Day 1 - Detoxing...

I weighed in today... at 188.2. I had a .2 gain... I thought I was going to stay about the same.

Today's day one of detoxing... this time I'm going to be following the Fat Smash Diet 90 day program all the way through... but of course I'll also be counting my points. I don't do well on food plans that don't have limits. I'll eat 100 plums and wonder why I'm not losing... (I did that the first time I tried the Fat Smash Diet).

I did a lot of running around today, and I've been keeping myself busy decluttering my apartment... which the decluttering and cleaning also passed over to my mothers... I spent the day at her place scrubbing down her cupboard doors.

I didn't eat very much (enough) food in today... I only used 12 points. Not good... I did however get in all my Fruits/Veggies and Milk servings.

I got 30 minutes of quick walking in... and earned 4 - almost 5 activity points. Tomorrow should be a better day. I'm going to get more points in but stay with in my budget. I don't think I'll be getting in as much walking, but I'm going to at least get in my 30 minutes of speed walking.

Well it's late. I've better get to sleep now... Sweet Dreams.

Getting Ready...

I'm getting ready for tomorrow... big day... detoxing time. I got home late today from grocery shopping... going to start cooking some beans and rice in a bit.

Tomorrow's weigh-in and I don't know what the scale will say... but whatever it says it's okay because I'm starting my detoxing and am going to be carrying my food with me for now on. I think this is going to work out. If I don't carry any money with me when I'm out and about and instead carry my lunch box full of healthy food... I have no excuses.

Now the challenge is going to be getting prepared the night before. I think if I cook beans and rice every three days I should be okay. I went and picked up some salad greens, yams, and plain yogurt... tomorrow I'll have to pick up a few vegetables.

I'm ready to smash some fat!

Tomorrow I'll be posting a picture and some new measurements.

Well, I've better get going if I'm going to be ready tomorrow morning.

Excited and Ready

I went to Walgreens this morning and spend about 30 minutes trying to decide which lunch box was for me... I decided on this one. I had seen it a couple of weeks ago before I thought about carrying my food around with me all day. I liked it when I first seen it but decided against buying it because I'm trying to declutter... since then I seen another one at Walgreens that I like, so today I couldn't make up my mind when I seen the two... I went for this one... it's a bit more compact but still gives a lot of room actually I think a lot more than the other one. I also like the around shape on top. It felt thicker than the other one, plus it was $2.00 cheaper...

Tomorrow I'll be doing some shopping and Thursday starting phase one of the Fat Smash Diet and counting my regular Weight Watcher points...

The Fat Smash Diet
PHASE 1: Detox
Duration: 9 days
Meals: 4-5 daily along with nightly snack
Exercise: 30 minutes a week five days a week of cardiovascular exercise (any five days you choose)

·Do not skip meals
·Nightly snacks must be small/light
·Food can ONLY be eaten raw, grilled, or steamed.
·You’re allowed 3 tablespoons of low-fat dressing on your salads.
·If you’re grilling your veggies, use a minimal amount of virgin olive oil (one or two teaspoons)

SAMPLE SCHEDULE:
8am... Meal #1
11am... Meal #2 (heavy snack)
2pm... Meal #3
5pm... Meal #4 (light snack)
7pm... Meal #5
8pm... Light Snack

TIPS:
·Snack ideas: Frozen seedless grapes, frozen banana
·Eat foods high in fiber.
·Never eat within a hour and a half before going to bed.
·Try to go for a 20-25 minute walk after dinner

FOOD/DRINKS ALLOWED
·All fruits in any quantity
·All vegetables in any quantity, EXCEPT: NO WHITE POTATOS, NO AVOCADOS
·Good Protein: chickpeas, bean, tofu, lentils
·Brown rice 2 cups of cooked rice per day
·2 cups of low-fat or skim or soy milk per day
·As much water as you like, minimal 8 cups
·Oatmeal 1 cup per day
·All herbs and spices
·6 oz. Low-fat yogurt (2 times per day)
·4 egg whites per day
·2 cups of herbal tea per day

FOOD/DRINKS NOT ALLOWED:
·White rice
·Meat
·Fish
·Cheese
·Bread all types
·Raisins
·Nuts
·Dried and preserved fruits
·Candy/popcorn/chips
·Ice cream
·Alcohol
·Juice
·Soda regular or diet
·Coffee and all coffee drinks
·Sports drinks
·Milkshakes
·Whole eggs or yolks
·Fast food
·Fried food

Cardio Fat Burning:
Work out with your heart rate in the fat-burning zone: 50-70% of maximum heart rate. Subtract your age from 220 to find your maximum heart rate. Then multiply that number by .50 – this will give you the minimum heart rate you should maintain while performing your physical activity. Then take your maximum heart you should maintain while performing your physical activity. Then take your maximum heart rate and multiply it by .70 – this is the upper range for maximal fat burning.

Example: (40-year-old person)
220 - 40 = 180 (maximum heart rate)
180 x .50 = 90 (lower limit or minimal fat-burning range)
180 x .70 = 126 (upper limit of maximal fat – burning range)

Range during exercise for maximal fat burning: 90-126 beats per minute

NOTE: THOSE WHO ARE BETTER CONDITIONED SHOULD WORK WITHIN THE RANGE OF 60-75% OF MAXIMUM HEART RATE.

Anyone wanna join me?

Lunch Packing...

I refuse to give up on this losing weight thing... so once again I'm trying something new... lunch packing.

A few months back I did the Fat Smash Diet (phase 1) along with counting my points... I kicked ass lost I think 5 pounds in a week... but I only kept it up a week... Thursday I'm giving it another go.. this time going to do the program all the way through. Tomorrow I'm going to buy an inexpensive lunch cooler... pre-pack all my food the night before and just carry it around with me all day... so there's no excuses... I have my food right there.

Since I'm always on the go and eating out I'm sure I'm going to save tons of money. Now my goal is just figuring out what to put in my daily packs... Ross is back on the wagon also. Saturday, I took pictures of him... he wasn't happy with the results. I didn't think he looked bad. I don't see a weight gain... he's hott as always, but he doesn't seem to think so... sooo he's back on the weight loss wagon with me.

He's detoxing for a week starting Saturday... we're going to work on Summer Bodies together. Now that good weather is here we're going to start riding our bikes more. Yesterday morning we went on a 13 mile ride... the longest we're ridden. It was so much fun... he usually rides that to his job once or twice a week... he said the ride went much after having me along... :) My Baby...

Anywhoo... now that the good weather is here we'll be doing more biking on the weekends... and picking up Salsa again, I thought I had lost out DVD I was looking for it at my place... and it was at his all along, he might of been hiding from me. He said he thought I knew it was there and was waiting for me to ask him for it... lol.

I'm excited and motivated again. I've been working on my apartment too... I think once I get it all decluttered and everything in order it will help me with my weight loss motivation... I'll have more room to work out here at home. I've been working on my kitchen and it's coming together... I should have some cooking/food preparation videos coming soon... I know I haven't made a video in a long time...

Anywho I've better get going... it's late and I still have a few emails to send out.

Happy Losing...

Food Clutter Principle #3

Taking time to think out your meals teaches you how to verbalize what's important to you and to make choices based on those priorities.

Originally from "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" By Peter Walsh

Food Clutter Principle #2

If it isn't healthy, colorful, and part of our meal plan, don't eat it. It's junk.

Originally from "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" By Peter Walsh

Weight Watcher Text Buddy... Anyone?

Okay so I think this might help me and possibly someone else. Does anyone out there want to be my WW text buddy... we'll text each other everytime we're going to put something in out mouth... for accountability. Anyone want to try this with me? Comment here or email me directly... dietsodadivaATyahooDOTcom.

Food Clutter Principle #1

The fat didn't appear overnight and won't disappear overnight.

Originally from "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" By Peter Walsh

Decluttering...

I truly believe there is a connection between my being over-weight and my clutter issues... both are emotional. And also one is empowering the other... I sometimes overeat due to clutter stress, but when I over eat I gain weight which in turn causes me to buy more stuff.

Huh, did that make any sense?

Regardless I think I'd feel better and be better able to focus on all my goals if I had less clutter in my home distracting me.

I'm currently working in my kitchen. I'm on a roll tonight tossing away things left and right... I cleaned out my freezer and got ride of 1/2 of what was in there... I'm clean out the refrigerated part... and WOW... I'd say 4/5 of everything is gone from there. It had been awhile - but I also go rid of things like BBQ Sauce which I never use and things like that.

The biggest thing(s) I got rid of were the baking stuff... left over frosting, icing, and decorating sugar... some of it had been in there over a year... huh a couple of things two years. Every once in a while when fiending I'd go in there and take a spoon full or two, or three, or four, or...

I feel good about tossing it all out... now my frig is on it's way to being clean and healthy. The only thing in there right now that isn't so healthy is garlic bread in the freezer... but it's just a box... and I'm saving it to serve with my high-fiber pasta sometime.

I'm excited about making progress today decluttering and getting my body moving doing housework.

Tomorrow is weigh-in and honestly I don't know how I truly did this week... I have a feeling either I'll stay the same or have a slight gain... whatever it is... I'm not giving up.

I'm feeling a better and I know I'm moving in the right direction to lose this weigh!

It's All Too Much...

I'm currently in love with Peter Walsh's books... if you don't know who Peter Walsh is - he's the guy who is on Clean Sweep (or was... not sure if that show is still on, I've never actually seen it before)... he also comes on Oprah for her organizating segments.

I read his book "It's All Too Much"... it's about home organization...

This book is so good... very easy reading, helpful tips... etc... the book was so good I decided to check out some of his other books...

I'm currently reading... "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat" - I'm still at the beginning of the book but what he's saying make sense to me so far... he says that home clutter and body clutter is a similar problem... (body clutter - being overweight)... you eat and you over buy mostly for emotional reasons. I can't give the whole book away, you'll have to read it for yourself... but I have a feeling I will be sharing quite a bit from this book.

The following is from the book:



ORGANIZATION FOR HEALTHY LIVING

The move from chaos to calm is not impossible. When it comes to decluttering homes, I find myself telling people the same things over and over again. Common sense and a trust in your "inner voice" should be your guide. The same is true for weight loss.

CLUTTER PRINCIPLES

1. Decluttering your home is the first step toward living your ideal life.
2. Imagine the life you want and hold that idea in your mind as you work through the process.
3. Figure out what your goal is for a room. If an item doesn't serve that goal, get rid of it.
4. If you don't love it, use it, wear it, or have room for it, get rid of it. It's clutter.
5. That clutter didn't appear overnight and won't disappear overnight.
6. Live firmly in the present, not the past or the future. If you're holding on to things you don't use, figure out why. Memory? Home? Gift? Fear?
7. Break decluttering into small, manageable taskes.
   
8. If you don't make decluttering a way of life, the stuff will creep back into your home.
9. Decluttering teaches you how to verbaliaze what's important to you and to make choices based on those priorities.
10. Recognize and celebrate every aspect that's decluttered. It will motivate you to keep going.

Now check this out... it's the same list except for we switched the words clutter and decluttering with weight and weight loss...


FOOD-CLUTTER PRINCIPLES

1. Imagine the life you want and hold that idea in your mind as you work through the process.
2. Organizing where, how , and what you eat is the first step toward achieving your ideal body.
3. Figure out what your goal is for your body. If a food doesn't serve that goal, don't eat it.
4. If it isn't healthy, colorful, and part of your meal plan, don't eat it. it's junk.
5. The fat didn't appear overnight and won't disappear overnight.
6. Live in the present, not the past of the future. If you're eating for emotional reasons, figure out why. Anger? Despeair? comfort? Fear?
7. Focus on enjoying the next meal. don't let one mistake make you give up.
8. If you don't make mindful eating a way of life, the fat will creep back onto your butt.
9. Taking time to think out your meals teaches you how to verbalize what's important to you and to make choices based on those priorites.
10. Recognize and celebrate every meal you enjoy. It will remind you of the great things a meal provides, beyond just the food.

It's interesting to see the similarities between a cluttered home and a over weight (cluttered) body. I think Peter Walsh is on to something here...

Want more info about Peter Walsh or his books... check out his website at PeterWalshDesigns.com (http://www.peterwalshdesign.com/)

Monday

My weekend wasn't my best... however we did get a nice bike ride in on Saturday and lots of sleep on Sunday. It's been really hot over here so it's been sort of uncomfortable. I stayed with in points today... and this morning when I got on the scale I was .8 lighter... lets just hope that carries over to Thursday.

Tomorrow is my daughter's 15 birthday... which is a very special birthday for Latinas. She's not having a Quinceanera... it cost way too much, and are completely over rated in my opinion... I live in the hood so like all the other ones I've heard about in the last three years it's sad but true... there's a big change it would of gotten shot up. Instead we're taking a weekend trip into the city, going to do all the tourist attractions, stay in a fancy hotel, dine out, do tons of walking, and just hang out. We're hoping to maybe catch a show while there... but we'll have to see...

We're working on def plans for this coming month... but for tomorrow we're going to dinner and having cake. I left it up to my daughter to choose the resturant... and leave it to her to pick the fattest place around... Olive Garden. I'm going to have to save the majority of my points for dinner. I have no idea what I'm going to have because I can't access the menu online and DWLZ has a list but I have a feeling it's outdated... regardless I'm going to copy down some low point meals and decide what to go with when I get there.

It sucks I can't see the current menu online... so annoying.

I think this week I'm doing way better than I did last week. For sure I'm getting more walking in. I feel better today. I was feeling sick over the weekend for being off program.

But I'm back on now BABY! (okay I don't know where that BABY came from... )

Inspirational and Motivational Weight Loss Quotes - #7

*When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us. -Alexander Graham Bell

*Clear your mind of can't. -Dr. Samuel Johnson

*You can't be a winner and be afraid to lose. -Charles Lynch

*Failure is not fatal; failing to change will be. -John Wooden

It's Saturday

I'm not doing the best this week but I still feel mainly in control and don't feel I'm don't has bad and most weekends... I did get out and get a nice 54 minute bicycle ride in... it was beautiful - except we took a neighbor girl with us and she had to keep stopping - she's not use to long bike rides.

I think my waters a little better this week and I'm getting more walking in... I don't know about my points... I need to work on my sugar intake. We're going to start taking nice long bike rides now that that weather is nice on the weekends... and I'm going to get my beach cruiser fixed so I can ride during the week with Vi... time to make those evening trips to the beach... this year we'll fix dinner to take with us... I can't wait.

I hope you're all having a losing weekend...

Inspirational and Motivational Weight Loss Quotes - #6

*To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. -Anatole France

*Great changes may not happen right away, but with effort even the difficult may become easy. -Bill Blackma

*The greatest thing you have is the 24 hours in front of you. The past is gone; the future is distant. Today you CAN succeed. Set a goal you can achieve in the next 24 hours.

*Focus on where you want to go, not on what you fear." -Anthony Robbins

*There is no one giant step that does it. It's a lot of little steps." -Peter A. Cohen

Back On

I lost a pound this week... 1 pound exactly. I'm back on the wagon after gaining for 2 weeks. It was my first week tracking using the 3-month journal. I like it. I feel obligated to journal because I don't want any blank journal pages.

I journaled everyday, now I just need to work on journaling right when I'm putting the food in my mouth instead of later in the evening or night when my memory is a bit fuzzy.

My main goal for the week was to journal the whole. I did it! I also took my multivitamin everyday.

My downfall for the week is I didn't get enough water in, but I did however improve in my water drinking. I also need to work on staying with in points.

*PERFECT WEEK*
Points: 175 points - 210 points plus activity points
Fruits & Veggies: 35 servings
Milk: 14 servings
Oil: 14 teaspoons
Liquids/Water: 42 8oz servings
Lean Protein: 14 servings
Whole Grains: Yes
Multivitamin/Mineral Supplement: Yes
Activity Points: 28

*LAST WEEK*
Points: 314 points plus activity points
Fruits & Veggies: 19 servings
Milk: 11 servings
Oil: 14 teaspoons
Liquids/Water: 26 8oz servings
Lean Protein: 10 servings
Whole Grains: No
Multivitamin/Mineral Supplement: Yes
Activity Points: 5

Overview of last week...
*I'm a super star when it comes to eating my points. No problem there.
*My Fruits & Veggies need to improve a some.
*Milk servings are pretty good... I could of cut some of the Easter candy out and gotten some dairy in... and bet if I would of cut some of the candy out I probably would of had less points for the week... funny how that works, huh.
*I don't think I have to work on my oils right now. I get enough fat in with all the other foods I've been eating... I think once I move over to very lean and whole foods then I'll have to concentrate on getting more oil/fat in my diet.
* I was doing so good with my water in the beginning of the month, then I feel off the horse... funny thing I've been thirsty... just too lazy to get up and drink some water.
* My Proteins good... I've been eating a lot of beans this week. Beans and Pico De Gallo... sooooo good and low in points. I was just a few servings short this week.
* I didn't eat a lot of breads this week so I didn't say yes to Whole Grains everyday... I did have Oatmeal for breakfast... does that count?
* I kicked ass with the multivitamin servings. I have a problem taking adult multivitamins, they're too strong for my stomach, so I take a liquid multivitamin I love it... it's called Emergen-C (http://www.emergenc.com/). Check out their website and get free samples. I do feel more energetic when I take my vitamins, but not like a scary caffeine (I don't drink caffeine) rush.
* I don't think I told you but I got a bike on Sunday. I'll have to post pictures soon... so I should start getting some activities points in very soon! I got a Vintage 3-Speed American Eagle... so cute!

I just started reading a new book I'll have to share about it tomorrow... also I tried the new Fling candy bar today. Reviews coming soon... maybe tomorrow...

NOTE TO SELF: Tell them about the book, Fling candy bar, and PB2...

Well, I think I've blabbed enough today. So I'm going to get going now... wish you all a losing week.

Inspirational and Motivational Weight Loss Quotes - #5

*Determination today leads to success tomorrow!

*Quitting is NOT an option.

*I can do this...I know I can. It's just going to take time & patience.

*Start doing what's necessary, then do what's possible, and suddenly you'll be doing the impossible!

*My life tomorrow will be the result of my attitudes and the choices I make today.

Inspirational and Motivational Weight Loss Quotes - #3

*We can reverse years of damage to our bodies by deciding to raise our standards for ourselves, then living differently. Old wounds heal, injuries repair, and the whole system improves with just a few changes in what we put into our bodies and how we move them.

*Anything is possible, It's your choice whether or not you choose to make IT happen.

*Food for Thought: The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Strengthen Your Desire! Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat.

*Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down...

*Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future. ~ Deepak Chopra ~

Inspirational and Motivational Weight Loss Quotes - #2

*Make the decision, then do something - no matter how small - toward accomplishing what you want.

*Your past does not equal, nor does it dictate, your future.

*If you didn't need a pill to get fat, why would you need one to get unfat?

*You won't fail if you're not perfect, you'll fail if you're not committed to improving yourself slightly each day.

*Rather than aiming for being perfect, just aim to be little bit better today than you were yesterday.

Happy Easter

I know we'll all most-likely be tempted by some sort of chocolate egg today... or other kind of foiled wrapped goody, so for those Weight Watchers out there I thought I'd share a list of points you might find helpful...

Reese's Peanut Butter/Milk Chocolate Eggs: 4 pts each
Brach¹s Marshmallow Rabbits (t.w. 1.5 oz.);4 rabbits (8 in box): 4 pts
Cadbury Creme Egg; 1 egg (1.3 oz.): 4 pts
Cadbury Great Bunny (5.6 oz.); 1/4 of bunny: 5 pts
Dove Solid Milk Choc. Bunny (6 oz); 1/4 of bunny: 6 pts
Hershey¹s Easter Egg (7 oz); 1/5 of egg: 5 pts
Jelly Belly jelly beans; 35 pieces: 3 pts
Marshmallow Peeps; 5 peeps: 3 pts
Mound¹s Dark Choc. Coconut Eggs; 1 egg (1.2 oz.): 4 pts
M & M¹s pastel version; 1/3 c. (1.5 oz): 5 pts
Robin Eggs malted milk candies; 8 pieces: 4 pts
Snicker¹s Eggs; 1 egg (1.2 oz): 4 pts
Starburst Jelly Beans; 1/4 c. (1.5oz): 3 pts
3 Musketeers Bar (2.1 ounce): 6 pts
Twix (2 bars, 2 ounces): 7 pts
Farley's fruit snacks (1 pkt.): 2 pts
Smuckers Jelly Beans (17 pieces): 2 pts
Smarties (4 rolls): 2 pts
Tootsie Roll (4 pieces): 2 pts
Skittles (27 pieces or 1 ounce): 2 pts
Spree candies (15 pieces or 1 ounce): 2 pts
SweeTarts ( 15 pieces or 1 ounce): 2 pts
Lifesavers (11 pieces or 1 ounce): 2 pts
Nestle White Crunch Solid Bunny (3.3oz t.w.,1/2 bunny: 6 pts
Robin Eggs malted milk candies; 8 pieces: 4 pts
Snicker¹s Eggs; 1 egg (1.2 oz): 4 pts
Starburst Jelly Beans; 1/4 c. (1.5oz): 3 pts
3 Musketeers Bar (2.1 ounce): 6 pts
Twix (2 bars, 2 ounces): 7 pts
Farley's fruit snacks (1 pkt.): 2 pts
Smuckers Jelly Beans (17 pieces): 2 pts
Smarties (4 rolls): 2 pts
Tootsie Roll (4 pieces): 2 pts
Skittles (27 pieces or 1 ounce): 2 pts
Spree candies (15 pieces or 1 ounce): 2 pts
SweeTarts ( 15 pieces or 1 ounce): 2 pts
Lifesavers (11 pieces or 1 ounce): 2 pts

Feel free to comment with your own Easter favorite and their points values per serving...

Happy Easter!

Points list originally posted on WayneWatcher.com

Sweet Dreams

I did pretty for yesterday, and I'm doing pretty good today... I'm mid-weekend and still on program. I used 6 flex points yesterday, and today I'm trying not to use any. I'm going to try to eat light tomorrow through out the day because we're having Round Table Pizza for dinner.

I took a nap this afternoon... and I had the strangest dream. I was putting Easter baskets together and I was popping candy after candy in my mouth. Then when I was done I realized what I had done and how I had messed up my whole good week thing I have going on.

When I started to wake up I was so disappointed in myself... but when I woke up and realize it was just a dream I was so reliefed. That gave me something to think about today while I'm finishing up the Easter Baskets.

I ROCKED!

I did GREAT yesterday. I stayed with in my points, drank 6 glasses of water, and remembered my multi-vitamin! And earned 3 activity points from walking 5.37 miles! I was missing 2 fruits/veggies, and my oils.
I usually do pretty good with fruits/veggies... my oils are a problem. I'll most-likely get my oils in today because I cooked some spinach with olive oil last night to have today.

And did I mention I got 12 servings of filling foods in!
I got my butt to cooking yesterday. I made pan of yams, super simple... I just get a clean pan, rinse the yams and toss them all in the over for about 20-30 minutes or until they're soft. I like to eat them warm with a 1/2 cup of fat free milk poured over them, a little splenda, and vanilla... sooo good, filling, and pretty low points - 4 points for total snack/meal. Or when I'm at work I usually don't have time to warm them up, etc... so I just eat them cold - straight from the back I packed them in, still good and only 3 points for every 7 oz.

While the yams were cooking I made a pot of pinto beans. I always forget how much I enjoy beans. Like oatmeal beans are sort of a blank canvas waiting for special toppings. If I don't have the stuff or time to make Pico De Gallo (basic fresh salsa), then I just have it with hot sauce.
Yesterday, I made some Pico De Gallo to go with my beans. That's what I had for dinner... the Pico De Gallo wasn't hot enough so I dropped in a chipotle chili... OMG Low-Fat Mexican Food Heaven! Soo good and only 4 pt.

As another bean topping I made spinage with tomato sauce. My mother made it the other day but used a different kind of spinach so mine didn't quite come out like hers - a bit disappointing but I'm going to eat it anyway, just maybe not as a bean topping.
Ross has been a bit sick this week, I thought he was going to come over yesterday - I made him Chicken Soup... I was a little annoyed that he didn't come over after bowling, but that's okay that means less cooking for me later. I'm sure he'll have some this weekend.

The only thing I wasn't too happy about yesterday was that I didn't drink all my water until late. I drank 2 glasses in the afternoon, and than about 11:40pm I had to chug down 4 glasses, one after the other. It dropped my body temperature so I was freezing for a while. I hate freezing. Today I'm going to aim to get my water in earlier.

The weekends here and I'm a bit nervous about it but I'm just going to take it one day at a time. I think Easter we're going to go out for pizza because I don't feel like cooking. I think I'll try to fill up on salad before going also I'll have my flex points because I don't plan on using any today or Saturday.
I'm doing great again today. I've had my multi-vitamin. I've used 3 points so far on Oatmeal and fat-free milk. I'm a little hungry but I'm going to drink 2 glasses of water before having a snack. So far today I've walked 1959 steps, which equals to .80 of a mile. Not bad. I'll hit over a mile by lunch time (12pm).

Well, that's about it for today. Happy Losing and Happy Easter!

Gonna Take It One Day At A Time

I went to my meeting... and I'm up again. My current weight is 188.8. I don't like being off the wagon. I don't like dreading weigh-ins... so I'm climbing back on. I broke down and brought a three month journal. I think that will help keep me motivated and accountable. In the notes sections I'm going to write down different low-point meal ideas like for lunch fresh pinto beans with pico de gallo... sooooo good and for a cup of beans it's only 4 points!

I filled in the front of my three month journal... here's how it went:

GOALS
My current weight: 188.8
1st Short Term Goal: 181.2
2nd Short Term Goal: 179.9
3rd Short Term Goal: 177.2 (10% Goal)

BODY MEASUREMENTS
Left Upper Arm: 14 1/2 inches
Waist: 38 1/2 inches
Hips: 40 inches
Left Thigh: 24 1/2 inches

CLOTHING SIZE
Shirt/Blouse: L/XL
Pants: 12
Jacket: 14/16
Suit: 14/16
Belt: L/XL
Skirt: 12/14
Dress: 14/16

I was going to take a picture of myself today, but I don't know where my camera is right now... maybe sometime this week.

So far I'm doing pretty good... I feel good and motivated. I'm going to take it one day at a time.

I'm Back.

America's Worst Supermarket Foods

There may be no place on the planet more daunting than the American supermarket.

By David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding, Men's Health

From the produce section to the frozen-food aisle, the modern-day market is loaded with 50,000 food choices, all vying for your hard-earned money. That's why we created the Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide, the brand-new follow-up to our national bestselling nutrition books that will help you cut through marketing mysteries and food-label lies in order to make the smart choices that lead to fast and permanent weight loss for you and your loved ones.

And there's no better way to start slimming down in 2009 than by eliminating the most egregious offenders in the supermarket from your shopping cart. Some are conspicuous calorie bombs, others are junk food masquerading as healthy food, but all 20 of these foods have one thing in common: They'll undermine your efforts to lose weight and feel great. So study up on the list of the Worst Supermarket Foods (and while you're at it, don't forget the 20 Worst Restaurant Foods in America), and resolve to master your market in 2009.

20. WORST CRUNCHY SNACK
Gardetto's Special Request Roasted Garlic Rye Chips (1/2 cup, 30 g)
160 calories 10 g fat (2 g saturated, 2.5 g trans) 40 mg sodium

Gardetto extracts the worst part of its Original snack mix and tries to serve it as a gourmet snack—a sneaky move that might have serious repercussions for even casual munchers. Each single serving exceeds the amount of trans fat deemed safe to consume daily by the American Heart Association.
Fat equivalent: 3 strips of bacon
Eat This Instead: Snyder's of Hanover Sourdough Nibblers (16 pieces, 30 g)
120 calories 0 g fat 200 mg sodium

19. WORST COOKIE
Pillsbury Big Deluxe Classics White Chunk Macadamia Nut (dough; 1 cookie, 38 g)
180 calories 10 g fat (3 g saturated, 2 g trans) 13 g sugars

Stick to Nestlé Toll House when it comes to big-brand cookie dough; the people of Pillsbury have a penchant for scattering trans fats across your market's refrigerated section. This cookie has one load of dangerous oils mixed into the flour and another blended with sugar and interspersed throughout the dough as "white confectionery chunks."
Fat equivalent: 5 "fun" size 3 Musketeers bars
Eat This Instead: Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (1 1/2-inch ball, 28 g)
130 calories 6 g fat (2.5 g saturated) 11 g sugars

18. WORST YOGURT
Stonyfield Farm Whole Milk Chocolate Underground (6 oz.)
220 calories 5 g fat (3 g saturated) 36 g sugars

Stonyfield is notorious for being a little too generous with the sugar, but the nearly 3 tablespoons in their Chocolate Underground is bad even by their supersweet standards. Not even Ben & Jerry's makes a flavor of ice cream with this much sugar. (Check out the rest of America's Most-Sugar Packed Foods.)
Sugar equivalent: 4 Cherry Popsicles
Eat This Instead: Breyers Cookies n'Cream YoCrunch Lowfat with Oreo Pieces (6 oz.)
120 calories 2.5 g fat (1 g saturated) 11 g sugars

17. WORST CANDY
Twix (1 package, 2 oz.)
280 calories 27 g sugars 14 g fat (11 g saturated)

Twix takes the already-dubious candy-bar reputation and drags it through a murky pool of saturated fat. With more than half the USDA's daily consumption recommendation for these dangerous fats in each package, this is one hazardous after-lunch snack.
Saturated fat equivalent: 11 strips of bacon
Eat This Instead: 100 Grand (1 package)
190 calories 22 g sugars 8 g fat (5 g saturated)

16. WORST CONDIMENT
Eggo Original Syrup (1/4 c)
240 calories 40 g sugars

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but not when this sugar slick hits the table. Excluding water, the first three ingredients are all different forms of sugar. If you want real syrup, make sure it's 100 percent maple.
Sugar equivalent: Two Häagen-Dazs Vanilla & Almond ice cream bars
Eat This Instead: Smucker's Sugar Free Breakfast Syrup (1/4 c)
20 calories 0 g sugars

15. WORST ICE CREAM
Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Peanut Butter (1/2 c)
360 calories 24 g sugars 24 g fat (11 g saturated)

Häagen-Dazs makes great-tasting ice cream with an impressively short ingredient list, but that doesn't make up for the fact that their pints are consistently the fattiest in the freezer.
Fat equivalent: 1 McDonald's Double Cheeseburger
Eat This Instead: Edy's Slow Churned Peanut Butter Cup (1/2 c)
130 calories 13 g sugars 6 g fat (3 g saturated)

14. WORST DRINK
AriZona Kiwi Strawberry (23.5 oz. can)
353 calories, 0 g fat 82 g sugars

It claims to be blended juice, but only 5 percent of this can is any sort of real-fruit derivative. The remaining 95 percent is a blend of water and high-fructose corn syrup. (Believe it or not, this pales in comparison to some of the other Unhealthiest Drinks in America.)
Sugar equivalent: 4 Original Fudgsicle Bars
Drink This Instead: Tropicana Lime Raspberry Fruit Squeeze (15.2 oz. bottle)
35 calories, 0 g fat 7 g sugars

13. WORST "HEALTHY" PANTRY ITEM
Pop-Tarts Whole Grain Brown Sugar Cinnamon (2 pastries)
400 calories 14 g fat (4 g saturated) 5 g fiber, 28 g sugars

Whole grain ain't the whole truth. There's also a glut of vegetable oil and seven types of sugar stuffed inside.
Sugar equivalent: 1 Snickers bar
Eat This Instead: Sun-Maid Raisin English Muffins with Cinnamon (1 muffin)
170 calories 0.5 g fat (0 g saturated) 2 g fiber, 13 g sugars

12. WORST FROZEN "HEALTHY" ENTRÉE
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Sweet & Sour Chicken (340 g)
430 calories 9 g fat (1 g saturated) 600 mg sodium 29 g sugars

Since when has fried chicken been healthy? Certainly not when it's cloaked in sugar.
Sugar equivalent: 2 scoops Breyers Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ice cream
Eat This Instead: Kashi Southwest Style Chicken (283 g)
240 calories5 g fat (0 g saturated) 680 mg sodium

11. WORST CEREAL
Quaker 100% Natural Granola, Oats, Honey & Raisins (1 c)
420 calories 12 g fat (7 g saturated)6 g fiber, 30 g sugars

Granola, for all its good reputation, is usually weighed down by a deluge of added sugars. In fact, for the same amount of sugar, you could have a bowl of Cocoa Pebbles more than twice the size—and you'd get more fiber and save about 60 calories in fat.
Calorie equivalent: 8 chicken wings
Eat This Instead: Kashi GOLEAN (1 c)
140 calories1 g fat (0 g saturated) 10 g fiber/6 g sugars

10. WORST PACKAGED PASTA
Pasta Roni Fettuccine Alfredo (1 c prepared with 2 percent milk and margarine)
450 calories 25 g fat (7 g saturated, 3.5 g trans) 1,140 mg sodium

Once again Alfredo proves itself to be the biggest belt-busting option on the shelf.
This side has a meal's worth of calories, and if you try to turn it into a meal in itself, expect to top 1,000 calories.
Sodium equivalent: 4 medium orders of McDonald's French fries
Eat This Instead:
Pasta Roni Nature's Way Olive Oil & Italian Herb (1 c prepared with water and olive oil)
250 calories 8 g fat (1.5 g saturated) 800 mg sodium

9. WORST BAKED GOOD
Otis Spunkmeyer Banana Nut Muffins (1 muffin, 114 g)
460 calories 22 g fat (3 g saturated) 2 g fiber, 32 g sugars

Despite popular belief, muffins are very rarely healthy. Case in point: The first ingredient in this muffin is sugar. The result is metabolic mayhem: Blood sugar climbs, pancreas goes into overdrive, and the body begins storing sugar as fat. Shortly after, you'll feel sluggish and crave more sugar.
Sugar equivalent: 3 1/2 Rice Krispies Treats
Eat This Instead: Vitalicious Apple Berry Muffin (1 muffin)
100 calories 0 g fat 5 g fiber, 10 g sugars

8. WORST FROZEN TREAT
Toll House Ice Cream Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich (1 sandwich)
520 calories 23 g fat (9 g saturated) 44 g sugars

Do you really want more than a quarter of your day’s calories to come from an ice-cream novelty? If you're going to take in this much fat and calories in one sitting, it better be dinner.
Calorie equivalent: Two slices of hand-tossed pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut
Eat This Instead: Skinny Cow Low Fat Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich (1 sandwich)
140 calories 2 g fat (1 g saturated) 15 g sugars

7. WORST INDIVIDUAL SNACK
Hostess Chocolate Pudding Pie (1 pie)
520 calories 45 g sugar 24 g fat (14 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)

Skip past the enriched flour and water on the ingredient list and here's what you get: animal shortening, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, modified corn starch, butter, chocolate liqueur, and so on. Any one of these ingredients alone might prompt you to raise an eyebrow, but taken together they should invoke a gag reflex and a sprint for something far healthier.
Saturated fat equivalent: 2 McDonald's Quarter Pounders
Eat This Instead: Chocolatey Drizzle Rice Krispies Treat 100 calories 8 g sugars 3 g fat (1 g saturated)

6. WORST PACKAGED LUNCH
Oscar Mayer Maxed Out Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Combo Lunchables (1 package)
680 calories 61 g sugars 22 g fat (9 g saturated, 1 g trans) 1,440 mg sodium

Here's your first clue that this meal has issues: The ingredient list—in its squinty small type—is a full 4 inches long. It includes just about every form of fat and sugar you can imagine. Your child deserves better.
Calorie equivalent: 15 Chicken McNuggets
Eat This Instead: Oscar Mayer Deli Creations Fajita Beef & Salsa Flatbread (145 g)
280 calories 9 g fat (4 g saturated) 890 mg sodium

5. WORST STIR-FRY
Bertolli Grilled Chicken Alfredo & Fettuccine Complete Skillet Meal for Two (1/2 package, 340 g)
710 calories 1,370 mg sodium 42 g fat (22 g saturated)

A dinner for two should get your blood flowing, not stuff your arteries with more than the entire day's saturated fat.
Saturated fat equivalent: 22 strips of bacon
Eat This Instead: Birds Eye Steamfresh Meals for Two Grilled Chicken in Roasted Garlic Sauce (1/2 bag, 340 g) 340 calories880 mg sodium13 g fat (5 g saturated)

4. WORST FROZEN BREAKFAST
Jimmy Dean Pancake and Sausage Links Breakfast Bowls
710 calories 890 mg sodium 31 g fat (11 g saturated)

As if the calories, fat, and refined carbohydrates weren't bad enough, Jimmy D tops the whole thing with two Hershey's bars' worth of sugar.
Calorie equivalent: 6 bowls of Froot Loops
Eat This Instead: Jimmy Dean D-lights Breakfast Bowls Turkey Sausage (198 g)
230 calories730 mg sodium7 g fat (3 g saturated)

3. WORST FROZEN PIZZA
DiGiorno for One Garlic Bread Crust Supreme Pizza
850 calories 1,450 mg sodium 44 g fat (15 g saturated, 3.5 g trans)

The bloated crust and the greasy toppings will saddle you with 60 percent of your day's sodium, 75 percent of your day's saturated fat, and nearly twice the amount of trans fats you should take in daily.
Calorie equivalent: 6 slices Domino's Thin'N Crispy Cheese Pizza
Eat This Instead: South Beach Diet Deluxe Pizza
340 calories 660 mg sodium 11 g fat (4 g saturated)

2. WORST FROZEN ENTRÉE
Hungry-Man Classic Fried Chicken
1,020 calories 1,570 mg sodium 57 g fat (12 g saturated)

They should rename the company Hungry-Men, because there's no way a single man needs more than a pound of fatty fried chicken, oily potatoes, and a brownie.
Calorie equivalent: 5 Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnuts
Eat This Instead: Banquet Select Chicken Parmesan
350 calories 870 mg sodium 15 g fat (3.5 g saturated)

1. WORST PACKAGED FOOD IN AMERICA
Marie Callender's Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pot Pie
1,060 calories 1,440 mg sodium 64 g fat (24 g saturated)

Marie Callender's perpetrates the ultimate sleight of hand here: The nutrition information says this medium-size entrée has two servings, but honestly, when have you ever split a potpie? Lard-strewn pastry tops and cream-based fillings are the lowest common denominators of the nutritionally nefarious potpie, and this one, with an ingredient list that reads like an O-Chem final, beats out dozens of horrendous iterations to earn this special place on our list.
Sodium equivalent: 8 small bags of potato chips
Fat equivalent: 23 strips of bacon
Calorie equivalent: 7 Taco Bell Fresco Beef Tacos
Eat This Instead: Marie Callender's Oven Baked Chicken (369 g) 320 calories 990 mg sodium 12 g fat (3 g saturated)

Only One Pound

Hello, do you know me?
If you don't, you should. I'm a pound of fat,
And I'm the HAPPIEST pound of fat that you would ever want to meet.
Want to know why?
It's because no one ever wants to lose me;
I'm ONLY ONE POUND, just a pound!
Everyone wants to lose three pounds, five pounds, or fifteen pounds, but never only one.
So I just stick around and happily keep you fat.
Then I add to myself, ever so slyly, so that you never seem to notice it.
That is, until I've grown to ten, twenty, thirty or even more pounds in weight.
Yes, it's fun being ONLY ONE POUND OF FAT, left to do as I please.
So, when you weigh in, keep right on saying, "Oh, I only lost one pound."
For you see, if you do this, you'll encourage others to keep me around because they'll think I'm not worth losing.
And, I love being around you - your arms, your legs, your chin, your hips and every part of you. Happy Days!!!
After all, I'm ONLY ONE POUND OF FAT!!!
- Author Unknown

Inspirational and Motivational Weight Loss Quotes - #1

*Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.

*Eating in private shows up in public.

*The elevator to success is out of order. You'll have to use the stairs... one
step at a time.-Joe Girard

*Weight loss is not a race, be patient.

*When you get to a plateau, think of it as a landing on the stairway to your goal. And maintenance is a lifelong plateau, so a bit of "rehearsal" for maintenance isn't the worst thing in the world.

5 Tips To Help Keep You Focused

*Rethink What You Drink: Sometimes we drink things with out even thinking about the amount of calories or fat that are these drinks... speciality coffees and fruit juices are filled with calories and sometimes fat. Becareful and remember to count those drinks into your daily total if you're counting points or calories.

*Start with Small Steps: Start small, this is a lifestyle change not a race. Some of us can just jump right in and make major changes to our diets and activity levels and stick to it. Other of us have to take it slow and one step at a time, for example start with journaling all our intake, next increase our water drinking, than changing the type of foods we're eating, etc.

*Switch from White to Brown: If you have an option choose Brown (most-likely wheat or some sort of grain) over white... even chocolate - the darker the chocolate the more antioxidants to it contains.

*It Takes More Than Just Cardio: It's plain and simple the more muscle on your body the faster fat burns... so get pumping!

*Entertain Yourself While Working Out: No one says exercise has to be boring... find something you like to do; dancing, skating, bicycle riding, etc. The important thing is to get and stay moving.

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

I could have did better yesterday, but that's okay - that's what the flex points are for. Yesterday, like most of my days are filled with endless running around. I think to think of a solution to this. I don't drive so I don't have the luxuary of keeping snacks in my car... but maybe I can start carrying around a lunchpail instead of a purse and stuff it with fruits and vegetables. I need to think of something.
When I work at the office there isn't any place healthy to eat around here... well there's the grocery store, but that means I'd have to do food prep, a 30 minute lunch break and limited space doesn't make it easy. When I'm caring for my mother she likes to go out a lot, either shopping or she has a doctor's appointments. We usually go to Subways, which isn't bad if you order the right thing, but the points can add up like they did yesterday.
I also have to keep in mind that this is a lifestyle change not a diet... in order to make this work for me I have to change my whole way of eating - I can't just cut down on the amount of food I eat and still eat the same crap because I be satisfied.
I don't know what's going on with me I'm having a major problem staying with in points. I know what I have to do... so why don't I just do it. Maybe I need to change the way I think and look at it. Maybe think of my points as a money budget.
Financially, if I don't have the money for steak I automatically pick up hamburger meat. I buy what I can afford. So why am I not eating what I can afford with my points?
I think today's a much better day for me eating wise. Yesterday I went and brought some low point snacks that'll keep me away from the sweets. I brought Target's brand of Fiber One bars which weren't very much cheaper than the real bars. They don't taste as good and sweet as the Fiber One bars so that means I won't end up eating the whole box in one day which is a great thing.
Today during lunch I went to the super market and picked up some veggies for salads this weekend. Also this weekend, I'm making Ross Chile Rellenos, his favorite. I'm adding chicken and going to sneak some low-fat cheese in there if I can find it. I always have the hardest time finding low-fat and fat-free cheese. Or maybe I'll make a cassarole and bake it - it might use less cheeze and no oil.
I have to pick Vi up from soccer tonight so I think subways for dinner. I'm having a Veggie Delite Salad... they're pretty good and very few points. I have 12 points left for the day, I have dinner and snacks left. I think I'm doing pretty good... I'll also get some walking in going to pick up Vi. Also I've taken 5624 steps that's 2.31 miles. I thought I had gotten more walking in. I should be at a minimal 10,000 steps by the end of the day.
Well... I hope you'll have a great weekend and Happy Losing!

I'm Back...

I've been really sick this week - getting a combo of a cold, sore throat, and flu all at once. Not Pretty. I went to weigh in and gained .7 again. Figures since I haven't been journaling. I'm back on program today.

Last night I talked my good friend Angela... I haven't talk to her to hella long. It's funny when we talk, even though sometimes years go by it never seems like that. She's doing Weight Watcher's too... I like that - kind of encouraging and motivating - COMPETITION BITCH! Just playing... lol. She goes to meetings in the city on Wednesday evenings. I'm going to try to make one of them.

I feel a new surge of motivation this week... I'm still trying to get over my cootie combo, so I'm just going to take it day by day.

Slow Cooker Beef and Vegetable Stew

POINTS® Value: 8
Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 24 min
Cooking Time: 480 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Honey-sweetened beef stew, also known as tzimmes, is a classic Jewish recipe. Toss all the ingredients into a slow cooker for a fabulous, no-fuss holiday meal.

Ingredients

	7 oz frozen chopped onions, about 2 cups
	3 pound(s) raw lean beef brisket, trimmed, boneless, cut into 1-inch pieces
	2 large garlic clove(s), minced
	2 medium sweet potato(es), peeled and cut into bite-size chunks
	1/2 pound(s) baby carrots, cut in half if large
	8 small uncooked new potatoes, cut in half (unpeeled)
	16 item(s) prunes, pitted
	4 tbsp fresh lemon juice, divided (from 2 small lemons)
	5 tsp honey, divided
	1 1/2 tsp table salt
	1/2 tsp black pepper
	1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
	1 cup(s) canned beef broth

Instructions

• Place onion, beef, garlic, sweet potatoes, carrots, new potatoes, prunes, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of honey in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add salt, pepper, cinnamon and broth; stir well.
  
  
• Cook on low setting for 7 to 8 hours. About 5 minutes before serving, stir in remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and remaining 2 teaspoons of honey; cover and cook on low for 5 minutes. Yields about 1 1/2 cups of solids and gravy per serving.

Notes

• You can substitute dried apricots for the prunes if you prefer.
  
  For a stew with thicker gravy, spoon 1 tablespoon of flour into a cup and stir in 1/4 cup of the tzimmes liquid until the mixture is lump-free. Add the flour mixture to the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 10 minutes. (Adding the flour does not affect the recipe’s POINTS value.)

Originally posted on WeightWatchers.com