Uffda

It's interesting how food can effect (or is it affect - I always get those wrong) a person.

I have not been eating well this week at all. It's bad. Sunday I traveled all day and barely ate. Monday, I had a piece of pizza and trail mix and chewy granola bars all day. Tuesday, I ate at BK (they have a tendergrill chicken sandwich that's on whole grain ciabatta bread) and then nothing. I didn't eat dinner at all.

So today I tried to be a bit better. I'm still not doing great, but I finally had a lunch (chicken salad with 2 pickle spears and tomatoes and 2 HB eggs) and Mary and I went out for dinner...

Dinner, however, was Italian - chicken and pasta and tomatoes and garlic and bread. OMG...bread! That was soooo yummy. And we both had a mini shot of their dessert, which put her over the top. I did only eat half of my pasta, so I have some for tomorrow. But the bread...mmmmm...

I think I'm gaining back the weight I lost. I have to get up and run in the morning. I haven't been doing that because it's so damn humid and my bed is so damn comfortable. But it's going to be detrimental if I don't. My fitness test is on the 3rd. That's coming up way too soon...but not only that, I have the half on the 12th and the marathon in 6 weeks! Hello!

Phase II

Yesterday was Mike's family reunion/picnic and try as I might, I couldn't help myself. I had to have a little bit of watermelon and zucchini bread. I didn't have the white bread bun though. And I staved off of the potato salad and pies. I did have a few chips too.

But you know, other than my hummus and crackers later, that was really the only meal I had yesterday, so all in all it wasn't bad. I did have a twizzler or two. They really taste different than the SF Red Vines. It's odd how different.

Today I traveled to Denver, to Atlanta and now I'm in Montgomery. A full day on planes and I haven't been eating well. I had a couple granola bars that Bridget had given me, a lot of trail mix and an egg mcmuffin. I'm staying in a really nice room, but there's no shop or vending anywhere nearby, other than the mini bar which is crap food so I'm doing my level best to stay away from it (there's popcorn!!!).

I might go for a walk and see if there's anything with in a decent distance, but I might have to talk a classmate into taking me someplace tomorrow so I can get some food. Or this will be a tough week.

Of course, if the latter is what happens, I'll lose a lot of weight b/c I won't be eating, just drinking a lot of water. :)

Oh, i'm bad

The last two days have been insane and I have been eating quite poorly. I've been having pistachios for breakfast, a FF cesaer salad for lunch, and basically SF candy the rest of the day. Tonight I did find a Lean Cuisine meal that was cheese, chicken, and broccoli so I had that. It was really good.

Tomorrow MS's family has a mini reunion so I might eat something on Phase II. We'll see. I'm making Zucchini bread right now and it's smelling really good.

I can start eating whole grains soon...I might just start sooner. We'll see.

I really need to boil some eggs

Yesterday Lisa, her kids, MS and I took Jake & Ava to the zoo. I started off my day well with pistachios for breakfast. At noon i ran home to get a cooler and had a piece of cheese and 3 Twizzlers (excellent and not on the plan). We had two snacks at the zoo - I had cheese again, the kids had yummy cookies. Then BK for supper where I had a diet coke and they had chicken nuggets, hamburgers and fries...and ice cream for dessert. :P

I went home and had a chicken breast with a tomato/basil/cheese topping, which was good albiet leftover, and a fudge pop (no sugar added) and a glass of milk.

I'm hungry and having pistachios again for breakfast.
I really need some eggs.

I didn't do the best, but not horrible either

I didn't have jello for breakfast, I didn't have anything. Lisa, Em and I checked out the Sculpture walk this morning and I down a bottle of water during that. We headed to the Diner for lunch - I had a Market Cobb salad with French dressing on the side. It wasn't FF but I didn't have a lot. The salad was great - avocado, feta, bacon, tomatoes, and chicken. I did have 2 bites of bread though. Not smart, but not horrid either, right?

So since I've been home I've had 2 pieces of string cheese, some nuts with chocolate pieces and raisins (not on the diet), and broccoli with cheese. I also just had one twizzler. I'm so bad when I'm at home alone. This is going to be a tough week. MS works Wednesday and Friday too. Sheeee-it.

I finally made some Crystal Lite to help me with my sweet tooth need. Hopefully that will help.

My boyfriend is the best

So after a night of me whining about not getting to have popcorn and how after a week I've lost 1 pound, MS helped me take a step forward.

I got home from work last night and found chicken ready to be made (my choice), green beans - which I made with balsamic vinegar, a little butter and walnuts - SF Strawberry jello and no-sugar-added fudge pops.

I had a really good eating day yesterday - water, pistachios for breakfast, salad for lunch, 1 piece of SF candy, and then the chicken, beans, jello and fudge pops last night. I only had 1 DC with rum yesterday too - that was the only Pop I had. That's a switch.

Today I'm hanging with my sister and niece. It'll be tough but I'm going to do my best. I'm thinking jello for breakfast. :)

Mini cheats here and there

This has been a rough ass week. I have never felt this crabby doing SB as I have this week. I'm not sure if it's the weather, the stress from drill week, or the lack of carbs. I have had a couple little carb boosts here and there - a couple croutons in my salad, a couple bites of a yummy bagel yesterday, and SF candy that I'm eating too much of but it's a nice change of pace - but otherwise I'm sticking pretty well on this.

The only thing is, I don't know that I'm losing anything. It's just making me crabby. I will say that my new KOR water bottle is awesome and I'm drinking a LOT more water. I've cut down my soda intake from 3 or 4 a day to 1 (with the exception of yesterday when I had 3 - not good, i'll be better today).

I'm going back to the thought of trying Ideal Protein. It's worked so well for Bridget and I'm so inspired by her success, there are just things on that program I don't like - no dairy, no bread at all (ever).

The thing is, I know what I shouldn't eat. I know what I should eat. I do do that, with a few exceptions. Why I'm not losing, I'm not sure. It could be that I'm not getting enough cardio in. I haven't worked out since Thursday due to work and just pure exhaustion (I came home Friday night and could barely move - asleep by 8:45 - sheesh).

I need to figure out something. I'll let this run it's course the next couple weeks and see if it helps. I've taksed MS to get no sugar added fudgcicles since I can't have popcorn (that was torture last night) and we'll see if that helps. I really need to get some jello made too. And I'll keep drinking water.

I just wish the pounds would drop off like they did the first time. Maybe I need to cleanse or something. Ugh. I don't know. Just a little frustrated right now.

Christmas in August

I'm in a quartet, as some of you may know, but onr of our parts seems to be dwindling as of late, so the rest of us left are thinking of just becoming a trio. This is okay with me as I love singing with the other two anyway. And we're keeping the arranger, which is beneficial.

Anyway, KC and I working on a Kids Christmas party for the children of our co-workers and she and KCM(her hubby) are thinking that we should sing this (below). I've always liked Jewel, so to sing one of her arrangements would be awesome. :) I'm kind of excited for this. :)

I'm missing carbs, even though I'm cheating a bit

So I had 3 cookies today - two this morning after yoga and one tonight. Otherwise, I'm sticking really well to this plan. I did pick up some SF candy so I can get my chocolate fix. But it's going well.

I haven't weighed in yet. I'm going to wait until Sunday for that (or maybe Monday). My workouts are going well, which hopefully will help.

It's going! 4 days down. :)

5 All Star Supplements

And another from yahoo today.

5 All-Star Supplements
By Richard Laliberte, Prevention
Fri, May 08, 2009

Dietary supplements have officially gone mainstream:

About two-thirds of Americans take them, and over three-quarters of doctors recommend them to patients, according to recent surveys. Among the dizzying array of natural products found on pharmacy and health food store shelves, we've uncovered five truly outstanding complementary treatments in pill form that hold up to scientific scrutiny just as well as prescription drugs do.

For Everyone: Fish Oil

The Research: Talk about a heartfelt endorsement: "The only dietary supplement consistently shown in randomized clinical trials to work against cardiac death is fish oil," says Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH, assistant professor of cardiology and epidemiology at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health. Omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, more commonly known as EPA and DHA) found in salmon, tuna, and other fish appear to fight cardiac death by stabilizing the heart's electrical system. Other benefits include lowering blood pressure and triglycerides, slowing arterial plaque buildup, and easing systemic inflammation. Fish oil was more successful than statins at preventing death in heart failure patients, according to a recent Italian study.

Bonus Benefits: Research shows the omega-3s in fish oil may also help lower your risk of stroke and nonlethal heart attacks, relieve anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Try It: Since most Americans don't eat two servings of fish a week as suggested by the American Heart Association, many experts recommend taking a daily supplement containing 1,000 mg of EPA and DHA combined (even if you are a fan of fish). "The main side effect is fishy burps, but storing softgels in the freezer and taking them with food can help," Mozaffarian advises. Nearly all commercial fish oil brands are reliably safe, but check labels for the EPA and DHA amounts per serving.


For Everyone: Vitamin D

The Research: It's suddenly one of the most popular vitamins on the planet, and for good reason: Up to 53% of us may not get enough vitamin D from sources such as direct sunlight or food (fish and fortified dairy, for example), reports the National Institutes of Health — and the current guideline of 400 IU daily has recently been dismissed by experts as insufficient. That's because this nutrient has wide-ranging health impacts: More than 1,000 human and lab studies indicate that vitamin D not only augments calcium absorption but may also ward off breast, colorectal, ovarian, and other cancers. And getting too little vitamin D could cause premature death from heart disease, according to a recent study. "Vitamin D has really gotten the attention of the medical community," says Michael Holick, MD, director of the Bone Health Care Clinic at Boston University School of Medicine.

Bonus Benefits: Getting more vitamin D may also lower your risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, studies have found. And not getting enough has been linked to bone, joint, and muscle pain; fibromyalgia; and osteoarthritis.

Try It: Take vitamin D as a supplement because food and sun are rarely sufficient, particularly if you live in northern states that get little daily solar radiation during the winter. "If you take 1,000 IU a day and get 5 to 10 minutes of unblocked sun a few times a week, you're almost guaranteed to get enough," says Holick. Supermarket and pharmacy brands are considered safe and effective and cost pennies per pill.


For People with High Cholesterol: Reducol

The Research: Plant sterol and stanol compounds in a healthy diet can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol by as much as 20% — comparable to the effects of statin drugs. But the small amounts in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds aren't always enough to provide the 2 g daily of sterols and stanols the AHA suggests for people with high cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease. Foods containing manufactured sterol/stanol blends such as Reducol can help: In one study, Reducol added to margarine lowered LDL by 15%. Fat in foods helps aid absorption of sterols and stanols, but Reducol pills may help as well (e.g., Nature Made CholestOff and Twinlab Cholesterol Success, both in 900 mg servings). "The pills aren't as effective as food, but they can still lower LDL cholesterol by up to 10%," says Peter Jones, PhD, director of the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals at Canada's University of Manitoba.

Bonus Benefits: Initial evidence suggests that sterols and stanols may reduce the risk of breast, colon, and stomach cancers. For now, though, ask your doctor before taking Reducol for any reason other than your cholesterol.

Try It: "I recommend 900 mg three times per day for high cholesterol, and then reduce the dose to 450 mg three times per day if LDL numbers are coming down," says New York physician Fred Pescatore, MD, MPH, author of The Hamptons Diet. Pescatore puts nearly all of his patients on Reducol, even as a preventive measure (900 mg once per day in this case). Some products, such as Country Life TLC (aka CardiaBeat), now blend sterols and omega-3s into a single pill.


For People with Tummy Trouble: Culturelle

The Research: Culturelle is one of the most-researched probiotics on the planet. The only US dietary supplement containing the active culture Lacto-bacillus GG (LGG), it acts directly on the immune system and helps ward off viral illness; replaces good bacteria killed in the intestines during antibiotic therapy; and keeps harmful bacteria, fungi, parasites, and other infectious microorganisms in check (it eliminated up to 47% of traveler's diarrhea in two studies). Culturelle survives unusually well in stomach acid to colonize the intestine and contains 10 billion live cells per dose — 10 times more than most yogurts. "That's important because probiotics can't help keep your gut healthy if they don't last, and few do as well as LGG," says Jon Vanderhoof, MD, a professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. In a recent Australian trial, people who ate yogurt containing LGG cleared antibiotic-resistant bacteria from the gut in 4 weeks, while those eating yogurt without it didn't.

Bonus Benefits: Studies suggest LGG may also ease irritable bowel syndrome.

Try It: Follow Culturelle's dose instruction of one capsule per day. Refrigerating the supplement isn't required, though doing so may increase its shelf life. As intestinal flora begins to change, side effects such as bloating and gas usually disappear in a few days.


For People with Joint Pain: Pycnogenol

The Research: This French maritime pine bark extract is cited in more than 200 studies and continues to impress researchers. In two recent trials, osteoarthritis patients who took Pycnogenol for 3 months reduced their pain and stiffness by 35 to 55% and needed fewer drugs such as NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors. Pycnogenol's efficacy is probably due to its having both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. "Pycnogenol's compounds are especially potent, yet there aren't really side effects," says Sherma Zibadi, MD, a graduate research associate who studied the extract at the University of Arizona's College of Public Health.

Bonus Benefits: Pycnogenol wards off heart disease by lowering LDL and raising HDL (good) cholesterol, reducing blood pressure and risk of clotting, and controlling blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It has also reduced menstrual aches in a study, cutting days spent on pain meds in half. A new study shows it may even help fend off jet lag.

Try It: Take a 50 mg tablet two or three times daily with meals. Ask your doctor before you start, especially if you're on hypertension meds—and don't take over 200 mg a day, Zibadi says.


4 Suspect Supplements
Ask your doctor before taking any of these in pill form — you're probably getting what you need from a healthy diet and a multivitamin.

FOLIC ACID
It can help prevent birth defects, but a 2007 study found that 1 mg daily (that's more than twice the recommended levels) via supplements may raise colon cancer risk. Done having kids? Get your 400 mcg daily from most grains and cereals.

VITAMIN E
A 2008 study found that taking supplements of vitamin E may increase the risk of lung cancer, especially among smokers. Also, more than a dozen common prescription meds can interact with high doses of E.

SELENIUM
Consuming more than 400 mcg a day raises the risk of premature death, according to a Johns Hopkins University study; many selenium pills contain half this amount. Another study linked selenium to developing type 2 diabetes after 7 years of supplementation.

BETA-CAROTENE
Several studies indicate that taking beta-carotene supplements may increase your risk of cancer or heart disease.

—Julian Kesner

25 superfoods for your entire body

Found this on Yahoo this morning and thought I should save it:

25 Superfoods For Your Entire Body
By Matthew G. Kadey, M.S., R.D., Women's Health
Thu, Mar 25, 2010

Your Hair
Spoon Up: Low-fat cottage cheese
Hair is almost all protein, so attaining a strong, vibrant mane starts with eating enough of it. Reduced-fat cottage cheese is a protein heavyweight, with 14 grams in half a cup.

Pack: Pumpkin seeds
Zinc helps reduce shedding, says Francesca Fusco, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center. Toss a tablespoon of these zinc-heavy seeds into your cereal.

Your Brain
Surf for: Arctic char
This cold-water fish is a great source of the omega-3 fats DHA and EPA, which can improve brain function and ward off the blues, says Elizabeth Somer, R.D., author of Age-Proof Your Body. Omega-3s help squelch inflammation in the brain and regulate feel-good neurotransmitters. Sprinkle fillets with sea salt, ground pepper, and fresh lemon juice, then pan-fry on medium-high until one side is slightly brown. Flip and cook until the inside is slightly pink (6 to 8 minutes total).

Saute: Kale
Feed the 100 billion neurons in your noggin with nutritious kale. A study in the journal Neurology reports that getting two-plus servings per day of veggies — especially leafy green ones like kale — slows cognitive decline by 40 percent. Temper kale's bitter flavor by sautéing it lightly with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, a chopped garlic clove, 2 ­tablespoons of pine nuts, and a pinch of salt.

Your Nose
Nosh: Sunflower seeds
Hay fever affects more than 40 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Halt the drip with vitamin E. Researchers suspect it calms the parts of your immune system involved in allergies. With 49 percent of your daily vitamin E needs in an ounce, these seeds are your shnoz's best friend.

Your Eyes
Scramble: Whole eggs
Forgo egg-white omelets. The yolks are an all-star source of two antioxidants — lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that fight cataracts as well as macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness. Don't worry: University of Massachusetts researchers have concluded that eating an average of one egg yolk a day will not hurt your cholesterol levels.

Steam: Orange cauliflower
Yes, that really is orange cauliflower popping up in your produce aisle. Food scientists at Cornell University reworked the white variety to provide 25 times as much beta-carotene, which maintains the protective covering over the cornea. As with any low-cal vegetable, you can enjoy peachy cauliflower with reckless abandon, provided you don't drown it in salt and fat-laden butter.

Your Skin
Simmer: Tomatoes
Cozy up to your nearest Italian eatery. The fruit is especially beneficial when cooked—more of the carotenoid lycopene makes it into the skin, where it can limit UV damage to lower skin-cancer risk and hold off wrinkles.

Experiment with: Hemp
The omega-3 fatty acids in hemp help your skin retain moisture so you don't look like a cast member from Dawn of the Dead. Toss a tablespoon each of lemon juice, pine nuts, and shelled hemp seeds ($9 for 8 oz, manitoba*harvest*.com) into a blender with ³ cup of hemp-seed oil ($10 for 8 oz, manitoba*harvest*.com), a chopped garlic clove, a pinch of salt, and ½ cup fresh basil. Whirl to create a delicious and healthy pesto.

Your Lips
Munch On: Walnuts
To get moist, beautiful, chap-free lips, your body needs to constantly replace old skin cells with new ones. "Omega-3 fats help regulate this turnover so that it happens all the time," Fusco says. And unlike much-lauded almonds, walnuts have tons of the phat fats. So do your lips a favor and pucker up to an ounce (about 14 shelled halves) a day; eat them plain or add them to salads, cereal, oatmeal, trail mix, or your favorite muffin recipe.

Your Nails
Grill up: Beef
Of all the sources of highly absorbable iron in your supermarket, beef is among the best. Low iron levels, which are common in women, not only zap your zip, but, Fusco says, can cause brittle nails. With the least fat of the common cuts, top round (and other round cuts) deserve high billing on your broiler pan.

Your Breasts
Add: Broccoli sprouts
Sulforaphane, found in baby broccoli, fires up enzymes that may stop breast-cancer cells from growing. Johns Hopkins University researchers discovered that broccoli sprouts have up to 20 times as much of this compound as fully grown plants. Pimp your sandwiches and salads with ½ cup of robustly flavored broccosprouts — developed by scientists at Johns Hopkins. A one-ounce serving contains 73 milligrams of the naturally occurring precursor of sulforaphane.

Your Heart
Snap Up: Asparagus
Italian researchers have found that the B vitamin folate reduces homocysteine, an amino acid believed to promote inflammation, which can up your risk of heart disease. Eight steamed asparagus spears deliver 20 percent of your daily folate requirement, as well as other heart-chummy nutrients like potassium.

Sip: Purple grape juice
Pull over, OJ! According to researchers at the University of Glasgow, purple grape juice is high in phenolics, "a group of powerful antioxidants that swallow up heart-damaging free radicals," says Anne VanBeber, R.D., Ph.D., a nutrition professor at Texas Christian University. To cut calories while guarding your arteries, mix equal parts grape juice and seltzer.

Your Gut
Reach for: Dried plums, aka Prunes
These high-fiber fruits help keep your gastric system working like a finely tuned machine. They may shrink your stomach, too. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that among 74,000 women surveyed, those who got more fiber were 49 percent less likely to suffer weight gain. Make your own trail mix with a handful of chopped pitted prunes plus walnuts, pumpkin seeds, dried blueberries, and hemp seeds.

Toss in: Tempeh
Made from whole soybeans that are then fermented, tempeh pads our guts with beneficial bacteria. After taking up residence, VanBeber says, these live microorganisms improve digestion, reduce gas production, and kill bacteria that cause ulcers. Like tofu, tempeh soaks up the flavors around it, so crumble a block and toss it into chili, soup, and pasta sauce.

Your Girl Parts
Grab: Blueberries
From vision-protecting vitamin C to appetite-quelling fiber, there are plenty of reasons to be sweet on these tiny antioxidant powerhouses. And scientists now believe that, like cranberries, blueberries battle urinary tract infections, Somer says.

Pour on: Kefir
Yeast infections put a serious damper on bed play. "Having lots of fermented milk products, including kefir, is a good way to reduce infections," VanBeber says. These products may add beneficial bacteria to the vagina, keeping infectious bacteria in line, early research indicates. Blend ½ cup low-fat plain kefir (we like Lifeway) with a cup of milk, a handful of berries, and a tablespoon of almond butter for a creamy smoothie.

Your Muscles & Joints
Mix in: Ricotta cheese
Loaded with all of the amino acids muscles need to grow and mend, whey protein is a virtuoso when it comes to helping you build a buff bod. While milk curd is used to make most cheeses, ricotta is produced from the whey that's left behind in the cheese-making process. Mix low-fat ricotta with scrambled eggs, salsa, and broccoli sprouts for a killer breakfast.

Drizzle: Extra-virgin olive oil
Ditch fat-free dressings. Olive oil contains oleocanthal, an anti-inflammatory that may work like ibuprofen, report scientists in the journal Nature. Drizzle two teaspoons of Spectrum organic extra-virgin ($12 for 12.7 oz, spectrumorganics.com) onto your veggies.

Your Bones
Indulge in: Chocolate
Chocolate is rich in magnesium, vital to bone health. "It forms the crystal lattice that gives bone its structure," VanBeber says. That may be why University of Tennessee scientists linked higher mag intake with greater bone-mineral density. Nibble an ounce of the dark stuff each day.

Open up: Canned salmon
New research suggests that the omega-3s in these fatty swimmers can boost bone density. Canned salmon is inexpensive and typically lower in heavy metals like mercury than many other fish. "Canned salmon [with bones] is also a good source of calcium — another bone must," Somer says. For a better burger, make patties with a tin of salmon, an egg, ¼ cup breadcrumbs, ¼ cup chopped onion, and ½ tablespoon cumin powder.

Your Teeth
Peel: Mango and Kiwi
Together, these two tropical fruits deliver more of the proven gum protector vitamin C than an orange. Bonus: Researchers in Italy have found that each fruit portion you down daily (that's just a single kiwi) reduces your risk for oral cancer by nearly 50 percent.

Stir-Fry: Shrimp
If you have periodontal disease, you're churning out more cytokines, proteins that stimulate inflammation — turning your mouth into a hotbed of pain and bleeding. Research has shown that vitamin D can put the smackdown on cytokines. Three ounces of shrimp provides 65 percent of the RDA of vitamin D, so cast the crustaceans into your next wok full of vegetables.

Day 3

Trying this again. I hate that when Blogger backfires.

Anyway - not as much cheating today. Ended up with a few croutons in my salad but didn't eat the breadstick. Did have way too many pistachios today. I need snacks! I don't have snacks! Without good snacks I'm lost! Especially when I'm sitting at a desk all day. Ugh.

I know with my cutting of calories and increase of workouts that it's going hinder me a bit - I'm really tired right now and have been all day. I need to figure out something because it's drill week and I can't afford another day like today.

Tonight we're having a hobo meal like we do when camping - lots of veggies and turkey burger. I found some great recipes I want to try this week too but I don't know that MS is into recipes or prepping all that much. We'll see when I get home.

Day 2

So I was probably a little stupid because I got in a baking mood today. Not good when I'm not supposed to have flour and sugar. Needless to say, I cheated a bit.

I did start the day with HB eggs. MS had boiled a bunch for me last week, so after my workout I had 3 egg whites. throughout the day I had a string cheese, three natural PB and dark chocolate cookies (very small cookies), and one chocolate chip. Whoops. I also had a 4 oz chicken breast and some babybel cheese and pistachios tonight.

I'm not doing great, but I know tomorrow will be easier since I won't be around the baked goods. I did drink a LOT of water today - I made Crystal Lite so I had 2 quarts, 1 diet coke, and water. That's good at least.

Tomorrow's another day. I have lots of fun recipes to try and I'll be back on track.

Back on the Beach

I met up with K&E yesterday and we were reminiscing how 5 years ago they moved to Wisconsin and I started South Beach. Well, in two weeks they are moving to Texas and I'm starting SB again today.

I am now at 166 pounds. I'm chalking it up to a lot of stress, dealing with Stacy/therapy, stress about Mike's Mom possibly moving in, eating like crap because of the stress (Stress Eating is my forte) and not exercising enough.

So today that all changes. I'm staring SB again and when I get out to Mike's today I'm going to start P90X again. I need to get my strength back, I need to get my stretches in, and I need to be healthier.

Well, now I went backwards

So I weighed in yesterday and I was at 157 again. Shit. MS said it's because I'm gaining muscle, which is probably partly right, but I'm sure the popcorn and pizza and going back to so-called "normal" food isn't helping.

But I ran and i need to get back to running more. That should help me.

Oh well

Friday was a bad day. My car broke for the third day in a row and things were just not going well - not even close. I left work at noon and when MS asked me what I wanted for lunch I said, "Comfort food." We ended up at Redrossa for pizza. At least it was better pizza than Pizza Hut or something full of grease. Of course then we went to BK for supper. I had a whopper jr. and a few fries.

Saturday I had the leftover piece of apple pie I had made for Butterbar. I needed to do that anyway since I tried a different recipe. Then we went to the Pinewood Derby race for Alex (Alison's boy) and had pizza there - Valentino's this time. Then turkey and cheese slices for supper with popcorn as my treat.

It's been a rough weekend.

I'm on Phase II now, kind of. I'm not going to stress if I eat popcorn or something, but I am going to be more conscious of what I'm eating so I'm not eating it all the time. Hopefully that will help. I'll weigh in tomorrow and see what the damage did over the weekend.

On the workout side, we're still doing P90X and I'm going to try to run today. It's supposed to be 30 degrees so that will be good. Until then, I'm going to have some breakfast and start working on my running scrapbook.

Checking in

I see I forgot to post my weigh in from Monday. I was at 153.2 before working out and 153 after, so we're going with the 153. :) That's almost 5 pounds down in a week. YAY! I'm at my pre-marathon weight, which is a nice thing. Now, I just need to surpass the marathon weight (150) and get to my long-time-ago weight (140).

So week 1 of P90X is done. I love the X Stretch day. It's awesome. Yoga X kicks my ass. And I'm struggling with everything else too. But it's working. My legs are feeling more solid than they have and I'm looking forward to looking hot this summer in a bikini.

P90X

So MS and I started P90X Wednesday morning, doing the lean program, and it's kicking our asses. It's good though.

This morning was Yoga X and I really enjoyed it, what I could do. I have to work on my upward dog - that needs a lot of work, as does the balance stuff. But since it's only the first time doing this program, I'm feeling pretty good about it all. I just wish it wasn't 90 minutes. That's going to be tough to do AMs before work, but I guess I'll make it happen.

Too much

Yesterday was not a good day for food. I didn't have anything ready for breakfast so I ended up eating SF candy and a piece of string cheese. Finally I got JJ's #12 Unwich (w/o mayo) which helped. Then I snacked on some pistachios during the afternoon. But I didn't get to dinner until 8 and so I just had eggs.

Yesterday just wasn't a good day altogether. I wasn't feeling right - not sick, but not mentally there. It wasn't pleasant. I'm hoping that's going to go away.

Day four complete

It's been a good week so far. I have been enjoying some SF candy to get me through, but meals and such have been fine. Truthfully, I eat like this most of the time anyway, but often I'll have toast with my scrambled eggs in the AM or bread with my chicken at supper...or Popcorn.

MS and I started P90X on Wednesday with the Lean program and it's going well. It's tough to get up at 4:30 but it's the only time that works for both of us to workout together, and I will admit that working out together is much better. We're accountable to each other and MS can play the guilt card pretty well.

So I weighed this morning on his scale, just for kicks and I was at 152. I don't really believe his scale, plus it was after our workout, but it was nice to see that number anyway. His friend is retiring from the Navy in June so I have to get lean and toned before then in case I can go along (some schedule conflicts I have to work out first).

It's been good. This weekend will be tough when he's at work, but hopefully I can stay strong. :)