One of the phrases (and there were many!) that really stuck in my brain from WW training was, “You either have a losing week, or a learning week.” I LOVED this, because it takes away the notion of failure. If we don’t lose weight, what can we learn from that, from our behavior, that we can change if we want to have a losing (or maintaining) week the next time? I must repeat that refrain in my head a dozen times a day.
I am having a big-time learning week. First, I learned that it really IS hard to lose or maintain when I eat out in a restaurant like 5 meals in a row, even if I am trying to make healthy choices. Part of it is the food is just TOO GOOD, and I lose sight of necessary portion control. Also, we really do not know for sure what is IN the food we eat at restaurants. Then, especially for me, there’s the social aspect, which is sooo distracting. All that adds up to, even with the best intentions, an inevitable weight gain. SO I am making a resolution to really cut down/minimize my restaurant eating as much as possible, from now until December.
As if that weren’t enough, I came home to even more of a delusional bubble. Some part of my brain seems to believe that as a WW staff person I have donned some invisible cloak of immunity, ie, I can do anything and not gain weight. NOT! OMG! But there’s a little devil on my shoulder this week, poking me and saying, “This won’t count!” and other lies.
Here was my lesson for this morning. I am particularly vulnerable in the fall, because of colder weather, upcoming holidays, and special things like PUMPKIN TREATS. I am such a sucker for pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bars, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin EVERYthing. I especially love pumpkin muffins. But I have resisted them… until today. I just freaking wanted one. So I got one. And I ate it.
And this is what I learned:
- It tasted really good.
- But not THAT GOOD.
- I felt a little bit sick after I ate it, because I am not used to eating sweet carbs for breakfast anymore.
- It did not sustain me. I was hungry pretty quickly, like 90 minutes after I ate it.
- I really don’t know how many points it was, but it was anywhere between 6 (best case scenario, which I doubt) and 11. (ACKKKKKK!) Which is like half of my points for the ENTIRE DAY.
- It probably was very very bad for my blood sugar but I did not test it right away so I don’t know. 😦
- Bottom line? Yeah, it tasted good, but ultimately….. NWI. (NOT WORTH IT)
So yeah, I learned! I could’ve just craved and desired that pumpkin muffin all day- all week or month- but I am actually glad I ate it because now I know. I know it was fine, but y’know? I don’t need to do that again. Instead I am going to search out some low-point pumpkiny treats, and make those instead for the next time the pumpkin urge hits me.
I’m learning! I’m learning!
(pumpkin muffin photo – and recipe -courtesy of my friends over at Muffin Top!)
foodfoodbodybody 
October 27, 2009 at 3:26 pm
if you look down below the Pumpkin Muffin post–a lot of the commenters have suggested ways to make the muffins even healthier/lower carb. (if that helps–which of course it doesn’t–because a muffin is a muffin!) 🙂
October 27, 2009 at 3:31 pm
I actually made crustless pupkin pie doing the SFT if I had used splenda would be 0 points but becsaue I persoanlly try to limit greatly artificial anything I opted for palm sugar and count it as 1 pt per slice(though there is only 5 in entire pie and I cut into 8 slices). It was sooo good and really helps with that fall flavor craving.
I also wanted to thank you for the help with the SFT, I have been on it this week and feel totally empowered and in control again. I love it.
October 27, 2009 at 4:24 pm
ooohhhh…. i like that saying! i’ll have to remember it!
and i agree with you, after I havent had something in a while…my mind makes it out to be better than it actually is… i’m usually pretty disappointed afterwards.
October 27, 2009 at 4:35 pm
( “You either have a losing week, or a learning week.” )
That is a nice way to think about it. And sometimes I bet when things are going just perfect there can be a losing AND learning week, huh?
October 27, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Oh, hon, I’m having the same kind of week. For a few weeks now, and I’m not sure I’m applying what I’ve supposedly learned. So I hear ya.
But speaking of pumpkin, Debby (“debby weighs in”) has a pumpkin custard recipe that I’ve been meaning to try, and it’s only 1 point per serving. http://debbyweighsin.wordpress.com/recipes/pumpkin-custard/
Many bloggers also make oatmeal or oatbran and add pumpkin, which is another thing I’ve been meaning to try.
October 28, 2009 at 6:47 am
I love how you phrase it as a big time learning week.
Im really really trying to view my life like that this week as well (parenthood. its getting ugly up in herre) and while it is a different struggle it’s the same.
a struggle.
xo xo,
Miz.
October 28, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Sorry about the struggle Miz! I’ve been there…. and yeah, I think this motto can pretty much apply to everything. Learning, learning, learning. Sending some good vibes your way.
October 28, 2009 at 1:13 pm
There is an even easier one or two-point pumpkin dessert — I don’t have the recipe in front of me — but it involved taking a low-calorie vanilla pudding mix and adding some canned pumpkin to it. It was quite good.
I can look for the recipe if someone wants. I suspect it was a WW recipe.
October 28, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Yes please Ilana! I love pumpkin anything.
October 28, 2009 at 8:21 pm
WW No-cooking Pumpkin Pudding
Points value: 1
Makes eight 1/2 cup servings
Ingredients:
1- 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
1 large package fat-free/sugar-free Instant Pudding (vanilla or butterscotch)
3 cups cold fat-free milk
Cinammon to taste
Combine and beat until smooth with wisk or beater (1-2 minutes)
Chill in individual custard cups or glasses — martini glasses make an elegant presentation!
Can be served or layered with fat-free cool whip, but add points if you do this
October 28, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Another yummy pumpkin thing is Noah’s Bagels low-fat Pumpkin Cream Cheese Shmear. Boy, it’s as good as a dessert. You could put a tablespoon or two on whole wheat toast and it would be a decent snack. The trick is stopping at a tablespoon or two. 🙂
October 28, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Oooh! Oooh!!!!!! That idea never occurred to me! That sounds scrumptious.
October 28, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Sometimes you just need to go for the pumpkin muffin or you would have ended up eating all kinds of other stuff until you did have it. I’d been having the same kind of weeks. Maybe there’s something in the air. I seemed to just lose control of what I was eating. But I think I got the sweets attack out of my system (my enemy was chocolate chip cookies) and I’m back on track…for now anyway. I think with this weight loss thing, there will always be “learning weeks.” I love that
November 10, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I love this perspective! And don’t want to be thwarted into holiday food comas (plural).