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COUNTDOWN CLUB: AUGUST(see link to new thread)

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* pats self on back *

 

Here I am in the Carolinas... lemme give you all a small tidbit of the weather:

Sunday:  Set to bake... SUNNY, 103
Monday:  Set to broil... SUNNY, 102
Tuesday:  Have a taste of hell... SUNNY, 101
Wednesday:  Welcome to the surface of the sun... PARTLY CLOUDY, 98
Thursday:  Bring out the firehose... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS, 89
Friday:  Buckets of boiling water...  SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS, 90

In other news, Molly posed a question, and here's the answer:


What sorts of things do you like on your salad? Favorite dressings? Favorite things to add? Do you like unusual salads, or are you a pretty down-to-earth-basic salad eater?

My salads get to be so huge and intricate that I eat them as a meal, not as an appetizer.  I like to start with either mixed greens or spinach as a base, sometimes both.  I like to add pine nuts, peanuts, and walnuts.  Sometimes I like to add chicken to it too.  I put pineapple and mandarin oranges on top.  On the traditional side, I add carrots, cucumbers, occasionally tomatoes and green and red peppers.  Raw peas, lima beans, or corn are a plus as well.  I also add (shredded) parmesan cheese and sometimes colby-jack, for the color.  I like baby corn, but I can't always find it.  I tried raw zucchini and squash in salad, but I don't typically add it in, but will choose it in a Turkish restaurant.

When it comes to salad dressings, it depends on what I have or what is offered to me.  I own peanut dressing, raspberry-walnut vinaigrette, tomato-basil vinaigrette, fat free ranch, and ginger dressing.  I really like the "different" salad dressings, because they add a little BABOOM to an ordinary salad.

I like salads the most in the summer - it's a crisp, cool meal that is full of tasty nutrients.  I get excited when I see Green-Leaf Lettuce in the store on sale, and have to buy all the ingredients for the salad.


Jo

Original Post by leopardrayne:

Here I am in the Carolinas... lemme give you all a small tidbit of the weather:

Sunday: Set to bake... SUNNY, 103
Monday: Set to broil... SUNNY, 102
Tuesday: Have a taste of hell... SUNNY, 101
Wednesday: Welcome to the surface of the sun... PARTLY CLOUDY, 98
Thursday: Bring out the firehose... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS, 89
Friday: Buckets of boiling water... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS, 90

Jo

Wow Jo,

I thought it was hot here in south Texas! We've been in the mid to upper 90's every day. The bad thing about the heat here is it gets SO humid. It is not unusual for the humidity to match the temp bringing the heat index WAY up. Today during the day it was that way. But tonight the wind was cooling things down nicely. I live 3 blocks from the water. We do have wonderfully mild winters though.

Try to stay cool everyone!

Beth

Original Post by mollymouser:

QUESTION OF THE WEEKEND (JUNE 7 & 8)

What sorts of things do you like on your salad? Favorite dressings? Favorite things to add? Do you like unusual salads, or are you a pretty down-to-earth-basic salad eater?

MOLLY

I love salads!!!  I like to make salad my meal a lot so I like lots of fresh veggies, grilled chicken & some low fat cheese, cheddar or mozzarella.  Lately my dressing choice has been cottage cheese.  I would have to say that I am a pretty down-to-earth-basic salad eater.

I biked 5 miles today. Considering how hot it was, I thought that was pretty good. I just didn't have the "oomph" to do any more, plus it's 8:30pm and getting dark and I didn't feel like biking in the dark tonight. I just stayed in my neighborhood, doing 3 one-mile loops, plus 2 miles' worth of around-the-block laps. It was a good evening for "Kitty spotting" ... I must've seen 7 or 8 kitty cats in my travels. (I saw dogs, too .... but it's cats that I count! Yes, I am a silly!)

Good news on the kitten front ... Walnut and Peanut were adopted TOGETHER today at the Adoption Event. The best part? I get to keep them for another 2-3 weeks or so because they are moving into a house and didn't want them underfoot. I am pretty jazzed .... knowing that they've got great owners (a nice couple that's been married 2 years, and are just moving into their first home.) Anyway, I am glad I don't have to take them back for any more adoption events.

I ate "clean" today .... except for some tabouli for dinner. I wasn't sure how many calories it was, so I logged it as 150. I figured it didn't really matter, since that's what I wanted for dinner, anyway, and I knew that the biking would offset it if it was a little more calories/carbs.  I was good at lunch and even packed my pink lunch box for the Adoption Event so I'd have no excuse to grab fast food. (The 2 other people at the Event ate Chipotle burritos, but I knew how dreadfully bad they are, calorie-wise, fat-wise, and otherwise!)

My next door neighbor (the one we're doing the fence with) came over this morning and fixed the geyser (broken sprinkler.)  I think he decided he didn't want any more water flooding bark right into his swimming pool. The gardener never did call me back -- I left a cell phone message for him on Friday night.... but maybe he's out of town or something. Anyway, I am glad that the geyser has been capped.  I think my neighbor is dropping by tomorrow with the fencing contract, and to get my check for our half.  I am looking forward to having the new fence up ... so that things will be calmer and more peaceful at Chez Molly.

I weighed in this morning at 275.4.... that's a loss for the week of 1.2 pounds. (Which is just fine with me. At this point, I'll take a pound a week loss!) For those of you keeping score, that puts me at 96.6 pounds lost.... with 2 weeks to go 'til I've hit my 10-months-of-dieting mark. I've decided to just go with this weight since who knows WHAT the scale will read tomorrow, ya know?

I'm just taking things one meal at a time, one day at a time, one pound at a time.... with all your support, of course.

MOLLY

Original Post by mollymouser:

QUESTION OF THE WEEKEND (JUNE 7 & 8)

What sorts of things do you like on your salad? Favorite dressings? Favorite things to add? Do you like unusual salads, or are you a pretty down-to-earth-basic salad eater?

MOLLY

for me the main thing is volume and flavor. i try to have seasonal veggies so that the taste is full of flavor (right now i am finalyl ble to get tomatoes that tste like tomatoes), and i play with dressings and vinaigrettes all the time. i love some protein either on, or with my salad, otherwise it is not filling-so i have eggs, cheese or egg whites

ETA: also i sometimes like to add shoyu (had a salad of oriental radishhes and shoyu for lunch, very nice)

Original Post by mollymouser:

 

I'm just taking things one meal at a time, one day at a time, one pound at a time.... with all your support, of course.

MOLLY

know what Molly. you are on a journy that is long and difficult, so it would be humanly impossible to NEVER have a gram of a cookie, or to exercise a zillion hours a day, every day. you know that your weight is getting down, you are becoming more and more fit, and other people are amazed by what you do and how you write about it:)

Well, I embarrassed to say this weekend has been quite difficult for me food wise. But today is a new day, so off to a better start!

Salad question: I love BIG salads! I tend to end up having more fresh veggies then lettuce. I like to add, tomatoes, peppers (green, red, yellow), radishes, mushrooms, cucumbers, onions, avocado (sometimes), then top it with reduced fat feta cheese and some crispy onions (sometimes). I absolutely LOVE the Litehouse Pomegranate Blueberry Vinaigrette Dressing. Only 20 calories for 2 tbls! Yummy! Sometimes I will have a hard boiled egg on the side for some added protein.

To update about my last goal: to stop flirting with the IT guy. As I posted before, he asked me out Friday night and took me to dinner. Which is why I had such a hard time food wise this weekend.

He took me to a very fancy restaurant, we both are amateur 'foodies', he has much more experience then I, so he was trying to 'culturalize' me. Wow! We had foi gras, yummy (I only had a few bites), then for the entree I had the scallop plate, way fancy, and absolutely fabulous and surprisingly lower in calories then I thought. For dessert he ordered me creme brulee, but this restaurant can't serve JUST creme brulee, the plate came out with three different flavors of the stuff!! I didn't just fall off the wagon, I jumped off running and haven't been able to find it until this morning!! heehee! The dinner was amazing! The chef came out himself to talk with us, the wait-staff was at our beck and call, it was truly wonderful!

Needless to say, I am choosing to edit my goal list and take off the last goal! Besides, shouldn't flirting burn calories? If so, I choose that as my form of exercise everyday!!! heehee

You know, it's really hard seeing how warm it is where you guys live.  Yesterday got up to about 60 degrees, and it's still going down into the 40s at night.  It seems like Seattle is pretty much the coldest part of the lower 48 right now.  It's going to be really depressing to have school end next week and still have winter weather.  I would kill for a 100 degree day right now!

In terms of salads, I'm a little on the boring side.  Every once in a while, I'll do a burrito inspired salad with salsa and black beans.  That's about as exciting as I get.  I don't usually use salad dressings.  Sometimes I'll use lemon juice or vinegar, and sometimes I'll thin out hummus with water and lemon juice to make a dressing.

I have no idea how many calories I ate yesterday.  I went to our year end party and had quite a bit to drink and ate some chocolate cake.  I had a good time, and I think the 1.2 pounds increase the scale showed was mostly water retention.  We'll see if it goes away tomorrow.  Anyway, I hope everybody had a good weekend.  I'm looking forward to hopping back on the wagon today.  I'm off to do my aerobics!  (And drink some water!)

Medveditsa - trade weather with you!

It wasn't too bad.  A few clouds and a breeze cooled it off outside a little, but still hit 100 today.  Today was stressful, and it's not over yet.  I have an essay to write.

168.8 this evening (out of curiosity).  So that means in the morning I'll be my lowest weight, assuming I lose more that 0.2 lb.

Original Post by leopardrayne:

Medveditsa - trade weather with you!

It's a deal!

We usually get 30-40 days each summer well over 100 .... I'll trade weather, too!

(Of course it gets about 20 degrees hotter in Iraq, so I can't complain TOO much!)

Oh, wait ... yes I can!

MOLLY

The weather here hit the mid-90s, and I just wasn't motivated to go biking today. I got up around 8am, did chores, shared a very brief IM with my wonderful DH, then headed off to Sunday School and Church. By the time I got home around noon, it was too hot/too smoggy for biking -- so I pretty much stayed indoors all afternoon. I got an email from my wonderful DH with a "purchasing request," so I hopped online to Amazon.com and had it sent directly to him.  I have one completed care package here to mail him this upcoming week, plus some cards.

This afternoon I did some reading, watched birdies, played with kittens, and met briefly with my (fence) neighbor to hand over my check and sign the paperwork. Hopefully we will find out Monday or so when the new fence will be installed. I also just got some around-the-house tidying done, plus some watering outside ... my tomato plants looked thirsty! I added water to the swimming pool, watered some plants, and trimmed some flooped over droopy sunflowers.  There were a lot of hummingbirds out today, which were really nice to see.

I read an interesting quote in today's Seattle Times:  "Most people are not aware of a simple rule from the world of behavioral psychology: If you want to change your feelings in a situation, you must start by changing your behavior - not the other way around."  In other words, the way to find motivation for healthy eating is .... to change your behavior and start eating healthy. I wonder if too many people are waiting around to "feel motivated" ... before they just start? Just some food for thought for this sunny Sunday ....

I "ate clean" today ... 1200 calories so far, 300 for snack later on. Dinner was grilled chicken, fresh asparagus and mushrooms, a toasted Thomas' light english muffin, and a cucumber-and-tomato salad. (The tomato was safe ... grown in California, I checked!) Because I was running late this morning and trying to get to church on time, I skipped my weigh-in... so yesterday's weigh-in will be my "official" one for the week.

No exciting plans for this upcoming week ... just the basics of keeping the house, tending my garden, keeping updated with friends and my DH on the internet.... and waiting to hear about the fence installation. I need to go shopping at Trader Joe's to stock up on some basics ... probably Monday. Otherwise, I will just keep on "keep on" -- ya know? 

Normally I'm a plain salad with tomatoes kind of gal, but lately I've been going nuts over pasta salads and greek salads.

There's Thai chicken pasta salad from Trader Joe's that's really good if you add another cup of shredded carrots and red cabbage and use maybe 1/2 the dressing it comes with.  I've also done a homemade version of Costco's greek pasta salad which is way better (pasta, artichoke hearts, olives, tomatoes, green onions, chicken, dress it with feta cheese, a dash of sea salt, pepper, and oregano).

QUESTION OF THE DAY, MONDAY JUNE 9

What do you think of this quote from yesterday's  Seattle Times:  "Most people are not aware of a simple rule from the world of behavioral psychology: If you want to change your feelings in a situation, you must start by changing your behavior - not the other way around." 

 

MOLLY

weekend QOD:  My salad's generally consist of leafy lettuce with spinach, or romaine with spinach...mushrooms, green peppers, grape tomatoes, low fat cheese, grilled chicken, and either low fat ranch dressing or a "Salad Spritzer".  Pretty traditional here.

QOD 06/09/08:  Too true!  I can say that I was the same way over the past year.  I quit wanting to go to the gym last summer.  Only managed to make myself go a few times over the past year really.  I'm not back at the gym, but I am exercising...I had to make myself do it at first...but now I feel better about it and want to keep it up.  Had to just do it!  lol

I'm really making great improvements in my level of exercise lately.  It helps to be playing sand volleyball on Monday nights and co-ed softball on Sunday evenings.  (Softball was a lot more fun this week!  We tied 10-10 and everyone really played hard so it was a great time!)  Took 1 to 2 hour walk/jogs Wed, Thurs, and Friday this week.  I actually even had to work harder to be in my fat burning zone on Friday...so that was exciting!  Today was my official weigh in date: LW: 221 CW: 220.  

Keep up the great work everyone! 

Original Post by mollymouser:

QUESTION OF THE DAY, MONDAY JUNE 9

What do you think of this quote from yesterday's Seattle Times: "Most people are not aware of a simple rule from the world of behavioral psychology: If you want to change your feelings in a situation, you must start by changing your behavior - not the other way around."

MOLLY

I like it!

Another way of saying that is act first and let your feelings catch up later. I have found this to be a good principle in life whether it's eating the right things, exercising or learning to love someone. I've been happily married for 35 years and believe me, this is the best way I know to keep a good relationship with my husband, I don't always 'feel' like loving him but I can always treat him like I love him. Even when I'm mad at him, this seems to work. If I take an action to show my love, I find I'm not so mad at him any more. 

And it's true this principle also works for my health too.

So let's not wait until we feel like it, let's just do it. Our feelings will follow.

~ Beth

I want to join . . . I know I'm a little late  . . .

My goals for now until August 1st are:

1.) Lose 5 pounds in June and 5 pounds in July.  Goal weight for August 1st = 160 lbs.

2.) Go to the gym at least 3 hours each week. 

3.) Have a weekly calorie average of under 1700 calories each week.

"Most people are not aware of a simple rule from the world of behavioral psychology: If you want to change your feelings in a situation, you must start by changing your behavior - not the other way around."

I am a psychology major.  I daresay it is the truth.  You can't just make yourself think that things are all right when you know that they aren't.

A simpler way to put it:  "If you don't like it, change it."  It's not, "If you don't like it, make yourself like it."  That wouldn't make any sense, now would it?

To relate it to my weight loss struggles.  I have graduated from severely overweight to moderately overweight (down to a 29.9 BMI); and lost 31 lb to date.  I used to look in the mirror and grumble that I was gaining weight, but I would eat large portions of anything I wanted, such as large steaks, Chocolate Chess Pie (A golden corral specialty!) and Lord knows what else.  I sort of forgot what a vegetable was for awhile.  In January I decided that it's a new year.  Time to look at things in a new light.  But the only way I could do that is by actions.  I started a new school, with new dietary guidelines, and realized that I could simply eat less and drink more water, and just do fine.  Of course, I wish that was the case now.  I want to change how I look and how I feel about myself.  Changing how I look will change how I feel.