don’t go on a vacation early in a diet
General April 5th, 2009I know this is. I know that to be successful on a diet it is SO much easier to be at home, where you are in some control of the environment and can find the diet-friendly choices that you prefer. To not be constantly surrounded by temptation.
But this year is one of enormous travel and little quality time with my husband, so when he proposed that I join him for a weekend in the Loire valley visiting chateuax because he had a meeting on the Saturday morning I could hardly refuse (plus I didn’t know I’d be starting a diet when I accepted).
It was a weekend with 3 luxury meals in gourmet restaurants, and breakfasts where the choices were between french bread w butter and jam vs croissants… I tried not to overindulge but I had a bit of everything all weekend. I’d been careful all week, not dipping into my weekly points, but still…
The worst of it was it left me heading into the next week in bad shape. Scale showed stable weight for the week, no loss (in week 2!) and I just was out of the groove. I spent the week making some good and a few bad choices. And not using my food diary (which was no doubt the biggest mistake).
I also have poor timing in choosing my reading material. For several months now I’d been planning to read a book called “Good Calories, Bad Calories” by Gary Taubes. In my travels this year I always have a book with me because in airports etc I have a lot of time to read. Well - this choice was a long, complex scientific book that totally makes you re-think basically all public health messages on nutrition, health and more specifically Weight. There were lots of moments that really hit close to a nerve - including the fact that many of my diet attempts in my life the low-fat way have been extremely difficult to maintain. And that I’ve been overweight forever & was born a month early because my mom had gestational diabetes and have always followed the studies that have basically shown that babies born in that circumstance are very frequently overweight kids and adults (as I was, contrary to my siblings - where my mother kept her eating and weight in very tight control her other pregnancies).
Anyway, the basic premise of his book is that 1) the evidence that makes up most of the health recommendations on diet and exercise today are rubbish, and 2) there is a reasonable hypothesis that insulin-generated hunger & fat storage contributes greatly to being overweight and difficulty losing weight. If his second hypothesis is true (which of course today looks quite likely) then the way to approach managing weight for someone in that situation would be to focus on controlling the insulin response. Which in turn leads you to low-carb eating or at the very least low-GI.
So now these ideas have been swimming in my head at the same time I’m starting weight watchers (which is pretty much a low-fat, high-carb, calorie-restricted plan). So my committment to the approach has been faltering but I’ve yet to find the courage to attack low-carb or any of it’s variations (South Beach seems one of the most reasonable).
But every day I find myself thinking more and more about it. I’ve done a fair amount of searching online. And I’m starting to feel like giving it a go is a matter of time - in which case there is no need to wait.
Will keep you posted as I try to work this out.
April 5th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
The vacation sounded fabulous and good for you for not diving into everything head first.
As far as the low-carb thing is concerned I do think it has it’s merits. I used to follow it pretty strictly but for me it’s nothing I could do for life. I missed fruit. Now I basically avoid things w/white flour and sugar most of the time. I do indulge (sometimes over-indulge) in treats on occasion but for the most part I eat high-fiber, high-protein and lots of fruits and veggies. I also eat about every 3 hours which helps keep the hunger at bay.
For each of us I think it’s a journey to find out what works for us. The good news is that we’re all still at it, trying to figure it out.
April 6th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Oooh I know what you mean about insulin-controlled diets. I have long thought about doing a lower-carb/GI diet, but have never had the commitment to stick to it. Mostly because whenever I read about them, all I hear is “NEVER AGAIN!” on things like ice cream or even pizza. On a calorie (or points) diet, you can still eat those things…just in moderation. So.. I’m left just feeling confused about what’s right and what’s wrong.
wish I could give you some sage advice, but I’m right there with ya!
April 6th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I am finding that I feel so much better when I severely restrict what I think of as ‘the white stuff’…sugar, flour, milk, pasta, rice, potatoes. The hardest is to avoid bread, I love a chewy whole grain bread, but there is no doubt that when I eat this way I sleep better, I have more energy, and I do lose weight. I still have small amounts of fruit (like one or two servings a day)and lots of veggies but I don’t worry about the fat content of things. When I have chocolate or some other sugary thing a very small amount satisfies now. I can’t be fanatical about this way of eating but this makes a lot of sense for my body.
April 7th, 2009 at 12:29 am
That book does sound interesting. I’m always very suspicious of “low fat” processed foods because they are usually busting full of sugary carbos. I guess with your travel eating, well, it may not be part of the weight-loss plan, but wow. The other benefits, seeing wonderful things and getting quality time with your hubby, definitely worth it.
April 8th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I have no idea why I am posting as I am nooooo expert. I am finding though if I consume less of the bread stuff and fill up on more of the substance (meat, veggies ect) I am not snacking all day long. And whatever I do, I can not eat a carb by itself or I am starving in a few hours. So far it is working and not feeling that deprieved.
April 10th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Sarah: Sounds like a great few days away. Life is meant to be enjoyed so cut yourself a bit of slack over those great sounding meals. You don’t do it every day!
One interesting thing I was told by a dr was to chew each mouthful 30 times. Supposedly we were meant to have mush to swallow. BUT it also means we eat slower and therefore notice if we are getting full sooner. Personally, I find my jaw starts to get sore partway through all my food! Maybe that cuts it back!
I think you’re doing great!
Shari