Life of the Lintee Bean

It’s hard for me to believe – but I’ve already completed three weeks on the NutriSystem plan!  How is it going?  Very well!

I have multiple issues with food: 

1. Portion control – not only do I tend to eat WAY too much, it’s exacerbated by the fact that when I go out to eat (even if it’s just to get a salad) I’m given a HUGE MAMMOTH portion and I’ve just figured that’s what I’m expected to eat.  Unfortunately, all those childhood lessons to “clean your plate” stuck very well with me –  I clean my plate.  Always.  Even if I’m feeling ill, and might vomit, I keep eating until it’s gone.  My portion issue has also ballooned since I’ve started living alone (since 1995).  Leftover macaroni and cheese is just not as good as freshly made, so somewhere along the line, I started eating and ENTIRE BOX in one sitting – and even sometimes had peas or lima beans as well!
2. Cravings – I LOVE chocolate and love salty foods and love pizza and all those things I know aren’t good for me.  Even when I’ve dieted successfully, once I’ve fallen off the wagon I’ve tended to binge and eat everything and anything I want in great quantities as I’ve felt so deprived.
3. Lack of exercise – Not a food problem, per se, but an issue nonetheless.  I’m not a big fan of exercise.  I’ll do “functional exercise”, like walk where I need to go, but I’m not a fan of setting aside precious time to hop around the house, hoping the floors don’t cave on me and I fall into the basement.  I don’t want to spend the money or time to go to a gym.

So far, NutriSystem is working great for me!  I was hesitant, thinking it wouldn’t prepare me for “real life” to eat their food.  However, I’ve found it really helps me to see what a PROPER portion size is.  Also, I tend to get overwhelmed with all my food choices –  and with NutriSystem, all my entrees (and desserts – yes DESSERTS) are taken care of – I only need to focus my energy on my “additions”:  dairy, protein, salads, fruit, vegetables, fat, etc. 

I’ve never really cooked much – frankly I haven’t cooked at all in ages.  My friends often laughed as my idea of “cooking” was instead of just microwaving a frozen meal or baking a frozen pizza – I microwaved a *few*things, maybe mixed together.  I had two meals for “company”:

• Lynette’s infamous Mexican delight:  frozen Mexican rice dish, can of beans, mixed with frozen veggie/bean mix, mixed with a can of tomatoes, topped with cheese and microwaved – served with sour cream and salsa, if you were lucky
• Lynette’s infamous Indian buffet:  various Indian pouches, microwaved, maybe with microwaved frozen naan and/or samosas

However, for whatever reason, now that my entree is taken care of and I need only think about salads and side dishes – I’ve actually become rather creative!  I guess I’m inspired by how much I LOVE food!  I don’t particularly want to sit down to a NutriSystem entree and a bowl of plain vegetables.  So, I’ve created things like:

• sauteed portobello mushrooms on a bed of herb greens,
• “Asian slaw” (raw shredded cabbage mixed with a small amount of reduced-fat or fat-free Asian dressing),
• “Asian salad” with lettuce and Asian dressing and mandarin oranges, and maybe a few almonds,
• parfaits using nonfat or light yogurt with fruit and NutriSystem granola

I’m constantly doctoring the NutriSystem entrees – eating the lowfat granola cold, or hot with fruit… putting mushrooms, spinach, bell peppers, even pineapple on the pizzas… serving the pasta primavera with tofu over broccoli slaw sauteed with a teaspoon of low-sodium teriyaki sauce.

I feel so much better on my new food plan.  The feeling of PRIDE I have is worth more to me than the pounds I’ve lost – though I love those lost pounds!

My Weight Chart: