Weight Loss Tuesday: Break or No Break?
Jul 8, 2009 Weight Loss
Yes, I know it’s after midnight. But I’m still up. And I was traveling last week on Tuesday and couldn’t write. So I’m getting this one in under the wire. Weight Loss Tuesday.
What motivates me?
The last time I lost weight, I dieted for two months straight with no break. I did not cheat once. Not on my husband’s birthday. Not on my birthday. I was driven. I had sized out of most of my clothes and was really panicked. But this time, it’s more for vanity’s sake than anything else. I never tell my kids I’m dieting – if they catch me weighing food or logging my meals, I tell them I’m trying to be healthy. But the fact is I am healthy. I bike, my daily routine takes me up a lot of stairs, I can keep up with my kids. I can fit comfortably in an airplane or theater seat. It’s all for vanity now. And just wanting to look better isn’t as strong a motivator for me as not having a thing to wear or not being able to get up the subway stairs without panting.
Take a break
So, I take breaks. Usually just a day, but I just took a big one, a little over a week. It’s nice to take a break from counting and weighing and tracking. You may ask why I couldn’t have just had a few hundred extra calories a day all along, instead of going hard-core most of the time (1,200 calories) and then going off the wagon. I have no better explanation other than that’s just how my brain works. I suck at moderation, big-time. If you’re good at moderation, then you might be able to get through without breaks. But I do better this way. And I have no trouble getting back on the wagon. By Sunday, I actually wanted to be back on my diet. I had about 1,500 calories yesterday and 1,300 today. Tomorrow I’m going to brunch with some friends, and that will be impossible to count, but I’ll try not to make a total pig out of myself.
Alfredo won’t kill you
Alfredo sauce is good. Really good. Yes, the same stuff that one group famously called a heart attack on a plate. When I get fettuccine Alfredo in restaurants, there’s enough sauce on the pasta for several more servings, and eating that much of it probably would kill you eventually. But I use it at home all the time, in small amounts. I don’t need to put a ton on for great taste. (Sure, I’d love to put on a cup, but I also want to fit into the size twelve vintage coctail dress I want to wear to a conference in a few weeks.) I always have a little container of Contandina Alfredo Sauce in the fridge. A couple of tablespoons (70 calories) is enough to give a plate of pasta and veggies a nice cheesy flavor without blowing my calories. I also use butter, peanut butter, olive oil, and lots of other fatty high-calorie foods in smaller amounts. They make me happy.
So, yesterday I boiled some fettuccine and sauteed the veggies I had in my fridge – shallots, carrots, and tomatoes – in a teaspoon of olive oil and added some frozen broccoli to the mix. I tossed the pasta with the Alfredo sauce and topped it with the veggies. It was a hearty plate, for about 400 calories. It was delicious.
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
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Tags: Fettuccine Alfredo, pasta, Weight Loss
Don’t worry about the olive oil, peanut butter, butter…these things are actually good for you. I would be more worried about high fructose corn syrup…if you read your labels it is in everything! Look through all of your canned food, it is easy and relatively cheap to replace that stuff with organic alternatives for a few dollars more…it is worth it in the long run
Una is right..but im sure you remember all of the crazy “diet” things we tried over the years. the low-fat, no-fat, lo calorie versions of things that were loaded with fake ingredients and chemicals…ugh what were we thinking. FYI I eat only real foods now..butter, oil, ice cream whatever….and im in better shape now than when i used to eat all that imitation stuff.
I am going to go through lap-band surgery soon, but I have stuggled immensely with weight. I was fat then thin, then fat then thin, had two kids and guess what? I am fat. I have tried damn near everything to lose it, with little results. I want to say this, high fructose corn syrup is in everything, it’s amazing! And, diet pop, makes you fat. I was clued in to this news when I went for a psychological evaluation before the surgery. (I am not sure why this is the case.)The psychologist was saying try not drinking any sort of pop. HE said that just because it says diet doesn’t mean that it is, you have to be a smart consumer. Anyway, what should you eat???? Jillian Michaels, trainer from the biggest loser, also believes that you should eat real foods as well. The psychologist said that if you just eat stuff that grows, you will probably be okay.
Anyway, it’s a battle that I am going to surgically get help to take care of this problem. However, I do realize that I will need to change my ways in order to lose weight and be healthy. I am a product of the 90’s low fat dieting. And, I strongly agree with Una and Cara on both comments. They do not seem to struggle much with thier weight either. Although I do not know them and could be mistaken.
Also, throw out the suger free sweetners, just drink water, unsweetned tea, mildy sugar sweetned lemonade and you will be healthier. The psychologist that specializes in bariatrics also said that it’s pretty sad when all we can think to put in our bodies is a bunch of chemicals.
I want to address Jen’s comment for a second and please don’t take this the wrong way, but I really think you should reconsider your surgery. Lapband, Gastric bypass, Gastric Stapling are technological solutions to people that have gotten, lets face it FAT because of technology. You may be a product of the diet crazes of the 90’s, but please know that people are starting to fight back against “big food” just like we fought back against “big tobacco”. Now while I will be the first to admit that growing up I didn’t struggle much with my weigh (my sister and I were ballet dancers and ended up with different issues surrounding food as well) but now that I am in my 30’s I have discovered that I can put on weight FAST…really fast. But I am fighting back. I only eat real foods, organic EVERYTHING, drink water only and I do go to the gym at least 3 times a week. I understand that not everyone has the same time to devote to their health…but we need to make time. I know a few people who have had these surgeries and they wish they hadn’t. I really believe that everyone can take control of their health…but it takes A LOT of effort. But it’s totally worth it. I hope you are not offended by this, but my sister who write this blog has also struggled with her weight for a long time and she is doing great now through diet and exercise, I couldn’t be more proud of her!! Good luck to you whatever your solution is.
Although I know some people just have an easier time maintaining their weight I truly believe that the only reason una and i were able to control our weight was because we always excercised….always. Otherwise I think some of the stupid dieting might have resulted in gains of 20 to 25 lbs which on a small person is very noticeable. My weight has gone up and down by as much as 15 lbs which may not sound like a lot to some people and some might not even notice but that has been my own struggle…we ALL have them.
Una,
Thank you for the encouragement. And, I am not offended in the least. Why didn’t your friends like it? I really think I have genetics working against me as well. I am 115 lbs overweight. When I was married 5 yrs ago I was 90 lbs lighter. I am totally discouraged. The lap band is not a solution to the weight problem, it is an aid to help me lose the weight. Something that might help me control the weight forever.
The people I know didn’t like it because although they lost weight initially, all of them plateaued far from their goals and couldn’t loose any more weight. Also, friends who have had gastric bypass complained that even years after the surgery, eating more then the allotted amount of calories resulted in vomiting and other discomforts. In all, they felt like they took the easy way out and discovered that basically it was just another “fad” I really believe that if people eat good, real food and exercise consistently, without giving up or cheating they can be healthy…but it’s the reality that not everyone wants to hear…because it is not easy and it is a lifelong thing. But it is worth it. Bring healthy and loving the way you look and feel is the greatest feeling in the world and everyone is capable of it.
I know that you are correct, Una, in many ways. I am not making ANY excuses for myself. You do not know how much of a problem this is for me. Still, I don’t think that surgery is an “easy” way out.
Jen. Hopefully you will come back and let us know how the surgery worked for you. Always interesting to hear from someone who has gone through it.
there are not hard to reducing weight.. don’t avoid force yourself to avoid any food.
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