Eye Opening Meal Information on Salads

Yesterday was my first day since my calorie intake has been reduced by the Dr. For the day I ended up with a total of 1270 eaten, 102.1 grams of protein, and 83 grams of carbs. Not bad, my carb to protein ratio was off a little so I probably should have had a piece of fruit and it woud have been right on target. Fresh rasberries are a great snack. Per 10 berries there is only 10 calories, 1.1 carbs, and .2 protein. They go good with cottage cheese.

I just had my lunch. I opted to walk across the street to our cafeteria and pick up a small salad from the salad bar. I carefully constucted my little salad picking things like fresh spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, beets, peas..and I walked back to my desk. I also bought a fat-free packet of Kraft Ranch Dressing.

I log onto calorieking.com and start computing the calories of my salad breaking it down veggie by veggie. My little salad (and yes it was little because I used the little container versus the big container) came in at 203 calories. The biggest calorie offender was garbanzo beans.
Here is the breakdown of what was in my salad...

Veggie

c= Calories

p=Protein

ca=Carbs

1. 
   
   Spinach 20c 2.4p 1.2ca


2. 
   
   Romaine Let. 8c .6p .6ca


3. 
   
   Beets (3 slices) 19c .7p 3.4ca


4. 
   
   Brocolli (1 piece) 5c 1p 1ca


5. 
   
   Cauliflower (1 piece) 3c .3p .4ca


6. 
   
   Onion (1 Slice) 4c 0p .8ca


7. 
   
   Peas (1 spoonful) 11c 1p 1ca


8. 
   
   Bellpepper (1 sliver) 1c 0p .1ca


9. 
   
   Kidney Beans (1 spoonful) 14c .84p 1.4ca


10. 
    
    Garbanzo Beans (1 spoonful) 46c 2.4p 5.4ca


11. 
    
    Pepperocini (2 peppers) 8c 0p .5ca


12. 
    
    Mushrooms 4c .5p .4ca


13. 
    
    Fat Free Kraft Dressing 60c 0p 14ca

Garbanzo Beans 46 calories!!!! That was shocking to me. Next time I am skipping those! But seriously it is amazing how fast calories add up. This meal is actually a really good one. My calories for each mini meal are to be 150-200 and this meal is 203. It is hard to get detailed calorie counts for 1 piece of cauliflower or 2 peppers, so I rounded up. The protein to carb ratio is not even, but that is ok because as long as I end the day with the ratio being as close to even as possible..that is perfect. Right now in looking at everything I have planned to eat today while at work my ratio is 1.04, so right on track.

I love salads and before I started this diet I would load my bowl up with everything and then pile on the dressing. I am sure that my salads of the past were over 600 calories easy.

Well time to get back to work. Lots of stuff to do. Hopefully next time you are at the salad bar because you want something healthy you will think of me and really watch what you are putting on your plate. There are hidden calories everywhere.

Happy Friday!

Week Two Weigh In

Ok, well I went and weighed in yesterday. I didn't have a good feeling about it and I wasn't looking forward to it. I knew that this week was not going to be like last week. I get to the office and I slowly make my way to the scale. (Why does the scale look like the electric chair?) I step up and close my eyes. I hear the nurse say..."Well that is to be expected" and I open my eyes and I had gained 1 lb. WHAT THE F^%$! I knew I had a bad weekend, but after cutting out all soda, all junk food, and cooking 90% of my meals at home I GAINED a pound.

Here is how the conversation went with the nurse

Nurse "I can see it in your face you are upset"

Me "Wouldn't you be?"

Nurse "No, because at any given time of the day our weight fluctuates within a pound or so. You can weigh one thing in the morning and could be a pound lighter or a pound heavier at the end of the day"

Me "So what are you saying?"

Nurse "That you maintained your weight. We don't view this as a weight gain persay, but you maintained your weight for the week. After your initial drop last week which was pretty big it really isn't expected to have that kind of weight loss your second week"

Me "I understand, but I am not here to maintain my weight, I am here to lose. What needs to be done"

So she took my measurements and I have lost 2 inches off my waist and my BMI has gone down almost 2 points. So I started at a 43 BMI but am now almost 41. Still too high but going in the right direction. My calories have been cut even more now. I was doing 1700 calories and now have been bumped down to 1300 and I am taking my meds everyday.

So while I am not proud of what happened, I have put it behind me. Today is a new day, and I am still on track. I have started taking the stairs at work both up and down and I walk those stairs at least several times a day because of my job. I park farther away when I go to the store and stuff and will be walking at night everynight.

Let's hope this week is better

*SIGH*

HOLY MOLY!

So I went in and got weighed today. Today is actually one week since I signed up on the program and since I am having a horrible day due to some personal/relationship issues I thought I would get weighed today. My one week weight loss total was 7.1 lbs! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? HOLY MOLY! I am so excited. The nurse gave me a hug and a free B-12 shot. I am so excited. Nurse told me that first two weeks you see the biggest numbers drop and then I should level off, but I am officially out of the 240's and almost halfway out of the 230's. My official weigh in was 236.2! YAY!!

Weekend Update

On Saturday I woke up and went straight to the weight loss clinic. Both on Thursday and Friday by the time I got home I was starving and I had a headache and I know that feeling like that while trying to take care of Robert Jr. was not going to work. The Dr. at the clinic was so glad I came in. We looked at my food journal and made some adjustments and now things are better. Weather here in Oregon was just amazing this weekend. I had bought this little pool for Robert Jr. when I was still pregnant with him and we finally were able to break it out this weekend and use it. HE LOVED IT! We spent all weekend at home in our backyard just hanging out, taking pictures and we BBQ'd Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I also took out the stroller and Robert Jr. and I went for a walk each night. I couldn't have asked for more.

This morning I had a physical. I need to know where my cholesterol and blood pressure is right now so I can compare next year. My primary Dr. was so happy that I have taken this step, so now they are on board along with the Doctors at the weight clinic and everyone is monitoring me. When I weighed in at the Dr.s office this morning the scale showed 240.6! WOOHOO! That is 2.7 lbs in 4 days. My official weigh in this week is Thursday...so I am hoping to once and for all be out of the 240's and vow to NEVER RETURN!

I also have to have a mammogram this year. I had one when I was 30 because of my family history and now it is time for another. Not looking forward to that, but again they are monitoring me close and if I ever feel anything in my breasts that just feels different they will schedule me for an ultrasound ASAP.

I just posted a bunch of pictures of Robert Jr. on my facebook page and hopefully soon I can start showing my face more and won't be so embarrased. I am staying focused and motivated and hope that soon I will notice a positive change in myself.