This Body Takes Work!

One thing I know for sure. When you let up on doing the healthy things for your body, it’s painful to get back in track!

Lately I feel totally wrapped up in my body. I’m still seeing the nutritionist and will until a year is up. The accountability is good for me. What I hate is feeling like I’m always going to the grocery store.

She has me on five meals a day, or rather three meals and two snacks. I was mostly eating two meals a day, so it feels exhausting to think about food that much. And I always seem to need something.

That’s one of the most interesting things. Not all of us who are fat eat a lot all the time. Sometimes we don’t eat enough. Then there is the issue I had when I just didn’t regulate things. I tend to eat pretty well at home. I just don’t buy a lot of trigger foods for me. Well, unless I go through a period when I think I “deserve” it. Then the ice cream arrives, and I cannot resist continually eating it until it is gone.

Restaurants are my trouble area and because I am single and living alone, a lot of my social life is based around food. I was most worried about this when I committed to lower the weight. I don’t eat bread at home much, but put me in a restaurant with hot and homemade and lots of butter and I am a goner. Or tortilla chips. Yes, I will eat them all, mindlessly.

So far I have successfully maneuvered through restaurant eating. My advice if you are trying to do the same? The salad is not always the best choice. I love good salads, but often I am starving not long after eating one. Many menus have calories on them. You’ll be surprised if you check them out.

I was at a restaurant this week and choosing between a grilled chicken sandwich and a salad full of fruits and veggies and nuts and goat cheese and avocado and topped with grilled chicken. That’s a salad that will hold me. The sandwich came with a side of homemade potato chips. The calorie counts were pretty even, though I don’t think the chips were in the calorie count for the sandwich (though I would have substituted). I ended up choosing the salad this time, but often I look for something else. Soups are a favorite for me. I have been to Mexican restaurants several times and I go for the chicken and avocado. They usually give you puco de gallo on the side. Dump that in the bowl and it us so good! I tend to like the healthier ones best, not those like a potato soup filled with cheese and bacon, so that works out well.

And speaking of potatoes, unless you eat your baked potatoes plain, often mashed are a better option. Those toppings pull up the calorie count. I’m glad sweet potatoes are on many menus now. I love all potatoes, but sweet potatoes always seem like a special treat. I’m baking up five or six at a time now in the oven (I prefer this to the microwave) and heat them for an easy carb for any meal. Eggs, sweet potato, and berries are one of my favorite breakfasts.

I had my first MRI this week. I plan to write about it on Medium soon, but it was an interesting experience. Unfortunately it did not tell us why my leg has been giving me so much of a problem for so long (upper right thigh hot, prickly and at times downright painful.)They thought it was a lower back/disc issue, but nothing showed up except arthritis and the early stages of degenerative disc disease. We’re going to keep talking about other options, but I am hoping just getting healthier, losing weight, and exercising regularly is going to do it. I do not plan for it to stay around much longer. We have a few other ideas for treatment I may try.

I took a little walk this weekend and spring is springing. I put my air/heat on neutral today. I have lots of allergies to the outside so my windows are always closed, so there are only a few weeks a year I get to keep heat and cooling off. Oh yes, I could do more but I like to be comfortable. Especially during heat.

Anyway, the flower pictures are from my walk. They don’t really go with what I’m talking about, but that happens sometimes with me. Enjoy this crazy weather time!

“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!”

Sitting Bull