Food Find! Food Find!

I have never EVER bought a food based on a sample tasting at a grocery store. That "record" has been broken. I sampled a wonderful biscotti-type cookie called Almondina and bought it on the spot. They were testing four different flavors but I loved the Cinnaroma the best. Not to run a full 60-second commercial, but they are made with whole grain flour, no cholesterol, no added salt, and have fiber as well as protein! I can't wait to find the ginger and pumpkin spice flavors. Personally I did not care for the chocolate cherry - mostly because I was dreaming of a hershey kiss and got cocoa powder! lol BUT, some of you might like that flavor - they also have a chocolate dipped which I did not try.

Today is lunch out with my brother and mom. There is a favorite Chinese restaurant that we are going to - they offer steamed veggies for an appetizer and steamed brown rice. They also have "heart-healthy" entree choices (steamed veggies with chicken or shrimp). I love their hot and sour soup, but other than that (probably laden with salt) the rest will be totally healthy and satisfying. It's a beautiful, clean, white tablecloth type of restaurant, so the whole experience is pleasant. My goal for lunch is to put my fork down between bites. It's so freeing to enjoy this meal and not have to worry about points or calories! Believe it or not, now that I am tuned into my body (or at least trying to be) I don't even want the other stuff... but I could have it if I wanted to!

Last night/this morning I had a very interesting experience. I got home from class and I was SO hungry. As I had ziti before going I had that ever-present spinach pie. Still hungry so I had a persimmon (I eat it like an apple - skin and all...you just have to make sure it's soft and ripe). I was a little "empty" when I went to bed. I awoke around 4:30AM and I was SO hungry and thirsty. I tried to go back to sleep but finally at about 5 I couldn't stand it anymore so officially got up and had a bowl of cut honeydew and a 1/2 piece of Fitness bread with a slice of FF cheese and a bottle of water. Once tummy was full I was able to fall back to sleep for a bit. Hungry again when I got up and had breakfast (that same weird banana/cheese sandwich I had yesterday).

The first new experience is actually TRULY being hungry. Not a hunger mask that is hiding boredom, frustration, anger, worry, etc. but REAL tummy hunger. The second new experience was giving myself permission to eat. And an actual meal - not just poking around the fridge. AND permission again to have breakfast as I usually do. Oh AND permission to have my wonderul Almondina cookies with a cup of tea when I got to work.

I am so tempted to get on the scale, but I don't want to be a slave to it. I know in my heart I am eating the way that promotes health and weight loss, and I don't want a number to decide for me how the rest of my day will go. I'm not saying that the scale isn't good feedback - it is. But, I'm one of these people who is ruled by it, so letting go of the daily, or even weekly, weigh-ins is another new thing for me.

Did I say yesterday that someone at work approached me and said that she can see in my face that I've lost weight? I don't know about clothes because since my surgery I have mostly
been wearing elastic waist pants and going bra-less with loose tops. I've only started wearing my real clothes! Now that I'm not in my sling I can go back to buttons and zippers and bras! So the face compliment will have to be my feedback for right now - I'll take it :).

For dinner I have turkey meatballs and marinara sauce (augmented with steamed swiss chard) in the crockpot. I might cook up some whole wheat spaghetti if I feel like it.

I am loving this "trusting myself concept." Try it!

Samida