Knee pain :(

I've had bad knees for a long time (about a decade!) but it was never so bad that it stopped me from doing anything. Over the past 6 months to a year (give or take, I can't remember exactly) it has gotten really really bad when I do exercise of any kind.

Remember that post last week about how I went on a one hour walk with Jasmine? That was last Wednesday. My left knee has been in excruciating pain ever since. I coincidentally had my physical yesterday, and she believes it's some form of Patella Femoral Syndrome... which is kind of a catch phrase to say something is wrong with your knee! It could be anything! LOL. Anyway, she recommended I try physiotherapy. Since I'm not covered for physio, she recommended I look up some exercises online and if they don't end up working to then go to physio. So that's what I'll be doing.

Here's the video I will be starting with. Thanks YouTube!

Week #1: Losing 1 lb at a time

The blog challenge Losing 1 lb at a time started May 1. My exercise level has been pretty low. I took a nice brisk 1 hr walk yesterday with my friend Jasmine (and her yummaliscious daughter Sophie, she's so cute!), but other than that, not much at all.

I've cut back on sweets quite a bit, and for that I'm pretty happy. We've also been doing a better job at meal planning, which helps us tenfold, we really need to keep doing this. When we meal plan, we eat healthier, we save money, and we don't waste food. It really is a great thing to do.

So with those small changes, I did manage to lose 2 lbs!!

Doing better, but much more work to do

My quest in changing my eating habits is a slow going process. It's so hard to break months, years, geez... a decade's worth of bad habits. I will eat for any reason. I don't even have to be hungry, and it's not usually a healthy choice.

This past week I've made some steps in the right direction. I still have a long way to go, but I'm on the right track. I've cut out desserts almost completely. I used to have dessert every single night, and usually with lunch and dinner (that's right, 2 per day). I've only had dessert 2 times in the past 10 days. Huge improvement for me!! I've also been eating more vegetables and eating better sized portions.

On top of that, I haven't started exercise. Today, I begin the Wii Active 30 day challenge. Weeee!

So with those small changes, I've already lost 2 lbs. I'm down to 171 lbs. Imagine how much I'll lose once I really buckle down!!!!

Eggplant Parmesan

Yesterday was only an OK day for food. While everything I ate was healthy, I'm pretty sure it was too high in fat in calories. However, I'm still OK with this, since there was no sugar and no processed foods involved at all.

Breakfast was an egg with whwh toast and a bit of butter.

Lunch was leftover blackbean burrito (So good. Seriously. Try it! Recipe below!)

Dinner was eggplant parmesan. I made this for the first time ever, and it was pretty good! I think there's too much cheese in it for it to be deemed totally healthy, and I think my serving was much too big.

Eggplant parmesan is a very weird dish. You do everything you can to the eggplant to take out it's bitter taste and it ends up tasting like nothing. You sweat it (slice eggplant thinly, sprinkle sea salt on it and let it stand for 30 minutes, rinse, pat dry), then bread it, then bake it, then layer it with cheese and marinara sauce. It's delicious, but you can't really taste eggplant. You taste cheese, breadcrumbs, and marinara sauce.

We all loved it though, including Holden, and my dad who came by for dinner.

Motivation is here!

So today's post of my confession of my weight and sugar addiction got some encouraging emails and feedback on Facebook. It made me feel good and not quite so disgusting. I hate that I feel disgusting. Thanks to everyone for the kind words and encouragement.

I ended up going for an impromptu 20 minute power walk after dinner. I asked Holden if he wanted to go for a walk, he said he wanted to go to the park (as usual *ha*) so I took the long way, which is totally out of the way, but I got a tiny bit of exercise in, so that's good.

Today's food was only OK.

Breakfast was 2 slice whwh toast with no-sugar added jam (although it's jam, so it's still sweet, so not really a great choice).

Lunch was 2 hard boiled eggs, half of a sliced yellow pepper, and a few cucumber slices. Much better!!

Dinner was a homemade blackbean burrito. It was fan-frickin'-tastic. I added more veggies (chopped tomato, more peppers), but I found it was too much cream cheese. Next time I'll cut it in half. John and Holden loved it too!! I served it with salsa.

Here's the recipe:

Blackbean Burritos

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 4 (10 inch) flour tortillas
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil ( I used waaaaaay less than this, maybe 1 tbsp)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained (I used 1 large can for the 3 of us)
• 2 teaspoons minced jalapeno peppers (skipped this, added fajita seasoning instead)
• 6 ounces cream cheese (this was too much for the 3 of us)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

1. Wrap tortillas in foil and place in oven heated to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake for 15 minutes or until heated through.
2. Heat oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Place onion, bell pepper, garlic and jalapenos in skillet, cook for 2 minutes stirring occasionally. Pour beans into skillet, cook 3 minutes stirring.
3. Cut cream cheese into cubes and add to skillet with salt. Cook for 2 minutes stirring occasionally. Stir cilantro into mixture.
4. Spoon mixture evenly down center of warmed tortilla and roll tortillas up. Serve immediately.

*sigh*

I'm finally starting up again. It's getting ridiculous. I'm officially at the heaviest I have ever been (except when pregnant). I am now a whopping 173 lbs. It's very depressing.

Here's the vicious circle I got myself into:
Eating refined sugar (lots, daily), energy crash, too lazy to get active, mood crash, which makes me crave & eat more sugar... lather rinse repeat.

I've cut back on sugar big time in the last 2 days and it's made me realize something: I am a sugar addict. I'm not saying that lightly. I quit smoking cold turkey about 4 yrs ago, and I feel the exact same way now as I did those first few weeks without nicotine. I want sugar all the time, I think about it a lot, I get jittery, being around it is stressful.

So I need to treat it as an addiction.

And this is going to sound crazy, but just 2 days with (much) less sugar, and I already feel better. My energy is still pretty lame, but my mood has hugely improved.

Exercise plan:
Get back on the Wii Active and do the 30 day challenge
Joined the blog challenge Losing 1 lb at a time
Joined my mommy group's sister "get fit" group (join us if you're in Ottawa!)
Bought a bike!

My goal is to lose 30 lbs by January 2011 (8 months), so that's just under 1 lb per week. Woooooo! I can do it!!

Neglectful of blog = off the wagon

I'm off the wagon. I've eaten badly all week. Too busy with work, stress, didn't make a meal plan, etc etc... all adds up to eating out, and eating badly *sigh*

At least I finally had time today to prepare a decent dinner for tonight (the first healthy meal for us in a week!!!). Salmon with spinach & rice casserole.

Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh...

I feel so gross. Junk food is horrible. It makes you feel like shit but makes you want more at the same time. I seriously feel disgusting. Not just mentally with my actions, but physically just bloated, heavy groggy... just GROSS!!! Yet, I just want more sugar and fat.

Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh...

Week 7 Stats

Age: 36 yrs
Height: 5'4"
Start Weight: 163 lbs (uuuuuuuugh)
This week's weight: 159 lbs (up 1 lb)
2 weeks ago's weight (didn't weigh myself last week): 158 lbs
BMI: 27 (no change)

Honestly, I thought it would be worse. I really overindulged during my vacation. I was doing really well until this past Friday, only eating the occasional treat. But once Friday rolled around, my mind went into freak out mode thinking "back to healthy eating on Monday!! Pig out now while you still can!!!" and that's what I did this weekend. I think this weekend's pigout will reflect in next week's weigh-in.

Sorry for lack of updates!

We're on vacation, Holden is home, it makes for very busy days with very little alone time for me to update the blog. I ask for patience, I'll be back in full swing by Aug 31, with a few updates in between, but definitely not daily.

I've been doing well the last 2 days, staying within my calorie count and eating healthily. I've even turned down some temptations (DQ & McD's breakfast... not at the same time LOL)!!

I'll update again as soon as I can!

Week 5, Day 1 Summary (no pic today, sorry!)

John was unable to take a picture update today, we'll do our best to squeeze it in tomorrow.

Here's what I ate today:
Water: 6 glasses

Breakfast:
1 egg + 1 egg white, 1/2 slice of whwh toast, a touch of butter, coffee.

Snack:
1 chocolate chip cookie at a super fun playdate!

Lunch:
Marinated bbq chicken breast, large salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, dressing, a bit of croutons)

Snack:
1/2 of a small 85% cacao chocolate bar, 1 glass of milk.

Dinner:
Low fat turkey meatloaf, boiled potatoes with 1 tsp butter, large salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, dressing, a bit of croutons)

Dessert:
Blueberry cobbler

Total calorie intake: 1,520 calories. Over, but not too bad. Although I could have done without the blueberry cobbler, it was fan-frickin'-tastic!!

Exercise:
None :(

Week 5 Stats

Age: 36 yrs
Height: 5'4"
Start Weight: 163 lbs (uuuuuuuugh)
This week's weight: 158 lbs!! (down 3!)
Last Week's Weight: 161 lbs
BMI: 27 (no change)

Back in the game, baby!!

Photo coming later today (promise!!)

Week 4 Day 5, 6, 7 Summary

So although it was the weekend (my biggest challenge of them all), and I did indulge, I still showed a bit of restraint and didn't pig out as much as I could have.

Friday I had my usual breakfast. We then went to the movies where I had a water and half of a small popcorn (restraint!). We had lunch at Moxie's, John and I split the 3 dip bread, and I had a side caesar salad with half of a beef dip sandwich. No dessert! I am drawing a complete blank on what we had for dinner that night, I'll edit when it comes to me (I know it wasn't junk though, I always remember the junk).

Saturday was coffee for breakfast (bad habit!), then 1 small hamburger & 1 small hotdog at J&T's house who were having a BBQ. Dinner was at home, Shepard's Pie chock full of veggies. I hosted Kylie's baby shower (fun!) and ate 2 cupcakes, some garlic bread, and a couple of small sausage rolls. I made everyone take home what was left at the end of the night, I would have eaten it all on Sunday if they didn't!

Sunday: my dad came over for brunch. 1 egg + BBQ steak + 1 slice toast. Dinner: leftover Shepard's Pie.

Exercise:
Swimming in J&T's pool on saturday (although it was just floating around, so don't think it counts!!). Walking with Jill Sunday night.

Full disclosure time! Again!

Today John and I are having a date day.
We'll be going to a movie and having lunch at Moxie's. I'm sure I'll be over my calories. Moxie's has this 3 dip bread. It's to die for. And it's bread. I'll definitely be over!

Tomorrow evening I'm hosting Kylie's baby shower, and there will be lots of yummy things that I simply cannot resist! Hello!! Chocolate right in front of my face!! And I'll probably have some wine. The joy of hosting: no driving!!

So today and tomorrow: I'll update what I ate, but may not count calories so I don't freak out too much LOL. If I eat 3,000 calories in a day, I don't wannna know. Ignorance is bliss, sometimes. I realize I'll be pissed at my weigh-in on Monday. And this Monday is photo day too *urgh*

Week 4, Day 4 Summary

Here's what I ate today:
Water: 7 glasses (holy crap it's hot out, and our a/c died this morning. why? why? WHY?????)

Breakfast: Coffee (sans sugar), 1 egg + 1 egg white, 4 slices tomato.

Lunch: leftover salmon (only about 40g), leftover spinach & rice casserole (for those interested in trying this recipe, it's not great reheated the next day, so just make enough for your meal. I'll be making a half recipe next time).

Snack (not really a snack, but it was in between meals): Xtra large Timmy's coffee (double double)

Dinner: Swiss chalet (chicken breast with skin, side caesar salad, side garden salad, 1/2 multigrain roll, a bit of dipping sauce. No fries!!).

Total calories intake: 1,290 calories

Exercise: none. I was too frickin' hot and any excuse will do to not move. So sad.

Week 4, Day 3 Summary

Here's what I ate today:
water: 4 glasses

Breakfast:
1 egg + 1 egg white, 4 slices tomato, coffee (no sugar!)

Lunch:
Black bean & veggie soup, 1 slice whwh bread (no butter!)

Dinner:
Steamed salmon; spinach & rice casserole, steamed green beans.

Dessert:
1/2 of a large orange

Total calorie intake: 1,025 calories. Well under my goal, but I wasn't really hungry for much else. I definitely should have snuck in a handful of almonds or something similar between breakfast and lunch.

Exercise:
1 hour in the pool with Theresa. We did lots of laps, but admittedly they were only moderate intensity, but we did continuously move for the whole hour!

So I feel I did really well. Yippee!!

By the way, the spinach and rice casserole was a huge hit with John, Holden and myself. Here's the recipe if you're interested:

Spinach & Rice Casserole
Makes 8 servings

• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves minced garlic
  
• 1 teaspoon olive or canola oil
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked long grain rice
• 4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
• 1 (10 ounce) package fresh spinach, torn
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, saute onion & garlic in oil until tender. Add rice; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in the spinach, salt and pepper; cook until spinach is wilted.
   
   
2. Transfer to a 2-qt. baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover and bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until rice is tender.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving (3/4 cup) equals 174 calories, 2 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 2 mg cholesterol, 386 mg sodium, 33 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 6 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch.

Week 4, Day 2 Summary

Here's what I ate today:
Water: 4 glasses (not great!)

Breakfast:
Coffee (from home), large coffee (from McD. They have really good coffee!). Here we go skipping breakie again!!!

Lunch:
Black bean & vegetable soup, 1 slice whwh bread with a bit of butter

Dinner:
Pesto with pasta (my serving was too big, but I was stressed and boy do I like to eat when I'm stressed!). I wanted to hide veggies for Holden, so I steamed half a bag of baby spinach, pureed it and mixed it in with the pesto. It was great. Couldn't taste the spinach at all, and since Holden likes pesto, it was perfect. Added in some fresh peas and cherry tomatoes as well.

Total calorie intake: 1,300

Exercise:
Brisk 1 hr walk with John & Holden *finally got out there and off my butt!!!*

Tomorrow I'm planning on having one of the super clean days. My plan is to have 1 egg + 1 egg white for breakfast, some sliced tomatoes, and a glass of skim milk. Snack will be a homemade blueberry muffin. Lunch will be leftover black bean & veggie soup again, with a slice of bread, no butter. Raw veggies if I'm still hungry. Dinner: baked salmon; steamed green beans; spinach & rice casserole (healthy casserole). This will bring me to 1,120 calories for the day. It's a bit high in carbs, I may switch the muffin for a veggie or fruit snack. I'm also switching to artificial sweetener in my coffee. I like it too sweet to continue putting sugar in it. John is gonna be pissed. He hates that stuff. I can't give up the cream though. Too delicious!!!!

Let's see if I stick to the plan.

Week 4, Day 1 Summary

Here's what I ate today:
Water: 4 glasses

Breakfast:
Xtra large McD coffe, homemade blueberry muffin

Lunch:
Sandwich: 2 slices whwh bread, .7 tbsp mayo, prosciutto, slalami, lettuce tomato.'

Dinner:
Black bean & vegetable soup, 3 slices baguette.

Exercise: none

Not a great day, I was feeling down about the weight gain. It always makes me want to eat more when I gain weight. And not the good stuff. How stupid is that??? At least I capped it at 1,445 calories today *sigh*

I've decided I need to have 3 days a week where I eat super clean... low-fat, low-carb, high protein. I also need to get my butt in gear and do some kind of activity at least 3 times a week too. This is silly. I'm just being lazy.

Week 4 Stats

Age: 36 yrs
Height: 5'4"
Start Weight: 163 lbs (uuuuuuuugh)
This week's weight: 161 lbs!! (up 2!)
Last Week's Weight: 159 lbs
BMI: 27 (no change)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! I gained weight this week!! 2 frickin' pounds!!!! I know I wasn't as careful as I could be, but I really didn't overindulge that much. Here's hoping my scale sucks ass... a possibility, since I'm relying on the Wii Fit scale. I've heard it's not very consistent. Time to get new batteries for our real scale.

Well, here's to a fresh start.

Week 3, Day 7 summary

No counting again today, but I still think I did OK.

Breakfast: the usual + 2 cups coffee (I was up at 4:45... i needed it!!)

Lunch: prosciutto & salami sandwich on whwh bread.

Dinner: small portion of steak with a carrot & broccoli casserole (a bit of cheese in it, but not too much).

Dessert: I made a blueberry cobbler. It had sugar in it, but was sooooooo good. I'm sure it put me over the count, but probably not by too much.

Exercise: 1 hr brisk walk

Week 3, Day 6 summary

Another weekend day where I didn't count calories, but did fairly well (I'm too lazy to actually do the counting on weekends, but on weekdays it's part of the routine).

Breakfast was the usual but with 2 coffees. Lunch was leftover half serving of pasta shells stuffed with italian sausage, dinner was pesto pasta with tomatoes.

It was a gorgeous day! Holden, John, and I played in the backyard all morning. We put out the baby pool for Holden, which he loved. I mean, he was ecstatic.

All in all, a great day.

So far today (Sunday) I've gone for a 1 hr walk this morning and eaten well. I'll update later!

I decided I'll be taking update pictures every month instead of every week. I think a weekly picture would be discouraging, since changes are so minimal in that short time. So next picture will be August 17!