Choose You Blog
Hi, my name is Catherine Morgan, I’m a single mother of two teenagers (Brian 19, Nicole 16), and they are my reason for wanting to “choose me” and make healthy changes in my life. I was so happy to hear about the Choose You campaign by the American Cancer Society. The timing was perfect. For health reasons, I really need to get serious about eating healthier and getting more exercise. Not only am I excited about making some Choose You commitments, but I’m honored to have also been asked to be part of the Choose You Blog.
You see…up until recently, I’ve been falling prey to emotional eating, mainly due to the stresses of selling my home and moving into another. And I haven’t just fallen off the healthy eating wagon, I’ve crashed and burned. It’s not a pretty sight. I’ve been eating all kinds of sweets and junk food, most of which I don’t even like. Go figure. The last few weeks have actually been way beyond emotional eating, I think a more accurate term would be eating insanity.
I believe the first step in healing is admitting you have a problem, so here goes.
Catherine, you have a problem, and it’s time to try and fix it.
Now, to start. There is no “quick fix” when it comes to eating healthy, so I’m starting off slow. My short-term plan is to cut out the unhealthy sugars (like cookies, candy, cakes, and ice-cream). I know that I need to tackle this issue before any other, because it’s the one that is most like an addiction for me. I recently posted on a new study that shows junk food is as addicting as cocaine. I can go months and months without eating sugar (not even craving it), but once I start eating it again, it’s all over. That’s why I’m making cutting out sugar my first Choose You commitment. I’ll be taking the next two weeks to get the sugar out of my system.
Once I’m successful at cutting out the sugar, my next steps will be to eat healthy, get more exercise, and hopefully lose some weight. It’s going to take time, but I’m ready for the challenge. I’ll be posting here once a week…and I could use all the support I can get from you in comments.
Wish me luck.
Also See:
- My BlogHer post – Join The Choose You Movement with Ellen Pompeo of Grey’s Anatomy.
- Are You Addicted To Sugar?
- Eat Healthy For Life, Not Weight Loss
Catherine is the mother of two teenagers, she writes about health & wellness at BlogHer and catherine-morgan.com.
16 Responses to “I’m Choosing Me”
Leave a Reply
Sponsors
Presented by:
Thanks for you post – since my kids are about the same age as yours I have a question that perhaps you or others can help me with…
I am at work till about 6:30 and then when I come home everyone is coming in at the same time and is starving! It seems there is never time to stop and cook a really good meal, so I either bring food home, or they all just grab from the fridge. Ideas anyone??
Also, with your no sugar challange, which id like to do, are you still keeping sugar stuff around for the family or trying to eliminate from the house?
Catherine, am so with you on this one. I often call myself a junk food junkie. It’s a habit that’s so hard to kick!!!
Hi Georgeanne. Thanks for your comment. I know what you mean about coming home and being too hungry to cook. I think it’s ok to bring home food, just limit the number of times you bring home burgers, fries, or fried chicken…Pizza is a great thing to bring home, and you could call ahead so it’s ready for you. Another idea is using a crock-pot, you can throw a few basic ingredients in before work and come home to a great meal. I’m sure if you Google (crock-pot) recipes you would get a ton of ideas. In the summer I also barbecue a bunch of chicken legs, and leave them in the frig…cold chicken is yummy on a hot day. And in a pinch, both of my kids know how to cook a few basic meals.
As far as keeping sugary treats in the house when I’m trying to avoid them…In the past I have always tossed any possible temptations, and stocked up on sweet alternatives. If I buy cookies or ice-cream for the kids, I try to buy stuff that I don’t like but they do. However, this time I didn’t do that, and I am finding it more difficult. But usually after a few days of avoiding sugar, I stop craving it so much (fingers crossed).
Hope this was helpful.
I have a crock pot or slow cooker. There are a lot of recipes that would be ideal putting them on in the morning before you leave for work. One I especailly like is to spray the pot with nonstick spray, put chicken breast in the bottom. Add a couple of cans of either cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup. Slice mushrooms if you like. Take a box of stove top stuffing or other stuffing and mix according to directions and put on top. Cook all day and it will be ready when you walk in. Add mash potatoes and a green vegetable and you’ll have a feast.
Cutting out sugar is a huge step! Wow. I love agave syrup- it’s very sweet but not artificial tasting. Good is coffee (you can also try a bit of maple syrup). It’s also great to bake with.
xo
Morra
thanks for the suggestions! One thing i notice is that dinner is probably the best change for the entire family to get the fruits and veggies in their diet – and i need those in abundance as well. I like the crockpot idea – always been worried bout keeping it on while i’m not at home tho.
and u know with teenage boys you sometimes have to hide the veggies anyway. If they’re all mushed together in the crockpot that might work!!
So the commitment I made on this site was to eat out less often – of course none of my eat-outs are fabulous places!! They’re dash and grap on the way home from work! So in order for me to succeed in that goal I’ve got to find a way to have meals ready somehow. Does fish work at all in the crock? I’ve only done chicken.
Thanks for the crock-pot tips Mary…That chicken and stuffing one sounds yummy.
Thanks Morra…I’ll have to give that a try.
Hi Georgeanne. I’m not sure how fish would do in a crock-pot…generally fish cooks pretty quick. I actually have a quick Salmon recipe that you could probably use with any fish…
I buy the single serving fillets in the frozen section. Then I put it in a frying pan, but instead of frying it, I fill the pan with about a 1/2 inch of water. If you cook it on high for just a few minutes it is finished. I have a bunch of those no-salt seasonings and I just switch off sprinkling different ones on the fish while it cooks…In the same pan I can even put some frozen or fresh veggies right in with the fish (then there is less of a mess to clean up).
For fruit, I also love getting it in the frozen section, you can either let it thaw, eat it frozen, add it to yogurt. My favorite is blueberries…and they are much cheaper when you buy them frozen rather than fresh.
how about this?
one leek, one green pepper, celery stalks, one onion, 2 plum tomatoes and four garlic cloves – all chopped. Add to crock pot with either a cup of white wine or a cup of apple juice and slow cook for about 6 hours.
then take about a pound of tilapia or halibut and chop into one inch pieces. Add to the pot and cook for half hour on high.
I know, thats two steps but at least the fish can be dropped in when you get home from work and everything else is done!
You can serve over brown rice.
@ Gonna Do It — Thanks, that sounds yummy.
Georgeanne, my local caterer has healthy casserole like meals that are only $11 for a large one (lasts my family of four at least two meals, usually three) so it’s easy and economical. That’s my fave option for weeks that are crazy busy. I know she cooks them fresh and using all real ingredients. And they are YUM. Maybe you can find a local caterer that supplements income that way.
Alternatively, there are cooking places where you can go and assemble your own meals, package them, and then freeze or cook and eat. Frozen in Thyme is our closest one.
I’m sure teenagers would moan (maybe not) but maybe this could be a weekend day time family time — teach kids to cook, spend time together, and assemble meals for the week.
Morra, I have really gotten in to using agave nectar instead of anything. My only trouble is that it’s not portable lol.
Here’s a million crockpot recipes: http://www.a-crock-cook.com/
I ended up buying a crockpot cookbook because I LOVE using the crockpot.
Also? Real Simple magazine online has GREAT easy recipe ideas.
In summer I love to put chicken salad in avocado.
HTH!
Julie
I hope your new resolve to cut out sugar is going well.
I made that decision 2.5 years ago and it was one of the best decisions of my life. For two years I didn’t eat any sugary foods. I’m sure a little sugar slipped in here or there but I didn’t eat any cookies, ice cream, candy, soda, ect. Just this year I decided to allow myself to eat desserts if 1. they are homemade 2. made with something like honey. I’m still a sugar addict but theses “conditions” really limit what I can eat and I haven’t had a problem as of yet.
Good luck!
Thanks for commenting Jenn. That sounds like a great way to monitor how much sugar you’re allowing yourself.
By the way, you have a great blog.