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mollymoo24
Senior Member
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Posted: 8 March 2008 11:46 am |
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I see you are up too! A little early for Saturday but on the other hand I love it because it is more quiet "me time" before the house wakes up. How did things go last night after the salad bar? Was everyone starving later?
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 8 March 2008 12:41 pm |
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Hey, MM! Sissy wakes me up every morning at 6:30-7:00. She wants attention!
It was so cold here yesterday! We kept trying to find my book, Eat to Live. Never found it, but had fun hitting the bookstores. I came home and ordered it from Amazon.
Jason's has a wonderful salad bar. I didn't eat any more after that. I figured I'd consumed my daily allotment! Joe had Progresso Chicken Soup. He stopped by the store and got the soup and whole wheat crackers. He's trying!
Things will be ok. Joe and I are best friends in addition to being married. We are two very strong-willed, stubborn people who sometimes act like two year olds. Anyway, I was happy he bought himself the crackers. To me it was a great sign that he's willing to try.
I've been reading articles this morning about how our life expectancies are getting longer. It looks like there will be some big breakthroughs in the next 20 years. It should be interesting. In the meantime, I guess I stick to the superfoods and try to exercise until the little nano robots are available.
Hope you and L have a wonderful Saturday!
Congrats again on the 169. You need to celebrate!
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 8 March 2008 01:03 pm |
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182.8
I ate too much salad and goodies yesterday, I suppose. Will try to behave today. I still don't feel comfortable eating out. I like controlling my food intake in my own kitchen.
Have been researching some of Joel Fuhrman's Eat to Live principles. Who would have ever thought lowly turnip, collard, and mustard greens would be the top superfoods on his list. I can handle that. I plan to purchase some today. That and spinach!
I woke up around 3:00 this morning and was able to breathe from both nostrils, so I suppose I have turned a corner with this cold thing. My immune system must be working and this is good. A year ago I decided I no longer had an immune system. My diet consisted of coffee, cokes, cigarettes, and fast food. I was literally broken when I shut down my business and came home. Somewhere within me, I knew I was going to die if I didn't make some changes fast! I was way beyond burned out. A year later I can say, yes, I made changes and yes, it is working. This is good.
Can't wait to see Hubby get better. I don't want to live forever without him!
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 9 March 2008 01:32 am |
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I am preparing to go heavy green with my eating. Bought some of the superfoods identified by Joel Fuhrman in ETL. I must try to figure a way to get all this greenery washed, torn , and stored. I may try some of Nir's little rectangle containers.
I walked for an hour today. 30 in the am and 30 in the pm. I'm ok. A little weak since I've not really been walking like I should. Today is a first for walking an hour.
I am happy. I can remember Thanksgiving when I was much heavier and my sciatic nerve was hurting so badly that I couldn't walk at times. I was also tied to a CPAP due to sleep apnea and felt like I was suffocating every time I tried to go to sleep. I have gotten off the CPAP after losing 14 lbs. I am sleeping better. I don't think I'm having many apneas because I'm not waking up gasping for breath.
I thank the heavens for this forum. I think it has saved my life. I know it's given me hope. I've been thinking about taking up Yoga. We'll see!
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mollymoo24
Senior Member
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Posted: 9 March 2008 02:45 pm |
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Congratulations on getting off the CPAP machine and sleeping better Beth. That is FANTASTIC news! Look how far you have come since the beginning of the year!
And  you walked an hour yesterday.  That's so awesome. You are doing really well.
I will be following with interest your experiences with the greens. You've reminded me I really need to get back on track in that department.
Have a great day superstar!! 
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Hisgal
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 9 March 2008 11:11 pm |
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Beth,
So glad to hear the hubs is trying..........that's all we can ask, I guess! I'm afraid mine will get sick of his menu soon  We started out by writing down everything he ate, for about 2 weeks..........so he could see how the calories, fat and fiber added up. I don't know what kind of diet your hubs is suppose to be on, but I suspect it's about what my hubs should be eating to lower his cholesterol. We are also trying to keep his fiber up, because of the diverticula they found during his colonoscopy.
I don't think Fuhrman recommends much for starchy veggies or bread/cereal etc. I know I can't take all that away from my hubs, but I am surely trying to get him to eat more "ETL like". He's never liked milk, yogurt or cottage cheese, so that would be no problem for him. He loves his meat though!  And he's never particularly liked veggies or hardly any fruit.........so we are slowly working on it! We started with the things he will eat.
Now that he knows the cals, etc in the foods he ate the first 2 weeks, he tends to always eat the same foods! His day's menu is: oatmeal with walnuts, cinnamon and banana for breakfast. His lunch is a can of soup (usually some type of veggie soup or at least something that is very low fat), sometimes with a romaine lettuce salad. Dinner I make when I am home early enough, and I often stir-fry some mix of veggies.......either a bag of stir-fry or I head to the fridge and freezer to see what I can mix up, and add a bit of chicken breast. The hubs BP is good, so I don't have to worry too much about salt..........so we just sprinkle the veggies with a bit of lite-soy sauce and serve over brown rice. Sometimes I make one of the veggie mixes that has red potatoes in it.........then I toss in a bit of diced lean ham. The nice thing about those 2 dishes, is that you can vary them with the veggies you use, so they are different, and he gets several servings of veggies at one time.........and it's a way for him to think he's getting meat, but really I use only 1-3 oz in the whole dish, and cut it into small pieces. Sometimes we add romaine salad or I make sugar-free jello with club soda.
His snacks are bananas, diced lite pears, or an apple............or he snacks on dry cereal. He likes Fiber One oat clusters, Kashi or Post bite-size shredded wheat (cinnamon flavored) or Fiber One caramel flavored. We also found a 100% whole grain cinnamon raisin bread.........and of course he uses a "butter tasting spread" with no trans fats. Occasionally we make light microwave popcorn in the evening for a snack, if we've eaten early. He is up to 2-14 oz glasses of water a day, and thinks he's drinking alot! 
He has an incredible sweet tooth..........which can be a problem. So I took a basic cookie recipe and substituted applesauce for 1/2 of the butter, and banana for one of the eggs, use whole wheat flour, and toss in a lot of oatmeal, oat bran, and muesli. I also added raisins and 3 kinds of raw nuts. They come out to 66 cal. with 1.7 gr. fat (1 gr of that is "good" fat), and 1 gr. of fiber per cookie.
The nice thing about ETL is the effect the diet has on the growth of cancer cells. If I was ever diagnosed with cancer, I'd be strictly ETL so fast your head would spin. (I'd also recommend "The China Study"-I got that one on Amazon too) But it has such overwhelming positive effects on heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc. I just read in my "Prevention" magazine about a diet that would drop your cholesterol fast..........it was pretty much ETL, but didn't allow even the 12 oz. of animal products a week that ETL does.
Hope things continue to improve with your hubs diet! All of us here, know our healthy eating needs to be a change for life.........sometimes we need a wake up call! Praise the Lord, that He gave your hubs a "call" before it was too late  My hubs too!
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 10 March 2008 01:49 am |
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MM, thanks.
Hisgal, thanks, too. Hubby bought vege burgers to cook for himself tonight. He was so proud. Occasionally I can get him to drink a small glass of water. He insists on Diet Cokes, which I think are poison.
He's doing better. Baby steps...
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 10 March 2008 01:05 pm |
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182.2
Didn't walk but 30 minutes yesterday. By the time it was time to do the second walk, I was crashing. I'd been trying to remove Sissy's hair balls and had washed and torn too many greens. It may be a full-time job to purchase and process produce for ETL.
My stomach is definitely going down. So far no hanging skin. It's a good thing because I've inherited Joe's huge Ford truck. We cannot afford for him to drive it to work. Diesel fuel is almost $4 now. I have to move the seat all the way up and put a pillow behind me to reach the gas peddle. My old stomach would have really gotten in the way.
Sunday was definitely a challenge. I got really depressed about losing my little CRV which is so convenient. Joe kept telling me how to drive the #%@&! truck and how I'd ruin it if I put gasoline in it. I finally told him where he cold put the truck and got mad and went to bed. That's how I pout. I go and get in my bed and pout and go to sleep. That and the night shift and whatever else I managed to throw into "poor Beth" was just too much for me. I thought about going and getting a chocolate cake to commensurate my misery. Didn't do it. Those old negative feelings finally passed. I hate getting lost in my own head like that. At least I didn't smoke or eat a cake.
I did eat kale, or what the shelf sign at the grocery indicated was kale. It tasted like horseradish. I may have to juice some of this greenery. Kale won't be my favorite food by any means.
On with the day!
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Hisgal
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 10 March 2008 02:36 pm |
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Beth,
Hang in there! I see some NSV's (Non-Scale Victories) in that last post. You are making positive changes in your life........even though you've been thrown the curve ball of your husband's health issues! Keep it up
You are both learning to deal with the stress of the hubs health issues, and what will be some drastic changes for him, while also making healthy changes in your own life.........take a deep breath, and step back sometimes (or go to bed  ) whatever works to defuse the situation. It takes some time to adjust...........I had a few times when I just wanted to ream my hubs with my words too. It takes time  You'll get there
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abnormalapathy
Senior Member
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Posted: 10 March 2008 03:56 pm |
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Beth,
I'm not a fan of kale either, but I was taught a recipe in which I actually like it. It's a tofu scramble, though it doesn't really have any measurements, you just add as much as you like. I mix carrots and kale (both finely chopped, really really finely is better) and put them in a wok or sautee pan until they get rather dry (they'll release water). Then I crumble a container of firm tofu that's had the water drained into the pan, add an egg (or plain eggbeaters are even better), and then I finish it up with 2 TBsp of peanut sauce, which I bought at the local grocery store. It's high protein, low fat, decent fiber, low cal and it's the only way I've found to get the kale down. :)
Last edited on 10 March 2008 03:56 pm by abnormalapathy
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 11 March 2008 02:59 am |
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I've been trying to eat as many superfoods in ETL as possible yesterday and today. Got the idea from Nir to freeze my fruits and make smoothies. Actually, a smoothie with bannana, strawberries and spinach is pretty good. Hubby said it looked like #%@&! (and it did) but it tasted pretty good.
I am amazed at how energetic I've felt today. The puffy in my face is gone. My skin is looking better, too. It hasn't taken too much food to keep me satisfied.
This is getting interesting.
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 11 March 2008 03:04 am |
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Abs - thanks for the recipe. I don't think what I had was Kale. I don't know what it was. I went back to the store today and got some curley kale. It was better. I actually roasted it. Will try your recipe as soon as I get some tofu.
Hisgal - Yes, we are learning to deal with many things in different ways. I do think we're moving in a positive direction - together. Thanks for your kind posts.
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mollymoo24
Senior Member
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Posted: 11 March 2008 03:14 am |
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Beth,
I am just going try Kale vicariously through you - OK?
I agree about the NSV's - you are really breaking out of the habits of the past and reaching out to try new and good things. So glad for every step your hubs takes with you. We're making baby steps here too. Whole grains, chicken and fish, fresh veg. L is making fewer 'bad' choices - at least when I am around!
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 11 March 2008 12:52 pm |
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181.8
MM, I don't know what to say about kale. It's supposedly a super food. I wish I could make me like it. I'm trying! I've mostly eaten like an ape for two days. I did lose a pound and I've felt well physically! Something's going on in the hunger department. It's not taking much of the super foods to keep me satisfied. I don't see how getting off all junk food and cutting down on the meat can hurt. I wasn't eating much junk anyway, but I was pretty meat heavy. I cringe at the thought of having to cut out coffee. I just don't think I can do it. Joe is coming along. I guess he'll have to decide for himself how radical he wants to go with his lifestyle changes. I've had issues with eating creatures for years, so going vegetarian wouldn't be too much of stretch for me. I guess I'll eat to live for awhile instead of living to eat and see what happens.
I woke up worrying about my grandmother's very close house next door which I own with two half brothers. We got another offer on it yesterday. This is the most emotionally charged issue I've ever dealt with in my life. I feel like my life has been like walking through one huge minefield dealing with my father's other children and their mother. I can't handle it anymore. My throat and chest are tight just thinking about it. No one involved can handle it. There's too much hate and resentment involved and I can't fix that. We all hate each other so much, none of us can handle it. So, I've dumped it on Joe to handle my end of it. He's a great negotiator and he can deal with these people and he can deal with me.
What a relief. I don't think I've ever dumped any of my responsibility off on anyone else in my adult life. I've been too obsessed with trying to be perfect and with people pleasing. Wow, this is a switch! Now, can I leave Joe alone and let him do what he does best? I must.
Perhaps the greatest strength is knowing when to cry "uncle." Maybe selling the house will be one step closer to freeing myself from all ties with these awful, sick people. Maybe things will be ok. Maybe having neighbors living in my grandparents' house and owning most of the family compound won't be as hideous as I am imagining.
May I be freed from the prison of my own resentments. May my throat open back up. May my chest loosen back up. I am realizing how negative all this is on my health. I know that food and nicotine won't be my crutches this time. I don't know what will be my crutch. Maybe some real solutions?
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Hisgal
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 11 March 2008 01:46 pm |
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Beth,
I read your question in my diary...............I honestly can't remember if I gave up coffee when I was on ETL. However, I did give it up for years (after being a person who made a 10 cup pot and drank a 10 cup pot!), and I might not have started back up at that point. I started drinking the coffee pretty heavy last year, when I never had a free evening or weekend...........and not much sleep! I needed it to stay awake at work and the drive home, and the drive in..............pretty much all the time! I might have been drinking the occasional cup of de-caf when I was doing ETL.
I followed the diet pretty well at times, but it wasn't perfect. To me just eating lots of fruits and veggies, and cutting back on the animal products was a huge improvement. And I think that's what got my cholesterol down so well.........all my numbers at my last physical were great! And I felt great too! That was very important to me
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abnormalapathy
Senior Member
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Posted: 11 March 2008 02:41 pm |
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Beth,
I felt the same way yesterday re: going vegetarian. I made some remarks about it in my handwritten journal. I had been vegetarian for a year (many moons ago) and the last few days, though I haven't done it intentionally, most of my meals have been vegetarian. I found that I had more energy and my mood was a lot better than it had been too. Last night I made fried rice (well, not NEARLY as much oil as is used at the Chinese restaurants) and included some pre-packaged baked tofu in a sesame ginger sauce. It was delicious!
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hoofprints
Senior Member
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Posted: 11 March 2008 03:04 pm |
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Beth,
Thanks for popping by my diary. You asked what eating clean was .... I'll try my best to explain. I eat foods as close to nature as I can. I don't eat refined foods. My diet is basically Chicken, fish, tuna (once in a while I have beef or pork or lamb) I eat a LOT of vegies I eat at least 3 fruits per day. Snacks would be nuts. At meals I eat protein and vegies, if I add rice, it's brown. If I have a potato it would be a sweet potato. Pasta is always whole grain. I don't add fats, or butter etc to anything. I don't eat any sugar, or processed foods. I eat (or try) to eat 6 small meals a day. I'm talking small... breakfast is usually 1/2 cup of oatmeal or scrambled egg whites. Snack would be 8-10 almonds and a piece of fruit. Lunch is salad with either tuna, chicken or egg whites. Afternoon snack is usually another piece of fruit and a no fat sugar free yogurt. Supper is meat and a salad, or steamed vegies. then late at night I have a protein shake before bed. I try to have a protein at each meal. I drink a lot of water every day...I'm at about 4 litres.
If I drink....okay, when I drink, it's only red wine or if I'm really bad a light beer. Red wine is the winner usually.
Key things for me is, eat to build muscle (muscle burns more calories than fat) Eat often to get my metabolism back to normal. Drink lots to flush the fat out I'm sorry this got so long....I hope it helps.
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 11 March 2008 10:41 pm |
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Well, other than feeling terrible, the day has been ok. The earth did not blow up in Jackson over the real estate deal. The real estate woman seems ok. The brothers seem ok. Maybe things will be OK. Dumping it on Joe was a good move. He is one great negotiator. The man could charm a snake.
I got so upset over everything, I feel like I am hung over this afternoon. I didn't go to the M&M's or Coke or smoke, but I did cook a batch of collard greens and mustard greens with pork neck bones. They are smoked and huge. You might get two bites off each bone,but they sure make the greens better. So, I've had meat (pork) and greens and a tomato sandwich. I guess that's not too bad for a binge/out of control day.
I'm heading up to the treadmill now to do my 30 minutes. Will go to bed early and try to start over again tomorrow in a postive frame of mind. All I want for Christmas is a type B personality...
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mollymoo24
Senior Member
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Posted: 12 March 2008 12:07 am |
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Beth - you didn't dump on Joe. Its OK to ask for help, in fact, taking that step is a healthy thing to do. You have enough to deal with the emotional part and let him help with the business part. Supporting each other only makes you stronger.
I hope things go smoothly as can be expected under the circumstances. Once it is over, may it be a relief to move on with things. I'll be thinking of you. Keep us posted.
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 12 March 2008 12:20 am |
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MM, I did dump it on Joe and he ran with it! He loves to negotiate and it just makes me ill! I've always been the detail person in the partnership. Let him make the deal and then I'll handle the details. I wish I'd dumped it on him sooner. Well, maybe things are going to happen when they are supposed to.
Thanks, MM, for caring.
My itty bitty avatar is of Little Bit and Sissy. Little Bit is my little brown Puggy. She has attitude. Sissy is my little black and white Diva puppy. She is getting attitude.
The picture is too small. Maybe Joe can help me take another picture Friday that won't be so small.
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 12 March 2008 02:55 pm |
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182.2
Weight is bobbing a little. Looks like I'm losing about 1.5 lbs per week. I'd wanted to go a little faster, but I haven't been willing to work much harder to lose it. Anyway, I'm 54 and I don't want loose skin either, so I'll settle for this. Maybe some days I can work harder.
One thing I need to work on is presentation. I've been feeling like I wasn't doing too well because I didn't have that table setting with meat, veggie, salad, bread, etc. I think even though I'm not doing the old school eating, I could jazz up what I do eat a little better. I guess it's the old southern Aunt Bea syndrome. The table looks kind of bare. Flowers. Yes, I will get flowers for my table and use some good dishes for our plates of peas, fruits, and other veggies.
I'm feeling sluggish today. Not sick, just sluggish. It's not for lack of protein. Maybe it's from too much protein yesterday. Maybe I'm just sluggish for no reason. I need lots of energy to work on our patio. I want it to look like a New Orleans courtyard. They are so beautiful. At least my ideas aren't sluggish!
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 14 March 2008 06:08 am |
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182.6
I forgot to post today. I was so busy having fun in my yard. I am almost crippled from digging holes, cleaning gutters, painting wicker furniture, etc. Maybe all that will count as a mini workout.
I needed a day to just get lost in my projects. I had researched for a type of ivy that would provide some privacy on the back patio and Confederate Jasmine fit the bill. The flowers are supposed to have this wonderful fragrance. It is planted now and on its way to beauty. My New Orleans courtyard is coming along. Next I want to plant a banana plant. I am happy that my back is so much better since I've lost some weight. Gee, I can even dig holes now.
I figure winter is really gone. By the time fall rolls around, I should be close to the new me. The weight isn't coming off exactly 2 lbs per week, but it's coming off. New healthy eating habits are becoming that - habits. Seems I've traded by M&M's for spinach smoothies. That sounds gross, but with some Splenda, strawberries, and a banana, it is really good.
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Theresa
Senior Member
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Posted: 14 March 2008 11:11 am |
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I think that you are doing brilliantly at the weight loss Beth, keep up the good work!
My Mom in SA has a Pug doggy that looks like your one, I hope you can get the picture bigger. My mom's dog is Benji and he is the sweetest most polite and well mannered doggy. He also moans if he wants his tummy scratched or just to get attention. He reminds me of a little pompous elderly gentleman. But he is so cute and it seems as if he is a very wise and deep doggy. I think he thinks he's human.
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 14 March 2008 01:21 pm |
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Thanks Theresa. I love my little puggie so much. We wish we'd named her Yoda. She is a little rescue dog. She went to work with me for over a year and sat in a recliner all day and slept. She loves to sleep! Every morning I would ask her if she wanted to go to work and she'd either start for the door or not. Usually she went to work, though. She's a sweetie. Then we got Sissy in November. She's like living with a live pogo stick! She keeps us all moving!
181.8. That's -15.3 since Jan 9. This is good. For me, counting calories has been the key. On a low cal plan every bite counts. Every bite must do it's nutrition job. That leaves no room for junk food, fried food, or too much meat. I still feel funny not basing the meal on a meat, but I'm learning. I'm learning to eat lots of fruits and veggies. I never thought I'd learn to prefer fruits and veggies. I've also quit eating out. Maybe someday I'll be able to do that again. The portion size scares me and also the hidden calories. I'm also afraid I'll lose control and eat too much. I don't want to lose a week of weight loss for one pig out session! These days I feel guilty if I eat junk food. I guess I'm leaving the wild cravings behind and eating for the right reasons, for life and for good health.
Note for the file. Talked to the real estate agent and our big real estate deal may be a moot point. I'll be really surprised if the fellow can get the money. That's ok by me. I've realized after having two major days of paranoia and stress about all that that 1) I really do have issues with having a neighbor in my grandmother's house and 2) I must stay off the Benadryl. I have major allergies and when I start sneezing and my eyes start running and won't stop, Benadryl will usually stop it. However, I can't tolerate Benadryl. It makes me depressed and almost stoned. It may be time for a trip to the allergy specialist. Will avoid wheat for a couple of days and see if that helps. Lord, I hope I'm not allergic to spinach and apples!
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mollymoo24
Senior Member
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Posted: 15 March 2008 02:22 am |
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15.3 pounds - that's great Beth! A well deserved for you. You are really pushing hard with all those veg and fruits.
Has Joe tasted the spinach smoothie? Just wondering. How's he doing with cardiac rehab? Hoping he's continuing with the baby steps, I know simply not eating out so often should be a help to the waistline.
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 15 March 2008 02:46 am |
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MM, I was juicing before I started the smoothies. Mr. Joe won't try my smoothies because they are greenish brown. When I was juicing, Joe was getting spinach in his juice and he didn't know it. If I can hide the green, he won't figure it out. He starts rehab in about a week. I need to start juicing him again. I do my strangely colored smoothies when he's at work. If you put blueberries in them, they turn a mauve color. Every afternoon around 5:30 I sit on my patio and drink a smoothie and play like it's a Margarita.
We went to Cici's pizza today. It is an all you can eat place. I took my own fat free salad dressing and had salad and chicken noodle soup that had no chicken. I didn't eat any noodles. So it is possible to stay on program and go out to the WORST of places. It was ok. I enjoyed myself and was glad I seem to have some self-control. Joe ate everything he could get his hands on. He said he'd been a good boy for too long (at least a week.) He is losing weight. Maybe the cardio people can get him motivated.
I notice I have lots of energy. I also naturally threw off the first upper respiratory infection in years last week. Normally, that would have lasted about a month and I would have gone for antibiotics when I got tired of feeling half dead. I think my immune system is back.
Oh well, as far as I am concerned, you really can't be too rich or too thin. I can make the thin happen.
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 16 March 2008 01:04 am |
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182 this a.m.
Boy have I sinned. I went to the catfish house with some friends and had fried catfish, hushpuppies and coleslaw. It was so wonderful and we had such a good time. I'll probably weigh 200 tomorrow morning.
Will have to get back "with it" tomorrow. I'd been eating hummus all day and it just wasn't enough. Too many slip ups like this will postpone my weight loss finish goal. Oh well - I did enjoy the catfish. One change I did make was to leave off the fried potatoes and substitute turnip greens. I did eat one superfood today! I think I'll plan for another fall off around July 4. If I'm good until then, I can sin again.
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 16 March 2008 01:29 pm |
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183.2
I expected to gain weight/water from last night's catfish and I was right. 1.2 lbs. I'm sure a lot of this is from the salt in the batter.
I am so tired today. Was also going to blame that on the catfish, but I realized I spent most of the day working on my outside gutters. I fight pine straw year around. I found some gutter guards with tiny screens on top that should eliminate my gutter problems for a few years. A miracle!
I hope we don't have a drought this year. Last year's drought was the worst I can ever remember. My house is 37 years old and has lots of brick retaining walls around it and an exposed gravel type of pool deck. All of that cracked last year after it had stood the test of time for 36 years. That's how bad the drought affected us last year. One major project will be to repair the cracks in the deck. I must stay healthy so I can be our maintenance man.
It looks like the brush in the woods is filling in with leaves. We are being bombarded with pollen. Spring is definitely here. I love it. I love playing outside. Can't wait to swim this year. Gotta stay off that catfish so I can fit in my swim suit!
My focus today will be eating healthy. I think I need something more than hummus and fruit. I also had eaten flatbread yesterday with the hummus. I realize I just can't do bread and do right. Any type of bread/grain just seems to do something to me. No matter what type it is, I just can't seem to get enough of it and I spiral out of control. Therefore, I will try to just avoid it more than ever. I think if I hadn't eaten that flatbread I wouldn't have come up with the bright idea to eat fried catfish and hush puppies and so much of it. I was the ring leader of that deal. At the very least I could have chosen broiled catfish. It was certainly an option and it is great tasting. No need to beat myself up over it. Just tweak what I do as I go along to achieve maximum success. If there is a problem, recognize it, correct it and move on.
Live and learn! Live and learn. Thank heavens for moments of clarity.
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mollymoo24
Senior Member
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Posted: 16 March 2008 03:19 pm |
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You've been doing really well Beth. I don't know if they have 'gutter cleaning' in the activity calculator but it sounds like you burned off a lot of that catfish anyway. Have a great day today. I hope the sun's out by you, we are still in the clouds here. Ugh!
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 18 March 2008 02:18 am |
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181.6
I guess I'm back to normal from the catfish. Didn't eat too much today, so I should be back on track. I ate hot wings yesterday and didn't realize how many, many calories are in them. I guess I'll lop that off the list, too. I guess the hot wings were another "play like" food. I suppose I'd been eating them for years and playing like they didn't have so many calories. I guess they are battered and fried and then rolled in the good stuff. Should have known..
I've been painting wicker furniture and getting my patio decorated for the summer. I know that's not in the exercise list, but being as how I'm beginning to feel like my right arm should have 2x as many muscles as the left and I've been heaving 40# bags of potting soil, I'll say I've been working off some calories. Those 40 pound bags...now I only have 1.25 of them to lose! Yea!!! I won't be drinking Mint Juleps on the Veranda, but I will certainly enjoy my cool, refreshing filtered water. Soon the wonderful Basil and other herbs will be in full swing. Just planted a fence line of confederate jasmine. My extended room will soon smell as heavenly as it looks. I'm glad I've learned to enjoy beautiful things and wonderful scents and beautiful days instead of just eating all the time and feeling guilty about it.
Life is good.
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Hisgal
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 18 March 2008 02:08 pm |
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Beth wrote:
Soon the wonderful Basil and other herbs will be in full swing. Just planted a fence line of confederate jasmine. My extended room will soon smell as heavenly as it looks. I'm glad I've learned to enjoy beautiful things and wonderful scents and beautiful days instead of just eating all the time and feeling guilty about it.
Ooooooooooh! I can't wait! I've driven to work the last two mornings in fresh snow! At least I know spring is coming.............we had 2 days in the low 50's last week...........only 30's and 40's this week, but soon I can be out in my flower beds and back to my 8 hrs of lawn mowing a week Bring on spring.............except my clothes won't fit yet Gotta keep working on that
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 20 March 2008 02:34 am |
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I am so tired. I don't know what I weigh. Will check tomorrow. I got up first time this morning at 4:00 because Little Bit was afraid of the weather and wanted me to hold her. We had heavy winds all day and all night yesterday. It was fairly creepy since I live amongst so many huge trees.
Today I dug out my trenches down the side of the house and out by the pool. Seems like I spend half my life turning water. My house is downhill from the pool, so I have lots of hills and valleys and french drains to work on.
Anyway, I should have lost something since I've been working like a dog and eating properly. Life is just moving on along.
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mollymoo24
Senior Member
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Posted: 21 March 2008 02:25 am |
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| Hey Babe, doing all that yard work is tiring but so good for you. Spring time is the time of renewal. Hope Little Bit and the rest of the gang let you get some sleep tonight. Your yard sounds lovely.
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 21 March 2008 03:57 am |
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Did another full day in the yard. Painted the wrought iron table and chairs today. I am in true pain with my back. I took off to Lowe's for more paint and my garage door kept going back up. I finally realized it was hitting a board I'd moved. So I attempted to get out of that huge truck and missed the running board and hit the ground with one leg at least instead of just falling on my face. Driving that Ford is like driving a huge ship. I am such a klutz...I've got to be more careful. I'm used to my little Honda CRV. Gotta adjust the jumping out of the vehicle thing.
Looks like I may be down another pound or so. Good. I deserve it.
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 23 March 2008 01:47 pm |
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180.4# Losing slowly, slowly, slowly
I haven't been walking and went out to eat two Saturdays in a row. I did a little better last night and got fried catfish but ate only a bite or two. Managed to eat lots of salad and green beans and enough of the bad stuff to get a taste.
Joe and I have got the grandkids coming today for an Easter egg hunt. We went to Walmart and bought them small chocolate bunnies and plastic eggs filled with M&M's and bubblegum. I have been so hungry for the last few days, I told Joe if we were real creeps, we could eat the bunnies ourselves and just not tell anyone. He was the strong one and said No, No, No! I did eat the M&M's out of one of the eggs and managed to get away from it all and just go to sleep.
Today should be interesting since we basically bought the junk food the kids live on for today's lunch. It's pitiful.. boxed macaroni, frozen fried chicken strips, candy. If I try to feed them healthy food, it will just go in the garbage. I think I'll make myself a big salad and have green beans on the side and just let the rest of them kill themselves as usual. Today isn't a day to try to change the world. I'll just go with the flow.
My New Orleans courtyard is beautiful! Even if I have to hobble out there with my aching back from overdoing it. Is having OCD really so awful! You get so much done!!! I'm the mover and the shaker and hubby is the negotiator!
I've got to get walking this week and doing some exercise. My skin is looking droopy and the weight is coming off too slowly for my taste. I know the exercise will be the key. I'm through with all my slave labor in the yard. I just got 99% of my projects that were in the garage either painted or moved into the house. I have shopped for my house until I've run out of room and I'm burned out on refurbishing things. I've still got one antique chair to refinish/recover. Even got the rubber glued back on my old-timey Samsonite rolling traveling suitcase. I'm getting ready to go by air, by land, or by sea!
My next focus needs to be on me. Getting me refurbished and recovered, toned, shaped, embellished, etc. , whatever. September is right around the corner and I want to at least get to 140 before my birthday. My friend MM is doing so well. She's at 163#. If she can do it, maybe I can, too! Tomorrow I will get back to my reinvention of self!
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mollymoo24
Senior Member
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Posted: 23 March 2008 02:59 pm |
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Happy Easter!  Sounds like you have a lovely day ahead with the Grandkids and your beautiful courtyard. The whole thought of it all sounds so special and welcoming. All that hard work you do really pays off at times like this. You are really doing some of the right things in life.
And...you are almost to the Spectacular Seventies - you will get there this week!! Good job only having a little of the catfish, that's the way to do it. I am sorry your aching back is slowing you down but hope now that the yard work is about done you'll start feeling up to walking and/or toning. I do 20-25 minutes of toning every 2nd or 3rd day, and it is starting to add up. 
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 23 March 2008 08:29 pm |
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All the kids here young and old had a wonderful time. It was almost a perfect Easter. If my daughter had made it home, it would have been perfect. However, it was still absolutely wonderful.
I ate like an absolute pig. Cake and two processed food chicken strips, a roll... Will get back on my program now. Sent all the fattening stuff home with the kids. Had to get it out of the house so I can be back on track. Will need to work some more on being able to dine out and with family and stay on program. I did avoid the boxed macaroni and cheese and I did sent it all away after it was over. That is an improvement over this time last year.
I probably won't see the 170's for a few days. I guess that will be ok. I enjoyed living life to the fullest today.
Happy Easter to us all!
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 23 March 2008 09:16 pm |
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hay beth! sounds like you had a great time! nice job on making improvements over last year! that's a lot!
i pulled this from what you wrote in molly's journal becasue i have said the exact same thing about myself
It was in California. It was so breathtakingly beautiful I made myself memorise it in my mind. I wanted it to be there for a lifetime. I often revisit that place during meditation. I hope to physically get back there someday.... I left a part of my soul there. I still feel like something went wrong on the assembly line to place me in Mississippi...I've never felt like I belong here. (insert minnesota where you have mississippi and that's me!)
my soul belongs to san fransisco. hey, i'll meet you in cali in a meditation trip, eh?!
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 24 March 2008 03:14 pm |
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179.6 Unbelievable!
Still lost that pound despite the junk food.
Yesterday was such a wonderful day. I finally ended the day by going to church by myself. I'm not a regular. Have such issues with the dogma I've encountered in this life. Anyway, I go to a little church in the middle of the ghetto. It is very liberal, very low pressure, very twelve step oriented. Most folks there are twelve step and usually, to find out about the church, someone in your program tells you about it. It is a very spiritual place. Everyone is welcome. There are millionaires and there are poverty stricken folks from the neighborhood. What a special place!
We had prayer time and communion. Before I left, I had taken communion, had a private prayer with my minister (He also married Joe and me in '97 and boy was that a spiritual experience,) had gotten myself anointed in gratitude and had received a beautiful Easter Lily. My God, what a wonderful experience. So peaceful and so simple. And all I had to do was to get up off of it and go down there. I think that must be the way of Grace. I need to learn more.
It will be a wonderful day her in Mississippi. The sun is shining. I have a little bird's nest in my garage. One of my window panes is out and the mama bird usually flies out when I go into the garage. I cleaned out the garage last week and didn't move the nest. Soon we'll have little babies in the front yard!
As I am feeling all grateful, I must say how grateful I am for this forum. It is a wonderful place to heal. I was so fat and had lost my self respect. It feels wonderful to be getting myself back. As we say, One Day at a Time!
Thanks to all!
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Hisgal
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 24 March 2008 05:31 pm |
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Beth wrote:
Today should be interesting since we basically bought the junk food the kids live on for today's lunch. It's pitiful.. boxed macaroni, frozen fried chicken strips, candy. If I try to feed them healthy food, it will just go in the garbage.
Oh man, Beth, did I ever relate to that comment! We had our 3 grandkids from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon..........and Friday night's meal was a disaster. The oldest one doesn't like meat, (unless it's Chicken Nuggets or sausage on a pizza-is that considered meat?) and it's always a battle. I knew it wouldn't be fun, but I'd made broccoli with cheese for one veggie and mixed veggies for another. Of course, he threw a fit when he saw the grilled turkey burger on his plate! After much argument, I agreed to let him forgo the turkey burger, if he'd eat a big serving of EACH veggie. He agreed readily, as he downed the fresh fruit..........and stalled on the veggies! After about 45 minutes of "I hate these" "you can't make me eat them"..............and me leaving him at the table to do just that, he finally ate them! Of course, that was after a "You know what I hate about you grandma? You always make me eat healthy food at your house! My other Grandma doesn't make me eat healthy!" Of course, I just talked to him about what all those unhealthy foods do to his body, and how I wanted him to live a long time, so we can have lots of years and fun together. Twenty minutes after supper, he was telling me he'd had cheesy broccoli twice already that week! BUSTED! So he does eat it! I guess grandkids test us just like our own kids did!
It sounds worse than it was, as he is this way anytime he has to try a new food. His mom goes through it too! The thing I had on my side, is that I know his mother makes him try everything........and he always has to eat his veggies for her! She faces the same battles.........my poor daughter! LOL It's OK, I know times she did the same thing to me when she was little. Now the grandson likes many foods that he tried to refuse to eat the first time! He did the same thing with ham for Easter dinner yesterday. She let him get away with it for dinner at my sister-in-laws, but for supper at the other Grandma, she laid down the law and made him eat some ham! Afterwards he raved about how good it was and how much he liked it! Kids!
I made the decision to only have 2 Easter candies in our house this year. Was it ever hard not to buy those peanut butter eggs! But we picked up some of our favorite flavors of Jelly Bellies and yellow Peeps...........there's sugar, but at least no fat in either one. At least then when the hubs is tempted, he won't be raising his cholesterol any more! Besides, I really do think you need an occasional treat, so you don't go bonkers and binge! How is your hubs doing on his healthy eating?
God's grace is amazing! He's just there waiting, with open arms, to welcome us in! It's so sad that more don't come get their free gift...........good thing God is so patient with us I love Easter and the Easter message of this totally free gift of forgiveness, no matter what we've done or will do! It's such a HUGE message of God's love for us!
Happy Easter, Beth! Here's a little of His "SON-shine" for you 
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mollymoo24
Senior Member
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Posted: 24 March 2008 11:51 pm |
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Congrats on the reaching the Seventies.
I am also excited to read about the sense of peace, and balance that you are experiencing Beth. This journey to health and renewed self is wonderful.
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Beth
Senior Member
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Posted: 26 March 2008 12:03 am |
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180.6 Bobbing
It's been a pretty stressful two days due to some events happening on the business front. Managed to do the right things, though. Also walked both days.
I have apparently overdone it in the yard, so my back is really sore. |
