Weighty Matters 05/05-09/2016

186.5 this morning

Something I've noticed with clean eating is that food tastes so much better.  
I've gone back to using olive oil on my salads.  Maybe I was simply using too
much of it before, because the taste of olive oil is once more appealing to me.
I'm still going to try the brand you mentioned, Adele.  
I'm using bacon grease to scramble my morning eggs with, and it's working great.
Striving for two 15-minute walks a day; but at the very least one if I can't get in
both walks.  Still no temptations or cravings.  

I eat pretty much the same items every day, weekday or weekend, no matter what.
I haven't even been logging my food into Fitday because it's always the same.  
(Maybe I should still do it; I don't know...)
Breakfast is 3-4 strips of bacon and 3 eggs.
Lunch is a protein (baked chicken thighs, burger patties, etc.),
a salad (IB lettuce, celery, sweet peppers, and OO dressing),
and a low carb veggie (green beans, cauliflower, or broc.).
Supper is a protein--depending on how hungry (or not) I am, then I'll add some LC veg.

It's a beautiful sunny day here in Southeast Missouri, although a bit chilly.    
...About time for my morning walk!

Adele's Response:

Still no temptations or cravings.

Make no mistake, temptations and cravings (along with frustration and every other possible human emotion) WILL come. I am not free of either, they slowly became much less frequent and (I think?) because I decided that waggling was off the table for me as a choice. I feel pretty certain that I VERY SLOWLY learned to unhook all my food (and other) feelings and yearnings from my food actions. I don't mean to make it sound like it was easy at all--or even what I set out to do! But a repetitive diet, in that way, over time turned out to have kind of a "calming" effect. A kind of simpler, physical/emotional tethering as one long-ago list participant put it. 


I eat pretty much the same items every day, weekday or weekend, no matter what. I haven't even been logging my food into Fitday because it's always the same. (Maybe I should still do it; I don't know...)

I think as long as it's working well, there's no need to plot it out each day although it might help to have it down "on paper" and calculated out (the calories, fats, protein and carb counts and percentages that is...)because if you hit a long plateau you will have it for a reference point for comparing to see if you've drifted, or if perhaps you want to gently tweak it (for instance, increase fat percentage while decreasing protein) to see if it changes anything. Your diet sounds somewhat similar to how I eat virtually every day, except I generally don't eat bacon unless we're at a restaurant for breakfast on a trip. (I'm NOT suggesting you stop eating it--clearly your body is responding well.)

I'm enjoying watching things go so well for you, Trisha!

Adele
(139 this morning)

186 this morning
How I gained half a pound and did not lose my mind

Friday morning the weight was at 186 1/2.  
I did not eat enough for lunch that day.  Part of my
chicken was under cooked, and the amount of veggies
I had brought were not enough to make up the difference.
I knew I had not eaten enough, because by supper time I
had no energy whatsoever.  Hubby and I went to our
favorite little restaurant, where I ordered a pork chop, 
broccoli, and green beans.  
Saturday morning the weight jumped up half a pound to
187, and I knew immediately it was the green beans.  
They had a lot of onions mixed in, and also tasted like 
sugar had been added.  But I was so hungry, etc. etc.

I think this was the first time in my life that I have 
registered a weight gain on the scales and NOT had an
emotional breakdown.  I noted the half pound change,
knew what had caused it, and simply went on with my day.
I did not plunge into the depths of despair.  I did not immerse
myself in "bad" foods (because what's the use).  
I know that leading with the diet works, because I have the
numbers to prove it.  And sure enough, Sunday when I stepped
on the scale, I was down to 186 pounds.  

Yesterday Hubby grilled pork steaks for Mother's Day.  I asked
him to leave two steaks naked and he gladly obliged.  I ate one 
for lunch, along with green beans and cauliflower.  He and his mother,
and my daughter ate the pork steaks slathered in BBQ sauce.  
Now I will admit that the smell of the BBQ sauce was almost
overwhelming.  But I was able to keep myself detached, and 
just appreciate the smell of it without stuffing any of it in my mouth.

This is what eating clean does...if I eat clean foods consistently
then I reap a multitude of benefits, not the least of which is
slow and steady weight loss.  

P.s. I bought a bottle of the Filippo Berio olive oil, and love it!
P.p.s. I've noticed that my general walking pace has quickened.
P.p.p.s. I've finished one week of no-butter, with no change in sinus issues.  

Adele's Response:
1. It will take some major time for sinus issues to clear--a minimum of two weeks. Probably longer. It's your body, your science project, but I'd urge you to keep going. Personally I find it heavenly to NOT have them any more. Butter also contributes (at least in my opinion) to turning some boring foods into swoon foods. Keep calm and carry on, as they say! 

2. Every Single Time I eat out, I go up at least a pound, often 2-3. It comes off in a few more days. It is the cost of eating out. When you're in the weight loss phase especially, it can definitely be demoralizing. I'd urge you to avoid it as much as possible. This is where staying ahead and prepared helps immeasurably.

3. Glad to hear you like the olive oil. I find it virtually tasteless. 

Adele
(136 this morning)