Curve Ball

 

Day 154

Okay; so the above picture isn’t a curve ball.  It’s Butterball, before it becomes Thanksgiving dinner! {grin}.  Since I don’t have children involved in sporting activities, it became problematic to find a photo of a curve ball in action, so instead I’m giving you a picture of Butterball, my name for the pet turkey at Mountain Valley Ranch in Ramona, California.

What do you do when someone or some thing throws you a curve ball?  By that, I mean sets you off-balance mentally.  When you are dieting, curve balls come flying at you in all directions and avoiding them is tricky!  Thanksgiving Day is just such a curve ball for me!  I love Thanksgiving Day and don’t want to give up all the accoutrements that make Thanksgiving Day special:  Roasted Turkey smothered in Turkey Gravy with piles of hot Creamy Mashed Potatoes on the side and Cornbread Stuffing…yum!

And, of course, my sister’s famous Spinach Casserole and then there’s Baked Sweet Potatoes with Warm Maple Drizzle and Toasted Pecans, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower with Parmesan and hot rolls dripping in butter!  And, let’s not forget dessert:  hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream or Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream.

2,000 calories or more in one meal!

And, then there’s the next day:

• Creamy Pumpkin Soup
• Harvest Pumpkin Chili
• Turkey and Avocado Salad with Craisins
• Turkey Sandwiches
• Turkey Soup
• Turkey Pull-Apart Casserole
• Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

What’s a person to do when confronted with a beloved holiday all about food, focused entirely on food and really delicious food at that?

You give in.

But, the way you give in is what’s important.  Here’s what I’m going to do tomorrow:

1. I’m going to eat a light breakfast.  I’m going to have a Strawberry Protein Smoothie or a Coffee Banana Protein Smoothie or Weetabix with Yogurt and Berries.  They are all packed with protein that will keep me full until we have our feast later in the day.
2. I won’t snack in between.
3. I’m using a smaller plate.  Most of our plates are 12 inches in diameter.  I’m going to choose a smaller plate.
4. I’m going to eat little bits of all of my favorite things.
5. I’m going to put smaller than small portions on my plate.
6. I’m going to eat slowly.
7. I’m going to skip the rolls and butter.  I can have bread and/or rolls any other time.
8. I’m not going to have seconds.
9. I’m having a sliver of pie, if I have room left in my tummy.  If I’m really, really full, I’m going to save my sliver of pie for later or not eat it at all.
10. Charlie and I are having Thanksgiving dinner with my mother at her residential care facility.  Therefore, no leftovers!  Whew!  I escaped that temptation!

This last month I lost zero pounds.  Yep; zero pounds.  My weight went up-and-down throughout the month starting with Halloween and candy temptations!  So, my weight is the same as last month – 234.  But, hey; that’s okay because I didn’t gain back any of the weight I’ve lost.  The holidays are a tough time of year for dieters!  So, maintaining the status quo is okay, too.  After all, that’s what New Year’s Resolutions are all about!

And, these are the new recipes I created to keep my weight loss journey interesting:

• Baked Sweet Potatoes with Warm Maple Drizzle and Toasted Pecans
• Creamy Pumpkin Soup
• Harvest Pumpkin Chili – I encourage you, sweet peeps, to try this amazingly delicious recipe!  One of my new favorites!  YUM!
• Roasted Garlic in Olive Oil
• Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower with Parmesan

Tip of the Month:

If life throws you a curve ball, improvise.  Make the best food choices that you can in the environment in which you are thrust.  As Scarlett O’Hara said in Gone with the Wind, “After all, tomorrow is another day.”

Here are some more pictures of Butterball, the turkey:

 

 

 

 

How are you planning to survive the food onslaught tomorrow?  Share your Curve Ball secrets!

Tootles,

 

Related Posts:

(other posts about the Incredible Shrinking Woman diet project)

• Cankles and Zits
• Confessions of the Incredible Shrinking Woman
• Hot Stuff
• Minding Your P’s and Q’s
• Sports, Gaming, Technology and a Can of Tuna
• The Spice of Life

(new healthier recipes)

• Baked Sweet Potatoes with Warm Maple Drizzle and Toasted Pecans
• Creamy Pumpkin Soup
• Harvest Pumpkin Chili
• Roasted Garlic in Olive Oil
• Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower with Parmesan

(other healthier recipes)

• 3 Amazingly Simple and Delicious Ideas for using leftover Mexican Corn Salad
• Black Fig Parfait
• Charlie’s Lite Layered Mexican Casserole
• Chicken and Arugula Open-faced Sandwiches
• Coffee Banana Protein Smoothie
• Crunchy Tuna Salad
• Dorothy’s Stuffed Mushrooms
• Ensalada de Nopales
• Garden Vegetable Tuna Casserole
• Grilled Balsamic Chicken Breast Tenders
• Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad
• Grilled Black Fig and Burrata Salad
• Lite Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Dip
• Mini Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins
• Rosa’s Pork Posole
• Strawberry Banana Smoothie
• Tri-color Roasted Potato Salad
• Weetabix with Yogurt and Berries