So I think I've figured it out. Eating every three hours instead of twice (or once) a day means I am actually eating far more often than I'm used to.

I have to be eating in front of people a lot more often. It makes me uncomfortable. And I think, do they think I eat all the time? I mean, they always see me eating. That can't be attractive.

Eating every three hours is a lot harder than it seems. Today I only ate three times, and I'm counting a cookie as one of those times. Not as great as yesterday, but I can hope and pray and then MAKE SURE I don't do the same thing tomorrow.

One day at a time.

The Small Meal Challenge.

I've replaced the weekly weight counter on the right tab of my blog with the "Small Meal Challenge". I'm trying to eat five meals of 300 calories a piece everyday, which would have me eating about once every three hours. It's rather difficult for me to do this, I'm not used to controlling when I eat so rigorously, and I'm definitely a no breakfast (sometimes even no lunch) and a large dinner kind of person. Which is horrible for my metabolism. It thinks I'm starving all day and then stores that huge late meal as fat. In my thighs.

I've heard this small meal method is very effective: to eat in small portions throughout the day, tiny meals that always include some fat, some protein, and some carbohydrate. It's easier for your body to break it down and your metabolism is optimized.

I am also, still, OVER the scale. I made a deal with myself. When I go down a size, I can weigh myself. And I really won't until then.

Exercise is still a gray area. I haven't been doing formal exercise, which is a problem. I justify not going to the gym, because I am forced to walk every where I go in Boston. It doesn't feel like as much daily exercise as it did 6 months ago, probably because my body has adjusted to the activity level.

So running. Ugh, maybe. Elliptical trainer. Yeah. I can work back up to running. I have this vision of myself running outside once it's nice, but man, I need work before that. So running. I also ordered a Pilates DVD, which I am very excited about it. If I like it, I'll review it.

Ok. Enough for today.

Featured and Finding Motivation

I've eaten ice cream for the last time.

Ok, maybe not. But seriously, how many times do I have to be woken in the middle of the night by stomach cramps so painful I'm up for an hour to understand that I am lactose intolerant? A few hundred, obviously.

Which is fine, because besides skim milk and yogurt, I really have no business eating the dairy products that I love most: ice cream, cheese, chocolate milk. It is noticeably worse when I haven't consumed these things for a while and then all of a sudden eat half a pint of Ben Jerry's. I wish sugar wasn't the enemy, but it undoubtedly is, I'm afraid.

So how do I fix my sugar cravings without throwing my whole system out of whack? Fruit, fruit and more fruit. Like vegetables, but with natural sugar that soothes my sweet tooth and keeps my calories in check. So I went grocery shopping last night to fill my kitchen with all kinds of healthy things that I would want to eat (that also do not require more than five minutes prep time, because I am impatient to a fault).

I spent $80 at Whole Foods last night and was pretty happy with my take, but was interested in the breakdown of food categories on my receipt:

PREPARED FOODS:
A pint of prepared "Sante Fe" Turkey Tips
Three zucchini and onion cakes
4 frozen veggie burgers
Kashi Instant Oatmeal Packets (is this prepared?)
Pint Almonds

BAKERY:
4 Whole Wheat English Muffins
4 Whole Wheat Burger Buns, small

CONDIMENTS:
Raspberry fruit spread
All Natural Peanut Butter

PRODUCE:
3 Bananas
2 Apples
3 Clementines
2 Orange Bell Peppers
1 giant Broccoli floret

DAIRY:
Quart Vanilla Soy Milk (NOT DAIRY, why is it here? No other place for it, maybe)
6 Brown eggs
2 Raspberry yogurts, fat free


Not a bad list for a week of groceries. Seeing the breakdown, I am proud of how much produce I bought, but still think I could stand for more vegetable variety. I am into a veggie burger with a side of steamed broccoli as my dinner fall back these days (no cheese!), but I know there are so many other delicious vegetables just waiting for me to experience them.

Does anyone have a good recipe for a vegetable bake I can make on Sunday and heat up the rest of the week?

Also, I need some more ideas for quick protein fixes. I've got the nuts thing for during the day, but I need to be more open for dinner choices. My current repertoire includes veggie burgers, eggs, and peanut butter (and anything bought already prepared, like those yummy turkey tips). I don't eat red meat or pork, which complicates things, but maybe I could find a good soup recipe. Anyone? Ideas?

Ok, I suppose I could do some real work now. More tomorrow, as I'm working again and will avoid the stressful March preparations however I can.