It’s amazing that food can have calorie content and emotional content. Today was my exercise day, and I needed it. I came home and made Ukrainian pierogi (pronounced like the Polish version, but the last “g” is more like an “h” sound). I made them for Easter, even though I am reading they are not traditional at Easter. Anyway, working with some friends I made about six dozen potato and cheese dumplings, with butter, caramelized onions and sour cream.
One bite and I was back in my childhood, in my Babcha’s kitchen, with the clock ticking, “helping” her make them. It was difficult to approach this nostalgia food with my new mindset – eat them slowly, enjoy, not to eat too many. I wasn’t totally successful. To be fair, there were six people at the table and 36 pierogi disappeared between us. I had 6. Or maybe 7. It was hard to stop but I was totally, totally full. I have no idea if I have adjusted to smaller portion sizes, or ate way too many. But I was full. I am still full 4 hours later. It’s hard to believe I will be hungry in the morning, but the calorie count doesn’t lie (much). I did not break my food intake regimen.
My daily food intake and calorie count are:
Breakfast – Paska bread and butter (300)
- 300 calories
Lunch – 2 x bratwurst wraps (300); 2 x Reese’s peanut butter cups (80)
- 760 calories
Dinner – Appetizers (100), 6 x pierogi (80 ea. + sour cream and butter 100 each), cake (100).
- 900 calories
Snacking – tea with half and half (160), 2 x Jaffa cookies (50)
- 260 calories
Total for the day: 2220 calories (limit 1800 + 500 bonus from swimming, total 2300)
Swimming went much better today. My lap times were almost back to normal. I think whatever illness I had is going away.
I checked my food journal for this year. I have been sick one other time since starting to control my weight. That was in February. I don’t know what happened, because I didn’t weight myself that week. Now I have more confidence in myself and in this weight loss program. I will get on the scale and record the weight. Even if the result is a higher number than I want, I am going to take it easy. I will not punish myself, I will listen and try to get back on track for next week. I don’t think I have over eaten (much), but I suspect being sick affects my weight. See, I have an excuse all ready!
Obviously, I am a little worried about this week and my dieting progress. But I have other things to think about this weekend, and I am confident that the underlying weight loss program works. The keys of my program are (1) monitor my weight and (2) control my food intake. I control my food intake by paying attention to what I am craving and making sure I get hungry for it. Because living this way is a high quality experience, I really enjoy it and try to make it work. It is a rewarding way to live. It’s so rewarding, that feeling full is alarming! Feeling full used to feel sooooo good. Not now. Now it is a relic of the past. Time to let go of the past.
-The Doctor