Weight Watcher' Cheat Sheet: Easter Candy Favorites

I find it extremely enlightening to know I can splurge on 1 Russell Stover's Marshmallow Egg for only 3 points!  Notice the portion sizes too.  If you're like me, part of successfully snacking is "tricking" the mind.  I love know that I can either have 7 mini 3 Musketeers or 4 mini Snickers for the same amount of points.  Um, I'll take the 3 Musketeers, thank you very much.  It's also helpful to see that there is NO REASON FOR A SOLID CHOCOLATE BUNNY in ANYONE'S Easter Basket.  A serving size of the solid is only 1/4 of the bunny, which is the same exact points for and ENTIRE hollow chocolate bunny.  Again, being able to eat "the whole thing" instead of a quarter of it sends a signal to my brain that I have more than enough to satisfy my craving.

But my BEST find?  You got it.  The SweeTarts Chicks, Ducks & Bunnies.  I can have 4 pieces for 1 point (or 8 for 3 points).  WootHoot!  I like to buy these to keep in my desk at work.  I find that if I pull 4 pieces out, and suck on one at a time, the craving for something sweet is completely satisfied!

{{Click for bigger Cheat Sheet}}

I'll Take an Immediate Consequence Please

I don't eat ice cream. I can count on 1 hand how many times this year I have eaten any at all. The last time I had a few scoops was over Memorial Day weekend, at my parents' house.

It's not that I don't like it. It's that it makes me cough. Sometimes for hours even. I hate constantly trying to clear my throat and that coating is still there - bleh. (Which is why I don't drink milk either, aside of the taste I can't stand.)

I don't really eat fried foods either. Ever since I had my gall bladder taken out over 13 years ago, fried foods do not agree with me. I might as well flush them straight down the toilet, because that is where they will end up before I've even had a chance to wipe the grease off my fingers!

I don't eat these things, and truthfully I don't miss them. When I see greasy foods I don't usually crave them. I know that I can eat a couple of french fries but that's about it. When there is a party and everyone has their big bowls of ice cream, I don't wish I also had one. I do feel pressure to get a child-size cup of something-or-other when a group of friends and I go to Coldstone or something. But, I don't crave these things perhaps because I know the immediate consequence.

The problem is I still enjoy food, bread especially, or main dishes with cream-based sauces. Yummo. The other problem is that my school and work schedule have been so hectic I've not truly exercised like I used to in over a year. A Big Fat Year. And not only have I gained everything back I lost, I have added a few too. (Insert uphappy groan here.)

I read somewhere that what we eat is half of our success to weight loss, while strength-training is about 35% and aerobic activity another 15%. SIGH. I guess I are what I eat.

That being said, why can't the other foods -- the breads and creamy sauces and sugary treats -- why can't they have a consequence to make me not crave them too? I mean, I know they have consequences. In the words of Scott Pilgrim, "Bread makes you fat?!?!?!" I just wish they had IMMEDIATE consequences. Like, give me a fat butt overnight. Or, make it so that by eating these things I will throw up. I hate throwing up. That would stop me for sure.

I am actually considering a few new things to help... but not until AFTER my reunion trip! haha!

Chicken Soup for the Skinny-Minded Soul: Week One

I have gotten fat. Not that I was skinny before... well, not since before having three kids anyway. The last time I felt "skinny" was when I was 19 years old. True, I always had somewhat curvy hips. True, I always had "the girls" around. And True, I always had a little bit of a gut... but it was more like a "belly belt"... and I could SUCK.IT.IN. and no one would notice. AND if I wanted to lose 5 or 10 lbs **gasp** I'd eat apples and drink slim fast for a week and I was as good as gold!

However, 1 marriage, 3 kids, 1 divorce and 4 jobs later... that extra belt o' belly has grown into more of a belly skirt. BLEH!

So, about a year and a half ago, I started walking, and then running. And I lost about 39 lbs. Then I got myself a someone special and well... I think I got too comfy and last year around this time I gained about 10 back. Then that someone special went bye-bye and I gained about 10 more back. Then, I "got back on the wagon" and started walking and running again, and loving it. I lost some again.

But then school started, and I just couldn't figure out how to balance three-quarter time school, full-time work and over-time mom with that itsy-bitsy thing called exercise. The results: I'm fat again. I feel it in my thighs, I see it in my chipmunk cheeks, my jeans are crying "uncle" and my belly-skirt is starting to cast a shadow over my knees. NOT.GOOD.

So, now what am I gonna do??? I wanna feel not-so-self-conscious when my new-but-old-someone-special is around. I wanna feel good again. Even if I never get "skinny"... I mean, I don't have to be the sports car, but I do wanna be the best-consumer-rated Sedan around. Make sense?

Ok... so what I need here is some good motivation. I am not gonna do a crazy diet wherein I starve myself for the first 6 weeks. Been there, done that. And when I gained it back it went to places it hadn't seen before. True, school is starting up again in a few weeks, but now that I am getting the feel of it, I am gonna try to figure out where to fit this exercise thing in. My neurologist, whom I see for my Atypical Migraines suggested that even if I am busy with school I at least do a long workout on Saturdays. Point taken. So... here we go. I want to "think thin" and get back to healthy food selections.

I decided that I can't just announce my goals on the blog and leave it. I mean it's not like that infomercial, "Set it and forget it!" No, this is something I've gotta keep at. I have decided that Sundays is the day I will weigh in each week. Sundays will also be my "Chicken Soup for the Skinny-Minded Soul" days. I will blog about anything new I've discovered, progress, set-backs, challenges, etc. I am calling it "Chicken Soup" because I want my regimen to revolve around healthy choices. "For the skinny-minded soul" because you have to be able to have positive thinking and love yourself for who you really are deep-down.

So, if you don't like reading about weight-loss, I won't feel offended if you choose to skip reading my posts on Sundays.

I don't have to be skinny to be beautiful, but I have to be willing to love myself. And, if I'm not comfortable in my own skin, then it is up to me to change it. That's what this journey is about. If anyone cares to join me, the more the merrier!

My First Milestone Goal: Lose 2 dress sizes by Valentine's Day.
Something I will change/incorporate this week: Drink Water Every Day.

Kissing Burns Calories

It's true. Kissing Burns Calories. According to "studies" (y'know, tested, tried & proven studies), Hugging & Kissing burns about 68 calories.

I did the math. That means I would have to engage in kissing for nearly 4 hours to work off 1 regular size Snickers Bar. I laughed when I read that. I told Big-D that if he was really supportive of my goal, then...er...um... hehehe. No pain, no gain, right?

So, in my research of "activities that burn calories" here is just a sampling of what I have learned: [cph=calories per hour]


50 cph - Sleeping for 8 hours
68 cph - Hugging & Kissing
68 cph - Praying (while kneeling)
102 cph -Sitting while Talking on the phone
102 cph - Playing board/card games
102 cph - Typing (including Blogging, which means I am burning calories as we speak!)
136 cph - Casual/Slow Walking (less than 2 mph)
156 cph - Grocery Shopping
170 cph - Playing the piano (or organ)
238 cph - Vacuuming
258 cph - Walking at "brisk" pace (3.5 mph)
306 cph - Weeding
408 cph - Swimming (leisurely, for "fun")
544 cph - Synchronized Swimming (good reason to join the "team", right?)
748 cph - Fast, vigorous Swimming
918 cph - Running (8 mph)

To check out more activities Click Here - Activity Counter

So, I've reviewed all of the listed activities and decided that I definitely need to add more Kissing, more Talking on the phone, more blogging, and more piano practice. All of these things can only add to my work-out experience, right?

Oh - and I suppose it is true that running is the fastest way to burn calories. Guess I will keep working on that one too!

You Don't See That At the Gym!

Lately, I've had this eerie feeling; like I'm being followed. And it was happening everywhere. Home. Work. Church. You name it and I've sensed it happening. Pretty much the only time I didn't feel that way was when I was driving or sleeping!

Anyway - it creeped me out so much, the hairs on the back of my neck started to stand up. My pulse would race. I could feel my heart pounding through my chest. Finally, I had enough. I wanted to try to catch this so-called prowler and tell him to knock it off. Quit Following me!

So, just the other day, I was walking around the grocery store, picking up this and that. Just as I turned the corner into the frozen food section, I felt it. Like a cold breath on the back of my neck. It felt like someone was walking right on my heels! They/he/she/it was SO CLOSE. I turn around. No one. I turn back the other way. Nothing. Finally, I do a 360 while catching a glimpse of my reflection in the glass freezer doors!

You won't believe what I discovered! In all actuality, no one was following me at all. Fact is - It was my butt! It had gotten bigger! Can you believe that? When the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks did that happen?

I decided to tell this "thing" to get off my butt - literally. Last year I waited till spring to start my outdoor hikes/walks/runs. Not this year. I could not put it off another day.

I decided to get my ear warmers on, my long running pants, jacket and gloves and hit the hills. So I did. As usual, my boyfriend, John Mayer came with me via the iPod. He's a great work-out buddy. Also, I can sing all of his heart-ache, dealing-with-break-up songs in my head... Gosh, he just gets me! I digress.

Anyway, never mind the fact that I get Bronchitis every year as soon as the inversion hits. Never mind that I haven't slept for days and should instead be napping. Never mind that it is COLD!!! I don't care whether or not Punxatawney Phil saw his freakin' shadow or not. I had to get out there.

My friend asked me why I just don't join a gym; then I could run all year long. I have belonged to gyms in the past. I really love the machines, free weights and classes. I don't really know if I am working the right stuff to the right capacity or weights, but I enjoy it. However for cardio - I do NOT enjoy treadmills and the like. Why? I dunno... let me muse that over for a sec. [dee dee doo da, dee dee dum. dee dee do da, dee! dee, dee-dee dee-dee...] Ok, I think I've figured it out.

If I run on a treadmill, I get bored. Sure I can bring my iPod. I could watch the wall mounted TVs. I could even people-watch. But the point is, I'm not going anywhere. I know - that is the whole point of "stationary". I realized tonight on my run that I love running out doors for many reasons.

I love the fresh air. And where I run - I love the view. Plus, at the gym on a treadmill, I give up too easily. About 10 minutes shy of my goal, I think, "Ah! That's good enough!" and I get off the machine. On the contrary, when I run outdoors, I park at one end of my route or trail. I walk/run to my halfway point. Then I turn around and come back. See - there is no bailing out ten minutes early. I HAVE to go back to my car. Otherwise, I can't get home. So - for me, this works.

Tonight's run was good for me, especially for a winter run. First of all, I only did 3 miles. Secondly, I actually only ran about 1 of the 3 miles and walked the other 2. Oh well... baby steps, right? Besides, I didn't get fat overnight, so I shouldn't expect to lose it all over night either, right?

Here are some pics from my run. Like, tell me you're ever gonna see these at the gym! (sorry for the graininess...these are from my phone, and with the inversion they are not that clear.)

The Bountiful Temple. This is close to where I park. So, I start off seeing this and it's what I come back to at the end.

Something about being in the mountains makes me feel empowered.

Like, literally, I am "on top" of the world.

Then, when I near the top, I can see practically the entire valley below.

But the highlight of this particular run... was the family of deer.

I'm never gonna see these types of "young bucks" at the gym. And trust me... comparatively speaking, I'd rather see these some days!

What about you? What motivates you to exercise? What type of exercise do you enjoy most and why?

I've Gobble-Gobbled Long Enough

Last April I decided I really wanted to lose weight! I was on my way. I lost 39 lbs by mid-July. I was excited. But then something happened. I plateaued. I got frustrated.

Then summer happened, and I used "vacation" as an excuse. And then Big-D had to go and tell me he thought I was "fine" the way I was, and he had to go and say that I wasn't fat, just a little "soft" and "who wants to hug a bag of bones anyway, right?" So, we all agree: Big-D is to blame, right?

Just kidding! Of course no one is to blame but myself. But I gained about 15 of those horrid, awful pounds back. I whined and complained about it. My jeans grew "tighter". Ugh! So, I decided to do what the experts suggest and keep a food diary. They say to write down when you eat, what you eat, and every time you FEEL like eating. This is supposed to help you "diagnose" trigger-points that invoke cravings. I decided I'd give it a shot. So, here is Day One of the "food journal".

7:00 am - woke up. got ready for work.

8:30 am - arrived at work. Starving. Wanted to make healthy whole-wheat toast. But first, had to warm up the Otis Spunkmyer Cookie Oven (yes. the cookies have their own oven) so we could make our daily cookies for clients. And you can't run the oven, the toaster and the microwave in our office at the same time, or you'll blow a fuse. Not my fault, right? and I WAS starving, and one little-bitty-blob of frozen cookie dough couldn't be that bad, right? Popped one in my mouth. yumm-o!

9:00 am - have aforementioned toast.

10:30 am - hungry. eat fat free yogurt. I like this brand, so it's all good.

12:30 pm - starved but in the middle of something and don't want to stop to heat up my soup for lunch. But hey! looky there! the candy basket is RIGHT THERE! Toss a few peanut butter kisses in my mouth.

1:00 pm - have tomato soup for lunch with whole wheat crackers. not so bad. pretty good actually. AND I bought the soup during a case lot sale, so it only ended up being like 20 cents for the can. score!

3:20 pm - leave work to pick up kids from school. Daughter gives me her cookie she saved all day just for me! Awww... how can I turn that down? I didn't want to break her heart.

4:00 pm - gosh! is it only 4 pm? Feels like it's almost dinner time, darn the whole daylight savings thing. I blame the early dusk for making me hungry. HAVE to have a bag of microwave popcorn to keep me tied over till din-din, right?

5:30 pm - making dinner. Mmmm...skillet enchiladas. Nibbling on Chips & salsa while I cook.

6:00 pm - dinner time! whoo-hoo! 2 enchiladas with sour cream, (low-fat of course).

8:00 pm - had to have a bowl of sweetened cereal to knock that mexi-flavored din-din outta my mouth. you know what I mean.

9:00 pm - looked over the day's food journal. Wow! I'm a pig! No wonder I am a fatty-fat-fat!

Oh - and I decided I HATE food Journals! I am not doing another page! I'd rather write "Put the food down! Step Away from the Fridge! Don't be a Fatty-Fat-Fat" on posters all over the kitchen instead. So there you have it. The truth hurts sometimes, doesn't it?

Before when I lost weight it was because I chewed gum. Even though I HATE chewing gum, I am going to go back to it. Chewing mint-flavored gum in between meals helps me not to eat the things I shouldn't.

That being said, I am taking liberties this holiday weekend with THREE DAYS OF BINGING (yes - you heard me) and then back on the wagon!

Or is it Off the Wagon? No. It's On the wagon- I just googled it. Anyone out there want to hop on the Bandwagon with me? hee hee! All right, I've carried this whole "wagon" metaphor a bit too far, haven't I?

Hope all of you have a Blessed and Wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Culinary Coronary, Anyone?

So - for this segment of Festive Fridays with Fun on the Blog, lemme introduce you to a restaurant. When I first got these pics in an email, I wasn't sure if it was for real. So, I did my "homework" and scoured the Internet. All sign point to yes - that it's real. I'll give you the links as we go...Introducing (the disgusting and unbelievable) Heart Attack Grill
"Diet Center"... (yes it is really a restaurant)

Be sure to click on the pics as they are so much better "up close & personal".
Nurses? WTFreak? Well, the concept is that eating here will give you a heart attack and therefore, you will need to have triple bypass surgery. Who doesn't need a nurse for that?

Yes! They really DO sell cigarettes here. I guess as long as you're gonna clog your arteries, you might as well go down with lung cancer too, right? Seriously!
Here is the Quadruple Bypass Burger because, you guessed it - 4 patties!!! Who needs 4 patties??? Or they would probably say, "Because who DOESN'T need 4 Patties???"


I guess some "patients" need a little assistance to the door... Actually, this is what the "winner" gets if he can eat the entire Quadruple Bypass Burger...a personal "wheelchair escort by a nurse" to his car.


I am sure all of you men out there are thinking, "Oh yeah, baby!" (well,- not ALL you men).
And all of you women are probably rolling your eyes (and rightfully so). I mean who thinks up this stuff, right? And WHY, pray tell, would someone think marketing POOR HEALTH will bring in business?

Well, who knows why...but it apparently works. I suppose it's somewhat of a gimmick, as far as the marketing goes. And I also suppose that if anything, they are at least honest about the fact that their food CAN and most likely will clog arteries.

Here's a little bit of background as well as the restaurant's official site:
Official Restaurant (click here)
How it all started (click here)

Sort of makes you think...if this dude can be successful with a business like this...Maybe I should start some totally crazy business in which I promise to ruin someone's good health or otherwise screw them over.

Perhaps I could sell makeup that promises to give acne! Or maybe I could make pet-owner matching outfits, cuz that would just be the cutest thing ever!!! (I just threw up in my mouth.)

People - When in doubt - JUST SAY NO!!!

Before & After

Weighed in this morning. Down 29 lbs. Exciting! I am finally starting to see my jawline again. Now, if that middle section would just start to disappear...

One of my friends suggested I take a before and after picture. That'll be the day! Plus, have you ever noticed that in the "before" pictures, not only are the women in really awful grandma-style underwear or swimsuits, but the subjects' hair and make-up are just as hideous. Additionally, the people in the "before" picture look physically ill, like they are about to toss their cookies. (Which is quite apropos, seeing as if they hadn't eaten all the cookies to begin with, they wouldn't be taking a "before" picture now, would they?) I don't think they are allowed to smile in those "before" pictures either.

In the "after" picture, the subjects look hot and sexy. Hey - are those veneers? How much extra did she pay to have her stretch marks and her facial wrinkles air-brushed out? Looks like the Paul Mitchell salon-on-wheels arrived to do a celebrity hair style too. Did she just come back from Hawaii - or is that a spray-on tan? Wow - a boob-job too? Of course, the people in the "after" pictures are always smiling - they just received a BIG FAT CHECK to lose their BIG FAT CHEEKS!!!

Anyway, I won't be posting any "before" pictures. I don't enjoy looking at myself in my underwear...why would I want to subject anyone else to that? No. I think instead, I will wait until the metamorphoses is complete. Then I will just post a bunch of hot "after" photos, if you don't mind.

I'm A Loser!

Weighed in today, and I am excited to share that I've lost another 3 lbs!!!

I know 3 lbs. may not sound like a whole lot - but just imagine 3 lbs. of uncooked ground hamburger! (Disgusting - I know!)

By the way - I tend to lose it in my back first, which sort of sucks. I guess I could just walk around backwards so people will notice. Of course, the fact that I would be walking backwards would probably be disturbing enough that they wouldn't even notice the diminishing back-fat! (Sorry for side-tracking...just me over-analyzing things again!)

Anyway, I am grateful for the 3-pound loss, which makes my loss to date a total of 21 lbs. That means I am a third of the way to meeting my goal, and it's only been about 6 weeks. Yea for me, if I do say so myself! :-)

Weight One Minute!

Ok, so if there is any one thing that gets me down or makes me feel like crap - it's my weight!!! I have gained approximately 5.6 lbs per year since my first child was born. Pretty pathetic. It just sort of crept up on me. There were things like illnesses and surgeries that happened along the way which sometimes made diet & exercise hard. However most of the time the biggest obstacle was just myself - pun intended!

At any rate, my weight is what stops me dead in my tracks on my new road to confidence. I know that I should not feel defined by what I weigh or the size I wear or how I look. However, society says otherwise. More importantly, I want to be able to do the things I enjoy - like walk upstairs without having a coronary. Lol!

No More Excuses! My weight is now my worst enemy and I am going to battle. Off sugar and most carbs for almost 3 weeks, and am down 18 lbs. I feel like I am on the right track. I've added a new "ticker" to my blog (see right) to track my progress.

That inner "hot babe" of mine is just dying to get out, and it's time to set her free!!!