Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Been very busy

I've been very busy lately. I plan on writing about our daily happenings of the past week and everything going on at my personal blog Wonder Wendy's World. But I have determined to start journaling again, so here I am.

Yesterday, Monday, October 25:

McDonalds Doublecheeseburger: 11 points
Medium fry: 7.5 points
pop secret popcorn, 94% fat free- whole, regular bag: 2 points
Hershey milk chocolate: 2 blocks: 3.5 points
TOTAL: 24 points; 2 points over

Today, Tuesday October 26:

nothing so far ;o)
but I am about to go have a bowl of oatmeal because it's cooooolllllddd!!
Weight Control Oatmeal: 2.5 pts

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Learning a lot

I have learned these past couple of weeks that I am very much an emotional eater. I scored moderate a while back on this quiz: "are you an emotional overeater?", but since I started WW, I have learned that I am indeed an emotional eater, if not an overeater if I indulge myself. Last week our local fair was in town, so I maxed my points that day (I think, in all honesty, maybe not, really...). Then the following Thursday I skipped my meeting to go to our Ladies TableTop Fellowship, which was a potluck event. So I did not lose and I don't believe I gained in the past week.

But in the past two weeks I have discovered that we have a great amount of "old" debt that should be paid off, we have decided after 5 years of staying home that I will go back to work, and I have started the process of getting my GED. I have a LOT of stuff going on. Add to that a loved one of mine was diagnosed with a brain tumor last Friday, and know that I am craving fried foods like MAD. I'm not a big sweet eater. Oh I can eat sweets- don't get me wrong. But I thrive on fried, apparently, when stressed.

Also when stressed, I lack discipline. The Lord stressed this matter to me this weekend, so I am going to make strides to correct that about myself. I've learned that all of this is tied together, and the end result is I need a better way to manage my stress than what I have been doing. The thought of any more upcoming change in our lives though is so overwhleming for me. It's a catch 22, really.

So I must move forward.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Still lacking

I have a lot going on around here and am rather distracted. I need to start journaling my foods again, just because I feel more secure about my journey. I know I'm not going over my daily target, I'd just feel better, ya know?

How do you keep motivated to journal daily? (if you do..)

Saturday, October 08, 2005

One week, no blogging

Well, almost a week, anyways! I have decided not to make myself feel guilty on this, just pick up the pieces and start over today, since this is my "new week". I am however going to physically write down my foods on my busy days. I know that will help.

Had good results at my meeting Thursday!!

PTL!!

I had a 2.4 lb loss over the past week!

Monday, October 03, 2005

Monday's meals

egg and cheese sandwich: 8 pts
Special K fruit and yogurt, 1 C / 1 C ff milk: 4.5 pts

Special K low carb, 1 C / 1 C ff milk: 4 pts

Black Bean Soup, 1.25 C : 2.5 pts

Nestle Double Fudge, sugar free pop- 1 pt

total: 20 pts

Soup ideas from FLYlady

Basic Veggie Soup
Serves 12

2 cans diced tomatoes -- undrained
1 large onion -- chopped
4 cloves garlic -- pressed
2 tablespoons olive oil -- divided
2 large carrots -- chopped
2 small celery stalks -- chopped
1 medium turnip -- chopped
2 cups green beans -- cut in 1" pieces
6 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
1/4 head cabbage -- chopped
1/2 teaspoon thyme
salt and pepper to taste
2 small russet potatoes -- peeled and chopped

In a large soup pot, heat the one tablespoon of the olive oil overmedium high heat. Add the onion and cook till nearly translucent, nowadd the garlic. Don't let the garlic brown and saute another couple of minutes.

Add the rest of the chopped veggies, sauteing for just a minute or two; the extra tablespoon of olive oil is if you need it for the restof the veggies. Remeber--you're not cooking them-- just sauteing themfor the wonderful flavor this quick step will infuse in your soup.Add the thyme and salt and pepper while sauteing.

Now put the veggies in the crockpot, add the tomatoes and broth. Cook before serving, gently mash some of the potato chunks against the side of the crockpot to thicken the soup, give it a stir and serve.

Per serving: 88 Calories (kcal); 4g Total Fat; (35% calories fromfat); 5g Protein; 2g Dietary Fiber; 9g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 658mg Sodium

Food Exchanges: 0 Grain (Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 1 Vegetable; 0Fruit; 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates

SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Grilled cheese sandwiches on whole grain breadand a spinach salad.

Quick Fixes for Variations on the Basic Veggie Soup
Now remember, don't do these to the whole pot of soup! Just the little bit you pull out to fix yourself for lunch, etc. so that you can do all the Quick Fixes.

Quick Fix #1: Tex Mex Veggie Soup.
Add some (eyeball it--how much doyou want?) canned black beans (drained and rinsed), a little bit ofcumin and chopped cilantro. Top with some tortilla chips and cheese,or serve with a quesadilla.

Quick Fix #2: Tuscan Veggie Soup.
Add some (eyeball it again) canned cannellini (white kidney beans) or white beans (drained and rinse), alittle bit of Italian seasoning and some chopped kale. Cook tillheated through and the kale is tender.

Quick Fix #3: Minestrone Veggie Soup.
Add some cooked pasta, a littledried basil and top with a fresh grating of Parmesan cheese.

Quick Fix #4: Autumn Veggie Soup.
Add some diced acorn squash orbutternut squash, a handful of cooked brown rice, a sprinkling ofnutmeg and some chopped parsley.

Thanks Leanne!
http://flylady.net

Sunday, October 02, 2005

Sunday's Thoughts

I've been trying to make heads or tails of the calorie issue. From what I have read, I should be eating at least 1500 calories a day, but according to my fitday journal reports, my average caloric intake for the past week is 1115. The way I see it, if I don't have my caloric intake gouging properly, none of my other nutritional goals will make sense. I am more than less hitting my daily target points goal of 22 points, so it makes no sense.

I asked at my meeting Thursday, and my leader said that one point, give or take, is 70-90 calories. So, if this is right, then according to my 22 points per day goal, my caloric intake would be 1540 - 1980, so really, that's about right!

I have always been a "light" eater, what I am wondering is, if I am indeed not taking in the calories my body needs, then the literature I have been reading is right- my metabolism has slowed down, and that is why I am putting on, and keeping, this weight. I am going to have to do more research into this issue until i find an answer that is reasonable for me. if WW is scientifically proven, which they are, I trust that, then there is an answer- I just have to find it. ....

Saturday's Meals

CFA: Chicken soup (3 pts)
CFA: 3 nuggets (2.5 pts)
Sweet Tea: (3 pts)

3 medium pieces pizza hut cheese pizza: 16 pts(!!)

total: 24.5 pts, over 2.5 pts

New week, flex balance= 35, minus 2.5 = New Flex Balance = 32.5 pts

Thursday's Meeting Results

Friday's Meals

Weight Control Oatmeal: 2.5 pts
1/4 world's finest chocolate bar: 1 pt

CFA Grilled Chicken Sandwich: 5 pts

CFA Spicy Chicken Wrap: 7.5 pts
small fry: 5.5 pts
total: 21.5 pts

Thursday's Meals

3 eggs and 4 pieces of bacon- 8 + 3 = 11 pts

1- 2/3 C black bean soup = 3.5 pts

Wendy's Large chili w/cheese: 8.5 pts
total: 24.5 pts, over 2.5 pts

flex balance= 30.5 - 2.5 = 28 pts, new flex balance = 28 pts

Thursday, September 29, 2005

Thursday's Thoughts

I am very impressed with the new line of microwavable soups that have come out! For example, the Healthy Choice line, 14 oz servings:
Country Vegetable - 1 point
Chicken with Rice - 1.5 pts
Old Fashioned Chicken Noodle - 2 pts

Not to mention the flavorful canned varieties!
Chicken Tortilla Style Soup - 3 pts
Roasted Chicken with Garlic - 2 pts
Vegetable Beef - 2 pts

Campbells has a line of tasty microwavable soups out as well, the Campbell's Select line.
Italian Style Wedding Soup (delish!!)- 2 pts
Savory Lentil - 2 pts
Minestrone - 1 pt
Beef with Portabello Mushrooms and Rice Soup - 1.5 pts

Wednesday's meals

Weight Control Oatmeal, 1 serving (2.5 pts)
Wendy's small chili with cheese, 1 serving (4 pts)
Wendy's reduced fat creamy ranch dressing, 0.5 serving (.5 pt)
Wendy's Caesar side salad, 1 serving (1.5 pts)
Healthy Choice soup: Country Vegetable, 1 serving (1 pt, yes, that's right, ONE point!)
Orville R, mini bags smart pop popcorn, 1 serving (1.5 pts)
Total for the day: 11 points, minus 11 points

Add back to flex points = 11 points, new flex balance= 30.5

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Tuesday's meals

CFA: Grilled Chicken Sandwich (Chick Fil A) (5 pts)
CFA: Chicken soup (3 pts)
Tea, leaf, presweetened with sugar (2.5)
Breakfast Bar: Speciak K Blueberry, 1 serving (1.5 pts)
Bread, white, 2 regular slice (2.5 pts)
Peanut butter, reduced fat, 2 tablespoon (4.5 pts)
Jelly, 2 tablespoon (2 pts)
Diet Delight Snack Mix, 0.25 cup (3 pts)
Grand Total = 24 points

Flex point balance = 21.5 - 2 = new flex point balance = 19.5

Monday, September 26, 2005

Monday's meals

1 piece pumpkin pie, actually, it was a cushaw squash pie, but this squash is so strikingly similar to pumpkin (but better) I'm gonna use the pumpkin's nutritional analysis:
(7.5 pts)

1 Special K Blueberry breakfast bar: (1.5 pts)

total so far: 9 points, 13 left

oops, I forgot that I had 2 eggs (5 pts) and 2 pieces of toast (2 pts) earlier in the morning. That was after we had decided to go ot Fazolis for dinner :( So I'll be going over again today. = 7 points

Fazolis Minstrone Soup (1.5 pts); 1 Cup spaghetti with marinara sauce (2 pts); 2 breadsticks (6 pts); caesar side salad (2 pts) 1/2 pk ff honey mustard dressing (.5 pt) = 12 points

Grand total for the day = 28 points (+6 pts)

Flex point balance = 27.5 - 6 = new flex point balance = 21.6

Sunday's meals

again, post on the fly but it works!! We've been selling that candy this weekend so it's been CRAZY!!!


flour tortilla 8 inch; 1 serving (2.5 pts)
Chicken, breast, with or without bone, stewed, skin not eaten; 1 cup, cooked, diced (4.5 pts)
Cheese, Monterey 0.75 cup, shredded (8.5 pts)
Tortillas, ready-to-bake or -fry, corn, without added salt; 1.5 medium tortilla (approx 6" dia) (1.5 pts)
Coffee, made from ground, regular (0)
Half and Half creamer, 8 (3.5 pts)
BK TENDERGRILL™ Chicken Sandwich (9 pts)
Total for the day: 29.5 points

Flex point balance= 35; -7.5 = new Flex balance= 27.5

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Saturday's Thoughts

This is a post I made on the WW Followers board:

"...last week we talked about urges vs cravings, the differences, how to acknowledge them, and what to do when they happen.

Well, I'm facing a MAJOR urge right now. My son is selling the World's Finest Chocolate candy bars for school. We were top in school last year selling $2175. I have 16 cases sitting in my livingroom right now! Anyone who's had these KNOW how good they are! with almonds!!

The only thing keeping me off this chocolate is thinking about the lady at the meeting last night who said she craved cut up lemons with vinegar poured over them. THAT'S a craving! ;o) She has no idea how much she's helped me by sharing that!!!"

I'll have you know, his grace is sufficient. We went to Sams today with permission to sell some of that candy. My dear son sold $400 of candy bars today, and we're going back tomorrow. I want to make special mention of this lovely lady I had the pleasure to speak with while she was waiting on her husband. I never got her name, but she wrote down the address to my blog, so if you see this and you know who you are, HELLO!!

I am exhausted, and like I said, we're going back tomorrow. 1st grade has GOT to win this year!! :)

Saturday's Meals

I'm playing catch up with this, so I'm copying from my fitday journal, if you think my recordings look funny, that's why. I know its not like I have been doing them but I'm so tired and ready for bed!!


V8 Vegetable Juice 5.5 fl oz (.5 pt)
FF Milk 1 cup (1.5 pts)
Cereal: Special K low carb 1 cup (2 pts)
CFA: Grilled Chicken Sandwich (Chick Fil A) (5 pts)
CFA: Chicken soup (3 pts)
Onion rings, from fresh, batter-dipped, baked or fried 1 large rings (3-4" dia) (.5)
Tea, leaf, presweetened with sugar (5)
40 fl oz (drank over the course of afternoon and evening, had a sweet tooth for it)
-------------------------------------------------
total points: 17.5

Oops:
FF Milk 1 cup (1.5 pts)
Special K fruit and yogurt, 1 cup (3 pts) = 4.5

Total for the day: 22 points

Perfect ending!!

Friday's meals

Chicken or turkey with stuffing (mixture) (8.5 pts)
Apple, raw (1 pt)
Pizza Hut Veggie Lover Pizza Slice- 2 serving (12 pts)
Smart Ones: Chicken Marsala (4 pts)
Total points: 25.5 points (+3.5)

Last day of flex points for the week. Start new "35" on Saturday.

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Thursday's Meals

Breakfast: 1 C Special K low carb (2 pts)
1 C FF milk (2 pts)
1 small banana (2 pts)
Total: 6 points

Lunch: Smart ones Ravioli Florentine (5 pts)

Dinner: 3 slices veggie lovers pizza (18 pts)

Total for the day: 29 pts (17 flex points left after that)

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Wednesday's Thoughts

There was a thread on the WW board about the Biggest loser show, and the diets they were on. It was an interesting thread for me to read. It promoted me to go back to my fitday journal , where I realized I have not consumed over 1300 calories since I started journaling!! I've always been a minimal eater, hhmmmm ....

This part here makes a lot of sense to me:
"From a behavioral standpoint, even if you use fat-free margarine, salad dressing, mayonnaise, etc at home, you're still feeding the habit of adding fat to your food. When you are away from home, you're much more likely to use full-fat versions because they're likely to be the only thing available. Using these products regularly may keep your taste buds accustomed to added fat. "

I just experienced this a couple of weeks ago when I made a chicken, spinach, and mushroom soup. It was a Cooking Light recipe, and I could definitely tell there was fat missing. That was the first time I could actually put my finger on something like that in terms of taste. I told dh that I / we would definitely be relearning how to taste foods again taking out the fat!

BTW: If you visit CookingLight.com, there should be a popup upon entry that offers two free issues, following a year's subscription at 60% off the newsstand price, that's about $2 an issue!! Can't beat that!! Especially with the holiday issues coming up, I jumped on it ;o)

Wednesday's Meals

Breakfast: Weight Control Oatmeal (3 pts)

Lunch: Campbell's Select Soup- Italian Wedding (2 pts)
Side salad (2 C) = (1 pt)
1 oz feta cheese = (2 pts)
2 tbsp Light done right House Italian salad dressing = (1 pt)

Snack: small apple (1 pt)

Dinner: I made a spanish rice- chicken skillet supper tonight (omit peas), it was great! I'm not sure how to figure the points because I was not clear on the serving size, and since I omitted the peas...
I had a cup of the mixture. SO:
.33 C brown rice = (1 pt); .33 C cooked chicken (2 pts); .165 C stewed, diced tomatoes (0 pt) and .165 C roasted red peppers (0 pt) = TOTAL: 3 pts per cup? Can that be right? Too good to be true!!

I'm going to have some soup from last night in a little bit, when the kids go to bed. That will be 3 pts. So after the soup my day's total will be: 16 points! :-O I guess I can splurge tonight!! I'm gonna post some thoughts later. Right now Hannah is calling me from the tub and Jackson is under foot looking for his rocket launcher.....

Fudge Pop: 1 pt (17 total...)

Snack: 1 C Special K Fruit & Yogurt Cereal (3 pts)
.5 C milk (1 pt)

Grand Total for the Day: 21 points

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Tuesday's Foods

Breakfast:
1 McD Breakfast Burrito (7 pts)
8 oz coffee, 5 creamers (2 pts)
Total: 9 pts

and the GOOD thing is, I checked the nutritional analysis before I ate! I had bought two burritos, but have decided I'll just save the other for lunch, LOL!!

Dinner:
Steak wraps:
3 oz flank steak (4 pts)
flat out flat bread, whole wheat (3 pts)
lettuce and tomato (free)
2 tbsp reduced fat ranch dressing (homemade) - (1 pt)

Chickpea and Potato soup: (3 pts)
Total: 11 pts

So far for the day: 20 points

So far so good, huh? I mean, I have 2 more points to go!

Monday, September 19, 2005

Someone help me! (blogroll)

What does this mean? Help me understand pls-

1 Click Blogrolling
To install the one-click link addition bookmarklet. You can add links to your blogroll without ever coming back to the site. Just drag the link below to your links bar in IE and Netscape and when you're at a site you want to add to a blogroll just click the link. A pop-up window will present the pre-filled out link options for the site you're browsing. If you have multiple blogrolls just select the appropriate blogroll from the pulldown menu.
Blogroll It! <-- drag this link to your browser's link bar

Awww maaannnn!

I am definitely having a week of trial and error! I got wise and started pulling up the fast food nutrition info directly from their websites. It appears my fast food journeys are going to need to be planned from now on. Maybe I'll make up a 'fast food book' of 'allowed' foods. Cause I mean really, convenience is good, but I don't want to continually live in "that was good, but not worth the points" land!!

I just had a huge shock to the system. I'm a creamer gal. I've got to have some coffee with my cream and artificial sweetner. Come to find out I put 3 pts worth of cream in my large McDonalds coffee!! Uhg!! and an egg McMuffin is SIX points!







Today's Eating
Breakfast: Egg McMuffin (6 pts)
large coffee with 8 cream (3 pts)
9 pts = balance = 13 pts for the rest of the day!!

Predicted lunch: salad ;o)
Later: Yes, I had a house salad (2 pts) for lunch, as well as a cup of green beans (1 pt), and a pork chop (5 pts), lean only eaten, 3 oz apprx.
Total: 8 pts

Dinner: Wendy's spring mix salad (4 pts) with reduced fat creamy ranch dressing (1 pt), 3 oz chicken strips (3 pts)
Total: 8 points

Total for the day: 25 points

UhG. Well, I done well overall. I mean, I did have 3.9 points left over from yesterday, so, if we want to get technical, I was over 3 points today (oops, I forgot my hot chocolate as dessert!) ... so lets say I have .9 points before going into my flex points for the day:

"Dessert"- 1.33 C hot chocolate = using Nestle fat free mix, 1% lowfat milk (I go fat free tomorrow)... well, we'll say 3 pts because the mix was fat free and sugar free, I just can't find the nutrition information on nestle's website, and I've thrown the box away!!

Okay, so, I have went 2.1 pts into my flex points for the day. I am now 10.1 pts into my flex points for the week, which gives me 24.9 pts to work with for the next three days ... hmmm, well, I started counting on Saturday, right? Lets see ... I'm going to work towards the weekend, so my week's end would be- Friday, seven days. So I have 24.9 pts for the next four days = 6.225 pts a day ;o)

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Day2, not much better

Boy I've blown it today!! I knew we would be going out to eat Mexican after church today so I skipped breakfast. Usually we eat less after church because of the big meal. I'm leaning!! Today's meal was 16.1 points the best we can figure. I have apprx 6 left, and it's 3pm ;o) Yep, I'm learning my lessons all right!!


Today's eating:

Breakfast: none

Lunch: 1 8" chicken and cheese quesedilla, 11.6 pts
tortilla chips, 18 chips, 4.5 pts
sweet tea, 3 C- 2 pts
= 16.1 points

Dinner: I was going to have a side salad, but the Wendy's drive thru gave me regular ranch instead of reduced ranch. Luckily, I had went ahead and got some apple slices from McDonalds when I got the kid's food. So I had 12 apple slices for dinner last night ;o) According to the nutrition info from fitday, that was 2 pts. That seems about right.

So that left me at 18.1 points for the day.

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Second post

testing something

My First Day on WW

Getting to know how to use this setup! I decided to starta separate blog for my weight loss journaling. I have to admit I thought Carson, Kris, and A's blogs had cool features and this was a prime excuse to try this site, too (LOL)



"Today's Eating"-

Breakfast: 3/4 C 1% milk
1.5 C Special K low carb cereal
2 tbsp sliced almonds
3 pts (6 pts) * and see? Having a blog has already paid off. a buddy at the WW board pointed out I was wrong on my breakfast points, and they're really 6 instead of 3! I knew that this morning, why I wrote three down tonight I dunno. Wow, so that makes me ending the day at 30 :-O

Lunch:
1 slice Pizza Hut Veggie Lover's Pizza
6 pts

Dinner:
Wendy's Chicken BLT Salad
Garlic croutons
honey Mustard Dressing
18 pts (YIKES!!)

Days total: 30 (+8)- that would be the dressing and croutons that done me in!!

Didn't do so good today!! It's not even 8pm and I have already reached 27 pts for the day, and my daily target is 22! In other words I have used my extra 5 points eating a salad I didn't enjoy very well- UhG! Do I ever have a lot to learn ....