Posts by leanneiirwin

Journal what you eat and what you do for excercise. Find a friend, call a friend, team up with a buddy and talk about what you're doing. Not sure if I'm allowed to post this, but if you would like a buddy, or anyone else out there seriously wanting be accountable, I may be able to help you. I've lost 80 lbs to date and plan to lose 73 more lbs in the next 6 months. What are you goals?  Best of Luck!

http://llearningtolive.blogspot.com

Give yourself huge credit for making new changes.  Awareness is the first step. I noticed you're drinking pure orange juice, is that juice from the store of freshly squeezed? If it's from the store you might consider substituting it for real oranges? There's a lot of added sugar in store bought orange juice. How many meals are you eating a day. If only 3, I suggest eating 6 small ones. 3 meals and 3 snacks. Have 1 cup of milk at every meal. Fruit & veggies for snacks during the day, 3 balanced meals, & then a peice of toast with peanut butter before bed. You'll control your blood sugar better & help convince your body to lose fat rather than store it.  Hope this helps! Read lots and good luck & you can do it!!

Great job!! I started at 350's+ & just reached the 290's myself. You sound proud! Give yourself lots of praise for not over eating last night & keep thinking about how far you've come :) You can do it!

I just made an Indian Lentil Chili & these are the ingredients: 

 
• 1 cup Tomatoes (crushed)
• 1 medium Green Bell Pepper (chopped)
• 2 cup Vegetable Broth
• 3/4 cup dry Lentils (washed and drained)
• 1 medium Onion (chopped)
• 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 2-3 Garlic Cloves (crushed)
• 2 cup Corn
• 1/4 tsp All-spice (ground)
• 1 can Tomato Sauce
• 2 tbsp Chili Powder
 
 
How to make Lentil Chili:
• Mix all the ingredients, except tomato sauce and corn, in a pan and boil over high heat. 
• Reduce it to low, cover it and simmer for 25-30 minutes. 
• Stir in the sauce and corn. Simmer for 10- 15 minutes. 
• Serve hot.
 
Serves 8

127 calories per serving

Yes, baking does release  stress. I used to bake every other week for many years, muffins, cookies & breads to close the gap between the last meal I was able to plan for the week & the day we're paid on or the day I could go grocery shopping.  Sometimes the difference is honestly,  2-3 days. Baking used to relieve some of that stress.  Now, I've replaced all those unhealthy habits,  baked/proce ssed foods with healthier habits fruit, vegetables, lean meats, and grains & it's working well. 2-3 days a week we eat meat, chicken, pork or seafood, and the rest is eggs, nuts, & or legumes. When I do crave foods it's usually salty cravings and I make air-popped popcorn with a little chili powder & olive oil rather than chips & tacos.   Now I make a red bean puree with chili & garlic powder in a whole wheat wrap with salsa, baby lettuce, & sour cream as lunches & snacks. As a sweet & or chocolate craving, I would make a pkg of sugar free chocolate pudding & split with with my husband & son, in addition to fruits.  For the first month in a very long time, we're happy we're making it week to week, managed to save a little money & still have food in our freezer & fridge by adjusting the types of foods we buy.

My concern is that I've been trying to fend off over eating & avoid sugar all together for the first time ever. I've replaced the sugar in my morning coffee with an artifical sweetener ( eventually I hope to rid of sugar all together ) but with me trying to lose weight through the Christmas season, I'm having a really hard time focusing just on that one day. Thinking of all the baking & over spending  that goes with it, as that is what I am accustomed to.

To not over spend, my husband & I decided that we're not going to purchase gifts, rather make them for our parents & siblings families which is what I've been doing for years. This year I thought about cookies. I tried 3 types, each about 27-30 calories each, thinking it was a good idea, and I cannot find one that works. I think the artificial sweetener tastes aweful.

So I've been tempted to make recipes full sugar & fats, because that is what I know, as gifts but the couple extra leftovers there are or a few I leave aside for my husband & son, I will get into & not be able to eat just 1. I will be left feeling guilty & thinking negatively about regressing. Not only that,  but knowing I gave a gift that is filled with high fat, sugar doesn't make me feel that great either.

I've been quilting. I made a set of placemats for my mom, and hand embroidered, home made pillows for my sisters & close friends. I'd love to learn how to make candles, that's a great idea. I do need to find a way to indulge a little rather than none & I haven't found the replacement or balance yet. I will keep trying to find recipes I can use again & again & be happy with them through the holidays. I am not going to give up! Thank-you for your suggestions.

Have you tried beans and rice salad?

http://caloriecount.about.com/red-bean-rice-s alad-recipe-r456963

Butternut Squash and Perl Barley Pilaf

http://caloriecount.about.com/butternut-squas h-pearl-barley-pilaf-recipe-r458374

Or Bean burritos: puree any kind of beans you like and spead them onto a  wrap with lettuce, sour cream, salsa and whatever other veggies you like. MMmmm...good luck!!