Fat

Camy here. I feel like I’ve been fighting my weight forever.

You know the feeling, right? At one point I lost almost ten pounds, but it’s slowly been gained back. Stress tends to do that to me, but I can’t blame it all on externals—my own bad habits do me in. After all, I don’t have to eat when I’m stressed, I just tend to turn into a two-headed Medusa if I don’t eat when I’m stressed.

(Not good for a marriage, by the way.)

I’m on another I’m-going-to-eat-healthy-and-reduce-my-portions kick right now. The self control—or rather, lack of it—is killing me. I try to compensate if I’ve blown it, but I worry that I’m not compensating enough. I know quick weight loss isn’t good, and that I’m working to develop habits, not a diet, but old dogs don’t learn new tricks very easily.

I’m reading French Women Don’t Get Fat, which granted has a bit of common sense things, but the way she writes is so engaging and makes me feel so inspired that I’m hoping this time I can really reduce my eating portions.

She encourages women to really savor and enjoy their food, which will help you eat less, and also to eat what you want—smaller portions, naturally—and then compensate later. That way you never feel deprived.

She also encourages women to eat more fresh, in season vegetables and fruit, which will not only add more variety to your diet but also make it more enjoyable to eat your veggies and fruit, since the in season stuff is tastier.

This could work for me since my family belongs to a local organic produce co-op, where they deliver a huge basket of vegetables and fruit to us every week. We don’t get to choose what veggies are in the basket, which forces me to be more creative and daring with my cooking.

For instance, I’ve discovered I love Brussels sprouts and fava beans (I’d never eaten either of them growing up). My husband, however, isn’t crazy about them—more for me!

Anyway, I’m starting to change my cooking to reflect more of these seasonal veggies—forcing my husband to eat more, too—with less meat, so that the veggies are the main course rather than the meat. Tonight we’re going to try this beet tarte tatin recipe that looks rather good. I roasted the beets last night so tonight all I have to do is reheat the beets in the microwave and bake the tarts, which will only take 20-30 minutes.

Anyway, I’ll let you know if this new attitude about portion control will stick—and not to my thighs!

Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research, and she is a staff worker for her church youth group. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, and her new Asian chick lit novel, Only Uni, just released this month. Join her newsletter YahooGroup for monthly Christian fiction giveaways!

Comments

[julie carobini]

I hear you, Camy. I've really gained since the book contracts. I used to write magazine articles and since they're shorter, I had more time to head out for a walk or run. These days I'm butt-in-chair for too long. I laughed when I read the part about savoring food, because as I was reading it, I was downing a bowl of cottage cheese with raspberry topping. Have no idea what it tasted like...lol.

Here's to reaching our goals!