Discussion Board

I live in Illinois. The snow is already gone though. We only got about a half inch or so, just enough to cover the grass this morning.

hi Carolyn

It looks like you're doing pretty well. Did the fried stuff give you a tummy ache? I had some fried okra about a month ago, at an Indian buffet...oh, ugh. I got the worst gas, and THE worst heartburn. For some reason, high fat just gouges my stomach.

I'm doing a mini, too, with a basic meal as my foundation: spinach and rice. I put other stuff with that, once in awhile. Potatoes seems more versatile than rice, but I like my rice and spinach enough that it does me fine for all of my meals.

weigh in, Wednesday for me. congrats on your overall couple of pounds gone! yay!

The fried stuff didn't upset my stomach, but probably because I really only had a few bites, and it wasn't really greasy. Normally, it would have made me feel awful though.

I went off-plan yesterday, because I had lunch with a couple of friends, and the only vegan option was a veggie pita and fries. But, I paid for it all afternoon, so I won't be doing that again.

I am back on track today though - hashbrowns for breakfast, vegetable soup for lunch, and I plan on having a big baked potato and veggies for dinner tonight. I just feel so much better when I am doing this right.

We have a potluck on Thursday, but a friend is bringing roasted potatoes, and I am bringing a veggie tray, so I will just stick to those items and I should be okay.

Carolyn

fried foods give me heart burn now also,
We have a Sunday school CHristmas party to go to Saturday evening, I noticed on the sheet that was sent around that there were salads do not know what kind and veggies. I may take me a small salad just in case the others are loaded with stuff I donot need.,

I am here and posting, but it has been a horrible week. I have not been eating on plan, and am really frustrated with myself. But, it is a really bad time of year for trying to start this and be motivated. I am doing my best to not go too far off-track.

How do you get throught the holidays without completely blowing it, especially when there aren't a lot of options at get-togethers? I mean, you can't always eat something before going, sometimes that just isn't an option. We had our annual potluck at work today, and I ended up eating a tortilla with tomatoes and guacamole, roasted potatoes, and veggies from the veggie tray. I at least avoided all of the cheese and dips and bread and meat, but seriously, there just weren't a lot of options. Sometimes it is so frustrating.

I am back after 2 years of being away from the site. I am extremely motivated to do this right, as over the past 2 years I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and diabetes. In addition, I have gained about 10-15 lbs. There are a few reasons that I strayed from this WOE, but one of the major ones at the time (2 years ago) was that I lost my job, and was unemployed for 5 months. I was depressed and frustrated, and ended up going back to the SAD. Now, after my health has declined and my weight has gone up, I see the evidence of the negative effects of eating unhealthy foods.

For the first few weeks, I am going to try not to be too restrictive, but (no Mary's Mini) but I am cutting out all oil, dairy, meat, and trying to cut out all processed foods. I am also going to try to get some exercise, even though I have to be very careful with this or I will be in pain afterwards.

I am hopeful that I will get the support I need here to keep going and make this a lifelong commitment.

I have eaten well all day so far - will start posting my food journal tomorrow.

Hi and good luck. you can do this!! you know what to do, just decided that you are more important to yourself. then do it!

I feel like I did really well today, for just getting started. Not perfect, but I am pleased with the day.

B: Oatmeal with banana, 1/2 cup coffee w/vanilla soymilk
L: Brown rice & steamed veggies
Snack: 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
D: Large sweet potato w/1 T. brown sugar & cinnamon, steamed fresh spinach
Snack: Fresh strawberries, cup of cinnamon tea w/1 T agave nectar
64 ounces of water

Does this sound like a decent first day? Does anyone see anything that I shouldn't be doing (other than the coffee, which I realize I shouldn't have, but I do at least do the 1/2 caffeine kind). Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Hi Carolyn,

I am just back to the boards too after being gone for a long time. Welcome Back!

I am not one to give advice with where I am coming from but I know what works for me. Your day looks good to me although I know some would say to ditch the soymilk and agave. I know I could never give up coffee until I did it cold-turkey (and even at that it tooks years and many tries - the smell always tempted me ). Having a little always made me want more. But that is how I am. How I am with everything. Right now I am not eating out at all because if I eat something off plan, the trend will continue. I need to have more perfect McDougalling under my belt before I stray. Having a little of anything off plan makes me want more. Even some foods on the regular plan will sometimes produce a trigger. But you need to do whatever it is that will help you make this a lifetime change.

I'm glad you're back on the boards. Let's do whatever it takes to stay with the plan this time! OK?

By the way, does the Lyrica help with the insomnia?

Hi Carolyn,

I am new to the boards, but just thought I'd say hello (since I guess I can't say welcome back if I'm newer than you are!), and offer a bit of encouragement -- it sounds like you're doing a great job getting yourself back on the straight and narrow, so to speak!

Your meal plan looks really yummy. Good for you for getting those yummy starches planned in, as well as the veg and the fruits! (my gosh, blueberries sound delicious!)

My only comment is I personally would steer as far away from the sugars as humanly possible. Yes, even agave nectar. I would *run* from even a teaspoon of the stuff, and let the chips fall where they may.

I was just reading an excerpt of "The End of Overeating" by David Kessler in which he titles Chapter 6 Sugar, Fat and Salt are Reinforcing which rings so true that I think most Americans could tattoo it on our eating arm! (me included!)

Anyway, that is my only slight comment, and the other 90% looks really wonderful and laudable! Many kind thoughts and positive energy your way . . .

-Ginger

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Silver - I never had a problem with going to sleep, just staying asleep. The Lyrica helps some, but I also take a Tylenol pm most nights, just to make sure I can sleep all night. Otherwise, the fibro takes over and I am just really tired and achey all day the next day.

Ginger - I know that the sugar, including the agave, is not the best thing for me. But, I am a work in progress. I am trying to wean myself off of the coffee and sugar, but have not quite gotten there yet - they are both addictive for me, and considering that, I think that I am doing pretty well. Hopefully in another week I can motivate myself to cut them out completely. Thank you (and Silver) for saying something though, because that really helps me to think about it in a different way and motivates me to be better.

That said, I had to take my Assistants out for lunch today, and I was not able to stay on plan. I had whole grain pasta with a light sauce, so hopefully that wasn't too bad. Plus, of course I had them leave out the chicken, and I only at about half of what was on my plate. I tried to choose wisely...

Food for today:

B: leftover sweet potato with cinnamon; strawberries; 1/2 cup coffee w/ 1/4 cup soymilk and 1 T agave
L: Whole grain pasta w/artichoke hearts, lemon-caper sauce
D: Potatoes, carrots & mushrooms (cooked in crock-pot); steamed peas
S: Apple
64 oz water

I am feeling really good so far, and have had plenty to eat. I hope that it continues to be this way, because that will really help me to stay on track. Tomorrow I am going to try to have a cup of hot tea instead of coffee with breakfast. I am having lunch out again because I will be traveling, but I am hoping that I can just get a salad and baked potato somewhere!

Carolyn:

Sugars were really haard for me to drop too - I was sneaking maple syrup onto oatmeal. Apparently, the only acceptable sugar replacement here is Stevia, per JeffN. No calories and plant derived. It works for most things for me, but used sparingly.

Also this is a hint from my "Pain Management" class - instead of Tylenol PM - use benedyrl the antihistamine. It's the sleepy time ingredient in the T PM without the liver damaging tylenol

Today was rougher for me - I was traveling for work, and went to lunch with a colleague and didn't have a lot of options. So, that said, here is my food log for the day:

B: Oatmeal with Banana; herbal tea with honey (very little)
L: Salad w/vinaigrette (on the side, used MAYBE 1T), 6" mini pizza (thin crust), mushroom & black olive, no cheese
D: Leftover potatoes & carrots, corn
Snacks: baby carrots, handful of whole grain wheat thins, cup of coffee w/creamer & sugar (I know...)
88 oz water

Not perfect by any means, but I refuse to beat myself up about it. It was a long day, with a lot of driving, and I made much better decisions than I would have in the past, and still got in all of my water.

I have done this in the past, but part of the reason that I take the Tylenol pm is for the pain relief for my fibro, and I am not supposed to take ibuprofen or naproxin. Hopefully after a few weeks/months on McD, I won't need them anymore!