Mother of the Year or the D-word???

Where to start...I guess in response to a prior comment, I'll start with the D-word (that is - diet...ssshhh, don't say it too loud). Ugh. Don't like that word. Why? Well, for a couple of reasons. First - call me crazy - but I feel it implies failure...failure to live life not on a diet while maintaining a healthy weight. Second, I feel it allows for only a short-term commitment. "I'm on a diet" leads one to believe that he/she will one day be off of it. Although wordier, I prefer "eating plan". That connotes a change, a plan for eating that is not temporary, but an overall change.

So, anyone who knows me, knows I thrive on bread, cereal, pasta, crackers, CARBS. Plain and simple...I could live off carbs. I never thought I could go without. But for 12 days now (okay not huge) I have gone without, and I have learned at least one reason why I ate so many carbs. They are easy!!! How much quicker and easier is it to pour a bowl of cereal opposed to cook some eggs! Grab a handful of crackers or chips instead of slicing some cucumbers. Carbs are easy. Unfortunately, they don't last - so you only feel hungry a minute later.

So what have I been eating instead? That's the question that I've been presented with. In no particular order, since I am not the type who has to eat breakfast food for breakfast if I eat breakfast at all. (Yes, that is a definite area in need of improvement). But this is what I eat: salad, alot of salad. I spend some time on Sunday, usually, preparing about 4 dishes of salad to put in the fridge - no carrots though. Often a second time during the week, I spend time making 3-4 more salads to replace the ones I've eaten for lunches and dinners. Hard-boiled eggs, maybe one a day; "scrambled eggs a la elizabeth": one whole egg in a pan, break the yolk, then add 2-3 more eggs - whites only! salt, pepper and onion powder (lots of that) and cook. oh yeah, spray with oil-spray-stuff. tunafish with lowfat mayo, which I have never minded, onions, celery and either chopped up cukes or sliced cukes as crackers. oh yeah - nuts! this is probably my new weakness...cashews, pistachios, peanut butter!!!! OMG. Yeah, my weakness. Any lean meat - steak, chicken breasts, pork, etc. Fish, seafood. Low-fat deli-meat and cheese. Green beans, green veggies in general.

The most challenging is the beverage selection - my personal selection is coffee (splenda) and water. UGH!!! Next week I'll add other sugar-free drinks.

Gotta cut it off here, life and kids are calling...more later