I'm taking a blogging break

Hey, ladies :) As the title of this post says, I'm going to take a break from the blog for a while. Not sure how long, but at least a month or two. I know I haven't been consistent, anyway, so maybe it won't be much of a change :) Anyway, I wanted to let everyone know so I don't just disappear! Everyone have a wonderful New Year and I know we'll talk soon!

Cheers,
Ellen :)

on the first day of Christmas

wait, why are there more then one days of XMAS???

anyways, being Jewish and all, the most Christmasesie thing I did was make butter cookies, and they were good...so I have been doing great on the treadmill/exercise video plan...worked out today, which is Thursday and then on Wed, and Tues, not on Mon or Sun, but yes on Fri and Sat, and quite a few other days last week....so ya! happy about that, pants are a little loser, but there are still some , or rather lots, but lets speak positive, some, where I would rather them not....how is everyone else doing??

see you next week!!
xoxo
Dawn

haha!

I just accidentaly posted this on my classroom blog! I'm glad I noticed right away. That would have been embarrassing :)

Thank you Ellen for posting that recipe! It looks super yummy. I am definitely going to try it out over the holiday break. Dawn, we will definitely work out while you are here!  West Cliff sounds nice right now, but cold! As of now, it looks like I'll be going to Santa Barbara on the 28th-ish, for a few days, but that is still negotiable. Dawn, how long you do you plan to be here? I don't go back till the 12th (suckers!) . 

I am enjoying our blogging lately, though you are all much more on top of it than I. It's nice to have this place to use as we see fit, whether it's just to vent or to post food intake or whatever. By the way, where is Rosie? 

Tuesday and tired

HI Ladies

First, I want to say, being isolated in the country, hanging out with my dogs and parents A LOT..tonight it was really nice to read everyones blogs, and what not...aLSO, Alyssa and Caitlin after Santa Clause leaves I will be coming to town..and I know you both have the student/teacher schduele...so guess what??? WE ARE GOING TO DO WEST CLIFF DRIVE, as much as we can (weather permitting), or workout tapes, did I hear sweating with the oldies?? or maybe Alyssa, Cait and I can buy a week pass at your gym??

Either way, I have been doing really good, worked out on treadmill on Thursday, Saturday, Monday..and I think as seen in blog Wed, Tues, Mon...and really happy about my record thus far..I think the thing with me and working out, is it is not the calories I burn, though those are good, but the fact that I am proud of myself for working out...

Consequently I am looking forward to seeing you all, and am worried I will fall off the wagon in the cruz...thus, help me out and work out with me..plus it's kinda free...except for a membership of course..but ya know...

so I am really tired today, stayed up late last night watching Time to Kill, love that movie, but will workout the rest of the work week...xoxo

Recipe: Turkey/Vegetable Lasagna

Ok, so I don't have amounts really squared away, but here is the lasagna I made, which actually was enough ingredients for 2 giant pans of lasagna with lots of sauce leftover.

Ingredients
2-1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
2 large yellow onions - diced
2 large green bell peppers - chopped well
2 bags packaged pre-sliced, washed white button mushrooms - chopped coarsely
6 small/medium zucchini, chopped coarsely into bite-size pieces
2 jars plain marinara sauce
4 cans diced tomatoes in juice (regular sized cans, not jumbo or mini)
8-10 cups chopped (about 1/2 of a jumbo box) fresh baby spinach
4-5 cloves crushed garlic
10-15 large fresh leaves diced/chopped basil
2 Large containers Reduced Fat Ricotta
4 Eggs (or egg substitute)
2 boxes Whole Wheat Lasagna noodles
Parmesan Cheese
Italian seasoning
Salt
Black pepper

Directions
1. In the largest saucepan/frying pan you have, sautee the onions, green bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms and garlic until almost done.
2. Transfer to a big stockpot on the stove and add the diced canned tomatoes (with juice) and the marinara. Stir well and turn heat to low.
3. Back in the pan, brown and break apart the ground turkey until well done. Drain off the fat then add to the sauce stockpot. Stir well.
4. Add the chopped spinach and a generous amount of italian seasoning, salt and ground black pepper. Stir well and keep heat on low or low-medium.
5. While the turkey/veggie sauce simmers, prepare the Ricotta mixture by beating the four eggs together and them mixing them with the two containers of ricotta. Add the chopped basil and some salt and pepper. Mix well.
6. To assemble the lasagna, ladle a small amount of the liquid from the sauce into the bottom of each pan. You want to cover the bottom of the pan in a thin layer of the tomato liquid. Then, add layers of the following, one after another: Uncooked lasagna noodles (cover the entire surface, but try not to overlap), then a thin layer of the ricotta mixture, then a layer of the sauce, then the noodles, ricotta, sauce.
7. For the top layer, finish with noodles then sauce. So, in a deep pan it might be:
sauce (liquid only)
noodles
ricotta
sauce
noodles
ricotta
sauce
noodles
sauce
8. Cover with aluminum foil and bake on the middle rack at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes to an hour. Uncover after 45 minutes and use a fork to stab through and see if the noodles are cooked. There should be no resistance.
9. Sprinkle on the parmesan cheese (whatever amount you want), leave the lasagna uncovered and bake another 10-15 minutes.

[ gɝ:]

(sorry my head is wrapped up in phonetic nerdiness- that is me growling "Grrr")
The posts on motivation made me realize that if the scale was from 1-10 I am at about a level 1, no go-get-em attitude today... I need the motivation fairy to visit me. No, maybe the kick in the butt fairy. I am feeling lazy and frustrated! Since Thanksgiving I have gained a ten pounds, I hate to write that out but I need to. I don't think I have moved more than once a week in any calorie burning way and I am hating the consequences. gripe-grumble-gripe!! Oh, and what do I want to do about this? why, eat of course! Thankfully the food that I have been fantasizing about is way out of my price range during this gift giving time and I was sure to stock up on healthy, simple, and easy items for the house. So I will survive...grrr.

yummy

Ellen, your lasagna sounds delicious! Can you post a recipe? 

I like your theory on exercise. I think when we quit, even temporarily, we get down on ourselves and then its even harder to start back up. But if we just remember that it only needs to be temporary and that its ok to have some down time, its easier to start back up. 

This time of year is definitely difficult - rainy, cold, busy. My friend and I were talking today about going to the gym after work this week, and it was "I can go Wednesday, but not Tuesday" then "Oh I can't go Wednesday or Thursday" and then you realize that you won't be going at all this week! Too busy! 

Good Monday :)

Had a great weekend, how was everyone else's? I made some veggie/turkey lasagna with whole wheat noodles, lowfat ricotta, etc., last week which we ate for most of the week. It was good, but now we're pretty sick of it. Going to make something with eggplant soon, as we picked up a huge one from a lady at work (from her garden). We have healthy, delicious food in the house, so we are definitely eating better :) On the exercise front there has been a whole lot of nothing. I feel like I'm getting sucked into holiday inactivity, which is sometimes bothersome, but sometimes I don't care. Especially when it is raining. Turning on our indoor Christmas lights, Christmas tree, turning on the Christmas carols and wrapping presents or reading a good book with a cup of hot chocolate seems more appealing than getting in an exercise DVD or even dancing (which I love). Snuggling on the couch on a rainy night trumps crunches...

A friend of mine has a saying about exercise, or going to the gym. He says, "you go, you quit, you go, you quit, you go...." The idea being that for most of us we are not going to exercise 1 hour/day every single day for the rest of our lives. We are going to have periods where we stop going to the gym (or working out at home), then ramp back up again. The key, he thinks, is to never truly quit (give up) and to try to keep the "quit" intervals short. Find ways to quickly get back in the groove after getting off track. I can relate to that, but I think my "quit" interval has gotten a little out of hand.

Hi ladies

so, today I am probably going to try and run for 10 minutes, then walk 5, and then back again, evenutally I want to be up to 30 minutes straight, and if I was really cool, I would LOVE to do 6 miles in an hour, I think thats what Beyonce does, which would be really cool...but ya, that's something to look for..xoxo

so tired

I was roaming through Costco yesterday and they were selling gym memberships for 24hr fitness and it seemed like a good deal(did not read the fine print yet though). I am almost tempted to ask for one for Christmas but I'm not sure that I will be committed enough. I feel so zapped right now that raising my hand up to scratch my head is exhausting. I feel like a wimp :)
I'm just wallowing in my woes - next week I will have a new outlook...

hello

OK, ate a lot today in the morning, and woke up hungry last night, but I think it's cause I worked out, and then only had a salad with chicken on it, today ran for 30, well ran/walked, and did the pilates ab workout..ya!! how is everyone's holiday workouts going?

yowsers

OK, so Friday night, yes it was a Friday night, I put cocunut oil in my hair and did an 80s Kathi Smith workout..it was great...well not really, but proud of myself for working out, Saturday went to Portland, walked around, no workout, Sunday, got my treadmill! ya, at 7am, riding in the pickup truck with our farmer neighbor...and gnarly cramps! then, today I did 45 minutes on the treadmill...ya! gonna try and do that everyday...

how ya all doing??

today

Well recently my exercise has been limited to dragging around an incredibly heavy backpack and running with it as I seem to be continually almost late. I think that this has to count for something, though I am not fooling myself and counting it as a real exercise. Its more like an intense day of shopping.

I went for a 1 hour fast walk today and did a few reps with the weights for my arms. I need to keep them strong for that bag! I almost feel like it is time to get one of those wheelie briefcase/bags. Any one have experience with these?

My goal is to get in the pool by this time next week. I know this is a loose goal, but that's what Ive got at this point. (only two weeks left in the semester --cram time!)

EX-ERCISE EX-ERCISE

ok, that is supposed to sound like the extra extra! so, I have been doing good on working out at home, on Satuday and Sunday I did floor workouts, which I was sore from, nothing Monday, then Teusday did a pilates ab video. today I will do some more squats and floor workouts. I am still looking for a treadmill cause I know I will use it, plus there is lots of room up here and it would be good for my folks...

now food wise, been doing pretty good, been happy with what I am eating, though not seeing any results...gonna read the bob greene book again, it is really good. he is oprahs buddy...trying not to get to crazy again

love you all
Xoxo
ps WORK OUT

Happy December :)

Hey, Ladies! Had a great Thanksgiving weekend and am now back to the grind :) Thanksgiving Day and the day after both involved Thanksgiving dinners, which were great. We didn't go crazy, but we did enjoy the offerings of the meals. The weekend was spent with leftovers and more family time. Now it is December and time to get some real food in our house. We are surviving on things from the freezer and random bits these past few days! I am going shopping tomorrow night to get lots of veggies, lean proteins, etc. I'm planning to make a veggie/ground turkey lasagna soon, and probably some kind of whole grain stew/casserole. I'll let you know if I come up with anything good, as those would be two "one-dish" meals.

Turkey day recap

OK, so everything went OK, I don't feel like I ate to the point of getting made at myself. so ya! my mom was really sweet and made lots of things as healthy as possible, for example we used the light bread with chicken stock for the stuffing, and mixed butternut squash with the yams and califlower with the potatoes, this cut down on calories and starch..

anyways, past 2 days i have been doing squats, ab work and floor exercises, i am still looking for a treadmill but happy that today I feel sore from my self made workout.

how did everyone else do??

xoxo
Dawn

This year Thanksgiving was/is a nontraditional one. Dan and I decided to go out to dinner, just the two of us. It was great! No food to cook or dishes to clean. Well, cooking I enjoy but I detest the dishes. It turned out that Brett would be at his girlfriends families with my Dad, and my mom was to go up to my aunts where the food is not to die for. So we opted out with a plan to go on a mini road trip for the long weekend. The rain spoiled the trip but it did not spoil the day. We walked to Clouds downtown and enjoyed their turkey feast with a bottle of wine. On Sunday we will enjoy another turkey at my moms with Brett and my dad. It will take some time getting used to the holidays mixed up with new obligations.
Ellen - I'm with you on the dislike for raw meats in the kitchen. I usually have Dan help me out touching the meat to get the seasonings on, then clean up what ever could possibly be contaminated by the nastiness. I'm such a wuss. I used to have the butchers get the gizzards out of the chicken and rinse it for me before they rapped it up.
Alyssa- pot roast is a great idea. I have not made one in years, yum.
Dawn- have fun shopping today. I imagine that will include a fair amount of walking!

Turkey Day countdown!

Yeah, I'm not annoyed by anything ppl want to post :) I think it is great that we can each use this as we see fit! It is funny, there's quite the debate raging around the blogosphere about food journaling via blogging and it really does seem to be split pretty evenly -- some people are all about journaling and that is what helps keep them on track while others it just makes them crazy and all OCD-like! I'm not sure where I fit, yet :)

Matt and I are doing Thanksgiving at my house Thursday with my mom, step-dad, sister (and her boyfriend), and brother (and his girlfriend). My mom wanted to make things easy on me, so she ordered one of those pre-made dinners. I picked it up at the Bel Air tonight. Honestly, I was pretty much just thrilled I don't have to deal with raw turkey. I am so anti the raw-poultry in my kitchen, really I'm pretty freakish about it. It comes with an entire cooked turkey (good since we've got 8 people), plus three sides, a pumpkin pie, rolls, cranberry sauce and gravy. People still wanted to make stuff to bring, so we are also having salad, green bean casserole, orange-cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole of some sort, a sour-cream apple pie and Martinelli's. WOW, is all I have to say. WOWOWOWOW.

Then Friday we do it all over again at Matt's mom's house with that side of the family. My theme for the holiday weekend is "Moderation." We'll see how it goes.

today is like friday!

it's nice to have everyone back :) it sounds like a consensus (is that the right word?) that we should be using this as we see fit. there's no point in it, if it isn't helpful. I pretty much suck at keeping track of what I eat. Half the time I can't remember what I had for lunch that day. Sometimes I forget my bagel at the coffee shop and go to work with no breakfast. Dumb. 

Anyway.... I'm now going to be cooking an entire Thanksgiving dinner, but just for 3 people. Anyone have tips on how to cook turkey? Not a whole one, just a breast or something? All the side dishes I'm comfortable with. 

 Caitlin - (I commented this too) I"m no use for recipes, but what about a stirfry or potroast for a one-dish meal? Something hearty but fairly easy (I assume).  (I'd love to do a short-ish walk tomorrow! Sorry, I just saw your comment. No real plans for me, just shopping for Turkey day. I'll call you.)

Dawn is crazy!

OK, so I have been thinking, why don't ppl just post when they want, and about what they want..it does not have to be exactly what they eat, cause that obviously made some people crazy...I love you all..xoxox

Tuesday, 2 days to Turkey day!

ok, so can I still write down all the details?? or is that annoying?? let me know...


1 cup of milk
apple
coffee
moroccan chick pea soup, delish, from this place called yum yum cafe, appears they have chains all over Eugene
1.5 light gram crackers with pb spread
tea
dinner is shrimp or something...

walked around and grocery shopped, what does that count as?

Share

Ok. Who has a one dish wonder (casserole) recipe that they can share - I hate doing dishes!
Maybe something without tuna, unless you can convince me to try it anyways ;)

Today I am going for a bike ride ~ 30 min and a walk ~ 40 min.

Yesterday I picked up one of my favorite candies, and I bought the bulk package instead of the individual and had one last night, which was fine, but I wanted more. Stupid me. I keep looking at them, but then I try to remind myself that thanksgiving is just days away -- I'm trying to pre-plan and make room for some gravy! It is working so far...

What up, ladies...

So, Alyssa, Rosie and I sort of used it as more of just a check-in and venting forum over the last few months. It was pretty sporadic, but we used it more as a place to just talk about our successes and our challenges versus a place to list out everything we ate -- though, we sometimes did that if we felt it was helpful. I think Rosie commented that it worked better for her that way, too.

To answer your question, Dawn, I do the DVDs in the living room. My biggest challenge is finding a consistent schedule. I am totally not a morning person no matter how often I try to force it. After work would be best, before we have evening stuff going on, but I usually manage to not do it then. I've heard that right before bed is not the best idea as it pumps up your adrenaline and makes sleeping difficult.

Monday

oatmeal 2/3
turkey sandwich with about 1/4 an avo..um, ike 4
apple 2
cookie, pb, they are still in the house, thanks dad, 3
about 1 cup of salmon, measuring things is funny, but the best way to do it 5
1/2 a russet potato 3
1/4 cup of light sour cream, probably less... 3

like 10-15 tortilla chips, with mango salsa, and then 1/2 an avo..couldn't stop..oh crap..?/
no exercise.

ok, so I know for a fact that I did not lose any weight last year, I became obsessed with what I was eating, but seemed to just go on and eat, even though I knew when to stop, etc..Chile was good, cause I did not keep track, yes I think I have written this all before...but I am going to keep track again, and have been doing well. good thing for me that changing locations also allows me to change my habits, some for good, more veggies up North then buying in Chile, but no exercise or walking, to watching 90210 re-runs..man I love the gang...

either way, I love love love the update of talking with you all and just saying what is going on....and I too can share recipes...

talk to you all soon

okay, okay

Fine, I'll post :) It's been waaaay too long. I totally understand what Caitlin is saying. When I'm on top of my food intake, I feel like I'm over-analyzing and thinking too much about food. I know I'm not the healthiest eater, but I also think my biggest issue is exercise. I don't feel like my eating habits have really changed since the wedding, but maybe I'm just less aware or care less, but I'm definitely not moving as much, and it shows! 

I love having you all here to vent to and get advice from. I think we should share recipes and tricks more often. I don't think posting recipes on the side works because it doesn't fit well. Any other ideas? Mass emails? 

Checking In

My top priority challenge is also consistent exercise. I like the powerwalk DVDs I have and I've done 2, 3, or 4-mile walks probably half a dozen times in the last month. Unfortunately, that's all I've done. So, 6 or 7 days of exercise out of 30 days? Not so great. I want to be at 4-5 days/week.

Nutrition is fine when we have food in the house. So, really it is just a planning thing - making sure we are shopping when we need to. Also, if I don't buy cheese, there are no grilled cheese sandwiches!!! If I have healthy stuff in the house, that is what I eat and I tend not to overdo it. When I have trigger foods (cheese, chocolate, etc.), that's when things get bad. I never find myself saying, "oh, I can't believe I ate all that broccoli and salmon..." Like I know when I've had enough of those, but toast some cheese and my "fullness" alarm is somehow turned off.

One thing that's been helping me with the chocolate/sweet tooth thing is hot chocolate. I'm talking about real hot chocolate. I use 8oz. of skim milk and two heaping tablespoons of Ghiradelli sweet ground chocolate. It is about 150 calories and is exactly what I need at the end of the day to satisfy that sweet craving and avoid late night snacking.

indecision

So I check the blog out from time to time, but I have not posted in forever, and honestly I don't know if I want to (but it looks like I am). Here is my dilemma - I love having the connection with every one but I am not sure if this works for me. Well, I don't think I made it work for me last time. I always felt like I was eating too much or unnaturally because I was trying too hard to eat balanced meals. For me I feel like what I really need to work on is exercise....and from time to time to tame my sweet tooth :) I do have to remember that this is never really my tough time of year - my bad eating habits usually don't creep up until late January or so...

I like my food. I like food and I don't enjoy over analyzing it. I feel like I have finally (for now) gotten to the point where I have pretty healthy 'staple' foods in the house. Most of the grains are whole wheat (all but some white rice from time to time). I make freezer meals every few weeks so when I have zero time there is still decent food to eat. My eating habits have been keeping me at a steady weight but I really want to loose about 10-15 pounds or about 2 pant sizes.

So, where does this leave me? I like the idea of exercise, but I just don't feel like getting off my butt!! I fantasize about running effortlessly, feeling free and powerful - the reality is that I don't get far before I am huffing and puffing. I know I need to stop these unrealistic ideas from getting in the way of reality. In my head it is like 'well I cant do it all, so why do it at all,' such nonsense!

SUnday
tea w/milk
handful of tortilla chips, few bites of grilled chicken burrito
more and more and more tea
sm brownie
vegetable soup w/lentils and barely
steamed cauliflower
1 cutie
no exercise


MOnday
tea with milk
apple, 1/2 a pbj on ww(whole wheat) sourdough,
short dub nf latte
yogurt, thawed blueberries, almonds, shredded coconut, and honey
ww pasta, turkey meatballs, tomato sauce and sauteed kale or a salad
no exercise

Saturday and Sunday

coffee 1pt
oatmeal 2pt
chicken and local bread with 1.4 of an avo 6 pt
5 bud lights 15?

and that's it, I know not much food, but I did not really notice it..

Sunday
egg whites 1
light english muffin 1
coffee 1
bread 1
turkey 2
pb cookie 3
salad with chicken 4
popcorn 1
hot coco sf 1

uh, no work outs this weekend, but might of found a new exercise buddy, still planning on buying a treadmill and looking into gyms up here.

UPdate

OK, I have noticed that I was the last post...Except for a comment from Ellen. Ladies, let's do this!!

Wednesday
ok, what else did I eat?
for dinner I think I had some scrimp with a mix of veggies
mixed white and brown pasta, maybe 1.2 a cup
3 hard coffee candies

Thursday
some eggs and beans, maybe 1.4 cup with veggies
minestrone soup 3 pt
salad
1 roll from the olive garden 3 pt (really not worth it..but oh well)
grilled chicken 5 ot
with some local stuffing and califlower mash, it was kinda wierd. 3pt
3 chocolate chip cookies, my freaking dad made some..but at least I stopped at 3, so maybe 10 pt
3 hard coffee candies 1pt
nf tall latte 2 pt

Friday
some eggs and beans, maybe 1.4 cup 2pt
low cal bread (1pt) and turkey sandwich (2) 3pt
baked potato, maybe 1 cup? 4 pt?
white fish, that was cooked with very little olive oil 6 pt?
one tiny block of chocolate, and then I stopped! ya
3 hard coffee candies 1pt
handful of tortilla chips, maybe 5? 1 pt

just walked around for exercise..would really like to get a treadmill...

noticed my writing down is not perfect, need to try and do this everyday..overall feel happy about my choices. I do think I will log points..

knucke down time

OK, I think statistckly, which yes, I spelt wrong. anyways, most people gain weight during this time of the year, while they get older, with more stress, when work more hours, etc, etc, etc..yes we all have these pressures and streses, .but we can fight the numbers...ok! ya!! ya! ya~!

there, that was my enthusiasm. I have only been walking for exercising the past few months, my legs look better, my stomache is less firm.boo..consequently, I need to do more...good news, did not gain weight in Chile, nor get any gnarly diseases, though I kinda wanted to, just to lose weight, ya know? how sad is that..anyways,

Monday:
chicken, rice, veggies
cup of noodles
salad with egg whites, olive oil and basalmic dressing
1/4 of a sandwich with cheese and turkey
1/2 cup of mashed pototatoes, little bit of chicken and veggies (airport food, gross)

grr, I ate way to much chicken and white food in chile, excited to switch it up again...

Tuesday
mini crossiant (airplane, hungry)
1/4 cup of pinneapple
2 slices of pizza, so good, ya american pizza!~
salad
veggies soup
1 banana
1/2 apple
1 pb cookie
STOPPED AND WENT TO BED!! YA.

Wednesday
Oatmeal 3pt
some carrots

today, going to go on a walk, and do some exercises to build body strength! we can do this. I will be writing and checking up on you all.

meh. i give up.

I can't seem to get to the gym. I am not tracking my intake. I am not sure what will inspire me - for a minute it was reunion but then the evil voice in my head said "just don't go".

I think I need to make exercise a priority, just like showering or brushing my teeth. Whenever I get home from work, the first thing I do is... well, I guess it varies - so maybe the first thing I should do when I get home is exercise. Rather than sit on the couch and watch "What not to Wear" or "House". My housemate has been coming home and saying "who is it today? House or clothes?"...boys...but this might be an indication that I have a problem.

Hi, my name is Rosie. I am addicted to my DVR.

Its much safer to veg out and not have to think, think about yourself, or what you want to do, or how you feel or look. I think this is why I like acting. I don't have to be me.

Since I am getting a little tangental, I would like to swing back to grilled cheese. Ladies, I hear ya on the grilled cheese sandwich, and I found a pretty good alternative. A bakes potatoe. The only problem here is what you put on top of it. Usually I do measured amount of butter, non-fat sourcream or LF cheese. It gives me the same melty comfort feeling as grilled cheese. Lemme put it in WW terms for you:

2 peices of bread = 6 points
1 SLICE of cheese (like, and oz.) = 2-3 points
Total = somewhere around 12 points depending on cheese amount and oil or butter

potato (about size of your fist) = 3
butter(i think a tblsp) = 2
Nonfat sour Cream serving = 1
pepper = 0
Total, if you are careful with toppings = 6

Ok wish you all well, and let's brainstorm some motivation?
Hugs,
Rosie

4-mile powerwalk!

Hey, ladies :) Tonight I did a 4 mile powerwalk -- 50 minutes which equates to about 4.5 miles/hour. I checked on some online calculators and I burned a ton of calories - at least 400 or more, depending on the calculator (they varied by like 200 calories!). That's pretty awesome. Now we are having a healthy dinner. Here's one excellent day to check off :)

I love grilled cheese too!

Grilled cheese is definitely one of my stand-bys.  It usually what I make when Mark is gone, or if we're both not in the mood to do something that requires more energy, we'll split a grilled cheese sandwich and add soup and a salad. 

Hang in there Ellen! It's definitely not easy, and is often discouraging. Today we were at Costco and I weighed myself on a display model scale (we don't own one) and I was back up to 2 pounds under my highest weight! But I'm gonna go with the scale being off a bit, because Mark's seemed high too :) 

Mmm, grilled cheese is my kryptonite

I would have more of those grilled cheese, pizza or mexican take-out nights if Matt wasn't so on track with his eating. I guess I'm glad he is on track because, seriously, I am not going to order pizza for myself while he makes something healthy! Still, we seem to have a few off days every week. Or, if we don't have them together, then I'll just have them myself by eating cheese toast (aka open faced grilled cheese!!!) late at night. I am pretty much at the same 8 lb loss I've had since many months ago. I've gained and lost the same 3-5 pounds after that for friggen' months. I know it is important to take it one day at a time, but it is sometimes just so overwhelming. I find myself eating too much food on days I exercise, then continuing to eat more on days I don't exercise. Neither of those habits will help me lose weight! Anyway, I think I am sill figuring this thing out...

thanks ellen...

...for the kick in the butt :) It's funny, I've been checking the blog periodically, but not posting myself for some reason. 

I've been awful lately! No exercise, eating like crap, I think I gained back all of the weigth I lost a few months ago. I swear I look 5 months pregnant :( I really do want to get back on track, I just don't know how to do it, to be honest. I feel like I've been so busy and over-worked lately, that it's like one more chore to do. 

Having a dinner plan for the week does help. I stuck to it last week and we ate way better, but then this week it's back to the last-minute, easy meals, which usually means pizza, grilled cheese, or take-out. 

Ellen, you rock! You have inspired me to get back on track. 

Hey, Ladies!

Is anyone still out there? I've been MIA as well, on the blog, sorry! Things have been going "ok" re: food and exercise. I've been varying shades of "on track"! The past week and a half have been really good for exercise, though, at least 5 days/week. Yesterday I did a 3-mile power walk - I used the Leslie Sansone "Walk Away the Pounds" DVD, have you seen those? She is a little overly peppy and corny, but the walks are great, and honestly, I think the corniness is good motivation by mile 3! Nutrition has been spotty, with some great days and then some days involving Ramen or pizza, or gasp, even doughnuts! So far this week has been good, though!

Weekend debauchery (wait, I don't think that's the right word...)

Ah, the weekend. Chinese food, Mexican food and a little drinking. It is fine, though. Nothing actually crazy, just some over indulgences. Back on track today :) My mom was in town and we had lunch on the lawn at the Capital -- she brought us very healthy deli sandwiches (no mayo, 1 slice of cheese, lean turkey and masses of veggies on whole wheat). Other than that have had a protein bar for breakfast and an XS energy drink for afternoon pick me up :) Will have another protein bar on my way home, then dinner later.

Alyssa, thanks for adding me to the comment thing! I did get your comment.

Rosie, the only place nearby to swim is our local "health club" which charges about $100/month for two people and about $70 for one person (I guess you get a 2 person "discount"). We had a membership there for 9 months and went a total of two times, so we canceled it. There was $900 well spent...I love to swim, but just didn't get my ass in gear to go. Also, I've noticed when I am doing a lot of swimming I eat ravenously afterwards. I was swimming a lot the first year of college and gained like 20 pounds because I would come home after swimming for an hour and eat the entire fridge. I must have some freakish post-swimming metabolism!

I made a huge batch of vegetable soup last night to have for worktime veggies this week, instead of salads. Celery, onions, carrots, red potatoes, zucchini and canned tomatoes (with the juice). Yum :)

it's the little things

Can I just say: I went to the store and I didn't buy salami!! I feel so triumphant. I have an addiction.

Check in

Lyssa, that would be great if you would add my email so I get notified of comments. Thanks!

Rosie, thanks for the tips on Tofu! I think it will have to be a weekend thing - maybe this Sunday...yum. I forgot about Soy Vay - I remember Elizabeth Roesch's family used to use lots of different flavors to season veggies and tofu and other vegetarian dishes.

Update on me -- I'm down a pound from last week and have yet to start exercising. We are going to look at a used recumbent exercise bike tomorrow so I can get back into some cardio. I have a "crunchy" knee and have found the eliptical to be hell and the treadmill/walking to be ok, but not great for 4-5 days/week for 30 mins! Also, we are going to move our weight bench into the living room so it is more accesible (than the hot and stuffy garage!). Have been eating pretty well except for the occassional late night quesadilla (I love me some melted cheese on carbs!!). We have been quite good eating the food we purchased at the grocery store -- versus stocking our fridge and then eating out because it is easier and letting all the food go bad (doh!), which is what we've done countless other weeks. It has been great on our budget to actually use the food we buy - go figure! I think the ease of preparation of the stuff we've been shopping for has a lot to do with it. Especially since we figured out we can microwave those TJ's main courses :) Even the fish, which I thought would be weird. 8 minutes in the microwave versus 45 mins-1 hour in the oven...yeah, I'll take that :)

Ellen (and everyone else) - if you want I can put in your email so that whenever someone comments on any post, it is emailed to you. Just let me know. 

Rosie, we do grilled cheese with soup all the time, and we usually include a small salad, but some grilled veggies would be nice too. I don't like zuchinni though so I'd have to think of something else. 

Thanks ladies for all the input on the alcohol situation. I usually only have 1 small glass a night, but then on weekends we go out and I have way too much. Like last night. And I always get hungry when I drink which sucks. 

My plan for tonight is to make a menu for the week. Mark and I always try this and stick to it for about a week then forget about it for a few months. It really does help us to have a plan ahead of time, otherwise we resort to crap food or take-out. Any suggestions? I'm definitely gonna try some of the TJ meals Ellen mentioned. What else are some of your favorite dinner meals to make at home? 

Tofu and Alcohol

To answer everyone's question, I am not a vegetarian :-P

Alyssa, I am sorry you are stressed! One donut in how many days (?) is not something to beat yourself up about. <3

Tofu
Ellen, for cooking hard tofu, it doesn't really soak up a marinade, so you can pan fry or steam it and pour some sauce on top, maybe with some veggies cooked with the sauce. I love TJ's green curry sauce (which is kinda caloric, but has lots of flavor so you can use sparingly) or any Soy Vay product.

Alcohol stuff (as far as I know)
The WW stand on alcohol is vague because everyone metabolizes it differently, but they basically treat it as another food that takes up points. One 6 oz glass of red or white is 2 points, so just keep an eye on the size of your glass. Desert wines are an extra point because of the sugar.

Alcohol also stimulates appetite, so depending on your behavior, you can have a glass when you are really full and can't eat anything (although I wouldn't advise stuffing yourself) or have a glass right before a healthy dinner. I usually like wine right after dinner - I will observe myself and see if my eating habits are altered by this.

Exercise
I have met this nice woman who does weight training and is all buff, and she offered to help me with some routines in the gym for FREE! Hooray for my charming smile! I will make her dinner as a trade :-P

So we will see how this goes the next two weeks. I am hoping to take on working-out like rehearsal for a show. I take rehearsal super seriously, and it is a necessity when I am working on a show. So I plan to borrow that attitude for exercise so that I can make it a more solid part of my life.

Weigh-In
I would definitely not be able to do that everyday. I prefer and average over time. Are you keeping track with a chart? or remembering each weigh-in? Another good way to measure progress is to measure your body. Bust, waist, hips, thigh and bicep. Although you do have to make someone help you (make your husbands do it! I guess we are outta luck, eh dawn?) Also, this is kinda gross, but maybe weigh in after you go potty?

Food
Many of the parties for the summer have subsided, so that has really helped me stay on track. My meals have been as follows:

oatmeal with berries
coffee with fat free creamer
salad with some sort of yummy topping (goat cheese, chicken, avo)
fruit or flaxseed chips for a snack
Brown rice and chicken, or the other night I had grilled cheese with grilled zucchini and soup which was amazing! OH and last night I had sushi and beer.
I tend to be a little more relaxed at dinner because it is my favorite meal of the day. I can be a little better with portions and choices for this meal.

Alcohol & Weight Loss

Was gonna put this as a comment to Alyssa's last post, but then I realized it was the size of a small novel (maybe a novella?) and I should put it in a separate post. Also, do people read the comments? I find myself forgetting they are there and just responding in a post...though I do occasionally make a comment, I never remember to see if other people have commented...

Anyway, regarding alcohol: I'm not positive, but I think wine (red or white) is approx 20 cals per ounce. There's all these differences between a "sweet" wine (more sugar, more calories) and a "dry" wine, as well as between white and red, but I think a decent average is 20 cals/ounce. So, if you have a 4-5 ounce glass that's about 80-100 cals.

My understanding is that alcohol is its own category (not one of the three macronutrients: carbs, fat, or protein), and my understanding is that those calories get burned first in your body. Meaning, if there are alcohol calories they will get burned before the protein, carbs, or fat you ate as well as before your body works on burning the extra fat stored in your body. So, theoretically, drinking alcohol will mean you aren't burning as much fat as if you didn't drink the alcohol. I could be totally wrong, though, as I have tried to read a lot on this topic (alcohol) and still don't think I really "get it."

Seriously, though, it seems like as long as you are "counting" it as part of your program (WW, food journaling, conscious eating, whatever!), and noting that it is taking up some calories (points, picks, volume, whatever), then I really think it is just as if you were to eat something else with 100 calories (like a 100-cal pack of cookies or some fruit juice...). Ie., 100 calories is 100 calories. Granted certain things will make you feel better, fill you up more, provide nutrients, affect your immune system, and many other good things, blah, blah, blah, but if you are eating 1,500 calories one day and 1,500 calories the next day (or 26 WW points and 26 WW points, etc.) and one of the days includes 300 cals (or 6 points, or whatever) of wine and the other had those 300 cals (or 6 points) as whole wheat bread, it is still 300 cals (or 6 points)! That is just my understanding, though!

thanks Ellen!

I'm definitely going to try some of those TJ dinners! That sounds like our kind of thing. Something easy prep-wise along with a salad or side dish. Dawn is actually eating chicken and fish now, not sure about Rosie. 

Unfortunately I caved and had a donut for breakfast this morning, but otherwise have been pretty good the past few days. How bad is a glass of white wine, out of curiousity? Been having more of those in the evenings lately. 

The donut thing this morning was one of those moments of "I deserve it" because I've been so stressed and overwhelmed lately. It was so annoying because I was very conscious of the thought process and yet still went through with it. I'm definitely an advocate for treating yourself once in a while, and I believe that if you deny yourself what you like then you end up craving them more, but I just hate succumbing to those "deserving" thoughts! 

Weighing every day is hard!

I even put the scale on the bathroom floor (as opposed to under the sink) and I STILL don't remember! What's up with that? Hmm....whatever, I'm working on it. It has actually been quite reassuring to do this daily thing (when I remember), since I see the crazy fluctuations and know for an absolute fact that it is not physically possible to gain 4 pounds in one day. I would have had to eat 14,000 extra calories the previous day. So, no big deal, maybe it is water, etc. Especially if I know I did pretty well the day before. If I had seen that kind of gain after 1 week I would have freaked out -- "Is it possible I ate an extra 2,000 calories every day for the last 7 days?! Well, there was that pizza, and I didn't work out so I didn't burn calories, and we did get Chinese..." and then I would freakout, "OMG I can't do this!!!" So, this is better :)

We are starting to shop more and more at Trader Joe's for dinner protein and veggies. Don't know if you guys have ever tried them, but they have these crazy 2 serving frozen main course things that are really good options. Lots of chicken options which are usually like 2 chicken breasts (or chicken breast pieces) with some sort of toppings (chopped peppers, spices, pesto, etc.) -- I think we've tried 4 or 5 different chicken ones. Also there's two fish ones we've tried and loved -- Citronelle Tilapia and Mojito Salmon. The nutrition varies depending on the toppings, with some better than others, but all quite decent. We split the package over a little brown rice and then have a salad or some frozen bagged veggies for a quick dinner. Only thing is the things take like 45 minutes in the oven so if you are in a hurry it is lame. But, if you are home and just don't like stirring and preparing for 45 minutes, it is 45 minutes of "do some else time"! [My recommendation would be to watch Eddie Izzard clips on YouTube!] Anyway, I'm loving it because it is easy, healthy, whole foods, and I don't have to deal with raw chicken!!! Guess this would only be an option for Alyssa, though, because Rosie and Dawn aren't you both vegetarian? I know Dawn (right?), but Rosie, too, yes? Or just not a lot of meat?

Recipe Request
Does anyone know any good baked tofu recipes? I was thinking of trying to bake or dry-pan-fry some firm tofu (not silken, ha, ha!), but am wondering aboout marinating and/or flavoring. I've heard that miso and soy are pretty good for flavorings, but am wondering if any of you have a favorite tofu recipe or any tofu ideas you'd like to pass on...

general thoughts

1- food obsessions suck
2- americans obsession on thin sucks, esp. in California...not to hate on our state...
3- chile does have fat people, but not too many obese, don´t have big humungous portions, but also I have yet too see the large diet section in the supermarket..
4-as the only single broad, I get to talk about the market, I like the dating market better, not that I am dating anyone, but I feel sexier...am I being crazy?
5-yes lots of folks look white here, so I am not that exotic...only whenI talk, ooo lal la
6-that´s all, and sorry I am not eloquent, I cannot speak-write in English and Spanish... so I am learning Chinese

hello from down south

OK, first so I read all the blogs for the past week or so and random comments..notthing to get too excited about...thinking about you all...

I would say my food is about the same as the last time I chatted with you all..but I am doing great on walking around lots and I almost always take the stairs on the metro, which is like, a lot...I felt a pair of pants being loser yesterday which is good...night eating has basiclly decreased to zilch! ya...men here love me ! yha...so I am not super obsessed...ya!! I do want to make some changes as finding clothes and want not is hard, and ain´t so happy with my kangaroo baby...

but doing OK

today
piece of bread with margerin
tea with nf milk (2 cups)
oatmeal
bring some eggs and rice to work
apple
plan on having bannana and 1 piece of toast later

love you all!!

Dawn
ps not sure how much I weigh, its in Kilos...eck! but will go by pants and pinch factor...currently up, but doing OK..did this make sense?

Yo, yo...

Hey, Chicas!

Past few days have been "ok" -- not great, but not too bad, either :) I'm really trying to get into this "dimmer switch" idea, where it isn't all or nothing, just different levels of intensity. Tonight is a date night and we're getting pizza, so dimmer switch is very low tonight!

I've decided to weigh myself daily instead of weekly. I have been having too many random weight fluctuations and on a weekly basis it is hard to know if it is a random fluctuation or a true loss or gain. This way I'll just keep an eye on how the trend is going, not the specific number for the week. I'll check back in soon :)

~Ellen

Thursday

Rosie - you are so smart! Our 10 year reunion is a great motivator! Wow, that's going to come up quick. Congrats on the weight loss!! 

I know exactly what you mean about not wanting rich foods anymore. When I was being really good before the wedding, it was actually easy to just say "No cake", and after a bit it was like that stuff didn't even sound good anymore. Unfortunately I've back-stepped a bit, but I'm still doing better about keeping cravings under control.

Lately I've been super hungry after work. I'm eating the usual amount, no changes, but for some reason at 2:00 I'm starving! I really need to stock up on snacks. I'm thinking about getting a mini-fridge for my classroom. 

I unsuccessfully went 10 days with just veggies, fruit and whole grains, but came very, very close! Weekends were hard, but work was easy. I can stock the fridge here with good things, and there are not many distractions. I am so glad I am at the front desk - no candy here!

Announcement: I have lost 3 lbs in one week

Teaming up with someone is a major help. I am a horrible person if I leave my work-out buddy stranded at 6am, so, I exercise! I know when I am losing weight, because my elbows have to travel a little farther to reach my sides. Kind of a weird feeling. But all my clothes fit the same.

Over the past week, I think because of our conversations about cravings, I have felt a disconnect from food. I haven't thought about what I am going to eat for lunch at 8am in a while. Although I think "mm, a burger sounds good" I just simply don't go get one. There is like a split second where I have to decided to go to in n' out or not, and lately I have taken control in my head and it's been not.

Another weird revelation: because I have been eating kind of bland things like oatmeal, brown rice, and salads, incredibly rich food is hard for me to eat. I took a bite of my boyfriend's fettuccine alfredo and nearly gagged on the sauciness. At weight watchers they told us a good tip to brush our teeth or have a mint right after we eat, that way we don't crave for more. Well, I haven't had a lot of strong tastes in my mouth lately, so they are hard for me to eat altogether. Kinda interesting....who knows if it will last?

Another great goal to set for ourselves is to look really good and healthy for our 10 year HIgh School reunion! We are so old...

It is not All or Nothing

Yes, Rosie, you did catch that :) We want to start trying for a baby in about a year or two at the most, but I need to lose weight and get stronger first. So, I essentially have 1 year to get to a comfortable place. This is something I've set for myself, mind you, nothing Matt has said, so don't be thinking that ;) Alyssa, how frustrating is it when there are things at work that you know your body doesn't want, but that seem irresistible?? That happens at my office ALL THE TIME - donuts, cookies, home-made baked goods, sees candy, a bowl of chocolate at the receptionists desk, etc., etc. Not to mention any time there is a lunch meeting there is leftover catering - meat & cheese sandwiches, mayonnaise laden pasta salads, giant cookies or muffins. Oy.

Rosie, when you were talking about the whole "cravings" issue, I am so reminded of how I am a sucker for advertising. Anything that I really enjoy consuming -- if I see it in an ad or billboard, or movie, I start to want it. Now that we don't watch TV it is a little better - I'm not bombarded with commercials! I was reading a blog conversation about transferring a food obsession to a different obsession, or if we can just rid ourselves of obsession entirely. It seems like some people truly have an innate ability to do "all things in moderation" while others of us have an ingrained "All or Nothing" approach. I'm CERTAIN that we have the ability to change this, but maybe realizing that we might be wired a little differently than folks who don't even give the donuts or the pasta a second thought, might help us be kinder to ourselves as we work to change our approach? I don't know, maybe that doesn't make any sense. I just know that when I am not being 100% on track I am so pissed at myself and disappointed. I don't think Matt has those feelings at all -- even after a night of crazy Chinese food.

Anyway, I am not doing great with food/exercise right now, but I'm really working on not falling into some kind of binge because of it. I am forcing myself to resist the "I've already ruined my day when I had X, why not have Y & some Z, too." So far today: 1/2 a turkey sandwich and a big bowl of tomato soup with brown rice and parmesan cheese (too much of the rice and cheese for sure!).

been a while

I'm back. At least I'm trying to be back. I haven't been on the computer much this week, my car has been dead and carpooling with Mark at different times and whatnot. But now my car is better (only $800... aagh!). 

Today I made some really horrible choices. Last night was Back-to-School Night which is super nerve-wracking and stressful. So this morning when I got to work there were 2 giant boxes of fresh donuts in the staff room as a gift from our Principal for getting last night over with. So of course I had one. Cut to 10am at recess, I had another. Cut to 2pm, another!!!! Holy moly, it was like I was completely out of control. At the time I "justified" it with the fact that it is that time of the month, and I "deserved" a reward for a stressful week, and blah blah blah. Totally saboutaging myself. 

I made such good progress before the wedding, and surprisingly I've kept the actual pounds off, even going down 2 more, but my body doesn't feel that way. I think I'm losing muscle but gaining back fat. I just feel lazy, lumpy, and un-motivated. My goal is to do something active outside this weekend (kayaking, tennis, hiking...) and to go Tuesday night to the gym for a Zumba class (never been but have heard good things about it). 

We can do this, ladies!! Remember, it's not about the number on the scale but how you feel, and how your clothes fit :)  

DAY 2 and Ellen babies

Thanks Ellen, I really love all the positive feedback you have been giving me. Don't think I didn't notice that you mentioned you wanted to get healthy so you can start a FAMILY! Your listening skills are so amazing, you are going to be a great Mom!!

Speaking of men's habits, I noticed that my coworker has been the same way with food! While I have been sitting here totally unsatisfied by my salad (however delicious, fresh and good for me) he simply says "Yummy salad, I love carrots" and goes on his merry way.

m_( _ _)_m *head on desk*

It is a mystery, this apparent male detachment from food others have. Could it be a connection we have to our maternal instincts, maybe a satisfaction in providing food for ourselves and others? I am not sure.

Take my other coworker, a woman in her early thrities and svelte, thin and healthy. When she is full, she simply closes the to-go box or tupperware and goes on her merry way. The most amazing thing I saw her do was say to a beautiful dish of risotto "this has too much garlic for me" and offered it to someone else. The only time I have ever seen her covet food is when someone else made it for her. I should watch her more often and maybe start to behave like a thin person. Did anyone read "French women don't get fat"?

Food can taste like the bottom of my shoe but if its hot and sitting in front of me, I eat it. If I see a movie with people drinking wine or eating pasta, I want that. This crave-satisfy model for my everyday life must be some sort of Fruedian anal stage of development I have yet to pass. Maybe I can find some thing new to craving that has nothing to do with consuming food. Something that makes me feel just as satisfied, happy comfortable, and make my kitchen smell good. Any ideas?

DAY 2:
oatmeal and bluberries
black coffee
salad with avo, tomatoes, onions, olives and vinegrette
brown rice, roasted veggies, and chicken
veggie chips and homemade guacamole
(I totally ate too much for dinner)

6am 30 minuites of Cardio with coworker

I am sending you all good vibes and wonderful thoughts

<3

Rockstar Rosie

So, I just have to say that Rosie, you are a Rockstar! Instead of leaving you a comment (since I usually miss seeing those, anyway), I thought I'd shoot out a quick post :) Way to go on re-engaging with your mission and writing through the frustration and disappointment! It sounds like you've got a great partner in crime, too, which I'm sure is going to help a lot! Your meal plan sounded like an awesome and yummy day :)

Some of the stuff you've talked through the past couple of posts have really been stuff I have been able to relate to. I wish I could be like Matt and just remove the emotion from my decisions and results. He doesn't seem to have emotions when it comes to avoiding foods, even if he craves something. He'll just NOT have the food! Pizza is a great example. If I get it in my mind that I want pizza for dinner, that is all I can think about and whatever we have instead is just blah. But, he will be totally satisfied. Also, if he doesn't lose during a week he doesn't even comment on it, just recognizes what was wrong with the previous week (too many nights of missed exercise, two nights of "off" eating, etc.) and then just changes for the current week. He has this incredible ability to know what he is doing will get him there and has this long term vision I seem to be lacking. An increase on the scale when I think I have been 90% good for the week gives me a tear my hair out rest of the day -- which leads to the desire to drown my frustration in pizza and chocolate (vicious cycle, right?). How is he able to be so emotionally detached??? Is it just a guy thing? How can I be like that, too?

DAY 1

I discovered a big thing about my eating lifestyle: I am constantly hunrgy at work. I need "thinking food" and because I work in a place where there are fabulous restaurants around, its hard not to indulge when stressed by work.

SOoooo, my coworker is now also interested in getting healthier, so we decided to do 10 days of veggies, fruits, brown rice, and fish or chicken. I vowed to drink coffee black and he vowed no candy. This is a really awesome set up because when he sets his mind to something, he does it whole-heartedly. I have no doubt in my mind he will back me up on everything, and smile doing this drastic change in diet all the way.

We carpool together, so we are going to leave a bit earlier to go to the gym in the mornings. We will see how long I last with this one. But if I have to meet someone at the gym, I will more likely begrudgingly go.

I hit another bottom this weekend, and cried my eyes out about weight gain. It was only a pound. But it hurt anyway. Every time I go through this cycle, I never come out of it with confidence. Today I feel a little different about my outcome, like "This is it!". That's good right?

DAY 1:
oatmeal and blueberries
rice and veggies
grapes
carrots
water
black coffee
Dinner: Chicken and brown rice with teriyaki sauce

I really wanna burger right now!

Weekend

Weekends tend to be hardest for me. I knew this Saturday was going to be a planned "off day" and therefore was okay with it. We went to our niece Nyomi's third birthday and partook in the potluck (two types of potato salad!) and cupcakes (three small cupcakes...delicious, then ugh...). Saturday night was date night which was planned Chinese food: general's chicken, eggplant in garlic sauce, veggie spring rolls, ham & cheese baus and milk bubble tea. WOW!!! Also, blueberries for dessert. Today we're back on track for the most part. Over calories a little, but back on the healthy track.

We had a little bit of a hiccup with exercise - a few days of missed exercise due to late late nights and now it is more difficult to get started again. I wish we all had lifestyles that were more conducive to incidental exercise!!!

Thursday

I have not been exercising at all, but Zoe who I work with goes to my gym and does the fun classes in the evening, so I'm gonna try to go with her to do that soon. I've been trying to do better about fruits and veggies. My coworkers and I were talking about petitioning to Deluxe foods to have better breakfast choices because a lot of us stop there in the mornings for coffee and the only things they have are pastries, donuts, and bagels.
Here's what I had today:
B: cup of fruit and NF vanilla latte
S: yogurt
L: Eating Right chicken pasta meal and vitamin water
D: twice-baked potato, tomato veggie salad thingy, OJ
D: probably a Skinny Cow fudgesicle

School is going well, still getting back on schedule and getting to know the kiddos. They're a sweet bunch, but I forget how young and helpless and dependent they are when they start fourth grade! I'm looking forward to the second half of the year.

Thursday?

ok, so things I like about Chile, I really do think I am eating less, less obsessed about weight, size, etc. so that is awesome. and less night eating, the only time I eat at night is when I drink and tht is more of a hangover cure then anything else..so ya! things that are tough food wise, well lots of bread, I live with a family and eat there food, so little control of what is on the plate...like yesterday they made alfredo like sauce with hamburgers..and the only veggies were some sliced tomatoes and beets...and ya...but I also think being that my diet here is very simple I will one day get sick of the bread and eat less and less of it. which is good....

umm, so before I went to Chile I had to try on clothes and see what to bring, and obviously I did not want to bring anything that did not fit. well I had to buy new jeans, cause they were all too small, and most of my clothes were too tight..boo...not so appreciate of my cycle of weight loss and gain this past year....boo. but well, here I know things will even out and work better, I am not really getting to the gym, but I will figure out a way to incorporate more exercise into my diet and then also more veggies...

girls. I wish you all luck and want to say that this might be a struggle for us all in one way or another, but we also are so lucky in all the other things, we have. smarts, looks, careers, companions, etc. so don´t less this keep you down. just know you can control the food. do I sound like Susan Summers? or the other blonde Susan??

Still Working on Motivation

So, my week has not gone so well although I am counting points. I have been eating a lot more fruits, and consuming the groceries I bought rather than letting them get old and moldy. I seem to eat a lot more when I eat more fruits, so I get really hungry when I get home and overeat :-(

This evening if the first evening I have had free all week, so I am going to do my long list of crap to do, the first one being : GO TO THE GYM

I have feared setting foot on the scale, but I foresee it might be a motivational tool for me. This may be TMI, but I have to ask - Does sitting on the toilet make anyone else feel more overweight?

Does anyone have ideas for motivation that is not damaging to self?
Ellen - thanks so much for giving me feedback! I was afraid I would sound like a whiner. And, congrats on the loss!! Every bit counts and trust me, after losing 20 lbs last years it does add up.

Thoughts & Weigh-In

Rosie, thanks for sharing your struggle with us -- seriously, I think that's one of the best things about blogging. You are recognizing your challenges and are frustrated about them. Honestly, I think that is such a good place to be! It means that you want to make a change and are pissed when you don't live up to your own expectations. I think that is a much better place to be than "eh, whatever" when you don't do the things you've promised yourself you'd do. I'm slowly learning, though, that I also have to give myself grace when I f*ck up -- like when I have 3 huge pieces of cheese toast at midnight making my so far healthy day into a 3,000 calorie wasted day (seriously, what was I thinking). Maybe give yourself a little grace even when you are frustrated with yourself?

Dawn, cool you are joining us! It's fun reading your other blog, too :)

Alyssa, back to school, back to school -- how's your class this year?

Weigh-In
So, I weighed myself on 8/8/08 and then again on 8/17/08. Down 3.2 pounds in about 9 days! I think some was water weight loss due to monthly hormones, but not all of it, for sure. So, yay, I'm officially the lowest weight I've been in 2008! I have been down I think about 7 pounds more in 2007, so once I bust through those 7 pounds I will be at my lowest weight since 2006. I am looking forward to seeing the years "roll back" like that.

My goal weight is actually pretty close to my senior year of high school weight, but with more lean muscle and less body fat. I have no idea if I'm really going to be able to get there, but I plan to keep that as my goal until I get closer and can reevaluate how I feel. Right now primary reasons for being serious about weight loss and rolling back the years of weight gain are so that we can start our family and I can feel strong and confident, both physically (about what my body is capable of), and mentally.

hello ladies

So here I am in chile. things are going well.-....if you ever are interested feel free to read, comment on my bloog Dawn´s life upside down I think that should work...so what did I eat today? well,

coffee with non fat
a bread that is like an english muffin with margerin
lunch was tuna fish, black beans, white rice and I think that is it
then a pb & j
cookie and tea...

food wise I think I will do great here since they eat one big meal, lunch, and then the rest is less....

ya!
xoxo
Dawn

Weekends Kill me and then I die.

Oi vey! What is it about the weekend that completely crushes my motivation and energy during the week? I haven't been drinking, so it can't be that. I slept in. I made meals at home. But I can't get myself to move! I failed to go to the gym both Saturday and Sunday. I have a costumer's meeting tonight, so I most likely won't make it. I do good for a week, then fail the next 3. What is it that makes me fall off the wagon?

I am, of course, assuming the next two weeks will be a fail. So, what can I do to pick my motivation back up?

I want my mommy :(

TGIF fo' sho'

not back on track quite yet. running late this morning so I grabbed a cinnamon roll thing at the coffee shop. There truly weren't any better options. (I know, excuses, excuses). Had a small quiche for lunch with water, then went for drinks after work. I had 3 drinks (2 gin and tonics and one fruity something) and munched on some chips and nachos. Not too hungry at the moment but will probably snack on something before long. I really need some motivation to exercise this weekend. 

Lunches and Snacks

Alyssa, glad you're joining us! Hope you had a wonderful time in Hawaii :) Got the wedding pics from Mark - awesome!

Rosie, congrats on tracking your points and 3 gym sessions!!

Lunches & Snacks
As for lunches and snacks, that's what I'm working on a lot, too. What I've done so far is to do a Sunday cooking spree. I've been making like 2-3 healthy casserole dishes per weekend (last two weekends) for us to eat during the week for lunches and dinners. After they cool I put five servings into individual tupperwares for lunch (varied between the 2-3 different casseroles so it isn't all five days of the same thing).

Also, I grab out all of the salad fixings from the fridge and do the same thing -- make 5 small salads for the week (NO TOMATOES, they get gross). I've done this while making salad for Sunday night dinner so it isn't an "extra" task in my life. For the salads I've been using mixed greens, cucumber, red/green bell peppers, artichoke hearts, and a 1/2 serving of LF feta. Sometimes a few Tbs of black beans. I put a serving of salad dressing (I use olive oil and balsamic) in a tiny tupperware that I actually put into the salad bowl so it is all in one :) So, at the beginning of the week I have five lunch meals ready in the fridge - casserole and salad.

For snacks I'm bringing bananas, nectarines (yay for summer!!), protein snack bars (from our website), LF string cheese, steamed/roasted veggie leftovers if we had them the night before, whole wheat crackers and LF cheese and lunch meat, baby dill pickles, and occasionally 2 Tbs mixed nuts. Not all that stuff on the same day, of course :)

Eating Progress
So far so good, and I'm still having a glass of wine almost every night. I am focusing on eating more of my food during the daytime so I am not so damned hungry at night and less likely to binge. The last two nights have been pretty good. I even resisted chocolate last night!! We have 1 remaining square of this coconut white chocolate Lindt that is amazing. I almost had it, but was like, "actually, I don't even really want that, so why don't I save it for when I do want it?" What a novel concept!! To actually NOT eat all the chocolate in the house :P

Exercise
Woo, hoo! Did our alloted daily exercise last night! My new sports bra did the trick and kept everything "contained" and decently comfortable. We will be working out again tonight and I'll be upping the intensity from last night. Thanks, Rosie, for that no more excuses post!!

Rosie Fail

So, I went to my boyfriend's house for dinner and I failed to bring stuff to play tennis as my exercise, so I ended up sitting on the couch all night and watching the Olympics. Man, Misty May's booty is so much nicer than mine :-(

Anywho, I didn't make it to the gym. So sad! But, I did get to hold a Baby for like an hour, and made her be "super baby" so I figure I worked out my arm muscles a bit.

I won't make it to the gym tonight either because I am going to a play in the mountains.

I ate 5 little tacos last night. And ice cream.

Perspective:
So far this week I have gone to the gym 3 times.
I have free days on Saturday and Sunday so I can make that a total of 5 times in one week.
I have counted my WW points everyday since Monday.

For Alyssa:
I like to buy a big thing of grapes and divide it into sandwich bags for my lunch for the whole week. I do the same with carrots and a little container of ranch dressing or hummus.

light cream cheese keeps forever, so maybe you can always keep a bagels and cream cheese or hummus in the frige at work. If you want microwave meals, I suggest getting them at Target because they are like, a full dollar cheaper than safeway. Only thing to watch out for is the sodium count on those. Drink water!

trader Joes also has pre-made salads that are sealed and yummy. I saw a woman there the other day buy 14, enough for 2 weeks. I am not sure they will keep for that long but maybe 5? One for each day of the week. TJ's has a HUGE selection.

**end a bunch of random thoughts**
TGIF

Rosie

getting back on it

Hi Ladies! I'm so glad you two are back... and thanks Rosie for giving me a heads up. I definitely need the motivation. I was doing so well up to the wedding, and then I let go in Hawaii and have been "off the wagon" since then. I'm not sure if I've gained any of the pounds back, but I definitely feel ickier. School started back up this week and Mark has been commuting to SF all week for a class, so we've eating a lot of take-out (just finished a plate of Chinese) and easy meals. My goal for this weekend is to go grocery shopping and start cooking, not order crap when out for drinks, and figure out some good lunches to take to work. I have access to a fridge and microwave. Any ideas? 

Deja Vu?

Wow, Rosie, that last post of yours could have come directly from my brain!!! I have said pretty much all of those things to myself in the last 3 or 4 days. Hmm, wonder why I haven't gotten off my ass to exercise!

I received in the mail yesterday an awesome new, SEVENTY DOLLAR, sports bra. I know that is an outrageous price to pay for such a thing, but it got rave reviews from many of the bloggers I read and I have had a hell of a time finding a sports bra that works for my "ladies." It is an Enell Lite, which is for lower impact sports and can also be worn day to day. Don't tell anyone, but I'm wearing it at work right now [shhhhhh!] So, to justify this crazy purchase I must actually put it to the use it is intended for. I am going to begin exercise TONIGHT.

And, Rosie, way to go on the moving your butt for one mile!!

On my mind for this week: Exercise
Stop making excuses

1. "I am too busy" - yes, I have a very full schedule, but I think I need to remember that my body will do better with this busy lifestyle if I exercise more. I think I need to get my priorities straight here.
2. "I will start on Monday" - What's the big deal about Monday anyway?! I am not usually happy about Monday coming, so why would I put something else I dread on the same day? From now on, I am starting...NOW
3. "I drank wine/I am too tired" - now, these are pretty honest excuses. But really, I should go to the gym before I drink the wine. If that is somehow impossible, I will use the stationary bike...LOL. Also, if I exercise more, I might not be so tired all the time. Duhz.
4. "I wasn't going to do much anyways" - ok, I am not sure even this one makes sense. I somehow reason in my messed up brain that since "I was only planning to do a yoga video, or walk for 20 minutes, what does it matter if I skip it?" One thing I learned from my Psychology degree is that backwards reasoning is well, wrong. I should not belittle the efforts I make, even if it was 10 minutes of stretching, or 10 sit-ups. Something is better than nothing.

I have signed up for Weight Watchers online. I feel like the cost of it holds me accountable, and using a journal to write in didn't work because I kept leaving it places. I have been counting regularly on weekdays, but fail on weekends. Hopefully I can get movin' with exercise and follow through with points on the weekends.

Last night I ran/walked/slogged a mile in 13 minutes and 49 seconds. YAY!

Goodluck to us all.

Rosie

I'm here!

So, I'm here if anyone wants to do this thing still! I know Rosie has been thinking about it, so if anyone wants to work to keep each other accountable, let me know :)

So far today I've had a trim peanut protein bar, a banana, and a cherry XS energy drink. Here's the plan for the rest of the day:

L: Eggplant/turkey/rice casserole (homemade, about 150 cals for a huge serving) with LF feta, roasted cauliflower.
S: 2 LF string cheese, 1 nectarine
D: Probably more casserole and a big salad, glass of white wine (5-6 oz.)
Dessert: 1/2 serve Mango sorbet (75 cals) OR 1 square either truffle chocolate (80 cals) or coconut white chocolate (60 cals), plus probably another nectarine

I've started using SparkPeople.com to track my food. It is cool because I can create "food groupings" which is like a recipe thing, and it will give me the breakdown of what the nutritional value is. Also I'm tracking my calories, water drinking, and [current lack of] exercise.

Ugh

Feeling pretty crummy today. Feels like a really bad hangover, but I didn't drink that much, so maybe I ate something bad.

 I haven't been too good with my eating choices lately, but have been good with my portions. I haven't weighed myself lately, but I feel thinner in the past couple weeks. Some of my jeans don't fit anymore. Hopefully the dress still fits! I'm gonna have to be really conscious this week of not stress-eating, but also make sure I'm eating enough and making good choices. Wish me luck!

Hey, y'all :)

Sorry I've been MIA for a while! I have actually been quite "on the wagon" for the past few weeks, but just very, very busy. I am down 9.2 pounds since the beginning of June -- woo hoo! May was pretty much steady, but then again I wasn't focused on any sort of plan or program, just trying to eat less and eat healthy. Apparently I have not really been aware of that "serving size" thing. Now I'm on track with my program and am feeling good :) STILL have not started exercising, but I will change that soon. Matt is doing evening workouts at the house, so I have no excuse not to. I've been making dinner while he does his workout, though, which is an easy "excuse" for me :P

And, Alyssa, could you possibly be busier even though schools out because you are planning a wedding that happens in 8 days?? Can't wait!!

Hearts,
E :)

Okay Ladies,

Let's get back on track... 

Somehow I'm busier now that school is out, but I really need to buckle down and refocus on my health, and my eating habits. 

B: bagel w/ creamcheese, NF vanilla latte

L: 1/2 turkey sandwich on sourdough, 1 beer

D: undecided... maybe Japanese, maybe grilled cheese w/ soup and salad

thursday

B: NF plain yogurt with blueberries, raspberries, honey and almonds
L: 2 poached eggs, small cheese quesadilla, salsa
S: a pear and a NF latte
S: 2 small samosas
D: broccoli, cauliflower & tofu over brn rice with a tahini/soy sauce topping
Ds: popsicle?
E: abs and a 40 minute walk

wed

L: chicken sope, chips/salsa, rice and beans (stopped when I was full! - this has not been easy for me lately)
S: fruit salad, yogurt
S: soy latte
S: baked jalapeño cheese crunchies (was offered these by a friend and could not say no; nasty and good at the same time - wont have them again though)
D: salad, lasagna, wine
Ds: Popsicle (and berries if I am feeling snacky)

early lunch today, so no bf.

1 hour fast walk (thanks Dawn!!) and sit ups.

**how was your dress fitting, Alyssa?!? SO exciting - the big day will be here soon!

wierd food day

B: 1/2 bagel w/ creamcheese, coffee

S/L: fiberone bar, yogurt, 1/2 bagel, 3 fortune cookies

S: 2 peanutbutter chocolate things, like reeses

D: 1 small piece ham & pineapple pizza, soda

D: 1 bowl cereal

fieldtrips throw off my food schedule. I have another one tomorrow, but I'll try my best. We're having pizza for lunch so I'll bring some good snacks. 

I did walk to and from the beach today for our trip, about 15 minutes each way. Nothing brutal, but moving at least. 

Final dress fitting tomorrow, let's hope it fits! 

tues

Having no structure in my days is feeling dangerous - I need to get my self together. I have not been doing all the dedicated exercises and activities that I thought I would be jumping on with all this free time, I am stressing more than I am having fun - no way to enjoy time off. I need a kick in the ass. So it is a good time for me to get my self in gear, to find my inner motivation.

B: almonds, NF plain yogurt, jam; chi tea
S: blueberries
L: 2 small burritos (equivalent to 2 tacos)
D: ?? might go out for drinks...
D: have soup, veggies, and lasagna ready

did my yoga for 30 min and weights

I plan on going for a walk tomorrow and just putting one foot in front of the other... I feel like simply sitting on my ass, which is pathetic given the great weather out there.

Monday

I haven't been great lately, but I don't think I've been horrible. (have I, Dawn?) I went on a 2 hour hike this weekend, and am feeling more motivated to keep up the exercise, especially starting next week when I'm not working (woo hoo!) 

How are you all doing, ladies? 

saturday

juice 2

coffee 2

bar 3

biscotti 2

fiberone 1

going to BBQ, and then out to dinner, didn't make the hike today, will do it tomorrow, right A-dawg??? and um, plan not to go crazy, not to obsess...current goal...oh yes and proud, woke up, had juice, no food...

It's Friday! C'mon Craig, stimulate your mind...

How come Chris Tucker could be so hilarious as Smokey in "Friday" but so mediocre in the Rush Hour movies that made him his money?

I weighed myself this morning and it was not pleasant. Hairbrushes were broken. No, just kidding, but there was no change from the last couple of weeks. I actually was just pleased I hadn't gained weight, considering I have been so damn inconsistent. I tend to range from super-awesome to super-binge with eating habits. One thing I am very consistent about is NOT exercising ;P So there's something...

But, anyway, I am getting myself together, I am just not ready to have my light-bulb turning point moment today. What am I missing that is keeping me from doing those little things every day to get to the place I want to be? Matt is reading a book called "The Slight Edge" right now that talks about how it is so easy to do the little steps each day to reach a goal (whether it is financial, health/eating habits, nutrition, learning, etc.), but that at the same time it is so easy to NOT do those little steps each day. There is a continuous battle that rages in your mind as you decide each moment, each hour, each day, whether to do those tiny little steps that don't show you the results immediately, but over time, will lead to the big results you want. I seem to be at the point where not doing the little steps is winning much more often than doing the little steps. I guess it isn't so much a light-bulb rock-bottom thing as a baby steps thing. Now where's my pacifier.

back

Hello Friends, 

So I was off in Arizona, drinking, enjoying the sun, and not eating too much..but didn't get to exercise at all...each day I had some type of veggies, (quizno salads are pretty good if I do say so myself) and ate some chicken. It was kinda cool to be around people who don't snack, eat desserts, etc...DIDN'T EAT AT NIGHT AT ALL...accept when I was awake and driving back..proud of that...also one both my trips there and back, I didn't buy any fried foods (which I wanted) and bought some veggies to eat for the drive... I am very interested to weigh in, but not sure when that will happen...

Friday

southbeach wrap 5

coffee 1

biscotti 1

goal for today : work out and don't eat more then my points...

missed you all!

Dawn

update

ate salad

3.5 cocktails, probably more then I should of...

1 slice of pesto pizza, it was to sober up

then a bagel, to prevent hangover...

hmmm, definately didn't excise, but walked around a bit...and um, ya...will get better.

Gym!

FYI: Here's a little article on the 6 most fattening ice cream flavors :) 

http://www.newsweek.com/id/138230?GT1=43002

Saturday:

B: 1 piece french toast w/ syrup, cup of fruit, scramble egg, mimosa, coffee

D: hamburger, handful of fries (baked)

Ds: 1 piece apple pie w/ vanilla ice cream

Sunday:

B: blueberry bagel w/ cream cheese, coffee

D: steak (size of a deck of cards which I've heard is the proper portion), scoop of mashed potatoes, 2 small pieces of bread, cup of fruit, glass of white wine

Both days were a late breakfast, hence the no lunch

Mark and I went to the gym today!! I only lasted on the eliptical for 10 minutes, but then did some arm and ab work. Now that my schedule is lightening up, I think I'll be able to make it to the gym more. 

Dawn, come to my house this week so we can work out together!!

Sunday

B: waffles, yogurt, and blueberries with a bit of syrup
S: cottage cheese with pineapple
L: lettuce and tomato salad
D: leftover BBQ chicken and meat, carrots, sweet potato, beer
Ds: popsicle

No official exercise, but plenty of cleaning and moving things into place... I will get out for a good walk tomorrow.

Friday

Super, super lazy today. Didn't sleep in too long, but wasn't very active or productive. I guess I needed a lazy day. 

B: bowl of cereal

S: bagel w/ creamcheese, NF vanilla latte

L: 1 slice of homemade pizza - cheese, tomatoe, basil

2 glasses white wine

exercise

So, my boyfriend and I went to the gym 3 times in the past week, and there was a noticeable difference in my metabolism, I lost 3 pounds, and I feel a little better.

I think this is just what my body needs! I need to find a way to curb the ravenous hunger that follows these bouts of exercise.

Friday:
NF caramel latte
salad for lunch
prolly whole wheat pasta for dinner

Not to healthy of a day, but I hope to get back on track

my thursday

Work was cancelled today because of the fires. I feel guilty for being so happy :)

Thursday:

B: yogurt w/ granola and fruit

L: salad

S: bowl of cereal

S: 1/2 brownie, banana

S: 2 cocktails, a couple pieces of fried calamari, a few fries, a few bites of artichoke, 2 thin little breadsticks.

Open House was last night, which is why I didn't really have dinner. And now it's a 4 day weekend!! woohoo!!

on the road again,

off to arizona!! but will be back sometime this week, and gonna stick to it and see a weight loss :) I ran past 2 days and have been eating OK...ttys :)

Thursday

Can't believe it is already Thursday! I don't really remember what I've eaten this week -- mostly done pretty well, though. No pizza! Lots of healthy soups, and a variety of ok other things. So far today I'm pretty whacked out, but I slept in late, so I think that's what's up. I've only had a protein bar and a single red-vine. I am going to go grocery shopping tonight if I have time, because we are so empty on perishables in the house and NEED some fresh fruits and veggies!

Tuesday and Wednesday

Tuesday:

B: yogurt w/ granola and fruit, NF vanilla latte

L: Eating Right lasagna

D: chicken salad, and 1/2 a chicken sandwich in a pita fry bread thing

Wednesday:

B: NF vanilla latte

S: brownie (birthday. they weren't even that good. so not worth it.)

S: blueberry muffin

S: fiber one bar

D: gonna have some chinese food

Had my dress fitting yesterday, everything went well. It still fits, but has to be taken in slightly and hemmed of course. Friggin' expensive!! Almost as much as the dress itself! And now I'm having dress anxiety, wondering if it's really the "right" dress. Will Mark like it? Aaagh! Freaking out a bit. That's normal, right? 

could we play the beastie boys sabatogue??? waking up at night...but doing good in day..but not making my way to the gym..I think I am going to do something drastic...

ceral 4?
pb 4
bar 3
coffee...1
bar 2
fruit 2
went to a teacher party thing, didn't eat the pizza, or pastries! go dawn, so I figured out I have a sugar addiction, so I think I am going to try and limit the pastry bready things, yes I know there are sugar in my bars, but I tend not to binge on those, however i do think I will lower the post dinner snacks, cause those can get outta control to...
went to sushi, but had a few pieces, some chicken
ran 20 minutes, walked 20
having tea, going to bed..tomorrow will be a good day...over and out

Tuesday

ceral, ceral, ceral, 8?
bar 3
coffee 1
salad with chicken 3
bread 1
more salad with chicken 5
fiberone 2
hot coco 1
so didn't work out again, this retirment thing sure should mean I work out a lot more...wierd...well, tomorrow..at least I am not over eating too much...

Monday

B: NF vanilla latte

S: chocolate croissant :(

L: Eating Right ravioli

S: cookie

D: subway 6" sandwich and gingerale

Monday and weekend update...

ok, let's see...so..I shoulda posted...

Friday

um, I know I woke up and aint, think it was some pb and a bran muffin...
coffee
fro yo with almonds and some fruit
pizza
1.5 slice of chicken with pinapple, .5 of pesto veggie
salad
and about .5 of dessert pizza..
fiberone bar
think that's it...not too bad..
walked around lots..and played a little frisbee...bowled..sucked at it...

Saturday
ceral
pb
bar
coffee
2 bean tacos, 1 w/cheese
fiberone bar
um lean cuisine with veggies...
fiberone? bar
hot coco
good news is I helped on of my bffs move and it was lots of fun and lots of physical activity..

Sunday
went paddling for a long time
coffee
bar
chicken
1/4 donut..there was soo much food there and i did a great job of resisting...
some salty pretzel. crackers..think that's about it..wasn't too bad...
some 6 pt lasgna, added cottage cheese, and some bocca ground, then a bunch more veggies..so made it 8 pts..it was yummy
tired too early, then wanted to eat, cause I was tired, and couldn't go to sleep...
fiber one bar..
3 cups of hot coco...

Monday..
crap woke up way too many times
2 cups of milk 3
fiberone 2
100 cal. oreos..2
pb, yes, just ate it out of the jar...
crap...so obviously, I am either sabatogueing cause someone told me I looked like I lost...or freaking out about job stuff...or??
plan for today...go to gym, work out lots..run, weigh in, eat some veggies, do some soul searching so that i stop overeating...oh ya, and I have some work to do...
opps, never got to the gym, gonna go tomorrow for sure..
bar 3
2 veggie sausages 2
yam 5?
peas 0
salad with
beans 6
corn tortillas 3
hot coco
fiberone
ALL I WILL EAT TODAY.

been a while...

just got back from Santa Barbara, a quick 24 hour visit, but totally worth  it.... my new little niece Kaia is so cute! only 2 weeks old, so pretty much sleeping and eating only, but still fun to see and hold. 

Anyway... I'm with Ellen as far as having a bad food week. Lots of pizza as well, and beer and cocktails. I'm really gonna try to be better this week, and my goal is to walk after work (since I'm officially off at 2:50 now) at least 3 times this week. The good news is that I weighed myself Friday and I've stayed consistent, so still a total loss of about 5-7 pounds since starting this, but I feel like the weight has just shifted from my boobs back to my stomach ;)  that sucks. 

1-week hiatus

Yay for Rosie being back! Lyssa, thanks for the birthday wishes!

Sorry I missed you guys last week -- though I did catch up on your posts just now. I accidentally took a week off from blogging just like I accidentally took a week off from good health choices. I really do think my downfall is after 5 or 6pm. I can be very excellent until then, but after that I just crash and burn sometimes. So, last week and this weekend involved some pizza, chocolate strawberries, champagne, tempura (yum), taco bell (yuck), and just an overall lack of portion control on my healthy options. I don't think my week of hell at work helped my discipline, either.

What I am doing to get back on track: 1) Not give in to the guilt, 2) Other things I have not yet figured out...

Friday

B: coffee, bread with a bit of butter
S: cottage cheese, 1/2 apple,
L: 1/2 sandwich
D: pizza and some drinks

Thursday

B: 2 poached eggs, whole wheat cheese quesadilla
L: baked tofu, salad with lots of tomatoes and carrots
S: small piece of bread and a banana
D: humm...
Ds: 1 ice cream mochi
E: 90 min walk, abs, legs, weights

If you saw my house you would never guess we were moving within the week....hahaha (nervous laughter)....slight denial.

last day thursday

muffin 6?
peanutbutter 3
bar 3
coffee 1

going to work out with trainer :) walk around SF and go out with friend...trying to save points for tonight...but already hungry and it is only 10.30am....good news is exercise will give me more points, but already scared about this weekend as I am going to be around lots of yummy food and yummy people...girls,check me before I wreckme..

ok, so thursday update, from Monday...
so I think I did OK, I worked out with trainer, did 110 push-ups, 50 pull ups, and then about 155 squats, and ran 1 mile, it was good...

went to INdian, didn't over eat, but then wanted to get some freaking donuts, cause even when you hang out with the coolest sweetest people, some couples make me want to eat...so, yes I thought about donuts for days..but I didn't stop. and feel good about it now..yes had some hot coco, and fiber, I am trying to limit my desserts to that..I notice with food when I am by myself and stay structered it really helps me not go off and binge...ok, so that was the update...

wed nes day

weird day for me, I slept a lot and was not really hungry and I am trying to eat just when I am hungry rather than because it is time to eat...

cereal with strawberries and milk
burrito - beans, cheese, rice, salsa, lettuce. ate a bit more than 1/2

2 hours yoga

Wednesday

ya! no eating last night..and went to target but decided to skip on the shoes, don't love them soo much and should limit my income as I am retiring...

bar 3
coffee 1
latte 3
will work out with trainer, go paddle..and stay in points today!!
salad with chicken, beans 3

bar- vanilla pretzel bar from ellen,yummy 4 or 5

a beans salad with cabbage 4?
fiberone bar 2
tapioca 1
that's it... so 24 pts for the day! good job, so much easier to stay in points when I don't eat at night..why don't I remember this at night??

exercise update, trainer cancelled went to gym for about 90minutes and worked out hard..