Vegetables and Me: Not a Love Story
I hate vegetables. I call them Vile Weeds. There, I said (err, wrote) it. I cannot stand the texture or the bland taste of almost all veggies. Especially when they’re cooked. There’s just something so gross about the mush that most vegetables become when contact is made with a heat source. Sure, everyone tells me that “when they’re cooked right, they’re really good.” Yeah, I’m not buying it.
Anyone who’s read this blog knows that I struggle with my weight. It’s a daily battle between what I love to eat and what I need to eat. I love cheeseburgers and pizza and french fries and, well, you get the point. I love junk food. Junk food loves to make me fat. My diabetes hates junk food. I’m often rewarded for indulging with a super-high BG that causes me to rage bolus, only to end up three hours later with a low that makes my teeth rattle. It’s not a good relationship.
So, this week I began a new relationship. I joined Weight Watchers Online. It was a big step for me because I remember going to Weight Watchers as a teen and hating it – not the food plans or the strict requirements. No, I hated the meetings. I hated having to get on a scale every week (while not in the privacy of my own bathroom) and having my weight entered on some little card. If I didn’t lose enough, I felt like a failure. It just plain sucked.
Now, as an adult, my issue isn’t the weigh-ins. It’s the “cheerleader” feel of the meetings that I loathe. Maybe it’s just my inner cynical bitch, but I just can’t participate in these types of functions without rolling my eyes. Yep, inner cynical bitch claims full responsibility.
This time, I opted for the online version, which I can do myself, in the privacy of my own home. Since I’m a techie, I LOVE the cool, interactive website that allows me to look up points values, keep a food journal (which comes in handy for meetings with the CDE), and see where I stand with my available points for both the day and the week. Throw in the mobile app for my iPhone, and I’m so set. I actually use this app (not something I can say for at least 75% of the apps I’ve downloaded).
Here’s what I’ve learned in the three short days since I started Weight Watchers:
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I eat A LOT of calories! Call it denial or avoidance, but I’ve been eating a lot of food. It’s no wonder that my weight has steadily crept up to its current overall awfulness.
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My guessing game with bolusing has been pathetic, at best. It’s not surprising that I kept screwing up my BG – I’ve been bolusing for the portions I *should* be eating, not what I *was* eating.
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I need to exercise. If I exercise, I get more points. More points equals more food.
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The little Weight Watchers snack bars are fricking awesome. At one point each, they’re the perfect mid-afternoon snack.
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Green beans (one of the only veggies that I actually like cooked) have a total points value of ZERO.
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I don’t drink nearly enough water. (Side question: Does Crystal Light count as water? Anyone know?)
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This system is doable. Sure I miss my cheeseburgers and pizza and french fries, but there are options. Last night, I made the best little six point pizza ever (contact me for the recipe)!
For those of you wondering, I have received absolutely no compensation from Weight Watchers to write this blog. Aside from the credit card I used to pay for my membership, I doubt they even know my name. However, if anyone from Weight Watchers would like to sponsor this blog, feel free to contact me 
I’m still not eating cooked vegetables, though.
Themocracy
Shannon,
I haven’t done WW in 4 or 5 years, but have worked the program many times. I also HATE the meetings, but haven’t done the online thing. WW wants you to drink WATER, however most CDE’s, docs, nutritionists, etc. seem to feel that any liquid you take in (including the water content in vegetables :] ) counts toward your daily water intake. They generally warn though that artificial sweeteners can “fool” your bod into thinking that it’s still getting sugars and that the chemicals, etc. must be cleansed by your liver/kidneys. So, yeah, Crystal Light counts as water …. sort of.
I drank it for months before I finally developed more of a thirst for plain water (something I NEVER did before in all my 52 years!) and I’m down 50# since Feb. So I’d guess the wisdom here is “Do what you need to do to make it happen for yourself.”. If you need to drink Crystal Light or not drinking enough liquid, go for it! And yes, exercise does earn more points, which equals more food! Yay! I know you’ve said you hate to exercise, but walking with an iPod can be a great way to start. If you’re not into music, you can listen to books or just about anything you are interested in on a podcast.
Veggies can go on top of that 6 point pizza, too & give it more volume and more “oomph”. Can you do onions, green peppers, mushrooms on a pizza? Spinach instead of (or in combination with) lettuce on a sandwich or wrap boosts the fiber content & keeps you feeling full longer. Sugar-free chocolate pudding with a graham cracker square crumbled up in it hits a sweet tooth pretty good, too and doesn’t destroy your points bank.
Good luck!
Good luck! As a “lifetime” member, I think my best advice is, “If you bite it…write it.” All the little licks and bites COUNT and they really add up quickly. Also, weighing your food is key. You’ll be surprised how much just a “little bit” of something weighs. Water for me was the hardest part. I found it much easier to drink ice cold with a straw. Weight Watchers has a really nice, huge, cup that you can take everywhere you go. Lastly, be patient…it will take time. You have my support all the way.
Mom
As a diabetic, I have to be aware of EVERYTHING I eat anyway (for bolusing insulin), so measuring/weighing food and writing it all down (or entering it into the online site) is actually the easy part. It’s not caving into the cravings that I struggle most with. I’m finding lots of alternatives to some of my favorite foods, though. It’s a good thing I’ve got access to the Internet – I can’t imagine doing this without that resource.
I loved this blog because I, too, hate most vegetables
It feels good to know that I’m not alone. As far as WW goes, I have not tried it, but will consider it now if I decide to give up my cheeseburgers!
The diabetes management has gone green blog entry’s main idea was to find creative ways to eat veggies even if you hate them and believe me there are some that would never cross my lips but camouflaging them in other foods like creatively will work wonders I promise. True story, the green eggs and ham recipe is my son’s favorite but before that we had war just to get him to eat spinach now viola he asks for them all the time, he doesn’t see me make them so that’s another point. Maybe when the DH cooks he can try those tricks that way you wont know there is Broccoli in it. by the way I know its been a month but I hope the WW thing is still working for you, we as diabetics have to find what works easiest for us, it is hard enough just dealing with the everyday D life.
I too hate the cheerleader atmosphere to WW. I’m writing a novel about a fat woman battling her weight and diabetes. I’ve written the chapter with her going to the first weight watcher meeting (full figures is what I call her group) but haven’t posted it yet. The character hates the meetings too. I’ve posted 3 chapters on my blog but basically haven’t the courage to post the rest, i.e. when she finds out she’s got high bp and diabetes. Her super skinny friend floats in and out of her life and her one teenage daughter is a ‘challenge’ etc. Weight ultimately is the issue while her friends deal with other health issues and infidelity of spouse, it seems like a few extra pounds should be the least of her problems but it’s a monkey on her back hanging on and hanging on. Hmm, I didn’t know this is the crux of the story! Writing here told me it was.
Isn’t it wonderful when the act of writing something down helps to clarify things in your own mind!
I love it when that happens!!!