An International incident

Because I had a coupon, I bought a quart of International Delight Caribbean Cinnamon Creme coffee creamer this past weekend, instead of my usual unflavored Silk creamer. I knew it had more calories and sugar that the Silk but once I measured out the teeny tablespoon I realized I was in trouble.

The unflavored Silk creamer has 15 calories per tablespoon -- no biggie. The International Delight has a scary 45 calories. And fat-free is not much better at 30 calories.

And who puts a tablespoon in their coffee unless you're drinking from dainty china cups. I don't know about you, but my morning mug can double as a child's kiddie pool. A tablespoon doesn't make a dent in the darkness.

So let's do the math: 2 tablespoons is 90 calories; 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) is 180 calories. A quarter cup of Ben and Jerry's Chubby Hubby is only slightly less at 165 calories. Yes, Ben and Jerry's ice cream is lower in calories.

Would you consider putting a blob of Ben and Jerry's in your coffee every morning? That's what many people do with flavored creamers.

So it's back to the plain ol' Silk creamer. The International Delight now coats the inside of the garbage disposal with all its creamy sweetness.

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Hit the reset button

I've been foundering around in Weight Loss Land since this summer. Haven't gained any weight but haven't lost any either.

So today I took out my little Mary Kate and Ashley notebook (yes, really) and wrote down my meal plan for the foreseeable future. Here's what I have:

Breakfast: High-protein, high-fiber cereal with fat-free, lactose-free milk or soymilk; piece of fruit and coffee.

Lunch: Some sort of frozen meal and a salad.

Snack: Yogurt and fruit.

Dinner: Lean protein, veggies and 1/2 cup of starch

Post-dinner: Minibag of popcorn or a sugar-free pudding.

Sure there'll be times when I'll have to deviate from the plan but this will be THE plan.

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Lots of fun stuff in store!

I know we've been remiss in posting more but that is about to change. We have all sorts of stuff in store. We'll be sharing more of our weight loss ups and downs (down is good!) and maybe have a contest! We'd like to get you, our readers, more involved in the site.

I've still been trying to find my way through my "new" life as a stay-at-home mom. Since I've been working since high school I'm finding that it's taking longer than I expected.

But I have gotten back on the exercise track (and boy am I sore!). I've also taken off the 5 pounds I gained the past couple months, so things are looking up there.

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"I'm not taking your excuses anymore"

Wow, I just got read the riot act by my 10-year-old. That's his quote to me in the headline.

Since there's no school tomorrow, he is insisting that I get my butt to the gym (if it's open).

Aye-aye, chief.

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My salt hangover

I wanted to make tacos for dinner last night, and tacos we had (turkey tacos, made with ground turkey breast). But into that pristine turkey breast I sprinkled a packet of taco seasoning mix, which is loaded with salt. Add to that the sodium in the canned diced tomatoes, the sprinkling of cheddar and the taco shells themselves (not to mention the sodium in my other meals for the day) and I woke up with a big bloaty headachy salt hangover.

So today is flush out the salt day. Started with orange juice (zero sodium) and a chocolate whey smoothie (why is there 125 milligrams of sodium in skim milk???). And I'll be pounding down quarts of water to get rid of the salt.

Anybody else out there salt sensitive?

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Getting back in the groove

Between vacation, post-vacation, job stress and -- SURPRISE! -- job loss, I have been totally remiss in my weight-loss efforts.

Fortunately I haven't gained one pound.

But that all changes TODAY. It's back to:

• Journaling my food
• Planning my meals
• Taking my Alli when the fat content is high enough
• Exercising regularly

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Throwback Soda

One of my earliest childhood memories is having pop (I'm from Chicago) delivered to our house by the caseload (wooden caseload) by a large lumbering man named Mr. Lurch. It was probably lo-cal pop, sweetened with saccharin. There's a picture my mom has of either Gail or myself standing in front of an opened refrigerator chugging on a bottle of Tab.

Tab has always been my favorite -- perhaps because I was weaned on saccharin as a child. I've been able to find Tab every so often, usually only 6-packs to be had, and usually never on sale. So imagine my joy when in on vacation in Orlando, I found a 12-pack refrigerator box of the diet drink. The family and I powered through the soda in no time.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, Elise Ackerman, guidance counselor extraordinaire, had a can of Tab at lunch. Since I was only back from my vacation for a week, the sweet aftertaste of Tab was still lurking on my tongue. Little did I know that another Tab aficionado in my presence. She brought me a can the next day. I nursed that baby all day long, and when I went to the camp office to sign out my kids, Jodi Miller, one of the Camp Directors spotted the bright pink can from 20 feet. "TAB? Where in the world did you find TAB?" she asked. As I was telling her about my find in Orlando, and Elise's find here, another mother came in to sign out her child. She too saw the can and shrieked out loud, pretty much the same sentiments that Jodi did.

So today, as I was purchasing my Dragon Fruit for Monday's "Produce of the Week" blog, I decided to take a trip down the soda aisle, where I found 12-pack refrigerator boxes of Tab, ON SALE 3 for $11.00 (at Publix). I cleared out the shelf and have them stockpiled in my pantry.

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Danger, danger! I am about to be hit with a pizza storm

When the Florida Marlins get 10 strikeouts in a game, you have 48 hours to get your butt to a Papa John's to trade in each ticket stub for a small cheese pizza.

We have 5 stubs. And I'm not working right now so I'm not passing up the chance for free food.

So that means that one of my favorite foods in the entire universe will be clogging up my fridge.

I need willpower superpowers (or a kitchen full of 10-year-old boys).

At least I ordered whole wheat crusts (like that has magical powers).

Anybody have any willpower strategies?

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