As some of you know, I went on a long journey from close to 400 lbs to 230, though I’ve bounced back up to 245. I’m incredibly frustrated that I can’t drop back down to 230 (my goal is actually 220). Last year I visited my father in Las Vegas for Thanksgiving. I was 232 before I left. I stayed there a week. My next weigh in at the doctor had me at 244. Since then I’ve been hovering in that 240-245 area.

I thought about how my diet has changed in the past year, and what I’ve been doing differently. My sodium and calorie intake is up (I started adding ham instead of fat free cheese to my massive veggie egg monster in the morning) and I’ve been using more hot sauce, since I’m losing my sense of taste. My exercise level is about the same, but after the car accident in august, I went about a month with no exercise and a lot of stress eating from the pain, mostly chinese food and pizza.

Ok, those are obvious things that I can change. But there was something secret and insidious that I never thought of.

Ketchup.

I’ve been dumping ketchup on everything. I thought that it would be healthier for me than my usual condiments because it’s lower in sodium. I never looked at the calories.

Holy shit, it’s a calorie bomb. One tbsp is 20 calories loaded with sugar.   Since I have big, veggie-loaded meals, I add a lot of it. I figure that I’m adding 80-100 calories per meal in ketchup alone. Three meals a day and you get the idea.

That’s it. I’m swearing off you, Red Devil.

Back to Tabasco sauce 😉