Home ยป "Dieting" and Larabar Winners!

"Dieting" and Larabar Winners!

Can I get a TGIF? It’s been an exciting, but very tiring week. One more day to get through and then…weekend bliss. I want to see if I can out-do last weekend by staying in my PJ’s until 6pm! 😉 Kinda kidding…kinda not!

Let’s get the party started with the Larabar winners! Congrats to:

Kasey
Karina
Kari
Kristina
Kristen
Jen
Anbre
Meagan
Julie
Heather

I sent all of you lovely ladies an email requesting your mailing address. I want to get these tasty treats out to you ASAP! Thanks to everyone for entering and to Larabar for helping me host a fabulous giveaway! 😀

I wanted to give a little glimpse into my food journal since starting Weight Watchers on Wednesday. While attending WW started as a learning opportunity to be able to assess the quality of the new PointsPlus program, I jumped on board with my co-workers and am having my company pick up the tab for the next 18 weeks. And of course, losing any PCOS weight in the process is an added bonus. Sometimes, we just need that swift kick in the…you know 😉

If I can be perfectly honest, following the Weight Watchers program has been exhausting and tedious! However, this is a new program I am not familiar with, and life has definitely been in the fast lane for me this week. I won’t go into logistics about the program just yet — I want to test it out a few more days. But here’s what days 1 & 2 panned out to be:

Day 1

Breakfast: 2 corn tortillas (3), 1 egg (2), 1/4 cup Egg Beaters (1), 2 slices turkey bacon (2), coffee + creamer (1)
Snack: banana (0)
Lunch: 2 Lasagna Roll-Ups (10), salad with 1 tsp olive oil + 1 tsp red wine vinegar (1)
Snack: clementine (0)
Dinner: 1 piece Lightened Up Crème Brûlée French Toast (9), 2 Tbsp light syrup (1)
Snack: 1 cup strawberries (0), 1/2 banana (0), Crystal Light (0)

Total: 30 points (1 over my daily points of 29) — approx. 1310 calories

Day 2

Breakfast: banana (0), 1/2 peach (0), 1 cup strawberries (0), 1 cup coconut milk (2), 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder (2), 4 oz. 2% plain Greek yogurt (1 1/2), coffee + creamer (1 1/2)
Lunch: 1 piece Lightened Up Crème Brûlée French Toast (9), 2 Tbsp light syrup (1)
Snack (pre-workout): 1/4th piece Oatmeal Banana Nut Bread (1)
Dinner: 1 cup spaghetti squash (0), light homemade alfredo sauce (2), 18 small shrimp (3), 2 cups lettuce (0), 1 Tbsp homemade light Caesar dressing (1)
Snack: 1 light beer (3), 3 Hershey Kisses (2)
Workout: 5.4 mile run (~9 activity points earned)

Total: 29 points — approx. 1375 calories

I would calculate my needs as being closer to 1500-1700 calories/day for weight loss. I haven’t posted my daily intake in probably over a year, but there you have it. Having to food journal and account for points/calories certainly makes me, even as a dietitian, very aware of true portion sizes. It’s also very humbling to measure everything as I would encourage a patient to do 😉 It’s nothing I haven’t done before, and while I can eyeball serving sizes pretty darn accurately, going through the motions of Weight Watchers is part of the “experience” I want in doing this.

My biggest concern, other than low calorie counts, is that I am least hungry after working out. A small dinner is usually all that interests me after a tough workout, so I will definitely plan for a good breakfast this morning. And as for the beer, it was only appropriate to go along with college basketball O:-)

Question: Have you ever kept a food journal? What do you think you learn from keeping records of what you eat?

TGIF! Have a FABULOUS weekend!

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31 Comments

  1. The Candid RD
    January 7, 2011 / 6:42 am

    Good for you for keeping a food journal! I agree, it’s super tedious, but for me I only did it when I had an eating disorder. Crazy, right? Maybe that’s why I hated it so much. I kept meticulous track of what I consumed everyday, and I hated it. Therefore, I will never do it again (likely not)! I destroyed the good part of keeping a food journal, and made it an obsession, so now the idea of doing it again totally creeps me out.
    Anyway, keep up the good work!! I’ll just be here for support ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Rachel Palmieri
    January 7, 2011 / 7:14 am

    The WW program does take some time in the beginning while you are calculating/looking up all of your points values but after a few weeks, it goes a lot faster. I haven’t tracked calories since starting WW a year ago but it is interesting to see the comparison. And while I’m no expert, I’ve been told by one that I should aim for 1700-1900/day to lose weight….and I weigh considerably more than you do. Maybe 1300 isn’t too low? You could always eat more fruit and veggies during the day to add calories but not points….well, maybe more fruit or you’ll be eating plates of veggies ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. John
    January 7, 2011 / 7:20 am

    I kept track of my food on SparkPeople last year and it was helpful in learning what portion sizes were. I need to get back to doing it again as you have found out I’ve fallen off the bandwagon. The weight loss to answer your question has been going the wrong way for the last 3-4 months.

  4. Estela @ Weekly Bite
    January 7, 2011 / 7:26 am

    Its been ages since I’ve kept a food journal. They’re just not for me.

    But I’m routing for you ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Kristina @ Life as Kristina
    January 7, 2011 / 8:18 am

    Food journaling is such an eye opener-sometimes I do it just to keep myself in check!

    Thanks again for the giveaway!!!!

  6. Lori Lynn
    January 7, 2011 / 8:26 am

    I kept a food journal several years ago, and I think it did help a bit, but I was a bit hard on myself when I struggled with eating healthy. I also counted calories, and learned what calories food’s approximately had, and it helped me keep in check of what/how I wanted to eat.

  7. Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday
    January 7, 2011 / 8:40 am

    Wow those calorie counts do seem very low. I usually eat more like 2000 calories a day, especially when I’m weightlifting.

  8. Liz
    January 7, 2011 / 8:55 am

    I’ve been food journaling on and off for a while. I use an Excel spreadsheet. Sometimes I find it helpful, sometimes I don’t. I recently got a food scale so I’ve been journaling again. The food scale has been extremely helpful and makes measuring portions so much easier! My mom just started Weight Watchers and she gets the same number of points as you. It does seem pretty low calorie. I’m curious to see what you both think of the program!

  9. renee@mykitchenadventures
    January 7, 2011 / 9:23 am

    Oh…I have been struggling with the changes ever since they launched this program! I am still NOT happy ( but starting to get over it) that they changed it between tgiving and xmas….probably THE busiest time of year for most ppl! I found myself a bit angry and resentful and wanting to say WTF and just throwing the whole counting thing out the window…the first time I have felt like this toward WW since I started last year!!! I found it was so daunting to have to relook up things when eating out without the vast resources we used to have ( ie dwlz) and as far as I am concerned, the info for dining out that ww provides is mediocre at best….and then there is that “gray” area of calculating out recipes….have you noticed that yet? Recipe builder, nut counts and manually counting up points in a recipe can differ by many points…..if you do, let me know. I got an email from WW on how to handle that problem. so that’s my rant on the new program….with that said, those are the only negatives I am finding.

    I track food just about everyday for the past year. I like to think of each day as another chance to get it right!! lol I do check off the healthy food guidelines to make sure I get enough servings of everything. Sometimes I don’t get the required dairy in.

    I know I have read ppl who are saying they are having a hard time eating 29 points in a day….ME…I have a struggle to eat ONLY 29….lol

  10. renee@mykitchenadventures
    January 7, 2011 / 9:28 am

    I also wanted to say this…I think with the new program, since activity earns more activity points, when you exercise you are really supposed to use those points to eat. I am one who never “eats” my activity points…but I am starting to reconsider. If you have a day where you work out hard, you probably DO need the extra calories…vs the days you don’t. But this is just my opinion. ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. Andrea@WellnessNotes
    January 7, 2011 / 9:36 am

    Good luck with keeping track!

    I’m honestly not very good with food journaling as I never found a way to keep track of calories easily. I cook a lot from scratch and “make up” things, and it got really tedious.

    But even without calculating the calories, I think keeping track of portions by measuring things, and just writing down everything would be helpful. I think I should keep track for a week just to get an “overall picture” of what I’m eating and if anything is obviously missing/too much, etc.

    Have a great weekend!

  12. Bekkah
    January 7, 2011 / 10:02 am

    I am not a fan of keeping a food journal, but it really is a necessary evil. I kept one this fall when I started having health issues and it eventually helped my doctors figure out what was wrong. I’m trying to keep up with one now in order to help me make better choices and lose weight. We’ll see how that goes. I’m interested to hear your overall take on weight watchers since my husband’s company will also pay for it and we are trying to see if it is something worth pursuing.

  13. Lena
    January 7, 2011 / 10:05 am

    Happy Friday to you. I dare you to stay in your pj’s for one whole day this weekend!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  14. Amy @ Second City Randomness
    January 7, 2011 / 10:39 am

    I attempted an online food/exercise journal once just to keep accountable.
    It made me obsessive. And hit ups and downs. Turns out it’s no good for my personality type…. :p

  15. Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life
    January 7, 2011 / 10:57 am

    I’m a fellow WW-er, and this new program is a little annoying when your first start, but after awhile, it’ll get easier!

  16. biz319
    January 7, 2011 / 10:58 am

    I’ve been using eTools and I love it – and because I am working out so much, I am between 35 and 37 points a day – I am chosing not to “eat” my activity points so we’ll see how that pays off on the scale – I think of my activity points as a safety net in case I forget to write down any licks or tastes while I am cooking. ๐Ÿ˜€

    Have a great weekend Nicole – and shoot for never getting out of your pj’s! ๐Ÿ˜€

  17. Lauren
    January 7, 2011 / 11:09 am

    I initially blogged all of my meals before switching to my current format of recipes. During part of that time – leading up to my wedding – I also kept track of calories. I managed to drop a few pounds, but it was so tedious! I can say that I learned more about portion sizes than I had known before.

  18. Leah @ Why Deprive?
    January 7, 2011 / 11:17 am

    Oh I’ve kept a food journal before. I wrote down every single piece of gum and everything. It was bad news for me. Of course, that was at the height of my ED, but even now, I dont think I could do it in a healthy fashion. Im too obsessive.

  19. Heather
    January 7, 2011 / 11:20 am

    Can’t believe I won the giveaway!

    I sometimes keep track of my meals on calorie king – I am horrible with portions and entering my meals gives me a good reality check!

  20. melindard
    January 7, 2011 / 12:33 pm

    I haven’t kept a food journal in a while, but at the end of each night, usually after dinner I do a quick scan (think “drive by” calorie count for a last minute consult as you are trying to leave for the day) of everything I ate for the day, estimating calories (resorting to exchange lists for generic counts since those charts are memorized) and then see what there is room for as a snack before bed. I am sure as a dietitian that this exercise is not only helping you as a person, but giving you a nice refresher of portion sizes and some new ideas on how to help your own clients.

  21. Krystal R.
    January 7, 2011 / 2:25 pm

    Food journaling is the best way for me to keep accountable about my food intake. Now it’s been taken to a new level at myfitnesspal.com – and I log everything there as well. Most of the foods are now entered and it will tell you the calories, carbs, fat and sugar for ya. It does the majority of the hard work, and all you have to do is enter it. I’m back on food journaling because it helped me think skinny and figure out my downfalls and positives of the day. Accountability is key to success for me.

  22. Courtney F
    January 7, 2011 / 2:54 pm

    I am an avid food journaler. It is what helped me get my body back (and in better) in shape after having our daughter in 4 months. I still keep up with foods so I don’t veer but it isn’t as close to the letter as it was.

  23. movesnmunchies
    January 7, 2011 / 2:56 pm

    food journals are great! they keep on track and force me to try new foods! yeah… im not sure 1300 is enough cals! good to know you are going to eat more!

  24. thehealthyapron
    January 7, 2011 / 3:10 pm

    wow…I would never guess that you would even need a program like WW. I guess, as a dietitian, I don’t believe in programs like this bc they can be hard to follow, restrictive, and not teach normal eating patterns. I DO feel like WW is better than 99% of other diet programs out there though and I DO think people tend to keep their weight off on this program more than any other! ALl I can do is wish you luck lady!! Happy weekend (ps. not trying to sound harsh AT ALL and I know it’s hard to tell in a comment…so just saying!) ๐Ÿ™‚

  25. Kristen (swanky dietitian)
    January 7, 2011 / 4:53 pm

    I am so excited I won! I love larabars! Thanks!!

    I was thinking the same thing in regards to your calories. I love the idea of writing down what I eat when I need to get back on track but I think I would lose patience with the points system. I can’t wait to hear more!
    Have a great weekend, Nicole!

  26. Christina
    January 7, 2011 / 5:11 pm

    I keep a food journal on and off just to check myself. I think it’s a great habit really and I’m trying to get my mom to remember to keep one since she is trying to lose weight.

  27. thebalancebroad
    January 7, 2011 / 5:48 pm

    Congrats to all of the Larabar winners!
    I have never kept a “true” food journal before (just counted calories), but I probably should at some point just to see how much fat/protein/carbs I’m getting. I don’t know much about the new WW program, but it sounds SO interesting. I really want my mom to check it out!

  28. Trish
    January 7, 2011 / 11:37 pm

    I was doing Weight Watchers up until a few months ago when I had to stop going to meetings for financial reasons, so I’m familiar with the “old” program. Are fruits all zero points now? I noticed those zeros next to the fruit so I thought I’d ask!

  29. inmytummy
    January 8, 2011 / 12:39 pm

    It’s funny that half of the winner’s names start with K.

    I sometimes try to track my food, but find it too tedious for the most part.

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  31. Maude Vang
    January 12, 2011 / 7:03 pm

    Food journaling is the best way for me to keep accountable about my food intake. Now it’s been taken to a new level at myfitnesspal.com – and I log everything there as well. Most of the foods are now entered and it will tell you the calories, carbs, fat and sugar for ya. It does the majority of the hard work, and all you have to do is enter it. I’m back on food journaling because it helped me think skinny and figure out my downfalls and positives of the day. Accountability is key to success for me.

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