Soooooo......... I have lost quite a bit of weight. (I'd say 62 lbs. is quite a bit.) While it was a gradual weight loss, and a healthy weight loss, it happened in a relatively short period of time - less than a year. I know that I am smaller than I have ever been in my entire life, but I still have a hard time seeing what I've lost.
To put things in perspective, I've put together a list of what I lost from month to month, and what that equates to in real, tangible objects.
When I see numbers on the scale, I'm not always that impressed, especially when I think of how much more I need to lose. But when I think that I used to carry as much weight as TWO of my son, I am astounded! Perspective is a great thing.
What have you lost? Even if it's only 2 lbs., aren't you glad you're no longer carrying around two Chihuahua puppies on your body any more?
Friday, March 28, 2008
I've Lost My Son - Two of Him Actually!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
5 Sandwiches Under 300 Calories
I am a busy mom. I am also a woman with a weight loss goal. My lifestyle requires me to eat healthy, low calorie meals that are quick to prepare, quick to eat, and quick to clean up. All parents know that their children are capable of getting into five different escapades in the fifteen minutes it takes to grab a quick lunch.
So here are my Five Current Favorite Quick-n-Easy, Low Cal Sandwiches. The best part? They are all under 300 calories!! Yummy and healthy, and an easy part of a low calorie lifestyle. I wish you Happy and Healthy Eating!!
Turkey & Cranberry Sandwich ~ Total Calories = 238
90 cal - 2 slices Sara Lee Delightful Bread
70 cal - 2 wedges Laughing Cow Light Cheese
28 cal - 1 tbsp. Trader Joe's Orange Cranberry Sauce
50 cal - 6 slices Hillshire Farms Deli Select Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
- Spread 1 wedge of cheese on each slice of bread. On one side, place turkey slices. If desired, toast both slices until turkey and cheese are warmed through. Spread cranberry sauce on turkey, top with second slice and enjoy. *Note: Sprinkling a little cayenne pepper on this sandwich gives it a pleasant kick which goes very well with the sweetness of the cranberry sauce!
Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese ~ Total Calories = 266
90 cal - 2 slices Sara Lee Delightful Bread
70 cal - 2 tbsp. light cream cheese or 2 wedges Laughing Cow Light Cheese
80 cal - 2 oz. smoked salmon
10 cal - 1 slice red onion, diced
11 cal - 1 plum tomato, sliced
5 cal - 2 tbsp. capers
- Lightly toast bread if desired. Spread 1 tbsp. or 1 wedge of cheese on each slice of bread. Sprinkle 1 tbsp. capers over cheese on each slice of bread. (It helps to push them into the cheese slightly, so that they don't roll out of your sandwich.) Top one slice with onion, tomato slices, and smoked salmon. Top with second slice of bread and enjoy.
Boca Burger Sandwich ~ Total Calories = 250
90 cal - 2 slices Sara Lee Delightful Bread
100 cal - 1 Boca Burger Patty
30 cal - 1 slice Kraft Singles Fat Free American Cheese
4 cal - 4 leaves lettuce (0.8 oz)
11 cal - 1 plum tomato, sliced
15 cal - 3 tsp. Dijon mustard
- Prepare burger patty according to package directions. Lightly toast bread. Spread mustard on one or both slices of bread. Place burger patty and cheese on one side. Top with tomato and lettuce. Top with second slice of bread. Eat up.
Tuna Salad Sandwich ~ Total Calories = 243
90 cal - 2 slices Sara Lee Delightful Bread
99 cal - 3 oz. tuna (packed in water and drained or dry - NOT packed in oil)
12 cal - 3 slices onion, diced
7 cal - 2 waterchestnuts, diced
11 cal - 1 plum tomato, diced
24 cal - 1 oz. fat free mayonnaise
- Lightly toast bread if desired. Mix tuna, onion, waterchestnuts, tomato and mayonnaise. Add black pepper and salt to taste. Spread on bread, top with second slice. Enjoy.
Melty Pastrami Sandwich ~ Total Calories = 282
120 cal - 2 slices Sargento Deli Style Reduced Fat Swiss Cheese
90 cal - 2 slices Sara Lee Delightful Bread
60 cal - 7 slices Hillshire Farms Deli Select Pastrami
12 cal - 4 tsp. mustard
- Spread 2 tsp. mustard on each slice of bread. Cut each cheese slice in half. Layer cheese and pastrami on one slice of bread (a little cheese, a little pastrami, a little cheese, a little pastrami). Put both sandwich halves into a toaster, and heat until pastrami is warmed through and the cheese is melting. Top with second slice of bread and enjoy while it's warm!
Friday, February 29, 2008
A Low-Cal Day Can be a Filling Day!
I've mentioned it before, but it's worth mentioning again. Sometimes, when people lose weight, and you ask them how they did it, they answer very vaguely. You've heard these lines, right?
"Oh, you know. I just worked out and stuff." ~ "Well, I just eat healthier. That's all." ~ Or my favorite, "I don't know. I'm just losing. Isn't it great?"
I am all about sharing. Sharing info, sharing successes, even sharing failures! You can learn from all of it. That said, I want to get into details. I've said that I limit my food intake to 1200 - 1500 calories per day. If you've never counted calories, this can be difficult. I had never counted calories before I started my Healthy Lifestyle journey. And while you're definitely eating less food, it doesn't mean you have to starve. Here is a detailed food log of what I ate the other day. I want to point out that I do eat meat, and it's absolutely possible to have your steak and eat it too, however this particular day, I was very veggie heavy.
Breakfast ~ A Veggie Breakfast Burrito ~ Total - 246 calories
1 La Tortilla Factory Low Carb/Low Fat tortilla - 50 calories
1 Laughing Cow Light Cheese wedge - 35 calories
2 Boca Burger Original patties - 140 calories
1 plum tomato - 11 calories
2 tbsp salsa - 10 calories
Cook burger patties in the oven. Spread cheese wedge onto tortilla. Lightly warm or toast tortilla. Chop burger patties into strips or chunks and place onto tortilla. Add sliced plum tomato, and spread salsa on top. Wrap up the tortilla and chow down.
Snack ~ 2 Mandarin Oranges (the Cuties) ~ Total - 80 calories
Lunch ~ Mushroom Risotto with Veggies and Tempeh ~ Total - 405 calories
1 cup Mushroom Risotto (from Trader Joe's) - 150 calories
2 oz tempeh - 110 calories
1/4 cup unsweetened soymilk - 20 calories
2/3 cup frozen mixed veggies - 90 calories
1 Laughing Cow Light Cheese wedge - 35 calories
Chop or grate tempeh and combine with all other ingredients in a skillet. Simmer, stirring frequently, until liquid has reduced and risotto is thick and creamy. Serve it up warm and enjoy.
Snack ~ Chips Ahoy 100 Calorie Pack, 1 bottle Vitamin Water ~ Total - 225 calories
Dinner ~ Shrimp & Angel Hair Pasta ~ Total - 295 calories
1 pkg Lean Cuisine Shrimp & Angel Hair Pasta in creamy seafood sauce - 220 calories
1 pkg House Foods Tofu Shirataki Angel Hair noodles - 40 calories
1 Laughing Cow Light Cheese wedge - 35 calories
Drain and rinse noodles very well in hot water, or boil noodles and drain well. Prepare Lean Cuisine entree according to package directions. Place Lean Cuisine contents and tofu noodles into a microwave safe bowl. Add cheese wedge, toss, and microwave for 30 - 60 seconds. Toss again to mix thoroughly and enjoy.
Dessert ~ 1 Vitabrownie, 1 bottle Guinness draught ~ Total - 230 calories
TOTAL FOR THE DAY - 1,481 calories
Pretty cool, huh?
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Hina's Fave Diet Resources
Counting Calories
It's hard enough sticking to a specific number of calories per day without having to guess how much you're actually consuming. Get a food scale, some measuring cups (for liquid and dry ingredients), and measuring spoons, then check out the following sites to help calculate your daily calories.
NutritionData.com ~*~ Calorie-Count.com ~*~ and CalorieKing.com
Starting a Program
If you're new to weight loss and have no idea where to start, why don't you check out some tried and true programs? I started using Nutrisystem because it is incredibly convenient. Your food shows up, you eat and go. No cooking, no measuring. Jenny Craig is another food delivery option. Weight Watchers doesn't give you food, but it gives you the tools for eating well and in moderation. All food is assigned a points value, and you get a certain number of points every day.
Low Cal Foods and Finds
Hungry Girl is my go-to site. If you haven't seen this yet, definitely check it out. Hungry Girl and her staff check out low cal foods, find the tasty ones, and let you know about the losers - before you spend your money on them! She's got recipes, taste tests, nutrition info, and lots more. She even dishes on dishes from well known restaurants! There's tons of helpful info on the HG site.
A Buddy System
It is so important to have good support when you are working on losing weight. If you can, recruit family members. They will be around to motivate you, they can exercise with you, and they can help steer you clear of temptation. Also look for help from friends and coworkers. Most people aren't out to sabotage your progress, so the more people know you're working towards a healthier life, the more they can help and motivate you. If you don't have anyone to help you out, or if you're just not comfortable telling others about your plan, then try an online weight loss group. Sometimes just being able to vent, and hearing that you're not alone in your struggles, is enough to get you through a rough spot. And if you need a buddy, I am always ready to cheer you on!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Hina's Weight Loss Mantra
"My weight loss is a happy byproduct of a healthy lifestyle. I am working towards a Healthy Life, not just a skinny life." ~ Me
I came up with my mantra while giving a weight loss pep talk to one of my friends. She has managed to lose a considerable amount of weight through dedication, personal strength, and hard work. She inspires me to stay true to my newly acquired healthy lifestyle, and I am extremely proud of her. (You know who you are, and I am SO proud of you! You are awesome!)
I know how hard it is to lose weight. I have been overweight for almost my entire life, and I hated it. I was a normal sized child, but when puberty hit me (and it hit pretty early) I packed on the pounds. I was bookish and studious, but I was not born with the "sports gene." Growing up as the "fat kid" was hard, especially with a skinny, athletic sibling. Kids can be cruel, and I was teased a lot.
You'd think things would get easier when you're an adult. Sure, most people mature and acquire some tact. (Most people do. Others will be inconsiderate jerks for much longer, until someone butters their floor, and possibly even after that.) I'm 5'7", and at my heaviest, I weighed roughly 228 lbs. I may have weighed more, but I stopped weighing myself because it was too depressing. I was a size 18 before I knew what happened to me, and that was when I was 23 years old! Do you have any idea how hard it is to be overweight, in your twenties, and living in Los Angeles? LA is the land of red carpet couture, Hollywood diets, and all kinds pretense designed to make you feel like you're not good enough, not pretty/handsome/sexy enough. Want proof? A coworker once told me that he wasn't in-shape enough to go to his neighborhood gym in Hollywood. I asked him if the point of going to the gym wasn't to get fit and get in shape. He replied, "Yes," but too many celebs, models and industry affiliates worked out there. Imagine that - having to lose weight before you can set foot in a gym.
I managed to lose 20 lbs. in my mid to late 20's, but I was still clinically obese. However, I have just entered my 30's, and in the last nine months I have lost (drum roll, please!) ..... 62 pounds!! Pretty cool, huh? In April 2006, I was a size 14. I'm now around a size 6/7. In nine months, I have lost 30% of my body weight. I think that's awesome, and I am totally proud of my accomplishment! You know what's better? I'm not starving, I'm not deprived of chocolate, my weight is not going up and down on a yo-yo, and I've actually acquired some great tools for living a healthy lifestyle. And I personally believe that you cannot have mental or physical health without some good chocolate.
People ask me what I did to lose weight, because when they see me, the difference is pretty dramatic. I'd like to say there was a miracle pill. (Wouldn't you love it if there was a miracle pill?) I'd like to say that I found a miracle diet that worked magic on my body. However, the truth is that I just decided, for various reasons, that I needed to get healthy, and that means eating healthy foods in moderation and exercise. As my husband told me so often, the only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you consume.
I started out using Nutrisystem, which really taught me a lot. I learned about portion size and how to count my calories. It sounds so elementary, but you wouldn't believe how many people out there have no idea how many calories they consume in a day. I had no idea about my intake, although I knew that FDA food labeling standards put forth a 2000 calorie per day average. When I started a food log to find out, I was shocked to find out that I was downing about 5000 calories every day. And this is when I thought I was being rather health conscious! (Health tip: Trail mix, although usually loaded with protein, omega 3s, and antioxidants, is also fairly high in fat, carbohydrates, and sugar. Yikes!) I also subscribe to Hungry Girl, a most fantastic resource for people looking to lose weight. Among other helpful tips and information, Hungry Girl provides insight into high calorie, high fat food frights, and provides diet empowering alternatives.
I am no longer on Nutrisystem, because I don't feel like I need it anymore. It is incredibly convenient, but it's also pricey for me. Besides, I have found, and also created, some simple, tasty, low cal dishes. I do still read Hungry Girl daily. I also have some other resources, which help me daily with my weight goals.
If you're looking to lose weight, I recommend a few things. These are things I did, things I believe in, and things that worked for me. I'm not a dietician or a physician, but hey, I lost over 60 lbs., and I'm still losing. I can't be completely full of it, right?
1. Definitely talk to your doctor. My doctor gave me a few dietary and exercise guidelines, and they were extremely helpful. Safety first!
2. Don't "go on a diet." Food is not a temporary thing, it's something you'll be living off of for the rest of your life. An ad for Weight Watchers reads, "We help you lose weight by teaching you to have a healthy relationship with food." This is so important, and so true! Learn to eat healthy portions of healthy foods for your every day meals. Learn how to eat a healthy diet.
3. Be knowledgeable and accountable for yourself. Know how many calories you consume in a day. If you don't know, start a food log. It doesn't have to be fancy. I keep a daily desk calendar in the kitchen. Whenever I eat something (a meal, a snack, whatever), I log the calories. At the end of the day, I tally everything to see how much I've eaten. The best part is, no matter what I've eaten, every morning I tear off yesterday's page, and start a clean new day. (Slightly hokey, but very mentally and metaphorically uplifting.) It keeps me aware of my nutrition, and I am accountable for my food decisions. It can also help you become aware of any eating habits you have, like constant snacking, or stress eating. Once you know how much you're eating, and when, you'll know where you need to make adjustments.
4. Do some exercise. I personally hate gyms. I hate the smell, the mindless hamster wheel-like exercises (the Stair Master stairs don't go anywhere!), and I hate to be around stinky, sweaty people. So I have to sneak in my exercise when I won't mind it so much. (Every little bit helps!) I park far away from store entrances so that I have to walk more. When my son watches The Backyardigans, I dance with him. When I take my boy to the park, I chase him up and down hills. I play music and dance around the house when I'm doing housework or cooking. Anything you can do to move your body, do it.
5. Just make a commitment and start to be healthy. Oddly, the hardest thing for me to do was Start. I made up my mind that I had to be healthier - for me, for my family. But for some reason it is so scary to make that change. What if I fail? What if I lose weight then gain it back? What if people say things about me? What if I have a heart attack while walking up this hill? Good grief, what if I succeed?! It's scary to take that first step, but I swear that once you get started, you gain momentum.
A good support system is also extremely helpful. Having encouragement at the right time can make or break you. I had my share of lows when I could have jumped into vat of melted ice cream to drown myself, rather than eat a salad. (I still have those days on occasion.) I could not have stayed focused without my loving husband telling me that I was very able to lose weight. My family and friends helped me, and they continue to help and inspire me to be a healthy individual. They remind me of what I have accomplished, what I started from, and how well I am doing. And that helps me keep going. I have 6 more pounds to shed until I reach my goal weight, then I only have to maintain that for the rest of my life. I'm very committed to living a healthy life, and I'm committed to teaching my son to live a healthy life. And I would like to inspire others to live a healthy life. It's a lot of hard work and discipline, but I believe I'm worth it.
Remember, don't just work towards a skinny life. Make a commitment to live a Healthy Life! If you develop healthy habits, the weight will come off! If you don't have a support group, or if you feel alone in your weight loss journey, feel free to drop me a line. I can be a very helpful weight loss cheerleader. Just ask my friend. She's managed to lose a considerable amount of weight, and I am so proud of her!
