Diary Entry

After a few weeks of losing small amounts of weight or not losing at all, the working out is finally starting to pay serious dividends! I didn't get a chance to work out at all last week, but stayed on my program very faithfully. At weigh-in on Saturday morning, another 5.4 lbs. had melted off my body and presumable appeared on the belly of someone in San Diego.

I always send the pounds I lose to San Diego. They're perpetually one of the healthiest cities, and I wouldn't want them to get lax for lack of a challenge. It's a public service.

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Add this loss to the dropping of the two pounds the week before that I had gained when last we met and that's not a bad two-week total. I'm now in easy range of breaking the 50-pound barrier!

I know it's just the first "big" milestone ... and that compared to the 200+ pounds I've got to lose total it's not a huge chunk; but it feels GOOD. Five months ago I never would have dreamed I could drop this much; let alone this fast. I owe a chunk of it to you people out there and your constant stories of success, failure and inspiration. I'd like to think we're all teaching and helping each other along.

OK, we've got to stop that before this turns into "Oprah." We're not like those other sappy weight-loss journals. As Emeril Lagasse would say, "We're really cookin' here!"

Any of you reaching any dietary milestones out there? Let me know so I can put you in the brag file!

Quick Eats

I'll be the first to tell you that most frozen food is a cesspool of empty calories, trans fats and missing or underused spices. However, some frozen-food makers have clued into the fact that we dieters want something with some flavor ... if for no other reason than to make up for the fat that's not present.

I'm going to give you a few suggestions ... some of my personal favorites from my deep diving in the frozen-foods case at my local supermarket.

For The Family: Safeway stores, and its many subsidiaries around the country, has come out with a line of entrees-for-two under its Private Selections label. The flavors range from basic meatloaf to a tamales verde dinner that was as satisfying and tasty as anything I've had at any but the most high-class Tex-Mex restaurants.

Another favorite is the ginger chicken. To my amazement, there was actually a strong kick of fresh ginger to the dish! While it's in the microwave, your kitchen will start to smell like you've got a Mandarin chef secreted somewhere on the premises.

When it comes to single-serving entrees, there are even more selections. Herewith, a "Top 10" selections from my freezer:

1. Lean Cuisine Chicken in Peanut Sauce: I dare you to eat this one and find any fault with it compared to a full-fat version. There is plenty of meat, the noodles are plentiful and the sauce is flat-out rich. This is a once-a-week choice for me, at least.

2. Smart Ones Tuna Noodle Gratin: This is light comfort food done right. In spite of the highfalutin' name, it's good old tuna mac in diet-friendly form. There's a bread crumb topping that cooks up lightly crispy, even in the microwave, and there's plenty of meat to make it stick to your ribs.

3. Healthy Choice Flavor Adventures Grilled Whiskey Steak: At first the name of this one conjures a true frozen-food nightmare: frozen grub masquerading as country cooking. However, one taste of the kicked-up sauce and you'll be disabused of that misconception. Tip: eat the steak first, then put the mixed veggies and potatoes into the leftover sauce. Good eats!

4. Healthy Choice Blackened Chicken: There's a real pepper kick here, as well as an aroma that will tingle your nose. Hot sauce is definitely optional.

5. Smart Ones Thai Style Chicken And Rice Noodles: Much like the Healthy Choice selection above, this is Asian food done VERY convincingly in frozen form. I've always loved the texture and flavor of rice noodles, and it's nigh on to unbelievable that they could be done so well in a light entree.

6. Smart Ones Lemon-Herb Chicken Piccata: Not just another bland chicken dish. There's some real lemon tang here. I like to have this one the day after one of the spicier dishes just to vary the flavor palette.

7. Lean Cuisine Salisbury Steak: This dish is pretty much a requirement for any frozen-food line, but here it's done VERY well. The gravy is rich and the meat is really MEAT, not some soy protein conglomerate.

8. Healthy Choice Sesame Chicken: There are two ways to go with sesame chicken, in my experience, and this dish takes the less-spicy route. If you prefer yours spicy, add some Tabasco or a dot of Chinese hot mustard.

9. Lean Cuisine Shrimp And Angel Hair Pasta: I would be remiss if I didn't include at least ONE seafood (other than tuna) selection here. Granted, the abundance of shrimp isn't exactly going to stagger you, but the flavor's great and the aroma will have co-workers trying to snatch your lunch out of the office microwave.

10. Smart Ones Lasagna: Again, this is another frozen-food requirement. I've tried each line's version, and this one wins hands down. Of course, Weight Watchers (the company behind Smart Ones) has been at the diet-food biz for a long time, so they have the head start advantage.

TAKE NOTE: If there is one thing that all the diet frozen food lines have in common, it's that they all try in one way or another to make pizza. And they ALL FAIL. I'm sorry to say that about such fine folks, but I've yet to find a "light" pizza that didn't arouse in me the strong urge to go find a Pizza Hut and down an entire pan crust Meat Lover's large in one sitting.

So, those are my favorites. What are yours? Any topics you'd like to see in the Diary in coming months? Let me know. And be sure to get your brags in! We might do another brag sheet next time around.

Previous Stories:

• April 20, 2004: Stop The Insanity!
• April 8, 2004: Time To Rededicate
• March 25, 2004: Brag, Brag, Brag
• March 11, 2004: Excessive Celebration
• Feb. 26, 2004: Building A Healthful Pantry
• Feb. 12, 2004: Cleaning House
• Jan. 30, 2004: Diary Of A Fat Man