74/365

Yeah, I fell off the project for a while but now I'm back.  I attribute two things to the falling off.  I always have trouble around my birthday.  I want to know why I can't just have a nice dinner and a piece of cake and call it a day.  It seems I have to eat every treat out there and a lot of it.  It's like if I let my self a little off the program...I just can't reign it back in...I go nuts.  Secondly, I always have trouble when I get to a major milestone such as getting under 300 as I just did a short time ago.  A long time ago I realized it meant "crap, I could really do this and then what would life be like?"  I know it doesn't sound sane but a life without my protective layer of fat is a little scary.   Third (ok, I guess there's three things) I was getting very burned out of biking everyday and logging/measuring food everyday.  I'm proud that I stuck with it for almost 70 days, though.  Here's to the next 70!

I weighed myself yesterday and I was 307 which is 6.8 pounds up from my last weigh in.  Add that to the 1.2 I was up the previous week and I'm 8 pounds up.  I didn't make my goal to lose 20 pounds and be under 300 by my birthday.  I am very disappointed in this and in myself for giving up when I was so close to my goal. 

But I'm here to recommit to my goals and not to dwell on past failures.  My new goal is to be under 300 by the time school starts on August 23.  I know it doesn't seem like that much time to lose 8 pounds but I'm banking on the fact that maybe half of it is fluid.  We will see. 

My goal today was to measure and track all my food and watch portions.  I also took a bike ride for the first time in 5 days or so.  I realized that without the exercise I felt so sluggish and blahhhh.  Also because I was eating every rich food in site and a lot of it.  

Breakfast was 2 poptarts and a cup of milk.
Lunch was leftover French onion soup and half a sandwich from Bread Co.  I put a piece of baguette and one ounce of extra cheese on the soup and broiled it....so good.  I also had two Chips Ahoy for dessert.
Supper was a chicken sausage on bread with barbeque sauce and some cheezits.  Two cookies again. 

Cals for the day were 2121/1930.  Not great but I'm sure better that the 10,000s of calories I've had the past few days.  And I did complete my goal of measuring and tracking everything.

Thank you for sticking with me!

73/365

Breakfast was a banana and 2 damm cookies.
Lunch was a big chicken sandwich with bacon and mayo and blue corn chips and hummus alongside.
Supper was 100 cookies. Or 6.  I didn't really count.  The good news is I sent the rest home with Dad.  I'll try to have a better day tomorrow.  I wonder if my birthday coming up on Friday has anything to do with this sudden downturn.  I was on such a high when I hit 299, now I feel as though I'm so far from there and there's a little piece of me saying...what's the use.  I'm trying to shut that part of me up.

I revised my weight in the calorie calculator and it says I can now only eat 1760.  To me this means I'll be cutting it close everyday.  I counted on those extra 200 cals for a buffer.  I'm really losing enthusiasm for this project.

69, 70, 71, 72/365

My internet has been down so I had no way of posting or tracking my food online.  I promise you that Friday and Saturday held nothing unusual in the way of what I ate.  I was actually pretty proud of myself for staying on track without actually tracking.  Even so, Sunday showed my weight at 300.2 which is 1.2 pounds up from last week.  I saw it coming since I still weigh everday (Yes, I know I shouldn't do that.)  I have nothing to account for it.  I still took my day "off" yesterday even though I gained.  I didn't go too far off the books but I'm starting to get burned out on this whole process and I really needed that break.  I'm sticking with the process this week and we will see what Lady Scale says next Sunday.

No breakfast today...it was just a weird day.
Lunch with my family at Arby's.  I had that new turkey and asiago sandwich and apple slices.  Their yogurt dip tastes like nothing to me.  I also had a couple of Dollface's fries.
Dollface wanted to make cookies and I wanted to use my new Mexican vanilla that C and E brought me so we did and I ate far too many....maybe 6?   Not too good for a Monday after a gain but I can't go back and uneat it so...
Even so, I still have 655 left for supper.  Probably just a turkey sandwich. 

68/365

Suddenly sick of posting but here I am...
B was granola and a banana.
Snack was a little apple.
For lunch, Dad took me to the Soulard neighborhood because he had to pick up a part for a mower.  We strolled through the farmer's market there and then ate at a steakhouse called Tucker's.  I had a house salad and it had a yummy lemon vinigrette on it.  Also, a cajun chicken sandwich that was so good.  Please note, no fries or potatoes of any kind.  I had a lemonade to drink.
Snacks in the afternoon were a few M&Ms and some vanilla wafers dunked in chocolate pudding.
Supper will be a few spanikopita stuffed mushrooms.
If I have my usual ice cream treat cals for the day will be 1932/1930.
But...last night after I posted I actually had sliced strawberries and a few vanilla wafers instead of ice cream....it was so good.  Maybe I'll do that again.

67/365

Goals: 
A while back I did make a small goal of losing 20 pounds and getting under 300 by my birthday which is next week.  So it looks like I'm going to make that one..yay me! 

My other small goal was to bike 1500 miles by the end of this calendar year.  I've just closed in on 600 miles so far so I don't realistically think I'm going to make that one since biking is over by about September in the Mid West.  I'm riding as far as I can without my back being in pain for the rest of the day.  But I am slowly able to ride a little longer and longer.

I guess if I meet my weight loss goal on the next weigh in I'll reevaluate and make some new goals.  I don't really have a big goal as far as what I'd like to get down to.  I've been on tons of diets tons of times and probably collectively lost tons always to gain it back in times of stress so for now I just want to ride this wave as far as I can. 

Breakfast was Kix, sliced 'nana and milk.
My aunt took me to lunch at CBW, it's new in our community and neither of us had ever been there.  I'm pretty proud to say I actually looked stuff up before I went.  I was surprised to see the cals and sodium in some of those yummy looking wraps.  I ended up with a Santa Fe salad with chicken and chips on the side.  Total of 684 cals.
Snack was a lil' apple.
And supper is going to be spanikopita stuffed mushrooms and some garden potatoes sauteed along with an onion in (whispered)butter.  But it's just a little butter.
Total for the day so far 1659/1930.  So I can still have some ice cream in a little while if I want it.

66/365

I can't believe how the days are flying by!  66 already.

For breakfast I had a banana here at home.  Later I met a friend at The Bread Co and had a blueberry bagel with hazelnut cream cheese.  So good!

Lunch was a few spanikopita stuffed mushrooms which were awesome.  Along side I had hummus and blue corn chips.

I had a few m&ms for a snack...I just CANNOT keep those things in the house!

Supper will be half an Italian chicken sandwich with provolone bubbly on top.  And I don't know what I'll have with it.  But at only 1512/1930 I good for pretty much any side dish.

Still over 100 in the Midwest...we're melting.

65/365

For breakfast I had an almond nature valley granola bar.
Lunch was with Mom while we were shopping.  We went to Red Lobster and I had broiled flounder with tartar sauce, steamed broccoli, and two cheddar biscuits.  I am very proud of this order because in the past even when I was trying to lose weight I still would have ordered a baked potato but it was ok to have just the broccoli.
No real supper...kind of a snacky evening.  I had some cheetos (left over from my day "off", they're gone now) and later I might have a little ice cream.   If I do have the ice cream I'm at 1700/1930 for the day....what a difference some broccoli can make!

64/365 - Weigh In

Well, friends, I weighed in at 299 on the nose so I'm down 5.6 pounds.  Which means I've lost the 2.6 that I gained last week and an additional 3 pounds.   Now, I'm off to enjoy a well deserved day "off".  Thank you for supporting me through the week of TAWANDA!!

63/365

Breakfast was PBJ on an English muffin with a glass of milk.
Lunch was turkey chili with pita chips and mozzarella gooey on top.
Snack was an apple with a tablespoon of biscoff spread and later a few blue corn chips.
Supper kind of got messed up because while waiting for my garden potatoes and awesome stuffed mushrooms to bake my dad called wanting to try out a new ice cream place.  People first so I went.  The only food they had besides ice cream was something called "waffle dogs" so Dad and I split one of those.  It wasn't that great so I was glad I only had a couple bites.  Also, I had a small scoop of butter pecan.  Pretty good choices I think considering what was offered.  When I got home I did have a couple of the smaller mushrooms...so much better and better for me than the hotdog.

Estimate on cals is 1979/1930.
I'm anticipating a good weigh in tomorrow!

62/365 - On Scale Victory

Yes, I weigh myself everyday, yes, I know I shouldn't. 

When I got on the scale this morning, for the first time in 3 years I was under 300.  If you've never been over 300, maybe you cannot grasp the importance of this milestone.   Along with the clothing victory I really feel empowered, like I'm on my way.  Now, the last time I was under 300, I only stayed there for about 5 minutes so hopefully this time I can continue to move forward and STAY under 300 and go even lower. 

Breakfast was Kix and sliced strawberries with some milk.
Snack was a few apple slices and the last of the yummo dip.
Lunch was at a local woodfired pizza place where I had a small Caesar salad and split an 11 inch jerk chicken pizza.  I've never had jerk anything before.  It was really good and I'll be encouraged to try it in the future.
Afternoon snack was a Skinny Cow bar.
Supper will probably just be a snack of blue corn chips and hummus or some vanilla wafers or both.

Estimate of cals today is 2121/1930.  No way of knowing what the pizza was so this is probably a low estimate but I'm ok with that, remember I was very low on cals yesterday.

61/365 Non-Scale Victories

I had two major ones today!
First of all, I'm  embarrassed and ashamed to admit that I was so fat, I could not shop in that famous large lady's store, Ms. Bryant.  Granted I probably wasn't too far and could probably fit into a few things but the shame of it kept me out of there.  I went in there today and I fit into a lot of things!  It totally overwhelmed me and I think I made some poor choices because I wasn't thinking straight.  A red and I mean RED skirt?  Where am I going to wear that and it clinged a little too close in the belly area.  A burgundyish pair of "jeggings"?  It actually said they were jeggings on the label.  I think some items are going back even if just for my pocketbook's sake but wow, what a "high".

Secondly, I haven't biked the hill of death all summer but this evening I just thought I'd try it.  And I did ok.  Yes, I was out of breath and it took me a minute to recover.   However, I remember two summers ago trying to go up that hill and truly thinking my heart was going to give out.  I didn't know it could beat that fast and that hard.  I remember I felt it all the way through the top of my head.  It totally wasn't like that today.  An added bonus....I had a good looking jogger cheering me on from the top of the hill...nothing like motivation.

Stay tuned...I'm hoping to have a ON-scale victory to share tomorrow.

Breakfast was the same old Kix and milk.
I was running around all day and didn't eat lunch until 2.  It was Italian chicken with provolone on a bun with two servings of blue corn chips and hummus.
Later in the afternoon I had a Skinny Cow fudge bar.
Now it's well after suppertime and I'm not really hungry, I'm sure because of the late lunch.  I'm planning on having apple slices and yummo dip later.  If I do I come out to  1268/1930 for the day and that's ok because I'll make up for it tomorrow when I go to Peel Pizza with some friends.

60/365

Can't believe I've been doing this for 60 days!
B and L was the same as yesterday and I thought S might be too but at the last minute rounded up my support group for a Bread Co night.  I had 1/2 a chicken Cesar salad and 1/2 a grilled cheese as well as some much needed laughs.  We also split a chocolate chip bagel three ways and spread my awesome "apple" dip which I smuggled in, yes it's that good.  (It's a stick of  cream cheese, low fat if you want, a container of marshmallow fluff, and one cup of peanut butter and it WILL blow your mind.) 
Snacks were an apple with dip and a skinny cow fudge bar.

I went to the knee doc today and he's please with my progress on the knee, he talked me into a cortisone shot in my heel which is still troubling me in a minor way but he said the shot would get it ready for school to start.

59/365

BLand S was the same as yesterday except I added some pita chips and hummus to S.  Snacks were a sliced apple with some yummo dip I made and later some strawberries.  It's so hot here and I'm so sweaty after an evening bike ride that I can't think of an evening snack, only a tall icy glass of water.  So without an evening snack I'm at 1693/1930 cals for the day.

You got it...TAWANDA!  is from the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes".  It's what the main character said to give herself courage and it's what my sister-in-fat and I say to each other when we really need some get-up-and-go.

58/365

Breakfast was Kix with sliced 'nana and milk.
Morning snack was a few strawberries and a granola bar.
Lunch was chili with mozzerella goodness on top and cheezits along side.
Afternoon snack was a skinny cow fudge bar to cool things off.
Supper was Italian chicken with cheese on a bun and peas along side.
I might have some vanilla wafers later with chocolate hazelnut spread from Jif.
If I do my cals will be 1931/1930.  Maybe I'll have one less wafer to stay under cal goal.

Get ready to read at least 4 more entries very similar to this because the week of TAWANDA is ON!

57/365 Weigh In Plus Food Report

I weighed in at 304.6 which is up 2.4 from last week.  I am angry and disappointed in myself but grateful I'm only up 2.4.  At one point I was up over 7 from last week.  I'm also very pissed off that I cannot take a day "off" from measuring and logging.  Ughh.  I have my work cut out for me this week. No excuses!

Edited:
You have no idea how irritated I am to have to come back here and report the day's food on my day "off".  But I had 5 days off last week and look what it got me...my first gain of the project.  So here goes:

Breakfast was a frozen pillsbury biscuit with homemade blackberry jelly.
After church I had a peanut butter granola bar for a snack.
Lunch was an Amy's frozen entree, some sort of tamale.  Along side I had a few pita chips and hummus.
Afternoon snack was a skinny cow fudge bar.
Our family has a tradition called "July Chili" which I think is self explanatory and what I had for supper with a slice of mozzarella melted ooeygooey on top.
I'm planning on having some lucious strawberries with some Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey later for a snack.

Cals came out to 1602/1930 so pretty good I think.  I went shopping today and didn't buy a single "junky" thing...And besides having plenty of July Chili for the week I also have several portions of Italian chicken in the freezer so I feel pretty well prepared for the week of no excuses.
TAWANDA!!!!!!!!!!

56/365

So again I did well on portion control but not so well on food choices or eating on any kind of schedule.  5 days off really screwed me up.

Breakfast was Kix cereal and milk.
Lunch was an apple and fruit dip.
Snacks were vanilla wafers and Jif chocolate silk peanut butter and some milk and later at Mom's I snagged some Hershey's chocolate drops.

1339/1930 cals so far and I'm not really hungry for supper.  I should probably eat something anyway but it seems so counter productive.

Weigh in tomorrow and I'm dreading it.

55/365

I think fighting my way back on track today went fairly well and it was fairly easy.  Mostly because I woke up feeling so awful....a food hangover if you will.  I didn't eat until noon and then only because I knew I'd be gone for until 8pm and wanted to stave off getting too hungry.  Lunch was scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, toast with homemade blackberry jam and a piece of cheese on the eggs.

I was helping MB photograph a wedding today so supper was wedding food.  I didn't make the best choices but not the worst either.  I stuck to one serving of each thing.  One piece of fried chicken, a small spoonful of mostacholi, a breadstick, a small salad and 2 glasses of lemonade. 

Estimate on cals for the day was 1461 so I feel pretty good about getting back on track.

52, 53, 54/365

Fail..Fail..Fail.

I have completely lost control.  I can tell myself it was because I was out of my routine or because I was away from home and my usual food and my measuring equipment or because I had a little one to look after or because there was all this running around that I don't usually do.  I guess it all boils down to stress.  After the second day I didn't really care anymore.  I knew I had lost it and there was no going back.  Knowing today was my last day to use the "out of my routine" excuse I planned a big fatty dinner.  I didn't even enjoy it that much and now I feel really crappy.  I took a sneak peak on the scale this morning and there's no way I'm going to show a loss or even stay the same this week.  I'm so disappointed that I won't be getting under 300 this week and probably not next week either.  I'm determined to get back with the program tomorrow.  I'm writing here so I can hold myself accountable.  54 days have already gone by and there's no time to lose. 

51/365

So the first day of my staycation with the girls was an epic fail foodwise.  Breakfast was ok, cereal and a banana and I know I had a little snack before lunch but I can't recall what.   So far, so good.

I had a few friends over to swim and made Italian chicken and they all brought something to go with it.  Although I probably ate a little more than I should have that part was ok.   My nieces wanted to make cookies and I can't count how many I ate.  I think maybe about 1/2 the batch?  My stomach actually felt icky from it.

Then suppertime rolled around and I knew Dollface must be really hungry because she didn't eat much at lunchtime and although I wasn't hungry I ate a ham sandwich and lots of chips with her.

There is no way to calculate cals today but I imagine it to be in the 10,000s.  

It is really distracting being out of my element but I knew it would be.  I guess I didn't prepare myself well enough.  Another try tomorrow.

50/365 - Weigh In

This morning I weighed in at 302.2 which means I'm down 2.2 pounds!  Waaahooo!  I'm so close to being under 300 I can taste it.   LOL

However, I'm already worried about how I'll do this week because E and C are going to Mexico and I will be staying at their house with the girls.  I'll be off home territory and off my regular schedule.  I've noticed in the past eating becomes a free for all for me in these situations.  Also, I won't be able to ride my bike during this time.  They do have a pool though.  I will try to remember how close I am to being in the 2's.  Maybe that will do the trick.

49/365

Breakfast was the same old Kix.
Lunch was scrambled eggs with a little cheese on top and some turkey sausage links also some grapes.
Supper was PBJ with some chex mix alongside and some milk to drink.
Snack was a spoonful of peanut butter onto which I placed a couple of M &Ms.
I am way low on calories...that has happened alot this week.  I might have a few more of those
delicious little M&Ms.
I feel pretty good about weigh in tomorrow.

48/365 - Thin Face

I went out to lunch with some school friends and I thought someone might notice I was just a tad slimmer but they didn't.  I know I have to lose a lot for people to notice but since I haven't seen these gals in a few weeks, I thought they might notice.  When I was in my mid-20s I lost over 100 pounds (only to gain it back and then some) and I recall that no one really noticed until I was about 40 down.  Well, then I stopped by my parents' to pick up Dollface and Mom said my face looked so... (I thought she was going to say RED because I was so hot at that moment) thin.  So maybe it is a little noticeable and this is a good thing.  I hope I've lost enough by the first day of school for some people to notice.

Breakfast was PBJ on toast and skim milk.
Lunch at a local winery was 1/2 a club sandwich and 1/2 some sort of salad.
Supper was an apple with peanut butter.
Snack was a handful of m&ms.

Didn't figure cals today but I guess I did ok.

47/365

Well, thanks to my two blogfriends who would spend the day with me.  Too bad we don't live closer.  I'm over the bit of glumness I was experiencing yesterday.  I felt better in the evening when I had a texting conversation with a friend in a similar situation. 

Today I had a double portion of Kix with milk for breakfast.  I was really looking forward to revisiting that old cereal from my kid-tested-mother-approved youth.  It was ok but the memory of it was better plus I was out of bananas to put on top.

Lunch was the last of the Mexican shells and some blue corn tortilla chips.

Supper was a Healthy Choice meal.   Some pasta, mushroom and pepper thing.  Pretty good for one of those meals.  I also had some Chex mix.

Snacks were an apple with almond butter.  I have a ton of cals left so I will def have ice cream later and I might just put some peanut butter on top since I missed it with my apple.

PS I think almond butter is way over rated.  But that's probably just my taste buds which are dead from processed foods talking.

Still doing well on exercise and I think I'm nailing down some sort of routine/schedule.

46/365

Breakfast was the same as the past few days.  Lunch was a turkey sandwich on wheat with mayo and bacon.  Snacks were trail mix and an apple with peanut butter. Supper was left over Mexican stuffed shells and a few blue corn tortilla chips.  I might will have some ice cream later.

I guess I'm feeling a little lonely today since on one asked me anywhere to celebrate the 4th.  Not sure why it's bothering me this year, it happens nearly every year and it usually doesn't phase me.  

I would be three and a half months pregnant if my last embryo transfer had stuck.

Aren't I just a bag of patriotic sunshine today?

45/365

Breakfast was same old, same old.  For lunch I made this recipe for Mexican Stuffed Shells.  It was very good and really held me over for a long time.  I didn't even need a snack this afternoon.  I'm not sure what supper will be yet.  Perhaps 2 ears of corn as last night.  I'm really not feeling hungry for it though.

44/365

Breakfast was the same as yesterday.  Lunch was a turkey sandwich with grapes and green beans from my dad's garden.  Snack was an apple and a PBJ, not together.  Supper was two ears of corn on the cob also from the garden. Weird snack and supper but it's just what I felt like.   I might have a little ice cream cup later if I want to.

Cals were 1857/1930. 

43/365 Weigh In

I weighed in at 304.4 so that means I'm down 1.4 pounds. 
Maybe just water because there's been so much darn sweating around here but
over all I'm pretty please about that.

41 - 42/365

I wasn't able to post or completely track food yesterday because our internet was out during the afternoon and evening.  I think I did fine on calories even though Mom and I went out to lunch.  It was at one of those ladies' tea places and I just had a normal sized slice of quiche, a little fruit and part of Mom's Caesar salad.

Today I had granola, a banana and milk for breakfast.  And a big yummy salad from Bread Co. with fruit and chicken on it with a poppy seed dressing. Also a cookie.  When I got home, I was appaled to find that the cookie had almost 100 cals more than the entire salad.  I should have researched that a head of time.  I had some chex mix and some m & ms throughout the afternoon for snacks.  Now, I only have 200 cals left for supper.  Good thing I'm not too hungry. 

Weigh in tomorrow....

40/365 - Hot

Not me!  The weather here in the Midwest was over 105.  Expected to be very hot all week.  We are very worried about our corn crop. 

Here's my food for today:
Breakfast was a double portion of cereal with milk and some apple juice.
Lunch was a turkey sandwich with 2 slices of bacon, mayo and a cup of grapes on the side.
Repeat that for supper except delete half a sandwich and the bacon and add a cup of skim milk.
Snacks were pita chips and hummus in the AM and Jif chocolate silk peanut butter on a wasa crisp bread.   PB would have been better by it's self.

Cals were 1738/1930.  I might have a little slice of angel food cake later.
I biked and swam for exercise today.  I kind of feel it's cheating to even report exercise because some of these days during the summer, I don't do much else active.

39/365

Breakfast was a banana, granola, apple juice.

Lunch was a Smart One Enchilada Suisa and some corn. 

I had a snacky lunch of trail mix mini chocolate chips, chex mix and a tiny bit of French onion dip.

Snack was peanut butter and vanilla wafers.

Cals were 1683/1930.

38/365

Dad picked me up at the crack of dawn to pick blackberries so I was only able to scarf down a banana before we left.  It was a beautiful cool morning though and I really enjoyed the time with my dad.  When we got back to his house he wanted me to try the rhubarb crisp my aunt had brought him.  It was really good and I didn't have too big a piece.

Lunch was just 2 Wasa crisp breads with 2 Laughing Cow wedges and also the last 2 thin little sheets of deli beef.  I also had a handful of vanilla wafers.

Dollface helped me make blackberry jam in the afternoon so snack was a piece of toast with warm jam....nothing in the world tastes as good as that does.

Supper was the last of the smoked chicken with a little BBQ sauce and some broccoli.   I also had a few more vanilla wafers as well.

Calories are only working out to 1238/1930.   Very low.  I feel like I should run to the kitchen and eat something else. 

37/365

I'm almost too distracted to write here.  I've had two good newses to day.  One you can read about here and the other one here.  Congrats Nell!

I had granola and a banana for breakfast with some apple juice.
Lunch was very late because I was visiting a friend after her surgery.  It was just a grilled roast beef and swiss and some cheezits. 
Snack was a few chocolate chip cookies the rest of which I took to my friend.

I have 400 cals left but I don't know what I will have for supper yet and it's getting late.  Hmmm PBJ perhaps?

36/365

I stayed the same.

A bit of a relief since at one point I was 14 pounds up from last week's weigh in.  Can't believe how much damage one binge day did even if it was mostly fluid.

35/365

Cereal, milk and banana was breakfast.  Lunch was a grilled roast beef and cheese with chex mix.  Snacks were vanilla wafers and the Jif version of nutella and later some trail mix.  I need to eat more vegetables. 

I think lack of a routine is killing me here.  I'm enjoying summer vacation but there's something to be said for a mandatory schedule

Ugh...I ate all my calories by 3:00.  None left for supper.  If I'm hungry I'll eat an apple, I guess. 

34/365 - Kilometers

So I thought I'd been doing sooo well on riding my bike.  Riding faaarr distances and traveling so faaast.  I'm not sure why it took me so long to figure out since I've been riding on the same trails near my home that I've gone on for years.  I even chuckled to myself one day when my bro said something about 17 mph being close to his top speed because, super speed demon that I've become, I'd been getting close to that speed myself. 

Today my bro said something about a certain 10 mile stretch of trail.   Umm what?  I believe that stretch is way MORE than 10 miles, thank you very much.  

It's not?  I did some thinking and decided the calibration must be off on my odometer. 

Nope, it's been set to kilometers allll summer.   I feel kind of dumb.

I'm currently trying to convince myself that watching two seasons of Downton Abbey has made me far more European than I thought.

My goal was to ride 1500 miles this calendar year.  I thought I'd racked up about 500.  I knew it was going very fast but I just thought I had become that good.   It equals about 310 in miles. 

Oh well...1190 to go.   IF I've done the math correctly.

Food:
My friend took me out to breakfast after I picked her up at the mechanics.  Not too much healthy to choose from at the MomandPop greasy spoon she chose.  I ended up with a mushroom omelette, hashbrowns, and toast with jelly.  Except the toast, it didn't even taste that great and I felt hungry all afternoon with few calories to "spend". 

Afternoon snacks were vanilla wafers with peanut butter, 2 apples and wasa crispbread with a laughing cow spaced over the afternoon.  I couldn't seem to keep the full feeling so kept snacking.

Supper was deli roast beef and swiss on nutty oat bread and "grilled" in a dry pan.  Very good and I had some chex mix too.

I went over on calories a little but think I did ok considering the choices I had and the choices I made.  2041/1930. 

Can't wait to weigh in on Sunday and get a "fresh" start no matter if it's win, lose or draw for this week.

33/365

Breakfast and supper were the same as they were yesterday.  Lunch was smoked chicken with a little ranch dressing wrapped in a tortilla and baked until crisp with some carrots along side.  Snack was a handful of M&Ms. 

Cals were 1570/1930.   I think we all know I'll have the frozen yogurt tonight.

I was really wanting to eat today.  And as usual I wanted sweets.  I don't think I'll show a loss this week.  I'm kind of tired of doing this including posting here.  If I recall correctly this was about the same time in my Photography 365 that I was feeling discouraged.  Feel more like it tomorrow maybe.

32/365

I feel safely back on track today.  I was busy and really had no desire to snack or binge.  I did yard work all morning including standing on a ladder and sawing two branches.  Dollface came by and "helped" me, then we went swimming, then we watched tv for a while before walking to my parents house where we played with kittens and I chatted with my bro.  Finally, I took a bike ride.  So I did well on activity today.

Now food:
Breakfast was two portions of cereal with sliced banana and milk.  Also some apple juice.
Lunch was two Wasa crackers with two Laughing Cow cheeses and a whole lot of grapes.  This did not hold me over very long so lunch number 2 was an apple with peanut butter. 

Snack was a granola bar and supper was the same omelet in a hotdog bun as  yesterday and I added some applesauce on the side.

Cals were only 1514/1930 so I might have some frozen yogurt later.

I feel good about today.

Do you think two dogs (which I already have) and two cats (which I'm contemplating) are too many animals for one person?  If I'm not going to be a mom, I may as well start hoarding pets.

31/365

I wasn't hungry at breakfast time, actually the opposite.  Kind of sick, partially physical, partially emotional.  I'm so ashamed of what I do to myself with food.

Anyway, around lunch time I had a bowl of Fit and Active vanilla almond cereal, sliced banana and milk.

Supper was a scrambled egg, turkey sausage and cheese on a toasted hotdog bun with mustard.  Sounds weird but it was delish.

Snacks throughout the day were 5 oreos (sigh...at least they're gone now), a Snackwell's cereal bar, and an apple.

Cals were 1163/1930.  Yes, very low but I don't feel as though I deprived myself and tomorrow I will be back to "normal" eating and I feel good about my "make-up" day.

I took a bike ride today and swam for about an hour with Dollface. 

30/365 - Off The Wagon

I've been screwing around on the internet for an hour because I was so dreading writing here.  Yesterday was my "splurge day".  A day for me to take a break from weighing and measuring food and tracking calories.  One day a week to eat however much I want of whatever I want.  It was the first splurge day that I really went overboard.  I made tacos for my dad for Father's Day and I just ate way too much.  That's all.   That's ok..it was splurge day after all.  I didn't feel bad about it at all.

I weighed myself this morning and I was 7 pounds up from yesterdays weigh in.  My brain really does know that it's water weight, etc.  I can't be exactly sure what happened brain/food wise after that.  I ate a normal healthy breakfast of cereal and banana but when the mid-morning hunger set it I kept thinking about the cookies in the cabinet and couldn't stop thinking about them.  I justified it by saying to  myself that a couple cookies wouldn't hurt and then it was on... I just ate and ate and ate today.  I can't even redeem myself by saying some of it was healthy, it was all junk.  It may have been thoughts about if I'm going to gain that much that fast then who cares, I may as well eat what I want.  Those three cookies....  something happened after I ate them.  I've eaten a "junky" snack before as you all know but this time it didn't really help curb the want for more. 

For the first time in the month I've been posting here, that I had the thought that I just can't do it.  This addiction or whatever the hell it is, is just too strong for me to fight.  I've been fighting it for 25 years and I never win.  What's going to be different this time?  I thought having this blog and posting here would be the difference but it didn't stop me today.

But I really want to continue to show losses each week.  I don't know if that can happen this week but I'm going to try.  I will get all the junk out of the house and start anew tomorrow.  My goal for tomorrow is to track my food, stay within my calorie range of 1930, drink plenty of water to flush the system and make sure to take my bike ride.  What else can I do but try.

28-29/365 - Weigh In

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday because I was helping my photographer friend, MB, shoot a wedding.  I woke up so happy thinking that this was the happiest day of someone's life and I was going to be a part of it.  It was a sweet wedding.  The father of the bride was the minister and he totally choked me up talking about what a wonderful daughter she had been, that she was easy to raise, always put God in the center of her life and made good choices, rarely if ever disappointing them.  Having recently had a talk with my parents apologizing for disappointing them, well, watching this sweet little family just choked me up, that's all.  

Why anyone would want to be a wedding photographer, I'll never know.  It was such a LONG day and my legs were hurting at the end.  Not as bad as the end of school.  And they're only marginally stiff today so I guess that's good.


Yesterday's food was weird because we were at that wedding through two mealtimes. 

Breakfast was the same as yesterday.  Before I left for the wedding I had a cereal bar and some grapes.  At the wedding I had a little plate of finger foods and a little piece of cake.  After the wedding was over we met another friend at Cracker Barrel and I had pulled pork without a bun, steak fries and a few bites of baked apples.  Also a biscuit with butter and jelly.  When I got home I had a bowl of cornflakes with melted nutella.   Not sure how I did on cals.

I'm down 1.8 pounds for the week.  Hope I can keep this up!

27/365

Breakfast was PBJ on a whole wheat hotdog bun.  Hey, I have to get rid of them somehow and I ate some of my sausages earlier this week without buns.

For the third day in a row, I ate lunch out.  What can I say?  It's a rough life!  I actually was able to plan ahead this time and check out Panera's website.  I had the Asian chicken salad.  So good!  And I felt I got alot for my 420 cals.   I forgot to ask them to leave off that hunk of bread that comes on the side but I only ate half of it.  Count this one a victory, friends!

Supper was a grilled ham and cheese and a bit of fruit salad.

For snacks I had a tiny bit of Bridge mix, the crumbs at the end of the bag.  In the afternoon, I had a coconut clif mojo bar.  I might have an apple with peanut butter or a serving of frozen yogurt later if I want it. 

Opps just checked my cals for the day:  1842/1930.  That means no evening snack.  I can just sneak in a plain apple if I really need to.

Great bike ride and a very brief walk with Nora and Clara B. Dogs. 
It was a good day.

26/365

Breakfast was 4 Belvita biscuits with 1 T. of nutella and a bit of fruit salad on the side.  Later I had a handful of Bridge Mix.
Lunch as I said yesterday was at the same place as yesterday.  This time I had a small ceasar salad and 3 small pieces of barbeque chicken pizza.  Same as yesterday, I probably ate too much  but I didn't feel overly full or sick. 
Supper will be an apple with Biscoff spread.
Estimating my cals to be about 1600/1930.

I think I'm going out to eat AGAIN on Saturday.  Not to the same pizza place though.

25/365

Breakfast was the last of the pumpkin pie french toast with syrup.

I had a handful of Bridge Mix sometime during the day.

I took Dollface to a puppet show and then met up with her mom and my mom for lunch afterwards at Dewey's Pizza.  I had a really small walnut, grape and gorgonzola salad with chicken and three small pieces of wild mushroom pizza.  It's "gourmet" pizza and so doesn't have a ton of cheese and sauce such as the Hut or somewhere like that.  I think I did well because I could have eaten until I felt sick or uncomfortably full but I could have done better.  I had that little feeling of being full but still ate the third slice.

Luckily, I'm going to this same place tomorrow with some friends from work so I can try again.  It was planned a long time ago and coincidentally the same place.

I'm pulling the cereal trick for supper again to keep my cals in line.  1769/1930 approximate because I have no info on the restaurant food.  And I took a bike ride and a short walk.  Hope it all evened out.

24/365 - Holy Cannoli

Breakfast and lunch were exactly the same as yesterday.
I had a handful of bridge mix for a snack.
Then I had THE Cannoli.  Let me explain:

There's a fairly new bakery in my town and I pass by it sometimes and always think I should go in a try it on a "splurge day".  Every time I've tried to go there it was closed.  It closes at 1 or something.  Today I was driving by it with Dollface and it was open.   I thought why not and asked Dollface if she wanted to stop at the "cookie store".   She picked out a treat for herself and her grandparents.  I had heard how wonderful the cannolies were and ordered one of those. 

It looked so so good!   Crispy, light shell and creamy inside.  The crust was very good but the filling was gross.  Way too heavy and way way too sweet.  But I ate it all.  Why?  I'm not really sure.  Once I started it, I couldn't stop.  I'm not sure if I was looking for the sugar "buzz" or just didn't want to throw it away. 

Anyway it was approx. 400 calories "wasted".  I still stayed within my calorie range for the day by having a bowl of cereal for supper.    1765/1930.    And at least now my curiosity is satiated.  I can drive by the bakery without stopping and tell myself it's really not worth it because I now know it's not.

I have two occasions to eat out in the next two days so I'm trying to mentally prepare and have a strategy.  Salad will be part of that strategy. 

Still sticking with 50 Shades.  The main character is growing on me a little, much to my surprise.

23/365

Breakfast was leftover Pumpkin Pie French Toast leftover from brunch yesterday and syrup.
Lunch was a grilled ham and cheese with lots of mustard yum yum), fruit salad and carrots.
Supper was a garlic chicken sausage with Greek yogurt for dipping and applesauce.
Snack was a handful of left over Bridge Mix.  Remember that stuff?

Total was approx. 1591/1930.
Exercise was a bike ride wherein I got caught in the rain.  Not complaining though because it's been so dry here.  I didn't do much else active today besides that and my physical therapy exercises.  I started 50 Shades of Grey but frankly, I'm not sure what all the fuss is about.  Yes, it's very erotic but the writing seems a bit immature to me and the plot a little thin.  Guess I'll keep at it...maybe it will improve.

22/365 - Weigh In

This morning I weighed in at 307.6 which means I'm down .8 pounds.  Not much but I'll take it.  Sticking with the program and seeing what happens next week before I make any drastic changes, I guess.

I'm having a few friends over for brunch and taking the day off from weighing and measuring.

21/365

So breakfast was a roasted garlic chicken sausage on a wheat bun and some bite size little cookies.  Weird breakfast, right?

Lunch was another chicken sausage, unsweetened applesauce and tortilla chips.

Supper was a PBJ on nutty oat bread with  milk.

Snacks were a Hershey's chocolate bar and a glass of orange juice.

I can't believe we're ready for weigh in number 3 tomorrow. 

I really need to think of something to jazz these entries up.

20/365 - Pool and Theater

Today, I spent time poolside with some of the yayas.  It was good to see everyone and I enjoyed myself until someone showed up with their husband and baby.  I doubt it will ever be comfortable for me when she/they are around.  What bothers me most is that she showed up when I was telling about my knee and I slipped in that it was as a result of a negative cycle that I stopped taking vitimins and glucosomen which is partially what led to the whole knee issue.  Anyway, she showed up and it all turned to breast feeding which is fine and I accept and expect that.  I'm surprised to be writing so much because, truthfully, she only stayed a few minutes.  However, no one asked me to finish or (I guess) caught what I said about the negative cycle?  I put it on me.  I should be assertive enough to talk about what I need to talk about with my friends but I always think if people don't ask, they probably don't care to hear about it or about me.  I'm sure it's just in  my nutty head.  Like I said, so much to describe such a non-event.  It really was a nice, if too short, time with my friends.  I always feel so lucky to be able to have these days in the summer.

I picked up Dollface from summer camp and after chilling during the afternoon, I took her to the Bread Co or the "Bread Factory" as she calls it for supper (her request) and then to a community theater production of "Annie".  I really enjoyed seeing to look on her face and laughter during the show.  I'm so happy to be able to be the one to introduce live theater to my nieces.   I hope they'll always remember these good times with me.  I wish Stretch had gone with us but she's been having Attitude problems this week, specifically with me, so she "didn't really" want to go.  

Food as best as I can remember it:

Breakfast was cereal and milk.

Lunch with the girls was Italian beef on 1/2 a bun, spinach artichoke dip and chips (2 servings, should have been 1) and pretzel strawberry salad.  I didn't think I did too bad.  I ate more than I would have at home but I didn't feel as though I'd stuffed myself.

Supper at Bread Co with Dollface was the pick two with a salad with fruit and poppyseed dressing and 1/2 a turkey and avocado sandwich.

Later at the show we shared a big cookie.  I know there was another snack or two during the day but I can't recall what.  I did take a short bike ride as well.

All in all, I didn't think I did too bad considering there were two away from home events which I could have really gone overboard with.

19/365 - Physical Therapy

Physical therapy today and the therapist did a great job of explaining things more fully and answering all my questions.  She said yes, the doctor can be a little too straightforward and to the point.  Everything she told me basically boils down by saying my life won't change that much.  Yes, I'll have to be a little careful about my knees and take this time to heal, do my exercises, not spend too many days walking around the zoo, etc.  But this cortisone shot will probably help things for a few years. 

Breakfast was a double portion of Aldi's red berries cereal, milk and apple juice
For lunch I had a roasted garlic flavored chicken sausage on a bun, chips and baby carrots.

Snacks were peanut m&ms and 7 tiny cookies.
We went to the Botanical Gardens in St. Louis for the Chinese lantern festival in the evening which was beautiful.  We had decided to eat food from the vendors there but it was difficult to share food and walk around so I had a couple bites of Mom's chicken thingy on a stick.  I was starving when I got home so I had another bowl of cereal.  I guess that was supper.

For exercise I took a bike ride in the warm sun and also walked around the gardens until my heel and knee were really bothering me.  They are both much improved, however, and I consider cortisone a miracle drug.


1448/1930 calories for the day but never fear...potluck lunch with the girls tomorrow so I'm sure I'll make up for it.

18/365

Breakfast and lunch were exactly the same as yesterday except I had a double portion of cereal.

For snacks I had 5 mini cookies, a bowl of the Aldi version of Special K Red Berries, and a cookie that Stretch made.  Not sure why she's been into baking so much lately.

I have no idea what's for supper, I'm not really hungry for anything specific and I SO need to go to the grocery store.   I have 645 calories left so I need to figure something out.

Could this post be any more boring?

17/365 - Knee Doctor

Breakfast and lunch was the same as it was yesterday except I added 1/2 cup of leftover potatoes to lunch.

Supper was an Amy's cheddar burrito, a serving of tortilla chips with cheddar cheese, Greek yogurt and taco sauce.

Snacks throughout the day were 5 mini cookies, a cup of grapes, a Snackwells cereal bar, and later Skinny Cow treat maybe.

Calories came out to 1729/1930.  And although I was busy all day there was no exercise to speak of.


I did visit the knee doctor today:

He was kind but extremely efficient and almost robot-like.  I’m sure he sees 10  of “me” a day and it was clear he was reciting something he says over and over.   I have arthritis which is, of course, caused by my weight but also from a crappy draw from my gene pool.  My knee caps are thin and something else in my knee isn’t formed normally.  What made the biggest impression was when he said on a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being the worst knee you could have, my left was a 6 and my right a 4.  This seems pretty bad for a 40 year old.  He said I was headed for replacement surgery sometime in my life.

Treatment is a cortisone shot, physical therapy starting Thursday and he recommends I see a diet doctor who uses this program which high protein pre-prepared meals, shakes, etc.

I should not continue walking for exercise which is was one of my favorite and easiest ways.  No more just putting on sneaks and going.  Only non or low impact stuff from now on.  And I’m not to wear cute shoes anymore, only big, clunky athletic ones.  I don’t have to avoid things like days at the zoo walking around all day but I would pay for it in pain afterwards.

I know it’s not the worst case scenario (only a 6!) but it all has me feeling just a little down and for sure I feel OLD.  The ultimate irony was when I turned my phone back on the fertility clinic had called.
When I sat down here my full intention was to look at the diet doc’s website but the clinic had emailed other egg donor websites and I went straight there instead.

How can I have arthritis and be trying to get pregnant at the same time?  It defies logic.

16/365

Breakfast was Aldi's brand Fit & Active brand Vanilla Almond Vitality Cereal with milk and some apple juice.  Isn't that a lot to promise in the name of a cereal.  I WISH cereal could make me fit, active and have vitality. 

Lunch was some leftover chicken and a bunch of broccoli.

Supper was a pizza egg scramble like I made the other night.

Snacks through the day were some mini cookies, only a few.  A Snackwell cereal bar and Stretch made brownies and wanted me to try one so I did.  Also, I had an apple somewhere in there.

Knee doctor tomorrow....I hope he's kind when we talk about my weight.

15/365 - Weigh In

This morning I weighed in at 308.5 so that means I'm down 2.6 pounds.  Kind of surprised since my sneak peek earlier showed something different. 

If I take this blog private, then move all my old posts from my other blogs over here, then go public again would all those old posts pop up on people's readers?  Anybody know?

14/365 - Reading

I was reading The Hunger Games trilogy when I was coming up with those names!  The main character wears a costume that portrays her as a "girl on fire".  I highly recommend the series if you enjoy books about survival, the future, romance, coming of age, or over-coming strife themes in fiction.  And it's young adult genre so very easy reading.   I read the first book in about three days.

Crappy pic but here's this summers reading list:

Right now I'm working on Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt about the author, who grows up in Ireland very poor with an alcoholic father.  Pretty good so far, heartbreaking but at times also funny.   I'm also reading a "cheap" tabloidesque fiction paperback from the 70's called Whoreson by Donald Goines.  It's about what you think it's about.  So cheesy you have to smile while reading it.  I love this kind of "junky" reading during the summer and it's such a luxury to have time to spend on it each day.

What are YOU reading?

Food today was 2 Kashi waffles with banana slices and syrup for breakfast.  Chicken salad for lunch. 

Snacks were a Snackwell peanut butter cereal bar.  So good and reminded me of those chewy peanut butter cookies made with corn flakes.  In the afternoon, I had a handful of dark chocolate covered almonds.

For supper, I scrambled 2 eggs with some pepper, garlic powder and dried oregano and cooked in the microwave for a minute, then I cooked 2 turkey sausage links (the fully cooked kind) for one minute.  I sliced the sausage into the eggs stirred it up and sprinkled it with cheddar then cooked the combo for 1 more minute.  I poured some pizza sauce on the side.  It was not pretty to look at but it was SO good!

Calories came out to 1567/1930.  I might have a Skinny Cow treat later if I want, but tomorrow is officially weigh in day so...

Note:
The chicken I made yesterday was just ok.  The chicken part was very moist and perfect but the yogurt/Parmesan mixture on the outside was VERY salty and I scraped most of it off.  Probably because I used cheap Parmesan.  I don't think I'll make it again.  Just letting anyone know who thought they might try it.

13/365 - Title

I don't really like the title of this blog.  I just slapped it up there because I wanted to start.  I'd really like to change it.
Others that were in the running were:
Paige 365:  The Fat Files
Paige's Hunger Game
Paige On Fire (Can you guess what I was reading at the time?)
Forty, Fat and Fabulous

Any ideas?  Any votes?

Almost two weeks in...I really wanted to quit today.  I think partially because I got on the scale and it showed a two pound gain. Why be so careful if I'm going to gain, why not eat what I want.   I know, I know...it's water, I had that salty pizza last night, I shouldn't weigh myself everyday.  Etc.    The head knows but the heart?  flesh?  whatever still wanted to quit.   The other reason would be that I'm still dealing with the emotions and thoughts fluffed up by the doctor's talk yesterday.  But dealing with them and not eating them is what I did.  Damn, this is going to get tough.

Breakfast was PBJ on Kashi waffles.
Mid morning snack (Boy was I missing those COOKIES) was a dove egg (the last one)
Lunch was chicken salad and tortilla chips
Afternoon snack was a serving of cheezits.
Supper is going to be this recipe which is in the over RIGHT NOW! of chicken smothered in a mixture of Greek yogurt, Parmesan and spices and some instant potatoes I found lurking in the cabinet. 

Calories came out to 1553/1930.  I might have a Skinny Cow ice cream later but I wasn't very active today so maybe I'll just leave it.  I'm anxious for my second weigh in on Sunday.  

Oh someone asked about the smoked chicken and I have to tell you I'm a spoiled girl.  My brother has a smoker and once in a while he'll give me 4 or 5 smoked chicken breasts for my freezer.  It really does make a nice change from regular chicken for sandwiches, salads etc.  I think they sometimes have them in the deli department too.

12/365 - Photos

How I hate photos of myself.  What is appalling is how shocked I am each and every time I'm confronted with how I actually look.  Here is one of me and my staff at school:

The funny thing is that I thought I was looking pretty good that day.  I can't tell you how shocked and appalled I was when I looked at the photo to realize I look twice the size of anyone else in that photo.  Then I thought...well dummy you ARE twice the weight of anyone in the photo of course you look it.  I mean, I know I'm large (and in charge) but I guess I don't walk around with the realization of just HOW large.  I always think I carry it better, I guess.  Here's one of me being very brave:

I thought I looked like crap that day but the photo turned out ok, I guess.  It was so hot in there and I was so sweaty.  I don't think I even washed my hair that day.  But I'm hiding behind JS so I look smaller.  

I want my outsides to match my insides.  I want to feel good about myself no matter what my outsides look like.  Soon I hope.

Breakfast today was Archer Farms Granola from Target.  So good.  With milk and a banana.
Lunch was the same as yesterday and supper will be two little pizzas made with turkey pepperoni on cute little tortillas.   For morning snack I had two cookies (the last of them, Thank God) and in the afternoon I had an orange and one Dove peanut butter egg (What are those still doing around here??)

Calories came in about 1790.  I had a short walk for exercise as it is rainy and cold here.  Hope to get back on my bike tomorrow.

11/365

Started out with granola with milk and orange juice for breakfast.
Lunch was chicken salad and tortilla chips.  I swapped regular chicken for smoked chicken and it really brought the recipe up a notch.  I highly recommend this swap.
Supper was exactly the same as lunch.
4 cookies were consumed....better than yesterday and will do even better tomorrow.
What can I say?  The cookie habit is tough to kick.

10/365 - 12 Cookies

Yes, I said it.  And I ate it.

Today started off fairly well with Kashi cereal with banana slices and milk.  Also, orange juice.

But somehow throughout the rest of the morning (which was also devoted to Downton Abbey...oh how I love that show, the clothes, the chivalry, how upstairs and downstairs combine to make twisty turny plots.  But I digress...)  I ate 12 cookies. 

They were small.
I attempted to stop myself but couldn't.
I tried to compensate by adjusting the rest of the days calories.

I still went over by 200.

Not a major downfall, I know, but I wonder why I did this.

Not stress or depression.
It's summer vacation.
I'm not clamped in the shackles of grief right now.

Proximity and boredom.  Not boredom exactly but.... lack of routine? 
Don't know?

They definitely shouldn't be in the house.  I've put them in the car and will take them to my parents' house first thing.  Dollface spent the night Sunday and we made them.   I ran out of brown sugar so compensated with an extra half cup of white sugar making them light, crispy and delicious.

Anybody want me to STOP talking about cookies?

I will do better tomorrow.

9/365 - Gypsy Caravan

Breakfast was leftovers from brunch yesterday.  Pumpkin French toast and a little syrup and some fruit salad.

We went to the Gypsy Caravan Flea Market and walked and walked.  My knee gave out at about the same time as Dollface's patience but we saw a lot of cool stuff and made a few purchases.  Dollface had her first experience with bargaining.  Dad wanted to take us out to lunch but Dollface insisted that Mawmaw could make noodles that were just right so we ate at home.

I had leftover tuna salad wrapped in romaine leaves with cheezits and the rest of the fruit salad.

I also had 6 small cookies during the course of the day.  Suppertime is upon me and I'm not really sure what I'll have.  Something small...maybe a scrambled egg.

See you tomorrow.

8/365 - Weigh In #1

This morning I weighed in at 311 on the dot which means I'm down 6 pounds!   Don't get me wrong, I'm happy but I'm always leery when I lose weight that fast.   I'm truly eating about the same as I have been for a few weeks.  Maybe the bike riding and the heat.  Some of it could be water.  Doesn't matter... I'll take it.

I got a prank phone call last night.  Remember those relics from before caller id.  I thought they were nearly extinct now but at 3 am last night the phone rang.  I let the machine pick up and a clearly very young voice gave a heavy breath and then said they were "watching" me.  Watch way, Prankster, you brought back some good memories for me.  Although, I didn't care for being awakened at that hour, I couldn't help being nostalgic for all those slumber parties and all those prank phone calls.  Usually to boys and usually very giggly.  It wasn't her voice, but I wonder if 14 year old Stretch had anything to do with it.

Having my aunt and uncle and parents over for brunch today and taking the day off from measuring and logging calories.

7/365 - Goals

I've decided on a couple of goals. First, I'd like to lose 20 pounds and be under 300 by my birthday which is August 3. This would be big as getting close to a milestone such as this is always rough territory. I haven't been under 300 in years. I came close while I was pregnant and unintentionally losing 1-2 pounds a month and I can remember a few other times I've been close, but unable to stick with it. This time I will. Second, I would like to bike 1500 miles this year. I've already got about 230 in and I'll be biking everyday now that school is out, weather permitting. I'm going to work on really improving everyday and not just going "lalaala, I'm riding my bike" inside my head, of course and getting distracted by the birdies flying by. Food: Breakfast was the same as yesterday but with Kashi blueberry waffles. I liked Eggos better for this and Eng. muffins even better. Kashi, why didn't you stay crisp under the layer of PB? Going to put syrup on Kashi soon and see if I like them better. Lunch was the same as yesterday. Exactly the same. Pre-bike ride snack was a delectable room temperature orange. Supper was a little tuna salad I made with ranch dressing, celery, hard boiled egg and grapes. Also some carrots on the side. Evening snack WILL be a Skinny Cow cone. I would eat those things even if I wasn't watching what I ate. Good work, Skinny Cow, for making "diet" food that is better than it's "nondiet" counterpart. Sorry Namebrand drumstick cone, but your cone part gets chewy and there's no delightful fudgy stuff in your bottom. (hehehe) Calories: 1810/1930 A great bike ride in the wind today. So DRY here, I'm ready for some rain to bring down the dust.

6/365 - My Fridge

So breakfast was the same except with multigrain waffles instead of English an muffin. Lunch was a delicious Asian Turkey Burger (original recipe by Anne Burrellhere) except I added a tablespoon or so of sesame oil and I put them in muffin tins like little Asian meatloaves and baked them in the oven. Turned out well! I also had some corn and pretzels with ranch dip. Afternoon snack was apple slices with Biscoff spread. Supper was the same as lunch except with broccoli instead of corn. I might have a Skinny Cow single serve later. Calories 1875/1930. Exercise: one knee hurting walk and one glorious bike ride. Here's my fridge: The eggs are from our farm which is why there are so many. Be getting rid of a lot of them when my aunt and uncle come for brunch on Sunday. What do you think I ought to fill it with? PS> I love trying new things and will always accept recipe ideas or suggestions.

5/365 - Nora B. Dog

I have a new friend.  I couldn't get a decent picture of her for days but finally here she is.
 Nora B. Dog:
   And she laughs:  

My SIL was fostering this pretty gal and the moment I looked into her eyes I knew I had to take her home.  Her family was redoing the house and just suddenly didn't want 2 dogs.  Grrr.... people should realize what kind of commitment having a pet should be.  I already love her.  She's very sweet and wants to always be where I am.  She has a bounce in her step and is up for anything.  I'd forgotten what it was like to have a younger dog.  

When she went in to be spayed, the vet found a huge "stone"in her bladder.  I'd noticed that she still squatted to pee over and over again within a few minutes but wouldn't pee.  Today we went in for the follow up and after one and a half hours of waiting, he showed it to me.  Hard as a rock and a little larger than a golf ball, I'd say with rough surfaces.   I can't imagine what kind of discomfort she had with that thing in her bladder.  The vet says he will double check for infection but that the bladder lining could still be irritated from having that rough mass bouncing around inside.  One more week of antibiotics. 

Don't worry Clara B. is ok.  She still struggles with her back legs everyday but the vet says she probably won't tolerate a surgery to the other side and being that she had a minor cancer tumor removed a few months ago, we're just trying to manage her pain and monitor her closely. 

So on to the food:

Breakfast and lunch were the same as yesterday.
I had a dumdum sucker while waiting and waiting for the vet.  
Afternoon snack was an apple.
Supper was taco meat from the freezer that I'd made a few weeks ago from ground turkey, onions, black beans and seasoning.
Later I might have a single serve Edy's if I feel like it.

Total on calories was 1827/1930
Exercise:  Thank goodness I took Nora for a walk this morning even though it bothered my knee because I fierce and hot wind blew up this afternoon making me think biking was not a good idea. 

Other news:
I heart Phil Phillips and so glad he won American Idol this week.  I usually favor the singers from that show that are a little different.  You know, the girl with the dreads or the hippy who does everything acoustic and they usually don't win because they are just too different.  Which is exactly what I said about PP when I picked him as a favorite very early on but didn't think he'd win because his style was a little different.  Hurray, America...you can still chose talent over cookie cutter voices and looks.


I'm so comfortable in this new space!  I'm thinking of moving everything over here and making it my only space.  I don't know who or how many followed me over but those of you who did, what do you think?

4/365 - Last Day of School

It was a little nostalgic knowing that we're moving to a different school and they are closing this one.   I've laughed, cried, worried, sweated, complained, rejoiced, been stressed to the max, gained weight, lost weight, loved kids, disciplined kids, lost patience and played with kids, met with parents, made close friends with teachers, watched teacher friends come and go, watched kids grow up, been through 4 principals and 3 superintendents, taught kindergarten, first grade, second grade and reading in 6 different classrooms at this school for the past 14 years.  Lots of memories walking through the halls one last time.   

Today's Food:
Breakfast was PBJ on an English Muffin.
Last school snack was an apple.
Home in time for lunch and it was a chicken sausage on oatty nut bread, tortilla chips with Greek yogurt and salsa.
Out with a few of the yayas for dinner at a local wood fire pizza place.  I had a house salad and 3 small slices of bacon, potato and cheese pizza.

No way to count calories for the pizza but I estimate about 1900.  I didn't feel overly full after supper so I guess that's a good thing. 

3/365

For breakfast I had peanut butter and jelly on an English muffin (cause I was out of milk for cereal).

Snack was a coconut Luna bar.

Lunch was smoked chicken w/ a 2 T of barbeque sauce, pretzels, one Laughing Cow wedge and a cup of grapes.

After school snack was apple slices w/ more PB.

A little later, Dollface came over and wanted to "bake" something.  As I was out of butter and milk and oil I had her help make something I may have invented.  We warmed up 2 T of Nutella (LOOOOVE that stuff) and added 1 cup of crushed corn flakes, stirred then added a few mini marshmallows.  We split the bowl.    170 cals for each half.

In a little while, I'm having smoked chicken salad made with olive oil mayo and capers and maybe some peas for supper. 

I'll come out to 1645 of my 1930 calories. 

Since Dollface was here I didn't get a chance to ride my bike but my knee does feel a little better today.  Tomorrow is the last day of school so I hope I can quickly rest it up and get movin'.

2/365

My knee is killing me.  I've had some hard days at school packing and lugging heavy boxes but I MUST get some weight off these knees.

For b-fast I had Kashi berry cereal and milk.

Snack was a S'mores Luna bar.

Lunch was a 4 cheese cannolli lean cuisine and a cup of grapes.

For afternoon snack I had an apple I'd dropped a few times and had to eat around the bruises.  A little later at home, I had 2 Belvita cookies with a tiny smear of allfruit spread.   A while after that I had 2 rolo brownies (don't worry, they're out of the house now) and a glass of milk.

Supper was 2 scrambled eggs with an English muffin and all fruit spread and 2 turkey sausage patties.  I think I also ate 3 rolo candies sometime.  I'm working on getting all the sweets out of the house.

My calorie total for the day was:  1689 out of my 1930 daily allotment.   Not too shabby...I may have a few more grapes later if I want something else.

My knee was just killing me after school so no exercise today.  Hope the first days of summer bring healing to my knee.

It seems like it would be boring to read this day after day.    Do you think it will be?


PS.  Clara B. Dog is on a diet too.  She's having terrible trouble with her joints but the vet says she's not a good candidate for surgery being an older dog and all.  She needs to lose 8 pounds!  Which will bring her to a svelte 60.  The vet wants her on a prescription dog food for her joints.  I about choked when I saw the price...but what ya gonna do?

1/365

Well, here I am beginning another 365 project.  Upon the completion of my previous 365 project I immediately began asking myself what else could I do for 365 days.  Taking a photo everyday for a year was quite the challenge.  Many days I didn't feel like taking a photo and posting it, many days I felt like quitting but I stuck with it.  My hope is that I can stick with posting my eating and exercising habits and truly establish good routines.  On my other blogs I've found writing to be quite therapeutic and I am hoping to discover a lot about myself while writing here about the biggest challenge in my life. 

Today I weigh 317.  There.  I said it.  It's out there.  For the universe to see.  This is actually 40 pounds down from my all time high.  I think.  At that point, I was too large for my scale so that is an estimate.  I lost 40 pounds several years ago and somehow managed to keep it off through good times and bad, diets and binging.  I was close to 300 a year and a half ago when I was pregnant.  I consider it a miracle I didn't gain 100s of pounds while grieving my lost pregnancy.

Anyway, here I am.  Ready.  Day 1.

Breakfast was one serving of Kashi Crisp Berry Crumble and skim milk.  So good.  Reminds me of berry flavored Captain Crunch.

Lunch was an Amy's Cheese enchilada frozen entree.  I added nonfat Greek yogurt.  Not planing on making a habit of frozen entrees but it was there.  With a few tortilla chips and Laughing Cow Chipotle cheese.  Rounded it off with a handful of grapes.

Snack was 5 rolo candies.

Supper was  2 brownies and a glass of milk.

Calorie total was 1173.
My calorie allowance is 1930 so I did pretty good on calories today but ate way too much sugar.  I'll do better tomorrow.

Exercise was a bike ride.  I believe I went about 12 miles. 

Wow, it was really tedious typing that all out in addition to logging it all on myfitnesspal.com .  Not sure I'll want to keep that up....maybe just report calorie totals or something.

Anyway, I've been putting off starting this project for weeks so even though I'm not sure what form it will take or what I will post here....I've started.