When Did I Get Voted Off of Skinny Island & Why is This Fat Shadow Stalking Me?

[Dizneydawn]

For all of us cold coffee lovers:

#5: WORST FLAVORED LATTE
Dairy Queen Caramel MooLatte (24 fl oz)
870 calories
24 g fat (19 g saturated, 1 g trans)
112 g sugars

Per ounce this so-called coffee concoction delivers 1 gram of fat and 4.6 grams of sugar, making even Starbucks’ over-the-top line of Frappuccinos look like reasonably decent options. Maybe that’s why DQ decided to give it a name that alludes to the animal it promises to turn you into. If you can bring yourself to backtrack out of Dairy Queen and walk down to the neighboring coffee shop, you can order a large iced latte with a couple shots of flavored syrup and still save somewhere around 600 calories. (Do that a few times a week and lose 25 pounds in a year!) But if you’re stuck where you are, you better plan on pairing a small treat with a regular cup of coffee.

Drink This Instead!
Small Chocolate Ice Cream Cone with a medium cup of coffee
240 calories
7 g fat (5 g saturated)
34 g sugars

BONUS TIP: Drinks aren't the only way to pack on unwanted calories. Think salads are healthy? Check out these 15 gut-busting salads.


#4: WORST COFFEE/SHAKE HYBRID
Baskin Robbins Cappuccino Blast Turtle (large, 32 fl oz)
960 calories
27 g fat (16 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)
103 g sugars

In early 2009, when last we compiled our Worst Drinks list, Baskin Robbins stole the Worst Drink spot by a caloric landslide. The chain’s Chocolate Oreo Shake had 2,600 calories, and the Heath and York Peppermint Patty Shake wasn’t far behind. Thankfully, Baskin has since removed those items from its menu, but if it wants amnesty from us, it will have to drop the 32-ounce cup.

Drink This Instead!
Cappuccino Blast made with Soft Serve (small, 16 fl oz)
280 calories
9 g fat (6 g saturated)
21 g sugars

BONUS TIP: For full nutrition information for all of your favorite chain restaurants and thousands of foods, download the bestselling Eat This, Not That! iPhone app. It’s like having your own personal nutritionist in your pocket at all times, and will help you avoid the caloric calamities and guide you to the best ways to lose your belly fast.


#3: WORST LATTE
Krispy Kreme Lotta Latte Chiller (Large, 20 oz)
1,050 calories
40 g fat (36 g saturated)
97 g sugars

This has a lotta something, but it ain’t latte. The average latte of this size, even when made with whole milk, has about 6 grams of saturated fat. This “kremey” abomination has six times that much—nearly two days' worth! Unfortunately Krispy Kreme makes it difficult to choose an alternative. Sure, the chain offers a line of hot espresso beverages, but it refuses to spill the beans on the nutritional info. That means you’re taking a big chance when you order the calorific Mocha or Kaffe Kreme. Instead, break your order down into two functions: the sweet and the caffeinated.

Drink This Instead!
Very Berry Chiller (Large, 20 oz) with a cup of regular coffee
290 calories
0 g fat
71 g sugars

BONUS TIP: Save calories, time, and money with the free Eat This, Not That! newsletter. Sign up today and you’ll get the Eat This, Not That! guide to shopping once and eating for a week, also for free.


#2: WORST PROTEIN-FORTIFIED COFFEE DRINK
Smoothie King Mo’cuccino Caramel (large, 40 fl oz)
1,140 calories
24 g fat (12 g saturated)
20 g protein
176 g sugars

The good news is that all Smoothie King’s coffee smoothies come equipped with a big scoop of protein powder. The bad news is that if you order this one, it will cost you more than half your day’s calories and as much sugar as 8 full-sized Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars. Stick with reasonable drinks and—more importantly—reasonable portions.

Drink This Instead!
Coffee Smoothie Caramel (20 fl oz)
340 calories
1 g fat (0 g saturated)
14 g protein
56 g sugars

BONUS TIP: For a more comprehensive list of dubious beverages, and what to drink instead, check our 2010 list of the 20 Worst Drinks in America.


#1: WORST FROZEN MOCHA
Cosi Double Oh! Arctic Mocha (gigante, 23 oz)
1,210 calories
19 g fat (10 g saturated)
240 g sugars

A frozen mocha will never be a stellar option, but we’ve still never come across anything that competes with this cookie-coffee-milkshake hybrid from Cosi. Essentially it’s a mocha-flavored Blizzard made with Oreo cookies and topped with whipped cream and an oversized Oreo. Maybe that’s why it has half your day’s saturated fat and more sugar than a dozen Twinkies.

Drink This Instead!
Mocha (tall, 11 oz)
298 calories
8 g fat (5 g saturated)
41 g sugars

BONUS TIP: For other coffee secrets and tons of useful tweets, follow Dave Zinczenko on Twitter

 

[NolansAngel]

First Name and Screen name:Stephanie (NolansAngel)
What your Goal Is for Fitness:to lose 150lbs
Food that you Find Hardest to Eat in Moderation: Soft Drinks
Favorite Good Food for You: I love Steamed Veggies
Favorite Form of Exercise: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred
What Your Goal is For Yourself when you get to Skinny Island: Going and buying the clothes I want to wear not just what I have to wear and taking a celebratory trip to WDW
Family:My Dear sweet Fiance, Nolan, he is always supporting me in everything I do, and my 3 wonderful furbabies... Felony, Bitters, and Biscuit

 

[gellybean]

First Name and Screen name:Stephanie (NolansAngel)
What your Goal Is for Fitness:to lose 150lbs
Food that you Find Hardest to Eat in Moderation: Soft Drinks
Favorite Good Food for You: I love Steamed Veggies
Favorite Form of Exercise: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred
What Your Goal is For Yourself when you get to Skinny Island: Going and buying the clothes I want to wear not just what I have to wear and taking a celebratory trip to WDW
Family:My Dear sweet Fiance, Nolan, he is always supporting me in everything I do, and my 3 wonderful furbabies... Felony, Bitters, and Biscuit

 

[2_Eagle_Mom]

So yesterday morning I woke up and discovered that I had slept in a really weird twisted position. Realizing that it was unusually late I quickly jumped out of bed only to hear a loud POP in my neck. My entire left arm went totally numb and I experienced the most excruciating pain radiating out of my neck and down my left side shoulder blade.

Long story short I was able to get in to see my chiropractor. Apparently I shifted my C5 and C6 discs in my neck and caused pressure on the set of nerves that run down my arm. Oh my goodness the pain was awful! Childbirth has nothing on this pain. I couldn't move my neck at all. Fortunately doc doesn't think I have done any permanent damage to the disc and that this is just a temporary nerve issue. He said it is similar to when football players get a "zinger" (whatever that means).

Today is slightly better. A lot of soreness and sore muscles but the pain isn't as bad as yesterday. I can turn my neck a bit now. I have to go back to the doctor's again today. But once again I have orders that I can't exercise for a while. <sigh> I'm going to ask if I am allowed to walk. I can't see why using my lower body would do any damage in my neck/shoulders. Obviously no weights but hopefully he will give me clearance to at least walk. It is always something isn't it?

I hope you feel better tomorrow! Hopefully you'll be released to walk.

First Name and Screen name:Stephanie (NolansAngel)
What your Goal Is for Fitness:to lose 150lbs
Food that you Find Hardest to Eat in Moderation: Soft Drinks
Favorite Good Food for You: I love Steamed Veggies
Favorite Form of Exercise: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred
What Your Goal is For Yourself when you get to Skinny Island: Going and buying the clothes I want to wear not just what I have to wear and taking a celebratory trip to WDW
Family:My Dear sweet Fiance, Nolan, he is always supporting me in everything I do, and my 3 wonderful furbabies... Felony, Bitters, and Biscuit

Welcome to the group!!!

I was doing SO well until I got home. Tracked my food, refused a bag of M&Ms from a co-worker (full size bag too, not just a fun size one) got home and DH had made a bunch of bacon and made it nice and crispy (just the way I liked it - and no one in the house likes it that way, so if I didnt eat them it would go to waste) then my DS brought me two pieces of See's candy (my favorite - it would be a insult to not eat them). Then there was the onion dip left over from Easter, the bowl that I was going to toss out, well, it didn't get tossed .

I've got to STOP the madness!!!!

 

[luvsJack]

Does anyone else get what I call the "Hormonal Munchies"?? UGGHHHH. I get so frustrated with myself!! I am coming along fine, good food choices and exercising and then BAM! Auntie Flo comes calling and I start eating junk. I just want to eat like chips, popcorn, chocolate kisses, anything that has that constant hand to mouth activity. And if I don't have something, I continually go look for something!

Well, that was the past two days. I don't even want to eat lunch on those days, just munchie stuff. The scale says I am still ok and I think the "HM's" are gone for this month. So maybe I can still salvage this week.

 

[ancestry]

First Name and Screen name:Stephanie (NolansAngel)
What your Goal Is for Fitness:to lose 150lbs
Food that you Find Hardest to Eat in Moderation: Soft Drinks
Favorite Good Food for You: I love Steamed Veggies
Favorite Form of Exercise: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred
What Your Goal is For Yourself when you get to Skinny Island: Going and buying the clothes I want to wear not just what I have to wear and taking a celebratory trip to WDW
Family:My Dear sweet Fiance, Nolan, he is always supporting me in everything I do, and my 3 wonderful furbabies... Felony, Bitters, and Biscuit

Welcome! Glad to have you join us!

 

[ancestry]

Does anyone else get what I call the "Hormonal Munchies"?? UGGHHHH. I get so frustrated with myself!! I am coming along fine, good food choices and exercising and then BAM! Auntie Flo comes calling and I start eating junk. I just want to eat like chips, popcorn, chocolate kisses, anything that has that constant hand to mouth activity. And if I don't have something, I continually go look for something!

Well, that was the past two days. I don't even want to eat lunch on those days, just munchie stuff. The scale says I am still ok and I think the "HM's" are gone for this month. So maybe I can still salvage this week.

I so TOTALLY get these except I've always gotten them about a week before Auntie Flo shows up. They are very frustrating. I alternate between craving salt and sweet. For the sweet I've turned to Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches. They are awesome and only have 140 calories for a large ice cream sandwich. The salt is a bit more difficult as I try to minimize salt. Usually I will turn to unbuttered popcorn as that helps a bit with the snack/salt craving but doesn't totally blow it on the calorie front. However what I really want is a large bag of regular potato chips with french onion dip and a coke on the side. lol!

 

[Dizneydawn]

I found a bunch of great info on a local tv station site! I will post one a day and we can see what we think about it.

This first one has an idea I am going to try. It asks you to write a contract to yourself.

Is anyone interested in doing it with me and posting it here?

Let me know!!

Before you start a wellness project, fitness expert Chris Freytag says you should consider three things; what she calls "The 3 Cs of Exercise."

Chris says commitment, convenience and consistency are all vital to success in getting healthier.

The first C is commitment. Chris suggests writing down what you hope to accomplish. She says you should keep that "contract" in a place where you'll see it each day. Put it on your nightstand or the refrigerator so you see what you've promised you will achieve.

"Something that you'll be able to look at and really know you're committed," Chris Freytag said.

The second C is convenience. Chris says you have to pick something nearby that you find enjoyable. Whether it is a piece of equipment in your home or a nearby walking trail, you need to have an exercise plan that is reasonable to your lifestyle.

The third C is consistency. This third C is the key to a long term lifestyle change. Doing a little bit every day is so important to changing the way you live.

 

[Dizneydawn]

I feel like I'm at one of those points where if I push it I will start to see good movement in the scale...will try to get more water in and exercize more this week!

Glad to see you posting! I think we all need to do more of that to stay on track!!! So easy to get too busy to get here!!!

I'm going to post my food intake as well. This is yesterday's food log. If you are on myfitnesspal.com and would like to add me as a friend, my username is Leen2Sweet
Love the way you could copy/post that here - I might need to switch out from sparkpeople or try and post it in an image file....!!!

Thanks you guys for the concern about my kiddo and the assurances that accidents indeed happen regardless of how careful we may be. He seems absolutely fine. The busted lip doesn't seem to be affecting his eating abilities. He is my son afterall. AHEM.
YOu crack me up!!!
I did a stupid this morning. I think.

If it works it will not be stupid....but I think you are right that too strict will = quit! Love that!


I'm gonna start posting my Eat This, Not That snippets again tonight.
Yeah!!!!

I finally went shopping yesterday, I was sick of pulling up my pants So I go into Levi's outlet I put on size 14 and they fit perfect so I had to get 12's and they fit OK! I want them to last longer! WHOOP! It felt so good to shop, not, in the plus sizes. SO, I shopped online at LLBean today, oy vey between my husband and I losing weight it is getting costly. $327 later. I need all new clothes for our trip to the Poly and going to Las Vegas next month.
Have you tried any consignment or thrift stores - makes loosing weight much cheaper!!

Well after I posted last night the monster appeared and I just couldn't stop eating.

leftover jello - check
leftover pizza - check (it was only 1 1/2 slices of Papa Murphy DeLite pizza, but still)
leftover onion dip with low fat wheat thins - check
tube of M&Ms - check
milky way bunny - check
orange (big one) - check

Didn't even try and track it. Bad day - start fresh on Tuesday. I did send the rest of the chocolate to work with my husband so he can put it out for whoever to eat it. As long as it isn't in the house, I won't be tempted.
This was my day yesterday....so flippin mad at myself and need to flick it and forget it and move on to a better day!

Dawn, I am right there with you. I am making a committment to getting a hammock this week so I can have 2 things in my siggie I can't see. Luckily, I seem to have no appetite for supper these days so maybe that will help.

We need to see them...need to figure out how to shrink the rest..... I am glad we can do this together!!!

Long story short I was able to get in to see my chiropractor. Apparently I shifted my C5 and C6 discs in my neck and caused pressure on the set of nerves that run down my arm. Oh my honey!!!! That is painful I bet!

it could be done ******lly because he was so big (sorry TMI I know )

Is it weird on a mostly women's board that vajay jay cannot be used?

Today is starting off much better and I actually got up early and got in a workout!

Glad for you!!

First Name and Screen name:Stephanie (NolansAngel)
What your Goal Is for Fitness:to lose 150lbs

Welcome girl!!!! - I want to lose about 110 total to be at goal!!!!

I was doing SO well until I got home. Tracked my food, refused a bag of M&Ms from a co-worker (full size bag too, not just a fun size one) got home and DH had made a bunch of bacon and made it nice and crispy (just the way I liked it Me too! You are married to the devil! Have you ever had bacon and peanut butter sandwiches?!!! -
I've got to STOP the madness!!!!

I think the contract is a good idea!!!

Does anyone else get what I call the "Hormonal Munchies"?? UGGHHHH.

Let me see what I can find out about this!

 

[Dizneydawn]

Ever feel like the donuts in your office lunch area are calling your name, even though they are 100 feet away? No doubt there are certain foods that you crave. Times of day, times of the month, or just based on your nutritional deficiencies, there are foods that you want — and that you want now. Don’t worry. You are probably not obsessed. There are many reasons why people crave food–most commonly, junk food. Here’s why:
1. Raging Hormones

Any woman knows that her period is coming when she can’t keep her hands out of the cookie jar, and gets more exercise opening the fridge than from a trip to the gym. Hormones, especially fluctuating ones, will cause cravings to go into overdrive. That’s probably the reason why women seem to have many more cravings than men, and seem to “need” to satisfy them more than men do. Ever spent a few months with a pregnant woman? Maybe she’s not eating pickles dipped in ice cream, but when she wants potato chips, she wants them now! Chart your cycle and keep cut up veggies and fresh fruit in the fridge for those crave-tastic days.
2. Fatigue

A long day at work typically makes you tired. It also makes the 3 o’clock munchies roll in. And when they hit, the most common craving is for something sweet. Sugary coffee drinks, candy and vending machine binges alike, workplace snacking is commonplace for good reason. Sugar provides a quick burst of energy, which is what your body really craves. Try limiting your caffeine intake in the morning so you can indulge in a cup of joe in the afternoon. Or, trade it out for green tea for a little caffeine and some antioxidants. Go easy on the sweet stuff though — you’ll probably find that the caffeine alone will do the trick.
3. Emotional Swings

You might crave certain foods to cure emotional issues like stress, sadness, depression, or just feeling a little under the weather. People tend to lean toward foods that provide comfort, which generally contain grease, fat, sugar or just tons of calories. You might also be inclined to eat junk food during happy times and social events. Certain foods become synonymous with comfort and happiness, triggering those cravings when you are looking to be in that mood. Try going for a walk somewhere that you enjoy, or calling a friend instead of indulging. Even a few minutes searching the web for your next vacation, looking at photos or emailing an old friend can help!

These emotional feelings may also be causing you to crave like crazy when you are dieting as well. Long-term healthy eaters may not feel this way, but intense, short-term diets characterized by quick weight loss cause people to feel deprived and to have a serious desire to satisfy it. Try transitioning to a balanced, healthy
diet to avoid those swings.
4. Nutritional Deficiencies

Although there is little scientific evidence to back it, many people attribute cravings to nutritional deficiency. The theory is that if you are low on calcium, you’ll crave ice cream. If you’re anemic, you’ll crave meat. This theory is unfounded, though, so don’t stress if you have a hankering for a steak!

Other psychological happenings could explain cravings–smelling cookies baking, seeing a commercial for cheeseburgers, etc.–so try to combat them by satisfying them in more productive ways.

 

[Dizneydawn]

It's 4 p.m. Your workday is almost done. You're not really hungry, but like yesterday, same time, you've got a hankering for some chocolate. Not just any chocolate, but a Nestle Crunch. So you head over to the office vending machine, drop in a few coins ... and just like that, your well-intentioned efforts to regularly eat only healthy, weight-loss-friendly foods are foiled -- again.

You're not alone. Many women routinely experience sudden and irresistible food cravings for potato chips, ice cream, cookies and, yes, chocolate. Just what triggers these overpowering desires for certain foods?

"Cravings are a natural part of our relationship to food," says Harvey Weingarten, Ph.D., the president and vice-chancellor of the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, who has conducted extensive research on food cravings. According to Weingarten's research, up to 97 percent of women have felt cravings (compared to 68 percent of men), and we give in to our urges at least half the time. There's a big difference between cravings and hunger pangs. "When you're hungry, you'll eat anything," Weingarten points out. "Cravings are very specific. People crave a certain type of food, like chips or chocolate -- and within that category, even a particular brand."

Though cravings seem to overtake us without warning and without reason, research shows that they are actually very predictable, arriving at particular times and in particular situations.

When your cravings hit

You've probably noticed that you feel your strongest food yens at specific times of the day -- or month. Here are the whens and the whys of cravings:

* During the midafternoon slump (from about 3-6 p.m.) "By far the greatest number of cravings occur late in the day," says Marcia Levin Pelchat, Ph.D., of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, an institute that does research on taste and food preferences. "That's when our blood glucose drops, making us sluggish and in need of a lift" All it takes now is a cue -- a fast-food billboard on your way home or a co-worker's candy bar -- to bring on a major craving.

* When we're stressed out, upset or bored Bad moods frequently give rise to cravings: We imagine that if we eat a cookie or a chocolate bar, we'll feel better -- and often we do. Carbohydrates sweet or starchy foods -- increase the secretion of the brain chemical serotonin, which in turn can improve mood.

* Before your period Research shows that many of our cravings for chocolate and carbohydrate-rich foods are particularly intense in the days leading up to menstruation. Experts theorize that women may overeat carbs in an attempt to raise serotonin levels to counter the bad moods and mild depression related to PMS.

Also, we actually need more calories premenstrually, so it would make sense we might experience more cravings if we're short on energy. Although there have been a number of studies examining cravings and the menstrual cycle, scientists still don't know exactly why some women crave carbs, chocolate and other sugary foods before their periods.

* When it's cold and dark out Short, wintry days can make us crave carbs like bread and pasta. People who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (aka SAD, which is depression related to diminished sunlight-exposure) may be especially affected and crave carb-rich foods to help themselves feel better.

* When we're accustomed to eating Brian Wansink, Ph.D., a professor of nutritional science and marketing at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who runs the university's Food and Brand Lab, has found that we often crave foods with associations to happy times we've had in the past. When we're at the ballpark, for example, we might crave a hot dog with the works; if a summer-night trip to the ice-cream parlor was a family tradition, we may find ourselves craving an ice-cream cone when the weather gets warm.

How to manage your cravings

Forewarned is forearmed: If you know a food craving is going to strike, you can substitute something -- a healthier snack, a distraction, even a well-planned breakfast or lunch -- rather than regularly surrendering. Here are proven methods to help tame your cravings:

* Eat carbs, protein and a little fat at every meal and snack. When we eat meals that are lacking in one kind of food, we may be more likely to crave it later -- something for dieters on high-protein, low-carb regimens to keep in mind. Eating a varied diet, you'll feel better and have more energy and better concentration. Protein and fat take longer to digest than carbs do, so including them, along with more fiber, in any meal means that you'll feel satisfied longer. When our meals are monotonous -- the same day after day -- we're practically guaranteed powerful cravings. "That's true even if your diet is nutritionally adequate," says Marcia Levin Pelchat, Ph.D.

Too often we'll skip breakfast or forget about lunch, only to feel a craving strike later in the day. Think ahead and plan a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner that consist of carbohydrates, protein and good fats. Your snacks, too, should be a combination of protein, carbs and a little fat, especially in the late afternoon, when cravings seem most urgent. Any of the following snacks can fend off a trip to the candy machine: whole-wheat pita bread with hummus; a pear with lowfat cheese slices; a quesadilla (made with a whole-wheat tortilla); raw veggies with lowfat cottage cheese; wholewheat crackers with peanut butter.

* Craving-proof your home and office. The simplest way to quash a craving is to ban crave-worthy foods from your environment. If you do buy snack foods like chips or cookies, choose small packages or individually wrapped portions to avoid going overboard. Meanwhile, here are three ways to make healthy, lowfat snacks easily available for regular indulgence:

1. Cut up and bag carrots, radishes, broccoli and celery sticks in advance and pack them with some lowfat cheese.

2. Buy light microwave popcorn packages to have on hand, and sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top.

3. Keep fruit washed and ready to slice into a container of lowfat yogurt.
* If your food cravings hit when you're anxious or stressed, seek consolation in other ways. Address your stress. What is it that you really need? A comforting conversation with a coworker, a walk, or a shoulder massage from a friend may do the job. If reassuring "comfort foods" are your downfall, find some that are healthy, but still satisfying -- a vegetarian casserole, maybe, or mashed potatoes made with lowfat milk.

* Give in sometimes. If your craving is especially persistent, denying yourself that cookie or bag of chips will only make the urge more intense. Allow yourself a moderate portion of the food you crave, deciding on the amount you II have before you dig in.

RELATED ARTICLE: the top five foods women crave

chocolate What to eat instead Let's face it, there's no substitute for chocolate. Eat a little bit of it, and savor every bite.

ice cream What to eat instead Try 1/2 cup of light vanilla ice cream (100 calories) topped with strawberries rather than full-fat vanilla ice cream (270 calories per A cup). Or go for Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Sorbet, which tastes extraordinarily rich but isn't: 130 calories and o fat grams per 1/2 cup.

potato chips What to eat instead Salted popcorn: 4 cups (a whole bowl!) of light microwave popcorn has just 120 calories. If you really need to have some chips, eat the baked kind with 110 calories per 1-ounce serving vs. deep-fried with 158 calories.

cookies What to eat instead Lower-fat cookies or granola/fruit bars, Try: Whole-wheat Fig Newtons (2 cookies have 110 calories); Healthy Valley Raspberry Jumbo cookies, which are fat- and trans-fat-free (1 cookie has 80 calories); a Nature's Carob Chip Choice Granola Bar (80 calories).

french fries What to eat instead Homemade baked cheese fries: Spray potato wedges with olive-oil-flavored Pam and sprinkle with salt; roast at 4000 F for 40 minutes; sprinkle with some reduced-fat grated Cheddar cheese and bake for 5 more minutes.

 

[GaRain]

Well, my personal trainer session was a let down yesterday. I went in with the idea that is was going to be something it wasn't. Well, I got my monies worth - since it was free! But a big waste of my time at the gym!

Oh well - I know about those cravings! I fight them in a couple of ways...I eat lunch a little later than noon...postponing the cravings a bit. I do not have ones or change in my purse (drop that in the Disney fund at the end of every day) so I can't visit the snack machine. And about noon, I fill one of my empty bottles of water from the water cooler and add a crystal light and stick that in the freezer. By the time I am heading home, I have this nice cool almost sweet treet to drink on the way home!
But man, those m'n'm's sure do call my name when Aunt Flo is around!!!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

One of the ways I deal with cravings is a trick I learned when I did Body for LIfe. That particular program allowed you to have a free day every week - a day when you ate whatever you wanted and however much you wanted. The trick was it all had to be consumed in a 24 hour period and then back on the plan. Well, I don't go all out that way, but I allow myself 1 salty treat and 1 sweet treat per week but I buy it in a small bag so I only get 1 serving. This way, I have something to look forward to and if a craving for M and M's hits, I just say to myself "Well, there is your SAturday treat." I can generally hold off a few days to get it and then I eat it and move on. I guess we'll see if it continues to work as the months go by.

I didn't do so well yesterday though. I had lunch at Quizzno's with a co-worker. Not bad, I did the research on line first and I came up with a decent sandwich that stayed in my calories for the day. The problem came later. We had a big event last night and I knew that A)I wouldn't have time to work out and B) I really didn't even have time to go home to get dinner before the event. I had thought I would but...best laid plans and all that. Then some folks said "Hey, we're running over to the mall to grab dinner" and I joined in. We ended up at Cheeburger, Cheeburger. Yep. Not good. I did talk myself into getting a burger wrap which was a few less calories, but all told, it was not a great day. Here's hoping today is better even though I already know that there is no workout in my future again. The season is starting and I have a late production meeting. By the time I get home, it will be too late.

 

[shellabell]

I have a horrible time fighting cravings. I know it's a mental thing, but when I want junk it's hard for me to substitute with carrots or fruit. I never even ate carrots or fruit until the last couple of years!

Yesterday was not a good eating day. I was having one of those days when I could not get full. I would finish eating and still feel hungry. During the day I did okay, although I was eating too much it was at least fairly healthy. Then I ended up going to McDonalds for dinner. I got one of their mini meals and a sundae, but I still ended up about 300-400 over calories. The worst part was the fat, I think I was about 30 grams over my daily.

I do give myself credit for making it to the gym; I kept trying to talk myself out of going

I am up 2lbs today-hoping to take it back off before official weigh in.

 

[stitchfan23]

Doing okay on the food side of things and doing great on the water. Finished my forst 30 day challenge on the Wii Active but because of an upcoming Disney trip and a trip to Scotland a week later I have decided not to start another one at this time. Hubby and I have copied down the exercises from the Active and are doing them with weights which is giving us a better exercise than with the bands. I also just started the couch to 5K that someone else recommended and it is hard. I do mine on the treadmill during the day and so far (2 sessions in) I can only do 10min first time and 11 min second time out of the 20min but I am working up to it. Then when hubby gets home and does his I get on the bike for another 15 min.

Just placed an order last night for JC Penney outlet and they have some great prices in the outlet. I spent just over $150 and I got 2 pairs of shorts, 2 pairs of capris, a sweatshirt, and I think 8 shirts. Most of the shirts were under $7.99 and the sweatshirt was $9.99. I figure if they get me through my 2 upcoming trips them I will be happy.

 

[luvsJack]

I so TOTALLY get these except I've always gotten them about a week before Auntie Flo shows up. They are very frustrating. I alternate between craving salt and sweet. For the sweet I've turned to Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches. They are awesome and only have 140 calories for a large ice cream sandwich. The salt is a bit more difficult as I try to minimize salt. Usually I will turn to unbuttered popcorn as that helps a bit with the snack/salt craving but doesn't totally blow it on the calorie front. However what I really want is a large bag of regular potato chips with french onion dip and a coke on the side. lol!

THAT IS IT EXACTLY!!! That is the very thing I would love to dive off in right now while on the couch in front of the TV watching some sappy romantic comedy. (apparently I have hormonal movie cravings too! )

 

[luvsJack]

Well, I have printed out everyone's tips for cravings (thanks Dawn for all that info!). Hanging it all on the fridge next to the calendar and next month I will most definitely make sure I am ready and prepared. I believe if I think ahead, realize the cravings are coming and be ready with some "instead of" foods, I can beat them.

It just always seems like the cravings hit when I am getting low on groceries and that really puts dd's snacks in danger! And of course this month her Easter basket with all the kisses in it is sitting on the table. Moving that to her room when I get home! Out of sight, out of mind.

 

[Anna114]

So I couldn't stand my"Aunt Flo", never heard that one and the chocolate bingeing, I TOLD the Dr just remove the annoying uterus...... and he did

As for snacking, I am sick to death of carrots and the like when I get home from work at 12am so I went down the snack aisle and found multi grain tortilla chips and bought some salsa (excellent snack with low cals and carbs, the salsa) and I'll try that for a little while. Pretzels were killing me with the carbs. Some times I try to worry more about the health then just the diet all of the time.

 

[gellybean]

Well, my personal trainer session was a let down yesterday. I went in with the idea that is was going to be something it wasn't. Well, I got my monies worth - since it was free! But a big waste of my time at the gym!

Oh well - I know about those cravings! I fight them in a couple of ways...I eat lunch a little later than noon...postponing the cravings a bit. I do not have ones or change in my purse (drop that in the Disney fund at the end of every day) so I can't visit the snack machine. And about noon, I fill one of my empty bottles of water from the water cooler and add a crystal light and stick that in the freezer. By the time I am heading home, I have this nice cool almost sweet treet to drink on the way home!
But man, those m'n'm's sure do call my name when Aunt Flo is around!!!

Sorry your free personal training session was a bust! At least it was free!!

Great strategies for delaying and controlling your cravings!

One of the ways I deal with cravings is a trick I learned when I did Body for LIfe. That particular program allowed you to have a free day every week - a day when you ate whatever you wanted and however much you wanted. The trick was it all had to be consumed in a 24 hour period and then back on the plan. Well, I don't go all out that way, but I allow myself 1 salty treat and 1 sweet treat per week but I buy it in a small bag so I only get 1 serving. This way, I have something to look forward to and if a craving for M and M's hits, I just say to myself "Well, there is your SAturday treat." I can generally hold off a few days to get it and then I eat it and move on. I guess we'll see if it continues to work as the months go by.

I didn't do so well yesterday though. I had lunch at Quizzno's with a co-worker. Not bad, I did the research on line first and I came up with a decent sandwich that stayed in my calories for the day. The problem came later. We had a big event last night and I knew that A)I wouldn't have time to work out and B) I really didn't even have time to go home to get dinner before the event. I had thought I would but...best laid plans and all that. Then some folks said "Hey, we're running over to the mall to grab dinner" and I joined in. We ended up at Cheeburger, Cheeburger. Yep. Not good. I did talk myself into getting a burger wrap which was a few less calories, but all told, it was not a great day. Here's hoping today is better even though I already know that there is no workout in my future again. The season is starting and I have a late production meeting. By the time I get home, it will be too late.

Totally get the cheeseburger thing. Did the same thing yesterday. Be proud of your Quizno's choices and for getting the wrap instead. You are making choices for a healthier you, overall!

Good idea about the one sweet and one salty treat a week!!

Doing okay on the food side of things and doing great on the water. Finished my forst 30 day challenge on the Wii Active but because of an upcoming Disney trip and a trip to Scotland a week later I have decided not to start another one at this time. Hubby and I have copied down the exercises from the Active and are doing them with weights which is giving us a better exercise than with the bands. I also just started the couch to 5K that someone else recommended and it is hard. I do mine on the treadmill during the day and so far (2 sessions in) I can only do 10min first time and 11 min second time out of the 20min but I am working up to it. Then when hubby gets home and does his I get on the bike for another 15 min.

Just placed an order last night for JC Penney outlet and they have some great prices in the outlet. I spent just over $150 and I got 2 pairs of shorts, 2 pairs of capris, a sweatshirt, and I think 8 shirts. Most of the shirts were under $7.99 and the sweatshirt was $9.99. I figure if they get me through my 2 upcoming trips them I will be happy.

Ohhhhhh it's all your fault. I just hit the JC Penney Outlet site and ordered way too many things. And I have no trips planned for an excuse!!

Seriously, thanks for the heads up. I love me a good deal as much as I love me a good meal.

THAT IS IT EXACTLY!!! That is the very thing I would love to dive off in right now while on the couch in front of the TV watching some sappy romantic comedy. (apparently I have hormonal movie cravings too! )

The only emotion I've found I don't pig out with is Anger! Go figure. Apparently if DH and I fought more often, I'd be a size 12. and my house would be cleaner! I clean when I'm mad. But every other emotion, I want food!!



Cravings!! Yeah... totally gave in and ordered a cheeseburger and onion rings for lunch yesterday. And I'm afraid to admit I enjoyed every single stinking bite of it. I ordered it from a mom and pop shop so it was more close to homemade than processed and left off the mayo. Had a diet coke when what I wanted was a vanilla shake and then had a fiber bar for dinner last night. Not the smartest day I've had but I'm owning it and putting it out there and vowing to do better today! For me, it's definitely not having groceries at home that leads me to take the drive thru detour. And sadly, I could have gone through McD's and gotten a kids meal and been ok, but I wanted that satisfying meal of substance.


My diet shipped yesterday. I'm interested to read all about it. From what I can find online it's nothing new information wise. No gimmicks. Just giving up a lot of bad for you foods. I'm scared, to be honest. But I figure I can do anything for a week, and if the scale is my friend, I'll probably be motivated for another week, etc.

Will keep you guys posted.

Sorry I didn't get the Eat This Not That done last night. Was a strange night. Our gym schedule is really messing up my kids bedtime routine, and I'm trying to figure out a way to make it work. It's so hard to get DS7 to bed on time when it's still daylight out and we're just getting back from the gym. I am so looking foward to the summer, which for me to say that is a huge deal. Summer is usually a time of depression for me. It's so stinking hot here, as many of you southern states dwellers can relate too! And all the activities that make that bearable just aren't an option for me. Swimming in public, going out on the lake in your swim suit, etc. Plus I'm a big tv junkie and there's just nothing on tv in the summer.

So for me to say I'm looking foward to the summer, well that's huge.
I'm not watching as many tv shows now that I'm working out in the evening. No time. DH and I are working on the yard, getting it ready to spend a lot of time with the boys out there this summer. We grill out often, a healthy and yummy summer perk. We've got not one, but two beach vacations planned. One to see my cousin get married, and one to visit DH's mom. And I'm looking forward to them. I'm getting in a swimsuit no matter how much I've lost by then!!

Gonna post another Eat This Not That, now to make up for last night's missed one and then I'll post another one tonight.

Have a great day everyone!

 

[gellybean]

Worst Ice Cream Dessert
Cosi Double Trouble Brownie Sundae

1594 cals 95 g fat 1039 mg sodium 163 g carbs

This dessert is dubbed Double Trouble for a reason. Cosi doesn't provide sugar content, but the 163 g of carbohydrates suggests that this sundae racks up at least 100 grams of the sweet stuff, easily. That's the sugar equivalent of 10 Krispy Kreme original glazed donuts. And there could be even more. Add to that enough calories to fill you up for almost an entire day (not to mention a disturbingly high level of sodium) and this dessert is sure to absolutely trash your diet.

Eat This Instead!
S'Mores
361 cals 10 g fat 234 mg sodium 61 g carbs

Worst Chicken Entree
Dairy Queen 6 Piece Chicken Strip Basket with Country Gravy
1640 cals 74 g fat (12g sat, 1 g trans) 3690 mg sodium 121 g carbs

It's amazing how many calories DQ can pack into 6 strips of fatty fried chicken. Don't blame the trans-fatty gravy alone -- it adds only about 400 extra calories. This disastrous basket will send your blood pressure soaring with the sodium equivalent of 112 saltine crackers, and it'll drag you down for the rest of the day with it's carbohydrate overload.

Eat This Instead!

Grilled Flamethrower Chicken Sandwich
590 cals 36 g fat (9 g sat) 1480 mg sodium 34 g carbohydrates




Gelly's note: I gained about 40 lbs over the course of one summer between my freshmen and sophmore year of high school when I started dating a boy that worked at Dairy Queen!!! I can't telll you how often I ate chicken strip baskets that summer! NO wonder!!!