I have been struggling with my weight since my son’s last operation. Not in the “Oh my God I have to have tailored clothes made and new shocks put in my car” kind of weight, but the “Ugh, my clothes are snug and I should probably buy new ones. There goes me entering a Hotty McHottenstuff contest… ever.” <-not that I would, I hate setting myself up for failure anyway, AND if I won I’d accept the award and then hop on the soap box ranting about the degradation of women and objectification. I’m such a contradiction.
Many know that I’ve quit smoking and I’ve heard that it is more difficult to lose weight after the cessation… well it is. Obviously it is. I tried diet/exercise and then collapsing on my sofa in frustration as I’d stuff a German Chocolate Cake in my mouth (not really), but I did feel like giving up. “Maybe I’m just supposed to be this size. Maybe I should just accept and love who I am ‘as is’, you know… work on my self esteem and all that stuff.” Well good news, I don’t have to!
I’ve heard it mentioned that various places over the years that the standard dinner plate has grown 2″ over the past couple of decades. When I write ‘standard’ I am referring to the typical American dinner plate. Apparently in Europe the dinner plate remains 2″ smaller than ours. 2″ may not seem like a lot, but it’s roughly 30-50% more food you’re taking in.
Finally, after pill popping, working out, dieting, starving, put myself into the worst possible things you can do; I boxed up my standard sized dinner plates and began using salad plates for my meals along with using a smaller fork or chopsticks. The result? I’ve finally dipped down into the weight range that is giving me incentive and letting me know ‘It works!’. I had lost 5 lbs since December, but then it stopped. No progress = frustration. Since changing out the plate size (this week) and oddly enough thinking I’m not depriving myself because… well… my plate is full; another 5 lbs have been shed.
I follow the simple rules of:
1. Use a smaller plate.
2. Remember portions- meat the size of a deck of cards is the perfect amt.
3. Try to refrain from eating while watching tv or using the computer- and if you do… opt for vegetables without the dip.
4. Discipline yourself not to consume food after a certain time. Food = energy. Unless you plan on running in a marathon in the middle of the night, there’s no need to eat less than 3 hrs before you head to sleep.
5. Take a breather between bites. Allow your body to digest the food and tell you naturally when you’re hungry and when you’ve had enough.
It may be premature to brag about returning to the pre-op weight, but the portion approach seems to work for me without feeling like I’m suffering or ‘dieting’.
To tie it in to the earlier articles of the week: It’s funny; society in general expects their celeb’s to be deathly thin and extremely tan; and yet for mainstream- food portions are getting bigger and you can’t escape the warnings of sun damage. God complex? Dance little celeb’s dance; let’s see how close to death you’re willing to go for us.
I tried tricking my mind, but it was smarter than I am. It was my mind that shoved all that food in my belly, not me.
But seriously, good work!
Thank you
I thought there’d be no way I could ‘trick’ myself, especially since I was so aware, but really I’ll have to force myself to think I wanted more or the salad plate didn’t have enough food once I sit and begin eating.
Apparently for me my belly was trying to overpower my mind (thankfully)… I’d hate to know what would happen if MY mind were in control!!!!
It could have been end of western civilization as we know it.
Sadly, I fear that I have somewhat of a personal compulsion to correct small details that don’t really need correcting. After I said it, I regretted having said “good work.” I really meant to say “great work!”