Food
A Lentils Weigh-In
If you watched my vlog last night, then you’ll know that I said I forgot to weigh-in but I am trying to eat more calories in an attempt to lose weight.
Crazy, right?
Well, apparently, eating between 1500 and 2200 calories, for a guy of my size, weight, age, and exercise frequency, was not enough. An online BMR calculator revealed that I need to eat around 3,100 calories to lose weight. So that’s what I did, for the past week, even if it felt weird. Awkward. Wrong. Almost like I was cheating, even, as I ate more.
How did my body respond?
My body loved it.
I feel better. My skin is even better, my joints don’t ache nearly as much, and my hunger, as expected, has dropped. How did I do?
March 27, 2012
Weight: 370.2
Change from Last Week: -2.4 pounds
Change from All-Time Highest: -32.6 pounds
Woo hoo! That’s the best loss I’ve had in a while, AND that includes not doing actual cardio or weight lifting (just lots of physical activity) for three days.
There is one thing that I want to change, though, and that is the source of my calories. I’ll admit that a few of my calories were obtained in the form of Girl Scout Cookies. I still believe that the occasional splurge is fine, but when 160 of my calories were obtained, every day, from 4 Thin Mints, well… that’s not as okay.
I want to get my calories from good, healthy sources. And that is why this is a lentil weigh-in.
I’ve never been a fan of beans. I think they are gross, and at best, I tolerate them in dishes for their health benefits. I’ve recently discovered lentils, however, and I’m in love. They are tasty, healthy, and cheap (the latter is great for someone trying to save money). A cup of cooked lentils has 230 calories, so for someone trying to up his calorie intake while eating healthy foods, lentils are a great way to go.
Yay for extra calories! I never saw this one coming.
Watch out 360s. I’m coming for you next week.
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A We Don’t Need Roads Weigh-In
Back to the Future ref? Get it.
Well, I’ll explain it in a minute. If you read my post yesterday, you know what this is about. I gained weight. Here’s the info. Let me explain what this means.
March 1, 2012
Weight: 371.3
Change from Last Week: +2.5 pounds
Change from Highest: -31.5 pounds
I have had very slow weight loss pretty much all year. The weight has been moving off, but very slowly. It’s ridiculous. I had blood work done some time ago, and I know, without fail, that there is nothing wrong. I had some thyroid problems a while ago, but my T3s and T4s, along with some other markers, are fine.
So what’s the freaking deal? I can only assume it is me.
I tried to go a whole week without weighing in this week. I often weigh in every day, just so I know how my weight is going. Weight fluctuates a bit daily, and I know this, but from Monday of this week on, it began slowly creeping up.
I’ve been on Weight Watchers Points Plus. I have a daily target of 71 points, 49 weekly extra points, and all the fruit I can eat. Seriously. Free fruit. I love fruit. Awesome.
When Weight Watchers revamped their program, their entire point structure changed. Points are no longer tied to calories, but instead are based around carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and fat. However… as much as I hate to admit it, I’ve simply been eating too much.
71 points a day, along with 49 weekly points, and unlimited amounts of fruit, simply works out to too many calories. I have to eat less.
Big idea, right? Eating less to lose weight. Who would have ever thought of that?
When I got down to 250ish a few years ago, I did it by following Weight Watchers. The old Weight Watchers. Flex points, to be precise.
On this new (old) method, I will have 34 daily points (until I get below 350, and then my points drop to 33) and 35 weekly flex points.
Today was Day One back on Flex.
I’ll be honest – I have eaten significantly less today than yesterday. Even though my stomach is a bit grumbly at the moment (I’m about to eat two small Clementines for 1 point), I must also concede that it feels right. It feels familiar, even if I haven’t been on this specific plan for a few years.
I’ll weigh daily this week, just to keep tabs, but I’m very hopeful. I hope I have a decent loss this week. And it doesn’t have to be huge for me to be happy. I’ll do a happy dance over two pounds.
I feel even better after making my decision once I realized that I am not the only person unhappy with PointsPlus. I know FlexPoints, I did it religiously for a year and a half and lost over 150 pounds, and I can do it again. I will do it again.
Stay tuned. I hope to post a decent number next week.
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February Foodie PenPal Reveal
It is time for the February Reveal! My foodie pen pal package this month came from Darlynn over at the The Little Blog Dress. (If you are interested in seeing what I sent someone, go check out Nicole at Nicole on a Mission.)
As soon as I opened the package, I knew I was in for a fun surprise.
In this wonderful Mardi Gras themed box (I so need to do a theme box next time…), I got some New Orleans Coffee…
A note to spoil myself…
…with some French beignets!
Some Louisiana hot sauce (which is awesome in chili!)…
…freaking tabasco pralines! Awesome!
And Jambalaya! (Which I will make as soon as I find some worthy sausage.) Is there a dirty joke in there somewhere?
And last, but not least…
Three fun facts..
And the most fun part… my own instant Mardi Gras kit! (My lovely wife Tina was my gracious model.) [She wasn't that gracious. She was trying to get her hands on the praline. We ended up sharing it.]
To get in on this fun for March (and you totally should), keep reading!
Direct from Lindsey at The Lean Green Bean herself, the rules of the program:
-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month.
-Foodie Penplas is open to US & Canadian residents. Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We’ve determined things might get too slow and backed up if we’re trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I’m going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada!
If you’re interested in participating for March, please send an email to Lindsay at theleangreenbean@gmail.com and include the following information:
-Your full name
-Your email address
-Your blog name/address
-Your twitter handle (if applicable)
-WHETHER YOU ARE A US RESIDENT OR CANADIAN RESIDENT. – this is SUPER important so you get on the right list!
You must submit your information by March 4th as pairings will be emailed on March 5th!
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December and January Foodie PenPals
For the last two months, I have been a member of Lindsey’s (at the Lean Green Bean) Foodie PenPal Exchange. I’ve been blogging about it on my food blog, Stellar Eats, but as I am reducing my blogs to one and consolidating everything, I didn’t want to lose those two posts drift away into nothingness. I wanted to be sure I got these two days posted BEFORE my February Reveal tomorrow.
I’ll be posting December and January exactly as I had them written. I hope you enjoy! And come back tomorrow for February’s box.
* * *
Lindsey at the Lean Green Bean has created an amazing thing for foodies called Foodie PenPals. Whether you have a blog or not, if you like food, you can participate. Click on the link above for more information.
This past month was my first month participating. The box I sent out went to a reader (Hi Rachel!) so I can’t link to a blog showing the goodies someone got from me, but I can share the food goodies I received.
My package apparently went the long away around the planet, but finally, the packed-with-care package from Elizabeth from On Tap For Today finally made it to my house.
One of the requirements for being a Foodie PenPal is a hand-written note, recipe, or something.
My letter from Elizabeth described everything that she carefully selected for me.
There was some good stuff in here. My wife snagged the gnome mug as soon as she saw it. (Tina loves gnomes. I don’t get it.) The sushi erasers are AWESOME! Also included were three different bars, one of which was just plain old delicious chocolate, and a tin of tea!
But my favorite…
Okay, in a way, I’m cursing Elizabeth a little bit, because she sent me something that I am now, after tasting, going to have to keep on hand for the rest of my life.
The blueberry is my favorite berry. Heck, it’s my favorite fruit. Almost my favorite food.
And this jam is… amazing…
Best yet – it’s clean. Tina and I are cleaning up our diet and eating no unnatural chemicals, and this jar of preserves has NONE! And fortunately, Stonewall Kitchen has a website where I can buy this blueberry jam regularly. Whew!
I learned a few things for next month.
One, eat a meal before you open the box. That way, you won’t scarf things down before you’ve had time to adequately photograph everything.
Two, that’s pretty much it. My first time out was a blast (once my package finally arrived – curse you USPS!), and I can’t wait to do it again!
* * *
January
This month, my box of food was courtesy of Karla from Floozy Homemaker sent me an awesome box of homemade, jarred treats. Yay!
Upon opening the box, Tina and I were treated with four jars.
The first, which I originally thought was a watery cherry preserves, turned out to NOT be cherry preserves. It was cranberry and cinnamon infused whiskey. I took a sip. Sprouted extra chest hair. This stuff is hardcore. (But yummy.) As Karla said, “Strain it and add simple syrup. Unless you’re hardcore.” I can’t wait to try it with simple syrup. 
The next three jars were also a big hit. (Can you tell which one is my favorite?)
The jar that I someone has eaten at least a third of is pear sauce. It’s basically apple sauce, but with pears. Oh, so good!
The apple butter is someone smokey and sweet and savory all at once. The taste is hard to describe, but I can’t wait to try some on biscuits!
And the marmalade has quite the kick! I think it would pair very nicely with a pork dish. I may smear some on a pork roast next time I make it.
Karla, thank you so much for this assortment! And I need more pear sauce.
It is not too late to sign up for March! To sign up, just email Lindsey at theleangreenbean@gmail.com by March 4th and include the following information:
-Your full name
-Your email address
-Your blog name/address
-Your twitter handle (if applicable)
-If you are a US or Canadian resident (so you’ll be put on the right list)
Come back tomorrow for my Mardis Gras themed food box!
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A Really? Weigh In
Really? Really?!
February 3, 2012
Weight: 373.0
Change from Last Week: -0.2 pounds
Change from Highest: -29.8 pounds
Zero point two pounds.
I’ve watched my food. I’ve eaten well. I’ve counted my points. I’ve exercised HARD.
I have earned more than 0.2 pounds this week. At this rate… I will lose ten pounds this year.
*sigh* Something has to give.
It is not me. I am not giving up. I do not give up.
I tried eating more early in the week, and that made a big fat zero’s worth of difference.
This week, I will alternate days of higher food and significantly lower food. Let’s see if that will do it.
One change I am going to make this week is to significantly UP my veggie content via our new cold press mastication juicer (woo hoo!) and make some raw crackers with the pulp. When I look back through my journal, I see plenty of fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains, but I see remarkably few vegetables.
In fact, there are days at a time where I eat none.
I just don’t like vegetables.
Time to put on my big boy pants and make it happen, and veggie juice (which I can surprisingly tolerate) sounds like a good way to do it.
I’ll blog later about the February updates for my New Year’s Resolutions.
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