New Dietary Guidelines: Cut Salt and Sugar, Eat More Fish

New Dietary Guidelines: Cut Salt and Sugar, Eat More Fish

Food Cravings

So now that it's almost been a month, i am getting to the point where I am starting to crave stuff. And ofcourse none of these are healthy cravings so I went on the search for healthy alternatives. These all looked easy and they are low in calories (just what we need!!)
Keep at it ladies, we can't give up! We will do this!

LIST OF HEALTHY SNACKS TO TRY IF YOU'RE CRAVING SWEET
1 HOSTESS 100 CALORIE PACK CUPCAKES Lemon(100 calories, 2.5 g fat)
3/4 CUP MANGO tossed with lime juice and red pepper flakes(86 calories, 0.5 g fat)
1 SHEET (4 SMALL) GRAHAM CRACKERS spread with 1 teaspoon each part-skim ricotta and jam(86 calories, 2 g fat)
1/2 CUP STRAWBERRIES dipped in chocolate (microwave 1 tablespoon chocolate chips in 10-second increments until melted)(93 calories, 4 g fat)
1/2 LARGE PINK GRAPEFRUIT sprinkled with 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar and broiled for about 5 minutes(69 calories, 0 g fat)

LIST OF HEALTHY SNACKS TO TRY IF YOU'RE CRAVING SALTY
1/2 CUP EDAMAME sprinkled with a pinch of sea salt(95 calories, 4 g fat)
1 LARGE HARD-BOILED EGG, sliced and sprinkled with salt and cumin, celery seed, or nutmeg(80 calories, 6 g fat)
3 OUNCES DELI TURKEY spread with 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard and rolled in 2 romaine lettuce leaves(90 calories, 1 g fat)
1 CUP CAMPBELL'S SELECT HARVEST LIGHT SOUP Roasted Chicken with Italian Herbs(80 calories, 2.5 g fat)
LIST OF HEALTHY SNACKS TO TRY IF YOU'RE CRAVING CRUNCHY
TORTILLA CHIPS (cut 1 corn tortilla into triangles and drizzle with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil; bake at 325 for 10 minutes) with 2 tablespoons salsa for dipping(80 calories, 3 g fat)
16 POPCHIPS Parmesan Garlic Potato(96 calories, 3 g fat)
BAKED APPLE CHIPS (thinly slice 1 small apple and toss with 1 teaspoon each cinnamon and sugar; bake at 250 for 1 hour or until crispy)(99 calories, 0 g fat)
1 CUP JICAMA STICKS with 2 tablespoons hummus for dipping(96 calories, 3 g fat)
1 RYE CRISPBREAD topped with 1 tablespoon cream cheese and 1 tomato slice(91 calories, 5 g fat)

LIST OF HEALTHY SNACKS TO TRY IF YOU'RE CRAVING CREAMY
SMOOTHIE (blend 3/4 cup nonfat milk, 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/4 banana, and 3 ice cubes)(72 calories, 1 g fat)
1/4 CUP CANNED PUMPKIN mixed with 1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice(100 calories, 0.5 g fat)
1 JELL-O MOUSSE TEMPTATIONS CUP Dark Chocolate Decadence(60 calories, 3 g fat)
1/2 SMALL WHOLE-WHEAT PITA spread with 2 tablespoons guacamole(77 calories, 4 g fat)
1/2 MEDIUM BAKED POTATO (pierce and microwave for 4 minutes) topped with 1 tablespoon each fat-free sour cream and salsa(81 calories, 0.5 g fat)

We can do this!!

As with every time I've begun a weight loss journey, I always experience ups and downs. I know there are several of us struggling right now and I want to encourage you to keep at it! I have always been the person that screws up once and then goes on a crazy eating binge because "I've blown it so I might as well go back to my old ways." It's amazing the effort I can put into being destructive! So this time I am trying not to focus on my mistakes but rather my little successes. The fact is, even if I do a few things better each day, it is a positive step toward my overall weight loss and better health. I am positive I will screw up but I don't have to give up all together! I also see that using this blog and relying on all of you is going to help when I don't feel like being good. I did not want to go to the gym this morning but I knew that it is where I needed to be. I went anyway and God blessed me by surrounding me by two very strong women who gave me the energy to kick butt on the treadmill and the eliptical! I am positive I would not have been able to put in the same effort on my own so it reminded me again how important it is to rely on other people when you are feeling weak. We have an amazing group of women here and if we use each others strength, we are unstoppable! WE CAN DO THIS!

Breakfast is SO IMPORTANT !!

If I had to say one thing ladies........ please make sure you get something in the morning for breakfast.
This was a tough week me (last week), three kids at three schools, husband very busy and trying to get ready for a move , so because i was so busy i did not prioritize my eating plan. OH NO ......
With that I realized that if I had eaten breakfast everyday ( oatmeal, fresh fruit or something) I am sure I would not have eaten so much at lunch :-(

Had a small setback , but pushing forward to making the corrections and getting back on track.

Low Sodium Diet

I am on a low sodium diet and was becoming really agitated trying to create new mixes for my herbs. My friend suggested I go buy all of the Mrs. Dash in the grocery store. Worked for me...My dishes are much more fun now. :)

Portion Control means YOU control the portion!

Even if it's a recipe from the Weight Watchers cookbook, 3 helpings of a 5 point meal is STILL 15 points!! And that's all I've got to say about that.

New Day!

Well, today is a new day and therefore a new chapter in my life. I admit I haven't been using the blog..... nor have I lost any pounds, unfortunately. But in keeping with new chapters, I will begin using the blog as much a possible. I don't want to disappoint Margo or Myrna or myself for that matter. I think this blog is a great idea and a wonderful outlet of communication with like minds. In changing my lifestyle, this is another open avenue and although it's a challenge everyday, I'm up for it. I have a weight loss goal of 2 - 3 pounds this week. Wish me luck! Oh, I almost forgot this is a competition....lol.