Although things are still going well (my weight isn't up, despite TOM coming and I worked out on the Elliptical for 45 minutes, burning 540 calories), I noticed a new trend emerging. The sodium levels are down. Good news; however, the carbs are up. I used to keep them under 170 grams (or, I tried to) and now they are well above that. Is that the trade off? The flavor has to come from somewhere, so if it's not salt it's sugar? Not sure right now. There are a couple of days where the carbs were low, but then so were the calories and fat. Too, low. I'll keep an eye on it. (The stats pasted weirdly today. Probably because I'm on my stupid Vista computer at home. Ugh! This thing...)

May 6th, 2009Calorie goal: 1,318; calories consumed: 1,281; calories burned: 0Net calories: 1,281
Mood: Hungry I can tell TOM is on the way, but I'm trying to be strong. Yesterday, I worked out on the Elliptical for 30 minutes (burned about 380 calories)then mowed the lawn...first time in my life, last night! That surely burned lots of fat and grossness. I worked out to Turbo Jam this morning (the 20 minute workout). Hubby wants me to go to the track this afternoon with him. I'm still debating on that. [edit this diary entry]
Food Item
Servings
Cals
Fat
Cholest
Sodium
Carbs
Sugars
Fiber
Protein
General Mills Cheerios
2.00
206
4g
0mg
372mg
42g
2g
6g
6g
Bi-Rite Sugar
2.00
30
0g
0mg
0mg
8g
8g
0g
0g
Fiber One Oats & Chocolate
1.00
140
4g
0mg
90mg
29g
10g
9g
2g
Cooking Light Roasted Root Vegetables
1.00
175
5g
0mg
267mg
32g
0g
7g
3g
Steamed White Rice
1.00
90
0g
0mg
0mg
20g
0g
0g
2g
Cheerios Honey Nut Cereal
1.00
120
2g
0mg
210mg
24g
11g
2g
3g
Cheerios Honey Nut Cereal
1.00
120
2g
0mg
210mg
24g
11g
2g
3g
Michelina's Lean Gourmet Five Cheese Lasagna
1.00
280
5g
10mg
550mg
44g
6g
3g
12g
Slimfast Optima Chocolate Peanut Nougat Snack Bar
1.00
120
4g
5mg
70mg
20g
9g
1g
2g
Totals:
1,281
25g
15mg
1,769mg
243g
57g
30g
33g

Did you partake in the free meal from Oprah, yet? Well, there's still time (mid-May) to run to your local KFC and pick up some goodies. The grilled chicken tastes suspiciously like their roasted chicken from a few years back. I suspect it wasn't popular, which is why the menu item was retired. Now that people are taking a stronger interest in their eating habits and health, along comes the chicken with the lines (grilled) but, really roasted. Whatever. It was good. I kept it light-fare by choosing sweet corn (no sodium at all with this), a dry side salad (I added my own dressing at home), and a corn muffin in place of the biscuit (less sodium and fat). I didn't work out twice like I'd planned; however, I did mow the lawn (first time in my life!) and felt that was a super substitute. Here's the journal entry from yesterday:

May 5th, 2009

Calorie goal: 1,318; calories consumed: 1,091; calories burned: 0
Net calories: 1,091

Mood: Excited

Things are going really well. I'm now 184.8 and, even though a lot of it is water, I'm psyched by finding the magic bullet. I just hope I can keep it up. Cinco De Mayo is here and it's off to eat Mexican food at lunch. Mexican equals a salt lick. I will try my very best. [edit this diary entry]

Food Item	Servings	Cals	Fat	Cholest	Sodium	Carbs	Sugars	Fiber	Protein
General Mills Cheerios	2.00	206	4g	0mg	372mg	42g	2g	6g	6g
Bi-Rite Sugar	2.00	30	0g	0mg	0mg	8g	8g	0g	0g
Chicken Taco (2) Hard Shell	1.00	410	22g	75mg	329mg	28g	0g	0g	27g
Rojo's 7 Layer Dip	1.00	45	3g	0mg	170mg	4g	1g	0g	1g
KFC Grilled Wing	1.00	70	5g	45mg	180mg	0g	0g	0g	8g
KFC Grilled Breast	1.00	180	7g	105mg	600mg	0g	0g	0g	29g
KFC Sweet Kernel Corn	1.00	110	1g	0mg	0mg	23g	4g	2g	4g
KFC Side Salad (no Dressing)	1.00	15	0g	0mg	10mg	2g	1g	0g	1g
Kraft Ranch Dressing	0.17	25	3g	1mg	49mg	0g	0g	0g	0g
Totals:		1,091	43g	226mg	1,710mg	107g	16g	8g	76g

Still doing well with my salt intake, although I had to "guess" on my tacos. That's all I had with some salsa and just a few of the chips on the table (maybe four).

Oh yeah, baby. I think I found it. Today's weigh? 184.8

Okay. So, I know it's probably water but I am totally psyched! This is really an eye-opener for me and I'm really trying hard. The workouts are continuing and the other aspects of my eating plan are in place. The difference? The salt-lick I so lovingly cleaved to during all my other weight loss attempts. I also know that I'm not delusional. There will be slip-ups and days where the salt will just be there...like today. It's Cinco De Mayo and we're going to a Mexican restaurant for lunch. Let the salt fest begin!

I've already identified the higher salt items and have regaled myself to one of the following items:

1 Beef Tostada 187; 8g; 152mg

2 Chicken Tacos 410; 22g; 330mg

1 Chicken Quesadilla 420; 20g; 570mg

1 Bean and Cheese burrito (not smothered) 413; 21g; 600mg

I'll take a little cheat sheet to place in my purse. I hope my coworkers don't think I'm crazy when I oh, so subtley check the list to see what jives with the menu. Price is also a factor, too. I hate spending $10 on lunch and have been refusing to do so for a while.

Here are yesterday's stats:

May 4th, 2009

Calorie goal: 1,352; calories consumed: 1,355; calories burned: 0
Net calories: 1,355

Mood: Motivated

Worked out to Hooked this morning. Hard to tell what the calorie burn is with these workouts, but I'm guessing around 250-300 calories. I was sweating like crazy (probably from all the water I've been drinking). I drank 88 ounces of water before 5:00pm today. Hopefully that's the trick to keep me from going to the bathroom so much during the middle of the night. [edit this diary entry]

Food Item	Servings	Cals	Fat	Cholest	Sodium	Carbs	Sugars	Fiber	Protein
Cheerios Honey Nut Cereal	2.00	240	3g	0mg	420mg	48g	22g	4g	6g
Slimfast Optima Chocolate Peanut Nougat Snack Bar	1.00	120	4g	5mg	70mg	20g	9g	1g	2g
Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Goldfish	1.00	100	4g	5mg	170mg	14g	0g	2g	2g
Healthy Choice Sweet And Sour Chicken With Rice And Real Fruit Desert	1.00	390	10g	20mg	500mg	61g	20g	5g	13g
Steamed White Rice	1.00	90	0g	0mg	0mg	20g	0g	0g	2g
Cooking Light Roasted Root Vegetables	1.00	175	5g	0mg	267mg	32g	0g	7g	3g
Cheerios Honey Nut Cereal	2.00	240	3g	0mg	420mg	48g	22g	4g	6g
Totals:		1,355	29g	30mg	1,847mg	243g	73g	23g	34g

Hubby is off on an adventure to southern Utah, which means I could focus intently on myself and the girls. I worked very, very hard to watch my salt intake and behold! The results of said watching reaped a 186 on the scale today. I know it's water weight, but still. I'm very hopeful. Was this my magic bullet? Is that why I couldn't lose the standard 2.5 pounds per week like everyone else? It seemed like no matter what I did; calorie cutting, fat cutting, car cutting, protein and workout boosting. Nothing seemed to work. I knew that salt held water and that, this was an issue for me a lot of times. But who knew it was this big! I mean, just cutting it down to 2 grams per day (at most) made a huge difference in how I felt and weighed. I hope this is a jump-off point for me. I really, really want to look nice for vacation season. Here are the stats from the weekend:

May 3rd, 2009

Calorie goal: 1,352; calories consumed: 1,326; calories burned: 0
Net calories: 1,326

Mood: Pleased

The scale is kinder and I hope it continues to be. I went to Little America's breakfast buffet this morning and didn't lose my mind. Not sure about the waffles and their content (I think I picked something close). There were the very tiny Belgian waffles. Not being able to pinpoint their nutritional content, I will make sure to get in my 80 ounces of water today. [edit this diary entry]

Food Item	Servings	Cals	Fat	Cholest	Sodium	Carbs	Sugars	Fiber	Protein
Krusteaz Belgian Waffles	1.00	328	11g	6mg	672mg	51g	7g	1g	7g
2 Scrambled Eggs	1.00	199	15g	400mg	211mg	2g	2g	0g	13g
Buttermilk Biscuit, Homemade	1.00	150	4g	3mg	200mg	21g	1g	0g	1g
Golden Griddle Syrup	2.00	100	0g	0mg	30mg	28g	0g	0g	0g
Decaffinated Coffee 8floz	1.00	9	0g	0mg	2mg	0g	0g	0g	0g
Nestle Coffee-mate Original Single Serve	1.00	15	2g	0mg	0mg	0g	0g	0g	0g
Fiber One Oats & Chocolate	1.00	140	4g	0mg	90mg	29g	10g	9g	2g
Cooking Light Roasted Root Vegetables	1.00	175	5g	0mg	267mg	32g	0g	7g	3g
Steamed White Rice	1.00	90	0g	0mg	0mg	20g	0g	0g	2g
Cheerios Honey Nut Cereal	1.00	120	2g	0mg	210mg	24g	11g	2g	3g
Totals:		1,326	42g	409mg	1,682mg	207g	31g	19g	31g

0 comments | Post a comment

Share your comment with wonderwoman75:

May 2nd, 2009

Calorie goal: 1,352; calories consumed: 1,104; calories burned: 0
Net calories: 1,104

Mood: Good

Worked out in the morning, after taking my daughter to her friend's house. Used the Eliptical trainer and burned about 370 calories. Did well with my salt intake again (I hope that I can continue to). [edit this diary entry]

Food Item	Servings	Cals	Fat	Cholest	Sodium	Carbs	Sugars	Fiber	Protein
Moo Goo Gai Pan	1.00	272	19g	35mg	304mg	12g	0g	3g	15g
Moo Goo Gai Pan	1.00	272	19g	35mg	304mg	12g	0g	3g	15g
Steamed White Rice	1.00	90	0g	0mg	0mg	20g	0g	0g	2g
Steamed White Rice	1.00	90	0g	0mg	0mg	20g	0g	0g	2g
Cheerios Honey Nut Cereal	1.00	120	2g	0mg	210mg	24g	11g	2g	3g
Cheerios Honey Nut Cereal	1.00	120	2g	0mg	210mg	24g	11g	2g	3g
Fiber One Oats & Chocolate	1.00	140	4g	0mg	90mg	29g	10g	9g	2g
Totals:		1,104	45g	70mg	1,118mg	141g	32g	19g	42g

0 comments | Post a comment

Share your comment with wonderwoman75:

May 1st, 2009

Calorie goal: 1,352; calories consumed: 1,104; calories burned: 0
Net calories: 1,104

Mood: Content

I did really well today. I paid particular attention to my salt intake, and that was hard, but I'm sure it will be worth it. I also worked out in the morning for thirty minutes and again in the evening, for thirty minutes. [edit this diary entry]

Food Item	Servings	Cals	Fat	Cholest	Sodium	Carbs	Sugars	Fiber	Protein
Cheerios Honey Nut Cereal	2.00	240	3g	0mg	420mg	48g	22g	4g	6g
Fiber One Oats & Chocolate	1.00	140	4g	0mg	90mg	29g	10g	9g	2g
Healthy Choice Beef Stroganoff, Caramel Apple Crisp, And Vegetable Medley	1.00	300	6g	35mg	480mg	43g	15g	6g	18g
Walmart Rotisserie Chicken	1.00	170	10g	60mg	650mg	0g	0g	0g	20g
Tater Babies	1.00	130	6g	0mg	360mg	19g	1g	2g	2g
Cheerios Honey Nut Cereal	1.00	120	2g	0mg	210mg	24g	11g	2g	3g
Sprite Sprite Zero	1.00	4	0g	0mg	36mg	0g	0g	0g	0g
Totals:		1,104	31g	95mg	2,246mg	163g	59g	23g	51g

So, the other bonus is my 64 to 80 ounces of water per day. That's gotta be helping, too. I will try and work out this afternoon, but I'm not sure if I can (homework and technical support calls to make. Ugh!). We'll see if I can squeeze it in before dinner. Not sure what we're having for dinner, but there's lots of leftover chicken, corn dogs and roasted root veggies. We'll see.

I went through this whole spiel, yesterday about not taking in too much salt... how I need to watch my salt intake and how that was certainly part of the culprit to my weight not moving down. So, what did I do? I inhaled the salt, married the salt. Hell, I think I had babies with the salt. Check out this travesty:

Food Item	Servings	Cals	Fat	Cholest	Sodium	Carbs	Sugars	Fiber	Protein
Smith's Buttertop Wheat Bread	2.00	120	2g	0mg	300mg	24g	4g	2g	0g
Sun Chips Peppercorn Ranch	1.00	210	9g	0mg	240mg	25g	3g	3g	3g
Oscar Mayer Variety-pak (white Turkey)	1.00	60	3g	20mg	500mg	2g	0g	0g	6g
Quaker Instant Oatmeal Cinnamon And Spice	1.00	170	2g	0mg	250mg	35g	15g	3g	4g
Planters Daybreak Blend Trail Mix	1.00	130	5g	0mg	40mg	19g	13g	2g	3g
Snow Crab Legs	4.00	380	5g	236mg	2,288mg	0g	0g	0g	80g
Betty Crocker Mashed Potatoes (roasted Garlic)	1.00	170	7g	0mg	350mg	22g	4g	1g	4g
Recipe Baja Beans	1.00	431	5g	0mg	214mg	86g	5g	13g	0g
Totals:		1,671	38g	256mg	4,182mg	213g	44g	24g	100g

Over 4,000mg! According to the daily plate, that's 174% of the daily value of salt I should be taking in. Granted, I drank nearly 80 ounces of water, but still! I need to be drinking that kind of water with only 1,500 to 2,400 mg of salt per day. How do I do that?

I'm checking a site right now and here is what it says:

"

suggested Foods	Foods To Be Avoided
MILK & DAIRY 2-3 servings each day All milk and milk products except (buttermilk, Cream cheese, Low sodium cheese, Yogurt)	MILK & DAIRY Buttermilk, Cheese , Cheese spreads
FRUIT & VEGETABLES 5-9 servings each day Fresh or frozen vegetables, No added salt or low salt canned vegetables, tomato products, Salt-free vegetable juices, All fruit and fruit juices	FRUIT & VEGETABLES Canned vegetables, Frozen vegetables with seasoning and sauces, Pickle relish, sweet or sour, Pickled Vegetables, Bottled tomato juices, Pickled Fruits
BREADS & GRAINS 6-11 servings each day Bread and rolls, Dry and cooked cereals, Pancakes, waffles, Potatoes, Salt-free (potato chips, pretzels, noodles, spaghetti, macaroni and other pastas, Tortillas, crackers, popcorn)	BREADS & GRAINS Breads and rolls with salted tops, Instant hot cereals, Instant Food Products, Popcorn, Prepackaged Microwave, Salted popcorn,Saltines, potato chips, pretzels, snack chips,
MEATS & MEAT SUBSTITUTES 2-3 servings or total of 6 oz daily All fresh and fresh frozen meats, Canned unsalted tuna fish	MEATS & MEAT SUBSTITUTES Cured, salted, canned or smoked meats, poultry or fish
FATS & SNACKS (use sparingly) Margarine, vegetable oils and lard, Unsalted gravies, unsalted butter, Mayonnaise, sour cream, Salt-free salad dressings, Homemade salad dressings without extra salt, whipping cream, Sugar, honey, jelly, jam, syrup, candies, fruit ice, marshmallows,Homemade cookies, pies	FATS & SNACKS Butter, Commercial salad dressings, Cheese-based dressings, Bacon fat, fatback, salt pork, Instant pudding mixes, Commercially prepared baked goods, Salted nuts

I'll try to use this as a guide today and see how I do. I did buy a frozen meal for lunch today and I was discriminating the sodium amounts for each carefully as I decided on which meals. If I can minimize the salt at breakfast and dinner, I should be okay. I'm going for 80 ounces again of water, if I can. It wasn't as tough as I though it would be (I just love my new water bottle. It's perfect in every way for me...and it's purple!). Here's to a low sodium day.