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Friday, January 15, 2010

Happy Friday!!

So my plan to go home last night and update my blog fell a little short. The past few nights I've literally been in bed by 8:30 or 9. I used to be getting ready to go OUT at that time. I can blame it on getting older, or I can blame it on the fact I've started going back to the gym and working out again after work, and just feel exhausted by the time I get home. Yay, we are going to use that as the excuse. I would like to think that 31 is still young!

So, along with working out again, I've been trying to get better at eating healthier foods. For those who know me personally, you can go ahead and laugh. Go on, I'll wait. **insert elevator music** Are you done? Good, I'll continue. We'll see how long it lasts, but who knows, maybe this will be the year I actually keep up with one of my New Year's Resolutions. Although I did fall of the wagon and had a Chick Fil A milkshake on Monday. I had a rough day at work, I was weak!! By 5:00, I NEEDED that milkshake! There, confession is good for the soul.

                                                    manna from heaven

So, in order to be "healthier", I have decided to cut back on my Dr Pepper intake. THIS is probably my biggest challenge. My friends know, I BLEED Dr Pepper. It is what gets me going in the morning (I don't like coffee, so I have a morning DP). Don't judge, but my average intake is anywhere from 2 to 4 DPs a day. I am a Dr Pepper-a-holic. If they had Dr Pepper Anonymous meetings, I would be the president of them. So, as of last Friday, I have NOT started my day with any caffeine. In fact, until I went out for lunch today with my friend Derek (thanks again D, I had a lot of fun), I hadn't had a Dr Pepper or any form of caffeine since TUESDAY. So, ONE Dr Pepper every three days is REALLY good for me. And for the record, it was only a small sized DP too!
I did have a friend tell me when eating healthier you don't have to TOTALLY stop eating the foods you like, you just have to minimize how much you eat and how often. She said if you totally cut them out, they could become an obsession and it would be harder to stay away from them. So, instead of having cheese mashed potatoes three times a week (hey, they are easy to make, and very inexpensive), I've only had them once this week (and man, were they good!) And, until today at lunch, I hadn't had fast food, or any form of fried food, since Tuesday. Being the inexperienced cook that I am, I eat out a lot. No really, A LOT. This is why going three days between fast food visits is such a big deal for me. And both of those days I had "kid meal" sizes. It's so much easier after a long day at work, and a 45 minute-1 hour commute home, to go through the drive-thru of Whataburger and grab a #7 w/ no tomatoes or onions, than to go home and start cooking at 6:00-6:30 at night. Okay, so I'm lazy on top of being an inexperienced cook! But I'm getting better, no really, I am.

So, the past week I've started my mornings drinking V8 Splash or "light" apple juice (less sugar, more real fruit juice, at least according to the label) instead of a Dr Pepper. And for my snacks I've been eating fruit or a granola bar, instead of the chocolate candy that I have taken from my manager's office (she has a bowl on her desk of every chocolate candy you can think of). Snickers, Milky Ways, M&Ms...it's Chocolate Heaven.

OH, and speaking of eating healthier, I've noticed it costs a heck of a lot more to eat healthy foods. I spent about $8-9 buying fruits for this week (strawberries, apples, oranges and bananas) when I could have spent $1.99 on a week's worth of Little Debbie snacks. Most of my friends know I'm not a big fan of desserts (meaning cake or pie), BUT I do have a weakness for Little Debbie's chocolate cupcakes with creme filling. Yum!


So, as a recap. I'm attempting to eat less fried foods and sugary goodness, and instead eating more fruits and veggies. I do have a friend at work who is also cutting back on sugar, so it's nice to have sort of an accountability partner to help me out (thanks Linds!) I've also worked out three times this past week at the gym in my office building (I really have no excuse not to go. It's only 4 floors above mine, and it is free. Plus they have free workout classes with professional instructors). Let's just say all the cheese mashed potatoes and Chick Fil A milkshakes have made more "Rachel to love". Don't start sending me messages about how I don't need to lose weight. I'm not talking anything serious. Just maybe 5-8 "vanity pounds". I would like to possibly think about buying a bathing suit for the first time in three years and not feel like I look like a side show act at Sea World. There, I said it! Hey, it's my random thoughts, I say what is on my mind! : )

As always, thanks for reading, and have a wonderful weekend!!

6 comments:

  1. Hahahah! Oh my gosh - you would not look like a side show act at Sea World! haha! Good job on the fast food - totally agree on the manna from heaven being milkshakes. MMMMM. Keep it up - I'll be watching you!

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  2. And I'll be watching you! And, I know how many strawberries I bring each day, don't be trying to steal them from the fridge!! :) hehehe...

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  3. Hey Rach it's Derek!

    Hehe - I'll be watching you too ;)

    It was wonderful seeing you again. Reading this was insightful into the - um - how can I say this - yeah - interesting? mind of Rachel. I love our talks - i think your Martian logic is similar to mine. I want to lose a few "fat" pounds too. Weight is truly irrelevant though. It's all about feeling comfortable in your own skin. Toning up and adding muscle doesn't have to be overboard, and since the fibers are more dense you could actually "weigh" more when you're fit. I've NEVER understood the weight obsession with women. It's like the age obsession - makes zero sense to me. I think it all goes back to women and their generalized vanity. I digress.

    Thanks SO much for sharing this with me Rach! I can't wait to go back and read some of the historical stuff!!!!

    Ciao for now my little MK princess!!

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  4. I'm a little surprised that Chick Fil A would sell milkshakes. Have you tried the milkshakes at Dairy Queen?

    J.C.

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  5. NOTHING compares to a Chick Fil A milkshake. The past few years I haven't been impressed with anything from Dairy Queen, even their milkshakes and ice cream. If you have never had a Chick Fil A milkshake, I have to recommend you try one out!! :)

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  6. Rachel, you are getting some good advice and some bad. But you do need to eat some of the things you adore... just not everyday. And eating healthy is more expensive than fast food ... you are right. That's why I am broke.

    Do eat a good breakfast. Try Dr. Oz's Blast Breakfast. I will send you the recipe -- its a drink. Send me your email. IF you want, I can teach you how to cook fast ... fast good food.


    Dr. Oz says that if you are serious, for a month your meal planning should almost be boring: 2 breakfast choices, rotated every other day or so; 3 for lunch; 5 at night. Snacks planned, packed, and carried. Meals , prepped on weekends, no thinking .. just prepare. Use his site for what you can get.... Advice .. good advice. You don't have to use his recipes. Boredom with great breaks from time to time works ... promise.


    Dropping the DP is SMART. That is one thing you need to CUT ... there is probably an addiction and not having it is causing some of the feeling bad. find something else. Some caffeine is good they have found. Have it in the morning along with the GOOD for you stuff.


    Have you checked out the calories, fat, carbs in the milkshake. Do ... it may help you decide how much and how often.


    You see, I have lost 100 pounds since you saw me and am still losing. I will help you behind scenes if you want. All you have to do is ask. ... if you are serious. And at your age ... well, I said it before.


    I remember your age ... I know how I felt, what I did, how things were ... and I have always eaten correctly .. just very well and some things, too well.

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