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It's So Cheesy

November 21st, 2006 at 02:02 am

Sometimes I think people think I am depriving myself. However, the times I am most unhappy about the Challenge is when I spendon Entertainment.

I budget $20 to $25 a month on entertainment; that’s mostly eating out. (I do have a separate line item for Netflix, for some reason, and my 12 channel cable too). Well, when I go out to eat, I usually feel good about it. But when I spend that money on take out, it’s rarely a feeling of relief or luxury or a treat; it’s usually a sign that I’ve just gotten sloppy. Besides the Challenge, I happen to be chubby, out of shape, and prone to migraines, which may partially be triggered by a number of foods more likely to be found at a restaurant than in my fridge (nitrates). So what the heck am I doing ordering pizza last night?!?! I’m spending out of my overspent category, and I’m not getting joy. I’m getting crankiness and bloat and a feeling of letting myself down.

I would have been so much happier having an omelet or bulgur or spinach. Spending money resulted in less happiness, not more.

In month nine, I’d have thought I’d have figured it out. But no, I had to give up money and self-esteem for fifteen minutes of pizza love.

Meh.

Here I go trying to catch the flight to Sacramento that was cancelled this morning.

10 Responses to “It's So Cheesy”

  1. pjmama Says:
    1164080454

    I have to admit, bulger is pretty good, but every now and again you need that pizza moment. But I totally know what you mean... I spent way too much on chinese one day because I just NEEDED something, it ended up being really bad. There wasn't even chinese love there Smile I hope you at least liked your pizza... hehe. Dont be too hard on yourself!

  2. yummy64 Says:
    1164080562

    Our path to our goals is never a smooth and paved one. So a pizza waylaid you on your journey. McD's does that to me on occasion. I don't really enjoy it yet I still end up eating there and not happy about it.

    Could you explore making your own heathier pizza and freezing it?

    I hope your travels to and from Sacramento are smooth and easy!

  3. PRICEPLUS Says:
    1164089184

    I sometimes order a cheese free whole wheat fresca pizza. It is chock full of veggies! I don't feel too bad spending when something is healthy! I do love regular pizz though and I have been know to eat 4 slices during a sitting.

    I get migraines and I know that bit of unpleasntry. I get zig zag lines across my field of vision and I feel ike someone is driving a spike through my head.. ARRGGHHH!!! I hate migraines!

    I hope things look a little brighter tomorrow! I also hope you have a good flight!

  4. tinapbeana Says:
    1164112448

    my sister makes homemade pizza using the bobolli pre-baked crusts. not actual pizza-shop pizza though, cause the red sauce gets to her. the most popular is greek pizza, with olive oil olives and feta cheese. i myself would be tempted to do a chicken pesto or chicken alfredo pizza. yum!

    having a plan for those nights when you absolutely, positively don't want to cook helps, that way you don't find yourself ordering something you don't want. personally, i never wanna cook on monday's, so that's becoming mine and DH's date night to go to our favorite pan-asian restaurant. we eat enough veggies there to make up for the fact that it's a meal out...

  5. paigu Says:
    1164118274

    It's very hard to resist pizza! Sometimes it's just so tempting to opt for convenience food instead of cooking. You could start looking for coupons and have them on hand, to save a little money.
    I hate to sound clinical, but maybe it might help you to try to see food differently- sort of push aside the delicousness or cheesiness and really see it as numbers (calories) being put into your body. By making impulse eating into "math" maybe that might influence your choices....or am I just being too nerdy here....

  6. carol Says:
    1164170206

    I thinking that you are using eating out as a way to not feel deprived. If it makes you ill with migrains and keeping you from losing weight then, it would make more sense to eat at home. You just need to find an inexpensive luxury that will do you some good. Take the money you would have spent for a meal out and save it in an envelope. When you go for a whole month without eating out, go and ALLOW yourself to buy something or use it for a concert ticket, movie ticket, or a Massage!

  7. carol Says:
    1164170537

    I forgot to add that it is obvious that eating out makes you feel bad so why go, and waste money on it when you could be spending the money on something that brings you pleasure and happiness instead?

  8. lrjohnson Says:
    1164248642

    Could you explore making your own heathier pizza and freezing it? AND my sister makes homemade pizza using the bobolli pre-baked crusts. AND having a plan for those nights when you absolutely, positively don't want to cook helps, that way you don't find yourself ordering something you don't want.
    Good points, and actually tips I use when I'm on the right track. I like the Boboli sheels and get them at the bread thrift store and freeze them. Now that I have a freeezer I was thinking of making my own dough and "par" baking the crusts. Eeven without pizza in the mix, the idea of home non-cooking "fast" food from scratch is a great one. I try to freeze good dishes I make in large batches. Also I can fancy canned soup on hand; that's fast food too. Sometimes though I just get sloppy; mentally lazy and physically lazy. That's the battle.

    is obvious that eating out makes you feel bad
    I thought, and wrote, that is was more take out that I didn't feel good about, not the actual out to eat. I may not be right, of couyrse, but if I go out for a dining expereince, I enjoy it; I had two baja tacos the other night, $2 each, so with tax and tip I paid $6 for a nice sit down meal. I think, though i'm working through this, is that I need to eat out when I want to eat out, but not eat out or take out when I want to be lazy.

    I thinking that you are using eating out as a way to not feel deprived. I'll keep an eye out for that, but at this point I'm not convinced it is true. I feel less deprived when I don't get take out. It is true that entertainment can be spent on things other than food. However, some "normal luxuries I don't enjoy (going out to movies -much prefer renting dvds), and some things that are luxuries I do a lot of: reading, book shopping, hot baths with bubbles. Again, I'll keep it in mind.

  9. carol Says:
    1164257566

    I reread your post again, thinking maybe i wasn't quite understanding it the first 2 times. and also your answer to me. Then i read some of your older posts again and realized we are alot alike. I am a homebody too!! but anyways........ I think maybe you try too hard to be perfect at this challenge and beat yourself up too easily! Relax! I think you are doing a great job.

  10. zakity Says:
    1165391268

    Do you have a bread machine? I have a good bread machine pizza dough recipe. Yell if you need it.

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