Kickin JennyV's Pig

Jumping on the "Kick The Pig" wagon. Mostly it's about losing weight, but really it's about living a healthier lifestyle.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

MIM Challenge Day #3 - Wednesday


Today's MIM (Move It More) Challenge Tally:
  • Steps galore


Breakfast: 1 cup Raisin Bran with 3/4 cup 1% milk


Pills: Aspirin


Water: Just cracked open a bottle. One bottle on the way to work. One large glass with lunch. One bottle after lunch. And a cup of herbal tea in the evening.


Coffee: 1 1/2 cups with cream at work.


Snack: Packing a yogurt. It was good.


Lunch: Turkey and provolone with pesto mayo lettuce, tomato, and pickle. I spoonful of noodles - although they were dry so I didn't finish them.


Dinner: 2 pieces of 4 cheese pizza with WHEAT crust. A new find! Not bad!


Exercise - Refer to MIM Challenge Tally.


How Do I Feel?

I think I'm going to start logging more about my moods and generally how I'm feeling. It is a known fact that our mood can influence our behavior; however I also understand that healthy habits like exercise can likewise influence our moods. Interesting.


  • Morning: Like I have jet lag. I am a morning person; however I long for the day when I can sit on my deck or patio (which I don't yet have) sipping fresh brewed coffee as the sun rises. For now I shall wish I felt better and praise God for yet another day of chances to bring him glory. That's the best way to start the day.
  • Afternoon: Busying myself with work. Not overly tired, but as the day rolled on I found myself slowing down.
  • Evening: Worked until 730 PM. TIRED. VERY tired. WANT SLEEP. Looking forward to some rest. Sacrificing exercise for devotions.

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Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Move It More TWO-day

Move It More Stats:
  • STAIRS GALORE
  • 30 Minute Aerobic Workout


    Breakfast: 3/4 cup Grape Nuts Flakes with 3/4 c. 1% milk. (I snuck in the 1% this week. Keith doesn't like it, but sometimes I trick him.) Ha Ha

    Coffee: 2 cups with cream at work.

    Water: working on a bottle. Done. Plus a half a bottle at work. And a full glass with lunch. Another bottle. Now I'm sipping herbal tea. And another 3/4 of a bottle with exercise.

    Snack: vanilla yogurt - LaCreme - later 3/4 cup of cheerios (dry)

    Lunch: The office is going out for Chinese. Hmm... I don't really like Chinese nor do I think it would be a good choice for my diet. SO - decisions decisions... shall I be anti-social and take my lunch & eat at my desk? I stayed in. It was a half order of mac n' cheese with a side salad.

    Exercise: Steps x50 x2 so far plus back across campus and up the stairs in the parking garage... then up the stairs at home. 30 Minutes JC Aerobic Workout.

    Dinner: another bowl of broccoli cheese soup with a slice of Tuscan bread. The bread is finished but I think there is about one more bowl of soup left in the pot. Ugh.

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Monday, January 29, 2007

New Week New Challenge - Day #1

Move It More
That's this weeks challenge! Join me if you are so inclined to do so.

Move It More Challenge Tally:
(nuttin so far)
- Stairs at work
- 50 squats


Breakfast: vanilla La Creme yogurt with a sprinkle of walnuts

Coffee: one cup with no fat cream, 2 more cups with cream at work

Water: just started a bottle, but still drinking coffee. Finished this one. Two more bottles at work plus a large glass with lunch.

Pills: Aspirin. Need to pick up vitamins.

Snack: Packing a bag of fresh veggies. YUMMY

Lunch: Cheeseburger, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mayo. French Fries. Applesauce. No the fast-food kind. Not a great choice, but not the worst.

Dinner: left over broccoli cheese soup and a slice of Tuscan bread.

Exercise: 50 squats.

Notes to self:

1) Remember - the candy jar is the devil!
2) The treadmill awaits as does the laundry - and they are so close!
3) Back off the coffee and lay on the water

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Saturday, January 27, 2007

Saturday: Veggie Challenge Day #7


Today will bring my Veggie Challenge to a close, on a positive note I might add. I will continue to strive for comsuming at least 2 servings of fruits and/or vegetables with every lunch and dinner.


Breakfast: (With hubby) 3 pieces of whole wheat french toast, a dribble of light syrup, and one egg fried in butter. (Not the greatest idea)


Water:


Coffee: Oh I think I had at least 3 cups already with no fat cream. (Yikes I better stop!)


Snack:


Lunch: One last piece of whole wheat french toast with a dribble of syrup. I do not recommend trying to eat this without a plate. I thought I'd just hold it and nibble at it, but the syrup was just enough to run and now it is in my lap. YICKY. (good thing I'm into the laundry today) WHAT?!!! No veggies???!!!! I must go find some!


Exercise: Housework galore!!! Up and down 2 flights of stairs about a dozen times already. Usually I'm a time manager and make as much use of one trip as I can, but here I realize that the more trips the better. I'm doing laundry and general tidying. Still need to do dishes too. UGH!


Hmmm... thinking on a new challenge for next week. I'm thinking maybe increasing water consumption? Or maybe it should be to start measuring my portions? Or maybe it should be to move more? Oh I have so many aspirations, but I like to just try to focus on one at a time and hopefully the rest will follow. I'm open for suggestions.

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May Day It's Weigh Day


I'm happy to report that I have tipped the scales in a negative fashion. I think I will only take measurements once per month. I have this nice tape measure. I forget where I got it. On the back is listed the months of the year. For each month there is a spot to record your weight and measurements for waist, hips, and bust. Sweet!

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Friday, January 26, 2007

TGIF - Veggie Challenge Day #6

I'm running out of fresh snackable veggies. I'm down to just mini carrots and cucumber. There lots of other meal type veggies tho - cabbage, romaine, etc.

Breakfast: Raisin Bran w/ 2% milk

Pills: Aleve - horrible headache and backache this morning. The rest are on the grocery list.

Coffee: 3 cups at work with cream

Snack: veggie bowl - Yummy!

Water: Working on a bottle already. A large glass with lunch.

Lunch: BLT, 12 French Fries, cup of mushroom soup

Dinner: 12 reduced fat crackers with reuben dip (Whew! End of the dip)

Exercise: Stairs at work - lots and lots of them!

Notes to self:

  • I hope your headache goes away fast!

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Thursday: Veggie Challenge Day #5

Am I really reaching Day FIVE?! Wow! Who knew that I would have that many vegetables in the house for so long?



After some speculation yesterday on the wishy-washy thought that maybe I could skip veggies today or maybe I could not.... We all know the answer... NO WAY! Now if I could only make this a die-hard habit I'd be set!



Breakfast: 1 cup cereal with 1/2 c 2% milk



Coffee: not yet. 1/2 cup with cream. I had a half a cup of regular tea (plain) in the afternoon.



Pills: no - on the list tho.



Water: I'm having a cup of mint herbal tea with honey and no-fat cream this morning. Hmmm... that's different! Light and refreshing actually. If you have the desire to try a cup, you can find it at your local Starbucks, online, or at the Vulhop household while supplies last.




Working on a bottle of water now. Had a large glass with lunch. Having another cup of herbal mint tea now -- after dinner.

Snack: Packing another veggie bowl. Yum-O and a couple handfuls of popcorn.



Lunch: chicken patty with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickle, and mayo on a bun. Side salad with ranch dressing dipped.



Dinner: a can of green beans with a teaspoon of butter. (as per the can 3.5 servings) and 12 reduced fat crackers with reuben dip.



Exercise: 50 stairs x2 then 30 stairs in the parking garage and more stairs from the basement once I got home. I need to move a little but it's pushing 9pm and I haven't done my devotions yet. Maybe I'll just do some stretches and squats with weights. Gotta keep my priorities straight.



Notes to self:




  1. Steer clear of the devil! (candy)

  2. Tip the water bottle.

  3. More moving!!!! Crack the whip!!!!

TOTAL VEGGIE CONSUMPTION TODAY= 8.5

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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Wednesday: Veggie Challenge Day #4


VEGGIE CHALLENGE SERVING TOTALS: 5+ so far!!!! (and that's before dinner) I think dinner is probably another 5 servings. Does that mean I can skip them tomorrow?!
Breakfast: 1 cup of Caramel Nut Crunch cereal with a 1/2 cup of 2% milk


Water: Not yet. Oh no!!! I forgot to grab one on my way out and now that I am at work I see that we are out of bottled water - although some is on order. Hmph. Ok we are in business now. I picked up 2 cases on my way back from lunch. I have already downed one bottle and am working on a 2nd. And finished a 3rd. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.... Hydration! I think all that Mucinex I was taking has been taking it's toll on my body. I need water!


Coffee: 1 cup with no fat cream. 1 cup with cream at work. 1 cup of tea with low-fat cream with lunch. (hmmm... too much cream I think)


Snack: Packing a veggie bowl again. I think this is probably 2-3 servings of veggies. I ate the whole thing. Fresh raw snow peas... I recommend them!


Lunch: chicken divan (that's casserole with broccoli) YUMMY - but probably had too much fat in it. Side salad with a little bit of ranch - just dipped, not drenched. This is probably 2 servings of veggies. 1/4 cup of fruit cocktail.


Dinner: (planning steak salads) Romaine lettuce, fresh baby spinich, cucumber, tomato, red cabbage, carrots, snow peas, a sprinkle of cheddar, some sliced sirloin steak (marinated in Dales) and a dozen french fries. Dipping bleu cheese.


Exercise: Steps - 1 trip so far. 2 trips total at work. I missed one because I had to take the cart. (darn cart) Oh and steps at home - 2 flights so far.


Notes to self:


1) Smack your wrists!!! No dipping into the candy jar!!! I know those chocolate covered peanut brittles are calling your name. They are the devil. RUN!!!! **I must report that I have stayed out of the candy all day!


2) Take the stairs. Lots of them. Don't sit all day. Get up and walk around, stretch, and do some squats every so often.


3) Tip the water bottle. I'm going to put it on my schedule - a new bottle every 3 hours. Think it will work?

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Weigh In Check

As suspected, I was sliding backwards away from my goal over the holidays, and vaction too. So I'd like to lose 10 pounds by Valentines Day. I'm already 2 pounds down. My measurements went up a little, but I'm still below my starting measurements, so that is good. I must conquer!

By the way, I think I'm going to start making my weight and measurement days "SATURDAY."

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Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Weigh In


It's a typical term for Pig Kickers... or Farmers... Ha Ha


Anyway, I haven't weighed in with my doc since before the holidays. I did see her briefly for being sick a couple weeks ago, but that was not a weigh in visit. I'm not scheduled to go back until February.


I'm happy to report that I bought myself a scale last night. For years I've proclaimed that I do not want one. It's rather depressing. However, I've been thinking about it lately so I just splurged. Actually, my doctor told me that I should put greater emphasis on measurements, but I haven't taken those since before the holidays too. Hmmm... I wonder if I've gained or lost or stayed the same?


I shall weigh myself in the morning. I not a big fan of sharing the numbers, but I will give some thought to new short term goals and update my ticker accordingly.

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Tuesday: Veggie Challenge Day 3

Sorry folks - I slept in this morning and that threw me way off.

Breakfast: Caramel Nut Crunch with milk

Pills: No

Water: 1/2 bottle before work, large glass with lunch, 1 cup of herbal tea this evening.... I'm still working on it.

Snack: fresh healthy veggies - grape tomatoes, celery, carrots, and snow peas

Lunch: Salad - lettuce, tomatoes, chicken, bacon, shredded cheese, etc. I just dipped in the bleu cheese and didn't finish the whole salad.

Dinner: Hmmm... still thinking on that. I'm not really hungry at the moment but I better have something so I'm not starving right before bedtime.

Worth mentioning: Keith told me last night that he loved my vegetable soup. Ha ha! I'm so pleased.

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Monday, January 22, 2007

Monday - Veggie Challenge Day Two



Looking back, I am patting myself on the back for succeeding in yesterday's challenge. I definitely consumed way more veggies than usual.


Breakfast: 1 cup Caramel Nut Crunch with 3/4 cup of 2% milk. (out of milk now)
Coffee: 2 cups with cream.


Pills: vitamin and aspirin. (out of vitamins now)


Water: working on a bottle now. glass with lunch. working on another bottle. Why is this so hard? Maybe I'll supplement with some herbal tea this evening.

Snack: I'm packing a generous assortment of fresh vegetable delights... celery sticks, mini carrots, a few grape tomatoes, and a handful of snow peas. I doubt I'll eat it all, but maybe it will last for a couple of days. Guess what? I ate it all and boy was it good!


Lunch: I'm packing a bowl of my homemade vegetable soup. I'm so onto this challenge!!! Sorry - saving that for tomorrow's lunch. Long story. Lunch was actually a BLT on wheat toast, 10 chips, and 6 french fries.


Exercise: Nothing much planned for today. I have to be to work early and will also be there late as I have an evening meeting today. Did some stairs... a couple of times. I missed out on some because I had to wheel a cart back and forth to my meeting. Oh well, I'll make up for it tomorrow. I think I'll do some squats and stretches this evening too.


Dinner: (on the Hospital's dime tonight) 3" hoagie with light italian dressing, tomatoes, and lots of lettuce... minus half of the bun.


Notes to self:


  1. No candy jar splurging today. It would sabatage your veggie challenge efforts. I did share a piece of chocolate covered peanut brittle with Dr McGill -- something I brought home from Palm Springs. And I had one Andes Candy.

  2. Take the stairs at work - lots of them! There is always tomorrow.

  3. Tip the water bottle all day long. well... this is a work in progress.

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Sunday, January 21, 2007

Vegetable Soup


I don't measure, I just toss it together. This is the first time I've ever made vegetable soup and it turned out really good.



  1. In a large pot, saute chopped onion and celery (with the tops) in a couple tablespoons of butter.
  2. Turn up the heat.
  3. Season 4 meaty beef short ribs with salt and pepper - sear them on all sides.
  4. Pour in some vegetable juice (like V8) as much as you like.
  5. Add a can of diced tomatoes.
  6. Add some chopped vegetables - carrots, potatoes, cabbage, etc.
  7. Add a half a bag of frozen mixed vegetables (corn, beans, carrots).
  8. Thin with a little water if you desire (or stock).
  9. Season with a packet of onion soup mix (or any vegetable soup mix).
  10. Bring it to a boil, then turn down and simmer for a couple hours.
  11. Chill.
  12. Skim any fat - it will harden on top.
  13. Pull the short ribs and shred the meat into the soup.
  14. Re-heat and enjoy!

It might also be good with some barley added or maybe some pasta, alphabets or something small.


I made this soup last night, refridgerated it until today and enjoyed having it for lunch. It was easy and is quite healthy and very filling. I'm well on my way with my goal to consume more vegetables this week!

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Veggie Challenge Week


As already stated, this week's challenge is to eat more veggies. If you are so inclined to join me... I'd love to share the experience with you.


Breakfast: 1 cup of Caramel Nut Crunch cereal with 3/4 cup of 2% milk


Coffee: Three cups with cream


Water: Working on a bottle now. Working on another bottle. Gosh - not doing very well on this idea. Hmmm... I need to step it up tomorrow.


Pills: Vitamin and Aspirin


Lunch: half a bowl of homemade vegetable soup and 4 tablespoons of reuben dip with 4 mini rye bread slices.


Snack: some raw mini carrots and 10 reduced fat crackers


Dinner: half bowl of homemade vegetable soup. What can I say? This is my habit... eating the same thing over and over.


Exercise: I have been doing housework all day. I have made at least a dozen trips from upstairs to the basement and back. I'm doing laundry, organizing Keiths closet and dresser full of clothes. I've done the dishes twice. No slacking here! I did sit down at the computer to do some work-related tasks. Whew! Long day. I stayed in all day, but I was productive. I think I will do some strength exercises before bed too.

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So Long Vacation... Hello Pig Kicker

Well, the title says it all. My vacation is coming to a close. Today is the last day off, but technically I will be working because I have some catching up to do before tomorrow morning.

Vacation was great. I ate mostly well, but didn't watch as closely as I should have, and exercise was definitely at a minimum. The fresh fruits in California were superb. There was pinapple and strawberries and citrus and melons. Yummy! Rob made a lemon cream pie for dessert one night that was light and delicious. I drank mostly water every day, aside from the usual 2 cups of coffee. I did have a couple of sodas on the plane though. Exercise was not top on our list of duties. Aside from my going to a conference and sitting all day, I would sit by the pool and read my book or on the couch watching a movie or playing board games. It was worth it to spend time with our family there.

So as the vacation comes to a close, I found myself dreaming of fresh vegetables once more. Actually, I had watched this show on tv where this lady made a vegetable soup. This takes me back to days of old. Grandma used to make me vegetable soup. She knew how much I loved it and she would make it for me often. Despite my efforts, I can never make it quite like she did, but I'm sure that I'm using the same basic ingredients. Anyway, this show inspired me to make a pot. So - off to the grocery I went yesterday. (on my way home from the farm)

I bought salad makings first - romaine lettuce, baby spinich, red cabbage, an onion, some mini carrots, & grape tomatoes. I already have some raisins and some sunflower seeds. Sounds good. Keith will like it. For the soup I found a nice big potato, again more mini carrots, a large onion, some celery (with tops), a small head of green cabbage, a can of vegetable juice, and 4 short ribs. I also have some frozen mixed veggies that will make a nice addition to the soup. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.... Y-U-M-M-Y !!! I can't wait to sample it!

So that's the plan - eat more veggies this week. I shall officially begin this challenge tomorrow; however I already have the big pot of soup on standby. YIPPIE!

Friday, January 12, 2007

Ditto... more of the same.

Mentally I'm drained. Just when I'm stressed with deadlines I get some really disturbing news from my long time friend and it's very sad. I'm trying to keep myself poised.

Breakfast - oatmeal with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a splash of 2%

Pills - yes

Water - working on it

Snack - Hmm... I better eat the rest of that fresh pinapple

Lunch -

Exercise -

Dinner -

Thursday, January 11, 2007

And Kick Kick Kick some more!

Breakfast: oatmeal with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a splash of 2% milk

Pills: Mucinex DM and Antibiotic

Water: Working on a bottle

Coffee: 1 cup with cream

Snack: none today

Lunch: roast beef and cheddar on a roll (should have asked for light) and a spoonful of pasta salad.

Exercise: Many many steps... back and forth at work...

Dinner: salad with bleu cheese (dipping), steak, baked potato w/ butter

I guess I spent my red meat for the week!

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Kick Kick Kick Kick...

Breakfast: oatmeal with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a splash of 2% milk.

Pills: Mucinex DM and antibiotic.

Water: Working on a bottle now 16+ oz. 20+ oz with lunch. +10 oz.

Snack: 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds

Lunch: steak salad with bleu cheese (dipping not drenching)

Exercise: Lots of stair climbing. It's 50 steps from the basement to the third floor. I think I made that trek like 3 or 4 times today. I did some weight training exercises in the evening.

Dinner: grilled ham and cheese on whole wheat and 1/2 cup of fresh pinapple.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Temptation Tuesday

Today's goal will be to blast temptations. There will be no sneaking into the candy jar at work. I will make wise choices for lunch, something light yet satisfying.

Water - 8+ oz w/ vitamins. 20 oz. + with lunch. 17 oz. again after dinner.

Breakfast - 1 cup of Grape Nuts flakes with 1 cup of milk

Coffee - Working on a cup with no fat cream.

Pills - Antibiotic and Mucinex DM.

Snack - I have some left over pinapple from yesterday in the fridge at work. Nope - steering away from the pinapple. I had a cheese stick for a snack.

Lunch - salad with grilled chicken and a cheese quesadilla. I had the dressing on the side and just dipped my fork. I was very good.

Dinner - The last bowl of taco soup. I'm officially tired of it now.

Exercise - Working late at work again, so exercise is minimal. Throughout the day I did make a few trips back and forth across campus at work. Up the steps to the third floor (plus an extra set of steps from the basement on account of the weather) At home I did laundry... up and down the steps a few times for this.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Finally Turning A New Year


I've been under the weather and indisposed for the past week. I'm feeling markedly better now and ready to get on with those New Years resolutions or goals... one of which is to keep up with Kicking the Pig!


Breakfast: 1 cup of Grape Nuts Flakes with 1 cup of 2% milk.


Coffee: 3/4 of a cup with no fat cream


Pills: Antibiotic and Mucinex DM. Holding off on vitamin. Don't want to upset my stomach from too many meds.


Lunch: I've packed a lunch and snacks. I have leftover taco soup. It's actually very good for you. It's packed with lots of beans, corn, hominy, tomatoes, and made with 95% lean ground beef. I put a sprinkle of shredded cheese on top. (not too much) Usually I serve this with tortilla chips, but I will skip those extra carbs this time. It was YUMMY.


Snacks: 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds.


Dinner: Another bowl of taco soup... getting tired of it now.


Exercise: It's raining and just might snow today. Ugh. So I best make friends with the treadmill? Or maybe I'll opt to do some housework with lots of steps? Who knows? Well - I didn't get out of work until almost 7pm, so by the time I got home I was hungry and tired. Instead of the treadmill, I did some laundry and the dishes.


Note to self: Take the stairs at work. Resist candy jar at all cost!