Carbs are NOT my friend!

At least not in the evenings.  I was doing so well yesterday and then I had some toast with my dinner (felt like "breakfast" for dinner - Egg beaters, canadian bacon, fat free cheese - yummy!) but I figured since I had so many points left for the day and we are supposed to try and use them up it would be OK to add 2 small pieces of toast with butter spray.  Tasted so good I had 1 more.  Then for a "snack" later I had a toasted bagel with peanut butter.  Put me over points for the day.  I know there is a lot more I need to figure out besides just "don't eat carbs in the evening" - there are a lot of other issues in my life I need to work out but I think it will be easier to work on those if I get some of the easy "low hanging fruit" out of the way!

I'm excited for today.  Had a delicious grapefruit for breakfast and in a little bit I'm taking the boys on the train downtown to go explore the Public Market.  It's been years since I've been there and my older son wants to check out Beechers Cheese.  They came to his school this week to talk about healthy eating and types of food and he wants to see their place.  If the weather gets really gusty and bad we'll just detour to the Seattle Public Library - the building itself is a work of art and so much fun to explore.  The draw tho is the childrens section - it's huge and completely separate from the rest of the library so kids can be kids and it has a toddler play area for the little one to play in.   I think getting out of the house and walking around (as long as I avoid any non-healthy samples at the market - looking forward to the fuit & veggies!) will be good.  I need to switch up my routine if I want my changes to take hold and actually start losing weight!

Imagine what I could do......

If only I would stay on track and have every day be like 95% of yesterday was!!!  I must say yesterday went much better than Wednesday did.  I stayed within points and one of the things I noticed was that I ate all day but made the right choices and my energy level stayed consistent, I was able to focus, and I didn’t feel hungry.  I had to “car eat” in the evening and chose the Chicken Soft Taco Light from Taco Time.  It was 1 point higher than a McChicken Sandwich from McDonalds but is a bit larger and more satisfying so certainly a better choice.  Had stress when I got home at 9:30 and after getting the kids in bed sat down and ate 2 Pop Tarts for 10 points – leaving 1 point left over.  I didn’t need or even particularly want the Pop Tarts, it was absolutely a stress thing.  THAT is something I need to figure out and bring under control. 

Which brings me to exercise.  I know how important that is not just as an aid in weight loss but in stress management.  The problem is finding the time.  I have a 9yr old and an (almost) 1 year old.  By the time I get off work, get them picked up and get to the gym it is late and the little dude is grouchy.  I end up not getting much of a workout done.  The streets in my area oddly have few sidewalks yet it is a busy area full of stupid drivers and I don’t feel safe walking on the side of the road.  The gym at my apartments is only open during office hours (9-5 m-f).  I guess my best option is to walk during my lunch at work.  I do try to do that, but it’s hard sometimes to make myself do it.  I’d rather relax a bit and read while I eat; or go out with my co-workers; or I work through lunch and eat while I work.  I’d be grateful if you guys could let me know what you do to get around this issue.  I’m going to try to just suck it up and do it at lunch but it’s hard – especially when it’s pouring rain, hail, and high winds which happens a lot in the Seattle area!  Do any of you just happen to work around IKEA in Renton and would want to walk at lunchtime?  Of course, more people would need to read this blog if I’m going to get many responses to any of my questions!!!

Well evenings are certainly a problem.

I will do really well throughout the day but then once evening hits I just start eating.  I’ll start off well enough but then it just spirals out of control.  Last night I had a small portion of this pasta dish I made.  It has a lot of cheese so is 9 points for a cup, but it’s very satisfying so to me it’s worth the higher points value.  A little later I wanted some avocado so I cut a small slice.  Well that tasted so good I took the rest, mashed it up in a bowl with some lemon juice, grabbed a handful of tortilla chips and ate that too.  Now at this point I was 2 points over my daily allowance, not great but not a disaster – I mean, that’s what the extra weekly points are for, right?  But then just before I headed off to bed I felt the need to eat 3 Girl Scout cookies which were another 12 points.  I thought I was being smart by only buying the Samoas because I don’t like those.  Last night I guess that didn’t matter.  So not only am I just eating anything I see in the evenings, but I’m doing it and then just going to bed.  That’s like a triple whammy of nooooooo!!! 

I’m also trying to be more concerned with calories even though I know WW doesn’t use calories in figuring out points values any more.  Trimming 3500 calories out of your diet every week can result in a 1lb loss so in theory if I cut my caloric intake to 1300-1500 calories a day I should be able to get 2-3 pounds a week.  Events like last night don’t really help with that!

Now I KNOW I’m not the only one that has this particular problem so I’d really like to hear your thoughts, hints and ideas to help me through this. 

Tomorrows musings: exercise

I DRANK A 1/2 GALLON OF MILK IN ONE AFTERNOON!!!!

I mean really?  Come on!  Who does that?  Well, apparently I do.  I don’t even know what set it off but I couldn’t get enough.  I just kept drinking until the entire half-gallon was gone.   What’s worse is that it was whole milk.  I don’t drink a lot of cows milk any more as it is – I usually drink almond milk.  It’s lower in calories and higher in calcium and other nutrients.  When I do drink regular milk it’s usually 1% or 2% (I just don’t like fat free that much) never whole milk!  I’m guessing there was some deficiency or imbalance that my body decided only milk could cure but please God – don’t let that happen again!

Well I finally got myself back to my Weight Watchers meeting this week.  I am way over what I was.  Pants that were loose on me a few weeks ago are now tight and uncomfortable.  What was nice was that I was surrounded by people just like me.  Some had been having the same problems I had, others were near goal already. All of them were an inspiration to get back on track.  So starting yesterday I did.  It helped that I got my first box of organic produce from Full Circle Farms.  They have a delivery program that we take advantage of at my work.  I made carmelized ciprioni (sp?) onions with red chard, mushrooms and capers and it was delicious!  SO – back to more veggies, more water, and trying to get some excersize in.  It will be nice to see some downward progress on the scales next Monday!