I must confess…
I could even go as far as to say I need to admit something, to you and to myself.
I’m an addict. A junkie.
An incorrigible, terrible food fanatic.
Over this past Holiday Season, something happened. A HUGE trigger got triggered.
A cannonball got fired and I fell off the wagon. Way off.
Like thousands of feet down into the ravine.
You see, every year at this time of year is a period where I like to totally pull the plug. I take a break from the crazy race that my usual life is. I watch movies, play video games, stay in my pjs all day if I want and just plain take it easy…
I hadn’t done it quite to that extent in a LONG while and this year, I decided that I was long due so I decided that I would chill as much as I could. At a very minimum, I had to put Zelda Skyward Sword to bed, at long last.
While I decided to take a break from all the stress, it looks like my brain decided we were also to take a break from all the health stuff. You see, the thing is, I’m not a natural at this whole health thing. While I appreciate the results and benefits that I get from it, it’s a constant struggle for me to not go back to my old eating habits.
For the last 2 weeks, I behaved just like an ex-smoker who went from not smoking at all to smoking two or even three packs a day.
Like a recovered alcoholic who went from being sober to having martinis for breakfast and then proceed to drink themselves under the table basically every day.
No, I didn’t start smoking again, do not fear. And I didn’t get drunk either, not even once… but for 2 weeks, I fed mostly off chips, cakes, cookies, chocolate, cheese, pasta, salami, bread, sweets, more cake, and did I mention chips and chocolate? Oh, and booze too. Let’s not forget the booze! While I never got drunk, I still had some form of alcoholic beverage every single day.
In other words, absolutely all the foods that I KNOW my body would be highly intolerant to, I decided to feed off get high on.
And what impact did this little regimen have on my body, you think? I managed to gain 6 kilos, no less. That’s close to 14 pounds. In 2 weeks!!
Talk about ruining months of efforts, all in the name of taste.
Now I can’t help but feeling like a total fraud. Here I am, trying to inspire others to eat healthy while I’m stuffing my face with all sorts of nasties.
But hey, I guess that also shows that I’m only human after all and I do happen to fall sometimes.
Only I don’t intend to stay in that ravine and I will bounce right back, starting RIGHT now.
With a salad, of course! But not just any salad… Feast your eyes on this!
That, is a real protein bomb right there.
It might not contain an ounce of meat, but between the egg whites, the cottage cheese, the toasted almonds and the whey protein, this one will get well over 50g of protein into you.
And fiber GALORE!
Now if that doesn’t keep you satisfied for a very long time, I don’t know what will.
Of course, you can expect to see a few more salads like this one as well as all sorts of other light meals for the next couple of weeks.
But I’d like to think that I’m not the only one who needs to eat lighter dishes for a short while…
Oh, and guys…
Thank you so much for listening. I feel sooo much better now that I have shared this with you.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup mixed greens
- ½ head cauliflower, steamed and cooled
- 1 gala apple, peel on, diced
- 100g endive, shredded
- 15g sliced almonds, toasted
- ¼ cup 1% fat cottage cheese
- ¼ cup pasteurized egg whites
- 1 scoop plain whey protein
- 50g fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tsp Pommery Meaux mustard (you could use regular whole grain mustard)
- 1 tbsp White Wine Vinegar
- Pinch salt and pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a small pan over medium-low, toast the almonds until fragrant and they start to color. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, add all the ingredients of the vinaigrette to a mini blender or food processor and process until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the mixed greens, cooked cauliflower, diced apple and shredded endive. Pour in dressing and toss delicately until well combined.
- Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle almonds on top.
- This salad is best enjoyed immediately.
Notes
*I strongly recommend cooking the cauliflower the previous day, or at least 4 hours in advance so that it has time to completely cool.
Thanks for sharing. I have been struggling with reverting back to some unhealthy life choices. You made me feel like I am not alone. I have been thinking about trying to incorporate more salads in my diet so this came at the perfect time. Thanks for sharing your struggles, it makes us all stronger.
Watch this space then Jodie, because I get the feeling there will be quite a few smoothies, soups and salads on here in the upcoming weeks. Let’s get back to healthy choices together! Hop on, there’s plenty of room on this train. And the more of us are on this train, the stronger we all are!
I’ve done something similiar, got progressively worse in my eating habits in the last 6 months and then really bad the last three weeks. I to now need to lose a significant amount of weight but mostly get back to feeling healthy. I’m so glad to hear I’m not alone.
You are so not alone, Rachel. I don’t think that there are too many people out there who are complete natural health nuts and never get tempted by junk or fall off the wagon for a certain amount of time… the trick is to not stay off, to get back on track as soon as possible, which is often easier said than done. The further you let the train go, the harder it is to get back on. Come on, run… grab my hand! Hop on!
The holidays are always difficult. This year I resolved to not eat any wheat and did better than I’ve ever done before… despite succumbing to the call of chocolate too many times. Just cutting out wheat eliminated many of the temptations.
My favorite way to prepare cauliflower for salads is to roast it with just a good sprinkling of garam marsala.
Maybe next year, I should try cutting out any and all refined sugar. I think that would help me a lot. Thanks for giving me this idea, Rosemary.
Thanks for the salad recipe, gives me lot’s of ideas! Good luck on your journey back on track, I am right behind you…as I too fell off, way off the train…
Time to get back on, Julie! Shall I pull on the emergency break now?
No one’s perfect, but it sure takes a lot of courage to explain this to your readers! Thanks so much, it makes it even easier to relate to you… you are human just like the rest of us!
When I went vegan a few years ago (or TRIED to go vegan), this is exactly what I did. And for about two weeks too. Being a nutrition major though, I learned that we usually crave what we lack, so when I went vegan I would eventually eat a ton of sliced turkey and eggs and those delicious whey protein smoothies. While I haven’t commented on your most recent posts, I did read them (oh, and adore them as well). Many of them were high protein and low fat/carb, so maybe this was your body telling you it wanted more fats/carbs? I don’t know, just a guess?
But anyways, thanks so much for sharing such a personal experience. Today’s recipe looks great! This high protein dish will surely curb some unhealthy cravings and keep our stomachs full. Sometimes when I crave sweets even after a filling dinner, instead of reaching for a brownie I’ll drink a Vitamin Water Zero (my favorite flavor is the lemonade), Bai5 drinks (these are new, so I’m not sure if they’re in Canada yet), or unsweetened almond milk plus a little stevia.
Sorry for the long comment lol. I can’t wait to read your next posts
-Jess
VITAMIN WATER! I had so forgotten all about vitamin water! I love that stuff and they finally started making some that are naturally sweetened and don’t contain aspartame or other nasty sweeteners. Maybe I should keep a few on hand for when I get a sudden “sugar attack”
I don’t think that I’ve been so low with my carbs consumption that my body is craving carbs all that much. I think it’s more that I am a big time sugar addict and I opened the door a little too wide for comfort. My brain stepped in and swung it wide open, took it off the hinges and everything. At least, I had set an “ending” date and haven’t been having to hard a time going back to my usual diet. I was planning on keeping my carbs way low for a month or so, just to help cleanse my body, but your intervention has made me realize that it might not be a good idea to go for so long, cuz then I might only crave carbs even more and go berserk once again.
How long did you try to go vegan for? I tried to go vegetarian once, or almost, but I just can’t do it, especially not now that I realize just how well my body is doing on higher protein. I do feel bad about eating animals, though. I really wish I could do without.
And please, don’t ever feel sorry about leaving a comment, not even if it was going to be pages long! It’s always a pleasure and an honor to hear from you. I too, visit your blog regularly and drool all over your recipes all the time… I wish I could try them all, but I think I would only end up gaining even more weight!
Thanks so very much for your kind words and support, Jess. I really, truly appreciate that!
I went vegan for only ~4 months, after going vegetarian for ~4 months also. I am so embarrassed that I didn’t do the proper in-depth research one should do when going veg. I basically ate bread, fruits and candy/chocolate/Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World all day, thinking it was healthy and guilt-free. Nope! While my weight didn’t change, I probably gained a bunch of fat while losing all my muscle mass, since I never exercised either.
And I agree with you, I feel so much better eating sufficient protein (especially animal protein, even though I feel bad too). Carbs don’t fill me up at all, even if I ate an entire sugar cake from a bakery I would get hungry again in 10 minutes! Anyways, good luck getting back to eating healthier again, can’t wait for the upcoming recipes
-Jess
Haha! But cakes will never fill you up, Jess, unless they are loaded with complex carbs and ideally some protein, too! That’s the key!
Thank goodness for whey, right?
Hi
I’ve been following your blog for a long time (your recipes are fantastically creative and healthy without being cruelly depriving), but I’ve never felt the need to comment before.
I guess I just want to say that I respect you so much for sharing this and I hope that you don’t think this post shatters the perfect “healthy foodie” image that may have been in the mind of your readers; in fact, I believe this makes you even more legitimate because NOBODY is flawlessly healthy all the time, and it’s dangerous to think that slipping or craving unhealthy foods is unnatural or forbidden.
Cheers, and good luck hopping back on the train! I’m sure it won’t be a persistent issue! Happy New Year!
Thank you so much for these kind words, Irina. That is precisely what I needed to hear. I was indeed afraid that my “failure” would somewhat put a dent in the image that people have of me, that you guys would think less of me… It feels so good to hear that my flaws only make me more “human” and legitimate in your eye. That is like music to my ears!
I sure am glad that you felt the need to comment on this post. You are a true gem!!
Hey Chick! That salad looks amazing and you know I love me some cauli! As far as falling off the train, we’ve all done it! And as a blogger I’m grateful to have the support of readers and other bloggers to help pick me up off of the tracks and boost me back onto the train – with no recriminations. Looks like you have that same support, so don’t feel guilty – especially not because of us! All of us can relate to what you’ve been through, and we admire you even more for not only acknowledging it, but getting it under control before it’s too late! I hope you enjoyed your time off and every decadent bite! Now back to work! Chooo chooo!
Thank you Mellissa, I truly appreciate your support and kind words. You are so very right, there’s nothing quite like blogging and its community to help you get right back in the swing of things. I did enjoy every single decadent bite, even though I felt terribly guilty and was sort of looking forward to going back to my healthy habits toward the end of my Holiday. Guess that’s a good sign. Now I think I’ll need to get some inspiration from you for the next month… low carb, whole 30. Doesn’t get any better (or tougher) than this, does it? I look forward to following your new adventure!
All I can say is a heart-felt “bravo” for the honesty…which makes me admire/respect you all-the-more…You have shown yourself to be a superlative creative dynamo in all things related to culinary wizardry…and you need to simply acknowledge that, with your LIFE so intrinsically involved with all things FOOD, one is bound to want to veer back to eating things with “connection” at this time of year…It is cold…there is family to bake/cook for..so many cultural and familial food “traditions” with deep “meaning” for us on a personal level. It is so difficult to abstain totally from non- “healthy” fare, but we need to learn to cut ourselves some slack from time to time. I find that once I peg a certain food as “evil” or “never-to-pass-lips” again..it is this negative label that makes me desire it even more.
You have such a vast, evident knowledge of nutrition and a true gift of flavour/texture marrying of savours, that this temporary “glitch” should not frighten you..you are just normal!..Such an admirer I am! Happiest New Year to you Sonia..you deserve it for all you share and offer to us all.
Oh my! Thank you so much Donna. Talk about making me feel better! Wow, such amazing words. I don’t know what to say. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You totally rock! And all the best to you!
Love your honesty!!! And which milepost does that train stop at???!!!
Haha, thanks Jan! The train has already stopped for me, but shall I pull the emergency break for you?
It’s good to know that you’re human! I once gained 10 pounds over Christmas break while I was still in college and I still cringe just thinking about it. My sister and I went on a crazy baking-extravagant-desserts-bender.
At least you know how to get back on track
That’s very similar to what I just did. Baking-extravagant-desserts-bender. I had WAY too much sugar! Unfortunately, this would be my biggest addiction… I really hope that one day, I will be free of it. Say, did you manage to lose the weight after? 14 pounds in 14 days (wow, that’s one whole pound a day!) is my most extreme weight gain ever. I’m guessing at least half of it is water weight, so I’m hoping to be rid of it by early February. Like you said, I know how to get back on track, and I have you all to support me! Thanks for that, Loretta!
Yeah, it didn’t take too long for me to get back to my original weight. That was years ago though and I had crazy awesome metabolism. I have a feeling it would take a little longer nowadays…
Good luck!
Oh lordy! I will see you tomorrow on MFP. Be there or… I don’t know. You’ll be in trouble with me, missy!
(I’m a bit short on time for a longer more serious comment. Sorry!)
Haha! You’re funny, Erin! I’m back on MFP already… well, in fact, I never really left. I kept logging my workouts every day, it’s just my food that didn’t get logged. Maybe that was also part of the problem. I was so happy not to have to write down every single piece of food that went into my mouth that I just went crazy overboard! That and the fact that it was the Holidays and that I had decided I would cut me a little bit of slack. I guess I just cut me a lot more slack than I originally intended to. My body and mind probably needed this, and I will hopefully be able to put this little mishap behind me soon enough…
Hey, does this mean you’re coming back to MFP? That would be sooooo cool! It’s lonely in there without you!
That salad looks delicious and perfect for getting me back into a healthy eating routine post-holidays.
AWESOME!!! Thank you Danii!
Loved this post and the sincerity behind it… staying on track is tough. It would be nice if health was something that could be attained and then fixed in time but it’s not that easy, is it; we have to have to keep working at it. But therein lies the rub, we are *all* works in progress, screwing up and learning as we go along. When I’m having a bad day I always remind myself: tomorrow is another day to practice. Be kind to yourself. You’re awesome. xo.
Thank you so much for such kind and wise words, Kelly! I really love this: “we are all works in progress”. I will keep that one in mind, that’s for sure!
Thank you, my friend!
I love your honesty. It is sometimes difficult to go to these blogs and see people posting healthy food. This post showed that even the bloggers themselves struggle to keep at their life style. Welcome back to the train. May your ride be a joyous one.
Hehe! For sure, Tender. If you’re on board this same train, how can it not be a joyous one? Let’s rock this joint!
Oh, and thanks for your kind words my friend, I appreciate that!
I fell off the wagon slightly too in deCember and while I didn’t gain that much (6 lbs or so) I felt it in me. I got fluffier. An it’s hard to get back on the wagon but I’m back on. Good luck getting back on, you can do it
Fluffier! I like that, Kammie! I’ll have to remember it!
Now what would be the opposite of that? That’s where we want to go now, anyway! Let’s get it done, shall we?
OK, first of all, I doubt you gained 6 kg of fat – a lot of that is probably water!
I have to admit I can’t relate to the struggles of eating healthy, as I genuinely enjoy it and never have to force some food on myself, but I do have a sweet tooth, so my strugle is not overdo the sugar.
Have you thought of the possibility that such intense cravings for ”unhealthy” foods were caused by not eating enough? I’ve had a look at your MFP a while ago and it seemed to me you were eating very little, especially considering all the exercise you do. I have a feeling that now after all this overeating you’ll restrict even more, but this way you’ll never break the vicious cycle. :/
You’re right Jessy, a lot of it has to be water weight and will come off “rather” easily, but the end result is still the same: I am 6 kilos heavier now than I was before the Holidays!
I too, genuinely enjoy eating healthy! If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be all excited with the foods that I eat and could never come up with all those recipes either. I absolutely ADORE eating healthy food and genuinely LOVE every single thing that I eat. I don’t ever have to force any food on myself either. However, it has not always been the case, so that’s why I say that I am not a natural at this. For years, I ate more than my share of junk food and other not so healthy stuff and my brain remembers that all too well, so it also CRAVES that, sometimes. Especially sugar, which I’ve always been highly addicted to. I’m keeping all this under control, but I do struggle sometimes and this time, a cannonball got fired it seems.
You could be right in saying that the fact that I had been under a restricted calorie intake for the past few months (had some fat to get rid of and the only way to achieve that is to create a calorie deficit!) might have played some role in my getting such intense cravings, but I think that it’s mostly due to old habits and strong addictions resurfacing during the Holiday Season. I know that this will always be a struggle for me… I only need to learn to control it better!
Don’t feel bad Sonia! Everyone does that sometimes! It doesn’t mean you aren’t setting an awesome example for others, because even after all that you’re posting awesomely healthy foods to inspire others! I know you’ll get back on track(and lose everything you gained) in no time, don’t worry
Awww, thank you Heidi! I have been back on track for a week now and feeling fantastic! I guess it’s easy for me to do that as I really, truly LOVE eating healthy food and creating tasty, healthy recipes. I only wish I could create more, but hey, there is such a thing as eating too much healthy food too, so I have to keep my inspiration in check. You should see my list, though… it keeps getting longer every day!
Thanks again for your kind words of encouragement. I truly appreciate them!