Discussion Board

Hey toadfood. It isn't as hard as it sounds. I just worked up to it. The hard part is what the going down the stairs initially does to my calves. I could hardly walk for a few days. So be careful the first time not to do too many- for me too many the first time was 20 flights. I'd do 10 the first time then work up from there unless you can do more up and take an elevator down part of the way.

So I'm thinking I need to start posting my food again. It was helpful before.

morn: wh grits and broc

afternoon: oatmeal w/ agave and a tsp of cranberries from whole foods bar, vegan low fat chili (didn't see or taste oil and non listed) also off the hot bar.

eve: will be what I cook- spicy veggies over sw pot and wh beans and greens

exercise: not happening but I am not a couch potato today either as I'm mopping, shopping, etc.

This morning is beautiful. Sat on the porch for a while enjoying the green and flowers. Spring. aah.

Cooked up my spicy veggies and beans and greens last night (that was dinner) so set for the week. Have salad greens in the fridge as well and fruit. Oats and broccoli for breakfast. Yah, weird huh? I love it! I put a half cup steel cut oats in a big bowl with frozen broccoli and Ms Dash Garlic and Herb and water. Nuke 20 min or so and then add nutritional yeast. No salt needed. It's delicious. Weird and wonderful.

Feeling peaceful. Helps that I ate well yesterday and got a good amount of cleaning in as well. Plan to do stairs today for exercise.

Sounds like you're doing great Anna! I think your "weird" oats sound delicious...even as a lunch, but I could see wanting those for breakfast too. I love to put shredded zucchini in my oats, so I get it. I'm going to try it, and I think I'm going to call them "Anna's Weird Oats" in my recipe file.

mmm, I like the steel cut oats recipe. I'm always looking for ways to enjoy that grain...it's pretty enjoyable as is, but...:unibrow...any savory steel cut oats recipe is worth trying, IMO.

Keep on going!

kirstykay and buns, thanks. The oats are good esp w/ the broc, Ms. Dash (get the garlic and herb) and the nut yeast.

I struggled today but did ok.

Morn: oats, broc, banana

Afternoon: big salad w/ beans, a little guac, salsa on top and 3 corn tortillas.

Eve: big salad w/ oil-free hummus on top, greens and beans, br rice and veggies.

Exercise: 40 min at the arboretum- walk/run, up and down the hill. I did not want to exercise but after i had been there for about 20 min I started enjoying and pushed harder. This happens pretty regularly for me. if I can just get started or even sometimes just get my workout clothes on then I'll do it. I'm always glad i exercise and enjoy the fitness. I've noticed that even when I don't sleep well or eat poorly I don't have the fatigue I used to have. And when I do eat well I of course feel even better. So here's another day.

Hmmm....oatmeal and broccoli. I like KirstyKay's title: Anna's weird oats. But I'll try it. Your quinoa soup recipe is in my recipe file labeled "Anna's Soup" and it is delicious! Maybe you're a chef and don't know it?

It's strange how once you get going walking, running or whatever exercise you're doing it feels so good and you wonder why in the world you don't want to get out there and do it. I don't know what that is about. I've watched my dogs who would rather be outside in any kind of weather than indoors. And their favorite thing in the whole world (aside from eating and sleeping) looks to be chasing the ball two or three times a day. I take a lesson from them on that.

Birdy, I know. I'm out there going what's the problem. This is great. It's beautiful. I'm seeing herons and egrets and the light is shining through the trees, lighting up the leaves. I like how my muscles feel used. And then the next time I have to talk myself in to going again.

So we have this biggest loser competition going at work. Started 2 weeks ago (goes for 3 months) and I've lost 5.2 lbs- prob some water weight because my eating has been on and off, though mostly on plan. I'm in the lead so far but I really don't necessarily want to be. We got some sick folks here that I want to step up for their own sake. I have to do reasonably well for my sake but also because I gotta represent you know? No meat eaters kickin my butt with weight loss.

So food today:

Morn: steel cut oats and broc, 1/2 mango

Afternoon: veggies and brown rice, arugula, sweet potato

Eve: white beans and greens, big salad w/ garlic hummus dress (no oil), banana w/ 2 pecans, br rice and veggies

Exercise: hitting the gym after work for cardio and weights. Plan to hurt so good.

later....I did just as I said I would. Ate the planned food, hit the gym for about 1 hr 20 min. Worked hard. I am trying to just focus on today and the steps I take toward health and feeling good.

One thing I love about eating well is how I feel in the morning. Not only am I more perky and energetic (usually), but I don't have that sinking feeling of guilt about whatever crap I ate the night before. I feel light and hopeful. And then scared I won't continue. And then hopeful.

Morn: oats and broc

Aft: load of veggies, br rice and sweet potato, banana

Evening: big salad w/ hummus (oil free) on top, beans and greens and probably more veggies and br rice.

Last night I woke up at 1am hungry and unable to go back to sleep. Got up and ate my veggies and br rice and then slept well. If I don't have enough food during the day this happens. I can lie in bed awake for hours if I'm too lazy to get up and eat. So I have to find a balance. I don't want to stuff it but I don't need to have sleep problems because of hunger either.

Dang, just wrote a long post (lost it) saying I did good yesterday, have good plans today, fought with Whole Foods about oil and embarrassed my friend, plan to do stairs today, exercise yesterday was fighting with fleas. That's the jist.

anna, you're doing great! I want to get back that early morning energy...it'll happen, I know it will. I like the look of that exercise, too!

gonna have to get on it, myself.

keep on going! you inspire me

Once again I just wrote a long post and it just disappeared. aaah!

The jist is this. Overall I'm doing fine. One screw up meal since Thursday but realized it was stupid and not even pleasurable and I went back to my good food. Have eaten mostly MWL w/ some ww bread and pasta here and there. And sunflower seeds in the shell- not a lot. I can live with this. It means I'm getting healthier- not as fast as if I just did MWL but perhaps it means I can stick to it.

Morn: oats and broc, 1/2 mango
Aft: beans and greens
Eve: oats and broc, sunfl seeds in shell, 2 glasses wine, 1 fruit bar.
3am: ww pita and ff bl bean hummus and spinach (I have to stop waking up hungry)

Exercise has been good as well over the weekend. Spent some time w/ a girlfriend walking and talking, hit the gym, did a ton of spring cleaning so not a couch potato. Today was just 30 min of strength and cardio.

Wow it sounds like you have so much energy. As for losing your posts, that was happening to me all the time so I finally started copying as I went along and could then paste most or all of it back if I accidentally deleted it. How's the weight loss challenge at your work going? Have a great week!

Hey! How was your Easter? Are you still having insomnia in the middle of the night? What's new?

Just bombarding you with questions!

Hey Birdy, I'm just grateful for your presence so ask away. Sleeps ok. As far as the biggest loser, well, we are all just not doing it. I was in the lead and then gained the 5 lbs back. sigh. I'm back on it today. In the last few months I have struggled more than I have since I started this in 2009. I've gained and lost and gained about 10-12 lbs from my lowest and don't want to go further. That approx 95 lbs I lost was hard work and I don't want to gain it all back and I see it coming. The only thing that has saved me is some good habits- bringing lunch to work, etc. I've been drinking more alcohol in the last few months too and that isn't helping at all. So I'm thinking I need to just go back to the basics. Do what I did in the beginning but more diligently. That means posting food and stinkin thinkin, reading the sites, using the feedback, etc. So this is where I'm at. I know that just losing unhealthy behavior and not replacing with healthy habits is not successful for me. If I'm not going to eat for example, when I'm anxious I need to do something else to deal. That's it. I'm not going to think this to death. I just want to do the healthy eating and get the support and give some as well when I can. In some ways I'm ashamed of still struggling but I'm still in a much better place than when I started and if I have to continue seeking support to be healthy, I will. Shame has never done much for me so I'll just ignore it and let the crazies out right here.

Morn: br rice, some lentils, veggies, raw carrots and ff mango dressing

Aft: repeat of breakfast w/o carrots

Even: repeat

Exercise: well...not much but I did walk about 20 min to go hear Herbie Hancock this morn in the park. nice. Plan to hit the gym tom. Exercising and eating well for me, are married.