Finding ONEderland

I managed to get some blog reading in. I hope at some point to be caught up enough to comment again and not just be lurking so much. I do miss it a lot.

I did some cleaning and organizing in my kitchen and got it more friendly to my efforts to cook at home. I even got a couple of cool bowls to use for my yummy salads I have been serving the side. Ones with spinach, fruit and just a tad bit of nuts...then using a lite raspberry walnut dressing on them. They have been so good and healthy too.

I am always dreaming of a new house with a nice kitchen...especially each time my husband and I bump into each other trying to move around in our tiny one. I think it would be so much easier to cook in a kitchen big enough to do something and have some cabinet room and counter space. But I am using my little one right now cause I know I need to eat better and the choices are not that great in the dine out world. More so than ever if you are trying to save a dollar or two.

Posted by Annie at 08:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After much thought I have gone back to weight watchers. The things that were turning me off of it in the spring are gone now. First there are no crowds...the place was nearly empty. Also even if there were to be more people there they have rearranged the layout so now the seats only go back 3 rows deep (they turned it here it's wide rows going back only short, instead of using it with narrow rows that went back deep....just a 90 degree turn of the room). No more having trouble seeing anything cause of being stuck in the back. It feels more personal now and that is what I enjoy.

I also really needed to get back to writing down what I was eating. I was loosing count of too much stuff and letting way too many things slip. Though I hadn't done back and had only gained a very small amount. Guess a lot of that is that since I first started WW back years ago I have never been able to view food in the same way. Where as before I went I never thought about the calories that might be in something. I use to eat whatever I wanted without thought....now are several things on a menu that I won't even think about eating.

Posted by Annie at 04:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Something that I noticed today is that in just those few pounds it made a difference in a couple of the sleeveless shirts I wear. They have a small split at the bottom and the corners had been flipping up on the shirt and hitting my arm when I walked. Once I dropped those pounds it stopped doing it as it was not stretching the shirt to cause it to curl them that way.

I want to say thank you for the comments lately. The support has been a big help. And Mich, I did get the squash and zucchini planted and they sprouted and have started to grow. Think they will do a lot of growing this week because it has rained a lot in the last few days. Deb, the tomato and cucumber salad I seasoned with a little salt and a few sprays of dressing (balsamic kind).

I got a new pair of shoes today. They are new balance and an off road shoe....with a brown and green color scheme. I think I am going to really like them and they will be good for some of the paths and trails I like to hike over. The guy at the shoe store told me to spray them with a fabric protector. I never thought about doing that...it makes so much sense. I think that will help to keep them looking so much better. I got a can and did it already so we'll see how that works.

Posted by Annie at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I have been doing more chopping in the kitchen. I made a tomato & cucumber salad that I have had with my lunch for the last two days. Last night I chopped up a bunch of different fruits to make a simple but healthy fruit salad for my dinner, however it's going to be snack later cause the left over pasta along with the salad filled me up at lunch.

We went shopping last night and I was very proud of how healthy my shopping cart was. It was filled with all kinds of fruits, veggies, veggie burgers, whole grain bread and even some almonds. There was a couple boxes of WW snack cakes for when the sweet tooth calls.

Posted by Annie at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I took half a day of vacation today to get out and enjoy the pretty weather some instead of being stuck in the office. Plus the dishwasher was being delivered. We got the dishwasher and it works fine for us. I showed my DH how it worked has he's never had one before.

I have started going back to work out at Curves. I had got out of the habit of doing it again after being sick a couple of times. I have been both days and will be going tomorrow too. Trying to figure out how to do that best since I got my WW meeting too. I had joined a challenge at Curves where you work out three times a week for six weeks. In order to get my third time in this week I have to work out tomorrow. I figure I could grab something light to eat so I don't feel week. Maybe a WW bar or something.

I am going to start some herbs to grow outside. I'll start them first in a mini green house that I can keep in the house and then move them out after it stops having some hard frosts. A friend got it for me cause I was talking about wanting to grow some herbs and asked when was the best time to do it. I'm thinking cilantro, basil, mint, parsley and maybe some oregano. The herbs will be healthy and taste great. I am also planning to make big use of the farmers market for some goodies.

Posted by Annie at 06:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Yesterday was another beautiful day. I got in two walks during my breaks at work even though on the second walk I had to talk myself into it. My stomach was a little sore...I think from where I tighten my abs when I walk. But I pushed on past that, didn't let the heat stop me as it was sunny and nearing the top of the 70s....which wouldn't really normally be hot but is a bit of a jump for right now. Once I got home and had dinner, my DH and I went for a walk, this one 30 minutes. I was amazed at how fast I was able to walk however I did pay the price with an awful shin cramp last night and sore muscle this morning. I guess I need to do a warm up and then stretch some before I start walking.

I'm so glad to see the warm weather showing up. I do hate that this weekend is going to be cool but I plan to still make the best of it. My DH and I are going to go watch a movie this weekend again and we have decided to use the mall as a place to get a little walk in.

One thing about my walks this year as compared to last year is that starting out I seem to have more stamina that I did last year even after a few weeks of going all the time. I think the weird chest feelings I was having last year caused this. When they were happening it ran me down bad. And for a while they were happening a lot. When they do happen now I have been lucky enough that they are short and rare. I think part of this is due to the supplements I am taking. I am taking flax seed oil with my morning vitamins and a Q10 and fish oil combo in the evening. The Q10 is suppose to help the heart and the healthy oils are good for the body including the heart. I really feel that this year I am back to myself.

On a food note I have been much better to get in my oils and milks. Also I found a couple of new Kashi meals to try. The one I had today is good. It is the Pesto Pasta Primavera, 6 points and made with canola oil and whole wheat pasta. I'll get it again for sure.

This morning when I stepped on the scale I saw a loss. My weigh-in is not till Saturday. I'll post how much then but I was really glad to see the scale moving down.

Posted by Annie at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today started out with me running behind, finding that my fridge was very bare when it came to some healthy choices to just grab and go. For breakfast I did an egg mcmuffin which is the lowest cal fast food I could find. Then for lunch I had a healthy roast beef wrap from subway. Our Subway now is offering raisins and sliced apples as a side. So I grabbed a pack of apples and saved them for my afternoon snack at work.

It was beautiful out today. I am not sure what the high was though I think it was mid 70s or higher. I was able to use my 15 minute breaks to get two nice walks in. I was going to go walking this evening also but I ran out of daylight before I got too. Still I think over all the day was a good one....especially for it to be one I wasn't well prepared for when I started the day out.

Posted by Annie at 07:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The meeting was okay but there was one thing that bothered me. The "there are no bad foods". I disagree with that because there are ones that are. First off anything with trans fats in it. Bad for the heart. Stuff that is way over processed or extremely high in fat. There are things that I avoid and do so not because of the weight gain but because of what they would do for the inside of my body. Now I do have some processed stuff. I do eat some low cal and artificially sweeten things as treats. But I try and limit those too because there are better things I can get in. I guess I just worry that some people out there don't know the whole story and saying there is no bad foods is hiding the truth that there are things out there that should have a frigging warning on them of what damage eating them could do to you. *sigh* I'll get off my soap box now.

I got a 25 minute walk out today as it was 60 degrees outside. Just a little nippy cause of the a slight breeze but over all it was very nice. I've also started doing my WATP DVD again. Tomorrow is suppose to be 60 again but with rain so I am not sure if I will get to walk outside.

Posted by Annie at 07:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

While reading blogs tonight the TV caught my eye....they were telling about salmon burgers made by Omega Foods. They look really good and I am going to have to keep a look out to see if I can find them some place local. I calculated the points for them and they are 2 points per patty. I am all about finding some simple but good for me stuff that I can fix. I could even take these to work and fix them.

I have been trying to decide on healthy lunches I could take to work. The soup I use to get has the sodium lowered and unfortunately that made it taste bland to me. I have been thinking of getting some veggie burgers and fixing them. I am lucky to have a full kitchen at work to make stuff. Trying to find some stuff to get me out of my frozen dinners. I have also thought of doing some stir-fries and using some packaged brown rice. Has anyone tried any of the rice in the pouches you just heat and eat? I am wondering if they are good.

Posted by Annie at 08:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I got back to Curves yesterday and got in a real good workout. My muscles let me know that I had not been there for a while. I felt much better today because of getting that work out in. Tonight I got in a session of dancing, once again really feeling it all through my body. Going to take time to work back up to where I was but the good thing is I enjoy doing it and especially how it makes me feel after wards.

I tried a couple things today. One was ribs from a local place, I had the points for it but wish I had gone for something else cause the amount of fat in it made me feel ill. I am not use to eating stuff like that anymore and would have been much happier with some salmon. Looking at it, that is a good thing, means that my taste preference is for much better for me stuff. The other thing I tried was the new Special K chocolately delight....one word YUCK! The flakes were okay but the chocolate chip things were waxy and once I ate the few in the bottom of the bowl my mouth had this oily feeling so I took a drink of ice water and the stuff literally turned to wax and harden up in my mouth. It was so gross.

Posted by Annie at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Very interesting conversation today at work. One of my co-workers had downloaded a file on nutrition and how to eat better. Another co-worker asked him why he needed something like that didn't he already know that information. I brought up the fact that we live in the southeast and that cooking around here is fried and greasy and that nutrition is not taught in schools the way it should be. I am glad to see he has done this...I know how much it meant to me to read and learn about healthy eating. I had to be proactive and teach myself too.

Posted by Annie at 03:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I got my shopping done even though I felt squeezed for time today. So I have healthy breakfasts and lunches for the whole week. One thing I really need to work on is the cooking at home. Seems I am always trying to work on this. Guess the first step is to start small...aim for a couple days a week. This is just for dinner (evening meal...some people would call it supper). As I am doing great at fixing my own meals for both breakfast and lunch (at work). I think this should be my next goal. I will start this one either this week or next. I just started one of using this blog more which is to start tomorrow but I have already been doing it a couple of days.

Posted by Annie at 10:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I have tried a couple more Kashi frozen meals. The Chicken Pasta Pomodoro was good at 5 points. The Black Bean Mango was good but didn't stick with me and it was 7 points...so I will probably not do that one again. Another product that I just tried this week and find that works well is Sturm's Whole Grain Oatmeal. It is instant oat meal, mine is full of cranberries...and very good. Only 2 points a pack and very filling. It's became a staple in my morning breakfast....good for my cholesterol which I am watching. I fix it using the water from the water cooler since it has heated water on one side. Through a little splenda in and I am set to go.

I am still working on reinstalling all the stuff on my computer. I had forgot how time consuming it could be. I need to get my software for my mp3 player installed so that I can add some more songs to it soon. I can't find the CD for my TV card to reinstall it. Looks like I'll be tearing my office apart this weekend in the hunt....maybe it will be a few APs LOL.

More soon.

Posted by Annie at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm doing pretty good on the ww plan, keeping within my points...needing to work on that healthy oil still. I have lost 3 pounds in the two weeks back...I'll take it. I know it will be more soon as I get to moving a little more. Got to get the exercise built up to doing 4 points a day.

I wanted to share with you a couple of products I have tried that I find very helpful and they taste good. First one is Uncle Wally's Smart Portion Muffins. I got the cranberry apple ones and they are very good. They come 2 muffins to a pack, 140 cal for both so only 1 point each. Great for breakfast. The other one that I want to share with you is Kashi Southwest Style Chicken. Kashi is now making frozen meals and the one I tried so far was very good. And at 4 points it was a tasty and very filling lunch.

I am making a goal of posting more. First though I have to format and reinstall my computer to correct a software issue. So I will make that goal start next week. Hopefully I can do it sooner than that but I wanted to give myself time to do the computer repairs.

Posted by Annie at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I tried a santa claus melon last night. It is close to a honey dew in taste. It is pretty good. I had leftovers so I cut them up and placed them in two bowls (about 1 1/2 cup each). This morning I grabbed one and bought it for work as a something for a snack, along with some low fat string cheese. It worked wonderfully.

I had blood work done yesterday. I was waiting to go to see if the funny fluttering feeling came back since the test was for thyroid. My appointment is next week and I was beginning to think I would have to get the blood work done even if it didn't happen but it started again. Seems to come around about every month and half. So if it is thyroid then hopefully it shows up something.

I was looking around at Spark People. I had signed up for that back a little while but not used it like I had thought I would. They are doing really good with the site and it deserves more looking into. I see a few things that might be very useful. My goal is to get into eating healthy all the time and away from what is "normal" way we eat. Because the normal is making more and more people sick and very over weight. In the process I hope to control my weight and get in much better shape. I have a lot of bad eating habits to break away from....years and years of them. I was actually thinking that it does mean I don't eat out as often and the reason for that is most food you eat out is not healthy and we shouldn't really eat out as much...it's a part of the problem since their are few good choices and even those are usually way over portioned. And to not think of it as being deprived because in fact eating at home is much better for me and is a good and positive thing I am doing for myself. Plus I am a good cook and I can make stuff that taste a good as most of the places.

Posted by Annie at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Weight 275

That is the weigh in from Sunday. I am not worried about it cause I think it is all bloating. I have been on point and worked out most days. I have missed the last two due to raining constantly but I did do some shopping (that had me walking around the grocery store for a bit) and some house work and laundry. So I have not been sitting on my butt the whole time. Plus Saturday I worked out at Curves, went for a walk midday and then tried to do a third one that turned into a 15 minute sprint trying to get back in cause it started to rain LOL. I do need to walk today and hopefully the weather will work with me on this.

I didn't get enough sleep last night. I will have to try and get into bed early tonight to make up for it. The sleep thing is one I have a problem with a lot as there are just not enough hours in the day to do everything that needs done.

The weather is looking like more and more rain but least it looks like it might lighten up soon and hopefully just be occasional showers. I prefer it to rain at night...it makes for good sleeping and doesnt stop me from doing what I want to do in the day.

Posted by Annie at 07:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have read a couple blog enteries Jonathan and The Shrinking Knitter , that talk about how well preparing their veggies ahead of time is helping them. When I read them I thought of Rachel Ray because she says to do this all the time on her 30 minute meals. I have though many times that I need to do this too. Last night I ended up doing some radishs because the leaves were starting to wilt and I knew if I didn't act they would be moving on to rotting next. So I cleaned and cut them...ate some because I was having big veggie cravings last night and threw the left overs in a zip lock bag. Well when I was grabbing snacks this morning I grabbed my carrots (the mini bag kind) and then grabbed the radishes since they were right there and ready. You don't realize how good something works till you do it. Here I got a great snack that kept me from eating some processed 100 cal pack kind of thing. WOW....okay why didn't I realize this a LONG time ago. Looks like I got to start spending more time with the shopping once I am done other than just shoving it in the fridge. While I am at I need to go to doing my own carrots. It will save money and I can get them at any store and not have to make a trip to the only one that carries them here.

Continue reading "A little prep work is well worth it" »

Posted by Annie at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Weight 274

Ah much better....a 2 pound drop this week. We have been walking most days and the ones where we miss we make up for it with a long walk the next day. Food has been good as far as being on points. I had points to have ice cream as a treat last night...I mean a rich "treat" kind. I do want to start working on trying to do more healthy foods all the time and not just staying on points. Being on plan with the points is good....eating that way and almost all healthy type foods though would be great.

We are gonig to do a hike in here a few so I'll be fixing up water bottles to take so that we stay hydrated. Time to start getting ready for that...find the sunscreen and everything.

Posted by Annie at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Weight 276

Wow what a week. I got my bood work done Thursday. I passed out after they got the blood drawn....least I was able to give them warning and tell them I wasn't feeling so good. I am so curious to see what my blood sugar was because even though I get yucky feeling when they draw blood, too much poking cause my viens don't like to play along nicely, I haven't passed out before.

I have stayed on plan with my eating and exercising, though I did miss Friday...however I made up for it yesterday and today. Yesterday was a 2 hour hike to the radio towers on the mountain. Talk about a workout giving a good butt kick....I was drained but it was in a good way. Then today we went for a hike around the dam and made it just in time to miss the down pour that hit just as we got in the car. We then got another walk in this evening. For a total of 85 mintues.

We went shopping and got some food stuff to make it healthy through the weekend. I didn't get much to cook right now as I need to go over a few recipes and I figure I can make some stops on the way home.

Posted by Annie at 09:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So far it has been a good day. I have ate well and plan on stopping at the market on the way home and picking up some stuff to grill. If the weather works with me I'll go walking tonight. There is the chance for thunderstorms all week. As far as cooking goes I am going to try and cook at home through the week. I will try and find some new and yummy recipes to try out. I have seen a couple that caught my eye. One being a corn flan, I think I saw that one in the new issue of Cooking Light.

I read a post in The Daily Skinny Post about the fear of food. I hadn't really thought of that. I actually feel blessed it is not something I fear. In fact I look forward to working with food to make healthy meals. It's really a lot of fun to see what I can make that is good for me. I enjoy chopping veggies....coming up with new ideas, trying out new recipes and getting to eat stuff that I know I made. Because if I made it then I know what went into it and it wil be good for me.

Posted by Annie at 02:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wow my webpage has been down for couple hours. I thought I was never going to get to post to the blog. I sure hope that is not something that happens much.

Yesterday I got 20 minutes of exercise from mowing the yard. I wasn't feeling great so I figured that was better than nothing at all. Hopefully today I can get a long walk in…or at least one longer than 20 minutes.

My doctor appointment went well. I am going to get some blood work done and see how things are there and then back for a follow up in a couple of weeks. I'm looking forward to the blood work to find out if my cholesterol is going to be better.

I did manage to go shopping yesterday and get some summer shirts for work. I didn’t spend a lot of money because I am planning on getting down where these are too big on me in a few months. I really miss that part of it even though it can be expensive replacing a lot of clothes.

I have been doing well on my eating. I do need to start working on cooking at home more. I have got in several magazines (Cooking Light, Health, Eating Well and Weight Watchers) and need to try some of the recipes out of them…especially ones that use lots of healthy veggies.

One thing I am really thankful for right now is that I finally found my motivation again. It had been so long of trying and not getting the steam to even get a real start. I feel like I am back on the road to health. I feel like I can truly do it and that I want to do it enough to get it done. I know there are those of you out there that can really understand that feeling. It was like being lost on my journey to good health but now I have found the path before me again. Alot of it has to do with having the support and help of someone doing it with me. I really needed that and I never would have thought it was going to happen. I don't feel all alone anymore.

Posted by Annie at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yep I actually had a pretty good day. The weekend did not turn out as I had wanted but today was okay. I went to the cookout with my best friend. I ate good but at the same time picked very healthy stuff like a lot of fresh veggies and corn on the cob. Then we went and played horse shoes. This was a first for me and though I managed to get a ringer I pretty much sucked at it. Takes practice and throwing around a metal object and trying to get it to land in one small spot well...it's going to take some working on.

Afterwards this evening Mark and I went to the lake and walked around the island for 45 minutes. I was tired but it felt good. I realized during the walk that I had missed my vitamins and most of all my iron the last couple of days. That along with the heat is probably why I felt so drained both days. So I put the iron right beside where I leave my ring and watch when I take them off so I will remember to take it tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow....I have a doctor appointment. Hopefully that all goes well. I got a lot to talk to her about. Including how much stomach acid my body seems to be making these days. Think it's on overdrive or something.

Posted by Annie at 09:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Weight 279.0

Posted by Annie at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

....stamina that is. Woohoo! I was able to do much better on the walk tonight than I had all week. We walked for 45 minutes and it felt great. This has been a week straight for the exercise and 3 days for the eating. I am very happy that the rain stopped midday and that it cleared up so nice afterwards.

Posted by Annie at 09:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I feel like we are doing pretty good. Yesterday we got in a 30 minute walk. Today we ate healthy following the old Winning Points plan and then got in a 25 minute walk. I feel like I am on a roll...5 days straight of getting in some kind of activity. Now I am looking forward to my feet not hurting so much when I walk. Usually get over it faster than this once I start back up walking but then I have gained a few pounds and that might be what is wrong.

Posted by Annie at 08:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's been while since I posted. I wanted to post but it doesn't seem to have been happening. It is hard to sometime bring myself to use my computer at home after sitting in front of one for 8 hours and there are days that it is too busy here at work for me to take time to write anything. Time to move past that and work to find the time to update....not that anyone is reading but it matters to me in getting all this out....this blog is for me after all and to help me lose the weight. Another thing I need to do is post to my blog first and then go read the blogs I read afterwards.

As far as weight goes I have lost and I have gained. My doctor told me I lost 3 pounds over the Christmas holidays. I was suprised....seems it must have been a good week during my visit to her. I will go into WW and one week I lose and another I gain back. I know it's because I am having such a hard time getting myself back on track and then staying there once I do. I also am having a problem with feeling well enough to exercise....this is a major problem cause if I was execrising regularly everything else would fall in to place better just because I would feel better.

I have had some good days. I have got a few workouts in. I made taco soup which was low point and very good. I decided that the fitday program was very good but not sure that I will use each part of it....however it is a great program.

My best friend ordered me a book as a late Christmas present. It's the Superfoods HealthStyle. I need to check with her today and see if that came in....I am really looking forward to reading it. I know FatBlogger has had wonderful things to say about the book. Each time I would read something I just couldn't wait to get my copy of the book.

During the last week I started to use a hypnosis cd a friend made for me. She just got her certification and I am one of her first subjects. It has helped me to sleep better. I think it has helped me to make some better choices food wise which is one of the main things it focuses on. I'm going to keep trying it and see how it goes.

So I face the music and get my butt on the road to a happier healthier me.

Posted by Annie at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I made it into Curves once last week. It had been a while since I had been. My plan for this week is to make it to Curves to work out at least 3 times this week. I really need to get myself into some regular exercise. It's hard to believe how far I have fallen back on doing that. I use to workout, walk, hike or do something almost every day. And I felt good cause I did that.

I am also working on eating better. I went shopping tonight and got food to fix a whole week worth of meals. I was doing this before I got sick and it was working out well. I have the makings for taco soup, my home made gyros, baked chicken (sort of like a chicken tender but much healthier), 40 clove garlic chicken and tacos. I got a lot of veggies to use for sides. I am also thinking about making a stuffed peppers at some point.

I go to the doctor tomorrow to find out the results of heart monitor I was wearing. I also need to ask her about a mole like place on my back. I can't see it well but I think it has changed color and it feels different.

Posted by Annie at 10:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)