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    KALISWALKER   64,844
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Need a New Rule & Starting the Exercise Streak!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Day 14 of food tracking on Spark. One of my Spark buddies pointed out she cooks from scratch and it's time consuming to enter in all the ingredients. This week I am using up food on hand. When I get groceries, I will try to make a point of using Spark recipes as they already have the portions and nutrition recorded, even for common things like steamed veggies.

Our next 5% Challenge is daily exercise. The food tracking is going well, so I am excited about it starting a new streak. I have to move my treadmill desk to a new location and get using it. Right now it's packed up while hubby paints.

Tonight we are visiting new friends and playing cards. Tomorrow night we are going to a Christmas party. It will be tempting to nibble on food, but I have to keep in mind we are there to visit not to eat. I need to come up with a 'rule' to handle the situation.

I stopped eating in the evenings by going to bed a little earlier - RULE 'I won't reward myself with food for staying up late'.

What rule do you have when you go out?
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  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

XNANNY 11/21/2012 4:54PM

    I just eat the things I love with maybe a taste of something new. This works for me but I am willing to stop my weight loss for a time at a Holiday.

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JAXMOMMY 11/19/2012 4:17PM

    I use the recipe calculater and groupings alot. I dance when I can and try to eat veggies and more veggies! Most parties have a veggie tray. I've never cared for the dip anyhow, so a plate of carrots, celery, cauliflower, etc. is great by me. I do always have some cheese since I love it so, but I have more veggies than anything!

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LUCKEYRN11 11/17/2012 3:18PM

    Getting a little extra sleep instead of extra food is probably a good thing!

Streak on!

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MOSTMOM1 11/17/2012 9:11AM

    Fun, not food. That's my new rule.
Streak on!!

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DONNABRIGHT 11/17/2012 7:53AM

    Fill a wine glass with water and keep on sipping is my rule!

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TPETRIE 11/17/2012 7:40AM

  You can use the recipe calculator, it is time consuming but you can save it on your tracker. For the party you can eat light through the day and choose selectively at the party. You can do it. emoticon

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NUTRON3 11/17/2012 6:07AM

    check the menu online first thing

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SVELTEWARRIOR 11/16/2012 11:44PM

    I do what COOKINGGRANNY said when I make a new recipe...it is a little time consuming the first time but then it is in your tracker for next time. My rule when I go out is to bring water with me and sip on it all night

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MORTICIAADDAMS 11/16/2012 10:39PM

    I don't go out much and try to keep it to a minimum but I have a rule to only eat the things I really love and if something isn't that good I won't finish it. I only drink water too.

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RDGISME 11/16/2012 8:38PM

    Myrule is that I eat BEFORE I get there! Most often just an apple will do the trick: it's sweet, crunchy and leaves a pleasant taste..give it a shot and of course..have a blast!

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LESLIELENORE 11/16/2012 6:34PM

    For parties and friendly get togethers I stand with my back to the food if at all possible. It really seems to help. I also try and take something that fits into my plan, so if nothing else does then there is something I feel comfortable eating.

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ADRIENNIE 11/16/2012 5:52PM

    Try anything but keep the portions tiny.

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MEME102 11/16/2012 5:42PM

    I always try to see if there's an online nutrition menu to choose from BEFOREhand. And if I make a choice that's a little more than I want it to be I always cut the meal in half from the very start. I have also been known to watch what I eat for the day (and the day after) so that I may indulge if it's a really favorite place!!

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BRAVELUTE 11/16/2012 5:14PM

    Take a hostess gift of something you consider to be fun and on your life plan. I like to make spirals of Joseph's flatbread, cream cheese, and fruit or veggies. But that's up to you. Then I tell myself: eat it if it's on your meal plan.

I also up the water the day before and after in case the foods that I think might fit the bill have more salt than I would have used.

If tempted, I tell myself to go do something else I would enjoy like meet someone new, find out something new about a friend I never knew, delve into their past, go outdoors and look at the ______________, whatever. Invite someone to go with you who seems bored, tempted, or interesting.

I also try to leave something extra from each of my food groups uneaten. That way, I can choose fruit, veggies, grains, or a whole meal of those things.

It it's a dinner and I've only allowed myself to do a vegetable plate and there weren't many veggie choices, I don't mind asking that they be passed again after everyone else is served.

Final Rule: Have a good time. You are going there to do something entirely different than you've been doing. So do something different!!

If there is music/dancing, keep the floor busy whenever you feel all good intentions flying toward the buffet or bar.

And at the bar, I allow myself to request lemonade, or water with a twist of lime AND lemon and something tropical if they're serving it, like a slice of pineapple.

I've been known to ask for sangria and hold the sangria. You get a lot of fresh fruit that way.

Comment edited on: 11/16/2012 5:16:43 PM

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KIMPY225 11/16/2012 4:35PM

    My rule is... ASK! I make tons of changes every time I order something.
Here are some of my normal:
-No cheese
-On the side
-Extra tomato
-What light dressing do you have?
-Veggies steamed instead of fried
-No butter

If I go to a party, I usually bring some healthier foods I can eat. I also try to eat before I go if I can!

Good luck!

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VONBLACKBIRD 11/16/2012 4:29PM

    Rule for eating out...it doesn't matter if it is a party or cafe..I go for the fresh veggies and fruit..and if they have little chuncks of ham..at parties..I never eat chips..they have lots of empty calories.
At cafes I look at recipes that are mostly veggies..maybe with a little shrimp. Sometiems I will eat just the salad and boiled shrimp. Also i never go to places that serve greasy foods..I avoid them if at all possible as usually you can never find anything healthy at those places.

For Christmas this year with our kids and grandkids, we are doing finger foods and they have to be healthy..with maybe a couple of kinds of cookies..I will be serving babybel light cheese, fruit plate and veggie plate with ranch dip made with fat free sour cream..There is still the calories but not as many and the fat calories are nil..

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SH9719 11/16/2012 4:26PM

    I agree with granny. Entering will get easier as you go on. I either use the recipe calculator or groups. Most of my breakfast combinations are in a group. Copying saves a lot of time also.

At a party, I would first scout out what is available. Then target the healthier options and calculate in your mind what you think healthy portions are. You can then either make a plate that would be your allowed food or Take turns eating a healthy portion of multiple foods to stretch it out. Do not forget to include drinks in you figures.

If it was me I would save up calories during the day and make sure I know my available calories when I left for the evening.

Just do your best. Good luck

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COOKINGGRANNY 11/16/2012 4:04PM

  There is a recipe calculator where you can enter the recipe and then save it to your food tracker so you always have the required information for tracking. emoticon

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