Calling all Dr. Phil's

I wake up this morning with the thoughts: 'Where am I? What happened last night? Oh my gosh. I'm stressed about something, what is it again? What day is it today?' Not sure why I wake up like that because there was only one 12 ounce beer consumed the night before. Pretty normal evening, actually. Mark came over, we had dessert (WW chocolate chip cookie a la mode = delish), watched TV; just spent a very relaxing hour or two together. Quite enjoyable. We both feel like we have been busy, busy, busy bees lately. And I've got (family) stress up to my eyeballs. That can really wear a girl out!! I'm going to visit my brother and sister-in-law tomorrow in Athens, though, so hopefully some stress will get relieved.

I decide that today is going to be different. I will look my best, be my best, try my hardest, do work son.

At 1:10, that mindset has been working pretty well. (Except I should be drinking water instead of a diet coke right now...but really, that's the only wrong choice made today.)

So I've had a banana and a WW Chicken Enchilada Monterrey (310 cals, 10 fat g's) so far today. That's good, right??? I think so. Better than the last few days have been, trust me.

Seriously though, I need some stress relief tips. I've been thinking that running just as fast as my short, stubby legs can take me might be a good thing. (It'd be like a twofer...stress relief and weight loss.) I'm tired of turning to food to relieve my stress. I told you that I've come to terms with the fact that I am an emotional eater. I hate that about myself, but it's true. I have GOT to change that. I need another outlet for stress besides donuts and dorritos.

So come on, all you Dr. Phil's out there...give me some advice!!!

I get by with a little help from my friends

For all of you out there in PeyPeyland who read this blog, not only for the witty and entertaining banter, but for the diet news as well...

Here are some great tips from the Skinny Bitch herself, Kaci Lesley...

i almost always freeze my ww yogurt for an hour or so before i eat it. its fabulous. it takes longer to eat bc its kinda frozen...so good. try it!

alternative western bagels (in the bakery section) are good & only 100 calories. blueberry is my favorite.

another GREAT dessert/snack is a sugar-free 60 calorie vanilla pudding snack & 1/2 cup of pumpkin. it sounds weird but its like eating pumpkin pie! (without the crust) just buy canned pumpkin and let it chill in the fridge. then stir in a vanilla pudding, a little splenda and some cinnamon....MMM...so good. and only 100 calories and LOTS of fiber. (you'll be farting!)

jolly time mini bags of popcorn are fabulous. i LOVE the kettle-corn. only 100 calories.

ok - on days when i know i'm going to eat a big meal or dessert (like date night, night out w friends... whatever) i'll eat a light lunch. but still - i refuse to skip a meal. but you can eat a salad from subway with TONS of veggies for like 50 calories or something crazy. you can add turkey or a roasted chicken breast for very few calories also. they have good italian dressing too for next to nothing.also - panera & abc have good salads. panera - the classic salad is good, i always add chicken...again low calories. same for abc...the house salad w chicken and ff raspberry ving. is amazing and low calorie. perfect choices for a big meal day!

i eat sweet potatoes all the time. i love them. with squirt butter. i'm addicted to squirt butter.

i eat rice cakes too. i know that sounds gross. but i PILE salsa on them or a little peanut butter or squirt butter ha ha. they dont really fill me up - i just eat them when i'm eating to be eating.

when i need a chocolate fix...sometimes i eat chocolate haha but other times i drink diet hot chocolate - its 25 calories. it helps when i need a fix. or a fudge bar. they are always good.

i eat a ton of fruit & veggies. keep an apple in your purse :) they are full of fiber which totally makes you feel full. i love oranges too. blueberries are good frozen! you can eat a cup of them for next to nothing calorie wise and they are SO good for you!

(If only we could all be so disciplined, right? Oh, but wait, what's that? We can? All I have to do is say no to bad and yes to good? Oh, yeah, that's right, I forgot. It's that easy.)

THANKS KACI!!!! YOU'RE AN THINSPRIRATION TO US ALL!!!

Quest for a Skinnier, Healthier Body

I am quickly realizing that two things are needed in my Quest for a Skinnier, Healthier Body: organization and discipline. Of these two practices, I am severely lacking. So, waking up at 7:45 a.m. this morning and having to be at work by 8:30 a.m. did not afford me any time to eat a proper breakfast or fix a nutritious lunch. So, I was forced to make grits (no butter though!) at the office for breakfast and will have to face the madding lunch crowd at 12 p.m. today. Better Choices is my motto for the day.

So, at 10:34, for my first diary entry of February, 23, 2009, I have had the following:

-2 cups of coffee with probably about a tablespoon each of french vanilla creamer (not the sugar free or fat free kind. Better Choices.)
-Bowl of grits with salt and pepper

So, by my calculations, that's about 270 calories. Well, I'll just round it off to 300. I'm thinking it needs to be heavier in the morning, lighter in the evening. Better choices, better choices, better choices. I think I need to record myself saying that over and over and then listen to it while I'm sleeping. The osmosis technique might work, who knows?

By 11:20, I've drank 17.5 ounces of water. (Is that on target? I don't know. Trying to aim for about 70 o-z's a day.)

11:27 thoughts: I've really been craving bananas lately. Hmmm, may be some kind of Freudian sub-conscious slip...

After lunch thoughts: My breath smells like onions.

To add to the earlier 300 calories calculation:

-2 soft steak tacos (I know, not the best choice, but seriously, what could be considered a GOOD food choice at a mexican restaurant? At least they weren't stuffed with cheese and sour cream.) -A handful of chips and salsa-Water

I don't know how many calories that makes, but I know it's a lot. I'd say probably around 900-1000. So I'm up to about 1300. Hmmm...not much room left for anything else.

I can't remember if I've posted this before. A great website for nutrition information: www.nutritiondata.com. On the top right toolbar, there is a place where you can type in ANY food and it will give you the nutrition information. The nutritional target map is a helpful tool too. Check it out.

3:23 p.m. thoughts: Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate.

3:44 p.m. thoughts: I think Crystal Light gives me heartburn. Oh wait. Maybe that esophageal burning sensation is from the steak tacos and greasy tortilla chips. 52.5 o-z's of agua down the hatch.

I eat a Weight Watchers yogurt at 5:30 p.m. Boston Creme Pie flavor. Seriously, how do they make that taste so good with only 100 calories to spend?

For dinner, I make some fantastic food. I think my creativity gets me in trouble in the food department because I love to cook and I love to be creative. So tonight, I saute some habanero chili chicken sausage with onions, garlic, and red and green bell peppers. Get them good and sauteed (didn't add any oil...just let them cook in their natural juiciness) and then add a little red wine. Reduce that a little bit; add some itailan seasoning. All the while, lovely penne pasta is boiling away with some fresh garlic cloves for taste. Towards the end, I add some fresh spinach leaves and toss it all together with no more than a quarter cup of mozzerella cheese. It's delish!!!! I also enjoy 2 glasses of merlot with it.

I'm pretty proud of myself, actually. No chocolate was consumed. (That's a big stepping stone!) Sure, there could have been better choices made. Tomorrow.

(Right now, I am currently enjoying some pretzels. Why? I don't know. I'm not even hungry. Ughhhhh...)

Darlene

So I have friend; we'll call her "Darlene".

Darlene sent me a message via Facebook the other day talking about how she'd read my blog and was inspired and appreciative that I was blogging about this. She told me about the struggles she'd had and is currently still having with her weight. To steal a line from her, 'I think we're soulmates'. She's right. All of her struggles are MY struggles and vice versa.

To keep it short, we decided, via Facebook messaging (thank God for technology, right?) that we would keep each other strictly accountable, diary all of our daily food intake, and email each other at the end of the day.

I'll be blogging my entries. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

What you put into your body is what you're going to get out of it.

My co-worker just made this statement: What you put into your body is what you're going to get out of it. I have never in my life thought of it like that before. That sentence is so profound to me.

So, it would make sense that if you put bad things in your body then bad things are going to come out of it. (No, I don't mean poop!) Blemishes, weight gain, aches, pains, fatigue, wrinkles...that is what comes out when bad things go in.

And equally, if you put good things in your body then good things will come out. Energy, clear skin, being lean, healthy...that is what comes out when good things go in.

I know it's such a simple concept.

I hope that statement encourages you as much as it did me.

Candyman & La-Z-Boy

"Candyman tempting the thoughts of a
Sweet tooth tortured by weight loss programs
Cutting the corners, there's a
Loose end, loose end, cut cut."
(Dave Matthews Band, "Ants Marching")

I'll let you use deductive reasoning.

I'll give you a hint: the Candyman's been driving around my block for the last week.

He's been lurking in corners, peeking out of the fridge, holding me hostage in the pantry. Oh, and then there's "La-Z-Boy" who's been visiting quite frequently. La-Z-Boy, I swear, points a gun at my head everyday when I get home from work. He makes me sit on the couch and watch t.v. until bedtime. No joke. He won't let me get up.

Who are these guys and how do I get rid of them???

So, I definitely haven't lost any weight. I still have about 14 weeks until my first goal date: May 28. That's closer to 2 pounds per week (1.78 to be exact). Do you guys think I do it? I have a lot of doubt. I need some hype and encouragement.

For God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me...

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me.

Before the throne of God,
I come before the throne of God, I come
Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am,
The King of glory and of grace

My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in Heaven, He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased with His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God.