I've got an incredibly busy weekend ahead of me. With lots of potential eating hazards along the way.
I have successfully gotten through the first one - this morning, my work had a pancake and sausage breakfast for charity. I ate my regular oatmeal at home and just had coffee at the breakfast. Tomorrow night my husband and I have a fancy dinner event at a local hotel. It is an event I usually look forward to all year because the food is just INCREDIBLE. It is usually very "gourmet" which means it will not be "light" but the portions won't be huge either. I plan on just eating whatever I get served, and drinking some wine too!
We are staying over that night at the hotel and then going for breakfast in the morning. I will probably let myself "live a little" at breakfast too, but then I will have a light lunch and dinner. I plan to go for long-ish runs both Sat and Sun (which will help with all the additional calories).
None of this would worry me much, if I wasn't also going away on business Monday and Tuesday (so FOUR more restaurant meals there). I will just try my best to order food that is similar to what I'd eat at home... then back to normal right away...
I didn't have time to do up my food diary from yesterday, but my eating was pretty much "same old same old"... with calories at about 1550, and 45 minutes on the elliptical for my activity...
Have a great weekend!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Day 171 - A Post About Nothing
Not all my posts can be deep and meaningful... sometimes it is just hard to come up with things to write about! Although I'm sure my husband would tell you I NEVER run out of things to blather on about when it comes to my weight and healthy eating.
Yesterday, Diane suggested that I try adding larger servings of the things I am already eating.... I have already done that a bit, but it's really challenging. I have this hidden fear that if I do that, I will increase my appetite and I will be hungrier all the time.... for example last night, it was vegetarian night at our house and I made a ratatouille with eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, onion, garlic, red pepper, dates and almonds, which I served over couscous. I took one sixth of the recipe which was a "normal" size plate - about 1/2 cup of couscous with 1.5 cups of ratatouille. Then I had my regular dessert and I was "uncomfortably" full after that. I couldn't possibly have eaten another bite.
This morning, I put peanut butter in my oats. That increases the calories quickly, without making me more full than usual. I also might try just adding one calorie dense treat somewhere in my day (e.g. a couple of cookies for 200 calories or some chocolate would do the trick!)
I do feel like I am getting there slowly. Right from the start, I said that I didn't want to jump to 1800 calories a day right away. I've tried that before and it didn't work for me. So, I am going slow... YES, it's taking way longer than I originally anticipated (mostly because I'm nervous about it), but I'll get there....
Here is my food from yesterday...
Yesterday, Diane suggested that I try adding larger servings of the things I am already eating.... I have already done that a bit, but it's really challenging. I have this hidden fear that if I do that, I will increase my appetite and I will be hungrier all the time.... for example last night, it was vegetarian night at our house and I made a ratatouille with eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, onion, garlic, red pepper, dates and almonds, which I served over couscous. I took one sixth of the recipe which was a "normal" size plate - about 1/2 cup of couscous with 1.5 cups of ratatouille. Then I had my regular dessert and I was "uncomfortably" full after that. I couldn't possibly have eaten another bite.
This morning, I put peanut butter in my oats. That increases the calories quickly, without making me more full than usual. I also might try just adding one calorie dense treat somewhere in my day (e.g. a couple of cookies for 200 calories or some chocolate would do the trick!)
I do feel like I am getting there slowly. Right from the start, I said that I didn't want to jump to 1800 calories a day right away. I've tried that before and it didn't work for me. So, I am going slow... YES, it's taking way longer than I originally anticipated (mostly because I'm nervous about it), but I'll get there....
Here is my food from yesterday...
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Day 170 - Ideas to Add More Healthy Calories
I am trying to think of some ways that I can add more calories to my diet without eating junk food or trigger foods, and without disrupting my nutrient balance too much (e.g. don't want to add a bunch of carby snacks - which would be my tendency).
The main problem is that I am FULL pretty much all the time.
Breakfast: My normal breakfast which is usually about 400 calories fills me up, so I don't really want/need to add more. I usually eat cold cereal or hot cereal in some form with add ins and half a grapefruit.
Lunch: I've considered substituting a more calorie dense SANDWICH at lunch time, but the truth is, I just LOVE my toasted avocado, laughing cow and tomato sandwich so much that I can't bring myself to make the switch. I added a side dish to my sandwich and my lunch comes to around 500 calories in total. But honestly, I eat SO MUCH food at lunch, somedays it makes me feel overfull, which I don't like. I eat my sandwich, my side dish (veggie soup, veggie sticks or rice crisps), a fruit, a yoghurt and a vitatop...
Dinner: The calories for my dinner vary more, but more often than not, I cook some sort of lean protein (chicken, fish, pork) and pair it with PILES of steamed veggies and either potato or 1/2 cup of rice or couscous. I'll usually add some discretionary calories (e.g. olive oil or butter for potato, dipping sauce for meat, butter in rice etc... depending). My dinner usually comes to around 500 calories including my dessert (normally tapioca or rice pudding).
Snacks: I don't have a set snacking pattern. I usually look at my day, and what I have planned in terms of exercise and add snacks, if I think I'll need them (or if my calories seem low). Most of my snacks are 100-200 calories and my favorites include: Ryvita Crisps with Laughing Cow and sliced apple or grapes; Raw Almonds, Fruit, Popcorn, Hummus and Crackers...
So, it is starting to become apparent that I need to add MORE somewhere. But where and what? How do I add more without (a) changing what I already eat - which I love OR (b) not eating junk food OR (c) not being even more OVERFULL than I already am...
The current times of the day when I would be hungry enough to eat are right after work about 4-5pm before dinner - but I don't like to "spoil my dinner" and I don't let my kids eat then... and I should probably practice what I preach! And right before bed, I'm not usually "hungry" per se, but not full either - I could accommodate a snack. But again, for some reason eating right before I go to bed seems like something I shouldn't make a habit of...
Anyway, something I've noticed is that you should NEVER EVER EVER mention aloud that you are having trouble figuring out how to work enough calories into your diet in order to stabilize your weight... I makes people REALLY ANGRY AND BELLIGERENT... LOL. A friend commented the other day on my weight... one of those "you're wasting away" comments (not said in a nice way), and I said (a little defensively)... "I'm not really trying to lose more weight, but I'm having trouble getting my calories high enough... I've lost about 5 more pounds than I originally intended".... she got REALLY angry.... She was like, well EAT MORE!!!! STOP STARVING YOURSELF!!! Then she starts trying to push some Tim Hortons cookies on me (and I said "no thanks", which seemed to make her MORE ANGRY). I wanted to go on to explain that I was trying to eat more, but in a healthy way... I don't want to eat junk, or more things that come from packages and are high in sodium!! But I didn't - she struggles with some unwanted pounds and I thought it would be best not to say more...
Anyway, here is what I ate yesterday.... I have discovered a new add in for my oatmeal... mashed banana and a tablespoon of brownie mix powder - YES BROWNIE MIX... I know that isn't consistent with ANYTHING I said about about adding HEALTHY calories... but it's SO GOOD, and even I make exceptions sometimes (if its worth it!)...
The main problem is that I am FULL pretty much all the time.
Breakfast: My normal breakfast which is usually about 400 calories fills me up, so I don't really want/need to add more. I usually eat cold cereal or hot cereal in some form with add ins and half a grapefruit.
Lunch: I've considered substituting a more calorie dense SANDWICH at lunch time, but the truth is, I just LOVE my toasted avocado, laughing cow and tomato sandwich so much that I can't bring myself to make the switch. I added a side dish to my sandwich and my lunch comes to around 500 calories in total. But honestly, I eat SO MUCH food at lunch, somedays it makes me feel overfull, which I don't like. I eat my sandwich, my side dish (veggie soup, veggie sticks or rice crisps), a fruit, a yoghurt and a vitatop...
Dinner: The calories for my dinner vary more, but more often than not, I cook some sort of lean protein (chicken, fish, pork) and pair it with PILES of steamed veggies and either potato or 1/2 cup of rice or couscous. I'll usually add some discretionary calories (e.g. olive oil or butter for potato, dipping sauce for meat, butter in rice etc... depending). My dinner usually comes to around 500 calories including my dessert (normally tapioca or rice pudding).
Snacks: I don't have a set snacking pattern. I usually look at my day, and what I have planned in terms of exercise and add snacks, if I think I'll need them (or if my calories seem low). Most of my snacks are 100-200 calories and my favorites include: Ryvita Crisps with Laughing Cow and sliced apple or grapes; Raw Almonds, Fruit, Popcorn, Hummus and Crackers...
So, it is starting to become apparent that I need to add MORE somewhere. But where and what? How do I add more without (a) changing what I already eat - which I love OR (b) not eating junk food OR (c) not being even more OVERFULL than I already am...
The current times of the day when I would be hungry enough to eat are right after work about 4-5pm before dinner - but I don't like to "spoil my dinner" and I don't let my kids eat then... and I should probably practice what I preach! And right before bed, I'm not usually "hungry" per se, but not full either - I could accommodate a snack. But again, for some reason eating right before I go to bed seems like something I shouldn't make a habit of...
Anyway, something I've noticed is that you should NEVER EVER EVER mention aloud that you are having trouble figuring out how to work enough calories into your diet in order to stabilize your weight... I makes people REALLY ANGRY AND BELLIGERENT... LOL. A friend commented the other day on my weight... one of those "you're wasting away" comments (not said in a nice way), and I said (a little defensively)... "I'm not really trying to lose more weight, but I'm having trouble getting my calories high enough... I've lost about 5 more pounds than I originally intended".... she got REALLY angry.... She was like, well EAT MORE!!!! STOP STARVING YOURSELF!!! Then she starts trying to push some Tim Hortons cookies on me (and I said "no thanks", which seemed to make her MORE ANGRY). I wanted to go on to explain that I was trying to eat more, but in a healthy way... I don't want to eat junk, or more things that come from packages and are high in sodium!! But I didn't - she struggles with some unwanted pounds and I thought it would be best not to say more...
Anyway, here is what I ate yesterday.... I have discovered a new add in for my oatmeal... mashed banana and a tablespoon of brownie mix powder - YES BROWNIE MIX... I know that isn't consistent with ANYTHING I said about about adding HEALTHY calories... but it's SO GOOD, and even I make exceptions sometimes (if its worth it!)...
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Day 169 - For the Rest of My Life... REALLY?
Somedays this maintenance thing seems really easy... eat my regular foods (that I love)... avoid splurges. NO PROBLEM. Although, sometimes when I get to thinking that I have to be careful of my eating for the rest of my life in order to stay slim... I start to get down on myself. But then I realize, there are CERTAIN things that YES, I will have to do for the rest of my life. But there are other things I can stop doing... (not yet though, I really want my body to become used to being 125-130lbs for a while first)...
THINGS I HAVE TO DO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE:
1. Weight myself every morning. Really, this isn't too onerous, it takes 3 seconds, and it will help me to notice and correct any upward trends early.
2. Eat healthy *most* of the time.
3. Exercise.
4. Avoid Binging. Overeating once in a while (OK), mindless binging when I'm not even hungry (WAY NOT OK).
THINGS THAT I CHOOSE TO DO NOW, THAT I DON'T HAVE TO DO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE:
1. Counting Calories. Right now this gives me comfort, and I will continue... but as long as I weigh myself everyday, I don't think I also have to count calories - if I decide to stop, I will do so without guilt. Besides, I can always go BACK to counting calories at any time I want.
2. Tracking. My daily ritual of tracking everything I eat, and my weight etc in an excel spreadsheet is fun... but time consuming (and possibly a little obsessive). I could stop that, if I chose to. I think I can remember what weight I'm suppose to be, from day to day without logging and charting it...
3. Blogging. Also time consuming. It helps with the motivation and accountability, but will I do it forever and ever? Probably not.
4. Weighing everything I eat. Similar to counting calories, if my weight stays fairly constant do I really need to keep weighing everything? This one would be hard to stop, because I know it is easy to let those portion sizes slowly creep up. But I could also opt for a mixed approach... e.g. weigh calorie dense items (meat, pasta, rice, cheese, peanut butter), stop weighing vegetables and fruits, stop weighing things that are already portioned out (e.g. a slice of bread, a bagel).
There is probably more that I could add to these lists. But one thing that I don't know if I will ever be able to change, is the way my food intake and my weight is ALWAYS at the forefront of my mind. I can never truly forget about it. It's on my mind, it's always there and it plays into everything I do... sometimes that bothers me... why can't I just go about my life without worrying about what I'm eating, and how much I'm exercising?? Sadly, though, in my experience, if I stop thinking about it and planning everything, it means my guard is down and I've gotten lazy and I will probably start gaining weight...
Here is what I ate yesterday. I have a big weekend coming up (Dinner Event Saturday, Breakfast Out Sunday, Bookclub Sunday, Business Trip Mon-Tues)... so I am trying to bank a few calories this week... (see how I'm THINKING ABOUT IT... GRRR).
THINGS I HAVE TO DO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE:
1. Weight myself every morning. Really, this isn't too onerous, it takes 3 seconds, and it will help me to notice and correct any upward trends early.
2. Eat healthy *most* of the time.
3. Exercise.
4. Avoid Binging. Overeating once in a while (OK), mindless binging when I'm not even hungry (WAY NOT OK).
THINGS THAT I CHOOSE TO DO NOW, THAT I DON'T HAVE TO DO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE:
1. Counting Calories. Right now this gives me comfort, and I will continue... but as long as I weigh myself everyday, I don't think I also have to count calories - if I decide to stop, I will do so without guilt. Besides, I can always go BACK to counting calories at any time I want.
2. Tracking. My daily ritual of tracking everything I eat, and my weight etc in an excel spreadsheet is fun... but time consuming (and possibly a little obsessive). I could stop that, if I chose to. I think I can remember what weight I'm suppose to be, from day to day without logging and charting it...
3. Blogging. Also time consuming. It helps with the motivation and accountability, but will I do it forever and ever? Probably not.
4. Weighing everything I eat. Similar to counting calories, if my weight stays fairly constant do I really need to keep weighing everything? This one would be hard to stop, because I know it is easy to let those portion sizes slowly creep up. But I could also opt for a mixed approach... e.g. weigh calorie dense items (meat, pasta, rice, cheese, peanut butter), stop weighing vegetables and fruits, stop weighing things that are already portioned out (e.g. a slice of bread, a bagel).
There is probably more that I could add to these lists. But one thing that I don't know if I will ever be able to change, is the way my food intake and my weight is ALWAYS at the forefront of my mind. I can never truly forget about it. It's on my mind, it's always there and it plays into everything I do... sometimes that bothers me... why can't I just go about my life without worrying about what I'm eating, and how much I'm exercising?? Sadly, though, in my experience, if I stop thinking about it and planning everything, it means my guard is down and I've gotten lazy and I will probably start gaining weight...
Here is what I ate yesterday. I have a big weekend coming up (Dinner Event Saturday, Breakfast Out Sunday, Bookclub Sunday, Business Trip Mon-Tues)... so I am trying to bank a few calories this week... (see how I'm THINKING ABOUT IT... GRRR).
Monday, November 2, 2009
Day 168 - Great Halloween and Bunny Pics
I had a great Halloween weekend, and I want to report that NOT ONE SINGLE piece of candy/chocolate/junk food crossed my lips (and I didn't miss it at all!). Unfortunately, I can't really say the same thing for beer... LOL.
I went to a costume party Saturday night. I ate my dinner RIGHT before we left for the party which started at 8pm, so I wouldn't be hungry (and I wasn't) so I never ate anything from the snack food spread, but I did drink my share of beer (as you can probably tell from the picture below where I am doing the Karaoke thing... not something I would normally do sober!!!). Sorry about the poor quality pics, I grabbed them from a friends facebook page...
Sunday was a good day, we had a lovely pork roast for dinner and I tried a new recipe (Braised Cabbage with Apple and Onion)... it was delicious and I got a HUGE pile of it for only 77 calories!!
I have also discovered something new that I just love doing... since I reached maintenance I have started having something "on the side" with my sandwich at lunch, usually either veggies with dip, rice chips, or soup. I recently invested in a "Magic Bullet" and I have started taking leftover veggies from dinner, throwing them in the bullet - topping it up to make one cup with vegetable broth and then I whiz it up for a fabulous soup! Sunday I had leftover Sweet Potatoes, so I made a Sweet Potato and Apple soup (yum!!). Today I made a soup with the leftover Braised Cabbage. I am finding this kind of soup is a great way to up my veggie intake (and the fullness factor) without adding many calories!
I went to a costume party Saturday night. I ate my dinner RIGHT before we left for the party which started at 8pm, so I wouldn't be hungry (and I wasn't) so I never ate anything from the snack food spread, but I did drink my share of beer (as you can probably tell from the picture below where I am doing the Karaoke thing... not something I would normally do sober!!!). Sorry about the poor quality pics, I grabbed them from a friends facebook page...
Sunday was a good day, we had a lovely pork roast for dinner and I tried a new recipe (Braised Cabbage with Apple and Onion)... it was delicious and I got a HUGE pile of it for only 77 calories!!
I have also discovered something new that I just love doing... since I reached maintenance I have started having something "on the side" with my sandwich at lunch, usually either veggies with dip, rice chips, or soup. I recently invested in a "Magic Bullet" and I have started taking leftover veggies from dinner, throwing them in the bullet - topping it up to make one cup with vegetable broth and then I whiz it up for a fabulous soup! Sunday I had leftover Sweet Potatoes, so I made a Sweet Potato and Apple soup (yum!!). Today I made a soup with the leftover Braised Cabbage. I am finding this kind of soup is a great way to up my veggie intake (and the fullness factor) without adding many calories!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Day 165 - Weekend is Free and Clear
For the first time in I don't know HOW LONG... I have a weekend coming up that is free and clear of FOOD DANGER ZONES... I get to eat all my meals at home this weekend! We do have a Halloween Party on Saturday night, but it starts at 8pm (so I will eat at home before I go)... and I won't drink because I will be the designated driver anyway... other than that, I get to have my regular meals.
This is great, because for about the next 6 weeks after that, we have something on every single weekend. Next weekend is a biggie - a Fall Dinner Dance related to my husband's work. We usually go to a Pre-Dinner party in somebody's hotel room (lots of yummy appetizers), a gourmet 4 course dinner at the event (with unlimited booze)... then we stay over at the hotel and go out for Sunday brunch the next day... That one will be REALLY hard to navigate!!
Then there are other countless Christmas Parties and Events coming up over the next few weeks. And my husband and I have a gift certificate for a dinner for two at a fancy restaurant that he was given last year as a gift from a work contact. It expires at Christmas... so we have to use it before we leave for New Zealand... YIKES!!!
My eats from yesterday were pretty good. I am finding it really hard to get my calories up. I feel like I am eating ALL day long, and then I sit down at the computer around 9pm and figure it all about and I'm usually under 1500. I want to be eating closer to 1600 (so that I average at about 1700 after the weekends). But it's 9pm, and I just finished dinner, and I don't really like eating just for the sake of it right before I go to bed...
This is great, because for about the next 6 weeks after that, we have something on every single weekend. Next weekend is a biggie - a Fall Dinner Dance related to my husband's work. We usually go to a Pre-Dinner party in somebody's hotel room (lots of yummy appetizers), a gourmet 4 course dinner at the event (with unlimited booze)... then we stay over at the hotel and go out for Sunday brunch the next day... That one will be REALLY hard to navigate!!
Then there are other countless Christmas Parties and Events coming up over the next few weeks. And my husband and I have a gift certificate for a dinner for two at a fancy restaurant that he was given last year as a gift from a work contact. It expires at Christmas... so we have to use it before we leave for New Zealand... YIKES!!!
My eats from yesterday were pretty good. I am finding it really hard to get my calories up. I feel like I am eating ALL day long, and then I sit down at the computer around 9pm and figure it all about and I'm usually under 1500. I want to be eating closer to 1600 (so that I average at about 1700 after the weekends). But it's 9pm, and I just finished dinner, and I don't really like eating just for the sake of it right before I go to bed...
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Day 164 - Holy Moly! Another Vacation!
So my husband is being sent to a work conference in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and I have the opportunity to go with him for a week at the end of January!!
Awesome! Right? What could possibly be the problem?
OK, obviously I'm not expecting anyone to feel sorry for me....BUT...here's the thing.... you know that 4 week long vacation in New Zealand that is causing me so much stress? The one where I will be eating in restaurants and hotels three meals a day?? Well, I'll get back from New Zealand and I'll have ONE WEEK to get back on track with my routine and then I'll be off to Mexico where: (1) I'm probably going to want to wear a BIKINI and (2) We will be staying at a 5 star all inclusive resort where the food looks fantastic and the drinks are free...
YIKES! This just makes it even more imperative to me that I don't gain weight in New Zealand!! And it is really adding to my stress level... Good new is, that if I can make it through these 5 weeks of vacation unscathed (I am defining unscathed as 5lbs or LESS of weight gain or not going over 130lbs) than I think I can do ANYTHING!
Here is my food from yesterday... I tried a new morning cereal. It's called "Red River Hot Cereal"... the only ingredients are Wheat, Rye and Flax. It has no added sugar, low sodium, 6g of fibre and 6g of protein per serving, and only 150 calories and 3 grams of fat! I was worried because it looked a little like birdseed, but it was really good, the flax seeds stayed crunchy and rest was smooth and creamy! I cooked it in almond milk and added my usual mashed banana and 2 tsp of molasses. It kept me STUFFED until lunch. It's a KEEPER!
I dipped below my "RED LINE" this morning on the scale.... 124.8, so I am going up my calories to an average of 1700 a day...
Awesome! Right? What could possibly be the problem?
OK, obviously I'm not expecting anyone to feel sorry for me....BUT...here's the thing.... you know that 4 week long vacation in New Zealand that is causing me so much stress? The one where I will be eating in restaurants and hotels three meals a day?? Well, I'll get back from New Zealand and I'll have ONE WEEK to get back on track with my routine and then I'll be off to Mexico where: (1) I'm probably going to want to wear a BIKINI and (2) We will be staying at a 5 star all inclusive resort where the food looks fantastic and the drinks are free...
YIKES! This just makes it even more imperative to me that I don't gain weight in New Zealand!! And it is really adding to my stress level... Good new is, that if I can make it through these 5 weeks of vacation unscathed (I am defining unscathed as 5lbs or LESS of weight gain or not going over 130lbs) than I think I can do ANYTHING!
Here is my food from yesterday... I tried a new morning cereal. It's called "Red River Hot Cereal"... the only ingredients are Wheat, Rye and Flax. It has no added sugar, low sodium, 6g of fibre and 6g of protein per serving, and only 150 calories and 3 grams of fat! I was worried because it looked a little like birdseed, but it was really good, the flax seeds stayed crunchy and rest was smooth and creamy! I cooked it in almond milk and added my usual mashed banana and 2 tsp of molasses. It kept me STUFFED until lunch. It's a KEEPER!
I dipped below my "RED LINE" this morning on the scale.... 124.8, so I am going up my calories to an average of 1700 a day...
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