Kicking It VIII: Track meals in a food diary

Special to Village News

It all starts with a food diary. You know that small, red Atkins Carb Counter? It is my bible. Starting out, everything that went in my mouth went in my diary.

For months I noted every morsel of food whether it was a half a cup of peas or a tablespoon of fat free diet ranch dressing, an ounce of ham, 1/2 cup of green beans, a cup of lettuce greens, a teaspoon of jam or even a smear of butter – it all went in the food diary.

At first, meat was weighed on our new food scale. An ounce isn’t very much, one adjusts. For instance, an ounce of ham is enough to scramble into an egg and voila. There is a 100-calorie breakfast. I now use coconut oil. It’s tasteless and doesn’t spoil.

Raw cauliflower has become my new friend. Often when hungry, I grab a floret off the head and chow down. It provides crunch, chew, as well as practically no calories. Even our 4-year-old granddaughter likes raw cauliflower florets. Score one for Lulu.

Writing everything down was tedious and other times plain scary. Trying to get a hold on my daily food intake was daunting. First, I tried to keep it under 1,300 calories per day and, second, I worked to leave space for a glass of wine. It all goes in the book.

It seems I’ve been hungry for more than three months. I keep reminding myself the goal is just around the corner. It is worth the effort. Finally, I feel like it is paying off.

Jeans no longer feature that dreaded camel toe; blouses button without a struggle and even my pajamas are baggy.

All of which has inspired me to have a sale this upcoming February and dump all of my size 10 clothes. I will keep you informed of the date and location.

Working out is the second-best thing I’ve ever done for myself. The first best thing happened after I suffered through a dreadful virus during the Christmas holidays in 1999.

After a week when I couldn’t even think about lighting up, a friend suggested that it might be the right time to quit smoking. It took a year to kick the habit. And just so you know, while I stopped several times over 30 years, I have quit just one time.

Depriving my body of nicotine was a lot worse than going to the gym every day, for certain. It seems while my mind can kick the idea to the curb; I am developing a physical dependency to exercise. It is my hope this will remain to be the case.

I will never be a size 4 again, which is the biggest reason I smoked. Now, I will be tickled to slip into a size 6, hoping to settle into an all size 8 wardrobe. That is my goal line, and y’all have helped me along the way. Keeping it off will be the final test.

Lastly, apparently, I can’t count – after recalculating – it appears there are 113 days left before my departure. The upcoming year is a leap year with 29 days in February.

The holidays are going to be a real test. But I can do it, and so can you. Take a bite, not a plate full. Use 8-inch plates not 10-inch or 12-inch platters. After all, it’s only food.

Elizabeth Youngman-Westphal can be reached by email at [email protected].