Thursday, March 18, 2010
Jean - March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Jean - March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Jean March 16, 2010
Dinner was 3 bean chili and a piece of bread. Snacks were almonds and a cup of yogurt. So although today was good, the weekend was a challenge. I had been sick all week and Thursday and Friday it rained all day. (Enough excuses?) You're right, what it boils down to is that I did not plan ahead. Pizza for lunch on Friday, not one piece, but 5 throughout the day. Saturday and Sunday were okay. I had a hamburger on Sunday night, out of town company and the family was over, the first in 8 weeks. That in itself was not that bad, except that I had a piece of chocolate cake and then felt bloated and stuffed after eating. Last night the family was together again to pick teams for March Madness. I knew that my sister was serving pizza and wings and I should have been responsible and planned ahead. I did not and had two pieces of pizza. I am very proud of Mary, she showed up with her salad. Going out of town for a few days, so I don't have the kitchen stocked as I should. I am recommitted and today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Jean - I don't know what day it is!!!
By the way, I just figured out that today is Day 38!
Will get on the scale probably on Friday. Feel that I am still losing. Have had red meat a twice, but other than that, pretty much staying with the beans and vegetables. Noticing that I don't need as much to get full. Lunches and some dinners are a salad or a bowl of soup. Getting our bikes tuned up this weekend and looking forward to the time change. Will be lighter later and I plan to start riding my bike in the evenings. Last year at this time, we were riding 10 - 12 miles a day and felt great. Overall I am very happy, haven't felt like giving in or pigging out. Keep reminding myself that today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life!
Days 37-38-Mary
Monday, March 8, 2010
Days 33-36 Mary
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Day 32 - I think, Mary
28 Day Challenge Continued
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Mary - Day 30 & 31
Today I had the fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch and chicken strips on the grill, asparagus and an orange. Busy, busy day and busy time of the year. FCAT is next week and I am charged with preparing about 900 test booklets for the testing. I trained the teachers yesterday, took 3 hours, met with all the kids today (3 more hours) and then handled many, many parental, student and staff issues.... I'll be glad when this moon is over.:) Until next time, this is Mary, signing off.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Day 29 - Mary
Jean - 28 Day Challenge Continued
Mary, did you get that burger yet?
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Jean - Day 28 - 28 Day Challenge Completed!
Beginning:
178 lbs
Bust - 44.75
Waist - 39
Lower Abs - 44.75
Hips - 44.5
Arms - L - 13.5 R - 13.5
Thighs - L - 25 R - 25
Calf - L - 15.25 R - 15.25
After 28 Days:
171 lbs
Bust - 43.75
Waist - 36.5
Lower Abs - 43.5
Hips - 43.25
Arms - L - 13.25 R - 13
Thighs - L - 23.75 R - 24
Calf - L - 14.75 R - 14.75
Today I had scrambled eggs and fruit for breakfast, almonds for a snack, black beans for lunch and shrimp, scallops, fish, cabbbage, and a salad for dinner.
So now we have the 28 day challenge completed and working toward the 28 day challenge continued! Today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life.
Mary - Day 28
Jean - Day 27
Today continutes to be the first day of the rest of my healthy life....
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Mary - Day 27
Jean - Day 26
Friday, February 26, 2010
Mary _ Day 26
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Mary - Day 25
Jean - Day 25
This week has been okay, but don't think that I would want to make "eating raw" my permanent lifestyle. Sure that there are more item and some different recipes (didn't really even try the 3 that I found and thought I might like) but I am getting a little tired of salad. Not that I really want to sink my teeth into a juicy burger, but I wouldn't mind some blackbeans and rice or eggs or yogurt. The smoothies have been a welcomed addition. I have been thinking about what I will reintroduce next week and I am pretty sure that the elimination of red meat and possibly all meat is doable. I am curious about the next time I will eat meat and actually pay attention to the effect it may have on my body.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Jean - Day 24
For breakfast I had some grapefruit and a fruit smoothie with 1/2 banana, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. It was really good and very filling. For lunch I had a salad with pecans and cranberries. Snacks were an apple and some mixed nuts. Dean was playing racquet ball and getting home late so I lifted weights. It really felt good and I know I won't be able to walk in the morning.... too many squats :) We had a tossed salad for dinner with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and cukes and split a fruit smoothie. Bad thing is that we ate too late tonight. Been pretty good about not eating after 7:00 but it was about 7:30 tonight.
The Scale Battery saga is over....I finally got the first battery returned and came home with the correct one yesterday. I was going to wait until Monday to weigh myself and take my measurements, but the suspense was too much....got on the scale this morning and .....well you'll have to wait until Monday, so I can give you all of the comparisons..... I was smiling all day though because today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life!
Mary - Day 24
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Jean - Day 23
Don't know why, but I am very bloated today. I did walk for 30 minutes this morning. Had some time this afternoon to look on Dr. Oz site and went through the recipes. Think I will try a smoothie in the morning.
Today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life.....
Mary - Day 23
Monday, February 22, 2010
Jean - Day 22
Day 22 - Mary
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Jean - Day 21
Going to make a better effort to walk at least 30 minutes every day. Today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life....
Mary - Day 21
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Jean - Day 20
If you've been keeping up with Mary and me, you know that I have been ending each blog with "Today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life". Seems a little late in the day to say this, but I do start my day that way :) So, today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life....
Mary - Day 20
Today I cut down 2 cabinet doors that go over the 'fridge because they came down too low to the 'fridge. Jimmy spent the day with us, so that kept us busy. Can't wait to get a good night sleep tonight. Until next time, this is Mary, signing off.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Mary - Day 19
Jean - Day 19
Looking forward to a busy weekend and preparing to eat right. Almost everything we do revolves around food and I love to eat. Although I have felt very good about the past 19 days and I am really proud of the fact that I have been able to somewhat stick to it. The hardest part for me has been the preplanning and I feel that I am getting better and better everyday. Today I started with the normal cereal, banana, blueberries and blackberries with almond milk. For lunch I had a tuna sub with lettuce, onion and tomato and for dinner I had half of a vegeboli. Ate out way too much this week and will eat in more next week. Having a few concerns about the all raw week. The challenge, as I read it on Dr. Oz's website, is not very detailed. Not sure if I should have been eating bread or cereal. Next week is pretty clear - nothing cooked. Tonight I prepared vegetables (onion, tomato, peppers) for black beans and rice for Saturday and Sunday. Tomorrow we are heading to St. Pete to visit Dean's Uncle and his family. Harold, the uncle is in his early '90's and is a wonderful example of eating and living right. Prepared a vegetable salad to be sure the I have something healthy to eat. On Sunday we are meeting Dean's cousin and his family out at Disney for dinner. They are visiting from PA. Glad that they should have a beautiful weekend while here. Today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Mary - Day 18
Jean - Day 18
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Jean - Day 17
Need to do additional research on the eating raw. Feeling proud of my progress thus far and need to get to the grocery to make sure we have the proper food on hand. I wish the challenge was a little more detailed and I will just keep striving to eating more raw. Today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life.
Mary - Day 17
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Jean - Day 16
Today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life....
Mary - Day 16
Monday, February 15, 2010
Mary - Day 15
Jean - Day 15
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Jean - Day 14
Mary - Day 14
Mary-Day 13
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Jean - Day 13
Day 12 - Jean
Friday, February 12, 2010
Mary - Day 12
I think this diet is catching up with me, not necessarily because I'm craving stuff but I've had a short fuse. I guess I have to figure out how to get the necessary nutrients to avoid a continuation of this. I'm sure the exercise will help too.
Jean, I'm glad you made it up to the mountains safely. I hope you & Dean enjoy your anniversary. Until next time, this is Mary, signing off!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Jean - Day 11
Late night for me also. Just sitting down at 11:27 pm. Today was our 32nd wedding anniversary. So we had oatmeal with fruit for breakfast and then went to work. We left work at about 12:45 to stop by the house and head out for our 9 1/2 hour drive to NC. We picked up lunch at Subway - Vege sub with no cheese - 6". First bread I have had in a week. Everything was going well when I wanted something to eat. I know that it was because I was bored and was trying to stay awake while Dean was driving. So we had some vegetarian rice chips. They were pretty good. The serving size was 10 and I only had 5. We had a wonderful Anniversary dinner by dashboard light. Dean had chick-fil-a nuggets and carrot salad. I had an apple and an unsweet tea. To celebrate, we shared a small strawberry milk shake.
The weather was really good for the trip, no ice or snow on the roads, but a temperature of 24 degrees when we arrived. Looking forward to a few days of R&R, and good eating (which is not something we usually do when up here, I take that back, it is usually very good eating, just not completely healthy). The biggest weakness is the apple fritters from Ingles. I am convinced, after the past two weeks, that the apple fritter does not taste as good and I have been feeling, so I will be able to refrain. Not too sure about Dean....
Ready to go to bed knowing that today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life!
Mary - Day 11
For breakfast I had fruit with granola sprinkled over it. Lunch was a left over salad that I had in the 'frige since Monday and a peach. For dinner I had a bean burrito with no cheese, no sour cream, only beans, lettuce, tomato, and onions. I was a little miffed 'cause I had to pay 30 cents for each of the lettuce and the tomato. I also had broccoli and cauliflower. For snacks I had some nuts w/ raisins, a banana, and an apple. I think this was a pretty good week (work week that is). Curious how the weekend will go. I think it's pretty easy unless I have a party or an event to go to. This weekend we have a baby shower. Hopefully, there will be "good" food to eat... I already know they are having chicken wings and cake... uh oh:) I know I can do it without the sugar or fat. Until next time, this is Mary, signing off.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Jean - Day 10
Had the normal red, white and blue breakfast.
Morning snack - Apple
Met a client at Boston's Seafood for lunch and had shrimp, rice and squash. (Usually I would get the onion rings, because they are the best, and I would justify that I am eating a vegetable.
For dinner we are having leftover 3 bean chili.
I took a 20 minute walk with the dogs and we are loading 20 bags of mulch and a bunch of pavers into the truck tonight for the trip to NC tomorrow. That will be a workout in itself. Today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life....
Mary - Day 10
Jean, I really haven't felt it in my clothes yet. When I went to the doctor on Monday, my weight according to their scale, actually had me a few pounds heavier than when I weighed at Jean's before the diet. However, I went to Curves yesterday and weighed about the same as I did at Jean's. Of course, at the doctors office I weighed with my shoes and a jacket... I'm not really focusing on weight right now. Just knowing that I'm changing my lifestyle is good for me. Eating right and exercising is what I need to do to lose weight and to get in shape....so that's fine with me. The weight will eventually come off. I've been on so many diets that the scale can actually be your enemy.
I want to address stress, which is a big catalyst to eating improperly. I have a very stressful job, even tough I don't get harried, stressed. It's just having a lot to do, with a lot at stake, with a lot of deadlines, that deals with the lives of 850 kids and 110 staff members. Well, I've been having a pain in my jaw. I thought it could have been from grinding my teeth one stressful night. I finally got into the dentist today and he adjusted my bite. It already feels better. He related it to stress... My point is that even if we don't act stressed our lives, the way they are, cause stress and if we don't get rid of it in healthy ways (exercise, meditation, etc), we try to get rid of it in unhealthy ways (eating for comfort or convenience, drinking, or other risky behaviors). Maybe I'll get out of denial and deal with stress more realistically. Until next time, this is Mary, signing off.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Day 9 - Jean
Today was no problem as far as eating and I worked out with Gilad this morning. The weather was not great, but I wanted to be sure to do some exercise. That was a 30 minute move your body. I taped two additional workout shows from FitTV so I will have a back up if it is not good outside.
Breakfast - Red, white and blue (If you don't understand, you can read about 5 of the last 8 days - eating the same thing every morning)
Morning snack - raw vegetables
Lunch - Vegetable Soup
Afternoon snack - mixed fruit and a clementine
Dinner - Large vegetable salad and 6 shrimp
Looking forward to this weekend with excitement and apprehension. We are celebrating our 32nd Wedding Anniversary and Valentines Day by heading up to the NC mountains. I know we will have a great time, but will have to plan ahead so that we won't need fast food on the 10 hour drive up and back. Funny that when I put my mind to it, it hasn't seemed so difficult. I understand the life style change and know that is where I am going because today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life!
Mary-Day 9
Eating today was good. I had fruit and decaf for breakfast, a banana for a snack, some more of the yummy vegetable soup and more fruit for lunch, an Atkins protein bar for afternoon snack, more yummy soup for dinner and an apple with a little peanut butter for nighttime snack. Things seem to be going well. As stated, one time last week this is really helping with my digestion. I was, at one time, diagnosed with IBS and was given different meds to help move the old intestines. Well, this diet has helped tremendously with that. I told some folks at work today, I felt like singing Hallelujah this morning when everything flowed so nicely...! Kind of a shitty situation:)
We had FCAT Writes at school today, so I was very busy. I hope the kids did well. I can't believe what is expected of kids these days. I know when I was about their age and had to do a report, most of it was copied right out of the ol' World Book. I think I eventually became a decent writer but I'm amazed how well some of these kids can write. Anyway, on Thurs. (my next workout day) I have a night event at school. I'm going to attempt to leave after school, work out and go back to school. Hopefully, this will work. Until next time, this is Mary, signing off.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Jean - Day 8
Very disappointed this morning when I went to weigh myself and the battery in the scale was dead. Gives me a few more days before I check for any results. Didn't get the battery today, but Dean said he will get it for me tomorrow. So, Wednesday will be the day. Need to get motivated with the exercise. I enjoy it when I do it, but getting out of bed and 5:00 isn't what it used to be. Tomorrow I WILL do some sort of exercise.
Breakfast - Fibre One Cereal (Good think Publix has it buy one, get one free alot) with, you guessed it, strawberries, blueberries and bananas.
Was hungry early in the day, snacked on a fruit cup and some peanuts
Lunch.....WE WENT TO SONNY'S! I think all the talk about it this past weekend, really put Dean in the mood for BBQ. I just had one trip to the salad bar.
Afternoon snack - raw vegetables and peanuts
Dinner - Three Bean Chili. I wrote about this the other day and the recipe worked. 1 can of each - Black Beans, Kidney Beans and Pinto Beans, rinsed. Heat with some onion and 2 cans of rotel tomatoes and chiles. Really liked it.
Walked the dog tonight, so I had a short bit of exercise. I know how important the exercise is and will work harder to fit it in, because, today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life.
Mary - Day 8
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Mary - Day 7
Jean - Day 7
For breakfast I made a new recipe. Protien banana pancakes. Consisted of 4 egg whites, 1/2 cup of oats, 2 tablespoons of Whey protien, and 2 tablespoons of bisquik (It called for whole wheat pancake mix, but I didn't have it), and 1/2 sliced banana. Mix and cook as you would regular pancakes. We used sugar free maple syrup. They were really good and very filling.
Snack - Mixed Nuts
Lunch - Vegetable soup
Snack - blueberries, strawberries and 1/2 banana and one pretzel
Dinner - Salad with grilled shrimp, dried cherries, manderine orange, and pineapple
Need to get back into lifting weights. Having a hard time getting everything into the day, exercise, meal prep, work, meditation and prayer. But I feel better and have more energy, so I'll work at making it all fit. Constant change is a reminder that today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life.
Mary-Day6
For breakfast, I had the usual, eggs with veggies, low-fat cheese, and a slice of whole wheat toast. I also had an Activia and some granola for a snack. You see, what I had for dinner was just a small salad... and there was even B-day cake... that I declined on... I did have some Crown and Diet Pepsi... and probably messed up with that, but usually I drink many a beer... but I know I was good tonight not only with my diet but also by my effort to give to the birthday girl the winning hand and to walk away!!! Until next time, this is Mary, signing out!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Jean - Day 6
Breakfast - 2 eggs, grits and rye toast
Snack - Apple
Lunch - Leftover Vege Lasagna
Snack - Clementine
Dinner - Grilled chicken salad with apple, manderine orange and pineapple
Microwave Popcorn
Went online last night and found a website called simplyrecipes.com. Found some great recipes to try under the vegetarian heading. Already planning black beans and rice, and a vegetarian bean chili. This is a weight watchers recipe that I used to make. Can't find the recipe, but think it has onion, black beans, navy beans and kidney beans. Drain and rinse all the beans, combine with onion and add 1 can of rotel. Let you know next week if it taste any good or if I may have left something out :)
Walked the dog today and that is the only exercise. My knee and hip are still a little achy, but much better than yesterday. Will walk or bike ride tomorrow.
Looking forward to Monday as I plan to weigh myself and take my measurements. See if there is any change. When I first started this, I joked that my husband wasn't really doing the challenge, but that he would probably lose more weight than me. Well last week he lost 4 pounds. I'll check it out on Monday and let you know. No matter what, I still believe that today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life :)
Friday, February 5, 2010
Jean - Day 5
Breakfast - scrambled eggs with onion, broccoli, fresh parsley and a slice of cheddar cheese.
No morning snack.
Lunch - garden salad and slice of pizza with green pepper
Afternoon snack - blueberries, strawberries and red grapes (it was like snacking on M&M's, small round bites and a bit sweet)
Dinner - Pasta Fagioli and 1/2 of a piece of vegetable lasagna
Drank coffee, unsweet tea and water. No alcohol for the past 2 1/2 weeks. Not that I normally drink a lot, but Dean and I would usually have a glass of wine a few nights a week. It is amazing that I don't miss that. I have not been hungry during the past 5 days and, like Mary, haven't had any cravings.
This morning I did an interval work out with walking a running. Did much better than on Monday. Went the entire 30 minutes and probably ran a total of 5 minutes. The running came a little easier today, but later in the day it took me a few seconds every time I stood up to get my legs back. Right knee, hip and butt are really stiff! Will try to work it out this weekend.
Have to work hard for the weekend and be aware of my surroundings and plan ahead before the Super Bowl party :) I will remember that today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life....
Day 5 - Mary
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Day 4 - Mary
Jean - Day 4
Although it is only day 4 and I have another 24 days to go, I am confident that I can stick with this and succeed.
Today I dined on....
Breakfast - You'll never guess....Fiber One Cereal with banana, strawberries and blueberries with Almond Milk. My husband has dubbed it the red, white and blue breakfast!
Morning Snack - Red Grapes
Lunch - Ministrone soup and garden salad (Olive Garden Variety)
Afternoon Snack - Apple
Dinner - Roasted chicken breast, spinach, turnip greens, long grain and wild rice, cucumbers and tomatoes.
Need to look at some recipes this weekend and prepare for next week, eliminating meat and dairy. I'll let you know what magic I can work with beans :)
Today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Jean - Day 3
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Oatmeal, strawberries, blueberries, 1/2 banana
Morning Snack - Clementine
Lunch - Homemade vegetable soup, tomatoes and cucumber, slice of leftover pork roast
Afternoon Snack - Banana
Dinner - Met some friends and tried a new Turkish restaurant in Dr. Phillips. The food and the service were excellent. I ordered the shrimp shish kabob, with bulgar and a green salad. Also had a piece of the flat bread.
Haven't been lishing my drinks, but since Mary does, thought that maybe I should...
2 cups of coffee each morning, water, unsweet tea for lunch and dinner and usually a diet coke in the afternoon.
Just a short walk this evening. Too tired to get up this morning.
Today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life....
Day 3 - Mary
Late night for me tonight. Had a kickball game after school today. We lost, but had fun and no one got hurt. We played another school who has been playing for a few years. They had 10 experienced player. We practiced once and had 20 random players. We let everyone play... so it wasn't too competitive. Anyway... it was all for fun.
Food was good today. Had egg with veggies and an Activia for breakfast. Had a salad and a peach for lunch. My snacks today were a banana and some almonds. Since we had the ballgame, we all went out afterward. I had a tuna pita and 3 beers..... Actually, that is pretty good for me 'cause I usually have a cheeseburger, chips and 3 buckets of beer:) Looking forward to my meeting at Curves tomorrow... Hope we can make it work. Until next time.... this is Mary signing out:)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Day 2 - Jean
Tried to be somewhat healthy. Just like yesterday, I have felt full all day long. Almost a chore to eat an afternoon snack.
Breakfast: Fiber One cereal with blueberries, banana and almond milk. Also had 3 prunes.
No morning snack
Lunch: Tuna on a bed of lettuce with apple, sunflower seeds and raisins. Unsweet iced tea
Afternoon snack: Red Grapes
Dinner: Grilled chicken snack wraps (2) - 1/2 of a 1/2 small popcorn
One of the reasons I am excited to get healthy is the fear of the govenment taking control of our health care. Recently did a job for a government agency, still trying to get paid after 60 days, and the excuse I am getting is that "they are the government and they are just slow". So I don't want to have to ever put my health at the mercy of the same institution that can't process an invoice in less than 30 days. So, today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life......
Day 2 - Mary
Monday, February 1, 2010
Day 1 - Mary
Day 1 - Jean
Menu today:
Fiber One Cereal with strawberries, blueberries, 1/2 banana and almond milk
Apple - snack
Lunch - Homemade vegetable soup
Red Grapes - snack
Dinner - Fish, long-grain and wild rice, turnip greens
Drank water, diet coke and unsweet tea
Exercise:
My daughter, who is an avid runner, gave me a 2 week plan to start running. Since I hate to run, I have kept putting it off. This morning was the day to start. It was terribly hard and I now remember why I hate running :) The plan starts with running one minute and walking for two minutes and then repeating 9 more times. Started off strong and lasted a whole 10 minutes. I'll do better next time as I build my endurance.
Went though my weight lifting routine that I have been doing on and off since July. I have been using "The New Rules of Lifting for Women" by Lou Schuler. Really like the book and the routines. Every other workout is suppose to be followed by Interval training. I have not been good at doing that (see :) above).
Well, dinner is ready, my husband is cooking, need to finish in 20 minutes so that I am not eating after 7:00.
Today is the first day of the rest of my health life.