porcupine (Ouch)

[DonRocks]

20 pounds to go.

[porcupine]

Porcupine's On-Line Food Diary

I'm going the shame route: trying to stay accountable through the fear that others will read my diary and laugh at my shortcomings.

Yesterday:

braekfast: tangerine juice, coffee with whole milk, two homemade oatmeal cookies

late breakfast: bowl of oatmeal cooked with 1/4 c 1% fat milk (the rest water), with 1 tsp brown sugar

very late lunch after several mile hike: tzatziki with fennnel and celery for dipping; 1/4 c leftover spaghetti with marinara

dinner: 2/3 small bowl lentil and sausage soup, 1/2 calette, 1/2 serving "butcher's stew", 3 bites Mr Ps mac-n-cheese, 1 glass shiraz, 3 bites blueberry cobbler, decaf coffee with milk. Not low fat but a lot less mass than I would normally eat at dinner

Today:

breakfast: 6 oz low fat yogurt, 1 tbs maple syrup, 1 medium banana, coffee with whole milk

off to training day at work - very physical - biggest challenge will be not snacking from the office commissary.

planned lunch: the other half of the calette, butchers stew, and the last few bites of mac-n-cheese

contemplating throwing away the cookies

[purplesachi]

Porcupine's On-Line Food Diary

I'm going the shame route: trying to stay accountable through the fear that others will read my diary and laugh at my shortcomings.

i really admire you putting yourself out there. keep up the good work!

[porcupine]

Make that on-line food and exercise diary.

Resisted temptation at office commisary. Snacked on two homemade cookies instead. After lunch, sat at new "for us" office computer to catch up on donrockwell.com, read some pm-s, said to self "what the fuck?!", logged out, and walked/jogged 2 miles in 27 minutes. Was utterly creamed by new boss and two coworkers, who jogged the whole way, but at least was out there moving my fat ass.

Later creamed one of said co-workers on dirt roads time trial but that's a different story.

Dinner: leftover homemade beef stew, 1/2 bottle beer, small hunk Irish brown bread, one cookie.

Thanks for the support, purplesachi.

[Barbara]

Make that on-line food and exercise diary.

Resisted temptation at office commisary. Snacked on two homemade cookies instead. After lunch, sat at new "for us" office computer to catch up on donrockwell.com, read some pm-s, said to self "what the fuck?!", logged out, and walked/jogged 2 miles in 27 minutes. Was utterly creamed by new boss and two coworkers, who jogged the whole way, but at least was out there moving my fat ass.

Later creamed one of said co-workers on dirt roads time trial but that's a different story.

Dinner: leftover homemade beef stew, 1/2 bottle beer, small hunk Irish brown bread, one cookie.

Thanks for the support, purplesachi.

I have to say, as one of the anonymous members of this challenge, that I admire the brass ones you've grown. (Can Girrrrls say that about other Girrrls? What other terminology is there? Boobies doesn't seem quite relevant, although I don't quite know why. )

[bilrus]

I have to say, as one of the anonymous members of this challenge, that I admire the brass ones you've grown. (Can Girrrrls say that about other Girrrls? What other terminology is there? Boobies doesn't seem quite relevant, although I don't quite know why. )

Anyone can have balls. Some are on the outside and some are on the inside.

[Barbara]

Anyone can have balls. Some are on the outside and some are on the inside.

Well, alrighty then. However I am seeking a non-male (female???) equivalent.

[porcupine]

I have to say, as one of the anonymous members of this challenge, that I admire the brass ones you've grown. (Can Girrrrls say that about other Girrrls? What other terminology is there? Boobies doesn't seem quite relevant, although I don't quite know why. )

As a woman working and playing in a testosterone-dominated arena, I get this all the time. Boy do I have some stories about that. But not to be posted on the internet.

[porcupine]

Saturday, January 13

breakfast:

coffee with whole milk

oatmeal cooked with water and 1/4 c lowfat milk; with apple chopped up and cooked in 1 tsp butter and 2 tsp brown sugar

left about 1/4 of this in the bowl

For me, weight loss is about portion control. My frugal nature deplores throwing out uneaten food, but now I'm playing a mind game with myself. Leaving some on the plate is part of the game.

Today's challenge: to keep from pigging out on Ethiopian food at lunch with Mr. P, Gubeen, and ol_ironstaomach. When having a good time, engaged in lively conversation, I totally lose track of how much I've eaten. Social eating is one of my biggest problems.

[bilrus]

Well, alrighty then. However I am seeking a non-male (female???) equivalent.

Of course I meant that in only the most positive sense.

[Gubeen]

Saturday, January 13

Today's challenge: to keep from pigging out on Ethiopian food at lunch with Mr. P, Gubeen, and ol_ironstaomach. When having a good time, engaged in lively conversation, I totally lose track of how much I've eaten. Social eating is one of my biggest problems.

I was going to suggest we order less and drink more water. Don't worry, I too am on the challenge so we can all reinforce eachother.

[zoramargolis]

coffee with whole milk

Here's a trick to make skim or 2% milk palatable with your coffee--pour the appropriate amount of milk into the cup first. Heat the milk just shy of the boiling point in the microwave. Then add the coffee. Voila! cafe´au lait...

Something about heating low or nonfat milk thickens it. When we make cappuccino at home, we always use skim milk. Believe it or not, it's much better than if made with whole milk. And it has the added benefit of allowing you to feel virtuous at the same time you are satisfying your coffee addiction.

[Barbara]

Here's a trick to make skim or 2% milk palatable with your coffee--pour the appropriate amount of milk into the cup first. Heat the milk just shy of the boiling point in the microwave. Then add the coffee. Voila! cafe´au lait...

Something about heating low or nonfat milk thickens it. When we make cappuccino at home, we always use skim milk. Believe it or not, it's much better than if made with whole milk. And it has the added benefit of allowing you to feel virtuous at the same time you are satisfying your coffee addiction.

As a life-long coffee addict, I found the easiest thing was cutting out the half-and-half I put in my coffee, a little more than 3 years ago. I was drinking so much of it that I was going through a whole lot of the high-fat, high-calorie dairy product. Now, if I could just cut out the sugar . . .

[porcupine]

Here's a trick to make skim or 2% milk palatable with your coffee--pour the appropriate amount of milk into the cup first. Heat the milk just shy of the boiling point in the microwave. Then add the coffee. Voila! cafe´au lait...

Something about heating low or nonfat milk thickens it. When we make cappuccino at home, we always use skim milk. Believe it or not, it's much better than if made with whole milk. And it has the added benefit of allowing you to feel virtuous at the same time you are satisfying your coffee addiction.

Dubious, but willing to try...

[synaesthesia]

Depending on how you like your coffee... I like vanilla soymilk. It adds some sweetness, and while it does have fat, you also have other benefits such as cholesterol reduction. Silk also makes a creamer that I've never tried. It's also great with oatmeal for a power-packed cholesterol sweeping meal.

[porcupine]

Saturday update: probably ate too much at lunch, but at least I wasn't hungry for dinner. To fulfill the psychological need to eat*, I quick-cooked some collards with lemon olive oil and ate them with brown rice. Hit the spot, very low fat, good nutrition.

Brisk walk for half hour between rain squalls.

Opened a new bottle of rye and treated self to a small pour.

* Does anyone else experience this? When I've had a major lunch or other large midday meal, around dinner time I feel a strong urge to eat - even if I'm not hungry. Very irritating.

[porcupine]

Sunday, January 14

breakfast: 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese, 1 small banana, coffee with low fat milk

today's challenges:

1. going to motorcycle show* at convention center - can I resist the call of a Steve Klc dessert and semi-sweet Turkish coffee at Zaytinya?

2. M-i-l and b-i-l taking us to restaurant where I usually drink too much and graze on cheese plate and cured meats. Can I find something a bit lower in fat to enjoy? Tune in later...

eta lunch: sour cherry juice, 2 fries, 1/4 order hummos, 3/4 piece of flatbread, 2/3 order pork and orange rind sausage with white beans; entire apricot yogurt dessert, semi-sweet Turkish coffee.

snacks so far: 1 homemade cookie; 1 chai (Teaism)

exercise so far: ever try parking near the Washington Convention center late on a Sunday morning? Plenty of walking around the greater Penn Quarter area today.

eta dinner: well, I didn't eat everything I ordered. Only one piece of bread, all the burrata, much of the pasta, half a dessert, and a (big) glass of wine. This is the most food I've eaten in one sitting in almost a week, and I'm feeling it.

Tomorrow, more hiking. Lots more hiking, rain or no rain.

*in case any of you are riders: I do believe I've found my new love

[porcupine]

Monday, January 15

today's challenge: staying on the straight and narrow; should be easy with no social commitments.

breakfast: 2 eggs scrambled in one tsp butter; coffee with lowfat milk (not too bad after all! but I still can't stand skim milk - it's just evil).

eta:

lunch: a few oz. collards, a baked potato with 1 tsp butter

snacks: a pot of tea with sugar; later a bubble tea (I don't want to know what's in that stuff)

dinner: homemade chicken vegetable soup, 1 oz Gruyere, 1/2 small slice of something masquerading as a baguette , half a beer

today's failing: no exercise. My ass has been at the computer for six hours while trying to finish details of difficult project for work. Deadline is Friday. If I have any hair left by then it'll be a miracle.

[porcupine]

Tuesday, January 16

One pound off, 19 to go.

today's challenges: get some good walking in, work project or no; eat sensibly at celebratory dinner at fine restaurant

breakfast: 6 oz orange/tangerine juice; coffee with lowfat milk; bagel with smallest possible schmear cream cheese

brisk half hour walk mid-morning

eta lunch: uh-oh. Two things happened unexpectedly that could not be postponed; as a result lunch was a latte and four bites of crappy cheesecake from Mayorga; a later snack of hot chocolate could be be turned down out of politeness; it's 4:30 and I'm starving and I don't want to let myself eat becuase I'm going out later, but if I don't eat I will pig out at dinner... oh dear.

eta: snack was 1/2 cup brown rice

dinner at Blue Duck Tavern: 1/2 order beet, goat cheese, endive salad [which had two pieces endive ]; 1/2 order chanterelles and brussels sprouts; 1/2 order pork chop; 1 cheddar biscuit; 1 glass wine; 2 scoops vanilla ice cream with spiced pear compote, cup of coffee with dairy.

[smokey]

Here's a trick to make skim or 2% milk palatable with your coffee--pour the appropriate amount of milk into the cup first. Heat the milk just shy of the boiling point in the microwave. Then add the coffee. Voila! cafe´au lait...

I'm totally on for this. I had managed to cut myself down to whole milk, but thought that skim milk was revolting in coffee. I now have upped the amount of milk I drink in my coffee, but it's skim (not sure if the increased amount offsets the nonfat issue!), by heating it to just below boiling in the nukyular oven before adding the coffee. Totally satisfying.

Have you given it a try, porcupine?

[porcupine]

I'm totally on for this. I had managed to cut myself down to whole milk, but thought that skim milk was revolting in coffee. I now have upped the amount of milk I drink in my coffee, but it's skim (not sure if the increased amount offsets the nonfat issue!), by heating it to just below boiling in the nukyular oven before adding the coffee. Totally satisfying.

Have you given it a try, porcupine?

I have, and find that don't mind 1% fat milk at all. I still find skim milk to be the single most revolting 'edible' substance in the known universe, except for mustard. I'm trying to lose weight, not create hell on earth for myself.

[porcupine]

Wednesday, January 17

today's challenge: training day at work will consist mostly of meetings - talk about opportunities for mindless snacking! Taking tzatziki and veg for dipping for lunch, thermos of lapsang suchong with sugar and milk to stay awake, mango juice for snack; will try again to walk fast for two miles and not get creamed by new boss and coworkers.

Breakfast: 6 oz orange/tangerine juice; 6 oz low fat yogurt with 1 tbs maple syrup and 1 banana; coffee with lowfat milk.

update: I was able to stick to the plan - no mindless snacking - yay, me. Only got half hour for lunch, spent 20 min of it walking/jogging.

dinner: big bowl of leftover chicken veg soup with 1 oz Gruyere, 1 beer. It's now 8:09, I'm finishing the last of my beer and going to bed. Seriously. I will be so glad to get this week over.

[jm chen]

dinner at Blue Duck Tavern: 1/2 order beet, goat cheese, endive salad [which had two pieces endive ]; 1/2 order chanterelles and brussels sprouts; 1/2 order pork chop...

I'm curious about the half-portions... looking for some ideas on how to do it myself in restaurant situations. Are you asking for a half-order from the kitchen, or splitting what you order with someone else at the table, or eating half and boxing/leaving the rest?

Keep up the good work!

[Anna Blume]

eta lunch: uh-oh. Two things happened unexpectedly that could not be postponed; as a result lunch was a latte and four bites of crappy cheesecake from Mayorga; a later snack of hot chocolate could be be turned down out of politeness; it's 4:30 and I'm starving and I don't want to let myself eat becuase I'm going out later, but if I don't eat I will pig out at dinner... oh dear.

eta: snack was 1/2 cup brown rice

First, congratulations, too, especially on the measures taken at the restaurant meal. Suggestion:

I found that if I bring an apple to work it sits on my desk or in the bottom of my lunch bag.

Instead, I'd recommend spending time in the morning or even the night before, coring and cutting up the apple into eight slices and putting it in a container with red pepper strips, carrot sticks and other things you could easily reach for and snack on while working.

I don't know how available ripe mangoes are this time of year, but a good peeled mango sliced and eaten with a fork can be more satisfying than juice.

The brown rice might be more appealing, too, if you made it into a salad. Pour on some (Meyer) lemon juice while it's still warm. Some zest. A little cayenne and cumin. Sliver scallions. Diced cukes.... Possibilities are endless. It could be a meal with chickpeas, parsley and a conservative number of sultanas (raisins are caloric) or chopped dried fruit of your choice.

[porcupine]

I'm curious about the half-portions... looking for some ideas on how to do it myself in restaurant situations. Are you asking for a half-order from the kitchen, or splitting what you order with someone else at the table, or eating half and boxing/leaving the rest?

Keep up the good work!

Thanks. I just ate half and took the rest home (lunch tomorrow). Often Mr P and I will split dishes though we always feel funny about doing that in nicer restaurants. We make sure to leave the waiter a bigger tip to compensate.

[porcupine]

Suggestion: <snip>

Instead, I'd recommend spending time in the morning or even the night before,

Generally I'm pretty good about being prepared with snacks. But sometimes the best laid plans etc etc. Thanks for the ideas, though.

[porcupine]

Thursday, January 18

today's challenges: will be spending all day on work project due Saturday, which means plenty of opportunity for stress snacking. Perhaps I'll try taking my laptop and papers to another room far away from the kitchen. Can't believe I haven't thought of this before. Also cooking chili for friends bringing over beer for tasting tonight; will try to enjoy small portions eaten slooooowly.

breakfast: 6 oz orange/tangerine juice; coffee with whole milk; oatmeal cooked with part lowfat milk, with 1 tsp brown sugar.

eta update: lunch = remains of chicken veg soup; snack = 1/2 cup plain brown rice (I really, really like rice);

dinner: not too large a serving of chili with just a little cheddar, 2 pieces cornbread(each piece = 1/16 of 8"x8" pan), and one brownie (1/16 of a pan). And waaaay too much beer. Friend brought two growlers from Old Dominion: Aviator Amber Lager and Oak Barrel Stout. Friends went back for seconds of chili and one person took all the leftover brownies home for the kids - yay! they aren't here to tempt me.

No exercise but at least I made very real progress on the work project from hell - should have time for a nice long walk tomorrow.

Okay, so yesterday was a losing today, today was a maintaining day.

[DanielK]

How wedded are you to the morning juice? Believe me I understand - I grew up in Florida, and I had fresh squeezed juice every morning for breakfast.

Unfortunately, it's twice the sugar compared to eating an orange, about 30% more calories, and you lose all of the fiber.

[porcupine]

How wedded are you to the morning juice? Believe me I understand - I grew up in Florida, and I had fresh squeezed juice every morning for breakfast.

Unfortunately, it's twice the sugar compared to eating an orange, about 30% more calories, and you lose all of the fiber.

Entirely wedded. It is the so-called fresh-squeezed juice from WF. If it's nothing but unstrained juice how can it have more sugar and less fiber? At any rate it's the only sure way for me to get one serving of fruit a day, since I detest tasteless plastic out of season fruit. And I tire of bananas quickly.

[brettashley01]

Entirely wedded. It is the so-called fresh-squeezed juice from WF. If it's nothing but unstrained juice how can it have more sugar and less fiber?

Because juice doesn't have the natural fiber that is in the flesh of the fruit, so the sugar is concentrated.

[porcupine]

Because juice doesn't have the natural fiber that is in the flesh of the fruit, so the sugar is concentrated.

"unstrained"? Have you ever seen the stuff WF sells? I think they just skin the fruit and pulverize the rest. Anyway, moot point. I've said before I'm losing by not overeating, not by denying the things I love.

[DanielK]

Entirely wedded. It is the so-called fresh-squeezed juice from WF. If it's nothing but unstrained juice how can it have more sugar and less fiber?

Even unstrained, more than half the pulp is left behind. And it takes 2-3 oranges to make a 6 oz glass of juice, hence more sugar.

It's not out of season for oranges, though...

[laniloa]

The sugar isn't concentrated, you just aren't ingesting all of the cellulose that gives structure to the fruit. Think of all the planty (for lack of a better word) stuff left behind when you squeeze citrus -- that makes up a lot of the fiber count of an orange.

[porcupine]

The sugar isn't concentrated, you just aren't ingesting all of the cellulose that gives structure to the fruit. Think of all the planty (for lack of a better word) stuff left behind when you squeeze citrus -- that makes up a lot of the fiber count of an orange.

Okay, that I understand. Of course, I wouldn't eat that stuff, anyway.

Still, I appreciate all of you pointing things like this out to me - definitely something I hadn't thought of before, and worth considering. I really appreciate all the support people here have given me.

[Barbara]

Okay, that I understand. Of course, I wouldn't eat that stuff, anyway.

Still, I appreciate all of you pointing things like this out to me - definitely something I hadn't thought of before, and worth considering. I really appreciate all the support people here have given me.

I've long since read that you should NEVER drink "fruit juice." Rather, you should EAT fruit. Just think about the difference between eating an apple and drinking a glass of apple juice. No contest.

And, a helpful, if unacknowledged person on this board, pointed me to the word "Thatchers" to describe women with "balls." Works for me. Discuss.

[bookluvingbabe]

My theory on the juice--until you hit a spot where you aren't losing any weight, keep the juice as you obviously get great enjoyment out of it.

Life is too short to give up everything all at once--we'll find you in a corner somewhere mainlining oj when it all gets to you!

[Anna Blume]

Good luck with challenges today.

[DanielK]

My theory on the juice--until you hit a spot where you aren't losing any weight, keep the juice as you obviously get great enjoyment out of it.

Exactly why I asked. I used to drink juice every morning, because, well, I always had. Ever since I was a kid. Once I understood the nutrition value of fresh fruit rather than juice, I tried switching, and realized that I didn't miss it as much as I thought I would. I still love fresh juice, but I discovered I'm fine with having it once a week, rather than daily.

[smokey]

porcupine, I'm totally with you on the juice as a necessity in the morning. I used to drink grapefruit juice all the time. It was my default beverage of choice. Once I started doing WW, i realized I was going to have to cut back. But there was no way I was going to eliminate my 6-8 oz. in the am. Nothing was worth the agony that would cause!

[porcupine]

Friday, January 19

today's challenge: lunch at A&J with friends; so many good things to eat!

breakfast: orange/tangerine juice, coffee with lowfat milk, lowfat yogurt, one peach

lunch: 1/2 order peanut cilantro tofu salad, most of a bowl of spicy beef noodle soup, Schezuan style

successfully managed to avoid drinking bubble tea

dinner: probably kabobs and rice from Moby Dick; will try to limit hummus consumption

exercise: probably no time today; need to finish one more piece of work for tomorrow's event; am procrastinating right now, typing this instead.

eta

snack: pot of tea with sugar (2 tsp); one caramel

dinner: 1/2 order chicken kabobs and rice, 1/2 flatebread, less than 1/2 order hummus from Moby Dick.

dessert: 8oz 1% fat milk.

Despite what I wrote earlier about hating fruit out of season, I picked up a peach at WF yesterday. To my great surprise it actually tasted like a peach and had decent texture (usually they're mealy out of season). This gives me hope, as I tire of bananas quickly, and pear, papaya, and mango are unreliable. Nothing else that's worth eating at this time of year goes well with yogurt. I am too texture fussy for my own good.

[porcupine]

Saturday, January 20

Discouragement

Confession: I never weigh myself, because the numbers depress me. Mr. P has been weighing me for this challenge. It appears I am at the same weight as Tuesday. Looking over my food diary, I see that my caloric intake is just over half of usual. So, I've eliminated all this food from my diet and there's no change. whoopee.

The most successful diet I've ever been on involved no measurements except the jeans test: hen it came time to buy new jeans, I had lost a lot of weight. And kept it off. Now I'm trying the scale thing and there's no difference. This makes me want to binge on everything passed up this week.

Did manage to get a brisk walk/jog in yesterday, 1.6 miles in 24 minutes.

breakfast: tangerine juice, coffee with lowfat milk, yogurt with maple syrup and 1/4 c mango. Damn mangoes. They look so good in the store and you cut into them at home and they're mostly rotten except where they're too hard. feh.

today's challenge: I'm running an all-day training seminar based on a newly-developed curriculum in which none of my co-workers have experience. They're good, talented people and I trust them to get it right, but I'm still going to be a nervous wreck all day. Historically I react to that in one of two ways: binge snacking or total loss of appetite. Neither is healthy.

Will I be able to avoid the morning donuts? Can I dine lightly at the catered lunch? Will I arrive home too exhausted to do more than gorge on a delivered pizza and beer before falling into bed at 8:30? Stay tuned...

[cucas87]

Saturday, January 20

Discouragement

All I can say is it sounds like you are doing great, so try to focus on the fact that you've made it this far. I react to stress similarly (um, ok, I never experience a lack of appetite or an inability to eat) and I have found that weight loss is not a straight line. Usually I hit a plateau, or what feels to me as my body mocking me. But in the past, when I've stuck with the plan and kept going (and maybe added a little more exercise for a bit), the weight came off. You're doing the right things. Even if you eat more than you want to now -- or don't have time to exercise-- if you stick as close as you can to your plan, you'll be ok. Before we all started this challenge I had been annoyed with myself for waiting so long to take care of this, but now I'm just happy I'm doing it. I am having some difficultiesl, I have been walking almost every day for 30-40 minutes and yesterday I decided to really up the speed and incline on the treadmill. Not a good idea for my ankle that I thought, mistakenly, had recovered from a bad sprain a few months ago. But for once in my life, I've been able to look at this "fitness challenge as a health experiment and not a diet per se (please, don't get me wrong, I'll still be thrilled to fit into my old wardrobe!). In any event, I hope today is easier for you than you think it will be and I hope I'll see you tomorrow.

[smokey]

Despite what I wrote earlier about hating fruit out of season, I picked up a peach at WF yesterday. To my great surprise it actually tasted like a peach and had decent texture (usually they're mealy out of season). This gives me hope, as I tire of bananas quickly, and pear, papaya, and mango are unreliable. Nothing else that's worth eating at this time of year goes well with yogurt. I am too texture fussy for my own good.

Have you tried frozen blueberries? I've found that they're reasonably quality, a quickie defrost in the microwaves keeps them cold, but not pebble like, and they taste great for me in plain yogurt.

[bilrus]

I think that our bodies all go through cycles that can effect our weight loss or gain. You might be going through one of those cycles now. Since it looks like you have been exercising more, you might be adding muscle which, while it weighs more than fat, will eventually allow you to burn even more fat. It is good weight.

There is no way that the work you are putting into this isn't going to have a long term effect.

[JLK]

Try not to be discouraged! Give it time. I think it will pay off. Are you drinking lots of water?

[porcupine]

Try not to be discouraged! Give it time. I think it will pay off. Are you drinking lots of water?

I am. Guess I ought to be reporting that, too.

Smokey: love the blueberry idea - thanks!

cucas and bilrus - thanks for the encouragment!

Saturday update: lunch was most of the meat from a really awful barbeque sandwich; didn't eat the soggy bread. Only snack was a thermos of hot tea with sugar - and a beer with the staff during our wrap-up meeting - but no donuts! Whoo-hoo!

It's easy to be discouraged at 5:40 in the morning, looking at a day full of responsibility. But the day went well, in terms of both the job and appetite management. Feeling more encouraged now.

Tomorrow's challenge: it's a Dim Sum Sunday. Will probably have to skip dinner.

further update: dinner was 2 slices pizza from a small pie. Not a healthy thing, but I used to eat four pieces from this size pizza after a long day at work. Also avoided drinking beer with dinner. Am trying to stick to one serving alcohol/day. Boy is that tough sometimes.

[brettashley01]

Have you tried frozen blueberries? I've found that they're reasonably quality, a quickie defrost in the microwaves keeps them cold, but not pebble like, and they taste great for me in plain yogurt.

Note: Trader Joe's carries frozen organic blueberries (and other berries) and they're great! Also the good thing about frozen berries in plain yogurt is that the juices release in the microwave, so they get swirled in the yogurt. Yum!

[Barbara]

Confession: I never weigh myself, because the numbers depress me.

OK. I've finally learned my lesson. When I still lived at home with my parents, I would weigh myself every time I went to the bathroom. Stayed unhappy. As an adult without a scale, I would go through periods of trauma (or unintended lifestyle changes) and would drop a dress size or so. Of course, I always put it back on, without knowing how much I had lost in the first place or how much I had gained back. Surprise, surprise: my "base" weight kept going up.

Now, with the fancy new scale, I am forcing myself to get on it at least once a week. I'm going to learn what it takes to take it off and keep it off. I've reached the age where all of this gets harder, so "blissful" ignorance is no longer an option. Long passed the age where I can even imagine making a living off my looks (like THAT was ever a possibility!), I just want to look presentable and not have clothes shopping be so problematical.

[Anna Blume]

Note: Trader Joe's carries frozen organic blueberries (and other berries) and they're great! Also the good thing about frozen berries in plain yogurt is that the juices release in the microwave, so they get swirled in the yogurt. Yum!

I highly recommend what Whole Foods calls "wild" frozen blueberries, sold in tall thin foil bags (silver, blue & white).

However, the variety of frozen fruit at TJ is excellent and there is one type of Canadian blueberries that might be comparable to the type at WF. With the exception of the blueberries, the prices of frozen fruit seem best at TJ. I noticed something called Tropical Blend (?) that might appeal to you since it contains chunks of mango.

I personally like crisp apples cut into small slices in yogurt. I'll compromise by eating the variety called Pink Lady at Giant, but otherwise I have to say that there is no comparison between a good crisp apple purchased from the right vendor at the farmer's market and something from a grocery store.

Another possibility at breakfast: smoothies made from banana (I buy over-ripe ones, slice & freeze them individually), a favorite frozen fruit, skim milk and yogurt. No sweetener is needed if you use very ripe bananas. You could also do this with ice cubes and some of your beloved orange juice, no dairy. You'd still have the fiber of the frozen fruit and an entire day's quota of fruit.

N.B. A glass of orange juice=two servings of fruit. One serving of produce= 1/2 cup. (I've made the switch to fresh fruit only because I love grapefruit. I'll go back to juice once the season for good citrus fruit ends.)

[porcupine]

Sunday, January 21

breakfast: the usual juice, coffee, yogurt, this time with a pear

lunch: dim sum at Lucky Three; ate a good amount of Chinese broccoli and the usual assortment, a la "choose one from each column"

shrimp / boiled

pork / steamed

veg / fried

no snacks today

dinner: a small bowl of leftover chili and one piece of cornbread

Really want a big bowl of ice cream right now. Will settle for a small glass of lowfat milk.

PS I can't figure out how to make columns here. phooey

[porcupine]

Monday, January 22

Last night's glass of lowfat milk became a cup of lowfat hot chocolate. Ooops.

Breakfast: lowfat cottage cheese, coffee with lowfat milk, tangerine juice

Lunch: spinach cooked in small amt olive oil with a squeeze of lemon; plain brown rice

probable dinner: broiled trout, brown rice, roasted beets on wilted beet greens with whatever nuts I have on hand and a bit of goat cheese.

update: lunch did not do much good; snacked on 1/4 c homemade granola in 1/4 c lowfat milk. And tea with sugar. Much better. Likely no exercise today - now that the work thing is past, the other big thing is taking up time. Suddenly two days that were free and clear are totally booked up. Time to revisit old motto: "better busy and stressed than bored and depressed".

[porcupine]

Tuesday, January 23

Breakfast: orange/tangerine juice, coffee w/ lowfat milk, yogurt with blueberries (defrosted)

Snack: 8 oz miso

Lunch: one pork and cheese pupusa; five bites of fried plantain w/ crema.

planned dinner: something involving roasted veg, couscous, and harissa

Thanks to [smokey?] for the frozen fruit suggestion - I'm looking forward to trying different types in the next several days.

Confession: I have no idea if my 20lb goal is really ten percent of my body weight. I deliberately stay away from numbers. But before Christmas my doctor said I was up 15 pounds over last year, so I chose 20, figuring I probably put on a few more during the holidays.

Will have Mr P look at the scale for me again tomorrow am.

Other confession: last night after dinner ate about 1/2c of experimental brown rice pudding. I would not make this again, yet I couldn't keep from eating it.

update: walked/jogged my usual 1.6 mile circuit in 22 minutes (fastest ever), and this time with several minutes idling whilst chatting with neighbor. whoo-hoo!

[porcupine]

Wednesday, January 24

Last night's dinner was actually pretty tasty. While cubes of carrot and butternut squash roasted, I sauteed onion in olive oil, then added celery, zucchini, and garlic, then homemade chicken stock, harissa, and spices. By the time the braise was done the stock had reduced nicely. Tossed all the veg together, then place atop couscous that had been cooked in stock and harissa; topped the whole thing with toasted pine nuts. This would make a great side dish for those who want more protein with dinner. Very low fat yet satisfying. Also had about 2/3 bottle of beer.

Did not get weighed, as Mr P left for NJ at oh-dark-thirty this am.

Today's challenges:

1. a bag of Meyer lemons awaits me; the plan is to make a big batch of lemon curd and freeze it. Can I do so without indiscriminate tasting?

2. a friend is taking me to a favorite lunch spot for a belated birthday celebration. Can I resist overeating rich foods?

Breakfast: juice; coffee with lowfat milk; yogurt with banana (did not eat all of either)

[jm chen]

1. a bag of Meyer lemons awaits me; the plan is to make a big batch of lemon curd and freeze it. Can I do so without indiscriminate tasting?

Taste once or twice if necessary. The rest of the time, chew gum. Good luck!

[grover]

2. a friend is taking me to a favorite lunch spot for a belated birthday celebration. Can I resist overeating rich foods?

Get a doggie Bag and drink a cup of green tea after the meal.

[smokey]

Thanks to [smokey?] for the frozen fruit suggestion - I'm looking forward to trying different types in the next several days.

I think it was me who suggested the frozen blueberries. In my experience, the frozen strawberries from WF suffer a fair amount in the defrosting on the texture front. Now, in yogurt, this doesn't bother me too much, but just a heads up. The other thing to be aware of is that I've found that the strawberries (more than other fruits) seem to pick up off flavors in my freezer. I don't know what's up with that, but if the frozen strawberries stay in my freezer for too long (longer than a month?), when defrosted they taste too much of freezer for me.

glad to hear the blueberries were successful, and good luck with the belated birthday celebration!

[porcupine]

Thursday, January 25: Back on the Wagon

But first, a Wacky Wednesday wrap-up

lunch w/ friend: pom/currant virgin cocktail; bacon, egg and cheese salad; pulled pork sandwhich (didn't eat all); coffee w/ milk

not half an hour after getting home, another friend called - "I'm in the neighborhood" etc - and came by, so...

exercise: friend, dog and I walked 3.8 miles roundtrip to hardware store for two quarts paint

now, this particular friend really likes Belgian beers, and MelGold had posted about the DT glass giveaway at Rustico, and Mr P was still in NJ, so...

dinner: 1/2 duck confit and brie pizza; 1/8 Italian sausage pizza; one Delirium Tremens Nocturnum

If I'd eaten just the salad at lunch maybe I wouldn't feel so bad. It was an excessive day. The only really good thing was that, instead of baking a batch of buttermilk biscuits and serving them with that lemon curd and a big pot of tea (possibly my favorite meal ever), I went walking instead. But still, feeling guilty.

breakfast: juice, coffee with lowfat milk, lowfat yogurt with banana

[lackadaisi]

Thursday, January 25: Back on the Wagon

But first, a Wacky Wednesday wrap-up

lunch w/ friend: pom/currant virgin cocktail; bacon, egg and cheese salad; pulled pork sandwhich (didn't eat all); coffee w/ milk

not half an hour after getting home, another friend called - "I'm in the neighborhood" etc - and came by, so...

exercise: friend, dog and I walked 3.8 miles roundtrip to hardware store for two quarts paint

now, this particular friend really likes Belgian beers, and MelGold had posted about the DT glass giveaway at Rustico, and Mr P was still in NJ, so...

dinner: 1/2 duck confit and brie pizza; 1/8 Italian sausage pizza; one Delirium Tremens Nocturnum

If I'd eaten just the salad at lunch maybe I wouldn't feel so bad. It was an excessive day. The only really good thing was that, instead of baking a batch of buttermilk biscuits and serving them with that lemon curd and a big pot of tea (possibly my favorite meal ever), I went walking instead. But still, feeling guilty.

breakfast: juice, coffee with lowfat milk, lowfat yogurt with banana

Sounds like even on your splurge day you left a lot on your plate, got a bunch of exercise, and avoided additional pitfalls. Good job.

[porcupine]

Thursday Update:

lunch: a big bowl of collards cooked w/ <1 tbsp olive oil; some leftover couscous

mid day nibbles: one 1/2" square of Gruyere; 6 mini Stoned Wheat Thins; 2 bites lemon curd; big pot o' tea w/ sugar and milk

exercise: 1.9 mile walk in 30 min - damn cold in the wind today!

dinner: low fat butternut squash soup (homemade), with 1 tbsp goat cheese, 1 t pepitas; small piece of Irish brown bread

[porcupine]

Friday, January 26

Big Weekend Ahead

but first, breaking news: lost 3 lbs over the past week. That's four down, sixteen to go

today's challenges: social activity, including exploring new grocery store and dinner at a very fine restaurant; whoo boy.

breakfast: juice, coffee w/ lowfat milk, oatmeal w/ brown sugar (only ate half, though - no appetitie this am)

update: lunch went surprisingly well; cup of tomato bisque and half a grilled Gouda, brie and apple on whole grain sandwich at the new Whole Foods, followed by 2 1oz tastings of wine. Then I ran out before I succumbing to temptation. I am so glad I live far, far away from that grilled cheese counter.

[smokey]

Friday, January 26

Big Weekend Ahead

but first, breaking news: lost 3 lbs over the past week. That's four down, sixteen to go

Woo-hoo! congratulations on the weight loss---that's huge! I figured you had to lose weight this week. When reading your food journal I was really struck by how 'well' (define as you see fit) you were eating!

And as for the Big Weekend Ahead--yeah, I hear ya'. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to make it through Sunday's activities...

[porcupine]

And as for the Big Weekend Ahead--yeah, I hear ya'. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to make it through Sunday's activities...

Tasting, my friend. Tasting.

[Anna Blume]

And walking briskly for at least three miles after it's all over.

[porcupine]

Saturday, January 27

Ouch, Indeed

Did not go to very fine restaurant for dinner; that was a bit of deliberate misdirection aimed at a friend. Instead, went to bar for surprise party.

After lunch yesterday walked 1.6 miles; was strangely tired. Had a mug of tea w/ sugar. Had a very late snack of tzatziki (lowfat yogurt) with celery and fennel for dipping. Then got so wrapped up in work project I forgot to eat dinner before leaving for bar.

Over the course of the party, ate: three fries, five tater tots, one piece of chicken on a stick (2 bites), and two pepper on bread canape like things.

Also drank three generous pours of whiskey.

Don't know if my tolerance for booze is way down since I stopped having two drinks a day, or if I was drinking on an empty stomach, or what, but never have I been so sick. I don't mean drunk, I mean sick (not that I wasn't drunk, mind you). Mr P was thoroughly pissed off at me but proved his love by providing a pillow and blanket so I could lie on the floor next to the big porcelain fixture in relative comfort.

Pathetic, isn't it?

breakfast, very late: 1/2 glass juice; less than half bagel with tiny smear butter. Knew I needed to eat and drink to feel better but mere thought of comestibles had me heaving.

lunch, at 2:30: miso with small amts collards and rice; drank most of the broth, ate little of the solids.

Hating myself now for excesses leading to waste of a beautiful Saturday. Plans have changed from "go downtown for auto show and gallery show" to "maybe I'll try moving to the sofa". feh.

At least my sense of humor is intact.

[porcupine]

Sunday, January 28

oh, yeah - forgot about the cake. I ate cake Friday night, too.

yesterday dinner: two scrambled eggs, other half of bagel; vast quantities water.

Today I'm taking the day off. Having friends over to do some cooking, so what's the point of going low fat? Best I can do is limit myself to tasting instead of gorging.

Breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; two cream biscuits with lemon curd. At least I only ate two, with modest amounts of lemon curd.

Lunch: ha. A taste of this, a taste of that as I get ready for the party. A spoonful of sweet potato filling, a taste of buttercream icing.

[porcupine]

There's no use to writing about what I ate yesterday - it was all a blur. I did stick with "only a taste" of most things, but I'm sure the sum was way past diet threshold. Was able to send most leftovers home with friends, but I still have 1. an entire choclate cake; 2. five panna cotta; 3. about 40 oz duck fat. The first two I can toss without too much remorse. But the duck fat? Ohhhh, baby. I'm heading out for duck legs later this week, diet or no.

Not expecting any weight loss this week - will be satisfied with no gain.

Monday, January 29 - Back on the Wagon (didn't I write that recently?)

Breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; lowfat yogurt w/ one Comice pear

Plan for the day: at work; no snacking from office commisary; walk 2 miles at lunchtime; bringing one cup serving leftover beef stew (I like to freeze leftovers for day like this). Dinner will be the challenge, as Mr P will be cooking. He only cooks two things: spaghetti and carryout.

Update: stuck w/ lunch plan, adding only a small amount collard greens; only had ten minutes for walking/jogging by the time we had to be back on duty (there's a certain amount of work must be done during lunch breaks; I only got 15 min to eat). No snacking - hooray!

Dinner was 1/2 order chicken kabob with rice, less than half a piece flatbread, less than half an order humus from Moby Dick (Mr P opted for carryout). And one tiny piece of chocolate cake.

Am planning on taking rest of cake for ravenous coworkers tomorrow.

[smokey]

...I still have 1. an entire choclate cake; 2. five panna cotta; ...

Argh! The penalties of leaving early. I was eyeballing that cake and eyeballing it, but just couldn't be the first one to cut into it. Homemade buttercream (where's that homer-simpson-drooling icon when you need it?!).

Yes, I too tried to stick with tasting (and I kept trying to stay near the veggie tray, so I tasted more of that), but then there was the caponata to be sampled (again and again), the bread, the cheese...

[Anna Blume]

Dinner will be the challenge, as Mr P will be cooking. He only cooks two things: spaghetti and carryout.

Gee, if only there were some ragu in the fridge....

* * *

As for the duck fat, it's monosaturated fat, like olive oil, accoridng to Lucy Vatel and her French diet-doctor. Not bad for you, just caloric. I wouldn't go making a huge cake of Pommes Anna with a cup of it, as good as that would be, but enjoy in modest amounts. Sauté some garlic or onions in it when making soup, for example.

[porcupine]

Tuesday, January 30

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; yogurt; pear

planned lunch: another one-cup serving homemade beef stew

panned dinner: spaghetti w/ homemade marinara (lots of olive oil); side of spinach

exercise: doubt I'll have the time; today's work schedule is tight, probably only half an hour for lunch; besides, seem to have pulled a hip muscle yesterday - how the heck did I manage to do that?

[porcupine]

Tuesday update: dinner = 3 oz spaghetti w/ modest amount marinara; one biscuit; one small piece chocolate cake; no spinach. Also, no beer. This is major, as one of the joys in life is that cold one at the end of the day. Also, I was on the job at 0715 yesterday; nominal one hour lunch resulted in 15 min sitting to eat (worked rest of time, and it ain't a desk job); snowfall in Fredneck County resulted in 2 hour trip home ; those of you who know what my job is can imagine how I felt crawling through that inanity. Giving up that beer was major.

Wednesday, January 31

Breakfast: juice; coffee; yogurt w/ sliced peaches (from a bag - not very good but better than canned and the so-called fresh currently available).

Today's challenge: dinner with friends at favorite monument-to-protein-and fat-restaurant

update - lunch: last of last week's couscous with peas and corn; a few slivers duck confit

exercise: walked to bank and post office, 3.6 miles round trip

snack: 1/2 ramekin (2 oz) Meyer lemon panna cotta

dinner: 1 piece foccacia; 2 scallops; 1/2 hanger steak; mushrooms; few bites mashed potato; many bites creamed spinach; one bite chocolate mousse; 3 bites Key lime pie; demitasse hot chocolate

Rockweiler sitings at popular steak restaurant: only one

late evening snack: other half of panna cotta. Really need to throw out the rest.

[porcupine]

Thursday, February 1

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; yogurt w/ cherries

lunch: one spring roll; 1/2 order flat rice noodles w/ veg and chicken and egg (Burmese)

exercise: 1.8 mile walk

dinner: butternut squash soup (homemade chicken stock, no dairy); wilted spinach salad w/ raisins and a little duck confit; farmhouse cheddar; one glass pinot noir.

It occured to me that not only do I have a decent amount of confit, I have a lot of eggs. Wonder how a confit and mushroom omelet would be for a weekend breakfast?

[Anna Blume]

I also read your post in the dinner thread where the soup and salad seemed like a nice, elegant weekday meal rather than diet food.

Since runny eggs are so very in these days, I'd recommend substituting duck confit for lardons in a salade lyonnaise.

[porcupine]

Friday, February 2

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; whole wheat bagel w/ small amt neufchatel

early lunch: other half of hanger steak, 1/3 c creamed spinach; 1/4 c mashed potato; a few mushrooms

exercise: approx 5 mile on C&O w/ a friend (one and a half hours walking)

snacks: half a panna cotta; hot chocolate made with lowfat milk (and not much sugar)

planned dinner: roasted veg w/ a bit of cheese (probably Gruyere) on rice; leftover soup

Deliberately not joining dr.com HH tonight as mindless eating and drinking are so not what I need right now; would really love the socializing, though. This is when I hate dieting the most.

[porcupine]

Saturday, February 3

I Miss Breakfast

My journal entries are distressingly boring, aren't they? yogurt with fruit, or a bagel, or oatmeal for breakfast. It's one of the problems I have when dieting: my palate gets bored. Especially at breakfast, which I love, especially on weekends when there's time to really have fun cooking it. Here are some favorite standard breakfasts:

rice pudding

cocnut rice pudding

German apple pancake

waffles

biscuits or scones with lemon curd

fried polenta topped with maple syrup

a big stack of jelly crepes [as you make the crepes, set each aside on a plate; spread every other one thinly with black raspberry jam]

don't have a name for this one: place a few corn tortillas on a plate, and top with black beans, softly scrambled eggs, crumbled bacon, shredded cheese (Monterey Jack for me); place under broiler 'til cheese melts; serve with a nice picante salsa and a great big glass of fresh orange juice

a big piece of cake or pie leftover from a party

spoonbread with maple syrup (no kidding, this is a great breakfast)

Oh well. Maybe next weekend.

Breakfast today: juice, coffee yadda yadda; bagel with neufchatel

lunch: leftover noodle dish from Mandalay (about a half order)

Last night's roasted vegetables went on plain polenta rather than rice, topped with a few shavings Gruyere; did not eat the soup.

Today's challenge: I'll get plenty of exercise doing some major house projects, but... donrockwell.com dinner at L'Academie de Cuisine. With wine pairing. Hoo boy. Can I eat half of each course without insulting Chef Pangaud?

[bilrus]

My journal entries are distressingly boring, aren't they?

If they're helping you, who cares if they are boring (and I'm not saying they are boring )

I Miss Breakfast

I haven't made them in a while, but these pancakes from Cooking Light were an old favorite. Some frozen blueberries make them even better.

Can I eat half of each course without insulting Chef Pangaud?

If you want, eat it all. That's why we're doing this, right? So we can enjoy the food we actually want and not feel guilty about it.

[porcupine]

Saturday update: afternoon snack = bubble tea

dinner at L'Academie: ate only 2/3 of the soup; half a slice of bread; half of the fish; 1/3 of the lamb; all of the dessert; 2 glasses wine.

Sunday, February 4

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ milk; yogurt w/ banana and a sprinkle of homemade granola

lunch: half a bowl of potato-eggplant soup; most of a field greens salad (left a lot of the blue cheese); too many truffled Parmesan frites; Mexican panna cotta; cappucino

dinner plan: bowl of soup from A&J

Keeping to anything like a diet is much harder now that the weather is well and truly cold. All I want is rich soups and long braised meats. Keep thinking how good it would be to make a chuck roast and serve with spaetzle...

[Barbara]

Keeping to anything like a diet is much harder now that the weather is well and truly cold. All I want is rich soups and long braised meats. Keep thinking how good it would be to make a chuck roast and serve with spaetzle...

Since it was my turn to cook tonight (after the Gerard Pangaud dinner), I made a parsnip soup from epicurious that required just 2 TBs (I used less) of butter and no other fat. Plus a salad with bacon and a poached egg.

[Erin11]

My journal entries are distressingly boring, aren't they?

If you think that you should see the postings at the Self magazine forums. One entry after another of Kashi bars and fat free pre-packaged food. I really appreciate you (and the other Fit for Summer participants) taking the time to journal your meals. It serves as a good source of inspiration for those of us who like to cook and want to eat healthier.

[Anna Blume]

I Miss Breakfast

One indulgent breakfast per week isn't so bad, especially since you're obviously exercising more now. Buttermilk pancakes (adjust recipe to cut back on sugar and/or butter & use skim or 1% buttermilk) in a well-seasoned cast iron skillet are not so bad--not compared to cheese omelets or French toast. Instead of making blueberry pancakes, decrease amount of maple syrup and add blueberries and heat.

Keeping to anything like a diet is much harder now that the weather is well and truly cold. All I want is rich soups and long braised meats. Keep thinking how good it would be to make a chuck roast and serve with spaetzle...

Self-delusional, perhaps, but I felt the same way and decided to compromise. Since beef stew meat was on sale at WF for Superbowl chili, I made a "Reduced Fat" boeuf bourguigon yesterday (2 strips of bacon for 2 1/5 pounds meat, less cooking fat, lots of draining, etc.) which I will serve either w a half portion of egg noodles or green rice (blend green herbs, scallion greens, etc. w chicken stock; skip the shallots sautéed in butter). Otherwise, hot oatmeal and lots of tea go a long way for me in this weather.

[Anna Blume]

P.S. Regarding cold weather, just ignore the advice about whale blubber. At least three tips here are useful: A Mighty Appetite.

[porcupine]

I really appreciate you (and the other Fit for Summer participants) taking the time to journal your meals. It serves as a good source of inspiration for those of us who like to cook and want to eat healthier.

Thanks, but you might change your mind after reading

Monday, February 5

[Warning: maudlin thoughts ahead]

started off okay with breakfast: juice; coffee; 2 scrambled eggs in 1 tsp butter

continued okay with lunch: very small amount leftover polenta w/ roasted vegetables

was able to leave house project long enough to shop at HT, necessitating snack: decaf latte (whole milk); 1/2 slice HT coconut cake

too exhausted from working w/ contractors all day at the other house: 2 pork carnitas tacos, beans, rice, chips - brought home from Baja Fresh; ate half the beans, less than half the rice, most of the chips.

Something about being at that house all day made me crave sugary starchy comfort foods from childhood - Sara Lee coffeecake, Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, Pop Tarts (brown sugar cinnamon - yeah!)... fortunately I was able to avoid that trash and buy the single slice of coconut cake, which I ate with great guilty pleasure until I realized it tasted like vegetable shortening and sugar and little else. Didn't really satisfy the comfort food need, either.

Comfort food. Interesting concept. It would have been comforting if I'd arrived at that house this morning to find Mom taking homemade cinnamon rolls out of the oven just as the coffee maker finished perking. One of the contractors has been doing work there once or twice a year for five or six years now. He and Mom got along great. She would always have rolls and coffee for him, too, and he'd leave room in his schedule to sit with her a little while. I found myself looking in the big upright freezer in the basement for just one more package (no luck, bro and I got 'em awhile back), and apologizing: "Jerry, I'm sorry but I there's not even a coffee pot in the house!" But he didn't expect me to be my mother.

A lot of factors make dieting difficult - controlling hunger after a lifetime of bad habits, social opportunities involving food. But hardest for me is family associations. Before and after I left the family nest, the family life revolved around food. Comforting memories involve eating - good food, junk food, any food. Fixing up the now-empty house, I'm surrounded by fond memories - memories of food. Like the time about 30 years ago when Dad and I returned from a country drive with a bushel of peaches, and I had to help Mom clean them all (how did Dad avoid that task?) so she could make pie filling - she froze all those pies and once a month until the next summer we had peach pie for dessert. And now there's an empty freezer in the basement...

How am I supposed to diet on days like this?

Enough of that. As for exercise - I must have been up and down the stairs, often carrying stuff, 50 times, often interrupted by dashing to the front door to let the next contractor in... Okay, guess that doesn't count, but I feel worn out anyway.

Cold doesn't bother me, but don't know how much walking I'll get in the next few days, as I have 680 sq ft of wall in need of 3 coats of paint. At least that'll keep me outta the kitchen.

[bilrus]

As for exercise - I must have been up and down the stairs, often carrying stuff, 50 times, often interrupted by dashing to the front door to let the next contractor in... Okay, guess that doesn't count, but I feel worn out anyway.

Why shouldn't that count? If you're moving - it's exercise.

[porcupine]

Tuesday, February 5

breakfast: bowl of cereal w/ lowfat milk (bad choice, as I got the sugar shakes later while up a ladder)

lunch: the rest of last week's spicy beef noodle soup from A&J

snack: the rest of the mustard greens and soy bean salad from A&J

dinner: almost 3 slices pizza (not worth the calories; to be written about elsewhere)

dessert: hot cocoa made w/ lowfat milk, two teaspoons sugar, one teaspoon cocoa

exercise: up and down a ladder for several hours

[porcupine]

Wednesday, February 7

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; 1/2 serving oatmeal w/ 1 tsp brown sugar - tried soaking the oats overnight in water, then cooking; didn't like the results

snack: a Pink Lady apple; boy do I love Pink Lady apples

lunch, very late: 1c white rice; 1 c steamed broccoli florets; a few bites of hummus w/ a small piece of pita

dinner: 3 measly ounces fettucine w/ homemade marinara; one meatball

exercise: spent 6 hours painting - up and down, up and down the damn ladder; will be doing the same tomorrow; it's getting old but the room will be beautiful when finished; the dog doesn't get it, though, and is wondering why we aren't going for walkies this week.

Today's temptation was chocolate milk. The paint is a deep, warm taupe; wet in the can it looks like chocolate milk. As I am highly food suggestible, I've been craving chocolate milk all day.

eta: dessert: lowfat hot chocolate

I want dessert! A pox on dieting. feh.

[porcupine]

Thursday, February 8

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; yogurt w/ [previously frozen] peach slices and a tablespoon of homemade granola.

lunch: leftover butternut squash soup (about one cup); a few broccoli florets; about 1 c plain white rice

dinner: pizza (one 8 inch margherita, didn't eat all the crusts) and beer (about 6 oz) at book club meeting.

exercise: same as the past few days

[porcupine]

Friday, February 9

I Am A Big Weenie

...because I just couldn't bring myself to step on the scale this morning. The jeans test indicates I'm probably holding steady. I certainly haven't been eating diet food, but I really have been eating less than I used to. Whether this translates to weight loss or just holding steady, I'll find out. Someday. When I'm not such a weenie.

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; yogurt w/ 2 tablespoons homemade granola

lunch: one piece of chicken kabob thingy; 1/2 order sag paneer; few spoonsful dal; all the rice; 1/2 of paneer-milk dessert

dinner: ? feeling guilty about overeating at social events last night and today - not sure I'll have dinner as such.

exercise: the paint project is almost done! hooray! yes, my exercise was putting the third coat on today. Soon I hope to resume long afternoon walks with the little dog.

[turbogrrl]

Soon I hope to resume long afternoon walks with the little dog.

Heya. Why don't we make plans for me to come over for a walk after class next week? Walks would be good for me as well as the dog! (Sorry I missed you earlier this week, I was in Toronto freezing my &%! off.)

[porcupine]

Saturday, February 10

Diet? What Diet?

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; yogurt w/ cherries

lunch: dim sum w/ friends; ate too much, but (searching desperately for a silver lining) only one piece of dessert.

snack: 3 pieces chocolate; later a cafe au lait

dinner: none

later: going to a party; can I keep from od'ing on whiskey again? shouldn't be too hard.

eta: consumed only 1/2 pint of beer at party

[Barbara]

Saturday, February 10

later: going to a party; can I keep from od'ing on whiskey again? shouldn't be too hard.

consider the Hangover . . .

[porcupine]

Sunday, February 11

I'm Just a Girl Who Cain't Say No

dinner - yes, dinner, eaten slightly after midnight: one glass Gigondas; 2/3 order spaetzle; most of a small casserole of sausages and stewed tomatoes; most of a tarte au citron; coffee w/ dairy of indeterminate type

breakfast (late): juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; whole wheat bagel w/ neufchatel

brunch party at a friend's house: half a Pillsbury biscuit; 2 slices bacon; currant scone w/ Devon double cream; several small molasses cookies; Lapsang Souchong w/ sugar

dinner: plain white rice; strips of skinless chicken breast (1/2 breast worth) marinated in lemon juice, honey, soy sauce, garlic, ginger; plain steamed broccoli

later dessert: small glass (8oz) of nonfat soy milk; one piece chocolate

With a forecast of "wintry mix" for the next few days (spineless forecasters), I stocked up on good stuff to cook and eat this week. Hopefully I can make the good stuff relatively low fat and keep the portion sizes small. It starts tomorrow when about 13 pounds of chicken backs, necks, wings, and thighs go into the 16 qt stockpot. I forecast lots of soup on the menu this week. And a pot roast, because I just can't find joy in shoveling 100 yards of driveway without knowing there's a beef chuck a-braisin' in the house.

[Anna Blume]

With a forecast of "wintry mix" for the next few days (spineless forecasters), I stocked up on good stuff to cook and eat this week. Hopefully I can make the good stuff relatively low fat and keep the portion sizes small. It starts tomorrow when about 13 pounds of chicken backs, necks, wings, and thighs go into the 16 qt stockpot. I forecast lots of soup on the menu this week. And a pot roast, because I just can't find joy in shoveling 100 yards of driveway without knowing there's a beef chuck a-braisin' in the house.

Or skating across the ice? I shopped under similar expectations and finished six quarts of stock in the oven yesterday.

[porcupine]

Monday, February 12

Cain't Say No, redux

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; 1/2 bagel; 1 egg scrambled w/ 1/2 tsp butter

lunch: a few strips of chicken left over from last night; about 1c plain white rice

snacks: one piece chocolate; small ice cream from York Castle; tea w/ honey

planned dinner: pizza

exercise: walked/jogged 1.6 miles in 22 minutes (took the hard way, too - up the steep hill instead of down it)

oops. See, a friend called and asked if I could pick him up in Silver Spring - and offered to buy me an ice cream in return. How could I decline a friend in need? And then he offered to bring us a pizza tonight. How can I decline such generosity? I will attempt (ha) to eat a very small portion.

eta: 2 - only 2 - chocolate chocolate chip cookies. With 8 oz nonfat soy milk. Okay, and a cookie's worth of raw dough, too.

Oh, and one glass of wine with the pizza.

[JLK]

Elizabeth, keep it up! To be honest, I had wondered if you were eating enough. I don't know if you're a calorie counter (I'm not, and I wouldn't know where to begin with the measuring and calculating), but some days I read your journal and think "no wonder she is hungry!"

Either way, good for you finding time to exercise too.

[porcupine]

Tuesday, February 13

Back on the Wagon?

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; 1/2 bagel w/ one scrambled egg

snack (was getting strangely shaky): 8 oz nonfat soy milk; one chocolate

lunch: Asian-style noodle soup*

planned dinner: small servings of chuck pot roast w/ spaetzle and steamed veg; maybe a few cookies for dessert

actual dinner: not so small servings of same; damn that was good; steamed veg = broccoli and carrot

planned exercise: a good long walk in the snow if it doesn't turn too icy.

actual exercise: ha! there was no actual exercise; however, made great progress on work project (in freshly painted room)

*homemade chicken stock flavored with soy sauce, ladled over paper thin sliced veg, ginger, tofu, and cooked udon; drizzled w/ a bit of sesame oil. Not bad, but needs umami.

eta - snacks: tea w/ honey; red hot cinnamon hearts Candy is not a weakness (I hardly ever eat it), but Mr P always gets these for me for VD, and I do love them... will try to make them last a few more days.

[porcupine]

Wednesday, February 14

Nothing Says "I Love You" Like Shoveling the Driveway

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; yogurt w/ sliced peaches

snack: red-hot candies

exercise: shovelling driveway for an hour

lunch: 3 oz linguine w/ Swiss chard wilted in brown butter, pinenuts, raisins, and Parmesan

exercise: shoveling driveway for an hour and a half

snacks: more cinnamon candies; homemade chai w/ nonfat soy milk; one chocolate candy

exercise: shoveling driveway for an hour and a half

dinner: corn chips topped w/ cheddar melted under broiler, topped w/ poached chicken and tomato-ancho pepper sauce; one glass red wine

dessert: 3 chocolate chocolate chip cookies

ouch.

[bilrus]

exercise: shovelling driveway for an hour

exercise: shoveling driveway for an hour and a half

exercise: shoveling driveway for an hour and a half

ouch.

According to my nutritionist, shoveling snow burns 600 calories an hour. Even with those cookies you probably burned more than you consumed.

[porcupine]

According to my nutritionist, shoveling snow burns 600 calories an hour. Even with those cookies you probably burned more than you consumed.

I sure hope so!

Thursday, February 15

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; a few Frosted Mini Wheats; about a cup of lowfat coconut rice pudding*

lunch: leftover pot roast and spaetzle; a few bites rice pudding

dinner: ? gettin kinda cabin-feverish here - might have to head out to a restaurant... uh oh.

eta: dinner - see review of Amici Miei in Restaurants and Dining

a good apres-dinner might be a finger in the throat

[porcupine]

Friday, February 16

breakfast: juice; coffee w/ lowfat milk; lowfat coconut rice pudding

lunch: one bottle Stoneyfield Farm lowfat yogurt drink

exercise: lots of housework (does that count?)

late lunch/early dinner: one slice bread w/ teeny amt butter; parsnip soup; bacon, egg, and cheese salad; black currant virgin cocktail

happy hour: glass of Chenin Blanc; very small glass Cabernet Franc; glass (or two?) Champagne

late dessert: 1/2 apple tarte tatain

Thanks for the positive comments last night (you know who you are). You motivate me.

[porcupine]

Food Diary on Standy Until Further Notice

just too damn busy to be amking regular entries; also, jeans-test shows backsliding. Will weigh in Friday if I can find the gumption - will report then.

[porcupine]

February 28

Jeans still fit the same. Still not able to get self on scale. Exercising alot, eating about the same amounts.

March is going to be interesting. After two months of almost no work, I'm now swamped. The thing about the job is, it's physically very demanding, and I'm gone about 12 hours and too tired to cook when I get home. And there is no place to eat within driving distance given the (nominal) one hour break for lunch, except the on-site canteen, which is awful. I think they must get the stuff Sysco can't sell elsewhere.

So, if there's any hope of making it through the month with any weight loss, I need to do some serious meal planning and have plenty of leftovers to take to work for lunch.

On the up side, my social calendar will be empty. No time for dinners out with friends. That ought to help with the weight loss.

Looking for the silver lining,