After posting my last post, Pip and I got in the car. We drove to a park, got out and walked. Don't ask why I don't want to walk in my neighborhood--it's a quirk of mine.
I did want to take Pip walking near traffic for training purposes. (True, not just an excuse.) We went to an area that is pretty flat, which I kind of needed. We walked steady for 15 minutes. Yes, I got winded and out of breath. My legs felt like jello. When I felt like the jello was about to collapse, we headed back for the car.
We were next to a lake, so I figured we'd stroll slowly to the bank and enjoy. Pip worked hard on his walk, too, and he needs a reward to just be able to smell and be the 4-month-old puppy that he is. BTW, I was not worried about over exercising my pup because I'm fat and I walk slow. lol Plus, he's a border collie with tons of energy.
So we went to the lake, sat on a bench, I reflected while he sniffed the ground, watched the birds and drooled over the ducks. We then got up and just moseyed around the bank for another 15 minutes. No heart rate rising with this at all, just pure enjoyment of my pup, myself and nature.
It was good. It was a good start. We'll do it again tomorrow.
One of the things that came to mind while we just strolled was how wonderful it is to release negative stuff in our lives. The past year was the worst in my life for many reasons. Detaching from negative people was difficult and time consuming. I was in a black hole for awhile, but when things started to lift, I could see clearly. All of a sudden I realized with all that negative BS gone, there was room for a whole bunch of positive. And I'm filling up on it.
3.28.2009
A Good Read
I ordered You on a Diet which arrived this week. When I read this kind of book, I never start at page 1 and read through the end, I hop around. I've been hopping and hopping and really enjoying. I've learned a lot so far. Whenever I get the entire book read, I'll start again at page 1 taking notes.
I always worry about my body chemistry. It's not good. My HDL is way too low, my LDL is way too high. I've learned what is actually happening due to that from this book. He also has suggestions on improving, which I plan to implement. I do want to talk to my doctor about adding Niacin first, though.
I told my husband this book is written for about a middle-school level. Not too many big words, but when there are, they're explained well. While I'm no middle schooler, it makes it easy to understand and my desire to keep reading is there.
Regarding exercise, I have dabbled with it, but nothing on a daily basis. I keep telling myself I want to wait until I've lost a few more pounds. Excuses, excuses. I am feeling a bit more energetic -- not a lot, but a noticeable difference, so I think it's time to quit making excuses and DO.
The book recommends walking 30 minutes a day along with X amount of strength training per week. I openly admit I kind of skipped that part -- I read it but it went in one ear and out the other. I'll search that out today and re-read it. In fact, I'm toying with the idea of buying the You on a Diet DVD. I loved reading the reviews on Amazon. Boring, reminded me of junior high stretches, etc. I think that's what I need to re-learn. While a long way from my beloved Richard Simmons, I need to learn a thing or two. And while I'm at it, I may see if I have enough money to buy two other things: a new Nano and the Richard Simmons Anniversary collection on DVD.
I have a Shuffle, which is great for my music. It stinks for books, though. And if I start walking for 30 minutes a day, I'd love to listen to a good book while I walk. For those days when it's cold, rainy or I'm in a mood, I can workout inside with Richard. Win-win.
I'm feeling pretty excited today. After taking the Real Age test (I believe that is by the authors of You on a Diet) I really felt like turning things up a notch.
So a great read, You on a Diet, and I'm going to get off my butt and start moving more. No more excuses.
I always worry about my body chemistry. It's not good. My HDL is way too low, my LDL is way too high. I've learned what is actually happening due to that from this book. He also has suggestions on improving, which I plan to implement. I do want to talk to my doctor about adding Niacin first, though.
I told my husband this book is written for about a middle-school level. Not too many big words, but when there are, they're explained well. While I'm no middle schooler, it makes it easy to understand and my desire to keep reading is there.
Regarding exercise, I have dabbled with it, but nothing on a daily basis. I keep telling myself I want to wait until I've lost a few more pounds. Excuses, excuses. I am feeling a bit more energetic -- not a lot, but a noticeable difference, so I think it's time to quit making excuses and DO.
The book recommends walking 30 minutes a day along with X amount of strength training per week. I openly admit I kind of skipped that part -- I read it but it went in one ear and out the other. I'll search that out today and re-read it. In fact, I'm toying with the idea of buying the You on a Diet DVD. I loved reading the reviews on Amazon. Boring, reminded me of junior high stretches, etc. I think that's what I need to re-learn. While a long way from my beloved Richard Simmons, I need to learn a thing or two. And while I'm at it, I may see if I have enough money to buy two other things: a new Nano and the Richard Simmons Anniversary collection on DVD.
I have a Shuffle, which is great for my music. It stinks for books, though. And if I start walking for 30 minutes a day, I'd love to listen to a good book while I walk. For those days when it's cold, rainy or I'm in a mood, I can workout inside with Richard. Win-win.
I'm feeling pretty excited today. After taking the Real Age test (I believe that is by the authors of You on a Diet) I really felt like turning things up a notch.
So a great read, You on a Diet, and I'm going to get off my butt and start moving more. No more excuses.
3.27.2009
TOPS: No Go
The other day I went to the TOPS meeting. I didn't go to the meeting, I went to the meeting place, the library. I was going to go in when I noticed someone I did not like go in. I don't like this person at all. This person has rubbed me the wrong way ever since I first met her. Her husband has been nasty to me and my son. (She's a neighbor.) I watched her march right in to the TOPS meeting.
I debated in my mind. Should I or shouldn't I? The answer was fast and clear. Nope. I have anxiety, and getting to the meeting was tough enough. I would never open up with this person present. I would be on guard and stressed the whole time. The only thing I would get from the meeting would be a stress headache and a need for a Xanax.
I look at it like this: It wasn't meant to be. In this journey, I am on a quest to be positive. I'm changing my stinking thinking. I'm really working hard on the physical and mental. I know to run fast from energy vampires, and very negative people.
I'm not trying to hide from the fact there are always going to be jerks in life. Obviously, jerks are everywhere. The situations I can control, though, I will.
I think perhaps there's something better out there for me. I don't need to go to physical meetings to get healthy. I have a great support system on the Internet with the blog, in online groups, etc. Perhaps my energy for joining groups is better spent with something I love: service, volunteering, history, etc.
I feel I made the right decision. I may check it out again in a few months, I may not. I am doing the right thing by trusting my judgment, though.
I debated in my mind. Should I or shouldn't I? The answer was fast and clear. Nope. I have anxiety, and getting to the meeting was tough enough. I would never open up with this person present. I would be on guard and stressed the whole time. The only thing I would get from the meeting would be a stress headache and a need for a Xanax.
I look at it like this: It wasn't meant to be. In this journey, I am on a quest to be positive. I'm changing my stinking thinking. I'm really working hard on the physical and mental. I know to run fast from energy vampires, and very negative people.
I'm not trying to hide from the fact there are always going to be jerks in life. Obviously, jerks are everywhere. The situations I can control, though, I will.
I think perhaps there's something better out there for me. I don't need to go to physical meetings to get healthy. I have a great support system on the Internet with the blog, in online groups, etc. Perhaps my energy for joining groups is better spent with something I love: service, volunteering, history, etc.
I feel I made the right decision. I may check it out again in a few months, I may not. I am doing the right thing by trusting my judgment, though.
Product Review: Fiber Gourmet Pasta
This past weekend, I ordered a sample pack of Fiber Gourmet Light pasta. The sample pack contained two packages each of Penne, Rotini and Fettuccine. Each box has 8 ounces of pasta.
The total cost for the pasta was $22 for the sample pack, plus shipping for a total of $27.99. I ordered on the weekend, and first thing Monday morning I got an email from the company that gave me the tracking number. Meaning: they ship fast. The pasta arrived yesterday.
Each serving of pasta has 18 grams of insoluble fiber, 1 gram of fat and 130 calories, 40 percent fewer calories than regular pasta.
I decided to whip up some Rotini and cheese. I poured out 56 grams of pasta on my scale.
Note to self: Next time I do a food picture, use a bowl that does not have a chip and rust stain! And clean up that food scale, sheesh. I put that on to boil and measured out 28 grams of Kraft 2% Velveeta. It's hard to measure that! I thought it didn't look like enough, so I ended up using 2 ounces rather than 1. One would have been fine, for the amount of pasta. It would have been a light, cheesy taste rather than a really cheesy taste, but 2 ounces added 3 points as opposed to 1 point for 1 ounce.
This is the end result:
It was DELICIOUS.
BOTTOM LINE:
Pasta quality: Great!
It had a lighter color than any of my pasta here--that was the only noticeable difference.
If I had to give it a percentage rating of how close it was to "real" pasta, I'd give it a 97-98. It was that close.
Recommendation: BUY IT! I will be a happy customer with this company from here on out.
I think that the greatest thing about this pasta is that it will teach me portion control. At 18 grams of fiber per serving, I will not be bingeing on it. I will not be going back for second helpings. I would not do that to my body because I know what fiber does. So to me, that is a huge added bonus. I will slow down and savor every bite!
I am very happy.
A Funny from Yesterday
So yesterday afternoon I showered late. We were going to doggie class that night and I wanted to be fresh not wilted for class. (It's a hair thing.) So I was in my bathrobe at 3pm. I just let my two older doggies out to go potty while I was putzing around my house.
We don't have a back door in our house. It's a weird design, a smallish house, and they used every square inch to its advantage. So the back door goes to our garage, and then you get to the back yard through the garage.
My pups were out in the back and had free access to the garage.
I completely forgot about the UPS man. My pasta was scheduled to be delivered yesterday afternoon. The UPS man comes between 2 an 3 here. A minute after I let the dogs out, I heard his brakes squealing.
Oh no! He opens our garage door in the front to deliver packages. Weird as it is, he rings that bell, comes in to the garage, and waits for me at that door. Life would be easier if he would use the front door.
The minute I heard his brakes squeal, I ran out the door to bring the dogs in. While doing that, my robe caught on the handle of the door. It ripped as I stepped, and all of a sudden I was standing in my garage, with a UPS man seconds from entering, bare ass naked. There was my robe hanging on the door.
My heart was beating, I heard the foot steps. I screamed: DON'T OPEN THE DOOR! I pried and further ripped my bathrobe, but I got it on. My dogs by this time were going nuts. I ran to the door the UPS man was standing at, cracked it two inches, trying to hold my robe around me and get jumping dogs to behave, in frustration I said: I just got out of the shower, my dogs are going crazy, please just set the package on the ground.
Our eyes met for a second. I was beet red--I could feel it. He sat the package down and left. I was so flustered that I was almost shaking. He drove off, I commanded the dogs to sit, I opened the door and got my package.
Walked into the house, excited for my pasta, but thinking: I bet those UPS delivery guys have seen it all, and he almost did with me. I would have DIED of embarrassment.
Now I think it's funny, but can you imagine? Why would I be naked in my garage? With two dogs? Can you imagine what his thoughts would have been had he not heard my scream and entered the garage???
After I tore open my box, drooled over my pasta, I called my husband to tell him. He didn't think it was funny at all. He wondered why I was so unorganized. He told me to be careful. Sheesh, he has no sense of humor.
I guess the best part of the story is this: My hubby got off work about a half hour after this happened. I was still in that robe. When he got home he laughed about it a little, and for fun I said, "This is what that UPS guy missed" and flashed my husband.
"Whoa! Stop!" My husband said. "Look at your stomach, Jo!" huh??? Not exactly the thing I want to look at, ever. He made me look at it. Guess what? After only what, five, six weeks on Weight Watchers, there is a big visible difference in my stomach. I was stunned! So was he! It's got divots in it. That may not be the right word--my hubby used that word as he's a golfer. You can visibly see where it is shrinking, there's a big line that wasn't there before. Then I felt it. (Sounds like I'm feeling myself up, doesn't it?) When I ran my hand over my tummy, I really noticed the difference.
Wow.
If it hadn't been for the UPS man, we would have never known!
We don't have a back door in our house. It's a weird design, a smallish house, and they used every square inch to its advantage. So the back door goes to our garage, and then you get to the back yard through the garage.
My pups were out in the back and had free access to the garage.
I completely forgot about the UPS man. My pasta was scheduled to be delivered yesterday afternoon. The UPS man comes between 2 an 3 here. A minute after I let the dogs out, I heard his brakes squealing.
Oh no! He opens our garage door in the front to deliver packages. Weird as it is, he rings that bell, comes in to the garage, and waits for me at that door. Life would be easier if he would use the front door.
The minute I heard his brakes squeal, I ran out the door to bring the dogs in. While doing that, my robe caught on the handle of the door. It ripped as I stepped, and all of a sudden I was standing in my garage, with a UPS man seconds from entering, bare ass naked. There was my robe hanging on the door.
My heart was beating, I heard the foot steps. I screamed: DON'T OPEN THE DOOR! I pried and further ripped my bathrobe, but I got it on. My dogs by this time were going nuts. I ran to the door the UPS man was standing at, cracked it two inches, trying to hold my robe around me and get jumping dogs to behave, in frustration I said: I just got out of the shower, my dogs are going crazy, please just set the package on the ground.
Our eyes met for a second. I was beet red--I could feel it. He sat the package down and left. I was so flustered that I was almost shaking. He drove off, I commanded the dogs to sit, I opened the door and got my package.
Walked into the house, excited for my pasta, but thinking: I bet those UPS delivery guys have seen it all, and he almost did with me. I would have DIED of embarrassment.
Now I think it's funny, but can you imagine? Why would I be naked in my garage? With two dogs? Can you imagine what his thoughts would have been had he not heard my scream and entered the garage???
After I tore open my box, drooled over my pasta, I called my husband to tell him. He didn't think it was funny at all. He wondered why I was so unorganized. He told me to be careful. Sheesh, he has no sense of humor.
I guess the best part of the story is this: My hubby got off work about a half hour after this happened. I was still in that robe. When he got home he laughed about it a little, and for fun I said, "This is what that UPS guy missed" and flashed my husband.
"Whoa! Stop!" My husband said. "Look at your stomach, Jo!" huh??? Not exactly the thing I want to look at, ever. He made me look at it. Guess what? After only what, five, six weeks on Weight Watchers, there is a big visible difference in my stomach. I was stunned! So was he! It's got divots in it. That may not be the right word--my hubby used that word as he's a golfer. You can visibly see where it is shrinking, there's a big line that wasn't there before. Then I felt it. (Sounds like I'm feeling myself up, doesn't it?) When I ran my hand over my tummy, I really noticed the difference.
Wow.
If it hadn't been for the UPS man, we would have never known!
3.25.2009
Puppy Love
I'm not going to turn this into a dog blog, but I thought this picture was just so cute I had to share. This is my joy, Pip, always smiling, always happy, taken today.Mayo, Anyone???
I don't eat mayo. Someone once told me that I would lose weight if I just gave up mayo. Why do people think that everyone who is overweight loves mayo?
In order to help my swelling, I have decided to eat tuna salad for lunch leaving my lunch meat behind. I was surprised to learn a can of water-packed tuna only has 100 calories. The only bad thing is I know there is mercury in tuna.
The last time I went to the grocery store, I bought a jar of Kraft Free Mayo. I just got it out of the cupboard to check nutritional info, opened the fridge to get the mustard out, and found a jar of Kraft Free Miracle Whip. I so seldom use mayo that I had no idea it was even in there. It hasn't expired yet, which is good, I guess.
So comparing the nutritional information, the Free Mayo has 5 fewer calories than the Free Miracle Whip, coming in at 10 calories for 1 Tbsp. Reading the ingredient list, I decided which I will use. The first ingredient on the Free Miracle Whip is water. The second? High Fructose Corn Syrup. UGH. That may or may not contain mercury. And I'm on that quest to not eat HFCS. So the Free Mayo's first listed ingredients: water, modified food starch (sugar, high fructose corn syrup, vinegar, soybean oil... I guess that the mixture of sugar, corn syrup, vinegar, soybean oil and HFCS beats the second igredient of pure HFCS.
What is it with high fructose corn syrup in everything? And what am I to do? I want to make some tuna salad. I don't want to use real mayonnaise. It makes for difficult choices.
I have never been able to tell the difference in taste between the two. I guess I'll use the Free Mayo.
Is there a fat-free mayo on the market that does not have HFCS???
In order to help my swelling, I have decided to eat tuna salad for lunch leaving my lunch meat behind. I was surprised to learn a can of water-packed tuna only has 100 calories. The only bad thing is I know there is mercury in tuna.
The last time I went to the grocery store, I bought a jar of Kraft Free Mayo. I just got it out of the cupboard to check nutritional info, opened the fridge to get the mustard out, and found a jar of Kraft Free Miracle Whip. I so seldom use mayo that I had no idea it was even in there. It hasn't expired yet, which is good, I guess.
So comparing the nutritional information, the Free Mayo has 5 fewer calories than the Free Miracle Whip, coming in at 10 calories for 1 Tbsp. Reading the ingredient list, I decided which I will use. The first ingredient on the Free Miracle Whip is water. The second? High Fructose Corn Syrup. UGH. That may or may not contain mercury. And I'm on that quest to not eat HFCS. So the Free Mayo's first listed ingredients: water, modified food starch (sugar, high fructose corn syrup, vinegar, soybean oil... I guess that the mixture of sugar, corn syrup, vinegar, soybean oil and HFCS beats the second igredient of pure HFCS.
What is it with high fructose corn syrup in everything? And what am I to do? I want to make some tuna salad. I don't want to use real mayonnaise. It makes for difficult choices.
I have never been able to tell the difference in taste between the two. I guess I'll use the Free Mayo.
Is there a fat-free mayo on the market that does not have HFCS???
I just blogged that I'm not a purist. Maybe this is the gentle step I was talking about. I'm going to make the tuna salad, but I'm just not happy about the HFCS. I'll be on the lookout for more low-point protein sandwich options besides tuna and lunch meat.
Peanut butter is an obvious choice, but I don't really love it. I never crave it, I will eat it, but it doesn't turn my crank.
Weight Loss Philosophy
There are so many philosophies regarding weight loss. I have my own.
I started this weight-loss quest so I would feel better. Plain and simple, I was tired of feeling like sh*t all the time, every day, day in and day out. The second thing was in the back of my mind: I was/am concerned with my health. Obviously I can't be healthy if I feel like garbage physically every day. I have high triglycerides and I am pre-diabetic.
Being skinny, showing off, buying cute clothes, being sexy is the furthest from my mind. I will admit that I would like to look better. I cringe when I see my photos, but that's not my motivation. In fact, the thought of having to spend money on new clothes bugs me, I'm a tightwad.
So with health in mind, one would think that I would be a purist. I'm not. At this point, I'm not going organic, I'm not going whole foods. I like the tricks that help me get through it. I like the silly things like Alba shakes, ICBINB spray, etc.
So my philosophy right now is to do what it takes to get the weight off. If that means using Splenda, chemical sprays, weird recipes, hitting Hungry Girl and other recipe sites on a daily basis, I'm doing it. I just ordered Hungry Girl's recipe book--it' supposed to arrive tomorrow. I don't like buying cookbooks because I don't like to cook. I decided I needed to change my mind. Next goal I may buy a Lund cookbook. I guess now I'm at the stage where I'm looking for cookbook/website recommendations. Never thought I'd say that.
In the back of my mind, slowly and gently, I'll be moving more toward whole foods, natural, and maybe some day organic. (Organic prices just tick me off to no end, so I don't do anything organic at this moment out of spite. Remember, I'm a tightwad. lol)
One of my mini-goals is to quit consuming high fructose corn syrup. Early in the year, we heard the news reports that many items made with HFCS had mercury in them. Once mercury enters your body, you can never get rid of it. That scared me! Pam just blogged about this yesterday at her blog. Pop on over and read about it.
So small, gentle steps. I know the term baby steps is widely used, but that phrase has always bugged me probably because I am a youngest child and have always been referred to as the baby, so I like my gentle steps phrase better. lol I'm weird, what can I say. Plus, I'm 43 and far from being a baby, although my attitude at times...never mind.
My ultimate goal is when I reach my goal weight, I'll have removed a lot of the bad foods from my diet and will be eating more toward the whole, good foods. But it's a process. I just can't drop it all now because I would never make it.
So that's my philosophy. Do what it takes to get the weight off. I know this is true: The way I eat on Weight Watchers, chemicals and all, is far healthier for me than the way I ate before Weight Watchers!!!
I started this weight-loss quest so I would feel better. Plain and simple, I was tired of feeling like sh*t all the time, every day, day in and day out. The second thing was in the back of my mind: I was/am concerned with my health. Obviously I can't be healthy if I feel like garbage physically every day. I have high triglycerides and I am pre-diabetic.
Being skinny, showing off, buying cute clothes, being sexy is the furthest from my mind. I will admit that I would like to look better. I cringe when I see my photos, but that's not my motivation. In fact, the thought of having to spend money on new clothes bugs me, I'm a tightwad.
So with health in mind, one would think that I would be a purist. I'm not. At this point, I'm not going organic, I'm not going whole foods. I like the tricks that help me get through it. I like the silly things like Alba shakes, ICBINB spray, etc.
So my philosophy right now is to do what it takes to get the weight off. If that means using Splenda, chemical sprays, weird recipes, hitting Hungry Girl and other recipe sites on a daily basis, I'm doing it. I just ordered Hungry Girl's recipe book--it' supposed to arrive tomorrow. I don't like buying cookbooks because I don't like to cook. I decided I needed to change my mind. Next goal I may buy a Lund cookbook. I guess now I'm at the stage where I'm looking for cookbook/website recommendations. Never thought I'd say that.
In the back of my mind, slowly and gently, I'll be moving more toward whole foods, natural, and maybe some day organic. (Organic prices just tick me off to no end, so I don't do anything organic at this moment out of spite. Remember, I'm a tightwad. lol)
One of my mini-goals is to quit consuming high fructose corn syrup. Early in the year, we heard the news reports that many items made with HFCS had mercury in them. Once mercury enters your body, you can never get rid of it. That scared me! Pam just blogged about this yesterday at her blog. Pop on over and read about it.
So small, gentle steps. I know the term baby steps is widely used, but that phrase has always bugged me probably because I am a youngest child and have always been referred to as the baby, so I like my gentle steps phrase better. lol I'm weird, what can I say. Plus, I'm 43 and far from being a baby, although my attitude at times...never mind.
My ultimate goal is when I reach my goal weight, I'll have removed a lot of the bad foods from my diet and will be eating more toward the whole, good foods. But it's a process. I just can't drop it all now because I would never make it.
So that's my philosophy. Do what it takes to get the weight off. I know this is true: The way I eat on Weight Watchers, chemicals and all, is far healthier for me than the way I ate before Weight Watchers!!!
Remember Alba Shakes?
Home Version Chocolate Alba Shake
POINTS® Value: 1
Servings: 1
1/4 cup(s) non-fat instant dry powdered milk
3 tbsp Sucralose (Splenda)
1 tsp Hershey's Cocoa
Instructions: Mix with one cup of cold water.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I remember when I was a kid and mom would go on a diet, she'd buy Alba shakes. I thought they were great--and that was in the day I was a skinny girl. They still make them, but they don't sell them where I live. I could probably buy them online, but it's not worth it to me. I'd rather buy high fiber pasta!
So I was thrilled to find a recipe for them. I haven't tried it yet, and it may take some tweaking, but I enjoy a little taste of chocolate now and again, so I'm thrilled to find this recipe.
POINTS® Value: 1
Servings: 1
1/4 cup(s) non-fat instant dry powdered milk
3 tbsp Sucralose (Splenda)
1 tsp Hershey's Cocoa
Instructions: Mix with one cup of cold water.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I remember when I was a kid and mom would go on a diet, she'd buy Alba shakes. I thought they were great--and that was in the day I was a skinny girl. They still make them, but they don't sell them where I live. I could probably buy them online, but it's not worth it to me. I'd rather buy high fiber pasta!
So I was thrilled to find a recipe for them. I haven't tried it yet, and it may take some tweaking, but I enjoy a little taste of chocolate now and again, so I'm thrilled to find this recipe.
3.24.2009
Can You Feel the Burn, Mom? ~or~ Uphill Both Ways
This post has an either/or title.
My son just asked me if I could feel the burn. My response was every molecule in my body is feeling the burn.
My husband just asked me if our walk was uphill both ways. My answer: YES!
When hubby got home from work today, he said grab the leashes and let's go to the bike path for a walk. It's a bright, warm, sunny day so I said why not. All three doggies were excited to go. We packed up in the mini-van, and off we went.
We got there and the wind started whipping. I had Pip, and my boys each had their dogs.
We walked. Pip pulled and pulled and barked. He would turn around and look at me in doggie disgust because I wasn't fast enough, we were not keeping up with the boys. My hubby ended up taking him, so he would be quiet.
I trudged along. Hill after hill. Actually it like a roller coaster, up and down.
We had a lot of fun. The dogs had fun. It took a long time for me to get back to the car, so my boys all ran around in the field as I worked my way back.
By the time I got to the car, I was winded. I also felt every muscle in my body. Okay, in my legs, butt, lower back, neck, shoulders and arms.
When we got home, we all had some water, doggies included. I told my husband that I could understand my legs feeling like jello, but my arms? D'oh, I was working with an untrained puppy who was pulling fast and furious on his leash. That's where the arm/shoulder thing came in.
I told my DH we should do this every day, but not tomorrow. He laughed and said I'd really feel it in the morning. I wasn't laughing as I took two Motrin because I was already feeling it.
I hate that I got myself so out of shape. I really hate it. I LOVE the fact that I'm going to get myself back IN shape. It won't happen overnight, but I know that after a bit, I'll be walking well, keeping up with everyone, and doing great.
This isn't a journey about self-hate. What is, is. I can't undo the past. Instead, I can be positive and focus on each moment at hand and into the future. While this walk was tough on me, I did it. The first step of a journey. Those steps will get easier.
My son just asked me if I could feel the burn. My response was every molecule in my body is feeling the burn.
My husband just asked me if our walk was uphill both ways. My answer: YES!
When hubby got home from work today, he said grab the leashes and let's go to the bike path for a walk. It's a bright, warm, sunny day so I said why not. All three doggies were excited to go. We packed up in the mini-van, and off we went.
We got there and the wind started whipping. I had Pip, and my boys each had their dogs.
We walked. Pip pulled and pulled and barked. He would turn around and look at me in doggie disgust because I wasn't fast enough, we were not keeping up with the boys. My hubby ended up taking him, so he would be quiet.
I trudged along. Hill after hill. Actually it like a roller coaster, up and down.
We had a lot of fun. The dogs had fun. It took a long time for me to get back to the car, so my boys all ran around in the field as I worked my way back.
By the time I got to the car, I was winded. I also felt every muscle in my body. Okay, in my legs, butt, lower back, neck, shoulders and arms.
When we got home, we all had some water, doggies included. I told my husband that I could understand my legs feeling like jello, but my arms? D'oh, I was working with an untrained puppy who was pulling fast and furious on his leash. That's where the arm/shoulder thing came in.
I told my DH we should do this every day, but not tomorrow. He laughed and said I'd really feel it in the morning. I wasn't laughing as I took two Motrin because I was already feeling it.
I hate that I got myself so out of shape. I really hate it. I LOVE the fact that I'm going to get myself back IN shape. It won't happen overnight, but I know that after a bit, I'll be walking well, keeping up with everyone, and doing great.
This isn't a journey about self-hate. What is, is. I can't undo the past. Instead, I can be positive and focus on each moment at hand and into the future. While this walk was tough on me, I did it. The first step of a journey. Those steps will get easier.
Crustless Pumpkin Pie
This is a favorite at my house. I have to warn, though, that it's an old recipe and I got it when pumpkin was a free veggie, thus there were no points calculated for the pumpkin. If you were to run this through Weight Watcher's recipe builder today, depending on how many servings, your points range is going to go up. It will not give you an "entire pie is 4 points" rating. I think it works out to 8, if memory serves me.
Me? I still count it the same as I did eons ago. Why? Because eons ago I lost 72 pounds and this recipe was one I made frequently. It never hindered my weight loss. I always used to make 4 servings, and count each as a point.
So, if you want to be on plan with today's Weight Watchers, you'll have to run it through the recipe builder. If you want to be naughty like me, you won't.
Crustless Pumpkin Pie
entire pie 4 points
4 pieces: 1 point per serving
15 oz can pumpkin
1/2 cup Egg Beaters
1 1/2 cup skim milk
3/4 cup Splenda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Beat all together until smooth. Put in pie pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Me? I still count it the same as I did eons ago. Why? Because eons ago I lost 72 pounds and this recipe was one I made frequently. It never hindered my weight loss. I always used to make 4 servings, and count each as a point.
So, if you want to be on plan with today's Weight Watchers, you'll have to run it through the recipe builder. If you want to be naughty like me, you won't.
Crustless Pumpkin Pie
entire pie 4 points
4 pieces: 1 point per serving
15 oz can pumpkin
1/2 cup Egg Beaters
1 1/2 cup skim milk
3/4 cup Splenda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Beat all together until smooth. Put in pie pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Cream Soup Mix
I have not used this yet. I do use a lot of cream soup, usually Campbell's Healthy Request cream soups. I have a friend who calls these "cream of crap soups." She gets on me for using these, especially in crockpot recipes. Oh well. I am going to make a batch of this later this week or early next week and see if I like it or not. Thought I'd share in case it is of interest to anyone else.
cream soup mix
POINTS® Value: 2
Servings: 9
Ingredients
2 cup(s) non-fat instant dry powdered milk
3/4 cup(s) cornstarch
1/4 cup(s) Preciosa Chicken Bouillon
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp dehydrated onion flakes
1 tsp ground basil
1 tsp ground thyme
Instructions
Mix in airtight container--makes equivalent of 9 cans of soup.
To use: Combine 1/3 c. of mix with 1 1/4 c. cold water. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring until thickened.
cream soup mix
POINTS® Value: 2
Servings: 9
Ingredients
2 cup(s) non-fat instant dry powdered milk
3/4 cup(s) cornstarch
1/4 cup(s) Preciosa Chicken Bouillon
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp dehydrated onion flakes
1 tsp ground basil
1 tsp ground thyme
Instructions
Mix in airtight container--makes equivalent of 9 cans of soup.
To use: Combine 1/3 c. of mix with 1 1/4 c. cold water. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring until thickened.
3.23.2009
Torture
At 10 p.m. tonight, a half hour past my son's bedtime, he was starving. So he made homemade mac and cheese. In front of me.
He used Rotini and Velveeta Light -- they call it 2% now -- and sat down in front of me and ate it.
I could NOT resist. The temptation was too great. I measured out 1/8 of a cup. I pried his bowl from his hands to do this. Like stealing candy from a baby, I took my son's food from him. Shame on me.
I really enjoyed it, though. I counted it as 4 points.
He kept saying, "No, Mom, you're on Weight Watchers." I kept repeating, "But I have flex points to use."
I couldn't handle not having any. And that little tiny bit that I had? It was enough. It was delicious. I ate it very slowly. It was worth it.
And that's that. Yum. Who knew I could manage to be around it and eat only 1/8 cup and actually enjoy that amount!
He used Rotini and Velveeta Light -- they call it 2% now -- and sat down in front of me and ate it.
I could NOT resist. The temptation was too great. I measured out 1/8 of a cup. I pried his bowl from his hands to do this. Like stealing candy from a baby, I took my son's food from him. Shame on me.
I really enjoyed it, though. I counted it as 4 points.
He kept saying, "No, Mom, you're on Weight Watchers." I kept repeating, "But I have flex points to use."
I couldn't handle not having any. And that little tiny bit that I had? It was enough. It was delicious. I ate it very slowly. It was worth it.
And that's that. Yum. Who knew I could manage to be around it and eat only 1/8 cup and actually enjoy that amount!
Cola Chicken
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can of diet cola
1 cup of ketchup
Place chicken breasts in pan. Pour ketchup and cola over the chicken breasts. Simmer for 45 minutes covered. After 45 minutes, turn the heat up to high and cook until sauce thickens like bbq sauce.
My son and I love this dish. I usually cook it uncovered for 45-50 minutes. The sauce is very good.
We always have rice with this. It is very good.
4 points per serving
1 can of diet cola
1 cup of ketchup
Place chicken breasts in pan. Pour ketchup and cola over the chicken breasts. Simmer for 45 minutes covered. After 45 minutes, turn the heat up to high and cook until sauce thickens like bbq sauce.
My son and I love this dish. I usually cook it uncovered for 45-50 minutes. The sauce is very good.
We always have rice with this. It is very good.
4 points per serving
3.22.2009
Week 6 Menu
Monday: Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup
Tuesday: Cola Chicken, Rice, Veggies
Wednesday: Crockpot Cheeseburgers (Thank you, TJ!), Baked Steak Fries
Thursday: out
Friday: Baked Ziti, Aimee's Buns, Salad
Saturday: Hamburgers, Steak Fries, Salad
Sunday: Tacos and refried beans
Looks like a hamburger-filled week!
Tuesday: Cola Chicken, Rice, Veggies
Wednesday: Crockpot Cheeseburgers (Thank you, TJ!), Baked Steak Fries
Thursday: out
Friday: Baked Ziti, Aimee's Buns, Salad
Saturday: Hamburgers, Steak Fries, Salad
Sunday: Tacos and refried beans
Looks like a hamburger-filled week!
Cravings: Pasta
I have craved a few things since starting this journey: Pasta and milk. I love both.
I have had both since starting up. I usually get 3 milk servings a day, and pasta at least once a week. It stinks, though, that pasta is so high in points.
Well, I just spent $27.99 and made my husband mad. lol I was looking at Hungry Girl and noticed a review on Fiber Gourmet pasta. Tastes like the real thing, but 40% fewer calories? No way...but yes, at least they say so. I'll be judging that shortly.
It's expensive. For my $27.99 I get six 8-ounce boxes of pasta. Two penne, two fettuccine and two rotini. In the future, I can see myself using penne and fettuccine more. When I cook a pasta dish, I'll have to make two: one for my guys and one for me. They can afford the higher calories.
I pulled my box of Barilla Plus Rotini off the shelf for a comparison. I don't use this often, but have it on hand if I have a pasta craving.
2 ounces is 210 calories, 2 fat grams and 4 fiber grams.
By comparison, Fiber Gourmet is:
2 ounces is 130 calories, 1 fat gram and 18 fiber grams.
Wow, I'll get almost twice as much bang for my buck with this.
I hope it's good. I'll do a review as soon as it arrives. I hope it's worth the money.
I have had both since starting up. I usually get 3 milk servings a day, and pasta at least once a week. It stinks, though, that pasta is so high in points.
Well, I just spent $27.99 and made my husband mad. lol I was looking at Hungry Girl and noticed a review on Fiber Gourmet pasta. Tastes like the real thing, but 40% fewer calories? No way...but yes, at least they say so. I'll be judging that shortly.
It's expensive. For my $27.99 I get six 8-ounce boxes of pasta. Two penne, two fettuccine and two rotini. In the future, I can see myself using penne and fettuccine more. When I cook a pasta dish, I'll have to make two: one for my guys and one for me. They can afford the higher calories.
I pulled my box of Barilla Plus Rotini off the shelf for a comparison. I don't use this often, but have it on hand if I have a pasta craving.
2 ounces is 210 calories, 2 fat grams and 4 fiber grams.
By comparison, Fiber Gourmet is:
2 ounces is 130 calories, 1 fat gram and 18 fiber grams.
Wow, I'll get almost twice as much bang for my buck with this.
I hope it's good. I'll do a review as soon as it arrives. I hope it's worth the money.
I've Set a New Goal
Last night I mentioned I started reading a "fat" book that belonged to my mother. There are so many books out there to draw knowledge and information from, but when I went to the library at the start of this journey, I didn't feel like reading any. I also have spent some time on Amazon looking but did not purchase anything. This particular book is special to me because it was Mom's, and that's why I picked it up to read.
I knew from my experience as a homeschool blogger since 2005 that I could get better support and information from blog land than books. I have made some fantastic friends online, many who I have met in real life and many who I email with on a regular basis and talk on the phone with. It is has been tremendous support for me. Blogging a little over a month in the weight-loss blog land, I have already met some wonderful people, drawn incredible inspiration and knowledge and understanding.
I knew that I needed people to support me in this journey. One of my issues is loneliness. I am very lonely. I have friends, good friends, but none that live locally. I have lived in this small town 11 years and I still don't feel like it's home.
I considered going to Weight Watchers meetings again. I know the leader, we were in Cub Scouts together. I really like her. The meetings were okay, but with my anxiety issues, going to the meeting, finding a place to sit, and watching the clicks in the group click bothered me. I always sat alone. No one ever joined me. I never moved beyond my fear to sit next to someone. I didn't know anyone at the meetings. It was highly uncomfortable.
I stopped going to meetings and just went to weigh in. I would stay for a meeting if I was getting a star. I also stayed at their insistence when I got my 50-pound star. Getting applause for one's hard work is great, but yet I was still lonely and uncomfortable.
Back to now, I decided to not go to meetings. Cost was a factor. I've given WW a lot of money over the years. Time was another factor. The only meeting in my small town is at 6:30 on a Wednesday night. I found that my pattern was Wednesdays I wouldn't eat or drink water because of the upcoming weigh-in. That was not healthy. My ability to be comfortable in this particular group setting was another factor. It just wasn't there.
So this time I was going to do it on my own and turn to the internet for support. I started the blog, joined some groups, re-visited some of my favorite haunts from times gone by. I'm thrilled with the blogging results. This will work for me. The face of friendships is changing. We can now connect easily with people all over the world. I am thrilled with the people I have met and enjoy reading their journeys and sharing mine.
Then last night reading my Mom's book, in the first seven pages, I read this:
Great, I thought, I've done that. And I have, really: the blog. The thing is, I think I need to do that closer to home as well. In addition to. I've decided that soon, I need to face some of my fears and reach out to others not in blog land, but in my small town.
I don't want to join WW again. I signed up online by accident. I did the one-week free trial and forgot to cancel. So I'm paid up for a couple more months. Frankly, I like the recipe builder so I think I'll just continue. I could go to a meeting, join eTools and drop WW online to save some money, but I think I'm okay this way.
Next I looked up Overeaters Anonymous. No meetings in my small town, and the closest was 50 miles away. That won't work for a couple reasons: We have doggie training the night the meetings are on, plus I don't want to drive 50 miles for support--it kind of defeats the purpose.
On a blog I've been reading, she talks about TOPS. I looked that up. Yup, there's a TOPS meeting in my town. While I'm not thrilled with weekly weigh-ins, at least it's in the morning. I don't know a lot about TOPS but maybe it's a small enough setting that it wouldn't overwhelm me, and maybe they'll get into the mind issues that I so desperately want to work on. The bad thing is it's in the morning and we school in the morning, but my son is old enough to do his assignments without mother hen watching over him. He is a teenager. I could get away for an hour.
So this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to go out at the next meeting time, blend in with the crowd (it's at our library) and watch to see who goes in. I sound like a stalker, don't I? It's a mind game with me. I will see it's just normal people, who are probably nice, and it will build my confidence. Then I might go or I might wait until the next week and go.
I can try it. If I don't like it, I don't have to continue. I do know this: If I don't push myself, I will never grow. The worst thing that could happen? I could hate it. So then I quit. The best: I could meet some people, get out of the house, push myself, and perhaps learn a thing or two.
I knew from my experience as a homeschool blogger since 2005 that I could get better support and information from blog land than books. I have made some fantastic friends online, many who I have met in real life and many who I email with on a regular basis and talk on the phone with. It is has been tremendous support for me. Blogging a little over a month in the weight-loss blog land, I have already met some wonderful people, drawn incredible inspiration and knowledge and understanding.
I knew that I needed people to support me in this journey. One of my issues is loneliness. I am very lonely. I have friends, good friends, but none that live locally. I have lived in this small town 11 years and I still don't feel like it's home.
I considered going to Weight Watchers meetings again. I know the leader, we were in Cub Scouts together. I really like her. The meetings were okay, but with my anxiety issues, going to the meeting, finding a place to sit, and watching the clicks in the group click bothered me. I always sat alone. No one ever joined me. I never moved beyond my fear to sit next to someone. I didn't know anyone at the meetings. It was highly uncomfortable.
I stopped going to meetings and just went to weigh in. I would stay for a meeting if I was getting a star. I also stayed at their insistence when I got my 50-pound star. Getting applause for one's hard work is great, but yet I was still lonely and uncomfortable.
Back to now, I decided to not go to meetings. Cost was a factor. I've given WW a lot of money over the years. Time was another factor. The only meeting in my small town is at 6:30 on a Wednesday night. I found that my pattern was Wednesdays I wouldn't eat or drink water because of the upcoming weigh-in. That was not healthy. My ability to be comfortable in this particular group setting was another factor. It just wasn't there.
So this time I was going to do it on my own and turn to the internet for support. I started the blog, joined some groups, re-visited some of my favorite haunts from times gone by. I'm thrilled with the blogging results. This will work for me. The face of friendships is changing. We can now connect easily with people all over the world. I am thrilled with the people I have met and enjoy reading their journeys and sharing mine.
Then last night reading my Mom's book, in the first seven pages, I read this:
To recover from an eating disorder involves turning away from the
self-administered comfort of food and turning instead to nurturance from people.
Fat is a Family Affair, Judi Hollis Ph.D.
Great, I thought, I've done that. And I have, really: the blog. The thing is, I think I need to do that closer to home as well. In addition to. I've decided that soon, I need to face some of my fears and reach out to others not in blog land, but in my small town.
I don't want to join WW again. I signed up online by accident. I did the one-week free trial and forgot to cancel. So I'm paid up for a couple more months. Frankly, I like the recipe builder so I think I'll just continue. I could go to a meeting, join eTools and drop WW online to save some money, but I think I'm okay this way.
Next I looked up Overeaters Anonymous. No meetings in my small town, and the closest was 50 miles away. That won't work for a couple reasons: We have doggie training the night the meetings are on, plus I don't want to drive 50 miles for support--it kind of defeats the purpose.
On a blog I've been reading, she talks about TOPS. I looked that up. Yup, there's a TOPS meeting in my town. While I'm not thrilled with weekly weigh-ins, at least it's in the morning. I don't know a lot about TOPS but maybe it's a small enough setting that it wouldn't overwhelm me, and maybe they'll get into the mind issues that I so desperately want to work on. The bad thing is it's in the morning and we school in the morning, but my son is old enough to do his assignments without mother hen watching over him. He is a teenager. I could get away for an hour.
So this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to go out at the next meeting time, blend in with the crowd (it's at our library) and watch to see who goes in. I sound like a stalker, don't I? It's a mind game with me. I will see it's just normal people, who are probably nice, and it will build my confidence. Then I might go or I might wait until the next week and go.
I can try it. If I don't like it, I don't have to continue. I do know this: If I don't push myself, I will never grow. The worst thing that could happen? I could hate it. So then I quit. The best: I could meet some people, get out of the house, push myself, and perhaps learn a thing or two.
My Attempt at a Breakfast Cookie
Well, here it is, my attempt at a breakfast cookie. Actually, my son made this. He used the recipe and made two cookies for 3 points each instead of 1 cookie for six. He added more chocolate chips to his cookie, but I thought the amount was good in mine.
Consistency: Not quite there. Not soft, like a store-bought cookie. Not smooth, either. It was just okay. I was out of applesauce, so we used NF yogurt instead. That might have changed the flavor a bit. I think next time I'd add a bit more Splenda as well.
I'm not that good in a kitchen, and I don't know how to tweak this to make it better. I'd like a version closer to store bought.
Breakfast Cookie
POINTS® Value: 6 Servings: 1
Ingredients
1/3 cup(s) uncooked oatmeal
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/3 cup(s) non-fat instant dry powdered milk
1/4 cup(s) unsweetened applesauce
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp Sucralose (Splenda)
1 tbsp semisweet chocolate candy
Instructions
1 Preheat oven to 350F.
2 Spray cookie sheet with baking spray.
3 Mix all ingredients together.
4 Spoon 1 large mound on the baking sheet.
5 Bake 15-20 minutes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)