At Work

I work at a very large metal recycling plant and we have our own water treatment facility onsight.  Our environmental specialist offered to take me for a tour and so yesterday, I got to go.  I was able to walk there, walk all around and walk back without having to stop and rest and without any pain.  It was great!  It feels so good to be able to be a part of life again.  I am on my way!

Sunday

Hi All, not much going on.  Well, there is a little bit.  Since I cut back on blogging, my weight loss efforts have relaxed a bit.  My eating is still the same, as far as most choices and the portion size.  But, I have been to fast food a bit more, I have eaten a little chocolate egg here, a little chocolate egg there, not walked as much, and not had nearly the amount of water I should have.  I haven't weighed, I don't want to. 

 The funny thing about the fast food, both days that I had it, my tummy was NOT happy with me.  The food tasted fine, was not overly greasy (one was Taco Bell's fresco chicken soft taco off their diet menu), but I did not feel well afterwards.  I've read about people on here that avoided fast food for months, then had some and were sick afterwards. We are still determined at home to not buy ANY prepared or processed food.  We just all feel so much better.

Mer at We're Losing It! gave me the idea of making Egg Muffins for breakfast.  I made them yesterday and they are yummy!  I needed something for breakfast, that was loaded with protein and that I could put together quickly, for days when arthritis made it difficult to cook.  With these I don't have to resort to McD for breakfast.  They are sort of like crustless mini quiches.  You can do just about anything with them.  Mine are below.

One small green bell pepper, diced
One package diced ham
One package refrigerated, shredded potatoes
Four chopped green onions
Six eggs
1 1/2 cups Better N Eggs
Sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded
Salt, pepper, garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350, place 12 cupcake papers in muffin pan.
Put a little oil in a large skillet. Saute bell pepper and ham over medium heat until most of the liquid has cooked out.  Add the potatoes, season as desired, stir well, cook at medium high a few minutes, cover, reduce heat to just under medium, cook for 15-20 minutes.  Test potatoes for doneness.  Should be just a wee bit underdone.  Remove from heat, stir in green onions.  While potatoes are cooking, beat together eggs and Better N Eggs.  Season as desired.

Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full with potato mixture.  Then, slowly, slowly trickle in the eggs to just about a 1/4 inch below top of muffin cup.  Sprinkle each top with about one teaspoon of cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove from pan to wire rack to cool.  Eat or place on a cookie sheet and pop into the freezer till frozen.  Place into a double plastic bag to store in the freezer.  I don't know yet how much time to heat in the micro.  Will probably set out to thaw first thing in the morning, and then heat at a minute or two.

You can probably cut the potato mixture in half.  I had a lot left over and my son ate it for lunch.  You will have some egg mixture leftover too, maybe a half cup or so.

A Watched Pot Never Boils?

So, being tired of seeing the same number on the scale, day after day, for a month I stopped weighing myself.  Then Friday I got back on the scale and what do you suppose has happened?  I lost 2 pounds!  Yay!  Hopefully I am no longer stuck and back on my way to losing.  Fingers crossed.

On to something a bit more important.  I live with my son and 10 year old grandson.  For all intents and purposes, I am filling in as the role of Mom to my grandson Cade.  He is a bit different, can't quite put my finger on it.  It could be the trauma of his early childhood before he came to live with his dad, he could be ADD, it could be lack of oxygen to the brain from his birth, it could be his mother's drug use during early pregnancy, just don't know, it could be a combination of things.  More than likely it is.  Anyway, he needs a lot of attention (not constant, just a lot) and I have been feeling guilty about the amount of time I am spending on the computer.  I feel I will need to cut back on the time I am on the blogs.  I really hate to do that, because I feel so close to so many of you and don't want to lose any ground.  But I just have to.  I am not quitting, just cutting back.  And so, with that,

Thank you all so much for your support, I have come to care very much for so many of you ladies.  I hope everyone has a lovely first day of Spring and a wonderful weekend!  Carla

A Little Something

Even though I have not lost any weight in the last month, I am still on plan and exercising.  And, I am starting to see lady curves reappear, my face is slimmer, I am not at all tired at the end of the day like I used to, I can't eat as much as I used to...I get full a whole lot faster, my legs around my knees and calves are looking slimmer, my upper arms are also looking slimmer. 

So even though I would have given up in the past, with no change in the scale, I kept at it and changes are STILL  happening.

I just want to thank everyone for their support, it has made all the difference.

You are so appreciated!!!!!

Nothing New

Hi all.  I am still stuck.  Still at 215 pounds.  So, nothing new to report. 

However, a couple other things.  My son has a TON of candy he bought for my grandson Cade's Easter basket and has decided he doesn't want Cade having all that candy afterall.  Anyway, Donald has asked me to help him eat most if it.  Guess what?  I haven't even touched it, it doesn't even sound good to me, don't want it.  Aaaaand it is PMessie time, no craving at all, well, maybe just a little something salty, but that's all.  I'll probably have a cup of chicken broth for that, that'll probably do it for me.  I keep chicken bullion cubes at work, for salt cravings or for settling my stomach.

Also, as we all know, cupcakes are quite the thing lately.  I have been wanting to go to one of those cute little cupcake places and see what all the fuss is about.  I mean, obviously I've had cupcakes before, just not one of these fancy ones.  Anyway, my son went to one today with his girlfriend and brought me one back.  It was little and cute, and just ok.  And I only cut less than a fourth off and tasted it.  That was all I wanted.  I gave the rest to my son.  It also helped that it had a cream cheese frosting and I am not fond of that kind.

Well, that's the news from Oregon.  Have a good evening, friends.  Thanks for dropping by.

Stuck

So I have been stuck at 214-215 since the middle of last month.  It would appear the honeymoon is over, the rubber has hit the road, etc.  I am walking 8 circuits each day, drinking enough water to sink a battleship, not snacking, not eating large portions (my appetite has decreased), stopping before I am too full, increased fruits and veggies, no fast or processed food, am working my exercise dvd.  Now what?

Thank You Dawn! Part 3

For receiving my award, I am to tell 7 things about myself.  Here they are:

1.  I have held many different jobs over the years - waitress (most hated), live-in housekeeper at a retirement home, garden department at Home Depot (one of my faves), interpreter for hearing impaired children, daycare teacher (another one of my faves), and now bookkeeper (one of my least faves-boring).

2.  I have moved over 50 times.  I stopped counting at 50.  I have lived in 3 different states - California (home), Nevada (my favorite) and Oregon (hate it here-I'm sorry if I have any Oregon readers, don't mean to offend).  I start getting itchy feet after awhile and need to go.  I am hoping to move back to southern California within the next year.  My parents are there and getting on in years.  Hopefully this will be my last move.  I believe I am ready to settle down.  Some may call me unstable.  I call it adventurous, I want to see what's out there.  As a result, I LOVE road trips.  I have family and friends who have never lived anywhere other than the area they grew up in, they are too afraid.  To me, this is so sad, to not get to experience life in other places.

3.  I can work on my own car.  Before the easy access to the Internet, I used to go to the library, find the appropriate shop manual, copy the page and go home and fix my car.

4.  I would love to get a degree in Geology and/or Horticulture.  Science was my favorite subject in school.  Especially earth sciences and oceanography.  My grandson loves science too, I am so proud.

5.  I have one younger brother, but come from a very large, loving extended family.  At least on my Mom's side.  They settled in the San Joaquin Valley in California, during the Depression and bought a farm.  We used to have some WONDERFUL family get togethers.  Bonfires and all.  FOOD FOOD FOOD!!! So good.

6.  I believe in setting a nice table for all meals at home.  At our house, that is usually breakfast and dinner.  Too many niceties have fallen by the wayside.

7.  I would like to become a vegetarian.  I am finding that the older I get, the less I like any kind of meat (except fish-love fish).  My mom, her sisters and their daughters are the same way.

Ok, so there you have it.  Hope you all have a lovely day.  Spring is on its way!

Thank You Dawn! Part 2

As part of my award I am to award other people. 

First is Losing It.  She is always encouraging and has a great sense of humor.
Next is Debby.  She is very knowledgable and has some yummy sounding recipes.
And then is Wendy.  I love this blog!  Wendy has so much energy and insight.

Part 3 will be tomorrow.  I am to also tell 7 things about myself.  I am having to work on that.  I have a list, but can only come up with 3-4 things.

Have a good evening, everyone.

Thank you Dawn! Part 1

Oh wow!  I got a Versitle Blogger Award from Dawn at A New Dawn For Me.  You should go check her out.  Her posts are inspiring, thought provoking and Dawn is always kind and encouraging.

In other news, I have decided we will start having salads every night with dinner.  We did that when I was a kid (was my job to make it) so I have started that again.  Had my son get a bag of Triple Hearts and a bag of Spring Mix and I mixed them together in a larger bag.  Then I put on tomatoes, green onion, cucumber, garbanzo beans, a little cheese and sunflower seeds.

Also, I have been researching how to grow vegetables indoors under a grow lamp.  I got to thinking that if illegal pot growers can do it, why can't I?  For starters, I want salad greens, tomatoes, green onions and carrots.  I have a south facing balcony, but this is Oregon, not enough sunshine.

I don't have a lot of time tonight, my grandson needs my help with his homework.  I hope everyone has a lovely evening.

Thank you for the follow C.

Supplements and Sprouts

I am a big fan of natural, healthy food, herbs and supplements.  I first discovered the usefulness of herbs and supplements as a resourceful single mom with no health insurance.   Prevention is key to keeping health costs down.

I first read in Dr. Weil's book, "Healthy Aging", that age related diseases are due to inflammation in the body.  Armed with that information and having arthritis, I decided to research the safest, healthiest, non-NSAID (NSAIDS have wreaked havoc with my kidneys and stomach) way of reducing inflammation in my body.  I discovered that turmeric is a powerful, natural anti-inflammatory.  I had already started taking ginger to help heal my stomach and discovered it too has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as the ginseng I take for energy.  I take cinnamon for keeping my blood sugar low and stable and also fish oil for heart and brain health.  I don't know if it was any one of these, or the result of all or some of them, but within a few months my cholesterol dropped almost 50 points.  I went from 185 to 139 - cholesterol, not weight.  My LDL's were also reduced and my HDL'S were increased.

Mer asked yesterday the best way to grow sprouts.  I don't know if the following is the best way, but here is what I have figured out.  I used to grow them often, years ago.

Start with a large jar, some cheesecloth and a rubber band.  And of course, your seeds of choice, preferably organic.  I chose alfalfa for this first round.  Start small, about a tablespoon of seeds (I started with 1/4 cup...WAY too much).  Put them in the jar, cover with cheesecloth and rubber band and rinse well and drain .  Add at least 4 to 5 times as much water and let sit on your counter for about 12 hours.  Drain and rinse again.  This soaking water is now loaded with nutrients, some people drink it, save it for soup or cooking veggies in or watering their plants.

At this point you may want to change containers for your sprouts.  I used to have a sprouter similar in size and shape to a springform pan, I don't know what happened to it though.  Some say you can sprout them in the same jar, but I don't recommend it.  It will be too hard to take your sprouts out of once they are sprouted.  I bought a sort of 4 inch square jar with a wide mouth at Walmart and even this did not work well.  I think my next round I will try my large, flat pasta bowl. 

 Anyway, whatever container you choose to use, you will be rinsing and draining the sprouts about every 12 hours.  Make sure you drain them VERY WELL.  You don't want the sprouts sitting in water, or they will rot.  Continue this process until they are a long as you want them.  I just keep them on my kitchen counter.  I suppose you can put them near sunlight if you want the chlorophyll.  At some point, while they are growing, they will begin to clump up.  Maybe while they are in water, before draining, take a fork and gently break up the clumps.

So there you have it, soak, drain, rinse and drain every 12 hours, enjoy a few days later.

Changes

Happy Friday morning everyone!

So, I am not happy with the focus and direction of my weight loss and this blog, and I am going to be making some changes, and posting them here.

Way back when, I was a back-to-the-land earth-mama wannabe stuck in suburbia.  I loved my lifestyle and the way I cared for my family (not gonna get the Birkies out, though).  We were healthy and active.  Also, I was raised up during the health nut craze of the 60's and 70's.  Late 70's I was married and had a baby.  He had long hair and was naked a lot of the time, at home.   He ate mostly homemade food, herb tea for his colic, all natural stuff...you get the idea.  By the way, chamomile tea works wonders for colic.  I put this in his bottles instead of juice.  I've lost sight of the person I used to be and want to find her again.

The first thing I have done was to grow my own sprouts.  Just had them on a tuna sandwich yesterday, and they were very good.  I used to grow these a lot.  You can get e-coli from the ones at the store. 

Can't write more, already late getting ready for work.  Gotta go.  Have a great day!

Does anyone know...

Good morning all,

Does anyone know of fast, high protein breakfasts?  Aside from the fact that I love McD sausage in their Sausage McMuffin Combo, is that it is loaded with protein - sausage, egg and cheese, and a reasonable amount of carbs - the English muffin.  When I have had a bad night (arthritis pain waking me up), cooking breakfast is difficult.  That's one of the big reasons I rely on McD so much for my standby breakfasts.  I can't have (blood sugar issues) and don't like sweets for breakfast, or very early in the day for that matter.  I would appreciate any ideas you may have.

Breakfast:
2 eggs, half a toast, butter, milk

Snack:
one Akmak cracker

Lunch:
Tuna sandwich w/ sprouts, water

Snack:
None

214
exercise dvd
4 morning circuits
3 afternoon circuits, cane

I dug out my old Sony Walkman and found the tape I used to walk with many, many years ago.  So many happy memories came flooding back.  I use it for walking my circuits now. 

Breakfast:
2 eggs, toast, butter, milk

Snack:
None

Lunch:
Hamburger rice, 1 boiled egg, water

Snack:
birthday cake, I caved

Dinner:
Scrambled sausage and eggs, half a toast, butter, milk

215
4 morning circuits
3 afternoon circuits, and darn it, back on the cane.  My left hip and knee are up to something.
5134 steps

Tuesday

Breakfast:
2 eggs, toast, butter, coffee

Snack:
None

Lunch:
Salad, water

Snack:
None

Dinner:
Hamburger rice, milk

214
4 morning circuits
4 afternoon circuits  I tried really, really hard to talk myself out of doing them this afternoon.  My back and legs are SOOOOO achy.  But, I will never reach my goal if I don't stop messing around.  This is always what has happened in the past.  I got tired or bored with trying, start messing around and eventually forget all about what I was trying to do.  This time is different, I have support I can count on...my bloggy friends.  Also, I added my 4th afternoon circuit today.  Except for my left knee REALLY acting up, adding the 4th circuit was not as difficult as adding the 3rd circuit.  I will try this for 2-3 weeks and try adding a 5th circuit in the morning.

6722 steps, my most so far