Monday, April 30, 2007

Seventeen weeks and I'm still here....

I got in a good walk before the electrician arrived to work on the back of our house. I weighed in and was a little disappointed to still be 203--I really thought it had dropped earlier in the week. Oh, well. On I go....This will be the first month I don't make my goal, but I really didn't know what to expect with vacation half the month. We'll just plan for good things in May.

Breakfast: 1/2 c. kefir, 1/2 c strawberries, 1/2 bagel
Lunch: 1/2 pita, 1/2 c. curried chicken, 1 apple, 8 carrots
Snack: 1 chocolate chip cookie, 1/4 c. GORP, strawberry, orange
Dinner: 2 oz. chicken, 1/2 c. pasta, 1/2 c. squash, 1/2 c. ice cream

Today's reason to lose weight: Just because I want to : ).

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Sunday....

So, I managed to walk today and eat pretty well.

Breakfast: 1/2 bagel, cream cheese, 1/2 grapefruit, 1 latte
Lunch: 1/2 pita with 1/2 c. curried chicken, 8 carrots, 1 apple
Snack: 1 apple
Dinner: 2 taquitos, 10 tortilla chips, 1/4 c. gorp, 1/2 c. pasta with sundried tomatoes and mushrooms, 1/2 peanut butter cookie

So, the dinner looks a little funny....Mark spoke and we were offered the first three things. I had the pasta when we got home. One more sign of success today--I put in my jean skirt and somehow it is now so long that it touches the top of my feet--I guess I don't take up the width anymore. Mark and Hailey voted it into the Salvation Army bag.

Today's reason to lose weight: I am enjoying having increased energy. There are so many things that I want to do!

For yesterday...

No walk as I took the day off for this week.

Breakfast: 1/2 english muffin, 1 egg
Lunch: 1/4 c. nuts, 1/2 pita, 1/2 c. curried chicken salad, veges and hummus, 12 oz sparkling lemonade, 1/4 slice birthday cake
Snack: 1/2 c. GORP
Dinner: 1/2 pita, 1/2 c. curried chicken salad, 12 oz sparkling lemonade
Snack: 2 c. popcorn

So, better quantities of food today, but I still need to be mindful of the catagories of food I am consuming--where are the veges and fruits? I am not feeling very grounded in this process right now. I think I need to remind myself of the significant progress I have made. I need to remember that change happens in pound size increments and that those do add up. A few friends have commented that I have lost weight quickly. I guess in retrospect it hasn't been so long, but the present struggle with these few pounds always feels like lots of hard work that takes a very long time. It is a good process, but my emotions and mind often need some time to catch up with my body. All part of the journey, I guess.

Today's reason to lose weight: Mark found a pair of pants today and brought them home. They are a size 14. I told him, "These won't fit for quite a while." He urged me to try them on. Lo and behold, they are a bit snug, but I can easily button and zip them. They should be fine in 5 pounds or so. Who knew? That's encouraging to me.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Friday....

I had a good walk this morning, but I'm not even sure what to say about the rest of the day. After we got home from Friends of the Trees, I went crazy with the eating. It's the kind of day I'd prefer not to blog. But I'll try to remember what I ate and be as honest as possible. If I start failing to report when it doesn't go well, that will be the beginning of the end for me. So, for the sake of honesty, here goes....

Breakfast: 1 scone
Lunch: 1 c. strawberries, 1 1/2 slices of bread made into peanut butter and jelly sandwich, 1 apple
Snack: 1 scone, 1 bar chocolate, 1 c (?) ice cream
Dinner: 2 oz. chicken, 1/2 c. squash, 1/2 c. pasta
Nibbles of birthday cake and frosting

I can't remember eating anything else, but I can't guarantee that that is everything : (. I sure don't like how I feel after I've been out of control with my eating. It's not like I was hungry or needed that quantity of sweets for a snack....

Today's reason to lose weight: I feel capable of tackling other things after having success with my eating--like remodeling the bathroom and back room of our house this summer.

Thursday's info...

I got a good one hour walk in today.

Breakfast: 1 greek cookie, 1 c. strawberries
Lunch: 1 piece bread, 1 egg, strawberries
Snack: Strawberries, dried apricots, 2 greek cookies
Dinner: 1 aranciata, 1 c. goldfish, 5 pieces bruschetta with cheese, 1 pressed sandwich cheese and proscuitto sandwich from Tartine, 1/4 c. lavendar honey ice cream from BiRite Creamery

Today's reason to lose weight: My body is beginning to feel really good to me--I have more energy, I can run, I have more stamina. I feel like I am getting in good shape.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Wednesday

I got my walk in this morning....

Breakfast: 1 bagel, 1 banana
Lunch: 1 c. pozole with a few crushed chips, 1/3 c. fruit and nut mix
Snack: granola bar, 1 c. cereal with milk
Dinner: 1/2 c. pozole, bean, cheese, and spinach quesedilla
Dessert: chocolate bar

Today's reason to lose weight: I was thinking about my 50 pound bags of wheat that I grind into flour, which are quite heavy. At my highest weight, it was as if I was carrying two of those around all the time. I have now set one down and very slowly, the grains are beginning to leak out of the other!

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Tuesday

Had a few things come up today, so my walk wasn't quite what I usually like it to be...

Breakfast: 1/2 c. oatmeal, 1/2 c. berries, milk, 2 T almonds
Lunch: 1/2 c. rice, ginger garlic veges, 1 banana, 2 T dried fruit and nuts
Snack: 6 bites carrot cake, lemonade
Dinner: 1 c. vegetarian pozole, 10 tortilla chips
Snack: 1/2 piece naan dipped in tikka masala sauce

Today's reason to lose weight: I spent part of the day today with a friend whose health is really compromised because of excess weight. I do not want to be experiencing terrible health problems in 15 years because I did not take care of myself.

Monday, April 23, 2007

16 Weeks!

I missed posting yesterday. Mark was speaking in Santa Cruz and we rolled back in at midnight. I did write down my eating and did okay, but I have a headache right now and don't want to post yesterday's info, so I will stick with today.....

I weighed in at 203 today--progress again! I'm not sure if I'll make goal this month, but I am going to come as close as I can.

Breakfast: 1/2 english muffin, 1 egg, 5 strawberries
Snack: 6 dried apricots
Lunch: 5 slices baguette, 1 oz. cream cheese, 8 carrots 1 apple
Snack: 2 c. popcorn, 1 slice zucchini bread, 1 newman-o, 1 pirouette wafer cookie, 6 dried apricots
Dinner: 1 crumpet, chinese chicken salad
Dessert: small slice of cake for Mick's bday

I got my walk in this morning.

Today's reason to lose weight: A friend noticed my progress today at park day and that was fun for me.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Live culture making class today

I enjoyed a live culture dairy products class today where we learned to make pima, yogurt, creme fraiche, kefir and quark. The samples were all made with raw milk and I cannot tell you how wonderful everything tasted. I wonder how much raw milk costs....On my way to the class I did a brisk hike up and over Bernal Hill (good job, me).

Breakfast: 1 c. yogurt, 1/4 c. granola
Lunch: 1 cliff bar, samples of cheese, yogurt and other dairy products at class, asparagus, strawberries (3), 5 crackers, 10 almonds
Dinner: 1 piece frittata, 1 crumpet
Snack: handful goldfish crackers, 1/2 c. ice cream

Today's reason to lose weight: The healthier I become, the more energy I have for the endless possibilities that are in front of me!

Friday, April 20, 2007

Home at last!

Mark and I walked down to lake Tahoe this morning before our round of meetings. I was very energized by the roundtable and encouraged to begin to imagine how I might use my gifts to work out God's call in the next steps of my life.

Breakfast: 1 c. strawberries, 1 egg, 1 slice bacon
Lunch: Chicken friccasee, 1 piece foccacia, blackberry italian soda, 4 fries, 1/4 serving of creme brulee, an ounce of dessert wine
Dinner: 2 slices pizza, 4 c. popcorn

Today's reason to lose weight: I am excited about all the things that God is beginning to do in my life!

Log for Thursday....

Went for a walk on the snowy trail with Mark today.

Breakfast: 1 c. strawberries, 1 egg, 1 sausage, 1 cream cheese blintz
Lunch: Large green salad with balsamic vinegar, broccoli,raisin and bacon salad, 1 small slice pizza, 1 1/2" square pecan pie
Dinner: A few bites baked potato, 2/3 piece of prime rib (? oz.) salad, roll, butter, veges, 1 piece peach pie 1/2 c. ice cream, 1 glass chardonnay

Today's reason to lose weight: If I can learn to be honest with myself about this area of my life, perhaps I can face correction in other parts of my life, too. I've never been good at recieving correction without defensiveness.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Yesterday's Stats...

Mark and I are up near Tahoe for a work event. I just figured out that we have wireless, so I can update this blog. Here's yesterday....

Breakfast: 1 c. yogurt, 1/2 c. strawberries, 1 slice cinnamon bread
Lunch: 1 c. pad thai, 1 1/2 oz. beef curry
Dinner: Large green salad, 1 piece baguette, green beans, carrots, 1/2 c. tortellini, 4 oz. chicken with mushroom sauce,
apple cheesecake dessert, 1 glass chardonnay

So, mostly back on track today. I probably should've skipped dessert or just had a bite of Mark's. It was not worth the number of calories it probably had (for me, anyway). Live and learn.

Today's reason to lose weight: As I learn to live purposefully in this area of my life, I seem to feel empowered in many other areas of my life.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Today's vital statistics:

So, I enjoyed my walk today, back in my familiar neighborhood all by myself!

Breakfast: 1 c. nonfat yogurt, 1/4 c. granola, 1 banana
Snack: 6 dried apricots
Lunch: 1 lowfat chinese salad from Trader Joes, 1 piece cinnamon bread
Snack: 1 nonfat frozen yogurt scoop from Ben and Jerry's : )
Dinner: 1 c. pasta with sauce, broccoli coleslaw

HOME!

I am home after a terrific vacation in DC. I wound up gaining one pound on vacation (putting me at 205). I walked like crazy and I think I learned a few things about this process:

1. I am still dangerous around food when I am not very intentional about it! It was difficult to eat well on vacation and so easy to eat extra food and sweets. I tend to feel like I "deserve" certain things because I am tired or because I walked a long ways or because everyone else is having it.

2. I discovered that I really want to continue this process! I did not like the feeling, as vacation went along, that I was less and less in control of my desires for food. I would like to be in charge in that arena of my life. I think it might take concerted effort and intention for a very long time, but I really feel better emotionally, physically and mentally when I am disciplined in my eating, so I am back and ready to go!

There's still so much work to be done on this journey, but I am grateful to have the chance to be learning right now at this time!
So, I will check in tonight with my food log!

Today's reason to lose weight: This is really a good journey to be on!

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Washington DC

We've arrived. The day started at 4:30 a.m. in order to pack food and get to Oakland for a 6:30 flight. We arrived DC at 5:00 and were greeted by Mike Stavlund who took us on the Metro to Matt and Dawn Luecke's house in DC. Matt and Dawn have already been the most gracious hosts and Mike is amazing, as well! I skipped my walk today, for obvious reasons, but I promise to make up for it tomorrow : ).

Not bad eating, either, for a travel day...

Breakfast:1 banana, 1 mini bagel with cream cheese
Lunch: 1 piece flatbread, 1/4 c. hummus, cucumbers, banana, cookie, 1 square chocolate, 1/2 slice pizza from a personal size pizza
Snack: 2 girl scout cookies, 8 carrots
Dinner: 1 1/2 c. chili, 14 tortilla chips, 1 slice cornbread, sprinkle of cheese, 1 T. sour cream

Today's reason to lose weight: I want to lose a little more so I can buy new jeans, these are beginning to get baggy, but not quite enough to replace them yet.

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Leaving early tomorrow a.m. for DC....

and I am finally ready!

So, the eating was pretty wonky today as there is very little food in the house. I will try to carry on as best I can on vacation and blog whenever I can. I will write down my eating, though. Very little walking today--crazy getting ready to go.

Breakfast: 1/2 c oatmeal, 2 T raisins, 1 T almonds
Snack: 1 c. grapes
Lunch: 1 piece apple pie (I know : ), handful chocolate chips
Dinner: 2 pieces pizza, 1 c. grapes
Snack: 1/2 piece apple pie (before throwing the rest away!)

Like I said, weird eating today.

Today's reason to lose weight: I bet I'll be more comfortable on the airplane tomorrow!

13 weeks (for Monday)!

I weighed in at 204 today....inching my way to below the 200 mark. I got in a good walk, as well.

Breakfast: 2 pieces baguette french toast, 1 egg
Lunch: 2 tortilla, 1/4 c. cheese, 1 c. carrot soup
Snack: dried lychee, 1 cookie, 1 oz cheese
Dinner: Taco salad consisting of lots of greens, 10 tortilla chips, 2 oz. ground beef, sprinkle of cheese, 1/4 c. black beans, pepita salad dressing

Today's reason to lose weight: I can't wait to break the 200 mark!

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Sunday....

Today I started the day with a walk and resolved to do better than yesterday--I can't lose my mojo! I have an April goal to meet!

Breakfast: 3/4 c. whole grain cooked cereal, 1/4 c. raspberries, 1 T almonds, 1/4 c. milk
Lunch: 8 chips, 1 piece potato rosemary bread with 1 oz blue cheese, 8 carrots, 1 banana
Snack: 1 chocolate chip cookie, 1 banana
Dinner: 3/4 c. carrot soup, large garden salad, 1/2 c. rice, 1 small cinnamon roll, 1 lemon bar

I could do with less sweets today, but much better than yesterday. I keep pressing on! We'll see what the weigh in brings tomorrow. I think I am making progress in that I am not weighing daily anymore. I think that is a good thing. I am wondering if I should also take some measurements to watch progress that way, too.

Today's reason to lose weight: I am not done with this journey yet. I have much more to learn!

Saturday

So, I am behind and will catch up. Yesterday was awful, food wise. Not sure why I went so over the top. I am tempted not to even record it, but I will for the sake of being honest with myself.

Breakfast: 2 slices toasted baguette, 1 egg
Lunch: 1 piece vege lasagna, 3 chocolate chip cookies, 8 hershey's kisses (I ate very late--not good for me)
Dinner (at silent auction--once again hard to deal with tables full of food): 1/2 c. beets, 1/2 c. orzo salad, 1/2 c. vege pasta, 5 pieces baguette with artichoke spread, 1 slice apple pie, 1 ginger cookie, 1 glass rose wine, 1 chocolate with peanuts

And that is what I can remember. Not good. So, what do I learn? Eat lunch at a regular time. Stay away from sugary things. Perhaps sweets should just be off limits in buffet settings. I should save them for times when they are more controlled.