Food Fridays - Four Products I Can't Live Without

Each Friday is Food Fridays!  These blog entries will include product suggestions, recipes, tips and techniques that I have used.

This week I'm going to share four of the products that are "must have's" in my house each week.  You can click the name of each product to view their website for more information.

Bolthouse Farms Yogurt Ranch Salad Dressing
I prefer ranch dressing.  I can't help it.  I simply don't like any other dressing.  Obviously, this preference is not typically conducive to weight loss.  The low fat and lite dressings by  most of the salad dressing companies just taste sour or sweet.  Bleh!  But, I've found the one! This is by far the best "lite" ranch dressing I have found.  By using yogurt, the fat is cut by over half when comparing to a regular ranch dressing and it tastes fabulous!!  It is found in the refrigerated produce section of the supermarket and is slightly more money than the regular ranch, but well worth it!

Weight Watcher's Point Value = 1pt for 1 Tbsp or 2pts for 2 Tbsp

(If you dip your fork in your salad dressing rather than pouring it on, 1 Tbsp is plenty!)

VitaTops 100 Calorie Muffin Tops
The only word I can use to express how good these are is: heavenly!  They are packed full of nutrition.  Made with organic sugar and whole wheat flour, you can't go wrong.  You can find Vitatops in an assortment of flavors (my favorite is Deep Chocolate) in the freezer section of your grocery store.

Weight Watcher's Point Value = 1pt each

Peter Pan Whipped Creamy Peanut Butter
You don't have to give up peanut butter to lose weight! A great source of protein and such an easy snack, I love peanut butter.  But it typically is a high point value food.  I found this peanut butter to spread so easily, because it is whipped, that I can use far less than the normal serving size.  Additionally, it is reduced sugar which has decreased the calorie count.  I often spread one Tbsp on my vitatop muffin to add some protein to my snack.  The two go so well together.  It's like eating a large peanut butter cup with 0 guilt (not that I subscribe to the guilt about eating thing). :)

Weight Watcher's Point Value = 2pts per 1 Tbsp, 4pts for 2 Tbsp

Kellogg's Fiber Plus Antioxidants - Chocolate Peanut Butter
While we are on the chocolate peanut butter kick, let me just say that these snack bars are the absolute best ever.  With 35% of your daily fiber requirements, they are perfect for that 2pm sweet craving that sends you searching the office for candy!

Weight Watcher's Point Value = 2pts per bar

These items are stocked in my refrigerator, freezer and pantry at all times!

What items have you found really help you along the way?  What are some of your favorite healthy snacks?

As always, please "Like" Fat Girl Fights Back on Facebook and share it with your friends.

I'm a Recovering Addict

That's difficult to admit.  It's not like it isn't obvious to see, looking in the mirror or just walking by me on the street; but it is a hard fact for me to swallow (unlike most things, for a food addict).  This is a vital revelation to recovery.  As with any addiction, whether it is drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography and even the internet, one must admit they have a problem in order to correct it.

Unfortunately, many confuse the symptom for the problem.  My problem isn't that I'm overweight, that is a symptom of something much deeper.  No, my problem is I seek to comfort my emotions using a source not meant for comfort - mine being food.  As a result, the symptom then creates more emotions that must be comforted by, you guessed it, more food!

It is a cycle that began before I could even read, more than likely it began before I could even speak.  At a young age, I found comfort in food.  That comfort was only reinforced by well-meaning, loving parents who often gave cookies for boo-boos, pie for bad days, chocolate cake for straight A's and treats for being good in general.  Certainly, this isn't unique to my family, it is within our culture - it is why we take food to a funeral (everyone does that, right?) and grocery stores are stocked with cakes for celebrations.

But the issue isn't our culture, at least I don't think it is.  The issue is, much like an alcoholic drinks in excess, I eat in excess to escape.  Certainly, we can come up with excuses all day long to hide the fact that we simply put a lot the wrong stuff in, which in turn causes obesity.

"I'm big boned."

"It's genetic."

"My metabolism is slow."

While certainly there are health conditions that can create problems with weight, the vast majority of Americans suffering from obesity are doing so because they live a life of excess and are users of food.

What is the difference between this addiction and others?  What makes it so difficult to combat?  Well, consider someone that has an addiction to alcohol or drugs.  That individual does not need alcohol or drugs to survive, despite what their addiction feels like, and they can, with proper medical attention, stop "cold turkey" so to speak.  Yet, a food addict MUST eat - not eating isn't an option, as it is certain death.  So multiple times a day the food addict must hold the will of God to not overeat, not feed their addiction, but nourish their body at the same time.  We all know that once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.  Once recovered, they can never take a sip of alcohol again or they chance falling off the wagon.  But what about the food addict?  No wonder losing weight is so difficult!

Another aspect is there is nothing secret about food addition, you can't hide it.  Every stranger you meet, every person you speak to (or don't speak to because people rarely make eye contact with you) knows you have a problem.  This isn't like "Aunt Ida" who keeps vodka in the dresser drawer, hidden away from everyone else.  Close family members may know she has a problem, but for the most part, in public, "Aunt Ida" is normal.  No, every single person has an opportunity to pass judgment upon the food addict; and they often do.  This alone feeds into more comfort eating, causing more weight and an even larger scarlet letter.

I've said this a few times, that this blog is really a source for many things.  It's therapeutic for me, as I often write things here that I cannot express in person, and never have.  I hope it is comforting to others, as I have felt completely alone in this struggle most of my life - please don't feel alone, there are many of us!  I hope it is motivational, as it motivates me to stay the course - perhaps it encourages others to start a change in their lives, also.  Lastly, I hope it's insightful.  Food addiction is often oversimplified in a culture that pushes "quick fixes" like diet pills, shakes and surgery for something that is far more profound than just, "I eat too much."

I am a spring.

Well, it happened.  I attempted too much, ill prepared, and I resorted to stopping at the golden arches for dinner.  Worse yet, I had just spent over an hour in the grocery store, it had been hours since my last snack and I was STARVING!  At 7:30 at night, standing in the store checkout, the idea of going home and preparing a meal for the whole family just seemed too daunting to take on.

Yes, I had many options available.  Looking back I could have, would have, should have made some better choices.  But, I didn't.  Is this the end for this week?  Hell no!

I am a spring.  I can bounce out of shape for a mere moment and then back to regular position the next.  Yes, I had some yummy (well, shockingly enough it wasn't nearly as good as I remembered it being, so perhaps not so yummy) high fat, high carbohydrate, low fiber, fried foods. For the first time in several weeks, I dipped into my weekly points allowance.

For those unfamiliar with Weight Watchers, basically you get daily points that you should eat all of, everyday and then you have weekly points, which are flexible.  You can choose to eat them, or not.  You also can earn activity points for workouts.

So, I did it.  You know what I say to that?  That's life!  It's not rigid.  You will not have a perfect day, every day.  Some days you will walk out of the house in a hurry, make great choices all day long despite the fact that you left your lunch bag on the counter and still fall off the wagon in a few moments of, "it's late, I'm tired, I have a lot to do" talk, while having all the right foods in the car with you.

What now?  Well, it's pretty simple.  As soon as I finished, I immediately logged on to my points tracker and inputted the entire 24 points consumed in that one sitting.  If I did it, I must hold myself accountable.  This shouldn't be confused with guilt.  Such emotions linked to food seem unhealthy to me and more than likely put me in the place I am now.  I made the choice to eat that Big Mac.  I enjoyed the heck out of those fries.  So be it, it's done. Moving on now, right this second, right this very minute.  You know what the best part is?  I'm still not "over" points.  I would only be over points if I used all my dailies, weeklies and activities.

The point of this droning on about this one single meal is this; we create our own defeat.  It is our reactions to these events that make or break our goals.  This is not a breaker.  In fact, I can honestly say, I have no desire to eat that "crap" again for a very long time!  If anything, my lazy night meal only reinforces how much I have changed.  I enjoy my fresh fruits, my veggies, my low-fat meats and my whole grains.  I'd much prefer something fresh over something processed.

Tomorrow is another day and I feel just fine.

What are some of your experiences?  How are you coping with springing back?

Reject the Path of Patronization

Yeah, I know, it's been a long day.  Perhaps you woke up late for work, made a mad dash to get the children ready for school, barely having enough time to get a shower yourself.  You pack your lunch quickly, singing your own praises for purchasing those frozen entrees, as you throw one in your bag with some healthy snacks.  You grab a bagel thin and some low fat cream cheese, your purse (and in my case, book bag) and you rush out the door.  Maybe you work late in the evenings, or you have after work activities at church or clubs.  Perhaps, you go to school in the evening like I do.  Regardless, you've put in a full day, you missed working out that morning (or maybe you don't workout regularly).  It's 9pm - how are you going to get motivated to get on that treadmill or do that DVD for another half an hour???

I'll tell you how.  Change your mindset!  Rather than looking at your workout as just another difficult, hum drum activity that must be done before your day is finished; think of it as some "you" time.  

Tonight, as I was walking out of class, I started down the path of patronization.  It was only for a split second, but I did it.  You know the path, you know the words.

"You're tired. You've put in a full day.  Go ahead, you can skip it.  It's ok.  You earned it today.  You can always do it tomorrow."

Immediately I stopped and decided I needed a boost.  I plugged my HTC Hero (love this phone, highly recommend it) in my car's stereo, browsed to Rhapsody and cranked up Lady Gaga on the drive home.  It made me want to dance!  As I ate my fiber bar (snack after class) I could feel myself wanting to move.  By the time I arrived home I couldn't wait to get my workout clothes on and get on the treadmill, and that's exactly what I did.

Change is something that doesn't come easy.  It takes constant effort to bust through old habits and create new ones.  Negative speak can be your worst enemy.  I try to keep a few things in mind for when I fall into this type of rut.

1. Working out FEELS GOOD!  I have never felt as good as I do about five minutes after my workout.  My body feels relaxed, endorphins are flowing and I feel as though I can take on anything!
2. A half hour (or an hour on good days) to myself is an absolute treat!  Nothing is more isolating, lending more time for reflection, than putting in a pair of ear buds and just jogging.  It's time to think, reflect and plan. 
3. It's a vent of emotions.  I can let the music set the tone and air out some pretty hardcore emotions with each foot as it hits the belt of the treadmill.  What an amazing release of stress to just let it pour out of your body as you push harder and harder and how wonderful it feels after releasing all that anxiety, fear, anger or sadness.
4. It can be fun!  Yes, that's right, I said it, FUN. I never, in my life, found physical exertion fun. I hated Physical Education.  I never played sports.  I remember hating the walk home my sophomore year of high school.  However, I have a new found appreciation for exercise.  Sometimes, I imagine I'm dancing, other times, running a marathon.  At the end, I turn on an epic WIN song and feel like I truly am the champion!
5. I remind myself of my end goal.  Without exercise, I will not get to where I want to go.  I will not achieve the healthy, fit, thin me I so desire. 

Perhaps you have your own list.  What motivates you to get that workout in, even on the days you feel like you've done all you can do?

Lose for Good Lose-a-palooza

Today is Lose-a-palooza!  This is a one day, social media event to drive participation in the Lose For Good® campaign.

I love the fact that Weight Watchers always has these side "campaigns" which can really motivate.  It breaks up the weeks a bit, and helps on those days where self motivation may be lower.

I would like to encourage all reading this to comment to this blog with the words "Lose for Good."  For every mention on Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, etc, Weight Watchers has committed to donating $1 to world hunger!  Your comment is one more dollar for the cause!  Please share this blog with your friends, encourage them to post a comment with the words "Lose for Good."  Such an easy, fun way to fight world hunger!

This week, as part of the Lose for Good campaign, I will be taking 8.4lbs of food to my Weight Watchers meeting (equal to my loss last week) which will be donated to a local food bank.

Today, together, we can do this!