My introduction:

Okidokie. I was inspired by a recent Yahoo title on taking a photo of all your meals & how this can keep you on track. I'm already doing a scrapbooking project called Project 365 where you take one photo every day for a year. So taking food photos shouldn't be too much of a hassle since I'm tied to my camera anyway.

Here's a photo of us on the Staten Island Ferry this weekend on spring break


But I don't really want to take a photo of every single meal as that seems a big hassle and I don't really like hassles. Do you? Of course not.

So, here is my history: I'm a junk food junkie. Well, that isn't exactly true as I love real food too. I'm just a food junkie in general. I wouldn't call me a foodie as my impression of foodies is they spend money on food & wine. They eat in real, nice restaurants and have had duck confit and foie gras. Or whatever. My only knowledge of such things, if they even exist, is from reality TV like Hell's Kitchen and Iron Chef.

So I don't know what to call me. I do run a tiny professional bakery from my kitchen where I make 10 or so wedding cakes a year. I adore this. And I think I'm rather good at it. But even in this, I am no snob. I use boxed cake mixes and buy most of my ingredients at Aldi's. I CAN make a very good scratch cake. I just can't tell the difference. And my customers generally like the box ones better.

I don't believe in organics as I think they are mostly a rip off. I know there are a few things like tomatoes where organic is a good idea, but I feel like I am getting so many chemicals from the world in general, what's a few more? I'd rather keep my money. But if the money were no difference, then I would buy organic, ya know?

So the other thing you need to know before really starting this blog is I have been a Weight Watcher's leader for almost 7 years. I'm pretty strongly tied to Weight Watchers. Of all the programs I've ever tried or read about, they are simply the best. They have support, accountability, healthy suggestions, and a program that is totally adaptable to who you are and how you like to eat. Yeah, I'm pretty solidly a Weight Watchers advocate. And I'm a pretty good leader.

But since I had my last baby (she's 2) I've struggled to keep the weight off. I'm still at goal (150 lbs) but I'd really like to weight 135 lbs and change my goal. And I feel poorly a lot because of having 2 school age kids and 1 toddler. It is cold after cold after cold. This year I even had a flu shot and still spent a huge part of the winter ill.

And I'd love to train my girls (8, 7, 2) to eat veggies & fruits and I'd like to do this by setting a good example.



So here is the goal (or winning outcome):

By September 2009 I'm going to weigh 135 lbs and be running 3 miles 3 times a week.

And here is the plan (kinda a storyboard):
I recently read 3 books on eating a low GI diet. I love this idea but can't have a science lab in my house and want to be flexible which means I can't really do the low GI thing. I also feel like eating only Filling Foods (Core) is way to restrictive. So I'm just gonna follow low GI principles while still counting points. And use my 35 flex points for my french fries & cake I need from time to time. And I'm not giving up Diet Pop, so don't ask. I'm also gonna walk twice a week with a friend and will do one day on my own.

And the plan for this blog is to put as many recipes and info as I can about what I'm eating. I want to be useful to the blogging world. And I get a little frustrated as it seems like most "eat healthy" blogs are unrealistic for a regular housewife in the regular world. I'm just a normal Dorito eating mom who would like to jump on the healthy bandwagon without being beat up for liking Burger King from time to time and without having to justify needing to live on a budget. Cause let's face it, there are a lot of Weight Watchers out there who simply cannot afford to spend $300.00 a week.

My money goal on groceries is $125.00 per week.