Today's to-dos

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

- Split a chicken and grill it
- make zucchini-spice bread
- clean the upstairs bathroom
- get in a workout (either some time at the gym this afternoon or running club tonight)
- drink tons of water
- post some goals around the house

One of the habits I've instilled is to walk around my neighborhood after every meal. I've been doing pretty well - I don't go when it's dark (bears) or when it's pouring rain (I don't like wet feet). But other than that, I've been doing well. It gives me great time to think about my goals and what I'm going to do for the day.

July has been a pretty sketchy month as far as goals have been concerned. I didn't really have any goals, I just kind of plodded along, doing ok with eating and fitness... it works better for me, though, if I have something I'm working toward.

Some thoughts from this morning's walk:
- Go back to school in a solid size 4 (no more of this 4/6 stuff)
- Sign up for a 5K so I have something I'm training for
- Start thinking about a plan for when I go back to school (since it takes three weeks - they say - to form a habit, I'm going to have to get back into my sleeping/workout routine pretty soon for back to school!)

I may have to revisit this blog a few times today to keep myself in check. I'm always totally gung-ho in the morning, but it tends to wane later in the day.

Off to check something off the list!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TORTUETOO 7/27/2010 4:41PM

Split a chicken? LOL, I just get this visual of you running after a chicken with an ax and I can't stop laughing. More seriously, I like the walk after dinner idea. I may have to adopt that one myself on nights that I'm home. Thanks for the idea! Report Inappropriate Comment

CAMROLA 7/27/2010 12:48PM

I love your lists--they always give me ideas and help get me motivated (and somehow always make me hungry)! Report Inappropriate Comment

COOPSM 7/27/2010 11:02AM

Carrie---I hear you on the gung ho part in the morning...you will do great though....I just know it!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIGHTNINGRUNNER 7/27/2010 10:50AM

You are amazing. I love your lists. Report Inappropriate Comment

New challenge

Monday, July 26, 2010

So I've been trying to come up with a nutrition challenge - a Spark buddy (COOPSM) has this great idea of sticking a dollar in a jar every time she meets a challenge for the day. I love this idea! I wanted to use this idea for myself, but I was having trouble coming up with what I would do to put money in the jar. So today I figured it out.

This week's challenge is to go alcohol-free. I had been doing really well with sticking to one glass, once a week, but now that I'm totally in "summer mode," I've been enjoying a little more than that. I have some great wine at home - went to the Finger Lakes and picked up a case of various white wine - so it's really easy to just get a glass or two at night. And alcohol has a lot of empty calories, especially white wine with all the residual sugar. Not only does alcohol have a lot of calories, but it also fools me into thinking I'm hungry when I'm not.

One glass - "I could really use something sweet." Two glasses - "I guess I *am* still a little hungry, I'll get some sushi (last night's eating)."

Yesterday I worked really hard at the gym, but probably negated most of it with last night's Dinner #2. Bleh. But the positive from this experience is that it gave me a good idea for a challenge.

So while I don't want to totally cut wine out (it's just so good, and I don't want it to go to waste), I'm going back to allowing myself a glass or two one day a week. Each day I stick to non-alcoholic beverages, I'll put $1 in the jar. I still need to determine the reward...

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

COOPSM 7/26/2010 2:23PM

Carrie----you can do this.......what happens if you have wine though 2 nights?? Money coming out of the jar??? I started with 10$..and if I mess up---5$ goes to hubby......he hasn't gotten a cent yet....LOL... GO CARRIE Report Inappropriate Comment

LSCHULER72 7/26/2010 12:10PM

Good luck! I don't drink very often, but I do enjoy my wine and beer when the occasion rises-and I often kick myself for the extra calories later-but you're right: can't let it go to waste!! :) Report Inappropriate Comment

SOUTHGOINGZAX 7/26/2010 11:10AM

That is so funny - I decided last night (after a social get-together and several glasses of wine over the course of the evening) that I needed to address my alcohol consumption this week as well! I love a good glass of wine, but I certainly don't need 1 or 2 glasses a night. My waistline doesn't need it either. Good luck to you completing your challenge - I hope you can find a good reward! Report Inappropriate Comment

KARVY09 7/26/2010 10:22AM

Good luck with the challenge this week! Report Inappropriate Comment

ANEWME3536 7/26/2010 9:38AM

That's a great idea! Good luck meeting your goals and thanks for sharing! Report Inappropriate Comment

SPARKLINGDAWN 7/26/2010 9:35AM

Yep those are exactly the same calories I fight - and the same habits as well. There are teams for this, with a lot of good advice you know. If you find this quest hard, you could consider joining those, if it is a piece of cake - then you are good. Some of us that have a hard time, have joined those. Lots of laughs and good comments, and great friends that all share one of two goals, go AF or to stay MOD Report Inappropriate Comment

Quick! Three points!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Today's not-so-good:
Didn't make it to the gym

Today's goods:
Spent the day with my mom at the pool
Was good with the sunscreen
Drank a ton of water
Made some delish potato salad

Off to pick up my honey!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

COOPSM 7/25/2010 2:35PM

No gym but you had a fun day.....glad you enjoyed.... Report Inappropriate Comment

ALASKASKY 7/25/2010 2:20PM

I wish I was at that pool right now. Report Inappropriate Comment

JILLIANPRNCSS 7/25/2010 10:06AM

Glad you had a busy and full day. I am the same as you with having to be busy or I will eat. Report Inappropriate Comment

PILLOWFOOL 7/25/2010 3:13AM

sometimes you need a quiet day with people you care about in order to relax and regroup! I would love to spend a day by the pool with my mama. and I would really love to have some of your potato salad! Report Inappropriate Comment

ONECOOKIETWO 7/25/2010 12:22AM

I agree with Diegogal! Report Inappropriate Comment

SEPPIESUSAN 7/24/2010 11:13PM

I went to the pool instead of the gym too! Report Inappropriate Comment

DIEGOGAL 7/24/2010 10:37PM

You spent a very quality day, don't regret. Report Inappropriate Comment

No more of that!

Friday, July 23, 2010

So after yesterday morning's self-pity party, I got some great advice from some Spark friends. Secretly, I was hoping that they would wallow along with me, but instead, I got (to paraphrase) "get up and do something! Don't just sit around being sad."

It was great advice. I got a lot done yesterday, and I stayed within my calorie range. I even made it to two classes at the gym last night and burned a ton of calories. I went for my walk after every meal, and I was able to control my cereal eating (at least, better than I had been).

As good as it felt to vent a little and get my sadness and frustration off my chest, it felt wonderful to pick myself up and be strong enough to get past it. I did a seriously awesome job at the gym last night. I sweated up a storm and today I can really feel those lunges. Yahoo!

So today I am once again taking some advice and getting some stuff done.

Today I will:
Make bread dough - in process. The yeast is doing its thing.
Pick up my drycleaning.
Work on my scrapbook from last summer's trip to San Francisco.
Watch a movie (something I don't do enough of - I often think of movies as a waste of time, but I really *do* enjoy that time where I don't have to do another thing).
Give myself a pedicure
Make blueberry muffins (no, they aren't gone from 2 days ago already, but they freeze really well and I have to use up the blueberries in the fridge).
Take a nap.

Off to get some bread going... I am mixing it by hand, so I'll get in a good arm workout! Ha! Cooking/baking is so relaxing sometimes. I love focusing on the food and really taking the time to make a great product. It's so rewarding to eat food that I put so much care into making.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

PILLOWFOOL 7/25/2010 3:12AM

glad to see you're feeling better! Report Inappropriate Comment

BETHSTL 7/24/2010 10:01AM

Do you love to bake?? I definitely do, wish I was better at it, but I do experiment :) Glad you are feeling better! -Beth Report Inappropriate Comment

JUSTBIRDY 7/23/2010 9:42PM

Great way to get back on track! Report Inappropriate Comment

SEPPIESUSAN 7/23/2010 5:28PM

Raw bread dough is a lot of fun. :) I haven't made bread since I was a kid! Report Inappropriate Comment

CFMOSS 7/23/2010 5:15PM

Smiles to you. I think the downs have been around a bunch this summer but don't forget just how well you are doing. Keep up the good work. I appreciate all that you do!!! including bread making - i'm trying to get mozzarrella made - now if they would just stop using high temperatures to pasteurize the milk. Report Inappropriate Comment

GSDMIKE 7/23/2010 2:22PM

I've only ever made bread with one of those appliances. Sounds like fun to do it by hand. I should give that a try some time. Glad you had such a good day yesterday. Have a great weekend. Report Inappropriate Comment

_MSAPRIL17_ 7/23/2010 1:58PM

Great job getting out there and getting it done. It's such a good feeling isn't it? Keep it up!!! Have a great weekend! Report Inappropriate Comment

REVJVH 7/23/2010 12:23PM

What a great turnaround! Isn't it amazing what we can do when we shift perspective and look at challenges as possibilities? Yippee!!!!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Evening woes

Thursday, July 22, 2010

My honey is a chef, so he works odd hours. I am fine with this. It took me a while to get used to, but now it's good. He loves what he does, and we get some weekend time off together to enjoy together time. He is one of two chefs at his restaurant.

The problem is that the other chef left. I'm not going to bore you with the details, but the gist is that my honey is the only one doing the cooking now. This means that he is working EXTRA long hours, sometimes from 11am - 11pm. I understand that he has to do this until they can hire someone else - the good/bad thing is that my honey is good at his job and is the only one there right now that can do what he does. Sigh.

So other than the huge problem of not getting to see my honey nearly as much as I'd like to is that I spend many days by myself. I am ok in the morning, ok in the afternoon, but when evening rolls around, all I want to do is eat eat eat. Yesterday I was doing really well until dinner. I had a bowl of cereal. And another one. Then some pasta with marinara. Then two bowls of frozen yogurt. Sigh... it's like because nobody is here to watch me eat it, I'm not eating it at all. Weird, I know.

This morning I'm feeling a little bummed. Honey has to go in early today - they are doing a lunch for a local business (they usually just do dinner), so lord knows when I'll see him tonight. I'm feeling sad and a little angry, too. I'm angry at the restaurant for waiting this long to find someone else... It's been almost three weeks and my honey has been working just about every day. So I suppose that food has been taking the place of my honey. Sigh...

So to analyze, my problem time is evening. What can I do to make this not a problem? Schedule workouts in the evening. I need about 1-2 hours of no eating *before* my workout, and after my workout I don't feel like ruining all my hard work. I can also plan evening activities, preferable away from home.

I keep telling myself this won't last forever, but it's hard. I know it would be much worse if I didn't have the support of my Spark friends. Thank you!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BETHSTL 7/24/2010 10:04AM

So sorry your honey is working so hard. I would miss mine too if he was gone that long also. I guess the only advise would be to just keep yourself busy. I know there is only so much you can do in a day, but maybe take some time out and read a good book. That is definitely a time waster LOL...hope the best for you! ((HUGS)) Report Inappropriate Comment

LALAFLOWERS 7/23/2010 8:46AM

It sucks to be lonely! I sure understand! But I know you have a gym membership... so what good classes are there in the evening? Go try something new!!!! that way you can have some fun, burn some calories, get out of the house, and not be near the kitchen! I also keep myself busy in my bedroom in the evenings.. away from where I can see the kitchen! If I can see it.. I'll think about what is in there that tastes good.. and end up eating! Not because I'm hungry... but I'm looking for a distraction! Report Inappropriate Comment

PILLOWFOOL 7/23/2010 2:59AM

{hugs} so familiar with this feeling and this coping mechanism. it's so hard, isn't it? but I know you can find something else to help keep your mind off your honey being gone and off of eating. are you still taking your after meal walks? maybe you could try other things, like after dinner shopping, or bubble baths. when my honey's gone I like to have full on girl days. I'll have dinner and then I'll take a bath and paint my nails and do a mud mask and watch a chick flick - and then before I know it he's home :) I hope they find someone soon so your honey can come home to you! Report Inappropriate Comment

COOPSM 7/23/2010 12:05AM

Carrie---I am with Mike---I know how hard this is....you know how I struggle when my hubby is at work...can you adopt a plan like I am doing...set a goal to work towards.....limit what your trigger is with a penalty if you go past..... You are a strong girl...you can do this!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

REVJVH 7/22/2010 11:34AM

I second what GDSMIKE said. Find something that you've wanted to do, never had the time to do because you were busy with your honey, and do it. Make sure it' something absorbing, so it will demand your attention. Much as you love your mate, you need to cultivate an active life of interests of your own. Everyone does. Whether it's exercise, reading, knitting, journaling, deep-cleaning your kitchen, ;painting your living room, calling another friend to go to a movie or for a walk, whatever. The important thing is to engage your mind, heart and spirit in something that builds you up. Report Inappropriate Comment

JILLSMYTH 7/22/2010 10:06AM

Ugh, that's not fun about your guy. But it sounds like you have a good plan to deal with it. Now to put it into practice. Be strong! Report Inappropriate Comment

GSDMIKE 7/22/2010 9:42AM

Did you do your walk around the block after each bowl of cereal, and the pasta, and each bowl of frozen yogurt? That seemed like a good idea to stay "conscious" about your eating. You are just filling idle time with a spoon in your hand instead of filling it more productively. Time to find something to bridge the gap. Take up guitar. Find a good video game. Go do your workouts. Anything but sitting around stewing about the absence of your normal routine. Report Inappropriate Comment