Why Did She Have To Say, "Wow, You Look Great!"

As you can see from my post yesterday, I have made it a priority to be a better planner this week. Well, tonight I made Polenta Lasagna for dinner and it should last for at least another meal and maybe even a lunch. Yeah! I will post the recipe soon. It was really good and fairly low in points compared to regular lasagna. I wasn't expecting much but it turned out really well. My husband is an extreme polenta lover and when we came across this Merchant Foods Organic Polenta at the grocery store, he begged and I gave in. I have bought it a couple times now and I am starting to be a fan. The nutritional information is great and it actually tastes good.

So, food wise, it was an okay day. Used some flex points which I really didn't want to but I did and now I'm moving on. Tuesday is another day and I am saying goodbye to Monday, February 11, 2008.

I had a friend who I hadn't seen in about five months say to me today, "Wow, you look great!" Why did she have to say that? I don't feel like I look great. I feel like I'm still packing around 5 lb of extra Christmas grazing weight. Of course, I, just like Katieo, in her post about Should I Stay or Should I Go? then said to myself, "What do I need to lose a few pounds for? She said I look great." Also the reason for the use of flex points. She said I look great, you know. Well, the reason is simple. I need to feel better about myself. Yes, let me say it again. I need to feel better about myself. There, I've said it.

Does this ever happen to you and then you have second thoughts about your weight loss efforts and sabotage a great day???

Failure to Plan will Result in a Plan to Fail

I heard this statement today and it kind of hit home on the weight loss front. My planning has not been as good as I would like it to be of late. Especially on the weight loss front. So, after a weekend of okay eating (Could have been worse) I am going to have a "planned week." By that I mean that I will plan my meals and snacks on a daily basis. Tomorrow I will sit down and plan some dinner ideas that can take me through several nights. I love leftovers. Some people hate them, however I'm not one of those people. Truly, there are some things that taste better the second night around. One of my favorite "go to" dinner ideas is anything using the crock pot. Soups, salsa chicken, stew, whatever. It is such a good feeling when you walk through the door after work and "voile" dinner is ready and the house smells wonderful! So, here's my plan:

• Dust off the journal
• Get out the food scale
• Make sure frig is stocked with good things (someone once said to me if you stand in front of the refrigerator and aren't hungry enough to each a piece of fruit, you aren't that hungry). Right now I have salad, veggies, fruit, string cheese, yogurt, fat free salad dressings and I'm sure a few other things that are good for me. So, I have a start on a fabulous week.
• Sit down and plan dinners for the week - I'll get back to you and let you know what I come up with.
• Exercise at least five times this week
• Get my tax information to the accountant (not weight related but it's making me nervous)

So, there you have it. It's a plan in writing. I tend to stick to something better if I see it in writing.

Oh, I crosscountry skied today - yikes my muscles are sore. But in a good way.

A Calorie is a Calorie, Right?

So, if I'm reading this correctly, as far as losing or gaining, it doesn't matter if all my calories come from cookies and candy or from veggies, carbs and protein as long as I remain in my alloted calorie range. Right? So other than feeling sick, bloated and having a little sugar rush and then maybe a big sugar low, what's the problem with eating candy and cookies all day? I went seeking an answer to this question. Here it is.

Answer:

1. As far as weight gain or loss, a calorie is a calorie. If you normally eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, fiber, healthy protein, good fats and whole grains, I don't believe that eating nothing but candy and sugar for only one single day would really do any damage to your body in the long run. You would feel bad for a day or so, though. SEE, I'M FEELING BETTER ABOUT MYSELF NOW. NO TRULY LONG LASTING EFFECTS OF EATING NOTHING GOOD FOR ME THIS ENTIRE DAY. WELL, MAYBE A FEW OTHER DAYS, TOO.
2. Of course if you started eating like that with some frequency, you would have vitamin and mineral deficiencies, you wouldn't get the healthy fats you need, you would eat too many saturated and unhealthy trans fats and you wouldn't get enough protein. You would probably have poor health due to the deficiencies, low energy levels, and your immune system wouldn't work as well as it should. SO, NOT FEELING SO GREAT ABOUT IT NOW. BUT CAN I JUST SAY THERE ARE NO TRANS FATS IN CANDY.. OKAY, STILL NOT FEELING SO GREAT.
3. One problem with sodas and candy is that once we start indulging our cravings for those sweets, the cravings get worse and worse and we may eat more and more of the sugary foods which would displace all the healthy foods we really need. BINGO WE HAVE A WINNER.....

So, there you have it. And I thought a calorie was just a calorie. Now, kidding aside. I truly have been falling off the wagon of late. The weight is not going the direction I want. I'll have a really good day and then several really bad days. The comment above about once we start indulging our cravings get worse and worse and then we eat more and more. Am I the only bingo winner??? Please tell me I'm not.

I want to be happy when I do this. Right now, I'm just not feelin the love. The scale and I are having a difference of opinion. My opinion is that it should be the number I want it to be and it's opinion is that it will be the number that it truly is. I literally want to have my cake and eat it too. Without the consequences, of course. I need to make better choices and be more accountable. So, I'm moving on, I'm stepping away from the candy and cookies. I don't want to play Bingo anymore.

IT WILL NOT BE ME, I REFUSE!

So, today was a day from hell. I had to get up at 4:30 am to take my mother 100 miles away to be with my sister during her double knee replacement. Yes, you read correctly, DOUBLE. Back to my title. IT WILL NOT BE ME, I REFUSE. I refuse to abuse my body with excess food and couch potato behavior to the point that it can no longer work!!! My mother, bless her heart, has had two knee replacements, ankle fusions, two shoulder replacements, two hip replacements... you get the picture. Now, my sister, what's wrong with this family and the plastic parts. Well, it stops with me. I am this very day resolving not to follow in the foot steps of my mother and sibling. Roni at Weight Watchen.com asked the question the other day. Why do you want to lose weight? Well, here's another very, very good reason for me. Keeping it short tonight as I have been up what seems like an eternity. Let me say it one more time. The buck stops here. Or should we say the plastic parts.

Would You Like a Weight Loss Wand?

So, would ya? I read this somewhere. I just skimmed it and then you know how sometimes it takes a minute for your brain to register what you just read. Well, I read the words again - Weight Loss Wand. Hmm, I thought. What would I do if there was a weight loss wand. Would I use it and what would it do for me? Well, it got me thinking. As we all know, weight loss is NOT magic. My personal definition of magic is something unexpectedly good that happens behind the scenes. Like in a fairy tale. So, let's see, if I had a weight loss wand back in 1985 when I started this process would I have learned any of the following:

• The importance of eating healthy
• The art of understanding food labels
• That vegetables are actually good for me and don't have to be deep fried or drenched in salad dressing
• That exercise is NOT a four letter word
• That fast food is not a "life saver"
• Not everything you eat needs to be drenched in butter
• Dessert is not one of the main food groups
• Your plate doesn't have to be 100% covered with food to make you satisfied
• The importance of understanding my relationship with food (actually a work in progress)
• I don't have to cook like my mother
• I don't have to be fat because I've always been fat
• I can be happy, confident and social (I used to pass up invitations to attend social functions because I was self conscious)
• I can speak in public (not a chance I would have done this prior to WW)
• I can run - Yes, I said run
• I don't have to please everybody, just those who care about and understand me
• Food is something I need to live, I don't live for food
• The scale is not always EVIL (actually sometimes it's magic)
• I can be successful at weight loss
• Maintenance is not as easy as losing
• P A T I E N C E

So, after reviewing the things I have learned through this process I think my answer is No. The weight loss wand may offer weight loss magic, but where does that leave me? I think it would leave me with no tools to continue on and a guarantee that I would be back seeking more "magic" because I couldn't do it on my own. I have learned so much through this process and, you know what, I don't think I would give any of it up for some "stinkin wand." I love the fact that I know I am in charge of my weight loss future, me and only me. I will do what it takes to make my own fairy tale. I encourage you to make yours. Check this out -Magical Fairytale Moments.

Progression Charts January 2007 to Present

Here are my progression charts from January 2007 to Present. I update them weekly. Even if I know I've gained....

Chicken Parmigiana Over Spaghetti Squash - Yum

Chicken Parmigiana Over Spaghetti Squash

4 chicken breasts -4 oz each
1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs (I used italian)
2 tsp italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste (I also added a little grinder garlic sea salt)
4 tsp olive oil
2 cups tomato sauce
4 Tblsp marinara sauce
3 cups spaghetti squash, cooked

1 cup 2% Kraft Mozarella Shredded Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an oven proof dish with cooking spray. Mix breadcrumbs and seasonings in a large zip lock bag. Throw in the chicken and shake to coat. Meanwhile heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until lightly browned on both sides. Set aside. Place the spaghetti squash in the oven proof dish and pour the tomato sauce over it. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the cheese. Place browned chicken on top of the cheese and top each breast with 1Tblsp of marinara sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for about 20 minutes or so or until bubbling and cooked through.

My calculation is 6 points per serving. But the serving is quite large because of the magic spaghetti squash. Always check points depending on your ingredients, as they could change.

Enjoy!