New Plan, Day Nine

I don't know why, but I slept until after noon today. I wasn't even really tired, but I think I was avoiding responsibilities.

Breakfast, 12:30pm

• ham and cheese toasted on Lite whole grain English muffin
• navel orange
• 12 oz. Diet Fanta orange (not pictured)

It was an interesting contrast between real orange and orange soda - I really enjoyed both.

Lunch, 3pm

• leftover chicken, vegetable and tomato risotto
• fresh herb salad with creamy Caesar dressing
• 12 oz. Coke Cherry Zero

I worried that this wouldn't reheat well (because risotto is famous for its fickleness and ability to quickly turn to slop if not treated gently), but in fact I think it got better after a little time in the fridge for the Arborio rice to absorb even more tomato flavor. It looks dry in this photo, but once I stirred it up, it was creamy, delicate, and really tasty. It had barely any chicken in this serving, which is probably good since I worry about how long ago that was first cooked - I'll have to thank my father for picking so much of the chicken out when it was in the fridge.

Pre-Dinner Snack, 8pm

• fresh herb salad with creamy Caesar dressing
• several glasses of Diet Coke (I lost count)

While my mother was cooking dinner, I was hovering, and of course standing in a kitchen while food is cooking is the easiest way to get hungry. I kept milling around trying to think of something to eat and finally decided on a salad, which I inhaled.

Dinner, 8:15pm

• beef tacos with reduced fat Cheddar cheese, salsa, sliced avocado, Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, pickled jalapeños and fresh cilantro
• 24 oz. Diet Coke (not pictured)

Oh man, so delicious. I don't think there will ever be a time in my life when I couldn't go for a taco, and these were superb. I ranted and raved while eating them, feeling like I was pigging out.

Snacks, 10-11:30pm

• Yoplait Light Thick n' Creamy yogurt, Cinnamon bun flavor (not pictured)
• 2 caramel popcorn cakes with sugar-free Concord grape jelly
• navel orange (np)
• broccoli florets dipped in Walden Farms calorie-free Ranch dressing
• 72 oz. water (np)

I'm not sure what to say except that I was grazing. I wasn't hungry per se - dinner was very satisfying and filling. It was more like having the munchies, which I think is hormone-related at the moment. I was going for crunchy foods in the popcorn cakes and broccoli, though I realize now that the cakes probably put me over for breads.

The broccoli was surprisingly delicious, even if I had a "who are you and what have you done with Vicki?" moment as I was preparing it to eat. I'm still mystified by how a dressing (which was actually rather tasty) could be calorie free, and it seems to have a lot to do with Xanthan gum and other wacky chemical food additives more frequently encountered in molecular gastronomy. Mmmm, delicious science.

I also drank all of my waters in one shot, two bottles in a row and the third about 45 min later. I dunno, it's just easier to sit and sip it through my water bottle straw, and if I have to spend an hour or two having to pee every 15 min, it seems less awful than feeling like I'm about to wet my pants all day.

Summary

I had an enormous appetite today, which is dangerous when combined with an utter lack of activity. I think I made decent choices, and I'm glad I got 9 waters in, though I forgot I was supposed to aim for 10-12. Sigh. One more bottleful.

I really need to do some exercise, but I've been using a looming deadline (which I've been procrastinating like a champ) as an excuse not to do anything. Disorganization and poor time management have a global negative effect on my life, but I am also starting to see the clear ways they impact my diet and fitness. I may elaborate more on that in a separate post.