Ok, I'm actually posting this on June 26 because I didn't post last night. It's now 6:15 on Saturday morning and I'm AWAKE! Why? Well, for Father's Day, Mike got the new punching bag that he's been wanting... because the three or four others just weren't quite enough. This one is free-standing and he can take it in the back yard. Lovely. That's where he is right now- punching, kicking, and combinations- all at 6:15 on a Saturday morning. Nora, I really hope he isn't waking you and everyone else around us up! He has a long screening today and, if we're lucky, he'll get to join me in Highland Village for Kyra's baptism so he has to get his workout in early. I love his dedication and all, but........
Anyway, yesterday was good. I'm not certain how many calories I consumed... it was sushi night and I can't seem to figure out how many calories are in those rolls I eat. I'd like to think that because it's sushi, it wasn't much. Either way, I probably stayed within 1500 calories with my meals. We went for a swim after dinner and then it just seemed all-too-appropriate to indulge in some frozen yogurt from Braums. Nothing like hot summer days to make a girl crave ice cream! It was quite tasty. Got a decent workout in-- shoulders, back, and a bit of running= 600 calories burned. Could have worked a bit harder but it's ok.
As for today, I'm sitting again at 157 pounds. I realize that's where I was two weeks ago, but given that I probably gained a pound or two last week, that does mean a loss for this week. Just have about a month left before Pheonix so we'll see what I accomplish between now and then. Almost there!!!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
June 24
Breakfast:
English muffin w/ pb- 140
Milk- 40
Snack:
Fruit bar- 120
Almonds- 70
Lunch:
Pasta primavera- 250
Snack:
Protein shake- 120
Crackers- 120
Dinner:
On the Border Chicken Fajita Tacos- 450
And I enjoyed my little treat when I came home-- low-fat ice cream with a splash of root beer- 180
Total: 1490
Burned: 700
And because Courtney requested that I start including it, I'll post my workout for the day:
Started with 1/2 hour run in heart rate zone 2 (172-178 bpm)... I normally do the cardio after my weight session but I wasn't going to have time so I went up before Mike joined me for our arm and chest workout. (Mike does chest on Mondays but I want 3 days of cardio so I condense my workouts on my strength days)
Skull crushers-
3 sets * 35 lb curved bar * 12 reps
Jumped rope between sets
Supersetted w/ dumb bell chest press-
3 sets * 20 lb dumb bells * 10 reps
Decline skull crushers (got on a decline bench to work the triceps at a different angle for different emphasis)-
3 sets * 35 lb bar * 10 reps
Jumped rope between sets
Supersetted w/ decline chest press machine
3 sets * 40 lb * 10 reps
Incline alternating bicep dumbell curl-
3 sets * 15 lb (each arm) * 12-15 reps
Jumped rope between sets
Supersetted w/ free motion chest press machine-
3 sets * 50 lb * 12 reps
Bicep hammer curl on preacher bench-
3 sets * 15 lbs * 12- 15 reps each arm
Jumped rope between sets
Supersetted w/ bench press-
3 sets * 45 lbs * 15 reps
That's it for the chest workout today...
Precor tricep extension-
3 sets * 50 lb * 15 reps
Supersetted with
Precor bicep curl-
3 sets * 40 lb * 12 reps
Freemotion alternating tricep extension machine-
3 sets *25 lb * 15 reps
Supersetted with
Freemotion alternating bicep curl machine-
3 sets * 20 lb * 15 reps
There ya have it. If you have a question about what any particular exercise is, let me know and I'll answer it. A lot of these machines aren't available at other gyms, so if you want to do something similar, you'll just have to get creative... or join us at the Lifetime!! You know you wanna!!!
As you can see, we do four exercises for each body part. Some of the exercises are similar in nature, but each works the muscle in a little different way. This week was not heavy weights or high reps-- just right there in the middle. I try to vary that up so next week will look a little different. We do vary our exercises some from week to week as well so that we can constantly shock our bodies. That's pretty essential to see results, whether it's weight loss, added strength, or muscle growth. This certainly isn't the only way to work out, but it's how we do it and it seems to be working for us. I'm always up for giving pointers and advice, though I'm certainly no pro, so take it for what it's worth. All I know is what I've learned and what works for me. Hope you're all doing well in your goals as well!
English muffin w/ pb- 140
Milk- 40
Snack:
Fruit bar- 120
Almonds- 70
Lunch:
Pasta primavera- 250
Snack:
Protein shake- 120
Crackers- 120
Dinner:
On the Border Chicken Fajita Tacos- 450
And I enjoyed my little treat when I came home-- low-fat ice cream with a splash of root beer- 180
Total: 1490
Burned: 700
And because Courtney requested that I start including it, I'll post my workout for the day:
Started with 1/2 hour run in heart rate zone 2 (172-178 bpm)... I normally do the cardio after my weight session but I wasn't going to have time so I went up before Mike joined me for our arm and chest workout. (Mike does chest on Mondays but I want 3 days of cardio so I condense my workouts on my strength days)
Skull crushers-
3 sets * 35 lb curved bar * 12 reps
Jumped rope between sets
Supersetted w/ dumb bell chest press-
3 sets * 20 lb dumb bells * 10 reps
Decline skull crushers (got on a decline bench to work the triceps at a different angle for different emphasis)-
3 sets * 35 lb bar * 10 reps
Jumped rope between sets
Supersetted w/ decline chest press machine
3 sets * 40 lb * 10 reps
Incline alternating bicep dumbell curl-
3 sets * 15 lb (each arm) * 12-15 reps
Jumped rope between sets
Supersetted w/ free motion chest press machine-
3 sets * 50 lb * 12 reps
Bicep hammer curl on preacher bench-
3 sets * 15 lbs * 12- 15 reps each arm
Jumped rope between sets
Supersetted w/ bench press-
3 sets * 45 lbs * 15 reps
That's it for the chest workout today...
Precor tricep extension-
3 sets * 50 lb * 15 reps
Supersetted with
Precor bicep curl-
3 sets * 40 lb * 12 reps
Freemotion alternating tricep extension machine-
3 sets *25 lb * 15 reps
Supersetted with
Freemotion alternating bicep curl machine-
3 sets * 20 lb * 15 reps
There ya have it. If you have a question about what any particular exercise is, let me know and I'll answer it. A lot of these machines aren't available at other gyms, so if you want to do something similar, you'll just have to get creative... or join us at the Lifetime!! You know you wanna!!!
As you can see, we do four exercises for each body part. Some of the exercises are similar in nature, but each works the muscle in a little different way. This week was not heavy weights or high reps-- just right there in the middle. I try to vary that up so next week will look a little different. We do vary our exercises some from week to week as well so that we can constantly shock our bodies. That's pretty essential to see results, whether it's weight loss, added strength, or muscle growth. This certainly isn't the only way to work out, but it's how we do it and it seems to be working for us. I'm always up for giving pointers and advice, though I'm certainly no pro, so take it for what it's worth. All I know is what I've learned and what works for me. Hope you're all doing well in your goals as well!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
June 24
Breakfast:
English muffin w/ pb- 120
Milk- 40
Lunch:
Pb & j sandwich- 180
Fruit bar- 120
Almonds- 70
Snack:
Protein shake- 120
Dinner:
Corner Bakery chicken pinini sandwich- 770!! Could've gone for a hamburger for what that amounted to! Hadn't eaten much during the day, though, so I could afford it.
Total: 1420
Burned: 600
Today was a great day! Lacey and I headed to the gym earlier than normal so I could get my run in and hit the pool before lunch. We played together at the pool, ate (or wore, in Lacey's case) lunch with Daddy, and then it was nap-time for Lacey-bug. We took Lacey over to Nora's so we could go to the Temple this afternoon and, as always, we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. A quick dinner at Corner Bakery and then we were on the way home to our very happy and well-taken care of Lacey. She LOVES Nora and the kids so we always feel so comforted to know she's in good hands over there. Have I mentioned that I love having such great neighbors? Cuz I do!! Tomorrow will require lots of house-cleaning cuz that has been neglected the last few days! :)
English muffin w/ pb- 120
Milk- 40
Lunch:
Pb & j sandwich- 180
Fruit bar- 120
Almonds- 70
Snack:
Protein shake- 120
Dinner:
Corner Bakery chicken pinini sandwich- 770!! Could've gone for a hamburger for what that amounted to! Hadn't eaten much during the day, though, so I could afford it.
Total: 1420
Burned: 600
Today was a great day! Lacey and I headed to the gym earlier than normal so I could get my run in and hit the pool before lunch. We played together at the pool, ate (or wore, in Lacey's case) lunch with Daddy, and then it was nap-time for Lacey-bug. We took Lacey over to Nora's so we could go to the Temple this afternoon and, as always, we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. A quick dinner at Corner Bakery and then we were on the way home to our very happy and well-taken care of Lacey. She LOVES Nora and the kids so we always feel so comforted to know she's in good hands over there. Have I mentioned that I love having such great neighbors? Cuz I do!! Tomorrow will require lots of house-cleaning cuz that has been neglected the last few days! :)
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
June 23
Breakfast:
Toast w/ pb- 180
Milk- 40
Lunch:
McD's grilled chicken sandwich- 370
Snack:
Almonds- 70
Organic dried apples- 40
Crackers- 120
Dinner:
Pasta primavera- 230
Salad- 60
1110 so far... I'll go for a snack tonight and probably get to 1350.
Burned 800
Toast w/ pb- 180
Milk- 40
Lunch:
McD's grilled chicken sandwich- 370
Snack:
Almonds- 70
Organic dried apples- 40
Crackers- 120
Dinner:
Pasta primavera- 230
Salad- 60
1110 so far... I'll go for a snack tonight and probably get to 1350.
Burned 800
Monday, June 22, 2009
June 22. Back in the game!
Ok, only good things this week!
Breakfast:
Toast w/ pb- 180
small glass of milk- 40
Snack:
Fruit bar- 130
Almonds- 70
Lunch:
Salmon- 220
1/2 ear corn on the cobb- 40
1/4 baked potato w/ light sour cream, a sprinkle of cheese, and a smidge of bacon bits- 85
Snack:
Protein shake- 120
Dinner:
Taco Salad- 350
Treat:
1/2 cup of light vanilla ice cream w/ a little root beer- 130
Total: 1365
Burned: 782 (Run 45 minutes and abs)
Feels good to be back!
Breakfast:
Toast w/ pb- 180
small glass of milk- 40
Snack:
Fruit bar- 130
Almonds- 70
Lunch:
Salmon- 220
1/2 ear corn on the cobb- 40
1/4 baked potato w/ light sour cream, a sprinkle of cheese, and a smidge of bacon bits- 85
Snack:
Protein shake- 120
Dinner:
Taco Salad- 350
Treat:
1/2 cup of light vanilla ice cream w/ a little root beer- 130
Total: 1365
Burned: 782 (Run 45 minutes and abs)
Feels good to be back!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
June 21
All I have to say is thank goodness that tomorrow starts a fresh week, I'm all back to my normal happy, pain free self, and we will be BACK ON TRACK!! As for the last few days, I'm just gonna try to forget about the not-so-great choices and avoid that scale for a bit. :)
Friday, June 19, 2009
June 19
Yep. This week has just been shot down big time. Ok, maybe not big time, but pain and hormones have been winning this week. I did work out today, which is always a plus. I was in lots of pain, though, and couldn't shake it so I didn't push. I ran for half an hour without worrying about my heart rate and then I joined a hip hop dance class for a while. It was nice to just work out and have fun without obsessing over where my heart rate was every minute. I love my heart rate monitor and it definitely helps to pay attention to it, but taking a break every once in a while is just enjoyable. The hip hop dance class was just fun. It certainly wasn't the most grueling workout in the world, but I had fun gettin down with my bad self (or looking absolutely ridiculous as I attempted to get down!). In total, I still burned 682 calories during my workout so I'm happy with that. Tomorrow, I think I'll try a cycling class in the morning. Those are intense so we'll see how it goes. Next week, I'll get back to my program and on track with my calories. Still not going overboard on the calories this week, but definitely not paying as much attention to them as I normally do... which I'm ok with. My period doesn't normally knock me out this much, but it was pretty brutal this time (just ask Mike!) so I just do what I can. LOVE being a woman!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
June 18. Whatever!
Well I got a great workout in, repenting for yesterday's lost session. I ate well through most of the day, but let's be honest- I'm menstrual! (again with the tmi!) I've been insatiably hungry and my hankerings have not been for the healthiest things. I don't keep incredibly unhealthy food in my house, so graham crackers and one too many tacos at dinner were my worst offense, but still. Too much munching, but what can ya do? Keep working out the rest of the week, eat well, and avoid the scale until next Saturday. :)
Now to address Heather's comment...
Yes, you're right. According to the trainer, I should be eating a 1400 calorie minimum each day and adding in calories for those burned. Based on those numbers, I could be losing around 3/4 of a pound per week tops. I tried in the beginning to get more calories in but it just wasn't happening. I'm eating in a way that I'm never hungry, I typically make sure that I'm getting good, healthy portions of lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and veggies, and I've been losing weight again... so I feel like I'm ok. Science says that losing 1-2 pounds a week is perfectly safe, and since I'm not losing more than that, I'm not stressing it. I don't know... maybe if I stuck to what the trainer said, my body would get back to losing weight. For now, though, I'm at the tail end and I just want to reach my goal as soon as possible. Maybe that's not the best way to look at it, but after nearly a year and a half of doing this, I just want to get there, ya know?
And where "there" is, I'm still debating. I had said 150 would be my target, but I think I'm getting closer to being happy with where I am. Pretty sure I'll aim for 153, just so I can say I lost 50 pounds, but I don't think I'll push too hard beyond that. Pregnancy will likely be on the horizon soon and given that I lost 11 pounds when I was pregnant with Lacey, I don't want to lose too much and get to the point that it might become unhealthy for me and baby. I'm also trying to appreciate my own body and stop obsessing over something that may be someone else's ideal but not my own. There are curves that I will always have, cellulite that cannot be done away with, and some sagging skin that only surgery can erase... but this is my body. I have put it through a lot in my 27 years and I have accomplished quite a lot with it. I feel that for my own well-being, and to promote a healthy self image in my daughters, I need to learn to see myself in a different light. I am working to erase the years of negative thoughts and to see the beauty that others see. I will always strive to be healthier, but some unknown or unreal idea of perfection is not in my scope. My sweet husband thinks I'm pretty perfect, so that's good enough for me. Of course, he fell in love with me at 215 pounds and thought I was perfect then too. For the first time in my life, I'm in a good place with my body and at this moment, I'm really happy with that. That isn't to say that I won't have my days of frustration or that I won't continue to work hard, but I feel like I'm finally winning the emotional battle of the physical war. Wow. Now that's a good feeling!
Now to address Heather's comment...
Yes, you're right. According to the trainer, I should be eating a 1400 calorie minimum each day and adding in calories for those burned. Based on those numbers, I could be losing around 3/4 of a pound per week tops. I tried in the beginning to get more calories in but it just wasn't happening. I'm eating in a way that I'm never hungry, I typically make sure that I'm getting good, healthy portions of lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and veggies, and I've been losing weight again... so I feel like I'm ok. Science says that losing 1-2 pounds a week is perfectly safe, and since I'm not losing more than that, I'm not stressing it. I don't know... maybe if I stuck to what the trainer said, my body would get back to losing weight. For now, though, I'm at the tail end and I just want to reach my goal as soon as possible. Maybe that's not the best way to look at it, but after nearly a year and a half of doing this, I just want to get there, ya know?
And where "there" is, I'm still debating. I had said 150 would be my target, but I think I'm getting closer to being happy with where I am. Pretty sure I'll aim for 153, just so I can say I lost 50 pounds, but I don't think I'll push too hard beyond that. Pregnancy will likely be on the horizon soon and given that I lost 11 pounds when I was pregnant with Lacey, I don't want to lose too much and get to the point that it might become unhealthy for me and baby. I'm also trying to appreciate my own body and stop obsessing over something that may be someone else's ideal but not my own. There are curves that I will always have, cellulite that cannot be done away with, and some sagging skin that only surgery can erase... but this is my body. I have put it through a lot in my 27 years and I have accomplished quite a lot with it. I feel that for my own well-being, and to promote a healthy self image in my daughters, I need to learn to see myself in a different light. I am working to erase the years of negative thoughts and to see the beauty that others see. I will always strive to be healthier, but some unknown or unreal idea of perfection is not in my scope. My sweet husband thinks I'm pretty perfect, so that's good enough for me. Of course, he fell in love with me at 215 pounds and thought I was perfect then too. For the first time in my life, I'm in a good place with my body and at this moment, I'm really happy with that. That isn't to say that I won't have my days of frustration or that I won't continue to work hard, but I feel like I'm finally winning the emotional battle of the physical war. Wow. Now that's a good feeling!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
June 17... What's with me?!
Breakfast:
English muffin w/ jelly- 130
Snack:
Crackers- 120
Lunch:
McD's grilled chicken sandwich (w/o mayo)- 370
The sugar cookie that Lacey didn't eat... :) - 160
Snack:
Pretzels- 60
Handful of grapes- 30
Almonds- 120
Dinner:
Cilantro lime chicken- 289
Rice- 100
Total: 1379
Burned: NONE!
I didn't work out today. What is with me?! I've been feeling so blah this week. My calories are still ok (except for last night), but I'm not focusing as much on healthy calories like fruit, veggies, and lean proteins. I'm pretty mad at myself for not working out today because I'm sure that I would be feeling much better and more energized right now if I had. I tried to tell myself that it's ok to miss one day of cardio when I do it every day of the week, but my mood tells me that I should have gotten something in. Working out brings me sanity! If for no other reason than the energy and mood-boost that it brings, doing some sort of exercise is so very worth it. Being a stay-at-home mom can have it's frustrations so getting to the gym and being active for a while helps me to stay on top of things so much better. Plus, it makes me feel better about myself, all of which makes me all the more tolerable for the poor souls who have to put up with me on a regular basis. :) For everyone who says that they don't have time to work out because they don't have time "to be selfish", I say "GARBAGE!" It's not selfish to be healthy. It's not selfish to be happy. All of these things come as a result of exercise, so how could it be selfish? I'm just sayin.
Anyway, tomorrow I'm back to the gym with Mike so I'll make sure to get an extra-good workout in. For now, I'm going to go straighten up, do some laundry, and get to bed. Good night all!
English muffin w/ jelly- 130
Snack:
Crackers- 120
Lunch:
McD's grilled chicken sandwich (w/o mayo)- 370
The sugar cookie that Lacey didn't eat... :) - 160
Snack:
Pretzels- 60
Handful of grapes- 30
Almonds- 120
Dinner:
Cilantro lime chicken- 289
Rice- 100
Total: 1379
Burned: NONE!
I didn't work out today. What is with me?! I've been feeling so blah this week. My calories are still ok (except for last night), but I'm not focusing as much on healthy calories like fruit, veggies, and lean proteins. I'm pretty mad at myself for not working out today because I'm sure that I would be feeling much better and more energized right now if I had. I tried to tell myself that it's ok to miss one day of cardio when I do it every day of the week, but my mood tells me that I should have gotten something in. Working out brings me sanity! If for no other reason than the energy and mood-boost that it brings, doing some sort of exercise is so very worth it. Being a stay-at-home mom can have it's frustrations so getting to the gym and being active for a while helps me to stay on top of things so much better. Plus, it makes me feel better about myself, all of which makes me all the more tolerable for the poor souls who have to put up with me on a regular basis. :) For everyone who says that they don't have time to work out because they don't have time "to be selfish", I say "GARBAGE!" It's not selfish to be healthy. It's not selfish to be happy. All of these things come as a result of exercise, so how could it be selfish? I'm just sayin.
Anyway, tomorrow I'm back to the gym with Mike so I'll make sure to get an extra-good workout in. For now, I'm going to go straighten up, do some laundry, and get to bed. Good night all!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
June 16
Breakfast:
English muffin w/ pb- 140
Snack:
Protein shake- 180
Lunch:
Ham Sandwich- 130
Fruit salad- 60
Snack:
Banana w/ pb- 120
Crackers- 200
Dinner:
Spring Creek....
I initially got the Fiesta Salad so as to make a healthy choice on our night out. Well, the lettuce was wilted and the whole thing was just gross. Gr. I thought about just forgetting about it and eating something when I got home, but as Mike pointed out, when you go out to eat, you should get to enjoy it. As this is the only time we will eat out this week, I decided that I agreed... so, I ate me some bbq! Now, I just have to be disciplined for the rest of the week and through the weekend. That may be somewhat difficult given the Father's Day celebrations we'll be having, but I'll just have to do my best.
I did have a great workout. Burned 770 calories today during my leg workout and half hour of cardio. Again, I had so little desire to work out when I got to the gym, so I'm glad I was able to work through that and get a good workout. I'm not sure where my workout desire went but I assume it has something to do with the same problem that's causing me to want chocolate and diet dr. pepper. Nora... what have you got over there?! :)
English muffin w/ pb- 140
Snack:
Protein shake- 180
Lunch:
Ham Sandwich- 130
Fruit salad- 60
Snack:
Banana w/ pb- 120
Crackers- 200
Dinner:
Spring Creek....
I initially got the Fiesta Salad so as to make a healthy choice on our night out. Well, the lettuce was wilted and the whole thing was just gross. Gr. I thought about just forgetting about it and eating something when I got home, but as Mike pointed out, when you go out to eat, you should get to enjoy it. As this is the only time we will eat out this week, I decided that I agreed... so, I ate me some bbq! Now, I just have to be disciplined for the rest of the week and through the weekend. That may be somewhat difficult given the Father's Day celebrations we'll be having, but I'll just have to do my best.
I did have a great workout. Burned 770 calories today during my leg workout and half hour of cardio. Again, I had so little desire to work out when I got to the gym, so I'm glad I was able to work through that and get a good workout. I'm not sure where my workout desire went but I assume it has something to do with the same problem that's causing me to want chocolate and diet dr. pepper. Nora... what have you got over there?! :)
Monday, June 15, 2009
June 15
Breakfast:
Isagenix shake- 240
Almonds- 105
Snack:
Apple w/ pb- 140
Lunch:
Ham sandwich- 130
Protein smoothie- 160
Dinner:
Grilled pork chops- 180
1/2 sweet potato- 80
Steamed veggies- 60
Fruit salad- 60
Total: 1155 (I'll eat a light snack tonight as well)
Burned: 1000!
Great workout-- kept my heart rate up the entire time by running 1/4 miles between sets, supersetting, and jumping rope. I burned 645 during my strength training workout alone! Then it was on to the treadmill for 1/2 hour run. Not bad, particularly considering that I had little desire to work out when we got to the gym. Guess I got into it!
Isagenix shake- 240
Almonds- 105
Snack:
Apple w/ pb- 140
Lunch:
Ham sandwich- 130
Protein smoothie- 160
Dinner:
Grilled pork chops- 180
1/2 sweet potato- 80
Steamed veggies- 60
Fruit salad- 60
Total: 1155 (I'll eat a light snack tonight as well)
Burned: 1000!
Great workout-- kept my heart rate up the entire time by running 1/4 miles between sets, supersetting, and jumping rope. I burned 645 during my strength training workout alone! Then it was on to the treadmill for 1/2 hour run. Not bad, particularly considering that I had little desire to work out when we got to the gym. Guess I got into it!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
June 14
As tends to be the case after gallbladder attacks, today was one of those "eat what I can" kind of days. English muffin for breakfast, a ham sandwich for lunch, some crackers throughout the day, and I actually made homemade pizza with a Weight Watchers recipe for dinner (Mike has been wanting it... I figured I had to make something for the poor guy!). I also tossed some chocolate chip cookies in the oven as a treat for Miss Lacey after our walk and, well, of course I couldn't resist! Still, I totalled about 1500 calories for the day... none of which were the healthiest of calories but at least I didn't go way over board.
As I continue my research about gallstone treatments, I am all the more perplexed with what to do. I realize that most people would say "Sure, take the dang thing out!" and when I am in the excruciating pain that it causes, I am tempted to say the same thing. The reality, however, is that it does not solve the problem. There is a valid function for the gallbladder and no matter what anyone tells you, your body will not work the same without it. I've read many reports of people with continued issues even without the gallbladder, including heartburn, diarrhea, indigestion, and other digestive problems that can still include gallstones. One friend of mine will be on heart burn medication for the rest of her life. A lot of people still have to avoid the same foods that caused the gallbladder attacks prior to removal of the gallbladder. None of this sounds right to me! Sure, the pain sucks- I mean really, really sucks- but there's got to be a better solution! There are all kinds of natural gallstone removal remedies out there, but who knows what to trust there either? Most of them include some sort of olive oil concoction that you drink lots of to soften and flush out the gallstones. First of all, ew. Secondly, there are issues tied to that as well... and I'm not sure who came up with those issues or if they're even valid, but I don't know what to trust! At this point, none of my options sound great. My biggest concern, though, is that we will be getting pregnant in the near future and I cannot have to deal with this issue then. So a solution must be resolved upon, one way or the other. I have read about a medical procedure that removes the gallstones while leaving the gallbladder in tact. I believe that it's not highly recommended by doctors because they say that gallstones will likely form again at some point. I sort of disagree with that, at least in my case. I believe that they reform in many people because they continue to live unhealthy lifestyles and to damage their digestive systems in various ways. I, however, lead a healthy lifestyle and will continue to take the supplements that promote healthy organs. Plus, I get adjusted regularly, which I feel helps greatly. In fact, an adjustment is often the only thing that will work to calm a gallbladder attack. So... my hope is to get the gallstones removed completely and to see what happens from there. If I'm wrong and they do continue to reform, then we'll reconsider our options. For now, though, this is the only option that I feel comfortable with. And I'm only assuming it's an option-- I may talk to a doctor who says I have way too many gallstones for that or that they don't offer that procedure anymore or something. Then it's back to the drawing board. Noone ever wants to go back to the drawing board!
So, that is one of my health-goals for the week-- to try to figure all of that out. (sorry if I rambled... just trying to work through all of this in my head and, well, it poured out through my fingers in the mean time.) That, and I really do need to work on ridding myself of these diet dr peppers. I don't know if it will be this week, because, well, hello pms (TMI??), but it needs to be done. Like I said, we're not far from trying to get prego, and I'd like to be off of them for a while before that happens. That, and I'm sort of ashamed of myself when I see them amidst all of the healthy foods in my grocery cart. So that's goal #2. #3 is that I need to do better throughout the weekends. I'm ok with rewarding myself, but I tend to do a little too much of that. Sundays are so unstructured that I tend to not pay enough attention. So even though we will be celebrating Father's Day this weekend, I will endeavor to do better so that I can get to 150 by the time we go to Pheonix next month. Three new health goals is quite enough for this week. Let's see how all of this goes!
As I continue my research about gallstone treatments, I am all the more perplexed with what to do. I realize that most people would say "Sure, take the dang thing out!" and when I am in the excruciating pain that it causes, I am tempted to say the same thing. The reality, however, is that it does not solve the problem. There is a valid function for the gallbladder and no matter what anyone tells you, your body will not work the same without it. I've read many reports of people with continued issues even without the gallbladder, including heartburn, diarrhea, indigestion, and other digestive problems that can still include gallstones. One friend of mine will be on heart burn medication for the rest of her life. A lot of people still have to avoid the same foods that caused the gallbladder attacks prior to removal of the gallbladder. None of this sounds right to me! Sure, the pain sucks- I mean really, really sucks- but there's got to be a better solution! There are all kinds of natural gallstone removal remedies out there, but who knows what to trust there either? Most of them include some sort of olive oil concoction that you drink lots of to soften and flush out the gallstones. First of all, ew. Secondly, there are issues tied to that as well... and I'm not sure who came up with those issues or if they're even valid, but I don't know what to trust! At this point, none of my options sound great. My biggest concern, though, is that we will be getting pregnant in the near future and I cannot have to deal with this issue then. So a solution must be resolved upon, one way or the other. I have read about a medical procedure that removes the gallstones while leaving the gallbladder in tact. I believe that it's not highly recommended by doctors because they say that gallstones will likely form again at some point. I sort of disagree with that, at least in my case. I believe that they reform in many people because they continue to live unhealthy lifestyles and to damage their digestive systems in various ways. I, however, lead a healthy lifestyle and will continue to take the supplements that promote healthy organs. Plus, I get adjusted regularly, which I feel helps greatly. In fact, an adjustment is often the only thing that will work to calm a gallbladder attack. So... my hope is to get the gallstones removed completely and to see what happens from there. If I'm wrong and they do continue to reform, then we'll reconsider our options. For now, though, this is the only option that I feel comfortable with. And I'm only assuming it's an option-- I may talk to a doctor who says I have way too many gallstones for that or that they don't offer that procedure anymore or something. Then it's back to the drawing board. Noone ever wants to go back to the drawing board!
So, that is one of my health-goals for the week-- to try to figure all of that out. (sorry if I rambled... just trying to work through all of this in my head and, well, it poured out through my fingers in the mean time.) That, and I really do need to work on ridding myself of these diet dr peppers. I don't know if it will be this week, because, well, hello pms (TMI??), but it needs to be done. Like I said, we're not far from trying to get prego, and I'd like to be off of them for a while before that happens. That, and I'm sort of ashamed of myself when I see them amidst all of the healthy foods in my grocery cart. So that's goal #2. #3 is that I need to do better throughout the weekends. I'm ok with rewarding myself, but I tend to do a little too much of that. Sundays are so unstructured that I tend to not pay enough attention. So even though we will be celebrating Father's Day this weekend, I will endeavor to do better so that I can get to 150 by the time we go to Pheonix next month. Three new health goals is quite enough for this week. Let's see how all of this goes!
Seriously?!
Yep. You guessed it. Gallbladder attack. I suspected it might happen, but I hoped it wouldn't. It's time to do something about this... which I've said before, but given that we'll be getting pregnant before too long, it really is time. That, and gosh dangit, I'd like to be able to enjoy a meal without being sick and experience stabbing pains all through the night! I don't know what it's going to mean, but it will likely start with a trip to the doctor and on to get another ultrasound to see how things are looking these days. As for today, we're staying home and hoping to steal some rest when Lacey naps- it was a very long night. Thank goodness Mike is home today and can keep up with Lacey. I'm a bit out of it!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
June 13
As today was our designated day of celebrating, I'm so not about to tally up the calories... I'd probably be horrified by the number! I did get up at 6:00 this morning for a 620-calorie burning run, followed by a healthy breakfast. That was just about the extent of my healthy choices for the day. Lunch found us at Jack-in-the-Box on the way home from the Temple, dinner was spent at Abuelos with fajitas, and to top it off, we enjoyed some Italian ice cream (which is lower in fat than regular ice cream, if that counts for anything) at the mall. Ugggggg! I feel ill. I think I used to eat like that fairly regularly, but today... ugggggg! I don't know why I do it- it really isn't worth it. I guess it was enjoyable at the time, but this feeling lasts longer than the taste of the food, which generally isn't any more enjoyable than a good sandwich or a tasty piece of fish and veggies anyway. Why is it that we feel the need to reward ourselves with crap anyway? A night out was nice, for certain, but it would be far more enjoyable if I didn't feel full and gross at the end of it. Ok, next time we feel the need to splurge, I think I'll just stick to one meal instead of a full day and I have to really want it-- not just get it because I feel like I deserve it. And since we all know that I do this to myself every time, and every time I vow to not do it again, don't be surprised if I'm not whining the same tune next week. :)
Anyway, as for this week's results, drum roll please... 157! That's 1 1/2 pounds down from last week so I'm pretty happy with that. If I'm lucky, I'll hit that 155 mark next week.... but probably the following. Either way, I'm quite close and very excited about that! Then, 5 more pounds and I'm at my goal...... I'm on my way!
Anyway, as for this week's results, drum roll please... 157! That's 1 1/2 pounds down from last week so I'm pretty happy with that. If I'm lucky, I'll hit that 155 mark next week.... but probably the following. Either way, I'm quite close and very excited about that! Then, 5 more pounds and I'm at my goal...... I'm on my way!
Friday, June 12, 2009
JUNE 12... A perfect day!
Breakfast:
You guess it: isagenix shake! 240
Pre-workout snack:
Almonds- 120
Lunch:
Pb&j sandwich- 140
4 oz. milk- 40
Protein/fruit smoothie- 120
Snack:
Apple- 55
Peanut butter- 90
Dinner:
Salmon- 240
Grilled veggies (squash, zucchini, onion, tomatoes)- 40
Wild rice- 83
Salad- 70
Total: 1238
Burned: 760
Today was one of those really great days (which was all the more appreciated after yesterday)! We slept in, ate breakfast together, read our scriptures, and hit the gym for a great workout all before lunch. Then we came home for sandwiches and naps. While Mike and Lacey napped at the house, I took my rest by the pool! I soaked up some sun, enjoyed a brief swim, and just relaaaaaxed all by myself. It was quite lovely! After a quick trip to the grocery store, I came home to get the crew for an evening family swim. We had a great time playing together, until lightning struck and sent us home. All was well, though, cuz I had a tasty meal planned... and tasty it was! It was just one of those meals that makes you feel great. It was healthy, tasted divine, and fun. I don't often grill veggies but I will start doing it more-- SO good! Salmon was heavenly, the salad was so so good (think romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, cucumber, and goat cheese topped with my favorite Greek vinegrette... seriously SO GOOD!), the rice... all of it. YUM!!! And what's even better is that it won't leave us feeling gross or guilty for the rest of the night. Perfection! I think if people took the time and effort to cook meals like these, healthy eating would be the preference. It is a bit of work and takes planning and preparation, but it's so worth it. Give it a shot!
Now Mike is laying Lacey down and we'll have a relaxing night together while the storms rage outside. Seriously, how much better does it get??? Tomorrow, we get to enjoy a trip to the Temple together in the morning, hopefully an afternoon by the pool (weather permitting), and then we're eating out to celebrate a great week at the office and continued weight loss success. I love weekends!
You guess it: isagenix shake! 240
Pre-workout snack:
Almonds- 120
Lunch:
Pb&j sandwich- 140
4 oz. milk- 40
Protein/fruit smoothie- 120
Snack:
Apple- 55
Peanut butter- 90
Dinner:
Salmon- 240
Grilled veggies (squash, zucchini, onion, tomatoes)- 40
Wild rice- 83
Salad- 70
Total: 1238
Burned: 760
Today was one of those really great days (which was all the more appreciated after yesterday)! We slept in, ate breakfast together, read our scriptures, and hit the gym for a great workout all before lunch. Then we came home for sandwiches and naps. While Mike and Lacey napped at the house, I took my rest by the pool! I soaked up some sun, enjoyed a brief swim, and just relaaaaaxed all by myself. It was quite lovely! After a quick trip to the grocery store, I came home to get the crew for an evening family swim. We had a great time playing together, until lightning struck and sent us home. All was well, though, cuz I had a tasty meal planned... and tasty it was! It was just one of those meals that makes you feel great. It was healthy, tasted divine, and fun. I don't often grill veggies but I will start doing it more-- SO good! Salmon was heavenly, the salad was so so good (think romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, cucumber, and goat cheese topped with my favorite Greek vinegrette... seriously SO GOOD!), the rice... all of it. YUM!!! And what's even better is that it won't leave us feeling gross or guilty for the rest of the night. Perfection! I think if people took the time and effort to cook meals like these, healthy eating would be the preference. It is a bit of work and takes planning and preparation, but it's so worth it. Give it a shot!
Now Mike is laying Lacey down and we'll have a relaxing night together while the storms rage outside. Seriously, how much better does it get??? Tomorrow, we get to enjoy a trip to the Temple together in the morning, hopefully an afternoon by the pool (weather permitting), and then we're eating out to celebrate a great week at the office and continued weight loss success. I love weekends!
What month is it?!
I just realized that for the last two days, I've been putting the wrong month in my titles! Wow, guess I am ready for July! Maybe that's because we're going on our trip to Pheonix and I can't wait!! Or... I'm just absent-minded. Oops!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
July 11... one of those days
Breakfast:
Isagenix shake- 240
Snack:
Celery w/pb- 64
Lunch:
Ham & chicken sandwich- 160
Snack:
Protein shake- 200
Dinner:
4 fresco style crunchy tacos from Taco Bell- 600
Misc. munching- 200
Total: 1464
Burned: 680 (45-minute run)
Despite the perspective I gained at the end of yesterday, today was a somewhat frustrating day... not because of eating healthy and working out, but just because it was one of those days (which always seems to affect the eating healthy and working out in a bad way). The storm kept me up last night and led me to sleep somewhat uncomfortably on the couch (it's darker in the living room than our bedroom when lightning strikes over and over again). Then it rained for the first half of the day, which kept Lacey and I inside for entirely too long. I had no desire to run and never gained the desire... just did it anyway. Mike is gone until 11:00 tonight, so I ran to Taco Bell and was quite hungry and maybe a little tense by the time I got there so I may have consumed a few too many dinner calories in a not-so-good way. Oh well! Still didn't go over so no harm done.
And now, the day is coming to a peaceful end... as soon as Lacey stops screaming, anyway! Haha! She is so used to Mike putting her to bed that she gets quite angry when I do it. Poor thing. That's her Daddy time so it makes me sad that she doesn't get it tonight... she seems to share in that sentiment. But, she'll be asleep soon, the house is (relatively) clean, candles lit, and I'm all by myself. I'm sure Josh Groban will be singing to me at some point in the evening. Love those kinds of nights! (Although I would so much rather have my husband with me!)
Wow, she is getting really good a pitching fits! Maybe I should go rock her a bit longer.... giving in, maybe, but she doesn't get Daddy so I do have sympathy for the poor girl. Good night all!
Isagenix shake- 240
Snack:
Celery w/pb- 64
Lunch:
Ham & chicken sandwich- 160
Snack:
Protein shake- 200
Dinner:
4 fresco style crunchy tacos from Taco Bell- 600
Misc. munching- 200
Total: 1464
Burned: 680 (45-minute run)
Despite the perspective I gained at the end of yesterday, today was a somewhat frustrating day... not because of eating healthy and working out, but just because it was one of those days (which always seems to affect the eating healthy and working out in a bad way). The storm kept me up last night and led me to sleep somewhat uncomfortably on the couch (it's darker in the living room than our bedroom when lightning strikes over and over again). Then it rained for the first half of the day, which kept Lacey and I inside for entirely too long. I had no desire to run and never gained the desire... just did it anyway. Mike is gone until 11:00 tonight, so I ran to Taco Bell and was quite hungry and maybe a little tense by the time I got there so I may have consumed a few too many dinner calories in a not-so-good way. Oh well! Still didn't go over so no harm done.
And now, the day is coming to a peaceful end... as soon as Lacey stops screaming, anyway! Haha! She is so used to Mike putting her to bed that she gets quite angry when I do it. Poor thing. That's her Daddy time so it makes me sad that she doesn't get it tonight... she seems to share in that sentiment. But, she'll be asleep soon, the house is (relatively) clean, candles lit, and I'm all by myself. I'm sure Josh Groban will be singing to me at some point in the evening. Love those kinds of nights! (Although I would so much rather have my husband with me!)
Wow, she is getting really good a pitching fits! Maybe I should go rock her a bit longer.... giving in, maybe, but she doesn't get Daddy so I do have sympathy for the poor girl. Good night all!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
July 10... the thunder rolls....
Gotta love a good Texas storm... except that Mike wasn't home so I was a little scared out of my whits. I bolted over to Nora's before the rain came in. Such a baby but thank goodness for good neighbors! Anyway, on to business...
Breakfast:
Isagenix shake- 240 (Predictable, I know. It's just easy to not have to think about and prepare something, especially when I'm trying to get Lacey to eat.)
Lunch:
Subway sandwich (6" turkey and ham on honey oat, lots of veggies, pepperjack cheese, and a little light mayo)- 358
Snack:
Banana w/ pb- 100
Dinner:
Leftovers from last night (ate a little more pasta this time)- 400
Snack:
15 almonds- 104
15 Cherries- 64
Total: 1266
Burned: 800
Dang, not a lot of calories. I was out a good portion of the day and failed to take some healthy snacks to munch on. Oh well!
This whole journey is such a roller coaster! Some days I'm feeling great and thrilled with my success, and some days I'm down and feel like I'll never be where I want to be with it. Today was the latter for some reason. I'm at the point where I just want to be done. Done counting calories. Done working like a dog. Done! There were many times in my life when I would have just given in to that frustration... but not today. Today, I push through and I'm always glad I do. The workouts always feel great and at the end of the day, I'm always proud of myself for eating healthy. The joy of success FAR exceeds the feelings of frustration. It's a little daunting to think that I still have 8 pounds to go, but I also cannot believe that I am only 8 pounds from my goal! Single digits, baby! I'm so used to being 40+ pounds from my goal so while I am ready to just be done, I'd hate myself if I give in now. At this point, I've lost 45 pounds since coming home with Lacey and I'm 65 pounds from my heaviest weight (which, incidently, was not when I was pregnant). I guess I can be proud of that! :)
I did check in with the trainer who originally checked my body fat % a month ago. That day, he measured me at 165 and 25.5% body fat. Today, I'm 158 and 20%. That's 7 pounds (ok, probably more like 5... I was wearing my shoes last time but not this time) and 5% body fat in a month! I'm so happy to be making progress again. Getting those tests done has been the best thing I've done. If I can do that in a month, surely I can get through the next two months and reach my goal. Then I'll have to figure out the balance of maintaining... another trick for another day!
When I complained to the trainer that this is all taking too long, he looked at me and said "Quit your whining and go work out!" (That was the edited version of his comment.) That's really all there is to do. Excuses, complaints, frustrations-- NONE of it makes any difference. Just gotta get your butt moving!
Breakfast:
Isagenix shake- 240 (Predictable, I know. It's just easy to not have to think about and prepare something, especially when I'm trying to get Lacey to eat.)
Lunch:
Subway sandwich (6" turkey and ham on honey oat, lots of veggies, pepperjack cheese, and a little light mayo)- 358
Snack:
Banana w/ pb- 100
Dinner:
Leftovers from last night (ate a little more pasta this time)- 400
Snack:
15 almonds- 104
15 Cherries- 64
Total: 1266
Burned: 800
Dang, not a lot of calories. I was out a good portion of the day and failed to take some healthy snacks to munch on. Oh well!
This whole journey is such a roller coaster! Some days I'm feeling great and thrilled with my success, and some days I'm down and feel like I'll never be where I want to be with it. Today was the latter for some reason. I'm at the point where I just want to be done. Done counting calories. Done working like a dog. Done! There were many times in my life when I would have just given in to that frustration... but not today. Today, I push through and I'm always glad I do. The workouts always feel great and at the end of the day, I'm always proud of myself for eating healthy. The joy of success FAR exceeds the feelings of frustration. It's a little daunting to think that I still have 8 pounds to go, but I also cannot believe that I am only 8 pounds from my goal! Single digits, baby! I'm so used to being 40+ pounds from my goal so while I am ready to just be done, I'd hate myself if I give in now. At this point, I've lost 45 pounds since coming home with Lacey and I'm 65 pounds from my heaviest weight (which, incidently, was not when I was pregnant). I guess I can be proud of that! :)
I did check in with the trainer who originally checked my body fat % a month ago. That day, he measured me at 165 and 25.5% body fat. Today, I'm 158 and 20%. That's 7 pounds (ok, probably more like 5... I was wearing my shoes last time but not this time) and 5% body fat in a month! I'm so happy to be making progress again. Getting those tests done has been the best thing I've done. If I can do that in a month, surely I can get through the next two months and reach my goal. Then I'll have to figure out the balance of maintaining... another trick for another day!
When I complained to the trainer that this is all taking too long, he looked at me and said "Quit your whining and go work out!" (That was the edited version of his comment.) That's really all there is to do. Excuses, complaints, frustrations-- NONE of it makes any difference. Just gotta get your butt moving!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
June 9
Breakfast:
Isagenix shake- 240
Snack:
1/2 banana w/ pb (such a tasy treat... or have I just been doing this for too long? :)- 80
Lunch:
Turkey meatloaf- 220
Potatoes- 60
Salad- 30
Snack:
Protein shake- 120
Nibbles and bites of random things- 100
Baked chicken w/ asparagus, mushrooms, on a bit of whole wheat pasta- 320
Salad- 50
Total: 1220
Burned: 754
Isagenix shake- 240
Snack:
1/2 banana w/ pb (such a tasy treat... or have I just been doing this for too long? :)- 80
Lunch:
Turkey meatloaf- 220
Potatoes- 60
Salad- 30
Snack:
Protein shake- 120
Nibbles and bites of random things- 100
Baked chicken w/ asparagus, mushrooms, on a bit of whole wheat pasta- 320
Salad- 50
Total: 1220
Burned: 754
Monday, June 8, 2009
June 8
Breakfast:
Almonds- 140
Isagenix shake- 240
Snack:
2 thin slices of ham- 30
1/2 banana w/pb- 80
Lunch:
1 can tuna- 140
1 pc. bread- 40
Miracle whip- 20
8 oz. Jamba Juice- 140
Dinner:
Turkey meatloaf- 290
Basil green beans- 60
Rosemary potatoes- 155
Grand total: 1335
Workout:
60-minute run- 820 cals
Pilates-- I don't know about calories, but it was a great workout and I didn't feel like a complete idiot the entire time. Bonus! I can definitely tell that it will work muscles in a way they don't ordinarily get worked, especially the ABS!! Double bonus!! Good workout, good food (we really enjoyed dinner tonight), lots of yummy produce from Green's-- great day!
RECIPES!
Parmesan-Turkey Meatloaf
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 1/4 lb. ground skinless turkey
4 slices whole-wheat bread, made into fine crumbs
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1 egg white, lightly beaten
3 tbsp ketchup
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp minced fresh garlic
1 tbs. finely chopped fresh basil, or 1/2 tsp dried
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1. Preheat oven to 350; spray an 8 by 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. In a small nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Saute the onion until tender, 4-5 minutes.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the onion, turkey, bread crumbs, milk, egg white, ketchup, cheese, garlic, basil, thyme, and pepper; blend well. Shape into a loaf and transfer to the pan. Bake until browned and cooked throuhg. 50-60 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes, then cut into 8 slices.
**My ammendments-
I used three pieces of bread. To get them to crumble, I just rolled the bread in the palm of my hands.
As for cooking, I took a trick from Nora-- instead of putting it into a loaf pan, I formed 5 mini-loaves on a baking sheet and cooked them for 25 minutes. This is a great trick when you don't have time to wait for an hour.
Nutrition info (1 slice, according to the 8-slice cooking method): 181 cals, 9 g fat, 10 g carb, 1 g fib, 15 g protein
Rosemary Potatoes
*These cook in the microwave-- another brilliant time-saving strategy!
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Place butter and garlic in a baking dish and microwave until butter is melted. Add all of the ingredients and toss well. Microwave until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
Nutrition info: 155 cals
I was skeptical of cooking them in the microwave but they turned out to be pretty good. I'll definitely do this again. Love quick meals!
Basil Green Beans (recipe that Heather introduced to us)
1 lb green beans
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 clove garlic, cut in half
1 tbsp chopped onion
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried leaf basil, crumbled
1/2 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 cup boiling water
Cut beans in half. Heat oil and butter; saute onion and garlic until soft. Remove garlic.
Add beans, salt, basil, sugar, pepper, and boiling water. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition info: none provided on the website. I took the calorie count from the green beans at Boston Market... may or may not be accurate.
*Great flavor, but too salty for my taste... it's possible that I just inadvertently added a bit extra, or maybe I didn't have quite as many green beans as the recipe called for but either way, I'll use less salt next time.
Almonds- 140
Isagenix shake- 240
Snack:
2 thin slices of ham- 30
1/2 banana w/pb- 80
Lunch:
1 can tuna- 140
1 pc. bread- 40
Miracle whip- 20
8 oz. Jamba Juice- 140
Dinner:
Turkey meatloaf- 290
Basil green beans- 60
Rosemary potatoes- 155
Grand total: 1335
Workout:
60-minute run- 820 cals
Pilates-- I don't know about calories, but it was a great workout and I didn't feel like a complete idiot the entire time. Bonus! I can definitely tell that it will work muscles in a way they don't ordinarily get worked, especially the ABS!! Double bonus!! Good workout, good food (we really enjoyed dinner tonight), lots of yummy produce from Green's-- great day!
RECIPES!
Parmesan-Turkey Meatloaf
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 1/4 lb. ground skinless turkey
4 slices whole-wheat bread, made into fine crumbs
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1 egg white, lightly beaten
3 tbsp ketchup
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp minced fresh garlic
1 tbs. finely chopped fresh basil, or 1/2 tsp dried
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1. Preheat oven to 350; spray an 8 by 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. In a small nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Saute the onion until tender, 4-5 minutes.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the onion, turkey, bread crumbs, milk, egg white, ketchup, cheese, garlic, basil, thyme, and pepper; blend well. Shape into a loaf and transfer to the pan. Bake until browned and cooked throuhg. 50-60 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes, then cut into 8 slices.
**My ammendments-
I used three pieces of bread. To get them to crumble, I just rolled the bread in the palm of my hands.
As for cooking, I took a trick from Nora-- instead of putting it into a loaf pan, I formed 5 mini-loaves on a baking sheet and cooked them for 25 minutes. This is a great trick when you don't have time to wait for an hour.
Nutrition info (1 slice, according to the 8-slice cooking method): 181 cals, 9 g fat, 10 g carb, 1 g fib, 15 g protein
Rosemary Potatoes
*These cook in the microwave-- another brilliant time-saving strategy!
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Place butter and garlic in a baking dish and microwave until butter is melted. Add all of the ingredients and toss well. Microwave until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
Nutrition info: 155 cals
I was skeptical of cooking them in the microwave but they turned out to be pretty good. I'll definitely do this again. Love quick meals!
Basil Green Beans (recipe that Heather introduced to us)
1 lb green beans
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 clove garlic, cut in half
1 tbsp chopped onion
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried leaf basil, crumbled
1/2 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 cup boiling water
Cut beans in half. Heat oil and butter; saute onion and garlic until soft. Remove garlic.
Add beans, salt, basil, sugar, pepper, and boiling water. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition info: none provided on the website. I took the calorie count from the green beans at Boston Market... may or may not be accurate.
*Great flavor, but too salty for my taste... it's possible that I just inadvertently added a bit extra, or maybe I didn't have quite as many green beans as the recipe called for but either way, I'll use less salt next time.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
June 6
I wasn't going to post today because, well, I didn't exactly eat healthy... but at the end of the day, I feel like I would be dishonest with myself and whoever may be reading this if I didn't.
As always, the day started well... my normal shake for breakfast (240), a sandwich and Baked Lays from Subway for lunch (450), and a great workout at the gym (burned 700). Well, then it was date night with Mike and we found ourselves at Cheesecake Factory. Ordinarily, I would allow myself the splurge with Mike without guilt. As you may recall, though, I splurged with my friend on Thursday and after the subsequent gallbladder attack, I wasn't incredibly worried about what I ate yesterday (though I still came in under calories and I did force a workout so that wasn't so so bad). So yes, I'm feeling a bit guilty about the shrimp scampi (which was so good!) and the dessert that we shared. I guess it just rounds out my not-so-disciplined week.
Fortunately, I didn't gain anything this week but as suspected, I didn't lose anything either. No big surprise there. I am oh so very ready to really rock it next week. I have ammended my goal weight and am now working towards 150 instead of the original 155 target. Mike and I are going to Pheonix at the end of July, which I will use as my goal date. That gives me 8 weeks to lose 9 pounds. So very doable.
Tomorrow, I am going to spend time creating a meal plan that I will stick to for the week. That plan will live on the refrigerator, which will also be fully stocked with everything I need to cook said meals. I am going to get rid of some of the carbs I've been eating and incorporate more fruits and veggies throughout the day. I am also going to plan out my workouts in my new workout journal (which I will also use to jot down what I eat when I eat it so I don't forget at the end of the day). I learned some great new moves today with the personal trainer that I will work into my program. Time to totally change it up, which may mean working out with Mike less to reach my goal, but I knew that day would come eventually. Like I said, it's time to add some Pilates, so that will happen on Monday. Abs 3 days a week at least. Increase my cardio sessions by 5 minutes this week.
Yes, this probably seems a bit difficult to some... maybe you're thinking that you couldn't do it. Really, it's been such a gradual process to get to this level that it doesn't seem like a major stretch. Plus, we all know that the last 10 pounds is the hardest so I definitely have to really step up my game and stick to it. It will be very worth it, just like every bit of effort I've made so far has been. So... here we go...
As always, the day started well... my normal shake for breakfast (240), a sandwich and Baked Lays from Subway for lunch (450), and a great workout at the gym (burned 700). Well, then it was date night with Mike and we found ourselves at Cheesecake Factory. Ordinarily, I would allow myself the splurge with Mike without guilt. As you may recall, though, I splurged with my friend on Thursday and after the subsequent gallbladder attack, I wasn't incredibly worried about what I ate yesterday (though I still came in under calories and I did force a workout so that wasn't so so bad). So yes, I'm feeling a bit guilty about the shrimp scampi (which was so good!) and the dessert that we shared. I guess it just rounds out my not-so-disciplined week.
Fortunately, I didn't gain anything this week but as suspected, I didn't lose anything either. No big surprise there. I am oh so very ready to really rock it next week. I have ammended my goal weight and am now working towards 150 instead of the original 155 target. Mike and I are going to Pheonix at the end of July, which I will use as my goal date. That gives me 8 weeks to lose 9 pounds. So very doable.
Tomorrow, I am going to spend time creating a meal plan that I will stick to for the week. That plan will live on the refrigerator, which will also be fully stocked with everything I need to cook said meals. I am going to get rid of some of the carbs I've been eating and incorporate more fruits and veggies throughout the day. I am also going to plan out my workouts in my new workout journal (which I will also use to jot down what I eat when I eat it so I don't forget at the end of the day). I learned some great new moves today with the personal trainer that I will work into my program. Time to totally change it up, which may mean working out with Mike less to reach my goal, but I knew that day would come eventually. Like I said, it's time to add some Pilates, so that will happen on Monday. Abs 3 days a week at least. Increase my cardio sessions by 5 minutes this week.
Yes, this probably seems a bit difficult to some... maybe you're thinking that you couldn't do it. Really, it's been such a gradual process to get to this level that it doesn't seem like a major stretch. Plus, we all know that the last 10 pounds is the hardest so I definitely have to really step up my game and stick to it. It will be very worth it, just like every bit of effort I've made so far has been. So... here we go...
Friday, June 5, 2009
June 5
Well, gallbladder attacks always leave my stomach quite uneasy for the rest of the day so I ate what I could today. I had my usual breakfast (Isagenix shake), snacked on some cheerios later, forced myself to eat a turkey dog for a late lunch (really not good on an unsettled stomach but I haven't gone grocery shopping in a while!), shared a smoothie with Mike at the gym before our swim, and ate a few shrimp and a handful of french fries for dinner (Again, wasn't ideal on my stomach but I couldn't think of anything that I wanted and it was what Mike decided upon.) I'm not even going to count it all up because I know it wasn't enough and I'm not going to stress it today-- wasn't feeling well, what can ya do?
It's been a little bit of an off week for me altogether. Sure, I've watched my calories and I have worked out every day, but I haven't put 100% into it this week. If I haven't lost anything for tomorrow's weigh-in, I won't be at all surprised. That's perfectly ok, though. It's probably good to relax a little here and there. I'll just make next week that much better. For one thing, I need to meal plan and stick to the plan. I also need to make sure I have lots of fruits and veggies on hand so I munch on those instead of Lacey's crackers. I'm excited to start some group pilates classes next week. I know I'm going to look ridiculous for a while, but the results will be worth it. I need to make sure I stick to my cardio plan too-- I cut one cardio workout short and then I didn't do cardio at all yesterday. To be honest, I sort of love when I have a lax week here or there because it makes me all the more motivated to do better the following week, which always brings great results. That's life, I guess-- always trying to do a little better than we did the day before. So here's to a better tomorrow... *clink*!
It's been a little bit of an off week for me altogether. Sure, I've watched my calories and I have worked out every day, but I haven't put 100% into it this week. If I haven't lost anything for tomorrow's weigh-in, I won't be at all surprised. That's perfectly ok, though. It's probably good to relax a little here and there. I'll just make next week that much better. For one thing, I need to meal plan and stick to the plan. I also need to make sure I have lots of fruits and veggies on hand so I munch on those instead of Lacey's crackers. I'm excited to start some group pilates classes next week. I know I'm going to look ridiculous for a while, but the results will be worth it. I need to make sure I stick to my cardio plan too-- I cut one cardio workout short and then I didn't do cardio at all yesterday. To be honest, I sort of love when I have a lax week here or there because it makes me all the more motivated to do better the following week, which always brings great results. That's life, I guess-- always trying to do a little better than we did the day before. So here's to a better tomorrow... *clink*!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
June 4. Oh so tired.
Today started well...
Breakfast:
Isagenix shake- 240 cals
Midmorning snack- Apple w/ pb- 155 cals
10 almonds preworkout- 70 cals
Lunch:
Pb&J sandwich- 100 cals
..... and it went downhill from there. I didn't eat enough for lunch and was thus pretty hungry when I finally got out of the house this afternoon. I stopped at McD's and ate a kids hamburger. 250 cals... not sooo bad, but certainly not great. But it tasted quite good. I love those stupid little burgers!
Then tonight, I ate dinner with a good friend of mine who happened to be in town this weekend for a scrapbooking convention. It was SO good to see her! She was one of my first roommates in college and I hadn't seen her in nearly 6 years! We ate at a yummy Italian restaurant and I definitely had my splurge meal tonight- very tasty pasta with chicken, sundried tomatoes spinach, and don't forget the cheesy creamy sauce. Mmmm! I filled up on salad before the entree so that I wouldn't eat too much of the pasta so that saved me a few calories but it still definitely sent me over my calorie limit for the day! All in good fun, though, and I don't regret it... or the treat we had at Sonic later. :) Definitely have to be good through the weekend though. I can do it!
And just for my own little pat-on-the-back, I will proudly announce that my entire house is clean. All at once! Even the dreaded office that is never clean! When does that happen? Um, how 'bout when Nora is occupied with out-of-town visitors for the last two weeks?! I'm so productive when we can't play, but I'm running out of things to clean so Nora, NO MORE GUESTS! :) Just kidding! But if you see me cleaning my garage this weekend, you'd better come save me. Hehe!
Good night all!
Breakfast:
Isagenix shake- 240 cals
Midmorning snack- Apple w/ pb- 155 cals
10 almonds preworkout- 70 cals
Lunch:
Pb&J sandwich- 100 cals
..... and it went downhill from there. I didn't eat enough for lunch and was thus pretty hungry when I finally got out of the house this afternoon. I stopped at McD's and ate a kids hamburger. 250 cals... not sooo bad, but certainly not great. But it tasted quite good. I love those stupid little burgers!
Then tonight, I ate dinner with a good friend of mine who happened to be in town this weekend for a scrapbooking convention. It was SO good to see her! She was one of my first roommates in college and I hadn't seen her in nearly 6 years! We ate at a yummy Italian restaurant and I definitely had my splurge meal tonight- very tasty pasta with chicken, sundried tomatoes spinach, and don't forget the cheesy creamy sauce. Mmmm! I filled up on salad before the entree so that I wouldn't eat too much of the pasta so that saved me a few calories but it still definitely sent me over my calorie limit for the day! All in good fun, though, and I don't regret it... or the treat we had at Sonic later. :) Definitely have to be good through the weekend though. I can do it!
And just for my own little pat-on-the-back, I will proudly announce that my entire house is clean. All at once! Even the dreaded office that is never clean! When does that happen? Um, how 'bout when Nora is occupied with out-of-town visitors for the last two weeks?! I'm so productive when we can't play, but I'm running out of things to clean so Nora, NO MORE GUESTS! :) Just kidding! But if you see me cleaning my garage this weekend, you'd better come save me. Hehe!
Good night all!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
June 3
Breakfast:
Isagenix shake- 240 cals
Snack:
Apple- 50 cals
1 tbsp. pb- 90 cals
Lunch:
Granola bar- 140 cals
Turkey dog- 45 cals
Bun- 120 cals
Snack:
Crackers- 200 cals
Dinner:
Taco night- app. 450 cals
Total: 1335 so far... I'll probably have a light snack
Burned: 817
I met with the trainer today for one of my 3 free training sessions. We basically just went over some things today-- did a body age test, reviewed what I've been doing and what my goals are and gave her an idea of what kind of help I need. The body age test was interesting-- it comprised of a flexibility test, a 5-minute cardio test, a strength measurement , and body fat measurement. According to the results, my body is 23-years-old. The cardio test results were great. The strength results were good, but could have been better. As far as flexibility goes, I'M SO NOT!! It was pitiful, really. I've known this about myself but just haven't done anything about it. If I was where I should be in that department, my body age would be 18. Yeah, I could go with having the body of an 18-year-old! (Not that 27 is bad, but I'm only gonna get older!) So I repent and resolve to stretch after every workout. I'm also going to take up pilates beginning next week. I'm sure I'll look ridiculous because of how flexible I am not, but we all start somewhere, right? As the trainer said, it's sort of stupid that I take such good care of myself in other areas but I neglect that aspect of my fitness. It is important and thus I will pay more attention to it.
The body fat part was shocking to me. According to her measurement, I'm at 18.6%! I certainly would not have guessed that it would be so low. I'm not sure if that's entirely accurate, although the trainer assured me that she does it a lot and she's usually quite accurate.... but I continue to have my doubts, mostly due to the fact that I still have some fat around my stomach and legs. Maybe I'm in better shape than I think I am??? The combination of being over weight for so long and having been pregnant may mean that I just have loose skin which could account for the discrepancy between what I see and what the trainer says. I actually hope that's not the case because there's not a whole lot you can do about that unless you want surgery... which I don't. For now, I'll just enjoy the idea that I'm at 18.6% and the encouragement that comes with it. I still have 5-10 pounds that I want to lose and I'll continue to work hard, of course. I'm not shooting for perfection here, but I do want to be the best that I can be and I still have a bit more work until I'm there. I remain thrilled with how far I've come and I certainly don't take anything away from that. There's always room for improvement, though, so that's what I aim to do.
I'll meet with Dana again on Saturday for a workout. I'm looking forward to learning some things that I can do to change things up a bit more. I'll let ya know how that goes.
Good night!
Isagenix shake- 240 cals
Snack:
Apple- 50 cals
1 tbsp. pb- 90 cals
Lunch:
Granola bar- 140 cals
Turkey dog- 45 cals
Bun- 120 cals
Snack:
Crackers- 200 cals
Dinner:
Taco night- app. 450 cals
Total: 1335 so far... I'll probably have a light snack
Burned: 817
I met with the trainer today for one of my 3 free training sessions. We basically just went over some things today-- did a body age test, reviewed what I've been doing and what my goals are and gave her an idea of what kind of help I need. The body age test was interesting-- it comprised of a flexibility test, a 5-minute cardio test, a strength measurement , and body fat measurement. According to the results, my body is 23-years-old. The cardio test results were great. The strength results were good, but could have been better. As far as flexibility goes, I'M SO NOT!! It was pitiful, really. I've known this about myself but just haven't done anything about it. If I was where I should be in that department, my body age would be 18. Yeah, I could go with having the body of an 18-year-old! (Not that 27 is bad, but I'm only gonna get older!) So I repent and resolve to stretch after every workout. I'm also going to take up pilates beginning next week. I'm sure I'll look ridiculous because of how flexible I am not, but we all start somewhere, right? As the trainer said, it's sort of stupid that I take such good care of myself in other areas but I neglect that aspect of my fitness. It is important and thus I will pay more attention to it.
The body fat part was shocking to me. According to her measurement, I'm at 18.6%! I certainly would not have guessed that it would be so low. I'm not sure if that's entirely accurate, although the trainer assured me that she does it a lot and she's usually quite accurate.... but I continue to have my doubts, mostly due to the fact that I still have some fat around my stomach and legs. Maybe I'm in better shape than I think I am??? The combination of being over weight for so long and having been pregnant may mean that I just have loose skin which could account for the discrepancy between what I see and what the trainer says. I actually hope that's not the case because there's not a whole lot you can do about that unless you want surgery... which I don't. For now, I'll just enjoy the idea that I'm at 18.6% and the encouragement that comes with it. I still have 5-10 pounds that I want to lose and I'll continue to work hard, of course. I'm not shooting for perfection here, but I do want to be the best that I can be and I still have a bit more work until I'm there. I remain thrilled with how far I've come and I certainly don't take anything away from that. There's always room for improvement, though, so that's what I aim to do.
I'll meet with Dana again on Saturday for a workout. I'm looking forward to learning some things that I can do to change things up a bit more. I'll let ya know how that goes.
Good night!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
June 2
Breakfast:
Isagenix shake- 240 cals
Lunch out with Lacey:
Chick-fil-a grilled chicken sandwich- 260 cals
Side salad- 70 cals
Snack:
Apple- 55 cals
w/peanut butter- 120 cals
Dinner:
Tuscan turkey sandwich-360 cals
Protein shake- 120 cals
Total: 1225 calories
Burned: 681 calories
Isagenix shake- 240 cals
Lunch out with Lacey:
Chick-fil-a grilled chicken sandwich- 260 cals
Side salad- 70 cals
Snack:
Apple- 55 cals
w/peanut butter- 120 cals
Dinner:
Tuscan turkey sandwich-360 cals
Protein shake- 120 cals
Total: 1225 calories
Burned: 681 calories
Monday, June 1, 2009
June 1
Breakfast:
Toast w/pb- 120 cals
10 almonds- 170 cals
Lunch:
Turkey burger- 130 cals
Wheat bun- 220 cals
Fixins- 30 cals
Pool-side snack!:
1 1/2 Granola bars (finished Laceys for her... darn that Mom habit!)- 150 cals
Graham crackers- 130 cals
Dinner:
Turkey burger-130 cals
1/2 bun- 110 cals
Fixins- 30 cals
Potato fries cooked in olive oil- about 160 cals I think
Watermelon- 60 cals
Total: 1440 cals
Burned: 500 cals
So, today was not an ideal day. I did not eat nearly enough for breakfast, which hindered my workout. I was supposed to run for 55 minutes but stopped at 35 because I was beginning to feel sick. Stupid! I didn't intentionally eat so little. I grabbed some toast when Lacey was eating and then I just got to doing my morning routine and never got back to eating. Big mistake. It also left me hungrier throughout the day. I need to start focusing more on getting more of my calories in for breakfast and lunch and on keeping healthier stuff on hand when I'm out and about. Graham crackers and granola bars aren't the worst things in the world, but they're not the best. And yes, we did eat the same meal twice today. I had cooked for lunch, which wasn't the intention, but it left enough for dinner and I wanted to hang out at the pool with Nora so there ya go. :) Hey, I cooked alright... already doing better than last week! Hehe!
Toast w/pb- 120 cals
10 almonds- 170 cals
Lunch:
Turkey burger- 130 cals
Wheat bun- 220 cals
Fixins- 30 cals
Pool-side snack!:
1 1/2 Granola bars (finished Laceys for her... darn that Mom habit!)- 150 cals
Graham crackers- 130 cals
Dinner:
Turkey burger-130 cals
1/2 bun- 110 cals
Fixins- 30 cals
Potato fries cooked in olive oil- about 160 cals I think
Watermelon- 60 cals
Total: 1440 cals
Burned: 500 cals
So, today was not an ideal day. I did not eat nearly enough for breakfast, which hindered my workout. I was supposed to run for 55 minutes but stopped at 35 because I was beginning to feel sick. Stupid! I didn't intentionally eat so little. I grabbed some toast when Lacey was eating and then I just got to doing my morning routine and never got back to eating. Big mistake. It also left me hungrier throughout the day. I need to start focusing more on getting more of my calories in for breakfast and lunch and on keeping healthier stuff on hand when I'm out and about. Graham crackers and granola bars aren't the worst things in the world, but they're not the best. And yes, we did eat the same meal twice today. I had cooked for lunch, which wasn't the intention, but it left enough for dinner and I wanted to hang out at the pool with Nora so there ya go. :) Hey, I cooked alright... already doing better than last week! Hehe!
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