Category: Nutrition

I rarely get sick any more, but I’ve had a cold for a few days now. At least, I think it’s just a cold, I hope so.

Illness is bad enough, but when I’m sick and hanging at home, I tend to overeat. I mean, I eat everything in sight. So it’s a good thing that I don’t keep any really “bad” foods around the apartment.

I powered my way through the rest of my boxes of Post Shredded Wheat and Barbara’s Morning Oat Crunch cereals, both of which I love. I also polished off an older box of Nature’s Path Qi’a Superflakes – Cocoa Coconut, which is not that appealing to me, unless I’m sick, apparently.

That’s not to mention a pint of hummus and other comestibles lying about. Oh, and some delicious soup that my partner Tara made, that I think was supposed to be two servings, but I devoured in one.

I may also have bought and eaten a 3-pack of Magnum White ice cream bars last night. Okay, I did that. They were delicious.

In addition to eating a lot when I’m ill, I also tend not to be as active, and, despite the fact that I had a window of feeling well yesterday and managed to play some disc golf, that has held true. The cold, rainy weather hasn’t helped. My walking has fallen off dramatically.

Even though I’m overeating and not exercising, I’m okay. It’s all okay.

I’ve noticed some positive changes in myself since starting the Noom program 3.5 weeks ago.

1. My weight is down. I can see it. 8 pounds, and I can see it with my shirt off.
2. My skin is softer, which is weird, because I noticed this last week, when it was freezing cold here in San Antonio, and usually that means dry skin for me. I’ve experienced softer skin before, and it was directly attributable to a change in diet — I was on a vegan cleanse — so I’m going to assume this change is due to my participation in Noom.
3. My meat consumption — almost none — is about the same, but I’m not afraid to eat it, because sometimes it’s a better choice (maybe). My sugar consumption is down. And I am focusing more on fruits and vegetables plus whole grains (even though many whole grains are Red foods in Noom).
4. My dietary choices are changing. Where I’d normally eat bread, I’m eating sweet potatoes. Where I’d normally eat gelato, I’m eating sorbet. Where I’d normally not eat greens, I’m putting frozen spinach into my meal.
5. My dietary habits are changing. I’m more present in my eating, consuming food only until I’m full. Where I’d normally eat a lot, I’m eating less.

I’m starting Week 3 of my Noom program, and it’s going great. I’m exercising more. I’m watching what I eat from a holistic perspective, rather than singling out some foods as “bad” (even if my writing and attitude may sometimes lean that way).

I’m enjoying myself!

But one thing I don’t like is weighing in daily.

I know from my many past experiences with weight loss programs that weight fluctuates daily based on a lot of factors, including food consumption, level of hydration, and, by the gods, whether or not I’ve emptied my bowels.

Noom says that daily weigh-ins are motivational. I’ll bet they are for a majority of people, but, as we know, if we think scientifically, it is folly to apply generalizations to individuals.

We know that smoking causes lung cancer. 80-90% of all lung cancer cases are a direct result of smoking!

Did you also know that only 10-15% of smokers ever develop lung cancer?