50n50

Recipe: Natalie's Thanksgiving Turkey and Rice

2011-12-07T14:29:00.001-08:00

As promised ... the recipe I made for our Thanksgiving dinner!!! It was phenomenal, if I do say so myself. And I just did. So there.

Natalie's Turkey and Rice

2 turkey legs
1 cup wild rice, uncooked
1/2 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
1/4 cup apricots, chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
water

Heat oven to 350.

Place turkey legs in 9x13 casserole and season as desired (sage, garlic powder, pepper, etc). Cover and bake 30 mins.

After 30 mins, remove turkey legs from oven. Place turkey legs on plate. Pour turkey "juice" (broth) into measuring cup. Add water until you get 1 1/2 cups. Add cream of mushroom soup and mix.

Pour rice into casserole dish and poor soup/broth/water on top. Sprinkle craisins and apricot across rice. Top with turkey legs (flipping them so the other side of the drumstick is up).

Bake another 45 mins or until turkey legs are done. Remove cover for last 15 minutes to give drumsticks a pretty brown glow.

Makes 4 servings. Perfect for a Thanksgiving dinner for two and leftovers for the next day!
Calories: 290; Fat: 10.1g; Protein: 18.1 g; Carbs: 33.1 g

No Fuss, Just Us Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T11:42:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving is an interesting time when you are knee-deep in studying for final exams and 9 hours from your family (not to mention living on student loans). Basically, I don't have the time or money to go home. Two years ago, I hosted my boyfriend's family. Then last year we went to them for the holiday. (Search "Thanksgiving" on this blog for funny stories and low-calorie recipes!)

Past Thanksgivings have involved a lot of money, a lot of stress, and a lot of work. So, this year we have decided to stay home and have a Thanksgiving for two - "No Fuss, Just Us." We are even volunteering at a homeless shelter! And I couldn't be more excited.

In an effort to focus our Thanksgiving on simple things, Kevin and I are spending it with people who don't take it (or food!) for granted. Then, we are going home to have a lunch of turkey and ham sub sandwiches. After watching the Cowboys game, I'm going to throw a couple of turkey drumsticks in the oven and try to create my own version of a turkey and rice bake (If it's good, you know I'll post the recipe and pics!).

There are a few nods to the traditional Thanksgiving fare - the turkey subs made will be made with Hawaiian sweet rolls (my fave holiday bread) and I'm going to make my grandmother's macaroni and cheese and am excited about a sweet potato bread pudding I'm planning - but for the most part, it's going to be a day to relax and be thankful that we have each other.

And that's definitely a reason to give thanks!

Yo-yo is a no-no

2011-11-16T10:58:00.001-08:00

Is this what it's like to be a yo-yo dieter? On again, off again, weight fluctuating by up to ten pounds, loving myself then hating myself. I mean like whoa. This is not a happy feeling!

You've followed me through this - and I hope you aren't super annoyed at me. But I'm human and I need help. I will NOT allow myself to go back to my old life. I WILL NOT!

Clearly, this is a mental thing. I gained back ten pounds ... and we all know how I feel about weighing more than 145. Sigh.

Somewhere over the past year, I lost my will power. I lost my drive and I lost everything except the desire to be a healthy weight.

Sure, I work out - but not consistently.

Sure, I count my calories - but not consistently.

Sure, I make healthy eating decisions - but not consistently.

Lately, it's been about sugar, chocolate, sugar, and ginger snaps. I KNOW BETTER!

And here's the annoying thing - I know that if I just get myself working out on a consistent basis, then I will be able to treat myself, even daily, with a reasonable serving of sugar, chocolate, or ginger snaps! But I just can't seem to get my butt in gear.

I've got plenty of excuses: no time thanks to school, worn out running shoes, early sunsets and late sunrises, too cold, bed is too comfortable, blah blah blah. If only I had a treadmill, if only I had more running pants, if only I had someone to hold me accountable. Are you kidding me? If only I would stop making excuses!!!

So, now that is out of my system ... I am ONCE AGAIN pledging to get myself back on track. I need a plan and I need accountability. So far, I've planned two 5ks for the upcoming weeks. I'm not in 5k shape, but who cares - that's just another excuse!

My trail running buddy (yes, I have one and yes, we meet just about every week!) have designed our own 5k route and are hosting the First Annual Plaza Lights 5k - it's untimed and doesn't involve t-shirts, but it does involve friends and the most-famous holiday lights in our area. It's going to be fun - even if it will be cold and really early.

Then, the next weekend will find me running another 5k dressed like Santa. See? I'm making this running thing fun! That's important, right?

And I'm scouring Craiglist for a treadmill ...

Reunion recap

2011-10-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

I'm sure a couple of you are curious about how my reunion went ...

It was a blast! Everyone looked great and had big smiles on their faces. Only about a tenth of the class came, but it was great catching up with those who did and hearing about those who couldn't make it.

My fave part of the night was hearing a conversation that went kinda like this:

"Who is that?"

"That's Natalie H."

"No, it's not."

"Yes, it is."

"No way!"

:-D

I definitely said goodbye to a couple of internal ghosts this weekend. I mean, at one point, I had to pull up one of my old pictures to convince someone who I was/am!!! Talk about winning ...

10 years ago ...

2011-10-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

Senior year - 2000

My ten-year high school reunion is this weekend and who would have thought - I'm actually super excited about it!

Sure, I'm going alone because the boyfriend has to work. And sure, I'm not married, have no offspring, and am (only technically) unemployed because I'm still in school, but I've lost 50 POUNDS since high school! Heck yeah I'm going to this reunion!

Maybe my history isn't that well-known to my blog readers, but in fifth grade I was dubbed "Fatalie" by a jerk and the name spread like wildfire. Luckily, the fire was put out before junior high started - but the damage was already done. My self-esteem received third degree burns and I still carry the scars.

Junior year - 1999

In fact, as I type this I hear those kids taunting me with phrases like "I can see your fat jiggle when you walk!" Man, kids are cruel.

I suffered from debilitating depression throughout my adolescent years and there were days when it was a struggle to get out of bed, much less go to school. But as I grew up, they got nicer and I became more comfortable with myself and my body, but I was never proud of it.

Another episode I remember occurred my senior year. In an act of bravery, I wore a short skirt to school. I remember it specifically because it was super cute and maroon and suede. (Yes, suede. Don't judge.) I was walking down the hall during class and a guy passed me and said "Mmm, I love me a thick woman."

I was mortified! Until it was explained to me that some men consider "thick" to be a compliment. Ok, so it was nice that a guy thought I was attractive, but once I processed this I was still not happy. The thing I hated most about myself is not what I wanted others to like.

Homecoming senior year 2000

By the time I graduated high school, I was convinced that I was meant to be a size 16 forever. I told myself that it was clearly the body I was meant to have and I better get used to it. And I tried. I figured the key to happiness was coming to terms with myself as I was. There were times when I almost came to terms with my body, but deep inside I couldn't ignore the taunting voices on the playground at Farine Elementary. Those voices were part of the motivation when I started on the 50n50 journey. I was sick of hearing them and wanted those 10-year-old jerks to stop calling me names every morning as I looked at myself in the mirror.

I'm glad I never learned to be satisfied with myself as I was because then I wouldn't be where I am today. And I am thrilled to be where I am today! I'm truly happy and truly healthy - physically AND mentally!

I can hardly wait to go to tonight's homecoming football game sporting those old school colors and greet my classmates. I hope life has been just as good for them as it has for me. I am excited to see how the past ten years have blessed them and treated them.

Okay, so maybe there is a little part of me that hopes the guy who dubbed me "Fatalie" shows up ... He had the nerve to try and Facebook-friend me ... and he was perfunctorily rejected. But for the most part, I'm just excited to put Fatalie to rest and let the new me take over for the next ten years!

@MeatlessMondays - a year later

2011-09-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

This week marks my anniversary following the Meatless Monda y movement!

All in all, it's been a neat endeavor that has greatly opened my palate. I can see a difference in my grocery bill and have often found myself going meatless on other days of the week just because I'm craving the dish.

My boyfriend has joined the movement too, much to my excitement. This semester has us apart on Monday nights and last week he grabbed his dinner at a fast food place. When I asked what he ordered - out of idle curiosity - and discovered it was vegetarian, it brought a huge smile to my face. It was proof that he believes in the movement too and isn't just doing it because someone else is cooking the food and giving it to him.

Here are some meals that have come into our world thanks to Meatless Monday:

Sweet Potato Black Bean Burritos

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burrito

2 medium sweet potatoes

1 cup refried black beans, with lime

1 tbsp olive oil

1 c onions

1 poblano pepper

1 whole roasted, peeled chile

2 sticks string cheese

4 multi-grain wraps

Baked sweet potato at 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes, until soft
Let cool. While potatoes cool, saute onions and peppers in olive oil until onions are caramelized and soft.
Peel sweet potatoes and mix with refried black beans.
Put sweet potato mix on wrap, add onion mix and top with string cheese. Roll wrap unto burrito, place on pan and heat in over for 15 minutes, or grill in panini maker (as pictured).
Number of Servings: 4
295 calories, 13 g fiber, 18g protein

Pumpkin and Black Bean Chili

Pumpkin and Black Bean Chili

1 medium onion, chopped

1 yellow pepper, chopped

1 c. fire roasted red peppers, chopped

4 c vegetable broth

4 c black beans, cooked and drained

1 can pumpkin, no salt

2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tbsp parsley

Saute onions and yellow pepper.
In crockpot combine all ingredients.
Cook on low for 4-5 hours, until heated throughout. Enjoy!
Makes 10 servings.

128 calories, 8 g fiber, 7 g protein

Grilled Eggplant

Grilled Eggplant
1 Eggplant, sliced into 1/2-inch slices
Spray with cooking spray, lightly salt and let sit while prepping the grill. Place on grill for 5-8 minutes each side until soft and amazing. Top with chopped peppers or your salsa of choice.

PB&J Grahamwiches
1 Tbsp Peanut Butter
1 Tsp jam/jelly
2 sheets graham cracker
Make like peanut better jelly sandwich. Tastes better after sitting a few hours because the jelly side gets a bit soggy and it melts in your mouth.

I've also learned a lot about eating out on Mondays and ways to avoid meat at restaurants. I particularly love sushi for Meatless Mondays, but when in a bind you might find me at Taco Bell because of their myriad of veggie-friendly dishes.

If I had to criticize the Meatless Monday movement about anything, I have two things to say.

First, the recipes offered on the official Meatless Monday site tend to be amazingly complicated and expensive. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if that turns people off when they first think about going meatless one day a week.

Second, they don't talk enough about ways to meet protein needs sans meat. Someone like me needs at least 60 grams of protein a day - even on days I go meatless. There are a lot of ways to do it, I just wish the Meatless Monday organizers would talk more about it. Sure, you can miss it one day a week and make up for your protein needs later, but doesn't that defeat the purpose? Also, if someone chooses to go meatless more than once a week they need to know how to do it safely.

Lunch today is mashed avocado with chopped peanuts spread on a tortilla and cooked quesadilla style. It's another fave lunch I've discovered thanks to Meatless Monday and writing about it has my mouth watering!

Click here to read my first post about this awesome movement! I don't celebrate the end of August as my anniversary date because I fumbled a bit at the start. But since Sept. 20, 2010, I've consistently NOT eaten meat on Mondays.

Happy trails to us

2011-09-06T18:08:00.000-07:00

As mentioned previously, I am back in training with the Couch to 5k program. However, what I haven't lately mentioned is the break I took for the past two weeks - first because it was triple-digit hot everyday and then second to acclimate myself to my new semester routine. During that break, we all reveled as I discovered a fascination with trail running.

Here I am in the second week of classes and I'm working out my workout routine. Basically, my running days will be Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays for the next couple of months. Since Kevin and I are both home by 4 on Tuesdays we've dubbed it Trail Day. Thursdays are neighborhood jog days and Saturday depends on our schedule, but we're always shooting for a trail somewhere.

Today was our first Tuesday Trail Day ...

It was also the first official run I've attempted since Aug. 12. I planned on repeating the last week I completed (Week 3), but accidentally hit the start button for Week 4 and decided, what the heck and gave it a try.

Success!!!

All things were in my favor: the weather was beautiful, the trail was fairly empty, and I had lovely music on the phone. The running itself wasn't so bad either! In fact, it was almost enjoyable. I got a kick out of the random dog that would run across the trail - without an owner in site. Maybe that's how dogs are in the wild?

This week's run routine involves running for 3 minutes, walking 1.5 mins, running 5 minutes then walking 2.5 minutes and repeating for a total of 16 minutes spent running and 18 spent walking (including 5 minute warm up and 5 minute cool down).

I started dragging in the last 2.5 minutes of my final run, but out of the brush came Kevin and Chester as part of their run! They joined me for a bit, but then ran past because I'm a lot slower. Chester was cute, however. I could tell he was torn between staying with me and going with Kevin. In the end he went with the faster choice and I finished my run in blissful solitude.

Kevin and Chester headed my way :)

Seriously, I was alone the rest of the time and loved it. I had calm music in my headphones and just took it all as an active meditation. I didn't stress about how long or how far I was running. I just focused on sidestepping the next rock in my path.

While Kevin finished his run, I chilled my the water fountain and watched the dogs playing with each other. This park - about a 20-minute drive from my house is pretty fantastic. Kevin said he and Chester both had a blast and we're pretty excited to make this part of our weekly routine.

Finally, I CAN

2011-09-04T18:51:00.000-07:00

One of the BIG things on my summer To Do list was to learn to can. It's been on my version of a bucket list for several years, but this year is about making things happen. I bought the necessary equipment in July and have made my first goody a couple of weeks ago.

Jalapeno-Spiked Cherry Preserves

All in all, I've made Vanilla-Infused Blueberry Jam, Jalapeno-Spiked Cherry Preserves, and Ginger-kissed Honeydew Drizzle. While these are all fun to have made, they aren't foods I normally eat. Instead, I'm saving them to give as Christmas gifts (and am more than half-way done with my shopping thanks to them!). But to be cost-effective, I need to use my canning stuff for REAL food, you know?

When I went to the farmer's market this morning for my weekly groceries, I had this hope that I could find a great deal on tomatoes and make (and can!) tomato sauce. It's practical, useful, and something I can benefit from this fall and winter. Imagine my joy when I managed to buy 12.5 pounds of tomatoes for $8! Add the that the cost of peppers, onions, spices, garlic and lemon and I spent a total of $13 on today's adventure.

I based everything on a recipe published in Taste of Home last year and republished online this week. Here is a link to the original recipe, but I made a few modifications. First, I cut the recipe in half. Then, I chose to omit the canola oil. I see no reason for it at all and my mother said she's never heard of a tomato sauce calling for oil. Then, after reading the comments at the bottom of the recipe, I decided no oil was a good thing - food-safety-wise. Generally, tomato sauces require a pressure canner. In fact, I was pretty surprised by this recipe. But since it was first published last year, I figure if anyone got sick from it the magazine wouldn't have included it in their weekly emails this week. My mother agreed with this as well. Finally, I used fresh basil from my garden rather than the dried stuff - because I could, duh.

At the end of the day, I'm thrilled to have made 4 quarts of spaghetti sauce. We ate one tonight (with leftovers ready for tomorrow's Meatless Monday lunch) and have three to store for winter!

All ingredients necessary ... purchased from local farmers market

Prepping tomatoes for blanching and peeling.

Boiled 60 seconds until the skin started separating from tomato.

Thrown into ice bath to stop the cooking.

Peel is super easy to remove!

All ingredients cut, chopped, diced, etc. Ready to simmer 4-5 hours.

Still simmering after 3 hours ... just one more to go. Time to get water bath ready for jars.

Sanitized jars are filled with 2T lemon juice and the super-yummy sauce.

Dropped into water bath - carefully - for 40 minutes.

All canned and ready to store (well, once they cool).

Bon appetit!

P.S. Tomato sauce is SUPER low-calorie and high fiber. I like to serve it on julienned zucchini mixed with noodles in order to lessen the carbohydrates and increase the flavor and veggie love.

Very filling AND healthy zucchini "pasta"

Successful trial run for trail running

2011-08-28T15:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this is super duper exciting for me ... FINALLY, I have found a way to love running!

As you know, I've struggled with this. I want to love running, I really do. However, I don't. It's boring and each morning my run just feels like 30 minutes of torture that I endure so that I can feel proud of myself for said torturous endurance the rest of the day. Sure, I feel fantastic after my runs - but I feel miserable during them. Until yesterday.

Kevin and I joined a Meet Up group that goes hiking every other week. We drove about 45 minutes out of the city to a small state park and joined 24 others in a lovely four-mile hike. We took Chester (dog) and had a blast.

About half a mile into the hike, Chester decided he needed to relieve himself. Kevin bagged it up and we left the bag planning to come back at the end of the hike so we wouldn't have to carry the stink package with us. So, after our hike and a lovely little picnic lunch, we rested and went back into the woods to retrieve Chester's doggy bag.

Feeling refreshed, we decided to run the trail. And it was AWESOME! Admittedly, it was a hard run. And I was pretty ashamed when I realized I could barely breathe after running a mere quarter of a mile, but the shame was replaced with joy as I realized how much fun I was having. First off, while running this trail, I felt very in-tune with my surroundings. I wasn't worried about anything but where to put my foot next and whether I was going to fall and roll down a hill to my death. The exhilaration I felt while gravity and my athleticism (ha, yeah right) propelled me down the steep hills was indescribable. My blood was pumping, my lungs were burning, and my face was lit up with delight.

Basically, I loved every second of the hardest run I've ever tried and am not even disheartened by how hard it was (um, hello: wearing pants + full stomach from lunch + already hiked 4 miles that day = exhaustion and lack of energy). I said something to Kevin about the idea of trail running and he said he really enjoyed it, too.

Lucky for us, we live in an area of the country with a lot of trails to run. And we've decided to run them. I visited Active.com today and found a great article about the best trails to run across the country. That, plus my decision to register for an actual train race in the next few months has me very excited for fall and training. (I'm pretty sure this will be a race I run ... or this one ... or both!).

Yes, there is a lot of training ahead of me - and sadly during the week very little of it will get to be on trails - but I'm excited for weekend runs. That's right. I'm excited. About running. How awesome is that?

Gym Nat

2011-08-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

It's been a roller-coaster summer, weight-wise for me. I was headed on a lovely downward roll a few weeks ago and was swept right back into an uphill climb by some dumb decisions (one drink rule!). This week hasn't all been brains, but I added some brawn and feel pretty good about it.

Basically, it all started two weeks ago when I saw my dog pee on the playroom carpet. I couldn't stand it anymore, my friend came over and we just ripped it all out. Bye-bye stinky carpet! I stepped on the scale right after hours spent pulling and moving furniture and stuff and saw a beautiful 145.4!!! And then, I went to a party...

So, fast forward to this week, I finally decided just what I wanted to do with the space my organization efforts created in the playroom. After two days of work: painting, scrubbing, hauling, lifting, and even some wall-art making, I'm now the proud owner of a Zen Gym!!! It's ok, I'll answer if you call me a Gym Nat.


Ta da!!!

I wanted to make a place for me to easily access all of my workout equipment. I'm looking for some workout charts and still need to hang my resistance bands and jump ropes on the wall, but otherwise, the room is all done. I've got space for yoga and stability ball work and the tv is ready in case I decide to buy another digital converter for evening watching (rarely do it, but when I do I should totally multi-task for my body, right?) or a dvd player or vcr to watch movies and workout videos. Of course, there is always my laptop for that too ...

Anyway, I've used it two days in a row now! Perhaps it's my imagination, but I'm already seeing more definition in my legs. I swear.

The motivation has followed me in other areas of my day too: I'm sticking to my healthy eating better and I went on a 5-mile walk with a friend last night! The scale was pretty friendly this morning, though it doesn't count as a weigh in, and I'm pleased.

I just need to keep up this momentum! In fact, I think I'll go lift a bit now ...

Fro Yo Go Go

2011-08-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

So, we all know just how much I love all things ice cream-esque. Last summer Kevin and I discovered a lovely ice cream and sno-cone shop two miles from the house and made it our habit to walk there whenever we wanted tasty goodness. Since then, two amazing things have happened.

First, our television was stolen. We didn't watch a lot of tv anyway, but with nothing but an old console left we don't watch nearly as many movies or video games these days. Instead, we look for other ways to pass our evenings.

Second, two frozen yogurt shops moved into the area.

Did you just hear angels singing? Yeah, I know: Evening activity + Fro Yo = Natalie and Kevin walking at least three miles almost every evening.

It's totally win, win, win too. I satisfy my ice cream fix, the dog du jour gets their energy walked out, I burn calories, and Kevin and I get to spend quality time together. It's awesome! I burn 250 calories or so walking two and from the fro yo shop and only consume 150 calories (and calcium!) eating my tasty treat. Plus, it makes for a lovely cool down in the middle of working out (yes, we walk briskly!) in this heat.

There are two frozen yogurt shops to choose from - PeachWave and Yogurtini. Peachwave is a 3-mile walk through the hip part of town. Yogurtini is a 3.9-mile walk through the fancy part of town. They each offer different flavors and different scenery so it never gets boring.

Today was hot. Officially the hottest day of the year with the high at 110 in some locations. My phone said it felt like 104 just a few moments ago. When I got up this morning and saw that the temp had already reached 90, I decided I wouldn't be able to handle my Couch to 5k routine. I was disappointed because I really do like the way I feel once I'm finished.

Anyway, because I missed the run this morning, we decided to walk the 3.9 miles to Yogurtini. The weirdest thing happened on the way home. I blame the heat ... and the fro yo.

I grabbed Sadie's leash and started running. I hollered to Kevin to tell me when 90 seconds had passed. Then, I walked 90 seconds and started running again - this time for 3 minutes. As I started that three-minute run I decided to just do today's Couch to 5k routine. And I did it!

Once I got home and brought my body temp out of the triple digits using a sugar-free Fudgesicle, I was thrilled with myself. The old Natalie would have let the heat stop her and use it as an excuse. But it looks like I turned it into a challenge or something. Because I certainly didn't let it stop me.

The last three minutes about killed me. Did I mention the heat??? And I hadn't really hydrated with running in mind. And I'd already walked 2 miles before even contemplating running. And even Sadie was so exhausted she just laid down at one point. BUT I DID IT. And I kind of feel invincible. Almost.

At first I was just proud to make myself work for my treats. I recommend it to everyone. All working out should come with awesomeness like frozen yogurt, right? Plus, you'll feel like you can take on the world. Or at least 110 degrees at 6 miles an hour - in intervals.

Weigh Day Happiness

2011-07-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

I weighed in this morning at 146.4 - a mere 1.4 pounds away from re-entering Healthy Land. I'm beginning to feel like my new self again!

I completed Day 2 of Week 2 of Couch to 5k this morning. I missed last week because I was in trial - but trust me, that is a work out on it's own. I wonder how many calories you burn writing 100 mph for 8 hours. The running isn't too terrible - hardly even painful - and I feel GREAT after.

I'm also beginning to see a lot more muscle definition. I'm not quite at a six pack or anything, but there is definitely improvement in just the past month.

Did I mention that I quit my part time job? I worked at a gourmet grocery store from Thanksgiving until the middle of June - the exact time frame when I started struggling with maintaining my weight. I don't think that's a coincidence. I'm pretty sure all the expired chocolate I consumed in that time is the culprit (as was my lack of will power) and I am VERY glad to be separated from it. Honestly, the weight loss started up again after I quit.

I just love how good I feel about myself right now. When I was gaining some of the weight back, I felt lost and out of control. But now that I am back on track I feel good again. I feel healthy and happy.

And that's how I want to feel forever!!!

Great Resources to Start your Journey

2011-07-24T10:06:00.001-07:00

Want to lose weight? Here are some resources that REALLY helped as I embarked on my weight loss journey. Seriously.

1. Hungry Girl. Visit www.hungry-girl.com and sign up for her daily (yes, an email every day) emails with great snack ideas and meals. She takes "normal food" and figures out how to make it healthy. I loved her when I was easing into healthier eating. She is great for the beginning changes in lifestyle.

2. Eat This, Not That, from Men's Health. Again, this is a daily email. I like daily emails bc they remind me, first thing - everyday - that my goal is to eat healthy and make good decisions. Sign up for the free e-newsletter here: http://eatthis.menshealth.com/home

3. Find an app or site that will help you track calories and foods. I love Sparkpeople.com a good friend of mine loves Loseit.com ... Also, Weight Watchers has one too, I think. After each meal (snacks too!), enter your foods and keep track of your intake. Don't do too little, but of course don't eat too much! Sparkpeople also allows me to track my fitness stuff and then gives a differential so I know how many calories I burned over what I consumed. Know this: to lose ONE pound, you must burn 3500 more calories than you consume.

4. Fast Food Salvation: We are busy people and can't always cook every meal. For that, I keep a list in my glove compartment of 35 fast food options that are less than 500 calories. VERY handy! http://weightloss.about.com/od/eatsmart/a/052207a.htm

5. Not a resource, but still important: Eat breakfast. Seriously. Everyday. Kick off your metabolism within an hour of waking up and your body will learn to trust that you are going to feed it. Then, eat every 3 hours or so. A lot of times our bodies horde calories out of fear it won't get fueled again soon. Give your body what it wants (and what you probably love if you are like me): FOOD. Just not too much :)

Challenge Accepted

2011-07-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

A local company has issued a challenge to Kansas City ... the KC Slimdown. Basically, teams of 4-6 people compete to see which team will have the highest percentage of weight loss by Oct. 9, 2011. The winners get a trip to the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa.

Since Abigail and I are so competitive, we called up friends and started a team. We plan to win, of course. This morning, 4 of our 5 team members met at the local farmer's market to go for a morning walk and get to know each other. The contest officially starts tomorrow.

We all had to officially weigh in at a local YMCA and received free t-shirts and tape measures (The shirts say "Challenge Accepted" on the back). It's a great idea to get friends and co-workers together with the goal of getting healthier. Each of the members of TUFF STUFF is shooting to lose at least 10% of our weight during the contest.

We walked two miles this morning, burning about 150 calories. Then we hit the farmer's market for fresh veggies to eat this week. I'm excited to have a team to help me out of this plateau. I've lost a couple of pounds already! Another teammate and I weigh about the same, but I think she's thinner. Abigail has dubbed it a contest between the skinny girls. I don't know about that - I'm really competing against myself, but I'll happily serve as someone else's motivation if they need it!

Anyway, I sent an email to my teammates yesterday with resources I found most helpful while losing most of the 50 pounds I've lost so far. Since the resources are probably useful to others who stumble upon this blog now, I'm going to repost them in their own entry for 50n50 readers.

And to my competitors, see you at the finish line!

Thoughts on this Weigh Day

2011-07-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce my weight this morning was 149.8. I'm back in the 140s. Five pounds more and I won't be overweight anymore. Ten pounds and I'll be in new territory. I want new territory!

There are a million thoughts running through my head and none go together to make a lovely blog entry ... so, here are the top three.

1. I'm excited to hear from 4 of the "Ladies (and Gentleman) in Weighting" who are still hanging with me and wanting to get back on track as we head into the second half of this year. I challenge each of you to write a blog entry this week all about your plans for getting back on track. For me, I'm counting my calories each day and running the Couch to 5k program (again).

2. After the morning I had (involving cat pee and fleas - a dreaded 4-letter word in my house), it's a miracle I got out of bed, much less went running. But I did and things are already looking up. Mainly because this means I don't have to run again for almost 48 hours. This morning's run wasn't all that terrible to be honest. I was glad to get out of the house and away from everything that needed doing there. Also, Monday's run felt great during the first two (of eight) intervals. By interval four I was hurting ... and by eight, I wanted to die. Today felt great through interval four, by six I was hurting and by eight I was nauseated. But I didn't want to die so yay!

3. After yesterday's post, I received an email from my aunt full of words of encouragement. She pointed out that everyone is always starting over because things happen in life and we get distracted. "Don't beat yourself up anymore, you have just joined the starting over club." And she's right - except for one thing (I was wrong on this too, so it's not just her). I'm not starting over. I'm starting again and there is a BIG difference in those two ideas. Starting over would mean I was back at the beginning, but I'm not. Mind, body and spirit, I'm not where I was two years ago. I truly thank my aunt for her kind words - and for thinking I'm beautiful no matter what I weight. Love you!

Friendly Reminder

2011-07-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

Me and Kevin pre-5k Sept. 2010

I got to talking with some of the interns at work yesterday and introduced one to 50n50. She was shocked when I told her how much I used to weigh. I needed it hear it. I'm sorry to say it, but I needed the reminder of how far I've come in the past two years - how hard I worked and how much success I found. I needed to be reminded that the sacrifices involved are worth it.

Lately, I've been battling issues in my head because I still think like a fat girl. I still look in the mirror and find a million flaws in my body.

"You do?" She said to me, shocked. Yes, I do!

Basically, it comes down to this: I always assumed 150 pounds was a lot smaller than it is. I thought my legs would no longer rub together when I ran and that I'd look amazing in a bathing suit. But here I am, buying Body Glide to prevent chafing and refusing to even try on a swim suit until my thighs get under control.

If you follow me on Twitter (@50n50), then you know that I started the Couch to 5k (C25k) training program yesterday morning. It's the program I used last fall to get into shape for my first 5k and it worked really well. I mean, I actually ran a continuous 3 miles so that's a win, right? After the Race for the Cure, I trained a couple more weeks with the idea of running a 10k, but I didn't get very far. And since then? Nothing.

And that's where I screwed up. I stopped being active ... So, I'm starting over.

Now, don't go thinking I've suddenly found a piece of me that loves running - because I haven't. But the Couch to 5k program take about 30 mins a day only three times a week and I've decided I can handle doing something I don't really like for a mere 90 minutes a week. I've also been adding in some strength training for 15 minutes on my off days, courtesy of Women's Health.

For yesterday's run, I decided to change how I approach C25K. Usually, I jog it - pacing myself to make sure I have energy for the finish. But a couple of weeks ago, while jogging with Kevin I asked him to look at my form. We decided I run like a fat girl (my words, not his!). I take shorts, clomping steps and roll my hips. I look like I'm lumbering down the road. He suggested I lengthen my stride and run like I'm free, not like I'm carrying the weight of the world.

So, that's how I ran yesterday. No jogging - all running. And I felt free for the first time in a while!!! (Well, until I felt like I was going to die, but that's why I started the program at the beginning).

Plus, I found a piece of me that loves the feeling I get after I run - the feeling of accomplishment, control, and yes, energy. Because of my morning run, I spent yesterday in a great mood.

I spent yesterday being reminded of all that I have done and all that I can do. And I needed that friendly reminder.

Not another round

2011-07-10T21:09:00.000-07:00

I've really been crapping out this summer and for that I'm sorry.
I'm sorry to y'all and I'm sorry to me.

Now that I've covered that, it's time to get my butt back on track. Somehow.

I'm back to weighing 152 on a consistent basis and thus back to being upset with myself. You'd think that would be enough to wake me up, and most times it is. But when it's not I really screw up.

Let's just say I've been having a really enjoyable summer full of a lot of ... adult beverages. Not daily, by any means, but it seems at least 3-4 times a month I can be found on the happy cloud with half a bottle of cherry vodka wondering what happened to the rest. Well, that has only happened once this summer. But you get my drift, right?

Take last week, for example. July Fourth involved 3 beers and a peach vodka and 7-Up concoction. To make up for it, I woke up early July 5 and walked 2.25 miles. Then, that evening, I mowed the lawn and walked another 2.75 miles (to get fro-yo, but still!). All was good. I had a lovely week sticking to my calories and adding exercise when I could. Then came Friday and a cook-out with friends. And 3 beers and (Skinny Girl) margaritas. Hello, backslide.

I feel like I'm treading in scary waters - I don't want people to walk away form this post thinking an intervention is needed. This isn't that kind of cry for help.

If there is one thing I should be an expert at these days it's moderation. So, it's time to remind myself of my goals and not lose sight of the long term just because the moment is so tempting.

A drink here and there isn't a bad thing - but it's important to remember those drinks aren't free. Sure, MGD 64 only has 64 calories - but my tastes are much more refined than that!

My upward spiral

2011-06-08T08:47:00.000-07:00

Since the beginning of May, I'm ashamed to say, I've gained weight. Maybe you noticed I haven't been updating the weekly Weigh Day information ... it's because I was on an upward shame spiral. Last week was the worst. I hit 152 when I stepped on the scale Wednesday. For my height, that's seven pounds overweight.

It's no secret that I've been stuck in a slump. All you have to do is look at the titles of my posts over the past few months to see how much I've struggled.

I shouldn't have let myself create this big finish line for a goal that wasn't my ultimate goal. Once I hit that goal weight, I let down my guard and it triggered a retreat of sorts. One that I really regret right now!

I'm angry because I worked so hard to lose that weight and gaining it back is NOT acceptable. Plus, seven pounds up means seven more pounds to lose to reach my ultimate goal weight - and that's about 7 extra weeks! But I have to admit it's my own fault. All I've done lately is talk about my plans to lose more weight, but I've acted on very few of these plans.

As it happens, a friend came to me last week because she wanted help losing weight. She doesn't know about my recent struggles and it was nice to be with someone who sees me as a success story. It's the old adage - I'm my worst critic and I've been bringing myself down. I've been my own road block.

Sitting down with her, creating a plan for calories and meals and giving her my tips and tricks really reminded me of the basics that I followed not-too-long-ago.

I set out to help her, but I think I helped me in the process. I'm back to counting my calories and tracking how much water I drink. I'm monitoring my fiber intake (I noticed my system wasn't as regular as it used to be). I even went on a 3-mile walk last night with Kevin and Sadie last night. This morning, I stepped on the scale for Weigh Day and it came up at 148! I'm not even letting myself freak out because it means I've lost 4 pounds this week - I'm pretty sure it was water and waste thanks to getting my system back on track.

I'm not calling declaring myself cured - far from that. But this is a step in the right direction. Finally.

Summertime

2011-06-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

... and the living's sneezy. Grass is growin' and the pollen is high.

I am super-stoked that summer is here, but sad because I'm sick. Not sure if it's allergies (I don't usually have summer allergies, but anything is possible), I just know I've felt icky the past few days and had to call in sick to work today.

So, here I am blogging - finally. It's been awhile, so let me catch you up.

As school ended, my summer life started taking shape and I couldn't be more excited for the next 2.5 months! I'm not taking any normal classes, but am working as a research assistant and creating an independent research project for credit later in the summer. I'm still working my part-time job, but just one day a week and I'm interning with a local public defender's office full time. I guess listed out like this it looks like a lot, but it certainly doesn't feel like it!

I come home every day at 5:30 and get to enjoy my evenings without the guilt that hangs over me during the normal semester. Not having to read 150 pages a day from a law book is totally and completely a vacation for me!

So far, I've settled into an easy routine. I get up, make coffee and eat breakfast. Then, I walk half a mile to the nearest bus stop and bus the 25 minutes to work, walk another half mile to my office and then spend the day hoofing it around downtown as only interns do. At 4:30, I walk the half mile back to my bus stop and ride home. All in all, though I keep forgetting to wear my pedometer, I'm walking between 2-3 miles a day. I wear flip flops when walking to or from the bus (unless I'm wearing pants). But as much as I walk around downtown in heels, I'm hoping for some killer calves by August!

I've been working on the front porch a lot lately - pretty much creating an outdoor dining room and kitchen. At least three nights a week we can be found sitting on the porch grilling our dinner. I love that my house is so shady and cool despite the 90-degree temps we've had this past week. Yay, trees!

Thanks to some hard work, my jungle of a lawn is finally under control and ready for it's weekly cuts. I have a big yard, so I take two days to mow it. The front yard gets cut on Mondays and the back yard on Wednesdays. Usually it takes about 30 mins to mow each side, but thanks to the crazy rain we've had lately, I spent almost two hours on my backyard this week. My Sparkpeople.com app says I burned 500 calories!

That's the thing I love about mowing - it burns a lot more calories than I ever realized. And y'all know me - I love multi-tasking. Burning so many calories while also taking care of a chore is awesome to me.

For the Memorial Day holiday, we bought a badminton set. Sure, most people think badminton is boring and slow, but the way we play (poorly!), it's fun and involves a lot of running after birdies. I'm thinking we can upgrade to a full size volleyball net later in the summer. My neighbors are totally down for some couple against couple action!

And there you have it - be on the lookout for a few blogs in the next few days. I've got a lot of time to make up for and I'm sorry about that.

Git' 'er done

2011-05-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

My fridge has a to-do list magnet on it with paper notes below it for making lists. On it, my boyfriend wrote, "Too many things. See digital list."

Natalie tells me that it is an achievement in itself to maintain consistent weight. I'm mostly within the same weight as when I started this two years ago with Natalie. She has made significant strides and changes in her life and shown a great deal of courage and commitment. I have been caught with the rigors of life, unable to maintain consistency with any aspect of life.

I complete my term as President for the Austin chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design this month. This has been a rewarding and demanding experience, challenging my calendar in creative ways. I've had dozens of lunches and evening activities during this role and they're taking their toll on my body. I am always planning to get to that workout routine, but have yet to achieve this. So, in the midst of relationship turmoil, I created ME resolutions. I missed New Year's celebrations, so it seemed appropriate. I divided the upcoming time in to "quarters." Now, I near the end of the first quarter and look dimly on my achievements. Everything is in progress and yet to be achieved.

That does not mean my schedule was wanton for activity. Indeed, much has occurred. My mom started dating for the first time in twelve years, became engaged, and is now to be wed this weekend. I did start a company also, The Underwater Designer. I have done three trips under this company, Utah, Florida/Alabama, and Louisiana/Mississippi. Those have happened already, though the website is sorely needing updating! Again, not for lack of commitment, but rather because I have been tending to client work that developed from my initial launch.

And so, I move forward, hoping not to be too hard on myself, but rather give myself credit for what I have achieved and also to knuckle down on commitments in their respective priorities. I hope to at least establish a workout routine, finish a book I started a year ago, finish my big painting, get the poster for sale that is now finally complete and framed, and finish my current client project.

I turn 30 this coming July. This work will be done before my party as that is a set deadline. By then, perhaps my body will start agreeing with me and running will trim me back down.

Fast food and me

2011-05-08T21:17:00.000-07:00


Morgan Spurlock speaking on May 6, 2011.

Last Friday, I attended a media law seminar and got to listen to Morgan Spurlock talk about some behind-the-scenes stuff regarding his movie "Super Size Me."

I hadn't seen the movie, but after seeing clips during Spurlock's talk (he loves and REALLY appreciates his attorneys, by the way), I decided to watch the documentary on Hulu.

I wish I could say fast food wasn't a big part of my diet before I decided to focus on my health, but of course, I'd be lying.

Mom tried to teach me better habits - she hated McDonalds and rarely took me - though I remember a few episodes of pretty amazing begging following my epic tantrums. No worries, though, I got my Happy Meal fixes from other relatives ...

Fast forward a few years and I have flashes of memories from the last decade of life on my own: Shakes at Jack In the Box with boyfriends; Mucho Nachos from Taco Bueno for a normal dinner; 16 oz. cups of crinkle cut fries and a 20 oz Coke from Del Taco after a bad day(s) at work; Sausage McGriddles for a weekend breakfast; Potato wedges covered in cheese, bacon and sour cream from Jack in the Box after a night of drinking; Arby's curly fries for a snack; Wendy's fried chicken sandwiches for lunches ... The list could go on and on (Don't even get me started on the sodas).

Man, I ate horrible things way too often in my life! During one particularly hard summer right after my boyfriend and I split, I remember eating McDonalds at least 3 nights a week and possibly as many mornings. At that time, I'd lost my desire to do anything but eat and sleep. I did a lot of both things, sadly.

Thank goodness my habits are much improved, but it was slow-going. I had a dependency on fast food. It was fast and "cheap" and I was short on time and money. I never planned my meals and when I was too tired to cook, I'd stop somewhere. My story is the same as most Americans, sadly.

As one who eases into dramatic things such as entire life changes, I treated fast food as I treated other dietary changes. I knew I needed to cut it out, but I also felt like I needed it as a crutch for those times when I didn't have the time or energy to cook. When I started 50n50, I worked fast food into the plans. I kept a list of meals I could order at various restaurants that were less than 500 calories. I recommend it to most people also - it was a great way for me to start out on the quest for better living.

Slowly, I learned healthier ways to eat fast and cheap. I learned to plan my meals and work with a meal budget. Now, I cook enough for 2-4 meals all for the cost of a "value meal." I haven't completely cut out fast food, but it's more like once a month now - if that (I hate to admit it, especially after watching "Super Size Me," but I still love Chicken McNuggets!).

This evening while watching Spurlock's documentary, I thought to myself, "When was the last time I even ate fast food?" And then I remembered when ... not two hours ago! Kevin and I walked up there for ice cream ... Hmmm.

Crunch Time!!!

2011-05-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

It's a boy version of me as an M&M!!!

Finals are here and that means one thing: Crunch Time.

Figurative meaning: My first exam is tomorrow so I am in the final hours of cramming and prepping for whatever essay hypotheticals my professor can create surrounding Sports Law and Regulations. I'm a good sport, so I'm game. Hardy har har.

Literal Meaning: You've heard me say it before ... I get the munchies when I get stressed. Well, today is my day of vindication. Turns out, it's completely normal and necessary!!! Oh yes, finally(!), a food-related "issue" I don't have to solve.

"See, the urge to eat when situations get hairy is an evolutionary instinct triggered by certain chemicals," according to my daily Eat This, Not That email (delivering info from both Men's Health and Womens" Health). How do they know exactly what I need to hear when I need to hear it?

Thanks to the peeps over at Women's Health, I now have a list of things to eat (and drink) to handle various forms of stress. As suspected, fruit is a good one. But surprisingly so are M&Ms!!! Yeah, I bought a bag of the recommended peanut variety with lunch. Haha.

I also have a big bowl full of apples and oranges. Plus, a bunch of bananas. There might be some grapes left too ... those usually go pretty fast thanks to the same oral fixation that takes over whenever someone opens a bag of chips.

Anyway, as part of the literal crunch time, that's all I have time to write. But check out the link for the lovely tips for boosting serotonin, etc!

I turn to food

2011-04-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

Phone calls at three a.m. are never good. The call I received Saturday morning was no different: someone had broken into my house. It wasn't until 7:30 that morning that we realized the full extent of everything. They took my tv, heirloom jewelry, my digital camera ... and Kevin's car.

Needless to say, it was a bad weekend.

Kevin and I were in Texas for an annual family party and to meet my grandfather's fiancee. When this happened, we cut the trip short and left after meeting my soon-to-be-step-gma. We drove back home on about three hours of sleep, stressed and freaked. I made a couple of Facebook updates about the situation and was stopped short by a comment my cousin's wife made.

"I'm so sorry. I hope all the positive changes you have made in your life help you to deal with this stressful time."

That got me thinking about my natural reaction to stressful things.

When Kevin and I finished breakfast with the family, we drove about half an hour and stopped to use WiFi and take care of a few things online. It was noon by this time and we'd been up since 9 hours with only three hours of sleep. All I could think was: I need a milkshake.

Honestly, I think that instinct comes from baby-hood when our parents hand us a bottle to stop our crying. I just wanted to curl into a ball and alternate sucking my thumb with sucking a chocolate shake. All while rubbing my ear lobe.

When in times of stress, clearly I turn to food.

Just add that to the list of things I need to handle ... including two different insurance adjusters, finals, final papers, summer financial aid, starting paperwork for summer jobs, my grandfather's upcoming wedding and my own sense of self-worth that is teetering thanks to all of the above.

Accountability is key

2011-04-20T07:44:00.000-07:00

Updating my weight on the blog this morning was one of the hardest things I've had to do lately!

I weighed in at 149.6 pounds and that is ... BAD.

Since a big part of 50n50 is accountability, I posted the number on the blog - though I was very tempted to "forget." The first step in the 50n50 process was admitting my weight. Having it out there, for the world to see has been a big motivator. I can't stop being honest now - no matter how ashamed of myself I am.

It's only going to be up there a week. And maybe I needed a shocking number like that to reiterate how important it is to make good, educated decisions all day, every day.

I won't allow anymore self-loathing to enter this game, either. It would be easy to say "Forget it! I give up" and go to McDonalds for a McGriddle, but I'm worth more than that! I may not measure my destination by where I started, but I sure can measure my worth by how far I've come! And baby, I've come too far to turn back now.

So, today I weigh 149.6. But that won't be the case next week. You'll see.

"Yardstick ninja"

2011-04-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

I've expressed my frustrations lately to several people and they all said the same thing. "Look how far you've come." And then they suggested that I don't need to lose any more weight. I disagree.
I don't know how else to get it through to people - myself included - but whenever I step on the scale and see a number above 145 I get pissed at myself. I didn't lose 50 pounds just to gain even a single pound back! I worked my tail off - literally - over the past year to get healthy. Whenever that scale says anything more than 145, it means I'm not healthy.

Everyone needs a yardstick - something they use to measure themselves and monitor their status. If we don't have something to use, then we won't know when things are going well or when they are going to shit. I chose the BMI scale as my yardstick and anything above 145 is unacceptable because that is an overweight BMI for my height.

Call me a "Yardstick ninja," but I don't want to weigh more than 145 again. It's not about where I started. It's about where I am at this moment. Maybe I don't need to get down to 125, but if you look at my weight this week (146), you'll see that I am "overweight" according to my yardstick.And that is unacceptable to me.

I don't like the idea of beating myself up over a pound. It sounds mentally unhealthy, right? But 145 is the absolute top end for me when it comes to weight. Weight naturally fluctuates by a pound or two in either direction. Because of this, I feel like I need a buffer. Do you understand? I want to feel like it's okay to fluctuate by a few pounds throughout the month (or even throughout winter!) and not feel like I'm playing yoyo with my health. I hate being healthy one day and overweight the next. I don't want to feel overweight ever again.

I feel like a broken record saying this, but clearly I still need to hear it. I've been talking about this damn buffer since November and I'm still stuck seeing numbers on the scale that make me overweight.

I'm coming to terms with the reality of my new self. As I'm letting myself admit that I hate running and love chocolate and trying to work out a lifestyle that takes these things into consideration, I am beginning to feel like myself again. I'm beginning to feel back in control and calm about my goals. So, I won't weigh 125 by mid-June. I'm ok with that, so long as I'm done weighing more than 145!

And with that, calorie counting is back! Tomorrow's weigh in will be icky - but it's the start of a new week and I'm totally ready for it!

Today, I consumed 1385 calories, 202 carbs, 32 grams of fat, and 83 grams of protein.

Facing Facts

2011-04-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

May 2009: The weekend I was accepted to law school.

When I started the 50n50 journey, I had a plan. First, I altered my diet. Then, after I lost about 25 pounds, I added physical activity.

I think it was this decision that ultimately led to my success. I first became accountable for my diet and then adjusted that diet to take care of my body's needs as I added physical activity. As things progressed, I saw the importance of diet - not just in weight loss, but in fueling your body.

Getting control of the diet first was key for me. Otherwise, I know how I would have acted: "Oh I walked 5 miles today, that means I can have ice cream without feeling guilty." But by the time I was walking 5 miles at a time, I knew my body needed protein and carbohydrates to fuel itself and would snack on something that would feed those needs. (Sure, maybe it was frozen yogurt, but I chose it for the nutritional values AND the taste, not just the taste!)

Now that I've hit a new wall, I have to face facts: I can't keep losing weight by diet alone.

Sure, you might say "duh" but there are times when I'm slow to see things - especially when I'm overwhelmed with school and work. I've been watching my numbers fluctuate between 141 and 147 since the moment I hit my goal weight. And, strangely enough, it was the moment I hit 145 that winter came to Kansas City and I stopped working out. Yes, I've let my discipline slip a bit and have an extra sweet more often than I should, but that's something that should be okay at this point. If this is the eating lifestyle I want to maintain, then I've got to get the physical part in check.

And it's not going to happen today, tomorrow, or next week. I have to be realistic. Here's the thing: I am overwhelmed with school this semester and am having a really hard time taking care of my responsibilities as it is. I honestly don't think I can fit exercise into my routine. Please understand it is REALLY hard for me to admit that I can't do everything I want to do right now. Really hard.

That said: I have another plan (of course I do!). School ends in 4 weeks. And with that comes a new routine! I'll be working in Kansas City and won't have to commute to campus (about an hour) all summer. I won't be taking classes so there won't be a lot of reading assignments to finish each day and I'll probably be quitting my job. So, as soon as I take my last final, I will be back out there - pounding the ground with my books on tape and getting physical.

I just have to make it through the next month. I walk to work on the weekends and do what I can when I can, but I'm going to stop sweating my lack of sweating. I have to - otherwise I'm going to go all kinds of crazy. Priorities shift sometimes, but it's all for the ultimate goal of becoming the best version of me I can be. And that includes finishing law school!

Put the chocolate down

2011-04-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

I wish I could say I came back after vacation my new "usual" self - full of willpower and a renewed energy to maintain my healthy lifestyle.

Sure, I started my gym membership and had a pretty positive fitness evaluation (27.5% body fat is my best score ever!), but I missed my first session because a law school commitment took more time than I expected.

Also, I've eaten my weight in chocolate over the last week - at least.

First, Kevin's birthday was Thursday so I made him a pretty sunflower cake - at his request. I used my pumpkin trick and made it low fat, but the icing and buttterscotch chips (not to mention the Peeps) that topped it certainly weren't. Sure, it's about 180 calories a serving (entire cake is 20 small servings), but I ate AT LEAST 8 servings between Thursday and Sunday. I had two servings as breakfast Friday!

And don't even get me started on the leftover icing that I ate like it was going out of style - literally sticking my fingers in the jar at least half a dozen times Friday alone.

Then, Friday night at work involved checking the grocery department for expired foods - and a lot of chocolate was outdated and subsequently opened for our enjoyment. Officially, Cadbury's Picnic bar (with raisins and caramel) is the best candy bar in the world.

Guys, things were so bad, even Kevin turned to me and said "Are you ok?" I was gorging on so much chocolate I think he almost felt compelled to buy a pregnancy test just to allay his concerns regarding this unusual behavior. (I'm not, don't worry)

Now, it is the theory of my "trainer" that my body is craving sugar because a lifestyle like mine - 18 months of only 1300 calories a day - has possibly caused a low blood sugar issue. But I think that's crap. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) doesn't lead to cravings, it leads to much more serious symptoms that include trembling, clammy skin, headaches, and eventually seizures and coma. It does not include nonexistent willpower. Nope, this is nothing but a mental issue. And possibly a dehydration issue.

I read somewhere, years ago, that most times when we think we are hungry, we are actually just thirsty. Apparently, before engorging on a random snack, it's best to drink a glass of water, wait a few minutes and then evaluate whether you are still hungry. But I haven't been doing that - I've been going straight to the choco-crack.

And last night I figured out why: I'm bored with water again. I'm craving flavor and water just ain't doing it for me. It's a hard dilemma too - for every article you show me that says tea and coffee don't cause dehydration, I can show you another that says they do.

It just seems best to just stick to water. Sure, there is Gatorade and Powerade .... but those are meant to replenish nutrient loss like potassium and sodium after sweaty exertion, not to substitute h20. Besides, other problems come into play with each of the other favored "water-based" drinks like tea, coffee and sodas. So, what do I do? I'm not sure yet, but short of developing a chocolate water drink (we sell chocolate tea, by the way and it has me very intrigued), I need to find a solution soon.

Otherwise, I might slip into a chocolate-induced coma ... and that definitely wouldn't be because of low blood sugar! I did finally throw that cursed container of chocolate icing into the trash last night. And I woke up this morning feeling a bit less loosey-goosie and more in control of myself. Here's hoping!

Back and ready for action

2011-03-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Rehab in the Shawnee National Forest
included a backpacking and hiking trip.

Rehab is for quitters. You've heard the joke before, right? Well, for this quitter, rehab was just what I needed.

The week was wonderful. I checked lots of stuff off my To Do list that have been on there for months. I rested, I ate, I was active and I had a generally happy time (except when I got food poisoning - booo). I also addressed a few truths and am ready to be back with a few changes.

First of all, I am only going to weigh myself each week. I know, that's what I've been doing, right? Wrong. I was doing it every day. I would wake up, pee, weigh myself, then drink water and get started with my day. Everything I thought once I was out of bed was about the scale .. and what I'd eaten the day before and how the scale would interpret my efforts. And that's not healthy. I have become obsessed with the scale. There are many theories about using the scale as a guide for progress, and I completely subscribe to those theories. You don't have to define yourself by the scale, but use it as a measure. Weighing once a week, at the most, is recommended, I've read numerous articles about it because there was a time in my life when I refused to weigh myself (and I ended up getting to my largest size). So, because I am still hoping to drop pounds, I won't stop weighing myself. The scale, however, is officially moved from my kitchen, into the linen closet - and there it will remain, unless it's Wednesday morning.

Second, I don't like running. And that's okay. This is a really hard truth for me to face because I always thought I wanted to be a runner. I mean, the women that grace the cover of Runner's World all look so euphoric in their Nikes and tight shorts, in tune with the road and happy to pound the pavement. But ff I liked running, then I would do it more. It's that simple. What isn't simple is my next move. I have to find an activity that enjoy that is healthy, low-cost, and easy to do several times a week. That will be my focus over the next few weeks. I have several activities in mind and I will definitely keep y'all posted as I figure out which is best for me.

Finally, I have to trust myself. For the most part, I eat healthy. But I've been splurging a lot lately and then beating myself up for it. And that has to stop. I wouldn't define my recent habits as binging, but they are clearly signs that 1300 calories a day is beginning to wear me out. I've been doing it for 18 months! But instead of assigning myself a new calorie allowance, I am going to continue NOT counting calories. I wish I could find a nutrient tracker that doesn't count calories, because I want to keep focusing on my fiber, iron, protein, and calcium. But it's time to trust myself for awhile. It's time to relax the rules and have faith in my knowledge of healthy eating.

I promised I would come back with a renewed energy and as proof, I have a fitness appointment tonight at my local gym. I bought a 3-month membership for $20 thanks to Morgan's Deals. I also have a few things planned for the next few months. Spring softball is coming up so I'm looking for a Thursday night league, Abigail and I will be bootcamping it in June (Living Social deal!) and I'm on my search for MY activity. Got any suggestions for me? I'm open to ideas!

Weightloss Rehab

2011-03-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

I have a tendency to run myself into the ground. I go and go and go ignoring all warning signs of exhaustion. I just keep fighting a losing battle with myself until one day I just can't move anymore.

Well, not this time.

As the past couple of blogs have shown, I nearing exhaustion with my constant worry about my weight. I've been thinking about it everyday for the past 18 months! It's almost become an obsession for me - the healthiness of which is debatable.

I need a break. Maybe even a form of detox! Clearly, I need Weightloss Rehab.

Since Spring Break is next week, I've decided to do just that: I'm checking myself into the Natalie Ford Clinic.

I'm going to let myself relax, rest, and just enjoy being me. I'm not counting calories, I'm not pre-planning meals, and I'm not weighing in. I'm not going to feel guilty about any food choices, nor am I going to justify, qualify or explain anything that happens to my body this next week. I'm just going to relax and be.

I will cook, bake, and have fun with foods. But I will also be active in some way each day. At the end of the week, I will take the time to reflect on my lifestyle and create a plan to start after my break is over.

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for my break.

Grr is me

2011-03-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

Things aren't going very well for me right now. I'm tired, I'm frustrated, and for the first time since starting this journey I feel like I'm on a diet.

I don't know what to do to shake myself out of this funk, but something has to happen. I find myself wavering a lot. I start off doing really well and then I make a bad decision and another and another and before I know it a big snowball of crappy food is sitting inside my stomach. Actually, it's not all crappy. I have honestly learned new habits. What I'm fighting now is the occasional piece of junk and too much healthy stuff (like 240 calories of almonds today, on top of a doughnut - you see what I mean?).

I've been getting back in the habit of counting my calories and have done pretty well with that - but I've just been counting as I exceed my allowance so all it does is makes sure I know just how badly I screwed up that day.

I KNOW BETTER THAN THIS!!! I have to shake off this funk! Tomorrow's weigh day has me freaked out and I hate being in this position. I hate it.

Don't excuse me!

2011-03-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Why on earth did you let me get away with my last post? Next time I babble about such junk, call me out on it!!!

All that I wrote in that entire post was a bunch of crap. Excuses are not the answer! Excuses doesn't burn calories.

All-night work sessions are an acceptable reason to forget the ideals of a healthy lifestyle? In the words of my fave Cher: As if! Re-reading that post embarrasses me. In fact, I am tempted to delete it.

If you are going to choose to be unhealthy, fine be unhealthy. But call it like it is. Own up to it. Take responsibility for your actions! Don't try to mask it with lame justifications and "creative" explanations! It will become a slippery slope if you let yourself get away with excuses. Suddenly, you'll find yourself explaining "reasons" for all kinds of splurges and slip ups: "I made it to all my classes today. Clearly that is a special occurrence warrants cake and ice cream!" Uh huh. "I paid all my bills today. I get a cookie now!" Uh huh.

My birthday is Thursday and I plan to enjoy it. But that doesn't mean I should act like eating a junk-ton of cake is acceptable behavior. Because it isn't. It is behavior that will make me gain weight. It is behavior that won't go unpunished - either by the very foods themselves, or by my own design through working out or cutting calories elsewhere. No good eat goes unpunished.

I don't mean go all Rev. Dimsdale on yourself and hide in a closet beating the sin from your body. But you have to call it like it is - Bad Behavior - and act accordingly - Work it off!

When you give yourself a pass on making healthy choices, it almost always comes with a pass on making up for those unhealthy choices. Instead, say, "Self, if we are going to have cake today, we need to go for an extra run first!" Then it's ok to say "I ran three miles today, I can splurge a little this afternoon."

Making good choices is a piece of cake. So long as we don't wash it down with a big cold glass of Vitamin D Whole Excuses, then we'll be fine. We can have our cake and eat it too.

Mulling my munchies

2011-03-08T12:55:00.000-08:00

I have a big paper to finish by morning, so I'll be pulling an all-nighter. As such, I anticipate a bout of the munchies (lessons learned from many all-nighters) to strike as soon as I get settled to work. Back in the day, I would buy a 2-pound pack of Twizzlers and Froot Loops to get me through the night. But nowadays I'm trying to stick to healthy choices - even if today is Mardi Gras!

I have a box of celery sticks and some frozen butternut squash ready to be turned into butternut fries, but knowing me, this isn't going to cut it. Is this one of those tests that come along to measure my progress? If I plan for the munchies tonight, am I just giving myself a hall pass? Is that ok to do?

There are times when it's ok to relax and eat junk. Some say Mardi Gras (today!) is one of those days - you know, since it's supposed to be followed by 40 days of sacrifice. Birthdays are considered a day to chill out on diets because special food is a way to celebrate special occasions. Also, meals at a friend's house are given a free pass, too (politeness for a night trumps diets).

Generally speaking, relaxed standards apply in unique situations that have a higher public interest than healthy eating for one night. So, the question is whether the occasional all-nighter fits into this category. Let's think it through: First, all-nighters are unique occurrences; they aren't something I do every week. Instead, they occur more like 2-3 times a semester. Plus, a good grade on this paper is more important than tomorrow's weigh in. If getting a good grade is dependent on snacks, then it's worth having snacks on hand and planning for such in my daily food allowance. Thus, all-nighters are unique situations and lowering my diet standards will serve a greater public interest.

Now that I've decided it's ok to relax my standards a bit, I must qualify this. Relaxing standards doesn't mean throwing them away. We arne't talking a night of pizza and cookies. That would be dumb. Plus, if I plan out choices that are better than Twizzles and sugary cereals, then I'm still showing progress.

So, here's what I'm thinking:

1) Eat a light dinner in order to be full so I don't snack as much. Um, yeah right. If I stopped eating when I was full this wouldn't be an issue. Duh!

2) Skip dinner knowing I will be snacking into the wee hours. Clearly, the logical choice, even if it isn't the most nutritious.

I don't keep many snacky foods in the house for obvious reasons. So, I need to hit the store for provisions. What should I get?

1) My usual fare of Twizzlers and Froot Loops. Um, and that would benefit me how? It's nothing but sugar and junk.This isn't a pass for full departure of the lessons I've learned so I should go with foods that provide some nutritious benefits, right?

2) Fruits and veggies high in fiber and low in fat. This is the ideal solution, obviously. However, the cost is a problem for me. I honestly can't afford a bunch of fruits and veggies right now. I have some will certainly what have on hand - celery, cauliflower and butternut squash, but my their very nature (lacking food crunch and, sadly, sugar, they just won't be enough.

3) "Healthy" cereal. This is tonight's winning choice, I think. If I buy a small box of Mini Wheats then I'm getting fiber, which is filling and flushing, sugar, and some actual nutrients that usually come with dinner. Maybe I can even buy a bag of oranges if they are on sale.

Having this discussion with myself now is also a sign of my personal growth. I used to go by the feelings I had at the time I hit the store. Instead, I am being pro-active and planning my allotment of snack foods and creating a strategy to handle my inevitable stress-induced munchies. It was all about satisfaction in the moment - but that moment was followed by many moments of self-loathing. Thanks to this plan, I'm hoping tomorrow finds me pleased with my decisions, happy with myself, and done with my paper!

______________

Update: 6:15 pm

I am home from getting supplies. I bought a box of dried figs (lots of fiber!), a medium box of plain shredded wheat (even more fiber!), and a 2 liter of diet coke. I think I'm good to go.

I just finished a bowl of the shredded wheat with Splenda and cinnamon - SUPER YUMMY!

And now it's time to brew coffee and get to writing!!!

Strategy for saving

2011-03-07T05:40:00.000-08:00

These days I only have about $300 a month to spend on groceries between me and Kevin. That breaks down to about $75 a week, but often - when it's a non-pay-week, we only have about $40 to spend. Needless to say, grocery shopping takes a lot of strategy.

I'm getting pretty at it, though - I only spent $25 on groceries this week!

First, I have a list of monthly staples that I buy the first of each month. This includes things like flour, sugar, yeast, pancake mix, oatmeal, cream of wheat, pasta, beans, etc. Because it involves a lot of packaged items, this monthly trip also involves a lot of coupons. Target is great for this because they have their own coupons and they honor manufacturer's coupons. A really good deal will involve two coupons and it happens a lot!

Since March's bulk shopping was $100, that leaves me with about $40 a week for the weekly necessities. I shop every weekend because I eat so many fresh foods. I can't stand to throw food away so shopping each week is important.

Each Friday or Saturday morning, I take the week's grocery ads (I receive ads from all the nearby grocery stores in Wednesday's mail) and look for trends in sales. If chicken breasts are on sale, I take note. Same for various fruits, veggies, etc. Then, I grab my cook books and settle in for a planning session.

I write down each day and plan lunch and dinner. Often lunch involves leftovers, but not always. Obviously, this is part of my calorie planning for the day as well. If I plan a dinner that is heavier in calories (like pasta), then I know to go light for lunch that day and lighter for the next day's dinner.

I look at the weather forecast for the next week (seriously) in case the weather will likely spark a craving. If it's going to snow, I plan for chili. If it's going to be warm and pretty I plan for grilling. This is pretty important, to be honest, because if the plan isn't fun it's not worth it and you won't stick to it. Also, if I will be menstruating that week, I make sure to buy foods that will help make that less painful (fodder for a another blog soon!). I also take the contents of my pantry in it's current state into consideration.

Then, I make a grocery list based on the week's meals. Once I have my list, I search for coupons and map out which grocery store has the best deals for what I need. I'm not crazy enough (yet) to go to fifteen different stores, but I am willing to hit up two if that will mean big savings. Usually weekly shopping involves the local discount grocery store and the main store. But at the beginning of the month, Target gets added, too.

I spent two hours Friday morning planning meals for the next two weeks. There happen to be a lot of black eyed peas in my freezer, so I decided to use those on Meatless Monday (black eyed pea chili = yum!). Also, since Mardi Gras is this week, I planned something special for that dinner (red beans and rice!). A lot of my meals involve beans. They are a cheap protein I can buy in bulk during a larger-budget week and they last a long time.

Sure, it takes time and is a little OCD, but I have been able to cut my grocery expenses in half. I live mostly on borrowed money so the more I save now - the less I'll have to pay back later!

The suite life

2011-03-02T19:40:00.000-08:00

As part of a research project for school, I am being escorted across McConnell Air Force Base tomorrow and given the opportunity to observe a court-martial proceeding. Considering this is right up Career Goal Alley for me, I'm thrilled.

Since McConnell is three hours from home, I had to drive down this evening and shack up in a motel. Imagine my excitement when I fell upon a deal for suite for only $65!!!

That's right, I'm blogging from the middle of a queen bed decked out in crisp white sheets and a million pillows. I'm glowing with post-bubble-bath glee and blasting the a/c so I can snuggle in the night.

Since this is a special ocassion of sorts, and the start of my birthday month, I went all out. I hit up the grocery store and bought food to make in my suite's kitchen. I was planning to splurge on Kraft Mac n Cheese, but decided a suite night deserved sweets!

I found some neat things at the grocery store for a single person watching their calories. Dinner was Campbell's Red Pepper Soup and Smart Ones' Ham and Cheese Scramble. In total, it was 340 calories and lots of protein.

Then came the sweets!

Skinny Cow has these great little single-serving ice cream cups that are only 150 calories so I gladly grabbed a Dulce de Leche flavored cup. Then, because it's a rare microwave-filled evening for me, I hit up the baking aisle and grabbed a Better Crocker Warm Desserts individual chocolate cake brownie bowl - also only 150 calories!

After my bubble bath I made dessert, poured a glass of nonfat milk and snuggled in bed with my goodies. Imagine my surpass when I couldn't even finish it all!

Sure, tonight involved a splurge, but I'm proud of how reasonable it was, you know? I was able to satisfy cravings and make myself feel pampered and special without feeling guilty.

I'll take that sweet life any day!!!

Getting a jump start

2011-03-01T05:28:00.000-08:00

Confession is good for the soul ... or in this case, the soles.

Since writing my previous post, I have been so ashamed with myself and my admission, that I've been working out just about every day! Sure, I'm not up to where I should be training-wise, but at least I'm off my seat and on my feet.

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I have a "virtual jump rope" and have been using it lots lately. If you don't follow me on Twitter, shame on you! I'm @50n50, look me up!

Say "Hello" to my little friend!

Anyway, my virtual jump rope isn't an imaginary toy. It's an awesome gadget that came as a gift-with-purchase when Kevin bought some workout thingie after Christmas. And I LOVE IT!

Literally, it is best described as two handles with strings and little weights at the end. You hold the handles like they were jump rope handles and swing the strings like they are attached as a rope. The Cardio Rope, as it officially calls itself, tracks time, number of jumps, and calories burned based on the weight you enter. Jumping for 10 minutes burns 100 calories. And I have a good burn going in my calves!

I don't just jump for ten minutes straight - I change it up and do different things with my legs: Criss-cross, high kicks, waist twists. The time flies (when a funny tv show is on) and my heart gets going.

Last night I was even feeling it in my arms. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and while I admit I looked a bit silly, my arms looked insanely awesome. The handle and swinging motions, you see, make it an upper body workout too.I felt so good last night that I decided to do some push ups. Usually I do them girly-style because Kevin says I do them wrong the real way. But not last night. I did 5 perfect push ups - twice! Maybe ten doesn't sound like a lot, but my butt wasn't sticking up and my nose was a jut a few inches from the floor. They felt good and in my head they looked good too.

I'm already seeing better definition in my legs and I've been jumping for a few days now. But it's motivation enough for me!

Clearly, I just needed a jump start!

In search of motivation

2011-02-24T15:39:00.000-08:00

When you embark on a weight-loss journey, there are two ways to go about it: 1) eat fewer calories and 2) burn extra calories. Often, people mix these two, but not always. In fact, studies have shown that working out isn't nearly as important as watching your food intake when you want to drop pounds.

When I started on the 50n50 path, I opted not to add exercise until I weighed less than 175 pounds. Because I have had bad knees most of my life, I didn't want to mess them up more by putting pressure on them. It was a good decision.

Enter the 3-Day training when I walked all over Kansas City - almost literally - and loved it, followed by training for my first 5k. Then, I hit my goal weight and shifted my attention to maintenence for a couple of months and that was that.

Now I want to get back into losing weight and it is proving more difficult than I thought. I'm practicing most of the good habits I learned while losing 50 pounds - except one.

I don't exercise.

I hope it's just the weather that is causing this - maintenance began just as winter hit and it's been a doozy - but for some reason, I think there is more to blame.

This is a dark, dirty secret I have been hiding for a couple of months now and I'm ashamed of it. I ashamed that after all this time, I still can't get over how much I dislike physical activity. When it comes to exercise, I just can't seem to get over the hurdle of pain. I know it's going to hurt and I don't wanna feel it. I know I'm going to sweat, and I hate that sticky, icky feeling.

I have all the resources I need - access to the gym at school and a Groupon membership (30 visits in 90 days) to the Golds Gym in my 'hood. But I haven't activated either this year.

I'm supposed to be running a half marathon in SIX WEEKS. So, it's time to get my ass in gear, seriously. Realisitically, there is no way I'll be able to run the entire thing, but there is no reason I should walk to whole thing either.

My 3-Day training and 5k training came with motivation - curing cancer, but the half marathon isn't cause related. I need to find that spark. For some reason, it's easier for me to get off my butt for a cause like breast cancer, but not for my own sake.

This, my ladies, is one question to which I don't have the answer. But, I'm no longer full of excuses ... At least I'm heading in the right direction. I just gotta make sure I pick up the pace.

The Daily Special

2011-02-13T20:48:00.000-08:00

Oklahoma Joe's ribs and sides

An epiphany has been slow in forming for me this weekend. But piece by piece, it has fallen into place.

First, it started with a Weight Watcher's-inspired Facebook status posted by my new friend Adina: "Don't give up what you want most for what you want in the moment."

Clearly, it's about cravings and instant gratification. Which is worth more? Satisfying a momentary urge or reaching that goal weight you've always dreamed of reaching? This is a battle I know well. And most times I've chosen correctly. But not lately.

In fact, I read this status while en route to Pittsburg, KS planning an exciting lunch of fried chicken and fried chicken. (A famous fried chicken rivalry exists down there between two restaurants a block from each other. After two years of living up here I thought I was finally getting my chance to weigh in - but neither chicken store opened until 4 and that was way too late. Looks like my chicken feed will have to wait.)

My dad and his girlfriend came to visit this weekend. In the two years I've lived up here, this was the first time they have come to see me. I wanted to show them a fun time and that meant lots of eateries. I tried my hardest to be good - but I didn't want to look like a prude and I wanted to enjoy myself too.

The first night they were here found us at Oklahoma Joe's - a big contender in "best KC barbecue" that happens to be two blocks from my house. At Oklahoma Joe's I ate one rib and small servings of the sides we ordered. I balanced it with a salad to fill me up. Breakfast the next morning was at my fave local breakfast chain (First Watch) saw me chomping on oatmeal with cranberries and half an English muffin slathered in mashed banana. So far, so good.

Since breakfast was practically at lunch time, we didn't eat a meal again until dinner at Jazz, a local Cajun restaurant. I shared boiled shrimp with my dad's girlfriend and a cup of gumbo. Oh, and bread pudding loaded with chocolate. Uh oh.

The next day was the great Chicken Food War so we grabbed a quick light breakfast at MacDonalds. I had their oatmeal and can happily report it is tasty!!! (Thanks for the 290-calorie, fiber-filled breakfast option Micky D's!) I was thrown for a loop when the chicken fight didn't happen, but Kevin took us to his favorite deli and I had a Turkey Dip (like a French Dip, but with turkey!), a few potato chips dipped in creamy Italian dressing (something Kevin said you have to do at this place), and a pickle. Then dinner saw us back in KC and at Hereford House, THE steakhouse in town. I ordered a salad and bowl of steak soup.

After so much rich food, I made breakfast for everyone at my house today and went a little overboard with blueberry oatmeal muffins and an awesome breakfast pizza. I went light for lunch and dinner - salad and soup, respectively - but still don't have high hopes for the scale this week. I blame the steak soup, even if I only ate half of it! The salad packed a few surprises too ... as most do at restaurants like that. Oh and there was that java mocha chiller I split with Kevin after an ill-fated Sonic stop before we left Pittsburg (My life was so much easier before I knew those things existed!).

ARGH. Enter my epiphany.

There are times when you should to let yourself indulge in the moment in order to add to the special moments that make up a lifetime. For me, the chicken fight in Pittsburg, KS - a town where Kevin went to college and worked his first professional jobs - is one of those moments. He has a favorite chicken place and I want one too.

That being said, eating ribs at the barbecue place down from my house is NOT one of life's special moments, not any more. I can have Oklahome Joe's barbecue any time I want. I choose not to get it often because it's not high on my list of priorities.

When tourists come to visit, I always take them for KC barbecue (to help fulfill one of their moments). Being there with visitors, however, doesn't mean I automatically get a free pass to eat horribly. There is no gun to my back and no one saying it's the only chance I'll have to eat Joe's ribs. There is a salad with grilled chicken breast on the menu. I've never tried it. Maybe it's going to be the world's great chicken breast and salad. It's high time I find out, don't you think?

Splurging for special occasions is one thing - but it's important to know when you are just finding excuses to splurge and the "special" is nowhere in existence. Daily specials are the enemy.

It's tasty, but so is KFC. Doesn't mean it's ok to order that double down thing and call it a "special occasion" because it's the first 40-degree day we've had in weeks.

When it comes to food and letting yourself indulge, it's important to stop and look at the moment. Going to Oklahoma Joe's (and Hereford House for steak soup too) is not something all that "special" to me anymore. If it truly is a unique experience, then by all means, eat two drumsticks and pick your favorite! But if it's something you can have tomorrow too, maybe it's best to put it off. I guarantee it will be more special next time.

20 is the new 50

2011-02-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

I told you I have a new goal weight in mind, right?

Well, here it is ...

125!!!

That's right. My Final Goal Weight is 125 pounds. Now, before you start thinking that's extreme, let me explain.

First, the healthy BMI range for my height is 107-145. So, anything over 145 is unhealthy. You've heard me talk about that before. Hovering near 145 is too close to unhealthy for me. My new goal, 125 is smack in the middle. That leaves some wiggle room for holidays, monthly visitors and fun night's out every now and then. It means I won't be scared after every splurge that the scale will call me "overweight" again. When that happens (and it has a few times lately), it really upsets me.

When Helen Fielding wrote Bridget Jones' Diary, I was excited to read about a woman who battled with her weight everyday. I read one chapter and threw the book across the room. Why? Because she was 140 pounds and complained about it. I couldn't relate. But now I can. I look in the mirror and see myself at 145 and still see many problem areas that needs work. Don't get me wrong, I love the way I look - I am more amazed at the changes in my body every day. But it's little stuff here and there. My tummy needs some definition, my gargantuan calves need to be evaporated, and my thighs need serious attention.

When I first started thinking about it, 125 seemed unattainable and scary. But that was the fat girl inside me talking. The one who is jealous of girls who are born skinny and barely have to work to stay that way. The one who used to call 125 "too skinny" out of fear and scoff at girls that weight. It was as though convincing others that 125 was too skinny would make my 195 more acceptable. Well, that's not me anymore. My inner fat girl no longer controls me!

So, I'm going to take on this Final Goal Weight (FGW) and will weigh 125 by June 29 - 20 weeks from this week's Weigh Day.

It looks like 20 is the new 50. Let 20 in 20 begin!!!

Lavash lifestyle

2011-02-09T20:22:00.000-08:00

Will the Hungry Girl inspiration never end???

Today's Hungry Girl email included a link to a "recipe" for Lisa's Crispy Lavash Squares with HG Hot Couple Dip.

The link then directed readers to a website that sells the lavash - a 50-calorie flat bread that when baked longer turns chip or cracker-like. (Note: Mine looks nothing like hers. But I am fascinated by the idea of using it as a lasagna noodle substitute so I have to figure it out)

Of course, when I saw it was $3.50 a package, I decided to go on a recipe hunt. So. Super. Easy. I tweaked the recipe a smidge and created this lovely little gem. I need to point out that I have never actually had lavash so I have no idea if I made it "right." But I have had chips and pita crisps and this is an awesome way to substitute those snack foods.

The recipe make fifteen 100-calorie servings. I broke mine into pieces and sealed them in Ziploc baggies. Voila! My very own 100-calorie snack packs.

Also, I tried a few "flavors" by using cinnamon and sugar on a few and poppy seeds on others. I forgot about the sesame seeds in the freezer or I would have used them too. Next time. Sadly, I also have a powdered nacho cheese popcorn flavoring that I'm tempted to use too! I might even try to make then into itty-bitty crackers next time. Fun!

I only used 2/3 of the dough and froze the rest. Too bad I didn't know about this before the Stupor Bowl. That would have mitigate a couple of damages.

Tips and tricks straight from Hungry Girl

2011-02-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

Food, fun and faux-frying: Just another Girls Night In
Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien is the first to tell you she isn't a nutritionist or a dietician. She holds no degrees in foodology and she doesn't pretend to be an expert. She is just a girl, like you and me.

"I am just hungry," she said. "But that doesn't make the information that I have to give any less important." And she's right.

About 900 women (and a few men) gathered in Crown Center last night to enjoy waist-friendly food and heart-friendly sisterhood at the 6th annual "Girls Night In" fundraiser for the University of Kansas Hospital's Change of Heart program. Hungry Girl was the main speaker for the event.

Lillien's big schtick is the idea of swaps. She takes normal foods and figures out ways to make them healthy. Take her "faux-frying" method, for example.

Craving onions rings or mozzarella sticks? Well, Lillien has your solution. Take Fiber One cereal and grind it in the blender. Roll your onion rings (or low-fat mozzarella sticks) in egg substitute, then in the Fiber One crumbs, then back in the egg sub and once again in the cereal. Bake. And enjoy. It's that simple. And filling.

At last night's dinner she told the 900 women gathered about her life living with a yoyo dieting mother and what spurred her into creating Hungry Girl. Then, she handed out a few tips for everyone. It was apparent there were many in the audience who had never heard her message, but by the night's end, her books were selling like full-fat hot cakes!

Tips from Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien:
1. Avoid Trigger Foods
For Lillien this means potato chips. She knows she can't stop eating them, so she stopped buying them.

"I cannot be trusted around crunchy salted snacks," she said. "If they are in my house, I eat the entire bag. So what do I do? I don't keep the chips in my house."

2. Set Attainable Goals.
"You need to set yourself up for success," Lillien said. "Who likes to fail? Anybody? You want to set goals that are totally achievable."
This includes setting goals involving losing weigh too quickly or not wanting to do the work needed to reach your goals.
"You've got to do the work," she said.

3. Don't Make Excuses.
It's about planning ahead and holding yourself accountable. When you know you're going out to dinner, Lillien suggests looking at the restaurant's menu online before you get there. That way you can make an informed decision.

Lillien also cautioned about punishing yourself for bad decisions.

"You're only as guilty as the last meal you ate," Lillien said before explaining that one bad meal shouldn't throw you off your plan. Just fix it next time.

4. Move. Yes, Move!
Lillien suggests finding enjoyable activities in your area, such as hiking with friends becase small changes can make big differences.

5. Write it Down.
"This is not an excuse to buy a cute little journal," Lillien said. It's about not lying to yourself. She stressed the importance of writing down everything saying it can be a shock to see just how much you eat in a day. Little bites here and there add up, she said. By writing everything down you are more aware of what you are doing.

6. Avoid Fad Diets.
Lillien said fad diets are not helpful for the long haul because they don't teach good habits. Weight Watchers, however, is not a fad diet, according to Lillien and does teach good habits.

7. Don't Beat Yourself Up.
"Don't feel bad about bad choices. Just change," Lillien said. This message, in fact, we repeated several time throughout her speech.

Lillien talked about living by the 80/20 rule because it allows you to enjoy life without beating yourself up.

"Food should be celebrated and enjoyed - 20 percent of the time," she said. She used the example of her stay in Kansas City. Since it was her first, she of course went for barbecue within an hour of her flight landing. She ate ribs, cheesey bread and carrot cake (which she said should be illegal, it was so good) at Jack Stack. And didn't feel guilty about it. Though she went back to her hotel and hopped right on the treadmill in snow boots because she'd forgotten sneakers.

Lillien also passed on a few small tricks to the audience.

"I'm a total volume eater," she said while explaining a tip for oatmeal.

One cup servings made her "sad" so she figured out that doubling the liquid requested and cooking the oats for twice as long will yield twice as much - for the same calories. She uses a mix of water and almond milk in her oatmeal.

What about breakfasts on the go? Put egg substitute and a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese in a mug, pop it int he microwave and voila! A very protein-full breakfast.

Finally, Lillien introduced "Ate" of her favorite food staples.

1. House Foods Tofu Shirataki Noodle Substitute
"A gluten-free, all-natural swap that's great in pasta recipes, soups and stir-frys."
2. Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss Cheese Wedges
"Super-creamy, delicious, and low in fat. Use it as a cream cheese swap in recipes, to make cheese sauces, in sandwiches, etc."
3. Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze
"Great in cereal (hot or cold), smoothies, lattes, recipes, etc."
4. Canned Pure Pumpkin
"With 40 calories per half cup, it's low in fat and high in fiber. Use it in ways you never though possible! ... Don't confuse it with pumpkin pie filling."
5. Vitalicious VitaTops
"The BEST chocolate-craving killer EVER."
6. Fat-Free Greek Yogurt
"Super-creamy and packed with protein, a 6-oz. container has just 90 calories. Great in recipes and as a snack."
7. Fiber One Original Bran Cereal
"Secret weapon for 'faux-frying' ANYTHING."
8. Butternut Squash
"America's best kept secret. Why? It's a GREAT potato swap with half the calories of potatoes."

Natalie Notes: I have tried everything on her list but the VitaTops. The noodles were ok, but I couldn't get past their smell or the fact that they were floating in weird liquid (sure you drain it, but they are slimy). I prefer to just use spaghetti squash. I love Laughing Cow so much it makes me sick. Sad face. I am a HUGE Almond Breeze fan. And we know my love of pureed pumpkin. VitaTops are available at Target so I'll check them out soon. I think they are muffin tops loaded with fiber. I can't handle the thick texture of Greek yogurt straight - it sets my gag reflex off, but I plan to try it in baking soon. Fiber One is expensive, but it works well for faux-frying, it's true. And butternut squash is super tasty. I don't use it as a swap though, I enjoy it for the flavors it means to bring to my dishes.

I Heart Hungry Girl

2011-02-08T20:04:00.000-08:00

Me with Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien

Most nights that include a coat check tend to be pretty amazing but tonight also had cocktails, calorie-friendly munchies, and Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien - one of my favorite low-fat foodies - so it was amazing with sugar on top!

The evening started with a Nervous Natalie arriving at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center not knowing what to expect. I entered the revolving doors and was bombarded by women dressed in varying shades of red (in honor of heart health month), a red carpet and flash bulbs. Yes, flash bulbs. They really created quite a scene for this Girls Night In fundraiser!

I scoped out the scene, checked my coat (I rarely go to places with a coat check, so when the option is there, I'm all about it!) and then bypassed the cocktail bar (hello wasted calories!) and went to find my table.

It was at Table 66 that I met some lovely ladies from my area who all shared a love of Hungry Girl, food, and safe ways to eat the foods we love. We talked Weight Watchers and our fave HG recipes. We discussed swaps and talked about how much weight we'd lost. I was pretty much in heaven. The loved the idea of grilled cactus. And you know all the nutrition stats I bore you with? They ate it up like - well - like chocolate cake!

Then, suddenly, there she was! She just dropped by the table to say hi and thank us for being fans. Thank us? Are you kidding me? We couldn't stop thanking her! The entire evening was full of an energy I can't describe. I was on the verge of tears most of, thrilled to be one of the few who was lucky enough to attend. "They" said she received more than a thousand emails from people hoping to win the contest - and I was one of the lucky 10. I still can't believe.

I feel like I have been rewarded for my will power and diligence over the past year. I just feel so lucky and blessed to have been part of it!!!

We were treated to a 3-course meal made from the Hungry Girl books.

First was her Lucky Four-Leaf Salad with Feta and Apples and Cheesy-Good Cornbread Muffins (not as good as mine, but not bad).

Then, it was on to Glaze-of-Sunshine Apricot Chicken, BBQ Mango Tilapia, Too-EZ Mac 'n Cheese (holy awesome, Batman!) and Mostly Roasted Veggie Explosion.

Finally, we were served to mini portions of Holy Moly Cannoli Cones, Blask Forest Fillo-Cups (BFFs), and S'mores Krispymello Treat (HELLO AMAZING).

After dinner we were treated to Hungry Girl herself and got to hear her talk about her motivations and hear some first-hand tips. I took notes for y'all and am going to blog about those in the morning so that they don't get lost in this long post.

One of my favorite parts of the evening was after I told the women at the table about this blog. They all pulled out their cell phones and typed in our URL and checked out 50n50. Yay! Then, in a later conversation with one my fellow award-winners, she said "How much did you lose?" After I told her, she shook her head and said, "You don't look like you were ever overweight. You look like you've always been a petite girl."

What a great night!!!

Who gets to meet Hungry Girl? This girl!

2011-02-07T12:27:00.000-08:00

Lisa Lillien

OMG - I can't believe I haven't posted this yet ...

I GET TO SEE HUNGRY GIRL TOMORROW NIGHT- LIVE!!!

I won a Facebook contest for a free ticket to Girl's Night In, a charity event to raise money for women's heart health. This isn't just a book signing, Ladies, this is an EVENT. She bought two tables (at $1250 each!) and gave tickets to select Facebook fans. I don't know if I will get to meet her, but I hope I get the chance to thank her for how much I've learned from her books this past year.

When I set out on the 50n50 journey, Hungry Girl was one of the books I bought to jump start my new lifestyle. I loved the idea of making the usual suspects into healthy dishes, you know? In fact, Thanksgiving 2009 was pretty much ALL from the Hungry Girl book!

I get her emails each day and just love her fun style of celebrating food (and butternut squash!).She now has a television show that airs on teh Cooking Channel each Saturday, but I haven't gotten to watch because I don't have cable. My mom reports that it's a great show, however - and I have no doubt that's the case.

I have evolved from religiously using the recipes in Ms. Lillien's books because so many of the recipes take a lot of work to recreate bad foods in a good way (and a lot of processed products that I rarely buy). Still, I fall back to them when I just want "normal." I absolutely love her Kickin' Chicken Pot Pie recipe and Wayne's Pumpkin Smash, as we know. Her Egg Nog recipe was pretty satisfying this past holiday season too (No eggs? For real?!?)!

I am so excited I can hardly wait. I mean hello, it's not everyday you get to meet someone who was on Good Morning America (this morning!), is it?

Stupor Bowl XL

2011-02-07T07:05:00.000-08:00

Nothing in this photo is innocent! Well, maybe the empty bowl ...

I had grand plans for last night's Super Bowl celebration. They involved a low key evening spent at home eating wings and a healthy baked version of cheese curds (we rooted for the Packers). I scrounged up enough money (literally in change) to buy some beer and that was where I'd planned on splurging in calories.

I tracked my calories until 3:30 and I was at 1241. Then, they opened a bunch of free chocolate at work. Uh oh.

And then Kevin went to the store for dog food and bought the fixins for chips and queso.

And then I lost my mind. And drank 2 beers.

Forget the beer, I was in a drunken stupor of epic proportions - totally wasted on Velveeta and Rotel.

Then, I craved something sweet and almost opened a small box of coca puffs, but reason prevailed and I went for the orange instead. Honestly, what is wrong with me?

I KNOW BETTER! More than a year of healthy eating and the past two weeks have seen me throwing it all away. Ugh.

I'm not one for drastic dieting, but after all the junk I ate last night, today I'm going au natural. It's Meatless Monday so it won't be difficult. Nothing will be processed today.

Breakfast was a broiled grapefruit half sprinkled with cinnamon and an apple.

Lunch will be mashed avocado and chopped peanuts on a bed of lettuce with a side of carrots and an orange.

Dinner is pinto beans (that I made myself, not from a can) and homemade corn bread. There might be a little processing in the ingredients for the corn bread, but that's small potatoes after the debacle of last night. And dessert will be baked apples. How's that for getting your 8 servings of fruits and veggies a day?

Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm off to drink a glass of milk to help my body get rid of the remnants of Stupor Bowl XL.

The Blizzard of Oz

2011-02-03T07:37:00.000-08:00

Snow-M-G, people. I have officially survived my first blizzard!

Kevin had to go to work but got off early and all was fine until he got to my 'hood. Then he got stuck and there was a lot of pushing and digging and crying and screaming and losing of cell phone and pushing other people's cars and it was NOT a relaxing snow day at all.

Once it all settled, Wednesday dawned into the digging-out day. Since Tuesday saw us get an official 10 inches of crazy blowing snow - that developed into drifts more than 2-feet high. I shoveled sidewalks (helping neighbors and my weight loss at the same time!) for an hour and a half. Add in the cars I pushed up and down streets and the mile-long snow hike we had to take to get something for Kevin's broken car and you have quite a day of working out!

According to Sparkpeople.com, I burned 850 calories by shoveling 75 minutes and walking in the snow for 45 mins. That doesn't even take into account the car-pushing!

We ended the day by snuggling on the couch with a dvd of How I Met Your Mother and Chinese food. I ordered Kung Pao Shrimp - which is 350 calories for a one-cup serving. Then, I finished dinner with a hearty helping of Banana Snow Cream - made from the very snow outside.

Banana Snow Cream

1/2 banana
1/2 gallon fresh snow
1 cup Almond Milk
1/2 cup baking Splenda

Mash the banana in a big metal mixing bowl. Add in snow and Splenda. Pour Almond milk over snow and mix it all together. It may take a few minutes, but you want to stir it until everything is incorporated and you reach a consistency you like.

If it's melted a bit, just stick the bowl outside for a bit. Then, give it one more stir and enjoy!

You can edit this recipe by using any fruit. Or half a tablespoon of vanilla (I used rum the first time!). Top it with chocolate and it's even yummier. Oh the possibilities ...

Serves 2. Calories: 47.1; Total Fat: 1.7 g; Cholesterol: 0.0 mg; Sodium: 90.3 mg; Total Carbs: 15.1 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.2 g; Protein: 0.8 g

Why the weight gain???

2011-02-02T19:48:00.000-08:00

I'm not happy. Angry might even be the best word to describe how I feel towards myself right now.

I weighed in at 146.6 today - a gain of 4 pounds in one week!

What the hell?

I don't know what's happened. Last week I was feeling good and was on track with my new weight loss goal. But then Kevin made cookies and I ate a few - but they weren't full of fat because I taught him to use applesauce instead of butter. And then there was cake at work - and a couple of awful days working short-staffed. And then my girl time came Sunday. And with the snow days there was some snow ice cream and a lot of alcohol. And, as I am VERY familiar with my body functions by now, there was a lot going in and the usual didn't come out.

Is my willpower gone? I mean, wow. Looking at that list of foods now has me super depressed instead of angry. Add in that I am behind in my training for the half-marathon and I'm feeling pretty worthless in this moment (as I blog from bed, wrapped in flannel sheets and dogs, sipping coffee and homemade biscotti for breakfast). Yeah. This isn't good.

To gain 4 pounds, I had to consume 14,000 more than I burned each day. My resting metabolic rate (what I burn by just existing) is 1364 ... add in even just sedentary activity and you get about 1750 calories burned a day. That's 12,250 calories burned in a week. That means I consumed 26,250 calories last week? There is no way! Seriously.

Looking at this rationally, I am calming down a bit (the healing power of blogging!). Looking back over everything I ate, there is truly no way that happened. That would be like eating 100 pieces of cake. I only ate 3 (over two days!). Or 175 sugar cookies. I only ate 8 (also over 2 days!). Or 44 bottles of Riesling. I only drank 1.

No, this must be a combination (a nasty one!) of several variables including wine & dehydration, menstruation & water-retention. Add in the strength exercises I've been doing and you get muscle growth (it weighs more ... though it should also help my metabolism work better). Then take into account my body irregularity and tt was clearly a really crappy week for me. Or not. Heh. Sorry.

Ok, I feel better now.

I'm scrappy

2011-01-31T18:32:00.000-08:00

Vegetable broth. A staple in most Meatless Monday meals - and pretty darn expensive for what you're getting. Seriously. Why on earth have I been paying $3.50 for this stuff when it's so easy to make myself - FOR NOTHING?!?

Since starting my budgeting kick - you know, since I'm so broke - I just hate wasting food and throwing away things I can use again later. (Remember saving the cranberry water for crandied orange peel?) So, when a friend mentioned making her own vegetable broth all I could think was "Why aren't I doing that?"

I've been collecting the scraps from my cooking endeavors - you know, the leaves off the outside of the lettuce head, the butts of the onions, spinach stems, the veins from my peppers - and yesterday I put em all in a big pot, added water and garlic and set it to simmer for an hour. Then, I strained it and put it in jars.

Now I have 48 ounces of vegetable broth - that didn't cost a dime!!! How's that for being scrappy with the budget?

I didn't need any vegetable broth for the Roasted Cauliflower and Penne I made for dinner tonight, but I'm ready for the next batch of vegetable soup or veggie chili. Bring it on, Monday, my pocketbook and I are ready for you.

Because it's Monday ... and you know what that means!

2011-01-24T09:57:00.000-08:00

Have you checked out Meatless Monday yet? I blogged about it awhile back, but I thought it was time for a reminder.

I've been following the Meatless Monday Movement for a few months now and I LOVE the creativity it has brought to my meal plans, the varied foods I've eaten because of it, and the dent it's made in my pocketbook (did I just say pocketbook?). Some of the recipes I got from Meatless Monday are now a regular on my meal plans (hello Sweet Potato Burritos - minus all that cheese, of course!)

I don't just go meatless on Mondays, I've found protein-happy, meatless meals creeping into other days each week as well. This week for instance, sees me making Sweet Potato Pierogies for dinner tonight (so excited!), Eggs and Lentils for dinner tomorrow, and Mushroom Fajitas for dinner Thursday. Seriously, my grocery bill for this week was $15 LESS than usual. Just sayin'

Here is an easy recipe to kickstart your Meatless Monday Meal plan:

Avocadillas
1 medium whole wheat tortilla
1/2 avocado
1 Tbsp chopped peanuts

Scoop avocado from skin and mash in bowl. Mix in peanuts.
Spread avocado mash on one half tortilla and fold other half to close.

Spray frying pan with non-stick spray and lightly toast the tortilla, flipping as needed. Enjoy!

Servings Per Recipe:1; Calories: 297.0; Total Fat: 18.1 g; Cholesterol: 0.0 mg; Sodium: 405.9 mg; Total Carbs: 32.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 10.4 g; Protein: 6.7 g

This recipe has been an evolving creation for me. The first time I made it, I used cheese and called it a quesadilla. Sure, it was tasty, but I decided the cheese wasn't necessary and just added more fat. Sometimes, however, I add a tablespoon of bacon bits (you can find vegetarian options) and they add a nice little flavor zap.

Lettuce rejoice this winter

2011-01-23T18:53:00.000-08:00

During the summer, salads can be super exciting. Those fresh greens you lovingly choose at the local farmer's market. The light dressing you sparingly spray to enhance the crisp crunch of each type of lettuce. The peppers you chop to add a little bite. The coolness in our mouth and the droplets of water that still cling to the leaves, cooling you from a steamy, humid summer's day. I love it.

But then comes winter - and what is a delectable pleasure in dogs days of summer becomes a bland, punishment during the dark, cold days of winter. I crave warm foods when it's cold and cold foods when it's warm. So salads become a necessary evil for me in winter. Sure, I still love the crunch and the variety of flavors, but I want food that warms me and salad just doesn't do that.

Until today.

I don't know why I never thought of it before: Warm salad. It's so simple it's stupid (or at least I am). I'm not talking about the usual warm (carb-filled) salads like potato or pasta salad. I'm talking about taking a base of greens and topping them with warm salad fixins! It's total brilliance that came to me via an AMAZING recipe in Women's Health.

Seriously, this has blown my mind and may have just started a new obsession for me!

The salad (recipe also posted below) involved cooking shrimp, onions and mushrooms in the bacon dressing. All I could think was, "Why have I never thought to heat up vinaigrette before?" When I put the plate in front of Kevin - covered in fresh spinach and wafting with the smell of cooked bacon I said something about wanting to take a picture. "I totally support that idea" said the man whose big joy in life comes from laughing at me each time I photograph a plate. He ooohed and ahhhed through the whole meal and nodded vigorously as I talked about the apparently brilliance of warm salads.

Oh - and the brilliance of bacon dressing shouldn't go un-noted either.

Check out this life-changing, protein-filled salad recipe (and yes, it takes BACON!!!):

Shrimp And Spinach Salad with Bacon Dressing

8 oz shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
6 oz baby spinach
1 cup sliced mushrooms
6 strips bacon, cut into small pieces
1 red onion, sliced
2 Tbsp pine nuts
3 Tbsp red-wine vinegar
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
Olive oil (optional)

How to make it:
1/ Set a large skillet over medium heat. Cook bacon pieces until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel.

2/ Add onion and mushrooms to the hot skillet and cook until onion begins to brown, about 3 minutes. Season shrimp with salt and pepper to taste and add them to the skillet, along with pine nuts. When shrimp are pink and firm (2 to 4 minutes), stir in vinegar and mustard, and season again with salt and pepper to taste. If the skillet looks dry, add a splash of olive oil.

3/ Divide spinach and eggs among 4 plates and top with the hot shrimp mixture, some of the dressing from the skillet, and bacon.

Makes 4 servings
Per serving: 316 calories, 20 g fat, 12 g carbs, 572 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 21 g protein

D-coding cravings

2011-01-22T09:52:00.000-08:00

I love it when one of my magazines speaks to me and offers a solution to a problem I couldn't articulate.

It happened just five minutes ago. I was thumbing through my "Women's Health" from December and a reader's question caught my eye.

"Why do I crave more carbs in the winter?"

And it hit me - that's exactly what's been happening to me the past couple of months! I've been physically craving breads, cookies, CEREAL, crackers, and pasta. I've given in more times than I should, but now I'm thrilled to know why.

According to Keri Glassman, R.D., of NutritiousLife.com, it is totally natural to crave more carbs in the winter because there are fewer daylight hours. What does that have to do with the price of spaghetti? Well, apparently, with less sunlight, our bodies make less vitamin D and therefore can't pump as much serotonin.

I am quite familiar with serotonin, the brain's mood-regulating chemical, and have battled my body's inability to regulate it for years. But I never knew my body's vitamin D production was also a factor.

Glassman says that when there is less sunlight, our bodies urge us to look for another way to make serotonin. Carbs boost the production of serotonin and so we crave carbs more. Simple as that.

So what do we do to fight this? Glassman says we should increase our intake in D-rich foods such as nonfat milk, orange juice, tuna and mushrooms.

Oh, and we should spend a few minutes in the sun every day - even if the ground is covered in 8 inches of snow.

I'm on it! Portabello Mushroom Fajitas is going straight on this week's meal list and I'm getting the dogs ready for a lovely hike through the (snow-covered) neighborhood. Hot chocolate made with milk should make a great snack when we get back.

See? Serotonin boost is already happening at the mere thought of it all!

School days make me happy

2011-01-18T06:32:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to go to school today. Mainly, I'm excited to get back into my usual routine. Spending time at home for weeks on end is nice - don't get me wrong. But it's been a constant battle for me - to snack or not to snack.

Don't get me wrong - I wasn't just sitting around doing nothing for the past 3 weeks. Besides work, I have done a lot around the house getting ready for this new semester. In fact, it was on the two days that I gave myself permission to just stay in bed and read and watch movies that I snacked less! Since I knew I would be sitting at home for days on end, I altered my eating style a bit. I focused on smaller meals to compensate for more snacking.

Also, as an experiment in maintenance, I stopped counting my calories at the beginning of December. Yes, you read that correctly. I decided to see if I could "do it" without counting every calorie I consumed. Silly me, it was a bad idea to do this during the holidays because there were so many different dishes crossing my plate. Since the start of the new year, however, I have managed to maintain my weight and even start back on the losing track over the past week or so.

But I feel a little out of touch with the nutritional information of what I'm eating. Perhaps this is one reason I've read articles advocating counting calories forever. Of course, the idea of that sounds a bit tedious to me. I certainly didn't miss writing everything down in December and January. Plus, I feel pretty comfortable with my ability to stick to my calorie allowance - holiday foods notwithstanding. But, I miss knowing some important information: How much calcium, protein, fiber and iron I'm consuming.

Sure, I read labels, but they don't add it all up for me. And you'd be surprised how hard it can be to get the recommended iron or calcium you need in a day! I might pop back onto Sparkpeople.com every few days and input that day's food to see how I'm doing.

New measurements (and Weigh Day)

2011-01-05T10:27:00.000-08:00

It's the first weigh day of 2011! Whether it's a day to look back over the changes of the past year or a day to mark as a starting point for future goals. Today is THE day!!!

1/5/2011
My Measurements:
Weight: 145.6
Waist: 27.5 inches
Arm: 10.75 inches
Thigh: 19 inches
Calf: 14.75 inches
Hips: 37 inches

For me, I'm taking today to look back on where I was this time last year. And wow, I'm super-thrilled with what I did in 2010.

1/20/2010:
My Measurements
Weight: 183 pounds.
Waist: 35 inches
Arms: 13.75 inches
Thigh: 26 inches
Calf: 16 inches
Hips: 44.5 inches

2010: A Year of Inner Growth

2011-01-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

Seriously, 2010 was pretty damn amazing. Not only did I FINALLY hit a healthy weight for the first time in my memory, but I walked a 60-mile walk, ran my first 5k and developed some awesome eating habits to carry with me into 2011.

Here is a montage looking back on 2010 and the outer signs of inner growth I experienced.

I learned a lot last year. I learned about healthy eating - more than just low-calorie eating - and what my body needs to thrive. I learned that physical activities don't come easy for me, but that I can do anything I set my mind to - so long as I prepare my body correctly. And I learned what I need to push myself to the next challenge (mainly fear and a deadline). So, I'm taking those lessons with me into 2011.

It will be hard to top 2010, but I'm setting things up to do so. Heck, just the fact that I will be finishing law school this year is pretty amazing (in December). Plus, I'm signing up for a half marathon, and am setting new weight-loss and maintenance goals for myself. I'll blog about those in a few days.

How was your 2010? What milestones did you reach? What lessons are you taking into 2011?

28-Day Boootcamp? I'm in!

2011-01-03T08:01:00.000-08:00

Did you make any New Year's Resolutions? For me, I set a big goal: This year I will run a half marathon ... on April 10, if I have my druthers.

The funny thing is, after walking 20 miles a day for three days straight last summer, 13.1 miles isn't that intimidating to me. Maybe it should be, since this will involve the move I hate the most: running. But if I learned anything in 2010, I learned that I am capable of doing whatever I set my mind to doing - so long as I plan and prepare adequately.

So, since the race I want to run is in 14 weeks, I've spent this morning coming up with a training plan for the half-marathon. Most of the plans I see online are 10-week plans for people who can run 3 miles without stopping. Because I have only done that once and it was months ago, I figure I need a bit more time.

My plan involves spending the next 4 weeks getting my body back into running shape. This, of course, involves training my brain that running does not mean Death himself is after me and is no need to panic. It involves reminding my heart that it's ok to pound a bit quicker for awhile. And reminding my lungs that they need to work while I run - the entire time.

So, imagine my glee when I saw a 28-day Bootcamp program in my inbox from Sparkpeople. Ladies, I forwarded it to you in case you wanted to join too.

I just finished the video for Day One and, um, yeah. I'm a lot more out-of-shape than I realized! But that's ok. With the 28-Day Bootcamp program, and cardio 5 days a week, I still think I can be running 3 miles by the end of January and then ready to build miles for the half-marathon.

The video was quick and really did get my heart rate going. The dogs, watching the entire time, thought I'd lost my mind and were very concerned. But, I already feel like I accomplished something this year and that's all that matters!

Seriously, check out www.SparkPeople.com if you haven't already. It is GREAT for tracking fitness, counting calories, and reading healthy recipes. If you have joined, post your user name so we can find you! I'm Nallie01 and can use a few more friends on there.

Right or wrong?

2011-01-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

I was wrong.

Apparently, I can cast it all aside and just eat. At least that's what it seems I've been doing the past week. In the name of "not wasting food" I have been eating leftovers from Christmas all week - in moderation, of course. But then add in the left over pecan pie I've eaten every day. And the 6 chocolate chip cookies I had for New Year's ... and it seems I'm not necessarily the fatty-snob we thought I was!

But it's all over today. I just used up the last of the mashed potatoes in pancakes and will throw away and remaining pecan pie after dinner. I won't lie - this week of excess has been tasty (though the cookies were a bit too hard for my taste and - technically - wasted calories since they weren't the texture I prefer) but I don't like how these foods have made me feel. I haven't been able to eat nearly as many vegetables as usual and I can definitely tell a difference in my energy and sleeping habits. Also, I haven't gotten my usual amounts of calcium and fiber lately and I notice a difference in other areas because of this.

Finances are still a bit tight until my student loan disbursement so I'm stuck with a lot of frozen vegetables until mid-January. Also, my protein has to come from beans until pay day. But there is a lot that I can make from my fridge. I have lots of black-eyed peas and lentils left over from New Year's Day. Plus, we have some venison sausage that was given to us in Texas.

Anyway, I digress. I stepped on the scale this morning and got a VERY unwelcome shock: 147.8. Um, that puts me back into the overweight category - and is totally unacceptable! It also perfectly illustrates the points I've made in previous posts. 1) I want a buffer that allows me to gain a bit of weight without going back to being overweight. 2) I can't let down my guard - even if "it's the holidays" - if I want to stay a healthy weight. At least not yet.

So, I guess, really, I was right. Phew. I hate being wrong.

Ghosts of Christmas Past

2010-12-29T13:46:00.000-08:00

Day After Christmas with Dad ... just part of the food we served

A lot of people feel justified to eat whatever they want during the holidays. For some reason, "It's the holidays" has become an acceptable reason to make unhealthy food choices.

As I looked around at the foods served at the various holiday gatherings I was blessed to attend, I was scared. Scared for my family, scared for our society and scared for myself.

I realize the word "scared" may seem a bit melodramatic, but it's the only word that aptly applies.

I am scared out of my mind of gaining my weight back. I have nightmares about it - and I wake up in a cold sweat and am scared to look in a mirror in case it turns out that losing weight was only a dream.

And so, the holidays freak me out.

When I look at what my friends said they were eating over the holidays - and the menus planned by my families, I feared for them too. Most of the people in my family are over weight. Some try to fight it - feebly - and others have completely given up. Instead of looking to the new year with an attitude on healthy living, they are embraced by the ghosts of Christmas past and their recipes. You know the ones - full of butter, oil, sugar, and heavy cream - passed down through the generations. Recipes that are acceptable if you spend hours a day working the fields and farm animals, but don't fare so well for those who sit in front of a computer each day and night.

Check it:
Christmas Eve: Tortilla soup, bean and cheese tostadas, chicken enchiladas, pecan pie

Christmas Day: Venison breakfast sausage and eggs with cheese, mashed potatoes, gravy, chicken-fried venison, peanut brittle nut mix (aka crack in a can!), biscuits and English pea salad (it may sound healthy, but the cheese and mayo take care of that quite quickly), and snacky sweets. At least I took along Hungry Girl's Peppermint Pie (which is AMAZING!), Then later that night, during the Cowboys game it was chips and queso, chocolate-covered cherries and various other sweets.

Day After Christmas: Oreos (3, as my breakfast), Dr. Pepper, brisket, ham, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, fruit salad, sausage balls, and mini candy bars.

And yes, I ate it.

I was in a strange position. First, people expect me to be snobby about food (and while I am, I don't want to show that as a guest in their home!) and refuse to eat the "bad" stuff. My usual solution involves taking my own dishes that are healthy and satisfy me. I did the best I could this weekend: I took low calorie desserts and made a low-fat version of my grandmother's mac and cheese to go alongside the "original recipe" version. Second: There just wasn't the option to eat only healthy foods - because there weren't any! The only choice I had was to eat small portions and avoid the worst of the dishes.

I didn't go back for seconds either - a change from my past years. Instead, I packed up as many leftovers as I could and brought them home with me to be enjoyed throughout the next week, in reasonable proportions, served with healthy sides, etc.

Why we can't change a few of our traditions? Is it really necessary to serve ham AND brisket? Sweet potatoes AND mashed potatoes? Does the venison steak need to be fried? If so, then can we choose between potatoes OR biscuits? Of course we can! It's easy to say "Don't eat it all" but that's hard in practice when you know the trouble the cooks went to when cooking. But how about those heirloom recipes? Do they have to be followed as if Jesus himself handed them down? Hello - fat free milk! I made two versions of my grandmother's mac and cheese and the butter-free version was complimented as much as the original recipe!

You see, I don't expect everyone to abstain from the indulgences of the holidays - that's why I did my little Christmas Kitchen Advent Adventure. The idea was to indulge a little throughout, rather than a lot in a few days. Of course, I just can't seem to let myself indulge any more - most of the advent was low in calories and fat - and I'm not complaining! I was VERY happy going into Christmas weekend.But I just can't get behind letting myself forget all the healthy habits I've worked so hard to learn over the past year.

I thought about letting down my guard, and a couple of times did, but I didn't like it. I felt out of control and like a cheater. Can a drug addict allow themselves to let down their guard because "it's the holidays" and that means it's ok to snort a little cocaine? How about an alcoholic and the New Year's bubbly? No! Then it makes sense that a food addict can't either! I don't feel bad about my discipline either. Especially since I have very little guilt from the weekend except that pound I gained. Gr. I've worked so hard to lose this weight, that I'm not cool with the idea of it coming back, even a single pound. It's a heck of a lot easier to gain a pound than it is to lose it!

NCKAA: 3 Days Until Christmas!

2010-12-22T22:03:00.000-08:00

Self Magazine Sugar Cookies

3/4 c flour
3/4 c whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
pinch salt
4 tbsp butter, softened
1/4 c Sugar substitute
1/4 c Sugar
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract

Whisk flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt in bowl.

In another bowl, beat butter and sugars with hand mixer until light and fluffy - add egg whites and vanilla. Beat until just combined.

Gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture until formed.

Roll dough into log and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Cut into shapes and bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes.

Makes 40 two-inch cookies.

Nutritional Information Per Cookie: Calories: 38, Fat: 1g; Carbs: 6g, Fiber: 0g; Protein:1g
NOTE: The cookies in the photo were dipped in the glaze used for the doughnuts below.

Minty Mini-Doughnuts

Sugar cookie dough
Cooking SPray
2 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tbsp skim milk
2 medium candy canes, crushed

Heat oven to 350. Coat 2 cookie sheets with spray. Take sugar cookie dough above, cut into 4 equals pieces. Then cut each of those pieces into 16 pieces. Roll each piece between your fingers to form a 1.5 to 2-inch log. Pinch together ends of each log to form rings and place doughnuts 1 inch apart on cookie sheet. Bake 1 batch at a time until dough puffs, 5-6 minutes.

Which sugar and milk in a bowl until smooth. Dip top of each warm cookie into sugar glaze; press into candy. Let cool on wire racks.

Makes 64 doughnuts

Nutritional Information Per Doughnut: 28 calorie; 1 g fat; 5g carbs; 0g fiber; 0g protein

Finally! The search for the perfect sugar cookie recipe for the holidays is over. Self Magazine to the rescue. The doughnuts are super cute and tasty, too.

NCKAA: 5 Days Until Christmas

2010-12-20T19:19:00.000-08:00

Snow Chili

8 oz cubed chicken breast
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cans Navy beans (or 3-4 cups homemade)
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup uncooked white rice
5-6 slices of jalapeno
1 tsp white pepper
2 tsp cumin
Optional: 1 cup white corn (If you've got it handy, but don't use yellow corn ... you know what they say about the yellow snow!)

Saute onions and cook chicken breast in frying pan. Combine all ingredients in crock pot, cook on high 2-3 hours, until rice is done. Enjoy!

Nutritional Information: Calories: 253.5; Total Fat: 1.2 g; Cholesterol: 18.9 mg; Sodium: 710.5 mg; Total Carbs: 44.1 g; Dietary Fiber: 7.1 g; Protein: 16.7 g

I can hardly believe I forgot to post this recipe when we had our first snow day last week! It's officially tradition for me to make Snow Chili on the day of the first snow.

I know a lot of white chilis cal for ground turkey, but the chicken is SOOOOO much better - juicier and moister and I highly recommend it in any turkey chili recipe. For reals.

The point of Snow Chili, of course, is to have something warm and festive to eat after hours of snow ball fights and snow man building. I love living where it snows!!! We are heading to Texas for Christmas, so I'm not likely to have a white one this year (though we did last Christmas!!!!). But there has been snow on the ground for the past week up in Kansas City and it's been a lovely winter wonderland. This was a great way to celebrate the first flakes too.

NCKAA: 7 Days Until Christmas

2010-12-18T11:32:00.000-08:00

Orange Smiles

1 orange

Cut orange into 8-10 segments. Enjoy!

Note: Save the orange peel to make Crandied Orange Peel :-)

Nutritional Information: Calories: 87; Fiber: 4.4g; Carbs: 21.7g; Protein: 1.7g

Sometimes, it's the simple things that can make you smile. For me, oranges make me think of Christmas and that makes me smile.

I've got several more recipes on my list for Natalie's Christmas Kitchen Advent Adventure, but for some reason, Orange Smiles were calling out to me today.

I also have another batch of craisins in the dehydrator. This time, I cut each cranberry in half (tedious, but no big deal if you use cooking shears and have a favorite tv show in the background), dissolved 1/2 cup Splenda in 1 cup water (boiled to dissolve) and soaked the berries in the sugar water for 30 minutes (save the berry water for Crandied Orange Peels!). Then I spread them on the dehydrator and have had it going all day. These look a lot prettier than the batch I made a few weeks ago. I've got baking plans for some and breakfast plans for the rest (we love them in oatmeal and cream of wheat!).

NCKAA: 10 Days Until Christmas

2010-12-15T21:06:00.000-08:00

Hot Dr. Pepper

12 oz. Dr. Pepper (1 can)
2 slices lemon

Heat Dr. Pepper until just boiling.

Place lemon slice in bottom of mug and pour hot Dr. Pepper over it.

Let cool until drinkable. Enjoy!

Serves 2.

Nutritional Information: Calories: 75; Carbs: 28; Protein: 0g; Sodium: 40 mg

Hot Dr. Pepper is a Texan delicacy. My mother told me it was the first thing my parents made when they bought their first microwave. Our generation doesn't make it much (well, except me), but you can still get it at the Dr. Pepper Museum soda fountain in Waco.

There is just something soothing about the bubbly, thick, sweet caramelly goodness of hot Dr. Pepper on a cold day. Tonight, I'm drinking it to inspire me for my final final exam. I have 11 hours to write ten pages ... and I'm not even confident enough in the subject to bs a single page, must less 10. Wish me luck!

NCKAA: 12 Days Until Christmas

2010-12-13T17:03:00.000-08:00

Don't judge me. It's finals week!

Finals Frozen Pizza

1 Supreme frozen pizza

Follow directions on back of packaging.

Nutritional Information: 1/3 of pizza: 330 calories ... I'm in!

When we last visited the grocery store, I had several challenges before me. 1) We are both broke so I didn't have a big budget to use for my weekly groceries 2) I'm in the midst of finals week and that means the study munchies have set in hardcore.

Imagine my surprise when, looking at low-cost dinner choices, I found a pleasant surprise in the information on the back of Tony's Supreme Pizza! I conveniently failed to look past the calorie count ... so you know, don't ask me about the fat, protein or sodium. At least I got a kind with vegetables on it!

Oh and it was a nice little holiday splurge, thank you very much. Plus, the crust was thin and I figure limited in the carbs. It's definitely got better fat and calorie stats than delivered pizza. At $1.98 a pizza, it was a lot cheaper than delivery, too!!!

NCKAA: 16 Days Until Christmas

2010-12-09T07:40:00.000-08:00

Grilled Grinch Hands
(aka grilled cactus)
(aka grilled nopales)

Any number of nopales paddles (1 per serving)
olive oil spray

Carefully hold prickly paddles from the thick end. Using a sharp knife, scrape down the paddle to remove the prickles. Rinse.

Lightly spray olive oil on each side of every paddle and grill 5 minutes each side.

If you really want it to look like the Grinch's hands, cut down each paddle 4 times, to create fingers.

Don't these look like Grinch hands????

Nutritional information: 10 calories a paddle, plus stats from your oil; Protein: 2g; Carbs: 2 g; Fat: 0g

Cuddly as a Cactus Grinch Fingers

4 nopales paddles
1/2 medium onion, cut into strips
3 cloves garlic, minced

Prepare paddles as above. Cut into bite-size strips. Rinse again.

Sautee onions and garlic in large pot. Add nopales and enough water to cover. Bring to boil, let simmer 20 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Great for stews, salads, salsas or as a vegetable side dish.

Nutritional information: 10 calories a cup; Protein: 2g; Fat: 0g

Nopales con Huevos

4 oz. cooked nopales
1 egg
1/4 c egg substitute
1/4 c red pepper, chopped and sauteed

Mix all ingredients in frying pan and scramble together. Top with pepper jack cheese if you're feeling brave. Enjoy!

Nutritional Information: Calories: 135.0; Total Fat: 5.2 g; Total Carbs: 7.8 g; Dietary Fiber: 3.6 g; Protein: 14.6 g

So, this is officially a new holiday tradition for me! Though, technically, cactus season is in the late spring and early summer. I just love the idea of playing off the Grinch song and making it festive. And the left overs are delicious for breakfast!

Since last night was my first time to cook cactus myself, I decided to try grilled and boiled and decide which I like best: Grilled won. MMmmm.

The paddles were a lot easier to work with than I thought they'd be, which was nice. I only got poked by a needle once and that was at the grocery store when I was bagging them. If you buy your own, avoid the limp paddles, by the way. You want them to be sturdy, not slumpy.

Here's more on the awesomeness that is edible cactus.

NCKAA: 17 Days Until Christmas

2010-12-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

"Egg in the Middle of Toast"

1 slice bread*
1 egg
Spray butter
Cooking spray

1. Remove middle of toast. I usually make a smaller hole than this, but since this is part of my advent, I chose to go festive!

2. Spray both sides with butter, spray frying pan with cooking spray and put on medium heat.

3. Crack egg into hole.

4. When the egg is cooked enough (you should be able to slide the toast around the pan easily), flip! Cook until other side is done. If the bread isn't toasty, keep flipping, but don't cook it so long that the yolk cooks.

5. "Pop" the yolk and smear over the toast. Since you can't see the gingerbread man anymore (though deep inside we know he's there), I decided to serve his cut out as toast.

*I use Wonder Smart White Bread because it's 50 calories a slice and has the same amount of fiber as whole wheat bread. Adjust the nutritional information based on your bread.

Nutritional Information: Calories: 125; Total Fat: 5.5g; Protein 8.2 grams; Carbs 11.6 g.

Growing up, "Egg in the Middle of Toast" was a household staple. Some people call it Toad in the Hole and other such things, but my family is pretty pragmatic and says it like it is.

This was a favorite breakfast for us all and I was bound and determined to make it healthy. It's not like it was hard, after all. I just swapped real butter for spray butter and went with a low-calorie bread. Lately, I've been missing home so having this for breakfast really hits the spot in many ways.

At the starting line

2010-12-08T06:33:00.000-08:00

A brief email exchange this Weigh Day (141.2!!!) has given me the inspiration to write a blog that's been on my list since I reached my first goal weight.

Many have asked me why I want to keep losing weight. In fact, some people have expressed concerns about me losing too much weight. Sure, when you look at my before and after, it's extreme. But that's only because of where I started.

The end of the healthy weight spectrum for me is 145. If I weigh an ounce more than that, technically (according to my BMI), I'm unhealthy. While that may or may not be set-in-stone truth, it's the guide I've chosen to follow. I never want to be an unhealthy weight again. In fact, I'm mad at myself for living with an unhealthy weight for so long. I should have started fighting to lose weight the moment I crossed into "overweight" not when I realized I was "obese."
There never should have been a day in my life when I got over 145 (or it's equivalent when I was growing up). Weighing 145 pounds is only "skinny" to me because I started at 195. My start should have come when I first hit 146.

When I look in the mirror, I don't feel skinny because I'm not - yet. I am seeing a truth in myself. Sure, 145 is awesome and I'm thrilled to be healthy, but my perspective has always different than it should have been because I've always been overweight. I'm glad that 145 isn't satisfying to me. Because one day I will look at this size as the enemy, not the goal.

It isn't about how far I've come, though I am very proud of myself. It's all about the destination. I want to be physically fit, healthy, sexy, toned and energetic. I want 145 to be my extreme. Weighing 145 should be too much for me. And from now on, it is.

No, going from 195 to 145 was just me getting into my healthy place. It was my walk from the parking lot to the starting line. Now, the gun has gone off and I'm really starting.

NCKAA: 19 Days Until Christmas

2010-12-06T18:17:00.000-08:00

Everyday Green Bean Casserole

8 oz fresh green beans*
1 tsp. salt
1 can low-fat Cream of Celery soup
1 piece bread
1 pat butter

1. Wash green beans. Snap tips from each and break in half.

2. Bring water to boil, with salt. Preheat over to 350.

3. Boil green beans for 5 minutes. Remove from boiling water and immediately immerse in ice bath for 5 minutes to stop cooking.

4. Drain green beans well, use paper towel to pat dry.

5. Place half the green beans in bottom of small casserole dish. Cover with half the cream of celery soup. Put remaining green beans on next layer and finish with remaining soup.

6. Cook uncovered for 45 minutes. During last 5-10 minutes, butter the bread and toast well.

7. After the green beans have cooked 45 mins, use a knife to scrap crumbs from the toast, both sides. Crumble crusts etc.

8. Return casserole to oven and bake 10 more minutes.

9. Enjoy!

Serves 4.

*If you're in a time-crunch, I suppose you can use frozen green beans ... if you must. Start at step 4.

Nutritional Information: Calories: 70.8; Total Fat: 2.5 g; Cholesterol: 3.1 mg; Sodium: 398.2 mg; Total Carbs: 11.7 g; Dietary Fiber: 3.2 g; Protein: 2.1 g.

Here's the thing about green bean casserole: I love it! I forgot how much I love it until last Thanksgiving when I found a recipe similar to this in Hungry Girl (she uses water chestnuts and soy crisps). It's such a simple dish and so tasty that I can't, for the life of me, figure out why we save it for the holidays only.

Sadly, Kevin isn't a green bean fan so I can only make them when he's not here for dinner - like tonight! I didn't have any this Thanksgiving because it was my job to make it using someone else's ingredients and I wanted to throw up when I saw the calorie count in the 2 CANS of Cream of Mushroom soup that was there. No thanks! It's not like I was going hungry by abstaining anyway.

I added it to my list of holiday goodies to enjoy throughout the season. I feel it is getting much more attention from me because of this.

P.S. Green beans are full of potassium and help ladies deal with pains that come at a certain time of the month.

NCKAA: 20 Days Until Christmas

2010-12-05T07:59:00.000-08:00

Gingerbread Oatmeal Casserole

2 eggs (or 1/2 c egg substitute)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/4 cup molasses
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
3 cups oatmeal (not instant)

Combine above ingredients, mixing well. Pour into greased pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Makes 8 servings.

Nutritional Information: Calories: 175.2; Total Fat: 3.5 g; Cholesterol: 52.3 mg; Sodium: 153.7 mg; Total Carbs: 31.0 g; Dietary Fiber: 3.2 g; Protein: 6.2 g

As part of my gingerbread experiments, I made a tasty oatmeal casserole today. I used a fork to crush up the "slices" in a bowl and covered them with milk (next time I'll warm the milk first). YUM! It could use a bit more fiber for my liking, but as a breakfast "treat" it's a win! I just need a pan like this for next time!

NCKAA: 21 Days Until Christmas

2010-12-04T23:59:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness I've been soooo busy! I'm working a part time job, finishing up classes (and that grand 20-page paper that ended up being a whopping 34 pages), gearing up for finals, entertaining visitors and trying to maintain my sanity.

Unfortunately, writing my Advent posts is getting a little sloppy - but enjoying my Advent treats isn't!Today's entry isn't a recipe - no time to cook this week and it's bringing me down - it's a collection of holiday happiness that can be eaten almost guilt free!

Pizzelle: First, if you haven't met them yet, run to the nearest store and buy a package of Vanilla Pizelles. These Italian-style cookies are a mere 23 calories each and they are bigger than the top of a coffee mug! They aren't super sweet (only 1.3 g of sugar a cookie) and are wonderful with your morning (or, in my case, afternoon and evening) coffee. Reko, the brand I bought, claims to be preservative free and has a list of simple ingredients - all words a 7 year-old could pronounce. A serving size is 6 cookies, but I find 2 to more than satisfy my sweet tooth!

Mini Candy Canes: They might be pure sugar (though according to their ingredients they are also corn syrup, peppermint oil and artificial color), but these little treats are great for satisfying a holiday craving for "traditional" tastes. Three of them is only 35 calories. That's less than 12 calories each! I bought a box of 40 for $.99 so they are also budget-friendly. I read somewhere that peppermint is a good appetite suppressor and munchie-fighter. Sure, we'll go with that since it's a plus, too.

Amaretti Cookies: I just recently (today) discovered these amazing little macaroon-esque cookies. They taste like light, crispy, cherry-flavored air. Kevin wasn't a fan, but at 19 calories a piece (Lazzaroni brand), they have a new place in my heart. A serving size is 7 cookies (130 calories), but 3 works great for a sweet shot with "fine" wine or liquers. Or, you know, as a snack. These are available at gourmet grocery stores and I've found a couple of recipes (Like this one!) that show them to pack some nut power. I haven't tried making my own yet, but you can be sure that I will when I get the time!

Gingerbread Cookies: So, my register at the store has a big can of gingersnap cookies that are free to guests as a sample. And they stare at me all day. Their spicy aroma tickling my nose ... almost as much at their nutrition info tickles my fancy. At a mere 23 calories each, it's hard to keep my hands out of that cookie can! Most gingerbread cookies are a better alternative to other cookie recipes and I've been baking it up like crazy - though I have yet to find a recipe that makes me happy enough to post here. When I do, you'll be the first to know!

NCKAA: 23 Days Until Christmas

2010-12-02T07:20:00.000-08:00

Oatmeal with Pomegranate!

1/2 cup quick cook oats
1 1/2 cup water*
1/3 cup pomegranate seeds, divided

Heat water to almost boiling. Add all but 1 tablespoon of the pomegranate seeds.

When water boils, add oatmeal and cook 3-5 minutes.*

Top with remaining pomegranate seeds, let cool and enjoy!

* The box calls for 1 cup of water. However, I've found that if I add an extra half cup and cook the oatmeal longer than the recommended 1-2 minutes, I get more out of it without adding calories. Kevin thinks it's a bit watery so he sticks to the usual recipe. Feel free to do the same.

Nutritional Information: Calories: 176; Fat: 3.1g; Sodium: 1.2mg; Carbohydrates: 33.6; Protein: 5.4g; Fiber: 4.2g

This may seem like a simple recipe that doesn't have much to do with the holidays, but to me it isn't. My grandmother has an amazing pomegranate tree and every year would send us home with a dozens poms, at least! They are one of my favorite holiday treats. Little did I know until I was old enough to pay attention how expensive they are to buy at the store!

Now that I'm grown and living 500 miles from my grandmother's tree, they aren't free for me. So, when I buy a pomegranate (yes, just one!) I savor it. The particular pom I opened this morning is a good one - perfectly ripe, super juicy and yielded about a cup of seeds!

There are a couple of other recipes I might try, but to be honest, pomegranate seeds are one of my favorite snacks all by themselves. They take a lot of work (I tend to suck the seed then spit it out) so it tricks my body into thinking it's eating more than it is. When the study-time munchies hit, a pom just might be a lifesaver!

NCKAA: 24 Days Until Christmas

2010-12-01T12:05:00.000-08:00

No, you didn't miss the 25 Days Until Christmas post ... I didn't write one. Yesterday was a sad day and didn't involve any cooking or culinary creativity. My dog passed away and I ate ice cream from McDonald's instead. Solace in food is bad, I know. But he loved ice cream!

Anyway, I owe you two recipes so I am going to divulge two ways to use Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls for breakfast.

Hungry Girl Monkey Bread

3 tbsp. No Calorie Sweetener (granulated), divided
2 tsp. cinnamon, divided
2 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown)
2 tbsp. sugar-free pancake syrup
2 tbsp. brown sugar (not packed)
1 package Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheet
1/2 tsp. baking powder

*If you don't have the dough sheet, use reduced fat crescent rolls and smoosh the edges together to create a "seamless" sheet. It doesn't matter how perfect it looks.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix 1 tbsp. Sweetener and 1 tsp. cinnamon in a large bowl or container. Set aside. Spray six cups of a muffin pan with nonstick spray, and set pan aside as well.

3. Place a small pot on the stove, but do not heat it. Add butter, syrup, brown sugar, 2 tbsp. sweetener, and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Leave this on the unheated stove, to be melted and mixed later.

4. Roll out the dough on a clean dry surface (smoosh if using rolls), and sprinkle evenly with baking powder. Gently smooth baking powder into the sheet with your fingers.
5. Cut dough sheet widthwise into six strips equal in size. Cut each strip into four squares. Using your hands, roll each square into a ball, for a total of 24 dough balls.

6. Place 12 dough balls in the bowl with the sweetener-cinnamon mixture. Lightly toss to coat, and then place them gently in the muffin pan, with four dough balls in each of three cups. No need to press the dough balls into the pan -- just let them fall naturally. Repeat with remaining dough balls, so that each of the six muffin cups contains four coated dough balls. Set aside.

7. Bring the small pot on the stove to medium heat. Stirring frequently, heat just until butter has melted and contents are mixed well. Evenly spoon the butter mixture over the dough balls.

Bake in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes, or until puffy and firm. Allow to cool slightly, and then plate and enjoy! There will be gooeyness in the bottom of the cups - I make sure to scoop that out and drizzle it on top of each "muffin."

Serves 6.
Nutritional Information: Calories: 154; Fat: 7.5g; Sodium: 369mg; Carbs: 21g; Fiber: 0.5g; Sugars: 6.5g; Protein: 2g

It's worth the hassle to make these (I know it looks complicated, but it really isn't!) because they look pretty impressive. But if you just don't wanna go through the steps, here is a similar recipe from my mom that is a Christmas morning tradition for us (The monkey bread, however, will soon be added to the list of traditional eats).

Tiny Cinnamon Rolls

1 8 ounce can refrigerated reduced fat crescent rolls
1 ½ teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Unroll crescent roll dough and put the pieces together to make one rectangle of dough.
Pinch the seams together to seal

Stir together the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the dough rectangle –
leave one edge plain (so the dough will stick together after you roll it)

Roll up, starting with a long side. Go slowly and try to keep the roll from being too
loose. Press the edges to seal.

Cut the log into 12 slices and place in a lightly greased 8” cake pan – or into mini-muffin
pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes

Icing:
1/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon milk (or more)
1 drip vanilla extract

Combine powdered sugar, milk and vanilla, stirring until smooth; drizzle over warm
cinnamon rolls.

I haven't calculated the nutrition stats for this, but the icing holds a lot of extra sugar, to be honest. It might be yummy to make this with the syrup from the Monkey Bread recipe!

Linking and Thinking More

2010-12-01T08:50:00.000-08:00

Here is a round-up of links I've received lately ... the good ones, at least.

Can you be healthy at any size?
Women's Health is asking a question we all want answered. Is BMI really that important? Can you be healthy and still "overweight"?

Cut your Carbohydrate Footprint
The guys over at Eat This, Not That point out hidden sugars in what have become everyday "health" foods - like store-bought granola!

31 Days to Healthier Holidays
Sparkpeople has provided daily tips to get us through the next month of holiday hoopla. Hooray! They provide a nice calendar that will look great hanging on fridges or cubicle walls.

The 9 Best Winter Foods
Another winner from Eat This, Not That is a great introduction to winter fruits and veggies that might spark some creativity in your kitchen. I know it did in mine!

NCKAA: 26 Days Until Christmas

2010-11-29T18:43:00.000-08:00

Waste not, want not ... right? Since Thanksgiving is over, Kevin's roommates are clearing their house of fall decorations. This includes the 3 large carving pumpkins they bought. Thinking of my baking, they sent the pumpkins my way and I've been working up a storm.

Generally, carving pumpkins aren't meant for baking. However, when you're poor like me, you make it work. A can of pumpkin costs about $1.50. Since a 5-pound gourd can yield the equivalent of 4 cans, I'm pretty excited. I cut into the first pumpkin yesterday and removed the seeds. Then, I peeled it, cut the meat up in small cubes and boiled it for about 30 minutes. The cooked pumpkin then found it's way into my blender. A few zaps in there and voila! Pureed pumpkin!

Here are the recipes I've already made:

Cajun-Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 scant teaspoon Cajun seasoning, or to taste
paprika, for more color, if desired
a little salt, depending on saltiness of the seasoning
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 300°.

Rinse seeds well and get as much of the pumpkin pulp off of them as possible. Some of the small pieces are going to adhere so don't worry about perfection here. Pat dry with paper towels.

Toss pumpkin seeds with seasonings. Combine oil and Worcestershire sauce; stir into seeds until well blended and coated.

Roast, turning from time to time, for about 45 to 60 minutes, or until nicely browned and crunchy.

Egg Noodles with Pumpkin Sauce

1 cup onion, chopped fine
1.5 cup red bell pepper, chopped fine
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin
1 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons almond milk
6 oz egg noodles, whole wheat
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan as an accompaniment

In a large skillet saute the onion, bell pepper, and garlic over moderate heat (use olive oil spray or water to saute), stirring, until the vegetables are softened, stir in the pumpkin, the broth, the water, the almond milk, and salt and pepper to taste, and simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until reduced by a third. While the sauce is simmering, in a kettle of salted boiling water boil the noodles until it is al dente, ladle out the reserve about 1 cup of the cooking water, and drain the egg noodles well.

Add the egg noodles to the sauce, cook the mixture over moderate heat, stirring and thinning the sauce as desired with some of the reserved cooking water (I rarely have to thin the sauce), for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pasta is coated well, and stir in the parsley. Top with Parmesan and cover skillet for 1-2 minutes.

Serves 4.
Nutritional Information: Amount Per Serving: Calories: 201.7; Total Fat: 2.9 g; Cholesterol: 4.9 mg; Sodium: 250.7 mg; Total Carbs: 39.6 g; Dietary Fiber: 6.5 g; Protein: 9.9 g

Peeling pumpkins is a HUGE pain, both literally and figuratively. For Pumpkin #2, I am going to try a roasting method instead of a boiling method to cook the pumpkin. All it involves is cutting the pumpkin into chunks and roasting it in the over at 375 or so for a more than hour. When the flesh is cooked, you apparently just scoop it out and puree or mash it. Since I've made roasted pumpkins like this for breakfast a lot this fall (just with tiny pumpkins), I'm pretty sure this will work out. I'll leave comments below to let you know how well it works.

For Pumpkin #3, I plan to make pumpkin flour. I did it once earlier this fall. To do it, you peel the pumpkin (boo!), cut the meat into quarter-inch strips and dehydrate them. Then, you grind the dried pumpkin into a fine powder. Though I haven't tried cooking with it yet, I understand you can replace 1/4 of the flour in most recipes. This is a big calorie saver!

Can't blame Thanksgiving

2010-11-29T12:31:00.000-08:00

So, I was quite proud of myself on Thanksgiving - I limited my calorie intake to just 1600 calories for the entire day! I didn't eat until I was uncomfortable and I didn't go home feeling guilty for overindulging.

And then the weekend came ... and so did my mom.

I am proud to say that Mom has lost 25-30 pounds on WeightWatchers and we love to share recipes and weight loss tips. We are both concerned with what we eat and how much - until she comes to visit. Then we go a little hog wild - pun intended.

Kansas City is a wonderful town for those who like food. Sure we have great barbecue here, but there are many other good eateries as well. When I get visitors I tend to take them on an eating tour of KC - and it's pretty tragic for any diet, much less one recovering from Thanksgiving damage!

I honestly can't blame Thanksgiving for the weight gain I've seen each time I've stepped on the scale since Friday morning. Friday was a lovely day for me and the scale - I saw 141.8 for the first time ever! But it was fleeting - Saturday gave me 142.8, Sunday showed 143.4 and this morning was a lovely 145.4. Gulp. I can only blame a food-packed weekend. At least it was good food instead of junk food. I can use that an an explanation, at least.

Saturday started with diet-friendly A-muesling French Toast. But then the day saw the obligatory visit to Oklahoma Joe's (Mom's fave bbq in town) for a lunch of ribs - no comment regarding the calorie count there - and a visit to Julian for dinner. Julian is a restaurant owned by Mom's fave reality star, Celina Tio, who lost in the semi-finals of the Next Iron Chef a couple of weeks ago. Ms. Tio actually delivered our food, cleared our plates and stayed to chat with Mom for a few minutes! It was a great experience and just another reason I love Kansas City.

The food was good too. I had seared whole trout, brown and wild rice, and braised celery with lemon. It seemed healthy, but who knows what actually went into it. Kevin had pasta and Mom had pork tenderloin with brussel sprouts and parsnips. Oh, and we ordered a side of Boulevard Pale Ale Mac and Cheese (Boulevard is our local brewery). All I know is that it was all super tasty! Plus, we shared three desserts that were amazing and I know they weren't healthy: butternut squash cheesecake, "banana cotta" with strawberries and chocolate, and salted chocolate puddin' with ginger donut. "Good" doesn't even begin to describe it.

On Sunday, following a breakfast of cinnamon and sugar monkey bread and cream of wheat, I then arranged lunch for us Sunday at Hereford House, a KC original and famous steakhouse. The idea was to have a light lunch of steak soup. But we decided to split the 8 oz KC center cut that helped make the steakhouse famous. Kevin ate 4 ounces of the steak and Mom and I each had a couple of ounces. Plus, the soup was as thick as gravy! It was very filling and I ended up bringing half of mine home.

Overall, I think we did a good job of mitigating damages while still enjoying, tasting, and savoring, but I certainly didn't stick to 1300 calories a day this weekend. And Thanksgiving isn't to blame one bit. I shifted into some form of vacation brain and lost my mind a little. I made my dinner selections with calories in mind, but wasn't nearly as meticulous as I usually am. It didn't help that I failed to drink my usual 80 ounces of water each day and drank about 80 ounces of coffee instead.

Sunday dinner was the Thanksgiving Meatloaf recipe I posted yesterday - and it was healthy and very low in calories. At least I didn't let Thursday get out of hand!

NCKAA: 27 Days Until Christmas

2010-11-28T19:31:00.000-08:00

Ok ex-pats ... do you have access to cranberries and ground turkey? If so, then you can totally make a quick and easy Thanksgiving dinner thanks to this recipe! I hope you're enjoying Natalie's Christmas Kitchen Advent Adventure as much as I am!

Thanksgiving Meatloaf

2 pieces low-calorie bread, toasted and cut into 1-inch squares
1/2 cup nonfat milk
1/4 c egg substitute
1 c celery, finely chopped
1 small onion, diced
1/4 cup dried cranberries* (13 calories)
3 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary, divided
1 pound lean ground turkey
1/2 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce* (~50 calories)
1/2 cup ketchup
1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

In a large bowl, combine toast cubes and milk. Let stand for 10 minutes; break up bread cubes with a fork. Stir in the egg substitute, celery, onion, and cranberries. Add half the rosemary. Crumble turkey over mixture and mix well. Pat into an ungreased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pan.

Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 25 minutes; drain if necessary. Combine the cranberry sauce, ketchup, pepper sauce and remaining rosemary; spread over meat loaf. Bake 20-25 minutes longer or until no pink remains and a meat thermometer reads 165°.

*My dried cranberries are homemade, using Splenda. I used them in my cranberry sauce as well. If you use store-bought craisins, this will change the nutrition information for both the dried cranberries and the cranberry sauce. I included the calories for these ingredients next to them. That way you can subtract my numbers and enter your own if you use ingredients with more calories.

This recipe is adapted from a Taste of Home recipe.

Makes 6 servings.

Nutritional Info: Amount Per Serving: Calories: 179.2; Total Fat: 5.6 g; Cholesterol: 53.8 mg; Sodium: 387.8 mg; Total Carbs: 14.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 2.4 g; Protein: 18.2 g.

I served this tonight with baked sweet potatoes and green beans. For dessert, I made a banana pumpkin custard. Since Mom was in town, it was the best Thanksgiving dinner ever!

Making this reminded me of many make-shift holidays meals from my past. My first Thanksgiving in college was spent home alone while all the roommates went to see friends and family so I made a Turkey Pot Pie and watched football. The first Thanksgiving I spent with my ex away from our families - we made turkey drumsticks and boxed stuffing. The first Christmas Kevin and I celebrated together involved him working. An hour before he got done I decided to go ahead and cook something "fancy." The only store open to buy the fixin's was 7-11. Can it be called fancy when dessert is a fried gas station pie and turkey from a Lunchable?

NCKAA: 28 Days Until Christmas

2010-11-27T15:56:00.000-08:00

When company comes to visit, it's fun impress them with your breakfast skills. In my house, eggs over medium just doesn't cut it. Today, I served up A-muesling French Toast Sticks for the most important meal of the day.

A-Muesling French Toast Sticks

2 slices low-calorie bread (I use Wonder Smart Bread)
1/3 c nonfat milk
1/4 c egg substitute
1 tsp vanilla extract
.5 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp Muesli (I use Hodgson Mill's Apples & More Muesli)
.25 c sugar-free maple-flavored syrup

1) Mix egg substitute, milk, vanilla and cinnamon in shallow pan.

2) Cut bread slices into 3 "sticks" each.

3) Soak the bread sticks for 15 seconds on each side (you shouldn't have any egg mixture left by the end).

4) Spray skillet with non-stick spray. Cook on medium heat, flipping every couple of minutes, until golden brown and cooked on all sides. Make sure to check the edges of the bread sticks.

5) Top with muesli and syrup. Garnish with grapes or apple slices (optional, not included in nutritional data). I used craisins. Yum.

Serves 1.
Nutritional Information: Calories: 258.4; Total Fat: 2.7 g; Cholesterol: 2.2 mg; Sodium: 477.7 mg; Total Carbs: 43.3 g; Dietary Fiber: 7.6 g; Protein: 16.3 g

This is such a great meal to start the day. I stay full almost until lunch thanks to the amount of fiber and protein in this dish. Plus, it's helpful on a day full of calories so that you don't get too snacky.

Our day has had more calories than Thanksgiving! We went for ribs at the barbecue place near my house (I only had a little) and ate the rest of the Pumpkin Chili with that. Tonight we are going to Julian, a restaurant run by a finalist for Next Iron Chef. I'm thinking seared trout, but am not quite sure yet. No matter what, I'm sure there will be some extra calories in there!

We did a lot of shopping this afternoon and I came home with some new cookie cutters. I'm super excited to take them for a spin!

NCKAA: 29 Days Until Christmas

2010-11-26T21:38:00.000-08:00

Jo Anne's Pecan Tarts

Forgive the presentation - they drove 550 miles to get to me.

Ingredients: Mom's homemade pecan pie, made in cupcake tins.

Directions: Clean house like a mad woman for hours until it's ready for Mom's visit. An hour of "heavy cleaning" burns 278 calories if you're my weight. That means you can enjoy the goodies Mom brings!

Nutritional Info: Unavailable. However, a slice of pecan pie is usually around 450 calories a slice.

My mom came to visit for the weekend and brought pecan tarts with her. Sure, pecan pie is a major diet no-no, but Mom (who has lost 30 pounds in the past 8 months!) made her pie into mini "portion-controlled" tarts. And she brought some to me.

Pepper and Pumpkin Chili: Because this isn't really a recipe for you, here is a link to the Pumpkin Chili I put in the crock pot to be ready by the time Mom drove into town. I added leftover Thanksgiving turkey and used chicken broth instead of veggie broth. But I maintain that the red peppers are what really makes this recipe standout from others.

Nutritional Info: 128 calories, plus turkey calories

NCKAA: 30 Days Until Christmas!

2010-11-25T21:18:00.000-08:00

Today's Christmas Kitchen Advent Adventure comes from the gas station. Sure, it's not exactly my kitchen, but it's great when you're on the road! Kevin introduced me to it last year and it's become a winter favorite. Sure, I can make it at home and save a lot of calories, but part of what makes this special is that it warms you up, and peps you up, on long drives.

Kevin's Hot Choffee

8 oz. Hot Chocolate
4 oz. house blend coffee

Mix together. Enjoy!

Nutritional Info: Calories 200 (This depends on the mix used at the gas station. If you make it at home, then it's more like 80 calories).

For Thanksgiving, Kevin and I drove three hours south to Wichita to visit with his family. His brother is finally home after 5 years in the Army (stationed in Germany and deployed to Afghanistan) so it was the first time for me to meet him and the first time the full family had been together in years.

It was a lovely day full for family, food, and only a little blood. But because of my new part-time job, we could only stay the day and had to leave after the Cowboys game. On the way home, we stopped at our usual gas station to stretch our legs and decided it was definitely cold enough for our favorite winter drink: Kevin's Hot Choffee. No matter how you take your coffee, there is no need for cream and sugar in this tasty winter-time road trip treat! It did the trick and we are home after a long day.

We're stuffed and happy - and I'm thrilled to say I kept my calories at less than 1600 thanks to eating moderate servings, cutting calories where I could, and focusing more on the family than the food. It was a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2010-11-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

Ok, Ladies (and Gentleman), I know a few of you are out of the country, and as such you are immune to the food struggles that come with Thanksgiving (trying to give you a positive to cling to if you're feeling homesick!).

For the rest of us, here is a scary statistic according to the editors of Men's Health: The average American consumes 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving day. The folks at the American Council on Exercise say it's 3000 calories.

Either way, that's A LOT!

So, here is to wish you smart decisions. You can still enjoy Thanksgiving without giving in to your ultimate health goals. Count your calories while counting your blessings! Using the fact that it's Thanksgiving and there is a lot of good food as an excuse to overeat is dangerous and, frankly, dumb. We are all strong and we can have a great, enjoyable Thanksgiving without hurting our overall goals.

That being said, if you fall victim to overeating, for whatever reason, here are a couple of tricks:

1. Skip the turkey skin. That's where most of the meat's fat lives.
2. Drink milk with high fat foods. It helps your body eliminate fat.
3. Go for a long walk AFTER the meal. Heavy workouts before often make people feel entitled to eat a lot, because they burned a lot of calories in the day. But, to burn 3000 calories, you need to run for 4 HOURS at a moderate pace.Of course, running 5k before and then walking a couple of miles after dinner isn't such a bad idea ... unless you use it as an excuse to engorge!
4. Pillsbury crescent rolls have 110 calories in them.
5. Half a cup of sweet potatoes, baked, is 90 calories - that's without marshmallows, butter, or brown sugar.
6. 3 ounces of turkey breast is 89 calories; 3 ounces of dark meat is about 165 calories. That's before butter is added (often used in roasting a turkey).
7. The leftovers are just as dangerous - that means multiplying the over eating by numerous meals. Think about healthy leftover ideas. (I posted a few here as well).

Overall, don't beat your self if you do go a little crazy. But at the same time, don't find yourself saying "It's Thanksgiving. It's supposed to be about a lot of food." Because it isn't.

It's Thanksgiving. It's supposed to be about being thankful. And I am thankful for the support y'all have sent my way this past year! I hope you have a great Thanksgiving

NCKAA: 31 Days Until Christmas!

2010-11-24T14:10:00.000-08:00

My crandying paraphernalia :-) MMmmm

Next up in Natalie's Christmas Kitchen Advent Adventure ...

Crandied Orange Peel

3 oranges
1 tablespoon salt
4 cups water
1/2 cup cranberry water *

*When I made craisins earlier this week, I set aside the juices from blanching them and used them in my candied orange peel. If you don't have this - no idea if cranberry juice will work but I don't see why not - then use 2 cups of sugar and 1/2 cup water.

Cut peel of each orange in eighths; loosen from pulp with bowl of spoon. (Eat orange sections as 65 calorie snack.) Add salt to 4 cups water; add peel. Put water, salt and peels in large freezer bag and let stand overnight.

Drain; wash thoroughly. Cover with cold water; heat to boiling. Drain. Repeat three times. This helps remove bitter taste.

Cut peel in strips 1/4 to 1/5 inch thick. In saucepan, combine 2 cups peel, sugar, and 1/2 cup cranberry water. (If using sugar and water, heat and stir till sugar dissolves). Cook slowly till peel till peel is translucent. This can take about 45 minutes. Drain, roll in granulated sugar. Dry on a rack for several hours. Keep away from all animals. Cat hair is murder on these!

After about 5 hours, I wiped the excess sugar from the strips and set it aside (for oatmeal - it's cranberry-sweetened!). Then, I let the peels keep drying.

_________________________________

Today is also Weigh Day and Measurement Day. Slowly, but surely, things are still going down! (Except my cursed calves, of course. Grrr)

My Measurements:
Weight: 142.8 ... overall loss of 52.2!!!
Waist: 27.75 inches ... 0.25 inches smaller than last month
Hips: 37.75 inches ... 0.25 inches smaller than last month
Thigh: 19 inches ... 0.5 inches smaller than last month
Arms: 11 inches ... no change from last month
Calf: 15 inches ... no change from last month, again.

Last Month's Measurements:
Weight: 146.2 pounds
Waist: 28 inches
Hips: 38 inches
Thigh: 19.5 inches
Calf: 15 inches
Arms: 11 inches

Starting Points:
Weight: 195 lbs
Waist: 40 inches
Hips: 47.25 inches
Thigh: 28.5 inches
Upper Arm: 15.5 inches
Calf: 17.25 inches
Push ups: 4
Crunches: 15

NCKAA: 32 Days until Christmas

2010-11-23T06:08:00.000-08:00

Glossary:
Torte: A rich cake, originating in Austria, usually decorated or filled with cream, fruit, nuts, and jam.
Tort: A wrongful act, not including breach of contract, that results in injury to another's person, property, reputation, or the like, and for which the injured party is entitled to compensation.

But no worries, there is nothing wrongful about eating or making these tortes! They are diet-friendly.

I made the dessert for today's Non-Traditional Law Student Association Thanksgiving Lunch and am very excited to take them to school. These Torte-lettes ring in at a mere 186 calories each!

Natalie's Pumpkin TORTE-lettes
1 box yellow cake mix
1 can pumpkin
--
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 tub whipped cream (like Cool Whip)
4 tsp sugar substitute
1/2 cup pumpkin
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 serving McDonald's caramel sauce (from Apple Dippers) - you can use ice cream caramel, but this is easier for portion control.
1/3 c chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Mix cake mix and can of pumpkin. Divide into muffin tins, filling each 2/3. Should make 17 or 18.

3. Bake as directed - about 25 minutes.

4. Put on rack to cool, them transfer to cake pan, cover with plastic wrap and freeze for several hours. This is important when cutting the muffins, otherwise they will crumble.

ONCE FROZEN THROUGH, make frosting.

5. Beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy.

6. Add sugar substitute, 1/2 c pumpkin and pie spice. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.

7. Cut each muffin into three: remove top, cut bottom in half horizontally.

8. Spread frosting on top of each muffin piece - about a quarter-inch thick. Stack each muffin back together. This is easiest if you do a single muffin at a time.

9. Empty McDonald's caramel into small sandwich bag. Cut small hole in corner and use to draw caramel on each muffin. Sprinkle with pecans. Store in refrigerator.

Serves 17.

Nutritional Info:Servings per recipe: 17; Calories per serving: 182.6; Total fat: 5.4 g; Sodium 263.3 mg; Total Carbs: 30.8 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.3g; Protein: 2.9 g.

I'm not going to lie, like most tort lawsuits, there are a lot of elements involved in this creation. I included step-by-step photos to help you out. Trust me, these are super delicious (I split one with Kevin last night) and worth the work and time involved. Hello, they are covered in creamy frosting with nuts and caramel! I was inspired by this beautiful creation and challenged myself to make a low-calorie, low-fat version. I succeeded!

NCKAA: 33 days until Christmas!

2010-11-22T17:27:00.000-08:00

It's still 33 days until Christmas, but I'm already craising hell in the kitchen! For today's Advent Adventure I'm passing on the recipe for making CRAISINS.

Two 12-ounce bags yielded about 2 cups of craisins

Natalie's Crack-tastic Craisins

1 bag fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar substitute (Truvia is my preference, but I used Splenda because I already had a lot of it)
1/2 cup water

1. Sort through cranberries, throwing out any brown or mushy berries. Dissolve sugar substitute in water. Put all ingredients in large pot/pan.
2. Heat until every berry pops.
3. Let cool ten minutes.
4. Smash all berries with back of spoon to make sure they are all popped.
5. Let soak 5 more minutes.
6. Place in dehydrator for 15 hours on 125 degrees (or until they reach desired dryness).
6a. If you don't have a dehydrator, put parchment paper n cookie sheet, spread out cranberries and cook in over on 150 degrees for about 10 hours. Check them after 6 hours and then every hour after until they reach desired dryness.

Possible variations: Try soaking them in orange juice instead of sweetened water. Just note this will add calories. Some of the craisins didn't dry evenly and are still pretty juicy. I have seen some variations that involve cutting each cranberry in half. I might try that for the next batch. I'll let you know if it works any better.

Nutritional info: 1 cup of chopped cranberries is 51 calories. I'm guessing 1/4 cup of these craisins is about 50 calories. Store-bought craisins average about 140 calories for 1/3 cup. Just sayin'

My grocery store has cranberries on sale, so I stocked up! Two bags for $4 is a great deal - plus, they can be frozen, in their original packaging for at least a year.

Because I love craisins (hello, crack-tastic!), and plan to bake with them, I wanted control over the amount of sugar in them (i.e. calories). Store-bought craisins are sweetened using sugars that add calories. Mine are not. Yay! These are tasty, lower in cost, and lower in calories. Score!

I am super excited to sprinkle some in my oatmeal tomorrow morning!

Natalie's Christmas Kitchen Advent Adventure

2010-11-20T15:47:00.000-08:00

I am super motivated to cook - A LOT. I blame all of the holiday-themed emails in my in box.

Of course, the things I want to make are really caloric: pumpkin torte, monkey bread, chocolate pumpkin fudge. Even if I make a lower-calorie version, it's still a lot of food if made (and eaten!) in one weekend.

I want to make it all and have decided on an experiment. It's too late for Thanksgiving, since that day is less than a week away. So, I'm making this proposal for Christmas.

Natalie's Christmas Kitchen Advent Adventure

Say what? Well, I am going to count down the days until Christmas by allowing myself ONE holiday goodie a day. I get to cook as much as I want on the weekends, but I can only EAT one holiday treat a day. The rest, will be handed to others. Kevin can take them to work, I'll share them at school, and I'll hand them out around the neighborhood.

This way, I get to make my cake and eat it too!

I officially started yesterday by making the Hungry Girl Pumpkin Brownie Fudge recipe. Kevin and I each had a couple pieces (65 calories each) and I put the rest in a storage container to take to school for a Thanksgiving lunch Tuesday.

I also made some muffins for the same Thanksgiving lunch and I let Kevin eat an ugly one while the others were put in the freezer until tomorrow when I will decorate them and turn them into gorgeous Pumpkin TORTlettes (Law school lunch calls for law school humor!). I'm really excited about these, by the way, and will probably dedicate an entire post to them tomorrow.

Today, I've been making craisins - I popped cranberries, soaked them in Splenda-water (couldn't afford enough Truvia for this and need to use up my baking Splenda) and am putting them in the dehydrator overnight. They will be used in several recipes: Banana cranberry bread for Thanksgiving dessert, granola bread for snacks, and maybe even oatmeal cranberry cookies! (Plus, I discovered craisins are akin to crack and wonderful for snacking. Sadly, the varieties in the store are super high in calories so this is my way of feeding my crack habit without the caloric side effects).

Thanks to my craisin adventure, I have about a cup and a half of "craisin broth" that I just put in the freezer. I have some crazy plans for that later in the season too!

The idea behind this plan centers on moderation. It's okay to eat sweets - within reason. This may not involve making 35 different sweet treats, nope just eating ONLY 35 sweet treats between now and Christmas. I haven't actually eaten a sweet treat today, so in theory I could have a piece of brownie fudge if I want. Make sense? But on Tuesday, when there are several sweet options at the Thanksgiving lunch, I can only choose one. If I want a second, I have to save it for another day. This is the trick to staying within my calorie allowance each day.

I'm allowing some exceptions - as long as they still fit in my calorie allowance. Besides the brownie fudge yesterday, I also had monkey bread for breakfast. It was low calorie and was my entire breakfast! So since it was a meal, and fit within my calorie allowance, I consider it acceptable.

Holiday season or not, sweets aren't evil! They can be part of any healthy eating plan as long as they are eaten in moderation. By knowing I can allow myself to indulge a little each day, this should be a pretty sweet Holiday Season!

Thanksgiving Recipe Roundup

2010-11-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of Thanksgiving Recipe links that have found their way to my inbox in the past week.

They are definitely worth the share, trust me!

Women's Health: Delicious Low-Fat Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
(I love the idea of twice baked potatoes anytime of the year!)

Hungry Girl's Ode to Pumpkin
(HIGHLY recommend the Pumpkin Smash.)

And more Hungry Girl: Your One-Stop Guilt-Free-Thanksgiving-Recipe Spot!
(She is really good at creating healthy versions of normal food!)

And for the day after ... some great ideas for the leftovers!

Taste of Home's Just-Like-Thanksgiving Turkey Meat Loaf

Hungry Girl's "Gobble Gobble Cranberry Grilled Cheese"
(The second recipe on the page.)

My own Turkey and "Dumplings"
(I made this one up last year.)

Weigh Day relief

2010-11-17T07:31:00.000-08:00

Phew. I managed to work off those Twizzlers - and even lost another half of a pound! Yay!

Ideally, I still want to reach 140 by next week's Weigh Day, but that would now mean losing more than 3 pounds in a week and we all know my thoughts on that. However - I'm retaining water right now thanks to being a woman, so maybe it's this week's number that is a bit high?

Eh, I'm just proud I didn't gain weight after the binges of last week!

Now, it's time to look at Thanksgiving Survival. Are you prepared???

Reflecting on a year of maintaining weight

2010-11-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

Natalie asked me to join her in the 50n50 endeavor just over a year ago. I was eager to get into shape myself and this is a great motivational method. What better way to lose weight than to stay in touch with a supporting friend? Needless to say, a year later, I was fairly disheartened by my results, but after talking with Natalie found hope in what I did achieve.

First, let's look at who I am and what I've done. I'm a 5'7" female and weighed in at 154 lbs. over a year ago, and my last standing weight is 152 lbs. That's a whopping two pounds less than a year ago, depending on the day. The good in this is that I maintained my weight rather than gained weight. Additionally, I maintained my weight despite serious stressful events throughout the year. Stress changes our body's chemistry and can be very inhibiting to losing weight never mind a contributor to weight gain. So, let's look at why I have been stressed, both good and well, no so good.

The day job
Fortunately, I have a stable full-time job as a graphic designer. This section is brief, because it is stable, though not without it's time commitments, namely two photography sessions that take additional weekend time and overtime hours. We have a conference each year at work that requires us to leave hour homes and work nonstop for nearly a week each year with no weekend. I include this section to show that all the other paragraphs are in addition to this time commitment.

President of AIGA Austin
Lets look at what I've done, starting with my leadership role. I'm president of a board of directors for the Austin chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design. This equals 40+ weekly hours of unpaid volunteer time. To start the year, I created and held a statewide design competition. Managing over 500 entries and coordinating with two other chapters is no small feat. I had some help along the way, but was the guiding light for the project.

When that wasn't enough for one person to do, I also held our second Fellow Award, a lifetime achievement award that results in a black-tie affair accompanied by the leading professionals of our time. Then, there are all the other events in addition to these. We hold an average of three events a month, all of which I oversee in some capacity, and some in more than others. We also launched a new website, for which I wrote and organized most of the material and coordinated the site development with a board member.

After agreeing to the September start date with Natalie came the holidays, which for me also brought organizing our first Annual Membership Party in three years and our first ever annual report, for which I wrote all the copy and again oversaw the design. In the early summer, I attended a national leadership conference, and organized and lead our local leadership conference. I worked with our secretary to develop a wiki I started the previous summer and continued to develop. Throughout the year, I managed board members, which sometimes meant new recruiting or transitioning the roles of board members to volunteer or other capacities. One in particular was particularly grievous, with a board member bullying me, resulting in stress that caused me to turn my new car into a cement beam on a tight turn. I also attended the National Design Conference in Memphis last year.

Family ties
I am the primary caretaker and power of attorney for my grandma. When I joined this blog September 24, I was in the midst of assisting my grandma in an emergency stroke that lead to my enrolling her into a nursing home and setting her up with medicaid to afford nursing home care. I hired a lawyer to help get the best financial situation for her and assistance in the complex application process. Grandma was released from the hospital after a week to the first nursing home under medicare. She felt that home was horrible and called me, on the cell phone I provide for her, at all hours of the night screaming. I transferred her to a better home, where she now resides. I kept my family in the loop on all of this and persuaded my uncle, her son, to come out for her birthday. He was really coming to check out what I had done, but I left it to grandma under the pretense of celebrating her birthday. He seemed ok with it.

My family lives in Dallas and I live in Austin, 3.5 hours apart. I drove home for Christmas. My mom is a minister and cannot leave Christmas time and had been going through difficult job needs herself, at one point selling Christian education materials to make ends meet. We called Grandma on Christmas day and wished her a merry Christmas. Before I left for Dallas, I had the nursing staff help me to get her into my car for a tour of the Christmas lights, which she thoroughly enjoyed along with the McDonald's dinner I got her. The day after Christmas, I drove straight in from Dallas to see her. When I arrived, she was on the phone with my uncle telling him that mom, my brother, and I all had Christmas down the street from her and left her all alone. It was a completely ridiculous statement. I stood by when she said this, and did not take the phone away from her and talked to my uncle when she finished. He then screamed at me for how badly I was taking care of his mom and completely believed her ridiculous representation of what she felt happened. Grandma is not mentally well, though her son doesn't quite understand this. Alas, I haven't spoken with him since. Gee, I wonder why?

So, that's Grandma briefly. Mom also had her challenges this past year. I helped mom to sell her house and move her to Temple. For any normal situation, this would not be as monumental as it happened to be. Mom's house was thirty years old and a complete dilapidated dump. It required me to loan her money to paint the house, which she repaid upon sale of the house to get people to even look at the previously orange property. Then, there was the moving. Mom was emotionally tied to our childhood home and never quite understood that when you sell your house and move to a new town, that you also must move everything you intend to take with you. Four truckloads later, we finally moved all that was to be moved, and held an epic garage sale. Now, mind you, this was all in Dallas and I live in Austin, that 3.5 hour distance. So, weekends were shuffled to accommodate this amidst my other commitments, grandma, and more. Mom finally made it to Temple and is settled there, for the next year.

The romantic side of things
Believe it or not, I manage to maintain relationships in all of this. Unfortunately, when I started this last year, I was in a very bad relationship with a man that had dumped me more times than either he or I could count because he felt I was fat. He wanted a lean girl and let me know I was 99% else of what he wanted in a woman, but I just couldn't change having a fat butt and thick thighs. Incidentally, that ended in 2010 for it's grand finale outside of a psychologist's office who informed me that he had no ability to love another person anytime in the foreseeable future. That relationship had been secret for some time because of the many break ups, so none of my friends even knew I was dating him. They were then let in on the long-held secret.

Then, along comes my new and current boyfriend, who I had the good fortune to meet. He comes along after all these other things have been going on and sees an extremely busy woman tied to her calendar and also flat broke. I did spend all my money on photography equipment and did journey to Roatan, Honduras in January with free lodging from a photo competition I won last September, and then to the expensive Tobago trip in July, where I learned much, but did not exactly have a great time vacationing. This had to do with a then boyfriend on the trip, who I dated between boyfriends. So, here I am, managing all these life stresses, and still doing a million and a half other things not noted here to spare you reading time. Incidentally, the current boyfriend is a police officer with a tight schedule himself. That our schedules don't meet is in itself both a stress and the only way either of us could maintain a relationship anyway. He's busy enough to not be around while I'm busy too.

Let's talk scuba
If all the above were not enough for one woman in one year, let's talk scuba. I am now a scuba instructor. I was not at the beginning of the year, which means I finished the two month instructor development course and completed the weekend-long instructor examination in Dallas. I am also a divemaster for Lake Travis Scuba and Scubaland, and I also completed my technical dive training in the last year. I learned decompression diving and bought expensive scuba gear and dedicated hours of time to learn a very complicated and risky form of scuba diving. I was also nominated secretary for our local dive club and expected to create email communications and work dive club events. I mostly did this, but the dive club materials did suffer a little. Let's face it, something has to give! I completed about 80 dives all across Texas and another 32 overseas. I also attended Dive Around Texas. If you do the math, that's over 100 dives in a year despite everything else I have going on. However, this was my only consistent physical activity and is a passion of mine. It is so much a passion of mine, that I started a book this year and will launch my new company with my partner in January, The Underwater Designer. I will design and sell posters, cards, and more to support this five-year long project, using my underwater photography as a tool in this project.

Diet and exercise
I run whenever I am able to do so (not often), scuba dive whenever possible, and try not to eat as terribly as I can. At one point, I gave my scale to the office and bought a new one, because the last scale must have been lying. I think the new scale is nicer to me. I have never been huge on sweets, which is a saving grace to me, but savory chips do me in every time. I drink soda very sparingly, start my day with a mug of black coffee, and obviously have a creative schedule for doing all these things. Cheese is evil and unfortunately one of my top consumed items. Fruit is delicious and vegetables were great as a kid, but I will have to work them back into my regularly scheduled diet. My schedule is turning around, and while pushing myself, I do think I could lose weight if I could only find time to run.

I should note that I did get sick at least twice this year. When I'm sick, my world spins wildly out of control and what ground I gain in my schedule is quickly lost, so I can never afford to fall behind. If you are sick, please stay home and do not come to work sick! It is mean to the rest of us to get sick because people are encouraged to work while sick.

So, what do you think about the year's reflections? I work hard to do better all the time and those close to me will often remark about how I need to do various things better. One very good friend helped with a situation this year and told a troubled board member to walk in my shoes for just a single day before passing judgment on how I need to serve her better. She straightened up. Looking back, I wonder about all my commitments and how I could possibly have done better, more, less, or differently. I did all that I had to and I think I did it well. Instead of reflecting on how I could give up a very dear commitment in my dangerously balanced life, I choose to forge ahead to new hope with more reasonable schedules, fiscal success, dietary choices, and exercise. I do have my continuing commitments, and life will continue to add more to my schedule, but that's life, isn't it?

* Additional events did occur and were not listed here to keep the article as concise as possible. Categories not listed include: church, bills, budget, cleaning house, caring for the dog, random client work, sleep, laundry, washing the car, friends, and more.
* I could not have gone through the year without wonderful friends and want to acknowledge even the smallest help along the way
* I think God made most of this year happen through my hands to give me the strength to live so rigorously

This time

2010-11-15T05:22:00.000-08:00

Twizzler frown

I know I have promised everyone a "This is how I did it" recap post, but to be honest, I'm just not feeling that successful this week.

Basically, the day I made my Big Announcement was the day before a 20-page paper was due. And I lost my mind. Seriously. I ate about 2800 calories that day - 1000 in Twizzlers, 400 in cereal ... I think there was some candy corn ad popcorn in there plus the usual meals. All of the junk was consumed after 8 p.m., by the way. Hardly part of the healthy lifestyle I've been advocating and credit as the reason I've lost the weight.

The next day, Thursday, I focused on eating only natural foods and a little detox and consumed 950 calories (and went to bed stuffed!).

Um, then, I went to a friend's house Friday for studying and much-needed girl time. Dare I mention the oatmeal chocolate cookies and bottle of wine we consumed? At least lunch and dinner both consisted of steamed vegetables and a smidgen of steamed meat (shrimp at lunch, pork at dinner - healthy choices from Chinese restaurants and fodder for a future blog).

I've managed to rein myself in since Friday, but am still pretty angry with my behavior. After all of this, I should know better!

So, as I sit here entering today's foods in my Sparkpeople.com calorie counter, I'm going to remind myself - once again - of the importance of planning your foods ahead. Remember these entries? Study Time Means Strategy Time and Just in Time? Why wasn't I prepared for this? I knew the paper was due last week and I knew it would mean late nights that would invite the munchies. Late nights have always invited my munchies! And why did I give in - literally getting in my car and going to the store JUST FOR TWIZZLERS - and let myself revert back to such an old, horrible habit? It would have been better to get an ice cream cone! At least ice cream has calcium and protein.

Sigh.

I am usually such a good planner! My life is nothing but a bunch of little plans. I plan meals for each week, I plan calories and nutrient allocations for each day (it sounds hardcore, but truly only takes a few minutes each day), I plan study time, boyfriend time, and dog time. I plan my finances. I plan dream vacations and dream weddings. Trust me, planning isn't the problem!

I let down my guard. I told myself it would be ok "this time" because I could make up for it later. I bartered with myself and got the losing end of the deal. And that's why I was 50 pounds overweight! Because "this time" is never a one time thing.

So much Facebook love to my announcement

2010-11-10T20:43:00.000-08:00

Natalie

By the way ... I DID IT!!! I am officially down to my healthy bmi range!!!! WOOT WOOT! I lost 50 pounds in 60 weeks :-D

Lindsy and 14 others like this.
- Damn. That's impressive!!! Go nat
- Great. Congrads, I'll have to see how you did it is it in you blog? I would like to do tht myself. You are my inspiration!
- Congratulations Natalie! That is awesome
- BIG, GIANT, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, that rocks Natalie, amazing job!!!
- Thanks, y'all. I'm pretty excited - this is better than every birthday combined!!! :-) And I've had so much support along the way, I can't even tell ya. Friends and family: You are awesome!
- Congratulations Natalie! That is wonderful! You are looking great. Keep up the hard work! :)
- You are an inspiration:) I've lost about 50 pounds too, but most of it was gained while pregnant;) hee hee! I could stand to lose some more for sure!
- Good for you Natalie! You are really inspiring me to keep up with my weight watchers! Hopefully in a year I'll be in your shoes :)
- thats awesome nat! how did u do it? u know me of all ppl could use some weight loss...
- Congratulations!! You are definitely inspiration. I haven't started on my journey to shed some pounds but I made the decision awhile back that when I do and get discouraged, your triumph will be on my mind.
- Amazing!! Way to go!
- congrats texas you look great!
- Thanks, everyone! Your support is amazing!!! :-)
  
  And to the before/after photo I posted!
  50n60 ... August 2009 and October 2010 ...
  Add a caption
  50n60 ... August 2009 and October 2010 ...
  · Comment
  - 9 others like this.
  - - U look amazing
    - Thanks :-)
    - Awesome!! :-D I've been meaning to put up similar pics from my year long weight loss.. Summer 2009- Summer 2010. But I have to say.. I think your transformation came out lookin better ;-)
    - Natalie, you were beautiful before and you are now, but the most important thing is how YOU feel. :)
    - Thanks. I FEEL amazing! I love being able to run with Kevin or feel good about making a nutritious, tasty meal. This past year has truly been an amazing learning experience for me!
    - Congrats to you, C!!! :-) Can hardly wait to see the pics.
    - natalie you look great, i am very happy for you that you are living a healthy lifestyle :-)
    - Natalie, you are awesome.
    - Amazing!!
    - Thanks, y'all!!! It's been fun, strangely enough, and I really do feel better than ever :-) I wasn't a fast-food eater or even a high fat eater, but I was eating wrong. I've found myself eating a lot more food than I used to do - which is pretty awesome :D
    - Good for you!
    - You look fantastic! So proud of you!!! You've inspired me to shave off that last ten pounds I've been wanting to shed for a while! GO NAT!
    - HUBBA HUBBA! You look so healthy and happy!
    - You look super healthy and much happier now! Congratulations Natalie!! :)

FINALLY!!!

2010-11-10T04:52:00.000-08:00

Perhaps I should change the name of this blog to 50n60 ... because after 60 weeks

I DID IT!!!

That's right, Ladies (and Gentleman), when I stepped on the scale this morning it gave me one of the happiest sights of my life.

You know what this means, right? I'M "HEALTHY"!!!!

When I have more time, I'll write a wonderful recap blog (that will be after I finish the 20-page paper that is staring me down as I write even this little shorty - the paper is due tomorrow). Suffice it to say, I learned a lot about myself.

The career services dean commented on my weight loss a couple of weeks ago: “You aren't supposed to lose weight. You're in law school!” Then he sincerely congratulated me (he happens to lead the running club for the law school).

He's right, of course, law school is supposed to be your main concern when you're, you know, in law school. But I saw what the lifestyle was doing to those around me (everyone had gained weight in just 2 months of classes!) and I didn't want to risk it. So, I decided to add healthy living to the list of new skills I was learning and I'm happy to say that I've gotten pretty good at it. Now that I've reached one major goal in my life, it's time to look to another: Maintenance. Gulp.

But first, I have to finish this darn 20-page paper!!!

Beef it up!

2010-11-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

No, this is not a blog about eating beef because anyone that knows me knows THAT blog would just be laughable (haven't eaten beef in over 10 years).

This blog is about beefing up your workout routine. Here's what I learned recently...

I love running every morning but I sometimes feel like its not much of a challenge anymore or I just need something to shake up my routine. I like doing workout videos at home but there's nothing like an early am run and no workout video will replace that.

A friend is taking a 5:45am Boot Camp class every morning. It's an outside, month long, 5-day a week, class that kicks your butt. They run around the local park using everything from curbs, to parking deck stairs to the jungle gym to work every muscle in the their body. They had a "Take a Friend" day recently so I was able to attend for free. I loved it!

However, I don't have the extra $200 a month it costs to take the class. Shucks. But I was able to take some important lessons home with me for free. I've started adding things like push-ups on the park benches, tricep presses on my neighbors retaining walls and curb steps (stepping up and down the curb really fast). These short, quick changes in my routine make the run more interesting, workout more muscles and make my heart work harder....Everyone wins!

I know it seems silly that I had to take a class to learn to do these things. After all, I have done practically every work-out video known to man (or woman, in this case) and could probably teach a few classes myself, but it never occurred to me to translate these various routines to outside.

An Ex-cream battle

2010-11-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

I have a dirty little secret ... I start my day off with a nice, steaming mug of crap. That's right, ladies and gentleman, every morning I pour myself a cup of wonderful coffee and ruin it with Coffee-mate Sugar Free French Vanilla Creamer. Then, I even pour the stuff on my oatmeal!

As much as I like the taste of it, I am finally willing to admit that there are no redeeming nutritional qualities in my creamer of choice, so I'm in the market for a new one. At a friend's suggestion, I bought a carton of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze today.

Almond Breeze is a non-dairy beverage made from real almonds. Weight loss articles love it as a low calorie option to milk. I was hesitant because I'm so concerned with calcium (and it's hard to reach my daily goal, let me tell you!), but once I saw that a cup of Almond Breeze provides 20% of the recommended daily calcium needs I decided to give it a go. It's lactose free, a benefit to me since I just choose to ignore (and may have outgrown) a diagnosis of lactose intolerance bestowed upon me in high school and it is cholesterol free as well. The calorie count is much better than my creamer and there are actual minerals to report in the Almond Breeze.

Side-by-side comparison of the French vanilla stuff (left) and Almond Breeze (right):

I'm not sure I'm going to use it to replace milk (I shoot for 2 cups a day now and Almond Breeze doesn't have near the protein of milk), but by adding it to my coffee and oatmeal instead of the French vanilla stuff, I can at least help my calcium intake each day.

I just tasted it and am pretty impressed. I was afraid it would be like rice milk - an abhorrent raping of one of my favorite carbs - and I would hate it, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's not as thick as milk, but it's got a wonderful nutty taste to it that I imagine will be amazing on oatmeal!

Plus, it's pretty good straight! This might be the start of a beautiful friendship.

The next part of the plan

2010-11-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, so here's what I'm thinking ...

My ultimate goal has always been to reach - and maintain - a healthy weight. I didn't follow any crazy diets or trends, I just focused on shifting to a healthy lifestyle. I watch what I eat. I pay attention to fiber, calcium, protein and carbohydrates. I even exercise when it fits into my schedule (I park half a mile from my classes just to get in an extra mile walk each day!).

And now, I am on the brink of FINALLY entering my healthy weight range. Despite the controversies that exist out there about the Body Mass Index (BMI), I truly believe it is a good guide for judging your weight in terms of your health.

BMI is your weight compared your height. Sure, it's not 100% in determining if someone is completely healthy, but unless you are a body builder or pregnant, it's a pretty good guide. I advocate it's the best out there for those of us without access to a BodPod. Trust me, your doctor uses it whenever she advises you on weight issues. I find that when people complain about the idea of BMI, they are generally just lying to themselves (and making excuses) about their own weight and the impact it may be having on their health. But I digress ...

I am 5'4" so, in order to be in the "healthy" range, I need to weigh between 108 and 145 pounds. Since 145 is the MOST I can weigh to be healthy, I don't want to hit 145 and stop. Instead, I want a buffer.

Wouldn't it be nice to go to the doctor, step on the scale - fully clothed, in the middle of the day, wearing my shoes - and still weigh in as "healthy"? Since weight fluctuates by a few pounds in a day - heck, it fluctuates in a week, right? - I want to lose enough to create a buffer. I never want to weigh more than 145 again. Seriously.

So, here's what I'm thinking: I will focus on losing weight down to 140 by Thanksgiving. Then, I will shift into maintenance mode in order to survive the holidays and finals. If it involves more weight loss, great! But that won't be my goal. The goal is to be 140 on January 2. Then, once I get through the holidays (hopefully unscathed!), I will re-evaluate my goals based on my numbers. Would it be too crazy to try to weight 125? Just throwing that out there.

I'll be honest, I'm really scared of what's going to happen to my weight as I try to learn maintenance. Weight loss I understand. There are millions of articles out there about how to lose weight, and I've probably read most of them. Sadly, there are very few on maintaining your current weight. So, I feel like I'll be heading down that path pretty blind.

With this plan, I have the next 8 weeks to start researching a maintenance plan. And with my buffer, I'll be able to experiment without backsliding out of the "healthy" range.

At least that's what I'm thinking ...

Congratulations, Renee

2010-11-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

Renee has lost 25 pounds!!!!

WAY TO GO!

Close, but still no cigar

2010-11-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

You've got to be kidding me ...

145.6!!!

I'm so close, darnit!

Ok, now that I have gotten that out of my system, I honestly shouldn't have expected to ring in at 145 today. Why? That would mean losing 2.5 pounds in a week, and as we all know I advocate losing no more than two pounds a week. So there is victory in this number! I lost two pounds this week! Yay!

Weighing 145 isn't an arbitrary goal for me. According to my BMI, once I weigh 145 I will be in the "Healthy" weight range for my height. But even now, a mere 0.6 pound more, I am considered "Overweight" and I'm tired of it.

I want to get healthy and stay that way. That's why, even once I hit 145, I'm not going to consider this journey complete. I'm still ironing out the details, and I'll post them once I'm ready, but until then, you better believe that next week I will be healthy for the first time in my adult life. NO EXCUSES ALLOWED!