Sept. 26, 2016

Today is a Monday, so am at work today.  

Breakfast - oatmeal packet, tb peanut butter, sugar packet and milk.

Snack - Apple.  5 pretzel nuggets with peanut butter.

Lunch - Spinach salad (not a lot of spinach, end of the package) with some grilled chicken chunks.  Slice of Irish Soda Bread. Also had a handful of graham cracker pretzels.

Sept. 25, 2016

Ok, I'm struggling.  Part of me just figures...phooey on it all, I'm overweight, I'm from a family who is overweight...it's just the way we are and it's not going to change.  It's so easy to just sit back and blame it on genetics!  Ha, I'm just kidding myself.

I haven't written in the journal all weekend.  I haven't pigged-out or stuffed my face till I was sick, but I also have not made good choices.  I haven't overeaten, but what I have ate is probably considered junk.  

I even considered calling it quits with working with my RD friend Diane.  

Will regroup in my head and write some more tomorrow.

Sept. 23, 2016

Today is Friday, my mom wanted to go out for breakfast so her and I shared a three egg ham and cheese omelet.  Had a few hashbrowns with it and one slice of toast.  

Breakfast was a bit later then usual, so I wasn't real hungry at lunchtime.  I opted to have a protein shake with the 2 tsp. of Hi-Maize added in.  Also had a handful of graham cracker pretzels.  

Later in the afternoon, I did eat a homemade chocolate chip cookie and a small glass of milk.  I was kind of hungry.  I had better options that I could have had, but I went for the cookie.  There was no reason....when I want something sweet, I go for it.   I really need to work on changing that habit.

Sept. 22, 2016

Today is Thursday, going to be a busy day.  Work all day, then I am starting a class at our local Methodist church which begins an hour after I get home.  It's going to be a day of not having a lot of time for sit down meals.  When I get home from work, it's eat something fast and run.

Breakfast I plan to have my usual oatmeal/PB/milk.  I have snacks prepared for work:

Little bag of mixed nuts.  Small container of chocolate covered raisens (less then quarter cup).  Apple.  Yogurt.

For lunch it will probably be grilled chicken in a mixed green salad.

Dinner - I ate the remainder of my lunch salad as I made too much.  Also had about a half cup of sloppy joe meat that my mom had made for dinner, bun.  Ate on the run to go to my class.

When I got home from class I had a cookie and milk.  What is sad, is on the way home from class I just kept thinking about eating that cookie and milk.  I just really wanted a nice soft cookie and glass of cold milk.  

On a different topic, I finally got the Choose Your Foods book Diane wanted me to buy.  I do already have a previous printing of this...packed somewhere in the ULock.  It's such an inexpensive book that I bought a new one.  Cost...a total of 4.00 and with prime shipping...no shipping cost. 

Sept 21, 2016

I didn't take time to post yesterday.  Getting a bit discouraged, I have not lost any weight this week...but, also I've not been very diligent about what I eat. 

I did get the product Diane recommended finally, the Hi-Maize starch.  It's a resistant starch that is kind of a fiber supplement.  Supposed to be really good for your digestion, etc.   Here is a link for more info.  I'm going to be adding it to protein drinks, maybe my morning cereal.

Hi-Maize

Today, so far, been better:

Breakfast - steel cut oats, packet sugar, tb PB, milk

Snack - less then quarter cup mixed nuts, a few chocolate covered cranberries, a Chobanni yogurt.

I got home from church later then usual, so didn't have any lunch.  Instead, when I got home I made my protein shake adding in the Hi-Maize.

Dinner is as pictured.  Diane asked me to try and shoot for 50 percent of some meals being non-starchy veggies.  I don't think I quite made 50 percent here.

Sept. 19, 2016

Happy Monday.  I didn't take time post yesterday.  I also did not do very well in the eating department.  After church a lady there invited me to a dinner at a Catholic church in the next town over.  Chris and I went..it was a turkey dinner and very good.  I don't think I overate, but I did eat more mashed potatoes, dressing then I probably should have.  Plus, a piece of pie.

I didn't eat anything until the evening then had a dinner of a cinnamon roll.  My sweet tooth was screaming and I gave in.  But, I did walk a mile and a half.

On to today.

Breakfast:   Steel cut oats, tb peanut butter, milk, packet of sugar.

Snack - 1 miniature kit kat bar.  A few pieces of dried apple and apricots.  

Lunch - tuna fish sandwich.  (tuna, tb mayo on white bread) serving of steamed mixed veggies.

Snack  - half an apple, Chobanni yogurt.

Dinner - bowl of leftover stew.  One slice sourdough bread, tsp butter.

I may have a few pieces of dark chocolate later for dessert, I may not.  

Sept. 17, 2016

Today is another busy day.  My church has a food pantry on the third Saturday of the month, so we had to be up and there fairly early.  We left the house at about 7am.  I pick up the bread for this pantry from another church here in Rensselaer.  We were able to pick it up and get to Wolcott with enough time to have breakfast at the cafe.  I had:

Two egg, over easy.  Ham.  Small portion of hash browns.  One slice of toast.  Coffee.

Snack - at home.  Had half of a homemade chocolate chip cookie.  

Lunch - I was hungry, but am getting tired of salads and chicken.  I opted for oatmeal, milk and a dollop of peanut butter.

We're going to the movies this afternoon.  I have a baggie of mixed nuts, a few chocolate covered cranberries and a small box of raisins in my purse.

I survived snack temptations at the movies!  Chris did get a popcorn and soda.  I took my baggie of snacks.  I did have one handful of popcorn, but then ate only my snacks.  And the movie, Sully, was very good.

Dinner - made stew in the crockpot and it turned out really good. Here is a pic:

  And I did get a 1.5 mile walk in this afternoon......

Se[t 16, 2014

It's Friday, I'm into my second week now.  Chatted with RD Diane Wednesday, she encouraged me to keep things going, walk more and maybe add in some strength exercise.  I'm going to try, but living with my mom makes it hard.  Our house should be done in about two weeks!  Then, finalizing the new mortgage, getting appliances bought and moved, utilities hooked back up.  I'm really hoping we can be in by mid October, tho I'm sure not all boxes will be open by then.

Today, ran errands with mom.  Breakfast at home:

Usual...Steel cut oatmeal, packet sugar, tb peanut butter, milk.

Snack - we left fairly early for errands, but I did eat a piece of Brownie Brittle.  (this is a store bought, low calorie item.)

Lunch - I needed to run to the town where my church is, so mom and I stopped at a little local cafe that is there.  The Wolcott Cafe, located in what was once an old movie theater.  I so much prefer local cafes and restaurants.  The food is closer to homemade then places like Chili's or Olive Garden.  

 I had:

Hamburger with the bun.  Small dish of cole slaw.  

Snack - Chobanni yogurt.

Dinner - Not really sure if dinner was a wise choice, but I know it wasn't processed.  There are about 4 casseroles in the freezer here at my moms leftover from when she was down from her accident.  They were purchased from the Homestead for easy meals.  If anyone is reading this and is curious about the Homestead, here is some info.:

Homestead

The ladies at the Homestead bake all their own bread and bakery products even down to grinding the wheat.  All their frozen casseroles are made from scratch.  Everything there is sold in bulk.  It's a wonderful store.

So, anyway...we heated up a Poppysead Chicken Casserole.  
I also warmed up a steamer bag of broccoli.

On to tomorrow...another busy day.

Sept 15, 2016

Today I work all day at the vet clinic.  Have all my snacks prepared and ready to take.  Plan to have my usual oatmeal breakfast.  Hope to get a walk in this evening.  More later.

Breakfast - Steel cut oats, packet of sugar, tb peanut butter, milk.

Snack - Apple, about 10 dark chocolate covered craisins.

Lunch - egg salad I made myself (1 egg, 1 egg white, tsp mayo, mustard.) open face on one slice homemade rye bread.  Small mixed green salad, dressing.

Snack - Chobani yogurt, half a quarter cup mixed nuts.

Dinner - small hamburger cooked on the grill.  Approx. 4 ounces with a slice of hot pepper cheese.  NO bun.  Approx. half cup pasta salad with tomatoes and cucumbers.

Dessert - my mom made a strawberry pie.  I did have a small slice..half the size I would have normally eaten.

Went for a one mile walk after dinner.  Good day, not too much hunger cravings.  However, new office manager at my office is keeping a large bowl of miniature chocolate bars on her desk.  I did have one Twix mini.  Having one is an achievement.  I would normally have taken a big handful.

Sept. 14, 2016

I walked another 1.5 miles this morning..and in a little bit of a drizzly rain.  Some thoughts even tho it's only been a week.  I feel much better, my intestinal issues have eased up and I have been sleeping better.  Part of the sleeping better might be the cooler weather, but having a stomach that is more settled has been wonderful.

Mom wanted to go out for breakfast, so I had......

Breakfast - Omelet with veggies, bacon and cheese.  (didn't not realize the one I ordered had cheese)  I ate about 2/3 of it, about a quarter cup of potatoes and one pieces of toast.  Coffee.

Normally for lunch when I'm at church I would go to Subway.  Their salads are decent, but not my favorite so I picked up a few things to make my own lunch at church today. So, I had some turkey, wild rice and steamed broccoli.  I did put a little butter on the broccoli. 

Well, I learned a lesson in not letting myself get too hungry today.  I actually didn't eat a lot of my lunch because at that time I was having some tummy issues which I'm thinking were related to the breakfast I had at the restaurant.  Let's just say bad cramps and several fast trips to the bathroom and it quickly passed.  I had to stay at church late as we have a food pantry this Saturday and we went to pick up the food and get it ready.

We weren't done until about 6pm and by then I was really, really hungry.  The other couple who was working with this were going out for pizza but I opted out.  One reason I was hot and tired and two I just wanted to get home.  On the way home I was super hungry and made the unwise decision of stopping at KFC and bought some popcorn chicken.  It was the one thing I could get fast...and probably the worst choice.

After I got home I had a small cinnamon roll from some we recently bought from the Homestead bakery.  The only thing good I can say about that is it is truly homemade and not a store bought processed bakery item.

On to today...better choices to be made and not let myself get so hungry.

Sept. 13,, 2016

Started off my day with a 1.5 mile walk. Then, for breakfast it was my usual:

1 pouch of Better Oats 
1 packet sugar in the raw
TB peanut butter
1 cup of milk
Added in a hard boiled egg

Snack - Greek Yogurt

Lunch - I'm kind of stuck in a rut.  Had a grilled chicken breast in a big bowl of spring mix salad greens, TB dressing and a piece of sourdough bread toasted

Snack - Protein shake

Today has been kind of a mundane, normal day.  Did two loads of laundry, took my mom to the grocery store, ran a couple other errands. 

Dinner - Chris worked late, so I had him pick up dinner at the grocery store of grilled chicken, cole slaw and potatoes.  Not the best, but better then other options.  Chicken was overcooked.  
I will be so happy to get into our own home...soon.  They were priming the walls today.

Snack - four pieces of dark chocolate.

Sept. 12, 2016

Well, it's Monday, back to work day.  Here is my menu for today.

Breakfast - Had a Better Oats pouch at work with some milk.  This one was already sweetened.  (a box I bought from Amazon came with 10 pouches of Maple flavor and 18 pouches of plain.  I learned...I really don't like the Maple flavor)  

Snack - cup up cantaloupe.  Half of a homemade energy bar. (bought at a local bakery.  They are made with natural peanut butter, flax seeds, coconut..really good.)

Lunch - Normal sized grilled boneless chicken breast on a spring mix salad with tomatoes.  One TB of salad dressing.  One slice sourdough bread.

Snack - One apple.  Quarter cup mixed nuts.

Dinner - Pretty much same as dinner.  Grilled boneless chicken breast on big spring mix salad, TB dressing.  But, I did have a small serving of mac and cheese.  Probably about a half cup.

No dessert tonight, dinner was late.  It was a pretty good day.  Really did not feel any hunger until before dinner...dinner was about an hour later then normal.

Sept. 11, 2016

Today was kind of a crazy day.  My church had a brunch right after our service.  Since they are an hour ahead of my normal time, brunch started at 9am...so, it was breakfast. For my contribution to the brunch I brought a container of spring mix, some tomatoes and vinegar/oil dressing  Here is what I ate today.

Before church service - hard boiled egg.

Brunch - 1 pork chop (it was breaded, but no other option) spring mix salad, tomatoes, 1 TB dressing and a small serving of mac and cheese.  

After we got home, we ran to Lafayette to pick out lights and flooring for our house.  Mom went along and our plan was to eat at Cracker Barrel afterward since we had a gift card.  Menards took longer then we expected and it was about 2 pm.  Since I hadn't eaten since 9 am I was really, really hungry.  I finally went to their food section and found a bag of raisins/craisin/mixed nuts trail mix.  Got a bottle of water and ate a decent sized handful.  It really helped.

Dinner - at Cracker Barrel I got the grilled chicken tenderloin meal with steamed broccoli, corn and one slice of sourdough bread.

We're home now it's going on 7 pm and I'm not hungry at all. I doubt I will have any evening snack, but I don't think I ate enough calories today.  So, perhaps I'll eat an apple.  

Sept. 10, 2016

Saturday...we are down in Indy for classes for just today and will be heading home this afternoon.  Holiday Inn's have their free breakfasts, which actually have decent options.  I did bring my own Better Oats oatmeal packet, but they had plain Quaker ones.  

Breakfast - Made my cereal, carton of milk and they had small Chobani's available which I had one of.  I can't stand the instant powdered eggs..blech!  And the hard boiled ones in the cooler were grossly rubbery.  

Lunch today will be in University of Indianapolis cafeteria.  I did bring my own snacks for the day.  Fruit, nuts, extra Chobani that I'll swipe from the hotel.  I brought a cooler bag with ice packs.

Snack - Took an extra Chobani from the hotel and ate that with some cut up cantaloupe.  (a whole bunch of sweet rolls, etc was offered, but I passed)

Lunch - cafeteria lunch had good options.  Big serving of steamed veggies.  Small serving of rice and approximately 4 ounces of grilled chicken.

Snack - still class.  Brought a bag of mixed nuts with a couple pieces of dark chocolate.

Dinner - For evening meal I had a 4 ounce pork chop, small salad and half a baked potato with 1tb butter and a dab of sour cream.  Tiny box of raisins a little bit later.

Sept 9, 2016

This morning my mom wanted to go out for breakfast.  Here is what I had:

Breakfast
Two egg veggie omelet.  No cheese.  
At the most, quarter cup of hash browns.  Before I ate I separated the amount I planned to eat away from the huge pile you always get when you order an omelet at a restaurant.
Coffee


We leave at noon for Indy so lunch will be on the road.  Hopefully I can talk Chris into stopping somewhere that has wiser food choices. I'm thinking Subway as they have good salad options.  I am also taking some snacks for myself.  Have an insulated lunch box and am taking a Chobani yogurt, couple bags of mixed nuts, apple, nectarine, cut-up cantaloupe, and a bag of my oatmeal for breakfast tomorrow.

Lunch---we did stop at Subway.  I had a chopped salad made with mostly spinach, tomatoes, olives, peppers and a chicken breast.  Didn't need any dressing.

Snack - In the car.  Apple and Chobani yogurt.

Second afternoon snack - I was really hungry after we got to the hotel so had part of my quarter cup of mixed nuts and two bites of dark chocolate.  

Dinner - Before our classes this evening, we went out to dinner with another couple.  We found a local restaurant over a chain restaurant.  We try to eat local whenever we can, plus with a local place I've found they have much better options and will work with you when you're ordering.  I opted for steamed veggies, chicken breast and a child's serving of plain pasta (which was still big, I only ate part of it).  The only thing here, the chicken turned out to be sauteed.  But, I'm sure it was still better then many of the other things on their menu.

  

Snack - Some nuts and a couple pieces of dark chocolate later in the evening.

Had less of a headache today then yesterday.  I really wasn't overly hungry today...perhaps because it was a busy day...who knows. 

Sept. 8, 2016

Sept 8, 2016--I'm following the recommendations Diane Rhody set up for me yesterday.  A balance of protein, starchy carbs, etc.  Lots of fruits and veggies. 

Breakfast - 7:15AM.  (I actually have been up since 5:45AM.  Vacuumed and dusted mom's house)

Better Oats Steel Cut Oats, TB natural PB, milk, packet of sugar in the raw.  

I love the Better Oats oatmeal packets.  Better Oats

Snack - I was really hungry by 9am, but held off until 9:30 and had an apple and a hardboiled egg for a snack.

Lunch-  Met Chris at college to have lunch with him.  It is a buffet, but that can often work to your advantage.  I made a big salad with spinach, tomatoes, broccoli and just a little Italian dressing drizzled on it.  Also a turkey burger, no bun.  About a half cup of plain spiral pasta.

Snack -  Tera's Whey protein shake and a few mixed nuts.  Less then quarter cup.

Dinner - This evening we made beef kabobs on the grill.  There was lots of veggies extra so Chris also grilled those up.  I had one kabob  (probably about 4 ounces of beef), veggies that had some olive oil on them and a slice of homemade rye bread.  (from The Homestead)  I did have a half cup of cantaloupe as well.  Have to post a pic of the kabobs. 

Plan to have a snack of three pieces of organic dark chocolate a bit later.  

Day one is over!  Had a mild headache most of the day.

First meeting.

I had my first one hour meeting with my friend Diane who is an RD and a certified personal trainer.  I'll post a link to her Facebook page when I'm at my computer.  We went over how my typical day of eating right now, also what is going on in my life.  Things are kind of weird right now since I'm living with mom, so am going to do the best I can until we get into our house.  She gave me suggestions for all my meals for the day and I'm to write down what I eat.  I don't have to do any calorie figuring, which is nice, just write down what I eat and how much.  We will chat again next week and then, I'm sure, will begin some kind of exercise...which again will be kind of difficult until we get in our house.

Walking is always doable, but anything with weights will be hard.  I do have a nice set of exercise bands and can go to my storage locker and retrieve a kettlebell.

Until tomorrow....

As I promised, here is the link to her Facebook page just in case anyone is reading this blog.


Diane J. Rhody, RDN.LD

Registered dietician.

Well, I am going to try to eat intuitively, but I really need some help in this.  Will explain more later...

I'm hiring a professional dietitian to help me get my eating straightened up.  I mostly feel I truly know what I should be eating but then, do I really?  Sure, it makes sense to know you should be eating fruits, veggies, decent protein, whole grains, etc.  I have always wanted to work with a RD, but the cost always kept me from doing it.  Plus, the drive as there are none in the town I live.

A friend of mine in Minnesota is a RD and a personal trainer, so I have hired her to help me online and over the telephone.  We have our first session tomorrow.  First one is an hour, after that it will just be 15 minute a week to monitor my progress.  I will post my progress along the way.

September 2, 2016

Yesterday was a busy day.  Worked all day, then had to go to a meeting in Mt. Ayre and had to be there by 6:30.  I think I did pretty good eating only when hungry, but I was so busy I'm not sure.  

Today, Friday things are going OK.  For breakfast I had:

1 serving steel cut oats
some milk, sugar and a little peanut butter.

I met Chris for lunch at the college.  I had a salad, one serving of lasagna and some angel food cake for dessert.

Unmindful moment-----after I got home I reached for and ate a Hostess Crumb Cake.  I was not hungry, just had a craving for something sweet.  I struggle with sweet cravings all the time.

More later....

Thursday, Sept. 1

Today is Thursday, I work all day at the swine vet office.  This evening we then have to be in Mt. Ayre for a pastor's meet and greet held by our local ADS.  There will not be much time for fixing and having an evening meal.  We are probably going to do a pizza from a local pizza place.

For breakfast, I made a batch of overnight oats and am taking that with me to work.  Right now, not very hungry.  It's 6:39AM.