In case you are not already sick of me talking IN EVERY COMMENT SECTION ACROSS THE LAND about my favorite baby name book, I’m reviewing it today over at SundryBuzz.
Elizabeth’s vocabulary is developing rapidly. This weekend she pointed at me and said “YEAVE ME ‘YONE!” (Leave me alone.) Then she pointed to the enormous laundry pile and said, “YOU DO YAWN-HEE!” (You do laundry.) NICE. How ’bout a little “I yuv you”?
First weigh-in today! I’m down three (and a half) pounds. I love the first week of a diet, when my system is all “WHUH??” It’s harder to get excited later on when it’s a half-pound loss, or no loss at all, or even a little bump up.
Isn’t it weird how some diets stick and some don’t? I’ve been on so many half-day diets, where my resolve fails before I even get to lunchtime. It’s too early to celebrate this one’s success, but even getting past the 3-day point is a big deal to me.
Everyone has their own weak spot, and mine is SWEETS. I almost feel I can’t be happy in life unless I can be constantly grazing out of a sack of chocolates. Here are a few of the, um, sensible choice treats and desserts that have been pulling me back from the edge of the cliff:
1) Sugar-free fat-free Jell-o pudding, particularly the Chocolate Fudge flavor (the regular Chocolate tastes flat to me). I eat it with Lite Cool Whip, which makes it sweeter and more dessert-ish. It’s even better if you crumble up some graham crackers on it: tastes like one of those graham-cracker-crusted pudding pies.
2) Chai tea made with milk. Fill a coffee mug half-full of skim milk, then the rest of the way with water. Microwave for 2 minutes, or until hot but not boiling. Put in a chai tea teabag. Wait for awhile, maybe do some dishes or something. Remove teabag and stir in some Splenda. The milk and Splenda take the tea out of tea category and into the hot chocolate category, and the warmth and caffeine are heartening.
3) Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats, especially the strawberry and vanilla flavors. I eat them dry, with a glass of milk on the side: this maximizes the sweetness impact. The wheat makes them righteous, and also filling.
4) Mint milk. Fill a glass with skim milk. Add a few drops of peppermint extract. (Seriously, don’t overdo the extract or it’ll taste like toothpaste.) (And don’t accidentally buy Mint instead of Peppermint–ICK.) Then add a little vanilla extract (I like the cheap artificial stuff for this), maybe half a teaspoon. Then a couple of spoonfuls of Splenda. This drink has the SPIRIT of melted mint chocolate-chip ice cream.
5) Sugar-free Jell-o with crushed pineapple. Use just about any flavor of Jell-0, but I particularly like the citrus ones. Add about half of a big can of crushed pineapple. The Jell-o and pineapple are both sweet; the pineapple gives the Jell-o some substance, and makes it more nutritious and filling. Add some Lite Cool Whip and you might find your will to live returning.
6) Sweet popcorn. Pop it with just a little oil, and then sprinkle it with a little salt and a lot of Splenda. It’s surprisingly yummy–I eat this even when I’m NOT dieting.
Oh yay, good for you!
Also, I love No Pudge brownies – you make them with Fat Free yogurt (I use the Stonyfield farm FF chocolate to maximize my choco). I’ve actually served them at parties and NO ONE knows they’re fat free! So great!
P.S. I think my ass may have found the three pounds you lost.
I eat number 1 all the time, in those little cups–I have the mint fudge one, which is delicious. And I am so trying out that mint milk thing. Thanks for the tips. And congrats on the 3.5 pounds! That’s exactly how much I lost during my first week of Weight Watchers, and now it’s seven months later and I’ve lost 60 pounds. So, sometimes these things do last!
Don’t worry about the milk in the tea! Its still tea… most of the world drinks it that way too! I LOVE me some moroccan tea with milk. Sugar is not even an option… it comes included!
I am all about the chai tea. Of course, my favorite way is to drink it coffeehouse style, which means half milk, half liquid concentrate chai. This is much worse for you, so stick to your way!
Also, we love the flavored Mini Wheats around here. Addy will almost always eat the strawberry kind because it is pink, and the fiber-full-ness of it makes me think, “Meh,” about any sugar. It still seems like a primarily healthy choice to me!
Oh, the chai tea is one of my favorite things. It’s totally dessert-like and a much better alternative to hot chocolate.
Congrats on your loss!! Those sugar free jellos and puddings are a true lifesaver. Try dipping strawberries in the chocolate pudding.
And thanks for the yummy mint milk idea.
mmmmm chai. well done on the 1st week! i agree, even 2 days of dieting is an AWESOME feat.
that’s awesome in the awe-inspiring sense, not the “dude, like tubular!” sense.
I made your pumpkin muffins yesterday, but I changed the recipe and it might just be starting to fit into the “diet” category.
– I used whole wheat flour (same amount as the regular stuff, makes them a bit chewier but I like the flavour)
– Swap out half the butter for applesauce, and the other half for vegetable oil (you could probably replace all the oil with applesauce)
– Make them “Pumpkin pie flavoured” by adding 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp allspice
– leave out the chocolate chips (I know…so sad…but I’m feeding them to a toddler and she makes such a mess otherwise…ok, I lie, she makes a mess anyway, but this way I don’t have to scrub chocolate out of the carpet)
Of course, fresh baking on the counter is not at all diet friendly, so I piled all these into a freezer bag and just take one out in the morning to defrost. That way they’re fresh everyday. I tried this with cookies too…and it kind of works, but cookies are really easy to eat frozen.
Congrats on getting off to a good start!
I’m not following WW in the true sense, but am trying to eat sensibly. I found these WW frozen treats, I think they’re called Giant cookies & cream bars or somesuch. They’re only 2 points if you were to count, and have stood in admirably for my nightly bowl of ice cream.
(yes, ice cream’s better, but these satisfy my sweet tooth. maybe i can eat only these this week, to compensate for all the nasty food I ate during the game last night?)
ugh. i need a salad to detox.
anyway! Thought i’d share!
Carolyn (I don’t remember my blog sign-in b/c I haven’t written in so long!)
Oh Elizabeth! I can’t wait to hear more of her new commands! We have TRIED AND TRIED to get AD to say “Love you”. I KNOW she can do it, but all we ever get is “SHIT DOWN!”
Excellent progress and dessert tips!! *bookmarking*
Good Work!
I credit my 30 pound weight loss (PRE-baby, sigh) entirely to sugar free chocolate FUDGE pudding with cool whip. Dieting is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE without this cheat treat.
Yay for three and a half pounds! That’s very impressive.
Sweets are totally my weakness too and I actually WROTE down (yes, old school pen and paper style WRITING) your ideas for treats.
But I have to say that I blame you for my Scotchies addiction.
Please add my congratulations to the heap — I was, um, sidelined on the supportive walking because of illness, but I will pick back up as soon as I can breathe without coughing!
I’m excited to hear more of Elizabeth’s words — it “sounds” like she turns “ls” to “ys” which is something Harper is slowly outgrowing. It made me oddly nostalgic to “hear” Elizabeth say them that way.
Chocolate graham cracker stix dipped in light whipped cream…my favorite dieting “dessert”.
That tea sounds good…im going to have to try it.
Also, another person telling you to do laundry?! Oh no!
At least her voice is cute. ;)
Good for you, that’s great news! Also, thanks for the tips. My giantess appreciates them.
Look at you – queen of diets! I’m super impressed.
And Elizabeth is getting so big…and cuter all the time!
Congrats on the diet! WAY TO GO!
“The wheat makes them righteous” Love it, girl.
Here is more fun to add to your jello:
Cranberry mousse
1 large pkg sugar-free berry jello
1 c boiling water
1 can (20oz) crushed pineapple
1 can (16oz) whole-berry cranberry sauce
3T lemon juice
1t grated lemon peel
2c (16oz) sour cream (I use lowfat, but nonfat is also fine)
Optional: 1/2t ground nutmeg, 1/2c chopped pecans
Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Drain pineapple, add juice to gelatin. Stir in cranberry sauce, lemon juice, peel and nutmeg. Chill until mixture thickens. Fold in sour cream, pineapple and pecans. Pour into glass serving bowl or an oiled 9-cup mold. Chill until set, at least 2 hours.
DESSERT, baby! But one that’s not really all that bad for you. If only they made sugar-free cranberry sauce; then I could justify it as a meal instead of a semi-dessert.
Oh, and Tessie: HA HA! Sooo funny.
I love Elizabeth’s smile.
Chai tea tastes like a liquid, frosted animal cracker to me. I just can’t do it.
The popcorn does sound delicious though!
Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches – 2 pts each!
I am so in love with Elizabeth! That grin, OMG how could you yeav that yone? You simply couldn’t.
That smile is heart-melting. How do you deal with it all day?
Congrats on the loss…not an easy task, but it sounds like you’re well on your way. Does WW allow you to eat Hershey’s 100-calorie dark chocolate bars? I have one almost daily, and as a chocoholic, I can honestly say it really is enough to satisfy my cravings.
3 1/2 lbs is wonderful, congrats to you!
I’m glad you shared some hints, that chai tea one, I have to try.
Are you counting calories? Points? carbs? Are you journaling? What’s you game plan here, I could use a little inspiration!!!
Omaha Mama- I’m doing a modified Weight Watchers Core-type diet.
I eat as much as I want of certain foods (lean meats, fruits, vegetables, brown rice, grains ((oatmeal, shredded wheat)), eggs, fat-free dairy), and a strictly budgeted quantity of others (fats, sugars, breads, crackers). I can exercise to earn more fats, sugars, etc.
I call it “modified” because I’m doing the diet as I’ve HEARD it is (I’m not a member of Weight Watchers), and because I’m breastfeeding and so I’m not quite as strict.
I’m writing in a journal, but not keeping track of everything I eat—I use the journal more for venting and for jotting down ideas and recipes and inspirational thoughts.
Wow! 3.5 l-b-s’s that’s fantastic. Go you – I think the first week loss momentum is a great way to get through week two. The hardest part of week 2&3 for me is drinking all the water “they” recommend. If you get sick of plain water I LOVE the Propel flavour power packs (Strawberry Kiwi is the best, but the lemon is yummy too)- it says to use one whole one in a 12oz bottle but that is way to sweet and strong for me so I but about 1/2 a pack into a full Liter of water…before I know it the water is gone. I have tried the Crystal Lite powder sticks too and thought they were all to fake sweet for me…kind of like Sweet’n Low. Propel is to Splenda as Crystal lite is to Sweet’n Low.
In your corner, cheering you on!
OMG,
I too am on a “modified” WW core plan. I’m not an actual member, but my sister is and she acts as my guru… but my real reason for commenting is: WHERE did you find sugar-free, fat-free JELL-O pudding? At the supermarkets near me, they’re all either/or, never both! Am I just not looking hard enough?
I’m an avid reader but I never speak up because I’m the Queen of Lurk. I would love, love, love to see more entries about what clever core-friendly recipes you’ve come up with.
Meloogal- I get it at the grocery store, but if I couldn’t get it there, I would buy it from Amazon.com. The title says “sugar-free” but you can see the box says “sugar-free fat-free.”
I so need to look into the recipes you posted as alternatives for sweet treats. I had a bad day today with a box of Girl Scout cookies and one Betty Crocker molten fudge cake. I know I am going to pay for that. I need some will power.
Also I can recommend freezing the whipped topping stuff.
I like: the frozen blueberries (I like the small, organic ones they have for cheap at the Safeway here). Heat ’em up in the microwave, and if they are sour, sweeten them with the Splenda. Crumble a graham cracker on top and a scoop of that frozen whipped-y stuff. It is SOMEWHAT PIE-LIKE!
Look at Elizabeth’s sweet face! I love the baby talk phase.
I just had a thought about your dessert – you could put the graham crackers in the bottom of a brownie pan, top with fat free pudding (maybe even one layer vanilla, one layer chocolate) then top with low fat cool whip. It would be like a REAL dessert, but still not too bad for the diet.
LoriD- That’s basically what I do, except I do it serving-by-serving and I put the graham cracker crumbs on top (otherwise they get soggy). I’m thinking of trying it with cheesecake pudding. And maybe strawberries and graham crackers.
sugar free jello (chocolate) is so good. i usually can’t stand the sugar free chocolates but the one where you actually cook it (not the instant) is delicious. esp with some light cool whip as you said. yum!
Two words: Skinny Cow. They are ice cream sandwiches that aren’t too bad for you. And they are like heaven on earth. They have a cookies and cream kind and a mint kind and a peanut butter kind. It’s awesome. Good luck and congrats on week 1. I’m on week 9 of mine and I’m down a total of 12. woohoo.
They do make sugar-free flavored Coffee Mate (at least the powder). My other favorite trick if you want actual coffee is to brew it with cinnamon (just sprinkle some in the basket with the coffee, and by “sprinkle” I mean “liberally”), then use the fat-free half and half and splenda. The cream only has 10 calories-ish per serving, so you can use more than one. (Seriously, who uses one teaspoon?)
Also, dark chocolate is good for you, but stick to buying one bar at a time and not, say, a bag of Dove promises.
I second the Skinny Cow recommendation, those are pretty decent. Also, the individual size Blue Bell rainbow sherbet cups don’t have many calories and are very tasty. (However, you may have to hide them from the kiddos.)
Congrats on the 3.5!
Mint milk, weirdly it sounds delicious.
I used to love this treat, I haven’t had it in a few years, but wanted to share.
Have frozen chocolate yogurt and Diet Dr. Pepper floats. It tastes kind of like a chocolate covered cherry, and floats are always fun.
You should check out MY diet…
leashakamommy.blogspot.com
And please don’t hate me.
breyers rocky road ice cream bars..only about 120 calories!