Heyyyy.
I've lost 10 pounds! Yes. All it took was one virus/infection that made me want to jam a knitting needle into my eardrum for a little relief. Seriously, every day this week I've been whispering prayers to the god of otitis media, saying "Rupture, rupture, rupture." But he's paid me no never mind. The recuperating is going way too slowly for my taste.
Especially considering there are children to raise and webinars to host and synopses to finish.
The 10 pound loss, though, was less because of sickness and more due to my morphing eating habits. Want to know what I'm doing differently? Okay, here are my secrets (And this is going to sound like pious bullshit. I'm sorry.):
1. Two pieces of Dave's powerseed toast for breakfast instead of slurping leftovers off Max's and Claire's plates.
2. Red meat no more than once a week. Preferably less.
3. Lunch usually = quinoa with or without skinless chicken breast, sliced almonds, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Fresh baby spinach makes an awesome addition.
4. My big treat of the day is a few squares of dark chocolate in the afternoon.
5. Very few chips or crackers.
6. No dessert after dinner. I usually, but not always, succeed.
7. Less wine.
8. One extra serving of veggies at dinner. So, at least two servings total. Maybe three.
9. Fish once a week (or more).
10. 2 to 3 cups of green tea a day.
This is my ideal menu. Sometimes I make it and sometimes I don't. But I've been much more mindful of what I'm consuming. I didn't set out to lose poundage, it's just a happy outcome of trying to eat more healthfully, a philosophy I've adopted after watching my friend struggle through colon cancer. It truly looks like hell. HELL I do not ever want. Hell I will do everything in my power to prevent.
I'm pretty sure J. would put the kibosh on all my organic produce buying if he could. But I'm the grocery shopper in this family, so he can't. Only the most expensive eggs, milk, and carrots for us!
Other things I've gleaned from the last week:
• I text way too much. Over my AT&T limit. I blame the shiny iPhone.
• Do not hold a girl scout meeting off-site, somewhere that is not a classroom. Chaos will ensue. And the cotton-in-your-ears feeling from all the bacteria-ridden fluid will not muffle 12 Kindergarten girl voices.
• Leaves are starting to bud here. In mid-February. Coming from Michigan, this is still a novelty! And every year, it's a happy surprise to see the baby green orbs popping from gray branches. Like glistening coins rolling off the ends of skeletal, old fingers.
That sounds like an excellent way to do it. I'm reading a book for my blog now called "The Self-Compassion Diet" by Jean Fain and it's more about being nice to yourself and being mindful than being grossed out by all that ice cream you ate, or whatever. Good job. Sorry about the ear, though.
Posted by: vanessa mcgrady | February 12, 2011 at 11:09 AM
I'm living in fear of colon cancer. It is what they (the docs) originally thought my mother had (and possibly does have, but it has been decided that it started as ovarian cancer... not that it is any more fun)(sorry, long story).
I'm trying to love quinoa (it doesn't come naturally to me). I'm also trying to give up sugar, processed flour, and bad fats. I'm a pitiful addict when it comes to that stuff.
Our Cub Scouts meet in the den leader's living room. The moms have taken to drinking beer in the kitchen to cope with the chaos of it all.
Strangely enough, pouring a teaspoon of garlic juice or onion juice into your ear will help... at least, it worked with my youngest at age one year when far, far away from a doctor. Gram on the farm used to keep a cigarette in the kitchen drawer to blow warm nicotine smoke into a sufferer's ear.
Posted by: kcinnova | February 12, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Your diet sounds like the sort of food I like best. For years I've been an apple and peanut butter fiend (granola on top if we have it). It's my favorite snack. Not non-caloric of course, but filling and really healthy. Also, trays of roasted veggies which we make into sandwiches with a dressing of lite mayo mixed with a bit of canned chipotle. (I'm vegetarian, mostly, but when I need protein I'll add some fish.)
My mom used to make a poultice of warm oatmeal in a sock – great for an earache. Feel better!
Posted by: glasseye | February 13, 2011 at 06:50 AM
Congrats on the weight loss....I know how good it feels to see changes reflect on the scale! Of course, I've been on weight watchers again and managed to gain a pound this week, after not eating outside of the boundaries of the plan AND exercising over 12 hours....very annoyed right now! But it is not about me, this reply. I meant to say that I think you are doing the right thing and that organic is worth it, as is less meat and more chocolate. I think I'll start adding chocolate and see if that makes the scale drop! :) Sorry about the ear....I have some odd remedies, email me if you want them! Especially if you enjoy smelling like chinese food.
Posted by: Leslie | February 14, 2011 at 11:01 AM
YEAH!!! I've lost 24. Oh sure, I've had to leave my husband and suffer a bit of traumatic stress, but 24 POUNDS!
(Oh, and that 220 pound thing as well.)
Posted by: vodkamom | February 18, 2011 at 07:14 PM
Just reading how you are taking better care of yourself is inspiring. We should all do it. How come we often come last? Such is the mothering thing.
I hope your ear feels better soon!
Posted by: JCK | February 19, 2011 at 08:35 PM