A View From the Other Side

My Week:

First I'll start off telling you about my week and then I'll get into the "data" I've been combing to find out what those skinny people do to stay skinny!!!

I did really well this week.  I "only" earned 29 activity points... about 10 below my average for the last 3-4 weeks.  But I still got in all the "planned" activity I set out to do.  So I'm very happy with that.

I went out to eat 4 times this week:

• 1 brunch (OMG was bad, but soooo good.  I planned on being bad though - ate a very light dinner and no other meals in between)
• 1 lunch - to chili's.  Chose what I was going to have before I went, counted all the points and stuck with it.
• 2 dinners -- Olive Garden and Panera.  Both restaurants I chose my meal before had and mostly stuck with it.  Olive Garden I ended up have 1 bread stick and an extra helping of salad (these two were not planned) but had their veggie lasagna with grilled chicken (OMG was that good - 14 pts)

I used all my activity points (which I generally always do) as well as most of my extra weekly points (only have 18 of those left).  My goal is to just try not to use all of those, which worked this week.  I tend to lose sometimes even if I do use them, but I know many cannot lose weight when doing that.  Without knowing those people, I'd say that it would be because they do not exercise, but I know one person that exercises a crap ton and cannot dip into those points or she won't loose - so that theory's gone and will play well into what I've found from my research.  Anyway - the week was good for me, not too too many cravings or bad days.  I lost 3.4 lbs this week - my total is now 90 lbs (OMG... 10 lbs away from a pressie to myself).

A View From the Other Side:

I apologize for the length and formatting issues you may experience... it's hard to "format" appropriately. I asked 10 people that I view as being healthy from the outside (visually thin and healthy looking) and I received data from 4 of the 10 people I asked.  Pretty good I'd say.

Those that I received data from I would say are probably some of the healthiest people I know and in general I don't see them eating bad things (mostly).  Keep in mind I only see them at work.  But here's their make-up and healthy eating and habbits (I'm purposefully keeping age out of the equation - but ages range from 34 - 45):

Person A:
About 5'6", If I had to guess her weight I'd say probably 120-125 (I'm a terrible judge of weight though), I'd say she wears a size 2 or 4 (again terrible judgement here too).  No kids, married. She likes to try new recipes out and her family has asked her to start sending them her recipes.  She also belonged to a co-op exchange last year, I'm not sure she will do that this year (she said it's hard to eat all that food).

• Breakfast - coffee (2-3 cups), organic raisin bran and almond milk OR whole wheat toast with all natural peanut butter, banana and a glass of almond milk.
• Morning Snack - fruit or granola with tea or orange choose.  The granola consists of granola, dried cranberries, peanuts and yogurt covered raisins.
• Lunch - Her lunches varied a lot:  1/2 turkey sandwich and a spinach salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil; spinach salad with carrots, broccoli, red peppers, sunflower seeds, walnuts, dried cranberries and olive oil/apple cider vinegar; squash with 1 T butter and agave sweetener and cucumbers with hummus; Chili with salad (olive oil and balsamic vinegar); 2 turkey lettuce wraps with cheese, BBQ black bean chips and glass of almond milk; mushroom veggie burger with hummus, avocado and arugula on whole wheat English muffin with BBQ black bean chips and Joia Natural Soda (Saturday); oatmeal pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 turkey sausage patties and Juice (Sunday).
• Afternoon Snack - hand full M&M/pretzel/almond mix (I believe her when she says a handful), apple, trail mix granola bar, veggie straws, apple, 1/2 banana, cucumbers with hummus and crackers. weekend:  2 glasses sangria with fruit, 2 slices baguette with olive tapenade and 2 stuffed red peppers (Saturday)
• Dinner - Salad with salmon, blue cheese, walnuts, 1/2 corn muffin and glass of almond milk and tea; chili (vegetarian), 1/2 corn muffin, 4 dark chocolate covered almonds, glass almond milk and tea; small plate of whole wheat spaghetti with tomato sauce and grass fed ground hamburger, glass of almond milk and 5 dark chocolate almonds; squash with 1 T butter and agave sweetener, bowl minestrone soup, glass almond mil 5 dark chocolate almonds (does this bag last her a lifetime???);  mushroom veggie burger with hummus, avocado and arugula on whole wheat English muffin with BBQ black bean chips, baked sweet potato slices (tossed in olive oil, salt, pepper and paprika) 1 glass of wine and 3 dark chocolate almonds (she's literally killing me!!!); weekend:  3 glasses of wine, marinated baked chicken breast, asparagus with parmesan cheese (baked), red potatoes with olive oil, rosemary and garlic and a 1/2 chocolate chip cookie (seriously),  Sunday was the same as Saturday except instead of a cookie she had 8 (oh she went overboard, must have been the wine) chocolate covered almonds.
• Activity:  She does something EVERY DAY.  At least an hour a day (or more) - 60 minute core routine (P90x), 60 minute combo of elliptical + leg work, 60 minute strength/resistance training + 15 min abs, 45 minute run, 75 minutes of warm up run (10), back/biceps (50 min) and abs (15), sat/sun 1 hour walk.

What did I learn from her? There's a reason why she's healthy!  She has so much control and eats so darn healthy AND works out.  She only drinks on weekends.  She has a snack almost every day (weekends were the only time she didn't snack - only Sunday really).  I have always said I would like to be like her and this just proves it more!!!

Person B:
About 5'2", If I had to guess her weight I'd say probably 110-115, she probably wears a size 0 or 2.  One kid, married.  Not much of a cook. Has standard breakfast, lunch, midday/late night snack and standard daily beverages, dinners vary.

• Breakfast - 1/3 cup V8 Fusion Light Pomegranate Blueberry Juice, 1/8 cup raisins and 1-1/2 Graham crackers
• Lunch:   1 package Ritz peanut butter cracker sandwiches (6 per package), 1 Greek lowfat yogurt
• Mid-day Snacks:  (usually 2 per day of any of the following) One 100 calorie Lorna Doone cookies, 3 cups Angie’s Boom Chicka popcorn, ¼-1/2 cup crackers – i.e. Blue Diamond Almond Nut Thins, Fritos-Lays Baked Cheetos, lowfat chex mix, 3 Kim’s Magic Pop wafers, carrots with light ranch veggie dip
•  Daily Beverages:  2 cups coffee,1-2 diet Coke or Light Minute Maid Lemonade,1 water, 1-2 glasses red wine
• Dinners: (always vary) 3 medium sized pepperoni pizza slices and Plain romaine salad with Girard’s Light Champagne dressing; Caprese salad (1 tomato, 2 slices fresh mozzarella, olive oil, basil) and Angie’s popcorn; Pasta with chicken Milano sauce and plain romaine salad with Girard’s Light Champagne dressing;   Ham/cheese Panini, Field salad and bread with butter; Chicken/bacon chiabatta sandwich,   French fries and Caesar salad; and   Chicken,  Couscous and Hearts of Palm salad.
• Exercise: (no ‘standard’ exercise and levels depend on the weather and her race goals.  Below is what she did for a given winter week.  In spring/summer/fall, she typically works out 5 days/week including 3 runs, 2 bikes, 1 weight workout for a total of 6-8 hrs/wk). 
• Every day: 50 sit-ups
• Day 1 & 5: off
• Day 2: - 4:  40 min stationary bike
• Day 6: 45 min arm weights and 60 min run
• Day 7: 35 min run

What did I learn from her?  She's very much into a routine and pretty much sticks to it.  She has 1-2 alcoholic beverages every night but really doesn't eat a ton - so again, there's a reason why she's thin.  If you knew this woman she does look very fit and healthy.


Person C:
About 5'6", guessing weight around 135-140, probably wears a size 6-8.  Has two children and married.  Has a great social life.  Often times does not sit when eating lunch (with us at work) stands and eats becasue she says she sits all day.

• Breakfast:  3 cups coffee w tsp cream each (daily standard); 2 cups Special K w almonds and 1c 1% milk; English muffin w peanut butter, 1 hard egg, 1 c green juice; Scrambled eggs w cheese, 2 slices bacon, cinnamon roll, orange juice; golden Graham's w 1% milk; Bowl of corn Chex w 1/2 banana and 1% milk; strawberry/banana yogurt smoothie, scrambled eggs w cheddar cheese, 1 orange roll; 
• Lunch: Salad: romaine, mushrooms, cherry, tomatoes, crumbled feta w olive oil, red vinegar, lemon juice and dill dressing. Handful of Parmesan pita chips; 10-12 crackers w cheese, apple; heirloom grain salad, 2 slices bread, raspberry iced tea. Packet of choc covered almonds; Veg lasagna and an apple; Bagel w chive cream cheese, pear, 1 c cheese it's; Egg, cheese, spinach on English muffin
  Pear, Greek yogurt, toasted almonds; Sliced turkey on 10 grain bread w miracle whip, havarti & spinach, Cheetos & banana and Teriyaki chicken skewers, steamed broccoli, rice pilaf
• Dinner: Spinach salad w egg, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, sunflower seeds, feta, dressing of olive oil/vinegar/lemon/dill. Roasted sweet potato; 2 tilapia fillets, 1c asparagus, sm baked potato. 2 vodka diet 7up cocktails; Salad 2 c dark greens w balsamic, 1/2 c pasta salad w feta, q/2 c melon, 4" slice pizza, 2" cube chic bread pudding. 3 coors lites; Scrambled eggs w cheese, 2 slices bacon, cinnamon roll, orange juice Veg lasagna, bread, salad, apple pie w ice cream. 2 glasses white wine; Broccoli chicken divan, 2 crescent rolls, pear slices, glass Pinot Grigio;1 orange bell pepper stuffed w ground turkey, Spanish rice, melted cheese. 1.5 corn muffins w honey, steamed corn. 1 vodka 7-up; 2 slices chicken Alfredo pizza , 1 c cantaloupe Spinach/romaine chopped veg salad w lite blue cheese, 1/3 sweet potato; toasted turkey and cheese torta, golden rounds, pickles, fruit salad; 8" thin crust pizza w mushrooms, olives and onions, salad w lite Italian dressing. 6 light beers; Egg salad w fresh spinach, 1/2 sandwich, blue corn chips & salsa, mixed fresh fruit, pickle; 2 vodka & diet 7-up. Grilled Garden burger w miracle whip, havarti & spinach, baked sweet potato, chopped salad, slice watermelon.
• Snacks: 6-8 cheese/crackers, 5 strawberries, cookie, 1 glass Pinot Grigio;1 c buttered popcorn; 2 cocktails, 5 coors lights; 1 coors lite; 1 glass Chardonnay
• Activity:  2 mile walk w dog; Wii just dance; Walk 1 mile; Walk 2 miles; Walk 1.5 miles

What did I learn from her?  She sometimes doesn't eat 3 meals a day, exercises often and drinks daily (LOL).  If you knew her you would be like "DAMN she dresses so cute and is so nice and thin (and healthy looking)".


Person D:
About 5'8", guessing weight around 140-145, probably wears a size 8-10.  2 kids and married.  Eats all day long (not bad things, but eats often).  Really makes healthy foods, good cook.

• Breakfast:  coffee / latte every day, plus either granola bar, breakfast sandwich (whole wheat bun with turkey and cheese), donut, scone or egg / bagel sandwich.
• Lunch:  usually left overs from dinner (just cuz i know)... white rice with organic chicken breast, greek yogurt and olive oil; bagel, laughing cow wedge, olive oil spinach and greek yogurt,  eggs (w), whole wheat bun, turkey, mayo, salad dressing and cheese with strawberries; soup and bun
• Dinner:  Eggs (2) and bagel; steak (3 oz), corn tortilla (2), low fat mayo, cheese and peppers (mmm mmm good); home made pizza with cheese and sauce; whole wheat bun, spicy black bean burger, beer; organic chicken breast, bagel, butter and popcorn; pork (5 1/2 oz), whole wheat bun and risotto with olive oil
• Snacks:  Dilly Bar (DQ), Beer (she really likes beer), granola, rice crispy treats, honey mustard pretzels, frosting (LOL - this is soooo me), rice crispy treats (guessing she put the frosting on here or just ate it), popcorn, oreos, jolly ranchers, noosa (she loves this yogurt), greek yogurt, watermelon and olive oil (now that's kinda weird)
• Exercise:  40 push ups and 20 minutes elliptical; 30 min elliptical; 75 minutes walking; 35 minutes walking; 

What did I learn from her?  She definitely gets her healthy oils in, eats very regularly and "normal" portions without weighing and measuring (I know this personally), doesn't miss a meal and truly fits the "normal" person category.  Exercises regularly. LOVES BEER!!!

What I found was most of them had a standard breakfast and lunch and dinner, yet still healthy, varied quite a bit.  Each one of them have some sort of exercise they work in weekly - vigorous or not... it's still movement!!!  Weekends they tended to splurge more. (Sounds just like me... so why do I struggle so much?) Each one of these people I would guess fluctuate in their weight regularly but for the most part are probably within 3-5 lbs of the same weight at all times.  Not once have I seen any of them "heavier" or would notice any fluctuation in weight.

Which person do I wish I could be?  Person A - because I know her personally it is just in her nature to eat healthy.  She genuinely likes it and is very conscious of what she eats, but not because of weight.  Because she wants to eat healthy.  I hope that some day I am in this same spot - I do like eating healthy but she is above and beyond!!!

Who could I see myself being like?  Person D and actually probably the person I will be once I'm at my goal weight... which means that I will have to constantly work at keeping my weight off and making concious decisions on eating healthy.

Which person would you like to be and which do you think you could be???  Tell me more... and hey - have a great week!!!

I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After!