Portion control

So this is a cross post about portion control. I’m doing something a little personal but it’s still got a medical connection and I’ve done a Medical Fun Facts podcast about it too.

Weight gain and weight loss

2016 has been a year of steady weight gain for me. At the end of 2003 I tipped the scales at 100 kilograms. It was around Christmas of 2003 that my younger brothers started making whale noises when I was at the beach. On New Year’s Day 2004 I started modifying my way of eating, thinking and living. By the end of 2004 I had stabilised to about 77 kilograms. I did hit a trough of 75 kilograms but I could not sustain that weight.

Maintaining a ‘good’ weight

Since then my body weight has gone up and down but never above 85 kilograms. This year I stopped weighing myself and felt it was good enough to judge my progress based on how my clothes fit and what hole I was using on my belt.

The big day arrived

A couple of weeks ago I reached a psychological and physical tipping point. A pair of trousers demonstrated a dehiscence (not where you are assuming) and I was at the second last hole of my belt. It was clearly time for a change.

My ‘dramatic’ weight loss in 2004 was a result of eliminating carbohydrates (CHO) from my food and focusing on protein (mainly meat and cheese plus low GI vegetables) and what some people call healthy fats. Since the end of 2004, from time to time I restricted my CHO intake to modify my weight. I didn’t always like it though.

It’s a confining way to exist rather than live. I enjoy rice, quinoa and noodles. I like toast as a carrier for things like Vegemite and avocado. I like rolled oats and cereal for breakfast. Going without those things drives cravings for chocolate and ice cream even more (at least in my mind). It has other drawbacks too. It makes going out to dinner a little more difficult. You need to plan. I also experienced two bouts of gout.

My disclaimer

I’m also conscious, that despite, the medical disclaimer I put on YummyLummy.com there are readers who know I am a medical practitioner and who may incorrectly link the way I behave in terms of eating as some form of professional endorsement. Let me make it clear, what you see me eat in YummyLummy.com is not medical, health or nutritional advice. I do not offer nutritional advice as a professional service. I am aware that recently the Medical Board of Australia placed conditions on the registration of a medical practitioner after a complaint by a nutritionist saw the Board send a message that in this particular situation this medical practitioner did not have sufficient qualifications to provide a specific type of nutritional advice. In addition, there were concerns raised about endorsement of a related service offered by a family member.

My solution

So to resolve my problem I am embarking on a journey of portion control. If you follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram you may have seen the phrase “portion control” used on posts. Dear readers and listeners, I need encouragement. Please keep me honest. I need to fit into my pre-Hong Kong holiday trousers.

Portion control. Spicy baked salmon with kale coleslaw. #dinner #yummylummy #foodporn #yummy #delicious #instafood #nikon
Portion control. Spicy baked salmon with kale coleslaw #dinner #yummylummy #foodporn #yummy #delicious #instafood #nikon

Thank you

 

 

 

6 Responses

  1. Bet of luck Gary and thank you for your honest post. Portion control is a funny thing. As I get older my stomach wants to eat less but my brain still wants as much as always. It’s a constant battle!

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