No secrets

Well, friends, it's the dreaded Saturday. Saturday is always a little scary. Especially when the hub is away for most of it. That means everything I eat is just between me and dogs. And Rom is easy to buy of with treats. :)

However, I've got this little blog to keep me honest. So I won't let you down.

I hope you can all be strong this weekend, too. Have a piece of Halloween candy or two - but don't let a day dedicated to candy lead you to feel any regret or guilt on Monday. It's just a day like any other.

Food Journal:

Breakfast: 3/4 cup cottage cheese with 1/2 cup assorted fruit (180 cals)

Lunch: 1 cheese stick, 1 pkg Carl Budig Pastrami, 1 pkg Lipton "Cup o' Soup" (200 cals)

Dinner: 1/2 cup pulled pork and 1 small serving eggplant lasagna (350 cals)

Snack #1: 1/2 roll wafer candy and air popped popcorn (260 cals)

Total Calories: 990 cals

Friday Came!

Wow - I'm heading into my third weekend and still going strong. Halloween isn't gonna lead me astray. :)

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Smoothie - assorted frozen fruit, 3-ounces low fat yogurt, 1 large tablespoon protein powder, and crystal light juice (215 cals)

Snack #1: 12 baby carrots and a cheese stick (115 cals)

Lunch: Pumpkin Soup (200 cals)

Snack #2: 1/4 cup edamame and 6-oz low fat yogurt (130 cals)

Dinner: Eggplant Lasagna (350 cals)

Snack: 1 mini bag microwave popcorn and 1 100 calorie snack bar (200 cals)

Total Calories: 1210

Selfish

I have been feeling a little sorry for myself the past couple days. I work really hard. I try to keep the dishes clean, food on the table, lose weight, keep messes to a minimum and in the middle of all that I'm trying to pack up everything we own, manage the finances, work full time, give my dogs the attention they deserve, be a good friend, a good blogger, and a good person. Sometimes being a woman feels like a bit of a thankless job.

I remember talking to my mom a couple weeks ago and reminding her of something I had learned (that I apparently forgot in the past few days). Sometimes, if I'm doing all the above mentioned duties for the thanks or appreciation or recognition of others, there's a good chance I'm gonna be disappointed. However, if I do them for myself, if I get a little selfish about it, then I can feel fulfilled by doing those things.

I like to have a clean home, I like to eat delicious food, I like my new house and want to pack up and get moved in over there, I like to be on top of our finances and make sure all the bills are paid, I like my job, I love my dogs and I enjoy playing with them. I like my friends and want to be a good friend back. I like to blog, it gives me an outlet and a way to share the silly happenstances of life. None of the tasks on my plate are tasks that I hate. Sometimes they pile up in a way that feels completely unmanageable, but that doesn't mean I can't still enjoy each of the tasks while I do it and stop expecting anyone else to jump up and down and tell me how great I am for being so on the ball. I just have to do it for me sometimes.

P.S. Dianne (mom) - When you come out for TG, you better believe I'll have all the Diet Coke you can drink, a Tiara and we'll go shopping together and we'll both get new handbags.

C - Did you make the egg cups? What did you think?

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Bacon Egg Cup: 1 egg, 1 slice bacon, mushrooms, green bell pepper, cheddar cheese (150 cals)

Snack #1: 12 baby carrots and a cheese stick (115 cals)

Lunch: Roasted Tomato and Cheddar "Pizza" (200 cals)

Snack #2: 1/4 cup edamame and 1 6-ounce low fat yogurt (130 cals)

Snack #3: 1 grape Blow-Pop (60 cals) Note: I read today that behind Jolly Ranchers, Blow Pops are the best candy choice you can make. And I just happened to have a drawer full of them!

Dinner: Eggplant Lasagna - I can't believe how big a serving of this stuff is! (350 cals)

Snack #4: Air popped popcorn (150 cals)

Total Calories: 1155

Just Food

It's been a crazy day - but here's my food.

P.S. Jes asked for my bacon egg cup recipe yesterday, so it is now linked to that item on my food journal on yesterday's post. Check it out and MAKE IT. It's easy and delicious. Plus, you can make it the night before and it reheats in the morning really well. See what happens when you comment, my dear readers? You get what you want.

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Smoothie - 1/2 cup assorted frozen fruit, 3-ounces low fat yogurt, 1 (large) tablespoon protein powder, crystal light juice (200 cals)

Snack #1: 12 baby carrots and a cheese stick (125 cals)

Lunch: 1 and a half cups Pumpkin Soup (210 cals)

Snack #2: 6-ounces low fat yogurt and 1/4 cup edamame (130 cals)

Dinner: South Beach Diet Shepherd's Pie (320 cals)

Snack #3: Air Popped Popcorn and 100 cal snack bar (250 cals)

Total Calories: 1235

Planning Ahead

This week has all the makings of a veritable disaster for me.

• We move in as few as 7 days (as many as 10). I have a lot to do. The house is about 30-40% packed, so we've got to finish all that up.
• Geoff's birthday is on Sunday, so I've got to finish all my shopping and planning for that.
• We need to meet with a contractor (or two) about replacing our living room window with a door (to walk out to the deck we are having built next week).
• Geoff has a camp-out with his scouts this weekend, so we need to make sure he's got everything he needs for that trip prepared.
• All the while, we both work full time and need some good, healthy fuel to burn to keep us going during all of this mayhem.

So, yesterday I made my grocery list, like usual, but I made sure to choose meals that I could easily cook ahead of time and reheat. Last night, I put food first and prepared this week's meals so that I can focus on the rest of my "to do" for the remainder of the week. I cooked up some South Beach Diet Shepherd's Pie (always a crowd - and by crowd, I mean husband - pleaser) and some eggplant lasagna which smelled soooo good. I baked up bacon egg cups for breakfast and a quick and easy pumpkin soup for lunches.

So, try as it might, the stress and busy-ness that is life will not cause me to "fall off the wagon" so-to-speak.

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." - Gandhi

P.S. S-I-L asked in my comments yesterday about "Just Bunches" cereal. It's my low-price replacement for granola. It has very little (if any) nutritional value, but I use just a sprinkle to give my parfaits some crunch, so I'd rather save a few bucks. It's made by post and it is a box full of just the bunches from Honey Bunches of Oats cereal. It's absolutely delicious.

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Bacon Egg "cup" - 1 egg, slice turkey bacon, onion, garlic, green bell pepper, mushrooms (150 cals)

Snack #1: 12 baby carrots and a cheese stick (125)

Lunch: Grilled Tomato and Cheddar Pizza and small tastes of the office chili cook-off contenders (280 cals)

Snack #2: 6-ounce low fat yogurt and 1/4 cup edamame (130 cals)

Dinner: Eggplant Lasagna (SOOOOO good) (380 cals)

Snack #3: Air Popped Popcorn (150 cals)

Totals Calories: 1215

Weighing in

Well, it's Monday and you know what that means: time to weigh in.

I'm very happy to report another successful week! A 2 and a half pound loss to bring me to a total of 5 and a half pounds down in 2 weeks. Sweet!

Hope you all had a great weekend as well.

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Parfait - 6-ounces low fat yogurt, 2 strawberries, sprinkle "Just Bunches" cereal (120 cals)

Snack #1: 12 baby carrots and a cheese stick (115 cals)

Lunch: Subway 6-inch Turkey Sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes and mustard (280 cals)

Snack #2: 1 6-ounce low fat yogurt and 1/4 cup edamame (130 cals)

Dinner: South Beach Diet Shepherd's Pie (425 cals)

Snack #3: Small Microwave popcorn bag (100 cals)

Total Calories: 1170

Hello, Friday.

Time sure seems to fly.

Time is an interesting thing. When you have no goals, time is scary. It looms and passes and sneaks away - leaving you with a heart full of "could haves" and a head full of "what ifs."

When you have goals, time is invigorating. With each passing moment, you feel full of the possibilities. Each moment is another moment to make decisions that will lead to that goal. You work harder, stronger, smarter and happier.

I'm going into my second weekend and thus getting ready to wrap up week 2 of my diet. It has really been great. I know I seemed a little cranky yesterday, but it was just honest. As great as it feels to be taking some action in my life, it's hard to forgive myself for mistakes I can't undo.

But I love to look back over the past couple of weeks and realize this life truth: You can't stop time from passing, but you can choose what you do with each moment. I am either going to gain weight or lose weight - it's up to me whether I use the days, and months, and years to turn into the person I want to be or if I let the time decide for me.

I choose goals. I choose me.

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Smoothie - 3-ounces low fat yogurt, 4 strawberries, 1 slice mango, 1/4 peach, 1/2 scoop protein powder, crystal light orange juice (200 cals)

Snack #1: 12 baby carrots and 1 pkg Carl Budig turkey (115 cals)

Dealing with the Anger

So, I'm approaching the week and a half mark on my new resolve to be healthy (okay, okay, it's a diet). Things are going really well. I've got a nice routine going with my meals. I eat about every two hours. I make sure there is a least some protein in every snack/meal and I haven't been starving or craving bad foods much.

The hub has even bought fries and a burger a couple times and I didn't even take a bite. (Not that I couldn't, mind you, I just don't really want to).

I'm still trying to simmer down from how, really, angry I am at myself for all the weight gain. In April(ish) of 2009 I was at my goal weight. Now, October 2010 and I'm back to exactly where I started when I lost all that weight. We're not talking a 10 pound swing, friends. We are talking 40. Up and down and up and (hopefully) down. This weight loss is important to me on so many more levels then just being thin. But, sometimes it's hard not to look at the tag on my jeans or the fullness in my face and not really feel angry at the girl looking back. Angry for being so weak, so anxious, so lacking in self control.

But I don't want to be angry at myself. So that's the main reason I am taking action. I love my life: my family, my friends, my job, my dogs, my [well, it's almost mine] house, my body (even if it weighs more then I like, it is strong and attractive); I love all of it. And I'd rather spend my time counting a few calories along with my blessings rather then eating whatever I want and then secretly despising myself for some missteps when it comes to food and weight.

It's a learning process, but with each successful day I get a little closer to accepting myself.

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Parfait - 6-ounces low fat yogurt, 2 strawberries, sprinkle "Just Bunches" cereal (110 cals)

Snack #1: 1 pkg Carl Budig Turkey (10 grams protein!!) and 12 baby carrots (115 cals)

Lunch: Black Bean "Soup": 3/4 cooked black beans, sprinkle mozzarella cheese, 1 slice avocado (165 cals)

Snack #2: 1/4 cup edamame and 1 6-ounce low fat yogurt (130 cals)

Dinner: Applebee's Shrimp and Island Rice (375 cals)

Snack #3: 100 cal microwave popcorn bag and 1/2 protein bar (185 cals)

Total Calories: 1080 - dang it.

Food Only

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Smoothie - 3 strawberries, 1/4 peach, 1 slice mango, 1/2 scoop protein powder, 3-ounces low fat yogurt, crystal light juice (225 cals)

Snack #1: 12 Baby Carrots and a cheese stick (110 cals)

Lunch: Subway Egg and Cheese English Muffin Melt (170 cals)

Snack #2: 1 6-ounce low fat yogurt and 1/4 cup edamame (130 cals)

Dinner: Shredded pork and 1 red potato (380 cals)

Snack#3: McDonald's ice cream cone - no cone and 100 cal microwave popcorn bag (250 cals)

Total Calories: 1265

Hungry just talking about it.

It's so hard to blog every day. I just don't have very much that interesting to say on a daily basis!

I went grocery shopping last night and got my much-needed supply of food for the week. Some of the food highlights for the week include:

Lunch - Black Bean Soup, California Wraps, and Lettuce Wrappers with Chicken

Dinner - Caribbean Baked Chicken with Mango, Garlic and Soy Grilled Pork Chops, Sun-dried Tomato and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Pulled Pork Sandwiches (just BBQ pulled pork for me - no bun).

I also stocked up on some delicious veggies for side dishes: fresh asparagus and squash, green beans (I wanted fresh ones, but Wal-Mart let me down, so I got frozen).

All in all it sounds like it should shape up to be one delicious week!

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Parfait - 1 6-ounce low fat yogurt, 5 strawberries, a sprinkle "Just Bunches" cereal (120 cals)

Lunch: California Wrap - 1 whole wheat tortilla, 1 pkg Carl Budig Pastrami, 1/3 avocado, mustard (280 cals)

Snack #1: 1 6-ounce low fat yogurt and a cheese stick (160 cals)

Dinner: Pork Chop and yellow squash (380 cals)

Snack #2: Air popped popcorn and 1/2 protein bar (230 cals)

Total Calories: 1170

The Big Three

Welcome to Weigh-in, Day One.

The result? 3 pounds lost! Not too shabby. Honestly, I was hoping for a little more given that it is the first week of the diet and all that jazz. However, having said that, I'm thrilled with a three pound loss and won't complain for one second!

I've still got a long way 'til my goal, though, so I'm going to keep on going strong.

Today is the day I need to write my menu and my shopping list. I'll share the highlights with you tomorrow.

Suggestion: For a satisfying sweet treat, try freezing your favorite yogurt flavor. You will feel like you are eating frozen yogurt at home, while keep the calories low. (Try to only freeze it for 3-4 hours. I froze mine overnight and it took about 10 minutes to thaw enough to spoon through).

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Smoothie - 6 strawberries, 3-ounces low fat yogurt, 1/2 scoop protein powder, crystal light orange juice, splenda (250 cals)

Snack #1: 12 Baby Carrots and a cheese stick (115 cals)

Lunch: Grilled Tomato, Garlic and Feta Cheese Pizza (210 cals)

Snack #2: 1/4 cup edamame and 1 6-ounce "frozen yogurt" (150 cals)

Dinner: Subway egg and cheese on english muffin (230 cals)

Snack #3: Microwave Popcorn and 1/2 protein bar (230 cals)

Total Calories: 1185

Food only

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Parfait - 1 6 ounce non fat yogurt and "Just Bunches" cereal (110 cals)

Lunch: 1 serving brown rice risotto and a cheese stick (220 cals)

Snack #1: "Frozen" yogurt (80 cals)

Dinner: Chicken and Rice (400 cals)

Snack #2: Air Popped Popcorn and 1/2 protein bar (300 cals)

Total Calories: 1110

Weekends...

I have reached the first weekend of my new resolve to be healthy. Weekends are always really rough for me. I get out of my routine. I sleep in too late and throw off my whole eating "schedule." I made sure to get up early enough today that I wouldn't been thrown off too much.

I'm about to go grab a snack and head off to the salon to get my hair done. :) Nothing like a little change in the hair to freshen up my feelings about myself. Hope you are all having a lovely weekend as well, dear readers.

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Smoothie: 2 slices frozen peaches, 6 frozen strawberries, 3 ounces lowfat yogurt, 1/2 scoop protein powder, crystal light orange juice (220 cals)

Snack #1: Baby Carrots (12) and string cheese (115 cals)

Lunch: Brown Rice Risotto and string cheese (220)

Dinner: Subway 6-inch Egg White and (cheddar) Cheese Flatbread Sandwich with tomatoes, olives and spinach (400 cals)

Snack: Air Popped Popcorn (150 cals)

Total Calories: 1105

My Bad...

I don't know that anyone actually goes back the next day to see my food journaling for the previous day but, if you do, I want you to know up front that I do not condone my calorie count yesterday. I didn't know until this morning when I put in my last couple items that my count was less than 1200. Ideally, my calories will come in between 1200-1400 for a day. Less than 1200 is never the goal (and I don't think it really helps the body lose weight to feed it quite so little). So, I will make some adjustments to my intake today to make sure I don't come in quite so low!

Today is going to be my first real test in self control. My office is having a BBQ lunch. Here is how it is described on my calendar. "Lunch will be provided, including hamburgers and cheeseburgers on the grill, soda and other items." Hmmm. Other items. I going to bet that doesn't include Grilled Tomato, Garlic and Feta Cheese Pizza? Because that's what I was going to make for myself today before this little luncheon was scheduled.

Never fear, though, I packed some Brown Rice Risotto to put next to a naked hamburger patty. And it's going to be just delicious. :)

Food Journal:

Breakfast: 1 6 oz Light Key Lime Pie Yogurt and 1/2 apple (110 cals)

Lunch: 1 small hamburger patty, 1 slice tomato, 1 serving brown rice risotto (210 cals)

Snack #1: 1/4 cup uncooked edamame and 1 cheese stick (130 cals)

Dinner: 1 Serving South Beach Diet Shepherd's Pie (360 cals)

Snack #2: Air popped popcorn (175 cals)

Total Calories: 985

Busy Stovetop

On my menu this week, my lunches ended up being a little more cooking heavy then I'm accustomed to, but for the last little while, lunch has been the weak link in my day. I either eat too little and end up starving for candy from the office candy jar by mid-afternoon, or I don't have anything planned so I run to the nearest fast food place and put my body into sodium shock. So, I turned to my trusty South Beach Diet Cookbooks and hunted from some delicious, easy lunch ideas.

I ended up with the following list for lunches: Almond Crusted Chicken (leftovers); Grilled Tomato, Garlic, and Feta Cheese Pizza, Vegetarian Chili with Avocado Salsa, Barley Risotto, and Edamame Salad.

Well, last night I was preparing dinner (South Beach Diet Shepherd's Pie) and simultaneously cooking the Risotto and Veggie Chili. Every burner and the oven were on. Phew. It was quite the multi-tasking. But, I'm happy to let you know that we will be having a delicious lunch break today!

3 days down...

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Parfait: Yogurt, 1/3 apple, Just Bunches cereal (120 cals)

Snack #1: Baby carrots (12) and cheese stick (115 cals)

Lunch: Brown Rice Risotto with Spinach and Parmesan (180 cals)

Snack #2: 1/8 cup Dry Roasted Wasabi Edamame and 1 6-ounce yogurt (150 cals)

Dinner: 1 Serving South Beach Diet Spinach Dumplings (290 cals)

Snack #3: Air popped popcorn (150 cals)

Total calories: 1045

Learning with Tyra

I'm going to admit it. "America's Next Top Model" is my favorite of all my guilty pleasures. So, last week Geoff and I were watching and I had a bit of an epiphany. No, seriously.

So the girls are hanging out in their ridiculously awesome beach house when they get a surprise visit from supermodel Karolina Kurkova. Karolina went on to mix up a fruit and veggie smoothie for the girls and talk to them about how important it is to eat healthy. Not just to stay thin, but to look beautiful, to keep their skin clear and glowing, to keep them feeling strong and healthy.

So, I may never look like Karolina Kurkova, but I can feed my body the vitamins and nutrients it needs to really function at its best. I can feel strong and healthy and beautiful - and if I'm truly feeding myself a healthy lifestyle, the weight loss can't help but come along for the ride. Right? Right.

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Fruit Smoothie (see Monday for ingredients - 210 cals).

Snack #1: 12 Carrots (40 cals)

Lunch: Lean Cuisine Pot Sticker Meal (370 cals)

Snack #2: Cheese stick and Yogurt (160 cals)

Dinner: South Beach Diet Shepherd's Pie (420 cals)

Total Calories: 1200

Day Two

Well, I had to start somewhere, right? And thus I'm off and onward to day #2 of...what? I don't want to call it a diet, really. Just life, I guess. Just choosing the healthy versus the fried. Choosing the low-cal/low-fat versus the candy. Choosing myself over stress and anxiety.

Yesterday was a success. You can look to yesterday's blog to see my food journaling for the day.

I also wrote up my menu for the week and did my grocery shopping so I don't have to make any last minute runs to...McDonald's...for a meal. Some highlights for this week's menu: Spinach Dumplings, Feta and Arugula Pizzas, Beef Crockpot Stew. Mmm. My stew is in the crockpot as I type.

My goal for today is to stick to the "rules" and carry on. I'll do my weigh-ins on Monday mornings. So you'll just want to wait 'til then to see how things are going on the scale. I know...you can barely stand it. ;)

Food Journal:

Breakfast: Parfait - 6 oz low-fat yogurt, 1/2 nectarine, sprinkle "Just Bunches" cereal (160 cals)

Snack #1: Baby Carrots (12) and String Cheese (115 cals)

Lunch: South Beach "Pizza": 1 whole wheat tortilla, 1 oz feta cheese, 1 plum tomato, 1/2 clove garlic; and 1/8 cup mixed nuts and candy corn (315 cals)

Snack #2: 1/8 cup Dry Roasted Wasabi Edamame and yogurt (150 cals)

Dinner: Stew with Meat, Potatoes, and Carrots (350 cals)

Snack #3: Air popped popcorn (150 cals)

Total Calories: 1240

Not so mini anymore

Okay, Okay. So I know I've been MIA for awhile now. And I know that any readers I do have out there (hi, mom) probably don't have a lot of faith in me at this point.

But, I'm not gonna let that stop me. :)

I've got 30-40 pounds to lose in 6 months. And you better believe I'm gonna do it.

Rules of the week:

1) 3 meals and 3 snacks each day.

2) NO chocolate.

3) Daily exercises (be it just dog walking)

4) Food journal.

Wish me luck!

Breakfast: Strawberry/Peach smoothie: 3 peach slices, 5 strawberries, 3 ounces nonfat vanilla yogurt, 10 ounces orange Crystal Light, 1/2 scoop soy protein powder, 2 tbsp Splenda (210 cals).

Snack 1: Baby Carrots (12) and string cheese. (125 cals).

Lunch: Almond Crusted Chicken Breast, 1/2 Apple, 1/4 cup mixed nuts w/candy corn (317 cals)

Snack 2: 1/4 cup Dry Roasted Wasabi Edamame and 1 Low-fat Peach Yogurt (210 cals)

Dinner: 1 Serving South Beach Diet Spinach Dumplings (290 cals)

Snack 3: 5 cups airpopped popcorn (150 cals)

Total Calories: 1302