The FAT truth

             ALL of the women in this picture weigh 150 pounds.

Slimmed down spaghetti and meatballs!

Aghhhhhh yes.......the good Lord was thinking of ALL fat girls when he created spaghetti squash. You could not ask for a better replacement for the real thing. Now, I am a spaghetti and meatball kinda girl. Nothing will stand in my way of eating a big bowl of the real deal from my favorite Italian restaurant. Now, when I tipped the scale at 300 pounds (okay, no tipping. I was 300 pounds) I was eating pasta like it was going out of style. When I started really watching what I ate, I made the switch from regular pasta to spaghetti squash. Take a look at the nutrition facts:

25 slimming calories per 1/2 a cup. Awesome.

If I have a higher calorie lunch (say-a huge slice of pizza) I will opt to have something much lower in calories for dinner that night. HOWEVER- it still has to be filling. Who can sleep on an empty stomach? Not this girl. I try to have spaghetti squash about two times a week.  I always feel like I weigh less the next morning.

So, while you feel like you are being bad.....you are actually being VERY good. So, go to the store and look for this:

You will quickly learn that eating healthier is much more expensive. Your average fat loving, carb coma inducing box of spaghetti will cost you about $1.00. Yesterday, I paid $1.49/per pound. I usually spend between five to seven dollars on a spaghetti squash (depending -of course- on where you buy it).
Stick the entire squash in your microwave for about 10 minutes or until the outer shell softens a bit. Allow time for it to cool off (a good 20 minutes) before slicing it in half and scrapping out the seeds (think pumpkin). Use a fork to pull out the stringy squash into a nice large bowl. Open a can of tomato sauce but always CHECK NUTRITION INFO!! Most canned sauces run about 60 calories per 1/2 a cup but some can go over 100 calories. Next time you shop spend some time looking at the different varieties of sauce. Try to find one that sounds good and is relatively low in calories.

Want to pair your slimmed down spaghetti with some meatballs? Check out this great recipe for low calorie/low fat meatballs: http://www.food.com/recipe/low-calorie-low-fat-meatballs-230185

Eat like a FATGIRL enjoy being slim.

SLIM DOWN YOUR DRESSING

I am not a fan of fat free salad dressing. I mean, come on....you are having a salad! Lighten up a little bit (pun intended). I always go with a less fat/lower calorie version of my favorite bottled salad dressings.  Two in particular: KRAFT Light Catalina and KENS Light Italian. They are awesome. I alternate every few days and occasionally I will attempt to try a new brand but I always fall back to these two.  The average "light" salad dressing runs about 50+ calories per two tablespoons. Now, I don't know about you.....but two tablespoons for a nice big salad is never enough for me. This is one way I cut the calories in the dressing so I can have a salad covered in dressing...just like a fat girl likes it. Here is a way to slim down  the calories and still maintain the full flavor of the dressing:

Pour the entire contents of your selected dressing into two bowls. 1/2 of the bottle in one bowl. 1/2 of the bottle in a second bowl.

ADD: 1/2 cup of vinegar (your choice-red, balsamic, white) to each individual bowl and stir. I prefer white vinegar because each of these dressings are white vinegar based. If you have an Italian dressing that is balsamic based then use balsamic vinegar and so on....

Cover up the dressings and refrigerate. The longer the vinegar is combined with the dressing the better it will be. Make sure you do a taste test. If a 1/2 a cup is to much then lessen it- cutting it just a little bit will still make it lesser calories. If you want add more- then go for it. It is all about you and what you like.

Slimming down your dressing with slim down your dress size!

Monday: Product Review- SlenderPOPs

Let us begin by reading exactly what the magic lollipop company (Sisel) is saying about their product:

"SlenderPOPs effectiveness is due to our unique, one-of-a-kind rapid weight loss slenderizing support within this spectacular breakthrough formula combined with really great tasting all natural flavors."

"Rapid effects and effective weight loss support are obtained simply by sucking on a delicious lollipop, combining its revolutionary ingredients with salivary enzymes. This simple great tasting way of getting these ingredients rapidly and effectively absorbed through the digestive system into the body sustains and supports satiety and your weight loss program throughout your active day. This delivery system combined with its enormous diuretic water fat flushing support combined with Optunia’s aggressive fat binding potential throughout the entire digestive tract is what makes SlenderPOPs so effective over other forms of weight management programs. Its simple, fun, and easy! Not to mention very tasty! What a SWEET way to lose weight!"

"SlenderPOPs Weight Loss Program:

1) Take one SlenderPOP twice daily just before a meal to support appetite suppressing and fat binding activity. Drink a glass of water before eating a SlenderPOP and a glass just after for optimal benefits.

2) Cut down on daily food consumption to reduce caloric intake and maintain a healthy 2,000 calorie per day or less diet while diligently avoiding or reducing fat in meals or fatty foods.

 3) Increase daily exercise by at least 10 to 20 minutes to add further benefits to your weight loss program. A brisk walk is all that is needed."

Let me personally apologize for the picture above. This is the official advertisement for SlenderPOPs...and little blonde crazy eyes is frightening.

I came upon a free sample of this product because I work in marketing at a fitness club and we typically get products (like this) to sample. When the SlenderPOP made it's way to my office I was totally excited. What fat girl doesn't like candy? Candy (of all things!!) that promises to make me loose weight. I had a party (for myself) in honor of this great event! I opened the pop and expected to see the above pop. A shiny sucker that looked like R.E.A.L. candy. However, the one I was holding
looked like it had been from ten Halloween's ago....I tossed it in the garbage can! Someone had given me a stale lollipop! Gross! I went back and opened another. What did I get??! ANOTHER gross looking lollipop. Come on! Don't tease a fattie with promises of slimming candy and not deliver! Tossed that one in the trash, too. A co-worker was watching and asked what on earth I was doing. I explained that all the SlenderPOPs are bad! That they must be expired or something! She quickly corrected me. They aren't old....that is just how they look.

Oh. OH.

The best way I can describe it is if a lollipop had a baby with sandpaper.

I really, really, really wanted to like this. I really expected all my slim girl dreams to come true by making my inner fat girl happy and eating this magic candy all the time!

F.A.I.L

Do you know why this lollipop will suppress your appetite? Because.... by the time you are done with it you will be so sick of having something in your mouth you will not want to eat for hours after. It took about 30 minutes to devour the whole thing....and I couldn't wait for it to be over.

I followed the directions. Drank a huge glass of water before I tried it and then drank a huge gass of water after I finished it....not only because that was the directions.....but because I couldn't stand the after taste!

I can tell you that the company states the ingredients will  "rapidly and effectively absorb through the digestive system throughout your active day. This delivery system combined with its enormous diuretic water fat flushing support combined with Optunia’s aggressive fat binding potential throughout the entire digestive tract is what makes SlenderPOPs so effective." Okay......this is right on the ball. You will have an active day...but that active day will consist of running in and out of the bathroom.

The suggested directions/diet plan that the company provides:  "Cut down on daily food consumption to reduce caloric intake and maintain a healthy 2,000 calorie per day or less diet while diligently avoiding or reducing fat in meals or fatty foods. AND Increase daily exercise by at least 10 to 20 minutes to add further benefits to your weight loss program. A brisk walk is all that is needed."

Will you loose weight by following a healthy diet and increasing your exercise? No offense.... but DUH.

Will you loose weight by consuming SlenderPops twice a day (as suggested)? I am pretty sure the frequent trips to the bathroom will increase your calorie burn.

My advice? Save the 30 calories for a real lollipop....

My personal favorite: Carmel Apple Charm Pops. In true *FAT GIRL slim* style: enjoy this 60 calorie Carmel madness while walking on the treadmill and there you have your own version of a magic weight loss lollipop!

Lesson: If it sounds to good to be true. IT IS.

PLUS SIZE CLOTHING

I am wondering when the memo went out to plus size clothing companies and fashion designers about fat women wanting shirts with like....glitter, sequins, odd art images in strange places? As if we do not feel awkward enough why don't you roll us around in glitter glue and (not really) skinny jeans?
Example #1: This "Fang Sequin Tank" from Fashion Bug is "an affordable way to make that night out look fabulous as ever. It’s a jersey knit tank that features sequins all over. It ties at the waist and has adjustable straps. Wear it with a dark pair of skinny jeans, a black skirt or even your black pants. Don’t hesitate with grand plans because you lack the look. Sequins are BIG this year and there are so many ways to wear them." STOP IT! No. If you want to scream big girl then wear "spaghetti" strap tank tops. Don't ruin a night out by looking like trash.

Guaranteed awkward fat spillage.

Switch for class. Seriously. No one wants to see our back fat and over the top cleavage.  Fatties can still look slamming hot in tank tops- done right! See below:  Another from Fashion Bug- this screams classy! Love the top to camouflage the love handles and rolls. The magic of elastic bands right below the chest is pure genius. A great way to direct attention away from that floppy belly.  No weird fattiness hanging out in places it shouldn't be. And, come on? Can you ever go wrong with black pants and heels? This outfit goes up to a size 30 for all fat girl knock outs.

This is what it is like shopping for plus size clothing, right?: "Wow! I am at the store! Look at all these adorable outfits for women! Size: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12. Hmm.....I do not see any cute clothes in my size. I guess I will move over to the plus size section. Wow! Look at all these floral print mu-mus and oddly cut jeans." Or better summed up this way:
And can we talk about size 0? Seriously. SIZE ZERO. Some stores even have DOUBLE ZERO....so what are you? Nothing? Go eat a sandwich.

Fat Girl Pancakes- Gone SLIM

Even on a no-good, very bad day... there is just something about pancakes that can just make you happy. Try this slimmed down (under 300 calories) super yummy recipe courtesy of Fitness Magazine:

Apple-Walnut Pancakes with Brown Sugar Yogurt:

• Mix 1/4 cup of whole-grain pancake mix with water according to package directions
• Stir in one tablespoon of chopped walnuts
• HEat a medium skillet over medium heat and coat with nonstick cooking spray
• Pour batter into skillet to make two five inch pancakes: cook 2 minutes each side
• Meanwhile, combine 12 cup of low-fat plain Greek yogurt with 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• Top pancakes with yogurt mixture and 1/2 cup chopped apple

CHOCOLATE UNDER 200 CALORIES...

I admit that I need some form of chocolate once a day. I plan for it in my 1400 daily calorie count and enjoy every single bite. These are safe (super delicious) bets and most are well under the 200 calorie mark. ALL portion controlled with just one serving each so you aren't tempted to go back for more. These chocolate treats will leave you happy (yay for endorphins!), satisfied and will keep you on the slim track.




You can go a head and count out 58 plain M & M's that would total 200 calories... OR you can EAT THE ENTIRE BAG of  this chocolaty goodness with Pretzel M & M's for ONLY 150 calories! This is love.

This dark chocolate isn't as bitter as others and I find it very satisfying. The entire chocolate bar is 180 calories.  Mangia!

I tried hard to ignore these in my son's Easter basket this year. But, they kept calling out my name. I caved and had a down right love affair with this chocolate mad man. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that each Cadbury Creme Egg isn't the suspected 500 calories a bite (which was my first prediction). Rather, a single Cadbury Egg with all that delicious creamy filling is only 150 calories! So go ahead you naughty girl!