letsfixmyheart wrote:Day one is in the books. I am still using a food tracker (Noom) and I ate way fewer calories than usual without really trying. I don't love tracking, but it does keep me honest when I'm eating the standard American diet, and I have told myself that if I can go a month without deviating from my plan (which is to do 100% MWL with 4 exceptions, and do the closest I can at those times), then I can stop tracking.
(* 4 exceptions are immediate family birthdays, major food holidays (like, not Veterans' Day, but Thanksgiving and such), our weekly Sunday family dinner (but not all day -- just dinner), and when I'm on a road trip for work, which happens a handful of times per year and lasts 1 to 2 days each time. I will tackle those 4 times later; right now I'm figuring out how to eat at normal daily meals, both at home and at work,)
I think you will find that you can cut this list down and still be quite satisfied. These are 4 exceptions, but it's actually between 52 and ? meals per year. It's going to be REALLY hard to adjust your tastebuds if you eat SAD food that often. You also don't want to reverse all the work you did losing weight the rest of the week. Just give it a little time and you will find it's much easier to stick with, and you will even prefer to stay on plan during these times. I promise!
For family birthdays, I still eat my food but I used to eat a small piece of dessert so that they didn't feel disconnected from me, but these days I eat fruit, or a popsicle, or a twice baked Japanese sweet potato (they are incredibly sweet and gooey).
On the road, you will learn where to find potatoes, salads, etc. (canned beans help with starch for salad if potatoes aren't available. Oatmeal, fruit, etc can work for any meal.) Some friends of mine were evacuated due to a forest fire this year, and as soon as they checked in to a hotel, they went to the grocery store and bought pre cut fruit and a baguette. For their dinner. I think most people would have gone for fast food in a stressful situation, but that's what they wanted and were happy with. preferring to eat this way is one of the happy changes you can expect!
For family dinners, I will always make sure there is something we can all eat, along with things my family eats. I make mashed potatoes and vegetables my way, and depending on what's being cooked and who is eating, I might set aside food for myself and then add more ingredients and finish for them. It's ok to eat simply, and I love a plate full of potatoes, green beans, corn and Mary's fat free gravy. If you post your challenges, there's a lot of people here that will help you through them. Before long you won't need help, it will just be natural for you.
