Eating plan (180.2)

So I am starting a new eating plan today.  After reading about Kay Sheppard's plan several times recently, on Vickie's and subsequently on Jane's blogs, I figure it's time.

I didn't start off right--I had a cold can of Illy latte coffee, which has caffeine and sugar, but I hadn't officially decided this morning whether I was going to start or not.

When I was ready for breakfast, which was late today because I slept in until 8:30, then had to pick Luke up from a sleepover at his friend Jack's house at 9 a.m. (his first sleepover at a friend's house--it was Jack's 6th birthday... Luke did great and the boys had a blast), I looked at the food plan at 9:45 and thought, that's a lot of food. 

Protein
Milk
Starch
Fruit

My breakfasts are usually two of those--frozen blueberries, steal cut oats with honey and pecans, or yogurt, frozen berries, and granola.  Never all four. But I figured there's a reason for all the food, so this is what I ate this morning.

1 cup steal cut oats w/ 1/2 c frozen berries
1/2 cup egg beaters
1 cup yogurt with 1/2 c frozen blueberries

That is a lot of food.  I ate the egg beaters and yogurt while the oats cooked; to make the eggs taste better, I put some yogurt on the plate with them.  I love that flavor combination.  When we do breakfast at Bob Evans, I usually get the yogurt & fruit crepe with a side of egg lites.  This was the same thing, only without the added sugar and starch. 

I was already feeling kind of full after that.  A cup of lowfat yogurt is a lot!  But I measured out 1 cup of oats and poured them on the berries, and sat at the counter and got to eating.  By the time I was done I was full, but not stuffed and not uncomfortable.  Which surprised me.  I thought for sure this would be too much food.

It was, however, too much time.  It took me almost 30 minutes to eat!  I never spend that much time sitting down and eating, at least by myself at home.  I did read a book--it was monotonous to keep eating and eating, esp when the food was a bit bland without the added honey and nuts in the oats, or the granola in the yogurt.  I know it will take a while for my taste buds to adjust.

But again, I know there's a reason for this.  It's two hours later and I'm not even remotely interested in eating anything else.

I know this will not be a quick fix and there will be fits and starts.  It's going to be hard to give up caffeine (and I don't plan to go cold turkey).  But, I figure if I can follow the plan as best I can, like eating the categories of foods together at each meal time, then it is a start. 

I am tired of feeling sick and tired after I eat.  I'm tired of waking up bloated from the snacks before bed (which is what happened this morning).  I'm tired of drinking a second or third can of something caffeinated (with sugar), and feeling more tired than I was before I drank it.

I want to feel energized and alive.  The way I've been living isn't getting me there.

I went out and ran last night.  The weather was gorgeous all day...the nicest day we've had all year.  It literally made me sick to my stomach that I had to sit in the office all day yesterday, looking out my window at the clear blue skies and the swaying trees. I wanted to BE part of that.  Instead I was stuck, and not a happy camper.

I didn't leave the house for my run until 7:30 pm, and it had gotten more humid but there was still a nice breeze and the sun was setting.  I ran/walked 3.1 miles in about 42 minutes.  Not fast, but not horrible considering my weight and my lack of consistent exercise.  Mentally I felt better after my run than I had all day. 

I kept asking myself why I'm not making this a daily requirement, like taking medicine.  It is, after all, as essential to my mental health as the pills and vitamins I take each day. 

I'm planning on starting morning runs in earnest.  I have liked the two I've done with my friend Dedra.  I don't have VBS anymore, and there's no reason I can't get up at 5 or 5:30 am and go out for an hour a few days a week. 

The only thing holding me back are old habits. 

It's high time to forge new ones.