My post this morning is going to be a little bit about Helen and a little bit about the person behind Helen.
I love food. I love the taste of a juicy medium-rare steak (apologies to the veggies I just grossed out). I love loaded baked potatoes. I love lasagna. I love bacon. I love ice cream sundaes. Food just tastes so freaking nice I can't stand it sometimes. This is at least a part of the reason I am the size I am today. (Note: I do eat a variety of foods, these are just some of the "bad" foods that I *love* the taste of)
In an attempt to reconcile my love of food with my desire to be able to haul my butt around the track fast enough to pass my 25 in 5 sometime this century, among a few other personal reasons, I decided to join Weight Watchers last week.
I really think I am ready at this point to make my eating habits a "lifestyle change" as all the people who know about such things say it should be. One of the things that I have learned very quickly in the last 7 days has been that the alternative choices I've been making to try to be healthier aren't, in fact, all that much healthier after all.
For those who don't know, the Weight Watchers system assigns all foods a point value based on calories, total fat, and dietary fiber. A 200 calorie food with 8 grams of fat and 1 gram of fiber is going to "cost" more points than a 200 calorie food with 2 grams of fat and 4 grams of fiber. Each person in the program is assigned a points limit based on current weight, gender, activity level, and age. At the moment, I can have 32 points each day.
One might think, as I did, that they are being "good" by having a Chicken Caesar Wrap at D'Angelo's versus, say, an equivalent size BLT. Said chicken caesar wrap will put you out 20 points. That's right, boys and girls, 2/3 of your daily points allowance for one "healthy" wrap. Let's look at this example for a moment. Sure, it's got lettuce (0 points veggie, yay!), and chicken (lean protein, yay!), but it also has creamy caesar dressing (fatty), parmesan cheese (fatty), and a wrap (fatty). I have learned quickly to not be fooled by a food item's "healthy" appearance.
I could give any number of examples of places where, in the last 8 months since I started roller derby, I've tried to make the "healthy" choice where that choice really wasn't any good at all. Here I am wondering why I'm sweating my ass off for two hours at practice twice a week and going to an open skate on my own and NOT losing weight.
The answer to my question has johnny rocketed me in the sternum and hip checked me off into a far corner of the rink in the last week. What I'm trying to do now is reconcile my love for "bad" foods with my desire to be successful in the program. My first experiment starts today.
Mr. Carnate (who is also doing the program) and I have done really well this week. I found a way to make spaghetti and meatballs for 11 points (whole wheat pasta and ground turkey meatballs), and I made a chicken chow mein recipe packed with veggies and yum for only 5 points! We are treating ourselves to "bad" food tonight. I am planning to have one of my vices... a loaded baked potato (SO GOOD!) which will hit me 13 points all on its own. The point is, I have to plan for it. I'm being extra careful with my points today and munching on lots of veggies (cucumber slices on a hot day anyone?) which have 0 points. I can't do this every day but the beauty of the WW program is that it doesn't say, "you can't have this food because it's bad," it says, "Have the foods that you enjoy but in moderation and if they have heavy points, plan for it."
The first true test will be this weekend's away bout in Vermont. I'm staying in a hotel, dangerously close to the Ben & Jerry's and Cabot Cheese factories, and going to after parties where large quantities of food and alcohol will undoubtedly be consumed. Will I have the will power to say NO to that plate of bacon ranch fries or that giant glass of fruity carb-laden alcoholic yumminess? If I breakdown and partake, will I be honest enough to tally up what my indulgence has cost me in progress? We shall see.
6 comments:
Good for you! What you mentioned is very common (thinking some of the menu choices are "healthy" when they're really not) and the food industry counts on the fact that most people won't realize this. Cooking at home is really the best way to know exactly what you're getting. But don't get me wrong .... I'm right there with you. I absolutely love food and I love the luxury of eating out. I've just learned to make it a "once in a while" instead of all the time. As time goes on you'll start to notice a difference in how the food makes you feel. I still love a really decadent meal or dessert but I do notice I usually don't feel so great afterwards. And that helps me stick to the "once in a while" thing.
Anyway, I'm excited for you. I have lots of friends who've really had great success with WW. I think it's the best commercial weight loss program out there because it teaches people how to eat real food in the real world.
I had good luck with Weight Watchers (until pregnancy undid me!). Its a great program, and I love the points system. Best of luck!!!
Dinner at Bugaboo Creek topped out at 37 points. I think I accounted for everything which leaves me 9.5 "weekly" points until Sunday. I think I can manage that. :)
It's crazy how some items on the menu are so deceiving. I must say though, I confess to eating them anyway because I love eating and trying new things.
It would be a dream come true to be part of a food taster panel for a day. :)
Is there an app for your phone? Anyway, I hope it's at least a little interesting and maybe even a little fun. The more you cook at home, the easier it gets and you end up finding a lot of really delicious alternatives. My friend Sam is fond of Hungry Girl (a cookbook based on weight watchers points). Cucumber slices with salt are great! Try mixing lemon juice, cumin, salt, pepper and fat free greek yogurt as a high protein dip for the cukes.
I also highly recommend greek yogurt with slivered/ sliced almonds and agave syrup for breakfast. Really yummy, high protein and will get you through the morning.
Also, I should add that you can easily make 'greek' yogurt by taking regular plain yogurt and straining it on top of a coffee filter in a colander for a few hours or overnight. It's cheaper!
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