All THAT over a BURGER???

Hello all! It's Wednesday already! This week is flying by. Thank goodness since this first week of the challenge is......well.......a challenge. Several people asked what challenge I'm talking about. And for those who don't know you can find out here and here.  It is very restrictive and radical at first, but morphs into a pretty decent healthy diet. It is basically a diet that someone who will have or has had gastric bypass surgery will follow.

I joined the challenge because I had frankly been floundering with my diet. And by floundering I mean eating flounder and beef and chicken and cookies and potatoes and veggies and just too much. This is a way of re-committing and getting my mind off food. It's not for everyone. To be honest I didn't think it was for me. But, 3 days in and I am doing well and already seeing results. (Official weigh in later).  It has greatly simplified my life in that food is not an option for me at all. And again I say I really think I needed this. Of course by next week, I may change my mind. But, right now, I'm doing fine. I'm peeing A LOT. More than usual and the other bathroom issue is....not an issue.

So today  In-and-Out-Burger opened a few miles from here. The ENTIRE Dallas area is all buzzing about this. There were people waiting in line for like 6 hours today. FOR. A. BURGER. What's wrong with this country? I wouldn't wait in line for 6 hours for free lobster, let alone a burger. Even the best burger on the planet is not worth this kind of buzz. I just kept thinking that if all these people would get THAT excited about working out, we might not have an obesity crisis in America. I remember when Krispy Kreme came here and it was the same thing. It's a sad commentary on what we value. There were parents who took their kids out of school and stood in that line to feed them burgers and fries. A pile of fat and cholesterol. Basically they had their kids miss school and stand in line to feed them food that can kill them.  They just taught their children that THIS kind of food is more important than ANYTHING. What a bad bad bad lesson.

Sorry to go off on a rant, but it's just that kind of thinking that got me where I was a year ago. That food is worth whatever cost. That the only way I can REALLY be happy and live and enjoy life is by eating that crap. It was a lesson taught to me by my family. To place that kind of emotional importance on our food is DANGEROUS. It's killing us. Diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer.....the list goes on an on. It's just plain sad and infuriating and I WISH someone had discussed this stuff with me when I was a kid.  Better yet, I wish someone in my life had been living a good example for me, showing me there's another way.

Not that you shouldn't be able to have a burger now and then. Like..... MORE THEN THAN NOW.  The problem is that eating that way is common place now. And a lot of people eat that way even when they cook at home, if they do. I know patients that think cooking a frozen pizza is COOKING. Sigh......  We just have to STOP making such a big deal out of really unhealthy foods. The media doesn't help. It's been all over the news and radio and they make it look like THE place to be and THE food to eat.  Truth is NO ONE no matter what their weight or how "healthy" should eat that kind of food on a regular basis.

AND why can't we invent a healthy drive through? Like with veggies and grilled fish or something? I have 3 kids and I know some days cooking is not an option. Some times your schedule is crazy. Sometimes you just don't WANT to deal with it and you want something easy. But there really is no HEALTH food drive through. WHY NOT?

Anyway, it will be a long long time before I go to In-and-Out. For one thing the challenge won't be over until July 31st. And for another thing......THE CROWDS! I've never had one of their burgers. I just find it hard to believe that they live up to the hype. And you know what's really great?  I don't even care about finding out. NOW tell me my thinking on food hasn't changed. Take THAT fat-girl me.

 Rant over....

 And now question day from Suzi:
1. How many pillows do you use?? One, sometimes none.

2. Do you own a bike? Yes, but I haven't ridden in a while. Having little kids that can't keep up has limited us. One project for the summer is to get the girls riding big girl bikes. Then, we can take family rides.
3. Would you describe yourself as active? Somewhat active? Not really active at all?? I think I'm active now. I just realized that I can say that without any hesitation whatsoever. Yeah me!

4. Do you eat certain foods in moderation or do you need to stay away from them altogether? There are things I should just not do. Like potato chips. Crackers, especially gold fish. And cereal.

5. What are you having for dinner tonight? I'm having liquids on the challenge food. But, I do get some watermelon and jello later. Yummy!

So what do you think? Would you stand in line 6 hours for a burger? Have you had one of these AWESOME burgers? Do you think they are REALLY that awesome? Do you think the hype and importance we place on food plays a role for you? How do we change it?

Calling all menu planners....

Well, yesterday wrapped up nicely. I worked out in the am, 7 miles on the stationery bike. Then did my core training with hand weights for upper body and ab work on the ball thingy(why can I not remember the official name for that thing?) I was super sweaty when I got done.

I had my nifty oat muffins for breakfast with yogurt and a fresh peach. I love these muffins. I happened upon them on the top of the Dannon Light and Fit yogurt and they are so tasty. We changed the recipe to wheat flour and splenda brown sugar. Sometimes we use the raisins, sometimes blueberries, craisins, walnuts, banana. We also cut the oil down when we're using fruit that is moist. Here's the recipe. For lunch, I had yogurt, and a new family favorite, BLACK VELVET APRICOT. We picked them up at Sam's and the kids burned through almost the entire pack in one day! I also had another muffin and a small banana. I generally eat a pretty light lunch, esp when it's so dang hot.

Since we got back from vacation last week, my cooking and eating at home has been all disrupted. Last night when the inevitable and deeply hated question, "What's for dinner?" arrived, I had nothing planned. So, it was off to Wendy's. I hate that. I really, really hate the thought of fast food. For me or my family. But, that's what we did. I had a baked potato with the Parkay spray and light sour cream and a small chili. It was 460 calories and I was super full afterward. It actually tasted pretty good.

But........

It was fast food. Bummer. AND, that meant my kids didn't eat great. AND, there's that whole weirdo CARB thing that goes on in my head. Potatoes are good for you, have vitamins and are low calories. Why do I get a guilty feeling when I eat one? AS IF eating too many baked potatoes is what made me fat. I used to have the same sinking feeling at first when I ate carrots or corn. WHAT? You say. Oh yes. I guess it's the Anti-CARB programming I've undergone over time. Like if I ate a full cup of corn I was doing something bad. Puh-leease!

Then one day I realized that I have to deprogram my whole GOOD FOOD/BAD FOOD thinking. It is not working for me. Before I started on this way of life (I refuse to call it diet or program. Still searching for the right term), I hadn't eaten white potatoes in forever except when I was cheating and eating french fries. But, I realized I really like potatoes. I crave them occasionally. There is nothing wrong with a having a baked potato.

Anyway, I am wondering how all of you handle planning meals for the week. Do you plan in advance? Do you cook in advance? I did that cooking for a month thing a couple of times and it is exhausting.It literally took me from Friday night until Sunday night. Then you still have to remember to get it out of the freezer and warm it up.

Between kids and work and kids activities, and laundry, and housework, and yard work, and the gym and...oh yeah, sleep occasionally, my life is hectic, but I sure would like to come up with some way to organize my cooking. I love to cook, but I don't get home until 6 most days and by then I'm starving, kids are starving, husband is starving. A whole house full of starving people = one irritated Mommy. I'd love any tips or ideas you all might have.

On another note, I would like to thank my 6 (COUNT THEM!!) SIX awesome followers who I appreciate greatly and all the people who have been commenting on my blog. I feel like I've learned so much from all of you. And,frankly it feels so good to know someone who knows EXACTLY what you mean when you say, "I have to weigh today." or "Oh God, He bought Ice cream!" I'm still figuring out this blog thing. I sometimes wonder where is the balance between writing pertinent things, sharing about myself and just rambling on and on..... Like now. Sorry.