September 24, 2013

Nipping the boredom eating

I decided to take today as my rest day instead of tomorrow, and it's thrown me off all day! My friend Jessica has been flirting with a sub-2:00 half-marathon all year, and she's really hoping to reach it at the Detroit Free Press Half-Marathon next month. But she's had a hard time hitting her paces in her training lately, so I told her that I would pace her during her six-miler tomorrow. Since tomorrow is normally my rest day, I just decided to rest today instead. Tomorrow, we'll run 6 miles at a 9:05 pace. (At least, that's the plan.... I hope I don't screw it up!)

I felt so guilty for not running today, which was stupid--I'm just swapping days, not skipping my run altogether! I spent most of the day just trying to keep my hands and mind busy so that I wouldn't binge :/  I don't know what the heck has been wrong with me this week, but I've had the hardest time staying on track. There isn't any reason for it, and I have no excuses. It just is what it is.

I took an hour or so today to write out a meal plan for the entire week, starting tomorrow. I wrote out all of my meals and snacks, with PointsPlus values, and printed it out. I'm hoping that having the structure of a meal plan will help me to stop the eating out of boredom or for emotional reasons. I've gone through periods like this before, and in the past, it's lasted for weeks or months... I'm just hoping I can nip this NOW, before it gets out of control. Usually, I do really well in the fall!

I had a thought the other day as I was running: I never slack off on or skip my runs. Running is just a part of my daily life, something I do whether I want to or not. And even during runs, when it feels really tough and I just want to quit, I somehow dig really deep and find the determination to continue. So why don't I use that same determination on my diet? I did when I was losing the weight in 2009-2010. I wouldn't have let anything stop me! But now, I am just having a really hard time getting back to that mindset. So it's definitely something to work on. 

I started playing my favorite solitaire game again as a way to keep my hands busy without eating. It worked today. I really don't have any reason to be "bored", because I have lots of housework and blogwork and stuff like that I can do all day. But when the house is quiet, the kids are at school, and Jerry's at work, I tend to gravitate toward the kitchen. So this afternoon, I probably played 10 games of solitaire. I've still NEVER won that game, and I've been playing it since I was a child. I wish I knew the name of it. Maybe I'll make a YouTube video of it one day to see if anyone else knows what it is! ;)

My books finally came in at the library, so I have something to read, now, too. I've been hooked on Lisa Gardner all summer. I read all of the D.D. Warren series, and now I'm on the second book of the Quincy and Rainie series. My local library system seems to be going digital for older books like these ones (you can download digital copies, but they don't have the hard copies anymore), so I had to request them from another library system, which took a couple of weeks. I am just not into digital books; I can't imagine reading from a screen instead of holding a paperback. I like to hold the actual book! But I imagine that some day, I won't have a choice.



For Taste Test Tuesday, I bought this fat-free hummus:


It's Oasis Zero Fat Roasted Red Pepper Hommus. I was a little skeptical about how it would taste, because of it being fat free--usually the tahini is a main ingredient in hummus, and wasn't sure how it would taste without that. The ingredients were very simple, though, which I liked: chickpeas, water, roasted red pepper, lemon juice, fresh garlic, sea salt.

I love red peppers, so I bought a red pepper to slice and dip into the hummus. This hummus is definitely a calorie-bargain... there are only 24 calories in a 2 Tbsp. serving! When I entered it into the Weight Watchers calculator, I saw that I could have 2 servings for 1 PointsPlus.

I wish I could say that I loved this hummus. It was good--not great--but I definitely like hummus with fat in it, because it feels creamier. The texture of this was like baby food. It was very smooth, but you could tell there wasn't any fat in it, because it didn't have that creaminess you get from something with fat. But, for mindless munching without a lot of calories, this would definitely do the trick!


I'm trying to finalize plans for Chicago, and I'm going to be in the city on Saturday and Sunday night (October 12 and 13). A couple of people had asked me a while ago about a meet-up of some sort. Is this something that would interest any of you? It's hard to plan, since Chicago isn't my city, but I'd love to try. Feel free to send me an e-mail if you'll be around then, and want to meet up!

19 comments:

  1. I can relate to the not skipping a run. My high school swim coach was trying to get us not to cut corners and said, "The only person you are cheating is yourself." Since then, I have not cut corners while swimming because it won't get me to where I want to be in the long run. Eating is different though :).

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  2. Sometimes when I get these craving days (weeks) I realize that I have been eating too much sugar or carbs - which just makes me crave more! Eating more protein will usually help this - sometimes a "game" of keeping sugar under 20g a day for a week is all it takes to get me back on track. Good luck!

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  3. You are so right, I never skip a run but eating well is a different story. Good luck with your food plan, I know having it all mapped out can really help.

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  4. I am obsessed with a game called Spider Solitaire. A friend told me about it so naturally I downloaded the free app. It's crazy. I mastered the single suit and then started playing the double suit and I think i've played loads of games and I've only one three times. I can't imagine that it's even possible to win with three much less four suits!!!! Definitely helps with keeping the hands busy though!

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  5. solitaire city is another good one that keeps me entertained.

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  6. I know that as a SAHM, you have plenty to do! But, maybe you could find something more structured? Like volunteer somewhere for 10-15 hours a week, so it doesn't interfere with your other household/children/husband stuff. It gets you out of the house, and you can't eat while you are doing it (especially if it is something like working at a library or planting trees at a park). My SAHM friends swear that this is the only thing that keeps them from gaining twenty pounds when the kids are in school!

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  7. i would rather have a paper back too!!!

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  8. I go back and forth with wanting digital books and an actual book. There are weeks where I go to the library and get the actual book and there there are weeks where I just download from the digital library to my Kindle. I will never give up real books no matter how much I love my Kindle.

    I feel lazy sometimes when I sit around playing games on my phone/computer, but if it keeps my hands busy and keeps me out of the kitchen to binge I am all for it! You play that Solitaire! :) Also, I find that manicures are a definite way to keep me from eating. During a week's time I will paint my nails at least 4 different times.

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  9. I am the same way! I hate reading from a screen. To me there is nothing better than curling up with a blanket in a comfy chair and feeling the crisp fall breeze on my face through an open window while I read a new book.

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  10. You should come to Milwaukee! I would love to meet you, you're such an inspiration :) Good luck with the marathon though!

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  11. I'm in the same boat you are with mindless eating/not being focused. When I was losing my weight, I was good for a whole year and a half. I would have maybe one day a month where I was off track, but now it seems like 10 days a month, or more. I lost 150+ pounds so I guess I feel like I can slack a bit. But I HATE it... I wish I knew some way to keep that determination that I had a year ago. I'm maintaining now, but it still bothers me. I'm with ya. Just keep your head up and push through it!

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  12. I would love to meet you in person Katie, although I'm terribly shy and probably wouldn't be able to speak in the presence of your greatness! We will be in Zion, IL, which is about 30 miles north of Chicago on Oct. 15-17, for our second visit to the Cancer Treatment Center of America there. They fly Du out on their dime, I have to pay for my flight, otherwise, I'd suggest we come early so we could meet.

    I got a second hand Kindle from my D-I-L, when she got a newer one. I am having a hard time getting used to it, but when The Dome started on TV this summer, I wanted to read it. I'm a huge Stephen King fan, but had never read this book. I couldn't find it in the bookstores so when I went to Amazon, I ordered the Kindle version. It is nice in that it is delivered instantly! But I still prefer to hold a book in my hand.

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  13. I never thought I'd like digital books either, but my husband got a kindle awhile ago (the old kind with the screen that looks like paper, and doesn't light up) and once I tried it, I really got to like it! I even found myself, several times, trying to "turn" the page, instead of clicking on the button to go to the next page - oops :P I still get a ton of books in good old paperback, but now I enjoy reading them either way!

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  14. I had an easier time quitting smoking than changing my eating habits. It's tough.. no doubt. You can do it!
    I love my nook. I love browsing IN the bookstore still, but I do love the nook. It is awesome to not have to go out in the awful weather to the bookstore or library.

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  15. Katie I love that you talk about bingeing so much because I too struggle a lot with this. The past few weeks were hell for me, and I didn't even try to avoid bingeing I just let it happen..I don't really feel bad about it anymore because it's gone now but I thought it might never go away. I usually crave sweet foods and I was craving salty food, which is kind of strange for me. Not that I never want it, it's just usually when I want to binge it's always sweet food like ice cream or something. Anyways, seeing you so controlled in spite of still having those urges makes me feel very good and hopeful that one day I will control it too. :)

    Also since we seem to have a similar reading taste I will look into your books. :)

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  16. I love the Lisa Gardner books. They do get in your head though especially if you are a mom of little boy. There are a couple that are pretty disturbing.

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  17. I'm running Chicago but don't have final plans yet either. I do know I'll be there Saturday and Sunday nights. I don't yet know if I'm staying longer than Monday. I've also talked with another blogger about meeting up too. I'll be with my sister in law who grew up in Chicago. She's flying in from CA and I'm driving there but she's going to do all the driving in my car while we are there!

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  18. Hi Katie - long time lurker (love your blog!) but thought I'd suggest the hummus on a sandwich or tortilla wrap as a spread, then you could add just veggies (avocado adds some good fat) or lunch meat. Do you pack lunch for Jerry? A wrap could easily be sent with him.

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  19. I always said the same thing about books, I liked the physical format. Then I really gave digital a try and I have to say I am completely hooked! It's just so nice having the books on hand (I have 50 on my iphone and kindle, plus 500 more ready and waiting in the cloud), I can read anywhere without lugging a book "just in case" I have a minute. I love the screen light, I don't need a lamp anymore. I love to highlight sections and easily look up words. And a physical book can be so heavy and hard to handle (especially right at the start or end, when the pages are unbalanced). Whenever I "have" to read a physical book I moan about it.

    I love reading while riding my stationary bike - much easier to just do the "swipe" turn than to actually have to turn the page and have the book stay open.

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