4 days ago
August 11, 2010
June 14, 2010
New home
... For my blog, anyway. I moved over to Wordpress — for good, I think.
Here's a link to Adventures in Weight Loss, Cooking & Life.
Here's a link to Adventures in Weight Loss, Cooking & Life.
May 12, 2010
Getting in the right mindset
I'm catching up on episodes of "The Biggest Loser." I have several backed up in my DVR, and I think I stopped watching at about the same time I started concentrating on my novel-writing.
It all comes back to that balance problem of mine. When I'm writing, I'm not doing the weight-loss thing the way I should and vice-versa. I need to find a nice, even balance between the two.
I suppose we all do. If balance came easily, none of us would need to lose weight. We'd all already be perfect. ;)
How about 12 hours on, 12 hours off?
Nah. That won't work. Speaking of things that won't work, have y'all heard of "The Skinny Switch"? I keep watching that infomercial, wondering if it could really be that simple — "two days eating, one day treating."
Then, when I think about it, it's not all that different from WW, with the Flex Points. You could spend 2 days eating just the daily Points allowance, then use a chunk of FPs on that third day, no problem.
Something to think about, I guess. Right now, I'm not so convinced WW is the way to go. I know it works, but for some reason, I've been unable to make it work for me lately, because I've flat-out been unable to stay OP.
I've even entertained the idea of going back on Atkins ... except for the fact that I'm not sure I could eat that way for the rest of my life. There was a time when I thought I could ... but then I fell off the low-carb wagon and couldn't get back on. Also, I never made it to Atkins' "lifetime maintenance" phase. I was perpetually in Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL).
I know I can lose on Atkins, because I lost 110 pounds doing it. Of course, I regained 70 of them once I stopped doing the low-carb thing. It took 2 years to lose it and 2 more to regain it.
Maybe I should shake it up a little bit by trying the Skinny Switch or 6 Week Body Makeover. Then again, maybe I should just stop making excuses and start doing WW properly. I know it works, too.
It all comes back to that balance problem of mine. When I'm writing, I'm not doing the weight-loss thing the way I should and vice-versa. I need to find a nice, even balance between the two.
I suppose we all do. If balance came easily, none of us would need to lose weight. We'd all already be perfect. ;)
How about 12 hours on, 12 hours off?
Nah. That won't work. Speaking of things that won't work, have y'all heard of "The Skinny Switch"? I keep watching that infomercial, wondering if it could really be that simple — "two days eating, one day treating."
Then, when I think about it, it's not all that different from WW, with the Flex Points. You could spend 2 days eating just the daily Points allowance, then use a chunk of FPs on that third day, no problem.
Something to think about, I guess. Right now, I'm not so convinced WW is the way to go. I know it works, but for some reason, I've been unable to make it work for me lately, because I've flat-out been unable to stay OP.
I've even entertained the idea of going back on Atkins ... except for the fact that I'm not sure I could eat that way for the rest of my life. There was a time when I thought I could ... but then I fell off the low-carb wagon and couldn't get back on. Also, I never made it to Atkins' "lifetime maintenance" phase. I was perpetually in Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL).
I know I can lose on Atkins, because I lost 110 pounds doing it. Of course, I regained 70 of them once I stopped doing the low-carb thing. It took 2 years to lose it and 2 more to regain it.
Maybe I should shake it up a little bit by trying the Skinny Switch or 6 Week Body Makeover. Then again, maybe I should just stop making excuses and start doing WW properly. I know it works, too.
May 7, 2010
Could have been worse
Surprise, surprise: I managed to minimize the damage from the delicious but not very healthy barbecue I ate for lunch by eating a smaller dinner. So it is possible for me to not go crazy after making one not-great choice. I'd forgotten that fact.
With a semi-successful day under my belt, let's see if I can achieve two goals tomorrow:
If I manage that, perhaps I'll add counting Points on Sunday. It's like Roni at RonisWeigh said in a motivational post just the other day:
With a semi-successful day under my belt, let's see if I can achieve two goals tomorrow:
- Another walk of at least 15 minutes in duration.
- Drinking at least 48 ounces of water. (Today, I probably got about 24.)
If I manage that, perhaps I'll add counting Points on Sunday. It's like Roni at RonisWeigh said in a motivational post just the other day:
Pick one thing. Don’t overwhelm yourself with the amount of weight you need to lose. Don’t try to do it all (eat perfectly, exercise, etc) Don’t set yourself up to fail. Don’t beat up on yourself. Most importantly, DO NOT underestimate yourself.
Out of balance and out of control
It's been another rough month for me, and I think I weigh more now than I did when April started. (I can't be sure because I've been avoiding the scale again.)
Somewhere along this journey, I've lost my way. Bad habits have crept back into my life: inactivity ... not tracking what I eat ... eating way too much junk ... that whole "the day is ruined so I might as well keep eating" attitude I thought I'd vanquished ...
The Boyfriend says it's because my life is out of balance. I'm spending too much time writing and not enough on other pursuits.
Maybe that's true. I do find myself avoiding the kitchen because I'm on a roll with my writing, and then I end up letting some drive-thru do the cooking for me. The problem is, I've neglected my writing life for years. Now that I feel like it's starting to go places, I don't want to slow down.
Still, that doesn't mean my healthy-living efforts should grind to a halt. Somehow, some way I need to find a balance (something I've tried to figure out before, without much success).
Anyone out there have any ideas?
I know, I know: If we all knew how to strike that delicate balance, we'd all be in shape and healthy.
For now, I think I need to get back to one basic principle: Taking things one day — one choice — at a time. Like an addict, I need to focus on just one day ... one day where I take a walk and avoid eating a lot of junk food.
Just one day can't be that difficult. Can it?
Somewhere along this journey, I've lost my way. Bad habits have crept back into my life: inactivity ... not tracking what I eat ... eating way too much junk ... that whole "the day is ruined so I might as well keep eating" attitude I thought I'd vanquished ...
The Boyfriend says it's because my life is out of balance. I'm spending too much time writing and not enough on other pursuits.
Maybe that's true. I do find myself avoiding the kitchen because I'm on a roll with my writing, and then I end up letting some drive-thru do the cooking for me. The problem is, I've neglected my writing life for years. Now that I feel like it's starting to go places, I don't want to slow down.
Still, that doesn't mean my healthy-living efforts should grind to a halt. Somehow, some way I need to find a balance (something I've tried to figure out before, without much success).
Anyone out there have any ideas?
I know, I know: If we all knew how to strike that delicate balance, we'd all be in shape and healthy.
For now, I think I need to get back to one basic principle: Taking things one day — one choice — at a time. Like an addict, I need to focus on just one day ... one day where I take a walk and avoid eating a lot of junk food.
Just one day can't be that difficult. Can it?
April 27, 2010
Not exactly a roll ...
Unless it's a cinnamon roll. However, I am making more of an effort these days.
I'm sorry to say I went off the rails for a few days last week. After going on a 4-hour hike with my coworker, Heather, and her dog, Bandit, on Sunday, I had a wisdom tooth taken out Monday ... and used it as an excuse to eat crap for most of the week.
Yes, more than one milkshake was consumed, along with mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC. I got some healthier "soft foods," too, like yogurt and soup. But of course, the bad-for-me ones were much more appealing.
Hey, I'm being honest here! :D It's much harder to stay OP when the dentist says, "no popcorn, nuts or granola." With popcorn, nuts and granola bars being staple healthy snacks, that makes good choices all the more difficult.
Got back to counting Points Saturday, so this is Day 4 of being back on plan.
Really, I don't know why I do it. I feel so much better when I'm in control and counting my Points. If I knew what made me lose it, maybe I could stop it before it happens.
Today's a busy day. I did some exercise and ate a healthy lunch, and head to my book club meeting later. Since I slept through breakfast, I should have enough Points for a treat or two at the meeting.
I'm sorry to say I went off the rails for a few days last week. After going on a 4-hour hike with my coworker, Heather, and her dog, Bandit, on Sunday, I had a wisdom tooth taken out Monday ... and used it as an excuse to eat crap for most of the week.
Yes, more than one milkshake was consumed, along with mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC. I got some healthier "soft foods," too, like yogurt and soup. But of course, the bad-for-me ones were much more appealing.
Hey, I'm being honest here! :D It's much harder to stay OP when the dentist says, "no popcorn, nuts or granola." With popcorn, nuts and granola bars being staple healthy snacks, that makes good choices all the more difficult.
Got back to counting Points Saturday, so this is Day 4 of being back on plan.
Really, I don't know why I do it. I feel so much better when I'm in control and counting my Points. If I knew what made me lose it, maybe I could stop it before it happens.
Today's a busy day. I did some exercise and ate a healthy lunch, and head to my book club meeting later. Since I slept through breakfast, I should have enough Points for a treat or two at the meeting.
April 16, 2010
On a roll?
No, not a roll with butter and jam. ;) I've successfully completed my fourth straight day on-plan.
OK, I admit to not getting any exercise today. I slept in until noon and then had to make lunch and get ready for work. I was going to head home for my lunch break at 6:30 so I could sneak in a short walk before it got dark, but didn't manage to leave until 7.
Still, today's food choices couldn't have been much better. I'm allowed 25 Points and I ate 25 Points ... unless I head home and make myself a small after-work snack. Even then I'll be at about 27 Points.
For dinner, I tried something new. I had leftover butter beans in the fridge, so I made some whole wheat penne, then sauteed some garlic with the beans. I added a tomato (seeded and chopped) and some basil.
It was delicious — and filling. It's amazing how much better I feel when I'm eating good, healthy foods. When I'm eating crap, I eat a lot more and don't feel nearly as satisfied.
Anyway, here's the recipe. Sorry the picture turned out blurry.
Garlicky Beans with Pasta
2 oz. whole wheat penne
1/2 cup butter beans, with juice
3 cloves garlic (I love garlic)
1 tomato, seeded and diced
sprinkle fresh basil
1 Morningstar Farms Italian Sausage link
2 tsp RF Parmesan cheese
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
In same pan, heat beans and garlic. Cook for a couple of minutes, then add the tomato and basil. Stir pasta back into the pot. (It should absorb the bean liquid pretty quickly.)
While beans are cooking, cook sausage link according to microwave directions. Cut up and add to pot.
Serve in bowl with cheese sprinkled on top.
Serves 1. 8 WW Points.
OK, I admit to not getting any exercise today. I slept in until noon and then had to make lunch and get ready for work. I was going to head home for my lunch break at 6:30 so I could sneak in a short walk before it got dark, but didn't manage to leave until 7.
Still, today's food choices couldn't have been much better. I'm allowed 25 Points and I ate 25 Points ... unless I head home and make myself a small after-work snack. Even then I'll be at about 27 Points.
For dinner, I tried something new. I had leftover butter beans in the fridge, so I made some whole wheat penne, then sauteed some garlic with the beans. I added a tomato (seeded and chopped) and some basil.
It was delicious — and filling. It's amazing how much better I feel when I'm eating good, healthy foods. When I'm eating crap, I eat a lot more and don't feel nearly as satisfied.
Anyway, here's the recipe. Sorry the picture turned out blurry.
Garlicky Beans with Pasta
2 oz. whole wheat penne
1/2 cup butter beans, with juice
3 cloves garlic (I love garlic)
1 tomato, seeded and diced
sprinkle fresh basil
1 Morningstar Farms Italian Sausage link
2 tsp RF Parmesan cheese
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
In same pan, heat beans and garlic. Cook for a couple of minutes, then add the tomato and basil. Stir pasta back into the pot. (It should absorb the bean liquid pretty quickly.)
While beans are cooking, cook sausage link according to microwave directions. Cut up and add to pot.
Serve in bowl with cheese sprinkled on top.
Serves 1. 8 WW Points.
April 15, 2010
Another good day
I'm back ... really back!
That's right. It was another good, OP day for me — the third in a row. I had a great lunch (grilled shrimp and veggies over whole wheat couscous for 7 Points), a Frapuccino light & 100-calorie pack of cookies as an afternoon snack, and some cheese before dinner.
Dinner was some whole wheat pasta with spaghetti sauce and a veggie Italian sausage link and a serving of sherbet was in order after dinner. My evening snack (one of Roni's banana oatmeal cups) put me at 26 Points (one more than the 25 I'm now allowed).
I also took a 20-minute walk. I know, I should be getting 60 minutes of exercise ... but I'll have to build up to that. I'm out of shape after taking so much time off. The walk I finished was exhausting enough.
I'm still not happy about being back in the 200s. In fact, I'm rather ticked off. But like I said earlier, it's my own damn fault.
I was watching an episode of Dr. Phil today, the second of two focusing on "the Ultimate Fat Debate." Among the panelists were Kelly Osbourne (who has apparently lost 42 pounds), Jillian Michaels and some trainer wearing a "No Chubbies" T-shirt who kept saying that fat people were that way by choice — they chose not to exercise and to eat poorly.
Naturally, the fat people on the panel took offense. I took offense. But there's some truth to his message. There are a lot of choices to be made — and until very recently, I've been making all the wrong ones.
I've been doing what's easy instead of what's right. It's easy to grab a drive-thru dinner and sit on my butt. It's right to cook my own meals (even if it takes away from my writing time) and get some exercise (ditto).
Being fat doesn't make me a bad person, and there's no moral imperative for me to lose weight. I won't automatically be happier because I'm thin. However, I will be healthier ... and healthy and happy often go hand in hand.
It'll be more fun to shop for clothes, too. ;)
I need to take Jillian's advice and start pushing myself out of my comfort zone. A 20-minute walk is better than nothing, but a 30-minute walk would be even better.
April 14, 2010
Crappy day all around
I started my morning by finishing my state taxes. Turns out that I entered a wrong number in TurboTax, and instead of getting $4 back, I owe $91. I don't have $91 lying around. Both my checking accounts are below $5, and even though payday is Friday, I have to put aside at least $350 of my check for the oral surgeon I'm seeing on Monday (and another $100 for my car license plate).
So the morning started out badly. It only got worse when I decided to face the metal beast.
That's right: I finally got on the scale after avoiding it for a month. It wasn't pretty. I weighed in at 209.6.
Yep. I'm on the wrong side of One-derland again. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Wait. That's not true. I'm unhappy. I'm angry. And I know I have no one to blame but myself. (OK. I can also heap a little blame on the Boyfriend. I don't know if he thinks he's helping me exercise willpower by tempting me with foods I shouldn't have or what.)
But he's not around 24/7. I have to take 100 percent ownership of a lot of the bad choices I've been making. The raspberry-coconut Zingers from the gas station, cookies from the vending machine at work, Cheesecake Factory double chocolate cheesecake while I'm writing in the Barnes & Noble cafe and fast-food burgers and fries are all on me.
I've been avoiding my food journal. I've turned back into a couch potato. I haven't been planning my meals. I've been relying on the drive-thru instead of taking time to cook healthy, tasty meals for myself. I've been indulging in too many treats way too often.
All these bad habits have to stop. I know what to do — and even if I don't have the money to attend WW meetings right now, I have to buckle down and Just Do It. (Yep. So far the year of Just Do It has been a big bust. I'm turning that around. Now.)
So the morning started out badly. It only got worse when I decided to face the metal beast.
That's right: I finally got on the scale after avoiding it for a month. It wasn't pretty. I weighed in at 209.6.
Yep. I'm on the wrong side of One-derland again. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Wait. That's not true. I'm unhappy. I'm angry. And I know I have no one to blame but myself. (OK. I can also heap a little blame on the Boyfriend. I don't know if he thinks he's helping me exercise willpower by tempting me with foods I shouldn't have or what.)
But he's not around 24/7. I have to take 100 percent ownership of a lot of the bad choices I've been making. The raspberry-coconut Zingers from the gas station, cookies from the vending machine at work, Cheesecake Factory double chocolate cheesecake while I'm writing in the Barnes & Noble cafe and fast-food burgers and fries are all on me.
I've been avoiding my food journal. I've turned back into a couch potato. I haven't been planning my meals. I've been relying on the drive-thru instead of taking time to cook healthy, tasty meals for myself. I've been indulging in too many treats way too often.
All these bad habits have to stop. I know what to do — and even if I don't have the money to attend WW meetings right now, I have to buckle down and Just Do It. (Yep. So far the year of Just Do It has been a big bust. I'm turning that around. Now.)
April 12, 2010
Lost month
Has it really been almost a month since I last blogged?
You know what that means — I've been a bad, bad girl. A month of not counting Points (and eating everything in sight) has surely taken a toll ... but I'm afraid to get on the scale to see just how much of one. I've never had a meltdown of such major proportions.
Yesterday, I had my first on-plan day in I don't know how long. I gave myself 25 Points and ate 25 Points. No more, no less.
It really wasn't that hard, either. So why have I been eating like a fiend for so long? I can't explain it.
I suppose I've just been lazy. I've been writing (finished another manuscript) and haven't wanted to spend time in the kitchen. The fact that I haven't had money to attend WW meetings is also a factor. And of course, time with the Boyfriend doesn't help any.
Now, I'm shooting for two days in a row. So far, so good: Had an egg on a Bagel Thin with a slice of RF American cheese and tomato for a total of 4 Points.
Four down, 21 to go!
You know what that means — I've been a bad, bad girl. A month of not counting Points (and eating everything in sight) has surely taken a toll ... but I'm afraid to get on the scale to see just how much of one. I've never had a meltdown of such major proportions.
Yesterday, I had my first on-plan day in I don't know how long. I gave myself 25 Points and ate 25 Points. No more, no less.
It really wasn't that hard, either. So why have I been eating like a fiend for so long? I can't explain it.
I suppose I've just been lazy. I've been writing (finished another manuscript) and haven't wanted to spend time in the kitchen. The fact that I haven't had money to attend WW meetings is also a factor. And of course, time with the Boyfriend doesn't help any.
Now, I'm shooting for two days in a row. So far, so good: Had an egg on a Bagel Thin with a slice of RF American cheese and tomato for a total of 4 Points.
Four down, 21 to go!
March 16, 2010
Best-laid plans
Work got in the way of my healthy dinner plan tonight.
I decided not to do the Crock Pot BBQ because I wanted beef stroganoff (a lightened-up version of one of my fave low-carb recipes). I took the beef out of the freezer and left for work.
However, by the time I got a chance to take my dinner break, it was an hour later than I normally go … and we were close enough to finishing for the night that it didn’t make much sense for me to leave.
That’s when the wheels fell off my wagon: I munched on popcorn and Goldfish crackers. (At least I didn’t hit the vending machine, eh?)
And when I got off work at 11 p.m., I didn’t do what I should have, which was head home and cook dinner for myself.
Nope. I ended up at the Wendy’s drive-thru instead. More proof that old habits die hard.
Well, it was still a more successful day than the one before. It’s a start!
March 15, 2010
Long, cold winter
I know, it's just an excuse — but this damn cold weather has been making it tough for me to stay OP.
I haven't been exercising. It's tough to walk with 3-foot-high snow piles still covering the sidewalks, and every time it starts to melt, we get more.
The weather is also making me not want to cook. I'm stuck in an "I don't care" kind of mood, where eating out — be it fast food or something else — just sounds easier. As a result, I haven't been planning ... and consistently eating more than I should.
Well, it has to stop. I know, I've said that before — then promptly let myself get derailed again. Getting to a meeting will help. Friday is payday, and I intend to set aside the money to go that following Monday.
Until then, I'll be back to taking things one day — one choice — at a time. Today's start? The first thing I ate when I got up this morning was a 100-calorie pack of Emerald Natural almonds. I love snacking on almonds.
Next up, finding something healthy for lunch and putting dinner in the Crock Pot. HG BBQ Pulled Chicken, here I come!
March 1, 2010
Out of practice
Yoga isn't all that easy to do when you haven't done it in a good long time and you're trying to fight off a curious dog.
I succeeded, though. Got in a 20-minute yoga workout. Other than that, my activity level was in the toilet. Either I need to buy a new pedometer or I've reverted to couch potato days. The pedometer only logged a little more than 1,500 steps — for the entire day.
Ugh. :P
At least I stayed OP on the food front. I've eaten 26 1/2 total Points today. I may add 1 or 2 for a snack ... or maybe not. I'm not all that hungry at the moment.
Gasp! Did those words just come out of my mouth?
Goal for Tuesday: Beat today's step total. It shouldn't be hard.
I succeeded, though. Got in a 20-minute yoga workout. Other than that, my activity level was in the toilet. Either I need to buy a new pedometer or I've reverted to couch potato days. The pedometer only logged a little more than 1,500 steps — for the entire day.
Ugh. :P
At least I stayed OP on the food front. I've eaten 26 1/2 total Points today. I may add 1 or 2 for a snack ... or maybe not. I'm not all that hungry at the moment.
Gasp! Did those words just come out of my mouth?
Goal for Tuesday: Beat today's step total. It shouldn't be hard.
Ask and you shall receive
Just last night, I was lamenting the fact that my week was activity-free and I vowed to earn at least a few Activity Points this week.
This morning, Tina over at Carrots N Cake served up her 2010 Yoga Challenge.
I love yoga whenever I bother to do it. In fact, every time I make it to a class, I think to myself, "What took you so long?" So of course I jumped right on Tina's challenge bandwagon.
Yep, that's me: Comment # 41. I said I wanted to make yoga a regular part of my life this month — at least three times a week.
To get me started, I borrowed a Web site from one of the comments above me, yogadownload.com. I was worried it'd be expensive, but all the 20-minute classes are free. I'm going to download one and get started just as soon as I finish this post.
Perhaps exercise will help me budge the scale faster.
Yes, this morning's encounter with the scale was a bit disappointing. I know I shouldn't complain, having dropped from 198 to 193.2. That's down 4.8 pounds!
However, last Friday the scale was at 190.8 ... so 193.2 is a disappointment, especially after an in-control weekend.
Oh well. I refuse to let it keep me down. I lost 4.8 pounds in my first OP week in I don't know how long. That's a fantastic result! :D
I plan to keep up the great work this week. This morning started with a glass of almond milk and Hungry Girl's Egg Mug Classic (2 Points) topped with a little salsa.
For lunch, I'm thinkin' enchiladas. I made them again Sunday, and this time I was able to eat them. They were delicious ... and I still have beans and sauce to use up, so I can make another batch. Think I'll enjoy a salad with them this time, though.
This morning, Tina over at Carrots N Cake served up her 2010 Yoga Challenge.
I love yoga whenever I bother to do it. In fact, every time I make it to a class, I think to myself, "What took you so long?" So of course I jumped right on Tina's challenge bandwagon.
Yep, that's me: Comment # 41. I said I wanted to make yoga a regular part of my life this month — at least three times a week.
To get me started, I borrowed a Web site from one of the comments above me, yogadownload.com. I was worried it'd be expensive, but all the 20-minute classes are free. I'm going to download one and get started just as soon as I finish this post.
Perhaps exercise will help me budge the scale faster.
Yes, this morning's encounter with the scale was a bit disappointing. I know I shouldn't complain, having dropped from 198 to 193.2. That's down 4.8 pounds!
However, last Friday the scale was at 190.8 ... so 193.2 is a disappointment, especially after an in-control weekend.
Oh well. I refuse to let it keep me down. I lost 4.8 pounds in my first OP week in I don't know how long. That's a fantastic result! :D
I plan to keep up the great work this week. This morning started with a glass of almond milk and Hungry Girl's Egg Mug Classic (2 Points) topped with a little salsa.
For lunch, I'm thinkin' enchiladas. I made them again Sunday, and this time I was able to eat them. They were delicious ... and I still have beans and sauce to use up, so I can make another batch. Think I'll enjoy a salad with them this time, though.
February 27, 2010
Not the most stellar day
But I'm still putting it in the "win" column.
Sure, I didn't get any exercise — again. I drank more diet soda than H2O. And I ate a little more than I should have, starting with a burrito from my favorite burrito place for lunch (no breakfast because I overslept). The choices were a little calorie-heavy and nutrition-light, from the post-burrito TCBY 96% FF coffee-flavored yogurt to my burger dinner.
But I also kept track of every bite. Right now, the day's total stands at 29. I may or may not have a (very) low-Point snack when I get home from work. I'm leaning toward yes, because I'm a little hungry. Maybe BBQ soy crisps and salsa, to sneak in some more veggies.
And before choosing to eat that Whopper Jr. & onion rings for dinner, I thought twice. I knew I had the Points for the burger, and my FPs would pay for for the rings. (I still have 6 1/2 FPs left for the week, which ends Sunday.)
I know, I know. There's no rule that says I have to eat every last FP. But there's no rule that says I can't, either. And I say if it's helping me stay OP and not feel deprived, I will savor every single one.
Here's my pledge for tomorrow: Some kind of exercise. Maybe I'll see if the roommate wants to wii. And with the promise of more snow in the forecast, there'll likely be shoveling. Ugh. That's no fun.
Lesson learned — again
I know I've discovered this once or twice before, but when I'm tracking Points properly, I often find that things aren't as bad as I feared.
Case in point: Today's smoothie from Starbuck's — only 4 Points. But the last few times I ordered it (already in "what the hell, I've already shot the day" mode), I continued overeating for the rest of the day.
Today, armed with the knowledge of how many Points I was actually consuming — not as many as I'd feared — I managed to finish the day having eaten just 29.5 Points. (That's 5.5 FPs used, since I'm allowed 24 these days.)
And that was with eating out — TWICE. I had my favorite lunch, a slice of pizza and caesar salad from Picazzo's, and went to Taco Bell for dinner.
At Taco Bell, knowing that I'd only had 16 1/2 Points for the day, I ordered two grilled steak tacos (fresco style, for 6 Points). I even treated myself to an order of cinnamon twists, which took me to 25 1/2 total Points eaten. Usually when I go to Taco Bell on a Friday night, I'm already in that "what the hell" mode and I order something gooey, cheesy and really bad for me.
My after-dinner snack to carry me through the rest of the night at work was another package of those Special K Fruit Crisps. Then, when I got home from work, I had a Bagel Thin with 1 T RF cream cheese.
I avoided the Girl Scout cookies on the communal desk a few steps from mine, in part because I knew my Points total was under control for the day.
It's nice to know how much I've actually eaten, instead of fearing the worst. It keeps me from going off the deep end and eating everything in sight. And that, my friends, is a wonderful feeling. I'd like to have it more often.
Case in point: Today's smoothie from Starbuck's — only 4 Points. But the last few times I ordered it (already in "what the hell, I've already shot the day" mode), I continued overeating for the rest of the day.
Today, armed with the knowledge of how many Points I was actually consuming — not as many as I'd feared — I managed to finish the day having eaten just 29.5 Points. (That's 5.5 FPs used, since I'm allowed 24 these days.)
And that was with eating out — TWICE. I had my favorite lunch, a slice of pizza and caesar salad from Picazzo's, and went to Taco Bell for dinner.
At Taco Bell, knowing that I'd only had 16 1/2 Points for the day, I ordered two grilled steak tacos (fresco style, for 6 Points). I even treated myself to an order of cinnamon twists, which took me to 25 1/2 total Points eaten. Usually when I go to Taco Bell on a Friday night, I'm already in that "what the hell" mode and I order something gooey, cheesy and really bad for me.
My after-dinner snack to carry me through the rest of the night at work was another package of those Special K Fruit Crisps. Then, when I got home from work, I had a Bagel Thin with 1 T RF cream cheese.
I avoided the Girl Scout cookies on the communal desk a few steps from mine, in part because I knew my Points total was under control for the day.
It's nice to know how much I've actually eaten, instead of fearing the worst. It keeps me from going off the deep end and eating everything in sight. And that, my friends, is a wonderful feeling. I'd like to have it more often.
February 26, 2010
A welcome surprise
Today is what Tina over at Carrots N Cake would call Cookie Friday.
Instead of a cookie, I decided to treat myself to a Vivanno Chocolate Banana Smoothie from Starbucks and was surprised to find that it's a much healthier choice than I thought.
I'd ordered one a couple of times before, thinking I was doing real damage to my daily Points total. But when I actually took the time to ask about its nutritional stats, I discovered it's really not that bad: Made with skim milk, it has 250 calories, 2 grams of fat and 6 grams of fiber, for a Points total of just 4.
Bonus: It has 18 grams of protein, so it's a snack with staying power. Cool, huh?
Guess that's what happens when I track the way I'm supposed to — I find things I thought were bad aren't so bad after all.
Points left for a late-night snack
I'm excited to say I still have 3 Points left to eat something when I get home from work. I'm thinking some Special K (Chocolatey Delight) with skim milk. Yum! I love that stuff.
Speaking of Special K, I tried those Special K Fruit Crisps today. Someone said they tasted like Pop-Tarts ... and they were right. Definitely something to add to my snack drawer at work.
More proof that my head is on straight, finally: There were snacks at the office today (including chocolate chip cookies and bagels w/ cream cheese) and I didn't partake. I did, however, grab a handful of baby carrots (but no dip).
You read right: I didn't eat any chocolate chip cookies. I avoided those suckers even though they were mere feet from my desk. And then, when I returned from dinner, they were gone — and I was glad. (I know my willpower wanes as the night wears on.)
Overall, I'd call it a very good day. :D
Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.
Speaking of Special K, I tried those Special K Fruit Crisps today. Someone said they tasted like Pop-Tarts ... and they were right. Definitely something to add to my snack drawer at work.
More proof that my head is on straight, finally: There were snacks at the office today (including chocolate chip cookies and bagels w/ cream cheese) and I didn't partake. I did, however, grab a handful of baby carrots (but no dip).
You read right: I didn't eat any chocolate chip cookies. I avoided those suckers even though they were mere feet from my desk. And then, when I returned from dinner, they were gone — and I was glad. (I know my willpower wanes as the night wears on.)
Overall, I'd call it a very good day. :D
| Food | Units |
|---|---|
| yoplait red velvet cake yogurt - tasty, but nothing like cake | 2 |
| mcd's 4-piece mcnugget meal w/ sweet&sour, apple dippers & side salad w/ rf italian | 7 |
| special k blueberry crisp bar | 2 |
| hard-boiled egg | 2 |
| pickle spear & 15 grape tomatoes | 0 |
| ambrosia apple | 1 |
| handful baby carrots | 0 |
| healthy choice garlic lemon chicken & shrimp | 5 |
| sf pudding cup w/ 1 tsp rf pb stirred in | 2 |
| Total: | 21 |
Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.
February 25, 2010
Finally back on track
I think my head is finally in the right place to take off the rest of this weight.
How can I tell? Today, when the Boyfriend and I were debating where to go for lunch, I told him we should go to McDonald's so I could order a 4-piece McNugget Happy Meal with apple dippers and a side salad on the side.
All that food was only 7 Points, bringing my total so far today to 9 ... and I'm perfectly satisfied.
This is much better than yesterday, when I had a Whopper Jr. with fries for lunch (11) and had eaten all but 1 of my 24 Points by 2 p.m. or so.
If I'm making those hard choices — the ones that taste good but not great — I'm well on my way. Not that McNuggets are a huge hardship ... but I'd still have preferred a burger. What can I say? I'm a red meat kind of girl.
February 23, 2010
A second good day
Today was another good day, due in part to the migraine-like headache that kept me from moving (or eating) for a good portion of the day. By the time dinner rolled around, I still had 12 Points left ... so I fixed some pasta, veggies, pasta sauce and RF parmesan cheese and had a homemade coffee drink for dinner.
My "frappuccino" was delicious: 1/2 cup coffee-flavored ice cream and 3/4 cup almond milk for just 3 Points. Yum!
Now, I still have 4 Points left. I'm trying to decide what I should eat. Something with nutritional value, probably ... but the Thin Mints in the kitchen seem to be calling me. I think they're 4 Points per serving. I'll have to check.
Of course, that's not the best snack to eat while catching up on last week's episode of "Biggest Loser." I keep thinking I should be working out while I watch.
Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.
| Food | Units |
|---|---|
| here goes nothing! | |
| what's for lunch? | |
| i'm thinkin' ... enchiladas. (sorry arby's.) now, if i can only find my hg recipe for healthy enchiladas, i'll be set. | |
| #food half of the homemade enchiladas i made - head hurt 2 much 2 eat | 4 |
| #food svg. spcl k & skim milk | 3 |
| #food apple w/ 2t pb | 5 |
| #food whole wheat pasta w/ zucchini, mushroom, onions in 1 tsp oil & 1/2 cup pasta sauce | 5 |
| #food 1/2 cup coffee-flv. ice cream blended w/ 3/4 cup almond milk - yum! | 3 |
| Total: | 20 |
Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.
Delightful dinner
Last night was the first time in I don't know how long that I planned ahead and made a healthy dinner at home. I hit the store in the morning and knew what I wanted for dinner.
Fish tacos. That's right — and they were both delicious and easy to make. I remembered seeing a recipe somewhere (though I have no clue where), so I improvised.
Here's my recipe:
1 can Bumblebee lemon-pepper tuna (3 Points)
3 corn tortillas (3)
shredded cabbage (0)
1/4 cup Greek yogurt (less than 1)
1/2 tsp ranch dressing powder (o)
Heat tuna in microwave for 30 seconds; heat tortillas for 20. Put tuna in center of tortillas. Top with cabbage and yogurt mixed with ranch.
February 22, 2010
A decent day
| Food | Units |
|---|---|
| thomas' bagel thin w/ rf cream cheese | 3 |
| california roll | 7 |
| coffee drink - see below | 3 |
| 100-cal pk almonds | 2 |
| nutrigrain cherry cereal bar | 2 |
| homemade fish tacos w/ lemon-pepper tuna, 3 corn tortillas, cabbage, greek yogurt sauce | 6 |
| zucchini, grilled | 0 |
| sf boston cream pie pudding | 1 |
| 1 chocolate-cherry diet soda cupcake | 2 |
| Total: | 26 |
Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.
As you can see, it was a pretty great day overall. I gave myself some treats and sweets, but didn't overindulge.
What I find amazing is that it's 12:30 a.m. and I'm still full from dinner. Guess that's what happens when you actually plan a meal (of sorts) instead of grabbing something on the go.
OK, it's not all that amazing ... what with filling foods and all. ;) Eating real food is definitely the way to go. (Yes, I knew that before ... somehow, though, I'd lost sight of the fact.)
I might not even need to fix my after-work snack ... and that's a good thing, since I'm already 2 Points over the 24 I'm allowed for the day.
That's the good thing about being solidly back in the 190s: I get 24 Points a day instead of 23. Since I always struggled with 23 for some reason I still haven't defined (I'm sure it's a head game of some sort), I'm glad to get 24.
But I'll be even happier when I drop back into the 180s ... even if it does mean getting one less Point. :D
(Finally) ready to face the music
Well, I hopped on the scale this morning for the first time in at least a month. As I suspected, what I saw wasn't pretty.
At my last WW meeting on Jan 3o, I was 190.4. Today, on the home scale (because I still can't afford my meeting while my paycheck is being garnished), I was 198. That's a gain of 7.6 pounds in a little less than a month.
Bad, yes — but not as bad as I feared it might be. At least I'm still in One-derland. Barely, but it counts.
It's time for me to get serious again. I can't keep doing what I've been doing lately and expect different results.
Yes, I've been eating crap. I know my choices have been a problem ... I can't have a burger and fries from Wendy's for lunch and then have tacos and more fries (from Del Taco) for dinner. I can't have a brunch of pancakes from IHOP and then eat a slice of Godiva double chocolate cheesecake as an afternoon snack.
I could blame the Boyfriend. He certainly "helps" me eat things I shouldn't. He doesn't seem to understand that, when I put a certain amount of food on my plate, that's a portion and that's all I plan to eat.
But it's not all his fault. He's not with me when I buy junk out of the vending machine at work, or when I drink a diet Dr Pepper instead of the H2O I know I should be drinking. He's also usually nowhere in sight when I opt NOT to take a walk because the weather's crappy or I'd rather be writing or ... I can't think of the other excuses I've been coming up with lately.
I need to start moving more again. Lately, the only exercise I've been getting has been walking from the couch to the fridge. Not good, I know.
I've been in what Roni calls a funk. I've been feeling beaten down and stressed out by my finances ... and I've been feeling like "what's the point? Nothing I do matters anyway." I've been eating to compensate.
Logically, I can see this. I'm just having a tough time stopping myself.
Today so far, I've done pretty well. I had one of those new Thomas' Bagel Thins w/ light cream cheese for breakfast and lunch was a California roll from my favorite sushi place, Hiro's.
I even got some exercise, in the form of shoveling more of this damn snow we keep getting. The crap from our last storm was finally starting to melt, so of course we had to be "treated" to some more. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate snow?
Seeing that near-200 on the scale just might be the jolt I need to rein myself in and get my eating back under control. I certainly hope so.
February 18, 2010
Still struggling
In case you hadn't guessed, my silence means I'm still eating crap and avoiding the scale.
And I'm not happy about it. Yet, I can't seem to stop myself.
I'm not quite sure what to do. Roni might call this a "funk" — but I seem to have simply given up. Now that I can't afford to go to WW meetings, I seem to have lost the will to follow the program.
Worse, I know that just one good day will give me the shove I need to go in the right direction. Even so, I find myself thinking about starting the day with a donut from Starbucks and then having a big ol' burrito for lunch.
Maybe I should just get on the scale. If I see the damage I'm doing — I could be back in the 200s, at the rate I've been eating — it could be the jolt I need to get back on the ball.
February 9, 2010
A new, better day
OK, it's a brand new day ... I have at least six chances to make good decisions. Healthy choices.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, two snacks. Lots of water.
I can do this. I can! It's not that hard. Even though I'm still stressed out about my financial situation, I don't have to eat my feelings. I can take a walk, call a friend, read a book, write something.
One good decision down: A serving of Special K with skim milk for breakfast. 3 Points, leaving me with 20 for the rest of today.
February 8, 2010
You know it's never good
When I'm ignoring my blog, it's because I've been a bad, bad girl.
Despite writing that I was going to rein it in Saturday, I continued the free-for-all all weekend and into today. (Even though I woke up at 9:30, I skipped breakfast, so I was starving by the time I got to eat lunch ... and so I ate too much.)
I was afraid to face the music by getting on the scale this morning (and still can't afford my WW meeting, anyway. That doesn't excuse me from the home-scale check-in, however.
I started counting Points for dinner and after — I've eaten 10 so far. Don't want to think about the Points in lunch, though.
Despite writing that I was going to rein it in Saturday, I continued the free-for-all all weekend and into today. (Even though I woke up at 9:30, I skipped breakfast, so I was starving by the time I got to eat lunch ... and so I ate too much.)
I was afraid to face the music by getting on the scale this morning (and still can't afford my WW meeting, anyway. That doesn't excuse me from the home-scale check-in, however.
I started counting Points for dinner and after — I've eaten 10 so far. Don't want to think about the Points in lunch, though.
February 5, 2010
Spinning again
With three not-so-great days under my belt, I’m starting to spiral out of control again.
Must rein it back in. Now. I don’t want to undo all the progress I made earlier in the week.
Just for Friday, I’m going to track every bite. That always seems to help.
February 1, 2010
Great breakfast & a new blog
I know, I know .... I usually don't post until the end of the day. But since I had something to share, I figured, "Why not shake things up a little?" Blogging more than once today won't hurt me!
The Boyfriend called right before 9 this morning, so I was actually up early enough to make myself that French toast this morning. I'm psyched, because it turned out delicious.
Psyched? I haven't said that since about sixth-grade. Ah, let's not take that trip down memory lane.
Anyway, it couldn't have been simpler to make.
1/4 cup egg substitute
pinch each of cinnamon, nutmeg & Splenda
1 Sandwich Thin
Spray a small skillet with cooking spray. Mix egg substitute, spices and Splenda. Dip bread into egg. Cook on each side until as brown as you like it.
Yum! And only 2 Points. (I added half an apple and a drizzle of SF syrup, making my total for breakfast 3 Points. Same number as a bowl of Special K w/ 1/2 cup milk, but a nice change!)
On to the blog. Thanks to Tonyne over at The Unlikely Success Story, I discovered a new blog this morning: T.J.'s Test Kitchen. T.J. has lost about 70 pounds on WW (which is where I'll be when I finally hit goal). Right now, she's doing a giveaway ... a great lunch bag filled with some of her favorite snacks.
And now I'm entered to win! :D (I never win this kind of thing, but it's always fun to try.)
January 31, 2010
Blame it on Taco Bell
My NyQuil-induced sleep lasted until 2 p.m., so I didn't get the French toast I was hoping to have for breakfast. (I'm weird like that. I don't like to eat breakfast food unless it's breakfast time. Hated it when the school cafeteria served waffles and sausage and called it "brunch.")
When I left the house to go to work, the day was so beautiful — sunny and warm considering we still have several feet of snow on the ground — that I wished I hadn't slept most of it away. Guess I needed it, though. I feel a little better now.
I wanted a burrito for lunch, but the place I wanted it from is closed on Sundays. I was a bit embarrassed that I didn't know that, but I usually don't try to get burritos on Sunday. (Figured that I had the Points for it, since I'd eaten nothing all day.)
Anyway, I ended up at Taco Bell. I thought I ordered the Drive-Thru Diet combo (two fresco grilled steak tacos) but I actually GOT the regular grilled steak tacos.
They're SO NOT WORTH the extra 4 Points — each. (Fresco are 3 Points each, regular are 7.) I picked the cheese off the second one and called it 12 Points for lunch.
That's the same amount I'd have spent on the burrito at Burritos Fiesta, but it didn't taste nearly as good. Nor was it as filling. I'll probably end up at BF tomorrow anyway.
Anyway, at 28 Points for the day, I'm counting it as another success. Yes, it would have been fewer had Taco Bell not screwed up my order ... but 28 Points still is decent.
My pedometer count, however, sucked even more today: Just 1,494 steps. Guess that's what happens when I sleep until 2 and then sit at my desk for six hours.
I think I'm less hungry as the days go by. More OP days under my belt and my whole attitude is changing.
Nice! Why is it so easy to forget these things when I stray?
On the budget front, I spent $7.07 ... all on food (combo at TB and a kid-sized yogurt from TCBY). I did think twice before getting a Diet Dr Pepper from the vending machine, though. That would have been another 60 cents, so I'm pleased with that decision.
When I left the house to go to work, the day was so beautiful — sunny and warm considering we still have several feet of snow on the ground — that I wished I hadn't slept most of it away. Guess I needed it, though. I feel a little better now.
I wanted a burrito for lunch, but the place I wanted it from is closed on Sundays. I was a bit embarrassed that I didn't know that, but I usually don't try to get burritos on Sunday. (Figured that I had the Points for it, since I'd eaten nothing all day.)
Anyway, I ended up at Taco Bell. I thought I ordered the Drive-Thru Diet combo (two fresco grilled steak tacos) but I actually GOT the regular grilled steak tacos.
They're SO NOT WORTH the extra 4 Points — each. (Fresco are 3 Points each, regular are 7.) I picked the cheese off the second one and called it 12 Points for lunch.
That's the same amount I'd have spent on the burrito at Burritos Fiesta, but it didn't taste nearly as good. Nor was it as filling. I'll probably end up at BF tomorrow anyway.
Anyway, at 28 Points for the day, I'm counting it as another success. Yes, it would have been fewer had Taco Bell not screwed up my order ... but 28 Points still is decent.
My pedometer count, however, sucked even more today: Just 1,494 steps. Guess that's what happens when I sleep until 2 and then sit at my desk for six hours.
I think I'm less hungry as the days go by. More OP days under my belt and my whole attitude is changing.
Nice! Why is it so easy to forget these things when I stray?
On the budget front, I spent $7.07 ... all on food (combo at TB and a kid-sized yogurt from TCBY). I did think twice before getting a Diet Dr Pepper from the vending machine, though. That would have been another 60 cents, so I'm pleased with that decision.
| Food | Units |
|---|---|
| grld stk tacos (cheese removed from one) | 12 |
| kid sz. tcby pb yogurt | 2 |
| 1 godiva caramel-filled chocolate square | 2 |
| smart ones meatloaf w/ mashed potatoes | 5 |
| green beans & 1/2 sandwich thin | 1 |
| 1 deep chocolate vitatop - yum! | 1 |
| (4got to enter earlier) quaker cafe square | 2 |
| svg spcl k w/ milk | 3 |
| Total: | 28 |
Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.
Another decent day
That makes two in a row! I feel so much better than I did earlier this week that I'm doing a little happy dance right now.
I ate a little more today than yesterday ... and succumbed to the lure of a chocolate-covered pretzel rod (2 Points) at the Barnes & Noble Cafe this afternoon before work. It was on sale for 49 cents, so when I saw it only had 2 Points, I just couldn't say no.
Do you guys ever end up eating something you totally didn't plan on just because you're out and it looks good? I'd just had a container of Stonyfield Farms Chocolate Underground yogurt, so I certainly didn't need a chocolate-covered pretzel.
Overall, including the bowl of Special K and skim milk I ate after I got home from work, I consumed 28 Points today.
That's not bad. Granted, I'm allowed 23 ... but if you factor in the 5 FPs I can add to each day (provided I have them, which technically I don't, unless I start my week yesterday), I'm right on track. Maybe I should start my week Friday, then! :D
I was a little hungrier today than yesterday. Maybe that's because it was a carb-heavy day, with sushi and yogurt for lunch, soup and an apple with peanut butter for snacks and a veggie corn dog and mac & cheese for dinner, then the cereal snack.
Must work on getting more protein. Some days I wonder if I shouldn't just start doing Atkins again. Then I remember that, even though I once honestly thought I'd be able to do the low-carb thing for the rest of my life, things changed when I met the carb-loving Boyfriend.
Still no exercise, though. I only logged 2,138 steps on the pedometer. Pathetic. :S (But considering I slept til 11 a.m., then sat on my butt at B&N and then work, I guess 2,000 steps isn't so bad.)
In the "adventures in life" category, I've decided I'm going to try something new with money.
In keeping with the WW theory that tracking helps you take control, I'm going to start keeping track of what I spend, and what I spend it on (bills, entertainment, food, whatnot).
I haven't quite worked out the system yet, but I did buy a little notebook to start tracking in (4 of them for $1.08 at the Dollar Store). It'll be something with a key code (E=Entertainment, F=Food, U=Utilities, A=Auto, R=Restaurants ... etc.) so I can see exactly where my money goes.
I expect I'll be shocked and sickened at how much I waste. Guess I'll find out soon enough, eh?
Now, it's time to take some NyQuil gelcaps and knock myself out until tomorrow. As long as I wake up in time to go to work at 4, all will be well.
I ate a little more today than yesterday ... and succumbed to the lure of a chocolate-covered pretzel rod (2 Points) at the Barnes & Noble Cafe this afternoon before work. It was on sale for 49 cents, so when I saw it only had 2 Points, I just couldn't say no.
Do you guys ever end up eating something you totally didn't plan on just because you're out and it looks good? I'd just had a container of Stonyfield Farms Chocolate Underground yogurt, so I certainly didn't need a chocolate-covered pretzel.
Overall, including the bowl of Special K and skim milk I ate after I got home from work, I consumed 28 Points today.
That's not bad. Granted, I'm allowed 23 ... but if you factor in the 5 FPs I can add to each day (provided I have them, which technically I don't, unless I start my week yesterday), I'm right on track. Maybe I should start my week Friday, then! :D
I was a little hungrier today than yesterday. Maybe that's because it was a carb-heavy day, with sushi and yogurt for lunch, soup and an apple with peanut butter for snacks and a veggie corn dog and mac & cheese for dinner, then the cereal snack.
Must work on getting more protein. Some days I wonder if I shouldn't just start doing Atkins again. Then I remember that, even though I once honestly thought I'd be able to do the low-carb thing for the rest of my life, things changed when I met the carb-loving Boyfriend.
Still no exercise, though. I only logged 2,138 steps on the pedometer. Pathetic. :S (But considering I slept til 11 a.m., then sat on my butt at B&N and then work, I guess 2,000 steps isn't so bad.)
In the "adventures in life" category, I've decided I'm going to try something new with money.
In keeping with the WW theory that tracking helps you take control, I'm going to start keeping track of what I spend, and what I spend it on (bills, entertainment, food, whatnot).
I haven't quite worked out the system yet, but I did buy a little notebook to start tracking in (4 of them for $1.08 at the Dollar Store). It'll be something with a key code (E=Entertainment, F=Food, U=Utilities, A=Auto, R=Restaurants ... etc.) so I can see exactly where my money goes.
I expect I'll be shocked and sickened at how much I waste. Guess I'll find out soon enough, eh?
Now, it's time to take some NyQuil gelcaps and knock myself out until tomorrow. As long as I wake up in time to go to work at 4, all will be well.
January 30, 2010
On the right track
This morning, I made a pledge to myself: Just for today, I'm going to log every bite that goes into my mouth.
I did, and it helped me immensely. I ate 24 Points (forgot to put in strawberries and SF Jell-O mousse before I exported my chart). I'm still contemplating heading home and eating 1 Point of popcorn, because I'm still hungry.
Long hours are not exactly my friend. But at least I've avoided the vending machine today. It was the first time in more than a week that I've stayed OP.
Let's hope it's the start of a nice, long streak.
| Food | Units |
|---|---|
| svg. spcl k w/ 1/2 c skim milk | 3 |
| chicken bacon ranch salad w/ lt ranch dressing | 7 |
| small vanilla cone | 3 |
| quaker true delights cafe squares | 2 |
| apple w/ 1 t rf pb | 3 |
| hg pulled bbq chicken on sandwich thin | 4 |
| svg. progresso soup w/ extra 1/2 c green beans mixed in | 0 |
| Total: | 22 |
Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.
January 29, 2010
Must regain control
I started out today with the idea that today was the day I was going to take control of my diet again.
Boy, was that a mistake … or rather a series of them.
First, I woke up before 10 a.m. and didn’t actually get out of bed until 12:30 because I was busy writing. The good news? I added a very nice set of scenes to my novel. The bad news? I didn’t eat breakfast, so …
When I left the house for lunch, I was starving. I went out for half a sandwich and some soup — chicken & white bean chili — and ended up getting an oatmeal scotchie, too. Those are quite possibly my favorite cookies (with the exception of Thin Mints).
Then I headed to work, where the newsroom (that’s us) was hosting a Hawaiian luau in the conference room. Not only did I have 3 slices of ham & pineapple pizza then … but I ate two more later on, because the leftovers were hanging around the newsroom.
I skipped dinner, having eaten the two additional slices at about 6 p.m. … but then at about 9 p.m., I started munching on some trail mix. And when I got home from work at 1 a.m., I ate a pulled pork sandwich. (At least it was a HG recipe, so it was only 4 Points!)
Aargh!
I need to stop that, pronto! Hopefully, signing the paperwork with the attorney next Tuesday will help.
But I don’t want to wait until Tuesday to regain control. In the morning, after I dedicate some time to sending out two query letters to potential agents, I’m going to get in some kind of workout. I’ve been letting those slide, what with all last week’s snow shoveling (which doesn’t really count) and the chaos that has become my financial situation.
Boy, was that a mistake … or rather a series of them.
First, I woke up before 10 a.m. and didn’t actually get out of bed until 12:30 because I was busy writing. The good news? I added a very nice set of scenes to my novel. The bad news? I didn’t eat breakfast, so …
When I left the house for lunch, I was starving. I went out for half a sandwich and some soup — chicken & white bean chili — and ended up getting an oatmeal scotchie, too. Those are quite possibly my favorite cookies (with the exception of Thin Mints).
Then I headed to work, where the newsroom (that’s us) was hosting a Hawaiian luau in the conference room. Not only did I have 3 slices of ham & pineapple pizza then … but I ate two more later on, because the leftovers were hanging around the newsroom.
I skipped dinner, having eaten the two additional slices at about 6 p.m. … but then at about 9 p.m., I started munching on some trail mix. And when I got home from work at 1 a.m., I ate a pulled pork sandwich. (At least it was a HG recipe, so it was only 4 Points!)
Aargh!
I need to stop that, pronto! Hopefully, signing the paperwork with the attorney next Tuesday will help.
But I don’t want to wait until Tuesday to regain control. In the morning, after I dedicate some time to sending out two query letters to potential agents, I’m going to get in some kind of workout. I’ve been letting those slide, what with all last week’s snow shoveling (which doesn’t really count) and the chaos that has become my financial situation.
January 27, 2010
Who knew?
Did you know a $2 bill is worth exactly ... $2.
Since I'd never seen one in circulation, I was hoping it'd be worth much, much more. Alas, $2 bills are still in circulation, so even fresh, crisp $2 bills from 1976 are worth no more than face value.
Not what I wanted to hear, what with my finances in the mess they're in. I stress-ate my way through the weekend after discovering the d*** bill collector is still taking $200+ from my paycheck each payday. I NEVER agreed to pay them freakin'$400 a month ... EVER. (I believe we settled on $150.)
I can't live on $600 a paycheck when my mortgage takes $500 and my car insurance takes the rest.
So I spent the weekend stressing about money. I skipped my WW meeting for two reasons: No cash to pay for it and the home scale said 192.5 (up considerably from last Monday's total) ... that meant it would have been a waste of money anyway. :P
The stress eating stops now, though. I really want to follow WW at home on my own for the next month or so until I can get the wage garnishment stopped and go back to my meeting.
Until then, I have to do it on my own, for myself. I'm still so close to goal that I don't want to reverse my progress.
January 23, 2010
Winterpocalypse coming to end
Winterpocalypse ... storm of the century ... snowpocalypse ... hell ...
Whatever you call it, Flagstaff's week of big snows is finally coming to an end. It hasn't been pretty. Businesses' roofs are collapsing under the weight of all the snow and people are stuck in their houses. One of my coworkers' heat went out Friday and they aren't coming to fix it until Tuesday.
All this snow is great fun for the dogs, but for us humans, not so much. Enjoy the photos and be glad you're not here!
Up way too early
The Boyfriend woke me up at 4 a.m. today, calling because he'd let a friend borrow his truck and couldn't get ahold of said friend 9 hours later. No answers to texts or phone calls and he started to panic. He didn't want to be stuck at Gila River Casino with no money and no vehicle.
I told him to call back when it got light outside. I didn't know if it was still snowing out there, but I wasn't about to head down the mountain in this weather when it was pitch-black. Even if the snow had stopped, the roads wouldn't improve much until the sun came out.
So he called again at 6 to wake me up so I could get ready. About the time I got out of the shower and poured myself a bowl of Special K for breakfast, he called to say she finally called back — she'd apparently fallen asleep.
But since I'd already showered, I was wide awake ... so I've been up ever since. I'm not used to watching the sun come up! Not sure I like it, either. I much prefer days that I get up at noon (so I don't have to eat breakfast and have more Points for the rest of the day!).
I told him to call back when it got light outside. I didn't know if it was still snowing out there, but I wasn't about to head down the mountain in this weather when it was pitch-black. Even if the snow had stopped, the roads wouldn't improve much until the sun came out.
So he called again at 6 to wake me up so I could get ready. About the time I got out of the shower and poured myself a bowl of Special K for breakfast, he called to say she finally called back — she'd apparently fallen asleep.
But since I'd already showered, I was wide awake ... so I've been up ever since. I'm not used to watching the sun come up! Not sure I like it, either. I much prefer days that I get up at noon (so I don't have to eat breakfast and have more Points for the rest of the day!).
January 22, 2010
Catching up
Since Flagstaff is blanketed with several feet of snow, I got home from work early tonight — really early. Instead of writing (the way I should be), I decided to catch up on Tuesday's episode of "Biggest Loser" so I could delete it from the DVR.
The struggle of Migdalia, from the green team, touched me ... perhaps a little more than I'd like to admit. When Jillian was yelling at her, trying to get her to admit why she wasn't happy, and she stormed off, I was reminded of my (brief) stint in therapy.
Convinced that I was still thinking like a fat girl (with low self-esteem), I went for a few months after I lost the 110 pounds doing Atkins. The one moment that stands out more than any other was the day I started sobbing while talking about being seen as the "jolly fat girl."
I've been that way as long as I can remember — the big girl with a great sense of humor. (Hell, I even write romantic comedy — still unpublished ... but that's another blog.)
It's not surprising. My entire family — both sides — handles most of life's adversities with humor. My mom, who was also overweight, was always quick with a joke. So are my cousins. I remember at my dad's funeral, the clan went out for pizza between viewings and had a grand time joking around.
But I'm losing my train of thought here. The point, which former BL contestant Tara Costa summed up so nicely in her People blog, is this:
I need to remember that — and take time to figure out my own mind-body connection. I have a feeling that's the only way I'm finally going to break out of the 180s.
As for my day, it was a mixed bag. Thanks to the shoveling, I got more activity than I do some days ... but I also haven't made the best food choices. The boss brought deli sandwiches in to feed those of us stuck at the office, and I pulled my usual trick of not counting Points for that and anything I ate after it.
Perhaps I need to figure out why I have such an aversion to tracking, too. Like I told Tina at Carrots-N-Cake, who's thinking about starting to count calories again, counting — calories, Points, carbs or what have you — is just a tool to help you stay mindful about what you're eating.
I honestly believe that. So why do I struggle so much with it?
The struggle of Migdalia, from the green team, touched me ... perhaps a little more than I'd like to admit. When Jillian was yelling at her, trying to get her to admit why she wasn't happy, and she stormed off, I was reminded of my (brief) stint in therapy.
Convinced that I was still thinking like a fat girl (with low self-esteem), I went for a few months after I lost the 110 pounds doing Atkins. The one moment that stands out more than any other was the day I started sobbing while talking about being seen as the "jolly fat girl."
I've been that way as long as I can remember — the big girl with a great sense of humor. (Hell, I even write romantic comedy — still unpublished ... but that's another blog.)
It's not surprising. My entire family — both sides — handles most of life's adversities with humor. My mom, who was also overweight, was always quick with a joke. So are my cousins. I remember at my dad's funeral, the clan went out for pizza between viewings and had a grand time joking around.
But I'm losing my train of thought here. The point, which former BL contestant Tara Costa summed up so nicely in her People blog, is this:
I have come to realize that to truly make a lifestyle change, you need to understand the reasons why you heavy in the first place. If the mind-body connection is not made, it will not be a lasting impact. Once you make that connection, you can be vulnerable because you will feel all emotions, not just the happy ones.
I need to remember that — and take time to figure out my own mind-body connection. I have a feeling that's the only way I'm finally going to break out of the 180s.
As for my day, it was a mixed bag. Thanks to the shoveling, I got more activity than I do some days ... but I also haven't made the best food choices. The boss brought deli sandwiches in to feed those of us stuck at the office, and I pulled my usual trick of not counting Points for that and anything I ate after it.
Perhaps I need to figure out why I have such an aversion to tracking, too. Like I told Tina at Carrots-N-Cake, who's thinking about starting to count calories again, counting — calories, Points, carbs or what have you — is just a tool to help you stay mindful about what you're eating.
I honestly believe that. So why do I struggle so much with it?
January 21, 2010
Great Wednesday ... & snowy Thursday
Activity (in the form of snow shoveling), plenty of water and staying within my Points … what more could a girl want?
This post is going to be quick because I’ll be up earlier than normal to go to work. We’re clearing early because of the monster snowstorm set to hit Flagstaff Thursday and Friday.
I like the thought of clearing early … I just wish it didn’t mean going in at 11 a.m. I’m used to having my mornings to myself.
That was last night's post, which I apparently forgot to publish.
Now, it's morning, and the snow is coming down. The snowblower woke me up — at least I think that's what it was. I heard something weird hitting my window, anyway. I sure hope it was snow. Kind of annoying when I didn't get to sleep until 3, to be awake again at just before 7. But a lot less annoying than ME having to go out and shovel this crap ... :D
This post is going to be quick because I’ll be up earlier than normal to go to work. We’re clearing early because of the monster snowstorm set to hit Flagstaff Thursday and Friday.
I like the thought of clearing early … I just wish it didn’t mean going in at 11 a.m. I’m used to having my mornings to myself.
| Food | Units |
|---|---|
| 10 min shoveling snow, 15 on elliptical [-2] | -2 |
| svg spcl k cinnamon pecan w/ 1/2 c milk | 3 |
| ww pasta w/ lean ground beef, tomatoes, mushroom & onion | 6 |
| sf jell-o mousse cup | 1 |
| 1/2 sandwich thin w/ 1 t rf pb, 1 t choc chips | 4 |
| hg slow cooker pulled ckn on sandwich thin w/ 1 c whole grain rice a roni | 8 |
| yoplait light mixed w/ 1/4 c ff cool whip & frozen for 1 hr | 3 |
| popcorn | 1 |
| Total: | 24 |
Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.
That was last night's post, which I apparently forgot to publish.
Now, it's morning, and the snow is coming down. The snowblower woke me up — at least I think that's what it was. I heard something weird hitting my window, anyway. I sure hope it was snow. Kind of annoying when I didn't get to sleep until 3, to be awake again at just before 7. But a lot less annoying than ME having to go out and shovel this crap ... :D
January 20, 2010
Not so great
Today wasn’t as good as yesterday. I started off okay, with some activity — 10 minutes of snow shoveling and 15 on the elliptical in the kitchen.
Even lunch was pretty healthy — a baked potato topped with lean ground beef, mushroom and and onion seasoned with taco seasoning. I also threw on some cheese, salsa and RF sour cream. Yum! Not only was it delicious, I figured it came out to only 7 1/2 Points.
The trouble started when I left for work. Work involved interviewing the owner of a new deli in town … and I sampled some of his peanut butter fudge. It was just a small piece, but when I said I liked it, he gave me a whole square to take with me. I TOLD myself I was only going to eat part of it … but a few minutes later, I’d devoured the whole thing.
Then I went to my book club meeting. Chili, veggies and dip, 3 corn muffins and about four chocolate-peanut butter chip cookies later, my day’s Points were more than shot.
Oh well. It’s only one day — and part of the day, at that. I’ll get right back on track when I wake up. That’s all I can do. I don’t want to beat myself up. I know from experience that gets me nowhere.
Even lunch was pretty healthy — a baked potato topped with lean ground beef, mushroom and and onion seasoned with taco seasoning. I also threw on some cheese, salsa and RF sour cream. Yum! Not only was it delicious, I figured it came out to only 7 1/2 Points.
The trouble started when I left for work. Work involved interviewing the owner of a new deli in town … and I sampled some of his peanut butter fudge. It was just a small piece, but when I said I liked it, he gave me a whole square to take with me. I TOLD myself I was only going to eat part of it … but a few minutes later, I’d devoured the whole thing.
Then I went to my book club meeting. Chili, veggies and dip, 3 corn muffins and about four chocolate-peanut butter chip cookies later, my day’s Points were more than shot.
Oh well. It’s only one day — and part of the day, at that. I’ll get right back on track when I wake up. That’s all I can do. I don’t want to beat myself up. I know from experience that gets me nowhere.
January 19, 2010
Good day
Funny how success at the scale sets me up for success all around. Today was no different. After my good WI, I ate a healthy lunch (cheesy Choice Ramen w/ veggies from my ever-dwindling stash) and then headed to work.
Before I left the office for the night, I checked my gmail account one last time and found more good news: One of the two agents I sent queries to about my manuscript wrote back, wanting to see more!
I think the first words out of my mouth were "Oh my God" or something like that. I was so excited ... I read the letter twice, then texted the Boyfriend with the good news. Then I headed home to get those 30 pages ready to upload to the agency's database.
That was a bit of a trial. Even though I had a Microsoft Word file, I kept getting an error page. "Please upload a supported file type," it said. MS Word was a supported file type! So I tried a Simple Text file, .rtf, which was also on the list. No luck there. Finally, I figured out that my Word file didn't have the .doc on it ... when I added it, the database accepted it just fine.
Hmm. Guess this post falls into the "adventures in life" category, since it doesn't have much to do with weight loss or cooking.
I did manage to plan ahead for dinner. Before I left for work, I put out a turkey burger to defrost and sliced up a potato to make my famous "Foreman fries" on George (the George Foreman grill I have). That way, when I got home for my dinner break, I didn't have to wonder what I was going to eat. Dinner was 7 Points (turkey burger 3, sandwich thin 1, foreman fries w/ olive oil 3) ... and then I snacked on a granola bar and some peanuts after dinner (another 6).
Total Points consumed today: 30 of 23 allowed
FP used: 7
The snow is falling fast and furious now ... I doubt I'll be getting to see the Boyfriend on my day off Wednesday. We're supposed to be getting snow all week. :P Have I mentioned how much I hate snow? (Probably about a dozen times, eh?) At least I can earn some APs with all the shoveling!
Before I left the office for the night, I checked my gmail account one last time and found more good news: One of the two agents I sent queries to about my manuscript wrote back, wanting to see more!
I think the first words out of my mouth were "Oh my God" or something like that. I was so excited ... I read the letter twice, then texted the Boyfriend with the good news. Then I headed home to get those 30 pages ready to upload to the agency's database.
That was a bit of a trial. Even though I had a Microsoft Word file, I kept getting an error page. "Please upload a supported file type," it said. MS Word was a supported file type! So I tried a Simple Text file, .rtf, which was also on the list. No luck there. Finally, I figured out that my Word file didn't have the .doc on it ... when I added it, the database accepted it just fine.
Hmm. Guess this post falls into the "adventures in life" category, since it doesn't have much to do with weight loss or cooking.
I did manage to plan ahead for dinner. Before I left for work, I put out a turkey burger to defrost and sliced up a potato to make my famous "Foreman fries" on George (the George Foreman grill I have). That way, when I got home for my dinner break, I didn't have to wonder what I was going to eat. Dinner was 7 Points (turkey burger 3, sandwich thin 1, foreman fries w/ olive oil 3) ... and then I snacked on a granola bar and some peanuts after dinner (another 6).
Total Points consumed today: 30 of 23 allowed
FP used: 7
The snow is falling fast and furious now ... I doubt I'll be getting to see the Boyfriend on my day off Wednesday. We're supposed to be getting snow all week. :P Have I mentioned how much I hate snow? (Probably about a dozen times, eh?) At least I can earn some APs with all the shoveling!
January 18, 2010
Surprise
... And this time, it was a good surprise — two, actually.
First, the news you've all been waiting for: Results of today's WI. (Drumroll, please.) Down 1.2 pounds.
I was surprised, because when I hopped on the home scale, I thought I was pretty much the same as last Monday. Apparently, I'd forgotten what the home scale said.
I'll take the loss and be glad, because my Thursday and Friday weren't all that great.
The other surprise: The baked potato I had when I got home from work last night was very filling. First, I nuked a potato. While it was cooking, I rummaged around in the freezer. (I was inspired by Tonyne over at The Unlikely Success Story, who recently wrote a post about cleaning out her freezer.) Found a partial bag of sad frozen veggies and decided they'd be just the thing to make my potato a "Filling Food."
I cut up a mushroom and a little onion and nuked it with the frozen veggies, then topped the potato with them. I also added 1 T bacon bits, 2 T RF cheddar and 2 T RF sour cream.
It hit the spot — and was only 5 Points.
January 17, 2010
OK weekend
The weekend wasn't a total bust. In fact, it's now nearly 11 p.m. and I have about 9 Points left for the day. Good thing, too, because I still haven't had dinner.
I came to work at 4 p.m., and by the time I got to a good stopping point, I only had about an hour's worth of work left to do ... so it made no sense to take a dinner break then.
Consequently, now I'm starving. I'm trying my damnedest to convince myself that doesn't give me license to hit the drive-thru. On the night before WI? That would be really dumb, wouldn't it?
OK, I'm decided. It's off to the house to make myself something good for me. I had soup for lunch, so it'll have to be something else. Maybe a nuked baked potato ... topped with cheese, bacon bits and RF sour cream.
Yum! I talked myself into it. Good. It'll help me stick to my New Year's theme. (Thanks again, Nike!)
I came to work at 4 p.m., and by the time I got to a good stopping point, I only had about an hour's worth of work left to do ... so it made no sense to take a dinner break then.
Consequently, now I'm starving. I'm trying my damnedest to convince myself that doesn't give me license to hit the drive-thru. On the night before WI? That would be really dumb, wouldn't it?
OK, I'm decided. It's off to the house to make myself something good for me. I had soup for lunch, so it'll have to be something else. Maybe a nuked baked potato ... topped with cheese, bacon bits and RF sour cream.
Yum! I talked myself into it. Good. It'll help me stick to my New Year's theme. (Thanks again, Nike!)
January 15, 2010
Workin' hard or hardly workin'?
For some reason, that question — a fave of my fifth-grade teacher — popped into my head this morning. He'd ask, "Are you working hard or hardly working?" any time he saw one of us staring out the window or otherwise not doing what we're supposed to be doing.
If I'm honest with myself, I'd have to say that when it comes to weight loss, I've been hardly working lately. Yes, I've been doing better since the New Year started and I adopted my "Just do it" theme ... but not good enough. Yesterday, I bought not one but two bags of little vanilla sandwich cookies from the vending machine at work. (I think those are one of my trigger foods ... can't seem to stop at just one.)
I still don't track every bite I eat (though I have been tracking more regularly).
And I haven't been working out the way I should. I do, however, think my legs are getting more toned just by virtue of wearing my Skechers Shape-Ups the last few weeks. (I'll take it!)
It's time for me to start working hard instead of hardly working.
If I'm honest with myself, I'd have to say that when it comes to weight loss, I've been hardly working lately. Yes, I've been doing better since the New Year started and I adopted my "Just do it" theme ... but not good enough. Yesterday, I bought not one but two bags of little vanilla sandwich cookies from the vending machine at work. (I think those are one of my trigger foods ... can't seem to stop at just one.)
I still don't track every bite I eat (though I have been tracking more regularly).
And I haven't been working out the way I should. I do, however, think my legs are getting more toned just by virtue of wearing my Skechers Shape-Ups the last few weeks. (I'll take it!)
It's time for me to start working hard instead of hardly working.
January 13, 2010
An award & a contest
Kelly over at Pounds for Prom just honored me with a Beautiful Blogger Award.
Now I'm supposed to write seven random things about myself (and nominate seven people of my own).
Here are seven things that some of you might already know, but many of you won't:
1. I was a band geek in high school. At various times, I played flute and piccolo, and was in the color guard. All that marching helped keep my weight in check.
2. I spent a semester in England (eating Yorkshire pudding, giant jacket potatoes and pizza topped with CORN ... yes, you read right: CORN) in college. I went to Harlaxton College, the University of Evansville's British campus, which was featured in exterior shots for the Liam Neeson/Catherine Zeta Jones movie "The Haunting." I did a lot of walking while I was over there, so the bad eating habits didn't affect my weight too much (I'd already gained the freshman 30 by then!)
3. I watch repeats of "NCIS" and "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" and "SVU" on USA.
4. Thanks to the Boyfriend, I'm now a member of the WWE Universe. Yes, I tune in to "Monday Night Raw," "ECW" and "Smackdown" whenever I get a chance. Since I work nights (3-7 p.m.), I'm not always able to watch.
5. I'm not a huge fan of exercise. Big surprise, right? If I loved to work out and ate properly, I wouldn't be the proud owner of a weight loss blog, now would I?
6. My mom used to say I have champagne tastes and a beer budget.
7. Both my parents died in 2003, within a month of one another. That fall, after their deaths, my roommate and I started doing Atkins. I weighed 276 when I started. I low-carbbed my way to 169 (with a goal of 160) and then met my Boyfriend, started eating carbs again and regained about 70 pounds. Weighed 246 when I joined WW and am back down to the 180s.
I'll have to think about who I want to nominate and get back to you on that one.
Now, on to the contest. I love soup ... especially Progresso's light soups. They're fantastically filling and so low in Points. I can eat the whole can without blowing it.
Roni's giving us a chance to win soup:
I entered Roni's Souper Duper Contest!
Check out Roni’s Weight Loss Blog for more information.
January 12, 2010
Health screening
Had my health screening at work today and the results left something to be desired.
First off, their scale weighed me at 193.6 ... That's way off from the home scale, which said 186.something this morning. Granted, I did eat a donut at the mall this afternoon, but that shouldn't have caused a 7-pound gain. (The good news is the donut, filled with peanut-butter cream was way too rich. I won't be pining for one of those every time I walk past the bakery anymore.)
They did a body composition test (based on the higher weight) and my body fat came out at 34.3 percent. Not great, by any stretch of the imagination ... but I can remember when I first started Atkins, my body fat percentage bordered on 46 percent. That makes 34.3 percent an improvement. Still, it can be better — loads better.
My other results:
BMI: 27.8
Total Cholesterol: 169
HDL (good) Cholesterol: 44
Blood sugar (not fasting): 133 (I'm blaming the donut!)
BP: 140/76
With the stats recorded for posterity, it's time to concentrate on "The Biggest Loser." I think I'll do some exercise while I watch.
First off, their scale weighed me at 193.6 ... That's way off from the home scale, which said 186.something this morning. Granted, I did eat a donut at the mall this afternoon, but that shouldn't have caused a 7-pound gain. (The good news is the donut, filled with peanut-butter cream was way too rich. I won't be pining for one of those every time I walk past the bakery anymore.)
They did a body composition test (based on the higher weight) and my body fat came out at 34.3 percent. Not great, by any stretch of the imagination ... but I can remember when I first started Atkins, my body fat percentage bordered on 46 percent. That makes 34.3 percent an improvement. Still, it can be better — loads better.
My other results:
BMI: 27.8
Total Cholesterol: 169
HDL (good) Cholesterol: 44
Blood sugar (not fasting): 133 (I'm blaming the donut!)
BP: 140/76
With the stats recorded for posterity, it's time to concentrate on "The Biggest Loser." I think I'll do some exercise while I watch.
January 11, 2010
Good news from the scale
Finally! After about a month straight of gains, I saw the scale move in the right direction this week.
That's right: Down 2.8 pounds.
Can I get a woo-hoo? Sure, I'm still higher than I'd like. But at least things are finally going the right way. It's about time, too.
Even after all this time, I find it amazing how just a little success sets me up to have a great, on-plan day. Having seen the scale go down this morning, I'm determined to make good choices all day. I had a healthy breakfast and a lunch that focused on WW "Filling Foods."
The only thing missing from the equation today? Exercise. I haven't done any of that. I'm using my lingering cold as an excuse ... but it's not a good one. I should get in at least 10 minutes' worth of exercise. It won't kill me, and it might even make me feel better.
A girl can dream, right?
That's right: Down 2.8 pounds.
Can I get a woo-hoo? Sure, I'm still higher than I'd like. But at least things are finally going the right way. It's about time, too.
Even after all this time, I find it amazing how just a little success sets me up to have a great, on-plan day. Having seen the scale go down this morning, I'm determined to make good choices all day. I had a healthy breakfast and a lunch that focused on WW "Filling Foods."
The only thing missing from the equation today? Exercise. I haven't done any of that. I'm using my lingering cold as an excuse ... but it's not a good one. I should get in at least 10 minutes' worth of exercise. It won't kill me, and it might even make me feel better.
A girl can dream, right?
January 10, 2010
Why is it?
After a couple of days of very bad choices, I'm left wondering one thing: Why is it that when we feel sick, we go straight for the comfort foods?
I've had a horrible, voice-losing cold for the last few days. On Saturday, I couldn't speak above a whisper. Yet I managed to stuff my face with all kinds of bad-for-me foods ... mainly cheesy, gooey Mexican dishes.
I don't get it. But at least I'm on the mend now — thank goodness. Today, instead of getting a chocolate malt at Sonic, I stopped myself. I got a diet Dr Pepper with low-cal cherry syrup instead ... and a vanilla cone, but at least it wasn't the shake.
The even better new news? I've been drinking hot tea like it's going out of style, so I had no problem getting enough liquid.
(You know what Monty Python says ... always look on the bright side ...) :D
I've had a horrible, voice-losing cold for the last few days. On Saturday, I couldn't speak above a whisper. Yet I managed to stuff my face with all kinds of bad-for-me foods ... mainly cheesy, gooey Mexican dishes.
I don't get it. But at least I'm on the mend now — thank goodness. Today, instead of getting a chocolate malt at Sonic, I stopped myself. I got a diet Dr Pepper with low-cal cherry syrup instead ... and a vanilla cone, but at least it wasn't the shake.
The even better new news? I've been drinking hot tea like it's going out of style, so I had no problem getting enough liquid.
(You know what Monty Python says ... always look on the bright side ...) :D
January 7, 2010
Cookies got me
I made a choice to eat a cookie at the mall at lunchtime. In retrospect, it wasn't the best choice I could have made. I figured I was doing OK by eating a cookie and not the baked chips that came with my turkey sub from Subway. Sure, it was 5 Points vs. 3 for the chips, but I really wanted the cookie — and at least I didn't eat BOTH.
And I'd have probably been fine had I not decided to have Starbucks, too, before I headed to work. That means I wasted 8 Points on a cookie and coffee, because I got a peppermint mocha (even with less syrup, I've been counting them as 3). The latte is pictured on my desk at work, along with a holiday photo of my darling nephew. Cute, isn't he?
Then, toward the end of my shift at work, the press guys came up and said "We have cookies in the back."
Now, I should have just said "no." But I still have a hard time turning down free food ... especially desserts. So I made the trek back to the pressroom (at least it put some extra steps on the pedometer!) and fetched us some cookies. :P
That cookie added 5 more Points to the total in my chart, meaning I had 34 Points for the day ... 11 FPs down on Day 2 of the WW week.
So that goal didn't happen. However, the other three did. I exercised, I tracked and I did something else I can't remember at the moment.
To shamelessly corrupt a classic Meatloaf song (sorry, Mr. Loaf), three out of four ain't bad.
| Food | Units |
|---|---|
| egg scrambled w/ mushroom, onion, & 1 oz. ham on sandwich thin | 4 |
| 6-inch turkey sub w/ veggies, cheese, mustard | 6 |
| cookie | 5 |
| ff peppermint mocha w/ 1 pump less of each syrup | 3 |
| ww 2-point almond bar - yum! | 2 |
| 2 svg. easy fried rice http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/index.aspx?recipeid=182921&sc=11 | 6 |
| jello sf chocolate mousse | 1 |
| 100-cal pk yogurt-covered pretzels | 2 |
| Total: | 29 |
Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.
January 5, 2010
Day 1 of the rest of my healthy new life ...
Got sidetracked over the weekend with the Boyfriend (which extended into Monday, because we're both off on Mondays), but I was back on track today.
Needless to say, the year so far has not been a great one for my theme, "just do it." I've had moments, but most of the time has been spent NOT doing what needs to be done.
That changes now. I need to do this for myself ... I need to do it to stop the scale's creep in the wrong direction (up another pound since last Monday's official WW weigh-in).
Today was a great day. I stayed in my Points, without eating any FPs, and I got in 20 minutes of exercise — a 15-minute walk, plus extra walking and some toning exercises while I watched "The Biggest Loser" season premiere that I taped earlier tonight. Right now I'm drinking green tea while I blog and watch the show, but as soon as I'm done blogging, I'm going to pick up the weights.
For dinner, I tried a new recipe. I bought the Hungry Girl recipe cards with part of my Christmas gift card from my brother and sister-in-law, and made the sesame peanut noodles (using tofu shirataki noodles). They were pretty good, though I think I prefer the "Hungry Girlfredo" fettucine Alfredo swap. Maybe if I bulk them up a little with some ham or chicken or something ... I was hungry too soon after eating dinner. Had to have some beet salad and then some almonds shortly thereafter.
Then again, the total for all that food was just 7 Points (4 for the noodles, 1 for the beets and 2 for the almonds). That's not a bad total for dinner (especially after several days of overindulging).
Here's the Tweet, Eat, Post chart for the day:
Goals for Wednesday:
• Eat just 23 Points, using perhaps 2 or 3 FPs (no more)
• Get at least 10 minutes of exercise
• Drink at least 8 8-ounce glasses of liquid (mostly H2O)
• Track every morsel that goes into my mouth
Totally do-able, I know!
Needless to say, the year so far has not been a great one for my theme, "just do it." I've had moments, but most of the time has been spent NOT doing what needs to be done.
That changes now. I need to do this for myself ... I need to do it to stop the scale's creep in the wrong direction (up another pound since last Monday's official WW weigh-in).
Today was a great day. I stayed in my Points, without eating any FPs, and I got in 20 minutes of exercise — a 15-minute walk, plus extra walking and some toning exercises while I watched "The Biggest Loser" season premiere that I taped earlier tonight. Right now I'm drinking green tea while I blog and watch the show, but as soon as I'm done blogging, I'm going to pick up the weights.
For dinner, I tried a new recipe. I bought the Hungry Girl recipe cards with part of my Christmas gift card from my brother and sister-in-law, and made the sesame peanut noodles (using tofu shirataki noodles). They were pretty good, though I think I prefer the "Hungry Girlfredo" fettucine Alfredo swap. Maybe if I bulk them up a little with some ham or chicken or something ... I was hungry too soon after eating dinner. Had to have some beet salad and then some almonds shortly thereafter.
Then again, the total for all that food was just 7 Points (4 for the noodles, 1 for the beets and 2 for the almonds). That's not a bad total for dinner (especially after several days of overindulging).
Here's the Tweet, Eat, Post chart for the day:
| Food | Units |
|---|---|
| ww 2-point almond crunch bar — yum! | 2 |
| ww cheddar twists | 2 |
| greek salad w/ chicken | 6 |
| fiber one pop tart | 3 |
| hg peanut noodles | 4 |
| orange-beet salad | 1 |
| 15-minute walk | |
| 100-cal pk almonds | 2 |
| 100-cal pak chocolate covered pretzels | 2 |
| 2 clementines | 1 |
| Total: | 23 |
Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.
Goals for Wednesday:
• Eat just 23 Points, using perhaps 2 or 3 FPs (no more)
• Get at least 10 minutes of exercise
• Drink at least 8 8-ounce glasses of liquid (mostly H2O)
• Track every morsel that goes into my mouth
Totally do-able, I know!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
