What's on your Monday Menu?

I have just recently learned the term intuitive eater and it scares the hell out of me. That seems like a lot of freedom and I'm not quite sure what to do with it. I think for me, the intermittent fasting just allows me to really get creative and eat my fill during my window. Because I only have 6 hours to eat, (which believe me is plenty), I try to fill up on really nutritious foods, but I don't beat myself up about the breads, pastas, tortillas, or cookies that accompany them. Because I know I'm going to close my window and that's that. I don't know that I would trust my eating without the rigor of a timed feeding window. I love food, I am a foodie. I (like so many others) obsess about food, and it's tied in with a lot of emotions. I need to read more about the intuitive eating. It fascinates me.

Before WLS I did a 6 months stint with therapist and NUT that were big on IE. It didn't work for me but reading your menus and the way you go with the flow, during those 6 hours, you are def the queen of IE. Pat yourself on the back!

my nutritionist is big on IE, too. She HATES the fact I count calories and weigh myself every day, and for the last two years at my appts she's insisted that i read the IE book. Well I finally got around to it last week. There are a handful of tips in there that might be useful, but overall, I'm a little afraid to let go. What I'm doing has worked for me, and I know how I can be around food if I let my guard down. I think I'll stick to what I've been doing and just use some of the tips (e.g., asking myself if I'm really hungry (when I want to eat), or if I'm responding to some other cue...)

Mornin'!

I've got Mah Jongg this morning. MIL is supposed to come over for dinner tonight, so I was planning on making black bean soup and cornbread, but we're supposed to have "light snow" starting this afternoon. I'm OK with light snow, but I'm not sure if she is. So we'll see - but I may go ahead and make the soup and bread regardless. It should still be fine tomorrow if she wants to postpone. OR we could go over to her place... Otherwise, nothing much going on, although i need to finish watching a movie for my film discussion group that's meeting on Friday and FINISH UP WITH THE CHRISTMAS CARDS! (before they turn into Easter cards!)

QOTD: my tracker tracks all of the above, but at this point I only pay attention to calories and protein. I used to watch carbs (although I never ate ultra-low-carb, even the first year), but I don't anymore. I just make sure that most/all of the carbs I eat are healthy ones. I've never paid attention to fat (well, at least not since having WLS - I did back in the 80s and 90s when it was "the thing").

Accountability was great yesterday - and scale is down. YAY!

TSS: 5y7m

B: plain Greek yogurt with strawberry compote, coffee with half & half

MS: protein shake

L: turkey chili

AS: protein pumpkin muffin, maybe a L&F yogurt

D: 1 C blackbean soup, small piece of cornbread, maybe some "supermix" (cabbage, broccoli, kale, and carrots) with light dressing

ex: some kind of cardio

have a great day, everyone!

btw - I would die if I had to eat 800 calories to maintain! I feel so sorry for those of you who do. My maintenance range is 1500-1700, but if I consistently eat at the low end of my range, I'll (slowly) lose. I'll lose faster if I eat under range. But then I'm 5'6", have a decent metabolic rate, and am trying to defend a higher weight (150s) than some of you, so those are all factors...

Good morning JB and Menuers,

I am kinda glad the holiday season is over but I gotta be honest the pandemic kept me from gaining tons of weight. I did gain over the New Years weekend because I cook both New Years Eve and New Years Day but I really didn't miss all the Christmas gatherings that put me in a downward spiral.

On a good note the treadmill has been repaired and working better than ever. And I signed up for 5 classes with a fitness instructor and Saturday morning I will be doing a class called Crazy 8 full body circuit. So something new for 2021. I am excited and looking forward to it.

QOTD: I do not track my food. I write my menu here in the morning and it is my jumping off point if I add to it during the day I count that as my accountability items. I read lables (check sugar and carbs) to make sure I am not making a bad decision and I rely on the scale to tell me when I need to cut back.

Accountability: I ate a bunch of carbs. I did make potato cakes with left over mash potatoes the only health part about it was I air fried them and dipped them in eggs.

TSS: 3 years 0 Months and 24 day 134.4 (Lowest 129.4)

MS: Premier Apple cinnamon oats Protein shake and berries

L: Chili, celery sticks, home made blue cheese dressing, snake selects.

D: Kielbasa and sauerkraut, Lima beans

Exercise: 3.4 Mile run (done)

Water and vitamins: On track. I take a Bariatric Advantage Ultra multi w/iron I use bariatric advantage Calcium chews and my blood work has been great. My B12 has been High so I cut my sublingual to every 3rd or 4th day. And I have now added 500mg of Magnesium

Everybody have a Great week .

Brightest Blessing

Chrissy

Good morning everyone! It's going to dump rain here today. I guess that's what happens when you live in the PNW. My husband is going back to work today after being off last week. I am looking forward to getting back into a routine.

QOTD- My goal is 80 protein, minimal amount of carbs and under 1000 calories a day. I finally got on the scale today and I am 20 more than I was in March when the pandemic hit. So, my goal is to lose 30 lbs and be at goal. I can do it. I just have to be vigilant and track every bite. I also broke up with cheese. It's just too calorie dense. I am also going to start journaling again. Like I said the other day, my goal is to be more present. I have just been "here" the past year. I am also going to give up wine. It's just too much of a slippery slope. I feel like I have been drinking more this past year. Moderation is not something that I am good at.

I have lost 3 people that I know this past week to obesity related death. Two from complications of diabetes. They were in kidney failure. Another, was super morbidly obese and bed bound. She had not moved from her bed in over a year. She was so weak, she couldn't even sit up. It reminds me of why I had this surgery. Each day I will commit to nourish my body with good food and intentional activity. My surgery is a gift. I guess I am just feeling emotional today and grateful. Thanks for letting me ramble.

Food plan for today-

2 eggs, 3 oz garlic pepperino ham ( the ham is from Boars Head and it's spicy delicious)

1 can albacore tuna with 2 TBSP Feta Dill greek yogurt dressing ( I'm excited for the dressing, 40 calories, 1 carb, 1 protein, full of flavor)

4 ounces Roasted chicken breast in the air fryer

boiled egg or chomps for snack

650 calories, 4 carbs and 103 protein. I need to tweak my menu a bit. It's a work in progess for today.

Lots of water and hot tea. I am hoping the rain lets up and I can get out for a walk. If not, I do the elliptical.

I'm sorry for your loss.

I hear you about the moderation, through this pandemic I find myself using alcohol to deal with my anxiety. I know that is just an excuse, and I need to knock if off.

So very sorry for your losses.

I am sorry for your loss...I am so glad you (and all of us here) took the steps to not become another statistic. It's hard but so are the risks and outcomes of obesity. Sending you a virtual hug.

that's so sad. I have a former co-worker who's SMO, has Type 2 diabetes and kidney issues. I worry about that all the time...