Last week's weight: 172.2
This week's weight: 173.8
Difference: +1.6
Total weight lost since January 2010: 98
First, let me apologize for being so late with this week's weigh-in post. I did, indeed, weigh in on Friday, but I was having some computer trouble and am just now taking time for a blog post.
As you can see, I gained a little. Not a surprise given what I ate this past week. I'm not upset about the gain really, but I am disappointed in how I handled stressful moments. I was feeling a lot of pressure at work this week and I wasn't sleeping well.
So I got weak.
One day, I stopped at the store and came out with pizza, a small bag of chips and a candy bar. And, yes, I ate them that night. On another day, I left work in the middle of the day just buy junk food ... pretzels, dark chocolate Reese's peanut cups and miniature candy bars. I didn't eat them all, but I sure ate more than my fair share.
I've said this before but losing weight (even maintaining what I've almost lost) takes constant vigilance. I let my guard down for one minute and I'm verging on out of control. It's been more than 2 1/2 years since I started this journey. Shouldn't some of the desire to eat all of the time and to eat foods that aren't good for me be disappearing?
The good news, I guess, is that despite eating dinner out Friday, I didn't go overboard. I didn't make the smartest choices, but I definitely didn't make the worst choices either. And on Saturday, I did extremely well. Everything I ate, including lots of fruits and veggies, was well within my daily Weight Watchers daily points limit.
So far, so good today. But a stressful phone conversation with my grandmother is tempting me. I know that eating is not how I should deal with my emotions. I've tried some deep breathing and I ate some fruit, but I'm still thinking about how good Cheez Doodles would taste right now. Good thing I don't have any of those. And I'm seriously going to try to keep myself from getting in the car and driving to the store.
Another good sign is that I cooked a great dinner last night (stuffed peppers) and I'm making another dish tonight (tomato-basil chicken with pasta salad). That should give me plenty of leftovers for the week. I really need a good week.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Recipe: Shrimp and grits
A friend recently made shrimp and grits and posted a photo/recipe on facebook. It looked so delicious and I've been craving the Southern classic ever since. I decided to try making a lowfat version. The real thing definitely tastes better, but my version turned out to be one of the best things I've made since I started Weight Watchers 2 1/2 years ago.
While I concocted my own recipe for the shrimp part (recipe below), I used a Weight Watchers recipe for the cheese grits. Here's the link: http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=158391. One note: I used Cabot 75% reduced fat white sharp cheddar in the recipe. I don't know if it affected the points value, but I figured it couldn't be too different than regular reduced fat cheddar. I also served my dinner with a side of steamed fresh broccoli and a glass of white wine. The only thing wrong with this recipe is that it was so good I wanted to eat twice as much. (But I didn't.)
Ingredients
1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (50-60 count)
2 shallots, chopped (You can use whatever kind of onion you like best. You need about a cup.)
8 oz. fresh sliced mushrooms
1 red pepper, chopped (You can use a green pepper if you prefer.)
4 slices Canadian bacon, chopped
2 tsp. minced garlic (You can use fresh or the kind from the jar.)
Red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper
Cooking spray
Directions
Coat a nonstick pan with cooking spray. Add shallots and saute on medium heat until translucent. Add mushrooms, red pepper and Canadian bacon. Saute until mushrooms and red pepper are tender. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste and cook about 2 minutes. Add shrimp and cook until pink. To serve, pour 1/2 cup of cheese grits onto a plate and top with 1/4 of the shrimp mixture. Makes 4 servings.
While I concocted my own recipe for the shrimp part (recipe below), I used a Weight Watchers recipe for the cheese grits. Here's the link: http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=158391. One note: I used Cabot 75% reduced fat white sharp cheddar in the recipe. I don't know if it affected the points value, but I figured it couldn't be too different than regular reduced fat cheddar. I also served my dinner with a side of steamed fresh broccoli and a glass of white wine. The only thing wrong with this recipe is that it was so good I wanted to eat twice as much. (But I didn't.)
Ingredients
1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (50-60 count)
2 shallots, chopped (You can use whatever kind of onion you like best. You need about a cup.)
8 oz. fresh sliced mushrooms
1 red pepper, chopped (You can use a green pepper if you prefer.)
4 slices Canadian bacon, chopped
2 tsp. minced garlic (You can use fresh or the kind from the jar.)
Red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper
Cooking spray
Directions
Coat a nonstick pan with cooking spray. Add shallots and saute on medium heat until translucent. Add mushrooms, red pepper and Canadian bacon. Saute until mushrooms and red pepper are tender. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste and cook about 2 minutes. Add shrimp and cook until pink. To serve, pour 1/2 cup of cheese grits onto a plate and top with 1/4 of the shrimp mixture. Makes 4 servings.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Weekly weigh-in: Hoping for a better tomorrow
Last week's weight: 172.6
This week's weight: 172.2
Difference: -0.4
Total weight lost since January 2010: 99.6
The past couple of weeks have been one big whirlwind. I've been working anywhere from 10 to 13 hours a day, which means I haven't exercised or kept track of what I've eaten. So I'm surprised I lost again this week.
I've noticed during the past 2 1/2 years, though, that often the most stressful times are when I do lose weight. Maybe that's because I just don't have time to eat. And I think I'm finally making smarter choices without really thinking about it.
That said, my moments of weakness are still there. After yesterday's weigh-in, I vowed to at least return to logging everything I eat/drink through the Weight Watchers online system. It didn't go so well. I get 26 points a day, but I ate/drank the equivalent of 51 points yesterday. Yes, that's very bad.
I had a lot of emotional reasons for yesterday's overeating. But I don't believe in excuses. So I'm going to try to put it behind me and move on. Maybe I'll do better today. And then even better tomorrow. That's all I can hope for.
This week's weight: 172.2
Difference: -0.4
Total weight lost since January 2010: 99.6
The past couple of weeks have been one big whirlwind. I've been working anywhere from 10 to 13 hours a day, which means I haven't exercised or kept track of what I've eaten. So I'm surprised I lost again this week.
I've noticed during the past 2 1/2 years, though, that often the most stressful times are when I do lose weight. Maybe that's because I just don't have time to eat. And I think I'm finally making smarter choices without really thinking about it.
That said, my moments of weakness are still there. After yesterday's weigh-in, I vowed to at least return to logging everything I eat/drink through the Weight Watchers online system. It didn't go so well. I get 26 points a day, but I ate/drank the equivalent of 51 points yesterday. Yes, that's very bad.
I had a lot of emotional reasons for yesterday's overeating. But I don't believe in excuses. So I'm going to try to put it behind me and move on. Maybe I'll do better today. And then even better tomorrow. That's all I can hope for.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Recipe: Cherry-almond brownies
I've been craving brownies for a couple of weeks, so I decided to experiment in the kitchen today. They aren't exactly health food, but these brownies are lower in fat and include a few healthy ingredients. The biggest problem is that it's supposed to make 24 brownies. I might cut them into 24 squares, but something tells I won't be able to eat just one.
Ingredients
1 box store-bought brownie mix (I used the Food Lion dark chocolate brand.)
4 egg whites
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup water
1 cup chopped fresh cherries
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 cup mini marshmallows
Cooking spray
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix brownie mix, egg whites, applesauce and water by hand in a large bowl. Coat 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray. Pour mix evenly into pan. Sprinkle cherries on top. Bake for 15-20 minutes until slightly firm but still moist on top. Sprinkle almonds and marshmallows on top. Continue baking for 5-10 minutes until brownies are firm in the middle. Let cool. Then cut into 24 squares.
Ingredients
1 box store-bought brownie mix (I used the Food Lion dark chocolate brand.)
4 egg whites
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup water
1 cup chopped fresh cherries
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 cup mini marshmallows
Cooking spray
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix brownie mix, egg whites, applesauce and water by hand in a large bowl. Coat 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray. Pour mix evenly into pan. Sprinkle cherries on top. Bake for 15-20 minutes until slightly firm but still moist on top. Sprinkle almonds and marshmallows on top. Continue baking for 5-10 minutes until brownies are firm in the middle. Let cool. Then cut into 24 squares.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Weekly weigh-in: Surviving the great outdoors
Last week's weight: I didn't weigh in because I was on vacation. My weight the week before was 171.6.
This week's weight: 172.6
Difference: +1
Total weight lost since January 2010: 99.2 pounds
A few days before heading to Virginia for a five-day vacation at the river with my mom and stepdad, I blogged about being prepared to gain. On my previous vacation to Asheville, I gained nearly 5 pounds. I knew I didn't want to stress too much about what I ate or drank while in Virginia, so I set my mind on the 5-pound number.
I expected to gain that much. I ate s'mores (twice) and ice cream (twice) and all sorts of other foods I don't usually eat. I drank more alcohol than normal. But I also drank a lot of water and ate a lot of fruit and vegetables. Combine that with not eating heaping amounts of the bad foods and somehow I managed to gain only 1 pound.
I'm in disbelief. But, once again, happy to realize that I can indulge from time to time without completing losing control. While I still stress about food more than I probably should, I'm more hopeful than ever that I can maintain the progress I've made.
Speaking of progress, my trip to Virginia fits into that category in a different way. As many of you know, my journey isn't just about losing weight. It's about finding happiness and self-confidence and being more adventurous.
My Fourth of July vacation felt a little like being in the movie "The Great Outdoors." My mom and stepdad own a camper in a campground along the Rappahannock River. The camper is small, but it has a giant screened-in porch, which even has air conditioning. It's a good thing because that's where I had to sleep. This was actually my second time visiting, but last year's trip is kind of a blur because it was right after my dad died.
Anyway, most people would probably say I'm not exactly the outdoorsy type. That's odd because I grew up boating, fishing and always being around the water. While I may have spent a lot more time outside as a kid, I've always liked the comforts of home. I like my stuff and I'm definitely a creature of habit.
So visiting my parents was somewhat of an adventure. The shower was smaller than a phone booth and the water didn't work right the first day, so I don't even think I got the soap out of my hair. Yuck! I own mixing bowls bigger than the toilet. (Too much information?) I had to sleep on a lumpy futon on the porch. It was weird thinking that people might be able to see me walking around in my pajamas. Oh, and there's no oven. The porch has a stovetop, but you have to turn off the air conditioning to use it. So we grilled a lot. Yeah, I know I'd never make it if I really had to camp ... in a tent.
All that said, I had a delightfully relaxing few days. It might not have been fancy, but it was fun. On one of our boat rides, we were surrounded by dolphins near the Chesapeake Bay. They were beautiful. I barely thought about, much less talked about, work the entire time. That alone is a major sign of progress in my life. I've finally become the kind of person who completely trusts the people who work for me, which means I don't have to worry while on vacation.
The real lesson I've learned in the past few weeks is that I know how to manage stress without gaining weight. Sure, I still eat to sooth my emotions occasionally. But I don't do it all the time. In fact, most of the time when something's bothering me, I'm now able to put it aside and refocus on something positive. That's the kind of life I want to lead.
This week's weight: 172.6
Difference: +1
Total weight lost since January 2010: 99.2 pounds
A few days before heading to Virginia for a five-day vacation at the river with my mom and stepdad, I blogged about being prepared to gain. On my previous vacation to Asheville, I gained nearly 5 pounds. I knew I didn't want to stress too much about what I ate or drank while in Virginia, so I set my mind on the 5-pound number.
I expected to gain that much. I ate s'mores (twice) and ice cream (twice) and all sorts of other foods I don't usually eat. I drank more alcohol than normal. But I also drank a lot of water and ate a lot of fruit and vegetables. Combine that with not eating heaping amounts of the bad foods and somehow I managed to gain only 1 pound.
I'm in disbelief. But, once again, happy to realize that I can indulge from time to time without completing losing control. While I still stress about food more than I probably should, I'm more hopeful than ever that I can maintain the progress I've made.
Speaking of progress, my trip to Virginia fits into that category in a different way. As many of you know, my journey isn't just about losing weight. It's about finding happiness and self-confidence and being more adventurous.
My Fourth of July vacation felt a little like being in the movie "The Great Outdoors." My mom and stepdad own a camper in a campground along the Rappahannock River. The camper is small, but it has a giant screened-in porch, which even has air conditioning. It's a good thing because that's where I had to sleep. This was actually my second time visiting, but last year's trip is kind of a blur because it was right after my dad died.
Anyway, most people would probably say I'm not exactly the outdoorsy type. That's odd because I grew up boating, fishing and always being around the water. While I may have spent a lot more time outside as a kid, I've always liked the comforts of home. I like my stuff and I'm definitely a creature of habit.
So visiting my parents was somewhat of an adventure. The shower was smaller than a phone booth and the water didn't work right the first day, so I don't even think I got the soap out of my hair. Yuck! I own mixing bowls bigger than the toilet. (Too much information?) I had to sleep on a lumpy futon on the porch. It was weird thinking that people might be able to see me walking around in my pajamas. Oh, and there's no oven. The porch has a stovetop, but you have to turn off the air conditioning to use it. So we grilled a lot. Yeah, I know I'd never make it if I really had to camp ... in a tent.
All that said, I had a delightfully relaxing few days. It might not have been fancy, but it was fun. On one of our boat rides, we were surrounded by dolphins near the Chesapeake Bay. They were beautiful. I barely thought about, much less talked about, work the entire time. That alone is a major sign of progress in my life. I've finally become the kind of person who completely trusts the people who work for me, which means I don't have to worry while on vacation.
The real lesson I've learned in the past few weeks is that I know how to manage stress without gaining weight. Sure, I still eat to sooth my emotions occasionally. But I don't do it all the time. In fact, most of the time when something's bothering me, I'm now able to put it aside and refocus on something positive. That's the kind of life I want to lead.
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