It's weird doing X Stretch in the middle of the week. I was up at 4 AM (yes, that's a 4) and tossed and turned, then finally got up and got it out of the way. My son did not have a fever when I woke up and he came out to keep me company halfway through the dvd. He proceeded to bug the crap out of me for 27 minutes. His fever did come back several hours later, so he's going to be home again tomorrow. I'm ready to pack him up in a box with air holes and send him to live with his Nanna in New York.
I've been talking to friends about what eating plan I should follow. I'm a big advocate of most of them, and I truly believe it comes down to what works for the individual. My biggest complaint with any plan is the restriction. Atkins is too low carb for me. Most other plans are too low fat for me. Or too low calorie. Regardless of the plan, I find myself obsessing about getting everything to fit properly. Do you know that before I started P90X, I calculated - to the gram - how much apple I could eat with my cottage cheese before my work outs? An 86 gram apple gave me exactly half a serving of fruit. This allowed me to have another half a serving of fruit later in the day. What if I wanted the whole apple? Or the whole banana? It didn't fit.
Anyway, Weight Watchers is one I was considering. It's sensible and many, many people have great success with it. I was concerned though, that it might not be enough calories for me. I have no idea about the points to calorie conversion, and people say that's part of the beauty of it - don't worry about calories, just eat your points. Maybe I could learn to do that, but I think in terms of calories for right now and it's hard to change that mindset. And of course, I still believe a protein-dominant diet is best for me. I also like moderate fat intake. I like cheese now and then, you know? I like vegetables. In fact that was one of my main beefs with the P90X plan - it didn't allow enough vegetables. But as I stated in the comments of my last blog, I don't want to find myself hungry and having to "settle" for vegetables just because I don't have any points left for the day.
I used to think I needed to have a plan. Maybe the best option for me is to NOT follow a plan. Over the summer, I was very laid back. I did not binge as much as I have in the first 4 weeks of P90X, that's for sure. I ate what I wanted, when I wanted it. I was happy and satisfied. Sure, I only lost half a pound in 2 months, but that's okay. I think I can make that same method work for weight loss. To be honest, I don't think my diet, overall, is that bad. Yes, the veggies have been lacking the last few weeks but that changes today. Aside from the binges, I've made good choices. And I honestly think the restrictive diet caused the binges. I'm sure of it. I hate being told I can't eat something. So no more can't!
One thing I posted in my comments for yesterday's blog that I wanted to repost here:
It doesn't matter what "rules" I have for food. I'm impulsive and emotional, and that's never going to change. Having rules makes feel weak and out of control. Without rules, I don't have to feel guilty for breaking them. When I break rules, it makes me want to throw in the towel. I'm very big on "Oh, I ate something I shouldn't have - might as well blow off the rest of the day." Or "I ate so much, I might as well keep going." This has always been my issue.
I was all set to eat a healthy chicken and vegetables dinner, then I watched the season finale of Hung (if you've never heard of it, it's about a guy with a very big wiener who becomes a professional wiener-user to make money after his house burns down), and I could not shake the craving for hot dogs. And you have to have mac & cheese with hot dogs. All I had was some deluxe shells & cheese, which tastes like total crap. I took one bite and decided I didn't really want it. I'd called my husband to bring home some hot dogs (I asked for some bigger ones that fit right in the bun) and some whole wheat buns. He brings home these monster quarter pound freaking hot dogs and regular buns. I was pissed. He insisted there were NO whole wheat buns anywhere in the store. Apparently, I need to spell everything out for him, or do it all myself. Even for hot dogs and buns, I have standards. So I told him I wasn't eating it. The he got pissed and said he wasn't eating. Screw him then. I threw the mac & cheese in the garbage. I don't give a crap if he starves, and now I'm too pissed off to eat because he's a freaking idiot. WHO THE HELL EATS A 250 CALORIE, QUARTER POUND FRAKKING HOT DOG WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT???? I could have cut it in half, but at that point, I had no appetite at all because he doesn't have an ounce of common sense.
For a few days, I'm going to track my points as well, out of curiosity.
6:50 AM - apple & cottage cheese w/ cinnamon & Splenda [4 pts]
10:50 AM - whole wheat toast, omelet w/ onion, green pepper & picante sauce [5 pts]
1:45 PM - catfish, green pepper slices & baby carrots [3 pts]
2:40 PM - yogurt [2 pts]
5:45 PM - baby carrots & banana [1 pt]
Four cups of coffee [1 pt] and 80 ounces of water.
Calories - 1132
Carbs - 156 (21 fiber)
Protein - 91
Fat - 22
C/P/F Ratio - 52.8/30.5/16.7
16 points
Obviously, not a good food day.
I've been talking to friends about what eating plan I should follow. I'm a big advocate of most of them, and I truly believe it comes down to what works for the individual. My biggest complaint with any plan is the restriction. Atkins is too low carb for me. Most other plans are too low fat for me. Or too low calorie. Regardless of the plan, I find myself obsessing about getting everything to fit properly. Do you know that before I started P90X, I calculated - to the gram - how much apple I could eat with my cottage cheese before my work outs? An 86 gram apple gave me exactly half a serving of fruit. This allowed me to have another half a serving of fruit later in the day. What if I wanted the whole apple? Or the whole banana? It didn't fit.
Anyway, Weight Watchers is one I was considering. It's sensible and many, many people have great success with it. I was concerned though, that it might not be enough calories for me. I have no idea about the points to calorie conversion, and people say that's part of the beauty of it - don't worry about calories, just eat your points. Maybe I could learn to do that, but I think in terms of calories for right now and it's hard to change that mindset. And of course, I still believe a protein-dominant diet is best for me. I also like moderate fat intake. I like cheese now and then, you know? I like vegetables. In fact that was one of my main beefs with the P90X plan - it didn't allow enough vegetables. But as I stated in the comments of my last blog, I don't want to find myself hungry and having to "settle" for vegetables just because I don't have any points left for the day.
I used to think I needed to have a plan. Maybe the best option for me is to NOT follow a plan. Over the summer, I was very laid back. I did not binge as much as I have in the first 4 weeks of P90X, that's for sure. I ate what I wanted, when I wanted it. I was happy and satisfied. Sure, I only lost half a pound in 2 months, but that's okay. I think I can make that same method work for weight loss. To be honest, I don't think my diet, overall, is that bad. Yes, the veggies have been lacking the last few weeks but that changes today. Aside from the binges, I've made good choices. And I honestly think the restrictive diet caused the binges. I'm sure of it. I hate being told I can't eat something. So no more can't!
One thing I posted in my comments for yesterday's blog that I wanted to repost here:
It doesn't matter what "rules" I have for food. I'm impulsive and emotional, and that's never going to change. Having rules makes feel weak and out of control. Without rules, I don't have to feel guilty for breaking them. When I break rules, it makes me want to throw in the towel. I'm very big on "Oh, I ate something I shouldn't have - might as well blow off the rest of the day." Or "I ate so much, I might as well keep going." This has always been my issue.
I was all set to eat a healthy chicken and vegetables dinner, then I watched the season finale of Hung (if you've never heard of it, it's about a guy with a very big wiener who becomes a professional wiener-user to make money after his house burns down), and I could not shake the craving for hot dogs. And you have to have mac & cheese with hot dogs. All I had was some deluxe shells & cheese, which tastes like total crap. I took one bite and decided I didn't really want it. I'd called my husband to bring home some hot dogs (I asked for some bigger ones that fit right in the bun) and some whole wheat buns. He brings home these monster quarter pound freaking hot dogs and regular buns. I was pissed. He insisted there were NO whole wheat buns anywhere in the store. Apparently, I need to spell everything out for him, or do it all myself. Even for hot dogs and buns, I have standards. So I told him I wasn't eating it. The he got pissed and said he wasn't eating. Screw him then. I threw the mac & cheese in the garbage. I don't give a crap if he starves, and now I'm too pissed off to eat because he's a freaking idiot. WHO THE HELL EATS A 250 CALORIE, QUARTER POUND FRAKKING HOT DOG WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT???? I could have cut it in half, but at that point, I had no appetite at all because he doesn't have an ounce of common sense.
For a few days, I'm going to track my points as well, out of curiosity.
6:50 AM - apple & cottage cheese w/ cinnamon & Splenda [4 pts]
10:50 AM - whole wheat toast, omelet w/ onion, green pepper & picante sauce [5 pts]
1:45 PM - catfish, green pepper slices & baby carrots [3 pts]
2:40 PM - yogurt [2 pts]
5:45 PM - baby carrots & banana [1 pt]
Four cups of coffee [1 pt] and 80 ounces of water.
Calories - 1132
Carbs - 156 (21 fiber)
Protein - 91
Fat - 22
C/P/F Ratio - 52.8/30.5/16.7
16 points
Obviously, not a good food day.
9 comments:
what are you putting in your coffee that you are counting a point?
16 pts is not enough. But I know you had planned on eating more but didn't.
My husband will do the same thing when I send him to the store. He just doesn't look hard enough. He typically has good intentions though.
I measure most of my food to the gram too.
There is no set defination of points to calories since fat and fiber are a factor. But basically, one point is 50 calories. One gram of fiber is equal to 10 calories. So if something is 100 cals with 4 grams of fiber, you'd think of it as 60 calories or 1 pt. But 100 calories no fiber would be 2 pts. It's just an estimate.
You and I eat the same way. More protein, some fat. I love cheese too. mmmmmm.
But w/ WW, I think you have to have an open mind to it. A lot of people who are very set in either the low carb or low cal mindset. Or the previous views of "No Fat! No Fat! No Fat!" have a hard time unless they let go of those preconcieved notions of what is healthy. In my meetings, I think the biggest thing for people to get over is getting in two tsp of healthy oils a day. I did too for awhile. Since I eat more low sugar, I get some fats in so I thought I was fine w/o getting those in. But then I read an aricle about how they actually help to reduce cholesteral and scrub your arteries of plaque buildup. Now I almost always get them in.
How much did you say you want to lose again? Becuase you are already pretty thin. I know it gets harder the closer you get to your goal.
I think with the coffee it's the skim milk. I use half a cup in my four cups of coffee so I rounded up.
I'm not afraid of getting the oils. I could easily do it. I just forget. LOL I put olive oil on my vegetables and put flax in my baked good. I'm going to start adding it to my protein shakes. And I make peanut butter cups with coconut oil. I just need to start making stuff. Mostly, I'm lazy.
I would like to lose another 10-15 pounds BUT I want to add 5-10 pounds of muscle. I need to decide which to do first. I'm in the healthy weight range, but I would like to drop body fat. I don't care about the number on the scale so much at this point. Sixty pounds ago, I did care.
Is it healthy oils or healthy fats? An avocado, for example - would that be separate from the 2 tsp of healthy oil (which is just fat LOL)? I love me some avocados!
yes, 1 half cup of skim is 1 pt.
mmmm, peanut butter cups. I put olive oil on my veggies but if I know I'm not going to steam veggies that day I put it in my protein shakes or in my salad.
That is a very interesting question. I will ask my leader. I think it's strictly oils but avocados are good foods in moderation and very much acceptable for the plan.
Over the summer, I ate them just about every day. I put them in my hummus, my omelets, my salads. OMG, I love avocados. They are really expensive here though.
I think the problem would be that you can't measure it. Like the guideline is to have 2 tsp of healthy oils a day. How would you measure the oil part of that content. KWIM? And when I think of it in those terms, I'd say my leader would definately say no.
Now if you buy avocado oil, while it's not listed as a healthy oil (that I'm aware of) it's comparable to olive oil so I'd say yes.
Just like for dairy, you are suppose to get at least two servings of dairy. I *think* if I remember right, it has to have at least 35% of the Daily Recommended allowance of calicum for something to be considered a dairy. So lots of yogurts don't hit that mark but some do. Milk always does.
These are the good health guidelines:
Eat at least five servings of vegetables and fruits each day.
Choose whole-grain foods, such as brown rice and oats, whenever possible.
Include two servings of milk products – low fat (1%) or fat-free – each day.
Have 2 teaspoons of healthy oils (olive oil, canola, sunflower, safflower or flaxseed) each day.
Ensure that you are getting enough protein by choosing at least a serving or two of lean meats, skinless poultry, fish, beans, soy products, and lentils. (they really want you to do a serving per meal but they don't say that here)
Limit added sugar and alcohol.
Drink at least 6 8-ounce glasses of liquid a day. The best choice is water.
Take a multiple vitamin-mineral supplement each day.
Get in at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.(Start with 10 minutes if you’re sedentary now).
Thanks for posting that. I think, in my preferential world, I get close to most of it. I definitely have the water down - I drink 10 cups a day. Exercise, check. Lean proteins - master! Now that I am not doing the P90X food plan, I can go back to enjoying yogurt every day and milk and whole grain stuff. Oh, and vegetables. I cant believe they only allow 2 50-calorie servings per day.
You mean P90X only allows you that right? Because WW allows you all the veggies you want! As my leader says, "No one has ever gotten fat from eating too many veggies."
And yes, that's one thing I didn't like about Atkins. I understand limiting starchy veggies like corn and potatoes but everything else...I probably get close to 7-9 servings of fruits and veggies a day.
So far today, I've had three apples, two plums, a huge salad, and a cup of berries. That's about 9 right there.
Yes, I meant P90X.
I ate more vegetables when I was on Atkins than any other time in my life.
I have to be careful with some of the sweeter fruits. I can handle apples and bananas well enough, but oranges and plums and melons - holy crap they make me crave sugar. I love plums, too. I try to eat my fruit with a protein and that helps with the cravings.
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