Pinkhippies daily check in

[lpearlmom]

Hippie, love your insight about what pattern of eating works best for you! I used to follow that blog Six Miles to Supper and she used to say think of the easiest diet that you can think of(for you) and follow that. Then just tweak it till it works. My problem right now is that I can't seem to follow any kind of pattern or rules period but of course with the WL meds, it's not as much of an issue. It's hard to eat if I'm not hungry but I'm not overthinking it either.

I definitely think it's great to not focus on losing weight (when possible). When ive focused on just the pattern and then kind of trust my body to get to where it needs to, is when I have felt best about my eating and body in general.

anyway I'm rambling! Hope things continue in the right direction for you.

[pinkhippie]

Hi RG! Noted about the rind! Thank you1

Ellis, mmmmm Bugles... :lol Sounds like a great lunch to me!

Hi Linda! Yes, I read that woman's book, and she always used to say tweak it til its easy. I was thinking of her advice when I started drilling into my easiest eating pattern.

So my friend finally left today, and I was sad last night saying goodbye to her. My eating has been all over the map, but I have been only eating what I want and eating when I am hungry. Yesterday it looked like this:

Tuesday

B: 2 biscuits with butter and jam
L 1 chicken fajita with lots of veggies and some cheese, 1 peach
D 2 biscuits with butter and jam, 3 pieces of chocolate with 3 spoonfuls of peanut butter.

I was content. My dad took us out for breakfast, and I was CRAVING biscuits. I wanted nothing savory, and I felt satisfied after eating them, even though there was very little protein. So, Im trying to listen to my body a little more on food.

Today I am back at work, vacation is over, and I have got more of a normal meal pattern going on.

Wednesday

B: Big bowl of protein oatmeal with a peach
L: chikn patty sandwich with lettuce and pickles
S 1 appl, 3 granola bars( I don't know, I was really really hungry? Im interested to see if I feel the same way after lunch today. )
D: Asparagus, potatos, onions and sausage, 1 piece of toast and a ramekin of frozen yogurt. (had weird craving when I got home last night for veggies and I had a veggie pack, realized sausage would be delicious in it and heated up a few links of breakfast sausage)

Exercise: 25 minute walk

[Sammybunny711]

Mmmmm biscuits. As a southern gal, I feel you. Sometimes only biscuits will do.

[pinkhippie]

Hi Sammybunny,

Yes! And these biscuits were incredible, made from scratch with jam made from the fresh fruit from the garden. Soooo amazing!

Thursday

Second day back at work from vacation, still trying to get in the groove. I am very tired this morning. I was really hungry yesterday, but also realized its the first day I have walked that many steps in days!

B: coffee with almond milk, protein oatmeal with peach, 1 granola bar

L: chikn patty sandwich, 1 apple, 1 cheese stick

S: 2 granola bars

D: a super spicy "power bowl" that I didn't finish, some broccoli, a piece of toast and a ramekin of frozen yogurt

Exercise: 25 minute walk

I can't figure out if I have an increased appetite at work because Im doing more and dealing with more or if its emotional eating. It seems hard to imagine that its emotional eating as work is very laid back right now, with pretty much no stress, but I feel like after lunch I just can't get full. granola bars are so not cutting it. I need to figure out more substantial lunches. I eat with coworkers and they all eat tiny lunches because they snack all day so I always feel weird eating so much more food and for so much longer too.

[automatedeating]

Only since moving to the south have I learned what true biscuits are! I NEVER liked them until I've had some seriously amazing homemade ones.

[pinkhippie]

Hi Auto! Yep the south does a couple things oh so right! They still can't produce amazing bagels though. I miss those and have them every time I visit back up northeast.

Friday

Keeping my weight under 170 is the goal right now and I am holding at 169. I can still fit into my true size 12 shorts and pants and all my vanity size 10's and 8's, so as long as that keeps up, I am happy. I would like to weigh less of course, but I really just want to be able to fit into my clothes.

Also was verified to be 5'9" at the dr and by my friend who is 5'8.5" according to HER Dr ( I am taller than her by a bit) so Im going to stop thinking of myself as a shrunken 5'8". That puts my BMI at 25 exactly.

Day off work:

10am: egg sandwich on a sandwich thin with provolone cheese, half an apple. ( I was super hungry when my hunger kicked in. Needed something savory, not anything like oatmeal)

12 pm: a few handfuls of animal crackers as I recovered from taking my 16 year old driving. She is doing great but I am still shaking from the adrenaline every time I get out of the car.

5pm: chicken nuggets, broccoli, ramekin of frozen yogurt

7-10pm: random party nibbles, air popped chips, rice krispie squares, bread, some wine, some cheese spread...

I took extra pepcid last night and was fine going to bed at 12:30 am but I defintely don't want to push it like that again! I never drink so I found I needed the food to recover and function the way I wanted to.

[Sammybunny711]

I've lived in the south my whole life. Some southern things are still icky to me even though I've lived here my whole life. I can't stand coleslaw or potato salad (despite potatoes being my favorite food). I refuse deviled eggs, etc. But biscuits? I'm ALWAYS in the mood for biscuits, lolol.

[Amy3010]

Holding at BMI 25 is something to give yourself a big pat on the back for, Pink! And fitting into your clothes, huge non-scale victory! Well done!

I hear you on the driving - I taught all three of my boys to drive, which was hugely stressful. I still get nervous sometimes with the two younger ones, even though they've had their licenses for nearly ten years...

[Ellis]

Fitting into your clothes is definitely a win!

12 pm: a few handfuls of animal crackers as I recovered from taking my 16 year old driving. She is doing great but I am still shaking from the adrenaline every time I get out of the car.

I can imagine this, haha.

[pinkhippie]

I lost a whole post somehow. Oh well, Thanks everyone! maintenance is a victory! Ellis, yeah I did a lot of stress eating on the animal crackers this weekend!

I realized over vacation I lost my habit of not eating after dinner! It started with small insidious handfuls of a snack after dinner and last night I found myself snacking 2 hours after dinner! So I need to get back on that.

Friday I went to a pool party and ate a ton of food after 7pm because I had a glass of wine and I needed the food to function. I have absolutely no tolerance. I took extra pepcid and was of reflux wise but felt yucky all night.

Saturday I did pretty good but found myself snacking in the evening.

Today, Sunday I had a normal breakfast, a normal lunch and then went nuts on animal crackers and hersheys chocolate. Soo good but so not good for me healthwise or guiltwise.

We got our two day project of getting our new dishwasher installed today. Our valve didn't work and we got water all over the kitchen etc.. etc.. The new dishwasher is amazing compared to our 17 year old dishwasher! I can't believe how quiet it is!

So goals for this coming week. No snacking after dinner. 3 meals with an afternoon snack if neccessary. I took the time to meal prep and cook myself some very filling lunches and Im hoping that will help. I also premade my steelcut oats for the week.

[Amy3010]

I lost my reply to you here as well, a couple hours ago...the site was working really slowly. Attempt #2:

It is crazy how easily bad habits like nighttime snacking can creep back in! It sounds like there are a few of us here who really need a good solid green week this week. Let's do it!

[pinkhippie]

Hi Amy,

Im sorry you lost your post, but glad to know it wasn't just me! Yes the site was working super slow. I agree. I think there are a few of us who need a green week! Let's do it! I have planned all my meals ahead of time and I know what Im going to eat, so it SHOULD be easier than it's been. I need to get my habits back and I feel ready. Also, I have been reflecting and I think sugar makes me hungrier and makes it harder to not snack, so I am going back to vanilla when it comes to the S. I think it makes it easier to stick to my habits when I don't have a dessert. Not mentally, but physically.

Monday:

B: Steel-cut oats, peach, almonds

L: ranch chicken broccoli potatoes w/ peach

S: String cheese

D: Black beans with brown rice,sweet potato cheese, bell peppers, salsa, ramekin of plain greek yogurt, and strawberries with crushed walnuts

Ok, these are my planned meals for the day. Let's see if I need to come in and edit anything.

Exercise: 25 minute walk.
20 min weights

2:00 pm note: I realize that my danger time is after lunch, before I go home. Long, slow boring. I want to just keep eating even though I can tell my stomach is full. If I can make it through this, the rest will be easy, my day will be green, and I get to have a cheese stick if I need it. Keep on keeping on!

6:15 pm note: I did it! I decided to have my planned snack at 5 pm because my dinner was not cooked when I got home and I was very hungry. Even though I had a cheese stick, I was hungry enough while making dinner to think that plain brown rice looked and smelled delicious!
My yogurt and strawberries were delicious and I added no sweetener to them. I think maybe I ate a little more than I needed because I was worried about being hungry but baby steps. I had a green day! No sweets, no seconds, and no unplanned snacks.

[lpearlmom]

Yay for a Green Day! Your food looks great. I think adding yogurt and strawberries is good way to get that sweetness without having a dessert.

Oh and had the same problems with the site too. Kept getting error msgs!

[Amy3010]

Well done, Pink! Planning your food out in advance and pre-logging it is a great strategy!

I also agree that certain foods, like sweets and refined carbs, can trigger more hunger.

[pinkhippie]

Hi Linda, thank you! Yeah I had trouble this morning too! I noticed 404 messages popping up. I hope the board is ok...

Hi Amy, thank you! Yes I really want to do the intuitive eating of whatever I want but I am coming to realize that certain foods do have a physiological effect, and they make me more hungry. So I think intuitive eating will be more possible if I cut down on the sugar and refined carbs. We will see!

Tuesday:

B: Steel-cut oats, peach, almonds, coffee with cream

L: ranch chicken broccoli potatoes w/ peach

S: String cheese

D: Black beans with brown rice, sweet potato cheese, bell peppers, salsa, ramekin of plain Greek yogurt, and strawberries with crushed walnuts

Exercise 30 minute walk and then 20 minute walk.

All my food is the same as yesterday because I am making fish sticks for the kids for dinner, and thats not filling so I will eat leftovers from last night. I will change it up on Wednesday.

We will see if I make any changes to the food log!

Note: I made no changes to my food log. I stuck to it exactly. Another green day!

[Amy3010]

Sounds like you have a good solid day planned out - I hope it went well!

[pinkhippie]

Hi Amy!

Yes, I did, thank you! Another green day! Yesterday, between lunch and dinner was easier, even though I ate lunch one hour earlier because of an event. We had a guided meditation after lunch (it's a work wellness thing), and I noticed that even though I thought I was really hungry that once I checked in with my body, I actually wasn't. It was kind of crazy because the sensation I associate with hunger, which is just feeling kind of empty, isn't actually physical hunger once I take the time to really get in touch with myself. Im pretty bad about being in touch with my physical self. I tend not to be. I noticed once I did that, I had a very tight and sore neck and a headache I wasn't even aware of. So, yeah, why would I want to tune into that?


Wednesday

168 this morning!

B: Oats with peach, coffee with cream

L: Brown rice, sweet potato, black beans, salsa, cheese, pepper, a peach

S: cheese stick(I am finding a cheese stick quite effective as a snack because it doesn't rev up my sugar cravings like a granola bar or a protein bar)

D: a piece of scrambled egg sandwich, ranch chicken, and potatoes
(made the sandwich for the kids, it smelled sooo good I decided to have a small piece rather than having my yogurt with my meal. It was still a 1 plate meal so I call it a success.

Exercise: 25 minute walk

[pinkhippie]

The board is loading normally right now, must take advantage!

Yesterday was green, today is on track to be green.

Thursday:

6 am coffee with cream

B: oats with fruit and nuts

L: scrambled egg sandwich, peach

D: ranch chicken and potatoes

I have my book club this evening so I will be eating dinner a little early and inside my car before I go in to the winery that we meet at. Everyone will be ordering drinks and food, but as long as I eat my dinner, this doesn't usually bother me. Honestly, it's the eating late and $$ that keeps me from eating with everyone else. I know with No S I could do it, but it's usually not practical. I MAY get a Fresca as a special treat

Note: Did fine, was a little tempted but got a pint of grape ice cream to bring home for an S day. Its a winery and they make amazing grape ice cream. Felt like I was the only person not eating.

Also, I noticed that my scrambled egg sandwich filled me up and I was not hungry at all until dinner. I didn't even think of or need a snack. I think I need more fat in my meals. Its super satiating for me.

Exercise: 25 minute walk

[Amy3010]

Oh, I hope book club went well! Social eating situations can be so tricky. But it sounds like you have good motivation to stick to what you planned!

What book did you read?

[pinkhippie]

Hi Amy!
Book club went pretty well, lots of eating all around me and Ice cream everywhere. I got a pint to take home with me to eat for S days. There were a large number of women there, and a couple of new people and I really didn't enjoy myself as much beasue it was so chaotic, but that is ok. We area weird book club that reads, but basically reads anything we want and then we tell people about it. Im currenty reading Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson.

Today was kind of weird, I met a friend for late breakfast and coffee and keeping in mind the observation about fat being more filling, I got a bowl of granola with whole milk , not almond milk, and coffee with milk. I wasn't even hungry for lunch. Like, I just wasn't hungry. So I ended up only eating dinner and dessert. Took my daughter driving, and she is doing really well. Tommorow is the highway!

Friday:

7:30 am coffee with cream

10am: granola with fruit and whole milk, coffee

4:45pm: chicken strips, broccoli, strawberries, frozen yogurt with peanuts, chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

Exercise: walking around downtown in the 95 feels like 105 degree heat.

[Amy3010]

Hoo boy, good luck with the driving - a big new frontier out on the highway!

Really interesting observation about how differently you felt after having the whole milk with your granola and coffee. I usually use soy milk which has a lot more calories/protein than oat or almond milk.

Your book club sounds very interesting, but I can see how it could be chaotic I haven't heard of Brandon Sanderson, but looks interesting!

[automatedeating]

congrats on training the new driver in the family!

We now have 4 drivers but only 2 cars, so that presents its own set of difficulties.

Yay for whole milk (haha as you know I'm a dairy lover!)

[pinkhippie]

Thank you Amy!
Yes I stopped using almond milk and have been using soy milk and have definitely noticed a difference.

Brandon Sanderson writes some really good fantasy if you are into that. He finished the wheel of Time series for Robert Jordan. They briefly had that as a streaming show on Prime for a while, but its like a 13 book series. I like my book club, we often end up talking about not books, but thats ok too. We all have a lot in common so it works for now.

Thanks Auto! I know, I keep telling my daughter that even when she gets her license, she still can't drive herself to school(which is what she REALLY wants) because we only have two cars! But, she is still determined. Drivers test is next Friday! *Gulp*

Saturday wooo!

Weight was 165 this morning but I usually weigh a little less when I weigh later in the day, and I slept in this morning. However, I am still happy to see the scale trending downwards as all I am doing is just eating 3 meals and one snack with no desserts during the week. I have felt like I am getting plenty of food. I think its because my body really likes the 155-165 range and if I go over 165 its usually because I am overeating a lot. (usually lots of snacks and dessert every night) Once I stop doing that, my weight usually trends downward until I get to 165 and then it hangs out for a very very long time.

My goal for today is to not have planned food but to eat more intuitively ie eat what I want when Im hungry in the framework of 3 meals and a dessert(or two)

8:30 am: coffee with cream

10:40 am: bowl of shredded wheat, raisins, walnuts and banana with soy milk

I do not remember what I had.

We had pizza for dinner and I snacked on fruit. I think I eneded up not eating lunch.

Sunday:

Grape nuts with milk and banana

2 pieces pizza with broccoli,

some fruit,

some peanut butter cookies with some grape ice cream

some grape ice cream, a piece of toast, and broccoli

I was hungry for carbs apparently. I was satisfied after my weird dinner of ice cream, toast and broccoli so I just went with it.

[Ellis]

Bookclub sounds fun! I really should check if there is one in my neighboorhood. Although I have a hard time to finish any book lately.

Ugh, i love desserts too. They say the body has like a comfort weight range right? I think mine is around 143 lbs.

[Amy3010]

My middle son read all the Wheel of Time books and we have them here at home still!

I can relate very much to your weight range theory. If my weight is trending over 70 kg (154 lb) it is because I am overeating. Eating "normally" keeps me hanging out just under that, 68-69 kg, without thinking about it too much. To get to my desired range of 64-66, I have to work hard and be super vigilant about what I am eating and how much. I wonder if working medium hard would shift my range to 66-68?

Have a great Sunday and good luck for the driving exam next week!

[pinkhippie]

Hi Ellis! Yes I think there is definitely a comfort weight range.

Amy, thats so cool about the Wheel of Time books! We have them too but they are falling apart; my husband had them in his younger years.

Yes, exactly on the weight range. It seems like there is an overeating range, a normal eating range, and then a working hard range. I think my big problem is... I don't know how to work medium hard. Only super hard or basically not at all. That is definitely my challenge.

Monday:

I am tired this morning and really don't want to be at work.

Coffee with cream

B: whole milk yogurt, grape nuts, blueberries

L: a chickpea patty, broccoli and chickpea sald, a peach

S cheese stick

D: Fajita casserole, plain greek yogurt with banana and strawberry

Exercise:
Weights
25 minute walk

[Amy3010]

I think you hit the nail on the head, Pink - we all know how to work super hard (any restrictive diet basically), but finding the sweet spot of working medium hard is elusive. No-S is a good tool and training program for finding that for ourselves, I think, but it is still challenging to stay consistently in that range.

[pinkhippie]

Hi Amy, Yes! I think that is the trouble many of us here have. I do the same thing with exercise but I have gotten better over the years with that.

Yesterday I had a HUGE victory. I was tired and cranky and sad. I got home and although my husband had implied he was making the grilled cheese sandwiches for me for the kids dinner, when I got home the bread was frozen and he didn't know how to thaw the bread...

I could feel that feeling of tears pricking the back of my eyes, because one of the hardest things for me is coming home after work, and especially after a hard day and then making dinner. There were peanut butter cookies right there, an extra heel of bread and they were calling to me to eat them. But I decided to wait for just a minute. I told myself I could have them in a few minutes if I still wanted them. I remembered from last week that this situation is a big eating trigger for me and that I felt so good having a green week last week, and that I really wanted that again. I went in the bedroom and remembered somewhere reading about instead of eating after work just lay down for 10 minutes if your body needs rest. I realized I was really tired and lay down on my bed with the fan blowing above me and it felt sooo good. As I lay there I realized I actually wasn't hungry AT ALL. I was sad, and tired, and grumpy but not hungry. I lay there for about 2 minutes and then got up and made dinner. The cookies and bread were not tempting anymore. I did eat my pre-planned meal even though I recognized that I was not that hungry because I still felt that urge to eat to soothe myself. However, I count it as a victory that I ate my preplanned No So meal instead of a mini binge before dinner. This is the first time I have ever overcome that feeling without white knuckling it, so it feels very huge! Baby steps!

Tuesday

Coffee with fat oat milk

B: grape nuts, greek yogurt and blueberries ( This is my new favorite summertime breakfast)

L: Fajita casserole ( this causes too much reflux eaten as dinner)( This was so much more delicious when I was hungry at lunch!)

S: Cheese stick

D: Broccoli chickpea salad, chickn patty sandwich, greek yogurt with strawberries and banana (only ate about half my sandwich, and left some of my salad. I knew I had yogurt as well, and I wanted to eat more of that. Was pleased to be able to feel the fullness cues more strongly)

25 minute walk

[Soprano]

Fantastic well done you, that was a huge moment

Jx

[Amy3010]

Wow! That is a huge victory! Well done!

Just the fact that you took the time to pause before diving into soothing yourself with food... and then the pause gave you the opportunity to mindfully consider exactly how you felt, and exactly what you needed. Awesome!

[automatedeating]

That's such a lovely story Pinkie. Thank you for sharing your heart with us.

[pinkhippie]

Hi Soprano,
Thank you! Thank you, Amy, I have read about doing that, but its so very hard to do in practice, so I was pleased. Thank you, Auto!

Im so glad we have this forum to share because I think that for those of us that don't struggle with emotional eating, it wouldn't be understandable as such a huge victory, but as we all know, being able to break the mindless eating sequence even for a moment is a big deal. Thanks, everyone, for your support!

Pre planning my food has made such a difference for me these past weeks. And making sure that my preplanned meals are filling, have FAT and have enough food. Also, I have cut way down on my sweet intake. I don't put sweetener in my coffee, or my cereal, and I snacking on cheese rather than a sweetened bar of some kind has made a big difference in being more in touch with my hunger and fullness cues.

Wednesday plan:

2 coffee with cream: I am TIRED, I have a headache, I am hoping the additional caffeine will help.

B: grape nuts, yogurt berries

l: fajita casserole, a peach

S: cheese stick

D: broccoli salad, ham