Sunday, August 1, 2010

I'm counting my blessings..

I had a tough day at work on Thursday and I want to tell you about it.  I am not one to take work home with me.  So much that I often forget names of patients I took care of yesterday.  Sad really, but true.  Thursday I took care of a sweet family that I will NEVER forget.  I was supposed to work my usual 3-11 shift but my boss called me at 8:30 and asked me if I could come in "like now."  I said sure and would be there in an hour.  Then she told me that my assignment would be to take care of a full term demise.  (A stillborn).  Umm could I change my mind and say that I was unavailable?...  I moaned and growned a bit, but went in.  The poor girl came in in labor that morning all excited because she was having contractions.  She was 2 days past her due date for her second child.  The nurse that admitted her was unable to find a heartbeat.  He baby boy was no longer alive.  She knew for sure she felt him move on Tuesday night.  "He was doing the olympics in there."  I took care of her through her labor and delivery.  She delivered a beautiful boy 8 lbs 2 oz.  He was perfect in every way.  Just not alive.  It was the most heart wrenching thing.  He had his umbilical cord wrapped tightly around him 4 times.  At first she didn't want to see him so I took him out of the room.  I cleaned him up and dressed him in a little blue outfit and hat.  A couple hours later I sat and held her hand and told her how perfect he was and that she really should hold him.  It would be her only chance.  I brought him into the room and handed him to her.  I held her hand while she sobbed.  It was so heartbreaking.  I cried with her and her family.  Today I went to the wake.  It is amazing how strong people can be.  I believe that having a strong faith that some things are out of our hands is the only way through things like this. As hard as days like this are for me, it is much harder for the patient.  It is days like this why I know I am a nurse.  I love my job even when it is terrible.  Today I am counting my blessings.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Craving alone time...

Oh to be alone.  I really really need time to myself to be sane and happy.  I have always known this about myself, but it is more and more clear lately.  It is not that I am not grateful for my wonderful husband or my adorable child but I need some time with me.  Now that the hubby is laid off he is around all the time.  We are sharing one vehicle, one cellphone, and one computer.  I rarely even get to drive to work by myself!!  I miss Target and TJ Maxx.  I miss feeling secure financially.  This is a great learning experience for us.  I have learned that I enjoy being alone occasionally.  This is also one of my overeating triggers though too.  I think I get so excited to be alone that I react by eating.  Take tonight for example.  The hubs went out with a friend for a couple hours.  As soon as he left I went to the cupboard for a snack.  I had a (one) cool ranch dorito - YUCK, threw those away  (plus it was stall).  Then I opened the bag of baked cheetohs.  I had a handful.  NOT Satisfying.  Then I ate a reeses peanut butter cup.  Then I thought a bit about why I was eating.  I was so happy to be alone.  The kiddo was in bed and I could have some time to myself.  I curled up on the couch with a blanket and read my book.  That was more satisfying than anything I put in my mouth.  Why do I eat like this?  I don't know.  It's my first instinct.  I am working on it and am so proud of myself for stopping when I did.  It is so important to spend some time with your thoughts and emotions and get to know YOU.  I am not good at this, but I am learning.   I went for a 4 mile run today and it was heavenly, but not long enough.  I didn't want it to end.  It felt SO GOOD.  I should've kept going but I didn't.  When I got home I was irritable because I wasn't done spending time with myself.  A lesson to me: Schedule more ME time in my days.  Our lives are under a lot of stress right now and it is so important to remain healthy.  My goal for August is to put aside a bit of time for me every day.  I'll keep you posted.

On another note: I have lost more weight since I quit WW than I did in the last month or so that I was going.  I have been listening to my body and eating what it needs.  Interesting how this is.  I hope I can keep it up.  I think August will bring good things.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Peace...

I realized that I haven't posted my weight in forever.  Not that anyone really reads this anyway.  I feel a huge sense of peace the last few days.  I quit weight watchers to save some money but I will still be eating healthy.  Just not counting points.  I have realized that I am a huge compulsive/emotional eater.  Probably on the verge of an eating disorder actually.  I have come to terms with it and am working hard on fixing this issue.  It feels so good and PEACEFUL really... to not be on a diet any longer.  I am really concentrating on eating what my body wants and needs.  I will be writing a long post about this in the near future, but I just wanted to check in and let you know that I am on my way to finding peace with my weight issue.  More on this later....

Thursday, July 15, 2010

The rug pulled out from underneath

Today the hubs lost his job.  It was  pretty much a total surprise.  We heard a rumor 2 days ago that this might be happening but it still isn't much warning.  It makes you think and it's a good lesson to not take things for granted.  He was doing very well at his job. He was the number 3 in sales out of 15.  It downright sucks really.  But we will be okay.  I have a great job and can easily pick up more hours.  This may lead to bigger and better things.  We aren't always the best with our money and this is a great lesson for us to build up our savings for emergency situations like this.  Bad luck comes in threes... He lost his wedding ring last week, now he lost his job... We'll just wait and see what the third thing is.  I had a sick feeling this weekend and couldn't sleep because I felt like something bad was going to happen.  It could be much worse though. 

I didn't weigh in today.  I will probably quit my WW membership to help save some money.  I did run this morning and I ate better today than I have in a long time.  Maybe this situation will make some good changes in all of us in many ways.

When life gives you lemons... make lemonaid.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Stressed and Crazy

That is me today in a nutshell.  Our internet is down for some reason so I haven't been able to post pictures of my eats.  I am on the hub's work computer and using wireless internet right now so I'm sorry for the lack of posting.  This isn't going to be a heartwarming post either.  I feel sorry for people with mental illness and can relate today.  Long story short - I decided a few weeks ago to go back on the infertility drug I used before.   I was doing fairly well until today.  Today I felt crazy.  I can't concentrate, think straight and feel like I want to scream or cry and any given moment.  I wouldn't have liked to gone back to bed and slept the day away.  I made it through, barely... in one piece.  I won't bore you with the details of my craziness, but I just needed to put it out there.  This hasn't been a good week for me either food-wise.  Stress and emotions lead me to poor food choices. END of Story.  This I need to work on.  Any suggestions?

Sunday, July 11, 2010

I'm back!!

Starting tomorrow I will be taking pictures of my food again.  This keeps me most honest.    I have been on vacation for the last week and a half.  Honestly I never even took my tracker out of my purse... Sad.  I did do quite a bit of running though.  I don't feel good though due to my poor eating.  Keep me honest and keep me motivated. Tomorrow is a new day.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Big girl pants

I'm pulling up my big girl pants and trying to change my attitude.  I think I just needed an attitude adjustment!  It took until Saturday to do it, but I'm not going to dwell on it. I finally got to sleep in Saturday morning - until 9:30!!  Then I ran 5 miles and felt like a million bucks!!  I now I've said this before, but I'll say it again- Sleep does a mind and body good.  Ever since we went camping the kiddo has decided to start his day at 6 am.  He used to sleep until 8:30...  I really like working out before he gets up but once again I need to be flexible because I am a mommy and that isn't going to change any time soon. 

My goal for this week is to only eat at the kitchen table.  Sounds simple right?  I have been paying very close to my habits this past week.  I tend to eat mindlessly when I am stressed, and I never sit down at the table while I am doing it.  That is my goal and to weigh in on thursday.

In other news...My sisters and I started training for a half marathon in October!  Well I should say they started last monday.  I started on Saturday!  I am on it today though, don't you worry.  Today is a cross training day.  I am going to do my Kenpo-X workout from the P-90x dvds.

I am contemplating joining the YMCA again. It is only 1.5 miles from our house and I think it has a lot more things for the kiddo to do now that he is a little bigger.  I think I will go check it out today.  They have a lot of classes like spinning, yoga, pilates, etc...  Plus they have a pool and I'd love to swim laps occasionally.  Just a thought!

Random note : I've discovered that I love sweet potatoes... plain! 

Have a good day!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Caution: not a uplifting post!!

So I've been really struggling this week...  Mentally and physically.  I've been trying to think of a blog post for the last couple days and I've got nothing good to say.  I am not sure why I've been down in the dumps the last couple days.  I haven't tracked a single thing since last wednesday. BOO.  We went camping this last weekend and had an absolute blast.  I didn't eat terribly and I even worked out a couple times!  The problem has been since Sunday.  I am not sure why, but I can't get enough to eat... and it's not good stuff either.  I am getting tired of constantly thinking about food.  It seems to be consuming my life.  Don't get me wrong, I love food and all things about it... I just hate feeling so out of control.  I especially hate that it is controlling my life.  I am sick of basing how good of a time I had on how well I ate.  I was thinking about this the other day and how long I have been like this.  I can even remember on my wedding day saying "It's my wedding - so I can have a piece of cake!"  Seriously? This is really sad that I have to give myself permission to eat "bad things".  I have been reading a book about intuitive eating.  It is about giving up dieting and listening to your body.  It is totally contradictory of doing WW although WW does try to emphasize a lot of the points in the book.  The idea is to give up counting calories, points, etc  and truely listening to your body.  It is about facing your feelings and not using food to cover them up, it is about paying attention to hunger signals, making peace with food, etc...  All of these things are things I need to work on.  I am torn about continuing to pay for WW when I am not being strict with myself.  I am sick of gaining and losing the same few pounds. I am SICK OF BEING FAT.  I know that the only person that can do this for me is ME.  But if I can't seem to do it then what??  I know this post is a downer but this is my place to pout. The other thing that has been on my mind is going back on infertility drugs.  I really want to have another baby.  My plan was to lose weight to see if my periods became regular.  Well they aren't, and I haven't lost enough weight to tell if this will help.  I don't want to have to make this decision.  Drugs or no drugs?  Diet or not to diet?  I'm struggling...

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Sigh...

I gained 0.6 lbs this week.  I only worked out twice so I am sure this has a lot to do with it.  I will not be putting my food on here this next week because I will be gone for 4 days.  That is a lot of catch up blogging!  I will be thinking of you guys watching me and will still be tracking.  We are going camping from today until Sunday.  I packed lots of healthy foods and plan to do lots of hiking... Until then....

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Today is better..

Breakfast was a bowl of honey nut cheerios with skim milk and a banana. (6 pts)

After breakfast I went for a quick run with the dog and the stroller (20 minutes) before it started to rain. I also did half of a Jillian's 30 day shred workout before my DVD stopped working.  Not a great workout but better than nothing. 
The problem with cereal is that it doesn't last very long.  I was really hungry by 10:30, so I had an early lunch at 11.  It was a ham and cheese sandwich made with a whole wheat Arnold's sandwich thin, 2 oz of ham and a slice of reduced fat provolone cheese. (3 pts) 
I also added tomato, a huge bunch of spring greens and some light mayo. On the side was baby carrots and grapes with a glass of milk. (8 pts)



 
Around 12:30 I was still hungry so I made a smoothie!!
 

Today's smoothie was made of the last of the frozen strawberries that I picked last summer, some fresh pineapple, spinach and 1/2 cup lowfat yogurt.  (3 pts).  I am so excited to pick fresh strawberries very soon.  They are ready here and I am waiting to hear how they are before I go picking.  I plan on stocking up my freezer for smoothies!!!
The kiddo drank about half of it today!
I have to work again tonight so I'll add my dinner after I pack it.

Struggling...


I am struggling a bit these last few days.  It's not that I'm not motivated because I am... it's just that I am tired and don't feel like cooking.  The thing is... I have 2 picky eaters at my house.  The kiddo only eats fruit and lately vegetable soup, and the hubs only eats a handful of things as well.  I am out of ideas of what to make.  I love to cook but I hate when no one appreciates it.  I am sick of making the same things, so I haven't been cooking at all...
Breakfast was an egg sandwich with a banana and milk (9pts)
Lunch was nachos made with tortilla chips, fat free refried beans, a tiny bit of taco meat, reduced fat cheese, tomatos, green onions, lettuce, salsa and reduced fat sour cream along with milk. (9.5 pts)
I stayed away from the cookies today but had some choc and pb chips. (4pts).
Dinner was homemade chicken noodle soup.  It wasn't very good so I only ate a little bit. (1 pt). Then I had a side salad with balsalmic vinegarette drsg and some pineapple and strawberries. (3 pts)

My plan was to work out in the evening, but I was so tired that I went to bed early instead.  I really need to add more workouts into my week. Total points today 26.5.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Sunday was breakfast on the farm!

Sunday morning we went to breakfast on the farm.
I had a chai tea before we left. (3 pts) I make it with skim milk.


At the farm I ate scrambled eggs, 2 slices of cinnamon bread with butter, a sip of orange juice, and 2 sausage links.  Not the most healthy breakfast, but yummy! (17 pts I estimated)
I also shared some vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries with the kiddo.
(5 pts)
I ate another cookie when I got home.  Why?  I don't know because they are sitting on the counter. (3 pts).

I worked from 3-11.  Since breakfast was around 11 I didn't eat lunch.
Dinner I made a salad with spring greens, left over bbq chicken, corn, tomatos, reduced fat cheese and topped it with lite ranch dressing.(6 pts).  I also had cottage cheese and an apple (3 pts).
I packed baby carrots but didn't eat them because I was too full.  I had the grapes on the way home. (1 pt)

It was a stressful night at work and I didn't get home until after 1 am.  I ate dinner at 4:30 so I was really hungry.  Along with the grapes I had - you guessed it -a cookie and some baked cheddar snack mix from the vending machine.
I am calculating the points now and could cry.  Why did I do this to myself?  The snack mix was 5 points.  I didn't plan ahead the last two days and it really shows.  I ate 21 flex points today didn't work out.  That is not good. 
Here's what I learned after analyzing this weekend.  Bad choices are made when I don't plan ahead.  I need to write down my food and figure the points before I eat something.  Often the junk isn't worth it.  On Saturday I should've eaten a more protein filled lunch after running to keep me from being hungry.  On Sunday I should've not eaten so much at breakfast.  Especially not the sausage links.  I don't really like breakfast meat and they are 3 points a piece.  Then after I got home from work I should've avoided the kitchen or maybe packed a bigger more filling snack to keep me from eating at home.  I was really tired and stressed from a long night of work.  Any suggestions for things to do other than eating in a situation like this?  It was late and I needed to go to bed, but I need about a half hour to unwind before I crawl under the covers.  What are your ideas?


Saturday - Bellin Run Day


I went to bed on Friday night around midnight.  Not ideal for a race in the morning but you have to do what you have to do...  I woke up around 6:30 and had a slice of homemade multigrain bread with peanut butter and a banana. (6 pts). 

It was a rainy cool race day... perfect actually.  It misted a few times during the race. Just enough to cool you down.  I love doing this race.  It is my 4th time doing it.  I've only missed one year since we moved here.  I haven't been running longer than 4 miles on my runs lately so I was a bit nervous about it.  I didn't have any goal in mind.  My plan was to run it slowly and enjoy it.  I truely did just that.  My slowest time ever 1:05.55.  That is on average 10:37 minute miles.  VERY SLOW!!!  I had a few issues physically.  I felt like I was going to crap my pants most of the race because my stomach was churning.  I think I didn't give my food enough time to digest. I also gained a huge blister on the arch of my left foot. My shoes aren't even that old but every time I run over 4 miles I get this same blister.  I think I need to make a trip to the running store to get refitted.  Mentally I was fine.  I listened to my i-pod for the whole race.  I'm not sure I liked that because I couldn't appreciate the crowd as much.  There was about 17,000 runners.  It is by far my favorite race ro run.  So overall I am satisfied with my run.  I think next year I'd like to try to run it under an hour.

After the race I had a granola bar and a banana (4 pts)
Lunch was a bowl of vegetable beef & barley soup, a roll and a glass of milk.  (6 pts)
I ate a cookie for a snack (3 pts)
I should've had a bigger lunch because I proceeded to snack all day.  I had string cheese (1 pt) and some twizzlers (3 pts).  I was supposed to work from 11-11 today but was put on call because we were slow.  This only hurt me because I was bored. 

I ate a late unpictured dinner from Qdoba.  I had a naked bowl with chicken, rice, black beans, salsa, sour cream, and cheese.  (12 pts) .  I also had some tortilla chips from home (3 pts) and guacamole (2 pts).  It was delicious!  I love Mexican or southwest food can you tell?!

I ate way too many points today due to poor planning.  I used 16 of my flex points.. but I did earn quite a few activity points after running 6.2 miles. 

Friday...

So obviously I'm not a very good weekend blogger... but here's how it went

Breakfast was unpictured oatmeal with brown sugar.  I know that brown sugar isn't the healthiest option and there is so many other fun things to mix in oatmeal, but I love it with brown sugar.  My goal is to try to love it more other ways with fruit or peanut butter or something healthier...  I also had strawberries and a glass of milk.  (total pts for breakfast 6)
Lunch was a fold it with left over steak, onions, peppers, lettuce, tomato, taco sauce and reduced fat sour cream.  I also had a glass of milk. ( 7.5 pts)
I had a monster cookie for dessert. (3 pts)
I had to work from 3-11, so I packed my dinner.  It consisted of left over bbq chicken, corn-off-the cob, roasted red potatoes and grapes for an evening snack. (6 pts)

Before I left for work I had a smoothie made of 1 cup of mixed berries, 1/2 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt, 2 cups spinach and 1 cup of strawberries.  (3 pts)
My total points for the day was 25.5.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Today's eats


Breakfast was 2 french toast with lite syrup again - 8pts.  I finally went grocery shopping after breakfast today.  I love grocery shopping!
Strawberries (1 pt)

The kiddo said "take a picture of my waffles mom."  So I did!!  Isn't he cute!

Lunch was vegetable soup (2 pts), low fat cottage cheese (2 pts) and a glass of milk (2 pts)
Yes it is June and yes I made a huge pot of veggie soup.  The kiddo loves vegetable soup and asks for it almost daily for lunch.  I loaded up the freezer for quick go to meals.  I love doing this.
I was really hungry about 2 hours after lunch.... So I ate...

a- PB &J  (4pts)
Dinner was supposed to be BBQ chicken on the grill but some one (AHEM, me) left the gas on the grill last night, so the tank was empty.  I baked BBQ chicken instead.  I also roasted red potatoes with a bit of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and some seasoning.  Corn on the cob and "red lobster biscuits" were also on the menu.
BBQ chicken -3 pts, potatoes -2 pts, corn-1pt, biscuits -2 pts and milk 2pts.
I also may or may not have eaten two of these when they came out of the oven. (4pts)

The hubs, kiddo and I also made monster cookies tonight.  I didn't even have one.  I chewed gum while making them so I wouldn't eat the dough.... They are 3 points each and I will enjoy one tomorrow for sure.  I used 9 flex points today.  Not a great start to my week.  I was going to do yoga today... but I ran out of time, or maybe got lazy...  Tomorrow I hope to fit in a walk before work.  Then it's a 10k on Saturday!!

Eating by the clock

Today's meeting was about being satisfied around the clock with your eating.  It was about the importance of paying attention to your body and listening to your hunger signals.  Knowing whether you are really hungry or not is important as well. Many people eat out of boredom or stress.  I am one of those people.  Stress mostly is a trigger for me to overeat.  I am just now learning this about myself.  When I have a lot going on I tend to get overwhelmed and don't know what to do first.  Instead of clearing my mind or taking a minute to figure out what is really bothering me, I turn to food.  It usually isn't celery and carrots either if you know what I mean.  Some people eat by the clock, meaning breakfast at 8, lunch at noon, etc..   I am learning to listen to my body and eat when I am hungry.  Sometimes this means lunch is at 11 and other days it is at 1.  Some days I have snacks, some days I don't.  A good tip I learned is if you think you are hungry then drink a big glass of water and wait 20 minutes.  Go do something for 20 minutes and if you are still hungry after that then have something to eat.  It really helps me to plan ahead, especially when I am not at home.  If I am going to be out doing something for a long period of time I try to pack a snack with me.  That way I don't turn to junk because I am prepared.  I also try to carry a water bottle with me wherever I go.  Often I find that my hunger is really thirst.  When I drink water all day I am less hungry.  I am really just trying to pay attention and listen to what my body is telling me.  It is a learning process.

On another note -- I lost 4 lbs this week!!!  I am going to keep up the blogging of my food because it is helping me be accountable.  I have lost a total of 10.2 lbs and 5 % of my body weight!

I am running the Bellin Run (a 10k) this saturday with my hubs and brother in law.  I am not out to set any records, just to finish it.  Hopefully it doesn't rain. I have to work 12 hours right after the race, so if it is post poned due to storms I will be very sad.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Wednesday break down


Breakfast was french toast made with my homemade multigrain bread (6 pts) with lite syrup (2 pts) and grapes.

Lunch- sorry no picture. We went to the zoo this morning and I still hadn't gone grocery shopping.  From the zoo cafe -  A half of a wrap made with chicken, avocado, lettuce & tomato (8pts) and a handful of popcorn (1 pt)

Snack was 1 tbsp of peanut butter and milk chocolate chips (2 pts).  I also ate a fudgicle (1pt) today.  I guess I was needing some chocolate!!!

Dinner was 4 oz of steak, grilled peppers and onion and corn. (6 pts).  I also had applesauce. (2pts)
I also had a small handful of twizzler bites (3pts) that the hubs left on the counter.  I am so weak.

I went on a 4 mile run with the hubs and the kiddo in the jogging stroller this afternoon.  I didn't feel to great because I drank 48 oz of water in the 2 hours before I ran.  I could feel it sloshing around in my stomach the whole time.  The plan was to run this evening, but we decided to go earlier instead.  I never turn down a chance to run with a partner!!  I wish he would run with me more often.  He always loves it when we do.  For some reason though, unless it is his idea... he doesn't usually want to run with me.

So for this weeks recap:  I ate all 35 of my flex points and 5 of my 17 activity points.  I didn't work out as much as I would have liked, but overall I feel really good about this week.  Let's hope the scale shows it tomorrow.

are you bored yet?

Because I am!!  These food posts are definately helping me stay on track, but they are SO boring.

Todays Breakfast was an egg sandwich made of - 1 Arnolds Whole Wheat Sandwich thin (1pt), 1 egg (2pts), 1 slice reduced fat colby jack (1pt), 1 oz ham (1pt).  I also had some grapes (1pt) and a glass of skim milk(2pts)
Lunch was another fold it (1pt) with turkey (2pts), cheese (1pt), mayo (1pt) and spinach and tomato.  I also had carrots (0pts) and milk (2pts)
Before work I made another smoothie!  I used 1 cup of mixed frozen berries (blueberries, blackberries and raspberries-1pt), 1 cup frozen strawberries (1pt), spinach (0pts) and 1/2 cup vanilla low fat yogurt (1pt)


Dinner was a PB&J made of a sandwich thin (1pt), 1 tbsp peanut butter (2pts) and 1 tbsp blueberry jam (1pt).  I had 1 serving of honey wheat pretzels  (2pts) and grapes (1 pt).
Snack was a granola bar (2 pts)

I am sorry for the lack of variety in my food this week.  I picked a bad week to show you what I eat. I haven't cooked in days and I badly need to go grocery shopping.  I do tend to eat a lot of the same things but I also love to cook.  Tomorrow my plan is to hit the grocery store and cook some dinner.  I am needing some more vegetables in my life!

Total points 27 - I used 2 flex points and didn't fit a workout in today.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Monday

Breakfast was 1/2 cup quick oats and 1 tbsp brown sugar (3 pts), grapes (1 pt) and milk (2 pts)

Lunch was a yummy sandwich made with -1 5-flax fold it (1pt), 2 oz turkey (2 pts), 1 slice reduced fat colby jack cheese (1 pt), 1 tbsp hellman's light mayo ( 1pt), spinach and tomato (0pts), baby carrots (0pts) and a glass of milk (2 pts)
Before I went to work at 3 pm, I was feeling like I needed some fruits and veggies in my life!  I made a yummy smoothie with spinach (0pts), 1 cup frozen strawberries (1pt), 1 frozen banana (2pts) and 1/2 cup low fat vanilla yogurt (1 pt).  It was AMAZING.  I'm telling you - if you haven't tried this you must.  It was exactly what I needed.  So healthy and so yummy!
Dinner was rather boring since I packed it from home.  Basically same as lunch.  I made a sandwich with 1 Arnold's Whole Wheat Sandwich thin (1 pt), 2 oz sundried tomato turkey breast (2pts), 1 slice reduced fat colby jack (1 pt), 1 tbls light mayo (1pt), spinach and tomato.  I also had an apple ( 1pt)
Snack around 9 pm was a Kashi Granola bar (2pts). 
I don't usually eat late at night unless I am at work.  I work until 11 or midnight and when I come home I am usually STARVING  or maybe stressed and tend to look for something to snack on.  I have found that if I pack a snack to eat in the evening or even on the way home it helps me from eating too much later.  It was a good thing today that I had this granola bar because there was pizza in the fridge when I got home.  The hubs had orded a pizza for dinner tonight when I was at work and it looked GOOD!!!  I have many times eaten a piece after midnight after work when this happens.  NOT tonight!!  I knew I'd have to tell you about it and I really wasn't hungry!  Yay me!!
I went for a 30 minute run today pushing the stroller to the park with the dog too.
Total points -25. Right on target!

Caution: Long boring food post

Saturday June 6

Breakfast was oatmeal made with 1/2 cup quick oats and 1 tbsp brown sugar (3 pts), a banana (1 pt) and a glass of skim milk (2 pts).
For a snack I had one Kashi Granola bar (2 pts) and 1/4 cup raisins (2 pts)
Lunch was a McDonalds Southwest Salad with grilled chicken and a half packet of southwest dressing (7.5 pts). I also ate one of the kiddo's chicken nuggets (1 pt)
Snack was 1/4 cup raisins (2 pts)
Dinner was a few spoonfuls of vegetable soup (0 pts) - the kiddo ate it all!! I had a chicken panini with spinach and cheese - I added tomato and onion from the hub's burger for more veggies. (I estimated 11 pts.)
For a treat later around the campfire I had 1 s'more made with 2 graham cracker squares (1pt), 1 marshmallow (1 pt) and 1 reeses peanut butter cup (2.5 pts) and it was AMAZING!!!
No workout today...
My total points was 34.5. I used 9.5 flex points.

Sunday June 6
Breakfast was a slice of homemade multigrain bread (2pts) with 1 tbsp peanut butter (2 pts) and 1 tbsp blueberry jam (1pt) and some grapes (1 pt)
Snack was some more fruit - honeydew melon, strawberries and blueberries (1pt)
Lunch was a scoop of pasta salad ( 5 pts), a hot dog (5 pts) and a slice of bread (1 pt). I snacked on some cheddar cheese and wheat crackers with lunch also (4pts).  I also had a diet pepsi (0pts)
Snack was a Kashi granola bar (2 pts)
Dinner was a 6" turkey sub on whole wheat bread from Subway.  I added provolone cheese, lettuce, spinach, tomato, onion, green pepper and cucumbers with lite mayo. (8 pts) .  I also had sun chips (4pts) and a diet coke (0pts).
The hubs and I went for a run/hike for about 30 minutes today.
My total points was 36.  I used 11 flex points.

I didn't do awesome these two days, but I am proud of myself for still keeping track.  It is hard to eat balanced meals when you are traveling.  It takes some dedication, but it can be done!

Monday, June 7, 2010

I'm back....

But I am too tired to post right now.  I have been doing well and keeping track of my eats.  I tried to post earlier today, but blogger was down.  I'll get you up to speed tomorrow.

Friday, June 4, 2010

I will be MIA..

I will be MIA for the next couple days.  I will be out of town, but don't you worry... I will be keeping track of my food intake.   I know it has only been two days of me recording my food intake but it is helping!  A couple times today I caught myself thinking about eating something I didn't need.  I was running some errands today and I was in walgreens picking up a prescription for the hubs.  I spotted some jellybeans that looked good at the checkout.  I probably normally would have bought them to eat in the car.  I didn't though because I knew I'd have to tell you about it!!!  Then after dinner some chips-ahoy cookies were brought out.  I normally would have taken one even though they aren't very good, but I didn't because I am being watched!!!  I love it.  Keep watching and keep me motivated!!  My plan is to sneak a workout in before we leave tomorrow.  Thought for the day... You don't have to be perfect, just persistent.  Make small goals - they are easier to reach!!

Friday eats


This morning for breakfast I made an omlet filled with tomato, green pepper, onion, ham and colby jack cheese.  I LOVE omlets!

I used 1 egg and 3 egg whites with a splash of skim milk.


Wala! with some strawberries and a glass of milk.
(1egg -2pts, 3 whites -1pt, 1 oz ham -1 pt, 1/8 cup reduced fat colby jack -1pt, veggies -0pts, strawberries -1 pt, milk -2 pts.)  I cooked the veggies for a few minutes in 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (1pt) first to soften them a bit.  Yummy!

Snack was a peach.  (1 pt) It wasn't very ripe yet, a little crunchy, but I ate it!

Lunch was more couscous (5 pts), baby carrots (0 pts), 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese (2 pts) and a glass of milk (2 pts). Don't mind the kiddo's hand sneaking a carrot!!

I don't have pictures of dinner.  I made spaghetti using fresh herbs from my garden - delicious!! I used angel hair pasta.  I also had a side salad with ranch dressing, a slice of garlic bread and a glass of milk.
I went over my pts a bit today.  I made the spaghetti sauce earlier today and we brought it over to our friend's house.  They just had a baby and we wanted to bring a meal and go visit.  They provided the salad and the garlic bread.
Spaghetti Sauce -4pts, about 2 oz of angel hair pasta (eyeball guess) -4 pts, salad -0 pts, Ranch dressing (about 1 tbsp)-1.5, milk- 2 pts, and garlic bread ( 4pts).

I went over my daily points by 9.5.  I did sneak a half hour workout DVD in my day.  I am allowed 35 extra points for the week to use as I'd like so I am still doing okay.