Meal/calorie Flashcards

(dieting for geeks)

There's been a slight backwards motion going on around here...a little more beer, a little less calorie counting...(though a lot more happiness, it must be admitted, due to the farmhouse waiting for us in the near future) and I'm concerned because it has felt so good to make actual progress for once and not be alarmed that every time I hope on the scale it's going to be one notch higher. That's a very sad merry go round to be on and I've been very happy to not be on it.

So I figured it was time to get a little more organized. It's going to be tough to stay completely on track during this whole escrow and move thing. I know for a fact that I will drink more beer, eat out more often, and need the comfort of old habits more. However, I plan to keep it all in check in spite of myself. I started by doing some more work on my calorie flashcards. My original intention was to put all the recipes I make on recipe cards with the calorie information included so I can plan my meals more easily and have the calorie work already mapped out for me so I can keep track on a daily basis with less effort.

However, writing down the recipes implies that I have to also write the instructions for each one and that is tedious and I was avoiding it. Then I realized that while I am a thorough gal and this might be the ideal thing to do, this is my fucking life and I don't have to write the instructions if I don't want to. Not right away anyway. Not until someone asks me for my recipes and how to make them. I already know how to cook my own food.

So I have modified it so that I am writing meals I frequently eat on the front of the index cards showing with and without cheese options where appropriate, this is for easy reference. On the back (in cases where this is appropriate) I am writing an ingredient list. This will help me with planning meals and grocery shopping.

Having done some work on my index cards last night made it easy to choose my breakfast from my list of options (I have several breakfast cards) and easy to know instantly what caloric impact that choice will have. This medium sized home made pita bread (multi-grain, in case you were curious) has two tablespoons of yogurt cheese on it and two tablespoons of preserves on it.

250 calories

This is a stupid bad picture but can I tell you what a fabulous lunch it was? One slice of toast with a pat of butter, plus 1 cup of spaghetti squash, 1/2 cup home made marinara sauce, and two tablespoons of Parmesan cheese.

275 calories

Both of these meals were light and I will need plenty more sustenance later, but I got filled plenty by both of them and all for a whopping 525 calories. All I have left is one or two snacks and dinner. I know I'm a dork for getting excited about this but I can't wing it with meals or I will wing it with lots of cheese. I have already worked out the calories for pita pizzas and it's not too bad, especially if two of my other main meals were so light and yet satisfying.

So I'm loving this organization thing and I think it's going to help. My plan is to document, one day each week, every single food and drink item I put into my mouth and show what my calorie intake was for that day. Then I'm going to post it. I want all of you to do the same (though for those of you not counting calories you can omit that part). EVERY LITTLE BITE. Scared? C'mon...don't you think it would be interesting and cool to see what we're all eating in one single day? Even if it's a day on which you're being very very good...I still want to see.

Anyway, I have to go walk the dog and then get back to my part time job which actually has a deadline.