She returns....

After not blogging for 5 months, yikees, I am back. I have missed writing, but continue even in the midst of my busy life to exercise and eat healthfully. That never changes for me no matter what!! I have decided that my vanity is a huge motivation for me, along with the fact that I need to control things in my life, it is a issue!!, and the few things I can control regarding how I look along with my health and ultimate future, is how I take care of my body.

Lots of life changes for us, all good by the way, check out Evan's Caringbridge site as well as my personal FB and foundation pages, to get caught up. Tomorrow my husband will turn 50. A huge deal for him and most people. Since Mark still thinks he is 18, turning 50 is a big deal, so I am sending him off with a long time friend to have some boy time this weekend. This summer he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. An autoimmune disease with no cure, but something that their goal is to get into remission. Of course this nutritionist/personal trainer wife has been insisting that he must modify his food, and what we did find out from his doctor, who specializes in his disease, is that moderation is best (told you so) and that his heavy intake of caffeine from coffee and diet cokes, cannot continue (told you twice). I even annoy myself with this by the way. None the less, after making him get on the scale at the doctor's office to confirm my fear of his weight creeping up, he came home making the decision to make some changes and he asked for my help. Unfortunately, living with me is hard enough, then add in to my daily roles of wife and mother hen, nutritional consultant. Not a good thing on the receiving end I am sure.

You might want to know why I am sharing, after not writing for 5 months. Well, two things, 1. I have missed blogging and sharing here very much, 2. The words that come out of Mark's mouth in regard to making these changes are most likely things most of you have said, so I feel like if I share his struggles and misunderstanding in trying to modify his food intake, then you might learn something as well. So here goes....

Day 1 came with a computer print out of some of the things he ate. I was quick to ask what was missing and realized several things along with the fact that everything was guesstimated. Not an option, because what we do know based on studies done with real live human beings, is that everyone underestimates their caloric intake. That being said, I have reiterated that everything, yes everything, must be measurable, and calorie countable in these early weeks as one begins to learn portion control. This is something Mark keeps telling me he didn't sign up for. And while I get that, and am more than willing to count every calorie I prepare for him, if he doesn't follow my game plan, then I am not playing. Sucks I know. But here is the learning lesson. This will be one of the most difficult things a human being will encounter. The majority of the population has a weight problem, indicating that trying to lose weight is one of the most difficult endeavors one my partake in. The other facts are that by changing your unhealthy eating to program of moderation, not only will you lose weight, but you will look and feel better, and ultimately have better health. So, what I found out was breakfast was a thin (100 calorie whole wheat bread product, many brands available for purchase now, 2 teaspoons of peanut butter, which by the way was probably at least 6 times that amount in reality, a 16 oz smoothie which he made in our vitamix, but no way to calculate calories without having some idea of what quantities of fruit and juice he used. Oh, and he sprinkles sharp cheddar cheese on that thin with PB, gross I agree!! So guesstimate on calories have to be about 700. Since he was out at lunch time, I suggested Flame Broiler, calories available for all items, and I suggested a side of steamed veggies with all the hot sauce he wanted and a regular bowl with chicken or beef, brown rice and green onions. FYI, I NEVER count the calories of veggies, only the stuff they are cooked/eaten with. 500-540 calories depending on chicken or beef. That afternoon I took out cashews, his go to snack and portioned out 250 calories bags. When I asked him how many calories he thought were in them he said 500. I told him if that was true, then he was eating over 1500 calories in cashews every day. Bottom line, hoping in time he will start to get his calorie radar in sync with reality. This is most people's flaw, knowing what they are consuming!!
Dinner, I knew what I was making. Fist tacos: corn tortillas, tilapia sauted in non-skillet and pam, s, p and chili powder. YUM. Homemade salsa, shredded cabbage, and tapatio. 4 tacos, 650 calorie yummy dinner, and then I made him measure his one cup of applesauce for snack. We got out with over my 200o recommended calories and his 2500 desired calories.
Day two: thin, I measured PB, he sprinkled cheese with no measure, hmmm, sandwich provided for him at school turkey trot, he was announcer. Compared to Subway, being a little smaller than 12 inch, turkey, veggies, cheese, mustard, so guesstimate on calories...gonna call that at least 600, 1 measured cup of applesauce for snack, then I made breakfast burritos for dinner. 2 whole wheat flour tortillas, 240 cal, 1 cup egg beaters 120, 2 oz sharp cheddar cheese 200, hashbrowns cooked in pam 60, ham 60, served with bowl of salsa which he only ate half of, remember it was FREE, total 2100. Just had banana as delivered posters to Derek at school, 8:30pm and will have fudge frozen pop for dessert, 120, so again we sit in between our calories. Good compromise.

I want to acknowledge I can only imagine how difficult it is to moderate your food when you have been in an "I don't care" mode. I have moderated my food for over 25 years now, so it is part of who I am. I will guarantee, once you make the decision to make better choices, it becomes second nature. Derek made the change last spring, and now totally "thinks" about what he is eating, plans for what he is eating, and actually feels much better, has more energy, etc.

Glad to be back, hope you find this helpful. g