Thursday, June 5, 2008

Chocolate is healthy for women!

I’m trying to be good (I AM!) but it’s just so HARD! I love food and I hate to work out. I love chocolate and I hate salad. I could live on cereal. and bread. And chocolate. Seriously, the other night I had bread and butter for dinner because I didn’t feel like cooking…. And I love bread THAT MUCH! Here is a sample of what it sounds like when the Hubs and I go out to dinner:





Paul: I’ll have a garden salad with some grilled chicken and dressing on the side



Me: GIVE ME MEAT! The REDDER the BETTER! And BREAD! Keep those rolls a comin’, darlin’! What do I want for my veg? I say VEGGIES, SCHMEGGIES! How about a nice HOT FUDGE BROWNIE SUNDAE for my side… and don’t forget to ask if I want dessert!





So goes my love/hate relationship with Weight Watchers. Love: I can eat whatever I want. I can tell people I’m on weight watchers and they think I’m eating healthy. Hate: PORTION CONTROL! Apparently “whatever I want” doesn’t mean that you can eat chocolate 3 meals a day 7 days a week. Lots of the foods that I like are about 800 points each (which far outreaches my 22 point a day allowance.) What am I supposed to do when my mother in law treats us to Red Lobster? Those cheddar biscuits they give you are like 6 points each, but they’re SOOO good and everyone else seems to be enjoying them. Maybe I’ll just eat 1. or 2. or 5. Also, I don’t really like fish, but I LOVE shrimp! I’ll have the shrimp trio, please. You know, the one with deep fried shrimp and shrimp scampi and shrimp linguini alfredo? Lots of yummy points for me to consume! As a side, I’ll be good and order the broccoli…. Of course I’ll be dunking the broccoli in the scampi sauce for flavor, but it’s vegetables, so it’s HEALTHY (back me up here) But I digress…..





I haven’t been buying ww brand food because it’s pretty darn expensive, and I have a mortgage to pay and some hungry (pet) mouths to feed. I finally broke down and thought I’d buy some this go-around: Fudge bars= very yummy. Chocolate mini cakes= very yummy. Yogurt (white chocolate cheesecake)= alright for yogurt. Chocolate chip cookies= not so much. Of course, I had to eat 2 in a row just to make sure. I did SO good my first week “on plan” but then there was a holiday and a cookout and I fell off the wagon and can’t seem to get back on… no matter how many ww brand foods I buy. I WANT to lose weight (especially since my OB says that it will help me to start ovulating again) and I WANT to be in shape (because I’ve gained 45lbs since the Hubs and I started dating, and I’m pretty sure we both miss the days of cute little bikinis) but I just can’t seem to do it! Will Power + ME= frenemies.

71 comments:

Jen said...

I love WW bread, bagels, and Cherry yogurt. AND their ice cream bars that look like they are covered in oreos? Divine.

Good luck, Jill! I know its hard, especially when it seems like other people can eat whatever they want.

andrea said...

you can do it jill!! I knowyou can!

and i hope today was better than yesterday {{hugs}}

SAHW said...

Hmmm...I'm not gonna give too much encouragement, just sympathy. :)

I'm stuck in the same boat. Gained 20 lbs. since I got married and cannot seem to get rid of them. I blame it all on IF - I'm eating out of depression half the time, and then in the 2WW I'm afraid to exercise b/c what if just in case?

Excuses, excuses...I know...but I'm having trouble getting my act together. I like food too much. And we have like the exact same taste in food! That's my fav at Red Lobster too. :)

Buttons and Dots Photography said...

ah...WW! Been there, done that. I lost 63 lbs on it 4 years ago, and I have gained back 20. I too am having a hard time getting back on it. You are not alone!

Laurel said...

Oh I am so with you. I tried WW. It worked sorta kinda but I HATED it. Chocolate deprivation is just no fun at all.

Good luck - you can do it - start a painless exercise like walking ... you just have to do a lot of it to make it work.

Kimmie said...

I'm working my butt off on dieting too... the exercise part I can do... the watchign what I eat... not so good.

Melanie Dickens said...

It is hard. I struggle with it every day but I wanted to ask you a question. Have you looked into the South Beach diet (no this is not spam-I'm a real person just like you)? Ivillage has great diet boards and I know alot of the woman on the South Beach diet board talk about how good it is for PCOS and TTC. It may be worth checking into. If your interested I can send you the link directly to it in an e-mail.

Heather said...

I'll see your love of bread and chocolate and raise you a dairy product obsession! If I could just say no to things like cheese and sour cream - oh, and cream cheese, who can possibly eat a bagel without cream cheese?! - then I am fairly sure I'd be much closer to the size I was almost 14 years ago when Hubby and I got married! (See - bread love gives me a ginormous, toasted sesame bagel. Then the dairy love smears a generous heaping o' cream cheese thereupon. Hopeless, I tell you, hopeless.) Oh, and of course there's the King of Bad Dairy - ICE CREAM! sigh...........

On a serious note, PCOS sucks, and I'm sorry you're dealing with it. The whole TTC merry-go-round likewise sucks, and I really, really hope things work out for you!!

Anonymous said...

I lost 30 lbs on Weight Watchers before I got pregnant with my first child. I loved how you could eat anything. I am having a hard time going back on it. Bread and butter and chocolate are my favorites as well, so I feel your pain! Good luck with everything!

Belle (from Life of a...) said...

I lost 30+ pounds once on WW. All things considered it was pretty easy. Hang in there!

Shanda said...

I am intimately acquainted with WW. And the love of bread. And chocolate.
I should really try it again. The WW I mean. Maybe next week.

Creative Junkie said...

I did WW about five years ago and lost almost 40 pounds. But I couldn't maintain it. I found it easier to lose the weight than maintain it. Because losing it was like a game - you know, how many points can I "save" today, what's the minimum amount of points I can use and still have a productive day, etc. It was all about extremes for me. But maintaining? There's no "extreme" in maintaining and therein lay my problem. I don't know how to do anything at regular speed. I only know warp and stop.

Unknown said...

I so know your pain- love of food lack of motivation to get off my lazy butt...
I have to second that I really love the SoBeach foods a lot more than the WW ones and even though I am a carbaholic they are really satisfying- and I get most of the recipes free off the net.

S Club Mama said...

portion control kills me, too. especially on the ice cream spectrum

HAPPY SITS DAY!

Becky said...

I really think desserts should be part of the food pyramid! I totally there with you... want to lose some weight but absolutely no will power!

CanCan said...

There is probably NOTHING I crave that isn't "bad". Why is that?

Tabitha Blue said...

Aww, that's too funny... your writing style that is. As for the other, I'm sorry. Hope it gets better! That darn chocolate, why does it have to be so stinkin good?!??!!

Rhea said...

I think I could live on chocolate and bread too. Have you ever tried Nutella? Spread some of that on a yummy piece of bread and you'll think you've died and gone to heaven, I swear!!

katylinvw said...

you are so stinking cute! i'm with you on the chocolate, bread, and red meat! my hubby thinks i'm a loon for ordering it so rare! :)

Kelly Deneen Raymond said...

Do I dare tell you that the WW chocolate chip cookies are really very good when crumbled up and put over a scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt? Oops. I did. ;)

Yeah, WW can be a pain. I fell off the wagon myself. hehe.

Casey's trio said...

I totally relate! Love the carbs and anything sweet...veggies are a little tougher to get in the diet.

Ronnica said...

Mostly with you here...except I like vegetables. But I like the good stuff too: chocolate, cake, ice cream... This isn't helping!

Aubrey said...

I think you are my new best friend! LOL

Bread + Me = True Love

CindyDianne said...

I found WW soooo frustrating. I would work hard eating correctly every day and the meeting day would come and I had lost .2 pounds or something awful like that.

I heart chocolate.

Jenni said...

You are hilarious. I remember being a teen and in my early twenties and having to just think I want to loose weight, and I would. Will power was a thing I used to have. I am a little sad to see it's gone.

Twyla said...

I really feel for you. I've gained 30 pounds since I got engaged to my hubby less than a year ago. Sighh... I tried WW online and failed miserably. Now, I'm doing MFD and flunking that too. Sighhh again.

Melissa Lester said...

Oh, it is such a struggle for me! Thank you for being so transparent, and funny, about your challenges. I am so frustrated with myself because it took me 6 months of vigorous exercise and portion control to lose 10 pounds of baby weight. But then when with a few changes in routine, within 3 months I had gained 15. Now almost 20! And I wonder if it would have been better to just maintain the previous weight instead of yo-yoing. Womanhood can be frustrating!

Suburban Correspondent said...

I'm really good at counting points, 'cause I can count really high...

Alexa said...

umm ya- I hate portion control because I am almore more in love with food then I am my family... what a relationship:) have a great sits day!

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

Ugh, it really is a struggle. I feel your struggle pain.

sassy stephanie said...

Ugh. I hear ya.

My husband has so much will power and sees food for it's nutritional value. Me, I eat for pure taste!

EmmaP said...

When upon life's journey, whatever be your goal keep your eye upon the donut, and not upon the hole! - oh wait - wrong sentiments here...

Ok - being an on-again, off-again WW member...here is what I do. I am not so much into the chocolate thing but I eat CEREAL ALL THE TIME!!!!! AND BREAD!!!!!!

So, now I chew gum (hate that habit) and strong mint gum - and that keeps me from eating all the other crap. Also, I use the snack size mini ziploc bags and "portion" out all my 1-pt & 2-pt treats. Then I place all the bags up high, outta reach somewhere (outta sight, outta mind). Then - i tend to forget about them until I am REALLY craving something sweet.

Also - I don't use ANY flex points monday-friday. I am strict, strict, strict. But Saturdays & Sundays are my "Free days". I use ALL my flex pts. Heck - half the time I do not even count my points on the weekends. It helps to know I have my free days coming up, in case there is something I am really craving.

Anyway - lost 33 so far...need 45 more. If i can do it anyone can!

Good luck!!!

Peggy said...

I feel your pain. I, too, am addicted to bread and peanut M&Ms, and I love red meat, and I had a heart attack almost 3 months ago and that just about sums it up. Darn those taste buds!

Alison said...

Ha ha! I am not laughing AT you, by the way, I am laughing in recognition. Why can't chocolate be in its own food group?

Tracy P. said...

"Of course, I had to eat 2 in a row just to make sure." Hilarious! Sums up my diet plan perfectly!

I cannot diet. When I am focused on weight loss, all I can think about is food. So I ignore the whole business and stay right where I'm at. Could be better, could be worse.

My First Kitchen said...

CHOCOLATE LOVERS UNITE!!! We should be friends... because I just bought eight (yeah, I said it) half gallons of chocolate ice cream. And I. AM. NOT. ASHAMED. But I am bloated and in a bit of a food coma... before noon.

cricketphx said...

Your post made me laugh out loud, and I can totally relate! Since moving to the South, I have gained more than a couple of pounds and am not happy, but at this point not really willing to do anything about it!! Good luck to you!

Ali said...

I so feel your pain. When it comes to chocolate, I always say, IT'S CHEAPER THAN PROZAC. ;)

Rela Pantaleon said...

Hey Jill! 45 pounds??? Where did that all come from? And where did that go??? I hope in the right places!

Anyhow, I hope you meet your WW goals, whatever that will take!

Anonymous said...

I can soooooooo totally relate! I have 18 years behind our marriage and 125lbs. to lose. Good Luck!
Cheryl

Anonymous said...

calories are afraid of heights, so if you store cookies and chocolate on a really high shelf, the calories all get scared and jump out! ;D stick w/it, your persistence will pay off!

*MWAH!*
Tanya

♥ Becky ♥ said...

Girl I am so with ya!!! I try and try again on WW because it's really the one I can afford as far as the point system goes. I don't have to go to meetings because I can do that all on my own. But I LOVE FOOD!!! And I mean that in a big WAY. Of course it doesn't hurt that I live with a F&B Director who can cook like nobody's business.

I do feel for ya. I have to have someone do it all with me for me to be completely in it and motivated. Can't do it on my own, just don't have the individual will power. :-)

Holly said...

I am with you! I think I just ate 12 (a dozen!) pieces of chocolate!

Anonymous said...

I am with you on the chocolate. I want to eat it all day!!!!

G. said...

I love how real you are. There are tons of women reading this going..."I know, girl." I'm with you on the chocolate thing. I never used to care too much about it, until I had kids. I wonder why? :)

nikkicrumpet said...

I loved this post...It's so REAL! And I am right there with you! My philosophy...if God wanted me to be skinny he wouldn't have invented chocolate!

Melissa said...

I'm a bread addict too. Those Red Lobster cheddar biscuits are to die for!! My mouth starts to water if we even drive by a Red Lobster or I see a commercial on.

AdriansCrazyLife said...

Yep, I'm so there. In fact, I have to go weigh in about 30 minutes and I know it's NOT going to be good news.

I always start the week out with such good intentions, but by the end of the week, I just didn't do the deal - didn't count the points, didn't drink the water, didn't eat the veggies. Arrgggh!

Why do I keep signing up for this when I won't follow the rules? I hear ya SITsa!

Traci said...

I'm with ya on the willpower. When it comes to chocolate or sweets, willpower is not even in my vocabulary. I loooove to eat!! I wasted money for 2 visits to WW and swore I would never throw my $$ down the drain again. I can buy all sorts of WW foods, but when we have donuts, cakes, cookies lying around at the house or work, then I am just, well, a sucker!!

Melodie said...

I hear ya, sister! I need to lose weight, too. I've gained a lot in the past year, and I hate it. But, it's too hot to exercise in South Florida in the summer, and I HATE diet foods. I could live off of pasta, potatoes, and bread, which I guess is my downfall. That and my crazy Coke habit.
And apparently, praying for weight loss doesn't work either. I guess God wants to see some effort on my part before he'll help me.

thotlady said...

Wow, I didn't know Weight Watchers had food you could buy. Well, maybe desserts I have seen in the frozen sections of the grocery store. I will have to give the other items a look see.

I just finished a NutriSystem diet. Although I am still dieting, just not ordering their food anymore. The food was good, just very expensive. I lost 18 pounds in 8 weeks. I want to lose 25, so I have 7 more to go.

EmBee said...

I am all too familiar with the 'happy honey' weight gain... I've been there myself and have the rolls to prove it.

Take my advice and nip it in the bud while you still can.
:-)

-Bridget said...

I remember Sinbad once talking about starting Nurtisystem. He was saying the counselor was saying, "and when you get hungry, you just go into your bag and eat a Nutri Chip to satisfy that craving." Sinbad responded, "Lady, you think I can open a bag a chips and eat just one? That's why I'm here! I open a bag of chips and I EAT THE WHOLE BAG!"

Sunshine said...

I feel you, sister! I loves me some food!

Hey, I have a fave book to share I found a while back. It was very good for me. And it doesn't say things like "diet". It even says you can have the chocolate cake (thank God)!

Anyhoo...It's called SUPER FOODS RX!

But mostly, I just feel you. I mentioned the chocolate cake, right? ;D

Unknown said...

What woman doesn't love bread!? Crusty sourdough, sweet challah, dinner rolls, I could go on and on! I do like salad, so I'll eat several big pieces of bread and butter w/ a salad and call it dinner!

Maternal Mirth said...

My nutritionist friend thinks WW is great, BUT the WW food is horrible for you!

I learned from my Aunt who lived in France for YEARS about portion control. She said that the French have amazing food (lots of butter, bread, wine, cheese and meat) BUT they don't serve "super sized" portions. After a while of eating smaller portions, believe it or not, your tummy will shrink.

GREAT BLOG, SITSta!

Debbie Y. said...

The 8th time with WW didn't do it for me either, so I finally had to take the plunge and go for gastric bypass surgery because I was so seriously overweight. I have lost 103 pounds. I have 25 to go.

Michelle said...

I so feel for you -- and with you. But I'm doing it (or did it and then got lazy and am back to trying to do it). WW wasn't for me though. What worked? Spark People. a) online b) free c) community with lots of knowledge d) I set it up to do what I want and how I want. Totally work a look-see.

wendy said...

The thing I learned about me and WW is that I *must* go to meetings if I expect it to work. And - it helps to have a friend doing it too.

Good luck - you can do it!

Happy SITS day!

Karen said...

OK- I won't even start weight watchers, or any diet for that matter b/c I KNOW I won't stick to it. Good thing my husband is 1 ft taller and about 115 lbs heavier than me. I have a ways to go before he's allowed to complain!!!

lynn said...

Ha, too funny a commercial for WW just came on the show I'm watching. I so could have written this post, it sounds exactly like me. I did the WW thing for about a month and practically starved eating only 23 points, lost 5 lbs, went on vacation and gained it all back! Now I just can't get back into it.

Happy SITS day!

Kelly said...

Oh, I so hear you!!!

Anonymous said...

Ok, so sometimes...if its healthier for everyone around me if I get my chocolate....I'm just saying....

mrsmouthy said...

The straight A students never have any fun, so go ahead and blow it. :)

Shannon said...

WW's cookies & cream ice cream bars are a big hit here at my house... my 7yr old loves them... I try to tell her those are mine and she needs to eat the "regular" ice cream!

@TiffanyRom said...

I think I would KILL for some Red Lobster goodness right about now. YUM.

Jenni said...

You are such a good writer, and so funny! I am totally with you on the chocolate thing! (What?! It's not one of the four food groups?)

Have a good night! :)

Laural Out Loud said...

I'm on Atkins, and having a love/hate relationship with food right now. It's sooo hard to stay away from the chocolate!

Just say Julie said...

I am so there with you. I've gained about 40 points since my husband and I first met. I don't know how it snuck on, but it does not want to go away. I tried WW (and by tried I mean I read about it online and bought the chocolate muffins for breakfast), but my workplace seems to encourage eating and it just didn't "take". I did find a workout program that I absoluetly love and in 6 months have managed to lose 15% body fat without changing my diet. If you're interested, the program is called Crossfit and is fabulous. It takes about 2 weeks for your body to adjust, but when it does, watch out!

WheresMyAngels said...

I'm planning on joining WW soon.

I'm like you and love them red lobster rolls. But my favorite is to go to one of them big buffet places like Golden Cow (actually Coral, but Cow fits it better) and I get my big basket of homemade rolls slathered in honey butter. I have to put two butter cups on each roll!

Great, now I am hungry.

Unknown said...

I just stumbled across your blog from somewhere in blogosphere and am reading from the bottom up. This post gave me a good laugh as I thought I was reading about myself!! Chocolate is my significant weakness! We just bought two LARGE bags of halloween candy and I have already almost managed to eat both! You just dont realize how many you eat when you are just grabbing a small 'fun size' candy bar here and there!. Anyway, I am enjoying your blog so you may hear more from me!