So, today is the day that I start eating healthy. I am reminded of a drawing I made when I was in therapy for depression a few years ago. It had two lines on it that I want to be my mantra! "I CAN PAMPER MYSELF WITH HEALTHY FOOD" and "I CAN TREAT MY BODY AS A TEMPLE TO MY SOUL"
Today, I have eaten a great salad with tuna and olives and a serving of vanilla fat free yogurt. It is a good start. I will be starting my food log on fatsecret.com again too, so I can put my numbers here.
I have to eat what is in the house now. So, until I get rid of things, I will be counting calories and doing weight watchers simply filling.
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Monday, January 9
Friday, February 11
Daily Thoughts
Today I am reading through a great cookbook called "500 Low Carb Recipes" by Dana Carpender. I am looking for methods as well as recipes. One specific thing I was looking for was ideas for making ribs or anything that cries out for a BBQ sauce.
Since most BBQ sauces are full of sugar, I was looking for more natural ways to sweeten tomatoes and vinegar without sugar. I didn't find the answer in the book, but I was reminded that one of our favorite ways to enjoy ribs was to cook them in a slow cooker with diet soda. The soda does 2 things. First it tenderizes the meat; it's the carbonation that does that. And, it sweetens the meat from the artificial sweetness in the soda. It doesn't really work on the stove or in the oven with diet soda because bringing aspartame to a boil makes it very bitter. But a slow cooker slowly cooks/heats it so all you get is the sweetness.
Tonight is one of our favorite local bands at a place only 1 mile away. We will eat dinner before we go, so it will be a very cheap night out.
***
Since most BBQ sauces are full of sugar, I was looking for more natural ways to sweeten tomatoes and vinegar without sugar. I didn't find the answer in the book, but I was reminded that one of our favorite ways to enjoy ribs was to cook them in a slow cooker with diet soda. The soda does 2 things. First it tenderizes the meat; it's the carbonation that does that. And, it sweetens the meat from the artificial sweetness in the soda. It doesn't really work on the stove or in the oven with diet soda because bringing aspartame to a boil makes it very bitter. But a slow cooker slowly cooks/heats it so all you get is the sweetness.
Tonight is one of our favorite local bands at a place only 1 mile away. We will eat dinner before we go, so it will be a very cheap night out.
***
Thursday, February 10
Daily Thoughts
Well it's mid afternoon and I am just getting to the checking in here. I am waiting for my dinner to be ready and it smells luscious. It is cooking in the rice cooker. It is a Mexican style rice and chicken that I made up myself. If you are also following my cooking blog, it is actually something that was planned for next week, but got moved up because at 11AM I discovered the the item scheduled for today takes 6 hours in the slow cooker and we eat dinner around 3.
Anyhow, it's got yellow rice, chicken, bell pepper, hot frying peppers, red kidney beans, onions, garlic and lots of other seasonings too. It is YUMMY! Very filling and totally simply filling if you are following Weight Watchers. That's not the way I am counting right now, but in many ways it is similar. I am actually using the information I have learned from many eating plans (I don't want to say the "D" word) to choose my foods. I think that's why I am being successful. I am not following someone else's plan, I am learning to figure it out myself.
There are a few reasons I eat dinner at lunch time. First it works well for our schedule. I tutor in the late afternoons and don't get home till 8:30PM. Who wants to start cooking dinner then? Plus it's unhealthy to eat a big meal that late. Also, on the nights we like to go out for music, it's far better to have our big meal before we go. That way the night out costs little to nothing.
We will be heading out tonight to see friends of ours perform at a local restaurant. Here is a no recipe recipe for those who like to go out and have a drink now and then. Take a shot of whipped cream flavored vodka and mix it with diet coke or seltzer. YUMMY! And then each time you are half way down the glass, have the bar tender keep filling the glass with ice and more diet coke or seltzer. Also tastes great with decaf coffee and lots of ice. Use Splenda if you need to sweeten it. No sugar and only 3 carbs.
One of my dogs hasn't been feeling well and that has been very stressful. I think he is better today, although he hasn't started to eat or drink yet and that worries me. He will get a bath later to clean him up and I am hoping that perks him up enough to eat. Although he is such a wimpy dog, he will probably pout for a few hours after the bath first. Just giving him a bath will be a work out for the day.
Well that's enough babbling. I need to get our dinner and will write in my ending day numbers later.
**
Anyhow, it's got yellow rice, chicken, bell pepper, hot frying peppers, red kidney beans, onions, garlic and lots of other seasonings too. It is YUMMY! Very filling and totally simply filling if you are following Weight Watchers. That's not the way I am counting right now, but in many ways it is similar. I am actually using the information I have learned from many eating plans (I don't want to say the "D" word) to choose my foods. I think that's why I am being successful. I am not following someone else's plan, I am learning to figure it out myself.
There are a few reasons I eat dinner at lunch time. First it works well for our schedule. I tutor in the late afternoons and don't get home till 8:30PM. Who wants to start cooking dinner then? Plus it's unhealthy to eat a big meal that late. Also, on the nights we like to go out for music, it's far better to have our big meal before we go. That way the night out costs little to nothing.
We will be heading out tonight to see friends of ours perform at a local restaurant. Here is a no recipe recipe for those who like to go out and have a drink now and then. Take a shot of whipped cream flavored vodka and mix it with diet coke or seltzer. YUMMY! And then each time you are half way down the glass, have the bar tender keep filling the glass with ice and more diet coke or seltzer. Also tastes great with decaf coffee and lots of ice. Use Splenda if you need to sweeten it. No sugar and only 3 carbs.
One of my dogs hasn't been feeling well and that has been very stressful. I think he is better today, although he hasn't started to eat or drink yet and that worries me. He will get a bath later to clean him up and I am hoping that perks him up enough to eat. Although he is such a wimpy dog, he will probably pout for a few hours after the bath first. Just giving him a bath will be a work out for the day.
Well that's enough babbling. I need to get our dinner and will write in my ending day numbers later.
**
Wednesday, February 9
Morning Check-in
Today is very cold here. The wind is whistling and I have the sniffles and a bad throat. Today is a day of comfort food; and it's all within my limits!
The congestion is causing me to have such a headache. I can't take a decongestant because of my blood pressure. Can't wait till I don't have to worry about that any more. I do believe it is 100% caused by my weight.
I won big at the Trivia Night last night. We had a blast besides. It's always fun to spend a night out that costs little to nothing.
More later....
**
The congestion is causing me to have such a headache. I can't take a decongestant because of my blood pressure. Can't wait till I don't have to worry about that any more. I do believe it is 100% caused by my weight.
I won big at the Trivia Night last night. We had a blast besides. It's always fun to spend a night out that costs little to nothing.
More later....
**
Tuesday, February 8
Morning Check-IN
It's kind of late for a morning check in, but I have been busy planning my menus and ordering groceries. Tonight is Trivia Night! I usually win enough to pay for the night out, so we don't want to miss it. The place we go puts out a huge display of free appetizers. I am hoping they do the same as last time with many proteins (chicken and scallops) and not as many breaded and fried things. Although I can eat the fried things, I can't eat them if they are breaded. And, truth be told, I would rather eat better than "fried".
I started my day with a plain fat free yogurt, which as I have shared before uses up 12 of my 15 grams of sugar because dairy is full of lactose. I will adjust the rest of the day accordingly.
Yesterday was an extraordinarily stressful day, so the fact that I didn't over eat is a victory in itself. Today should be much better.
**
I started my day with a plain fat free yogurt, which as I have shared before uses up 12 of my 15 grams of sugar because dairy is full of lactose. I will adjust the rest of the day accordingly.
Yesterday was an extraordinarily stressful day, so the fact that I didn't over eat is a victory in itself. Today should be much better.
**
Sunday, February 6
2 Short Term Goals Met
I am proud to announce that I can move 2 of my short term goals to accomplishments. I have successfully lost 10 pounds. Actually 11.5 to be exact!!
And, I made it through a weekend keeping with the plan. Yes, it's Sunday and the weekend isn't over, but we are home today and all the meals are planned to be within my limits.
Congrats to me!!!!!!
***
And, I made it through a weekend keeping with the plan. Yes, it's Sunday and the weekend isn't over, but we are home today and all the meals are planned to be within my limits.
Congrats to me!!!!!!
***
Morning Check-IN
Well, it's 2PM and I am doing a morning check-in. No, I didn't sleep till now. I actually was up at 7. I didn't feel very well though, so I have been on the couch watching food network and then the Super Bowl pre-game. I also didn't do a count last night. I will do that in a few.
It was an awesome day yesterday! Great numbers, and good out to music night.
Today is beef vindaloo for dinner. It is a very, very spicy dish from southeast India. That area has influences from the Portuguese, hence the beef. I can smell it cooking now and even the fragrance is spicy. As my niece Carole said at our wedding reception, when she was only 2 1/2 and was licking all the spicy cocktail sauce off the shrimp, "Spicy, HMMM, It's so good!"
OK, Going back to the count for yesterday!
***
It was an awesome day yesterday! Great numbers, and good out to music night.
Today is beef vindaloo for dinner. It is a very, very spicy dish from southeast India. That area has influences from the Portuguese, hence the beef. I can smell it cooking now and even the fragrance is spicy. As my niece Carole said at our wedding reception, when she was only 2 1/2 and was licking all the spicy cocktail sauce off the shrimp, "Spicy, HMMM, It's so good!"
OK, Going back to the count for yesterday!
***
Thursday, February 3
First Complaint
I shared before that I wasn't a fruit eater. But, I am a vegetable eater. I can probably list on less than one hand the vegetables I don't like. I LOVE MOST OF THEM!!
I am having a hard time fitting the veggies I love into the 15 grams of sugar. Today I am eating a raw green pepper as my vegetable with dinner. Just the one pepper has 5 grams of sugar. My hubby is having carrots with his dinner. Two baby carrots have 1 gram of sugar. So, that isn't too bad. But, 1 cup of peas has over 8 grams of sugar. I had 7 grams of sugar worth of cauliflower in my frittata for breakfast.
While I fully understand the sugar issues, I am having a difficult time getting my mind around too many vegetables being my enemy. I will have to see some amazing results in order to completely buy into this particular requirement.
I do love being able to eat all the chicken I want for lunch today though.
***
I am having a hard time fitting the veggies I love into the 15 grams of sugar. Today I am eating a raw green pepper as my vegetable with dinner. Just the one pepper has 5 grams of sugar. My hubby is having carrots with his dinner. Two baby carrots have 1 gram of sugar. So, that isn't too bad. But, 1 cup of peas has over 8 grams of sugar. I had 7 grams of sugar worth of cauliflower in my frittata for breakfast.
While I fully understand the sugar issues, I am having a difficult time getting my mind around too many vegetables being my enemy. I will have to see some amazing results in order to completely buy into this particular requirement.
I do love being able to eat all the chicken I want for lunch today though.
***
Morning Check-IN
WOW!! I had a really good night sleep. Now, good for me is probably relative to most folks. I went to sleep at 1:15 AM and didn't get up for the first bathroom trip until 6:15. Went back to bed, but I can't fall asleep once the sun is up so I just rested for another hour. Now, 5 hours is a good thing!!!
I also think I have some improvement in my knees and ankles already. Now, I know that seems impossible, but as a very wise loving cousin told me, even if it's in my mind, it is a good thing because feeling better is mostly in the mind anyhow. I do see a commercial pretty regularly that has a man doing a break dance and the caption is something like "Every pound you lose is 15 pounds of pressure off your knees." I might have those numbers off, but next time I see the commercial I will pay more attention. So, it is possible that I actually do feel better.
Now, I discovered I left off a few goals, which I will add today. I live in a town house style home. That basically means 3 floors. My knees usually hurt way to much for me to walk upstairs to my bedroom more than once a day. And, quite a few days, even once isn't possible. The scale however is up there and since my knees feel better, I may go up there and see if I get any positive feedback from the box of balances and numbers. I will be sure and post some numbers when I have them.
Drinking my coffee and watching the Cooking Channel and I will write more later.
****
I also think I have some improvement in my knees and ankles already. Now, I know that seems impossible, but as a very wise loving cousin told me, even if it's in my mind, it is a good thing because feeling better is mostly in the mind anyhow. I do see a commercial pretty regularly that has a man doing a break dance and the caption is something like "Every pound you lose is 15 pounds of pressure off your knees." I might have those numbers off, but next time I see the commercial I will pay more attention. So, it is possible that I actually do feel better.
Now, I discovered I left off a few goals, which I will add today. I live in a town house style home. That basically means 3 floors. My knees usually hurt way to much for me to walk upstairs to my bedroom more than once a day. And, quite a few days, even once isn't possible. The scale however is up there and since my knees feel better, I may go up there and see if I get any positive feedback from the box of balances and numbers. I will be sure and post some numbers when I have them.
Drinking my coffee and watching the Cooking Channel and I will write more later.
****
Wednesday, February 2
Eating Dinner and Catching Up
My dinner tonight is really tasty. I put 3 already cooked, but frozen, boneless skinless chicken breasts in my rice cooker. I put in 2 rice cooker cups of red rice and 3 cups of frozen spinach and 3 1/2 cups of water. I added 2 tablespoons Vietnamese garlic chili sauce and 2 tablespoons of butter. Cooked on brown rice setting until done. It is very very good and far more filling than I expected. I can have as much of the chicken as I want and 3 cups of the rice mixture. WOW! Almost too much.
It is probably mind over matter, but I think I am actually moving easier tonight than I have in a long time. And, I haven't taken my Aleve yet today.
I don't eat fruit much. There are so many that I don't like. But last week, they were on special and I bought grapefruits. I have 5 left and I don't want them to go to waste, but each one has 20 carbs and 18 of that is sugar. I don't like wasting food and I certainly can't afford it either, so I am not sure what I will do.
I am far more satisfied tonight than I was last night. I wasn't hungry last night, but I was craving something sweet. None of that tonight!
Well, I will be posting my ending numbers a bit later tonight. I did well!
***
It is probably mind over matter, but I think I am actually moving easier tonight than I have in a long time. And, I haven't taken my Aleve yet today.
I don't eat fruit much. There are so many that I don't like. But last week, they were on special and I bought grapefruits. I have 5 left and I don't want them to go to waste, but each one has 20 carbs and 18 of that is sugar. I don't like wasting food and I certainly can't afford it either, so I am not sure what I will do.
I am far more satisfied tonight than I was last night. I wasn't hungry last night, but I was craving something sweet. None of that tonight!
Well, I will be posting my ending numbers a bit later tonight. I did well!
***
Morning Check-IN
I am drinking my morning coffee, with CREAM and enjoying watching the Food Network. It is so icy outside that I am glad I won't have to go anywhere today.
I slept better than I have in a long time last night. I still had to get up often to empty my bladder. I am hoping that it doesn't take that long before the fat pressing on my bladder is lessened enough for me to be able to sleep through at least 6 hours and maybe more. I do understand that my poor sleeping habits contribute to my weight and emotional health.
I'll be writing more later about my plans for food today. And, I am going to try and play my Wii for at least 30 minutes today. I don't have Wii Fit, but any movement is better than what i am already doing, which is NOTHING!
***
I slept better than I have in a long time last night. I still had to get up often to empty my bladder. I am hoping that it doesn't take that long before the fat pressing on my bladder is lessened enough for me to be able to sleep through at least 6 hours and maybe more. I do understand that my poor sleeping habits contribute to my weight and emotional health.
I'll be writing more later about my plans for food today. And, I am going to try and play my Wii for at least 30 minutes today. I don't have Wii Fit, but any movement is better than what i am already doing, which is NOTHING!
***
Tuesday, February 1
Carb withdrawal has started
I did have carbs for dinner in the form of a small potato and 1/2 cup of carrots. I also had quite a bit of lean roast pork. I am not hungry. But, I have a need for something sweet. Since I am NOT a dessert eater, I know that this is part of the carb withdrawal.
I am going to get through this by reversing the thought process from something that I am missing to thinking about how wonderful it is that my body is getting rid of those sugars that I don't need. After all, it's the sugar that fuels my insulin and keeps me hungry and fat. It has only taken 36 hours for my body to purge it! OUT OUT DAMN SPOT!! Ok, I am no Lady Macbeth. I am just marveling at the way the body works.
I will be posting my carb/sugar count for the day shortly.
****
I am going to get through this by reversing the thought process from something that I am missing to thinking about how wonderful it is that my body is getting rid of those sugars that I don't need. After all, it's the sugar that fuels my insulin and keeps me hungry and fat. It has only taken 36 hours for my body to purge it! OUT OUT DAMN SPOT!! Ok, I am no Lady Macbeth. I am just marveling at the way the body works.
I will be posting my carb/sugar count for the day shortly.
****
Afternoon thoughts
So much of my life is wrapped around food. I wake up thinking about it. I plan menus and fill out Peapod orders and watch cooking shows and list new recipes I want to try. I know that I eat not just because I am hungry, but also because I like food. And, I love to cook.
I need to find other things to do. I do have many interests, but I have been isolated lately. A big reason for the isolation is financial. After nearly 2 years of unemployment for my husband, there are many activities that have been eliminated. But, some of what is eliminated is by choice because of a depression. Much of the depression is caused by my weight. So, I figure if I force myself to do some of them, I will feel better. And, then of course as I lose weight, I will want to do more of them and hopefully it will become habit again.
One of the many things I like to do is read. I have started to read again. I can't decide though whether to read a few Danielle Steel books that have been hanging around here or a Sue Grafton book on my Kindle. Such tough decisions. When I used to read all the time I was up to date on each of them. I always read them in order. Now, I don't really consider myself to be a perfectionist or anal retentive, but for some reason I feel like I can't start a new one cause I don't remember where I left off.
Reading over that paragraph makes me sound really pathetic. I have to laugh at myself. I think the solution to the books is to read a totally different one so I don't have to figure out where to start again.
I also want to start playing the piano regularly again. Although I will probably be selling it shortly and part of me is afraid to get attached to it again. I will miss it.
****
I need to find other things to do. I do have many interests, but I have been isolated lately. A big reason for the isolation is financial. After nearly 2 years of unemployment for my husband, there are many activities that have been eliminated. But, some of what is eliminated is by choice because of a depression. Much of the depression is caused by my weight. So, I figure if I force myself to do some of them, I will feel better. And, then of course as I lose weight, I will want to do more of them and hopefully it will become habit again.
One of the many things I like to do is read. I have started to read again. I can't decide though whether to read a few Danielle Steel books that have been hanging around here or a Sue Grafton book on my Kindle. Such tough decisions. When I used to read all the time I was up to date on each of them. I always read them in order. Now, I don't really consider myself to be a perfectionist or anal retentive, but for some reason I feel like I can't start a new one cause I don't remember where I left off.
Reading over that paragraph makes me sound really pathetic. I have to laugh at myself. I think the solution to the books is to read a totally different one so I don't have to figure out where to start again.
I also want to start playing the piano regularly again. Although I will probably be selling it shortly and part of me is afraid to get attached to it again. I will miss it.
****
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