Hi Lila,

I did not make the soup.

At the moment, I can't even remember why I did not make the soup, but I remember that last weekend got overwhelming.

Coke is actually addictive. It is the sugar. Also, your body craves fat and protein, especially when you try to restrict calories. Fat is what keeps you from getting hungry again quickly. Can you tell yourself "ok, I will have the Mcmuffin, but I will not have the coke."? That would be a good start.

Yesterday I ate two hot goat cheese sandwiches (not grilled, I microwave them) and when I wanted a snack before bed, my body was craving applesauce, not ice cream. I think it was the unusual amount of fat during the day.

I don't really eat meals when Dh is gone. I just get hungry and fix some quick food. Since we buy very little convenience food, quick food is usually fruit, nuts, or bread plus. This morning it was bread (bakery bread, with some structure to it and a limited number of ingredients, not "sandwich bread") with butter and homemade jam (more whole blackberries than sugar) for breakfast with my coffee. I am actually too lazy to make toast.

You were on your feet a lot yesterday - which I bet counts as exercise. It is much easier for me to control my weight when I am teaching.

hi SubC,

I know Coke is so addictive. I crave it like crazy. So yeah, I need to knock that off. Also, my cardiologist said I need to eat very low fat because of the high heart disease in our family and I have risk factors. He recommended vegan but I find it very hard. If I eat meat it should be fish, or a little poultry. I used to do Atkins so this is very different for me. He says mediterranean diet.

I have been so unsuccessful at this but am already writing my new food plan in my planner. I am not waiting til Jan 1, though, I am starting it now. More fruits and veggies, less junk. Lay off the sugar and fat and salt. The thing I am missing most is exercise.

I don't know why I've been so unmotivated.

Lila, I do not want to argue with your cardiologist, but my dad has been a heart patient for 30 years. He has had good doctors and bad ones.

Here are some things I would like to share with you that have worked well for him ymmv.

There are good fats and bad fats. Animal fats are mostly bad. Not all plant fats are good, but olive oil is - a significant part of the Mediterranean diet - which also includes some cheeses, in moderation.

The calories in sugar and other refined carbs are just as bad if not worse metabolically as butter or bacon fat. With less nutrition.

True vegan is not optimal because honey is one of the healthier sugars, and some of the fat replacement options (crisco for butter for example) are actually worse for you.

Now, this is just me - try adding in some whole grains. They are filling and healthy. Barley is a nice substitute for rice.

Ok, now go walk around 😉

Thank you SubC, I appreciate your input. Especially since I love cheese, lol.

I feel like I am a fast food addict. If I was rich I would probably eat fast food every day, so good thing I am not. I think it will significantly improve my health and weight to not eat fast food anymore. I eat it 4 or 5 days a week. It is cheap so I do it but when you add it up I am wasting money I don't have. So...in my planner I have a new page where I will write down what I spend every day. And I will highlight in red anything that is "waste." Fast food is wasted money. I am going to try to not spend anything on it anymore but if I can cut back to even once a week at first, that will help. I have a few gift cards people gave me to nicer places like outback or panera and I will use those if I really want to eat out.

I am going to mix up a sad to have with my dinner tonight. Actually the salad will be the main part of dinner, but I will have a bread stick with it and I may enjoy some mashed potatoes. I have not had any in months but we had some last night. I have leftovers.

I need to move but am too tired.. I did get some good organic multivitamins and will take one a day and hope that helps me feel better too.

Well here we are at the end of the year. I am determined to improve my health in 2022. I have a lot of weight to lose and my doctor agrees with me switching to plant based. It's hard but I have moved in that direction. But I am going to eat plant based with a tracker in my planner. Any day I eat meat will be marked in RED. I have to quit eating junk. I have some vegetarian pre mixed shakes for days I am stressed out, and I can just grab one for a balanced meal.

I am in way too much pain to keep going on like this.