Calories in Bread

Do you know how many calories are in a slice of bread? What about a foot long sandwich from Subway or those gargantuan sandwiches from Wal-mart which could possibly feed you for a week?

For just a normal slice of bread it is between 70 and 100 calories. So to make up a sandwich with the two slices it uses up more than half of my calorie goal for lunch....

I say this so you can understand that today was difficult :) I did have a sandwich for lunch but used the sandwich thins which only have 100 calories together. But since Roger was flying out to South Carolina today, I had bought him one of the gargantuan sandwiches from Wal-mart. Alas.... I ended up eating the extra sandwich bread with honey. It was very delicious, but I am still amazed at just how many calories are in bread products.

There is a new philosophy I have...
You choose your lifestyle and you are sized accordingly. Of course, there are proabaly a few exceptions, but it's also proabably a very few.

If you choose healthiness 100% of the time, you are a stick.
If you choose healthiness 50% of the time, you are medium.
If you choose healthiness 0% of the time, you are rather chunky.
And there is everything in between.



I came to this philosophy while thinking back to my mission, where I ate beans and rice everyday, didn't really snack a ton, and walked miles upon miles. I figure if my life were like that again, I would lose the weight like I did there, but currently my life is sitting in my kitchen with Ginger while something is playing on the computer from netflix or hulu snacking on cake or fruit, etc. So right now, I am trying to change my life style from a 50% to a 25%. I figure that I will still eat a slice of pound cake occasionally (just not 5 slices). I don't think I want a 100% lifestyle, but I think a 25% would be great!

And though today was difficult and I might have eaten too many dehydrated apple slices... I just have to take it one day at a time and know that every step counts.

Ice Cream- more tomorrow

I am currently trying to eat 3 normal meals and 3 snacks through out the day to keep my metabolism working and to keep me from splurging into something that I really don't need to eat. Since I am cutting back on my carbs, I had 1/2 c of low-fat ice cream and a cut up fresh peach. It was very delicious. Now I just have to keep telling myself....no seconds... there is still some in the freezer... you can have more tomorrow...

I figure understanding restraint and balance is a very important issue in this change. Part of that is knowing that there is more of that item, so you don't have to pig out in one meal. You can always make it again, and if you can't, well then you can just savor that moment. As for the ice cream... there is more of it for the future and I have decided I have enough self-control to recognize and resist.

YAY!

First Day

This morning I got up and tried to come up with something to eat. Recently, I have been eating oatmeal with cut up fruit in it with some milk and brown sugar. It isn't on the whole a bad meal, but since I am trying to keep my sugar manageable, I wanted to eat something that didn't require me to add any. I came up with my dad's Awful Waffles, but I made them fat free.

2 c freshly ground whole wheat flour
3 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
2 beaten egg yolks (I used about a 1/4 c of egg beaters to make it fat free)
2 c milk
1/2 c applesauce
2 stiffly beaten egg whites

Sift dry ingredients. Combine yolks, milk and applesauce; stir into dry mixture. Fold in egg whites. Large waffle: 250 calories (from what I figured out... not sure though).

On top I cut up a peach and put some vanilla yogurt (which I know has sugar, so really it probably isn't much different from my oatmeal... but at least I don't see the sugar going in it). Over all it was about 350 calories. I was happy and full. Tonight I plan on grilling.

I decided, for exercise, to walk over the the Walmart near by so I could get some resistance bands, which from my sources are probably the most cost efficient strength training tools you can have. So after walking home in a sweat, I started my resistance training... which looking back might not have been quite as effective as I would have liked. Maybe I should look up tips somewhere....

Tomorrow: 30 Day Shred video.

Before Pictures

The Before......

The First Step

I have decided to start my journey of weight-loss. I am starting on June 27, 2010 at 191 lbs, or a size 16. On October 1, 2010, I will be 150 lbs and/or a size 10.

As I was calling around to tell some people of my new goals, my sister thought of the idea of this blog. It is an easier way to stay accountable for my progress, and it doesn't matter if people actually care this way :) I am at least accountable for posting.

I have set a few goals which you can watch me fulfill as the days go by.

Big Goals:
August 21, 2010 - The A.V. Fair 5k
October 1, 2010 - I will weigh 150 lbs or fit into a size 10.

Small Goals:
- Cardio workout (running, swimming, dancing, etc.) at least 3x a week.
- Strength workout (20 sets of 6-12 reps = 45mins) at least 2x a week.
- Only 1 serving of dessert per day (1/2 cup)
- Eat a low-fat, low carb healthy diet

I have been put-zing around this weight loss thing since a few months after Ginger was born. I got really intrigued with the Biggest Loser and a few other things I had seen, but really what was the kicker was seeing a woman sweat from walking down the hallway. I just decided that I can't continue to putz around. So Starting at 191 pounds and a size 16 I am on my way to a healthier me.