Consomme

I just finished a book, Wolves in Chic Clothing, (very funny) about society women in New York. It reminded me of so many times I came across this type while I lived there. The Skinny Girls Rules were invented by these women who think nothing of spending $10,000 on a mid-week-personal-present-recovery-program, shopping spree at Bergdorf’s; some shoes, a few bags, a scarf or two, just odds and ends. Now, one must have a skinny body to justify this interest in high fashion. The rules are Zen strict. You may eat anything lettucey with nothing but lemon on it. Consomme for special occasions. Never touch the food at society benefit dinners. Move it around on the plate and eat the lettuce only. Perrier with lime is favorite drink. That is about it. The question of eating thing like sodas of any kind, diet or not, any peasant foods like sandwiches, ethnic foods, pasta, is frowned upon. To even be in the presence of such food is creepy. These Extremely Skinny Girls always eat before they go out to dinner, order something small and expensive and nibble at the lettuce. Needless to say, they do not take leftovers home. They also eat before going to a dinner party. Sometimes cocktail time can be long. It is not good to drink on an empty stomach and hors d’oeuvres are out of the question. They have personal trainers, a personal gym, and nutritionist/chiefs on call. The demand to fit into designer clothing consumes them. They do not cook. Their food consumption is controlled by the trainer and chief. Heads roll if they gain even a fraction of a pound. (I exaggerate only slightly). See New York Social Diary.

Just to acknowledge the influence of the Extremely Skinny Girls on my approach to eating, I am not going to include foods that are substitutes for foods that are knock offs of high fat foods skinny girls never eat. It is an attitude that is important. Trying to eat the same not so good for you guy foods that have been adapted to be okay is not skinny girl thinking. This is hard ball I know and not for everyone. I believe one's mind set has a lot to do with ones relationship to food. Changing the programming of the mind requires a seismic shift of brain cells.

Last week I went to an Open House Sunday afternoon. I had a “party panic episode” and ate the tiny White Castle like hors d’oeuvres. Sometimes I get freaked out in social situations. Someone I knew was introduced to me and she did not remember that we have meet and even talked before. Granted this is Naples, Florida and most everyone is old as the hills and can’t remember anything. I took it hard and left to attend my 11 year old granddaughter’s birthday party at Cheebuger Cheebuger. I ate a big hamburger with cheese, fries and onion rings and a chocolate milk shake. Anxiety eating. I felt sick. I confessed my lapse at WW yesterday and my Leader gave me sheets to fill out titled Anchoring, Mental Rehearsing, and Positive Self-Talk. Thank you WW.

Consomme
Joy of Cooking 1997, Page 107

Basic Mixed Green Salad
Joy of Cooking 1997, Page 206-207

First Post

I am assuming as I write this there is someone out there reading who also wants to be or stay skinny. When I say skinny I mean not fat. Believe me when ten pounds creep up slowly what is skinny takes on a whole new meaning. Forget about the x-ray thin idea. I think everyone agrees that just looks sick. And maybe is. I am talking about a man’s version of skinny, meaning “somethin’ to ya’ ” but not falling out in spots. You know what I mean, no bulges.

You got that? OK. We’re on. The first step I recommend is to call 1-800-651-6000 and turn your self in to Weight Watchers. I say this because it is the only thing that works over time. They have it down. I am in my second round of WW magic. I went for the first time about two years ago after trying several other diets. My Dad was on Weight Watchers many years ago, bless his soul. He used to say “ I have to go weigh in with the fat ladies.” It worked for him until he had a stroke and could not keep focused any longer.

Here’s what happened. I signed up for an expensive cruise. Had to get skinny. Had a dead line. Seven months. Worked really hard. Lost 15 lbs. Bought cute cruise clothes. Looked great. Cruise turned out not to be as great as I thought it would be. No real fault of the cruise itself. It was my first and I went alone on a group thing and did not connect with group so well because they were mostly couples. My looking skinny and great was not exactly a plus with the wives. Got home. Gave up. Ate everything. Gained weight back and then some.

Now I am, through prayer and great determination, on a mission to get my skinny body back. My health means everything to me. I have so much to live for. My life is blessed in so many ways. I will come to terms with this single older woman stigma.
Back to Weight Watchers.

Let me say a few things about WW. Really warm and fuzzy. Nice people, mostly women. Safe. Caring. And, all types trying to loose weight. Some have had a struggle with weight issues their whole lives, some just had a couple of babies and need to get back in their cute swim suits, some are once upon a time skinny girls like me, a big gang of grannies of all shapes and sizes. Medical problems seem to keep many from exercising the way they need to. It's hard to work up a thirty minute sweat when your knees feel like the Tin Man. And some have doctors saying "Get Ye To Weight Watchers Or Else".

Looking around the room I feel supported and lucky to just be wanting to get back into my expensive cruise wardrobe again. I can ride my bike and like to. I like to exercise. I like vegetables. I like healthy foods. This whole thing is a piece of cake for me. Some of the gals hate to exercise, hate vegetables, have never had good eating habits. And meditation? That subject has never come up. I feel I am way ahead of the game. So, tomorrow morning I weigh in for the week. I am hopeful. I'll let you know what happens. And, I have some great new recipes to share involving dumplings, sweet potatoes, and greens.