Weight Loss Tracker

Friday, October 30, 2009

Stress on top of stress and... relief?


Wow, I just realized it's been two weeks since I've posted!  I'm in mid-term mode, and it's ugly.  Very ugly.  I'm already behind about six chapters of reading due to all the papers I've been doing.  It's insane.

To boot, today is my 16th anniversary.  Good news, right?  Yeah, not so much.  He and I have had issues most of our marriage, and last night we had "The Talk," and it's sounding like we both give up.  I know I've had about all I can take, that's for sure.  And though I'm melancholy about it, I'm not as sad as one would think.  I really REALLY need to have less stress in my life, and being with him seems to cause me more than my fair share.

I have to say, though, I had a good session with Heather the other day.  This was in the midst of some of the crap I'm talking about, and by then I had sent the spousal unit a pretty scathing letter a few days prior, outlining the things I couldn't tolerate about his behavior anymore.  It wasn't nice, but it was honest.  I thought she was going to shake her head at me and tsk tsk, but she actually commended me and directed my attention to the fact that, instead of turning to food during this stressful time, I've been working out harder and longer, I vented in the letter, and I've been doing things to get it out rather than shoving it in.

So... I don't know where things go from here.  I'm a full-time student with no income, and I guess I need to figure something out.  The ironic thing is that a staffing agency I had been working with prior to going to school full-time called me out of the blue yesterday morning (before "The Talk") and wanted to see if they could present me for a position.  I told her that I'm still in school full-time, but we figured that since my last day is December 16 and it's nearly November, the hiring process can take a few weeks, and employers typically expect somebody to put in two weeks' notice, it may just work out.  I said, eh, what the hell?  Maybe it was an omen or a hint of things to come.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Cardio vs. Fat Burning modes -- good information to know


I've been thinking as I've been working out on the machines at the gym -- I've wondered what the benefits are of these two modes, cardio and fat burning.  I've found some differing opinions, but this was written by a doctor (found on a message board but credited to a Precor site) and explains how you may benefit from a lower-intensity workout (especially if you are, like me, trying to lose weight).  Here is the question that was asked and what she said:

Q. We have several workout machines in our office and I want to use them, but I'm confused about the different heart rate zones. What zone should I be training in to lose weight?

A. This is a great question that many people ask. It is important to realize that the body has two different fuels it converts to energy: carbohydrates and fats. The body burns these fuels in different proportions depending on your fitness and the intensity of your workout. Your body stores fewer carbohydrates than fat, yet it accesses the carbohydrates more easily. So the goal is to make your body more efficient at burning the stored fat while sparing the carbohydrates. Working out at higher heart rates [70 to 85 percent] will burn more carbohydrate calories in the short term, but it is working out in the lower zones [60 to 70 percent] that trains your body to become efficient at fat burning. In turn, this improves your endurance and aerobic fitness, eventually leading to a faster metabolic rate during exercise. This means that over time, you can burn as many calories at a low intensity as you were previously burning at a high intensity. With proper training this can happen in as little as three to six months.

Therefore, the best intensity for weight loss is one that seems 'fairly light' to 'somewhat hard'. Often people who cannot lose weight, or who even gain weight despite high intensity exercise and restrictive dieting, find success through a combination of slowing down their exercise, and improving the quality of their diet. This approach is not only more effective, but it's more fun and easier to stick to long-term!
-- Emily Cooper, M.D.


I sometimes tend to find it hard, actually, to keep my heart rate low enough to be in the fat-burning zone.  I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that I haven't exercised consistently or long enough for my heart to be strong enough to beat at a slower rate when exercise is introduced, but I have noticed in the past that it only takes a few weeks of moderate exercise about four times a week (or more) for my heart to respond accordingly.  I had times when I was younger and more fit that it was hard to get it up into the cardio zone.
 
So for a while now, I will work at getting and keeping myself in the fat-burning zone (since I have SO much to burn) and see how I feel about it.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Little quiches for breakfast (or whenever)


I got this idea the other day about making things for breakfast (which, though I might do a shake, I don't EAT because I'm not usually very hungry).  I know now this is not a brainstorm of my own since others have said they've found recipes online.  But here's how I fixed mine (realizing you can add or subtract anything you want to them).

I minced up some onion, mushroom, grape tomatoes, garlic, then chopped baby spinach, hand-stirred them up in a bowl, then I got out some muffin tins, sprayed them with olive oil, and put some of the veggie mixture into the bottom.  I then put a small dollop of sour cream in each one, filled with egg beaters, topped with shredded parmesan cheese, and put in a 350 oven for 15 minutes, then turned it down to 300 for another 15 minutes.

Whoa, nellie, they're GOOD!

I might one day try to make them more like a quiche (which has a crust) and use something like a philo dough or something to line the pan with.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

I've been kicking my own ass -- and loving it!


I wanted to post this yesterday because I was SO excited, but I had a terribly busy day and was still going over a term paper up until 2:00 am.

Anyway, yesterday I did the gym and while I was on the treadmill, I did one three-minute schleppy-run for three solid minutes!  Prior to that I did one run for two minutes, and then later did another one for nearly two minutes.  But THREE minutes!  I've never run that long at one spell before.  I know it's the most pathetic little accomplishment ever, but I felt very proud.  :)

Today I had classes again, so I went to the gym early.  The thing is, I don't have my first class until 3:00, and last week I left the house around 12:30, in order to get there about 1:30 and work out until about 2:45 or so before I start changing clothes and walk across campus to class.

Well, today I left at 11:30 and never thought about it until I was halfway to school.  I was like, OH CRAP, then figured, meh, that just means I can work out for over TWO hours.  Which I did.

I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, then 30 minutes on the treadmill (tried jogging again but only did about a 90 seconds because my knees are a bit sore and stiff, so I increased the incline pretty high), then did 45 minutes lower body weight training (yesterday was upper body), then back to the cardio for 30 minutes on the recumbant bike.  I checked my GoWear Fit and I did 800 calories during that time between 12:30 and 3:00!!  Feels GOOD!

I'm not trying anymore


I was working out the other day and was watching Dr. Oz while I was on the elliptical.  I didn't have headphones, but closed captioning was on.  There was a very overweight woman on there, and he was obviously talking to her about her health, her weight, etc.  She had done some modeling shots when she was 15 years younger (and SHE said a size 16 or 18, though I have to say she looked smaller than that), and she was lovely.  Simply lovely.  I looked at her, miserable, sad, a shadow of her former self, and it was heartbreaking.  I found myself saying, "Wow, 375.  That's 125 more than I weigh right now," and I hate to admit it, but I was relieved in a way.  I'm sad to say that out loud, but it IS what I was thinking.

Oz had a therapist woman in his audience, and I somewhat read the exchange between her and this poor woman.  And I recognized it as something I've heard before.  The therapist was telling her what she needed to start doing to get things under control (the woman is borderline diabetic now), and the woman said, "Yes, I can try that."  The therapist essentially said that that to say, "I'll try," you might as well say you won't do it because TRYING leaves open the optionn of failing.  If we say we will DO something, then that is an action word we can get behind.  Trying doesn't really mean anything.  If we "try" and then have an off day or don't want to exercise, don't want to eat well, don't want to drink our water, we can simply let ourselves off the hook by saying, "Well, I tried."

So... I have decided that I'm not trying anymore.  I'm doing or not doing, but trying is off the table.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Okay, no fair


Okay, I realize that when you work out, especially weight training, you can gain weight.  I get it.  I don't LIKE it, but I get it.  But damn, when you work your butt off and exercise, the last thing you want to see is a gain of two pounds on the scale for the next couple days.  How defeating.  :(

I keep trying to look up how to combat that.  Though I know some weight gain (or lack of weight loss) can come about due to muscle weighing more, since I've just worked out within the last few days, it's more likely a fluid retention issue.  How one goes about keeping that from happening, though, I have no idea.

For once, Costco is my friend


I can't believe it!  Just ran to Costco for some of their spring mix salad (which then turned into a meat run, edamame [frozen and dried for snacks], and veggies), and while I was there, I saw that they had a bunch of coats out on their tables for sale.  I found one I liked and though, what the heck, I'll try the extra large and just see.  A teeny bit snug, but it fit!!  So did a few others I tried on!  I can finally FINALLY buy something "normal" from off the rack!  All my other coats are anywhere from 2X to 3X and waaay too big.  I don't want to buy much like this because it's seasonal, but I would like ONE thing I wear this winter to not be humongous.

Friday, October 9, 2009

I'm SO glad you're looking out for MY best interest...


I stood up for myself, but I'm SO tired of it being an issue.

Hubby wanted Chinese tonight.  Not just Chinese, but a really great place here in town makes some fantastic ribs.  However, in the past I would accommodate him and order the General Tsao's chicken because he likes both, and that way he could HAVE both.  For those who might not know how General Tsao's is prepared, it's chicken that's deep fried with a lotus flour batter.  This place's is especially thick and crunchy -- and good.

Well... he orders his ribs, and then he's asking me what I'm getting.  I figured I'd try something different, so I tossed out a couple possibilities, leaning towards their pad thai (which I had never had before).  He kinda curls his lip and says, "Really?  You're getting that?"  I said yes, that I wanted to try something different, to which he said, "Their General Tsao's really good..."  I ignored him the first time.  By the time he said it the THIRD time, my response was, "Wow, I'm SO glad you're looking out for my best interest."  To which, of course, I get the, "What??  It's just really good.  I can't believe you're doing noodles.

Well, damnit, if that's what I want, then that's what I'm getting.  No longer am I going out to eat to give him everything HE wants.

Even my friend today, who's never said it before, essentially blamed my husband for my weight gain.  Granted, she's never known me thin (this is foody friend wife, and we've only known them since 2006), but I was very surprised to hear her say that.  I corrected her and said it was really my fault, but she re-corrected me and said, "Yeah, but he had a lot to do with it, with his obsession with food and wanting to eat out all the time."  Imagine that, coming from her!  lol

Anyway, I stood my ground, he pouted, and the pad thai wasn't all that good anyway.  But... it was MY choice.  Damnit.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Did three hours' worth today!


Workout, that is.

I did the first hour and 45 minutes this morning on the stationary bike while I did my textbook reading, and then I went to school early and headed right to the gym and did another hour and 15 minute workout there.

And now I hurt.  Gonna be hard getting out of bed tomorrow.  But YAY, I did it!  :)

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Feelin' GOOD


Okay, I did TWO things today!  I went to the gym for an hour and fifteen minutes and worked by bootay off (to the point of dizziness, so I guess that's good, right? lol), then came home and did some textbook reading on the stationary bike for another 40 minutes.

I'm on my way back dowwwwn, baby!  As of this morning I was at my previous low of 223.5 (down 67.5), and once I get below 220, I'll be the lowest I've been in probably 12 years AND I'll have lost the most I've lost (previous amount was 70 pounds).

I feel empowered right now.  If I could only bottle it so that I ALWAYS seek out to feel like this.

Back in the saddle again!


Okay, not only am I heading to the gym in a couple hours and working out before class, but I got on the scale today and -- WOO HOO!  I'm back at my low of 223.5, a weight I haven't seen since right after the pouch test waaaaay back when!  First I had that absolutely unexplainable spike right after the test, then I bobbled around 224-226 for a while.

Well, today I feel energized.  I was thanking God as I took my shower this morning because now I can use that as my baseline, and it's a number I've been looking for (and a number I've been looking to pass, obviously) for weeks now.

Okay, my friends, let the workout begin!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Okay, time to get a grip


After thinking about how depressing it is to have virtually no weight loss for months now, it's time to quit using the excuse that the basement is torn up.

Some months back I got the "great idea" to move everything over to one side of the basement to start laying flooring that we had moved from upstairs to downstairs (it's that snap-together Pergo-style stuff, which we replaced with wood upstairs).  Ever since then, my workout area is pffft, and I've used that as my reason for not getting in some good exercise.  I don't always LOVE walking, just like I don't always LOVE using the exercise bike.  However, the one thing I can do with the bike that I can't do when walking is read my textbooks while using it.  Which is what I used to do when I didn't have my basement all torn up.

Not only that, I have some new videos that I want to utilize (Jillian, anyone?), and frankly, I'm just feeling disappointed in myself.  So... I think here before the end of the week, stuff is going to be moved around again so that I can utilize the stuff in the basement.  Enough of this already.

Just like I can't own a hammer and expect it to build me a house, I can't have a band and expect it to pull all the weight (no pun intended).  I don't LOVE exercise, but I hate being fat and feeling like a failure even more.

Absolutely, positively, and totally pathetic


I don't know what made me do it, but I was thinking about when I got my GoWear Fit while I was doing some troubleshooting on it.

I've had it on since March 17 -- over six months -- and I only show an 18 pound loss.  I've been stagnant most of the time I've had this thing on, and it's all me.  I've slacked in some areas, totally screwed up in others... it's effin' depressing to know that I went through this surgery and I'm  not much better off than I was when I just dieted.  If anything, I lost more in less time when I dieted, losing on average 10+ pounds a month.  I did a weightloss program a few years ago and lost 70 pounds in six months.  And here I am coming up on my 1-year bandiversary in six weeks, and I'm "only" at 67 pounds lost.

I can't say I feel defeated, but... wow.

Guess I can use this anger at myself to get my ass in the gym now that I know I have free access.  I need to get a HUGE grip.  :(

Fear of weight loss


I've been busy so I haven't posted as much here as I normally would, but last Wednesday's therapy session has me very worried.

In talking to Heather, it was talked about how losing weight doesn't really change the underlying circumstances that created us.  In other words, if we used food to buffer us from our issues, what will happen once we lose weight?  What will we use to handle stress?  I wasn't sure...

Worse yet was the realization that I will be the same person but in a different body.  But besides all that, the question in my mind remains, "Who will I be?"  I don't think Heather understood (she's thin, yanno...), so I explained -- I said that being obese, you identify yourself (whether others do or not) as the fat sister, the fat daughter, the fat wife, the fat mother, the fat friend, the fat student/coworker... that being fat almost defines who you are as a person.

I know it's been mentioned on message boards and even in articles I've posted here that the fear is, will I lose my identity, even though being the fat [insert descriptor here] is NOT who I want to be?  Let's be honest -- it takes a lot of energy to be fat.  We expend a lot of energy thinking about how bad we look, wondering what people think when they look at us, trying to figure out what to wear to this function or that outing that will make us look LESS bad, trying to be invisible yet being upset that we are invisible, not looking at ourselves in the mirror, not doing fun things because of our weight, making excuses for not going out, feeling less than... the list goes on and on.  It becomes so ingrained in who we are (well, for me, at least) that I wonder WHO WILL I BE when I get to a reasonable weight?  And I'm upset that I let this "thing" define who I am and take up so much of my thought processes and dictate my life.

The fact is, my problems won't disappear when I lose weight.  I will still have the same issues I have today -- I'll just be more healthy physically.  But I worry that the weight loss will unearth feelings that, until now, have been stuffed away under a layer of blubber.  It's like taking the sewer cap off the sewer and the gases escaping.  How will I handle things?  And WHY is it that I've let eating/fatness/weight be the buffer between myself and my feelings or hard situations?  What am I lacking that THAT is all I could think of to turn to?  How will I replace bad reactionary habits with good, healthy ones?  And what will those be?

The fact is, I'm scared.  And though I know to some degree what I'm afraid of, it's also about as solid as mist.  Just like I stayed in an abusive first marriage for longer than I should of because it was familiar, so too do I believe I've hung onto my weight for a long time because it's familiar.  It's the unknown that unnerves me.  How sad is that?

Weight-Loss Surgery: Accepting Your New Life and Body

Amazing!  I was looking through this past year's entries in Everyday Health and they had this article!  It's a bit late in coming for those of us who have had surgery a while, but it still has some great information.


Bariatric surgery brings big changes, and many are emotional. Follow these tips to adjust to the new you in healthy ways.

By Gina Roberts-Grey

After weight loss surgery, patients can experience dramatic transformations — and not all are easy to spot. As they shed weight and begin to experience life as a thinner person, they often find they must adjust to some changes they never anticipated, in addition to the expected transformations in their eating and exercise habits. Inquisitive questions, new social interests, a changing body image…all can offer special challenges, opportunities, and risks after gastric-bypass surgery. Follow these tips to ease the transition to your new body and your new life.

Practice responding to questions and compliments. Initially, it can be difficult to face common questions from friends, coworkers, and acquaintances, such as, "How did you lose all that weight?" and "Did you have work done?" Even, "You look amazing!" can cause stress if you haven't thought about what to say. Decide how you'd like to reply to these questions and compliments (and any other comments or reactions you anticipate) ahead of time, and practice giving responses with a trusted friend or even in front of the mirror, says Anne Eshelman, PhD, ABPP, clinical-health psychologist at the bariatric-surgery program at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Ultimately, you need to feel comfortable with your new body image before you can expect others to be. This confidence will make the transition easier.

Plan for relationships to be affected. Life after bariatric surgery can be trying, and new eating and exercise habits may affect the way you socialize with or relate to certain family members or friends — or even your spouse. Expect relationships to face these challenges and to undergo changes. Also, bariatric-surgery patients often gain self-confidence after shedding a lot of weight, and this can change the long-standing dynamics of a relationship. "People who were always submissive because their weight sapped their confidence may suddenly come out of their shells," says Eshelman, "and that may be startling for their partners or friends." Consider speaking with those closest to you about such issues before the surgery, if possible.

Expect positive attention, but keep a healthy perspective. Rapidly losing weight after bariatric surgery sends some people in search of attention, as they feel more attractive than they ever did when they were obese. Perhaps for the first time in their lives, they're receiving positive reactions from others. Jessie McCaskill, 46, from Las Vegas, experienced this after she had weight-loss surgery in 2002 and lost 130 pounds. "After losing the weight, for the first time in my life I was the 'belle of the ball' and went looking for attention." McCaskill found the attention she never got presurgery, and that attention led to an extramarital affair. "Despite being married to a fantastic person, I was driven to heal the hurt fat girl I'd been for 41 years." That healing, McCaskill says, ruled her. "Because of the changes I was experiencing, I acted rashly. It's one of my life's biggest regrets."

Discussing the physical and emotional changes that come after weight-loss surgery in a support group can be helpful, says Eshelman. Hearing the insights of others can help bariatric-surgery patients recognize people who may sabotage their transformation and situations that may become emotionally unhealthy. "A support group can help teach coping strategies as well as help a patient develop healthy levels of self-esteem and self-confidence post–weight loss," says Eshelman.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/weight-loss-surgery/weight-loss-surgery-body.aspx

Skipping Breakfast? Think Again!

This is from an e-mail newsletter I get.  I posted something recently like this, but I'm pretty bad about eating (or even drinking) breakfast.  Here's hoping I follow my own advice.  :(


There's no doubting the importance of breakfast. It keeps us moving forward throughout the day, and actually helps control our weight.

By Lynn Yoffee

The importance of breakfast can't be denied. But some people avoid breakfast to cut down on calories. Others say they're just not hungry in the morning. And then there are those who don't like breakfast foods. However, if you skip this key meal after 8 to 12 hours of fasting, you're denying yourself the fuel you need for a sharp mind and productive body.

Breakfast: Still the Most Important Meal of the Day

The American Dietetic Association reports that people who don't eat breakfast tend to be tired, restless, and irritable in the mornings. Those who do eat breakfast are better able to concentrate and have more strength. The importance of breakfast boils down to this: Breakfast eaters are simply more productive people and have better attitudes at work.

"We've known for years that kids' concentration is better and their academic performance is better if they eat breakfast," says Susan Finn, PhD, dietitian and president of the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition. "With adults, and especially with people trying to control their weight, it's the meal you omit to cut calories. But it's much more appropriate to eat small meals more frequently to avoid hunger and keep a steady blood glucose level than to skip a meal. It gives the energy that keeps us moving forward."

One study from Michigan State University that looked at the connection between breakfast and body mass index in adults found that those who eat a morning meal, particularly cereal, were better able to manage their weight.

Another study from the Maryland Medical Research Institute on the importance of breakfast found that teenage girls who ate cereal at breakfast were better able to maintain their weight, too. They took in more fiber and calcium along with less cholesterol and fat — eating cereal includes milk, and all the nutrients that go along with it.

Finn pointed out that even though breakfast is often treated as the smallest meal of the day, it should be larger, with less food at night.

"Other countries, in Europe particularly, have a more substantial early morning meal and they have lower obesity rates," Finn says. "If you've gone without food for a long period of time, it can suppress appetite, but once the hunger sets in, you can overeat. It's much better to balance out your food intake. Frequent feedings avoid the dips and increases in blood glucose so that you have enough energy throughout the day and avoid a ravenous appetite."

What's for Breakfast?

A good breakfast should include grains, fruit, and protein. Finn says there's nothing better than an egg for pure protein, but note that's just one egg. Eat it along with whole grain toast, fruit juice, and a glass of skim milk for a perfect breakfast at home. Here are some other ideas:

Try a new twist with cereal by mixing it with dried fruit and yogurt.

Don't like breakfast foods? Have a grilled cheese on whole grain toast with sliced tomato and low-fat or fat-free cheese — just go easy on the butter or oil for grilling.

Make a shake with frozen fruit, such as strawberries and banana slices, plus skim or low-fat milk. Enjoy it with a whole grain or whole-wheat bagel for a quick breakfast.

For kids (and adults too!), try making banana dogs. On a whole-grain hot dog bun, spread peanut butter, add a small whole banana, and top it off with a sprinkling of raisins.

Another fun choice is the breakfast taco. Put cheese, such as Monterey Jack, on a corn tortilla. Fold, microwave for 20 seconds, and then top with salsa.

Breakfast on the Run

The importance of breakfast doesn't diminish even with a busy schedule that keeps you from sitting down for a hot meal. Try these ideas:
  • Make and bag your own granola ahead of time for on-the-go breakfast. Do-it-yourself mixes with dried fruits, nuts, and seeds help you limit the additional sugars in some pre-packaged varieties.

  • Make and freeze low-fat breakfast muffins that you can grab as you run out of the house. They’ll thaw by the time you reach your desk.

  • Slap together a good-for-you breakfast sandwich, such as a whole-wheat English muffin or pita pocket with one ounce of lean turkey or ham and mustard. Add a piece of fruit along with a yogurt drink.

  • Cut open a small bran muffin and top it with a spoonful of yogurt and fresh berries for a muffin sandwich to go.
Breakfast choices can go well beyond cereal and eggs to include any foods that you like, even if they’re not thought of as traditional breakfast choices. Just pick healthy foods you enjoy and you'll get the energy you need for the best start to your day.

I now have no excuse. Rats.


I recently heard from a fellow student that as a full-time student, I could enjoy the gym facilities at school for free.  Tonight I went between classes and got information about the gym, what classes are offered, the time it's open, etc.

For sure I have two days out of the week that I have no excuse.  Right now I'm trying to figure out if the satellite campus I go to on Wednesdays offers free use of the facilities as well, but as it is, it LOOKS like they charge, for some reason.  I'll call in the morning though just to verify.

They have everything -- free weights, machines, pools, saunas, aerobics classes (free), yoga and pilates (small charge of $55 for a semester)... everything I need to get my ass in gear, and no excuse not to use it.  My classes on Mondays and Wednesdays start at 1:30, and Thursday's classes don't start until 3:00 -- plenty of time before classes.  So for sure two -- and hopefully three -- days a week I can use the gym!

Now here's hoping they're not gonna be downers and not allow me to use the gym on Wednesdays.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Two-legged fat better than four legs

I got this in an e-mail from somebody the other day.  For those who try to pay attention th their fat intake (amount and/or type), here is a little trick to help you figure out which fats are good and which are bad.



If you have a hard time remembering the difference between saturated fats and unsaturated fats — let alone monounsaturated or polyunsaturated — here's a trick. Think of fats in terms of having no legs, two legs or four legs.
A four-legged fat is simply a fat that comes from a four-legged animal, which includes the fats in butter, beef, bacon and cheese. Products from mammals contain saturated fat, something to stay away from. Then there's two-legged fat — that comes from chicken — which is somewhat better. The best fat has no legs at all (think avocados, fish, olives and almonds).

Saturated fat turns on genes that age your immune system, build plaque in your arteries, raise your cholesterol and inflame your blood vessels. On the other end, the right amount of no-legged fat (unsaturated) helps your body absorb certain vitamins, boosts heart health, keeps nerves and cells working optimally and raises your good cholesterol.

Cough drops are DANGEROUS!


I was sick for about a week here recently, and luckily it just stayed a head cold.  It tried working its way down into my chest, but I bombarded the little buggers with every OTC med I had in the house.  Enough, I thought, to kill an elephant, but obviously not since I'm still here.  ;)

Anyway, hubby got me some Honey Halls Mentho-lyptus for my throat, and the next thing I knew, I was on my fourth bag.  They started out as being medicine but soon turned into vapory candy.

Well, obviously when you're sick you're pretty sedentary (though the same can be said for being a full-time student... gotta work on that), and the other day I get on the scale and I was up 2.5 pounds!  WTF??

So I check the Halls bag and get this -- 15 freakin' calories per drop!  And I swear, each day I had ingested over 450 calories in cough drops alone!  HOLY COW!

Okay, so time to step BACK from the cough drops.

Hubby's a real gem, though... He went to Costco yesterday and got me a gargantuan pack of the li'l buggers, but sugar free.  So now they're only 5 calories each.  o_O