Today is supposed to rain (of course because I watered my garden yesterday ) so I have decided with it being cloudy and overcast that I would pull out my cookbooks and bake this morning. I am presently making bean muffins followed by carrot raisin muffins (sans frosting). The bean muffins have molasses in them. I am intrigued by the fact that there are beans in them although in another one of my cookbooks there is also a black bean muffin recipe so obviously this is "good" (as well as good for you).
FYI: Not to rain on any one's parade but my son informed me (ex-Whole Food employee, worked there while in college now has a "real job" counseling high risk teens) that Whole Foods has relaxed their "standards" and carries GMO products from Monsato (Morning Star brand is one). My son, who has been a vegan for 18 years and is very passionate about this whole debate, is very angry and has personally joined others in demanding a resindining of this recent policy change for what he calls their "cowardice" and "caving in". Although my son continues to shop there for other products.
[I offer no disclaimer on this info. If my son says it, I believe him because of his commitment although, get this, he doesn't like vegetables very much and eats a very limited amount of them. In fact, I eat more of a variety of vegetables than he does and more frequently. Will the real vegetarian please stand up?]
I, for one, am so new to all of this, having only "cleaned up my own act" in the past 3 1/2 years that I just looked at my food labels and like someone said here earlier (maryann?), finished up my last processed soy products, which (on the record) I just wanted to try and see if I liked them (I didn't really). Whomever said that none of them taste like a real burger was right. Plus, processed just doesn't taste fresh. It just doesn't! I love cooking and baking so no big deal for me. Guess the turtle in me has to poke its head out of its shell every so often and see what all the fuss is. So, back to "business as usual". Like Bob on Biggest Loser always says; if you can't pick it from a tree, catch it out of water (although a lot of fish is polluted) or dig it out of the earth; just don't eat it!! Faux food is faux food.
Have a good day all; whether bike riding, surfing the www, and superchick we're pulling for you and onederland. You can do this!
Got my run in this AM. Happy to have a DH who will take on baby duty. Had a family celebration out at the lake yesterday and ate sanely. I’ll take credit for that, even though the rest of the weekend was not so perfect. Realized that if planned food is not ready to go it probably won’t happen—duh! Now I just need to set aside some food prep time so healthy food is always on hand. I’m getting a better idea on a food plan while nursing. Thanks BillBE for the link to the nursing forum. It’s a great resource.
Typing with one hand, so no personals today. Waving to all!
Morning, all! (Though it is probably past morning for all of you by now, lol!)
I got 12 hours of sleep last night! It was great--although I have trouble moving after being prone that long!
Pamatga--Veggies for breakfast are easy when I have a frittatta--basically an egg, mixed with water and poured into the frying pan over gently frying vegs--this morning I had onion, red pepper and mushrooms. Oh, so good. I also chopped up 2x what I needed so I could do it more easily again this week.
I've heard of folks eating savoury oatmeal in the morning for breakfast--I'm sure you could pop in some chunks of squash (butternut) or pumpkin puree into it for more veggies. That reminds me--do you know of Mark Bittman? He's a veggie-centric cook--and has published several recipe books. I've looked at quite a few from the library--he has lots of ideas for how to include more veggies into every meal. Try the "Food matters" cookbook. (In fact, I think I'll request it from my library right now.)--done.
BBE--so glad you to hear you resisted the trail mix. Superchick, my husband is a "naturally" thin guy too--and he frequently eats food I (now) choose not to. It can be very frustrating, can't it?! OH well. Every Monday, though, I make him his weekly "work" food--he gets up very early and would rather sleep than eat, so I have finally found something nourishing to make him for breakfast he can eat in the car--Ima Garten's granola bars! I'll be preparing a couple of pans of those today, as well as muffins (for his breaks) and a BIG bean salad (for his lunches). I DID include one of the muffins on my plan for today--I'll make them using fresh raspberries from the garden. (yum).
Shepherdess--congrats on getting in the run! Here's a secret for one handed typing--give up caps! No one will mind.
Superchick--thanks for peaking at the blog. I appreciate your kind words more than I can say, really.
MaryContrary--Congrats on getting that exercise in--even after long days of travelling. I've done 10 hour driving days in the past and I know how exhausting they can be--so kudos to you!
Gardenerjoy--My grandmother was someone who was mostly a "meat and potatoes" cook. My mother-in-law was from the "if it's from a can it must be better than fresh" generation--and fed her family accodingly. I think it's great you feel a connection to her, though. Perhaps I'll change our family's culture with food--I'll be the pioneer. That's a nice thought.
Woodland--congrats on the garden! We were late getting ours in this year--though the green onions could be harvested.
Apologies to anyone I've missed. I've got to get my day going, now.
Credits so far--
weighed in. Up slightly from yesterday. No biggie.
Working on today's food plan--as well as what we'll have for dinner this week. Enjoying the challenge of cooking for two. Goal is to have two vegetables at every evening meal.
Read Beck, Day 23--"Counter the unfairness syndrome." I have to say I'm feeling fantastic and a bit euphoric about the whole diet, exercise and weight loss thing these days--you know--the honey moon phase--and these current chapters on dealing with disappointment and resentment and such seem irrelevant. You guys remind me though that the phase I'm in is just a phase and that it is probably best to still take these chapters seriously. So, thanks!
I have an exercise plan in place for the week (hooray!) and looking forward to it.
I'm back home and feeling up to posting finally. I managed to read a bit of this board while away in Ottawa but was otherwise so exhausted and pre-occupied that I didn't post.
But first:
Shepherdess congrats on the little bundle of joy!!! I can't wait to hear about the baby's interaction with the sheeps. So glad both of you are happy and healthy
Okay now my update:
- I met with my drawing group and our gallery show is planned. The two other members are fanatics for details which is good as I am way more a big picture person and get OCD with details.
- I visited with my mom and took her out to the casino and she, thankfully, forgot about her losses, however she also forgot we had gone out at all but when DH called looking for me, and I wasn't there, she was worried that she had missed my visit as "she was out all day" (out with me!) so she did remember she was out, but not where or with who, BUT she was happy so...? I find my mother's new alzheimer's mind is many things: funny, perplexing, frustrating and endearing. So many emotions. She remains herself, just exaggerated and things come and go FAST. Writing about her makes me sad and makes me feel far from her and makes me want to take care of her all the time. Being there it is challenging for me, not her, except when she focuses on when I am leaving/how long I am staying. It is GREAT progress that I can say today I love and forgive my mother for the past 100%. THIS was the unexpected gift of her alzheimer's to me. She finally dropped all the facades, all the careful juggling of all her children and was just simply herself with me. I am lucky to have this time with her.
- I did the art in the park event I organized the last two years. I was happy the new organizer followed my advice and added more of her own touch. I was told that the turnout was greater last year, and it was, I felt the "art buyers" did not show up, but I managed to wrangle an interview on the local CBC the morning of the show so that drew lots of their demographic = older, affluent, educated arts supporters to the show. I did sell 2 items which was 1 more than I expected. None of them were any of the new paintings I showed you guys. The heat and the humidity took its toll on me. I was completely spent after it was over causing me to nix an overnight at my best friend's place. Next time, which is only a week from this Thursday. More as that approaches.
This week I am in prep for my first local art event. It's a Jazz festival. The organizer is a newbie I think. Lots of unadressed issues appearing in almost daily emails. I just sent him an email asking pointed questions. Taking action is an effective strategy to prevent overeating. This is the exactly the kind of thing I wouldn't do in the past, preferring to worry and "not bother anyone" or maybe "upset someone" while I feel anxious and then eat to feel calm or to forget I am feeling nervous. I am risking his opinion of me by a pointed email but so what? Oh well. I am only asking he do his job as an art show admistrator...
and now for MY GOOD NEWS
I will be an Artist-In-Residence at The Studios of Key West for four weeks starting the month of February 2012! I got my acceptance email while I was away! I am awarded my own cottage to live in which has an attached working studio and a communal covered outdoor gathering space shared with the other artists in residence working there at the same time. There were 25 people chosen for the residencies from 75 applicants. We represent 20 different cities and 5 countries.
SO EXCITING.
*credit for weighing in this morning: 282.2 (+1.8lbs) I am happy with this given everything....
BBE: no mingling that I know of. The cukes are pretty far from the melons though. The garden has 15 rows, each about 70 feet long. I get lots of exercise keeping up with it and the resulting kitchen work.
Good day on plan for me today. Enjoy hearing everyone's news.
Hi Everyone,
Sorry I have been gone awhile and hope it is okay for me to post here again. Just keeping too busy, not following my program and decided today that it is time to get back on track. It certainly wasn't making me any healthier.
Made a nice dinner tonight and not too many calories. I think one of my problems is repetiveness and lack of color to my meals. I have a ton of cookbooks plus computer access so I need to just get busy and change the things I can and accept the things that just need to be adjusted.
Morning coaches, another pitiful summer day here – it’s so grey and autumnal, it’s freezing! So much for summer…
Credits: checking in, up early for a strength workout, biked to work, planned and made my days food, read my ARC, OP day yesterday
Been pretty busy the past few weeks so tonight I’m going to have a potter in the garden and bring things down a notch or two, and attempt to have a quiet week. I really need to get back to reading Beck, I have been following the book but haven’t looked at it in a while, so I want to get back to that.
Alana – it can be frustrating for sure! Luckily my boyf gets lunch at his work; not sure I could stomach making him sweet treats that I couldn’t eat! He has to eat what I want mainly in the evening, as I am the main cook, but usually he has a larger serving size or some add ons. Seems to work but it would be nice to have a break from the cooking sometimes!
Onebyone – Congratulations! The artist in residence news is massive!
Checking in. Yesterday was crazy/frustrating/exhausting. My food choices reflected the insanity. Fortunately, the insanity can be temporary and I'll take some quiet time this morning to plan for one sane day.
Today I will:
~freeze the cookies that no one is eating except me
~I'll stick with my traditional lunch
~I'll make every effort to steer dinner to my home cooked meal instead of going out.
It's a challenge-our houseguest doesn't eat any breakfast or lunch then wants to take us out every night. Last night was Mexican and I had no resistance muscle for chips. *credit* for sticking to my habit of requesting NO cheese. It did save lots of calories and reminded me that these are life habits.
No/slow computer has been frustrating. Oh, well. Back later, perhaps, but recognizing it just may not happen.
Thanks for being here, everyone.
onebyone, congratulations on your artist residency!! Yay!
Diet Coaches/Buddies - A good eating day, CREDIT moi, including dinner with friends. It's rather nice to spend an evening with a group of friends where no one is over consuming anything - even among friends that's not always the case.
onebyone - Congrats for pulling off a super trip to Ontario. I am touched how you have adjusted to your mother's Alzheimer’s.
Just amazing that you'll be Artist-In-Residence at The Studios of Key West. You do mean Key West, Florida, right?
Shepardess - Yay for a DH who tends your Shepardling so you can run. LOL at typing with one hand.
Woodland – That's a BIG garden - especially compared to our urban 10 foot by 10 foot. Do you can a lot of stuff?
pamatga - Yay for bean muffins - I haven't had those.
SuperChick - Yep, Whole Foods is indeed a "magical place." And it's a place that encourages moderation - by the technique of HIGH prices, LOL. Do you have Trader Joe's in Scotland? Kudos for keeping your cool about onederland - your body will go there when it's ready.
Alana in Canada - Twelve hours of sleep is just amazing - your teen inside was bursting out, LOL. Kudos for shifting to cooking for two instead of just eating your kid’s share.
GardeningDeb - Welcome back. You're welcome to rejoin at any time. There's probably a forum somewhere for those on flawless paths, but I've not gone looking for it since I'm not qualified. It does take some effort to add new veggies, but it's super fun. It works for us to head to a new place - like an Asian market - and just try something new. I'm big on Kale at the moment. Good luck.
Readers -
Quote:
chapter 4 Stage 1The Success Skills Plan
Success Skill 2Weigh yourself daily Getting on the Scale. what to do . . .
It's important to start weighing yourself now, even before changing your eating, because it will help keep you in check. Each morning write your weight on your Success Skill Sheet (pages 266-267), along with any change from the previous day. (You will start to graph your weight loss at the end of Stage 2).
Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., The Complete Beck Diet for Life (Green book), pg 58.
onebyone I loved reading your new news. You sound so centered and focused in a very positive way. and on your new A-I-R appointment next year. Can anyone come and visit to see all of your new work "in action"? Alana in Canada Thanks for the tip on cookbook! I will definitely check it out (literally). I have rediscovered that sometimes the best way to eat better is to take the reins in the food preparation instead of allowing the food manufacturers dictate how/what is in the food stuff I put in me. I too have been going through a period of very long naps (5 hours in the middle of the day/night). I'm not really sure why I am so tired lately. Superchick I do think that the "higher prices" associated with Whole Foods (whose flagship store is in Austin, TX) is a fallacy. My son always said that as well. He was always working on reeducating the customers while he was employed there. Healthy food does have a "tendency" to be a tad more but if you shop smart, you won't see your grocery bill go up significantly. I have another favorite other "employee-owned" Southern store (out of Lakeland FL) that I also frequent for its "Greenwise" food line. It is more competitively priced for its organic food line especially local producers, which I like to support as well. Travel time is less when the producers is within "spittin distance" plus it is nice to put a human face with my and I sense the love and pride coming through. I just do! Woodland Believe it or not but I am starting my seedlings for my fall/winter garden now. Winter garden will include asparagus, arugala, swiss chard, chives, snow peas, tomatos (again--I think it will hot enough for the next 2-3 months to do another go round), pumpkins and some herbs. It is still 70 degrees around Thanksgiving here so I hope to have some fresh produce for our Thanksgiving meal. This is my first attempt at Southern gardening and I am still tweaking my efforts. gardeningdeb Thanks for thinking of us as you recommit yourself to yourself. This is a very supportive group and you will only find love growing here. (well, also a few radishes, Kale (nod to Bill), cukes, and of course tomatoes....) Bill While it was storming outside, I was busy making wonderful aromatic muffins inside yesterday. I still have the mountain of dishes to load this morning. This is what was in the bean muffins: pinto beans mashed with a potato masher, whole wheat flour, butter (or equivalent), black strap molasses, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, eggs, and orange rind. It both taste and smelled like pumpkin bread. Moist and dense. I always tweak my recipes so I substituted allspice for the cloves and ginger and used pure orange extract instead of the orange rind (stronger flavor for both). Then, I made carrot-raisin muffins. Same base (ww flour, etc) but since I was out of raisins (I use them up so frequently) I substituted chopped prunes, which cook out like fresh dates (which I really love). Not as flavorful or aromatic but I coarsely chopped the carrots so you could see bits of carrots in them as well. Alana another yummy way to get both my vegetables and fiber in!! A local favorite restaurant we frequent has "from scratch" Jalapeno corn muffins. You can see bits of sweet corn, red and jalapeno peppers sticking out of the muffin. Colorful too. They would go good with your frittata you mentioned.
Again, I am really loving the challenge of getting vegetables in every meal. I was wondering if breakfast would be hard but it is actually falling into place quite nicely.
Credit for the sense of wonder I have when it comes to trying new things.
Take care of your wee one Shepherdess I am with envy. Gosh, it was 36 years ago for me. No g-kids either nor will there be any. I just love my g-niece, Miss Sadie, from 986 miles afar, so sending lots of love your way as you get to know this wonderful new life.
Still in Santa Cruz this morning. Coming home this pm. Food has been ok. I weighed today and it was not unreasonable. I have been careful but not OP and with treats. I am looking forward to being home for two weeks so I can write and focus on OP behavior. I read today's posting but will catch up tomorrow.
DH and I made a nice anniversary dinner last night. It was a challenge since we had to keep passing our DD back and forth. Dinner was late and we had to cut it short so I could feed DD. Oh well, we get credit for the effort. The hot weather arrived yesterday, which made for a late night with a cranky baby who was too hot to sleep. I shouldn’t complain, since it has been a pleasant summer so far.
Food yesterday was pretty good; dinner was special, but still healthy. I need to better plan for my afternoons. I need some good healthy snack options so I don’t just grab whatever when I’m tired and trying to calm a fussy baby.
Alana in Canada, thanks for the permission to drop the caps when typing with one hand. Yay for a good night’s sleep. It’s so much easier to make healthy decisions when well-rested. Great attitude on your weigh-in and good job making your plan.
Onebyone, Congrats on your acceptance for Artist-in-Residence! It sounds like such a great opportunity and what a wonderful place to find inspiration! Sending supportive thoughts while you deal with your mother’s illness, but you have such a wonderful attitude and it’s great that it has brought you closer together.
Woodland, kudos for an OP day. Your garden sounds amazing. I’m experiencing some envy since I didn’t do any gardening this year.
GardeningDeb, getting back to posting is a great way to get back on track. Kudos for re-committing to your program. I read recently that most people only cook about 2 or 3 recipes out of their cookbooks, yet we just keep buying them. Great job recognizing the need to change things up.
SuperChick, yay for planning a quiet week after a hectic one. Great job getting your exercise and doing all the prep for an OP food day.
Lexiss, great job moving on from a hectic day and making a plan to get back on track. Good idea to freeze the offending cookies!
BillBE, it’s great to have a nice dinner with reasonable proportions. It’s so rare since social eating usually means over-eating.
Pamatga, kudos for taking the opportunity presented by a storm and baking! I’m loving your descriptions. I’m also imagining what it’s like to live in a climate that allows for a winter garden. Thanks for your kind wishes for the new baby.
maryann, have a great trip. Great job keeping food reasonable. I like to allow myself an extra treat while on vacation. Kudos for posting to re-focus.
Weigh in was 249 this morning. Seems high after Sunday's wonderful weigh-in--but it is probably quite normal for me, maybe? I'm trying not to think about it lest I panic and do something stupid.
Pamatga--I came across this article about milk and calcium and other ways to get it into your diet. I thought you may be interested: http://smallbites.andybellatti.com/?p=7098
I'm overwhelmed by trying to respond to everyone today--but let me say CONGRATULATIONS to One by One for you incredible attitude to your Mom, (such a difficult disease to cope with) and your appointment as artist-in-residence. So exciting!
I thought I'd be working on paintings for the weekend but I'm not.
I've found myself in the food today. I've eaten more than I planned to every meal so far and for my snack. I know it's an emotional reaction to the trip I was on, and the news I had, and that I am simply worn out. Usually the second day back from a trip I feel worse than the first day. And so it still is that way.
*credit for posting
*credit for weighing in=(-0.7) 281.5lbs
I have 6 months before I go to the artist residency. I want to take these 6 months and focus on weightloss and fitness. I have the P90 workout series and I think this may be a good time to commit to the program. Maybe if I have something highly structured I can give myself over to it. The P90 is the prgram that obese individuals and those really out of shape can do before they attempt the more intense P90X. At least that's how I understand it. There is a foodplan with the workout program and today I am willing to try it. A 90 day committment would bring me to October 24th, 2011 as Day 90. You know, this is a week before our 20th anniversary and about a week and a half before my 48th birthday. This is starting to feel like I could motivate myself with this deadline and committment. I know you guys will be here with me so why not try it?
Better go do something.
Bye for now & thanks for all the goodwishes Becksters
update: just finished day 1 of the p90 workout series. It was "sculpt 1-2" which was weights, push-ups, squats, and lunges. I kept up with the video and I broke into a serious sweat so... 89 to go *credit
) so I have decided with it being cloudy and overcast that I would pull out my cookbooks and bake this morning. I am presently making bean muffins followed by carrot raisin muffins (sans frosting). The bean muffins have molasses in them. I am intrigued by the fact that there are beans in them although in another one of my cookbooks there is also a black bean muffin recipe so obviously this is "good" (as well as good for you).
and the world turns...
I will be an Artist-In-Residence at The Studios of Key West for four weeks starting the month of February 2012! I got my acceptance email while I was away! I am awarded my own cottage to live in which has an attached working studio and a communal covered outdoor gathering space shared with the other artists in residence working there at the same time. There were 25 people chosen for the residencies from 75 applicants. We represent 20 different cities and 5 countries. 
Tuesday
and GD 
my dear friends!
and 
on your new A-I-R appointment next year. Can anyone come and visit to see all of your new work "in action"?
and 
I just do!
Thanks for thinking of us as you recommit yourself to yourself. This is a very supportive group and you will only find love growing here. (well, also a few radishes, Kale (nod to Bill), cukes, and of course tomatoes....
with envy. Gosh, it was 36 years ago for me. No g-kids either nor will there be any. I just love my g-niece, Miss Sadie, from 986 miles afar, so sending lots of love your way as you get to know this wonderful new life.
*credit
