How I do calorie control

[mithriltabby]

I weigh about 220 lb right now, and my doctor would like me to get down to about 190. My strategy is to gradually tweak my calorie intake to a level for maintaining the 190 and using exercise to get to the 190 in the first place, rather than dieting down to 190. (Doing Weight Watchers style points counting is a bit too hectic for me; I already have enough details to keep track of in life.)

So I’ve been gradually tweaking my habits to find ways to stay satisfied with my meals while reducing their calorie content. One thing that helps is packing my own lunch, rather than going out to eat with most of my coworkers who are aficionados of the local fast food joints. I’ve also focused on cutting down the calories I bring with me: instead of making my sandwich on a sourdough roll, I use sliced sourdough instead. (But on the principle of maximizing flavor, each week I buy a 2 pound sourdough basket loaf at Le Boulanger, which tastes much better than anything they have at the grocery store.) I use less meat, but I add freshly ground Montreal Steak Seasoning to pep it up. I use a cheese plane to get thin slices of cheese for the sandwich, but it’s Tillamook Sharp Cheddar. The net result is that where, for a week’s lunches, I used to get a pack of sourdough rolls, a pound of roast beast, and half a pound of cheddar cheese at the deli, I now only use ten slices of sourdough bread, half a pound of roast beast, and work my way through a brick of Tillamook quite slowly.

obsessivewoman was surprised when I showed her my technique for keeping lettuce for sandwiches: buy a head of lettuce for the week. Each day, peel off the limp, wilted outer layer and throw it away, then peel off a crisp leaf for the sandwich. Repeat each day, and you’ll work through most of the head by the end of the week. She says that only a bachelor would’ve come up with that.

Comments

[racerxmachina.livejournal.com]

I've been doing habit tweaks to get more of my food flavors from veggie or spice sources (add a tomato to a sandwich, add mustard, salsa) and less of it from fat and sugar (no mayo, limiting things with hidden sugar, like ketchup and BBQ sauce).

Eating out is a temptation-- I work in downtown San Jose, where lots of amazing restaurants are very close. Fortunately I think more about a fat wallet than a skinny me, so I broke myself of going out a long time ago.

[mithriltabby]

I find the fat-free mayo works pretty well for me.

Another modification I forgot to mention: keep a mug of water next to me at my desk and only have sodas with meals. Getting into the pattern of being able to absentmindedly drink water is helpful.