Great swim today and an excellent bike ride yesterday. I was pleased to find that I like the stationary bike and that I can read while I'm on it. I've found that reading is the only thing that can take my mind off of exercise--TV is not enough of a distraction. It does not engage my mind enough to keep me from staring at the digital readout on the machines.
I had to laugh today--I was swimming laps from 12:30-1:15 and was the youngest person in the pool by at least 4 decades. I felt like quite the star swimmer, blowing past the senior citizens!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Disappointing
I had a disappointing end to last week and kind of fell of the blog bandwagon. I skipped a few workouts, ate too much during the Super Bowl, and was generally feeling kind of down. And I had been doing so well!
I weighed in yesterday at 172.6. A gain of .4 lbs. Kind of a bummer since I was exercising. I do know myself, though, and I know that good food choices are more effective for me than exercise. The two combined, however, are very powerful! I need to be more disciplined.
I did get back in the pool last night and swam 30 laps. Swimming makes me laugh because I'll just go and go and go and feel fine because I'm suspended in the water. But the minute I get out--bam! My legs and shoulders were so sore! Felt good, though.
So I'll try to do better this week. Here's the workout plan:
Tuesday: swim
Wednesday: bike 2 miles
Thursday: swim
Friday: bike or walk
Saturday: stair stepper
Sunday: swim
Also, here's what I've been eating for breakfast this week. It is not an original recipe, so don't credit it to me!
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1/4 cup milk (I used almond)
1 tablespoon dried cranberries
1 teaspoon slice almonds
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and microwave for 1 minute or until warm. Eat! This is a tasty hot cereal option that is different from standard oatmeal or wheat cereals.
I weighed in yesterday at 172.6. A gain of .4 lbs. Kind of a bummer since I was exercising. I do know myself, though, and I know that good food choices are more effective for me than exercise. The two combined, however, are very powerful! I need to be more disciplined.
I did get back in the pool last night and swam 30 laps. Swimming makes me laugh because I'll just go and go and go and feel fine because I'm suspended in the water. But the minute I get out--bam! My legs and shoulders were so sore! Felt good, though.
So I'll try to do better this week. Here's the workout plan:
Tuesday: swim
Wednesday: bike 2 miles
Thursday: swim
Friday: bike or walk
Saturday: stair stepper
Sunday: swim
Also, here's what I've been eating for breakfast this week. It is not an original recipe, so don't credit it to me!
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1/4 cup milk (I used almond)
1 tablespoon dried cranberries
1 teaspoon slice almonds
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and microwave for 1 minute or until warm. Eat! This is a tasty hot cereal option that is different from standard oatmeal or wheat cereals.
Friday, February 4, 2011
What Do the Kids Eat?
As we embark on our attempt to improve our fitness and nutrition, we should take a look at what the kids are eating.
Breakfasts: My kids eat cold cereal most mornings at daycare. When we are home, they both really like oatmeal. I keep frozen blueberries on hand to cool it down quickly. We've also tried oatmeal smoothies, which have gone over pretty well. On Sundays before church they have Kashi cereal bars and a banana. They are easy and not messy!
Lunch: Five days a week, lunch is not my problem! On the weekends, we usually have sandwiches. Peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese with fruit on the side. We keep it reasonably healthy by using whole wheat bread, all-fruit spread, natural peanut butter, and cheddar cheese (not American).
Dinner: The rule around here is that the kids eat what we eat. Sometimes that means we eat "kid" food, but most times it means the kids eat "adult" food. When I make our menu plan, I try to choose one vegetable (broccoli, green beans, or peas), one lean protein (chicken, beans, lentils, usually) and one whole grain (brown rice, wheat bread or pizza crust) Remember that our bodies are designed to eat more in the morning than in the evening--kids usually have the right idea by eating a lot of breakfast and not so much dinner.
I'm no gourmet cook, but I have found that menu planning is the key to mealtime success. The other key is to remember that kids won't starve themselves--just keep offering and they will eat!
Breakfasts: My kids eat cold cereal most mornings at daycare. When we are home, they both really like oatmeal. I keep frozen blueberries on hand to cool it down quickly. We've also tried oatmeal smoothies, which have gone over pretty well. On Sundays before church they have Kashi cereal bars and a banana. They are easy and not messy!
Lunch: Five days a week, lunch is not my problem! On the weekends, we usually have sandwiches. Peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese with fruit on the side. We keep it reasonably healthy by using whole wheat bread, all-fruit spread, natural peanut butter, and cheddar cheese (not American).
Dinner: The rule around here is that the kids eat what we eat. Sometimes that means we eat "kid" food, but most times it means the kids eat "adult" food. When I make our menu plan, I try to choose one vegetable (broccoli, green beans, or peas), one lean protein (chicken, beans, lentils, usually) and one whole grain (brown rice, wheat bread or pizza crust) Remember that our bodies are designed to eat more in the morning than in the evening--kids usually have the right idea by eating a lot of breakfast and not so much dinner.
I'm no gourmet cook, but I have found that menu planning is the key to mealtime success. The other key is to remember that kids won't starve themselves--just keep offering and they will eat!
Friday Food Journal
Breakfast: giant frosted, creme-filled doughnut (our office has doughnuts every Friday...can't resist!)
Lunch: leftover shredded beef sandwich, light string cheese, blueberry muffin (intended breakfast)
Snack: 5 vanilla wafers
Dinner: Popcorn chicken, waffle fries, Crystal Light
Binge: (Can't even call it a snack) 3 M&M cookies
Workout: Walk/run 3.2 miles. Again, did this in 45 minutes. I ran on a treadmill today instead of on the track. It was okay, but twice my treadmill shut down and reset itself for no apparent reason. It was fine, but I lost my distance and time data each time it happened. I guess today it is a good thing that I keep a close eye on those numbers!
Lunch: leftover shredded beef sandwich, light string cheese, blueberry muffin (intended breakfast)
Snack: 5 vanilla wafers
Dinner: Popcorn chicken, waffle fries, Crystal Light
Binge: (Can't even call it a snack) 3 M&M cookies
Workout: Walk/run 3.2 miles. Again, did this in 45 minutes. I ran on a treadmill today instead of on the track. It was okay, but twice my treadmill shut down and reset itself for no apparent reason. It was fine, but I lost my distance and time data each time it happened. I guess today it is a good thing that I keep a close eye on those numbers!
Giveaway
My kids enjoy products from Annie's Homegrown. They like the cheddar bunnies and graham bunny crackers. Annie's is giving away a kid's gardening kit to anyone who has purchased 2 Annie's products. Click here for more info.
Our family tried our hand at gardening last year with poor results. I'm developing a new plan for this year--hopefully we'll have more success!
My kids did grow green beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes at daycare last year with success and really enjoyed it. I'm hoping to keep them interested in vegetables again this year.
Our family tried our hand at gardening last year with poor results. I'm developing a new plan for this year--hopefully we'll have more success!
My kids did grow green beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes at daycare last year with success and really enjoyed it. I'm hoping to keep them interested in vegetables again this year.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thursday Food Journal
Breakfast: whole wheat blueberry muffin; coffee with creamer
Snack: 4 Wasa flatbread; light string cheese
Lunch: Turkey sandwich with cheddar on wheat bread; sparkling water
Dinner: 5 BBQ sliders (shredded beef, cheddar cheese, bbq sauce, whole wheat buns)
Snack: Nestle Chunky bar (190 calories); raspberry Crystal Light
I had my first swimming experience today and it was awesome! I was on the school swim team in junior high and I always thought I'd like to go back to it. Turns out, I was right. I had a moment of clarity and thought "THIS is why people exercise--it is supposed to be enjoyable and not drudgery. It should be fun and not full of clock-watching for 30 minutes." It was a good revelation.
Snack: 4 Wasa flatbread; light string cheese
Lunch: Turkey sandwich with cheddar on wheat bread; sparkling water
Dinner: 5 BBQ sliders (shredded beef, cheddar cheese, bbq sauce, whole wheat buns)
Snack: Nestle Chunky bar (190 calories); raspberry Crystal Light
I had my first swimming experience today and it was awesome! I was on the school swim team in junior high and I always thought I'd like to go back to it. Turns out, I was right. I had a moment of clarity and thought "THIS is why people exercise--it is supposed to be enjoyable and not drudgery. It should be fun and not full of clock-watching for 30 minutes." It was a good revelation.
Food Journal: Wednesday
Breakfast: whole wheat blueberry muffin; coffee with creamer
Snack: 2 oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (office treats will be the death of me!)
Lunch: 1 cup corn chowder; 3 Wasa sesame flatbread crackers; 1 light string cheese; 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
Snack: 1 light string cheese
Dinner: 1 baked pork chop; 1/2 cup applesauce; 10 waffle fries with ketchup
Workout: Run/walk 3 miles. I did a mock 5K last night to see what my "baseline" time would be...it took me 45 minutes! I ran more than I walked, but it was probably a 60/40 split. I was disappointed that it took so long, but I was proud of myself for sticking with it when I wanted to quit so many times.
Snack: 2 oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (office treats will be the death of me!)
Lunch: 1 cup corn chowder; 3 Wasa sesame flatbread crackers; 1 light string cheese; 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
Snack: 1 light string cheese
Dinner: 1 baked pork chop; 1/2 cup applesauce; 10 waffle fries with ketchup
Workout: Run/walk 3 miles. I did a mock 5K last night to see what my "baseline" time would be...it took me 45 minutes! I ran more than I walked, but it was probably a 60/40 split. I was disappointed that it took so long, but I was proud of myself for sticking with it when I wanted to quit so many times.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Food journal/Workout Plan
New month, new starts. I weighed in at 172.2 this morning. I was planning on taking a "before" picture as a baseline, but I do not have the courage. I don't want to face the reality of what I look like in a swimsuit.
Today's food journal:
Breakfast: whole wheat blueberry muffin, coffee with creamer
Lunch: Chicken noodle soup, 5 Wasa sesame flatbread, 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
Snack: 1/2 cup Goldfish
Dinner: Lasagna, 1/2 cup green beans
Snack: muffin, 1 cup skim milk
How did I feel? Thirsty! I am not drinking enough water.
This week's workout plan:
Wednesday--walk/run 3 miles
Thursday--swim
Friday--walk/run
Saturday--stair stepper
Sunday--swim
I'm hoping all of these work into my schedule this week. It will be hard to leave the kids on Sunday, but I'm trying to coordinate naptime with the open hours at the pool.
Stay tuned for how it all goes!
Today's food journal:
Breakfast: whole wheat blueberry muffin, coffee with creamer
Lunch: Chicken noodle soup, 5 Wasa sesame flatbread, 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
Snack: 1/2 cup Goldfish
Dinner: Lasagna, 1/2 cup green beans
Snack: muffin, 1 cup skim milk
How did I feel? Thirsty! I am not drinking enough water.
This week's workout plan:
Wednesday--walk/run 3 miles
Thursday--swim
Friday--walk/run
Saturday--stair stepper
Sunday--swim
I'm hoping all of these work into my schedule this week. It will be hard to leave the kids on Sunday, but I'm trying to coordinate naptime with the open hours at the pool.
Stay tuned for how it all goes!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Blueberry Muffins
A recipe for delicious whole-wheat blueberry muffins. I love these, and my kids do, too.
Sorry for the lack of pictures--they don't last long enough!
This recipe was adapted from Hungry Girl's 200 Under 200 cookbook. I love Hungry Girl, I do, but I don't like use super-processed ingredients like Splenda when I'm cooking. I'll post the original recipe, but my alterations are in parentheses.
Big Fat Blueberry Muffins
1 cup blueberries (I used frozen, tossed with 1 T. of flour)
Toss blueberries with flour in a small bowl--set aside
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup granulated Splenda (white sugar)
3 T. unpacked brown sugar
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Set aside.
1/2 cup light vanilla soymilk (I used plain almond milk)
1/4 cup sugar-free pancake syrup (I used reduce-sugar syrup)
1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute (one large egg)
2 T. light whipped buttery spread, room temperature
2 T. unsweetened applesauce
1/2 t. vanilla extract
Mix wet ingredients together thoroughly in a large mixing bowl. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Fold in blueberries.
Spray 6 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. Fill cups with muffin batter. Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.
Note: You have 2 choices here--fill 6 muffin cups completely for huge muffins, or fill 9 muffin cups 2/3 of the way full to have "standard-size" muffins. Your choice. This recipe easily doubles to make 12 giant muffins or 18 regular ones.
This recipe shared at:
Sorry for the lack of pictures--they don't last long enough!
This recipe was adapted from Hungry Girl's 200 Under 200 cookbook. I love Hungry Girl, I do, but I don't like use super-processed ingredients like Splenda when I'm cooking. I'll post the original recipe, but my alterations are in parentheses.
Big Fat Blueberry Muffins
1 cup blueberries (I used frozen, tossed with 1 T. of flour)
Toss blueberries with flour in a small bowl--set aside
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup granulated Splenda (white sugar)
3 T. unpacked brown sugar
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Set aside.
1/2 cup light vanilla soymilk (I used plain almond milk)
1/4 cup sugar-free pancake syrup (I used reduce-sugar syrup)
1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute (one large egg)
2 T. light whipped buttery spread, room temperature
2 T. unsweetened applesauce
1/2 t. vanilla extract
Mix wet ingredients together thoroughly in a large mixing bowl. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Fold in blueberries.
Spray 6 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. Fill cups with muffin batter. Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.
Note: You have 2 choices here--fill 6 muffin cups completely for huge muffins, or fill 9 muffin cups 2/3 of the way full to have "standard-size" muffins. Your choice. This recipe easily doubles to make 12 giant muffins or 18 regular ones.
This recipe shared at:
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Project/Mission
This blog has been percolating in my brain since January 1 of this year. I wanted a place to write about my attempts at fitness and weight loss. I am afraid to put some of those thoughts "out there", though! But the email address is registered and the blog address is set, so here we go!
The Facts:
Hubby and I are overweight. We are not being good role models for our children. We are intelligent people who know the "right things" to do, but we can't seem to put them into practice. This blog will chronicle our attempts to eat better and exercise more and teach our children how to be healthy people.
Kid 1 is our 3-year-old daughter and Kid 2 is our 17-month-old son. So far they are good eaters with a preference for fruit, milk, and cheese.
I am 5' 8" tall and currently weigh 170 lbs. My highest weight ever, at the end of my 2nd pregnancy, was 210 lbs. I hovered around 190 between pregnancy 1 and 2. My goal is to weigh 140 lbs.
Hubby is 6 feet tall and weighs 375 lbs. This is the heaviest he has ever been. His ultimate goal would be to weigh 250 lbs.
The tools we have at our disposal are typical of any family: healthy food, a working kitchen, and a membership to the local YMCA. Hopefully we can make some positive changes as this year progresses.
The Facts:
Hubby and I are overweight. We are not being good role models for our children. We are intelligent people who know the "right things" to do, but we can't seem to put them into practice. This blog will chronicle our attempts to eat better and exercise more and teach our children how to be healthy people.
Kid 1 is our 3-year-old daughter and Kid 2 is our 17-month-old son. So far they are good eaters with a preference for fruit, milk, and cheese.
I am 5' 8" tall and currently weigh 170 lbs. My highest weight ever, at the end of my 2nd pregnancy, was 210 lbs. I hovered around 190 between pregnancy 1 and 2. My goal is to weigh 140 lbs.
Hubby is 6 feet tall and weighs 375 lbs. This is the heaviest he has ever been. His ultimate goal would be to weigh 250 lbs.
The tools we have at our disposal are typical of any family: healthy food, a working kitchen, and a membership to the local YMCA. Hopefully we can make some positive changes as this year progresses.
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