Healthy Living for Mom: Food Diary Saves the Day
Last week after I admitted to winging it through my diet and the remaining peppermint-filled days leading to Christmas, I found myself standing on the scale...scowling.
Three pounds gained. OVERNIGHT.
The night before was Saturday and I had enjoyed a bacon cheeseburger and fries. I may have even thrown caution to the wind and dipped those fries in ranch dressing.
Later, there was peppermint cheesecake.
So there I stood, ready to throw in the towel on this whole thing. I got frustrated. I thought, “I can’t even enjoy a burger and fries...and cheesecake without gaining a pile of weight! I am going to fight this battle forever. One big meal packs on 3 pounds!”
I grudgingly pulled out my weight journal/calendar to note weight and my big meal (I do this to help identify a pattern or to plan ahead...I will often note upcoming events where cake will feature prominently). As I was writing “Five Guys + Cheesecake”, I remembered the Cafe Rio takeout and cranberry margaritas from Friday night.
A few cookies while grocery shopping...followed by cheesy French Onion Soup on Thursday night.
Dinner with a friend that ended in cannoli on Wednesday night.
I jotted all of those meals down on my calendar, felt like a whiny jerk and thanked my lucky stars that I had gained only three pounds.
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It seems silly that I would have forgotten all of those delicious dishes, but I did. While a full-blown food diary doesn’t work for me, it helps to keep track when I go buck wild at the drive thru window.
MY WEEKLY STATS
- Starting Weight: 195.5 pounds
- Week Sixteen Weight: 178 pounds ( +2 pounds / -17.5 pounds total)*
- Goal Weight: 165 lbs
Merry Christmas! I hope Santa brings me a Chocolate Orange and a 20lb Kettlebell.
What do you want Santa to bring you?
*The 3 pound gain I’ve referenced above, was because I weighed in at 175 on Saturday and then jumped to 178 on Sunday morning.
Other posts you might enjoy:
Healthy Living for Mom: Dieting During the Holidays
