The Blonde Diaries

Weight Loss Update

A few weeks ago, upon my return from vacation, I shared that the impact of the hurricane and vacation on my health had been pretty minor. I only managed to gain 6 pounds but it was 6 pounds I didn’t need to gain. So I have taken to a number of methods to start shedding the pounds. The first was to obviously cut my calorie intake. The second was to start exercising again. The third method I am trying now is to vary the foods I eat and cut down on the number of carbs I take in each day. I have been using the tracker on fit day and man do I eat a lot of carbs! So this week I have been eating more “healthy” carbs like fruits, vegetables, and then lots of protein. I am down 3 pounds so I know I am making a difference. Slow and steady wins the race right?

So this is where I need your help. I need new healthy, low-carb recipes. I have the usual grilled chicken, baked fish, and grilled sausage down but I need help with varying them up. We like Italian but I do not have any good Italian recipes that do not include either a heavy sauce, pasta noodles, or something battered and fried. So any good recipes to share?

An overdue Weight Watchers update

Can you tell I’ve been avoiding my diet lately?  You probably can by the lack of Weight Watchers related posts that I have posted lately.  It seems like I constantly have an excuse not to count my points but yesterday I learned that I need to say goodbye to my excuses and hello to counting my points.  I’ve always had an issue buying shorts so when I was bumping up a size or two I didn’t really think anything about it last month.  But when I tried on the exact same pair of jeans yesterday at Saks and they didn’t fit I realized how much I had stretched out my current pair and how I needed to quit relying on fast fat burner pills and go back to what works: diet and exercise. So I am hoping that in a month or two my brand new jeans no longer fit and I can get into some of my older pairs of jeans that I didn’t stretch out. I have a few pairs in a few different sizes so that should be a good measuring stick on how well I am doing with my plan. Another funny thing is that I can really start over because I can’t eat anything in my refrigerator or freezer due to the loss of electricity. I basically have to start over with grocery shopping when I get back from vacation. Kinda cool in a twisted way lol!

If you are on Weight Watchers or any diet that is working can you share some recipes with me? Either drop a comment or click on the gmail button on the left side bar. Thanks!!

Weight Watchers 1 point foods

Last month, I pointed out some oh-so-tasty foods that are 0 points on the Weight Watchers program. I thought it would be a good idea to talk about 1 point* food today as I am still working on getting back “on program” but also because even if you aren’t on Weight Watchers, this list would be relevant because it would help you snack and eat healthily on your own.

• Beverages - light beer (12oz), 1 glass wine (4 oz), fat-free or sugar-free hot chocolate, Juice (1/2 cup), 1/2 cup milk
• Breads - Most high Fiber breads are 1 point per slice or 1 point for 2 slices (Nature’s Own Lite Bread is 2 slices for 1 pt)
• Fruits - 1 cup of any of the following: blueberries, blackberries, cherries, cantaloupe, grapes, grapefruit, oranges, raspberries, strawberries.  1 small piece of the following: apples, pears, nectarines, plums, and tangerines
• Protein sources - 1 piece bacon, 1 serving of egg beaters, 3 egg whites, 1 fat free hot dog, 1 oz lunch meat, 1 slice fat free cheese
• Seafood - 2 oz of the following: crabs, crawfish, shrimp, scallops, white fish, and lobster meat

There are many 1 point foods and beverages out there.  I have found many more so look for a part 2 coming soon! I hope they give you good ideas on things you can add or substitute in your diet.

*A rough estimate of a Weight Watchers point is 50 calories.

Weight Watchers 0 point foods

Restarting Weight Watchers can be hit or miss for me.  It mainly depends on how I have been doing before attempting to start back.  I find right after busy season where I eat out every day and eat lots of fatty, junky food that going back to WW is such a chore.  Then other times like when I started back 2 weeks ago it was really simple because Mike and I had already started eating healthy again.  One thing I find I have to watch out for is eating the right items and making sure I eat enough.  Sounds crazy right but its true.

So I’d like to highlight some healthy 0 point food choices today that you can turn to when you need to meet your fruit/veggie/points requirements as these foods will really help you along your journey. Each item is 0 points per serving.

• Breakfast items: 1 egg white, 1 cup black coffee
• Fruits: kiwifruit, peaches, small oranges
• Veggies: asparagus, lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, sauerkraut, celery, mushrooms, spinach, squash, tomatoes, zucchini (basically any veggie)

I hope this short list brings you a few new foods and ideas to try.  Until next time keep up the good work!

Cake + Weight Watchers?? Disaster??

During my sorting/cleaning today I came across one of my old food journals from my weight watchers meetings last fall. I had 2 recipes written down and both were about making a low point cake that is weight watchers friendly. I have to admit I am really skeptical about allowing cake/sweets into my weight watchers program because I have no self control when it comes to things like cake. Plus how good can these cakes really be if they are weight watchers approved?? Well I’m here to tell you the recipes are pretty simple and I bet they are tasty because I have seen these recipes all over the place. I have not tried them yet but I am going to have Mike make one for my birthday next month so I can try one. I have a feeling that Cake + Weight Watchers Will NOT = disaster.

Pineapple Cake

• Angel Food cake mix
• 1 can crushed pineapple
• mix the two ingredients together and DO NOT follow the directions on the box
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
• Yields 12 servings at 3 points each

Dump Cake

• 1 can diet sprite or sprite zero
• 1 2 pound bag of frozen fruit
• 1 box low fat cake mix
• Place the fruit on the bottom, then cover with the cake mix (again do not follow directions on box), and then pour sprite all over the top.
• This recipe will cook longer than the box states so throw the box out once you dump the cake mix!  Bake at 350 degrees covered in tin foil for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 40 minutes

Hope you enjoy!  If you have tried either of these recipes please let me know how they turned out and which one I should make for my birthday.