Tuesday, December 1, 2009

A slice of cheesecake, a sheet of cake

I survived a catered meal. I was in charge of a retirement dinner for work and therefore, got to sneak a meal with the rest of the folk.
Chicken marsala, cheesecake and a whole sheet cake in the back. I had the salad with very little dressing and the chicken marsala, which I tried to scrape to remove the fried part.
I had a bite of the cheesecake and decided it was not worth my time. A great move on my part. And now I will be forced to stare at the left over sheet cake the rest of the day as all the other office women gobble it down. Bad move on my part—I ordered the cake—I should have gotten a half sheet.
Anyway. All day long I will remind myself that I can have the same exact cake for a hell of a lot less calories at home and that cake will not bring me down. I will be mean to the cake. It doesn’t deserve me.

I wish I had applied this same logic to Tday. We went to the hubs grandmother’s on Thursday and I did not hold back. I could have done better—and once I got a taste of her lasagna this year I really regretted my choices. Next time I splurge I hope it will be in a restaurant.
All in all, I didn’t fail horribly. I give myself a solid B. And…. When we got home and I weighed in, I had lost three more pounds, for a total of SIX down! Woo hoo. And that is with a few slip ups and with very little sacrifice. Life is good. I can’t wait to walk this week, accept the food challenge and weigh in again.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Yum, CAKE!

four point cake with REAL full fat, gluttony icing? Sure!
At first I thought my pumpkin chocolate cake was a disaster meant for only the most desperate dieter until… I slapped some real icing on it!
2 tablespoons of regular, from a jar, icing is only three points. I have a special place in my heart for such deliciousness, so even though it is NOT filling or healthy, I’ll splurge on it. Daily, even. Why? Because a cup of green beans and a healthy low fat meal is totally award winning if you add some cake at the end. I don’t feel deprived at all. In fact, I feel bad. Naughty bad. Pinch me!

I plan to make another round of this cake tonight and take it with me this weekend. This way, I can shirk Tday desserts and really live it up big. Don’t get me wrong—I love pecan pie, but at a whopping 14 points for one dinky slice I just can’t justify it. Not when I can have my cake and eat it too for only four points.

And that concludes my hour of cake. Make it. Love it. Live it.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

To-daaaaaaaaaaaay

I have been on the diet, for serious, for four whole days now (and one morning). This is especially noteworthy by the fact that I also made it through a weekend. How did this hungry Greek girl do it?
Through planning, focus, smart decisions and a very little bit of sacrifice. Ok barely any sacrifice at all really considering I used some of my extra points for the week.

Anyway, I feel great. I started a lifting/weights routine last night with the help of my hubby (who I DO NOT think understands how out of shape I really am) and I am feeling it today—whoa buddy, in my inner thighs and some of my arms. Holy guacamole.
I also stuck to my walk the dog plan—everyday but Sunday, which is my break.

Aaaaannnnddd… what else? I completed my recipe workbook, detailed with a collage on the front of inspiring phrases, quotes and images. I am really excited that I have started cooking and that I have found so many inspirational, healthy options that the hubs will actually voluntarily eat. Wow.

So this is the journey.
Tonight I have ILA happy hour at La’Rosa’s where I used to gobble down an entire thing of cheesy bread and maybe even some chicken fingers. The plan for this evening is a glass of wine or two and a salad with fat free dressing. If I want cheesy bread someday, I’ll try to make it a little more healthy (less cheese, whole grain bread) or I will seriously indulge in it in an atmosphere I choose and not a random Tuesday. I think this is what it is really about—making better choices and knowing you can have any damn thing you want, but you better figure it out first—is it worth ten extra squats? Or a two mile walk? or is better saved for another day?

This is my life. No one else is going to live it for me. And I don’t want to look back and wonder what it would be like if I wasn’t obese. And I want to do the nasty standing up and I want to know that if forced, I could probably run.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Lifestyle vs. Diet

I am noticing that it is really easy to fall of the horse this time around. I don't know where the hell I got the will power I had at 20, but I can tell you it is not coming back.
I have to learn this thing all over again. It is not about eating peas so you can drink a beer. And it is not about losing pounds to gain a man. This time it is for me and that makes it... a whole lot harder.
I still carry cans of vegetables around because I should be eating those when I am hungry. But if I really want a piece a pie, I'm gunna eat it. If I really want to eat like everyone else at the company baby shower, well, i am going to. Obvious by the fact that I did so yesterday-- pizza (three slices?), a beer, a lemon square that tasted strangely like fish, 1 slice cheese, apples and caramel, WW spinach dip, crackers. And then I went to dinner and had fried pickles, french fries with mayo and half a philly with mayo oh yeah and two drinks. Wow that was depressing.

But I did take the dog for a mile walk two days this past week and I plan to again tonight. And I guess that is the difference between a lifestyle and a diet. I am finding recipes that are healthy and good-- and that hubs will actually eat, like fiber one rice crispies and other lean meats. I have so much beef in my freezer that I have NO idea what to do with....seriously, it is overwhelming.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

The GD Wagon

For some reason,just as I am cruising along enjoying the ride that is a healthy lifestyle, I see something shiny and grease soaked at the side of the road and I roll my plump ass off the wagon-- and straight into a pile of points.

I even brought a can of peas to the party on Halloween-- and instead ate three pieces of week old pizza. I had people there that understood me, I didn't shirk the peas out of embarrassment or fear of being mocked. I simply, shirked the peas; and in turn, my healthy lifestyle.

I was good at breakfast the next day at Bob's. Here is what I suggest there:
Fruit parfait 4pts
1 biscuit with honey 5 points
fake eggs 1 pt
turkey link sausage 4 pts

while this may seems high, it is low for a brunch.

Anyway, I was off the horse for more than a few days and I felt just horrible while doing it. I felt like I was expanding out of my pants. I was tired and I couldn't concentrate. I had no energy. And I knew I had to fix it.

So here I am, eating fake sausage and making a grocery list for the coming weeks.

OM OM OM OM... EGGS!

Holy breakfast sent from the WW Gods:
1 wedge laughing cow cheese
1/2 cup egg beaters
fake tofu sausage.

I once turned to my husband after eating a sausage biscuit from Mcyd's and said, "You know what babe? I am a whore for sausage."

Well, this morning I found out that I am also a whore for tofu sausage.

I actually feel full after this breakfast. I feel almost too full-- so while two patties are still one point, I'll probably opt for one from now on unless of course it is Saturday or I am feeling especially whore-ish.

Anyway I highly suggest that you try this. It is quick, easy and good on the run.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Hungry Girlfredo=gross and Dr.Crocker's Pumpkin Pie

Last night, after a two hour nap from heaven, I tamed my hunger with a hungry girl recipe: Hungry girlfredo. For those of you that don't know, this involves Shirtaki tofu noodles, laughing cow cheese (also sent from heaven) and low fat sour cream and parmesan.

This was my first adventure with the noodles, and while I have not written them off my list I do believe it will be awhile before I purchase them again. It comes down to two things: texture and smell.

The minute you open the bag this intense, unnatural, rotting-like smell seeps out and bit** slaps you in the face like "whoa". I see now why they say you must rinse them VERY well.

and then the texture. They are chewy and hard to swallow. Not much like noodles at all.

I might give them another chance-- maybe in a casserole or during the inevitable time when I do not have so many points for a day and must make do on one to two points meals. But as an entree, I would much rather use the recipe for the alfredo part and slap it on some whole wheat noodles for a whopping five point dinner.

In other news, a wonderful faculty member at my place of work brought me some AWESOME 2 point pumpkin pie. She gave me the recipe a few days back and I'll admit-- I was a little apprehensive.The pie has no crust-- which is something I have always considered sacrilegious, that is, until I tried it. It actually fills you up. It is dense and delicious and I am going to make it, love it and live it. I actually ate it for breakfast, which is how I foresee it fitting into my life. I love tricking myself into feeling "naughty" while doing ww and this is just the ticket. "Look", I will say as I cram my face, "I am eating pie for breakfast!!"

ok, enough for now. I'll post that pie recipe later for anyone that wants to try it. I plan on making it for the party this weekend as well-- so that when I am two drinks in and have no control, I have a low point place to land!

Until then my friends-- live it. Love it. Lose it.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

I Got This

At weigh in last Sunday I had gained four pounds.
And there was a time when that would have made me quit. I am not going to lie, I called the rest of the day a freebie. I ate chips. I self-indulged and pitied myself and gave in.

And then on Monday I made some awesome choices. And that is what I did right. The trick to this whole process is to realize that it is just that--a process. A journey. A life long struggle.

We like to think that as humans we are so evolved. We pride ourselves on critical thought. Oh look at us, we say, with our opposable thumbs and our technology. The truth is that we are not that far from where we began--when humans struggled for every meal, scrounged for food and focused at all times on surviving. And so now, when we have a plethora of food-- a double cheeseburger for a dollar, an unlimited buffet-- our internal biological makeup tells us to eat, to gorge, to stock up because tomorrow it might not be there. I don't know why some people can turn this off and others can't, but I know that it is my battle.

and I know I got this. I know that I can win. By counting calories,eating natural, healthy foods and reminding myself that I am worth it.

I got this.

Surviving the OG

Oh snap…
So yesterday was interesting. I held it all together pretty well until the end of the day when I had two (ok maybe three…four??) drinks and then ate a horrible meal at olive garden when I should have had the chicken for only three points. UGHH. I give myself mad props for the veggie burger at lunch, but I can’t even remember the meal from last night—totally NOT worth it.
How do I fix it?
By considering it my 35 extra points for the week and getting back on the horse, of course! I plan to make some awesome recipes this weekend for the Halloween party that should stave off my over eating even though I will have a few beverages.
What I am making you might ask? Well I am glad you did, cause these are too good not to share!

Cauliflower blood surprise
This is actually an old family recipe that we love to rock at happy hour:
Cauliflower, raw
Ketchup
Horseradish
Lemon juice
Minced onions
I also want to try out these treats from hungry girl ( I think I love her by the way)





Ghostly Gobblin Meringues
PER SERVING (2 Meringues): 47 calories, <0.5g fat, 20mg sodium, 9.5g carbs, 0g fiber, 8.5g sugars, 1g protein -- POINTS® value 1*

These are the FLUFFIEST, MELTIEST, YUMMIEST and CUTEST meringues you will ever chew. You MUST make them ASAP!!!!!!

Ingredients:
3 large egg whites (a little more than 1/3 cup)
1/3 cup granulated white sugar
1/3 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
32 mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line 2 large baking pans with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Using an electric mixer set at high speed, beat until fluffy and slightly stiff, about 3 minutes. Continue mixing with your electric mixer, and gradually add the sugar and Splenda until completely combined. Add the vanilla and continue mixing until blended.

Using a spatula, transfer all the meringue mixture to a large plastic bag. Squeeze mixture down toward one bottom corner of the bag. Snip that corner off with scissors. (Ta-da! Makeshift piping bag.)

Pipe mixture onto the parchment paper in ghost-like shapes about 3 inches long. (HG Tip! Do each outline first, and then fill it in.) Use the tip of your piping bag to smooth mixture and make sure the ghost shapes are filled in solidly. Continue until the mixture is gone, making 8 ghosts per baking pan.

Place 2 mini chips on each ghost for eyes.

Bake in the oven for 70 minutes. Do not remove meringues afterwards.

Turn oven off and allow meringues to set in the oven for 1 hour.

Pull meringues from the parchment paper and chomp away. Just don't eat them all at once!

MAKES 8 SERVINGS


And these amazing things….
Wicked-Good Witch Brooms

PER SERVING (1 Broom): 87 calories, 1.5g fat, 93mg sodium, 27g carbs, 9.25g fiber, 4.5g sugars, 1.5g protein -- POINTS® value 1*

Equal parts cute, crunchy, and chewy. Check it out...

Ingredients:
2 cups Fiber One bran cereal (original)
6 Red Vines Sugar Free Vines (Cherry, Black Licorice, or Strawberry)
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread

Directions:
Place butter in a small saucepan, and set heat to medium-low. Once butter has melted, add marshmallows.

Stirring occasionally, cook until marshmallows have melted completely.

Remove from heat and immediately stir in Fiber One. Continue to stir until cereal is thoroughly coated.

Spray a 9-inch pie pan with nonstick spray. Transfer gooey cereal mixture to the pan. Using a large piece of wax or parchment paper, press down on cereal mixture to spread and flatten it into the bottom of the pie pan. Allow to cool slightly, so it isn't as sticky, and then carefully pull back the paper. Let sit at room temperature until cool but not completely solid -- it should be firm enough to cut but soft enough to mold.

Arrange a layer of wax or parchment paper on a flat surface. Place licorice twists lengthwise, spacing them about 6 inches apart.

Once mixture in the pie pan is cool and slightly solid, use a sharp knife to cut it into 6 "slices".

Carefully remove one slice from the pie pan. Place the point of it at the base of one licorice twist, overlapping by about an inch, so your treat looks like a broom. Press down firmly around the licorice to seal. Repeat with the rest of the slices and licorice twists. Enjoy!

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Dear Extra Weight

I am done with you.
Oh yes, I know we have discussed this before. You have left, only to return only more stubborn and ghastly than before. And I have had enough.
It is time to say goodbye, for us to part ways, for me to move on.

You limit what I can do-- in every single part of my life. People equate fat to lazy. People equate fat to unattractive. They equate fat to poor self-esteem. I am none of these things. I am proud and strong and gorgeous and healthy and extremely hard working.

I won't back down to a challenge, and I won't lose to you.

Bring. It. On.