Friday 6 May 2011

Weight-In Day!

Today is Friday and yes, the dreaded weigh-in day! I woke up this morning, stripped into my birthday suit, and got on the scale awaiting the results. As the scale calculated (reminding me of the biggest loser) the anticipation set in...will I lose this week? Finally the numbers stopped clicking and came to a stop...166.8...down 2.4 pounds! I felt like dancing (and may have done a little naked jig). I haven't seen that number since last september!

Needless to say I am ecstatic and more motivated then ever! My clothes are fitting better and my boyfriend says it is noticable now (down a total of 6.6 pounds). As I reflect on my week I am noting what I am doing that works and where I have failed so many times before.

I am Italian, and a pasta addict. A good part of my ass inflation is due to pasta...yummy, yummy carbs. And believe me, I miss it. I miss the easiness of making it, the cheesiness of the fresh parmesan and the meat in the sauce. However, as I fantasized about pasta this past week (and actually had a dream about it) I realized it really is not good for me. I want to live as long as I can and this kind of food is just not good for me. So I decided on a compromise and pulled out my handy weight watchers (cannot say enough good things about this program) recipe book. I found a delicious and healthy spaghetti recipe (see below). I cooked it up and to my delight (as well as my boyfriends) it was VERY yummy and it killed my craving.

I am starting to realize through this journey, that in order to lose and to keep it off, I must find substitute recipes for the dishes I love. I can have pasta, I just have to prepare it in a certain way. Deprivation is not in my vocabulary, and therefore substitutes must exist for my sanity and happiness. I am learning to think about food differently and to cook differently. I can have pasta, or cake or whatever...as long as I cook it in the healthiest way and have the proper proportion.

I do not like saying to people I am on a "diet". Diet implies deprivation and in order to make this stick you cannot deprive yourself. That is my lesson to myself this week, not to deprive myself but to find alternatives to indulge in.

As for the Pasta Recipe, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Healthy Spaghetti

Serves 6
5 Points Plus per serving

1 tsp Olive Oil
1 Cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrots
1 garlic glove chopped
1 pound extra lean ground beef (or ground turkey which is even better for you)
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp dried basil
2 cups whole wheat spaghetti cooked and kept hot

1) Heat pan with 1/2 of oil and add carrots, onion and garlic. Cook for about 6 minutes.
2) In another pan, heat other half of oil and cook ground beef or turkey, until browned and breaking up clumps.
3) Add the meat to the carrots, onion and garlic.
4) Add crushed tomatoes, red pepper flakes and basil to pan. Bring to a boil and then turn down the heat and let simmer 5-10 minutes for flavours to blend.

Serve 2/3 cup of sauce over 1/2 of spaghetti.

For Parmesan, the healthiest I have found is Presidents Choice 40% less fat which is 1 point for every tablespoon. You can use any parmesan cheese you want, just make sure it is the lowest in fat you can find.

Hope you enjoy your carb fix this week!

5 comments:

  1. The eight watching day is hard on us..I can understand your feelings.I think avoiding the carbs and starched helps in reducing a lot.But make sensible steps and small ones that will see you achieving them.gastric bypass surgery Los geles

    ReplyDelete
  2. This recipe looks yummy! I've been trying to cook meals for my family each week, I'll have to try this one. Thanks for sharing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Losing weight is not only good for having an attractive figure but it is also good for your health.
    ,


    hcg diet

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is really good to see articles in this topic...
    Students must work as part time.. It will improve their kwledge as well as their confident...

    lorazepam 1mg

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for this article it gives me encourage to move on of what i did all this time.
    burn the fat build the muscle

    ReplyDelete