Friday Friday Friday YIPPIE!!!!

I'm well rested this morning. Ready to get this day on the road.

Breakfast -

Coffee -

Water -

Lunch -

Snack -

Dinner - Planning dinner out with my parents.

Exercise -

Backlog

Yesterday's...

Breakfast - poppyseed muffin

Coffee - 2 decaf and 2 regular with no fat creamer

Lunch - salad with cottage cheese and 2 sides of hot steamed veggies

Dinner - chicken stir-fry with brown rice

Water - 2 small bottles plus one large glass with lunch

Exercise - the usual steps. Now K & I had aspired to hit the gym, but thought we'd take a one hour nap first. Guess what - we never got up from our nap! How crazy is that!?! I think I must have slept like 10 or 11 hours or something. I'm guessing that we both needed it.

Mid-week Madness

FRUIT AND VEGGIE CHALLENGE IN PROCESS

Breakfast - Raisin Bran with skim milk

Coffee - not yet - need to brew some

Water - thinking about it - What happened to drinking some on the way to work?

Lunch - baked sweet potato

Snack - Glass of juice.

Dinner - shrimp

Exercise - Up the steps to the 3rd floor x2

Notes - I really need to get some fruits and veggies in the house!

Kick The Pig!!!!

WARNING!!! ATTENTION!!!

FRUIT & VEGGIE CHALLENGE

IN PROCESS

Morning.

Breakfast - Raisin Bran with skim milk.

Coffee - 2 cups with no-fat cream.

Snack - 10 M&Ms. I like this snack because it fills a void and is rationable. (They were on sale at the grocery store and it was such a good deal that I could not pass it up! But I'm sharing with everyone at work, so this will not be only my downfall.)

Pills - not lately. What's wrong with me?!

Lunch - going out today. Office outing with my old boss. (Lucky lady - now retired.) Taco salad and chips shared with my friends.

Dinner -

Exercise - Up the steps to the 3rd floor x2

FRESH

This weeks challenge: Eat more fruits & veggies and loose 3 pounds! Here we go!

I'm happy to report that my weight gain only appears to be a half a pound. Hmmm... that can't be right!!! I weighed myself 3 times and YES - only a half pound heavier. I also took my measurements. I lost just shy of an inch in my bust, waist, and hips. WOW I also didn't think that was so! Yippie!! My spirits are lifted... but still sticking to the challenge at hand.

OK - off to work... I shall have breakfast there.

It's going to be one of those rush rush rush weeks here at work! Deadlines abound!!!

Breakfast - Raisin Bran with skim milk

Coffee - 1 cup

Water - Large glass with lunch. Working on a bottle of it now. Another bottle in the afternoon. An extra large glass with dinner.

Lunch - roasted veggies, chick pea salad, and a half of a turkey sandwich with cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and mayo. (I think my next exclusion will be the mayo. Why do I put it on the sandwich anyway? As if I need it or something????)

Snack - none so far

Dinner - half of a turkey & cheese on tomato basil bread and a cup of broccoli cheese soup at Panera Bread. I shouldn't have... too much and too expensive. Saving grace -- well, Keith forgot something at home that he needed at work. So when I got home I ran it out for him, just in time to catch him for his dinner break. I was delighted because he was sleeping when I left for work and I was sleeping by the time he got home from work. So... a little dinner shared is good for the heart.

Exercise - Up the steps to the 3rd floor with a spring in my step x3. My coworker has commented that I'm a speed-walker today. Hmm... I think that's a good thing! My desire to go to the gym was thwarted by the need to deliver goods to Keith in the evening. By the time I was home I was completely beat.

A Pep-talk - For the Millionth Time

Ok Gals, I'm on the hot-seat. I'm putting myself on the spot. How's it going? To be brutally honest, I suck at this dieting thing. I think I have convinced myself that it's not really a "diet" but a quest to become healthier. That helps. I'm like a yo-yo when it comes to this stuff. I will go from "faithful to a T" to "dragging behind the wagon" in a moments notice. I've got to get a grip and hit a happy medium.

One of the things that really affecting my success at the moment is the lack of "good" choices in our house. The refrigerator has had a mind of its own lately and thus I have not been shopping for any fresh stuff for a while. I have to create a solution - even if it means resurecting the old refrigerator from the basement!

Another thing, Keith and I like to hit the gym together. Well, work schedules are not condusive to this, so that hasn't been happening. We went together a week ago. I went again alone on Monday. Tuesday I was BEAT. Wednesday we had class etc. in the evening, and Thursday was another catch-up day... It was closed on Friday. Saturday we were busy with other things... which brings me to today and it is closed for the holiday. Drat! I must just accustom myself to going without him and schedule ahead to go with him as his schedule allows. Ugh!!!

So today I found myself sampling coffee with cherry cordials... hardly on the plan. Then snacking on pepperoni rolls I made for him last night while we lazily watched a movie before he had to go to work. (Thank goodness they are finished already) I ate some canned peaches for lunch. Dinner alone was leftover pizza from last night and some juice. The peaches and juice was probably my only descent choices I've made all day! No water drinking... just coffee and juice. What is wrong with me?

I so wish the gym was open today. I actually have the energy to go. Instead, I popped in some laundry and walked on my treadmill while it washed. I didn't time it but I'm thinking maybe that was a good 20 minutes or so. I feel good, but should drink some water already.

Just to add to my shame, I have neglected to weigh or measure in the last couple of weeks because frankly I'm sure I will gain more disappointment from that. Goals? I have to make them short-term because if I make long term goals I end up changing them because they become unattainable. I suppose since I realize this, I should go with a short week-to-week goal, much like I have done in the past with my weekly challenge. Hmmm... maybe I'm on to something here??!!

So... maybe this weeks goal & challenge will be:

• Eat more fruits and vegetables


• Loose 3 pounds (I suppose this means I have to weigh myself today to see where I stand? UGH!)

How's that sound? I suppose I have until next Sunday to achieve this. Stay tuned! Encouragement welcomed and very much appreciated! C'mon... Let's Kick This Nasty Pig!!!!!

Feeling Like I Blew It

I think the sandwich and fries were a NO-NO last night. I immediately felt guilty, and as if I would have been satisfied with HALF of that scenario, or just with a salad. Oh well... today is another day! It might be a "VEGGIE DAY."

Breakfast: LaCreme Vanilla Yogurt

Water: 1/2 bottle on the way to work. Large glass with lunch. Another bottle this evening and working on another.

Coffee: one cup with NO FAT cream.

Pills: Yes.

Snack: 1/2 of a peanut crunch granola bar - split with my coworker.

Lunch: mashed potatoes with chives and a little bit of herbed gravy, roasted vegetables, scoop of cottage cheese with peas, tomatoes, and 5 green olives.

Dinner: 2 eggs with american cheese, bacon, and wheat toast -- What is wrong with me???

Exercise: Steps Steps Steps!!! Ya'll would be so proud... We finally joined the Community Center!!!! We worked out for an hour tonight. I did some stretching, walking, some biking, and some weight training while Keith did mostly weight training with a little bit of stretching and walking. I took the "Fitness Test" on the recumbant bike. It asked for my age and weight etc. Upon completion it flashed in large print on the screen "SUPERIOR." How cool is that?! I knew all those stairs were a blessing. Now - I wonder what my target heart rate should be? Hmmm...

How I'm Feeling

Morning: Well rested but must get going! A little rushed. Why?

Afternoon: Just ran up those steps! Out of breath, but feeling good. I've got to tackle more things here.

Evening: Pumped!!! But tired. Ready to hit the sack.

Saturday - Veggie Challenge Pick-up

Breakfast: 3/4 c. of Life cereal with 3/4 c. 1% milk.

Water: 2 bottles and 1 cup of herbal tea

Coffee: 2 cups with no fat cream

Pills: Aleve - skipped the aspirin and went straight for the Aleve.

Lunch: 1 1/2 c. left over chili with cheddar cheese garnish and 2 small squares of corn bread

Snack: 12 baby carrots - 4 halfs of canned apricot in lite syrup

Dinner: half slice of ham cooked in brown sugar, 2 servings of asparagus, and a square of cheese souffle. 1 glass red wine.

Exercise: Today is a laundry and cleaning day. I've made multipe trips up and down the steps. I did some dishes and dusting with a few squats and stretches here and there.

Moods & How I'm Feeling:

• Morning: HEADACHE!!! Woke up with it. Dragging as a result of burning the candle at both ends all week. Blah. Just want to veg-out a while. Maybe watch some TV? Maybe do some cleaning or laundry? Not sure.


• Afternoon: Fairly energized and motivated doing housework. Ready for some devotion time.


• Evening: Feeling good. Went grocery shopping. Made dinner for Keith - very enjoyable. Relaxing with hubby.

Veggie Challenge Day #2

Good morning Pig Kickers!!!

Veggie Challenge Portion Total for Today: 3+ maybe 4. Hmmm... could have done way better!

Breakfast: 3/4 c. Raisin Bran with 3/4 c. 1% milk. (Yep - tricked him again) I have been using my little glass custard cup type bowls for cereal. It makes me feel like I'm having a full bowl of cereal, but it's not that much. If I'm not measuring, then when I pour cereal into a regular size bowl, I'm over-doing it. So these little bowls are a gem when it comes to kicking the pig.

Coffee: working on a cup with no-fat cream. 2 more cups with cream at work.

Water: It's in front of me, but drinking a water along side a cup of coffee is just not right. Large glass with lunch. Bottle at home in the evening.

Pills: Aspirin. Hmmm... vities need re-filled and I just got a coupon for a $20 gift card for any new or transferred prescriptions at Rite-Aid. I think I might just do that. Hey $20 is $20 and even at Rite-Aid I can find plenty to spend it on.

Snack: 1 serving of mandarin oranges (evening snack)

Lunch: 1/2 of a chicken salad sandwich with tomato and lettuce, a 1/2 spoonful of fresh melon, and a small bowl of broccoli cheese soup.

Dinner: I think I'm going to make chili, but I'm going to add some extra veggies (shhhh don't tell Keith). I usually do put some corn in it, but I'm going to add green beans too. My mom used to make grean bean chili. I never liked kidney beans, so I thought it was fantastic. YUM-O. I'm so looking forward to it. I got some ground round so the meat is really lean. I probably should have considered ground turkey, but I always forget when I'm shopping. I can't help it - I've been spoiled with good meat for so long. I have been so spoiled that I used to cut my own steaks and hand-pick all my meat. I really should just start going into the Farmer's Market every other week, but I guess I'm too lazy. Shame on me.

Chili it was! With extra veggies in it! 1 bowl with a garnish of cheddar cheese and 2 squares of cornbread.

Exercise: Stairs at work - several trips and up to the roof of the parking garage too.

Moods & How I'm Feeling:

• Morning: Pretty good. Need coffee. Letting hubby sleep in this morning. A little anxious about deadlines at work, but I just need to get there and tackle them.


• Afternoon: TIRED


• Evening: Busy little bee making dinner. Visiting with hubby.

Veggie Challenge Day #1 Is Back!!!

Veggie Challenge Tally for Today: FIVE servings (Is that good? Or just average?)


Breakfast: Oatmeal with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a splash of no-fat cream. (out of milk - among other things)

Coffee: 2 1/2 cups with no fat cream

Water: It's on the grocery list too. Large glass with lunch & one bottle at work. Hmmm... a little behind today. Cup of herbal tea.

Lunch: How about this.... VEGGIE BURGER with monterey jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and sundried tomato mayo. Side of beets. YUM and almost all veggies!

Dinner: side of left over mac'n cheese (whole wheat), 3 Gorton's Haddock fillets YES smothered in tartar sauce- and 2 servings of green beans. Why did I do that to the fish? Because I don't like fish. Maybe I should have just skipped it all together?

Exercise: stairs at work.

Mood & How I'm feeling:

• Morning: My body aches as if I did a total body workout for the first time. Yesterday's energy surge is paying me back. I have a little bit of GI upset - since last evening. My hands are dry and in need of lotion - lots of it. My cheeks are red from catching too much cold wind this weekend. I am a little bit chilled and a little bit wanting to crawl back into bed under those warm covies and sleep some more. BUT - my job awaits me.
• Afternoon: Tired, but still plugging along.
• Evening: Happy. Delighted that hubby is home with me tonight. Making dinner and he's helping, which makes me feel loved. Snuggly - this is the one night that we always watch tv together (if he's home.)

New Week = New Challenge

Hmmm... what to do this week???? I think I'll go back to the veggie challenge again. I have not done any grocery shopping yet this week, so that is a good way to begin. I shall start the challenge by making a grocery list. I must get enough vegetables to last all week. AND... maybe I'll consider making some more soup this week? Mmmm....

So back to the VEGGIE CHALLENGE!!!

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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.