Stress Binge Eating

Chicken chow mein with brown rice and wonton soup.

That's my stress binge eating meal of choice.  I guess it could be worse, but I still feel crappy after I consume it.  Last night I was stressed out and overly tired, never a good combination.  There was no way I was going to cook dinner (I got home at 8) so Chinese take-out it is.  I ate it all, even though I know I shouldn't have.  My brain needed to eat it, not my stomach. 

My problem is that I'm completely aware that I eat when I'm not hungry, but it still doesn't make me stop.  I should have had half of the food, and saved the rest.  But, no, I ate it all.

I'm really looking forward to this 4 day weekend to get myself back to normal!

I Survived My First 5K

I did it!  I survived the 5K!  And I even ran a little bit of it!


It wasn't a timed race, but I estimated it took me about 45 minutes to complete.  My knee was fine, but my breathing was more of a problem.  It was crazy humid out.  I have to say it didn't feel as far of a distance as I thought it would.  And, about 10 minutes after finishing, I got a second wind and wanted to get going again!


I've decided that I'm going to start walking/running outside more often, in addition to everything I'm doing at the gym.  I really liked it, I just have to work up my stamina.  My knee feels fine today, my hip is a little off because it isn't used to impact like that since the elliptical has no impact.


I have many more 5K's in my future.  I'm hoping to be able to run most, if not all, of a 5K by next summer.

Week 40 Weigh In

Current Weight: 186.8 lbs

Weekly Loss: 1.2 lbs     Total Loss: 35.2 lbs

After 2 weeks in a row of losing weight again, I'm convinced my body is done going back and forth and is finally ready to lose again.  I've been back at the gym at least 5 times a week plus a weekly session with a personal trainer.  My eating is back on track, all is well.  I'm doing my first 5K tomorrow with some friends from Weight Watchers.  It's a charity walk, but I'm going to try and jog some of it.  We'll see how that goes!

New Snacks

There are some really great new snacks out there perfect to keep in the car or at work for emergency hunger!

Kellog's Fruit Crisps- Strawberry

These taste Pop-Tart like, but with much better stats.  

2 crisps have a Points+ Value of 3.  They are great for a breakfast on 

the go or as a snack when you're in the mood for something sweet.

Nature Valley Granola Thins- Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter

These are small, but completely take care of any sweet chocolate craving you may have.  1 pouch has one square in it coming in at 2 Points+.  Delicious!

Newtons Fruit Thins- Blueberry Brown Sugar

Mmmmm, cookies!  3 cookies have 4 Points+.  

They have chewy bits of fruit in them, such a perfect texture.

Body Fat

I have never measured my body fat.  Ever.  I care about how much I weigh, but I'm more concerned with being healthy and building muscle while losing fat.

This Saturday, my gym had a table set up to do calculations, so I figured why not.  They have a hand-held device that you put your height, weight, age and sex into.  Then you hold on to metal sensors, and viola, body fat percentage comes on up.  Now, it's not 100% accurate by any means, and the man helping me out says you should really do it before you eat, drink or exercise (all of those things I had already done by that point in time).  I figure some idea is better than no idea at all. 

I came up at 35%, which is a little bit high, but I'm sure it's much less than what it was a year ago.  Most of the sources I have been able to find tell me that the healthy range for someone my age and height is between 21% and 33%, so I'm not too far away from that!  They keep the measuring tool at the gym, so I'm going to measure my percentage once a month to keep track of things.  I would like to get down to the lower end of the range, maybe around 25%.  We shall see!

BLT

I love bacon, as most people do.  It's perfect at any time of the day.  I once thought that I would have to go without bacon if I wanted to lose weight.  WRONG!  Bacon and weight loss can happen at the same time!  It's all about the kind of bacon and the portion.  Mega-greasy heaps of bacon at the diner- not so much.  Crisp center-cut bacon?  Heck yes!  One of my favorite ways to enjoy bacon is in a BLT.  So here's a simple, non-diet killing recipe.  The sandwich only has a Points+ value of 6!  I know BLT's are pretty self-explanatory, but you're getting a recipe anyway!

Ingredients:
4 slices center-cut bacon, cooked crispy
1 Arnold Select 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin
1 tbsp light mayo (I really like Hellman's Light- the one with the blue cover)
1/2 tomato, sliced
Iceberg lettuce


Lightly toast the sandwich thin, and spread both halves with mayo.  Layer remaining ingredients in the order you like, I prefer tomato on the bottom, then bacon, then lettuce.  Put together, and eat.  


I had this for breakfast over the weekend, and it was great!  It's very filling and satisfies the need for bacon.  Since I usually have about 6 points for breakfast, this was an even swap for anything else I would have.  If you're having this for lunch or dinner, or if you're just really hungry, pair it with a salad or some cut up fruit.  I may just have to have another one for lunch!

I'm still alive, I promise!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  I haven't been back on track since I left for vacation.  Between that, the hurricane, and school starting, I've been feeling overwhelmed.  I'm back now!


Yesterday was my first day 100% back on plan.  I tracked everything, went back to the gym, and went to my personal training session with some friends from work.  I feel good, and all it took was being in the right frame of mind again.  


Last week I gained .2 lbs, this week I lost 3 lbs.  I'm back down to 188 lbs, a total of 34 down from where I started.  Next week you can look forward to regular posting resuming, I promise!!!

Greek Yogurt

I love Greek Yogurt.  That's what I enjoy for breakfast 90% of the time.  My go to is to grab a plain Fage Total 0%, top it with some strawberry preserves, and viola!  4 Points+ and delicious.


My problem is that Greek Yogurt is expensive!  I try to stock up on the 6 ounce containers when they are on sale, but I recently ran out.  I stand by Fage through thick and thin, but I had to branch out.  So, Chobani 0% was on sale this week for 88 cents each, so I bought a few containers of different flavors.  I have to say, it's no Fage, but it's still good.  The texture isn't as thick as Fage, it's closer to regular yogurt.  The flavors are great, and the ones I've picked are 3 Points+ each (the honey and raspberry flavors are 4 Points+ each).  


What brand of Greek Yogurt do you love?

Black Beans with Rice

This blog really helps me with my recipes.  I'm infamous for not measuring anything, and then I can never re-create anything!  

I've been eating way too much meat the past few days.  We had to cook up all of the meat from our freezer in the garage since it tripped during the flooding from the hurricane.  I need at least a few days without consuming any meat, so I always turn to beans as a filling protein source.  This recipe came out so good, it's going to be perfect to bring to school for lunch.  You could also use it to fill a burrito.  It's also great since it takes about 15 minutes to make, and most of the ingredients are already in your pantry (well, at least in my pantry!).

The recipe below makes 4 servings with 8 Points+ each.

Ingredients:

1 Batch Cilantro Lime Rice (www.skinnytaste.com)- I left out the cilantro because I can't stand the taste

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup frozen corn kernels

1 can diced tomatoes and chiles, slightly drained

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tbsp lime juice

1/2 tbsp Wondra Flour

Instructions:

Get the rice cooking.

In another pot, combine all remaining ingredients except the Wondra.  Cook over high heat until it is bubbling, reduce heat to low and continue to simmer.  Sprinkle Wondra over mixture and stir in, simmering for another 5 minutes or until it thickens to desired consistency.

Serve 1/4 of the bean mixture over 1/4 of the rice (about a 1/2 cup of each).

I can't wait to make more of this to keep on hand for meals during the week!

Goodbye Summer!

Well, the time has come.  It's Labor Day, and summer is over.  Work starts again tomorrow, leaving the weekends to grab the last warm rays of sun before autumn fully sets in.  


I have a very good feeling about this school year, in more ways than one.  I believe my weight loss is going to start back up.  I haven't been back on track since my vacation, not tracking my foods, not measuring anything out.  It's nice, but I know it's hurting me.  


I've got a batch of white bean turkey chili going for lunches and dinners during the week.  I'm planning out my meals so that when I go shopping, I know exactly what I need and what I'll be eating when.  The year is busy and crazy, but that means I have to plan ahead, and I work well that way.  


I'm going to get back on track with the gym as well.  It's so much easier for me to go there on my way home from work instead of leaving the house to go there.  I got my new knee brace, so hopefully that will allow me to continue to push myself.


My birthday is October 8.  This year I'm turning 27.  My goal as of now is to reach 140lbs by the time I turn 28.  That's over a year to lose 50lbs.  I can, and WILL, do it!!!!!


To all of my fellow teachers:  Have a great school year!  Here we go...

Week 37 Weigh In

Current Weight: 190.8 lbs

Weekly Loss: 2.4 lbs      Total Loss: 31.2 lbs

Alright, the vacation weight is coming off!  I haven't gotten my eating or exercising back on track yet with the hurricane and everything, but I know that once school starts on Tuesday, everything will fall into place.  I've already started to get my food back on track.  The gym will come easier when I go on my way home from work.

This is going to be a great school year, both professionally and personally!  I can't wait!