A Week in Pictures…and some important news! November 16, 2009

Here are some new recipes that I’ve been trying out lately: 

Chocolate Banana Smoothie

 

Healthy Chicken Parm and Roasted Zucchini (made with homemade whole wheat bread breadcrumbs)

 

 

Turkey and Cheddar on Whole Wheat Bread with Homemade Greens (Fresh, cooked spinach with homemade breadcrumbs)

 

Flank steak with roasted new potatoes and green beans with tomatoes and feta

 

Brown Rice California Rolls (Trader Joes) and side salad with homemade asian dressing

 

My new obsession…..

and one daily dose of Calcium…

the Decaf Soy Latte:

The flowers that my husband sent me on Nov. 7th of this year, to mark the date when he asked me to be his wife, one year ago…isn’t he sweet?

(note: blue hydrangeas were our wedding flowers…nice touch huh?)

 

 

 

Oh….and the important news part:

 

 

Kind of a big week

 

Starting Fresh – A letter to Me November 12, 2009

Dear Self,

Do not be fooled. Just because you are doing okay right now, do not think that all is well. Do not assume that you are in the clear. Because we both know that is not true. So this is a reminder. For the good times. So you don’t forget what it feels like when you are out of control. And get lazy.

When you are out of control,

You feel like giving up…like quitting forever. You feel like a failure. How could you have lost control AGAIN? for the thousandth time? I mean, how many times can you try and fail before you are deemed a true failure? You feel like crying over the slightest thing. You sometimes feel like you don’t want to go on. You feel helpless AND hopeless. You become inpatient with those around you…especially with the man who loves you most, your husband.

and it’s not about him. He is the one that has actually given you a lot of strength, but you use him as an excuse…an excuse to cheat and have something that you know will derail you. Just like you bake, always for someone else because well, YOU can’t eat it of course…even though you KNOW that you will have to eat some of the batter; have just a taste…or 30. The little voice in the back of your head is so insightful. That voice knows what you are up to…tries to warn you…but you pretend not to hear.

In just a matter of time, it will be all over and you can’t go back. The security you feel now, eating well and taking care of yourself? well that is gone the second you ignore that voice, the one that is trying so hard to steer you in the right direction.

So many people make mistakes, nutrition wise. Eat something that they don’t realize is loaded with calories because it is tiny. Or don’t know what a serving size is of every single solitary food from memory like you do. And so that is the reason why they are not successful when dieting…they are making innocent, naive dieting mistakes. But not you…oh no. You are a veteran dieter. Been at it since about 5th grade…when you finally realized that boys already didn’t want to talk to you and became self conscious. You know all the rules, the right combinations, the equations…in order to successfully lose the weight. And yet….

something stops you.

yourself…

So I am here to remind you…not for the times when you are out of control…because, well, let’s face it…you don’t need these reminders during those moments of despair. You know these feelings all too well when you are living them and breathing them.

No, this letter is rather for the times when you are feeling strong and completely in control…because for some unknown reason, that is when you choose to self sabotage. Like a test. Like, I’m doing well. I wonder how strong I really am. Let’s see…Well guess what? That test? You fail it – EVERY. TIME.

If you bake, you will pick, pick, pick. If you get your husband something bad to eat, you know damn well it is only because you want some of it, too! And God forbid when you have children…the excuses that you will make in order to put yourself in detrimental situations and to have access to foods that are guaranteed to derail you. I don’t even want to think about it!

So don’t do it! Be stronger than yourself. Because once you cross over from IN to OUT OF CONTROL, it will be that all too familiar feeling of pain and hopelessness. You feel lonely and mean and sad and angry all at once. And you can’t cross back. It’s not that easy. It was a smooth transition for you to fall right back into those old habits…that part is intended to be simple. Isn’t that what temptation is all about?  But remember how hard it is to go from eating pizza and cookies and french fries to eating eggs, salad, and chicken. It seems like the worst idea in the world and I don’t wanna do it. Screw dieting. Screw this. Why can’t I eat what I want like so many people? Why me? Why me? WHY ME?

But guess what? Right now, you are LOVING chicken! You just had a conversation with your husband about how great the spinach greens tasted!  Last night you made your own asian salad dressing to go with your brown rice sushi and it tasted incredible. You like these foods! YOU DO NOT MISS THOSE BAD FOODS! Not satisfaction-wise anyway. You feel completely satisfied. You hear me? When you are in this place of control, you are satisfied. You are strong. You are energetic. You are kind to your husband. You are full of joy and appreciative of what you have in life. You are missing nothing.

But…this letter is a reminder…of what you value. Because for some reason, you let yourself forget. Why choose unhappiness over joy? Why choose feeling like a failure over feeling in control and successful? It is such a simple choice really. You only get one moment of bliss before the guilt sets in. Wait, screw that. It is not even one full moment of bliss as your lips take a bite or lick…because even that very first one is draped in guilt. You can’t even enjoy it because of the shame that accompanies it.

So don’t. Don’t do it. Don’t put yourself in those situations. But if you have gotten into one of those situations, listen to that voice. Don’t ignore it. It is a gift from God that you actually are self-aware enough to even attempt to stop yourself. Accept it. Listen to it.

You are worth it, this time around. And don’t let anybody you tell you different.

Remain strong. Stay where you are. Do not come back over here to this side. It is not worth it. Learn from me and my mistakes.

Do not be fooled.

Love,

Me

Counting My Steps – My New Obsession November 9, 2009

Part of the Best Life diet involves becoming more active.

The recommendation is that you take inventory of how much you are moving and increase it from there.

I have been so lazy in the last couple of months that it required me to move from the ”Level 1″ activity (which basically consists of breathing) to

“Level 2″ which is:

3500 to 5999 foot steps each day (a minimum of 6 days a week)

or

Walking/other light aerobic exercise a minimum of 2 days/week, for a total of 60 – 89.9 minutes per week

 

Not too much…but more than I had been doing…

(I know, it’s pathetic. Would you believe that in May and June I was going to hour long boot camp class 5 days a week from 5:30 – 6:30 am? It seems like aaaaages ago)

 

But, regardless, I have embraced the idea of  moving more. I went out and bought a pedometer and I’m totally into it!

I have no idea why, but working toward the 10,000 steps is totally motivating to me. Just seeing how quickly it all adds up is amazing.

I’ve started walking around a lot more at work…I’ve been walking my dog a lot more and longer distances…and I’ve going for more walks with my hubs!

I honestly feel great and yet it seems too simple.

But trust me, there are days when my ass used to get sore from not moving on the couch for extended periods of time…so it is definitely an improvement for me!

Here is a pic of my pedometer tonight…and the oh-so-coveted 10,000 step milestone:

 

well…10,000 + 3

I’m moving more and getting back into it…it’s a good thing.

 

 

 

Halloween Party pics! November 8, 2009

A shot of our living room…with halloween decorations galore…

 

**WARNING**

The following pics of food are not healthy!!! (This was during a break down period where I, of course, wanted all unhealthy food around so I could gorge myself. Result – unhealthy, delicious food that made me put on 8 pounds in 3 days…no joke. Not worth it!)

Sugar cookies

 

 

 

Halloween themed chocolate covered pretzels:

Pre-party pics: (before the food is set up)

Dessert table:

(If you look closely you can see the eyeballs I made too…I forgot to take a real pic of them!)

Bar area:

Coffee/Tea station:

The gift basket prize we gave for the winner of the Best Costume award:

If you look closely, behind the gift basket are the favor boxes that we gave away to each couple that came to the party…they were filled with lots of goodies to take home and enjoy after the fact!

Our doggie, Frankie, in his motorcycle riding jacket and goggles:

 Pic of my hubs and I…we were the oh-so-politically incorrect “Cowboys and Indians” (singular but it doesn’t sound right when you say, “Cowboy and Indian”)

We had a great turnout (we are semi-new to California and don’t have a ton of good friends yet but we have been slowly building our group) and everyone got into the dressing up and had great costumes. Our prize for best costume went to a couple who wore Penguin costumes that were huge and hot and totally uncomfortable looking…and therefore that sacrifice won them the prize!

 

We are definitely interested in having another party next year…and considered this year to be a great success!

Anyone else do anything fun for Halloween?

Actual Scale giveaway! November 8, 2009

So since joining the blog world, I have learned that bloggers like…give stuff away…for free! How cool!

 

So anyway, the cool giveaway right now that you can enter is at:
http://actualscale.blogspot.com/2009/11/giving-thanks-giveaway-50-amazon-gift.html

 

In honor of losing 50 pounds, she is giving away a $50 gift card to amazon.com…sooo cool!

Thanks, Actual Scale!

Quick Update November 7, 2009

So I have been somewhat slacking on the blogging lately…probably because I have been busy…in addition to the fact that I am so new that I don’t have many readers yet. But I want to plug along. I have seen how influential other blogs have been for me, as these individuals document their journey…and I hope to do the same for someone else…

if they ever stumble across this site!

 

The Best Life Diet by Bob Greene - some thoughts

• It’s been going GREAT! I have never eaten so much yummy food, felt entirely satisfied and lost weight. EVER.

 

• I cheated and weighed myself. oops. I have already lost 6 pounds! I was sure that I hadn’t lost any, but was super excited when I saw that it was working!

 

• I’ve learned that this diet, for the first month, is about refocusing how you view food and getting into healthy habits. My recommended calorie intake (from their site) was 1800 a day. I adjusted it to 1700 but still…that is waaaaaay higher than any diet has ever recommended for me. Usually it is closer to 12 or 1300! As we refocus our thoughts on eating, I don’t think they want us to feel any sort of deprivation. But the choices I have been making for those 1800 calories (I’m not gonna lie, I’ve had a tough time sticking to 1700 knowing that the site recommended 1800…I’m so bad) have all been incredible, healthy food choices. No junk. I guess at times it can be more simple than I thought! Healthy food can be delicious!

 

• The Best Life Breakfasts are HUGE!!! Oh my gosh…the recommended breakfasts are like 350 – 400 calories EACH DAY! But you sort of eliminate the snacking. They recommend one healthy snack a day outside of meals, but pretty much your calories should come from the meals…and the meals are so filling that it works! I am not hungry in between meals at all.

 

• I am eating healthy foods, but yummy ones, too! The other night I had a salad loaded with great veggies and then had a small 1 cup side of pasta. I used Barilla plus pasta which is loaded with nutrients. I sauted some cherry tomatoes and basil in some EVOO and then mixed the rotinis in. Then I sprinkled some fresh parmesan cheese in. It was a great side and for once, the pasta didn’t have to be a huge bowl. It felt like a treat! Here is a pic:

 

Even my husband thought it was delicious!

So today I want to try out some new recipes…

Breakfast – Scrambled eggs (Better ‘n Eggs) with chopped cherry tomatoes and chopped mushrooms sprinkled with basil and freshly grated parmesan cheese; 1 yoplait light strawberry yogurt; 1 slice of whole wheat toast with light butter (SEE I TOLD YOU IT WAS A TON OF FOOD!!)

Lunch – Roasted Eggplant and Onion Sandwich with Arugula and Chicken and a small side salad with balsamic vinegar and EVOO

 

Dinner – Flank Steak with Sweet Potatoes and a small side salad

Bob Greene’s Best Life Diet November 4, 2009

So whenever I get bored, I try something new.

 

And…

guess what…

I’m bored.

 

I have been floundering since my wedding, going back and forth with different eating habits. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. But what I have realized is that even the good was not so good.

 

I was not being mindful of my health.

I was eating full fat foods that are not good for my heart.

I was not exercising.

I was just not healthy.

 

I am trying soooo hard to think more about my actual health and not just losing weight. And the new approach I am trying is really an old approach…and in reality what both Weight Watchers and the South Beach Diet preach that you should be eating.

 

Whole Grains

Fruits

Vegetables

Low fat/Non fat dairy Products

Lean proteins

lots of water

and…

duh…duh duh DUH!

EXERCISE!

Oh I have been so lazy. I mean, incredibly Lazy with a capital L. My husband and I used to be great about going to the gym. Not every single solitary night, but often. And we did good workouts. A mix of hard cardio and weight training, circuits, running…whatever floated our boat at the time. We changed it up, but we remained fairly consistent for the first few years.

Then we got married.

Isn’t it so cliche? We have been so lazy since then. And the funny part is that we weren’t really dieting/exercising for the wedding. I mean, we did for the wedding, too. But it started long before then. We were just mindful of our health.

 

But I’m back into it.

This morning, I got up to walk for 30 minutes. And whaddya know…the hubs got up with me! We had a nice walk and I am so appreciative of our time together. Today is our 4 month anniversary and I love him more than anything in the world. I am very lucky to have him and morning walks like today are nice reminders of how blessed we are.

 

But back to the Best Life diet. There are some rules. No trans fats, no fried foods, eat a Best Life breakfast to start your day (any of their recommended breakfast ideas is encouraged) and then a lunch, dinner and snack that is based on making good choices. Daily multivitamin. Exercise 60 minutes a week. I like it. It’s DOable.

 Weigh yourself the first day and then not again for a month.

I LOVE that.

My husband said, “I’ve been saying you should stop weighing yourself every day for the longest time. Now you’re gonna do it cause Bob Greene says so? I oughtta write a book!”

But it really is so freeing. It is not about losing really this month. It is more about developing healthy eating habits.

 

So I am going to be spending way more money at the grocery store, but I’m okay with it as long as I am sticking with the plan and feeling satisfied. It’s only money.

I am also going to be trying out a ton of new recipes…and that part I am a little overwhelmed by, but also super excited! I LOVE to try new recipes…so if they are healthy ones, all the better!

 

Tomorrow’s breakfast: 

a strawberry smoothie (1 cup vanilla soymilk, 1 cup frozen strawberries, 2 tbsp ground flaxseeds)

It sounds yummy and totally different than my norm.

Change is good.

Monday Menus October 26, 2009

Quick post tonight, but here is the Menu for the week:

Monday – grilled steak and pepper kebabs

Don’t they look so yummy?? They were delicious! I love when my husband grills!

Tuesday – Chili with salad

Wednesday – Cheeseburger Pie

Thursday – Taco Salads

Friday – prepping for the Halloween party!!

So, I posted a couple of days ago about just trying to eat like a normal person, healthy but in moderation…well, I am pleased to report that I have done great!

I feel good. I feel in control. I don’t feel like I am a slave to food.

I am really taking the time to think about what I am putting into my body and trying to make logical decisions. If I want 3 gummy bears, I can have them…no guilt involved. I can’t have an enormous handful.

I am analyzing why I eat when I do…what makes it so hard to listen to that inner voice in my head telling me the right choice to make.

This has been the ultimate test…we got a big bag of dark chocolate covered almonds on Saturday. They are the perfect example of something that is okay for you, possibly could be even considered healthy, in small amounts. Our problem is that we buy a huge bag and eat it in one sitting.

Well, I set out on a normally very dangerous mission…buy a big bag…and

only

 eat

 3

 each night.

Ha! 3…that’s crazy talk!  But believe it or not, we’ve been doing it! and it hasn’t been as hard as I thought.

I get the “sweet” that I crave after a meal. But I also ask myself what difference there is for me to eat 20 rather than 3. I have the same taste after 3…the same satisfaction…only I don’t have any of the guilt or sick stomach feeling that hits you when you pound the whole bag! Eureka!!

 

I think I may be onto something. The real challenge will be…

halloween candy and the yummy food I am going to have at the halloween party. We’ll see.

I think I am up to the challenge.

Halloween Party Updates October 25, 2009

So we have been busy putting together our preparations for our first annual Halloween bash…and I am getting so excited!

I have asked friends to bring a dish to share, but I am still busy planning what I am going to make.

 

I am insisting on doing all finger foods/appetizers. I have scoured the internet for the best recipes and have narrowed it down to the following:

1) Mini pulled pork sandwiches (sliders) with coleslaw:

2) Spiderweb nacho dip with chips:

I found the recipe and pic on this website:

http://www.womansday.com/Recipes/Spiderweb-Nacho-Spread-Recipe

 

3) Some type of dip served in an acorn squash or gourd, similar to the one in the picture below:

4) pigs in a blanket – MUMMY style!

I also have a guest bringing ribs (AKA bucket of bones):

Then for dessert, I want to make something, but I haven’t decided what.

 

I have guests bringing the following so far:
1) Dark Chocolate Owl Cupcakes

 

2) A cake shaped like a pumpkin

 

I considered making some of my standard hit recipes and adapting them in some way to fit the Halloween theme…

• my chocolate chip cookies with orange m&m’s
• my sugar cookies (normally reserved for Christmas time, but just adapted by using Halloween cookie cutters) like below:

•  my peanut butter/chocolate chip bars but with added chocolate frosting and possibly creating a tombstone or putting a candy pumpkin on top
• or the same as above, but made with my homemade brownies

I’ve also toyed with the idea of trying out a new idea for the night…

• eyeball donuts (they are just donut holes covered in melted white chocolate and decorated to look like eyeballs)…they aren’t really a “recipe” because they don’t require baking, just assembling

• halloween-style chocolate covered pretzels

 

Also, here is some inspiration for my decorating. Amy Atlas is incredible and if I can put something together that is even 1/20th of what she does, I’ll feel like a superstar designer!!

 

www.amyatlas.com

 

With Halloween (and our party!) less than 1 week away, I am getting so excited for everything to come together. I am going to spend all week doing all the prep that can be done ahead of time. I want to make any food I can on Friday night to get as much done early as possible. During the week I will be taking care of getting all of the decorations ready and going out to get any supplies that I need.  I will use this time to put together the m&m’s in the test tubes for the guests to take home as well…sort of like party favors.

 

On Friday, I will make the pulled pork. It takes about 5 hours from start to finish so I should have enough time. I will also try to make the pretzels because it won’t involve an oven as well as the eyeballs if I choose to make them, too.

 

On Saturday, I want to be able to spend the day cleaning and getting everything else done in terms of decorating. I will need to make the cookies Saturday morning. The only other thing I need the oven for is the pigs in the blanket, but those will be popped in last minute so they are hot and fresh.

 

Other easy prep will be:

• putting together the taco dip
• carve gourd and put in dip
• put out tortilla chips and potato chips
• make the coleslaw

 

Oh! and I forgot I want to make a punch! I am thinking of something in a black cauldron like this:

 

I am sooooooo excited!!! Does anyone have any good ideas for what they are doing this year???

Healthy Eating for a Healthy Baby – someday! October 24, 2009

So I’ve been kind of off track lately. Not God-awful, but off track for sure.

 

I am a Catholic girl teaching at a Jewish school and every Friday for Shabbat, I feel called (religiously speaking of course) to eat the Challah bread that they give to all of the teachers and kids. I am trying to do low carb, but that damn challah gets me  every almost every time!

 

…and just overall, I have been a little loosey-goosey with the rules I usually live by.

 

So, whenever things aren’t working, I try something new. I hate the feeling of standing still and not progressing (even though I know I am the sole reason for my lack of forward progress).

 

So today, I am going to attempt to JUST BE HEALTHY. People tell me that all the time that this is what I need to do – just eat healthy, don’t diet. But in my opinion, that is easier said than done.

 

But, my husband and I have been married almost 4 months and are trying to conceive. I am hoping and praying that we are successful, but my sister and brother-in-law have been trying for over 5 with no success yet, so we know that realistically it may take awhile.

 

Either way, my mindset for eating and living healthy needs to change. I know that once I become pregnant, I am going to have to be balanced and healthy in my eating habits. I can’t have red meat and vegetables with no fruit or whole grains, just because those foods happen to be carbs. It’s just not healthy in my opinion (well, that and the opinion of thousands of medical professionals) and I want to truly be healthy for myself and for our future baby, when that time comes.

 

So, I’m gonna practice for when that day comes. I am going to try really hard to make choices that are better for my body…not necessarily for the quickest weight loss. I can have whole grains, but in moderation and healthy amounts. I can definitely eat fruit because of the obvious health benefits. I am still going to stay away from desserts, but a bite here or there won’t hurt me. I just need to realize that a taste should be enough. I don’t need to eat THE WHOLE THING. I’ve spent my whole life restricting myself, but perhaps with a change in mindset and the allowance of being able to have a bite of whatever I want will not make me feel like I have to pig out at every opportunity. Just because there is a big container of gummy bears, does not mean I have to take handful after handful! I can have 2 more next time I go if I want, but if I don’t like the taste, I don’t have to waste my time on them.

 

 

I guess it comes down to really listening to myself. I am very smart when it comes to nutrition. I completely know what I should be eating…I just don’t listen to my inner voice. Picture that old scenario with the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other, trying to beat each other out to be heard. I just need to listen to the healthy angel voice telling me the right thing to do instead of that fat devil telling me to eat up while the gettin’s good.

 

I am going to really try.