ksylvan's Friends

Today's Art of the Season - Rain!

I got a good bit done yesterday thanks to Lesley - shopping and tidying the place up. 

I'm feeling achy and realize that I've been neglecting my stretching, balance and upper back exercises.  I started right back in this morning with the upper back and will do the balance routine in a little while.  Those aches will disappear.

Plan for today:  I'll be busy with phone calls in the morning and a doctor's appointment in the afternoon.  In just a minute I'm putting a chicken into the crockpot to make Sticky Chicken.  I did the spice rub last night and it's been marinating.  I used Old Bay seasoning with some extra cumin and cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper.

Menu for today:  Breakfast - raisin bran, milk.  Lunch - salad with hard boiled egg.  Snack  - apple, almonds.  Supper - sticky chicken, brown rice, lots of veggies.  Snack - herbal tea, milk

It's raining and expected to rain for the rest of the week.  I just got my car dried out inside, and now It will be wet again.  It's not fun driving a swamp.  I really need a "new" car, but just can't swing it this year.  The old rust bucket will just have to go on for another year.  Is there a car year, like a dog year?  If so, how many years would 16 be in car years?  I would say it's pretty elderly.

Today:  Umbrellas and raincoats are the order of the day. 

Thanksgiving is two weeks away and it's time to plan. Eating more calories than we should at the Thanksgiving dinner has less to do with the turkey and more to do with the side dishes.  So many of them are heavy with fats and sugar that just a serving of each favorite thing can really add up. 

While there is nothing wrong with one day of indulgence, it helps to develop healthy habits if we learn moderation at that festive meal.  We can also find ways to cut the calories on favorite dishes, or serve alternatives that are just as delicious.  Turkey is a lean protein and can be the healthy centerpiece of the Thanksgiving feast as long as we don't smother it with high calorie side dishes.

Having a clear plan of action can smooth the way for an enjoyable, healthy holiday.  Aside from roasting the turkey, we need to have a repertoire of great side dishes that won't break the caloric bank and will blend tradition with nutrition.  From the stuffing to the cranberry sauce, a little creativity can improve the nutritional and caloric profile of our trimmings.  

If the family will be deeply disappointed if you don't serve grandma's marshmallow-topped candied sweet potatoes, go ahead and make it.  But do also fix an alternative to those who are watching their sugar intake.  The same goes for any dish that would raise a protest if it were absent from the table. 

This may sound like more work, but if you choose recipes that can be made in advance and reheated in the microwave or served cold, it doesn't have to be.  You can also plan for a few sides that can go from the refrigerator to the table.  For example, green beans or asparagus vinaigrette is delicious and easy to prepare.  Another choice is a light, colorful vegetable slaw.  Skip the mayonnaise on this one and dress it lightly with a little vinaigrette.  Making it the day before and allowing the flavors and juices to develop in the refrigerator makes heavy dressing unnecessary.  

Some preparation tips:

• Carefully plan the timing of each dish so that you aren't short of oven space. 
• Assign someone to clean up as you work.  Washing pots and bowls as soon as they are no longer needed prevents that big pile up near the sink.
• Set out the serving dishes and utensils so you don't have a last minute scramble looking for the gravy ladle.
• Set the table well in advance.  Even children can be taught to do this nicely.

For diet advice, read How to Eat at a Social Event by Mary Hartley.  It's filled with good ideas that will help you put things in proportion.

We've chosen recipes for the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes.  If you have a family favorite you'd like to contribute, please do post it.

• Autumn Spiced Sweet Potatoes
• Whole Wheat Turkey Stuffing
• Cranberry Orange Relish
• Fresh Green Bean Casserole
• Corn Spoon Bread Pudding

Today I jogged 3 miles on the treadmill & then tried Turbo Jam, Cardio Party. This workout was definitely a challenge.  It was really fun, but I have to say, being my first time trying this workout, the routine was hard to figure out. I got frustrated a few times & just tried to keep moving. I don't usually enjoy workout videos that make you do a complicating routine, but I am hoping over time this video will get easier. In the meantime, I hope to keep trying other workout videos.

On another note, I have started logging my food here on Calorie-Count again. I have come to the realization that I eat a bunch of junk food (within my calorie limit of course), but still...

Fruit Roll Ups, Sugar-free puddings, Cap'n Crunch, Lean Pocket Pizzas...sheesh this looks awful. Well tomorrow is a new day & I am holding my head high. Besides I already have a fresh spring salad with grilled chicken prepped in the fridge for lunch tomorrow.

109, down two lbs this morning.  Might just be water weight, I haven't been weighing in consistently enough lately to know.  New workout schedule seems to agree with me, though it's a mental battle to do the second workout in the evening. The thought of losing my hard won muscle usually spurs me to action, though.

I have a sample of the new Supreme Protein Bar flavor at home! Cookies 'n cream.  I'm saving it for when I really want a dessert.  I anticipate that it will be delightful.

My Wish List

Gloves

Bag, free standing

Nerf bars

Hooker boots

And various books.

That's all for now.  I'll wait and see what my christmas bonus looks like before I decide anything. Will probably just get one as a little treat and put the rest towards paying off the motorcycle.

*eagerly anticipates my Sekrit Santa giftee*  I have some good ideas. ;) Be afraid. Be very afraid. (just kidding)

We are going to start the family christmas shopping this weekend.  I think we're just basically doing gifts for the kids, and we'll have like a dvd exchange with my sisters and their husbands.  Also the CPUs (that's Crazy Parental Units) plus the girlfriend.  Maybe small gifts of delicious noms for the grandparents. 

Thanksgiving will be at CMU's apartment, dear god.  I'm going to make rolls using K's mom's wombat recipe.  Main course will be roast, I think.  I hope whoever is in charge of dessert brings pecan pie.

Today's Art of the Season in honor of Hurricane Ida and the hope that the storm will not be too bad. 

The Storm ~ Rembrandt van Rijn, 1606-1669

I got my errands run yesterday.  I did the bank, then the supermarket for yogurt and salmon, then the green grocer (Yang's in Berwyn) for fresh vegetables.  He had the most delicious smelling strawberries, 2 pounds for $5, so how could I pass that up.  They're good too.  I'm all stocked up with romaine, green beans, parsley, scallions, radishes and cherry tomatoes. 

Bubba is still sulking, but I can tell he's drinking when I police his commode.  He's spending a lot of time in a hidey hole I made him in the closet.  I put an old pillow back in a corner and leave the folding door open just enough for him to get in.  At least it's easier to clean the cat hair there than under the head of the bed.

Plan for today:  Lesley will be here in a little while to do the laundry and change my bed.  I'm headed to the supermarket for some meat for the freezer and she'll carry that in and put it away.  Other than that, I just have some things to write and a few phone calls.

Menu for today:  breakfast - pumpkin muffin, milk. lunch - salmon salad with cucumbers and tomatoes.  Snack - strawberries, yogurt.  Supper - lentil curry with yogurt and salad.  Snack - herbal tea, rice cake, farmer cheese.

The clouds have rolled in and it's cooler today.  We expect rain tomorrow.  Those lovely days were wonderful, but I can feel winter setting in.  The trees are nearly bare now.  It's a little sad, but it's time to find all those indoor projects I like and get busy. 

I'm thinking of resuming my hall walking exercise program.  The plan is to do the length of both wings, which means walking all the way to the end and back to the center, then going down one flight.  If I can keep at it this time, I'll increase and do two floors and two flights when I feel able, etc.  I might ask a few people to join me. Who knows, maybe I'll graduate to stair climbing again.

Today:  Think of the people living on Gulf Coast. 

Well, I did INSANITY tonight after a 3 day break. Wow.
It's like starting over :)

Total Calories Burned 1510 (280 during the workout)
Total Calories Eaten   1240
Deficit  270

My arms are going to be sore tomorrow. I did tons of push ups (for me, at least :).

I am not yet seeing the difference on the scale or in the fit of my clothes, but I FEEL the difference, in that, I feel good.
So, hopefully things will all fall in place soon.

Time to take off the sweaty clothes and settle in to relax.
Have a good night!

Ran 3 miles today &  hope to get another workout accomplished today. I feel super lucky because my Aunt has a cousin who is an actress (I will leave her name out for privacys sake), but I am so excited because everytime she cleans her closet out, she donates her leftover clothes to me!!! My Aunt went to visit her in Beverly Hills & just called me to tell me she sent me a huge bag of clothes! Her trash is definately my treasure. She is so generous & one time she even sent a dress she only wore once on the red carpet. God knows where I will wear some of these treasures, but hey, I don't think a gal is ever done playing dress up!!!

As far as my goals are concerned there are a few consistent obstacles. The first being me not having any self control. I see a treat & I don't think twice before popping it in my mouth....how can I work on this?  I almost feel like I need a reminder to stop & think about it before I eat it.

Another obstacle is me planning to get a workout in after I work & then being too tired to actually do one. Everyday I work, it starts out with me being excited to get a workout completed in the evening. By the time I am leaving work my attitude usually is "to hell with it".  I think the only way to defeat this obstacle is to wake up an hour early & get the workout done then. I hate to have to wake up even earlier than 5 am, but I've gotta do what I've gotta do.

The last major obstacle seems to be a sweet toothe problem. Oh how I wish I hated sweets. It is awful. Yesterday I stopped by the gas station & bought 3 candies...yes 3 full sized candies & ate every single one while watching a movie. It is horrible & I fear that one day my teeth may rot out of my head, not to mention how horrible it is on the waistline.

Well I hope everyone else is doing great with their diet/fitness plan.

Dad is doing very well.  He only spent two days in the regular hospital, and is now in the Acute Rehab Unit.  He's doing great because he decided to go along with the program, so he is working hard to be in good shape when he comes home Friday. 

The reason dad is in the hospital is because he was unable to move his right knee a week ago Saturday, and on that Sunday the doc took 20cc of water off that right knee.  And that made him feel better right away.  But the hospital folk thought he would benifit from some time in the ARU.  They are getting him up and walking again, and working on his other skills. 

Also, I have seen a marked improvement in his attitude.  He is working hard, and wants to get back home ASAP.  So I'm pretty pleased with that.

As for me, I'm doing pretty good.  Had a touch of the flu last week, but I am much better.  I did miss Friday's workout, but just couldn't bring myself to do it, and I didn't want to spread my illness around. 

I also have an appointment with my Doc on Wedneday.  Don't think I'm going to see a lose on his scale, but I feel very fit right now, and after I go see my dad, it's off to the Y for a heavy workout.  Today I push weights.  So I'll be putting the hurts to my legs.  But it's all good.  Be back later this afternoon.

Training gloves: $15.99

Pull up tower: $100.00

Tae bo dvd: $10.00

The look on an old crush's face when he sees you without the 40 extra lbs you used to carry around?

PRICELESS.

The best part? "Face Drop" by Sean Kingston was playing on the overhead speakers.

This happened in a town about 15 min's from us. 

"I guess we're lucky we added a section to our health and safety manual for when someone leaves a pig in your washroom," Morelli said.


ROFL ... You mean this has happened before?