DAY 20: (THERE’S AN OLIVE IN MY GARDEN.)

Posted by Christina Deyo

(Christina Deyo, a producer for The Martha Stewart Show, decided to share her progress on the 30-day Body + Soul Challenge with daily diary entries. Here’s her latest entry:)

Last night we were meeting my in-laws so we decided to go to a restaurant—Olive Garden to be exact.  The land of unlimited breadsticks…ugh! Unlimited comes with a price--POUNDS. So I knew I had to be smart about it…but the smell of the breadsticks –the garlic—the butter I just couldn’t’ resist. I ate half of one breadstick. I then filled up on salad.  And then I couldn’t resist not eating the other breadstick. So I ate a total of one breadstick.  I ordered Minestrone soup for my meal and was fully satisfied. While it could have been better…I can’t help reflect what it used to be. In the past I might have eaten 4 or 5 breadsticks and not thought twice about it. Then I would have ordered some kind of pasta in cream sauce. Things are now different. I am truly starting to think about my different choices and trying to make them work.  It’s not so bad if I ate one breadstick. It probably wouldn’t have been bad if I allowed myself two…but I now know that there are consequences with these choices.  There are days I will go out to dinner. I might not want to order “just a salad”.  I am beginning to understand that if I indulge a little too much one day—then maybe the next day I’ll make up for it with “just a salad”.  It’s about my checks and balances…I want them to come out equal…well maybe LOWER.

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Comments

[Linda Gail]

Christina:)
Saw you today on the show and I loved the "pajamas" you found. I liked the fact that they can also be used as a work-out suit.
Glad you enjoyed your trip to "Olive Garden". You will always find the good choices one the menu anywhere you go,but the downfall can always be the bread. I don't really care for "Olive Garden". But, her sister restaurant "Red Lobster"!! Their "Cheddar" biscuits. Oh man, I could eat a boat load. I usually limit myself to just a half of one and then my husband eats the other 3 and a half. I also have a salad and try to find something on the menu that will fit into my diet. I love the pasta and shrimp and lobster. But until recently it was covered in a heavy cream sauce. But the last time I tried it they had changed and it was a white wine and tomato sauce. still a little heavy but not as bad as before. I still will be sticking to the fish or shrimp that has be grilled or broiled and I can have the sauce on the side.
Much Love
Linda Gail

[Sheryl Connolly]

I love the inspiration here! I am happy to say that I have lost 25 lbs in the course of 5 months.(15 lbs more to go)..Let me share my short story. At my last physical I discovered that I have a sugar issue. Carbs and sugar are not my friend any more. What a shock. Raised in the South with corn bread, rice and gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet tea and every cobbler imaginable, I now have to think before I eat. The revelation: not a diet but a life style change is needed. My daily chant is: God help me control food and it not control me. I need to eat to live not live to eat. Well I have many good days and a few bad. I don't feel guilty for making a bad choice this leads to more bad choices... When I hit that 20 lb mark with several weeks of no weight loss I had revelation number two: Stop worrying , stop worrying about not loosing a pound but feel good that you have not gained. As women it is hard to pat ourselves on the back when our hands are busy patting someone else's back or busy making it through a busy day. So ladies stop worrying...you are smart, strong and nothing is out of your reach.
Sheryl

[Kristen]

Christina that's great progress. Each breadstick at OG is 140 calories! I know I used to eat a whole basket myself. And the fact that they serve way over the recommended serving of pasta then add on the sauce, eep! Glad you stuck to healthier choices and had just one breadstick. Its good to be able to set limits when you are out of the comfort zone of your own dining room table