A Boomer's Footprint

Tag: diet

  • Shocking realization of a favorite snack

     

    IMG_4673 (2)

    Yikes. This is one Label I forgot to read!

    I do have a chocolate addiction. It started as a child.  Pop always had candy bars available to us when we visited his barber shop. And we ate them up.

    As an adult, the addiction continued when I began eating Mexican food.  My local taqueria, had a candy dispenser – for a quarter, I got a handful of treats. Of course over time the volume decreased and eventually the machines disappeared but it didn’t matter by then I was hooked.  I associated rice and beans with chocolate. Duh, the Mexican cuisine does have mole.

    Then, I began running in Walgreen’s or any local corner store for a candy bar. I started with Herseys with almonds but soon moved over to M&M’s with peanuts.

    Now to the photo. I recently studied the M&M’s peanuts label and was shocked. Now we know I wasn’t really SHOCKED I just didn’t want to pay attention.

    Imagine the percentage are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.  I probably eat 1,200 cals. a day. So my stats are even worse.

              13 g fat 20% of DV

                5 g Saturated fats!

              Sugar – they don’t even compute the number

              Dyes

              And finally an admission of genetic engineering involvement.

    What was I thinking. Of course, this snack is over. Another food (?) eliminated from my diet.

    Realistically, I know I’m not giving up chocolate. Now, when possible I buy the dark chocolate with almonds bars from Trader Joe’s.  A step up but I could probably still do better. They are even a dangerous snack to keep around.  It’s so hard NOT to think about that bar in the freezer.

    Lesson reminder to me and you is: continue reading labels and make the right choices.

     

  • DK Update – Day 30

    IMG_4447WOW my weight was down to 117.4.  Yep, back in early May I reached this milestone.  But alas, it didn’t last!

    I had just returned from a week on Florida, sick as a dog.  Caught the flu / summer cold that circulated among the family. It took weeks to recover and by the end, I had lost 8.4 lbs. down from my all time high of 125.8.

    But then…… (sorry I can’t find the photo) I was shocked just two weeks ago to see that I reached my “New” all time high – the scale read 127.4. What the H…., up 10 lbs. Yikes. I’m sure it’s muscle build up from my fitness regime. If only.

    I couldn’t be surprised. It was my birthday week and I had an unusually high number of outings lasting over 3 weeks.  I was out 16 of 21 days. Lunches, dinners, drinks.

    So what else could I do but get to work on my diet.  I pulled out my copy of the “10 Day Detox” by Dr. Mark Hyman and got to work. Being realistic, I knew I wasn’t ready to commit to full program but instead adjusted my food consumption to his suggestions.  You know the usual – no sugar, dairy, alcohol, corn, beans, bread, pasta or ……..

    So what is left is protein, veggies, nuts and seeds! So one week later, I am down three pounds, while still enjoying two “days off” when I was out with friends.

    I recently heard that weight loss and maintenance is 80% diet and 20% exercise.  Not exactly sure about the ration.  But I do believe “We are What we Eat.” So in addition to my fitbit counting, this month’s focus will be what I eat and drink.

    I’ll see how it goes.