Writing it down...

Are you like me? For days you try and remember to do something or to tell someone something, and you keep forgetting, but as soon as you actually write it down, you remember that when you can do it, and without looking at the note? For some reason, writing it sometimes seals it in my memory.

When I last wrote two weeks ago I wrote about my greediness on vacation. I can't remember if I wrote that after weigh day or not, but I gained about 3 pounds from it. Yikes--but better than the last time I did that on vacation. I worked really hard to stay within my daily points and not use all my weekly points the following week, and did really well. I lost about 2 pounds that week.

Then, my husband and I took an overnighter, courtesy of Sheraton Hotel's one night giveaway, and while I didn't do terrible there, I did use all of my weekly points up by the end of Saturday (and maybe more than my weekly). So, I still had Sunday-Thursday to go without using anything but my daily points. It's been a struggle. I think it's because of the abundance of candy all around my office and house, having a bad cold which just makes me want to eat that candy to feel better, lack of willpower, and unsatiable hunger. I've been hungry hungry, but probably not really. It probably just seemed like it. So, I'm not too excited for tomorrow's weigh in, but I am really excited to flip the switch into a new week and do better. It's like once I've blown it for the week, I keep blowing it for the week. If I start out good, I stay good.

On a side note, I made cheeseburger chowder for dinner tonight, and will share the recipe here, though I can't guarantee the point content for two reasons--to be explained afterward...

Cheeseburger Chowder

1 lb. 96% lean ground beef (12 pt.)
1 small onion, chopped (0 pt.)
2 cloves garlic, minced (0 pt.)
1 package potato soup starter/mix (I used Bear Creek) (24 pt.)
8 oz. 2% velveeta cheese, cubed (8 pt.)
diced pickles, onions, and tomato (optional) (0 pt.)

Brown the ground beef with onion and garlic, and drain if needed (I needed). While the meat is browning, prepare potato soup according to package directions. Add ground beef and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring every couple minutes. Add cubed cheese and let melt, while stirring frequently. Serve topped with cheeseburger toppings, like pickles, onions, and tomato. Good with toast dipped in it, for that "bun" flavor.

So, I can't guarantee the pointage per serving, because the stinking soup should have made 11-1 cup servings. The soup mix was supposed to make 8 cups, which made sense, because I added 8 c. of water. And then I added 3 cups of cooked ground beef. And then I added about a cup of velveeta (which I didn't count in the cup calculations). So, 11 cups right--so 4 pt. per serving. Well, I dished myself out a 4 pt. serving and my husband too, and then we went back for seconds. Then I noticed there was in no way still 7 cups of soup left, like there should have been. I measured it out and there was about 4 cups left. HOW IRRITATING! So, I probably consumed more points than I really thought I was. GRR! Yesterday I made mac and cheese that was supposed to make 2 cups, and it really only made 1 1/2 cups. What is with the shrinkage, especially when the package says it will make 8 cups, prepared, or 2 cups, prepared! I guess I'm going to have to start measuring AFTER cooking and then figure the points per serving.

Well, remember how I had some things I wanted to write down for myself to remember? Now I can't remember what they were. Dang it. Well, I think those motivating thoughts later and share them then. :)

And the winner is...the Greedy side!

One of my favorite bloggers, Josie over at Yum Yucky, introduced me to the concept of my Greedy side. And, boy oh boy, did my greedy side win on our recent mini vacation to St. Louis. I knew I wasn't counting points or caring, and we'll see what the scale has to say about that. You may remember I did this when I vacationed in April, and gained 4 pounds, only to lose 5 the next week. I've been home for about 20 hours, and my legs still hurt from all the walking I did, so I'm hoping to have similar success this time round.

I weighed in early on Thursday, since I'd be gone Friday, and lost .2, which was weak, but expected, due to Mother Nature's quarterly gift of an immense chocolate craving (Seasonale=Quarterly, yippee!). That made me at a square 44 pounds lost.

But, dun dun dun. Then the greedy side decided to emerge. Warning, not for the weak...

Thursday
Breakfast: Hardee's Sausage Frisco Breakfast Sandwich, minus eggs, Potatoes, and Coke Zero.
Lunch: Work potluck, including a piece of glorious KFC and a Lofthouse sugar cookie, Water to drink
Dinner: Sonic's Chili Cheese Wrap and Popcorn Chicken, with a Diet Cherry Limeade
Exercise: Zilch-o, unless you count the driving. :)

Friday
Breakfast/Brunch: Crepe from "Crepes in the City" in downtown St. Lou--it had chorizo, cheese, red peppers, and maybe more, and was SOOOOO good! Diet Coke to drink
Dinner: California Pizza Kitchen--shared spin/choke dip with hubby, their new asparagus soup
(yum!) and 4 of 6 pieces (mini sized) of the wild mushroom pizza; Peach Lemonade to drink
Shameful Dessert: Large butterfinger shake from Steak and Shake...my belly hated me by the time I was done with it!!
Exercise: TONS of walking...first at City Museum, then TONS and TONS at the Galleria mall.

Saturday
Breakfast/Brunch: 1/2 brat and 1/2 bbq beef sandwich (shared other 1/2s with hubby) at Day Out with Thomas, as we didn't find breakfast along the way; Diet Coke to drink
Lunch: Max & Erma's: Shared Pretzel Breadsticks & Cheese w/hubby, had a "garbage burger" and fries (with mayo for dipping---total greediness); drank something fizzy and watermelony, but can't remember what it was called
Dinner: Old Spaghetti Factory: OMG total yummy greediness. It started with a salad, that I had full fat dressing on, a pesto-y ranch-y creation of goodness, then I had Chicken Marsala with the attachment of Spaghetti with Brown Butter & Cheese. I skipped the offered Spumoni for dessert, but my drink this evening was an Italian Cherry Cream Soda (real cream), and water
Exercise: TONS of walking...first at Day out With Thomas (which may have burned more calories than walking due to the slurching through mud that took place), had to park and walk for lunch, and then had TONS of walking at the zoo, though we did ride the train from place to place, there was lots of walking in between, and TONS of walking that evening while shopping, oh and we had to park and walk to the Spaghetti Factory

Sunday
Breakfast: Pirate Booty in the hotel room :)
Lunch: Turkey Club Sandwich, some good yummy vinagretty salad, fruit, and potatoes from First Watch, something we don't have around here, but I could eat at every day! Drink: Diet Coke
Late Afternoon Snack: 1/2 blondie with M & M's and a Raspberry Italian Cream Soda from Starbucks, and a Chicken Pita Snacker from Jack in the Box
Late Late Dinner (like 9 pm): Black & Bleu Salad from Quiznos
Exercise: Minimal walking throughout the day, though I did go grocery shopping after arriving home so that I could just stay home most of today (except I do have class tonight...boo).

Oh, and I should't forget to mention that I had lots of candy, unhealthy type chips and chex like snacks throughout the trip. And a coke icee somewhere in there too. Looking back, it's no wonder my stomach hurt most of the time. But, it was yummy, I'm done with it now, and am SO ready to be back on the bandwagon!!

About that shopping, did a pretty good job getting my size 20/2X fall wardrobe lined up. It was fun, but I hate spending money like that! Just need another pair or two of work pants and I'm gold!

Here's my pretty 44 picture, though I'm sure it no longer applies!

Uh oh.

I said I wouldn't overdo it at the fest last night. I did a little. I had a Po Dog, Ribbon Fries (w/cheese), and Apple Slices with Carmel. I didn't think I was overdoing it so much, especially when I saw all the other delicious things I could have had. But, when I started doing some research to find out how many points I ate, I came up with 33. That's more than my daily limit! YIKES!

We went out for brunch this morning before tackling the other half of the festival, and I was going to have banana crepes, for about 10 points. Instead I was surprised by the brunch buffet and ate way too much for way too many points. I don't have any idea how many I ate, but it may tie with last night (though for a lot more food). The good news is that was one meal for two meals, and then we walked and walked and walked after that.

I'll try to squeeze in some Wii Fit or a bike ride this evening after a nap. I have one more splurge tomorrow night, we're having pizza for dinner. But, I may get mine sans cheese. I've found I actually like it that way. :) Tonight's dinner will probably be soup and salad (it's like 60 degrees here today--feels like fall), so we can keep the points low to make up for breakfast.

I'm sure I'll have no problem staying on track most of Monday, and Tuesday and Wednesday, but we do have a work potluck Thursday. Hopefully with proper planning and being mindful of Friday's weigh in I can minimize the damage of this weekend. :)

Three words.

Fried Dill Pickles.

Still have about 17 weekly points left too.

Took a sneak peak at the scale this morning, and it seems being good has paid off, looking forward to the "official" results on Friday morning.

Mind vs. Stomach -- Round 2

I am excited that my Friday and Saturday have been better than the last couple and hope that I can keep it up and see the results on the scale this week! I was nervous about going over my points at dinner tonight. I still have 25 flex points, but wasn't wanting to use them up so quickly, even though that's what I've been doing, and then some, likely! But, I ate dinner AND still have 3 points left. The biggest factor in this--I stopped when I was satisfied. That may honestly be the first time I've done that intentionally! WOO HOO! An impromptu battle of mind vs. stomach, and the mind wins!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my eats today:

Breakfast (after 10 hours of nyquil induced sleep/coma): 100 calorie pack of Lorna Doons=2 pt. and 1 string cheese=1 pt.; not the breakfast of champions but I bought the cookies two weeks ago and hadn't had any yet, was DEFINITELY not cooking (stupid summer cold), and it was almost 9 in the morning, so I knew lunch wasn't too far off. It sufficed, suprisingly. I went grocery shopping (another success--$75 under budget), and had no snack in there even!

Lunch: Burger King Tendergrill, with no mayo and onions added (put my own mayo on at home)=7 pt.; 1/2 of large fries (shared with hubby): 7 pt. Whoa! But, worth it. At least I didn't get burger. :)

After nap snack (Don't even get me started on this nap. The 5 year old did not cooperate, and sleep is what makes my colds go away, so it was a battle of wills! I napped, he didn't.): Sugar Cone with Turkey Hill Peanut Butter Mania Ice Cream (the absolute BEST ice cream EVER)=4 pt.

Dinner: I made homemade pizzas using Wheat premade crusts from Meijer. They're square and that's the only place I've seen them. It's 12 pt. for the whole crust. One pizza I made with bbq sauce, canned chicken, and fat free cheddar and mozzarella. I mixed 1 T. of the bbq with the chicken, spread 6 T. on the crust, topped the crust with the chicken, some dried cilantro, and onion on my half. I topped it with 1/4 c. ff mozzarella shreds and 1/4 c. ff cheddar shreds. It was 26 points for the whole pizza. I had two squares=4 points. The other pizza I just cut up two garden tomatoes, sprinkled that with EVOO, 2 cloves fresh garlic, salt, pepper, basil, and mixed it up and slathered it on. I topped it with 3/4 c. ff mozzarella cheese. I had two pieces=2 points!

So, if my math is correct, I have 3 points left still! Whoa! Cool! Maybe I'll use them for some skim milk. We definitely don't drink our milk in this house. When I got home with a 1/2 gallon each of 2% and skim, I threw away a whole 1/2 gal of skim that was expired and 3/4 of a gallon of 2% that was expired. Geesh! I just can't STAND drinking my points. Before WW, we could do a gallon a week. So, since I did good and got my healthy oil in today (the EVOO), maybe I'll do extra good and get my milk in too. Although, it will have sugar free chocolate syrup in it. :)

Word to the wise...

Doing WW just four days a week does not work. I've tried it for two weeks now, and have gained 1.2 lb. Since switching my weigh day to Friday, I have pretty much eaten how I wanted Fri, Sat, and Sun (see previous post on mind vs. stomach), and tried to get back on track M-Th. Like I said, this doesn't work. I don't recommend it.

Today I did better. I woke up with a full blown cold, so my appetite today varied from ravenous to none at all. I used 10 of my flex points, which seems like a lot to me, but I bet compared to the last two weeks it wasn't. I have Chinese food to thank for that. I forgot to substitute white rice for the fried (but ate it anyway), and always eat my eggroll, it's the best part. But, at least I didn't get General Tso's, which was calling my name for it's sinus clearing abilities, but I believe comes in at 10 pts. per cup! I did good last night at the State Fair too, and didn't eat any fair food. But I did have a chili cheese wrap and tots from Sonic before I went. :)

Let's hope I can stay on track tomorrow and Sunday! I am already way ahead of the last two Fridays, as I actually kept track of points today!

Mind vs. Stomach -- Round 1

My biggest struggle in doing WW is eating out. I eat out a lot less than I used to, but when I do, I still have a hard time making wise choices and going for the healthier options on the menu. It's something I realize, which is a step in the right direction, but am still having a hard time making the connection work between my brain and my stomach. Points are usually pretty easy to manage when I'm eating at work and home like normal. Take yesterday for example:

Breakfast: Turkey Slices on WW bagel with FF Mayo: 3 points
Baked Doritos (indiv. bag): 2 points

Snack: 94% Fat Free popcorn (ate almost the whole bag--not so great with portion control either, that's why I like individual packs so much better, but for this snack it's okay!): 1 point

Lunch: Green Beans with a Turkey Smoked Sausage (leftover): 3 points
Watermelon: 1 point

So, I headed home from work with 20 points left for the day! AMAZING! I normally have between 11-14 left at that point. This would have been a great day to have dinner out or order in, but I knew I'd be doing that for dinner tonight and tomorrow night.

I still managed to eat all of my remaining points though...
Dinner: 2 Quesadilla Burgers (3 pt. turkey burger with taco seasoning; pico de gallo; lettuce; onion; avocado in a flat out wrap with FF sour cream and RF cheese): 10 points total
Baked Tostitos, Salsa, and the remaining avocodo: 6 points

Bedtime Snack: 1/2 Fat Carmel Ice Cream

I totally could have survived and been satisfied with only having 1 burger. I really wasn't hungry for the ice cream either. I think both overindulgences were because I could. I had the points. Like I said, making that connection between the brain and the stomach is hard!

Anyway, then take today for instance:
Breakfast: Fiber One Shredded Wheat: 3 points

Snack: Sugar Snap Peas: 0 Points
Fiber Bar: 2 Points

Lunch: Leftover Turkey Burger & Chips: 6 points
Watermelon: 1 Point

So, just about on par with yesterday. 18 points left, which is still pretty good, but I like to save 20 if I'm going out to eat. My son picked Arby's. I went for their 5 for $5.95 deal. Cheesesticks for kid (his reason for wanting to go there), plus chicken nuggets and applesauce for him. I ordered the Arby's melt (one of the best options there), the value fry (kid sized), a value diet coke (again, kid sized), but what now...I still had one thing left to buy. I added the ham and swiss melt, thinking I'd toss it in the fridge for hubby's lunch tomorrow.

Wrong. I actually ate some of it. And one of R's cheesesticks. And two of his nuggets. RIDICULOUS! Mind vs. stomach totally. I wanted to eat the food food food, but my mind was saying just don't do it. I felt ridiculous battling with myself, but ate it anyway (some of it).

Afterwards I went to the Arby's site and added up my points, and went 2 over. I was suprised that I didn't do worse, but if I would have stuck to my original meal I would have had several points left for the day. So, it was a start of my attack on mind vs. stomach--I didn't order the first thing that would have jumped out at me on the menu as delicious, didn't go for huge fries, didn't get any onion petals or potato cakes either. But, I did dip into that extra sandwich and R's meal. Lame-o. One thing I've seen for sure on other's blogs is we all struggle with this.

The winner of this round of mind vs. stomach--I call it a tie. I didn't eat the other 1/2 of R's ice cream sandwich, and I didn't eat any of the nuggets he had left. We're getting there!