercise is hard work and I WILL NOT destroy what I build up. I've put one vice after another behind me since Jan. 1, 2008. The first was going lc, the second was drinking only decaffinated pop. Now, I'm only doing fruit flavored sparkling water in the morning with my meds and water the rest of the day. Today, my first actual workout at the "Y" and tonight NO M&M's! Bare with me on this bad habits I do have strong will power. I've lost weight on conventional diest since I was 8 years old. I'm just moving a step at a time with all these old ways and adjusting gradually. It's like an alcoholic in the step program and I'm on my way. I sure appreciate all of the advice and suggestions that I have received from everyone of you - especially Max. It is wonderful to be able to share my feelings with everyone and get a different point of view from those of you in the trenches.

Max, I wish you well until you return to your dw. Hold on, just a few short days and you'll have a wonderful reunion!

Bless you all:)

Sharon

maxlharris

01-30-2008, 03:28 PM

So, the universe doesn't want me to quit soda. I looked under the cap of my sickenly sweet diet 7up, and lo and behold, I have won a free 20 ounce soda. *sigh*

On the upside, the game ended on 12/31/07, so maybe I didn't win one.

Wonderfully nonproductive day at work today. Must get something done, so I'm off to do something.

Ammy

01-30-2008, 04:09 PM

Oh Max...I think it's exprired...throw it away...no more sweet soda...

Because of my change of restaurant, wanted to report my accurate food/counts:

7am mexican casserole, 1/4c hot cereal, Hoods milk
10:30 20 almonds, 1/2 yogurt with 1/4c blueberries
12:30 silly little burger, horrible fake cheese, 1oz cabbage slaw, 1c lettuce
3pm 2 servings no carb ham, 1 string cheese
6:30pm pork chop, cauliflower, 1c beer-cheese soup

Can have up to one whole liteNfit yogurt with 1/2c blueberries if I want. Numbers are calculated with yogurt and fruit.

Pro: 153
Ecc: 39
Fat: 112
Cal: 1839

Gaelen

01-30-2008, 05:04 PM

I can vividly remember when coffee drinks started to taste 'too sweet.' And luckily for me, things that are artificially sweetened have mostly always tasted too sweet.

But yeah, for me, it's easier when things aren't around at all, and now I'm at a place where if the choice is something I think is too sweet, or nothing, I more often than not choose nothing.

Chemo actually helps with that, because nausea results in direct proportion to over-sweetness.

Wacky Wednesday...today was my last treatment!!!!!

gitfiddle

01-30-2008, 05:34 PM

Good for you, Sharon!

Oh, Amy, that lunch was my worst nightmare!

Max, you just reminded me of another of my pitfalls. I paid for it (or, it's free), so I can't waste it! :p I am so sick!

I muffed my protein today by not eating since breakfast. I just had a salad, but no protein. I'm out of eggs and it's too cold for ricotta or cottage cheese (my fingers are freezing!) so I'm going to have to COOK something very soon.

Mal Lady

01-30-2008, 06:11 PM

Yippee!!! Gaelen! I'm so happy for you! I hope being the last treatment, that you'll start feeling better. I'm pulling for you! Hang in there lady!:D

Sharon

Anniesnan

01-30-2008, 07:58 PM

It's a good thing it's "wacky" Wednesday, otherwise I might not be sure what day it was.

Ate okay. Was extremely tempted. I WANTED pizza. I ate more beef. DH offered to make chicken, but it didn't matter. I didn't WANT the beef or the chicken.

Hopefullly, tomorrow will be better.

Still haven't gotten my mind back. Can't focus on anything for long. Carry around The Brain Trust but don't want to read it.

I think bed is called for...

Anette

01-30-2008, 08:16 PM

Thanks so much to all of you, thanks from the bottom of my heart and stomach...:D today went by with clean food and i am ready to have dinner. i am so grateful to have found this board. .. can i do it.. yes i can.. one day at a time.. off to get some of my home cooked grub.....:)
Anette

Tresses

01-30-2008, 09:03 PM

Wacky Wednesday...today was my last treatment!!!!!

Wonderful :exclamation:

Thanks so much to all of you, thanks from the bottom of my heart and stomach...:D today went by with clean food and i am ready to have dinner. i am so grateful to have found this board. .. can i do it.. yes i can.. one day at a time.. off to get some of my home cooked grub.....:)
Anette

Glad you had a good day, Anette! :)

Well, I survived another challenge today that I had forgotten was coming when I first posted this morning. I had to take a dessert to our Worship Team rehearsal for someone's birthday. I planned ahead and purchased a Marie Callender's frozen Razzleberry pie. The birthday girl (woman ;)) loves berry pie, as do several members of the team. I, on the other hand, can pass this dessert, usually without difficulty. Baking a frozen one meant that I wouldn't be tempted to nibble as I made pie crust or mixed fruit. They LOVED the pie. I brought a can of Reddi-whip, Extra Creamy :), to have with the pie instead of ice cream, so I actually piled some of that on a plate to eat. :lol: There were leftovers, so one of the guys took the rest home. Fortunately, my DH doesn't like berry pie, so I didn't have to bring him any.

I was a wee bit concerned when I left the house if I would pass this challenge as I did not have time for dinner tonight. I ate an oz of smoked almonds before I left the house. That held me until I got home after 9, and I ate an oz of oven roasted deli turkey.

I didn't get my workout in today, though. And I wasn't about to HIIT the bike at 9:30pm.

At the end of the day:

28 ECC
73g Fat
78g Protein
1131 Calories

I am still hungry. I might get a TBS of peanut butter, which would add 2 carbs. It's late. But I'm hungry. ::grumble::