News and Reviews
- Today is the start of the “Drink Your Water!” challenge hosted by Julie over on the If You Have an Egg Facebook Group. It’s not a competition, just a great way to challenge yourself and get some extra encouragement!
- First thing I need to know is, can someone go to Costco and get me the Honey Nut Squash that Carol Lou posted about?? I need that in my life LOL
- I found another seasonal flavor of the Smartfood popcorn that I’m so obsessed with right now. This one is Chocolate Cake Pop…ummmm, what? It’s a whopping 6 points for one cup so it better be good but a) it’s seasonal and b) well I don’t know what b is yet 🙂 I didn’t find this flavor but here is a link to the Snickerdoodle flavor we tried last week https://amzn.to/3YWCyai
(just a reminder, as an Amazon Affiliate I will receive compensation for any purchases you make with my links. I am also an affiliate for other companies who may be linked in this post for which I may be compensated with free or discounted product and in some cases monetarily. We appreciate your continued support!)
Last week was Chat #388 “Control What Counts!”
It is now 11 days (less than 2 weeks) until US Thanksgiving. Are you feeling in control? Out of control? Or are you already playing the doom and gloom death spiral of holidays mix tape in your mind?
So you can’t control everything about the holidays but you are NOT completely without and out of control. How? Let’s find out!
Your homework for last week was #TurkeyTrustFall. Make a short mental list of things that are actually within your control this Thanksgiving and then write down one thing that is out of your control. Now list a couple of ways you can either gain a little control or adjust your thinking or just “turkey trust fall” your way though the holiday
- Carol Lou and hubby are eating out this year so she’s making a small turkey for leftovers and the carcass for broth. She’s controlling all those days AFTER turkey day by not having all those other goodies at the house!
- Vickie is controlling her day but enjoying the food but not letting it be the main focus!
- Julie is controlling the stress of the day by working out in the morning before she heads out for celebrations!
Bravo, you did it!
This Week’s Topic: “Let’s Talk About Stress!”
Did you know that STRESSED spelled backwards is DESSERTS?
No we’re not talking about desserts tonight, but we are chatting about stress during the holidays so hang on… Let’s find out!
DESSERTS when STRESSED
According to Healthline “From a physiological standpoint, stress causes your adrenal glands to release a hormone called cortisol. When this happens, you may notice an increase in appetite and a desire to eat sugary, salty, or fatty foods.
However, this urge to eat isn’t the result of an empty stomach. Instead, it’s your brain telling you to eat so you can prepare for a potentially harmful situation. Typically, the stress subsides, and cortisol levels return to baseline”
Visit this article for more info: https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-eating/why-do-i-eat-when-im-stressed
You have the answer in the palm of your hand
This isn’t the first (or last) time WW asks us to remember the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 exercise for controlling any kind of stress. It’s like a pre-school teacher reminding the littles to breath, or blow out a candle, or something else to put a little distance between yourself and the stressor that is trying to stand in your face. Let’s try it now!
- Look around and name 5 things you can see
- Now listen and name 4 things you can hear
- This time be still and think about 3 things you can feel
- Take a deep breath and find 2 things you can smell
- Last one, what is 1 thing you can taste?
This Week’s Homework: #HighFiveYourself
Your homework for this week is #HighFiveYourself. This week when a stressor steps in your way simply high five yourself and start the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 method we just discussed. You may not even make it past 3 but I guarantee your nerves will be less rattled. All you have to do is shout HIGH FIVE when you do it and your homework will be considered complete. Bonus points if you tell us what the things were you assigned to your fingers! Now DO YOUR HOMEWORK because I promise there is someone who needs the idea you have already rattling around in your head. Whatever it is let us know, I promise your decision to participate this week will help you AND someone else! Then type it, snap it, share it however you like, and then tag me for your next cool badge!
Don’t forget to do your homework is #HighFiveYourself and tag me when you share on social media!
- Tag @ifyouhaveanegg on Instagram
- Tag @ifyouhaveanegg on our Facebook Page
- Tag @Kelly Green Milligan in our Facebook Group
- Tag @ifyouhaveanegg on WW Connect
The Amazon Wish List is UP and I so appreciate your support. This will provide a way for us to continue testing products for you, trying out new gadgets and recipes, and refilling the IYHAE pantry since it doesn’t look like the budget cuts are budging. If you don’t already know, it costs more than $100 per week to provide this free content to you and that doesn’t include my time. Your support really does help keep us going!
Amazon Wish List can be found here: If You Have an Egg Support Wish List
Extra Credit: How I Lost 7 Pounds In Two Weeks!
Wait, what? You read that right. I lost 7lbs in the last 2 weeks.
As most of you know, I have been on the same roller coaster of weight for a long time. Karen, John, Gwen, and Casey have all heard me grumbling and has discussed this problem with me. I finally decided to change a few things in my life and track them all to discuss the results with you all!
Step #1 – picked a non food reward when I reached my goal. I decided to treat myself with a new pair of walking shoes!
Step #2 – enlisted extra help – John was out of town the first week so that part was easy. I sat down and talked with him about what I was doing and how important it was to me and of course he was supportive and on board. Casey also asked if we could start an exercise routine together. For two weeks I’ve been walking twice a day three days a week, once a day two days a week and doing a Danny Go workout with Casey and the girls one night a week. Sounds like a lot but it’s only 30 minutes in the morning, 20-30 minutes at night, and the two times I walk with Karen it takes about an hour each time. That’s 280 minutes a week I’m not watching Reels or eating!
Step #3 – supplements that work for me – I went back on my probiotic and followed “most” of their rules plus I added a supplement for my age, my needs and used it faithfully
Step #4 – lowered caffeine and upped the water – this one was ROUGH! The probiotic I take suggests zero caffeine but that was a no deal for me. I bit the bullet and went from four cups of coffee down to one cup a day. I don’t recommend doing it that fast but it’s done now. I also upped the water by an additional 28 ounces per day
Step #5 – I reviewed what I was eating, pictures, and the program we were on in 2017 which is when I reached goal. We were on the Points Plus program and the weight just seemed to slide off
Step #6 – in order to prove (or disprove!) what I was getting ready to try I made a commitment to track every single thing I put in my mouth. All of it. Honestly and fully.
Step #7 – THIS. This is the one you’ve been waiting for…I changed my app to “Living with diabetes” even though I am not diabetic. After reviewing #5 I realized that I’m abusing the zero point foods list and choosing the highest calorie, biggest servings, most unaccounted for options on the zero points list.
Now some of you are going to get really confused by what I’m getting ready to say…HANG. ON. I’m absolutely not telling you to switch yours over or to eliminate any foods ok? I am recognizing I was not being accountable for 300-418 calories per day just because they were labeled “zero”. Zero doesn’t equal free ok? A calorie is a calorie and the WW program is simply a guide to help the most people focus on the best for them food. The simple math is that one pound is equal to 3,500 calories. That’s a pound gained or a pound lost. With my unintentional “program stretching” I have been consuming an unnecessary 2,926 calories per week. I’ll let you pause for a minute and do THAT math.
I mentioned earlier that the old Points Plus program was the one that worked the best for ME. After researching the “Living with diabetes” option there were some uncanny parallels that I couldn’t ignore. My zero points food list is now: non starchy veggies, eggs, fish/shellfish, chicken/turkey breast, beans/peas,lentils, tofu and tempeh. I have 5 extra points per day to spend and be accountable for everything else. All the foods I was hiding behind like: yogurt, bananas and other fruit, corn and popcorn
Did I stop eating all those foods? Heck no! Did I change how I looked at them and how I used them for fuel? You betcha!
One banana is now 3 points and 105 calories. An entire cup of blackberries or strawberries is 1 point and only about 50 calories!
Five cups of air popped popcorn is 3 points on the “living with diabetes” plan, so I either just eat 2 (and measure it!) or I indulge in two cups of Smarfood Movie Theater Butter for 3 points for a more satisfying treat!
All of these steps may or may not work for you, but are there some that you would consider adding into your routine? Let us know in the comments below!
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