Still Crazy After All These Years

It's more than a Paul Simon song, it's the story of my weight-loss life.

Why don't I even listen to myself?? I said back in June I would stop dieting, then in July I went on 1200 calories for 2 months, lost a grand total of 5 pounds at the end (after first gaining a few then losing a few to finish at a loss), and as soon as I started eating apx 1400 - 1600 cal again immediately regained them.

I have a birthday coming up. I just spent the past week reviewing a number of weight loss plans, from the old Deal A Meal to the Rice Diet, thought I was coming to this blog to change it to a weight loss journey, read what I previously wrote, and now I'm having second (millionth!!) thoughts again.

This past week I made wholesome family meals, and last night hubby commented on how content his tummy has been, but he's waiting for the other show to drop, for me to return to low-cal meals. I told him nothing we ate was particularly high in calories - tofu, skinless chicken breasts, tuna, even a vegan meal made primarily of broccoli and chickpeas - and he asked why we don't eat like this every week, if it's so good for us.

(sigh)

I've really got to get my head on straight! I'm already in my mid-50's - do I really want to spend the rest of my life like I spent the past 50+ years when it comes to food?

I didn't think so!

Ya know what, don't even bother reading this post. Just scroll down to what I wrote almost a year ago and re-read it, because the sentiments are the same.

At least I made a bit of progress since then. I bought a cookbook that, although it's still vegan, it's far from low fat. Since I bought Vegan With A Vengeance last month I've been having fun baking again. Whodda thunk you could make healthier cupcakes? I have to cut back on the sugar and use some whole wheat flour in them because of my hypoglycemia and teeth (I had to hit the dentist after the third batch of cupcakes, but there's no cavity), but even with those slight changes the food is delicious.

I'm allowing myself fruit juice again, something I avoided for years because Dr. McDougall said juices are bad for you.

I even have real chocolate now and then again, and can even keep a bag of chocolate chip cookies in the house without devouring them within 24 hours or less. Holy shiitake! I guess OO does work when you work it!

And I'm about to draw the line on scrambled tofu. I just had it again today, only the third time ever, and not only does it taste horrible and nothing like eggs, I could buy an entire dozen organic eggs from free-range chickens for what it cost to make! Why eat bad tasting food?

And what I'm about to say next will be no surprise to the chronic dieters out there. You know when I lost the most weight? Yep, after I stopped the very low fat, low cal food plan and started eating the baked goods and real foods again.