Carbs Are My Friend

You always hear the negative about carbs when dieting.  You have simple carbs, complex carbs, and fiber.  Yes fiber is considered a carb, but it does not act like simple and complex carbs.  Anyway, on to why carbs are my friend.

I've done a lot of research over the years about differnt things when it comes to weight loss, fitness, and so on.  I had completely forgot some of the positives about carbs...carbs help keep you full fiber does too...now you see the connect? lol

I usually eat three meals and three small snacks a day, but before snack time I was hungry, sometimes super hungry.  One morning I was very hungry and decided that my pack of plain instant oatmeal or a bagel thin wouldnt do the job...so I had both.  I did the same thing the next day, and the day aftert that. I noticed that I didn't have an am snack neither of the days.  Hmmm...no hunger?  how could this be? Simple answer...carbs.  My two hundred and thirty-five calorie breakfast kept me full for hours.

I'm not saying to eat more carbs and skip out on a snack, but this held me over until snack time and I didn't want to eat more than my normal snack portion!!!

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Rambling...just an update...

It's been a while since I blogged.  Not sure if I mentioned that I'm working again.  I was laid off for 28 days and found another job.  In a way I wish I would have been off a little longer so I could complete some projects and be more available for the kids going back to school.  But oh well, I thank God that I have a job so I will have to resume to my pre-layoff schedule.

My hours are basically the same but my weight isn't....lol.  I'm 155lbs.  June 2012 I toppled the scale at 177lbs (o_0).  I still pretty much eat what I want...but within reason.  Hmmm...well maybe I don't...lol.  But I don't restrict myself as if I'm on some cardboard diet.  I'm an advocate for label reading so I catch myself saying how horrible a food is or how it's a waste of calories, carbs, and so on.  I still use the My Fitness Pal application for Android and Apple on my cell and iPod. 

Oh and the newest thing, well not so new for me, but I don't think that I've mentioned that I'm going natural...no more chemical / relaxed hair for me.  I did my BC this month (September 2012).  For those of you that don't know, BC is big chop.  Meaning I cut my hair down to the natural hair.  I was transitioning for almost a year, it was time.  I have maybe 5 inches of hair at the most if it were straightened.  I can't wait for my natural hair to be the length it was prior to my transition. 

What does natural hair mean for me when working out...well I will answer that question in the far future, I've been wearing braids or twist so I have no idea yet! LOL!  Until next time...

 

-12lbs and counting

Well its been about a month since I've gotten back on track and I've lost 12lbs.  I'm happy, my body is happy...yay! 

The things I swear by and have assisted me with my weight loss:

1) Exercise (although I haven't done as much as I thought I would do)
2) Vitamins & Supplements (can't say they contributed to the loss, but they do contain nutrients that the body need)
3) Water, water, and more water
4) Portion Control
5) My Fitness Pal app for Android & Apple
6) Biggest Loser Food Scale
7) Measuring cups & spoons
8) A Scale to weigh myself
9) Being a lable reader!
10) Walking/Running Shoes (makes it a lot easier when hitting the pavement)

Hmmmm....I think that's about it!  Losing weight definitly takes you being organized.  You have to be in the mindset to do so and prepared to make the commitment.  I literally measure ALL food I put into my mouth whether healthy or not as healthy.

Until next time...be happy and eat healthy!

My Treat Day

On Friday (6/13) my daughter and I hung out and we literally ate whatever we wanted.  I have a 1500 calorie per day limit and I went over by 185 calories (I had an extremely late but very light dinner, had I eaten a typical dinner I would have went over by more). 

The bulk of my calories came from snacks!  I had a kids scoop of vanilla ice cream with a brownie and pecans from Coldstones and half of a Cinnabon with a cup of 2% milk (yummy).  Of course I went over my sugars (I always do, but not due to sweets).  The good thing is I rarely go over any of my numbers so I guess you can say I have a reserve from what ever I don't use during the remainder of the week (although I don't look at it like that).  I try not to worry so much about what I eat, but how much.

I will admit, I did get burn quite a few calories from walking so much so my net calories consumed for the day was 775.  But even without the exercise I still feel that my caloric intake for the day wasn't bad! 

Portion control is definitely the key!  So next time you decide to splurge a little and treat yourself to a tasty snack remember PORTION CONTROL.  Save some for tomorrow or share, until next time...be happy and eat healthy!

Portion Control

I feel that I can eat whatever I want...well with reason...lol.  It's all about portion control and a little will power too perhaps.

I just looked at my meals for yesterday and noticed I had cotton candy!  Yep, a sweet made completely out of sugar and artifical colors.  Charm's Fluffy Stuff makes small bags that are 110 calories for the bag.  I ate half yesterday; so that was half the calories, sugar, and carbs.

I divide things in halfs or fourths (it's easier to measure...lol, I suck @ fractions!) and that will be my portion for the day.  Not so long ago I had a double chocolate and white chips cookie from Panera Bread...a whopping 450 cals for the entire cookie.  I gave half to my daughter, took my half, broke it in half and ate it over two days.  I love chocolate and was able to satisfy my love for chocolate and not feel as if I just over did it.

So the next time you want a dessert, eat a small portion.  Now I don't suggest this for people that don't have the will power to do so.  I've been practicing portion control since 2008 so its not something that you will adapt to over night.

What I do suggest for individuals that will eat the entire whatever, share it with someone...that way you can't get it back.  For the record that's not why I shared the cookie, I knew eating a fourth piece of cookie a day would take 4 days and become hard or stale.  Plus I wouldn't eat something like that 4 days in a row...even if I am breaking it into fourths.

So yes, you can still satisfy that sweet tooth or chocolate crave by using portion control.  And as always, if you have a medical condition such as type 2 Diabetes and shouldn't consume a lot of sugar then my suggestion would not apply to you, please seek the advice of your physician.

Until next time...be happy and eat healthy :-)

The Truth is in the Numbers

Since 2008 I've been reading food labels, counting calories, carbs, etc...  I never had a real way to track them other than my Excel spreadsheet.  Since using the MyFitnessPal app I have a different outlook on the numbers!!!

I started to rapidly gain weight after deciding to get an IUD in Feb. 2011 and boy...did the pound pack on in a matter of a few months.  My diet nor did anything else change so I knew it wasn't me.  I've ALWAYS been able to maintain my weight, working out or not.  About 2 weeks ago I toppled the scale at 177lbs! AHHHHH!  Oh heck no!  All of my hard work was not about to go down the drain.  Nor was I about to pack on more pounds.  I've always wondered how people could watch themselves gain weight and not do anything about it.  Mine happened so fast I didn't realize right away.  BTW, before I got my IUD I was between 149-152lbs. 

First off, I started REALLY looking at the foods I ate to make sure I was good in that department.  For the most part I was (I only made a few adjustments).  Next, I started back working out (I slowed down a whole lot because my spine is curving the wrong direction which causes the most awful pains at times).  I don't work out as much as I would like because I want to take it slow and make sure I don't cause any additional pain.

Now two weeks later I'm down to 170.5 lbs....the 160's are VERY NEAR and I'm VERY HAPPY!!!  I'm on a 1,500 calorie diet.  Between working out and my food choices, most days it averages to less than 1,500 calories. 

MyFitnessPal has all of my numbers available for me, I'm able to see how close I am to meeting my goals and if I'm in danger of going over.  I did this for myself on Excel, but of course this would cause me to have to log into my computer EVERYTIME.  The more convenient it is for you to log your numbers, the more likely you are to pay attention to them...Do you agree?  At first I was afraid that I would forget to log in my foods but I think that takes a little self motivation and eventually it will become part of your daily routine!

Until next time....Happy and Healthy Eating! :-)