Today is the last day of the new foods challenge, I didn't quite make 10 new foods. My next challenge is supposed to be to eat vegetarian for 10 days. Although, since I'm not prepared to start that tomorrow and I have some meat in the fridge to consume first, I think I might make the next 10 days the challenge to eat 2 different fruits or vegetables at each of my big meals, so that I reach 6 servings a day and of a variety of vegetables and fruits. In the mean time I'll prepare for the vegetarian challenge by looking for meals and trying out some recipes.
So far I have the following for vegetarian meals:
Quiche (with vegetables, I'm thinking bell peppers, tomatoes, spinach and cheese)
Black Bean quesadillas
Vegetarian chili
Vegetarian enchiladas (with the leftover chili or quesadilla filling)
So I just need 6 more meals. I do have a vegetarian cookbook, so I should be able to find some there, I just don't like cooking with lentils, beans and tofu are OK.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Day 13
So I've done OK with the 30 day shred, except today I was interrupted mid workout by a baby poo emergency, or at least hubs swearing loudly and a lot and baby screaming. So I went to assist.
As for the new foods I'm adding to my diet here's what I've tried so far and my personal opinion. It's more likely an opinion on how well I can execute new recipes (i.e. no well).
Swiss Chard - the stems were boiled in a chicken stock then added to the frying pan with the leafy portion. The stems were good the leafy portion was bitter and gritty (maybe I didn't wash it well enough).
Dragon Fruit - good mild taste, it has the texture and watery-ness of a water melon and the taste of a kiwi
Parsnips - not bad, much like a potato, I roasted it with thyme. All the veggies in the roasting pan were dry, including the carrots. Next time I think I'll add a little chicken stock to the roasting pan.
Acorn Squash - good, sweet, a little dry again, probably due to the recipe, which was the same recipe as the parsnips.
On the docket still to try and in my fridge already: Rutabaga & fennel. I need to go shopping for 4 more new foods. I'm thinking one will be quinoa.
As for the new foods I'm adding to my diet here's what I've tried so far and my personal opinion. It's more likely an opinion on how well I can execute new recipes (i.e. no well).
Swiss Chard - the stems were boiled in a chicken stock then added to the frying pan with the leafy portion. The stems were good the leafy portion was bitter and gritty (maybe I didn't wash it well enough).
Dragon Fruit - good mild taste, it has the texture and watery-ness of a water melon and the taste of a kiwi
Parsnips - not bad, much like a potato, I roasted it with thyme. All the veggies in the roasting pan were dry, including the carrots. Next time I think I'll add a little chicken stock to the roasting pan.
Acorn Squash - good, sweet, a little dry again, probably due to the recipe, which was the same recipe as the parsnips.
On the docket still to try and in my fridge already: Rutabaga & fennel. I need to go shopping for 4 more new foods. I'm thinking one will be quinoa.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Day 11
After the first 10 day challenge I've lost 5 pounds, or 2.34% of my body weight. For measurements I've gained 1/2 and inch in all measurements, I'm thinking PMS is to blame :)
I purchased a 10 pound Shred book that has exercise and meal plans for 31 days, so I begin it today. This will be my exercise challenge for the next 31 days. My eating challenge for the next 10 days will be to follow the meal plan, but also to eat a new food every day of the meal plan, so it will require some food replacements.
Today I'll be replacing some of the vegetables in dinner with Swiss chard.
Other vegetables and fruits I'll be trying over the next 10 days:
Dragon fruit
Parsnips
Rutabaga
Swiss Chard
Artichoke
Spaghetti Squash
Acorn Squash
Pomello
I need to find a few more options, squashes are something I don't have a lot of in my diet so that's an easy replacement. I might also try the following which are rare in my diet: kale, avocado, sweet potato. Although I really want to try things I've never had before.
I purchased a 10 pound Shred book that has exercise and meal plans for 31 days, so I begin it today. This will be my exercise challenge for the next 31 days. My eating challenge for the next 10 days will be to follow the meal plan, but also to eat a new food every day of the meal plan, so it will require some food replacements.
Today I'll be replacing some of the vegetables in dinner with Swiss chard.
Other vegetables and fruits I'll be trying over the next 10 days:
Dragon fruit
Parsnips
Rutabaga
Swiss Chard
Artichoke
Spaghetti Squash
Acorn Squash
Pomello
I need to find a few more options, squashes are something I don't have a lot of in my diet so that's an easy replacement. I might also try the following which are rare in my diet: kale, avocado, sweet potato. Although I really want to try things I've never had before.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Days 7 & 8
Still working on the first challenge, I've pretty much given up on the exercise portion of the challenge. Today has been particularly hard as I'm craving sweets right now.
Interestingly, I've given up many grains other than rice and corn, and I find myself a lot less "windy". Victoria has the same issue when she's eating wheat and oat cereals, but she's fine on rice cereal.
Interestingly, I've given up many grains other than rice and corn, and I find myself a lot less "windy". Victoria has the same issue when she's eating wheat and oat cereals, but she's fine on rice cereal.
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Day 5 & 6
Well the weekends are harder than the weekdays to manage my intake. Saturday I didn't get my leafy green again, but Sunday I did get the leafy green and the orange vegetable.
As for exercise, none Saturday, but Sunday I intend to walk to the videao store and bank, so that is at least 2km. No running though, it hurts my joints too much. I'll have to figure out some new exercise challenges that are easier on my joints and can be accomplished at home or at least with the baby. Ultimately I'd like to achieve the 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day that is recommended by ParticipACTION.
I did weight myself yesterday, although I think I should wait until the end of each 10 day challenge. I've lost 1.5 pounds so far, we'll see where I'm at on Friday morning which begins the next challenge.
As for exercise, none Saturday, but Sunday I intend to walk to the videao store and bank, so that is at least 2km. No running though, it hurts my joints too much. I'll have to figure out some new exercise challenges that are easier on my joints and can be accomplished at home or at least with the baby. Ultimately I'd like to achieve the 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day that is recommended by ParticipACTION.
I did weight myself yesterday, although I think I should wait until the end of each 10 day challenge. I've lost 1.5 pounds so far, we'll see where I'm at on Friday morning which begins the next challenge.
Friday, June 03, 2011
Day 4
Well, still no exercise today and the eating was pretty good considering the amount of temptation I was presented with today. Friday's are coffee and goodies with the ladies from my baby classes there are about 6 to 10 that meet regularly, but there must have been 15 of us today and everyone brought goodies to share! There are actually 35 of us in the group all together, and it keeps growing because we invite other mom's we meet at other groups. Hubby and I also went out for breakfast, and to a movie tonight. Here's what I ate though.
Breakfast: Coffee with sweetener 2 milk, 1 cream and an omelet with ham rolled into a crepe and grilled like a panini. Also 1/2 a large plate of fresh fruit.
Snack: 3 dried apricots
Lunch: Nothing - big breakfast
Snack: 1 vegan bliss ball about the size of a large marble, 2 sips of a frappaccino
Dinner: Chicken salad with cheese and blackberries and asian sesame dressing
Snack: 1/4 bag of small movie popcorn and 6 gulps of a small movie cola
Water: 5 bottles
I might have something overnight. Last night Victoria was waking me up every hour until 4am when I gave up and took her to bed with me (where she tossed and turned for 45 minutes). I had a yogurt as I was pretty hungry at 3am after giving her a bottle. I think I might have had either cashews and dried cranberries too, or more dried apricots, but my memory from last night is a little fuzzy.
My next challenge is going to be 10 new fruits and vegetables, I have a recipe for roasted veggies that has 3 vegetables I've never had before, so I haven't decided if I get 2 days off from something new or if I should aim for 12 new items. Ultimately I'd like to try something new every day, but at least I have a little leeway.
Breakfast: Coffee with sweetener 2 milk, 1 cream and an omelet with ham rolled into a crepe and grilled like a panini. Also 1/2 a large plate of fresh fruit.
Snack: 3 dried apricots
Lunch: Nothing - big breakfast
Snack: 1 vegan bliss ball about the size of a large marble, 2 sips of a frappaccino
Dinner: Chicken salad with cheese and blackberries and asian sesame dressing
Snack: 1/4 bag of small movie popcorn and 6 gulps of a small movie cola
Water: 5 bottles
I might have something overnight. Last night Victoria was waking me up every hour until 4am when I gave up and took her to bed with me (where she tossed and turned for 45 minutes). I had a yogurt as I was pretty hungry at 3am after giving her a bottle. I think I might have had either cashews and dried cranberries too, or more dried apricots, but my memory from last night is a little fuzzy.
My next challenge is going to be 10 new fruits and vegetables, I have a recipe for roasted veggies that has 3 vegetables I've never had before, so I haven't decided if I get 2 days off from something new or if I should aim for 12 new items. Ultimately I'd like to try something new every day, but at least I have a little leeway.
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Day 3
Not such a good day today - no walk/jog with the dog. I also had an extra coffee and an alcoholic mixed drink.
Breakfast: Oatmeal with peach yogurt, and 1 hard boiled egg white coffee with sweetener and skim milk
Snack: 2 coffees - 1 with cream and sugar, the other with sweetener and skim milk
Lunch: Pineapple chicken with red peppers on brown rice
Dinner: Beef noodle back with spinach and green peppers
Snack: 6 apricots and alcoholic drink
Water: 5 bottles
Made the orange vegetable goal today (twice), but only 1/2 the leafy green.
On the upside, at least I didn't eat the donut my in-laws brought for me.
Breakfast: Oatmeal with peach yogurt, and 1 hard boiled egg white coffee with sweetener and skim milk
Snack: 2 coffees - 1 with cream and sugar, the other with sweetener and skim milk
Lunch: Pineapple chicken with red peppers on brown rice
Dinner: Beef noodle back with spinach and green peppers
Snack: 6 apricots and alcoholic drink
Water: 5 bottles
Made the orange vegetable goal today (twice), but only 1/2 the leafy green.
On the upside, at least I didn't eat the donut my in-laws brought for me.
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Day 2
Pretty much the same today as yesterday. I did 7 intervals with the dog, and house cleaning.
Breakfast: Cereal with skim milk, coffee with sweetener and skim milk
Snack: Yogurt
Lunch: Salad with chicken, cheese and 15 blackberries
Dinner: Pineapple chicken on brown rice
Snack: Coffee with cream and sugar (while out walking the dog)
Water: I don't remember, but probably 6 or 7 like yesterday, I do drink a lot of water at least.
Tomorrow hubby has to work late, so I'll be having leftovers for dinner tomorrow. Tomorrow I also plan to start the baby on egg yolk, so I'll be having the whites with the centres filled with unsweetened applesauce, which is apparently called a sweet tooth round in one of the recipe books I have.
Jogging was difficult tonight, my calves and shins really hurt with every step, but I pushed through. I'd like to have 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous exercise that is recommended for children, so that I can make sure my daughter is getting the right foods and exercise for her body when she's old enough to start doing that.
Breakfast: Cereal with skim milk, coffee with sweetener and skim milk
Snack: Yogurt
Lunch: Salad with chicken, cheese and 15 blackberries
Dinner: Pineapple chicken on brown rice
Snack: Coffee with cream and sugar (while out walking the dog)
Water: I don't remember, but probably 6 or 7 like yesterday, I do drink a lot of water at least.
Tomorrow hubby has to work late, so I'll be having leftovers for dinner tomorrow. Tomorrow I also plan to start the baby on egg yolk, so I'll be having the whites with the centres filled with unsweetened applesauce, which is apparently called a sweet tooth round in one of the recipe books I have.
Jogging was difficult tonight, my calves and shins really hurt with every step, but I pushed through. I'd like to have 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous exercise that is recommended for children, so that I can make sure my daughter is getting the right foods and exercise for her body when she's old enough to start doing that.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Day 1
One day almost complete and it's gone pretty good so far. Here's what I ate:
Breakfast: 1 Minute Oatmeal with 100ml of blackberry yogurt (35 cal 0 fat). Coffee with Splenda and skim milk
Snack: Unsweetened Applesauce
Lunch: 1 large romaine heart (probably 3 to 4 cups). Small handful of dried cranberries, small handful of cashews, 3 slices of low fat old cheddar cheese, 1/3 cup chicken cubes and Asian Sesame Dressing.
Snack: Coffee with Cream and Sugar
Dinner: Tilapia Fish with Hosein sauce almonds and pecans, 1 cup shanghai bok choi with oyster sauce, 14 baby carrots (raw).
Water: 6 bottles so far, I'll probably reach 7 (or 3.5 litres or 3.5 US quarts).
It's 10pm now, so I doubt I'll need a last evening snack, but if I do then I'll have a mango.
I also did 7 walk/jog intervals with the dog this evening, so I'm wide awake now. I also noticed that when I jog, even a light jog, unexpected things jiggle, like my bottom. Being rectangle shaped and a control freak, I've never had a jiggly bottom before.
I recorded my weight this morning, I forgot to do my measurements, so I'll do that tomorrow. I'll blog about any weight and/or inches lost after each 10 day challenge.
Breakfast: 1 Minute Oatmeal with 100ml of blackberry yogurt (35 cal 0 fat). Coffee with Splenda and skim milk
Snack: Unsweetened Applesauce
Lunch: 1 large romaine heart (probably 3 to 4 cups). Small handful of dried cranberries, small handful of cashews, 3 slices of low fat old cheddar cheese, 1/3 cup chicken cubes and Asian Sesame Dressing.
Snack: Coffee with Cream and Sugar
Dinner: Tilapia Fish with Hosein sauce almonds and pecans, 1 cup shanghai bok choi with oyster sauce, 14 baby carrots (raw).
Water: 6 bottles so far, I'll probably reach 7 (or 3.5 litres or 3.5 US quarts).
It's 10pm now, so I doubt I'll need a last evening snack, but if I do then I'll have a mango.
I also did 7 walk/jog intervals with the dog this evening, so I'm wide awake now. I also noticed that when I jog, even a light jog, unexpected things jiggle, like my bottom. Being rectangle shaped and a control freak, I've never had a jiggly bottom before.
I recorded my weight this morning, I forgot to do my measurements, so I'll do that tomorrow. I'll blog about any weight and/or inches lost after each 10 day challenge.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
100 Day Challenge
It's 103 days until my 39th birthday. I've decided to challenge myself to eating healthier and exercising for 100 days, therefore my challenge begins May 31. I've looked up a few websites for 100 days eating and exercising challenges. I did find one for eating real foods that I kind of like their concept of taking 10 day mini challenges, so I'm going to adopt that idea with respect to my eating and exercising habits.
Overall, I really do eat a lot of easy convenience food that might not be all that colourful, I also tend to eat 3 larger meals and then get really hungry at night. I also live a very sedentary lifestyle.
My first challenges need to make baby steps to change these habits, but also be a challenge and change in behaviour. Ultimately I'd like to get to the point where I'm doing the 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day that is recommended for children, and to eat mostly fresh, real food for all my meals.
Eating Challenge #1
Eat one leafy dark green and one yellow fruit or vegetable every day
Exercising Challenge #1
Interval training in jogging every day with the dog - 1 block jog, 1 block walk for at least 6 intervals, but preferrably 10.
Some other challenges I'm thinking of for myself:
Eating:
Exercising:
Overall, I really do eat a lot of easy convenience food that might not be all that colourful, I also tend to eat 3 larger meals and then get really hungry at night. I also live a very sedentary lifestyle.
My first challenges need to make baby steps to change these habits, but also be a challenge and change in behaviour. Ultimately I'd like to get to the point where I'm doing the 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day that is recommended for children, and to eat mostly fresh, real food for all my meals.
Eating Challenge #1
Eat one leafy dark green and one yellow fruit or vegetable every day
Exercising Challenge #1
Interval training in jogging every day with the dog - 1 block jog, 1 block walk for at least 6 intervals, but preferrably 10.
Some other challenges I'm thinking of for myself:
Eating:
- 2 different fruits or vegetables with every major meal (brekfast, lunch and dinner)
- No eating out - and that includes coffee
- No processed foods
- No foods that result in something going to the garbage dump - recycling and composting is OK (i.e. stickers off fruit from super markets, twist ties off bags of bread or milk, pull tabs off milk and juice cartons etc).
- Vegetarian for 10 days
Exercising:
- 10 exercise ball and 10 weight training exercises every day
- 10 exercises using only my own body
- Swimming daily for 10 days
- Games of basketball or soccerball with family
Would love to get some ideas from all of you with respect to eating and exercising.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Personal Epiphanies on Weight Loss
Today I had a personal epiphany or two on weight loss. I have struggled with my weight since graduating university 15 years ago. At that time I wanted to lose 20 pounds, now I'd like to lose 60. Before I really began struggling with my weight, I made some comments about weight gain that were hurtful, stupid and ignorant. Today I know how much those comments hurt, because I've received the same ones myself. There is nothing I could say to take away the pain caused, but I now know and have known for some time how much it hurts and how deeply sorry I am for the thoughtless comments. Now for the epiphanies.
- I know that if someone I cared about were to lose weight, I would be deeply happy for them. However, whether they lost or agained 100 or more pounds, would not change one iota how much I care for, love and appreciate them. I know (now) the same is true in their regard and love for me, I didn't know this, in my heart, yesterday. I might have known it had someone pointed it out to me, it's pretty obvious.
- Although the love and care my friends have for me would not change based on any weight loss or gain, how I feel about myself would change. I've lost the weight once, and I felt free. I can't say I was completely happy with myself or my body, I didn't feel as happy or attractive as I thought I might, but I did feel free. Free from what you might ask. Free from the weight, from putting myself down when clothing didn't fit or look as good as I would have liked it to look. Free from comments about my weight.
I've begun a new weight loss journey and my motto (when I remember it) has been that "I'm practicing being healthier" so I won't eat perfectly every day. I've lost 6 pounds over the last month, maybe with my new epiphanies, and if I put my motto in places where I will see it every day, I'll feel better about whatever progress I do make.
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