10/25/2019 0 Comments #17) Fall Flavors ~ Six Simple Steps I’m Taking This Fall To Maintain My Massive Weight LossLiving in Florida, it can be hard to notice the changing of the seasons. I sometimes need to use the drink menu at coffee shops to gauge where we are at on the calendar. And right now, whether we know it or not, it’s still Autumn. And besides driving past a set-up pumpkin patch display in front of a local church the other day, the only change I’ve seen in all the weeks since fall has officially started, is with the drink menu offering all those special, seasonal additions at coffee shops and grocery stores. The most famous of those seasonal drinks being, of course, the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks, McDonalds, and Dunkin Donuts (Dunkin makes a delicious pumpkin donut by the way). The only other seasonal change I notice here is specifically in Orlando - where Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party has been taking place at the Magic Kingdom now - since August… Yes - you read that right - August. Visitors dressed in their Halloween costumes, trick-or-treating down the festively decorated Main Street USA, since the middle of our hot and Endless Summer. Considering I lost massive weight this past year and am extremely interested and determined to maintain that healthy lifestyle, when all the seasonal pumpkin drinks started to appear on the coffee shop menus, I really wanted to know how many calories are floating around inside those highly-flavored drinks. Well, the news is not so good: ***380 calories for a Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks (!) ***310 calories for a medium Pumpkin Spice Latte at McDonald’s (!) ***420 calories for a medium whole milk Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Signature Latte at Dunkin Donuts (!!!) The amount of calories in just a single one of those drinks is now an entire meals worth of calories for me. I absolutely cannot even imagine drinking that much sweetness at once anymore. So, to help me maintain weight loss, I have been sticking with my usual unsweetened iced tea, or plain, black coffee this season. It took me a little while, over a year ago now, but I am very used to ‘plain’ drinks now. Just the thought of ordering one of those lattes makes my stomach turn around. It’s definitely a good thing for my overall health that I don’t even really want or desire those drinks anymore, and I have also learned and acquired a few other wonderful and simple ways of feeling and enjoying the scents of fall without all the extra calories that can go along with it. Below I’ll explain a variety of ways I’m acknowledging and enjoying the change of season while watching my calorie intake. These are just a few simple ways I am enjoying all that the Autumn season has to offer, without gaining weight, maintaining my weight loss, and not overindulging at all. Specifically, here are six simple ways I’m enjoying Autumn 2019: 1~Candles! Yes, they come first! Because as they say - candles set the mood. And indeed they do. I went out and purchased a few pumpkin scented candles (room sprays work well for this too) and the scent in my home reminds me of all at fall has to offer. I think of hay rides, picking pumpkins, carving those pumpkins, and the scent of homemade pumpkin pie. And the bonus is that breathing in that heavenly scent doesn’t put one extra calorie into my mouth! And since I’ve personally been staying away from Bath & Body Works for a few years now, I shopped around for the best autumn scented candles I could find. I enjoyed browsing around my local Pier 1, admiring all the adorable seasonal decor. And I purchased two three-wick pumpkin spice candles on sale for ten dollars each. I thought that was a reasonable price and keeps me away from Bath & Body Works where I used to spend too much money. And because I love candles so much, we picked out some autumn-scented candles at Target as well. 2 ~ I Avoid ALL The Seasonal Drinks - ALL THE TIME This one is a no-brainer for me. For me - myself - and I - I’ve personally been staying absolutely away from all those high-calorie drinks that happen to be advertised everywhere I look. I stick with my usual drink order. I do NOT indulge in drinks that have calories attached. My usuals are plain water, water with lemon or lime, always ice cold; plus, plain hot coffee, and hot or iced tea. Club soda or sparkling water. Period. Zero calories drinks. I do not indulge in that department. It works for me. It’s become a lifestyle for me and once something is lifestyle it’s easier to maintain. I do recommend trying it out. Plus, in place of all those high calorie drinks, I purchased myself an Alex & Ani ‘Pumpkin Spice’ spice bracelet that I’ve had my eye on since last autumn - and I wear it every day. I enjoy IT - and not the extra calories it implies. 3 ~ Get A Real Pumpkin So simple, right? By purchasing a real pumpkin, which can go for under ten dollars, and small ones, just a couple dollars at the grocery store, you get to enjoy the purest symbol of autumn, every single day. And if you get yours by visiting a pumpkin patch, all the better! And, pumpkins always look fabulous sitting on the front porch, balcony, or lounging in front of a fireplace mantel. Plus, you can turn the pumpkin into a project by then painting it or carving it out. 4 ~ Bake Pumpkin Seeds At Home After we purchase our chosen pumpkin and enjoy the sight of it, on Halloween we carve the pumpkin and scoop it out. Then we bake the seeds in the oven. I always enjoy the scent that is released when carving open the pumpkin… Always so fresh, and smells like a pumpkin patch. I first clean and rinse the seeds, then lay them on a baking sheet on top of non-stick foil with some sea salt sprinkled on top, and bake the pumpkin seeds in the oven. After they are finished being toasted, the seeds have a taste that cannot be replicated by any store-bought seeds. There is always something most refreshing about toasting the seeds on my own. It tastes better, fresher, and it really is. Plus, pumpkin seeds are one of those autumn delights that are very healthy! No weight gain on this one - in fact, eating nuts and seeds is a fantastic way of maintaining my weight loss. 5 ~ Eat the Seasonal Chicken Pot Pie - Just NOT The One Costco Sells With fall comes an abundance of warm and seasonal recipes, like chili… and chicken pot pie. Every autumn I used to look forward to the seasonal changes at Costco by picking up one of their chicken pot pies. We would cook it for dinner and use the leftovers for lunches and dinners throughout the week. But most store-bought chicken pot pies, including Costco’s extremely large pie, are loaded with tons of calories that I do not need or intake anymore after weight loss. The chicken may be healthy, the veggies inside the pie may also be healthy - but the rest of that pie is definitely NOT healthy. And at 525 calories per ⅙ slice, the pie is extremely high in calories. So, I’ve decided that with fall, I can still enjoy the seasonal meal of chicken pot pie. I’m just NOT purchasing the Costco version. I don’t need to give up the food. I just need to enjoy it in a more healthy manner. I’m also staying away from the easy-bake Marie Callender's version - which has a whopping 600 calories - in the smaller version! Instead, on a busy week, we now grab Blake’s Pot Pie. It’s in the freezer section, has 370 calories per pie, and tastes just as good as any other store-bought version. I serve it with a side of steamed green beans, and an easy, healthy, and low-calorie dinner is ready in a flash. I haven’t had the time this season to make a healthy and homemade version though, so if you have a chicken pot pie recipe that you make I’d absolutely love for you to share it with me in the comments below - please! 6 ~ Indulge - Without Overindulging Yes, I still eat the pie. I just don’t eat ALL the pie. We bought a pumpkin pie two times this season from the local Winn Dixie. I can enjoy a slice, or two, even including whip cream on the side. But I don’t eat pie all the time, and don’t worry at all if we don’t finish the whole pie before it goes bad. And yes, I absolutely have thrown out the leftover pie, and more than once. I’m not ashamed. I try not to waste food, but a part of weight loss and weight maintenance is knowing that some food WILL GO TO WASTE. I freeze what I can, I portion out for other meals what I can, I plan ahead like crazy. But there are still some times that food will be thrown away. And part of this pumpkin pie that we purchased did make it to the garbage can. Without my feeling any guilt or feeling bad that food was wasted. If you are looking to lose weight, or to maintain massive weight loss like I am maintaining, you will likely run into having to throw some food away. I have accepted this and do the very best I can not to, but with treats it does happen. I have learned how to indulge - without overindulging. That means some food waste, some times. Part of my weight loss is allowing myself to continue to have all the treats that I love. In moderation. How can I let autumn pass me by without a piece or two of pumpkin pie? I can’t. I have to be able to eat the “normal” seasonal foods that I love without overindulging. Without - missing out. As they say, yes - everything in moderation. Although, as I mentioned above, I do not drink all the fancy and high-calorie coffee drinks anymore. The difference there is lifestyle. I have removed any and all high calorie drinks from my entire lifestyle. So I am used to not having them anymore. To the point that the thought makes me ill just thinking about having one of them. I have very successfully removed those drinks from my life. That’s a choice I made. But I love desserts and treats too much to give them up entirely. I WILL continue to eat desserts - a choice by me to keep them IN my lifestyle. Desserts and treats remain. Which is why I moderate, and why I still eat pumpkin pie, and why I am ok with and understand that some of that dessert will end up in the garbage. And yes, as the saying goes... “Better in the trash, than sitting on my *ss.” Here are a few other ways I’m enjoying the season… So even though I don’t drink all those amazingly fun and delicious autumn-themed drinks anymore, I do watch for their arrival onto the menu each autumn as a way to gauge what season I am currently living in. And then, I go about my usual routine. Adding in the flavors of fall in a very healthy, and very sustainable way. ~
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
April 2024
CategoriesAll 100th YouTube Video 15K National Championship 1935 Hurricane Memorial 2020 26.2 With Donna 5K Race 9/11 A1A Acosta Bridge Acrylic On Canvas Advent Calendars Adversity Afghanistan Alan Roberts Al Carius Alligator All Wheel Drive Amanda Moon Art Amelia Island Amelia Island Coffee America Amtrak Amtrak Silver Service Angeletti Cookies Angies Grom Angies Subs Anna Maria City Pier Anna Maria Island Another Broken Egg Cafe Appetizer Apple Watch Arlington Lions Club Park Art Atlantic Beach Atlantic Beach Arts Market Atlantic Beach Heritage Tree Atlantic Ocean Auto Ferry Autumnal Equinox Autumn In Florida BabylissPro Hair Straightener Bacon Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Basic Invite Bay Breeze Cottages Beach Boulevard Beach Cottage Beach Diner Beach Diner Ponte Vedra Beach Beaches Art Fest Beaches At Vilano Beaches For Australia Beaches Go Green Beaches Green Market Beaches History Museum Beaches Museum Beaches Oktoberfest Beaches Town Center Beans Baking Series Beans Basement Bash Beans Best Award Winner Beans Coffee Shop Challenge Beans Recipes Beef Stew Before And After Beignets BEPREADY Best Western Oceanfront BeYou Jewelry Big Talbot Island State Park Bird Island Park Bird Watching Birthday Black Friday Blackhawk Bluff Blue Angels Blue Bloods Blue Cypress Fishing Pier Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine Boxty Bradenton Beach Breakfast Review Breezy Coffee Shop Brewery Review Bridge Of Lions Bryan Pieper Bucee's Cafe Du Monde Cantina Louie Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Elation Casa Marina Hotel And Restaurant Casa Monica Resort & Spa Castaway Island Preserve Castillo De San Marcos Cat Cafe Celebration Celebration Florida Cell Phone Chaunies Coffee Truck Cheap Holiday Photo Cards Chicago Food Chicago Pizza Chili Recipe Chocolate Chip Cookies Christmas Christmas Day Christmas Decor Christmas Eve Christmas In The South Christmas Pop Up Bar Christmas Tree Church Cinottis Bakery Jax Beach City Of Jacksonville Florida Special Events Civil War 2.0 Clover Coffee Coffee Plantation Cafe College Columbia Restaurant Comfort Compass Contagion Content Creator Cookies Cook With Me Corinne Crabtree Corona Coronavirus Courtyard By Marriott CoVid19 Crane Island Crescent City Crescent Lake Crock Pot Cross Country CSX Cummer Cafe Review Cummer Museum Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens Daily Activity Daily's Place Danny Reagan Daschund Daylight Savings Time Daytona Beach Deck The Chairs Delicomb Deltona Dessert Deviled Eggs Dining In Atlantic Beach Dining In Jax Beach Dining In Ponte Vedra Beach Dining On The Water Dining Review Dining Review Vilano Beach Disney Springs DJI Phantom 4 Drone Dog Days Of Summer Doggie Stroller Dog Life Dolphins Don't Tread On Me Donuts Dreaming In The 904 Driftwood Jax Beach Drive Thru Lights Drone Video Duck Pond Ducks Dune Restoration Project Dunkin Donuts Dutton Island Preserve Duval Street Earth Day East Coast Greenway Easter Easter Sunday Brunch Eclipse Box Edens Leaf Naturals Eleven South Review Embarkation Emerald Coast Endless Summer Everbank Stadium Every Damn Day Fitness Explore With Me Facebook Fairfield Inn & Suites Faith Falcon Heavy Fall Fall In Florida Family Traditions Fernandina Beach Film Review Fireplace First Watch Fishing Five Points Floating Generation Florida Florida Cold Front Florida Cracker Kitchen Florida East Coast Railway Florida Keys Florida State Parks Florida Winter Flowers Fort Clinch State Park Fort George Island Fort. George Island Foundation Four Four Points By Sheraton Frank Reagan Freight Train Fresh Off The Palette Friendship Fountain Fuller Warren Bridge Full Moon Full POV Garlic Artichoke Dip Gate River Run Geese Gingerbread House Girvin Road Golden Hour Golf Carts Grape & Grain Exchange Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail Green Cove Springs Green Spaces Green Springs Park Green Sulfur Spring Guana River Preserve Gulf Coast Guy Fieri Hampton Inn Happy Holidays Happy New Year Hawkers Asian Street Fare Hemingway Highway I-4 Hilton Historic Bridge Street Pier Historic Old City Jail Holiday Holiday Season Holidays In Jax Beach Holidays In Neptune Beach Holly Berry Hot Chocolate Hotel Review Hotel Room Tour Ice Cream Intracoastal Intuition Ale Works Review Ireland Irish Blessings Irish Blessings To You Irish Food Irish Mode On Isaiah David Hart Bridge Islamorada Island Donuts Isle Of Eight Flags Italian Restaurant Jacksonville Jacksonville Beach Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier James Bond Jamie Reagan Jarboe Park Jarboe Park Christmas Tree Jax Beach Art Walk Jax Beach Coffee Shop Jax Beach Pier Jax Beach Vintage Flea Market Jellyfish Jerusalem Jesus Jimmy Buffett Jimmy Johns John Glaude Joy Key Largo Key West Key West Half Marathon Kilwins Kindness Kindred Spirits King Tide Kiss The Sun Goodnight With Me KitchenAid Kona Ice Krispy Kreme Lake Monroe Lake Monroe Historic Bridge Liberty Life Before Facebook Lifestyle Lime Bubly Live Oak Tree Love Love Life Love Muffin Love Yourself Luck Of The Irish Lumi Bean Candles Main Street Bridge Mallory Square Manatee Margaritaville Margaritaville Beach Hotel - Jacksonville Marina Marriott Marshmallow Marsh Massive Action Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Florida Mayo Clinic Pain Rehab Clinic Mayport Cats Mayport Florida Mayport Village Merry Christmas Cards Metro Diner Mexican Food Mexican Restaurant Mezza Luna Ristorante MFPMilestones Mickler's Landing Millennial Generation Minestrone Soup Momentum Moonrise Morning Walk Mourning A Loss Muffins MyFitnessPal My Own Irish Blessing My Wish For You Naples NASA Nature Navi Waterfront Bar & Grill Nemo Park Neptune Beach Never Forget New Orleans New York City Night Walk Nine Eleven Nocatee NOLA Northbank Riverwalk Nurse Shark Oaxaca Club Obese To Beast Oceanfront Dining Olivia Shore One Ocean Resort One Ocean Resort & Spa Orlando Overseas Highway Pain Rehab Clinic Palatka Palm Sunday Palm Valley Palm Valley Holiday Lights Boat Parade Palm Valley Outdoors Bar And Grill Pasta Pasta Party Pastries Patience Peanut Butter Bubbles Pelicans Pelindaba Lavender Perseverance Perspective Peterbrooke Chocolatier Petes Bar Petes Bar Thanksgiving Morning Gathering Pet Friendly Pet Loss Phit-n-Phat Phone Call Pier Pina Colada Pine Avenue On Anna Maria Island Pinhole Projector Pink Lemonade Plan Plant City Poinsettia Polar Plunge Pollyanna Ponte Vedra Beach Ponte Vedra Inn & Club PRC Prospect Five Points Public Beach Access Pumpkin Spice Purpose Race Expo Rain Random Acts Of Kindness Reaction Real Christmas Tree Recipes Red Sauce Religion Restaurant Review Rest Stop Rick Burnett Artist Key West Ritas Jax Beach Riverside Riverside Arts Market Riverside Duck Pond Riverside Memorial Park Riverwalk Road Race Road Trip Rockaway Garden Rod & Reel Fishing Pier Ronnie Phillips Ron On The Go Room Tour Routine Sago Coffee Jax Sand Dunes Sanford San Marco San Marco Bookstore San Marco Town Square San Pablo Island Sawpit Creek Boat Ramp Seafoam Sea La Vie Jax Beach Seaside Park Seaside Sculpture Park Sea & Sky Jax Seas The Day Seawalk Music Festival Seawalk Pavilion Seinfeld September 11 Shamrock Shamrock Zoomies Shell World Sheltie Sheltie & Friends Sheltie & Friends Easter Coloring Book Shetland Sheepdog Shipwreck Small Towns Sneakers Sports Grille Social Media Solar Eclipse Sous Chef Southbank Southbank Riverwalk Southern Grounds Southern Living Idea House Southernmost Point Southern Swells SpaceX Spreadshop Spring Spring Break Springhill Suites By Marriott Spring In The South Stand Mixer Starbucks Star Wars Stationary Statue Of Liberty St Augustine St. Augustine St. Augustine Nights Of Lights Staycation St. George Street Stingray St. Johns County St. Johns River St. Johns River Ferry St. Johns Town Center St Patricks Day St. Patrick's Day Strawberries Streamlabs Streetcar Sugar Cookies Sun Sunrail Sunrise Sunset Sunshine Skyway Bridge Super Bowl Sunday Supper Club Take Out Dining Talking To Camera Tampa Tampa Bay Target TECO Line Streetcar System Teresa Echols Thai Food Thankful Thanksgiving The African Queen The Ancient City The Boathouse The Caffeinated Cat The Dis The Donna The Donna Foundation The Donna Marathon The Green Monster The Mini Bar The Player's Championship The Reach Resort Key West The Reef These Are My Dreams These Are My Dreams The Podcast Time Savings Tinis Martini Bar To Do Downtown Jacksonville To Do In Celebration Florida To Do Jax Beach Tonys Turkey Trot Review Traditional Irish Pancakes Train Depot Train Ride Turtles Twistee Treat Twitter Uber Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry Ulta Products Unboxing Universal Endless Summer University Of North Florida U.S. Highway 1 Valentines Day Venice Venice Beach Pier Vertical Livestream Veterans Day Vilano Beach Vilano Beach Pier Virtual Railfan Vlogmas Volunteer V Pizza V Pizza Jax Beach Wake Up The Sun With Me Wake Up With Me Walking Tour Walk With Me Walt Disney World Watch With Me Watercolor Painting Weight Loss Weight Loss Success Weight Maintenance White Christmas Whit's Frozen Custard Whits Jax Beach Wicked Lick Willaford Railroad Museum Williams Sonoma Winter Meals Winter Park Winter Wonderland World Market World War 19 World War II Ybor CIty Year In Review YouTube Youtube Shorts |
_____
My Floridian Adventures On YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@christinepieper ______ My Motivational Merch Shop! https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/ ______ © 2024 Christine's Floridian Dreams. |