Dinner Proud

Ya know how some people are "house proud" and some are "car proud".  Last night I was dinner proud.  I haven't made a dinner that good and healthy in what seems to be a long time.  I really should have taken a picture.

I had marinated some chicken breast, quick seared it, then finished it up in the over. 
Some steamed broccoli crowns, a little white rice and a nice romaine salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and feta.  YUM! 

So why did I snack at least twice after dinner?!?!! ugh! 

So this weeks goal it to not snack after dinner. Just healthy, small snacks between meals. 

Yesterday's food summary
Breakfast - protein shake (160)
coffee - 50 cals

lunch - 1 cheese enchilada, 1 beef tostado, some tortilla chips and guacamole (no clue on cals here)

dinner
Chicken breast (5 oz)
1 cup steamed brocoli
1.5 cup salad, tomatoes, cucumber, dressing, feta
piece of cabatta bread with melted parm on top
Diet DP

Snack -
bag of veggie chips,
piece of chocolate
some almonds,
another piece of bread..

Long time gone

I can't believe it has been so long since I checked in over here. I blame facebook..and life getting really busy.

When I last checked in I was 187. I'm not 186ish. I made it to about 183 in the fall, but the holiday got me. Not too bad, but they got me.

I was watching Oprah the other day when she was talking about Food Inc. It was very interesting. All about being more informed about where our food comes from and using our dollars to get better food.

For several years now (about 8) we have been making much better selections. More whole grains, less processed foods. More fresh, all natural. But this show got me thinking. They kept talking about the meat and knowing where it comes from. I know mine comes from HEB and it says "all natural" but other than that, I don't know. I guess I need to get to know my friendly neighborhood butcher or HEB meat market manager better.

Check in

So it has been over a month since my first meeting with the nutrionist and I'm feeling really good about my progess.
Some of my goals that I  have set during our meetings are
1) Eat 1 fruit a day
2) Consume 2 milk/dairy each day
3) Take Calcium supplemtns
4) Take a Multivitamin
5) Take a Omega 3 supplement
6) Eat 3 servings of veggies, 1 at lunch and 2 at dinner
7) Work out at least 35 mins, 4 days a week.
8) try one new grain, veggie and fruit each week.

I tackled 2 food related goals and one exercise related goal a week.   I have been logging all my food since before June 26th.  I am shooting for 1400 to 1600 calories each day. 

So far I have had very few calorie slip ups.  Now the work out part I still stuggle to meet, but because I struggle to meet the 4 a day, I have been working out 2 to 3 times a week. 

My weight is dropping.  I'm currently at 187.8.  for a total of 9 lbs.  That is the most progress I have made in a long time!  9 lbs!  9Lbs.  looking at it now, it makes me feel a little proud!

The nutrionist meeting was just the kick in the pants I needed.  She and I have one more meeting and then I'm on my own.  it is a little scary, but I am sure I can keep it up...with the progress I have made so far I'm crazy if I don't

New plan (again)

I met with a nutrionist and I feel more together again.  I have a plan and some new goals.  I had alittle bit of a wake up call during my meeting.  There are some things I thought I was eating that so good for me and they are...but just not as good as I thought.

I am basically following a diabetic exchange diet.  I am counting my food as 1 milk, 1 protein, 1 veggie, 1 fat, or 1 carb.  My goal is to get at least 3 servings a day, 3 milks a day and keep my carbs around 6-8, proteins around 5 and fats around 1. 

My specific goals for the next week are to get 3 servings of milk at leat 5 days of the week and 1 serving of fruit at least 5 days.

My weight today - 194.2, down a little from last week, depending on what day I weighed in ; )

My big achievement this weekend was not eating at my niece's birthday party..no pizza, no ice cream, no chips, no cake, no candy.  I was very proud of myself...woooooo whooo.

Oh, the other goal I set with the nutrionist was to get in 4 Wii active works (25-30 min) outs in the next 7.
days.

So far the hardest of my new goals is getting enough milk.  It is way harder than I thought and I really have to work at making myself get it in.  Today I had a cup of milk with breakfast so far and I have a yogurt ready to eat with my lunch.

In a pit

I'm way down in the dumps about my weight again..and feel like I need to take action again..hmmm I'm starting to see a pattern here...a yo-yo pattern here.

Today I have an appointment with a nutrionist.  She asked me to keep a food journal for the last few days.  Here it is.  I have to say I was better than I would have probably been because I knew someone would be looking at it.   But here is the big bummer part.  Monday I weighed myself and I was 196.4, the next day 194, the next 192, the next 194 and today 196...geez..that is enough to drive a girl crazy.  I know, I know, don't weigh yourself everyday.  I'm going to stop, when I'm emotional any way it just makes for a very emotional roller coaster.
I worked out at the start of the week, but things got busier the last part of the week. 
Excersize journal
Monday 3 mile walk to Starbucks and back with friends. Had green iced tea with sweetner.
Tuesday Wii Active work out for 30 mins on hard intensity.

Food journal
Tuesday 6/23/2009

Breakfast (6:45 am)

smoothie (Stoney field farms)

(8:00 am – 9:30am) 2 traveler cups of coffee with splenda and cream

Lunch (12:20 pm)

Amy’s bean and cheese burrito & bottled water

Snack (2:00pm) large peanut butter cookie & Diet Dr. Pepper

(4:45pm) 1 stick, string cheese

Dinner (5:45pm)

2 slices veggie pizza

Water

After dinner (8pm)

Starbuck Green iced tea w/ sweetner



Wednesday 6/24/2009

Breakfast (6:45am)

2 sticks, string cheese

Small can V-8

(8:00am – 9:30 am) 1.5 Traveler cup coffee with cream and splenda

Lunch (12:15)

Eggplant Parm. (2 slices eggplant with marina sauce with chunks of tomato )

1/8 baguette

1.5 pickle spears

Bag of chips

Ice tea with splenda

Mid-afternoon (2:30pm) Diet Dr. Pepper

Dinner (6pm)

Amy's bean and Cheese burrito, topped with black bean and corn relish (black beans, kidney beans, rotel, canned corn, cumin, salt & pepper) and grated cheddar cheese

sauteed squash (in e.v. olive oil and chicken broth)

water

Snack (8:35 pm)

1 glass sprite and cranberry grape juice



Thursday 6/25/2009

Breakfast (6:45am)

Whole wheat toast with smart balance

2 traveler cups coffee with splenda and cream

Lunch (12:15pm)

Amy’s bean and cheese burrito

Diet Dr. Pepper

Bottled water

Snack (5:15) 1 stick string cheese

Dinner (6:10pm)

Individual chicken potpie (HEB café on the run dinner), salad with ranch dressing and dinner roll.

Water

Friday 6/26/2009

Breakfast (6:45)

Smoothie (Stoneyfield Farms) 6oz

Traveler cup coffee with cream and splenda



Lunch

Amy’s bean burrito with black bean and corn relish

Diet Dr. Pepper.

We are active with Wii Active

With tax refund money we purchased a Wii.  For that moment on I was on the look out for some fun "games" that I could use to work out.  I found one I love with the Wii Active.  I have officiall done 11 workouts with the Wii Active and I'm very impressed. 

I originally bought the Wii Fit, but was unimpressed with the way to got your workout, too much clicking around, not enough working out.  It was fun, but not exactly what I was looking for.

Wii Active is what I was looking for.  I can get a work out in under 30 mins and I am really feeling it and really sweaty when I finish.  I'm running, I'm squating, I'm pretending to do tricks while inline skating, I'm doing jump squats (can you say ouch).  I'm doing bent over rows with triceps kickbacks,  bicep curls, lateral raises...so many.  I'm doing tennis drills, volleyball drills, basketball drills, boxing, and now baseball drills.

And every work out is a little different.  I'm currently following the 30 day challenge.  I won't be able to do 30 work out in 30 days, but it has been fun.

Let's make a deal

Some friends at work and I were discussing how we need to add exercise to our routine, but it is so easy to be lazy and just not do it. I have been trying to eat better and exercise. I had worked out twice 2 weeks before the conversation, but the week prior, I hadn't done a thing.

So we decided to help each other be accountable to an exercise plan. My plan. Exercise 3 days a week at least for 30 mins each time and to cut out artificial sweetners. A few weeks ago I started to notice something. As I was eating better during the day, I was craving sweets at night. I would dig around from anything to get a sweet fix. I remember readin Lyn's post at Escape from Obesity about Artificial Sweetners and something really hit home.

I like things sweet. I usually use splenda and that is like 1000 times sweeter than real sugar. So I decided as part of my plan I would cut out the fake stuff. No more splenda in coffee or ice tea. No more diet cokes, no more artificial stuff at all. For the last week it was really helped. I don't find myself craving sweets in the evenings. I am surprised really. I never thought I could drink unsweetned tea, but I have all week and I like it.

I was also able to meet my exercise goals this week.

Monday morning I walked 30 mins on the treadmill, same thing on Thursday. Today (sunday) I rode my bike for 30 mins.