Monday, December 1, 2008

Jour 10

Some people refer to the day that's past as Monday. For me, a more fitting name would be "D-Day". The D would represent "dentist".

I can't think of any other place where we actually pay that much money to get tortured! I feel like a boxer. Too bad I don't look like one - from the neck down.

The ironic thing is that my dentist and her assistant are really sweet. Not sweet when it comes to billing. But, kind while they're engaging in the sadism between my nose and chin.

Anyhow, enough with the (attempts at) dental humor. So far, as of 5:15 pm or so, I've been doing just fine. But, of note, I've had some obsessive thoughts creep into my cranium.

Confession-time: Many moons ago, I actually had an eating disorder called "anorexia nervosa". You might find it ironic that, back then, I was actually trying to starve myself to death. Oh how the times have changed.

Part of that disease/condition involves an obsessive-relationship with food. So, today I noticed that I was having some obsessive thoughts about planning my meals. How will I make sure to eat enough vegetables? Am I harming myself by not eating enough fresh foods? How can I make sure our shared meals are acceptable to my wife and still on-program for me? Etc., etc., etc.

I think some of this is coming up because my free-time is becoming scarcer. I've taken on a new work-related project, that I'm excited about, but that will also require mental energy and time. I'm determined to stick with this new menu-blog and my new commitment to health - which are both healthy and rewarding but also time-consuming and mentally-demanding.

So, for now, the only way I can figure out to deal with these thoughts is just to keep things simple. I just have to tell myself that I'll stay on-program no matter what. I'll try to plan ahead better. I'll try to plan my menus for the upcoming days ... instead of leaving things up in the air. This is naturally kind of a drag. I'd like to think I can make things up as I go. And, maybe in some instances, I can. But, ultimately what's most important is that I set myself up for success. Planning ahead, I think, may be an invaluable tool to achieving that end.

Thanks for reading this rather lengthy blog, folks. I hope that my sharing will somehow be of use to someone out there.


Monday - December 1, 2008

9:45 am

+ one cup of "choco-coffee" - (two tablespoons of pure cocoa, one teaspoon of instant coffee, one packet of stevia + FOS and a dash of half-and-half)

10:45 am

+ 5 turkey and tomato "tacos" - (5 turkey slices with a dollop of sour cream on top and Roma tomato slices as the filling)

3:30 pm

+ a vanilla whey protein shake - (two-scoops of natural vanilla whey protein powder, 4 oz of half-and-half and one packet of stevia + FOS)

5:00 pm

+ one cup of "choco-coffee" - (two tablespoons of pure cocoa, one teaspoon of instant coffee and one packet of stevia + FOS)

7:15 pm

+ approx. 6-8 oz of leftover prime rib

+ half cup of homemade creamed spinach

+ quarter cup of mashed cauliflower

11:00 pm

+ approx. 3 oz. of salami

+ a glass of red wine



More to come ... I hope!

10 comments:

NewVision said...

Hey Harry,
Feeling better today I hope. Keep it positive, friend. Positive thoughts lead to positive behavior.
When I'm feeling down I always remember this lil quote "Happiness is not getting what you want; it's wanting what you have"
Things could ALWAYS be worse.

Hey, I wanted to ask you about the cocoa. How soon do you think I should start feeling it? I upped it to 2 t. today. I've been taking 1 t. The only thing I've noticed is feeling warm and fuzzy when I'm drinking it. Like you did when you were a kid and Mom let you have hot chocolate when it was cold out. LOL
So I guess it is doing something, even if it is bringing back good childhood memories..LOL
Hang in there! Your menus look good too!

Alex said...

Harry,

I can relate to the "obsessive relationship with food" feelings.

I have a tough time not obsessing about everything that goes in my daughter's mouth.

I grew up as a kid, teenager, and then adult that had a problem with eating, especially carbohydrates. To describe how I feel about eating high-carb junk food, I think of the saying:
"One is too many, but a hundred is not enough."

I hate that I can't just eat a little bit of high-carb crap like so many other people can, but it's my curse.

My wife doesn't like it when I get too concerned about what my daughter eats, but I feel as though if I don't pay close enough attention to what she eats, she'll end up like me.

About me, I find that if I am religiously low-carb, stay away from artificial sweeteners, avoid snacking, try not to eat too much, and don't eat emotionally, then it makes it pretty easy to maintain my weight, albeit at a higher weight than I'd like to be. With all those restrictions, it's hard not to be obsessive about food.

Good luck Harry. I think Jimmy's challenge has worked out well for a lot of us as it has created a forum to encourage us to talk about how we feel about food and how it does and doesn't work for us.

Alex

NewVision said...

Harry,
I don't know if this will help you or not, how about making one day a week where you just plan. We do that on Saturday or Sunday. I sit down, write out our menus, make a shopping list for those menus, go to the store, prepare what we can (example: make hamburger patties-freeze, make meatloaf -freeze , chop veggie, etc) That way you are only 'obsessing' one day a week. The rest of the week you are following your menu plan.
Hope this helps.

Vadim said...

Hey guys! Right on, Alex, this challenge did bring out a lot of our thoughts and it is a good thing! Harry, your blog is always entertaining and descriptive, i love it. And that cocoa that i emulated for your menus did make a difference in my shakes, loved them. It did taste like melted chocolate was in them. Thank you bro, as always!

Harry/JP said...

Greetings, NewVision.

Thank you for your kind words and your words of wisdom.

It's hard to say how quickly you'll feel "the power o' cocoa".

My best input would be this: If you're using a healthy, pure cocoa powder ... it'll likely be providing some health benefits for you - whether you feel it or not. And, if you factor in the childhood memory angle, you're well ahead of the game.

If you're using it for mood, try and be patient. Even most pharmaceutical antidepressants tend to require a few to several weeks to provide their desired effect (if they work).

Take good care!

Harry/JP said...

Good evening, Alex.

Thanks for sharing a part of your life and history with me.

I saw, on Jimmy's site, that you'll be participating in the "sweet free" challenge. I really hope (and suspect) that will do a great deal of good for many, many low-carbers who suffer from "plateauitis".

I'll be rooting for you.

Harry/JP said...

Hello again, NewVision.

It's funny that you mentioned setting a day aside for planning and shopping.

My wife just suggested a similar approach at dinner.

Thanks for letting me know what works best for you. I appreciate it.

Vadim said...

Harry did you see Dr Eades is posting his meals on his website by photographing them. Its pretty cool. I have been thinking about doing the same. It s amzing to just snap a picture and post it. It is very descriptive and doesnt lie, ever! The only thing, I am very computer not savvy, but i will figure it out eventually! Harry, as always great job on your comments. i appreciate your knowledge and care! And I do love cocoa in my shakes now! Awesome, tastes that much better like it has a melted chcolate in it, and it gives me energy as well! Thumbs up to cocoa!

Harry/JP said...

Good day, Vadim.

I know that Dr. Michael Eades has posted menus with pictures in the past. I'll go check out his (excellent) site to see if he's posted something new. I love his menu posts.

Oh, wait a minute, were you referring to Dr. Mary Dan Eades (Michael's wife)? I know she also posts some menus with pictures! She did a nice spread for Thanksgiving. Ah, to be their guest for Thanksgiving ... Mmmm.

I'd like to incorporate pictures into my blog as well. That's on my to-do list.

I'm really happy to hear that the cocoa is something that you enjoy. And, I hope it's doing you well ... health-wise.

Thanks for all your encouragement and positive vibes, Vadim. They help to lift me up.

Anonymous said...

Alex said:
To describe how I feel about eating high-carb junk food, I think of the saying:
"One is too many, but a hundred is not enough."

That really hit home with me! Alex, thanks for putting into words what so many of us feel!

Harry, did you ever imagine your choco coffee would start such a cocoa - commotion? I have started putting it in my coffee, and now may put it into my shakes too.

:^)