As I mentioned last week, I have been trying very very very hard to get my eating under control. With the exception of those really horrible weeks, I normally don’t have a lot of problems managing what I eat during the week. I eat breakfast, go to work, eat lunch, work more, eat a snack, do more work, go home, eat dinner, go to Crossfit or run, come home and have a light snack, shower and get ready for bed. There isn’t a lot of time or opportunity for dreaming of and pining about other foods. This is also why I work out at night, it keeps me responsible. I have to eat sensibly during the day in order to not have a catastrophe whilst exercising. It also takes up time in the evening which is time not spent on the couch dreaming about Nutella or a sleeve of Ritz Crackers slathered in a wheel of Brie. Anyway, for the most part, Monday through Thursday is usually free of dietary turbulence. Then comes Friday. Sweet innocent Friday. I usually make it through the day fine, but something about the fact that we get off at 3 on that day just sends me into a frenzy. This is why I usually go to a movie or volunteer on Friday afternoons. For completely selfish reasons, it keeps me mentally and physically engaged in something other than the grocery store or the pantry at my house. And I am not at all tempted to buy food or drinks at the movie because it is like $7023 for a water and Reese’s. As long as I can avoid stopping at Walgreens on the way to stock up on candy and little wines, I will survive.
My roommate is also trying to get back on the healthy eating bandwagon after I spent a couple of weeks corrupting her eating with pizza, Thin Mints, and wine. It has become a habit for us to just get out of control with food on the weekends. So much of a lifestyle has developed around our late night Walgreens runs and cheese trays that the thought of not doing that seems wrong. But something has to change or they will need a crane to lift us one day soon. So on Thursday night we made a pact that we would not binge eat this weekend. We just wouldn’t do it. No matter what, we wouldn’t let each other take that fatal drive to Walgreens to buy $40 of worth of candy and alcohol. We even decided we would measure and limit our wine consumption.
I’ll have you know I only had 29 ounces, which is just slightly more than a bottle, over the course of three nights. This is a dramatic decrease from the usual one bottle per night.
So on Friday, in preparation for the healthy eating apocalypse, I went to the grocery store to stock up on items that would not lead to an eating frenzy (meaning no crackers, cereal, peanut butter, candy, chocolate of any sort, cookies, flour that can be used to make cookie dough, or cheeses for snacking). Here is what I got:
There were a few other items in the end basket you can’t see, but let’s just say that cart cost about $50 more than I normally spend. And I could have gone to Walmart where it is cheaper, but they don’t have a lot of produce and their apples are usually bruised or mealy. I’m too important for sub-par apples, that is for sure. I bought red bell peppers, plum tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, grapes, apples, artichokes, carrots, spinach, goat cheese, Portobello mushroom caps, garlic, mozarella, ciabatta bread, and unpictured tilapia, frozen broccoli, and eggs. I’m proud to say that I have eaten most of the produce. I also made the most incredible sandwich I have ever assembled. It took me about an hour of chopping, peeling, and roasting to get there, but it was worth every single second of effort.
Ciabatta bun, spinach, roasted red bell peppers, oven roasted mushroom, tomato, and mozzarella. It was so freaking perfect. And then an hour later I made another one (having cooked all of the vegetables earlier it was much easier to just re-heat them and assemble this time around). In an unfortunate coincidence with my healthy eating goals, I was starving all weekend. I didn’t even do anything and I was so hungry all day. I’m going to blame this on lady time. No matter what I ate, I was still starving. And guess what? All I wanted was candy candy candy. I would salivate just thinking of a trip to Walgreens. Thankfully, Caroline decided we should actually leave the house on Saturday and go to dinner. I had a coupon and gift card to P.F. Chang’s, so off we went. I had a reasonable dinner and for dessert I had one of their mini Great Wall of Chocolate cake shots.
(Please ignore the horrific exposure and graininess, I am too embarrassed to use the flash on my phone.)
I’m not going to lie to you and say that was completely satisfying. It was delicious, but I could have eating three or four more easily. I was so close to yelling “Screw it! We will have the entire cake!” but Caroline stopped me. 100 calories of the cake shot is a much better choice than 1,440 calories in the full slice. It was still hard to rationalize that at that time. I’m happy about the decision now, but I was majorly unhappy and grumpy on the ride home. On top of avoiding cake at the Chang’s, I also skipped a four-inch thick slab of French Silk Pie at lunch Friday. I don’t even know who I am. I experienced a close call on Sunday night when I was suddenly possessed by the thought of eating a good portion of a jar of peanut butter, but I got up and had a bowl of grapes instead. So anyway, that’s it. I just wrote an entire post on how special it is that I ate like a normal human this weekend. Baby steps. Eight days down without a sugar binge… only a lifetime to go.
Oh Peggy, I can’t wait until you are back on my TV. Less than a month!
`
Well done girly! Send some of that new found willpower in my direction. I am currently stuck in the trap of run 10 miles and eat all the things!
WTG on crushing the sugar monster for the past 8 days!
I have mad, mad love for Mad Men! I can’t think of an AMC series that I don’t love. Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Hell on Wheels, Mad Men. Love them all but Mad Men will always be my first love. I even have March 25th marked on both my home and work calendar so I don’t forget. Yes, I am that much of a TV whore where I mark new seasons on my calendar.
Haha, funny typo. You typed “panty” instead of “pantry”.
Great job on the will power!
Hey lady! How have you been? And thank you so much for pointing out that typo so I could correct it.
I wanna hear more about this physical engagement between you and “the panty” at your house. ;-)
I’m doing this same thing with the healthy eating. Tho, I didn’t drink at all last weekend. Ugh. It was not fun. I’m also convinced you and I would be really good buffet buddies.
I’m still learning basic English.
that is AWESOME! Good job. breaking the sugar habit is one of the hardest things ever to do. I inherited my raging sweet tooth from my grandfather. My grandmother literally has to hide all of the sweet stuff from him in the house (even the jelly. he will eat it out of the jar), and I am pretty sure my future spouse will have to do the same once I am too old to care about my looks anymore haha. Anyway, keep up the great work!
The weekend is my arch nemesis, I become some sort of food fiend and will eat anything with a carb in it. At least I feel less crazy when I read that other people are like this too though, there is safety in numbers slash misery loves company!
Your friend,
thecrazyfat.blogspot.com
Yes, good job avoiding sugar, it is seriously so hard! I’m trying… every day around 2pm it takes every ounce of willpower I have to stop myself from raiding the office candy bowl. Gah! I hate it. Anyway, if you’re looking for a good read about food, nutrition, and health, you should check out “Eat to Live” by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. You won’t regret it. You’ve already made the commitment to change your habits, the book will help inspire you to stay the course. Good luck :-)
You should be proud of yourself! That really is an accomplishment. It’s so, so hard to learn how to eat sugar in reasonable portions (hell, it’s hard to learn how to eat reasonable portions period), so good for you!
Well done on avoiding the sugar! I’m trying to cut back too, this Sunday I think 80% of the food I ate was some sort of chocolate. Uuuugh made me feel awful as well. Anyway let’s just take it one day at a time!
What is it about Fridays? No matter what is happening in my life, some chocolate will sneak it’s way into my Friday and pave the path for sugar meltdown…
It has nothing to do with my lack of willpower at all.
Panty :)
I think you can do it. Also, it will save you a lot of money if you slim down your grocery list to cut out candy and other not nutritious stuff except for wine/beer of course.
Good luck!
This is why you should move to NC. The walgreens doesn’t even sell alcohol here. Can’t, by law. Though they do still have the best candy.
I started yesterday. I’m having some serious chocolate withdrawals. But I did drop 3 lbs overnight.
Or PA. We don’t even allow wine/spirits and beer in the same store, let alone something commonsensical like having it in a convenience store.
I can’t even remember what I ate this weekend. Damn Tequila! I do believe I binged at Southern Hospitality on 9th ave in NYC.Yeah Buddy! Ontop of that the only exercise I’ve been doing is my usual 100 push up’s and 100 sit up’s in the AM. You are my hero for staying on the good path. I’ll eat for us.
Correction second ave in nyc. If any of ya’ll are in NYC. Get your butt’s to Southern Hospitality.
Gold star for acting like an adult and not a 10 year with a car that somehow drives to the candy store!
I don’t know what this says about me, but this made me really want some candy. I already have a ton in the house (like always) but now I want new candy.
Glad that you made it through the weekend! You are right…baby steps. Another thing that helps me is to literally say, “Stop” when I start to open a bag of cookies, peanut butter, whatever. Stop and walk away. I think the steamroll effect of binge eating is what makes it so difficult. Everything starts moving too fast, and before you know it; it’s done and over! Stopping to take time and think has really made a difference for me.
That’s awesome! I can say from experience, the “out of sight, out of mind” thing works. If I don’t start with the candy, I don’t need it. However, if I start I am a bottomless pit. Good luck!
In Arkansas, you can’t buy liquor on Sundays. I still forget. I’ll lounge around and say, “Hey let’s go get another bottle of wine…. oh wait… crap. It’s Sunday.” That just means I have to stock up on Friday or Saturday.
Kudos to you on the healthy eating! I’m a texture freak and lots of healthy stuff doesn’t “feel” right. So I bought Jessica Seinfeld’s recipe book on pureeing food and adding it to recipes to get some health benefits. Yes, I’m going to sneak food in my meals like I’m a 3 year old. I just bought a food processor to puree the crap, so I’ll be starting that this weekend. Here’s to boozing it up with soft foods!
willpower at it’s finest! great job keep up the good work!
that sandwich looks so delish.
I struggle with the eating daily. I could and would work out daily. Loves it. However, I love candy and bread and all things cheese a tad too much. And by tad, I mean, probably a cool extra grand worth of cals a day. It’s not good. I need a binge busting partner. Send your roommate over here since you so rudely refuse to move to the swamp and be my BFF. I don’t understand it. You can wear kevlar year round and never EVER have good hair. What is NOT to love?
Nice work! I bought all sorts of healthy stuff, too, so that at least my breakfasts and lunches are great choices. Then I don’t feel SO bad about the evenings… except when I buy chocolate fudge PopTarts (400 calories per package!) and raisinets (slightly better). Oy. I often have my bf hide these things from me after I buy them. I am a super good finder, so it’s helpful that he’s an even BETTER hider :)
I totally agree with you about Walgreens. Glad I am not the only one who goes in there for candy and vino.
I think the sugar habit is the hardest to break. It’s everywhere and oh so good! But congrats on your 8 days! It really is something to celebrate. You will feel so much better without the sugar binges!
I love your blog. I hate that you are having a tough time, but you seem to still have a great attitude about what you need / want to do for yourself.
Candy and wine is the devil, and I wish I lived in TX so I could have someone to curb the wine and reese’s habit and encourage me to run more.
lol !! Well perhaps while avoiding sugar and alcohol, you don’t necessary have to cut on everything else and only eat fruits and vegetables :p Balance will keep to the point of satiety. Beware, deprivation, even if it’s only mentally, will lead to binge eating in the long run.
About sugar, you know this thing call sugar addiction, there is this theory (perhaps it isn’t a theory but a proved fact?) that if we get rid of all white refined sugar in our diet, we won’t be craving it anymore. So if you replace white sugar by raw sugar or natural sugar in everything you eat and you avoid every transformed food that contains tons of it, you will be free. It’s not so hard in fact. I’ve been doing that for years, this doesn’t mean that I won’t eat a slice of cake occasionally or a piece of chocolate but I avoid it in general and it is working for me :).
About alcohol I do stick to wine and beers for all natural sugars. ;)
Great job girl, I’m in the same boat so I know how you’re feeling. I’m dying to back some cookies, but I’m trying to resist and stay on my healthy eating plan. It’s hard, but I know it’s worth it….thanks for sharing! :)
Sugar and wine are also my weak point. I like the idea of measuring out the wine for the weekend, that seems responsible. I usually try to drink first, then eat so I don’t go nuts on food. I saw that blue wine bottle you always get. It is really good? I almost bought it out of pure curiosity from seeing it on the blog
I like it because it’s cheap and light. I don’t know anything about wine, but it’s sweet and delicious so I buy it.
Hey…who’s Peggy? I’ve not seen it and I’m clearly missing something.
(oh, and congrats on your self-discipline….wish I had some :))
Peggy Olson is a character on Mad Men. She was a secretary and plowed her way to a professional job. So it’s just her and a bunch of men. Hence the head banging on the desk.
I have been going through wicked “Mad Men” withdrawl! Can I blame the sugar binges on that? I do, however, have to give AMC credit for curbing my Sunday night dinner appetite. Tough to eat during “The Walking Dead.”
Yes!!! I almost puked on my tilapia last night while watching the latest episode when Rick shoots through the zombies laying on top of him. Blech. Walking Dead diet for the win. I had the same problems while watching CSI.
Cely – you need PROTEIN in your diet. You are eating good carbs but carbs non the less. Protein will help you feel full and avoid the cravings. Try lean meats and plenty of fish with your veggies.
I am! I know I just showed carb-y stuff, but I’m trying to eat between 90-100 grams of protein per day. I want to gain muscle from Crossfit. So far I’ve had 95+ all 8 days!
thats great !!! You are inspiring me.
Ewww! We watched Walking Dead, unfortunately during dinner, the other night. I am with you on the appetite suppressant factor of that show. Kind of like watching CSI during dinner… Way to go on the self-control. I’m using Lent as an excuse for “no wine on weeknights” this year to curb my sugar/wine monster.
I am totally feeling you with the out of control eating lately. We had exams two weeks ago at school and I kinda let myself eat whatever that week….which spilled over into last week…and I am trying to stop it now. I no longer have any cookies or desserts in my apartment is good. What is bad is that I bought a massive bag of a cinnamon toast crunch-like cereal at whole foods last Friday, thinking that this would be a great snack. Well 5 days and 21 cereal servings later, that bag is gone. Fail. No more cereal as a substitute snack.
Hopefully this week my grocery cart will look more like yours. That sandwich looked delicious! Keep up the good, sugar-free work!
You are hilarious! Seriously, your honesty is so refreshing.
And I forgot to mention that I work at a competitor pharmacy, but I’ll stop by Walgreens after work to buy wine. Sshhhhh! One of my faves is strawberry wine made here in Arkansas. Awesome.
Oh my. I feel exactly the same about weekends. Except I usually manage to extend mine Thursday night-Monday noon (the bad eating habits anyways).
I don’t have the sugar cravings but man I love some starchy, salty fat. I also like wine. I am trying to eat more protein to hopefully curb that & keep me fuller longer. I started to track my calories bc I am training for a full marathon and would like to lose a few pounds. It is so effing hard to stay under 2000 calories though when you are working out every day. :-( So I am right there with you.
hahah congrats!!
and ummmm MAD MEN get back in my life already!!!! dying
You did WONDERFULLY! Honestly when it’s ladytime, I don’t put limits on myself. I simply can not or everyone will suffer. I must have Triple Double Oreos, something spicy, pasta…lots and lots of pasta, french fries, and lots and lots of red wine. That’s the only time when there are literally no limits on what I can consume…honestly…and like you, I STAY hungry…or angry…or craving chocolate. You did a great job. I’m sure I would’ve cried all weekend if I had to eat that during “her visit”.
Healthy eating takes planning and I think you did great! I absolutely love love love that you measured the wine in that measuring cup…TOO funny.
I am just curious (maybe I missed it in a past post) why/when you gave up Paleo eating? And if you feel different since…?
I mostly quit eating Paleo before the Chicago Marathon in October. I ate it off and on after it and until a few weeks ago, but I have recently stopped. I do feel better when I am on it, I just get really bored (which I know could be remedied if I took the time to learn to prepare more things). It also led to binge eating when I did go off of it because I would go nuts thinking “I’ll just start back tomorrow.” I will probably go back on it one day, but I just needed a break for right now.
Love your post – y’all sound like you are doing great! : )
Lou and I have been struggling….
Well if Chub wasn’t constantly giving me “the eye” I would be struggling too. She’s doing really well. I have to find a way to sabotage her.
HA! I love it. Especially because you pretty much summed up every weekend of my life. I can eat a billion veggies and hit perfect calorie intakes all week long. Friday comes along and I can down a box of girl scout cookies like nobody’s business. On Saturday I can put away a monster fatburger and fries, finished off by about 6 beers. Oh yes, I am equally awesome!!
Nice work! I don’t know what it is, but the second I think to myself that “i’m starting today”, I want to eat everything that is anywhere. The more carbs, the better, the more chocolate the better, the more salt the better. I’m feeling unstoppable at the moment, also due to looming lady times.
Can’t wait for Mad Men. I’m going to need to figure out some tv schedules stat because my pvr is dangerously close to filling up on a weekly basis.
Girl, every time I have too much crap, (anything more than a smidgen of sweetness) I have to f’ing white knuckle it through those cravings for a few days to a week.
Good job on holding out this long! Godspeed!!!!!!
congrats! If you find a way to make sugar cravings go away PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I’m just eating it on Sundays and yet I’m still dreaming about skittles, swedish fish, oreos and cake with a butt ton of icing Tuesday-Saturday. I’ve been freezing my fruit – frozen grapes or bananas really do feel like dessert for a while
Your blog makes me happy! I read to know I am not alone! Thank you for your honesty and your humor!
I have the HARDEST time being “good” on the weekends. The only thing I’ve found to work. Limit my alcohol intake (a bit) wahhhh, as I love me my wines and beers, but they lead to binging!! and not run as much. I run for the same reasons, burn off the cals! However, sometimes it has this crazy backwards affect. The MORE I run, the MORE I eat, and way tooo much. I’ve had to find a balance. Sometimes I’m so hungry after I run, I could (and I have) eaten 3 chocolate granola bars, candy bars, 2 bags of popcorn, you name it. I found that when I trimmed my running down to 2-3 times a week at an easier pace, I’m not as freaking ravenous. It helps the crazy cravings a bit. You’ve got it right though, we have to stay busy. A Busy mind cannot think about food AS much. : ) Good luck on your next weekend. I’ll be right there with ya! Damn those girls with fast metabolisms. Cheers!