I have posted a tad more frequently over at The Knit Farm, but I am still here. I've talked a bit about mom and how I'm feeling over there - very short synopsis, I'm still awfully sad muchof the time, but doing better. I find myself existing on the surface a lot; when I dig deeper, it's still raw, and I'm not handling raw so well. A note from someone (thanks, A., for reading the archives of my posts and commenting!) was just the right nudge to get me over here for an update post.
I managed to eat fairly sensibly while we were in the US for a couple of weeks, and not too poorly once we came back. However, the evening snacking is back, lack of greenery in the diet, and lack of menu planning as well - all of these contribute to subtle but steady weight gain, and as of this morning, I was up to 185. Still 21 pounds down since December but 6 pounds up from the beginning of April. 1.5 pounds up a month.
The thing keeping me from going too crazy is the fact that I tossed all my old "fat pants" so I can sense even this 6-pound gain in the fit of my clothes. When it hit 6 pounds, my UK 14s refused to fit. So I'm down to 4 pairs of jeans, 2 of which are ratty. The others sit on the shelf in my closet, mocking me... Incentive, boys and girls.
I haven't been tracking in FitDay, and I know it's helpful. Getting back to it is another essential tool to keep going. Today I will log what I eat, even if it's not the most considered eating. Gotta start again somewhere!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Friday, June 8, 2007
Back from Germany
I'm baaaack. In a matter of days, we head to the US for my mom's memorial service, and going through her things that are in storage while we visit relatives...Germany was fun enough - rainy for the first week, and that was the week DH had his eye surgery so it wasn't really a touristy visit. We took the kids bowling and to a playplace and found a good used bookstore; we ate too much fast food and one good Mexican (!) (in Germany!) meal. We walked around the local village and town, saw some movies, visited old friends of DH, had fabulous ice cream, and toured one castle.
It's wonderful having DH home again now, and we are starting to eatsensibly again. I am not tracking food yet, but not inhaling cookies either. I call it a happy medium. Each day gets a bit better. Here's me in Sickingen (a village) - see the Germanness all around?
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Here and floundering...
I'm here. I'm sad. I'm floundering. But I'm working on it.
My sister, brother-in-law, and nieces were here for a good long visit. Seeing them, being with them, and touring with them kept us all very busy, and left me with very little time to sink into sadness. They headed home a couple of weeks ago, and it's been really difficult since then. Food was OK while they were here, but now that I am by myself (with kids), I find myself using it as a sedative. Every morning, I wake up and think, I will get on track today. By afternoon, I think, how about a piece of toast, or a cookie? Or three?
That and some book I've read a million times before are how I get through my evenings. I can't even knit most nights - it seems too hard, although I am working on something I really like.
David had to go to Germany for 6 weeks, so we've been alone, me and the kiddoes, since my family left. We head to see him on Wednesday, thank God. I miss him so very much. He was my rock when it happened, and when he had to leave, I was so very grateful my sister was already here. I don't think I could have kept it together if we hadn't kept so busy.
I do OK, as long as I don't stop to think. Once I stop and sit down, the grief can be overwhelming. I still don't believe this has happened. I keep thinking of things to tell mom, or to show her. And everything, everywhere, reminds me of her. Even when I am getting through the day, and going through the motions, inside I am howling. How can she be gone?
My sister, brother-in-law, and nieces were here for a good long visit. Seeing them, being with them, and touring with them kept us all very busy, and left me with very little time to sink into sadness. They headed home a couple of weeks ago, and it's been really difficult since then. Food was OK while they were here, but now that I am by myself (with kids), I find myself using it as a sedative. Every morning, I wake up and think, I will get on track today. By afternoon, I think, how about a piece of toast, or a cookie? Or three?
That and some book I've read a million times before are how I get through my evenings. I can't even knit most nights - it seems too hard, although I am working on something I really like.
David had to go to Germany for 6 weeks, so we've been alone, me and the kiddoes, since my family left. We head to see him on Wednesday, thank God. I miss him so very much. He was my rock when it happened, and when he had to leave, I was so very grateful my sister was already here. I don't think I could have kept it together if we hadn't kept so busy.
I do OK, as long as I don't stop to think. Once I stop and sit down, the grief can be overwhelming. I still don't believe this has happened. I keep thinking of things to tell mom, or to show her. And everything, everywhere, reminds me of her. Even when I am getting through the day, and going through the motions, inside I am howling. How can she be gone?
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
A Little Chat; A Little Shopping
Well, seeing that I am the proud non-owner of almost 25 pounds, I've been having some fun trying on clothes lately. This afternoon I popped out to check out a dress I saw in a flyer this week. Sadly, although the colors really worked, the cut...not so much. However, there was a black dress with little cream polka dots on the sale rack that looked much nicer on me, and I paid 10 pounds!! I also got a very pretty pink georgette wrap top that will probably be photographed soon. Dead batteries in one camera, and hiding charger for the other camera. Sigh.
Two pairs of size 16 pants (US 14) now fitting me nicely. Two pairs of 18s (US 16) now really too big. Wild, isn't it? One pair of size 14 jeans (exact same style as my very favorite 18s) waiting in the wings, which can zip up but turn the muffin top into a popover of massive proportions.
At 180 pounds, I will do a front/side/back progress post, to go with the one I did at 200. Could be any old time now. A few days, a week, maybe two...I'm optimistic.
Two pairs of size 16 pants (US 14) now fitting me nicely. Two pairs of 18s (US 16) now really too big. Wild, isn't it? One pair of size 14 jeans (exact same style as my very favorite 18s) waiting in the wings, which can zip up but turn the muffin top into a popover of massive proportions.
At 180 pounds, I will do a front/side/back progress post, to go with the one I did at 200. Could be any old time now. A few days, a week, maybe two...I'm optimistic.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Note the Sidebar
Not much to report right now, mostly because we are so busy! Busy kid week, friends visiting so busy grownups week, and hmmm...what's that in the sidebar? Could it be a new low? Could it be 183.4? Hmmm.
Yippeee!
Yippeee!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
The Absence of 25 Pounds
This is what the absence of 25 pounds looks like - rock on, my darling man... Caught lounging on the playground this weekend.
And THIS is what the absence of 46 pounds total looks like. We clean up well, even if I do say so myself. Check out www.honsinger.net for even more pictures of the cleaned-up couple and a quick recap of our fun evening.
Friday, March 16, 2007
10%
I have now lost 10% of my weight since we started in December. That. Rocks. It's a Good Thing.
I'm feeling better "in myself" as they say around here. Despite the fact that the kids donated their lovely congestion and cough to me, I feel better than I have in a couple of weeks. The cookies, etc. aren't calling my name so loudly, and I'm really looking forward to this evening.
David and I are going to the Dining Out for his squadron this evening - babysitting is provided, bless 'em. The Dining Out is a formal military dinner, with spouses/guests invited as well. Should be lots of tradition, and traditional silliness, too.
I have a great new dress, and shoes that make me feel about 6 feet tall. David's mess dress, complete with medals and all that, looks fab. We'll definitely get some pictures, and I hope they're somewhat flattering!
I'm feeling better "in myself" as they say around here. Despite the fact that the kids donated their lovely congestion and cough to me, I feel better than I have in a couple of weeks. The cookies, etc. aren't calling my name so loudly, and I'm really looking forward to this evening.
David and I are going to the Dining Out for his squadron this evening - babysitting is provided, bless 'em. The Dining Out is a formal military dinner, with spouses/guests invited as well. Should be lots of tradition, and traditional silliness, too.
I have a great new dress, and shoes that make me feel about 6 feet tall. David's mess dress, complete with medals and all that, looks fab. We'll definitely get some pictures, and I hope they're somewhat flattering!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
What's New?
A little teensy dive from the wagon of healthy eating, that's what. A week of refined carbohydrate semi-binges and I'm up to 188.6 For a grand total of .2 pounds lost this month. The up and down of the scale must be wreaking havoc with its workings.
Sick kids, down me, yadda yadda. Digging my way out of the hole and the clutter and pushing for a better day today.
Baby Step 1: write down everything I eat, even if it IS non-nutritious food. Last couple of days have been "I have no idea what I ate" kind of days and I haven't had those in 3 months.
Sick kids, down me, yadda yadda. Digging my way out of the hole and the clutter and pushing for a better day today.
Baby Step 1: write down everything I eat, even if it IS non-nutritious food. Last couple of days have been "I have no idea what I ate" kind of days and I haven't had those in 3 months.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Sunday Brunch
This morning, David made Swedish pancakes and they were...awesome. JUST like mother dear's. Good thing we woke up late and ate brunch instead of breakfast and lunch, because the pancake brunch set me back 800 calories and then some. And that was using 0% fat Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
If we could have skipped the oil completely, I'd have saved 160 calories but, even in the nonstick pan, that dog won't hunt.
If we could have skipped the oil completely, I'd have saved 160 calories but, even in the nonstick pan, that dog won't hunt.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Friday Weigh-in
Greetings! Salutations!
Yesterday's weigh-in was 186.8, or as I prefer to put it....TWENTY POUNDS GONE!!!
I am quite excited by this.
Yesterday's weigh-in was 186.8, or as I prefer to put it....TWENTY POUNDS GONE!!!
I am quite excited by this.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Wednesday Update
How're you all? The week's flying by - we are starting to interview applicants to replace the preschool teacher who leaves after this term. Juggling schedules is always fun, but the first interview went well. I hope we will be able to make the decision by mid-March, as the new term starts 17 April.
Apart from that, yesterday was a good "on plan" sort of day for me, foodwise. In fact, the last several days have been. Not a lot of counterproductive snacking going on. I renewed my love affair with SmartPop minibags of popcorn. Good golly, Miss Molly, but you do get a lot of crunch for the buck, as it were. 100 calories = a good long snacking time. Contrast that with a cookie and a half for the same amount of calories. Yeh, as if I ever eat just a cookie and a half.
Apart from that, yesterday was a good "on plan" sort of day for me, foodwise. In fact, the last several days have been. Not a lot of counterproductive snacking going on. I renewed my love affair with SmartPop minibags of popcorn. Good golly, Miss Molly, but you do get a lot of crunch for the buck, as it were. 100 calories = a good long snacking time. Contrast that with a cookie and a half for the same amount of calories. Yeh, as if I ever eat just a cookie and a half.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Non-Scale Victories ...
OK, a little scale victory too, as of this morning. I am back at the low of 188.8.
However, on to the non-scale victories (NSVs). I've been reading a lot of bloggers lately who talk about their NSVs. Because my loss is slow and steady, it's good to focus on those moments to keep the motivation alive.
Here, for your reading pleasure, a couple of the NSVs. The past week has been a very rotten-snack sort of week. Yesterday, there were no cruddy-carb moments. Despite a highly emotional day (involving television, how I feel like the TV is invading every space in my life and that leads to how I feel like a bad parent when I let the kids watch so much television, how I'm a bad parent in general...etc., etc. [TV = The Devil's Babysitter: discuss.]), yes, despite all this, I didn't medicate my feelings with food. I processed them, talked through them with DH (OK, cried and was totally emotional about it all), but I dealt with the feeling, moved through the feeling, and moved on with my day, in a better place for having done that. That's a pretty big NSV.
Another one - this morning, I sat down with my bowl of yogurt and muesli, started eating it, thought "I'm not really hungry," and decided to put it away and finish it later. Which I did, around 10:30. How very sensible, and in tune with my hunger pangs.
This afternoon, not an hour after a really tasty lunch, I found myself heading for the pantry, thought "What am I doing here? How do I feel? I feel irritated. OK, that's not hunger. Get out of the pantry." The amazing thing? It worked! That's an NSV for sure.
I'd like to be that "in tune" with myself every day.
However, on to the non-scale victories (NSVs). I've been reading a lot of bloggers lately who talk about their NSVs. Because my loss is slow and steady, it's good to focus on those moments to keep the motivation alive.
Here, for your reading pleasure, a couple of the NSVs. The past week has been a very rotten-snack sort of week. Yesterday, there were no cruddy-carb moments. Despite a highly emotional day (involving television, how I feel like the TV is invading every space in my life and that leads to how I feel like a bad parent when I let the kids watch so much television, how I'm a bad parent in general...etc., etc. [TV = The Devil's Babysitter: discuss.]), yes, despite all this, I didn't medicate my feelings with food. I processed them, talked through them with DH (OK, cried and was totally emotional about it all), but I dealt with the feeling, moved through the feeling, and moved on with my day, in a better place for having done that. That's a pretty big NSV.
Another one - this morning, I sat down with my bowl of yogurt and muesli, started eating it, thought "I'm not really hungry," and decided to put it away and finish it later. Which I did, around 10:30. How very sensible, and in tune with my hunger pangs.
This afternoon, not an hour after a really tasty lunch, I found myself heading for the pantry, thought "What am I doing here? How do I feel? I feel irritated. OK, that's not hunger. Get out of the pantry." The amazing thing? It worked! That's an NSV for sure.
I'd like to be that "in tune" with myself every day.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Friday Weigh-in
190.4. Or, as I could put it, pheh. Second gain in a month.
This has been the Week of the Refined Carbohydrate, and I need to recommit to Not Eating Crap. One good reason for that is the number on the scale this morning. Doesn't matter if I am eating a decent amount of calories if the calories aren't nutritionally valid ones.
Having a look at my FitDay stats, my calorie intake is actually up 13% this month from last month, and my protein/fat balance has gone to the dark side.
My average stats for February to date: 1549 cal, 27% fat, 51% carb, and only 22% protein.
For January: 1366 cal, 23% fat, 51% carb, and 24% protein.
Doesn't look so terribly different, except that the carbs are not the happy fun carbs, they're white-flour carbs.
Someone help me climb back up on the healthy eating wagon...
This has been the Week of the Refined Carbohydrate, and I need to recommit to Not Eating Crap. One good reason for that is the number on the scale this morning. Doesn't matter if I am eating a decent amount of calories if the calories aren't nutritionally valid ones.
Having a look at my FitDay stats, my calorie intake is actually up 13% this month from last month, and my protein/fat balance has gone to the dark side.
My average stats for February to date: 1549 cal, 27% fat, 51% carb, and only 22% protein.
For January: 1366 cal, 23% fat, 51% carb, and 24% protein.
Doesn't look so terribly different, except that the carbs are not the happy fun carbs, they're white-flour carbs.
Someone help me climb back up on the healthy eating wagon...
Monday, February 19, 2007
A Splurgey Evening, and How I Dealt.
So, we decided to go to Frankie and Benny's tonight for dinner. It's a Italian-American themed restaurant here in England, with a decent kid menu and kid-tertainment packets. The kids were thrilled with their magnetic Ludo games and those crayons that have 12 different color tips in one pen. Small D had a good, extremely thin crust pizza; Lily had real chicken tenders with a side of broccoli.
The adult food at this place is uneven - I've had really awful dishes and really good dishes. I ordered the salmon cakes, skipped the side of herbed potatoes that turned out to be deep fried potato chunks, and shared a MONSTER brownie dessert thing with David. Plus a double espresso.
Dinner choice: Middle of the road, but tasty. The dessert: Yummy. The calorie count: Large. The good thing? I didn't choose something completely counterproductive like Penne Carbonara. The other good thing? I logged it in my FitDay tracker, just like any other meal, and moved on. Do I want another massive brownie dessert? Nope, probably not anytime soon. In fact, next time we go to Frankie and Benny's I might just order for the kiddlies, and stick with the espresso. It was the best thing I had tonight.
I'm feeling good about the fact that I ate what I wanted, logged it, noted the high fat content, and moved on. I'm not thinking, "Aiyeeee! Lord, I've been bad. Now I'll go home and polish off a packet of bourbon cream biscuits." I'm thinking, "That was pretty tasty. Not my usual, but OK once in a while."
It's only food. Isn't that amazing?
The adult food at this place is uneven - I've had really awful dishes and really good dishes. I ordered the salmon cakes, skipped the side of herbed potatoes that turned out to be deep fried potato chunks, and shared a MONSTER brownie dessert thing with David. Plus a double espresso.
Dinner choice: Middle of the road, but tasty. The dessert: Yummy. The calorie count: Large. The good thing? I didn't choose something completely counterproductive like Penne Carbonara. The other good thing? I logged it in my FitDay tracker, just like any other meal, and moved on. Do I want another massive brownie dessert? Nope, probably not anytime soon. In fact, next time we go to Frankie and Benny's I might just order for the kiddlies, and stick with the espresso. It was the best thing I had tonight.
I'm feeling good about the fact that I ate what I wanted, logged it, noted the high fat content, and moved on. I'm not thinking, "Aiyeeee! Lord, I've been bad. Now I'll go home and polish off a packet of bourbon cream biscuits." I'm thinking, "That was pretty tasty. Not my usual, but OK once in a while."
It's only food. Isn't that amazing?
Friday, February 16, 2007
11 Pounds...
These pictures were taken 11 pounds apart. I think I must be losing all my weight in the back - definitely an improvement!
Friday Weigh-In, Week 6
I'm up a tad from the other day, at 189.2, which is still a big drop from last week. I think the tacos from Valentine's Day are mocking me with their sodium content. Heh. But it was a good week, and feels nice to drop into the 180s, that's for sure.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
A Valentine to Me, to You, to the World
Happy Valentine's Day to all you lovely readers. May you treat yourself wonderfully today, and may everyone around you throw rose petals your way as well!
I'm thrilled to report my debloating has me at 188.8. 18 pounds gone in 2 months, baybee. It's a wonderful thing. Wow, it's good. I could tell when the cravings dispossessed my body the other night. It's like a Jekyll and Hyde transformation.
Looking back at my weight graph, this Time'O'theMonth bloat is consistent. I think the lower protein/higher fat and carb ratio is the same that week as well. I'd like to avoid it next month, to see if that eliminates some of the bloat, but we'll just have to see.
Not sure what tonight's dinner plans are - I have a dinner (boring) planned, but am lobbying for a delivery of Texican food because nothing says Valentine's Day like tacos. Dontcha think? David left a lovely lovely card for me this morning, because he's a lovely lovely guy. And totally rocks. I am lucky on Valentine's Day, and every day, to have him in my life.
Lily is entranced with a My Little Pony DVD from the library; David is upstairs with a friend doing experiments and crafty messy stuff. Contentment reigns. I think I will have some lunch and put my feet up a minute.
I'm thrilled to report my debloating has me at 188.8. 18 pounds gone in 2 months, baybee. It's a wonderful thing. Wow, it's good. I could tell when the cravings dispossessed my body the other night. It's like a Jekyll and Hyde transformation.
Looking back at my weight graph, this Time'O'theMonth bloat is consistent. I think the lower protein/higher fat and carb ratio is the same that week as well. I'd like to avoid it next month, to see if that eliminates some of the bloat, but we'll just have to see.
Not sure what tonight's dinner plans are - I have a dinner (boring) planned, but am lobbying for a delivery of Texican food because nothing says Valentine's Day like tacos. Dontcha think? David left a lovely lovely card for me this morning, because he's a lovely lovely guy. And totally rocks. I am lucky on Valentine's Day, and every day, to have him in my life.
Lily is entranced with a My Little Pony DVD from the library; David is upstairs with a friend doing experiments and crafty messy stuff. Contentment reigns. I think I will have some lunch and put my feet up a minute.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Mainlining Oatmeal...
That's what I think I need to do after my McDonald's meal tonight. FitDay says 44% of my calories are from fat today. Yoikes! It was tasty, but that is a ratio I cannot be seeing very often. My poor, poor little arteries are clogging as I type.
Friday Weigh-in - First Gain
Not an unexpected gain, anyhow. Lots of more-toward-mindless eating of carby crud this week. Working on it, and having a much better day today, although I have a McDonald's meal planned for dinner, which is nutritionall void :)
Looking forward to the weekend - tomorrow, I take small D into London for the day, and we'll have a fun day together. Sunday's my birthday and I anticipate plenty of nothing-time!
Looking forward to the weekend - tomorrow, I take small D into London for the day, and we'll have a fun day together. Sunday's my birthday and I anticipate plenty of nothing-time!
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Still Here; Not a Grand Week in Food
And how are YOU all doing? Sorry I fell off the face of the earth...DH had my laptop hostage this weekend studying for a promotion exam, and I was pretty much all kids, all the time.
Hmm, what part of this might link to the fact that I have been eating WAAAAY too many carbs? I love my kids, yes, I do. But I do not love being with them 24/7. We all need our space. Small David is showing some stress about school, life, bedtime, the universe, everything, too, so he needs even more than 24/7 from us. Trying to find a balance for him, trying to find a balance for me, trying to stay sane in the face of repeated demands to Play Cinderella and Play Take me to Ballet Class as well.
Actually, the kids' weeklong half-term break is coming up on Friday and I think we will actually be more relaxed, even though we'll be even more in one another's pockets than usual. I have field trips planned, you see. FIELD trips.
On the bright side, even with my carb overload of the last week (also coinciding with PMS; oh, there's a surprise), my calories this week averaged around 1600. I didn't competely dive over the side of the wagon. Not yet :)
Hmm, what part of this might link to the fact that I have been eating WAAAAY too many carbs? I love my kids, yes, I do. But I do not love being with them 24/7. We all need our space. Small David is showing some stress about school, life, bedtime, the universe, everything, too, so he needs even more than 24/7 from us. Trying to find a balance for him, trying to find a balance for me, trying to stay sane in the face of repeated demands to Play Cinderella and Play Take me to Ballet Class as well.
Actually, the kids' weeklong half-term break is coming up on Friday and I think we will actually be more relaxed, even though we'll be even more in one another's pockets than usual. I have field trips planned, you see. FIELD trips.
On the bright side, even with my carb overload of the last week (also coinciding with PMS; oh, there's a surprise), my calories this week averaged around 1600. I didn't competely dive over the side of the wagon. Not yet :)
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Reason for Irrational Food Spree Number 4,682
Procrastinating.
Guess what? Eating 1000 calories more than your faily average doesn't make you stop procrastinating. And it doesn't make your work go away either. It just makes your stomach uncomfortably full and your mood uncomfortably snappish. Who knew? Besides everyone in the world, that is...
Guess what? Eating 1000 calories more than your faily average doesn't make you stop procrastinating. And it doesn't make your work go away either. It just makes your stomach uncomfortably full and your mood uncomfortably snappish. Who knew? Besides everyone in the world, that is...
Friday, February 2, 2007
Week 4 Weigh-in for the Deep End of the Pool
Woo and Hoo - today the scale says 191.4. That's 8.6 down since we started 5 weeks ago, and 15.4 gone since DH and I got on track in mid-December. Very good news.
There was a small run-in today with some little mince pies...three to be precise. And I imagine there will be a further encounter with one more mince pie today, but I'm planning on that one.
A meeting at the preschool post "mince pie madness" went really well (I am the chair). I needed a good kick to get planning and paperwork back on track, and this meeting did the trick. We have assignments and suspense dates and all that targety goodness. I'm really upbeat about getting all our ducks lined up and up-to-date in the next couple of months. The OFSTED inspectors can come at any time, and they dooo like to see that things are running smoothly with paperwork. The sessions themselves are going well, as they always have since Lily's been going, but it's the paperwork that'll kill you.
Tonight's dinner - chicken with a mushroom sauce and brussels sprouts, and a movie with the kiddies afterward in the telly room. Hello SmartPop!!
There was a small run-in today with some little mince pies...three to be precise. And I imagine there will be a further encounter with one more mince pie today, but I'm planning on that one.
A meeting at the preschool post "mince pie madness" went really well (I am the chair). I needed a good kick to get planning and paperwork back on track, and this meeting did the trick. We have assignments and suspense dates and all that targety goodness. I'm really upbeat about getting all our ducks lined up and up-to-date in the next couple of months. The OFSTED inspectors can come at any time, and they dooo like to see that things are running smoothly with paperwork. The sessions themselves are going well, as they always have since Lily's been going, but it's the paperwork that'll kill you.
Tonight's dinner - chicken with a mushroom sauce and brussels sprouts, and a movie with the kiddies afterward in the telly room. Hello SmartPop!!
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Thoughts on Food
I've noticed something interesting in the waves and waves of weight-loss-blog-surfing I've been doing this past month. There are a lot of people who seem to survive on 80% carbs, and not complex carbs, out there, even some people who've gotten to goal weight. I look at some of the FitDay links or daily posts on food and see granola bar, toast, chai tea, sandwich with cheese, salad, WW cookie, popcorn, spagetti with 5 shrimp, Skinny Cow ice cream etc. (I'm totally making this up, by the by, from my assimilation of the food reports).
To me, a diet so heavy in carbs and light on protein would not be satisfying. If I start out eating toast in the AM, by 10 o'clock I'm ready for something rightnowthissecond. The days I hit 25% protein, 25% fat and the rest carbs seem to be really good days for not bingeing. Thoughts, anyone out there? Do you find it hard to stay calorie-controlled if it's all carbs?
To me, a diet so heavy in carbs and light on protein would not be satisfying. If I start out eating toast in the AM, by 10 o'clock I'm ready for something rightnowthissecond. The days I hit 25% protein, 25% fat and the rest carbs seem to be really good days for not bingeing. Thoughts, anyone out there? Do you find it hard to stay calorie-controlled if it's all carbs?
Two Words...
Monsoon. 16 (that's a UK 16, too!). Today I had a shopping day in the nearest town. Lots of walking, errand-buying, and browsing for meee. Normally I can get...oh, earrings...maybe a scarf, from Monsoon. Today was a better day by far.
New jeans, in a new size, on sale from 45 pounds to 13 pounds? Priceless. I also got a stylin' top in a wild print. I may even have to do a photo session soon.
New jeans, in a new size, on sale from 45 pounds to 13 pounds? Priceless. I also got a stylin' top in a wild print. I may even have to do a photo session soon.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
The Stone...
...It is gone now. I am down 14.8 pounds as of this morning. Wheeeee!! Oh, regarding yesterday's high-calorie afternoon, I nipped the calories in the bud by having clear soup and light toast for dinner.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Good Things, Food Things
That SHOULD rhyme, shouldn't it? But, noooooooo.
Anyhoo, the Good Things: First, the upward bounce has bounced back off me, thanks to drinking more water and helping things flow through. Ahem. Now to get to that freakin' stone lost. Second, I have taken to wearing a belt, because my jeans were slithering down my butt. Not that they're really too loose, but the belt is anchoring them. Of course, I stole David's belt that he's just grown too small for again, but since I belt around my hips, I'm not feeling too demoralized :)
The Food Things: Yesterday, I was so un-hungry that I ended up at 881 calories according to FitDay. Today, I've already exceeded that by 300 calories and haven't even had dinner yet! So I've had four days like this - too little, tooooo much, way too little, too much. What's up with that? On the first undereating day, my fat was way low, at 14%, but on the second day it was a bit high, at 30%. So that's not it. Both over-caloric days have seen a snack attack of pure sugary goodness in the afternoon, although I made a lame attempt to head it off today with knitting. Not so much. Hot tea helped, though.
It's not PMS time, so that's not it. No conscious stresses today. Hmm. Oh, well.
It's darn nice to wear a belt; I haven't in years, and it makes my jeans fit completely better.
Anyhoo, the Good Things: First, the upward bounce has bounced back off me, thanks to drinking more water and helping things flow through. Ahem. Now to get to that freakin' stone lost. Second, I have taken to wearing a belt, because my jeans were slithering down my butt. Not that they're really too loose, but the belt is anchoring them. Of course, I stole David's belt that he's just grown too small for again, but since I belt around my hips, I'm not feeling too demoralized :)
The Food Things: Yesterday, I was so un-hungry that I ended up at 881 calories according to FitDay. Today, I've already exceeded that by 300 calories and haven't even had dinner yet! So I've had four days like this - too little, tooooo much, way too little, too much. What's up with that? On the first undereating day, my fat was way low, at 14%, but on the second day it was a bit high, at 30%. So that's not it. Both over-caloric days have seen a snack attack of pure sugary goodness in the afternoon, although I made a lame attempt to head it off today with knitting. Not so much. Hot tea helped, though.
It's not PMS time, so that's not it. No conscious stresses today. Hmm. Oh, well.
It's darn nice to wear a belt; I haven't in years, and it makes my jeans fit completely better.
Monday, January 29, 2007
A Good Food Day
Today was a good food day...especially compared with yesterday, which FELT like a rotten food day. Yesterday was Sunday, I was feeling a bit stir-crazy with the kids and wanted to be alone. That wasn't happening, I felt guilty for not wanting to be with the kids, and I found myself eating sugary crud. I finally put an end to the sugary expedition into the cabinets by eating a string cheese (thank you, protein) but I ate probably 400-500 calories in junk in addition to the sensible food I ate.
Today I just wasn't hungry or interested in eating the junk. I did a grocery shopping, took Lily to a 3-hour playdate at an indoor playplace (kids ate lunch, I had a coffee although I had an orange handy if I wanted anything), and then I picked up David and his friend from school for a playdate here. We made our own pizzas for dinner, which was successful all around, and I got to talk to other grownups for long actual minutes of time.
Who knows what tomorrow holds? Maybe a bit of walking, I don't know. I have a boatload of paperwork to do for school/squadron volunteer stuff, but we shall see.
Today I just wasn't hungry or interested in eating the junk. I did a grocery shopping, took Lily to a 3-hour playdate at an indoor playplace (kids ate lunch, I had a coffee although I had an orange handy if I wanted anything), and then I picked up David and his friend from school for a playdate here. We made our own pizzas for dinner, which was successful all around, and I got to talk to other grownups for long actual minutes of time.
Who knows what tomorrow holds? Maybe a bit of walking, I don't know. I have a boatload of paperwork to do for school/squadron volunteer stuff, but we shall see.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Friday Weigh-In; Back from Disney
Hello, Everybodeeee :)
Today's weigh-in number is 193.8. Pretty flippin' good for having spent 5 days away. I tracked my food in a paper food diary but because Disneyland Paris does not believe in having WiFi in the rooms, I did not even attempt FitDay. No idea of calories and fats for several things I had. When I came home I created a New Custom Food called "Special Event - see day's journal for food list" or something like that, and I retyped my foods into the diary portion of FitDay.
We did a TON of walking, both at the Tower of London and for the 3 days and a bit of Disneyland. Sadly, my pedometer had a relaxing week at home, on the sneakers where I tied it, because I left the house in a different pair of shoes Saturday morning. What can I say? It was early. Fortunately they were my supercomfy ergonomic clogs.
Kids had a blast, and so did we. Foodwise, Disney is both cruddy for choice and cruddy for price, but we kinda knew that already. Breakfast had lots of good options, there was one buffet dinner that didn't derail me too much (amazing!), very little water got drunk except in the room (too cold out), and too much coffee was consumed (again, cold out). We packed many portion controlled snacks, and ate a few, but really ate very few snacks in the park.
In actual fact, the weather was pretty darn good for January, with only one really chilly day. Of course, that would be the day Lily had to wear her Princess dress and didn't want to put her coat on over it. That was fun. Thank heavens for a rain/windshield on the stroller, and for occasional willingness to wear said coat.
Super time, but great to be home with my beloved FitDay and normal food choices.
Today's weigh-in number is 193.8. Pretty flippin' good for having spent 5 days away. I tracked my food in a paper food diary but because Disneyland Paris does not believe in having WiFi in the rooms, I did not even attempt FitDay. No idea of calories and fats for several things I had. When I came home I created a New Custom Food called "Special Event - see day's journal for food list" or something like that, and I retyped my foods into the diary portion of FitDay.
We did a TON of walking, both at the Tower of London and for the 3 days and a bit of Disneyland. Sadly, my pedometer had a relaxing week at home, on the sneakers where I tied it, because I left the house in a different pair of shoes Saturday morning. What can I say? It was early. Fortunately they were my supercomfy ergonomic clogs.
Kids had a blast, and so did we. Foodwise, Disney is both cruddy for choice and cruddy for price, but we kinda knew that already. Breakfast had lots of good options, there was one buffet dinner that didn't derail me too much (amazing!), very little water got drunk except in the room (too cold out), and too much coffee was consumed (again, cold out). We packed many portion controlled snacks, and ate a few, but really ate very few snacks in the park.
In actual fact, the weather was pretty darn good for January, with only one really chilly day. Of course, that would be the day Lily had to wear her Princess dress and didn't want to put her coat on over it. That was fun. Thank heavens for a rain/windshield on the stroller, and for occasional willingness to wear said coat.
Super time, but great to be home with my beloved FitDay and normal food choices.
Friday, January 19, 2007
What's Good; What's Bad
What's good? Today I needed to refill my lovely (instant) coffee canister, and I made the move to all decaf from my training-wheels 2/3 decaf blend. Yes, all decaf. I am so proud of myself! It's taken less than a month...I will still drink caffeinated coffee but now I'm not loading it in all day any more. So that's good.
What's bad? Finky water weight making this journey to One Stone take longer than I want. And finky pedometer NOT working right...it shows 1277 as of 5:15 PM here, and that is waaay not right. I've been on the move a lot today. I think I will try clipping it to my shoe tomorrow. If that's not a success, I will need a new pedometer.
Back to what's good - tomorrow we leave for our little family trip. London tomorrow, and then EuroDisney (or Disneyland Paris as I understand it's called these days). There'll be LOTS of walking, and we are packing lots of backpack-totable sensible snack foods. Here's hoping the other food choices won't be too craptastic...
What's bad? Finky water weight making this journey to One Stone take longer than I want. And finky pedometer NOT working right...it shows 1277 as of 5:15 PM here, and that is waaay not right. I've been on the move a lot today. I think I will try clipping it to my shoe tomorrow. If that's not a success, I will need a new pedometer.
Back to what's good - tomorrow we leave for our little family trip. London tomorrow, and then EuroDisney (or Disneyland Paris as I understand it's called these days). There'll be LOTS of walking, and we are packing lots of backpack-totable sensible snack foods. Here's hoping the other food choices won't be too craptastic...
Friday Weigh-In Week 3
Today's number is 194.8, boys and girls. I'm pleased enough with it, BUT. I was 1.2 pounds lighter two days ago before the Days of Water Retention hit. I know rationally exactly why it's up a bit, and it's still down from last Friday, but grrrrr.
YEsterday's pedometer count - just over 5400 steps. However, I think there were more than that - at one point I looked and was at ~3000 and then after walking halfway down the High Street again, it was only a couple of hundred higher. I know that's not right. In any case, better than 4000, right?!
YEsterday's pedometer count - just over 5400 steps. However, I think there were more than that - at one point I looked and was at ~3000 and then after walking halfway down the High Street again, it was only a couple of hundred higher. I know that's not right. In any case, better than 4000, right?!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Vitamins and All That; How to Up Your Pedometer Stats
I was looking at some of my FitDay reports this morning, and was momentarily worried about my lack of various vitamins, etc., until I remembered that it doesn't log in my multivitamin. Maybe I should look into that, and log it, but I know I take it, so that's the important thing.
I have a cute little pillcase that makes me feel about 85 years old. Every morning, I take a multivitamin with iron. I also take a baby aspirin (as part of my heart health 'strategery'), codliver oil capsule (because there IS no sun in wintry Great Britain), and an evening primrose capsule (I fondly call this my antipsychotic because without it I get demonically hormonal; perimenopause sucks because it takes PMS and multiplies it 5-fold for me).
It's a good thing I am supposed to drink a lot of water because I go through a good 12 ounces just getting the morning pills down.
On to pedometers, and how harsh the truth can be! So, we can all agree that yesterday proves what a couch potato I have become. Onward and upward from 4000 steps is my motto. Heh. Shopping on the High Street today should help with that. Or I could just jump up and down a bunch of times. Walking and windowshopping is more fun, however, or it will be if the nasty windy rain outside will stop.
I have a secret plan to whip the pedometer, however. This weekend we're taking the kiddies to London to see the Tower of London (crown jewels, yeomen warders, arms and armor, all kinds of coolness) and stay overnight in the city. Then we shall surprise them mightily when we get on the Eurostar train next morning and end up at Disneyland Paris! We'll be there 3 nights. Only my husband has ever been to a Disney park before so we should all have an amazed and amazing time. And do a ton of walking. So take that, pedometer!!
I have a cute little pillcase that makes me feel about 85 years old. Every morning, I take a multivitamin with iron. I also take a baby aspirin (as part of my heart health 'strategery'), codliver oil capsule (because there IS no sun in wintry Great Britain), and an evening primrose capsule (I fondly call this my antipsychotic because without it I get demonically hormonal; perimenopause sucks because it takes PMS and multiplies it 5-fold for me).
It's a good thing I am supposed to drink a lot of water because I go through a good 12 ounces just getting the morning pills down.
On to pedometers, and how harsh the truth can be! So, we can all agree that yesterday proves what a couch potato I have become. Onward and upward from 4000 steps is my motto. Heh. Shopping on the High Street today should help with that. Or I could just jump up and down a bunch of times. Walking and windowshopping is more fun, however, or it will be if the nasty windy rain outside will stop.
I have a secret plan to whip the pedometer, however. This weekend we're taking the kiddies to London to see the Tower of London (crown jewels, yeomen warders, arms and armor, all kinds of coolness) and stay overnight in the city. Then we shall surprise them mightily when we get on the Eurostar train next morning and end up at Disneyland Paris! We'll be there 3 nights. Only my husband has ever been to a Disney park before so we should all have an amazed and amazing time. And do a ton of walking. So take that, pedometer!!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Just a Pebble to Go.
I have now lost 13 pounds from my start weight on 16 December. One. More. Pound. until I have lost a stone. I just love the sound of that....a stone gone. A honking big one, as well! I'm wearing the pedometer today, to affirm that I am a lazy, non-exercisin' fool who must add more steps to her day. I'll update with my final numbers tonight, or tomorrow.
Edited to add: Well, the pedometer was a shade under 4000 steps when I took it off during my meeting a couple of hours ago. Why, yes, yes I AM a complete chair potato. At least I know my starting point now...
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Checking in a Bit Late...
It's late evening here in HealthSpaLand, and I've just come back from an evening of Bowling with the Girlz. I also ran a multitude of errands, but no real exercise was had today. The Deep End challenge for the day was to find your pedometer and wear it for the day to see what your baseline is, then start trying to add 2000 steps a day. I'll be doing this tomorrow. Stay tuned!
Foodwise, it's been rather a craptastic, if not high-calorie, day. I ate a good breakfast and good (late) lunch, but all I had during my outing was most of a small latte, a 100-calorie pack of Oreo Crisps (dang, are they good!), and a cupcake at the bowling alley. Oh, and a diet cola. So now I'm home, prepping for bed, and enjoying one more pack of the Oreo goodness. The rest are being saved for a little trip we have planned this weekend (more on that soon). So....no protein after 2 PM. Hmmmm. Tomorrow is a new day!
Edited to add: Wonderful husband that I have, he made me two toasted cheeses with light bread and low-fat cheese. Delicious, proteiny, and did I mention delicious?
Foodwise, it's been rather a craptastic, if not high-calorie, day. I ate a good breakfast and good (late) lunch, but all I had during my outing was most of a small latte, a 100-calorie pack of Oreo Crisps (dang, are they good!), and a cupcake at the bowling alley. Oh, and a diet cola. So now I'm home, prepping for bed, and enjoying one more pack of the Oreo goodness. The rest are being saved for a little trip we have planned this weekend (more on that soon). So....no protein after 2 PM. Hmmmm. Tomorrow is a new day!
Edited to add: Wonderful husband that I have, he made me two toasted cheeses with light bread and low-fat cheese. Delicious, proteiny, and did I mention delicious?
Monday, January 15, 2007
Another Nice Day...
Yep, it's been another nice day foodwise. I got to enjoy the second half of my fabulous Pizza Express Padana pizza for lunch. Dang, it's tasty. Caramelized red onion confit, goat cheese, spinach and a little dash of heaven. I ate half last night when we ate at the restaurant, and took the other home for today's lunch. I can tell my appetite is re-set to normal proportions now, because it was easy to do that! Each half is about 380 calories, so a reasonable main dish.
Tonight's dinner is my carrot-coriander sauced chicken with lentil/rice pilau. Easy peasy and tasty at that. Lily the bean ate early (chicken and cauliflower) and seems to be headed for early bed, too. D. is out at a friend's for a playdate and tea, so he will have eaten when I collect him. Grownups around the dinner table tonight! Woohoo. I may light the candles..
Tonight's dinner is my carrot-coriander sauced chicken with lentil/rice pilau. Easy peasy and tasty at that. Lily the bean ate early (chicken and cauliflower) and seems to be headed for early bed, too. D. is out at a friend's for a playdate and tea, so he will have eaten when I collect him. Grownups around the dinner table tonight! Woohoo. I may light the candles..
Sunday, January 14, 2007
How Weird Is That?
I nuked my lunch 45 minutes ago, as I was making lunch for Lily. And then I forgot to eat it. So unlike me! Now I am going to RE-reheat it (last night's leftovers) and eat it, right now this minute. Because I'm kinda hungry now!
Another One Bites the Dust...
Woke up to another pound gone this morning. Go, baby, go! I also have noticed a sort of pattern since I started weighing daily, about 2 weeks ago. I have a loss, a very small gain, and then a bigger loss, then a very small gain, then a bigger loss...and so on. I've lost a total of 11.2 since I started last month. I can't wait until I can say I've lost a stone (14 pounds, and how one measures weight in the UK). One big boulder gone...
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Happy Saturday!
I've had a pretty nice day - got to sleep in, thanks to lovely darling husband of mine. I actually got up for a bit, and then decided to take advantage of the Free Sleep Offer and took my coffee, toast, and book up to bed. Got a 2.5-hour nap AND a half-hour chat with a great friend who called as I was waking up. Good times.
The odd foody thing about the day is that I slept through lunch and find myself at 700 calories or so as of 8:15 PM. I think I will go for a larger evening snack, but not worry if I come in low on the day. No point forcing the food...I do that too often as it is.
Random thoughts: whole wheat pasta really IS more satisfying. It is denser, takes longer to chew and thus eat, and seems to fill you up more. DH and I had 2/3 of a serving tonight with the chicken parmigiana I made, and didn't want seconds. How freaky is that?
Hope you are having a great weekend, Gentle Reader!
The odd foody thing about the day is that I slept through lunch and find myself at 700 calories or so as of 8:15 PM. I think I will go for a larger evening snack, but not worry if I come in low on the day. No point forcing the food...I do that too often as it is.
Random thoughts: whole wheat pasta really IS more satisfying. It is denser, takes longer to chew and thus eat, and seems to fill you up more. DH and I had 2/3 of a serving tonight with the chicken parmigiana I made, and didn't want seconds. How freaky is that?
Hope you are having a great weekend, Gentle Reader!
Friday, January 12, 2007
A Little Chocolate...
...is a beautiful thing on a Friday evening, along with a lovely fresh cup of coffee. It's been a good week, all in all. Today's calories and fat were a bit higher, even before the chocolate (half of a Cadbury Bourneville, which is nice dark chocolate), because I used 2 T of oil and 2 T of peanut butter in tonight's stir-fry, and counted half of that as consumed by me. Some was eaten by the kids, but not much. They didn't care for the peanut sauce on the noodles. Silly kids.
Pleased about this week's weight loss, pleased to be getting my fat intake under control, and pleased as punch that the weekend is here. How about you??
Pleased about this week's weight loss, pleased to be getting my fat intake under control, and pleased as punch that the weekend is here. How about you??
Friday Weigh-In no. 2
I stepped on the scales for the Deep End challenge and am 196.6, same as yesterday. Wooohoo!!
That's a loss of 3.4 this week, which is huge for me. I haven't been doing the healthy eating quite a month yet, so it will be interesting to see where my monthly plateau (read "ladies' water-retaining week") hits. I think it'll be next week. Last time I did WW, it took me a couple of months to see the pattern. DUH!
That's a loss of 3.4 this week, which is huge for me. I haven't been doing the healthy eating quite a month yet, so it will be interesting to see where my monthly plateau (read "ladies' water-retaining week") hits. I think it'll be next week. Last time I did WW, it took me a couple of months to see the pattern. DUH!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
10.2
That's 10.2 pounds gone since we started the healthy eating 16 December 2006 (actually, we started eating healthy the NEXT day!). It's also 3.4 down since I started the Deep End challenge, but tomorrow's weight is the reporting weight for this week.
Anyhoo...I'm most pleased! Yesterday's Water Before Coffee plan worked wonderfully well, and so far so good this morning. I ended up drinking 3 glasses of water before I got the kids to school, another when I got back, and now that I'm having my delayed breakfast I'll have coffee after. I could reallllllly cut down on the coffee with this tactic.
Anyhoo...I'm most pleased! Yesterday's Water Before Coffee plan worked wonderfully well, and so far so good this morning. I ended up drinking 3 glasses of water before I got the kids to school, another when I got back, and now that I'm having my delayed breakfast I'll have coffee after. I could reallllllly cut down on the coffee with this tactic.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Today's Challenge
Well, yesterday's weird food day showed up on the scale as a gain of 0.4 pounds. I think it's all that Crunchy Corn Bran fiber working in there, but who knows?
Anyway, I'm having a tough time drinking all the water I want to in a day. My buddy (hiya, other Susie!) pointed out in semi-jest that I could do it if I drank water instead of coffee. That gave me an idea for the day's challenge. For every cup of coffee I drink, I must have at least 3 cups of water first. It may distract me from the java, but even if not, I'll be getting more water in!
Stay tuned...
Anyway, I'm having a tough time drinking all the water I want to in a day. My buddy (hiya, other Susie!) pointed out in semi-jest that I could do it if I drank water instead of coffee. That gave me an idea for the day's challenge. For every cup of coffee I drink, I must have at least 3 cups of water first. It may distract me from the java, but even if not, I'll be getting more water in!
Stay tuned...
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
She Eats....She Scores!!
Well, I went to the easier-than-dirt La Choy Chow Mein in a Can option for dinner, and saved the calorie/protein/fat balance of the day. See my FitDay stats for details and film at 11. Yay for lots of filling Chinese style vegetables. And double-yay for my darling, who even cooked it for me.
Yes, this afternoon has been a total bust, as far as energy and motivation go. I am pleased to have avoided the train wreck it could have been! Yet again, let me praise FitDay to the heavens. It is SOOO nice to see what's going on in graphic pie-chart form. Very, very helpful for me.
Yes, this afternoon has been a total bust, as far as energy and motivation go. I am pleased to have avoided the train wreck it could have been! Yet again, let me praise FitDay to the heavens. It is SOOO nice to see what's going on in graphic pie-chart form. Very, very helpful for me.
Sigh....
So, I experienced a brief derailment in the form of a huge handful of gummy princess shapes (I calculated them as gummy bears). Sugar just seemed like a really, really good idea all of a sudden. I think I started heading off the rails when I decided a snack of Crunchy Corn Bran was a good idea. I had already had some for breakfast this morning. I'll have to keep a wary eye on the Nectar of the Gods Cereal...it's back up on the cereal shelf, at least, and away from me for the rest of the day. I don't want it to be a trigger food for me. It's too yummy to have to avoid, and all that fiber. Such a good thing.
Carby snacks = not good strategy.
Bright points in the day: I am drinking lots of water, and I made a fabulous tuna melt lunch (tuna, 1 T mayo, 2 slices light cheese, 2 slices light toast).
Carby snacks = not good strategy.
Bright points in the day: I am drinking lots of water, and I made a fabulous tuna melt lunch (tuna, 1 T mayo, 2 slices light cheese, 2 slices light toast).
Monday, January 8, 2007
Best. Cereal. EVAR.
Yes, Crunchy Corn Bran is the best cereal ever. Good as a snack, GREAT as a breakfast. Filling, tasty, low in calories and sky-high in fiber. I loves me some Crunchy Corn Bran. So do DH and the little people.We actually mail-ordered some because it's not a Brit thing, and the American commissary doesn't carry it either.
I'm so very happy right now. Is that sad? Yes, yes, it is...
Another Inspiring Blogger; Why Is It So Hard to Eat Enough Protein?
Check out PastaQueen's blog Half of Me. In particular, see her very cool, rotating progress comparison here. She's done, and is doing, amazing things. I am impressed.
Today's been good and bad here - I woke up to 198 on the scale, so I'm guessing salt was the culprit yesterday, or just scale mojo. That's the Good. I've been out all day today, so my protein/fat ratio is waaay out of balance again. That's the Bad.
No breakfast this morning - mistake number 1. I ran into town for some errands as soon as I dropped the kiddies off for school. In town, I had a skinny latte and a small granola thingie at Caffe Nero today for a little over 300 calories. The granola square was pleasantly filling, but when I logged the nutritional info, I discovered it was pleasantly fatty, too. Mistake number 2.
Lunch was the cafe in Tesco, since I had Lily to feed and groceries to get. I had a bowl of soup and another latte. The other main dish options were all fried or fatty. The soup was good, but minimal protein. Mistake, or protein-miscalculation, number 3.
I'm supposed to make veggie-stuffed peppers tonight, but I may swap out a higher-protein meal instead. Yes, I will.
Today's been good and bad here - I woke up to 198 on the scale, so I'm guessing salt was the culprit yesterday, or just scale mojo. That's the Good. I've been out all day today, so my protein/fat ratio is waaay out of balance again. That's the Bad.
No breakfast this morning - mistake number 1. I ran into town for some errands as soon as I dropped the kiddies off for school. In town, I had a skinny latte and a small granola thingie at Caffe Nero today for a little over 300 calories. The granola square was pleasantly filling, but when I logged the nutritional info, I discovered it was pleasantly fatty, too. Mistake number 2.
Lunch was the cafe in Tesco, since I had Lily to feed and groceries to get. I had a bowl of soup and another latte. The other main dish options were all fried or fatty. The soup was good, but minimal protein. Mistake, or protein-miscalculation, number 3.
I'm supposed to make veggie-stuffed peppers tonight, but I may swap out a higher-protein meal instead. Yes, I will.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Tweaking my Eating Plan
Today has been more successful as far as balancing protein and empty calories. I had light toast and some peanut butter for a midday snack and have entered in my evening coffee, which I'll have after the kids are down for the night. The day looks pretty good (see my FitDay personal link at left).
I looked at my nutritional stats for the month and realized I am low on calcium - I used to put a lot more milk in my coffee, and I used to eat a LOT of cheese. To fix that, I'm drinking coffees with 3/4 cup of 1% milk, and I'll add some more low-fat cheese to the protein selections on the menu. [I also remembered to customize my coffee on FitDay to reflect that it's 2/3 decaf; I've been weaning myself slowly down.]
Is everyone bored to tears yet? Anyone? Anyone? It's helpful to me to write things here, to dissect the nutrition of my reworked eating. So I'm not too bored, at least!
I looked at my nutritional stats for the month and realized I am low on calcium - I used to put a lot more milk in my coffee, and I used to eat a LOT of cheese. To fix that, I'm drinking coffees with 3/4 cup of 1% milk, and I'll add some more low-fat cheese to the protein selections on the menu. [I also remembered to customize my coffee on FitDay to reflect that it's 2/3 decaf; I've been weaning myself slowly down.]
Is everyone bored to tears yet? Anyone? Anyone? It's helpful to me to write things here, to dissect the nutrition of my reworked eating. So I'm not too bored, at least!
Go See the Funny...
The Shrinking Knitter posted a cartoon that cracked me up today. Click
here to see. I look forward to her posts every day -she's thoughtful, funny, and inspirational to me. Thanks, SK, for sharing your thoughts with us all. Many mornings you have given me lots to think about.
Lunch was Dinner: The Even Healthier Sequel today. More chicken in honey-mustard sauce, this time with a honking big side of utterly delicious brussels sprouts. I am a sprouts fan anyhoo, but these babies were awesome. Tiny, sweet, and lots of 'em.
here to see. I look forward to her posts every day -she's thoughtful, funny, and inspirational to me. Thanks, SK, for sharing your thoughts with us all. Many mornings you have given me lots to think about.
Lunch was Dinner: The Even Healthier Sequel today. More chicken in honey-mustard sauce, this time with a honking big side of utterly delicious brussels sprouts. I am a sprouts fan anyhoo, but these babies were awesome. Tiny, sweet, and lots of 'em.
Sunday...
Up .2 pounds this AM, which I deduce is caused by the saltiness of yesterdays's menu - 3400 mg of sodium is a lot...I'll be drinking lots more water today!
Saturday, January 6, 2007
End of a Lovely Day
It has been a good day - I feel overstimulated, or maybe undercaffeinated, but the day was good. Stuck with two meals only today, since the birthday food was going to be a bit decadent. I made eggs benedict for brunch (very nice, they were) and a quick honey-mustard chicken over rice for dinner, with a salad. The killer for dinner, or for after-dinner snack as it happens, is the birthday cake for D. I got a microscopic cake - 375 grams, or 10-ish ounces, but every ounce is calorie-packed. If you check my FitDay stats for today (see link at left), you can see that my fat-protein ratio was fabu-glamtastic. That's before cake. After cake? Not so much.
Well, all the festive events for this month are finished now, so there'll be no more cakes to work in. And the silver lining - even with cake and eggs benedict, I stayed in my calorie target range.
Well, all the festive events for this month are finished now, so there'll be no more cakes to work in. And the silver lining - even with cake and eggs benedict, I stayed in my calorie target range.
RED-letter Day
Today is especially nice, because not only is it Saturday, it is also DH's birthday. And I weighed in the Wonderful One-hundreds this morning. Wheeeeeee!
The weight is coming off sooo slowly it seems. My Quest for Protein Snacks yesterday was unsuccessful - I just wasn't hungry during the day. I think I am going to lower my calorie target by a hundred or so, and try for a protein after-dinner snack. Last night was SUGAR, once again. Of course, it was accompanied by Celebrity Big Brother UK and a lovely cup of coffee in good company, but I grow tired of the Sugar Before Bed thing.
The weight is coming off sooo slowly it seems. My Quest for Protein Snacks yesterday was unsuccessful - I just wasn't hungry during the day. I think I am going to lower my calorie target by a hundred or so, and try for a protein after-dinner snack. Last night was SUGAR, once again. Of course, it was accompanied by Celebrity Big Brother UK and a lovely cup of coffee in good company, but I grow tired of the Sugar Before Bed thing.
Friday, January 5, 2007
BMI....TMI?
Heh, I just wanted to rhyme there. Not too much information, really. At 65 inches tall and 200 pounds my BMI is 33.3. That's in the Obese range. When I get to 179, I will move into the Overweight range. Wheee. Then it's another 30 pounds to the Normal range, so 149 is a non-overweight size for me. That's certainly been true in the past. I'm sticking with smaller goals than that to start; 160 seems like a long way away right now. How much farther is 149? Miles and miles down the road. Check out your own BMI here.
Cooking Stuff
So I walked into the kitchen to stir lunch, and was charmed to see both lunch and dinner there, cooking to perfection. I love using the crockpot for dinner. Have I mentioned this?
Lunch today is red beans and rice with some ham - terrifically yummy but VERY high in salt. Other than that it's pretty good value nutritionally. I am using a Mahatma mix for the beans and rice - I need to find a recipe for home-made so I can knock the salt down. Meanwhile, I'll just drink some extra water with my salt.
Dinner's chicken soup, pictured here. I started it yesterday with 3 skinless chicken thighs, a bunch of carrots, a can of low-sodium chicken broth, a vegetable bouillon cube and some water. Today I skimmed the fat off, boned the chicken, and added celery and onion.
Smelling, and tasting, quite nice right now...I think we will have noodles in/with it, depending on the diner. The kids will eat the noodles plain, I'll bet. They're not mixers of food...or you could just call them picky-pants. I know I do. We're working on that.
Lunch today is red beans and rice with some ham - terrifically yummy but VERY high in salt. Other than that it's pretty good value nutritionally. I am using a Mahatma mix for the beans and rice - I need to find a recipe for home-made so I can knock the salt down. Meanwhile, I'll just drink some extra water with my salt.
Dinner's chicken soup, pictured here. I started it yesterday with 3 skinless chicken thighs, a bunch of carrots, a can of low-sodium chicken broth, a vegetable bouillon cube and some water. Today I skimmed the fat off, boned the chicken, and added celery and onion.Smelling, and tasting, quite nice right now...I think we will have noodles in/with it, depending on the diner. The kids will eat the noodles plain, I'll bet. They're not mixers of food...or you could just call them picky-pants. I know I do. We're working on that.
Mmmmmm.....Milk!
I'm thinking maybe I should just live on 1% milk. Check out the ratios here - possibly the Perfect Storm of nutritional values.
1 cup of 1% milk contains 102 calories, only 2.59 g of fat (4% of daily requirements), 9.76 mg of cholesterol (3%), 11.66 g of carbohydrates (4%), and 8 g of protein (that's 16% of daily requirements!!).
It's definitely worth it to mix my own. Here in the UK, at least here in Norfolk, you can buy skim milk, 2% milk, or whole milk. So we buy a carton of skim and a carton of 2%, mix them, and pour back in the cartons. Soooooo very exciting, no?
Today is Official Day One of the Deep End Challenge. I'm really stoked about this!
1 cup of 1% milk contains 102 calories, only 2.59 g of fat (4% of daily requirements), 9.76 mg of cholesterol (3%), 11.66 g of carbohydrates (4%), and 8 g of protein (that's 16% of daily requirements!!).
It's definitely worth it to mix my own. Here in the UK, at least here in Norfolk, you can buy skim milk, 2% milk, or whole milk. So we buy a carton of skim and a carton of 2%, mix them, and pour back in the cartons. Soooooo very exciting, no?
Today is Official Day One of the Deep End Challenge. I'm really stoked about this!
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Ehhh.
Well, best laid plans and all that. I did have breakfast, had a really decent lunch and dinner, but the lack of planned snacks between meals left me with way too many calories to fill at the end of the day - almost 500. I ended up eating a bit of cake, some of my lovely amaretti cookies, and 3 jelly fruit slices. Basically pure sugar...yeah, that's helpful. I hit the calorie target but had way too much crap.
Tomorrow - new strategy. Decent snacks, with some protein in them, during the day. Wish me luck!
Tomorrow begins the Deep End challenge as well. The sing-up will remain open through Sunday January 14th, though - check it out if you are interested.
Tomorrow - new strategy. Decent snacks, with some protein in them, during the day. Wish me luck!
Tomorrow begins the Deep End challenge as well. The sing-up will remain open through Sunday January 14th, though - check it out if you are interested.
Morning Update
A good morning thus far - I've officially signed up for the Deep End challenge and sent the initial weigh-in picture of the scale. I ate breakfast (woohoo!) and remembered my vitamins/other pills. I have chicken soup cooking in the crockpot for the weekend.
For two days in a row now, I completely undershot my target calories for the day (1500 to 1700), and I'm thinking it's because I missed breakfast on those days. We'll see how today goes...
For two days in a row now, I completely undershot my target calories for the day (1500 to 1700), and I'm thinking it's because I missed breakfast on those days. We'll see how today goes...
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Deep End of the Pool
This is so very groovy - a website/blog that's a weight loss challenge. It's called the Deep End of the Pool. Biggest loser takes it all sort of thing...I can't remember whose site linked to it, but thank you, whoever you are. I am signing up; how about you?
Initial weigh-in is this Friday, January 5, so check it out ASAP if you'd like to join in.
Initial weigh-in is this Friday, January 5, so check it out ASAP if you'd like to join in.
Morning Scales...
As of this morning, before breakfast but fully clothed in jeans and t-shirt (my preferred method), I weigh 200 pounds precisely. I have been here at 200, 200.2, 200 all week, which is interesting. My official weigh-in day is Monday, just because that's David's as well for WW Online. But I've decided to weigh every day or so, and see how the scales bounce around. Usually, there's more of a fluctuation from day to day. No idea of the significance...it's just intriguing!
Looking at my FitDay stats, I undershot my calorie intake yesterday. I just didn't feel like "snacking" more to fill the numbers in, and I didn't feel like eating anything solid either. I don't like to go too low, but a day here and there won't hurt me. Or so I hope!
Tomorrow the kiddies head back to school. The bean's preschool gives me a little morning time to myself; I usually clean or do shopping etc. This term I think I will use the time for starting up some exercise. I have a Pilates for complete duffers (or something like that; haven't used it yet) and some Rodney Yee yoga DVDs that I liked back in Nebraska. There's always....oooh, this is scary....WALKING, too.
Actually, I can walk over to Sandringham and back while she's in preschool. Not sure on the mileage but it's not far. Now, where's that pedometer??
Looking at my FitDay stats, I undershot my calorie intake yesterday. I just didn't feel like "snacking" more to fill the numbers in, and I didn't feel like eating anything solid either. I don't like to go too low, but a day here and there won't hurt me. Or so I hope!
Tomorrow the kiddies head back to school. The bean's preschool gives me a little morning time to myself; I usually clean or do shopping etc. This term I think I will use the time for starting up some exercise. I have a Pilates for complete duffers (or something like that; haven't used it yet) and some Rodney Yee yoga DVDs that I liked back in Nebraska. There's always....oooh, this is scary....WALKING, too.
Actually, I can walk over to Sandringham and back while she's in preschool. Not sure on the mileage but it's not far. Now, where's that pedometer??
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Yummy dinner...
Thank you, Carrot and Coriander Soup!
I made a great Indian-style chicken dish for dinner tonight. Only three ingredients, too! 300 grams of raw chicken breast cubed and browned in nonstick pan; 1 red pepper cut in strips and sauteed in a little water; to that I added one packet of this kick-butt soup as the sauce. VERY quick, and very easy. I made a portion-controlled rice and lentil pilau, microwaveable in a pouch (contains 2.5 servings which is enough for us and two picky eaters). The rice/lentil pilau is a bit spicy, and the carrot coriander soup/sauce spices really meshed well with it.
With the rice, it worked out to 225 calories per serving...add in the butternut squash and snow peas for about 100 more and we had a yummy dinner all around. (Yes, I know the vegetables didn't match the entree, but in our quest to make the kids *less* picky, we try to offer at least one thing we know they WILL eat on the plate.)
Right now I'm willing to pay a bit more for portion control, until it's more internalized (especially for carbs, which are my Achilles heel), so the nukeable rice packet works well. Plus it was low in calories and fat and HIGH in fiber, baby...
Some Pictures by Way of Illustration
Looking through pictures from this summer and fall, there are very few of me. I've been avoiding the camera; I knew things weren't good but I didn't want to take any action to lose the weight. Here are two lovely shots of me at somewhere between 205 and 208, which is the highest the scale has shown.
July in Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie, on our 10th anniversary trip. Hey, note to clueless self - the artfully positioned hat doesn't hide the lack of a waist!
Here we are October at Hadrian's wall, in a coat I actually LIKE, because it makes me look skinnier. How scary is that - this is a flattering picture!
So....today I had D. take pictures for progress comparison. I've lost 6.8 pounds; it's hard to see any change yet. And the rear view, one I don't see personally that often, is a definite downer.
July in Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie, on our 10th anniversary trip. Hey, note to clueless self - the artfully positioned hat doesn't hide the lack of a waist!
Here we are October at Hadrian's wall, in a coat I actually LIKE, because it makes me look skinnier. How scary is that - this is a flattering picture!
So....today I had D. take pictures for progress comparison. I've lost 6.8 pounds; it's hard to see any change yet. And the rear view, one I don't see personally that often, is a definite downer.
Where to start, where to start...
How about December 16? That is the day David and I looked at each other, and said, "It's time. Time to get back with the Program." And so we did. Both of us lost 40 to 45 pounds with Weight Watchers 5 years ago but once you stop Eating Awarely, the pounds come back. They always do. After Lily was born in 2003, my pregnancy weight came off right away, but since early 2005 I haven't been exercising at all and I have been eating and snacking like a horse.
David is doing WW Online, and I'm doing the Unpatented Freebie System, in which we all eat the same things, but I track my eating and weight loss/activity through FitDay. FitDay completely rocks; David's used it before but I really hadn't. After the first week, when I had a LOT of "custom foods" to enter into my details, it got very easy to use. I like FitDay better than straight WW Points counting because I can see where my calories are coming from, and take steps to up my protein and lower my fat intake. That's probably the most important thing, healthwise, for me right now.
On the first day of logging, a typical PRE-sanity day, I ate 2500 calories, and 37% came from fat. Only 15% from protein. Not a great recipe for success and health, that. And since I need about 1500-1700, you can see where that weight came from...
David is doing WW Online, and I'm doing the Unpatented Freebie System, in which we all eat the same things, but I track my eating and weight loss/activity through FitDay. FitDay completely rocks; David's used it before but I really hadn't. After the first week, when I had a LOT of "custom foods" to enter into my details, it got very easy to use. I like FitDay better than straight WW Points counting because I can see where my calories are coming from, and take steps to up my protein and lower my fat intake. That's probably the most important thing, healthwise, for me right now.
On the first day of logging, a typical PRE-sanity day, I ate 2500 calories, and 37% came from fat. Only 15% from protein. Not a great recipe for success and health, that. And since I need about 1500-1700, you can see where that weight came from...
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