This is just about our lives - four cats, two kids, a musician and a preacher.
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This is where you stick random tidbits of information about yourself.
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Sunday, September 01, 2013
Lila joined the Runner's Club at her school. They run twice a week right after school. There are two 5k runs that they have as goals - the Jingle Run in early December and the school's fundraiser Fun Run in May. I'm so pleased that Lila enjoys exercising! She said that she does want to drop a few pounds. I would like to see her eat a better diet, too, but exercise is also a great place to start.
I am reticent, oh yes, rrrrrrreticent to put this in writing. (Yes, that is a Music Man reference. Mrs. Eulalie McKecknie Shin is also rrrrrrreticent.) I'm thinking of training for that May run. I definitely want to sign up, and I may just walk it. But I've never run before. I think I'll be close to my goal by May. With less to jiggle, running may be a possibility.
I'm also thinking of joining the HealthPark. I've been going with Randy on the family days. Once the weather turns and walking in the neighborhood isn't an easy option, I'll need the HealthPark for my exercise. It might be good to get in that routine before I actually need it.
I've been scared of the scale these past few days. Exhaustion hit like a ton of bricks. I got my walk in on Friday, then could hardly move the rest of the day. The tired carried over to Saturday. Our week was emotionally draining. When I am that tired and spent, I make poor food choices.
There were Chik Fil A sandwiches in the fridge, leftover from last week's Impact KY lunches. I had 1/2 of one (and shared generous bites with Hobbes). Randy bought donuts for the kids. I had 1/4 of one. Peanut butter is back in our pantry. I did miss it over the summer, but I didn't miss the temptation. My cheats weren't huge or full meals. But I didn't feel good after eating them.
I did NOT eat any of the Chik Fil A chocolate chunk cookies that are still in our kitchen. Lila has been enjoying them in her lunch this past week. She has enough for lunches all this week, too. Thinking of the cookies as Lila's helps me resist.
10:27 PM
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Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Did I tell you that I've been walking lately? I have! We live in a beautiful neighborhood, and I've been walking almost every day for several weeks now. I love feeling stronger.
Lila and I have also been ice skating again. The ice rink is only a 1/2 mile from our house. We go on Sunday afternoons. I wish they had more open rink hours. I would love to skate during school hours. The open skate afternoons are kind of crazy with kids skating everywhere.
I'm down 48 pounds now! SO close to 50. Can I make it there by Labor Day? I'm almost half way to my goal loss.
I tried on pants at Kohl's today. How is it that my 16's are baggy, but 14's are still muffin-top territory?
Finding jeans to skate in has been challenging. The first Sunday, I wore the 18's that were snug last Spring. I could pull them down without unbuttoning! Wearing baggy clothes feels . . . dumpy. That's really not the look I'm going for. Somewhere, I have a whole stack of size 14 jeans and pants. Hopefully I'll find them soon.
10:29 PM
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Friday, August 16, 2013
These last four pounds were hard! It took me almost a month to get rid of them. Our vacation to St. Louis seems like a big french fry fest. We also sampled fried pickles at two different restaurants. Very good! They actually remind me of fried banana peppers.
So I'm down 45 pounds now. I've been walking more lately and that feels good. I've found a route with all sidewalks. I really don't like walking in the street, even if it's a quiet street.
Still juicing. Still making nut milks. Still adding avocado to most of my green juices. The return of Lila's PB&J lunches is not good for my will power. Peanut butter in the house is haaaaaaaaard to resist.
I fixed hazelnut/pecan/brazil nut milk yesterday. Oh my word, that is so good! My favorite glass is when it's still warm, right after I've made it. It tastes like nutella and pecan pie in a glass.
I use boiling water for the first blend, then I let the nut/hot water mixture sit for about 15 minutes. I'm not sure it makes any difference, but I think the steeping might bring out more of the nut flavor.
Getting closer to my goal a little at a time. This time last year, I was stressed about wearing my OSO polo shirt for a summer concert. I had two sizes in my drawer, and neither fit. I tried them on today just to see, and the smaller size fit! Maybe I'll break out that shirt for some Strings Attached classes.
5:24 PM
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Wednesday, July 17, 2013
41 pounds down!! I've been juicing 3 1/2 months now. The first month was pristine. I could count the cheats by the spoonful in that first month. Now I have a little nibble every day. The big picture still looks good, I just can't stand that gnawing hunger at the end of the day.
My left knee is definitely improving. Stairs have been much easier.
I love that it's easy to change my favorite juices just by adding one different ingredient. Watermelon has been my magical addition this week. Juicing the rind is good, too.
Last week's magical find: PECAN MILK! Oh my word, this is good. It reminds me of pecan pie. I fix my nut milk with a dash of sea salt, vanilla, cinnamon and a tiny splash of maple syrup. I add coconut oil to almond milk, and coconut water to all of my nut milks. I've tried almond, brazil nut, sunflower seeds, and pecans. Sunflower seed was my least favorite milk. It had a bitter aftertaste.
I'm still blending my green juices with avocado. It tastes so good, and I swear my hair is shinier.
So September . . . Labor Day was my original date for reentry. I've changed my mind. Now I want to stick with juicing until I reach my weight loss goal.
12:04 PM
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Sunday, May 26, 2013
I seem to be stuck at 30 pounds. Temptations have been strong. I encountered a magnificant cheese table at a wedding reception tonight. There were at least a dozen fabulous cheeses out. The trio had that table all to ourselves after the guests went on to dinner. Who could resist? I didn't.
I don't really mind giving into the temptation of good food. I do feel shame and frustration when I give in to junk food. Cheez It boxes multiply in this house. I wish I could abolish them permanantly. After everyone else is in bed, those Cheez Itz throw themselves at me.
Even when I give in to cheats, the majority of my nutrition is coming from juice. I'm going to stick with this for the long haul. All of the food that I miss will still be there in September.
The palms of my hands may or may not be turning orange from all of the carrots I'm juicing.
12:36 AM
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013
30!! The pants in the next size down fit again.
Sticking to just juice is so much harder at home. Last night I got home at about 9:00 and there was leftover Shells and Cheese on the stove. I asked Randy to get rid of it. There is no way I could have resisted those leftovers.
As long as food is already in the fridge or freezer, I'm usually okay with leaving it there. Usually. I haven't had a cheat since Saturday. Here, Saturday means soup. Justin Crandall is a master soup chef (and owner/chef at Pangea Cafe). He creates and donates the soup that we serve at our church's soup kitchen. This past Saturday he fixed Spicy Beef Stew. Of course I had to have some.
I realize that I talk more about the food that I can't have than the juice that I'm making. I do like the juices that I fix, but they aren't all that exciting. The avocado blending still pleases me greatly. Fennel, red pepper and poblano peppers are also favorites.
Here is my shopping list:
Spinach
Cilantro
Kale
Asparagus
Hearts of Romaine
Cucumbers
Celery
Fennel
Poblano peppers
Red Bell peppers
Carrots
Sweet Potatoes
Naval oranges
Grapefruit
Apples
Ginger
I buy whichever oranges and apples are on sale. For eating, I prefer big crunchy Gala apples. I've found that juicing the bagged apples works fine and I can save a few dollars there.
Juicing is definitely expensive. I'm not spending money on eating out, buying cheese and Greek yoghurt, or snacks at the gas station. But the veggies and fruits that fill my shopping cart cost more than what I'm saving by not eating junk. That's fine. I would rather be healthy and (more) broke (than usual).
12:56 PM
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Sunday, May 12, 2013
The salad dressing that Mom made for the Taco Salad came from the Forks Over Knives cookbook. It had pureed white beans, cilantro, tahini, soy sauce and red pepper flakes. It was really good. I'm looking forward to fixing that one once I'm back to eating.
Forks Over Knives promotes a vegan diet that does not include any oils. I'm not sure I would eliminate coconut oil or olive oil.
Someone asked the other day how long I'll keep going with the juicing phase. I have Labor Day set as the end of juicing only. Then I'll keep juicing and add whole fruits and veggies. I really hope to be close to my goal by then.
Another someone asked how much weight I hope to lose. I would like to lose 100 pounds total. I've already lost 27.
I do feel time tick tick ticking. I know that menopause is in my not-so-distant future. No sign of it yet, but at 44 it couldn't be too far off. There is no way I want to enter menopause with that much extra weight hanging on.
My knees have been screaming at me to get rid of the extra pounds. There are 16 very steep hardwood stairs to get to my teaching studio. Those stairs are far too painful for someone my age. I hope that getting my weight down will take care of the pain. I'll let you know!
9:41 PM
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