Highs And Lows
Hey everyone! How was the weekend?? Mine flew by! Lots of family time, prep and celebrating of the husband’s bday!! I planned on blogging, but time completely got away from me. So, instead of recapping the whole weekend in food, I thought I’d just talk about a few of the highlights …and some of the lows 
Let’s start with the good stuff!
Friday Night Pizza…
We are addicted to pizza on the grill! Using the baking stone has made it taste like the real deal!!! I made the usual cheese for the family, but tried out a Caprese on whole wheat crust for myself. It was delicious! I have a picture tutorial planned for this week, so stay tuned!!
Saturday Run…
Since the husband’s birthday was on Sunday, I changed my long run for this week to Saturday. My running partner, Kerry met me bright and early and we knocked out our scheduled 5 miles…
Note the ambulance in the background. We thought that was hilarious. Actually, there were two of them. One for each of us, we said. Thankfully, we left them with no job to do 
We finished out the 5 miles in 1 hour and 3 minutes. I kept the GYMBOSS set at 2:1 intervals and it just seemed to take forever this time. We ended up running through the last three intervals without stopping for the walk so we could just get done! We decided for our next long run, we’ll try a longer run/walk ratio.
The remainder of Saturday into Sunday was spent prepping for the husband’s bday dinner. And eating.
The Lows…
The husband requested cupcakes for his birthday dessert. I made him Devil Dog Cupcakes ( chocolate cupcakes with a marshmallow filling piped in the center, then topped with chocolate buttercream) -Sorry I didn’t get a picture of those! Gah!
Oh, but wait, there’s more. Also, vanilla cupcakes with chocolate buttercream…
and vanilla buttercream…
I made everything from scratch. Which meant I tasted everything along the way. There were so many bites, licks and tastes that I felt sick by the end of the day.
This made me sad.
I still have issues with food prep for parties. No matter how many times I’ve made something, I still feel the need to taste along the way. And taste and taste and taste. At the time, it doesn’t seem like much, but I know from being a previous Weight Watcher that those BLTs DO add up. To tight pants.
And now, as an intuitive eating “student”, I know that this is not in any way, shape or form considered intuitive. It is 100% mindless and emotional. I realized I was doing it, but yet couldn’t break away from the hold. I was on the party-eating ride. Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever have an intuitive mindset in that situation. A HUGE mental shift would have to occur for it to be something that is natural for me. Instead, I think I need to put some other actions in place to get me through those times. I’m not sure what yet. Maybe something as simple as removing myself from the kitchen for 5 minutes to review my flashcards or just take a breather outside to distract from the pull of the food. Anyone have suggestions as to what works for you in those situations?
In any event, I am ready to move past it. One plus is that I did not dwell. I know this has always been a challenge for me and it can take time to undo the mindset. I can wait. And I’ll always keep trying 
Okay, one more “low”. I got a boo-boo. I was washing dishes in a hurry to get everything cleaned up before our family arrived and it slipped, broke and sliced my finger. I was surprised how calm I remained…with the gushing blood and all! HA! You know I’m a baby!
Oddly, the husband had cut his finger pretty badly the day before while doing yard work. Now, we have matching boo-boo’s…
Same finger, same hand. Weird, huh?
Guess I can’t milk this one to get out of housework
Have a great day, everyone!
Questions? Email me! aloserforlife@gmail.com
26 comments
I think you are doing SUCH a fantastic job Marissa. We all have our faults. Sweet are such a huge temptation for me. At the grocery store, I see all the cakes and sweets and I get mad that I am unfortunately one of those people who can NOT eat that stuff without gaining weight. Unlike a lot of people I know, (points at hubby) who can eat whatever he wants basically and doesn’t gain an ounce. Sometimes, I wish there was some magic wand we can wave and it wouldn’t be so unfair, but that’s life right? We just keep on going. *hugs* Keep on going babe, don’t let it get you down!
Marisa Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Thanks so much, Jenn!
Sorry you got a boo boo! I think I suffer in the same way. FOCUS is my problem. I can do well one time but not the next. That is my new mantra for the next month. I will be retraining my focus. Beautiful cupcakes btw. I love to bake but hardly ever because of the tastes and bites and ok maybe just one’s.
Marisa Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
I want to work on focus, too. It’s so easy to lose it after a while.
How weird that you both have a booboo in the same place! It must surely be true love, lol.
We should do our pizza posts on the same day!
Marisa Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Yes! We’ll be the Friday Night Pizza Club posters!!! Can’t wait to hear about yours!
Whenever I find myself doing the mindless eating thing, I get out of the kitchen with a cup of tea, go into another room and pick up a knitting project. I guess it has to do with keeping my mind and hands busy at the same time. I also run and garden. Then the other successful way I get around the food temptation is to have a really good book to get lost in. I am currently reading Freedom and it is really a good read! Hope this helps. Love your blog and also you are a hugh inspiration to me!
Marisa Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Thank you, Buffy. And those are all excellent ideas!
Hey Marisa – I can relate to your struggles with not tasting along the way! I don’t do it when I’m cooking dinner and whatnot, but when I’m baking, look out. This used to be a huge problem for me (i.e. I’d eat half a bag of chocolate chips as I was making cookies), but I’m proud to report that over the weekend, I make S’MORE BROWNIES for a few parties I was invited to, and not only did I not taste AT ALL, but I also portioned them out right away to give away, only keeping 2 for my husband and I.
This was a major, major thing for me – I was sipping ice water with lemon the whole time, and I popped a few altoids as well. Hope that helps you.
BTW – I am not sure how to reply to your comment on my post about how much spice I use for the coffee, so I’ll just let you know here. I usually make a pot with 6 cups, and I have been playing around with amounts, but a little less than a teaspoon each of the spices seems to give me the best flavor. Definitely play around with it though. Have a good week!
Marisa Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
S’MORES BROWNIES!!!! You are officially my hero for not diving head first into the pan of those! Awesome plan by portioning them out, but still leaving one for you both so you didn’t feel deprived. Love that!
Thanks for getting back to me on the coffee/spices. I will play around with it and see if I can recreate a Pumpkin Spice Latte!
I’ve gotten much better about baking and sampling in the kitchen, though cookie dough is still the worst for me! One thing that helps when I have to bake, but really don’t want to eat half of whatever I’m making in the process is to chew gum while I’m baking. The 2 don’t mix very well:)
Marisa Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
But I love minty cookie dough! LOL! Seriously, that is a good idea for next time!
Great job on the run and that pizza looks amazing! I’m sorry about your lows – and I hope your boo boo heals quickly. I never eat while i’m cooking, but it’s usually because i’m so anal about the measurements being “right” haha. If anything i’d say be full before you cook or have a snack out while you cook!
Marisa Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
You are so good! I need to be more anal…
I chew gum or keep some really strong mints in my mouth when I’m baking. It really does help.
Marisa Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Okay, you guys are selling me on the gum! I will definitely try it!
Wow that pizza looks delicious! *drool*
Congrats on the 5 miles! My little runner is all grown up! lol. Great job!
I think it’s pretty funny that you and hubby got matching booboos. lol
Marisa Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
LOL! Aw, thanks Mom
Remember when I was the wee stinky runner that couldn’t get it together! Look Ma!!! I think I’m doin’ it!!!
Thanks for all the great advice along the way. I really appreciate your support
Ouch! Sorry you got a booboo.
I want a pizza stone. It’s on my wish list. The amazon wish list is growing my leaps and bounds.
Don’t fret too much about the gatherings with the taste tests. A good cook has to test the wares to make sure they’re ok.
Congrats on the 5 mile run!!! Woohoo! *high five*
Marisa Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Oooh, hope you get your pizza stone soon!
The nice thing about blogging your food…is that you HAVE to also remember the great pizza you had, and the 5 mile run. I understand about the food in situations like that. I’m 100% sure you’ll find something that will work for you. And I will want to find out about it. From you.
Marisa Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Thanks, JBS. I will search and search…
Situations like that are tough. Maybe instead of thinking about approaching those in an intuitive way, how about in a mindful way. You will really have to make some sort of plan, like keeping a tin of mints nearby and popping one in your mouth instead of tasting and nibbling. That is what works the best for me. I know some people think this is not good, but I will bargain with myself. Saying that I can have one later if I don’t do any tasting during cooking.
Marisa Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Thanks for sharing that, Lori. I will have to work on a plan for the next time…which always seems to be right around the corner…
Those cupcakes look amazing, you are a great baker!
Maybe chew gum or have a bowl of grapes or carrots to munch.
Make a deal with yourself that if you have no bites licks or tastes,( have hubby and the kids do the taste testing for you) you get a prize for having made it through.
Set up a camera to video your baking so you won’t eat your way through it.
I do well as long as I don’t get any of the sugar in my system. Once I start in it can be too hard to stop.
I know you will eventually get this figured out. You have to find what is going to work for you and your situation.
I think you are being too hard on yourself. As humans our survival brains are programmed to eat for survival so it is natural for that part of us to want to eat when we are around food. Also, has biological organisms, we have two primary mission in life – to seek pleasure and avoid pain. You were doing something natural – sugar is pleasurable – that is why so many of us struggle with it. As humans, we eat for lots of reasons beyond being hungry, it is what separates us from the animals who simply feed.
I think the suggestions of gum/mints are good/ or maybe pretending the health department is watching and will turn you in for licking a spoon or dipping your fingers into the batter/icing