|
Post by xoxohart on Jan 24, 2005 21:45:07 GMT -5
Great day today! It was a teacher work day; I got to go to an autism workshop. I sat with a bunch of my cohorts who I really enjoy, and I also saw some old friends I hadn't seen in a while. Sooo much fun! Good food, too. In the morning, I stuck with the fresh fruit; at lunch I had to scrape some sauce off the chicken, but I did okay. So, my food for today:
Breakfast 2 eggs Canadian bacon Polenta slice honeydew coffee
Snack cut up fresh fruit
Lunch Chicken, sauce scraped off veggies, probably with some butter, but not too bad plain salad greens
Snack Soy latte glass of milk
Dinner Pork loin lemon pepper potatoes roasted asparagus
I'm finding it hard to meet the RDA for dairy, fruits/veggies, and grains. Oh, well.
Exercise: 30 min on treadmill doing week two of Couch to 5K. Feeling good!
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Jan 25, 2005 22:06:29 GMT -5
I haven't eaten dinner yet; don't really feel like it. My twelve-pound black cat, Frederick, is purring up a storm and trying to displace the computer. It's so nice just to be home, comfy in bed, knowing that I've exercised, worked hard at school, fed my children, and can enjoy relaxation. Today I ate six M&Ms. Just six! Think of that. There were all kinds of treats in the teachers' lounge at lunch time. For some reason, a colorful bowl of candy was just calling my name. The taste of chocolate, a fond memory, lured me. I stuck my beans and rice in the microwave, then carefully counted out six bright little pieces. I ate them slowly and enjoyed while my lunch heated up. I am not sorry. Nor do I want any more. And I did not touch the chips, bagels, sour cream dip, or cake that were also laid out before me. Breakfast -- shredded wheat, fresh strawberries, skim milk Lunch -- brown rice, refried beans, salsa, soy cheese Snack -- diet Coke, banana Dinner -- Coco
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Jan 27, 2005 21:36:57 GMT -5
Okay, today I did NOT exercise, unless you count crisis training as exercise! We did have to do some very uncomfortable physical stuff.
I had a very off food day today. I started out well, with coffe and oatmeal and a slice of honeydew. I brought one of my homemade frozen meals for lunch . . . BUT WAIT! The microwave at school was broken. Yes, BROKEN. I sat there nursing my diet Coke and bottle of water. A co-worker offered to share her granola bar and candy with me and I said . . .
"No, thanks." I explained to her that these were trigger foods for me and that I had worked really hard to get away from eating sugar. I also told her that I really wasn't that hungry (what a lie!). But it is true that I really did not want that sugar. The thought of it gives me a headache.
I probably ate too much, and too strangely, when I got home. But, it was all Core, and it is all over and done with.
My NSV for the week: You know those pants that are always a little too tight, but you wear them anyway? I put mine on yesterday, right out of the dryer, and they were nice and loose and comfy! They can be my favorite pants now!
Coco
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Jan 28, 2005 22:03:06 GMT -5
I am in a lot of pain right now. I slept funny last night, I guess, and woke up with a stiff neck. I actually did go to the gym to do my jog/walk; at first it hurt, then I didn't notice. I DID notice that it was incredibly painful to look over my shoulder when I was backing out of my parking space. Now, at 7:00 p.m., I am genuinely in some discomfort. Maybe running wasn't such a great idea . . . or maybe it will be all better in the morning. Keep your fingers crossed!
Food today (not enough . . . I had an IEP this morning that took up my lunch hour, and now I just don't feel well enough to eat):
Pre-workout -- a small bowl of shredded wheat with soy milk
Then . . . Hot oatbran cereal with condensed skim milk and sf syrup (really yummy) Coffee
No lunch; two pear slices during my class snack at around 2:15
After school: Nibbled some chicken from the crockpot I had put on this morning; ate some potatoes.
Soy latte.
"BC" I would be stuffing my face right now; pain would make me want to eat. ANYTHING would make me want to eat!
G'night. Coco
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Jan 29, 2005 14:40:34 GMT -5
I wondered downstairs at 4:30 this morning. To my surprise, DD and her friend, who spent the night, were on the couch, watching TV. I asked them what time they had gone to bed, and DD fluttered her long, long eyelashes at me and said, "We haven't yet." I sent them to bed.
I made myself a chai latte, using my frother and condensed skim milk. I added a half a packet of Splenda. So yummy. I began flipping through one of my formerly favorite cookbooks -- The Best Recipes of 2003. Interestingly, it seems that a lot of the "best recipes" can easily be made Core with just a few substitutions. I began to feel inspired.
When DH woke up, I made some strong coffee and made him a latte, using whole milk (but just about 3 tlbsp.) and the frother. He said it was great.
After DH left for work, I ate some melon and then got to work on my breakfast. First, I mixed up a large batch of polenta (which is getting to be a Saturday morning tradition chez moi). Then I cooked some Canadian bacon and eggs. While the eggs were sunny side up, I added some slivered red onion, then flipped them. I ate it all on top of sliced polenta. The NSV was that I was able to stop when there were still several bites left; I was beginning to feel full.
Next, I got to work sorting through the cupboards, then the fridge. I found some fresh green beans that wouldn't be fresh for too much longer, so I blanched them, mixed with some homemade vinagrette, chopped seeded tomato, and chick peas, and stuck in the fridge for later.
Time to make the Mexican strata. I sliced the rest of the polenta, shredded the rest of the crockpot chicken from yesterday, grated soya kaas (soy cheese), and pulled some cans out of the cupboard. I also usually have on hand some great "fresh" salsa from Safeway, which is oniony and garlicky and full of cilantro. I love it. I began layering salsa, polenta, chicken, canned sweet corn (no sugar added), refried beans, soy cheese. After two layers of everything, I mixed up a couple of eggs and some condensed milk and poured it over the top. I'll let you know how it turns out; I'm having it for lunch.
Then DD and her friend woke up and requested pancakes. I don't know why, but I LOVE making pancakes. I don't need to eat them; I just love cooking them on the griddle! So I made a pancake breakfast for the girls.
For now, the kitchen is closed. The girls are outside, cleaning up the yard for $1 each (their request). Sounds like a bargain to me!
I just stepped on the scale, I don't know why. I wanted to see how much my weight can vary, I guess. I expected to be up as much as five pounds (you know, after breakfast and all). To my surprise and shock, I was DOWN another half pound since yesterday (when I weighed first thing in the morning). My "official" weigh in is Monday.
It is warm enough outside to wear short sleeves. What a day! Yard work, here I come. I think that will be my exercise today.
My neck and shoulder still hurt a little, but it feels better. I can actually turn my head without searing pain.
Have a great Saturday, everyone!
Coco
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Jan 31, 2005 22:18:54 GMT -5
I had a great Monday, felt very productive and effective at school, and was generally glad to be there. I feel like I ate too much this afternoon, though. I am always so hungry that I eat what could be a full meal . . . and then I eat dinner AGAIN a couple of hours later, for the sake of the family. That is a habit I need to work on.
So here's the food for today:
Breakfast: Hot oat bran with sf syrup and condensed ff milk
Lunch: Salad of green beans, chick peas, tomato, and couscous, toss with olive oil, garlic, and vinegar. Really delicious
Snack: (Uh-oh!) leftover mexican casserole with a dollop of guac, then (wait, it gets worse) yogurt with drained unsweetened mandarin oranges and splenda.
Dinner: pork chop, all fat removed; baked potato mashed with condensed milk and butter buds; salad
So, all Core, which I find so easy to stick to. But I think I need to work on the afternoon snack. "Just" the yogurt and fruit would have been perfect.
I did the Couch to 5K run again this morning -- second day in a row. They say to only do it 3 days per week, with a day of rest in between. I really enjoy it and wish I could do it everyday. Tomorrow I will try to lift.
Coco
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Feb 1, 2005 22:45:09 GMT -5
I did much better today with the after school snacking. Part of it was taken care of for me; I had a staff meeting. Since I didn't work out this morning, I told my son that at 5:00 I would take him to the gym. So when I got home, I ate a banana (a SENSIBLE snack! Yay!), changed clothes, and we went. I focused on weights, with just a little cardio. It was fun.
I'm trying to figure out how balanced my diet is. I feel like I have trouble fitting in enough dairy, fruits, and vegetables. I am also trying to make an effort to vary the grains within a day (e.g. no cream of wheat and pasta in the same day, or couscous, since they are all wheat). But I didn't really think it through and I was too rushed this morning, so that didn't really work out.
Today:
Breakfast - shredded wheat with soy milk Lunch - couscous, chopped avocado, chick peas, salsa, apple A couple of slices of pear Snack - banana Dinner - leftover Mexican Strata casserole; carrots; orange for dessert
Yup, definitely short on dairy. Maybe later I'll have some yogurt . . . maybe not.
|
|
|
Post by gingerjenny on Feb 1, 2005 23:35:57 GMT -5
can you tell me how you make your mexican casserole? Sounds yummy!
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Feb 3, 2005 9:18:47 GMT -5
Hi Jenny,
Thanks for visiting my journal! I posted the recipe for the mexican casserole under main meals in the recipe section. It's called Mexican Strata. Basically, it involves layering polenta with whatever you want, including some good soy cheese (you could use fat free dairy as well, but it doesn't melt the same), then you cover the whole thing in an egg and milk wash. You can get creative!
Yesterday's food: Breakfast -- hot oat bran made with milk, topped with sf syrup and condensed milk Lunch -- yogurt sweetened with splenda, apple Snack -- banana Dinner -- steak, baked potato, salad with avocado
I've been keeping the evening snack monster at bay. Quite simply, I allow myself to snack if I want to, but it must be Core. The past two nights, I've found that I really thought about it, even *felt* hungry, but was basically too tired to eat. I feel like I am beginning to think more like a naturally thin person, and I wonder if this way of thinking can last for me.
I didn't wake up quite early enough to exercise, so here I am, puttering on the computer. I know, excuses, excuses . . . Yesterday, I exercised in the afternoon. On Thursdays, I have to take DD to piano lessons after school, and the evening always ends up being hectic, helping both kids with their homework in a shortened period of time. Yet I am thinking that just maybe I will go to the gym after dinner. I am definitely doing better with energy levels as the day progresses. Yay me!
Coco
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Feb 3, 2005 23:40:16 GMT -5
I did not exercise today, but that's okay. I can get up in the morning, or do it after school (unless I go to the staff TGIF, which I should probably do . . .) Anyway, my pants felt very, very loose today.
I used some leftover barley to make a pilaf with artichoke hearts, capers, and tomato. The flavor was kind of strong, so I remarked, "This would have been better if I hadn't put the tomatoes in." DH said he didn't really taste the tomatoes. I joked, "Although some people might say this would have been better if I hadn't put the BARLEY in." (DH is not exactly known for his love of whole grains!) He looked at me with his big blue eyes and said, "Who would say that?"
"You would," I said, smiling at him.
"I'm eating it," he said.
"I have to make you eat my weird food every now and then," I replied.
He is being a good sport; I think he is proud of me for losing weight.
I made a great salad dressing today. It was simply that "fresh" salsa you can buy at Safeway (about 2 tblsp) tossed with 1 tblsp olive oil. The salad was just lettuce and avocado.
Next time somebody asks me how I am losing all this weight, I will reply, "I am eating more avocado!"
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Feb 4, 2005 21:31:14 GMT -5
Kewl! I have a "Charter Member" logo!
Today was a rought day at work. There is something in the air. Actually, I found out on Wednesday that one of my most challenging students is moving soon. I am very, very sad. He doesn't know about the move, and his dad said he would not tell him. Odd. But the poor child has been very agitated all week; I think he senses that something is going on. And of course, it affects the rest of the class as well. They are such a diverse group of kiddos, but they are also a tight knit group, despite all the efforts we make at mainstreaming. It's cool to see the "typical" kids watching my students, trying to figure out how they can be part of that group who is having so much fun together. But it can also be explosive, and that seemed to be the case today. Oh, my, I am pooped.
I am so lucky to have DH. He has put me to bed with a glass of wine and popcorn, and gone to pick up DD from daycare. DS is at a GIRL's birthday party. He wasn't going to go, but then the girl-who-is-not-his-girlfriend called him. When he hung up the phone, he smiled sheepishly and said, "I guess I'm going to that party after all." Hmmmm.
Today's food: Huge breakfast of 2 eggs, Canadian bacon, polenta, followed up by a homemade soy latte. A snacky morning, with an apple and a banana. Lunch - bean soup. Snack - yogurt with fresh raspberries and Splenda. Dinner - popcorn and wine.
Oh, and I got up this morning (Late, for me - 5:45) and went right to the gym, with no pre-coffee, breakfast, or online wake-up. It was an NSV for me, because I usually need a good half an hour to putter and feel motivated before I go to the gym. Today, I just rolled out of bed and went. Had a fine Couch to 5K workout, too.
I coulda gone to happy hour this afternoon, but I am not much for socializing today -- just too worn out, emotionally fatigued, and a little frustrated.
Coco
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Feb 5, 2005 21:26:33 GMT -5
Okay, I'm struggling just a tiny bit today . . . At DD's piano recital, I mindfully ate 2 bite-sized brownies. They were delicious and I counted them at 2 points per piece (each was less than 1 inch cube; I really have no idea). I actually reasoned like this: "I need to shake up my body by eating a little more today; let's see how I feel after sugar and chocolate." The answer? Not really so great. Right now, I'm over it, but I think if we had hung around much longer, I would have eaten more than 2 of those little thingies. Then I thought, "Omigosh, I've just fed the SUGAR MONSTER. Now he is alive again." I do believe that was the first sugar I have eaten since January 1. Aruna posted a challenge about only eating natural foods. It makes a lot of sense, but I'm not sure I can abandon my diet soda and splenda-sweetened yogurt. Yes, I could use sugar or honey and count the points, but I do believe that I need to stay away from any form of sugar that is not fruit. But I may try to limit it a little bit, or at least be more mindful (e.g. stay away from my fakely sweetened oatmeal on days when I have yogurt for lunch?). I dunno. I'm gonna dwell on this one for awhile, and follow everyone else's progress. Maybe do without sweetener, or cut back a little, when it's possible. I know soy milk is usually sweetened with something, often cane juice, and it doesn't seem to affect me adversely. I could experiment. But isn't cane juice just sugar? I've eaten a lot today. Breakfast - polenta, eggs, Canadian bacon post-workout snack - banana lunch -- chicken, avocado, chick pea salad, with a banana-soy chocolate smoothie for dessert (really, this was too much all at once). snack -- at recital: 2 bite-sized brownies, really worth the WPAs, I think . . . we'll see if the sugar monster re-awakens! Then at TJ's, a sample plate of nachos (2 chips, some turkey chili, and cheese on top. I counted 4 points for the brownies, and 4 points for the nachos. Really, I have no clue, but those WPAs are burning a hole in my pocket, so I don't care). 1/2 cup Greek ff yogurt with splenda and long-stemmed strawberries for dipping -- heavenly; the sweetened yogurt tasted like creme fraiche. Dinner will be pork tenderloin, fingerling potatoes, and salad. I did about 45 minutes of weight lifting today and a total of about 15 minutes cardio (walking there and back, and a 5-minute warm-up on the elliptical once I was there). And right now I am drinking a glass of wine. If I were doing the Wendie Plan, I guess today would be my "high points" day!
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Feb 7, 2005 9:17:24 GMT -5
Today is weigh-in day. I am down another 2 pounds. Yippee! Yesterday I made chili for the Superbowl and it was a big hit. I posted the recipe in the crock-pot section. Food yesterday: Breakfast -- hot oatbran with fresh blueberries, sf maple syrup, ff evaporated milk Lunch -- Greek yogurt with berries and splenda snacks -- about 20 tortilla chips (counted 8 points), guacomole, ff sourcream dip with Knorr's Leek Soup Mix (an old family recipe ); baby carrots; 1 beer (3 points) Dinner -- 2 cups chili with soy cheese (I used shredded soy station 3-cheese blend from TJ's and it was really good), guacomole, chopped red onion on top.
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Feb 7, 2005 23:06:27 GMT -5
Today was a good day, except that I think I'm coming down with something. Oh nooooooooo! I worked out this afternoon, but it didn't feel very good (those deep muscle aches that come with the onset of a fever . . .) so I didn't do much. Tomorrow is a running day, though, so you can bet I will not miss that! I love my Couch to 5K runs!
Food today:
Breakfast - hot oat bran cereal, cooked with milk, with drained canned peaches, evaporated ff milk, sf syrup, and coffee to drink
Lunch: leftover pork and potatoes, apple, water
Snack: banana, homemade soy chai latte (sooooo good)
Dinner: Chili, guacomole, chopped onions, soy cheese
I think I may have some yum-licious Greek yogurt with some more of those peaches in a little while.
G'night!
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Feb 9, 2005 0:21:15 GMT -5
Instead of emotional eating this afternoon, I did some . . . emotional grocery shopping. But don't worry, all I did was buy some sprouted whole-grain bread.
After school today, I was feeling defeated and teary-eyed (having to do with high frustration over my lack of staff, mostly). I don't think I had eaten enough earlier in the day, and was really hungry, as well. So what did I do? I headed for TJ's. I had a craving for a curried chicken salad *sandwich,* so I bought some of that Ezekial sprouted grain bread. I also brought two containers of Greek fat-free yogurt, some long-stemmed strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Oh, and 95% lean hamburger and canned tomatoes and whole wheat pasta. I decided I had a craving for spaghetti instead of chicken salad. Aw heck, I was just hungry.
You know what's funny? I felt really soothed by the act of shopping, and by buying myself delicious things that I knew I would enjoy, but that would be good for my body. That's the kind of emotional eating I can deal with.
On the way home I stopped at Peet's and got a soy chai latte without the sweetening syrup. I realized that it was just tea with soy milk; I think the syrup has not only the sweetener but also all the spices. That's okay; it was still soothing and helped curb my hunger.
I did eat two pieces of toast when I got home, with avocado and ff mayo and chopped red pepper. And I ate all the blackberries. ALL of them. Two hours later, when my spaghetti sauce was done, I also ate a serving of that, with two tablespoons of parmesan cheese.
So, I'm living wild and dangerously. 4 WPAs spent, and it's only Monday. I'm really pleased with myself. I wanted bread, and I had it. I wanted *real* parmesan cheese, and I had it. I feel so much stronger now.
|
|