Two pounds in two weeks! I think it's working!!!
Here's what I do every day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krEhGok_qpY&feature=youtu.be
So much fun. It's gotta burn some calories too, right?
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
I Did It!
Not really. Not yet. But I'm practicing my "victory blog entry" for when I DO, because I know I will.
And when I post that blog entry, you will probably want to know how I did it, right? I decided to revert back to what helped me lose the first 12 pounds almost two years ago (wow, has it been that long?). Basic math. With the help of this calculator:
http://nutrition.about.com/library/bl_nutrition_guide.htm
My target range is roughly between 1500 - 2000 calories per day. I don't sweat it if I go over that a few times a week because this range is without exercise and sometimes, I actually do exercise.
It's only been 4 days and I'm down 1.5 pounds, even though my goal is only .5 to 1 pound a week.
I'm eating mostly whole foods again (aka "clean").
Salads like this:
And soups like this:
I keep a bag of frozen uncooked, EZ Peel shrimp in the freezer and when I want a nice salad, I just cook some up with whatever seasoning I feel like. Right now, my mouth is burning off as I type this because I felt like chili! I also do the same with chicken breast.
The soup is a great lentil soup recipe that my friend Liz gave me.
So anyway...that's how I did it! (or will do it) Whatever. Details.
And when I post that blog entry, you will probably want to know how I did it, right? I decided to revert back to what helped me lose the first 12 pounds almost two years ago (wow, has it been that long?). Basic math. With the help of this calculator:
http://nutrition.about.com/library/bl_nutrition_guide.htm
My target range is roughly between 1500 - 2000 calories per day. I don't sweat it if I go over that a few times a week because this range is without exercise and sometimes, I actually do exercise.
It's only been 4 days and I'm down 1.5 pounds, even though my goal is only .5 to 1 pound a week.
I'm eating mostly whole foods again (aka "clean").
Salads like this:
And soups like this:
I keep a bag of frozen uncooked, EZ Peel shrimp in the freezer and when I want a nice salad, I just cook some up with whatever seasoning I feel like. Right now, my mouth is burning off as I type this because I felt like chili! I also do the same with chicken breast.
The soup is a great lentil soup recipe that my friend Liz gave me.
So anyway...that's how I did it! (or will do it) Whatever. Details.
Friday, December 2, 2011
On Track!
Nothing too exciting to report. Today is my official weigh in day and I'm up .5 pound from last week. However, last week I weighed in on Thursday before our Thanksgiving weekend. I'm pretty sure I gained a pound or so over the weekend, so in all actuality, I'm probably down a pound. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
I'm still on track to lose 16 pounds in 4 months (I did give myself 4 months, didn't I?). That would be a pound a week going forward.
I got this!
No pictures this week, but we had warm salmon nicoise salad (my new favorite salad!), and a wonderful lentil soup for a few nights. I also ate a lot of fresh pineapple, just because.
Ok, today starts week two!
I'm still on track to lose 16 pounds in 4 months (I did give myself 4 months, didn't I?). That would be a pound a week going forward.
I got this!
No pictures this week, but we had warm salmon nicoise salad (my new favorite salad!), and a wonderful lentil soup for a few nights. I also ate a lot of fresh pineapple, just because.
Ok, today starts week two!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Ok, This Time For Real, I MEAN It, I Am Doing This!
(Nancy totally called my next blog post title!)
How to undo the devastating debauchery of a gluttonous Thanksgiving Week:
1) Eat lots (I mean LOTS) of pineapple - for breakfast, for lunch, for snacks (stealing a small and convenient part of my friend Peg's cleanse)
2) Eat plenty of high protein/high fiber dinners - like my friend Liz' Lentil Soup, (and maybe a salmon nicois salad once or twice for something light and "non-beany")
3) Drink wayyyyy less wine
4) Ride, ride, ride, muck, muck, muck, yoga, yoga, yoga
This will put me back on track for sure!
I mean it this time. 16 pounds in four months. I'm doing it! (I haven't actually weighed myself but I'm assuming I'm up a few and my goal is 148)
We had a great time visiting with family in Bend, Oregon. I packed light - yoga pants and one pair of jeans. By the end of the weekend I could barely zip up my jeans, but whatever (note to self - pack the "comfort" jeans next time, not the "skinny" jeans, duh!).
We went to one of my favorite stores in Bend - Cowgirl Cash - where I picked up a couple of sweet pairs of gently used boots - tax free! One for kickin' around in the barn, and the other for riding in (and kickin' around town). My intention was to buy one pair of boots, but I fell in love with the turquoise Tony Lama "Vaquero" boots and my wonderful husband offered to buy them for me as an early Christmas present! I also got a super cute Cowgirl Cash T-shirt (another early Christmas present) from my sister. I'm so spoiled!!
I ate stuff like this: (my sister in law Nancy made this evil dark chocolate pumpkin swirl cake)
And it was probably the tastiest Thankgiving Dinner to date. I don't know what it was that made it so special. It was definitely a group effort. My husband and my brother were in charge of the turkey and used Chef Marc's High Heat method. My nephew Ryan made awesome mashed potatoes with parmesan cheese and fresh rosemary. He used a little sour cream, half and half, and I don't know what else (and I don't want to know!). My mom's gravy was wonderful, and my niece made sweet potato rolls (yum!). My sister and I tried to make ourselves scarce. Maybe that was it?
I will follow up at the end of the week to let you know how fabulously successful my plan, and new found motivation is working out! : )
But I can't start until Tuesday. Right now I'm eating Jalapeno Artichoke and Fiesta Chicken Crostinis (it's all we have in the freezer)....
How to undo the devastating debauchery of a gluttonous Thanksgiving Week:
1) Eat lots (I mean LOTS) of pineapple - for breakfast, for lunch, for snacks (stealing a small and convenient part of my friend Peg's cleanse)
2) Eat plenty of high protein/high fiber dinners - like my friend Liz' Lentil Soup, (and maybe a salmon nicois salad once or twice for something light and "non-beany")
3) Drink wayyyyy less wine
4) Ride, ride, ride, muck, muck, muck, yoga, yoga, yoga
This will put me back on track for sure!
I mean it this time. 16 pounds in four months. I'm doing it! (I haven't actually weighed myself but I'm assuming I'm up a few and my goal is 148)
We had a great time visiting with family in Bend, Oregon. I packed light - yoga pants and one pair of jeans. By the end of the weekend I could barely zip up my jeans, but whatever (note to self - pack the "comfort" jeans next time, not the "skinny" jeans, duh!).
We went to one of my favorite stores in Bend - Cowgirl Cash - where I picked up a couple of sweet pairs of gently used boots - tax free! One for kickin' around in the barn, and the other for riding in (and kickin' around town). My intention was to buy one pair of boots, but I fell in love with the turquoise Tony Lama "Vaquero" boots and my wonderful husband offered to buy them for me as an early Christmas present! I also got a super cute Cowgirl Cash T-shirt (another early Christmas present) from my sister. I'm so spoiled!!
I ate stuff like this: (my sister in law Nancy made this evil dark chocolate pumpkin swirl cake)
And it was probably the tastiest Thankgiving Dinner to date. I don't know what it was that made it so special. It was definitely a group effort. My husband and my brother were in charge of the turkey and used Chef Marc's High Heat method. My nephew Ryan made awesome mashed potatoes with parmesan cheese and fresh rosemary. He used a little sour cream, half and half, and I don't know what else (and I don't want to know!). My mom's gravy was wonderful, and my niece made sweet potato rolls (yum!). My sister and I tried to make ourselves scarce. Maybe that was it?
I will follow up at the end of the week to let you know how fabulously successful my plan, and new found motivation is working out! : )
But I can't start until Tuesday. Right now I'm eating Jalapeno Artichoke and Fiesta Chicken Crostinis (it's all we have in the freezer)....
Monday, November 21, 2011
Short and Sweet!
It's been over a WEEK since I blogged. But I have stayed on track and I lost a .5 pound, which is better than nothin'!
I'm so busy with the horse. I moved her to a ranch that I LOVE and have been going every day after work and weekends. The barn has lights! Rob is thrilled that he gets to do a lot of undisturbed painting, and I'm just thrilled period!
Here is Maddie in her new digs with a mouthful of food (not unlike her owner most times.....)
Have a happy Thanksgiving!
I'm so busy with the horse. I moved her to a ranch that I LOVE and have been going every day after work and weekends. The barn has lights! Rob is thrilled that he gets to do a lot of undisturbed painting, and I'm just thrilled period!
Here is Maddie in her new digs with a mouthful of food (not unlike her owner most times.....)
Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Farmer's Market Bento Box
I kind of get the Occupy Wall Street movement, but I have to admit that it's a bit overwhelming for me to grasp in it's entirety. I think I would need a double major in Economics and US History, plus I would need to read an unabridged copy of a thorough study of the financial crisis/meltdown (which sounds really depressing and boring) to make complete heads and/or tails of the what and why of everybody's ire.
I do understand a part of what led to the financial crisis (although maybe "understand" is a stretch); mortgage loans, sold to investors in "tranches" with the AAA rated mortgage loans mixed in with the poorly rated, higher risk loans, converted to MBS (mortgage backed securities), and the debacle that followed when those loans defaulted, investors freaked out, etc). There are so many layers of fault, so many places where the system broke down - government policy, Wall Street, banking giants, etc. And I think that is part of what Occupy is about - starting a dialogue. Raising questions. Holding people accountable. Not just for how it started, but how it was handled after the fact.
Anyway, for the time being, I have to be content with occupying what I know how to occupy....the local Farmer's Market. I've always been an advocate of "local", taking at least my own (miniscule) spending power away from the big corporations and lobbyists, and supporting the local growers. So maybe I am part of the Occupy movement, in my own way. The giant food corporations (I'm assuming) are part of the 1%, right? I can't always do it, but I try to use my purchasing power "for the good", and make food decisions that are responsible as often as I can.
Speaking of food, Rob is not here for dinner. So this is my ideal "Farmer's Market Bento Box" meal! Maybe I should call it a Happy Meal/ It makes me happy to eat it, that's for sure. I wonder if this is why I was so much thinner before I met my husband?
Calamata Olives grown right here in Northern California, organic Brussel Sprouts from the Central Coast, and Smoked Gouda from Oakdale. Call me crazy, but this meal is pure indulgance! I'm sure it tastes better because it's local, but it feels better to.
So, what's my weight? Well, I didn't gain, so that's good! Especially after a week of out of town vistitors, week night parties, dinner out, etc. Could have been worse. Much worse!
I do understand a part of what led to the financial crisis (although maybe "understand" is a stretch); mortgage loans, sold to investors in "tranches" with the AAA rated mortgage loans mixed in with the poorly rated, higher risk loans, converted to MBS (mortgage backed securities), and the debacle that followed when those loans defaulted, investors freaked out, etc). There are so many layers of fault, so many places where the system broke down - government policy, Wall Street, banking giants, etc. And I think that is part of what Occupy is about - starting a dialogue. Raising questions. Holding people accountable. Not just for how it started, but how it was handled after the fact.
Anyway, for the time being, I have to be content with occupying what I know how to occupy....the local Farmer's Market. I've always been an advocate of "local", taking at least my own (miniscule) spending power away from the big corporations and lobbyists, and supporting the local growers. So maybe I am part of the Occupy movement, in my own way. The giant food corporations (I'm assuming) are part of the 1%, right? I can't always do it, but I try to use my purchasing power "for the good", and make food decisions that are responsible as often as I can.
Speaking of food, Rob is not here for dinner. So this is my ideal "Farmer's Market Bento Box" meal! Maybe I should call it a Happy Meal/ It makes me happy to eat it, that's for sure. I wonder if this is why I was so much thinner before I met my husband?
Calamata Olives grown right here in Northern California, organic Brussel Sprouts from the Central Coast, and Smoked Gouda from Oakdale. Call me crazy, but this meal is pure indulgance! I'm sure it tastes better because it's local, but it feels better to.
So, what's my weight? Well, I didn't gain, so that's good! Especially after a week of out of town vistitors, week night parties, dinner out, etc. Could have been worse. Much worse!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Love it, Love it, Love it!
I've been doing a lot of repeats of my favorite "tried and true" recipes lately. I can't help it when I find things I just love! But sometimes you have to make room in your life for new love.
This week, I rediscovered the pure joy of peanut butter, honey and brown sugar on fluffy whole wheat bread. I'm on day two and I don't see an end in sight. I can't imagine becoming tired of these "diabetes squares" as Jacob calls them (oh yes, he's into them now too). Pair it with an apple, and I have a fairly decent, not too terribly unhealthy "desert/lunch".
I also made these:
(I'm sorry, the photo doesn't do it justice, and even if I knew what I was doing with my camera, it would sill look yucky brown and not too appetizing. But IT IS SO GOOD!!! Trust me!)
Fitclub is off to a slow start this week. Apparently the prerequisite of Standard Time was simply an excuse because as I awoke at 6:30 to sunny skies this morning, I pulled the comforter over my head and grumbled something about it being too light for such an ungodly hour. I think I just need a few days to adjust.....
Oh, in a totally unrelated note, did I TELL you that I TRIED ON a pair of OVERALLS finally? Oh Ha ha hahaha HA HA hahaha ha (sob sob). Yeah no.
This week, I rediscovered the pure joy of peanut butter, honey and brown sugar on fluffy whole wheat bread. I'm on day two and I don't see an end in sight. I can't imagine becoming tired of these "diabetes squares" as Jacob calls them (oh yes, he's into them now too). Pair it with an apple, and I have a fairly decent, not too terribly unhealthy "desert/lunch".
I also made these:
(not my photo - borrowed from "Eat, Live, Run" blog)
This is a delicious spicy shrimp and goat cheese quesadilla. Super easy to make, and really yummy! Simply saute' some Trader Joe's Fire Roasted Bell Pepper/Onion mix (freezer section), remove from pan, crank up the heat and saute some raw shrimp for about 30 seconds, (while sprinkling with cayenne and chili powder), then layer a tortilla with shredded jack cheese, crumbled goat cheese, pepper mixture, shrimp, 'nother tortilla , and cook in a non-stick pan, flipping once, until done!
I also made this delicious Hearty Black Bean and Chorizo soup from Weight Watchers (I used Soy Chorizo)and served it with Asiago bread from the bakery, sliced and toasted in the oven with cheese.
I also made this delicious Hearty Black Bean and Chorizo soup from Weight Watchers (I used Soy Chorizo)and served it with Asiago bread from the bakery, sliced and toasted in the oven with cheese.
Fitclub is off to a slow start this week. Apparently the prerequisite of Standard Time was simply an excuse because as I awoke at 6:30 to sunny skies this morning, I pulled the comforter over my head and grumbled something about it being too light for such an ungodly hour. I think I just need a few days to adjust.....
Oh, in a totally unrelated note, did I TELL you that I TRIED ON a pair of OVERALLS finally? Oh Ha ha hahaha HA HA hahaha ha (sob sob). Yeah no.
