Sugar substitutes.

I have never been able to drink diet drinks or use those fake sugar packets like equal or sweet and low. My parents use them, but to me the taste is just horrible.

My daughter suggested I try Truvia as her roommate uses it and swears by it.  So I got some.  I had a pink grapefruit and sprinkled some Truvia on top of it.  I must say, the grapefruit was sweet and tasty!  I can't say it tastes like sugar.  I'm not sure exactly how to describe how it tastes, other than just "sweet."  Now I'm curious to see how it will taste in things - even cooking with it, which supposedly you can do with this stuff.  I will keep you posted!  It had no nasty after taste and was just pleasantly sweet.  It didn't even take but about 1/4 of the little packet for my grapefruit.  It has 0 calories and 0 fats. 

I have also stumbled upon a magazine/cookbook that looks like it is going to be fantastic.  It is by Taste of Home and it is called "Comfort Food Cookbook - Diet."  From flipping through it, it really looks great.  In each section it splits it up by calories.  So in breakfast, you have choices from 100 calories or less, 101 - 200 calories and 201-300 calories.  Each section is split by calorie count.  It has wonderful pictures and the recipes really seem like they would be satisfying!  I'm going to plan next week's menu around these recipes and I will report back.

I found another cookbook on "skinny" crock pot recipes.  I haven't looked through it yet, but I imagine that the crock pot will be a huge tool in making recipes moist and tasty without having to add oils or fats for flavor. 

I am pleased to say that yesterday I rode my bike and did the bowflex even though I felt awful.  This cold really sucks.  I haven't gotten it as bad as my kids or hubby and I think it may be because I take vitamins and I've been exercising so consistently since January 2nd.  Maybe my immune system is somewhat boosted (though I still have this thing and I still feel like crap!).

I ate fairly well yesterday as well.  To the point that I had so many calories "left over" that I ended up eating some of that valentine's day chocolate.  And I still think I came within the calorie amounts allowed.  Amazing that a few pieces of chocolate satisfy me when I used to sit down and eat a whole box at one time.  Maybe my body is adjusting to the better food and the exercise, so it takes less to please my sweet tooth?

I ate my first Boca burger yesterday.  It wasn't bad at all, and I actually couldn't eat it all because I got full.  I had the mushroom mozzerella one on a thin whole grain bagel with fresh baby spinach and sliced tomatoes and mustard.  The total calorie count (if I had eaten the whole thing) was 230.  And I was full from lunch til dinner.  I can't say it tasted like a hamburger, but it was pretty good.  It was kind of unidentifiable as a far as taste goes, though maybe it tasted a bit like chicken?  I liked it.  I'll eat it again.

So, I made it through another day and I'm fighting to keep going today, and to try and do a little better today than yesterday!