Detox Water

Today is detox day. I actually feel remarkably good after eating as much as I did this weekend. I think sometimes the body needs to be jolted to a point where it is ready to start losing again. Let's face it I've been maintaining my initial weight loss for a while now. I really haven't lost much since I stopped eating my strict Nutritarian diet. I am starting my day with a metabolism boosting water. I made it with thinly sliced apples and cinnamon. I have a large pitcher of the ice water and intend to drink it throughout the day. Bottoms up! (haha)

Super Bowl!

This weekend I went on a planned diet vacation. I decided a few days ago that I would eat on Super Bowl Sunday. It's too much fun to watch the game while drinking beer and eating delicious fattening food. I know I could have just eaten the fresh vegetables and hummus, but I also know that indulging on all of the other food would only set me back a couple of days. Big deal.  It was worth it. As long as I go back to strict eating tomorrow, I think I should be ok. What was on Patti's plate? The easier question to answer is what wasn't? My favorite were the chicken wings.  (The tacos were pretty good too) Congratulations Ravens!

Tea

One of my favorite weight reducing tips is drinking tons of herbal tea. When I am eating to excess, and not thinking about eating healthy, I seldom pick up a cup of tea. But, when I am concentrating on eating good whole foods, and managing my portion control, tea becomes my new friend. There is something peaceful and comforting to it. When I sit down to read, or work at my computer, I love to pour a cup of hot tea to join me. When I was younger i would have a glass of wine at night after work. As I have gotten older, I find that the wine not only makes me too tired, but it makes me too complacent to make good food choices. Drinking a hot cup of herbal tea instead is a suitable replacement because it is not only relaxing, but it adds zero extra calories. I've even been able to get my husband to join me!

Breakfast

Back to the business of weight loss:

For me, the most important meal when trying to get back to losing weight is breakfast. Breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day. Even though there are some "experts" that advise making breakfast your biggest meal of the day, they obviously are  not people with a "fat" brain. Sure, I can see the logic of having a large meal in the morning, and a small snack for dinner. You have all day to burn off the calories. But, unfortunately, that is not how we fat people roll. Eat a big breakfast and that means you've "ruined" it for the rest of the day. You might as well eat everything in sight and start again tomorrow. For me, if I eat a healthy low calorie breakfast, I am much more inclined to eat a healthier lunch. Then,  if I am 2 for 2, dinner can go either way. If I am prepared, dinner usually turns out to be a success also.

Cotton Candy

This is a picture of a plate of cotton candy served at Sammy's Wood Fire Grill. Is it possible that dessert options like this is what helps to create our obesity problem in the United States? Granted, the pretty pink mound of sugar sitting atop the plate like a billowing cloud of sweetness did attract me for a half a second; but really?! Who could possibly eat that much sugar and feel good afterwards? Evidently, the people at the next table! I'm just glad I had the sense to stay away.

Emotional Eating

I have learned two things about myself during this whole weight loss process.

1)      I am an "emotional eater".

2)       I am very emotional.

Basically what this translates to is……… I have fallen off of the wagon.  (Rolled off, if you will.)  I let good times, bad times and any time interfere with my weight loss goals.

When celebrating happy events, it’s hard not to combine the celebration with food and drink. During sad or stressful times, I mindlessly eat.  I use the excuse that I deserve some bit of happiness.  Often, during those times, I just don’t care anymore.  This is not to say that being thin is an impossible task for me. It’s just taking longer than I had hoped.  I need to recommit. I will get my weight loss books out again and move forward. By the way, my dear husband made this delicious spaghetti for me. How could I hurt his feelings and not eat it?

 

Mandoline

I have owned a mandoline slicer for about 5 years. I tried to use it when I first got it, but I couldn't figure it out and then I forgot about it. The other night when Lynn made the beautiful radish appetizer using her mandoline it reminded me to try using it again. I spent about an hour last night trying to put it together. I gave up and went to bed. Throughout the night I kept thinking of different ways to put it together. Finally, this morning I tried it again. Voila! Success! I started slicing all sorts of fruits and vegetables. They taste different when sliced thinner. I'm excited because it is making me want to find new ways to eat my vegetables. Here is a picture of my mid morning snack. Radish salad with a hint of aged balsamic vinegar.