Posts by crazypotato98

Week 5:  FOOD, FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD !!!!

Well all deserve to treat ourselves, but the trick is to keep yourself from overindulging.  Tell us how you deal with these tempting occassions to keep yourself in control.... or, if you do  go crazy now and then, how you make up for it later on.

Hmm, what do I do...well, first of all, I don't eat it if it isn't super-tempting. Here at my job (City Hall), there are constant treat offerings of things like Mexican sweet bread, pieces of cake, donuts, etc. But if it isn't something that I just ADORE, I try to not eat it and instead wrap it up (because they always INSIST that I take some) and bring it home to my hubby and 14 year-old stepson whom are both thin as a rail and love eating things like that with coffee before bed or in the mornings. It's not tempting then because I know it is for THEM and I'd be too embarrassed to eat it myself when they're expecting a treat.

Secondly, if it is super-tempting (i.e., cheesecake, Hershey's chocolate), I allow myself some, because I've made the mistake in the past of restricting too much and then going nuts and eating an entire pizza with two packages of cookies.

If I'm going to a restaurant, let me say first of all that we rarely eat out. Financially things are very tight, so if someone invites me out, I'm going to enjoy the occasion because it's rare. Perhaps I'll eat whatever sounds good, and if there is a next time, then NEXT time I'll get the dieter's plate. So far that has worked well and kept me from binging. It's also hard to binge when you're poor; the whole time I'm feeling guilty knowing I'm depriving my husband and stepson of food that ought to be theirs that I wasted money buying junk instead. When things get less tight financially, I'll have to figure out some new strategies, but buying only the necessary things has become quite ingrained now and I doubt I'll be going too crazy buying junk even when we can afford it.

Hi, everybody. Last night I went ahead and resumed exercising. I did a 30-minute circuit training video that I have. It has a 15-minute bonus section afterward using light hand weights, but I decided instead to try to tack it on to the toning workout I'm planning for tonight. I didn't want to do the same type of exercise two days in a row. I got through the workout easily and felt like I could have gone longer...definitely it's time to start getting some new exercise videos.

I'm improving daily -- still somewhat congested but my head pain is gone. Nose not running quite so much. I don't feel nearly as tired now.

Calling out to Keegan, JMH, Immom, Marlies...everybody else...it seems like we're having less participation in this group now, but perhaps that's because of the holidays. Can everybody stick with it when Christmas is over? I've got to say, it's been a great motivator for me personally. Knowing how you all are doing helps me loads.

Sounds good, Keegan. Don't let your mom stuff you full of the unhealthy food while you're there...and remember that fish is very good for you and super low-cal.

We're having friends over for dinner on Sunday. I'm serving the typical American turkey dinner to our Mexican friends for the second year in a row, but I'll try to behave myself and not go too nuts with overeating. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, and cranberry relish. We've invited 10 people.

I weighed myself today and was the same as last week, but that's fine because it's TTOM and I historically do not lose weight that week. At least it wasn't HIGHER than last week...plus, I weighed myself in the afternoon instead of the morning because I was busy this morning. I hope next Thursday to have a decent weigh-in...I'm feeling somewhat better today and I think I'll resume exercising tonight. It will have been a full week since I exercised, last Thursday night. I should be able to make it through a whole workout, I think. My head barely hurts now, but I'm still somewhat congested in my ears and nose. I think by Sunday I'll probably feel much better.

I'll report on my workout tomorrow and how it goes. I think I'll do cardio...

Yeah, yesterday evening I still felt lousy but I couldn't just go and lie down because we were all out of groceries so I had to wait until my husband came home so I could take the car (and just my luck -- he had to work late) and go to the store. Then, you know there's the putting of the groceries away, then the preparing in advance of a meal for tonight because meeting (church) is tonight at 7:00 and even if I don't feel well enough to go, the guys have to eat something. At least I got a good night's sleep...

So I have an idea: if Marlies isn't back by the end of the week (and I hope she is), I'll post a challenge for everyone perhaps on Sunday. Sound ok? Right now I don't feel like challenging anything except my pillow...

Yeah, they have a bunch of diet ads, too. Like "follow this simple rule and lose 100 lbs," and some-such nonsense. I feel 'ya, Keegan. Yesterday my coworker brought four of those GIANT chocolate candy bars. They're here in the breakroom cabinet. I'm so tempted to take one home...but if I do, I'll eat the whole thing. So I'd better not. Plus, there was pineapple cake this afternoon (coworker's baby shower), but I wrapped my piece up in plastic and am taking it home to be eaten by hubby or stepson.

There's a weird handful of assorted leftovers at home and I'm really wishing I could just order pizza and be done with it...but I'm already up to almost 1,200 calories at 5:00 and plus pizza is super-expensive in Mexico. Oh, well. Let's see what I can come up with...

Yeah, Keegan is back! Missed you yesterday.

Well, I'm wearing jeans to work today. Feels good, but weird, since it's the first time I've done it. They're a good reminder of how far I've come but also that I'm not finished yet, since they squish me and give me a bit of a muffin top. If I were "done," I wouldn't have a muffin top to squish! So here's to continuing the fight to be healthy

Work sounds busy for you, JMH.

How was the soup, Keegan?

Immom, cleaning makes you feel sooo much better when you see your house afterward all spic and span. It makes me feel peaceful to have a clean house.

Yes, JMH, I went out and bought a belt at lunchtime. Much better! LOL

This morning I weighed myself and...voila! I had lost a pound since last week! I weighed in at 141.25. So I'll know for sure I'm on the right track when I finally dip below 140. I hope that's soon...I may continue to eat a higher number of cals until the holidays are over, mainly because my schedule will be different and it's much harder to stick to a lower number when you're out of your routine.

Maybe I can also get some new workout videos in January. I need something more challenging, I think, since I can't really increase the time I spend exercising without sacrificing something else.

 http://www.dunkeldesigns.com/images/Christmas -art2007/pages/snowman.htm

I kept trying to paste an image directly into my post, but it wouldn't let me...so this was the best I could do...

Keegan, you are a nut.

If it's any consolation, I miss the changing seasons very much, although I never cared much for winter in Illinois. Here it's almost always the same, day after day of sunny weather, although yesterday and today it actually *gasp* rained and was in the fifties. This is "winter" for the Laredoans who brag that they saw snow here about five years ago, which melted almost immediately. Just sad.

Let me see what I can do about a snowperson for us...I don't drink coffee (don't like the bitter taste, no matter how much sugar and cream you dump in there) so I've got all my faculties together.

Oh! And I almost forgot. Something else that helps with the chocolate: Swiss Miss no added sugar hot chocolate packets that I add to hot water. 50 calories, and it fills my tummy and satisfies the sweet/chocolate craving. Or any other hot chocolate mix, but that one is good because of the low cals. Just don't get the diet kind; it's disgusting!

Hello, everbody. JMH, what a relief to see you back! And yes, people -- family in particular -- can be super-annoying when it comes to your healthy choices. But I can assure you that we're all super-proud of you for what you did! That's why these forums exist -- because sometimes those nearest and dearest to you don't understand about this stuff, and the things they say can hurt and knock you off the wagon.

Keegan, whatever you ate yesterday (and maybe today), don't sweat the small stuff. It's just one day. There are 365 of those in a year, you know.

I decided that it was time to have a chocolate day. I had sworn to another group I belong to (schmooze and lose) a few months ago that I wouldn't eat chocolate until November 28th. Then I realized that I'd have two days off work this week and I'd much rather enjoy my chocolate when the house is quiet (since Thanksgiving is NOT a holiday in Mexico and hubby and stepson are at work and school), and since I've abstained so faithfully since September then eating it two days before was hardly cheating. So yesterday I enjoyed quite a lot of Hershey's nuggets with toffee and almond chips. So many, in fact, that I even went over maintenance just a bit, although I had fish and salad for lunch. But it was time. Now, I can pass up the chocolate on my coworker's desk without feeling deprived. I even ate ice cream -- and I'm lactose intolerant, so I thought I'd be super-sick, but not really. Maybe it will haunt me later today...

Something else I did: yesterday I went with a friend to what is called "la pulga," which is basically an open-air flea market/yard sale that is an ongoing thing here in Mexico. I desperately needed some new clothes to fit my new size, especially pants (8 in skirts/dresses, 9 in jeans). I must say that IT WAS A TREMENDOUS INSPIRATION TO ME TO COME HOME AND TRY EVERYTHING ON -- AND IT ALL FIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Except one pair of pants, too small, that cost me $2. Just ONE! It made me feel that all the hard work hasn't been in vain -- and it also made me excited about continuing to work on improving my body and physical fitness. I had been frustrated with the stupid plateaus and thinking that I would just stay this way, that I'd hit some kind of set point and my body just wouldn't rid itself of any more weight. But now I know that if I keep working, the rest will eventually come off -- and I'll just look that much better in my new clothes. I think it gave me the strength I needed to be able to resist my new coworker's many "treats" that she brings in daily, as well as the goodies I know will be pouring in at work in the coming weeks. I never knew that getting "new" clothes could do that for me. And especially since I only spent $38 on what was probably $300 or more worth of clothes! God bless la pulga!

Weighed in today at 142. Which is exactly the same number at which I weighed in last week...GRR...I'm reminding myself that perhaps I'm losing inches even if not pounds, but oh, it's so annoying!

Hi, everybody. Hope everybody's respective weeks are going well. Here's the recipe for Pepperered Steak with Mushroom Sauce:

6 beef tenderloin steaks or 3 beef top sirloin steaks, cut 1 inch thick (about 1 1/2 pounds total)

1 1/2 teaspoons dried whole green peppercorns, crushed, or 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning, crushed

1/4 teaspoon salt

Nonstick cooking spray

1/3 cup water

1/2 teaspoon instant beef bouillon granules

1 3-ounce package fresh shiitake mushrooms or 3 ounces other fresh mushrooms, sliced (about 1 1/4 cups)

1 cup reduced-fat milk

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 cup light dairy sour cream

3 cups hot cooked noodles

1) Trim fat from meat. For rub, in a small bowl combine peppercorns, 1 teaspoon of the Italian seasoning, and the salt. Sprinkle rub evenly over both sides of meat; press in with your fingers.

2) Coat an unheated large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat skillet over medium heat. Add meat; cook for 10-12 minutes or until medium doneness (160 F), turning once. Remove from skillet. Cover and keep warm.

3) Add the water and bouillon granules to skillet. Bring to boiling. Add mushrooms. Cook about 2 minutes or until tender. In a small bowl stir together the milk, flour, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Add to skillet. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in sour cream; heat through, but do not boil. Serve meat with noodles. Spoon sauce over meat and noodles.

336 calories, 6 servings. 11 g total fat (4 g sat. fat), 93 mg chol., 262 mg sodium, 26 g carbo, 1 g fiber, 31 g pro. Daily values: 5% vit A, 1 % vit C, 11% calcium, 26% iron.

Enjoy it, fellow Olympic Losers!

Original Post by marlyken:

weigh in: 179

I got down to 175, then ate 4 pieces of pieces of pizza...and apparently that weighs 5 pounds...so yeah...179.

  Love your sarcasm! LOL!

Keegan, ROTFOL!

I didn't remember mentioning the piano playing and singing. Last night I practiced a Beethoven sonata for 30 minutes...but that's not what you're all interested in! LOL

I also did a cardio salsa workout for 40 minutes. It's a pretty high-impact workout, I think, because you're constantly moving. Today is meeting (church), so I won't be exercising. When I grocery shopped last night, I planned ahead to make shrimp burritos, tilapia and broccoli, risotto w/carrots and zucchini, chicken and pasta, and pepper steak w/mushroom sauce. All recipes from my Better Homes and Gardens Dieter's cookbook, all recipes that my husband and kid have eaten and liked. So on Thursday when everybody else on the other side of the border is eating turkey, we'll probably be eating pepper steak and mushrooms.

There's a new girl at my job, and ever since she started she keeps bringing in all this tempting food! Today it's biscuits and cookies. So far this morning, I've stayed glued to my computer...but oh man, it's tempting! What's tough is not knowing how I'll do the rest of the day, meaning how hungry I will get, to know if I can fit something like that into my calorie allowance in the morning. Plus, treats always taste better when they're free...

Keegan, where are you located? State, city. I'm curious.

Marlies, I wish I could go to Switzerland. My favorite sport is figure skating, and my favorite skater is Swiss. His name is Stephane Lambiel. I'd love to see him skate live. I gather he's put on several shows in Europe, but not in the Western Hemisphere.