I've struggled with binge eating my entire life. It's something that I've learned to control through strict discipline but its still an every day struggle. I have to eat 5 mini-meals made of specific food groups or plan my meals so that I eat from all of the food groups in specified amounts all the while staying within my caloire limit. Sounds exhausting don't you agree? Sometimes it can be but I know this works for me so this is what I do. Otherwise I'd starve all day and then eat 2000 calories worth of pizza and call it a success all the while sending my body on a roller coaster ride of insulin surges. Oh no, we don't play that game anymore for the safety of those around me and they like it that way.
For the past few weeks I've been driving Ken crazy with my obsessive planning. No sorry we can NOT go out to dinner tonight because I have allotted for 4 ounces of protein, 2 carbs, 2 veggies and a healthy fat and trying to translate that into restaurant menu food on the fly...really Ken are you prepared for that kind of meltdown today? I didn't think so!
So this morning when he came into the kitchen and saw the crushed pineapple, bananas, applesauce and assorted baking goods strewn across the kitchen counter and me covered in flour he asked what I was making. Was it some sort of special tropical pancake breakfast for him because that sounded super yummy. No sorry, its a cake. A cake? Yes, a cake, you know that sweet little confeection that people eat on birthdays and holidays...a cake. Can you eat cake? Yes, I can eat anything in moderation. I can eat one piece of cake and enjoy it and be perfectly happy not eating the whole cake. Of course I've healthified (yes I totally made that word up) the recipe and I'm not sure if its actually going to taste good but lets face it, cooking is all about inspiration mixed with an occasional disaster. I've made homemade bread that was so bad that even the starving birds in the dead of winter wouldn't eat it. I've had my share of disaster but I've created some masterpieces too. Today I'm going for a masterpiece!
I've used a combination of several receipes and created a happy medium. No I can't totally eliminate the sugar but I can use sweet banana and pineapple in my batter to add natural sweetness. If its a success, I'll post the recipe on the cooking book. If its a flop. I'll make adjustments and keep trying, something I'm learning to do in all aspects of my life right now.
I love playing around with recipes and for the most part they come out great! I made lemon cranberry muffins last week with no sugar, no oil and 1/2 the flour was whole wheat and they were awesome!! Good luck on the cake and let us enquiring minds know how it went ;)
ReplyDeletegood for you! I hope the cake turns out well. and sometimes youd be surprised what you can work with and find when you go out to eat. I used to be the same way. I would say I couldnt go out to eat because it woudl be a last minute thing and not think I could do much with what I had left to eat. but Id do it and find something that would work and it would usually turn out to be pretty good too.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to experiment in the kitchen! I hope your cake turns out well!
ReplyDeleteAnd... you can definitely join the Christmas Challenge when you've completed your personal challenge. I'll be so glad to have you!
And good luck with your personal challenge. I know you're going to have good results to share with all of us! :)
PS: I've started to count calories again, too... so I can totally relate to the first paragraph of this post. I'm sticking to between 1,800 and 2,000 per day, and plan to decrease that as the pounds fall off. So... every time you're counting calories... just remember that I'm here doing the same thing. You are not alone! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so awesome! I found a menu planning list at Walmart for $1, so I snagged it. Definitely need to plan so I eat healthier and don't fall back on processed food so much. You are an inspiration! :)
ReplyDeletePath to Health
Sounds yummy! I'm looking for a good tasting recipe & as long as it doesn't involve applesauce I'll try it! (Nothing wrong with applesauce, just need a new flavor!)
ReplyDeleteI have learned that deprivation usually backfires. I am with you on the mini meals too. If I go too long without eating, it's just BAD! You are doing so great!
ReplyDeleteWow what a great idea for sweetening the cake. I can't wait to hear how it turns out!
ReplyDeleteMy 12yo dog is like a puppy at the beach -- how fun!
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