So forever (okay, just 2 years) I have eating oatmeal for breakfast. Lady of routine, one pack of instant sugar free apple cinnamon oatmeal.
Once, I got crazy and added berries.
Until a couple of weeks ago, when I realized I was eating 99.9% carbs all day every day. And I decided I better step outside of the instant oatmeal and find some other options.ENTER THE EGG AND
PEANUT BUTTER!!
PEANUT BUTTER!!
Well, not together but both on the same plate. You see, I've heard so many people at the gym (well, trainers mostly) talk about 2 hard boiled eggs & peanut butter toast for breakfast.
And...if you have paid attention to my blog, ya'll know I'm deeply scared of having peanut butter in my house. Wanna know why? Cuz I LOVE IT. TOO MUCH. Give me a jar of peanut butter and I'll tell ya a bazillion food combination that would tempt your taste buds (or at least tempt a binger like myself!) I'm not kidding - you see, pre-weight loss, peanut butter was my go-to food. I would put peanut butter on EVERYTHING!
- Kit Kat dipped in peanut butter
- Peanut butter & cheese sandwiches
- Crackers & peanut butter
- Pretzels & peanut butter
- Celery & peanut butter
- Oreo's dipped in peanut butter
- Peanut butter smeared banana
- Peanut butter on a spoon
- or a fork
- or on my finger
The past couple of weeks, I've had eggs and toast.
But I really want the added protein from the peanut butter. (I want to increase my protein intake.) And, since the light-bulb moment about controlling my response to the environment instead of controlling the environment, I made a risky decision this weekend.
My shopping list...
Yes, I've decided to purchase a jar of peanut butter. So while standing in the peanut butter section, I felt my armpits start to sweat. I examined the nutritional labels carefully and to be honest, felt very overwhelmed looking at the calories. Flashbacks of peanut butter filled binges flashed in my mind.
But alas, I bought it anyways.
I can control my response to my environment.
Enter The Peanut Butter
ah, how I've missed you.
Can we make out?
okay okay, no making out
with the peanut butter!
Can we make out?
okay okay, no making out
with the peanut butter!
(P.S. notice the glasses? Doctor says I better start wearing them all the time so I dug around and found an old pair I had. Glasses bother me, they rub on my nose too much - maybe I'll look into contacts.)Anyways, this Beck Diet book is giving me the confidence that I can live with Peanut Butter without impaling my tongue deep into the jar to lick the remaining insides out. I tried this morning to add it to my toast but when I turned the jar over to look at the servings and saw 1 serving = 2 tablespoons = 190 calories, I got overwhelmed and decided I would only use 1 tablespoon.
I know it's a mental struggle. I made it through day one of having the peanut butter in my house. We'll see how I do for the rest of the week. I'm going to try to incorporate the recommended 2 tablespoons in my breakfast tomorrow.
Do you have a food in particular you struggle with? One that, no matter what, you just cannot seem to control yourself around?
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71 comments:
hi jen! i too LOV epeanut butter - i buy it quite regularly but then occasionally binge and then take a few weeks off. I have a question though - why did you want the added protein of peanut butter when there is already a lot of protein in eggs?
Good for you having peanut butter! I find that the best PB you won't overindulge on is also the healthiest -- the kind where the ONLY ingredient is peanuts. It's not quite delicious ENOUGH to eat straight from the jar but it still tastes great on a sandwich. Try it! And remember, you are strong!
Mmmm, I love me some peanut butter! I used to go crazy over PB and Oreos, but it's been a long time since I've had that combo. I do often just eat one tablespoon and find that it's enough for me, so don't feel like you HAVE to eat 2 tablespoons if you don't want to.
White Cheddar Cheez-Its. I know that's not the best food to begin with but for some reason I cannot even portion them out as an occasional treat. Once the box is open, it's gone.
I lurve any nut butter on oats or cream of wheat or oat bran! I just do 1 tablespoon, though. It's so awesome with the banana oats and a little jam!
I have problems with cereal. I just can't have it in the house for long periods of time. I snack on it too much.
You could also try almond butter. Its a great alternative with a lot of protein. I find myself not as likely to binge on it, like I did with peanut butter. :)
My weakness is a cookie or desserts. I cannot have them in the house, I'll eat the entire box! I used to be that way with ice cream too but I managed to kick that. Not cookies though, they are still the enemy.
Jen, Jen, Jen
Please - try Powdered Peanut Butter (or even the Powdered Chocolate Peanut Butter)
It has the "same consistency as full-fat peanut butter with all of the roasted peanut flavor, but with more than 85% less fat calories."
I understand the PB frenzy, and also have the concern over 190 cals for 2 tbsp. I can absolutely deal with 5oish calories for 2 yummy tablespoons though!
I mix it with water as directed for the actual PB consistancy, and I also use it in my protein shakes for added flavor/yumminess.
I found mine in a small health food store, but you can also order online if you cant find it local.
Give it a shot :)
I'm with you on the peanut butter... YUMMY!
My fav high protein breakfast?
1 cup almond milk
1 scoop protein powder
2 tbsp flax seed
2 tbsp peanut butter
1 handful of frozen berries
Blend it and you have the yummiest breakfast smoothie ever!! OOOOh, and if you dont have frozen berries, stick a banana in the freezer the night before and use that! Makes it thicker and yummier!!
You picked the best peanut butter! I stopped using the sugary brands and found that Smart Balance is just as sweet, and so much healthier. Good for you! Enjoy your peanut butter! Just discovered your blog, and it is fantastic! -Catherine
Yes I have to measure out peanut butter or I will eat the whole jar. Same thing with cereal! I can't be trusted....
My best combo is PB + chocolate chips.
I measure out the chocolate (2 Tb) and the PB (1 Tb), which makes me feel less guilty. It's still a bad habit though.
I love peanut butter too. Especially the junk kind... Jiff creamy peanut butter. I too love it on EVERYTHING. I switched to almond butter and stopped buying Jiff. I would never eat it out of the jar like I would Jiff so it's nice to have around!
Morning Jen - here's my quick two cents about peanut butter: buy the all-natural kind. It's the sugar in the other kinds that make them so addictive. I also switched to Almond Butter, but that's another story. I have found all nut butters to be much more, um, manageable if they don't have sugar in them.
Awesome protein adds!
Mine is an english muffin. I cannot have those little circles of deliciousness in my house...or they get covered with cheese (which is normally not an issue for me) and sometimes three or four of them will end up in me!
Thankfully PB is not an issue for me because it's pretty much all my son will eat so it has to be in our house. I don't even like to lick my finger off when I make his sandwich, it SO doesn't tempt me.
My problem foods are any kind of snack food like Doritos or cheetos and any kind of dip or cheese and crackers. Luckily these are not foods that I can even pass off as healthy so they're not something I need to buy or see, if I have cheese and crackers or dip at a party, I just plan that I'm going to have it and work out extra in order to prepare.
Enjoy your PB!
I love love peanut butter -- I have pantry full of the stuff, and I must have a little each day (usually about a tbsp - carefully measured). My fave is from Peanut Butter & Company in Cinnamon Raisin Swirl; their Dark Chocolate Wonderful isn't too shabby either. My "dont-bring-that-into-the-house" treat is: M&M's. Seriously, I could eat the whole bag -- the big bags. If I really want MMs, I have to drive to the store to get a little pack; figure if I'm willing to do that, then I must really want them, ha! (Most of the time, getting out with 4 kids just to get some MMS is not worth it, so it helps.:))
Me LOVES PB!!! I don't use a full serving either b/c of the calorie count. So I just stick to 1 Tbsp. One thing I told myself is: you don't HAVE to have the full serving size. Cutting it in half works just as well, especially with PB--it goes a long way.
I think it's hilarious when you said your armpits started to sweat! LOL I've had that nervous feeling around other foods too, mostly cookies & other junk not good for you.
If you like pudding, get the fat free, sugar free chocolate pudding & mix it with a Tbsp of PB. O...M...G!! What a great dessert!!
Oh...and you think you're crazy about PB? Check out: @pbjenny12 on Twitter. She's nuts (no pun intended...ok, maybe a little) over PB of all kinds! She also has a blog--www.pbandjenny.com
I too have a deep-seated love for peanut butter.
Have you tried Better 'N Peanut Butter? You can get it at Super Target. It has like half the calories of regular peanut butter. It does not taste good on it's own (so I am not tempted to eat it by the spoonful), but mixed in to things (like smoothies), it's delicious. And a lot less calories! Try it out.
You gotta try: http://www.bellplantation.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=35
My partner is a peanut butter addict and we started buying this and she gets her PB fix without all the calories and fat.
Peanut Butter I have recently learned is a trigger food for me, and I can't stop at just 1 serving. Try as I may! I'm so proud of you for being able to handle your temptation. You are so strong! :)
Thanks! I needed this post, today.
Mmmmm peanut butter is yummy!
You should try plastic rimmed glasses-they don't rub the bridge of your nose nearly as much :)
i freakin' looooove peanut butter so believe me, i understand. what i have found helps me is that i don't buy my favorite kind (kraft light) but only 100% peanuts, because it still gives me the satisfaction of having it on toast or with an apple or something, but i am not tempted to eat it straight from the jar! plus it's healthier - no added oils or sugar.
ALSO... have you heard of "pb2"? apparently it's all the rage but isn't available in my area (canada)... apparently it's a peanut powder you mix with water or nut-milk and supposedly it tates just like peanut butter but only 70ish cals for 2 tbsps? here's the webbie:
http://www.bellplantation.com/
I've always been obsessed with peanut butter. I LOVE the stuff. Like you, I have also been known to eat it on anything under the sun. Peanut butter makes everything better. My coworkers think I'm crazy because every morning I eat peanut butter toast...sometimes with eggs (like you mentioned), sometimes without.
I was also afraid of peanut butter...it was one of the foods on my "restricted" list for many years, but it was also one of the first foods that I brought back into the mix when I started that phase of treatment. With a little work, you'll soon realize that you can add these foods back into your life without abusing them. And, if you happen to overindulge in peanut butter on occasion, it's not the end of the world. You pick the pieces up at the very next meal and just keep it movin'!
I also moved away from the standard grocery store peanut butters and started eating organic natural peanut butter. The advantage for me at first was that it needs to be refrigerated, so it isn't quite as easy to just dip the spoon (finger/fork/knife/pretzel) into the jar and eat. It takes some preparation because the peanut butter needs a moment to come to room temperature before it spreads easily. Just a thought. =)
PB toast and egg = perfect breakfast in my opinion!
I am off today to buy the beck books I did some reading on them on line and it looks like it may be exactly what I need to get my mind to where it should be, thanks for the suggestion my friend!
Oh and how cute are you in glasses!
Luckily, I am ok with PB since I consider it to be a real food. I'll have a small apple, sliced, with 1 T. of PB several times a week as a snack. Now, cookies!!! Whole other story. No.Freaking.Control. While I haven't experienced sweating or heart palpitations in their presence, I don't let them in the house. Since I consider them to be fake food with no redeeming nutritional quality (other than just pure lip smacking yumminess) , I don't think I'll be experimenting with them. I have tried it. Didn't work. There are other less powerful foods I'll use for learning to control my responses.
Good luck with the PB! You can do it!
I'm with Helen, white cheddar cheez-its are one (of many) of my trigger foods. My mother-in-law brought over 2 boxes (and this after I mentioned that I have an "issue" with them), yep, I ate them.
Ok so I'm new to your blog and I'm so impressed with you! you keep kicking butt, and keep inspiring us. I just got your ecook book yesterday and I can't wait to go grocery shopping this afternoon..even my hubby wants to join me into this new life style!
About the PB I can live without, but sweets?? I could die for!
My trainer suggested adding peanut butter into my diet for the fat - apparently I wasn't getting enough (oh how times have changed!). I use Maranatha organic - you have to stir the oil in the first time you use it, but then you refrigerate the jar and you don't have to stir it anymore. Sooo good! But like you, I balked at the "2 tbsp." serving and only have one - that's plenty for me.
A serving of peanut butter IS 1 Tbsp! Forget what the jar says! You are a brave brave woman. I should tell you, when I lost the bulk of my weight three years ago, I was eating 1 Tbsp of PB on Ezekial Cinnamon Raisin bread EVERY weekday morning without fail. PB = good! Dr. Beck is right, btw!
your breakfast sounds yummy! I am going to give hard boiled eggs and toast with peanut butter a try.. I tend to skip breakfast way too often.
you already know how happy this post makes me :) and I am fully confident that you will be able to find the strength and willpower to incorporate 2 tbsp. Remember, when you ALLOW yourself to eat something, you don't "crave it" and feel the need to overindulge. Keep enjoying that protein packed superfood my dear. Love you!! xo
You should try Parkers Peanut Butter - it is in the fridge section and is made in Coon Rapids! The only ingredients are Peanuts and Salt. (AND does not have the nasty oil on top.)
I am all about protein in the morning. I love adding 100% whey protein powder to fruit smoothies that I make every morning. Low on the calories, high on lean protein, and high on natural fruits. Yum!
As for peanut butter, have you ever tried PB2 brand peanut butter. It is a dry powder that you add your own water to to make it as creamy as you like. Totally get the peanut butter taste with a ton less fat and calories. Yum!
First off I love the glasses!
Second, did I see you smootching peanut butter?
Listen to Dani-Try the PB2, it's good. Also, be very careful. If you have a kitchen scale, weigh out the amount that they say is 2 tbsp-nowhere near real regular tablespoons!!! Huge eye opener. Best of luck.
Just found your blog - love it! Cereal is my downfall. With the exception of cereal that tastes like cardboard...Ican't keep any in my house!
ice cream, ice cream, ice cream...had a childhood allergy for peanut butter so never developed a crazy love of it..I can tolerate a little bit now and then and usually have it when everything else is gone from the house...
I too love the peanut butter like a long lost lover! I would suggest trying Better N Butter....http://www.betternpeanutbutter.com/
I love it and it is not quit as addicting....
Hi Jen, I am just wondering why the toast with peanut butter and eggs is such a good combination? Is it because there is so much protein or is there more to it? Thanks!
ice cream, cookies, cake, chips, candy, fried wontons, fried rice, egg rolls and a whole lot more. Peanut butter is one of those things I can handle in moderation though, thankfully!
I always had a packet of Quaker lower sugar apple cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast at work but, like you, I'm trying to cut down on all the carbs. I've been drinking Green Monsters for breakfast lately and they are absolutely delicious.
I think you look great in your glasses. I just recently had LASIK and I'm so happy I don't have to wear mine anymore or irritate my eyes with contacts.
There is a farm in VT that makes maple peanut butter and I cannot keep it in my house more than a week. It is soooo good.
I struggle with most carbs - anything with flour or sugar in it is dangerous for me. Good luck getting control over the PB.
I ordered my Beck book. It should be here soon but I'm not sure I'll get it before the first assignment is due. I'll try to catch up as soon as I get it.
Have a great day!
Jen -
How are the new protein packed breakfasts working for you? I am constantly trying to find breakfasts that hold me longer. I'm not a huge egg person, but I could try it. I am so sick of eating cereal & milk - I am famished an hour later. Thanks!
i struggle with carbs. i love carbs. they are everywhere and they make me feel happy.
sometimes.
mmm on the pranut butter
So far I have been ok with old binge foods. I will NEVER EVER eat fast food again, not matter what, I'll starve to death first - so that takes care of on binge food ;) I am afraid of cake. Especially carrot cake - left over from the days where I would eat a WHOLE one in one sitting. :::Sigh:::
Peanut butter... I struggle with that one. Sometimes I just need to ban it from the house. Other times, I can eat with moderation and control. A very tricky wicket. I LOVE the stuff! I like the Adams brand with only peanuts and salt for ingredients. Crunchy style.
Tigerlilly... berries and peanut butter! Wow, I never thought of doing that in a smoothie, but now I will have to! And come to think of it, time to try an apple/PB smoothie.
Ooooooh peanut butter. Love it, too.
Love 1 tbs stirred into my steel cut oats with 1/2 a mashed up banana.
Anyway, just wanted to say "You can do this!". :)
Also, I'm getting ready to read the Beck book. Finally got it from the library.
Wishing you a great 2010!
Lynn
I have a hard time with Ben & Jerry's ice cream - a pint is a serving, right?!? Anyhow, it's not that I *always* have a tough time controlling myself - then I could just choose never to keep a particular food in my house. It's that *sometimes* I overeat ice cream (and pizza, let's be honest) and sometimes I don't. So it's not a trigger food all the time, which tells me it's really not about that FOOD, but about the EMOTION I'm experiencing at the time I struggle to say no (or limit my portion).
Anyhow, nice job on the peanut butter! I know you'll do fine with it in your house
TOAST! I cannot - CANNOT - keep both sourdough bread and good butter in my house at the same time. I will eat the whole freakin' loaf in about 2 days. And since there is always butter in my house, there is hardly ever sourdough bread.
Le sigh.
Good for you, I love peanut butter, and if you are careful and eat it in moderation, it is not bad for you!
Finally, someone else who gets how evil peanut butter can be! I prefer it on a spoon, straight up, from jar, ugh. Wonder if I'll ever be right with peanut butter.
Just found your blog. Love it.
Jen -
I too used to eat oatmeal for breakfast everyday, and now I can't even look at it! I later switched to 1/2 c. egg beaters, 1 whole wheat english muffin & 1 tbsp. of almond butter. Yum! It's very filling and I don't even think about eating until lunchtime! Give the almond butter a try when the peanut butter is running low. Debbie
P.S. Love your blog!
Brownies and chocolate chip cookies and I was lamenting about how I may not ever be able to eat brownies (or cookies) again because of the overindulgence factor and my very logical husband said "cocoa has the same nutritional components as chocolate without the fat and sugar, so eat that" and the lightbulb went on. Now I add a tablespoon of cocoa powder to my decaf latte in the morning and throw in a couple of packets of TruVia to counteract the bitter taste of the cocoa and voila...I have a sugar free homemade mocha that satisfies my chocolate craving..so now whenever I want chocolate, I make coffee and add cocoa and it works wonders! WTG on day 1 with the PB, Im allergic but I have an occasional affair with Sunbutter (sunflower seed butter) but its twice the price of PB so its a rare indulgence and I hide it in the back of the fridge so I forget about it :)
Right now, I've got my own oatmeal streak going and I usually add a mashed banana, a little almond milk, cinnamon and, now, a little flax meal.
I wish that I liked eggs better...
A really protein filled thing to add to breakfast is lowfat cottage cheese. 90 cal, 2.5 g fat and 14 g protein. It is so yummy, sometimes I have it in a wrap with veggies.
Peanut butter is not an issue for me luckily as we always have it in the house for the kids school lunches.
Have you tried PB2 - it is Peanut powder sold in powder form is 53 calories for 2 tbsp. They also have a choc flavour.
Haahaa! Cute! My husband loves the buttah too...me not so much! We have thing of Peter Pan we got from Sams ages ago. I cook with it...sometimes. But I do LOOOOVE boiled eggs for breakfast...I need pepper on them though.
I have realized that my resistance muscle is my most out of shape - as I just want to graze/snack all day - even when I am not hungry. I resist NOTHING. I really hope that the Beck Diet for Life is truly that.
Peanut butter..oh sweet peanut butter...
Oh how I love peanut butter, too. I've been using the Smuckers Natural Peanut Butter and I haven't had a problem much with it. It's not sweet....... it's just peanuts, no sugar or sugar substitute.
I love peanut butter. I buy only Skippy Natural (creamy). It's the best around I think. I am like you--I have no will power around peanut butter. But, I cannot cut out peanut butter because I love it and it isn't bad for you. So, learning to eat it in moderation is my goal. I am tired of cutting out foods--I am focusing on retraining my brain to eat in normal amounts, at normal times, and for normal reasons. I still need to figure out what my normal is. :)
mmm i love pb :)
I love the glasses, they are very subtle! I LOVE eggs, especially in the morning! I am not much of a PB person, but I just bought Almond butter and chia seeds tonight for the first time! Yay! Way to step out Jen!
I have issues with PB too, but I bought a jar this summer and needless to say they didn't find me hiding in the corner with the jar. I did okay.
I'm glad you bought real PB and not that PB2 stuff. I don't care what anybody says, it doesn't taste good and it's not the same as PB.
we love the smart balance up in herre!
me? what can not enter the domicile?
THOSE VITA TOPS PEOPLE LOVE.
the no fat lottsa sugar makes me crazy (if by CRAZY you mean eat a DOZEN---which I do.)
One of my favorite bf's
-1 egg (scrape off the yolk after in the pan, just leaves a little)
-canadian bacon
- all fruit (My #1orange marmalade)
-whole wheat english muffin (sometimes just half)
I agree with Emma (first comment) there's a bunch of protein in the eggs, so why add the peanut butter? If you were to do it - I would spread it out - have 1 slice of whole wheat toast w/PB for breakfast, then do a salad at lunch with a hardboiled egg on it (I do that a LOT and also add baby spinach to my salad - yum!).
My food - MILK. Skim milk - but milk. I've discovered that I can drink a gallon a week (I live alone) and I almost ALWAYS pair it with something sweet. So, I've given up milk entirely. I still get some dairy and I take a calcium supplement, but the combo of milk+sweets was really killing me. Actually, I really don't miss it that much either...little bit of willpower goes a long way :) Jen
I think eating peanut butter is a lot like eating nuts. The nutrition facts can be scary but it's worth it in that it's something substantial that will keep you full? Or maybe I just assume this because it's "peanut" butter? ha.
I don't know if anyone has suggested this yet, but you can put egg in oatmeal. I know it sounds weird (I saw it on the blog Bread and Honey). Cook the oatmeal on the stove and add a beaten egg and stir it all until it's cooked. It gives it a nice, custardy, creamy texture.
Peanut butter is a favorite of mine. It's really easy for me to go overboard (like if I'm making a sandwich with it) so I really have to be careful. Lately I've been satisfying my peanut butter craving by measuring out one tablespoon to put in a shake. That, plus a scoop of vanilla protein powder, a cup of skim milk, and whatever fruit I have available makes for a really yummy snack or lunch. It has just enough of a taste of peanut butter that I don't go back to the jar for more. For me, that's the key to not going crazy with certain foods
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