Thursday, January 27, 2011

In a world of 'Can't'

I have come to realize another problem associated with weight loss and the mental aspect involved.  When you go to restaurants (at least for myself) and I see people ordering the stuff I want, and I know I shouldn't have it, I view it as if I 'can't' have it.  So, I order it just to prove to myself (?) that I can have it, and enjoy it as well.  Not that this is wrong, but when you do it every time you run into my current weight problem.  Saying no to food is like a crack addict saying no to crack.  My addiction is harder than drugs though... I HAVE to eat, I can't just cut food out of my life.  I have to learn to control it, where a crack addict is provided the opportunity to cut the problem completely out of their life.

Provided we are in a snow storm, boredom also takes a huge hit on the need to feed.  Here I sit, with 16 points left for the day, and bored... so I want to feed my face.  I need a new hobby...

Monday, January 24, 2011

Through the bad times, there are good.

So, this weekend was another bad weekend... in one day I consumed 75 points.  That was the day of my Uncles Memorial service.  I am now ready to move on, remember and celebrate his life, and get back on my journey.

In better news I actually LOST this week!!!!  YAY!!!  I now weigh 203.6, and my calculator celebrated by deducting a point too.

Now I am only allowed 30 points a day... 29 is the lowest allowed, so I assume that will be nest week.

Someone calculated out what my 10% goal is, and that is 11 pounds.  I am only 2 lbs shy of my 10% goal!

Here's to a new week of delicious food, and good decisions.

Starting weight:  212
Current weight:  203

Daily allowed points: 30
Weekly allowed: 49

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Life Happens

That is how my sister, D, puts it.  Last week was a bad week, if you couldn't tell from my lack of posts.

On Wednesday night I was informed that my Uncle did not have much time with us... so I went on thursday to spend the afternoon with him.  All they had were cookies and chips.  I ate two cookies... then he passed away this last weekend.  Needless to say, I have NO clue what I consumed point-wise.  So, I re-weighed myself to find that I gained back 2 of the 5 lbs I lost.  BUT I am still down from my start point.

Here is my point to this post, I went right back to the program.  It is easy to get distracted, because "Life Happens."  But, it is just as easy to get back into the program.

Being 11 pm I am going to bed and will be much better tomorrow.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Sweetwater Tavern, not so sweet after all

Yesterday was a bad day for me, point wise that is.  I had my breakfast, and an early lunch because I was meeting a friend for a late lunch that evening.  One problem, as a dieter, that I have is portion control.  If it is there, I will eat it.  Hoping to battle the hunger cry, I ate a bowl of veal stew my MIL made that was a total of 12 points, I did this to hopefully eat less when I went out with my girlfriend.  We planned on meeting up at Sweetwater Tavern in Centreville, VA.  I googled, and googled, and googled even more... just to get nutritional information that they apparently refuse to offer.  That's right, they do NOT offer nutritional information to the public online.  To avoid the embarrassment of asking this nicer establishment for their nutritional information, I chickened out and ordered a salad anyway.  I tried to order wisely, so I ordered the Roast Chicken Salad.  While it was delicious, it did have corn, cheese, and other items that I knew had a point value to them.  And, like any other dieter would, I ate the whole thing.

After seeing the salad, and consulting my books forever, I decided the point value would be around 13 points... plus to be safe, I would rather give it a higher point value than a lesser one.  I had yet to have dinner, and after that salad I had consumed my 31 points.  So, I gave up, kinda.  I still had a Smart Ones dinner for 6 points, and I had two deserts for 7 points.

As for deserts, I had the Smart Ones Mint Ice Cream, and the Quaker Chocolate Rice Cakes.  Both are delicious, but I really liked the rice cakes, and they were filling!  13 cakes for 4 points, and it tasted like Chocolate Pebbles cereal.

DAILY POINTS USED: 43
WEEKLY POINTS LEFT: 37

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Bed is always the solution

Last night, my daughter woke up and would not lay back down.  So off to bed with us she went.  The bonus to this... I lay there watching her fall back asleep, until I can put her back into her crib; therefore, I'm not eating!  The downside... I was up until 12:30 when I was finally able to put her back into her crib.

DAILY POINTS USED: 26 (lots of salad though)
WEEKLY POINTS LEFT: 49

Monday, January 10, 2011

Travels of Asia

Tonight we made the Wegmans Travels of Asia, Stir Fry Beef with Udon Noodles for dinner.  There are only 2 servings in the bag, and each serving is 7 points.  While it was good food, I was left wanting more.  Again, I am eating a 2 point salad!  This is great if you want a small dinner, the portion was about 1 cup in size.  Although, if you paired it with a salad to begin with, this would be a great meal.  The downside to these meals though, is they have to be cooked on the stovetop.  Nick cooked this tonight, while I fed the twins.  I have 5 points remaining for the day, and I am certain they will get eaten.

On that note, since I lost 5 lbs, I also lost one point a day.  Last week I was allowed 32, now I am allowed 31 points.  I am certain the goal of this is to gradually get you down to the minimum points allowed, 29, but  as I go down in points, finding foods that fit into that daily allotment will be difficult.  This is where the weekly bonus points come in to play.  I am happy to have those extra points, but if I am already eating them, shouldn't I just start at 29?  I will do the program the way it is designed, so that I can track my progress, but thank goodness for those extra points!

I am done with my salad... time for a fruit as I am still hungry from my less than satisfying day.

Healthy Choice, Hungry later...

So I picked up a Healthy Choice Steamer to try out for lunch, because it's healthy, right?  I was surprised to see it was worth 9 points, when I could have had Fettuccini Alfredo for 6 points from the Smart Ones.  Oh, well, there was more food in it, so I ate it anyways.  While the sauce is delicious, there is very little of it.  There was only 3 pieces of chicken, and a ton of rice.  All those carbs equal to the 9 points, but you would think it would be more filling.  I am still hungry, and I am about to make a salad for myself.  In the future I am going to shy away from the less-filling freezer food, and stick with the more filling stuff.

Oh, and the salad will add two more points so, lunch will be 11 points... not worth it.  I have a feeling I will hit those bonus points today!

The verdict is in....

This morning marked the weekly weigh in point for me.  I was nervous, to say the least, since weight does fluctuate.  I have been staying on target for my weekly and daily goals, with little slip-ups here and there.  I was worried that I would have gained weight, or stayed the same.  At the very least, I wanted to at least keep the three pounds that I saw I lost earlier in the week... lost!

Today, I weighed in at 207!  I lost 5 lbs in one week!  I know weight goes fast initially, but I am still overjoyed that I lost 5 lbs in one week!  I think I may be able to pull off Weigh Watchers right from my freezer after all!

WEEKLY POINTS LEFT: 0   USED: 49
DAILY POINTS USED: 43 (I had some chips last night, and decided to count it towards the rest of the weekly points.)

NEW WEEK, AND A NEW DAY!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Rollover points?

Nope, the end of week one, and I have 11 points to spare.  I have been good all week, and I have this burning desire to eat all eleven points right this second.  Not because I am hungry (I'm not), but knowing they will go to waste triggers a familiar sensation that I get late night while watching TV and I am NOT snacking.  What triggers this emotion?  How do you control it?  I don't know, but hopefully I can learn along the way how to get it under control.

That being said, I am going to allow myself an evening desert worth 3 points, and I will wave bye-bye to the rest of those points.  Tomorrow is the big weigh in, so I will post again tomorrow!

Late night crunchies and munchies

Since my evening with the potato chips, I have been looking for a better option.  Something that I can still use for dip's, or eat alone.  I was discussing this with my great friend M, and she told me about Sweet Potato Chips.  In theory, one would think that it would count towards the zero foods.  This leads me to two points...


  1.      Vegetables have a few limits as to what is deemed as zero points.  Corn, peas, potatoes, and sweet potatoes all have a point value.  
  2.      You get more sweet potato chips than potato chips for your points!  17 chips for 4 points!  Still, a better alternative!
If you are not sure why the items listed above are counted towards your point values, here is why.  While these are vegetables, they are very high in carbohydrates.  Since they are high in carbs, they have a point value.  You can google the nutritional information on your own if you need more information beyond that.  

As of right now, I just ate some Sweet Potato chips (4 points), and earlier I had a Thai Kitchen bowl (6 points), carnitas left-overs (12 points), 1/2 smart ones brownie (2 points), a JD light breakfast sandwich (6 points), and coffee (2 points--creamer).  I am right at my daily goal.  I have 11 weekly points left... only good for tonight.

Saturday Night...

So, after my fears of the pizza were resolved, onto Saturday night!  As I mentioned before, I was able to get Tropical Smoothie for lunch, and LOVED it.

For dinner, Nick cooked.  We get pre-cooked carnita's from Trader Joes, so it was carnita night... one of my favorites!  When we make carnita's, we do it the traditional way.  So, literally meat, cilantro, onions, maybe some salsa, and maybe sour cream.  With Tapatio, of course.  On a corn tortilla, one carnita was only 6 points!  So, I had two.  With 16 points left for dinner, minus the 12, I had four points left.  So I had a serving of chips for 4 points.  I piled my salsa on each chip, and was FULL!

Then I had a Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat Beer, and that was only 2 points!

DAILY USED: 34
WEEKLY LEFT: 11

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Tropical Paradise!

So, to make up for my evening last night, I skipped breakfast (I had a banana with the kids), and Nick wants to go to Tropical Smoothie to get lunch.  I am shocked that it wasn't in my dining out companion, thank goodness I was home and could easily google Tropical Smoothie Nutritional information.  I calculated a few items, and was VERY surprised to see that The Italian Bistro Sandwich is only 11 points!!!!  Thank you, Tropical Smoothie, thank you very much!

Shame... kinda

Last night I did well, I ate a smart ones for 6 points, leaving 9 points for the rest of the day... then we did the awful, the forbiden, we ordered pizza!

Too scared to calculate my peperoni slice and my breadstick, I ate 1/2 an apple, and went to bed.

This morning I had to face the truth, and calculate out the points.  I looked through the book, and found it.

I must say, I was shocked to see that the Pizza was only 9 points, and the breadstick was 4!  13 points!  Not bad for a delicious meal!

DAILY POINTS:     33
WEEKLY LEFT:     13

I may make it to Monday!

Friday, January 7, 2011

I just couldn't Weight...

I had to do it, I promised myself that I would not weigh myself until Monday to see if there was a difference... but I am too impatient, and I couldn't wait.  So I did it.

I LOST WEIGHT!

Not a lot, mind you, but hey... 3 lbs is 3 lbs!

Yup, at 209... I am certain it will fluctuate a TON, but that would have been nice to see on Monday.

Grocery Trip... with a calculator!

So, I was determined to find foods that I already love and enjoy to get from Wegmans last night (Wegmans is a major Grocer on the East Coast).  Here is what I found:


  1. Fruit (duh)-- 0
  2. Thai Kitchen Bowls-- 6
  3. Smart Ones-- 4-6
  4. Mini Chocolate Quaker Rice Cakes-- 3 for 13
  5. Honey Mustard salad dressing-- 2 
Here are some lessons learned... 

  1. Crasins aren't as good as you think, I thought that since it was dried fruit it would be free.  WRONG!  It is 4 points for 1/4 cup... I know I eat more than that!
  2. Pretzels are the same point value as the Chocolate Quaker Rice cakes!
  3. Salad dressings are all about the same point value.  Everyone that I looked at last night were 2 points.  So I got the yummy one!
  4. Fruit is expensive... I may need to go frozen on that...
  5. 5 oz of formula is 3 points... no wonder babies are so healthy!
I am finding this a lot easier, and already I feel a difference.  I do have more energy, but I am hungrier than I was before (go figure, portions lol).  It is comforting to know that I can do this 'on the go,' and that so far I do not have to kill myself learning anything really 'new.'  What will be hard is when I go back this semester (Tuesday), and trying to stay away from the cafeteria.  I HAVE to pack snacks from now on.  That is why I like getting the fresh fruit, literally I just toss it in my bag and go.  


Fast Food

So, I had a pretty busy morning.  I had to drive with the kids up to the campus to pick up my books, then to Target to pick up a few groceries... that's a story for my other blog LOL.

As I was driving around, I was STARVING.  It was 10:30 am, and McDonalds was the closest option.  I sat in my car with my guide, and found nothing that I thought were worth the points.  On my way to school I decided to stop at Chick-Fil-A instead.  Here is what I had...

Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich with Honey BBQ sauce-- 7 points (6 without the sauce)
Side Salad with Honey Mustard-- 4 points (2 for the salad because of the cheese, and two for the dressing)

11 points for the whole meal, I did take off the cheese (I don't like cheese), so technically my salad was free!  So -2.... drumroll..... 9 points!!!!

Not bad for a delicious and filling lunch... I ended up saving my salad for later too.  The sandwich was really filling!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Plan of Action... so far

In the mornings, I enjoy a breakfast sandwich.  Who doesn't?  I actually have the Jimmy Dean Ham and Cheese Croissants and the Jimmy Dean Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit.  Concerned I would have to give up my imitation McDonalds breakfast, I finally calculated the points.  Ham and Cheese is only 8 points and the BEC is 9!  Plus a glass of milk that is only 10 or 11 points for breakfast!  That is doable... because it is already my routine!

Last night for dinner, I was in the dredges with the kids, I needed to make something fast to eat after bedtime.  In my eagerness to start something I began calculating away at random items looking for something REALLY filling... I was hungry!  Then I came across a gold mind hidden in the back of my freezer.  So tempting, one of my favorite meals... it had to be too good to get away with, but I calculated it anyway.

Trader Joes Shepphard Pie... one serving is 1/2 of the container (it's a pretty large container), calculated out to only 4 points!  I then multiplied the information by two... and it was 9 points for the whole thing!!!!  It has everything I love, red meat, mashed potatoes, veggies, and gravy!  I ate well last night!

Lunch today, I decided to see how lucky I could get with my Trader Joes food... so I pulled out my Thai Style Massiman Chicken.  Digging into the freezer I pulled out the delicious rice bowl and thought, "There is no way."  But it does... it is only 10 points!  I had a delicious lunch!

So here I am to today (phew), and I have spahgetti and meat balls in the oven (a frozen meal from Wegmans) and one serving is 8 points.  Here is where it gets tricky.  One serving is only 1 cup.  If you are like me, I need more in my tummy than a one cup portion of spaghetti.  This is where I raided my fridge.  We have German Cabbage, and one cup is only 1 point... plus its a veggie!!!  So, as I just finished my Cabbage, and waiting on my dinner, I will feed the babies, and hopefully have a very filling meal (with a glass of milk).

TODAYS POINTS:     31
DAILY POINTS:         32

The Skinny

Here is how the program works.  The calculator will calculate out how many points a day you are allowed.  It will ask you a few questions; age, gender, weight, height, and if you want to loose or maintain.  Once you get this number (mine is currently 32) the rest is easy, right?  WRONG.  Don't get me wrong, but now you have to decide how to use those points.

On top of your daily allowance you are authorized 49 weekly points.  That is standard for everyone on the program.  You can use ten on Monday, ten on Thursday, but it is not like Cingular... they do not roll over to next week!  Use or lose is the way the points work.  Now, it is not recommended; however, if you know you have a big event on the weekend, you can use all 49 in one day.  This should be saved for Easter, Thanksgiving, etc.  The goal is to stay within your point range, but the extra points allows for some divulgences.

Then the calculator (that I highly recommend) will calculate points to any food item, provided you have the nutritional information.  This is great, except when you are looking at the menu at Taco Bell.  Having to ask for the nutritional information sheet, and sitting there for ever calculating is a pain.  This is why I got the Dining Out Companion.  This has all the fast food and chain restaurants you could think of.  I sat down and used sticky tabs to mark the places I frequent.

The new Points Plus program is different from the old program.  The minimum number of points anyone will get is 30.  They discovered that anything less is unhealthy.  Also, foods now have a higher point value than the old system, so make sure that you re-calculate any old cookbook recipes if you plan on using them.

The calculator will ask for the protein, carbs, total fat, and fiber.  you will be surprised that a lot of the foods you already love, will fit in with the program.  If you know someone with a calculator, you can just have them calculate your point allowance and get a food journal to write everything down, or like me, use a free app on your cell phone/smart phone.

There are a few requirements you need to allow for in a day:


  1. 6 liquids
  2. 2 healthy oils
  3. Multivitamin (I am not taking one)
  4. 5 fruits and vegetables (you can go over this though)
  5. 2 non-fat and low-fat dairy products
There are power foods that will help you stay successful, and that is the fruits, veggies, non-fat dairy, whole grains and lean proteins.  

Exercise gives you more points to consume in a day.  The most points you can get are 5 points.  

Welcome!

So, this is not a resolution, those are designed to be broken. This is my personal quest to lose weight and learn what realistic foods work with the Weight Watchers program.

I chose weight watchers for one reason... there is nothing I cannot have. It is all about portions and decisions.

I also decided that I would not join, rather just work it out on my own. I did get the calculator (points plus), the Dining out Companion, and the Complete Food Companion. The calculator makes figuring out points very easy, and if you understand how the program works... you don't need to pay for the membership.

Here are my current goals:

  1. Lose weight (duh)
  2. Be Realistic
  3. Help others do the same
Here are my current obsticles:

  1. Just gave birth to twins in the last year (not BFing any more)
  2. I need to shed about 70 lbs to get to a healthy weight
  3. I LOVE food... and good food at that... that's what got me here in the first place!
Here are my stats:

  1. Starting Weight: 212
  2. Starting Height: 5'3" or 73"
  3. Starting Age: 30
A little more information:

-I love food, some of my favorites are items like: rice, pasta, sauces, red meat, chocolate, ice cream, flavored chips.....
-Foods that I don't care for/avoid: tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, nuts, fish.

BE REALISTIC:

Ok, as a mom to 9 month old mobile twins, the last thing I can realistically do is make a gourmet meal for us... I also don't have time to spend scouring over cookbooks to try and jump right into learning how to cook (no, I don't know how to cook very much). I need really really REALLY simple meal ideas that as a full time student and full time mother I can toss in the microwave or oven and set a timer.

We have now reached the purpose of my blog. I hope that sharing this information will show people, like myself, that losing weight may not be about cutting out everything you enjoy and love. I am on a quest to find good microwavable meals that you can enjoy for a decent amount of points. I am allowed 32 points right now (plus the additional 49 for the week), so I am trying to get every meal at around 10 points max. Remember, fruits and veggies are ZERO points... although, the chips always seem to call my name.