It's time to get serious!

Like sooooo many others, I have battled with my weight on and off for years. I was down to a weight I was very happy with just a year and a half ago.....then *POOF* it all came back! Yikes! So this year along with the ten other Life Goals I have put on my list, I have set a very specific weight loss goal for 2011.
I need to lose weight for many reasons. First, and most importantly, for my health. Second, for my own happiness and third, because, darn it, I have some fabulous clothes that I really want to be able to wear again!
To help reach my goal, I've decided to (unofficially) go back on the Weight Watchers Points program. I've lost 25 lbs through the program in the past and know it well enough that it takes a lot of the "work" out of dieting for me. Not too mention that there are products readily available that include WW Points on the packaging and restaurants that include WW Points on their menus. For those that don't, you can find tons of calculation websites that will give you all the Point breakdowns for many of your favorite restaurants. Even Starbucks. But be warned.....it was a rather sad day in my life when I discovered that my most favorite hot cocoa in the entire world was 8 points!!!! I'm going to have to have the baristas help me find some ways to shave off some of calories/points as I cannot bear the thought of giving up this special treat for the rest of my life! Eliminating the whipped cream removes 2 points, but I've got to make it lower than that. I'll let you know when we get it mastered!

One restaurant whose menu is very WW friendly is Applebee's. They just added brand new menu options great for the WW dieting plan! Of course, they also have great regular items on the menu that work well too. Remember to think A la Carte! You can order a side of rice and a side of skewered prawns that is both filling and low in points!

enjoy what you eat while losing weight!
-dw.

Eat This...at Panda Express

I love the Eat This, Not That books by David Zinczenko (Editor of Men's Health Magazine). I appreciate the help it gives me in knowing the best...and worst...menu items to order when eating out. Today I checked out my favorite shopping mall eatery, Panda Express.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my choices here are usually pretty good. However, I was very dissapointed to learn that my side of steamed rice is a very high calorie choice. The side dish suggested is mixed veggies (90 calories), but with both main dishes already containing veggies, I will most likely pass.

One of my favorite dishes is listed as a calorie nightmare, but it certainly doesn't come as a shock. Orange Chicken, with all it's breading and deep frying, came in at a scale sinking 500 calories. (Note: It is the only item on their menu containing Trans Fat.)

My other two favorites, however, scored very well; Broccoli Beef and Mushroom Chicken together with mixed veggies total only 350 calories.

As for my usual side of steamed rice? At 380 calories alone, it is NOT a good option. I'll add on a bowl of Egg Flower soup instead (only 88 calories) and make it an even lower calorie meal overall!

Knowledge is Power.

enjoy the food even more knowing it's a good choice for you.

-d.

YEA...It's OK to Snack!!!

I have been running on my vitual hamster wheel again lately...too bad it doesn't burn as many calories as my treadmill! Needless to say, I have not had a lot of spare time to blog this summer. I am working to get my schedule back in shape and resume on a regular basis, but for now I thought I would share a great weight loss article I discovered by Women's Health Magazine....

Drop 10 Pounds By Snacking

by Shelley Levitt

Snacking when you're trying to lose weight is like having premium cable on a budget: When it's time to cut back, they're the first things to go. But swearing off between-meal eats can actually have an adverse effect on your waistline: "Studies show that people who avoid eating between meals may end up consuming more calories overall," says WH weight-loss advisor Keri Glassman, R.D., author of The Snack Factor Diet. "When you're famished, your blood sugar is low and your defenses are down, so you don't necessarily make the best choices."

As a nation of snack addicts with no sign of reforming--according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002, women snack more than twice a day, at around 192 calories a pop--it's time to embrace our need to nibble. To snack without adding bulk to your backside, fill your cupboard with foods that have built-in willpower.

Here are three snacking strategies that come with a no-gorge guarantee:

Just add air!

Foods that are pumped full of air make your stomach feel inflated without giving you a beach-ball belly. In a study published last year in the journal Appetite, Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., author of The Volumetrics Eating Plan and the director of the Laboratory for the Study of Human Ingestive Behavior at Penn State, served visitors to her lab either crunchy cheese snacks or more aerated puffy cheese snacks. Those munching the puffier snacks consumed nearly 75 percent more by volume, but they took in 20 percent fewer calories. "When something is full of air, an equal amount looks bigger, so people tend to take in fewer calories," Rolls says. If you nosh on air-puffed snacks, you'll be able to eat more without your gut suffering the consequences--and you can stretch your snack over an entire episode of Mad Men instead of blowing it all in the first commercial break.

Scarf this:

Potato, corn, and rice chips with 20 percent fewer cal­ories than traditional chips 120 calories per ounce

Cheetos Natural White Cheddar Puffs 150 calories per ounce

Quaker Caramel Corn Quakes Rice snacks 60 calories for 7 cakes

Think thick!

As far as your muffin top is concerned, all calories are created equal. But your brain plays favorites. "Liquids don't seem to trigger the same response in metabolism and hunger suppression that solids do," says Susan Swithers, Ph.D., of Purdue University's Ingestive Behavior Research Center. "You're consuming calories, but your brain doesn't really register them, so you still feel hungry and can overeat without realizing it." The good news: Experts speculate that thicker liquids, such as smoothies, are recognized as food by your brain's appetite center, so they can help you get to that couldn't-eat-­another-bite feeling. Dutch researchers backed up the idea with a study pub­lished this year in the International Journal of Obe­sity. After offering unlimited amounts of chocolate in three forms--milk, custard, and a beverage with a consistency between the two--they found (in addition to, we bet, a lot of eager volunteers) that those who had the chocolate milk consumed 30 percent more calories than those who ate the pudding. The mid-consistency mixture fared somewhere in the middle.

Scarf this:

Jell-O sugar-free pudding cups dark chocolate and raspberry 60 calories per 3.75 oz

Mott's Plus Sauce cups pomegranate 50 calories per 3.9 oz

Dannon Light & Fit 0% Plus, vanilla flavor50 calories per 4 oz

Spice it up!

Spices have a good track record as a weight-loss tool. One study showed that spiking soup with a big dose of red pepper led to consuming fewer calories in subsequent meals. Not only does the hot sensation slow you down, pepper may cause thermogenesis (your body literally heats up, burning a few extra calories in the process). Another reason to kick it up a notch: Food scientists in Taiwan report that capsaicin, the compound that gives red pepper its pow, may prove lethal to fat cells, killing them before they can fully form. There's common sense as well as science at work here, says Judith S. Stern, Sc.D., a professor of nutrition and internal medicine at the University of California, Davis. "You simply can't eat spicy cuisine quickly."

Scarf this-

Trader Joe's wasabi peas 120 calories per 1/4 cup

Applegate Farms Natural Joy Sticks 100 calories per stick

A bell pepper cut into quarters and topped with spicy Pace Thick & Chunky Salsa 15 calories Whole jalapeños stuffed w/garden vegetable Philadelphia 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese 74 calories

enjoy snacking...on better things!

-d.

You may recall an entry I did some time ago when I discovered the book, Eat This, Not That. It is an incredible book that helps you learn which restaurant foods are better for you and which will sabotage your weight loss faster than you can say, "drive-thru!" It was put together by David Zinczenko, editor of Men's Health Magazine, and now there is a sequel out focusing on kids' foods.

I recently signed up for his e-mail newsletter so I could continue reading his great facts about restaurant foods. (I eat out way more than I should with my schedule, so I need to stay informed!)

Check out this article from his site:
16 Secrets the Restaurant Industry Doesn't Want You to Know

...and his appearance on the Ellen show:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1600119196/bctid1606785709

It's okay to eat out...just get the facts first!

enjoy your next fast food meal with less guilt!
-d.

You may have noticed (or maybe not) that I disappeared for a bit. Seems in summer all bloggers fall off the radar a little, and I am no exception.I got busy, my diet (aka: healthy living plan) was in ruins, and I just needed some time off. I am happy to report: I'm back, my diet is *getting* back on track, and a little R&R in Las Vegas with the girls gave me some much needed down-time!

Like most gals alone in Sin City without spouses for four days...we stayed up way too late, drank way beyond moderation, and lounged by the pool a little longer than we should have. But we had a fabulous time and I am now sporting the best tan I've had in over ten years!!! And after all was said and done I was only down $55 in gambling expenses (thanks to a turn of luck on the last evening!). Heck, I spent more than that on cocktails!
We saw Jersey Boys (LOVED IT!!!), ate at Margaritaville, scoped out the beautiful, new Palazzo Hotel & Casino, experienced habenaro chile dip (I barely survived!), went downtown and watched the Fremont light show, shopped at the outlet mall, walked until I had blisters, and (as noted earlier) drank and ate way beyond my allowed caloric intake!!! But I had a BLAST!!!

I gained 5 pounds in Vegas!!!!! Luckily, I have gotten all but one pound back off, but still have three to go to get back to my former diet success status. It is amazing how letting go of the Points/calorie counting, even for a short time, really makes a difference!

But dieting in Las Vegas is against the law, I think! Isn't it?! Well, It SHOULD be!

enjoy getting away and letting go of all rules!

-d.

Eat This - Not That!

I feel like I been living by this mantra since I started my self-imposed healthier living challenge, and while at Costco....I found a book with that as its title! I had to check it out. I LOVE it and wanted to share a few tips from it....The book covers a ton of fast food restaurants and store bought, prepared foods and then lists the calorie comparisons between the good and bad choices. It provides great tips on how to make the best healthy living decisions when dining out and grocery shopping.

For example:

On your next stop into Jack in the Box, ordering the Chipotle Chicken Ciabatta and medium fries will cost you 1,140 calories, while the Chicken Fajita Pita and a side salad will be only 335 calories!

Great tip: Order a regular taco instead of a small fries with your next combo and you'll save 180 calories!!!!

And here's something that Jack fans should be aware of...."Unlike many other fast food restaurants that have made the shift away from trans fats, JITB's menu has a number of items with more than 5 grams of the stuff." Come on Jack, give us a break!

And how does my favorite fast food place stack up? Here's what they had to say about McDonald's....

Surprisingly, the Quarter Pounder (without cheese) is the better option with 410 calories over the Premium Grilled Chicken Club with 570! Neither are the best choices overall, but the mayo and the bacon on the chicken burger make it the big loser. Best choice in my opinion? The 6-piece McNuggets with only 280 calories.

The book also lists foods that do great things for our bodies. Did you know...

- Raspberries contain anthocyanins which boost insulin production and lower blood sugar levels.

- Shrimp is high in vitamin B12 which aids bone density and is crucial in the generation of new cells.

- Beef, high in iron, simulates hair turnover and replenishment.

- Olive Oil contins antioxidants shown to raise HDL (good) cholesterol and reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol, making it a double potent protector against cardiovascular disease.

- Garlic can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 50%.

It sounds to me like I need to make a beef and prawn stir-fry for dinner and then enjoy some ice cream and respberries for dessert...all in the name of healthier living of course!

enjoy discovering the options we have to live healthier!

-d.

Whew.....

I reached another small goal along the healthier living path....

I am now down 10 pounds!!!

I actually reached this goal over the weekend, but worried that I might not be able to hold onto it until today as we ate a little outside, okay a LOT outside, the diet lines...even for a weekend!

Friday we went to Wendy's for lunch. I ordered 2 of their grilled chicken wraps (very good) and a small Coke. I made a taco buffet for dinner. I ate three hard shell tacos even adding cheese and light sour cream (not too conservingly either). Then we went to the movies where I bought their popcorn, but opted for Kettlecorn salt (I carry the travel shaker in my purse - they're sold in Regal theaters!) instead of butter (a HUGE sacrifice for me) and another Coke.

Saturday we ate breakfast at iHop. I ordered steak tips and eggs. Ate a small portion of my hash browns and a couple bites of my buttered crepe (just enough to satisfy the palette). We snacked on low-calorie, baked chips and skipped lunch. We ate an early dinner at Bob's Burgers. Melissa and I shared an order of fish and chips, and I had a few bites of the Caesar salad. Then we went to Coldstone for dessert and I ordered a child-size vanilla and double fresh raspberry mix-in. By adding double fruit, I was able to offset the very small portion of ice cream and it totally satisfied my dessert craving.

Sunday (Father's Day) we ate at Marco's like usual. I had the steak and eggs. And a cupcake! We again skipped lunch and ate a very early dinner at our favorite chinese restaurant, Golden House. I didn't worry about anything other than removing most all the breading from the deep fried prawns and opting for finishing Shadoe's Won ton soup so I would get a little more full on soup broth before diving into the deep fried almond chicken (my fave) and everything else!

All in all, it could have been disastrous!

But there are always ways to rethink our previously unhealthy choices about meal selections. Even when we eat out and are on vacation, there are ways to pull out better options from a menu of seemingly only fattening foods, without having to always opt for a salad every time. If I continually opted for salad only, I would be driving myself (at record-breaking speed) to a melted butter pity party. I would crash the diet and land in a sea of comfort food. Proving to not only give myself back every calorie I had deprived myself of, but then some!

Compromising is really the key. Don't deprive yourself of the foods you love; find ways to enjoy them using healthier choices and moderation. Trade this for that. Take off the fried coating to enjoy the prawn in sweet and sour sauce. Have more soup and less chow mien. Eat half an order of fried fish instead of none at all. Make smarter decisions with the foods you've always loved.

Skip that chocolate muffin and wear those Tommy jeans! ;)

enjoy the trade-offs,
-d.

Healthy Living - Week 2

So I have survived two full weeks of healthier living, and you know, it really hasn't been that bad! Through those 14 days, I lost eight pounds, gained back two, and then lost three for a total of:

-9 pounds!!

Things that helped me the most:

- A very supportive and encouraging husband.

- Weight Watchers frozen meals - ready to go with Points already calculated.

- Fresh Fruit in season.

- Pop Secret 100 Calories kettlecorn at the movies and anytime I need a snack.

- Reducing Coke from my diet and replacing it with more water.

- Eating before 6pm every night.

- Not snacking before bedtime.

- Weighing myself everyday at the same time.

- Keeping my "new" weight on a white board in my bathroom so I see it often.

As I went to my closet to get dressed, slipped on my favorite pair of Tommy jeans I remembered the reason why I drew the line in the sand and started this new plan.

I have had this particular pair of Tommy jeans for some time. When I first got them they were a little loose after I had worn them all day, but they were still my favorite jeans. After some time, they were no longer loose when I took them off at night, but I still loved them. One day I went to my closet, grabbed the beloved jeans and...OMG, they don't FIT!!!!! That was my Aha moment.

It wasn't about having to wear a certain pair of comfty jeans, it was a true realization of how I had let myself go. Little by little...pound by pound. I love those jeans, but I love me even more! I want to be healthy. I want to feel better. I want to be around to play with my grandkids. I want to grow old with my husband. And to ensure those things, I have to not only reduce my current weight, I have to learn to live differently. More healthy. For the long haul. Not just long enough for a fad diet that will get me to my "goal" weight.

It was time. It is still time. And I am happy to say, I grabbed those Tommy jeans off the shelf today...and put them on! A small goal reached. Another step on this lifelong journey of healthier living achieved. YEA!

Now, what other clothes do I have that I've been missing...?

enjoy the successes, however small, along the journey!

-d.

Healthy Living - Week 1

I drew the line in the sand to lose weight just over a week ago. How did that first week go? Very well (aside from one meltdown on the first evening).

Week 1 Weigh in results: -7 pounds!!!!

I am very happy with the results. While I craved a Baskin Robbins Rocky Road ice cream cone on many nights, losing the weight was simply more important to me. And this week it obviously paid off!

I am now most likely the largest single buyer of Weight Watchers foods at my local Safeway, but my freezer and pantry are now well-stocked for the days and weeks ahead. We have Rog's family coming next week and I am nervous about having to cook "real" meals for them without completely blowing my new routine. I plan to cut back my lunch Points a bit to allow more in the evenings when I am eating with the family.

Being an empty-nest mom is making a big difference in trying to lose weight. It is a lot more difficult to stick to a plan with children and non-dieting spouses around to care and cook for. (Been there, done that.) I am very lucky; Rog cooks his dinner, and I cook mine. We work in the kitchen together and sit down to eat together, we are just eating different things. It works.

Here are some of my favorite low Points foods that helped me through the first week....

Kettle Corn 100-calorie mini bags....2 Points
Carrots..................................................0 Points
Nectarines & Apples............................1 Point each
Chocolate Drizzle mini rice cakes.......2 Points
Chips Ahoy thin crisps........................2 Points

....and my favorite dinner options: (2) Weight Watchers turkey, gravy and potatoes (4 Points each) or WW Salisbury steak and asparagus (4 Points each). I also really enjoyed making stir-fry one night. I packed it full of zero Point veggies (asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms) and low Point prawns. It was a nice, fresh meal that was totally satisfying and quick to prepare!

For lunch I usually opt for one WW frozen meal (lunch favorite = spaghetti) and a piece of fruit. And then once a week as a treat I head to McDonald's (where they practically knew me by name!) and order a 6-piece McNuggets (yes, you can still order only 6 pieces, they just don't usually appear on the menu), sweet and sour sauce, and a small Coke. Mmmm.....Heaven.

When I get that craving for something sweet, I indulge it...just now with better options. I filled the pantry with low Point items like WW's mini carrot cake, 100-calorie snack bags and fresh fruit. Last night I tried the carrot cake and while I thought the frosting was disgusting and picked it off, I really liked the cake itself. Only 1 Point each (heck, maybe less since I eliminated the frosting, huh?!).

So what's new for Week 2? The incorporation of exercise. Ugh.

Not something I love doing, but certainly a necessity if I'm going to scale down. I wanted to get through the first week of food cut backs before bringing out the heavy equipment. (A girl can only take so much change in a week!) And now the time has come. The stair stepper has found its way back into the living room and the clock is ticking. Ready, set....GO!

Counting Points 101

A lot of you have been asking me about the Points program I keep referring to. It is designed by Weight Watchers and is (in my opinion) an easy way to track your daily food/calorie consumption.

Here is how you know how many Points to allow yourself each day. It is determined by your current weight (so it lowers as your body weight lowers). To lose weight a person must stay within their given points range, although 35 additional points are allowed to be used for the entire week (daily allowance times 7 plus 35).

Daily points ranges are as follows:

150 pounds: 18 to 23 points
150 to 174lbs: 20 to 25 points
175 to 199lbs: 22 to 27 points
200 to 224lbs: 24 to 29 points
225 to 249lbs: 26 to 31 points
250 to 274lbs: 28 to 33 points
275 to 299lbs: 29 to 34 points
300 to 324lbs: 30 to 35 points
325 to 349lbs: 31 to 36 points
Over 350lbs: 32 to 37 points

The Weight Watchers Points system means every 50 calories is a single point, 12 fat grams is a single point, and for each fiber gram you take away 1/5th of a point, up to a maximum of 4 fiber grams. The final points value will be the total points rounded to the nearest whole number.

points(calories,fat,fiber)=round( (calories/50) + (fat/12) - (min(fiber,4)/5) )

Now you see why I love the automatic calculator - I hate doing the math!
_______________________________________________________
I am excited to try this recipe I found on the Fiber One Cereal box....

Only 1 Point per cookie!!

Fiber One Crunchy Fudge Cookies

1 box Betty Crocker brownie mix (1 pound 3.5 oz)
2 cups Fiber One cereal
2 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup water
1 large egg
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment or spray with cooking spray.
Mix ingredients together. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack and let cool completely for 30 minutes.
Don’t try these before they cool! The cereal needs time to regain its crunchiness.

enjoy losing weight while still eating cookies!
-d.

Happy Doughnut Day (tomorrow)!

What kind of friend would I be if I didn't share news as cool as this?!Seems like lately there is a day dedicated to just about EVERYTHING and anything! Well, here is one we all can enjoy celebrating. And remember, you can check Points for Krispy Kreme doughnuts online. Just because we are living healthier doesn't mean we can't indulge a little now and then!

Krispy Kreme Original Glazed 200 cal/5

Chocolate Iced Glazed 250 cal/6

Chocolate Iced w/Sprinkles 260 cal/6

Chocolate Iced Kreme Filled 350 cal/8.5

Chocolate Iced Custard Filled 300 cal/7.5

Glazed Raspberry Filled 300 cal/ 7.5

Glazed Cruller 240 cal/6

I have seen many different sites listing Points for restaurants, but Dotti's is more comprehensive than anything I have seen before. And while Dotti's Weight Loss Zone shows my beloved chocolate creme filled doughnut coming in 2.5 Points higher than the previous site I found (for a total of 8.5), I tend to believe it is true. All that yummy goodness for only 6 Points was hard to believe! It looks like I'll have to settle for a plain doughnut from now on. Dotti's site lists over 570 restaurants including ones in Canada!

Speaking of restaurants, I'm heading out with the girls next week to see Sex and the City: The Movie and of course, we're meeting for dinner first. Yea!

Following my excitement about the fun night ahead, I felt a short wave of panic. Out to eat?...in the middle of the week? I have vowed to be very dedicated during the week and now I'm faced with movie popcorn (which I LOVE) and dinner at Applebee's? Augh!

Strategic options bounced through my head: I could say I had to work late and skip dinner, but then I'd miss the "visiting" part too. Scratch that. I can take my own 100 calories popcorn (only 2 Points a bag) with me to the movies. Yea, that will work, and I'll save money. I'll slip in a can of coke too, so I'm not tempted to drink more than 2 Points worth. Movie sodas are so huge! I'll cut back on lunch so I can save up a few extra Points for the end of the day. Okay, now what to order at Applebee's? I'll skip the Coke there and opt for water. I can check out the Points guides online so I know beforehand what to order. (Won't be necessary this time as Applebee's has Points values listed in their menus - how cool are they?!) Awesome. I'm set! With a little advance planning I can still get out with the girls and not completely sabotage my healthy living plan (known to some as a diet). Bring on the fun!!!!

Here are some of the options we'll have at Applebees:

Italian Chicken & Portobello Sandwich: 7 points/360 calories

Steak & Portobellos: 7 points/330 calories
Southwest Cobb Salad: 9 points/440 calories
Grilled Shrimp Skewer Salad: 4 points/210 calories
Confetti Chicken: 7 points/370 calorie
Onion Soup Au Gratin: 3 points/150 calories

Teriyaki Steak 'N Shrimp Skewers: 7 points/370 calories (I think this will be my pick!)
Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake: 4 points/230 calories

(Mmmm.... sounds better than the doughnut!!!)

enjoy the multitude of options we have in life!

-d.

Healthy Living - Days 3-5

Weight Loss Tip: Don't begin a diet or weight loss plan on a Monday. It tends to make us over-indulge all weekend in preparation for "having to go without!" Start mid-week, then your first few (hardest) days are rewarded sooner when Saturday and Sunday roll around and you can relax a little.

I began my new plan on a Wednesday. And while I may have forgotten to do my grocery shopping beforehand, it was the perfect day to begin.

Friday weigh in results: 3 pounds down!!!!

Since I am creating the rules of this new plan, I have decided not to count Points on weekends. That is not to say that I eat anything and everything and ignore all point values, but rather make sensible, low-point options without having to calculate Points, avoid dining out, or enjoying my weekend activities. I can relax a bit.

Here's how it went this weekend....

Friday night: We deliberated about where to go out for dinner without blowing my Points, and finally decided on Qdoba (a place I really like). We pull into the parking lot and I get a giant whiff of flame broiled beef. (No, not Burger King...Red Robin!) I turn to Rog and say, "That's what really sounds good!!" It took only seconds for him to redirect the truck and turn into Red Robin (he isn't quite as big of Qdoba fan as I am!). Now, for what to order that won't completely counteract all my dedication the past two days? I decided on the mushroom burger. I tossed the top bun away (and some of the bottom as I went) and ate it open face with a fork. I did leave on the cheese, but I opted for water instead of Coke to drink. I ate maybe three or four fries and even a few spoonfuls of Rog's chocolate shake and noted that next time I only need a junior burger, as it was more burger than I could eat.

While I considered not weighing in until Monday, I decided I needed to know the damage I had done at Red Robin. Saturday Morning Weigh in results = 4 pounds down!

Saturday we were working on Grammy's house and I again tried to eat sensibly and snack smart so I wouldn't gain anything back. At breakfast I chose a Belgium waffle with fresh strawberries and whipped cream on the side (no butter) and a water (ugh-I hate water at breakfast! I usually treat myself and have one sip of Rog's Coke at the end of the meal to make me feel better though.) Lunch: McNuggets w/ sweet-n-sour sauce and a small Coke (9 Points). For dinner I had my favorite Thom Ka chicken soup and a cup of rice.

Sunday weigh in results: 5 pounds down!!!

Sunday was a real test. We went with friends to a Mariner's game. I opted for dark chocolate dipped strawberries (I think there were four on the skewer) and some popcorn (next time I will pop some of my 100 calorie and take it with me!). We had eaten breakfast before we went so as not to desire pizza, french fries, or Hebrew National hot dogs (we LOVE them)! I also brought along a bag of carrots so I could snack without any Points whenever I felt like it. We ate dinner at home. I had a Weight Watchers dinner of Salisbury steak and asparagus (4 Points) and a cup of leftover rice/soup from Saturday.

Monday's weigh in results = 5 pounds down! (No change from Sunday)

Dieting doesn't mean you can't eat out, you simply have to think harder about your selections. Strawberries dipped in chocolate rather than ice cream. A bunless burger without fries rather than a full burger with fries dunked in tarter sauce. Six McNuggets with sauce versus a Filet a Fish meal with fries.

enjoy eating the things you love, while making better choices!

-d.

Living Healthy Day 2

On Day 2 of the new diet, I decided to make some blueberry muffins...only 2 Points each! How could I go wrong? Well, I didn't realize that "fat free" somehow translates "gross on the inside." They were cooked enough, but the insides just seemed to have no flavor; I couldn't do it. Even a small bit of butter didn't help! I picked off the crispy muffin tops and bottoms of two muffins, called it one collectively, and wrote down my 2 Points. Lesson learned.
Leaving popcorn still as my number one breakfast of choice!

enjoy the experiment...but always have a backup plan!
-d.

Healthy Living Day 1

Today's Weight Loss tips:

I found a great website with recipes that are not only low in Points, they sound really yummy! Normal foods that I will actually eat that aren't a complete hassle to make! Let's face it I'm no Paula Dean in the kitchen. I like to get in there, and get out! I plan to make the Garlic Chicken and Pasta with Asparagus soon!! They also provide eating out Points for a variety of restaurants. I still have my Weight Watchers book on fast food, but a lot of the menus have changed, so this site was a great find! They even list Krispy Kreme! My fave, the chocolate iced crème filled, comes in at 6 Points.

Geez, If only I'd have seen this sign before yesterday!

Day 1 Summary:

There is a reason the word diet starts with d-i-e.... By 7 o'clock last night I felt like I would collapse and die any second because I was so hungry (downright malnutritioned it seemed!).

I started my new "Healthy Living Plan" (aka: die-it) with a vengeance yesterday. And now looking back I may have been a little over-zealous. I was so stressed about how many Points I was eating, that I ate less than I was allowed. (The good news: I already have some in reserve for a reward this weekend!)

I was mentally prepared. I was focused. I was determined. But I forgot one really big thing! To prepare my refrigerator and pantry! Everything I picked up to eat for dinner was way over the Points I had to work with. I quickly went to the freezer to count Points on the stash in there. The Flatbread shrimp pizza sounded like a filling meal with only 14 Points. I could spare that since I was so frugal earlier in the day. But after 18 minutes and only four tiny bites it ended up in the garbage. I picked the shrimp off (very low in Points), as it's unthinkable to waste seafood then went back and forth between the the pantry and refrigerator hoping something good would miraculously appear. Something that not only would keep my numbers low, but that actually sounded appealing to eat. Grrr.... Nothing materialized, except a can of soup. And while I do enjoy soup, it's what I had taken for lunch. So today, needless to say, I'm a little souped-out.

So how did my Points factor out yesterday? Here is what I ate:

Jiffy Pop 100 Calorie Kettle Korn (entire mini-bag)............2 Points

Banana..................................................................1 Point

2 packets of Lipton Cup-a-Soup (chicken noodle)................4 Points

10 Pretzels Crisps...........................................................2 Points

Chips Ahoy 100 Calorie Crisps.............................................2 Points

A failed attempt at Shrimp Flatbread Pizza (ate 4 bites)....4 Points

Progresso Italian Wedding Soup..............................6 Points

2 Red Vines ............................................................1.5 Points

1 Can of Coke (aka: mood enhancer)..................................2 Points

Grand Total = 24.5 Points

If dinner hadn't been such a nightmare, I most likely would have skipped the licorice and Coke snack after dinner. Proving, that yes, I truly am an emotional eater!

Roger lectured me on how selecting popcorn for breakfast may have been the wrong choice as it isn't the most solid, fill-you-up kind of food, but I defended my choice with the fact that it was truly the only food I enjoyed eating all day! Today I opted for fat free wild blueberry muffins. More on that tomorrow! I'm headed back to the kitchen now to make some popcorn! LOL!

enjoy the little things that give you pleasure,

-d.

Healthy Living With Ellie Krieger Follow-Up...

A while back I discovered a great book and shared about it on this site so I thought I would share this request I received today in case anyone wants to participate...

A national women's magazine wants to talk to women who are having success on the Healthy Living With Ellie Krieger program! Have you lost weight as a result of making healthy changes? Are you a mom who's gotten her family hooked on Ellie's recipes?

If you're interested in sharing your story, please send a note to success@healthylivingwithellie.com!

Who knows maybe you'll be featured in the magazine and you can be a inspiration to others! Good Luck!

enjoy sharing your story,

-d.

Ready to be a LOSER!

Okay, I'm in.

Well actually, back in. I have drawn the line in the sand and decided to start counting points again to shed these unwanted pounds! With the help of Weight Watchers' Points Program I lost 25 pounds back in 1999 and it's time to do it again.
My weight, like most people's, has fluctuated up and down over the past nine years, but now it has creeped back up to its highest number once again. I didn't like it then and I like it even less now. I want my waist back! I want to put my bikini back on - yeah, I actually could wear one only four, short years ago! (But that was an effect of the Divorce Diet; a plan I strongly discourage!) I want more energy. I want to be healthier and lower my blood pressure. I want to wear the smaller section of clothes hanging in my closet. That little black dress, those tighter jeans, and all those summer clothes!

So here is my plan...

I have decided against "joining" Weight Watchers. I know, I know, we all need accountability. But I'm going to go about it a little differently this time. Same Points system, just a different way of staying on track. I need some of YOU to help me do it! (I know many of you are not happy with where your at in your weight battles either.) Sooooo...we need to band together girls! Form a team. Unite for the greater loss!

Are ya with me?!!!!

I discovered a site called PeerTrainer today. And I joined. It's totally free, and I want YOU to join too. We can have our own private weight loss support group. Our own completely private place to set our goals and let each other know how we are doing along the way. Only those we know can join the group (for others reading this, there are a lot of public groups as well). If you'd like to participate leave me a message here or e-mail me and I will send you the link invitation.

Go check out the site, ask yourself if you can use a little help from your friends, and then make the commitment. Not to me....but rather to yourself.

Weight loss is not easy. It is not quick. It requires total dedication, and darn it, some days we may not find it alone. We need to rally together and hit the road running!

Now...are ya with me?!

Ah, come on....

To get the ball rolling, I have supplied a couple low Point snack options, a link to a Points converter (could they make it any simpler?!) and a suggestion to get a copy Lisa Lillien's book, Hungry Girl (I found mine at Safeway today!). Then check out her website featuring the WW Points for her recipes! I am also heading to Amazon to buy the latest Biggest Loser Success Stories book full of tips and advise.

5 Red Vines Licorice = 3 Points

16 Pretzels = 2 Points

9 Mini Cheddar Rice Snacks = 2 Points

1 Apple = 1 Point

1 Banana = 1 Point

Handful of Carrots = 0 Points!!!

enjoy having the support of friends!

-d.

Losing to Win...

I have LOVED this season of The Biggest Loser!!! Rog and I have been inspired, we have been motivated, and most importantly, we have learned a lot about what to do to get ourselves in better shape.

We have already began eating differently, and are now planning to purchase some exercise equipment and turn the loft into a workout area. It is amazing how much weight they lost on the show -naturally - simply by changing their lifestyles and their thinking.


Check out Ali's transformation - She lost 112 lbs and became the first woman in five seasons to win The Biggest Loser title!!!

Way to go, Girl!!!

Sometimes we all need a little reminder that the only race in life we are running is with ourselves. There is no time to look back and judge where others are at in their race; for they are not racing against us. We must watch only our own steps...forever keeping our eye on the goal that lie ahead.


So I will set my own personal goal as to where I want to be, and I will race my own race. I will not compare my successes or stumbles to anyone else. I will keep my eye on the goal. And whatever the outcome, or how long the journey, I will be proud of what I accomplish. Because with weight loss the most important number is truly, the amount of years you add on to your life!

"There is no need of any competition with anybody.
You are yourself, and as you are, you are perfectly good.
Accept yourself."
-Osho

enjoy the journey as you race toward your goals!
-d.