Diet ADD

I always say that my son has the attention span of a gnat.  He probably got that from me.  I've already decided to switch my eating plan back to Weight Watchers points.  Honestly, it's probably a much better choice considering that I can count points in my sleep.  I'm not nearly as good when it comes to calories.

I switched back today and so far it's going well.  One thing that always tripped me up about counting points is the idea that you're supposed to meet a specific goal each day.  For me, this tends to lead to eating crap that I really don't need to eat after I've had a really good eating day.  Makes me a little crazy.

One thing I have always found helps me stay on track is the Weight Watchers points counter bracelet I bought a few years ago.  Not necessarily because it helps track how many points I've eaten in a day, but because it serves as kind of an anchor.  When I notice it on my wrist, it makes me think about all the things I am working toward.  It's prevented me from ordering chili fries or nachos more than once.

The only downside of the bracelet is that it's old, made from pretty cheap materials and not that cute.  Also, they don't sell them anymore so I couldn't get a replacement if something happened to it which is highly likely since my son thinks it's great fun to pull on.

Somewhere on the internet, I got the idea to buy a knit/crochet row counting bracelet to use for this same purpose.  I ordered this one today and I'm pretty excited about it.  I don't have it yet, but when I get it and check it out a bit I will post the link to the Etsy seller.

McFatty Monday

My name is Jessica and I have a lot of weight to lose.  I refuse to put a number to it because that's just scary to me.  Instead, I will say that my goals include:

• Being able to fit in a pair of jeans with a single digit size
• Calves that fit in tall boots
• Having an ass that no longer spills over the sides of my dining room chairs
• Being comfortable in a swim suit
• Feeling thin enough to get the short hair cut I have been dreaming of

I started this blog back up again the other day and listed some other in that post.  My biggest goal is feel and be healthier.  Mommyhood is hard work so I need to have as much energy as possible.  This is my journey.  

Thanks to Blair for starting this up.  

A New Year

I started this blog in July of 2009.  The last time I posted was August 2009.  You can probably guess what that has meant for my weight loss.  A new year has always meant new resolve for me, usually with very little result.  I made a couple of changes this year that I am hoping are going to make this year the successful one.

First, I am reading The Beck Diet Solution on the recommendation of Prior Fat Girl.  Basically the premise is that people who have struggled with weight loss do so because they don't have the right tools to deal with the emotional stuff that comes into play when we diet.  The book gives you a task a day to complete and by the end of it (6 weeks), you are supposed to be equipped with an arsenal of tools to help you manage any eating situation.

Second, I am recommitting myself to a couple of exercise goals that I've had for a while.  I want to FINALLY make it through Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred and also complete the Couch-to-5K running plan. I can be either really good about exercise or really bad.  I feel so much better when I'm good about it, though.  That's something I need to keep in mind on days when I really don't want to do any.  Helping my goals along will be the fact that a group of us are walking the  the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in San Francisco the weekend of July 10-11.  39.3 miles over two days is not a task to be taken lightly.

The last (and really, first) new thing I plan to try this week is a 7 day detox starting Monday.  No meat, no dairy, no sugar, no preservatives, no alcohol, no caffeine.  It's not going to be easy, but I think it might be just what I need to get all the cravings for holiday crap out of my system.  I have spent some time this weekend researching vegan meals that are high in protein because I always feel crappy if I don't get enough protein which is my biggest concern with this type of eating.  If I find anything good, I will post it here along with progress reports.

I know it looks like I have big plans for the coming year, but I am planning on trying to do just one thing at a time (in addition to the tasks from The Beck Diet Solution) so I don't get overwhelmed.  My biggest goal for 2010 is to get healthy for once and for all.  We're thinking we'd like to try for another baby sometime this year and I'd like to be as healthy as possible when we do that.

Day 3

Breakfast
2 soy sausage patties
coffee with NF milk

Snack
2 cups air popped popcorn
5 grapes
1 small brownie square
coffee with 2 creamers

Lunch
Whole Grain Lean Pocket

Snack
2 Lemongrass Chicken Stix

Dinner
5 potato chips
1/3 smoked turkey leg
1/2 c. fried onion with ranch
1 pickle
1 Boddington's

Fair food is definitely a challenge. I tried really hard to keep myself in check there, but I ended up coming home hungry. I may have to have a snack before too long.

As a rule, the evening hours seem to be a challenge for me. It's something I will have to continue to work on. On a positive note, at least some of my fair calories should be negated thanks to the 2+ hours we walked around while consuming them.

Day 2

Breakfast
Large coffee (2 creamers)

Snack
2 string cheese
1 c. cantaloupe
1 c. grapes

Lunch
Santa Fe Style Caesar Salad

Snack
Chocolate Malt Muscle Milk

Snack
1/2 Venti Coffee with NF Milk

Dinner
Burrito Supreme

I ended up having a second snack this day because I was getting my hair done and it went WAY late. I really need to plan better for days like this so that I don't get caught starving with bad choices.

Day One

Breakfast
Coffee with Splenda
1/2 c. oatmeal
3 egg whites

Snack
16 oz. coffee with FF milk
1 reduced fat string cheese

Lunch
Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos (minus 1 tortilla per taco)

Snack
High Protein/Low Carb Drink

Dinner
Roasted pork
1/2 c. rice
1 slice fried banana
2 bites tamale

Visit with the Dietician

There weren't really any surprises when I met with the dietician yesterday other than the fact that none of the goals she set for me have to do with numbers on the scale. They were:

1. Read food labels for total carbohydrates - meals should have no more than 30-45 grams, snacks should be about 15 grams

2. Include protein with every meal/snack - 2 oz at breakfast, 4-5 ounces at lunch and dinner

3. Eat about 5 servings a day of fruits and veggies

4. Avoid long periods of time with no eating - pack a snack in diaper bag, purse, and car for emergencies

That was it. And I see her again in a month. I was also given the book shown above as a quick reference on portion sizes for various foods.

We talked A LOT about how important it is to get my own eating under control as Joey is transitioning to table food. We touched on planning and talked a little about my hypoglycemic tendencies. She asked that I keep a food journal that I email her at the end of each week just so I can have some accountability and she can give me tips if there are places where I seem off track.

Sounds easy enough, right? I start today.