I keep a food journal and monitor my food intake every day. It’s a habit I intend to keep for the rest of my life. That’s what people do who are in control of their body’s weight. If they can do it, I can do it.
A gray and rainy day today, calls for suitable comfort food. Homemade lentil soup, with a baguette and cheese sandwich.
My daily food intake and calorie count
Breakfast – Meatball and hummus wraps (500); pizza slice (100)
- 600 calories
Lunch – Sloppy joe sandwich (360); Jaffa cake (50)
- 410 calories
Dinner – Pretzels (100); Homemade lentil soup with baguette and cheese (500)
- 600 calories
Snacking – tea with half and half (80); 33 grams of chocolate (175)
- 255 calories
Total for the day: 1865 calories (limit 1800)
Over my limit today
Honesty is essential in my food journal. If I don’t know what I’m eating, I am not in control. I might start lying to myself, and lose touch with reality. It’s always a danger. Usually, I try to keep 50 calories under my limit, just to account for any forgetfulness, willing or unwilling. Today, I was over my limit. I find am often tempted to do that after a Saturday weigh-in that has more emotional impact. This Saturday was a big step for several reasons.
First, I have never dieted my way below 280 before. I have never consciously, while on a diet, lost this much weight, ever. So that’s a milestone. It also suggests that my system of weight control, and remaking myself into a person capable of losing weight, might work. Third, I have been a bit ill for the last couple of weeks (intestinal, don’t ask), and I wasn’t sure what my weight would be when I stepped onto the scale Saturday. All that in combination was an emotional climax. When that kind of storm comes through, I noticed I often over eat. Maybe I should think about why that is.
I have finished my post on how to start a diet (part III). No more deep thoughts tonight! I will come back tomorrow full of ideas. Until then, good night.
-The Doctor