it's a new day...

So, today was the first day after my 30 days of craziness -- 30 days of pictures (on average 90 pictures total). Today was the day that I decided to have a blast and splurge...seriously, I was thinking about majorly big stuff...blizzards, french fries, triple Baconators (btw I've never had one of those).

But I didn't...

Had a thin sliced bagel for breakfast (only 100 calories and 1 ww point) and cream cheese (the 1/3 less fat stuff - Neufchatel cheese or whatever it is)

Met K at Lenny's for lunch -- considered the club sub (loaded with mayo) and chips but decided on the grilled chicken salad (splurged on 1 packet of blue cheese dressing and lemonade to drink). Came home and had a chocolate chip cookie (another splurge).

I think the thing that the last 30 days has taught me is that I can make "better" choices. They might not be the best, but the last 4 years of my major weight loss journey has been about making the "better" choice. I might not lose 90 pounds (I can't lose 90 lbs) like I did back then, but I can get back to a more reasonable weight. I have to think about the Biggest Loser. Those folks come on and lose a ridiculous amount of weight by the finale...most put back on about 20 lbs and will probably live that weight for the rest of their life. Why? Because it's a healthy weight for them and they've figured out how to maintain it. I've maintained my current weight for a year. It's not a healthy weight for me, but I have maintained it. I will never be a size 2...wait, I'll probably never be a size 10 but I know I can be a size 12. It may take a while...but I'll get there. Some of you out there will never understand my battle. Some of you do now...but it is what it is, my battle.

Day 29!!

Today was a pretty decent day...had company come over and we both managed to fight the urge and resisted getting a chicken basket and blizzard from Dairy Queen...but how good would this have been? Man, I love that home-style gravy and Texas toast!



Tomorrow is Day 30 and I can honestly say I'm glad it's over. Taking pictures and blogging every day sure is time consuming. I take back what I said earlier...being at home makes it harder to blog (easier to cook healthy foods).

I've got company coming to town tomorrow just for the day...I'm guessing that we'll be good though, cause she's a healthy girl and she won't let me go astray. I have an awesome fruit salad substance in my fridge for us. Cool Whip is pretty healthy, right? ;-)

Breakfast
peanut butter and chocolate chip granola bar -- (2)

Lunch
Grilled cheese
bread x2 -- 40 calories (1)
2% cheddar sliced cheese x2 -- 45 (1)
sweet tea -- hehe
fruit salad (grapes, strawberries, banana, cool whip lite) -- no idea

Dinner
buffalo chicken quesadilla
tortillas x2 -- 130 calories (2)
chicken -- approx 150 calories (3)
2 slices provolone -- 160 calories (4)
mushrooms -- 1/4 cup (0)
edamame -- 1/2 cup (2)
ranch -- 200 calories? (4)

Day 28?

Well, I've failed I guess...I've taken pictures of my main meals, but now of the snacking I've been doing. Like tonight while I was cooking dinner (baked fish, baked sweet potato fries, and grilled squash) I had about 15 Ruffles and cheese dip to go along with it...and the half of a chocolate chip cookie. It's basically be like that all weekend.

Day 30 is almost here. I didn't realize how time consuming it would be to take pictures of everything but man... I'm not giving up though.

Since we're almost done with this big project (and I've decided to take a break from taking all these pictures) I'm trying to think about my next "challenge."

Here's what I've considered...
1. cooking every meal for 7 days from my Hungry Girl cookbook (but almsot every other recipie requires Fiber One cereal or Laughing Cow cheese (hmmm)
2. only taking pictures when I eat something bad (i.e. eating out, sweets [my one true weakness], etc?
3. cooking out of some other cookbook that I have for 7 days (about 10 or so)
4. recommendations??

either way, I think I'm going to take a week off to think about it and decide -- I've got some things I need to consider.

You know, they say it takes 21 days to make a habit and it would seem that 21 days is when I crashed...

The last time I got on the Wii (yesterday morning) I was down to 185 -- finally broke over that hump -- so this "experiment" has helped me to lose 9 lbs (from what my bathroom scale says). That's not too shabby for a month.

check out my new TV! Loving how easy it is to take pictures of the TV.

Day 26

I've taken pictures of everything I've eaten, but the days are all just running together so I'll start back on today. I've been stressed about finishing my living room. We finally have paint on the walls and today we began putting the last pieces of furniture together. L swore that we'd never buy put-together furniture again, but it's cheaper and just as nice in my opinion. I've put together 2 bookshelves and L and I put together the tv stand today.

Day 24

Don't count me out...I'm in the middle of a major house project and a craft project. I've been taking pictures...just haven't had time to post. Plus, P is being a bit needy and I don't have much time to play around.

Day 23

Still out of food...

Breakfast
150 calories (3)
Lunch
1 hot dog (beef) -- 170 calories (4)
Vitatops corn muffin -- 100 calories (1)
cottage cheese -- 100 calories (2)

Dinner
L was dragging his feet about dinner...didn't' want me to cook but I was starving.
trail mix -- about 150 calories (3)
ended up eating at 9:45 -- we were painting
finally made a can of tuna and had 3/4 of this pack of crackers :(
tuna -- 110 calories (2)
mayo -- 90 calories (2)
relish -- 15 calories (0)
crackers -- gonna guess 200 calories (4)

Day 22

Breakfast

150 calorie granola bar (3)
Lunch
Smart One's TV dinner -- Vodka something (6)

Dinner
I'm out of food...
2 hot dogs -- 170 calories a piece (8)
a disgusting combo of couscous and cheese with salsa... 200 calories (4) but I only ate 2 bites

Day 21

Breakfast

made a Father's Day breakfast in bed for L

P shared this with me
1/2 cup grits -- 130 calories (2)
approx 1.5 eggs -- 45 calories (1)
1 slice 2% cheese -- 90 calories (2)
3 slices bacon -- 70 calories (2)

Lunch
6 (yes 6) pancakes -- no idea...didn't even count.

Dinner
Rice-A-Roni 15 cheese (I exaggerate a bit) rice (1 cup) -- 270 calories (6)
patty pan squash -- approx. 1 cup (2)

this doesn't include the 2 hand fulls of chocolate chips, the two {or was it four} spoon fulls of cool whip, the tablespoon of peanut butter, hmm...what else?

Day 20

Breakfast
It was a busy morning...only had time to blend a Slim Fast -- 200 calories (4)

Lunch
tuna on deli flat -- 300 calories (5)
Doritos -- 140 (3)
cottage doubles -- 100 calories (2)
Afternoon snack
1 tbs Jif Naturals peanut butter -- 100 calories (2)
teddy grahams -- 50 calories (1)

Dinner
the most disgusting veggi Tacos ever -- not even sure of the calories really
about 160 calories (3) for veggie meat and seasoning
200 calories (4) for the shells
150 calories (3) for cheese
Taco Bell salsa about 50 calories (1)
This was my 3rd meal with MorningStar substitute and this meal made me dislike that stuff a whole lot...not sure why, but the texture was off for me. I tossed all the leftovers :^(

Day 19

I'm still feeling bad -- I think that's why I'm having so much trouble with everything. I've had a headache today and a semi-sore throat (dry mouth no matter how much water I drink). Yuck!

I'd like one of these please...LOTS AND LOTS OF CHOCOLATE. I want chocolate, I miss chocolate. I have some semi-sweet pieces here, I may have to eat a few :D

anyway, on to reality...

Breakfast
grits -- 130 calories (2)
1.5 eggs with a little cheese -- 90 calories (2)
1/2 cup grapefruit -- 30 calories (1)

Lunch -- TBA

Dinner -- TBA

Day 18

True to the way things have been going the past 18 days...today was no different. I really haven't felt like posting anything but I did take pictures of everything to help me along the way. I'll spend time posting pictures tomorrow for everything (today and tomorrow).

I got on the Wii this morning and had lost weight. I don't remember how much, but I'm back down to 186. I just can't get past that...

I'm starving! I feel like I'm always hungry (at least the last week).

A told me something about an icing she made with Cool Whip and semi-sweet chocolate chips [both of which I have] and I've been really tempted to make it myself and just eat out of the bucket. You see, these are the things I struggle with. I can report that I've yet to do it, but I'm dying for some chocolate.

Breakfast
Slim Fast shake (added watermelon) -- approx 250 (5)

Lunch
Lean Cuisine [Butternut Squash Ravioli: my fav!] -- (5)
11 Doritos [I was starving and couldn't wait for my lunch to heat up] -- 150 calories (3)

Dinner
Chicken & Dumplings -- 190 calories (4)
1/2 cup edamame -- 50 calories (1)
1 large baked potato -- (3)
2 tablespoons Smart Balance butter -- 100 (2)

total points consumed -- 23
total points remaining -- 1
BONUS points remaining -- 22

Day 17

Got on the Wii today...gained another 1.8. I didn't take a picture because I was so mad at the Wii. My bathroom scale still has me at the same consistent weight for the last few days but it's not as "accurate" as the Wii. I'm pretty depressed and decided to try to kick my body back into gear. A while ago at a WW meeting, my leader mentioned that when your body gets used to your routine, it's good to change things up a bit. She recommended that I eat a cheeseburger and it was just what I needed. Now, I acknowledge that eating cheeseburgers isn't something to do on a regular basis, but I'm going to try something today and see what happens. I figure that if I down a lot of water (something I probably haven't been doing enough of), maybe I can get going again. I've decided that I'm going to weigh once a week. It's too depressing to do it every day. Or at least I won't post it but once a week.

Today should be interesting...going to a birthday party for the Children's Museum. They're going to have a lot of "fun" food to eat. I'll take a picture of everything I eat...but you can guarantee that it won't be good.

Breakfast
I was feeling bad this morning. My body felt empty almost...like I should get some protein and "filling" foods in my system before heading to the Children's Museum.
instant grits -- 130 calories (2)
1 egg (Egg Beaters) -- 30 calories (0)
1 tbs bacon pieces -- 25 calories (0)
1 cup 1% milk -- 100 calories (2)
adding 1 pt. for eggs and bacon combined (1)

Lunch
Yeah, that's right -- I was bad! What are you going to do about it!
calories are estimations from http://www.calorieking.com
hot dog (ketchup only) -- 315 (8)
nachos (I didn't share!) -- 530 (12)
Gigi's mini cupcake [the thing that looks like butter] -- 100 calories (2)
lots and lots of water

Tina, can you believe P didn't share his cotton candy :(

Dinner
Thai Shrimp with veggies and teriyaki rice
10 shrimp -- approx 150 calories (3)
Teriyaki rice -- 200 calories (4)
(baby corn [50 calories (1)] and bamboo [25 calories(0)])
cup of broccoli -- 30 calories (0)

total points consumed -- 35
total points remaining -- (-11)
BONUS points remaining -- 22

Day 16

I'm frustrated...I'm mad...I'm sad...

I freaking gained weight today [and if you can't tell, I'm not happy about it]. Not much, but I didn't' cheat. I wanted to, but I didn't. I'm tired of sitting around 186-187...

I'm hungry...

I've had two bowls of watermelon today (one for breakfast and one for an afternoon snack)!
I think I need more water in my system.

I want a cupcake...I want something. I just need to be satisfied by some sort of chocolate or something to make me feel better for just a minute. Why am I down today?

Breakfast -- bowl of watermelon [above] 100 calories (2)

Lunch
Smart Ones [tasted like garbage] -- (4)
added some couscous for texture -- 75 calories (1)
Jello Mousse -- (1)

Afternoon snack
bowl of watermelon - 100 calories (2)

Dinner
6 Van de Camp fish sticks -- 230 calories (5)
grilled squash -- 100 calories (2)
sauce [tartar and ketchup] -- 150 (3)

Dessert
my impulse...I wandered all over the store looking for something to splurge on and ended up with a Smart Ones dessert...
peanut butter cup and ice cream -- (3)
I ate two of them...make that (6)

total points consumed -- 25
total points remaining -- (-2)
BONUS points remaining -- 33

Day 12, 13, and 14 [on Day 15]

Well, I've kept track of everything over the weekend...it's not the best but it is what it is.

hopped on the Wii before we left...

Breakfast
bowl of Life cereal and 1% milk -- 200 (4)

what's for lunch [in the car]? so many options...
How about a 2 for 1 milkshake?

Lunch
Kid's Wacky Pack (2 chicken strips, banana, lemon slush)
this banana was HORRIBLE (only ate about half)
Dottie's stats: 9.5 points
Chicken Strips (2 strips) (210 cal/11 g fat/1 g fiber/13 g carbs) 5
Lemon Fresh Fruit Slush - Wacky Pack (12 oz) (170 cal/0 g fat/0 g fiber/46 g carbs) 3.5
banana -- 100 calories (1)

I was starving by the time we made it to Tina's...
Afternoon snack
Water -- (0)
Grips Grahams -- 130 calories (2)

Dinner -- my attempt to be healthy :(
Uptown Turkey (45 grain bread, turkey, bacon, avocado, very little mayo)
The Corner Bakery lists it on the website -- 580 calories (12)
carrots and dill pickle -- 40 calories (0)

ate some of P's fruit -- 70 calories for whole cup (1)

Dessert -- we walked, does that count?
coffee and cheesecake yogurt with Butterfinger and caramel topping
let's just say 350 calories (7)

stats for day 12
total points consumed -- 35
total points remaining -- (-10)
total bonus points remaining -- 22

Day 13

Breakfast
Fiber One (stole from Tina) -- 130 calories (2)

Lunch
(I asked for grilled but Louis didn't realize they gave him the wrong thing till he sat down)
again, stats from Dottie's
Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Strips Salad (390 cal/18 g fat/4 g fiber/22 g carbs) 8.5
Fat Free Honey Mustard Dressing [2 tbsp/2 servings per container] (60 cal/0 g fat/0 g fiber/14 g carbs) 1 (2 total)

Dinner
didn't eat many of these...probably about 10
chips -- 150 calories? (3)

Meal -- gonna guess the stats based on another Mexican restaurant
Shrimp Chimichanga (1) (360 cal/21 g fat/0 g fiber/33 g carbs) 9
Refried Beans (1/4 cup) (68 cal/12 g fat/0 g fiber/0 g carbs) 2.5
Spanish Rice (1 cup) (213 cal/4 g fat/0 g fiber/41 g carbs) 5
avocado salad -- gonna guess about 150 calories (3)
Cheese Sauce (1/2 cup) (160 cal/8 g fat/0 g fiber/12 g carbs) 4

stats for day 13
total points consumed -- 39
total points remaining -- (-15)
total bonus points remaining -- 7

Day 14

Breakfast
1 egg with Feta-- 120 calories (2)
natural apple sauce -- 50 calories (1)

Lunch
Miso soup -- 40 calories (1)

SUSHI!!! -- stats from http://www.sushifaq.com/sushi-calories.htm
Rock and Roll (shrimp tempura?) -- 500 calories (10)
Avocado roll -- 140 (3)
Rock and Roll sauce -- 50 calories (1)

Dinner
to quote L: "We've had spaghetti, we've had squash, we've had spaghetti squash, now we've had spaghetti with squash"
Veggi Sketi (my title) with parm. -- 350 calories (7)
1/2 cup yellow squash -- 20 calories (0)

Dessert
skinny cow -- 100 calories (2)
not my picture...but a fun one

stats for day 14
total points consumed -- 27 (shoulda skipped the skinny cow)
total points remaining -- (-3)
total bonus points remaining -- 4

weight gain from weekend -- could've been worse

14 Day Challenge Stats...

starting weight 192.7

ending weight -- 186.5

total weight loss -- 6.2 pounds

total days with SQUASH (hehe) -- 6

**Day 15**

I wanted and thought about having a totally bad breakfast since the challenge is over but look...I did okay. Slim Fast shake (with Silk milk and pink grapefruit blended in)

Lunch
Smart One's TV dinner -- (5)
Jello Mousse -- (1)
water

Dinner
1/2 cup Couscous -- 75 calories (1)
cream of chicken and mushroom soup, French's onions, 1 small chicken tender -- 300 calories (7)
biscuit -- 100 calories (2) x2 (4)

total points consumed -- 22
total points remaining -- 2
Bonus points remaining -- 35

PHEW...that took a long time to get entered. I've neglected P this morning (he's running around yelling "NO!"...that's it for now. I think I'm going to keep going for another 14 days of this because taking pictures helps me stay accountable.

PS...has anyone noticed that there is a warning label on Silk that says "NOT FOR USE AS INFANT FORMULA!" They only put those things on there because someone did it.