Food Journal - Day 3 - Week of Accountability

Here we go. . .Day 3 of my Week of Accountability.

How did you do today?

Daily PointsPlus Allowance: 50
Daily PointsPlus Used: 44
Weekly PointsPlus Allowance: 49
Weekly PointsPlus Used: 0

The little lunch bag that could

I pack my lunch daily. Quite honestly, it's way more than lunch. I pack my breakfast, lunch and snacks to cover me from 9am-5pm. I've done this nearly everyday since I started Weight Watchers last May.

Days that I don't pack are challenging days and I don't like them. So, no matter what, I spend the time to fill out my meal plan for the day and pack my lunch bag.

It is also a great way to minimize waste, as I can always throw in left over veggies from the night before or make a little extra for the following day's lunch.

Food Journal - Day 2 - Week of Accountability

Here we go. . .Day 2 of my Week of Accountability.

How did you do today?

Daily PointsPlus Allowance: 50
Daily PointsPlus Used: 45
Weekly PointsPlus Allowance: 49
Weekly PointsPlus Used: 0

Food Journal - Day 1 - Week of Accountability

Here's my Weight Watchers PointsPlus tracker for Day 1 of my Week of Accountability. I still haven't had my snack for later this evening, but I already have it planned and tracked with a few points left over for the day.

How did you do today?  If you wish to do so, please reply with your food journal, calorie count, PointsPlus Values, etc. for today.

(If you are unfamiliar with the Weight Watcher's program, please scroll to the end of this post where I explain what these values mean.)

Daily PointsPlus Allowance: 50
Daily PointsPlus Used: 45
Weekly PointsPlus Allowance: 49
Weekly PointsPlus Used: 0

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Weight Watcher's PointsPlus Program Summary

For those unfamiliar with the Weight Watcher's program, let me explain. On Weight Watcher's you don't count calories, you count PointsPlus Values (PPV). Your daily allowance is based upon your age, weight, height and gender and calculated by Weight Watchers. This number will change as you lose (or gain) weight.  You are also provided a weekly allowance of 49 PPV which you may spend at any time during the week on anything you wish to spend it on.  So basically, this is your budget. You have a set number to spend daily, and a number of weekly PPV's that are optional to use throughout the week.

Of course, all foods have a PPV. The value is based upon how much Fat, Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fiber are in the food. Weight Watchers has a calculator that can be used for these calculations. (Available as a pocket calculator you can carry with you, an Android App, an iPhone app or through membership of etools on the Weight Watcher's website, where my screen shots came from.)

The key is to keep your daily food intake within the budget. For me, this requires planning, tracking and measuring my foods.

You can also earn additional PPV's through exercise. Again, the value of PPV's given to an activity is based upon the persons weight, longevity of activity and the intensity of the workout. These PPV's are also optional on if you spend them or not.

So there you have it, Weight Watchers PointsPlus plan in a nutshell. 

By the way, Weight Watchers is running a special that if you sign up now for a Monthly Pass, you get it for $19.95! The regular price is $39.95 so it really is a great deal. If you have been considering joining, now is the time to get nearly 1/2 off your first month.

Now let me say this, I am not a spokesperson, salesperson or employee of Weight Watchers. I don't make any money by telling you about that special but this program has changed my life. I am just a member using the plan and sharing what knowledge I have after being on the program 46 weeks.

Good Bye Diet Coke!

I've decided the time has come to give up my Diet Coke.

Weeks ago I stopped buying 12-packs of the fizzy beverage to try to force myself to not drink it as often. I bought those little 8-pack mini-cans at first, thinking that I could grab one of those in moderation, here and there, when the craving really hit.  Yeah, that didn't work out so well. I really should know by now that I'm often not a person that does well with "moderation." I'm trying, I am. But mini-can Diet Cokes means you will just grab two!

About two weeks ago I decided that I was no longer buying a supply of Diet Coke to have in the house. If I wanted one, I'd have to go get it.  All I did was create the situation that when I wanted one, I had to leave the house, drive to a convenience store, purchase it for double the amount I would normally pay and then drive back home. Well, that resulted in was a lot of trips out in the car and a lot more money spent on Diet Coke!

So, I'm doing it. Today is Day 1, although, technically, yesterday was since I haven't had my favorite beverage since Friday. But I'm counting today as my official start. 

Yesterday I found something I normally never would have tried. Sweet Leaf Tea: Diet Citrus Green Tea  OMG! It was so good, but a bit pricey (about the same as buying a Diet Coke at a convenience store every time I want one LOL).

I've decided I really want to try to make my own homemade version of this beverage. I'm thinking all I really need to do is brew some green tea, squeeze juice from a fresh orange, lemon and lime into the tea, add a bit of splenda and it would taste close if not better than the bottled stuff. We will see, but I did really enjoy my first venture into actually LIKING green tea.

Now I just need to find a quality green tea.

Do you make green tea at home? Do you brew it just as you would black tea (for summer iced tea)? What brands do you prefer?