Intuitive Husband + Blogger Meals
While about to get in the shower, the husband proudly stated that he has lost 3 pounds over the holiday. Although I love him dearly, I did have a 5 second vision of the Psycho movie shower scene after he told me that. But, instead of injuring him, I decided to ask him about this a little further. See, it suddenly dawned on me that he is an intuitive eater of sorts. Let me preface this by saying that his diet is not the “healthiest”. If given the chance, he would gladly eat mountains of cheesesteaks and cargo trains of pizza. However, he does balance this debauchery with plenty of fruits and vegetables and a regular exercise routine.
I remembered at the beginning of our marriage, he was about 30 pounds overweight and decided he wanted to lose it. He didn’t go on any program, count calories or even ask me to make him special food. His approach to weight loss was simple : Eat less, exercise more. That’s it. No magic potion, no pills, shakes or packaged foods. He just ate less of the things he loved and pumped up his exercise a bit. And he lost the 30 pounds and has basically kept it off for 13 years since.
In asking him about the 3 pound loss and wondering if he has a frickin tape worm and how I can get one , especially since he has been eating cookies and desserts like it’s going out of style, he explained to me his thought process in choosing his meals. He usually opts for a healthy start to the day of oatmeal (with a ton of brown sugar – he thinks I don’t see that!) or some type of high fiber cereal and a fruit. If he knows he’s going to indulge in desserts later (he always opts to eat them right after dinner), he eats a lighter lunch- pb&j or grilled cheese, chips and some fruit/carrots. If he’s hungry, he’ll have 2 sandwiches, but then leaves out the chips. Dinner is usually our big meal of the day and always includes some balance of protein, starch and veggies. Then, he moves on to dessert and is done for the night. He doesn’t snack in- between meals because he prefers to be hungry at mealtime and says the food “tastes better” that way!
He is a morning exerciser and does it every day without fail. But, during these high indulgence holidays, he finds the opportunity for random bouts of exercise – taking the dog for a long walk, shooting hoops with the daughters, playing racing games in the basement or boxing and bowling on the Wii. Basically, he doesn’t sit still for long!
So, although I tease him about his eating habits and his regimented workouts, he really has proven to me how it’s possible to lose weight and keep it off without dieting!
Hmmm….cheesesteaks, here I come! Kidding, kidding 
****
Onto the food! I had some great eats yesterday! My day started off with a 1 hour run on the treadmill! Whooo hooo! It was way too cold to go outside, so I opted for the treadmill at the gym while watching my boyfriend. Anyone see him disco dance at the end of the show? I love him so much more now 
After the run, I dug into a different kind of breakfast. Everything has been unexciting lately. I wanted to try something new for a jump start. A while back, I bought some of these in anticipation of “something new”…
Wheat berries! They take about an hour to cook, but I was in no hurry. I searched for some recipes and came across one for Wheat berry Salad with Pecans and Craisins on Lesli’s blog. Sounded delish! I halved the recipe and used walnuts since I had them on hand. It was chewy, crunchy and sweet! I loved it!
Lunch was equally yummy. Leftover whole wheat veggie pizza (made using Biz’s No Rise Pizza Dough recipe – I used white whole wheat flour) and a Fuji apple…
I had beef tenderloin planned for dinner and what better side to go with it than Healthy Au Gratin Potatoes! I saw this recipe on Danica’s blog and knew I had to make it – pronto!
They came out fab!
I had a serving with leftover Gram’s green beans and some bbq baked tofu (I gave up my beef for the daughters who decided they would eat it!)…
A couple cookies found their way into my mouth after dinner, but the last of them are gone, so SAYONARA, evil things!
ONE GOOD THING: It felt good to eat normal, healthy foods today and get in a great workout! Cookies be damned 
BRILLIANT BLOGGER: I have to give “brilliant” props to Biz for her great pizza dough that has saved me much time in the kitchen; Lesli for her delicious salad that I ate for breakfast and Danica for her many delicious and easy recipes! I wouldn’t eat so well without all the wonderful blogger recipes out there!
Have a great day, everyone!
Questions? Email me! aloserforlife@gmail.com
27 comments
Just found your blog…congratulations on your huge accomplishment! Your before and after pictures are just amazing. You look great.
The pizza looks great too!
Marisa Reply:
December 31st, 2009 at 9:01 am
Thanks so much and welcome!
thats basically my approach to food too. I find that I maintain and healthy weight easier and am way more satisfied when I eat less of the things I love than eating packaged or diet foods and getting more. The exercise thing I need to work on though. Its an awful excuse, but I’m always too tired!
That wheatberry salad looks REALLY good!
Great blog! I’m so inspired!
I love this post!
I remember when I finally got the hang of intuitive eating I would lose a little weight on vacations and holidays cause I was so busy I only ate when I was hungry. It’s funny how that happens.
I need to try that pizza crust recipe!
Wheat berries- yummy ! Just for future reference , you can also cook these in a rice cooker and a crock pot. I like to combine them with steel cut oats in our crock pot, and toss them with mushrooms, onions and celery in the rice cooker for an easy wheat Pilaf.
And as to your husband- intuitive eating is one thing in his favor. Second thing is he is a man and nature has determined he does not need to cling onto extra fat in preparation to gestate and nourish another human being at some point in time. That is one reason guys just have an easier go of it. Not saying he is on the wrong track – he is exactly on the right one, but that biology is also helping him along.
Marisa Reply:
December 31st, 2009 at 9:03 am
Yeah, pretty unfair, huh?!
Thanks for the tip on wheat berries. Pilaf sounds great!
The props go to you, my dear, for your daily inspiration to me! Glad the pizza dough always turns out for you!
I agree with you on my sister’s no rise pizza dough. I had NEVER attempted it before because I was scared of the yeast, but I make mini pizza’s, breakfast pizzas, calzones, etc..
oh great! Now I’m HUNGRY! lol
I always love your food ideas. I made a wheat berry salad a while back- I need to check out that link you gave us. Yours looks WAY better! 
YUM!
Men and their weight loss annoy me. lol
man, your hubby is intuitive! why dont guys think about food the way we do?!?! i know guys who literally cant remember if they’ve eaten lunch that day…so crazy!!!
btw, thanks for your sweet comment on my post. BIG SMILE on my face
I am sorry to hear about your husbands three pound weight loss, but he just has a different method from you and I am sure that you will reach your goal weight!! Also, I love to see the Fuji Apple, they are my favorite!! What is your favorite apple??
Marisa Reply:
December 31st, 2009 at 9:04 am
Fuji all the way
Awww ~ that was the sweetest post! I think it’s really cool that you learned from your husband. I really think the key to it all is exercise ~ it is what allows us to eat good or bad and not gain like crazy.
I am so glad you tried the Au Gratin potatoes and liked them. I was wondering how long it would take after I saw your comment
They are awesome!
I am glad you like my recipes ~ I like yours too and always get hungry when I read about your day
Happy New Years (almost)!
he isn’t emotionally attached to food.
Marisa Reply:
December 31st, 2009 at 9:10 am
Suprisingly, he is emotionally attached. He has a very stressful job and when a situation really gets tough, his stress response is to reach for unhealthy foods (fast food/baked goods). He tries to talk himself out of it, but most times the stress gets the best of him. But, what he doesn’t do is let it linger. He moves on and let’s the incident remain just that – an incident. He doesn’t let it carry over to his other meals and gets back to his “normal” way of eating. I don’t hear him beat himself up about it, but I’m going to ask him more about how he feels when he does that.
Trying something new is on my agenda, too! I am so guilty of eating the same things over and over again. Food variety is going to be a priority for me…that and more intuitive eating!
Gratz on not killing him
Sounds like you both set a good example for the girls.
Some people are just biologically gift and know how much they need to eat without having to count calories at all. Sadly, I was not given this magical power.
Marisa Reply:
December 31st, 2009 at 12:10 pm
skipped me, too!
I love all that great stuff your hubby does but I think the key is he exercises every morning without fail. I think if we all made that commitment ALONE we’d find ourselves in a different boat. A yacht maybe. With servants. Boy servants. With no shirts on.
What were we talking about?
Happy New Year Marisa!
Marisa Reply:
December 31st, 2009 at 12:11 pm
LOL! All on my wish list that Santa never got…
Happy New Year, Tamara!
Ive learned a ton from my husband as well (WAIT you can leave the side dishes uneaten at a restaurant? but you paid for them!!! you have to eat them–dont you? DONT YOU??
) and I like (hope?) to think he hath learned a little from me.
I think it’s totally unfair that hubby’s can eat like that and lose weight. It’s like they just think, “I should drop 3 pounds” and then they do.
Love your food!
My hubby is really good at “balancing” things out too. I actually just wrote a post about it (to be published tomorrow)…
Happy 2010!
i love wheatberries! i need to pick up a bag soon too for the new year. happy 2010!
Hi Marissa, you’re so hysterical with your writing style! I L-O-V-E reading your posts and so appreciate your sweet mention about my wheat berry salad.
It’s obvious you love your hubby or he’d be dead about now … three pounds while eating holiday treats! Oh brother! I’m happy just to maintain — which I didn’t, by the way, but the damage is manageable and I’m back on track living healthy! And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it. Living life… loving the people around us (even those who lose three pounds eating cookies)… not taking anything too seriously… indulging here and there and always coming back to center … living healthy!
You do a beautiful job of inspiring all of us… I’ll for sure be trying out Biz’s no rise pizza dough and Danica’s Au Gratin potatoes look yummo! They’re on my list to try too.
Thanks so much for your inspiration and your sharing. With great peeps like you, 2010 is gonna rock!