Mom and Teen Getting Healthy

[Purplefish]

OK - Surgery is done - it went well - I had a bit of a glitch after surgery recovering - but that is also done.

My own scale says I'm down 10 pounds from where I started.
My daughter is down 10 pounds as well. I see her confidence about her body starting to shine. She asked for new sports clothes so she can be more active without looking frumpy. Happy to oblige.

The food has been difficult this past week -- I really get the 1 pot meals which seem to be better for winter weather. The harder part is summer meals. I had a veggie grill the other night and left overs made for good burrito fillings.

In all, though, we're still not doing dairy or animal. The processed foods are in there (tortilla chips - baked, McDougall cups, and pasta dishes) and bread is a substantial part of our repertoire. But I can make small strides to keep removing these products.

Ideas for summer dishes:

Rice salad
pizza (hold the cheese) with onions (Maybe this is considered focaccia)
pasta salad

something with beans -- if anyone is reading this and can point me to some good summer dishes with beans - I'd be grateful!

[Purplefish]

New challenges - since the surgery we've gone on vacation - and I didn't gain weight - but I also didn't lose it. Also starting back at work - so I need a routine.

1) Identify foods to make
2) Find time to breathe deeply
3) plan, plan, plan

Tomorrow:
Potatoes for breakfast
McDougal cup for lunch
dinner - tba

[Purplefish]

Not sure why I'm surprized... feel better then change back to eating the old way... then wonder why I feel worse again...

When I look back to photos of last year at this time, I see clear skin, healthy glow... and now I'm back to dairy and meat ---

just watched Vegucated with my daughter

Will try to do one thing - plan out Vegan meals for tomorrow.
Starting again

[carollynne]

Good luck to you both! you can do this and be the shining example for your daughter too.
prayers for you 2

[Purplefish]

Surgery: 6/16/2011
Thyroid testing: 7/14/2011 -- all normal ranges
Thyroid biopsy: April 2012
Blood cholesterol 5/1/12 = 256
Triglycerides = 196

Getting serious - why does serious take awhile?

It seems to me if I focus on what I do each day, then the future will sort itself out. That's my goal - focus on each meal only. Then in the end, if each meal is compliant, then it will build to a super future.

Figuring out the the practicalities of the theory -- where to store beans, how to grind flaxseeds, what to make that's easy and tasty. While this isn't an immediate concern - how to make this work at work.

For now - priorities:
1) plant based meals (check)
2) exercising each day (not so good at this...)
3) supplements (flax, meditation, removing stressors)

Today:
B: Oatmeal, flax, diced dried pineapple, unsweetened Almond Breeze
L: calabacitas taco, beans, rice, salad
D: veggie chili, corn muffin, red wine

Run/walk 45 minutes

[Purplefish]

5/1/12 186
5/7/12 183
5/15/12 183 - but the fat content says lower - below 40% fat according to my scale, for the first time in awhile. My fat content is lowering!

[Purplefish]

May 7th
B: oatmeal, 1 T flax, raisins
L: veggie bar at grocery, potato salad (I made), 4 macadamia nuts, tea, flax milk
D: fake chicken, mushrooms and summer squash mix
Snack: raspberries
Exercise:

[Caroveggie]

It looks like you are incorporating beans but you can also try Eden brand cans. They have mixed bean concoctions like lentils and brown rice, chili with spelt, etc. All no oil and organic. I find them in the health food stores here. They can save you some time and come in various flavors. I don't like all of them but some are pretty good.

I also like to try new melons in summer, when they are in season in a few months especially. There are some really yummy melons.

Another summer food I like is kale/greens salad. I can find no oil kale salads at Whole Foods or you can just chop kale and sprinkle on lemon juice. I would eat it that way with some beans mix on top and sometimes with sweet potato. Raw onion chopped in it too.

[Purplefish]

Tues, May 8th:

B: oatmeal, flax, flax milk, dried pineapple,
whole wheat bread and avocado
L: sweet potatoes, broccoli and lentils
d: peas and kidney beans, brown rice and carrots

S: apple, raspberries

[Purplefish]

Wed, May 9

B: flax cereal, flax milk
SN: oatmeal, snap peas
L: Annie's rice bowl with black eyed peas and veggies
D: veggies, salad (already dressed boo), potatoes
glass of red wine

[toadfood]

Welcome back! You're doing great!

[Purplefish]

May 10th Today I will be 100% I want to feel what a 100% day feels like. Today is it.

B: Peas & mushrooms, oatmeal, flax, 1T dried pineapple
L: creamy pinto beans, brown rice, veggies, apple
D: tofu zuccini, yellow squash, mushrooms, bread w/avocado

[Purplefish]

May 11th

B: Oatmeal, flax, dried pineapple, coffee
SN: pinto beans & peas, flax milk
L: Brown rice, tofu, steamed veggies, green tea YUM!


what 100% felt like: yesterday was difficult -- I was faced with emotional eating, but I kept it McDougall-legal... and today was 1.5 pounds lighter on the scale - now I'm sure that wasn't from only yesterday's efforts - but it didn't hurt I'm sure. In addition, slept well, calmer emotions today and all around feel pretty proud of myself which goes a long way toward ignoring off-plan foods.

Off to lunch with a vegan friend. Looking forward to veggies and a cup of hot tea

[lmggallagher]

Hey purplefish:

I love that you are doing this with your daughter and the family is benefitting too. Interesting to read your DH's sleep was better, mine is too and I have 2 sleep disorders. It's the starch that does that, I even get tired earlier and my eyes just snap shut now, lol. I was an insomniac before. Like a miracle to me

I am so glad that your surgery is behind you and that is so great that there was a noticeable reduction in tumor size. I can't think of better encouragement to keep going forward than that. AND of course seeing the improvements you are helping your family with - what a great Mom and wife. Hope your Mother's Day is a great one - you certainly deserve it, IMHO.

Best wishes - Michelle

[Purplefish]

lmggallagher -- thanks! appreciate the support of this group


Haven't lost weight - but feel as though I've lost fat -- wonder if that makes sense. Mother's day was hard - people want to feed me sugar and fat. Finding ways to make creative foods that are easy

so for dinner tonight:

Fire roasted tomatoes with whole wheat pasta and chick peas.
Zuchinni cupcakes (no fat, vegan)

The fridge is looking different - less boxes of things and more natural things in there - bok choi, chard, apples, flax seeds. Fewer bottles and cans of this and that and boxes of food.

It seems to me the trick is to make it so easy you cannot fail. Make it easy to only choose vegetable and starches. Make extra corn, make two extra potatoes for dinner so that they're in the fridge. Think creatively for dinner so that the non-vegans will eat it. Tofu is not a big hit here.