Fat Blog Land

Breakfast Smoothie

2011-03-11T09:27:00.000-08:00

I used strawberries instead of bananas today. Still tasty, thick, and delicious but 4 strawberries didn't add much strawberry flavor. Maybe strawberries and vanilla soymilk. 6p+

The protein whey powder has been making me feel fuller. Also combined with the multivitamin and daily veggies, I am feeling much better. My immune system has taken a beating this year.

WW Points Plus Restaurant Blog

2011-03-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

Going to Panera for lunch so I thought I would find what the best choices are. I found this site. So today I got the Asian Sesame Chicken Salad which is 8 Points+. Really tasty. I still have to learn to not get the bread side. I like bread though. Whole grain baguette side is 5 Points +.

For breakfast I had an awesome smoothie. Pure protein whey, light chocolate silk soymilk, and frozen banana slices. 6 points + Delightful!

Hungry Girl Chicken Parmesan

2011-03-08T15:58:00.000-08:00

This was really delicious! Hungry Girl No Harm Chicken Parm! find the recipe here.

Changes:

Egg beaters --> 2 egg whites

Fat free mozzarella --> thinly sliced provolone

Tomato sauce --> jarred marinara

8 Points +

Jammed with Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

2011-03-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

From HG 1-2-3:

I didn't have all of the ingredients for the actual HG recipe so I improvised, which of course is higher in points.

Changes:
Fat free egg substitute --> 2 real eggs
Laughing cow cheese --> cream cheese
Light white bread --> High fiber bread
Sugar free strawberry preserves --> Strawberry Rhubarb preserves

Eeekkkk! 12 points vs 7 points
It was still really delicious!

Starting Weight Watchers Points Plus Program

2011-03-05T18:28:00.001-08:00

I found a great website for Weight Watcher support here. I was going to sign up for the 3 month deal with no sign up fee, which expires 3/12/11, but I found the formula for the Points Plus program online and decided that I am going to keep track of it myself.

Here is another website run by a WW leader here. Both sites have lots of recipes. The only thing I can't find is how many daily points I should have. The previous bottom daily points was 19. Based on the Suggested Daily Points breakdown by meal, I think the bottom daily points is 29. Plus everybody gets 49 Extra Weekly Points Allowance. Awesome!

I love that all fruits and veggies are free (except starchy potatoes, corn, peas, and high fat avocado). I am focusing more on fruits and veggies as well as a multivitamin everyday since I have been sick since December 29th. Yes, I realize it is March. I lost my tastebuds for a few weeks too but they are slowly coming back.

Another site with good swaps for high fat foods is Hungry Girl. The recipes in the Hungry Girl books have all been updated online to reflect Points Plus. I LOVE these books! My goal is to do at least 2 HG recipes a week and I will review the recipe too.

WW+ starts 03/06/11!

Healthy snacks you can't overdo

2011-01-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

I love articles like this one from Shape.com. When you are "dieting" all of a sudden your brain tells you that you need to eat more. At least that is how mine works. Shape.com lists six snack foods you can't overdo. Fabulous!

Healthy Snack #1: Homemade Cucumber Pickles
Make it: 1.Thinly slice cucumbers; 2. Douse in rice vinegar. Pretty simple, right? "Cucumbers only have 16 calories per cup and the rice vinegar only adds 1 calorie per teaspoon but tons of flavor," Blatner says. This low-calorie snack should be a staple in your healthy diet.

Healthy Snack #2: Air-Popped Popcorn
"Because popcorn is mostly air, you can eat a lot for minimal calories," Blatner says. "You get about 3.5 cups for only 100 calories." And since popcorn is naturally a whole grain, you also get 4 grams of filling fiber. For extra flavor add paprika, chili powder, vinegar and pepper, or cinnamon.

Healthy Snack #3: Zucchini Carpaccio
Make it: 1. Thinly slice zucchini; 2. Drizzle with lemon; 3. Sprinkle with pepper. The secret to this healthy snack is in the lemon. "Cutting the zucchini very thin allows the lemon to tenderize it, so it's extra delicious!" At only 19 calories per cup, with flavorful and low-calorie lemon and pepper as seasoning, this may become your favorite way to eat squash.

Healthy Snack #4: Canned Artichokes
Blatner recommends rinsing and draining to reduce the sodium content. Then dig in! Artichokes have one of the highest antioxidant contents of all fruits and vegetables. "So you're not only getting just 16 calories each," Blatner says, "you're also getting healthy anti-aging, disease-fighting antioxidants." Call it youth in a can.

Healthy Snack #5: Homemade Kale Chips
Make it: 1. Preheat oven to 375°F; 2. Wash 2 bunches of kale, remove stems, tear into small pieces; 3. Toss with 2 tsp olive oil and spread on baking sheet; 4. Salt lightly; 5. Bake until crisp and slightly golden around edges (10 minutes). "These satisfying chips only have 34 calories per cup, versus a cup of bagel chips, which would be four to five times more calories."

Healthy Snack #6: Finger-Food Veggies
"Veggies are mostly water—about 90 percent," Blatner says. So you'll feel full long before you overdo it. Plus, veggies are one of the most portable snacks around. "Celery, carrots, grape tomatoes, snow peas and broccoli are the best finger-food veggies." Pop them in a plastic bag and eat on the go. It'll save you from giving in to drive through disasters.

How to find a new gym

2011-01-03T15:12:00.001-08:00

As with most New Year's resolutions, many people are looking at gym memberships. Some questions to ask yourself before signing the dotted line and laying down the bucks:

Is the gym convenient to your home or work? If you have to go out of your way, you will make excuses not to go.
Do your research on the gym - many companies don't make it. Make sure you pick a reputable company with a good track record.
Introductory offer - What does it entail? What are you getting for our money?
Know what it takes to get out of a contract - You sign for a year and something comes up after 3 months. Know what your options are.
What is your goal? - Focusing on strength or cardio? Make sure the gym offers what you are looking for.

Your health is an investment. Research your options. Your body will thank you!

Classic Race Management

2010-06-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

Upcoming races this summer in and around my home town. Check out www.classicrace.com

Couch to 5K

2010-06-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

So I finished 2 weeks of the Couch25K program. The first week was pretty good. Walk 5 min, 60 secs of running, 90 secs of walking. Total of 20 min. I actually was able to go over the 20 min each time. And since not being a runner, it was mostly walking but the walking portions were a good amount to let me catch my breath.

The second week was a little harder. Walk 5 min, 90 secs of running, 2 min of running. Total of 20 min. This week I actually thought I was not going to make it. But I think the problem is tht I did all 3 days in a row. I have since read that you should have a day of rest in between.

As of now, my last day of training was 6/8/10. I've decided to start over with the training. I want to be able to do a triathon by 40. A friend of mine suggested it. And I think it sounds like a great goal.

Biking is fun!

2010-04-28T22:09:00.000-07:00

I joined a biking meetup group tonight and we rode 11 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Not fast by any means. I was in the slow group. And the short group. But I am so tired. Must go to bed now...

Note to Self

2010-04-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

WTF? What was I thinking? Well I know exactly what I was thinking. I was thinking that I would be able to easily walk a 6K without doing any training. I didn't do badly. Mostly my feet. Blisters. Not sure what to do about that in the future. The Green Day Fun Run really wasn't fun either. Who knew Cascade had so many hills?!? If you are in the Grand Rapids area, check out the run on Facebook.

I'm going to nurse my feet for the night.

The End Times Are Here

2010-03-03T19:48:00.000-08:00

I browse through a lot of health and fitness related news every day in order to try and find things that can help our readers here improve their lives. In doing so I come across a fair number of unusual topics, but more often than not most of the things I read tend to get repetitive. That’s why, when I opened up my reader this morning, I darn near spewed a mouthful of coffee all over my dual monitor setup after I saw one of the headlines.

McDonalds has partnered up with Weight Watchers .

That’s right, folks. Over in New Zealand McDonald’s is now advertising several of their menu choices with the Weight Watchers logo and the POINTS value prominently displayed. They aren’t offering anything new on their menu as far as I can tell, but what they have done is picked out three meals from their available selections that a Weight Watchers member can choose for a quick and relatively low POINTS meal. The items are :

•A Filet-O-Fish sandwich with a side salad and a diet soda or bottled water.
•Six Chicken McNuggets with sauce, a side salad, and a diet soda or bottled water.
•A Chicken Wrap with a diet soda or bottled water.
All three of these items are advertised as having 6.5 POINTS.

As much as this news made my jaw drop over the sheer level of bizarre WTF-ery involved, I have to admit that I think it’s a wonderful sign. It means that yet another major restaurant chain is bowing to consumer demand for healthy menu options. So much so that the chains see the potential to increase their profits by catering to those needs (and, conversely, the possibility that they will lose business if they do not do so). If this kind of menu labeling is adopted world wide by a major chain like McDonalds it’s only a matter of time before their competitors take notice and respond in kind. If that happens we can look forward to the possibility of having Weight Watchers POINTS values prominently displayed on even more restaurant menus in the future.

As a long time Weight Watchers member all I have to say to that is “I’m lovin’ it.”

Retrieved from ShrinkGeek

All I can say is "What??? When did the fish sandwich become healthy?

How to Reward Good Behavior

2010-02-25T15:55:00.000-08:00

This is from the Lifestyles Change Strategies - Strategy #3

How to reward good behavior
Can you imagine working for a boss who:

- Notices every mistake you make
-Reminds you of these mistakes at every opportunity
- Belittles you, points out your faults, and minimizes achievement whenever you start to
feel good about yourself
- Never acknowledges what you do right with so much as a kind word or small reward

Ironically, the job I was let go from did just that. It was a very toxic environment and I am glad to be gone.

Anytime something traumatic happens in your life, you always question if it was you or not. This mental therapy has been going on for over a year. (The job market sucks here in Michigan). So until I get a new job, I will probably still question myself even though I do not truly believe it.

As for the weight loss...it is a slow process. I reward myself too often and it is inhibiting my goals. I have a bunch of new friends to hang out with and all we have done so far is eat and drink! Believe it or not, I am limiting that. But obviously not enough. I will be taking the rest of this week to develop a new strategy of my own.

March 1st, here I come!

Anti V-Day

2010-02-10T21:44:00.000-08:00

Do not look to this blog for gushy, heart-felt feelings. I'm a bit of an Anti V-Day snob this year. Well actually the last few years. Why you ask? Because the "love" feeling I once had was ripped from my heart. It was the most painful experience I have ever gone through. And I am still going through it. I question whether I was good enough, or pretty enough, or smart enough. I question why me? What did I do to deserve this? I did not do anything wrong.

The heart is the most resilient muscle. It holds the most emotion and can easily break but bounces back to love again. I'm just waiting for my turn.

Becoming a Skinny Bitch

2010-02-09T13:24:00.001-08:00

I recently picked up Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. While I have never claimed to be a vegetarian, I can go several days without eating meat. I do not crave meat. After reading this book, it most certainly is going to make me go full vegetarian. I'm not sure about going vegan although the claims regarding dairy products I find quite interesting and I plan on researching it to find out if it is true.

Looking back to prehistoric times, there were no processed foods. You killed and gathered what you needed. As a society we have become lazier and like to purchase in bulk. To purchase in bulk and not have it go bad, the foods need to be preserved. Is there really a link to the preservatives and modern diseases? You would hope that the FDA and the USDA would have our best interests in mind. According to the book, all the agencies are in cahoots with the farming and food processors.

While I am not sure about the benefits or disadvantages of animal by-products, I do disagree with the treatment of animals prior to be slaughtered. Politics seem to play into everything and it is a little discouraging that these politicians can not seem to focus on important issues. The public health and safety should be first. Not where and when they are going on vacation/holiday (Congress). Seriously...

I have ordered my free vegetarian starter kit from www.goveg.com. There is a disturbing video of animal cruelty on the site. I can not bring myself to watch it. Yes, I eat , and but I do not think any living being should be tortured that did nothing wrong.

I am one to research everything before delving in. I know that pop, either diet or regular, is bad for you. I have been a diet pop drinker for years. I love me a big fountain pop! However, the book claims that there is a deadly acid in pop. I have to research this more but I am phasing pop out.

Start small and work your way on to a Skinny Bitch!

5 Things To Do Instead of Eating

2010-02-03T20:42:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of things to do to keep your hands busy so as not to start snacking. Sometimes when I'm bored or just mindlessly watching TV or hanging around the house with nothing to do, I'll snack.

Knit! - Or crochet. It is a hot craft and if you have yarn and needles in your hands you can not eat mindlessly. You would have to make a conscious effort to put down your project to pick up food. Honestly, today all I had was coffee until about 2 pm. I know that's not good either BUT I did not snack.
Exercise! - Who can exercise and eat at the same time? Don't answer that or try it. I'm sure it is possible but why would you want to?
Clean! - Seriously, we have to do it. We may not like it. But it is necessary unless you want Clean House and Niecey Nash coming to visit you.
Take a nap! - Yay naps! Love them. Wish I could do it everyday. And those kids who refuse to take a nap now? Tell them you wish you could be as lucky as they are.They still won't appreciate it but it's worth a try.
Pamper yourself! - That's right. Try a facial mask. Who is going to eat when you have crap all over your face? Of course, that is assuming the facial mask is not homemade from oatmeal and sugar and taste like a cookie.

Now, get off the couch and stop eating!

Healthy Body Water Percentage Chart

2010-01-27T18:22:00.001-08:00

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art13909.asp

Low Carb Site
Lisa Shea
BellaOnline's Low Carb Editor

Healthy Body Water Percentage Chart

Water is critical to life! This healthy body water percentage chart will help you determine if you have enough water in your system. Many scales will tell you this value in seconds.

Because your fat in your body has a lot of water in it, you have to first know how much fat you have in your body before you can then figure out what your healthy water content is. That is, if you say have 33% fat in your body, then you only need another 37% of water alone, because you have water in the fat. The scales don't count "fat water" as water, otherwise your numbers would get very confusing :)

Luckily, every scale that I've seen that measures water also measures fat, at the same time!

Female Body Water Chart

Body Fat % Body Water %
4-20% 58-70%
21-29% 52-58%
30-32% 49-52%
33%+ 37-49%

Male Body Water Chart

Body Fat % Body Water %
4-14% 63-70%
15-21% 57-63%
22-24% 55-57%
25%+ 37-55%

So the key here is that as you lose fat, you need to have more water in your system to compensate. Your body will tend to do this naturally for you. That is part of why it's key, as part of any healthy diet, to drink a lot of water. You should never "lose weight" by losing water. That can cause dehydration issues, which can be quite serious!

NOTE: One of my visitors feels that fat is only 10% water while other parts of your body might be 70% water. Yes certainly an eyeball might be mostly water while a fat cell might contain mostly fat and only some water. Still, it is important to remember that there is water / liquid in pretty much every single cell in the body in some percentage. You want to have that water in your body to help relay chemicals and nutrients back and forth. Never try to "stop drinking water" to lose weight. Quite the opposite. The more water you drink, the more your body pees out any excess and has the most optimal metabolism it can to lose weight.

Scale Stats

2010-01-27T10:11:00.001-08:00

Well this is disappointing. No change in a month:

December 21, 2009
Fat %: 48.9
Water %: 40.8
Muscle Mass %: 28.7
BMI: 34.9
Calories needed daily to maintain: 1661

January 27, 2010
Fat %: 48.9
Water %: 40.9
Muscle Mass %: 28.7
BMI: 35.1
Calories needed daily to maintain: 1663

Normal healthy range (according to the scale manufacturer)
Fat 22-32% (whoa)
Water 50% (clearly not getting enough water)
Weight 110-140 ish (huh)
BMI 18.6 - 24.9 (oh my)

I really don't understand how the scale gets all this info from my feet. Anyway, I need a new strategy. The little is getting the best of me right now. Grrrrr....

What Sexy Means to Me

2010-01-24T09:40:00.000-08:00

According to Merriam-Webster:

Main Entry: sexy
Pronunciation: \ˈsek-sçFunction: adjective
Inflected Form(s): sex·i·er; sex·i·est
Date: 1925
1 : sexually suggestive or stimulating : erotic
2 : generally attractive or interesting : appealing

I think anyone can be sexy. Sexy comes from feeling confident in who you are right now. Not waiting until you get to that magical goal weight. Think of how you feel when you lose 5 pounds. Your confidence increases and is expressed by how you talk and dress and in your mannerisms.

I am still battling with my inner but I feel sexier than I ever have!

Blue Harmonies (ISFJ)

2010-01-12T20:25:00.001-08:00

Fitness Color: True Blue, Tried and True
Motivation, Approach, and Focus

Courtesy of YOOVIE
from this test at Experience life Magazine

Blues are guided by clear fitness goals and objectives. Often these goals are based on advice from health and medical professionals or information from the media, or perhaps center on improving performance in sports or other activities. Blues prefer keeping their exercise plans plain, simple, and easy to execute so they can achieve their goals. Keeping commitments to themselves ranks high with Blues.

Blues are highly sensitized and aware of their bodies and thus are careful not to over-do. They gravitate to traditional exercise based on proven methods, tested and trusted, the better to achieve their goals with a minimum of fuss or risk of injury. Because they are exercising for a purpose, it doesn't make sense to spend time experimenting on new routines when they already know techniques and approaches that have worked in the past. With little inclination to live on the cutting edge, Blues are not interested in the latest weight program being touted or in getting their exercise in "fun" new ways. Blues focus on the purpose of exercise. They will have their fun some other time.

Correct form and proper technique are essential. They represent not only the best and least wasteful approach to exercise, but ensure greater safety, a high priority for Blues. When learning something new, Blues prefer a step-by-step approach. For instance, in learning a free weight routine, Blues prefer to learn the proper technique for developing one muscle group to their satisfaction before moving on to the next. Once a technique is locked into their memory, they can comfortably move on, but not until then. With an emphasis on safety and form, Blues value a chance to learn from qualified experts who, as professionals, can carefully take them through the steps.

Blues are motivated by keeping track of their workouts. What better way to measure progress and see that they accomplished what they set out to do than by writing it down and seeing the data in front of them. Record-keeping allows Blues to refer to their progress in the orderly manner that resonates with their True Blue nature. Date, time, distance, sets, reps, results—all details are noted.

Environments and Interpersonal Connections
Blues seek calm and familiar environments that allow them to focus on the task at hand. They find commotion and interruptions disturbing and prefer keeping their gym interactions to a minimum. Their personalities are modest and quiet; they call little attention to themselves and will not share their fitness milestones and exercise accomplishments unless asked.

Blues typically have outstanding powers of concentration and are adept at creating their own space, even inside a busy fitness center. They might do so by reading or listening to music or books on tape. Many have said that while engaged in repetitious cardio activities, they maintain their energy by chanting or singing to themselves, or reciting personal mantras.

Blue Efficients (ISTJ)

Blue Efficients have a pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to personal training sessions. They want to get down to business right away and have little interest in chit chat that does not relate to the job at hand.

Blue Harmonies (ISFJ)
Blue Harmonies enjoy exchanging pleasantries in their personal training sessions and seek a friendly relationship with their trainer. Positive feedback from their trainer assures them of correct technique, form, and safety.

How to Have a Successful Lifestyle Change

2010-01-11T10:28:00.000-08:00

It is always easier said than done but here are some thoughts on retaining the New Years Resolution to eat healthier:

Don't go on a "diet" - one of the definitions of diet is to regulate food in order to improve the physical condition. Which is essence that is what a "Lifestyle Change" is. However over the years the term "diet" makes a person feel trapped and deprived of good tasting foods. The preconceived idea of diet means tasteless, cardboard foods.

WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN! - While this may sound very strong, it is the best way to ensure that you are getting the essentials in your daily meals. With everything we have on our minds, the last thing we need to remember is what we ate for breakfast to determine what we can eat for lunch or dinner.

Drink lots of water - Getting at least 8 - 8oz glasses of water a day can actually contribute to fullness and help with weight loss. Water can come from many sources, including fruits and vegetables. Up to 60% of the body is water. Drinking water is help flush the toxins and can improve skin tone.

Don't beat yourself up - So you had a moment of weakness. We all have. It doesn't mean you have to completely give up. Pull your self together and tackle the healthy choices at the next meal.

Stay active - Even if it is walking around the block with your dog or kids. Walking around the grocery store. Cleaning the house. That is all activity.

What the voice in your (my head) says:

A diet?!? Why are we on a diet again? Why can't you just admit we are going to be plump forever? What is so important about being healthy? Healthy certainly doesn't taste very good. Vegetables again? OMG!
Write what down? That was just a taste. Who can calculate a taste anyway. That is like measuring a pinch, a dash, and a smidgen. Seriously...
What are we, a camel? Why so much water? Can't we have a Diet Coke instead?
You know, why even start? You are going to fail again anyway. First moment of weakness and you might as well throw in the towel.
We have to move again?!? Didn't we just move yesterday? Seriously...this "lifestyle change" is exhausting.

But don't give up. Never give up. I will never give up.

Well Cripes...

2010-01-06T19:51:00.000-08:00

Already not following my January goals:

* Updating blog daily? Nope. I've been busy on Sparkpeople.com though
* 3 servings of fruits and veggies? Nope. Still eating like crap
* 8 glasses of water? Not "water" per se, but things that are maybe classified as a beverage?
* Journaling everything? Nope...I'm so lazy
* 10% weight loss goal? Not possible if I can't follow the other rules
* Exercise 5 times a week for 30 min? Ugh...NO! I haven't even done a thing yet.
* Eat all my daily points? Well there is an accomplishment. Daily points and then some.

Tomorrow's goal: go to the grocery store so I don't have that as an excuse. I know what I have to do. Now I just have to DO IT!

Spark on people...

Merry Christmas to all!

2009-12-25T17:20:00.000-08:00

A Year Without A Santa Claus

I'm mister White Christmas
I'm mister snow
I'm mister icicle
I'm mister 10 below

Friends call me snow miser
whatever I touch
turns to snow in my clutch
I'm too much

I never want to know a day that's over 40 degrees
I rather have it 30, 20, 5 and have it freeze

I'm mister Green Christmas
I'm mister sun
I'm mister heat blister
I'm mister 101

Friends call me heat miser
whatever I touch
starts to melt in my clutch
I'm too much

I never want to know a day that's under 60 degrees
I rather have 80, 90, 100 degrees!

No More Starbucks Drive Thru

2009-12-22T12:11:00.001-08:00

At $3 or more a cup, and not much control over content, why not save the environment and your waist-line at the same time?

How stinkin' cute is this? And it is Eco friendly too. Available at Bed, Bath and Beyond here.

Copco To Go Cup

This cup looks like a disposable one but it's reusable so it reduces waste. With an easy-sip top, BPA free double wall mug provides enhanced insulation. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

January Goals

2009-12-21T08:26:00.000-08:00

* Update my blog daily
* Eat 3 servings of fruits and/or vegetables daily
* Get 8 - 8 oz glasses of water daily
* Write everything I eat in my food journal
* Get to my 10% weight loss goal
* Exercise at least 5 times per week for min 30 min
* Eat all my daily points

Scale Stats for the Week

2009-12-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

Weigh ins Monday morning:

Fat %: 48.9
Water %: 40.8
Muscle Mass %: 28.7
BMI: 34.9

Calories needed daily to maintain: 1661

Normal healthy range
Fat 22-32% (whoa)
Water 50% (clearly not getting enough water)
Weight 110-140 ish (huh)
BMI 18.6 - 24.9 (oh my)

I'm not really sure how the scale gets all this information from my feet. I would think it would be based on age height and weight and then just making a guess but it does change even when the weight is the same.

Biggest Loser Scale

2009-12-20T12:18:00.001-08:00

This is a great scale to use on your weight loss journey. Available from Amazon here.

Product Features

Measures body fat-Body water via the BIA method.
Calculates daily caloric reference- shows calories needed to maintain weight
Fitness Minder calculates BMI
Accurate to 330 pounds -150kg
Silver and Stainless steel platform with large 1.9" -2 line LCD display

Daily Nosh

2009-12-19T21:53:00.000-08:00

Easing my way back into the tracking of my food:

Peanut butter/jelly sandwich
mini marshmallows
Chicken enchilada (Schwann's) - 350 cal, 5 fat, 1 protein
Popcorn

Not a good day...

Easy Vegetarian Brown Bag Lunches

2009-12-19T20:58:00.000-08:00

Black beans, diced red pepper, onion, jalapeno, salsa on a whole wheat wrap with pepper jack cheese

Vegetarian chili salad you can add salsa, corn, beans, egg, cheese, chick peas, & avocado

Grilled cheese & tomato soup

Avocado, cucumber, red onion, tomato and hummus on whole wheat

Vegetarian B.L.T. - Caramelize onions and use instead of bacon. It takes two minutes and they hold up find throughout the day.

Black bean and cheese burrito wraps

Garbonzo beans, feta cheese and lettuce is a great quick salad

1 can Tuna, 2 chopped apples, 2 chopped stalks celery, 1 TB mayo, salt & pepper! That makes 2 delicious servings of salad

Tzatziki pita - pita, 1/2 tomato, cuke, feta, tzatziki, lettuce. Assemble right before eating.

1/2c brown rice (I use the microwave packets), 1/2 can chopped no salt added tomatoes, 2/3c morningstar farm ground soy

Vanity Sizing

2009-12-18T14:39:00.000-08:00

Seriously...

Now it is no secret that the sizing of clothes has changed over the years. And as frustrating as it is not knowing what size you are going to be from store to store, here is the reason why: vanity sizing. Americans are willing to pay more for a smaller size on our clothes. We like the smaller size in the closet so we can say, "yeah, I'm a size 4". This vanity sizing phenomenon has certainly contributed to the ever growing American population...and I don't mean the number of people. Americans are getting fatter and the vanity sizing from clothing companies are enabling us. Here is an interesting article in the Seattle Times.

So what is your true size? To really know what your true size is, you should go to European clothing companies such as Boden or H&M or sewing patterns. The pattern companies are still using the commercial sizing standards that the Department of Commerce regulated up until 1983. It seems once again, America has their own way of doing things.

Another helpful site for clothing conversions.

Morning or Evening Exercising

2009-12-17T15:10:00.000-08:00

Is it better to exercise in the morning or evening? Well for me, since I am not a morning person, the evening is better. When I am on a regular schedule, I find it easier to come home from work and hit the treadmill or weights before dinner. The problem with exercising in the evening is on the days that I have to work late. I seem to have had the unfortunate luck of working for companies that suck every ounce out of me. Then when I finally get to go home for the day it is 9 or 10 and night and the last thing I want to do is exercise. A typical day usually meant I probably didn't eat lunch or if I did, it was from a vending machine because I didn't have time to leave. (Normally I could go home for lunch) So even though I should not have eaten anything, I really hadn't eaten all day and when you are starving, you eat everything. And because it is so late, I didn't have the time or energy to make lunch for the next day and it all starts again.

There is a lot of information on the internet regarding when it is better to exercise. Basically it comes down to, what works for you?

Fiber Fun Facts

2009-10-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

North Americans ate 10 times more fiber 100 years ago than they do today
Fiber has zero calories
Fiber is only found in carbohydrates. Yet not all carbohydrates contain fiber
High-fiber foods provide long term energy to your body because they are digested and processed more slowly than refined carbohydrates
Only 1 in 5 Americans have an idea how much fiber they consume on a daily basis, and only 1 in 4 know how many grams of fiber are recommended each day

October Goals

2009-10-01T21:55:00.000-07:00

* Update my blog daily
* Eat 3 servings of fruits and/or vegetables daily
* Write everything I eat in my food journal
* Get to my 10% weight loss goal
* Exercise at least 5 times per week for min 30 min
* Eat all my daily points

New Scale Stats

2009-10-01T07:15:00.001-07:00

Here is what the new scale said this morning:

Fat %: 47.9
Water %: 41.0
Muscle Mass %: 28.9
BMI: 34.3

Calories needed daily to maintain: 1647

Normal healthy range
Fat 22-32% (whoa)
Water 50% (clearly not getting enough water)
Weight 110-140 ish (huh)
BMI 18.6 - 24.9 (oh my)

I think this will be really helpful.

This stinks

2009-09-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

I bought a new scale from Amazon.com. The Biggest Loser scale that also has a body fat analyzer. It provides fat %, water %, muscle mass and BMI. The best feature I think is the calories needed to maintain the weight. I think it should make it easier to know what to stay under calorie wise. The stinky part is, my old scale seems to be off about 5 lbs! Ugh! I will re-weigh in the morning and adjust my weight loss tracker at the top.

The last few weeks, I've been a little discouraged in that I had a hard time eating all my points until I was exercising like a fiend. Then I was nothing but hungry! I have been maintaining, which is good, although now I find out the scale was wrong!

Onward bound, y'all

Daily Nosh

2009-09-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

What I had today:

Skim Milk 8oz - 1.6
High Fiber O's 55g - 2.08
bread - .34
bread - .34
bread - .34
bread - .34
Morning Star Chicken patty - 2.8
Morning Star Chicken patty - 2.8
Skim Milk 8oz - 1.6
Skinny Cow - 2.32

Total calculated points 14.56 there was some butter on the toast and a little reduced fat mayo on the chicken patties. So the remaining points will cover that without dipping into the weekly points.

I've been MIA for a few days. I'm afraid to get on the scale to be honest. My pants still fit so that's good but I went to Ann Arbor for a few days and probably didn't eat the best. I'm expecting my Biggest Loser scale any day now. It is supposed to tell me how many calories I need to maintain. That should make it easier to cut back and lose.

It's getting colder in Michigan. It was cold and rainy all day so I couldn't go on a bike ride. I'll probably walk on the treadmill although I really have no energy. I drove past the gym that is at the end of my road and the name changed AGAIN! I might go check it out this week. I'd really like to start swimming although, yes, I should have been going all summer. Hopefully I'll get a job soon. That will help justify the monthly fee.

Daily Nosh

2009-09-22T15:10:00.000-07:00

What I had today:

Skim Milk 8oz - 1.6
Egg Beater - .6
Egg Beater - .6
Skinny Cow - 2.32
Pita Chips 28g - 1.84
Pita Chips 28g - 1.84
Mexican bean & cheese dip - 1.18
apple 170g - .952
Skinny Cow - 2.32
Skim Milk 8oz - 1.6
Skim Milk 8oz - 1.6
Rotisserie Chicken 3 oz - 2.7

Total points 19.152. I'm going to knitting tonight and might have some coffee. Either that or I stay home and walk on the treadmill and watch Biggest Loser. Haven't decided. Yesterday I stayed in points but was starving when I went to bed. Why? Because I had 2 (not 1 but 2) servings of Peanut Butter Cup Ben & Jerry's. That is 8 points a SERVING! Did it taste good? You betcha! Was it worth it? No way! Not when I go to bed hungry.

Fiber One Yogurt - OMG!

2009-09-20T13:09:00.001-07:00

So I went to a Grand Opening of a grocery store near me yesterday. Without a list. And I was hungry. Usually not a good combination. I bought a few things that sounded really good but not necessarily good for you. However, for the most part I did really well. I even remembered some things from my on-going grocery list. One of the things I bought was Fiber One Yogurt in vanilla. Zero points people! It is only 4oz but it whops 5 grams of fiber at ya. Click here for $1 off coupon.

Daily Nosh

2009-09-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

Skim Milk 8oz - 1.6
Fiber One 30g - (1.52)
apple 90g - .5
Fiber One bar - 1.24
Pita chips 1oz - 1.84
Pita chips 1oz - 1.84
hummus 56g - 3.2
Skinny Cow - 2.32
Pita chips 1oz - 1.84
WW Lasagna - 5.48
Skinny Cow - 2.32

Total points 20.66. Plus I rode my bike for 9.16 miles. I had only gone 6 miles this summer so far. And this route was much more hilly. I had to walk a couple times but I finished. I've haven't been eating the best but I have stayed within points so I'm hoping tomorrow's weigh in will be good.

Went to Costco today and got some healthy things. Arnold Select sandwich thins, Dole pineapple chunks, pita chips, frozen vegetables, canned chicken, capers, and Laughing Cow. And shared a box of Skinny cow ice cream sandwiches. OMG...those are great!

Daily Nosh

2009-09-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

What I had:

Skim Milk 8oz - 1.6
Fiber One 30g - (1.52)
apple 199g - 1.11
Arnold Select - 1.08
Low fat mayo - .38
Tomato 35g - .03
Lettuce 20g - 0
Turkey Bacon - .94
Turkey Bacon - .94
Tomato & roasted red pepper soup 8oz - 1.96
Lean Cuisine Asian style pot stickers - 4.92
Skim Milk 8oz - 1.6
Skim Milk 8oz - 1.6
popcorn - ?

Total calculated points 14.65. I shared the popcorn with the dog and, yes, I had butter. It tasted good too. Caffeine free diet Dr. Pepper. Yummy. I need to ride my bike tomorrow. I took a few days off. It seemed that I was burning calories and it just made me want to eat more. Seems to defeat the purpose of exercise, don't you think? I seem to eat less when I have something constructive to do. Like today my mom was here, helped me take the pets to the vet. I ate really well. Even dinner was good. I was watching TV tonight and HAD TO HAVE A SNACK. Popcorn it was. The butter just called my name from the fridge. Stupid butter.

Interview tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Daily Nosh

2009-09-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

What I ate today:

Skim Milk 8oz - 1.6
Breakfast Sandwich
Arnold Select - 1.08
Egg beaters 1/4c - .6
Egg beaters 1/8c - .3
Reduced fat cheddar 28g - 1.56
Veggie sausage patty - 1.64
Veggie sausage patty 1/2- .82
Fiber One bar - 1.24
Tortilla chips 1oz - 2.6
Tortilla chips 1oz - 2.6
Reduced fat cheddar 49g - 3.64
Smartfood popcorn - 1.28

Total points 18.96. I still have a few for a snack/dinner tonight. My breakfast sandwich that I made ended up being more points than anticipated. Then I threw out about 1/4 of it so that is why the points and servings look weird. I was excited when I found the Morning Star Farms Sausage patties. I'm hoping I just nuked them too long. They were really tough and hard to chew. I'm thinking I can pair down my breakfast sandwich to 5.18 points. And that is with reduced fat cheddar. I'm going to look for fat free singles. I tried fat free cheese eons ago and texture and melting capability just wasn't there. But I think the cheeses have improved. We'll see.

I took the dog for a walk 1.5 miles and I mowed the backyard for an hour. Whew! I'll be glad when the grass stops growing, although that will mean winter is here. Boo! :(

Daily Nosh

2009-09-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

What I had:

Fiber One bar - 1.56
Lean Cuisine Vegetable Eggroll - 6
Skim Milk 8oz - 1.6

Total before dinner 9.16 points.

I went to my friends for dinner. We had steak, corn, green beans, garlic bread, and wine (of course). It was really good. The garlic bread was probably not the best but other than the amount you eat at someone house, you can't request low fat items. That ok. It is not as bad as Papa Johns!

Fell off the wagon...

2009-09-12T20:12:00.001-07:00

I think I fell off the wagon for a bit but am ready to hop back on! I think the Papa John's pizza really started it.

Today I did better. Here is what I had:

WW Breakfast Quesadilla - 3.68
water 32oz - (.32)
Arnold Select - 1.08
Oven Classic Turkey 57g - 1.26
honey mustard - .2
veggie burger - 1.4
Arnold Select - 1.08
yogurt - 2.2

Total points 10.58

Then I went to the movies with a friend tonight. No pop or popcorn. Afterwards we went to On The Border for drinks. Extra bonus - it was happy hour...at 9pm! Sweet! I had a swirled margarita and sangria. Delish! Chips, guacamole and queso. It was good. Not WW friendly but as bitchcakes posted, forgive yourself and start over the next meal. There is no turning back.

The wagon is coming around again people.

Daily Nosh

2009-09-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

What I ate today:

WW Breakfast Quesadilla - 3.68
honey ginger apple 208g - 1.16
Broccoli Slaw - .4
RF Asian Dressing 32g - 1.44
RF Asian Dressing 16g - .72
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6

Total points 9

I know, I know...doesn't look like much but I am a little embarrassed that I ate quite a bit of French Burnt Peanuts today. Yeah, there is no nutritional value in those...just so you know. Although, I am perplexed as to why there is no fiber when it is clearly a peanut? Hello? French burnt PEANUT. I just did some calculating and basically the candy I ate consumed all of my points for the day. Apparently I have no self control. This is why I skip the candy section at Horrocks. This purchase was at the health food store.And it was sitting right there. Looking at me. So I bought it to teach it a lesson not to stare. Yup, sounds like a good story.

For exercise I did ride 6 miles and I mowed the front yard. Probably balanced out the day. I've decided not to weigh myself this week. I think it will just upset me. *sigh*

Fast Food the healthy way

2009-09-09T19:11:00.001-07:00

Fast food and healthy are like polar opposites. I don't care what nutrition information is written about a certain food. Do you really think that the pimple faced kid behind the counter cares that you can't have a fat gram today? I worked in fast food and they barely get by with health codes let alone adhering to calories and food preparation.

There are a lot of good cookbooks with MYOTO (make your own take out) recipes. I would like to try and recreate the cinnamon heaven of the Papa John's Cinnapie. The nutrition stats on that are worse than the pepperoni pizza! It has to be butter. Why, butter...why must you be so tasty?

Tomorrow is aerobics and grocery shopping...

Daily Nosh

2009-09-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

What I ate today:

Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Fiber One 30g - (1.52)
Special K 31g - 2.34
cinnapie 115g - 8.82
papajohns - 6
Fiber One bar - 1.56
water 32oz - (.32)
WW Mac & cheese - 5.16
Cauliflower 247g - (.247)
Smartfood Popcorn Cluster - 1.28
Popcorn 38g - 1.72

Total points 26.4 however I did ride my bike for 6 miles and took the dog for a walk for 1.5 miles. My activity points brought my point consumption back in line. It was one of those days that I just felt the need to snack. Basically everything was healthy with the exception of the Papa Johns Pizza and Cinnapie. Why do bad things taste so good?

By having the Papa Johns pizza and working out, they basically cancel each other out. I bet if I weigh myself tomorrow, I maintained the same weight. I have to remember I am not in maintenance mode yet. Next time I crave pizza, I'm going to go the Hungry Girl route. I don't know if this is her recipe exactly but:
Tortilla - high fiber/Arnold Select sandwich thin/WW English Muffin
pizza sauce
reduced fat cheese (even fat free has come a long way)
turkey bacon
OR
tons of veggies

Cauliflower is negative points. WOOHOO! Cover it with pizza sauce and everything tastes the same anyway. :)

Daily Nosh

2009-09-08T17:12:00.000-07:00

What I ate today:

Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Fiber One - (1.52)
water 32oz - (.32)
Turkey Bacon - .94
Turkey Bacon - .94
La Tortilla Smart & Delicious Low Fat - 1.52
Tomato 56g - .05
Lettuce 27g - .005
Low Fat mayo 11g - .27
Delallo Provolone 15g - 1.4
Yoplait light strawberry shortcake - 2.2
WW Lasagna Florentine - 5.72
Smartfood Popcorn Cluster - 1.28
Fiber One bar - 1.56

Total points 15.67 plus I earned about 9 activity points. I biked 6 miles mid afternoon. Walked the dog 1.5 miles. Then I biked the same route just see how long it was.

I still have some points left so I might have some popcorn later. I did really well exercising today! Yay me!

It's official...

2009-09-08T09:11:00.000-07:00

The trail that I have been riding on is 9.53 km which is 5.92 miles. Whew! And I can ride it in 28 minutes now. I am building up my stamina for sure!

Daily Nosh

2009-09-07T17:35:00.000-07:00

What I ate:

Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Fiber One - (1.52)
water 32oz - (.32)
Fiber One Bar - 1.28
green leaf lettuce 77g - .2139
bacon bacon 1 tbs - .34
Light Caesar 32g - 2.16
turkey - 6.1
potatoes - 2.96
gravy - 1.16
1/2% milk 1 C - 2.08
1/2% milk 1 C - 2.08
Sticky
Apple pie

Total points without dessert 18.13. Not sure what dessert adds but I also rode 5 miles on my bike again and I'm going to hit the treadmill for another 45 minutes. The week will be easier to eat less and burn more. Yay!

Mileage

2009-09-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

For those wondering why there is a KM to Miles conversion link under my faves, it is because my bike odometer won't switch to miles anymore. I'm also wondering if I should invest in a new one because the same stretch of path I rode yesterday for 5.6 km came up today at 9.53 km. Something is obviously not right.

Daily Nosh

2009-09-06T18:53:00.000-07:00

What I had today

Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Fiber One - (1.52)
water 32oz - (.32)
papajohns - 6
papajohns - 6
cinnapie - 11.28
Vitatop Triple Chocolate Chunk - 1.12
peanut butter reduced fat - 2.28
Cool whip Free - .5
Cool whip Free - .5
Cool whip Free - .5
nibbled at Founders

Total points 27.94 less 9 calculated activity points. Besides the 3.5 miles on my bike I briskly walked 45 minutes on the treadmill. I was aiming for 60 minutes but I got tired. Tomorrow my feet will definitely be sore. Overall I didn't eat well today but the exercise made up for it. Tomorrow will be a different story. Mom's making a turkey...

Weight Watchers Activity Points

2009-09-06T14:00:00.001-07:00

So while I am DOING Weight Watchers, I am not an active member. I signed up 3 years ago and after the first week, had some personal issues. Those that know me, know what I am talking about. Anyway, I still have all of the Weight Watchers handouts, including the Points booster which is for calculating activity points. Yesterday I craved Papa Johns pizza pretty badly so I bought one. And the free Cinnapie was a bonus. Not a healthy bonus. But a bonus. I had some for dinner last night and for lunch today. Yesterday I'll consider a free day. Today, not so much. I just rode 3.5 miles. I'm going to rate the intensity between high and moderate. 60 minutes for my weight range, I burned 6 points. GREAT! That somewhat makes up for the Papa Johns today. I haven't used the flex points for the last 2 weeks so that is also a bonus. The points system is working for me so far. I don't feel deprived at all and I am actually getting out and exercising more. I've decided my official weigh in day is Friday. It helps to have more time to burn off Saturday Free Days. ;)

Product Review

2009-09-05T08:57:00.001-07:00

Wow! Yum-O!

Smart Food Popcorn Clusters

Cal 110

Fat1

Fiber 5

A little expensive but if there are certain food you crave, you are willing to pay, right? Portion controled in individual packets. There are 5 to a box. I'd wait until they are on sale. Sales make good finds even better! Available at Target!

Excellent Source of Calcium

Excellent Source of Fiber

Daily Nosh

2009-09-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

What I ate today:

Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Fiber One - (1.52)
water 32oz - (.32)
Honey & Maple Turkey 62g - 1.42
Aunt Millies Slimwiches - 1.48
Delallo Provolone 15g - 1.41
Hummus 1oz - 1.6
Hummus 1oz - 1.6
Cauliflower 155g - (.155) WOOHOO!
smart food popcorn clusters - 1.28
WW Lasagna - 5.48
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6

Total points today 15.48
Not bad. Might have a couple glasses of wine later.

Rode my bike for about 4 miles. Felt great. I like the trail close to my house. It makes it easy to loop back around.

Tomorrow is my friends Threshing Bee. There will be all sorts of bad foods there. So I guess I saved up points from this week for that.

Today's activities

2009-09-03T18:28:00.000-07:00

Rode my bike for 4.86 km - a little over 3 miles. Really works the glutes!

Vacuumed the upper and lower floors with my new vacuum. I really like it! Considering is it house cleaning!

Trimmed the bushes in the front yard. Made sure not to cut any cords!
Took the dog for a walk around the block - Whew!

Daily Nosh

2009-09-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

What I had today:

Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Fiber One - (1.52)
water 32oz - (.32)
Honey & Maple Turkey 62g - 1.41
Aunt Millies Slimwiches - 1.48
Delallo Provolone 14g - 1.32
WW Three Cheese Ziti Marinara - 6.24
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6

Total points 13.42; 846 cal (not good); 23.6 grams of fiber (good)

Without Fiber One, I would definitely not get enough fiber in my diet. I still have room for a Vitatop snack. After taking the dog for a walk though, I'm just thirsty. Hopefully this exercise will help me sleep well tonight. Yay! Sleep!

The Great Plate

2009-09-03T10:25:00.000-07:00

http://hr.umich.edu/mhealthy/programs/nutrition/goodchoice/pdf/GreatPlate.pdf
Mindful Eating

Are you looking for easy ways to reduce the amount of calories you eat? The following tips can help you manage portions.

Use smaller plates, bowls and cups
Avoid distractions while eating. Watching TV, reading or using the computer makes you less aware of how much you eat
Put less food on your plate
Leave serving dishes in the kitchen instead of on the table
Serve snacks on a plate or in a bowl instead of eating from the bag or box
Eat slowly and put your fork or spoon down after each bite
Plan healthy snacks ahead of time to avoid getting overly hungry

Eating the best combination of foods is also important to satisfy hunger. Follow the Great Plate recommendations of using a 10-inch plate and filling it with:

1/2 non-starchy vegetables (i.e. carrots, broccoli, peppers)
1/4 whole grain/starchy vegetables (i.e. corn, peas, potatoes)
1/4 lean protein (i.e. skinless chicken, fish, beans)

Daily Nosh

2009-09-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

What I ate today:

Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Fiber One - (1.52)
Honey & Maple Deli Meat 62g - 1.41
Aunt Millies Slimwiches - 1.48
Delallo Provolone 14g - 1.32
Mango Salsa 28g - .2
Mango Salsa 28g - .2
Hummus 1oz - 1.6
Hummus 1oz - 1.6
Cauliflower 154g - (.154)
Kung Pao Chicken - HG - 4.32
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
water 32oz - (.32)
Vitatop Triple Chocolate Chunk - 1.08

Total points 16.02 Less than my allotted 22 points. This is assuming I have the Vitatop snack. Maybe...maybe not. And 34 grams of FIBER! BRAVO ME! Plus I mowed the backyard and took the dog fora walk. Mowing was exhausting. I stopped even stopped about 5 times to rest. Other than figuring points for everything, by careful weighing, this lifestyle change is not hard. It is obviously more time consuming to think about what you are eating instead of just eating. I'm not an emotional eater, if anything, extreme stress makes it so I can't eat. Been there, done that. Right now I just wish I had more things to keep me busy during the day so I don't think about food. Which I have plenty of things that need to be done but being at home makes it easy to eat all day. The few pounds I gained from the rehearsal and wedding fest are now gone. Onward bound!

Tonight's recipe

2009-09-01T17:47:00.001-07:00

Have I mentioned I L.O.V.E. Hungry Girl?!?
	HG's WOW Kung Pao
	Kung Pao-wer!
	Everyone knows that "steamed" is the way to go when eating Chinese food out. But when you're home, well, steaming your Asian chicken is for the birds (not literally). Why? Because it's TOO easy to create a saucy, spicy, wonderful dish that has a tiny fraction of the calories and fat of restaurant versions. See below for proof -- and feel free to experiment using all sorts of other veggies (green beans, carrots, bean sprouts, broccoli) and lean protein (shrimp, lean steak, tofu, and even lean pork tenderloin ROCK Kung Pao style!). OK, enough yapping, check it out... *Ingredients:* 2 tbsp. reduced-sodium or lite soy sauce 1 1/2 tbsp. rice vinegar 2 tsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated) 1/2 tbsp. cornstarch 1 tsp. red chili sauce, or more to taste 8 oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast, cubed 3/4 cup mushroom chunks 3/4 cup bell pepper chunks (red and/or green) 1/2 cup chopped celery 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 tsp. minced garlic 1/4 cup sliced & halved canned water chestnuts, drained 1 tbsp. chopped dry-roasted unsalted peanuts Salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, to taste *Directions:* To make the sauce, combine 2 tbsp. cold water with soy sauce, vinegar, Splenda, cornstarch, and chili sauce. Stir until all ingredients have dissolved. Set aside. Spray a large skillet or wok with nonstick spray, and bring to medium-high heat. Add chicken, mushrooms, bell peppers, celery, onion, garlic, and 2 tbsp. water. Stirring occasionally, cook for about 5 minutes, until chicken is almost fully cooked but still tender. Add water chestnuts and peanuts to the skillet/wok. Raise heat to high, give sauce a stir, and add it to the skillet/wok as well. Mix entire dish until all ingredients are coated in sauce, and the sauce is hot and thick. Season to taste with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Enjoy! MAKES 2 SERVINGS
	Serving Size: 1 heaping portion (half of recipe) Calories: 230 Fat: 4g Sodium: 720mg Carbs: 17g Fiber: 3g Sugars: 7g Protein: 30g *POINTS®* value 4*

Daily Nosh

2009-09-01T17:40:00.000-07:00

What I ate today:
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Fiber One - (1.52)
Special K - 2.44
Tortilla chips 1oz - 2.8
Mango Salsa 28g - .2
Mango Salsa 28g - .2
Hummus 1oz - 1.6
virginia lite ham 80g - 1.14
Aunt Millies Slimwiches - 1.48
Delallo Provolone 14g - 1.32
Kung Pao Chicken - HG - 4.32
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6

Total 18.78 points. Not a bad day. I have some points to play with if I need a snack later. Probably just water. I seem to be really thirsty. That might be why I feel like I am getting a headache.

Didn't really do much today. I ran some errands and went to a couple estate sales. I was going to mow the lawn (1. it really needs it and 2. it would be exercise!) but since I don't sleep well at night, I was getting tired and took a nap. Now of course taking a nap during the day is not going to help my not being able to sleep during the night. It is a vicious cycle that I hope to break before I find a job.

Daily Nosh

2009-08-31T19:07:00.000-07:00

What I ate today:

Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Fiber One - (1.52)
virginia lite ham 85g - 1.21
Aunt Millies Slimwiches - 1.48
veggies
ranch, salsa, plain yogurt
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
WW Tuna Noodle Gratin - 4.56
blueberries 140g - .84
Vitatop Triple Chocolate Chunk - 1.08

Total 12.45 points that I actually kept track of. I did snack on some chocolates from the wedding but I think it should be covered with the extra points available for the day. Good day today!

Product Review

2009-08-31T19:00:00.001-07:00

EatSmart Precision Pro - Multifunction Digital Kitchen Scale w/ Extra Large LCD and 11 Lb. Capacityfound on Amazon here.

My review on Amazon: Great addition to your kitchen!

This is a great scale. Recommended by Hungry Girl as an essential in the kitchen. I bought mine in red. I like that the tare weight zeros out with the measuring device on the scale when turned on. The accompanying calorie booklet is helpful in calculating the calories in fruits and vegetables using the weight. The addition of the fat grams would be even better for those following Weight Watchers. I also like the various units of measure that are programed into the scale. I highly recommend!

Basil Overload

2009-08-30T19:01:00.001-07:00

I mentioned in my other blog that I have way too much basil and didn't really know what to do with it other than make pesto. Since I have started my healthy eating, I did not think I could involve pesto due to the high oil content. One of my fave blogs posted this pesto recipe that she found on Weight Watchers. Thanks bitchcakes! :) I'll be making this tomorrow.

Weekend Nosh

2009-08-30T18:42:00.000-07:00

Well, let's just say that I went a wedding on Saturday and I did not keep track of what I ate. Up until the hors devors, I had:

peaches 323g - 1.41
strawberries 213g - .524
Vitatop Banana Fudge - 1.16

Total 3.09 points until approx 5:30pm. Yes, I was saving up. Past that point, I really have no idea.

On to Sunday...I slept in late, went back out to help clean up, came home and started laundry. I then mowed the lawn. I snacked on things all day. Not really a real meal. Tomorrow will be better, I swear.

Daily Nosh

2009-08-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

What I had:

WW Breakfast Quesadilla - 3.68
coffee
mixed berry salad w/pecans from Horrocks - no idea
berries, chicken, pecans, greens
low fat Asian Dressing - 1.44
water 32oz - (.32)
Cukes 86g - .1445
Fat Free Ranch 34g - 1
HG fudge - 1.283
HG fudge - 1.283
HG fudge - 1.283
ball park food
bazillion points…but it was tasty, for the most part

So I have no idea how "bad" the damage is from tonight. It was a wedding rehearsal dinner at the ball park. I had a lot but actually didn't finish anything. Except dessert, of course. There were chicken breasts for sandwiches and hot dogs. I ate about half of each. Mozzarella sticks, potato skins, and boneless buffalo wings for appetizers. They were ok. Probably had more than I should have but I think I ate well the whole day preparing for it. Now the wedding meal is tomorrow. Yikes.

Product Review

2009-08-27T16:41:00.001-07:00

Morningstar Farms® Tomato & Basil Pizza Burgers
Description:Italian-style veggie burger accented with mozzarella, tomatoes and basil -- deliciozo!

O...M...G...! These are the best ever! It totally smells like a pizza in the microwave. I have been putting these on the Aunt Millies Slimwiches with a little bit of Ranch Dressing. Because everybody knows ranch goes with pizza. Am I right? Nuke 2 of these patties up with no bread and have some ranch for dipping. You are looking at about 5 points. I highly recommend these. YUM-O!

Daily Nosh

2009-08-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

What I ate today:
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Fiber One - (1.52)
plain yogurt - 2.6
blueberries 100g - .6
Vitatop Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip - .92
Aunt Millies Slimwiches - 1.48
Morning Star Tomato & Basil Pizza Burger - 2.28
Fat Free Ranch 17g - .5
Vitatop Triple Chocolate Chunk - 1.08
Cool Whip Fat Free - 1
water 32oz - (.32)
broccoli 150g - .36

Total points consumed 10.58
Which is weird because I completely feel like I ate enough today as opposed to yesterday where I was starving and went over the points by 1.36. I did have almost 40 grams of fiber and that really helps. It is really cold today and I am so tired. I will be heading to bed early I think. After I prep for my phone interview in the morning! Yay!

Daily Nosh

2009-08-26T19:01:00.000-07:00

What I ate today:
Breakfast
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Fiber One - (1.52)
Lunch
Smart & Delicious Tortilla - 1.52
Swiss cheese 26g - 2.76
Chicken 50g - 3.64
Fat Free Ranch 17g - .5
Dinner
Aunt Millies Slimwiches - 1.48
Morning Star Tomato & Basil Pizza Burger - 2.28
Fat Free Ranch 17g - .5
water 32oz - (.32)
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
Skim milk 1 C - 1.6
plain yogurt - 2.6
blueberries 100g - .6
Target brand Light Butter popcorn - 1.8
Target brand Light Butter popcorn - 1.8 (2 servings per bag. I did share with the dog)
Vitatop Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip - .92

Total of 23.36 points
I have actually allotted myself 22 points per day. I'm adjusting and I don't feel bad about going over. I think I overestimated a few things anyway.

Exercise: Vacuuming ( with my new Bissell Multicyclonic Pet Hair Lifter Vacuum)
Helping my friend at her property getting ready for the wedding on Saturday. We weeded the blueberry patch and hung up the sides of the tent. It was very tiring. I think I waited too long to eat between lunch and dinner and ended up with a massive migraine. I don't think I will need to take anything to help me sleep tonight. Maybe I can get up at a decent time too.

Question of the day - Snacks
Do you find that eating a snack makes you hungry for another snack? For example, when I eat popcorn, I want chocolate. When I have peanut butter, I want chocolate. You get the picture ;)

Product Review

2009-08-26T10:52:00.001-07:00

Found this at Walgreen's of all places.

Wyler's Light Singles To Go in Wild Strawberry with Fiber

Yes folks, that's right, FIBER! It's sugar free and only 10 cal per packet. 2.6 dietary fiber. That's 2.6 g of fiber per packet! According to my handy dandy WW point calculation, that is -.32 points. Yes, negative. I like things that are negative points. It balances out some of the higher point items. It costs $1 for 6 packets. I'm trying to find a better deal. On Walgreens website, the price is $.93 but then you have to pay for shipping. Booooo, shipping!

Where the adventure begins

2009-08-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

After being unemployed for a few months, and thoroughly enjoying my summer, I have accomplished some things but yet nothing. How does one do that? I have decided to embark on my own weight-loss journey. As any good nutritionist will tell you, to see where your faults are, you should begin by writing down everything you eat for 3 weeks. So beginning tomorrow I will write down everything I eat. I will also journal my exercise. Feel free to comment, suggest, or criticize (nicely). All will be read.