It’s gorgeous out today, I’m fairly caffeinated and this afternoon, I’m headed down to Austin for my sister’s bridal shower. On top of that, I’ve finally reached the point where all of my clothes fit. All of them. I can walk in the closet and say, “Hey, I wanna wear that there article of clothing,” and then actually wear it. Without, you know, sumo squats or weeping. It’s been at least a year since that happened.
Which is to say, today could be SO much worse.
Also? It’s 9AM and all my bills are paid. I’ve said it before, but I get this really, really good feeling from paying bills. Which is totally nuts since paying bills means that twelve hours after I get my paycheck, all but like, six dollars of it are zip! gone from my checking account. But oh, the satisfaction! I’m so responsible! And did I mention good? I’m really good! And hungry, but that is neither here nor there. Snack time is at 10.
For those who were asking about the artificial sweetener thing – no, it’s not because I’m pregnant, you hesh up! I quit because, even with all of the work outs and eating properly and missing wine oh-so-much, I wasn’t really getting anywhere as far as the scale was concerned. So, I did some reading and discovered that artificial sweeteners can send your body all the wrong signals, interfering with hormone production and such and I decided I didn’t want anything to do with that. So I quit. Two weeks of real sugar in my coffee and yogurt and the pounds came right off. We’ve emptied our pantry and fridge of anything fake and it feels really satisfying. Ok. Not anything fake. I’m having a really hard time parting with my I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spray. I know, I can’t believe it’s not cancer. I know, I know. BUT I LIKE MOIST TOAST. And I will employ a whole stickabuttah to achieve it. Whatever, though. The spray butter sits in the fridge right next to the organic ketchup and I’m sure that’s got to do some good. Healthy by association. Organic osmosis!
One of my girlfriends told me that a couple of years ago (about the artificial sweetener thing). I’ve been a Splenda addict (and coffee junkie) but maybe I’ll give that a shot as I, too, am not budging on the scale even while training for a half marathon.
Have fun in Austin this weekend! Don’t get blown away =)
i love you. i don’t know you, but i love you. in that way that one loves a girl who writes words on the page…
anyhoo. have you tried this? http://www.amazon.com/Misto-Gourmet-Brushed-Aluminum-Sprayer/dp/B00004SPZV
the taste of olive oil might take some getting used to, but it’s good-for-you fat. and please, please, don’t get cancer.
I never knew that about artificial sweetener. Now I’m glad I can’t stand the stuff.
I have the same satisfaction when I pay my bills. Good to know that I’m not alone.
I also have removed artificial sweeteners from my diet, even Splenda. Have you tried agave as a sweetener? I was turned on to it a few years ago from a naturopath who I looked to for help on lowering my glucose levels. It’s great.
http://www.allaboutagave.com/
Good job on kicking the artificial sweeteners! I’ve never been able to stand them.. won’t drink diet anything and always use real sugar – and I’ve managed to keep the 80 pounds off I lost years ago and still eat and drink good things. And a doctor told me that some of that stuff acts like a neurotoxin on your body! Yikes! Congrats on getting back to your happy weight! I definitely know the feeling
Congrats on kicking the artificial sweeteners! And losing the associated pounds with it, I know that’s gotta feel good. Mind my asking what articles you read specifically about that? My husband and I switched TO artificial sweeteners b/c he was doing Atkins and real sugar is a big no-no. But we’re no longer doing that, and I’ve always like real over fake sugar.
Safe travels, Fish! Here’s hoping you and your sister (and the rest of her crew) have an amazing time together!
I am horrified by the mis-attribution of the quote, but the tattoo itself is fun. Saw it while looking through the art done by someone in a DC-area tattoo parlor and it reminded me of you, Fishie.
Artificial sweeteners give me THE.WORST.NIGHTMARES so I figured they can’t be good for you and I don’t partake anymore. The worst nightmare I ever had involved my (dream) baby and my mom. My baby was crying and I couldn’t get him to stop and my mother was berating me for being a bad mother. It went on an on and on… When I finally turned to my baby to ask what was wrong, he said in Stuey’s voice, “well if I could talk then I wouldn’t be crying you stupid woman!” That’s when I woke up.
It is the greatest feeling to be able to fit in anything in your wardrobe! Good job on kickin’ the artifical stuff. Have fun in Austin with the fam!!!!!!
Good for you!! A little bit of sugar in your coffee and such isn’t that bad for you really…it’s the candy bars, the sodas and high fructose corn syrupy things of this world that are best to avoid! I like to use stevia sometimes- it’s actually sweeter than regular sugar, but is yummy in coffee and tea.
Spray butter is hard leave behind, have you tried Earth Balance? It’s an olive oil base, less fat than actual butter, spreads like margarine but tastes thousands of times better.
I’ve been adopting a no fake foods approach to my diet- if I can’t make it myself at home without the help of high grade machinery and unpronounceable chemicals, I won’t eat it. I like organic, but when my bills are a little tight, I find going local and following the no fake foods rule still keeps me in a healthy and happy place
Love your blog- been reading for a few years and have laughed and cried with your posts! Thanks!
High five!
Yay for you! I too use real sugar. I’d heard that fake sugar was bad for you (specifically that it triggered excess insulin production thereby making you fatter or slightly more prone to type 2 diabetes), but never found a really solid source on that to bring to my friends who always use splenda, etc. (I cannot bear it when marketers try to tell me splenda is healthy because it “comes from” sugar, or that some of the new fake sweeteners are healthy because they “come from” plants – which, by the way, sugar and high fructose corn syrup do too. Weird chemicals “made from” non-weird things are still weird chemicals. A skilled organic chemist could turn green tea into snake venom, but being “made from green tea” wouldn’t make the snake venom healthy.)
I wouldn’t panic about the fake butter. Even at worst, health-wise eating fake foods is not exactly mainlining heroin or even taking a shot of tequila.
I never liked diet soda, but I did drink splenda in my tea and occasionally indulge in crystal light. Until I found out all the bad things that it does to your body! So I quit and never looked back. I have colitis and I cannot tell you the positive effect quitting had on my flare ups. I went into remission for the first time in I can’t remember how many years! And after I quit I lost 10 pounds without even trying! My dentist and I fight over me using real sugar at every cleaning I have, but the last time I was there I shut him up by pointing out that I hadn’t had a cavity since high school! Here is an interesting article about aspartame http://www.naturalnews.com/028151_aspartame_sweeteners.html.
The bill thing made me laugh! Only because I said the same thing to my boy 2 days ago. All the bills are paid, groceries are bought, gas is in the car and I can relax. He didn’t get it.
Enjoy the bridal shower!
awesome that you can wear all your clothes…i’m on a mission to do just that myself….wish me luck…oh and i ditto the gal that said i love you love you love you…you are too cool!
xxooxxo
Hugs!
I cut out artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup and went fairly organic about 10 months ago. I’ve lost 30 lbs. Someone else mentioned it prior but I also putting in a word for the olive oil, you use it at restaurants to dip bread in all the time. I have yet to find the soy free earth balance but that’s next on my list to try.
Yummm…moist toist.
Totally agree on that one. But you can do it with butter. Either keep the butter in a cupboard instead of the fridge (you’ll want to put it in either a butter dish or a tupperware w/a lid) OR you can soften it in the microwave (for instant gratification ☺) but you will still need to put it in the butter dish/tupperware dish or you’ll just get an icky mess. For extra moistness, butter it as soon as it pops up from the toaster. Oh, and for extra extra yummy points? Dip it in coffee. Mmm…mmm good. 
congratulations! it’s a wonderful feeling.
also: i’m trying to convince my boyfriend to abandon artificial sweeteners, but have not had much luck. would you mind posting one or two of the articles you reference?
thanks!
oh, i meant to add: specifically about splenda
Oh my Gosh you said MOIST! Ewwww.
I stopped using artificial sweeteners as well. I use regular sugar but in moderation. Good job. I hope I can select anything from my wardrobe and say “I am gonna wear this today”, and wear it without sumo squats and weeping one day!
I’m trying to ditch the Splenda, too. What about Stevia? I know it comes from a plant, and is supposed to be better for you, but I just don’t know.
So, organic osmosis. Does this mean I can stand next to a thinner person and lose some of this weight I’ve put on over the past few years? No? I still have to go to the gym and watch what I eat?
Bummer.
To a true Goddess…your blogs just uplifted me in the most stellar way!…Hate to talk about myself right now…but a little fill in might help…I was famous, spotlights..fan club..la la la..I`m a world class hairstylist my clients include some of the elite..I`m not a millionaire never cared about fame..My clients are emulated by thousands but who do they ask for advice from that`s right their frickin hair stylist..all good except..they lack sensitivity and sensibility…Between suicide and drug interventions (there has been hundreds) 5% mortality rate…wow some good ones are gone..I quit my success and moved to a small island named Saltspring in the Canadian Gulf islands..to write smart movies…to help more than one at a time…thinking there would be less trauma..hugs all the time..well look out times have changed…same human condition. We live in paradise and have lost many who just gave up…well here`s where the story gets thick..your blogs gave me faith and entertained me when I wanted to give up!..Weird after saving 227 lives, too ironic..Never would have done anything stupid I have too much pride but I needed a healthy distraction and your light hearted view really made me feel good..I`ll sacrifice.no top salon..no fancy cars..just me and my boat and the next interesting tid bit from you..your so cool! He`s a lucky man!
I lurve (underlined) paying my bills! It gives me a sense of purpose…and I feel as good as I do right after I exercise! (And since non of that is happening anymore…ahem)
Not paying bills is Anxiety Land and admission is the monthly cost of my cell and rent and car and …ick.
Congratulations, Fish. I’ve been trying to avoid “fake foods” for awhile now myself & was recently diagnosed with some crazy food allergies – wheat, gluten, dairy, egg & soy. Overhauling my diet has been hard in a practical sense (working a 16 hour day and having to come home & cook for the next day is not my idea of a good time) but I haven’t actually missed anything which is a HUGE surprise to me. I love to eat & never thought I could live without cheese, let alone pizza.
I highly recommend you check out Clean Eating magazine. I’ve been a subscriber for over a year now and the recipes are wonderful. And I second the person(s) who recommended agave for your coffee. I’ve been using it in my coffee for quiet awhile & it tastes great, is completely natural & is lower on the glycemic index than sugar so it won’t spike your blood sugar.
You are so right about the artificial sweeteners! I was a Splenda junkie and I started adding brown sugar to my tea in the mornings. I used to cringe at first, realizing how much I had to put in, and then BOOM! Bye, bye, last annoying couple of pounds. Congrats on the weight loss, Fish!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who likes moist toast! I need the crunchiness subdued.