Changing your eating habits may be one of the hardest parts of losing weight. I have friends who ask how they can lose a few pounds and when I tell them they have to change how they eat, they just don't want to hear it. If you don't want to hear it, don't ask!
Let me start by saying that I LOVE food! There is nothing better than a nice, thick, rare steak with a baked potato (extra sour cream, please). Then again, a cheeseburger and fries will do in a pinch. Oh, wait....pasta! Pasta with meat balls and sausage (and don't forget the garlic bread). Then there's my favorite rib place and the other place where I have to get the huge skirt steak and fries. And how can I forget Chipotle?!!?? Steak fajita burrito, hot salsa and cheese. Oh, yeah...I love food! Desserts aren't my downfall. I can do without dessert most of the time, but I love steak and can eat it every day, all day. That had to change.
In my old job, I worked two nights a month. When I got home at 9:00 PM, I didn't feel like cooking, so I would stop off at Chipotle for my fajita burrito and chips with salsa on those nights. Twice a month turned into once a week. A year later, I was 30 pounds heavier. Chipotle has the healthier choice of chicken, but, as I've said, I love steak and wasn't about to compromise. The first thing I did when I decided to lose the weight was stop going to Chipotle. I missed it like crazy for the first month, then got used to not having it (though every time I pass by, I look longingly into the window...).
That being said, here's what I did: I cut down on my beef consumption. Instead of making a huge pot of beef chili, I started making turkey chili (I'll post my recipe in a little while). It's virtually the same thing, but 99% fat free since I use the ground turkey breast.
When I make sauce for my pasta, I make turkey meatballs and use chicken sausage (I'll get a recipe for the sauce out some time soon). I also started using whole grain pasta.
When my boyfriend and I go to a diner, I'll get a turkey sub without the fries. Instead of the fries, I ask for a small salad.
At first, going out was a bit of a challenge. I learned a lot at Weight Watchers and use what I learned to this day. For breakfast, I'll get an egg white western omelette. I found that I prefer this to whole egg omelettes.
I stuck to my plan without fail until I got back into my size 2s. Now, I'm not so anal. I'll treat myself to a burger or steak every now and then. I just make sure that the rest of that day, I'm eating healthy and sticking with "low points" foods. So far, I've been doing pretty good! I pretty much know my body and metabolism now, so I know what I can get away with. As I've said in a previous post, there's noting wrong with cheating every now and then.
The one thing I haven't done yet is gone back to Chipotle. I know I'm going to go back soon, but I also know that as much as I love it (and it is a much healthier choice than some fast food places), I can't overdo. I think that will be my once a month cheat. We'll see <sigh>.
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