Did It Again But More So.

I was ever so proud of my fast walking the day before yesterday and getting to 3ft's school on time that I decided to take the "Trail of Tears" forced march route again yesterday.

Except for I left 10 minutes earlier and I went a further distance. Instead of cutting down the one street that got me to the school miraculously on time (that and all my running) I went the long way around and got to 3ft's school with 5 minutes to spare. I jogged some of it just because I can and Mr. Grumpybutt likes it so much.

The only problem I had was it was FREAKING HOT! Naturally, the day I decide I'm going to do 2+ miles is the day it's 101 degrees outside. So here I am jogging, speed walking, bopping a lot and marinating in my own sweat because of the heat. So instead of a wilting flower at the finish I was a drowned rat. (that paints a picture doesn't it?)

I bumped up my push ups and crunches. I also bumped up the reps too. In the morning I did 20 push ups and 75 crunches and then in the evening I did it again. I will get my gut shrunk down enough to breathe in my "skinny jeans" and then shrink it more to get into even skinnier ones! Roar! Flab, live in fear!

So because of the recently bumped up exercise, I think I need to bump my caloric intake too. At my afternoon snack yesterday I was so hungry I couldn't stop eating. At the time I thought I was totally going overboard but really in retrospect it wasn't that bad and I still stayed within my calorie goals. But to tattle on myself, I had my usual 1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich, then I had a Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Marshmallow Creme sandwich (a s'more without the chocolate, basically) and then I had a handful of Cheetos. The salty cheese called to me after the sweet cookie. Then I came to my senses and even though I wanted more, I started chugging A LOT of water to get back under control. Then I balanced out the slight binge with a light dinner.

So to avoid the attack of must-stuff-my-face-with-whatever-I-can-find, I'm going to eat a little more at each meal. Hopefully that will stave off the hunger attacks!

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise -60 minute power walk, 40 push ups, and 150 crunches.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 113

Only Water - Day 108

Total Pounds Lost - 41.7

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Granola Bar
Lunch - Cajun Chicken Sandwich, carrots, and a pickle spear
Mid-Afternoon Snack -Cinnamon Sugar Cookie w/ marshmallow creme, 1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich, a handful of Cheetos.
Dinner - Egg Sandwich with tomatoes and sauteed mushrooms, garlic, and onion.

Total Day Calories - 1084

Dinner Win!

I made super delicious tacos yesterday (of which we'll be eating for a couple more days). I got a pork loin roast and stuck it in the crock pot yesterday morning with a bunch of garlic and some salt and pepper and cooked that sucker for 8 hours on low. I shredded it with two forks mixed in some stock and have a huge container of pulled pork. I then made some homemade mango, peach, pineapple salsa w/ red onions and jalapenos to put on the top of it. I threw the corn tortillas on my burner to give them some color while I heated them up. And Voila! Delicious Pulled Pork Tacos w/ Mango salsa. It was hard to only eat two (a serving size) because they were so delicious, but I persevered and stuck to my serving.

I didn't specifically season the pork for tacos because when I get tired of having it on tortillas I can throw a little barbecue sauce in it, mix it up, and have barbecue pulled pork sandwiches. So it's like a double win. Which works because there is a huge container of pork and while I love them, I'm sure I will grow tired of their delicious goodness.


(the picture doesn't really do them justice! I need a new camera!)

There is one huge drawback to using the crock pot. I smell deliciousness cooking all day and it seems to make me hungrier than usual. So I have to really stay focused on my portions and what I'm eating because it'd be so easy to overdo it. It's a good thing I'm a stubborn git when I set my mind to something because I did.

It helped that I had a foodgasm over the chocolate covered almonds again yesterday. Nothing like decadent chocolate to take your mind off how yummy your house smells. And to think I almost didn't buy them. I'm ever so glad I did. I can't wait to have them again today. I'm still battling the chocolate cravings beast. And they appease the monster so well.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - 45 minutes walking & Wii Sports Resort

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 77

Only Water - Day 72

Total Pounds Lost - 27.3

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Lunch - Cajun Chicken Sandwich w/avocado instead of mayo and carrot sticks
Mid-Afternoon Snack - Handful of chocolate covered Almonds and 1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich
Dinner - Pulled Pork Tacos w/ homemade mango salsa

Total Day Calories - 1159

Ta Da...Almond Milk!

I totally did it! I made Almond Milk from scratch. I ate it on my cereal this morning. It was so super good. And it was really easy. I did a standard batch just to see if I would like it. 1 cup almonds soaked over night, then rinsed and blended with 4 cups water. Then strain out the nut bits and ta da... Almond Milk! I also have almond meal to put in my delicious baked goods. Now I'm going to start playing with the recipe and make different flavors of it.

I'm a little bitter though. I went to Trader Joe's and bought a bag of Raw Almonds and paid 5 bucks for a pound. I went to Costco afterward (yesterday was my shopping day, I went to like 5 stores) and I found a 3lb bag for 9 bucks -- a much better deal. C'est la vie, I know for next time.



I also bought some chocolate covered almonds from Costco yesterday. They were so delicious and it totally satisfied the chocolate craving monster I've been battling for the last week. I savored them. Before the lifestyle change I would've horked them down and eaten half the ginormous container (3ft likes them too which is why I bought so much) without even batting an eye then cried as I watched the scale climb. Now I am portion smart and have self control and I was able to stop myself at a handful and ENJOY them. That's a major big deal for me.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Day Off

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 76

Only Water - Day 71

Total Pounds Lost - 27.3

Meals:
Breakfast - peanut butter toast w/ banana and FiberOne Honey Clusters
Lunch - Southwestern Grilled Chicken Salad w/out cheese and dressing (McDonalds)
Mid-Afternoon Snack - Handful of chocolate covered Almonds and a FiberOne Granola Bar
Dinner - Cajun Chicken Sandwich w/ avocado instead of mayo and Homemade Jalapeno Potato Chips

Total Day Calories - 1140

Surrounded!

I had a great time yesterday even though I was surrounded by delicious food ALL day long!

Had "brunch" with my parents. I had the most delicious Eggs Benedict. It was called California Eggs Benedict and it was two poached eggs on english muffins with avocado and tomato instead of ham. I got the hollandaise sauce on the side and it was super delicious.

Then my mom and I ditched the boys (3ft, my dad, and my husband) and we took Mr. Grumpybutt with us shopping. Got a ton of stuff for both boys including the go to school supplies for 3ft. He loved all the stuff he got and I loved shopping for it without the "Are we done yet?" of having 3ft with me. I was totally proud of myself. During the excursion my mom got a soda and asked me if I wanted to split it with her. I told her, "No thank you," and got myself a water.

After shopping, Mom dropped me off at my brother-in-laws for the birthday barbecue (which was where my boys were: 3ft and Husband) and I threw together the lemon pudding cake. OMG! It turned out so epically delicious. I forgot my camera otherwise I would've taken a picture of it. It wasn't quite a cake and not quite a pudding. It was totally scrumptious. The food was great. I probably ate too much because I was hungry when I got there and they had delicious appetizers out -- Pita chips and hummus, cranberry cream cheese turkey wraps, and crackers and jalapeno artichoke dip. I think I balanced it out alright since I skipped the potato, only had 2 chicken and vegetable skewers and a small salad.

I didn't weigh a ton this morning so I figure I did pretty good. As a matter of fact, I lost TWO pounds again last week. So I'm pretty stoked about it this morning.

Now, I'm off to Trader Joes to buy raw almonds so I can try my hand at making my own Almond Milk!!!

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Day Off

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 75

Only Water - Day 70

Total Pounds Lost - 27.3

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of Special K Vanilla Almond and FiberOne Honey Clusters mixed and almond milk
Lunch - Eggs Benedict but instead of ham w/ avocado and tomato and the Hollandaise sauce on the side
Mid-Afternoon Snack - appetizer turkey wrap, hummus, pita chips, and jalapeno artichoke dip
Dinner - Chicken and vegetable skewers, salad w/ raspberry vinaigrette, and lemon pudding cake w/ sorbet

Total Day Calories - can't hazard a guess

Venting.

I have a complaint -- well several actually but we're only going to cover one of them today otherwise we'll be here forever. I was surfing the net yesterday looking for Almond Milk recipes (I'm still totally excited to make it myself) and I ended up clicking a link by accident that took me to a Ch 7 news story about some reporter trying the Acai and Colon Cleanse pill diet that has been all the rage and "works". As a person that has tried EVERY get slim quick gimmick from Slim Fast, to Dexetrim, to BodyFlex, to Atkins, to South Beach...pretty much everything but speed (and only because I couldn't afford it.. I mean because it's illegal. I'm kidding of course.) and because NONE of them worked, I remain skeptical about the magic pill diet of Acai Berries and Colon Cleanse.

So this reporter tried it and lost like 25lbs in a month and loves what the Acai pills do for her skin and is on it for life blah blah blah. I guess it aired on a bunch of networks and so naturally if a reporter says it works we must run over to the product sites and buy, buy, buy. I was curious as to what magic costs these days and I went to the sites to check it out. And guess what? They're both touting 1 month FREE trials. That is until you read the fine print. You pay $100 bucks plus shipping then go to a different site to print out a rebate coupon and then when you get your product you send some proof of purchase nonsense with the rebate coupon and you get your money back and you can even have more money taken off if you sign up for automatic refills that can automatically charge your credit card 100 bucks a month. And this is A PIECE!

Magic, I guess, costs 200 bucks a month and like any good pusher if you jump through hoops the first month's free. When I tried to closed out the site then I got A LOT of java prompts promising even greater savings if I stayed and was I sure I wanted to navigate away.

So my major complaint is this: In a country where an unhealthy number of it's people are overweight to obese, if this product really works, why the hell is it so expensive so EVERYONE can't use it? Are Acai berries that expensive? I see Acai Berry juice at Costco and it doesn't cost 100 bucks. I have no idea what's in the Colon Cleanser but really 100 bucks for a month supply of pills? It sickens me how people capitalize on other peoples hopes. I guess that's the American Dream but I'll pass thank you very much.

Reporter or not, I still remain skeptical. I think she was on the take. She pimped two specific sites. Didn't talk about any other "magic" vendors. And her name is all over said sites endorsing them. There's no mention of what happens to the people who go bankrupt buying it and have to stop taking it and what kind of weight they gained back. I know, surprise, surprise, right?

I'll stick to the tried, true, and less expensive method of eating healthy and working out. It might take longer but it'll last for life. Besides my credit card doesn't need that kind of workout!

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - "Sweatin' to the Oldies 3"

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 71

Only Water - Day 66

Total Pounds Lost - 25.4

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of Special K Vanilla Almond and FiberOne Honey Clusters mixed and almond milk
Lunch - Jalapeno Barbecue Chicken Sandwich with avocado and tomato and a pickle spear
Mid-Afternoon Snack - 1/2 Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich and some Pirate Popcorn
Dinner - Homemade Chili and Cornbread

Total Day Calories - approx. 1125

It's Amazing!

It's amazing how much difference a shoe makes!! I got my new Asics Gel-Soled Runners yesterday from my beautiful and awesome sister, Crystal, and when I jogged last night I didn't have any of the discomfort previously experienced with my crappy Wal-mart shoes. I guess you really do get what you pay for.

Normally my feet hurt, my shins are uncomfortable, and I get a new blister every time I jog in my old shoes. Last night none of these things happen. And even better my new AWESOME shoes didn't even hurt the existing blisters let alone make new ones. I'm in love (my husband should be wary) with my new shoes! They're the best thing since lost weight!!

So, I'm sure you've realized I completed Week 2 of the Couch to 5K program last night. I went even further, pushed myself even harder and went 2.17 miles. So I'm totally stoked about that.

I don't really have any other revelations or life changing epiphanies right now. I'm still lost in the shiny glow of new fabulous shoes that were like heaven on my feet while I ran last night.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Week 2 Day 3 of C25K -- burning approximately 455 calories. Drank 12 glasses of water -- day 41 of no soda.

Meals:
Breakfast - Cinnamon Vanilla French Toast, blended blueberries (for syrup), and sliced bananas
Lunch - pork chop, potatoes au gratin, and broccoli (leftovers)
Mid-Afternoon Snack - 1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich, pirate booty, granola bar
Dinner - Basil Penne Rigate pasta w/ sauteed spinach, broccoli, and garlic, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

total calories = approx. 1461
total days = 46
total pounds lost = 18.4

My Fun Day

This weekend has been a real eye opener for me.

Nothing quite tests the dedication to a lifestyle change like spending a weekend baking hundreds of cookies. In the last three days I’ve baked five dozen shortbread cookies, four dozen oatmeal raisin cookies, four dozen chocolate chip cookies, and ten dozen sugar cookies. The old Average Jane would’ve grubbed hand over fist the cookies as I baked them -- the new and improved AJ didn’t binge at all.

But of course, I had to try them.

I invented a new almond shortbread recipe, so naturally I had to taste the finished product -- I had a half of cookie. Then I played around with my oatmeal raisin recipe and again I had to try it -- I had half a cookie --I don’t want to poison any of my friends and family. I’m proud to report I didn’t eat a half of a chocolate chip cookie as I didn’t mess with my recipe -- but that’s because I licked the bowl. I heart chocolate chip cookie dough -- so I had a tablespoon worth.

I figured it would be a supreme test of my willpower to just make them and not eat a lot of them. But even as I made all my favorites -- other than the two cookies I shared with three-feet-of-fun and the cookie dough -- I didn’t find myself lusting after them. The few bites I had were enough to slake my cravings. And I don’t feel guilty for the bites I had -- everything in moderation after all -- plus the very point for a lifestyle change is to be able to actually live it.

So even with all my cookie and dough nibbling this weekend, I still climbed on the scale this morning to see how I was doing. I lost a little over a pound! So I’d say I was doing pretty good.

The Weekend After...

It’s the Sunday after a major holiday -- time to get on the scale. Wait, let me rephrase that. It’s the Sunday after a major EATING holiday -- do I have to get on the scale?

*Cue suspenseful music*

I have to be honest. While it’s funnier to say I was filled with trepidation as I pulled out the scale and gingerly stepped on, it wouldn’t be the truth. I wasn’t worried. No, really, I wasn’t, for a few reasons.

Reason one: The mindset. I’m making a life change -- I’m not on a diet. So as the holidays come around, even the eating ones, I’m going to enjoy them. Sure, I didn’t eat the pie nor did I gorge out on the food -- not only was it a conscious choice but something I was incapable of doing without getting sick (it’s amazing how much your stomach shrinks when you lose a bunch of weight).

Reason two: I cooked the Thanksgiving Feast and the way I prepared the food -- using healthy choices that still taste delicious -- cut the calories in half for the entire meal. So while I ate a little more than I normally would’ve, I knew I wasn’t doing the damage that I normally could’ve.

Reason three: I worked out every day -- and I didn’t miss a day just because it was a holiday.

So armed with those three reasons, I pulled out the scale and happily hopped right on. Now I assumed I’d see that I’d maintained this week as I wasn’t on my best eating behavior, or even gone up a couple ounces. I looked at the numbers to find…

*booty shake*

…I lost 3.3 pounds over Thanksgiving! Now THAT is something to be thankful for.

I'm Ba-ack!

…and for those of you who haven’t passed out from the shock, let me catch you up.

Well, I didn’t realize it’s been over two months since I last posted an update on my progress with the epiphany. I didn’t forget, I’ve just been so into it, and other things in my life, that I sort of let it slide.

But…I didn’t let the life changes slide. So, let’s do a fast catch up. Hang on to your seats.

I have officially been on my life changing epiphany since the middle of June which (counts on fingers, subtracts some toes, and does the hokey pokey) makes it about five months now. And in the past five months, I’ve lost…

Are you ready? (drum roll please)

… a total of 76 pounds, 3 - 4 pants sizes (depends on the pants), 3 shirt sizes, and 3 bra sizes (in circumference, not cups)!

Can you say halfway to my goal? *does a booty shake*

How am I doing it? I eat approximately 1200 calories a day. As promised, I lost the first 20 pounds on the strict food plan, then chose to eat whatever I wanted as long as I adhered to the calorie count. I eat four to five small meals a day and I drink at least a gallon of water.

But my biggest crowning glory is the fact that I exercise every day -- so far 162 of them to be exact (yes I’m crazy, I keep count). And something weird happened. I stopped wishing the exercise video was over before it even really began -- which, let me tell you, made the video seem to last forever -- and started just enjoying the workout. It’s over before I know it and I’m a little sad when I’m done. Freak, right? I actually look forward to and like working out.

I really can’t believe the difference the 76 pound loss makes. Gone is the double chin and I have a collar bone! I had no idea. I can run after my three-year old son, three-feet-of-fun, and not get winded. And I feel prettier, sexier, and a whole lot healthier.

Now that I’ve gotten caught up with my progress I’ll for sure blog on Sundays as they are still weigh in days. Talk to you all next week!

Victor Victorious

I did it! I did it!

Every Wednesday I meet friends at a local bakery. We sit around a table and visit while we eat delicious baked goodness. I’ve avoided going the last three weeks. Well, today I went.

Since I was riding high on my successful weight loss last week, I figured I could handle it. I ate breakfast before I left so I wouldn’t be hungry. I figured I didn’t need that sort of strain on my willpower. I walked in and my friends sat around our table with bear claws, cinnamon rolls, and donuts of every size and flavor.

I went up to the counter. The only thing between me and baked heaven was a thin piece of glass and my will. I paid for my bottled water and joined my friends. I sat there and watched them savor their treats as I drank my water and I felt nothing.

Nothing.

I didn’t want any of it and it made me feel so triumphant -- like I can totally do this.

In fact the only drag about the whole excursion was the fielding of the, “Why aren’t you having anything,” questions. I answered with, “I’m not hungry.” They just couldn’t believe that I didn’t want anything. If money was tight they could spot me something. If the bakery was out of what I wanted they’d trade me something.

I have great friends, well-meaning friends, but they just couldn’t understand why I didn’t want anything. Finally I had to tell them I’d decided baked goods and I were on a little break. They all got that knowing look in their eye that clearly said I’d be back together with baked goodness sooner rather than later. I felt compelled to tell them that it’d been three weeks and that I’d lost nearly 10 pounds that I know of. It was worth it to tell them to see their jaws drop.

I felt vindicated. And while I know that, eventually, I will have an urge for something of the baked delicious nature and give into the craving, it still felt good to give my willpower the ultimate test and pass it with flying colors.

I walked away from the bakery field of battle victorious. And that feels better than any bear claw could ever taste.

It's Complicated

One vital bit of information: no one, save for you readers and those who live with me, knows that I’ve become dedicated to getting fit and healthy. I’m so tired of hearing, “Oh, you’re going on another diet?” or, “Sure you’re dedicated. You were ‘dedicated’ to the last one too.”

And this, I’ve found, complicates things.

It was my friend’s birthday yesterday and a bunch of us took her out to lunch. It was the first time I’ve gone out to eat since I started waddling down the ‘healthy way’ path over two weeks ago. I wouldn’t have even gone except I felt really guilty about ‘being too sick’ for her birthday party. But…I wasn’t sure I could say no to the cake. For me, cake is like kryptonite.

Naturally she chose our favorite gourmet burger restaurant -- you know the kind with burgers as big as your head and french fries the size of your thumbs. Luckily for me, they had salads. Yum, right? So, as I stared longingly at the monster-heart-attack-on-a-plate pictures in the menu, I ordered a grilled chicken salad while everyone else greedily ordered greasy delicious goodness.

This presented a new challenge in the willpower adventure. Up until now, I’ve cooked, so that means everybody at home eats the same thing as I do. The only willpower required is making sure to cook something healthy. At the restaurant, no one ordered a salad but me. Now for the real test of my willpower -- watching them eat what I really wanted. And now for the newly discovered complication of not telling anyone of my epiphany -- the sharing offers.

Be proud.

Not only did I not steal the food off their plates, but I said no thank you when they offered me bites.

Small victory? Maybe. But each small victory gets me closer to my goal. I didn’t get to savor a burger and fries, but I sure savored my willpower on the way home.

The Horrible Truth

Today marks the two week anniversary of my lifestyle change epiphany -- two very busy weeks of implementing “The Great Plan of Attack.” And as promised, I have manned up and not only unearthed and dusted off the malevolent scale but also stood on it. Drum roll, please. I weigh, a whopping, scale groaning, how-did-I-ever-let-myself-get-this-heavy, 315.5 pounds. *THUD*

After I revived from passing out, and hurriedly put that-which-shall-not-be-named back in the closet, I started thinking, “Holy guacamole! If that’s what I weighed after two weeks of portion control, food rules, and exercise, can you imagine what I weighed previously?” I’d guess-timate that I lost at least five pounds from cutting my food intake in half, easily. But, be that as it may, my official start weight for this Herculean endeavor is going to be 315.5 pounds because I was too big a wuss to get on the scale any sooner. It could be worse I guess. I don’t know how, but it could be.

In true masochistic nature, I plan on digging that cursed scale out of its dark corner in the closet every Sunday and standing on it -- no matter how much it begs me not to. I figure keeping a weekly total of pounds lost and current weight will help keep me inspired, but I’m not going to be a slave to the numbers. So says the obsessive-compulsive girl who as we speak already has a graph of projected weekly weight loss totals and is making a color coded chart to record the actual weekly numbers.

This momentous occasion calls for a celebration. Cookie? Maybe in the olden days -- two weeks ago -- I’d have suggested a toast with delicious baked goods. Now? How about a shot of sugar-free lime JELLO? After all, nothing beats the sweet taste of getting fit and healthy.

A Necessary Evil

Doomsday is drawing ever closer. *cue suspenseful music* Every time I walk past the closet, I hear the scale laugh tauntingly from its burial ground. I’ve been successfully waging war on my food intake and have been having consecutive daily victories for over a week. I feel ready to up the ante and tackle a new evil.

Exercise.

I shudder just thinking about the “E” word but I know there is no way I’m going to come even remotely close to achieving my goals if I don’t start moving and grooving. I also had a nightmare about drowning in acres of loose sagging skin and I don’t want to look like I’m melting for real, which now makes exercise a high priority on my list. Must avoid loose skin at all costs. All costs.

For me everything starts on paper. So, you got it, I made a list. I wrote down all the areas I wanted to target. After I’d listed them out, I realized it would’ve been easier to have simple written: all of me.

I made a chart with the days of the week and what exercises I will do on which days. Every day I have crunches, push ups, and stretches, alternating days between Pilates, aerobics, and weights. The sight of it on paper is daunting, I know, but I did mention the drowning in flesh dream, right? Enough said.

Every good chart needs a rewards system in place, so it goes without saying that I have one. For every week I honestly complete the chart, I will treat myself to a little something just for me like a pedicure, new scented lotion (it’s an addiction, I can’t control it), or a new book and a bubble bath. I figure with as much hard work as I’m going to be putting forth, I should have the opportunity for some pampering too.

Mind Over Matter

Epiphany? Check.

Goals? Check.

Plan of Attack? *crickets chirp*

So, I have my awesome goals and I’ve written them in triplicate -- no really, I did -- once here and twice on paper to be strategically placed in the kitchen. One is affixed to the refrigerator by magnets and the other is taped to the snack cupboard. This way, I can’t possibly forget that I’m making a lifestyle change while under the influence of the siren’s call for junk food.

My first area of attack is portions. I’m not a dietician with formal nutritional training by any stretch of the imagination, but it seems to me if you cut what you normally eat in half, you’re bound to lose weight.

I decided to implement this idea by loading up my plate with what I would normally eat then getting a second plate to split the first in half. I immediately wrap up the second plate and put it in the fridge -- that way I can’t cheat and nibble off it.

The first time I did this, the portions looked so pathetic and sparse I just knew I was going to be hungry afterwards. I promised my protesting rumbling tummy that if it was still hungry after the smaller portion, it could have the other half portion a half an hour later -- you know, so we’re sure you’re really hungry, I cajoled. It wouldn’t listen.

The answer was so simple. If I was a cartoon character, I swear you would’ve seen the light bulb above my head. I got a smaller plate and put my meal on that -- I don’t do the dishes, obviously. Suddenly it looked like I had a lot more food. Shockingly enough, after I finished the plate, I was full.

Dieting is extremely cerebral. I know the minute I think I can’t have something I’m racing to the kitchen to gorge myself on it. So, like the losing sizes versus pounds idea tricks my brain into thinking it’s not such a massive undertaking, putting less food on a smaller plate tricks it into thinking I’m eating the same amount as I had before.