The ADD Diet

Saturday, July 8. 2006

Impulsivity. Internal anxiety. Poor planning. These are just a few of the reasons why so many people with AD/HD have eating issues. Though I never had a weight problem, getting older, hormonal changes, and long depressing Michigan winters haven't helped me to stay slim. My chocolate fetish caught up with me and for the last 10+ years, I've had excess weight that's been well...more than depressing to try and get rid of.

I can't say I have much impulsivity with my collection of ADD symptoms, but I do crave chocolate, like many of us do. As many of my readers know, I also hate to cook and will do anything to get in and out of the kitchen as quickly as possible. That usually means ordering Carry Out, or GOING out, as much as I can get away with! That, plus raising picky picky eaters, has made all of this "food stuff" a tricky thing to navigate.

In my book, I share the fact that when I wake up in the morning, the first thing I think of (other than, will I be late?) is..."What should I make for dinner tonight?". Yes, this is true.

But I digress.

4 1/2 years ago (no, I don't have a good memory; I just remember needing to get these 20 pounds off for a family gathering in Maryland), I joined Weight Watchers. It wasn't easy, but I prevailed and religiously followed the diet and attended the meetings. And exercised. Within months, the weight was gone and I was ecstatic at how I looked and felt.

But then I stopped going to the meetings. Winter came. The chocolate chip cookies were crying for my attention. You know the rest.

After numerous attempts of getting the weight off AGAIN, I nearly gave up. You know that depressed feeling of KNOWING that you need to just DO IT, but...can't?? It's an awful feeling.

In May, I returned from NYC where I'd done some ADD media work, and came down with a nasty cold which turned into an ear infection. I went to see my doc and we chatted about diets- she had lost weight and looked fabulous.

She mentioned she was on the Seattle Sutton Diet. I'd never heard of it, and she suggested I give it a try.

And now for the good news. I started the diet and have already lost 10 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks. This is not a sales pitch. I don't have stock in the company or earn any revenue if people sign up for the program. But I'm so excited about this diet, that I wanted to share it here.

How does it work? Well, first let me repeat: this is an ADD diet made in heaven. At least for those of us who hate cooking, can't plan or forget to even BUY the food we went to the store to get (all those distractions...).

Seattle Sutton has prepared FRESH food all ready to go. It's calorie, fat and portion controlled so that you don't have to do ANYTHING but pick it up (they also deliver) and throw it in your fridge. They give you a week's worth of food (though you have to pick it up twice a week so that they stay fresh). And most of it is delicioius, though I admit- I do miss those cookies.

All you do is put the meal in the microwave for 2 minutes and your meals are ready. They give you EVERYTHING you need, except you're supposed to supplement it with two glasses of skim milk per day. I don't "do" milk, so I instead have either fat free yogurt or FF chocolate pudding.

This will give you an idea of what the food looks like. I always remove the food and put it on plates, to make it look more home made:

Chicken Alfredo Chinese Dinner

These are just some sample dinners. Truthfully, the breakfasts are SMALL. But I'm not a big eater in the morning, anyway.

Interested? Check out their website and see if this might work for you.

Terry

Posted by Terry at 09:05 | Comments (4)

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Terry! I just happened to drop by your site today and saw your comments about the Seattle Sutton diet. I've been on it 5 weeks and completely agree with you that for those of us with ADD there could not be a more perfect diet plan. I too "suffer" every day over grocery shopping and food preparation. Since being on this diet, my husband and older kids are taking turns making dinners to keep me away from temptation. Then I just heat up my Seattle Sutton meal and join them at the dinner table.

#1 Nancee on 2006-07-25 15:22

Hi Nancee,

How are you doing on SS?? I'm still overjoyed with this program and at how easy (as far as diets go) this has been. So ADD Friendly!

Keep up the great work.

Terry

#2 Terry (Homepage) on 2006-08-05 17:58

It was fun to find your response. I have actually been off SS for two weeks since I've been out of town. I will place my next order and start back up next week and I'm so glad to have such an easy solution to help me lose some weight.

In 21 years of marriage, 18 of those raising kids, meal planning and everything food prep requires has been a nightmare I never wake up from. I have the most amazing, supportive, loving family who don't seem to care at all about my "ADD shortcomings" -- lucky me. But still, the thought of trying to keep track of eating something different than my family has seemed impossible for me until SS.

At 47 I am working out with a personal trainer and getting into the best shape I've ever been in. For anyone with ADD who can afford it, I heartily recommend getting a trainer. Never before have I been able to stick with an exercise program. Now, four months later I am still going 3 times a week to work with this trainer! I think this is working for me because, like Seattle Sutton, all I have to do is show up. I show up at Seattle Sutton, pick up my food, go home and eat it. I show up for the sessions with my personal trainer, do what he tells me, and I'm becoming stronger and trimmer!

Best wishes!
Carpe diem!

Nancee

#2.1 Nancee on 2006-08-22 15:10

GREAT info... especially for those who have tried and failed on WW... Yes, it works for some, but not all diets are for everybody. I Love SS... I;m in my 3rd week, and it has ended all the problems of trying to find healthy dinners. It's like I've hired a Chef, a Nutritionist, a shopper all rolled into one! I am keeping a diary of the days... and the meals.. on my blog. Stop on by!

Ruth
http://good-bye-fat.blogspot.com

#3 Ruth (Homepage) on 2006-08-23 12:55

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