food log - March 18

Breakfast (315 total)
2 large eggs (160 cal)
1 ancient grain toast (120 cal)
1 tsp low fat margarine (35 cal)
5 pieces of pineapple chunks (?? cal)

total: 315 total

morning snack (109 total)
168 g peach (66 cal)
98 g nectarine (43 cal)

total: 424 total

lunch: (227 total)
63g Crab meat (fake stuff) (64 cal)
~1 tbsp sea food sauce (25 cal)
134 g sliced red apple (33 cal)
1 banana (105 cal)

total: 651 total

afternoon snack (134 total)
124 g sliced orange (58 cal)
73 g shredded cabbage (21 cal)
37 g diced red pepper (10 cal)
65 g grapes (45 cal)

total: 785 total

supper (1140 total)
Yes I know I had McDonalds for Supper

Diet Coke (2 cal)

Big Mac (540 cal) (probably slightly less as I take out the middle bun...not much but hey)

Snack wrap (240 cal)

Cranberry orange muffin (360 cal)

huh - the funny thing I just checked and the muffin has the same calorie value as the fries the only savings really comes in on the amount of fat. 
total: 1925 total

calories confusion

Ok so me more than anyone else knows it is not ALL about calories it is about the quality of calories consumed which goes hand in hand with the idea of fiber, fat, carbs etc. that makes a diet healthy.

MY problem is I would like to use calories as a rough guide to assist in my eating habits (combined with making healthier choices that combine with the above) ... how shall I say use calories as a restriction generally giving more overall thought to the other items.

Looking at my list from yesterday there is a STARK lack of protein *ouch* need to up that (legums and such here I come!)

but my general problem is how many calories is reasonable for me to consume??

based on one calculation I need "You need 2307 calories during a typical day"

based on another estimate I need 3500 calories a day
(wow that's a LOT)

and I've seen as low as 1900 calories recommended.

BASED on my education I know that anything below 1500 is dangerous and below 1200 should ONLY be conducted under the careful direction and monitoring of a doctor.

MY problem I I know that to take off 1 pound you need to burn off 3,500 calories or roughly 500 calories in a day.. I could simply eat 500 calories less (however I don't think that is sustainable for the long term) or I could eat the same and burn 500 calories more a day for 1 pound a week.

Or the average eat less and burn more but really this seems a lot like a guessing game to me right now.

Matters get worse when I start trying to figure other things in like how much fiber? carbohydrates? fat? protein? baaah (I think this is why Weight Watchers is a good system based on what I have read...however I've spent way too much on my education hehe all 9 years of it) not to be able to research and figure this out on my own. *le sigh*

and for the inquiring minds:
Meal planning when sharply downhill a few weeks ago when husband was out of town. Since then he has had an unpredictable work pattern in the evenings making my life a mess. This lead to eating out WAY too much as well - so much I'm too ashamed to even post here how much. I might add that this was also influenced by friends and sushi/lunch dates! (you KNOW who you are!)

I'm back on the home cooking this week after a stark realization at the restaurant the other day that (a) I can cook WAY better than places like Applebees, Montana's, Boston and (b) I can cook the food I am ordering there for less money and more creatively than some packaged crap they are just reheating anyways *rant over*

So monday night we had tortellini and meatballs with sauce, broccoli and corn with a 7 grain salad.

Tuesday night (yesterday) I made the Thai Curry with Shrimp, chicken, mini corn, broccoli, red pepper and served with brown rice *yum* and we added pineapple to boot! It was tastie enough that husband said I can even make it again (note: he HATES curry as it gets into everything!)

Tonight I'm not sure I am thinking Tuna or salmon for supper as it is just kidlet and I.

I will say that I have found that I am LOVING my salmon (if you know me I only eat salmon raw) but I have learned how to cook it well on the stove (in a non-stick pan with no added oil or anything). My key UNDERCOOK it (yes I know not good) but I cook it so it is falling apart but just pink on the inside and then I find the taste isn't really strong.

As for running - well I must say that last week was the last week of class (yippy!) and was hectic although I did get a few days in but I definitely need more! I am finding that I'm not a huge fan of the c25k program. Instead the last thing I did was run 5 walk 5 run 4 walk 4 and then just ran a minute past where I thought I could and then walked for the same amount of time. It was great I managed to do a mile in under 20 minutes (big as I normally only get to the mile mark at just around 30 minutes).

Back at it this week and more information on the Trip to mexico coming soon!

food log - March 17

In a pitiful attempt to figure out what I am eating and how to make it better I want to keep a food log (also the thought of publicly posting what I consume scares the crap out of me... so keep me honest people..)

ANYWAYS here is the food log for today:

breakfast (177 total)
3/4 cup rice crips (GF) (110 cal)
~1/4 cup 2% milk (40 cal)
85 g strawberries (27 cal)

total: 177 calories

am snack (62 total)
1 gala apple x 120g (62 cal)

total: 239 calories

lunch (468 total)
191 g banana (170 cal)
149 g strawberries (48 cal)
1 tomato soup (170 cal)
Cabbage salad (?? max 25 cal)
1/4 red pepper (~10 cal)
1 tbsp dressing (45 cal)

total: 707 calories

pm snack (200 total)
171 g grapes (118 cal)
97 g nectarine (43 cal)
101 g peach (39 cal)

total: 907 calories

supper (600 total)

Chicken & Shrimp Curry

(Large shrimp, chicken, pineapple, red peppers, broccoli, green curry sauce)

served with Brown Minute Rice

(I guess probably at least 600 calories)

Total: 1507 calories

evening snack (345 total)
3 sugar free jub-jubs (45 cal)
1 garlic cheese bun (150 cal)
1 microwave brownie (150 cal)

total: 1852 calories

One Week Thoughts

I saw this movie and it has inspired me ... this is my short post as I'm still working on my longer post inspired a lot.

I want to know the answer to the question: 

"If I had one week to live I would"

my short answer - If I had one week to live I would really live like I had no limits

I have heard the phrase "we are all living on borrowed time" now at least 10 times in the last week. I started to question what I have really done in the last week? 

Wear Sunscreen

In order to keep things in perspective for the day I want to post a copy of a song that a friend posted on my message board that I haven't listened to in a while. 

The only other news is that I'm sick (likely bronchitis or strep throat) but I did manage to get my new runners today. I will get around to posting my daily pictures *including* my POD today of my new shoes!

Wear Sunscreen

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas
the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience
I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand
the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years
youll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you cant grasp now how
much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
Youre not as fat as you imagine.

Dont worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying
is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your
worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing.

Dont be reckless with other peoples hearts, dont put up with people who
are reckless with yours.

Floss

Dont waste your time on jealousy; sometimes youre ahead, sometimes youre behind
the race is long, and in the end, its only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing
this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Dont feel guilty if you dont know what you want to do with your life
the most interesting people I know didnt know at 22 what they wanted to do with
their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds know still dont.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, youll miss them when theyre gone.

Maybe youll marry, maybe you wont, maybe youll have children,
maybe you wont, maybe youll divorce at 40, maybe youll dance the funky chicken
on your 75th wedding anniversary.
What ever you do, dont congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either
your choices are half chance, so are everybody elses. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can dont be afraid of it, or what other people think of it,
its the greatest instrument youll ever own..

Danceeven if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you dont follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when theyll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and
the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get,
the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander,
you too will get old, and when you do youll fantasize that when you were
young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their
elders.

Respect your elders.

Dont expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Dont mess too much with your hair, or by the time its 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past
from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling
it for more than its worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen...

Thursday Accountability

Hey
So I haven't posted in a little bit and figured that I need to post to be accountable.

I have started as I previously posted the C25k program and I'm very excited by it but have had a few set backs (as expected).

RUNNING - so I am working on the first week but I am calling it pre-week. I ran on Saturday and was all geared up to run on Monday but was so exhausted from a long night of work caused by procrastination... anyways I did not end up running. However, on Tuesday night I did go for a run but I ended up getting a massive blister on the back of one foot and then dropped a weight on my other foot with 10 minuets left so I had to stop.

So my set backs:
First - blisters and my shoes - I need better shoes I have been running on/off since September of 2007 and I have been using the same shoes. I LOVE them but it is high time that I get new shoes. The blister on the one foot is caused by the wearing out of the shoe.
Solution - I will be going to the running room soon to get fitted for a new pair of shoes.
Second - I LOVE watching good movies or watching TV while I run. I makes my mind go numb after a long day and totally allows me to decompress much easier and faster. However, since I have moved my treadmil out into the family room I can't listen to the TV full blast. WE had rigged up the TV to broadcast using a wireless FM transmitter. However, the dollar store tuner I bought was terrible. I would spend almost as long trying to get it to work and stay working during a run then I would actually run.
Solution - I went to walmart yesterday and picked up a FM tuner, small, sleek and only $8. I also picked up an MP3 player that can FM tune. However, for $35 it is going to stay in the box until the other tuner is tested. I am hoping that the cheaper option works much better. Although, I am told that you can purcahse an FM tuner for my iPod and then listen to the radio broadcast that way.

So those are my main set backs right now and that is how I plan to deal with them. OH and for the record the BEST movie to run to is "The Devil Wears Prada" the music mix in the movie is GREAT!

Last night (so Wendsay) I was watching the Top Chef Finale and didn't think I wan't to take a run (because of the foot) so instead I hopped on and did a nice walk through the entire show. The Tuner that I picked up on Tuesday worked fantastically!

Tonight is going to be walking through Hell's Kitchen and then back to the C25K program.

Tomorrow I will likely walk through Grey's Anatomy and ER while watching them online!


NOW as for the food issue
Well that has been going downhill. We ate out or had take out for the last three nights and honestly I feel just SICK from it and I have no idea why I keep doing it. Tonight I have Marinated Baked Salmon on the menu for the kidlet and I. I am looking forward to it. It is a receipe I stole from the website of Dr. Gillian McKeith (host of "You are What you Eat") I love that show.

Books and reading
I have been causally reading roots but just haven't managed to keep up with my readings and have really stagnated. However, this is my last weekend of having assignments for my course (YIPPY!) so I am hoping that with the dawn of the new spring, a new life and a NEW JOB coming up that I can continue on this momentum and migrate part of the time I had spent on assignments to reading.

Running

So I know that I have my goals and that I haven't been posting at all about my running. Well I'll use the life has been hectic excuse but I'm getting back into it slowly have had a few set backs.

I did my walk/run/walk/jog yesterday (I don't want to say just running because I found early in January that after being away from it for some time I am definitely not where I was and need to build back up. that being said last week I did do every other night for the whole week *yippy*

I have decided that I am going to go with the Couch to 5 Km Program which helps train the body to be able to run 5 km over the span of 9 weeks.

The program has you run every other day with a rest day in between. However, I have decided that I want to return to a schedule similar to what I had a couple of years ago when I made real progress. I went to aqua size four or five times in a week (for a one hour session however I sometimes managed to go through two sessions at once).

I love being in the water and feel so at home there. However, given my current situation (where I live and the kidlet) I know that making those trips will be extremely difficult. As such, I am thinking that I am going to do the following:

Sunday: Aquasize at the pool
Monday: Run (c25km)
Tuesday: 30 min walk/30 min strength
Wednesday: Run (c25km)
Thursday: 1 hour walk/30 min strength
Friday: Run (c25km)
Saturday: Rest

Or at least that is going to be my goal!