BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Low Carb Lori's Food Journal

Thank you, Lisa, for allowing me to post my food journal here. I proceed with a certain amount of trepidation because I usually backslide a lot with my good eating intentions, and I didn't want to scare off anyone to see what can go down my gullet.

But having to be accountable has proven to be the secret to success for most weight loss organizations. You know, the weekly weigh-in. Since I don't have that here, and weight loss itself is not my sole focus, I'd like to begin posting what I eat in this very public forum. {{{deep breath}}}

My success with my exercise journal has encouraged me greatly.

I recognize that everyone has his or her own personality that is suited better for one food and exercise style. I'll never be the type of person to train hard in a gym but when I decide to exercise that is precisely what I attempt to do only to give up a few weeks later. I realize that I have to do what works for me.

As for exercise, I'm starting with a daily walk so my goal is to just get out the door every day. Once I do, I tend to walk anywhere from one to three and a half miles. If I thought about it before I got out the door, I'd feel discouraged. So my only thought is: Get out the door.

I plan to do the same here. Focus on one food-related improvement. My daughter and I decided that this is it for now:

Make better choices.

That's it. I am refraining from doing my usual "We're all going to be vegans forever" goal because three days later, I crave a hamburger or a steak. I would like to become a vegetarian but I see that baby steps are the way to go for me. So I am focusing on making better choices. Not perfect choices, not the best choices either. Just better than my past choices.

April 17:
Breakfast-V8 (6 oz) and Activa lite strawberry (4 oz.)
Lunch-Fresh cucumber salad (shirazi), tabbouleh (parsley salad) with grilled fish, a bite of grilled chicken, tomato, hummus and 1/2 pita.
Dinner-Vegetable curry with fresh avocado salad - no rice!

The better choices today: This breakfast was better than bacon, eggs and toast. The lunch was a way better choice than our favorite Mexican lunch of shredded beef taco, rice, beans, cheese enchilada and too many chips and salad! And the better dinner choice was to skip on the rice.

And, I was given a Ghiradelli chocolate caramel square and I saved it for my hubby instead of eating it.

Lori -

It sounds like you have great goals in place! It's so true that gigantic goals can seem too challenging and then never get done. Focus on those small steps. Celebrate the small victories.

Your menu today sounds absolutely delicious, and healthy too! Well done! What an amazing start .

Lori, what a refreshing idea--just make better choices. We can apply that in so many ways. I'm so tired of counting calories, portions, carbs, etc. I think I'm going to borrow your idea.

You guys are so terrific! Thanks for your support! It means the world to me and I know that I can do this, especially with your watchful, encouraging eyes!

Another better choice today: I almost ate some potato chips for a snack but I reached for the peanuts instead. Just a few because they were in the shell and I was lazy. haha.

See how this works:

Perfect choice: Drink water or hot herb tea.
Best snack choice: Veggie sticks, kale chips, etc.
Better snack choice: Low-fat yogurt, fresh fruit
Good snack choice: Nuts, cheese, hard-boiled egg

Usual snack choice: Chips, ice cream, sandwich

I'm moving up the list!

Lori -

In terms of perfect choice, I would hesitate to say just water is good. If you really do need a snack, you want to give your body a bit of nutrition. Your body needs nutrition to survive. So I'd count thirst and hunger in two different areas.

You're right, Lisa, except for an eater like me, hunger isn't always the reason why I eat. Sometimes, I am thirsty. Sometimes, I just want something to do with my mouth. Or to taste something. Crunch something.

April 18:
Breakfast-Coffee with half and half and Splenda. Had to run out to take my aunt to an emergency dental appointment so no breakfast.
Lunch-Korean spicy tofu soup (1/2), sashimi salad (1/2), edamame, green tea, 1 Tbsp. ice cream.
Snack(s)-Fresh whole apple, green tea, one square sugar-free dark chocolate.
Dinner-taco bar but will eat only veggies, cheese and salsa and no shell or meat. Well, I might eat meat if it's chicken.

Better choices today: NOT getting a doughnut for my coffee. NOT getting my usual fried tempura and beef combo when my aunt and I went to lunch. NOT eating all of the free dessert. NOT grabbing a crunchy, salty snack. Going to a birthday dinner tonight and plan to eat just two bites of cake. I'll update to see if I follow-through with my plans.

But I have to tell you that this journal is already helping me. If not for having to post here, I would have made very different choices today! But one right choice seems to empower me and making the next right choice becomes easier. My daughter agrees!

Lori -

Oh absolutely it's important to make sure you really want to eat because you're hungry. It's easy to confuse thirst for hunger, or to auto-eat. Those are all good things to check for!

Lori -

That's wonderful about all the healthy choices you're making! Well done!