Starting Over

What do you do when you suddenly realize you let things creep up on you to the point of being 380 pounds!?!?!?

No it didn't happen overnight. Part of it came from an injury in 1985 and subsequent surgeries that left me bedridden for many months. Another surgery and massive infections in '94 meant a few months in the hospital and a bit more weight. I dropped a little of it and held around 285 until about 8 years ago. The pain from my '85 injuries got worse and I became more and more immobile. I cut back on work to 4 then 3 days a week. I finally went on disability 2 years ago. Finally another major injury 2 years ago, the much lower food budget and quiting smoking 6 months ago have all added to some pounds that I didn't realize I was adding.

I have to admit that the last 2 years I have become more and more like a slug. Movement of any kind whatsoever is painful. Each time over the years when I reached what I thought was my maximum threshold of pain I found that I soon crossed it and had to learn to deal with a new and higher level. Right now I consider sitting on a stool and putting together 3 meals a day as a major accomplishment.

I had been doing several things the last few years to better my diet and make it more natural so I was surprised that I had picked up almost 50 lbs during that time. After many plans, many diet ideas, etc, I am working on calories for right now. I will talk about it more other diets I have done over the years as I progress with this journal and tell you what I kept from those diets.

The lesson for today - eat what you like just trim the calories.

I began the diet just over a week ago. Every morning I have had 2 pieces of precooked bacon that I heat up in the frying pan (to make them crisp so I can crumble them). I remove the bacon and fry 3 eggs over light with runny yellows (my fav). I pour the eggs onto two pieces of whole wheat toast. Some mornings I also have an orange or an apple with the meal.

Bacon, 2 pc 90 calories
eggs, 3 x 80 = 240 calories
whole wheat bread 70 x 2 = 140
Total 470 to 520 with apple

I had bought granola bars and yogurt for breakfast and my plan had been to just have the eggs now and then but to push for a much lower calorie breakfast. However it has continued to be cold here sometimes even snowing or icy so I have been having the eggs & toast.

Today was in the 50's and felt good so I ate yogurt and a granola bar.............and fruit...........and an hour later chips........and an hour later ...........and so it went all day. I have eaten all day and am still craving something. I loved the egg breakfasts whereas the yogurt is more like doing penance but also the eggs and toast left me full. I had to force myself to have another meal in about 6 hours and had very few snacks in the evening. With the yogurt I feel empty and hungry all day.

Soooo I will buy yogurt for afternoon snacks on hot summer afternoons. However I will continue with my bacon and eggs for breakfast.

Happy Dieting
Linda B in TN:)