A Sensible Dinner - Pearlieq's Journal

[Lesli54]

Good morning, Pearlieq!

Looks like your days are about as busy as mine lately. I just wanted to check and see how you are doing. Hopefully, you are seeing the end to your huge work project.

Hope that you have a wonderful day today.

 

[pearlieq]

10/26/05

9:00am

--2 natural ovens cookies
--1 cup strawberry yogurt

Did you know that these cookies have more fiber and less sugar than a cereal bar? They're darn tasty too!

Another busy day. Work is a big old mess, my mom is still sick, and to add insult to injury her car is acting up as well. So, I have to get up early tomorrow morning to take her to the shop, then run home for a meeting, work all day, have another meeting, then have an appointment with the window treatment sales people at 7pm. Whew!

11:00am

--2 oz ritz chips

Mindless stress snacking...

12:45pm

--1 light cheese lasagna entree
--1/3 cup mozzarella cheese

Not exactly a nutritious lunch, but it's quick! I'm meeting with Duane the trainer this afternoon and I can't wait! I've definitely got some stress to work out!

3:30pm

--1 bean & cheese burrito
--2 oz Ritz chips

Bummer. My appt with Duane the trainer fell through when I had a work conflict. Ugh! This needs to be done soon!

7:00pm

--good size portion Mexican chicken & dumplings

One of my last chicken dishes. I have 2 more portions of chicken, one more can of tuna then I'm 100% veggie!

This actually turned out really good! I put the chicken breast in the crock pot and let them cook, shredding them when they were done. I added 2 cans of diced tomatoes, a can of corn, and a can of black beans. I let that cook for a couple of hours then added a can of cream of chicken soup and a package of refrigerated cornbread twists, torn into small pieces to be the "dumplings". Another hour or so on high and I had a very yummy meal!

8:45pm

--6 chocolates
--100 cal bag of popcorn

I had the worst jones for chocolate so I made a run out to Fannie May and got a 1/2lb box of my favorites. I had 6 pieces tonight--that was honestly about 2 or 3 more than I needed, but I got a little carried away. No big deal, though. They should be fun to enjoy for the rest of the week!

****************************************

OK, like most Chicagoans, I'm thrilled to see the White Sox win. They've had a great year and I get a bit of perverse joy that the Sox, usually considered somewhat unfavorably with the Cubs, get their moment of glory first.

But really, the idiots in my neighborhood with the fireworks (guns?) can totally give it a rest. I'm happy, you're happy, I get it. It doesn't require explosions at 11pm!!!

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Pearlieq!!!!

You are doing a great job! Keep up the good work.
Hope you had a great day.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

 

[Mykelogan]

Hey Pearlieq!!

Hope all is well with you and that your mom feels better soon! Sorry you missed your day with Duane. Yummy crockpot recipe though! hehe

Have a great night!
Mike

 

[Lesli54]

Good morning, Pearlieq!

Oh, I must agree, celebrating that late with fireworks and what have you is a little overboard. I am sure it will be chaos in Chicago for a few days.

Sorry to hear that you had to miss your meeting with your trainer. I do think you managed to get through the day fairly well though considering the extra stress you have going at the moment.

Keep up the great work!

 

[pearlieq]

10/27/05

8:30am

--2 chocolates

Breakfast of champions, right?

10:00am

--1 bowl low carb Special K w/1% milk
--1 banana
--1 chocolates, 1/4 piece peppermint ice

OK, the chocolates just desperately threw themselves on my plate and I didn't have the heart to turn them away. At least, that's going to be my story!

I must say I'm impressed with this cereal. I bought it because it's fortified and has a lot of protien and fiber. I figured it would be an easy and healthy start to the day. It was reasonably tasty and it's held me for a long time. I wonder if I should start doing a modified low carb diet. It's supposed to be really good for women with PCOS. Hmm, worth thinking about, I guess.

Speaking of the PCOS, I'm a little freaked out in that I seem to be losing a ton of hair lately. Women with PCOS can wind up with a condition like male-pattern baldness, which just freaks the hell out of me, but I don't notice any thinning or bald spots. I'm just winding up with handfuls of hair in the shower and I'm shedding everywhere. It started a few months ago, but I can't remember if I had it before or after I went veggie. Since my hair is easily damaged I stopped brushing it--I use a wide tooth comb in the shower and then it air dry. I wonder if I'm losing the same amount of hair--it's just not getting trapped in a hairbrush anymore. I dunno, but it's really freaking me out!

My work troubles are a little better, but there are still major problems with my project and I'm running into some combat fatigue. So far my method of dealing today is procrastination. Apparently if I just don't deal with the problem and instead vacuum my house and watch reruns of Unsolved Mysteries the problem will resolve itself.

3:30pm

--veggie patty wrap @ Subway
--1 pkt baked sour cream & onion chips
--4 chocolates

The veggie wrap was really, really good! I'll definitely be going back for that. I got Mom back to her car--luckily nothing major was wrong. Other than that I did some more procrastinating and some other chores around the house.

7:00pm

--1/3 serving cheeseball dip
--3 oz reduced fat wheat things

Well, tonight did not go as planned. The blind sales person was supposed to show up at 7:00pm. When 7:45pm rolled around with no one showing up, we called. As it turns out they offer a "window". They can come anytime between 7:00pm - 9:00pm like they're the cable company or something. It's funny, I could have sworn I was trying to give them a couple thousand dollars. The least they could offer is an actually appointment with a sales person.

8:45pm

--1/2 cheese pizza

Of course dinner was a bust after the missed sales appt, so we called our trusty pizza supplier! The good news is I got some work done on my work project while we were waiting for the guy to show up. I think I've solved some of the major issues and now just have cleanup to do. It's definitely a load off my mind!

Now we're just relaxing with some TV before bed.

 

[Lesli54]

I am glad I am not the only one whose problems can be solved through procrastination. Thanks for the laugh. It was so fitting as I did the same thing this morning and called a friend just so I didn't have to do any tasks at hand.

 

[Cruise04]

I'm finally catching up and your trip sounded great. I understand your concerns about the showgirls as well. Just remember - you are the person you are INSIDE and the outside shouldn't matter (although I know in our society it does which is sad). The person INSIDE is the person that should count. If you are able to make the outside person better, then that's a bonus in my book!!!!!

Sounds like you have gotten right back on track when you came back - that is great. Keep up the good work!!!!!

Keep on
Chris

 

[honeymo78]

Pearlieq - it sounds like you had a great time in vegas. someday DH and I will get there, if we can pry our wallets from the mouse's hands. I really like your attitude toward your weight loss. It's definitely not a race and each step you take is making a difference and moving in the right direction. You'll get to your "goal" when you get there - just gotta "keep swimming"

 

[pearlieq]

10/28/05

--8:30am

--1/3 serving cheese dip
--3 oz rf wheat thins

I'm feeling kind of off today. I don't have much inspiration to really do anything. I'm meeting Duane the trainer today, but I'm not really excited about it or anything. I'm supposed to be doing a little kitty baking today as well and I haven't really figured out what I'm making and gotten supplies. Oh well. Hope I find some mojo soon!

11:30am

--2 boca burgers, no cheese
--1 banana

4:30pm

--1 cup yogurt
--1/3 cup hummus
--2 big handfuls carrot chips

I hate to say it but I didn't really have the best session with Duane the trainer today. When I got in he have me this pamphlet about a workout he's designing called RUSH which basically seems like an amped-up Curves. It blends cardio intervals with resistance training for 30-45 minutes. I don't have a problem with it in theory, but part of the reason I decided to work with a trainer was to get a custom made workout and it feels like he's trying to fit me into something, instead of fitting something around me, if that makes sense. Plus, he spent a lot of our session today talking about his plans to promote the workout and eventually open his own studio. I'll admit I did get an intense workout, and it wasn't awful, though it wasn't that enjoyable either. Still, the whole experience was kind of off putting. I figure I'll give him one more workout and if it doesn't improve I'll have to have a talk with him about what I'm looking to get out of training.

I was so exhausted when I got home! I took a few minutes to get this snack and rest then I headed upstairs for a shower. Sorry for TMI but I haven't been sweaty like that in a long time! Yuck!

Now I'm just relaxing--I had a nice chat with a friend and I'm about to go get the lemon poppyseed breads in the oven for tomorrow.

 

[Cruise04]

Sorry to hear your motivation is off today. I'm sure you'll find it soon. Hope your meeting with Duane goes well.

Keep on
Chris

 

[Lesli54]

Good afternoon, Pearlieq!

Sorry to hear that your blind guy didn't show. I agree, when you are spending so much money, they should give you and actual appointment.

Hopefully, you have found some mojo by now. It seems that your work project just took a lot out of you. Time to take a little break for yourself.......I should talk right?

Hang in there. Hope you have a wonderful evening.

 

[Lesli54]

Good morning, Pearlieq!

Hopefully, you and Duane can work something out. I agree, it would be disheartening to go to a Curves situation with a one size fits all mode when you are paying for a trainer to design a plan specifically for you.

Hope that your weekend has been good so far.

 

[toystoryduo]

Good morning pearlieq!

I hope your training sessions with Duane start going better for you. In my opinion, the whole point of a personal trainer is to personally train; to customize a workout for the individual. I think you should talk with him and let him know how you feel. Maybe he's caught up in the excitement of his new workout and studio and just needs some re-direction. In any event,way to go getting those workouts in!

I hope you have a wonderful Monday! Take care!

 

[pearlieq]

10/31/05

10:00am

--1 1/2 cups low carb Special K
--1 cup 1% milk
--1 pear

I actually woke up with some mojo today! I don't know why but I woke up feeling energetic and inspired, so I though I'd make hay while the sun shines, so to speak. So far I've done a good bit of work, done laundry, and taken a walk around the neighborhood.

It feels good to feel good, know what I mean?

I think I want to try an experiment for November. I want to try to go sugar-free for the month. I'm not willing to make a long term commitment yet, but I would like to see what happens when I reduce my sugar consumption. Stay tuned for updates!

Plan for the day:

L: 2 Boca burgers, green salad w/ranch, apple
S: Vegetable soup, 100 cal pack of popcorn
S2: Triscuit nachos (if needed)
D: Homemade pizza, carrot chips
S: nsa ice cream sandwich

2:00pm

--1 Boca lasagna
--green salad w/light ranch

Oops, I forgot about the apple. I'll have to get it a little later. I found the Boca lasagna at the store today. I actually found out that our local Cub carries a very impressive selection of organics and natural foods. I was beyond pleased!

I've got about an hour or so until the kids come out, and I'm actually a little sleepy. Magellan went on a meowing jag this morning around 6 and I didn't really get back to sleep after I put him out of the bedroom. I wish I knew why he did that...

5:00pm

--2 oz pretzels
--3 servings light juice

DH actually made it home early and we set up shop in the garage to pass out candy. It just seemed more pleasant than sitting in our foyer all night. We had a good time seeing all the local kids. It was cold and rainy but quite a few turned out. We also had plenty of teenagers who didn't bother to dress up but were happy to take candy. Oh well. I didn't make a big deal out of it.

The one thing that kind of mystified me was that we got a few Hispanic families were everyone was trick or treating--not just the kids but mom, dad, and grandma too! I didn't quite know what to make of that, but again didn't make a big deal about it. It was actually kind of cute. I talked to my mom later in the evening and it happened in her neighborhood too. I wonder what the story is there...

7:30pm

--1/2 large order onion rights, minus one
--1 strawberry shake
--1/2 veggie burger with cheese, mayo, and fried onions
--1/2 order fries
--1/3 cup ranch dressing

So that wasn't supposed to happen. By the time we got to dinner I was starving and let my stomach order for me rather than my mind. I will say that at least I left behind an onion ring (sounds dumb but I've always been a member of the clean plate club and it's actually challenging for me to leave food behind, even when I'm already full), took home half of my burger, and didn't eat all of my fries. The meal was pretty tasty, I just really could have lived without the shake and appetizer. Not to mention the shake was full of sugar--DH helpfully pointed out that November didn't start until tomorrow. Thanks, hon!

9:45pm

--1/2 veggie burger
--4 sm candies
--1 sm packet mini Oreos

OK, if anything underscores my need to take a sugar break it's tonight. I was Jonesing so bad for sugar it was distracting! I was actually antsy and overwhelmed by thoughts of sugary treats. I caved a bit, which I'm not proud of, but also didn't make a trip to the store to buy cookies, brownies, and candy, so I think I lived.

 

[Lesli54]

Good afternoon, Pearlieq!

I am so glad that you are feeling good again. It really does feel good to feel good.

Trying to go sugar free for a month might just work for you. If nothing else, at least you will be reducing the amount of sugar which is always a good thing.

Have a really great Halloween!

 

[pearlieq]

11/1/05 - Hello November!

Plan for the day:

B: 1 1/2c Low Carb Special K w/ milk, strawberries
L: Veggie sausage, egg, & cheese english muffins, canteloupe
S: Carrot coins and 1/4 c ranch dip, 100 cal pack popcorn, apple
D: Don't know. DH will be gone and I may take myself out, but I'm not sure where. Maybe Subway or Panera
S: Peach yogurt

I've got to say I'm not sure I'm looking forward to my training appt. today. On the one hand I am looking forward to working out, but on the other hand I'm a little apprehensive of being put off by Duane the trainer again and having to have an awkward conversation about it. I'll do it, but I don't think I'll enjoy it.

9:00am

--1 1/4 cup low carb Special K
--3/4 cup 2% milk
--1/3 pint strawberries

11:00am

--2 sf cookies
--triscits nachos
--1 mini packet oreos

1:30pm

--1 box macaroni & cheese

Things got a little out of hand today. But I still made it to the gym and had a good workout. Things went better with Duane the trainer. He still ran me through his workout, but I've come to appreciate it a bit more. I still think I'll be weaning myself back from him though. I think I've gotten all I'm going to get out of this.

7:45pm

--1/2 asian salad
--1 cup lentil soup
--1 sourdough roll

Since I had the evening to myself I went to the mall. I hit the Painted Penguin and made some bisque wall sconces for my mom for Christmas. I feel a little strange giving my mother handicrafts. It just seems like I should glue some macaroni to it or something.

After that I went a tried some dresses to start getting an idea about what I might want for our cruise next May. Why do they always put the plus size clothes in the back of the store. Come to think of it, why are they always segregated. Are they going to give the rest of the clothes fat cooties or something?

DH was actually home when I got back and we had some time to watch House. I really adore that show--it acutally makes me laugh out loud several times in an hour, which is quite rare for me. It's definitely worth checking out. I think we're going to head to bed now. DH is actually already asleep on the couch, so it's time to go!

 

[eeyore25]

Hi there!!!

Just wanted to pop in and say hi! You are doing a great job!

Keep up the good work and have a wonderful Tuesday!

 

[Lesli54]

Good morning, Pearlieq!

I wonder what the story is behind the Hispanic families all trick or treating. We are so small around here that we don't have that. Our biggest problem is the 16 - 20 year olds coming door to door. But this year it was mostly little kids and tons of them since the weather was nice.

May I join you in the sugar reduction department? I agree, sugar craves more sugar and I have been really horrible with it.

Hope that you have a great day!

 

[Mykelogan]

Hi Pearlieq!

First, don't worry! The lanyard is still coming, I havd just had no post office time yet!!!
I wish you the best going sugar free for November! I bet you will feel great completing it, and don't get pushed off track if you feel out of sorts at firsts, sugar withdrawal will do that!
Glad to see you had fun at the mall!

Have a great wednesday!
Mike