Wendy – Page 16 – The Inspired Eater

In Snuggly Winters

A Fib or Honesty: Which Works Best for Weight Loss? 101

January 13, 2023 6 Comments

Everything exquisite is much, much harder than it looks.

Pearl One

I’ve said, you’ve said, we’ve all said, “I’m going on a diet.”

As if a forever-loss is akin to saying, “I’m going to college.” Or, “I’m raising kids.” Or, “I’m training to be a heart surgeon.”

You and I know that college, kids and highly skilled jobs require – oh — about a gazillion-steps each. (Not to mention the exorbitant price tag.)

And yet we don’t accord ourselves the same respect when we say, “I’m going on a diet.” We make it sound like an easy one-and-done activity.

Our culture is entranced with the story of “easy.” Seriously, listen to how often the word “easy” comes up in the media, on product and store signage, and even in the language of you, me and everyone in our world.

We’ve all been trained to throw the word “easy” into whatever we’re talking about.

As if “easy” is really a thing.

Easy is not a thing.

Why do we banter the word around? My guess is because life is so very arduous and demanding (and sometimes tragic).

But can we blame our culture? Somewhat, yes. We can say that navigating our culture’s food is a sizeable part of the problem. If we’re drug addicted, we wouldn’t want to see cocaine drive-thrus on every corner. And yet those of us decreasing our food dependence face food-porn at every turn.

I know what you’re thinking: The culture will do what the culture is going to do, I’m the one to blame for my weight issue.

And to that I say, you’re wrong. Here’s why: It’s vital to acknowledge what we’re actually dealing with. We marinate in a food-on-steroids world, but act like it’s no biggie.

But as you know, it’s a biggie. Because if we don’t get this truth, then we don’t bring the right tools to the trek.

So, take this thought in and chew on it for a while: we’ve taken the enjoyment of food far past what our grandparents could have imagined. Today, we use food for entertainment, comfort, companionship, and for celebration.

And yet, our brains were never created to deal with so many calories so easily accessible on the regular.

So if you call yourself “weak” and think, everyone else can handle it, again, you’d be wrong. In our culture, most are grappling with some substance. If we’re not about to over drink, do drugs, or smoke, overeating is the next obvious choice when we need to chill.

Can we learn to live without overeating? Of course.

Is it easy? I’d be lying to you if I said “yes.”

You and I are trekking one of the Matterhorns of our lives — yes, you and I didn’t show up on the planet yesterday, we’ve been up many a Matterhorn — and it requires serious planning, practice, and tools. It requires the serious everything. Including the smart back-up plan.

And that’s our takeaway. Nothing about losing and maintaining after 50 is “easy.” Somebody has to be honest. Thing is, you already know what I’m saying is right. You’ve long known that our trek is super difficult. Now give your inner wisdom the floor, because she knows the truth. She knows that the emperor is wearing no clothes. ♥

Pearl Two

So what to do with the idea that losing after 50 and maintaining a forever-loss is akin to a PhD? I’m so glad you asked!

The coveted degree is buried in micro-moves.

You know how there are a million steps in attaining an undergraduate degree and many more in earning a Masters or higher?

The steps to getting degrees can fill books.

That’s how I look at losing 55 lbs. in my 40s and am into year 17 of maintenance. There’s a billion step involved.

(And, no, you can’t use the “I’m too old” excuse. Why? Well, that’s another pearl, but for now no “I’m an old dog” talk.)

In a sense, when you acknowledge the bajillion micro-steps you’re essentially writing your own book about how losing and maintaining after 50 is going down in your life. And I strongly encourage you to literally write every day in your journal the steps you are taking — daily — as you evolve into a smart eater.

You’ll be writing about actual eating (what are my worst times of day? What are my easiest? How can I plan for the toughest times? Like, do I have a play-book for Friday nights? Or long afternoons? Or lonely evenings?).

You’ll be writing about your emotional life (what is the emotion I struggle with most in life? In my life, I struggle big-time with self-forgiveness. Seems like the more mature I get, the more horrified I am about the antics of younger-me).

You’ll go into the entertainment part of your life (what do I do for fun? Besides eating or cooking or watching shows about eating or cooking).

You’ll consider how you soothe you (how do I calm myself when it hits the fan? Besides any of the crutches).

I could go on and on. Because so much is involved in losing and maintaining. Not to belabor, but the very notion that any of this is “easy” is preposterous.

Once you’re onboard with how many micro-moves are involved in creating a forever-loss, the closer you’ll be to creating one. ♥

Pearl Three

I can’t emphasize enough that if you love to read, the power of book desserts can create a new habit for yourself that sees you going to bed early, dessert in hand, and reaping the rewards.

A thriver – Ms. B. — suggested that I share the book I’m currently reading and also share what I’m reading next (see below). Now, the reason I haven’t shared is that I assumed that you only wanted to hear about the five-star books. But I like your idea, B, because why not share 4.5 star books too?

They’re still exceptional reads.

I just finished a book from one of my favorite authors, Erik Larson. His book Thunderstruck tells how Marconi’s invention of wireless communication went hand-in-glove with England’s second most famous murder (after Jack the Ripper). And the second most famous murder wasn’t serial-killer, gory stuff. (There’s a different reason that the murder was so well-known in England.)

You guys, the ending to this book is astonishing. If you haven’t read Larson he shares stories from history and tells them in the most insanely exciting way possible. (And Larson explains how he finds and uses primary material: his goal being to take solid facts and spin them into a jaw-dropping story.)

Review about Thunderstruck: because Larson was still relatively new to this genre — creating roller coaster reads— the first 100 pages were a tad dry. They were about Marconi and his place in our world.

But around page 100, the book picks up and soon soars. I highly recommend Thunderstruck, but if you get bored, just skim like I did. At a certain point your skimming days moments will be over.

My favorite Larson books: The Splendid and the Vile, Dead Wake the Last Crossing of the Lusitania, and Isaac’s Storm.

My Next Book: The Winners by another favorite author, Fredrik Backman (A Man Called Ove).

Great idea B!! ♥

Pearl Four

In 2022 I set aside Pearl Four to talk healthy, tasty food. Honestly, I’m pretty sure that I’ve hit on the various foods I use regularly to make the losing-after-50 trek more fun.

But reader M has made two variations based on “my” (found in a local mag 20 years ago) whole-wheat muffin recipe.

There was a time when my picky-eater son only ate about five foods, and the whole-wheat muffin recipe in pumpkin was one of them.

But as he grew, I branched out and swapped bananas and walnuts for the pumpkin. Reader, M, went a step further, she emailed:

Hi Wendy,

I thought I’d show you my newest variation on your whole wheat pumpkin muffin recipe (scroll to Pearl Four to see details on how to bake these gems).

I had some apples I wanted to use, so I cut them into chunks and microwaved them at 50% power for 1 min, several times until they felt squishy with a fork.

Then I made your recipe and used them instead of the pumpkin. I realized when I was spooning the batter into the muffin cups that I should have gone ahead and mashed up the apples into a kind of puree, but too late! So some of the muffins might have little or no apples in them, oh well! Live and learn hopefully!

Oh, I also added some sprinkles to the dough, but I don’t think they show up very well.

I don’t know how they taste yet, but they smell good!

Muffin review: Update! They are yummy! I have to say, next time, maybe I’ll mash most of the apples, but leave a few chunks to press into each muffin. The sensation when biting into one of the apple chunks was YUM!

Okay, I’m in. Using apples in this recipe sounds awesome. I’m wondering if M added a teaspoon of cinnamon to the batch to make it taste more apple pie-ish. Thank you M for sharing a moment in your life with us! ♥

Pearl Five

Real transformation requires real honesty. If you want to move forward – get real with yourself.” – Bryant McGill ♥

I would love it if you’d follow me on Instagram and/or Twitter!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

♥, Wendy

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!

You know the scoop: I’m an Amazon affiliate. If you buy from a link in my post, I’ll receive money, but the arrangement won’t cost you a dime.

I am not an expert, a doctor, a surgeon, a nurse or a nutritionist: the information within TheInspiredEater.com is based solely on my personal experience and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ♥

My favorite cold tote-bag to carry smart snacks.

My five-star book list.

In Snuggly Winters

5 Ways to Rehab Resolution Burn-Out

January 6, 2023 26 Comments

Pearl One

Back in the day, I always felt a surge of excitement when I’d start my “diet” whether it was on a Monday morning, at the beginning of May (to be ready for summer) or on New Year’s Day.

And, in every scenario, I’d crash and burn within weeks (sometimes days).

Never once did it occur to me that committing to a future time-frame (I’ll start Monday) went hand-in-glove with the inevitable decimation I’d have a few weeks later.

Now that I’ve maintained my loss for 17 years, it’s become blindingly clear that creating a forever-loss involves about 102 different mind-shifts, skills, and habits.

Our culture pushes the idea that the cool kids live it up over the holidays, but batten down the hatches on January one.

When the new diet loses its luster, it’s become a hilarious cultural norm to say, “At least I made it to February with my resolution intact!!” (Yuck, yuck, yuck.)

But, when we’re alone, we’re not laughing.

If you’ve started the year with a resolve to eat well, take a look at my top tips for spinning a traditional resolution into a forever Smart Eating Lifestyle.

1. The Clarity Anchor.

In Atomic Habits, James Clear writes, “Many people think they lack motivation when what they really lack is clarity.”

I recently heard that the addiction world calls it “a moment of clarity” when something huge has happened to us and we’re changed, but I call it, “deepening our why.”

As I’ve mentioned, I’ve never been one to maintain a workout schedule. So for the first year when I started my yoga/Pilates habit, I’d drive away from my cozy home thinking, it’s for the boys, it’s for the boys, it’s for the boys.

But by the second year, my mantra morphed into, “community! Friends! Strength!”

When we’re burning out on an activity it’s vital to return to your “why” and journal-write about it. Your why may have changed and you might need to ID an entirely new why for the current day.

Put the question to your subconscious and let it solution-solve for you. Journal prompts: I’m so tired of a, b, and c. Which part of the new habit do I particularly dislike? What part do I love? What’s my original why? Does it need deepening? Or do I need a new why altogether? What excuses do I lean on to end the new habit? How do I navigate “boredom”? How do I manage disappointment?

2. Do you Accept Your Natural Rhythms?

As you’re developing a smart new habit, are you working within the parameters of your personality? For example, I’m a morning person, I love animals, and I never embraced skiing (after years on the slopes).

When I make a forever-change in my life I work with who I am. In other words, I’m not a giraffe trying to be a parrot.

Problems often arise when I work way, way outside of “me.”

Example, I can goal myself to create a morning run schedule that sees me heading out the door at 5 a.m. for a run, but – bahaha – I crack myself up.

Will never happen.

My most productive writing time is in the morning from about 8 a.m. to noon. I schedule appointments for the afternoon, when words are difficult and make writing pointless.

In other words, I work within my natural rhythms. Anything less and I’m taking a difficult trek and making it that much harder. Journal prompt: When you hit burn-out, are you working with who you are at your core?

3. Toto, We’re Not in High School Anymore

I call our larger culture “the cool kids.” Thing is, if we live the larger culture norm we’re overeating, yo-yo dieting, and going in and out of a gym membership. The larger culture also spends a fortune on weddings, houses, cars, vacations, clothes, and make-up.

Yes, we have Clark Howard, but mainly we live in debt because, well, “everyone else is.”

Same with overeating. We’re in overeating-debt hoping that the new diet “will work”; the rest of the time thinking, everyone else gets to eat, why not me?

We might even think, it’s silly to spend so much time buying the right food, preparing the right food, and keeping the right food with me in the cold-tote. I mean, who pulls menus up online before eating in a restaurant?

Actually, when weight begins to impact our health, it’s silly not to take losing seriously. Will you have to be super serious forever? (Only if you want to maintain your weight, otherwise meet up with the cool kids for a margarita and a plate of nachos, and call it good.)

4. A Smidge of Tough Love

Become comfortable with the idea that incorporating a new habit is very challenging. Give that to yourself. In other words, instead of asking yourself, “what’s wrong with me? Why can’t I do this? Other people do.”

Tell yourself, “a lot of people can’t – or won’t – do the habit I’m now embedding.”

Whether your goal is to give up ice cream or walk 30 minutes a day, “most people” are struggling. Our culture is packed in food distractions, tech distractions, drinking distractions.

Mainly, we’re living a distracted life.

So when you’re consciously embedding a new habit into your daily, once the honeymoon part of your new habit has spun into the “messy middle,” explain to yourself that what you’re doing isn’t for the faint of heart.

Remind yourself: this is a hard trek we’re forging. If you tell yourself anything less, you won’t bring the right tools and attitude to your new habit formation. Journal prompt: where did I get the idea that losing weight should be easy? Does my family of origin have weight issues? How have they handled staying healthy?

5. Culturally Sanctioned Sky-high Expectations

This title pretty much says it all. We’re bombarded with the idea that weight loss after age 50 “is easy.” Here’s the thing, anyone who promotes the idea that weight loss at any age is easy, has their hand on your wallet.

Maybe if we lived in a wonderland where fast food only sold beautiful salads and fresh fruit, high sugar and salty treats weren’t a thing, and cars didn’t exist and bicycles ruled the world, then we’d all be in amazing shape.

But in our world, we’re trekking the Matterhorn. At least with drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol the larger culture understands why someone would go to rehab or get dry. But tell someone you’ve given up pancakes and waffles, and they might roll their eyes and want to know why.

The larger culture pushes the food-drug as being a happy, celebratory part of our lives. Problem is, we treat every day like it’s Christmas morning. The old days when special food appeared once or twice a year have left the building. Journal-prompts: What are your expectations for yourself? Are you hard on you? How do you internally speak to yourself? How do you manage disappointment? How do you cheerlead yourself?

Burn out is a fancy way of saying that we’ve lost touch with our deeper selves. Embrace your new habit by journal-writing as you go. Stay in touch with you. (Only remember to feed yourself great books, yoga classes, Broadway shows, a rescue dog that’s a whole lot of work, but totally worth it and so forth.)

Maintain what matters most to you.

And breathe in a successful experience. ♥

Pearl Two

Do you mind another James Clear quote? In Atomic Habits James writes that “the greatest threat to success is not failure, but boredom.”

I couldn’t agree more. I’ve done a ton of dumb stuff in my life merely because I was bored. And – as we all well know — eating fun food is surefire way to pinball us straight out of boredom (at least for the moment). Fun food is cheap, fun food is a breeze to attain, and fun food is sanctioned by the world.

When fun food calls to me it means one of three things. I’m either hungry, tired or I’m bored. If I’m all three, I’ve really entered the twilight zone.

Getting un-bored with our new habit isn’t a walk on the beach. The smartest way to give our subconscious a way to “talk” to us is through journal-writing.

Pick up the pen – or keyboard- and discover what makes you sparkle and come up with creative ideas to bring the sparkle to life. ♥

Pearl Three

Our January topic: Dealing well with plateaus or why I ♥ plateauing. Our culture has drilled into us that plateaus are bad and decreasing body weight in a linear fashion is good.

Nope.

Here’s the truth: when we quickly go down, down, down in weight, our cave woman brain wakes up, thinks we’re in a developing country’s famine and gets to work “saving” us (leading us to the highest caloric food she can find).

Our goal is to keep our cave woman snoozing happily and not bothering us. That’s where the plateau is our friend. What comes after a ten pound loss? A month of what I call “holding” or what our culture calls plateauing.

It really is that simple. Become fine with the plateau and let your body adjust to your new weight. After a month of holding, then begin to lose slowly again. ♥

Pearl Four

What I’m packing in my cold-tote this week. I can’t be trusted around nuts. Almonds, walnuts, peanuts (and don’t get me started on pistachios). If I start with one small handful it’s an immediate slide into (many) more handfuls.

Hence, this workaround. I only allow myself nuts that I’ve bagged up in a reasonable portion size and put into my cold-tote. As you know, I take my cold-tote with me when I’m out and about. The cold-tote packed in healthy food keeps me out of the fast food drive-thru and safe when I grocery shop. ♥

Pearl Five

The No. 1 cause of burnout is doing the same thing over and over again and not seeing results.”
— Steve Kaczmarski ♥

And the golden-takeaway is that “results” are different for different people. My result might be having successfully contained my Cookie Monster after 9 p.m.

While your successful result is having created a habit that sees you eating apple slices dipped in peanut butter rather than your afternoon bag of M&Ms. ♥

Also, in the New Year I’ve begun my e-coaching program that will focus on ironclad solutions to your most annoying food problems. For three months (or more, your choice) we’ll email each other at least three times a week looking specifically at how to shift your eating patterns with a goal of a forever weight loss. For the details email me at Wendy@theInspiredEater.com. The price for e-coaching is $49/per month.

Following me on Instagram and Twitter would be awesome!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

♥, Wendy

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!

You know the scoop: I’m an Amazon affiliate. If you buy from a link in my post, I’ll receive money, but the arrangement won’t cost you a dime.

I am not an expert, a doctor, a surgeon, a nurse or a nutritionist: the information within TheInspiredEater.com is based solely on my personal experience and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ♥

In Uncategorized

The Ultimate Guide to Dealing with Your Eeyore (the Cliffs Notes version)

December 30, 2022 12 Comments

Maintain the mystery. Protect your passion. Shun sharing with your Eeyore.

Pearl One

He’s cute and pathetic, and has the sweetest pink bow on his tail. We might want to mother him — you know — transform his sad little outlook.

And if he’d only stayed in the book, there wouldn’t be a problem.

But the Eeyore-people of the planet are all around us. At first they seem benign. It almost seems inconceivable that they can dream-destroy, but beware these seemingly “innocent” characters.

While it might appear like a good, warm hug would transform an Eeyore it won’t work because a) they won’t change unless internally motivated and b) they’re more entrenched in their beliefs and are actually dangerous to those of us dedicated to growing and evolving in life. The Eeyore can decimate our dreams, goals, and plans with one or two beleaguered comment(s).

That said the Eeyores comes in so many shades of gloom that it’s not always apparent that we’re dealing with an actual Eeyore.

Your basic, no-frills Eeyore will forever default to lamenting, “nothing good ever happens. It’s just one thing after another. Must be raining out. Woe is me.”

Other Eeyores are passive-aggressive. This type concludes every barb with, “Come on! I was just joking!” or “I only say (the barb) to be helpful. I’m worried about you. I don’t want you getting your hopes up, only to see them dashed. Again.”

And finally we come to the aggressive-aggressive Eeyore who – upon hearing our new venture — responds with laughter while belittling, ignoring, or sneering at our plans.

While somewhere deep inside we know there’s no convincing an Eeyore, we try anyway when we say, “Really, this time feels different. I’m changing my habits and how I deal with food.” And at that – like clockwork – the Eeyore shakes his head, chuckles a bit and says, “What will this be? Like your 368th time of ‘you’re really transforming’? I don’t get why you waste your energy.”

And with that he walks away leaving you in a puddle of anger, hurt, maybe even a little agreement (“maybe he’s right”). Do you see why I call an Eeyore “dangerous”? The instant you start doubting yourself, they’ve made an inroad and will work to topple your plans.

After he leaves the room, you work internally to put your heart back together (again), clean the kitchen and head to bed all while thinking, “why can’t he be more supportive?”

Take a good, long look – quietly — at the person you’re engaging with. And journal-write about what you see before you.

Whether you’re dealing with an Eeyore-friend, family member, co-worker, or partner, they’re dangerous because they can decimate our plans, if we allow it.

Never dismiss an Eeyore’s attitude as nothing, or think, he just doesn’t understand. As I lose weight and change my habits, he’ll come along.

Thing is, Eeyores don’t change. For whatever reason — that’s between them and their therapist — they don’t want us to grow and evolve. They have a certain way of seeing us, and they want the image kept in place.

So, protect your plans. Be a closed book, and get on with transforming your life. ♥

Pearl Two

Your mission should you accept it. Let’s say that you’ve found a diamond mine and can’t wait to tell the Eeyores in your life how beautiful and sparkly and awesome the mine is!

And therein lies the real problem, you “can’t wait to tell your Eeyore.”

Of course we want to share our happiness, but we need to firmly understand that an Eeyore will not take joy in your joy.

Sadly, like a broken record, the Eeyores want to tell you why something won’t work. They have zero interest in brainstorming ways to help you jump the hurdle. Most have no idea how to jump a hurdle anyway.

Dream a Little Dream of Me

In the beginning, as you start to put your dream into action, don’t share the dream and action-plan with anyone. Let the diamond mine be your own special secret for months (even years) to come.

Same goes, when you’re in the “messy middle” of your action plan. (I write about the messy middle here.)

Eventually when you feel a steely resolve about your diamond mine and are ready to share, be insanely choosy about who you share it with.

If you feel at all squishy, an Eeyore will smell blood and point out the many flaws in your plan because he’s “just trying to help.”

Which is fine. Once you feel a total, no holds barred commitment to your dream, then whatever negativity pours out of your Eeyore will simply bounce off.

But personally I believe in moving the Eeyore’s in your life along. It might sound heartless, but I said goodbye to the two Eeyore-friends in my life. And for my Eeyore-family members, I share very little to no info.

Today it’s become a habit. Until I’m 100 percent behind my venture I share the dream and plan with nobody. Ever. ♥

Pearl Three

Vocab Alert! I have a new term for the items in our lives that make crushing the Smart Eating Lifestyle more do-able. From now forward, I’ll call these little helpers — like measuring cups, air fryers, a cold-tote and so forth — “gear.”

My favorite gear at the moment is silicone “parchment paper.” My family goes through parchment paper quickly and I was happy to find that they make the silicone parchment paper version. So, my pizza-eating son received silicone parchment paper for Christmas.

The silicone parchment paper works as beautifully as the silicone muffin cups that I also love and recommend.

If you have smart eating gear, we’d love to hear about it!! Please share with the group in the comments below. ♥

Pearl Four

Our food slot. Decades ago, I had a favorite restaurant that served an amazing appetizer: the pretty plate held a generous wedge of Cambazola cheese, four heads of garlic, and cherry chutney. And all of the tasty spreadables were joined by little French bread rounds ready to be layered in cheese, garlic, and chutney.

OMG.

I inhaled more of this awesome appetizer than I’d like to admit.

But when I decided to make some big changes in the mid-90s and began losing weight in earnest, no way was the appetizer coming with me into my new Smart Eating Life.

So, I kissed Cambazola cheese goodbye, but planned to keep my relationship with the roasted garlic in the mix.

Here’s how I make it. I take a head of garlic – not a clove, but a head – that comes in a papery-white cloak (so to speak). I chop off the first quarter or third of the head (not at the root, but at the head’s head), exposing all the little cloves.

I drizzle each head in a bit of olive oil, and place the head face down on foil. The foil gets wrapped up like a little package and goes into a preheated oven at 400 degrees. (When I make roasted garlic for my family, they each get one full head.)

Roast for 30-minutes. After roasting, the garlic will be like butter and very easy to scoop out with a knife and spread onto bread, crackers, or even added to your salad. ♥

Pearl Five

Don’t walk away from negative people. Run!” – Mark Twain ♥

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!

You know the scoop: I’m an Amazon affiliate. If you buy from a link in my post, I’ll receive money, but the arrangement won’t cost you a dime.

I am not an expert, a doctor, a surgeon, a nurse or a nutritionist: the information within TheInspiredEater.com is based solely on my personal experience and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ♥

♥, Wendy

P.S. A

In Uncategorized

Is it Really the December Holidays if we’re Not Overeating or Over Drinking?

December 16, 2022 8 Comments

Yes, Virginia, we can have tasty cocktails in December.

Photo by shche_ team on Unsplash

Hey All!

I’m sorry that I’m so late today (I blame December).

Pearl One

Is it a real holiday if we’re not celebrating by overeating and over drinking? There was certainly a time when I’d have thought, well of course eating big is part of the fun!!

Nowadays, I’m not so sure. I think about when my grandma was a little girl — 1916 to 1928 — special food only appeared on Christmas, it was too special and pricey to have on the regular. Which isn’t something you and I have much familiarity with given that we live in the Age of Amazon.

While eating big throughout December sounds like a hoot, I wonder. I mean, pretend we’re going to a huge Broadway show like the Lion King or Hamilton, if we’re offered cheesecake would we really chow in earnest with all of the excitement spilling out on stage?! (I’m not talking about a boring show, I’m talking about a spectacular performance.)

While I wasn’t lucky enough to see Hamilton in person, I did see the Lion King and at my heaviest I wouldn’t have dreamed of eating with gusto while watching that show’s feast for the eyes. I call the Broadway shows nourishment for our hearts.

Another example: say you flew to be in the audience for your grandchild’s piano recital, do you wish you had a chocolate-mint shake hidden in your lap so that you could slurp quietly? I would call being at a loved one’s recital nourishment for our hearts too.

My point is that we might be using massive amounts of high-caloric food to make our time together seem “more fun,” when really it’s our hearts crying out for nourishment like the following:

playing a rousing board game (Trivial Pursuit Family, Friends, Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Master Edition for ages 16 +).

encouraging everyone to share a heartfelt memory (each person contributes a happy memory involving one other person in the room, or a story about a beloved animal, vacation, or hurdle-overcome).

making hot chocolate and s’mores around an outdoor fire pit.

I just wonder how much overeating is due to very little engagement with others?

We live in the wealthiest culture known to mom-kind, and yet we’re also the loneliest. According to U.S. Census data (info collected pre-Covid), “One-third of adults over 45 years of age feel lonely, while 43% of adults over 65 report they’re lonely on a regular basis.”

It seems to me like we’re short-changing ourselves when we dive into food as the “be-all” for the holidays.

This season, let’s be the model by encouraging activities that see us engaging with each other, rather than over drinking and overeating with our nearest and dearest. ♥

Pearl Two

I’m excited because this “skill” is one of my favorites. Ready for a sure-fire way to support yourself while living the Smart Eating Lifestyle for December and every month thereafter?

Put constraints into your life. For example, I largely don’t buy books (because they’re so hard to move) and think it’s way easier to use the library. When I think of travel I limit myself (for now) to DC down to Florida. I only use hypoallergenic make-up because my eyes, my skin, my heart – everything is sensitive. lol.

Because of my constraints I don’t peruse Costco’s great book section hemming and hawing over buying a book for myself. But I will jot the name down and get it at the library. I don’t think about visiting Lake Tahoe or Hawaii (for now) because the Eastern seaboard beaches down to Florida are awesome.

We already constrain ourselves in life, but we may not realize that’s what we’re doing. Vegans and vegetarians are definitely constraining themselves. I constrain myself from only adopting rescue kitties and pups. When I was young, my dad always raved about Toyotas – and funny enough – that’s what I buy today.

So, you see my point.

But how does constraining ourselves help us thrive on the Smart Eating Lifestyle? Our lives get a bit easier when we give up an entire food item like ice cream which I’ve done for years (until the ice cream fiasco with my braces, but I’m happily back on my, “I don’t eat ice cream” plan).

Avoid Decision Fatigue

Use the constraint tool to make your smart eating life easier. Pick a food group like bread, desserts, alcohol, or cereal and just tell yourself, When I eat out I only choose from the side dishes or salad section. If I order a full entrée I take half of the meal home in a doggie bag.

As my Gram would say, “no ifs, ands, or buts.”

Constrain yourself, and reap the resulting success. ♥

Pearl Three

Our December Topic: food “tools” that I lean on to make maintaining a lower weight doable. In honor of this very festive month, I give you:

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Makes two servings.

On simmer heat two cups of chocolate almond milk. Calories range from 35 to 100 calories depending on the brand, but remember to choose unsweetened for the lowest calories.

After heating the chocolate, pour into mugs and add a quarter cup of peppermint schnapps to each mug (150 calories for one quarter cup or two ounces).

To make it more fun add a swoosh of whipped cream to the top and stir with a candy cane. While this is made for two people, I make it for one: me. ♥

Pearl Four

Our Food Slot! In honor of this very festive month, I give you a fun dessert that doesn’t break the bank:

Sliced angel food cake drizzled in chocolate with crushed candy cane sprinkled on top. I’ve taken this exact, very pretty combination to potlucks. But I’m not adverse to eating slices at home.

I’d love to hear your favorite “food tools.” Send them in! Wendy@WendyIrvineWriter.com. ♥

Pearl Five

I had no choice but to boss up and create my own lane.” — Anonymous ♥

♥, Wendy

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. Or just leave a comment below and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you! 🙂

You know the scoop: I am an Amazon affiliate so if you buy something through a link at this site, I may receive a small commission that won’t impact your price at all.

I am not an expert, a doctor, a surgeon, a nurse or a nutritionist: the information within TheInspiredEater.com is based solely on my personal experience and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ♥

In Uncategorized

What Does Laura & Mary Have to do with Us? (Not what you think.)

December 9, 2022 No Comments

One thing the Little House girls would instantly recognize in our living room: the candy cane.

Pearl One

Remember Laura and Mary being dumbstruck at finding an orange, a penny, and a peppermint stick in their Christmas stocking?

Well, you and I have our own Little House story because unless you’re a Vanderbilt, you grew up in the ‘70s back when eating in a restaurant was for special occasions only, and seasonal treats were relegated to specific windows of time like homemade ice cream in the summer and beautiful cookies in December.

Fast-forward some 40 years and we’re hard-pressed to come up with a food item that we can’t score within – oh – about an hour.

In Laura and Marys’ time, they only had special food on Christmas itself. The days of overeating on the holidays with the tired excuse of, I’ll only see red pepper jelly blanketing cream cheese in December. Better dig in, are over.

In this century we can find mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, fancy chocolates and pretty cookies everywhere all year long.

So, don’t allow you to deceive you. This December ask yourself one of the most powerful questions I know:

Do I want to be a size 8, or do I want to eat the rest of the red velvet cheesecake?

I use this question often to save me from the gorgeous – but empty — calories.

My thought on why this question works so well is that when we first lay eyes on, say, a sumptuous December dinner, our cave woman brain is wide awake and “helps us” pile our plate (she’s great that way).

But the moment we ask ourselves do I want to be a size 8 or do I want to taste everything on the table and go back for thirds? our prefrontal brain kicks in, and “provides ‘top-down’, higher-order guidance.” (Nature.com/articles/nrn2648)

We can create the Smart Eating Lifestyle we want for ourselves, it’s just a matter of learning to wield the mental tools necessary to keep our cave woman happily snoozing in her cave. Because if she’s not bothering us, our prefrontal can get on with creating the life we most want.

Best December tip: when at a gathering, always fill your plate three-quarters full with naked veggies (only no sauce, no dressing or slight amount). ♥

Pearl Two

Have you heard of a mini-bucket list? (I just made it up.) Here’s what I’m doing.

My December and January bucket lists will include everything I want to do/try, but don’t always find the time for.

December

See a neighborhood light show with my family (my sons are older but they still love the lights).
Love sending out cards to my editors. Either all editors are wonderful people or I just got lucky.
I love making Christmas photo gifts (Costco’s is great).
I love waking up Christmas morning to cinnamon rolls that I made the night before. In the morning I just bake them and they’re good to go.
I’m playing holiday music every day, but from a new bullet speaker I bought, not blaring from my computer like we once did.
I’m giving a nice food tower to the guy around the corner who makes the most beautiful light display every year. His yard – on a corner where everyone who drives into the neighborhood sees his home – is blanketed in white lights and not tacky at all. He has a lit snowman, a lit manger scene, lit deer, there’s so much more. It’s his hobby. Year-round he keeps his yard nice, but he really goes to town in December. And he is not retired, he’s probably somewhere in his 40s!! (I’ll take a photo and share.)

January

First, we’re pet sitting an African grey here in Atlanta. For only two nights, but still. (I’m very excited and reading up on the breed now.) He’s 27 years young if you were wondering.
I’m doing a lot of writing in January because I have an important article due, and of course I love writing Inspired Eater.
I’m doubling-down on finding really exceptional books to read. Right now I’m reading Tell the Wolves I’m Home. I’m a third of the way into it. My review: worth your time, it’s a page turner. This was the author’s first book and what a woza performance.
My mom in California has Alzheimer’s, and she loves receiving mail. In both December and January I’m committing to send her several cards a month. I’ve been told they don’t need to say much. Boy, I wouldn’t wish this disease on anybody, ever. My dad is the caretaker and as heartbreaking as it’s been for him, he’s keeping the ship afloat.

And that concludes my two mini-bucket lists.

I’m curious, what will your December and January bucket lists include? If you don’t know, journaling is the magical portal to your heart. ♥

Pearl Three

New subject for December: How food “tools” make our lives easier.

I’ve mentioned I call actual food my “food-tools.” So today we’re talking faux-chicken patties. El Yumo. I toast a whole wheat English muffin, put tiny amounts of ranch dressing on each bun, spread on a bunch of green sprouts, pull the fake-chicken patty out of the oven and – ta da! – one heck of tasty sandwich. And it’s even quite filling.

If I don’t have sprouts, I’ll put on cucumber coins. And I really love it when I have baby tomatoes because then I take a bite of sandwich and pop a tomato in my mouth. Over and over.

Ah, good times.

I think Morningstar Farms was the first company to offer chicken patties, but these days a gazillion brands make them and you’ll find these tasty patties in the freezer section of most stores.

Nutrition will vary based on brand, but this gives you a good idea about how these guys stack up. One fake-chicken patty is a serving. Calories: 150, fat: 7g, fiber: 4g, Carbs: 13g, Protein: 8g. ♥

Pearl Four

Cheese. In my smart eating world, I call any kind of cheese “a spice.” The only time I make an exception is when I have a slice of pizza the rare two or three times a year.

There’s nothing wrong with cheese, per se, it’s just easy to overeat and high-caloric. So long ago, I started telling myself regularly, cheese is a spice. ♥

Pearl Five

Food is the most widely abused anxiety “drug,” and working out is the most potent underutilized anti-depressant.” — Anonymous ♥

Fifteen days until Christmas. And this is the first Christmas in maybe forever when I haven’t spent the month freaking out.

So, the Christmas cards don’t go out until Valentines? I mean, who really cares, right?

I love this quote and keep it on the side of my fridge year-round, “Don’t worry about being perfect. Make memories.”

Have a peaceful month, everyone.

♥, Wendy

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!

You know the scoop: I am an Amazon affiliate so if you buy something through a link at this site, I may receive a small commission that won’t impact your price at all.

I am not an expert, a doctor, a surgeon, a nurse or a nutritionist: the information within TheInspiredEater.com is based solely on my personal experience and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ♥

In Cozy Falls

How a Master at Losing Weight After Age 50 Drops the Drama

November 18, 2022 10 Comments

When we were teens, drama was fine. But today, kick the drama and be curious instead.

Pearl One

Meet a friend who lost 49 pounds and has kept them off for ten years.

Gail writes:

I had an interesting experience on my birthday. For various reasons I wasn’t able to go out and do fun things, as I usually do, so I decided to release my iron control and have what I used to call ” an eating day”, which included a very large portion of cheesy mashed potatoes.

The next day I’d put on three pounds. In the past, I would have either panicked and starved myself, or carried on eating. I resumed my normal diet and exercise and within three days was back to normal weight.

Very reassuring.

I love this.

You and I are not new to this game. The scale has gone up and down our entire lives. We know the days of angry-tears and we know the good times too.

Even so, to gain Gail’s skill, here’s what we want to practice: ditching the drama when the scale is not going in the “right” direction.

What I mean by “drama” is that, let’s say, you weigh yourself in the morning, don’t like what you see on the scale and start beating yourself up. You’re furious. You tell yourself that you’re idiotic, stupid and so forth.

Guess how I know? After 16 years of maintenance I still have those bad days. Not as many, but I have them.

And — when I do — like Gail, I don’t go to pieces. Or berate myself. None of that.

Because when you “take yourself to task” in your heart, you’re going backwards. Nothing comes from turning on yourself.

Instead learn to be curious. In your journal, write the timeline of events that led you to overeat. Essentially map out what happened and learn more about who you are with certain triggers.

Then go “Gail” on your Smart Eating Lifestyle. That’s right. Let’s say you’ve gained, follow her exact lead:

In the past, I would have either panicked and starved myself, or carried on eating. I resumed my normal diet and exercise and within three days was back to normal weight.

That’s right. Say buh-bye to all the hoopla that comes from attacking yourself when you’ve gained, get curious, write in your journal — and steer yourself right back to your Smart Eating Lifestyle.

I don’t “think” you can do this. I know you can.

If you want to meet Gail, she’s British and has a fun and colorful fashion blog at Is this Mutton? ♥

Pearl Two

In life, it’s what you make it mean. True story. I was in a meeting in a large conference room with a group of cops and managers. Mid-meeting, an officer showed up with a K-9 officer, a black German shepherd named Bennie.

We took a small break, and I used my time to go bananas over the sweetheart and throw a Kong toy for him again and again. A wonderful GSD.

Another woman was in the meeting. When Bennie arrived she was acting uncomfortable. At the break, a flurry ensued. She was obviously terrified and repeated “no, no, no” (as officers were trying to reassure her) and bolted out of the room never to be seen again.

Same large conference room. Same meeting. Same dog. Two totally different reactions. In slowing down the film here’s what happened:

Door opens and in walks an officer and Officer Bennie.

She sees the dog and thinks, monster! From the thought, she feels scared.

I see Bennie and think, furry baby! From the thought, I feel delighted.

Her action: she leaves the room.

My action: love-bomb the puppy!

This woman wasn’t being “silly.” I have a good friend who grew up in the same culture as this woman. In their world small dogs are fine, but big dogs are vicious and dangerous.

My point: a circumstance unfolds, we have a thought and from the thought we have a feeling. And it’s within our power to choose the thought that will will impact our feeling.

The sequence goes: “situation” then ” our thought” then our “feeling.” Give this concept a lot of your time, because every situation in life boils down to this sequence. There are two more steps, but first I’m hoping you’ll embrace this flow.

If this doesn’t make sense, I would love it if you email me: Wendy@theInspiredEater.com. ♥

Pearl Three

We keep this slot for a new topic each month and in November we’re talking “stacking.”

Today I’m stacking what comforts me when life is being life, and I’m overwhelmed. Take a look at my Comfort Stack:

One

Being in bed on a cold night, and going under my electric blanket.

Two

Laying on the couch under my Grandma’s knitted blankie, headphones on listening to a favorite podcast. Most important: kitty pads over and curls up on Mount Tummy.

Three

In bed – same electric blanket – reading a phenomenal book or watching a favorite show: The Crown, Schitt’s Creek, or Call the Midwife.

Four

Being in the library with three of my most favorite things: free books, magazines and silence.

Five

I love being home – alone – and putting on great music to putter-clean. Largely I’m a panic-cleaner, but occasionally I get the house to myself, and I love doing whatever needs attention (which is everything).

Six

I used to get comfort by being at my yoga/Pilates studio. For the most part we knew each other – sort of –, like I knew when a yoga-friend went to South Korea to visit family. That kind of thing.

And I knew each instructor’s style. (Not saying it was easy. In the beginning I slipped in my own sweat, but it felt homey.)

Now it’s your turn. I’d love to hear about your Comfort Stack in the comments below! ♥

Pearl Four

I ran across this recipe and thought, sounds tasty (and I was right).

Oats muesli-style for the brrrr!! months:

Take:

Half an apple or pear, grated (I diced my apple)
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup milk or plant milk of your choice (I used almond milk; some use Kefir)
1/2 cup Greek yogurt (I used regular yogurt)
1/4 cup dried fruits of your choice (I left this out completely, a quarter-cup seems like a lot)
a squeeze of honey (I didn’t use)
a generous handful of nuts (I use a light sprinkle of walnuts. I’d never use “a generous sprinkle” of anything).

During the cold months, combine all the ingredients in a cereal bowl and allow to sit for 20 minutes. No, you aren’t heating anything, but the dish is warmer than if it sits in the fridge all night.

But during the summer, let the muesli sit overnight in the fridge and in the morning you’ll wake up to a delicious cold bowl. ♥

Pearl Five

Ok. So you had a bad day. Don’t beat yourself up, don’t let one bad decision send you spiraling out of control. Get back to making decisions that improve your health and happiness. You are who you choose to be.” — Anonymous ♥

I have an advertising budget of lol. If you’ve enjoyed these pearls, I’d love it if you’d share them with friends or family.

On Tuesday we’ll talk Holiday Health Challenge. For this last week before Thanksgiving, join me in doubling-down and doing our new habit each day of this week. And share how you’re doing in the comments below! 🙂

Have a beautiful mid-November everyone!!

♥, Wendy

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!

I’ve been asked if I could include something like Buy me a Coffee on the Inspired Eater. So if you feel up to sending a coffee, I am a devotee. You’ll find the coffee “button” to your right. And, as always, thank you so much for reading the Inspired Eater. ♥♥♥

In Uncategorized

How Do-Able Mind-Shifts Move the Scale when we’re Losing after 50

November 11, 2022 6 Comments

Pearl One

I’ve long thought that our world is so the Jetsons: cutting-edge and very cool.

I mean, we’re rich in brilliance personified like Maria Beasley (invented life rafts for ships) or Rosalind Franklin (discovered something huge in DNA).

And let’s give it up for Josephine Cochrane who invented the dishwasher!! (And the crowd goes wild.)

Furthermore, can we talk indoor plumbing? Wow, right?

And I haven’t even mentioned Prince, Aretha, or Taylor Swift.

Doesn’t planet Earth rock?!

But, then we come to our (funky) diet-industry.

We’ve learned that we’d been lied to for decades by Big Sugar and that, at one point, there was something hinky going on with the food pyramid too. Not to mention that the “calories in, calories out” crowd are still debating each other.

On the plus side, we’ve received life-saving info on sodium, that too much is a hard no. And they genuinely seem to want the nutrition labels on food items to work in our favor (food counts came out in 1994, revised in 2016).

But these are still the peeps who once sang the praises of margarine, only today to urge us to welcome butter back into our fridge (in tiny servings of course). And let’s not forget what happened to the innocent egg.

And yet with the gains made, there are still those of us who are like, whatever. I have to figure this out on my own.

But here’s the thing: the larger culture has long taught that being hyper-focused on what we put into our mouths is is the key to losing weight. But really food is only the substance we use.

The truth is that eating issues begin in our hearts.

We might be grieving or angry or disappointed. We might be deliriously happy. Or scared. Or even despondent.

And the best way I know of to reach our hearts is through journaling-writing. And please don’t tell yourself that journal-writing is a “nice thing to do”, only not today. (Sorry, too busy.)

You’re never too busy for journaling-writing. It’s an imperative piece to losing after 50 and maintaining the forever-loss.

Writing suggestions:

What’s going on inside of me today? Am I frightened, mad, anxious?
It’s difficult for me to sit quietly with my feeling(s) and just “let it be” because. . .
When I’m having my feeling, where do I feel it in my body?
If I “sit with my feeling”, how long does the feeling stay?
I know that feelings pass like clouds moving through the sky, but I’m still scared to stay present and be calm with my feeling(s) — rather than feeding it chocolate — because. . .
When I was young who comforted me when I was having feelings?
I had to deal with feelings on my own so I turned to (list as many as you can). . .
In my emotional life today, which feelings can I handle? Which rattle me to my core?
What kind of self-talk would help me immensely as I learn to better engage with myself while experiencing a hard (for me) feeling?

Journal-writing reveals insights into ourselves in which we’re not consciously aware. Get to know you, you’ll fall in love with the person you find. ♥

Pearl Two

I didn’t think up this great tool, but I’m sure glad that Tim Ferris – podcaster extraordinaire – put words to the feelings of “HELL YEAH!!”

Let me explain.

When we take something away from ourselves – like overeating for comfort – we have to give something in return or we feel a yawning void, an emptiness inside, and head straight for the Doritos. (When people give up alcohol or drugs, the rehab staff strongly encourages participants to find new passions in life as part of the healing process.)

But how to choose from the millions of hobbies out there? We’ve all tried various activities and – while some were okay — none sparked much passion in us.

But Tim’s “HELL YEAH!!” energy changes the equation.

As an example, one woman I know loves comedy. She’ll take her comediennes on Netflix, but she’s wild about seeing stand-up live. Years ago, she saw Seinfeld just months before his show went on the air and last week she saw Kid Gorgeous — John Mulaney — live in her town.

That said, what’s your reaction to seeing a comedienne in person? This is where Tim Ferris says, “If your answer isn’t an uproarious, ‘HELL YEAH!!‘ pass it up.”

If an activity or idea doesn’t light Tim on fire, he’s out.

So, what’s your reaction to:

Seeing all of Johnny Depp’s top twelve movies? A “HELL YEAH!!” or “meh”?
Returning to the childhood classics like The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, and A Little Princess also by Frances Hodgson Burnett. (Adults reading awesome kid-lit is a thing.) “HELL YEAH!! or “so-so”?
Beginning with a “paint by numbers” kit and moving onto to actual painting classes. “HELL YEAH!!” or “not really”?
Photography classes. “HELL YEAH!!” or “pass”?
Taking a therapy dog into a nursing home. “HELL YEAH!!” or “not my thing”?
Love travel? (TrustedHousitters.com makes it more affordable. Just sayin.’) “HELL YEAH!!” or “not into it”?

But here’s the tricky part: we need to open our hearts to new experiences. We need to at least try — your equivalent of — the comedy show, or the painting class, or the therapy dog. You can’t blow off every suggestion: trying new things is part of our Smart Eating Lifestyle. Don’t make it a dramatic thing, just try two new activities a month. Eventually one will catch your attention.

Btw, I’ve tried a lot of things that didn’t pan out, one to the tune of $2000. So don’t force yourself to like something you don’t like (only try not to spend $2000 when you’re still in the honeymoon stage). Just stay open and try new activities.

When we’re living more of a “HELL YEAH!!” life, our dedication to eating 95 percent fuel-food, while keeping the fun-food to just five percent is way less formidable. I’d love to hear your “HELL YEAH!!” passions in the comments below. ♥

Pearl Three

We keep this slot for a new topic each month and in November we’re talking “stacking.” Last week, I pointed out how easy it is for me to stack negative memories. (Kind of a downer.)

Today let’s talk stacking small, but significant memories that make us laugh. When I think of funny moments, I see in my mind’s eye my grandma who had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. She was the throw-your-head back type.

Have fun with this one. In your journal stack five memories and then write them on stickies where you’ll see them and smile every day. ♥

Pearl Four

Food. A thriver from Texas wrote and said that she loves to put mashed avocado into warm corn tortillas adding a smidge of salt and a squirt of lime. (Since I use WW’s old points system paired with the REP, I eat my guac-tacs for lunch, not dinner.)

My review: yum, yum, and more yum. ♥

Pearl Five

There is no passion to be found playing small — in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” – Nelson Mandela ♥

If a problem is bothering you, it’s annoying someone else too, no doubt.

Have a beautiful mid-November everyone!

♥, Wendy

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!

You know the scoop: I’m an Amazon affiliate. If you buy from a link in my post, I’ll receive money, but the arrangement won’t cost you a dime.

I am not an expert, a doctor, a surgeon, a nurse or a nutritionist: the information within TheInspiredEater.com is based solely on my personal experience and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ♥

In Uncategorized

How to Lose “the Shame” after You’ve Gone Cookie Monster on your Lifestyle

November 4, 2022 15 Comments

We all go a little south more often than we want to admit.

Pearl One

Somewhere within our fad-diet loving culture we accepted the notion that our response to challenges should unfold in a linear style.

We’re so accustomed to our world being somewhat A + B = C. We start college as freshman and finish as seniors (hopefully). The December holidays follow Thanksgiving that follows Halloween (in the U.S.).

And that’s how we want our Smart Eating Lifestyle too. Perfect, pristine, and linear.

Except it’s not. Having maintained a 55-pound loss for 16 years, I can assure you that I’ve found losing and maintaining to be more like a pretty kitchen that needs to be sprayed down occasionally with the garden hose if one doesn’t stay “on top of things.”

Life on the Smart Eating Path is like a child finger-painting: messy. Does she have her apron on? Is there a drop cloth underneath her for miles in all directions, and — quick! — the water for the brushes is about to be knocked over! (Oh, well. Better luck grabbing it next time.)

That’s the logical fallacy of those of us living the Smart Eating Lifestyle™ assuming that “the successful losers and maintainers” are either perfect, or beat themselves up when something in the plan goes awry (otherwise called “feeling ashamed”).

I can tell you — beyond a shadow of a doubt — that I did not shame myself into a healthy weight. As I lost, I did not beat myself up.

Because why?

It won’t actually help anything and “something going wrong in the plan” is part of our lifestyle.

Going “left” instead of “right”, and making a u-ee is what our world is now about. So you ate “off-plan” for a day or more? I just tell myself exactly what I told my German shepherd when he was still begging for treats — all done!! — and I encourage you to try the words too. ♥

Pearl Two

Find the gems in your day-to-day. Remember Christina Hendrix on Mad Men and Good Girls? Well, I happened to see a comment she made and I thought it was genius: she keeps kettlebell weights around her house to use whenever she has a spare moment. “I keep [them] right next to the bed, so I can run my bathwater, do a set, and then do something else, and then come back and do another set,” she told Everyday Health.

Keeping weights throughout the home? Brilliant. That’s how I keep the Smart Eating Lifestyle dynamic, I’m open to fabulous tips coming from any place, from anyone, from anywhere. I’d love it if you’d share an amazing tip you recently learned — about anything — in the comments below! ♥

Pearl Three

We keep this slot for a new topic each month. I’ve written about this wonderful idea recently, but it’s multifaceted; looking at it from new angles can bring great insight.

Stacking.

I caught myself last night thinking of a very hard moment when I really – I mean, really – screwed up. And then I thought of another, and another, and another. At that, I realized, I’m stacking negative memories and then repeating them to myself on a loop.

Years ago I read that humans hold onto negative memories because it’s a key survival instinct to immediately recall which rock formation held the cave bear.

So, I consciously push back on the tendency to be negative by saying to myself, cathedral, cathedral, cathedral and I’m back in the present. I use “cathedral” because of a trip to Savannah, in which we stayed near the jaw-dropper.

But there’s no magic to the word “cathedral.” So when you’re in the negative-zone, begin to create the habit of saying one meaningful word or statement to yourself that will whisk you back to the present, and our much — much — better plan of stacking the positives. ♥

Pearl Four

Food. I recently jumped on the air fryer train. The best I’d heard is that they give food a crunchy outer layer.

So, broccoli, sweet potatoes, onion. Let’s do this!

Before buying I knew that an air fryer is essentially a convection oven (which we didn’t have).

So I Googled and got answers that told me to set the air fryer at too high of a temp and too long of a duration. I burned bowls of diced sweet potatoes, and a thing of broccoli.

My review: If you know what I’m doing wrong, send help! The Scarfer’s review: “no brainer” because frozen French fries appear for his mouth that much quicker.

(Sigh.) ♥

Pearl Five

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar ♥

I’ve been asked if I could include something like Buy me a Coffee on the Inspired Eater. So if you feel up to sending a coffee, I am a devotee. You’ll find the coffee “button” to your right. And, as always, thank you so much for reading the Inspired Eater. ♥♥♥

And if you have any smart eating conundrums in November or December, feel free to write to me: Wendy@theInspiredEater.com. If a problem is bothering you, it’s bugging someone else too, no doubt.

Have a beautiful early November everyone!

♥, Wendy

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!

You know the scoop: I am an Amazon affiliate so if you buy something through a link at this site, I may receive a small commission that won’t impact your price at all.

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How Stacking your Successes Puts You in the Driver’s Seat

October 28, 2022 10 Comments

Chart your growth, pretend that you’re teaching others about how you’ve done it because one day they’ll ask.

Pearl One

You and I aren’t 22.

And though we’ve never sipped wine talking late into the night, I know something profound about you.

You’re a problem solver. It’s like Marie Forleo’s book title says, Everything is Figureoutable.

That’s you.

You figure it out, solve the problem, and get onto the next thing.

Unfortunately, our school system left many of us confused about our abilities and talents. Those of us over “a certain age” know that while we might not have pulled wondrous grades in school, we hold PhDs in not only surviving, but thriving in life.

School never taught us how to deal with the incessant red-tape of our world, babies with colic, moms with Alzheimer’s.

We didn’t have classes like “Intro to Varicose Veins”, the “Fundamentals of Leaving a Narcissist” or “Colonoscopy 101.”

A friend, diagnosed with breast cancer, handled chemo and radiation, and returned to her world homeschooling her teen. She’s happily in remission now. Falling apart was never part of her job description.

What are Your Triumphs?

Get to the heart of the matter quickly by journaling about the following:

In your journal list three times in your life when you blew your own mind.
What did you learn from each win? (Write at least five lessons for each success.)
Now apply those lessons-learned to trekking the Smart Eating Matterhorn.

I say it often – and I can’t be more serious – take regular notes as you lose and maintain, so that one day you can teach others. Because it’s a habit that pays double: you become a stronger trekker and, trust me, the people willl be asking. ♥

Pearl Two

Have you heard of it? I call it peripheral food shopping.

Here’s how it rolls.

Say I’m shopping in Trader Joe’s. If you were to glance into my cart you’d see: fresh flowers, whole wheat bread, colorful fruit and veggies, a wrapped burrito that I love and so on. My cart is “clean” of food-porn (a clean cart makes for a clean kitchen).

As I steer my cart into the center freezer aisle, I breeze by the cookies and candy, and head for the tins of coffee (on the top row).

But when I get to the coffee — lo and behold — underneath sits TJ’s awesome ice cream. At that moment, my mind jumps to my picky eater son. The poor guy doesn’t have much variety, so when I see something he’ll eat, I tend to buy it.

I lovingly place a carton of vanilla bean into my otherwise “clean” cart.

And that is peripheral shopping at it’s best.

You’ll notice how I essentially tell myself a big, fat lie: that I’m buying the vanilla ice cream for my son and of course I won’t eat it, the vanilla’s strictly for Will.

But, in the recesses of my mind – peripherally you might say – a Horton Hears a Who-whisper tells me that a spoonful of vanilla in the evening would be just the ticket.

Well.

You know as well as I that a spoonful of good ice cream can turn into two bowlfuls in no time.

To stop the peripheral shopping addiction in its tracks, it starts with noticing and acknowledging the whopper of a lie we tell ourselves. Being willing to be straight up honest is a serious game-changer.

Your mission: get really good at “catching yourself out.” Notice that when you pick-up a treat for someone at the grocery store, you’re picking up your favorites too. Put the ice cream back, wish it well, and get out of TJ’s as fast as humanly possible.

Another close call averted. ♥

Pearl Three

This slot is for “how I screwed up this week.” I have a really good “mess up” to share.

It was The Scarfer’s birthday this week (if you’re new here, and welcome!!, my husband loves his nickname). Mistake #1: I didn’t write out a battle plan for his big day of birthday-eating. If I’d had a plan, I’d be reporting success to you right now instead of the following.

There I was, “having” to buy birthday donuts from a shop that bakes fresh donuts every morning. A full dozen rode home with me. OMG, but they were good. (Save yourself by not taking that first bite.)

Mistake #2: I should’ve bought a small bag of donuts for my husband and two sons. And I had no business buying two jelly-filled that nobody eats but me (and occasionally the Scarfer).

We made his favorite for dinner: fondue which is seriously-yum. I was happy that I’d roasted broccoli to dip into the fondue, but when the broccoli was gone, I helped myself to a few bread chunks too. More yum-city. (Again, if I’d made a plan, the bread and fondue fiasco wouldn’t have happened.)

Earlier I’d made the Scarfer a chocolate cake with homemade chocolate frosting and – yikes – had to have a piece. Mistake #3: I know what cake tastes like, if I’d wanted cake, I should have planned for it and had it at breakfast. Truth is, the cake was too dry, but the frosting rocked!

If you’re counting, this was the first time I’ve had dessert after dinner in almost two years.

Do I beat myself up? I sure would if I thought it would help. But – as we know – attacking ourselves doesn’t lighten our load as we trek the Matterhorn (i.e. losing weight after 50).

Later I’m much less worried about the donuts, fondue and frosting, and more concerned about my habits.

Here’s what I did the next day to right my course:

In the morning I got on the scale and – huh — didn’t really love the number. At that I think, “Oh, hell no!!” Seriously, “oh, hell no” is my mantra when my smart eating habits tank. The mantra gets me back into the groove. Try it, it really works.

Because I deeply believe in the Royal Eating Plan, I have one donut with my morning coffee.

I carefully track everything that goes into my mouth.

For lunch I’m back in the game and have a whole-wheat English muffin sandwich with veggies.

Then I had something small at 6 p.m. (brown rice and a roasted sweet potato).

I clean the kitchen, write a post for Inspired Eater, and head to bed by 8:00 with my new book. Lights out by 9:30, Eventually I want to get up by 6 a.m. without feeling like a zombie.

And that’s how I deal with “relaxing my eating standards” (what we once called “cheating”).

Best Idea

If I could go back in time, I’d write up a plan for myself and keep the plan and it’s excellent tactics where I can see it all day long.

Remember, we can’t fall off anything because we’re not on anything. We’re living a Smart Eating Lifestyle and relaxing our standards is just part of the trek. It’s nothing to be dramatic about. It’s how we respond to eating food-porn that really matters.

How we respond is everything. ♥

Pearl Four

Our food slot! My Italian grandparents loved polenta especially my grandfather. He ate it like we eat Cream of Wheat. It’s boiled cornmeal and makes a great hot breakfast when it’s cold out.

But these days, I buy Trader Joe’s polenta that’s formed into yellow “logs” that you’ll find in TJ’s dry goods by the soup. (Or just ask, the staff can point you right to it.)

You can bake, fry, or grill polenta.

Here’s what I do.

I cut the log in half, and then cut one of the halves into four rounds placing the other half in the refrigerator. I fry my four rounds on the stove, but I bet they’re even tastier when baked or grilled.

After I heat them on the stove, I place my four hot rounds of polenta on the top of my salad. Sometimes I dab a tiny bit of butter on each round and add Parmesan cheese. Yum-o. ♥

Pearl Five

“The easiest thing is to react. The second easiest thing is to respond. But the hardest thing is to initiate.” – Seth Godin ♥

We have 27 days until Thanksgiving which isn’t meant to panic you. How is your new habit doing? Does it need shoring up? No problem. Get back on your habit-horse. You’re not starting anew, you’re continuing on with what you already started.

You’re not perfect? Join the club!!

I actually wrote my fitness habit on sticky notes and placed them throughout my life — the steering wheel is my favorite — so they’d remind me to workout. The stickies have been super helpful.

Remember, we’re working towards Thanksgiving at the moment, but soon we’ll be working towards Christmas.

I would love to hear the habit you’re creating in the comments below! Please share.

Have a wonderful end to October.

♥, Wendy

You know the scoop: I’m an Amazon affiliate. If you buy from a link in my post, I’ll receive money, but the arrangement won’t cost you a dime.

Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!!

I am not an expert, a doctor, a surgeon, a nurse or a nutritionist: the information within TheInspiredEater.com is based solely on my personal experience and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ♥

In Uncategorized

This is Essential when Playing the Long Game at Losing After 50.

October 20, 2022 19 Comments

Photo by Rhett Wesley on Unsplash

Hello Thrivers!

Whichever beautiful country you’re reading this from, I hope it finds you cozy.

I should add that I’m trying not to write such long posts. I don’t want you to see my emails and think, oh no, another phone book.

Here we go.

Pearl One

My Gram – who I mention a lot because I loved her so much – used to say, “My get-up-and-go, got-up-and-went.”

I receive just enough emails to leave me with the vibe that so many of us are losing – and maintaining – after age 50, 60, 70, and yes, 80, with our fingers crossed, hoping for a miracle this time.

For sure, I talk about the many micro-habits that are so important to embed in your life:

Keeping a cold-tote with you at all times when you’re out-and-about.
Going to bed early with a book-dessert (especially when you’re changing an evening eating habit).
Always stashing a protein bar or a banana in your handbag. Always.
Keeping a clean grocery cart and kitchen (eliminating all food that you’ll overeat).

And so on.

But just like your phone that needs to be charged each day, your part-time job (if you will) is to ignite the part of you that brings the energy, the fire, the magic to every strategy as we trek the Matterhorn of losing after 50.

Without charge, our awesome phones go from 33%, to 12%, to – hold me!! – eight percent.

So the question is, how do you bring your most on-fire self to the Smartest Eating Lifestyle?

No more wishing on a star or hoping for a miracle.

We’re the captain of our gorgeous cruise ship, and our ship runs on the magic of our excitement. With it, she’ll tour the most amazing ports around the world.

But without our crackling energy, she goes nowhere.

Your choice. ♥

Pearl Two

You know how we’re participating in the Healthy Holiday Challenge that we began in August? Well, my plan was to establish a fitness habit.

I didn’t want to work towards a goal, I wanted to embed an actual habit (like my morning coffee).

And I’m right in the middle of establishing a fitness habit, as we speak.

This is what I do. To make developing the habit easier on myself, I tell myself that I don’t need to change into “the right clothes” because I’m only riding for ten minutes. By luck, this time, I pulled out my favorite toy — Instagram — and scrolled away as I rode.

O.M.G.

The first day I used Instagram, I rode at a level-five for 20 minutes (I wasn’t working out. I was merely trying to establish a habit). When I looked up, I realized that I’d ridden that long because of Instagram. The next day — with Instagram along for the ride again — I rode for 29 minutes, and I’ve done that every day since.

I should add that my “why” has also changed and I hadn’t realized it, but I’d always thought my “why” was about my sons. At least at the moment, I realized that I now have a much stronger “why.” As a writer I sit on my butt way too much and for that reason I need to work out and stretch. How I feel on a daily basis is more motivating than two cranky teenagers. (Who’d have guessed?)

So too-much-sitting motivates my workouts today. Consider looking at your “why” to see if it too could use an update. ♥

Pearl Three

Welcome to how I “screwed up.” I want to share how I “relaxed my standards a bit” because I don’t want you to think for a moment that I’m perfect in any sense of the word. To keep my weight down, I don’t overexercise and I’m not bulimic. I’m just your average gal who got tired of clothes not fitting. Nothing unusual to see here folks.

A good example. My idea of heaven is me on the couch, eating half (maybe more) of the Cheez-It box, kitty on lap (if I’m lucky) with a good book. I haven’t had a good Cheez-It blowout in years. Ah, the memories. Cheez-Its and I had some wild times together.

But my size eight jeans gave me an ultimatum. Choose. Would it be the jeans or the Cheez-Its?

I chose.

Completely worth it. ♥

Pear Four

Whole wheat pumpkin muffins! I’ve made these babies for years throughout the chilly months. Look how low in sugar!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

1 cup white flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3 TBL. sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder.
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice.
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 whole egg (I add more for added nutrition).
3/4 cup skim milk (I use almond milk)
2 TBL. butter
15 oz. can of pumpkin (plain), or 3 or 4 mashed bananas for banana muffins.

Spray muffin pan, use foil muffin cups or try these silicone muffin cups that I think rock.

In a large bowl, stir the dry ingredients together and make a well in the center.

In a small mixing bowl, stir together egg, milk and butter.

Stir in 3/4 of a can of pumpkin (I use the entire can).

Add wet ingredients to dry. Batter should be somewhat lumpy. Spoon into muffin cups.

Bake for 20 minutes. Healthy and yum. ♥

Pearl Five

A habit is a gift you give yourself.” – Me ♥

The Holiday Weight Challenge. Just 35 days until Thanksgiving!! Which new habit have you been working towards? I hope you’ll share in the comments below.

Creating a new habit is not about being perfect. Say this over and over (and over) to yourself.

Have a beautiful fall weekend everyone!!

♥, Wendy

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!

You know the scoop: I am an Amazon affiliate so if you buy something through a link at this site, I may receive a small commission that won’t impact your price at all.

I am not an expert, a doctor, a surgeon, a nurse or a nutritionist: the information within TheInspiredEater.com is based solely on my personal experience and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ♥