Breakfast Heat Wave

We’re having a  Washington heat wave. This is probably a joke to the rest of the country, but here in the good old Pacific Northwest we tend to stick to high 60s low 70s. So anywhere in the 80’s pretty much sends everyone into a tizzy of buying fans and swimming in the lake. Mind you the humidity is in the 70’s so that adds to the hot factor. 85 degrees here with 70% humidity feels like 90-95 degrees, which is HOT and SWEATY. Luckily I’m not horribly pregnant, so although I’m hot, I’m not really complaining. My clothing options sorta suck, and I probably look dumpy all the time, but oh well.  It’s a good excuse to lay low in the shade and drink lots of sparkling water. Current obsession Lacroix Water, I can’t get enough of it. Anyway we are on crunch time for our restaurant opening, so my days are filled with running errands, painting and sewing. The sewing has actually been kinda fun and has made me all excited to sew some fun stuff for the baby.

Mr. Gaunt and I are also on a health kick. I finally feel well enough to eat almost anything, and cook! Hoorah! Plus I’m not working right now, and although I’m crazy busy with restaurant stuff, I’m able to schedule my time around making healthy food for us. That’s the joy of self employment right? You’re a little over worked, but its on your own schedule.

Mr. Gaunt is in desperate need to shed some weight, and I need to not really gain anymore. I’m up about 12 pounds so far I think (although I’m NOT weighing myself at home). Mr. Gaunt’s weight drastically effects his health, and he is battling sleep apnea, heartburn, and fatigue really bad right now. All of these things go away when he is at a lower weight, so I’m trying really hard to support him in making healthier choices.

Things that are currently ripe in our garden: Sugar Snap Peas, Red Kale, and Raspberries!For breakfast I used some of our kale and sauteed it up in a little coconut oil with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Mr. Gaunt does not love Kale as much as I do, he probably doesn’t really like it at all, but he ALWAYS eats it. He knows its good for him, and a few bites of Kale wont make him barf. I hate picky eaters. I also made us each 2 eggs on a piece of un-buttered wheat toast with half a slice of cheese each, and half a plum. Yum! We ate in the sweltering sun in our backyard, then watered the gardens, and figured that’s enough sun for us lol!

Weigh In: Slow and Steady Wins the Race?

I actually went to my weigh in yesterday, but my day was so insanely busy (INSANELY!) that I wasn’t home for more than 30 minutes to actual sit down to write a post. So here I am at the butt crack of dawn…HA! Joking, it’s 10am…lol. Writing my meeting post. I actually had meant to go to weigh in on Thursday, but ended up waking up late, and then doing some work for my new boss, so it was bumped to Friday. This weeks weight loss results are:

-1 lb

Uh, lame, again. I apparently am going to lose this weight VERY slowly, which I suppose is fine, but I also suppose its super-duper annoying. Like every week, my goal will be to lose 2 pounds, and up my physical activity. HOPEFULLY I will actually start working at my new job sometime this next week, and working (on my feet) will help me burn more calories, and lose a little faster.

It is now 6 weeks till Thanksgiving! I’m not sure I mentioned it, but my mom, Mr. Gaunt and me are doing our own little “THANKSGIVING JEAN CHALLENGE” to help motivate us. None of us love the way any of our jeans fit, so we are all hoping to lose enough weight that either we can wear a previously too tight pair of jeans, or (like myself) buy a new cute pair of jeans. Some might think it seems…uncomfortable to wear jeans to Thanksgiving, and it is! IF you eat too much. therefore the hope is that the jeans will also keep us in check, and not throw away all our hard work with a day (or a few days) of binge eating. Needless to say I would like to take off 10 more pounds by Thanksgiving. This might mean I have to really push myself. FRUITS and VEGGIES galore!

This weeks meeting topic was:

HOW TO HAVE FUN WITH FRIENDS WITHOUT EATING!

Which is a hard thing. This last week I did go to my friend Manda’s house and baked (decadent) cupcakes with her. Then I ate 1 cupcake and left the rest at her house. Although this is not exactly having fun without food, I did see it as a good choice. I got to hang out with my friend, and bake (which I love to do). I got to eat 1 yummy treat, but there was no option to have 3 or 4 or more treats! I never had to look at those amazing cupcakes ever again! Yay!

I’m definitely someone who likes to eat with friends AND share a bottle (or 2) of wine, and it’s something I KNOW I have to work on. Currently though, I’m working on doing fun things with Mr. Gaunt and not eating, as I really don’t hang out with my friends THAT often.

Things I suggest you do (and have actually done myself):

-Hiking/Walking

-Washing your car (inside and out)

-Go thrift shopping (no food, and we can be there for hours and only spend a few dollars!)

-Go wander around a new small town

-Deep clean something (garage, spare room, closets)

-Paint your moms kitchen (did this last week!)

-Carve Pumpkins

-Work in the yard

-Go Antiquing

-Decorate for the Holidays

-Paint some furniture

-Scrapbook

-Walk to the library

-Make a fall wreathe

-Reupholster a chair

Painting my moms kitchen last week

Things THEY suggest (that I think are little too obvious, and would rarely do)

-Take a dance class

-Ride a tandem bike

-Take a workout class

-Take up tennis

-Run/walk a race

-Play golf

-Volunteer

-Go on a nature walk

-Go hunting. huh?

-Go Swimming

Anyway, you get the idea. Move more, eat less, and have fun while you are doing it. Duh. Easier said than done. I also encourage volunteering to bring snacks or drinks to events with your friends, so you know they are healthy.

Oh and my sister died my hair a little darker for fall! Yay! Thanks Tay!

Weekend plans are to decorate the front porch for Halloween, carve pumpkins, and work on our new website for our business. Other goals involve NOT eating bad food, going on a fall walk or two, and NOT spending any money. Ugh 1 month of being unemployed today, which means I am absolutely DYING poor. Finger crossed I start making money soon, otherwise I’ll be decorating a cardboard box that I will be living in.

Weight In: Writing it Down

Happy Thursday!

It’s been a busy morning for me. I went to my WW meeting at 9:30 and realized it was at 10:30, so I went to Walmart (which I NEVER do, but it’s across the street) and stocked up on some healthy baking supplies! I hate Walmart, but man for basics like Whole Wheat Flour, and Pumpkin Pie spice, their prices can’t be beat! If I only go there twice a year, it can’t be too bad. I also got some cheap pumpkin spice candles which I’m burning as we speak. Sorry Yankee Candles, $19 for a jar candle vs $4, there really inst a comparison for an unemployed gal like myself.

Then I went and met my mom at a local event venue to discuss with the owners the possibility of starting a catering company in their kitchen. It looks like everything is a go, and we will just need to get the Health dept’s approval. We are hoping to some company holiday parties!

After that was lunch at The Daisy Cafe (try their Curry Salad!), and a trip to the shoe store to try on some Danskos. I’m thinking of getting a pair for when I work weddings, they are $120 though, so I really have to think about it.

Now I’m at home, in my Costco Sherpa, with my fall candle burning, looking up a healthy cookie recipe. I think I’m going to try this one tonight, maybe this one.

Oh right, back to my weight watchers meeting! In slightly underwhelming news I lost exactly the same as last week:

 

-1.2 lbs

 

I’m definitely a little disappointed, not because I thought I lost more, but because I feel I SHOULD be loosing more. I’m staying within my points, and I’m moving more…grrr. However I ALWAYS want to pat myself on the back! I didn’t gain, I have now lost 7.8lbs in 3 weeks, which is good, and I feel great. I feel motivated, and happy, and satisfied. So I wont dwell on the number, I will just feel good that I’m three weeks in and still putting along!

It was kind of boring today at our meeting. Our instructions for last week were to bring in a weeks worth of tracking (I printed mine from my WW e-tools) and then we got in groups and discussed them. The person’s tracker we got had eaten small portions of high fat foods, like macaroni, fish n chips, and crab salad. They also showed no signs of activity. I don’t know if they have lost weight, but I definitely didn’t learn anything positive from their week.

Looking over my own weeks, I can see there are many days I don’t eat as many points as I should. I also have been eating larger meals with no (other than fruit)snacking, as opposed to small meals all day. I have been snacking on fruit, and having 20 jellybeans every other evening for dessert. On days when I don’t drink a latte, I have more points leftover. On days when I have wine, I might have to skip a meal, which is sort of stupid.  Overall though I feel like I’m doing pretty good.

And of course the most important lesson is simply to write down what you eat. Your brain will not properly remember how much you have consumed. You should have it all written down, so at dinner time, you know if you can have the glass of wine, or those jelly beans, no guessing. I really recommend everyone do it for at least 1 week straight.

Next weeks topic is FRIENDS WITHOUT FOOD! As well as how to pamper or reward yourself without food. Think about it. I would also like to lose a solid 2 pounds this week.

SIDE NOTE: All the older ladies today were talking about how Carmel Rice Cakes are the BEST dessert. I have NOTHING in common with these women. If I never eat another rice cake in my life, I will be happy. Also the Katy Perry Movie is awesome, you should watch it.

 

Shredded Chicken and Eating Naked

I’ll get the naked thing out-of-the-way first. Did anyone see that article about model Marisa Miller, where she said her best tip to eating smart is to eat naked? Seriously folks, could you imagine sitting cross-legged on the couch eating a plate of french fries, or a big slice of cake? Every time you reached down to dip that fry you would get a glimpse of your whole body naked. If you have a rocking bod that you are proud of, this would be a great reminder that you want to KEEP it! If you have a body that needs a little improvement, this would remind you to make healthier choices. Excuse me while I wipe this frosting of my thigh.

Now by no means do I think you should eat entire meals in the nude (unless that’s how you roll) but if you are at home, alone, in the middle of the afternoon, and want a snack, get butt naked. Seriously. I guarantee the sheer awareness of your naked body will change the snack decisions you make. Try it. (:

Now onto shredded chicken. Awkward transition, I know.

I have been making large batches of shredded chicken the last few weeks in the Crockpot. I use this basic recipe, unless I have chicken broth on hand, and then I just do chicken broth and chicken. You can add spices later too, Mr. Gaunt loves just salt and pepper.  It’s really so versatile: salads, soups, sweet potatoes, pastas, you can add it to everything! And it’s so low-calorie, a great on the go protein. Sometimes I just eat a 1/2 cup of it with a fork and am satisfied. It also freezes well!

 

Juicing: Day 3

Its the END of day 3, and I have a (totally predicted) headache of all headaches. Supposedly its the caffeine leaking out of my brain…or something like that.

Today I drank a ton of water and tried really hard not to think about food, or food related activities, or lattes.

A few positives:

-I don’t feel grossly full (obviously)

-Meal planning and “cooking”  is way easier

-I REALLY appreciate the food I eat at lunch (Today was Wild rice and Kale Salad, and grilled chicken)

-I feel less bloated and…greasy?

-We are definitely saving money.

A few negatives:

-There isn’t really a way to make a savory/salty juice, and I miss that.

-Some veggies create pulp and that is GROSS! (most of the juice is totally pulp free, just a little frothy on top)

-My kitchen just sort of smells like juicing, which is kind of gross

-I can already see my social life decreasing and my napping increasing.

I also will note that I hate juiced beets as much as I hate cooked beets. Also the Hemp Protein powder was so gross I almost barfed. I will find another way to get in protein. Anyone want a full can of Hemp Protein Powder? All in all Im super foggy headed and achy. I’m going to bed.

Oatmeal for one

I recently (well maybe a couple of months ago) took up eating oatmeal almost every morning.  I use to be a fan of instant oatmeal packets (of the fruit and cream variety…eek! Totally crappy for you) but I gave it up when I couldn’t find one that was both good for you an yummy. I tried an organic brand and thought it was AWFUL! Then for a solid 9 months I ate nothing but Greek yogurt with honey or granola.

In early spring I was sooo cold at work. I felt like I needed something both nourishing and warm to eat at my desk at 6 am. My coworker brought plain old oats every day and microwaved them with cream. It looked really good, so I started bringing a big tube of Quaker Quick Oats, and using our instant hot water dispenser to make a bowl full every morning. Then I add frozen blueberries or raspberries, or home-made raspberry jam, or honey. So good!

Now I eat it 5 days a week. Sometimes I put a little peanut butter in it, or brown sugar for dessert. I eat it at home sometimes too if I want a warm snack, but the instant hot water is way easier than boiling or microwaving it.