Already, the huge meals of the holiday season are messing with my mind. And it's not even Halloween yet! It just seems wrong!
Today I got a mass e-mail from a coworker who wants to start planning our Thanksgiving AND Christmas meals at work. The tradition is to have a huge meal together as coworkers a day or two before the holiday.
As a lifestyle changer, I find this daunting. I have accepted that I'll have one free day a week. Ally and I have even decided to start a gradual-build walking program to justify that splurge a little more. But what about all the parties we all have to attend (or be shunned for not attending) this season? Those are a lot more frequent than one day a week, so the free day isn't going to cover all of them. How does a person handle the social aspect of the holidays without completely abandoning healthy eating?
I wish I knew. All I can figure is that a serving of ham or turkey is relatively harmless when compared to more complicated casserole dishes, etc. Goal: Take a healthy side along as backup and live by relativity for the next two months.
It's going to be hard to avoid the buttery rolls and decadent cakes, but I'm going to have to start preparing now to do so. I have determined that the free days I will take for Thanksgiving and Christmas will be with family. That leaves a lot of events I will have to have will power of steel for.
Speaking of family and holidays, I experienced another challenge recently: Halloween candy. I made my little cousins Halloween goody bags, full of gummy eyeballs and mini kit kats, only to discover I had put myself in a den of temptation. I have to get those goody bags out to those kids soon or something bad will go down! I could wake up surrounded by candy wrappers saying, "Somebody ate my entire bag of kit kat minis! Who would do that? And why are my hands covered in chocolate!?" ("Never Been Kissed")
Here's to will power!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Week 2 (Erin)
Things are getting serious. The new has worn off. I am in a place where I depend on my will.
Like Ally has already mentioned, I struggle a lot because of social eating. People push that as a way to spend time together, but every time it's like some massive test of will power. Spending time together, apparently, means too much sugar and cheese.
Besides that problem, I knew it would be hard going into this because my recipe collection is small. I've been dependent mostly on pre-packaged foods. I'm willing to be ok with that for now, but I can see I'm going to have to work on gradually building up my know-how in the kitchen to stay satisfied.
This week I've bought boneless, skinless chicken breast --the staple diet food--with the goal of finding ways to spice it up. I'm making broccoli/chicken stir fry with a garlic sauce tomorrow. We'll see what else I can come up with. Maybe BBQ chicken with a healthy version of potato salad. Maybe a light chicken parmesan. Some good dishes are coming to my dinner table this week! I'm determined to at least try to expand my skills.
Tips I've learned over the past week:
--A portion of meatloaf can do wonders for an appetite - I got a prepackaged variety for 6 points a serving. I can spend that on a satisfying meat side.
--Starbucks is an expensive dairy source. Making the caffeinated drinks at home is smarter.
--Steaming and seasoning veggies is a great dinner staple.
--Riceworks. :) Not cheap in the calories, but a filling as they are made with brown rice. Good crunch food. Good chip substitute when times are hard.
--I am a huge fan of soul food. Give me a small mashed potato with brown gravy and a serving of lean meat and I'm good.
--Chili. You can make a lean, bean-loaded pot of chili that's perfect for this time of year.
Like Ally has already mentioned, I struggle a lot because of social eating. People push that as a way to spend time together, but every time it's like some massive test of will power. Spending time together, apparently, means too much sugar and cheese.
Besides that problem, I knew it would be hard going into this because my recipe collection is small. I've been dependent mostly on pre-packaged foods. I'm willing to be ok with that for now, but I can see I'm going to have to work on gradually building up my know-how in the kitchen to stay satisfied.
This week I've bought boneless, skinless chicken breast --the staple diet food--with the goal of finding ways to spice it up. I'm making broccoli/chicken stir fry with a garlic sauce tomorrow. We'll see what else I can come up with. Maybe BBQ chicken with a healthy version of potato salad. Maybe a light chicken parmesan. Some good dishes are coming to my dinner table this week! I'm determined to at least try to expand my skills.
Tips I've learned over the past week:
--A portion of meatloaf can do wonders for an appetite - I got a prepackaged variety for 6 points a serving. I can spend that on a satisfying meat side.
--Starbucks is an expensive dairy source. Making the caffeinated drinks at home is smarter.
--Steaming and seasoning veggies is a great dinner staple.
--Riceworks. :) Not cheap in the calories, but a filling as they are made with brown rice. Good crunch food. Good chip substitute when times are hard.
--I am a huge fan of soul food. Give me a small mashed potato with brown gravy and a serving of lean meat and I'm good.
--Chili. You can make a lean, bean-loaded pot of chili that's perfect for this time of year.
It's Been a Minute
I hear people say that when it's been a while, and that is exactly what it's been since I blogged. I figure that the blogging world is getting pretty lonely without me and longing to hear what I have to say, so I'm back.
It's been over a week now since I've started this lifestyle change. It's crazy hard not to call it a diet, but I do not want to call it that. A diet to me is temporary and this thing I am doing cannot be temorary if I want to get to the place I want to be. So anyways, it's been a couple of weeks since I've started and things are going pretty okay. Not great, but not bad. I've lost weight both weeks, I haven't lost what I have wanted to lose, but I am going the right way. I have to keep telling myself that this is going to take a while.
One of the hardest parts is social eating. I go out a lot. Being a youth minister, my kids are always wanting to eat after Wednedsay night worship, and after Sunday, and maybe lets meet on Thursday nights...it goes on and on. It is super hard for me to stay on point when I am staring Nachos Deluxe with extra cheese and a side of guac in the face. Oh yeah, and don't forget the queso and chips. I did just that last week, and the queso won. I did, however, save some points since I knew that was going to be my meal, but I didn't expect to cave so easily. That is something I will have to continue to work on.
My other downfall is expecting immediate results. I want to lose 10 pounds a week and be at my goal weight NOW! It's hard to be patient and to be happy when you lose only a pound. I'm trying to tell myself that one pound lost is much better than 1 pound gained.
There is still a ways to go on my journey, but I am learning and everytime I break one of my bad habits, I've gotten that much closer to my goal.
It's been over a week now since I've started this lifestyle change. It's crazy hard not to call it a diet, but I do not want to call it that. A diet to me is temporary and this thing I am doing cannot be temorary if I want to get to the place I want to be. So anyways, it's been a couple of weeks since I've started and things are going pretty okay. Not great, but not bad. I've lost weight both weeks, I haven't lost what I have wanted to lose, but I am going the right way. I have to keep telling myself that this is going to take a while.
One of the hardest parts is social eating. I go out a lot. Being a youth minister, my kids are always wanting to eat after Wednedsay night worship, and after Sunday, and maybe lets meet on Thursday nights...it goes on and on. It is super hard for me to stay on point when I am staring Nachos Deluxe with extra cheese and a side of guac in the face. Oh yeah, and don't forget the queso and chips. I did just that last week, and the queso won. I did, however, save some points since I knew that was going to be my meal, but I didn't expect to cave so easily. That is something I will have to continue to work on.
My other downfall is expecting immediate results. I want to lose 10 pounds a week and be at my goal weight NOW! It's hard to be patient and to be happy when you lose only a pound. I'm trying to tell myself that one pound lost is much better than 1 pound gained.
There is still a ways to go on my journey, but I am learning and everytime I break one of my bad habits, I've gotten that much closer to my goal.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Week 1 Recap (Erin)
Having finished week 1 and had my first cheat day, I'm ready to make a few observations.
THE CHALLENGES:
1) Popeye's night
My classmates had a Popeye's party in celebration of one of our favorite graduate professors. It's his favorite guilty pleasure, so we bought a ton of chicken and red beans a rice...and there was pie. Oh, was there pie. And rice crispy treats.
I knew it was coming, so I planned ahead. My plan was to have a fried chicken breast (9 points, in WW terms) and a leg (3 points). I was going to take my own rice and spinach to eat at work before I went to class. So I ate light through the day and had my fillers before going to the big chicken extravaganza. I only ate about half of my rice, so I went with a couple of extra points in my pocket. It was tough, but I came out ok. A few points over, but that's nothing compared to all the points that were at my fingertips for three hours. I can be proud of the balance!
2) The Dessert Bar
Imagine you have an affinity for dessert. Also imagine your coworkers ORGANIZING a dessert bar for an entire week, the same week you decide to make a major lifestyle change. That was my predicament this week. In the end, I was incredibly busy the day of the big dessert feast, and I managed to steer clear of the fantasy buffet.
THE PERKS:
1) more energy
2) better concentration
3) a sense that I'm taking care of myself - that makes the effort and planning worthwhile
THE TIPS:
1) Cracker Barrel is a dieter's oasis. I went after a particularly long day at work when I was too tired and hungry to go home and cook. There are a lot of lean meat and vegetable options. And the bread isn't all that terrible in terms of points/calories.
2) Never underestimate the power of a low-fat wheat tortillia+WW cheese+turkey. Melt the cheese over the tortilla before adding the meat. It works wonders on late evening hunger pangs.
3) Oatmeal can be tolerated (for those, like me, who detest the texture) if you use less water. Less water=more firmness.
4) Rotisserie chickens save a lot of time.
5) Starbucks makes an instant coffee that I adore. It's so much better than the other versions I've tried and costs a whopping 0 points. It was a great discovery since I am a caffeine addict who works and goes to class full time.
6) Parmesan cheese+100 calorie bag of popcorn
7) Laura's lean beef is amazing. I got the shredded beef with BBQ and wheat hamburger buns for a wonderful sandwich.
My overall feeling is that this change requires a commitment to planning. When I know that I have a special dinner plan, like Popeye's night, I know I can plan ahead and still take part. The key is to have time to do the research. With Popeye's, once I understood the amount of calories/points in Popeye's chicken through their online nutritional guide, I was able to supplement the portion of chicken I knew I could 'afford' with sides that were healthy. In the case of the dessert bar, I knew I could either contribute a dessert that was healthy or not participate. Because of my busy schedule I didn't participate. Next time maybe I'll find a way to bring something within healthy limits.
I can see that I have a long way to go. I need to learn more recipes and tricks. It's hard at this stage because it's about trial and error. I try to cook a recipe, and if it doesn't satisfy me it's on to plan B. Things will get better once I establish a larger collection of food ideas and quick fixes.
Looking forward to the next week!
THE CHALLENGES:
1) Popeye's night
My classmates had a Popeye's party in celebration of one of our favorite graduate professors. It's his favorite guilty pleasure, so we bought a ton of chicken and red beans a rice...and there was pie. Oh, was there pie. And rice crispy treats.
I knew it was coming, so I planned ahead. My plan was to have a fried chicken breast (9 points, in WW terms) and a leg (3 points). I was going to take my own rice and spinach to eat at work before I went to class. So I ate light through the day and had my fillers before going to the big chicken extravaganza. I only ate about half of my rice, so I went with a couple of extra points in my pocket. It was tough, but I came out ok. A few points over, but that's nothing compared to all the points that were at my fingertips for three hours. I can be proud of the balance!
2) The Dessert Bar
Imagine you have an affinity for dessert. Also imagine your coworkers ORGANIZING a dessert bar for an entire week, the same week you decide to make a major lifestyle change. That was my predicament this week. In the end, I was incredibly busy the day of the big dessert feast, and I managed to steer clear of the fantasy buffet.
THE PERKS:
1) more energy
2) better concentration
3) a sense that I'm taking care of myself - that makes the effort and planning worthwhile
THE TIPS:
1) Cracker Barrel is a dieter's oasis. I went after a particularly long day at work when I was too tired and hungry to go home and cook. There are a lot of lean meat and vegetable options. And the bread isn't all that terrible in terms of points/calories.
2) Never underestimate the power of a low-fat wheat tortillia+WW cheese+turkey. Melt the cheese over the tortilla before adding the meat. It works wonders on late evening hunger pangs.
3) Oatmeal can be tolerated (for those, like me, who detest the texture) if you use less water. Less water=more firmness.
4) Rotisserie chickens save a lot of time.
5) Starbucks makes an instant coffee that I adore. It's so much better than the other versions I've tried and costs a whopping 0 points. It was a great discovery since I am a caffeine addict who works and goes to class full time.
6) Parmesan cheese+100 calorie bag of popcorn
7) Laura's lean beef is amazing. I got the shredded beef with BBQ and wheat hamburger buns for a wonderful sandwich.
My overall feeling is that this change requires a commitment to planning. When I know that I have a special dinner plan, like Popeye's night, I know I can plan ahead and still take part. The key is to have time to do the research. With Popeye's, once I understood the amount of calories/points in Popeye's chicken through their online nutritional guide, I was able to supplement the portion of chicken I knew I could 'afford' with sides that were healthy. In the case of the dessert bar, I knew I could either contribute a dessert that was healthy or not participate. Because of my busy schedule I didn't participate. Next time maybe I'll find a way to bring something within healthy limits.
I can see that I have a long way to go. I need to learn more recipes and tricks. It's hard at this stage because it's about trial and error. I try to cook a recipe, and if it doesn't satisfy me it's on to plan B. Things will get better once I establish a larger collection of food ideas and quick fixes.
Looking forward to the next week!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Obstacles
Ally here. It's day two and already I've been faced with some pretty enticing choices. Yesterday was my little sister's 23rd birthday. In our family (much like Erin's) food is a majoy part of any celebration. So, naturally, we went out for lunch. I came home from work to get ready to leave and I was met with my first opposition, Honey Bun Cake.
If you've never met Honey Bun Cake it can be your best friend and your worst enemy all rolled into one. My sweet, crazy grandmother always makes our favorite dessert for our birthday and the HBC is the most devilish of them all. It is ooey gooey goodness, covered in icing, all packed together in one delicious dessert. I've been able to withstand thus far, mainly because my will power has been amazingly strong. Plus, I guess you've read Erin's first blog and know that we have decided to take a little break once a week, we'll just have to see if this HBC is still glaring at me from behind it's cake walls come Saturday.
We then went to Applebee's for lunch, thank God! Applebee's has their very own WW friendly menu. I tried to fill up on lettuce before my main course of Cajun Lime Tilapia with black bean and corn salsa arrived. I ordered it because I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE black bean and corn salsa. Guess what they were out off...black bean and corn salsa. Oh well. I figure that I will be faced with lots of let downs, but I can let them get me down, so I enjoyed my pico de gallo substitute.
The thing is that this is a lifestyle change that we are making, and life doesn't go as we plan it. We have to take the bumps/cravings in the road and make the best out of it. I am focusing on making good decisions and not worrying about things. I am in this. I also assume that if you've read Erin's first blog you know that this isn't our first dance with WW, but I am determined to make it my last. I will overcome all my bad habits and become the person that I want to be.
I hope you can stick with us on this journey, it's sure to me amusing.
-Al
If you've never met Honey Bun Cake it can be your best friend and your worst enemy all rolled into one. My sweet, crazy grandmother always makes our favorite dessert for our birthday and the HBC is the most devilish of them all. It is ooey gooey goodness, covered in icing, all packed together in one delicious dessert. I've been able to withstand thus far, mainly because my will power has been amazingly strong. Plus, I guess you've read Erin's first blog and know that we have decided to take a little break once a week, we'll just have to see if this HBC is still glaring at me from behind it's cake walls come Saturday.
We then went to Applebee's for lunch, thank God! Applebee's has their very own WW friendly menu. I tried to fill up on lettuce before my main course of Cajun Lime Tilapia with black bean and corn salsa arrived. I ordered it because I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE black bean and corn salsa. Guess what they were out off...black bean and corn salsa. Oh well. I figure that I will be faced with lots of let downs, but I can let them get me down, so I enjoyed my pico de gallo substitute.
The thing is that this is a lifestyle change that we are making, and life doesn't go as we plan it. We have to take the bumps/cravings in the road and make the best out of it. I am focusing on making good decisions and not worrying about things. I am in this. I also assume that if you've read Erin's first blog you know that this isn't our first dance with WW, but I am determined to make it my last. I will overcome all my bad habits and become the person that I want to be.
I hope you can stick with us on this journey, it's sure to me amusing.
-Al
cheesecake coveters
Like a man who just got engaged, today the weight of my own commitment hit me. All the typical phrases flooded my mind. What have I done? Is this how my life is going to be from now on? Is this how I WANT my life to be from now on?
I am in this. Not far into this, but I am dedicated to this lifestyle change. The thing that set me off about that commitment is that I ended up eating carrots as a major portion of my lunch (not a big raw carrot fan) and chased that experience by reading a (semi-disturbing) Q&A I found online. Seem unlikely? I know.
It was innocent enough. In looking for healthy desserts I stumbled into a strand dedicated to the topic. After I got past the people who actually believe that fruit is a dessert and found the chocolate/pastry lovers, things were good. Then I found two eyebrow-raising posts.
The first was from a participant who criticized someone's suggestion of having 75 calories worth of Hershey kisses. That's sort of thought process is far too judgmental/puritanical for me. I shook it off because it's nothing new. You're always going to see people who want you to be 100% paranoid. No chocolate unless it's dark and small. No drinks unless you're having water, tea or a smoothie. It's extreme, in my opinion.
Then I found the really disturbing post. A woman wrote in that she had watched her husband eat a piece of cheesecake. This triggered a craving. What'd she do? I didn't really follow, but it had something to do with canned pumpkin and cheesecake jello. It bothered me. I could just see two people at home, enjoying the last portion of a great meal...then the cheesecake makes an appearance. And there she is, staring her husband down like a rabid dieter, trying to remember what cheesecake tastes like as she pops open a can of pumpkin. (I'm not dramatic, am I?)
I come from a food-loving family. We don't just see each other, we dine each other. It's tradition. With all the meaning sharing a meal has in my family, I could not imagine being married one day and watching him eat cheesecake without me. It would be like discovering an affair. ("You mean to tell me, for two days you've had this cheesecake behind my back? BEHIND MY BACK! Nice touch, by the way, hiding it behind the carrots. Just where I'd never look!") More than that, I can't imagine a life where I am so obsessed with food I don't enjoy it anymore. A red flag goes up in my mind when deprivation becomes a virtue. It's one thing to learn moderation and healthy cooking, quite another to zap the joy out of food in general. Life is too short to be in self-denial mode ALL the time.
I think the point of my change is to find the kind of balance that improves my health while still allowing me to enjoy food. I don't want to ban cheesecake or steak or any other food. I want to learn to eat those things in moderation and create healthy recipes I value as well. And I want to value the experience of dining with another person, whether we're having grilled chicken or chocolate cake. The important thing is, if you're coming to my house then we're having the same thing! There will be no cheesecake eater/cheesecake coveter role play.
--E
I am in this. Not far into this, but I am dedicated to this lifestyle change. The thing that set me off about that commitment is that I ended up eating carrots as a major portion of my lunch (not a big raw carrot fan) and chased that experience by reading a (semi-disturbing) Q&A I found online. Seem unlikely? I know.
It was innocent enough. In looking for healthy desserts I stumbled into a strand dedicated to the topic. After I got past the people who actually believe that fruit is a dessert and found the chocolate/pastry lovers, things were good. Then I found two eyebrow-raising posts.
The first was from a participant who criticized someone's suggestion of having 75 calories worth of Hershey kisses. That's sort of thought process is far too judgmental/puritanical for me. I shook it off because it's nothing new. You're always going to see people who want you to be 100% paranoid. No chocolate unless it's dark and small. No drinks unless you're having water, tea or a smoothie. It's extreme, in my opinion.
Then I found the really disturbing post. A woman wrote in that she had watched her husband eat a piece of cheesecake. This triggered a craving. What'd she do? I didn't really follow, but it had something to do with canned pumpkin and cheesecake jello. It bothered me. I could just see two people at home, enjoying the last portion of a great meal...then the cheesecake makes an appearance. And there she is, staring her husband down like a rabid dieter, trying to remember what cheesecake tastes like as she pops open a can of pumpkin. (I'm not dramatic, am I?)
I come from a food-loving family. We don't just see each other, we dine each other. It's tradition. With all the meaning sharing a meal has in my family, I could not imagine being married one day and watching him eat cheesecake without me. It would be like discovering an affair. ("You mean to tell me, for two days you've had this cheesecake behind my back? BEHIND MY BACK! Nice touch, by the way, hiding it behind the carrots. Just where I'd never look!") More than that, I can't imagine a life where I am so obsessed with food I don't enjoy it anymore. A red flag goes up in my mind when deprivation becomes a virtue. It's one thing to learn moderation and healthy cooking, quite another to zap the joy out of food in general. Life is too short to be in self-denial mode ALL the time.
I think the point of my change is to find the kind of balance that improves my health while still allowing me to enjoy food. I don't want to ban cheesecake or steak or any other food. I want to learn to eat those things in moderation and create healthy recipes I value as well. And I want to value the experience of dining with another person, whether we're having grilled chicken or chocolate cake. The important thing is, if you're coming to my house then we're having the same thing! There will be no cheesecake eater/cheesecake coveter role play.
--E
Monday, October 12, 2009
Erin here. I should be sleeping, but that pumpkin spice latte is working its magic at 2:30 a.m. And it's the eve of a big change for Ally and me. Tomorrow we're beginning Weight Watchers for, well, not the first time. And not the second. But why trifle with numbers here?
After a long conversation about failed diets, health and all the clothes we wish we could fit into, we decided to change our evil ways. Instead of over thinking things we will dive in head first. Basically, we gave ourselves the weekend to join WW online and grocery shop. There has been no time to plan beyond that. It's a little scary this way because there's not a lot of time to talk ourselves into it. But it feels like a good plan. After all, sometimes we think too much and act too little about things that should be perfectly clear, like changing a bad lifestyle.
We've decided to do Weight Watchers six days a week and be lenient on Saturdays. Truthfully, it's hard enough to change; if either of us felt we would never have a break from such a disciplined diet, we'd probably fail the first week. We want to save room for life to happen as we adjust to healthier ways of cooking and find our comfort zone in the new lifestyle.
We're looking forward to being honest about our struggles and our victories. We're not perfect, but we do have a sense of humor about things. We have to depend on determination and laughter to pull us through. Well, and maybe a few guilty pleasure before-and-after weight loss video on youtube. :)
**Our methods are not always going to be in line with the WW plan and do not represent WW on any level. This blog will record our own effort to become healthier using those guidelines. We mess up; we improvise; we alter things. Ultimately, this blog is nothing more than an honest account of two girls trying to get healthier...and become little black dress connoisseurs.
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