i cant be italian AND skinny.

craft338

I spent all weekend with my family making Italian sausage. of course there was tons of amazing food like homemade sausage, meatballs, pasta, lasagna, pizza, cakes, cookies, even the wine, vinegar, and tomato sauce was homemade. everything was SO GOOD! i did so well staying under my calories both days. i had small servings of the good stuff, plenty of veggies and salad, and none of the dessert. (sfogliatelle is 550 calories PER PASTRY!!!) but it was great, i had a normal weekend with my family, ate regular food, while still being able to count calories and eat pretty healthy.

NOT!!! i gained 5 pounds. in 2 days. i worked so hard, embarrassing myself and probably insulting my grandparents and aunts and uncles who spent forever making all this food and i'm sitting there trying to figure out how many calories and ounces and all that. i know some people might be like "they shouldn't be insulted" but my grandparents don't understand diets. they're italian. they make the pasta because they want their family to eat it and enjoy it, so when i take a little spoon full they think i don't like it and it upsets them. they're not mean, i just see the disappointment in their face and it makes me want to cry.

but my point is that i spent all weekend with my family learning how to make sausage. something that i would want to do someday with my kids, along with making the pasta and the sauce and all that. but if i couldn't even have a normal weekend, even though i was really careful and didn't over eat with the lasagna or even have the sfogliatelle, why should i bother? all these things that basically make me italian, i can't really enjoy. i know it's just one weekend and i'll eventually lose the 5 pounds in a week or so...but i'm talking about the rest of my life. sure, food isn't the only thing that makes us italian, but it is a big part. the days spent together making it, then sitting around the dinner table for hours. i guess i could just sit there, or bring my own salad in a "to go" container and be that weird cousin. sure i CAN do that. it just makes me angry that i should have to. it also makes me angry that my cousins look like supermodels and can stuff their face with all the good food while still not knowing what the inside of a gym looks like.

so....to be italian or skinny....tough choice.

Dkwalsh02

I can tell you that there is no way that you gained 5 pounds of FAT in two days if you stayed within your calorie restrictions. Remember your Calorie allowance is you BMR. Which is how many calories you burn if you slept all day, just breathing, heart beating etc. So even if you went over by 50 calories and didn't exercise, you are ok.

Unfortunately women hold onto water like it's cool. And I am Italian, and pretty much eat nothing but Italian food, and the sodium is a killer sometimes. That's what makes it soooooo goooooood! Ha ha. Drink a lot of water and stay away from sodium for the next few days. It will disappear before you know it.

Ps... I totally understand the family being offended. Mine are just like that too. And now that I am in a healthy BMI... not even the minimal end, they tell me I'm too skinny. Go figure lol. God forbid I don't drink Nonna's wine. (I swore off alcohol during my weight loss plan) the world was ending.

sandram82

I dont think you should have to choose here.. maybe you can some muscle.. maybe its the amount of sodium causing you to retain water.. for one weekend.. dont be soo quick to judge, especially if your still watching all you eat.. Just keep doing what your doing, and before you know it, u will be skinny and italian!!

Barelmy

I'm sure there are things you can change in the cooking methods to make dishes slightly lighter. For instance, less pasta to more sauce, something like that? Less cheese/lower fat cheese? Less cooking oil?

To be honest, I don't cook a lot of Italian food, but I bet you could play with recipes, and come out with lower calorie substitutes. You could try vegetarian versions of things, since bulking up with veggies or mushrooms is generally lower calorie than meat.

Oh, and I agree, I really doubt you put on 5lbs of fat. You'd have had to eat 17500 more calories than you burned over those two days. It's just water retention and natural fluctuation. Also remember that, if you're set to lose a pound a week, then going 500 calories over your allowance will only take you up to maintenance - you'd have to eat more than that to start gaining. Doing that one day every so often won't hurt.

BrianJLamb

I am not a girl, but I am italian..and I know about this. It is the absolute worst. There is nothing better than sausage, chicken cutlets, cured meats, olives, cheese, bread, antipasti, etc. My mom talks about the glowing smile, the happiness I exude, how excited I am, when the table is set with just a spread of peasant food. Unfortunately, it is not the best for me.

The sodium is the killer here. I know it because after one of those meals, I wake up at 2 in the morning with cotton mouth and my eyes feel all puffed up the next day. You shouldnt have to give up those foods, but you should recognize that they arent the best for you. Limiting your intake will allow that you can eat them for the rest of your life, in moderation. It is better for you to control them now, on your own, instead of having a doctor tell you 10 years from now that you can't eat them anymore because of diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, whatever else.

I always look at it as, once I am in within my desired weight range, I can eat those foods within moderation and without guilt. I wont have to check the scale, because I am happy with where I am. I will expect and accept that the salt is going to swell me up, but I will deal with it for the 3 days that it takes my body to flush it out.

Keep eating your sausage, keep being italian. What good is being healthy if you arent going to be happy.

craft338

thanks guys i just really needed to vent this morning. i know it's probably just water or sodium or whatever from a weekend full of eating crazy food even though i didn't go over my calories. of course i won't say no to nonna's wine lol but i can say no to that extra bowl of pasta and second piece of homemade bread without feeling too deprived. i'm sure i'll get those extra pounds off in no time. 3 more weeks til the sausages are dried and i'm gonna eat a whole one even if it makes me gain 10 lbs! i was turning that machine all day yesterday, so i deserve it!! lol thanks again for cheerin me up