Saturday, July 31, 2010

17 inches

Another reason to lose some weight.  You should read the hate mail about our fat rears and the skinny people who have to sit next to us.   Apparently the average airline seat is 17 inches across. 

My desk chair seat is 21 inches across and is very comfortable.  From arm rest to arm rest it is 23 inches.  "No spillage.  No arm flab hanging over the arm rest."    (These were some comments from skinny people that sat beside fat people on an airplane).

Well, I'm working on it skinny folks.  By the way, my thin friends, your bony elbows could sometimes be classified as weapons. 

Today's menu:  The regular breakfast -- apple bran muffin, skinny latte (440 calories).  Weight Watcher's Smart ones entree for 290 calories and broccoli (40 calories) for lunch.  Dinner will be at Mimi's -- Asian chop't salad (335 calories) and a mini chocolate mousse (131 calories).

Date night with my sweetie tonight.  We're going shopping for an exercise bike or treadmill after dinner.  Need to fit into that 17 inch seat.



 

Friday, July 30, 2010

The Unveiling

Today I met my girlfriends for lunch for the ring unveiling.  I sat by the window in the sunny spot to ensure it would sparkle to its full capacity.  My lovely friends gasped and sighed, and said all the right things, and we passed it around and everyone tried it on.  It was universally agreed that it was a wonderful addition to the family.

I started my day with the usual apple bran muffin and skinny latte. 

I didn't do too bad on calories at lunch, but it was by accident.  Someone up there is looking out for me!  I orderd the bourbon salmon, and it was a nasty, old, piece of fish.  They graciously took it back and made me another nasty, old, piece of fish.  So I ended up eating a small side salad with lite Italian dressing, and half of a baked sweet potato with cinnamon and removed half the butter on it.  I also had one tiny slice of pumpernickle bread with a tiny bit of butter, and a handful of peanuts while I was waiting.  The good news:  the meal ended up being free.  Can't beat that.

Dinner was 1/2 a turkey sandwich on whole grain bread, a cup of chicken noodle soup, and an apple.

Gonna head out for a small McDonald's ice cream cone in a few minutes.

Today was a perfect summer day-- 88 degrees, a nice breeze, and lower humidity.  Top that off with some bargain shopping, lunch out, good conversation, and hugs from my friends ... a most stupendous day!

Some Appreciation

Yesterday I enjoyed a wonderful evening with Dylan, Christina, and Madison.  Not that looks are important, but I must say, I have the most gorgeous sons and daughter-in-laws in the world -- and yes, they are beautiful inside and out!  Not only was God generous with the beauty sprinkles, he was generous with the talent sprinkles as well.. 

Christina has the magic mother touch.  She is kind, patient, and a natural teacher.  Miss Madimoo knows how to bake, make smoothies, be creative in play-doughing, picture-making, paper doll making, pretend princess play, etc. etc.  I've told Christina many times that if reincarnation were true, I would pick her as my mother.  Christina makes the most gorgeous cakes, and she should go on HGTV to try out for their decorating shows.  She should try out for her own cooking show as well, because a better cook cannot be found, and if she had a restaurant, I would be there every day. 

But the best part about Christina is her perfect heart that shines through in her face and in all the loving things she does for all her family and friends.  Oh, and also just as important, and in my heart, the VERY most important thing .... she picked Dylan for her husband, and thus our family too.  And brought into this world, my precious Madimoo.

I am blessed, and grateful beyond measure.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

The Menu for Today

Here's the menu and calorie counts for today:

Breakfast:  skinny latte, apple bran muffin (keeps you regular) (440 calories)

Lunch:   chipotle grilled chicken on multigrain roll (335 calories)
             1/2 apple (30 calories)
             small peach (50 calories)
             cookies (100 calories)

Dinner:  shrimp cocktail (120 calories)
             talapia  (210 calories)
             brocoli  (45 calories)
             salad with fat-free red wine viniagrette (remove croutons) (90 calories)
             1/2 baked potatoe (155 calories)            
TOTAL:  1,570 calories





 
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Cruising Along

Made it through yesterday just fine.  Had a few hungries in the afternoon before dinner, but kept telling myself I could eat in a couple of hours.  Got hungry a few hours after dinner, so I had a snack of two lo-fat waffles and a peach. 

Today I had my regular breakfast (muffin and skinny latte).  BLT, apple, and 100 calorie cookies for lunch.  For dinner:  grilled chicken, corn on the cob, and green beans.  I'll have a small ice cream cone from McDonald's if I get hungry after that.  My pants are feeling a little loose, and I think my face is looking a little thinner.

Trying to squeeze in more walking.  Walked around the block before I started work, and climbed some stairs.  Will do a trip around the mall tonight while I look for a birthday present for my darling daughter-in-law, Annie.  She and Heath will be spending her birthday camping in Canada, where she was born and raised. 

I don't think I've shared much about my son, Heath, and his Annie.  They moved from Chicago this year to Philadelphia, so I get to see them a little more often than I used to.  They have a wonderful life ... music (they're both opera singers), travel (their goal is to live in every major city); romantic (they met in Italy during one of their college summers, and also honeymooned there).  They are both Hollywood gorgeous, outstanding citizens, and persons with warm hearts to boot. 

Well, my tummy is full from my lunch.  Gotta get back to work.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Overdoing It

Sunday was my free day and ate what I wanted, and as a result I was out sick yesterday.  Up all night with indigestion and heartburn.  Tums did not help.  Afraid of falling asleep at the wheel on my 2 hour commute to work, so I stayed home. 

I have found that my body is a creatures of habit.  My stomach, I believe, has shrunk enough to accomodate 1,600 calories a day, which is great news.

Here's what I ate Sunday:  Skinny latte and apple bran muffin for breakfast (440 calories).  I then went over to Christina and Dylan's and brought some muffins with me.  Ate one of those (640 friggin calories!).  Stayed around for lunch and had a pork bbq sandwich and three bites of slaw (500 calories?).  Later that afternoon I had some triscuits and cheese (200 calories).  Then for dinner I had 1 piece of boneless fried chicken breast, cabbage, mashed potatoes with gravy and a biscuit with jelly and butter (800 calories?).  Can't even say I worked any of it off.  Just an all around lazy Sunday.

All's good though.  I have read that you need a day like that to shake up your metabolism and confuse your body.  Right???!!!!

Yesterday was much better, and I found that I was craving fruits and vegetables.  I snagged the most perfect peaches at the grocery store and had two of them yesterday, along with some lo-fat waffles.  Lunch was soup and 1/2 sandwich, and an entire apple.  Dinner was a 6 in. subway club with extra vegetables.  A snack later of 3 triscuits, 3 small pieces of cheese and a nectarine.  About 1,400 calories for the day.

My usual breakfast today (latte and muffin).  Planning on a sandwich and a piece of fruit for lunch.  Grilled chicken ceasar salad for dinner.






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Saturday, July 24, 2010

A Prince, A Kiss, and a Ring

Saturday night and Sunday are the only days I get to spend with my sweetie pie.  During the week we're usually passing one another on The Beast (otherwise known as I-95).  I work days, and he works nights.  So every Saturday we have a date that usually consists of dinner out, a movie, if there is one worth watching, then a trip to Starbucks, and always a trip to Borders, as we both love to read.  Sometimes, we'll stroll around a new furniture store, or my most favorite, a jewelry store! 

On my birthday, before we left the house for dinner, my sweetie pie tapped me on the shoulder, leaned down and gave me a kiss, and said, "how about we go to the jewelry store and let you pick out a new ring?"   Now I ask you, are there any sweeter words?  After I properly showed him my deepest appreciation (ahem), we headed over to the mall.  I found to my delight that there is something that can keep me away from food:  shiny things that fit on my fingers.

We looked at a bunch of things until I laid my eyes on a Le Vian oval citrine ring surrounded by a ring of white diamonds and a ring of chocolate diamonds.  Absolutely gorgeous.  Love at first sight. 

It had to be sized, but I got a call that it is ready to pick up today.  What a sweetrine evening it will be! 

Now to the other stuff.  Breakfast:  skinny latte and an apple bran muffin.  Lunch will be a Smart Ones penne pasta with vodka sauce (290 calories) and some vegetables (50 calories). 
Dinner will be Talapia, brocoli, salad, and rice (500 calories).

Exercise:  a couple of walks around the mall this evening and some bicep curls, as I will be showing off that ring!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Dresses, Rings, and Olive Garden Soup & Salad

NEW YORK - JANUARY 08:  People walk past a 'Cl...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Just got back from a lovely morning of helping a friend find some dressy dresses at the mall for fancy events she will be attending in the near future.  I lived vicariously through her, and we shopped like two hungry rabbits in a carrot garden.  There were some good clearance sales going on and she found some real bargains and very lovely dresses.

We then went to Charming Charlie, a huge, rainbow colored store, with all kinds of shiny, colorful trinkets and baubles.  We couldn't resist, and bought rings that just might possibly contain enough stones to be considered a rainbow ring. 

After our walk, or two, around the mall, we headed on over to Olive Garden for lunch where we enjoyed soup, salad and one breadstick each.  We asked for the light dressing, so my lunch was surely calorie safe!

Breakfast was two lite whole grain waffles (140 cal.)  and 100 calorie grits with light butter.

For dinner I'm going to have the Asian chopped salad with grilled chicken at Mimi's.

The house is quiet now, the only sounds being the overhead fan in the kitchen softly whirring, and two brand new baby cardinals crying for some worms outside my window. Dad Cardinal is busy finding worms and flying back and forth about every 15 minutes.  It's a sight to see I tell ya. 

There's a cat creeping in our yard and Judy gave me some good advice -- to get a squirt gun and spray it.  So I'm on my way to the toy store.  Gonna get one of those Desert Storm looking kind of water guns.  That ought to scare the devil out of him.



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Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Archbishop Desmond TutuImage via Wikipedia
I got a book for Eddie entitled Easier Than You Think ... because life doesn't have to be so hard, by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.  It's a wonderful, small, 195-page book filled with important lessons for living a happy life.  I picked it up, thinking only to spend 10 minutes.  A few hours later, I finished it.  But it's the kind of book I will return to time and time again, like the bible.  In it, he quotes Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who worked all his life to change apartheid in South Africa:

"There is no situation that is not transformable.  There is no person who is hopeless.  There is no set of circumstances that cannot be turned about by ordinary human beings and their natural capacity for love of the deepest sort."

I loved the quote so much that it inspired me to google Archbishop Tutu, and what I read transformed alot of my thinking, and made me realize how small and insignificant my little worries are.  What an amazing man. 
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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Planning for some Italian

This morning I tried cutting down a little bit more.  I had one egg, one piece of toast, 1 piece of bacon, and about 1/4 cup of grits with less butter.  For lunch I'm eating turkey chili with beans and 4 saltine crackers.  I'm having a dinner with a friend and we're supposed to be going to Macaroni Grill.  Now, you would think there's nothing good at Macaroni Grill, but I did a little snooping and here's what I dug up:

Jumbo Shrimp Spiedini with Roasted Vegetables - 320 calories
Green Salad with dressing - 320 calories
Seasonal berries for 70 calories

I'm wearing a new top, and it never fails that I drop something on my brand new shirts.  But they have big napkins, and the bra I wore today makes just enough cleavage so that I can stick in the napkin and cover the girls. 

I know.  Classy, right?

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Sometimes You Need a Little Comfort

Yesterday wasn't too bad.  I didn't end up having the Subway club 6 in sub for dinner, I had a grilled chicken ceasar salad with a piece of garlic toast instead, and an ice cream cone for dessert.

This morning I had one egg, two pieces of rye toast, 1 slice of bacon, and some grits with butter on it.  I think it was about 600 calories.  I was in desperate need for some comfort food.  For lunch I'm having a turkey italian sausage sandwich from the cafeteria upstairs.  It's on the lite fare menu, and it's supposed to be 450 calories.  For dinner I'm going to Wegmans and have slice of cheese pizza (420 calories) and a 100 calorioe small can of regular coke.

I know these are not the best of choices, but I'd rather get what I crave and stay within my calorie range, than stick with vegetables and more healthy fare and binge later.  It's one of them days, if you know what I mean.  I find if I give in to what I want, but stay within the calorie limits, I do much better.  Salads tomorrow!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

DON'T EAT THE WEIGHT WATCHERS MUFFINS!

Structure of Xanthan gumImage via Wikipedia
I think I am going to give up on the Weight Watchers muffins.  I am STARVING!  I never felt this way eating my Starbucks Apple bran muffin and skinny latte.  This is extremely uncomfortable -- light headed, kind of sick to my stomach.  Here are the ingredients (NO WONDER I AM FEELING ILL!):

Enriched Wheat Flour Bleached (Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Glycerin, Whole Eggs, Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract); Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Soy Fiber, Inulin (Natural Extract of Chicory Roots), Dextrose, Nonfat Milk, Invert Sugar, Food Starch-Modified, Soybean Oil, Salt, Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Aluminum Sulfate), Propylene Glycol Mono & Diesters of Fatty Acids, Mono & Diglycerides, Datem With Alpha Tocopherols & Citric Acid As Preservatives, Potassium Sorbate & Sodium Propionate (As Preservatives), Sodium Alginate, Fructose, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum (SEE CHEMICAL STRUCTURE ABOVE!),
Natural & Artificial Flavors, Propylene Glycol, Tricalcium Phosphate, Corn Syrup, Polysorbate 80, Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Wheat Starch, Red 40, Ascorbic Acid. 091807 (WHAT IS THAT?) Contains (Wheat, Eggs, Milk, Soy).

Jeeze Louise!  What total JUNK.  Starbucks says that their products are made with purely natural ingrendents.  I think the $6 and some change is worth feeling good!
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On Track

A Kirkland Signature (Costco's store brand) ch...Image via Wikipedia
I was just talking with a co-worker this morning about the change in the eating culture in America.  Don't you feel it?  I noticed the Old Country Buffet closed down in our area.  There's a couple of other buffet places, but they're hardly getting any customers, so I'm sure they'll be closing soon.  Not too many people are ordering appetizers before dinner and everyone is serving shot glass size, mini desserts.

I noticed at Walmart yesterday that everybody was checking out what was in everyone's cart.  And the inner aisles are not so busy.  Everyone's sticking mostly to the outer aisles -- produce, meat, dairy. 

There were a few people who haven't read the headlines waiting in line with their overflowing baskets containing my old favorites -- Captain Crunch cereal, Lays potato chips and french onion dip, frozen pizza, ice cream and oreo cookies.  But most had healthier choices. 

I didn't have time to write yesterday, but I was pretty good.  Here's what I ate ya'll:  egg, ham and cheese breakfast sandwich and some o.j. for breakfast (about 400 calories).  A BLT and cranberry juice (about 400 calories) for lunch.  Dinner was talapia, broccoli, salad with fat-free red wine vinegar dressing, and small baked potatoe (about 500 calories).  Had a Weight Watchers ("WW") chocolate muffin (180 calories) and fat-free milk (80 calories) for dessert. 

Did a couple of spins around Super Walmart, speed walking down one aisle and then a bit slower down another aisle, and continuing that twice around the store.  I then lugged bags one by one up the stairs at home for some exercise.

Today I had a WW chocolate muffin, bananna and lo-fat yogurt for breakfast for a total of 350 calories.  Brought a WW Smart One's Mini Rigatoni w/ vodka cream sauce entree and a box of vegetables for lunch for a total of 390 calories. Will have a Subway 6 in. subway club sandwich (no cheese) (360 calories) for dinner, and a McDonald's small ice cream cone (150 calories) for dessert. 

Although bringing the WW chocolate muffin from home is cheaper than Starbuck's Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte and apple bran muffin ($6 and some change), I much prefer the latter! 

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Sunday, July 18, 2010

Weigh-in #3

Detail of a New York Times Advertisement - 1895Image via Wikipedia
I gained.  1.2 pounds.  But I ate alot yesterday.  Not enough room here to write it all down!  (Fried chicken anyone?  Mashed potatoes with gravy?  Biscuits with butter and jelly?  Cobbler with ice cream?  Chocolate bon bons?)  It was my birthday after all.  And this happens in life.  The ups and downs.  So I'll take it gracefully, on the chin .... ummm, belly, I mean. 

Today is a new day.  I'm not off the wagon, my foot was simply dangling over.  It's all safe inside now.  Back to my skinny cinnamon dolce latte and apple bran muffin this morning, perusing the New York Times with my hubbie, dreaming of our vacation to Plymouth/Cape Cod in October.  They featured Nantucket in the travel section.  I just imagined myself a size or two smaller, feeding the seagulls, and breathing in the seaside air.   A good image to hold onto and keep me on the skinny path. 

Will have 1/2 sandwich and salad for lunch.  Going to Mimi's for dinner -- I'll have the petite steak, salad and asparagus for 355 calories.  I just might weigh myself tomorrow to see if it was just sodium and water from my excess yesterday.  Fingers crossed, tennies on, I'm off to take a spin around the mall.
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Saturday, July 17, 2010

Birthday lunch

Wanda and me
My high school buds -- Judy and Ellie  
Christina (Wanda's daughter)

Jean

Thanks to my supercalifragilisticixpialidocious friends, I had a wonderful birthday lunch!  Bourbon glazed salmon and broccoli and a handful of peanuts.  Funny cards, good girl talk, and lots of hugs from my buds.  Best kind of lunch ever!  


Dinner was spent with Madimoo and Christina.  Took Madimoo to Chuckee Cheese -- and yes, all we did were the rides!  No food!  Then went to Noodle & Company and I had an asian chopped salad with grilled chicken on it.  Had about half a roll with about a teaspoon of butter.  Christina got me some chocolate truffles, so I had four of them for 240 calories.  After that we went to the mall to take Madimoo to the playpark and Stuff a Bear for a new outfit for her bear.

Wonderful day. 

  

Friday, July 16, 2010

Tag! You're it!

Pig-Free BLTImage by hoveringdog via Flickr
I just may have to borrow Madimoo on a daily basis.  We went to the mall and while Dylan was trying on clothes, Madimoo and I played tag.  I played so hard I worked up a sweat, I tell ya.  Between lifting her and hugging her and chasing her, I know I burned about 600 calories -- enough to almost cancel out that small steak and cheese, no mayo thank you, sandwich at the Green Turtle!  I was good the rest of the day, however, so I don't think any major damage was done. 

Lunch consisted of a BLT on wheat with 1/2 apple.  You may think it strange that I always eat half an apple.  But the sandwiches at the cafeteria where I work offer those little bags with sliced apples, which only contain 1/2 an apple.

Breakfast was a skinny cinnamon dolce latte and an apple bran muffin.  The skinny, by the way, is less calories than the non-fat cinnamon dolce latte because they also use sugar-free syrup and don't add any whip.  Just in case you were wonderin'!

All in all, a good day. 
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Thursday, July 15, 2010

A quiet, grown up, dinner

I'm adjusting to a quiet house.  There were days before Eddie left for WW when I could hardly wait until he was out on his own -- the constant clothes on the floor, messy room, stuff all over the place.  And I can't believe I'm saying this ... but I miss it.  I miss him bounding up the stairs and calling my name when I got home from work.  I miss his giggles as he watched something funny on You Tube and his "Mom, come here, you gotta see this!"  I miss having a dinner buddy, and a going to the mall buddy, and watching a movie buddy.  I miss his sweet personality so much.  I even miss yelling at him to wipe up the wet floor in the bathroom after his shower, and the smell of his bathroom -- dial soap and shampoo.  The empty nest is a little lonely. 

But there are some good things.  Like watching what I want to watch on TV, complete and total uninterrupted use of the computer, less laundry, and the house stays clean.  Plus I can now dart out of my room in my unnies.  And darting, my friends, burns calories.

But I guess the best thing is that it is so much easier to eat better and stay on track.  Eddie's daily trips to the gym and the walk through our hilly neighborhood keep him in shape, so he can afford a mocha frappe and a Five Guys cheeseburger and fries. 

So last night, I put on some smooth jazz, poured myself a glass of wine, and had me some triscuits with some kind of Frenchy grown-up cheese.  That was my dinner.  And I was satisfied.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Finally .... a phone call from Eddie

It's pretty funny ... I remember before we took Eddie to school that I had told Kevin that I would give him my cell phone so that he could answer when Eddie called.  I was very fearful that he would try to call us within 20 miles of leaving the place to come pick him up.  Well, I didn't hear from him at all the first afternoon or night.  Going crazy wondering how his day went, I called him at about 9:30 pm.  He hurriedly answerd the phone and said, "Look Mom, I'm busy.  I'll call you later."  He never did.  The second day I waited until 4:30 to call as I knew that would be a little free time for him from the schedule provided.   Again he called and said, "Mom, I'm busy, I'll call you later." 

Well, at least I knew he was alive. 

Finally, he called back at 7:30.  I asked him how everything was going and he said, "It's awesome!"  He liked his roommates.  He said one was quiet, and the other one a chatter box, but that he preferred a chatterbox to a boring person.  He said he was on his way to the rec center.  I asked him how it was going with the ladies.  And he said, "Mom, you know what you used to tell me?  Well, you're right!  And I can't talk right now on account of there's a bunch around me." 

Well, two days down, and he seems to really like it and this helps me be peaceful about food.  This morning's breakfast:  skinny cinnamon dolce latte, bananna and an apple bran muffin.

Woodrow Wilson continued

I was experiencing problems yesterday with this blog site and wasn't able to finish the Woodrow Wilson entry. 

To make a long story short, it ended up very well.  We met with his counselor, who was a very nice guy, but gravely informed Eddie, in our presence, that there would be no sex on campus -- that there was an elementary school down the street and therefore considered special property, and if anyone was found having sex on the surrounding property that they would be prosecuted and forever be on the sex offender register.  Jeez Louise.  Poor Eddie.  He just nodded his head very seriously at the counselor. 

There seemed to be three groups of  kids -- kids like Eddie -- neat, clean, friendly and polite.  Then there was a group of quiet ones.  And the group that I most worried about -- the mohawk wearing, cigarette smoking, sneering group hanging outside the dorm.  I told Eddie to try to make friends with the kids in the yellow shirts -- they were the student ambassadors, and were the ones helping the new students find everything.  I noticed several girls checking Eddie out, and one in particular, Eddie seemed to like.  He turned around and looked at her a second time, and she had turned around to look at him too! Oh boy!  Hormone alert!  Sound the alarms!

By the time we were getting ready to leave, the clouds burst open and the rain came pouring down.  I hugged Eddie goodbye and he seemed happy and ready for his new adventure.  I was happy for the rain and the fact that it may have disguised the water in my eyes. 

Kevin and I talked about the mean dorm lady on the way home and our dissatisfaction with the dorm room.  But Kevin said, "You know what, I have a feeling he's going to love it."  He took me to dinner at Olive Garden and I had 1/2 chicken parmesan (removed the cheese), about three bites of spaghetti with marina, and salad.  The bad part:  two breadsticks with alfredo dipping sauce, and a petite chocolate mouse dessert.  Oh well.  Sometimes you just gotta make yourself feel better!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Woodrow Wilson

Monday morning Eddie got up and got ready in a jiff.  While I was taking my shower, Kevin packed up the car.  I watched as Eddie put on his watch, stuffed his back pocket with his wallet, grabbed his iPod, and hopped out to the car.  He was in a happy mood.  The ride up was smooth with very little traffic and clouds protected our eyes from sun glare the entire way.  We got to the school in exactly 2 hours.  Went through admissions where Eddie got his student badge with picture ID.  The lady was not very friendly.  Just told Eddie to sit down and "look this way."  Kevin and I giggled a bit as we saw his face come up on the screen from the scanner with a little bit of a shell-shocked expression.  We met with the dorm manager lady so that Eddie could get his dorm key.  She was not very friendly either.  Went to the dorm, and was appalled to see three very small beds with little plastic lumps trying to pass themselves off as mattresses.  The letter said two to a room, but there were three to a room.  The other two boys had already checked in, so the closet was full and the drawers taken.  Somebody had already staked his claim at the sink and all the kid's personal items were strewn all over.  Eddie took it all in stride and I wisely kept my mouth shut.  We helped make his bed, but a mattress cover, sheets and a blanket did not help me feel better about his bed.

Sunday

Sunday was a peaceful day.  Even though it was the day before we were to take Eddie to Woodrow Wilson, I felt calm and ended up accomplishing alot.  I had two lo-fat waffles (140 cal) and grits (100 calorie pack) for breakfast.  For lunch I had a turkey sandwich on a mini croissant, 3 tablespoons of potato salad, and 3 oreo cookies.  I took the car to the car wash and vacuumed, emptied the trunk and did some detail cleaning inside and out.  Also went to the grocery store, worked on laundry, and cleaned some more in the house.  Dylan, Christina, and Madimoo came over with food and cooked dinner for us.  And of course our precious Madimoo entertained us all.  What a sweet, intelligent, and fun little girl.  Such a personality.  Such a star!  I felt very blessed at our table.  What wonderful children.  What a wonderful family Christina, Dylan and Madimoo make.  To have such a beautiful daughter-in-law, who is cute as a button, inside and out.  We enjoyed hamburgers, deviled eggs (with light mayo), corn on the cob, and the best oven roasted potatoes seasoned with herb infused grapeseed oil.  Christina made some apple turnovers which were really good and surprisingly light in calories.  I didn't do too bad -- but the potatoes were so yummy, that I know I had too many of them!  After dinner we played a card game that's kind of like Scrabble, but faster paced.  I ended up having a very full and fun day, and it kept my mind free of worries, and I went to sleep with a smile on my face. 

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Weigh-in #2

4 POUNDS!!!!!!  I can't believe it.  Even with my pie-eating day!  I stepped on the scale three times just to make sure.  WOO HOO!!!!!

Yesterday was quite busy and I didn't have time to write, but this is what I had:

McDonald's bacon and cheese bagel (no egg, no sauce), one hashbrown, and water (550 calories)

for Lunch:  1/2 cobb salad (about 400 cal)

for dinner:  hamburger and small fries (600 calories)

Not the healthiest choices for sure!  Goals for this week:  More fat-free dairy, fruits and vegetables.  More exercise.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Countdown to WW (Woodrow Wilson) Day

3 more days!  I thought I had everything for Eddie's school.  We started packing everything today and getting it organized and then we realized we forgot a few things.  So another trip to the mall.  (That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!)  Boy there's a pile of stuff for just 8 weeks.  I hope we'll all fit in the car.  He's really getting excited.  I think it's all gonna work out!

Had lunch at Panera's today: 1/2 turkey w/ lettuce, tomatoe and mustard and 1/2 cafe classic salad.  Should have been about 330 calories.  Had 2 low-fat waffles (140 calories) and a bowl of 100 calorie grits this morning.  Add the butter and syrup on the waffles, it was about 350 calories.  For dinner I'm splurging on two pieces of pizza and some ice tea.  I should still be within my 1600 calories.

Tomorrow I will add some more vegetables and fruit into my day.

Well, off to the mall again!
 

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Thursday, July 8, 2010

parasites, a peek, and a good start

A dear friend of mine came back from the Turks and Caicos in May with a parasite from the water there.  Bless her heart, she was in the hospital for two days last week because the medication they had given her when she returned didn't work properly.  She said she has lost 14 pounds, and believe me, she was small to begin with.  I asked her if it was contagious -- that I would be right over!  But joking aside, she has been miserable, and nobody wants to lose weight that way.  I'm glad to say she's on her way to full recovery.  She's very healthy and fit -- a skier, softball player, bowler, and just an all-around active and physically active person, so she will bounce back just fine.  Go Kingstown Kim!

Because of my transgressions yesterday, I sneaked a peek at the scale this morning.  No gain!  Woo hoo!  That was just enough incentive to keep me on track, so I've made a good start this morning:  skinny latte and an apple bran muffin.  I brought a Healthy Choice frozen dinner and a bannana for lunch.  Subway sub for dinner.  I'll have enough calories left over for a small ice cream cone after dinner.  Eddie and I will go to the mall tonight to walk around for some exercise.

And .... 95 degrees for the high today!  Brrrr!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Change of Plans

a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, top slice ...Image via Wikipedia
Well, the subway club didn't happen.  Too hot to go out.  Made some spaghetti.  I stuck to my lunch of 1/2 sandwich and 1/2 apple with a bag of 100 cal. cookies.  But it obviously wasn't enough because when I got home I was really hungry so had a piece of bread with peanut butter.  Calculated everything I ate today and it came to 2,029 calories.  Yikes!  Tomorrow will definitely be make up day.  I think the 1/2 sandwich just isn't enough.  I come home hungry and overeat.  So a whole sandwich and 1/2 apple tomorow, sans the cookies, for lunch.  Will definitely stop on my way home to get the subway sandwich so I won't have an excuse.  Yep, that's the plan. 

Just hangin'

I made it through yesterday pretty well.  Traffic was a breeze both ways -- got to work in 1 hour and 10 minutes.  Got home in 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Work wasn't too hectic -- nice smooth pace all day.  Although it was hot as hell, I managed to get by with plenty of water and air conditioning.  Feel so sorry for the folks who have to work outdoors. 

Eddie had an appt at 5:15 with Dr. Azez.  Stopped by Christina and Dylan's.  They were getting the basement ready for the folks to put in the flooring today, so her Mom and Dad were there and they had worked all day.  They had a flood a couple of weeks ago from an overflowing toilet upstairs which completely ruined their floors on the main level and the basement.  Luckily the insurance will pay for it, but you know how insurance people can be -- they can drag their feet.  After they finished up, we went to dinner at Mimi's.  Here's what I ate yesterday:

Skinny cinnamon dolce latte (90 cal) and an apple bran muffin (330 cal)  for breakfast .  For lunch I had an egg salad sandwich on wheat and 1/2 apple (430 calories?).  I had a late afternoon snack of one piece of wheat bread with 1 tablespoon peanut butter (200 calories).  For dinner I had 1/2 an Asian chopped salad (330 cal), a cup of vegetable soup (80 cal) a piece of bread and a bite of a muffin (150 cal.). 

This morning I was starving.  I had 1 egg, 3 french toast sticks, 1 slice of bacon, 1 tiny turkey sausage link, and a hashbrown patty.  Not so good.  But, there's still time to recover!  The breakfast will definitely hold me until about 1:00 pm (I ate breakfast at 7:00am). I'm going to have 1/2 sandwich and 1/2 apple for lunch.  For dinner I'm getting a 6 in. Subway club sub for 320 calories.  If I get hungry later, I'll have some watermelon.

That's the plan for today. 

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Sometimes your plans change

Today was another beautiful day.  Awesome weather.  Eddie and I decided to take a drive to the vocational school.  It's in Fishersville, which takes you into the mountains, and is quite lovely.  The campus is the perfect size and the buildings are very nice and modern looking.  The dorms are close to where all the classes and activities are, so I know it will be easy for him to find everything.  It's about two hours away, so not too far from home.  When we got back home we finished shopping for everything for his dorm and he's now all set to go.  He will spend July 4th with 3 of his friends.  He's happy and excited and things are looking good. 

Here's what I ate today:  because we decided last minute to go to the school, my plans from yesterday didn't quite make it on the agenda.  I had an oatmeal from McDonalds and o.j. for breakfast.  For lunch I was still in the mood for breakfast, so I had one pancake and 1/2 sausage patty at the Frost Cafe in Culpepper.  For dinner  I ate half of an Asian Chopped Salad at Mimi's, and a muffin.  And after we finished shopping I had a mocha frappe.  I was probably okay until I had the mocha frappe.  But we did a lot of walking so hopefully that will keep the scale quiet.

I will be going to a pig roast on July 4th.  And no, I'm not the main course -- ha!  But I am worried about how I am going to control the portions, so I am going to preplan.  I am going to bring some watermelon and a bowl of salad to contribute and put the spray spritzer salad dressing in my purse so that I can heap my plate with salad.  I definitely want to try the meat, so I will try to limit it to the size of a deck of cards.  I'll stay away from the salads with mayo in them and the deviled eggs.  If there's green beans or corn, I'll eat that. For dessert I'll have some watermelon.  Sounds like a plan, Stan.

A friend asked how I came up with 1600 calories.  Well, anything more than that and I don't lose.  Any less and I'm starving.  I'm aiming to lose a pound a week, as I think that is doable. 

Gotta get some zzz's.  Need to get up in 5.5 hours to go to work.  Nighty-night.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Making Amends

In case you missed my last post, yesterday's dinner was pretty much a fiasco.  Luckily the scale did not do a happy dance and prove it could count any higher.  So today I instituted "Project Recovery."  Two pancakes for breakfast and cranberry juice.  1/2 egg salad sandwich on whole wheat and 1/2 apple for lunch.  For dinner I had a one and one-half chicken patty and corn, complements of Chef Judy, due to a horrific traffic jam on 95.  Should be below my alloted 1600, so hopefully no substantial damage was done from yesterday's dinner.

Tomorrow will be a shopping day for Eddie's dorm stuff.  July 12th here we come!  I've already planned out my meals for tommorow.  Wild Berry Smoothie for breakfast.  Lunch will be at Panera's where I will get the U Pick 2 consisting of 1/2 cafe classic salad (80 cal); 1 cup lo-fat chicken noodle soup (90 cal.); 1 side baguette (160 cal) and watermelon fruit cup (60 cal.) for a total of 390 calories.  For dinner we're going to Mimi's Cafe and I'll have the small Asian Chopped Salad (360 cal.) and a side of fruit (100 cal.). 

Well, I'm wupped.  95 did me in tonight.  Looking forward to staying in and around the 'burg tomorrow!

Nighty-night!