The Down Side to Calorie Counting & Sugar

As someone who needs structure to stick with goals or plans, I'm finding it very hard to cope with some aspects of living a healthier life. For example, calorie counting. When it comes to dropping pounds, it's proven that you have to burn more calories than you consume to lose weight. It's a known fact. So my go to when I start trying to lose weight is to always use a program to help me track my calorie consumption. For me, My Fitness Pal has been the easiest to use (because you can use the app or their website). BUT many people suggest never counting calories but simply eating better. I find this very frustrating. Because I've seen the results that counting calories can have (two years ago I stuck to my 1200 cal/day for 3 months and lost 16 pounds) it's hard for me wrap my head around the idea of eating as I go without factoring the calories or measuring portions based on calorie count.

As someone who counts calories and tries to avoid the calories and addictions sugar brings, I've been a long time user of artificial sweeteners. Spelnda being my drug of choice. I know artificial sweeteners are highly toxic, I KNOW how bad they are for me, yet I will still reach for a yellow packet before I reach for sugar because I can add a 0 to my calorie count instead of 15. I tell myself it's better because at least it's not as addictive as sugar, but is it? Cognitive dissonance at its finest, people. Did you know white, refined sugar can be just a addictive as cocaine? The coca leaf (used to make cocaine) is inherently harmless, and is used in many things like tea, until it is refined and processed into the powdery, highly addictive drug. Refined cane sugar you buy at the store is not in its natural form either. It is highly processed and treated before it reaches your hands.

I have found what I think would be a great alternative for both cane sugar and artificial sweeteners in coconut sugar. It has a low glycemic index (between 35-38%, which makes it a great alternative for diabetics) and can be more nutritious than cane sugar. According to Madhava, "Coconut sugar has a nutritional content that is richer than cane or beet sugar; it has naturally occurring nutrients, including magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, B vitamins and amino acids (including glutamine).  Unlike beet/cane sugar, nothing is added or removed in the production of coconut sugar." It is "an organic, unrefined sweetener that is derived from the nectar of coconut palm tree blossoms. The nectar is boiled to evaporate the water, and the remaining concentrated nectar is crystallized into sugar." Coconut sugar can be used as a 1:1 replacement for cane sugar (white or brown) in baking, cooking, your drinks, etc. It doesn't taste like coconut, more closely to brown sugar, so you wouldn't have to worry about that as a side effect in your recipes.

In trying to lead a healthier lifestyle I want to make the switch from cane sugar to coconut sugar but I'm finding it hard to get past the mental block of having to add 15 cal/tsp to my calorie count. It doesn't seem like much, but it can add up. I know it would be all around better for me, my body, my health, and probably my mental health, but I can't get past that number. This is something I need to work on if I'm going to pursue and overall healthier lifestyle. I may have to stop counting my calories all together and just go with my gut when it comes to making food choices, but I won't go that far. Not yet at least. I'm going to make it a goal of mine for 2014 to not be so hard on myself if I go over my calorie allotment, especially if my list of foods I've eaten for the day consist of fruits, vegetables, unprocessed foods, and overall healthy choices.

Have you ever had trouble changing the way you view your eating habits? Or struggled to overcome certain food addictions? Do you have any recommendations for me?

Today is a New Day

I caved yesterday. I can admit it. The day started fine, I had my tea and yogurt for breakfast and soup for lunch, but dinner is where I got off track. We had this very, very spicy rice (I don't do spicy well. At all) so I lathered it with sour cream to help tame some of the spiciness. Then I had three chocolate chip cookies and two pieces of fudge. The homemade fudge with marshmallow cream you make from the recipe on the back of Nestle Tollhouse's chocolate chip bags. My mom makes it every year for Christmas and it's amazing. It was just sitting there, being so tempting, and I gave in.

Normally, after a day like that, I would tell myself, "well, you've already messed it up," and go back to my old eating habits. Not this time. Today I'm going to get right back on track and keep going. Today is day 14, not day 1. I'm trying a workout schedule I found through pinterest where each day it gives you a new set of exercises (mostly just increasing the number of reps from the day before) and I already did today's before getting ready for work this morning. I think that's a step in the right direction.

Have you ever given up on a goal because of one set back or slip up?

Quick Update

I've been a bad blogger lately. There's so much I want to talk about but I just haven't been motivated or couldn't find the right words to get it out.

2013 was a crazy year. So much happened. It was a lot of work and long days and tears and emotions, but in the end it was completely worth it. My husband and I celebrated our one year anniversary, to which several people congratulated us having made it through what they considered to be the hardest year. Everything should be smooth sailing from now on then right? :) We completed most of the remodeling in our house which was a PAIN but I'm so glad to have it done. We managed to squeeze in a trip so San Diego and LA in November with family. I managed to read 28 books last year, which I was pretty proud of. I love to read and tried to make a conscious effort to take more time to do so and was proud that I managed 28. I know for avid readers, that may not sound like much, but I averaged more than 2 books a month, and with the busy year we had, I thought that was pretty good. I've already read one book and start two more so far this year. I'm challenging myself to read 35 before 12/31/2014.

So what now? In 2014, I'm trying to get back on track to a healthier and more fit lifestyle. I tried and failed several times last year, only making it a week or so before going back to old habits. I'm already past that hurdle as I can say I'm on day 9 and have religiously stuck to my guidelines from My Fitness Pal and am already down 3 pounds. My ultimate goal is to lose 44 pounds. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to make it, but I can try right? This time I will not get discouraged and lose hope. I'm going for a lifestyle change, not a diet (or so I keep telling myself). My stomach has adjusted to my smaller portions and intake at least. Let me tell you, those first few days were like torture. I was so hungry. All the time. But I made it through and I'm already seeing results - on the scale at least. I finally bought the pair of running shoes I had been ogling at all year (it helped they were on clearance for 80% off) and am planning on trying to break them in soon. Now to actually get my butt in gear, put those babies on, and head out the door.

I'm also going to try to get back into regular blogging. Whether it's once a week or every two weeks, or even once a month, I don't want to ignore it anymore.

Nob Hill Trading Co. Soups

If you're lucky enough to live in Northern California, you probably have the opportunity to shop at a Raley's, Bel Air, or Nob Hill store. They're very nice and have the best meats and produce around, hands down. They also provide a large selection of organic and all natural foods, which can be hard to find with no Trader Joe's or Whole Foods nearby. I was recently given the opportunity to try one of their Nob Hill Trading Co. All-Natural Soups by being a member of the Something Extra Try-It program.

Here's some info about the soups from their website:
Nob Hill Trading Co. All-Natural Soups are delicious because they’re simple, with a short list of real ingredients (all of which you can pronounce, even). And with no preservatives or artificial flavors and colors, these soups are just like Mom used to make. But some of the flavors aren’t like anything you enjoyed as a kid. Nob Hill Trading Co. soups come in nine heartwarming flavors in convenient 20 oz. containers (perfect for two adult-sized servings) priced at $4.99:

Butternut Squash
Farmers Market
Indian Curry
King Crab Chowder
Lentil Soup
Lobster Bisque
New England Clam Chowder
Quinoa Chili
Shrimp and Corn

I was able to go to my local Bel Air and sort through the different choices of 20oz soups and ended up picking out the Farmers Market Vegetable Soup. I know that's not on the list above, but my Bel Air only had a few 20oz soups available (most were 24oz for $4.99 instead of the 20oz for $3.99), and they only had about 5 options in total. I'm not sure if I just went on an off day and they hadn't gotten in a new shipment so I'll have to check the next time I go back. I don't eat seafood of any kind, so automatically the crab, lobster, and shrimp flavors were out, so I chose the vegetable soup. I like minestrone so I figured this would be a good choice for me.

I love that it's all natural (you can tell because it has a green lid) and was only 100 calories per serving! No unnecessary chemicals or preservatives, so you know you're getting the most for your money when it comes to nutrients. The Farmers Market Vegetable Soup was good, but not what I was expecting! It's not your usual blend of veggies for a soup. It had pumpkin seeds, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, and more. I will warn you that it was VERY peppery, but if you like that then more power to you! You get a generous portion that's enough to feed two people. It would be perfect with a side of grilled-cheese mmmmmm! I would definitely purchase this soup again. Hot soup is a perfect meal choice for this time of year. It's quick, hearty, warms you up, and you can eat it out of a cup or an awesome bowl (like the one that came with my kit). I love to get a bowl (or cup) of soup, snuggle up on the couch under a blanket with my husband and kitties, and enjoy. If it's raining outside, even better!

I know I will keep these in mind the next time I can't think of what to make for dinner! As a side note, if you haven't joined Something Extra yet, I would highly recommend it. I was able to purchase the soup, chips, and apple sauce shown above for only $2.59! Just for being a member, I received the soup and chips free. Can't beat that! Have you tried these soups from Raley's and Bel Air? Which one is your favorite? Would you choose a fresh all-natural soup over the canned variety?

Disclosure: I received this product free from the  Something Extra Try-It program but all the opinions are my own.

Strawberry Chobani Pops

In my quest to be the healthier me, I recently came across a tumblr blog through Pinterest called Undressed Skeleton. It's a blog made by a girl named Taralynn and it's about her story of making a choice to be a healthier person and how she's come a long way. Her story really is inspiring. She also has tons of recipes for low-fat and low-cal foods. A hard thing for me to get over is not having my sweets and she's found some great ways to get control of those cravings with things like non-fat Greek style yogurt mixed with sugar free Jell-O! I decided to make her Jello Chobani Pops with Fruit but my own way (you'll have to scroll down to find them on her page, there's no link to the individual recipe).


































Since her recipe doesn't list recipe amounts, I had to make mine to taste, and I don't have popsicle  molds, I decided to use cupcake papers. Here's what I used:

24 oz. Plain, non-fat Chobani Yogurt (3 small, 6oz containers)
1 packet SF Strawberry Jell-O gelatin mix
5-6 fresh strawberries, sliced

Yields approx. 15 servings

To make, I mixed all the ingredients together until well blended, then placed in the cupcake papers. I put a decent amount in each paper and I was able to get 15 out of it. Then place in the freezer. I made them at about 8pm and froze them overnight, and had one the next morning. I have never had Greek style yogurt before and turns out it's a bit grainy, but I can live with that! The mixture could also have maybe used another container (6oz) of yogurt because it is a bit tart, but I still like them. For only 26 cal. each, I'll take them! It was super convenient to just grab one and go in the morning as a quick breakfast on my way to work, then have my apple when I got here. The great thing about this recipe, is you can use virtually any combination of fruit and flavored jello mix to come up with any combo you want!

A Me Update

This is just an update about me and what I'm working toward right now.

I've been on and off with working out and my weight for a log time, unhappy with my weight and body shape/tone for a long time, eating great for about a week, then going right back into fast foods, or working out 1-2 days a week for 2 weeks then just stopping. I've recently made a pledge to be better to myself. This wasn't a New Year's Resolution, it was a decision I made on December 27th and I am determined to make this life choice stick. I've been doing cardio about 5 days a week since then, starting off at 20 min/day, moved it up to 30, and I'm not at 50 min of cardio a session. Right now I'm just concentrating on keeping my heart rate up and burning that stored fat. I will begin to integrate strength training exercises in the next 2 weeks and see how that comes along as well.

Working out isn't enough though, so I have also made a commitment to myself to change the way I eat and think about food. I'm using MyFitnessPal to track my daily food intake (actually only on day 4 of sticking to this religiously) but I am determined. Using this program, based on my starting weight(..which is ahem... 165lbs - the highest in my life), my height (5'7") and my age (25), and my desire to lose about 2 pounds a week, to reach my goal weight of 125lbs, my daily caloric intake is 1200 calories. I know 40lbs is a steep goal and I may never reach it, but I'm going to do my damndest to get as close as I can! I was that weight in high school so I know it's a least possible.

Going from my normal diet down to 1200 calories a day has been an adjustment. Even though I'm only on day 4, I've found myself so hungry that I start shaking, so I have had to reach for my rice cakes. But this is another choice I've made, instead of reaching for the candy that's on my desk or going to the vending machine, I have made a conscious effort to have healthy foods around. I have managed to stay under or right at my 1200 limit so far, and I know my body will adjust with time.

I have started measuring out my food so I can accurately track my intake, which really hasn't been as much of an inconvenience as I thought it would be. I was prepared to get very irritated and annoyed that I would have to enter something each time I ate, but it hasn't been that way. I've started putting my meals together the night before, so I already know what I'll be having and can enter it in then. Then if I don't eat part of that, I can take it off and I still have room for something else! MyFitnessPal also has an app for the iPhone and Android where you can scan food items that have a bar-code! Then you don't have to search for the food in their database, making it super convenient.

So far I'm proud of myself that I've been able to stick to working out for 2 weeks without giving up already. I'm also proud that I have taken the time and put in the effort to stick to my calorie limits. As a way of rewarding myself, I think I will try this: Every two weeks that I can keep this up, I'll treat myself to a small purchase, whether that be a new nail polish, top, lipstick or what, that will be my reward. I might change it to every 30 days depending, but right now I'm not trying to pressure myself and get burnt out. Here's to keeping it up and being the best me I can be!