Do As I Say, Not As I Do. Actually, Don’t Even Do As I Say.
Trigger Warnings - diet (sort of, in the way of “this is the food that I eat”, not the “I’m on a”) talk
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People who know that I have lost weight and kept it off often ask me about what foods I eat… how I “maintain”… and, in effect, what THEY should be eating to achieve the same results.
But I don’t like answering this question. I don’t really want to tell people what it is I do, lest they decide that it might be a good idea for them as well.
Why? Well… no matter that I know what “healthy” eating is… and I know about fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole foods, etc. etc. etc… most of what I eat is prepackaged or canned.
It’s not what I might really consider a “healthy” diet.
I eat instant oatmeal for breakfast. Yes - every day… I like oatmeal, it’s easy, it’s fast, I can prepare it at work and eat it at my desk. It even has some fiber, I suppose, although not like “Real” oatmeal. But it’s also got preservatives, and fake flavoring, etc.
Lunch is also easy at my desk. Lunch is a can of soup. This requires zero effort on my part, but also puts far more sodium in my life that I probably ought to have. But I like soup… and it’s easy… and I can have variety without having to deal with “making” lunch, etc.
For dinner I eat Morningstar farms soy patties in whatever flavor I happen to feel like that night as well as some microwaved frozen veggies. Now… again, these patties are sold as “healthy food” - but let’s face it - that much soy is probably not “Good for me”. And, again with the sodium and preservatives, etc.
But I am lazy… oh so lazy. And I do not like to cook - I do not want to take the time it takes to prepare healthy vitamin rich, whole grain, fresh foods.
I find the things I eat to be tasty, filling, and above all, EASY to prepare.
On weekends we go out to eat and so I can eat far more complicated things, and I do… of course, someone else has made them and brought them to me, so it still fills the “easy” bill. But as I am a big fan of Chinese food, I imagine it’s also loaded with MSG (which I am told is “unhealthy”), and I suspect the weekend meals also have a fair amount of HFCS, so while it provide variety, I’m not sure where it stands on the “healthy eating” spectrum.
But could I, in good conscience, recommend this eating plan to anyone else? No, no, I certainly could not. The fact that it works for me, and I like it and am happy with it doesn’t mean that it’s something that anyone else should try to live on. And just because the foods I eat fall within a certain caloric intake that I like to stick to to maintain my existing weight range doesn’t make them healthy choices.
I mean, I don’t think my food choices are the worst on the planet, but the sodium and preservatives alone are probably doing very nasty things to me. And I don’t care. These are my choices… but I’m not writing anyone else a prescription to follow.
I am not a role model. Everyone has to find their own way.
Wow, interesting… my first thought is that the nutritional quality (or lack thereof) doesn’t stem from the foods you’re eating, but it’s remarkable lack of diversity. I’ve been reading more about nutrition lately, and it seems like one of the keys to nutritional health is to mix it up. Taste diversity ensures nutritional diversity. But, I’m like you: every morning I have a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast, so I’m not exactly achieving diversity in that manner. Most of the time I don’t have lunch and I either go hungry or scrounge. Dinner is diverse, but easy.
I definitely understand the whole “easy” thing. Time is a commodity and food preparation eats that commodity up. Anything to save a little time.
My only question (and it would take a qualified nutritionist to answer) would be whether this sort of dietary routine which allows you to be thin is also healthy. I know you have a weight that you’d like to maintain, but what if it’s at the cost of your health? Would you still do it?
Peace,
Shannon
I think the only thing that keeps it from having too bad an impact on my health is a) the bowl of vegetables that goes along with dinner and b) the eating out on the weekends that introduces some variety, more fats, different proteins, carbs, even different vegetables (and cake).
If my regular routine did not vary on the weekends, yeah, it’d probably kill me sooner.
I’d love to get a nutritionist’s perspective. Most of what I’ve read stresses that it’s up to you, you have to trust your own instincts, so I’d wonder where this sort of structure would fall in that sort of philosophy.
Nutrition confuse Hulk!
Peace,
Shannon
I imagine a good nutritionist would be pretty appalled
“I am not a role model. Everyone has to find their own way.”
To me, the fact that you wrote that means that to me, you are a role model-in matters far more important than dietetics.
Simone -
I agree. The fact that noceleryplease is willing to talk openly about her life is something I think make’s her an incredible contributor to this community and any discussion she’s a part of.
first, thanks for a post that is frank, honest, and no bullshit… I admire you and appreciate your awareness that just because you did it doesn’t make it right for others…
couple of thoughts…. I too would love to see a nutritionist engage in this thread because I think that while there is a lot of good science out there, the fact is that we cannot know how your particular set of genes, the food your eat, and the ass you kick on skates combines to create your health. So whatever your diet is, you cannot know for sure how long you are going to live.
I think that trusting your body and its cravings as proposed by most intuitive eating schools of thought really makes the most sense here.
my most successful weight loss (can I call it that since I have gained it back and then some?) anyway in 2002 or 03 I lost 150-200 lbs (not sure what I weighed when I started) and I kept it off for three years. I was pretty much eating nothing but meat, eggs and cheese and I was exercising by riding my bike all over nyc all the time.
I honestly didn’t care about what a nutritionist had to say about the nutritional quality of my diet. I was just happy to be able to eat huge quantities when I wanted to and be thin. (although never thought I thin enough)
There is that part of me that sees me taking one more shot at keeping my weight down using the same tactics from that three year stint on what i referred to as Atkins extreme” — I think that one of the reasons carb restriction works is that you burn a shitload of calories talking ALL THE TIME about carbs
If I were to choose to give it another try, I am not sure if I could stay around the sphere because I would feel like a fraud trying something that I know will probably fail (95% chance). It is just sometimes I think that it would be nice if I could find my way into that small 5% of folks who succeed.
I am pretty much resolved to find my way to the fitness (wanna get back to salsa lessons) and stay with keeping my focus on eating the way it is spoken about in Dr. Bacon’s book because that seems to me to be the best way to honor myself.
Alright sorry for the long comment,
cheers,
ivan
Dude…
“I think that one of the reasons carb restriction works is that you burn a shitload of calories talking ALL THE TIME about carbs “
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
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And this…
“If I were to choose to give it another try, I am not sure if I could stay around the sphere because I would feel like a fraud trying something that I know will probably fail (95% chance).”
Now this is where I have an issue with the “Fat-O-Sphere” (TM) and why I feel like I can’t really comment or post out there… Because I think that IF you choose to change your habits, even WITH THE EXPLICIT GOAL OF LOSING WEIGHT, and ESPECIALLY if you know and understand how hard it is and what the actual chances of success are…
Well, I think it’s your right as a person to do that, and no one should be able to tell you other wise, or shame you for your choices. JUST AS THEY SHOULD NOT SHAME ANYONE WHO SAYS “TO HELL WITH DIETS”. It’s two sides of the same “personal freedom” coin.
No one has any business telling you what to do with your body or your weight. In any direction. Period.