I am moving this blog to Word Press - Check it out here!
Greens, Beans, and Healthy Things
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Day 44
The good news is that I am down 12.1 pounds in 44 days. The even better news is that I feel great and am seeing the weight loss as a side effect of great health.
Once again, I have failed at my daily post commitment. I am still doing really great. Here is a recap.
Last weekend, I volunteered for a charity bike ride and was put to work in the kitchen. I stuck to my plan 100% and wasn't even tempted. I brought my own food and was surprised at how many folks commented on how good it looked. I met a guy that is doing a similar diet, so I shared my steamed sweet potato and kale with him. He was grateful! My job was to saute veggies for the pasta sauce and was told to use the 'fake margarine' but I decided to use water instead. I figured that there was already enough oil. It was my secret contribution to the health of the riders.
On Sunday night, my g/f and I were both really tired from volunteering all weekend, so we went to the Weary Traveler for dinner. I have been craving meat for the past two weeks and so decided I would have carne asada that comes with organic, local beef, pico de gallo, pickled veggies and guacamole. I thought my body responded well, but on Monday night I had a horrible displasia / fibromyalgia flare up. This may have been due to being on feet so much, but I hiked a 6 mile mountain in South Dakota and felt great. I really think this may have been the meat and will need to experiment further.
I actually don't really even like meat very much. Over the past 5 years I have rarely eaten meat and have gone through periods of being vegan off and on. Even when I do eat meat, it is usually only once per month or so. Giving up dairy is not hard at all and I feel much better, but I still would like to be able to eat meat on occasion provided that it won't cause a flare up each time.
I went to a community dinner function on Monday and helped in the kitchen as well. The theme was all vegan and the food looked great, but I only ate some of the bean salad b/c the other food had rice, seitan, oil, and or sugar and those are foods I am avoiding. The bean salad had black beans, mango, papaya, avocado, red onion, sweet potato, and a "green" dressing of cilantro and a mango flavored vinegar. It was really, really good. I will try to get the recipe to post it.
Yesterday, I was home all day in a lot of pain due to my flare up. Breakfast was a smoothie with 2 oranges, a bunch of kale, vitamins, water, 1/2 cup of almond milk, and a banana.
Lunch was left over bean salad and a bit of left over tofu with Bragg's, Mrs. Dash and sesame seeds.
Dinner was super yummy and was an ear of steamed sweet corn, 1/2 green pepper, steamed green beans, oil free hummus (bountiful bean), and little tomatoes from my friends at Young Earth Farm.
Breakfast today was 2 oranges, 3 tiny apples from the farmer's market, and 1.5 oz of sunflower seeds. Lunch is salt-free veggie soup from Health Valley, green pepper, a cucumber, tomatoes, and hummus.
Once again, I have failed at my daily post commitment. I am still doing really great. Here is a recap.
Last weekend, I volunteered for a charity bike ride and was put to work in the kitchen. I stuck to my plan 100% and wasn't even tempted. I brought my own food and was surprised at how many folks commented on how good it looked. I met a guy that is doing a similar diet, so I shared my steamed sweet potato and kale with him. He was grateful! My job was to saute veggies for the pasta sauce and was told to use the 'fake margarine' but I decided to use water instead. I figured that there was already enough oil. It was my secret contribution to the health of the riders.
On Sunday night, my g/f and I were both really tired from volunteering all weekend, so we went to the Weary Traveler for dinner. I have been craving meat for the past two weeks and so decided I would have carne asada that comes with organic, local beef, pico de gallo, pickled veggies and guacamole. I thought my body responded well, but on Monday night I had a horrible displasia / fibromyalgia flare up. This may have been due to being on feet so much, but I hiked a 6 mile mountain in South Dakota and felt great. I really think this may have been the meat and will need to experiment further.
I actually don't really even like meat very much. Over the past 5 years I have rarely eaten meat and have gone through periods of being vegan off and on. Even when I do eat meat, it is usually only once per month or so. Giving up dairy is not hard at all and I feel much better, but I still would like to be able to eat meat on occasion provided that it won't cause a flare up each time.
I went to a community dinner function on Monday and helped in the kitchen as well. The theme was all vegan and the food looked great, but I only ate some of the bean salad b/c the other food had rice, seitan, oil, and or sugar and those are foods I am avoiding. The bean salad had black beans, mango, papaya, avocado, red onion, sweet potato, and a "green" dressing of cilantro and a mango flavored vinegar. It was really, really good. I will try to get the recipe to post it.
Yesterday, I was home all day in a lot of pain due to my flare up. Breakfast was a smoothie with 2 oranges, a bunch of kale, vitamins, water, 1/2 cup of almond milk, and a banana.
Lunch was left over bean salad and a bit of left over tofu with Bragg's, Mrs. Dash and sesame seeds.
Dinner was super yummy and was an ear of steamed sweet corn, 1/2 green pepper, steamed green beans, oil free hummus (bountiful bean), and little tomatoes from my friends at Young Earth Farm.
Breakfast today was 2 oranges, 3 tiny apples from the farmer's market, and 1.5 oz of sunflower seeds. Lunch is salt-free veggie soup from Health Valley, green pepper, a cucumber, tomatoes, and hummus.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Day 39
I am not hungry yet, so I haven't had breakfast. It is probably due to the fact that I overate last night at dinner :)
Yesterday for lunch, I was in a hurry so I quickly made a spinach, almond milk, water, banana, and blueberry smoothie and chugged it down. I don't like eating like that, but sometimes it is unavoidable.
Thursday is usually a really busy day for me and I am still figuring out how to plan ahead. This entire week has been busy with getting caught up from being gone for a week and a half. Due to poor planning, I had dinner out at Qdoba. I realize that this is bad. I had a naked burrito bowl with beans, grilled fajita vegges, pico de gallo, corn salsa, lettuce, and guacamole. According to the nutritional calculator, my burrito was 230 calories and my chips were 290. Just a little over 500 calories, but I still felt REALLY FULL.
Of course I had to have the corn chips. I beat myself up over it until I realized that I am just not ready to give up tortilla chips or coffee for that matter. I also realize that beating myself up only promotes the pattern of self loathing which in turn promotes addiction. So, I gave myself permission to eat a serving of tortilla chips 1-2 times per week and I feel good about it. Are they good for me? Absolutely not, but I am just not ready to give them up. I have also given myself permission to have one cup of coffee per day and I feel okay about that too for now.
By giving myself permission to have these two items, it takes away the power of wanting something I can't have. I have a feeling that as time goes on, I will want these items less.
All in all, I know that I am doing really well. I have given up all grains, all dairy, meat, refined sugars, chocolate, white potatoes, alcohol, salt and oil for the most part. I did have a glass of wine with my dad while I was home (It really didn't even taste good.) I do still eat some oil and added salt like when I eat tortilla chips, but am not adding it to foods that I prepare.
Good news. My g/f has been eating about 90% Eat to Live and a friend/client signed up for the member forums last night. YAY!
Yesterday for lunch, I was in a hurry so I quickly made a spinach, almond milk, water, banana, and blueberry smoothie and chugged it down. I don't like eating like that, but sometimes it is unavoidable.
Thursday is usually a really busy day for me and I am still figuring out how to plan ahead. This entire week has been busy with getting caught up from being gone for a week and a half. Due to poor planning, I had dinner out at Qdoba. I realize that this is bad. I had a naked burrito bowl with beans, grilled fajita vegges, pico de gallo, corn salsa, lettuce, and guacamole. According to the nutritional calculator, my burrito was 230 calories and my chips were 290. Just a little over 500 calories, but I still felt REALLY FULL.
Of course I had to have the corn chips. I beat myself up over it until I realized that I am just not ready to give up tortilla chips or coffee for that matter. I also realize that beating myself up only promotes the pattern of self loathing which in turn promotes addiction. So, I gave myself permission to eat a serving of tortilla chips 1-2 times per week and I feel good about it. Are they good for me? Absolutely not, but I am just not ready to give them up. I have also given myself permission to have one cup of coffee per day and I feel okay about that too for now.
By giving myself permission to have these two items, it takes away the power of wanting something I can't have. I have a feeling that as time goes on, I will want these items less.
All in all, I know that I am doing really well. I have given up all grains, all dairy, meat, refined sugars, chocolate, white potatoes, alcohol, salt and oil for the most part. I did have a glass of wine with my dad while I was home (It really didn't even taste good.) I do still eat some oil and added salt like when I eat tortilla chips, but am not adding it to foods that I prepare.
Good news. My g/f has been eating about 90% Eat to Live and a friend/client signed up for the member forums last night. YAY!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Day 38
Hmmmm- when I first started my Eat to Live Journey 38 days ago, I made the commitment to blog everyday. Blogging is hard for me. I don't really like to write and sometimes it feels vulnerable to expose myself publicly. The flip side is that it helps keep me accountable and at the same time, I hope others who are struggling with their weight /health will find my blog helpful.
This morning I realized that I haven't blogged in a few weeks. I knew I wouldn't blog on vacation, but have been back for 4 days and have only posted once. Even this morning, I am full of excuses, the biggest being time. Saying that I don't have enough time is funny. I had time to make a cup of coffee, time to talk with co-workers, time to check my email, time to read the headlines. The reality is that I am not 'making' time. The blog is part of my health journey and if I stop making time to blog, I will stop making time for Eat to Live and will ultimately let my food addiction take over again. Today I am recommitting myself to blogging everyday.
I have done really well since returning from vacation.
Yesterday I had cherries, grapes, an apple and one ounce of raw pumpkin and sunflower seeds for breakfast.
Lunch was bean soup and a smoothie with almond milk, water, spinach, banana, and blueberries.
Dinner was at a friends house, but I brought my salad with me. Romaine, 1 avocado, red onion, red pepper, tomato, carrots, edamame, Mrs. Dash, Dr. Fuhrmans Spicy Pecan Vinegar, and 1 ounce of raw sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
I also started taking Dr. Fuhrman's Gentle Care vitamins.
For Breakfast today I had 3 small apples (from the Farmer's Market, YUMMY!) and 1 orange. Also had 1 ounce of raw sunflower / pumpkin seeds.
It's good to be back
This morning I realized that I haven't blogged in a few weeks. I knew I wouldn't blog on vacation, but have been back for 4 days and have only posted once. Even this morning, I am full of excuses, the biggest being time. Saying that I don't have enough time is funny. I had time to make a cup of coffee, time to talk with co-workers, time to check my email, time to read the headlines. The reality is that I am not 'making' time. The blog is part of my health journey and if I stop making time to blog, I will stop making time for Eat to Live and will ultimately let my food addiction take over again. Today I am recommitting myself to blogging everyday.
I have done really well since returning from vacation.
Yesterday I had cherries, grapes, an apple and one ounce of raw pumpkin and sunflower seeds for breakfast.
Lunch was bean soup and a smoothie with almond milk, water, spinach, banana, and blueberries.
Dinner was at a friends house, but I brought my salad with me. Romaine, 1 avocado, red onion, red pepper, tomato, carrots, edamame, Mrs. Dash, Dr. Fuhrmans Spicy Pecan Vinegar, and 1 ounce of raw sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
I also started taking Dr. Fuhrman's Gentle Care vitamins.
For Breakfast today I had 3 small apples (from the Farmer's Market, YUMMY!) and 1 orange. Also had 1 ounce of raw sunflower / pumpkin seeds.
It's good to be back
Monday, August 3, 2009
1 Month
Today is day 35 on my health journey!
I have been on vacation for the past 11 days and today is my first day back in town. I didn't turn on a computer the entire time I was gone and it felt great.
I was a bit worried about eating as I went home to see my family. Old habits die hard and it is easy to fall into old patterns, especially with family. The good news is that I did GREAT! Since I was staying at my parents house, I had access to their kitchen. For the trip out, I packed a huge cooler full of fruit, veggies, hummus, and raw cashews and seeds. I also brought all of my flavored vinegars and salt free seasonings. I probably ate too much in the car as I had a 12 hour drive and know that I ate out of boredom, but I could have been eating junk food so I don't feel too badly about it.
I went to the store the day I arrived and bought plenty of good food for the week. My family was really supportive and I even got them to eat my Vegan Lasagna. I thought it would be weird to eat something different, but no one really seems to notice. I am realizing that everyone is so into what they are doing, they don't seem to pay much attention to my food. Mostly people are curious and will ask questions.
Everyone was interested in my weight loss, but they all said that the ETL plan seems to drastic. I explained that it can be adopted slowly over time, but am not sure that it landed with any of them. I am contemplating giving Eat to Live and Eat for Health as X-mas or Birthday gifts.
My Mom and I usually eat Dove chocolates while we watch TV and I thought it would be hard to break the habit, but my body is responding so well to the ETL plan, that I didn't even want chocolate.
More later...
I have been on vacation for the past 11 days and today is my first day back in town. I didn't turn on a computer the entire time I was gone and it felt great.
I was a bit worried about eating as I went home to see my family. Old habits die hard and it is easy to fall into old patterns, especially with family. The good news is that I did GREAT! Since I was staying at my parents house, I had access to their kitchen. For the trip out, I packed a huge cooler full of fruit, veggies, hummus, and raw cashews and seeds. I also brought all of my flavored vinegars and salt free seasonings. I probably ate too much in the car as I had a 12 hour drive and know that I ate out of boredom, but I could have been eating junk food so I don't feel too badly about it.
I went to the store the day I arrived and bought plenty of good food for the week. My family was really supportive and I even got them to eat my Vegan Lasagna. I thought it would be weird to eat something different, but no one really seems to notice. I am realizing that everyone is so into what they are doing, they don't seem to pay much attention to my food. Mostly people are curious and will ask questions.
Everyone was interested in my weight loss, but they all said that the ETL plan seems to drastic. I explained that it can be adopted slowly over time, but am not sure that it landed with any of them. I am contemplating giving Eat to Live and Eat for Health as X-mas or Birthday gifts.
My Mom and I usually eat Dove chocolates while we watch TV and I thought it would be hard to break the habit, but my body is responding so well to the ETL plan, that I didn't even want chocolate.
More later...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
