Letting It All Hang Out..
So I’ve been thinking, really hard, about sharing more than beauty and my random rants with you. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been contemplating a diet of sorts. Not really to lose weight (well, maybe some), but to start evaluating what I eat and what I can do to improve my diet and health.
I’m almost 30, am nearly 5 feet tall, and weigh 132 lbs last time I checked (which was last Wednesday). That makes me borderline overweight (according to my doctor), so I thought it was high-time that I really got my head out of my 20s-I-can-do-and-eat-whatever-I-want mentality and really shape up to get to a healthier me.
Now I don’t know what kind of diets are out there or what I’d like to follow, so I thought my first phase in my diet would be what most people would consider a sensible and effective step and that’s to write down everything I eat and drink and then set goals for myself for the following week. I figure this is going to help me start weeding out the bad junk and start filtering in better foods into my diet. I don’t have a master plan, but I definitely invite you all to follow along and watch what happens.
If you want to check out my food diary from the past few days,
Thursday, 7/10
Breakfast: cheerios with fat free Milk
Lunch: Lean Cuisine Chk Enchilada with Rice and 1/2 bottle Snapple Water
Snack: 100 Calorie Pack Veggie Crisps, 1 String Cheese
Dinner: Bowl of Homemade Pho
After-Dinner: 3 Remy Martin Shots & 1/2 Pepsi
Friday, 7/11
Breakfast: QQ Instant Vermicelli Noodle Bowl
Lunch: Small salad with Chk, egg white, falafel, red onion, italian vinaigrette
Snack: 1 individual Rice Krispies treat
Dinner: Thai Chicken Stuffed Pork Lollipop (1 1/2) with chili sauce and white rice (pictured above!)
After-Dinner: 3 vodka shots & 1 cup of juice, handful of Combos pretzels
Saturday, 7/12
Lunch: Dim Sum
Pre-Dinner: 1 Mangopolitan, 1 lychee martini, and 1/2 Murtabak appetizer
Dinner: Ravioli with marinara (7 pieces)
Late-Night: 3 vodka shots, 2 vodka crans, 1/2 tuna melt with onion rings (BAD!!)
Sunday, 7/13
Brunch: Instant Ramen noodles
Dinner: 1/2 tuna melt
Snack: handful of Combos pretzels
Monday, 7/14
Breakfast: Small instant noodle bowl
Lunch: Leftover fried rice with egg and Chinese sausage
Snack: 1 apricot, 1 chocolate covered strawberry
Dinner: (1/2) Parmesan-crusted pork chop with mashed potatoes
Snack: handful of Combos pretzels
Tuesday, 7/15
Breakfast: Cheerios with fat free milk
Lunch: 1 crispy chk taco, 1 green chile enchilada, a couple forks of rice & beans
Dinner – UPDATE: 2 peach slices and 1 slice of lasagna (can you believe I said no to garlic bread?!)
So far, I’m seeing that I’m snacking a lot in the evening where I really shouldn’t be. And it appears that I drink a lot, but hey, I started this thing on a Thursday – can you blame me? I’ll share my progress with you about once a week or so, along with weigh-ins (eep!). If you have any suggestions for me, let me know!!
PS – Does that Thai Chicken Lollipop look good? Stay tuned for a new food blog brought to you from my friends and I where we’ll bring you easy, homemade dishes that are oh-so-yummy!
Like this post? Subscribe to The Daily Cookie RSS feed and email to follow along while I attempt to get healthier, and hopefully the right way!
On July 15th, 2008 Nikki said:
wow…i love you food diary and the food photo!!! I would love to be on YOUR diet
On July 15th, 2008 Brittany said:
Hey chica….many blessings with changing your eating habits. I am on that road too.
On July 15th, 2008 Janae said:
lucky for you…..i don’t work with you anymore. I am a bad influence. Good luck Momma!
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hey Nikki!
LOL, so far my diet’s been not too bad.. it’s interesting to write things down.
Do you have a favorite food you indulge in that’s bad for you?
I actually didn’t eat a donut this morning because I didn’t want to write in my food journal – the will power is slowly starting to kick in!
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Thanks Brittany – best wishes to you on your journey as well
On July 16th, 2008 Nikki said:
You made me think! I seldom eat food that are really bad, I guess because I am so used to eating healthily. Let me think, I would say definitely pasta and pizza. I love both of them! LOL so i guess those are hi carbs food that I should eat lesser of
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Aw Janae, you’d only be a bad influence now since you get to eat whatever you want to – we’ll just say it’s for baby Lili
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Pasta and pizza! Speaking of, I just had lasagna tonight and had to be good and only eat one piece – without the garlic bread too!
Carbs are definitely my enemy, but there’s no way I’ll cut them out – ha!
On July 16th, 2008 Nikki said:
Yum I LOVE lasagna..oohhhhh i am carb lover too! I can say no to sweets but..carbs!!oohhh
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Ack, I’m the same way! I will gladly give up cake for bread and cheese – ANY DAY!!
How’s your day going so far? Did your Wednesday just start? I’m about to head off to bed soon.
On July 16th, 2008 Nikki said:
ohhh you better sleep tight!!! We need all the energy to say no to carbs..
It’s almost 2pm here, Wednesday, been working throughout lunch so I’m kinda going slowly right now
Good night dear!
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
‘Night Nikki! Have a great rest of the day! Chat with you again very soon
On July 16th, 2008 Anna said:
Hey Nilla! You’re a brave girl letting to world know your weight! I’m still stuck in that mentality of eating whatever I want too although I know my metabolism hasn’t been the same in a long long time. G’luck to you!
On July 16th, 2008 Delirium~ said:
Hi,
Long time reader – first time commenter…
I recently went over my eating habits and ended up changing my diet a lot. I feel like such a healthy, better version of me and that excess fat is slowly, but surely melting away.
After reading your eating habits I have these suggestions:
* Water is to drink when you are thirsty, for breakfast etc.
* If you want juice – make sure it’s got no added sugar
* Exchange that breakfast ceral/cherioos/noodles with musli that has no sugar, no fun and no taste (but it’s very healty and will keep you going) with a low fat, low sugar youghurt (like yoplait 0,1%)
* Heck – while we’re at it: remove as much sugar as you can from your diet – I’m shocked about what they put sugar in! Explore stevia for sweetening.
* stay away from deep fried foods
* Try whole wheat versions of pasta and brown rice
* For snacks: try vegetables and fruits
* For sweets: 70% dark chocolate
* Eat every 3-4 hours.
* Stop eating when you are full
Best of luck!
If I can do it – so can everybody else! I used to be an unhealthy sugar junkie with too much belly! Now I’m not a sugar junkie and just have a tad bit too much belly and a huge’ish butt…
I’m a firm
On July 16th, 2008 Decorative Diva said:
I’m such a carb lover! It’s very hard for me to say no to garlic bread or pasta! What I’ve been doing to eat healthier is eating all of my vegetables before I ever touch my meat. By the time I’ve filled up on vegetables, there’s not much room left for meat and that way I’m not over eating. Also, I try to do 6 meals a day. 3 little ones (snacks) and 3 medium sized ones. Eating vegetables and fruits for the majority of the meals is supposed to help. I was sick for about 17 months and in that time frame I gained 30 lbs. Since I’ve been better, I’ve lost 10 lbs, but I still have 20 more lbs to lose. I’m exercising to help with that, but I often feel like it is very slow going.
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi Anna,
Thanks for the encouraging words, hopefully I’ll be able to make this work!! (I felt like Tim Gunn when I said that just now,
)
Hope you’re having a good week!
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi Delirium,
Thanks so much for your comment! Congratulations to you for being able to change your lifestyle for the better.
Your suggestions are so helpful – I’m definitely taking it all in.
I actually drink lots of water – even though I didn’t write it down. I only wrote down the non-water beverages so I could keep track of what I was drinking that was bad for me. I’m not a huge juice girl, and when I do, I usually dilute it with water because they’re too sweet
I definitely think that I should incorporate more fruits and vegetables into my diet so that’s on my goal list for this week too.
Hopefully you’ll keep following along my progress and continue to offer great tips – I really appreciate it!
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi Decorative Diva,
I’m sorry to hear that you were ill for so long. Thankfully you are better now
I have to admit, the Boyfriend and I don’t eat a lot of veggies and I certainly have to change that as much as I can.
Thanks for some of your tips, I like the idea of eating 6 times a day
On July 16th, 2008 Jeannie said:
I’m trying to get better about eating too!–and for the same reasons!
GOOD LUCK!! Keep the willpower. Resist temptation. You can do it!
On July 16th, 2008 Anne said:
I agree with the suggestions given by Delirium. I find the easiest way to get enough veggies is making soups. I make a Vietnamese meatball soup that my hubby and I love. I use ground turkey for the meatballs and add all kinds of stir fried veggies. I make larger batches so we have plenty as left overs and pack it for lunches at work.
An easy way to increase fruit is to buy the fresh fruit bowl at Costco. Mix the fruit with a carton of yogurt for a quick and easy breakfast.
Other easy changes you can make is to eat brown rice instead of white, and eat whole grain pastas and bread.
Good luck, and let me know if you would like the recipe for the soup.
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Thanks Jeannie, I won’t let you down!
I just had lunch and didn’t even eat my ravioli! Well, I had one
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi Anne,
Yum, Vietnamese meatball soup sounds delicious! I’d love the recipe if you have it
I don’t think I can get away from white rice entirely, but I do make my sandwiches with whole wheat breads and we try to eat whole wheat pastas where we can.
I’m taking in all your good advice and I hope it works for the long term for me. Can’t wait to give you an update!
On July 16th, 2008 kia said:
you are so brave! good luck and you know i’ll be following along!
On July 16th, 2008 MandyPandy said:
God damn, girl! You’re like Karen Carpenter compared to me! Only 130-odd lbs?!? I wish I weighed that much! I’d be back to a size 6! That doctor needs his eyes checked.
And you eat so healthy too! Today I ate a bunch of pasta with slathered in Alfredo sauce, along with 3 Dove Ice Cream bars; after two of those bars, the ice-cream’s eating you. I gotta stop!
Alright, that’s it. Willpower! If you can do it, I can do it, so count me in!
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Aww thanks Miss Kia!
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Eep Karen Carpenter! LOL
I’m definitely trying to march to the beat of “everything in moderation”. I had a total bad food day at work – it was free lunch today so I tried not to gorge on ravioli and then told myself it was okay to have one tiny slice of apple pie if I didn’t eat the crust and ice cream, because it was a yogurt blend – LOL!!
On July 16th, 2008 Elaine said:
Green tea! Honestly, have 4 cups of hot or iced green tea a day, it speeds up your metabolism and relieves you of any excess water weight. I swear by it when I know the weekends coming up. I started today and will continue through Saturday.
It does a body good, honestly.
On July 16th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi Elaine,
Wow, I didn’t know that green tea helped to ward off water weight! I do like to drink green tea, but not regularly. We actually just got a new coffee/tea machine at our office – I think I’ll make myself a cup with breakfast tomorrow
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a great tip!
On July 17th, 2008 Jamie said:
I love you for doing this! And also … you and I are basically the same in height and weight. Like, within 5 pounds of each other. I think we should go on a diet/workout plan together!
On July 18th, 2008 Elaine said:
Same weight but I’m 5′7, I used to be thinner but then again I used to be younger, too!
Anyway, here’s another tip besides the green tea, btw the green tea really does work.
Watch your carbs, fats and sugars 6 days a week. Eat lightly to moderate in your last meal of the day. Then, TA DA – one day a week you eat WHATEVER you don’t even think about it, just enjoy!
PS. Cucumbers are a great way to relieve excess water weight.
On July 18th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hey Elaine,
Oh what I would give to be 5′7 – even 5′4!
I’m definitely going to do the green tea thing. This week has been kind of a bad food week for me, but I’m gonna keep trying to trek forward.
Hope you’re having a good Friday!
On July 18th, 2008 mich said:
good for you! and good luck, i’m in the EXACT same boat as you.
On July 20th, 2008 Lilan said:
Aw thanks Mich! Good luck to you too!
On July 21st, 2008 Nina said:
Good luck, Lilan! I can totally relate. I am trying to maintain healthy food habits and a regular workout schedule… it’s tough! Hang in there, you can do it