Troubleshooting
During the last week, I’ve fought a stronger-than-usual temptation to overeat and make bad food choices, and yesterday, I gave in. I felt terrible afterwards, both physically and mentally. When I’ve been in this situation in the past, I would always give up, but I know better now. The people who lose weight and keep it off aren’t successful because they’re perfect – they’re successful because they don’t quit when they make mistakes.
When you do take a misstep, it’s important to analyze what went wrong, so that you can avoid the same pitfalls in the future. I’m following the “French Women Don’t Get Fat” plan, which is more of a food paradigm shift than a strict diet. It’s important to learn all you can about any eating plan before you attempt it, which is why I recommend checking out the website, but these are some of the main ideas:
1. Drink a big glass of water when you wake up in the morning, and another before going to sleep.
2. Eat a variety of foods, including fresh produce in season.
3. Cook your own dinner, and make your own lunch.
4. Learn your eating patterns, and cut out indulgences you don’t really need while minimizing indulgences you do.
5. Eat at the table.
6. Cut back on your portion sizes.
7. Don’t keep foods you binge on at home.
8. Don’t eat between meals, except for yogurt with live, active cultures.
I’ve been having trouble with the last rule – I don’t usually have a filling lunch, and when 2:30 p.m. rolls around, I’m usually famished, and I end up eating way too much. I need to incorporate more protein and fiber-rich food into my lunch, so that I stay fuller longer. I had a great lunch today of whole-wheat pasta with tomatoes, and I feel a lot better then I did yesterday.
What are some healthy foods you enjoy that fill you up?
It’s great that you have a ‘food philosophy’. It’s not always easy to stick to it but you have the right attitude!
Thanks Alison! That’s true – it’s not easy, but it’s worth it!
I absolutely love fresh snap peas, yogurt and hard boiled eggs. Those are my filler foods.
Those are great protein-rich foods – I love hard boiled eggs and yogurt too! I’ll give snap peas a try!
hummus and snap peas, bananas
I find I have to eat every few hours or my blood sugar tanks and I overeat at night, so I guess you could say I do eat between meals.
Those sound like healthy snacks! I love bananas and hummus too!