Roni's Weight Watchen Page

My Last Post...

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:10:00 +0000

On THIS site. :~P

I did it, I really did it. I launched the new site EVEN though it's not done. (what am I thinking?!?) I needed to do it for me. Hope you like it.... Check me out at Roni's Weigh (ronisweigh.com)!

1 Point Tortillas - They DO exist!!

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:50:00 +0000

Awhile back I posted a list of 1 point tortillas that I found and I've been meaning to update it now for over a year. A YEAR! Well, I finally got my act together.

Now this list is not a list of the only tortillas I use. Frankly, I'm a tortilla fanatic and anytime a new brand shows up at the grocery store I get excited and eye it up. I only take home the ones that are either 1 point or completely whole grain. What I've found is the “low carb” brands are your best bet for the lowest points and calories because they have the highest fiber. The 100% whole grain ones are usually 2-3 points and range from 100-150 calories.

This list is only focusing on the 1 point brands...

Tumaro's Soy-full Heart 8-Inch Flatbread: Just found these recently at Giant. Being soy, I was worried about an aftertaste, but they deliver. Warm or cool out the fridge they work for anything, hot or cold and hold up very well.
Tam-X-ico's Lo-Carb Wheat Tortillas: I can't remember where I picked these up but they were a great all purpose tortilla anbd worked well for Tortilla Pizza.
Trader Joe’s Reduced Carb Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas: These are little a very similar to traditional flour tortillas. Only 50 calories a piece! My husband even loves them. They are my favorite for taco night!
La Tortilla Factory - Low-Carb/Low Fat Large Size: These are HUGE! Perfect for lunch size sandwich wraps. In the summer I fill them with my skillet veggies, spinach leaves, a little cheese and salsa!
La Banderitas Low Carb tortillas (this product not on their web site yet): I only found these once and I can’t remember where. They were good but fell apart rather easy, not good for warm wet fillings.
Canyon River Low Carb: These are my absolute favorite, they work for everything. Unfortuanly, they are only avaiable at Weis, a local grocery store. I actually go there just for them and get so mad when there are out of stock! They do not have them listed on their site but you can find them next to the deli sections in the store. Be careful only the low carb style is 1 point.
Mama Lupe’s Low-Carb Tortillas: I found these online. Haven’t tried them yet. Anyone?
Casa Rica’s Low-Carb Tortillas: I found these online. Haven’t tried them yet. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Do you have any to add to the list? I know some are regional so I'd like to help out those in other areas as well.

HOLY SNACK ATTACK BATMAN!

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:21:00 +0000

I can NOT stop eating, seriously. All I want to do is munch munch and munch!

I'm done, I am NOT hungry, I'm just eating for eating sake an it's stupid. Enough said.

Food	Points
Mommy and Me Omelets made with onion, zucchini and baby spinach	2
large crab cake and side salad from restaurant	8
handful of pretzels	2
watermelon	1
Skillet Veggie Wrap	2
fat free hot dog with baked beans	4
Blueberry sundae made with Breyer's Free vanilla, fresh blueberries and Hershey’s Lite Syrup	2
popcorn popcorn and more popcorn - don't ask	8
handful of M & M's	3
Activity
Nothing, I need to start getting back on track. Tomorrow walk, no excuses.	0
Total	32

Do you Food Journal?

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:17:00 +0000

I'm asking this weeks question out of pure curiosity. If you are regular reader you may know I have varying degrees of food journalism (food journalism?? not sure if that makes sense, but that's how it came out of me and I'm going to run with it.)

These levels have evolved over the last 3 years of losing and maintaining a weight loss.

Level 1 – In my head.: I don't think I'll ever not at least be conscious of what I'm eating ever again. When I'm in level 1 it's normally when I'm feeling in control, having consistent weigh ins and overall just living in the weight maintenance zone.
Level 2 – Just Food.: When the bites, tastes and licks are getting out of control and I'm noticing an increase in 'between meal' eating I start to at least jot down a basic food journal, no points, calories or anything just a running list of everything I ate that day.
Level 3 – Food with Points.: The scale's gone up a bit and I need some accountability. That's when I full out and start to weigh and estimate points while food journaling.
Level 4 – Weekly Commitmet.: (AKA full blown Weight Watchers). The scale is up and I need some serious accountability. This is when I make a weekly commitment. Track my points daily and use/track my weekly allowance point. I also call this level my “weight loss mode”.
Level 5 – Pre-planned Weekly Journal.: This is Food journaling to the max. In the morning I plan lunch and dinner, estimate the points, calculate how many I have left for breakfast and snacks. It's really a daily way to plan each day and have points accounted for before I eat them. This is the way I journaled for the majority of my weigh loss.

I may be a little fanatical about the food journaling but for me it really was/is the only way. So I'm real curious what works for you.

Do you Food journal? and if so, How do you do it?

FUNDERWEAR DAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:16:00 +0000

That's right, Fun-derwear! As in fun-underwear.

Can you tell I have a toddler? :~)

Funderware is my made up term for the day we moved to “big boy” underpants. That's right ladies and gentleman we are in the midst of potty training!

Taking the advice of many a mom, I scheduled a day. I've been building up Funderware for over a week now. We wrote it on the calender and every night we've been counting down. Last night, we picked out our fun pair. The toddler? Diego. Mom? Flowers & stars. Dad? Shamrocks.

This morning the family proceeded to put on their selected underwear and the festivities began. By 10AM we were on our 4th pair and I was regretting my decision. But by lunch two successful trips to the potty and by dinner he was telling me “No potty now, later, I'll tell YOU!”. LOL “I'll tell you”?!? He never did, but he started to go every time I took him. Right now he's diaper-less and sleeping. *sigh* I shutter to think what I have in store for me tomorrow morning. :~)

Sorry for my parenting detour, it was just a big part of my day. On the diet front, I'm doing OK. Being home has it's pros & cons. On the good side, I can grab a healthy snack when I'm hungry. On the bad side, I can grab an unhealthy snack when I'm hungry. Today I chose healthy. I do LOVE the fact that I get to eat breakfast with the toddler (the husband has a hard time getting up), then lunch and dinner is with the whole family. We sit and eat healthy food together and it's nice. I mean real nice. So nice it makes me smile. :~)

Even with all the Funderware Day festivities, I made great strides on the new site. I think I'll be ready in two weeks but don't hold me to that! :~) I also got ahead on a few client projects. However, now my inbox is a mess. I seem to be able to tackle one or the other at any given time, email OR project work. Today I chose work.

Tomorrow I'm at my client's office again, so it's off to bed for me. I have a busy morning!

Oh! and on the recover front. I'm doing well. I actually feel more sore today but it's not unbearable. Just tender to the touch. Swelling is still bad but it's not AS bad. I'm really still waiting to see the results. With all the water weight it's hard and the worst part, it can take months for the swelling to subside. Some say it can be 6 months before I see the actually results. So much for plastic surgery being a quick fix, huh? ;~P It is its own journey. I truly believe everything we do is.

Here's the food journal, until tomorrow...

Food	Points
cantaloupe	1
Mini Spinach Egg Muffins	2
Fresh blueberries & pineapple	1
Veggie wrap made with Skillet Veggies .5 oz cheese, 1 point wrap and a bit of green chili sauce	2
Sandwich on Thin Sliced Bread with a Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedge thin sliced turkey breast, baby spinach, tomato slices, & honey mustard	3
cold corn on the con	1
light yogurt	2
Taco Night! & a leftover cob of corn	7
Bite of the toddlers chocolate and a sip of chocolate soy milk (can you say total mindless munch (and sip, errr gulp)???	3
2 servings of LesserEvil Black & White Kettle Corn (Thank GOD I portioned this stuff out!)	4
Activity
stroll with the toddler	0
Total	26

Sunday Mission Accomplished

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:13:00 +0000

I did, I really did it! Even with the tire place taking twice as long as they said they would I completed all of my Sensational Sunday tasks. The down fall, now I have no energy to post. Let's just say it was a GREAT day on all fronts, food, activity, family, I even got a nap in! Oh! and Wall-E was FABULOUS! The three of us really liked it.

Here's my walk today – I can't wait till I can run again- but this felt AWESOME!

Let's have a great week! Are you ready?

Food	Points
Some mango and apple slices split with the toddler	1
leftover Oven Fried Food Fest	4
banana	2
grilled turkey breast cutlet and corn on the cob (my healthy BBQ fest)	4
SMALL movie pop corn split with the toddler	3
cold corn on the cob (a favorite snack on mine in the summer)	1
Veggie wrap made with Skillet Veggies (recipe to come) .5 oz cheese, 1 point wrap and a bit of green chili sauce	2
2 servings of LesserEvil Black & White Kettle Corn (I measured out s serving baggies so I can't grab the bag and go)	4
Activity
20 minute walk - 1.12 miles (my first real activity since the surgery)	-1
Total	20

A Sensational Sunday Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:04:00 +0000

Good Morning! What a weekend!

Yesterday was a super busy day yet I didn't get anything accomplished. Don't you hate that? We had a morning birthday party, then I took a nap with the toddler (I haven't been sleeping well at night so I'm taking sleep when I can), the toddler had his 3 year pictures taken, and then we went to the Drive Ins to see Kung Fo Panda and the Hulk! So much fun! I, of course, ate too much and now feel yucky but overall the three of us had a blast.

The evening couldn't be complete without a minor catastrophe so at 1:30AM we got a flat tire. It was very exciting and the toddler was quite interested in the whole ordeal. We finally made it home at 3AM to get some sleep.

Even with the tire incident we had a good day but I've been feeling a bit out of control on a few levels.

I'm really missing the gym. I mean I'm REALLY going through workout withdrawal big time and I think it's affecting my mood.
My diet has been horrendous. I start every day off great but by late afternoon I'm snaking when I'm not hungry, eating lots of sugary snacks and just, well, for lack of a better term, being “bad”.
The house is in disarray. Did you ever notice how your surroundings effect your mood? Well I'm living in the middle of tornado alley after a category 5. I need to get this place organized!

SO, I'm going to do what I do best, PLAN! It will help me get through this day with a feeling of control and give me the power to stay on track. I want to weigh in this week and if I keep going at the pace I am, that scale is going to start to be quite the evil un-motivator. I'm not prepared to see the numbers that I am expected.

Here we go, the plan...

Breakfast: Fresh fruit (I ate enough to choke a horse last night and need something light just to get me started – I used to skip breakfast in these situations and thats the worse thing I can do)
Run to get the tire fixed and bring laptop. This way I can accomplish two things at once and while I'm waiting I can get some work done.
Hit the grocery store and stock up for the week on fresh good food!
Lunch: Leftover oven fried chicken nuggets, Baked Zucchini Fries, and Sweet Potato Fries (Just posted about this, Oven Fried Food Fest)
Straighten up the house and get everything in order for the week.
Take the toddler to see Wall-e (this was our family plan today) I'm not going to have ANY mindlessly munching– it IS possible to watch a movie without sucking down a large tub of popcorn, it IS and I'm going to prove it to myself today. I will bring a healthy snack for myself, I'm just not sure what yet – I really need to hit that grocery store.
Dinner? Well, I'm not sure. The husband is going to want to go out. He always wants to go out. I hate doing it on days I'm trying to get myself back on track but at the same time I need to deal with outside temptations. So as of now, my plan is to be flexible. If we are home I'll do a healthy BBQ if we go out, I'll order lite.
Take a WALK! and nice long walk, with my iPod alone. This will be my gym replacement until I'm able to workout again.
Put toddler to bed on time.
Relax and enjoy my Food Network TV night, Iron Chef and Next Food Network Star while posting on the sites. Then go to bed early!

Not to bad of a plan right? OK, I'm ready to make this a Sensational Sunday! How about you?

I'll be pack with a food journal and Sensational Sunday report!

Ask Roni Q&A Video _v02

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:58:00 +0000

WOW it's almost 3AM, a charlie horse work me and I can't fall back to sleep. So I got up, poured a glass of water and peeled my last banana. I need to ask the doctor about this tomorrow.

Of course I hopped on my computer as I can't fall back to sleep and my video was ready. SO here it is, 6 questions and all. Let me warn you, it's LONG. I'm really going to try to curb the babble. I'm SUCH a chatterbox!

No laughing at my sappiness, certain things really choke me up and I'm not very good at hiding my emotions. One thing I've learn getting older is to accept myself for who I am and I'm a crier, plain and simple. ;~)

Topics Covered:

Accepting Compliments
Hypothetical: lost your sense of smell and taste?
Protein Carb Ratio
Get over the "I'm still fat" thoughts (this is the one that got me-I didn't really even finish answering as it got a little emotional.
how did I not hit any plateaus?
Tips for losing after having a baby?

Ok, here it is. Now, I'm going to try and get back to sleep.

Jounral Post mentioned at the end of the video

Feeling Better

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:42:00 +0000

It's amazing what a little distraction does for me. I had my first day at a client site for a new project I have. It's a long term deal and (you're going to think I'm crazy) but I'm looking forward to the 2-3 days in an office. I never really realized how much “work” suits me. Not teaching but project work. I like solving problems and being creative and that's what I'm allowed to do on web projects (and boy this one is a doozy!)

So the toddler had a day at camp and I had a day in the office. I started my morning with a filling breakfast (Grapenuts and berries), brought a few snacks (pineapple and Kashi bar) and hit a salad bar for lunch (added some protein with tuna and chick peas). Dinner, well, I was just NOT in the mood. Me, not in the mood to cook. SEE it happens! ;~) So we got Chinese and I enjoyed my steamed chicken with veggies, and split a spring roll order with the toddler. For dessert some fruit and a little bit of ice cream, again, split with the toddler. Then I took my own advice and the family went out for a post dinner walk. I couldn't go too far, I'm still quite sore and VERY swollen but it felt good to get moving.

After the toddler went to bed, I recored a (not very) quick video answering some questions. It's long, it's sappy and it's shaky but I'll post it anyway. You can decide not to watch it. ;~P

All in all, though, a great day! I just cannot wait to get real active again! Never in my life, NEVER, would I magine in my wildest dream that I would MISS the gym as much as I do. I mean really, I'm craving a workout.

OH! and I drank 128oz of water! It didn't help much with the swelling though. :~(

(Long Winded, Post Surgery,) Note to self...

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:30:00 +0000

Yes, you NEED to recover.
Yes, it was like this after the tummy tuck. Actually it was worse, you just don't remember.
Yes, you are and will be swollen and none of our clothes will fit for awhile. It is NOT FAT but it will be if you keep eating the way you do.

No, sucking down a calorie laden milkshake did't make you feel better.
No, baking a cake (albeit 'healthier') and scoffing down 3 pieces didn't make you feel better.
No, sneaking those 2 slices of cheese while making the toddlers lunch for tomorrow didn't make you feel better and they DID count even though nobody saw it.

Just remember....

You will be able to workout soon. I know you miss running and lifting but you can start small again like taking a walk tomorrow.

Go back to basics. Start a fresh week tomorrow and journal. Count points like you used to. When in doubt find comfort in your ability to adapt, learn and grow even if it means going backwards for a bit. Do NOT find comfort in food.

NOW SNAP OUT OF IT!

P.S. You started the day off great, what went wrong?

Honestly... How much TV do you watch?

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:15:00 +0000

OK, I admit it. I'm a pop-culture-a-holic. I used to be a lot worse BEFORE the toddler but still I like keeping up with new music, I love movies, I read blogs, I have an iPod, and a MAC, advertising intrigues me and I LOVE LOVE LOVE discussing the latest TV shows around the water cooler.

Who doesn't? It's TV!

It's the quintessential form of home entertainment, movies, comedies, dramas, educational shows, music, you name it and the magic box delivers it to your living room.

The problem? Well, it's normally a passive activity (technically... it can also deliver workouts ;~)

I used to turn on the TV first thing in the morning and go to bed with the sleep timer on. The husband and I would eat with the television blaring behind us. Even if I was reading it was on. It was such a unconscious habit.

Then I had the toddler (Boy, he is AWFULLY responsible for making me who I am today.) I knew very early I didn't want him to watch TV all the time. I didn't want an infant in the bouncer being mesmerized by the glowing screen in the living room. I wanted him to be aware of his surroundings and watch human interactions, learn to listen and appreciate... silence.

So I turned it off.

That's right, I got up and hit the power button. Seems like such a simple event but it was a huge leap towards making me a more productive, active human being.

I replaced the TV with music. Saturday morning I'd BLAST the iPod and dance with my baby. He's sit on the floor interacting with his toys while listening to music and I, well I was moving around the house. MOVING. Getting things accomplished that have been piling up, making dinner, dancing around. I was no longer bound to the couch, unable to move until a commercial interruption.

It was FANTASTIC! Who knew!

Now, I'm not going to climb up my gigantic soapbox and declare that TV is evil and we should all ban it from our households. I still love TV, I can't miss Lost, or the Next Food Network Star. I am waiting patiently for the The Closure to return and I was ecstatic when Dexter came to cable. I do watch TV.

What I don't do it watch frivolous TV that is filler and a distraction to my day. I DO NOT turn on the television first thing in the morning and I play the radio every chance I get. And honestly, it's amazing how much more I 'move' because of it.

So this week I ask, Honestly...

How much TV do you watch?

Really think about it. Are there times you can turn it off and do something else. I really believe there is something to the old adage of Move More and Eat Less. Not that weight loss and healthier living is that easy but every little bit helps.

I wonder how many calories I burned yesterday after dinner, dancing and getting chased around the living room by the toddler...

This would have never happened if we put the TV on instead of the iPod. It's as simple as that.

Notes about this post...

I didn't mean to be so preachy, just sharing my perspective.
I've been meaning to write a post about things to do instead of watching TV for like 3 weeks now but couldn't seem to find the time while being engrossed by the food network.
MizFit's recent post about childhood obesity inspired me to write this weeks question as I think turning the TV off is a very easy thing to do to help our kids.

OH! and if you are wondering, when I do the Math....

I still watch too much TV a day, normally between the hours of 7PM – Midnight. An hour with the toddler before his bed time then while working on my projects. I'd probably be much more productive if I shut it off, but it's my way to work and relax at the same time. Plus I have to stay up on my pop culture!

Golden Corn Mix

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:55:00 +0000

Last week, when I had a house full of guest for the toddlers birthday I made breakfast for everyone. It's one of my absolute favorite things to do! Made to order omelets and this year, corn muffins!

I chose to make Golden Corn VitaMuffin Mix instead of my own recipe. With 8 made to order eggs it seemed like a logical choice to ease my time in the kitchen. Well, I'm glad I did, what a hit! The muffins were gone by the next day. Everyone LOVED them!

A nice sweet corn muffin made with whole grains and low fat, you really can't beat it. Plus SO simple to make with just a few egg whites and water. Oh! and did I say they are only 1 point! You really can't go wrong.

Now, I do have to mention that the muffins did not have that gritty corn muffin texture. Don't get me wrong, they are GOOD but for some who were raised corn muffins made from coarsely ground corn meal, you may be in for a surprise and I wanted to let you know. My mom, was expecting them to be a bit “grittier” but liked them all the same. (I sent her home with her own box of mix) :~P

Has anyone else tried them? I know they are fairly new.

If you are interested in trying them, check out my VitaStore and use the coupon WRN73108 for a 10% discount!

The dreaded...

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:45:00 +0000

“I want something”

That's where I am right now.

I just got finished posting Lemon Sage Chicken Packs. I have another recipe (Quick Banana Pancakes) waiting in the wings and all I can think about is FOOD. Maybe I should take a break from GreenLiteBites?? :~P

Seriously, I'm racking my brain trying to figure out a satisfying, low point snack idea.

It's not like I didn't eat all day and I'm not even “hungry”. I just want SOMETHING!

The problem is I didn't make it to the grocery store today so I have no good snack alternatives. I'm going tomorrow with the toddler and I'll be stocking for the week!

Food	Points
Banana Pancakes (recipe coming soon)	2
subway - turkey sub with a ton of veggies, 1/2 of the toddlers pizza and a few chips	8
jelly rings (a mall splurge)	2
Dinner fest - baked sweet potato, hot dog, some leftover beans, grilled zucchini and some leftover Lemon Sage Chicken Packs	9
Cinnabon Cinnamon Crunch Cereal	3
something?!?!	?
Activity
L-o-n-g walk at the "big" mall - about 3 miles (might have been a little to much too soon, took it easy the rest of the day)	1
Total	>23

Lazy Day?

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:35:00 +0000

I was totally alone today while the husband went to play golf and pick up the toddler. What did I do with my 12 hours to myself?

NOTHING?!?

That's right, absolutely nothing. I read, I watched a stupid movie, I posted a food idea, I cooked dinner for myself and I napped.

Actually, now that I say that, I guess those things are something. I just feel like I didn't do anything.

Can you tell I'm trying to tell my inner overachiever it's ok to take a day off.

IT'S OK TO TAKE A DAY OFF!

Ok, I'm good.

Tomorrow I'm taking the toddler out! We are going to stroll around the mall, hit the grocery store and the farm stand. Ahhh it feels good to have a plan and to have my little buddy back. Recovery is going well but I need to get out and start moving. The more I sit the stiffer I get.

Food	Points
Chocolate quinoa	4
leftover baked beans and leftover brown rice	6
Lemon Sage chicken pack and leftover brown rice	9
Another Chicken breast (what can I say - the were pretty good!)	5
Soy Crisps and salsa (I wasn't hungry - just bored)	4
sugar free fudge pop	1
Activity
Nothing :~( recovering from surgery	0
Total	29

Holy Posts Batman!

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:11:00 +0000

Can you tell I'm a bit bored and stir crazy?

I really should be working on the new site but I'm having a bit of designers block. To beat my blues & the block I post. My normal goal is one post a day, well, this is my third! It could be worse I could be moping about the house and watching old movies. :~)

I did make it to my post-op appointment today and the doctor said everything is looking good. My incisions are perfect and I'm healing well. I'll be honest, I snapped some pictures but I'm not sure I'm ready to post them just yet. With the tummy it was easier for me. I wore a pair of baggy sweats but the thighs and flanks seem a bit more personal as I snap the photos in my underwear. Plus, I have a hell of a lot more readers then I did 2 years ago and it freaks me out a little. LOL

Seeing the pictures made me feel much better. The “love handle” area improvement is phenomenal. It's quite amazing even with all the swelling. Oh! and the swelling by the way, I hopped on the scale and saw a number I've haven't seen in TWO YEARS... 156!! Holy crap! That's how much water weight I'm carrying around! I can't let it get me down, it's just a number and I'm healing. It's to be expected. I think I'll be taking morning scale readings for a bit starting tomorrow. I'm curious to see how the water weight will pan out.

OK, I think I rambled on enough. The husband just got home and wants to go out. It's our last night without the toddler so I think I'm going to take advantage. What's the difference if I sit at home watching a movie or actually go to the movies?

Here's my food journal so far but I'll probably add some popcorn on the list. :~D

Food	Points
Chocolate quinoa experiment (I may post - it was good but the kind of thing I may only like LOL)	5
apple	1
Panera again - Garden Vegetable Soup (1) and 1/2 Strawberry Poppyseed salad (1) and a whole grain baguette (3)	5
yogurt	2
Starkist Tuna Fillets & Brown Rice	6
1/2 cup Breyer's Free vanilla with a sprinkle of cinnamon	1
Activity
Nothing :~( recovering from surgery	0
Total	20

StarKist Tuna Fillets

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:10:00 +0000

Having a coupon, I bought a package of Starkist Light Meat Tuna Fillets months ago. Investigating it at the grocery store I discovered 1 package was 1 serving weighing it at only 2 points. So I picked up a few packs thinking they'd make a nice quick diner when I didn't feel like cooking. So I threw the packages in the back of the pantry and forgot about them.

Until tonight, that is. It's one of those days. I have no desire to cook, I'm by myself and I'm hungry. What's a girl to do?

I pull out the tuna, popped it in the microwave. Pull out some instant brown rice, popped it into the microwave and viola! a 6 point dinner! Pair it with some veggies or a salad and it's quite a satisfying meal.

I chose the lightly salted flavor and it was simply yummy. The tuna had that slightly dry texture that tuna does but there was a bit of flavoring I was able to pour over the rice. I was very happy with the amount of nutritional value for the buck! I'll definitely be picking up some more packages for nights like tonight! It would make a great lunch too!

Ask Roni – Unable to Exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:03:00 +0000

I have lost 18 pounds and just a couple days ago my back went out of alignment. I will now not be able to exercise until I am done with treatments. For that matter I can't even do my regular daily tasks or walk straight. I am so scared I am going to regain my weight. I need to lose a total of about 55-60 pounds. I have lost and gained this weight about 3 times in my life but this time is different, this time it is a life long commitment. I don't expect much in the way of losing weight until I am better I just don't want to gain any of the 18lbs I have lost thus far. Any suggestions??

-Shawnda

Hi Shawnda!

First of all, Congratulations on your loss so far!! You are doing great and it's nice to hear you are making a life long commitment.

It looks as if we are in the same boat as I also cannot exercise while recovering from my surgery. I too, am a little concerned that the sudden decrease in my activity level will have an effect on my weight. I think you have already entered your situation with the right mindset...

“I don't expect much in the way of losing weight until I am better I just don't want to gain any of the 18lbs I have lost thus far.”

I think this is a great goal. Too many people put too much pressure on themselves and consequently set themselves up to fail. Setting a realistic goal of weight maintenance is a very smart approach and shows that you really have made a lifetime commitment.

I'm not sure I have the right answer for you, all I can share is my own strategy. Not being able to workout requires a much closer eye on our food choices. I have decided to start counting points again to stay accountable on the diet front. I'm not sure if you are doing Weight Watchers but whatever plan you follow I would go back to the basics, sticking with as much whole foods as possible, fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains and lean meats and keeping an eye on portions.

Interestedly, there are some studies that show exercise is not required for weight loss (maintenance) and I'm a living example of that. I did NOT workout excessively to reach my goal weight. Yes, I stayed active but bottom line, the the amount of calories I was consuming was less then I was exerting, therefore I lost weight. I don't want to diminish the role of exercise as I find it an important part of the equation for weight loss/maintenance and overall health but not exercising is not a deal breaker if you account for the decrease in activity level.

That being said, I do plan to move as much as I can without injuring myself. This may not be possible in your situation, but I'm getting up hourly and walking around the house. Instead of asking the husband to get me a drink, I'll get up myself. If I want something to eat, I walk into the kitchen. This small amount of movement and activity helps me feel mobile and, in my opinion, helps the healing process.

I hope that helps a little and I hope you are feeling better. Again, Congrats on the loss!!

-Roni

PS Does anyone else have advice for Shawnda (and ME)? :~)

Just a Journal Entry

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:13:00 +0000

Not much to talk about today. I'm still a bit sore, I miss my workouts, and I miss the toddler (he's at Grandma's) A LOT. It's really amazing how lonely I feel without him, he's my little buddy. However, I know he's having a blast with Grandma and I really needed the week to recover.

Speaking of recovery, I went out and about today. Got some lunch with the husband and played cards at a friends house. It was nice to go outside and I think it helps the healing process. I even got a chance to record a video for GreenLiteBites today, although I'm waiting for it to process.

On the food front, I'm surprised how easy it's been to slip back to counting points. It feels good to know I have that safety belt to fall back on when I feel like I'm out of control on the food front.

Let's see, other news? Hmmm I'm making strides on my new blog, still have a few weeks of development but I'm having fun designing it. I'm not sure how or when Ill make the switch but I love the prospect of a change.

OK, off to bed. Until tomorrow.

Food	Points
1 Pizza Crêpe idea	3
Another Pizza Crepe	3
Panera - Black Bean Soup and 1/2 Tomato Mozzarella Salad (OUCH - 9 points)	11
Baked Beans, hot dog and leftover asparagus	4
handful of nuts at poker night	3
1 scoop Breyer's Free Chocolate Cookies & Cream (my fav!)	2
Activity
Nothing :~( recovering from surgery	0
Total	26

Fizzy Lizzy 'Sodas'

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:21:00 +0000

Geesh for someone who doesn't really drink anything but water I've been getting asked to review a lot of beverages lately.

Fizzy Lizzy arrived at my doorstep in a neat little 4 pack, with old fashion 12 oz glass bottles and little metal bottle-caps. They were really cute!

Reading the nutritional information made them even cuter, basically juice and carbonated water. That's it! No High fructose corn syrup, no aspartame or artificial sweeteners just juice and bubbly water.

And that's exactly what they tasted like. They were sweet and refreshing and, well, fun. The even offer some 'adult' beverages on their webpage for even more fun! *wink* *wink*

Calories ranged from 90 to 165 calories a bottle (one bottle is a serving – another nice thing – 12oz) based on the flavor.

Now I'm going to be honest, there is no reason why you couldn't just buy your favorite juice and combine it with carbonated water to make your own 'soda'. But if you are throwing a party or have kids (husbands in my case) that need a 'product' to be fooled into drinking some healthy soda then this is a nice alternative.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen it in the stores yet. Have you?

Post Surgery Update

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:36:00 +0000

Well, it's over and I came out alive! Sore, but alive. To be frank, I feel like I've been hit by a truck.

I'm ordered to wear a binder until Friday's post op appointment so I haven't even seen the results or stitches but I can tell I'm super swollen.

The one thing that makes me feel better is to take walks around the house. It helps with the stiffness. I hope to be able to take a walk outside tomorrow, but we'll see.

On the eating front today I was feeling well enough this morning to experiment in the kitchen. Actually I think its a form of therapy for me. I had fun researching and trying my hand at some homemade crêpes. I like them so much I ate them for every meal!

As promised, my food journal today, I do plan on counting points for a bit as I felt like my diet was getting away from me with the vacation, houseguests and parties. Even though I'm recovering the fact that we are back to normalcy at home is great. I'm taking full advantage of my time at home to catch up on projects and I'm make strides on the new site!

Food	Points
2 Crêpes with Berries & Low Sugar Jelly	4
Another Crêpe this time filled with cheese, turkey breast, baby spinach, halved grape tomatoes and honey mustard - YUM! With a side of soy crisps	5
Yet ANOTHER Crêpe this time with leftover chicken and broccoli inside	5
Lite yogurt with berries	2
94% ff popcorn	4
apple	1
Brownie Sundae made with Breyer's Free and a Triple Chocolate Chunk VitaTops	2
Activity
Nothing :~( recovering from surgery	0
Total	23

What are some of your Favorite Quotes?

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:29:00 +0000

I couldn't miss the question of the week!

I love quotes! Some people just have great insight and prospective and I love reflecting on words of wisdom from those with different experiences then my own. So tonight I went on a quote hunt and just read page after page. Some are funny, some inspirational, motivational and just overall interesting life lessons.

This one really stood out for me tonight...

There are two things to aim at in life; first to get what you want, and after that to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind has achieved the second.

-Logan Pearsall Smith

A few others that caught my eye...

The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.

Denis Watley

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.

George Bernard Shaw

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

Jim Ryun

People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.

Norman Vincent Peale

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.

Anatole France

So how about you? Any favorites out there? If you can't think of one I recommend searching and reading through a few. It's really a fun way to find some inspiration and motivation!

Busy Bee Has Some Fun Links!

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:08:00 +0000

I never really noticed how much I like to work, especially when I'm trying to stay busy and get things accomplished. Since I can't eat today I've locked myself in the office and became a very productive busy little bee.

I've been catching up on some blog reading and web surfing and I came across this post about BlogToLose! How cool is that?!
As a side job, I've been consulting with WeightView.com and providing some guidance as they build thier new community tools. The new backend allows users to sign up and track weigh loss progress very similar to the way I did on my blog. For example, posting pictures while losing, setting goals and tracking weight progress with a chart that looks eerily similar to mine. ;~) In all seriousness, I think it's a pretty neat tool especially for those that may not feel comfortable blogging. I set up a profile on the system and you can too! Please click here to test it out and let me know what you think! NOTE: It hasn't been launched yet so this is a sneek peek!
Ok, someone sent me this link (I'm sorry I can't remember who and I'm too lazy to look through my old emails) and I think it's pretty cool! It gives you healthy food options for local restuarants (mostly chains) complete with nutritional infomration. So great when you aren't sure where you want to go, just throw in your zip and see if anything is close that offers light options!
And Finally, I've been fiddling with a new blog design! I mentioned a little while ago (while in my funk) that I “did something scary” today and started development on a new site. Well, I have a coming soon page up and I'd love your opinion. This too is just a sneek peek, I don't think I'll be ready to launch for weeks! Click here to check out RonisWeigh.com.
OH! and I also posted a new recipe, Cold Shrimp and Orzo Salad. The family loved it!

ok, I'm signing off for the day.

Add Nervous to My List of...

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:53:00 +0000

..emotions that make me want to eat. Yup, like most of my recent out of whack days, today started off just fine and then, crash, boom, bash, I'm a stuffed pig.

We went out for a last meal of sorts as I can eat after midnight before the surgery and it's scheduled for 2:45PM! That's going to be one long hungry day!

I'm not sure if I ate too much because I was preparing for the 14 hour fast or because I was nervous. Maybe I'm just using both as an excuse to just, well, eat. Who knows! All I do know, is I AM counting points for a a few days to get myself back on track. The past 2 weeks have been out of control and I'm seeing some old scary habits resurfacing. I also won't be able to workout as much in recovery so my diet better be in check! I'm a little worried about this, can you tell?

So stay tuned for some food journal posts this week and tomorrow I may have an announcement about a project I've been working on.

I have 8 minutes to get some water in. Then it's fast time. Good Night!

Oh! I will be using Twitter to update on Surgery progress, it's fast and easier then posting full posts. Click here to see my twitter page

Toddler Birthday & Photo Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:28:00 +0000

What a crazy few days! Today is the toddlers birthday, my little guy is now 3 years old. THREE! Where did the time go? He marks my transformation into a healthy lifestyle and to celebrate, what did we eat today? Well, ummm, ice cream and cake of course!

Yes, yes, I overate a bit and I splurged on cake and ice cream but that's what birthdays are all about. Right? What I'm disappointed about is my mindless munches while making the cold cut platter and the bread eating at dinner. Both things I told myself not to do anymore. It's a stupid way to consume extra calories when I could be spending them on much more satisfying food. *kicking self in ass* stupid, just stupid!

All in all though, the day could have been much worse. I made a healthy breakfast for everyone, omelets, corn muffins (link to come), and homemade hash browns (recipe to come). For lunch, sandwiches on whole grain buns and a cold shrimp salad (recipe to come). Plus I got the family out hiking after cake and presents. We did an awesome 2.8 mile hilly hike on a local trail! I even had to carry my 40lb niece part of the way, talk about a workout!

So right now I would be looking forward for a return to normalcy after the 3 days at the beach, my family house guest and the toddler birthday party but it's not going to happen for awhile. My surgery is scheduled on Tuesday and I'm really nervous about how the recovery is going to affect me.

I did find time this morning to snap a few pictures before everyone woke up. My latest tummy shots are posted and I snapped a progress photos for my progression page. I wish I didn't have to take these after 5 days of vacation and craziness. My diet has been a bit out of whack but, oh well, that's life I guess. I have to admit I feel like a beached whale right now, just TOO MUCH food.

I hope to be posting more regularly again. I'm getting backlogged on posts. I have to write 3 product reviews, a book review, a new question of the week and a recipe I photographed today. I also have almost 100 Ask Roni questions and I'll have the surgery/recover to blog about. *sigh* why do vacation cause even more work then you have before going?

I really can't complain, all of that is better then having nothing to do!

Until tomorrow!

Note(s) to Self...

noreply@blogger.com (Roni) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:49:00 +0000

Vacation is over!

Yes, your life will be hectic over the next few days. Yes, having guests and eating healthy is a challenge. Yes, there will be even more cake at the toddler's birthday. Yes, you are exhausted and eating helps you stay awake. Yes, next week is your surgery and you're nervous. Yes, you feel bloated and disgusting but eating more doesn't solve that problem.

All of these things do NOT make it OK to just eat for eating sake. Get your butt to the gym tomorrow and get back to routine the best way you know how. Keep trucking along and making good decisions. Just as everything, this too shall pass.