Thanks debk, and Thor.
It's great seeing these kinds of results, but I have to be honest and say I plateaued out there for about a week. I was getting tired of the endless rabbit food and lack of comfort food. I mean, I enjoy the feeling I get after a great meal, with some complex carbs thrown in there (not to mention a nice dessert featuring ice cream, my absolute nemesis), because it satisfies.
Instead, I wind up filling a hole with veggies and chicken, sometimes fish. 
I revolted there about a week ago and nibbled on some chocolate and peanuts (nuts and chocolate is another nemesis -- damn, I got a LOT of those nemesi ! 
) and a few other things I shouldn't have had (apple fritters -- another one!), so I stagnated there for awhile. But I eventually pushed through and got past it.
They say it's easy losing weight and harder to keep it off. I dunno -- I'm thinking it's much harder to adopt and keep healthier eating habits, especially when time is of the essence. We're finding the time to prepare food and exercise, but I swear I don't know how.
I've gone back to eating pretty much whatever I want. I've gained 3 pounds, since mid December, that have stayed on. When I started I had wanted to be within 5 pounds of a certain weight. I got there, but everyone - near and dear - kept telling me I was too thin. I was getting a lot of "are you ill?" So now, I'm into the next 5 pound range. I'll let people get used to me being here, and then try to lose some more. It won't seem as drastic.
I never gave up chocolate, just gave up most of the types of chocolate. Instead of M&M's, frozen Snickers and Peppermint Patties...it's M&M's (they form the basis of
my food pyramind
) and Hershey bars - plain or with almonds. I buy those huge Hershey bars, and will eat of section of 5 mini ones...but I don't do it everyday. I bought 4 over a week ago, and there are still 3 and the last section of the 4th one in the pantry.
I've gone back to baking, too. Made a chocolate chip cookie bundt cake the other night. I've had 3 pieces, less than an inch wide, and I'm pretty much over it. It was a new recipe I found, I wanted to experiment with it, I did, I've tasted it enough to critique it, and now I don't have an urge to eat it.
I think what has made the difference in keeping it off, is that I'm more conscious of what I eat, how much I eat and when I eat it. If I eat carbs - I eat protein at the same time. When I snack, I eat nuts - cashews, pecans and walnuts. I also make sure to drink my protein shake every morning. I have found it makes a difference if I don't.
I've known for years, that when I have a craving for something... to just go ahead and eat it. I have gone back to doing that too. Just a little bit is making me "happy-happy" and content...I know it's more a of psychological than nutritional need, but I don't care!! It helps to have a reasonable idea of what the carb count is, too.
I made some "killer" au gratin potatoes the other night (same night as the cake
)...RB had given me the recipe. Lots of sour cream and cheese - both of which I can eat, (
I forgot the butter!
)...I admit they were incredible, but when I had some leftovers last night, I didn't even finish them, and I didn't even have a third of a cup on my plate. I like potatoes, but they have never been a super staple for me. I care more about Ruffles with french onion dip.
Worst things I have done, is I'm back to eating pasta and apple fritters. I'm trying really hard to do portion control with them though. But it is soooo hard, because buttered noodles, makes me soooo happy. And both M and T like them, and I probably fix them at least once a week. Not just some, but the whole damn bag. I dearly love apple fritters. It depends on where I do the grocery shopping as to whether or not they make it into the cart.
I have managed to not buy ice cream. T doesn't care about it at all, and M can take or leave it unless it Graeters. If I buy it, I will be the one eating all of it. I did see a new Breyer's chocolate/almond dipped ice cream bar the other day at Kroger's....5 carbs each. Those may have to come home with me.
I'm still avoiding grapes..
..it is so hard to walk past them in the store. Bread has never been a craved food, though I do love fresh baked soft rolls with dinner (so do the guys), and I'm doing real well on not eating sandwiches.
Best thing I've learned through all of this, is that carbs are a problem for me, and if I'm going to eat them, I'm going to make sure they are coming from food I
really, really want...and not use 'em up in something I don't care that much about.
