Musings

Hey guys, I'm sorry I've been MIA. I'm revamping the whole Journal of a Non-Dieter website, and it's been eating up all my free time. It should be up and running within a day or two and then I'll get back to blogging regularly. I'm excited about the new site.. all of the content has been updated, including new restaurant info and a downloadable spreadsheet for point tracking.

So stick around, good things are coming!

Food Journal

253 lbs
28-33 points

1 bagel - 4 points
2 tbs cream cheese - 2 points
2 slices whole wheat bread - 2 points
2.8 oz tuna - 2 points
1 tbs mayo - 2 points
2 slices American cheese - 4 points
1 apple - 1 point

Total: 17 points

Musings

Ugh. I hate being sick. My kids have been taking turns with a mild stomach bug, and I came down with it yesterday. It wasn't too bad until last night.. I was up almost the whole night in the bathroom, and while I wasn't as violently ill today, I really had almost no appetite. Thankfully, my husband stayed home to watch the kids while I rested. He brought home Burger King at 2pm (they had all gone to the playground), which was the first thing I ate all day. I'm feeling a bit better now, but still kind of queasy. I'm skipping my Metformin tonight because I know it can cause digestive upset, and while I'm 99% sure it's just a bug, I figured I'd check.

Food Journal

255 lbs
28-33 points

Burger King Cheeseburger - 9 points
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pasta - 6 points
1 cup mixed veggies - 0 points
3 oz ground turkey - 5 points
1 cup grapes - 1 point
1 grapefruit - 2 points

Total: 23 points

Musings

Some routine maintenance comments.. I get these questions all the time, though I answer them frequently in my posts and in the comments section. Once again...

I'm not purposely trying to eat less than my points range. This is what I eat in a day, when I eat according to hunger. Believe it or not, I can tell that 22 is less than 28, and I can't tell you how many times I've heard that it's 'incorrect' to eat less than my points allowance. Personally, I feel it would be counter productive to realize at 8pm that I'm 6 points short for the day, and try to cram them all in (hmm, 3 grapefruits, or 6 cups of grapes, or 4 cookies, or 3 Skinny Cows.. that all seems like a lot to eat at night, y'know?). And, yeah, I realize that I'm being a bit snarky. Sorry, I guess.

You can find your points allowances based on your current weight here. It's right there at the top of the main points page.

Please, feel free to bring on the constructive criticism. If it's something I find useful, I'll consider it, and if it's repetitive stuff that I've heard a million times, I'll most likely take it with a grain of salt (though maybe mention it in these too-frequent reminder posts). Sorry if that's too honest.

I wouldn't be blogging if I didn't want to hear from people, so for as long as I'm here, feel free to comment away. :)

Oh, and a shoutout to Manda (who commented), we homeschool, too.

Food Journal

255 lbs
28-33 points

1 bagel - 4 points
2 tbs cream cheese - 2 points
1 grapefruit - 2 points
2 cups salad - 0 points
2 tbs lite vinaigrette - 1 point
1 apple - 1 point
1 1/2 cups beef stew - 11 points
1 cup grapes - 1 point

Total: 22 points

Food Journal

255 lbs
28-33 points

2 cups oatmeal - 4 points
1 cup grapes - 1 point
1 cup chili - 5 points
1 grapefruit - 2 points
6 oz. steelhead trout - 7 points
1 cup mixed veggies - 0 points
3 chocolate chip cookies - 4 points

Total: 23 points

Musings

I had a comment in a previous entry that said how brave I was to blog about my weight loss journey, because it opens my choices up for criticism. And, y'know, this person had a point.. it can be really frustrating to be trying hard, only to see people commenting like, "Gee, you should really..." or "You'd lose more if only you..." Part of these comments come through email, from the Non-Diet website, too. The vast majority of people reading this blog haven't a clue who I am, so, yeah, it does kind of bug me to get these comments that seem to question my intelligence.. like I don't know it's better to do X rather than Y. Life is never simple; a whole host of variables come into play when determining what I will actually eat in a given day.

But, you know.. despite all these minor little irritations.. I absolutely love blogging about my weight loss. Why? I love the supportive comments, the ones cheering me on, the ones where people tell me nicely what worked for them, the ones that say they're inspired to make a difference in their own lives. Dieting is a lot of work, and it really, truly means a lot to see comments from these people who are helping me out along the way.

So, thank you to my regular commenters! You know who you are. :)

Food Journal

255 lbs
28-33 points

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
1 cup grapes - 1 point
5 oz steak tips - 6 points
1 cup mashed potatoes - 4 points
1 grapefruit - 2 points
7 oz steak w/ sauce - 10 points
1 cup corn - 2 points
1 cup brown rice - 4 points

Total: 33 points

Food Journal

255 lbs
28-33 points

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
2 slices whole wheat bread - 2 points
5 oz sliced turkey - 5 oz
1 slice tomato - 0 points
1 tbs mayo - 3 points
1 apple - 1 point
1 cup whole wheat pasta - 3 points
1/2 cup sauce - 2 points
1 oz sausage - 3 points
1/3 cup shredded cheese - 4 points
1 cup green beans - 0 points

Total: 27 points

Food Journal

255 lbs
28-33 points

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
1 pork chop - 5 points
1 apple - 1 point
4 oz honey garlic chicken - 5 points
1 cup mixed veggies - 0 points
1 cup brown rice - 4 points
3 chocolate chip cookies - 4 points

Total: 23 points

Musings

My car is in the shop. Today was the second day, and I won't have it until tomorrow evening. Luckily, it's mostly all under warranty. The problem is.. I spaced out and didn't plan for lunches when I was at the grocery store, so I've been struggling, trying to come up with healthy things to eat. I'm so over my soup and toast kick, and since we switched to natural peanut butter, an apple and PB just doesn't hold the same appeal. I've also been making my own bread, and while it tastes great toasted with a smidge of butter (I've had a bite of my husband's), it's so-so for sandwiches. I can't believe I prefer store-bought bread to my own.. hmph. It's a lot of fun making it, though, and if I wasn't on a diet and allowed myself to snack on bread, I'd be all over it.

But, anyway.. my point is, it really stinks not having a car, even just for a few days. It's supposed to be really nice tomorrow, too, and I wanted to take the kids to the playground. I guess we'll just have to settle for our muddy backyard.

Food Journal

255 lbs
28-33 points

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
1 bagel - 4 points
2 tbs cream cheese - 2 points
1 apple muffin - 7 points
1 pork chop - 5 points
1 cup green beans - 0 points
1 cup brown rice - 4 points

Total: 26 points

Musings

I'm just going to come right out and say it. I don't believe in weight loss surgery. I know that, theoretically, it's the best choice for some people, but every single person I know who's had it done used it poorly. My mom had gastric bypass last September, and she's lost nearly a hundred pounds since then. She now weighs a little more than I do. She looks fantastic and is able to walk a bit more easily. Unfortunately, her rate of weight loss has slowed dramatically, and I really think it's because of the fact that she never really changed her eating habits. She still eats unhealthy food, just in smaller, more frequent quantities. She still goes most of the workday without eating, then comes home and tries to binge, and just ends up getting sick.

Her boss had the surgery done a few years back and has now gained almost all her weight back. So too with a couple I know who both had gastric bypass.

It just seems futile, you know? How can a surgery really effect a change in eating habits? Because until you stop relying on food for emotional comfort, until you learn to cook and eat healthy foods, any weight loss will be temporary. And that's what I'm working on.. trying to find alternative ways to reward myself for getting through a bad day and transitioning to a whole foods, preferably local diet. It's hard work, sure. But I'm confident that if I can effect these changes in my lifestyle, that weight will stay off.

Food Journal

255 lbs
28-33 points

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
2 slices whole wheat bread - 2 points
2 tbs peanut butter - 4 points
3 tbs raspberry preserves - 2 points
1 apple muffin - 7 points
5 oz chicken - 5 points
1 cup green beans - 0 points
1 apple - 1 point

Total: 25 points

Food Journal

255 lbs
28-33 points

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
2 blueberry muffins - 6 points
1 cup beef stew - 5 points
1/2 serving Bertoli shrimp scampi - 6 points
1 1/2 cup salad - 0 points
2 tbs lite vinaigrette - 1 point

Total: 22 points

Musings

Sorry I've been MIA. I'm still sticking pretty well to my points range. It's been crazy around here, I'll get back to posting regularly this weekend, I promise. :) Sorry!

Food Journal

256 lbs
28-33 points

Blew it yesterday, so I didn't bother counting points. Here's today:

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
2 slices whole wheat bread - 2 points
2 tbs peanut butter - 4 points
3 tbs blueberry preserves - 2 points
1 cup skim milk - 2 points
1 1/2 cup mixed berries - 0 points

Food Journal

256 lbs
28-33 points

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
8 pieces spicy shrimp roll - 4 points
1 cup asparagus - 0 points
2 slices meatloaf - 16 points
1 apple - 1 point
1 tbs almond butter - 2 points

Total: 27 points

Food Journal

256 lbs
28-33 points

1/4 of Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast - 1 point
1/2 cup mixed veggies - 0 points
6 oz steak tips - 8 points
4 oz chicken - 5 points
1/2 cup couscous - 3 points
1 cup green beans - 0 points
2 slices whole wheat bread - 2 points
2 tbs peanut butter - 4 points
3 tbs blueberry preserves - 2 points
1 cup milk - 2 points

Total: 27 points

Musings

I'm currently reading the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver. It's a really well-written, insightful, and info-packed book about everything related to growing food. She talks a lot about the food industry and what it has done to people by giving us the type of food it does. She talks about heirloom varieties of plants and animals, while going into detail about how they're not just upscale, snobby foods, but sources of nourishment that are vital to our well-being. All of this, against the backdrop of the story of how she and her family uprooted from Tuscon and moved to Appalachia, with the goal of only eating locally-grown foods for a year. There are recipes, funny stories, and enough scary facts to push you into action. It's a great book, and I highly recommend it, even if you're not wanting to grow your own food. It'll change how you look at what you put into your mouth.

I'd also like to note this Scratch Cooking blog. She's got some great recipes on there. It's not all diet-friendly, but on the whole I'll go for whole, fresh ingredients in a meal, rather than something processed and low-point.

Food Journal

256 lbs
28-33 points

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
2 100 cal. English muffins - 2 points
1/2 cup tomato sauce - 1 point
1 cup low fat mozzarella - 8 points
1 apple - 1 point
1 1/2 cups beef stew - 7 points
1 apple muffin - 7 points

Total: 30 points

Food Journal

257.5 lbs
28-33 points

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
2 slices whole wheat bread - 2 points
2 tbs peanut butter - 4 points
2 tbs raspberry jam - 2 points
1 apple - 1 point
5 oz chicken w/ sauce - 6 points
1 cup pasta - 4 points
1 cup peas - 1 point
1 grapefruit - 2 points

Total: 26 points

Musings

Someone sent me a nice long email a day or two ago. Several paragraphs. I somehow deleted it, I can't find it anywhere. I totally wanted to reply. If you're out there reading this and think that's you, please send me another note!

Food Journal

257.5 lbs
28-33 points

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
8 pieces spicy tuna roll - 4 points
1 cup grapes - 1 point
1/2 cup pasta w/ sauce - 3 points
1 cup corn - 2 point
5 oz BBQ steak tips - 7 points
1 homemade poptart - 10 points

Total: 31 points

Food Journal

257.5 lbs
28-33 points

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
2 cups grapes - 2 points
2 slices whole wheat toast - 2 points
2 tbs peanut butter - 4 points
2 tbs raspberry jam - 2 points
1 cup sugar snap peas - 0 points
1 cup brown rice - 4 points
8 oz steak - 11 points
1 grapefruit

Total: 31 points

Musings

I've been having a really hard time lately. I think I mentioned that in one of my other posts. It occured to me that I had a lot easier time when I was drinking the regular Carnation Breakfast Drinks, rather than the No Sugar Added, so I switched back to those to see if it makes a difference.

Today was a bit easier, actually. I didn't spend all day thinking of how I'd like nothing more than to eat the dozen cookies residing in my bread drawer. So, maybe it'll help, after all.

Food Journal

257.5 lbs
28-33 points

Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink - 4 points
1 1/4 peppers - 0 points
1 1/4 cups dirty rice w/ ground beef - 8 points
1 grapefruit - 2 points
1 cup green beans - 0 points
6 oz cod w/ breadcrumbs - 7 points
3 cookies - 4 points

Total: 25 points

Food Journal

257.5 lbs
28-33 points

1 glazed chocolate cake donut - 7 points
1 cup milk - 2 points
1 English muffin pizza (both halves) - 5 points
1 grapefruit - 2 points
1 1/2 red peppers - 0 points
1 1/2 cups dirty rice w/ ground beef - 9 points
2 cookies - 3 points

Total: 28 points