After my mishap with the potato last night, I decided to take another glance through the Power Foods Favorites recipe book. Although I have two points left tonight, I'm really not hungry - plus I have to get some sleep - however I wanted to post this because it is definitely something I'm going to be trying tomorrow (or Sunday, depending on when I can get my hands on some fat-free whipped topping). I wasn't sure whether to classify this as a snack or a dessert, but I decided to go the dessert route to break up the monotony of ice cream, cookies, and cakes that I'm sure I'll collect over time. My mom has tried this recipe already, sans whipped topping, and says it's just delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 large apple
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp raisins
• 1 tbsp fat-free whipped topping
• pinch ground cinnamon and/or nutmeg

Instructions:

• Core and slice apple; place on a plate.
• Drizzle apple slices with syrup and raisins; cover.
• Microwave until apple is soft, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Spoon (or spray) whipped topping over apples.
• Garnish with cinnamon and/or nutmeg.

Notes:

• Serve warm.
• For different flavors, try replacing the raisins with dried cranberries or cherries.

Servings: 1 serving

WW+ Points: 2 per serving

Recipe Credit: Weight Watchers

I was chatting with my friend at work, Hillary, who is also doing Weight Watchers (she actually went through with the at-work meetings program as opposed to simply doing the online program like I am). Apparently she had been chatting with another girl on her team about Weight Watchers and how it's been going, and mentioned to her that I was doing the program as well, to which she replied, "Oh, really? Yeah, she seems a little thinner."

I wasn't really sure how to respond to this. To Hillary I seemed nothing but grateful and flattered for the compliment, but inside I was crawling with other thoughts. Do I really seem thinner? I've only lost four pounds. Is that really enough weight to change someone's appearance? Four pounds can be lost by upping your water intake over a weekend. Is it really enough to make me look thinner? True, I've been working out now for almost a month, maybe I've toned up a little bit and that's why I seem to look different? But even still, I don't really feel I've done enough yet to warrant any change in my physique.

Then I thought some more. Was it really so hard for me to just accept the compliment and move on? Why did I feel the need to rationalize it? Why were her words so hard to hear as truth? This type of situation makes me wonder if I will always have fat-girl-syndrome. You know: once I finally lose weight, will I still have my old appearance ingrained in my brain because I've had it so long? The bottom line is I'm not losing weight for my health or for any other non-cosmetic reasons. I'm losing weight to look better. And of course feel better, but feeling better will be a direct result of looking better. Sad but true. I'm 25-years-old. I want to be young and sexy. Sad but true. This is all vanity for me. So, with all that being said, if changing my physical appearance is really my only real reason for wanting to lose weight, will I ever even be able to enjoy it once I finally get there? Or will I forever see myself as that little fat girl in the swimming pool?

I was running late for work today, and when I finally got here I noticed a muffin sitting next to my keyboard. Evidently there were some donuts and muffins left over from a charity event we hosted early this morning and my boss snagged me a blueberry muffin in case they were all gone by the time I got in. While I was of course very touched at his thoughtful gesture, my first thought was, "Oh God, there must be at least ten points in this thing." I nonchalantly asked him where they ordered the muffins from, and when Dunkin' Donuts was his reply I quickly went to my computer to look it up. Sure enough - 13 points! That's half my day! No way could I eat this thing. But what could I do? I would feel terrible telling him I didn't want it, and even more terrible if I just threw it out. So, I waited until his next meeting, which fortunately was about ten minutes after our discussion. When he shut the door to his office I quickly grabbed the muffin, headed to the kitchen, and placed the muffin back in the box. I then proceeded to heat up my Jimmy Dean Delights Sandwich and peel my clementine. Six points, and no guilt!

After my muffin triumph I went back to my desk to track my dinner from last night. I cooked for a friend who stayed after dinner to play Wii for a bit, preventing me from tracking until this morning. One by one I added in my meal:

• Weight Watchers Chicken Breast - 3 points
• 1 tbsp Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce - 1 point
• 1 cup baby spinach - 0 points
• ½ cup strawberries, sliced - 0 points
• 1 tbsp low-fat feta cheese - 1 point
• 1 tbsp low-fat raspberry vinaigrette - 1 point

I know I'm not the only one who wakes up in the morning, looks in the mirror, and thinks to myself, "Ugh, I just can't do this. I'll never lose this weight." After so many failed attempts and so many years of being fat, sometimes it just seems too hard. Sometimes I just want to give up. I know I'm not alone.

The next time you feel like you can't do something, the next time you think it's too hard, the next time you want to give up ... watch this:

I ... LOST!? I can't even believe it. And, I mean, I lost a whole pound! True, it's not as much as I'd generally like to see, but for this week!? I'll TOTALLY take it. I think I'm still in a slight state of shock. When I stepped onto the scale I literally closed my eyes and took a deep breath, bracing myself for the travesty that was about to appear before me. When I opened my eyes I was completely expecting to see a number in the 160s. I literally am stunned. Although, I do have to say that even though I was lucky and ended up losing this week, I had a big eye-opener!

I want to lose weight. I want to be thin. I am tired of being the way I am. And I know I can do it. I know I can. I've done it before! Hell, over the course of my life I've probably lost at least 100 pounds, if not more. Clearly I am able to lose weight. I should have no more excuses at this point. I need to focus on what I want and make it happen. Nothing is holding me back on this except myself. Food is not going to rule my life. It's not going to mold who I am. I refuse to let FOOD be something that prevents me from happiness.

I think it's time to set my First Mini Goal. I know it's not really good to put a timeline on weight loss, but it helps me keep focused. New Year's Eve 2011 I was at my lowest adult weight ever: 148/149 pounds. I can't remember the exact number, but I know it was in the upper 140s and I know it made me feel GREAT! Within the first month of 2011 so many things in my life starting going right, for the first time in a very long time. I got a new job which, at the time, seemed to be an awesome opportunity, and the best pay I'd ever gotten. I got cast as Maureen in Rent, one of my all-time dream roles. And I started dating Jesse, a really sexy firefighter with a heart of gold - who I actually met on New Year's Eve. My life finally seemed like it was heading down the right path. Then, everything changed. I guess I got cocky or thought I didn't need to work on my weight any longer. Before I knew it the pounds started to creep back on, and one by one the things I had just gained were suddenly leaving my life. True, none of these things left because of my weight: my job had turned out to be nothing more than a slave-ship and I desperately wanted to fall overboard, the run of Rent simply came to an end, and Jesse and I found that the hour-and-fifteen-minute commute between our houses was simply too difficult. My weight had nothing to do with anything, but I've always looked back on the first few months of 2011 as an incredibly symbolic moment in my life. It started off amazing, with me being at the lowest weight I'd ever been. Everything was going my way and for the first time ever I was actually, 100%, truly happy. Then, when the weight came back, slowly I crept back into my normal state of mind - slightly depressed, always yearning for more.

My First Mini Goal is therefore clear as a bell - Be in the 140s by New Year's Eve 2013.

Today I weighed-in at 158.2, meaning, at minimum, I have to lose 8.3 pounds by December 31. In order to do this, my weigh-ins need to somewhat reflect this:

Dec 05: 156.4
Dec 12: 154.6
Dec 19: 152.7
Dec 26: 150.9

Leaving me a pound to lose between December 26 and December 31. Is this a long shot? Maybe. Maybe I'm reaching just a little bit too high. But the way I see it, it's completely doable. No, it's not an easy goal, but I don't want to just reach for what's easy. If I fall a little short, so be it, but at least I'll know I tried my best. At the end of the day, being off by a pound or two really isn't going to effect how I look, or how I feel. I just know I will have such a good aura around me that night if I can get ready to go out knowing I'm back in the 140s, ready to start a new year! The only way to do that is to really buckle down. No more excuses. No. More. Cheating! I have a lot to do this month! I can't afford to waste any more time.

The last few days I've been debating with myself as to whether or not I want to weigh-in tomorrow. Ever since my slip-up on Saturday I've wrestled with the idea over and over again. I kept telling myself if I were to weigh-in and gain ... again ... that I would fall into a very heavy "give-up" mindset. I would convince myself, although this time it was my fault, that my efforts will never pay off and I may as well just eat whatever I enjoy. I spent a good majority of yesterday pretty sure I was going to opt out of stepping on the scale. I figured what I didn't know couldn't hurt me, and I would simply enter into the new week with the feeling of a new start, putting the past behind me and stepping forward towards better decisions that will help me finally reach my goal. But this morning I woke up - literally and figuratively.

What would being left in the dark do to benefit my situation? The answer is nothing. It would do nothing. It would keep me unaware of the consequences of my actions. It would allow me to pretend that my downfall never happened. It would allow me to hide from the truth, in the blissful ignorance it provides. How would I grow from that? What would I learn? The fact of the matter is, this is not the first time this has happened. It's happened before. Apparently I didn't learn my lesson then. Ignoring my weigh-in would only further prevent me from doing so. I need to step on that scale and hold myself accountable for what I've done. I was the one who decided to eat those donuts. I was the one who got a turkey pita and fries instead of a salad. I was the one who picked at pistachios, and popcorn, and Bagel Bites instead of saying, "No thanks, I'm full." And I was the one who pigged out on Hostess treats. Now, I will be the one who faces that number in the morning.

I know full well this number is not going to be a good one. I wouldn't be surprised if I actually ate myself into a number higher than my starting weight. The progress I've made, though small, might all go to waste. I know this. Realistically I really can't expect any other outcome at this point. To even hope for a loss of any kind is naive and wishful thinking. But I can't keep running from the truth. I can't keep making excuses for myself and shrugging off my mistakes. I want to lose this weight, and keep it off. I'm tired of always having the same wish, the same dream, the same New Year's Resolution. I'm tired of being afraid of going to the beach or to a party. I'm tired of feeling and looking the way I do. I need to change this! Tomorrow I'll step on that scale and I'll look at that number. It may not be the number I want to see, but it will be the number it needs to be. And it will be the number that will carry me into my new week. No excuses. No shrugging. No hiding. From this point on I need to do this right; I need to finish this!

I have always, always, always wanted to try Greek yogurt. Ever since the first day it started popping up in diet and weight loss blogs all over the internet I've been fascinated by the stuff. I'm a big yogurt fan in general, and for whatever reason, trying Greek yogurt has been a huge item on my bucket list. I know what you're thinking: "So, go to the store and pick some up, Sam. It's not a difficult procedure." True, but there were so many questions that still lurked in my brain: brand, flavor, product line. So many options, so many variables, how will I know which one is right for me?

My questions were finally answered the day Yoplait released their Greek 100 line. I wasn't even aware that Yoplait made Greek yogurt in the first place; had I known I probably would have tried it a long time ago. I tend to be slightly reluctant in trying new foods, especially if I'm unfamiliar with the brand. In regards to Greek yogurt, Chobani was the brand I had heard about the most, with Fage coming in at a close second. A short while ago I had heard about Dannon Oikos, and being a big Light-and-Fit fan I was planning on giving it a go. However, I read an article about Yoplait's Greek 100 and knew right away it would be the best fit for me. I am a big fan of Yoplait, and choosing between their regular Greek yogurt and the Greek 100 was easy: 60 less calories, 16 less grams of carbs, and an extra gram of protein to boot (when comparing the key lime flavors)! While visiting my mom for Thanksgiving this past weekend, who is also on Weight Watchers, we decided to finally give it a try!

We picked up three flavors of Greek 100 to try, and to be good sports, we also picked up a few flavors of Chobani to allow for a taste comparison. I found Chobani to be a little tart, and my mom agreed - she was skeptical of trying Greek yogurt at all as she had a bad experience her first time trying it (tart, bitter, etc). However, when we tried the Greek 100 it was like the heavens had opened and angels began to sing.

• Each container is only 2 Points, compared to 4 Points with most other bands.
• Each container is only 100 calories, which is at least 60 calories lower than other brands.
• Each container has at least 10-13 grams of protein per serving.
• The serving size seems huge, an illusion probably due to the thick, creamy consistency.
• The flavors are incredible; you would have NO idea this wasn't regular yogurt.

Currently, Yoplait has six flavors of Greek 100: Black Cherry, Key Lime, Mixed Berry, Peach, Strawberry, and Vanilla. So far I have tried Black Cherry, Key Lime, and Vanilla, and I have a Mixed Berry and a Strawberry sitting in my fridge waiting for their taste test. I've never been a fan of Peach anything, so that one will go untested, at least by me - my mom has agreed to sample this flavor and give me her results. Honestly, at this point I can't tell which flavor I like the best so far. The Black Cherry and Key Lime are packed with flavor, with Black Cherry actually having real pieces of fruit, and the Vanilla was so mild I could see it doubling as a "plain" flavor in recipes.

I am definitely sold! Moving forward, I foresee myself eliminating the purchase of normal yogurts and replacing them solely with this delicious alternative. I'm very happy with this product and am so glad I finally had the courage to try it.

Goodbye Yoplait Light and Dannon Light-and-Fit ... Hello Yoplait Greek 100!

About an hour ago I got back from my trip to Michigan for Thanksgiving, which explains my lack of posts the last few days. As usual I spent most of my time in the mitten with my mom. I was especially looking forward to this during this particular trip because she is also doing Weight Watchers now and it would be a great support system. We knew we wanted to have some freedom with Thanksgiving, but still wanted to keep within our points. Our menu stayed true to the items we normally ate, and consisted of Cornish Hens, mashed cauliflower, a stir-fry of broccoli, mushrooms, and onions, my mom's famous stuffing, and pumpkin bread for dessert. The hens were removed of their skin and had no marinade or coating. The mashed cauliflower was the traditional, on-point recipe. The veggie stir-fry had no sauces or seasonings, other than a little garlic. We lightened up my mom's stuffing by using turkey sausage, cutting the almond and cherry count in half, and, of course, had smaller portion sizes than any other year. The pumpkin bread was removed of its icing, and was the one indulgence of the day. Appetizers consisted of a veggie tray, midget pickles, and deviled eggs (made with light Miracle Whip). Overall, we did pretty well! ... However, Thanksgiving was not my worst day of the weekend.

Yesterday was an awful, terrible day. The day started off fine with a 6-point breakfast including my mom's version of an Egg-McMuffin (whole-wheat sandwich thin, poached egg whites, low fat cheese, and turkey ham) and a banana. However, my first mistake of the day shortly followed. My aunt is a hairstylist and has done my hair my whole life. The perks of this, of course, are endless, however it comes with some downfalls - including open entrance to the kitchen. I stepped back there to grab something to drink, and saw a box of Krispy Kremes sitting on the counter. I knew I shouldn't have stepped over to them, but before I knew it, a glazed creation was making its way down my throat. And then another. Two. Two glazed Krispy Kreme donuts. Well, the day just got worse from there. It's routine that after my aunt does my hair we grab lunch, so we stepped over to the diner directly connected to her salon. If a turkey pita with Swiss wasn't bad enough, I added a side of fries [with ranch] to my plate. After that, I headed over to my dad's house to watch Avatar on his new blu-ray and HD-TV. The movie was accompanied by a bowl of pistachios, buttered popcorn, and pizza Bagel Bites. To top off my day, I spent the rest of the evening with a good friend, who also participates in some of the recreational activities I do. After a quick smoke it was off to the corner store to "pay our respects" to Hostess, by purchasing a catastrophic amount of pastries. I alone ate a honey bun, a package of mini chocolate donuts, four cinnamon sweet rolls, and a random [non-Hostess] carrot cake. Don't even think about what the points for this part of my day alone was, or it will make you cry.

The thing is, I didn't - cry that is. I really didn't even feel bad. I still don't. I'm disappointed in myself for going so far above and beyond what I should have, but I don't necessarily regret my actions. My entire mentality changes when I go to Michigan, it always has. I realized about a year ago why I could never lose weight and keep it off while I was still living there. My mentality while in that state is just terrible. Now, even though I don't live there anymore, whenever I visit it's like I get into "vacation mode." Not only do I not care about what I eat, but I don't even care that I don't care! It's like I feel almost privileged - that anything I consume won't count towards my waste-line - because I'm in Michigan. It's so stupid! But it's constant. It's like a dark cloud that hangs over my head, preventing me from making the right choices even when I know I have no excuse not to.

But, even worse than my being-in-Michigan mentality, is my I-already-messed-up-today mentality. This is something I need, need, NEED to break! It's been a challenge for me with every single diet I've ever attempted, every weight-loss program, every single time. When I mess up, even if just a little bit, I think to myself, "Well, today is already ruined. Might as well enjoy it." And you know what - it's that attitude that's probably kept me fat. Think about it - if I hadn't done that all those times, how much thinner would I be right now? How much more weight would I have already lost? Maybe I'd be done! Or at least close. It's like I'm so prone to self-sabotage I can't see the bigger picture. Yes, eating those Krispy Kremes did ruin my day yesterday, but continuing to eat like that the rest of the day ruined my entire week! Why in God's name did I think it would be a good idea to indulge in that type of behavior? What did I think I was going to accomplish!

The only good thing that came from the weekend (aside from buying a Christmas tree for my apartment) was that I was finally able to try some Greek yogurt, which I'll write about soon. Today I at least was able to control myself a little better than yesterday. I had my mom's Egg McMuffin for breakfast, a turkey breast and black forest ham Subway sandwich for lunch, and some carrots and dip while my mom and I were taking down my Christmas tree (which we put up Friday night to make sure I had enough decorations). During my drive back to the city I actually contemplated picking up some Taco Bell! Yes, I was hungry, but did I really need Taco Bell!? Fortunately the location I found off the freeway didn't have a drive-thru and my laziness forced me to make the good choice to pass on the greasy gordita that was once in my future. Once I got back to my apartment and unpacked everything, my appetite was gone. Plus, I looked back on my behavior the last few days, shook my head, and had no desire to eat anything. Not only did I fall completely off the wagon yesterday, but not a single speck of food was tracked the entire time I was in Michigan - not even on the days I stayed on plan!

I need to get this done. I can't keep making excuses. I can't keep telling myself it's okay to slip up. I can't keep falling apart and losing my grip. If I make a mistake, I need to deal with it! I can't just add more mistakes onto the pile in hopes that my first initial mistake will go unnoticed. I HATE being fat. I hate it! I don't think I've ever hated anything more in my entire life. This constant feeling of being a blob - it got old, long ago. I'm 25 years old! These are supposed to be the best years of my life! I'm supposed to be going out and living it up in the city and meeting people and enjoying my youth - not hiding in my apartment wishing I had lost weight in high school. If I keep this up, I'll be hiding in my apartment wishing I had lost weight in my 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s. My mom has yo-yo dieted her entire life. I don't want to do that! I don't want my weight to be a burden anymore. I don't want every New Year's resolution to be to lose 10, 20, 30 pounds. Enough is enough! I need to break down this crappy mentality, once and for freaking all!

1. Orange Cranberry Glazed Turkey Breast - 6 Points

Day five in my 7 Days of Thanksgiving! The final day of our Thanksgiving feast countdown, and that can only mean one thing: dessert. And what dessert accompanies Thanksgiving? Pumpkin pie. Now, I've never been the biggest fan of pumpkin pie. To be fair, I really haven't given it a fair chance I suppose. It smells good, and so does any candle that resembles it, however I've just never given the taste the proper try. Maybe it's because it's made out of a gourd. That's always creeped me out a little bit, hahaa. But I know everyone else in the known galaxy likes it, and adds it to their Thanksgiving spread. I've pulled a recipe from one of my favorite recipe sites that I've been familiar with for quite some time. Even without trying the recipe myself I can guarantee it will be amazing! And, as an added bonus, you can prepare the pie two ways - with and without crust. Omitting the crust makes this delicious dessert points free!

Ingredients:

CRUST:

• ⅔ cup oat flour (1 cup oats ground into a flour in a food processor)
• ½ cup almond flour (almonds ground into a flour in a food processor)
• ⅛ tsp salt
• ½ cup sugar substitute
• 2 tbs unsweetened applesauce
• 1 egg
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• Non-stick cooking spray

FILLING:

• 1 cup pumpkin
• ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
• 5 egg whites
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 cup sugar substitute
• ⅛ tsp salt

Instructions:

CRUST:

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
• In a small bowl, combine the wet ingredients.
• Combine the wet and dry ingredients and stir.
• Spray an 8 inch pie dish with cooking spray.
• Press crust mixture into pie dish using hands to distribute evenly.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and set aside, (leave oven on).

FILLING:

• Blend or whisk-by-hand all ingredients until filling is smooth and well-combined.

CRUSTLESS PIES ( POINTS):

• Line a 12 cup muffin tin with liners (silicone or foil work best) and spray with cooking spray.
• Divide filling evenly among muffin tins.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until slightly firm to the touch.
• Let cool and serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

PIE WITH CRUST ( POINTS):

• Pour filling into pie crust and bake for 55-60 minutes or until slightly firm to the touch.
• Let cool and serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes:

• Serve with a dollop of Cool Whip Lite.
• To make a gingersnap crust, add 2 tsp ground ginger to the crust mixture.
• Makes 12 crustless pies or 8 slices of pie with crust.

Servings: 12/8 servings

WW+ Points: 0/3 per serving

Recipe Credit: Dashing Dish

The picture says it all. I gained .4 pounds. Not terrible, I suppose, but not the greatest. I think the hardest part of losing weight is when you see a gain on the scale. It's devastating, especially during a week like this. I didn't cheat. At all. I did everything I was supposed to. I even made sure I worked out every single [work] day - even Monday! I couldn't participate in my usual morning work out as I wanted to follow up on a few things with my boss, so I was planning on going after work. When the time came, I really didn't want to. But I went anyway! It tastes kind of bitter now knowing that it was all in vain. Am I happy I went, yeah, sure, but I want the results too. I will never be one of those people who enjoy going to the gym simply to be healthy and to get that "after-work-out" rush; I want a tight butt, toned arms, and washboard abs from my work out regimen.

True, .4 pounds is not the end of the world. It's just frustrating because I didn't do anything to warrant it. If I had cheated or even missed a work out or two, then okay, it was my fault. But whose fault is this? My Weight Watchers app tried to make me feel better by sending me this little message after I logged my weigh-in:

So, you gained a little bit this week.

Gaining is a normal part of the process and can happen for a lot of reasons. Look back at this week and see what you might be able to change; then let go of what you can't.

The best thing to do is focus on making this coming week a success.

Well, that's very nice Weight Watchers app, but it's still hard to not feel a little down about the whole thing, especially since there isn't anything for me to change. But, the only thing I can do at this point is move forward. Hopefully this week was a fluke and any gains from here on out will be at my own hand. Little gains like this without any sort of reason, in any sort of a reoccurring pattern, will absolutely make me lose faith that I can do this.

And I know I can. I have to!

Day six in my 7 Days of Thanksgiving! No holiday meal, or meal in general, would be complete without a salad, at least in my opinion. I am definitely the type who tends to have salads as a main course, and usually when I make salads they end up being pretty basic: lettuce, carrots, cheese, dressing. However, I recently discovered my love for baby spinach. I am not a fan of spinach cooked, unless there is a tiny amount in an omelet, but while on a date recently I was served a salad similar to the one below. It's probably not a new creation to most people, but to me it was and I was pleasantly surprised (by the flavors and also the culinary mastery of my date). I made a few changes to omit some points, including eliminating the feta cheese he had added, but the dish still retains the fruity freshness of the original version. This would also be a nice salad to serve at Christmastime, with the beautiful and vibrant reds and greens!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh baby spinach
• 8 strawberries, sliced
• ¼ cup sliced almonds
• 4 tbsp fat free strawberry or raspberry vinaigrette
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

• Combine spinach, strawberries, and almonds in a large mixing bowl.
• Top with black pepper.
• Drizzle the vinaigrette on top or serve on the side.

Notes:

• To add a little extra kick, try adding 2 oz feta or goat cheese (2 additional points per serving).

Servings: 2 servings

WW+ Points: 3 per serving

Recipe Credit: My Recipe

Yesterday was the first day back at work since the real Weight Watchers program at my office started. Even though I'm not doing the office program, a friend of mine from work still is, so I wanted to check in with her. I sent her an e-mail asking how her weekend was, food-wise of course. This was [part of] her response: "My weekend did not go well with the Weight Watchers. I had a friend in town and we were going out to dinner and stuff and I drank a bit. I haven’t really tried to do it since last Thursday. I’m not very good at it. I don’t like being told what to do and I think I’m getting pissed off by the idea that I can’t just eat whatever I want."

When I first read her remarks I instantly was reminded of myself, in all of the previous diets I'd ever tried. I hated being told what I could and couldn't eat. I hated being told that my current perception of food was wrong - that I didn't know how to eat properly. I remember thinking that I knew better; I knew how to eat right, I knew what foods were good and what foods were bad, I knew all of this; how dare they tell my differently! But knowing and doing are two completely separate things. I may have known better, but I definitely wasn't putting that knowledge into action. "... I’m getting pissed off by the idea that I can’t just eat whatever I want." Well, no, you can't eat whatever you want. I mean, sitting down with a bag of chips instead of carrot sticks or a chocolate cake instead of a fruit salad - these are the things that got you fat. These are the reasons you need to lose weight. So, no - you can't eat whatever you want.

But then I thought again...

The truth is, we really can eat whatever we want. No one is “telling [us] what to do” – it’s all up to us what we choose to eat and what we choose not to eat. What the program teaches is that you need to hold yourself accountable for the things you do decide to eat. Yesterday during a meeting at work, one of the managers on my boss's team brought a jar of candy with him (as he always does - moral boost probably). I sat there during the entire meeting convincing myself not to eat a piece. The truth was I had enough points for it - I had my normal breakfast but my lunch was about two or three points lighter, so in all actuality that piece of candy would just fill in those missing points. But I told myself,  “No, you can't eat any - you can have two brownies tonight instead of just one if you don't.” By the end of the meeting, however, a little Heath bar was just calling my name. So, I ate it. Should I have eaten it? No. Did I need it? No. But did I eat it? Yes. The Heath bar turned out to be two points, which is what my extra brownie would have been. I didn't feel guilty about eating the candy, I simply told myself that later on that night I could only have the one brownie for dessert. No big deal. But that's the point I'm trying to make I guess - I shouldn't have eaten the candy, but I did and so I made the changes I needed to make to allow for it in my day.

I think that's what I'm starting to realize. No one is telling me what to eat. This is the first program I've ever been on in my entire life where I can literally eat whatever I want. Certain diets of mine in the past cut out processed foods, or sweets, or fruit even! But with Weight Watchers, you literally can eat whatever you want. But ... you don't want to eat those things anymore.

I think that's why my outlook is completely different this time around. I'm ready to start changing the way I think about food. There have been some days where I've indulged, sure, and there will always be those days. It's called living. But that's what your Weekly Points are for - they are for living. Weight Watchers is teaching me to hold myself accountable for my relationship with food. If I eat a few extra points midday, then I cut those points out of my dinner. If I go out to a restaurant and have a few glasses of wine, causing me to dig into my Weekly Points, then I need to make sure I'm on track the rest of the week. The whole idea is that overtime you won't want to eat the things you shouldn't, so you can have more of the things you should.

So, is someone telling me what to eat? Sure. But I can still eat whatever I want. The bottom line is: the things I want to eat are starting to change. I'll always want to choose cheesecake instead of light sorbet. I'll always want to pick up McDonald's fries instead of going home and making a salad. As a [soon-to-be] former-fat kid, those desires will never really go away. But what the program is teaching me is that it's okay to want those things. And it's okay to have them from time to time. Just as long as you are staying on track in the bigger picture. This is definitely the first diet I've been on where I don't feel like it's a diet. It's not fast. It's not a quick fix. It's not a magic formula. It's real food, real planning, real decisions. It's like boot camp! It's training me on how to win the battle of the bulge. And, so far at least, I think it's doing a pretty good job!

Day five in my 7 Days of Thanksgiving! Green beans have never really been my thing. Beans in general for that matter. Not every year, but most years my family does partake in the typical green bean casserole dish, and although I usually opted out of the dish I always wondered if the taste could possibly be worth the amount of calories that accompany it. Although, I must confess, I usually snagged some of those fried onions! In any event, I wanted to find a green bean dish that was not only a lot healthier than traditional green bean casserole, but would also be something I would venture to try. Almonds are one of my favorite foods of all time, so my attention was immediately caught by the dish below. The dish itself is simple, fresh, and only 2 points per serving: a guaranteed win for any green bean fan!

Ingredients:

• ½ cup almonds, slivered
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 cups green snap beans, uncooked, fresh, trimmed, or thawed (if frozen)
• ½ cup canned chicken or vegetable broth
• ½ tsp table salt, or to taste
• ¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste

Instructions:

• Place almonds in a large dry skillet and place pan over medium heat.
• Cook until nuts are golden brown, shaking pan frequently, about 2 to 4 minutes.
• Remove nuts from pan; set aside.
• Heat oil in same skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add garlic and cook, stirring 1 minute.
• Add string beans and sauté 1 minute.
• Add broth to pan; cover and steam until string beans are crisp-tender, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper; stir to coat.
• Remove from heat; stir in toasted almonds.

Notes:

• Yields about 8 ¾ cup servings.

Servings: 8 servings

WW+ Points: 2 per serving

Recipe Credit: Weight Watchers

Day four in my 7 Days of Thanksgiving! Stuffing is always a must for any Thanksgiving meal. However, most people do not spend the time to make their own. Store-bought stuffings have incredibly high sodium content, not to mention terribly high calorie and fat counts. However, my mom makes a home-made stuffing that is really fantastic, so usually I will have at least a spoonful. I've never really taken the time to break down the nutrition of the dish, maybe I will this year, but I did know I wanted the stuffing recipe I chose for this post to have a similarity to my mom's recipe. She uses dried cherries in her stuffing - this is potentially a common ingredient, and for some reason the tangy, fruity flavor compliments the rest of the mixture so well. I knew I wanted my recipe to have some kind of fruit in it, so when I found the recipe below I was very intrigued. Pears aren't something I would have normally thought to be a good addition to stuffing, but this sounds really delicious!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cubed sourdough bread (about 6 oz / 3-6 slices)
• 2 Jennie-O Lean Sweet Italian Turkey Sausages
• 2.5 cups chopped onion (about 1 pounds)
• 1 cup Bartlett pear, peeled and cubed (about 1 medium)
• 1 cup celery, chopped
• ¾ cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• ½ cup carrot, chopped
• ½ cup mushrooms, sliced
• ¾ tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tsp fresh tarragon, chopped
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• Non-stick cooking spray

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 425°.
• Arrange bread in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Bake at 425° for 9 minutes or until golden; place in a large bowl.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; coat pan with cooking spray.
• Break sausage into chunks and add to skillet.
• Cook for 8 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble.
• Add sausage to bread cubes, tossing to combine; set aside.
• Return pan to medium-high heat, and add onion, celery, and carrot.
• Sauté 10 minutes or until onion begins to brown.
• Stir in mushrooms; cook about 4 minutes.
• Stir in pear, basil, tarragon, and salt.
• Cook 4 minutes or until pear begins to soften, stirring occasionally.
• Add pear mixture to bread mixture, tossing gently to combine.
• Stir in broth and pepper.
• Place bread mixture in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray; cover with foil.
• Bake at 425° for 20 minutes.
• Uncover; bake stuffing an additional 15 minutes or until top of stuffing is crisp.

Notes:

• Makes about 6 ¾ cup servings.

Servings: 6 servings

WW+ Points: 3 per serving

Original Recipe: Cooking Light

Day three in my 7 Days of Thanksgiving! Like most people, I grew up always having cranberry sauce as a component of my Thanksgiving feasts, however at the end of every meal only a few spoonfuls were ever missing, usually eaten by my grandparents. I, too, am guilty of neglecting this berry dish, mainly because of the overpowering tartness of store-bought sauce. I decided I would research and find a recipe that sounded sweet and delicious, and being that cranberries are the main ingredient I wanted to stick to a recipe that would yield zero points. However, I couldn't find any one recipe that featured all of the flavors I was hoping to capture. So, I plucked bits and pieces of different recipes and plugged them all together into one that seemed fresh, light, and perfectly suited for a holiday spread. Instead of cooking the cranberries in water (as most recipes suggested) I decided to use orange juice instead, which adds orange undertones to the final product to accompany the orange zest. Wanting to add some additional sweetness without using any more sugar or sugar-substitutes, I threw in some diced apples and I also decided to add in some spices to give the recipe a little more depth and inch the dish closer to the taste of a dessert.

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups (12 ounces) cranberries, fresh or frozen
• 1 cup Minute Maid Light Orange Juice
• 1 cup Splenda or other zero-calorie sweetener
• 1 diced apple
• 2 tbsp orange zest, divided
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground allspice
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions:

• Combine the orange juice and Splenda in a medium saucepan over high heat.
• Stir until Splenda is dissolved.
• When the liquid comes to a boil, add the cranberries and return to boil.
• Add in diced apples.
• Reduce to a simmer until cranberries burst and sauce begins to thicken, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in 1½ tbsp orange zest, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg while the mixture cools.
• Top off with a garnish of the remaining ½ tbsp orange zest and serve warm.

Notes:

• Make sure you leave a tiny amount of whole cranberries that do not break down.
• When using orange juice, the points value is still 0 per serving, but 1 point for the entire recipe.
• Makes about 2 cups of cranberry sauce; 8 ¼ cup servings.

Servings: 8 servings

WW+ Points: 0 per serving

Recipe Credit: My Recipe

On the morning of November 16, I went to work like any other day. I checked my email, listened to my voice mail, finished up a couple quick tasks, while eating my breakfast, then headed off to the gym for my morning work out - as has been my typical work-week routine. During my work out I was texting a good friend of mine from back in Michigan. We were messing with each other, as we tend to do for comedic flair, and as I finished up my work out I was in a pretty good mood. I went into the locker room and took a nice, steamy shower. It was definitely the start of a great day. But when I got out of the shower, things took a turn for the worse. I reached for my phone and saw another text from my friend, and my heart immediately sank in my chest: "Hostess is going out of business."

Obviously the above is a joke. No, my heart did not sink into my chest, but I'm not going to lie - I was a little bummed. Remember the night I stuffed my face with Hostess products? This was not the first night I had engaged in such behavior, and usually my munchies of choice were Hostess baked goods. True, I don't need to be doing that anymore - it's almost as if the universe knew I was really serious about getting the rest of this weight off finally and decided to throw me a bone - but at the same time, I did enjoy occasionally indulging in their treats. Odds are most of their more popular foods (like Twinkies) will be auctioned off and reproduced by other companies, but it just won't be the same. In any event, I started thinking.

The entire country is painfully aware of our obesity epidemic. Every year the number of deaths and fatal-illnesses contracted in relation to obesity rises. And yet, it seems like we just don't care. Take for example this situation with Hostess. Even though some of the food items have knock off versions from other manufacturers, it still stands to reason that if a company this large goes out of business it would lower the amount of junk food available for purchase on store shelves. However, instead of having one less junk-food-manufacturing company, huge auctions will be held to ensure these tasty treats are still made. Doesn't this seem a litte ... well ... contradictory?

I'll explain. Some areas of the country believe that alcohol is dangerous, so there are dry counties in several states. Some areas of the country believe that marijuana is dangerous, so most states (and the nation as a whole) consider it illegal. Some areas of the country believe that guns are dangerous, so they put limitations on who can own a gun in their personal home. But, at the same time, anything if put in the hands of the wrong person can be considered just as dangerous, if not more so, than the items listed above. Now, I have had my fair share of drinks and I smoke pot from time to time, and although I've never shot a gun I know I would be just as responsible with it as I am with the other items. And I know a lot of people all around the country are the same way I am. However, because some people abuse these items, there are laws and limitations that prevent them from being public domain. So, why not put these limitations on junk food? Think about it - to one person alcohol is much more damaging than a Twinkie, but to another person the roles could be entirely reversed and a Twinkie could be lethal. Just because the death is slower does not mean that Twinkie isn't causing damage.

I guess I could go on and on - tying in the hypocrisies of our government and the over-abuse of power - but that's all a different story. My point is this - if our country was so concerned with the obesity problems we face, we would make some changes. But we don't. Why? I don't know. I don't know why a child can't have a glass of wine at a restaurant during dinner with their parents, but they can walk into a convenience store and buy bags and bags full of sweets, that essentially cause much more damage than the wine. I don't know why one potentially-abused substance is considered more dangerous than another. I don't know why we as a nation continue to manufacture the foods that keep killing us! "Well, junk foods aren't killing everyone." Then again, neither is alcohol, or marijuana, or guns, or anything else we've deemed as harmful. So, why ban one and not the other? Why look away from something that's causing harm - especially on a group as large as obese Americans! If you ask me, junk food kills more people each year than alcohol and drugs combined! Yet one is legal, and one is not.

Just food for thought, pun intended!

Day two in my 7 Days of Thanksgiving! I am a huge mashed potato fan and in many of my previous diets I was unable to eat them. I stumbled upon a recipe for mashed cauliflower one day and tried it out. I do like cauliflower but was incredibly skeptical as to whether or not this low-carb vegetable would even compare to the hearty spuds I had loved for so long. I had to revamp the recipe a little bit, taking tips from various sources, but overtime I found a recipe that was perfect, and it's become one of my favorite dishes! Do they taste like potatoes? No. But the consistency is close, and the taste is just great, potato-like or not. Try them, if you haven't already. You won't regret it!

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups cauliflower
• 2 wedges Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ tablespoon diced green onion
• ½ tablespoon butter or margarine, optional

Instructions:

• Steam the cauliflower until tender.
• Add in Laughing Cow cheese and black pepper, while cauliflower is still hot.
• Mash mixture with a fork or blend in a blender until desired consistency.
• Top with green onions and optional butter/margarine.

Notes:

• For a different twist on the original recipe, try one of Laughing Cow's other flavors.

Servings: 1 serving

WW+ Points: 2 per serving

Recipe Credit: My Recipe

While researching my last blog post, I found an article about the best foods to eat after a morning work out. Being that I have now gotten into the habit of working out in the mornings (especially after the findings of my last post) I thought it would be a good idea to take a look. Some of the meals below may need a bit of tweaking if you are following Weight Watchers, however the concept of each meal is great. The next time you finish up a morning workout and feel the need to fuel up, try one of these delicious meal ideas.

Banana Smoothie

• 6 oz plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tbsp PB2
• ½ banana
• ice

Greek yogurt will give your muscles the protein fix they need; it contains double the protein of regular yogurt and is much lower in sugar, so it won’t give you an unnecessary sugar spike and crash later in the morning. PB2 offers additional protein in a powder form, which many experts say combines with liquids to kick-start muscle synthesis faster than food alone. Throw in ½ a banana for a healthy complex carbohydrate.

Nutritional Information: 200 calories, 1.5g fat, 0g saturated fat, 22g protein, 21g carbs, 2g fiber
Weight Watchers Points: 5 Points

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Grilled Chicken Pita

• Whole wheat pita
• ½ medium grilled chicken breast
• 1 oz feta cheese
• 2 slices tomato

This tasty Mediterranean-inspired post-workout mini-meal will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to help your muscles rebuild and recover. Half a medium grilled chicken breast provides approximately 30 grams of protein. Combine that with the energy-replenishing whole grain carbs found in the pita and you've got a post-workout winner. Added bonus: feta cheese is particularly rich in conjugated linoleic acid which is a fatty acid and antioxidant that may aid in abdominal fat loss.

Nutritional Information: 340 calories, 10g fat, 4g saturated fat, 35g protein, 27g carbs, 4g fiber
Weight Watchers Points: 8 Points

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Turkey Jerky & Orange

• 1 oz turkey jerky
• 1 large orange

On the go post-workout? One ounce of turkey jerky provides 15 grams of muscle-rebuilding protein. The amino acids in protein are necessary to rebuild muscle tissue post-workout. Why jerky over a quick protein bar? Jerky gives you the protein you need without the added sugars and fat found in many protein bars. Combine tasty jerky with an orange loaded in potassium to replace electrolytes lost during exercise and fuel your next workout.

Nutritional Information:185 calories, 0.5g fat, 0g saturated fat, 17g protein, 28g carbs, 3g fiber
Weight Watchers Points: 4 Points

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Quick and Easy Chili

• ½ cup 90% lean ground turkey
• ½ cup black beans
• ½ can seasoned tomato sauce
• ⅛ tsp salt-free chili powder

Who says post-workout meals can't pack some serious heat? Chili is a complete and balanced mini-meal that you can enjoy soon after exercising. Choose lean or extra lean ground turkey for an excellent source of protein that curbs your hunger without loading you down with fat. Black beans provide carbs to refill your energy stores, and fiber that will help you stay full post workout.

Nutritional Information: 340 calories, 2.5g fat, 0g saturated fat, 35g protein, 32g carbs, 8g fiber
Weight Watchers Points: 7 Points

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Turkey and Cheese Roll-Up with Pineapple

• 3 oz deli turkey
• 1 oz low-fat cheese
• ½ cup pineapple chunks

Turkey and low-fat cheese roll-ups provide necessary post-workout protein with an added bonus for muscles: calcium. This essential mineral may be best known for its role in building and maintaining healthy bones, but it also contributes to muscular functioning and circulation which may help improve overall athleticism. Pineapple not only has energy-boosting carbs, but also contains bromelin, a natural anti-inflammatory compound, which may reduce post-workout pain.

Nutritional Information: 210 calories, 4.5g fat, 2g saturated fat, 25g protein, 24.5g carbs, 2.5g fiber
Weight Watchers Points: 6 Points

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Tuna Salad Sandwich

• 1 slice high fiber whole wheat bread
• 3 oz tuna
• 1 tsp mustard
• lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste

Tuna, a protein powerhouse, is low in fat (when canned in water, rather than oil) and provides heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s may also boost metabolism - yet another reason to grab a can of tuna post workout. Skip the mayo and try using a dollop of Greek yogurt or a combo of lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper to keep it nice and lean. Pair your tuna with a piece of toasted, high-fiber whole wheat bread or crackers for an energy-boosting crunch.

Nutritional Information: 200 calories, 2g fat, 0g saturated fat, 26g protein, 20g carbs, 6g fiber
Weight Watchers Points: 5 Points

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Egg White Burrito

• 3 egg whites
• 1 egg
• 1 cup raw spinach
• 1 small whole wheat tortilla

When it comes to post-workout protein, eggs are an excellent choice. That's because egg protein is high in biological value, which means that the protein found in eggs is ready to be utilized by the body and most efficiently used for growth. Load up your eggs with spinach for added vitamins and nutrients and tuck this delicious scramble into a whole wheat tortilla for a post-workout meal that will make your muscles pop.

Nutritional Information: 200 calories, 5g fat, 0g saturated fat, 24g protein, 18g carbs, 12g fiber
Weight Watchers Points: 4 Points

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Chocolate Milk and Almonds

• 1 cup 1% chocolate milk
• 1 oz. almonds

A recent study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism notes that chocolate milk can be an optimal post-exercise recovery aid. Chocolate milk not only provides an ideal combination of carbohydrates and protein (which your body craves post workout)but it has a high water content, which helps prevent dehydration from fluids lost during exercise. Paired with a serving of crunchy and satiating almonds, you'll almost feel as if you're eating dessert (minus the guilt).

Nutritional Information: 320 calories, 16g fat, 2.5g saturated fat, 15g protein, 30g carbs, 5g fiber
Weight Watchers Points: 6 Points

I have been making it a point to work out every morning during the work week. I've ingeniously come up with a plan that will force me to go, even on days when I really, really don't want to. What have I been doing? Not showering before going to work. Yepp, that's right! I simply roll out of bed, pack up some clean workout clothes, throw my hair in a messy bun, and run out the door to catch the train. When I get to my office I check my voicemail and email, just to make sure there isn't anything urgent (and to give me time to eat a little something), then I hustle down to the fifth floor. My reward for making sure I get to the gym each day is to be fresh and clean at work. So far it's worked like a charm!

Not only do I feel fresh and clean for the rest of the work day, but I also feel really good in general. My workout is done, it's out of the way, I don't have to worry about doing it again until the next morning. I feel accomplished and proud of myself for sticking to it, and that good feeling lasts all day long - instead of only a few hours before bed as it would if I were to workout after work. I mentioned this newly found satisfaction to my mom and she explained it's actually better for you to work out in the morning because it boosts your metabolism for the rest of the day. This got me thinking: what other benefits are there of working out in the morning?

#01 - BURNS FAT INSTEAD OF CARBS

Scientific research, including studies at Harvard University, has shown that carbohydrate reserves in the body are nearly empty in the morning. Therefore, morning activity forces the body to take the necessary energy from stored fat reserves instead. In other words, in regards to weight loss especially, morning work outs will actually yield better results over time than evening work outs, using stored fat as opposed to carbohydrates for that morning fuel.

#02 - UPS YOUR METABOLISM ALL DAY

My mom was right! After a work out, your metabolism gets a jump start. Working out in the morning allows you to take advantage of this all day long. People who workout in the morning typically burn fat throughout the day without any additional effort. Even a short workout in the morning will boost your metabolism and circulation, burning unwanted fat and up to 25% more calories than if you had worked out later in the day.

#03 - REGULATES YOUR APPETITE

Many people have reported that working out in the morning makes them feel less hungry throughout the day, allowing them to make better food choices during meal times and limit their desire to snack. Subconsciously you are in a "healthy mindset," and therefore your suppressed appetite makes you less likely to sabotage yourself with unhealthy or overindulgent food options.

#04 - YOUR BODY WILL BEGIN TO GET PREPARED

If you exercise at about the same time each day, and ideally wake up about the same time each day, your endocrine system and circadian rhythms will begin to adjust. In other words, during the time before you begin waking, your body will recognize that you are about to wake up and shortly after will be working out. Your body will prepare itself for this by elevating your metabolism and all of the hormones associated with exercise and general activity, making it to be easier for you to wake up and feel more alert and energized. In addition, your blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to muscles, etc., will be regulated prior to your work out.

#05 - BRAIN & ENERGY BOOST

Many studies have shown that exercise increases mental activity, on average lasting four to ten hours after your work out is over, leaving you feeling more alert and focused throughout the day. Exercise also gets your heart pumping and increases blood flow to the brain, causing your body to take in more oxygen. This additional oxygen gives your body an extra boost, leaving you feeling energetic long after your work out is over.

#06 - IMPROVES YOUR MOOD

Everyone knows that exercise makes you feel better. Your body produces “feel good” hormones called endorphins when you workout which relieve stress and make you feel more confident. These hormones help you be more productive, make better decisions, and feel more creative and less stressed throughout the day. Hormones aside, you will feel a sense of accomplishment that will carry with you all day, improving your overall mood and outlook.

#07 - ELIMINATES "THINGS COMING UP"

As the minutes of your busy day tick by, more and more things come up that could potentially prevent you from getting to the gym. Getting your work out done and over with first thing in the morning is the only way to guarantee something else won't knock it off your daily to-do list.

#08 - FREES UP YOUR EVENINGS

A no brainer, but still worth mentioning. When you work out in the morning you are borrowing the time from sleep (usually), instead of social events, time with your family, relaxing with a good book, etc. Getting your exercise out of the way allows you to use your evenings for things that are much more entertaining and meaningful.

#09 - BETTER ZZZs

A study published in the scientific journal Sleep showed that individuals who began a regular morning exercise routine slept better than those who exercised regularly in the evening. Exercise stimulates your body, as mentioned before, and leaves you feeling alert and energetic. Evening workouts make it very difficult for your brain to "turn off" and your body to drift into restful sleep. Therefore, working out in the morning assures that you will have spent this extra energy throughout your day, allowing you to fall asleep much easier at night.

#10 - CONSISTENCY

This is my number one motivator! Researchers have shown that 75% percent of people who exercise in the morning, and in some cases 90% of people, stick to a consistent work out routine, as opposed to 25% of people who exercisers in the evening.

Thanksgiving is probably the worst holiday for people on a diet. It almost demands that we engorge ourselves to the point of exploding, simply for the pure fact that there are traditional foods we are supposed to eat: turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie. The average Thanksgiving meal is 85 Weight Watchers Points ... that's insane, and yet, completely believable.

I've decided to post healthy alternatives to some traditional holiday dishes, one recipe each day for the next seven days until Thanksgiving. Even though these meals are healthy options, make sure you pay close attention to the points. Most likely you won't be able to consume each dish and still stay within your daily points. So, without further adieu, here is day one. The most important dish. Turkey!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1 ½ tsp ginger root, fresh or minced
• ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup cranberry juice cocktail, divided
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ cup orange marmalade
• 2 pounds uncooked boneless, skinless turkey breast
• 1 tsp table salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ cup fresh orange juice, divided

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• In a small saucepan, combine cranberries, ginger, sugar and 1/4 cup cranberry juice
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes; remove from heat.
• Add mustard and marmalade; stir to combine. Set aside.
• Rub turkey all over with salt and pepper.
• Place in a roasting pan top-side down (the side where the skin would have been).
• Spread half of cranberry sauce over turkey.
• Pour ¼ cup orange juice and 2 tablespoons cranberry juice around turkey in bottom of pan.
• Roast, uncovered, basting once, for 25 minutes.
• Flip turkey and spread with remaining cranberry sauce.
• Pour remaining orange juice and cranberry juice in bottom of pan.
• Roast until turkey is cooked through and sauce has thickened, about 20 minutes.*
• Remove turkey; loosely cover with aluminum foil and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, scrape sauce out of bottom of pan; place in a serving bowl.
• Slice turkey and serve with sauce spooned over top.

Notes:

• Yields about 3 ounces turkey and 1 tablespoon sauce per serving.
• * Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat, minimum of 165°F.

Servings: 8 servings

WW+ Points: 6 per serving

Recipe Credit: Weight Watchers

Down 3.4 pounds! In the past I've done a lot of rapid-weight-loss diets, and my first real week on each program I usually lost five or more pounds, so I was expecting to be disappointed with whatever today's number was - but actually, I feel really good about that number. Maybe it's because that number was all me; just me and my hard work. Me making the right food choices. Me getting my butt to the gym. Me making changes for me! In the past, in all honesty, the diets deserved all of the credit. They told me what to eat, and how much to eat, and when to eat, and even sometimes how to eat. And in most cases I wasn't required to work out, so I didn't. Any losses were a direct result of the science behind the diet, not a result in any way of my efforts. True, 3.4 pounds is less than five pounds, but it's 3.4 pounds - 3.4 pounds for which I worked very hard, and I'm going to enjoy both of them!

I'm doing my best not to set any goals for myself in terms of a time frame, but in the back of my mind I really want to be at my goal by the time bathing suit season hits: so, I'd say around mid-April. That gives me 24 weeks to lose 33(.8) pounds, which works out to be a little less than a pound and a half a week. That's completely doable! And so far, I'm ahead of schedule! I'm not going to make trackers this time, or hold myself to a rigid minimum standard - but as long as I'm averaging a pound and a half a week I will be happy. Sure, some weeks I'll only lose one, maybe only a half, but then other weeks, like this week, I'll lose two or more. As long as I average a pound and a half a week I know I'll keep in good spirits.

I stummbled upon a weekly meme at All the Weigh called Friend Makin' Monday. Most likely I won't participate usually, but since this particular week invloved something food-related, I figured I would take a stab at it. So ... *drum roll please*

1. List a few common items that can always be found in your fridge.
Apples, cheese, salad mix, yogurt, strawberries, carrots, wheat bread, and water.

2. What kind of milk do you drink?
Fat free skim. I don't drink milk really, but this is the kind of milk I buy (cereal, cooking, etc.).

3. Do you prefer fresh or frozen vegetables?
Fresh. Mostly because it costs a lot less. I'm not opposed to frozen, but I would never buy canned!

4. What do you currently have to drink in the fridge?
Bottle water, water via my Brita, Diet Pepsi, and Pinot Grigio.

5. How often do you clean out your refrigerator?
I clean out as I go, I suppose. Being that it's just me it tends to stay neat and fresh.

6. What’s the healthiest thing in it right now?
Whole grain breads, lean protiens, fruits, and vegetables. 

7. What’s the most unhealthy thing in it right now?
The wine, and I have some Weight Watchers Ice Creams in the freezer.

8. What do you wish you had in it that you don’t have now?
I went grocery shopping over the weekend so it's pretty well stocked - but I only have one apple left!

9. How often do you shop for groceries?
A few times a week at the farmer's market for essentials, and once a week at Jewel for extras.

10. What’s the weirdest thing in your fridge right now?
Cat nip. It's supposed to stay fresh longer chilled, so it's in my butter tray (since I don't use butter).

Bonus: If you could make something calorie-free to put in your fridge, what would it be?
Cheesecake. Hands down.

I've never been one to have strong food cravings. I know a lot of people who randomly yearn for something sweet, something salty, something crunchy, without having any particular reason. But for me, as long as it tastes good, I'm not too particular about the specifics. However, I think I'm slowly developing my first actual food craving. Lately I've desired foods that are sweet and chewy: donuts, pastries, cinnamon rolls, etc.

Today during my trip to Jewel I knew I wanted to purchase a variety of items I could eat when "the munchies" hit, particularly some sort of chips as well as some sweets. Then I stumbled upon this large section of Fiber One products in the snack isle, among which were their new Chocolate Fudge Brownies. The image on the box looked incredible, and a brownie would definitely satisfy my newly developed craving. So, I bought a box. I actually bought two boxes: Chocolate Fudge Brownies and Chocolate Chip Cookies. I haven't had the cookies yet, but just a little while ago I tried my first brownie. And... Oh. My. GOD! If someone had handed me the brownie without the packaging I would have assumed it was some terribly unhealthy Hostess or Little Debbie product.

• Each brownie is only 2 Points, which is a perfect amount for a dessert.
• Each brownie is only 90 calories, therefore even on a calorie-counting diet they are still great!
• Each brownie is 20% of your daily fiber, which keeps you feeling full longer.
• They are amazingly soft, moist, and have a rich chocolaty flavor.
• They are individually packaged, making them incredibly convenient for an on-the-go snack.
• And most importantly: they are DELICIOUS!

I foresee having a very happy and healthy life with these tasty treats. Who needs a man when you can have rich, chocolaty goodness! Next time I have one I think I'll nuke it in the microwave for ten seconds, although I can't imagine them tasting any better than they already do!

Tomorrow I'm going to go to Jewel to pick up some groceries for the week. Usually I shop at a farmer's market about half a block down the street from my apartment, and although they have a pretty extensive product line (especially for a farmer's market) they still can't compete with the items offered at larger chain grocery stores. I decided in order for me to stick with this and actually make the changes I need to make, I need to stock my fridge and pantry with more variety. Eating the same foods over and over again is sure to make me bored and possibly stray away from my plan. I wanted to put together a little list of items I plan to purchase, some of which I've already had before, that will become staples in my diet in the upcoming months and for years to come.

Click on the points total for each item to view nutrition facts and product information.
Please note I have omitted fruits and vegetables as I always purchase these fresh.

BREADS

• Arnold 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins - 3 Points
• Brownberry 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Rolls - 3 Points
• Flatout Light Original Flatbread - 2 Points

MEATS

• Jennie-O Extra Lean Seasoned White Turkey Patties - 3 Points
• Healthy Ones Oven Roasted Turkey Breast - 1 Point
• Weight Watchers Chicken Breasts - 3 Points

DAIRY

• Kraft Singles Skim Milk American - 1 Point
• Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss - 1 Point
• Yoplait Light Yogurt - 2 Points

SWEETS

• Fiber One Chocolate Fudge Brownies - 2 Points
• Popsicle Sugar Free Orange, Cherry, Grape - 0 Points
• Weight Watchers Double Caramel Swirl Ice Cream Cones - 2 Points

BREAKFAST FOODS

• Jimmy Dean Delights Canadian Bacon Honey Wheat Muffin - 5 Points
• Eggo Nutri-Grain Low Fat Whole Wheat Waffles - 4 Points
• Special K Cinnamon Pecan Cereal - 4 Points

FROZEN ENTREES

• Lean Cuisine Herb Roasted Chicken - 4 Points
• Lean Pockets Spinach Artichoke Chicken - 6 Points
• Smart Ones Fettucini Alfredo - 6 Points

OTHER

• Claussen Kosher Dill Whole Pickles - 0 Points
• Jif Reduced Fat Peanut Butter Spread - 5 Points
• Special K Sour Cream & Onion Cracker Chips - 3 Points

Last night was not a successful evening, in regards to food choices. Two of my friends and I decided to have a girls-night dinner at a pub down the street from my apartment. When we got there, we decided to take advantage of the half-off-bottles-of-wine special with a bottle of Pinot Grigio. As our glasses were filled and our menus were studied, I decided not to be a huge stickler on points seeing as it was the end of my first week and I still had many of my weekly points remaining. I ordered a club sandwich and toasted with my friends to a fun night.

Well, a fun night we had! Before I knew it we had not only finished off the first bottle, but were starting in on our second. My sandwich, which I thought would arrive unaccompanied, was presented to me amongst a bed of french fries. In my wine haze I scoffed off my better judgements and carelessly ate every single fry. By the end of the night, after several additional mind-altering indulgences, I found myself elbow-deep in a bag of Hostess chocolate donuts... and a honey bun... and two cinnamon rolls. And if all that wasn't bad enough, while driving one of my friends home, my other friend and I stopped at McDonalds. I arrived back at my apartment a little after midnight, and at this point I started returning to reality. I had clarity for no more than a few moments before I felt defeated and weak, and decided to escape under my satin sheets.

This morning I woke up, hoping to have slept off my demons from the night before, only to find myself even more upset and angry than I was when I went to sleep. As I got ready for work I could feel every nerve in my body tense up and my eyes start to fill with tears. How could I do that to myself? I had done so well all week, accounting every single morsel of food that entered my mouth, only to completely destroy it - and then some. I literally felt sick to my stomach - how could I not be after what I had eaten! I felt ridiculous packing my lunch - what was the point? Wasn't I just going to murder my own attempts in a few days anyway!? I honestly don't think I've ever been so angry at or disappointed in myself. I've cheated on diets before, many times, but not this soon into one. And not to this extent. I could barely look at myself in the mirror.

When I got to work I sat at my desk confused. My routine this whole week has been coming in, checking any voicemails and my email, taking care of some quick touch-base items (accompanied by my Weight-Watchers-friendly breakfast), and then heading right off to the gym no later than 10:00. But today? It felt like it would be a charade, besides the fact that I wasn't hungry and felt too nauseous to even think about working out. I grabbed my water bottle and chugged - I had already downed a huge glass back at home, plus another bottle on the transit ride into work. I considered fasting for the day, just drinking water and eating some fruit or vegetables if I got really hungry, but the idea left as quickly as it arrived. Solving an extreme action with an extreme action seemed counterproductive, plus even if I starved myself for the day I'd in no way clean up the mess I'd made the night before. My head was spinning out of control. I didn't know what to do.

So.

I went to the gym. Well, no, first I sulked. I cowered at my desk. I felt sorry for myself. I felt angry with myself. But then I took a deep breath. I'm not sure what finally gave me the push to get up and grab my gym bag, but before I knew it I was on the elliptical. I was nervous at first because I had felt so nauseous all morning, but the moment I stepped on the machine for whatever reason I instantly felt better. I decided I would take the work out easy, go a little slower than I normally do, but as time passed I ended up doing the same time and speed intervals that I normally do. And what was even more surprising is that the work out was actually easier than the others I've done. I wasn't as out of breath, I wasn't as tired, I didn't have to stop for drinks as often. It was like the work-out gods were granting me grace for making a good decision.

I got back to my desk and I felt a million times better. I felt strong and powerful. I felt in control again. Yes, I still felt horrible about the choices I'd made the night before, but those choices are gone - they are done with - and I was able to make the right decision today. And that's when I realized it. That's what I need to do from now on. Slip-ups will happen. They will, there's no way around them. I am not perfect, nor will I ever be. This journey will not be completed without a few stones and pebbles in the road. I will fall, many times, as I've had before. The difference: now I will get back up. Usually when I make a mistake with dieting I shrug my shoulders and move past it. This time I felt sick, mentally and physically sick. Maybe that means this time things will be different. Maybe this time I will finally finish what I've started!

Today I had my first official Weight Watchers meeting - except, well ... it wasn't.

I walked to the meeting almost exploding with excitement. I couldn't wait to get started! Sure, I was a little apprehensive about my first weigh-in, but at this point it's all down hill from here - nothing to lose except weight! I sat down and glanced around the room - mostly middle-aged women with far more weight to lose in comparison, which is what I was fully expecting and has been my number one preventative from joining Weight Watchers sooner.

The reason behind that is simple - I am 25 years old, and I have never weighed over 200 pounds. I've never weighed over 190 pounds for that matter. So, sitting in a room with a bunch of women who are 20, 30, 40 years older than me who have 40, 50, 100 pounds more to lose than I do - well, it sort of sets me apart from the rest. Our challenges and milestones will never be related, nor will our desires and reasons for wanting to lose weight. The support I can get from a group of women like this, while existent, would be incredibly general and broad. We would never really be going through the same things, more specific than simply losing weight together. I've always thought Weight Watchers should have some meetings that are age-grouped, for the simple reason that in different stages of life you have different reasons, desires, and needs for losing weight. For me, I never really felt I could gain much from regular meetings, other than that general support - which is why I'm just now considering the possibility of joining them.

Our leader stepped to the front of the room and began to introduce herself and explain her journey with Weight Watchers. Right away I got a vibe from this woman that she uses sentiment and emotion a great deal in her leadership skills. For some this may be great, but for me, I view it as somewhat juvenile and cheesy, for lack of better terms. I immediately feared that she would have somewhat of a coddling relationship with us, babying us through the steps of weight loss. Again, for some this may be the perfect fit, but for me, I would feel smothered and, frankly, annoyed. Why did I feel all this from her? A lot of reasons I guess. Her almost whisper-like tone, her body language, her over-reaching attempt to deliver an inspirational speech. It all seemed so canned, so forced, so rehearsed. I am a firm believer that sentiment is what happens when you are simply having an honest moment, and that usually doesn't happen during a speech you've delivered dozens of times. Perhaps I'm cynical, but I could tell right away I wouldn't be inspired by her. Now, please don't misunderstand me - it was clear she is very passionate about Weight Watchers and truly desires to guide people in their weight loss journey - I'm simply in need of someone with a stronger fist if I'm going to have a leader at all. Weight loss, to me, is not really tied to emotion. Sure, I have my moments of weakness when I need to break down, but these are few and far between and usually happen behind closed doors. I wouldn't be inspired listening to someone else's moments of weakness, nor would I want to reveal my own.

However, I put all of the above reasons behind me and sat through her speech with open ears and an open mind. I'm changing a lot of things about my approach to weight loss this time around, so why not some of my above opinions? After our leader had finished explaining her story and passing around her "before" photo, she started to go over how the meetings will be in the future and of what they will consist. This dialogue only took about three to five minutes, and at this point we were about fifteen minutes into the meeting. I knew the weigh-ins had to start soon, so I braced myself for the inevitable. As I was preparing to reveal the reality of gaining ten pounds during the month of October, suddenly I was knocked down flat. Instead of pulling out a scale, she pulled out a records book. The meeting was over, other than collecting our method of payment. I was a little confused, so I decided to speak up. "So, are we not weighing-in today?" I asked. She told us no, that the first official weigh-in would be the following week. To this I responded with another question, this time about whether or not we were going to get any of our materials or information on how to log on to the online interface. When her reply was again a negative response, I became furious! We had already pushed the first meeting back a week due to not having enough participants, and now, when we finally have our group together and we are all ready to go, you stand there and tell us we have to wait another week!?

So, let me get this straight. Overweight individuals from all over constantly use excuses like, "I'll start on Monday," or "I'm going to wait until the holidays are over," or "Next week will probably be a better time for me to start," and now - that's EXACTLY what you are forcing us to say! The message between the lines of this situation was appalling to me, and I refused to wait any longer to start. I at least wanted to be able to log online. Being that I have already been doing the program for almost a week, that was really the only part missing. So, I patiently waited for everyone else to turn in their payments so I could speak with her in private and make my request.

The long and the short of it - after speaking with her, then customer service, then her again, then customer service again - is that there was no way for me to get access the the online features a week early without being out an additional $30! Needless to say, this was not something I was willing to do. So, I took a step back from the entire situation, which was giving me a splitting headache, and thought long and hard about my goals and what I needed to succeed.

WHAT I DIDN'T NEED:

• I didn't need a meeting filled with women in a completely different place of their journey.
• I didn't need a leader who was going to use emotion and sympathy as tools.
• I didn't need to spend $156.

WHAT I DID NEED:

• I needed to have an easy and official way of calculating and tracking my points.
• I needed a social network for support that was more compatible than the limited meeting group.
• I needed to find enough inner power and strength to do this alone. In the end, it will only be me.

So, I made my decision, and I signed up for three months of Weight Watchers Online. I knew I wanted to follow the program, but I didn't need the frill, I didn't need the extras. I just needed the plan and the online tools. Plus, if I ever feel like I need support, the online program provides chat rooms and discussion boards to connect with other online users. I knew I had made the right decision. And that's when I realized it. I think the biggest reason I've always stayed away from Weight Watchers meetings is that the meetings aren't just about me. They are about the collective. I absolutely believe that losing weight is easier when you are not doing it alone, but I think that's what I've always done wrong. I've always depended on other people. I've always relied on a buddy system. I've always put my fate in someone else's hands. This time, I need to do what's right for me, and only me. Will it be harder? Sure. Will I struggle? Absolutely. But in the end, I will be stronger and I will be able to do this for life. I wouldn't want to grow dependent on the meetings, or have a strong connection with someone in the group and inadvertently sabotage my own journey because they were struggling with theirs. No, this time, I need to do this alone, and I need to do this my way. And that's exactly what I'm going to do!