Running for Freedom(of the Seas) The Journey Begins Today!(Comments Welcome)

[VernRDH]

A beautiful day here in NY. Grocery shopping, errands, TKD for DD, general "stuff" to do today. Going running outside for the first time since the half tomorrow with my inlaws.

But first, todays weigh in. Now I was not expecting good results but alas, I was pleasantly surprised.

weight: 172.0

points for today: 23, no exercise planned

breakfast: 8 pts
coffee 0 pts
sf hot chocolate 1 pt
ww bread 1 pt
peanut butter 5 pts
applesauce 1 pt

lunch: 7pts
thomas bagel thin 2 pts
turkey 1 pt
light mayo 2 pts
quakes rice snacks 2 pts

dinner: 15 pts
chili 7pts
salad 0 pts
ranch 4pts
sour cream 2pts
cheese 2 pts

points used: 30
flex used: 7
flex remaining: 28

We are going to try making meals this week instead of relying on frozen ones. We are eating up the last of those and saying GOODBYE to them. This week is chicken souvlaki gyros and pita pizzas. Next week I may do some pasta to freeze as well. Salads and eggs are always our in a pinch dinners, and DH likes cereal and toast for dinner (too many points for me!)

 

[momof2minnies]

Veronica
Great job with the weight- wasn't yesterday just awesome.I should have gone for a run but I didn't.

Keep up the great work.How do you make those gyros? Sounds interesting.

Linda

 

[VernRDH]

Linda-it was great yesterday, though I didn't get out to run then we went this morning. I did 2 miles alone, then 3 with my inlaws. 5 miles in 58:21, not bad for the first time out since the half! It was wonderful to run outdoors again, I am so looking forward to more of it in the near future!

Since I ran the 5 miles, I earned 8 exercise points. Which is good, since we just got back from a pancake breakfast put on by the animal shelter where my dads girlfriend volunteers. Food was ok, but it is nice to support a good cause.

weight: drumroll, please............. 169.6 I was so totally jazzed to see that, I have now lost 11 lbs since Jan. 23rd. WOOT!!

points for today: 22 + 8 = 30 (now in the 160's, I lose another point)

breakfast: 17 pts
DD mocha latte lite 3 pts
pancakes w/syrup 7
1 sausage link 3 pts
scrambled eggs 4 pts

since we ate breakfast at 10:30, we opted out of lunch and had an early dinner

dinner: 9 pts
chicken 1 pt
pita 2pts
tzatziki 1 pt
lettuce, tomato, onion 0 pts
sweet potato fries 3 pts
skinny cow ice cream sandwich 2 pts

snack: cereal 4 pts with skim milk 2 pts

The chicken souvlaki gyros are really easy. Marinate the chicken in a lemon juice/olive oil and garlic marinade then grill. I use the chicken tenderloins, they cook quickly. Warm the pitas, spread on some tzatziki, put in the chicken and lettuce, tomato and onion (you can leave out what you don't like) Same as a traditional gyro except chicken instead of lamb.

points used: 32
flex used: 2
flex remaining: 26

 

[LAinSEA]

Yay, Hooray! Look at you go! Must be that fresh air and sunshine--how can the pounds stick around with the kind of workouts you've been doing?

Sorry about the rant on sodium and processed foods...they are so hard to avoid. All I can say is that if DH didn't like to cook and wasn't so supportive, I would have given up long ago and couldn't have dropped what weight it gone now. We had the conversation again tonight--after going out for fast, "healthy" Mexican last night before the play--I was up again this morning and really hadn't eaten anything through the day except a small slice of leftover frittata. It is the salt in everything from a restaurant or frozen. DH will go out to lunches with co-workers throughout the week (he makes me lunch, but doesn't make himself one...) and he said last night that he feels sluggish when he does go out or pops a frozen burrito into the microwave. It takes much more planning, but I know I feel better when we just make our own.

Other ideas--it's been frittatas the past few weeks. I seem to maintain or even lose on eggs. We use one egg to the equivalent of two egg whites to cut the fat and up the protein (but in cartons) and then toss in a little low sodium ham diced, or turkey sausage, a little cheese, and peppers and onions and it just cooks up in the oven in the cast iron skillet (non-stick coating). We have half for dinner, and I get two lunches out of it. It re-heats well. It's kind of like a crustless quiche, but with an omlette bottom. (We do up crustless quiches too in muffin tins.) We did bleu cheese salad tonight with sliced eggs and grilled shrimp (but grilled chicken breast would have worked too.) I've been able to tolerate a little rice mix with wild rice and not overly gain (first starchy carbs I've dared try). We put our own version of the Qdoba naked burrito on the menu for this week; lime tossed rice with cilantro, black beans, grilled chicken or flank steak, salsa, and sliced avocados because it was so good last night out, but too much sodium. Wild salmon is starting to come into the stores again...we cook it on a cedar plank and it is fullproof that way. My aunt is sending me her lasagne receipe; she can't have wheat pasta...using kale or collards for the lasagne noodles, but all the rest is traditional and I'm hoping that it will satisfy my craving for Italian...I just need to maintain for another three weeks and then I'm going to start the HCG and the 500 cal. diet again and I've already planned one of the load days at Olive Garden

Thanks again for bumping up my journal - you're a treasure

 

[VernRDH]

Laurie-no worries on the rant about the processed food. You are right, it is better to cook our own than rely on frozen, but sometimes its just too easy to grab a lean cuisine instead of making something.

30 minutes on the TM this morning earns me 2 exercise pts

weight: back up to 171.8 I should have known yesterdays weight was too good to be true, but hey at least it is still less than before!

points for today: 23 + 2 = 25

breakfast: 8 pts
coffee 0 pts
sf hot chocolate 1 pt
ww bread 1 pt
peanut butter 5 pts
applesauce 1 pt

lunch: 13 pts
chili 7pts
bread 2 pts
sour cream 2pts
cheese 2 pts


dinner: 6 pts
3 oz chicken 3 pt
tzatziki 1 pt
lettuce, tomato, onion 0 pts
skinny cow ice cream sandwich 2 pts

points used: 25
flex used: 2
flex remaining: 24

lunch was a disaster, i was planning on having the gyro for dinner and salad didn't appeal to me. I love chili, but I know that it doesn't necessarily love me. I hate having to go out each Monday for lunch at work, I feel so much better when I bring my own lunch from home. Tomorrows plan is running on the TM in the am, pounding the water all day, and a home made lunch NO LEAN CUISINE! I got Thomas' Bagel thins (like they cut off the very top and very bottom of the bagel and left out the whole doughy middle bits) They toast nice for sandwiches.

 

[momof2minnies]

WOOHOO you go girl!!!!!!!!!! 11 lbs that is great.

Linda

 

[VernRDH]

Thanks Linda, I am pleased with my progress thus far, though don't we always wish the weight would come off faster?

Ran 3 miles this morning on the TM in 36 minutes gives me 4 exercise points.

weight: still 171.8 not down, but not back up!

points for today: 23 + 5 (will get one more exercise point for walking with DD tonight) so 28 total

breakfast: 8 pts
coffee 0 pts
sf hot chocolate 1 pt
ww bread 1 pt
peanut butter 5 pts
applesauce 1 pt

lunch: 10 pts
bagel thin 2 pts
low sodium turkey 1 pt
light mayo 2 pts
quakes rice snacks 2 pts
ww yogurt 1 pt
fiber plus bar 2 pts

dinner: 8 pts
whole wheat pita 2 pts
tomato sauce 1 pt
ww mozzarella cheese 2 pts
quakes rice snacks 2 pts
ww ice cream bar 1 pt

snack: 1 cup cheerios 2 pts

points used: 28
flex used: 0
flex remaining: 24

I still have 2 pts left for snacks, we may have cheerios while watching BL again. Better than the popcorn!

 

[momof2minnies]

Yes I found that the first 10 melted of now I seem stuck again.I guess that means we need to up the intensity.

Did you watch Biggest Loser last night? It seems to be boring to me this time around- I don't feel like I am rooting for anyone in particular this season.In the beginning I thought Michael but he seems to be driving me crazy?

And how was the product endorsement last night for the protein powder? Too much of that too. I have to remeber if I get hungry to get my gum today- ha!ha!

Boy isn't this weather great.Enjoy!

Linda

 

[VernRDH]

I had a good day yesterday in terms of food and exercise. Unfortunately the scale does not necessarily reflect that. While no gain, no loss either. Hoping that today I can make some progress. Tonight is McDonalds night for school (yeah hows that fight against childhood obesity going). I may splurge and order something bad though I know I shouldn't. But sometimes something bad moves things along. ETA: we passed on the McDonalds, YEAH!!!

weight: still 171.8

points for today: 23 ETA: would have earned 3 for class at the Y, but I got there and realized that I forgot my sneakers! LOL. So I will run tomorrow on the TM.

breakfast: 8 pts
coffee 0 pts
sf hot chocolate 1 pt
ww bread 1 pt
peanut butter 5 pts
applesauce 1 pt

lunch: 7 pts
ww bread 1 pt
low sodium ham 1 pt
mustard 0 pts
quakes rice snacks 2 pts
ww yogurt 1 pt
fiber plus bar 2 pts

dinner: 10 pts
lettuce, tomato, onion 0 pts
3 oz grilled chicken 3 pts
tzatziki 1 pt
whole wheat pita 2 pts
tomato sauce 1 pt
ww mozzarella cheese 2 pts
ww fudge bar ice cream 1 pt

points used: 25
flex used: 2
flex remaining: 22

I still cannot believe that I forgot my sneakers for my class at the Y. They don't like you to wear your outside shoes in the aerobics room, so I usually just slip on my Crocs and take my sneakers with me. Well I was in such a hurry to get there I totally forgot them! Oh well, more time with DH and DD tonight.

 

[VernRDH]

Up early to run this morning, to make up for last nights missed class. 3 miles, 36 minutes earns me 4 exercise pts. Will walk on the TM tonight with DD.

points for today: 23 + 5 = 28

weight: down to 171.0

breakfast: 8 pts
coffee 0 pts
sf hot chocolate 1 pt
ww bread 1 pt
peanut butter 5 pts
applesauce 1 pt

lunch: 11 pts
bagel thin 2 pts
turkey 1 pt
light mayo 2 pt
quakes rice snacks 2 pts
ww yogurt 1 pt
fiber plus bar 2 pts
ww english toffee square 1 pt

dinner: 21 pts
cereal 8 pts
milk 4 pts
ww bread 1.5 pts
peanut butter 7.5 pts

points used: 40
flex used: 12
flex remaining: 10

I was ravenous when I got home tonight and really would have liked to eat out. But instead I over indulged on peanut butter toast and cereal. Feeling rather full now but happy. Really could go to bed now. But there is work to be done.

 

[VernRDH]

So last nights overindulgence of cereal and toast did not bode well for the scale this morning. I was up, but not as bad as I had thought. Work today, no TKD for DD tonight or tomorrow due to the tournament, so a more relaxed evening tonight.

weight: 172.2

points for today 23 no exercise

breakfast: 8 pts
coffee 0 pts
sf hot chocolate 1 pt
ww bread 1 pt
peanut butter 5 pts
applesauce 1pt

lunch: 8 pts
grilled chicken 3 pts
salad 0 pts
bread 3 pts
dressing 2 pts

dinner: tbd

 

[VernRDH]

Well the last two days have been quite bad for me food wise. I have just been so darn hungry. I used all my flex points (and then some I think LOL).
Went for a quick run this morning in the light rain, but it was warmer out. Felt nice to be out. Did 3.07 miles in 32:23. I was running in the 10's so I was jazzed about that. (ETA: avg pace 10:33, really good considering I really haven't been running much as of late, but can't wait to get out there more!)

Weight: 172.2, up 0.2 from last weeks weigh in, same as yesterday. Can't complain, it could have been much worse.

points for today: 23 + 4 exercise = 27

breakfast: 8 pts
coffee 0 pts
sf hot chocolate 1 pt
ww bread 1 pt
peanut butter 5 pts
applesauce 1 pt

lunch: we will be having a late lunch/early dinner, just DH and I . DD is going to see Annie at the theatre with my inlaws, and DH and I are going TV shopping. (Trust me, it is WAAAAAY cheaper than the classic Corvette he wanted to buy, so its okay).
ETA: we ended up having lunch and dinner. so here goes.
Firecracker Chicken sandwich at Uno's 9 pts
fries 11 pts

dinner: 3 soft taco supremes from Taco Bell 15 pts

points used: 43
flex used: 16
flex remaining: 19

So today was another bad day for eating, again I am really hungry. We were busy shopping for the new TV and then putting everything together. Its no excuse for bad eating though. Tomorrow morning I should be running with my FIL, providing it isn't raining hard. Back on track now!!

 

[VernRDH]

We were supposed to have rain all weekend, but it is really just overcast and windy. Which is okay for running, though I would much prefer 50 degrees and sunny. But beggars can't be choosers, at least it is not snowing and 12 degrees!!

Another good run today, 2 miles alone then 3.2 with FIL. So 5.2 miles in 1:01, 11:48 avg pace. Not speedy but consistent. Earned 8 exercise points for the day.

Weight, well I was once again expecting a total "epic failure" but I was back down to 170.2! Maybe my body just needed me to eat more to get out of that "famine" mode. I don't know, but I will take it! The key of course is to not go back up from here, only down.

points for today: 23 + 8 = 31

breakfast: 9 pts
coffee 0 pts
sf hot chocolate 1 pt
ww bread 1 pt
peanut butter 5 pts
banana 2 pts

lunch: 10 pts
everything bagel thin 2 pt
roast beef 2 oz 2 pts
mozzarella cheese 1 pt
thousand island dressing 2 pts
quakes rice snacks 2 pts
ww ice cream bar 1 pt

dinner: 12 pts
pizza 12 pts

Another meal out-but pizza is soooo good. We skipped the wings and I didn't drink soda, so I did way better than usual.

 

[momof2minnies]

Doesn't that feel good when you see that all the hard work is paying off? Here's to only going down- thumbs up!

Looks like next week is going to be very motivating for us up here in the north.The temps look like the 60s all week! Yay and daylight savings too!

Keep up the great work,

Linda

 

[VernRDH]

I really don't like the spring ahead time change. It means it is still really dark when I get up in the morning. We have a "lighten up" timer for a small lamp in our bedroom. It gradually turns the light on over a 20-30 minute time period, simulating sunrise. Unfortunately, we forgot to reset it last night, so it didn't go off this morning. And I overslept. I did still manage to get 20 minutes on the TM, I upped the intensity to make up for the lack of time.

In my rush, I forgot to weigh myself. But my fresh from the dryer jeans slipped on quite nicely, so that is a non scale victory (usually I have to struggle to get them up and buttoned when they are right from the dryer).

points for today: 23+2=25

breakfast: 8 pts
coffee 0 pts
sf hot chocolate 1 pt
ww bread 1 pt
peanut butter 5 pts
applesauce 1pt

lunch: 8 pts
cream of broccoli soup 4 pts
salad 0 pts
grilled chicken 3 pts
tzatziki sauce 1 pt

dinner: 11
chicken salad 6 pts
quakes rice snacks 3 pts
skinny cow ice cream sandwich 2 pts

points used: 27
flex used: 2
flex remaining: 17

 

[VernRDH]

Forgot to do the lighten up again last night-am putting a post it note on the TV in the bedroom so I don't forget tonight. It really does make a difference for us getting up in the morning.
DH is staying home sick today-he has a cold and a bit of GI upset. I cannot let him distract me however.

Ran on the TM this morning 3 miles/36 minutes. Earned 4 exercise pts. Will walk with DD tonight while watching BL, so will earn 1 more.

Weight: 171.6, still up from Sunday, but I am hanging around the same place so that is okay.

points for today: 23 + 5 = 28

breakfast: 8 pts
coffee 0 pts
sf hot chocolate 1 pt
ww bread 1 pt
peanut butter 5 pts
applesauce 1 pt

lunch: 11 pts
everything bagel thin 2 pts
turkey 1 pt
light mayo 2 pts
quakes rice snacks 2 pts
ww yogurt 1 pt
fiber plus bar 2 pts
ww english toffee square 1 pt

dinner: 7 pts
ww bread 1 pt
roast beef 2 pts
russian dressing 2 pts
40% reduced fat 100 cal pack chips 2 pts

snack: Jolly time 94%ff popcorn 3 pts

points used: 29
flex used: 1
flex remaining: 16

I had the popcorn for snack, probably should have gone with the Cheerios.

 

[VernRDH]

I remembered to do the light last night-what a difference it makes in us getting out of bed in the morning. No exercise this morning, since tonight is class at the Y. REMEMBER TO BRING SNEAKERS!!

weight: down to 171.2, not a lot but a loss is a loss

points for today: 23 + 3 = 26

breakfast: 8 pts
coffee 0 pts
sf hot chocolate 1 pt
ww bread 1 pt
peanut butter 5 pts
applesauce 1 pt

lunch: 11 pts
everything bagel thin 2 pts
turkey 1 pt
light mayo 2 pt
reduced fat chips 100 cal pack 2 pts
ww yogurt 1 pt
fiber plus bar 2 pts
ww english toffee square 1 pt

dinner: 6 pts
eggs (1 whole, 3 whites) 3 pts
ww bread 1 pt
margarine 2 pts

snack: sweet potato fries 3 pts

points used: 28
flex used: 2
flex remaining: 14

 

[momof2minnies]

Veronica,
What is the lighten up? Maybe I missed it before.

Linda

 

[VernRDH]

Veronica,
What is the lighten up? Maybe I missed it before.

Linda

Are you familiar with a circadian rhythm clock? It gradually increases the light in the room to simulate sunrise, making your body naturally want to wake up. The clocks are expensive, so we got the Lighten Up. You plug a small bedside lamp into the adapter and plug the adapter into the wall 8 hours before you want it to start coming on (we set our alarms for 5:15, so we have it start at 5, therefore I had to plug it in at 9pm). So by about 5:20 the light is fully on and we are awake. Makes it much easier to get up when it is still black as tar outside!

 

[VernRDH]

OK so I just had a 'doh moment.

We have been eating these new Bagel Thins from Thomas'. They aren't in my WW book, so I estimated the points at 2 (they are 110 cals, 1 g fat, 5 g fiber). Finally used the calculator and they are only 1 pt!! So I have been short changing myself almost every day!

Also a vent here-went to class at the Y tonight. My friend was sick so there was a sub teacher. I knew this before I went, figuring it would be one of the other ladies. Nope, some guy named Juan who no one could hear and was as unorganized as could be. No rhyme or reason to anything he did. People actually walked out of the class!! I stayed only because I had already "spent" the points. And to make it worse, at the end of the class, he says I do personal training and I don't have my own class right now, so tell them if you liked this class so I can get one! What nerve!!