The Report: Tuesday, January 9, 2008
Today was an improvement in many ways over the last few days. I really went back to paying some attention, I ate some vegetables, and I made a good discovery. Nevertheless, I am really battling some discouragement, because I really figured that with so much less of the “mindless eating” (as they call it) over the last few days and so much less snacking, I would lose a couple of pounds in the first nine days of this, and it appears that I haven’t at all. So the challenge now is to really do what I always say I’m going to do and focus on the actual things I’m doing rather than on the number that’s showing, and refocus on the decisions and the habits. Most urgently, I must-must-must go back to working out. This is just…critical for me in so many ways, and I’m convinced it’s the only way I’m ever going to reverse the situation with my weight, so…back to that. Back to that, for real.
BREAKFAST: Eggs In A Pita
I scrambled two eggs and tucked them in half a (white) pita. Added nothing but salt and pepper. I had one of those Jonagold apples, which still are seriously, seriously not my favorite, but which I have and am going to eat. This was a good, well-balanced breakfast, and it didn’t leave me hungry.
LUNCH: Salad With Blue Cheese
I went to Hale And Hearty for lunch, and I had a salad made from the big romaine bowl. It had cucumbers, carrots, croutons, craisins, blue cheese, tomatoes, and corn. (Lots of “c” words.) And then I had regular vinaigrette on it. They have a fat-free balsamic vinaigrette, but the last time I had it, I felt like my salad was drenched in water. The custom salad at H&H should be a really good option for me, and I’m frustrated by my inability to solve the dressing issue. I think the first thing I will try is getting the dressing on the side. I think even the regular vinaigrettes could work if I had less. In fact, I did interrupt the dressing today before it was too much of a dousing. I don’t know. It’s complicated. They have some other light ones, but they really don’t appeal to me, and I’m not sure what to do about that. I didn’t have anything else with lunch. At least I got multiple vegetable servings in — although the tomatoes were inedible. I need to get the sun-dried at that place, or not bother at all.
DINNER: Potato Gnocchi
The roommate and I went out for dinner at our cafe of choice. I typically get something very rich and overeat-y there, but this time, I went with potato gnocchi with tomato ragout and chicken sausage. It was really not good; I wasn’t pleased with it. The sausage was dry, the gnocchi just seemed like balls of mashed potatoes, and the sauce had little flavor. I also had two slices of their little bread, dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. On the upside, it reminded me that I really like bread dipped in oil and vinegar, but on the downside, the bread is really oily itself, and I should have satisfied myself with one piece. I also should have had something to drink other than the hard cider I chose. It just wasn’t that good, and with a fairly sizable meal, I should have opted against a drink with calories. BUT! In news of victory, I only had about half the gnocchi, successfully stopping myself from just eating all of it because it was sitting on the plate. I also chose far, far, far from the most damaging thing I could have ordered. I really, really wanted a giant burger. Not a regular one — a giant one. WITH FRIES. But I didn’t have it, and I’m glad for that.
SNACKS: Okay. At Starbucks, I accidentally — because I didn’t even order it — got a “skinny” mocha, with not only skim milk, but also sugar-free mocha syrup. It wasn’t as good as a regular mocha; I won’t lie. But honestly, since it looks like I’m going to be stricting up again, I might try it for a while. It beats a plain latte, I think, and it has no sugar, so it’s basically a glass of milk.
In the afternoon, I had instant cocoa, which seriously is not very satisfying, and I can make coffee at that same coffeemaker, so — no more instant cocoa.
In the evening, I had a half-cup of that Extra Light Rich (Extra Rich Light?) Haagen-Dazs. Delicious. Oh, and late at night? One Hershey kiss.
