Joined the gym!

Well, my running has been non-existant this year. I've had a couple of hiccuped starts, but always stopped because it's too cold or too dark. Soon it will be too hot. Thinking back, when I first started running, I had a 10 minute commute to work and no warm husband to cuddle in the morning (best time to run). Now it's a lot harder to get up early.

Scott's work has a huge, very nice gym. We finally got around to getting me an access card for it. We've gone twice so far, Monday and Wednesday. The first time I tried out an elliptical (too scared to get on the treadmill). It didn't feel like much of a workout compared to running. Right before we left, I decided to be brave and try the treadmill. It wasn't nearly as scary as I expected.

Last night I went right for the treadmill. I did a 5 minute (1/4 mile) warm up walk and then sped it up to a breathless 13:30 minute mile. I was able to sustain that for 1.5 miles before deciding to go back to walking and cool down. Overall, I did 2 miles in about half an hour. I plan to aim for at least 2 miles 3 times a week until I feel comfortable working up to more.

I've also been journaling WW points for the last two weeks with a devastating hiatus over the weekend. I took Friday off to go riding and made my way to Pickett House in Woodville, TX for lunch. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and peach cobbler are not conducive to weight loss. On Saturday, I met up with several friends to go out to dinner at Sambuca before seeing "Billy Elliott" at the Hobby Center. The crab stuffed salmon entree was fairly healthy, but the crab bisque soup and sticky caramel bread pudding a la mode most definitely were not!

It's now Thursday and I've finally worked myself back down into the 170s (179.0) and planning to be better this weekend.

One more item of pride. I haven't bought Girl Scout cookies in years, but I'd been dreaming about them lately. They were setting up a stand as Scott and I walked into the supermarket last Sunday. He saw the look on my face and handed me a twenty (I don't usually carry cash). On the way out, I picked up 4 boxes (note the restraint, they're only $3.50 per box). 5 days later, I've had exactly 4 cookies (Lemonades - yum!) and noted each serving faithfully in my journal. Scott tends to go through cookies like a monster, but he's been good about only touching them when I'm having a serving. These 4 boxes will probably last over a month at this rate.

Counting Points

It sure is nice to have a supportive partner.

We behaved over the weekend and both of us lost weight. I think our main strategy is going to be to massively cut down dinner. We love my cooking, but it does tend to add up calorically.

I started formally counting WW points on my custom spreadsheet this morning. I've essentially finished the day with 4 points to go (goal is 0-5 with higher being better), so I'll count it a success.

On to tomorrow!

Little things

I've been having a problem with little things lately.

Little things constitute reaching into the fridge or the cupboards for a snacky portion of something low point, but over my points allowance. I was doing it all the week before my trip, and all the week after my trip.

I'm stopping that now. No more afterwork mozzarella cheese sticks, pirates booty, baked veggie crisps, etc. If it's 5:30 and I feel like snacking, it's time to make dinner.

A challenging day ahead

Tomorrow will be challenging. There's a birthday in the office, so there will be donuts. Then we're going on a field trip to two work sites, with a stop at Smashburger (boss' favorite and he's paying) between sites.

I want to stay On Points after the weekend. Here's what I've got planned:

Breakfast: Cran-Bran Vitatop
Lunch: Smashchicken sandwich (no cheese, no mayo) and maybe maybe maybe the flash fried veggies (asparagus, carrot, green bean)
Snack: none
Dinner: broiled tilapia, potato, veggies
Dessert: sugar free pudding

I already input it into my food journal. Now I've just got to stick to it.

Wicked Weekend

Scott and I drove down to San Antonio this weekend, mainly to see Wicked at the Majestic Theater, but also for an Adventure! 

On the way, I introduced him to a true Texas BBQ joint, the City Market in Luling. After checking into the Hotel Valencia, we strolled down the Riverwalk to the Alamo. On the way back we stopped at Zuni Grill for dinner on the patio overlooking the river.

The show was great. I'd read the book, but had scrupulously avoided researching the musical so I was in for a surprise. 

On Sunday morning we waited an hour for a table at Magnolia Pancake Haus. We agreed that the place (which reviews called the highest rated breakfast in San Antonio) couldn't hold a candle to Kerbey Lane in Austin, but was still yummy.

Anyway, I sat down at my computer last night and calculated out that I ate an extra 20 points on Saturday and ended up 3 points over on Sunday (I ate my filling go-to 7 point dinner, refusing to risk triggering a binge)

About 15 of those extra points were liquid (an extremely refreshing and yummy frozen strawberry margarita (9 pts?) and a canned watermelon drink (6 pts)).

Not horrible. Worth it.

Lunch Victory

A rep brought in boxed lunches today. I got the "honey ham" box.

It ended up being a croissant with sliced deli ham, american cheese, a 230 calorie bag of Lays potato chips, a fruit cup, and a large M&M cookie.

I immediately put the cookie and chips into the common pot on the conference table. I picked the cheese off the sandwich (I don't like American anyway), discarded the mayo pack, squirted the mustard on, and enjoyed my lunch. My only add was a 100 calorie pack of Wheat Thins to give me the salt and crunch of chips.

The only part of the lunch that I still have doubts about is the croissant. It was probably higher calorie than I estimated, but I still feel proud of myself for having skipped the obviously off-plan parts of the meal.

W7D1

I'm in the homestretch.

Feels like it at least. After having been up half the night (til 3am) on a work project, I was worried that the run wouldn't go very well.

Well, it was no problem. The sun was on it's way down when I left the apartment at 7:30. It was actually *cool* with a nice breeze. W7D1 down.

On another note, I went to the grocery store today to restock. I'd heard that this other store had some interesting items. I wasn't able to find everything on my list, but it had the basics.

I'm cooking dinner right now and slightly saddened to find that HEB's (the place I went today) bulk frozen boneless/skinless chicken breasts are noticeably smaller than Kroger's (my normal store). They're probably a more correct portion size, but still....

Willpower in the face of Danishes

When I walked into the office on Tuesday, there were two dozen Dunkin' Donuts sitting on the small conference table. I decided that they weren't in my plan for breakfast and managed to ignore them. For lunch I had a 3 point Amy's Organic Shepherd Pie and a 5 point chocolate glazed donut. I had my donut and stayed on plan.

Yesterday the donuts were still there, but someone brought a long cheese/raspberry danish. My coworkers were raving about it all day, but I decided it wasn't worth it. I didn't have a donut either, satisfied after Tuesdays.

This morning, there's a tray of mini-danishes: Svenhards. My usual, cheese, is 5 points. I know from past experience that it's probably not worth it. These danishes aren't *that* yummy and definitely not filling.

I WILL have my usual 2 pt bagel with cream cheese, yogurt, and coffee and make it through to lunch more satisfied. I can do this.

<10 AM edit>
A product rep just brought more danishes. French Bakery. I'm being good. So good.

Eating on the Road - Motorcycle Touring Edition

If staying on program while traveling weren't difficult enough, making good choices while motorcycle touring presents it's own set of challenges.

Away from my normal routine and resources, I have little direct control over what (and often when) I eat, other than attempting to make good choices when I order food. When in remote areas, I'm generally limited to chain fast food restaurants, or local places that are a complete unknown. Also, many rural areas have little understanding of nutrition so designated "healthy plates" are generally mushy vegetable and dry chicken, ordered infrequently and prepared indifferently.


I got on the road really early. My stomach wasn't ready for food, but I didn't know when I'd next find a source of sustenance. During my morning fuel up, I purchased a glazed Krispy Kreme donut and a bottled Starbucks Frappuccino. About an hour later, I pulled over at a vista point up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and had my breakfast. (9 points)

Analyzing the situation, (I wasn't on a diet at the time) I could have made better choices. My breakfast was almost pure sugar and probably didn't keep me going for very long.

Anyway, I've resolved to do better this time. I'll journal my food intake on my Ipaq/E-book reader and try not to go too far over points while forgiving myself if I do end up gaining a little weight. My primary goal for this trip is to maintain the weight loss I've already achieved.

These restaurants are ones that are common to small towns along the interstates. The items listed are things that I'm likely to order and feel satisfied after eating. (and this post is mostly for me to print out and use as a cheat sheet)

Breakfast (4-6 pts):

McDonalds:
Fruit n Yogurt Parfait w/granola (small) - 3 pts
Egg McMuffin - 6.5 pts
Coffee w/ 2 creams and splenda - 1 pt

Denny's:
Oatmeal or Cereal - 2-4 pts
2 slices toast w/ eggbeaters - 4 pts
Coffee w/ 2 creams and sweetener (no refills) - 1 pt

Starbucks:
grande nonfat iced latte - 2 pts
oatmeal w/ fruit topping - 4 pts

Motel Continental Breakfast:
Cereal, Yogurt, Oatmeal
Fruit
Coffee

Lunch (5-9 pts)/Dinner (7-15 pts):

McDonalds:
6pc nuggets w/honey (1) - 7.5pts
Honey mustard grilled chx snack wrap - 6 pts
Premium Grilled chicken sandwich - 8.5 pts
Filet o' Fish - 9.5 pts
small fries - 5.5 pts

Subway:
6" Turkey Sub, wheat bread, no cheese/mayo - 5.5 pts
Baked Lays - 3 pts
Iced tea - 0 pts

Quiznos:
Small Honey Bourbon Chicken Sandwich, wheat bread - 7 pts
Small Tomato Basil soup - 2 pts
Iced tea - 0 pts

Sonic:
Chicken Club Toaster, no bacon - 14 pts
Peach Iced Tea (large) - 1 pt

Pizza Hut:
Personal Pan Pizza with Ham & Pineapple - 12.5 pts
Personal Pan Pizza Veggie Lovers - 12 pts
Personal Pan Pizza Chicken Supreme - 13.5
Iced Tea - 0 pts

Denny's:
Grilled Chicken (4) with green beans and plain baked potato - 8 pts
Grilled Tilapia (10.5) with corn and plain baked potato - 15.5 pts
Grilled Chicken sandwich, no mayo, no fries - 10 pts
Side Salad w FF Ranch or FF Italian, no croutons (+2.5) - 3 pts
Iced Tea - 0 pts

Special Treats (1-5 pts):

McDonalds:
Vanilla Ice Cream Cone - 3.5 pts

Starbucks:
T/G Coffee Light Frappuccino (no whip) - 2/2.5 pts
T/G Caramel Light Frappuccino (no whip) - 2.5/3 pts

Sonic:
Vanilla Cone - 4.5 pts
Jr M&M sundae - 4.5 pts

Wendy's:
Jr Frosty - 3.5 pts

Adventures in Dinner

I've been planning to do a series of posts on my "usual" dinners/lunches/breakfasts. Tonight's dinner has inspired me to start off with the last meal of the day.


Who says dinner has to be boring when you're dieting?

(clockwise - Green Giant steamed carrots + zucchini + green beans in rosemary butter sauce, chicken cordon bleu (Target meat counter, 6 points), and baked sweet potato with ICBINB spray and one wedge of Laughing Cow garlic & herb cheese mashed in. Whole meal counted as 11 points.)

I tend to keep it fairly simple when it's just me. I've been trying to keep the freezer and cabinets stocked so that I can plan my meal from work, taking into account points available and how I feel.

My typical dinner will have three components: a meat, a veggie, and a starch.

Staple Meats:
(toaster-broiled or toaster-baked, seasoned or marinated)
- chicken thigh (boneless, skinless - I prefer dark meat)
- turkey italian sausage
- filet of fish (tilapia, catfish, salmon, tuna, halibut)
- scallops or shrimp

Staple Veggies:
(veggies add bulk to my meals without costing lots of points. When I can have a big pile of veggies with dinner, I tend to feel more satisfied)
- Green Giant has recently come out with these absolutely AWESOME veggie mixes in 7-8oz boxes. One whole box is generally 1-2 points for a huge, filling serving of veggies. They are seasoned with somewhat sophisticated flavors (my favorite is rosemary butter) and (microwave) steam in the bag in less than 5 minutes. I keep a stack of boxes to choose from in the freezer at all times.
- I'm a big fan of steamed veggies. When I want something other than a frozen mix, I have a steamer basket for my pots or when in a hurry, ziploc brand microwave steamer bags.

Staple Starch:
(I can't live without carbs...)
- baked potato
- baked sweet potato
- rice (Minute Rice Ready to Serve cups)
- stuffing (Stovetop Quick Cups)
- pasta (various, 1 cup serving)
- biscuit (individualy frozen dough rounds)

Simplicity is very important to me. I'm a good cook, but I also live alone. Most recipes have too much yield for me and fresh veggies tend to go to my refrigerator drawers to die. At the end of a work day or after a jog, I just want to come home and have a filling dinner in front of me in 20 minutes or less with minimal clean up.

That is not to say that I don't sometimes get more elaborate (especially when you add cooking for my BF to the mix). On days when I can afford the points and have a little more ambition, I take my 3 components and add some kind of sauce or special prep. Among my favorites are Thai red curry, Indian korma, lite alfredo or marinara, mushroom marsala, or teriyaki/general tsao's stir fry.