Anyone remember Susan Powder and the Stop the Insanity diet? Woman who shaved her head and bleached the stubble white. Did wild shouting infomercials wearing a gray leotard with a wide maroon belt. I loved her.
In 93 I had been through several surgeries, was in great pain, spent months pinned down by doctors because of various surgeries and, at one point, spent almost 2 months in the hospital. I had ballooned up to 375 pounds and was crazy to do something.
Most of my life I have resorted to the low carb diet because I am a meat eater. Also I could eat all the mayo and butter I wanted. (I will discuss soon how these two led to most of my problems.) I wasn't working so I couldn't afford a low carb diet and Susan definitely sounded interesting. I bought the book and was hooked.
One of her main things was to FILL UP on lots of low cal, low fat items. I made giant pots of rice and scooped out a bowlful for lunch and another for dinner, dumped a can of Healthy Choice soup over it, nuked it and scarfed it up. I had bagels with cream cheese and cinni sugar for breakfast and ate fig newtons, choc graham crackers and pretzels for snacks. After 4 months I dropped to 275. I bailed out of the diet at that point but I had lost 100 lbs but even more important I kept it off until I started getting in more pain and less active around 2003. I didn't lose anymore but I kept that weight off for almost 10 years.
I had planned to try that again but there is almost nothing left of Healthy Choice soups. Definitely no steak and potato, my fav. The Select Harvest and Chunky soups are disgusting and while I like a few regular Preggo soups, their diet stuff is the absolute WORST.
OK I decided I would try the frozen dinners - Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine and Weight Watchers' Smart Ones. First they are $2 to $3 each and I can find some Michelinas for $1 each that are lower in sodium and sometimes lower in calories. The Michelinas are definitely better in taste. So I added a few Michelinas and a few .88 Banquet meals.
I heat up a frozen dish with rice, noodles or potatoes and I make extra to "fill it out". For instance I made a few cups of noodles tonight. I drained them and dumped a Smart Ones spaghetti dinner in with them. Tolerable. Even better to add one or two tablespoons of sauce from a jar of Prego sauce I keep in the fridge. Lots of bulk to fill me up and the fat is low.
Most of the frozen stuff if yuk. The Michelina pizza bites and chicken Alfredo with broccoli is great especially poured over a bowl of rice or potatoes.
Since most of the frozen stuff is so bad I am working on a menu for next month to replace them. I had planned to do that in about 3 months anyway. I just thought the frozen ones would help me get a handle on portion control and making sure I had exactly enough of each item.
No lessons tonight. Pulled my back moving a piece of furniture and not a good day. Tired and achy tonight. But remember Susan - stretch those meals with lots of potatoes, rice or noodles - but NO butter or fats. Also, if you like them, fill up on things like celery, carrots, apples and oranges. All are low cal, full of fiber, slow to digest so they keep you full longer and no fat.
Happy Dieting
Linda B in TN:)
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