Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Wednesday Weigh-In: The Rushed Edition

The stats:

HW: 252.6 (Sept 30, 2012)
CW: 209.2 (-3.4 change from last week)
GW: 140's
Height: 5'5"
Age: 49

The second week of my own version of the whole 30. And by my own versio, I mean I am compliant except for putting butter on my veggies and every so often, not fretting if my only choice for supper includes bacon with sugar as one of its ingredients.

It's working for me. I am feeling lean. My energy is steady, even when I forget to eat and wind up missing a meal. I am not experiencing the rollar coaster of emotions that comes with a sugar run metabolism, either. That's the best.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Wednesday Weigh In: "The Whole 30, Week 1" Edition

First, the stats:

HW: 252.6 (Sept 30, 2012)
CW: 212.6 (-5.6 change from last week)
GW: 140's
Height: 5'5"
Age: 49

I had been thinking about going back to following the Whole 30 protocol since the beginning of March. After last week's post, I committed to it for just one day. Then, the next day, another. And so it went until Saturday-- I was going to be somewhere for lunch where I had no idea whther I'd find something suitable to eat-- when I decided I didn't want to quit. Easter is coming. I've told my husband he's welcome to get me the Ester chocolate after Easter --on sale!

My energy levels are beginning to come back up. I am quite tired at night, though and I have been resisting it somewhat. I really must stop that and go to bed when my eyes burn!

I woke up at 6am this morning (never happens) and decided to get up, anyway. (Also never happens!) It is unusual for me to feel adequately rested after only seven hours of sleep. Last fall, if you look at the daily logs for November, I was sleeping up to nine hours a night! But then, the days are getting longer, now, not shorter!

I am feeling good. Not fantastic. Not yet. I truly do not understand how what I eat can have such a noticeable impact on my emotions and feelings--even though I know intellectually that metabilism is a process of the endocrine system just as much as my emotions are. But I have never thought of it this way before. It is quite the thing to wrap my head around. Food affects my mood. I imagine I'll be grappling with this one for a while, as layers of it unfold for me.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Wednesday Weigh-In: The "I Gotta Get a Grip" Edition

HW: 252.6 (Sept 30, 2012)
CW: 218.2 (+3.4 change from last week)
GW: 140's
Height: 5'5"
Age: 49

It's really no surprise I've gained a little. I am a bit surprised by how much!

But there seems to be a pattern developing: buckle down and lose during the last half of the month, break free from the "restrictions" and go crazy the first half of the next month.

This is not good.

This week was particularily bad because I didn't even try to make good choices: I just took whatever food came my way. Roll-ups from my Mom on Friday (when I thought I might start a whole 30), Pizza on Saturday after an intense day spent sorting stuff in the basement, a pot luck on Monday night where I went hog wild and two, count them, two home made apple crisps this week, too.

This is a wee bit scary. 217 was where I got to before in this effort to lose weight a few years ago. Then, it rather rapidly crept back on. I am going to have to make better choices this week: no matter how loudly that grilled cheese calls my name: I never, ever want to see a gain again.

I think what I'll do is write down everything I eat--for a start. Then, plan out what I'll eat this week. I hate doing that, but I have to remove the element of choice and I have to be prepared, I think. I think that's part of what's causing me trouble.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Wednesday Weigh-In: The "Thank Goodness that's Over" Edition

Really.

Diet Bet set me up to think of food as "good" and "bad" and as "permissible" and "eat as much of this when you see it/ decide to have it because you will never see it/have it ever again" nonsense.

So, it is absolutely no surprise that there is no loss from last week to this. I'm surprised there isn't a gain, actually.

I will be starting the Whole30 again tomorrow. This time I am doing it with my Mom. I hope to gain all sorts of that wonderful clean feeling I get when I eat this way, and oodles of energy wouldn't hurt! Mostly, I just want to support my Mom whose diet needs some improving!

Oh, the stats. OK.

HW: 252.6 (Sept 30, 2012)
CW: 214.8 (0 change from last week)
GW: 140's
Height: 5'5"
Age: 49

See ya next week!

A Month of Meals: March

Every month, our local grocery stores feature 10% off the total grocery bill the first Tuesday of the month. We call it ten percent Tuesday. Or terrible Tuesday, depending on who's talking.

I plan our suppers for the entire month so I can stock up on meat and pantry items. Vegetables are picked up weekly.

Here's what was on special this week:

Chicken Breast $2.99/lb
Lean Ground Pork $2.99/lb
Stewing Beef 3.99/lb
Pork Shoulder Blade Steak 2.79/lb
Bacon $4.99/500 grams (a little more than a pound)

Lean ground beef was on sale last week for $2.99/lb. We picked up 7 pounds, maybe?

Links to recipes below calendar.

Code:
chicken: yellow
pork: grey
fish: basa fillets, shrimp or salmon: light blue
ground beef: pink



March 5: Sloppy Bobs x2 on leftover mashed cauliflower
March 6: Unstuffed Cabbage*, acorn squash
March 7: Chicken, Bacon and Sweet Potato Hash, spinach salad
March 8: Veggie Beef Freezer Stew
March 9: Salmon Cakes***, carrots, spinach
March 10: Roast Chicken and vegetables (parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, onion)
March 11: Chocolate Chili x2, (Take to Potluck)
March 12: Captain Chicken,** mashed cauliflower, carrots
March 13: Ground Pork, Sweet Potato and Apple hash, carrots, broccoli
March 14: Artichoke Chicken, spaghetti squash
March 15: Shrimp, fish and cabbage curry, mashed cauliflower
March 16: Pork Carnitas, roasted cabbage, mashed cauliflower
March 17: Garlic Pulled Pork, roasted sweet potato, asparagus
March 18: Sloppy Bobs x2 on spaghetti squash
March 19: One Pot Chicken Drumsticks
March 20: Hot Plate** 1 1/2lbs of pork and 6-8 cups chopped veggies sauteed.
March 21: Honey Mustard Mayo Chicken, carrots and spinach
March 22: Dino Beef Stew
March 23: Broiled Whitefish, butternut squash, green beans
March 24: Pork Shoulder, butternut squash, broccoli
March 25: Cottage Flower Pie x2, broccoli
March 26: Chicken thighs with Garlic, Sweet Potato, Coleslaw
March 27: Five Spice Slow Cooker Ribs, roasted rutabaga, salad
March 28: Orange-Olive Chicken*, mashed cauliflower
March 29: Veggie Beef Freezer Stew
March 30: Herb Roasted Salmon, leftover mashed cauliflower, roasted sweet potato
March 31: (Easter Dinner) Ham and ?
April 1: leftovers
April 2:  Chicken, Bacon and Sweet Potato Hash, spinach salad


*From The Primal Blueprint, Quick and Easy Meals by Mark Sisson and Jennifer Meier
**From Well-Fed, by Melissa Joulwen
***From It Starts with Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig

Friday, March 1, 2013

It's Official

 
 
I have been an absolute mess of nerves for the last 24 hours. Until I could weigh myself and submit the weight--below 216 pounds-- I just couldn't relax. It reminded me of that time in my life when I used to take exams. I know sleep is the best thing for me the night before--but I just can't do it!
 
Hubs and I went out for coffee last night and I had to turn down both the coffee and the donut. Apple cinnamon tea was no substitute for an apple fritter! But it's OK. I can have an apple fritter anytime! I'm not going to split a pot of over $8,000 with other diet bet winners ever again!