Happy Tuesday!

I'm feeling better today, my ear infection seems to be doing better, but my back is still in a funk. I am back to tracking though, so here's to sharing some healthy eats with you!! 

I'm going to start adding points+ values to the site as I look them up per readers' requests. I've also been asked about my opinion of the points plus program. I decided not to do it because I already knew the old program and the formula was working for me and I didn't want to spend more $$ to learn another program. My initial reactions to the program are here and here, but the main reason I didn't change was that there is no slider to calculate points+ values. I have learned a lot about the value of food based on the slider and how if I change it I can make it a better "diet" food and when that tangible piece is gone, I feel a little lost in the kitchen. Since the points+ conversion, I have stepped up my food group tracking which was in part motivated by the emphasis points+ places on fruits and veggies, so it has helped me refocus.

Those are the reasons I decided not to do the points+ program, but that isn't to say it can't work for you. WeightWatchers is an excellent educational program reteaching the how-tos of healthy living and I think what they suggest is based on sound nutritional research and can work for nearly anyone given they put in the effort. Some of my favorite bloggers follow the points+ program and they look fabulous and aren't complaining! WeightWatchers has helped people in many forms over the years (1972 version)- my mother-in-law did it when it was just choosing a certain number of foods from each food group- and despite the big changes they have made over time, people continue to see dramatic results. I still highly recommend WeightWatchers in whatever its current form to anyone looking to start loosing weight. Who knows, maybe I'll rejoin for my last 5 lbs loss before goal so that I can become a lifetime member.

This morning, I had a cliff bar 2pts (120 calories, 3.5 points+). Oh, and a lot of medicine- ear drops for outer ear infection, antibiotics for inner ear infection, and ibuprophen for back swelling.

For lunch, I had the Santa Fe Style Salad with Chicken again from Kroger. I can't get enough of it. Its 5pts (240 calories, 6.5 points+).

I took a break in the afternoon and had some earl grey tea to try and kill my headache and give me some energy. I felt like I was running on empty!

I was so ready to get home when I finished work. I have big plans to clean the house top to bottom tonight! Matt and I picked up chinese on the way home. The hibachi buffet near our house does take out for 3.49 per lb and we get a 10% discount for being students so it has become our guilty pleasure for eating on the cheap. Not the greatest, but it was good! I had a few pieces of General Tso's 4pts (100 calories?), 1 cup of black pepper chicken 11pts (450 calories), and cheese won tons 8pts (300 calories). I didn't end up eating the stuffed potato.

I'm going to spent the rest of the night cleaning and scrubbing so here's to sparkle tomorrow! Have a productive night everyone!! Look at my new tracker! I made some stickies for the bottom of the page. It has the food groups and amts I need to check off as well as a graph to track my hunger throughout the day. I'm all about the visual!

Tuesday Stats:

Water: 70 oz. / 80 oz.

Calories: 1,250

Points: 29 / 23

Weekly Points: 6 used today / 29 remaining

Exercise: none (waiting on x-ray results)

Activity Points: 0 today / 0 week

Weekly Weight Loss: +.8 lbs / 38 lbs total