Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Plan for a Valentine Treat That's Healthy and Sweet!

 

Eating a heart-shaped box full of candy isn't the only way to celebrate Valentine's Day. This February 14th, be really good to your heart with these healthier options:

  • Remember it's about romance, not eating, so skip the candy in favor of non-sugary treats! The options are endless — go for some perfume, jewelry, a soothing massage, or a dreamy moonlit stroll instead!
  • When dining out, stick to the menu's healthier fare. Don't use the holiday as an excuse to derail your healthy habits.
  • Feed your sweetheart (and yourself!) some fresh strawberries with low-calorie whipped topping for dessert, rather than a high-fat, high-calorie choice. It's a romantic — and guilt-free — finish to your meal!
  • If chocolate is a must, keep it to a few bites. Remember, labeling a food "forbidden" often leads to a rebellious binge. So if you must, have just a little bit to satisfy your craving. If you think of it as a rare treat, you'll really savor the occasion!
  • Go easy on the alcohol. In addition to being loaded with empty calories, too much alcohol can lower your ability to make good and healthy choices.
  • If you blow it, don't beat yourself up. You don't want to be guilt-ridden post-Valentine's! Just get back on track and keep going! You're still doing great!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

getting more fiber

Breakfast
Cal Fiber Fat Carbs Ptn
Egg substitute, liquid (Egg Beaters), 0.17 cup 36 0 1 0 5
Bread, mixed-grain (includes whole-grain, 7-grain), 2 slice, large 160 4 2 30 6
Banana, fresh, 1 medium (7" to 7-7/8" long) 109 3 1 28 1
Regular Coffee, 2 cup (8 fl oz) 5 0 0 0 1
Cream substitute, Coffee-mate fat free, 2 tbsp 20 0 0 4 0
Fiber Choice Supplement (orange), 1 serving 16 4 0 4 0
Meal Totals 345 11 5 66 13
lunch
Fiber Choice Supplement (orange), 1 serving 16 4 0 4 0
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Pasta Primavera, 1 serving 280 6 6 44 12
Apples, fresh, 1 medium (2-3/4" dia) (approx 3 per lb) 81 4 0 21 0
Meal Totals 377 14 6 69 12
dinner
Beans, red kidney, 0.5 cup 109 8 0 20 7
Ground beef, lean, 1 oz 75 0 6 0 5
Onions, raw, 1 tbsp chopped 4 0 0 1 0
Chili powder, 1 tsp 8 1 0 1 0
Meal Totals 196 9 7 22 12
snack
Peanut Butter, smooth style, 2 tbsp 190 2 16 6 8
Milk, nonfat, 1 cup 86 0 0 12 8
Popcorn, air-popped, 4 cup 122 5 1 25 4
Meal Totals 398 7 18 43 20
Daily Totals 1,316 41 36 200 58
Daily Goal 1240 - 1590 25 - 35 33 - 58 168 - 242 60 - 130

Monday, February 11, 2008

Do Dietitian's really know anything?

Its official … my ass is now bigger this month then it was last month at this time. I walked in the office; she pulls out my chart & says ya ready to weigh in? I said only if your scale doesn’t tell me I have gained like my scales at home keep telling me. She got tickled but I was flipping serious. Last month I was 196 … this time 197.2. Up 1.2 pounds! At this rate I’ll be in the 200’s before the end of the year.

So here are my stats that she measures from last month to today;

BMI               Then~ 31.6           Now~ 31.8

Fat                 44.8%                      44.4%    this is down

Fat mass         87.8lb                    87.6   this of course is also down by .2

Lean mass     108.2 lb                  109.6  this is up & she says this is a good thing!

Water             79.2                         80.2  up which is good!

So, this is all over with so we sit down & she goes over my food journal. All looks great until I tell her hungry I feel & how jittery I have been the last week or so. I tell her I have pretty much given up my caffeine so I’m not dehydrated. She looks back over my food & tells me I’m not getting enough calories & carbs for breakfast. She said if I’m working out in the morning that could be why I’m so jittery … my body needs fuel. Wait a minute … I thought everything looked good until I said jittery & hungry. She can’t figure out why I’m hungry other than me still not getting in enough fiber. I’m averaging 20 a day & she said I need no less than 25 but she wants to see me at 35-45g per day. She said how do you feel about that & that’s when I let it all out (almost in tears). I told her I feel like I’m a walking fruit or vegetable already & if I had to eat one more serving of either per day I think I would rather starve myself. I said the only thing that all this food has gotten me is another pound heavier. I feel like I’m spinning my wheels for nothing. I said I’m more frustrated & confused this month then I was last month. I followed her rules to the best of my ability. She says well it’s not for nothing cause you did gain lean mass, of course not as much as I had hoped but you did gain more. Now as for the feeling hungry guess what she wants me to do? Eat snack in between meals like she told me to avoid last time. Her idea of a good snack between breakfast & lunch is a 100 calorie pack with a glass of milk. Hello that’s 190 calories! Last month she said that most of my calories were coming from snacking! I swear … I just want to rip out my flipping hair right now.

I came home complaining to DH over it & I have to tell ya, I have the best husband out there. He gives me a big hug & says I’ll love you no matter what. He sayssomehow we’ll figure out how to get it off of me even if it means having monkey love 10 times a day (LMAO … men & sex) or scrapping up the money for an abdominalplasty like I have thought about in the past. Of course I always shy away from this idea cause 1 it’s a major surgery, 2 if I can’t keep my weight normal now then it seems like a waste of money to have the tummy chopped off only to get it back, & 3 of course I’m scared of not waking up. I’m a fraidy cat!

Anyway, my good friend Angela is going to her personal trainer today & getting a meal plan that she has graciously agreed to share. So, I think I’ll try that for this next month & see where that leads me. Hopefully lower on the scale. If not it’s back to the doctors for more testing. There has got to be a reason why I’m busting my hump & not seeing any results! For me to sit in the dietitian’s office & hear her say this is going to be a long slow progress just doesn’t work for me. I don’t expect to lose 20 or even 10 pounds in a month but I do at least expect 1 pound in a month, I think is normal.

Ok, well I’m outa here for a while. No more cardio or weight training for me today, just house work. I’ve already completed a 50 min. 4 mile walk/jog & a 30 min weight training video. I’m pooped but for a change not hungry. Maybe it’s cause I ate less than an hour ago.

Back to the Dietician I go ...

I don't believe I have lost anything since the last time I went to see the dietitian ... doesn't that just suck? My doctor really needs to figure out whats up with my screwy body. It gets used to new things so quickly that I can do great one week, ok then next & gain it all back by the 3rd week. It sucks! I tried doing 2 days of nothing but intense weight training over the weekend for my girl Christina. I know how my body is without cardio ... 201 this morning! That's up 5 pounds from Friday ... that's what happens to my body if I don't have cardio daily.

I got up at 5:30 this morning after I saw that number on the scale I did a fast 4 mile walk/jog ... I had to do something, can't go in 5 pounds heavier than last month & can't be this high come Friday for either weight loss group. I just hate disappointing my team mates.

Anyway, today's food is below. Can you see where I'm going wrong cause I sure can't.

Breakfast
Cal Fiber Fat Carbs Ptn
Omelet (egg), 1 large 93 0 7 0 6
Oranges, 1 large (3-1/16" dia) 86 4 0 22 2
Milk, nonfat, 1 cup 86 0 0 12 8
Bread, whole wheat (including toast), 1 slice 128 3 2 24 4
Fiber Choice Supplement (orange), 1 serving 16 4 0 4 0
Water, bottled, 3 serving 0 0 0 0 0
Meal Totals 410 11 10 62 20
lunch
Water, bottled, 3 serving 0 0 0 0 0
Pears, fresh, 3 cup slices 292 12 2 75 2
South Beach Living Deli Ham & Turkey Wrap, 1 serving 220 15 10 23 22
Meal Totals 512 27 12 98 24
dinner
Old Orchard Healthy Balance Grape Juice, 8 oz 35 0 0 9 0
Water, bottled, 3 serving 0 0 0 0 0
Brown Rice, medium grain, 0.5 cup 109 2 1 23 2
Peas, frozen, 0.5 cup 55 3 0 10 4
Pork Tenderloin, 3 oz 147 0 5 0 24
Meal Totals 347 5 6 42 30
snack
Baby Carrots, raw, 20 medium 76 4 1 16 2
Yogurt, Yoplait Light, Strawberry, 6 oz 100 0 0 19 5
Water, bottled, 3 serving 0 0 0 0 0
Meal Totals 176 4 1 35 7
Daily Totals 1,444 46 30 237 81
Daily Goal 1320 - 1670 25 - 35 35 - 61 177 - 255 60 - 137

 

That's 4 veggies, 2 dairy, 4 fruits, 1 oil, 3 protiens, & 2 grains. I'm under my calorie range due to my weight gain. WW dropped my points down to 21 until I lose a pound or 2.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day the Healthy Way

 

Single or coupled, Valentine’s Day is impossible to ignore. The Valentine’s Days of our past were simpler—filled with homemade valentines for family members, cartoon cards for friends and (portion-controlled) sweets from our first loves, mom and dad.

Now it’s a commercialized holiday that tells us we need to dine out, buy gifts and indulge in treats.

But, you don’t need to swear off the celebrating because you’re following a weight-loss plan. Here are our top tips for having fun and making the most of this holiday while staying true to your healthy lifestyle.

  • Zero POINTS® Value Treats
    Valentine's Day is the sweetest day of the year, but you can show loved ones how much you care without a lot of POINTS values with these six suggestions.
  • Valentine’s Day Menus
    Here are three feasts for celebrating this holiday—one romantic, one for friends and an easy meal with kids.
  • Valentine's Day Chocolate Review
    We tested out the latest collections from today’s top chocolatiers, and rated their taste, texture, presentation and more. Feel free to reference our reviews when it’s time to go candy shopping.
  • The Foods of Love
    Learn about classic aphrodisiacs and healthy ways to work them into a romantic Valentine's Day dinner for two.
  • Practice Yoga With Your Partner
    Get closer to your mate by taking time out of the day to stretch together. These five stretches can help you reconnect with your partner on Valentine's Day, or any day.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Talk about a BARGAIN

I was looking on eBay for workout videos & I cam across this amazing deal that I just had to bid on ... 28 workout videos with a starting bid of 9.99! I put in $10 cause with shipping it would be close to $20 bucks. Guess what? I won! Below is everything I'm getting. Of course they will all be transfered to a DVD as I work my through each one.

LOT 28 AEROBIC FITNESS EXERCISE WORKOUT VHS VIDEOS/L@@K
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UP FOR AUCTION:

LOT OF 28 FITNESS VHS VIDEOS

GREAT VARIETY AND NO REPEATS!!

ALL THE VIDEOS HAVE BEEN BRIEFLY VIEWED AND ARE IN EXCELLENT PLAYING CONDITION!! THERE ARE THREE THAT ARE SHOWING THEIR AGE, BUT STILL PLAYED WITH A SMOOTH PICTURE.  THE SOUND SOMETIMES BUZZED. . . BUT I WILL LIST THOSE THREE FIRST.

  • Esquire Dance Away Country Western low impact aerobics--30 minutes
  • Body Focus 2 Stomach Thighs Buttocks--30 minutes
  • Bodyworks Ladies Trim Tone Class--45 minutes
The next set of videos required me to adjust my tracking for a good picture.  They play well, but are not high tech.
  • Nautilus Plus Aerobics--high impact--40 minutes
  • The Pounds Off Easy Exercise Video--not sure on length
  • The Funk Factor with David Gray--60 minutes
  • Total Body Workout--high/low aerobics--30 minutes
  • Betty Crocker Exercise and Lose Weight--low impact--30 minutes
The rest of the videos are in EXCELLENT PLAYING CONDITION!! 
  • ESPN Body Sculpting with the Fitness Pros--50 minutes
  • Susan Powter Lean Strong and Healthy--(step optional)--75 minutes
  • Total Body Toner workout--29 minutes
  • Aerobics with Soul African Rhythms--60 minutes
  • Funk Essentials with David Gray--40 minutes
  • Easy Steps walking weight loss program--20 minutes
  • Sports Illustrated Super Shape-up Program Aerobic Intervals with Cheryl Tiegs--50 minutes
  • Kathie Lee feel fit & fabulous workout--57 minutes
  • Shortcuts to Health and Fitness--45 minutes
  • Redbook Shape Up 1 2 3--45 minutes
  • Great Body Dynamite Lets--30 minutes
  • Great Body Upper Body beautiful--30 minutes
  • Leslie Chazin's Intro to Low-Impact aerobics--30 minutes
  • Bun Busters Aerobic workout--30 minutes
  • How to Country line dance (not technically an exercise video, but could be!! :0)  55 minutes
  • Nutri/system Body break through Activity Plan levels 1 & 2--unknown length
The last four videos are NEW and still sealed in the factory shrinkwrap!
  • nutri/system Body Breakthrough Activity plan level 3--unknown length
  • Christy Lane's Sweating to Country Volume 1--40 minutes
  • BodyWorks aerobic pump--45 minutes
  • The Joy of Weight Loss--a spiritually orientated plan that encourages viewers to ask God for help in order to eat in balance and moderation from all six food groups, to enjoy being physically active on a daily basis, and to truly connect one's feelings and emotions--55 minutes. 

Friday, February 8, 2008

food shmood

Cals Fiber Fat Carbs Prn
Fiber Supplement (orange), 1 serving 16 4 0 4 0
Egg Substitute, 0.25 cup 30 0 0 0 6
whole-grain bread1 slice 65 2 1 12 3
Yogurt, light Strawberry, 6 oz 100 0 0 19 5
Grape Juice, 8 oz 35 0 0 9 0
Meal Totals 246 6 1 44 14
lunch
Banana, fresh, 1 medium 109 3 1 28 1
Smart Ones Chicken Mirabella, 1 serving 200 3 2 33 12
Smart Ones Strawberry Shortcake, 1 serving 170 0 6 25 4
Meal Totals 479 6 9 86 17
dinner
FISH - Mahi Mahi, 3 oz 90 0 1 0 20
Brown Rice, medium grain, 1 cup 218 4 2 46 5
Peas, frozen, 0.5 cup 55 3 0 10 4
2 cup, salad 15 1 0 3 1
ff Ranch Salad Dressing, 2 tbsp 48 0 0 11 0
Meal Totals 428 8 3 70 30
snack
Oranges, 1 large (3-1/16" dia) 86 4 0 22 2
Popcorn, air-popped, 3 cup 92 4 1 19 3
Meal Totals 178 8 1 40 5
Daily Totals 1,330 28 14 240 65
Daily Goal 1320 - 1670 25 - 35 35 - 61 177 - 255 60 - 137

 

So that's:

dairy: 1

Fruits: 3

Veggies: 4

Water: 10