Hmmm, so things were going so well I guess I thought it was like magic, I was eating less and moving more and losing weight. I was happy with my progress. But, the weather got rainy and humid and I was working some crazy hours, and I decided that I didn't have to use my food journal, I would be fine without it. I didn't think I needed my 100 calorie snacks twice a day and I certainly thought that skipping my water intake for a soda once in a while wouldn't hurt anyone.
Well, I'm here to tell you that if you find a system that is working for you, stay with it and improve it as you go. I was doing exactly that. I realized that we run our dishwasher every 3 days so I bought another set of measuring cups so I would always have one clean set to use. I use a food journal available on my Droid so that it would always be available. I gave myself the right tools for the job. My mentor has said that even if you have everything you need for success if your head isn't in it, you wont reach that goal. My mentor is right.
I stopped using the tools I had because I thought I could do this on my own, I was wrong and to show me how wrong I was my body retaliated with a 3 pound weight gain. I wouldn't have believed the scale, but I went back and weighed myself 3 times (once for each pound I suppose) and yep, there is was a number that was 3 more than the last time I had weighed (did I mention I put my bathroom scale on my no longer needed list? Well that was a mistake!).
I'm happy to report that those pesky three pounds are gone and I am back on track. I have reduced my calorie intake and am recording it in my food journal. I am using all the resources I had found previously and I have refocused to be even better. I have found a Zumba class and am starting in September, and as much as I dislike going outside and sweating, I have been walking too. I felt like I had come too far to let go. I know now that I don't just need to do this, this set back showed me that I want to.
Until next time...this is Ginny reporting from Back on the Wagon.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Things That Go Crunch
Since this journey includes a chance to learn to love low carb food, I really miss things that go crunch and sweets. It is peach season after all and usually we make at least one peach pie to have with ice cream. we have been really good, while we still buy peaches each week at the store, we have not made peach pie this year but that doesn't mean we don't crave at least something that resembles it.
Finding substitutions worth doing more than once is what I am finding to be a challenge so today I set out to replace peach pie in our diet. and this is what I did:
I took 1 peach peeled and pitted and sliced it as thin as I possibly could I sprayed my skillet with cooking spray and sauteed them until they were soft. while they were cooking over a low heat (all that sugar could make them burn so keep a close eye on them) I sprayed a custard cup with non stick cooking spray and lined it with a sheet of phyllo dough, when my peach was heated through and soft, I put it in the cup over the phyllo dough and over that I put 1tsp of raw sugar, place another piece of phyllo dough over the top, folding it to fit, I put 1 tsp Smart Balance Buttery Spread on top of my little pie, made a slit in the top to allow steam to escape and baked it for about 15 minutes at 350. Yummy goodness.
I found another useful website online: www.caloriecount.about.com go the the Foods tab, in the drop down box choose new Recipe. You can enter your recipe on that page and it will calculate the nutritional information and even give you pros and cons for each recipe. So I did that for this "almost peach pie" recipe and this is what I got:78 calories, 2 grams fat, 16 gr carbs 1.5 gr fiber.
Also, since we live in Florida, we have a rainy season, which feels long and boring and usually we indulge with comfort food. We feel stuck in the house all day not much feeling like venturing out into the pouring rain. But again we have done quite well so far this year.
Browsing through a Paula Deen's Best Dishes 2010 issue I found a Chicken Pot Pie Recipe. Now, I realize that Paula and low fat/carb don't exactly go together but this time it does and let me tell you, this is so good and so easy. it offers a creamy goodness and a nice crunch. Daring to "tweek" Paula's perfection, I have done my own version, not much different from hers:
1T olive oil
1/2 Cup each chopped carrots, celery, onion
1/2 Cup white wine
2 10 oz cans reduced fat/sodium cream of chicken soup
1/2 t dried parsley
1/4 t each garlic powder, salt, ground black pepper
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 Cup fat free or light sour cream
8 phylo dough sheets (be sure to keep covered with damp towel, its a hard lesson if you don't)
Non-stick cooking spray(I prefer butter flavor)
Preheat over to 350
Spray four 2 c ramekins with cooking spray
In skillet over med-hi heat saute' carrots, celery and onion until tender
Add wine and cook until it reduces by 1/2 (this does not take long so keep an eye on it)
In a large bowl combine soup, sour cream, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper, stir in veggies and chicken
Spoon into ramekins
Spray a sheet of phyllo dough with cooking spray and place over ramekin spray and place the second sheet cross wise folding each sheet over to fit.
Run a knife through the center of each pot pie to allow steam to escape.
bake until golden brown (about 15 minutes)
Here are the facts according to that handy website:
351 calories, 19 grams fat, 6 grams carbs
Mmmmm...tastes like comfort to me!
Finding substitutions worth doing more than once is what I am finding to be a challenge so today I set out to replace peach pie in our diet. and this is what I did:
I took 1 peach peeled and pitted and sliced it as thin as I possibly could I sprayed my skillet with cooking spray and sauteed them until they were soft. while they were cooking over a low heat (all that sugar could make them burn so keep a close eye on them) I sprayed a custard cup with non stick cooking spray and lined it with a sheet of phyllo dough, when my peach was heated through and soft, I put it in the cup over the phyllo dough and over that I put 1tsp of raw sugar, place another piece of phyllo dough over the top, folding it to fit, I put 1 tsp Smart Balance Buttery Spread on top of my little pie, made a slit in the top to allow steam to escape and baked it for about 15 minutes at 350. Yummy goodness.
I found another useful website online: www.caloriecount.about.com go the the Foods tab, in the drop down box choose new Recipe. You can enter your recipe on that page and it will calculate the nutritional information and even give you pros and cons for each recipe. So I did that for this "almost peach pie" recipe and this is what I got:78 calories, 2 grams fat, 16 gr carbs 1.5 gr fiber.
Also, since we live in Florida, we have a rainy season, which feels long and boring and usually we indulge with comfort food. We feel stuck in the house all day not much feeling like venturing out into the pouring rain. But again we have done quite well so far this year.
Browsing through a Paula Deen's Best Dishes 2010 issue I found a Chicken Pot Pie Recipe. Now, I realize that Paula and low fat/carb don't exactly go together but this time it does and let me tell you, this is so good and so easy. it offers a creamy goodness and a nice crunch. Daring to "tweek" Paula's perfection, I have done my own version, not much different from hers:
1T olive oil
1/2 Cup each chopped carrots, celery, onion
1/2 Cup white wine
2 10 oz cans reduced fat/sodium cream of chicken soup
1/2 t dried parsley
1/4 t each garlic powder, salt, ground black pepper
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 Cup fat free or light sour cream
8 phylo dough sheets (be sure to keep covered with damp towel, its a hard lesson if you don't)
Non-stick cooking spray(I prefer butter flavor)
Preheat over to 350
Spray four 2 c ramekins with cooking spray
In skillet over med-hi heat saute' carrots, celery and onion until tender
Add wine and cook until it reduces by 1/2 (this does not take long so keep an eye on it)
In a large bowl combine soup, sour cream, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper, stir in veggies and chicken
Spoon into ramekins
Spray a sheet of phyllo dough with cooking spray and place over ramekin spray and place the second sheet cross wise folding each sheet over to fit.
Run a knife through the center of each pot pie to allow steam to escape.
bake until golden brown (about 15 minutes)
Here are the facts according to that handy website:
351 calories, 19 grams fat, 6 grams carbs
Mmmmm...tastes like comfort to me!
Friday, August 5, 2011
The Right Tools For The Job
Often when people accomplish a goal, they let you in on the secrets that helped them after they have reached said goal. Not me, if I am having success with something I let everyone know right away. If you are reading this, you are interested (or a family member or friend that I have shamed into it) and if you are interested I feel like I should share what I use. these things work for me, and they are how I am seeing some moderate success on the scale.
Some helpful websites have been:
http://www.livestrong.com/ by the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I'm upset with Lance too, but hey, his website folks know how to put it together. I believe it recognizes that we aren't all going to go out and run a marathon or bicycle across France. It encourages you to eat healthy, get fit , be inspired and start tracking (it says so on the home page). I use the My Plate application on this website often.
http://www.cookinglight.com/ When I started this journey I had never eaten a lot of fish at home and I needed some ideas other than were in my cookbook because I am not a lover of salmon, which I used to eat in sushi until a certain friend ruined sushi for me (you know how you are). I turned to this website to give us variety in our diet. If we eat the same thing all the time, I get to the point that I don't want to cook it or eat it. I have truly learned that variety is the spice of life.
Cooking Light gives you the skinny(hahaha) on all the food you fix, making it easier to track (there is that word again).
The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook by Amy Riolo. This was my first tool. My brother and sister in law recommended it. On the cover it says a flavorful, low fat, heart-healthy approach to cooking. To heck with the other stuff, FLAVORFUL is the operative word here. these recipes are absolutely delicious and easy. If you decide to take this route read the first 16 pages before you decide to tackle the recipes. Chances are you will need ingredients that you don't have in your pantry and to be successful you don't want to improvise (it can throw off the count). If you get this book you will want to try the Caprese Style Chicken Breasts, these are so good, you will want extra for lunch the next day.
I think I have mentioned this before but I found an app on my Droid called Calorie Counter, its where I track what I eat and weigh. I always have my phone with me so its easy and convenient.
My Kindle and my sewing machine. In the evening when I get hungry I retreat to my favorite chair and read or I sew. So far I have completed 5 books (anyone have any suggestions for a good read?). I have a new tote bag and have another small throw started for Sarah's new apartment. My point is, get your mind off of food. It's like a habit, at a certain time every evening I would get hungry, but I wasn't really hungry, it was just something I would always do. Now I read or sew, these activities prove to be much more productive.
Common sense tools are measuring cups, spoons and a kitchen scale. I know eyeing it seems easier, but eyes lie. Measure, measure, measure, its truly the most fundamental rule of making changes in your diet.
Okay so the numbers, I weigh 16 pounds less than when I started.(the weather is not cooperating with my exercise program so I am seeking other venues...Zumba anyone?) My blood sugar is running between 99 and 110 (that's really good news).
Until next time, gotta sew now! (borrowed this from a friend, a lot of us know who)
Some helpful websites have been:
http://www.livestrong.com/ by the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I'm upset with Lance too, but hey, his website folks know how to put it together. I believe it recognizes that we aren't all going to go out and run a marathon or bicycle across France. It encourages you to eat healthy, get fit , be inspired and start tracking (it says so on the home page). I use the My Plate application on this website often.
http://www.cookinglight.com/ When I started this journey I had never eaten a lot of fish at home and I needed some ideas other than were in my cookbook because I am not a lover of salmon, which I used to eat in sushi until a certain friend ruined sushi for me (you know how you are). I turned to this website to give us variety in our diet. If we eat the same thing all the time, I get to the point that I don't want to cook it or eat it. I have truly learned that variety is the spice of life.
Cooking Light gives you the skinny(hahaha) on all the food you fix, making it easier to track (there is that word again).
The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook by Amy Riolo. This was my first tool. My brother and sister in law recommended it. On the cover it says a flavorful, low fat, heart-healthy approach to cooking. To heck with the other stuff, FLAVORFUL is the operative word here. these recipes are absolutely delicious and easy. If you decide to take this route read the first 16 pages before you decide to tackle the recipes. Chances are you will need ingredients that you don't have in your pantry and to be successful you don't want to improvise (it can throw off the count). If you get this book you will want to try the Caprese Style Chicken Breasts, these are so good, you will want extra for lunch the next day.
I think I have mentioned this before but I found an app on my Droid called Calorie Counter, its where I track what I eat and weigh. I always have my phone with me so its easy and convenient.
My Kindle and my sewing machine. In the evening when I get hungry I retreat to my favorite chair and read or I sew. So far I have completed 5 books (anyone have any suggestions for a good read?). I have a new tote bag and have another small throw started for Sarah's new apartment. My point is, get your mind off of food. It's like a habit, at a certain time every evening I would get hungry, but I wasn't really hungry, it was just something I would always do. Now I read or sew, these activities prove to be much more productive.
Common sense tools are measuring cups, spoons and a kitchen scale. I know eyeing it seems easier, but eyes lie. Measure, measure, measure, its truly the most fundamental rule of making changes in your diet.
Okay so the numbers, I weigh 16 pounds less than when I started.(the weather is not cooperating with my exercise program so I am seeking other venues...Zumba anyone?) My blood sugar is running between 99 and 110 (that's really good news).
Until next time, gotta sew now! (borrowed this from a friend, a lot of us know who)
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