Some days, I really feel good: good about my food choices, good about myself, and good about what I'm doing. Yesterday was one of those days.
I woke up early enough to finish watching a movie I'd started days ago. I didn't get out of breath at all while walking my dogs. I ate every couple of hours all day long and stayed in my calorie range. In the evening I was tempted to snack, but I recognized that I wasn't hungry. Instead of heading to the fridge, I took a nice, relaxing bath. A little reading, and then it was bed time. All in all, a day I'm happy with, even though I didn't go to the gym.
I did plan on going to the gym (I know; I say that a lot). I didn't go because I got a phone call about a drawing I had entered month's ago. I won a prize. I had to go get it. It's a really nice emergency kit with first aid supplies, one of those foil blankets, a plastic poncho, flashlight, radio, and a glow stick. It's pretty cool.
Here is my food for yesterday:
Breakfast: Fiber One bar. 90 calories
Snack: Apple slices. 36 calories
Lunch: Broccoli, cheese, almonds, and fat free ranch. 300 calories
Snack: Pretzel chips and hummus. 180 calories
Dinner: Veggie stir fry with white rice. 583 calories
Total calories: 1189
In the future, I will try harder to keep it above 1200, but I really didn't want to make myself eat when I wasn't hungry. That's a habit I'm trying to break. And let's be honest, how often am I going to end up eating that few calories? I mean, come on, this chick likes the foods.
So far, today has been just as good. Of course, there's plenty of time for things to go pear-shaped, but I'm trying to stay positive.
1307.51 / 0 / 1289.68
Walden Pond
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Weigh-in and Stay Away from the Danger Zone
For me, the danger zone is McDonald's, or at least it's one of the danger zones. I went to McDonald's yesterday with the full intention of getting a salad. I really like their salads, too, so I wasn't sacrificing or punishing myself by getting one. But when I pulled into the drive-thru and opened my window, I could smell the French fries. I could hear the person ahead of me ordering French fries. So I ordered a burger and fries.
I really love McDonald's French fries. I don't have that problem at other places. At those other places, I can take them or leave them. But McDonald's fries are DIFFERENT. I thought I could resist them, but I was wrong. I'm not strong enough for that...yet.
The old me would have said, "Screw it," and ordered hot fudge sundae or a caramel frappe to go with the burger and fries. Instead, I just got the burger and fries. I logged it, and adjusted my dinner plans to stay in line with my calories.
By the time I bough groceries last night, it was getting late. Hubby and kid wanted McDonald's, and I didn't want to cook. So that's what we did, but this time I did order the salad. So my calories were still under goal! Yay! So the lesson: I don't need to ever go to McDonald's by myself.
Lunch was still a bad choice. I don't deny that. But I'm not quitting this time. I may have to stop every now and then to change a tire, but I'm going to keep down this road until I reach Walden. And from there--who knows?
Here is what I at yesterday.
Lunch: McDonald's double cheeseburger and large fries. 960 calories
Dinner: McDonald's grilled chicken bacon ranch salad with dressing. 410 calories
Snack: Almonds and cheese. 160 calories
Total calories: 1530--40 calories below target!
Today is weigh-in day! I got on the scale this morning ready to accept whatever it gave me. I've been off plan most of the month, and I have rarely exercised. Well, the scale read 288! That's 2 pounds down! If I can lose 2 pounds half-assing it, imagine what I can do when I really work at it. Let's find out this month, shall we?
1307.51 / 0 / 1289.68
I really love McDonald's French fries. I don't have that problem at other places. At those other places, I can take them or leave them. But McDonald's fries are DIFFERENT. I thought I could resist them, but I was wrong. I'm not strong enough for that...yet.
The old me would have said, "Screw it," and ordered hot fudge sundae or a caramel frappe to go with the burger and fries. Instead, I just got the burger and fries. I logged it, and adjusted my dinner plans to stay in line with my calories.
By the time I bough groceries last night, it was getting late. Hubby and kid wanted McDonald's, and I didn't want to cook. So that's what we did, but this time I did order the salad. So my calories were still under goal! Yay! So the lesson: I don't need to ever go to McDonald's by myself.
Lunch was still a bad choice. I don't deny that. But I'm not quitting this time. I may have to stop every now and then to change a tire, but I'm going to keep down this road until I reach Walden. And from there--who knows?
Here is what I at yesterday.
Lunch: McDonald's double cheeseburger and large fries. 960 calories
Dinner: McDonald's grilled chicken bacon ranch salad with dressing. 410 calories
Snack: Almonds and cheese. 160 calories
Total calories: 1530--40 calories below target!
Today is weigh-in day! I got on the scale this morning ready to accept whatever it gave me. I've been off plan most of the month, and I have rarely exercised. Well, the scale read 288! That's 2 pounds down! If I can lose 2 pounds half-assing it, imagine what I can do when I really work at it. Let's find out this month, shall we?
1307.51 / 0 / 1289.68
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Salad Days
I missed breakfast again this morning. I'm going to have to go back to keeping something in the office. That seems the only way to ensure that I will not skip a meal.
I decided on a bigger lunch today, since I have my breakfast calories, too. I got a grilled chicken salad from McDonald's.
I think it's funny that your youth is called your salad days. I know it's because it is at the beginning, but no one calls old age your "dessert days," do they? Anyway, in my salad days, I hated salad. Actually, I hated salad for most of my adult life, too. Once I was 35 or so, I finally figured out why: every salad I'd ever been served or offered had sliced onion in it. I hate raw onion. Once I started picking that out, I found that salads were great!
Now that there are only three of us in the house, I will sometimes make a huge Olive Garden style salad with some of their light salad dressing. I'll pick up a rotisserie to go with it, and everyone is happy. Sometimes my husband and I will skip the chicken and have multiple bowls of salad.
Tonight I'm going to the grocery store to pick up my healthy food for the next few days.
I forgot to take pictures of my food yesterday, but here is the breakdown.
Breakfast: Instant white chocolate caramel cappuccino at the office. 360 calories
Lunch: Rice-a-Roni cheddar broccoli cup. 230 calories
Dinner: Golden Mushroom beef (I made pancakes for Michael and Tori, but I had the lunch I forgot to bring to work). 951 calories
Total: 1541 calories
So I had a day under goal. I think I should make a habit of that, don't you?
Tomorrow, I should be able to finish my current work project by noon. That means I should have time to hit the gym before going home. I already have my workout clothes here in the office, so I have no excuses not to go.
I'm going to win this. I just am.
1307.51 / 0 / 1289.68
I decided on a bigger lunch today, since I have my breakfast calories, too. I got a grilled chicken salad from McDonald's.
I think it's funny that your youth is called your salad days. I know it's because it is at the beginning, but no one calls old age your "dessert days," do they? Anyway, in my salad days, I hated salad. Actually, I hated salad for most of my adult life, too. Once I was 35 or so, I finally figured out why: every salad I'd ever been served or offered had sliced onion in it. I hate raw onion. Once I started picking that out, I found that salads were great!
Now that there are only three of us in the house, I will sometimes make a huge Olive Garden style salad with some of their light salad dressing. I'll pick up a rotisserie to go with it, and everyone is happy. Sometimes my husband and I will skip the chicken and have multiple bowls of salad.
Tonight I'm going to the grocery store to pick up my healthy food for the next few days.
I forgot to take pictures of my food yesterday, but here is the breakdown.
Breakfast: Instant white chocolate caramel cappuccino at the office. 360 calories
Lunch: Rice-a-Roni cheddar broccoli cup. 230 calories
Dinner: Golden Mushroom beef (I made pancakes for Michael and Tori, but I had the lunch I forgot to bring to work). 951 calories
Total: 1541 calories
So I had a day under goal. I think I should make a habit of that, don't you?
Tomorrow, I should be able to finish my current work project by noon. That means I should have time to hit the gym before going home. I already have my workout clothes here in the office, so I have no excuses not to go.
I'm going to win this. I just am.
1307.51 / 0 / 1289.68
Monday, September 29, 2014
Too Busy for My Own Good
I woke up early this morning feeling fully rested. I decided to make the most of the extra time I had. So I started a load of laundry, unloaded the dishwasher, woke up my daughter, vacuumed our living room, walked the dogs, and switched the clothes over to the dryer. I was so proud of myself. That is until I was almost to work and realized that I had forgotten to eat breakfast or grab the lunch I had planned to take.
This is the day before payday, so I have exactly $2.00 to my name. We have no vending machines near where I work. Luckily, I keep a cappuccino mix and a Rice-A-Roni meal in my desk most of the time for emergencies. They don't actually taste all that great, but they work in a pinch.
Since I didn't have much to eat during the day, I'm allowing myself a higher calorie dinner tonight: pancakes! Pancakes is our usual "nothing to eat in the house" meal. The pancakes themselves are not too high in calories (just 265 calories for three large pancakes). My problem is the butter or margarine. I like my pancakes almost soaked in the stuff. I usually use more calories on the butter than I do on the pancakes. I'm working on that, but for tonight, I should have enough calories to spare.
Here is my food from yesterday.
Breakfast: One mini bagel with fat free cream cheese. 135 calories
Lunch: Boxed mac and cheese with cheese slices and crackers. 830 calories
Dinner: Golden mushroom beef over rice and a Coke Zero. 795 calories
Total: 1760 calories
According to MyFitnessPal, I didn't actually go over because of the calories awarded to me for exercising. I've been trying to decide how to handle this. My armband syncs with MFP to log exercise, and MFP adjusts my calories to account for it. I'm not sure if I should count it or not. I'm leaning towards trying to stay under the 1570 baseline, but not feel too badly if I use up exercise calories--kind of a like a savings account. I don't want to dip into savings, but if I do, I'm not going to stress unless it becomes a regular thing. Does that make sense?
Just two more days until weigh day! I'm very curious to see what the scale says.
1307.51 / 0 / 1289.68
This is the day before payday, so I have exactly $2.00 to my name. We have no vending machines near where I work. Luckily, I keep a cappuccino mix and a Rice-A-Roni meal in my desk most of the time for emergencies. They don't actually taste all that great, but they work in a pinch.
Since I didn't have much to eat during the day, I'm allowing myself a higher calorie dinner tonight: pancakes! Pancakes is our usual "nothing to eat in the house" meal. The pancakes themselves are not too high in calories (just 265 calories for three large pancakes). My problem is the butter or margarine. I like my pancakes almost soaked in the stuff. I usually use more calories on the butter than I do on the pancakes. I'm working on that, but for tonight, I should have enough calories to spare.
Here is my food from yesterday.
Breakfast: One mini bagel with fat free cream cheese. 135 calories
Lunch: Boxed mac and cheese with cheese slices and crackers. 830 calories
Dinner: Golden mushroom beef over rice and a Coke Zero. 795 calories
Total: 1760 calories
According to MyFitnessPal, I didn't actually go over because of the calories awarded to me for exercising. I've been trying to decide how to handle this. My armband syncs with MFP to log exercise, and MFP adjusts my calories to account for it. I'm not sure if I should count it or not. I'm leaning towards trying to stay under the 1570 baseline, but not feel too badly if I use up exercise calories--kind of a like a savings account. I don't want to dip into savings, but if I do, I'm not going to stress unless it becomes a regular thing. Does that make sense?
Just two more days until weigh day! I'm very curious to see what the scale says.
1307.51 / 0 / 1289.68
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Getting Back on Track
Today I shampooed all the carpet in my house. That's a lot of carpet. We have 3 dogs and 2 cats, so some areas I had to go over multiple times, and those shampooers are heavy. I am already starting to feel the soreness creeping in, so I bet I got a good workout from it, too.
I have a Body Media Body Bug. It's kind of like a FitBit. I've had it for a while, but I let my subscription lapse. I renewed it today, so now I'll be able to account for my sleep, steps, and workouts. I'm still only counting miles actually walked (or ellipticaled--is that a word? Is now.) for this blog.
I get paid on Tuesday, and I'm planning on getting lots of fresh veggies. I've not been eating the veggies like I used to. I can tell a difference in how I feel. I'm sluggish and cranky. That' might just be PMS, though, lol.
If all goes well, I'll be able to finish my work project on Wednesday, which means I won't have to stay late. Back to the gym for me!
Wednesday will also be weigh in day for me. I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm not really expecting a loss because I was off plan for so long and not exercising. But it will be my first month without a binge in a long time. I'm curious if that will show in my weight at all.
By the way, if anyone is actually reading this blog, I'd love for you to leave a comment. Even though I'm doing this blog to help myself work through things, it's sometimes is nice to know I'm not alone out here. Thanks!
1307.51 / 0 / 1289.68
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Post Anniversary Report
My anniversary weekend was wonderful! I didn't keep track of calories, but I did not overeat--not even once. I don't just mean that I didn't binge; I didn't overeat. I stopped when I first started to feel full. Also, I didn't obsess over food. Usually on a trip like this, everything would be planned around the meals. Where do we eat? How many restaurants can we squeeze into one trip? How many of my favorite foods can I have? I didn't do that at all. I was so relaxed and happy spending time with Michael, I didn't even notice the food that much. We went to a festival that I know had concession stands right behind where we were sitting, but I couldn't tell you what was being sold. It just wasn't as interesting as talking with my husband and watching the boat races and people.
When we were ready to eat, we tried new places. I'm not usually big on trying new restaurants. What if it's not great? What if we "wasted" a meal on food that was just "okay" when we could have had my favorite meal at this other place? But I didn't do that. Food was just not the focus.
This may seem totally normal to some people, but it is a totally new thing to me. I've spent most of my life avoiding as much interaction with people as I can. Eating is a great way to avoid talking to people. But I didn't feel like that on this trip. It was a revelation. Maybe this is how normal people eat?
This morning we had another birthday breakfast at work. I had a spoonful of apple oatmeal that I brought, half a donuts, one slice of bacon, and a cup of chocolate milk. I also talked to someone new, which is also a big deal for me.
I have to work late until next week, so I haven't been hitting the gym at all. I hope to change that after this work project is finished. I'm still planning to make it to Walden Pond, so I will have to really step up my game.
Mostly, I'm just really proud of myself for this weekend!
1307.51 / 0 / 1289.68
When we were ready to eat, we tried new places. I'm not usually big on trying new restaurants. What if it's not great? What if we "wasted" a meal on food that was just "okay" when we could have had my favorite meal at this other place? But I didn't do that. Food was just not the focus.
This may seem totally normal to some people, but it is a totally new thing to me. I've spent most of my life avoiding as much interaction with people as I can. Eating is a great way to avoid talking to people. But I didn't feel like that on this trip. It was a revelation. Maybe this is how normal people eat?
This morning we had another birthday breakfast at work. I had a spoonful of apple oatmeal that I brought, half a donuts, one slice of bacon, and a cup of chocolate milk. I also talked to someone new, which is also a big deal for me.
I have to work late until next week, so I haven't been hitting the gym at all. I hope to change that after this work project is finished. I'm still planning to make it to Walden Pond, so I will have to really step up my game.
Mostly, I'm just really proud of myself for this weekend!
1307.51 / 0 / 1289.68
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Went Wandering
Well, I'm back. The good news is I wasn't binging. I wasn't watching my caloric intake, and I did overeat, but I never binged. What kind of damage I did will be seen on October 1st when I weigh. I could go into the "reasons" I went off plan (sinus issues, migraines, etc.) but it comes down to laziness. I didn't "feel" like making the healthy food, so I didn't. I'm not sure how to change that.
Anyway, onward and upward!
This weekend is my anniversary trip. I'm going for 2000 calories a day for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I know I'll be getting in lots of walking, and the hotel has a pool.
I don't have a lot to share today; I just wanted to check in (does anyone even read these) and let you know I will be posting again. I'm back on plan. I will do this.
1307.51 / 0 / 1289.68
Anyway, onward and upward!
This weekend is my anniversary trip. I'm going for 2000 calories a day for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I know I'll be getting in lots of walking, and the hotel has a pool.
I don't have a lot to share today; I just wanted to check in (does anyone even read these) and let you know I will be posting again. I'm back on plan. I will do this.
1307.51 / 0 / 1289.68
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