1-31-14 Total Calories

(2537 cal)

So, I skipped lunch, but had more than enough snacks during the day to make up for it. I know that was not cool, but I didn't feel deprived. Now that I am counting my calories (even if I am using loose estimates), I am paying much more attention to what I eat. Therefore, I am slightly less willing to binge on junk knowing that there will be high calorie consequences. I did eat a bit more than I had initially planned, but even still, I think this is my lowest total in the past three days. I think 2200 is a realistic target to shoot for until March. I also incorporated some light exercise by walking more than I had planned.

1-31-14 Dinner

1.5 cups of Spaghetti with Meat Sauce (400 cals - Rough Estimate)
6" Subway Turkey Sandwich
with spinach, pepperjack cheese, onions, and banana peppers (370 cal)

(770 Cal)

1-31-14 Lunch

Since I've eaten half of my calories for breakfast, I supposed that I would try to get along without lunch, and supplement the afternoon with snacking on fruit. I've not been terribly hungry, so I do not think my body is sending me signals to eat something. Aside from the usual afternoon lull in focused attention, I've managed to do well so far. Part of the decision to replace lunch with snacking comes from the desire to have a large dinner and a late evening snack before bed. The late evening snack is intended to provide a blood sugar boost that will keep me asleep until morning.

1-31-14 Snacks

Big Train Chai (150 cal)
2 boxes of raisins (180 cal)
Mixed nuts (85 cal)
1 16oz Mocha (232 cal)
1 16oz glass of water (free)

(647 cal)

1-31-14 Breakfast

Large McDonald's OJ (250 cal) (51 grams of sugar!)
Egg McMuffin (290 cal)
McDonald's Sausage Biscuit (430 cal)
McDonald's Hash Brown (150 cal)

(1120 cals)

1-30-14 Total Calories

(2760 cal)

Again, I am somewhat surprised that it is about the same as yesterday. I feel like I blew it with lunch, which was the biggest meal of the day, so I skipped having any snacks. I also may have underestimated the calories on those dinner tacos. Still, I am learning to see the portions of my food. I am also learning to appreciate the consequence of eating something and bumping my calorie numbers up. I didn't eat as many vegetables or fruits as I should have. It was interesting to see that salsa didn't have as many calories in it as I would have thought.

I will also have to remember that, if I blow my calorie limits in the middle of the day, I won't be able to fully enjoy a late evening snack.

Yesterday, I tried to incorporate just the smallest amount of exercise you can imagine at the end of the day, but I didn't sleep that well during the night. Wonder if that is related somehow.

1-30-14 Dinner

1 cup of Spanish Rice (211 cal)
1 cup of Re-fried Beans (218 cal)
2 fried Shredded Beef Tacos (500 cal)
1 16 oz glass of water
(929 cal)

1-30-14 Lunch

Big Mac (540 cal)
Large McDonald's Fries (500 cal)
Medium Coke (210 cal)
(1250 calories)

I really didn't want to eat this meal, but I felt like I had no other choice since time was short, we were at McDonald's, and I was expected to get something. I will try to do better in the future.

1-30-14 Breakfast

2 eggs (180 cals)
2 Tablespoons of Milk (in the eggs) (14 cal)
4 Tablespoons of La Victoria Salsa Medium (20 cal)
2 slices of toast (Dave's Killer Bread - Blues) (240 cal)
1 Tablespoon of butter (102 cal)
.5 Tablespoon of Strawberry preserves (25 cal)
(581 Calories)

1-29-14 Total Calories

(2827 cal - everything estimated)

Surprised to see how much it is. Not sure what I should be shooting for, but if it is 2000 cals, then I am more than 800 over. Looking online, and being a little confused by contradictory information, it seems my calorie goals should be either 2200 or 2400 for my level of activity. It has been interesting to note that, just by tracking what I eat, I am already starting to watch what I eat. I already catch myself when it comes to snacks, especially when it comes to cookies that are too readily available at work.

My other goal is try to eat more fruits and vegetables. My lack of cooking skills worry me, but I'm going to work on that. My biggest goal is try to develop a healthy eating lifestyle, more than lose weight, or learning how to cook, or how to shop for groceries.

1-29-14 Snacks

1 chocolate chip cookie (60 cal)
1 16 oz glass of water
1 Ice Cream Sandwich (150cal)
(210 cal)

1-29-14 Dinner

1 16oz Unsweetened Iced Tea (2 cal)
1 cup of white rice (200cal)
1 packet of soy sauce (8 cal)
3 large fried pot stickers (231 cal)
1.5 cups of teriyaki beef (345 cal)
.5 cup of iceberg lettuce (8 cal)
1.5 Tablespoons of Ranch Dressing (109 cal)
(903 cal)

1-29-14 Lunch

small cup of tea (8 cal)
2 cups of Mandarin Beef Stir Fry (bits of broccoli, water chestnuts, and sauce) (450 cal)
1 cup of Hot and Sour soup (163 cal)
1 cup of fried rice (333 cal)
1 fortune cookie (30 cal)
1 can of coke (140 cal)
(1124 cal)

1-29-14 Breakfast

4 Packets of Quaker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (590 cal)

First Dinner

1 cup of Spanish Rice
1 cup of Re-fried Beans
2 fried Shredded Beef Tacos
1 cup of Orange Juice
1 Bottle of Water (17oz)

Snacks

Pomegranate Lychee Green Tea (1 bottle = 2 servings) 140cal
1 small box of raisins - 90cal
2 chocolate chip cookies

First Lunch

2 cups of General Tso Chicken
1 cup of Fried Rice
1 Medium glass of water
1 small cup of black tea
1 fortune cookie
1 chocolate chip cookie (snack)

The First Breakfast

Large glass of Orange Juice.
Two Eggs (Scrambled) with a splash of milk.
And about 6 Tablespoons of medium hot Salsa (La Victoria).