Restaurant Addicts Diet: First Day Back At Work

I had a great day back to work from the holidays!  I was a little anxious, after all, worrying is my hobby.  I have TV plans with my friend, so it's Whole Foods hot bar night which is always a welcome break from cooking.  I did stop at the store on the way home to get pre-made chicken cordon blue for tomorrow so I wouldn't have any excuses to order takeout.  Having something easy to make is the important key for not blowing it off.  The trick is not to plan things that you are sure to make because they are high calorie comfort foods.  I'm always up for mac n cheese or mac and anything for that matter!  I love starch and cheese!  Stay strong!

Restaurant Addicts Diet: Post Holiday Report

It has been a fantastic holiday season, from Thanksgiving through New Years I have enjoyed myself immensely.  I had a terrible cold, but I didn't get sick until New Years day.  It set me back a little on my exercise.  I did manage to eat at most of the steak houses in Portland, but I also showed some restraint and cooked at home.  I return to work tomorrow and I am looking forward to getting into a routine.  I got a Fitbit Flex band for Christmas and I love it!  I have the app on my phone and I tied in Myfitnesspal and the Withings scale app as well.  I love having my steps counted into my overall daily exercise count.  Last night I cooked jambalaya and tonight I'm making meatballs.  I'm hoping to start a habit of cooking in.  I looked over Mint and I really think I have reduced my overall spending on food and beverage.  I really would like to achieve my goal of losing weight and saving money in 2014.

Restaurant Addicts Diet: I Have To Get My Diet On Track

I have been so focused on eating in, that losing weight has taken a back seat.  When I do go out I feel like it's a big party and I over do.  When I cook in I'm so desperate to want to cook and eat what I planned that I add extra carbs or dessert to bribe myself into it.  I want to lose a few pounds before thanksgiving, and I need to start now.  I'm going to try bribing myself with money instead of meals out for the next 2 weeks.  My friends birthday party is in two weeks and we'll get to go out to lunch and dinner that day.  In the mean time, I am really going to try to count and record calories and complete my 5 hours of exercise this week.  Last week was tough, but the week before was really great.  Yesterday was a boozy Monday, and that is really dragging down my confidence.  It doesn't help that I started this experiment wanting to lose 2 pounds and have gained 2 instead.  Here is to the 11 day diet experiment. I hate it already!

Restaurant Addicts Diet: I Ate In 6 Days In a Row!

I made it 6 days straight without going out to dinner.  It was hard and there were tears, but I did it.  My reward was a wonderful dinner out last night at Brasserie Montmartre.  I had the pasta special and my husband had the paella and we both enjoyed them very much.  We got there just in time for the live music and I can't wait to go back.

Restaurant Addicts Diet: Day 40

I can't believe I've been making a concerted effort to eat at home for 40 days!  It's SO hard!  That said, it's been a very good learning experience for me. According to my Withings Scale App I haven't lost any weight yet, but I'm not discouraged.  I packed in a ton of fun on my party days and I haven't gained any weight so that's good.  I have added new recipes and cooking techniques, and the most important thing I've learned is that I can stick to a plan even when it's not fun.  Now that I'm confident I can survive going out to dinner only twice a week I need to concentrate on portion control.  I really think that's one of the reasons I haven't lost weight.  The other is boozy high fat weekends, but I'm only willing to cut back on so much of the good stuff. 

Restaurant Addicts Diet: I Survived Eating In

I was in a full blown freak out about eating in last night, tantrum and everything.  I know that sounds totally ridiculous, but it's the truth.  In the end I persevered and ate what I had planned at home.  I weighed myself this morning and I am so glad I didn't go out.  Even with staying home I weighed more than I wanted, and was glad I at least could say I hadn't made it worse by going out.  I have plans to go out on Thursday night, and I can't wait! 

Restaurant Addicts Diet: I Hate Eating In!

I have had it with eating in!  It's SO much work, I feel like I'm not saving as much as I had hoped and I know I haven't lost any weight.  This will be my fourth day in a row eating in and I just can't take it anymore!  I hinted to my husband by saying I hate eating in, but do you think he suggested we go out? No, of course not!  He's happy to lay around at home while I make dinner and clean up.  And don't get me started on all the grocery shopping.  I feel better now that I've gotten that off my chest.  It's a gloomy Monday, and I'm just feeling grumpy.