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.

Successful experiment

I've had a busy, busy morning. Not only did I manage to get up early (thanks to a call from the Boyfriend) and eat a healthy breakfast, but also to take a 50-minute walk AND bake a loaf of chocolate-pumpkin bread.

I saw the recipe over at Carrots 'N' Cake this morning and knew I HAD to try it. But I didn't want to make it as it was written, because it had a lot of sugar in it. We all know "limit added sugar and alcohol" is one of Weight Watchers' 8 Good Health Guidelines, and since I'm trying to be good this week, I

didn't want to blow that on Day 1.

So I set out, using my knowledge of healthy cooking, to improve on the recipe. Here's my version:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup Splenda
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 can (7.5 ounces) pumpkin
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 325*F. Spray loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray (butter flavor would be nice, but I'm out and had to use regular).

2. Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl; blend well.

3. Once mixed, pour batter into loaf pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until top is firm and a toothpick comes out clean.

I must admit, the result doesn't look like much, especially after I cut it into 16 pieces, the way it is in the photo above. And I was nervous because the batter was so darn thick. Take my word for it: It tastes better than it looks. It was so delicious I'm having to fight to keep myself from having a second piece. But since 1/16 of the loaf is about 3 Points, that's not an option right now.

I'll take one with me to the write-in tomorrow morning. Work on my NaNo MS is coming along — up past 13K. Since I'm aiming for 40,000, I'll be halfway when I hit 20K ... and I'm about to take my characters off to Alaska, where there'll be plenty of opportunities for madcap adventures (and, finally, some lovemaking. They still haven't done it, and I'm 20+ chapters into it! Nothing like building the tension, eh?).

I'm thinking about taking a few slices to work to share, and freezing a few more. I also promised the Boyfriend I'd bring him one next time I see him (though if that's not til Monday, he may be SOL.) The fewer I have in the house, ready to eat, the better. :D

Too much sugar

I've been thinking: One of WW's eight Good Health Guidelines is to avoid added sugar and alcohol. But I don't avoid added sugar nearly as much as I should.

One of the culprits? Those 100-calorie packs of snacks. They're ONLY 2 Points, I tell myself ... conveniently forgetting that's 2 Points I could be using on something with nutritional value.

I guess it's OK when I only have one 100 calorie pack in a day ... And usually, I'm able to do that. But I've discovered one variety that I have trouble stopping with just one of. That's them over there at the left. Chips Ahoy! Double Chocolate Chip cookies are apparently a trigger food for me. I ate one pack at work Friday, and a couple of hours later, still at my desk, I tore into another one.

I guess I won't be buying THOSE anymore. I should probably cut back on all 100-calorie packs. (The chocolate-covered pretzels are another favorite of mine.) And sugary yogurts. I just noticed that my favorite Yoplait Light (also just 2 Points, but at least it counts as a dairy serving) has the dreaded high fructose corn syrup listed as its second ingredient. I thought those things were sweetened with Splenda.

Hmm. I should have known better. Anything that tastes as good as their Apple Turnover and Pineapple Upside Down Cake varieties CAN'T be good for you, right? :D Well, I guess they are better than the original kind ... And they are delicious. Yum!

I've been flirting with the idea of watching carbs again — not as strictly as I did on Atkins, but surely I can do a lower-carb version of WW and lose the last 19 pounds more quickly than I've lost the first 55-ish ... right?