Skip to main content

Learning to fly...

"Everything good for you is either illegal, immoral, or fattening."
"Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels."


I've never had trouble with the first quote -- I know it to be all too true. Today, as I was pondering lunch choices, I discovered this again for myself. Tabulating points for foods that I usually love -- well, disheartening isn't quite the word. Dumbfounded is more like it.

The second quote is one I've personally hated over the years. One, the last time I was "thin" was probably elementary school. Darren H. had already bestowed the nickname of "Fatty" on me by 2nd grade -- although by 3rd grade, it had become a weird term of endearment among friends. Even as a large person, I know how good things can taste. Believe me, if being thin feels better than Godiva tastes, well I'll be positively over the moon, won't I?

I'm trying to learn to eat even more slowly. If I'm out with friends, I'm usually one of the last to finish -- usually because I'm talking too much. But solo, as I am at lunch sometimes, I have a tendency to eat far faster, not really savoring the food as much as shoving it in as fuel.

So today at lunch, solo, I decided to go as slowly as possible in a one-hour time frame. I went to Macaroni Grill and got the Pollo Magro ("Skinny Chicken"). At first read, I wasn't sure I really wanted it. But it was the least damaging, points-wise (only 5). But OOOOOOH my my! Was it far better than I expected! One grilled chicken breast with a balsamic glaze, side of steamed spinach, and topped with tomato, onion, and fat-free feta. Well, the plum tomatoes came out whole, not grilled, and quite honestly, I'm not that big a tomato fan anyway. But everything else was completely fantastic.

Then the bread. Bread has always been a bugaboo for me. I love bread, which is why Atkins and South Beach are not the diets for me. White, wheat, rye, pumpernickel, raisin, garlic, whatever -- I love it. And naturally, you are given a loaf of "peasant bread" at the table. Each loaf has ten points, so one-quarter loaf is 2.5 points. Don't think for even a second I couldn't snarf the whole thing down in a flash. I love their focaccia. But I was good. I only had that quarter-loaf -- 2.5 delicious points. Furthermore I am amazed at how good that little sliver was .... mmmmm!!!!

All in all, it's getting easier to make good eating decisions.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

At the risk of sounding like a Spanish soccer announcer,

GOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!! It took 3 years and 3 weeks, but I am finally 44% of the woman I was on May 11, 2006. When I started the journey, this day was not even in sight. All I could honestly think about was how to take those first steps to get through the first day and the first week. I had no idea how I was supposed to do 5 minutes a day of activity, when it took all I could do to put one foot in front of the other. But if nothing else, once I make up my mind to do something.......... Here it is, June 4, 2009. I am 228 pounds lighter and a quadrillion times better. I made it through that first day, that first week just fine. I did the 5 minutes -- okay, really 10 minutes, all huffing and puffing and barely able to walk out two blocks and back. Then 20, then 30, and joined the Y, and ..... got the dog and had to walk him. Then said, "I can do a 5K." And then watched my race time improve each time I tried. In losing 228 pounds, I have gained so much. I wasn't e

Coming Around Again

Okay, accountability time again ....... As a lot of you know, in what feels like a lifetime ago, I lost a whole kindergarten class’s weight and did it fairly quickly (3 years). It was a struggle to maintain but I managed to “only” gain back about 40 of that original 230 I lost. Then foot surgery happened and I was just learning to walk pain-free (forget 5Ks). I put on a few more but still not a lot. When mama died, the bottom dropped out and I’ve been free-falling since. And the Quarantine 14 was part of that too. So it’s past time to get back on track. This time while it’s not just the physical side of things, it’s the mental side of it too. I’ll be honest: my anxiety has gotten worse since Richard died. There have been nights I have been too scared to sleep lying down because my head pipes up, “you know, what if you die lying down?” I’ve been pretty dang determined that if it’s in my power, my daddy will not have to bury both his kids from their own stupidity. So yeah. There ya go. M

Ever have a day that's stacked against you?

What a week. We finally got some much needed rain, but BOY-O-BOY, did it play havoc with my walking. I did some before the rainy season, and did some aerobic videos at home (I'm apparently still at wuss level). Today, I had a business luncheon and a business dinner. I ate healthily, but really wasn't sure about the points. I did the best guesswork possible. And I was going to have to weigh in before my normal time (the earlier of the two afternoon meetings). In the end, it didn't matter............ I lost 1.8 pounds --- total now: 201.2. I am happy. Very very happy! And I am grateful for every bit of support I have gotten from Day 1 to now. If you have read the blog, sent a good thought for me, cheered me on --- THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! Now, just about 27 more to go to hit goal before talking surgery (for skin removal). Now's the time for nervous! HA!!!!