Breaking All of the Diet Rules

Mama's Morning

16 oz. White Chocolate 

Macadamia Nut Mocha

Wow!  I am learning a LOT about dieting and nutrition,
as I am focusing on my Takin' Care of Mama Challenge.

First of all, I must let you know that Mama is a "Rule Follower".

  *  Mama drives 55 on the freeway (if that is the speed limit),
      regardless of the fact that everyone else is driving 70.
      (The Big Kids have to remind Mama to speed UP 
        to the speed limit, when she doesn't have Cruise Control.)

  *  Mama follows the arrows at the gas station,
      even if that means waiting an extra 10 minutes
      to fill her car up with gas.

  *  Mama counts her items in the grocery cart before
     getting into an "express line".  If Mama has 14
     items rather than the required 10, she will
     go stand in a longer line (or put 4 items back).


So, when Mama goes on a diet, all she needs is a list
of "rules" to follow, and she is good-to-go.

Mama has realized, however, that sometimes these
Diet Rules have actually been detrimental to her
goal of losing weight.


Following the Rules, has actually caused Mama
to gain weight.   Oh no!

Here are some typical Diet Rules that people are
encouraged to follow in order to lose weight.

#1  Eat 1200 Calories Per Day

#2  Do Not Eat ...

      ...  Pasta
      ...  Bread
      ...  White Rice

#3  Eat LOTS of Fruits & Vegetables

#4  Do Not Drink the "Fancy Drinks"
      at the Coffee Shop.

#5  Do Not Use Artificial Sweetener

#6  Weigh Yourself Once a Week
      Do Not Weigh Yourself Daily


These "Diet Rules" do NOT work for Mama.
Here's why ...


#1  Eat 1200 Calories Per Day

When Mama eats just 1100-1200 calories per day ...
Mama gains weight.  Yes.  I do.

I don't just "plateau".  No.  I GAIN weight.

Mama must eat 1400 - 1600 calories per day,
in order to lose weight.  Weird!  But ... whatever works!


#2  Do Not Eat  ________

When Mama doesn't eat these things,
she doesn't eat ENOUGH calories,
and, therefore, she GAINS weight.


#3  Eat LOTS of Fruit & Vegetables

Yes.  I do eat LOTS of fruit and veggies.
However, when I fill up on too many fruit and veggies,
I, once again, do not get ENOUGH calories.


#4  Do Not Drink the Fancy Drinks at the Coffee Shop

Here is Mama's philosophy ...

     A.  Research shows that drinking 1-2 cups of coffee
           per day is good for you.

     B.  Research shows that drinking low fat milk
           (in limited quantities) is good for you.

     C.  Research shows that eating chocolate
           (a small amount per day) is good for you.

Therefore ... how, exactly, is drinking a Mocha bad for you?

Mama gets her daily "dose" of coffee, milk, and chocolate
in 1 healthy "snack" of a Hot Mocha from Mama's Coffee Shop.

#5  Do Not Use Artificial Sweetener

In the many articles that I have read recently, the reasoning behind not using artificial sweeteners is because it will make your body crave sweets more.  Mama has not found this to be true.  It actually fulfills my "need" for sweetness, and helps me to not crave sweets.

Yes.  I know.  There may be a risk of cancer from some of the artificial sweeteners.  And, later on, I may choose to not use them.  However, right now, I can weigh my risks.  Would I rather risk ... obesity and diabetes, or face the very small risk of cancer caused by artificial sweeteners.  I would rather stick with the artificial sweeteners, and reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes.  That is the conscious choice that Mama is making (and really does not want to debate in the comments section).  Smile.

Yes.  Mama's Daily Dose of Coffee 

includes a bit of artificial sweetness.

#6  Weigh Yourself Weekly

       Do Not Weigh Yourself Daily

I know.  I know.  This is supposed to be a BIG "No-No".  Do not "obsess", by weighing yourself daily.  However, Mama has found that weighing daily is a BIG help.  When Mama weighs herself weekly, she must go back and analyze the full week's worth of calories eaten, to try to figure out what she did right or wrong.  When Mama weighs herself daily, she can very quickly figure out what to stop ... or what to keep doing.  Mama needs the daily weigh-in to quickly tweak her daily caloric intake.  Mama is actually less "obsessed", when weighing in daily.

So ... those are the Diet Rules 

that Mama must learn to break.

Remember ... Mama is a Rule Follower.  

So ... this is VERY difficult.

But ... Mama is EXCITED about ALL

that she is learning.  

Much more to share ... 

Stay tuned ...