Getting Into Diet Mode

I was excited to start my diet. I had signed up for Weight Watchers online program after researching a couple different dieting options. I needed a diet that would still allow me to eat out and would not be tough for a cooking challenged girl like myself when making meals at home. This one seemed the easiest for me to follow. Plus who wouldn't love a diet where you can still eat a slice of pizza or french fries if you wanted?

Day ONE (aka January 2):

I woke up in the morning anxious to munch on some of the healthy groceries I had stocked our kitchen with a couple days ago. I had decided prior to then that I would eat cottage cheese in the morning. I bought some Breakstone Cottage Doubles so that I could have this exact breakfast all week long. According to the website, they were only 3 POINTS so I was psyched. I don't normally eat breakfast, but I know that eating breakfast is key. So this was the perfect, quick and small meal. I usually make sure my daughter has breakfast, but skip the meal myself. It was nice eating together.

When my daughter went down for her nap, I made myself lunch. In the past, if I even ate lunch, I would throw some noodles or rice in a bowl and call it my meal. Not exactly healthy, but filling and tasty! I love carbs, they're my weakness. For my first dieter's lunch, I made myself a tuna sandwich with the following ingredients: tunafish, Kraft Free Miracle Whip, celery mixed together on a Pepperidge Farm Deli Flat (7 Grain). I also had some Herr's Barbecue Baked Potato Chips and a Light String Cheese. All this for 6.5 POINTS.

For Dinner, I had a salad from Chick-fil-a and a cup of fruit. I even had dessert! Hostess makes these 100 calorie cakes that are only 1 POINT per package. Yeah, they taste like diet food, but it kept my craving for ice cream away.

I was on that "first day of the diet" high.

Day TWO (aka January 3):

I woke up hungry. I never wake up hungry. This was the day that I actually realized that I am addicted to carbs. I wasn't feeling "satisfied" without my normal food aka noodles, rice, potato chips, noodles, bread and more noodles.

I had the same thing for breakfast and lunch as day prior. Dinner was a bit different. We had gone to my favorite Mexican restaurant. I packed a baggie full of raw carrot chips (who ever thought to slice carrots into the size and shape of potato chips is a genius!) and some celery sticks. While my husband and daughter dipped yummy chips into the fresh salsa, I dipped my carrots. It was surprising how satisfying this simple switch turned out. I was afraid of the temptation of the chips, but came out victorious in the end. For the actual meal, I had one chicken taco, a side of rice and beans. I also had half of a house salad with fat free mango vinegarette. The meal was delicious! I did not feel like I missed out on any good food despite being on a diet!

I even discovered that I could have candy (in moderation, of course). For dessert at home, I had a cup of hot cocoa minus the whipped cream and five candies (half a serving) for a total of 3.5 POINTS.

Day THREE (aka today):

I woke up hungry again. I was determined to give myself a carb 'treat' sometime today. For breakfast, I opted for a cup of yogurt instead of the cottage cheese for a total of 2 POINTS in preparation for my carb snack later. In between my yogurt and lunch, I had a cup of hot cocoa (made with water, not milk).

At lunch, I had a yummy meal. I made some chicken salad with fully cooked chunk chicken, Kraft Free Miracle Whip, celery, a handful of red, seedless grapes and some Nature's Seasoning. I put the Chicken Salad on a Deli Flat. Alongside my sandwich, I had those wonderful raw carrot chips, some celery sticks and a cut up string cheese stick. I learned that cutting the cheese up into smaller pieces made me feel like I was getting more food. I was amazed at how something that was good for me (and that I had actually made) could be so tasty. Lunch was a total of 6 POINTS.

Still not having the carbs that I so desperately craved, I decided to splurge on a small serving of waffle fries. I needed my salt and potato fix. This decision cost me 6 POINTS and was completely worth it! For dinner, I'm going to have a Grilled Chicken Salad and a glass of unsweetened iced tea with lemon. In fact, I'm getting hungry now!