Happy Tuesday, What's on your menu, everyone?

Mornin' All!

I was up early as well - around 4:00. I gave up on trying to get back to sleep. Not much going on today other than taking my mother to the dentist this morning. I'll do her grocery shopping for her while she's at the dentist so I won't have to do it later this week.

my MIL was FINALLY moved into rehab yesterday, after three weeks in the hospital. The only spot was at this awful nursing home (a traditional one - not the newer ones where it's basically more like high-level assisted living). She'll only be there a couple of weeks, but I'm hoping this will convince her that she needs to get on a couple of waiting lists at the nicer places in town so if and when the time comes, we can potentially get her into one of the Cadillac places. I emailed my mother last night and told her the same thing. These two have GOT to get on some waiting lists, or they're likely to end up at some crappy place when (and if) they need to go. I'm not sure why they've been so resistant...

I'm finally getting around to finishing up my classes since I've been ignoring them for a couple of weeks (too many other things going on). I finished the section on weight maintenance for my nutrition class last night. She started out talking about how a lot of people, while and after losing weight, do things like weigh themselves all the time, log and measure everything they eat, obsess about what they're going to eat, count calories/carbs/fats (or whatever "diet" they happen to be on), fret about going to restaurants or social events, etc. She said most people would consider this behavior "disordered eating". HA! Sounds like me, and most of the people here on this thread! So after going through the lecture and presenting us with lots of data, she went back to the original screen with all those points on it, saying basically, that unfortunately, this seems to be what it takes in order for most people to maintain weight after a loss. I knew it! So I wonder why (some) dietitians these days keep pushing "intuitive eating", for both losers and maintainers, if these "disordered eating habits" seem to be the only way most people can lose - and maintain- their weight. You guys probably already know this, but data also shows that for two people being the same height, same weight, etc, one person never having had a weight issue and the other being formerly obese, the formerly obese person has to eat about 20% fewer calories than the never-been-obese person to stay at that weight (either that, or eat about 10% fewer calories than the other person on top of exercising at least 60 minutes a day). Very depressing - but that's kind of the way it is.

QOTD: late afternoon snacking. And buying more food than we can eat (I have two stuffed freezers and a stuffed pantry to prove that!)

B: protein shake (with some avocado so I can get through 'til lunch). Coffee with half & half.

L: chocolate "mousse" (made with cottage cheese) and raspberries

AS: raw veggies with dip, fresh fruit "salad" (no dressing - just cut up fruit), L&F yogurt

D: gazpacho, some microwavable "grain bowl" dish I've had in my freezer forever

have a great day, everyone!

That's why while I think about getting a deep freeze, I never actually do it. I already end up with too much food years past its use by date. It's crazy!

I am down to an apartment sized refrigerator with the little freezer compartment on top. And I have too much food in it. I buy more than I need and end up throwing it away or eating it out of guilt. I am at the point where it would probably make more sense to eat out than to cook for myself.

Good news on your MIL.

Glad your MIL got a spot. I hope it's been an epiphany moment for her.

Back in 2017 when I lost a bunch of weight, I learned a new term orthorexia. It's basically exactly what you sat about the disordered eating - having an obsession with eating clean or healthy. I was probably pretty close to that because you're right about it taking that level to keep up with it.

Ah, data and information. Thanks for sharing!

Ah yes--buying food I will never eat is another one of the habits I should stop. The amount of expired food I throw away is insane and I could probably retire now if I had saved the money I spent on food I eventually threw away.

My nephew quit drinking soda and he's got an app that tells him how much money he's saving each day. I think the next time I clean out the pantry and freezer, I might take a stab at the cost of everything I end up tossing. I think it will be shocking, unfortunately

How hard is it to stop throwing out food? Buy a ham, eat a ham until it's gone. Buy sausages, eat sausages till they run out. It's not difficult.

Yep, I agree. However, I am better about buying food for me and not having to throw it away. This is probably because i eat the same thing very consistently, so I know exactly how much I need. The problem is my family. They ask for this and that, so I purchase those food items for them then they don't eat it. For example, DH asked for the egg bites from Costco. I have purchased those for him last Friday. There they sit in the fridge untouched. I should have known better!

My Keith is the same way. But I learned to freeze portions for him, then pull it out just one serving. Even bread, buns, etc...They freeze well. I often buy too many cold cuts for him/us. But ..when they are still OK to eat - I use what we did not eat in 8 days from a purchase to make frittata or egg bites for me. I buy ham and beef cold cuts only every other week. Others that last longer - like salami, pepperoni, vacuum sealed cold cuts - we have them in small packages. He works from home, so he thinks he would eat the sandwiches, but often he choses some hot food for lunch instead. I don't mind having a few servings of homemade egg bites frozen.