That is the question of the day. I'm a terrible dieter. And quite frankly one of the reasons I decided on the lapband is that I struggle with diets. I'm trying really hard to treat this as a lifestyle change, not a diet. So I guess I'm really looking to you seasoned veterans and asking is it necessary that I journal my food? I "feel" like I'm doing good without journaling, but am I just fooling myself.
I guess the other question for the day is related to "meal plans". How many of you plan out your meals for the week? God gave me several gifts, but cooking wasn't one of them! Thank goodness he sent me a wonderful man who happens to be a chef! This is all a learning experience or him as well. He's asked me to prepare a meal plan to help guide him. Sounds easy, right??? I make the meal plan and he cooks it. What more could a girl want??? Well I just stare at a blank page. I get hung up in so many different ways.
First, I'm just not creative when it comes to food. I'm the person that never has an opinion on what restaurant to go to. I don't want to say I never have cravings, but I'm probably the laziest person when it comes to food. I actually googled one time - too lazy to eat - just to see if there was anyone else like me! If I didn't have someone to cook my meals, I would probably live off cheese, peanut butter and then eventually fast food once the cheese and peanut butter wasn't enough! For me, food has to be quick and easy to prepare with minimal clean up. I will say that seeing some of the recipes on many of your blogs has ignited a "little" spark in me to try my hand at cooking.
My second, "meal plan hurdle" is the nutrition value. Once I come up with a potential meal, then I struggle trying to determine its nutritional value. I've gone to those "calorie counter" websites, but usually I can't find
EXACTLY what I'm looking for so I have to hope I get close to the right nutritional value. That's so hard for me because I'm an accountant and somewhat of a perfectionist. I need my numbers to be right! If I can't do something perfect - or close to it - then I have a tendency to give up. That's why journaling and meal planning is so hard for me because it becomes very overwhelming. Its usually the planning and preparing for the diet that sidetracks me, not the actual diet.
So let me hear your thoughts and comments on journaling and meal planning.