Grit and Determination

[moonlight]

Hi Rosey! Thanks for the favorable comments of my meal plans. Sometimes I feel like I eat the same thing over and over. I have to be careful or I will get burned out and think this way of eating blows and go for the crackers or worse! When I have the energy I like to look for new recipes to try.

Yesterday I ate off plan. I'm not sure why... already bored with Rice Veggies Casserole? I'm not sure.. I ate a lot of corn chips while I watched TV all afternoon... Too much low energy. Not enough exercise!! I really hope I will turn that around today...

Another 7-day MWL meal plan!!
Intentions for Eating, Exercise, and Sitting Meditation for 7 days:
WEDNESDAY Day 1
B: Kale, Horseradish & Potato Hash
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Curried French Lentils with collards, jicama and grape salad
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: Kale, Horseradish & Potato YUM!
L: Rice Veggie Casserole
D: jicama and grape salad, Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup, and baby potatoes
Snacks: middle of the night crackers,,,
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

THURSDAY Day 2
B: sweet potato and banana
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Green Cabbage and Mushrooms, Curried French Lentils with collards
Snacks: raw veggies
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: sweet potato and apple
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Curried French Lentils with spinach, couscous
Snacks: jicama and grape salad, middle of the night crackers,,,
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

FRIDAY Day 3
B: Polenta w/ bell peppers, corn, onion, mushrooms, jalapenos
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Grilled Radicchio and Kale Salad, Sneaky Chickpea Burger Patties
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: sweet potato and apple
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Lentil Chili w/ couscous - found one last serving of chili hiding in the fridge
D: Curried French Lentils with spinach, couscous
Snacks: corn chips!
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

SATURDAY Day 4
B: Potato Hash w/ bell peppers, corn, onions
L: African Yam Stew
D: Grilled Radicchio and Kale Salad and Potato Rice Medley from MWL cookbook
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: nothing...
L:Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: African Yam Stew, baked fries
Snacks: chips, soymilk, cereal,cheese
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

SUNDAY Day 5
B: baked millet squares with unsweetened applesauce
L: Grandpa's meatless loaf and Carrot Slaw with Cranberries
D: Roasted Glazed Butternut Squash, Brussel sprouts
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B:
L:
D:
Snacks:
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

MONDAY Day 6
B: baked millet squares with unsweetened applesauce
L: Sweet Potato Chowder from MWL cookbook
D: Grandpa's meatless loaf, collards, and mashed potatoes
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B:
L:
D:
Snacks:
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

TUESDAY Day 7
B: baked millet squares with unsweetened applesauce
L: Sweet Potato Chowder
D: Potato Rice Medley
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B:
L:
D:
Snacks:
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

[moonlight]

I crashed last night. Old habits creeping in. I need to watch the Pleasure Trap lecture again to remind myself of what's going on. I haven't exercised, I haven't reached for starch when I'm hungry. I'm out of rice, bulgur, and popcorn. Popcorn is my safe munchy food when I just want to eat (like when I'm watching TV). I've just been too lazy. Our weather has been rain for days.

Another 7-day MWL meal plan!!
Intentions for Eating, Exercise, and Sitting Meditation for 7 days:
WEDNESDAY Day 1
B: Kale, Horseradish & Potato Hash
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Curried French Lentils with collards, jicama and grape salad
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: Kale, Horseradish & Potato YUM!
L: Rice Veggie Casserole
D: jicama and grape salad, Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup, and baby potatoes
Snacks: middle of the night crackers,,,
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

THURSDAY Day 2
B: sweet potato and banana
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Green Cabbage and Mushrooms, Curried French Lentils with collards
Snacks: raw veggies
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: sweet potato and apple
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Curried French Lentils with spinach, couscous
Snacks: jicama and grape salad, middle of the night crackers,,,
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

FRIDAY Day 3
B: Polenta w/ bell peppers, corn, onion, mushrooms, jalapenos
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Grilled Radicchio and Kale Salad, Sneaky Chickpea Burger Patties
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: sweet potato and apple
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Lentil Chili w/ couscous - found one last serving of chili hiding in the fridge
D: Curried French Lentils with spinach, couscous
Snacks: corn chips!
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

SATURDAY Day 4
B: Potato Hash w/ bell peppers, corn, onions
L: African Yam Stew
D: Grilled Radicchio and Kale Salad and Potato Rice Medley from MWL cookbook
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: nothing...
L:Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: African Yam Stew, baked fries
Snacks: black beans with salsa, chips, soymilk, cereal,cheese
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

SUNDAY Day 5
B: baked millet squares with unsweetened applesauce
L: Grandpa's meatless loaf and Carrot Slaw with Cranberries
D: Roasted Glazed Butternut Squash, Brussel sprouts
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B:
L:
D:
Snacks:
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

MONDAY Day 6
B: baked millet squares with unsweetened applesauce
L: Sweet Potato Chowder from MWL cookbook
D: Grandpa's meatless loaf, collards, and mashed potatoes
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B:
L:
D:
Snacks:
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

TUESDAY Day 7
B: baked millet squares with unsweetened applesauce
L: Sweet Potato Chowder
D: Potato Rice Medley
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B:
L:
D:
Snacks:
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:[/quote]

[Rosey]

If you saw mine you wouldn't think yours was boring at all. I make Rice and veggies with cheeze sauce a lot and I make potato, carrot, onion, garlic, and cayenne soup most the time and eat it for every meal till it's gone. then switch to the other and do same. Seems to be best way for me to stick to making food since I don't really like to cook and those are both simple easy. oh sometimes I do beans and rice but that's not very often.

[moonlight]

Finally I've started exercising again! Yesterday and today I hiked in the mountains. Yesterday I hiked 7 miles and today 6 miles. If I count minutes per week of exercise I have made up for the lack of activity the last few days. I would rather be more actively daily, though. That's really my goal. Beautiful hikes! It's been below freezing. There was snow on the ground and icicles everywhere, especially in the creeks. Lovely! Then the lunar eclipse last night was spectacular!! I feel very good today. Feeling good encourages me to take better care of myself. Eat healthy.

I'm on my second batch of African Yam Stew. It is very good. I pureed it for my hikes. Very tasty hot meal on the trail. Thermos was a little heavy but worth the weight! Also, small baby potatoes microwaved then smashed and roasted for a few minutes makes great trail food. Whole baby potatoes are bulky but smashed are easy to stack and carry. Roasting and keeping the skins fairly intact helps hold them together.

Another 7-day MWL meal plan!!
Intentions for Eating, Exercise, and Sitting Meditation for 7 days:
WEDNESDAY Day 1
B: Kale, Horseradish & Potato Hash
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Curried French Lentils with collards, jicama and grape salad
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: Kale, Horseradish & Potato YUM!
L: Rice Veggie Casserole
D: jicama and grape salad, Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup, and baby potatoes
Snacks: middle of the night crackers,,,
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

THURSDAY Day 2
B: sweet potato and banana
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Green Cabbage and Mushrooms, Curried French Lentils with collards
Snacks: raw veggies
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: sweet potato and apple
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Curried French Lentils with spinach, couscous
Snacks: jicama and grape salad, middle of the night crackers,,,
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

FRIDAY Day 3
B: Polenta w/ bell peppers, corn, onion, mushrooms, jalapenos
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Grilled Radicchio and Kale Salad, Sneaky Chickpea Burger Patties
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: sweet potato and apple
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Lentil Chili w/ couscous - found one last serving of chili hiding in the fridge
D: Curried French Lentils with spinach, couscous
Snacks: corn chips!
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

SATURDAY Day 4
B: Potato Hash w/ bell peppers, corn, onions
L: African Yam Stew
D: Grilled Radicchio and Kale Salad and Potato Rice Medley from MWL cookbook
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: nothing...
L:Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: African Yam Stew, baked fries
Snacks: black beans with salsa, chips, soymilk, cereal,cheese
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

SUNDAY Day 5
B: baked millet squares with unsweetened applesauce
L: Grandpa's meatless loaf and Carrot Slaw with Cranberries
D: Roasted Glazed Butternut Squash, Brussel sprouts
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: potatoes
L: African yam stew
D: bean burritos (2) and jicama-grape salad
Snacks: cereal and soymilk and raisins
Actual Exercise: 7 mile hike
Sitting Meditation:

MONDAY Day 6
B: baked millet squares with unsweetened applesauce
L: Sweet Potato Chowder from MWL cookbook
D: Grandpa's meatless loaf, collards, and mashed potatoes
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: oatmeal with mango
L: African Yam stew and baby potatoes
D:
Snacks:
Actual Exercise: 6 mile hike
Sitting Meditation:

TUESDAY Day 7
B: baked millet squares with unsweetened applesauce
L: Sweet Potato Chowder
D: Potato Rice Medley
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B:
L:
D:
Snacks:
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:[/quote][/quote]

[moonlight]

I read an entry in the Weigh-In forum that I loved. It was about having peace with your food. The concept just resonated with me. So many times I feel like I'm struggling, hating the process of trying to eat what I know I should.

Today I have energy and desire to get 30 minutes on my rower. I've hiked for two days which may have increased my energy, but I also visited with friends yesterday afternoon. I kind of had stopped being very social. I went through feeling bad about myself when I gained weight. Then in the past year I was afraid of going off my MWL plan. I hope I can find a balance. Visiting with friends is so important to my well-being. It is a push for me. I tend to want to withdraw socially.

I tried a new food tonight. Found an interesting recipe using radicchio. Not really my taste... I hope it was at least healthy! I also tried cooking a mixture of grains in the crockpot. I put one overflowing cup of each grain - farro, millet, barley, wheat berry, and a sweet potato. It made a HUGE amount of cooked grains! The crock pot was full. It is quite gummy, too. Not the best cooking day today... I'll probably make some soup and add some cooked grains. I need to freeze some of the grains. So much! I have enough for a couple weeks eating it every day!

Another 7-day MWL meal plan!!
Intentions for Eating, Exercise, and Sitting Meditation for 7 days:
WEDNESDAY Day 1
B: Kale, Horseradish & Potato Hash
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Curried French Lentils with collards, jicama and grape salad
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: Kale, Horseradish & Potato YUM!
L: Rice Veggie Casserole
D: jicama and grape salad, Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup, and baby potatoes
Snacks: middle of the night crackers,,,
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

THURSDAY Day 2
B: sweet potato and banana
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Green Cabbage and Mushrooms, Curried French Lentils with collards
Snacks: raw veggies
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: sweet potato and apple
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Curried French Lentils with spinach, couscous
Snacks: jicama and grape salad, middle of the night crackers,,,
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

FRIDAY Day 3
B: Polenta w/ bell peppers, corn, onion, mushrooms, jalapenos
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: Grilled Radicchio and Kale Salad, Sneaky Chickpea Burger Patties
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: sweet potato and apple
L: Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Lentil Chili w/ couscous - found one last serving of chili hiding in the fridge
D: Curried French Lentils with spinach, couscous
Snacks: corn chips!
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

SATURDAY Day 4
B: Potato Hash w/ bell peppers, corn, onions
L: African Yam Stew
D: Grilled Radicchio and Kale Salad and Potato Rice Medley from MWL cookbook
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: nothing...
L:Roasted Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup and Rice Veggie Casserole
D: African Yam Stew, baked fries
Snacks: black beans with salsa, chips, soymilk, cereal,cheese
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

SUNDAY Day 5
B: baked millet squares with unsweetened applesauce
L: Grandpa's meatless loaf and Carrot Slaw with Cranberries
D: Roasted Glazed Butternut Squash, Brussel sprouts
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: potatoes
L: African yam stew
D: bean burritos (2) and jicama-grape salad
Snacks: cereal and soymilk and raisins
Actual Exercise: 7 mile hike
Sitting Meditation:

MONDAY Day 6
B: baked millet squares with unsweetened applesauce
L: Sweet Potato Chowder from MWL cookbook
D: Grandpa's meatless loaf, collards, and mashed potatoes
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: oatmeal with mango
L: African Yam stew and baby potatoes
D: veggie sushi, 2 corn tortilla and beans
Snacks: half pint beer
Actual Exercise: 6 mile hike
Sitting Meditation:

TUESDAY Day 7
B: baked millet squares with unsweetened applesauce
L: Sweet Potato Chowder
D: Potato Rice Medley
Snacks: raw veggies and/or fruit
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B: veggie rice casserole and African Yam stew
L: bulgur and African Yam Stew
D: grilled radicchio, mushroom, and kale with cooked grains
Snacks:
Actual Exercise: Rower 30 minutes
Sitting Meditation:

[moonlight]

Today was a hectic day but I mangaed to take my lunch with me.

B: veggie rice casserole
L: grains and brussel sprouts and mushrooms
D: sweet potato fries and minestrone soup
Snacks: orange, popcorn
Actual Exercise: Rower 30 minutes
Sitting Meditation:

[moonlight]

I'm glad to be exercising again. I have a hike planned for tomorrow. I've made some roasted celery and fennel soup to have when I get off the trail. Hot soup really hits the spot and keeps me from wanting to stop and eat a veggie burger or something equally bad for me.

My trail food will be baked sweet potato steak fries, garbanzo beans cooked and dehydrated, raw carrots, and an apple. That should be plenty. I plan to hike about 12 miles.

B: mixed grain porridge
L: mixed grains w/ broccoli, onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno
D: baby potatoes, cabbage, mushrooms, and onion
Snacks: apple, soymilk and cereal during the night
Actual Exercise: Rower 30 minutes
Sitting Meditation:

[moonlight]

My hiking trip got cancelled. It was too cold to be out all day in the mountains...
I've lost another pound. I'm down to 173. I briefly hit this mark in the fall but then gained a few pounds over the next 3 months from all my snacking binges. I'm feeling good about being back on track. I'm only weighing once a week. I'm focusing more on the process than the outcome.

Looking back over the last couple of weeks, I've been going off the MWL program during the night again... Hoping tonight will be when I turn the corner on this. I've only got 11 MWL compliant days to count for this month...

B: mixed grain porridge
L: roasted celery soup w/ mixed grains
D: sweet potato and greens
Snacks: cereal and soymilk..
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

[moonlight]

I went for a hike this afternoon. I had plenty of energy. I felt great!

B: mixed grain porridge with roasted celery soup
L: mixed grains with chickpeas, roasted celery soup
D: 2 corn tortillas, chickpeas, kale, baby purple potatoes
Snacks: banana, soymilk w/ cereal and blueberries
Actual Exercise: 30 minutes on WaterRower, 5 mile hike
Sitting Meditation:

[moonlight]

I made it through the night without eating! Yay! I think I was really tired and possibly because I had a large serving of collards last night.

B: potato hash w/ bell peppers, onion, and corn
L:
D:
Snacks:
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

[Mark Cooper]

I made it through the night without eating! Yay! I think I was really tired and possibly because I had a large serving of collards last night.

Way to go, moonlight! Kudos

[Idgie]

Yay, good job!!!

[moonlight]

Thank you for the congratulations, Idgie and Mark. The habit of eating during the night is such a big deal for me! It's what I think about when I first wake up every morning, Did I eat during the night? I haven't eaten during the night again since Saturday. I'm not sure if there's one thing that causes me to do it or different reasons. I wake up during the night even on nights I don't eat, I just don't have any desire to eat. I'll just keep working the process and be grateful for the positive outcomes!

I've been reading the Beck Solution book recently (again). I didn't finish the book in the fall when I first started reading it. It was helpful then. It has some very good advice. For me, I think each daily suggestion needs to be for a week, not a day. It is meant to be a cognitive therapy approach. I think it takes time to learn new concepts and to use them until they are habits. I think I got frustrated with my failures on the suggestions and the pace was just too fast. Today's lesson was to reflect on behaviors learned and changes in thought processes. My thinking has definitely changed around my approach with food. It's always good to be able to pat yourself on the back!

I've gotten back into exercise. It makes such a difference in my energy level for fighting off cravings. The boost in mental attitude is just great. I'm trying for at least 150 minutes a week as the minimum amount. This past week I achieved that. Yesterday I rowed two different times for 30 minutes each time. I love it when I can do that! Hiking has also helped me reach the goal of at least 150 minutes/week. A good long hike takes 5-6 hours. Finding friends that like to do long hikes is the biggest issue for me. Right now I have a couple of new friends who enjoy long hikes. Yay!

The last week I've not planned my meals in advance. That's okay for a few days but I'm starting to struggle with having good balanced meals. Time to plan and shop.

Today's plan: Go for a hike in the snow! We just don't get that much snow in the southeast. I'm going to try and enjoy it. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those in places where the weather is so severe right now. I hope everyone is able to stay warm.

B: Soup
L: Soup, corn tortillas, fat-free refried beans
D: potatoes and onion, broccoli, mixed grains
snack: banana, blueberries, mango pieces, orange

[moonlight]

Last night was not good in terms of sleeping and not eating... I got up twice - ate corn chips and crackers I have a better plan in place today for eating - more vegetables, no corn tortillas. I don't think corn tortillas are as filling for me as rice or potatoes. Higher calorie density, too. I'll make sure to get in exercise, too.

B: oatmeal with spinach
L: vegetable soup, potato medley (pg 264)
D: salad, veggie/bean meatless veggie balls, WW pasta, tomato basil white bean sauce
Snacks: carrots and celery and apple or orange and baby potatoes
Planned Exercise: WaterRower
Sitting Meditation

Actual Eats and Exercise and Meditation:
B:oatmeal with spinach
L: vegetable soup, potatoes, onion, Brussel sprouts roasted
D: vegetable soup, mixed grains, potatoes, coleslaw
Snacks:
Actual Exercise:
Sitting Meditation:

[VegSeekingFit]

Last night was not good in terms of sleeping and not eating... I got up twice - ate corn chips and crackers I have a better plan in place today for eating - more vegetables, no corn tortillas. I don't think corn tortillas are as filling for me as rice or potatoes. Higher calorie density, too. I'll make sure to get in exercise, too.

Hi Moonlight!

Looks like you have a great plan!! Hope all is going well.

I can relate to this night time snacking thing.... working on this too.

Wishing you a great week!

Best,
Stephanie