Radiant Fruit 365-4

More and more lately i've been looking for ways to  cut back on spending (as is everyone else these days). One way is to cook more meals at home. This not only costs less than eating out, it helps with my weight goals as i can manage what i put in (salt, sugar, etc.) in my food and manage portion size. We were going to do a healthy potluck at work this week and i was thinking of taking a vegetable or fruit salad. Strawberries were on sale this weekend at the grocery store (buy 1 quart package, get one free) so i decided on the fruit salad. i found a great recipe on the Food Network site by Elie Krueger from Healthy Appetite. With minimal ingredients - strawberries, kiwis, melon and then a honey, lemon juice and mint (i did forget the mint in mine) for dressing. Very easy and very delicious.  

Battle of the Bulge

So Thursday i began a quest to better track this business of wellness and weight. I think more than just losing weight or the physical aspect (having to try on 20 pairs of pants/jeans to find one that fits well) - wellness also involves the spirit, the soul and emotional well-being. It's not just cutting back on the Cheetos (my fave!) but also dealing with "why" we pig out or eat what we do. Watching Biggest Loser just reinforces that i need to get my "why" figured out.
My weight is a constant battle. Working 40 hours a week, trying to fit in school and taking care of a family does not leave the energy or time to take care of myself. And i FEEL it! From occasional high blood pressure, cholesterol to fatigue, the effects of my lifestyle are taking their toll. I know some of what i eat is from stress (chocolate brings me a little bit of peace during a stressful work day). Salty snacks AND chocolate hit the spot on those PMS days. And watching a  movie (even at home) always triggers the urge for popcorn (PopSecrets Movie Theater Butter - yum).
So as of last Thursday i'm committing to work my way toward a 75 lb. weight loss on 1200 calories a day.

I can tell you right now it's going to be a matter of being ok with starting over every day. As you can i haven't been able to stay at or near the mark yet.

Feb. 18 - 1868
Feb. 19 - 1386 (missed lunch, had an early dinner)
Feb. 20 - 2565 (weekend, no excuse i know - just harder)
Feb. 21 - 1875

Just getting into the habit of keeping track will also be a challenge but i think it will help me in not going to at least the 2000 mark and once i can get that exercise thing going that should help quite a bit. Working off what i eat.

I did get in a 20 minute walk on Saturday, although that was slow going as i was trying to train the dog as well on walking behavior.
I found a site that lets you track your food and calories for free. It will suggest the amount of calories you should consume daily based on activity and weight and give you a target date - mine is May 25, 2011.

Stay tuned.....