The Difference A Day Makes

For breakfast, I had chocolate chip custard oat bran. A few people have asked how exactly to make custard oat bran so here ya go:

1/4 cup oat bran

1 cup milk

1 sliced banana

pinch of salt

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup water

Toppings of your choice

To make custard oat bran, combine oat bran, milk, banana and salt. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, stir and then microwave for 2 more minutes. While it is cooking, beat one egg with about 1/4 cup water. Once the oat bran is cooked, stir in the egg mixture and microwave for 30 more seconds. Stir again and top with desired toppings.

This mixture is so filling that I don’t even think about food for about 4 hours, for me, it seems to be the right combo of carbs, protein and fat.

Work was pretty busy since we were still behind from the snow days. For lunch, I had a bowl of vegetarian bulgur wheat chili, from my freezer, topped with sour cream and cheese.

On the side, I had a salad with oil and vinegar.

After lunch, I went to my first appointment with a Registered Dietitian. I was a bit nervous about the appointment though she specializes in ED and intuitive eating. She had me bring in my food journal for a few days and I was so nervous that she would be very critical. In reality, the exact opposite happened. She reassured me that I am on the right track to meeting my goals of overall health, wellbeing, weight loss and physical fitness. I have been counting calories for a couple of weeks now and have been wrecked with guilt about doing it. She also assured me that counting calories is OK if it doesn’t drive me to deprivation and that, for me, right now, it may be my middle ground between ED and intuitive eating. She said that sometimes, when things are chaotic emotionally, having a sense of control can be comforting and that with the intense therapy I am in, it may be what I need to help me cope. She also thought that, overall, my view of food and exercise was very healthy and that she thinks she can help me achieve my goals.

She urged me to continue to count calories as long as I don’t feel deprived. She also urged that I continue to fit in the things that I love, like pizza, chocolate, lunch with friends, sushi and my beloved cocoa pebbles. She even thinks I should try having some nutella on my oat bran from time to time! As far as exercise, she wants me to focus on doing the things that I love, namely yoga. She thinks the important thing is to stay active and to get in some form of activity everyday. She thinks that it is a good thing that I like lifting weights and that I even like the treadmill sometimes. She encouraged me to change my exercise as my life changes and to just keep doing the things that bring me pleasure.

I left her office feeling strong, confident and sure that I will beat ED and achieve a healthy relationship with food and exercise. I think that her approach is exactly what I need to help change the way I view food and exercise. I am certain that she will be a very important part of my treatment team and I am excited about my next meeting with her.

I returned to work on cloud nine and hungry! Since I had therapy right after work, I decided to have an afternoon snack. An old favorite came back to visit, greek yogurt with mixed berries and a few chocolate chips.

Once I was done with work, I headed to therapy. This was my second meeting with my new therapist and I was really looking forward to it. As I mentioned yesterday, I have been feeling a bit of an emotional back log that has caused me to withdraw from my ED group. In the session, I felt free to really express some of the intense emotions I have been feeling about my brother, my childhood and all the other garbage that has been jumbling up my brain. For the first time in my life, she made me feel validated that things WERE really messed up for me and that, frankly, it is no wonder I have issues. She also thinks that I am headed in the right direction and that I am making the right choices to make recovery happen.

For a second time in one day, I left feeling confident in myself and the steps I have been taking. The past couple of weeks have been really hard for me and I finally feel free of them. I am even ready to go back to group and really “be there”.

Since it was a late night, the dear husband was in charge of dinner. He made a Mediterranean veggie pizza that really hit the spot. He is such a good cook

For dessert, I had a bowl of cocoa pebbles since it isn’t the end of the world if I enjoy them in moderation!!

Question: What food or foods do you enjoy that others might consider “unhealthy”?

Christie is a Holistic Health and Wellness Coach specializing in changing your relationship with food and your body. To get free updates on intuitive eating, holistic health and new recipes subscribe by email or by RSS feed!

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