Pre-emptive journaling - another way that I suck.
The lovely el-e-e suggests pre-emptive food journaling over at my FitDay. A fine idea, I said to myself, as I blindly tried to remember what I ate after breakfast yesterday so I could update.
Here's the problem: I hate pre-planning all the food I'm going to eat for the day ahead. We're talking serious loathing.
This is a grazer mentality at its worst. I want to just merrily stumble around the house, surprising myself with little tastes of things. I don't want to decide what I'm going to eat for lunch until I ring my little silver bell and watch the servants carry in the tray.
Oh. Huh. I guess deciding now vs. later isn't that big of a deal.
I'm at war with my head right now. While I know that preplanning will build confidence that what I'm eating is worthwhile and within my desired caloric intake, it feels like I'm locking myself into a menu before I know what I'm really going to *want* at noon.
That, and I have a tendency to get lazy about things. Instead of a salad with 10 chopped veggies, I'll make one with three and then I have to go back and modify the journal.
Oy, could I give any more excuses? Waa, waa, waa.
So, let's say I journal in the morning all the things I'm planning to eat during the day. Then I discover that I'm out of something, or I don't feel like something else, or I eat a bunch of candy (this is just an example) then I'm still having to modify the list.
Or, God forbid, I actually have to stick with the foods I have planned to eat. What? Would that work? Can I actually be lazy enough about journaling to make sticking to a menu possible?
Ah, well. Okay. I'll give this whole planning ahead thing a try, and see if I can't rock it out that way.
I'm off to do some trampoline action! 60 minutes! Woooooo!
Comments
You do not suck.
It's not like I do the pre-emptive thing every day. But I'm saying, as long as you're doing a weekly menu for dinner (I do, too), just pop it in there. Just dinner. Then you can play a bit with the bfast and lunch cals.
You're doing better than me today: probably won't workout and am eating the holiday candy THAT I MADE. MYSELF. And brought into the office presumably so I wouldn't eat it.
Posted by: el-e-e | December 6, 2006 10:30 AM
what I meant to say before going off on me me me... was that the days I DO pre-empt? I'll be like, 'Huh. Well, turns out I DID stay within the limit today. Hm. Interesting.' It's probably all luck. :)
Posted by: el-e-e | December 6, 2006 10:31 AM
I loathe planning ahead, too. But I tend to eat the same things--breakfat is almost always the same and for lunch I only have a few options. I just hate to be told what to eat, even if I am the one doing the telling. I'd rather track it after I eat it than plan details in advance.
Posted by: Shrinkingmom | December 6, 2006 1:43 PM
I can see how that would be helpful. It's like making a to-do list of meals, and you can cross them off as you go about your day. I think it would take the focus off of FOOD! FOOD! FOOD! and let you focus on making sure your body got the fuel it needs.
I hate thinking about food, what are we going to eat, when are we going to eat. I swear, if I hit the big lottery someday (not to self: start playing the lottery) the first splurge will be hiring a personal chef!
Posted by: Nancy | December 6, 2006 5:34 PM
I can see how that would be helpful. It's like making a to-do list of meals, and you can cross them off as you go about your day. I think it would take the focus off of FOOD! FOOD! FOOD! and let you focus on making sure your body got the fuel it needs.
I hate thinking about food, what are we going to eat, when are we going to eat. I swear, if I hit the big lottery someday (not to self: start playing the lottery) the first splurge will be hiring a personal chef!
Posted by: Nancy | December 6, 2006 6:42 PM
I think the only thing I eat daily is oatmeal with some cinnamon and splenda and skim milk. I love that but thats all that is the same daily!
Posted by: Amy | December 6, 2006 11:33 PM
I looked back in my FitDay calendar and I have the same problem, I don't list the things I eat in the evening after I leave work all the time. I will try to "forecast" my meals for the day and see if that helps me with the postings.
Posted by: MJ | December 7, 2006 11:10 AM
You know, you really don't have to take every one's "Bright" ideas and make them your own. Just because something works for one person, doesn't mean it's realistic for someone else. The beauty of wieght loss is that half the journey is discovering the "real" you and learning to listen to that voice alone. So, you know yourself well; don't bite off more than you can chew, and just stick with what you know you can realistically accomplish, that way you're not setting yourself up for another failure and then subsequent guilt trip over "not getting it right".
Posted by: prov31wisemom | December 7, 2006 11:24 AM
You'e half way their with the pre-emptive journaling. You already plan a menu and shop for it. Perhaps after you post your menu you hear you could put it in your journal.
Posted by: HealthyMummy | December 7, 2006 9:59 PM