my dress

i'm not sure if i've ever posted my dress for michele's wedding... it's the one on the left in the photo... and in that colour. i also got some sandals today that i may wear for it... but i'll see if something i like better comes along over the summer...

How to deal with Cravings!

i did some research on the net... and i've compiled a list of ways to deal with cravings. doubt they'll work.. but they could be worth a try.

• be aware of your triggers - anticipate them - prepare for them
• separate food from activities - don't automatically associate them. i.e - popcorn at movies
• exercise regularly (let me know how that goes!)
• substitute lower calorie alternatives (like my popcorn for chips! go me!)
• develop a taste for spicy food. apparently it's easier to develop cravings if you're more used to "bland" foods... go figure.
• just try riding out the craving - experts say a craving lasts no longer than 20 min. my guess is these experts haven't suffered from PMS.
• give in - but in moderation.
• plan your food for the day (okay, i have to admit - this helps me)
• avoid excuses for trying/tasting unhealthy foods (i.e "this little bit won't hurt")
• don't confuse hunger with thirst. i keep a bottle of crystal light around all the time - lot's of flavour and helps me get my water intake up.
• eat at regular intervals... helps to avoid bingeing
• distract yourself - play a mental game... keep your mind busy

there you have it... let me know how this works out for everybody! i think i've identified the ones that i've found basically work!

Cravings

My life would be so much easier without cravings. well... at least my weight loss would be so much easier without them. now, i'll admit... i do eat out of boredom... but there are also so many times i'm just CRAVING something soooo bad!!! today... it's sushi. i don't know what it is - i could eat it morning, noon, and night. sushi isn't a totally bad craving to have, i realize this. especially if you buy the brown rice sushi... heck, then it's even core food! but there are so many other times i crave things. earlier i was even craving mcdonalds.... and i don't eat mcdonalds! i ate wendy's not long ago and my body rejected it on me!!!

here's a list of things i crave the most often... for me, it's not about just the salt or the sweet or the grease... it's about all of them. i crave any of it at any given time. they need to invent a pill for this or something!

my cravings list:
~ sushi
~ pizza
~ subway
~ buffalo chicken fingers and fries
~ FRIES
~ chips (not too bad with these - i don't buy them and i can substitute with popcorn pretty well)
~ CHOCOLATE!!!!!
~ cheese

that's all i can think of right now... let me know what your cravings are - because chances are i crave them too and have just forgotten them right now!!!!

My watch

if something turns out the way i want it to in the next couple of weeks (yes, i'm being vague on purpose!)... i have decided to reward myself with a watch... a fancy one! i told alex i'd show him the one i want... so i'm posting it here... alex - i know you're reading this at work on monday anyway!!!

here's my watch (i'm being optimistic i'll be able to treat myself to it... if not this time... one day!)

it's only $130 at sears!!!

Grocery List

i love grocery shopping... it's my happy place... i thought i'd post what my grocery list usually consists of (i don't buy all of these items every time i shop... but these are what i buy in general)

• strawberries
• blueberries
• watermelon
• cherries
• tomatoes
• grape tomatoes
• cucumber
• romaine lettuce
• salmon fillets
• tilapia fillets
• shrimp
• blue menu frozen chicken breasts
• salsa
• relish
• mustard
• honey mustard
• dijon mustard
• blue menu ketchup
• canned flaked tuna packed in water
• blue menu canned chicken
• blue menu whole wheat pasta - rotini
• blue menu whole wheat spaghetti noodles
• crystal light (all kinds)
• fat free cottage cheese
• fat free sour cream
• light PC swiss cheese
• light PC old cheddar
• light PC monterary jack cheese
• kraft fat free cheese slices (mozarella and cheddar)
• mccain low fat fries
• frozen broccoli
• fat free or low fat salad dressings
• plain instant oatmeal
• instant cream of wheat
• weight watchers cereal (at costco)
• weight watchers whole wheat bread
• blue menu soy burgers (LOVE THEM!! in a lettuce wrap with condiments... mmmm!)

that's all i can think of... if i think of more i'll add it!!! feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you like to buy that may not be on my list!

Menus!!! more MENUS!!!!

i haven't posted any menus for a few days... there's a reason i don't necessarily post them over the weekend. friday i was good though... aside from sharing a jumbo (and i mean JUMBO) chocolate chip cookie with alex.... i ate well and we had sushi for dinner (mmm... sushi sounds good right now). so i'm working nights tonight, tomorrow, and monday... and then i'm off from tues morning until monday... maybe i'll post my grocery list after i post my menus.

_______________________
Sunday
breakfast
*3/4 cup ww cereal (2)
*1/2 cup skim milk (1)

lunch
*chicken breast (3)
*28 mcain low fat fries (4)
*blue menu ketchup (0)
*cherries (1)

dinner
*2 tilapia fillets - baked in foil in the oven with lemon- herb seasoning (4)
*broccoli w/ garlic (0)
*1 cup ww pasta (3)
*1 tsp EVOO (1)
*seasoning (0)
*2 fruit snacks (2)

snack at work
*nutrigrain bar (2)

___________________________
Monday
breakfast
*3/4 cup weight watcher cereal (2)
*1/2 cup skim milk (1)

lunch
*1/2 c ff cottage cheese (2)
*tomato, cucumber (0)
*chicken salad (3)

dinner
*2 salmon fillets, grilled (4)
*broccoli (0) w/garlic (0)
*28 mccain low fat fries (4)
*1/2 cup ff yogurt (2)
*w/ strawberry jam (0)

snack
*2 fruit snacks (2)

___________________________
Tuesday
breakfast
*3/4 c ww cereal (2)
*1/2 c skim milk (1)

lunch
*lettuce, tomato, cucumber (0)
*hard boiled egg (2)
*ff honey mustard blue menu salad drsg (1)
*chicken salad (3)
*1/2 c ff cottage cheese (2)

dinner
*1 cup ww pasta (3)
*6 chicken meatballs (3)
*ww recipe tomato sauce, 1/2 cup (0)
*2 tsp light parmesan cheese (0)
*1/2 cup ff plain yogurt (2)
*w/ jam (0)

snack
*1 1/2 cup strawberries (1)
*w/ splenda (0)

_________________________
Wednesday
breakfast
*1 pkg instant cream of wheat (2)
*w/ jam (0)

snack
*2 fruit snacks (2)

lunch
*chicken breast - grilled and cooled for salad (3)
*lettuce, tomato (0)
*1/2 cup ff cottage cheese (2)
*2 tbsp ff honey mustard salad drsg (1)

snack
*cherries (1)

dinner
*baked salmon fillets X2 (4)
*broccoli, steamed with garlic (0)
*baked potato (3)
*2 tbsp ff sour cream (1)

snack
*1 1/2 cup strawberries (1)

BIG BROTHER!!

so, i understand big brother 7 will be an all-star edition. it sounds like cbs is going to have 20 former BB housemates that us viewers will be able to vote into the house. since i'm working nights with (thankfully) not much to do... i've decided to come up with my list of the twenty houseguests i'd like to see us be able to choose from. if you're not sure of their profiles - just go to the cbs website and use the drop-down menu to pick a big brother season to look at.

here goes nothing:

season 2 - hardy, will
season 3 - amy (a girl who loves cheese, just like me!), jason, eric, lisa (maybe eric and lisa would hook up again!)
season 4 - david, nathan, jun, michelle, and yes... alison. i think alison makes for good tv!!
season 5 - drew, jase, cowboy, scott (basically, the 4 horsemen)
season 6 - howie (he's too fun to watch!), james, janelle, kaysar, michael

there you have it. i wonder why we don't get to pick from season 1. anyone else remember that season? with britney, the girl with funky hair... and chicken george... the token older guy who was pretty funny. i think i was the only dork who actually watched season 1 of big brother...

happy friday

i have the day OFF!!! WOOHOO! then nights start sat-mon... the fun begins. i'm so sick of shift work... working nights is slowly killing me i think!! oh well... what can you do?

i editted my profile photo... i hope you like it!

i was going to post a menu for tomorrow.... but i think i'll wait and do that when i'm more awake in the AM... i'm suddenly very tired. and given i only had 3 hours of sleep last night... i'm ready to catch up on some much missed z's!!! i will edit this post in the am

the verdict is in... again

hooray for me! i'm amazed by myself!!! somehow i was down 0.4lbs this week... when i didn't think i would be. i'm glad of that!

i've enjoyed my subway sub and some frozen yogurt... now relaxing for the night and going to enjoy my one whole day off!!!

i'll post menus again later!!!

what is up with me?

ugh. i don't feel well. i started feeling nauseated last night after i ate dinner (microwave dinner). i chalked it up to my anxiety over the tornado watch for the GTA... so i felt ill all night, but avoided actually being sick. then i couldn't sleep... i finally fell asleep around 1am... after feeling wide awake up until then... and i was back up at 4:30 and was wide awake. last night i figured i couldn't sleep because i was nauseated and i had a diet coke in the evening (thought it might help me feel better... but then i think it kept me up because i'm not accustomed to drinking caffeine)... none of this explains why i was back up at 4:30 this morning.

i have to go sit in a quiet room without windows at work for 4 hours... i hope i don't fall asleep! i have a feeling this is going to be torcher!!

again... wish me luck at weigh in!!!!

alex - feel better!!!

here's a photo of me typing this right now... all ready for work by 6am!!!