Ugly Food Update

Eggnog lattes.

Wine and cheese.

Deli meats.

Poutine on DBF's new ship.

McD's on the run.

White Russians.


I think it's good we're going home tomorrow!!

Halifax is ugly on the food frontier

Travelling is bad for any sort of healthy eating. Yes, I have opportunity to be a good girl, but I just don't wanna. I have the best intentions when I set out, but alas, they don't seem to follow through.

I'm OK with it for now though.

I keep hoping for a salad but so far it hasn't happened. Tomorrow's not looking good either as we have a big surf n turf night out planned.

Maybe Friday.

mhmmmmmmm

Friday Bad Girl Menu

Poor DBF was soooo sick today. He just felt rotten all day and no amount of Gravol or anything would help. I felt like such a helpless nurse...couldn't really do anything for him.

My timetable was all out of whack today. I got up early, but didn't get straight to work because it's sort of a US holiday. I decided to start watching the What Not to Wear marathon, and worked from the couch until I couldn't sit like that anymore. Then I showered and sat at my desk, and wouldn't you believe it....I was so much more productive that way!

But, my eating timetable and plan was basically non-existant.

B = coffee, cashew bar (3)
L = leftover Chop Suey (3)
S = twizzlers (1)
S = Cheezies (5)
D = cream of mushroom soup, grilled cheese sandwich, ginger ale (12)

And I'm going to eat more Cheezies while I sit on the couch. DBF went back to bed and I'm bored. At least I know what I'm doing!!

Thursday Menu

We ate out again last night. There may have been a baked lasagna. It was soooo good. It was a comfort food sort of thing. I don't even want to know the points.

DBF may have snuck a bag of chocolate chip cookies into the shopping basket. I may not have stopped him. There may have been a mitfull of cookies with the tea last night.

This has got to stop!!

Today's plan:

B = tea, All Bran bar, apple (3)
L = tuna salad on whatever crackers are in the cupboard, Healthy Request chicken noodle soup (6)
S = tea, cashew bar (3)
D = Chop Suey from ESBM (6)
S = let's not kid ourselves....there will be more cookies! but this time I WILL LIMIT MYSELF TO TWO (4)

Wednesday Menu

We shall not mention yesterday's menu. It was raining. I was sick. I worked late. There were no groceries in the cupboard. We ate out....it was yummy, but it wasn't pretty. Oh, and there are officially no chocolate chip cookies left.

Today, I'm still sick...but at least the sun is shining for now....so maybe if I don't have to work past 5:00 today I might actually get some groceries and make us something healthy for din-din.

B = coffee (ya I know....but we had our house inspector dude coming today and I didn't have time) (1)
L = sunflower flax toast w/ pb & honey, Gala apple (7)
S = baked Tostitos w/ salsa (2)
D = TBD, but I'm hoping to make a Thai Pork Noodle dish & steamed veggies...(8-10)
S = popcorn (2)

Tagged!!

Wooohooo!!! I love it when I get tagged in these things....let's me know that one of you lovely readers is thinking of me! Weeeeeeeeeeee!!!

In this particular case, I was tagged on each of my blogs, so I am posting the same thing on each of them. So both girls get a couple of link tags...hehehe.... Thanks to Wheebles and Bri @ Skinnify!

Here are the rules (according to Bri there's only 5 things!):
Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog (some random, some weird). Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs and then let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Things you might not know about me:

1) As I've gotten older I've developed a strange attraction to the color pink. Not pale, ballerina pink. But more like a fuschia sex-kitten pink. When I'm trying to decide colors, if that's an option it's a no brainer. I even see it in my mind's eye when I fantasize about my future wedding. I think it has a lot to do with too many episodes of Sex in the City.

2) I grew up an only child with a single parent. This makes me strangely independant, bossy, and anal about having things MY WAY. It makes for interesting living arrangements with other people. haha. But I wouldn't have it any other way because it also makes me best friends with my Mom.

3) I make bad jokes when I'm nervous or uncomfortable. Unfortunately I'm nowhere near as witty as Chandler Bing, otherwise that might be a cool thing.

4) I joined Weight Watchers because I was bored. I had recently started dating DBF and he had to go away for work for 2 months, so I decided to try "dieting" as something to do. Glad I learned that it's not just a hobby!! But at least my "hobby" has turned into a healthier lifestyle.

5) I like to work out to Bon Jovi and Guns n Roses. There's one CD at my kickboxing gym that I just love and it has Welcome to the Jungle on it. However, I would probably cringe if I had to listen to it under any other circumstance!

OK, there you have it. Now I am tagging Julie, Jen, Mouse, Mrs. Furious, and of course... The Duv. (YaYa, I know most of you have already done it, but you are the ones that I love...so that's just the way it is!)

Tuesday Thoughts and Menu

So last night there may have been some instant mashed potatoes and Bisquick biscuits with the chili....but I cut my chili portion way down so it wasn't so bad...honest!! However, those chocolate chip cookies that I'd been promising DBF may have made their way into my tummy with a cup of tea too.... :)

Oh well, today is a new day....

B = McD's sausage McMuffin (no egg) & hashbrown (DBF decided to surprise me!)
L = leftover chili
S = pear
D = don't know yet, but I'm planning a huge pile of steamed veggies with it!

A = not much, I'm sick AGAIN!!

Monday Menu

B = coffee, All Bran bar, pomegranate (4)
L = Corn Bran Squares w/ skim milk, pear (4)
S = baked Tostitos w/ salsa & light sour cream (3)
D = beef chili w/ light cheddar (7)
S (post-gym) = vanilla soy milk, sunflower flax toast w/ pb & honey (6)

A = kickboxing (6)

24/28

And the damage is.....

* drumroll please.... *

Up 2.2lbs.

Booooooooooooooo!

I attest this to the fact that the scale was obviously falsely low last week.....and this weekend was a party-fest that ended with not the healthiest choices ever, too much booze, and not near enough water. Can we say dehydrated?!!

However, I wouldn't trade the amazing amounts of fun I had for any weight. It was all so TOTALLY WORTH IT!!

Friday Menu (w/ a Starbucks evil surprise)

B = coffee, Mini Wheats w/ skim milk, apple (5)

L = Healthy Request chicken noodle soup, Wasa w/ light cheddar & tomatoes (4)

S = Fibre Source bar (2), tall-no fat-no whip-Peppermint Mocha (4)

D = on the run...maybe Subway? (6)

S = popcorn (2)

A = walk the dog (1)

23/23

Doh! I just looked up a tall reduced fat EggNog latte and they are like SEVEN POINTS! Definitely going for the Peppermint Mocha instead. Boooooooooo!

Birthday Update

OK, so I was totally right about the pizza...but you know, it was soooooo worth it. That pizza is so freaking good and we only have a month or so left to enjoy it. Halifax better have pizza that lives up to this stuff!! I got the Popeye's Revenge....spinach, leeks, feta...but don't let that fool you...I doubt it's any healthier than any other pizza because instead of tomato sauce there's an egg, garlic butter base. Whatever, it was soooo good!!

Lunch was a total write-off too. I chose to go for greasy spoon breakfast because it is so rare that we are in town at the right time to go to Floyd's Diner. I had a skillet of pan fried home fries mixed with scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese, green onions, etc. It's my fave there!

I didn't get my eggnog latte, but I did get a regular no-fat latte so that wasn't toooo bad. :)

Ha, and there might have been wine with the pizza......

I'll be good today I promise!! I've heard rumours that there is a dinner out tomorrow night so I'm sure that will be a points nightmare too...but at least there will be dancing to work that off....I think. :)

Birthday Menu

I DON'T KNOW!! Haha, that's right, cuz we're gonna be out all day and I haven't a clue where or what we will be eating. Although, apparently I'm getting a birthday celebration with dinner and such on Saturday so I will still TRY to be a good girl today.

I think I'll have a bowl of Corn Bran Squares w/ skim milk before we leave the house and maybe shove an apple in my purse. After our first meeting there will be time to kill so I think a coffee will be in order. Besides, I still have to get some work done and the best place for that is Serious Coffee with their free wireless access. I'll keep it to a regular coffee though because we are meeting a girlfriend later and I'm already anticipating an EggNog latte as my birthday treat!

Lunch could be anywhere. I'd try for sushi, but DBF don't do raw fish. Maybe a wrap from Delicado's...which isn't totally points friendly but I can make it work. Or maybe I can convince him to go for WonTon soup in Chinatown or something.

Dinner is what scares me. I won't be cooking as it's MY birthday....so I'll bet you a jillion billion million dollars that DBF orders us pizza. We only have one restaurant near our place, and they make the best pizza I've ever had....and DBF has been craving it since the minute he got off the plane from Halifax. They do have a veggie one I've been meaning to try so maybe now's my chance.

Anywho....you all have a great day and I'll catch up with all of your blogs and comments tomorrow!

Wednesday Menu

B = sunflower flax toast w/ pb, pear, coffee (6.5)
L = Healthy Request chicken noodle soup, Wasa w/ light herbed cream cheese & tomaotes (4)
S = diet pop cupcake, skim milk (2.5)
D = New recipe for Lemon Chicken Spaghettini w/ green beans, small tossed salad (8)
S (post-gym) = chocolate soy milk, Fibre Source bar (4)

A = kickboxing (6)

25/28

Day One Accomplished

Yaiieeee...I made it through yesterday relatively unscathed. DBF came home from work early and brought a bag of crumpets with him. I hadn't had lunch yet though so I opted to have fewer Tostitos and eliminated the sour cream. We had yummy crumpets w/ light cheese whiz toasted in the oven with our decaf tea while watching TV in the evening. Yum!!!

Stuck for a recipe...

What do you do with your butternut squash?

Ideas please!!

Tuesday Menu

B = sunflower flax toast w/ pb, pear, coffee (6.5)
L = Gardennay corn chowder, baked Tostitos, salsa & light sour cream (6)
S = diet pop cupcake, skim milk (2.5)
D = leftover beef stew w/ egg noodles, steamed asparagus (8)

A = walk the dog (1)

23/23

WTF?

You are not going to believe this. I still don't.

I didn't weigh myself yesterday even though it was Monday, because I knew I was officially "restarting" today. So I just weighed in now....

And the f*&king scale says 151.4 lbs.

That's my lowest weight in weeks....months probably if I'm honest.

I chose 158 as my restart weight yesterday because last Monday I was 156 and then I had a crazy food-filled week with no exercise. I have been steadily gaining a pound or two a week for over a month so figured I was probably close in my 158 guesstimate.

I know I shouldn't complain about this fabulous number on the scale, but I DON'T GET IT.

Murphy's Law attacks again. I just forked out the $22 for online support and now someone is trying to tell me I don't need it. Well, I'm sticking with it anyway because that was my plan and I'm sure my scale is probably lying (even though I got the same number three times!).

There comes a time...

...when a girl just has to admit she needs help. You all knew it was coming. I even mentioned it the other day. So it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I didn't struggle for even a second. I don't feel bad or guilty or upset with myself. I don't feel like a failure. I just opened up that new Internet Explorer window, clicked on over to WeightWatchers.ca, and REJOINED.

Yup, for the next month I am accepting that I need help. Stress is not my friend and the online journal is good support for this girl.

Eight pounds over goal is not where I like to live. I say that two pounds a week is doable and I plan to do it! (I am, however, aware that my birthday and a bunch of weird Military moving stuff is going to get in my way....so as long as there is still a loss each week I won't beat myself up if it's not two pounds.)

My Christmas present to myself will be MAINTENANCE.

Monday Menu

Had to meet up with my bosses today, so skipped breakfast so I could enjoy a big reduced-fat EggNog latte at Starbucks. I did have a Fibre Source bar in the car, so not to worry I wasn't just sucking back coffee for sustinance today.

Funny how those lattes can fill you up though. After my meeting I went grocery shopping and ran a couple of errands, and wasn't even really hungry when I got home. Bizarre. I just ate the leftover boiled potato with a scoop of the cheese sauce and I'm fine (oh, and one diet pop cupcake). So far today my points are right about where they should be.

For dinner tonight I got the ingredients for a Rachel Ray recipe. Hungarian Stewed Beef with egg noodles. I have the No Yolks brand noodles so they are much healthier, and I'm going to substitute olive oil for a bit of the butter in the recipe so at least it will be a healthy oil. I will steam up a veggie to go with the dish too....probably cauliflower. I am also saving room for one beer with dinner.

Hopefully the munchies stay away so no desserts or snacks tonight.....but it is my last hurrah before getting back on the wagon in the morning so I won't feel guilty if something happens. :)

Sunday Menu

Starting to feel back to normal today, but have decided that Tuesday morning will be the re-start of my health journey. Might as well enjoy a few more days of off-the-wagon...and since it's a long weekend I get an extra day!!

Today I made pancakes for breaky...with an over-easy egg. Not too bad except I used butter on mine. I made a batch of diet pop cupcakes as treats too....so those will help out over the next few days.

For dinner tonight I'm planning some chicken breasts baked with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic and herbs. With this I'll serve boiled Yukon Gold potatoes and steamed cauliflower I got from the farmer's market. I might even put together a cheese sauce with light cheddar.

There's a bag of chocolate chip cookies sitting in the cupboard calling to us too....so maybe those will make an appearance with some tea this evening.

All in all, not totally OP but not totally terrible either!

Saturday Menu

Not healthy, that's all I can say. After my long trek home, and not getting to bed until well after 1am I woke up feeling like I had a hangover. No drinking, but a long day on Friday. So I got DBF to take me to MyChosen Cafe for a yummy homestyle brunch. Hello BLT and onion rings!!!

I haven't planned anything for dinner and here it is almost that time. I'm not really feeling it and didn't get any groceries so maybe soup or something. Later on we plan to enjoy some red wine and yummy old cheddar, so maybe I'll just skip dinner.

Vegas Experience - Part Three

Ugh, yesterday was the longest day EVER!! Can we say "not enough sleep after long night of partying before travelling is not a good idea"? Yes, yes we can!!

Friday morning I managed to make myself wake-up and get to the exhibit hall with just enough time to grab some breaky before they put the continental buffet away. I went with a scoop of granola with skim milk and some fresh melon and strawberries. And water, lots of water. :)

I got a fair amount of exercise in too....going back and forth to our rooms a few times. I don't know if you've ever been to the Bellagio, but it's freaking massive. Fifteen minute walk just to get from the exhibit hall to the elevators...then another five minutes down the hall to the room. Then the same distance back....geesh, I don't even walk the dog for that long at home! (Note: wear comfortable shoes!)

I had to go to my partner's room to pick up my laptop and such after I had already walked all the way to the exhibit. I had left my stuff in his room when we went clubbing the night before and I guess it didn't occur to him that maybe he ought to bring it to the booth for me. Anyway, the walk was good for me and it meant I wasn't actively having to talk with clients. I stopped at the cafe on the way back and got a big non-fat latte....my brain thanked me for that!...but I was lured in by a chocolate croissant too. Willpower is sooooo not my friend when I'm hungover.

A little later in the day, there were huge soft pretzels put out at coffee time in the hall. I ate part of one, but it wasn't really all that great so I tossed it. I did eat my whole double chocolate cookie though...hmmmm, funny that eh? ;)

After we packed up our booth, we decided we wanted to finally try Olives for a late lunch, but wouldn't you know it....they close after lunch and we missed it by like five minutes. So instead we tried out the Buffet. I ended up sticking with a huge plate of salad, cold shrimp & cocktail sauce, and a couple of pieces of sushi. I really wanted to dive into the pasta and entree section, but honestly I didn't want to be full of that when we got on our plane.

At the airport I was excited to find a Starbucks right next to our gate that was serving Christmas drinks...so got myself a reduced-fat EggNog latte while we waited for them to change the wheel on our plane.

Our layover in Seattle was pretty long so I opted for some Ivar's clam chowder (I almost always get this when I'm in the Seattle airport because Seattle is the only place you can get it!) and there may have been some french fries too.

I'm so glad to be home and rested and back to the land of easier food choices. Not that my choices are going to be much better for the rest of this weekend, but come Tuesday morning I'm back on the wagon dammit!!

Vegas Experience - Part Two

Wow, did Thursday evening NOT turn out the way I had thought! That's the nature of Vegas I guess. :)

Dinner wound up being ham and scalloped potatoes at the cocktail party...with a few vodka/sodas of course. A couple of wedges of brie might have made it onto my plate too. Our clubbing plans were slightly waylaid by a couple of clients and other exhibitors....slightly....haha. I had a couple more drinks, but actually managed to get in three bottles of water over the night. No dancing to burn off anything though...booo. (See my other blog for details of the "dancing"...)

Vegas Experience - Part One

HELLO FROM VEGAS!!

The trek here yesterday wasn't too bad...however we did stop at Chili's in the Seattle airport and they don't serve ANYTHING healthy. I settled on the Spinach & Artichoke Dip because I needed something a bit substantial, but it was completely unhealthy and honestly not very tasty. Good news was that I was able to walk away from it when I decided I didn't like it and didn't need any more of it. My margarita was really salty and too strong too.

I stuck with a small box of Junior Mints for the flight and avoided the drink cart altogether.

Last night we attended the opening night cocktail party for the convention. My drink of choice was vodka/soda (lowest point highball out there!!) and they had many food stations so I was happy to sea a seafood one. Fresh jumbo prawns and huge chunks of fresh crab meat...with an excellent seafood salad. All to die for! Later in the evening we opted for an Asian dinner of pork tenderloin and mixed veggies. So yum!! Followed by a few more vodka/sodas at one of the trendy lounges.

Today I was able to snag a fruit plate and tiny bowl of granola & skim milk for breakfast so that was a relief. For lunch I opted for a really good tuna salad sandwich and bottled water. I did have to try a treat from the European pastry shop though....everything looked so AMAZING!! It was totally worth it!! (I'm going to try to go back for photos after work tonight.)

Tonight we have another cocktail party (weeeee....free drinks again!), then I'm hoping to convince my partner that we should go to Todd English Olives for dinner. Later on we plan to find a club for some dancing and fun, so maybe I can work off some dinner.

I'm having fun with all of this (aside from how boring work is so far) but can't wait to get home and back into a routine with DBF. It will be nice to get to a couple of kickboxing classes and maybe convince him to start walking with me after work. I'm feeling out of shape and I DON"T LIKE IT! It is nice to have someone else to cook for now too....so my menu planning is getting pretty exciting.

I think I might re-sign up for WW Online just to get me through to Christmas. I can still do it without the major sign up fee and I think I need the control.

Monday Menu

B = coffee, ff yogurt
L = toast (I have this super yummy sunflower flax bread that is TDF!) w/ pb & banana
S = canteloupe
D = huge salad with a crumbled veggie burger on top & light cheddar w/ light ranch dressing

DBF is home tonight, so there will be wine!!!

I've been caught...

...by my bad eating habits. Up 1.4 lbs today. OMG!! That's a lot for me, and since I've been up for a few weeks in a row, the number on the scale right now is NOT OK!!

Oh please let it be sodium from yesterday....pleeeeeease. I promise I'll be really good. Honest!

This week should prove interesting with DBF coming home tonight (wooohooooo!!!) and then heading off to Vegas for three days. Although I generally survive on coffee at the conventions, the lunches are almost impossible to get low point...and dinners, well when the boss is paying we tend to get a little over the top. Water and All Bran bars are going to be my best friends!!

Sunday no-Menu

I'm so not posting today's menu because you really don't want to know. I think there might have been some veggies in there, but I doubt they count when they are covered in sauce!!

However, I have run up and down my basement stairs about 157,000 times in the last two days so I figure there were a lot of extra activity points in there.

Mhmmmmm.

Saturday Menu

B = hangover cure = McD's sausage McMuffin (no egg), two hashbrowns, small OJ
S = coffee, coffee, coffee, protein bar
D = perogies w/ bacon & onions, salad

Not the healthiest day ever, but points-wise it's actually not that bad!!

Thai Treat

Last night's dinner out was a great treat!! I was with some good girlfriends and we decided to check out The Little Thai Place that just opened up a new location.

It smelled sooooooooo good when we walked in. The place lacked a bit in the ambience department, but the room was brand new and you could see through to the kitchen and see that it was brand new and very clean and active. Small room with as many tables as they could fit in, with maybe too many lights, but once we were seated we didn't even notice.

The food was AWESOME!! We shared chicken pad thai (best I've ever had!), a sweet n sour beef dish w/ fresh pineapple, red curried chicken & veggies, steamed rice, and we each had one spring roll with excellent sweet chili dipping sauce. We also shared a jug of beer because Thai food is excellent with beer. Everything was soooo tasty....and it was a good thing there was four of us because there was a ton of food. We packed up leftovers for one of the boyfriends so that we would all quit picking at the plates.

To top it off, it was reasonably priced.... it was only $13.81 each. Can't beat that!!

Friday Menu

B = coffee, ff yogurt, banana, Fibre Source bar
L = Healthy Request Beef Barley soup, rice crackers
S = apple w/ pb
D = out with the girls....there will be food and drinks. :)

A = hopefully time to walk the dog before I head out for the evening....we'll see how today's workload goes....

Thursday Menu

B = coffee, WATER, ff yogurt, banana
L = grilled cheese (light cheddar on Mini Chefs bread), sliced cukes & tomatoes, WATER
S = All Bran bar, apple
D = Zucchini stix (breaded w/ panko, baked) w/ ranch dip, veggie patty w/ light cheddar & salsa, salad, WATER
S = popcorn

A = walk the dog

Halloween is Evil

Good: there's hardly any Halloween chocolate left.
Bad: it's not because there were a lot of trick or treaters.
Ugly: I ate WAY too much of it. Ridiculous.

At least coming off the sugar high has made me tired, so I can sleep tonight.