Getting Back to the Basics

[PhotoNut]

So over this past month I seem to have developed CRS (Cant Remember Shit) Syndrome. I did a quick run through of my basic list of bandster rules today. These are rules that I followed for the first 7 months of banding and was rewarded with a loss of 95 pounds. And now, since I have CRS, I'm not following even the easiest basic rules! Not one! Ack! I've forgotten everything that was working so well!

Ok, quick regroup and recovery time. No looking back. No wasting time on beating myself up over the fact that I could have been in Onederland by now, or the fact that I could have joined the One Hundred Pounds Gone for Good club. *clears throat and refocuses*

Here's my list.

Serve small portions in small containers (bowls, plates, etc).
Eat with smaller utensils (salad fork rather than full sized fork, etc).
Eat all of the protein first, then veggies, then fruit if any.
Make each meal last 15 mins. but no longer than 15 mins.
Eat good solid animal proteins -- minimum 60grams per day (chicken, beef, fish)
Eat between 900 and 1,200 calories per day.
Journal every bite of food or drink. Don't leave it until the end of the day and count on remembering everything. It's even better to add it up prior to eating!
Do NOT drink with the meal, and don't drink for an hour afterwards.
Avoid foods that contain flour or sugar.
Drink water -- a minimum of 64oz per day.
Exercise a minimum of 30 mins per day.
Take a good daily multivatamin.
If you have to snack, eat a solid protein!
Do NOT eat after 7pm!Now, these may seem harsh and unrealistic to you but I swear it was easier for me to follow these rules than it is to try and keep myself in contorl when I'm not following them. Why is that? Well, when I'm doing these things...

I'm not hungry
I feel great
My feet and legs and back and hips don't hurt
My attitude is much more positive and I don't feel sluggish
I don't crave foods - any foods
The scale smiles at me
I feel light
My skin and hair looks healthy
I feel alert and can think clearlySince I haven't been following these rules...

My feet hurt
My hips hurt when I first stand up to walk
My stomach feels bloated and hurts all the time
I feel tired sluggish
I feel heavy and flabby
My skin is dry and wrinkly and my hair is dry and limp
The scale scowls at me
I CRSWhy did I stop doing these things if they made me feel so good? Simple. I forgot that I'm an addict. I believed that I could have a little of this, or a little of that, and then walk away. Nope. I was wrong, and I've been served up an +8 pound reminder!

*stands up in front of the room*
Hello, my name is Susan and I'm a foodaholic.

Back to basics!
Goal: 199 by Oct 31
For details of my plan, see the Commitment thread: http://band2gether.net/showthread.php?t=610&page=5

[Idahobeauty]

Good for you P'Nut! I am glad that you have decided to get back on track! It can be so hard when you are traveling and have company. Social times are the worst for me. Although I am not banded yet, I have printed out your list and put it on my refrigerator for future use! This will be a place that my DH can be aware of it too. See, you help others without even knowing it...LOL.

[PhotoNut]

I hope following that list makes my bewbies as perky as those in your avatar, Susan! LOL!

I really wanted to come to the festival thing yesterday but Sara wouldn't let me. *sticks her tongue out at Sara* hehe

Seriously tho, it has been very hard to get back on track. But about 2 hours ago I ate my old favorite, fish fillets with peas and carrots, and I'm still stuffed! I swear, doing it right is so much easier than doing it wrong while trying to make it right.

[Idahobeauty]

I would love bewbies like that...I'm tellin' ya, DH is getting butt implants and I am getting bewbies for Christmas...LOL.

I would have loved to had you come yesterday but I totally understand. I wish I could have seen Sara again before she left but I am sure I will see her again someday.

That is awesome about your fish fillets! It is amazing how the right stuff can satisfy you much longer than the wrong stuff can. Now as for me... I just finished a piece of chocolate cake...dang it dang it dang it... (note to self) "eat fish not cake"...LOL.

[LindaV]

Does SQUARE FISH + MINI BREAKFASTS = PERKY BEWBIES? ;) :madgrin: :p

[Idahobeauty]

OMG ROFLMAO!!! I was just telling DH about the square fish issue!!!! That is way too funny.

[AnnDe]

Hey I'm going to try that and see what happens!! Just maybe it will save me some $$,$$$

[Plainsneech]

I can stop drinking with meals
I can stop drinking with meals
I can stop drinking with meals
I can stop drinking with meals
Ooooooohhhhmmmmm (sitting yogi style on floor)

[diva girl]

I love this post, Susan! I printed it out and will post it for constant reminders. Thank you!

lyn

Square Fish?

[barbara465]

Susan,

I've always looked to you as a role model for bandster behavior. Glad to see you rededicating to the program. I have a question about #4. Why is a meal only 15 minutes? My doctor says if I can't dedicate 45 min. to a meal, then drink a protein drink. Most of the time, it takes me at least 30 minutes to have a meal. Just curious.

Its a great list and one that I'm using to move forward on my journey.

[PhotoNut]

I'm glad the list is helping others. It's certainly helping me! I can't believe how far I strayed from my good habits over a matter of a few months. I look back now and I can see where I started letting things go. The beginning was when I stopped serving my food on small plates or in small bowls. I seem to have this fear of not getting enough food, so if there's any empty space on a plate when I'm serving the food I feel compelled to fill it with food! Then when I'm eating I feel compelled to eat everything on my plate. It's a nasty chain of events that I can avoid by serving a full plate, BUT by using a small plate!

Barbara, I was always told that eating a meal in less than 15 minutes meant I was most likely eating too fast and not chewing properly, and that it takes 15 minutes for those "I'm saited" hormones to be released and registered by the brain. I was also told that taking longer than 15 mins can cause me to eat more because some of the food in the pouch will have had time to break down enough to pass through, thereby leaving room for more. And trust me, if there's room for more and I'm still hovering over a plate of food... its going to get eaten! *chuckles*

What I used to do, and am working on doing again, was sit down with my small plate or bowl of food (about 1 cup of food). Chew slowly, savor each bite, lay my fork down between bites, and finish the meal in 15 minutes. Then I would put my dish in the kitchen and go find something else to do - even if I thought I was still hungry. I had to reassure myself that if I was truly hungry after 10 or 15 minutes, I could go back and eat more. This rarely happened though. I usually get busy doing other things and just forgot about the food.

[barbara465]

Thanks Susan. I was wondering about the length of time it was taking me to eat also. I do the small plate, but I eat it all, even if it takes me 1 hour. I'm going to watch the time I'm taking and try to reach a happy compromise. I think for me its 30 minutes. I'll eat for 30 minutes at the same pace I'm eating now. It is either all gone or the dog gets the rest.

[Vickie1177]

Pnut as you know right now I have no fill in me due to being overfilled so this was perfect timing for me to regroup thank you for the post. I will also follow it as well.
Vickie