What Exactly am I Doing?

This Lenten fasting is going pretty well so far. A friend mentioned that the first 4 days of the fast are the hardest, and I think he was right. I usually eat oatmeal for breakfast, then not much lunch, and a nice dinner... now I'm not eating breakfast or lunch, just the dinner. I didn't notice much hunger until around 1 or so on Wednesday, then closer to 2 on Thursday, and even later over the weekend. My body seems to be adapting to my new schedule.

Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) we had dinner at church, just like every Wednesday. I was starving by the time we got there, and consumed about 1200 calories over dinner. I felt like a pig. My typical caloric consumption is between 1500-2200 calories per day, so 1200 all at once seemed like a lot.

I really wanted to track my consumption throughout Lent, and even cut back on my intake- I don't want to eat a full day's worth of calories and fat in one meal every day before bed. If I'm going to be doing this, I might as well make it worthwhile and lose some weight while I do it. I haven't counted calories before (ever!), but decided that I'd rather count calories than points during Lent. I downloaded a calorie tracker thing for my iPhone and have been tracking my "spending" that way. I've been very careful to eat healthier items, making sure that I stay within a weight-loss caloric range. I took the time and input the nutritional info for items that I tend to eat at the restaurant where I work, so I can easily track what I eat at work. Did you know that sauteed onions are only about 15 calories per ounce?

I don't want my metabolism to get all screwed up- I'd like to continue burning a decent number of calories each day (instead of it adjusting to the smaller number that I've been consuming!), so I'm using the yo-yo method: a couple of days of lower calories followed by a day of higher calories.

I know that this is not the healthiest way to lose weight. I am NOT advocating this for anyone else, just documenting what I am doing.

I have already noticed that some pants fit a bit looser than they did the last time I tried them on. In my opinion, this is progress- proof that I'm doing something right. It's only 40 days, I'm not planning to live like this forever.

Measurements, Week 2

I'd planned on doing this once a week, so I'm 2 days late with this week's measurements.

waist- 37.25

hips- 39.75

thigh- 22

chest- 39

I can't guarantee how accurate these are- would I really lose .25 inch in a week? That's great if I did, but I am questioning myself.

I'm looking forward to the season of Lent, because I think I'll lose some weight over that time- hubby and I have decided to fast. In the past, we've discussed Lenten fasting but have not done it. We have given up meat for Lent, in addition to fried foods and desserts. I think this will be the hardest yet. BUT, we will be following the Muslim tradition of fasting (one meal, after sundown; beverages whenever), which should make things easier. Also, I don't eat too much during the day as it is. Hopefully, this challenge will help me on my quest to get rid of some of this extra poundage, and will help shrink the size of my stomach once again- I've noticed that the portions I've been eating are larger than they were when I was actively doing ww.

I'll make sure to drink lots of water and supplement with extra vitamins, and my evening meal will be well balanced. I am going to try to stay as healthy as possible throughout this time, and I am excited that hubby and I will be doing it together- moral support!

First Measurement Post

Weeks ago I said that I was going to take my measurements and post them here. I haven't done that yet, but I keep thinking about it. I have been doing better about eating less crap at work, so that helps, I hope. I'll keep coming back here and post updates to my measurements weekly, hoping that this will help keep me accountable- especially because I won't be heading back to WW any time soon.

waist- 37.5

hips- 40

thigh- 22.25

chest- 39

I don't know where my old WW tracker books are, so I don't have a record of what these measurements were when I started my WW journey, or when I got to my goal and eventually achieved Lifetime. I'll have to look for those. In the meantime, let's watch these numbers fall!

No Wonder

Well, no wonder I've been gaining weight!

I just visited DWLZ, a fabulous website designed to help WW's with accurately counting points, and checked out Dottie's rundown of the points for the menu where I work. I've highlighted the items that I eat on a semi-regular basis.

From her site:
Updated 1/21/07

Appetizers
***Per serving with Four Servings per item - does not include dipping sauces served on the side ***If I eat any appetizers, I'll just have that- so the points are 4 TIMES what is listed here!!!***
Thai Phoon Shrimp (1) (194 cal/13 g fat/1 g fiber/11 g carbs) 5
Spinach Artichoke Dip (1) (332 cal/20 g fat/3 g fiber/27 g carbs) 8
Chicken Quesadilla (1) (226 cal/14 g fat/1 g fiber/11 g carbs) 5.5
Southwestern Spring Rolls (1) (177 cal/10 g fat/2 g fiber/14 g carbs) 4
Classic Sampler (1) (414 cal/20 g fat/3 g fiber/39 g carbs) 9.5
Queso Dip (1) (322 cal/20 g fat/2 g fiber/24 g carbs) 8
Jumbo Lump Crabcake (1) (69 cal/4 g fat/1 g fiber/3 g carbs) 2
Asian Spiced Dumplings (1) (130 cal/6 g fat/1 g fiber/13 g carbs) 3
Spicy Buffalo Wings (1) (219 cal/16 g fat/1 g fiber/2 g carbs) 6
Bacon Cheese Fries (1) (302 cal/17 g fat/2 g fiber/25 g carbs) 7.5
Tuesday Tenders - Classic (1) (122 cal/6 g fat/1 g fiber/7 g carbs) 3
Tuesday Tenders - Spicy Buffalo (1) (180 cal/12 g fat/1 g fiber/9 g carbs) 4.5
The Sampler (1) (324 cal/19 g fat/2 g fiber/17 g carbs) 8

Salads, Soups & Sandwiches
***Does not include salad dressing, bread, or crackers served on the side
White Bean Chicken Chili (1) (218 cal/8 g fat/6 g fiber/22 g carbs) 4 (4.5)
Broccoli & Cheese Soup (1) (334 cal/27 g fat/3 g fiber/12 g carbs) 8.5
Garden Vegetable Soup (1) (183 cal/7 g fat/3 g fiber/18 g carbs) 4
Turkey Sandwich (1) (657 cal/34 g fat/4 g fiber/49 g carbs) 15.5
Club House Salad (1) (898 cal/60 g fat/8 g fiber/30 g carbs) 21.5 (22.5)
Carolina Chicken Salad (1) (1025 cal/72 g fat/7 g fiber/38 g carbs) 25.5 (26)

Chicken
***Does not include bread or dipping sauces served on the side
Gourmet Chicken Pot Pie (1) (1324 cal/105 g fat/4 g fiber/30 g carbs) 34.5
Baked Chicken Parmesan Pasta (1) (1654 cal/96 g fat/11 g fiber/115 g carbs) 39 (40.5)
Smoky Mountain Chicken (1) (1064 cal/58 g fat/6 g fiber/42 g carbs) 25 (25.5)
Chicken Portobello (1) (922 cal/52 g fat/8 g fiber/33 g carbs) 21.5 (22)
Fresh Chicken & Broccoli Pasta (1) (2061 cal/128 g fat/13 g fiber/109 g carbs) 49.5 (51.5)

Handcrafted Burgers
***Does not include side item or dipping sauces served on the side
Ruby's Classic Burger (1) (1013 cal/71 g fat/4 g fiber/48 g carbs) 25.5
Classic Cheeseburger (1) (1103 cal/78 g fat/4 g fiber/48 g carbs) 28
Bacon Cheeseburger (1) (1193 cal/85 g fat/4 g fiber/48 g carbs) 30.5
Smokehouse Burger (1) (1391 cal/96 g fat/6 g fiber/72 g carbs) 35 (35.5)
Alpine Swiss Burger (1) (1267 cal/89 g fat/5 g fiber/56 g carbs) 32
Colossal Burger (1) (1943 cal/141 g fat/7 g fiber/74 g carbs) 49.5 (50)
Bison Burger (1) (892 cal/57 g fat/5 g fiber/48 g carbs) 22
Bison Bacon Cheeseburger (1) (1072 cal/71 g fat/5 g fiber/48 g carbs) 26.5 (27)
Veggie Burger (1) (943 cal/52 g fat/15 g fiber/60 g carbs) 20.5 (22.5)
Turkey Burger (1) (812 cal/45 g fat/4 g fiber/49 g carbs) 19.5
Portobello Swiss Turkey Burger (1) (1038 cal/62 g fat/5 g fiber/51 g carbs) 25 (25.5)
Bacon Avocado Turkey Burger (1) (1024 cal/63 g fat/7 g fiber/49 g carbs) 24.5 (25)
Buffalo Bleu Chicken Burger (1) (1031 cal/71 g fat/5 g fiber/62 g carbs) 26
Chicken BLT Burger (1) (981 cal/63 g fat/5 g fiber/59 g carbs) 24 (24.5)
Hickory Chicken Burger (1) (911 cal/51 g fat/4 g fiber/60 g carbs) 22

Ruby Minis
***Does not include side item or dipping sauces served on the side
Ruby Minis (4) (1310 cal/90 g fat/2 g fiber/72 g carbs) 33.5
Turkey Minis (2) (517 cal/33 g fat/1 g fiber/32 g carbs) 13

Premium Burgers
***Does not include side item or dipping sauces served on the side
Triple Prime Burger (1) (883 cal/56 g fat/3 g fiber/50 g carbs) 22
Jumbo Lump Crab Burger (1) (755 cal/45 g fat/6 g fiber/57 g carbs) 18 (18.5)

Steaks
***Does not include side items, bread, or dipping sauces served on the side
Petite Sirloin (1) (206 cal/5 g fat/0 g fiber/2 g carbs) 5
Top Sirloin (1) (256 cal/6 g fat/0 g fiber/2 g carbs) 6
Ribeye (1) (591 cal/35 g fat/1 g fiber/5 g carbs) 15
Peppercorn Mushroom Sirloin (1) (497 cal/28 g fat/1 g fiber/9 g carbs) 12.5
Premium Aged Prime Sirloin (1) (544 cal/30 g fat/0 g fiber/0 g carbs) 13.5

Ribs
***Does not include dipping sauces served on the side
Premium Baby Back Ribs - Classic BBQ (Half Rack) (1107 cal/64 g fat/11 g fiber/66 g carbs) 25.5 (27)
Premium Baby Back Ribs - Classic BBQ (Full Rack) (1600 cal/96 g fat/11 g fiber/81 g carbs) 38 (39.5)
Premium Baby Back Ribs - Memphis Dry Rub (Half Rack) (1148 cal/71 g fat/11 g fiber/55 g carbs) 27 (28.5)
Premium Baby Back Ribs - Memphis Dry Rub (Full Rack) (1672 cal/91 g fat/13 g fiber/107 g carbs) 38.5 (40.5)
Triple Play (1) (1672 cal/91 g fat/13 g fiber/107 g carbs) 38.5 (40.5)

Dressings, Sauces & Toppings
Bleu Cheese (1 oz) (177 cal/19 g fat/0 g fiber/1 g carbs) 5.5
Caesar (1 oz) (97 cal/10 g fat/0 g fiber/2 g carbs) 3
Ranch (1 oz) (101 cal/11 g fat/0 g fiber/1 g carbs) 3
Light Ranch (1 oz) (55 cal/5 g fat/0 g fiber/1 g carbs) 2
Smoky Honey Dijon (1 oz) (100 cal/8 g fat/0 g fiber/7 g carbs) 3
Salsa (1 oz) (10 cal/0 g fat/0 g fiber/3 g carbs) 0.5
Barbecue Sauce (1 oz) (50 cal/0 g fat/0 g fiber/13 g carbs) 1
Marinara Sauce (1 oz) (17 cal/1 g fat/0 g fiber/2 g carbs) 0.5
Sour Cream (1 oz) (30 cal/2 g fat/0 g fiber/2 g carbs) 1
Chocolate Sauce (1 oz) (100 cal/1 g fat/1 g fiber/23 g carbs) 2
Caramel Sauce (1 oz) (100 cal/0 g fat/0 g fiber/25 g carbs) 2
Thai Peanut Sauce (1 oz) (66 cal/3 g fat/0 g fiber/8 g carbs) 2
Garlic Butter (1 oz) (180 cal/20 g fat/0 g fiber/0 g carbs) 5.5
Fresh Avocado Ranch (1 oz) (59 cal/5 g fat/0 g fiber/3 g carbs) 2
Sweet & Spicy Chile Sauce (1 oz) (170 cal/17 g fat/0 g fiber/2 g carbs) 5
Honey Mustard (1 oz) (92 cal/8 g fat/0 g fiber/5 g carbs) 3

Seafood
***Does not include bread or dipping sauces served on the side
Creole Catch (1) (662 cal/31 g fat/5 g fiber/38 g carbs) 15 (15.5)
Louisiana Fried Shrimp (1) (825 cal/42 g fat/8 g fiber/65 g carbs) 18.5 (19.5)
New Orleans Seafood (1) (845 cal/46 g fat/4 g fiber/41 g carbs) 20
Shrimp Pasta Parmesan (1) (1221 cal/64 g fat/10 g fiber/98 g carbs) 28 (29)

Kid's Meals
Kid's Pasta with Marinara (1) (314 cal/4 g fat/7 g fiber/53 g carbs) 5.5 (6)
Chicken Fingers & Fries (1) (596 cal/25 g fat/6 g fiber/66 g carbs) 13 (13.5)
Grilled Cheese & Fries (1) (929 cal/50 g fat/7 g fiber/88 g carbs) 21.5 (22)
Macaroni & Cheese (1) (595 cal/33 g fat/0 g fiber/54 g carbs) 15
Mini Cheeseburger & Fries (1) (907 cal/49 g fat/5 g fiber/82 g carbs) 21.5
Kid's Fried Shrimp (1) (571 cal/21 g fat/6 g fiber/71 g carbs) 12 (12.5)
Kid's Fried Cheese (1) (704 cal/34 g fat/9 g fiber/73 g carbs) 15.5 (16.5)

Side Items
Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella Salad (1) (112 cal/7 g fat/1 g fiber/6 g carbs) 3
Tossed Caesar Salad (1) (174 cal/15 g fat/2 g fiber/5 g carbs) 4.5
Premium Baby Green Beans (1) (85 cal/5 g fat/3 g fiber/5 g carbs) 2
Sauteed Portobello Mushroom Slices (1) (131 cal/11 g fat/1 g fiber/5 g carbs) 3.5
Fresh Steamed Broccoli (1) (129 cal/8 g fat/3 g fiber/5 g carbs) 3
White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes (1) (274 cal/16 g fat/3 g fiber/21 g carbs) 6.5
Creamy Mashed Cauliflower (1) (166 cal/11 g fat/6 g fiber/9 g carbs) 3.5
Baked Potato - with butter and sour cream (1) (459 cal/19 g fat/11 g fiber/51 g carbs) 9 (10)
Baked Potato with cheese and bacon (1) (614 cal/32 g fat/11 g fiber/52 g carbs) 13 (14.5)
Brown Rice Pilaf with cheese and tomatoes (1) (221 cal/6 g fat/2 g fiber/33 g carbs) 5
Fresh, Hot Fries (1) (359 cal/13 g fat/5 g fiber/52 g carbs) 7.5

Desserts
Double Chocolate Cake (1) (979 cal/48 g fat/6 g fiber/118 g carbs) 22.5 (23)
Blondie (1) (677 cal/31 g fat/2 g fiber/91 g carbs) 16
Chocolate Tallcake (1) (591 cal/23 g fat/1 g fiber/84 g carbs) 14
Fresh Strawberries & Cream (1) (220 cal/8 g fat/2 g fiber/28 g carbs) 5



According to Roni, I only have 23-24 pts each day. Even though I haven't counted points for a LONG time, I know that without a doubt I am WAY WAY over that. I cannot continue this way. My "fat" clothes are getting tight and I am so not ok with that.

New Year's Resolutions

On the weight front, I've gotta lose some. I think I've mentioned before that I don't have a trustworthy scale, so I'm not going to go by that kind of number this time around. Later today I'll measure my waist, hips, and thighs (maybe more?) and post those as my starting point.


Image found here

What will I be doing to lose some weight these days? Hubby and I are going to do the 30 Day Shred (but not quite yet... borrowing it from the library!). I'm going to cut out my use of grenadine (at work, I use a LOT of it!). I also intend to cut out fried foods and most breads. I've been eating a lot of burgers and sandwiches at work lately, and I need to stop that. When I got this job, most of the menu was really pretty unappetizing to me- I need to get back into that mentality and simply eat much healthier than I've been eating lately.



Americans enjoy one of the most luxurious lifestyles on Earth: Our food is plentiful. Our work is automated. Our leisure is effortless. And it's killing us.


Isn't a healthy weight something that we should all strive for?

I've purchased a new water bottle. This is a bottle that I've had my eye on for a long time, but I'm a cheapstake and have never wanted to spend the money on myself. I love the new bottle and I think that it will help me to drink more water.

So, in a nutshell:
-Drink more water
-No more grenadine
-No more fried foods
-Drastically reduce carb consumption

I need something to keep me on track, so I'll have to post.

Baked Spaghetti with a twist

I LOVE this recipe. Since I first made it and posted about it, I've made it a few more times. Each time I've made it (after the first try), I've made extra and frozen it for later consumption- turns out perfect every time! (The only downside being that I cook it 2-2.5 hours at 350 from frozen... you have to plan ahead.)

Today I decided to try something a little different with this recipe. I am low on frozen/canned veggies; and more than once I've considered tossing in a can of vegetable soup to add more veggies and flavor. Today I took the plunge and added THREE cans of soup- minestrone, vegetable, and tomato. I also added a bag of mixed soup beans (dry). I don't have much ground meat in my freezer, so I'd rather not use what I have to make this sauce meaty- I figured that adding the beans would bulk it up and add fiber and protein, cheaply. I used 2 cans of spaghetti sauce and 4 cans of diced tomatoes, so this is a big pot of sauce- I sure hope it tastes ok! I started simmering my sauce around noon, so the beans will have plenty of time to re-hydrate before it's time to eat them.

I'm trying to decide whether to use whole wheat or regular spaghetti. I'd rather use the whole wheat, but I have a ton of regular stockpiled (bought a lot when it was on sale, maybe before I started Core). At this point, I'm considering using some of both- maybe a box of the ww and a bag of the other.

I'm getting hungry just thinking about this- hope it's good!

A Change

Folks, it is time for a change in my life. I have been primarily a SAHM for the past 5 years, before that I worked in restaurants (serving, bartending, and managing), and in aquatics. During my time as a SAHM, I've worked part-time for the Red Cross, and I even had an 8-month stint as a manager at a local fine dining restaurant (I quit because the hours sucked big-time).

We've decided that I need to go back to work, and I decided to get back into a restaurant- mainly because the hours are somewhat flexible and they are definitely NOT non-profit (like the Red Cross or most places where I could use my education). I wanted to stay close to home to save on gas, and a friend got a job working at a new place that's opening pretty close to home... it sounded like a fun place to work, so I applied too- training starts Monday! I'll be working nights and weekends, so Hubby will have to sacrifice some of his Masonic activities to stay with the kids, but I think this will be good for us. I'm really excited about working in a restaurant again, especially about being just an hourly employee- management is nice because the pay is steady, but the hours are terrible and often the waitstaff makes every bit as much (or more) as the managers do.

The thing with working in a restaurant is that you're always around food. I happen to like food. Fortunately, I've been reading Kath Eats Real Food and have been trying to eat more like Kath does lately (she eats "real" food- less grease, more purpose); her choices must be rubbing off, because as I look at the menu of this restaurant, there isn't much that really interests me. It is typical American fare- lots of grease and fatty stuff, not much on the healthy side, though there is a salad bar. Hopefully I'll be able to withstand the temptation and continue in my quest to eat healthier. In an effort to do so, I am going to take an idea from Kath and attempt to photograph everything I eat. (Yes, she really does post a picture of everything she eats!) If I'm going to be working in a restaurant and trying to be accountable for what I consume, this makes sense to me- be accountable to myself and to the internet for what I eat. Maybe I won't be successful at this... I'm sure Hubby will laugh... for sure I'll get some weird looks as I snap photos of my food... but if that's what it is going to take to hold myself accountable, I'm sure willing to try.

I did not take photos of breakfast, but wow was it yummy! I had about a half serving of oatmeal, mixed with 2 handfuls of homemdade granola, about a tablespoon of peanut butter, and a tablespoon of brown sugar- all mixed up it is SO good. I also had an iced latte, with sugar-free syrup and skim milk.