Avoiding sugar, white flour and high-fat food can be a challenge when you are out and about. Today, I left my house at 9:30 a.m. for a little "retail therapy" at Value Village. (Every item was fifty percent off and how can a bargain-hunter resist that? And, yes, I found some good bargains.)
Since I'd stayed in bed until the last possible minute, I left home without eating breakfast. However, a successful dieter is a prepared dieter, so I was able to grab a apple-bran muffin from the freezer (okay, I took two). I thawed one for immediate consumption and saved the other for later. I had bottles of water in the van. So, voila! Breakfast.
I've given myself permission to eat a soft taco from Taco Time once a week or so. So, after shopping at two different Value Villages, I stopped by for a chicken soft taco. I savored every bite.
Later in the afternoon, after returning home, I had a handful of nuts, one 72% dark chocolate Droste pastille (from Trader Joe's), and a few Triscuits.
I took the kids to the pool this afternoon (it just opened for the season, and despite the 60 degree temperature--brrrrrrrr--the kids yearned to swim). I packed granola bars and cookies for them and nothing for myself. After swimming, I treated the kids to McDonald's and, without deliberation, ordered myself a grilled chicken salad.
I never use the dressings they give me at McDonald's. Perhaps they offer one that is fat-free and sugar-free, but so far, every time I've chosen one, it has either fat and/or sugar. So, I wait to eat until I get home where I use my own fat-free dressing, even though I let the kids eat in the car. I haven't had a single french fry since I started this eating plan the day after Easter. It's best that way. One fry may lead to a large serving of fries. I know myself.
Tonight, I had fat-free popcorn while I watched "The Apprentice," and then indulged in sugar-free, fat-free pudding.
On the exercise front, I continue to ride 45 minutes on my exercise bike each night. This week, I've added push-ups, crunches and free-weights for my triceps.
I've lost 18 pounds, which pleases me, though I did catch a glimpse of myself in a window today while returning to my car, and a mean, critical voice in my head gave me a verbal slap: "Wow, look how fat you are!" she said. That voice should be sent to Exile Island and forced to sleep in the rain until she can be nice.
Congratulations on losing 18 pounds, that is fantastic! Can I have the recipe for the Apple Bran Muffins? I LOVE a muffin with my coffee in the morning, but my favorite coffee shop's muffin is 550 calories and 21 grams of fat!
Also, I put a link to you on my weight loss blog, it is http://fortyfortyforty.blogspot.com.
Posted by: Elizabeth | May 30, 2006 at 01:50 PM
Wow! Way to go for the preparedness! One thing I LOVE about the LA Weightloss plan is that they give you an eating out guide. It tells what is on the plan and what it counts for. For example, a taco at Taco Bell is one starch and 1/2 a protein so I eat one taco and the inside of another taco to make 1 starch and 1 protein. And if I'm running a little late for work, I too will take a little something with me (like an apple) because it's so important to keep your metabolism going.
Posted by: Mary | May 30, 2006 at 05:46 PM
Mel,
Could you share the recipe for the apple bran muffins? Thanks!
~Helen
Posted by: Helen Auch | July 14, 2006 at 03:58 PM