I've put on weight partly because I choose what to eat for all the wrong reasons. I eat something because it looks good, smells good, tastes good, or because I'm avoiding doing a task, because I'm tired, or because I'm too hungry to care what I eat -as long as I eat something!

My goal is to eat because my body needs fuel, and to make choices about what I eat based on what my body needs, and nothing else.  Does this mean I'll never eat something for pure pleasure?  Of course not.  I do know that would just set me up for failure.

 

I like to eat.  I really appreciate good cooking - and I'm a good cook!  So my downfall isn't storebought cookies, donuts, ice cream or soda - I can resist all of that pretty easily.  I do like sweets, but I'm pretty selective, so I'm careful to allow my family buy the things they like that I can pass up.  What really hurts me is the other food.  Not breakfast - that's always one cup of coffee and a 6oz yogurt, or whole grain toast if I  happen to be out of yogurt.  It's not lunch - that's always (almost always - at least 5 days a week) a 12 oz mug of warm V8 juice and some whole wheat crackers and cheese.  The problem is that last meal of the day.  The dishes we call dinner. 

 

I can cook lots of very, very yummy, irresistible (to me) dinners.  For years, I've been using only whole grain pastas, rice and bread.  I'm careful to include lots of colorful, delicious veggies, and low-fat, low-sodium versions of any ingredients.  So what's the problem?  I'm really not sure.  I think that since my favorite dishes are the one-dish meals, that it's the stuff that binds all that together (cheese or sauce) and my portion size that's so difficult.  I'm always starved by the time dinner arrives....I guess my breakfast and lunch choices, although good, need to be supplemented by a healthy snack between...

 

Also, I'm not exercising regularly, so I think once I start that, the weight will come off....I hope.