I Am Resolved

Ahhhh, the onset of a new year, a new beginning, time to start over again.  Did you write any New Year’s Resolutions?  I have done them my entire adult life.  I read that eighty five percent of the population write resolutions.  However, about 0% actually keep them.

And, don’t we always resolve to do the same things?  Eat better, exercise more, pay off credit card bills.  We start out so gung-ho then somewhere along the way....generally, by mid-January, our enthusiasm wanes and our first of the year priorities get lost in the frenzy of our day to day lives.

I’m determined this year will be different.  Did you hear Dr. Oz tell Piers Morgan the other night that your waist size should be less than half your height?  I guess that sounds obvious but then I got out the measuring tape.  OMG!  I’m barely within that guideline.  Of course, I’m only 61” tall but I am now humiliated into dieting!

It seems like I’m always dieting (as is half the country unless you live in the Land of Fried Chicken and Sweet Tea).  Last year was a nightmare for me.  I started living with a very buff man who eschews veggies and adores anything with sugar in it, especially, chocolate peanut M&Ms, pastries from Publix, and desserts from Cracker Barrel.  When a barrel of truffles arrived in the living room during the holidays, I just gave up.

So, what’s my #1 resolution?  Lose 10 pounds.  I know you weren’t expecting that..lol.
My cousin and my son have been praising the Mediterranean Diet for the last year and telling me to try it.  However, you should see them.  They looked like my buff man before they ever even started the diet, so I wasn’t sold.  But, I keep hearing how much more energy they have and how healthy it is...blah, blah, blah.

But, then over the holidays I was walking through Barnes and Noble looking for a book to spend my gift certificate on and ran across The New Sonoma Diet by Connie Guttersen.  It was on sale for $7.99 but the cover grabbed me:  “Trimmer Waist, More Energy in Just 10 Days.”

I perused it...sounded a whole lot like the Mediterranean Diet and you could drink a glass of red wine with dinner.  There were recipes for desserts even.  Mango Basil Granita...whatever the hell that is!  Very high on the protein, very low on the carbs.
“It lets you drop pounds quickly and feel better than ever while indulging in meals hat are all about celebration, not deprivation!”  Oh, yeah, baby....I’m in.

I start reading.  It’s not about points, calorie tracking.  It’s about eating healthfully with
smaller portions.  Snacking smart.  You’ll immediately shed pounds, you’ll notice a difference almost immediately in how your clothes fit.

There are the 12 Sonoma Power Foods:  almonds, beans, bell peppers, blueberries broccoli, citrus, grapes, olive oil, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, whole grains.  I love them all except the bell peppers...no way am I eating those.

We moved in to the Florida condo January 1st.  I brought my trail mix bars.  Buff Honey brought all his leftover holiday candy, potato chips, kettle corn and Cheerios.  He gets the top shelf in the pantry.  I stock up on everything Sonoma.  No sugar, no processed foods.  Check.

Then, I read there are three waves.  Obviously, I’m Wave One.  For 10 days, you must limit your intake to certain acceptable foods.  And, certain acceptable beverages.  Which include black coffee, tea and water.  WHAT???!!!  What happened to the red wine with dinner????  Hey! That’s one of the main appeals for this diet.

I’ll tell you it’s been tough for two reasons.  One, here we are on the gulf coast watching gorgeous sunsets....can you not drink a wee glass of wine in all this beauty???  It ain’t easy.  Two, my partner cannot exist without burgers and pizzas and a good pub.

I’m trying to string together 10 days without red wine but so far, my best effort has been three.  I try to get a salad when we go to a pub but that is not their specialty.  Who orders salad at a bar?  No wonder the leaves are limp and brown at the edges.

But, I found a great place on the water that has fabulous black bean burgers.  Did I just say that?  I never thought I would “love” black bean burgers.  I may even try to make them.  Last night I made teriyaki chicken, wild rice and salad with celery and strawberries.  Now, that was a Sonoma dinner.

Along with the Sonoma diet, I resolved to give up coffee.  Me??  I have stumbled out of bed to the coffeemaker for almost 50 years.  I’ve done it before but soon developed a huge headache I assumed was from withdrawal.  Now, I’m drinking my decaf tea in the morning and have had no headaches at all.  Go figure!  I haven’t missed it really and now I’m sleeping a little better.  Maybe, that’s why I’m exhausted by 8 in the evening.

But, give up wine?  Okay, it’s Day Two.  I resolve to be strong.