Doin’ time in the kitchen

Confession time.

I’d gotten so out of the habit of cooking for myself that one of the reasons I dragged my feet on committing to a low-carb diet was the amount of time I’d have to spend in the kitchen.

I mean, there are always a thousand things I’d rather be doing than cooking and washing dishes. Things like writing. Reading. Crocheting. Sleeping. Coloring in one of my grown-up coloring books. Catching up on the shows on my Hulu watchlist. Scrolling through my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds.

You know, the important things. *Giggle. Snort.*

Okay — writing, reading and sleeping actually do fall into the category of important things. Everything else is just wasting time.

And meanwhile, as I snarfed down delicious but bad-for-me dinners from McDonald’s, Sonic, KFC and Long John Silvers, my health suffered and weight piled on.

I finally decided enough was enough. Taking a page from Low Carb Traveler Lynn’s book, I decided I can eat low-carb without spending hours in the kitchen. Sometimes her meals are as simple as nuts, deli meat and cheese — a real boon when it comes to long nights at the office.

It’s been working. I do spend more time in the kitchen than I used to, but not nearly as much as I’d feared. And the results — 12.8 pounds down since Jan. 1 — make it worth the effort.

Plus, I’d forgotten how good REAL food can taste. Take, for example, this morning’s omelet.

I sauteed 1/2 (packed) cup of zucchini in coconut oil, added 2 ounces of leftover sausage and two beaten eggs. The filling was 1/4 cup of cheddar, and I topped it with 1 T each of sour cream and picante sauce. All this for only 5.5 Net Carbs.

Delicious! Filling, too. I nibbled on some of my planned snacks in the afternoon, but probably more out of anxiety/boredom than actually needing food.

On another note, tonight’s sunset was particularly stunning.

I stepped outside for a few minutes to snap a picture. Couldn’t resist its beauty. (As usual, the picture doesn’t quite capture the magnificence my eyes saw.)

Why is it Arizona sunsets are so much prettier than the ones I grew up with in Indiana?

That’s all I have for now. Catch you later … when I’m not in the kitchen.

Reaching a new high

… And not the good kind.

I finally faced the scale Monday. According to the mean metal box, I’ve topped my highest known adult weight.

Yeah. Not exactly the heights I’ve been hoping to reach.

It’s my own fault, of course. Too many poor food choices paired with too little exercise.

I knew I was gaining—have been for months. I just didn’t know how much.

I should have realized. I hate all my pictures these days. This one from Halloween is okay, but I had to take several shots before I had one I was happy with. Thank goodness for digital cameras, eh?

…Anyway…

On Monday I started logging my food again, using the LoseIt! app on my phone. It’s a pain in the a$$, but clearly it’s something I need to do to remind myself not to eat too much.

I have to make time to take care of myself. That includes making my own meals instead of relying on drive-thrus and other takeout. Regular walks should be on the schedule, too.

Not blogging hasn’t been working for me, either. That means I need to make time for regular check-ins here, too.

Deciding on an eating plan would also be helpful. I really think my body works best on a lower-carb plan—but the thought of giving up pasta, potatoes and bread (not to mention overnight oats) doesn’t appeal.

One easy way to cut carbs would be to give up Frappuccinos, I know. But Starbucks is my office away from home, and I’m spending more time than ever there now that I’m (still) (f)unemployed. I earn free drinks regularly, and it seems like a waste to use a freebie for anything less than a fully loaded drink.

The struggle is real. Every day.

I look at my TimeHop posts from two or three years ago and making the right choices seemed so effortless. I need to get back to that place. Fast.

A #WIAW with perfect timing

Day Three of tracking with My Fitness Pal is in the books, and it went pretty well. I was 300 calories under my allowance for the day.

Ended up eating the Chobani I packed for dessert when I got home from work because I didn’t get around to it earlier. It made a perfect late-night nosh—just as satisfying as something junkier.

I read a post from Liz over at Prior Fat Girl Tuesday that couldn’t have come at a better time. The standout line:

If you wait for the right time to start getting healthy you may never begin.

Y’all, she’s so right. I’ve wasted the bulk of the last year saying “I’ll start back on my diet tomorrow” or “I’ll start next week.” Somehow, tomorrow never arrived. There was always a donut (or two) or a big, greasy burger or a fluffy, delicious coffee drink to be consumed.

Now it’s a year later, and I’m pushing 300 pounds again. Ugh.

I have no one to blame but myself—well, maybe the Boyfriend can shoulder some of the blame. (I’ve never met someone who pushes food more than he does. He said something like “you just need portion control” on the phone before vacation, and then proceeded to coax me to eat huge portions all week. Gah.)

However, I have to say that I’m feeling pretty good after a couple days of loading up on veggies. I can get by eating a lot less crap than I’ve gotten used to devouring.

I don’t need a calorie-laden Frappuccino when a Skinny Caramel Macchiato delivers my Starbucks fix.

Writing fuel.

I don’t have to pig out on fast food when I can make a delicious, quick stir fry. (I’ll share the recipe at Chicklets in the Kitchen later this week.)

Salads don’t have to be punishment.

I fixed a pretty tasty one for lunch (but forgot to take a photo of it). In the mix: 3 cups spring mix, 1 cup chopped tomato, a little sliced red onion, 1/2 can tuna, 2 Tablespoons feta and roasted red pepper dressing (from a bottle). It was delicious!

I have a weirdo cat. Doesn’t she look like she should be smoking a cigarette?

Spirit was lying like this when I woke up. Had to snap a picture because I thought it was funny.

Fixing my lunch bag doesn’t require needle and thread.

Yes, I stapled the seam back together. It worked! No more hole.

Lazy? Perhaps. But I prefer to call it innovative.

Since it’s Wednesday, I’ll link this up with Jenn’s What I Ate Wednesday party. I keep pinning her recipes, because they always look delicious. Hopefully someday soon, I’ll be able to whip up one or two.