Adjusting my plan

Right now I'm working on readjusting my workout routine to incorporate the kids who homeschool.  I plan to still do my fit2b workouts in the mornings, but I need regular walks and so do the kids, so we are making changes.  We have a new walking path in town that's even got the mileage marked on it so we are going to use that for our morning run/walk.  I found out Francisco loves to run - perfect!

I've been much better about avoiding junk food provided I keep it out of the house.  And I've been monitoring my portion sizes.  I found out that I lost 8 lbs over a four month time span with minimal effort.  I'm happy with that.  The most important thing is to be strong and fit, honestly.

I was able to replenish my green smoothie supplies at Costco a couple weeks ago.  That always makes me feel like I'm eating better.  I try to have several a week.

I spent the first several weeks with Francisco just getting used to him being around and having another member of the family.  We've been talking a lot and getting to know each other.  It's taken up a lot of my emotional energy.  But it's been good.

I decided that instead of a summer reading challenge with the kids this year, we will do a 5k challenge and spend our summer getting in better shape as a family.  I'm pretty excited about it!  I want to figure out something really fun and cool like find a color run to finish off with that we could do together.  I think that would be a fun motivator!

If at first you don't succeed

Try again, right?

Confession is that I binged on yummy cookies that I made for my meeting and didn't get much exercise in.

The good news is I followed my dinner plans and made healthy foods for lunches as well. Even had salad!  That's gotta count for something!

I just do so much better if dessert isn't in my house at all. Tomorrow it all goes away and I start fresh.

This week we are trying a new recipe called creamy root vegetable soup. It has some new veggies that I don't often use such as celery root and parsnips. In keeping with my belief that we should eat with the season as much as possible, we are doing more potatoey veggies and lots and lots of oranges for our fruit!!  Best season of the year!

Logan made the Asian salad for or dinner and it was pretty yummy. I used frozen chicken strips instead of marinating chicken breast.   It needed a few more veggies to round it out, but the hoisin dressing was yum.

Going to go see the doctor about my knee if it doesn't feel better here pretty soon. I would like to determine if it's damage that needs fixing or something chronic that I just need to deal with.  I'm only afraid of aggravating an injury and making it worse

Still here

I haven't forgotten about my intentions to eat more healthy and get exercise.  Christmas was a zoo, though.  A good zoo, but still a zoo.  I didn't really watch my diet other than trying to exercise restraint at times.  But for the most part I gave myself a two week diet vacation.  Next year I don't plan to be so lenient (but I doubt I'll have two weeks of crazy family times when I'm not doing my own cooking).  It was fun, but now it's time to get back on track.

I did go for a lot of walks, but I hurt both my back and knee, and my toe bothers me on occasion, so other than walking I didn't exercise.  I did my fit2be workout this morning and my back and knee are still so stiff.  I had to step way back and go easy.  Not sure what's going on there.  I'm hoping that getting back to healthy eating and regular exercise will help them both finish healing.

I'm actually wondering if the toe and knee are arthritis.  They both don't seem related to any specific movement - they just randomly happen for all I can tell.  Sugar can exacerbate arthritis and I did have a LOT more than usual.

Goals for this month...
Workout plans:  3 days of fit2be workouts (MWF) and three days of long walks.
Food: vegetable servings at two meals, dessert only on certain occasions such as social situations and when I feed the missionaries.  I only anticipate three times this month.

I would like to get back to making green smoothies, but need to go shopping for some things.

My meal plan this week:
Monday Oatmeal /  Leftover lasagna /  butternut squash soup/grilled cheese


Tuesday eggs and toast /  pesto pasta, salad, yogurt /  chicken gyros


Wednesday oatmeal /  turkey sand., salad, yogurt /  black beans and rice, slaw


Thursday eggs and toast /  cheese cracker salami, salad, fruit /  beef stroganoff


Friday pancakes    / chicken pesto sandwich  /  asian salad

December 4-8

I'm definitely not going to be able to keep up a daily food record.  I can try, but life is just crazy.

Friday was my "treat" day.  We made peppermint popcorn and it was delicious.  There was a little leftover on Saturday still, but on the whole I contained myself.  I fed the missionaries on Sunday and instead of making dessert, shared some of my pre-packaged peppermint popcorn - had them take it to go so I wouldn't eat any.  ;-)  Sunday was also fast sunday, which felt like a great re-set day for my diet after feeling like I splurged on the popcorn.
Monday was Kenna's birthday.  I ate yummy food and had cheesecake.  I will probably skip the Christmas dessert this Friday, which is actually just fancy hot chocolate.  A fun thing, but something I could live without.  And I guess it's our ward party, which means resisting sugar cookies (not too hard) and other things.
I've been thinking about how "treat" is synonymous with "sugar" and how we as a population tend to have "treats" every single day.  How is that a treat, then, and not just a regular part of the diet?  In my quest to conquer my sugar cravings, I'm trying to think of sugar as a splurge to be had on occasion and not as something I need every day.  I guess the question needs to be asked - is it even really a treat if it's harming your body?

A friend told me yesterday that when she's craving sugar she finds it helps to eat more natural sugars in the form of fruit.  I tried that yesterday when I was recognizing that scavenging feeling I get when I start looking for something sweet.  I grabbed a persimmon and ate about half - shared the rest with Faith, and found that the craving had disappeared.  Sometimes my peanut butter filled pretzels help if I'm actually hungry.  The protein is often just what I need.  And a glass of water because I know I think hungry when I'm really just thirsty.

I injured my back yesterday (Monday) so I didn't get my walk in, but I got great exercise on Saturday on our family hike.  I will probably do some mild stretching today, but carefully as my back is still in recovery mode.  I took ibuprofen this morning so I kind of want to wait until it wears off and see how I'm feeling then.

Dec 2-3

December 2
15 minute walk and 15 minute fit2be workout
Breakfast: eggs and hash browns
Lunch: minestrone leftovers
Dinner: enchiladas, cabbage/carrot slaw

December 3
15 minute tataba workout
Breakfast: granola w milk
Lunch: leftover pizza 1.5 slices
Dinner:  salad, 1 thin slice olive pugliese bread, barley mushroom risotto, tiny bit of chicken
Snack: popcorn

I remembered to skip ice cream last night.  So proud.  I had a bit of  chocolate today.  One tiny Andes mint.  Divine.  Love those.

December 1

15 minute walk, 5 minute jog this morning, followed by a 30 minute Tataba-style workout.

Breakfast: Oatmeal with berries, maple syrup, unsweetened coconut
Snack: animal crackers
Lunch: bean and cheese quesadilla (1) with salsa verde
Dinner: vegetable minestrone, french bread (1 slice)

November 30

I don't exercise on Sundays, so today is a rest day.  I might go for a quiet walk later today just to stretch my legs.  Half my family has a vomiting disease - hoping I don't get it too.

Breakfast - 1 pancakes (mostly whole wheat) with applesauce on one and a little maple syrup on the other
snack: homemade granola bar (small size)
Lunch: forgot about, so had an apple
Dinner: grilled cheese with sourdough bread