Before the First Change...

I was dramatically overweight, had no energy to do anything but watch whatever the DVR had recorded for me when I got home, and "didn’t have time" to make the right decisions with food.  Eating was a matter of convenience.  So more beginning of year reflection lead me to think back on 2011.  One year ago, an average day of eating looked something like...

Breakfast: Chick-fil-a Chicken Biscuit, 2 orders of hash browns, and a Diet Dr. Pepper (980 calories, 97g carb, 56g fat, 23g protein)

Mid morning snack: Welch’s Mixed Fruit Snacks (195 calories, 38g carb, 0g fat, 1g protein.  Made with real fruit juice!  Men’s Health even endorsed them as better for you than Skittles in an Eat This, Not That comparison… so they’re good for you, right?)

Lunch: Chick-fil-a Chicken Sandwich on a (“healthy”) Wheat Bun, Value Sized Waffle Fries, 2 packets of Chick-fil-a Sauce, bottled water (1230 calories, 112g carb, 70 g fat, 36g protein). Yes, Chick-fil-a 2-a-days were common for me.  Makes me wonder about how much truth there is to studies about MSG addiction.  Other possibilities included a Jimmy John’s combo meal, a Big Box from Raisin’ Canes or a fully loaded carnitas bowl from Chipotle.

Afternoon snack:  Toss up between a corn dog at Sonic or a Jack-in the-Box Jumbo Jack (no cheese)… Jack wins (489 calories, 45g carb, 23g fat, 25 g protein)

Dinner: ½ of a frozen pizza… usually Amy’s Organic or Whole Foods Brand (510 calories, 54g carb, 21g fat, 26g protein)

That totals up to over 3400 calories, 346g carb, 170g fat, and 111g protein.  And, this assumes I didn’t snack on anything else during the day... or eat anything after dinner.  I worked for a company that merchandised and restocked vending machines.  Junk food was easily accessible and suppliers were always sending free samples.  Regardless of what I may or may not have grazed on throughout the day, it was a little much, huh?