NYNY - Fred - Dec 10th

I think that I'm developing my way of life. It probably may be too
routine but it works. I have my meals down and while I do not measure
everything (fish, shrimp, chicken), I do measure beef and cheese (on
the rare blue cheese occasions) and lamb and nuts. Lunches are also
standards at this point. When I do go out to eat, I have gotten very
use to taking about half home (or on road trips, to the cooler). I
don't seem to have the same driven cravenings for potato chips on the
drives home from work and do not snack on cheese like I use to.

Desserts still have my name on them. Which explains the Costco
chocolate cake and now the fruit cake. But I am trying to limit those
indulgences to once a week.

Snacking on a lot of dried fruits but trying to limit them but
sometimes that dried mango takes over.

PORTION control has definitely been a prime driver. I use to eat a
ton, almost an entire package of 12 (dried) ozs of pasta as dinner.
Now I really don't do that since potatoes have built-in portion
control. And I do kasha and make sure I come close to a one cup
serving. But it does not have the same calling pasta did. I like
kasha a lot but it does not seem to demand to be overeaten. I really
have to do bulghur again, too. I have some but like the kasha.

Breakfasts are also not measured very often. I should probably get a
handle on a cup of whatever again, just for control.

We just have to remember that we have a problem and unlike alcohol (I
never did much) or cigarettes (never), food cannot simply be avoided.
So we need to keep HOPING and working on it. I do lose it like
Prairie with Miss Meringues but they are more kindly than losing it
with real ice cream or cheese. And I do force a late night pickle
down rather than more POINTS of any other kind.

On Thu, 11 Dec 2003 12:49:08 GMT, "Lesanne"
wrote:

Yesterday we went out to lunch, which we frequently do when babysitting DGD,
since then the cafeteria she loves has to clean up the mess. My Ma loves
fried anything. So do I, but you know how often I eat that sort of thing
(same as any of us). We bought the lunch special plate of chicken fried
chicken breast. There is not any skin, but there is a nice crunchy fried
whatever all over it. I also got a vegetable plate, which has 3 veggies.
I got mac and cheese (guess who loves that) canned corn (ditto) and green
beans. Then when we got to table, I cut the chicken into 3 pieces, put
about 2 T of mac and cheese, 2 T of corn, all the green beans and a third of
the chicken on my plate. I really figured I would be up a pound this
morning, but still nice ole 157. I think this whole thing is about portion
control with the high calorie/fat/sugar items, and liberal servings of 0
point items for satiety and crunch (the chew factor) and this becomes not so
hard. Are you also finding maintenance not as difficult as it was at first?
I am! I hope that lasts!

"Fred" wrote in message
.. .
That is well put. I have been UP there now twice. So I know what's
possible. But I also know I have a lot more tools as far as food
consumption. Now, attitude, mood, spirit, whatever might have more
power behind it then just the tools. So it will need constant
monitoring and vigilance.

I wish us all the best of luck and discipline.

On Thu, 11 Dec 2003 01:32:12 GMT, "Lesanne"
wrote:


Gotta tell you, I don't understand what your sister said. Do you
think
she
meant that when you get to 155, you will want to weigh less than that?

Yes, that is what she meant. That each time I move the line down for
"safety" I might want to move it down just a bit further so that I
draw a new safety line and don't approach the OLD one - like 164, oh,
well, 160, hmm, 158..... 155, 154?. So maybe shooting for 155
should be just a rough idea and hovering now would be fine. Up a
pound down a pound. I know the rules. I occasionally break the rules
but not really as I quickly try reining it back in. Like purchasing a
Costco Fruitcake today (g) It is sliced and frozen save the one piece
I have already eaten. And I probably "chawed" half a bag of gummy
bears last night and these are not tiny bags.


Just this part, clipped the rest. I can see myself not ever being "done"
just from the terror of going the other way. I am going to set my "back
to
journalin" number at 160, and let it be. I too have not been journaling
this past week and I am at a new low. I think this just takes daily
weigh
ins, and a willingness to go back on program when the one sixes show, and
hanging around here to keep the focus. I really have a hard time
believing
this. I was somewhere yesterday and someone I did not know well said
something that caused me to say something about being fat They looked
at
me and said, "YOU AREN'T FAT!" I had to laugh
I forgot. I'm not.