Do as I say, not as I do

I would love to tell you that I journaled every single bite last week and lost weight.

I didn't.

And yet, the statement is still half true.

I did not journal every bite, but I still lost weight. I am down three pounds to 137.

I am now entering a dangerous territory. Herein lies the mystery of how I am able to lose weight without exactly following the Weight Watchers program.

(If you are a devout follower of Weight Watchers and find success doing the program as it is written, feel free to disregard any advice I offer from this point forward. I'm not always a good example.)

In the upper numbers (at least my upper numbers, as I am sworn to never go above 140 or have to pay for Weight Watchers meetings until I am back to my goal weight as a Lifetime member), I tend to repeat a cycle. I weigh more, I begin to keep track, I lose a few pounds, maybe I lose a few more, then I feel pretty good, the clothes start to fit better, and I find myself sneaking another serving, maybe indulge a little more on the weekends, special occasions and dining out, and all of a sudden, I'm back into dangerous territory.

Last week, I kept track of my food on Monday and most of Tuesday as is typical with my dieting pattern. On Wednesday, my 3 year old was off school and I was home, sick. My breakfast was pretzels and a fruit roll, and it went downhill from there. It was later that day, reading an inspiring article about this guy who lost almost 200 pounds in two years by walking and eating a lower carb diet, that I remembered how much I enjoyed the no-points counting aspect of the Weight Watchers Core program and how I typically manage my hunger and cravings better when I eat fewer refined carbohydrates. I switched some meals around, started feeling a bit more in control, and started losing weight again.

(You can come back now. I think the Weight Watchers people would agree with the rest of this post.)

I'm never going to be a person who advocates a no carb extreme lifestyle. I tried Atkins in a desperate attempt to lose weight before my wedding, and quickly lost five pounds before having a dream that I was dying of heart failure from all the fat I was eating. Seriously. Following the Core program, I count the points for the foods I eat that aren't included on the Core list and that's it. I'm a believer in the glycemic index, high fiber, lean proteins and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Following Core, I make those foods a priority and rarely dip into the bag of Goldfish crackers.

Popcorn is an easy, filling snack and is most definitely Core. I love the convenience of microwave popcorn, but am sensitive to the chemical tastes and smells from the usual 94% fat free options. I've adapted Alton Brown's recipe and technique for my superfast grab and go movie treat.

Microwave Popcorn a la Alton Brown

2 tablespoons - 1/3 cup popcorn
olive oil spray
popcorn salt (optional)

Pour popcorn into a plain, standard size brown paper lunch bag. Fold the top of the bag over twice to close (each fold should be no more than 1/2 inch deep to leave enough room for the kernels to pop). Put the bag in the microwave and cook on high for 2 to 3 minutes or until the pops are 5 seconds apart. Remove the bag, opening it carefully to avoid the steam. Pour popcorn into convenient travel container, spray lightly with oil spray and sprinkle with salt or your preferred topping. Enjoy!

Yield: 6 to 8 cups popped corn, approximately 2-4 points.