Eating Out

Image courtesy of Fotosearch

Welcome back to me. There were a few moments when I had thought of abandoning this blog either because I was busy or I did not have enough interest in it. But, I threw all of that aside, and decided to return. I am back and accountable once again. Now, please do not misread things. I have been on WW, sort of, but having a heckuva hard time. And after a pay-in last month, I am back on the horse so to speak.

Summer, for me, always poses more challenges than most season. There are more BBQs events, more group gatherings, more opportunities for snack time. Well baby, snack time is over. Time to pay the piper, but hopefully not pay the WW piper this month.

This week's topic at WW was Eating Out, my favourite topic since we seem to do a lot of that.

Did you know that the average household eats out approximately 30% of the time each week?? That's 7 out of 21 meals a week. That is a pretty astonishing number, both in terms of calories and $$$$.

So, when we eat out, there are certain red lights that might come on for us (ie, some of the challenges that we may face). What follows is a list of those challenges, followed by a list of things which may not work for us when eating out, followed by a list of things which might work for us (ie, things which can help us to survive the eating out experience).


CHALLENGES with Eating Out

1. Restaurants tend to put waaaay too much dressing on salads


2. The infamous bread basket and assorted pre-meal goodies like nachos for example


3. Desserts (which seem to pop out of nowhere and land in front of us)


4. Visual sensation of watching other people's meals travel by our table.


5. The olfactory (or aroma) of other people's meals wafting past us.


6. The unknown aspect of food. We may look at a meal and wonder just exactly how many points that is going to end up being (and it's probably going to be waaay more than you actually write down in your beloved journal)


7. How meals are prepared. Did you know that veggies glisten in restaurants because they add oil to make them so? Guess what...that's points!


8. Portion sizes. Restaurants serve meals that are twice the size as what we would cook at home

What works against us when eating out

1. Triple and quadruple cheeses....not good....stay away.


2. The word CREAMY should be an instant turnoff.


3. Drink your water.


4. Avoid deep fried, not just from the caloric standpoint, but also from the health standpoint.


5. The word Alfredo is packed with STUFF.


6. Gravy ...too much is not good.


7. Breaded anything....run away now!.


8. But I had a salad...yes, but don't do Caesar all the time!!!


9. Saute means that food is cooked in oil or butter...

STRATEGIES (or what can work for us when eating out)

1. Take your Dining Out book with you, and actually consult it.


2. Be informed about what you are going to eat. Try to plan.


3. Ask for half of your meal to go home...or not....


4. It's okay to ask for gravy and dressing on the side. That way you control how much you really need, and you might be surprised that you don't really need the whole thing.


5. Look for the Heart Friendly symbol on the menu. This can represent a better choice of food.


6. Always have a glass of water with your meal, then ask for refills. They're free!


7. Enjoy the meal. Take your time eating. Put the fork down every so often and relax and savor what you ordered.

Have a good week, and take time to smell your meal!
Til next time.....
The DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL

Easter Challenges

This week's topic at WW was Easter Challenges. We all have challenges of some sort at the various and abundant holidays that are part of our lives. Heck, we can even create a few reasons for challenges....baby birthday etc.

So, with this weekend being Easter, here is a list of some of the challenges that we may face and following that list is a list of possible strategies that you can take to fight those challenges.

CHALLENGES

1. Alcohol


2. Easter chocolate


3. Traditions


4. Strange or new places


5. Travelling


6. Stress

STRATEGIES

1. Bargain for what the points are worth.


2. Eat through the day. Don't go anywhere starving.


3. Drink your water.


4. Plan.


5. Eat slowly.


6. Be choosy about what you eat.


7. Stay moving. Keep busy.

Happy Easter y'all!
Til next time.....
The DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL

Woo Hoo!

I am down Point 8 pounds for my March weigh-in. That probably doesn't sound like very much to you, but it is quite normal, and it is a lot for me. It's been a bit of a struggle lately, given that, like you, I enjoy food, and I workout 5 nights a week.

Now, it is said that the average weight loss per week amounts to about Point 6 pounds. This is a healthy way to lose weight and keep it off. That is also the way that I lost my 25 pounds 7 years ago.

So, I feel good, and I am also pumped to continue.

I stayed for the meeting this meek, where we discussed motivators. What are the positive influences that motivate people to lose weight, and what keeps people motivated. In that list, we could have the following:
Weather
People
Health
State of Mind
Positive focus
Self

and my favourite
The Scale (this is always a sure fire motivator for me!)

Til next time.....
The DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL

Ladder of Achievement

Ladder of Achievement

100% = I Did / I Do
90% = I Will
80% = I Can
70% = I Think / I Can
60% = I Might
50% = I Think / I Might
40% = What Should I Do?
30% = I Wish I Could
20% = I Don't Know How
10% = I Can't
0% = I Won't

So, what does this mean? Well, at any point in our weight loss journey, we can feel any one of the above at any time, no matter how long we've been doing this program. But what we hope is to be able to be at one of the higher percentages, where we are confident enough to say 'I Can', 'I Will'....the 70% and above.

There are things which affect the way we feel, and affect the way we look at our outlook, our progress:

=> Better health
=> Better mobility
=> Happier clothes shopping
=> Better mindset

Til next time.....
The DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL

Bragging Rights

This post should probably go on It's About Time, but I am choosing to post it here. In fact, I am feeling so good that I just might post it in both places.

Today is Bragging Rights day for me. As many of you know, I am a Weight Watcher Lifetime member, and I have been struggling with a couple of unwanted pounds for a little while. This is all due to some bad habits that I have re-acquired and some challenges over the past little while.

Well, I weighed in yesterday, and I am DOWN 1.6 pounds! Yay me!

I felt that I was down anyway. I could tell by the fit of my clothing, and also by my fitness level, which has increased slightly, but noticeably.

You might wonder exactly what I do to accomplish this. Well, it is a bit of work, but nothing unmanageable. There are a few, ahem, rules. I track (write down) what I eat each day, and assign points values to the foods. I also know where I need to be to lose, and I try to stay in that range. I drink water. I don't drink many soda drinks, diet or not. I eat fruits and veggies, and watch the carbs. I drink milk, specifically soy milk. I exercise five nights a week. I limit my caffeine intake.

Even with all of this, I never feel restricted. I never feel like I am cheating myself of anything. If I am having a chocolate day where I crave chocolate, I have 'some', enough for a taste, and then it's done. I don't buy chocolate bars as a rule, but I always make sure that I have 'some' chocolate in the house....just in case.

So, yay me!

I think I need an icon for that, don't you?

I Survived the Holidays

It was an 'up' as we refer to it, but a small up. Point 2 up. It would have been nice if it was a point 2 down, but I'll take what I got. It could have been worse, much much worse.

I enjoyed the wonderful food and the fun, and ate what the season turned out, but I didn't turn into the demon eater. That's a good thing.

I went back to the gym tonight, and did 2 classes (I am already aching and paying for THAT little episode), but again....all worth it.

Cheers (and onward and upward as they say).

Where are we going? Does anybody know?

This was my first meeting for 2007. It was kind of like resuming course after the boats have all gone astray.

Here's the recap:

Where are we going?

1. Balance


2. Healthier


3. Lose the weight and keep it off


4. Mental peace/faith

Think first and eat wisely.

It's okay to make resolutions, but more importantly to make lifestyle changes.

Have a map. Have a plan.

Til next time.....
The DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL