Even though I'm nowhere near my goal weight, there are a few healthy foods I eat routinely. Here are a some of my staples.
Diet Soda: My husband and I have been strictly buying diet soda for about 6 years now. It was a tough switch. I hated the taste at first, but have tried enough brands to know which ones have the least aftertaste. My favs are sprite zero and diet cream soda. Least fav is diet coke or pepsi, even though I'll drink it with lemon.
Splenda: I take splenda with just about every coffee. My husband and I go to diners a lot (I know, bad habit) and we always have to ask the waitress for splenda. I despise equal/nutrasweet.
Olive Oil: I cook with olive oil (or cooking spray) about 99% of the time. I love using different oils such as sesame and peanut to cook with (I'm a foodie) but olive oil is the staple. It burns easily at high temperatures so keep an eye out for smoke.
Granola: I love granola...even if it's eaten with ice cream. One of my fav desserts is sliced, fresh strawberries with granola and a dollop of whipped cream. My fav breakfast at work is a McDonald's parfait (with granola!)
No Pudge Fat-Free Brownies: These are sinful, and I'm not even a "chocolate" person. I buy them at trader joe's but have recently seen them at my local pathmark for the same price.
Nuts: I buy raw almonds, pecans and walnuts by the pound from TJs. They're very nutritious, curb my appetite and are a great snack.
Seafood: I rarely ate seafood as a child. It was sort of a luxury for us. I found as an adult that I love fish, especially shellfish. I keep large bags of seafood mix (for pasta), shrimp and tilapia in our freezer. I love white, boneless fish and have hooked my husband on it too.
My Healthy Food Staples
Cleanse, Goals, Resolutions...Major Update
Hi. I'm finally taking the time to reflect on my weight loss journey. There's so much to say so here we go.
My first attempt at the Master Cleanse was a total flop. I tried it for about 1/2 a day. I got a bad headache and felt dizzy so I gave in. I just don't think the timing was right. I am now left with a bunch of lemons and maple syrup that'll collect dust in my kitchen cabinet. I haven't totally given up on fasting. I plan on revisiting this and trying again -with way better preparation- sometime in February.
2008 was such a roller coaster ride for me. This wasn't one of my "better" years, especially in the health dept. I haven't made a inch of progress, but I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I didn't expect 29 years of food/weight issues to disappear in one year. What I know is that the key to making an progress with weight has come from 1. preparation, 2. keeping a food journal and 3. being patient. I really need to kick these three things into high gear this year.
It's the day before New Year's Eve (New Year's Adam?) and I'm thinking about my resolutions for 2009. I love making resolutions. I'm fine with not completing all of them, just a fact of life. It's a great feeling to accomplish some of them. I usually categorize them into personal, finance, family, and health. Here are my health resolutions for 2009:
1. Lose 50 pounds -This has been at the top of my list for at least 5 years. It's really time this comes off of my list.
2. Drink more water -I really don't drink enough water. Why? I don't know. I know I'd see so many benefits if I drank at least 6 cups of water a day.
3. Take a daily vitamin -This is a must.
4. Exercise at least 3xs a week -Another must. I'll leave this open to any form of exercise for at least 30 minutes.
5. Stretch daily -I love stretching. It's another form of meditation in my mind. I just need to remember to do it everyday!
I might have to be the crazy lady with post-it note reminders all over the house. Seriously though, I'll be setting reminders in my g-cal. They actually work.
So what are my immediate goals? As you know, setting goals is tough for me. My half-hearted goals haven't served me well in the past. My day-to-day goals are basically my resolutions. The only way I'm going to succeed is to keep them at "the top of my head", as I like to put it. Here are my revised goals for 2009:
- Current weight (as of 12/30/08): 224.6 lbs
- Current jeans size: 16 (tight)
- First major goal: 200 lbs
- Second major goal: 175 lbs
- Ultimate goal weight: 150 lbs
My Master Cleanse Experience: Day 0
I've decided to try the Master Cleanse. I've read the Master Cleanser eBook (PDF), forums and seen countless videos of other people's experiences. I am doing this more so for the benefits that come with detoxing. My health has definitely deteriorated over the last year. I wake up with a stuffy nose almost everyday. I think I've developed asthma over the last year. I've developed a whistle/wheezing sound in my chest while sleeping, which actually wakes me up sometimes. My allergies are in full effect no matter the season. And the list goes on.
It's recommended to cleanse for a minimum of 10 days. I'm trying to cleanse for 4 days (until New Year's Eve.) I've never juice fasted/cleansed before so I don't want to set myself up for failure. Baby steps. I'm already having a problem with drinking the salt water flush. My gag reflex is in full force after only cups. I have gone many days not eating until late afternoon. I suspect I'll run into problems in the evenings. I might have to break out the crochet needle to keep my mind preoccupied.
I'm off to the store to stock up on supplies. I'll post my experience here. Wish me luck!
EDIT-7:56pm: Damn it! I couldn't find Grade B maple syrup anywhere! I'll have to take a drive up to Trader Joe's tomorrow. Have to postpone one day.
