Trying to be healthy

[mala_14]

Well, since I hit a high with my weight, I'm trying to do better with eating (now that holidays are over). I got in a decent amount of exercise during the holidays, but can't do as much out here. I'm still working on stretching a bit every day just to try and keep away the muscle pain. But controlling my eating is really the best way to get rid of the extra weight. So I'm eating better... sort of. Here's what's going on with that:

I'm eating more vegetables and fewer starches (pasta, potatoes, bread, and rice, which are all pretty high in calories and that I love to eat, but don't do enough activity to work off). I've made two soups recently: bean, bacon, and cabbage and green pea and spinach. I got to try out my immersion blender today making the second one! I love soup and vegetables, so this isn't really a tough thing to do, and soups can be very nutritious and lower in calories. I'm trying to reduce the AMOUNTS that I eat, which is something I really have a problem with. I just like to eat and eat and eat. It's not too bad if I'm just eating vegetable soups because it's just vegetables, so I'm not gonna feel bad about that.

There's just one problem... I LOVE sweets!!! Particularly cake, cookies, and chocolate. And I made a Victoria sponge cake today. Well, I made cupcake versions because it seemed excessive for me to eat a whole cake on my own, even one made from a half recipe. I filled 3 with raspberry jam and whipped cream and put the other 3 in the freezer. I feel like homemade cake is healthier than store-bought, plus this one doesn't have icing all over it, but still I can't go around eating cake all the time, right? Sweets are something that I really want to try and limit. I can't do without them, but I'm trying to just have one small treat per day.

Baby steps.

Comments

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

I so wish I could just eat ALL the things. It sucks having to watch that stuff. :-/

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I used to be able to, but the past couple of years my metabolism has slowed down a bit. I'm lucky that I still have a fairly high metabolism (genetics, my dad is the same way), but I want to be healthy and good!

[jubilima.livejournal.com]

One small treat per day is what I allow myself, too, and I agree that your version is better than store-bought. I adore sweets, too. Before we met, I had lost a little bit of weight for my wedding, about 20 pounds. I did it by establishing a new relationship with food instead of looking at it like a diet. To combat my sugar cravings, I splurged on all of my favorite fruits, and I allowed myself to eat as much fruit as I possibly could whenever I wanted. It wasn't long until I wasn't as hooked on sugar, and a little burst of natural fruit was all I needed to satiate the craving. It even got to the point where I couldn't indulge in a treat the way I usually could--it was far too sweet!

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think I need to come up with a replacement snack or something, like maybe make really tiny dessert squares. It's that combination of sugar and fat that I love. Fruit really is a good snack. It's extra great when it's in season. Yum!

[mrs_maupin]

I used to snack all the time, a little bit of cookie, a little bit of chocolate... I replaced it with fruit, fruit juice or tea anytime I felt the craving. I haven't lost any weight but it stabilized, and now I don't really feel that attracted to sweets anymore.
Good work - and homemade cake is definitely better than store-bought !

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I definitely need to find a substitute. I've totally developed an aversion to store-bought sweets because they're usually made from something really processed and I don't like that fake taste.

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

As I have happily discovered, home made chocolate chip cookies have only 65~75 calories in them, depending on how you make them. ...I need to make some more this week...

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Oooh cool! That makes me think: I could have homemade sweets and just make them really small. I just like having that bite after dinner.

[tigerweave.livejournal.com]

good luck with it all :-) I have observed with my mum that taking small, realistic steps is what makes the difference. That and not denying your need for treats but working out how to have them in an overall healthy way.

I made some really intense dark chocolate biscuits a few years ago. Small, like maybe two tablespoons of biscuit mix, formed into a square. So nice! Just one. So rich and intense and satisfying. I wish I could remember what I did with the recipe coz now your post's made me want to make them!

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, that is exactly what I am trying to do.

Mm... chocolate. So delicious!

[tigerweave.livejournal.com]

They were. I've been thinking I'll just pretend I have the recipe in front of me and make some bikkies and see if that works :-D