Somehow I have injured my hand. The meaty part of my right palm near the thumb is quite tender and this morning I knew that I would have to opt out of dragon boating tonight to avoid aggravating it further. That left me feeling a bit out of sorts.
Then, after quite a bit of pondering, I had to make the decision to stop going to the gym I was trying out. My hubby and I are simply too strapped for cash due to all the extra events that have been taking place over the past couple of months and which are still coming up in July. I was fine with taking advantage of my free pass when I thought there was somewhat of a possibility of me joining, but once I knew I couldn’t if I wanted to, I just felt too guilty to keep using the facilities. The staff have been so nice these past few days though that I phoned the owner to let him know why I would not be coming back. It’s a shame. I really may have considered becoming a member were my finances a little more accommodating.
So I am left with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth due to the crimps in my exercise plans. I hope tomorrow will be better, but the motivation is really lacking at this moment…
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 2 slices white toast with light peanut butter and light strawberry jam
- 2 cups instant lemon pudding
- 4 cups Vector cereal
- 1 1/4 cups steamed broccoli, mushrooms, onion, and green beans with margarine
- 1/2 baked potato with margarine, sour cream, and chives
- 1 cup pan-fried sliced beef with onions
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips, peppermint flavouring, and sprinkles
EXERCISE:
- 10 squats
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
To Blog, Or Not To Blog
I have been thinking a lot about whether to make the decision to taper off on my blogging. It takes up a lot of time and whenever I get busy the depth of my entries really suffers. I think that in a lot of ways that it would be a wise move to loosen my commitment to this corner of the web and to just post occasionally.
But I don’t want to. For so many reasons, I just can’t bear the thought of such a choice at this point in time. I need this blog. Even if all I write in a day is “grr” or “arg” at least I am connecting to that part of my brain that is accountable to the big picture. If my entire post consists of just my food and exercise lists, I still gain a small sense of focus on this journey. And even though my entries may lack in exciting or thoughtful content from time to time (to time to time to time, as the case may be of late) I yet am reaching out to the masses in some form and hopefully modeling a dedication that may inspire a similar level of perseverance in the face of such blatant personal imperfection.
No, I am not going anywhere. I may not always have a lot to say and I don’t know what the future has in store. Eventually it is possible that this forum will take more of a back seat for me as I continue to walk this path. But, for now, I really am happy that I have kept it up - one “grr” and “arg” post at a time.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 2 Mandarin oranges
- 1 cranberry almond multi-grain bar
- 1 mug sugar free caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
- 6 inch sub on a Parmesan oregano bun with ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, green pepper, onion, black olives, light mayonnaise, honey mustard dressing, and pepper
- 7 cheese and potato perogies with bacon pieces, fried onion, and sour cream
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 45 minute walk
But I don’t want to. For so many reasons, I just can’t bear the thought of such a choice at this point in time. I need this blog. Even if all I write in a day is “grr” or “arg” at least I am connecting to that part of my brain that is accountable to the big picture. If my entire post consists of just my food and exercise lists, I still gain a small sense of focus on this journey. And even though my entries may lack in exciting or thoughtful content from time to time (to time to time to time, as the case may be of late) I yet am reaching out to the masses in some form and hopefully modeling a dedication that may inspire a similar level of perseverance in the face of such blatant personal imperfection.
No, I am not going anywhere. I may not always have a lot to say and I don’t know what the future has in store. Eventually it is possible that this forum will take more of a back seat for me as I continue to walk this path. But, for now, I really am happy that I have kept it up - one “grr” and “arg” post at a time.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 2 Mandarin oranges
- 1 cranberry almond multi-grain bar
- 1 mug sugar free caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
- 6 inch sub on a Parmesan oregano bun with ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, green pepper, onion, black olives, light mayonnaise, honey mustard dressing, and pepper
- 7 cheese and potato perogies with bacon pieces, fried onion, and sour cream
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 45 minute walk
Monday, June 28, 2010
Blurb
I am posting my food almost a day late for the second time in a row! I am getting really bad about finding the time to get on here and do my more introspective entries, but I really want to continue making it a priority. Even a short blurb like this though really helps me to stay focused on where I am at and what I still want to achieve! I will just keep doing what I can!!!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 11 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 1 heated ham, cheese, and green onion scone with butter
- 1 mug coconut steamed soy milk
- 1 piece of a chocolate pecan bar
- 1 cup macaroni and cheese with pepper
- 1 gala apple
- 2 Mandarin oranges
- 1 slice shrimp club pizza
- 3 tiny garden strawberries
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
- 10 whole wheat crackers with 1 wedge light Laughing Cow cheese
EXERCISE:
- 50 minutes of walking completed in 4 outings (15 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and 10 minutes)
- 1 hour and 5 minutes of rowing a dragon boat
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 11 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 1 heated ham, cheese, and green onion scone with butter
- 1 mug coconut steamed soy milk
- 1 piece of a chocolate pecan bar
- 1 cup macaroni and cheese with pepper
- 1 gala apple
- 2 Mandarin oranges
- 1 slice shrimp club pizza
- 3 tiny garden strawberries
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
- 10 whole wheat crackers with 1 wedge light Laughing Cow cheese
EXERCISE:
- 50 minutes of walking completed in 4 outings (15 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and 10 minutes)
- 1 hour and 5 minutes of rowing a dragon boat
Sunday, June 27, 2010
I'm Late!
Wow! This is the first chance I have had to sit down at the computer since yesterday morning and even now I am on my way back out the door!
This quick fly-by posting is just to make sure that I have my food and exercise recorded for yesterday. Considering that I was at an all day celebratory event (half bridal shower and half girl's night out) that was largely focused on food, I think I did pretty well. The eats were very rich, but I managed to keep myself limited to just a couple of bites for many things. I didn't feel deprived, but I didn't come out of it feeling like I overdid it either!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 large golden delicious apple
- 2 pieces focaccia bread with shrimp and melted cheese
- 2 crackers with soft cheese
- 3 glasses white wine
- 2 mini quiches
- 5 strawberries
- 1 slice Neapolitan cheesecake
- 2 cream puffs topped with chocolate
- 1 mug tea with milk
- 1 bite breaded fish with cream sauce
- 5 large scallops in coconut cream sauce
- 2 cups cooked vegetables in coconut cream sauce
- 1 cup white jasmine rice in coconut cream sauce
- 1 bite white jasmine rice in red curry reduction
- 1 bite jumbo prawn in spicy sauce
- 2 bites chocolate chili tort
- 1/2 cup mango pudding
- 1 deep-fried batter cookie with icing sugar and drizzled strawberry sauce
- 1 glasses worth of approximately 10 different double cocktails (mostly sips)
- 1 piece of a chocolate pecan bar
EXERCISE:
- 30 minutes of walking completed in 2 outings (both 15 minutes)
- 55 minute Cardio Kickboxing class
This quick fly-by posting is just to make sure that I have my food and exercise recorded for yesterday. Considering that I was at an all day celebratory event (half bridal shower and half girl's night out) that was largely focused on food, I think I did pretty well. The eats were very rich, but I managed to keep myself limited to just a couple of bites for many things. I didn't feel deprived, but I didn't come out of it feeling like I overdid it either!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 large golden delicious apple
- 2 pieces focaccia bread with shrimp and melted cheese
- 2 crackers with soft cheese
- 3 glasses white wine
- 2 mini quiches
- 5 strawberries
- 1 slice Neapolitan cheesecake
- 2 cream puffs topped with chocolate
- 1 mug tea with milk
- 1 bite breaded fish with cream sauce
- 5 large scallops in coconut cream sauce
- 2 cups cooked vegetables in coconut cream sauce
- 1 cup white jasmine rice in coconut cream sauce
- 1 bite white jasmine rice in red curry reduction
- 1 bite jumbo prawn in spicy sauce
- 2 bites chocolate chili tort
- 1/2 cup mango pudding
- 1 deep-fried batter cookie with icing sugar and drizzled strawberry sauce
- 1 glasses worth of approximately 10 different double cocktails (mostly sips)
- 1 piece of a chocolate pecan bar
EXERCISE:
- 30 minutes of walking completed in 2 outings (both 15 minutes)
- 55 minute Cardio Kickboxing class
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Weigh-In For Week 46
As has been the status quo for my Saturday mornings, I am dashing off and don’t have much time to write about my weigh-in results. I will say that I am pleased with them! I am only down 0.8 of a pound, but I am down! After going away for our anniversary, and being so nonchalant about my food intake during the trip, I had thought I would see a gain. I guess getting back at it once I got home combined with the big boost in exercise I have pursued over the past couple of days has paid off! Yay!!!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Gym Class
I got in a lot of high energy workout time at the gym I am trying out today. I participated in a Boxercise class where, even though there were only four of us in attendance, I thought that I did a good job of keeping up with – and even leading – the pack. I also had a personal training session with the owner who showed me a routine using the weight machines they have at the facility. Personally, I am still partial to doing exercises that I can perform just about anywhere, but it was still a nice change to use equipment I have never had access to before.
I also brought the owner copies of my ‘before’ picture from August and one of the most recent ‘progress’ ones too. When we were chatting yesterday about how far I have come on this journey he said that he was having a hard time picturing me and asked me to bring in some photos; I even brought a few random shots from last spring and summer. He was pretty amazed. He kept on saying that he always has people telling him that it can’t be done.
It’s tough for me because for a decade and a half I felt just like that: that it couldn’t be done. I think that it makes me more sympathetic to people who are feeling that way. I understand the frustration and utter sense of hopelessness that can take one over when weight is a struggle. Now, I know that if I can do it that anyone can, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is much easier said than done.
At any rate, it was nice to receive that pat on the back, and the owner was friendly and really great to have as a trainer. We are supposed to have another session on Monday where he will show me a different routine. And tomorrow is Cardio Kickboxing…
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 14 glasses of water
- 1 banana
- 1 piece white toast with light peanut butter
- 1 gala apple
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 1 1/2 cups macaroni and cheese with pepper
- 1 cup steamed green beans, broccoli, mushrooms, and onion with margarine
- 2 strips bacon
- 1 large golden delicious apple
- 1 small mug sugar free caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
EXERCISE:
- 30 minutes of walking completed in 2 outings (both 15 minutes)
- 50 minute Boxercise class
- 20 minutes on a recumbent bike
- 4 sets of 10 reps each for 3 leg exercises, 4 arm exercises, and 3 abdominal exercises
I also brought the owner copies of my ‘before’ picture from August and one of the most recent ‘progress’ ones too. When we were chatting yesterday about how far I have come on this journey he said that he was having a hard time picturing me and asked me to bring in some photos; I even brought a few random shots from last spring and summer. He was pretty amazed. He kept on saying that he always has people telling him that it can’t be done.
It’s tough for me because for a decade and a half I felt just like that: that it couldn’t be done. I think that it makes me more sympathetic to people who are feeling that way. I understand the frustration and utter sense of hopelessness that can take one over when weight is a struggle. Now, I know that if I can do it that anyone can, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is much easier said than done.
At any rate, it was nice to receive that pat on the back, and the owner was friendly and really great to have as a trainer. We are supposed to have another session on Monday where he will show me a different routine. And tomorrow is Cardio Kickboxing…
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 14 glasses of water
- 1 banana
- 1 piece white toast with light peanut butter
- 1 gala apple
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 1 1/2 cups macaroni and cheese with pepper
- 1 cup steamed green beans, broccoli, mushrooms, and onion with margarine
- 2 strips bacon
- 1 large golden delicious apple
- 1 small mug sugar free caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
EXERCISE:
- 30 minutes of walking completed in 2 outings (both 15 minutes)
- 50 minute Boxercise class
- 20 minutes on a recumbent bike
- 4 sets of 10 reps each for 3 leg exercises, 4 arm exercises, and 3 abdominal exercises
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Catching Up
I think I may finally be caught up on the majority of my sleep. I am struggling just a little to stay awake to write this right now, but at least my eyelids are not fluttering closed involuntarily like they were the last couple of days!
Our anniversary was incredible! We had an amazing trip and made many new memories that we will always cherish. Spending quality time with my wonderful husband is something that I can never get enough of, so after such a long busy stint – which will be continuing for another month or so yet – it was absolute bliss to escape with him for a couple of days.
However, I must confess (you all knew it was coming) that I did poorly with my eating the entire time we were away. It wasn’t a binge-type of experience though, which is good, but more a sense of simply giving in to whatever we wanted because we were finally away. I would say that while I definitely overate that I did not feel like it was in a way that was out of control. This is very different from the last time I went away and I am already feeling like I am back on plan and doing well. Unfortunately, I am quite certain that such a quick turn around will not be enough to prevent me from seeing a gain come Saturday’s weigh-in, but I am okay with that. Maybe I shouldn’t be – I know that I have been fluctuating around these same numbers for about a month now – but I just can’t bring myself to feel bad about having a relaxed time with my hubby.
On the more diligent front, I did do something new to try and help me see more consistent losses in the coming weeks. I went to one of my local gyms and asked for a free one-week pass. My plan is to give it a try and investigate all that they have to offer, and then go to one or two other gyms to see if I can do the same there too. I am not totally sure if I will join one or not – this past month excluded, I have done very well sticking to an exercise regimen on my own – but I am going into them with an open mind and the thought process that at least I am getting temporary access to an entirely new set of equipment and tools which may help me get back on track.
Today, for example, I attended a Core Fitness class. It seemed pretty intense to me although I managed to keep up with those people performing in the top half for most of it. I did better on the cardio components than the actual core work, but I did do everything and felt good about my performance. It was really interesting to try something so different from any other workout that I have done so far on this journey!
One last thing I need to note is that I did not complete Midlife Swimmer’s fabulous Pre-Summer Pool Challenge. I am disappointed in myself for this because it was a great idea and something I know I would have enjoyed completing. My only excuse is the lack of time that I have been contending with for the last couple of months, but even that very valid reason does not feel like a good enough one to have missed out on participating in this fun challenge. I did do one small component of it though. I spoke with my husband about the benefits of exercising in the water. The main part of it however – actually going swimming three times prior to June 21st – did not happen. I think that to make up for not finishing this challenge I will make a personal commitment to go to the pool at least three times before the end of summer. Besides, swimming is just so darned fun!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 2 cups grapes
- 1 gala apple
- 3 1/2 cups spinach salad with cubed cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, yellow pepper, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 cup honey nut granola cereal
- 1/2 cup corn with margarine
- 1 cup steamed broccoli with margarine
- 1/2 cup brown rice
- 1 cup of a pork chop
- 1 small mug caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
EXERCISE:
- 25 minutes of walking completed in 2 outings (15 minutes and 10 minutes)
- 50 minute Core Fitness class
Our anniversary was incredible! We had an amazing trip and made many new memories that we will always cherish. Spending quality time with my wonderful husband is something that I can never get enough of, so after such a long busy stint – which will be continuing for another month or so yet – it was absolute bliss to escape with him for a couple of days.
However, I must confess (you all knew it was coming) that I did poorly with my eating the entire time we were away. It wasn’t a binge-type of experience though, which is good, but more a sense of simply giving in to whatever we wanted because we were finally away. I would say that while I definitely overate that I did not feel like it was in a way that was out of control. This is very different from the last time I went away and I am already feeling like I am back on plan and doing well. Unfortunately, I am quite certain that such a quick turn around will not be enough to prevent me from seeing a gain come Saturday’s weigh-in, but I am okay with that. Maybe I shouldn’t be – I know that I have been fluctuating around these same numbers for about a month now – but I just can’t bring myself to feel bad about having a relaxed time with my hubby.
On the more diligent front, I did do something new to try and help me see more consistent losses in the coming weeks. I went to one of my local gyms and asked for a free one-week pass. My plan is to give it a try and investigate all that they have to offer, and then go to one or two other gyms to see if I can do the same there too. I am not totally sure if I will join one or not – this past month excluded, I have done very well sticking to an exercise regimen on my own – but I am going into them with an open mind and the thought process that at least I am getting temporary access to an entirely new set of equipment and tools which may help me get back on track.
Today, for example, I attended a Core Fitness class. It seemed pretty intense to me although I managed to keep up with those people performing in the top half for most of it. I did better on the cardio components than the actual core work, but I did do everything and felt good about my performance. It was really interesting to try something so different from any other workout that I have done so far on this journey!
One last thing I need to note is that I did not complete Midlife Swimmer’s fabulous Pre-Summer Pool Challenge. I am disappointed in myself for this because it was a great idea and something I know I would have enjoyed completing. My only excuse is the lack of time that I have been contending with for the last couple of months, but even that very valid reason does not feel like a good enough one to have missed out on participating in this fun challenge. I did do one small component of it though. I spoke with my husband about the benefits of exercising in the water. The main part of it however – actually going swimming three times prior to June 21st – did not happen. I think that to make up for not finishing this challenge I will make a personal commitment to go to the pool at least three times before the end of summer. Besides, swimming is just so darned fun!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 2 cups grapes
- 1 gala apple
- 3 1/2 cups spinach salad with cubed cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, yellow pepper, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 cup honey nut granola cereal
- 1/2 cup corn with margarine
- 1 cup steamed broccoli with margarine
- 1/2 cup brown rice
- 1 cup of a pork chop
- 1 small mug caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
EXERCISE:
- 25 minutes of walking completed in 2 outings (15 minutes and 10 minutes)
- 50 minute Core Fitness class
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Asleep On My Feet
I can not believe how tired I am. I feel horrible putting off a real post again to turn in early, but I barely have a choice since I am falling asleep even as I write this. I shall return…
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 1/2 cup fruit salad
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 2 cups grapes
- 3 cups spinach salad with cubed cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, yellow pepper, mushrooms, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 large golden delicious apple
- 1 mug caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
- 1 cup dried mango
- 1 cheeseburger on a white hamburger bun with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onion, sautéed mushrooms, light mayonnaise, and mustard
- 1 cup red potato salad
- 1 large piece carrot cake with cream cheese icing
- 1 small glass sparkling apple juice
EXERCISE:
- 1 hour and 10 minutes of walking completed in 3 outings (15 minutes, 45 minutes, and 10 minutes)
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 1/2 cup fruit salad
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 2 cups grapes
- 3 cups spinach salad with cubed cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, yellow pepper, mushrooms, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 large golden delicious apple
- 1 mug caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
- 1 cup dried mango
- 1 cheeseburger on a white hamburger bun with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onion, sautéed mushrooms, light mayonnaise, and mustard
- 1 cup red potato salad
- 1 large piece carrot cake with cream cheese icing
- 1 small glass sparkling apple juice
EXERCISE:
- 1 hour and 10 minutes of walking completed in 3 outings (15 minutes, 45 minutes, and 10 minutes)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Happy Anniversary!
We just got home and we are face planting into bed in about thirty seconds, so the food and exercise lists will have to keep until tomorrow. I will quickly say that the trip was beyond amazing and that this was definitely an anniversary to remember!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 5 glasses of water
- 2 scrambled eggs
- 2 pieces whole grain toast with butter, strawberry jam, and blackberry jam
- 1 slice orange
- 1 1/2 pieces breaded and battered cod with tartar sauce
- 10 French fries with tartar sauce
- 1 extra large scoop huckleberry ice cream and 1 extra large scoop butter finger ice cream on an extra large waffle ice cream cone
- 1 slice lemon pound cake with lemon icing
- 1 glass strawberry and cream frappachino with whipped cream
- 1 glass root beer
- 1 piece broccoli and cheese quiche
- 1 piece sour cream coffee cake
- 2 bites chocolate dipped in white chocolate zebra cookie
- 1 sandwich on marble rye bread with ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard
- 1 mug tea with cream
- 1/2 cup Skittles candy
- 3 pieces almond roca
- 1 small glass white fig wine
EXERCISE:
- 6 hours walking around sightseeing
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 5 glasses of water
- 2 scrambled eggs
- 2 pieces whole grain toast with butter, strawberry jam, and blackberry jam
- 1 slice orange
- 1 1/2 pieces breaded and battered cod with tartar sauce
- 10 French fries with tartar sauce
- 1 extra large scoop huckleberry ice cream and 1 extra large scoop butter finger ice cream on an extra large waffle ice cream cone
- 1 slice lemon pound cake with lemon icing
- 1 glass strawberry and cream frappachino with whipped cream
- 1 glass root beer
- 1 piece broccoli and cheese quiche
- 1 piece sour cream coffee cake
- 2 bites chocolate dipped in white chocolate zebra cookie
- 1 sandwich on marble rye bread with ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard
- 1 mug tea with cream
- 1/2 cup Skittles candy
- 3 pieces almond roca
- 1 small glass white fig wine
EXERCISE:
- 6 hours walking around sightseeing
Monday, June 21, 2010
Go Bananas
First of all, I want to quickly mention that the publishing company I write my column for has asked me to run a monthly contest offering one of their books. Although totally unrelated to health and fitness, I know that most people out there do like to get free stuff - and the first give-away starts today - so I just thought I would pass that information onto all of you...
My phenomenal hubby and I are out of town right now, so I am hoping this scheduled post goes up without any issues! We are only away for the night to celebrate our anniversary, so I will be back tomorrow with a 'live' entry. In the meantime, obviously this one won't include my food and exercise lists until I can update them upon my return.
One of the things that I have been asked about again and again in recent months makes me smile. Everyone wants to know about my peanut butter and banana wraps! I discovered them myself a while back when reading another blog and scanning their food list and have been hooked ever since. Consider this fair warning though: they are ridiculously easy and extremely addictive!
Pan-Fried Banana & Peanut Butter Wrap
Ingredients:
- banana
- peanut butter (I use light)
- soft tortilla shell (I use Dempsters original tortilla shells)
- cooking spray
Directions:
Take a tortilla shell and put a thin layer of peanut butter over one whole side. Slice up a banana (approximately 1/8" thick) onto one half of the wrap, and fold the other side over it to 'glue' the banana in between the peanut butter. Spray a little cooking spray onto a large frying pan and put the folded wrap on one half of the pan on medium-high heat for a minute or so. Flip the wrap onto the other side of the pan (to cook over the spray on that side too) and let it sit for a minute or so as well. You might have to give it one or two more flips depending on how crispy you like it (I prefer a light browning on both sides). Cut in half and enjoy!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 6 glasses of water
- 1 toasted English muffin with bacon, egg, and cheese
- 5 bites chocolate dipped in white chocolate zebra cookie
- 1 mug hot chocolate
- 3 pieces almond roca
- 1 sandwich on marble rye bread with ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard
- 1 mug tea with cream
- 1/2 piece sour cream coffee cake
- 1 large dried apple chip
- 1 bite smoked salmon
- 1 slice white peach
- 1 bite dark chocolate linguine
- 1 mug caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
- 3 cups Caesar salad with Parmesan cheese and croutons
- 5 French fries with ranch dip
- 2 bites of a chicken strip with ranch dip
- 1 slice key lime cheesecake with whipped cream
- 1 bite Snickers cheesecake with whipped cream
- 1 large glass white wine
- 10 oz. rare steak with lime butter and green onion
- 1 cup grilled green beans and onions
- 2 pieces cheese polenta
- 1 bite roasted herb chicken
- 1 bite mashed potatoes
- 1 cup fudge sundae with whipped cream, peanuts, and coconut, almond, and chocolate chunk ice cream
EXERCISE:
- 6 hours walking around sightseeing
- 10 squats
My phenomenal hubby and I are out of town right now, so I am hoping this scheduled post goes up without any issues! We are only away for the night to celebrate our anniversary, so I will be back tomorrow with a 'live' entry. In the meantime, obviously this one won't include my food and exercise lists until I can update them upon my return.
One of the things that I have been asked about again and again in recent months makes me smile. Everyone wants to know about my peanut butter and banana wraps! I discovered them myself a while back when reading another blog and scanning their food list and have been hooked ever since. Consider this fair warning though: they are ridiculously easy and extremely addictive!
Pan-Fried Banana & Peanut Butter Wrap
Ingredients:
- banana
- peanut butter (I use light)
- soft tortilla shell (I use Dempsters original tortilla shells)
- cooking spray
Directions:
Take a tortilla shell and put a thin layer of peanut butter over one whole side. Slice up a banana (approximately 1/8" thick) onto one half of the wrap, and fold the other side over it to 'glue' the banana in between the peanut butter. Spray a little cooking spray onto a large frying pan and put the folded wrap on one half of the pan on medium-high heat for a minute or so. Flip the wrap onto the other side of the pan (to cook over the spray on that side too) and let it sit for a minute or so as well. You might have to give it one or two more flips depending on how crispy you like it (I prefer a light browning on both sides). Cut in half and enjoy!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 6 glasses of water
- 1 toasted English muffin with bacon, egg, and cheese
- 5 bites chocolate dipped in white chocolate zebra cookie
- 1 mug hot chocolate
- 3 pieces almond roca
- 1 sandwich on marble rye bread with ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard
- 1 mug tea with cream
- 1/2 piece sour cream coffee cake
- 1 large dried apple chip
- 1 bite smoked salmon
- 1 slice white peach
- 1 bite dark chocolate linguine
- 1 mug caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
- 3 cups Caesar salad with Parmesan cheese and croutons
- 5 French fries with ranch dip
- 2 bites of a chicken strip with ranch dip
- 1 slice key lime cheesecake with whipped cream
- 1 bite Snickers cheesecake with whipped cream
- 1 large glass white wine
- 10 oz. rare steak with lime butter and green onion
- 1 cup grilled green beans and onions
- 2 pieces cheese polenta
- 1 bite roasted herb chicken
- 1 bite mashed potatoes
- 1 cup fudge sundae with whipped cream, peanuts, and coconut, almond, and chocolate chunk ice cream
EXERCISE:
- 6 hours walking around sightseeing
- 10 squats
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Dragon Myself To Bed
What a fantastic regatta!!!
Yesterday was my first glimpse into the big dragon boating festival I have been so excited to take part in! We arrived and I was amazed by how big it is! There were well over a hundred teams signed up to participate and there must have been thousands of spectators there too. The best part was that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and the energy was extraordinary!
We did two seeding races yesterday and the team was quite happy with our results. We placed in the bottom half for both of them, but we were pretty much expecting that. As you compete in each successional one you can tell that the teams are becoming more and more evenly matched which is what the seeding is for. It was such a great time and I just adore my team!
Then today, just before our first race, I was incredibly touched by a kind gesture and reminded again of how fantastic people really can be. Someone, who asked our manager to remain anonymous, basically donated $50 to the team with the stipulation that it be used to reimburse a portion of my husband's and my festival registration fees. We were stunned! We have no idea who would do such a generous thing, nor what we did to have someone believe that we deserved such an amazing contribution. It was totally out of the blue, but so very appreciated. It is a wonderful feeling to know that there are such caring, thoughtful people in this world and that genuine kindness is one of the biggest strengths of humanity.
So, following that incredible and unexpected moment, we had our first heat - the one before the final race - and we finished in second place! We were so excited! That bumped us up to the 'B' recreational division and meant that for our final race we would be competing for medals!
Unfortunately, we did not actually win one of those pretty, shiny medallions. However, our last paddle still went really well and apparently the team moved up 32 spots from their placement last year. We had a great time and got in a good workout; we had a lot of fun and it was such an interesting experience - one I will never forget! I am about to drop into bed from sheer exhaustion, but I already can't wait for next year!!!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 1 pear
- 1 cranberry and almond granola bar
- 1 ham and cheese sandwich on whole grain bread with lettuce, mayonnaise, butter, and Dijon mustard
- 10 sweet potato fries with spicy mayonnaise sauce
- 1 bite mini melts ice cream substitute
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup honey nut granola cereal
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 glass sparkling elderflower water
- 2 cups rotini with meat sauce
- 1 piece garlic bread
- 1 1/4 cups strawberries
EXERCISE:
- 6 hours at a dragon boating regatta (approximately 20 minutes on the water)
Yesterday was my first glimpse into the big dragon boating festival I have been so excited to take part in! We arrived and I was amazed by how big it is! There were well over a hundred teams signed up to participate and there must have been thousands of spectators there too. The best part was that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and the energy was extraordinary!
We did two seeding races yesterday and the team was quite happy with our results. We placed in the bottom half for both of them, but we were pretty much expecting that. As you compete in each successional one you can tell that the teams are becoming more and more evenly matched which is what the seeding is for. It was such a great time and I just adore my team!
Then today, just before our first race, I was incredibly touched by a kind gesture and reminded again of how fantastic people really can be. Someone, who asked our manager to remain anonymous, basically donated $50 to the team with the stipulation that it be used to reimburse a portion of my husband's and my festival registration fees. We were stunned! We have no idea who would do such a generous thing, nor what we did to have someone believe that we deserved such an amazing contribution. It was totally out of the blue, but so very appreciated. It is a wonderful feeling to know that there are such caring, thoughtful people in this world and that genuine kindness is one of the biggest strengths of humanity.
So, following that incredible and unexpected moment, we had our first heat - the one before the final race - and we finished in second place! We were so excited! That bumped us up to the 'B' recreational division and meant that for our final race we would be competing for medals!
Unfortunately, we did not actually win one of those pretty, shiny medallions. However, our last paddle still went really well and apparently the team moved up 32 spots from their placement last year. We had a great time and got in a good workout; we had a lot of fun and it was such an interesting experience - one I will never forget! I am about to drop into bed from sheer exhaustion, but I already can't wait for next year!!!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 1 pear
- 1 cranberry and almond granola bar
- 1 ham and cheese sandwich on whole grain bread with lettuce, mayonnaise, butter, and Dijon mustard
- 10 sweet potato fries with spicy mayonnaise sauce
- 1 bite mini melts ice cream substitute
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup honey nut granola cereal
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 glass sparkling elderflower water
- 2 cups rotini with meat sauce
- 1 piece garlic bread
- 1 1/4 cups strawberries
EXERCISE:
- 6 hours at a dragon boating regatta (approximately 20 minutes on the water)
Like Two Ships Passing In The Night
I was going to write about the first day of the dragon boating regatta, but the evening kind of got away from me and I am up way to late! Oops! I have got to get to sleep or I will be wrecked for the races tomorrow. I will let you all know how it was as soon as I have a chance!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 3 homemade sugar cookies with lemon icing
- 1 strawberry
- 2 small bites fudge
- 1 turkey and cheese sandwich on whole grain bread with cranberries, lettuce, and butter
- 1 large pear
- 1 1/4 cups raspberries
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup honey nut granola cereal
- 6 inch sub on Parmesan oregano bread with ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, green pepper, black olives, light mayonnaise, honey mustard dressing, and pepper
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 6 hours at a dragon boating regatta (approximately 20 minutes on the water)
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 3 homemade sugar cookies with lemon icing
- 1 strawberry
- 2 small bites fudge
- 1 turkey and cheese sandwich on whole grain bread with cranberries, lettuce, and butter
- 1 large pear
- 1 1/4 cups raspberries
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup honey nut granola cereal
- 6 inch sub on Parmesan oregano bread with ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, green pepper, black olives, light mayonnaise, honey mustard dressing, and pepper
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 6 hours at a dragon boating regatta (approximately 20 minutes on the water)
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Weigh-In For Week 45
I am on my way out the door to the big dragon boating festival, so this has to be brief! I weighed in this morning at 147.8 so the scale is heading in the right direction. Slowly, but surely I feel like I am getting back on track…
Friday, June 18, 2010
Celebrating Early
We celebrated Father's Day this evening a couple of days early because we have the second part to our regatta coming up on Sunday. We got together with my in-laws and had a really nice dinner. I was really busy in the morning and afternoon which probably worked to my advantage because I tend to be less hungry when I am dealing with a hectic schedule. I'm hoping the yummy dinner and dessert from tonight will be cancelled out by the lighter fare I enjoyed during the first half of the day.
The first part of the regatta takes place tomorrow. I am excited, but a little nervous too! It's such an enormous festival and I am not completely sure of what to expect. I have a few friends who have said they will try to stop by at some point, so we will see if that happens; it'd be great to have people I know cheering us on! Regardless of how we do I know that I will get in a bit of really high-energy rowing and probably a lot of standing and walking too which should help keep my activity level up for the day. It should be a good, fun time! Wish us luck!!!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 2 cups strawberries
- 1 homemade sugar cookie with lemon icing
- 1 banana
- 1 pacific pink apple
- 2 slices mustard and brown sugar glazed ham with mustard
- 1 white dinner roll with butter
- 1 cup scalloped cheesy potatoes
- 1/2 cup baked corn
- 3 sweet pickles
- 3/4 cup rainbow sherbet
- 1 vanilla cupcake with vanilla icing and sprinkles
- 2 soft caramel candies
- 1 large pear
EXERCISE:
- 15 squats
The first part of the regatta takes place tomorrow. I am excited, but a little nervous too! It's such an enormous festival and I am not completely sure of what to expect. I have a few friends who have said they will try to stop by at some point, so we will see if that happens; it'd be great to have people I know cheering us on! Regardless of how we do I know that I will get in a bit of really high-energy rowing and probably a lot of standing and walking too which should help keep my activity level up for the day. It should be a good, fun time! Wish us luck!!!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 2 cups strawberries
- 1 homemade sugar cookie with lemon icing
- 1 banana
- 1 pacific pink apple
- 2 slices mustard and brown sugar glazed ham with mustard
- 1 white dinner roll with butter
- 1 cup scalloped cheesy potatoes
- 1/2 cup baked corn
- 3 sweet pickles
- 3/4 cup rainbow sherbet
- 1 vanilla cupcake with vanilla icing and sprinkles
- 2 soft caramel candies
- 1 large pear
EXERCISE:
- 15 squats
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Dull, Dull, Dull
I really don’t have much to report tonight. The day was good – although I am feeling beat. I made a batch of cookies and automatically went to lick my finger when I was icing them. I quickly rinsed my hands under some water instead to remove the temptation. So that was a little victory. Other than that today wasn’t very exciting. It was nice, just without any real points of interest. Until tomorrow then…
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 1/2 cups fat free peach yogurt with 2 cups honey nut granola cereal
- 1 caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
- 1 egg white wrap on a whole wheat tortilla shell with feta cheese, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 1 banana
- 1 cup wild rice with herb sauce
- 1 cup steamed broccoli with margarine
- 8 meatballs with barbecue sauce
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
EXERCISE:
- 10 squats
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 1/2 cups fat free peach yogurt with 2 cups honey nut granola cereal
- 1 caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
- 1 egg white wrap on a whole wheat tortilla shell with feta cheese, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 1 banana
- 1 cup wild rice with herb sauce
- 1 cup steamed broccoli with margarine
- 8 meatballs with barbecue sauce
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
EXERCISE:
- 10 squats
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Finally Feeling Favourable
I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me! I just got off the phone with someone very important to me and it seems like an issue that has been between us for the last month has finally been resolved. I am so grateful to have this person in my life and I feel great right now knowing that things are so much better with us than they have been for weeks! I feel so much mentally and emotionally lighter and so happy right now!
I also purchased a box to hold my self-preservation kit today. I still think that I need to collect a few more items to really round out the things I have already gathered, but I am extremely pleased that I found a container to store them in. I think having a place specifically dedicated to holding stuff meant to give me a mental break and recharge is an important part of the entire concept. If anyone has any ideas about objects I may want to add to the kit, I am open to suggestions!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 6 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 1 mug caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
- 8 pieces of a spicy California sushi roll with soy sauce
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 2 cups baked penne with cheese, Italian sausage, and tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup fat free strawberry yogurt with 1 cup honey nut granola cereal
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
I also purchased a box to hold my self-preservation kit today. I still think that I need to collect a few more items to really round out the things I have already gathered, but I am extremely pleased that I found a container to store them in. I think having a place specifically dedicated to holding stuff meant to give me a mental break and recharge is an important part of the entire concept. If anyone has any ideas about objects I may want to add to the kit, I am open to suggestions!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 6 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 1 mug caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
- 8 pieces of a spicy California sushi roll with soy sauce
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 2 cups baked penne with cheese, Italian sausage, and tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup fat free strawberry yogurt with 1 cup honey nut granola cereal
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Going Into The Weekend With A Full Boat
Today was the last dragon boating practice for our team before the biggest race of the season. In fact, it is the biggest dragon boating festival in all of North America!
The regatta takes place over two days and we will probably be racing in a total of four or five races. I am so excited to be a part of something like this. As much as these last couple of weeks may not have been my best on this journey, I am still really proud of the fact that I have gotten to where I am. I love that paddling has become a part of my weekly routine!
The time at the festival promises to be filled with fun, camaraderie, and teamwork. Plus, it’s great exercise! I can’t wait to take part!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 1 3/4 cups pineapple
- 1 sandwich on white bread with deli ham, cheese, lettuce, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 toasted raisin English muffin with light peanut butter
- 12 whole wheat crackers with cheese
- 1 golden delicious apple
- 1 caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
- 1 cup bean noodles
- 2/3 cup steamed broccoli
- 8 pieces of a prawn tempura, asparagus, cucumber, and cream cheese sushi roll with soy sauce
- 8 pieces of a California sushi roll with soy sauce
- 1 bite tofu with cheese
- 2 bites caramel chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 1 1/2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 1 mugs coconut steamed soy milk
EXERCISE:
- 55 minutes of rowing a dragon boat
The regatta takes place over two days and we will probably be racing in a total of four or five races. I am so excited to be a part of something like this. As much as these last couple of weeks may not have been my best on this journey, I am still really proud of the fact that I have gotten to where I am. I love that paddling has become a part of my weekly routine!
The time at the festival promises to be filled with fun, camaraderie, and teamwork. Plus, it’s great exercise! I can’t wait to take part!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 1 3/4 cups pineapple
- 1 sandwich on white bread with deli ham, cheese, lettuce, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 toasted raisin English muffin with light peanut butter
- 12 whole wheat crackers with cheese
- 1 golden delicious apple
- 1 caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
- 1 cup bean noodles
- 2/3 cup steamed broccoli
- 8 pieces of a prawn tempura, asparagus, cucumber, and cream cheese sushi roll with soy sauce
- 8 pieces of a California sushi roll with soy sauce
- 1 bite tofu with cheese
- 2 bites caramel chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 1 1/2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 1 mugs coconut steamed soy milk
EXERCISE:
- 55 minutes of rowing a dragon boat
Monday, June 14, 2010
Lazy Days Of Summer - Part Three
I have put together a plan to help me take care of myself a little more and hopefully, in the process, to give myself back the gift of being consistent in my efforts towards improved health and fitness. Thank you once more to Blue who brought my attention to the fact that my struggles have roots going back a bit further and in a slightly different direction than I had originally realized.
I need to learn to give myself a break. Not just by taking a moment to relax here and there, but also in the sense of forgiving myself for not being able to do it all. I manage to make happen what others can’t or won’t all the time; but that doesn’t meant that I have to push myself to a breaking point. I must learn to temper my enthusiasm and energy with a dose of acceptance for what is realistic. Pushing the boundaries can still be a part of who I am, yet obliterating them to the detriment of my own well-being shouldn’t happen. I need to get out of the way of my own dynamite.
So, my plan is pretty simple. There is a mix of things that I am going to implement to help me get through the next couple of months and which I hope will create some longer term improvements in my care of myself. Hopefully tending to the following will have the happy side effect of moving me onto more solid footing with my efforts to get consistently back on track with my eating and exercise.
1. I am postponing my half marathon training. I will still do one before the summer is out (don’t worry LauraLynne – it will still happen), but I will not be racing in the one at the end of June like I was contemplating doing. I need to take a step back from the pressure of working out for two hour long chunks once a week. I have barely gone jogging at all lately and I know that is because of the guilt and anxiety I have around this. I am very hopeful that removing this item from my ‘must do now’ pile will help me get back into enjoying running on a more informal basis.
2. I am going on a vacation. Really, it is just an overnight stay with my husband, but it will be different from the couple of other trips I have recently made as my only reason for this one is to get away. Though I thoroughly enjoyed my last two treks I am making sure that for this one that there will be no making time for writing and no visiting with family. My hubby and I will be celebrating our anniversary with an international train ride, time alone and without worries, and a nice evening out complete with dinner and a hotel stay. We may even hit a shop or two before we come home! I can’t wait to genuinely relax and unwind with my best friend and soul mate.
3. I am going to finish my self-preservation kit, as per the fabulous Miz’s suggestion from way back in February. I have collected a small pile of items over the past few months to act as a help when I am in desperate need of a recharge, but I haven’t actually done anything with them. The kit is incomplete and simply sitting on my dresser right now. I want to actually designate a spot for it to live and finish adding items to it so that I have everything I need when I feel drained and require a boost.
4. I am going to give my husband a break. This coming week is blessedly a little lighter as far as things that I may need help with goes and I am taking full advantage. My poor man has been run ragged over the past few months as he has assisted me with one thing after another and I am determined to finally give him some down time. I have truly been racked with guilt over this issue, and so I suppose that I can’t claim that this is a wholly altruist act. In making sure that I leave his schedule clear for at least a couple of the next several days I am helping both of us to be more grounded in preparation of the busyness that is still to come.
5. I am prioritizing. I have exactly two things that I must place my full attention on right now, and each of these has several aspects to consider. I have two weddings which I am attending in July that I am both helping to set up and designing and creating gifts for (as I also am for the corresponding bridal showers). The later wedding will see me as a bridesmaid and so, for that one, I have a number of additional happy duties that I must attend to over the next couple of months. I also have my writing to consider. I have an end of July deadline for a sample submission to the publisher I am currently working for which – because of the busyness I am anticipating next month – I have told myself is actually an end of June deadline. Plus, I must continue producing articles for my column and working with the owner to strategize future plans for my little corner of the company’s site. These are my top priorities right now and I think that recognizing that will help me to get stuff done in relation to them.
6. I am penciling myself in. I have actually now recorded two days off in a row in my calendar for August. I know that it is still a while until then, but I have never seen myself as priority enough to actually schedule down time. Now I am. If I am feeling overwhelmed in the future, I will use the same strategy. One great thing about being as organized as I generally am is that I tend to view my calendar as quite fixed. It’s time to make my schedule work for me as opposed to me working exclusively for it.
I don’t think that these few adaptations are going to solve everything. I have issues, as everyone does, which will continue to throw me off course. But, by implementing a few changes and remembering that I am not composed simply of a body – but also of a complex network of emotions and mental processes – I will be able to move forward and make a little more progress now, I think.
Taking care of my body, for a wide variety of reasons, is what started me on this path. Factors like strength, weight, endurance, size, and fitness are elements that I largely focused on as I worked my way towards a healthier version of myself. But, I can’t forget about the non-physical components of this journey. As I have changed I have recognized the immense value of things such as self-esteem, peace of mind, and confidence. I am glad that I never failed to see the significance of such keys to my success.
However, for as good as I think I have been at noting and nurturing most of the aspects of my endeavors towards health, I nonetheless suspect that I have continued to largely neglect the simplest - but most important - element: me. So, I will work at what I have laid out above. I shall make the changes that I think must be made. I move forward, always, with the intention to better myself even if right now that is defined by expecting a little less and accepting a little more.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 7 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 2 pacific rose apples with cinnamon
- 1/3 cup fat free peach yogurt with 3/4 cup granola cereal
- 12 inch sub on a Parmesan oregano bun with deli ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, green pepper, onion, black olives, fat free Miracle Whip, honey mustard dressing, and pepper
- 2 homemade chocolate chip cookies
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
I need to learn to give myself a break. Not just by taking a moment to relax here and there, but also in the sense of forgiving myself for not being able to do it all. I manage to make happen what others can’t or won’t all the time; but that doesn’t meant that I have to push myself to a breaking point. I must learn to temper my enthusiasm and energy with a dose of acceptance for what is realistic. Pushing the boundaries can still be a part of who I am, yet obliterating them to the detriment of my own well-being shouldn’t happen. I need to get out of the way of my own dynamite.
So, my plan is pretty simple. There is a mix of things that I am going to implement to help me get through the next couple of months and which I hope will create some longer term improvements in my care of myself. Hopefully tending to the following will have the happy side effect of moving me onto more solid footing with my efforts to get consistently back on track with my eating and exercise.
1. I am postponing my half marathon training. I will still do one before the summer is out (don’t worry LauraLynne – it will still happen), but I will not be racing in the one at the end of June like I was contemplating doing. I need to take a step back from the pressure of working out for two hour long chunks once a week. I have barely gone jogging at all lately and I know that is because of the guilt and anxiety I have around this. I am very hopeful that removing this item from my ‘must do now’ pile will help me get back into enjoying running on a more informal basis.
2. I am going on a vacation. Really, it is just an overnight stay with my husband, but it will be different from the couple of other trips I have recently made as my only reason for this one is to get away. Though I thoroughly enjoyed my last two treks I am making sure that for this one that there will be no making time for writing and no visiting with family. My hubby and I will be celebrating our anniversary with an international train ride, time alone and without worries, and a nice evening out complete with dinner and a hotel stay. We may even hit a shop or two before we come home! I can’t wait to genuinely relax and unwind with my best friend and soul mate.
3. I am going to finish my self-preservation kit, as per the fabulous Miz’s suggestion from way back in February. I have collected a small pile of items over the past few months to act as a help when I am in desperate need of a recharge, but I haven’t actually done anything with them. The kit is incomplete and simply sitting on my dresser right now. I want to actually designate a spot for it to live and finish adding items to it so that I have everything I need when I feel drained and require a boost.
4. I am going to give my husband a break. This coming week is blessedly a little lighter as far as things that I may need help with goes and I am taking full advantage. My poor man has been run ragged over the past few months as he has assisted me with one thing after another and I am determined to finally give him some down time. I have truly been racked with guilt over this issue, and so I suppose that I can’t claim that this is a wholly altruist act. In making sure that I leave his schedule clear for at least a couple of the next several days I am helping both of us to be more grounded in preparation of the busyness that is still to come.
5. I am prioritizing. I have exactly two things that I must place my full attention on right now, and each of these has several aspects to consider. I have two weddings which I am attending in July that I am both helping to set up and designing and creating gifts for (as I also am for the corresponding bridal showers). The later wedding will see me as a bridesmaid and so, for that one, I have a number of additional happy duties that I must attend to over the next couple of months. I also have my writing to consider. I have an end of July deadline for a sample submission to the publisher I am currently working for which – because of the busyness I am anticipating next month – I have told myself is actually an end of June deadline. Plus, I must continue producing articles for my column and working with the owner to strategize future plans for my little corner of the company’s site. These are my top priorities right now and I think that recognizing that will help me to get stuff done in relation to them.
6. I am penciling myself in. I have actually now recorded two days off in a row in my calendar for August. I know that it is still a while until then, but I have never seen myself as priority enough to actually schedule down time. Now I am. If I am feeling overwhelmed in the future, I will use the same strategy. One great thing about being as organized as I generally am is that I tend to view my calendar as quite fixed. It’s time to make my schedule work for me as opposed to me working exclusively for it.
I don’t think that these few adaptations are going to solve everything. I have issues, as everyone does, which will continue to throw me off course. But, by implementing a few changes and remembering that I am not composed simply of a body – but also of a complex network of emotions and mental processes – I will be able to move forward and make a little more progress now, I think.
Taking care of my body, for a wide variety of reasons, is what started me on this path. Factors like strength, weight, endurance, size, and fitness are elements that I largely focused on as I worked my way towards a healthier version of myself. But, I can’t forget about the non-physical components of this journey. As I have changed I have recognized the immense value of things such as self-esteem, peace of mind, and confidence. I am glad that I never failed to see the significance of such keys to my success.
However, for as good as I think I have been at noting and nurturing most of the aspects of my endeavors towards health, I nonetheless suspect that I have continued to largely neglect the simplest - but most important - element: me. So, I will work at what I have laid out above. I shall make the changes that I think must be made. I move forward, always, with the intention to better myself even if right now that is defined by expecting a little less and accepting a little more.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 7 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 2 pacific rose apples with cinnamon
- 1/3 cup fat free peach yogurt with 3/4 cup granola cereal
- 12 inch sub on a Parmesan oregano bun with deli ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, green pepper, onion, black olives, fat free Miracle Whip, honey mustard dressing, and pepper
- 2 homemade chocolate chip cookies
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
Sunday, June 13, 2010
We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Programming…
Tonight I was going to post about my plan for taking better care of myself, but I am going to postpone that until tomorrow. I have just had a bit of an emotional episode and the best thing I can do for me right now is just take it easy and see what I can do about getting to bed at a half decent hour.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 2 Spartan apples
- 2 1/2 cups grapes
- 2 cups cherries
- 20 small sesame seed crackers with cheese
- 4 homemade peanut butter cookies
- 1 pink lady apple
- 1 cheeseburger with onion, ketchup, and mustard
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 6 cheese and potato perogies with margarine and calorie-wise three cheese ranch dressing
- 1/2 cup sliced pan-fried smokies
- 3/4 cup fat free strawberry yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1 toasted raisin English muffin with light peanut butter
- 1 bite chocolate chip cookie dough
- 3 homemade chocolate chip cookies
- 1/2 glass milk
EXERCISE:
- 1 hour and 15 minutes of rowing a dragon boat
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 2 Spartan apples
- 2 1/2 cups grapes
- 2 cups cherries
- 20 small sesame seed crackers with cheese
- 4 homemade peanut butter cookies
- 1 pink lady apple
- 1 cheeseburger with onion, ketchup, and mustard
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 6 cheese and potato perogies with margarine and calorie-wise three cheese ranch dressing
- 1/2 cup sliced pan-fried smokies
- 3/4 cup fat free strawberry yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1 toasted raisin English muffin with light peanut butter
- 1 bite chocolate chip cookie dough
- 3 homemade chocolate chip cookies
- 1/2 glass milk
EXERCISE:
- 1 hour and 15 minutes of rowing a dragon boat
Lazy Days Of Summer - Part Two
Yesterday I posted about some very insightful remarks that were sent to me in a private email and how, as a result, I started to investigate an aspect of my current difficulties that I had not yet fully explored. I think that it’s necessary to more fully flush out the topic so that I can come up with some solutions to this issue.
I do too much. That’s not something that I readily admit to, but I think that I need to make note of it here. The fact that tears just instantly sprang up into my eyes as I wrote out those four little words hints at the rawness of emotion that exists when recognizing that particular truth. Somewhere in the back of my brain I know that this fact exists, but not recognizing it means that I can keep on going full steam ahead without contemplating the impossibility to what I feel I often manage to deliver. My husband calls it cartoon logic. You only fall off the edge of a cliff once you take a moment to realize that you shouldn’t be able to stand atop thin air.
Another truth that I need to acknowledge here is that lately I have been jumping around looking for solutions. I think that I need to try and settle on something and just commit to that for a while. I believe that my idea from a couple of days ago to simply do the best I can in the moment I am in and to return to basics is a good one. So, regardless of whatever else changes in the near future, I am really going to try to give that a chance.
Something that bothered me a lot about yesterday’s entry was when I shared that my husband and I have joked about not having time together until August due to our insanely busy schedules. There is a fundamental difference between the two of us that is really important to note here as it will largely figure in how I go about untangling this trap I have caught myself up in.
I thrive on busy. Regardless of the fact that I am currently struggling with trying to keep up with all of the expectations that I have placed on myself, I really do enjoy having a lot on the go and I am particularly productive when that is the case. My husband ascribes to the exact opposite philosophy.
Over the past few months, as things have gotten busier and busier for me, I have relied on my partner much more heavily. He accompanies me when I need to run errands, he does odd jobs for me, and he has taken on a larger share of housework. He has essentially been at my beck and call and it is wearing him out. My husband is not a big complainer, but even he has his limits and I know that it has been at least a couple of weeks since he announced that he was done. Yet I have still been pushing him to help me out because I feel like I don’t have an alternative. Without his assistance I can not get done all that I must, and so I keep on taking advantage of the one person I want to take care of the most.
This bothers me to no end! I have cried at the thought of asking him for yet one more favour because I hate how busy I have kept him lately. He just wants to relax for a day or two and I haven’t felt that I could provide that to him. I may be able to run on fumes for days, weeks, and even months on end, but it is starting to take its toll on him. The guilt that I feel over this is immense.
So I need to figure that out. Because regardless of how hectic life gets, he is the one person who I have always been able to rely on and I need him to know how appreciated that is. I have to hit upon some balance between enjoying my many projects while knowing when to ask for help and taking a step back to allow for a break when needed, whether such a breather is for my husband or for me.
I will be finalizing some strategies to help me with all of this and I will probably post them tomorrow. I know that this is all a bit of a departure from my normal subject matter, but I think that on this journey to improved health that it is important to delve into the deeper mental workings. Whether I am focusing on what I eat, how much exercise I have done, or the reasons behind why I am going off plan, I am continuing to do what I can each and every day. And really, what more can I ask of myself?
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 5 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free summer fruits yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1 small chocolate covered vanilla fudge candy bar
- 3 cups Caesar salad with bacon pieces, Parmesan cheese, and croutons
- 1/2 garlic wedge
- 1 mug pumpkin spice skim milk chai latte
- 6 pieces of a California sushi roll with soy sauce
- 6 pieces of a tempera yam sushi roll with soy sauce
- 1 mug caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
EXERCISE:
- 100 jumping jacks
I do too much. That’s not something that I readily admit to, but I think that I need to make note of it here. The fact that tears just instantly sprang up into my eyes as I wrote out those four little words hints at the rawness of emotion that exists when recognizing that particular truth. Somewhere in the back of my brain I know that this fact exists, but not recognizing it means that I can keep on going full steam ahead without contemplating the impossibility to what I feel I often manage to deliver. My husband calls it cartoon logic. You only fall off the edge of a cliff once you take a moment to realize that you shouldn’t be able to stand atop thin air.
Another truth that I need to acknowledge here is that lately I have been jumping around looking for solutions. I think that I need to try and settle on something and just commit to that for a while. I believe that my idea from a couple of days ago to simply do the best I can in the moment I am in and to return to basics is a good one. So, regardless of whatever else changes in the near future, I am really going to try to give that a chance.
Something that bothered me a lot about yesterday’s entry was when I shared that my husband and I have joked about not having time together until August due to our insanely busy schedules. There is a fundamental difference between the two of us that is really important to note here as it will largely figure in how I go about untangling this trap I have caught myself up in.
I thrive on busy. Regardless of the fact that I am currently struggling with trying to keep up with all of the expectations that I have placed on myself, I really do enjoy having a lot on the go and I am particularly productive when that is the case. My husband ascribes to the exact opposite philosophy.
Over the past few months, as things have gotten busier and busier for me, I have relied on my partner much more heavily. He accompanies me when I need to run errands, he does odd jobs for me, and he has taken on a larger share of housework. He has essentially been at my beck and call and it is wearing him out. My husband is not a big complainer, but even he has his limits and I know that it has been at least a couple of weeks since he announced that he was done. Yet I have still been pushing him to help me out because I feel like I don’t have an alternative. Without his assistance I can not get done all that I must, and so I keep on taking advantage of the one person I want to take care of the most.
This bothers me to no end! I have cried at the thought of asking him for yet one more favour because I hate how busy I have kept him lately. He just wants to relax for a day or two and I haven’t felt that I could provide that to him. I may be able to run on fumes for days, weeks, and even months on end, but it is starting to take its toll on him. The guilt that I feel over this is immense.
So I need to figure that out. Because regardless of how hectic life gets, he is the one person who I have always been able to rely on and I need him to know how appreciated that is. I have to hit upon some balance between enjoying my many projects while knowing when to ask for help and taking a step back to allow for a break when needed, whether such a breather is for my husband or for me.
I will be finalizing some strategies to help me with all of this and I will probably post them tomorrow. I know that this is all a bit of a departure from my normal subject matter, but I think that on this journey to improved health that it is important to delve into the deeper mental workings. Whether I am focusing on what I eat, how much exercise I have done, or the reasons behind why I am going off plan, I am continuing to do what I can each and every day. And really, what more can I ask of myself?
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 5 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free summer fruits yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1 small chocolate covered vanilla fudge candy bar
- 3 cups Caesar salad with bacon pieces, Parmesan cheese, and croutons
- 1/2 garlic wedge
- 1 mug pumpkin spice skim milk chai latte
- 6 pieces of a California sushi roll with soy sauce
- 6 pieces of a tempera yam sushi roll with soy sauce
- 1 mug caramel cinnamon dolce steamed skim milk
EXERCISE:
- 100 jumping jacks
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Weigh-In For Week 44
The number is pretty unimportant this week. It is an official gain, but it is also a loss from just a few days ago. Tuesday morning saw me step on the scale six pounds up from my last weigh-in, so the fact that I have already lost more than half of that shows me that I am slowly making progress even if the record may reflect otherwise.
I am good with this week. It has been a very educational period and I know that is far more valuable than any number ever could be.
I am good with this week. It has been a very educational period and I know that is far more valuable than any number ever could be.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Lazy Days Of Summer - Part One
They don’t exist. Those slow-paced, hot and languid days filled with fun and frivolity are currently as much a fantasy as me being able to eat whatever I want without gaining an ounce…
I got a very lengthy and thought-provoking message from Blue today that really helped me to look at an aspect of the problems I have been having that I hadn’t yet fully explored. I feel like every time I write on this blog lately that I am grasping at straws, trying to nail down my issue and attempting to figure out the best way to handle the difficulties I have been having. I get a lot of really astute comments (the most recent ones which stick out in my mind being from Jessica and Robin), some wonderfully motivating remarks (yes, Tammy, that is largely directed at you), and even a few caring personal emails (Dawne, you are just awesome) and so I do have a lot going on in my mind as I try to process my way through all of the fabulous insights that others have been taking the time to offer me of late.
And, once again, one of my dear readers has given me a piece of the puzzle that I didn’t even know was missing. Blue essentially went back and read through my posts for the past month and a half in an attempt to key in to what really triggered this off-track bout that I have been working my way through. And she came up with something that I thought really deserved some careful exploration.
May 4th saw me running for the hills. I was overwhelmed with my many projects and noticing that I was beginning to be short with others as a result. So I wisely took a couple of days break and embarked on a mini vacation to recharge my batteries.
It was fabulous and I am so glad that I did it. I honestly think that it helped to bring a certain calmness to my frenzied efforts and that it was necessary and a successful solution. However, now that I am examining it more closely, I also believe that said solution only extended to the immediate circumstances and that it really didn’t do much at all for my long-term well-being.
I think I have recognized something important here. I am still feeling beyond overwhelmed with all that I have to do in the coming weeks. My husband and I have been teasing each other for a few months now that we will see one another in August. The sad part though is that such a joke isn’t funny when it’s largely accurate. We really have been extremely busy and truly don’t think that things will slow down until July is over.
So what to do? I am going to mull this over, but I do already have a couple of thoughts. I will post a second part to this entry tomorrow once I have had a chance to really think things through carefully. Off the top of my head, I think that another bandaid may be in order for the short term and that as a more enduring solution that one or two things may have to be put on hold until I have more of an opportunity to give them the attention they require. Overall, I need to lighten my load so that I can lighten myself, both in the weight loss sense and for my mental well-being.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1 large banana
- 2 cups pineapple
- 3 1/2 cups celery with light peanut butter
- 2 golden delicious apples with cinnamon
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
I got a very lengthy and thought-provoking message from Blue today that really helped me to look at an aspect of the problems I have been having that I hadn’t yet fully explored. I feel like every time I write on this blog lately that I am grasping at straws, trying to nail down my issue and attempting to figure out the best way to handle the difficulties I have been having. I get a lot of really astute comments (the most recent ones which stick out in my mind being from Jessica and Robin), some wonderfully motivating remarks (yes, Tammy, that is largely directed at you), and even a few caring personal emails (Dawne, you are just awesome) and so I do have a lot going on in my mind as I try to process my way through all of the fabulous insights that others have been taking the time to offer me of late.
And, once again, one of my dear readers has given me a piece of the puzzle that I didn’t even know was missing. Blue essentially went back and read through my posts for the past month and a half in an attempt to key in to what really triggered this off-track bout that I have been working my way through. And she came up with something that I thought really deserved some careful exploration.
May 4th saw me running for the hills. I was overwhelmed with my many projects and noticing that I was beginning to be short with others as a result. So I wisely took a couple of days break and embarked on a mini vacation to recharge my batteries.
It was fabulous and I am so glad that I did it. I honestly think that it helped to bring a certain calmness to my frenzied efforts and that it was necessary and a successful solution. However, now that I am examining it more closely, I also believe that said solution only extended to the immediate circumstances and that it really didn’t do much at all for my long-term well-being.
I think I have recognized something important here. I am still feeling beyond overwhelmed with all that I have to do in the coming weeks. My husband and I have been teasing each other for a few months now that we will see one another in August. The sad part though is that such a joke isn’t funny when it’s largely accurate. We really have been extremely busy and truly don’t think that things will slow down until July is over.
So what to do? I am going to mull this over, but I do already have a couple of thoughts. I will post a second part to this entry tomorrow once I have had a chance to really think things through carefully. Off the top of my head, I think that another bandaid may be in order for the short term and that as a more enduring solution that one or two things may have to be put on hold until I have more of an opportunity to give them the attention they require. Overall, I need to lighten my load so that I can lighten myself, both in the weight loss sense and for my mental well-being.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1 large banana
- 2 cups pineapple
- 3 1/2 cups celery with light peanut butter
- 2 golden delicious apples with cinnamon
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Do Over
I have noticed something lately. As I work to get back on plan I am defaulting to a place of ease. I tried a couple of times to just jump right back into things and that didn’t seem to work. So I am making effort slowly. No, I am not on plan as much as I would like to be able to say, but I am doing better than I was. I got in a walk with my husband this evening and even though we went out for dinner I do not think that I went overboard.
I feel like I am back at the start of this journey. In mid-August I set out to simply do the best that I felt I could at the time. I ate better, even if it wasn’t perfect. I moved some, although others may not have viewed my efforts as high energy workouts. I attempted to improve each day, and that got me to where I am now.
So, it seems that it is back to basics. Hopefully I will be able to talk myself into increasing my efforts a little more every day. For tonight, considering that it is no secret that I have been struggling lately, I am content with the fact that I am simply still trying.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1/2 cups strawberries
- 3/4 cup fat free strawberry yogurt with 3/4 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1 glass mango juice
- 2 fruit creme cookies
- 4 honey garlic chicken wings
- 8 sweet potato fries with spicy mayonnaise dip
- 3 1/2 cups Caesar salad with baby shrimp, Parmesan, and croutons
- 1 slice lemon raspberry loaf with lemon icing
- 1 mug caramel steamed skim milk
- 2 bites molasses cookie
EXERCISE:
- 20 minute walk
I feel like I am back at the start of this journey. In mid-August I set out to simply do the best that I felt I could at the time. I ate better, even if it wasn’t perfect. I moved some, although others may not have viewed my efforts as high energy workouts. I attempted to improve each day, and that got me to where I am now.
So, it seems that it is back to basics. Hopefully I will be able to talk myself into increasing my efforts a little more every day. For tonight, considering that it is no secret that I have been struggling lately, I am content with the fact that I am simply still trying.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1/2 cups strawberries
- 3/4 cup fat free strawberry yogurt with 3/4 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1 glass mango juice
- 2 fruit creme cookies
- 4 honey garlic chicken wings
- 8 sweet potato fries with spicy mayonnaise dip
- 3 1/2 cups Caesar salad with baby shrimp, Parmesan, and croutons
- 1 slice lemon raspberry loaf with lemon icing
- 1 mug caramel steamed skim milk
- 2 bites molasses cookie
EXERCISE:
- 20 minute walk
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Just Not Feeling It
I am pretty sure that today was not simply an extension of how poorly I have been doing of late. It didn’t feel that way anyhow. The last couple of days I have finally been slowly pulling it together in comparison to the previous two weeks of falling off the wagon. Today simply felt like there was no motivation.
I did okay. There was no ice cream or cheesecake involved. But I was pretty munchie and it was hard to care about portion control. My exercise was non-existent. It was just an all around ‘blah’ kind of day.
But I am trying. Even though things weren’t as easy as they have been in the past I am still putting one foot in front of the other. Giving up is not an option. I am plodding along and I suppose that is something.
I am grateful that I decided to make this whole thing a way of life. Thinking in terms of a diet or a weight loss project would make this too easy to veer from my path with how difficult things have been lately. Long term, sustainable changes have made all the difference. Even if it doesn't particularly feel like it right now…
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 2 golden delicious apples with cinnamon
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free vanilla bean yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 1 cup sourdough bread with spinach dip
- 3/4 cup fat free summer fruit yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1/2 cup steamed broccoli, cauliflower, onion, and green beans with margarine
- 1/2 cup steamed potatoes with margarine
- 1/4 cup corn with margarine
- 3/4 cup Swiss steak in tomato and mushroom sauce
- 1 mug caramel steamed skim milk
EXERCISE:
- 10 squats
I did okay. There was no ice cream or cheesecake involved. But I was pretty munchie and it was hard to care about portion control. My exercise was non-existent. It was just an all around ‘blah’ kind of day.
But I am trying. Even though things weren’t as easy as they have been in the past I am still putting one foot in front of the other. Giving up is not an option. I am plodding along and I suppose that is something.
I am grateful that I decided to make this whole thing a way of life. Thinking in terms of a diet or a weight loss project would make this too easy to veer from my path with how difficult things have been lately. Long term, sustainable changes have made all the difference. Even if it doesn't particularly feel like it right now…
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 2 golden delicious apples with cinnamon
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free vanilla bean yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 1 cup sourdough bread with spinach dip
- 3/4 cup fat free summer fruit yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1/2 cup steamed broccoli, cauliflower, onion, and green beans with margarine
- 1/2 cup steamed potatoes with margarine
- 1/4 cup corn with margarine
- 3/4 cup Swiss steak in tomato and mushroom sauce
- 1 mug caramel steamed skim milk
EXERCISE:
- 10 squats
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
A Fertile Mind
I thought I was pregnant.
About a week and a half ago, when I left to go out of town, I was a few days late getting my cycle. I am generally very regular and with the out-of-character food indulgences I had experienced over the few days prior I was nearly convinced that I was in the very beginning stages of pregnancy.
When we arrived at our destination I was struck by how all of my family would be together, which never happens. I realized that if I was with child that it would be the only opportunity I would have to tell all of them at the same time. I talked to my husband before bed and we agreed to get up early in the morning so that we could go and buy a pregnancy test and have confirmation one way or another.
Within a few minutes of waking up the next day it was evident that such a purchase was not required. I was not pregnant. We are not trying to have a baby right now, but we are getting close to that point. So, I think it’s safe to say that I was pretty sad when I told my husband the news.
Ironically, that evening - with the entire family gathered - my brother and sister-in-law announced that they are going to have another child. They had just found out the day before. And while I am over-the-moon excited for them and can’t wait to be auntie to yet another little one, it was just the tiniest bit hard to hear their happy news after such a recent personal disappointment.
So, what does all this have to do with this journey? Not a lot. Everything. I’m not sure.
What I do know is that when I returned from my time away I immediately put a note that said “thinking I was pregnant” at the top of my list of things to discuss on this blog. And it stayed there for the last ten days waiting for me to be ready to write about it.
I guess tonight I finally was.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 6 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli turkey, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 1 toasted raisin English muffin with light peanut butter
- 1/4 cup raspberries
- 2 cups heated tuna salad with grated cheese, green onion, grated zucchini, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 pear
EXERCISE:
- 55 minutes of rowing a dragon boat
About a week and a half ago, when I left to go out of town, I was a few days late getting my cycle. I am generally very regular and with the out-of-character food indulgences I had experienced over the few days prior I was nearly convinced that I was in the very beginning stages of pregnancy.
When we arrived at our destination I was struck by how all of my family would be together, which never happens. I realized that if I was with child that it would be the only opportunity I would have to tell all of them at the same time. I talked to my husband before bed and we agreed to get up early in the morning so that we could go and buy a pregnancy test and have confirmation one way or another.
Within a few minutes of waking up the next day it was evident that such a purchase was not required. I was not pregnant. We are not trying to have a baby right now, but we are getting close to that point. So, I think it’s safe to say that I was pretty sad when I told my husband the news.
Ironically, that evening - with the entire family gathered - my brother and sister-in-law announced that they are going to have another child. They had just found out the day before. And while I am over-the-moon excited for them and can’t wait to be auntie to yet another little one, it was just the tiniest bit hard to hear their happy news after such a recent personal disappointment.
So, what does all this have to do with this journey? Not a lot. Everything. I’m not sure.
What I do know is that when I returned from my time away I immediately put a note that said “thinking I was pregnant” at the top of my list of things to discuss on this blog. And it stayed there for the last ten days waiting for me to be ready to write about it.
I guess tonight I finally was.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 6 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli turkey, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup rice and wheat flake granola cereal
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 1 toasted raisin English muffin with light peanut butter
- 1/4 cup raspberries
- 2 cups heated tuna salad with grated cheese, green onion, grated zucchini, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 pear
EXERCISE:
- 55 minutes of rowing a dragon boat
Monday, June 7, 2010
Slipping Down That Familiar Slope
It started on May 21st. That was the day I gave up trying for a perfect record. I had already been struggling with a touch of complacency for a couple of months before that, and had actually noticed a loosening of the reigns as far back as the start of the year. But that girls’ night that I overindulged at two weeks ago was really the main catalyst for the problems I have had staying on track as of late.
I never wanted to aim for perfection. I am what a good friend has called an ‘excellentist’; I have many of the over-achieving qualities of the perfectionist, but am thankfully tempered by a relatively adaptive personality and the ability to accept when things don’t ultimately turn out as I would have liked. I also think that the folly of attempting to be perfect sets one up for eventual failure, not to mention a very boring existence.
That said, what I was achieving with having such a long-standing steak of weight loss up until the morning following my girls’ night was a very helpful series of benchmarks. Knowing what my smallest losses were always gave me something to aim for – something to try and outdo. As soon as I had that gain, my benchmarks were obliterated and my attitude changed.
Now I don’t think about trying to do better than my worst because my worst is that I gained 4.6 pounds in a week. I’m pretty confident that I can do better than that and unfortunately it shows. My efforts have dwindled to next to nothing because I would now be hard pressed to mess up worse than I already have.
I am really having a hard time. I looked down at my stomach this evening (after eating a huge helping of Chinese food and prior to going for ice cream) and was sad about how much it was sticking out. I am not really worried about going back to where I was, but there is a tiny part of me that wonders if it could happen. More than that though I am just upset by the fact that I know I am still not quite where I want to be. If I never reach my updated aim of 133 pounds I am okay with that, but I really want to have my original goal of 150 as a red line which I never cross. However, this morning I was over it again because of the last couple of days of munching and I certainly am going to be worse off tomorrow due to all the damage I did tonight.
I talked to my husband about this and asked him for his help in keeping me accountable. I have been giving in much too often and allowing myself far too much leeway. I started this journey knowing that it needed to be sustainable and that it couldn’t be about deprivation. But I think that for the next little while I really need to try to actually put up a few guidelines if I want to stop myself from continuing down this slippery slope.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli turkey, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup pecan granola cluster cereal
- 2 1/2 cups pineapple
- 3 1/2 cups spinach salad with cubed cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 toasted raisin English muffin with light peanut butter
- 1 glass pomegranate and elderflower sparkling water
- 3/4 cup fat free strawberry yogurt with 1 1/2 cups almond oatmeal and wheat flake cereal
- 10 sea salt potato chips
- 1 pear
- 4 cups low fat butter flavoured popcorn
- 3 cups chicken chow mien
- 3 sweet and sour pork balls
- 2 cups beef and broccoli
- 1 fortune cookie
- 1 chocolate Florentine cookie
- 1 mug coconut steamed soy milk
- 6 tiny ice cream and sorbet samples
- 1 scoop green apple sorbet and 1 scoop gingerbread ice cream in a waffle ice cream cone
- 2 1/2 cups sourdough bread with spinach dip
- 1 mug hot chocolate
- 1 orange filled chocolate bar
EXERCISE:
- 10 squats
I never wanted to aim for perfection. I am what a good friend has called an ‘excellentist’; I have many of the over-achieving qualities of the perfectionist, but am thankfully tempered by a relatively adaptive personality and the ability to accept when things don’t ultimately turn out as I would have liked. I also think that the folly of attempting to be perfect sets one up for eventual failure, not to mention a very boring existence.
That said, what I was achieving with having such a long-standing steak of weight loss up until the morning following my girls’ night was a very helpful series of benchmarks. Knowing what my smallest losses were always gave me something to aim for – something to try and outdo. As soon as I had that gain, my benchmarks were obliterated and my attitude changed.
Now I don’t think about trying to do better than my worst because my worst is that I gained 4.6 pounds in a week. I’m pretty confident that I can do better than that and unfortunately it shows. My efforts have dwindled to next to nothing because I would now be hard pressed to mess up worse than I already have.
I am really having a hard time. I looked down at my stomach this evening (after eating a huge helping of Chinese food and prior to going for ice cream) and was sad about how much it was sticking out. I am not really worried about going back to where I was, but there is a tiny part of me that wonders if it could happen. More than that though I am just upset by the fact that I know I am still not quite where I want to be. If I never reach my updated aim of 133 pounds I am okay with that, but I really want to have my original goal of 150 as a red line which I never cross. However, this morning I was over it again because of the last couple of days of munching and I certainly am going to be worse off tomorrow due to all the damage I did tonight.
I talked to my husband about this and asked him for his help in keeping me accountable. I have been giving in much too often and allowing myself far too much leeway. I started this journey knowing that it needed to be sustainable and that it couldn’t be about deprivation. But I think that for the next little while I really need to try to actually put up a few guidelines if I want to stop myself from continuing down this slippery slope.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli turkey, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup pecan granola cluster cereal
- 2 1/2 cups pineapple
- 3 1/2 cups spinach salad with cubed cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 toasted raisin English muffin with light peanut butter
- 1 glass pomegranate and elderflower sparkling water
- 3/4 cup fat free strawberry yogurt with 1 1/2 cups almond oatmeal and wheat flake cereal
- 10 sea salt potato chips
- 1 pear
- 4 cups low fat butter flavoured popcorn
- 3 cups chicken chow mien
- 3 sweet and sour pork balls
- 2 cups beef and broccoli
- 1 fortune cookie
- 1 chocolate Florentine cookie
- 1 mug coconut steamed soy milk
- 6 tiny ice cream and sorbet samples
- 1 scoop green apple sorbet and 1 scoop gingerbread ice cream in a waffle ice cream cone
- 2 1/2 cups sourdough bread with spinach dip
- 1 mug hot chocolate
- 1 orange filled chocolate bar
EXERCISE:
- 10 squats
Sunday, June 6, 2010
A Few Quick Points
- The dragon boating regatta was a lot of fun today! I was lead for all three races that we paddled in and we made it all the way to the top division; we finished last in that, but for a non-competitive team we did really well!
- I bought a dress tonight for a wedding I will be a bridesmaid in this summer. It is really, really nice and I feel absolutely beautiful in it! The bride wants to add a sash and a flower embellishment to each of her attendants’ dresses to make them match more as we are getting them all from different sources, so I will be sure to post a picture when that has been done at the end of July. I still can’t believe that I am at a point where I enjoy wearing dresses and genuinely like how they look on me!
- One of my reader’s, Sarah, just started a blog to record her own weight loss journey and is looking for some encouragement. If you have a chance to swing by her site, I am sure she would appreciate it!
- A certain fast food chain, who shall remain nameless, needs to speed up the ‘limited time offer’ on their new mint chocolate bar ice cream blend. I have really got to find my self-control when it comes to those things. Seriously!
- I am going to sleep in tomorrow. I can’t remember when I last got to do that! There will be no alarm clock. I shall enjoy an uninterrupted, blissfully sound, and wonderfully long rest and I refuse to feel guilty about it! Huzzah!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 Spartan apple
- 1 cranberry almond multi-grain bar
- 3 cups pasta salad with cubed cheese, cucumber, broccoli, celery, garden green onion, red pepper, mushrooms, grated carrot, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 slice homemade white chocolate Kahlua cheesecake with chocolate covered strawberries
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup granola cereal
- 1/2 cup corn with margarine
- 1 1/4 cups steamed broccoli, cauliflower, onion, and green beans with margarine
- 3/4 cup pork chop with mushroom sauce
- 1 cup macaroni and cheese with pepper
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
- 1/4 cup flavoured jelly beans
- 7 whole wheat crackers with cheese
EXERCISE:
- 4 hours at a dragon boating regatta (approximately 30 minutes on the water)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
The Final Push
Wow, I am tired! As soon as I was done this evening with the bridal shower, my body started to shut down. I only got about two hours of sleep again last night as I was finishing stuff for the party today and that is after not getting enough rest earlier in the week too. Add that to the fact that I have been very ‘go-go-go!’ for the past month and a half and it is no wonder that my system wants to turn itself off the second it realizes there is even one iota of breathing room!
However, I need it to pull it out for just one more day. I have a dragon boating regatta in the morning and we are doing three races with me probably being in the lead for all of them. I know that the team is relying on me and I have to deliver! So… it is off to bed for me in an attempt to soothe my body into providing just one more good day before it decides to cut out completely and get sick or go on strike or something. G’nite!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 5 glasses of water
- 1 ham and cheese crepe
- 1 extra large cinnamon stick
- 1 banana
- 6 cups pasta salad with cubed cheese, cucumber, broccoli, celery, garden green onion, red pepper, mushrooms, grated carrot, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 3 glasses sangria punch with apple and strawberry slices
- 20 vegetable crackers with shrimp, cream cheese, and spicy tomato sauce dip
- 4 whole grain cranberry and hazelnut crackers
- 2 slices homemade white chocolate Kahlua cheesecake with chocolate covered strawberries
- 1 slice homemade toffee nut cake with butter cream icing and fondant
- 1 large glass mango tropical smoothie
- 12 miniature homemade sugar cookies
- 1 sip pumpkin spice steamed soy milk
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 10 squats
However, I need it to pull it out for just one more day. I have a dragon boating regatta in the morning and we are doing three races with me probably being in the lead for all of them. I know that the team is relying on me and I have to deliver! So… it is off to bed for me in an attempt to soothe my body into providing just one more good day before it decides to cut out completely and get sick or go on strike or something. G’nite!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 5 glasses of water
- 1 ham and cheese crepe
- 1 extra large cinnamon stick
- 1 banana
- 6 cups pasta salad with cubed cheese, cucumber, broccoli, celery, garden green onion, red pepper, mushrooms, grated carrot, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 3 glasses sangria punch with apple and strawberry slices
- 20 vegetable crackers with shrimp, cream cheese, and spicy tomato sauce dip
- 4 whole grain cranberry and hazelnut crackers
- 2 slices homemade white chocolate Kahlua cheesecake with chocolate covered strawberries
- 1 slice homemade toffee nut cake with butter cream icing and fondant
- 1 large glass mango tropical smoothie
- 12 miniature homemade sugar cookies
- 1 sip pumpkin spice steamed soy milk
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 10 squats
Weigh-In For Week 43
I have to admit that I have been pretty surprised by how quickly the weight I gained during my time away has come off. I believe that nearly every day this week I have seen the number on the scale get smaller and smaller. I haven’t had this quick of a loss since I started this journey! I weighed in today at 145.8 for a loss of 4.8 pounds over the past six days (I weighed in a day late last week), though it is still with a gain of 1.4 for the month.
I am very glad that I am closing in on seeing my lowest weight again. Unfortunately, with today being the first weigh-in of June, I feel obliged to post my normal progress photo and updated measurements. Obviously, due to the slower losses at the start of the month and the gains that I saw during the past couple of weeks, these reflect just about no change since the start of May.
Weight - 145.8 lbs (-108.8 from start / +1.4 from May)
Bust - 36.0 inches (-14.0 from start / -0.5 from May)
Waist - 32.5 inches (-15.5 from start / +1.0 from May)
Hips - 39.5 inches (-15.5 from start / -0.0 from May)
Arms - 12.5 inches (-5.0 from start / -0.5 from May)
Thighs - 22.5 inches (-10.0 from start / -0.0 from May)
BMI - 22.8 (-17.1 from start / +0.2 from May)
One of the things I am most pleased with about this weigh-in is the simple fact that I was able to change my sidebar banner back to say that I have lost 120 pounds in total. I really wasn’t happy about having to back it down to read 115 last week, and so I am very glad to have it back where it was!
I am very glad that I am closing in on seeing my lowest weight again. Unfortunately, with today being the first weigh-in of June, I feel obliged to post my normal progress photo and updated measurements. Obviously, due to the slower losses at the start of the month and the gains that I saw during the past couple of weeks, these reflect just about no change since the start of May.
Weight - 145.8 lbs (-108.8 from start / +1.4 from May)Bust - 36.0 inches (-14.0 from start / -0.5 from May)
Waist - 32.5 inches (-15.5 from start / +1.0 from May)
Hips - 39.5 inches (-15.5 from start / -0.0 from May)
Arms - 12.5 inches (-5.0 from start / -0.5 from May)
Thighs - 22.5 inches (-10.0 from start / -0.0 from May)
BMI - 22.8 (-17.1 from start / +0.2 from May)
One of the things I am most pleased with about this weigh-in is the simple fact that I was able to change my sidebar banner back to say that I have lost 120 pounds in total. I really wasn’t happy about having to back it down to read 115 last week, and so I am very glad to have it back where it was!
I Just Have To Get Through Tomorrow...
… and then hopefully I will be back to having a bit more time to journal this journey properly. It’s going to be a difficult day eating wise too. I have both a local parade and a bridal shower that I will b attending. Fair and party food all in one day pretty much guarantees that I won’t make it to the evening without putting something indulgent into my system, but I am aware of the potential to go overboard and am hoping that will help me keep it under control. I shall look for the vegetable options and try to steer clear of impulsive munching. I am definitely planning on a piece of the rather decadent dessert I made though: white chocolate and Kahlua swirl cheesecake topped with chocolate covered strawberries. Mmmmm!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free strawberry yogurt with 3/4 cup granola cereal
- 1 banana
- 1 taste of Kahlua cheesecake batter
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 3 cups spinach salad with cubed cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 homemade sugar cookie
- 1 Spartan apple dipped in melted chocolate
- 2 chocolate covered strawberries
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free strawberry yogurt with 3/4 cup granola cereal
- 1 banana
- 1 taste of Kahlua cheesecake batter
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 3 cups spinach salad with cubed cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 homemade sugar cookie
- 1 Spartan apple dipped in melted chocolate
- 2 chocolate covered strawberries
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
Friday, June 4, 2010
Same Old, Same Old...
I’m so sorry about yet another unentertaining post! And I am obviously not doing a whole lot better with getting to sleep at a decent hour! That, plus the boring entries, is because I have a big party I am helping to host on Saturday – mental note: I must plan on how I will deal with the food that will be available there – and which I have been spending every spare moment organizing. I have a dragon boating regatta on Sunday too, but then things slightly slow down for a few days, so I am hoping to be back to some higher quality writing really soon!
My formal exercise is suffering due to the busyness, but I think my activity level has naturally increased because things are so hectic. I officially gave myself permission yesterday to do what I can without stressing about what I can’t get to until after this weekend. I just don’t have the time to feel bad about not having time!
Food has actually been pretty good, I think, with one glaring exception. I have been treating myself to an evening blended ice cream for the past few days. It’s more of a nutritional (or lack thereof) than a caloric issue, but I still know that I shouldn’t be having that type of thing every night. Apparently I am still battling a bit with the complacency!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 7 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup granola cereal
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 1 cup meatloaf with ketchup
- 1 cup steamed cauliflower and broccoli with margarine
- 1/2 cup corn with margarine
- 1/2 cup steamed potatoes with margarine
- 2 Spartan apples with cinnamon
- 1 sip orange cream soda
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
My formal exercise is suffering due to the busyness, but I think my activity level has naturally increased because things are so hectic. I officially gave myself permission yesterday to do what I can without stressing about what I can’t get to until after this weekend. I just don’t have the time to feel bad about not having time!
Food has actually been pretty good, I think, with one glaring exception. I have been treating myself to an evening blended ice cream for the past few days. It’s more of a nutritional (or lack thereof) than a caloric issue, but I still know that I shouldn’t be having that type of thing every night. Apparently I am still battling a bit with the complacency!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 7 glasses of water
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free peach yogurt with 1 cup granola cereal
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 1 cup meatloaf with ketchup
- 1 cup steamed cauliflower and broccoli with margarine
- 1/2 cup corn with margarine
- 1/2 cup steamed potatoes with margarine
- 2 Spartan apples with cinnamon
- 1 sip orange cream soda
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Do As I Say, Not As I Do
I haven’t gone to sleep yet. I had a bunch of projects that I got caught up in and the night owl in me took over. I need a nap! Do not – I repeat: do NOT – forget that proper rest is an important part of living healthily. It’s going to be a long day…
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 1 pear
- 3/4 cup fat free strawberry yogurt with 1 cup granola cereal
- 1 golden delicious apple with cinnamon
- 2 cups chicken lasagna
- 2 cups celery with light peanut butter
- 2 caramel rice cakes
- 1 1/2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 1 pear
- 3/4 cup fat free strawberry yogurt with 1 cup granola cereal
- 1 golden delicious apple with cinnamon
- 2 cups chicken lasagna
- 2 cups celery with light peanut butter
- 2 caramel rice cakes
- 1 1/2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Slowly, But Surely
Well, my mood is improving; now I just need to get this still slightly relaxed attitude about food to shape up. The exercise over the past couple of days has been kind of brutal too, but I am pushing through it. I'm doing okay. Not great, but not nearly as bad as I was this past weekend. The struggle is still there, but I do know now that this is something I will beat. I am working at it. I am trying to regain my focus and it is progressing – it’s just a little slower going that I would like.
I need to give a quick shout out of appreciation to CJ from Weigh Too Less for passing on the Beautiful Blogger Award to me! I just did a post on this cool accolade several days ago so I shall refer you to that post if anyone is interested in learning a few new things about me. Thank you so much, CJ, for thinking of me!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 5 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 1 golden delicious apple with cinnamon
- 3 whole wheat crackers with cheese
- 1 pear
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
- 3/4 cup fat free cherry yogurt with 1 cup granola cereal
- 2 caramel rice cakes
- 1 cranberry almond multi-grain bar
- 1 mug cherry white chocolate steamed skim milk
- 1 1/2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 1 hour and 5 minutes of rowing a dragon boat
I need to give a quick shout out of appreciation to CJ from Weigh Too Less for passing on the Beautiful Blogger Award to me! I just did a post on this cool accolade several days ago so I shall refer you to that post if anyone is interested in learning a few new things about me. Thank you so much, CJ, for thinking of me!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 5 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 1 golden delicious apple with cinnamon
- 3 whole wheat crackers with cheese
- 1 pear
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
- 3/4 cup fat free cherry yogurt with 1 cup granola cereal
- 2 caramel rice cakes
- 1 cranberry almond multi-grain bar
- 1 mug cherry white chocolate steamed skim milk
- 1 1/2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 1 hour and 5 minutes of rowing a dragon boat
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Casting My Vote
A few days ago I started a poll asking what is holding you back. There was an overwhelming response of 65 votes, and – while nobody opted for ‘it doesn’t feel right’ – the rest of the results break down in the following manner:
19 votes for 'fear of failure' accounted for 29.2%
11 votes for 'fear of success' accounted for 16.9%
8 votes for 'mediocrity' accounted for 12.3%
4 votes for 'not enough time' accounted for 6.2%
1 votes for 'not enough money' accounted for 1.5%
6 votes for 'not enough support' accounted for 9.2%
9 votes for 'it’s not a priority' accounted for 13.8%
7 votes for 'other' accounted for 10.8%
It’s a lot more evenly spread than I ever would have suspected. I think what it boils down to is that the reasons, much like the people voicing them here, are varied in nature. It is not so important to look at what the problem is, but rather to investigate what can be done to move past it and on to what we want and need.
For me, the complacency that has recently taken up residence in my mind is the biggest setback I am currently facing. It is very easy to be satisfied with how far I have come and to start loosening up on the reigns. But the truth is that I am not quite where I want to be yet. I know that I have a little more in me still and that temporary gains I have seen these past two weeks are simply evidence of some residual habits and a few new emotions.
I am better than what my last couple of weigh-ins might suggest and I need to get back at proving that to myself. Complacency may have been what was holding me back, but now I can use my understanding of this issue to fuel my determination to stay the course.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 3/4 cup fat free lemon meringue yogurt with 1 cup fruit, seed, and nut granola
- 2 caramel rice cakes
- 3 cups spinach salad with cubed cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
- 3 1/2 cups low fat, reduced-sodium popcorn
- 1 cranberry almond multi-grain bar
- 4 cups Caesar salad with Parmesan cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, and fat free dressing
- 3/4 cup fat free raspberry cranberry crumble yogurt with 1 cup granola cereal
- 1 1/2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 30 minutes of jogging with a 5 minute walking warm up and a 5 minute walking cool down
19 votes for 'fear of failure' accounted for 29.2%
11 votes for 'fear of success' accounted for 16.9%
8 votes for 'mediocrity' accounted for 12.3%
4 votes for 'not enough time' accounted for 6.2%
1 votes for 'not enough money' accounted for 1.5%
6 votes for 'not enough support' accounted for 9.2%
9 votes for 'it’s not a priority' accounted for 13.8%
7 votes for 'other' accounted for 10.8%
It’s a lot more evenly spread than I ever would have suspected. I think what it boils down to is that the reasons, much like the people voicing them here, are varied in nature. It is not so important to look at what the problem is, but rather to investigate what can be done to move past it and on to what we want and need.
For me, the complacency that has recently taken up residence in my mind is the biggest setback I am currently facing. It is very easy to be satisfied with how far I have come and to start loosening up on the reigns. But the truth is that I am not quite where I want to be yet. I know that I have a little more in me still and that temporary gains I have seen these past two weeks are simply evidence of some residual habits and a few new emotions.
I am better than what my last couple of weigh-ins might suggest and I need to get back at proving that to myself. Complacency may have been what was holding me back, but now I can use my understanding of this issue to fuel my determination to stay the course.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 pan-fried banana and light peanut butter wrap on a soft tortilla shell
- 3/4 cup fat free lemon meringue yogurt with 1 cup fruit, seed, and nut granola
- 2 caramel rice cakes
- 3 cups spinach salad with cubed cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 mug decaffeinated tea with milk
- 3 1/2 cups low fat, reduced-sodium popcorn
- 1 cranberry almond multi-grain bar
- 4 cups Caesar salad with Parmesan cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, and fat free dressing
- 3/4 cup fat free raspberry cranberry crumble yogurt with 1 cup granola cereal
- 1 1/2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend
EXERCISE:
- 30 minutes of jogging with a 5 minute walking warm up and a 5 minute walking cool down
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