So the first week I had pneumonia, I lost 6 lbs. We all knew THAT was too good to be true. But like an idgit, I logged the loss anyway. The following week, 4 of it promptly found its way back even with exercise and angelic eating. It also forced me to look at my calories and was I eating enough for the kinds of workouts we do. I upped my calories and staying within the 2200-2300 range has worked for 3 weeks in a row now.
I'm down 2 lbs, which puts me back at the "pneumonia loss." A "wash" if you look at the calendar but a happy one I guess.
A milestone is looming close. The last time I lost a significant amount of weight (1998- I lost 85 lbs), I got down to 285 lbs. I've got 3 lbs to go until I hit that again. I'm looking forward to surpassing it and starting look toward things like "this is what I weighed the longest in high school" (250) or this is what I weighed when I met the Mr after I lost 40 lbs (220). As long as I keep going in the right direction, I'm not going to stray from what's working right now since consistent weight loss has not been the name o' the game this past year.
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
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Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Food Journal Friday - 3/26 to 3/30
Breakfast has been oatmeal all week. I swear if that stuff doesn't bring down my cholesterol, I'm going to scream. Lunches have been relatively the same too. Tuna lettuce tacos, my new favorite, reduced sodium turkey sandwich with arugula. We even had a day (after the mammogram) that I stopped into one of the Mr's favorite places to eat where I knew *I* could control the portions. I did a veggie chicken stir fry and a small side salad (maybe 1 cup of lettuce) and I put the dressing on the side so I could dip it and the Mr followed suit. I actually came in less that day than what I had planned for lunch so it was nice I could surprise him with that
The one thing you quickly learn when taking pics of your food is when you're eating something over and over again without realizing it. Perhaps it was because I was preparing them different ways? Anyway, welcome to the week of the spud. Let's eat!
Monday was fish tacos and potato wedges with Mrs Dash Fiesta Lime seasoning. One of our favorites! Calories 526
Tuesday was sloppy joes with garlic cheese mashed potatoes. It was pretty yummy and recipe will be coming up in a few weeks. I've been on a cooking spree lately so I'm having to space them out so I'm not posting recipes a couple of times a week! Calories: 524
Wednesday was sloppy joe leftovers which were just as good as the night before on a whole wheat bun and a baked potato with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Yeah...I should probably lay off the potatoes at least one night this week. Calories 461
Thursday was whole wheat penne pasta with half meat sauce and half low salt marinara, a sprinkle of parm and lite garlic bread. Mangia! Calories 670
Tonight's dinner was chicken tacos with mozzarella, onions, chipotle hummus and arugula. Fruit salad on the side starring cantaloupe, half an apple and big ol' grapes. Calories 600
Average calories for the week: 2223
Calories burned this week: 4660
Hoping for good numbers on the scale tomorrow!
Did y'all have anything exceptionally yummy this week?
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The one thing you quickly learn when taking pics of your food is when you're eating something over and over again without realizing it. Perhaps it was because I was preparing them different ways? Anyway, welcome to the week of the spud. Let's eat!
Monday was fish tacos and potato wedges with Mrs Dash Fiesta Lime seasoning. One of our favorites! Calories 526
Tuesday was sloppy joes with garlic cheese mashed potatoes. It was pretty yummy and recipe will be coming up in a few weeks. I've been on a cooking spree lately so I'm having to space them out so I'm not posting recipes a couple of times a week! Calories: 524
Wednesday was sloppy joe leftovers which were just as good as the night before on a whole wheat bun and a baked potato with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Yeah...I should probably lay off the potatoes at least one night this week. Calories 461
Thursday was whole wheat penne pasta with half meat sauce and half low salt marinara, a sprinkle of parm and lite garlic bread. Mangia! Calories 670
Tonight's dinner was chicken tacos with mozzarella, onions, chipotle hummus and arugula. Fruit salad on the side starring cantaloupe, half an apple and big ol' grapes. Calories 600
Average calories for the week: 2223
Calories burned this week: 4660
Hoping for good numbers on the scale tomorrow!
Did y'all have anything exceptionally yummy this week?
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Easy Pineapple Banana Easter Cupcakes
I just had to share this super easy recipe with you guys for the upcoming holiday. The Mr's co-workers went b-a-n-a-n-a-s for them. (Channeling my inner Gwen Stefani) It ended up being a happy accident for the banana frosting. I made the buttercream and then realized my frosting had that slight flavor de fridge to it. I think a few curse words slipped out. Then I remembered I had banana flavoring and it saved the day and actually made what would've been a good cupcake on it's own even better.
Here's what you'll need for 24 delectable celebration of spring cuppy cakes.
1 box of Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix
1 can of pineapple tidbits (in juice, not syrup)
3 eggs
For frosting:
1 stick butter, room temperature
2-2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 to 1 tsp banana flavoring
Favorite food color (I used Wilton Kelly Green gel)
Garnish:
Cadbury Mini Chocolate Eggs
1/2 cup of shredded coconut, toasted until brown
Sprinkles
Preheat oven to 350. Toast coconut for 4-7 minutes giving an occasional stir until they're light brown. Mine were a little overly done but apparently no one complained while shoving them down their gullet.
In a big bowl or stand up mixer add the cake mix, the can of pineapple and 3 eggs. Mix until well combined. Batter will be fluffyish. (Yes, I made a new word)
Using a medium sized ice cream scoop, scoop batter into lined or well greased muffin tins.
Bake for 18-19 minutes.
While the 2nd batch of cupcakes are baking, wash out the stand mixer bowl and make sure you finish it with cold water so hot water doesn't melt the butter.
Add butter and powdered sugar and mix until combined. Add 1/2 tsp of banana flavoring, mix it well and taste it to see if it needs more or not. Then add your food coloring and make it the desired color. Keeping with a pastel color palette would probably work best for these.
Add about 1- 1 1/2 tbsp of frosting to the top of cooled cupcakes.
Add the toasted coconut around the edges of the cupcake and press it in so it stays on with half the batch. Do sprinkles around the edges of the other half for people who don't like coconut. Top with 3 mini Cadbury chocolate eggs. I made these the night before and they were just fine the next morning. The eggs soaked up a little of the butter but only the bottom so they didn't ruin the eggs or run in color.
They tasted light and fluffy and you could certainly use jelly beans for these too if you prefer!
Nutritional information is hard to calculate on this one since the garnishes of sprinkles and coconut aren't precise but 210 calories for sprinkle version and 225 calories for the coconut version is what I came up with when I ran it through the calculator.
What is usually on your Easter menu for dessert?
====================
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Here's what you'll need for 24 delectable celebration of spring cuppy cakes.
1 box of Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix
1 can of pineapple tidbits (in juice, not syrup)
3 eggs
For frosting:
1 stick butter, room temperature
2-2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 to 1 tsp banana flavoring
Favorite food color (I used Wilton Kelly Green gel)
Garnish:
Cadbury Mini Chocolate Eggs
1/2 cup of shredded coconut, toasted until brown
Sprinkles
Preheat oven to 350. Toast coconut for 4-7 minutes giving an occasional stir until they're light brown. Mine were a little overly done but apparently no one complained while shoving them down their gullet.
In a big bowl or stand up mixer add the cake mix, the can of pineapple and 3 eggs. Mix until well combined. Batter will be fluffyish. (Yes, I made a new word)
Using a medium sized ice cream scoop, scoop batter into lined or well greased muffin tins.
Bake for 18-19 minutes.
While the 2nd batch of cupcakes are baking, wash out the stand mixer bowl and make sure you finish it with cold water so hot water doesn't melt the butter.
Add butter and powdered sugar and mix until combined. Add 1/2 tsp of banana flavoring, mix it well and taste it to see if it needs more or not. Then add your food coloring and make it the desired color. Keeping with a pastel color palette would probably work best for these.
Add about 1- 1 1/2 tbsp of frosting to the top of cooled cupcakes.
Add the toasted coconut around the edges of the cupcake and press it in so it stays on with half the batch. Do sprinkles around the edges of the other half for people who don't like coconut. Top with 3 mini Cadbury chocolate eggs. I made these the night before and they were just fine the next morning. The eggs soaked up a little of the butter but only the bottom so they didn't ruin the eggs or run in color.
They tasted light and fluffy and you could certainly use jelly beans for these too if you prefer!
Nutritional information is hard to calculate on this one since the garnishes of sprinkles and coconut aren't precise but 210 calories for sprinkle version and 225 calories for the coconut version is what I came up with when I ran it through the calculator.
What is usually on your Easter menu for dessert?
====================
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Thursday, March 29, 2012
Mammy's Grammied
I have one of the best gynecologists ever. She's chatty, thorough and you really don't mind she does the voodoo she does because you know that you're getting her full attention when it's your appointment time. I knew this was the year that she wanted to do a baseline mammogram on me. She likes to get them young so that when you have to start getting them when you're 40 she's got something good to compare it to when your ta-ta's were in tip top condition. I have heard all of the horror stories and seen all of the cartoons...
The Mr came with me and I was fine until we were about a mile away and then the butterflies set in. The girl checking me in was super nice and her South Carolina drawl was somehow soothing and I expected her to offer me sweet tea or a mint julep. She took me back and showed me where to disrobe and put on the paper gown that opens in the front. I guess when she went back out front she told the Mr. "she is so cute and sweet!" I was not feeling so cute with no Ralph Lauren Blue to scent my wrists, no lotion to soften my skin and no deodorant to stop me from getting nervous pit sweat. After I came out and sat down, the tech came out and took me into the room. I envisioned them having to suspend me Mission Impossible style from the ceiling.
She would take my boob out as I dangle and they would clamp down with the big metal vice, turn it until I screamed in pain or my nipples blew out and then take the xray. Or maybe they would have a guillotine style bookend deal going on and you'd stick your boob in there, the tech would run behind a bulletproof screen, push a button and the 50 lb. metal slab would drop and my breast would pop and the Mr would light a candle. Thankfully neither of these scenarios were close to the way it actually went.
She would take my boob out as I dangle and they would clamp down with the big metal vice, turn it until I screamed in pain or my nipples blew out and then take the xray. Or maybe they would have a guillotine style bookend deal going on and you'd stick your boob in there, the tech would run behind a bulletproof screen, push a button and the 50 lb. metal slab would drop and my breast would pop and the Mr would light a candle. Thankfully neither of these scenarios were close to the way it actually went.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Learning to accept compliments
I had a friend visit this past weekend. She and I have been through the weight loss trenches together. 9 years ago she chose to have weight loss surgery and I chose to spiral out of control. She's been at her current weight for a few years now and she has always told me she wishes she had my butt since she's a pear. When I was taking her up to show her the studio, I guess she was checkin' out me bum. Later when we were eating lunch, she said how proud she was of us and how great we looked and that she was checkin' out my ass on the way upstairs and it looked good.
Then I was emailing with a guy friend of mine whom I've known since I was 14 and he said that I was glowing in my picture I posted recently. I told him thank you and the recent pic I posted was one I finally liked of myself and he said "no I didn't mean one particular picture, I meant all of the pics you've posted this year!"
I was so flattered by both but also just like so dumbfounded as to how to react. I mean I like the reinforcement that even if the weight isn't melting off like it was that we're still looking different to people but saying thank you almost seems weird. It's such an instant reflex to cut myself down or say something smarmy in response. Actually I still do when the Mr compliments me. Well, I didn't for awhile but with the frustration of the weight not coming off and staying off over the past few months, I guess I've felt like I wasn't deserving of compliments. I need to work on this and need to remember to say thank you and something complimentary back instead of saying something crappy about myself. Because if someone takes the time to compliment you and you do nothing but tell them how wrong their nice comment was, they'll just stop doing it because why bother if you're not going to believe it. It's almost insulting the person back and I need to not insult someone who is nice enough to think something positive about me...especially my Mr. (No Mr do not throw this post back in my face when I regress! Pffft!)
Do you take compliments well or do you negate them by saying something unflattering about yourself as a response?
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Then I was emailing with a guy friend of mine whom I've known since I was 14 and he said that I was glowing in my picture I posted recently. I told him thank you and the recent pic I posted was one I finally liked of myself and he said "no I didn't mean one particular picture, I meant all of the pics you've posted this year!"
I was so flattered by both but also just like so dumbfounded as to how to react. I mean I like the reinforcement that even if the weight isn't melting off like it was that we're still looking different to people but saying thank you almost seems weird. It's such an instant reflex to cut myself down or say something smarmy in response. Actually I still do when the Mr compliments me. Well, I didn't for awhile but with the frustration of the weight not coming off and staying off over the past few months, I guess I've felt like I wasn't deserving of compliments. I need to work on this and need to remember to say thank you and something complimentary back instead of saying something crappy about myself. Because if someone takes the time to compliment you and you do nothing but tell them how wrong their nice comment was, they'll just stop doing it because why bother if you're not going to believe it. It's almost insulting the person back and I need to not insult someone who is nice enough to think something positive about me...especially my Mr. (No Mr do not throw this post back in my face when I regress! Pffft!)
Do you take compliments well or do you negate them by saying something unflattering about yourself as a response?
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Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Spicy Mexican Stuffed Shells
This recipe came out of boredom and needing to use some stuff up. It's funny how serendipitous events come to pass...right into mah belly! This is by far one of our new faves and I hope it will be for you too.
Here's what you'll need:
Spicy Mexican Stuffed Shells
Serves 2
12 Barilla jumbo shells
8 oz Trader Joe's boneless, skinless chicken breast tenderloins, cooked then shredded
7 oz Chipotle Jalapeno Refried Beans
1/2 cup part skim ricotta cheese
2 oz Neuchatel cream cheese (1/3 less fat)
1/2 cup Trader Joe's enchilada sauce
1 tbsp salsa
1 oz chipotle cheese, shredded
Preheat your oven to 425. In a large stock pot, boil 8 cups of water and add your shells giving the occasional stir so they don't stick to the bottom of the pan. Cook for 9 minutes
If your chicken is not yet cooked, boil it up since it's going to be added to other flavors then transfer to a bowl and shred it.
While that is going, mix the beans, ricotta, cream cheese and chicken in a bowl. Heat for 30 seconds and stir. Add in any salt free spices you'd like to use. I used cumin, white pepper and Mrs Dash Chipotle seasoning. It's not gonna look pretty.
When the shells are done, add 1 tbsp of salsa to the bottom of an 8x8 pan so they don't stick while cooking. Put the shells on top of the salsa.
I like to use a cheese spreader to get into the shells and really fill those babies up to the brim! If you want to be precise you can weigh the mix and divide it by 12 so you know how much you can stuff into each shell.
This what they looked like stuffed to the brim with chicken/cheese/chipotle bean goodness.
Here's what you'll need:
Spicy Mexican Stuffed Shells
Serves 2
12 Barilla jumbo shells
8 oz Trader Joe's boneless, skinless chicken breast tenderloins, cooked then shredded
7 oz Chipotle Jalapeno Refried Beans
1/2 cup part skim ricotta cheese
2 oz Neuchatel cream cheese (1/3 less fat)
1/2 cup Trader Joe's enchilada sauce
1 tbsp salsa
1 oz chipotle cheese, shredded
Preheat your oven to 425. In a large stock pot, boil 8 cups of water and add your shells giving the occasional stir so they don't stick to the bottom of the pan. Cook for 9 minutes
If your chicken is not yet cooked, boil it up since it's going to be added to other flavors then transfer to a bowl and shred it.
While that is going, mix the beans, ricotta, cream cheese and chicken in a bowl. Heat for 30 seconds and stir. Add in any salt free spices you'd like to use. I used cumin, white pepper and Mrs Dash Chipotle seasoning. It's not gonna look pretty.
When the shells are done, add 1 tbsp of salsa to the bottom of an 8x8 pan so they don't stick while cooking. Put the shells on top of the salsa.
I like to use a cheese spreader to get into the shells and really fill those babies up to the brim! If you want to be precise you can weigh the mix and divide it by 12 so you know how much you can stuff into each shell.
This what they looked like stuffed to the brim with chicken/cheese/chipotle bean goodness.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Take this torte and shove it
We went to a Trader Joe's that wasn't our usual one the other night to pick up this ganache torte for our sweet treat on high cal day. I realized we were going to run out of Better N' Peanut Butter if the Mr continued he new obsession with fancy oatmeal I introduced him to so we grabbed those two items and headed to the checkout. One thing we always notice there is how the cashiers almost always ask if we've tried a product or not or they'll related their experiences with certain items they love and tell us how much we'll like them. We were in the line of a 20 something guy who looks at our purchase and when the Mr asked if he'd had that before he said no and then he asked if we were going to pour the peanut butter on top. We both kind of scoffed and said no.
Now I thought it was hormonal but when we left the store I said "yeah, us fatties can't wait to get home and slam our faces into this here cake and dump our peanut butter all over it. A-hole." Then figuring the Mr would say he didn't think he meant it that way, he agreed and said he felt a "tone" there. I wanted to walk back in and berate him and ask him how he'd like it if someone assumed that a comment like his meant he was stupid like inferring that us buying these two things meant we were going to obviously go home and roll around in our sty while oinking out on their crappy torte. I don't know if it was the buying experience but we both thought it tasted like crap and we'd had it before too and loved it. I'm obviously not holding this against TJ's, they'd pretty much have to discontinue everything we love there for me to do that, but I wouldn't mind giving that punk a swat in the torte-hole.
Have you ever had a cashier or fellow shopper say something about an item you were buying that felt like they were dogging on your weight whether that was their intent or not?
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Now I thought it was hormonal but when we left the store I said "yeah, us fatties can't wait to get home and slam our faces into this here cake and dump our peanut butter all over it. A-hole." Then figuring the Mr would say he didn't think he meant it that way, he agreed and said he felt a "tone" there. I wanted to walk back in and berate him and ask him how he'd like it if someone assumed that a comment like his meant he was stupid like inferring that us buying these two things meant we were going to obviously go home and roll around in our sty while oinking out on their crappy torte. I don't know if it was the buying experience but we both thought it tasted like crap and we'd had it before too and loved it. I'm obviously not holding this against TJ's, they'd pretty much have to discontinue everything we love there for me to do that, but I wouldn't mind giving that punk a swat in the torte-hole.
Have you ever had a cashier or fellow shopper say something about an item you were buying that felt like they were dogging on your weight whether that was their intent or not?
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Saturday, March 24, 2012
Tiebreaker- Weigh In
Down 2! Can I get a hell yeah!?
I think I averaged just under 2220 for the week so I'm thinking 2200-2250 average is my sweet spot for now. If my body will cooperate and lose this every week (HA! So funny) then I could have another 15-20 off for vacation which would be awesome but I know since I just said it, I jinxed myself. I don't seem to be a consistent with weight loss (expecting 2 lbs at a time) unless I'm losing my first 100 lbs and since that's long gone. BUT, I do feel somewhat confident that I have earned my 200 lbs lost moniker back at 204 lbs lost so up it goes. Never to be stripped again. You hear that fat cells!?
We're going to a flea market, getting the office together and having a friend over for lunch tomorrow.
What's on your agenda this weekend?
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I think I averaged just under 2220 for the week so I'm thinking 2200-2250 average is my sweet spot for now. If my body will cooperate and lose this every week (HA! So funny) then I could have another 15-20 off for vacation which would be awesome but I know since I just said it, I jinxed myself. I don't seem to be a consistent with weight loss (expecting 2 lbs at a time) unless I'm losing my first 100 lbs and since that's long gone. BUT, I do feel somewhat confident that I have earned my 200 lbs lost moniker back at 204 lbs lost so up it goes. Never to be stripped again. You hear that fat cells!?
We're going to a flea market, getting the office together and having a friend over for lunch tomorrow.
What's on your agenda this weekend?
====================
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Friday, March 23, 2012
Food Journal Friday - 3/19 thru 3/23
It's time for Food Journal Friday! The breakfasts and lunches were pretty standard, nothing outstanding so just dinner pics this week. Let's eat!
Monday I was on my own for dinner. The Mr had a big after hours project to do at work that of course didn't go well. But I made him the same thing I had so he wouldn't be tempted to go out for a sodium laden dinner with the boys in between. I know I liked it!
A meatloaf panini with spinach and 1 tbsp of BBQ sauce and a small baked potato with 1/2 serving of sharp cheddar cheese. I made his on some asiago peppercorn sourdough that we had but I made mine of TJ's fiber bread. Calories: 632
Tuesday was a new one. We get shirataki tofu noodles on occasion and being that they're 40 calories per bag...that's right per BAG, I usually add some stir fry chicken and veggies to the spaghetti version for a lo mein type dish. This time I added a new to us menu item to the top. Trader Joe's Vegan Mandarin Orange "morsels." Something about that word grosses me out when not preceded with the word chocolate. So I topped the noodles with the chicken but not chicken 'morsels' and a side of roasted garlic brussels sprouts. Note to self: Don't mix the morsels in with wet noodles or the hard work you just did to crisp them up goes out the window. Other than my faux pas, it was good and we'll likely be getting the morsels again but putting them over brown rice. Calories: 456
All I can say is thank God Wednesday's dinner was easy. I got really shaky during my workout and didn't have physical strength to do a long, culinary masterpiece. TJ's Pacific Stuffed Flounder over TJ's Quinoa Duo (with zucchini & sweet potatoes). Calories: 610
Thursday was chicken quesadillas with lacy cheese, chipotle hummus, onions & hot taco sauce with a side of russet potato home fries. Calories: 520.
Tonight's dinner changed last minute but the sodium and calories were similar to what I had planned so no biggie. Half of a caramelized onion and prosciutto tart from TJ's and no salt tortilla chips with hummus and salsa. It had to be quick and easy since we have stuff to get done. Unfortunately because the tart is so thin, it doesn't hold you very long. Boo. Calories: 470
Calorie breakdown for the week:
Monday: 2080
Tuesday: 2279
Wednesday: 2244
Thursday: 2271
Friday: 2173
Average for the week: 2212
You eat anything good this week that sticks out to ya?
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Monday I was on my own for dinner. The Mr had a big after hours project to do at work that of course didn't go well. But I made him the same thing I had so he wouldn't be tempted to go out for a sodium laden dinner with the boys in between. I know I liked it!
A meatloaf panini with spinach and 1 tbsp of BBQ sauce and a small baked potato with 1/2 serving of sharp cheddar cheese. I made his on some asiago peppercorn sourdough that we had but I made mine of TJ's fiber bread. Calories: 632
Tuesday was a new one. We get shirataki tofu noodles on occasion and being that they're 40 calories per bag...that's right per BAG, I usually add some stir fry chicken and veggies to the spaghetti version for a lo mein type dish. This time I added a new to us menu item to the top. Trader Joe's Vegan Mandarin Orange "morsels." Something about that word grosses me out when not preceded with the word chocolate. So I topped the noodles with the chicken but not chicken 'morsels' and a side of roasted garlic brussels sprouts. Note to self: Don't mix the morsels in with wet noodles or the hard work you just did to crisp them up goes out the window. Other than my faux pas, it was good and we'll likely be getting the morsels again but putting them over brown rice. Calories: 456
All I can say is thank God Wednesday's dinner was easy. I got really shaky during my workout and didn't have physical strength to do a long, culinary masterpiece. TJ's Pacific Stuffed Flounder over TJ's Quinoa Duo (with zucchini & sweet potatoes). Calories: 610
Thursday was chicken quesadillas with lacy cheese, chipotle hummus, onions & hot taco sauce with a side of russet potato home fries. Calories: 520.
Tonight's dinner changed last minute but the sodium and calories were similar to what I had planned so no biggie. Half of a caramelized onion and prosciutto tart from TJ's and no salt tortilla chips with hummus and salsa. It had to be quick and easy since we have stuff to get done. Unfortunately because the tart is so thin, it doesn't hold you very long. Boo. Calories: 470
Calorie breakdown for the week:
Monday: 2080
Tuesday: 2279
Wednesday: 2244
Thursday: 2271
Friday: 2173
Average for the week: 2212
You eat anything good this week that sticks out to ya?
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Something to celebrate
Three years ago today we started exercising after a 6 month hiatus. We haven't stopped since.
For three years we haven't missed a single scheduled workout.
If it was on the schedule, it got done.
If something came up, it was done after a workout.
If we didn't want to, it was too damn bad. It was on the schedule. We had a streak to uphold. I wasn't going to break it and neither was he.
Going from 494 lbs and crying after 7 minutes on my rower because my legs and ass were in such pain I could barely stand it to 292 lbs doing an hour of Turbo Fire, ChaLean Extreme, Supreme 90 Day or other high intensity workouts with more to come.
I think that's worth celebrating.
What's your longest exercise streak?
EDIT: Let me clarify that scheduled exercise does not happen every day! 5-6x per week and we do not schedule formal exercise on vacations but make sure we burn at least 1000 calories per day walking, hiking or fitting in whatever active lifestyle we can while out of town. I don't want you people thinking I'm some exer-cyborg that busts it out every day of the year! LOL
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For three years we haven't missed a single scheduled workout.
If it was on the schedule, it got done.
If something came up, it was done after a workout.
If we didn't want to, it was too damn bad. It was on the schedule. We had a streak to uphold. I wasn't going to break it and neither was he.
Going from 494 lbs and crying after 7 minutes on my rower because my legs and ass were in such pain I could barely stand it to 292 lbs doing an hour of Turbo Fire, ChaLean Extreme, Supreme 90 Day or other high intensity workouts with more to come.
I think that's worth celebrating.
What's your longest exercise streak?
EDIT: Let me clarify that scheduled exercise does not happen every day! 5-6x per week and we do not schedule formal exercise on vacations but make sure we burn at least 1000 calories per day walking, hiking or fitting in whatever active lifestyle we can while out of town. I don't want you people thinking I'm some exer-cyborg that busts it out every day of the year! LOL
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Thursday, March 22, 2012
Lightening the emotional load
If I lured you back from yesterday's post, welcome back! If you haven't read it yet, you should before reading this part. The thing on this weight loss journey that has terrified me from day one has been "what if when he's thin and women start paying attention to him, he leaves?" Don't tell me it's my insecurities because I have seen this story written about more times than I can count. A husband loses weight and feels he needs to "trade up" to better arm candy so he cheats or leaves his wife. A wife loses weight, hubby gets jealous and tries to fatten her back up because he's insecure and at least when she was fat she was all his and he didn't have to worry about other men looking at her (from his perspective). The stories of how relationships and marriages fall apart after weight loss are so plentiful and terrible that you wouldn't believe it. I read many of these when I was at my heaviest and knew that he would lose faster than I would. I would have nightmares about him becoming shallow and saying the meanest things to me. Things he's never said in his life and I know he never would say because 1) he's not cruel and 2) I would knock him into a parallel universe. But obviously that stuff was making its presence known even before we started this undertaking.
We have lost similarly and the 40 lbs difference there was between our heaviest weights is now down to about a 22 lb difference so you can see that we are similar in weight and therefore body type as well. (For the most part, I bawk at his "batwings" and whip out my pterodactyl wings or show my "womanly" hips.) But as he inches ever so close to not having an X in front of any size he wears in shirts and is moving into the 30's waist wise, which is considered "normal" by most standards, I get that little poke in my shoulder. "He's going to be normal before you are and you're going to hold him back from doing things he wants to do. He won't want to stop living this new life if your big butt is over the weight limit for kayaks, roller coasters and stuff!" I have voiced these fears to him and he assures me that he has never felt like I am holding him back and he will wait for me as long as it takes because it's not a victory for him if I'm not there to share it with him. I offered to take pics of him on a roller coaster or to go parasailing when he's able and I'll video it so he can watch it and remember how good it felt. He said it wouldn't feel like a victory without me next to him. That's lovely but only fuels that little voice that says "see, he has to wait for you to do these things." I desperately want to kayak this year but I don't want to get a "special" kayak to do it. I don't want to have to buy some uber kayak when we really have nowhere to put them and most rentals are 250 lbs weight limit. I'm a good 40+ away from that. He's about 25 lbs or less away.
We have lost similarly and the 40 lbs difference there was between our heaviest weights is now down to about a 22 lb difference so you can see that we are similar in weight and therefore body type as well. (For the most part, I bawk at his "batwings" and whip out my pterodactyl wings or show my "womanly" hips.) But as he inches ever so close to not having an X in front of any size he wears in shirts and is moving into the 30's waist wise, which is considered "normal" by most standards, I get that little poke in my shoulder. "He's going to be normal before you are and you're going to hold him back from doing things he wants to do. He won't want to stop living this new life if your big butt is over the weight limit for kayaks, roller coasters and stuff!" I have voiced these fears to him and he assures me that he has never felt like I am holding him back and he will wait for me as long as it takes because it's not a victory for him if I'm not there to share it with him. I offered to take pics of him on a roller coaster or to go parasailing when he's able and I'll video it so he can watch it and remember how good it felt. He said it wouldn't feel like a victory without me next to him. That's lovely but only fuels that little voice that says "see, he has to wait for you to do these things." I desperately want to kayak this year but I don't want to get a "special" kayak to do it. I don't want to have to buy some uber kayak when we really have nowhere to put them and most rentals are 250 lbs weight limit. I'm a good 40+ away from that. He's about 25 lbs or less away.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Childhood Realizations
This is an incredibly difficult post for me to write and but I feel like it's important because if just one person can benefit from what I struggle with, it will be worth it. I'm a child of divorce. So what, right? There might be more kids of divorce than there are kids from a happy, healthy, long lasting marriage. The reason for that divorce was infidelity. Again, another less than rousing surprise. To dissect it even further, weight was brought up as a reason for the divorce. Ah HA...said the chubby girl who grew into a super morbidly obese adult clawing her way back to "normalcy!" I was a young girl when this happened, 4th grade. I was never really a daddy's girl but when it was clear my family was breaking up, it was still upsetting even if I didn't have a close relationship with him.
My mom did her best to shield me from most of it but I am my mother's daughter and like to talk out my feelings so we did discuss it a lot. I went through counseling when my grades dropped, had crying fits in the middle of class and would have what I would now classify as kiddie panic attacks at school, petrified my mom was going to leave me too. Sometimes she could calm me down over the phone, sometimes she had to come get me from school or at least visit to show "see, I'm still here." I was a skilled eavesdropper especially when asked to leave the room. I overheard my mom talking on the phone to my aunt about weight being an issue and that he didn't really even talk to her about it. By the time I was 11, I realized that 3 pivotal men in my life that I loved and respected had all cheated and two of the three had heavier wives. This obviously stuck in my head.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Arugula Apple Salad with Citrus Mango Dressing
On New Years Eve, we were in Chicago ringing in 2012. We had dinner at 676 Restaurant on Michigan Avenue. It's a farm to table restaurant with as much local items as possible. We had several courses for dinner but one of our favorites was the Heirloom Apple Salad. I took note of all of the flavors and vowed to try to recreate it. I think I just did them proud...
When we ate this, we sank back in our chairs and agreed it tasted pretty darn close. The peppery bite of the arugula is cut with the tartness of the granny smith apple, the nutty kick of asiago and smoky undertones of bacon...all brought together by the sweetness of the citrus mango dressing. We can't be in Chicago all the time but we can sure enjoy that wonderful salad. If you find yourself in Chi-town, swing by 676 Restaurant and enjoy some great food! In the meantime, make my salad inspired by theirs. Here's what you'll need:
For the salad:
1 1/2 cups arugula (preferably Whole Foods, sadly TJ's was too bitter on this front)
1/2 ounce of asiago cheese, julienned
1 ounce granny smith apple, julienned
1/2 slice of Trader Joe's center cut uncured bacon, cooked & crumbled
Fresh ground black pepper
For the dressing:
4 ounces of Simply Orange with Mango juice
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp basil
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tbsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp white pepper
In a small plastic bowl with a lid, combine all ingredients for the dressing. Shake well and set aside.
In a medium bowl, add the arugula and 1 tbsp of dressing. Toss to coat all of the leaves evenly. Plate the arugula, top with julienned granny smith apple, asiago cheese and sprinkle the bacon evenly. Grind some pepper over the top. Reserve the rest of the dressing for use within 1 week, giving a shake before each use.
This is easily one of my favorite salads and I'm not a big salad eater so I hope you like it!
Nutritional Information for entire salad: Calories 134 Fat 8g Sat Fat 4g Poly Fat 1g Cholesterol 20mg Sodium 185mg Potassium 227mg Carbs 10g Fiber 2g Protein 5g Vitamin A 25% Vitamin C 21% Calcium 17% Iron 6%
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When we ate this, we sank back in our chairs and agreed it tasted pretty darn close. The peppery bite of the arugula is cut with the tartness of the granny smith apple, the nutty kick of asiago and smoky undertones of bacon...all brought together by the sweetness of the citrus mango dressing. We can't be in Chicago all the time but we can sure enjoy that wonderful salad. If you find yourself in Chi-town, swing by 676 Restaurant and enjoy some great food! In the meantime, make my salad inspired by theirs. Here's what you'll need:
For the salad:
1 1/2 cups arugula (preferably Whole Foods, sadly TJ's was too bitter on this front)
1/2 ounce of asiago cheese, julienned
1 ounce granny smith apple, julienned
1/2 slice of Trader Joe's center cut uncured bacon, cooked & crumbled
Fresh ground black pepper
For the dressing:
4 ounces of Simply Orange with Mango juice
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp basil
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tbsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp white pepper
In a small plastic bowl with a lid, combine all ingredients for the dressing. Shake well and set aside.
In a medium bowl, add the arugula and 1 tbsp of dressing. Toss to coat all of the leaves evenly. Plate the arugula, top with julienned granny smith apple, asiago cheese and sprinkle the bacon evenly. Grind some pepper over the top. Reserve the rest of the dressing for use within 1 week, giving a shake before each use.
This is easily one of my favorite salads and I'm not a big salad eater so I hope you like it!
Nutritional Information for entire salad: Calories 134 Fat 8g Sat Fat 4g Poly Fat 1g Cholesterol 20mg Sodium 185mg Potassium 227mg Carbs 10g Fiber 2g Protein 5g Vitamin A 25% Vitamin C 21% Calcium 17% Iron 6%
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Monday, March 19, 2012
Musical Fat Cells
Okay, for all of you people out there who have lost weight. Am I the only one that feels like my fat cells aren't necessarily leaving yet but "redistributing?" My waist measurements haven't changed much but I swear there is less on the sides and more out front. Like instead of looking just fat all over it's more like "is she pregnant?" Not 9 months belly but you know, it all just seems to be sitting differently. It's kind of annoying and I'd like it all to take a hiatus please. I just discussed this with the Mr and he agrees and said the gut is like pulling up and pushing out.
Has anyone else experience this redistribution of fat as you lost weight?
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Has anyone else experience this redistribution of fat as you lost weight?
====================
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Saturday, March 17, 2012
Moment of Truth- Weigh In
Well I kept my calories so they evened out to about 2250 instead of 2300 this week and I'm down 2 lbs.
I'll keep it up another week and see how I do. The Mr is not faring well with the calorie uppage so he's going back to his previous range.
If you didn't see last night's Friday Food Journal, click here to see my eats for the week!
Hope everyone has a great weekend! We're off to go antiquing. (Thank God I have a Mr who doesn't mind getting dragged to those kinds of places!)
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I'll keep it up another week and see how I do. The Mr is not faring well with the calorie uppage so he's going back to his previous range.
If you didn't see last night's Friday Food Journal, click here to see my eats for the week!
Hope everyone has a great weekend! We're off to go antiquing. (Thank God I have a Mr who doesn't mind getting dragged to those kinds of places!)
====================
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Friday, March 16, 2012
Food Journal Friday - 3/12 thru 3/16
Alright y'all, it's time for the first annual Food Journal Friday or FJF when I'm feeling lazy.
It's been a week full of some decent variety so let's eat!
Let's start off with a really great breakfast oatmeal combo I had earlier that I just fed the Mr this morning and he LOVED it. 1/2 cup quaker oats with 4 oz skim milk, 1 tbsp water, 1 banana, 1/2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp Better N' Peanut Butter, 1/2 tbsp mini chocolate chips and 1 section of a graham cracker crumbled on top. Calories: 420.
It was SOOOO good. It tastes like eating dessert for breakfast and it keeps you full for a long time. My new fave. Breakfasts and lunches after that were pretty standard. Veggies, fruits, bars and rotating entrees of tuna tacos, turkey sandwich and the like. Let's move on to dinners.
Monday was whole wheat penne pasta with a half and half mix of my favorite meat sauce and half low salt marinara and 1 tbsp of parmesan cheese. We also had an amazing arugula salad but you'll have to wait for Tuesday for the recipe for this filling yummy salad! Total calories 657.
Tuesday was a new recipe I tried and I'll be posting it in the near future. Red snapper with barley and orzo with a side of brussels sprouts (not pictured). It was quite yummy! Calories: 569
It's been a week full of some decent variety so let's eat!
Let's start off with a really great breakfast oatmeal combo I had earlier that I just fed the Mr this morning and he LOVED it. 1/2 cup quaker oats with 4 oz skim milk, 1 tbsp water, 1 banana, 1/2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp Better N' Peanut Butter, 1/2 tbsp mini chocolate chips and 1 section of a graham cracker crumbled on top. Calories: 420.
It was SOOOO good. It tastes like eating dessert for breakfast and it keeps you full for a long time. My new fave. Breakfasts and lunches after that were pretty standard. Veggies, fruits, bars and rotating entrees of tuna tacos, turkey sandwich and the like. Let's move on to dinners.
Monday was whole wheat penne pasta with a half and half mix of my favorite meat sauce and half low salt marinara and 1 tbsp of parmesan cheese. We also had an amazing arugula salad but you'll have to wait for Tuesday for the recipe for this filling yummy salad! Total calories 657.
Tuesday was a new recipe I tried and I'll be posting it in the near future. Red snapper with barley and orzo with a side of brussels sprouts (not pictured). It was quite yummy! Calories: 569
Mintalicious Cupcakes
Top of the mornin' to ya...kiss the blarney stone...Erin goes braless or whatever that saying is.
St. Patty's Day isn't a holiday we celebrate. We don't drink (I know, apparently we're the last people in the free world who don't imbibe. Can you imagine this personality on booze? Yeah...), we don't wear green since I have hazel eyes and the Mr has green ones so try to pinch one of us and the Mr would probably blush and depending on what time of the month it's possible I could slap you til a leprechaun shot outta your butt. However, it's a good excuse to make something green. I've been wanting to make these for a long time but I've been...okay, I've been lazy and the holiday was a good scapegoat. It's also super easy because of, you know, the whole lazy thing. Chocolate mint cupcakes stuffed with a peppermint patty.
You'll be a hero...I was. The Mr's co-workers always ask "did the Mr's wife make these?" before eating any treats that are brought in. These solidified my reputation, as if I needed it.
Here's what you'll need:
1 box Betty Crocker Devils Food Cake Mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 1/4 cups water
24 mini York Peppermint Patties
1 16-oz tub of Pillsbury Peppermint Frosting (or flavor vanilla frosting with mint flavoring)
Green food coloring
Prepare box mix according to box but sub the applesauce for the oil.
Using a medium ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into each cupcake liner so it's about 1/3 full and put a mini peppermint patty on top.
Then add more batter until the liner is 2/3 full.
Bake for 20-22 minutes.
Color peppermint frosting and use 1 tbsp to frost each cupcake.
Sprinkle with chocolate sprinkles.
Go smooch someone since your breath will be minty fresh. (Um, ask permission first!)
Nutritional information per cupcake with 1 tbsp frosting: Calories 202 Total Fat 5g Sat Fat 2g Sodium 223mg Potassium 61mg Total Carbs 40g Fiber 1g Sugars 29g Protein 1g Iron 1%
Enjoy your St. Patty's Day tomorrow and have a great weekend!
====================
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St. Patty's Day isn't a holiday we celebrate. We don't drink (I know, apparently we're the last people in the free world who don't imbibe. Can you imagine this personality on booze? Yeah...), we don't wear green since I have hazel eyes and the Mr has green ones so try to pinch one of us and the Mr would probably blush and depending on what time of the month it's possible I could slap you til a leprechaun shot outta your butt. However, it's a good excuse to make something green. I've been wanting to make these for a long time but I've been...okay, I've been lazy and the holiday was a good scapegoat. It's also super easy because of, you know, the whole lazy thing. Chocolate mint cupcakes stuffed with a peppermint patty.
You'll be a hero...I was. The Mr's co-workers always ask "did the Mr's wife make these?" before eating any treats that are brought in. These solidified my reputation, as if I needed it.
Here's what you'll need:
1 box Betty Crocker Devils Food Cake Mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 1/4 cups water
24 mini York Peppermint Patties
1 16-oz tub of Pillsbury Peppermint Frosting (or flavor vanilla frosting with mint flavoring)
Green food coloring
Prepare box mix according to box but sub the applesauce for the oil.
Using a medium ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into each cupcake liner so it's about 1/3 full and put a mini peppermint patty on top.
Then add more batter until the liner is 2/3 full.
Bake for 20-22 minutes.
Color peppermint frosting and use 1 tbsp to frost each cupcake.
Sprinkle with chocolate sprinkles.
Go smooch someone since your breath will be minty fresh. (Um, ask permission first!)
Nutritional information per cupcake with 1 tbsp frosting: Calories 202 Total Fat 5g Sat Fat 2g Sodium 223mg Potassium 61mg Total Carbs 40g Fiber 1g Sugars 29g Protein 1g Iron 1%
Enjoy your St. Patty's Day tomorrow and have a great weekend!
====================
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Thursday, March 15, 2012
Workouts on the go
Yesterday was a nice day. The kind where you want to play hooky. Luckily the Mr took the day off! But it wasn't a hooky day, I had an appointment and he scheduled it off a few weeks ago to go with me. It just so happened the weather was cooperating and I asked if he wanted to workout in the morning at a park we go to on occasion. You only go there for one reason...
Those are 14 flights of stairs. I go up them once because it does this to my heart rate...
Commence lung burn.
I know this is what people strive for but my puny little lungs just got over pneumonia and did not appreciate the joke. We walked a few paths both paved and then went to a bird sanctuary in the woods.
It was kind of depressing how dead everything still looks. With the mild winter (BOO by the way, we didn't get to use our ski's or snowshoes ONCE! We were robbed!), where was I? Oh yeah, with the mild winter and now the nicer weather you just expect to go out and see a sea of green. Not yet. But it's coming...
I couldn't resist taking a picture of us by the water when I found a sign that was about the right height to sit the camera on.
As I looked at it, I couldn't help but be reminded of a similar picture that we took 2 years ago on Kauai...
Those are 14 flights of stairs. I go up them once because it does this to my heart rate...
Commence lung burn.
I know this is what people strive for but my puny little lungs just got over pneumonia and did not appreciate the joke. We walked a few paths both paved and then went to a bird sanctuary in the woods.
It was kind of depressing how dead everything still looks. With the mild winter (BOO by the way, we didn't get to use our ski's or snowshoes ONCE! We were robbed!), where was I? Oh yeah, with the mild winter and now the nicer weather you just expect to go out and see a sea of green. Not yet. But it's coming...
I couldn't resist taking a picture of us by the water when I found a sign that was about the right height to sit the camera on.
As I looked at it, I couldn't help but be reminded of a similar picture that we took 2 years ago on Kauai...
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Sabotage!
(Is anyone else hearing the robotic drones of the Beastie Boys now? No? Just me? Let's hele on then, shall we?)
I received a lovely email from a reader yesterday that got me thinking back to the olden days. The days when the Mr and I were not on the same page or rather the same page in the wrong ways. People often assume how lucky we are to have each other on this weight loss adventure and don't get me wrong, we are. However, it doesn't always mean you have the support you need when you are ready and the other person isn't. We would make our half hearted attempts at losing weight and then we'd come home from a long day and the last thing we wanted to do was exercise. We'd hem haw around and it would get later and later and then "tomorrow" would get thrown in there while the other quickly agreed. I was always guilty of the "I had the worst day at work, I'm not in the mood to cook, let's order a pizza." The Mr not wanting to force me to cook whilst in a foul mood already and hell pizza always sounds good so pizza it was!
There were times one of us was ready and the other wasn't and there was a bit of resentment when "healthy talk" would be brought up. When the talk of getting healthy came up I immediately thought of all of the things I would have to give up, the restrictions, the longingly looking at things everyone else could have but poor fat me couldn't and food won. Fast forward to 200 lbs lost and looking at the way we eat and I think, "holy crap, I didn't have to restrict or give up a thing!" It was all about portion control and not going bat chit every day of the week. It was about having high cal day not start on Friday night and end Sunday at dinner time. It was about living smarter and longer. We are re-evaluating high cal days and we're going to put some rules on them so that the quality of them is better rather than just eating whatever because we're "entitled" to it. If we don't, it starts to slide back into that whole gray area of potential sabotage and we're not going there. It's good to be on the same page working toward a shared goal that involves us living an awesome life instead of seeing how long it would take to form a blood supply with the couch.
Do you have the support of your partner on your weight loss endeavor? Do you self sabotage?
====================
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I received a lovely email from a reader yesterday that got me thinking back to the olden days. The days when the Mr and I were not on the same page or rather the same page in the wrong ways. People often assume how lucky we are to have each other on this weight loss adventure and don't get me wrong, we are. However, it doesn't always mean you have the support you need when you are ready and the other person isn't. We would make our half hearted attempts at losing weight and then we'd come home from a long day and the last thing we wanted to do was exercise. We'd hem haw around and it would get later and later and then "tomorrow" would get thrown in there while the other quickly agreed. I was always guilty of the "I had the worst day at work, I'm not in the mood to cook, let's order a pizza." The Mr not wanting to force me to cook whilst in a foul mood already and hell pizza always sounds good so pizza it was!
There were times one of us was ready and the other wasn't and there was a bit of resentment when "healthy talk" would be brought up. When the talk of getting healthy came up I immediately thought of all of the things I would have to give up, the restrictions, the longingly looking at things everyone else could have but poor fat me couldn't and food won. Fast forward to 200 lbs lost and looking at the way we eat and I think, "holy crap, I didn't have to restrict or give up a thing!" It was all about portion control and not going bat chit every day of the week. It was about having high cal day not start on Friday night and end Sunday at dinner time. It was about living smarter and longer. We are re-evaluating high cal days and we're going to put some rules on them so that the quality of them is better rather than just eating whatever because we're "entitled" to it. If we don't, it starts to slide back into that whole gray area of potential sabotage and we're not going there. It's good to be on the same page working toward a shared goal that involves us living an awesome life instead of seeing how long it would take to form a blood supply with the couch.
Do you have the support of your partner on your weight loss endeavor? Do you self sabotage?
====================
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Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Chipotle Jalapeno Refried Beans
I love me some Mexican food baby. We eat it at least once a week in some form. One thing I always loved was a nice side of refried beans because it's filling and has a lot of fiber and protein. But the canned stuff is like a salt lick depending on what brand you get. My favorite jalapeno refried beans have almost 500mg of sodium per serving. That's just not something I can afford in my "sodium bank account." So I made my own for half the sodium and much more taste than I could ask for.
Chipotle Jalapeno Refried Beans
(6 servings)
1 bag small red beans, dried
2 jalapeno peppers
2 servings La Costena Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce (70g)
Juice of 1 lime
4 oz reserved bean liquid
In a large stockpot, add bag of dried beans to 8 cups of water.
Cook until beans are hydrated and fork tender. (About an hour)
While the beans are cooking, cut up the jalapenos to give the food processor a bit of a head start on the breakdown.
Weigh out 2 servings (70g) of chipotle peppers from the can.
Chipotle Jalapeno Refried Beans
(6 servings)
1 bag small red beans, dried
2 jalapeno peppers
2 servings La Costena Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce (70g)
Juice of 1 lime
4 oz reserved bean liquid
In a large stockpot, add bag of dried beans to 8 cups of water.
Cook until beans are hydrated and fork tender. (About an hour)
While the beans are cooking, cut up the jalapenos to give the food processor a bit of a head start on the breakdown.
Weigh out 2 servings (70g) of chipotle peppers from the can.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Food Journals are a-changin'
Okay, so given how little my breakfasts and lunches vary, it's getting a little yawn worthy taking pics of the same thing every morning and afternoon. I'm boring myself and feeling like an inbox clogger. So I'm going to do Food Journal Fridays. I was going to say I'm going to do food journals on Friday but you know that they'd be labeled "food journal Friday" in the title which eventually will get morphed into an ever popular yet nauseating blog world must...an acronym... like FJF. I'm already a cliche.
So I'll still be taking pics of dinners since those are really the only things that change and post them on Fridays. If I have some Earth shattering breakfast, I will post that too if it's something you all would just flip over and of course if it's recipe worthy, that will be posted as well.
Sound good? Or horrible disaster that will make you stop tuning in?
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So I'll still be taking pics of dinners since those are really the only things that change and post them on Fridays. If I have some Earth shattering breakfast, I will post that too if it's something you all would just flip over and of course if it's recipe worthy, that will be posted as well.
Sound good? Or horrible disaster that will make you stop tuning in?
====================
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The Big and Tall Shop
We went out this weekend and happened to see an old Big and Tall shop the Mr used to faithfully buy all of his clothes from. As we approached it I said that I wanted to go inside just to see and he said he was torn about it but was curious too. We went in and it was basically the same kind of stuff we remembered when he last shopped there about 2 years ago. There was one big change...
Those pants are what the Mr used to wear at his heaviest. He can now fit in one leg of those cargo pants. We each held a side and looked at the circumference of the pants and we just couldn't believe that was our "normal." It was normal to go straight to the 54 or 56 jeans or to look at the 5x shirts or just before we got our act together, a few 6x tees. It is amazing what you adjust to. That was as normal for us as it is for you to pick up a new pair of jeans in whatever size you're in.
We continued to go look and despite them saying they had XL's, we couldn't find any and out of the whole store, there were maybe 3 things that were the Mr's size in there. So we had him try on a pair of clearance jeans in his size. When he opened the door, they still looked way too big on him because they were a relaxed fit. I told him if we already had them at home, they'd be going to the donate pile so no go. We also couldn't believe the prices we used to pay. $65 for a pair of jeans when we now pay $20. $40 for a polo when we pay half that or even $12 at Old Navy on a good sale. I guess that's why we donate our clothes as soon as we shrink out of them because we want the expense to be a deterrent to not gain the weight back as well. When we left, we both felt really sad. It was just so eye opening to revisit that old life.
We're grateful not only that the Mr no longer has to shop there anymore but we're also grateful for those that it continues to serve. Those who are still overweight or obese that have either not committed to putting their health first or have done so but are still needing their clothing until they size out of them. These places give overweight men a dignified place to shop with tee's that are similar to what you'd find at Target or jeans in the latest style. It wasn't always this way. I remember when I was a kid, heavier guys didn't have much choice in what they had to wear. I remember my grandpa had to wear these weird colored blue jeans with orange thread and they were just so generic looking. I'm glad the Mr never knew that fate, he deserved better. All big men do.
Have you looked at your clothes from your heaviest weight and not recognized them anymore based on the size?
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Those pants are what the Mr used to wear at his heaviest. He can now fit in one leg of those cargo pants. We each held a side and looked at the circumference of the pants and we just couldn't believe that was our "normal." It was normal to go straight to the 54 or 56 jeans or to look at the 5x shirts or just before we got our act together, a few 6x tees. It is amazing what you adjust to. That was as normal for us as it is for you to pick up a new pair of jeans in whatever size you're in.
We continued to go look and despite them saying they had XL's, we couldn't find any and out of the whole store, there were maybe 3 things that were the Mr's size in there. So we had him try on a pair of clearance jeans in his size. When he opened the door, they still looked way too big on him because they were a relaxed fit. I told him if we already had them at home, they'd be going to the donate pile so no go. We also couldn't believe the prices we used to pay. $65 for a pair of jeans when we now pay $20. $40 for a polo when we pay half that or even $12 at Old Navy on a good sale. I guess that's why we donate our clothes as soon as we shrink out of them because we want the expense to be a deterrent to not gain the weight back as well. When we left, we both felt really sad. It was just so eye opening to revisit that old life.
We're grateful not only that the Mr no longer has to shop there anymore but we're also grateful for those that it continues to serve. Those who are still overweight or obese that have either not committed to putting their health first or have done so but are still needing their clothing until they size out of them. These places give overweight men a dignified place to shop with tee's that are similar to what you'd find at Target or jeans in the latest style. It wasn't always this way. I remember when I was a kid, heavier guys didn't have much choice in what they had to wear. I remember my grandpa had to wear these weird colored blue jeans with orange thread and they were just so generic looking. I'm glad the Mr never knew that fate, he deserved better. All big men do.
Have you looked at your clothes from your heaviest weight and not recognized them anymore based on the size?
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Saturday, March 10, 2012
Taking My Own Advice- Weigh In
Up 2 more. But still 200 lbs lost here's me mooning you Mr. Scale. (__|__)
I'm trying to be zen about this. For those who didn't read last night's food journal, I've been having immense stress issues this past week to the point of heart palpitations. I know stress that extreme produces all of those weird "would you like me to hold onto those fat cells for you?" chemicals (which I always thought was a load of chit but there is data and blah blah blah). It's my first week back at "full throttle" workouts. I burned 4500 calories this past week. My calories averaged out to 2325 daily for the week. Based on that formula I found, I should technically be able to eat 2600 calories and lose weight but that is just way too high for my brain to compute so I chose 2300. So I think between those 3 things, I was destined for a pooper this week.
I'm giving my body another week to adjust because I'm going to take the advice that any medical professional would tell me or that I would tell someone else in the same situation, it takes at least 2 weeks for your body to adjust to a new change and I had 2 new changes last week. So I'm going to be a good girl, not freak out about it, make my to do list so I can get the stress monkey off of my back and move forward into this week with a clean slate and solid plan. I refuse to let this beat me.
Have a great weekend everyone!
====================
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I'm trying to be zen about this. For those who didn't read last night's food journal, I've been having immense stress issues this past week to the point of heart palpitations. I know stress that extreme produces all of those weird "would you like me to hold onto those fat cells for you?" chemicals (which I always thought was a load of chit but there is data and blah blah blah). It's my first week back at "full throttle" workouts. I burned 4500 calories this past week. My calories averaged out to 2325 daily for the week. Based on that formula I found, I should technically be able to eat 2600 calories and lose weight but that is just way too high for my brain to compute so I chose 2300. So I think between those 3 things, I was destined for a pooper this week.
I'm giving my body another week to adjust because I'm going to take the advice that any medical professional would tell me or that I would tell someone else in the same situation, it takes at least 2 weeks for your body to adjust to a new change and I had 2 new changes last week. So I'm going to be a good girl, not freak out about it, make my to do list so I can get the stress monkey off of my back and move forward into this week with a clean slate and solid plan. I refuse to let this beat me.
Have a great weekend everyone!
====================
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Friday, March 9, 2012
3/9/12- Food Journal
Today has been exhausting. I'm glad to report that this is the first day I haven't had heart palpitations. Oh, I didn't tell you about those? Yeah. I've been stressed to the max this week with a ton of things all coming down the pike and I need to make a to do list so I can cross those things off. I would get so stressed out that I'd have heart palps like I did when I was my most stressed at my "normal" job just before I quit because I was sure it was killing me. I think one of the bigger sources of my anxiety has been this adding calories thing. I'm terrified of the scale tomorrow. I know one week isn't long enough for my body to process the change and I just pray there's not a gain. I've been KILLING the workouts this week. Almost 4500 calories burned this week in formal exercise. I know there are a lot of factors working against me this week so I just have to control the things I can and know I'm doing what I need to do and I'll give it another week regardless and make smarter choices on snacks next week. But that's not why you're here...let's eat.
Breakfast was a cinnamon raisin english muffin with 2 tbsp of Better N' Peanut Butter, 1 banana and an omelet made of 2 egg whites, 1 egg, half a slice of lacy cheese and 1 tbsp of caramelized onions.
Lunch was tuna lettuce 'tacos' with raw veggies and 1/2 tbsp of dip, honeycrisp apple with apple dip, fruit salad, TJ's Fiberful Peanut Butter Chocolate Oat Bar and iced tea.
Grieving a lost dream
Anyone who has a home on the Big Island of Hawaii or who is even a mild Hawaii fanatic knows about "Lava" Jack. We went to Hawaii on our honeymoon in the 90's and once we did, we found our second home. When we saw lava for the first time, we became certified lava freaks. In 2001, we found ourselves alone in a lava field for 3 hours watching the volcano goddess, Pele show off some of her finest work. We read up quite extensively on safety around lava from items to take to watching for flows sneaking up on you to getting gas masks so we could breathe during a white out. We made an offering and a finger from a flow going downward reached out to the left and claimed our offering. From that point on, the lava increased quite a bit. To say it was mesmerizing was an understatement. It immersed every sense. The bright glow of the lava, the undeniable smell that was a mix of sulphur and finger paint and the sounds of molten lava covering hardened lava. It sounds like a roaring wood fire with the occasional plink of glass flaking off and shooting into the air from the heat.
We knew about Lava Jack and we rooted for him. He finished his home the day the volcanic eruption began in 1983. Parts of the subdivision he was in were overrun with lava as was an entire town in the 90's. Before long, Jack was the only one left. His only access was eventually cut off and he had a 3-4 mile hike out and back to get supplies. He had his own piece of paradise with fruit trees he'd cultivated and eventually, he started hosting tourists and local friends in his home. It was a dream of ours to eventually stay in his home overnight. To see that red glow from his porch, to talk to him and have a personal tour of land that we wouldn't have access to otherwise to feed our lava addiction. An addiction that had us buying land in the rainforest so we could be close enough to Pele but not too close. We planned to do that next year and I was just wanting to get another 40 lbs or so off so that I could comfortably hike in the heat of the black lava without embarrassing myself.
In the past 30 years, many flows have headed Jack's way and many times Pele granted him more time on his beautiful acre of land...until a week ago today. Jack's piece of paradise is under lava, reclaimed by the volcano goddess who respected the man who took care of her 'aina (land) until she took it back. As I read this news, I sobbed uncontrollably for a few hours. Jack was a lava renegade to us. He was the last man standing for so long and no one ever questioned why, it seemed that they had a special relationship and all of his friends and admirers knew that. It was quite beautiful. My heart broke for him and after a good crying jag I also realized my heart broke for us. Yet one more thing that our years of being overweight stole from us. Another thing that we couldn't do because I wasn't in good enough shape or too embarrassed or too...whatever. I mourn for that lost opportunity of that ultimate bucket list item for the Mr and I. I can only hope one day we get to meet Jack and express what following his story meant to us. To tell him we can never know his loss but grieved for it just the same.
Don't let your weight hold you back from opportunities to do something that may not always be an option. If there isn't a weight limit involved in an activity you want to do, just take a deep breath, jump out of your comfort zone and do it. We're not guaranteed all the time in the world to do big things.
If you want to read more about Jack's story and see video of his last day and return, click here.
What activity do you want to do that you haven't because of psychological barriers with your weight?
====================
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We knew about Lava Jack and we rooted for him. He finished his home the day the volcanic eruption began in 1983. Parts of the subdivision he was in were overrun with lava as was an entire town in the 90's. Before long, Jack was the only one left. His only access was eventually cut off and he had a 3-4 mile hike out and back to get supplies. He had his own piece of paradise with fruit trees he'd cultivated and eventually, he started hosting tourists and local friends in his home. It was a dream of ours to eventually stay in his home overnight. To see that red glow from his porch, to talk to him and have a personal tour of land that we wouldn't have access to otherwise to feed our lava addiction. An addiction that had us buying land in the rainforest so we could be close enough to Pele but not too close. We planned to do that next year and I was just wanting to get another 40 lbs or so off so that I could comfortably hike in the heat of the black lava without embarrassing myself.
In the past 30 years, many flows have headed Jack's way and many times Pele granted him more time on his beautiful acre of land...until a week ago today. Jack's piece of paradise is under lava, reclaimed by the volcano goddess who respected the man who took care of her 'aina (land) until she took it back. As I read this news, I sobbed uncontrollably for a few hours. Jack was a lava renegade to us. He was the last man standing for so long and no one ever questioned why, it seemed that they had a special relationship and all of his friends and admirers knew that. It was quite beautiful. My heart broke for him and after a good crying jag I also realized my heart broke for us. Yet one more thing that our years of being overweight stole from us. Another thing that we couldn't do because I wasn't in good enough shape or too embarrassed or too...whatever. I mourn for that lost opportunity of that ultimate bucket list item for the Mr and I. I can only hope one day we get to meet Jack and express what following his story meant to us. To tell him we can never know his loss but grieved for it just the same.
Don't let your weight hold you back from opportunities to do something that may not always be an option. If there isn't a weight limit involved in an activity you want to do, just take a deep breath, jump out of your comfort zone and do it. We're not guaranteed all the time in the world to do big things.
If you want to read more about Jack's story and see video of his last day and return, click here.
What activity do you want to do that you haven't because of psychological barriers with your weight?
====================
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Thursday, March 8, 2012
3/8/12- Food Journal
Oh man, I don't know what it is but my stomach has completely rejected any spices in my oatmeal. I used to LOVE maple brown sugar oatmeal but one day I ate it after it got cold and it did something to my psyche. Any time I tried to eat it any way other than plain, it made my gut churn. Today I decided to add a little pumpkin pie spice and that was a mistake. I choked it down anyway. After that rousing intro...let's eat.
Breakfast was a big bowl ofmistake oatmeal with a cut up nana, 1 tbsp of almond butter and 1 serving Special K Blueberry for crunch but it couldn't save the spice factor. It did hold me all morning which is good.
Lunch was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (2 slices of TJ's Whole Wheat Fiber Bread, 2 tbsp of regular peanut butter and 1 tbsp apple butter) then the usual. Raw veggies and 1/2 tbsp dip, apple with apple dip, a chipmunk, fruit salad (watermelon, cantaloupe, clementine, pineapple, red seedless grapes and motor oil), cereal bar and iced tea. Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention. I know the regular cast of characters gets boring.
Breakfast was a big bowl of
Lunch was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (2 slices of TJ's Whole Wheat Fiber Bread, 2 tbsp of regular peanut butter and 1 tbsp apple butter) then the usual. Raw veggies and 1/2 tbsp dip, apple with apple dip, a chipmunk, fruit salad (watermelon, cantaloupe, clementine, pineapple, red seedless grapes and motor oil), cereal bar and iced tea. Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention. I know the regular cast of characters gets boring.
Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions & Bacon
When I decided to try brussels sprouts a few months ago, I had no idea they would become a regular character in our cart. I think if you'd told the sprout phobic Mr (because of improper prep as a kid) that he'd not only eat them but like them as well, he would've laughed in your face. I love these babies and I thought I'd share my favorite way to eat them.
Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onion & Bacon
(Serves 2)
14 brussels sprouts
1 cup onion, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 slice Trader Joe's Center Cut Uncured Bacon
1 tbsp Trader Joe's Parmesan Romano Blend
First prepare the caramelized onions. Cut a large onion into slices, toss in a bowl with 1 tbsp of olive oil and put in a skillet over low heat for one hour, stirring every 10 minutes.
When there is 20 minutes left on the onions, cut the ends off of each sprout and cut in half. Peel off any loose or excess leaves as they will burn as they cook. I like to use an indoor grill pan but you can use a regular skillet.
Put a spray or two of cooking spray in the skillet and sprinkle some coarse black pepper. Place the sprouts cut side down for about 10 minutes then cover to let steam until caramelized or slightly soft.
Cut the bacon into small pieces and add to the skillet with the sprouts. Cover until bacon is fully cooked. Add caramelized onions to sprouts and stir to combine.
Plate the sprouts and sprinkle with 1/2 tbsp of parmesan romano blend per serving.
You know you want some.
Nutritional Information per serving: Calories 174 Total Fat 10g Sat Fat 2g Poly Fat 1g Mono Fat 5g Cholesterol 8mg Sodium 115mg Potassium 608mg Total Carbs 17g Fiber 6g Sugars 3g Protein 7g Vitamin A 20% Vitamin C 195% Calcium 10% Iron 9%
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Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onion & Bacon
(Serves 2)
14 brussels sprouts
1 cup onion, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 slice Trader Joe's Center Cut Uncured Bacon
1 tbsp Trader Joe's Parmesan Romano Blend
First prepare the caramelized onions. Cut a large onion into slices, toss in a bowl with 1 tbsp of olive oil and put in a skillet over low heat for one hour, stirring every 10 minutes.
When there is 20 minutes left on the onions, cut the ends off of each sprout and cut in half. Peel off any loose or excess leaves as they will burn as they cook. I like to use an indoor grill pan but you can use a regular skillet.
Put a spray or two of cooking spray in the skillet and sprinkle some coarse black pepper. Place the sprouts cut side down for about 10 minutes then cover to let steam until caramelized or slightly soft.
Cut the bacon into small pieces and add to the skillet with the sprouts. Cover until bacon is fully cooked. Add caramelized onions to sprouts and stir to combine.
Plate the sprouts and sprinkle with 1/2 tbsp of parmesan romano blend per serving.
You know you want some.
Nutritional Information per serving: Calories 174 Total Fat 10g Sat Fat 2g Poly Fat 1g Mono Fat 5g Cholesterol 8mg Sodium 115mg Potassium 608mg Total Carbs 17g Fiber 6g Sugars 3g Protein 7g Vitamin A 20% Vitamin C 195% Calcium 10% Iron 9%
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Wednesday, March 7, 2012
3/7/12- Food Journal
I woke up feeling if I had another bowl of oatmeal for breakfast I was going to yarf so I refrained.
Let's eat...
Breakfast was Special K Blueberry so it got put in the blue bowl. I'm a dork. Banana and 1 tbsp Nutella and 13 oz green tea. The sun was reflecting off of my car and totally mucked up the color. I was too lazy to take 50 pics of it.
I made a recipe that calls for caramelized onions and I made sure I had a ton left so I used some at lunch. Lunch was a TJ's uncured chicken dog on a whole wheat bun with 1/2 tsp mustard and caramelized onions, fruit salad, raw veggies and 1/2 tbsp dip, 1 oz cheddar, a honeycrisp apple with apple dip, TJ's chocolate brownie oat bar and iced tea. The hot dog tasted just like a Maxwell Street polish. For those who have never had one, find one or just go to Portillo's and thank me later.
Let's eat...
Breakfast was Special K Blueberry so it got put in the blue bowl. I'm a dork. Banana and 1 tbsp Nutella and 13 oz green tea. The sun was reflecting off of my car and totally mucked up the color. I was too lazy to take 50 pics of it.
I made a recipe that calls for caramelized onions and I made sure I had a ton left so I used some at lunch. Lunch was a TJ's uncured chicken dog on a whole wheat bun with 1/2 tsp mustard and caramelized onions, fruit salad, raw veggies and 1/2 tbsp dip, 1 oz cheddar, a honeycrisp apple with apple dip, TJ's chocolate brownie oat bar and iced tea. The hot dog tasted just like a Maxwell Street polish. For those who have never had one, find one or just go to Portillo's and thank me later.
Anticipatory twitching
Can I tell you how freakin' hard it is to not step on the scale this week with the calorie uppage? The workouts have been hardcore this week. I'm STILL sore from Sunday's Atletica workout in my inner thighs and couple that with other high energy workouts and I'm going to feel like I've been dragged for miles behind a bus by the end of the week! But those workouts are the reason I'm upping my calories right? Sigh.
I told myself I wouldn't get on the scale and "peek" because I didn't want to see a crappy number, freak out, cut my calories way back and defeat the purpose. Funny how we want it all, we want it all, we want it all and we want it now. Sorry, I apparently lapse into Queen when I'm trying not to think about a new weight loss strategy. I'm not a daily weigher anyway, that would drive me insane, but when I try something new I get more antsy than usual to see if it's working...you know, a whole 2-3 days into it. *rolling eyes*
So I'm going to try not to let this overwhelm me. Ohhhhhmmmmmm......
Do you get antsy or impatient when you tweak your program?
====================
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I told myself I wouldn't get on the scale and "peek" because I didn't want to see a crappy number, freak out, cut my calories way back and defeat the purpose. Funny how we want it all, we want it all, we want it all and we want it now. Sorry, I apparently lapse into Queen when I'm trying not to think about a new weight loss strategy. I'm not a daily weigher anyway, that would drive me insane, but when I try something new I get more antsy than usual to see if it's working...you know, a whole 2-3 days into it. *rolling eyes*
So I'm going to try not to let this overwhelm me. Ohhhhhmmmmmm......
Do you get antsy or impatient when you tweak your program?
====================
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Tuesday, March 6, 2012
3/6/12- Food Journal
Update on last night's movie, Retreat. Oh my Lord! It's rare that a movie has us guessing until the end and then the ending makes our mouthes drop. Good movie.
Today was full of yumminess. Let's get to it...
Breakfast was a bowl of oatmeal with skim milk, a cut up banana, 1 tbsp of Better N' Peanut Butter and 1 tbsp of Nutella with 1 serving of Fiber 80 sprinkled on top. It was really good and was kind of like "hey you got faux peanut butter in my nutella" and "hey, you got nutella in my faux peanut butter!" If you get the reference, 10 bonus points.
For lunch I had a turkey, lite swiss, pea shoot sandwich with a tbsp of Miracle Whip light. I thought I was going to explode with joy. I have missed sandwiches soooo much. Yum. Then the usual cast of characters. Fruit salad with cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, pineapple and a clementine. The bowl could barely hold it. Raw veggies with 1/2 tbsp dip, apple with apple dip, TJ's apple cereal bar and iced tea.
Today was full of yumminess. Let's get to it...
Breakfast was a bowl of oatmeal with skim milk, a cut up banana, 1 tbsp of Better N' Peanut Butter and 1 tbsp of Nutella with 1 serving of Fiber 80 sprinkled on top. It was really good and was kind of like "hey you got faux peanut butter in my nutella" and "hey, you got nutella in my faux peanut butter!" If you get the reference, 10 bonus points.
For lunch I had a turkey, lite swiss, pea shoot sandwich with a tbsp of Miracle Whip light. I thought I was going to explode with joy. I have missed sandwiches soooo much. Yum. Then the usual cast of characters. Fruit salad with cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, pineapple and a clementine. The bowl could barely hold it. Raw veggies with 1/2 tbsp dip, apple with apple dip, TJ's apple cereal bar and iced tea.
Comp Time
I usually kind of love and loathe that phrase. It means my Mr is getting more time to apply toward our vacation but it also means he's working longer than he's supposed to and I don't like that. But that's not what I'm referring to in this case. I'm referring to this...
Let's do a little comp time, shall we?
First pic:
Me: 463 lbs (I'm not even at my highest weight here which was 494. We were too ashamed or oblivious to take "before" pics. Or I should say before pics that I would prefer stay off the internet. Skivvie style)
That shirt was a 5x I believe or a size 34. I couldn't even shop at plus sized stores. Those were a size 36 jeans. I'd just gotten into them down from a 38 elastic jeans I had to buy because the legs fit fine in 36 but the gut didn't. I'm sporting those God awful Crocs because they were the only things that would fit my hugely swollen feet. This was the first outing with some friends and I remember wanting that pic because I was tired of not having any of us together except on vacation.
Mr: 436 lbs (down from 455 lbs) 5x shirts and size 54 bottoms down from a 56. He sees that pic now and thinks of how uncomfortable we both looked just existing. Smiles on our faces but not happy.
Me: 292 lbs. Size 18/20 on top and size 22 jeans on bottom. Down almost 20" in the waist. The Crocs have long been pitched and I'm wearing Ryka's which actually run slightly narrow even though my foot is not narrow.
Mr: 266 lbs. Size XL on top and XL on bottom (large in some cuts!) or a size 38 or 40 depending on the cut.
Snoring is practically gone for both of us unless our necks are contorted in some weird position on the couch. I can actually stand and my legs touch, if you'll note the first picture, that wasn't even possible before. Living is actually possible and we no longer have to cower at the thought of invites in restaurants we've never been to, figuring out how to stand or who to hide behind in pictures or wondering what people are thinking behind our backs.
It's always good to have some kind of visual proof of where you came from (or close to it) and how far you've come even if you're not yet to goal.
Do you take before and after (during) pics?
====================
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Let's do a little comp time, shall we?
First pic:
Me: 463 lbs (I'm not even at my highest weight here which was 494. We were too ashamed or oblivious to take "before" pics. Or I should say before pics that I would prefer stay off the internet. Skivvie style)
That shirt was a 5x I believe or a size 34. I couldn't even shop at plus sized stores. Those were a size 36 jeans. I'd just gotten into them down from a 38 elastic jeans I had to buy because the legs fit fine in 36 but the gut didn't. I'm sporting those God awful Crocs because they were the only things that would fit my hugely swollen feet. This was the first outing with some friends and I remember wanting that pic because I was tired of not having any of us together except on vacation.
Mr: 436 lbs (down from 455 lbs) 5x shirts and size 54 bottoms down from a 56. He sees that pic now and thinks of how uncomfortable we both looked just existing. Smiles on our faces but not happy.
Me: 292 lbs. Size 18/20 on top and size 22 jeans on bottom. Down almost 20" in the waist. The Crocs have long been pitched and I'm wearing Ryka's which actually run slightly narrow even though my foot is not narrow.
Mr: 266 lbs. Size XL on top and XL on bottom (large in some cuts!) or a size 38 or 40 depending on the cut.
Snoring is practically gone for both of us unless our necks are contorted in some weird position on the couch. I can actually stand and my legs touch, if you'll note the first picture, that wasn't even possible before. Living is actually possible and we no longer have to cower at the thought of invites in restaurants we've never been to, figuring out how to stand or who to hide behind in pictures or wondering what people are thinking behind our backs.
It's always good to have some kind of visual proof of where you came from (or close to it) and how far you've come even if you're not yet to goal.
Do you take before and after (during) pics?
====================
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Monday, March 5, 2012
3/5/12- Food Journal
Short n' sweet-ish. I'm late and a movie is starting. (The Retreat)
Breakfast was a bowl of oatmeal with a banana chopped up inside, a tbsp of Better N' Peanut Butter and a serving of Dulce De Leche Cheerios. Honestly, I wouldn't get the Cheerios again. We tried the Peanut Butter ones too and meh. I don't get why everyone is so ga ga over them but to each their own.
Snack was a raspberry fruit leather.
Lunch was a TJ's chicken hot dog on a whole wheat bun with mustard and onions, usual raw veggies and 1/2 tbsp of dip, fruit salad of honeydew, cantaloupe, pineapple and a clementine, honeycrisp apple with apple dip, 1 oz cheddar, apple cereal bar and iced tea.
The Mr had a mishap when the was lifting the trash out. I was tempted to yell "wimpy, wimpy, wimpy!" but life is not always a Hefty commercial.
Dinner was fish tacos with homemade refried beans and a little cheddar on top. Yum!
Since the Mr got a movie, night snack will be TJ's lite kettle corn and a mug of "drinking chocolate." It'll be good when the hot chocolate runs out.
2360 calories for the day and 910 calories burned with Turbo Fire 55. Fingers crossed this upping the calories thing works.
Off to watch the movie. Oh yeah, we watched The Big Year last night with Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson. I must say we both really liked it. The subject seems boring (birding) but it was actually quite sweet. Recommended!
Feel free to share your eats in the comments or any movies you think we should rent.
====================
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Breakfast was a bowl of oatmeal with a banana chopped up inside, a tbsp of Better N' Peanut Butter and a serving of Dulce De Leche Cheerios. Honestly, I wouldn't get the Cheerios again. We tried the Peanut Butter ones too and meh. I don't get why everyone is so ga ga over them but to each their own.
Snack was a raspberry fruit leather.
Lunch was a TJ's chicken hot dog on a whole wheat bun with mustard and onions, usual raw veggies and 1/2 tbsp of dip, fruit salad of honeydew, cantaloupe, pineapple and a clementine, honeycrisp apple with apple dip, 1 oz cheddar, apple cereal bar and iced tea.
The Mr had a mishap when the was lifting the trash out. I was tempted to yell "wimpy, wimpy, wimpy!" but life is not always a Hefty commercial.
Dinner was fish tacos with homemade refried beans and a little cheddar on top. Yum!
Since the Mr got a movie, night snack will be TJ's lite kettle corn and a mug of "drinking chocolate." It'll be good when the hot chocolate runs out.
2360 calories for the day and 910 calories burned with Turbo Fire 55. Fingers crossed this upping the calories thing works.
Off to watch the movie. Oh yeah, we watched The Big Year last night with Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson. I must say we both really liked it. The subject seems boring (birding) but it was actually quite sweet. Recommended!
Feel free to share your eats in the comments or any movies you think we should rent.
====================
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Reader Request
I got this question from K.
"Can you blog one day on your opinion of eating your exercise calories back? part of me feels like its counterproductive, but then mathematically it makes sense, so im kind of at a stand still. ie: my calorie suggestions say 1350 or so, so i generally stick in that range, but if I go to the gym i typically burn 700-800 calories on my Polar HRM. So at the end of the day, I've only net 550-700 calories for the day - which is way under the minimum to run your body.... which may be why some of us are seeing a stand still on the scale? I just dont know if that really makes sense or not, or if its really the right thing to do."
I'm so glad she asked this because it coincided with an article I read last week. This article at Shape Magazine gave a formula to use to calculate a rough estimate of how many calories you should be eating to lose weight.
BMR = 655 + (4.35 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)
Take that number and use the following formula to determine your activity level to multiply the BMR by. (Be honest!)
Sedentary- 1.4 (Not moving much at all throughout the day, reading, watching TV, etc)
Light Active- 1.5 (This is most people: You likely work at an office but get in an hour of moderate exercise per day)
Moderately Active- 1.6 (Your job involved light manual labor and you're active outside of work)
Very Active- 1.9 (You're a machine. Probably military or your job is very physically demanding and super active outside of work as well)
So let's take moi for example. My numbers would be 1908+329-174 for a total of 2063 then my activity level is lightly active even though I bust ass during my workout time so 2063 x 1.5=3095.
3095 is the amount of calories it would take to maintain my weight according to that article.
Then it asks to determine the type of exercise you're doing (ie- our HIIT workouts and strength training burns more calories once we stop than if you did say a dance type workout), the type of diet you eat, how much weight you have to lose and your individual metabolism.
"Can you blog one day on your opinion of eating your exercise calories back? part of me feels like its counterproductive, but then mathematically it makes sense, so im kind of at a stand still. ie: my calorie suggestions say 1350 or so, so i generally stick in that range, but if I go to the gym i typically burn 700-800 calories on my Polar HRM. So at the end of the day, I've only net 550-700 calories for the day - which is way under the minimum to run your body.... which may be why some of us are seeing a stand still on the scale? I just dont know if that really makes sense or not, or if its really the right thing to do."
I'm so glad she asked this because it coincided with an article I read last week. This article at Shape Magazine gave a formula to use to calculate a rough estimate of how many calories you should be eating to lose weight.
BMR = 655 + (4.35 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)
Take that number and use the following formula to determine your activity level to multiply the BMR by. (Be honest!)
Sedentary- 1.4 (Not moving much at all throughout the day, reading, watching TV, etc)
Light Active- 1.5 (This is most people: You likely work at an office but get in an hour of moderate exercise per day)
Moderately Active- 1.6 (Your job involved light manual labor and you're active outside of work)
Very Active- 1.9 (You're a machine. Probably military or your job is very physically demanding and super active outside of work as well)
So let's take moi for example. My numbers would be 1908+329-174 for a total of 2063 then my activity level is lightly active even though I bust ass during my workout time so 2063 x 1.5=3095.
3095 is the amount of calories it would take to maintain my weight according to that article.
Then it asks to determine the type of exercise you're doing (ie- our HIIT workouts and strength training burns more calories once we stop than if you did say a dance type workout), the type of diet you eat, how much weight you have to lose and your individual metabolism.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Check the freezer before grocery time
I don't usually do Sunday posts but this was too funny not to share. I felt like our freezer contents were never going down so I had the Mr read off what was in the freezer before we head off to the stores this morning. Here's the list of what was in the freezer.
3 TJ's Creamy Polenta with carrots and spinach
1 bag chicken breast tenderloins
1 sweet potato fries
2 white ruffy
1 butternut squash risotto
2 asparagus risotto
1 lb ground chicken breast
1 small beef roast
1 serving of shrimp
2 stuffed flounders
6 mahi mahi's (that's not a typo)
1 lb of 96/4 ground beef
1 lb of 85/15 patties
1 bag TJ's potatoes and hericot verts
1 bag TJ's quinoa duo
1 bag TJ's sockeye salmon and asparagus pasta
2 salmon burgers.
This is at the END of a grocery cycle and rarin' up for the next one! Um yeah. I think we'll just need to get produce and we'll be good to go. I could live through a 5 day grocery closure off that crap! That's not counting all of the pasta and sauces in the pantry!
The lesson is...do an inventory before you grocery shop! (This is more a note to myself)
Do you do inventory before you grocery shop?
====================
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3 TJ's Creamy Polenta with carrots and spinach
1 bag chicken breast tenderloins
1 sweet potato fries
2 white ruffy
1 butternut squash risotto
2 asparagus risotto
1 lb ground chicken breast
1 small beef roast
1 serving of shrimp
2 stuffed flounders
6 mahi mahi's (that's not a typo)
1 lb of 96/4 ground beef
1 lb of 85/15 patties
1 bag TJ's potatoes and hericot verts
1 bag TJ's quinoa duo
1 bag TJ's sockeye salmon and asparagus pasta
2 salmon burgers.
This is at the END of a grocery cycle and rarin' up for the next one! Um yeah. I think we'll just need to get produce and we'll be good to go. I could live through a 5 day grocery closure off that crap! That's not counting all of the pasta and sauces in the pantry!
The lesson is...do an inventory before you grocery shop! (This is more a note to myself)
Do you do inventory before you grocery shop?
====================
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Saturday, March 3, 2012
Unstuck- Weigh In
It seems doing the unstuck aren't just lyrics to a Cure song, it also means the loss I had last week didn't stick...to the tune of 4 lbs I thought I was rid of coming back. Thanks a lot. I knew better than to think a 7 lb loss on a severe respiratory illness would be permanent but a girl can dream right? Sigh. Insert that feeling with how bad I felt in dressing rooms with fluorescent lighting last night and that about puts a fork in my self esteem right now.
But, it's road trip day back to the Mr's hometown and I need to put on a happy face and figure out what the hell I'm going to do from here. I'm hoping I'm good enough to work back into higher calorie burns this coming week. The bod will tell me. I know it sounds weird especially after the gain but I'm going to up the calories because I just haven't been consistent in doing it more than 50-100 calories because I'm scared to. We're all trained that you should cut, cut, cut calories and that just isn't true when you work the way we do. More to come on that in Monday's post but I need to think of what I want to add in that won't add a buttload of sodium too. About 200 calories or so worth. I'm shooting between 2200-2300. Writing that scares the shit out of me, I'll be honest. But I'm not a small girl. I so want to say some numbers here but I won't...that comes Monday.
Well the Mr is out of the shower so I'm going to get a move on.
If anyone has a healthy 200-300 calorie suggestion, I'm all ears. I thought maybe a bowl of oatmeal, quinoa salad...stuff like that but I'm open to anything.
Hope y'all have a groovy weekend!
====================
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But, it's road trip day back to the Mr's hometown and I need to put on a happy face and figure out what the hell I'm going to do from here. I'm hoping I'm good enough to work back into higher calorie burns this coming week. The bod will tell me. I know it sounds weird especially after the gain but I'm going to up the calories because I just haven't been consistent in doing it more than 50-100 calories because I'm scared to. We're all trained that you should cut, cut, cut calories and that just isn't true when you work the way we do. More to come on that in Monday's post but I need to think of what I want to add in that won't add a buttload of sodium too. About 200 calories or so worth. I'm shooting between 2200-2300. Writing that scares the shit out of me, I'll be honest. But I'm not a small girl. I so want to say some numbers here but I won't...that comes Monday.
Well the Mr is out of the shower so I'm going to get a move on.
If anyone has a healthy 200-300 calorie suggestion, I'm all ears. I thought maybe a bowl of oatmeal, quinoa salad...stuff like that but I'm open to anything.
Hope y'all have a groovy weekend!
====================
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Friday, March 2, 2012
3/2/12- Food Journal
This morning I woke up with THE most massive craving for pancakes. It was like "if you don't have pancakes, you will die. Eat them." I have never felt something so strong so I gave in. But it gave me an excuse to try the TJ's Pumpkin Pancake mix I've been hoarding since Fall! HA! I didn't use the 2 tbsp of butter the batter called for and used skim milk so it ended up coming in lower than the breakfast I had planned. Today was full of yummy stuff.
Let's eat...
Breakfast, as I eluded to, was 2 pumpkin pancakes with light maple syrup. (To be clear that's Mrs. Butterworth light, not that all natural crap. We've tried it, we hated it, we wasted money. What can I say, we both love the sugar bomb) A banana and 9 oz of skim milk. Craving satisfied!
For a late morning snack after the Mr and I went on a walk, I had a peanut oat bar but forgot to take a pic. Refer to other food journals this week if you must see a pic. ;-)
Lunch was the return to my beloved tuna "tacos." Damn have I missed you! Along with all of the usual characters...raw veggies with 1/2 tbsp dip, honeycrisp apple with apple dip, fruit salad (cantaloupe, honeydew and clementine), TJ's apple bar and iced tea.
BLAM! I wanted to dive into this when I plated it so I thought I'd go for the extreme close up. TJ's lemon pepper pasta with 1/4 cup of Classico light alfredo, 7 brussels sprouts caramelized in leftover bacon grease from 1 strip of bacon but split between the two of us for 1/2 a slice of bacon. It was SO good!
I'm out shopping for an appropriate maxi dress so no pics of the snack I'll have when we get back (unless it goes poorly and I end up home sooner than I think!). But it's gonna be a sugar free chocolate puddin' with 1 graham cracker used as a spoon and then I'm gonna eat it and because I forgot to eat my tortilla chips and hummus earlier with lunch, I'm going to fix a mug of Ghirardelli hazelnut hot chocolate with one of these mofo's in the bottom:
I learned that trick from the Ghirardelli shop in Chicago when we got a caramel sea salt hot chocolate. There's no caramel in this version but you can bet I'm going to pick up 2 squares for us in the near future!
Calories for the day, 1962. Calories burned, 310. (It was a rest day but we still got out and walked)
Hope everyone has a great weekend! Pray for a standstill on the scale for me tomorrow. I just want to maintain last week's 7 lb loss!
====================
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Let's eat...
Breakfast, as I eluded to, was 2 pumpkin pancakes with light maple syrup. (To be clear that's Mrs. Butterworth light, not that all natural crap. We've tried it, we hated it, we wasted money. What can I say, we both love the sugar bomb) A banana and 9 oz of skim milk. Craving satisfied!
For a late morning snack after the Mr and I went on a walk, I had a peanut oat bar but forgot to take a pic. Refer to other food journals this week if you must see a pic. ;-)
Lunch was the return to my beloved tuna "tacos." Damn have I missed you! Along with all of the usual characters...raw veggies with 1/2 tbsp dip, honeycrisp apple with apple dip, fruit salad (cantaloupe, honeydew and clementine), TJ's apple bar and iced tea.
BLAM! I wanted to dive into this when I plated it so I thought I'd go for the extreme close up. TJ's lemon pepper pasta with 1/4 cup of Classico light alfredo, 7 brussels sprouts caramelized in leftover bacon grease from 1 strip of bacon but split between the two of us for 1/2 a slice of bacon. It was SO good!
I'm out shopping for an appropriate maxi dress so no pics of the snack I'll have when we get back (unless it goes poorly and I end up home sooner than I think!). But it's gonna be a sugar free chocolate puddin' with 1 graham cracker used as a spoon and then I'm gonna eat it and because I forgot to eat my tortilla chips and hummus earlier with lunch, I'm going to fix a mug of Ghirardelli hazelnut hot chocolate with one of these mofo's in the bottom:
I learned that trick from the Ghirardelli shop in Chicago when we got a caramel sea salt hot chocolate. There's no caramel in this version but you can bet I'm going to pick up 2 squares for us in the near future!
Calories for the day, 1962. Calories burned, 310. (It was a rest day but we still got out and walked)
Hope everyone has a great weekend! Pray for a standstill on the scale for me tomorrow. I just want to maintain last week's 7 lb loss!
====================
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