So, I’ve been eating the Frozen foods for a little while. I like the change.

I wish there was more variety with this, because I believe that could be a good thing. The packaging is a little big though. I don’t have that big of a freezer so I hope they’ll reconsider the packaging a bit so it’s able to fit. More the dinners that are so huge.

That’s not a big problem I guess, but Those dinner boxes are big. Thank goodness the other items, lunch and desserts, etc., are small.

I’ve had a terrible cold this past week, and the week before was finals for college. Hopefully getting the yucky stuff out of the way before Christmas so that can be most enjoyable.

But imagine how delighted I was when there were lots of yummy apples and cucumbers and so on available at a Christmas party I went to. It was great to fill up on those (with a nibble of cheese and a little dip). Plus, going with the Cajun, I was able to just take a bite of his desserts without indulging in the entire thing.

Considering I’ve got lovely chocolate ice cream treats to snack on around Christmas, I certainly don’t feel depraved at all, even while dieting.

So I’m looking for a Christmas treat idea involving Nutrisystem foods. I’ll report back on anything I find, but if anyone reading has suggestions, let me know.

I’m over at Nutrisystem’s forums. I also look at Spark People’s forums on occasion, as well as AbsoluteWrite’s forum. It’s for writers but they have a section for use brand-new-healthy eaters.

There have been times when I questioned quantities of food, food selections, exercise alternatives and much more. Finding a group that can chime in with ideas and share their own issues helps so much. Plus you get to brag about your own weight loss to a bunch of people.

It kind of puts pressure on you as well. You now have people who are looking forward to hearing your progress. Don’t let them down.

Writer Holly Lisle was talking in her Motivation for Writers course about how she found motivation in herself. I love that she shared her weight loss as one of those topics. She feels it’s about finding a better answer in yourself about why you want to lose the weight. If you say you want to lose weight, it may not happen, but if you say I want to eat healthy and have a strong body, that might be more accurate.

While the course is for writers, it has some great tips on motivating yourself that are really useful, and she explains real life cases where she’s used motivation.

Finding that support group to send you on a guilt trip boost you when you feel down is important.

Are you on any forums? Where’s your home on the web? Maybe you have an in-person group. The help can be so motivating.

Now, let’s talk about cheating on your diet. Yes, it’s where you get so famished for a pizza. You tell yourself “no”.

Soon, you order a full pizza and eat the whole thing in a weak moment.

We’re human. Food is an emotional, cultural thing since forever. People saying that you should get over emotions about food… you aren’t an emotionless being. Yes you should deal with strong emotions in different ways. But you can’t extinguish your emotions.

Also, there’s temptations like at parties and the up coming holidays. How do you deal?

Everyone has a different situation. Here’s how I deal. I find safe cheats, I allow splurges on rare occasions and I keep track of calories.

Safe cheats are diet cheats but they are actually health. Like a healthy version of pizza. It isn’t exactly the same, it never is, but it may curb your desire for pizza. Like for me, when I crave pizza, I’m looking at Nutrisystem’s cheese pizzas. It’s just enough pizza that satisfies my cravings without blowing my diet. Need more pizza? Maybe take the pita/tomato sauce/light cheese route.

Splurging at rare moments may actually help you lose weight! If you have been dieting for a while, and then suddenly eat something totally off your diet, you make give your body a “knee jerk”.

And it doesn’t have to be pizza and corn dogs. It can be stuff that is healthy but you weren’t really allowing yourself to have. A bowl of cereal, for example, has low calories, just lots of sugar. Maybe it’s Thanksgiving and you want dark turkey meat instead of the white turkey you’ve been eating forever.

Calorie counting can help a lot. Your calories that you count need to be “so and so” recommended by dietitians in order to lose weight.

But to maintain it, you need how much? 2000?

So if you are having a weak day, maybe just reach your maintain calories. It’s not recommended all the time, of course, you still have to do the math and eat fewer calories, but for one day, reach 2000. You’re still OK. No sabotaging the entire thing.

Personally, I’d rather give in to a craving, and eat a homemade omelet with cheese than go a week craving it and then eating a fast food version.

So find some easy cheats to kill what you crave the most. For me, it’s usually potatoes, proteins and sweet stuff. So I make sure I have plenty of substitutes that aren’t high in calories. Like I found some potato cakes (that are mostly substitute eggs and onions mashed with potatoes) that are only 100 calories and low in fat. I also have Nutrisystem’s potato selections, like mashed potatoes.

For chocolate, which is a constant, I could eat it at nearly every meal, I can use Nutrisystem’s chocolate fudge graham bar for lunch, drink a protein shake for a snack, etc.

And every once in a while, eating a small bag of M&Ms.

Just be careful, don’t slip into bad habits of eating little things here and there. Try to make your cheats healthy, and count your calories!

How do you “cheat” on your diet and what do you do to prevent or limit your cheating?

I wish to thank Nutrisystem for sending all the many yummy foods listed here and in previous posts. Learn more about Nutrisystem at their website, on Facebook or through Twitter. I highly recommend signing up for Nutrisystem. The website is free to join so you can learn all about it before making a commitment.

I’ve got a math test that was moved to Friday. The flexibility of college is weird. It’s totally unrealistic to actual work… and yet at times it’s a small mimic of it.

Top Ten Best Tasting Nutrisystem Items

Panel of one here, but tell me your favs or non-favs.

No particular order.

Flame-broiled Beef Patty – Hamburger night. Forget McD’s or BurgerK’s. Heck, wrap that patty into your own condiments and stuff into your mouth.

Double Chocolate Chip Muffin – Chocolate muffin for breakfast. Considering it was chocolate muffins that helped me gain part of this, it should only be fair they help shed a few… and be yummy and good for me at the same time.

Nutriflakes – I love cereal, and this tastes good to me. Especially with banana.

Fudge Graham Lunch Bar – Chocolate after a salad. Satisfies your sweet cravings.

Chicken Salad – For some reason, this on Melba toast is actually very nice. It’s different from my usual favorite chicken salads, but the difference might make it good.

Chocolate Brownie – Top it with a tablespoon of Fat Free Cool Whip. Just like an ice cream sammie.

Sliced Beef and Potato Wedges – Some times I miss potatoes, and this is one of the few items that has potatoes in it. Plus, tastes great.

Pancakes – Blueberry or plain, (what happened to the chocolate chip ones) but they are great for breakfast. Find some good tasting sugar free syrup though. Might take some hunting.

Mashed Potatoes – This is a lunch menu item for Nutrisystem, and it, again, kills my need for something mashed-potato like.

Mint Crisp Bar – This is probably my ultimate favorite. Tastes like Girl Scout cookies to me, the thin mints. I would buy this separately as a snack item after I’m finished.

I wish to thank Nutrisystem for sending all the many yummy foods listed here and in previous posts. Learn more about Nutrisystem at their website, on Facebook or through Twitter. I highly recommend signing up for Nutrisystem. The website is free to join so you can learn all about it before making a commitment.

My situation might be a little unusual. I walk to school and walk back. I live two miles away from school. I have to carry a heavy backpack and I’m also walking in-between classes.

A 40 minute walk to and from school, I am, at the least, on my feet and walking for 80 minutes a day.

I was also going to start a strength training program to build muscles, and I have been wanting to add regular yoga and swimming filling in on the weekends and when I manage to find some extra time.

But there was a problem. I had been walking, already, throughout the summer to school, walking around school, etc. And I wasn’t losing the weight. It just clung to me, and in some cases it increased.

When I started Nutrisystem, the weight started to slide off, but only a little, and then it stalled.

I didn’t know what to do. I thought I was doing something wrong. But how can I be doing it wrong? I was doing exactly what they were telling me, exercising and watching calories.

It took some research, and I consulted with Nutrisystem dietitians and other nutritionists online.

There was a problem. I wasn’t eating enough to fuel my body.

A normal body needs a certain amount of fuel to burn. The 1,200 calories recommended for people on diets are for people who might be 5′ 4″, or maybe a bit taller. They may also not be exercising. Or they exercise infrequently. The know it’s hard to start exercising, so they have guidelines to give to people who may not be exercising every day.

In my case, I’m 5′ 9″. I’m tall. I’m also doing a lot more things that normal people may not have time for, like walking for 80 minutes a day.

I was eating 1200 calories, but I was burning over 600 calories a day.

That 1200 calories wasn’t enough to fuel my body.

Your body needs so any calories to maintain your important functions. I believe it was the same problem I was having a few months ago when I was trying to diet on my own, but I was walking nearly every day. I would get tired and dizzy. When I ate something, I felt fine, but it was usually something loaded with calories.

Can you imagine that I had to eat more in order to be able to lose weight? My body was trying to horde every little bit of calories I consumed because it believed it was starving. And I was hungry at times.

If you’re hungry, really hungry, while you are dieting, you’re doing it wrong.

I needed to up the number of calories I was eating, and not just by 100 calories. I’m looking at 1,500 to 1,800 a day.

That’s sort of great, because I was so worried about being hungry and now I’ve got some leeway room. I don’t think I’ll be able, or should try, to eat 1,800 calories.

So I plan on adding additional calories in proteins and veggies and a tiny bit more fat. It’s not really that much more, but as one of the nutritionists told me, it’s not about exercising to burn off calories. You’re trying to rev up your metabolism so your metabolism is doing all of the work.

Because that’s what you really want, right? If you get off the diet, you want your body to be able to balance the calories naturally. So you can still eat healthy but if you have a special occasion you can splurge a bit here and there. Your metabolism takes care of you.

I wish to thank Nutrisystem for sending all the many yummy foods listed here and in previous posts. Learn more about Nutrisystem at their website, on Facebook or through Twitter. I highly recommend signing up for Nutrisystem. The website is free to join so you can learn all about it before making a commitment.

Nutrisystem’s program allows for a controled carb intake. Your selections of carbs are limited to the items they have produced, and very small outside options (if you follow it correctly).

Along with the controled carbs, you are also getting a dose of protien with every carb selection from Nutrisystem. This added protien is usually in the form of soy protien, a supplement used by body builders. The added protien helps you feel full, and adds fuel for your muscles. Putting it in the carbs makes sense because the added dose gives you that fuller feeling.

It also requires an increase in the amount of veggies and fruit that you eat. This is a requirement for any type of healthy eating style, because the nutrients in fresh fruit and veggies are simply irreplaceable.

Many who are on Nutrisystem will say their idea — or feeling — of fullness differs from before being on the system. I notice when I’m on it, that I become fuller, sooner.

nutriflakes yogurt banana

So when I have some Nutriflakes in the morning, like I did today, my carbs were portion controlled. It was just the right amount for me. The milk I add was also controlled, limited to the directions on the back of the package. This is to ensure you get just the right amount of fiber and carbs and protein that you are supposed to receive.

The misconception about nutrition often comes in when we look at the breads and grains. We tend to eat way more grains (and sugar) and limit the veggies and fruit. Grains are not meant to be a replacement for nutrition.

It’s not always easy to grab fruits and veggies at every meal, I know, but why is that? Tune in later and I’m going to find out.

I wish to thank Nutrisystem for sending all the many yummy foods listed here and in previous posts. Learn more about Nutrisystem at their website, on Facebook or through Twitter. I highly recommend signing up for Nutrisystem. The website is free to join so you can learn all about it before making a commitment.

And I say that now because I’m at the beginning. OK. So far I’ve lost 3 pounds. 27 more to go. But I bet that’s mostly water loss and a smidgen of fat loss. Hope. Hope. Hope.

I know I keep saying this, but I was doing Nutrisystem a while ago and it was pretty good then. Trying the new stuff now… wow. Big difference.

But I’m going to have to check my calories more. I’ll try to list my totals, too. I’m slacking in counting.

For breakfast yesterday.

Blueberry muffin. I ate a banana too. I was in a hurry so I went to school without the protein. Made it up at lunch though.

So for lunch I had a good size salad, and the olives were my ‘fat’ for the day. The bacos weren’t enough to be counted (free food, I added very little) and some cheese and a side of lean turkey. (Tired of seeing my salads yet? Hang tight. I’ve got three months of this coming. )

Now for someone who asked, yes, I asked the dietitian at Nutrisystem about switching around my proteins, fruits, veggies, etc. It’s OK as long as I’m not hungry and I’m eating well. So as long as I get my veggies and proteins and fruits in, it’s OK.

And I can swap around meals, as long as I didn’t eat two dinners a day, or two desserts a day, etc.

For the snack, I had the Nutrisystem peanut butter bar. Yum. This is good. Still love the graham bar.

For dinner, the herb crust pizza. Was so yummy!

Also I made a stir fry broccoli and tofu. I used a tiny bit of olive oil for it, just so it didn’t stick to the pan. I used some soy sauce, vinegar, green onions, garlic and ginger mixed in some fat free chicken broth for a sauce base.

I also had a cup of apple sauce.

And for dessert: I don’t have a pic. Sorry. But it was the Chocolate cake from Nutrisystem. Was so good I ate it before I thought to take a picture.

I wish to thank Nutrisystem for sending all the many yummy foods listed here and in previous posts. Learn more about Nutrisystem at their website, on Facebook or through Twitter. I highly recommend signing up for Nutrisystem. The website is free to join so you can learn all about it before making a commitment.

Breakfast of a banana and a chocolate granola bar from Nutrisystem. I didn’t quite have time to make eggs. Was running out the door.

For lunch I ate at the salad bar at school. Now this is where it got tricky. I ended up eating cheese (from morning dairy that I missed) and on the side is some lean turkey (for lunch protein).

There are also fat free crutons (about 25 calories for the pack) and I ate a small peach’s worth of cut up peach from the bar. (For my fruit snack.)

So as a snack from lunch, I ate this:

So I swapped my ‘lunch bar’ and used it as a snack bar. This is quickly becoming my favorite thing to do. Eating a bit of chocolate mid-afternoon is great.

For dinner, the pasta with meatballs and tomato sauce from Nutrisystem, plus scrambled egg substitute (from the afternoon snack that I didn’t have).

And dessert:

One of the chocolate caramel bars from Nutrisystem. It was partially melted, (thanks to Louisiana heat) but it was still chewy and great.

I had another big salad, this time with just lettuce, cucumbers and fat free French dressing. No picture though. My pictures keep disappearing. I have to remember to take more than one to ensure they show up.

I wish to thank Nutrisystem for sending all the many yummy foods listed here and in previous posts. Learn more about Nutrisystem at their website, on Facebook or through Twitter. I highly recommend signing up for Nutrisystem. The website is free to join so you can learn all about it before making a commitment.

I walk on average at least 1.5 miles to school every morning, Monday through Friday. Plus walking around campus, up and down stairs all day, is usually a hustle. I have four classes to keep up with, and most are halfway across campus each time, so you could throw in another mile.

I occasionally walk home in the afternoon. To save time and energy, I’ll sometimes have the Cajun pick me up. Usually because of homework and work piling up and the 40 – 50 minutes of walking should really be used on algebra.

For breakfast, I had cereal, banana and I mixed up some EggBeaters scrambled eggs.

For lunch, I bought a salad with chicken and a fruit cup. I know what you’re thinking. I two veggies and a protein for lunch, and a fruit and protein for a snack. So I opted to eat my fruit cup for lunch, and one salad with chicken on top for lunch.

Plus I had a chocolate caramel bar from Nutrisystem for lunch. I think the chocolate bars from Nutrisystem are becoming a winner for after lunch. I like polishing off my meals with a little sweetness and these have just the right touch. I plan on trying the other items but this is so easy to pack into my bag to take with me on campus.

My picture of the caramel bar is gone. :*( Dunno where it went.

For a snack, I had another (made at home) salad with some of the chicken. I sprinkled a little cheese on top, and considered it my “fat” for dinner.

I’m mixing up a lot, I know. Bear with me. It’s been a busy week. I walk a lot so I’m going to take it easy on myself.

For dinner, I had a thick crust pizza courtesy of Nutrisystem. It was pretty tasty. The cheese was just enough, the sauce was sweet tomato and the crust was thick and took care of my ‘carb’ cravings.

For dessert, I had the Minty Chocolate Bar from Nutrisystem. Yummy! Getting that one again, as well as the pizza.

But that’s one Nutrisystem chocolate muffin, banana and an 8 oz. cup of milk.

Lunch was Nutrisystem vegetable beef soup, with two fried eggs and a container of applesauce.

This is where I substituted my snack for my lunch meal. I didn’t have any veggies. I went to the store that afternoon. It was too late for a snack at that time. :p Otherwise I would have had a salad as a snack. Always bumpy in the beginning until you get a bit more organized, right?

For dinner, it was the buffalo chicken wrap, and I made a huge salad, with mixed greends, cucumbers and one teaspoon of the soy type bacos as a *fat*. I don’t know if it’s allowed. It’s not mentioned in the books. It’s something I’ll be asking Nutrisystem folks later.

I topped the salad with some fat free French dressing.

Dessert was those walnut chocolate cookies from Nutrisystem. They were actually very, very good. I’ll be getting more of those. Makes me want some milk to dunk them in though.

In all, the buffalo chicken wasn’t my favorite, but I did like the soup and the muffin. I knew going into this I would be trying some new Nutrisystem things and I may not like everything. Different tastes makes a diverse universe!

Next month I’ll get to pick more of my favorites, try new items. So far nothing has been too unpleasant.

Tomorrow, prettier bananas and bigger salads!