Cam's New Lease on Life Journal (comments welcome!)

[keenercam]

Thank you, Jen & Jamie for your support!

Well, I did okay yesterday with food, though not great. I did dip into my FPs, but for some reason was craving salty snacks. Even now, my body is craving salty snacks and my stomach is growling like crazy. I can't figure out why?

For breakfast, I had two low fat waffles (2.5 pts) and coffee w/sugar free creamer (.5). That was at about 7:30 a.m.
I had an apple about 15 minutes ago and it's like I haven't even eaten anything. My stomach is growling like crazy. So, now I am chewing sugar free gum. I have already had 30 oz of water, too. I think I am going to have to go get more coffee or some tea, and hope that will hold me until lunch in about 2 hours. UGH! What is wrong with my body that it wants food constantly?

 

[keenercam]

Well, I held out until lunch, relying on a cup of decaf coffee and water and sugar-free gum. I bulked up my lunch a bit by making a tuna sandwich on weight watchers whole wheat toast instead of just putting the tuna on my salad. It added 2 points with the miniscule bit of light mayo and the bread, but it was better than a binge later.

Food today:
7:30 2 eggo low fat waffles (2.5); coffee w/SF creamer (.5)
10:30 apple (1)
1:30 2 slice weight watchers whole wheat bread (1); tuna (2); lite mayo (1);green salad w/FF italian dressing (0); weight watchers pretzel chips (2)

As of 5:00, I've had 84 oz water, 20 oz coffee, and 10 oz sugar free lemonade.

10 points down, 14 to go. Plenty for if we go out to dinner.

 

[kimwim8]

Hey Cam. You're doing great! Keep it up!

Congrats on taking your DD to WW with you! The more people around you that are "being good", the better your chances! (IMHO)

I'm sorry for this hard time of year. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[AmyBeth68]

Hi Cam!!!

Just wanted to stop by and say that I think you are doing great getting back on track and involving your dd in healthy eating habits.

BTW....please tell her I said "congrats" on becoming a "Fighting Blue Hen". As you know U of D was my university...where I met my DH....so it holds a very special place in my heart.

Hang in there girl! You're doing great and back on track I know this is a tough time of year for you.

 

[keenercam]

Thanks, Kim! DD has the WORST eating habits, and I am really hoping that before she starts college she will become more aware of her body's nutritional requirements.

Hi, Amy! Thanks for visiting my journal! I am hoping the UD experience will be very positive for DD, though I won't mind at all if she doesn't meet the love of her life there -- she seems SO YOUNG to me!

We chose what a I thought was a good restaurant for eating well last night, but I think I didn't make the best choice. We went to Red Lobster and my dinner was absolutely fabulously delicious! BUT it was a lot more points than I would have expected. It was roasted tilapia in a bag -- tilapia baked with veggies in a parchment bag with white wine and lots of spices. It really was so flavorful and delicious, but I was surprised that it was 12 points! I could have gotten the 1/2 portion if I'd known the points ahead of time, but I actually thought I'd take some home for lunch today. ALAS, it was too delicious and I ate it all! YUM!
So, dinner last night:
jumbo shrimp cocktail (3); garden salad w/lemon (0)
cheddar biscuit (4)
roasted tilapia (12)

I used 5.5 FPs for the day. Still not bad, considering all the food I ate, but I have to do better this weekend if I want to see real progress on the scale Tuesday.

Today:
B: 24 shredded mini wheat brown sugar & cinnamon biscuits (3); 8 oz skim milk (2); 24 oz coffee w/creamer (1)
S: matzoh (2)
L: garden salad w/ff dressing (.5); 2 slices weight watchers whole wheat toast (1); packet of tuna in water (2); lite mayo (.5); soy crisps (2)
S: cut up apples (1.5); WW lite yogurt (1)

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Cam!! How you are you doing this fine wonderful Friday

I don't like fish, and I am assuming that is what you had at Red Lobster, but oh my that sounds really good...not too sure why LOL! But it does!!!

You are doing a great job....keep up the fantastic work!!!!

Have a great weekend!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Cam,

Hope you are having a nice weekend. That is so great you are doing WW with your daughter. I hope it works for her, it is so hard to be diligent when you are young and all your friends are pigging out and staying skinny! Boy, do I remember those days, you are a great mom to support her as you are. I am sorry that this is a hard time of year for you, I lost my dad in early June many years ago and always get a sad feeling that lasts for weeks in the time preceeding and after that day. I cannot imagine losing both parents so close together, hang in there and keep up your good work!

Amy

P.S. I really enjoyed your trip report!

 

[goldcupmom]

Hope you're having a good weekend, Cam. I know how hard this must be for you. It does get a bit easier over time, but you never totally get over missing them, I think. I lost my MIL and mother in the same year in 2003, 1 in March, 1 in Nov. The year before was my FIL on DS19 birthday from parkinsons. My dad was on the 4th of July. Never a good time, but remember the good times.

 

[toystoryduo]

Cam,

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday! Keep on keeping on my friend.... I know you CAN do it!

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Cam,

Hope you had a good weekend....and all is well....Keep your head up...we are here for you during this difficult time.

Have a great day

 

[keenercam]

Amy -- Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your support about me taking DD to WW. I know she really didn't stick with it this week and she has training for her new job tonight so she won't get to the meeting we went to last week, but I am hoping she will at least go weigh in, so that she can see whether the amount of effort she put in (or didn't) yielded any results. I am sorry that you are also suffering the sadness of losing a parent. It really is harder at this time, when there is so much I'd like to share with them about what is going on in the kids' lives. Thanks for the good wishes.

Julie -- It is really good to have friends around who understand how overwhelming the sadness can be, though it is good to know it gets better with time. Thanks so much, sweetie!

Jamie -- You are so wonderful to come and provide so much support. I have been so lax about visiting journals. You are a good example I want to follow!

Tracy -- We've been through a lot "together", havent' we? Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it!

The weekend was a disaster, food-wise. I have used 27 of my flex points this week, most of them over the weekend, and most of them from eating salty snacks. Not sure why that is still such a problem for me. I am going to have to be careful about the pretzels and fat-free chips I keep around because both present too much temptation for me. At least it isn't high-calorie, sugar laden snacks. But I really do go overboard on volume on these salty snacks. The trigger is typically boredom. I have to be cognizant of it and try to control it.

Food yesterday was not bad, but probably because I still have a migraine and didn't feel much like eating. The day started with me leaving my english muffin in the toaster.
B: coffee w/creamer(1)
L: lean cuisine panini (5); garden salad dry (0);
S: baked cheetos snack pack (2)
S2: weight watchers yogurt w/kashi & 1/2 apple (2)
D: egg beaters w/broccoli & salsa (2); light multi-grain english muffin (1); leftover turkey, baked potato, corn & green beans (tiny bits of each) (4)
dessert: SF caramel pudding w/cool whip free (1) (shared with DS)

Today:
B (7:20 am): light english muffin w/better 'n peanut butter spread (< 1 Tbsp) (2); coffee w/creamer (1)
S (11:00 am): weight watchers yogurt w/kashi (1.5)
L (at 1:30): green salad w/tuna packet (2); broccoli with FF cheese (.5); WW pretzel crisps (2)


Tonight is my first weigh in back at WW meetings. My colleague from work is going to start WW tonight, although she may have, at most, about 10 pounds to lose. I am not sure how much she will go or how much we'll interact about the plan, but we'll see how it goes. I am definitely not expecting any kind of loss this week. It would be nice to see something, however. And I really am planning on staying very OP this week, even though we will be travelling to visit IL's this weekend.

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Cam!!!

Here 's some that your WI will go good!! I am sure that it will...

How are you feeling today? Migraine gone today???

Hope you have a wonderful day!!!!

 

[AmyBeth68]

Cam.... Good luck at WW. And boy do I understand the salty snacks. I can resist the sweets....but I CRAVE salty . And I know it's sooo bad for me overall!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Cam, good luck with the WW meeting. I hope your daughter can make it to a weigh in soon too. And I cannot say it enough, you are great to support her, yet also leave her to her own devices. Just the right balance! I also understand the salty snack thing. That just seems to come and go with me. Last week and the week before I could not stop craving salty stuff! I kept eating baked Lays in small portions. This week, I have had no such craving, so go figure! Hang in there, you may be pleasantly surprised at WW tonight, it sounds to me like you have done very well. Good luck!

 

[keenercam]

Thanks for asking, Jamie. Nope, the migraine hasn't gone away. It is hard to be at work when you feel like there is a knife stuck through your temple. As you can see, though, I am not taxing my mind too much, just cruisin' the DIS, enjoying the company and support of friends.

Amy -- I am glad to hear I might be handling things the right way with DD. It is so hard to strike the right balance. I don't want her to think that I think she needs to lose weight, but the reality is going to hit her hard when she tries to shop for a prom dress. I just dont' want her to be disappointed.

AmyBeth and Amy -- I bet there is some medical explanation for why some people crave salt and some people crave sugar. I am just trying to be very cognizant of it right now and trying to curb those cravings.

Another thing I really want to work on is getting back to thinking of food as fuel and not the mad race to see how much volume I can get for my points. I don't want to fall into the habit of eating low point meals and spending the points I've saved on snacks instead. I know that is not a healthy approach to meal planning.

So far today, I have done pretty well with using only 2 points for something that would be considered junk food -- 2 pts of weight watchers pretzel crisps with lunch. Yummy. Now, if I want something else to snack on this afternoon, I am going to have another WW yogurt for 1 point and fulfill my milk requirements for the day.

DH went to costco today and got the four items I've wanted from there --
1. roll ups (rectangular whole grain flat bread that you can roll-up with a filling)
2. roasted pepper & jalapeno hummus (protein and good fat and LOTS of flavor; very delicious spread on the roll-ups)
3. turkey bacon
4. pretzel crisps

I am actually looking forward to going home after my WW meeting tonight and having a roll-up stuffed with hummus and some lettuce. Then, for dessert, a sugar free caramel pudding cup with fat free cool whip.

 

[keenercam]

Well, weigh in wasnt' great, but it was movement in the right direction - down .6. I'll take any little bit I can get.

Food tonight:
roll up w/hummus (4); fajita soy burger w/ff ch, onions & 2 lite EMs (6); bite of chicken and fries (2)

Dessert is going to be a caramel pudding cup with fat free cool whip (1)

But the happiest news of all is that DD LOST 6.4 POUNDS HER FIRST WEEK ON WW!!!! I am sooo proud of her! I know she didnt' work as hard as she could have so this HAS to encourage her to work harder to keep losing so she will enjoy shopping for her 2 prom dresses!

 

[toystoryduo]

Morning Cam~

Congratulations to you and your DD both! That is great news that you both lost weight this week! Woohoo!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Cam!!!!

Congrats to both you and DD for the loss!!! That is great!!!! You both are doing great! I am glad that DD was able to make it to the WI...seeing that number must have made you both feel so good!!!

Keep up the good work Cam! You are doing great !

Happy Wednesday

 

[keenercam]

Thanks, Tracy! I have to remind myself that half a pound is half a pound. And going down is all that matters, even if it is slow. And I didnt' have a huge loss this week like many people do the first week on WW because I really didn't make any drastic changes like some people do. I was already doing it on-line, drinking the water, counting the points, etc.

The reality is that in order to get a different result, I am going to have to make some major changes. "If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten." Yep. still making the same mistakes. I could really kick myself for blowing it last night. I literally ate 6 points worth of snacks AFTER I was done eating for the day. Up to that point, I had restricted myself to a total of 3 "snack points" -- 2points of WW pretzel crisps and 1 point SF pudding with fat free cool whip. I was patting myself on the back. Feeling really in control. And THEN I blew it! UGH! Back on track today. My "snack points" are shredded mini wheats and tonight I will have a SF pudding with cool whip free. 3 points toward junky snacks and even the mini-wheats have the redeeming quality of being high fiber.

Jamie -- Thanks for the congrats, sweetie! DD17 felt really good about herself. YOu know, doin' that bouncin on the balls of your feet, high pitched squealy voice "I did it!" stuff! I was really happy for her. Now, if I can just get her to focus on healthy choices and good eating habits, that would be great. Yesterday, all she ate was a bag of chips, until she got home at 10:45 pm and I made her lean pockets and gave her some baked doritos. I think she is afraid to eat food served in her school cafeteria because she doesn't know how many points it is. So, I am going to work with her to come up with some generic food choices for different situations based on what is likely to be available, and see if that helps her.

 

[keenercam]

Food today:
B: small piece turkey breast on lite multi-grain english muffin (3); coffee w/creamer (1); 12 pcs mini shredded wheat (1.5)
L: 1/2 turkey & swiss sandwich (3.5); greens w/1 tsp bleu cheese, 2 walnut pcs, 1 cube chicken breast (3); fruit salad (1)

So, as of the end of lunch, I have eaten 13 fuel points and no junk points. I have also done 32 oz water and 4 fruit/veggie servings. My late afternoon is one of my hard times to stay on track, so I am going to try to be diligent and eat the rest of my mini-wheats when I need a snack. I also have to get in a yogurt for a milk serving, so I can do that as a snack later on as well. If I am diligent enough (and hungry), I will eat dinner here before I leave so that I can go from DS's school function to the gym and not eat dinner when I get home around 10.

4:25 pm -- So, interestingly enough, starting at around 3:30, I have been jonesin' for food. Stomach growling, wanting to cruise the kitchen and raid my cooler bag in the fridge. See? I knew it was coming. I can't even attibute it to boredom as I have been busy, but I can say that being pretty busy for the past couple of hours has kept me from raiding said cooler bag. I am now chewing sugar free gum and drinking more water. Hoping to hold out a bit longer before I hit the mini wheats or yogurt. There are still about 6 hours left in my day and I don't want to spend all my points early.

At 4:45, I was done 50 oz water and moved on to the rest of my mini-wheats (another 1.5 pts) -- 14.5 points spent, all on fuel, not junk.