So while I have no intention of trying to ever make my own hot dogs, I will confess, they are on my guilt list of processed foods I find hard to pass up. Yes, Good Karma Mama likes her dogs..
But today's entry is not really about hot dogs. It's about a realization that I came to recently. It's that the power of suggestion really does work.
I am a foodie, which means I love all things related to the subject.. I love the feeling I get when I walk into a Whole Foods and see bright, colorful aromatic lemons and carrots. I instantly create an entire mental menu when I see a new bottle of Madagascar Vanilla extract. I love looking at food photography and other blogger food sites. Hell, I would probably only subscribe to Food Network (and HGTV) if my cable provider let me. And of course there is the eating.. Oh, I love the eating. But, I have noticed a trend since I started this blog; a trend eh-hem that is coming up from the "rear" if you can read between the lines.
Let me back up for a second, for my readers who don't actually know me personally. Recently, as in last year, I lost almost 35 pounds. It wasn't totally intentional, I discovered I had developed gall stones after my last pregnancy. My doctor thought that any attacks could be contained with changes in my diet. She was right. For a while anyway. And as a result, I changed my eating habits completely and was able to shed any baby weight that resided from my precious duo that I accumulated over the last 6 years.
In the end, I did have my gall bladder removed, but for the last year (360 days to be exact) I have kept the weight off.
How did I do it, lean meats, whole grains and LOTs of fruits and veggies. I cut down my portions to normal human size and cut out much of my processed foods and fat. I also used The Daily Plate; a free nutrition and weight loss site.
Back to the power of suggestion. Since I started my blog, I have really become obsessed with food. Cooking sites, cooking shows, food photography, the works. I have gone off the deep end! Looking at all this food does inspires me, but has also distracted me from the mission of GKE! I have made 4 loaves of homemade bread, 4 dozen chocolate chip cookies and nearly 100 mini cupcakes all in the name of "research" in the last 45 days alone. Don't shriek, I have shared with various folks, but for the most part, my husband and I have really enjoyed my efforts to get back to basics.
Whew! OK my secret is out. Now it's not like the scale is any where near off the charts, but I really do feel sluggish and snug in places I shouldn't.
This evening, when my 5 year old was offered one of my chocolate chip cookies (from scratch) he refused. He asked for a healthy snack, not sweets. Baby girl gladly took his cookie!
I was proud, my efforts are working. But, it also reminded me of my need to control my cooking emotions when surfing for inspiration. He likes his treats, it's not like I brainwashed him, but hearing a phrase like that out of a child's mouth was funny and jarring at the same time.
What does all this confessing mean? What is my point? Well, I will continue to research, experiment about all types of foods, but will re-focus to not just unprocessed recipes (treats or not) but also how it can be incorporated into a balanced diet.
Now, off to eat one of those cookies! lol just kidding.. (I already had some)
**First tip: When I made the cookies, I make about a dozen and froze the rest of them, so we only eat a bit a time.
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