So it's the time of the year when I start making ooey gooey treats to give away. I've been at it for a couple of weeks now. Mom and I are doing a holiday boutique this weekend, and selling some of our home made goodies. I'm crossing my fingers that they sell, as Christmas $$ would be nice. I can't help but feel a little hypocritical though. Here I am making things that I myself am trying very hard not to put in my mouth.
That's not to say that caramels, fudge, rocky road, chocolate peppermint bark (I could go on) doesn't make it into my mouth, because it does. I'm relieved that it's not in the quantities that it would have been a year ago. Still feel a little remorse at eating it. I'm SOOO close to a major mile stone, and I've been stuck here for 2 weeks. Coincidence? I don't think so.
I weigh 180 pounds. I have been holding here for two weeks. 5 pounds from this mark will be... come on... do the math... yes, yes, 175 pounds. More importantly than that is that 175 means 100 pounds GONE since I committed to this journey. I want it! NOW!
Unfortunately, I haven't been working out like I ought to, and I've been eating sugar (as a result of tasting the home-made-ness to make sure it's good). What has this created? I feel TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL. My emotions are all whacked, my gut is turning (tmi moment, sugar gives me gas, weird, I know). The boutique is this weekend, as soon as all the preparations are done I'm hitting the treadmill, or the eliptical. I can't hardly wait.
On to honesty. I keep track of my calories at http://www.fatsecret.com/. I can't tell you how much I love this site. I enter my own recipes. So, even my grandmothers secret recipe for melt in your mouth caramels is now broken down into serving sizes and calorie counts. It would be SO easy not to record what I'm eating, all the little incidentals that go into my mouth as the day goes on. I could justify it. Especially since I really don't believe anyone but me looks at my food journal. But what would that accomplish? I'd be lying. Lying to myself. Guess what? Lying to myself is what got me to the 275 pound mark in the first place. So, if I have a day that I eat 2600 calories (Thanksgiving) I record it. All of it. Judging it, or hiding it has no merit. It is what it is.
I chose to be public with my journey mostly to keep myself on track. I knew that if others were watching my progress I wouldn't want to disappoint. I also chose to do this all my way. I found a little over a year ago that I have major control issues (whodathunk?) and I'd been giving my control away to anyone and everyone who would take it. Counting calories, exercising, and doing it all on my own terms has been empowering. I found that I had almost all the tools I needed to start already, so I just pieced things together, rather than follow Jenny Craig, or Weight Watchers, or even The Biggest Loser (which I still love and wish Jillian could come and kick my ass every once in a while).
I feel as though I'm at a junction, and it's time to make some other commitment. I get to step up my fitness routine (obviously) and start working on my core. I'm looking at a half marathon in July in Bryce Canyon. My Sister-in-law may run it with me. It's time to LIVE.
On a non-weight related issue, the holidays have me stressed out. I feel like I do a pretty good job taking care of my kids, and they dont go without much. There's nothing like an 8 year old girls Christmas wish list to put all that in perspective. So... Come to the boutique, buy some of my goodies, so my pricess can have a couple of things on her list. :)
Thanks for reading, Much LOVE,
Alisha
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Time Off
It's my first day back at work after 5 days off. I wish I could report that I was doing something fun, but, I had my wisdom teeth pulled last Thursday. It's still a little tender, but I think I'm pretty lucky considering I didn't swell up like a chipmunk storing food for the winter.
In between bouts of lortab induced delirium (and sometimes in the midst of them) I was able to get my house clean and my laundry done. It was also nice to spend the time with my kids. My daughter had Thursday and Friday off from school, so we had lots of family together time. I think the words I used were "blissfully domestic" to which my good friend and co-worker replied my brain must be rotting away from the lortab. She may be right.
I also discovered baking with splenda. I made these super yummy banana chocolate chip cookies. At only 107 calories each (instead of 140 if I'd have used sugar). It's nice to have a treat to satify my sweet tooth. Now if I could find a suitable substitute for the butter, and a good sugar free chocolate chip (I know I may be dreaming).
Banana Cookies
yield: 24 cookies
350 degreesn 15 minutes
1/2 cup butter
1 cup splenda
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup mashed bananas
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 cup chocolate chips
Cream together the butter and splenda, add the egg and vanilla. Add the baking soda to the banana and let it fizz a bit, then add it to the butter mixture. Combine the dry ingredients and mix into the wet stuff just until it's combined then fold in the chips. BTW, you can eliminate 25 calories per cookie by taking out the chips, but who wants to do that? Drop them by spoonfuls onto parchment lined cookie sheet, bake, and enjoy!
My daughter and her friend both loved them, so, they passed the ultimate 8 year old test. :)
Much love,
Alisha
In between bouts of lortab induced delirium (and sometimes in the midst of them) I was able to get my house clean and my laundry done. It was also nice to spend the time with my kids. My daughter had Thursday and Friday off from school, so we had lots of family together time. I think the words I used were "blissfully domestic" to which my good friend and co-worker replied my brain must be rotting away from the lortab. She may be right.
I also discovered baking with splenda. I made these super yummy banana chocolate chip cookies. At only 107 calories each (instead of 140 if I'd have used sugar). It's nice to have a treat to satify my sweet tooth. Now if I could find a suitable substitute for the butter, and a good sugar free chocolate chip (I know I may be dreaming).
Banana Cookies
yield: 24 cookies
350 degreesn 15 minutes
1/2 cup butter
1 cup splenda
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup mashed bananas
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 cup chocolate chips
Cream together the butter and splenda, add the egg and vanilla. Add the baking soda to the banana and let it fizz a bit, then add it to the butter mixture. Combine the dry ingredients and mix into the wet stuff just until it's combined then fold in the chips. BTW, you can eliminate 25 calories per cookie by taking out the chips, but who wants to do that? Drop them by spoonfuls onto parchment lined cookie sheet, bake, and enjoy!
My daughter and her friend both loved them, so, they passed the ultimate 8 year old test. :)
Much love,
Alisha
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Time Flies
From June to November, where did all that time go! Oh yes, I remember now. I was running, and biking, and playing with my kids, and of course working!
I have truly taken on this healthy lifestyle, and I'm loving it! My weight today is 185 pounds. I have let go of 90 pounds since May 1, 2010. I feel fantastic!
People ask me what I'm doing, what I'm taking, if there is a miracle cure. I'm not taking any diet meds. I'm not on any program, I'm not looking for a cure. I count calories. I keep them between 1000 and 1200 per day. I use http://www.fatsecret.com/ religiously. I love this website. Not only can I put in my own recipes, there is a huge database of other peoples recipes as well. There is an app for my smartphone, as well as a facebook app. This means that no matter where I go, or what I'm doing, I have access to an accurate calorie counter.
I eat fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, heart healthy carbs. I do not starve. If I am hungry I eat. If I want a piece of cake, I have a small piece of cake instead of 1/2 the cake like I did before. I exercise. I've found a fondness for running, and enjoy riding a bike. I've recently added Zumba to my weekly work outs, and I'll start core strengthening sometime in the near future.
I think for me making the decision to make it fun was and still is, the key. I have always had a love affair with food. I think about it constantly. What has changed however is what I think about preparing. I am constantly looking for and coming up with healthy recipes. I love it when I create entire meals that are 400 calories or less. They taste good to boot!
I have truly taken on this healthy lifestyle, and I'm loving it! My weight today is 185 pounds. I have let go of 90 pounds since May 1, 2010. I feel fantastic!
People ask me what I'm doing, what I'm taking, if there is a miracle cure. I'm not taking any diet meds. I'm not on any program, I'm not looking for a cure. I count calories. I keep them between 1000 and 1200 per day. I use http://www.fatsecret.com/ religiously. I love this website. Not only can I put in my own recipes, there is a huge database of other peoples recipes as well. There is an app for my smartphone, as well as a facebook app. This means that no matter where I go, or what I'm doing, I have access to an accurate calorie counter.
I eat fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, heart healthy carbs. I do not starve. If I am hungry I eat. If I want a piece of cake, I have a small piece of cake instead of 1/2 the cake like I did before. I exercise. I've found a fondness for running, and enjoy riding a bike. I've recently added Zumba to my weekly work outs, and I'll start core strengthening sometime in the near future.
I think for me making the decision to make it fun was and still is, the key. I have always had a love affair with food. I think about it constantly. What has changed however is what I think about preparing. I am constantly looking for and coming up with healthy recipes. I love it when I create entire meals that are 400 calories or less. They taste good to boot!
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