I have been getting a little out of control with these grains and I need to reel myself back in, so I am making a public announcement that, starting tomorrow morning (which is in a couple hours), I will be cutting back on the consumption of grains.

My goal for Friday is to only have three servings. (Yes, I've gotten *that* out of control!)

Saturday I will have only two.

Sunday I will be down to one.

I will stay at one serving of grains a day until I feel in control again and am ready to make smart decisions about what I will eat. I found with the grains I was getting lazy and not having as many vegetables because the easier snack to grab was a couple crackers or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch instead of a salad. Plus, I've noticed that the grains seem to be affecting my cravings. Seven Triscuits for snack with some yogurt yesterday nearly did me in for the rest of the night. I just about turned into a monster! Making good eating choices is not easy. It will be work, but it is worth it.

Thank you for listening!

Kara

Sounds like a good plan to get back in control, Kara!

I had an off-plan day yesterday what with celebrating the holiday plus 2 birthdays, but I'm going to be extra careful today and plan to be totally OP.

Kara,
You are right about it being so much easier to grab crackers or something starchy for a snack rather than veggies. I have been keeping myself at two grains servings a day, one for breakfast or a morning snack, and the other I save for dinner. But I definitely haven't been getting the right amount of veggies in the past week, with traveling, and not being at home cooking. That will be my focus this week, getting back to normal.

That's a good idea, Schmoodle. What I will do is plan which meal to have the starches with. That should make it easier to space them out and to tell if one particular kind of grain is causing problems.

Thanks!

Kara

GREAT point, Kara! Thanks for reminding me. I've let my grains get out of control too. I used to be so strict about one serving a day with a now and again 2 serving day. Now it's like three or four servings by the time I add a little cereal to my yogurt and berries, have a couple nibbles of crackers here...and a little nibble there...Oy!

I'm impressed with your willpower and how aware you are of your body! Thanks for the inspiration! I love that you aren't trying to go cold turkey, too. That's AWESOME and a great idea!

Kara, I do that--usually. The plan is to have a starch dinner on one day, then a starchless one the next night. I have the leftovers of the day before for lunch, so on the days when I have a starchless dinner, I'm having the day before's starch dinner for lunch...so it works out to one starch a day. Does that make sense?

i had no grains or starches today. i did have fruit and carrots.

but after yesterday i need to get back on track.

Great job of holding yourself accountable!

My rule is: no grains for snacks. You're right, it is just too easy.

Confession: I've been going crazy with summer fruit. Today I've already had one plum, 1/4th of a cantaloupe, and a cup of blackberries. I just love summer fruits! And then I wonder why I'm stalled.

Betsy, I like that rule. Thanks for sharing. I'm a big rule-maker, so that will be a good one to keep me on track.

Laurie, I'm so excited for you that you've lost 100 pounds! That's huge!!! And your explanation of dinner-leftovers-for-lunch made perfect sense.

Kara

besty that's not a lot of fruit.

we should look at the total of what you eat.

for example I know that i have more than 3oz of protein at lunch and dinner
and i know i had more than a tablespoon of fat for dinner and do most nights.

If I consider portion size I have to admit that i go overboard.....

Betsy, you're stalled at a SIZE ZERO! Where are you headed, woman? Into the children's section?!

Seriously, though, it doesn't seem like you're going overboard on the fruit.

Kara

I did it. I got myself back on track. And I did it for me. I am sitting here hungry. But it's a good thing. I know I ate well. I know I ate the right amounts. And I feel good about it.

We went to the movies tonight. Tom had Goobers. Connor had popcorn. I had a piece of gum. And it made me happy because I was making a choice for myself. I wasn't being denied anything except extra calories, which I didn't need.

Back in the game, ladies, back in the game.

Kara

glad to have you back Kara!

Thank you for keeping my towel from blowing away! I'll be setting up camp smack dab in the middle of the Beach so if you need your sandals, you can grab them off the corners.

Kara

GO Kara Go Kara Go Kara