Need to feel free to choose

Hi all,

I fell off the proverbial wagon shortly after we spoke last. Now that does NOT mean what it used to mean. No bingeing...

Even though there was a huge amount of food and choices in the grouping that I was working with when last we spoke, the fun in the game of using those specific foods in specific amounts and seeing what variety I could come up with wore off. I began to feel limited. Funny how that happens whenever you do in fact LIMIT yourself. At least it does to me. It becomes a diet!

Nothing adverse about the true value of the foods that were on that list, nor that eating them isn't a perfectly healthy thing to do. One choice at a time, making each choice in my best interest is the Way to LIVEit!!!

Inform yourself, listen to your body, trust yourself, be active and ENJOY!!!!! I promise before you know it you will be your best self, body... You will NOT feel deprived, even though, because you are well informed about GOOD for you foods, you do NOT eat lots of foods you used to eat.

Remember, if you crave something less than healthy, less is more, but denying yourself completely puts your mind in charge and the mind is a dangerous thing. Trust yourself! Live well.

1 week mark

I thought I'd let you know that I have been following Jillian's (last post) specific suggestions for a full week today. Eating every 4 hours just from her list of daily foods and I feel wonderful. I have been getting good daily walking sessions in as well.

I have yet to be able to eat all that is on her daily list. There is simply more than I can eat in one day on that list. I have tried to get everything in just in smaller portions. But they are ample, filling, satisfying and tasty.

I am not an early riser, so I have had trouble getting any more than 3 meals a day. I am a night owl but I don't eat after about 7PM. That is something that the myth busters have debunked but it was ingrained into me since childhood. Also, I ate late for years when I was working nights and I don't sleep well on a full stomach. Waking up with that food hangover feeling is not pleasant. I have found that even a healthy snack later in the evening stays with me all night.

I do NOT weigh. If you have followed Way to LIVEit for long or read back a ways you know that about me. I think scales are not only evil but extremely in accurate. It is not about the number. I need/want to loose all the extra weight especially around my middle that I have piled on in the last year because they make me feel bad. Look bad too, but this is about taking good care of myself NOT about judging myself.

The good news is that I DO feel significantly better and much LIGHTER. MY MIDRIFF HAS SHRUNK BEFORE MY EYES. I am taking care of myself and that alone puts a lift in my step. My body tells me when it is time to eat and I am listening to my body when it tells me I've eaten all that I need.

Specifically:

BREAKFAST: 1/2 cup of Kashi whole wheat or Oatmeal with my 1/2 cup of berries and 1/4 cup of nuts for breakfast. If I eat Kashi then there is also a 1/2 cup of unsweetened soy milk which I count as a serving of dairy. If I eat oatmeal I usually throw in cinnamon and 1/4 cup of milled flax seed.

My other 2 meals are a combo of ALL the ingredients on Jillian's daily intake list in the form of a salad, very good salad with beans (1/2 cupish) and avocado (1/2 small or 1/4 large) 1-1 1/2 cups of fresh baby spinach, 1 cup of broccoli slaw, handful of grape tomatoes, boiled egg, 1/4 cup of unsalted sunflower seeds. When I have them green onions, cucumber and oh yes baby carrots are included. My dressing is 1/2 cup of low - non fat cottage cheese and spices (garlic, red pepper flakes...)

Besides salads, I have made great chili, stir fry and omelets with these ingredients adding 1/4 of a package of fat free ground turkey, 1 tbsp of olive oil... To mix it up, I used fresh cooked salmon and even canned in water white tuna as the protein or a chicken thigh/leg.

This list of ingredients can take you anywhere, I am having a great time creating meals from it.

I measured out 16 oz of water in one of my glasses the first day and drink it gone as often as I can. In addition I drink 3-5 cups of green tea a day.

Here's to week 2!!!!!!!!!!!

A great tip: 2 tbsp of ANY spices add FIBER to your meal.