Almost Halloween

I have a love-hate relationship with Halloween. I love dressing my kids up and letting them have fun, and say "Trick or Treat". But I hate the candy part of it. I end up eating all the good candy and throw the rest away. This year I vow not to eat ALL the candy. I will let the kids have a peice or two then donate it to the church :) These weeks just seem to fly by. But I am planning on getting a gym membership after I get my first paycheck from my new job. Maybe that will help me kick my butt into gear. Eating wise I have been pretty good. But I am having a problem drinking all my water and less pop. Well here is to a new week. I am going to see if renting new workout videos off of netflix will help, who knows? New things sometimes help.

Dazzling October Sunshine

The sunlight and crisp temperatures have been tinting the leaves in rich hues and scrubbing the blue sky clean. I haven't had any trouble the past couple of days in getting exercise. I walked for over two hours yesterday with T in the stroller, two hours the day before, and an hour and a half the day before that, I think. Did I mention I like to take walks? Not only do I get exercise while walking, but I don't get bored enough to eat. I figure I better get in as many as I can before the weather turns too cold or -eep- SNOWY? FREEZY?

EGGNOG SEASON looms before us. Eggnogg is one of my big downfalls. I drink it in my coffee from mid-October to mid-February (I stock up right before it's off shelves in January.) I adore it. I saw it in Safeway yesterday and have yet to buy any. But it will happen. I'll crumble with a big smile on my face.

We made a huge pot of chili at the end of last week and a pot of borscht earlier this week, so we've had some really healthy, warm food. Borscht is an acquired taste, but very healthy. It's made primarily of beets (I used canned) seasoned with dill, can be made with or without meat, and contains whatever other vegetables you like. I put potatoes, turnips, beans, carrots, and brown rice in mine.

I'd like to also recommend a pasta. Barilla makes a series of noodles in yellow boxes called "Barilla Plus." The pasta is made with eggs and legumes like chick peas and lentils, and whole grains. It's high in Omega-3's and fiber. A serving of this pasta contains almost as much protein as a serving of hamburger, and only slightly less than a serving of shrimp. The noodles have a denser, springier texture than most other noodles and are more flavorful - really yummy. These noodles ARE almost twice the price of generic white noodles, but they have WAY more nutrition and you don't have to serve them with meat to make them nourishing. I eat a bowl or two of Barilla Plus with my favorite cheese sprinkled on top and call it a meal. It's an easy way to add both protein and fiber into your diet without the hassle of preparing and cooking meat (which to me is a major pain.) I'm a lazy but healthy cook.

Poverty is a good weight-loss plan. No ice cream or pop this week except at a birthday party last Saturday, and hardly any candy. Can't afford it. I baked a batch of chocolate chip and flax-seed cookies (again hitting with the stealth Omega-3-fiber foods) and accidentally left them at my dad's house. I made pancakes (with ground flax and flour) and ate them with a pile of bacon and sausage. That was my big indulgence earlier this week.

Yesterday I weighed myself three times on a scale in a store and it averaged out to about 135-7. Don't know if it's true, but I'll gladly take it. If only my arms would tighten up and get buff. They make my breasts look smaller than they really are. I guess lifting a three-year old repeatedly every day isn't the same as lifting weights in the gym. The workout gods are unfair!

Another week gone.

Man havew I been behind. I got a cold and my head is just not working. I started my new jon so I am trying to set up office and get things done. I also stayed up till 1:00 to help Joe finish his paper. This 28 year old body can not handle that anymore. I jumped on the scale and it is about a pound lower. YEAH!!!! Still trying to keep up on the exercise and water drinking. Not doing to well. But I bought whole wheat bread and flour and I am trying to eat better, Although having cookies and ice cream is not good.

progress

So the scale hasn't moved but I'm improving in other ways. I exercise for an hour 3 times a week. Yesterday I made it for 20 minutes on the elliptical. WOOHOO!!!! Yay, for me! This is in is a complete victory for me. When I first got on a couple weeks ago, I couldn't last for more than 5 minutes. My eating has not been so good which is why the scale hasn't moved. What can I say, I'm a sucker for ice cream. Today I did much better than I have all week. And last night I made a Mexican salad with an organic salsa for the dressing and chicken and some black beans and some cheese. It was great! And Tony actually ate it... Now to get him to stop drinking soda... Then I won't have to have it in the house calling my name. Water intake hasn't been so great either. Somebody wanna light a fire under me. I thought I was doing pretty good until I started writing this! I'm terrible, if a skinny person we're ready this, they would be disgusted. Ugh!

Keeping Track

For the record:

The day before yesterday - Wednesday - I finally reached the water intake goal. I drank around 64 oz. of water that day. And I did at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise as I pushed a stroller up a steep hill. I've been doing stretching and dancing as I take care of things around the house. I don't know if they've been exacty 15 consecutive minutes, but at least the exercise is kinda working its way in there.

How are you two?

Anyone else out there want to join in?

In the Same Boat

I'm in the same boat with you, Dorothy. For me, the boat's been a cruise ship with an all-you-can-eat buffet. We had company all weekend, and today and tomorrow, too. It's been so much fun. But healthy eating and exercise attempts? Can I have a do-over? Cake, cookies, chocolate, ice cream, Doritos, pop, Chinese food, pancakes, French fries, pasta binges...

I got on a scale yesterday, but I'm sure it was broken or grossly inaccurate. The first time I got on, it said I weighed the same thing I did in college. When I got on a moment later, it was a much closer, more normal weight for me: 147. But considering this scale, it could have been as much as ten pounds off, so I'm taking that reading with a pinch of salt and a gallon of ice cream. Noooo - just kidding. Wednesday, or even tomorrow afternoon, it should be back to the usual "routine."

Last note: I eat whole grain bread most of the time, very little meat (only once every few days, or trace amounts), and whole grain or vegetable mixed pasta. My usual drink for the day, besides water, is home-brewed coffee with a dollop of 2%, no sugar. Peanut butter, eggs, black beans, and organic buffalo serve as the majority of my protein, and although PB and eggs are high in fat, that fat is high in Omega-3's, so are rather healthy.

My downfall: ice cream and baked goods.

Week 3

Challenge this week is to exercise atleast 15 minutes a day. We can do it ladies.

Tip: eating whole wheats is better for you and you get more nutrients. Slowly transition your pasta.

Good luck this week ladies.

Where did the week go?

Man this week went by fast. I really did not workout and I did not eat all that great. I tried to drink my water and less pop but it just did not happen. I need to kick my butt into gear, because my fav. purple jacket is too small I cannot zip it over my belly. Very sad. It fit me just 6 months ago. Maybe this week will be better.

Challenge 2

OK Ladies last week was to drink 64ozs of water. If you can read through your pee you are perfectly hydrated. Keep up the water drinking. This week cut your soda drinking in half. Or whatever drink that is bad for you. This will help you stay hydrated and drink more water plus not get those calories. Read the label on what you drink to see if it is really all that great. Tea is good for, but try to cut back on sugar.

Tip of the week:
Cleaning your house is a great way to exercise. Put on some music and dance while you clean. :) Get two things done at once.

Add your fav. yummy healthy reciepe for us to enjoy. And if you have a good challenge let me know. Maybe we can rotate who comes up with challenges. Tell me what you think. Have a great week!!

MY WEEK :(

Well this week was not good. I was sick for two days and then I started that wonderful time of the month. So I fell icky. I tried really hard to drink all my water did pretty good most days. I have neither gained nor lost weight. So that is good. I went for a walk today, not too far though. I have a job interview on wednesday and I keep thinking how all my clothes don't fit but i don't want to buy any cause I WILL lose weight. It is kind of kicking me in the butt. I measured out a mile path (1/2 mile one way). Next week I will do better.

Checking In Rather Listlessly

Took two long walks this week. One of 'em was four hours long, pushing a stroller, and going up some killer hills. May take another walk before dark today.

My appetite is still poor from getting over a cold, but the foods I have eaten are probably not weightloss-friendly. A lot of buttered popcorn, muffins, some plain tortilla chips. I mean I ate those foods as meals, not "in additional to." Whole wheat toast is good. I've tried to water myself, but never have matched the daily goal. I've been more in the 40 oz a day range. The first couple of days, I swear the water was making me nauseous when I drank it on an empty stomach before meals. I couldn't eat at all afterward. I think there's something bad in our water. We bought a filter last year and it broke in the first week. We returned it and never replaced it.

I weighed myself yesterday and am at 147 - up three pounds from last week, at least according to that scale. What's the deal? Maybe it's muscle gain. Maybe I need to start taking measurements instead of weighing myself. Is there such a thing as invisible muscle? Let me check ... no, I certainly haven't gained it in the cleavage area. I saw a female ultimate fighter on TV last night who weighed 144. I turned to my husband and smiled wanly, "Hey, if I were a fighter, I'd only be a pound or two off my peak fighting weight, right?"

Oh, well. Next week, here we come!

Breakthrough!!!!

I've lost 4 pounds after struggling for months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited!