Well, yesterday we ordered Chinese food. Jeff and I split some pork lo mein and orange chicken and each had an eggroll. I used to be able to eat all of that food by myself, but now I know that even half of it, while better than all, is still too much (they give you SO much food!). Of course, we stretched it over 2 meals, so I'd had pancakes and turkey sausage for breakfast (total of under 600 calories) and then the Chinese for lunch and dinner, so I know I went over 2000 for the day, but it could have been worse, and it was probably still better than many of my weekends Actually, I KNOW this weekend was much better than most, so even with the minor Chinese food orgy, I am proud that I ate all home-cooked meals with that one exception

As for today, the plan is:

• 4 pancakes w/light syrup and 2 turkey sausage breakfast links (the last of it, so it's out of my fridge now!)
• leftover keilbasa in swedish sauce (sauce = equal parts no-sugar-added grape jam and chili sauce)
• yogurt (low-fat, no sugar added)

Total: about 1600 calories

I've got my clothes packed so I can hit the gym for a minimum of 25 minutes on the elliptical, and all week long I won't be able to justgo home and nap the evening away (as I have been doing lately) because I need to pack and clean to get ready to move this weekend!

Hi everyone, I just wanted to check in. I'm still here, on-plan mostly, and I just wanted to say that I'm going to start posting my foods regularly again, starting today. You're all doing great!

Have a great day!

OK, I hit an all-time low at the weekend. I won't bore you with the foodporn, but I will say that it was very definitely emotional eating, and although it did help me get through a very difficult weekend, I feel a lot worse for it now. Anyway, what I know is that I can't and won't carry on with eating all of that junk, so am drawing a very firm line, and moving on in a positive way. Unsurprisingly, I am not in the slightest bit hungry today, so haven't eaten - I will eat something healthy and nourishing when I need to.........just wanted to put myself on record!

I love your positive attitude, Claire. Emotional eating is something I struggle with too, although I'm getting better at recognising it before I do too much damage. I've found the trick for me is to find something else that provides a similar "satisfaction". I recently started scrapbooking, and that looks as though it might be a fair substitute for me.

Nice to see you around, Beth. Good job on dropping another pound this week!

Jillybean: Good job on the weekend! Maybe you weren't entirely on plan, but the improvement is definitely an achievement worth recognising.

I really need to get back into scheduled exercise. Actually, I really need to stop talking about it, and JUST DO IT!

Sun 09/10:

Breakfast: Shake (8 oz banana, ½ cup 2% yogurt, crushed ice, vanilla extract), 500 ml coffee,
Lunch: 2 oz turkey breast, 1 tblsp. Phili Light, 2 oz whole-wheat bread, hot peppers, romaine, 1 litre water.
Snack: 2 oz piece banana bread, 500 ml water.
Dinner: 1½ cups home-made chili, 7 oz boiled potatoes 1 litre water.
Extra Drinks: 500 ml water, 250 ml green tea.

Total kcals: 1559 (plus free veggies)

Exercise: None.

Monday's plan:

Breakfast: Cereal, coffee.
Lunch: Turkey & Phili Light on whole-wheat pita, salad.
Snack: Banana shake.
Dinner: Roast ham, veggies.

DishyFishy (such a great name!) - thanks so much for the encouragement. I do have my list of healthy things to do to handle the emotions....I was just in a state of mind where, frankly, I did not care enough about myself to be bothered to take care of myself.....anyway that, I am happy to report, is behind me, and today was at least a better day food-wise, if not emotionally!

Monday

Porridge, banana
Tea
Pasta with roast vegetables
Quite a lot of water

Maybe a low fat chocolate should I feel the need....

I can see that the next couple of weeks are going to be tough on several fronts (work, relationship, studying), and I have done some mental regrouping today, so that whatever happens I don't repeat this last weekend.

Ah well, onwards and upwards (whoops, maybe that should be downwards!), as they say....

Just popping in for a moment after a grueling yet very enjoyable loooooong weekend (I took off Friday as well and am not going into work until 5:00 pm Tuesday night). I behaved quite well, all things considered, and though I ate more on Thanksgiving than I planned, I still ate waaaaaaay less than I have on previous holidays. There were lots of celebrations, such as daughter's anniversary, son-in-law's birthday, Thanksgiving, going away party for a work member, "our" anniversary of meeting (which warranted dinner in a smashing restaurant), etc. etc., but I managed to practice restraint except for Sunday (family Thanksgiving celebration). Back to business Tuesday and shooting for "on plan" until Christmas!!

Sorry you've been going through a rough time, Claire, and hope all your worries are eased ASAP!

Let's get on that exercise trail together, Ali ~ no more excuses, eh?

Glad to see you here, Beth, and look forward to regular postings (feel free to post PT kiss and tell entries, also!)

Good job on "hitting the gym", Jillybean and good luck with the move. It must be a very exciting time for you!

Well, this week may be a slight struggle food-wise. I have packed away all of my pots and pans and various small appliances for the move, so I really can't do much in the way of cooking. I have also gotten rid of most of the food in my fridge and cabinets, so I don't have a whole lot left. That said, here's the plan for today (edited after lunch!):

• yogurt (lowfat, no sugar added)
• a jar of pineapple (I but the plastic jars of pineapple by Dole--they're cheaper per ounce than the canned pineapple)
• personal-size cheese and grilled chicken pizza

Total: about 1350 calories

Jillegal (I was going to just say "Jill," but I felt like I was talking to myself ), thanks for the congrats on gettin' my butt to the gym, but I ended up not going But wait, before you yell at me, I promise it was for a good reason! Instead, I went and checked out a couch I found online (Craigslist is AWESOME--check out this couch), and I bought it! Now I have furniture for my new apartment (since I'm not taking my current couch because it is 25 years old, has a piece of foam instead of cushions, and has a completely broken sleeper stuck inside) Rest assured, though, I worked up a sweat while packing up my kitchen and closets last night, so it wasn't a completely exercise-free day!

MONDAY

Breakfast:
kashi go lean w/skim milk

Lunch:
pork and kraut

Dinner:
oatmeal with applesauce, made w/skim milk

Snacks throughout the day:
candy corn and jelly pumpkins
mid-day, five chicken nuggets (left over from Gem)
evening, Lowfat Cheezits w/peanut butter


Drinks:
tea. Lots of tea. (not feeling well)
water
diet soda

Calories:
about 1800

Exercise:
none

Ok.. here's my food from yesterday...


2 - coffee
1 - egg whites
3 - Luna bar
2 - coffee
1 - 1pt cake
5 - zone bar
5 - clam chowder
4 - swordfish
3 - baked potato
26 points (out of 26)

PT is being his sweet self... but nothing new to report.

Have a great day everyone.

Here's a great fall recipe chock full of veggies. Its low in calories and fat and high in fibre and taste! I made this as a side dish for Thanksgiving, but its hearty enough to have as an entree.

Roasted Veggies & Tortellini

6 cups of fresh veggies thinly sliced or chopped into chunks (I like mine especially colourful and use red, yellow & green pepper, zucchini, butter squash, green beans and red onion).

4 tsps. prepared minced garlic

1 tbsp. Italian seasoning

"I Can't Believe its Not Butter" spray

1 small package of tortellini

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Spray a large, deep pan liberally with ICBINB. Add veggies, minced garlic and seasoning. Lightly spray veggies with more ICBINB.

Roast veggies until tender crisp (about 15 minutes). Stir occasionally.

Cook tortellini according to instructions. Drain.

Mix tortellini into veggies, then pour into serving dish. Top with a little reduced fat parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings (190 calories per serving)


Tuesday
Morning
2 - Nature's Path Flax Multigrain cereal, with
1 - 1/2c 1% milk
1 - Source yogurt (vanilla)
Mid-morning
1 - clementine orange
0 - Perrier water
Early afternoon
4 - pumpernickel bagel, spread with
3 - salmon mixed with a little Miracle Whip and black pepper
1 - seedless grapes
0 - bottled water
Late afternoon
2 - medium banana
0 - club soda
Early evening
4 - Leftover Roasted Veggie & Tortellini (heated up nicely in microwave)
0 - garden salad (lettuce, tomato, mushrooms, radish, cucumber)
1 - "light" italian dressing
0 - Perrier water
Late evening
2 - Tim Hortons coffee with cream
1 - one Timbit
23 total (used one flex point)

Exercise: Woke up early this morning and took the dog for a particularly long walk (almost an hour). Walked the dog again for 1/2hr. in the afternoon (before I left for work). Lots of running up and down halls and internal stairwells at work tonight (5 to midnight) in preparation for a major "closing".

Thanks for the recipe, Jill - thats the kind of cooking I can handle!

Well, I am doing a lot better than I did at the weekend, but not as well as I could be doing (those fruit and veggie cravings seem to have disappeared entirely!!).

Tuesday

Banana, Coffee
Chicken and ricotta salad, melon
Rice cakes (way too many....), tuna, sweetcorn & lowfat mayo, and low fat soft cheese
Tomato soup

I haven't posted for a few days - how long has it been? Hmmm...not sure...anyway, I'll just go back a couple of days:

Sunday: 1980
Monday: 1826

Today:

Breakfast:
Special K & 1% milk

Lunch:
Leftover Mushroom casserole

Dinner:
Chicken Tostada (chicken breast, 1 tostada, 1 tortilla, refried beans, cheese, lettuce, salsa)

Snacks:
Bowl of Special K & 1% milk (I was hungry tonight...)
Sunflower seeds
Popcorn

Drinks:
1 diet cola
12 oz chocolate milk
water

Calories: 1741

**So, I went to the doctor last week - not sure if I mentioned it here - b/c I've been so TIRED. I have two small children - but it seems like I've been even more tired than I should be (not able to make it through the day without a NAP!!). After a blood test - they found that my iron is very low so I have to start taking supplements. Very glad to have a REASON and I'm so hoping that I'll start having more energy very soon!

Well, yesterday I had a complete food meltdown... It's been coming for a few days. I've had alot going on personally, my best friend completely betrayed me and quite honestly I don't have too many close friends, lots of people to have lunch with, but not many close friends.

So I've been walking around feeling really alone for the past week and yesterday, I started w/McDonalds and kept going.

I did write it all down and ultimately even though I was totally nauseous after, I only went over by about 27 points. The thing is, I haven't had one of these days in a long time and I can't seem to put it behind me. I'm back to being on plan today, I had an egg white omlet this morning, but yesterday is still haunting me.

Any thoughts?

Breakfast:
walnuts pre-commute
orange
cottage cheese

Lunch:
country fried steak w/onions and gravy
squash
green beans
carrots

Afternoon snack to keep the Beast at bay:
pickled herring

Dinner:
tomatoes and kale (combines two "super vegetables" in a very tasty way)
five Little Smokies mini-sausages w/mustard

Snacks throughout the day:
small bowl of candy corn and jelly pumpkins with my evening tea


Drinks:
water
tea
coffee w/creamer
diet soda

Calories:
about 1700

Exercise:
stairs, but no walking -- too wet out