As I sit here waiting to leave work (I am waiting on someone to finish their treatment before I can leave), I am thinking about dinner, of course.
It is Monday and I did not prepare as well as I usually do for the coming week. I did make a salad, but it is small and will only work for lunch tomorrow. So what's for dinner? I need something light because I ate a lot for lunch and something fast because I don't expect to be home before 8 and by then I will be hungry.
I am thinking Dr. Praeger's pizza bagels, oh or maybe I will make my own with the 100calorie sandwich thins I have. Yum!
I was also thinking that I would make a chicken soup in the crockpot for the rest of the week, because of this great link from SaraK about low calorie crockpot cooking.(wow, SaraK I think I got it!)
There is no chicken soup there but Z brought it up as a diet food, filling and perfect for this frigid week here on the East Coast.
Speaking of frigid...Do you think cold weather is more conducive to weight loss? I feel like it is. Its as if the air is so cold we are using lots of calories just to keep our vital organs warm. Now I know SaraK will not like this, but think of it as one advantage to winter weather-that and you can hide behind big sweaters!
I found this from some website that proves my point:
Did you actually know that wintertime is the best time to lose weight? Why?
In winter your body has to use much more energy/calories (used synonymously here) in cold weather than it does in warm weather to keep you warm, therefore, a lot more calories are used than in the warmer months. If you start a weight loss program in the colder months, you don’t have to focus as much on exercise to help shed those pounds because the weather is naturally doing it for you. (I am not sure I agree with so completely- I don't think its cold enough here to forgo exercise, maybe on the North Pole ~SK)
Look at hibernating animals do, they use their stored fat during the winter months to take them into the spring.
If only we could store our summer fat and hibernate all winter! We would be skinny just in time for spring!
Stay Warm and if you make a good soup this week, I want to hear about it.
Stay tuned for Tuesday's weigh in...
SK
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
TV+sat night+FOOD
Shabbos was very nice here with the heaviest of the bloggers (aside from She-nerd) all together for Shabbos. You'd think we ate only carrots. Close, but not quite.
I thought it all went really well. Especially since the eruv went down in time for lunch and dessert and taco salad could not be had at lunch. Thankfully the eruv went back up and Melava Malka was a delicious taco salad made with yummy turkey.
It kinda sorta went downhill after that. Now, my theory is that it could have been much worse but it still wasn't too good.
Its just that I think my brain is programmed that when the TV goes on my mouth begins to water. Thankfully I do not have that tumah box in my possession because it is poison both spiritually and for the diet. Since this is a diet blog we will stick to the reasons for that.
Its like I get to the house down the block and although I became fleishig from the turkey there was lots of yummy leftover goodies from Shabbos. I sit, enjoy the salad, cabbage salad and feel the need as these high school kids play football and their parents go to jail, I must eat. There was no suspense in the show and although it quite a gripping show, its not all that exciting. Why must I feel the need to eat through the entire thing? Even watching that bachelor dude make a life altering decision about who his next wife will be and is she beautiful enough (for those of you that saw it with me, you know what I refer to).
It all gives me the feeling that I must eat, eat, eat. Especially on Saturday night. Its as if I am hard wired... Sat night, moronic TV about very skinny single women all fighting for the same man and of course, food.
I think I should start biting my nails, much less calories...
I thought it all went really well. Especially since the eruv went down in time for lunch and dessert and taco salad could not be had at lunch. Thankfully the eruv went back up and Melava Malka was a delicious taco salad made with yummy turkey.
It kinda sorta went downhill after that. Now, my theory is that it could have been much worse but it still wasn't too good.
Its just that I think my brain is programmed that when the TV goes on my mouth begins to water. Thankfully I do not have that tumah box in my possession because it is poison both spiritually and for the diet. Since this is a diet blog we will stick to the reasons for that.
Its like I get to the house down the block and although I became fleishig from the turkey there was lots of yummy leftover goodies from Shabbos. I sit, enjoy the salad, cabbage salad and feel the need as these high school kids play football and their parents go to jail, I must eat. There was no suspense in the show and although it quite a gripping show, its not all that exciting. Why must I feel the need to eat through the entire thing? Even watching that bachelor dude make a life altering decision about who his next wife will be and is she beautiful enough (for those of you that saw it with me, you know what I refer to).
It all gives me the feeling that I must eat, eat, eat. Especially on Saturday night. Its as if I am hard wired... Sat night, moronic TV about very skinny single women all fighting for the same man and of course, food.
I think I should start biting my nails, much less calories...
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
...If I don't count my lunch
I was talking to my friend recently and I made a comment about my diet that was very telling. I said, "I can have that (insert any food)now. I have enough points if I just don't count the candy." When we realized what I'd said we burst out laughing. And a big joke has ensued such as " Oh yeah I can definitely eat that chocolate bar, if I don't count my lunch".
When I said it it was because I had a few hard candies that day and I knew they were going to have to be reckoned with but I didn't really want to count them because they were so meaningless. In WeightWatchers they have this thing about if you eat it you write it. And then they warn you that they mean the BLTs too (bites, licks and tastes). It is so true that they are so many things we discount because we only tasted it or it was just a hard candy. But I see that when you diet you are held accountable for everything that goes in your mouth (which is a mashal for life, but now is not the right time, and it seems my Mom is best at the Divrei Torah portion of this blog).
Sometimes I want to eat without thinking about what it counts for and how much more I can eat because of it, but I do not think that is my destiny right now. Maybe one day, when I am so in control that I don't have to say diet anymore - (or when models become a size 12 and that becomes the style)
For today I guess I should count the hard candies I ate but I really don't want to. But I know that if I do count them then I am being true to myself and pretending they don't exist I am only cheating myself. So here's to being true to myself (and yall).
SK
The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!
-Marvin Phillips
When I said it it was because I had a few hard candies that day and I knew they were going to have to be reckoned with but I didn't really want to count them because they were so meaningless. In WeightWatchers they have this thing about if you eat it you write it. And then they warn you that they mean the BLTs too (bites, licks and tastes). It is so true that they are so many things we discount because we only tasted it or it was just a hard candy. But I see that when you diet you are held accountable for everything that goes in your mouth (which is a mashal for life, but now is not the right time, and it seems my Mom is best at the Divrei Torah portion of this blog).
Sometimes I want to eat without thinking about what it counts for and how much more I can eat because of it, but I do not think that is my destiny right now. Maybe one day, when I am so in control that I don't have to say diet anymore - (or when models become a size 12 and that becomes the style)
For today I guess I should count the hard candies I ate but I really don't want to. But I know that if I do count them then I am being true to myself and pretending they don't exist I am only cheating myself. So here's to being true to myself (and yall).
SK
The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!
-Marvin Phillips
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Wow, it really is. (good for the diet)
So I went to weigh in tonight on a very empty stomach and I lost 2.4lbs! Now before we get too excited I will keep in mind that I was fasting. Still, it has to count for something. My weight loss total since blogging is a whopping 8.2lbs! I have totally surprised even myself.
I had a realization as I fasted today that I would like to share. I recently posted about how food is such a part of celebration and every function we go to is all about food. I realized that we are hard wired that way, otherwise why would a sign of mourning be about fasting. To feel afflicted or even to feel the pain of others we afflict ourselves by refraining from eating and drinking and thereby we can sort of feel we are missing something crucial. That's just it, eating is so crucial, its such part of us that we feel pain when we can't. (So I guess we can blame G-d for weight issues.)
My point is that I do not want to be uninvited to parties because the challenge of food is not going to go away; and although I did lose a lot this week, I cannot fast once a week- I get a little nasty when I don't eat (ask my coworkers). I want to be able to say that I am in control, that I know that parties are going to happen but they will not be the end of good eating habits. I want, as I am sure all of you do, to go to a party, have one piece of cake and move on. That is my goal!
So join me on the journey and embrace the parties and good times!
I would like to thank Zehava for her recent comment about the break-fast. She said "This is what I say for break-fast. Eat dinner. That's it. No need to make up what you didn't eat." I read that and thought, I can do that, I know I can. So I came home and ate what I would have eaten had I not fasted all day and no more. And I am so full, but so happy with that self control that I am giving a shout out to Z (and myself of course, but this is my blog after all).
Thanks everyone for listening. I hope you had a meaningful fast.
SK
I had a realization as I fasted today that I would like to share. I recently posted about how food is such a part of celebration and every function we go to is all about food. I realized that we are hard wired that way, otherwise why would a sign of mourning be about fasting. To feel afflicted or even to feel the pain of others we afflict ourselves by refraining from eating and drinking and thereby we can sort of feel we are missing something crucial. That's just it, eating is so crucial, its such part of us that we feel pain when we can't. (So I guess we can blame G-d for weight issues.)
My point is that I do not want to be uninvited to parties because the challenge of food is not going to go away; and although I did lose a lot this week, I cannot fast once a week- I get a little nasty when I don't eat (ask my coworkers). I want to be able to say that I am in control, that I know that parties are going to happen but they will not be the end of good eating habits. I want, as I am sure all of you do, to go to a party, have one piece of cake and move on. That is my goal!
So join me on the journey and embrace the parties and good times!
I would like to thank Zehava for her recent comment about the break-fast. She said "This is what I say for break-fast. Eat dinner. That's it. No need to make up what you didn't eat." I read that and thought, I can do that, I know I can. So I came home and ate what I would have eaten had I not fasted all day and no more. And I am so full, but so happy with that self control that I am giving a shout out to Z (and myself of course, but this is my blog after all).
Thanks everyone for listening. I hope you had a meaningful fast.
SK
Monday, January 5, 2009
Fasting is good for the diet
I am posting to say good luck with your fast! I tanked up on water because I find that helps to prevent me from getting a headache. I rarely drink caffeine so that should also help avoid the headache. But I certainly love to eat, so that is where it gets hard.
I think that the most important thing to remember is when you break your fast not to binge.
Eat slowly, let it digest and you will not eat all the calories for one day in one meal. Give your body a chance to recover before going at the food again.
I made a very veggies lasagna for tomorrow night. I rarely eat pasta (too many points for so little and pasta is such a comfort food that I cannot eat just a little). For the break-fast I thought pasta would be a great food, though. So I made this lasagna in a very deep pan and layered very little cheese and sauce amongst lots and lots of broccoli, spinach and zucchini.
I made it Sunday and I can't wait for tomorrow night to try it out. I wanted to get whole wheat noodles but there weren't any in lasagna form, but I compromised by not using the whole box of lasagna in the recipe. I will let you know how it comes out.
And I hope you aren't reading this when you are already hungry, this is only going to make it worse. Sorry.
SK
I think that the most important thing to remember is when you break your fast not to binge.
Eat slowly, let it digest and you will not eat all the calories for one day in one meal. Give your body a chance to recover before going at the food again.
I made a very veggies lasagna for tomorrow night. I rarely eat pasta (too many points for so little and pasta is such a comfort food that I cannot eat just a little). For the break-fast I thought pasta would be a great food, though. So I made this lasagna in a very deep pan and layered very little cheese and sauce amongst lots and lots of broccoli, spinach and zucchini.
I made it Sunday and I can't wait for tomorrow night to try it out. I wanted to get whole wheat noodles but there weren't any in lasagna form, but I compromised by not using the whole box of lasagna in the recipe. I will let you know how it comes out.
And I hope you aren't reading this when you are already hungry, this is only going to make it worse. Sorry.
SK
Sunday, January 4, 2009
In the Beginning
Hi guys! below is one of my favorite jokes and the ending on this one is slightly different then the one I have usually seen.
I am feeling sick to my stomach today but not badly enough to stop eating :). I am looking forward to my weigh in this week because its on Asara B'teves and that is usually a shoo in for weight loss. Although it will be totally skewed because I am not so deserving of the loss this week.
We will see what happens. For now, enjoy the joke and have a very healthy day!
In the beginning God created the heaven and the Earth. And the Earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Devil said, "It doesn't get any better than this."
And God said, "Let there be light" and there was light. And God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit," and God saw that it was good. And the Devil said, "There goes the neighborhood."
And God said, "Let us make Man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle, and over all the Earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth." And so God created Man in his own image; male and female did He create.
And God looked upon Man and Woman and saw that they were lean and fit.
And the Devil said, "I know how I can get back in this game."
And God populated the earth with broccoli and cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.
And the Devil created McDonald's. And McDonald's brought forth the 79-cent double cheeseburger. And the Devil said to Man: "You want fries with that?" And Man said: "Supersize them." And Man gained 5 pounds.
And God created the healthful yogurt, that woman might keep her figure that man found so fair. And the Devil brought forth chocolate. And Woman gained 5 pounds.
And God said, "Try my crispy fresh salad."
And the Devil brought forth Ben and Jerry's. And Woman gained 10 pounds.
And God said, "I have sent thee heart-healthy vegetables and olive oil with which to cook them."
And the Devil brought forth chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained 10 pounds and his bad cholesterol went through the roof.
And God brought forth running shoes and Man resolved to lose those extra pounds.
And the Devil brought forth cable TV with remote control so Man would not have to toil to change channels between ESPN and ESPN2. And Man gained another 20 pounds.
And God said, "You're running up the score, Devil."
And God brought forth the potato, a vegetable naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition.
And the Devil peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fat fried them. And the Devil created sour cream dip.
And Man clutched his remote control and ate the potato chips swaddled in cholesterol. And the Devil saw and said, "It is good." And Man went into cardiac arrest.
And God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.
And the Devil canceled Man's health insurance.
Then God showed Woman how to peel the skin off chicken and cook the nourishing whole grain brown rice.
And the Devil created light beer so Man could poison his body with alcohol while feeling righteous because he had to drink twice as much of the now-insipid brew to get the same buzz. And Man gained another ten pounds.
And God created the life-giving tofu.
And Woman ventured forth into the land of Godiva Chocolate and upon returning asked Man: "Do I look fat?"
And the Devil said, "Always tell the truth." And Man did.
And Woman went out from the presence of man and dwelt in the land of the divorce lawyer, east of the marriage counselor.
I am feeling sick to my stomach today but not badly enough to stop eating :). I am looking forward to my weigh in this week because its on Asara B'teves and that is usually a shoo in for weight loss. Although it will be totally skewed because I am not so deserving of the loss this week.
We will see what happens. For now, enjoy the joke and have a very healthy day!
In the beginning God created the heaven and the Earth. And the Earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Devil said, "It doesn't get any better than this."
And God said, "Let there be light" and there was light. And God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit," and God saw that it was good. And the Devil said, "There goes the neighborhood."
And God said, "Let us make Man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle, and over all the Earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth." And so God created Man in his own image; male and female did He create.
And God looked upon Man and Woman and saw that they were lean and fit.
And the Devil said, "I know how I can get back in this game."
And God populated the earth with broccoli and cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.
And the Devil created McDonald's. And McDonald's brought forth the 79-cent double cheeseburger. And the Devil said to Man: "You want fries with that?" And Man said: "Supersize them." And Man gained 5 pounds.
And God created the healthful yogurt, that woman might keep her figure that man found so fair. And the Devil brought forth chocolate. And Woman gained 5 pounds.
And God said, "Try my crispy fresh salad."
And the Devil brought forth Ben and Jerry's. And Woman gained 10 pounds.
And God said, "I have sent thee heart-healthy vegetables and olive oil with which to cook them."
And the Devil brought forth chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained 10 pounds and his bad cholesterol went through the roof.
And God brought forth running shoes and Man resolved to lose those extra pounds.
And the Devil brought forth cable TV with remote control so Man would not have to toil to change channels between ESPN and ESPN2. And Man gained another 20 pounds.
And God said, "You're running up the score, Devil."
And God brought forth the potato, a vegetable naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition.
And the Devil peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fat fried them. And the Devil created sour cream dip.
And Man clutched his remote control and ate the potato chips swaddled in cholesterol. And the Devil saw and said, "It is good." And Man went into cardiac arrest.
And God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.
And the Devil canceled Man's health insurance.
Then God showed Woman how to peel the skin off chicken and cook the nourishing whole grain brown rice.
And the Devil created light beer so Man could poison his body with alcohol while feeling righteous because he had to drink twice as much of the now-insipid brew to get the same buzz. And Man gained another ten pounds.
And God created the life-giving tofu.
And Woman ventured forth into the land of Godiva Chocolate and upon returning asked Man: "Do I look fat?"
And the Devil said, "Always tell the truth." And Man did.
And Woman went out from the presence of man and dwelt in the land of the divorce lawyer, east of the marriage counselor.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Any Excuse for Food
Has anyone ever wondered why it is that every celebration in life means there will be food? Today, as I drove home from a birthday party I pondered this very question. I have been to many parties recently, all involving food. Good-bye parties, birthday, chanuka, holiday, lets get together and eat whatever we can parties. There are always the bridal showers, brisim, kiddush, engagements, weddings. Lets not exclude the singles "parties", the events we get together at to meet new people, old people, people we are already friends with. EVERYTHING comes with food attached.
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to celebrate without food?
What would happen if we went to a birthday party and there was no cake or ice cream? What would we do? How would we sing happy birthday with no cake and candles to blow out?
My observation here is merely to point out that I think I can blame my weight, or more correctly, my inability to have self-control on society.
Phew, now I feel better!
Actually, now I feel sick. I absolutely feel like I ate everything in sight over the past 24 hours of celebrating all sorts of things. I lost control and let it go, but I have society (and Mendy- he said I could) to blame for it.
Needless to say it has not been the best two diet days of my life.
But as my friend told me she recently heard at a Weight Watchers meeting...
"Don't let a lapse become a collapse"
So let's hope I can get back on track easily and if you are making any sort of celebration soon...consider taking me off the invitation list.
Have a great Shabbos.
SK
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to celebrate without food?
What would happen if we went to a birthday party and there was no cake or ice cream? What would we do? How would we sing happy birthday with no cake and candles to blow out?
My observation here is merely to point out that I think I can blame my weight, or more correctly, my inability to have self-control on society.
Phew, now I feel better!
Actually, now I feel sick. I absolutely feel like I ate everything in sight over the past 24 hours of celebrating all sorts of things. I lost control and let it go, but I have society (and Mendy- he said I could) to blame for it.
Needless to say it has not been the best two diet days of my life.
But as my friend told me she recently heard at a Weight Watchers meeting...
"Don't let a lapse become a collapse"
So let's hope I can get back on track easily and if you are making any sort of celebration soon...consider taking me off the invitation list.
Have a great Shabbos.
SK
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