NOOM

So I did it. I spent another 180-something-dollars that I really didn't want to spend on weight loss with the justification of "aren't I worth it?" I purchased a program on the NOOM app. I'm a skeptic. When I clicked "I believe" on the frist NOOM lesson, it was with a smug mug and a Tina Fey sized eye roll.

That was two weeks ago. I have gained back the one pound I lost (mostly because of my love/hate/love relationship with pizza) and I am not comlpetely hating myself for this since I am super psyched that I have not gained any EXTRA weight since starting. This is a HUGE, non-scale victory.

In two weeks, I have found myself thinking about food differently. I am chewing completly, which sounds dumb, but for an emotional, feeding-frenzied sort of eater, this is relevant. I am making better choices about what I eat/drink and I am learning how to bake flourless cookies (see simple peanutbutter cookie recipe below). I am eating more vegetables and drinking more water. I am eating oatmeal again and paying attention to portions (especially with pizza and flourless cookies). I am also more aware of how different foods affect my energy, digestion, comfort. Some foods make me sluggish. Some upset my belly. Some give me a jolt. This is significant.

The secret of NOOM is not so much what it teaches, because as lifelong dieter, I KNOW most of the information, but it's how the app teaches the information. There is something to 10-14 minutes of articles a day and the positive reinforcement for tracking my meals, water, and steps each day. I am more active, making healthier choices and feeling more confident. I am shopping better and sleeping better. I also am meditating every day.

I begin week 3 tomorrow with a new NOOM chapter. We shall see what comes from this new journey. Whether this is the thing to keep me motivated long term or not remains to be seen. So far, I am impressed. I will be sure to return here each week to update my progress. Even if I am the only one reading, it keeps me accountable.

Keep walking in beauty and peace, my peeps.

Mahalo. \m/\m/

Flourless Peanutbutter cookies

(compare nutrition with traditional peanutbutter cookie recipe here.)

Ingredients:

2TBSP brown Splenda

1 C Peanutbutter ( I used Skippy)

1/2 C granulated sugar

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350.

• Mix ingredients in a bowl.

• Roll dough into balls (whatever size you prefer) and place on cookie sheet. Roll dough balls in granulated Splenda or sugar before putting on the cookie sheet, if you prefer.

• Use a fork to make hatch marks/criss coss marks on each cookie.

• Bake for 9-11 minutes (based on preference/taste).

Nutrition per cookie (22 cookies total): 98 calories, 1.4g fat, 10g carbohydrates, 10g sugar, 2.9g protein

Nutrition totals (divide by servings made): 2064 calories, 30g fat, 224g carbohydrates, 224g sugar, 64g protein).