Cam's New Lease on Life Journal (comments welcome!)

[keenercam]

Thank you, Beth & Tracey & Jen!

It was another busy weekend, but don't we all cope with them?

Friday night, DS had a dance. I can't even remember what I did while he was out. : Saturday I got up at 5:30 am to get in 2 hours at the gym on the TM before getting home, getting a shower, and meeting a friend and her son for breakfast. Her DS came home with us, we dropped DS14 off at school, then ended up at his football game a while later. By the time we got home from the football game, there was time for pizza at the farmers' market and then the boys went to the movies. I think I read and exercised.
Sunday was breakfast at home and then noon Mass for DS's confirmation. Took everyone to Olive Garden after that and expected everyone to leave from there, considering our kitchen renovation that has left only the entry hall, mud room, powder room and study usable on the first floor. However, many people were back at our house afterwards and everyone wasn't gone until nearly 7pm. Then there was ironing of all DS's dress shirts and some of his dress pants for school this week. I read a bit and did my crunches & push-ups and went to bed.

My goal at this point and for the rest of the kitchen renovation is to be extremely conscientious about food choices. I find that I am eating too mch in the evenings if I am on the first floor. So, moving to the bedroom and reading/exercising/watching tv is going to be my objective as early in the evening as possible.

And I am so sick of hearing myself say it, but I am definitely trying to get back into the the habit of journaling my food. I don't think I've done it for an entire day in weeks. I really have to challenge myself and start journaling. I think I may even start a journaling challenge on the DIS board on sparkpeople. I am thinking that if I decide on dinner early in the day and then force myself to stick to that choice, I will do better.

I defrosted a bunch of stuff yesterday thinking DH would grill last night but it was too late by the time everyone left. So, I'll have to try to do it on my foreman grill tonight, set up on a table in our basement and hope that it isn't too impossible to wash the grill, etc. afterwards.

Food today:
B: 1 chicken tenderloin on thomas' lite multigrain muffin; coffee w/skim milk
L: chicken boullion; 2 chicken tenderloins on thomas' lite multigrain muffin
S: apple
D: 5 oz grilled chcken; 1/2 cup hearty turkey chili; 6 oz london broil; green beans; bites of DS's alfredo shells (4 shells, to be exact! )

The trick is to avoid the lasagna I defrosted last night!

 

[goldcupmom]

I SWEAR we must be related, Cam!!! I can't seem to journal or stay on track for more than about 22 seconds!!!

Hope the rennovation gets done quickly. I hear you about the grilling - threw away a package of nice steaks last week because DH didn't see them when he grilled. Oh well......

NO LASAGNA!!!!!!!

Have a great week!!

 

[keenercam]

Thanks, Julie! I did, in fact, start a journaling challenge on sparkpeople, much like my crunch & pushup challenge. I am hoping to start a streak and keep it going, even while I am in WDW. When we went in 2005, I journaled every bite I ate the whole vacation and ended up doign really well with my food choices. That will be my objective for ToT weekend, too.

 

[keenercam]

I am so glad to know I have it in me to stay on plan when I really work at it. I journaled everything I ate yesterday and I was below the minimum calories recommended by sparkpeople. And even though I didn't count my WW points, looking at it now, I can see I was definitely within points. So, that's good. One day down.

Last night, I cooked all the chicken breast and london broil that I'd defrosted for Sunday. It was not easy doing that with no kitchen, but it's good to have all that stuff in the fridge for quick, easy, lean protein.

I have a doctor's appointment today so I came into work early to get some stuff underway. I didn't stop for coffee and haven't planned breakfast, but I think the day will look like this, at least through the afternoon:

B: coffee w/skim milk
L: bouillon; snack sized bag of 94% FF popcorn; 3 oz grilled chicken
S: apple, banana, yogurt
D: 6 oz london broil; 2 small sweet potatoes; 1 cup canned green beans; A1 steaksauce; NSA bread & butter pickles; 1 svg fat free pringles.
dessert: WW chocolate cookies and cream ice cream bar


Yay! 2 days of journaling done!

 

[keenercam]

Actually, the day didnt' go at all as planned and what is listed above is what I ended up eating. Not too bad, really. I was so out of control hungry by the time I got home, but I am getting back into the habit of opening a can of green beans and having that as finger food while I prepare dinner. It works out fine since I enjoy them so much.

Interestingly, as soon as I was done the ice cream bar, my brain immediately started signaling for pretzels. Fortunately, I was able to distract myself and halt the eating for the night. Not a single pretzel!

Today will be tough -- I have a hearing an hour away and a business lunch before it. I'll eat breakfast as late as possible so that I won't be too hungry at lunch. Hopefully I can find a good option on the menu (which isn't available ahead of time, unfortunately).

B: coffee w/FF half & half (20 cals); WW oatmeal

Back to my office by 4:30 and pleased that I did well at lunch with a cup of maryland crab soup and a green salad w/grilled chicken & no dressing.

L: cup of maryland crab soup; green salad; 4 oz grilled chicken
D: market day ham steak; market day reduced fat cheese omelets (2)
dessert: fat free pringles

 

[MIdanceMom]

Hi Cam,

It sounds like you definately have things under control. Great job resisting those pretzels. I will have to steal your idea about the green beans. Thanks. Good luck at lunch today. Remember, you can always order off the menu. Just ask them for what you want. You'll be surprised at how accomodating places will be.

Take care,
Beth

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Cam
well done for starting your journalling
Hope the kitchen gets finished soon - been there and can relate
Have a great week

 

[keenercam]

Today's food:
B: healthy choice turkey on lite MG EM; coffee w/skim milk
S: chicken bouillon
L: broccoli; WW fiesta chicken; 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce; NSA pickles
D: lean cuisine mushroom pizza; 3 oz chicken breast; can of green beans
dessert: apple, popcorn, fat free pringles

journaled 4 days in a row and stayed within calorie requirements.

25 minute core class at the Y; 20 minutes on the elliptica; 100 crunches; 100 push-ups

 

[keenercam]

Today's food:
B: healthy choice turkey breast on lite multi-grain english muffin; coffee w/skim milk
L: green salad; WW santa fe rice & beans
S: steamed broccoli w/FF cheese
D: 6 oz london broil; 1 cup frozen corn
dessert: 100 calorie Glenny's blondie

 

[keenercam]

I got up this morning at 5:30 and went to the gym and did 6.20 miles in 1:28:32 and burned off 548 calories.

Then I went to a 55 minute muscle pump class, which I LOVED!!!!! I am so glad I finally got there, 3 weeks into the program session! : The instructor is so absolutely wonderful! She plays great music, wears a headset and has a really nice voice and gives instructions and enough warning on each set that even an uncoordinated klutz like I am was able to follow everything!!! I used 2 5-lb dumbbells; a 9 lb body bar, and a weight bar with 2 5lb weights through the course of the class and those weights were still often a bit of a struggle. I also had charlie horse in my left hip near the end of the class, so I can see that there is a lot of room for improvement and strengthening.

Today's food:

(pre-gym): coffee w/fat free creamer
(at gym): 8 oz powerade
B: 2 light multi-grain english muffins; 1.5 servings LF sliced turkey breast
S: chicken broth & 94% FF popcorn
L: birdeye tuscan veggies in tomato sauce; 2 hillshire farms deli wraps (no dressing); lettuce
D: 6 oz grilled chicken; apple; soft pretzel

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Just stoppinig by to say hello

 

[traceycooper]

I got up this morning at 5:30 and went to the gym and did 6.20 miles in 1:28:32 and burned off 548 calories.

Then I went to a 55 minute muscle pump class, which I LOVED!!!!! I am so glad I finally got there, 3 weeks into the program session! : The instructor is so absolutely wonderful! She plays great music, wears a headset and has a really nice voice and gives instructions and enough warning on each set that even an uncoordinated klutz like I am was able to follow everything!!! I used 2 5-lb dumbbells; a 9 lb body bar, and a weight bar with 2 5lb weights through the course of the class and those weights were still often a bit of a struggle. I also had charlie horse in my left hip near the end of the class, so I can see that there is a lot of room for improvement and strengthening.

wow you go girl
i wish i could motivate myself to get up that early & work out!!
Keep up the great work

 

[keenercam]

Hi, Jen!
Hi, Tracey! Thank you so much for your encouragement!

I am disappointed because the scale was actually up a tiny bit this morning instead of down, notwithstanding all the calories I burned yesterday. UGH! I just have to keep working and not allow myself to get discouraged. I told myself I was just going to journal every bite for now and not worry about the points/calories, etc. I just want to get back into the habit of journaling and then I will work on making better choices.
But, even though I journaled for 6 days and the choices were, in fact, pretty darn smart, and my calorie intake every day for 6 days was well within the recommended range, the scale is not moving as it should. THis is usually where I start to lose momentum and I just don't want to let that happen.

 

[keenercam]

Food today:
B: coffee w/fat free creamer
L: tuscan veggies w/tomato sauce; 3 slices wasa crisp; 1.5 svgs turkey breast; garden salad
S: chicken broth; 94%FF popcorn; 7 pistachios
D: ~ 8 oz grilled sirloin roast; 2.5 ounce boneless pork chop; 1 cup corn
dessert: WW ice cream sandwich

 

[MIdanceMom]

Congratulations Cam!!!

You are doing an awesome job. You are exercising and journaling. Way to go. I'm glad you have found that weights class. Now, onto the scale. That class builds muscle. You will see a loss of inches rather that weight over the next 3 weeks or so. I have also found that anytime I earn more than 4 activity points, I need to eat at least the overage, or I don't lose. If I earn 7, I will eat 3 extra points that day. Just something to think about.

Keep up the awesome work,
Beth

 

[keenercam]

Thanks, Beth! I am getting pretty tired of telling myself the scale isn't moving because of muscle, but at least I am also building healthy eating habits.

 

[keenercam]

Food today:
B: coffee w/FF creamer; 3 morningstar farms breakfast scramble patties
S: apple
L: garden salad w/ olive oil; turkey breast; 3 oz chicken breast on lite MG EM
S: WW english muffin sandwich
D: sirloin roast; pork chop; green salad; pretzel crisps w/mustard
dessert: NSA rice pudding; weight watchers cookies n cream ice cream bar

It's 3:00 and I am feeling pretty full from lunch. I think I'll plan to eat my lite yogurt in about an hour and then do a panini before the gym.

I've decided to try to eat about 1600 calories a day for a while to see if my body is, in fact, rebelling about the lack of calories. Looking at my sparkpeople food journal, I think I am seeing that I may not be hitting my WW points target many days. I may try to start keeping track of that as well, to see where I am. AND I am going to try to eat my activity points, on the advice of a very dear friend here. Hopefully, something will shake me off this plateau I have been on for WAYYYYY too long!

-------------
gym time -- 60 minutes; recumbent bike -- burned 300 calories; 11.5 miles

 

[traceycooper]

Hi, Jen!
Hi, Tracey! Thank you so much for your encouragement!

I am disappointed because the scale was actually up a tiny bit this morning instead of down, notwithstanding all the calories I burned yesterday. UGH! I just have to keep working and not allow myself to get discouraged. I told myself I was just going to journal every bite for now and not worry about the points/calories, etc. I just want to get back into the habit of journaling and then I will work on making better choices.
But, even though I journaled for 6 days and the choices were, in fact, pretty darn smart, and my calorie intake every day for 6 days was well within the recommended range, the scale is not moving as it should. THis is usually where I start to lose momentum and I just don't want to let that happen.

first - your welcome
i wouldnt have thought the cals you burnt yesterday would show on the scale so soon! At least i know mine never do.....infact they never show at all!!!
I did read somewhere that you have to be totally good/healthy for at least 2 weeks & then have to wait another 2 weeks before it shows on the scale!
patience - keep going & doing what your doing

 

[keenercam]

Okay, Tracey! You have persuaded me! I won't worry until it is nearly time to head off to WDW and haul all these pounds ~8-something miles! I'll just keep doing what I am doing and hope to start seeing some movement in the right direction on the scale!

 

[keenercam]

Food today:
B: WW breakfast sandwich; coffee w/SF creamer
S: coffee w/skim milk
L: chicken breast; white rice; steamed broccoli
S: coffee w/skim milk
S: apple, banana, turkey burger, romaine lettuce
D: pork chop; 2 mini whole wheat pitas; 1 svg healthy choice turkey slices; edamame
dessert: hostess mini chocolate cakes; chex mix; pretzels