QUICK BOB GRAB THE CHILDREN!

[Angie]

The world is ending!

At the grocery store yesterday, I saw a sign alerting me to something rather distressing. A PUMPKIN SHORTAGE!

Luckily through my tears I was able to remember, like a true addict, I already have my stash of 10+ cans at home. Whew. Crisis averted. For a second I was worried my orange "hue" would be no longer. What would I be, if not for orange?

Shudder. I promise I'll stop when my eyes look like that and my hair turns orange. Until then, it's a free country with all the pumpkin I can eat.

Here is why I'm not a fan of counting calories (again, FOR ME. Everyone is different!). Last night I was feeling curious about how many calories I'd actually consumed. It's a habit I try and break, but it always pops back up. Not that counting calories is a bad thing (can you feel my NATO peace-making strategies coming through?), but for me, I tend to get obsessed and so number focused I lose sight of my actual hunger. So I knew I shouldn't, but it was calling my name. I broke. I added my calories up. And here's EXACTLY WHY I HATE WHEN I DO THAT:

I figured out I'd eaten about 1,100 calories for the day. Definitely on the low side, but some days are like that. Believe me, I MORE than make up for it other days. But here's what I don't like; instantly I felt like I should eat something. Mind you, I wasn't hungry. At all. But just knowing that number made me feel like I HAD to eat. So, I had a snack. Nothing crazy, just a bowl of cereal, but it was the whole mentality behind it that I'm trying to get rid of. I want to learn to eat when I'm hungry, not for emotional reasons, or I feel like I should eat for some reason, just good ol' fashioned hunger. I know it'll take me awhile to get there. I didn't get to 260 lbs by only eating when I'm hungry. So today my goal is to listen to my body, eat when I'm hungry, and rest in that. Seems like a dream world, but I know it's possible :)

In other news, check out THIS beauty:

That there is one mighty beast of a salad! Spinach, romaine, 1/2 an avocado, red pepper, yellow pepper, sweet chili tuna, cottage cheese, broccoli (I normally detest raw broccoli, but had a strange craving for it yesterday so I rolled with it. The craving was back today! Maybe the world IS ending!), I think that was it? And one of those weird flat buns on the side with some hummus. Mmmm. Now that's a meal.

Breakfast was oatbran, but not just ANY oatbran; pumpkin oatbran with leftover cranberry sauce from last night- hellllllo heaven! For some reason it didn't keep me full as long as it normally does, which was strange. I did a little yoga (I have no attention span for yoga at home. A class in a studio, fine. Me in my basement, not so fine. I planned on 45 minutes but could only manage about 25 before I pooped out), and then had an apple and some grapes.

Tuesdays are my day off, which is pretty glorious. I guard them with my life! When my life went from a 9-5 teaching job to student, intern, volunteer, crazy person, I realized just how important it was that I had a whole day just to myself. I know, I'm bragging. Most people don't get that luxury, and for you, I'm sorry :) It's heavenly. I get to sleep in, I don't answer calls from my youth (I encourage them to leave a message if it's an emergency), and I generally just bum around. It helps me to love what I do the rest of the week. Without it, I probably WOULD have flung myself off a cliff by now!

The rest of the day is pretty open. I think I'll go for a nice long walk in the sunshine. But beware; sunshine does not = warmth. I think it's about 40 degrees out there. Too frigid! But I can pretend, right?

In my head, that's what it looks like. Le sigh. Better bundle up!

[Shannon H.]

Thanks for your explanation of why you avoid calorie counting. I'm a calorie counter myself and it helped me see the other side of the story. I certainly fall victim to the "only 1,100?? I MUST eat something (even though I'm not hungry)!" moments.

[Arlene]

A pumpkin shortage? That explains why my store had none last week when I wanted to buy it.

That salad does look yummy — but I didn't know you ate tuna. I thought you were vegan or something like that.

[Sexy Parrothead]

That salad looks and sounds delicious!! What all do you use your pumpkin for? I haven't quite gotten into it yet, at least not to the point of having more than one can at once.

[Janice]

Sweet Chili Tuna? Is that from a recipe? Please share! And I need to mention the pumpkin shortage to my boyfriend, I think we are down to 4 cans.

[Robyn]

Could you move in with me and be my personal cook? Just a thought.. :)

[Mrs. Ballou]

Oh dear...I only have 2 cans at home. I may have to hit the store tonight!

[Heather]

Great post! You got me nervous about the pumpkin...I don't have any stashed! The salad looks delish!!