Monthly Archives: August 2009

I have reached the end of Week 3.  I skipped an update on Week 2 because I was mildly discouraged as I lost .2 pounds.  I had really hoped my results would be more apparent.  However, working on the assumption that my body merely had to get used to its new diet, I soldiered forward.  This week I am vindicated.  I lost 2 pounds!  I have stayed with in the perimeters of the program, eating no more than 1123 calories a day, which is suggested for a person of my statistics wanting to lose weight.

Other benefits of my improved nutrition:

• My skin looks better and break outs have decreased vastly!
• I no longer feel groggy and my caffeine dependency symptoms have subsided!
• I’m getting better quality sleep!
• My overall outlook has improved!

And risking sounding hokey or cheesy, I’m feeling better about my overall state of well being.

I discovered Amy’s Kitchen while living on campus at UH and I was recently reacquainted with their products while shopping for a easy and wholesome substitute when I don’t feel like packing my lunch.  I’ve also been trying to eat one vegetarian meal a day,  as read about in the previous “Meatless Monday” post.  Since everything Amy’s Kitchen makes is either Vegetarian or Vegan, they take out most of the guess work.  Most of their foods are high in protein and reasonably low in fat and calories.  I say reasonably because compared, to say a Weight Watchers Smart One meal, the Amy’s meal does have more fat and calories.

However Amy’s has more protein, less sodium, and less cholesterol.  Amy’s also has fewer sugars than the Smart Ones.  Amy’s also has more calcium, more Vitamins A and C, and more Iron.   Another thing I LOVE (with all caps) about Amy’s is the transparency they have with their ingredient list.  It’s there, on their website, along with the percentage of organic ingredients used. Kudos Amy’s!!!  Smart Ones, didn’t have their ingredients listed on the website and a quick googling turned up nothing.

However, my long standing belief has always been, nutrition isn’t entirely illustrated by Fat and Calories.  A low calorie yogurt gets that way by using chemicals to replace the sugars found in other yogurts.  Is taking a daily dose of aspartame really worth those extra 40-60 calories?  And does that lack of 40 calories really make it healthier?

Amy’s illustrates this beautifully.  They have created hearty, healthy meals that taste wonderful, using ingredients that weren’t created in a lab.  And they’ve made me a lunch that I can eat without feeling guilty or wondering what I just put in my body.