Food find #1

I've been trying to eat healthier and exercise regularly for a while now. Back in March I signed up on Spark People and began trying to work out regularly and track my caloric intake with their food tracker feature. It was a real eye opener to find out what I was putting into my body. I also realized that spotty work outs weren't going to cut it for what I wanted to accomplish.

It took me a while to get into a routine and get comfortable with it all. In May I stepped up my commitment and really focused on my food and fitness. I had lost a couple pounds from March through April, but I really made improvements in my overall fitness from May until now. I feel stronger and noticed that my body has changed. I've lost a total of 17.5 lbs. and went down one pants size and almost two dress sizes. I've got about 12.5 lbs. more that I'd like to lose but more importantly I want to drop one more pants size. I know that since I'm building muscle the scale may not read the way I'd like it too, but I know smaller pants means I've finally trimmed down my ass and thighs.

So this long background summary brings me to the title of this post. During each of my quests to lose weight (Weight Watchers, Slender Lady, good old fashioned diet and exercise) I would find great food and fitness tips to help me along. Sometimes it would be a fitness fact that opened my eyes to a long believed myth, and sometimes it would be a great low calorie/low fat food item that I could use for a snack. I learned to substitute foods I was normally eating with better choices as well as portion control. I thought it might be cool, or somewhat helpful, to share things I've learned along the way with you. I'll post a food find or fitness fact of some kind when I have one and hopefully help someone make a better choice towards a healthier lifestyle.

*Disclaimer--I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or personal trainer. I do not claim to know everything about food and fitness. I do claim that I love food and struggle with fitness...that's how I gained 30 lbs. after my wedding. I do not aim to counsel you or tell you what to do for your own diet. I already have a kid...and a husband...that's all the mothering I can take right now. If you use these tips or facts and they do not work for you, then I am not responsible for the results. If you incorporate these tips or facts into your life and they do work, then I will be more than happy to take full credit and you can thank me with donations to R's Hawaii or Exotic Vacation Trip Fund. Thanks.

First up for food find--Jack In The Box. Surprised? I kind of was. I've pretty much cut fast food out of my life because finding a healthy option at a drive through leave me very frustrated. I can't always get a freakin' side salad with low fat Italian dressing and be satisfied. What I really want are french fries and a big effin' chocolate shake at Mc Donald's, but a large fry is 570 calories. 270 of those are from fat. (!!!) The shake-580 calories with 120 from fat for the 16 oz. size. I can't do it. My total caloric intake per day is supposed to be between 1200-1550 and that blows me out of the water. So I found something that I can actually eat that doesn't taste like the bag it's served in. The chicken fajita pita at Jack In The Box.

Here's the break down (courtesy of their website) on the nutritional info for those that care:

280 calories
9g fat
3.5g saturated fat
60g cholesterol
1110g sodium (ouch!)
30g carbs
2g fiber
3g sugar
21g protein

Keep in mind this if for one half of a pita which is what you get when you order. It's not the healthiest thing for you to eat. It's still better to pack your own food and eat that. It's also better to just get a side salad, but if you're in a pinch and bored of rabbit food it could help out. If you eat the salsa it's another 5 calories and 150 grams of sodium, but it adds to the taste of it.

There you have it. I encourage you to take a look at the websites that list nutritional information and take a look at the cheeseburger, fries, shake and apple pie you're chowing down. Or any food for that matter. It might open your eyes a little and make you think about it twice before ordering. Go forth into the world and make better food choices my friends. It's a step in the right direction. :)