Loving it lighter

[lynnzop[$]]

Okay, I discovered something interesting last night.

(Pull your brain out of the gutter boys, it's not THAT)

Hubby's boss took us all out to Red Lobster for dinner last night. I LOOOOOVE crab legs, but am (jokingly) told I can't order them because it takes me hours to devour every little bite. The last time we went out for crab legs (in Virginia Beach), it took me three hours to eat dinner.

And I love them DRENCHED in butter.

So last night, as I was enjoying my forbidden treat (I told Dan that regardless of how long it took to eat them, I was ordering crab legs!!), I found the butter to be, uhm, just a little greasy and slimy.

So I tried what I previously said I'd never do: Squirting just a little bit of lemon on my yummies.

It was delicious...and light...and I think I've changed the way I eat seafood forever.

Has anyone else found that they've changed how they eat/prepare a favorite food to make it less caloric and decided you actually like it better?

Man, I never thought I'd give up the butter!

Lynn

[taurusmoon]

True confession. I never was one for buttering my food. I've always preferred my food au natural and have been able to appreciate the true flavors that way.

Yes, I like my baked potatoes plain (no butter, no sour cream, no cheese), my vegetables steamed, grilled or lightly stir-fried in just a wee bit of olive oil. Even toast I'd eat with just enough butter on it to act as a lubricant so I didn't choke when trying to get it down.

So how did I wind up so obese? Sugar and complex carbs. I couldn't get enough of them. Now I can't have any.

And, honestly, I don't really miss them all that much. Yes, I still pine for some whole grain bread or a baked potato every now and then. But, a twinkie just doesn't cry out to me anymore.

Yesterday I served a mocha almond torte to about 25 people. I never once even considered licking the frosting off my fingers. I was able to cut that cake into slice after slice without scheming about saving the primo one for me. I just wasn't phased by the cake at all when, once upon a time, the thought of consuming it would have consumed me.

It's all a matter of breaking our addictions. It ain't easy, but it's rewarding.

Sara

[emeleel]

As a child growing up in the Deep South, I was raised on fried foods. The thing is, a lot of stuff is just fried to the "dripping grease" point, not thoroughly cooked as it should be to leave minimal grease. I loved this stuff growing up!

But around my pre-teen/early teen years, mom started cooking healthier and it got to where I cannot eat greasy food anymore without getting violently sick at my stomach. I used to love going to Captain D's, for instance, and could eat tons of their fish - now if I go, I can only get a fish/chicken combo which is one piece of fish and 2 or 3 pieces of chicken.

I'm like Sara - my big problem is carbs and sugar. I'm a junk food and potato junkie!

[cyndilouwhoo]

Nope...

I am afraid that I can't think of a thing I like that isn't fattening in its origins--I just like fat foods.

But dieting has helped me to discover foods I really like that had I not been desperate for "something new" I'd never in a million years could say I liked or enjoyed.

The biggest surprise?

Butternut squash. I love it with a little nutmeg and cinnamon--and nothin' else.

I know people like it swimming in butter--but perhaps because I could only have it in its plain state, I never really missed all the butter that is supposed to make it divine.

Yum.

Cyndi

Who'll never love totally fat-free foods.