Back on the Diet Bandwagon

Well here we are in the new year - - new years mean new diets, right? It seems that way for me, anyways - - what is it about the post-holiday period that makes me want to hop back on that diet bandwagon? Is it the sinful holiday treats and meals I indulged in for the past two months? Or is it the ringing in of the new year bringing with it new resolutions and a renewed sense of wanting to improve self?

At least for me? I gained back 14lbs of the 26 lbs that I lost earlier this year. That sucks, yea I know. The second half of this year was all about falling into the trap of ’stress and worry’ eating. I had many great things happen in 2006 - - and many not-so-great things. It was the not-so-great things that caused me worry and stress.. along with it, major serious bouts of insomnia that had me up at wee hours of the morning working, and snacking.

The snacking part KILLED me. Top that off with me feeling the weight coming back on — getting bummed out about it, causing me to delve further into my stress and worry binging. Makes TOTAL sense, doesn’t it?

Yea, well - no sense looking back - - there’s only forward to go. I started the new diet fresh and clean for the new year. It hit a whopping 190lbs by the end of the year.. so mine’s not a success story to be told, not in the least. It’s this cycle of diet/binge/diet/binge that I’ve been putting myself through over the past several years - - I can’t seem to break. I keep trying though - - and at least that keeps me from hitting that dreaded 240lb mark again!

A little history: I weighed 240lbs in 2003 - - a dreadful, dreadful weight that I never wish to hit again. Back then, I vowed to take it off, and I did! I sucessfully dieted my way to 150, and I felt awesome. Any idea what it’s like to drop 90lbs of yourself? It’s pretty thrilling. In the late months of 2004, I hit 190 - - through pure laziness. I mean, I got myself down to 150 and thought I had it made, right? Pfft! I dieted again and got myself back down to 160 in mid-2005. The tale end of 2005, I visited 190 again. Arrrgh! I dieted AGAIN and got myself down to 170 in the early months of 2006.

On December 31, 2006 - I weighed in at 190 again. WTF is it with that number? It haunts me! So, here I am at 190lbs again - and dieting again. I would LOVE to sit here and say I’m really going to do it this time. But, I can only hope when I drop those 30-40 lbs again, I will have learned my lessons from the past and remember how quickly those pounds pile back on! Here’s to 2007!

In the spirit of the new year - here’s a dessert recipe I’ll share. I’ve had it twice so far - and it’s not so bad. I mean, it’s not a pint of Ben & Jerry’s - - but it’s doable!

Mocha Ricotta
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package sugar substitute (like Splenda)

Mix together ricotta, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and sugar substitute in a desert bowl. Serve chilled - - dust the top with a bit of espresso powder and even drop 4-5 mini chocolate chips on the top.

It’s pretty decent, really!

Calories: 261
Protein: 15g
Carbs: 17g
Fat: 14g
Sat. Fats: 9g
Sodium: 166mg
Cholesterol: 42mg
Fiber: 0gy,

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Recipes in this post came from the South Beach Diet book written by Arthur Agatston, M.D.