Today's my Friday

I'm taking Friday off. It's my birthday and I don't work on my birthday. I have over 4 weeks of vacation saved up so one day won't even make a dent in the hours. My daughter and I are going to Lawrence to see Food, Inc and hopefully eat at the Mad Greek. Their hummus is my crack. They make it fresh everyday and they serve it with fresh lemon and warm pita wedges.

For breakfast this morning I had 1/2 cup Kroger low-fat granola (without raisins), a sprinkling of sliced almonds, 1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries, and 1 cup Kroger low-fat vanilla yogurt. I really love this meal. I had my daily can of diet Dr. K.

I think my problem yesterday was that I let myself get too hungry. I ended up going to lunch almost an hour late and I don't make good choices when I'm too hungry. Today I have some string cheese and a granola bar just in case. I'm going to replenish my snack drawer this weekend. I feel as though today won't be as hard.

More later...

I wish I hadn't

eaten that. For lunch I had frito chili pie, corn, and a cinnamon roll. It was the special in the Hop Shop. I love frito chili pie but I prefer my own. Now my stomach feels like it's got a brick in it and I'm generally uncomfortable. Payback. I know it's only one meal and I'll get right back to clean eating but I'm disappointed that I can't always make the right choices given what's put in front of me. Progress not perfection folks. Here's to finding the right track and getting back on it.

More later....

Special K Meal Bar

Drat it, I'm out of Larabars. My director was going to the snack machine and I asked her to see if there were any bars to be had. She ended up going clear over to the gift shop where she found a Kelloggs Special K protein meal bar. Right on the packaging it says feel fuller longer. Don't believe it. The first clue to the ingredients was another announcement on the wrapper - naturally & artificially flavored. The ingredient list is as long as your arm. Contains milk, soy, wheat, egg, pecan, almond and peanuts. Plus a whole bunch of stuff I can't spell or pronounce.

180 calories

4 g sat fat

0 g trans fat

10 g protein

I won't buy this one again (it was $1.59). It was sickeningly sweet. The strawberry flavor was definitely artificially flavored. If you haven't tried these yet save your money buy Larabars instead and NO I'm not receiving anything from Larabars in exchange for singing their praises.

I'm off to the treadmil. Gotta get my time in.

I want to give a shout-out to Healthy Tipping Point and congratulations on her first blogoversary.

May you have many more.

More later...

Friday's Froyo

Just had to tell you all what I did this afternoon. My co-worker and I decided to go out at lunch and get G's Frozen Custard. It's a little locally owned place about 1/4 mile from the office. I called ahead and told the owner that I was trying to be healthy and I wanted to make G's a part of that and asked him what he could offer me. He told me about the low-fat frozen yogurt options. Four flavors at 120 cal for 6 oz. They could make their concretes with fresh fruit, natural peanut butter, and skim milk. Also, they had sugar-free syrups. I chose a single serving (6 oz) of the lemon froyo. It was excellent. I couldn't tell much difference between it and their lemon custard. Good choice. I'm proud of me.

A good weekend to ya'll...

TGIF - Take Two

I am very pleased with my food intake yesterday. I was up on fresh foods and felt good all day. For breakfast I had my usual granola, almond, blueberries and vanilla yogurt. I drank an actual diet coke. It tasted quite strong. I'm getting used to not drinking soda except for the one in the morning. I don't drink coffee so the diet coke is my caffeine for the day but since we got an ice machine I may cut out that morning pop.

For lunch I made a Hugh Jass salad from the salad bar. It had leafy greens, summer squash, cucumbers, carrots, broccoli and sunflower seeds. I popped open a light Italian dressing package and used it all (25 cal worth). Then I read the label. The third ingredient down was high fructose corn syrup. It really is ubiquitous isn't it? I also had a large cup of fresh summer fruits.

When I got home I fixed a green monster as an after work snack. I wasn't hungry til almost 8PM. Green monsters are quite filling. After Bones (the TV show) I fixed a plate with raw baby carrots (I'm addicted), a Lean Cuisine panini which was absolutely delicious and a bunch of green grapes. Then I read Julie and Julia til I fell asleep.

More later...

Ice Machine

I just found out that we got an ice/water machine in our building. Hooray! It's on the second floor and I'm in the basement (they call it the garden level - classy, huh?) so it'll give me an excuse to walk up two flights of stairs. Assuming they get the main stairs fixed today like they're supposed to.

Daily Eats

Happy Thursday Folks.

My co-worker loaned me her copy of Folks yesterday and told me I'd laugh my socks off. Well, I watched it and I'm no longer wearing socks. ;-)

For breakfast my usual granola (I'm going back to Bear Naked after this box and I don't care that it's more expensive), with sliced almonds, organic frozen blueberries and vanilla low-fat yogurt. I've found that this breakfast holds me quite well 'til lunch and it's delicious to boot.

At lunch the cafeteria was having a luau so I had a fresh off the grill hamburger with lots of curly lettuce and tomatoes and a big cup of watermelon and pineapple mixed. I got hungry about 2:00PM and had an out-of-date yogurt. I don't remember what flavor. Then at 3:00PM I ate my daily Larabar. I had the Pecan Pie flavor. I could really taste the dates in this one, only 3 ingredients: dates, pecans, and something else.

When I got home I took out the trash, fed the cat, and fixed a big green monster. Then I sat down to read Texas Monthly and the latest Pillsbury cookbook (the one you can get at the check-out lane at the grocery). I used to love looking at all the pictures of food and now I'm finding that most of that stuff no longer appeals to me. I'm changing.

Later I fixed some raw baby carrots, an Almond Chicken lean cuisine, and a bunch of grapes. I also ate a half cup of Edy's slow churned lite ice cream. The container is now empty.

I did a great upper body workout. Lots of stretches and 5 lb weights were involved. My muscles were humming by the time I finished. I love workouts like that.

Today I'm going to focus on getting more fruits and vegetables. The last couple of days I haven't eaten as many serving and I find that I am missing them.

More later....

Happy Hump Day

I can't believe it's Wednesday already.

Here's a quick rundown of what I ate yesterday. For breakfast I had my usual Kroger low-fat granola with raisins (tomorrow I'm picking out the raisins. I'm tired of nearly breaking a tooth every morning trying to chew them!), sliced almonds, frozen organic blueberries, and Kroger brand creamy vanilla yogurt. It's funny, everymorning the whey has come to the top of the container and I pour it off. Makes the yogurt very thick and creamy. Not as thick as Fage but much thicker than normal yogurt. I also had a can of diet Dr-K.

For lunch I had a pulled chicken sandwich, baked beans, and a cup of summer fruits - including strawberries, pineapple and cantaloupe. I also had a 32oz cup of ice water which I drank on all afternoon.

Mid-afternoon I ate one of our cafeteria's deliciously moist and chewy oatmeal cookies. They don't make them often and when they do the cookies sell out quickly. I grabbed one while I still could.

I got home and the weather was cool for Topeka in July, 73 degrees and overcast. I opened my mail and went for a walk around the park near my house. Today it's supposed to be much warmer. I ate some raw carrots, fresh cantaloupe and a wrap with hummus, spinach and sliced red peppers. They're so easy and so good.

After dinner I did a DVD that came in my latest issue of Fitness. I wasn't impressed but at least it was exercise. The quality of the recording wasn't good. The picture kept breaking up into pixels and skipping but then what do you expect from a free DVD.

Then it was time for NCIS which is one of my favorite shows. Of course, this time of year it was an episode I'd already seen so I kinda watched it while I read the July/August issue of Nutrition Action Health Letter. There's an article about why we overeat and a review section on ice creams and sorbets. I love that newsletter and read it faithfully. You can read some of their "classic" articles here. I wanted to keep all my back issues where I could read them anytime I wanted to so I added them to our collection at the library where any of our patrons can read them as well.

More later...

Tropical Fruit Tart Larabar

I just tried this new flavor. Holy yum! The pineapple, coconut, and orange just jumped out into my mouth. I would buy this one again and again. Can't wait til it's available on the website. The flavor of summer in a bar...

Ingredients:
Dates, pineapple, unsweetened coconut, almonds, extra virgin coconut oil, cashews, orange juice concentrate, orange peel

It's gluten free, dairy free, soy free, non-gmo, vegan, and kosher. BUT NOT RAW. 210 calories, 5 g of fiber, sodium free, no added sugar, full serving of fruit.

Has anyone else tried it? What'd you think?

Food, Inc.

I just found out that I'm going to get to see Food, Inc. on my birthday. It's opening in Lawrence, KS (about 30 min from here) on Friday. I know it's going to be disturbing. I hate what they do to farm animals but I just feel that I have to witness it. Can't wait.

TGIF folks

I had another basic green monster when I got home yesterday. This time I added 3 ice cubes. It made it much thicker. Is it my imagination or do I really have more energy? I think I'll try it again tonight with some almond butter although I hate to mess with perfection. For dinner I cheated and had a Herbed Chicken Lean Cuisine, with raw carrots and a big hunk of watermelon while I watched "Bones" on TV. I love the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. Except for the main character having the same name and being a forensic anthropologist it's nothing like the TV show. The books are the best. I've read them all and I'm not too patiently waiting for the next in the series.


Right now I'm reading Julie and Julia. It's about a woman who decides to cook her way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. It's very good. I wanted to keep reading last night instead of getting much needed sleep which is a sign I'm thoroughly enjoying the book. The movie will be coming out soon. This is one I might just have to see.

Bon week-end...

Psyched

I am so psyched over my lunch choices today. They had Pulled Pork Sandwiches which I do LOVE. I remembered that the last time I had one it tasted too sweet and it didn't sit well in my tummy. So, today they were also having a pasta bar. I chose the bow-tie pasta (approx 1 cup) and the marinara style sauce (no meat). Then from the salad bar I chose broccoli, cauliflower, and squash mix. I got a big cup full. When I got back to our break room I nuked the veggies til they were crisp tender and added them to the marinara sauce. It was excellent. I also got a big cup of summer fruit mix, strawberries, grapes, pineapple, and melon. Washed down with a 32 oz cup of ice water. I'm drinking a bunch more water but I still want it cold.

For a snack this afternoon I'm having a Cocoa Mole Larabar. Yum. I love the touches of cinnamon and chili with the chocolate.

More later...

New Day

When I got home from work yesterday I took out the trash, fed my cat (Smokey Joe), and made a delicious Green Monster with a frozen banana, two huge handfuls of spinach and a cup of vanilla almond breeze. As always it was fantastic. I drank it while I read my mail. I'm somewhat of a magazine junkie. I sign up for free subscriptions where/whenever I find them. Four came yesterday: Good Housekeeping, All You, Elle (for my daughter) and Traditional Home.

For dinner I had several raw baby carrots, a spinach and hummus wrap on a 100% whole wheat tortilla and a sugar-free fudgecicle. I watched "Red Dragon" and waited, not too patiently, for Letterman to come on so I could see Paul McCartney. He was my favorite Beatle and I loved the Wings album "Band on the Run".

Today's my best friend from college days birthday. We won't say which one. Happy Birthday Carrie!

This morning I had my usual breakfast - granola, with sliced almonds, blueberries, and vanilla yogurt. So satisfying. I wonder if I'll ever get tired of this combination. I'm also drinking a can of Diet Dr K.

More later...

Tuna

I always thought that tuna was fish. When I went through the line at the cafeteria where I work I told the young woman behind the counter that I'd like a piece of fish. She informed me that they didn't have fish, all they had was tuna. Imagine my surprise...



So for lunch I had a piece of overcooked tuna. It was dry. I also got a baked potato. On which I put a light sprinkle of cheddar and some chopped tomatoes. Off the salad bar I got some sliced zucchini and yellow squash, broccoli, and a cup of mixed summer fruits such as grapes, cantaloupe, pineapple, and strawberries. I may have had a little light ranch to dip the veggies in. I'm saving the fruit for a snack later. I just didn't want it now. I was comfortably full. There was a time when I would have eaten it just because it was in front of me. Fortunately those times are passing.

Heather, over at Health, Happiness and Hope is having a great giveaway in honor of her surgery and the friends who have gathered around her in support. It's a good one. Hop on over there and check it out.

Challenge

For the next ten days I'm going to post everything that I eat and drink. I enjoy others' blogs when they state what they're eating. It's interesting to see how everyone is doing. So, happy humpday, here's a start.


This morning I had my usual go-to breakfast of:


1/2 c Kroger brand low-fat granola with raisins (I usually use Bear Naked Granola but I'm out and haven't been able to get to the one store that carries it. The Kroger brand is actually very good but the raisins are hard and I don't like them with the blueberries)

1/2 c frozen organic blueberries

a sprinkle of sliced almonds

1 c Kroger low-fat vanilla yogurt (I don't measure the yogurt so I'm approximating)

1 12 oz can Big K diet Dr. K



I'm feeling so good. My energy level is increasing. It's hard to explain but everything is falling into place and I like it. I know that progress isn't linear but at least the goodness is increasing. Little steps = big change.

Last night I was reading Eating Well (the issue with the watermelon on the cover). It's a good magazine. Found a couple of recipes to try. Wish there were some raw food magazines. "Our" day will come...


One of the blogs I read faithfully is Health, Happiness, and Hope. Heather's lifestyle is very inspirational to me. She's having surgery on her feet this week so everyone send healing thoughts her way and hop on over and check out her blog.

More later...

New smoothie

I tried out a new (to me) smoothie recipe Saturday evening. It was dee-licious, so creamy and tasty AND it was so easy.

1/2 c frozen blueberries
1/2 c frozen raspberries
1/2 c plain (I used vanilla) yogurt
1 c vanilla almond milk
sweetner of choice to taste (I didn't use any because of the sweetner in the yogurt)

Blend thoroughly.

There were raspberry seeds but I didn't mind them. I guess you could strain them out. I look forward to having it again in the future. BTW it's supposed to be two servings but I had the whole thing.

Oprah Magazine

Click here to claim 5 FREE issues to The Oprah Magazine through Start Sampling. I've done a lot of these and you really do get the issues free. The worst that will happen is they contact you to see if you'd like to continue the subsciprion when your five issues are up.

Happy Monday folks !

Living Raw Food

The Fitnessista herself is giving away a signed copy of Sarma Melngailis new book Living Raw Food. Sarma is the founder of One Lucky Duck. Pop on over and check out the photos of some of her luscious recipes. I know I want to win - give it a try.



More Later...

TGIF

Today I am doing much better. I got up on time and made it to the library by a little after 7 to read blogs and email. I had a yogurt mess of 1/2 c Bear Naked Granola Triple Berry Crunch FIT, 1 c low-fat vanilla yogurt (Kroger brand), and 1/2 c organic blueberries. I like that combination. Sometimes I add almonds but I'm out. I also had a can of Diet Dr K. Then at 8:24AM I went to work. Work. work. work. and then it was time for lunch. Not much choice of healthiness in the cafeteria today. Friday's are like that. I got a salad with lettuce, carrots, red & green peppers, cucumber, mandarin oranges and some chicken breast with just a little dressing. I also got a big cup of cut-up fresh fruit. Yummo! This afternoon I'm drinking water. I've got a 32 oz cup and I fill it with ice and water from the ice machine and sip on it all afternoon.

I have also managed to do the "Computer & Desk Stretches" from Bob Anderson's book Stretching twice and am looking forward to a 45 minute yoga series from Yoga Journal this evening. Next week I'm going to work on getting in some good cardio.

Have a wonderful week-end...

What track?

I'm certainly straying off track here. I worked 43 hours in 4 days over the fourth. I didn't eat well and the only exercise I got was a couple of 15 minute yoga sessions. Now I'm having trouble doing all the right things, the new things I've been practicing. For lunch I had beef enchiladas and two scoops of full-fat Blue Bell strawberry ice cream with chocolate sauce. I wish I could say it was delicious but I didn't really enjoy it much at all. The first bite of the ice cream was heavenly but after that it left an oily feel in my mouth and I miss my veggies. Time to re-motivate myself - think I'll go read some healthy living style blogs and take a walk to the end of the hospital and back. That's a good 4-5 blocks and it's a start...

Any words of encouragement would be welcome about now.

More later...

Peanut Butter & Jelly

This morning I way overslept and was late to work by half an hour. I didn't really want to eat my normal breakfast that late. I usually eat at 7AM and this was almost 10 AM. So I dipped into my Larabar stash and decided to try the new flavor Peanut Butter and Jelly.

The stats are:
210 calories,
90 fat calories,
60 mg sodium, and
1/2 serving of fruit.

The ingredients are:
dates, peanuts, unsweetened cherries and salt.

I was surprised to see salt as an ingredient. The bar had a strong PB flavor with just a touch of cherry. If you're a PB fan then you'll like this one. I would buy it.

So for breakfast I had the PB & J Larabar and 1/2 c frozen organic blueberries and a can of diet Dr K (Kroger brand stand-in for Dr Pepper). I'm holding steady at 2 cans of pop a day but I don't think it will be very long before I drop down to one can and then ***drumroll*** NONE.

Mailbox Goodies

I came home yesterday to an overflowing mailbox - my favorite kind. There was a package on my porch from Humm Foods which I knew meant -Lara Bars. I received a wonderful sampler box from them containing one of every flavor including two of the new flavors. I didn't get the Jocolat German Chocolate Cake one. Yum ! I can't wait to try them and when I do I'll write a review. One of the new flavors is Tropical Fruit Tart. I wanted to tear right into it but I didn't. I'm saving it for a snack this afternoon. I certainly hit the postal service jackpot yesterday. Not only did I get the box of Lara Bars but I also got a CD from Yoga Mama - Yanni Voices, and a sample of a granola bar from Wal-Mart which was way too sweet and the ingredient list read like a chemistry textbook. There also may have been some magazines and NO BILLS. Yay! I love getting goodies in the mail don't you?

Operation Beautiful

Has everyone heard about Caitlin's project Operation Beautiful? Caitlin writes the blog Healthy Tipping Point and I find it very inspirational. She was interviewed on the Fox News Network last week and you can watch a video of it here. I've put up a few post-it notes here and there and I just noticed that one I put up in the elevator in the building where I work was still there this morning. I wonder if anyone read it? Check it out and then join in the fun.

7 things about me

1. I grew up in the Irish Channel in New Orleans. Laissez les bons temps rouler ya'll.

2. My favorite country artist is Collin Raye.

3. I play piano, guitar, and clarinet.

4. I drive a 1995 Ford Aspire with almost 200k miles on it.

5. My greatest fear is being stuck somewhere without something to read.

6. I crave fruits and vegetables (this is a new thing)

7. I have traveled to 49 of the 50 states and I've never been in Maine.

Wow, it's July already ! My birthday month. I started out this morning with a good dose of blog reading and a bowl of Bear Naked Granola with low-fat vanilla yogurt, almonds, and organic blueberries. I've come to love the blueberries on my cereal. Yum. The granola was a new flavor for me Triple Berry Crunch Fit. The smell reminded me of some "kids" cereal with crunch berries.

More later.