I had a super busy week, but a few special things happened along the way that made me extra thankful for friends and family. I have loved being part of the blogging community and feel like I have developed some real relationships with some of you. But one day I saw a comment on my blog from someone who said, “I know your husband. . .” I clicked on her name and found Erin, author of the blog “Losin’ It.” In the way of coincidence, she lives here, and her husband works at the same university that mine does. We connected through email, and decided it would be fun to meet for lunch. So on Wednesday, Erin and I met at Olive Garden and had wonderful conversation and food. Just so you know that I practice what I “preach” neither Erin nor I touched the bread! Thanks Erin for a great lunch!
After I came home from lunch with Erin, I had to make sugar cookies for our small group. Here they are! I only ate 2, 3 or 5. I don’t really remember. . .
And then, if making cookies wasn’t enough baking for the week, two of my son’s celebrated their birthdays. My second son turned 9 and my baby celebrated his 2nd birthday. So our came the baking equipment again, this time for two cakes. My nine year old wanted a Spiderman party, so the girls stuffed a spiderman costume with towels and perched him on a ladder decorated to look like a building. For the two year old’s party I kept it simple and we just decorated with balloons. Happy birthday guys!
In keeping with the tradition of my blog, I leave you with this little thought. Can you bake two cakes, 3 dozen cookies and a batch of brownies in one week and not gain weight? Yes you can! Any ideas on how? Diane
Oh, I love those pictures! Tell me Diane – how can you make all that stuff and not gain weight???
Happy Birthday to your two boys! My weakness is cheese and pretzels, so I can bake all day long and not be tempted!
Have a great weekend Diane!
.-= Biz´s last blog ..Date Night! =-.
it would be tough, that’s for sure! Congrats on holding your own through it! Great end-goal focus!
.-= Sunny´s last blog ..TGIF!!! =-.
I agree with Sunny, it would be tough, but it can be done. Fortunately, I don’t really crave the sweets that much, so I don’t think it would be a challenge for me. Who knows though, I have always thought that it seems like you can gain weight just from smelling sweets.
.-= South Beach Steve´s last blog ..Tax the Fat Away!? =-.
@Monica – You can do it by not baking at all, or by just portioning out what you will and won’t eat!
@Biz – Oh, I wish those were my weaknesses. But then on second thought, I guess it doesn’t matter what your weaknesses are, they are still with you!
@Sunny – Thanks Sunny!
@Steve – It does seem like you can just gain weight by breathing in the stuff. At least it seems that way to me!
This is going to sound weird, but while baking , pretend you have an allergy to one of the ingredients ! I developed a temporary allergy to nuts and tree nuts for a time ( still don’t know how or why) , but the rest of the family had no problems with these and loved them. Two favorite things were peanut butter cookies and fudge brownies with walnuts. I would bake them but never even lick the spoon or finger, let alone eat the stuff. I have an allergy to shellfish, my guys LOVE shrimp, crab and scallops, and every once in a while I will make these for them, being very careful not to taste, lick or so forth any of it. Thinking in terms of an allergy is the MOST affective way for me! My nut allergy cleared up , I am once again able to eat nuts, but I am always cautious with doing them in moderation for fear of the allergy coming back again
.-= Diane´s last blog ..On a roll =-.
I think that’s a great idea Diane. That way you can bake things and not be tempted to overindulge in them!
“Can you bake two cakes, 3 dozen cookies and a batch of brownies in one week and not gain weight? Yes you can! Any ideas on how”
My idea: Duct tape over mouth and around the head three times? lol
Your boys are adorable! I have a daughter who turns two in about six weeks. Beautiful cake too – it’s frosted so bakery-perfect!
.-= Michelle @ A Shade of Gray´s last blog ..Nurturing Balance in Action: September 2009 =-.
awww what a big cake for a little guy!! hehe and all those presents – wow.
@Michelle – That would work. We have a lot of duct tape lying around here, so I might just try that!
@Big Mummy – Yes, and he loved the cake a LOT!
It would be tough to resist all of those sweets, but your idea of imagining an allergy to one of the ingredients is interesting. I’ve never thought of that before. I am now going to try and convince myself that I am allergic to bread!
.-= erin´s last blog ..Friday Five: Quotes from The Office =-.
Erin – That is a great idea, but it’s from Diane of The Incredibly Shrinking Family, not me! I wish I could claim it though!
oh and…. you look fab. and i love your hair, makes me want to persevere and grow it.
.-= Big_mummy´s last blog ..Shit happens , and so does chinese food. =-.
No! I don’t think I could do it right now, so I won’t. That’s my plan
I will be making chocolate mousse for my Bible study group next week, and I plan to chew gum the entire time. Then I’ll place the finished product in a bowl that’ll make it look obvious if I “try” some (so that should deter me), and I will leave space to include a small serving that evening in my food plan for the day. THEN, I’ll send the left-overs home with one of the other ladies.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Bit Off More Than I Could Chew =-.
mmm cake! The best way to make all that food and not gain weight would be to immediately feed it to those around you! Leftovers are where troubles start.
.-= MackAttack´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Mom! =-.
@Amy – Gum always worked for me too. I like all your plans on making sure you don’t eat what you don’t want to. Planning is so important!
@MackAttack – Leftovers are dangerous to me too. Not leftovers of “real” food, but dessert leftovers – definitely.
Loved the pics of family!!!! THX!!! SO CUTE!
Let’s see… bake a flavor you don’t like to keep from eating it???? I know, you have to bake what the kids want so usually it will be something you like too!
Me, I always think about how much more I am going to have to work out OR what food I will have to cut out if I eat too many of these bakes things. I don’t want to add MORE to my workouts since they are already crazy AND I do like to be able to eat more rather than less & enjoy my special treats.
So unless that cookie or cake is really worth it vs. what I would choose for my special treat, I say no.
That’s so neat to have someone local reading your blog. It’s always fun to meet someone new that way
Yes, you can bake two cakes and tons of cookies and not gain weight!
For me the key is to have a plan beforehand. I give myself a cake and cookie “allowance” and am mindful of when I’m eating them… That way I don’t “forget” how much I’m eating…
Your boys are sooo adorable! My toddler is turning 2 in four weeks; I hope his cake turns out as pretty!
Have a great weekend, Diane!
.-= Andrea@WellnessNotes´s last blog ..Tomato Soup with Garlic Rosemary Parmesan Croutons =-.
@Jody – Yes, baking a flavor you didn’t like would definitely work! I like your idea of equating the food to the time required to work it off! That’s a wonderful idea.
@Lori – It was fun!
@Andrea – Planning is how I handle it too. Oh, two year olds are so much fun!! Everything is new to them.
Andrea and I were thinking alike… Plan ahead and allow yourself a small bit.
Now, I can only speak from some experience, but my birthday back in July I knew I wanted a slice of the yummy cake my 11yo daughters and friend had made, so I took it easy all day and through the bar-b-q to leave room for a slice of cake. I also worked out a little extra that morning. I saw a loss that week too.
It can be done, but carefully!
Lovely post! I’m very visual and love seeing photos and such. Thanks for sharing!!
.-= Leah´s last blog ..No Discipline Or No Desire? =-.
@Leah – That was a great example of how you planned, and succeeded with a loss that week. It does take some careful thought, and sticking to your plan to make it all work out!
Can’t gain weight by baking cakes, brownies, and cookies…….
.-= Debby´s last blog ..Time to pay the piper! =-.
How fun to meet a blogger friend! I am meeting a blogger friend also next weekend. I am very excited.
I am afraid I couldn’t give advice about the how not to gain weight with cookies, brownies and cake…because I have a HUGE sweet tooth and I couldn’t resist if I had it in the house!
.-= Christa´s last blog ..Meals for 9/19/09 =-.
Okay, I will try it. I saw a Halloween cake in Family FUn magazine today that was adorable. But I decided I would not try it because I would be too tempted to eat all those M & Ms that go on it. However, now I am determined I am going to try it, and will try my best to pretend I am allergic to M & M’s!!! Will let you know how it turns out!!
@Debby – True! Just baking them won’t cause weight gain. It’s the next part that gets me in trouble!
@Christa – It was fun to meet Erin. She is so nice! Well, you do have some good advice – just don’t keep it in the house!
@Laura – You can do it! Let me know if you need some help getting rid of the cake!
use salt instead of sugar
.-= natalie´s last blog ..leave your baggage at the blog… =-.
Glad you had a fun time connecting with another blogger!
“Any ideas how?” I agree with Michelle – DUCT TAPE! lol!
.-= Marisa (Trim The Fat)´s last blog ..Blah, Blah, Blah =-.
That is so funny!! Such a small world. I have no idea- I think if I baked I would be in serious trouble!
.-= fittingbackin´s last blog ..Catch-up Time, 2 New Recipes, Leg Workout, More Running! =-.
@natalie – That would definitely do it.
@Marisa – Duct tape works too!
@fittinbackin – You’ve solved the problem. Just don’t bake at all!
I admire your ability to bake so much and still maintain. I think for now I would need to avoid that much baking. I could see myself doing it if I established some very firm boundaries. I hope you are having a nice weekend!
.-= Kat´s last blog ..Quick weekly check in: Woo Hoo. Good bye another 2.8!! =-.
Hi Diane,
I love reading your articles ; it is always a “source” of inspiration. The 2 boys birthdays parties seems so great and you enjoyed all the “fiesta” without thinking about weight.
I love too the part about how world wild web is in fact a small community where you can have friends near (like Erin) or at least make friends far away on the other side of the ocean.
Take care!
Julie
@Kat – I don’t normally do this much baking at one time – fortunately! But we have 3 birthdays in September so I actually have one more cake to make next week!
@Julie – Thank you so much. It is a small world, especially with the ability to connect through facebook, etc!
Happy Birthday to your boys! They are so cute!
I can bake and not gain – the trick for me is to NEVER take that first taste. ‘Cause if I do, it’s all over! Reference the chocolate chip cookie dough incidents of 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990…you get the picture, lol!
.-= Shelley B´s last blog ..Blenders… =-.
Mmmm, it all looks so yummy!
If I went to that much trouble and it all turned out so pretty, there’s no way I’d go without sampling. I wouldn’t even want to! I suppose that would mean extensive extra exercise that week and none of my “minor splurges” along the way. Oh, and definitely shipping out the leftovers to someone else!
.-= Cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..Winner: 101 Things to Do Before You Diet =-.
I am so inspired by your blog. I have a lot a weight to lose and when I think of your success, I truly am in a place where I believe I can do it too. I hope that I don’t lose this current thought process that I have and that my success rings true. I believe it will. I have to believe it will. Thanks for doing what you do.
@Shelly – That’s a really good point about not taking the first taste. That’s true for me as well, especially with things like cookies. Just so easy to eat one after another!
@Cammy – I do sample them, just in small quantities like you said!
@Debbie – Thank you so much for your nice words. I am so glad to hear that you are in a place where you believe in your own success. I think that’s such a vital piece of weight loss success.
Did someone mention brownies?? I’m so there.
.-= Tammy´s last blog ..Weekend in Cherokee =-.
I I did make Diet Sprite cake for my husbands birthday, and let his mom make the fatty truly delicious one while I was not around, and then forbid it in our house.
The cookies I am not far enough on my journey to help you with that one, I would have eaten 1 or 2…dozen!
.-= Katie´s last blog ..Thanks Ryan! =-.
How on earth did you resist the power of the bread!? And look at that cake! Oh wait, did someone say, “brownies”???
.-= Yum Yucky´s last blog ..The Calorie Game: Microscopic Serving Size =-.
Happy birthday to the boys! How cool that you met a fellow blogger… Being stuck out here on the other side of the world, I’m always slightly envious of those meet-ups.
.-= Hanlie´s last blog ..Hot 100 – Going Out With a Bang =-.
I do this all the time, because I LOVE LOVE LOVE to bake. I find it therapeutic. I chew gum so I don’t lick the bowl. I’ll have one serving for a treat or dessert, and then pack up the rest and send it to work with my husband. He works for a construction company and most of the guys there love the treats…they aren’t counting calories, and I don’t have to feel guilty about being a saboteur!!
.-= Janet´s last blog ..Day 126 – Half Marathon Success!! =-.
Loved the pictures, my daughter turns 8 on Sunday so I’ll be making a brownie pizza and hopefully I’ll stay as strong as you.
.-= Dawn´s last blog ..Feeling Blah =-.