Simplify or Suffer

I come from a family of addicts. Did I say that before? Hi, my name is Cathy and I am an addict. Addiction runs in my family - alcohol addiction, cigarette addiction, opium addiction, meth addiction, shopping addiction, hoarding addiction, food addiction.

"Eat to Live is NOT a diet, it's a lifestyle." Heard that before? Are you an addict? That mantra does not work for addicts. That mantra just means that you cheat all you want and not beat yourself up about it because it's not a diet with all its rules and restrictions. It's just a lifestyle change.

Addicts, listen up (I'm talking to myself) - Eat to Live is FULL OF RULES AND RESTRICTIONS. Anybody who says otherwise does not know how conniving addicts can be to themselves. Saying it's a lifestyle will doom you to suffer FOREVER because as an addict, I can rationalize anything - give me an inch, I'll take a mile.

Two things I learned on this journey that helps me survive one day at a time:

• One day at a time is the surefire path to failure. BE the BS (Boy Scout, not Big Spazz or Bull S%*#) - be prepared - don't stare at the refrigerator at 5:30 and hope to make dinner at 6. Create a menu for the week. Use the clean up time in the kitchen for prep for the next day. Make as much ahead of time and stick it in the fridge for grab n go opportunities
• KEEP IT SIMPLE. You have less chance of failure when you're not running around like a chicken without a head. 
• Breakfast on the weekdays alternates between smoothies and oatmeal
• Green smoothies - a couple cups of greens (kale, spinach), a couple frozen bananas, a few dates, fresh or frozen fruit, non-dairy milk, a little extra when you get bored (chai spice, peanut butter, unsweetened cocoa, flax seed)
• Oatmeal - with fresh fruit on top, frozen fruit cooked in, spices, pumpkin, flax seed, etc.
• Lunch on the weekeday - Hugh Jass salad with homemade no oil dressings (we go through about three recipes worth of dressing a week) or leftovers from dinner
• Dinner - is the only real meal we need to prepare for, so BE the BS.

Here's a super easy breakfast oatmeal

Serves 3

1 cup of water

1 cup of non-dairy milk, boil in a medium pot

Meanwhile, core and cut an apple and a frozen banana (optional for extra sweetness) - leaving the skin on is ok

Once the liquid boils, put 2/3 cup Coach's Oats oatmeal in pot with fruits.

Lower heat and cook for 5 minutes

dry fry some nuts like walnuts

Done. I make enough for the week, put it in containers, grab and go. At work, pop it in the micro for 1:30, add non dairy  milk, good to go.