57 Trips

I feel like I’ve taken 57 trips to the bathroom today. I know it’s too much information, but it’s the foremost thing on my mind this very moment. I saw my doctor about several issues on Wednesday, and I’ve been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Apparently my body is missing its daily doses of crap, and making crap in its own way (sorry). So that’s what I’ve been dealing with over the last month – grumbly, painful stomach, some cramps, and a lot of trips. There’s a grove in the floor from my desk to the bathroom.

 

Not only that, the lower abdominal pain I’ve been experiencing is actually from an injury to my back, in the L2 region. (The pain is radiating from the back to the front, not from front to back as I originally thought). The second lumbar region is called the L2. It is one of the five vertebrae in the lower back responsible for supporting the weight of the upper body and providing flexibility for a wide range of motion. I personally think it’s my huge bosom that is the problem, but the Doc seems to think I sustained an injury. I’m now on pain medication with a review scheduled in a month.

All in all, it’s been a rough week, and my diet has suffered. I succumbed to the spaghetti, drank too much beer, and ate several snacks that are not on the plan at a party Saturday night. I woke up this morning feeling bloated and tired, and have decided to forego the weigh-in. I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for this week’s numbers with baited breath, so I apologize. I just feel kinda lousy.

Please rest assured that I’m NOT GIVING UP! I’m really great at this new healthy lifestyle, and it’s rewarding to do something that I’m good at. One week does not a crisis make – it’s just a small setback in a larger journey!

On a lighter note, here’s an excellent pork chop recipe that I found and made last night. It’s very delish, and less than 300 calories per serving!

Oven Barbequed Pork Chops

1 ½ - 1 ¾ lbs bone-in thick cut pork chops, trimmed of fat. (I used boneless, as that was what I had handy).

3 teaspoons canola oil

1 medium onion, diced

1 clove of garlic, minced

1/3 cup orange juice

½ cup barbeque sauce

1.       Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2.       In a large over-proof sauce pan, heat 2 teaspoons of canola oil. Season pork with salt and pepper. Cook the pork chops until just starting to brown (1-2 minutes on both sides). Remove chops from pan and set aside.

3.       Add the remaining teaspoon of oil and sauté onions until just starting to soften. Add garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute (until garlic releases aroma).

4.       Pour in orange juice and cook until most of the liquid is evaporated. Add barbeque sauce and mix.

5.       Return pork to the pan and coat with barbeque. Move pan to the oven and cook until the internal temperature of the chops is 145 degrees. (I had four thick-cut chops and cooked them for approximately 20 minutes).

This is a great recipe to cook for family members who are hesitant about healthy eating (i.e. John Merritt). It is very flavorful, easy to put together, and tastes indulgent!

An Unfortunate Relapse

It all began when I was invited to a dear friend’s house for dinner, and she made pasta and chicken with an olive oil, pesto, and pine nut sauce. It was DELICIOUS. Until that time I’ve only been eating “brown” carbs – whole wheat breads and pastas. That taste of old school pasta sent me over the edge of a very steep canyon of desire. Last night when I asked Jameson what he wanted for dinner, I secretly prayed he’d say spaghetti. And he did. Two nights in a row, people.

 

Hi, my name is Erin, and I’m addicted to pasta.

I truly thought that if I were to relapse I would do so with baked goods (I love a good cinnamon roll), but it was the pasta that ultimately got me. The sweet Siren song of thin spaghetti was too beautiful to resist.

So today I’m going to start over, and keep starting over until I have successfully conquered this food addiction that has plagued my life for so long. I will not feel bad about my momentary loss of sanity, but move forward knowing that I have the tools and the power to lose weight, make great food choices, and enjoy life.

 

Food - A Love Affair

It’s Monday, which means weigh-in day. The numbers in red are current – the parenthetical numbers are my beginning stats.

Weight – 259.0 (271.8 – March 28, 2013)

Waist – 44” (49”)

Chest – 49” (53”)

I’ve been thinking a lot this weekend about food, and how I feel about it. Thought I’d share…

I love food. I love food so much, that I think maybe it’s replaced a man in my life. Instead of loving someone, and being loved, I’ve just been eating. I haven’t been with anyone since my divorce in 2006, and I can’t believe I just wrote that, but it’s true. When my husband left, I started eating. A head-sized cinnamon roll became a lover’s caress. Huge bowls of pasta with butter and parmesan cheese felt like holding hands, and a pint of ice cream was a sweet cuddle. When I needed comfort, I turned to a spicy chicken extra value meal (large with a coke).

 I was totally and completely, head-over-heals, in love with food.

 Have you ever been in a really bad relationship, where you knew it wasn’t good, but couldn’t leave; a relationship where destructive behavior and bad choices were commonplace? That’s been my relationship with food.

 We’re breaking up.

 

Not All Rainbows and Unicorns

Changing my diet has been so rewarding and exciting in a lot of ways. I feel better, I’m not as tired, I’m sleeping well, and I’m more active. I’ve gotten back into the kitchen, rather than just grabbing something on the go, and I really do love cooking. I’m jumping again, walking faster, and moving more.

 

That being said, I should also admit that it hasn’t all been rainbows and unicorns. I’ve noticed there are some distinct drawbacks to eating a healthier diet, and because of my continuing mission to fully disclose all aspects of this journey, here there are…

 

1.       Planning is hard. In order to eat a well-balanced and healthy diet, a certain amount of planning is required. Gone are the days when “grabbing something on the way” was a possibility. Did you know that even something that is seemingly healthy is a calorie and fat bomb in disguise?  I used to zip through the drive-thru at Wendy’s for a Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad. I was appalled to discover that the full size salad I just mentioned is 770 calories. 770 CALORIES. Over half of those calories are from FAT. And don’t even get me started on the chicken, which in my enlightened opinion really isn’t chicken at all.

Weekly menu planning is a MUST. Browsing through recipes and coming up with ideas for a meal is fun, but a grocery list for the week is essential, and Sunday shopping is the key. Not only do I have to plan what we’ll be eating for the week, but because of my busy schedule I have to plan what meals will be eaten on what days. I can’t plan chicken enchiladas when I don’t get home until after 7 PM!

2.       Cooking for Jameson sucks. Paybacks are a bitch, for sure, and I happen to have the pickiest kid on the planet living in my house.  I feel so sorry that my parents had to put up with my food idiosyncrasies when I was a child, now that I know how it effects dinner time. If I don’t plan a meal with at least ONE component that Jamo will eat, I have to either send him to bed hungry, or make him a Nutella sandwich. It’s tough, but we’re powering through. Every week we’ve discovered one or two new items that he’s willing to try, and that he likes, so we are slowly building a list. Turkey sausage is a godsend. 

3.       Staying off the scale is impossible. I know I should, but I just. can’t. do. it. I’m obsessed with weighing myself, and it’s becoming detrimental to my journey. I stepped on this morning, and was pleased that I’m down another pound, but I need to find my Zen about this. I am committing to you today, my dear friends, that I will put the scale away and only weigh in once a week.

4.       I’ve bought stock in Tupperware. Why didn’t anyone tell me that my use of storage containers would multiply like rabbits? I feel like I take my entire kitchen to work every day. Thank goodness I have a dishwasher.

5.       Instant gratification goes OUT THE WINDOW. Even though I’m not dieting, I still have a goal of losing a lot of weight. A LOT. It’s so tempting to go for the quick fix – Body by Vi, Xingular, Slim Fast – are all effective products for instant weight loss.  If I was only concerned with short term, these would be my products of choice. But here’s the thing: all of those fad diets and products don’t teach you how to lose weight or how to keep it off; they only teach you to lose, and lose fast. The quick fix is simply not an option for me.  I feel like I need to walk before I can run, and learning HOW to eat and WHAT to eat is the first “step” towards my ultimate goal.

I hope that this post will let you know that, even though it might seem like I’ve had an easy go it’s not all flowers and hearts, or rainbows and unicorns. It’s hard. Every day is hard.

But I’m so worth it.

Recipes for Carnivores

I like meat. There, I said it. I’m a carnivore in every sense of the word, and I love a delightful beef recipe. Here are a couple low-calorie recipes that I’ve discovered and tried (with possible modifications and comments in red). Enjoy!

 

Chunky Beef Stew

240 calories per serving

 

 

¾ lb boneless beef sirloin steak cut into 1” cubes

¾ lb tiny new potatoes, halved - I used white potatoes, since I had them on hand

1 pkg frozen green beans (2 cups)

4 carrots – peeled & cut

1 small onion – diced

1 can (14 oz) low-sodium beef broth

1 tablespoon (T) Worcestershire sauce

1 ½ teaspoon (tsp) dried Italian Seasoning - found in the seasoning aisle!

¼ t black pepper

24 oz no-salt tomato sauce

 

1.       Lightly coat a 4-quart pot with cooking spray. Add beef and cook 4-5 minutes over medium heat. Remove beef and set aside.

2.       Add potatoes, green beans, carrots, onion, broth, Worcestershire sauce, seasoning, and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes.

3.       Add tomato sauce and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for another 10 minutes.

4.       Add beef and heat through.

 

Slow Cooker Lasagna

321 calories per serving, total fat 10.1 g, total carbohydrates 25.1.

I didn’t make the exact recipe below, but decided to share this modified version which bulks up the veggie content. I know the simpler version I made was delicious, so I’m sure this is even better!

 

 

1 lb uncooked lean ground beef (or turkey) make this vegetarian by using Morning Star Veggie Crumbles or omitting meat.

1 small onion, chopped

2 zucchini, halved and sliced

2 cups sliced mushrooms

3 medium garlic cloves, minced

28 oz can crushed tomatoes

15 oz canned tomato sauce

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp sweetener (sugar, agave, sucant, etc.)

½ tsp dried Italian seasoning

¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes

15 oz low fat ricotta cheese

1 ½ cups part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese

3 oz fresh spinach leaves

6 dry lasagna noodles, not cooked – I substituted whole wheat lasagna noodles

¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese, strong-flavored like Romano or Parmigiano Reggiano

¼ cup chopped fresh basil (optional)

 

1.       Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add beef, onion, zucchini, mushrooms, and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for about 5-7 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, sugar, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes; simmer 5 minutes to allow flavors to blend.

2.       In a medium blow, stir together ricotta cheese and 1 cup mozzarella cheese

3.       Spoon 1/3 of beef mixture into a 5-quart slow cooker. Break 3 lasagna sheets and arrange over beef mixture; top with half of ricotta mixture, then layer with spinach leaves. Repeat with another layer and finish with the remaining 1/3 of beef mixture.

4.       Cover slow cooker and cook on low setting for 4 to 6 hours. Remove cover; turn off heat and season to taste, if desired.

5.       In a small bowl, combine remaining ½ cup of mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese; sprinkle over top of lasagna. Cover and set aside until cheese melts and lasagna firms up (about 10 minutes).

 

Italian Pot Roast

218 calories per serving, total fat 6.8 g, carbohydrates 5.9 g. These are only approximate values. The recipe below doesn’t have actual nutrition listed (damn Martha Stewart).

 

 

 

1 T olive oil

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 can whole tomatoes in puree (28 oz)

1 large onion, cut in 8 wedges

1 T fresh rosemary, chopped (or 1 T dried and crumbled)

3 lbs beef chuck roast, trimmed and halved crosswise

4 garlic cloves, halved lengthwise

1 ¼ lbs small white potatoes, scrubbed

 

1.       With a sharp paring knife, cut 4 slits in beef roast; stuff slits with half the garlic. Generously season beef with 1 ½ tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over high heat, swirling to coat bottom of pan. Cook beef until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.

2.       In a 5-quart slow cooker, combine beef, onion, potatoes, tomatoes (with puree), rosemary, and remaining garlic. Cover; cook on high setting until meat is fork-tender, about 6 hours (do not uncover while cookeing).

3.       Transfer meat to a cutting board. Thinly slice and discard any gristle. Serve covered with vegetables and sauce.

Drumroll, please!

Weight – 261.2 (264.4)

Waist – 46” (47”)

Chest – 49” (49”)

 

In case you’re wondering, my starting weight was 271.8, so I’m down 10 lbs and 3 inches in my waist & chest since 3/28/13. Overall, I feel good, but I feel it’s important to share a couple of my not-so-good moments over the last couple of weeks.

1.       My bowels are weird. Seriously. One minute I’m constipated, and the next minute I can’t get out of the bathroom. I’ve started a probiotic, which will hopefully help regulate some things, but any natural laxative remedies would be greatly appreciated.

2.       I’ve been waking up with belly / side pain each morning. It’s miserable.  I’m not sure what’s going on, but have upped my water intake to flush out the old kidneys. The pain usually goes away by midday.

3.       I ate a piece of greasy Little Caesar’s pizza the other night. And ½ a Mexican Connexion wet burrito on Saturday. And three dark chocolate Kit Kats last night. I felt TERRIBLE for a minute, then not anymore.

4.       I yelled at my son Jameson for wanting to go to Burger King last night. I feel like he should also eat everything that I do, and not WANT fast food anymore. Then I remembered that HE’S EIGHT. I felt TERRIBLE about that for a minute as well. He doesn't like most of the things I've been cooking, but I still HOPE he's learning by my example. He's eating more fruit and veggies, and making healthier choices. I suppose a little fast food once in a while is OK (for him).

 

So far the transition in my life has been pretty easy, and this week’s menu looks fantastic. We’re having pork loin, black bean soup, and low-calorie chicken enchiladas (with homemade sauce), among other things. One of the changes that I thought I’d never like, and never be able to follow, is the menu planning / cooking on Sunday; however, I love it! I absolutely love going through my recipe books and creating a grocery list, and feel so accomplished when the shopping is done and everything is put away. It’s sweet relief, and a very welcome change in my lifestyle. Have a great week!!

Fat Fridays - A Comparison

I always picked a day that was for eating more of whatever the hell I wanted. Most often that day was a Friday, hence the moniker “Fat Friday”. Let’s be honest – I ate like crap every other day, too – but Fridays were reserved for really tying on the feed bag. Here’s what a typical Friday used to look like for me:

 

Breakfast – McDonalds #2 – Sausage McMuffin w/ Egg, large Coke, and a large Caramel Mocha.

Lunch – KFC Bowl and a large Cherry Pepsi

Dinner – Little Caesar’s Pizza (three slices), usually several breadsticks, large diet Coke.

Dessert – pint of Haagen Daz Vanilla Swiss Almond ice cream.

 

I calculated the totals on myfitnesspal.com, and I’m surprised I’m not dead.

Calories – 4,323

Carbs – 525

Fat – 201

Protein – 127

Sodium – 6,010

Sugar – 271

 

Here’s what I’m eating today, Fat Friday, Healthy Style!

 

Breakfast – Oatmeal w/ cinnamon, brown sugar, dried prunes, and almond milk

Lunch – Slow Cooker Lasagna (Weight Watchers recipe), and one serving of green grapes.

Dinner – Lean Cuisine Deep Dish Three Meat Pizza (I promised Jameson pizza for dinner!)

Dessert – One serving of pineapple.

 

Calories – 1,092

Carbs – 164

Fat – 25

Protein – 57

Sodium – 1,767

Sugar – 48

 

Let’s compare those side-to-side:

Calories – 4,323 / 1,092 (3,231 difference)

Carbs – 525 / 164 (361 difference)

Fat – 201 / 25 (176 difference)

Protein – 127 / 57 (70 difference)

Sodium – 6,010 / 1,767 (WOW. 4,243 difference. That’s HUGE. No wonder I feel lighter!)

Sugar – 271 / 48 (223 difference)

 

You know what’s great about Fat Friday, Healthy Style? I have enough calories left over to have a beer. I think I taste a Bell’s Two Hearted in my future! Or…maybe two.

 

Let's Shop!

I’ve been asked by a friend to post my weekly menu, so that ya’ll can get a better idea of what I’m eating, and perhaps get an idea of what you might want to shop for this week! All recipes are available upon request – just drop me a message and I’ll send them over. (This post would be a mammoth one if I included them all!) The following is what I shopped for on Sunday, and what is planned for the week (until Saturday).

Breakfast:
Oatmeal (Becky Grubius recipe) – Bring one cup of water, some cinnamon, and a handful of raisins or dried cranberries (or any other dried fruit) to a boil. Add ½ cup of oats and bring to a simmer. Cover & let stand until water is absorbed.  

Lunch:

Cambell’s 100% Natural soup – each can is two servings. I split the can into two containers and place in the fridge. Voila – lunch for two days!

Multi-grain tortilla chips & all natural (or homemade) salsa

Salad with cubed ham or chicken and lite Caesar dressing

Shrimp Cocktail – yes! I’m that fancy! Shrimp is low in calories, and is deliciously good for me! I buy a large bag of frozen shrimp and thaw only what I need for my lunch.

Baked potato with butter – I buy the pre-wrapped taters at the store so they are all ready to pop in the micro. However, I hope to grow some of my own this summer!

Dinner:

Ginger & Lime Baked Fish – served with brown rice.

Crispy Chicken with Horseradish (I had this last night – yummy!)

·         One pound chicken breast

·         ¾ cup bread crumbs

·         ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

·         ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper

·         2 tablespoons prepared horseradish

·         1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

·         ¼ cup white wine (I used Pino Grigio, and had a glass with dinner).

·         Mix bread crumbs, salt, and pepper on a plate and set aside. In a bowl, combine the horseradish, mustard, and wine. Cut chicken in 4 oz pieces, coat with wet mixture, then cover with bread crumbs. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 – 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

·         Serve with vegetable side of choice, or salad.

Italian Pot Roast (slow cooker meal)

Slow Cooker Lasagna (with 100% whole wheat noodles)

Peasant Soup

·         One pound ground lamb (I found this at Family Fare in Hastings)

·         1 medium onion, chopped

·         2 stalks celery, chopped

·         ¾ cup quick cooking barley

·         1 (15 ½ oz) can of diced tomatos

·         5 cups vegetable broth

·         2 garlic cloves , diced

·         1 large or 2 small zucchini, diced

·         10 oz frozen mixed vegetables

·         Bay leaf

·         ¼ teaspoon thyme

·         ¼ teaspoon oregano

·         ¼ cup dried parsley

·         In a large pot cook lamb, onion, and celery until lamb is no longer pink. Drain fat and add tomatoes, garlic, bay leaf, and broth, and bring to a boil. Add barley, zucchini, frozen veggies, and spices.  Reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes.

So there you have it! This is the menu for my week, and as I said, additional recipes are available upon request.  I didn’t add snacks, but most often eat red peppers, Skinny Cow ice cream bars, pickles, or cereal. What do you think? Any suggestions on my menu are greatly appreciated!

Weigh-in Day!

Doesn’t everyone dread weigh-in day? NOT ME! Since I’m not dieting, but rather making a lifestyle change, I’m not concerned with what the scale says (even though the scale was very kind to me this week). Here are my new stats – the numbers in parenthesis are from the last measurements, for your comparison.

Weight: 264.4 (271.8)

Waist: 47” (49”)

Chest: 49” (53”)

Seriously!!

I don’t want to toot my own horn either, but I will! This lifestyle change is proving to be easier than I had ever dared to hope. I have weaned myself off of sugar (my niece’s birthday cake was TOO SWEET for me to eat). I easily resisted McDonald’s on Saturday, while my family chowed down (I didn’t even ask for a French fry). I have not had a soda for 10 days, and don’t crave it at all. I did my grocery shopping for the week, and am prepared with lunch, dinner, and breakfast menus until Friday.

 

WOW. I’ve realized that I CAN DO THIS. I have an amazing new cookbook from my dear friend Catie, I’ve the support of my lovely taskmaster Becky, and the love of a great family. I'm not going to say that this journey will continue to be an easy one - but will the wonderful encouragement I've received from all of you, I can hardly fail!

Don't Eat the Fritos

At Kmart last night picking up some odds-n-ends, (including a new Brita water bottle for me), Jameson spied a bag of Fritos, and of course had to have them.  Since Jamo is so very spoiled, I purchased said chips, against my better judgment. Why aren’t there ever HEALTHY snacks in the checkout lane? Anyway, we got into the car, and Jamo opened the Fritos. The sweet smell of corn chips wafted up directly to my quivering nostrils. I heard a voice…

DON’T EAT THE FRITOS

I’ve never been one that listens to my inner voice. I usually think that voice is full of bull, and I completely disregard “her” sane and logical suggestions; however, this time that skinny voice was SCREAMING.

DON’T EAT THE FRITOS.

I listened. I did not eat the Fritos. I told Jameson that next time I think we should try to find a healthier snack, like a piece of fruit, or a 100 calorie pack of his beloved Oreos. I went home and got a premade salad out of the fridge and chowed down.

As I sit here typing this while eating a mid-morning snack of red & green peppers, I marvel at how far I’ve come from just a week ago. I don’t know if the weight is falling off, and at this point I don’t even care, but I do know that I’ve turned a major Frito corner. I might have wanted one or two of those glistening corn chips, but I didn’t NEED them.  And besides, red peppers dipped in a light Caesar dressing are by far more delicious.

Duh.

I should be ashamed of myself.

I’m embarrassed, and I’ll tell you why. I’m 37 years old, and I’ve just figured “it” out. What’s “it”, you might ask? That healthy eating and moderate exercise will actually make you feel good. Whaaa???

Who would ever guess that clearing out the gunk in one’s system could actually IMPROVE the way one feels? Perhaps this is a shocking concept to some of you, but it’s true! I feel great. This will be my 7^th day off of soda and fast food. I've been eating nothing but healthy fruits and veggies and low calorie meals. I've been drinking water like it’s going out of style. I have more NATURAL energy. Seriously – I feel as though I’m a different person already, and am completely floored that this change could happen in such a short amount of time.

What’s even better – I’m not dieting, but changing my lifestyle. I’m not starving myself. This isn't a roller coaster ride of deprivation and reward – it’s a daily, monthly, yearly change to how I eat and how I feel about food.

For your perusal, here is an example of the daily menu that I've adopted:

Breakfast – 1 serving oatmeal w/ raisins, brown sugar, almond milk, and flax seeds.

Snack – 1 apple

Lunch – 1 serving clam chowder (Campbell’s 100% Natural), medium salad w/ lite Caesar dressing, ham, and green peppers.

Snack – 1 Cutie

Dinner – chicken fajitas on whole wheat tortillas, with cheese and lettuce. (After dinner I made a serving of brown rice, put it over the chicken, and saved it for lunch!)

Dessert – 100 calorie Tapioca

I would like to encourage any and all of you reading this blog to message me recipes or tips to share with others. I've got an excellently yummy recipe for low calorie Shepherd's Pie that I made last night, and that I'll post soon. Forward this blog to your friends, or enter your email address above to follow me. We can be so strong together!

Food is Fuel

This weekend was...difficult, but not in the ways you might think! 

First of all, I'm off the product Xyngular. It was a nice thought, but it just will not work for me. I did fine the first couple of days, but was increasing unhappy. Although I spent the money on this product thinking it would be a miracle for me, I began to understand what I was warned about. I was basically starving myself, and I was not learning how to change my life. Good thing there is a 100% money back guarantee. I'll be taking advantage of their return policy.

On Saturday, with the help of my dear friend, I began what is truly a new direction in my weight loss journey, which is learning how to EAT, rather than DIET. 

Shocking, isn't it?

Rather than rely on some sort of miracle, I should be changing the way I think about food, and how I eat it! 

I sit here now, eating an apple, having had an entirely satisfying 170 calorie breakfast of delicious oatmeal... happy. I feel good, and know I can make this change in my life. I am now 5 days soda free, 5 days fast food free, and 5 days closer to my ultimate goal.

If you are keeping track, I am 3 lbs down in 5 days. I'm now at 268.4. I'm kicking ass.