Goofus and Gallant - Approaching Food

Many years ago I got braces to correct the gap between my front teeth.  It wasn't a large gap, but it was decided that there shouldn't be a gap and it was necessary to fix it.  I had the full set of braces including "head gear" that I had to sleep in every night for two years.  MANY children were running around with a wire wrapped around their face connected to a neck brace during my pre-teen years. (Photo is NOT me, only an example.  I took NO photos with braces)

It was at the dentist that I first began reading about "Goofus and Gallant" in the Highlights magazines.



Goofus was always negative, rude, pushy, and selfish.  Gallant was perfect.. always.

So this morning I started thinking about my food choices over the weekend.  I had several challenges:  a road trip to Dallas, an outing at the movies, and dinner with family.  Except for the very salty beef jerky at the movies, I did pretty good.  In spite of my best efforts, my hands were VERY puffy this morning.

WHICH led me to thinking about choices when eating.  I see a buffet table.  What do I see first?  Do I see what I CANNOT have instead of looking at what I CAN have?  Do I see the negative foods first, or do I see the positive choices?  Think about that.



HOW DO YOU APPROACH AN EVENT THAT INVOLVES FOOD CHOICES?
As a Goofus? or as Gallant?



Here are your choices:

GOOFUS	GALLANT
Look at all that food I cannot have! This is going to be too hard!	There is so much food, it will be easy to find what I can have!
Because I have been so good, one bite won’t hurt me this time.	Because I have been so good, I’m not taking one bite of anything that will derail me.
They insisted that I eat it so I had to.	I politely declined and quickly changed the subject.
Oh well, I just had to eat what was available.	I knew there might be a problem, so I planned in advance and had some snacks with me.
I’m on vacation so I’ll start back when I get home.	I’m on vacation and want to enjoy every minute not feeling bloated and sick, so I’ll make good choices.
Tomorrow	Today
I think about food all the time.	I have strategies in case my mind tries to obsess about food, like going for a walk.
I don’t know what was in it, but I didn’t want to appear rude and ask.	I politely asked what was in it, explaining that I have some food intolerances.

Beefing Up

 

My Cow.

I bought a "side of beef".  Not just any beef, but grass-fed beef with a name.  Why grass-fed?  Because I eat more beef than any other meat and grain-fed is NOT good for anyone.

Why a "name"?  I HAVE NO IDEA.  The rancher wanted to discuss the cow with me.  I did NOT want to know the name and I did NOT want to see a photo.



So ... what an adventure.  One I will likely not EVER repeat.  12 hour trip, sorting steaks on the fly to early pick-ups, coming up short because I forgot there was "tax" on it.  It was just WAY too complicated for my household.  Other members of said household are NOT happy with me about it.  But that is stuff for a different blog. lol.

This is what 1/2 a cow looks like:

That is approximately 257 pounds o' beef.  5 coolers and 4 bags.  (The bags were a total of 100 lbs worth of meat for an early pick up).  It was supposed to be 323 pounds, but at this writing 95 pounds are missing.  We are investigating what happened -- "Where's the Beef?"

As a hard-core city girl, and proud of that, I prefer for my food to arrive in a made-made container, please.

OR better yet ... on a plate:

ON a different NOTE:

Here is the link to the LOW CARB ROAST by Tom Naughton.  This was the entertainment at the pre-cruise dinner.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaZRP-S-kA8&feature=g-all-esi

10 Low Carb Cruise Lessons

1.  It is totally possible to go on a cruise and lose weight.  

This was me on the cruise in 2011

I was stressed out from dealing with my 86 year old dad in assisted living.  We were buying a new house and planning on moving the very week we returned, AND we were trying to sell our old house.  My husband was looking for work.  Our son and his wife were expecting a baby, due any day during that week.  My stress was up and my weight was UP.  It was rough.

This is me on the the right, on the cruise in 2012 -- rested, focused and Low Carb!

(with my dear friend, Amy Dungan)

What a difference in how I looked and how I felt.  And even better, I came home almost 2 pounds thinner than when I left on the cruise!

2.  It is totally possible to have so much fun that 

food is just a non-issue.

There were times when it was almost a nuisance to have to stop and "refuel".

(my friend and cruise committee member, Kim Eidson with her bowl-o-bacon)

Yes the food was good and there were plenty of healthful choices (amidst a land mine of CARBAGE), but when you are in the middle of enjoying the water park, or hanging from the sky walk, food is the last thing on your mind.  It was sort of fun to actually "work up" an appetite.

(my friend and cruise committee member, Debbie Hubbs on the Sky Walk)

3.  You can totally skip the buffet line 

and still eat like a King.

(taken by my good friend, Carb Tripper)

The restaurant was open for nice, quiet, sit-down meals, 

apart from the hustle and bustle of the buffet lines, which were monuments to gluttony.

4.  Coffee makes a good dessert, 

especially if it is bulletproof.

Link to "Bulletproof Coffee"

yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5.  I can now say that I have friends all over the world.

(259, to be exact)

6.  Low carb / Paleo friends are very giving people, 

and NOT "in it" for the money.  

They freely share what they have learned!

(Matt & Stacy - the http://paleoparents.com/ 

Vanessa Romero  http://www.healthylivinghowto.com/index.html  

Thomas Nikkola - http://www.facebook.com/tom.nikkola)

7.  No one sings Elvira like Jimmy Moore and Tom Naughton.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3998733606346&set=o.85354194342&type=3&theater

If that link doesn't work, here is a link from 2010 -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJoMZ7LYLNw

8.  It is possible to make close friends 

in the midst of a very large group of people.

(Susan Winkler, Carb Tripper, JoAnn Paxson, Lisa Coker -- I enjoyed every minute of 

talking to these ladies.  They were fun and amazing.  There was some concern that if the group got "too big", it would lose the intimacy and friendships that had been so easily formed in years past.  Well, perhaps there were some people that I did not get to meet more than once, but from what I read in blog posts and facebook posts, friendships were formed!)

9.  It is easier to take the stairs on a ship, 

than trying to climb them to go to work every day.

Strange but true.  There were most mornings that I literally ran up and down the stairs instead of taking the elevators.  The weather was great, the atmosphere was alive, and there was just so much to see on the ship.  So when I got back to work and looked at the 6 floors of stairs to get to my desk.. well... there just wasn't the same motivation.  

10.  Every year on the cruise I learn new things 

and reinforce the foundations of Low Carb Living.

... and a parting thought ....

(This is Tom Naughton's photo from Facebook.  

L to R, Dr. John Briffa, Fred Hahn, Dr. William Davis)

Cruising Causes Depression

As I write this post I am fighting sadness.  I suppose it is only normal after such extreme fun and friends.

I danced...

(Me and Val Nose)

I sang...

I ate GOOD food...

and hung out with crazy people ....

(Laurie Rosen, Christine & Jimmy Moore, Jordana aka Cranky Coils)

AND then of course there were the amazing guest speakers and meetings...

(Jamie, Lynn Ivey, Mary Vernon, Eric Westman, Tom Naughton, & Bridget in the background)

One of my best friends got engaged! (Congrats Ailsa & Chris)

(Bridget & Ailsa)

Really, really good friends... (thanks for the nightly slumber party and morning coffee!!)

(Carb Tripper, Kim Eidson, Ramona Denton)

Not to mention the SHOES!

.....  Where else can I wear such fabulous shoes?!?!?

So, back to normal life.  Back to the daily grind.  Back to real world.  

BUT ... for 7 days I was -- TYT -- Taller, Younger, & Thinner. ;)

(and... yes, this needs to be a tradition... the Bathrobe Breakfast!)

(John Briffa, Lisa Coker, Jordana aka Cranky Coils, Andrew, Becky Winn, Susan Bratchie)

Look out 2013!  Here we come!  Let the countdown begin.

OH -- AND -- I returned home from the cruise 1.8 lbs thinner.

The 5th Annual Low Carb Cruise was indeed MAGIC!

STUCK IN HIGH CENTER??

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Climbing the Matterhorn

Article: http://www.wikihow.com/Climb-a-Mountain
DIETING Mountain climbing is viewed by some as an extreme sport, while for others it is simply an exhilarating pastime that offers the ultimate challenge of strength, endurance, and sacrifice. It can be highly dangerous, even fatal, especially when the dieter climber is out of his or her depth, or simply gets overwhelmed by food, weather, terrain, ice, or other dangers of the mountain. Inexperience, poor planning, and inadequate equipment can all contribute to injury or death, so knowing what to do right matters.

Despite all the negatives, when done right, dieting mountain climbing is an exciting, exhilarating, and rewarding experience. 

STEPS FOR A GOOD DIET ...  MOUNTAIN CLIMB:
1.  Do your research.
2.  Assess your mental strength.
3.  Get fit.
4.  Acquire the gear.
5.  Learn about dieting mountaineering ethics.
6.  Get training.
7.  Plan your first diet climb.
8.  Keep improving your skills.
9.  Find a good guide.
10.  Prepare for your trip.


(water color copy by B. Gandy)

I talked to a friend on the phone yesterday.  They called to help me understand my latest cholesterol results, which were pretty good.  As we talked, they shared with me their intense struggle with their weight.  My heart was full for them.  I KNOW they are truthful, and kind, and knowledgeable, and have helped THOUSANDS of people.  I KNOW they are wise, and resourceful, and just a really good friend.

They have helped me TREMENDOUSLY throughout the past 5+ years.  They have always been there with an answer when I have had a question.  They have endured lots of criticism through the years, but never let it deter their mission.  This friend has had some intense struggles over the past years and they have shared their life with everyone in hopes of being a comfort to others.

Now this friend is REALLY struggling.  IN SPITE of eating a pristine low-carb diet, working out, and paying close attention, their body is not cooperating.

I have been there.

I too have had quite a struggle these past several years as I went through menopause, stressful transitions, and general life struggles.  I would eat clean, and fall off the wagon... eat clean, and fall off the wagon.  Cycle after cycle after cycle.

Highest:


Lowest:


... and around again.  Or should I say "round" again.

Current:


So.... my dear friend ... I love you as a brother.  I would protect you as a brother.  I will get angry if I see any negative comments about you because you are my brother!

Your struggle will help others.  Your battle will make a way for other people to follow.  Your openness will help those who think that something is wrong with them.  You will help them see that it ISN'T their fault and that there IS help.

Thank you, Jimmy Moore, for all that you do.  Keep leading the way, maestro.  Climb that mountain and set the anchors for us that are following behind you.  Climb, Jimmy, climb!!

SMOOTH SAILING

Things are clicking along.

Coffee is good again -- discovered Coconut Milk Creamer by "So Delicious" & Xylitol.

Job is good again -- I'm over whatever hump I seemed to have ran into.  Brain is adjusted.

Diet is good again -- Thyroid meds tweeked & losing weight.

Cruise is gonna be good -- Not as many obstacles this year as in the past.

SMOOTH SAILING!


Not much more to say right now.
Enjoying the moment.
Getting ready for the party.