Baby Steps

After a wonderful/horrible weekend in our college town (wonderful in all ways, but horrible as far as my diet was concerned!), it's been a pretty good week so far. I did gain a couple pounds after our weekend away, but we ate at our old college haunts, went to a rehearsal dinner at an Italian place, had wedding cupcakes and those awesome hand-made cream cheese mint things, and basically I did not follow my diet AT ALL. So, I deserved the gain. But, I'm hoping it will be gone when I step on the scale on Sunday.

I'm learning more and more what this new eating plan looks like day in and day out. I've stocked up on some protein options (though I can't find soy nuts at Walmart to save my life!), and I'm focusing this week on counting those carbs and balancing them with proteins. I haven't gotten it perfect, but I'm taking baby steps.

One big "ah-ha" moment I had this week is this: My breakfasts do not have to look like typical breakfasts. I'm realizing that normal breakfast foods are not going to work for me. Sure, I can have eggs or sausage or turkey bacon, but I'm not going to eat that every day. I can eat cereal like Rice Crispies with milk, but it takes A LOT of milk to balance those carbs. Or, I can eat a slightly modified breakfast.

Take yesterday, for example. I had a toasted English muffin with deli turkey and cheese on it. Basically a turkey and cheese sandwich for breakfast. Maybe a bit odd, sure. But healthy and balanced and delicious and within my plan. So, it works!

Another thing that has been a challenge for me is the fact that fruits are carbs. It's not healthy for me to mindlessly snack out of the bowl of grapes. I have to count them out, and then I have to have a protein to balance them. It's a new mindset, but I'm starting to think this way and it is getting more natural.

I do need to get more veggies in. I have never been a huge veggie-eater, so this has always been hard for me. But a friend just gave us some cucumbers and zucchini, and I bought salad greens this week too, so I am trying.

Whew! There is a lot to keep straight.

But I'll keep on taking these baby steps and I'll figure it all out... eventually!