Silverthorne

I love my chocolate.

I've quit eating it in solid form for a little bit, though, to help with my weight loss goals.

Hot chocolate was a decent sub, but still a bit sugary (I use Ghirardelli brand, which has a lot more 'real' chocolate in comparison to something like Swiss Miss, which is mostly sugar with chocolate flavoring, but it still has a lot of 'empty' sugar).

I had also run out of it, and had accidentally picked up a tin of the unsweetened baking cocoa someone had left in with the hot chocolate.

I repeat: I love my chocolate.

So, here's what I came up with.

1 cup nonfat milk
4 tablespoons Ghirardelli unsweetened baking cocoa.
1 packet stevia sweetener.

You can either nuke the milk, or warm it up on the stove top. If you use the microwave, heat on high for two to three minutes, add the chocolate and stevia after you heat it, or you'll get boil over. You'll have to work hard to stir out all the chocolate clumps though, because whatever they add to the cocoa mix to keep it strictly powdery, they don't add to the baking cocoa.

If you use the stove-top (preferred), use medium-high heat, put in the cocoa at the start, and keep stirring as the milk gets warmer (you get less clumps this way). Add the stevia right before the milk would normally boil, stir to blend it in, pour into a cup, and drink.

You can also add cinnamon for an extra taste treat.

:)

For a quick reference:

A cup of

Ghirardelli Mocha Chocolate Mocha has 130 calories, 33 grams of carbs, 2 grams of fat, and 2 grams of protein
Ghirardelli Unsweetened baking cocoa has 60 calories, 12 grams of carbs, 6 grams of fat, and 4 grams of protein

The nonfat milk adds 86 calories, 12 grams of carbs, no fat, and 8 grams of protein.

Enjoy!

Last year around this time? When I wore a towel, there was always a two-or-greater inch gap around my waist and hips, even with the 'extra full' sized bath towels.

Now? I have two inches to spare on the towel, and no more gaps. :)

It's easier to get to the cafeteria from receiving if I go outside and take the sidewalk around the corner.

So I ran it--both ways (I'd forgotten my spoons when I got my coffee).

My lungs didn't seize.

This might be workable after all. Don't think I want to sprint though when I'm running for exercise. At least, not yet. :)

(Also; I'm a lot faster than I remember being. At least for the short distances.)

I love my elliptical. That was the easiest-to-get-into two hours of exercise I've had since the pool got too cold to swim in.

<3

:)

ETA: I've dropped a pound and a half since yesterday. :) So yes, exercise can kick the butt of water-weight.

So...I stepped on the scale a few minutes ago just for the hell of it.

...I was bored, what can I say?

It read 181....which means that it's possible that tomorrow morning it will read somewhere under 180 when I first get up. (In case you're wondering, it's recommended to weigh yourself first thing in the morning after you eliminate, but before you eat, drink, or exercise and cause your body to retain water, waste, and food weight. Your body weight can fluctuate up to five pounds over the course of the day).

If so...yeah. I'll retain the glee until morning.

But for the first time since November, I'm anticipating my Monday weigh-in.

*Crosses fingers*