The Diet Naked Blog

Lesson from a Cupcake

Cupcakes are the perfect solution to the age-old problem of overconsumption of birthday cake.  An empty cupcake wrapper announces, "I've eaten a cupcake!"  Otherwise, you might not realize that you'd shaved a rectangle of cake off the large hunk of leftover cake and popped it into your mouth during a jaunt through the kitchen.  How many times has that happened to me?

(May I just interrupt myself and mention how frustrating it is to make so many jaunts through the kitchen?  I have a four-year old who needs a drink or a snack with irritating frequency, not to mention a telephone anchored to the wall in the kitchen which beckons me when I can't find the cordless phone.  I am ALWAYS going into the kitchen which is another reason I got so fat.  I couldn't seem to go in the kitchen without eating a bite or two of this or that.)

Anyway, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has eaten most of a leftover Costco sheetcake without even realizing that I was doing so.  (And the Costco sheet cake?  A deadly diet-busting combination of cheapness, deliciousness and giganticness.)  Cake is one of those foods which seems like you're not really eating, even though you are consuming a days' worth of calories in a few giant, yet symmetrical (so no one realizes you're pilfering cake) rectangles.

But cupcakes solve that problem because if you have eight sitting on a plate, you can't very well sneak four of them without being noticed.  And those wrappers!  Those tattle-tale wrappers tell the truth. 

My son turned 9, so I made two batches of cupcakes.  Twenty-four vanilla ones with vanilla frosting for those strange people who don't like chocolate and twenty-four chocolate ones with chocolate frosting for the rest of us.  I took them to a party, but brought home twenty leftovers.  (For the record?  Cake mix, but homemade frosting with real butter, vanilla and powdered sugar.) 

After some deliberation, I grabbed a chocolate one, but then, as I was eating it, became distracted by my kids and ate the whole thing without noticing it.  I hardly knew it was gone, except that I had an empty wrapper. 

But I had eaten it and I had proof. 

Next time, I'm using a fork and a plate and I will savor the chocolatey goodness because really, calories you don't enjoy are wasted calories.

(Oh, and how do cupcakes fit into a sugar-free, white flour-free diet?  Very rarely, that's how.  I don't think I've had a cupcake since last spring.)

Half of Her

Go here and congratulate "PastaQueen" on losing half of her body-weight so far . . . what an inspiration she is!  (She now weighs 186 and is continuing to lose.)

(And while you're there, check out her progress in photos.  I only wish I were so technologically savvy . . . and that I'd taken better "before" pictures.)   

Weigh-In

Hey, so guess what?  I weighed in today at a svelte 171.2.  Which is  what I used as my weigh-in number last week (it was an average of the previous four days).  I was thrilled to see that same number on the scale.  No, really.

I was delighted because yesterday and the day before I felt unaccountably fat.  What's up with that?  How can you feel all cute and skinny one day and then as enormous as an overstuffed couch the next day?   I wonder if this happens to men as well as women?  At any rate, the scale offers objective truth, which I could not live without.  The truth is that I have lost 55.2 pounds so far. 

Yesterday or the day before, I saw Bob Greene on Oprah's show talking about his Best Life Diet.  I have this book (one of 18 books sitting on a chair near my desk) but have yet to read it.  At any rate, here's a link to his website, which has some free content, as well as an option to pay for his diet plan.  I am not endorsing it, but I bet it's a sensible plan.  (Though you could lose weight for free if you just gave up sugar and white flour and exercised every day.  Or if it makes you feel better, send me five bucks, then give up sugar and white flour and exercise every day.)

Have a great weekend!  That's an order!

Official Thursday Weigh-In

My scale still isn't working because I haven't had time to get a replacement battery.  (It's one of those little coin-shaped batteries, which I don't keep around the house.  Woe is me, I haven't left the house recently!)

At any rate, just because I can't weigh in today doesn't mean you can't!  So, spill it.  How much do you weigh today?

The other day while I was getting dressed, a thought flew into my head:  I can't wait until I'm done with this!  By "this" I meant the constant focus and attention on what I eat, my ability zip up various pairs of smaller pants and the weekly weigh-ins. 

And then, I realized that THIS WILL NEVER BE DONE!  If I intend to stay at a healthy weight for the rest of my life, I will have to remain diligent.  I will weigh every day.  I will be aware of my waistbands.  I will study my body in the mirror.

I will never again be able to eat with wild abandon, shoving food into my mouth quickly before I come to my senses.  I will never again resort to elastic-waisted pants.  I will never ignore my need for daily exercise.

And I'm okay with that. 

In the Span of Two Years

The funniest thing about losing weight is that people (in real life, not just here on this blog) confess to me their dietary sins.  And, although I appreciate the self-disclosure, I have no power to forgive or absolve.  Really, I know what a struggle it is to determine your destination and then move steadily in the right direction.  Overcoming inertia takes a lot of guts and will. 

I have only sympathy for those who can't get off the couch and for those who have lost their way.  I have wide-eyed admiration for my fellow sojourners.  Underneath it all, we're more similar than different, whether we're on our way or still contemplating the best route to reach our goal.

Anyway.  That has nothing to do with these pictures, but recently I remembered that I had a digital picture of me on my 40th birthday somewhere on the computer.  Today, I remembered to look for it and then I thought it would be fun to compare pictures of myself, taken two years apart, to the day. 

(Yes, that's my husband.)

Here I was, turning 40 (thinking, oh, I'm so fat, please don't take my picture!). 

And (below) here I was, turning 42 (thinking, yum, I can't wait to eat this dessert!). 

Now, carry on.  Get some exercise and eat a vegetable.  That's an order. 

Monday Diet Tips

This morning, the scale dipped below 170.  Then, it flashed 'BATT" which means that the battery needs to be replaced and the reading on the scale was unreliable at best. 

And now, because I have nothing else for you, I offer diet tips.  And wait!  That's not all.  Here are more diet tips.  Click here for the 100 Smartest Diet Tips Ever.  Not enough?  Check out 10 Unconventional Diet Tips: How to lose 50 pounds in three months. 

And enjoy the rest of your day!

Official Thursday Weigh-In

It's Thursday!  I know!  My morning was incredibly busy and I'm just now at the computer, even though it's nearly 12:30 p.m. 

Anyway, as predicted, my weigh-in this morning seems to have been affected by my late-night Valentine's dinner (Hawaiian Cobb Salad, Clam Chowder, Creme Brulee').  I weighed in at 172.6 this morning, but I am not using that as my official weigh-in number.  Oh no, I am most certainly not.

On Sunday, I weighed 170.6.

On Tuesday, I weighed 171.

On Wednesday, I weighed 170.6.

On Thursday--today--I weighed 172.6.

So, I averaged those weights together and came up with 171.2. 

Which, the regular reader will note, is finally a change from 173, the weight that has insisted on staying steady forever.  I can't really point to a particular change that I've made this week, other than being a little more aware of portions.  I have used my weights and done some squats, but honestly, I keep forgetting that I'm supposed to do that.  My daily cardio exercise continues, however.

Maybe next week I'll actually leave the 170s behind.  That idea is amazing and will probably keep me watching my portions very carefully. 

Anyway, how are you doing?  Losing weight?  Staying the same?  (If you check in but aren't on the Diet Naked roster, would you please mention that fact so I don't wander about in my records, looking for your name and wondering if I've finally lost my mind?  Thanks!)

Your turn.  Leave a comment and let us know how you're doing.

When I'm 100 Years Old

Dear Relatives of Mine,

Please do not tell Grandma about this post.

Thanks. 

Love,

Mel

*  *  *

Okay, so tonight, my grandma called me because she'd heard from my cousin that I've lost some weight.  I've seen my grandma since I started my weight loss efforts, but my grandma suffers from macular degeneration and she can't really see anymore.  She didn't really know how much weight I've lost until my cousin told her.  (Hello, cousin!  I know you're out there reading this!)   

So, Grandma wanted to know my weight loss secrets.  What have I done?  How much have I lost?  I explained to her about cutting sugar and white flour from my diet . . . somehow we talked about eating fruit and I said I eat fruit, but not watermelon or bananas because they tend to cause a blood sugar spike.  I'm afraid that Grandma is going to eliminate bananas from her diet on my advice, though I promise I didn't exactly advise her to do that.  But that was the message she heard.

What I said was, "Grandma!  You don't need to lose any weight!" and she said, "Oh, well, I think I need to lose a little."  I really wanted to ask her how much she weighs and then I got a grip and kept my mouth shut.  But I said, "Grandma!  When I am 100 years old, I will eat brownies every day."  She laughed a little and said, "But what about when you're 101?"  I declared, "Then, I will eat ice cream sundaes and potato chips every day!" 

My grandma will turn 101 in March.  And she still worries about her weight.  She's a size 12 or 14, though when you feel her hands, her bones feel as fragile as a delicate bird.  My grandma doesn't like chocolate and really doesn't care for sweets.  I am pretty sure she's never eaten an entire family-sized bag of potato chips in one sitting.

When I'm 100, I probably won't eat brownies every day--I want to feel as good as I can and you can't really feel your best when you've eaten a whole pan of brownies (yes, I know this for a fact), but I do hope that I will have long since resolved my issues with food and my body.  I want to be healthy, to eat healthy and to be at peace.

(Now, really, don't tell Grandma I talked about her or I might get in trouble!)

Hand-me-downs

I have a little secret.  The scale has been kind to me that past few days.  Sunday, I weighed in at a svelte 170.6.  Today, the scale said 171.  I tell you this only because Wednesday night my husband and I are going out to dinner for Valentine's Day and, although I am confident of my ability to choose well in a restaurant, my Thursday weigh-in will probably reflect that late-night dinner.  Or maybe not.

At any rate, I'm feeling strong and confident that I will eventually get out of the 170s and back into the 160s for the first time since 1991. 

Oh!  And a friend of mine who lost about fifty pounds recently donated her now too-big jackets and coats to me.  When she asked me if I'd like them, she told me they were size 12 and while I am wearing size 12 jeans and pants, I doubted my ability to wear a size 12 jacket.  However, I am pleased to report that almost everything fit perfectly--two leather jackets, a wool Liz Claiborne blazer, a full-length coat, and an all-purpose casual jacket.  The only thing that didn't work was a size SMALL coat and that was because the sleeves were too short. 

I could not be more surprised or delighted.  While I understand intellectually that I have lost weight, I honestly find myself surprised when I fit into smaller sizes.  Slowly, my brain and heart and body are getting aligned, just in time for me to lose the rest of this weight.

Now, Valentine's Day is tomorrow.  Be prepared to see chocolate.  But remember that just because you see it, just because you receive it, just because it's a symbol of love does not mean that you must eat it all in one night.  Taste!  Share!  And then get it out of sight . . . or even out of your house.

Today, I sent twenty-five "fun size" candy bars with my son to school for the Valentine's Day party.  (They celebrated early because tomorrow is a field trip.)  Anyway, those candy bars were left over from Halloween . . . which is remarkable if you consider that this means I did NOT eat all the Halloween candy I could get my hands on this year before, during and after Halloween.  It also means that "the kids" were not the ones eating too much candy in the past. 

The Back-Handed Compliment

Last week, I was the dubious recipient of a back-handed compliment.  (The details of the "compliment" and how I received it will be missing in my effort to protect the guilty!)  But this "compliment" stunned me, made me blink.  Then I wanted to defend myself.

Have you ever received one of those kind of compliments?  An unwitting person says to you, "Hey, I didn't recognize you!  You look great!" leading you to say to yourself, "What?  Did I look awful before?"  How do you respond?

Some people might take it to heart.  Perhaps I would if I didn't have this innate defensiveness to criticism.  My husband will tell you that I don't take criticism--constructive or otherwise--well.  I am aware of this fault.  But in some ways, it serves me well because I don't necessarily embrace everything people might say about me.  I know I'm right!  Why would I believe someone who doesn't agree with me?  (I am only half-kidding here.)

Anyway, when I received the compliment that was really an insult wearing make-up, I pointed out to myself that the intention of the person who offered it to me was good.  She didn't mean to be unkind, but was trying in her crippled way to praise me.  Some people just aren't able to dredge up a cheer, even when that's what they mean to do.  So, instead of taking her words at face value, I told myself that she meant well.  The actual words, I will discard.  The sentiment will remain.

Now, if someone insults you and means it, you have my permission to roll your eyes and walk away.  But if someone insults you in the process of trying to compliment you, just smile and say, "I know what you mean."  Don't look for trouble.  Enough trouble will find you on its own.

And, by the way, don't turn down a compliment, either!  When someone says, "You look great!" all you have to say is "thank you."  No excuses, just "thank you."

(I feel like I'm channeling Dear Abby or Miss Manners today.)

(Oh, and you should know that since I tempted fate by bragging about my superior immune system, my throat has that pre-sore tickle, and I am frantically popping Vitamin C and drinking gallons of water in an effort to fight off the full-fledged cold.  AND I have to go to the dentist again today.  This afternoon?  I am taking a nap!)