Okay, my second time trying this no-dairy, no alcohol, no bread meal plan...I made it 4 days. I won't make excuses, but I had a hell of a week at work and I was just starting to resent that I couldn't eat yogurt, have cream in my coffee, or enjoy a glass of wine after a particularly crappy day.
So new plan -- A few years ago, Big J and I went to see a dietitian. It was, possibly, the best thing we could have done. We both lost weight, learned a better way of eating that was sustainable, and felt good about ourselves. So here I am, about 10 years later, starting that food plan again. The plan is based on the diabetic exchange plan, and more than a diet it is a way of thinking about what you eat and what portions.
The best thing about the plan is that it exemplifies the concept of "all things in moderation." I get cream in my coffee, I can have cheese and yogurt, and I can have a glass of wine because it all fits into the plan.
One thing I did learn over the past week: It is really easy to eat without knowing it. Last Wednesday little j had some pretzels in her pocket and ate all but two, which she put on the kitchen table next to me while I was doing some work. Ordinarily, I wouldn't think twice about eating them, but in this case, I couldn't have them. It really caused me to think about how many times per day I put something in my mouth just because it is there -- the stray pretzel, the last tater tot, whatever. I don't graze while I'm fixing dinner; instead I have a small snack and a glass of water before I start, then I keep a glass of water close by. It's the little things that add up. (That and a crazy dissertation-induced Cheetos obsession, but I guess I can't use that excuse any more!)
2 comments:
I'm so glad you are putting cream back in your coffee! Sally HP and I were just discussing how awful cream is without it--like dirty dishwater. Bleck. Here's to moderation and starting the day off right!
Thanks for the tip on the snack and water before cooking...it's just too easy to graze!
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