A very silly NSV

GrindingSalt

I was visiting my parents last fall and we went to Ikea. As we walked around, I saw a giant print that I loved -- a simple black/white image of a woman with overlayed text that said "Everything you see I owe to spaghetti" -- a quote from Sophia Loren.

I've always loved pasta. During culinary school & my time as a professional chef, it was my number one thing to cook -- somehow it just makes sense to me. I love making fresh pasta, cooking it, pairing it with things, and of course eating it. So this posted seemed just perfect! My apartment is completely covered in art, every wall has a different piece on it that I've carefully chosen & gotten framed..... other than right above my kitchen table. That wall was empty. So, I got the print, and I got a frame, and I hauled it all the way home from Philadelphia to NYC and....

then I got self conscious. I was the heaviest I had ever been and I felt deeply uncomfortable in my body. Instead of the initial lightheartedness I felt towards the print, a celebration of curviness and a love for food, now it felt like a declaration of what had gotten me to this overweight body.

So it sat in my closet. And sat. And sat.

And in January, fed up with deeply trapped in a body I didn't like, I found MFP and I started logging every single day. As I said, I was a chef so getting creative with my food was exciting instead of a chore. I discovered how much protein scallops have, how few calories zucchini has, how 5 grams of butter is really enough to cook almost anything, and how easy it is to work chocolate into almost every day of eating.

And, because I was now logging all my food, I started eating more spaghetti. I ate it with browned garlic and butter and parmesan cheese, I ate it with sausage and spicy tomato sauce, I ate it with broccoli pesto, I ate it with mussels, I ate it with baked chicken and basil, I ate it in the most luxurious form of mac & cheese I've ever made. I ate it, and logged it, and realized that I can eat pasta, often, happily, and still lose weight.

I've lost 20 pounds since January. I feel great in my body. I'm not done, but I'm happy with how I look & feel.

I remembered the print, stuffed way back in my closet, and decided that it was time to hang it up. Yes, I DO owe this body to spaghetti! This curvy, strong, healthy, happy body. Thanks for that, spaghetti : )

Here's a pic of the poster, hung proudly above my kitchen table, and a couple of me within the past few weeks. I don't have any super good body ones, but both of these have to do with food -- one of me at the greenmarket, my second home, and the other at my very favorite restaurant.

jarobichaux

This is really wonderful. Congratulations!

SpamLamb

I don't think that's silly at all! I think it's amazing and I am crazy happy for you! And this is coming from someone who still feels self conscious about eating in front of strangers so I know how you feel. Well done and way to own it!

mrogers52

Love it

EHisCDN

I really enjoyed reading this post! Thank you for sharing your "silly NSV". I'm glad you've found a way to eat a food you love. All of the ways you mentioned cooking it sound delicious! I think next you'll need to post spaghetti recipes

Cute pictures too!

Nedra19455

Thank you for sharing this story! I also feel like MFP has freed me to eat more of the foods I love (and find new ones too!) rather than restrict me. Overall, I think the foods I eat now are more luxurious, in part because I have learned not to be afraid of fats and oils!

nutmegoreo

Nothing silly about it! You found a way to work in what you love. That's incredibly valuable. Now that print will mean even more to you.

2012Mich

What a great post! Loved reading it! Congratulations and I wish you continued success.

MyChocolateDiet

Great post. Great poster. Finally, great poster. win, Win, WIN!

Mhgretsch

A lovely reminder that we all can have healthy eating habits, and it will look a little different for each of us...love the print and the sentiment

GrindingSalt

Thank you all so much!!! I'm choked up as I read your responses. It means a lot : ) I know my 20 pound loss isn't huge, and I've gone about it very slowly, but it's been such a big revelation for me to realize that eating in a way that allows me to lose weight doesn't mean being unhappy -- it just means taking in less calories than I'm putting out. That's it : )

I mean it -- thank you all

Becky60s

Oh, I love this post! Congratulations on your wonderful success, and thanks for the reminder that food is meant to be enjoyed and most of us don't need to cuts out starches and sweets to lose weight.

Edited to add: You are adorable!

45thin

Really enjoyed reading your post!! I am just getting started again, but it sounds great to be able to eat pasta, because I love it too!!

fivethreeone

This is a lovely post.

I, too, lost a lot of weight eating plenty of pasta. Good luck with the rest of your spaghetti journey!

skullshank

fantastic job OP!

dont ever second guess your level of accomplishment!

Embracing_Change

I love the poster & the story... not silly at all and & congratulations!

jofjltncb6

Pshaw.

Everyone knows you can't lose weight without cutting out things like pasta.


(I keed! I keed!)


Well done, OP.

:drinker:

laughingdani

It really is an incredible print. Great accomplishment!

MsMarlaJean

I love this story ...thanks for sharing!:flowerforyou:

Now, if we can get someof those speghetti recipes LOL! :laugh:

Way to go! Keep on keeping on!

calibriintx

Yay! You win all the things! And it's not silly at all.

Chain_Ring

Huzzah!

d0v3r13

i agree with everyone on this. its been the most successful thing about my 20 lb weight loss also. i finally stopped trying to restrict my diet and cut things out and finally just decided to learn about the food and count my calories. now i enjoy my food, i enjoy losing weight, and i enjoy cooking, because i know that i don't have to make something boring and bland because i know what's going in it and i know how to keep it from sabotaging my efforts.

EvgeniZyntx

Rock on with spaghetti love.

BinaryPulsar

daliyanin

Love this :-)

kethry70

Rock on with spaghetti love.

Love your story, your NSV, and this ridiculous gif :happy:

danasings

I love this post and that print! Good job! :drinker:

jayliospecky

This is absolutely lovely.

As are you.

perseverance14

Loved it, great nsv!

GrindingSalt

Thank you all for your responses -- I've been so happy reading each one!! It means a lot to see that people appreciate and identify with my story so far : )

I'll have to get to work on some of the pasta recipes..... ; )

lannabelle

I love your post and it's not silly at all!