After a week of illness and renovations ongoing I am persevering at the gym and WW. To date, after three weeks, seven pounds have been shed. Whether this is due to stress or my increased activity at the gym....I don't know. But, either way, the jeans are looser and I've been motivated.
My house is still in the shambles. There are layers of dust around that you can not only use to write your name in, but also work well as coasters. It's been there so long now the hardened particles are becoming part of the decor. I had been keeping on top of it at first, however, quickly realized it was a futile effort and reluctantly waved the white flag in defeat.
Our small office is now a full size bedroom currently inhabited by Noah. Project "Build Noah a room" is complete. Now we are renovating the room the boys shared to make it just for Drew. As excited as we all were to see Noah finally get his own room - in the shuffle of it all that first night alone was devastating to Drew. Caught up in the commotion we'd forgotten to think about the impact this would have on Drew . However, he too now is thrilled to be personalizing his own space red paint and all!
I am now on a first name basis with "Barb" at Chester Dawe ( lost count of the number of sheets of gyproc that's been ordered) - Christmas card to that woman! I have Lost track of the number of paint swatches that have made their way through the house - thank goodness for the memory of the staff at the Paint Shop! My cell phone bill may take a beating this month as it doesn't stop ringing with, "did you remember this?", "have you ordered that yet? Do they have it in stock?", "what time are they coming tomorrow?" - my mind races and at moments I feel like I'm going to require medication to make it through.
Today, I just stayed away. Why watch my house go deeper into the hole of disaster! Lunch and an afternoon outside with the lady cousins, spin class tonight, and a cell phone that stayed on silent all day!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
McDonald's - The Wrap v.s. The Burger
After a morning skating lesson with my daughter we were off to McDonald's for a lunch date with two friends. For Grace, the usual McNugget happy meal and chocolate milk. Me, I entertain the thought of a wrap while truly wanting ( and feeling I deserve a treat) a burger. How many points exactly would a juicy burger put me in the hole? The wrap? In the end I settle for a diet-coke fountain pop, knowing full well I could be eating the remains of what my daughter leaves behind which bring with it it's own level of dieting guilt. Wonderful, another test of my will power!
The ladies arrive and we've all ordered similar choices for our children. With one tray containing the "healthier choice" of the wrap. We encourage the kids to eat all their food (as to minimize the mommy munching) and happily send them in to the playroom. I like to think if it as more of a containment unit. A plexi-glass paradise that with any luck will allow me and my friends to have an adult conversation with minimal pestering and refereeing. Yet, the swinging door still allows the little ones to enter and leave at their leisure, sometimes without us even knowing. Idea. Lock the door and install and intercom system. If they want out they simply press the button and parent will come. Since kids now a days have the ability to operate Wiis and Nintendo DSs. I have no doubt they will be able to utilize this intercom system that is ultimately under my control. You wouldn't necessarily have to open the door for them. Simply approach the glass and with the use of hand gestures, over-done body motions and the "don't push me" mommy looks - address the situation.
What was that? "Want a free coffee Jill?", Kelly asks. "But of course", I reply. I don't really like coffee. Yet, to deny myself the indulgence of something free seemed silly. So, here we were. Kids were happy and playing, Moms had coffee (and a fountain pop), we chittered and chattered, then full circle we came back to - The wrap. Sweet mother, it's still sitting there along with a a few nugget remains and my mouth began to water at the thought of it touching my taste buds. I looked at my fountain pop. Under usual circumstances I would savor every sip. It's carbonated bubbles tickling my tongue. The semi-square ice cubes maintaining the perfect temperature leading to hours of sipping. Tim Hortons coffee?? No, not me. I'd hit the morning drive through for my ever cherished fountain pop. Yet now it did nothing to quench my senseless hunger for carbohydrates and trans fats! My precious pop and free coffee overshadowed by the posibility this wrap my not be the good treat we'd always thought. Could this be true!?
"Did you know that wrap is worse than having a burger!" - what was she saying? Is this right? Had the "healthier choice" become a dieting mommy's nightmare. Our will power was already being tested to the limits - good lord had we been mentally tricking ourselves all this time?
Through the, "Honey you can't climb up there!", "Were you nice to your friend?", "Crap, is she even in there?", "Mommy, watch me!", "Oh baby you're so sweet" we laughed, sipped coffee and fountain pop while still being plagued by the burger versus wrap debate. Oddly enough, at the same time the kids started exponentially falling apart and the decision was made to disband and regroup again next week - same time, same place. With one difference. "Somebody find out what we can eat here!!!!"
Well, here it is. After some online researching this is what I have found out. Below is the basic nutritional information that I found on the McDonald's Canada website:
Hamburger:
250 calories
8 g fat
510mg sodium
32 g carbohydrates
2 fibre
(that's 5 points with WW)
Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap
240 calories
9 g fat
750mg sodium
24 g carbohydrates
3 g fibre
(that's 5 points with WW)
Chicken nuggets - 4 pieces
210 calories
14 g fat
450 sodium
13 g carbohydrates
1 g fibre
(that's 5 points with WW)
McDonald's Food Quality (link)
...and there it is. In the end, whether it be a burger, nuggets or a wrap no one is better than the other. Whether your counting calories or counting points it's a marginal three-way tie for these guys. What does this mean you ask? Well, next time you find yourself at the counter tormented by what to order to maintain the integrity of your diet - STOP!! It's all the same! The only real difference is how we mentally justify one over the other. If you feel better eating a wrap as opposed to the burger? Then do so. Indulge in that hamburger! Are you really going to notice the 10 calorie difference. Or better yet, just sit with the old faithful fountain pop savoring the peace and temporary tranquility ...
Eventually your child will fall apart leading to a meltdown that ends their time in the containment unit and your mental health session with friends. However, I remind myself once again ; There is a sense of camaraderie and great comfort in the simplicity of a lunch date at McDonald's. Free coffee, a good vent session, an outing closed with a hearty pat on the back for not having eaten anything! Today's diet integrity, maintained!
The ladies arrive and we've all ordered similar choices for our children. With one tray containing the "healthier choice" of the wrap. We encourage the kids to eat all their food (as to minimize the mommy munching) and happily send them in to the playroom. I like to think if it as more of a containment unit. A plexi-glass paradise that with any luck will allow me and my friends to have an adult conversation with minimal pestering and refereeing. Yet, the swinging door still allows the little ones to enter and leave at their leisure, sometimes without us even knowing. Idea. Lock the door and install and intercom system. If they want out they simply press the button and parent will come. Since kids now a days have the ability to operate Wiis and Nintendo DSs. I have no doubt they will be able to utilize this intercom system that is ultimately under my control. You wouldn't necessarily have to open the door for them. Simply approach the glass and with the use of hand gestures, over-done body motions and the "don't push me" mommy looks - address the situation.
What was that? "Want a free coffee Jill?", Kelly asks. "But of course", I reply. I don't really like coffee. Yet, to deny myself the indulgence of something free seemed silly. So, here we were. Kids were happy and playing, Moms had coffee (and a fountain pop), we chittered and chattered, then full circle we came back to - The wrap. Sweet mother, it's still sitting there along with a a few nugget remains and my mouth began to water at the thought of it touching my taste buds. I looked at my fountain pop. Under usual circumstances I would savor every sip. It's carbonated bubbles tickling my tongue. The semi-square ice cubes maintaining the perfect temperature leading to hours of sipping. Tim Hortons coffee?? No, not me. I'd hit the morning drive through for my ever cherished fountain pop. Yet now it did nothing to quench my senseless hunger for carbohydrates and trans fats! My precious pop and free coffee overshadowed by the posibility this wrap my not be the good treat we'd always thought. Could this be true!?
"Did you know that wrap is worse than having a burger!" - what was she saying? Is this right? Had the "healthier choice" become a dieting mommy's nightmare. Our will power was already being tested to the limits - good lord had we been mentally tricking ourselves all this time?
Through the, "Honey you can't climb up there!", "Were you nice to your friend?", "Crap, is she even in there?", "Mommy, watch me!", "Oh baby you're so sweet" we laughed, sipped coffee and fountain pop while still being plagued by the burger versus wrap debate. Oddly enough, at the same time the kids started exponentially falling apart and the decision was made to disband and regroup again next week - same time, same place. With one difference. "Somebody find out what we can eat here!!!!"
Well, here it is. After some online researching this is what I have found out. Below is the basic nutritional information that I found on the McDonald's Canada website:
Hamburger:
250 calories
8 g fat
510mg sodium
32 g carbohydrates
2 fibre
(that's 5 points with WW)
Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap
240 calories
9 g fat
750mg sodium
24 g carbohydrates
3 g fibre
(that's 5 points with WW)
Chicken nuggets - 4 pieces
210 calories
14 g fat
450 sodium
13 g carbohydrates
1 g fibre
(that's 5 points with WW)
McDonald's Food Quality (link)
...and there it is. In the end, whether it be a burger, nuggets or a wrap no one is better than the other. Whether your counting calories or counting points it's a marginal three-way tie for these guys. What does this mean you ask? Well, next time you find yourself at the counter tormented by what to order to maintain the integrity of your diet - STOP!! It's all the same! The only real difference is how we mentally justify one over the other. If you feel better eating a wrap as opposed to the burger? Then do so. Indulge in that hamburger! Are you really going to notice the 10 calorie difference. Or better yet, just sit with the old faithful fountain pop savoring the peace and temporary tranquility ...
Eventually your child will fall apart leading to a meltdown that ends their time in the containment unit and your mental health session with friends. However, I remind myself once again ; There is a sense of camaraderie and great comfort in the simplicity of a lunch date at McDonald's. Free coffee, a good vent session, an outing closed with a hearty pat on the back for not having eaten anything! Today's diet integrity, maintained!
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