Tag Archives: diet

March 22, 2021 · 10:13 am

Breadth

BoredPanda.com

“Some diets are so good, they take your BREADTH away.” ~ A Rose Tinted World

We are delighted to take advantage of two places in Greenwood that make frozen individual meals using no preservatives, unpronounceable ingredients, etc. We can eat them without feeling guilty, enjoying healthy, easy meals that get us in and out of the kitchen fast.

Today we will pick up food from REAL FOOD CO. The lady who runs it shows the offerings for the next week each Wednesday afternoon. You can order food for pickup the next Monday or Tuesday. You can also just go to the place Monday – Thursday and choose what you would like from large freezers. She used to be just online, then expanded to a brick and mortar store, and will soon expand again.

The other wonderful place is STU’S CLEAN COOKIN’. They have other stores in this part of Arkansas and I think Greenwood is their newest location. They sent me an email giving me $5.00 to be redeemed this month for my birthday. Their meals are really good, too. Their service couldn’t be better.

This allows me to concentrate on things other than food during the day. I fix us lunch and we usually heat up one of the good frozen meals for dinner. Well prepared, healthy, and delicious. Can’t beat that with a stick!

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March 21, 2021 · 10:31 am

Seasonal Help with Eating

BoredPanda.com

I’m grateful for spring also because this season of the year helps me in my efforts to lose the lard.

I’m growing leaf lettuce, head lettuce, radishes, yellow squash, zucchini, red onions, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, and celery. Being able to look forward to harvesting some of this straight from the garden to our table at night makes a big difference in my eating. I can throw off the comfort food of the winter and embrace being outside longer each day and eating big, healthy salads for our dinners.

All of my outside activities encourage me to drink more water, as well. My pedometer takes notice of my increased mobility and that encourages me to do even more.

Fingers crossed that this all comes together and I can make some good progress on my efforts to get healthier, stronger, and more flexible.

123RF.com

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March 19, 2021 · 9:17 am

Essentials

Charles Schultz – Peanuts – http://www.snoopy.com

Spring officially starts tomorrow. I’m hoping to be able to get some veggie plants for my garden today, kicking off my season of being outside every possible day, kicking up my activity level, cutting DOWN on my comfort eating!

I will also look forward to eating fresh stuff from my garden. I always try to grow lots of spinach and lettuce, radishes, onions, and broccoli, and then whatever else looks interesting. In two other planters, I plant tomatoes. Availability varies, but I LOVE watching things grow, taking care of my plants, and then harvesting the results.

Some years I’m really successful and I can take fresh food to my friends. That is the BEST. :0)

Each year I feel renewed hope for the growing season – a new lease on life.

It’s especially welcome this year, and I look forward to sharing my efforts with you.

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March 18, 2021 · 10:41 am

This Would Be Nice…

DailyMail.com

Since we’re having a cold, rainy day, I’m having to acknowledge another of my eating triggers. I want lots of comfort food, since I can’t have spring yet. You don’t think I’m spoiled, do you?

What we will ACTUALLY have is tuna fish salad for lunch and one of our delicious, healthy individual portion frozen dinners we get from the two ‘new’ places in town, REAL FOOD and STU’S CLEAN COOKIN’. These additions to our town have been wonderful for us. They pride themselves on no preservatives, no additives, no unpronounceable ingredients – just good, healthy food in reasonable portions. Wonderful food. Wonderful timing. Lucky US!

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March 15, 2021 · 10:17 am

Decision

Toni-Sorenson – Womens Day

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March 13, 2021 · 10:30 am

Window Shopping

dumpaday.com

It’s rainy here, making me glad I have a warm, dry house.

It also makes me want comfort food, and I have trouble staying away from ‘bad’ things.

In general, I do pretty well, but then the gremlin inside my head tells me, “It’s been over a year since you had a ________. It wouldn’t hurt to have just one…” Yeah, right. And then we move on to President’s Day, and National Pickle Week, and the whole thing crashes.

Today I’m trying to distract myself by working in the yard, if Mother Nature will cooperate. It is not raining this very minute, so maybe I can get my elephant ear plants re-planted.

I noticed yesterday that in addition to my daffodils lifting my spirits, our tulip tree is blooming! Talk about signs of hope for the future!

So, I will finish my coffee, keep my mouth firmly shut otherwise, and stay busy.

Wishing myself luck….

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March 10, 2021 · 9:43 am

2:00 a.m.

BoredPanda.com

Last night I awoke as if someone had nudged me at 1:30. I tried to go back to sleep, but sounds and thoughts surrounded me and I got up to go downstairs a read a bit to get sleepy again.

I ended up eating some turkey. There is something about being awake in the middle of the night that makes me ravenous. I ate and read and then went back up to bed.

Today I feel guilty, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do it again…..

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March 4, 2021 · 11:10 am

Splurge

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We went for a splurge breakfast after I got a blood test this morning at our doc’s office. I hate needles, so the prospect of a really nice breakfast afterwards makes it much easier to act like an adult. :0)

In Arkansas, the rules for percentage of capacity of dining-in at restaurants has expanded a bit. Everyone is still wearing masks and the servers place the diners pretty far apart. They now bring you menus and take your order rather than everyone standing in line to order at the front counter. I felt as safe as one can these days as I enjoyed a truly delicious breakfast.

We saw a dear friend who works at our bank while we were there. She was having breakfast with her parents. It has been ages since we saw her. It was good to be able to wave, exchange a few words, find out she and her family are okay, and see part of her face. (I love it that you can still tell when people are smiling, even when they are wearing a mask.) :0)

My husband and I are in the high risk group for COVID (being old and having other conditions) and we are lucky that we have an appointment to get our first vaccination shot Monday morning. I hope the rate of vaccinations can continue to increase until everyone who would like to receive the protection is immunized.

As far as food goes today, our splurge breakfast will hold us until we have a bowl of the beef stew I made in the crock pot yesterday for dinner tonight.

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March 3, 2021 · 9:07 am

Cravings

Facts and Chocolate

I’m weird. (I know. You already knew.) :0)

I think that MOST people crave sweets when they are trying to watch what they are eating. I crave salty things, bread and starches, like pasta, rice, potatoes.

I AM getting better about reading labels, though, and try to get the lower sodium options, or decide not to buy things if they’re loaded with salt. I used to have the table salt right where we ate. I have now moved that. If I want to add salt, I have to actually get up and go get it. I use a bit of salt to cook, but try to use season salt, rather than regular. (It just occurred to me that I could make the “getting-up-to-get-salt” a part of my exercise plan, but I think that’s really pushing it. :0) )

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March 1, 2021 · 10:11 am

New Month – New Chance

Spoon University

My scales are finally beginning to take notice of my efforts to lose the lard.
Though I vary on eating between meals, my basic program remains the same. I am eating healthy individual portion frozen dinners prepared by good people at either REAL FOOD or STU’S CLEAN COOKIN’ in Greenwood. The ingredients and amounts are listed on the meals. No unpronounceable additives or preservatives are used.

Otherwise, a sandwich or tuna salad, sugar-free jello, and olives or grapes for lunch.

Now that our weather is finally warming up, I don’t dread spending time on my elliptical trainer in the garage as much. I’m trying to do 35 minutes on it three times a week and my yoga stretches every day. I’m doing pretty well at that, even though I have missed days due to helping my husband fix all the stuff that is falling apart around here lately.

I gave up on my efforts to start seeds. I got some messy sprouts, but all were trying their best to die, so I stopped. My title as ‘Serial Seed Killer” remains. :0( Happily, some plants are available locally. I’m trying to decide if I should go ahead and plant things, even though our average last frost date isn’t until April 5th.

I hope that today is a good day for you.

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February 27, 2021 · 9:49 am

Minus Sugar and Carbs

Just kidding. :0)

My husband has Type II Diabetes, so we cut out as much sugar as possible several years ago. That, along with medication, is keeping his blood sugar at a good level. He really had to work to do it. He LOVES sweets. He even calls ME “Sugar.” I’m really proud of him that he is building good habits. He does splurge, but we monitor blood sugar twice a week and pay attention to it.

We had two places start up in Greenwood this year – REAL FOOD and STU’S CLEAN COOKIN.’ Both provide individual serving frozen meals that are HEALTHY and DELICIOUS.

Today I’m cooking a chuck roast in the slow cooker, but most of our days are built around having one of their frozen meals, or the ones I make from the leftovers we have. We have a sandwich or tuna salad for lunch, and we try not to eat much in-between. It seems to be working for us, albeit slowly.

In these days when we need to be particularly careful about our health (we are in the high risk group for COVID) it just makes sense to also eat as healthy as possible and try to lose the lard.

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February 24, 2021 · 1:02 pm

Stress Eating

Mae West – BrightDrops

We just got home from a trip to Ft. Smith.

Yesterday we discovered that our generator failed to do its weekly automatic test. It also failed to start manually. We charged the battery we just bought last month, and installed a new air filter. The oil level and quality was fine. My husband took out the starter motor and tested it in the shop. No one in Greenwood works on starter motors, so we found a guy in Ft. Smith.

The traffic was AWFUL. My husband is always complaining about the “Anti-destination League,” who take pride in driving side by side in the left lane with the vehicle on the right, so no one can do anything. They really seemed to be out in force today, causing my husband a huge amount of frustration. His griping and efforts to try to get around the traffic cause ME a lot of stress as well.

We found the motor repair place, left the motor with the man, and started to drive home. We agreed to stop for something to eat. We found a Burger King. Each of us had a bacon cheeseburger and French fries. NOT on our diet! The burger was a burger, but the French fries were magnificent.

We are home now, in one piece. I didn’t kill my husband for scaring me to death over and over, but it was a close thing.

I think I may see if I can just go get the motor – if the man can fix it – by myself.

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February 23, 2021 · 9:44 am

Snacks

imgflip.com – tumblr – Spoon University

This is DAY THREE of not eating anything between meals. That, along with portion control at meals and my efforts to move more should result in happy results on the scales and on my measuring tape. The weather is finally warming up, too, which means I can get outside more. I feel that things are coming together now.

It would be easier to simply sign up again for a weight loss/meals provided program again, but I’m determined to take responsibility for what I eat and drink. We are getting lots of help with two new places here locally who each provide individual portion frozen healthy meals. We eat one of those for dinner. I make us a sandwich or tuna salad for lunch. My husband eats snacks when he likes. He is much closer to his goal weight, but we’re still trying to watch his sugar intake.

I’m trying to build good habits that will result in my getting and staying in reasonable shape so I can continue to do most of what I would like for the rest of my life. I’m kind of using you as a check for accountability and reporting. I hope you don’t mind.

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February 18, 2021 · 10:13 am

Calories

thatswhatthatmeans.tumblr.com – Shibley Smiles

The saga of small annoyances vs real problems continues in the Lewis household.

A month or so ago, the dish inside the microwave that turns when the food is cooking to ensure even heating quit working. I looked up our records and the microwave was purchased in 2005. We have certainly gotten our money’s worth.

My husband is really good at fixing things. He figured out a way to fix the microwave so the plate turned again. Things went fine until yesterday, when the plate stopped turning again. My husband immediately squashed ideas of getting a new one – assuming we will EVER be able to negotiate our steep driveway and the roads between our home and town again. (We are into our second week of being completely stuck up on top of our ridge line – the first week due to ice and this week due to snow. We still have about 8 inches on the ground, so we MAY be able to get out by NEXT week some time if the sun stays out and the temperatures warm up from the current 15 degrees F.)

My husband went to work on the microwave again and we tested it this morning. It ran – and the plastic ‘thingie’ in the center of the floor of the microwave turned – for about 3 seconds and then the whole microwave shut off. It is now clear that the microwave is completely dead this time, no matter how smart or inventive he is.

I explain all this because we have been thoroughly enjoying frozen dinners from two new places in town – Real Food, and Stu’s Clean Cookin.’ These are individual dinners, portion controlled, healthy, and delicious. We have quickly become spoiled.

“I” will need to get inventive now on defrosting these on the counter, then transferring them to oven dishes, then figuring out how long – and at what temperature – to heat them up. In the meantime, I’ll cook a roast for tonight in the crock pot.

As I began when I started this post, this is a small annoyance vs the very real and dangerous problems many good people in the United States are facing right now. I feel a bit guilty even mentioning something as small as this. The pandemic, cabin fever, and the trying to diet have all combined to make me a rather gripe-y lady.

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February 17, 2021 · 9:42 am

Weight-a-tude

Grand View Health

ATTITUDE comes first. The DECISION to do all you can to get the lard off. Next comes the actual DOING.

I found a great thought for weight loss this morning – “BE STRONGER THAN YOUR EXCUSE.”

This really resonated, since I’ve been mentally and emotionally using the fact we’re snowed in as our excuse the past week or so. Last week we were iced in. Now we’re snowed in. (We got more overnight.) Both are great excuses to open mouth and insert foot – as well as other things that don’t belong.

It has also been too cold to do my elliptical trainer in the garage. I just can’t do it. This has led to only doing my yoga, even though I do have several good DVDs I could use.

I will try to heed the great weight loss thought above and squash the enticing ‘slug bug’ mentality.

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February 12, 2021 · 10:33 am

Thoughts on a Friday in February

MAN v FAT

It’s harder to stick with a rational, mature eating plan when the weather is yelling for comfort food. It’s 17 degrees F here in Greenwood, Arkansas. February is always our coldest month, but I was beginning to believe we wouldn’t have much of a winter this year. Hahahahahahhaha! Our highs are in the 20s, we have ice everywhere, our deck is a skating rink unfit for old folks to fill the bird feeders, and our 650+ foot long, STEEP driveway and the road that runs in front of our place are not encouraging travel – even to retrieve our mail at the bottom of the driveway. The forecast is for ‘dangerous cold, and snow Sat – Monday, then again Wednesday of next week. Did I tell you I HATE February?

VectorStock

I’m trying to be the “mature adult woman” that I’m supposed to be, NOT stuffing my face while continuing to earn my gold stars on my desk calendar for exercise. I put on my sweatshirt, sweat pants, puffy vest, knit hat, and gloves to go out to the garage to put in my time on my elliptical trainer. The good thing is I feel very proud of myself if I manage to get my time in out there each day. The yoga in the afternoons is easier.

Yesterday I finally got the seeds planted for my spring garden. The seed starter tray is sitting on our dining area table where the seeds will get the best sun. I’m watching the tray like a mother hen, hoping my seeds will sprout and then do really well so that I’ll have healthy, good-looking plants to put into my raised bed square foot garden the first week of April.

I am planning to continue my efforts to clean and reorganize my art room today. So far, the only clean area is my drafting table. Today I’ll tackle this table.

I hope you’re having a good Friday. Maybe we can start a petition to do away with February…

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February 11, 2021 · 10:18 am

The Battle Continues

MAN v CAT

My scales gave me a thumbs up again this morning. I’m determined to take this one day at a time, though my goal is a long way off.

The MyFitnessPal.com website is helping me stay accountable for what I’m consuming. It’s so easy to tell yourself you’re not eating that much, but the ‘grazing’ adds up around here, and the website makes me acknowledge where the problems are and help me concentrate on solving them. Today I will cut up raw veggies to enjoy with dip for my mid afternoon snack.

Penn Fitness Warehouse

My efforts to do 35 minutes a day on my elliptical are having varied success. My excuse NOW is the weather. I’m wearing a vest and my gloves, but the elliptical trainer is out in the garage and it is REALLY cold out there, even though I’m moving. I’ve decided that if I get out there and do as much as I can before freezing to death, that’s all anyone should ask. I’m really earning my gold star there.

One Green Planet

My afternoon yoga is going much better. My body is starting to loosen up a bit. It’s amazing to me that I must spend much of the day trying to curl up into a ball. It’s hard for this old broad to stretch out. It actually takes me a minute or two for the act of lying down flat on my back on my mat to stop being really uncomfortable. I have to concentrate on relaxing (“relaxing jaw – relaaaaaaaxing face) with my head and neck propped up on a wonderful wedge I bought online after my massage therapist tried it one day a couple of years ago. When I stop hurting, I then put my head flat on the floor and relax some more.

I spend 30 -45 minutes most afternoons doing slow, careful, thorough stretching. My body feels a lot better afterwards.

This post reminded me of a sign I found recently –

dumpaday.com

I hope I’m not boring you to tears. If I am please just scroll through it rapidly, delete it, write me a note…..

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February 10, 2021 · 11:09 am

And My Scales Said, “Ah!”

SuperFastDiet

I’m beginning to see a welcome difference when I step on the scales each morning. Not a huge one, but a good one, nonetheless. (I know, some people say you shouldn’t weigh every day. Each person has to do what works for him or her, though, and being accountable every morning seems to help motivate ME not to stuff my face.)

I’m still RE-losing, but soon I will be at a new point in my losing-the-lard efforts. I’m earning gold stars for my exercising, too.

I also decided to start using MyFitnessPal.com again, since we have moved to frozen meals coupled with our own, and I need to be more mindful of my eating – particularly of snacks – which can get out of hand quickly.

It’s good to finally feel things coming together to make a difference.

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February 9, 2021 · 10:45 am

Healthy Eating Tip – 43

GoodLivingGuide.com

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February 8, 2021 · 9:17 am

Not Sure

Twitter

Oddly enough, we had our splurge last night during the Super Bowl, but my weight was down a bit today. Probably just a teaser – waiting to lower the boom tomorrow when I’m not expecting it.

We are finishing getting the freezer reasonably stocked up today. Last week we ordered from Stu’s Clean Cookin.’ Today we’ll pick up our order from Real Food. Our weather is supposed to get much more winter-like starting Wednesday, I think, so we’ll be in good shape if we’re snowed or iced in. I feel very fortunate to have two places that provide really good, healthy frozen individual meals.

After our splurge last night, we’re back to our regular eating regimen of tuna fish salad, sugar-free jello, maybe a few grapes, olives for me and sweet pickles for my husband for lunch, and one of the frozen dinners, sometimes sharing some extra veggies, for dinner. I will make sure I have some raw veggies ready for a snack, if needed.

I also have marked my desk calendar with “E’s and “Y’s” each day, hoping to add gold stars next to them for doing my time on the elliptical trainer and my yoga stretches daily. I’m hoping to make the scales and my tape measure sit up and take notice by the end of this month.

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February 3, 2021 · 10:24 am

When Dinner is at 6:00

forwarded to me by a friend

I have always had one healthy thing – a healthy appetite. My appetite would kill a horse.

I can eat a full meal – actually an amount that includes servings for me AND my friends, relatives, and acquaintances… and then feel hungry again a short time later. I am teaching myself now what a ‘portion’ is. That varies, of course, by the food you are eating, but is usually much larger for something you consider truly odious and a dot in the middle of the plate for something you love. :0)

I am learning things that help me put off ideas of eating, like drinking a bottle of water several times a day, but particularly in the middle of the night, if I can’t sleep, I could eat the side of a house AFTER drinking the *^&%$_@$% bottle of water.

In my NEXT life, I am coming back several inches taller, maybe 5’7″ or so. I will be one of the people who ‘forgets’ to eat, or eats only as ‘fuel.’ The high point of my day will be my time for exercise – one that makes a good amount of endorphins. I will enjoy the idea of needing to GAIN weight and my clothes being too large.

It’s good that I live in a time where – if I can get my act together – there is plenty of help handy to get the lard off and keep it off. Right now I have a elliptical trainer in our garage and can do my yoga stretches in my living room. I have several exercise DVDs I can use to address all kinds of issues.

I have TWO new stores in town REAL FOOD and STU’S CLEAN COOKIN’ providing healthy individually portioned frozen meals I can pop into the microwave, rather than having to cook a lot. I have good raw veggies and some sugar-free ranch dip I can enjoy with them.

The dogs above and I are on the same page, as far as being READY whenever there is any chance of food. I am trying to get to the point where I’m so distracted by doing fun things that I ‘forget’ what time it is, and am actually surprised that it’s meal time… well, it COULD happen. :0)

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February 2, 2021 · 9:44 am

New Recipe!

forwarded by a friend

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January 31, 2021 · 9:39 am

Just Don’t

HASfit.com

Yesterday I cooked a beef roast in the slow cooker. I fixed some rice, made some gravy with a keto type thickener, rather than flour, and we splurged with some corn – something we love but hadn’t enjoyed for a long time. The dinner was good and my husband was quite complimentary.

The NEXT thing was the important NEW thing.

I put the leftover rice into individual meal containers. I put in some of the beef roast, corn, and a spoonful or two of the gravy. I then sealed the containers and put them into the freezer.

I know. It doesn’t sound like anything to write about. The thing is, we USED to just put the leftovers in the fridge and finish them off the next night. NOW we EACH have two more meals to eat when the time is right – meals that are a ‘portion’ that regular humans eat, rather than just grabbing large bowls and dividing the leftovers up.

This is a huge difference for us and I feel happy. We had plenty for 4 more meals. We RECOGNIZED that, and divided things up so that eating the way normal people do will be EASY for us.

HOORAY!

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January 30, 2021 · 9:25 am

Love Affair

forwarded by a friend

The next thing on my diet list is to keep trying recipes for low carb bread. I’ve found one that is workable, but not great.

I’ve always had a love affair with bread. I love the creative things people do when baking bread so that it looks beautiful while tasting wonderful. I enjoy the idea of breaking off a hunk of bread and enjoying it with soups or stews. I really like a roll with dinner or a sandwich for lunch.

Pinterest

That said, bread is part of the reason I am trying to lose my lard. I am looking for ONE low carb bread recipe that I can make where I can slice it for sandwiches or use it as a replacement for a roll.

If you have one that you think is good, I would really appreciate it if you would let me know.

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January 25, 2021 · 10:30 am

Take the Next Fork…

Diet Humor – Jypseegirl – Pinterest

I lost a pound yesterday – Whoo HOOOO!

123RF

Only 800 to go!

We are thankful that we have TWO frozen individual healthy meal places that have opened in the past year in Greenwood. We plan our eating for the day around these, trying to keep our calories down and portions good in our efforts to NOT each sugar and lose the lard. I will go pick up our order for the week from one of them today.

Yesterday I really worked to finish the tax prep and the reorganization of my booth basket, so I didn’t exercise. :0( I will get back on the exercise horse today, with the elliptical trainer as soon as I return from errands and then yoga this afternoon. If it will stop the spring-rains-in-the-middle-of-winter weather, I’ll also try to get outside and at least walk around the yard.

I hope that you are managing to stay safe from the Covid virus, eat right, and exercise your way to better health, too.

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January 22, 2021 · 8:57 am

Thighs

Jim Hunt

I lost half a pound yesterday, so I’m happier today. I also earned a gold star for my desk calendar for doing almost 45 minutes of slow, easy stretches. I’ll try to do that again today, plus add back my elliptical trainer this afternoon.

We go to Lunch Bunch today, so it’ll be great to catch up with my good friends. We were finally altogether last week for the first time since before Christmas. I’m reminded over and over of how rich I am in friends.

I’m still up to my eyeballs in bookkeeping from 2020, tax prep for the CPA, and opening spreadsheets for 2021. My goal is to have that zipped up and ready to take as soon as a few more forms are available.

My husband and I are ‘OLD,’ and so qualify for the Covid-19 vaccine. Sadly, there is only one place doing vaccinations in Greenwood, Arkansas, and they have a waiting list hundreds long and won’t take any more names. They told me to call back in February.

We are having glorious weather for this time of year. Right now it’s surreal outside with lots of fog. This afternoon it’s supposed to get into the 50’s with sunshine. I will try to get out a bit and enjoy it. Tomorrow, Sunday AND Monday are forecast to be rainy.

Have a wonderful Friday. Stay healthy and safe.

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January 21, 2021 · 11:35 am

New Diet Program

My INTENTIONS are good, but aren’t matching reality lately. My newest excuse for eating the wrong things (and too much) is doing bookkeeping and taxes. I hate them so much that I ‘reward’ myself when I get some of it done. Yes, I could be ADULT and MATURE about it and reward myself with something other than food, but I’M the one who gives myself a gold star on my calendar when I exercise….

I had a really good day on the bookkeeping yesterday, so ‘rewards’ were higher than I deserved. I’ll try to actually finish up for 2020, print spreadsheets and gather things for tax prep today so we can dump them on our CPA soon. :0)

It’s yucky and rainy today, so it’s a great day to have a warm, dry home. I’m still re-reading J.D. Robb’s (Nora Roberts’) In Death series in preparation for reading the newest paperback in the series, so I have a nice session of curling up under my throw in my recliner, heat pad under my back on warm, coffee on my warmer on the chair-side table, and book in hand this afternoon. I’m on #41 in the series. (The newest one is #51. )

We just returned from doing errands. My husband insisted on getting cherry fritters from the grocery store. I got some turkey to eat for any snacks and some salad to go with our dinner. (I AM trying…)

I hope that if you are trying to lose some lard, you’re having an easier time of it than I am right now. Better days are ahead. I’m concentrating on one meal at a time…

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January 15, 2021 · 9:25 am

The 4 Stages of Dieting

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January 11, 2021 · 10:35 am

Determination

Tenor

I have gotten past the stage where the most difficult part of my yoga practice is getting back up off the floor. Enough time has passed that I have devised ‘methods’ for this and don’t have to hire man with a crane. Still, this sweet, fat kitty resonates…

Last week was a good week. I am almost to my first 5-pound-off goal! (I am still re-losing weight gained during the pandemic and holidays, so it’ll be awhile before I break new territory, but progress is progress. I am down 4.4 pounds since the beginning of our ‘get-serious’ decision. I will measure at the end of the month and see where I am on lardage.

I have admitted before that I have never grown up and am STILL motivated by the idea of the gold stars I used to try to earn from my teachers for good work in school. Last week I earned 6 gold stars for exercising – doing my elliptical trainer in the garage and yoga stretches in the afternoon. This week I will try to earn 14.

I am moving more, too, as documented by the small, cheap pedometer I keep in my pocket. I’m a bit teed off that the steps on the elliptical don’t show on the pedometer, but that’s life. I’m afraid I’ll never be a walker, unless I can solve the problem of my hips yelling at me after I walk a short distance. (Oddly, if I sit down for just a moment, my system ‘resets’ and I can walk again without pain.) Unless I carry a chair, or there are places I can sit along the walkway, I’ll just try to keep walking around my yard when the weather permits.

As soon as I hopefully build the habit of elliptical in the morning and yoga in the afternoon, I’m thinking of trying to add back my ‘Annoying Leslie’ walking video a couple of times a week. She really grates on my nerves (I hate people who are bubbling over with joy at exercising), but she really knows her stuff.

I have a good start now and hope to be able to report that I’m keeping it going. For now, I have a gold star to earn – as soon as I finish my coffee. :0)

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January 10, 2021 · 9:33 am

Under Height

I’m doing well so far with getting serious again about eating right and exercising. My scales are starting to take notice and do something besides smirk. I’m doing my elliptical trainer in the morning and my yoga stretches in the afternoon and trying to concentrate on moving in-between. I felt bad Friday afternoon, but other than that have done well. :0)

Instead of a commercial weight loss program as we’ve tried before, we are enjoying frozen meals for dinner from Real Food and Stu’s Clean Cookin’ – both new to Greenwood, interspersed with my own cooking, the leftovers from which are stored in individual servings in the freezer with the other meals. This encourages paying attention to what a ‘serving’ is. Sometimes I fix an extra veggie or salad on the side, but most of the time, it’s just the meal.

For lunch we’re having homemade tuna fish salad – made from one small can packed in water for the two of us – sugar free jello, plus I have olives and my husband has sweet pickles. We are trying not to snack in-between meals or before bed.

I’m trying to drink lots of water.

I’m hoping to be able to report a good amount of poundage loss by the end of the month, but it will take as long as it takes. As long as the scales are showing a downward trajectory and my measuring tape is showing a bit of progress, I will be satisfied.

I will be delighted if I feel stronger, more flexible, have more energy, and feel fewer balance problems as I continue to exercise daily. I smile when I see the gold stars on my desk calendar. I will have earned 6 stars this week – and will have a chance to earn 14 next week. :0)

With so many things happening in the world over which I have NO control, I take comfort that THIS is something I CAN control.

TaoLife.com

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January 8, 2021 · 9:20 am

Day 2

HaHaStop.com

Hahahahaha. I just love the look on his face. :0)

We are in Day Two today. We ate healthy yesterday. My husband ate a last “French Toast Fritter” for breakfast, but neither of us ate anything between meals or before bed. I gave myself 2 stars for the day – one for 35 minutes on my elliptical trainer and another for more than 30 minutes doing slow, careful yoga stretches. We are back in the saddle now.

Today we have Lunch Bunch. I will try to eat half and bring half home.

I wandered around yesterday feeling hungry, but have now devised a TEST to see if I’m really hungry or just in the slightly anxious/depressed state that results in stress eating for me. I have some low sodium bone broth now. If I’m hungry enough to fix that, I will do it. If not, it’s stress/boredom/general ornery-ness rather than true hunger. Yesterday afternoon I did chew on a piece of sugarless gum for a bit. I’m trying to concentrate on drinking more water.

I’m setting small interim goals for my weight loss, rather than looking at the enormity of all I would like to lose as a whole. I am concentrating on the progress I’ve made in the last couple of years and using that as motivation to continue.

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