30 September 2012

Weigh in and Weight Watchers in General

So today at weigh in, I was down 1.6  lbs.  I told my leader that I was leaving Weight Watchers because my pounds lost per dollar ratio is too low, that something in the mechanics of Weight Watchers right now is demotivating to me. 

She and I sat down and are working on a way I might be able to stay in a losing mode with Weight Watchers. I know that it's a program that works for a lot of people, but for me, I have an intensely difficult time staying ON program. This hasn't always been the case.  In 2003, I lost weight very quickly and very easily with Weight Watchers.  I was never not on program.  I excelled at making the program fit my life and making my life fit the program. I'd get to the end of my point range and just stop. It was like an invisible line.

I ended most weeks with more than 30 points in the bank because of activity.  I lost more than 60 lbs from February to October, when I made lifetime.

Now, I've lost 3 lbs in almost a year. 

I need to do something.  My son, lately, has been making remarks about my size.  He mentioned today that I am 'very round'  My feelings are hurt by this.  I mean he's only four and I am trying to teach him that it isn't nice to comment on people's sizes, but he hasn't figured it out yet.  I'd really wanted to have this weight problem resolved before he got to the Fat Mom noticing stage and I am just unbearably sad.  I feel like a failure.  I know that Aimee is going to have something to say about that :).  I just need to get the hurt and sad and channel it into a positive change for me.

My resolve is strong.

Peck's Farm Market

After the Farmer's Market, we went to a farm market.  I took a few pictures in the beginning and then forgot my phone was in my purse.

I'm so awesome. 

Pecks has a petting zoo.  We got to pet Llamas.  I love llamas.


We fed some goats.  LOTS of goats.
Raj + Goats

Goats have no manners

Deven put some corn in the cup and used the wheel to send it over to the goats.


This goat couldn't get on top of this rock fast enough to get the corn we were offering.
impatient goat

I wished I'd taken pictures of the other Pecks. They have several deer and I was able to hand feed them and some lambs.  Everyone was so sweet and soft.  Can't I just move to the country and take care of wildlife all of the time?

29 September 2012

Farmer's Market

Today is a beautiful fall day.  Raj, Deven and I got in to the car and went downtown.  Once there, we bought some cheesebread and sat in the sun, enjoying every bite.

I thought I would share some of the images from this morning.  I love my life.

This tree is just starting to turn.

The sun is filtering through the trees. Also, I am totally chewing here.


My loves.

Deven is obviously tougher than me.

After some lunch, we are heading to a farm market.  Great day planned.

28 September 2012

Preparing for the weekend

The coming weekend is busy in a very pleasant way.   We usually go to the farmer's market on Saturday mornings.  We might still do that.  We are planning to go to Pecks Farm Market, pet some animals, feed some other animals, just hang out and absorb nature. I am going to try to get some pictures of myself and my family.  If I get any that aren't horrific, I will share them.

 I will also be taking the dog for a run at some point on Saturday. It's Couch to Five K week 6 day 1.   My recollection of this run previously is that it is deceptively hard.  I know I can do it, though. I am tooooough.

We need to clean the house desperately.  Raj is getting my cold, it seems, so we might be low key.  Deven and I will be doing at least one baking project.    We will be planning our meals around stuff that is on hand, so all really really need to buy is veggies and some milk. I am trying to step down my (insanely high) fruit sugar consumption, so I will be doing more snacks like celery with laughing cow (YUM) and carrots with peanut butter.  More eggs for breakfast for the protein punch without the relatively high calories in Overnight Oats.

On Sunday, I have Weight Watchers- I have about 4 meetings left until my paid subscription expires.  I am not working WW right now, just my fitness pal, but I am still going to weigh in at meetings until my subscription runs out.   After that, I am going to be taking the dog for a very long walk (at least 4-5 miles) and listen to podcats and make note of the day.  I also want to take Deven to the movies- the cheap theater has Ice Age and I want him to be more used to being at the movies and relaxing and watching quietly.

Anyway, the whole time, I will be logging my calories with My Fitness Pal and staying on track and blogging here.  Clawing my way back on track, taking one more step to being the best possible version of me.  To setting a positive example for my son.  To fitting in all of my cute, prepregnancy clothes.

I've got this.

Celebrating Victories as They Happen

This cold has been kicking my ass hard.  I put off my Week 5 Day 3 run for quite some time.  But then I decided it was time to just do it.  My chest is still heavy, my cough is still intense, but I came home from work, put on my sports bra, laced up my running shoes and grabbed my phone, I turned on the podcast and hit the sidewalks with my trusty puppy.

The first few feet were rough.  The dog was spazzy and had to be talked to and I'm the kind of runner that has to count steps and breaths, to be honest. Without the count, I don't really have the lung capacity to run.  I can't run with chatty friends.  If I do, I will be walking within a mile.  With the cold, I REALLY had to focus on keeping my breathing controlled.  I was tired, dude.  I mean tired before I left the house.  I just kept putting one foot in front of the other.  Just kept counting one-two-three-four in and one-two-three-four out.  My podcast advised I had gone 5 minutes and I thought, "What? Already?" I had hit a pretty decent stride and was eager to just keep running.   Then she announced ten minutes and I thought, "You know what?  I can do this!"   Then my dog saw my neighbor's dog.  And my neighbor's dog (Blitzen) is a badass.  A German Shepard that doesn't much care for other dogs.(understatement)  So Blitzen starts barking his head off, Conner starts acting like an idiot, lunging for Blitzen and I am trying to pull my poor dog across the street with a car coming because I don't feel like burying my dog today after Blitzen rips his freaking head off.  OF COURSE I forget to count.  And I turn on the afterburner and I sprint like two blocks to get the hell away from them.  The Blitzen has already forgotten about Conner and is barking at another neighborhood dog, but Conner is trying to rip my arm off to get to all the spots where Blitzen might have peed.  HELLO? I AM RUNNING HERE, JACKASS.  Anyway, with the sprinting, the idiot dog, the psychopath dog, etc, I ended up really burning up a lot of my energy and my breathing was really labored.  The podcast announces that I have 5 minutes to go.  Shit. I can't breathe.  How am I going to make it five more minutes? I slow down a little. I make myself pick my feet up a little higher.  I take note of a pain in my low back on the right.  I focus for a minute on my posture, check out my shadow, notice I am slouching.  Berate myself for sucky posture.  Advise myself that that isn't helpful in the slightest.  Straighten back and shoulders and soldier on. Keep counting breaths.  Say "holy shit, this is the longest five minutes in history"  out loud. Wince in the direction of a little park, notice there are no children at play and just keep running.  Podcast announces I have two minutes left.  Quicken my pace a little.  Try to plan my route.  The dog has other ideas.   So I turn the opposite of where he wants to go, because I am in charge, right?  Head for the highway. And time is up.  Say to myself "well, that wasn't so bad." 

I've apparently developed some last five minute amnesia.  I mean I remember sucking air, wondering how long before I give up and walk.  I was feeling that low back pain and I wanted to quit.  But I straightened up, counted my breaths and I finished all twenty minutes.

I knew I could do it. I am feeling so proud.

27 September 2012

My Fitness Pal Pros and Cons

I'm on my second day of relying only on My Fitness Pal.  I have a couple of friends that are using this as a way to track their intake, plus one of my readers tracks her food there.  If you are also using My Fitness Pal- Feel free to friend me. I am emilythegood there :)

Some things I really like about My Fitness Pal-
*The mobile app.  SOOOO much stronger than the very terrible Droid version of the Weight Watchers app
*The dashboard.  I love being able to see what my friends are up to at a glance. I also love that it lets my friends know when I haven't been on for a while and encourages them to send me encouragement. 
*It also provides a forum for me to encourage my friends and family.
*It lets me decide which nutrients I think are important to track.  I'm taking a run at reducing my sugar.  I don't have any sugar problems, per se, but I feel like even for fruit sugars, I probably eat far more than is reasonable.
*It's free
*HUGE database
*no huge pile of bonus calories that I feel obligated to burn through

Some things I am on the fence about-
*No meetings.  I am hoping that the dashboard feature kind of acts like a meeting but we will see.
*I kind of think the recipe section sucks.


That's really it.  I am feeling good(ish)  I'm counting my calories, taking it day by day.  I am still fighting this chest cold, but I think I am going to resume my run training as I really want to run a good portion of Color Me Rad.  I can't wait to write reviews of that event.

This coming weekend, I have no events, but on Saturday, 10/6  I am doing the Des Moines Get Your Rear In Gear event.  This is a really important event for me, because my sister in law lives in central Iowa and is a Stage IV Colon Cancer Survivor. 

On 10/13, I have Color Me Rad.  On 10/14 I have the Autism walk.  My collection of events this year is largely walks.  This is by design because I am not in run shape, but I need to get into run shape, because my high school friend, Cherie, said she wants to run a half marathon with me.  I have A LOT of training to get there, but I think I can.

I just want to keep making the small changes in my lifestyle to enable me to be the me I deserve to be.   I know I can, little by little.

But give me a nudge if you think I'm not, ok?

26 September 2012

Making some changes.

I feel like Weight Watchers isn't working FOR ME.  I feel like it's a really great program for a lot of people, but as someone who has used various iterations of Weight Watchers over the years, it just doesn't work for me.  I lost my weight originally on 1-2-3 Success- which was a points range and you could bank your points to go over, but not more than 10 in a day.

Fruit cost.

While WW is the way it is, I can't keep paying for a monthly pass and struggling. I just can't.

My pound for pound challenge is completely over.  Know why?  Because I have lost 2 lbs this year so far.  Less than, really.  I'm starting almost from scratch.  I've cancelled my monthly pass at Weight Watchers.  I will keep going to meetings until the end, but I just need to change my focus, because whatever I am doing right now isn't working for me.

I am not going to do anything radical.  I am going to count calories at myfitnesspal.com. I am going to keep exercising.  I have already challenged my husband to get in shape and be my support group.

I can do this. I CAN.

24 September 2012

Weigh in, plus FMM Fall Favorites

esterday at weigh in, I was up another 1 lb, so now it is do or die time.  I've been spending a lot of time being mad at Weight Watchers, but the fact is, WEIGHT WATCHERS isn't the problem here.  It's me.  It's always been me, no matter what program I am using.


If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section over at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!


Fall Favorites



1. What is your favorite thing about this time of year? I love the weather, the fall leaves, the apple cider, the pumpkin flavored things, Halloween, going to fall festivals.  I guess if I had to choose just one, I would say the time with my family at pumpkin patches.

2. What do you hope to do again before Summer is officially over? Well, it's been fall for two days now, but I'd love to get myself back on track and finish the couch to 5K program before snow falls.

3. When did you last go on a hay ride?  Last year, at a fall festival.

4. What is your favorite pumpkin dish?  Pumpkin spice cupcakes or pumpkin pie, probably.

5. Do you decorate your home for fall?  I am not much for a seasonal decorator.  For fall, we will carve some pumpkins and maybe put some spider webs up at Halloween.

6. Do you have any hobbies that are seasonally specific? I knit more in the fall and winter, but I do that year round.  In the fall I am far more likely to take a nature hike.

 7. Apple cider or hot chocolate?  Apple cider, please.

8. Are you a fan of football? Yes.  Go BUCKY! Wisconsin football.  If I had to choose a professional team, I would pick the Seahawks, primarily because they have Russell Wilson, quarterback for Wisconsin last season.

9. Share a fond Fall memory. I got married on October 3 of 2004.  We had a fall themed wedding and it was lovely.  We had a really great day with friends and family and love and laughs.  Best.Decision.Ever to marry my husband.

10. It's not Fall until...Starbucks starts selling their seasonal pumpkin spice latte.  Which they are doing now! HOLLA!



Now it's your turn to answer this week's questions.  Don't forget to come back and link up in the comments!  Happy Monday!

22 September 2012

This cold

has taken up shop and apparently permanent residence on my chest.  Of course this means comfort food.

Apparently I am still looking for excuses to veer off my program.

20 September 2012

A Successful Day

I've been feeling sick.  My cold has settled into my chest and my chest feels very heavy.  I had a run scheduled tonight, but I was going to skip it.  I was going to just walk tonight and run tomorrow.  But when I got home, I went to the rest room and found myself putting on my running gear.  To be honest, I've been making excuses for not running all week.  But all week I've been pushing past my excuses and doing what needs to be done.

I decided that I would just listen to my body.  I ran and counted my breaths and listened to my podcast and did what I was told.  Crazy Conner had to poop in the middle of run one (actually with about 90 seconds to go in the run, )  I stopped to pick up his poop and was on my way again.  I did my cool down walk and picked back up when my podcast said to.  I ran, I counted breaths, I did my thing.  I got a good cough going at about 4 minutes, but I kept running.  My podcast announced one minute to go.  It was a hard minute.  But still I ran.  I picked my knees up a little higher.  I pushed a little harder.  And it was time to walk.  I did it.  Even though I didn't want to.

I used a good number of extra points today.  That's ok.  I had them to use. I'm pleased with my day overall.  I needed the fuel today. 

I think this is a healthy way of looking at everything right now.  I'm grateful for everyone's support and wisdom.

I feel inspired to be better because of you all.  And that's the whole point of this blog.

I hope you all had a great day!
Best,
Emily

19 September 2012

Frustrating Day

 Had a rough day yesterday.  Busy and stressful at work and then irritated my husband while recapping a coworker who had been out of the office. Fortunately, my friend and I had a walking plan for yesterday.  My puppy and I got in the car and went to her apartment and we went on a four mile walk.  We both had plenty to vent about, so the walk went by quickly.  I got home and baked brownies with Deven.  Dev is always very excited to help me in the kitchen, so I try to do a cooking or baking project with him often.  After we got everything in the oven, I sat down and cuddled with the maniac, reading him two chapters of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

I did end up using bout 8 extra points, but it was worth it.  Those 8 points bought me a couple of buffalo wing wheat thins, one peanut butter kiss (black or orange wrapped peanut butter taffy!) one Nature Valley Dark Chocolate granola thin and one reduced guilt brownie.  I made sure that I wasn't responding emotionally while eating those things.    I came home from a stressful day and made the right choice by walking with my friend after a very healthy dinner.  I still have about half of my extra points.  

Tonight I need to run Week 5 day 2 of C25k.  This will be an 8 minute run, a 5 minute walk and another 8 minute run.  I feel confident I can do this, but I also know that I will have an extra challenge because I am getting a pretty nasty cold.  I will just listen to my body and do what I can.

What do you have planned that is positive for you today?

18 September 2012

Last Night's Run

Left me feeling really empowered.   I went out with the dumb dog and pushed.  It was 3 five minute runs  with three minute walks in between.  It actually went really easy.  It was my first run with the dog since his accident so I was really worried that he would start limping during the run, but he was super happy to be out. 

All told, I did my short run and that 15 minute cardio work out plus got all my good health guidelines in.  Not bad. Not bad at all.

Today, I started my day with some overnight oats.  I have a healthy lunch packed.  Same dinner as last night.

Doing well with all of my good health guidelines.  Just making one good choice at a time, trying to forgive myself for any bad choices.

YES I CAN.

Hope you are all doing great, too.
Best,
Emily

17 September 2012

Yesterday

I have a different philosophy about Sunday.  On Sunday, I relax the whole plan, but I do have to document my food.  I don't do formal exercise, but I do have to stay active.

Yesterday morning, I got up, went to Weight Watchers, got my head screwed on straight again and came home.  I played a video game with Dev and Raj for a while and we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch. I always get the same thing, the Taco Loco (made vegetarian)  It's kind of like a taco salad.  It has beans, lettuce, fajita veg, pico de gallo, a smattering of cheese some sour cream, radishes and green olives- all in a spinach tortilla.  I never know how to count it, so I always count it like a taco salad.  (about 17-18 points)  I also carefully counted out my 16 chips and put them on the napkin so that I knew that was my serving of chips and I got no additional chips.

After that, we ran home and dropped off our leftovers, pat the dog on the head and headed down town to a street festival.  We parked near a park, so we let Deven play on the play structure for a while.  We walked around, bought a comic book for Deven, watched a children's band play a couple of songs, watched a couple of guys blow glass and headed back to the park to play for a while longer. 

Then we went on home.  We were all hungry, so I popped some popcorn.  I topped it with olive oil and sea salt and had a glass of milk to round out my good health guidelines for the day.

For dinner, Raj and Deven ate some gross thing with hot dogs :( and I ate a stir fry of veggie crumbles and stir fry veg. I also had a chocolate pudding with some pineapple and had a couple of pumpkin beers to round out the day.  I was still marginally hungry for some reason, but I chocked that up to the kind of residual hunger I always have after days of binging.  I ignored it and drank a bit more water. 

I used 14 extra points yesterday.  I typically do this on Sunday.  I aim to use no more of them this week, but might end up doing it, as I endeavor to finally start using my good health guidelines to my advantage.

I am determined to claw my way back on track and to keep this ship sailing in the right direction.  I will make my goals.  I get as many restarts as I need.  One of my favorite bloggers, Aimee reminded me that this journey isn't about being perfect all the time, it's about making one decision at a time and usually making the right choices.   I needed that reminder and I thank you, Aimee.  You are the best :)

My dear friend from high school challenged me to do a half marathon with her next year.  I don't know if it is even possible for me to be that fit, but I am going to give it my best. For sure.

Today, I started the day with 3 great choices. 

Choice 1) I made my breakfast the night before.  It was healthy and it was ready for me when I was ready for it.  I used Kath's receipe receipe as a blueprint to make my own version of Overnight Oats.  My differences are subtle.  Mainly I didn't put the crunch in and instead of the nut butter, I put in some peanut flour.   As I hopefully adjust my snacking needs downward, I hope to be able to switch it up and use the actual nut butter.   In my opinion, this mix of food comes out to be incredibly delicious.

Choice 2) I woke up right away when the alarm went off.  I went to the bathroom and put on a sports bra.  I put in a workout DVD and did a 15 minute cardio workout.  I know this isn't much, but it is a big start for me.  I think it woke up my body in a really great way.  Tomorrow, I will add in some strength training.  I think doing this will keep me from talking myself out of exercise.    I felt motivated to do this because I just woke up at my normal time, but because breakfast was already ready, I could take the time to do it.

Choice 3)  As I mentioned earlier, I am really working on getting in my good health guidelines.  I usually fall off on the milk requirement, so I made some Chai this morning and iced it and brought it to work.

I feel like I have made some excellent choices to start my day.  After work, the dog and I are going to run C25k Week 5, run 1.  I know I can do it, even as the program gets harder and harder.  I am far stronger than I give myself credit for.

How about you all.  What are YOU doing positive for you today?

Best,
Emily

16 September 2012

Blah

Today I was up .4.
We had a fun and active family day today.  We went to the Willy Street Fair and out for lunch and have had a lovely and quiet day.

15 September 2012

OK

I'm in a huge binge cycle. I am more than 60 points in the negative.  I'm not happy with myself at all.
I need to stop it.  So for right now, I am going to just go back to the easy goals, except one thing.  I have to drink my milks and eat my oils and work those in.  Maybe that will help with satiety.

I have got to stop veering off course at every turn.  I need to just live this plan.  I don't know why I insist in viewing this like a diet when really it's how I should be living.

REMEMBER THIS EMILY.    It's not a diet.  It's just a healthful way of living.

Also. oppressive headache today.  It's not my favorite.

I will try to post more here.  Maybe that will help keep me on track. . 

14 September 2012

Gotta Get Back on Track

Last week was stress eating. This week was celebration eating.

OH HAI EMILY.  You don't have to celebrate with food.


This week, if I track all of my points, stay within my dailies+weeklies, DRINK MY MILK EVERY DAY and exercise at least 4 times, I can buy a nail polish.  It's time I started working on my good health guidelines.

10 September 2012

FMM Have you ever? Plus My Weigh In.

Stress eating plus class reunion took its toll and I was up 5.8 pounds.  I've been back in Weight Watchers two months shy of a year and I am down about 1.2 lbs.  Total.

I can't fault Weight Watchers, though. Not really.  I'm not staying on my program very well.  I need to get myself together, because I really really want to change.

Now it's time for the fun stuff.  FMM!
 

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section over at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!
Have You Ever?



1. Jumped out of an airplane?  No.  That's always seemed like something I would like to do, but then I remember that I pee a little walking across a bridge.  I am a big fraidy.

2. Lived alone?  I have.

3. Met a celebrity? Local celebrities, sure.  Otherwise, nope.

4. Said something to someone that you immediately regret saying? Do you mean today?  No. Otherwise, nearly every day.

5. Had a manicure/pedicure? I get manicures infrequently but pedis about every two months.

6.  Gotten a hickey?  I have, sadly.

7. Owned a pet that was not a dog or a cat? I used to have a pet rat.  Her name was Jezebel.  She had the cute.

8. Been outside of your home country? No. :(

9. Kissed your best friend? Yep. I married him, too.

10. Eaten food that fell on the floor?  Yep. I am the mayor of the five second rule.

11. Met someone online? Yes.  I married him.

12. Been on TV? Yep.

13. Had braces?  No. My teeth are pretty straight but I have lots of gaps, so I would like to get them, but it's never been a priority, financially.

14. Gone skinny dipping? I have not.

15. Been to the opera? I've been to two different operas.  I saw La Traviata twice.  Once  at Lincoln Center in New York City and once at the Madison Overture Center. Loved both productions.

16. Been caught making out by a policeman? No. I am not really a public affection kind of guy.

17. Sung in public? Yeah, for various plays. in high school, Also, once I did "Kiss Me Deadly" in Karaoke at the Thirsty Ear in Boston.

18. Handed out candy on Halloween? Every year.  This year, I might decide to take Deven trick or treating instead.

19. Been snowed in? Once or twice.  I live in the midwest, after all.

20. Fallen in front of other people? It's more notable when I don't fall down.

21. Cheated on a test? No.

22. Regretted saying "I love you" to someone?  No.  Maybe I didn't love them romantically, but I almost certainly had a friendly love for anyone I would say that to.

23. Finished a meal in a restaurant and realized that you didn't have your wallet? No.

24. Shot a gun? Once. I didn't like it.

25. Heard a song that was written for (or about) you? No.



Now it's your turn to answer this week's questions! Don't forget to come back here and link up in the comments!  Happy Monday, friends!

09 September 2012

So Much Stress Eating.

Today's weigh in is going to be terrible.  I had an extremely stressful week this week and I didn't cope well, at all.  I was already up from my class reunion but then the bad news hit.

My sister's marriage took a bad turn and she and her husband decided to separate.  She's been with him since she was 18 years old.  She has three kids, including one that just turned one.  She's devastated and I'm 6 hours away.  I felt helpless, so OF COURSE I binged.  Blah.

Then on Thursday, I was walking my dog.  We were about an mile from home.  My dog's collar popped open.  He realized he was free and ran like an idiot.  First he ran through some yards.  I called for him, but his training just left him.  Then he ran into the street.  A busy street.
He missed two cars and a third car was slowing to a stop but rolled over his paw. He cried out and his fur was flying.  Unfortunately, it came to rest on his paw and he scraped himself badly on three of his paws trying to free himself.  He ran back across the street to me and held his paw up, crying the whole time.  He was shaking and scared.  I was sobbing.  Since we were more than a mile away from home, I was trying to figure out a good way to bring my 55 lb dog home.  Fortunately, a kind passerby stopped, asked where our vet was and offered us a ride.  I called my husband to alert our vet that we were on our way.  He called the vet and the vet said go to the emergency vet.  So we went there and would you believe the stupid dog was bearing weight on his paw and was dancing around like an idiot.  If it wasn't for the bleeding, you would have never known that something happened to him.  Shocking.  We got in for an exam and it was found that he had  broken a small non weight bearing bone in his paw. His wounds needed attending too.  He needed anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotic and has to wear a cone of shame.

He was so lucky, but the image of that won't leave my head.  I am so  sad he had to go through that.  So, I've been stress eating.

I predict I will be up at least 5-6 lbs.  *sigh*

06 September 2012

Doing Ok

I went to Iowa for my 20 year class reunion last weekend.  I really enjoyed myself but somehow came home 7 lbs up. I am seriously not sure, because there was very little vegetarian food around.

 Right now, I am about 4 lbs up.   Disappointing how fast I gain and how slowly I lose.  Whatever, I will just soldier on.

I've been really stressed lately.  My sister is going through some stuff and here I am in Wisconsin, not down there helping her out.  I don't know what help I could actually be, but I am sure moral support would be helpful.  I will just call her a lot and hope that she keeps on soldiering on.

I haven't had a bunch to say lately.  I'm here, doing what I need to do, but am not terrifically exciting lately. 

I've been doing Couch to 5K.  I just finished week 5.  Things are about to get real. 

I can do it!

03 September 2012

I Tried it: UNREAL Candies- Chocolate Unjunked

I recently received a campaign from Bzz Agent to try UNREAL Candy.  My BzzKit contained one coupon for a free Unreal Candy item along with several buy one/get one free coupons.  Let me know if you'd like a buy one/get one free coupon.  I'd be happy to mail one off to you so that you could try it out, too.

I tried three varieties.  Each that I tried had 5 WW Points Plus value for the entire package (a pretty normal serving size)  I will share my feelings about each that I tried separately.


UNREAL Candy
The first one I tried is my favorite. UNREAL 77 (Peanut Butter Cups)  These taste great.  They have that legendary combination of chocolate and peanut butter with a lot less cloying sweetness of the usual brand.  I love that they don't have hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, or artificals.  The verdict on this one: CRAVEABLE.  Loved it. 10/10 would eat again :)

The next one I tried is UNREAL 54.(Candy Coated Chocolates with Peanuts)  Let's face it.  It's fun to eat colorful chocolates.  These look great, but taste good but not great.  I don't know that I would go out of my way to get this one again, but I love that they contain none of the garbage that other commercially produced candies tend to have on board.  If I were to have a chocolate covered peanut candy, this is the one I would go for over the other brand.  In fairness, this is not the kind of candy that I would typically reach for in any circumstance. 

The last one I tried is Unreal 41 (Coated chocolate pieces).  These taste ok, but I can tell you I wouldn't buy this one again.  As a long time Weight Watcher, I try to make sure my indulgences count, so I would definitely roll for something that I find craveable. (I am looking at you UNREAL 77)  I think the thing here is that it's less sweet than the brand of colorful chocolate pieces and with my palate being used to such extreme sweetness, it just rang off.  I don't think there is anything wrong with the candy, per se, more wrong with me.  I liked the peanut variety better, probably because there was a second dimension, some crunch and that peanut flavor.  If UNREAL made a peanut butter filled candy piece, I would probably be all over that.

I still want to try the other 2 items, but that will wait for at least a week as I over indulged on my recent trip to my 20 year class reunion.

I enjoyed trying these candies and enjoyed that they are fewer points than their similar counterparts. I love that they are ethically made without a bunch of chemicals. 

 Have you tried these?  Let me know.  I am interested in reading your opinions!   Once again, if you would like a Buy One/Get One coupon, please let me know.  I have a limited number of them, but I would love to share them with my readers for as long as my supply lasts.

*disclosure statement. I am a Bzz Agent, which means I am offered products for free or at discounted rates to try and review.  I also discuss the products with others and from time to time, have coupons that I can share with friends and family so that they can also try the great things I have been testing out.