Fish McBites

McDonald's has a new item on the menu right now - Fish McBites.  I tried them and they are very cool.  Snack Size is 280 calories and the Regular Size (which is really a lot) is 370 calories.  However, the Tarter Sauce is a lot - 130 on top of the bites.  So, I used the Spicy Buffalo Sauce instead, which is only 30 calories a packet, and you only need about 1 - 2. 

This is a great option if you are a fish eater during lent, too.

Enjoy!

Favorites Under 400 Calories Link

On the www.mcdonalds.com web site, there is a link called "Favorites under 400 calories". You can find it at http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/meal_bundles/favoritesunder400.html.  I think you might be surprised at how many choices are on there.  Check it out.

Snack Food Division

One great thing to do with snack foods is as soon as you get them home, divide them into portions and write on each the calories and/or points.  I had a craving for popcorn so I bought a bag of pre-popped popcorn.  But as soon as I got home I measured out 2 cup portions, but them in zip lock bags, and wrote on each both the calories and Weight Watchers points.  Makes it easier to only eat a portion, instead of the whole bag.  Give that a try next time you buy snack foods.

Below is a chart showing my weight before I started the "Mostly McDonald's Diet" on November 1st, and the steady loss after (without the actual weight numbers - I'm not THAT open!).  I've got a solid 15 pounds off since I started.  I'm not sure how much longer I will eat mostly McD's, but I'm so glad to FINALLY have lost some weight after doing nothing but gain for the last 7 years (while dutifully attending Weight Watchers meetings and trying trying trying to follow the plan!).  Feels great!

 

P.S. Everyone LOVED the Mighty Wings I brought to the Super Bowl party, and they sure were surprised when I told them I got them from McDonald's.  How fun!

What I'm Bringing to the Superbowl Party

For the first time in my life, I am bringing McDonald's to a Super Bowl party!  Yep.  I'm bringing the new Mighy Hot Wings.  I plan to put them on a nice platter, server them with hot sauce, and see how well people like them.  This should be interesting.  I'm also bringing a fresh fruit platter, so I have something healthy to munch on besides chips and wings.  One Mighty Wing is 87 calories. 

And, I'm rooting for the 49ers 'cause the coach used to be a Chicago Bear.  But really, I'm there for the social and the commercials!  Hope you have a fun day too!

Stir Fry for a Healthy Delicious "Snack"

Trader Joe's has already cut and ready to go stir fry vegetables.  I cooked these up tonight, just for a snack.  Topped them with my favorite Teriyaki Sauce, "Sweet Ginger" from "East West".  Then added a few cooked edamame and topped with a little crunchy chow mein noodles.   It was so delicious, great for me, and filled me up.  Why not "snack" on something like this for a nice change?

 

 

 

Zumba Tonight

I started using my Zumba Wii tonight.  It's basically calypso dance and a fun work out.  Got the heart rate up pretty quickly, which was great.  This is a nice alternative for exercise during these cold winter days.  Give it a try.

I won $50 for this "diet" !

I won $50 for doing this crazy "diet"!  Yeah, at my company they had a raffle/contest where we had to submit what we are doing to improve our health.  I told them about how I've lost 15 pounds since Nov. 1 eating mostly McDonald's food, by counting my calories, supplementing with fresh fruits and vegetables, and doing exercise.  I won a $50 Target gift card from the contest!  Plus, in March I will be featured in a company newsletter about what I'm doing.  How cool, and motivating!  So, being public about trying to lose weight can be vulnerable, but also helps get me motivated and helps me stay strong.  So does this blog.  Gotta be good - you are watching and reading (all 10 of you! LOL).

1/2 Angus Burgers - less than 400 calories

Tried something new tonight - eating a half an Angus burger and a big home-made salad.  Boy, that was delish.  1/2 the Bacon Cheeseburger is 395 calories.  Not bad and tastes fabulous.

Later for dessert - fresh blueberries and fat free Cool Whip.   Sorry, but I think that is better than ice cream. I'll take berries anyday.  Feeling healthy.

A good mantra to help resist temptation

Yesterday I had eaten all my calories and wanted to snack more.  But a saying I learned at Weight Watchers helped me resist: "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels."  Yep, it is very true.  I kept saying it to myself when I started thinking of ice cream.  No, thin feels better than ice cream tastes.  It's just true.  Remember - Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.  Yep.

A long list of McD Entrees for under 450 calories

Sanwiches/Entrees under 450 calories you can enjoy at McDonald's (See why I haven't gotten bored yet?):

McDouble - 390 cal.
6 piece Chicken McNuggets - 280 cal.
Double Cheeseburger - 440 Cal.
Grilled Chicken Southwest Salad with Southwest Dressing - 390 Cal.
Daily Double - 440 Cal.
Quarter pounder with Cheese - remove one piece of bread and one piece of cheese - 385 cal.
Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich - 350 cal.
Filet-o-fish - 380 cal.
McChicken - 360 cal.
Cheeseburger - 250 cal.
Grilled Chicken Ranch Snack Wrap - 270 cal.
Southern Style Crispy Chicken Sandwich - 420 cal.
Premium Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich no mayo - 410 cal.
Premium Grilled Chicken Ranch BLT Sandwich - 380 cal.
Angus Bacon & Cheese Snack Wrap - 390 Cal.
Angus Deluxe Snack Wrap - 410 cal.
Angus Mushroom & Swiss Snack Wrap - 390 cal.
Chipolte BBQ Snack Wrap with Crispy Chicken - 330 cal.
Chipolte BBQ Snack Wrap with Grilled Chicken - 250 cal
Honey Mustard Snack Wrap with Crispy Chicken - 330 cal.
Honey Mustard Snack Wrap with Grilled Chicken - 250 cal.
Ranch Snack Wrap with Crispy chicken - 270 cal.
Mac Snack Wrap - 330 cal.
Premium Bacon Ranch Salad with Crispy Chicken and balsamic Dressing - 440 cal.
Premium Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled Chicken and balsamic Dressing - 280 cal.
Premium Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled Chicken and Ranch Dressing - 420 cal.
Premium Caesar Salad with Crispy Chicken and Balsamic Dressing - 400 cal.
Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken and Balsamic Dressing - 240 cal.
Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken and Caesar Dressing - 390 cal.
Sweet Chili Grilled Chicken Wrap - 392 cal.
Caesar Wrap with Grilled Chicken - 270 cal.
3 mighty wings - 290 cal.

Today's Salad

Here's some of the delicious healthy items I bought at Trader Joe's today:

And here's what I made with some of these items:

Absolutely delicious.

Eating lots of fresh fruits and veges, plus McD's = weight loss for me.  This crazy diet is working (at least for now!)  Feeling good.

Dropped more weight - yippee!

Woo Hoo - had another drop on the scale today - got 17 off now.  Hope I can keep it going.  Going out for a steak dinner tonight (not McD's).  I plan to keep counting my calories, though, and supplement with lots and lots of delicious veges. 

Trader Joe's Really Helps with Eating Healthy

One thing I LOVE about Trader Joe's - in the one I go to they have a whole Information Center where the list items that fit your nutrition needs, like for me, low calorie foods and Weight Watcher low point foods. They also list what they sell that is vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, and on it goes. Makes it very easy to find good new stuff to eat.

 

Also at Trader Joe's, one of my top favorites is the Healthy 8 vegetables. Oh boy, put a little low cal salad dressing on that and you'll be full all day. And is it ever good for you. So, let's all give Trader Joe's our business and be healthy!

 

 

Tonight's dinner: McDouble (390 cal), small fry (230 cal), big homemade salad.  Dessert: Strawberries and fat free cool whip.  Yeah, that's good eatin.

What's the difference between a McDouble and a Double Cheeseburger?  The McDouble has only 1 piece of  cheese, the Double Cheeseburger has 2.  You save 50 calories if you get the McDouble.  Plus, it's only one dollar! 

I like the new Mighty Wings

I tried the new Mighty Wings today.  Definitely yummy.  Spicey, too.  Not for kids I think.  And I dipped them in the Buffalo sauce.  Yeah, I like heat.  So, I give them my thumbs up!

Wings and Selects - Yum!

I heard on the News tonight McD's is going to have Chicken Wings soon in the Chicago area.  Mmmm.   That's sounds good.  McD's already sells them in many other countries, but this is new to the US outside of the Atlanta area.  According to MyFitnessPal, 3 wings are 290 calories (so figure about 100 calories a wing).  As soon as I learn more, I'll let you know.   Here are a couple of articles on this:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/01/07/mcdonalds-chicken-wings/1814703
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/mcdonalds-chicken-wings-fly-tests-18152163

Also, I saw Chicken Selects on the menu the other day, so looks like those are back. Yeah!  Those are delish, and 3 are 380 calories, and zero trans fat.  I'm looking forward to getting those again.

One nice thing about having my food supplied by McD's - they keep adding new interesting items.  Helps keep it interesting.  Yep, still lovin' it.

Great Vegetable Soup to Add Veges to your day

I made my Vegetable Soup again today.  This is a great way to get vegetables in, plus feel really full, and especially in the winter.  It's super easy to make, too.  Here's how...

1) Chop one onion and put in a kettle.

2. Mince 2 garlic cloves and add to the pot.

3. Pour in the pot 48 ounces of low sodium chicken broth.  I like College Hill.

4. Add in one can of Mexican stewed tomatoes plus one can of Rotel.

5. Add juice from 1/2 of a fresh lemon.

6. Add 2 teaspoons Original Mrs. Dash, plus 1 teaspoon salt and some fresh ground pepper.

7.  Add a few drops of Tabasco Sauce for a little kick.

 

8. Then add two bags of frozen vegetables. I like at least one to have some water chestnuts in them, for a little crunch.

 

9. Stir.  Bring to a boil, then simmer on low for an hour. 

 

 

Then eat!  It's fabulous.  I like to top it with Ranch flavored croutons and a little Parmesan cheese.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Back on, and down 15

After eating on and off McD's food through the holidays, I went back on 100% (except for added fruits and vegetables) and dropped down again to 15 pounds off!  Yippee!

Today's menu:

Breakfast:
    Steak and Egg Burrito (300 calories)
    Coffee with Heavy Cream (45 calories)

Snack:
     Grapes (50 cal)
     Coffee with Half and Half (30 cal)

Lunch:
      Angus Swiss and Mushroom Snack Wrap (430 cal)
      1/2 a small fry (115 calories)
      Side salad (20 cal)
      1/8 Balsamic Dressing packet (4 cal)

Snack:
      Orange (60 cal)

Dinner:
       Quarter pounder open faced with only 1 piece of cheese (385 cal)
       Small fry (230 cal)
  
Snack:
         Green salad with lots of raw veges
         1 T Red Pepper Hummus (25 cal)
         6 Greek Olives (50 cal)
         1/2 ounce shredded cheddar cheese (55 cal)
         Chow mein noodles (60 cal)
          Light Raspberry Walnut dressing (50 cal)

Exercise:
          Spend 2 hours taking down Christmas decorations instead of just watching TV

Total calories consumed: about 1775