from obesity to just plain fat

Most people have a specific problem when snacking and foods that they crave.  You’re usually either a sweet or crunchy craver.  I’m a cruncher - there’s nothing better than a big bag of crunchy cheeto’s.  In making my lifestyle change I’ve tried to come up with some better choices, and with all the 100 calorie packs out on the market there are many choices.  My favorite is Orville Redenbacher popcorn - a lot of crunch for your buck.  100 kettle corn packs are yummy, and my personal favorite is natural salt & cracked pepper.  They have 180 but I love the pepper and sometimes put more on when hot.  Quaker has 90-100 calorie granola bars for a sweet fix, and fiber one has really good ones at 130 calories.  I’m not much on fruit, but if I can find mandarin oranges in juice I’ll gobble them down.  And I really like fiber one cereal for snacking out of the box - 1/2 cup for 60 calories-Fiber rules!  The diet challenge I’m on pushes protein, so I’m always up for cheese.  I like the real stuff - none of that 2% crap - so I have to watch the fat.

Now some people can just cut out sugar sodas and candy bars, but I’ve lived on diet foods for a long time.  Here are the things I already eat, and if you’re looking to cut some calories give them a try:

• Sugar-free pancake syrup
• light margarine and spray oleo - don’t butter your veg
• diet soda
• sweet n low for everything
• light bread and rolls - can’t tell the difference
• light english muffins
• crystal light for water
• mustard for sandwichs
• light barbeque sauce - kraft makes 1
• light salad dressing or spritzers

Good luck!

Had my 2nd weigh-in last night and lost 2 pounds this week!  Now this week was a good show to all the people that lost 5-10 pounds last time, because they all lost 1 pound or less this week.  Their water weight is gone now and it’s the real thing they have to deal with, so I hope they hang in there.  I was very happy with my 2.  Made split pea soup Tuesday and it turned out great.  This weekend it’s meatloaf.  Portion control is going good and I danced my way to being a sweaty, tired mess.  I’m off to take a nap!

I lucked out and lost a pound last week at my second weight loss meeting.  I had been a bad girl and went to chinese buffet which packed on 3 pounds of water retention, but I was able to take it off again be scale time.  We actually had a lady lose 14 pounds in 2 weeks!  Not a good thing to do, but she said she’s exercising 1 1/2 hours every day.  Wish I had the time or the motivation for that.  Trouble is, you have to keep up that pace forever or you’ll just slip back when you slow down.  Slow and steady wins the race.  I do marvel at the fact that I’m actually watching what I eat and controlling my portions - key to getting my weight to budge. Tonight is my last linedance lesson for this session, and I think I’m going to try beginners yoga meeting on Friday nights.

I made some more bean soup and next time around I think I’ll do my vegetable mess - I got the recipe off a can at some point but now just wing it.  It’s tasty, filling and low calorie.  Here’s the recipe if anyone wants to give it a try:

• 2 cans green beans
• 2 cans zucchini w/ tomato sauce
• 2 cans chicken broth
• 2 cans diced tomatos - can be spicy
• 1 package cole slaw mix

just mix it all up in a big pot and cook for about a half hour or until cabbage is cooked.  Try to get low sodium to cut down on salt.  Give it a try!

Danced my way to 11,000 steps last Thursday - now if I could do that everyday…

Didn’t have weight loss night due to valentine’s day, so that gives me another week to work on the weight.  Learned a new dance and enjoyed the company.  Monday I’ll have class at our local recreation center and I’m going to check out the weight room while I’m there.  Keep those feet moving!

Like many overweight people,  I’ve had a life long struggle.  Mine started when I entered grade school and got my first taste of school food.  Too many carbs,  too much food.  Luckily I was always big for my age - the biggest person in my entire grades until 6th grade when the guys started to catch up.  My Mom made me start packing my lunch after 1st grade, but I just kept gaining.  I ate like a horse!  I was one of those sturdy farm girls, so I had a lot of muscle and was not flabby, just too much of me.  By the time I got to the summer of 6th grade I went on my 1st real diet - weight watchers.  I lost 20 pounds.  When I entered 7th I was 5′ 6″, size B bra, size 10 clothes and 125 pounds - the ” built like a brick ****shouse ” girl.  But still I continued to gain.  170 lbs by graduation, and then I slowed down and was a 14/16 for many years.  Then I started gaining for no reason, felt horrible and didn’t look the greatest.  Hypothyroidism was the reason, but to me it was just another reason I couldn’t lose weight.  After 3 years of getting it under control and gaining 60 pounds, I finally feel pretty good and I feel like I can try to start the long road back down the fat mountain.  For anybody out there who has the same problem, I say hang in there and don’t let anybody else, including the doctors who try to tell you it’s all you or that you’re “depressed”, the latest excuse they try to push on you for the reason you’re fat - sometimes it really is medical!

Got on the scale this morning and I’ve lost another 3 pounds.  Don’t understand it, because I’ve not been doing the greatest and I’ve eaten a couple VERY rich brownies lately, but don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.  I have been trying to watch my portions lately, which is my biggest problem.  I’m off to have lunch with friends - a big salad.  Tried a new soup this week - bacon potato corn chowder and it was yummy at about 300 calories for a satisfying bowl.  This weekend I’m making ham and bean - bring on the fiber!

Hate the weather, hate my fat.  Not a real good weekend.  I pretty much ignored my diet and ate out.  Didn’t do too bad, but at this point in the game I just can’t afford to slack.  I’m off to the grocery store to get goodies and stuff to make lots of soup.  Also it’s voting day here so I’m doing my duty and voting for anyone who will get the idiots that we have out of office and out of my life.

I saw an article in my local paper about a weight loss competition and went to the 1st meeting last night.  A semi-racket for herbalife but still worth participating in just to be made to step on the scale once a week.  About 20 people signed up at $29.  At the end of the 12 weeks person with highest % lost gets 50% of money and so on.  Now I have no hopes of winning this - if you weigh a lot your chances of beating someone with less to lose are slim when it comes to percentages.  But it’s cheaper than weight watchers and you’ll get some nutritional counseling thrown in for nothing.  I’m kind of at a standstill with weight, but am getting my 10,000 steps in on dancing nights.

In my endeavor to lose weight and be healthy I have taken up line dancing.  Last year around this time some co-workers talked me into signing up for classes at the local rec center.  They also have dancing at a local bar once a week.  Well my partners in crime dropped out a long time ago, but I’m still going strong.  I must say I haven’t lost a single ounce from sweating to death, but it’s good exercise and I’ve meet some nice people.

This past Thursday I wore my pedometer all day to see what the combo of work and dance would equal.  I’m on my feet most of the time at work and clocked 4700 paces in 6 hours.  By the time I was finished with dance for 2 hours I was above 10,000.  Now if I did that every day it would be great but that’s only twice a week.  Got on the scale - nothing.  Not surprising, but still pisses me off.