[Thinker]

Originally Posted by ZimmygLrL

I am now having plain Chobani Greek Yogurt with six red cherries and an 8oz glass of chocolate soymilk for breakfast. The yogurt is very bitter and I am not sure if I will be able to finish it. Thank goodness it is only a 4oz bowl.

I really enjoy plain Greek yogurt with small bits of diced apple mixed in; I use a red Delicious apple because of the sweetness. I'll add a little more than half of a small apple in a serving of yogurt, and it seems to be just enough to balance out that bitterness you're talking about.

Originally Posted by Anya/Georgia

I have made it to lunchtime now. My breakfast was approx. 3/4 cup of oatmeal with about 20 raisins, one peach mid-morning and one cup of coffee with 1 teaspoon of half-and-half (refuse to give that up).

I won't give up my half-n-half either. I've been using the fat free variety for years now.....not sure if you've tried that or not??

Originally Posted by Nina

I have a strange, or at least it feels strange to me even though I am the one doing it, weight change behavior...I buy any of the junk stuff I want...I bake any of the sweets 'n stuff I get into my head to bake...I have stuff in the house, sweet and savory...if I Don't buy it, or order it at a restaurant, or bake/make it I will eat whatever I have and get more...for me, I can have it around, I can make it and not even take a bite...two weekends ago I was grumpy and was going down to get some carrots...and, I bought a pie, a good handmade pie they sell here, that was sunday...on wednesday I gave it to my Great Pal from across the street...not a bite was gone...

I am also good at taking one bite of something, and throwing the rest away...
I clean out the cupboards often and make bags of 'treats' which I then leave at places where folks who might enjoy some treats hang out...I get what I need from getting it, and someone else can have the final enjoyment from it...

I admit it's not the most economical way to change what I eat, or maybe even a way that makes sense to anyone but me, but it does work...same at a restaurant...I never, ever finish what I order...the more food that is on the plate, the less of it I will tend to eat...I don't ever take home food from a restaurant...

I am kind of interested in Jo's friend's eating plan...I am going to actually print it out and think it through...I like the whole thing of having stuff to chew on, a lot, and it sounds like there are a good bit of options included in the plan...

the happier I am the lighter I become...

Two things...

Your "strategy" and your post about it made me laugh. Hey....whatever works, huh?

Also, the plan Jo's friend uses reminds me of when I followed the USDA's food pyramid (I think it's a "plate" now though) about 5 years ago. I lost 20 lbs. so easily just by following what the pyramid said I should have each day.......and yeah.........I felt like I was eating throughout the day. What I really liked is that I never felt full and I never felt hungry; I was always just content.

Originally Posted by PinkieLee

Journaling & figuring out points makes me focus on what I'm eating and WHY I am eating (stress, boredom or hunger).

I like the points thing too; it really works for my type A self. Like you, it has......without me really thinking about it.....gotten me to look at what I'm eating and when and how I can get the most bang for my buck. In the end, I'm making better choices and re-discovering foods I've always liked that are so good for me (like tuna salad).