Thursday, November 3, 2011

I Don't Want to Throw Up, I'm a Toys R Us Kid...

Sitting across from one another over a cup of coffee, Shannon and Christine shared feelings.
Christine:  "My head hurts."
Shannon:  "Mine too."
Christine:  "I'm really tired."
Shannon:  "Me too."
Both agreed they could chalk it up to weather, but little did they know there was an unseen guest at the tea party.  That nasty flu bug - who invited him, anyway?

That night, Christine experienced chills and pains.  By the wee hours of the morning Shannon was hurling.

"I don't want to throw up," thought Christine.  In her head the Toys R Us song was playing.  "I don't want to throw up, I'm a Toys R Us kid."  How weird is that?

***

Thankfully, I didn't throw up.  I willed myself not to.  Unfortunately my concentration was to the North, when I should have concentrated South of the Border.  No matter.  Sometimes with flu it's inevitable to expel more than just energy.  It'll be one week tomorrow; I'm down 18 lbs!  YAY ME!  (I also think all the coughing has tightened my abs...wishful thinking?)

Today I contacted the Wharton Clinic in Burlington.  Referred by my doctor, Gillian Stevens, it appears I'm a perfect candidate for OHIP-assisted weight loss.  Ten minutes later I'm scheduled for an echocardiogram, stress test, breathing test...some other test (name forgotten), and a visit to the nutritionist.  Do you ever wonder why fat people tests use the word "gram"?  Why not echocardiopounds?  I'm just saying.  It's as though they're mocking us.

***

With hope on the horizon, Christine turns her face to the future, and never looks back...other than to make a mental note NOT to get a flu shot this year.  It never hurts to have a little BUG nearby to offer assistance along the way. 

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Time Flies When You're Having Food

Hello my "3" Followers! No doubt you're wondering whether or not I fell off the planet. Not quite, but I definitely fell off the wagon. For a while I could blame it on stress, however, now that my life seems to be in order, and pretty darn good, I have no one to blame but myself.

So here I am, back on the Wagon - a covered wagon no less - no point frightening anyone!

Today I met my walking buddy at Spencer Smith Park and proceeded down the bike trail (wishing all the while for my bicycle). Michelle was very patient in light of various reasons I found to stop along the way. "I'm out of shape." (Sure, let's state the obvious.) "I need some water." "My right leg is cramped, but my left leg seems just fine." (I knew she'd find this extremely interesting. Even as I said it I felt like a complete idiot.) "Try butt crunches" she replied. (I'm not sure if those were her exact words, but you get the idea.) "That way everything will tighten up at once." Hmm, ass aerobics - heck I could do that sitting in a chair. lol. (That's right, any excuse to sit down.) Exercise, when not implemented on a daily basis, can be challenging. However, the feeling of accomplishment can last an entire day!

Tomorrow morning, anticipating the worst, I will once again step on those scales. (Although I pride myself on being a positive person, I find in cases like this it's better to lower my expectations.) As once reflected, if scales could talk, no doubt mine will be chastizing, "ARE YOU FRIGGIN' KIDDING ME? GET OFF! GET OFF! GET OFF!"

Breakfast/Lunch combo:

3 slices Black Forest Ham
3 Slice Fat-free Swiss Cheese
1 Large Tortilla

Snack:

1/2 oz Apple Wood Cheddar
3 Carr's Table Wafers

Dinner:

1 cup celery sticks
1/2 cup carrot sticks
1/2 cup cauliflower
1 cup cucumbers (teeny bit of salt)
1/2 oz Apple Wood Cheddar
1/2 oz Old Cheddar Cheese
1 Chicken Breast (no skin)
1/2 cup Red Pepper Hummus


Sunday, January 23, 2011

Captain's Blog - Day 6 Aboard The Starship Supersize

Somedays it's difficult to be witty, especially when you've been sitting at your computer since 7:00 a.m.  The only workout I accomplished today was typing.  My fingers are super buffed!

In keeping with the outer space theme, I'm dreaming of a Galaxy Bar far, far away - no doubt somewhere in the vicinity of the Milky Way Bar.  It's not that I'm craving chocolate per say, but if an alien made of 85% cocoa suddenly showed up at my door I'd follow him to the ends of the earth.

Breakfast

Coffee
5 oz. turkey

Lunch

1 small tortilla
1 cup cucumbers
1 tblsp Philadelphia cream cheese garden vegetable spread

Snack

2 cups lettuce
5 oz chicken
2 tblsp fat free dressing
1/2 cup cherries/grapes

Dinner

4 oz. pork tenderloin
1/2 cup grilled sweet potato cubes
1 cup asparagus tips sprinkled with fresh crushed garlic, red & yellow pepper bits, pepper seasoning, grilled

Snack

3 cups Smart Pop popcorn
2 1/2 cups grapes/cherries

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Who Doesn't Love Saturdays?

My friend Shannon loves Saturdays.  I think it's because she had a three-hour nap this afternoon.  I'm a firm believer that afternoon naps give the best REM sleep.  What is it about curling up under the blankets on a cold, snowy day at 2:00 in the afternoon that gives us such relaxation?  My theory is it takes us back to a time when we were toddlers; a time when we felt safe, secure and uninhibited by racing thoughts that sometimes prohibit our sleep. 

Siesta the power nap- If you don’t sleep for too long, siesta can actually relax your mind and increase your efficiency. Post-siesta, you can think clearly and since your mind has rested during the afternoon, your creativity will go up. Plus,  you would be far more alert, provided you don’t extend your siestas for too long a period.

Siesta improves cardiovascular health- As per a research conducted at the John Moores University in Liverpool, people who enjoy siestas, have been known to have lower cardiovascular health issues. It is seen that the blood pressure reduces, just before falling asleep. So if siesta is a habit, it can help reduce chances of cardiovascular mortality.

Siesta helps memory- According to the study, doctors say that the results suggested the possibility to speed up memory consolidation, thanks to siesta.

Siesta helps your eyes- If you are straining your eyes too much by sitting at your computer/laptop all day long, you need siestas. Siesta will help relax the muscles in your eyes. Constant straining of the eyes can cause serious eye problems, as you grow older. So reduce the chances of such eye problems, and take that power nap.

Siesta the stress buster- It has also been noticed that people who enjoy siestas, have lower stress levels. This gain helps improve the health of your heart and your overall well-being.
Taking siestas does not mean you are feeling ill, it is a step towards a healthier life.
 
But remember one thing, siesta is a short/power nap. So don’t sleep for too long in the afternoon. Else you might feel all grumpy and it might affect your night’s sleep pattern.
 
Due to time limitations, I didn't have a siesta. I wanted to do something Mexican to make up for it.  Alas, Antonio Banderos would not return any of my phone calls, so I settled for fajitas.
 
Dinner
 
2 small flour tortillas
2 cups lettuce
1 cup onions
1 cup peppers
2 tblsp salsa
2 tblsp sour cream
5 oz chicken
 
Snack
 
Snacker's Choice Bar (Herbal Magic)
Latte (8 oz steamed milk & expresso) with cinnamon powder
1 cup strawberries
 
Lunch
 
5 oz chicken
 
Breakfast
 
1 cup cherries
 
 
 
 
 

Day Four - Friday and Fabulous!

 (January 21, 2011)

Okay, I may have fabricated the "fabulous" part, but had I written, Fridays and Fat, would you truly be compelled to read this?

I suppose losing 3 lbs in 4 days is an achievement, however, I was hoping for a bigger drop.  Granted my choices this morning weren't the best.  Was I the only person who didn't know Starbucks takes pre-packaged food out of plastic wrap and microwaves it?  Gross.  Let's just say the way it was described to me at Herbal Magic was enough to keep me from going to Starbucks for a while.  Ah, mission accomplished.  Obviously I've underestimated my task masters. 

Breakfast


Starbucks Low Fat Turkey Breakfast Sandwich
Low Fat Latte with extra shot of Expresso
1 Apple


Lunch


1 cup cucumbers
1 cub strawberries


Dinner


8 oz steak
1 cup onions
2 cups lettuce
1 tblsp dressing (more accurately 1 tblsp practically non-existant drizzle).


1 sandwich, 340, 10g, 47g, 22g

Turkey bacon and ham are lower in total and saturated fat, but not in amounts significant enough to classify it as healthier. An ounce of turkey ham contains 0.4 grams of saturated fat; an ounce of conventional ham provides 0.8 grams.

HEALTHY FAST FOOD BREAKFAST - By Livestrong.com

Eating on the run is a fact of life, but it often makes it difficult to be healthy. While the temptations of calorie- and sugar-laden fast-food breakfasts can be strong, there are healthful options on nearly every fast-food restaurant menu. By preparing yourself for situations where you may be eating fast food and arming yourself with nutritional knowledge, you can keep your waistline in check.

    Starbucks

  1. Skinny lattes or coffee with skim milk and sugar substitute are a good choice, as they are low in calories and contain calcium. If you need something more substantial, go for the mixed fruit and nuts Starbucks sells at the register. They're packed with protein and healthful fats from the nuts and are low in calories.

    A good option for a bigger bite is the spinach, roasted tomato, feta and egg wrap, which has 240 calories, 10g of fat, as well as 7g of fiber and 13g of protein. Another option for a healthful breakfast sandwich is the reduced-fat turkey bacon with cholesterol-free egg and reduced-fat white cheddar. This is significantly lower in cholesterol and higher in protein.


Read more: Healthy Fast Food Breakfast | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5314125_healthy-fast-food-breakfast.html#ixzz1BouDijph

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Day Three - Thirsty Thursdays

Not being a fan of H2O (that's water you know), I'm finding 8 glasses a day a little extreme.  It's more due to my forgetfulness.  Who has the time to stop and drink water?  It's now almost 8 p.m. and I have 5 glasses to go.  I'll give you three guesses as to what I'll be doing most of the night.

All in all it was a good day.  I'm in the "whatever" zone.  That's when you're too tired to eat, and not too excited about the blandness of your cuisine.  Oh, I could spice it up but I simply don't have the energy.  I think Breakfast (when dieting) is my favourite meal of the day.

Breakfast

1 large tortilla, toasted
1 tblsp almond butter
2 oz almond milk with coffee
5 oz turkey bacon, Butterball of course!

Lunch

4 oz steak
1 orange

Dinner

5 oz chicken, grilled
1 cup asparagus, grilled
1 cup sliced parsnips, grilled

Snack

3/4 oz cheese
Snackers Choice Chocolate Crispy Bar (Herbal Magic)
1 cup strawberries
1 cup cherries

Adios amigos.  If you're looking for me I'll be at the watering hole.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Day Two - From Bugs to Butterflies

May I introduce you to the caterpillar.  Choosing the right caterpillar at Herbal Magic is just as important as reaching your goal, for it's the caterpillar that reflects your progress as it climbs up the flower of success.  For every 5 lbs, you move your bug!

This season my caterpillar is sporting a lovely lemon yellow motif covered with red and green polka dots.  In a way it's fitting.  Admitting we have a problem is like coming out of our cocoons.  As a bug, we may not feel pretty; we may lack confidence, but we have the drive to reach the top, spread our wings, and fly away.  In a year's time, I'm going to be a beautiful butterfly!

Breakfast

1 cup cherries
5 oz turkey
2 oz almond milk

Lunch

4 oz steak
1 cup peppers
1/4 cup onions
2 cups mushrooms
1 cup No Yolk Noodles, cooked

Snack

1 medium orange

Dinner

5 oz chicken breast
1/2 cup tomato
3/4 oz mozzarella cheese

Snack

1 oz cashews

8 x 8 oz water

Exercize

Are you kidding?  It's the Season Premiere of American Idol!