Fat Tuesday: What's up Chicken Butt?

Gooooooodddddd Mooooooorrrrrrning Blogggggies!!! Welcome to this edition of Fat Tuesday. I'm fighting Fat Tuesday with a 3 mile jaunt around campus, followed by 15 minutes worth of weights and crunches this morning (this isn't even including my evening workout!). Time to bring back two-a-days. I will admit, I've slacked off the past three days, and while I can blame it on traveling, which I did a impromptu trip to the Queen City, doesn't mean I should've fallen into the deep valley of laziness. While I digress, today is a brand new day, and it's time to saddle up ol' blue and get back up in dis cut as the kids say.

Let's take a look at the latest cluck to hit the coop. KFC's Double Down Sandwich. I don't know if you've seen this monsterwich but it's the big chick in town.

KFC's Double Down Sandwich, an double fisted collection of bacon, cheese and Colonel's Sauce snuggled between two fried chicken "buns." Granted from our friends over at Thirty Five Eight: Politics Done Right's recent article it's not the unhealthiest sandwich but it sure is holding its own right next to the Triple Baconator from Wendy's, Hardee's Thick Burger and Burger King's Whooper with cheese.

Let's take a more in depth look at the Double Down...

KFC Original Recipe® Double Down
540 calories, 32 grams of fat and 1,380 milligrams of sodium 

KFC Grilled Double Down
460 calories, 23 grams of fat and 1,430 milligrams of sodium

While both versions aren't as bad as other choices on several menus (some would call this lite!), those 540 calories contain 145 milligrams of cholesterol (more than twice that of the Big Mac and about half of the USDA's daily allowance) - along with 1,380 milligrams of sodium (the USDA recommends no more than 2,400 per day) and 32 grams of fat (65 will keep you slim, says the government). So, for getting only about one-quarter of the calories that you need in a day, you're exhausting about half your budget of "bad stuff".


Who wants to exhaust your food intake budget on this!? Think twice before you bite!

Purrrrfect Zen...

"I meditate, I do yoga, I chant.. and I still want to smack someone!"

My mom sent me this card, and I found it to be phat girl blog worthy! Thanks Mom!

Happy Monday :)

Have you tried Zumba?

For the past few weeks, I have been attending Zumba class two times a week. I can't rave enough about it!

I would define Zumba as a type of dance, using Latin inspired moves set to upbeat music. The class uses intervals, pairing certian moves with slower beats to warm you up and then kicking it up a notch using faster music and more difficult combinations.

While you may think you are just jumping around and having a good time, the different steps and combinations target specific areas of the body. The best part is, you may hate doing ab work, but there are moves in every combination that work your abs without you really knowing it. I just took a class last night that apparently targeted arms because my arms are a little sore today, like I lifted weights last night instead of Zumba-ing.

If you are interested in checking out Zumba, visit the official website, http://www.zumba.com/. The website has a list of locations where Zumba is offered. Zumba is a great way to mix up your workout. Try it - I promise you won't be able to stop moving!

These are the days of Phat Girl's life...Before meets After

OK so I've been thinking (and promising) that I need to show progression pictures. This isn't a full body shot...sorry fellas, I know I'm just a tease...but the next best thing...(no) double chin pictures!

This was me on one of my visits home right after moving to Cleveland...

This is me today, right after I walked 60 minutes on the treadmill,
20 minutes on the elliptical and Level 1 of the 30 Day Shred
(sorry for the crazy eyes...that's what walking for 60 minutes listening to B.E.P's will do to you)

Still have a long ways to go, but so far have come along way :)

Fat Tuesday - GOT BEEF?

Welcome to the first edition of Fat Tuesday. I will be your hostess today...minus the hurricanes, elaborate parade with beads and king cake! In this edition of Fat Tuesday, brought to you by Eat This, Not That, we are going to delve into the meaty goodness of the good ol' hamburger. Let's take a meaty look at the top 15 worst burgers.

Worst Burger Kids Meal - Burger King Cheeseburger and French Fries (small)
680 calories, 33 g fat (10.5 g saturated, 0.5 g trans), 1,360 mg sodium

Worst Cheeseburger with Everything - Wendy’s Double with Everything and Cheese
700 calories, 40 g fat (17 g saturated, 2 g trans), 1,440 mg sodium

Worst Burger and Fries - In-N-Out Burger Hamburger and French Fries
790 calories, 37 g fat (10 g saturated), 895 mg sodium

Worst Plain Burger - Five Guys Cheeseburger (plain)
840 calories, 55 g fat (22.5 g saturated), 1,050 mg sodium

Worst Double Meat Burger - Whataburger Double Meat Whataburger
870 calories, 49 g fat (18 g saturated, 1 g trans), 1,510 mg sodium

Worst Burger Breed - Carl’s Jr. Six Dollar Burger
890 calories, 54 g fat (20 g saturated, 2 g trans), 2,040 mg sodium

Worst Thick Burger - Hardee’s Original Thickburger (1/3 lb)
910 calories, 64 g fat (21 g saturated), 1,560 mg sodium

Worst Chicken Burger - Red Robin California Chicken Burger
946 calories, 57 g fat, 2,002 mg sodium

Worst Turkey Minis - Ruby Tuesday Turkey Minis (4)
1,058 calories, 58 g fat, 79 g carbohydrates

Trans-Fattest Burger Combo - Jack in the Box Bonus Jack with Small Fries and Small Coke
1,061 calories, 48 g fat (17 g saturated, 5 g trans), 1,609 mg sodium

Worst BBQ Burger - Red Robin Whiskey River BBQ Burger
1,114 calories, 69 g fat, 1,805 mg sodium

Worst "Healthy" Burger - Ruby Tuesday Avocado Turkey Burger
1,130 calories, 68 g fat, 62 g carbohydrates

Worst Fast Food Cheeseburger - Burger King Triple Whopper Sandwich with Cheese and Mayo
1,250 calories, 84 g fat (32 g saturated, 3.5 g trans), 1,600 mg sodium

Worst Mini Burgers - Chili’s Big Mouth Burger Bites (4)
1,580 calories, 97 g fat (28 g saturated), 2,930 mg sodium

Worst Burger in America - Chili’s Smokehouse Bacon Triple Cheese Big Mouth Burger with Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
1,901 calories, 138 g fat (947 g saturated), 4,201 mg sodium

Now what makes most of these beefy beauties "worst" is the fat and sodium content (and for some calories). Keep in mind for a woman who consumes 1,500 calories the recommended fat intake is 50 g, and for a man who consumes 2,500 calories the recommended fat intake is around 70-80 g. As you can see MOST of these burgers are either at or well over the recommended fat intake per day. Even those labeled "turkey" or "healthy" still have red flags that fly high above the pretentious patties! I will admit, ain't no shame in my game, but I have eaten a couple of these monstrous mammoths before. And while they are tantalizing tasty to the taste buds I never knew the evil that lurked below that secret sauce.
 
When you are thinking about beef for dinner just keep in mind that making simple swaps with sides, condiments, buns and toppings could make a world of difference!
 
Happy Fat Tuesday!

No Pain ... 4 Pound Weight Gain

I can't believe I gained back four pounds. UGH! I hate seeing that number go back up on the scale, and even more getting discourage over how much I've busted my butt over the last two weeks only to be given four pounds slapped right back on. I am so close to a 50 pound weight loss I can taste it! Now instead of 5 pounds to lose to 50 I now have 9 pounds to lose to 50! Now I have to bust it twice as hard this week to shed those pesky four pounds. Even though it feels quite the set back (which I shouldn't be crying over but its a low blow), I'm not going to let it get to me. Just means it's a last chance work out every single day this week. Once mother nature makes some weather decisions I'm thinking about picking back up two-a-days with walking. Three miles in the morning, and three in the evening. I've now decided to work in more of an incline with my treadmill walking. Now I go from a 6% incline for 10 minutes, to a 7% incline for 10 minutes and then a 8% incline for 10 minutes, all at varying speeds. Let me tell you...that 8% is brutal. I'm waiting for the treadmill to throw me off of it one day. I bet it gets tired of being walked all over...ha ha...OK bad joke.

Five new goals for the month of May. Let's see if I can keep these goals on track...

• Try one new recipe a week - I think this is do-able...Rachel Ray eat your heart out.
• Incorporate more strength training into weekly workouts - I suck at this right now. For some reason I'm cardio driven and lack the need for strength training. I need to incorporate this to boost optimal caloric bad ass burning.
• No purchasing of goldfish or any other chip like product (unless I have company) - I've come to realize that those damn Goldfish crackers and Baked potato chips are a trigger for what I like to call "one more servingitis." Anything chip related is just a bad news bear for me. All I want to do is eat them till they are all gone. No joke, I totally took down the gigantic milk carton of Goldfish crackers my mom bought me...two weeks ago. Not good, not good...and now I know how I gained back those four pounds.
• Eating fruits and veggies twice a day - I'm sure that this is less than what a person should be doing, but I've noticed lately I haven't even been eating enough fruits or veggies a day.
• Start a weight loss support group - I keep reading that it's better if you have a work out buddy or a group of people who are in support of your efforts, and while I have friends and family who root me on, I want to do the same for others.

While I've had a minor set back, I'm enjoying the fruits of work out labor by purchasing smaller clothing. Nothing beats the feeling of dropping two to three sizes. I can't wait to buy a pair of Gap jeans...it gives me chills ... just like the premier of the Ricky Martin "La Vida Loca" video... ey papi!

While at the grocery store...
I will never go grocery shopping on a Sunday again...I barely made it out alive let alone with all my fingers and toes. People are ruthless! I about had a throw down with Grandma Jenkins over some 100 calorie Jell-o Pudding cups. That's right...I will fight a Grandma for some pudding cups...pinkies up bitches!

I decided to try out the new Yoplait Smoothie packet. Haven't made it yet, but plan to wake up everyone in my apartment building sometime this week when I hook that bad boy up and serve up some fantastic fruity smoothie sensations! So far reviews have been pretty good about this, but I was disappoint on the price. You only get two servings and it cost damn near $4 bucks.

Also new to the E NERL Pantry is Wheatable Nut Crisps crackers. I have a feeling...that these will be just as addicting as Goldfish crackers. I had some with roasted red pepper hummus the other night...nut crisps take me away!

BETTY'S BUSTY BUDDIES! Walk, Run, Support for a cure!
Update on the Breast Cancer front...many of you know I started this healthy life style change not only for my own general good health, but also to support a very dear cause. For every pound I lost I donate a dollar to the Susan G. Komen Cincinnati foundation. If you are interested in walking, running or supporting this cause please visit.... I would like to give a very special thanks to all my family and friends who have and are supporting this great cause! It means a lot!

Question of the day to my readers...how do overcome minor setbacks? Any strategies?

Who's Bad!?

I've had one of those weeks were it's a face off between me and my enemy in a dark garage and we are about to rumble into a dark, wet ally way with my extremely tight red leather coat, black tapered pants, white socks with black shoes and a glistening coif of curls. My enemy is something evil...evil yet delicious and totally semi-bad for me...so bad for me I will be guilt ridden for days even though it is "baked". My nemesis...meet baked Cheetos. As of yesterday I vow not to buy these things anymore. I can't have them in the mansion. They beacon to me like a college party beacons to Michael Phelps. I grow weak at the knees when I see that cute cheesy cheetah and his too cool for school sunglasses. No more I say to the crispy, abstracted puffed corn! I don't care if you're baked, delicious and half the fat and calories of regular potato chips.

I've been really slacking on the food journal lately. I need to get back into that. It really helps to see where I'm lacking and what I'm not getting enough of. I'm also trying to think of five different things I can swap to help with my battle of the bulge. The top contenders fighting for the top five spots:

Baked Cheetos (obviously) - I think I'm going to replace this with carrots. They are still orange, maybe not as tasty, but can be paired with a variety of dips (hummus, fat free ranch..) to tantalize the taste buds.

Eating out - I probably go out to eat two to three times a week. Most of the time, and I emphasize "most," I do eat sensible when I go out. But occasionally there is a Mexican restaurant involved and I might as well as say gracias to sensible eating that day. I plan on buying with my amazon gift card the Biggest Loser Calorie Counter book (which came in the mail yesterday!). That way I can make sensible swaps and have the hard facts staring back at me.

Clothing/Jeans - I need to get rid of my old jeans and clothing and get super hot new ones. I'm reluctant because I've had these jeans for the past year and a half and they fit me like a glove...well now they fit like an old, worn out glove. The crotch is down to my knees and I think it's time to retire them. I think it is important to find good jeans that fit so that way I can see and feel the difference of the new vs. the old.

Workout - Even though I think my workout is working out, I think it needs a little sumpin' sumpin'. Next month I'm going to start fitness kickboxing. It's a 45 minute workout which consists of kickboxing on punching bags, light weight training for strength, and calisthenics for conditioning and toning. My plan is to do this three times a week and the other three to four days at the gym doing my usual treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, weights and 30 day shred routine.

(last but probably not least...)

Cooking - my idea of cooking is throwing a lean frozen meal in the microwave and then dressing it up a little with additional veggies and light toppings. I need to turn up the heat in the kitchen and start making fresh, healthy meals. I just got my copy of the Biggest Loser's "6 Weeks to a Healthier You" in the mail and they have some kick-ass recipes in there that I can't wait to try. It's time to put the frozen meals back in the freezer and start sharpening my Cutco knives! Watch out Emeril!

What are sensible swaps you have made or are making to keep you on the straight and narrow healthy road?