Monday, February 28, 2011

Monday

Breakfast:
2 eggs, 1 toast, butter, water

Snack:
None

Lunch:
salad, bread, water

Snack:
None

Dinner:
Fish, mustard greens, cornbread, water

215.6
4 morning  circuits
3 afternoon circuits
5068 steps

Saturday, February 26, 2011

A Non-Weight Related Question

Good Saturday morning everyone!

I have a question.  But first, a little explanation.  On these blogs, we are sharing some very private, sometimes intimate information about ourselves.  As a result, I feel very connected to some of you ladies.  It makes me very sad to think I will never meet any of you.  Also, I know these are "Weight Loss Blogs", but there is more to our lives than losing weight.  I would like to know just a little bit more about you.  Nothing personal mind you, I am just curious what some of your hobbies are.  What kinds of activities bring you happiness and joy?  I don't mean to pry,  I think this is just a natural extension of getting to know people you care about. 

My son says I don't try hard enough to get to know people, I don't ask enough questions.  That is so hard for me.  My mouth gets dry, my hands get clammy and my throat closes up.  Eating with strangers...Oh my goodness, so hard to swallow when your throat closes up.  Maybe this is why I HATE dating, HAHAHAHA!  Anyway, so I am trying.

I'll go first.  Before I hurt my knees, I LOVED LOVED LOVED being outside hiking and camping.   I used to live here.  The little town is Carson City, Nevada, the state capital.  That is Lake Tahoe at the top of the photo and the lake on the right of the photo is Washoe Lake.  I lived in Carson City for 15 years.  This place brought me so much joy and happiness.  My last good hike was aprox 22 miles round trip.  Now I can't even go shopping without riding the electric cart at the store.

Also, I enjoy crocheting.  My brother and I used to spend a lot of time with our Grandma Sallie.  Every now and then she used to dance a little jig, singing a silly song and making funny sounds with her hands.  I adored her.  Anyway, she was an avid crocheter.  I have many of the things she made.  I have a large family and we all have many of the things she made.  She never really taught me how, other than to make a chain.  I was a busy kid and to keep me occupied, she would have me sit beside her and chain away.  That chain became enormous.  When I became an adult, I bought a book and taught myself.  She lived hundreds of miles away by that time, so I couldn't ask her.  She has since passed away.  I have one of her afgans on my bed and often think of her hands touching each of those threads, and of her hugs and kisses.  If I can become half the grandmother she was, I will be very happy.

This is an odd one, but I love to read magazines.  This drives my son crazy, because I like to save them.  Right now, my favorite ones are Womens World, All You and First for Women.  They have recipes, health tips, organizing tips and of course the diet of the month.  I like them because they are colorful and cheery, no serious stories.  Just some light, easy reading. 

Non-fiction books are also my favorites, I don't care for fiction.  I went back to college in 1997, and because of my text books, I discovered I really enjoyed reading non-fiction.  I have lots.  When I lived in Carson City, there was a thrift store in town, that on Saturdays had a book sale.  You could fill a grocery bag for a dollar.  If I was very careful, I could sometimes get 15 books in a bag.  However, I usually gave them back to the thrift store when I finished with them.

So, there you have it, hiking, camping, crocheting and reading.  I didn't mention it earlier, but my favorite thing to do, is spend time with my family.  I come from a very large, southern family, on both sides. Let me tell you, there was some very good food at family gatherings.

Ok, I have to get started on my day.  I hope you all have a great weekend!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Daily Weighing

I have seen, while reading the blogs, there are many different views on weighing in.  Some don't weigh at all and go by the size of their clothes, some weigh in monthly, some weekly (the most I have seen so far).  I like to weigh in daily.  That way I can keep a close eye on things and make any needed adjustments.  For instance, yesterday it was very cold and I was out of painpills...just cold and achy.  So, it was a lazy day.  I did not drink my 3 bottles of water, only one.  I did not go out and walk, at all.  I had a hot mocha.  And to top it all off, my son brought home a burger and fries for dinner.  The burger was dry and not greasy, but the fries were a bit.  Even though I did not eat them all, I still had some. 

 And now, this morning, my weight is up a bit.  Weighing in everyday keeps me fully aware and focused on where I am at.  I think of the scale as a steering wheel on a car.  When we are behind the wheel, we are constantly watching and adjusting our direction.  What would happen if I let go of the wheel?  My car would be all over the road.  The same holds true for my weight.  And so, I weigh in every morning and post it here.

Breakfast:
2 eggs, one toast, butter, water

Snack:
None

Lunch:
Tuna sandwich, apple, water

215.8

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Thank you

I want to thank those that read and offer encouragement, I so appreciate it.  I just wanted to say I'm sorry this is not a very interesting read.  I am a very quiet, introverted person and I don't have a lot to say, and am happiest alone and reading.  It is usually very difficult for me to think of things to talk about in a conversation.  Mostly I just smile and nod at people.  I do love reading other's posts, they sure do give me a lot to think about.

I hope everyone has a lovely day.

Breakfast:
Cottage cheese w/ tomatoes, bread, orange juice

Snack:
Cottage cheese

Lunch:
Leftover pasta and chicken, water

Snack:
Hot mocha

Dinner:
Burger, fries, milk

215.2
no walking today, it's too cold and I am out of painpills.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Just Plugging Along

Breakfast:
Cottage cheese w/ tomatoes, one cheese bagel, orange juice

Snack:
None

Lunch:
Salad, water, a couple bites of cheese bagel

Snack:
None

Dinner:
4 cheese pasta w/ grilled chicken and basil, milk

215.8
4 morning circuits
3 afternoon circuits
4255 steps

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Tuesday

2 eggs, half a toast, butter, milk, no time for an orange

Snack:
None

Lunch:
Salad, water

Snack:
Handful of walnuts

Dinner:
It was supposed to be a beef and noodle dish, but it bombed.  The beef had an odd taste to it, it wasn't spoiled though.  So, I just had a bowl of Cheerios.  Not really all that hungry anyway.

216.8
4 morning circuits
3 afternoon circuits
5327 steps

Monday, February 21, 2011

New Old Clothes or Old New Clothes

While putting away laundry this weekend, I happened to come across some tops I had not worn in quite sometime...I had outgrown them.  I tried on a few and they all fit, and a couple were too large!  I did have to go buy some new pants on Saturday.  My old ones started falling to the tops of my legs if I held my stomach in, was constantly having to pull them up. I have gone from a 24 to a 20 in pants, and a 3X and 2x for tops to an XL.  Also had to go bra shopping.  It occurred to me while I was there, I had no idea what size to get, as I had not measured before leaving home.  I HATE bra shopping, and to make it even worse, the bra section was a mess, no order at all.  I am saving one pair of 24s to put on and take a photo with after all is said and done.  I had thought about taking them in, but decided against it and just bought some new.

I got my new 32 oz water container and some lemons to cut up and put in.  I have to fill it 4 times each day to get enough water.

Breakfast:
10 grain hot cereal w/ pecans and dried fruit, toast, butter, nonfat milk

Snack:
Two Akmak crackers, really,really hungry today.

Lunch:
Two ham sandwiches, no mayo, apple, water

Snack:
None

Dinner:
Tofu Parm, Bruchetta, milk

216
4 morning circuits
0 afternoon circuits, too sleepy...took a nap, didn't sleep well last night, woke up in the middle of the night hurting again.
Forgot to look at how many steps before I went to bed

Friday, February 18, 2011

Water Intake

While surfing the blogs, I came across a water calculator.  You answer a few questions, and then it tells you how much water you should be drinking (or fluids).  I should be having 110 ounces daily.  I maybe have around 40 ounces.  It is soooo hard to get in enough water.  I read somewhere, a long time ago, that if you don't get enough water, your body thinks it is in dehydration mode and hangs on to (retains water=water weight) every drop.  But, if you drink a lot of water, your body uses what it needs and gets rid of the rest.  That means I have to fill my cup at work 6 times.  Well crap (excuse my language)!  I can only manage to fill it once or twice, but SIX TIMES?!?!

I think this weekend I will see if I can find a larger container and get some lemons to put in.  If I have a larger container, I don't have to try to remember to fill it so many times.      

I have to go get ready for work.  I hope you all have a lovely day.

Breakfast:
McD Sausage McMuffin Combo.  I know, BAD BAD BAD.  And now, my excuses:  Grandson has no school today, no school he sleeps in, he sleeps in and I don't have to cook breakfast.  I don't have to cook breakfast, I get to leave earlier and put in a bit of overtime at work.  The real reason...I DEARLY LOVE MCD SAUSAGE!!!!  Hot dogs and sausages are my alltime favorite food.  Forget sweets, give me a hot dog or sausage anytime.  Bratwurst, Keilbasa(sp?), Italian sausage, breakfast sausage, COSTCO hot dogs, Cheddarwurst...oh my goodness, Hillshire Farm has the best Cheddarwurst!  There is just nothing like a grilled Cheddarwurst on a French roll with horseradish-dijon mustard!  These are what stalled the beginning of my weight loss, having to think about giving all these up was very, very hard.

Snack:
None

Lunch:
Ham sandwich, no mayo, apple, water

Dinner:
None, not hungry, a glass of milk


213.8
147 mg/dL 5:45am  BOOOO!  Pasta for lunch and dinner, yesterday
4 morning circuits
1 afternoon circuit, very, very cold
5961 steps

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  I'll be back Monday.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Thursday

Breakfast:
2 eggs, 2 toast w/ butter, half an orange, milk

Snack:
None

Lunch:
Leftover pasta and veggie dish, water

Snack:
None

Dinner:
My son's favorite pasta...Orichette(sp?), Italian sausage, Rau's Pasta sauce (no fake anything), cream cheese.  He often fixes my plate (he does the cooking), it was HUGE!  I know what's for lunch tomorrow!

214
Chair Aerobics, next one is Saturday.
4 morning circuits
3 afternoon circuits, I will try to continue with the 4/3 circuits for at least 2 weeks, and then up the afternoon to 4 circuits.
Taking stairs at work instead of elevator
Not drinking enough water
My knees are not liking this extra activity, but I don't want to slow down or eliminate anything.  I am on a roll and don't want to lose momentum.
5205 steps

It is soooo cold!  I would do just about anything for a hot cocoa!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Exercise

UGH!!! I just cannot motivate myself to work my exercise dvd.  It's called Chair Aerobics for Everyone and is very good.  I tell myself every night, OK, this is it, in the morning I will do this.  But when morning comes...not so much.  My only time to do this is at 5 am.  That means I have to be in the shower by 4:30 ( I seem to have less pain if I warm up in the shower first).  I just want to snuggle under the covers and have my coffee at 4:30.  Well, I would rather be asleep at 4:30, but I have gotten up at 4 for nearly 20 years and usually wake up sometime before that.  So, sleep is not happening.  I am getting a good amount of exercise by walking at work, but I could do more.  On a positive note, I am sleeping much better with the increased walking.

Win the day!

Breakfast:
Oatmeal w/ pecans, dried fruit, cinnamon, butter, raw sugar, nonfat milk, toast, butter, water. 

 I know it says butter twice on here, but I am very careful about the amounts I use.  I am not going to use fake food.  My grandson has behavior problems and since getting rid of all processed and other fake food, he is doing better.  People were healthier and less fat before all this crap came out.  I've said it before, but if it didn't exist 100 years ago, don't eat it.  I know I've had my slips (Butterfinger) but am doing much better.

A side note about children's behavior.  When Cade, my grandson, was diagnosed with ADD, I did research on diet.  Medication was out of the question, so this had to be it.  I read the best thing to do was get an old Betty Crocker cookbook and cook from that.  Real, healthy, whole food, no fake stuff.  It's not a miracle cure, but it sure has helped him.

Snack:
None

Lunch:
Leftover pasta and veggie dish, apple, water

Dinner:
Leftover chicken and rice, milk

214.2
4 morning circuits
0 afternoon circuits, just can't do it today, too cold.
3016 steps

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Today

Breakfast:
2 eggs, 2 toasts, butter, half an orange, water

Snack:
None

Lunch:
Leftover pasta dish from last night, green beans, polenta, water

Snack:
None

Dinner:
Baked Honey Chicken recipe here(fabulous, my son made it), corn, rice pilaf, water


215.8
4 morning circuits
3 afternoon circuits, that last circuit is TOUGH!!!!!
5290 steps

Monday, February 14, 2011

GIVEAWAY!

Click here to enter a giveaway for a 1 years subscription for Plan To Eat.  It is a system for helping you to plan your families meals.  I have entered.  Good luck!

Click here to enter a giveaway to win a "Naturopathic Care Package" ($99.95) by Naturokits.com from keeperofthehome.org and savingnaturally.com.
Breakfast:
Oatmeal, half a toast, butter, half a banana, milk

Snack:
None

Lunch:
2 ham sandwiches, no mayo, water

Snack:
None

Dinner:
Pasta with grilled chicken, asparagus, broccoli, and Gruyere, water, a couple pieces of Valentine candy

219
Hopefully the extra 3 pounds is just water weight.  I realized this morning, I had forgotten to take my blood pressure medicine for a few days, which has a diuretic.  I tend to puff up when that happens.
4 morning circuits
3 afternoon circuits
When I started walking these circuits a few months ago, I was only able to do 2 morning circuits, with a cane and sitting and resting in between circuits.  Now I am up to 7 total for the day, no resting between circuits and no cane.  Granted, that third circuit this afternoon was tough.  But I did it because I can.  Thanks Polar's Mom, I appreciated that post.
6155 steps

Friday, February 11, 2011

Today

I hid the cookies at work...out of sight, out of mind.

Breakfast:
Oatmeal, toast, butter, half a banana, milk

Snack:
one cheese bagel

Lunch:
egg rolls, ice tea-no sugar

Snack:
none

Dinner:
Roast chicken, corn, couscous, milk

216.2
3 morning circuits
0 afternoon circuits, still feeling crummy from sinus infection
3118 steps

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Taken from "The Brave Girls Club" website




A co-worker brought in one of my favorite cookies - Pepperage Farm Milanos.  I am drinking water instead...woo.

Breakfast:
2 eggs, half a slice of toast, butter, half an orange, 1% milk

Snack:
none

Lunch:
lowfat cottage cheese, tomatoes, 2 Kings Hawaiian rolls, water

Snack:
2 Kings Hawaiian rolls, a baby carrot, 3/4 oz cheese. 

I WANT A COOKIE!!!

Dinner:
Roasted chicken, peas and carrots, couscous, milk

216.2
4 morning circuits, no cane
2 afternoon circuits, no cane
6,118 steps

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Another day

Yesterday was my sickest so far, and boy was I in a mood.  I just felt so crummy, I did not care in the least what I ate.  Thank you Polar's Mom and Dawn for your comments.

Breakfast:
Old fashioned oatmeal w/ walnuts, cinnamon, butter, raw sugar, 1% milk; half a slice of toast, butter, 8 oz 1% milk (or water, not sure how much milk is in the fridge), half a banana.

Snack: 
one Ak-mak cracker

Lunch:  Tuna sandwich on whole wheat, milk

Dinner:
One cheese toast, half a pear, carrots and peas, milk

I went to the doc and got some anitbiotics, should be on the mend soon.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Accountability

Ok, so, I started this blog in the hopes of having accountability.  It is a little difficult to have that if I don't write anything of significance down.  So here it is, the good, the bad and the ugly (I know it's cliche, I don't care).

Breakfast:
McD. Sausage and egg McMuffin, one hashbrown and a small coffee with 2 creams.

Snack:
None

Lunch:
My son made Spaghetti Squash Lasagne last night, so I am having that for lunch and a Butterfinger candy bar.

Snack:
none

Dinner:
Hot tea, 2 slices whole wheat toast

5 circuits around the parking lot

Here is the lasagne recipe:Spaghetti Squash Lasagne Recipe

Monday, February 7, 2011

No exercise for a while

So, I have been sick for a few days.  I first thought it was a cold, but this morning, I had some difficulty breathing, so it may be slipping into pneumonia again.  That being said, I am not going to be out walking for a while.  It is too cold and hurts my lungs.  I may try my dvd, but have to be careful and not overdo and get tired.  I have to be able to get to work.  Anyway, I will be watching my eating like a hawk.  I have to compensate somewhere and that is the only place. 

Hope everyone's day is great.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Good Food, Great Medicine - A book

This is the name of the book I am basing my eating plan on.  It is very good, and is just good old, basic common sense.  This is pretty much how I was raised, and how I used to cook before everything went down the drain.  A long, long time ago.

It is written by a local doctor here in Portland, Dr. Miles Hassell and his sister Mea Hassell (who works with him in is office).    The one I have was a gift.  They can be found on Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Medicine-Miles-Hassell/dp/0979633915/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297005349&sr=8-1.  And here is their website:  http://www.goodfoodgreatmedicine.com/.  Sorry for the links, but I don't know how to hide it and make it pretty in my blog like I have seen on other pages.

Dr. Hassell is board certified in internal medicine and is in private practice at Providence St. Vincent Hospital in Portland Oregon.  He established the Integrative Medicine Program at Providence Cancer Center and is a clinical instructor in the training of internal medicine residents, twice receiving Teacher of the Year award as well as being included in Portland's Top Doctors.  Dr. Hassell uses evidence based nutrition and exercise options in his medical practice and lectures widely to physician groups regarding the use of nutritional medicine.

It is a very good read.  The focus is on healthy, whole, real food.  It's not really a diet book, but more of a cookbook/health guide, based on the Mediteranian Diet.  As it says under the title on the book, "Diet and lifestyle guidelines for optimal health from a medical practice."  It has LOTS of great tips for quick and easy to put together meals.  The authors are busy people with families, and the recipes reflect that.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Walking

I am very pleased.  I have lost just a little over 16 pounds since the first of the year, but already I am able to take my daily walks without my cane.  I am only 53, but the idea of already having to use a cane everyday, well, I was not happy about it. 

I am able to walk more.  Because I am getting more exercise, I am sleeping better.  Also, since I am walking more, my back is hurting less.  Today was my first day walking without my cane.  I made 3 circuits around the parking lot at work, and nothing hurt (back, hips, knees, feet) when I finished.  It is getting easier to get up from my chair during the day.  Still not quite popping up, but I am getting there.

Hope everyone has a successful weekend!

4750 steps

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Magic numbers update

Magic numbers goals 1 and 2, reached and passed.  The first one, 220, meant I am no longer morbidly obese.  I am now severely obese.  The second one, 219, meant I no longer have over 100 pounds to loose.  I am such a dork, and embarrassing for a bookkeeper, I didn't notice when I set my goals, that 220 and 219 were right next to each other.  HAHAHAHAHA!!!  My next goal is 199, out of the 200s.

I am so greatful for my blog friends.  Thank you Dawn, Mer and Losing_It for all your kind and encouraging comments.  They are so appreciated!  You make doing this a bit easier.  I feel like I can actually do this, knowing I am in the same boat with other determined women.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

February

The bookkeeper in me is coming out.  I have closed the books on January, 232 is a memory.  It is over and done with, not ever to be seen again.  I am starting the month out with a new balance of 220.4.

I like the idea of closing the month.  It makes sense to this bean counter.

Have a great day everyone.