Lunch today is whole wheat couscous, broccoli and part of a sirloin tip. I made the steak and broccoli this morning - about 6 oz. of steak, and 2 heads of broccoli (not huge, and it shrinks), seared with a little olive oil, Braggs soy sauce, and some hot pepper sesame oil. As I was putting the mixture into my little green bowl, I decided that I would leave about 1/4 of it behind, for later, so as to not fill the bowl all the way to the top. Now I am eating it, and it is so tasty that I could eat it very fast and then be sad when I was done (or I could have brought all of it, eaten it fast, and been full and feeling yucky when I was done.) But, because there is not a huge amount of it, I am eating it very slowly so that I can appreciate it.
I also brought just a 1/2 ounce of chocolate for dessert, because I think it will be just as satisfying as a whole ounce (and it was!), and I'll have some later if I feel like it.
Lunch was 435 calories.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Mix & Match Morning
I was feeling uninspired to walk this morning. Apparently so was my left leg, since it promptly got a shin splint. I tried to mix up my walk by doing the last cul-de-sac first, but then only did one more (instead of the usual 2) before heading home. The construction work at my push-up spot seems to be on hold, so I was able to get those in. Up to 15 now. From 12.
I came home and did the yoga video. It was a nice 25 minute workout, and I was able to go from plank to the floor slowly and with control, which was very exciting, since it means my arms are getting stronger.
Breakfast was the same as yesterday, and just as yummy!
I came home and did the yoga video. It was a nice 25 minute workout, and I was able to go from plank to the floor slowly and with control, which was very exciting, since it means my arms are getting stronger.
Breakfast was the same as yesterday, and just as yummy!
A Skewer of Egrets
No, not what I ate for dinner last night. That is apparently one of the collective nouns used when referring to a group of egrets, and what I saw this morning at 5:45 a.m. They were flying, rather clumsily, from one side of the road to the other, since the marsh is cut in half by the road. There were 10 or so, all white and slim with their black legs. Quite a sight to behold.
Then when I was in the yard with the dog, I finally spotted the woodpecker that I've been hearing for the past few weeks.
What does this have to do with fitness and getting in shape? Well, I only saw these things because I was up so early and outside. And I wanted to be up that early and outside. Even when getting up early meant leaving this:
Well, the dog is easy to leave. He's a bit insane.
Breakfast soon - probably eggs with some veggies, then a walk. And maybe this 20 minute yoga video
View not cut-off version on the Yoga Journal Website.
Then when I was in the yard with the dog, I finally spotted the woodpecker that I've been hearing for the past few weeks.
What does this have to do with fitness and getting in shape? Well, I only saw these things because I was up so early and outside. And I wanted to be up that early and outside. Even when getting up early meant leaving this:
Well, the dog is easy to leave. He's a bit insane.
Breakfast soon - probably eggs with some veggies, then a walk. And maybe this 20 minute yoga video
View not cut-off version on the Yoga Journal Website.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Still Not Hungry but Will Be For Pizza Night II
It's been 5 hours since I've eaten lunch, and I'm still not hungry. This is quite amazing, since usually I am hungry around 3 or 4, and then again when I get home from work. But I came home, read my mail (the paper kind), walked the dog and soon I will be going to The Boy's house for the leftover pizza, and some arugula salad. Sadly, there is no nutrition information on the Upper Crust website, but I have between 750 - 1000 calories left for the day, and there is not that much pizza left, so I think I'll be fine. For comparison, I looked at Pizza Hut's Thin and Crispy Pizza, and a slice has between 200 - 230 calories, which is perfectly reasonable.
I'm going to do my 50 bicycle crunches before I go. I can feel that my lower stomach is losing fat and getting toned. I think that is usually where it comes off of first.
And from tracking on Sparkpeople I can see that Sunday and today, when I didn't feel hungry, I had enough protein (between 60 and 152 grams) but yesterday, I fell below that and was hungry. I should remember this and plan accordingly.
I'm going to do my 50 bicycle crunches before I go. I can feel that my lower stomach is losing fat and getting toned. I think that is usually where it comes off of first.
And from tracking on Sparkpeople I can see that Sunday and today, when I didn't feel hungry, I had enough protein (between 60 and 152 grams) but yesterday, I fell below that and was hungry. I should remember this and plan accordingly.
Lunch Post
My breakfast kept me full for 5 hours! So, now I'm eating lunch. I waited until I was hungry intead of just getting up and eating because it was 12 p.m.
I'm having a trader joe's chili lime chicken burger over argula, 1/2 cup of whole wheat couscous, and 1/2 cup of curried chickpeas. Sparkpeople says it is about 400 calories. And once I have my chocolate piece, it will be 536 calories total. It probably could have used some more veggies - sauteed zucchini maybe, or some eggplant.
It's pouring rain, which makes me very glad I did my walking this morning.
It took me a 1/2 hour to eat my lunch. That is a nice slow pace. And it was so tasty, too!
I'm having a trader joe's chili lime chicken burger over argula, 1/2 cup of whole wheat couscous, and 1/2 cup of curried chickpeas. Sparkpeople says it is about 400 calories. And once I have my chocolate piece, it will be 536 calories total. It probably could have used some more veggies - sauteed zucchini maybe, or some eggplant.
It's pouring rain, which makes me very glad I did my walking this morning.
It took me a 1/2 hour to eat my lunch. That is a nice slow pace. And it was so tasty, too!
The Fascinating Conclusion
Walk: 45 minutes. It had stopped raining for the most part.
Push-ups: 15. And they are getting easier.
Quadriceps: 2. And they are starting to emerge.
Push-ups: 15. And they are getting easier.
Quadriceps: 2. And they are starting to emerge.
Breakfast
I still have not decided on my workout, but I had to post about breakfast because it was SO GOOD!! I knew I wanted eggs, and didn't want a tortilla, but I wanted something else in my eggs. And there was the 1/2 a zucchini from Fajita Night. So I had 2 eggs, 1/2 tablespoon of butter, 2 mushrooms and 1/2 a zucchini. I chopped the veggies up very small and cooked those first, and then scrambled the eggs with them. A little salt and pepper and oh my goodness they were so good. Total calories: 225.
Lazy Morning and a Challenge
"There was no possibility of taking a walk that day." (the first line to the book I am currently listening to, and one of the thoughts running through my head.) It's raining and I slept in until 6:30 a.m. The dog went out on her own. And I'm curious to see what I will do for exercise this morning.
Options:
1. Nothing. Sit and read fitness blogs until 8:00, then get ready for work.
2. Yoga. Isn't really appealing right now. It might be too early.
3. Denise Austin Personal Training System DVD. I love Denise Austin. When I was in my early 20's and gained weight, I used to get up early and do my Denise Austin Aerobics. It totally worked, too. And I just love how right when you are getting annoyed with her she says "Let me see that smiling face!" And you can't help but smile. This DVD has some great strength training on it, and you will probably be quite sore after the lower body workout. This is a strong possiblity.
4. Walk. Actually put on a rain coat, some pants with lycra or something, and listen to the end of Jane Eyre. This might work, too. It's not raining that hard. And I could do the 30 minute loop and then some D.A.
Stayed tuned for the fascinating conclusion...
Options:
1. Nothing. Sit and read fitness blogs until 8:00, then get ready for work.
2. Yoga. Isn't really appealing right now. It might be too early.
3. Denise Austin Personal Training System DVD. I love Denise Austin. When I was in my early 20's and gained weight, I used to get up early and do my Denise Austin Aerobics. It totally worked, too. And I just love how right when you are getting annoyed with her she says "Let me see that smiling face!" And you can't help but smile. This DVD has some great strength training on it, and you will probably be quite sore after the lower body workout. This is a strong possiblity.
4. Walk. Actually put on a rain coat, some pants with lycra or something, and listen to the end of Jane Eyre. This might work, too. It's not raining that hard. And I could do the 30 minute loop and then some D.A.
Stayed tuned for the fascinating conclusion...
Monday, April 28, 2008
Bonus Points, or A Body In Motion Tends to Stay in Motion*
I just took the dog for a walk in the rain. Actual rain. Not drizzle. And an actual walk, not a short trip around the yard saying "come on, good girl, go poops." This was a full-on, rain-coated, reflectored, 15 minute walk. The perfect way to end the day. And the dog walked fast because of the rain so it was at a nice pace, and not the usual "walk 10 steps, stop and sniff for 5 minutes, walk 1 step, sniff, walk 2 steps, repeat."
I think all my walking has gotten into my blood and my body enjoys the walking now and is more likely to continue walking than to stop.
Although, I do have to say that I hate walking in the rain. I hate it when my hands are wet. This might explain my aversion to washing the dishes, and is perhaps the sign of some sort of sensory integration disorder. What do hikers do when they hike in the rain? Do they just deal with wet hands? This I must find out.
*Newton's First Law of Motion
I think all my walking has gotten into my blood and my body enjoys the walking now and is more likely to continue walking than to stop.
Although, I do have to say that I hate walking in the rain. I hate it when my hands are wet. This might explain my aversion to washing the dishes, and is perhaps the sign of some sort of sensory integration disorder. What do hikers do when they hike in the rain? Do they just deal with wet hands? This I must find out.
*Newton's First Law of Motion
Pasta Night (then Pizza Night)
All my spicy meals have caught up with my belly and it said "Something plain, please!" That meant pasta. As I've said before, I always cook too much pasta, but tonight I did not. I had 2 little angel hair pasta nests, with some marinara sauce and Trader Joe's Meatless Meatballs. It was yummy, and just what I needed. And Sparkpeople says my calories have been right in line today, even with my super yummy treat.
I highly recommend the Meatless Meatballs from Trader Joe's. The serving size is 6 pieces, and they have 140 calories and 4 grams of fiber, and 6 grams of fat. They are very tasty, too. They would probably make a good meatball sub.
ETA:
Then the boy called. His girl is in town, leaving tomorrow and they were going for pizza at Upper Crust. So I went with them of course, and had a slice of bbq chicken pizza. Then we went for ice cream at Nona's, but I didn't have any. It is very easy for me to turn down ice cream, since I have the most delicous ice cream in the world once a week at my dad's. And because I had not eaten a large amount of pasta, the thin crust pizza (with not very much cheese) was a welcome addition to the day, instead of something I ate even though it made me sick. (I won't say what I used to do in the past if this occasion had arisen, but it involves unhealthy habits and not goodness.)
Now it's raining and I have to walk the dog.
I highly recommend the Meatless Meatballs from Trader Joe's. The serving size is 6 pieces, and they have 140 calories and 4 grams of fiber, and 6 grams of fat. They are very tasty, too. They would probably make a good meatball sub.
ETA:
Then the boy called. His girl is in town, leaving tomorrow and they were going for pizza at Upper Crust. So I went with them of course, and had a slice of bbq chicken pizza. Then we went for ice cream at Nona's, but I didn't have any. It is very easy for me to turn down ice cream, since I have the most delicous ice cream in the world once a week at my dad's. And because I had not eaten a large amount of pasta, the thin crust pizza (with not very much cheese) was a welcome addition to the day, instead of something I ate even though it made me sick. (I won't say what I used to do in the past if this occasion had arisen, but it involves unhealthy habits and not goodness.)
Now it's raining and I have to walk the dog.
Better than Reece's
I came home from work very hungry. This would definitely have been an English Muffin afternoon, had there been any in the house. Instead, I decided to have some peanut butter which would hold me over until I figured out what to make for dinner. But, plain peanut butter didn't really appeal to me, so I chopped an ounce of chocolate into 3 pieces, measured 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and then sprinkled it with some black salt (from Trader Joe's) and some kosher salt. It is a beautiful and tasty little snack. I wish I had milk.
It clocks in at 230 calories, which leaves me plenty of flexibility for dinner. And taking the time to arrange it prettily, and get it ready for its photo shoot really helps with impulse eating.
Early Lunch
I'm eating lunch at 11 a.m. because I am hungry. And I guess it's not really early, it's the perfect time - the time that I am hungry for lunch.
Lunch (served in my little green bowl) is: arugula, whole wheat cous cous (the Grain of the Week), a spicy chicken sausage from Trader Joe's and a scant 1/2 cup of the curry, which was all that was left. I must make more. A blob of plain yogurt would have been a good addition. And a wee square of chocolate would have made the perfect dessert. According to Sparkpeople my lunch is about 425 calories.
Breakfast (oatmeal with flax seed, butter and molasses) was 274. There should have been some sort of snack between breakfast and lunch, which all good Hobbits know.
Challenges
I was thinking this morning while walking the dog (I get up, turn the coffee on, walk the dog, drink coffee & eat breakfast, then go on my own walk) that this new regimen is fine as long as I prepared and eating at home. However, I know there will be times when I am not prepared or I'm going out to eat, or I'm exhausted and just want pizza from Upper Crust. So, I was thinking how I was going to face these challenges.
1. When I Want Pizza: I make very good pizza. Usually, though, I make a batch of dough, cut it in half, and use half the dough to make a thin crust pizza. I think what I will experiment with is making 1/2 a batch, and then using half of that dough to make pizza, which will be just as satisfying, but smaller. I will try that this week.
----
Now I'm home from my 50 minute walk. I'm going to do my crunches and then get ready for work.
1. When I Want Pizza: I make very good pizza. Usually, though, I make a batch of dough, cut it in half, and use half the dough to make a thin crust pizza. I think what I will experiment with is making 1/2 a batch, and then using half of that dough to make pizza, which will be just as satisfying, but smaller. I will try that this week.
----
Now I'm home from my 50 minute walk. I'm going to do my crunches and then get ready for work.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Fajita Night
Fajitas are one of my favorite things to eat. It is how I get in lots of veggies, and I love salsa and they are always filling. Tonight I used my small new cutting board, which helped control the amount I could chop (and therefore eat), I also set 2 tortillas out and made sure the food I was making would fit in only 2 tortillas, and I wouldn't be tempted to go back for more.
It was about 8 oz. of shrimp, 2 large mushrooms, half a zucchini, a small piece of onion and maybe a 1/2 cup frozen peppers. And roasted tomato and chipotle salsa.
After putting the foods into Sparkpeople, I found that I had room for sour cream, which added the perfect creaminess.
I've cleaned the kitchen, prepped the coffee, put the oat meal and flax seed in a bowl for the morning, packed my lunch and now I'm having tea. One more walk with the dog in a few minutes, then she'll be quarantined in the kitchen overnight and I will head upstairs for my 50 bicycle crunches before bed.
The day is ending much better than it began, and hopefully that will continue into tomorrow.
It was about 8 oz. of shrimp, 2 large mushrooms, half a zucchini, a small piece of onion and maybe a 1/2 cup frozen peppers. And roasted tomato and chipotle salsa.
After putting the foods into Sparkpeople, I found that I had room for sour cream, which added the perfect creaminess.
I've cleaned the kitchen, prepped the coffee, put the oat meal and flax seed in a bowl for the morning, packed my lunch and now I'm having tea. One more walk with the dog in a few minutes, then she'll be quarantined in the kitchen overnight and I will head upstairs for my 50 bicycle crunches before bed.
The day is ending much better than it began, and hopefully that will continue into tomorrow.
Feeling the Spark
This is my Sparkpeople log for the day. I won't post it everyday, but I was amazed by how much food I could eat and still remain within my goal, not to the point of over-fullness, but to the point of having every thing I wanted. I've even planned out tomorrow's breakfast and lunch, too.
(Ok, so the whole thing doesn't show up. The total calories is 1581, with a goal range of 1490 - 1840 for the day. And I'm not sure what the "approx. 60 pieces" means next to the chocolate. I had a small chunk, had it been broken into 60 pieces they would have been more like slivers.)
(Ok, so the whole thing doesn't show up. The total calories is 1581, with a goal range of 1490 - 1840 for the day. And I'm not sure what the "approx. 60 pieces" means next to the chocolate. I had a small chunk, had it been broken into 60 pieces they would have been more like slivers.)
Breakfast:
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| | CALORIES | CARBS | FAT | PROTEIN | |
| |  | 1,581 | 163 | 57 | 112 |  |
 | 1490 - 1840 | 196 - 283 | 39 - 68 | 60 - 152 |  |
Sleepy Sunday
Sometimes the way to fix a day that just keeps going wronger and wronger is to just take to bed. So I did. After walking the dog again, and cordoning her in one room just in case, I went to Whole Foods and actually stuck to my entire list: zucchini, tortillas, wonton wrappers, oatmeal, broccoli, and eggplant. Then I came home and put the dog back outside, and lay in bed for a while, and napped for a hour. I was very confused when I woke up and thought it was morning, but was glad when I realized it was only 3:30.
I was lulled to sleep by podcasts of Jillian, the trainer from Biggest Loser. Did you know that the people on the Biggest Loser worked out for 10 hours a day?? That is insane. If they weren't losing enough they would put on a 40 pound weighted vest to burn more calories. No wonder the girl who won lost an average of 16 pounds a week. But the podcasts are interesting because she really encourages people to eat whole foods, not processed things, and to not cut their calories too low (unless you are trying to win a reality show....)
I tracked my food on Sparkpeople today and the eggs, tortilla, lamb chop, piece of chocolate, Trader Joe's chili lime chicken burger, other tortilla, arugula, and OJ has added up to 876 calories. Sparkpeople allots me between 1490 and 1840 per day, and I set my cardio goal at 45 minutes per day or burning 325 calories per day, or 2280 per week. I usually do more than 45 minutes per day on the weekdays, and extra on the weekends, but I put in the lower number to give me flexibility. My hour of walking burns 423 calories and I can easily do that every day. Then my other exercise, longer walks, etc. will just be a bonus.
I don't know what is for dinner yet. Every time I have a meal, I can't think about the next one. Everything just sounds gross. So when I get a little hungrier I'll figure something out. My Sparkpeople tracker says I haven't had much fiber today, so maybe something with beans, ooh, or the eggplant. I love eggplant with its spiciness. Maybe eggplant and white beans with pasta? Any ideas?
I was lulled to sleep by podcasts of Jillian, the trainer from Biggest Loser. Did you know that the people on the Biggest Loser worked out for 10 hours a day?? That is insane. If they weren't losing enough they would put on a 40 pound weighted vest to burn more calories. No wonder the girl who won lost an average of 16 pounds a week. But the podcasts are interesting because she really encourages people to eat whole foods, not processed things, and to not cut their calories too low (unless you are trying to win a reality show....)
I tracked my food on Sparkpeople today and the eggs, tortilla, lamb chop, piece of chocolate, Trader Joe's chili lime chicken burger, other tortilla, arugula, and OJ has added up to 876 calories. Sparkpeople allots me between 1490 and 1840 per day, and I set my cardio goal at 45 minutes per day or burning 325 calories per day, or 2280 per week. I usually do more than 45 minutes per day on the weekdays, and extra on the weekends, but I put in the lower number to give me flexibility. My hour of walking burns 423 calories and I can easily do that every day. Then my other exercise, longer walks, etc. will just be a bonus.
I don't know what is for dinner yet. Every time I have a meal, I can't think about the next one. Everything just sounds gross. So when I get a little hungrier I'll figure something out. My Sparkpeople tracker says I haven't had much fiber today, so maybe something with beans, ooh, or the eggplant. I love eggplant with its spiciness. Maybe eggplant and white beans with pasta? Any ideas?
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Saturday Evening Post
Dinner: An artichoke. I love these. They have a magical flavoring in them. I like to push all the leaves back and pick out the spiky bits to throw away, and then eat it. They are so yummy and filling.
And lamb chops from Trader Joe's. Yum. Salt and pepper and that is it. The fat gets trimmed and given to the dog, except I found out tonight that too much of the fat will cause some intestinal issues in the dog, which resulted in my going on yet another walk.
My right knee hurts, the inside part (not inside inside, but like the inner part of my leg). I'm sure it will feel better in the morning. I'm so sleepy now and will be going to bed. Yes, it is 8 pm. No, I don't care. I will read for a bit.
This is how many calories my walk and hike burned today:
Walking 4 mph 433
Hiking 749
Total Calories Burned 1,182
Tomorrow I will take real before pictures (not the ones where I pose to the side and bend my leg). I might not post them yet, but I will take them. And I'll measure things.
And lamb chops from Trader Joe's. Yum. Salt and pepper and that is it. The fat gets trimmed and given to the dog, except I found out tonight that too much of the fat will cause some intestinal issues in the dog, which resulted in my going on yet another walk.
My right knee hurts, the inside part (not inside inside, but like the inner part of my leg). I'm sure it will feel better in the morning. I'm so sleepy now and will be going to bed. Yes, it is 8 pm. No, I don't care. I will read for a bit.
This is how many calories my walk and hike burned today:
Walking 4 mph 433
Hiking 749
Total Calories Burned 1,182
Tomorrow I will take real before pictures (not the ones where I pose to the side and bend my leg). I might not post them yet, but I will take them. And I'll measure things.
Second Walk or Don't Always Believe The Map
We started out well - we had a map, we had a plan. And the map was great for a while. And then it decided to stop working, and the path (which was not on the map) we were on through the woods of Turkey Hill took us here (not quite the woods we had in mind):
So our nature walk turned into walking down a rather busy road past a very busy ice cream hut:
until we finally reached the Great Swamp: (that's me)
This is Jess
The walk turned out to be 90 minutes. There were lots of up hills, very pretty woods, no bugs and perfect temperature.
My planned trip to Whole Foods afterwards to get zucchini to make Black Bean and Corn Wontons was aborted due to Tired Legs and Dread of Crowds. Now I'm lying in bed with my feet up and feeling quite accomplished for the day.
You can read Jess's version of our adventure on her blog.
So our nature walk turned into walking down a rather busy road past a very busy ice cream hut:
until we finally reached the Great Swamp: (that's me)
This is Jess
The walk turned out to be 90 minutes. There were lots of up hills, very pretty woods, no bugs and perfect temperature.
My planned trip to Whole Foods afterwards to get zucchini to make Black Bean and Corn Wontons was aborted due to Tired Legs and Dread of Crowds. Now I'm lying in bed with my feet up and feeling quite accomplished for the day.
You can read Jess's version of our adventure on her blog.
Afternoon Tea
It's that weird weather where it feels warm in the sun, but if you are inside with your windows open it gets chilly. My hands were cold, and I could feel myself wanting to eat something even though I wasn't hungry. So I decided to make tea - which would address both problems.
Now I'm resting a bit and having tea. I'm going out walking again soon with OLP so the resting is nice.
For me, the key to making long term changes that will result in permanent weight loss is making sure that the changes I am making are not a "diet" or something that I am "on" or "off" depending on my mood or location or stress level or holiday. It is just taking my current eating - which is healthy - and being mindful of it. It is using a smaller scoop for the rice and realizing that 1/3 of a cup of rice is just as filling as 1/2 a cup. It is removing english muffins and bread from my house since I know that if those foods are here I will eat them extremely unmindfully. Actually, I will enjoy them fully, but in too large of quantities so I save them for when I am out and there is a limited portion. It is about thinking about what I am going to eat before I do, and checking to see if I really am hungry after lunch, or if I'm just cold and bored.
It is also finding exercise that I love to do, and that I will do and seeking out new places to go and new challenges. And I'm hoping the habits I set into place during this nice weather will continue to carry me when the cold and the dark return. It is easy to get up at 5:30 a.m. when it is light out then, but those days when it is still dark at 7 a.m. are a bit more difficult to like. But I trust by then my body will want its morning walk more than it wants to be inside.
Now I'm resting a bit and having tea. I'm going out walking again soon with OLP so the resting is nice.
For me, the key to making long term changes that will result in permanent weight loss is making sure that the changes I am making are not a "diet" or something that I am "on" or "off" depending on my mood or location or stress level or holiday. It is just taking my current eating - which is healthy - and being mindful of it. It is using a smaller scoop for the rice and realizing that 1/3 of a cup of rice is just as filling as 1/2 a cup. It is removing english muffins and bread from my house since I know that if those foods are here I will eat them extremely unmindfully. Actually, I will enjoy them fully, but in too large of quantities so I save them for when I am out and there is a limited portion. It is about thinking about what I am going to eat before I do, and checking to see if I really am hungry after lunch, or if I'm just cold and bored.
It is also finding exercise that I love to do, and that I will do and seeking out new places to go and new challenges. And I'm hoping the habits I set into place during this nice weather will continue to carry me when the cold and the dark return. It is easy to get up at 5:30 a.m. when it is light out then, but those days when it is still dark at 7 a.m. are a bit more difficult to like. But I trust by then my body will want its morning walk more than it wants to be inside.
Not even first breakfast
Saturday morning, 8:30, having coffee. The boy was here and I made him eggs in a tortilla, but I am not hungry yet so I'm just having coffee. I'm out of eggs and have to trek a ways to get more, but maybe the nearby farm has some.
My goals today:
My goals today:
- do sit-ups - done
- lift hand weights - done
- bike or walk - somewhere new, Turkey Hill, W.E., something hilly. -- done. Walked to Weir River Farm for some eggs. A 1 hour walk. Very nice day. Should have drank more water before I left.
- eating plan
- breakfast : ? rye cereal maybe? I'll wait to see what strikes me when I'm hungry -- done, rye cereal it was.
- lunch: curry and rice and arugula - done. Curry, rice, spicy sausage. No arugula. A piece of chocolate to finish it off. And water.
- snacks: beets, grapefruit, raisins
- dinner: lamb and some sort of vegetable
- stay off the scale - not done.
- take measurements
- stay hydrated
- remember that one will not instantly become svelte and toned.
Friday, April 25, 2008
food fotos
Because taking pictures with my phone is fun. There was a weird drunk lady (no, not me) and a strange man who was trying to get us to go to Kite Day tomorrow, and lots of people wanting our seats. I wanted to take pictures of other people's food, too, but that seemed a bit forward.
live blogging
Live blogging from Caffe Tosca while I wait for a tardy companion. Drinking wine called Mommy's Time Out. Which is an Italian red zin and tastes better than its name. I do not mind being here alone, although there was a time I would have waited I the car until the other person arrived due to self consciousness. Now I sit calmly and wait and sip my wine on a rather uncomfortable stool.
Afternoon Snack Time
So, I was feeling a bit peckish and wondering what to do about it when I remembered that I had left over raisins and sunflower seeds from my hike on Saturday. I would post a photo but blogger is being cranky. Anyway, I found a meauring cup in the office cupboard, and it appears that there is a 1/2 cup of this mix. I put it in a plastic glass which is quite narrow which makes it difficult to take more than a few pieces at a time. I didn't do this on purpose, but it is making me eat very slowly. I will probably only eat about half of the mix, since the seeds are unsalted and therefore not very interesting.
I am trying to motivate myself to get my work done so that I can leave early but new clients keep calling so maybe I should stay a bit longer.
I am trying to motivate myself to get my work done so that I can leave early but new clients keep calling so maybe I should stay a bit longer.
Unhurried, curried lunch
I had heartburn or something this morning. My stomach felt all weird. I took some Tums and visualized a happy belly and it felt better in an hour or two. I was afraid that the spicy lunch I packed (arugula, brown rice, curry and spicy sausage) would not be welcomed at lunch, but it was. I love spicy food. In addition to the flavor, it makes me eat more slowly because there is more input in terms of sensation. I read somewhere once that people who overeat are "low tasters" meaning they don't taste things as much as "high tasters" so they need to eat more for their brain to register that they are full. That is why I often add hot sauce to my macaroni and cheese, I get full faster. I didn't measure the food in the bowl, but the bowl holds 3.2 cups and I'd say there was a good cup of space left at the top, and the bottom was filled with fluffy arugula until I microwaved it and it wilted. This is the bowl I bring my lunch in every day. It is the perfect size, and keeps from from filling up a larger container with more food just to fill the container.
I have a little piece of the chocolate from yesterday for dessert.
Now I am just full enough.
Just Plugging Away
Nothing new and exciting to report. Dinner last night was beets, salad and a little couscous. It was perfect for a lovely summer eating with the girls. As I was driving home, I realized that if I still had english muffins in the house I would eat one when I got home, but since I didn't have any, I wouldn't be eating anything. I wasn't hungry and didn't need more food.
I got up at 6 and walked with the dog in the yard for 10 minutes and now I'm having coffee and getting ready for my own walk, and planning my lunch for the day. I'm think of brown rice, arugula, and curry with some spicy sausage. Maybe beets. All of those things are prepped and in my fridge, so it's very easy to just mix and match depending on what I feel like eating on any given day.
ETA:
Went walking. Thought I had picked a nice long route but it only turned out to be 30 minutes. Did about 15 minutes of hand weights and sit ups. Tried to do some exercise from a tear-out from Self Magazine, but couldn't figure them out.
I got up at 6 and walked with the dog in the yard for 10 minutes and now I'm having coffee and getting ready for my own walk, and planning my lunch for the day. I'm think of brown rice, arugula, and curry with some spicy sausage. Maybe beets. All of those things are prepped and in my fridge, so it's very easy to just mix and match depending on what I feel like eating on any given day.
ETA:
Went walking. Thought I had picked a nice long route but it only turned out to be 30 minutes. Did about 15 minutes of hand weights and sit ups. Tried to do some exercise from a tear-out from Self Magazine, but couldn't figure them out.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Chocolate Nibs and Farro Grains
Sometimes the afternoon post brings just the right thing. Like a little box of organic raw chocolate from Snake & Butterfly Chocolate, a new little operation in California. The camera didn't really capture the funky little designs on the top of the smaller piece; the larger piece has chocolate nibs which is what the texture on top is. The camera also failed to capture the lovely, smooth, dark chocolate taste, the kind that satisfies you with just a small piece.
Lunch was at Burton's Grill and I had a chicken dish with
The Fox and the Gardeners
First of all, if anyone knows how to prevent the smooshed paragraphs that show up after the nicely spaced first paragraph, please tell me. I've tried redoing the font and alignment, but nothing it helping and it is making me batty.
I walked for 45 minutes this morning. Up a new hill, and back down, then half way up the first dead end road on my route. But there was a little fox walking up the road ahead of me. He'd go into the woods and then come back out, and look back at me and the trot on. It seemed strange that he'd be out at that hour (a little after 8) since I thought they were nocturnal, so I thought perhaps he was rabid and that I'd rather not be at the end of a dead end road with him so I bid him goodbye and turned back.
Then I went up the last dead end road on my route. The gardeners and landscapers were already all out working and I was again prevented from finishing my route as it would have involved passing a gentleman relieving himself next to his landscaping truck. Lovely.
I'll try to head out a little earlier next time.
Fitting Your Routine Into Your Life, and Not The Other Way Around
A new routine is very easy to keep if you have no interuptions and unlimited time to make sure all the parts of the routine are completed. For example, it was very easy for most of the week for me to keep my routine of going to bed at 8:30pm or so, getting up at 5:30 and keeping my workout schedule on track. However, there is a certain young man whose company I like to keep, and keeping that company involves driving two towns over, which means my "schedule" gets adjusted.
So I was not up at 5:30 this morning, I wasn't even home until 6:45. But this does not mean that I will cut out my workout for this morning, or that I stopped for donuts on the way home since I didn't have time to make breakfast. Nope, it just means things get shifted a little. I'll check my work schedule and see if getting in a half hour later would cause problems (probably not) and then I just go about my morning routine.
I am still not hungry for breakfast, it might have been the bread from last night that is keeping me full. So I think I'll walk soon and then eat when I get home. I'm going out to lunch again today, not sure where.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Sample Night At Whole Foods
One of the good things about going to the store frequently is that something new might catch your eye (like a black radish), or they will be sampling things that you would never think to cook for yourself - like steamed mahogany clams. But they were sampling them, and they were very good, so I bought them and made them for dinner. Steamed with onion, garlic, parsley, lemon juice and a little water. Served with some bread (the rest of the loaf was thrown away and covered with coffee grounds or else it would have ended up with butter and salt on it and in my belly.) They were very good, and filling. I also bought an artichoke.
Lunch Report, or I Need To Think of Better Titles
So, I had lunch out with my old boss and her husband. It was lovely. The menu was different than the one online, so I had a chicken & pasta dish with some wonderful mushrooms. I only ate half of it, and then forgot to bring the leftovers home. I had a yummy cappuccino for dessert. Now I am full, and don't even want a mini snickers bar that is sitting in the waiting room.
Out to Lunch
This is where I am going to lunch today: Isabella's Restaurant.
I think I will have either: Wild Baby Greens--Sesame Soy Vinaigrette, Local Goat Cheese & Roasted Peppers, With Steak
or
Herb Grilled Chicken Breast--Warm Cous-Cous Tomato Salad, Greens & Black Olive Sauce
I don't like to eat sandwiches around other people, I sometimes don't like to eat around other people. Not in closet-eater sort of way, but in a I-don't-want-to-make-a-mess way.
I'm fairly hungry, and will eat some raisins before I go.
I think I will have either: Wild Baby Greens--Sesame Soy Vinaigrette, Local Goat Cheese & Roasted Peppers, With Steak
or
Herb Grilled Chicken Breast--Warm Cous-Cous Tomato Salad, Greens & Black Olive Sauce
I don't like to eat sandwiches around other people, I sometimes don't like to eat around other people. Not in closet-eater sort of way, but in a I-don't-want-to-make-a-mess way.
I'm fairly hungry, and will eat some raisins before I go.
Walk & Second Breakfast
Walk was 50 minutes. And because I went earlier, I got to the place I usually do my push-ups before the workers got there so I could do them without other people around.
Now I'm having my oatmeal with blueberries. I'm not sure they are done cooking. I might have to soak them before the walk next time.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
After Dinner
ugh. I ate dinner: pasta, shrimp, broccali rabe, and cheese. I had measured out a 1/2 cup of dry pasta, and then added an extra 1/4 cup to the pot, you know, just in case. Just in case what? Just in case 1/2 cup isn't enough? Just in case I starve to death on that tiny amount of pasta? Just in case there is nothing else to eat if I am still hungry when I'm done? And because I eat whatever I cook, I feel gross and full.
So, the next time I have pasta, I will cook exactly 1/2 a cup and not one piece more. In fact, to lessen any anxiety around the size of the serving, I might cook a 1/2 cup of pasta when I am not hungry just to see that it will actually fill the bowl and be a good dinner.
On the other hand, I normally cook a full cup of dried pasta, so this was still an improvement.
I also realized that I was too hungry at dinner which led to my poor choice. I needed something in between. I will prepare some carrot sticks and them them in the fridge to eat with a little peanut butter for next time.
I did go for an after dinner walk with the dog which was nice. Perfect temperature. Still light.
Lunch tomorrow is out somewhere with my old boss. Walk is on for tomorrow morning. Kitchen is clean. And dry steel cut oats are sitting in a pan with some ground flax seed waiting to be cooked tomorrow morning with blue berries. Yum!
So, the next time I have pasta, I will cook exactly 1/2 a cup and not one piece more. In fact, to lessen any anxiety around the size of the serving, I might cook a 1/2 cup of pasta when I am not hungry just to see that it will actually fill the bowl and be a good dinner.
On the other hand, I normally cook a full cup of dried pasta, so this was still an improvement.
I also realized that I was too hungry at dinner which led to my poor choice. I needed something in between. I will prepare some carrot sticks and them them in the fridge to eat with a little peanut butter for next time.
I did go for an after dinner walk with the dog which was nice. Perfect temperature. Still light.
Lunch tomorrow is out somewhere with my old boss. Walk is on for tomorrow morning. Kitchen is clean. And dry steel cut oats are sitting in a pan with some ground flax seed waiting to be cooked tomorrow morning with blue berries. Yum!
Almost Dinner
Home around 4 p.m. Hungry. Thankfully there is nothing in my house that is quick to eat, so I can't just munch on something while I think about dinner. And there is no wine either.
I wanted to do something that involved moving but was feeling sleepy so I decided to do a little bit of yoga, and then lie on the floor to exercise. This is what can be done while you lie on the floor - bridge pose, crunches (or reverse crunches using legs in a slow bicycle if you are too tired to lift your head and torso up), different weight liftings for chest and triceps. I got a nice bit of work in and then just lay there for a while resting.
Now I'm thinking about dinner. I'm hungry. I am thinking of shrimp, angel hair pasta, broccoli rabe and some Parmesan cheese, and maybe some ricotta.
I wanted to do something that involved moving but was feeling sleepy so I decided to do a little bit of yoga, and then lie on the floor to exercise. This is what can be done while you lie on the floor - bridge pose, crunches (or reverse crunches using legs in a slow bicycle if you are too tired to lift your head and torso up), different weight liftings for chest and triceps. I got a nice bit of work in and then just lay there for a while resting.
Now I'm thinking about dinner. I'm hungry. I am thinking of shrimp, angel hair pasta, broccoli rabe and some Parmesan cheese, and maybe some ricotta.
Lunch.
The curry has tamed down a bit, and is just spicy enough. The kale is awesome, cooked with garlic, Braggs and crushed red pepper. And the beets are lovely.
Feeling sufficiently hungry, and not stressed or rushed at all. It is a beautiful day out.
Reading this blog, Gotta Get Shrunk, while I eat. She loves lululemon clothes, too.
This is my pile of lulu, along with socks and bandanas:
It is in my bedroom, by the door, so I can grab an outfit on my way downstairs in the morning. That is the key for me - having everything right where I can grab it, shoes untied and ready for my feet, socks paired and right-side out, and a stash of cute things that I want to wear.
My lunch is very filling, and I'm eating it slowly.
ETA:
12:58pm
I'm done eating. This is what is left:
Feeling sufficiently hungry, and not stressed or rushed at all. It is a beautiful day out.
Reading this blog, Gotta Get Shrunk, while I eat. She loves lululemon clothes, too.
This is my pile of lulu, along with socks and bandanas:
It is in my bedroom, by the door, so I can grab an outfit on my way downstairs in the morning. That is the key for me - having everything right where I can grab it, shoes untied and ready for my feet, socks paired and right-side out, and a stash of cute things that I want to wear.My lunch is very filling, and I'm eating it slowly.
ETA:
12:58pm
I'm done eating. This is what is left:
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