His and Hers

My coworker suggested I write about, as...in her words, "it's too funny not to."...but I'm going to spare you with the details (and humorous marriage story, for sake of Mr. K).

As with any marriage, you have his and you have hers. It could be the "pile of beauty crap" I have on my shelf in the bathroom versus his one stick of deodorant, razor, toothbrush, and toothpaste on his. It could be my car preference versus his truck. He doesn't run. He thinks I'm crazy (though I'm sure I am) for running, but I love it. He likes to relax on vacation, I like to explore. He's relaxed and watches the world go by, allowing negativity to roll off of his back; I dig in deep to ensure I'm enjoying said world, while also being slightly OCD about it.

...but "His and Hers" also applies to our food. We have two very different tastes when it comes to our palates, but I always say, "opposites attract." He's a meat and potatoes guy with no interest in "foliage" or "greenery," while in my weight loss journey, I can't get enough of lean meats, fruits, and veggies (but with a vicious sweet-tooth). There have been several times I've thought to myself, "Wow. His and hers meals, huh?"

Tonight's big debate for dinner? Pizza. Specifically a particular company's offering; one slice compares to the amount of calories I consume in one meal. Usually when I know we're getting pizza, I try to buffer it with a HUGE salad first, so I can enjoy a slice or two rather than inhale an entire pie. However, said company doesn't offer a side salad, and "salad" in my refrigerator is nonexistent until I grocery shop tomorrow. Dilemma.

I'll be perfectly honest, all I want to do is eat the entire pizza. I know I won't stop if I don't have that buffer; I've had that problem before, and I have that problem when going to buffets (it's why I avoid them at all costs if I can), as I try to control portion at all costs. I have a horrible issue with 'portion distortion,' even after four-plus years of weight loss, but I try to combat it with measuring foods, dividing them out, using a food scale, and planning my meal-day ahead, as I usually stick to goals easier that way.

But, but.... Pizza. It's my favorite.

As I've said before, I'm a firm believer in moderation over deprivation. If you cut something completely out of your diet you enjoy, you will crave it at one time or another. I promise you that. And there are times where one should just enjoy themselves, enjoy the moment, and throw calorie-caution to the wind. But after the Mini Marathon, my diet has slacked and I've really tried to clean things up this week to no avail. My sweet tooth (and Pinterest recipe ideas) strike again!

...and poor Mr. K - he's in the line of fire. All he wants is this certain kind of pizza, it's been a while since we've had it, but since they don't offer any side salads or additional foods that aren't 1,000 calories a slice, I'm struggling, and he heard about it. (To which I'm very sorry and feel absolutely horrible in the way it was delivered to Mr. K. He pushed for pizza, resulting in me panicking over pizza-hoarding desperation. I don't trust myself with food, but really Ash? Suck it up and let him have the damn pizza.)

...but as with anything I eat, I adapt. I'm currently planning on still ordering said pizza, but sticking to what I know - loading my half of that bad boy down with nothing but veggies (light on the cheese), and limiting myself to what I can have. I'm also planning to stop by the grocery to pick up a prepackaged side salad to eat as my buffer.

For me, I know preplanning works best, especially in situations like this, as know Mr. K likes what he likes (despite my insistence on giving some things a try, or others the boot; poor guy), so an extra side trip it is!

How do you adapt or handle this situation? Comment below, and share with me and others your stories, issues, or situations, and most importantly - how you adapt to challenging food situations. I'd definitely love to hear your ideas!

Portion Distortion

My name is Ashley, and I have a problem with 'Portion Distortion.'

I'll admit it. I eat like a pig at a trough. Before I began my weight loss journey, I never knew the difference between 'stuffed' and 'satisfied.' I thought being full was eating until I puke, and I still have a horrible issue with it, especially when I go out to eat.

I never knew a thing about portion control. I didn't know the servings on the back of a packaged mattered so much. I didn't know that a serving of veggies or fruit was one cup, or about the size of a baseball, a bagel should be the size of a hockey puck, a potato the size of a computer mouse or lightbulb. But the comparisons and tips I learned helped me tremendously.

The first two weeks I began my change, I thought I was going to keel over a die from starvation. But a leader in my meetings was always there to reassure me. She always told me that if you're eating a balanced meal, your body will get used to it. You won't starve. It's true! You really don't NEED seconds.

So here I'm going to help you out a little, I hope, with some tips I've learned throughout the year and a half. Below are some common items that you can visualize a serving size for, but when in doubt, get out the measuring cups!

1 c: baseball or tennisball

1/2 c: lightbulb

1 teaspoon: The end of your thumb (tip to first bend)

3 oz of meat: deck of cards

1 oz of cheese: 4 dice

If that's not enough check out the new guidelines replacing the Food Pyramid, the Food Plate, from the USDA/ChooseMyPlate.org.

One last tip: When eating at a restaurant, first and foremost, automatically ask for a box. Divide your meal in half and take it home! You will not only save yourself from overeating, but you will also save some money, as voila, you now have two meals!

And for more info, and a handy pocket guide you can slip into your wallet, check out WebMD.

I hope visualizing helps you as it has helped me! I'm a visual person and this helped tremendously while I was out and about, as well as grocery shopping for my husband and I.

Good luck! :)