Still logging points, just haven’t posted them yet…

I’ve been trying to decide if I should just add a page in the “pages” section on the right side of the page and enter my points there instead…still deciding on that though - so if you check the blog this weekend and see something has changed, that’ll likely be it. :)

I’ve had a BUSY week at work this week that has resulted in my having worked 40 hours before I even logged in this morning, so I’ve been a little busy, but I’ve been trying to to be good and not eat too much fast food, and to balance it out with the rest of my day.

I found my Curves exercise mat that I bought from Avon a while back but packed up when we moved, so I’m going to work on doing some basic exercises (crunches, steps, etc.) at least every other day until I can build it up to an every day thing. I’ve been using the DVDs I have, but my knees can only take so much of some of the moves :-/

Food & Points Log for 6/26-6/27

6/26/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 17.5
Activity POINTS values earned: 2

6/27/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 11
Activity POINTS values earned: 2

Very obviously, this has not been the best week for me eating-enough-wise. I ran out of my SlimFast (Target generic) shakes, so I’ve had to miss breakfast this week. Yesterday I honestly felt full but didn’t realize until just now that I only ate 11 pts all day - eek :-/

Food & Points Log for 6/23-6/25

6/23/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 30
Activity POINTS values earned: 2

6/24/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 45
Activity POINTS values earned: 4
(I used 14 of my 35 “free points” for the week)

6/25/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 17
Activity POINTS values earned: 3

Forgotten why you exercise? Here’s your 7-step reminder primer!

I found this in a forum I frequent and had to re-post it here…

Forgotten why you exercise? Here’s your 7-step reminder primer!

Finding the time and energy to get active can be hard, especially if you’ve been inactive for a long time. Often, though, the hardest time to be active is a few months into your workout plan, when you think you’ve got the lazy bug licked? About then, you might start thinking “Oh, I can just take this week off.”

Soon enough, this week turns into next week and the week after, and so on.

So every time you’re about to give up on exercise, read this 7-step list to yourself? Or better yet, tape it up somewhere (like the bathroom mirror) where you’re most likely to read it everyday.

1) People who exercise live longer, on average, than people who don’t. Active people have a lower risk of dying from heart disease and stroke, and they’re less likely to get high blood pressure.

2) Exercise can help with health problems like type 2 diabetes (exercise can lower your blood sugar levels) and arthritis (exercise helps reduce joint swelling and pain and improves mobility).

3) Exercise makes you “functionally fit,” meaning that it’s easier for you to carry groceries, do chores, even go to the mall and shop for new (smaller) clothes!

4) Active people are less depressed, and depressed people often feel better after they start exercising.

5) Exercise can save you money. If you can prevent serious (and costly) medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, you will have more money for your other needs.

6) Exercise is fun! Many of the activities you did for play as a child count as exercise. Dancing fast, walking your dog, bicycling, and gardening all strengthen your heart and lungs.

7) SO GO GET FIT!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!

6/22/06 Food Blog & a recipe!

6/22/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 17.5
Activity POINTS values earned: 1

For dinner we had some *delicious* oven-baked homestyle fries…2 pts of cheese fry goodness!

POINTS® value: 2
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 45 min

Ingredients:

1 sprays olive oil cooking spray
2 large potato(es), Idaho, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick strips
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
2 oz low-fat cheddar or colby cheese, about 1/2 cup
Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
Arrange potatoes on prepared baking sheet and season to taste with salt and pepper. Bake 20 minutes and then flip fries and cook for an additional 20 minutes untl golden brown and fork tender. Cluster potatoes together on baking sheet and sprinkle with cheese. Bake until cheese melts, about 5 minutes more.

An interesting snippet from the Washington Post

With Friends Like These…

More than half the people responding to a survey conducted by eDiets.com — which bills itself as an online diet, fitness and healthy-living destination — indicated that friends purposely try to sabotage their eating plans when they are attempting to lose weight, and more than two-thirds said they believed their friends would like to see them stay overweight. That’s not mere paranoia talking, suggest other findings: 47 percent of survey respondents reported "feeling better" when their friends are overweight.

From: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/12/AR2006061201085.html

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Wow, talk about scary stats! Makes me really wonder if these so-called "friends" are really friends or if they just hang around you just because it makes them feel/look better in comparison :-/

6/21/06 Food & Points Log

6/21/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 31
Activity POINTS values earned: 2

While I was at the doctor’s office yesterday (Tetanus booster for college I’m transferring to), I asked about a referral to a nutritionist so that I could get some assistance planning menus, etc. It’s all good and well that I LOVE salads, but when a salad for me comes to at most 4 pts, it barely makes a dent when I’m supposed to be eating 31 pts/day. My appointment is scheduled for Tuesday the 29th, so wish me luck! She also asked me to bring in my food journal between now and then so that we can go over it - thank goodness for the POINTS® Tracker on weightwatchers.com :)

Food & Points Log for 6/18-6/20

6/18/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 22.5
Activity POINTS values earned: 2

6/19/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 25.5
Activity POINTS values earned: 4

6/20/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 21
Activity POINTS values earned: 1

Exercise Misconceptions (humor)

Q: I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this
true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it…don’t
waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up
your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can
extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer?
Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and
corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than
an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.
Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass
(green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your
recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: How can I calculate my body fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body, and you have body fat, your ratio is one to
one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating a regular exercise
program?

A: Can’t think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain…Good.

Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?

A: You’re not listening. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil.
In fact, they’re permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be
bad for you?

Q: What’s the secret to healthy eating?

A: Thicker gravy.

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the
middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You
should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO . Cocoa beans …. another vegetable!!! It’s
the best feel good food around!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had
about food and diets. Now go have a cookie…flour is a veggie! If
swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

“Restaurants offer too much of a bad thing” - my take

Restaurants offer too much of a bad thing
Cut portion sizes, get rid of fat-laden side dishes, health officials say
(Associated Press)

Those heaping portions at restaurants — and doggie bags for the leftovers — may be a thing of the past, if health officials get their way.

The government is trying to enlist the help of the nation’s eateries in fighting obesity. One of the first things on their list: cutting portion sizes.

You can read the rest of the article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13090060/
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The article seems to focus on fast food, but yet it mentions doggie bags? When was the last time you saw somebody eat at a fast food restaurant, get the supersized meal, and then take part of it home? I don’t eat fast food very often, but unless it was a to-go order, I can’t think of the last time I saw somebody taking part of their meal home other than maybe their soda pop.

Although the article doesn’t go into the doggie bag aspect of the initial teaser paragraphs, I think that they’re a great idea. If you know that a particular meal is going to be too large for you to eat, what’s wrong with asking for a to-go box with your meal, or even with you meal, having had the waiter/waitress go ahead and divide your meal for you, if need be? I do that lots of times, especially when we go out to eat at Provino’s. I know that a portion is too much food for me to eat at one sitting so I get a to-go box shortly after the food, and go ahead and divide my dish up. Then, if I still have any food after I’m through eating my portion (which I usually do), that goes into the box as well. Want rolls with that? Sure the garlic buttered ones are yummy, but I’ll ask for the plain ones (since my daughter prefers those) and maybe I’ll dip a torn off piece or two into the bowl with the sauce that dropped off of my husband’s rolls, but rather that than just add to the calories I know ahead of time (I consider myself at least a semi-educated consumer since I don’t know the exact nutrition information there, rather just the average for similar dishes) and I want to make sure that I monitor what goes into my mouth.

Whether from the "Supersize Me" movie or just from common sense, I hope that people know better than to think that eating out/having delivered/driving through is healthy if they’re doing it on an everyday basis. At least that’s what I hope…wouldn’t surprise me if people still refuse to acknowledge that though… *sigh*

P.S. Did you know that a Big Mac, medium Coke and large fries from McDonald's contain a total of 1,340 calories, more than half the recommended daily calories for both men and women?? Talk about yikes! And no, not eating for the rest of the day before and/or after that is NOT a good idea!

Food & Points Log for 6/16-6/17

Even after today and yesterday going slightly over my 31 points/day, I still have 30 points left in my weekly allowance.

6/16/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 37
Activity POINTS values earned: 1
Activity POINTS values swapped: 1
Mmm…Provino's... (tip: get a takeout box with your meal to set aside half your meal before you even taste your first forkful)

6/17/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 32
Activity POINTS values earned: 1

6/16/06 Food & Points Log (Er, kind of)

I haven’t logged points for Friday because I don’t know the exact point values of dinner tonight (Italian), so I’ll look them up tomorrow!

I got a new DVD this week. Once I try it out (hopefully tomorrow), I’ll be sure to post my first impression!

<— My new DVD

Food & Points Log for 6/14-6/15

6/14/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 22.5
Activity POINTS values earned: 1

6/15/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 25
Activity POINTS values earned: 1

I haven’t forgotten to post today…I swear!

I can’t remember what kind of steak it was that DH cooked for dinner, so I need to wait until I get home tonight to log my official points for yesterday. So look for that post either tonight or tomorrow bundled with today’s points log.

Some great articles from the AJC

1. Portion control is nothing to dread as long as you take the … RIGHT BITES
2. Shrink-or-share strategies
3. 50 easy ways to get your 5 a day

6/13/06 Food & Points Log

6/13/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 29.5
Activity POINTS values earned: 1

Food & Points Log for 6/9-6/12

6/9/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 24.5
Activity POINTS values earned: 1

6/10/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 28
Activity POINTS values earned: 3

6/11/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 30
Activity POINTS values earned: 2

6/12/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 20.5
Activity POINTS values earned: 4

We had a busy and productive weekend. We cleaned the Little Tikes Playhouse that the former owners of our house had left in the backyard, and now it’s play-in-able for Emma. I also got the pollen cleaned off the chairs we had out on the porch at our apartment that we hadn’t really used since DD was born. I had originally been planning to spend $200 to buy a spinning bike, but I decided that it can wait and I told DH to instead buy a grill, so he did…and it’s in the box in the garage, LOL. Hopefully once Alberto’s weather pattern passes we can get it put together

I also did some "window shopping" at Walmart for plants and supplies they had while we were there, and then drove into several neighborhoods on our way home for ideas. If anybody reading this blog has any tips for a first-time homeowner on flowers/plants, landscaping, basic gardening, etc., please feel free to share away via comments!

6/8/06 Food & Points Log

6/8/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 34.5
Activity POINTS values earned: 2
Activity POINTS values swapped: 1

Food & Points Log for 6/5-6/7

Whoops, just realized I hadn't posted these yet…

6/5/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 24.5
Activity POINTS values earned: 1

6/6/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 30
Activity POINTS values earned: 1

6/7/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 19.5
Activity POINTS values earned: 1

Yay, got my order from WW yesterday!

Since the materials I have from when I attempted WW over 3 years ago were, obviously, 3 years old (seriously, on the back they said "updated for 2003", LOL), I ordered a new "Starter Kit" from Weight Watchers with the books on points values for eating out and common foods.

Something I found during that shopping experience really surprised me. On eBay, people are paying up to $20 more than the same materials would cost if they went directly to Weight Watchers online store! I knew there was price gouging that went on there, but geesch, I didn’t expect to see so many people making this kind of profit!

The "Basic Starter Kit" that I bought on WW for $22.95 is selling on eBay for Buy it Now prices of up to $40 (ex.)!!

I found one kit that consisted of the $22.95 starter kit + the $9.95 calculator selling for $60 on eBay (ex. and ex.)!! I guess the $27.10 the buyer would be overpaying is for the promised "basic tips to get started" that are included. Gee, what a "value" :-/ (Even the bidding start price of $39.99 is guaranteeing a profit on the WW cost of $32.90)

On the other hand, if I ever happen to lose my conscience, at least I know how to make some easy and quick money

But anyway, back to my order. I ordered an extra 12-week diary in addition to the one that came in the starter kit (btw, I love, love, love the material the new organizer the materials come in compared to the one from 3 years ago) as well as the 32-oz "insulated water mug" ($5.50 on WW vs prices of up to $14.99 on eBay (ex.))

So, I got the $22.95 starter kit + $5.50 mug + $3.95 extra diary for $32.40 - makes me sure feel like I got a sweet deal when I compare it to the auctions on eBay - WOWSERS!

And yes, since yesterday was day 1 of my week (my weigh-in days is Monday), I dutifully entered what I’d eaten for the day into the diary last night. Go me! Now to go to WW online eTools and calculate the points for last night’s dinner (to make sure I was right) and to log it on the website and then come back and record it here

Ack!

I just realized that somewhere between the bathroom and the car this morning, I must have laid my pedometer down. Hopefully I can find it tonight before the toddler wanders off with it, never to be seen again… :-/

6/3-6/4 Food & Points Log

A summary of the weekend…

6/3/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 30
Activity POINTS values earned: 3

6/4/2006:
POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 39.5
Activity POINTS values swapped: 4

Dance Dance Revolution!

My husband surprised me with DDR Max and DDR Extreme 2 yesterday so this morning was my first time EVER playing this AWESOME game! :-D

I only burned 150.355 calories this morning (1.002) jogging miles, but I took breaks when I needed a breather or some water and kept it on the Beginner mode until the last two songs that I tried on the Light mode. I wonder how many extra calories burned I could add on for both playing the game and keeping my 18-month-old from trying to "join in and help mommy" like she wanted to do during the last song - LOL!

Since I have two versions of the game, being the dork that I am, I created a spreadsheet with graphs so that I can take a look at weight/calories burned/miles "jogged"/etc. so that I can completely keep track, as well as quickly reference it when I’m not near the PS2.

So 150.355 calories burned = 1.5 activity points according to the standard I found on the WW official boards.

6/2/06 Food & Points Log

POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 23.5
Activity POINTS values swapped: .5

Midday (19)
1 serving Lay’s Baked Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
1 serving Philly Connection - Mushroom Cheesesteak: large

Evening (12.5)
1 serving steak & cheese burrito
8 oz. water
1 serving mexican rice
1/2 serving refried beans
8 oz fat-free skim milk

(P.S. Just because I'm reposting this on 12/28/06 does NOT mean I have any clue what happened mathematically on that day...LOL)

6/1/06 Food & Points Log

POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 23.5
Total Activity POINTS values earned: 1

Morning (4)
1 serving Target Rich Chocolate Royale Shake

Midday (2)
1 serving Publix Garden Salad
3 Tbsp Kraft Free Catalina Salad Dressing

Evening (17.5)
1 serving Publix Cool Mint Cookie Ice Cream
2 serving Publix Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream
1 serving Kraft Pasta Salad Gourmet Favorites - Basil Vinaigrette
8 fl oz Coca-Cola Diet Coke

Motivations from the Weight Watchers community boards...

The next time you are feeling that Weight Watcher’s is “Too Hard”. The next time you feel journaling, weighing and measuring food is “Too Hard”. The next time you feel exercising is “Too Hard”. The next time you think waking up early on a Sunday morning to weigh in and stay for your meeting is “Too Hard”.

I say the next time you feel “This is Too Hard” consider how hard it was/is to:

Shop in Specialty Clothing Stores (Layne Bryant, The Avenue, Catherine’s) your choices are limited.

Missing Out on Pool Parties because you’re too embarrassed to wear a bathing suit in front of your friends.

Not being able to wear your favorite outfit because it’s too small.

Not wanting to hug those close to you because you don’t want them to feel your rolls of fat.

Not going to the movies, because squeezing into the seats for 90 minutes is too uncomfortable.

Not dancing at weddings because you don’t want people staring at the “fat chick” on the dance floor.

Not attending family gatherings because you don’t want people to see how big you’ve gotten.

Not going to a picnic or summer barbeque because you’re afraid the lawn furniture won’t hold you.

Not attending your high school reunion because you don’t want old boyfriends seeing how much weight you’ve put on. Or old friends thinking “what happened to her?”

Not riding on amusement park rides with your kids because you can’t fit in the safety harness or the seat.

Not fitting in the booth at your favorite diner because there isn’t enough space between the bench and the table for you to sit.

Having to ask for a seatbelt extension on the airplane.

Yes, journaling, weighing and measuring your food, exercising, and attending weekly meetings is hard but being over weight is much harder and so much lonelier.

(By ROSIEBOPS)

5/31/06 Food & Points Log

POINTS Target: 31
Food POINTS values Used: 31
Total Activity POINTS values earned: 1

Morning (4)
1 serving Target Rich Chocolate Royale Shake

Midday (12)
1 serving Wendy’s® Southwest Taco Salad with only FF French Dressing
32 fl oz Coca-Cola Diet Coke

Evening (15)
8 oz fat-free skim milk
1 1/2 cup canned green peas
2 cup Kraft Macaroni And Cheese