It's Time To Get This Party Started

We did our big grocery run and it's time to get serious. 

Shakeology and coffee base is ready.  Overnight oats are chilling.  Turkey chili is simmering. 

I was hoping to make layered salad, but my fridge is too full to hold it. 

Gym bag is packed.  Lunch and water cup will be thrown together tomorrow morning.

Game on!

Don't Blink

Um where did August go?   I feel like I blinked my eyes and there was September.  

The highlights:

Scott and Jenn came to visit. It was nice to see them and have them stay with us!

Jimmy Buffett concert with my sister.  A memorable time, as usual. 

Weddings and birthday parties. (missing some pics)

Father-in law turned 81

Mackel turned 80

Heidi turned 30

Uncle Bob came to visit. (not a single pic - we ate, we got pedicures, we gossiped!)

Perry's first football game of the season.

When did my kid grow up?!?!

Did some painting and redecorating in our master bathroom. Doing yellow decorations throughout. 

Clean eating challenge.  Keith thinks I am trying to make him a rabbit. 

Next up is my favorite time of the year....bring on the pumpkins, mums, cooler air and fall leaves!!!

6 Months

6 months ago, I started down the path of Operation Get Healthy.  The scale hit a number that I swore to myself I'd never hit and I freaked out.  

Initially, I ate my feelings and gained a few more, but thankfully I came to my senses and scheduled an appointment with my nutritionist.  She gave me a whole new outlook on how to eat and with the help of MyFitnessPal and my gym buddies, I'm still losing.

I've fallen off the wagon a few times (darn vacations) but I'm still doing alright.  I feel so much better and don't feel deprived.  My joints are definitely loving me a lot more! 

I'll battle my weight until the day I die, but at least right now, I feel like I'm making steps in the right direction.  40 down, way too many to go!

PS:  Please excuse the awful bathroom selfie.  Next time I'll declutter, fix my hair and throw on makeup lol.

Healthy Eating

Operation Get Healthy has resumed after vacation.   I thought I'd share some of my recent favorites.

Overnight Oats (Aldi had all ingredients)

1/2 cup instant oats (from the tall tube, not the packets)
Teaspoon of flax powder (I bought seeds and grind them)
Teaspoon of chia seeds
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Teaspoon of light agave
10 raspberries
Enough vanilla almond milk to cover all ingredients. 

Pile up the ingredients, cover and refrigerate over night.  
Next morning, stir well and enjoy (I squish up my berries to spread their flavor throughout).

Southwestern Salad. (Aldi had all the ingredients)

A friend recommended some tweaks and this was my final ingredients list.

Chunks

Black Beans

Red bell pepper

Cherry tomatoes

Green onions

Cucumbers

Dressing

Cut back on the cilantro

Over half the avocado

Lime juice

Pre-crushed garlic

A little extra olive oil than they say

White vinegar (didn’t have the fancy stuff)

Salt and pepper

*I might add a jalapeno next time.

I let it set overnight to mesh the flavors and then served over fresh cut Romaine.

 

And my store bought treat of the week was this little box of heaven.  Yum!

To Eat or Not To Eat

Friday marked officially losing 10lbs (on my own scale) so I updated my FitnessPal app and the meanie took away calories from my goal.  I pretty much hate it right now. 

Those extra calories have always covered my night time snack of popcorn or pretzels and losing that makes me cranky. 

I've spent today sulking and using my "I need fed voice" as Keith so lovingly pointed out.  I've contemplated jumping headfirst off the wagon, but so far I've stayed on. 

I'm just not feeling satisfied today.  For breakfast, I had coffee, strawberries,  yogurt and chia seeds.  I wanted a scone from our favorite bakery (589 calories....that almost made me cry).  For lunch, I wanted a Pittsburgh Turkey Sandwich (869 calories without the ranch dressing I wanted to drown it in.) Instead I had grilled chicken, salad and soup.   For dinner, I wanted pizza.  Oh sweet pizza, but instead I had a turkey wrap and pretzels. 

I've not had a day this frustrating since I started eating healthy.  I'm not sure if the fries yesterday started this struggle, if it's a weekend thing, if it's a hormonal thing or what the heck caused it, but I'm hungry and angry and I shamefully might have shed a tear earlier out of frustration. 

I'm completely full right now but I'd kill for ice cream. Or a brownie.  Or that 589 calorie scone.  Please someone save me from myself lol.

Cheater Cheater, French Fry Eater

I did my homework today.  I ate a "cheat food" in moderation.  I ordered the veggie plate at a local steakhouse and got green beans, a side salad, chicken tortilla soup and steak fries with cheese. 

I've missed my beloved fries and they tasted oh so good.  I was content and then I wasn't.  I feel awful now.  My stomach hurts and I just feel blah.  So not worth it. 

Well played nutritionist lady....I think you knew how this would play out all along.  Now pass the Tums!

Snow Day Cooking

Working from home during Snowmagedon allowed me to work 7-3 today, so I had extra time for dinner prep! I decided to try mini meatloafs (meatloaves?) and paired it with steamed red potatoes and cheesy broccoli.  Yummy. 

I tweaked this recipe.  I added diced red bell peppers to the skillet, I replaced crackers with 3 pieces of bread softened with milk then shredded (Thanks, Jenni), I added some Worchestire to the mix and I didn't add as much ketchup on top of the "muffins."

They were a big hit (even the neighbor's dog devoured one) and I had plenty to freeze for another night.  Definitely a repeat recipe! 

Let's Eat

I've been seeing a nutritionist through my RE's office for about a month now.  I was unsure of her in the beginning, but I've grown to like her.

Each visit, I get homework and we talk through some issues.

First visit, I was assigned 30 minutes of exercise and to watch my processed foods intake.  I jumped on the food wagon, but completely missed the exercise train.

Friday I had my followup and she was pleased with my results.  I've lost close to 10lbs and improved my food choices.

My homework this week was to work on allowing myself to have my "bad foods" in moderation.  I have to learn to work them into my day and find ways to not feel deprived.  My kinda homework lol!

Today I ventured to Chick Fil A for breakfast and did pretty well.  I cut back on sauces (140 calories in Chick Fil A Sauce y'all, yikes! ) and had grilled chicken and fruit at lunch to balance out the count.  I even skipped birthday cake at my Dad's dinner last night. 

I also joined a local Crockpot meal group on FB that gives me daily exercises to do and so far I'm 1 for 1 on completing those.  Haha that's quite a track record lol

Overall, I'm doing alright with the plan.  It's definitely something I can do long term so we'll see what the future holds. 

Nothing Zilch Zero Nada

That's the report on my follicles for the month.   Doc thinks I might have a hidden one on my right side (Unicornuate issues) but they'll scan again next Tuesday just to be sure.

My endometrium was 7.1 so that's good.

I also met with the nutritionist and I'm starting down the path to improve my health and weight.  So far I like her approach.  I had to pick 2 areas to improve.   For the next month, I have to move more, drink more water, eat breakfast, and cut back my processed foods (I picked 4 things).  I'll meet her again in a month and we'll decide on the next steps. 

Not a great visit, but I'm oddly OK with it.  This month will be a good mental break and let me start bettering my body.