There is (1) successfully losing weight, and then there is (2) successfully controlling and maintaining your weight, once you have lost it. These are very different ideas and call for different approaches. Right now, I am busy with losing weight. If you ask how to lose weight, I would say you have to learn to work with yourself and deal well and kindly with yourself. Instead of forcing yourself to eat less (which hardly ever works), work with yourself to find a way to make it happen. You will have to learn to trust yourself.
The Doctor has learned that his body will willingly eat less, if loving care and attention is paid to the food that will get eaten. No diet foods, no restrictions, but I must make sure I am happy to be eating my meals and looking forward to them.
My food intake and calorie count
Breakfast – Jimmy Dean egg, sausage and cheese croissantwich (400)
- 400 calories
Lunch – 2 x Corned beef and cabbage wraps with potato and carrot (275)
- 550 calories
Dinner – Costco pizza (760)
- 760 calories
Snacking – tea with half and half (80)
- 80 calories
Total for the day: 1790 calories (limit 1800 + 500 bonus from swimming, total 2300)
Why is that so exciting?
Why do these foods keep me happy and satisfied, while in deficit approximately 1000 calories per day? What is there to look forward to? A frozen breakfast sandwich, is that really so appealing???
Some of the appeal is universal. Some of it is my personal taste. Some of it is the care and attention I put in to the preparation. Some of it is based on the fact that, when I am hungry, these things look and taste great! Let me explain:
The Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwich started out as a time saving device a few years ago, before I was dieting. It was pretty good, though I usually ate two of them for breakfast at that time. The McDonalds version is internationally popular (Sausage Egg McMuffin, anyone?), so it’s not just me who likes this combination for breakfast. But when I approached this frozen sandwich as a meal suitable for losing weight, it needed help. The company included only microwave instructions. That was not exciting at all, and I almost gave up on it. Then I discovered that if I wrapped the sandwich in foil and cooked it in my toaster oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes (yes, thirty minutes), it became really good. The croissant got flaky, the sausage and cheese were in great balance with the egg, and Tobasco gives it some kick. My toaster oven method of preparation saves that sandwich. When you are ravenous, a well cooked sandwich hot from the oven is perfect. The 30 minutes of preparation gives it an additional savor – you can’t wait for the timer to go off! And they are under $1 each. 400 calories.
OK, I’ve made myself hungry for breakfast now. Or at least anticipate it strongly!
As you can see from the calorie count and food choices today, my appetite has finally returned to normal. I also swam today. It’s safe to say I have recovered from the cold I’ve been having this weekend. Onward!
-The Doctor