How Not to Diet

Spring, I wish you luck and providence on your endeavor. Don't you hate how sitting at a desk seems to automatically develop that little tummy pooch?

A little advice: something that might help you kick the ice cream habit is popcicles. Also, something I do to make my life easier during the week is to mix up stuff on the weekend and put it in my fridge assembled, like salads, so all I have to do is pull out a bowl and add the dressing. It works great for sandwiches too. You can assemble a whole bunch of them and just pull them out of the fridge when you're ready to eat. I find that canned soup is a good alternative to microwave meals. It's cheap, it's filling, and it's just as easy to prepare.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Damn, I miss those days when I was naturally skinny. But maybe I was never naturally skinny... we just used to dance a lot.

I'm kind of chunky again. Everyone says, "Oh, it's cute" and "All newlyweds gains weight," but it sucks.

Anyway, Bryan and I are talking about doing Weight Watchers. Beth lost 40+ lbs with WW, and she's kept it off. My problem is yo-yo dieting.

Anyhow, this is all to say that I bet you're tiny and don't really need to lose anything, but good luck anyway. :)

Lean Cuisines are not bad, but if you eat them a lot you will get sick of them fast. I take them for lunch probably 2 times a week. I like the mac n cheese, the paninis, and the brick overn pizzas. So the ones that are "healthy comfort food", lol. I haven't tried many others since I like those so much. I'm trying to slowly make lifestyle changes to but it's so much easier just to sit on the couch, you know? And I like baking and then eating what I bake...I hate weight.

First of all, I really do believe you have lost weight lately. I'm pretty sure I told you that or asked you if you had lost weight sometime recently.

Secondly, I do know what you mean about the poochy belly but a lot of that has to do with um, sitting down. Not that sitting down causes weight gain (well it can if that's all you do...harhar) but sitting down means belly pooches out.

Third, I have gained 15 pounds since college. So, don't feel too bad. You are not the only one. And OMG, last year in Waco it was all about the newest flavors of Blue Bell brought to the newsroom from the nearby creamery. The Dreyers fruit bars are a nice punch of something sweet in lieu of ice cream.

And the only reason I am able to run these days is because I have a goal to run a race without stopping and would feel like a complete loser if I set a goal, had two months to work toward it and then didn't do it.

Longest comment ever. Sorry. But, good luck! I know you can do it and be healthy about it. You've come a long way since those days freshman year when you would run four miles a day and Sarah and I would just watch "America's Sweethearts" yet again.

I wish you luck in your weight loss adventures, but I think that you are tiny! Wait, I know!

I've been doing Weight Watchers with my mom the past 2 months. If you like spicy food Smart One's has a yummy chicken enchilada suiza, Picante Chicken Pasta and Lean Cuisine has a good lasagne with meat sauce. And one of those brands has some ice cream and ice cream bars.

Good Luck, beautiful!

Dear Spring,

You suck. Not because you are thin and going on a diet, because I know a lot of thin people who could eat better and exercise more, but because you are going to Florida at the end of June!

The permanent road map of faded stretch marks on my stomach and butt will be an eternal reminder of motherhood. I'd rather have a trophy or something.

Dear Spring,

I suck, because I'm so impatient that I hit the stupid Post Comment button twice and now I look like a moron.

I think Lean Cuisines are really good. But I've found two that I really like (Roasted Turkey Breast and Chicken Portobello) and I pretty much just eat those now. I don't get sick of foods very easily though, which is good since there's not that many that I like.

I also have a hard time with the ice cream thing. I told myself that first I'd cut back on eating sweets other than ice cream, and second that I'd try not to buy any ice cream myself and just eat it when I visit my parents, which is at least once a week.

As for exercising, have you tried yoga? I think it's really fun, not too hard, but it does work your whole body.

I've never heard of a supertaster. I hate artificial sweetener, but I think it tastes extra sweet to me, so perhaps I'm not one.

And you didn't offend me about Houston, either; actually I was grateful that you said that it's someplace everyone should visit. I know that some people hate it, but a lot of people love it, too. It's one of those places.

I fixed it, Courtney! No worries. You don't suck!

take up jogging. i hate exercising with a passion but i love to jog. i write things in my head and put them on paper when i get home.

you might end up liking it.

If you are hooked on Ice cream, my mom has discovered a delicious Weight Watchers Giant Chocolate Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Bars. And they don't taste like diet crap.

Wow. I just read your comments, and I think I'm on a diet advice overload.

My diet advice? Well, you probably shouldn't listen to me because I've managed to eat a Twix bar and a bag of Doritos since I got here to work (3 hours ago).

Nice, huh?

weight watchers or jenny craig can be good because they'll set you up with a nutritionist to tell you what weight is good for your height and bone structure. WW also has a program alternative to the points system, called "core foods" or something like that. It's better for people who just want to make better choices, not reduce calories. In all honesty, I've seen pics of you (via katy) and you don't look like you need to lose weight. I'd say start first with an exercise program and 3 squares a day, and see where that gets you.
ps Central Market hosts cooking classes. Whole foods are always better than pre-cooked, pre-packaged.

Wow, I could have wrote this entry. I have no idea how to diet; I'm just now finding a pattern that doesn't involve binging, purging, or starving. It sounds like you have the right mindset (esp. not owning a scale!), I'm sure you'll do great!!

You can do it!

I think your plan sounds great. It's always best to eat tons of fruits and veggies and whole foods but you know what? Those fruits and veggies and whole foods can get expensive (and boring ... oh my gosh ... so boring). So, I say to go ahead and go the healthy frozen dinner way. They are high in sodium, but as long as you don't dump salt on every other food you eat during the day, you'll be fine. I like Lean Cuisines, too. Also, I've found that fruit juices are the best way for me to get my fruits and veggies. The "Naked" and "Bolthouse Farms" juices are the best, because they don't contain preservatives or added sugar. And they taste good.

Good luck!