Tuesday, September 4, 2007

In The Zone

I think I have entered The Zone. For the first time in a long time, I had a day at home and didn't feel like eating all day. I didn't feel hungry. I didn't feel the need to munch while doing whatever it was I was (or wasn't) doing. I was actually quite content to just enjoy my day.

Now don't think I went and starved myself. I ate. I just ate breakfast and dinner. And I was happy and not hungry.

Reading (well skimming) The Zone books and The Zone website, I have found myself to be trying, but not trying too hard because I have never known a person who has been on a diet and stayed on the diet. I honestly didn't have high hopes for this. But after gaining 10 lbs out of nowhere I had to try.

I got the jist of the program - an equal portion of protein, carbs and fat; portion control; exercise, but didn't really delve into detail. Why? I don't know. Motivation was low? Didn't really want to change the way I was eating? Didn't really want to be on a "diet" persay? Who really knows? I just know I thought I would dabble a bit and see if it was something that interests me.

Eat 3xs a day (about every 4 hours) and a snack in between. Sounds pretty straight forward. I can do that.

I stopped eating all major fatty things - cookies, donuts, mms, Frostys, twinkies, - you name it. I was wasn't too happy about this because I really like the four course meal idea - appetizer, salad/soup, meal, coffee and dessert. But I am an out of sight, out of mind girl when it comes to food. So putting everything in the back of the cupboards usually works really well. No problem.

I stopped eating all the foods on the bad carbs list or as I call it - do not eat list. Which funny enough had been the majority of foods I had swtiched to in order to eat healthier. Odd. Things like carrots and dried fruits (which had become my snack).

I started managing my portion control as well. When my brain signaled I was full - I stopped. Imagine that. Stopping when you are full. Seems so basic, but I am surprised now that I am aware of eating, not just eating because I feel like it, how easy it is to just keep eating - for no reason. I like to talk at dinner and so I have also learned to move my plate so I am not tempted to keep grazing.

I also started cooking. OMG! Yes, I started cooking again. And normally I would appologize to my husband and son but suprisingly I woke up and was gifted with the ability to cook. Oh Yeah! I can cook. I have made flounder, bacon, eggs (without calling my mother to ask how), chicken, ground beef. So excited!

Back to my story, I ate breakfast and dinner yesterday. I made a balanced (code for healthy I guess) breakfast of eggs, bacon, 1 piece of toast with jam, a spoonful of peanut butter (uhg) and a little bit of fruit. Then I didn't realize I hadn't eaten until early evening. I then made myself a chicken salad. I threw chicken on the stove, then put in leftover lettuce, avocado and tomato (from taco night), cut up a little green pepper, added grapes, and leftover egg and bacon (from breakfast). And yes I did add a little dressing because I just can't do salad without dressing. Wow it was so good! I wasn't even able to eat all of what I made.

Now please don't think I am bragging. By no means is that the case. I haven't been very good about going to the gym and I am pretty sure no pounds have been lost. I am just happy about the zen I felt yesterday and would love to attribute it to feeling that I read about in The Zone book. I actually turned down a donut and a cupcake this weekend and don't feel the least problematic about it. Normally my mouth would be watering at the mention of a donut, but I didn't think twice about it.

What I find incredibly funny is my husband and I both joined a gym. I worked out three times a week for the last couple of weeks. I changed what I ate and how much I ate. And he lost 10 pounds.

The irony.

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