My No Diet weightloss!

First let me apologize for the lack of blogging lately. I have been really busy with my business. I've been swamped in a "Bunny Patch" lately with all the Easter orders I've had and I'm still not completely through with few last minute orders.

If you recall a post I published a few weeks ago regarding, "Eat This, Not That"...well, I have lost dropped down 1 pants size since following some of their suggestions.

While I would probably loose more and quicker if I would add a routine of exercise such as walking, I am just excited to have lost what I have. I hope to start walking now that the weather will be warming up and days will be longer.

I have enjoyed this "diet", if you will, so much more than any other that I've followed. And while living in G'ville, I am learning so much about myself including my eating habits. I've learned that I am an emotional eater. I've learned that when I am tired, I have the urge to eat more. Not sure why this is...don't know if there is some kind of physical, emotional or medical reason for this....but it has become an eye opener for me. So, for that very reason, I have made sure I get a good night's sleep. And because of my healthier eating habits, I don't feel tired and sluggish throughout the day.

I am learning that what I thought was healthy and "diet worthy" was actually hindering my efforts while the foods that I thought were NOT "diet worthy" are actually contributing to my efforts.

I've also learned that I can't do diets that say "Do NOT Eat _______" (you fill in the blank). I love food, so to tell me I can't have something, is a waste of time and only produces discouraging results for me.

I have literally been eating only 3 meals a day. I don't even have the urge to snack or "nibble" though out the day. Unless, I am tired...like I mentioned before...the few days I felt the urge to snack all day...I realized that I was tired because I didn't get much sleep the night before.

I have to eat breakfast and I don't mean cereal, a fruit grain bar or a biscuit. My breakfast has to consist of a meal. For awhile I was drinking a Carnation shake or Slim Fast. While it would fill me up, a few hours later I would be starving. I realized that while they were a good source of Protein, the sugar content cancelled any good the protein was doing for me. I would be "snacking" before lunch and sometimes binging due to my blood sugar being so low and feeling so sluggish. So, no more Carnation shakes or Slimfasts for me...not even with a piece of toast or other breakfast foods. Just too much sugar for my body.

Instead, I have been eating 1 fried egg (cooked in Pam or the like), 1 or 2 pieces of 100% Whole Wheat bread (with whipped butter, not margarine) and a piece of fresh fruit (pears and strawberries have been my choice lately). Now that I've discovered Kroger's Carbmaster yogurts, I will probably add this when fruit is not available. I will also eat Shredded Wheat with a little Splenda, an egg and fruit. Breakfast is must for me. I have learned that I can not compromise. My body just will not let me.

For lunch I have been eating a roast beef sandwich on 100% Whole Wheat bread with tomatoes and mayo made with Olive Oil, a piece of Mozzarella string cheese, and fruit. I will alternate with a salad made of Spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, shredded cheese, and piece of baked chicken that took about 20 minutes to cook.

If occasionally I do feel like a snack...I've eaten Fiber One Bars, Emerald Roasted Almonds Dark Chocolate, or another piece of string cheese. I will also start adding Kroger's Carbmaster yogurt as an alternative. I cut out the 100 calorie pack of snacks. They are the most useless 100 calories. They didn't satisfy my hunger instead filled me up with sugar only to be hungry again within an hour. They have no nutritional value to them. While low in calorie...high in sugar, no protein and no fiber.

For supper, I've been eating alot of baked or grilled meat...pork chops, chicken breasts, turkey sausage and vegetables. I'm not as "strict" about supper as I am about breakfast or lunch. I think because due to my healthier eating habits for breakfast and lunch...I'm just not starving by supper like before.

I've even opted to stay home when JB has suggested to eat out. He and the boys will go while I stay home and eat something healthier. Now this is hard but I have learned, that if I go out to eat, I don't typically use portion control nor will I order the healthier alternatives when I've already had the best. So, it's easier for me to just stay home during this stage of my weight loss efforts. I hope to eventually go without loosing control but until then...avoiding is my best option. I haven't completely stopped eating out...I allow myself that privilege and freedom 1 time per week. So when JB asks if I want to go, I am really just choosing if that particular restaurant is where I want use my 1 time. Although, I am starting to see myself choose healthier options and use better portion control...just not to the extent I feel comfortable to eat out often.

A few disadvantages to this "diet" plan. It can be expensive. The cost of healthy food is ridiculously high. It's so frustrating to hear experts talk about the nation being so obese and overweight but they NEVER mention the cost of health food. I am a firm believer that one of the reasons people aren't loosing weight, why diets are working and why people continue to become obese is the cost of food. While this is not the only reason..it's got be one of them. We have increased our grocery budget to accommodate for the increase costs of food. It's very frustrating to say the least. For example..the hot dogs that are recommended are, in fact, healthier but they are $4 for a pack of 8, while the cheaper and cheapest ones can be $1 to $2 but have about 14 to 17g of fat per hotdog. RIDICULOUS!!!!! This circumstance stands the same with most of the healthier alternative foods that are recommended. While I try to buy store brands for a less expensive alternative sometimes it's just not offered.

So as it goes...I am still on a track to loosing more weight with a plan that I don't feel like I'm dieting my life away. This plan says "yes, you can have this just a healthier alternative". Don't be fooled though...just because it may be a healthier alternative...doesn't mean you can eat as much of it as often as you desire. You must still practice portion control and healthy eating habits. For example...this book recommends the Egg McMuffin from McDonald's as a healthier breakfast alternative when eating breakfast at McDonalds. But that doesn't mean you can eat as many as you like every day. It just means...if you are gonna eat breakfast at McDonald's, this the healthiest alternative.

Until next time...Eat This: Post Shredded Wheat original; Not That: Multi Bran Chex.


PS: Post Shredded Wheat Original (1 cup): 170 calories, 1g fat, 0 sugars, 6g fiber

Multi Bran Chex (1 cup): 210 calories, 2g fat, 13g sugar, 8g fiber. While this cereal may have more fiber...it's got as much sugar as 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream. The sugar cancels out any good the fiber has.