Today I am making an old stand-by: Weight Watchers Zero Point Soup. (I think they actually called it something like Garden Vegetable soup, and it's from the old program, but that doesn't change its usefulness...) Call me crazy, but I like this soup. In fact, I always had a container of it in my fridge when I did WW about 10 years ago...and at that time, I hit my goal weight AND became a Lifetime member. It's not magic soup, but it sure was a useful "tool" in losing weight.
For the past few days, I've been trying to pinpoint my eating "trouble-spots" - I've come to the realization that lunch has become tricky for me, and if I overdo it at lunchtime, overeating takes over for the rest of the day - obviously not something I want to do day after day. "Winging it" isn't working right now. For the next while, I'm going to make a definite lunch plan every morning - nothing elaborate, just a basic idea of what my lunch will consist of so that I'm not eating on the fly. Having the 0-Point soup ready in the fridge gives me a little more flexibility, and an instant safety net. Breakfast has always been (and continues to be) quite easy...I'm fine with having the same breakfast (or similar breakfasts) every day, whether I've been overeating or eating in a healthy intuitive way. Water. Banana. Coffee. Cereal (hot or cold) with skim milk. (Way back in my high school days, I ate Cheerios every single morning.) Happily (perhaps, remarkably?) I've never a problem with breakfast.
Lunch and dinner are completely different. I need variety in those meals. The main courses must be both filling and satisfying (two different things in my mind). For quite a while (since I've moved to Russia), I could be satisfied and full on high-protein items in fairly small portions (ham, chicken, eggs, cheese) with some veggies and nuts. Or salads once or twice a week. Dried or regular fruit, or yogurt, for dessert. More water. Now those lunches don't fill me up - I don't know why. Or I have difficulty waiting until my brain registers that I've eaten and I'm full - so I overeat and then feel overstuffed and miserable. (Maybe it's time to get out my timer again?) Having some vegetable soup with lunch a few days a week will help with both satiety and fullness - this I know from experience.
So today, my focus is getting some better choices back into the middle of my day. In fact, if I really think about when my biggest "binge danger zone" occurs, it's between 12-5 pm. Morning is okay. If I've planned dinner (which I usually do, since I have to feed my family every night anyway), then dinnertime onward is usually manageable, too. Can I take care of myself a little more carefully between 12-5pm? Absolutely. Right now, it's 3:45pm - so far, so good.
For the past few days, I've been trying to pinpoint my eating "trouble-spots" - I've come to the realization that lunch has become tricky for me, and if I overdo it at lunchtime, overeating takes over for the rest of the day - obviously not something I want to do day after day. "Winging it" isn't working right now. For the next while, I'm going to make a definite lunch plan every morning - nothing elaborate, just a basic idea of what my lunch will consist of so that I'm not eating on the fly. Having the 0-Point soup ready in the fridge gives me a little more flexibility, and an instant safety net. Breakfast has always been (and continues to be) quite easy...I'm fine with having the same breakfast (or similar breakfasts) every day, whether I've been overeating or eating in a healthy intuitive way. Water. Banana. Coffee. Cereal (hot or cold) with skim milk. (Way back in my high school days, I ate Cheerios every single morning.) Happily (perhaps, remarkably?) I've never a problem with breakfast.
Lunch and dinner are completely different. I need variety in those meals. The main courses must be both filling and satisfying (two different things in my mind). For quite a while (since I've moved to Russia), I could be satisfied and full on high-protein items in fairly small portions (ham, chicken, eggs, cheese) with some veggies and nuts. Or salads once or twice a week. Dried or regular fruit, or yogurt, for dessert. More water. Now those lunches don't fill me up - I don't know why. Or I have difficulty waiting until my brain registers that I've eaten and I'm full - so I overeat and then feel overstuffed and miserable. (Maybe it's time to get out my timer again?) Having some vegetable soup with lunch a few days a week will help with both satiety and fullness - this I know from experience.
So today, my focus is getting some better choices back into the middle of my day. In fact, if I really think about when my biggest "binge danger zone" occurs, it's between 12-5 pm. Morning is okay. If I've planned dinner (which I usually do, since I have to feed my family every night anyway), then dinnertime onward is usually manageable, too. Can I take care of myself a little more carefully between 12-5pm? Absolutely. Right now, it's 3:45pm - so far, so good.
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I've been listening to the guided meditation/subliminal message recording on my iPod every night before I go to bed. It's very odd...there have been times when I know I haven't been asleep, but yet I haven't been fully conscious, either. Perhaps it's related to the time of day (night) that I'm listening to it, or maybe, just maybe, it's actually having an effect on my brain...I can't be sure.
What I do know is that my mind is somewhere else, and then about 30 seconds before the recording is over, I suddenly become self-aware and semi-awake again (this has happened the same way at least the last 4-5 times I've listened to it). This afternoon, I listened to the recording again, just to see if I felt any different doing so in the daytime...nope. The same effect - deeply relaxed and then suddenly I hear something to make me gradually feel more awake again. It's very weird!
As a small point of interest, Mr. Debbie listened to it one night (and he is a much bigger skeptic than I am) - now he wants to listen to it, too, as he's falling asleep (I think he just found it relaxing, which is exactly the point of listening to it anyway).
What I do know is that my mind is somewhere else, and then about 30 seconds before the recording is over, I suddenly become self-aware and semi-awake again (this has happened the same way at least the last 4-5 times I've listened to it). This afternoon, I listened to the recording again, just to see if I felt any different doing so in the daytime...nope. The same effect - deeply relaxed and then suddenly I hear something to make me gradually feel more awake again. It's very weird!
As a small point of interest, Mr. Debbie listened to it one night (and he is a much bigger skeptic than I am) - now he wants to listen to it, too, as he's falling asleep (I think he just found it relaxing, which is exactly the point of listening to it anyway).
Either way, I find myself looking forward to my "meditation" time. Overall, I do feel more relaxed throughout the day - I don't feel as anxious or find myself overthinking little things that are bothering me. There just might be something to this meditation thing...I don't care if it has has any direct impact on my weight. There is no "magic pill" - fewer calories in and more energy expended is what causes weight loss. However, when I think about what causes me to overeat...well, after all this time (years) of "just wanting to relax", I may have found something that accomplishes exactly that.
The experiment continues...
The experiment continues...
7 comments:
I'm not sure if it is the same soup but I got this recipe years ago from a co-worker and I love it and do do my kids. I make it all the time and throw 2cups into a baggie and freeze them. Then I bring them here to work to have for lunch. I usually add chicken for protein. But to make it I throw all sorts of veggies into and just simmer for hours. LOVE LOVE The stuff!
So glad the meditation is working for you. I truly believe in it for all sorts of things.
You will beat this Debbie! I have faith :)
I like the zero point WW soup too. Yesterday we had soup and a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch.
I used to grill them in lots of butter and they were good. Now I use 2% American cheese and jarred jalapeno slices. I put a quick spray of Pam on the outside and a tiny sprinkle of garlic salt and then grill it. Really good without all the extra fat and calories.
Good luck figuring it all out! I know you can do it. Thanks for the tip on the soup too - might have to make that this week!!
PS - I can't find the soup on the WW website... Any chance you could post it or email it to me!?! Thanks!!
Glad you found something that is helping.
So funny you mentioned the Garden Vegetable soup -- I am eating a bowl right now. :) It's a great filler!
I used to listen to the subliminal/meditation before bed...best half hour! :O) and love zero point soups! I make one every winter...I've even taken it to the work and fed it to the unexpecting-they love it too!!! Good luck and have a great week!
Hi Debbie, what meditation program did you purchase? I'm curious. I'm still listening to Paul McKenna, although I've slacked the last two days. I know what you mean about the end and not thinking you're asleep and then being "awakened". It's kinda strange.
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