Running out of me: January 2011

Monday, January 31, 2011

Ouch!

Weigh in this morning, up 2.2 lbs! Ouch. Back to the grindstone! I'm feeling a down 3 week! (A girl can dream, right?)

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

I am SO glad Monday is over with. I felt like all of the time I was trying to be productive I met dead ends. I weighed in before heading to work. I'm at 158.8 lbs which is down .6 lbs from the last weigh in.

I had intentions of running outside today, but the thermometer didn't agree with my plan. It was 12 degrees outside, but felt like 0!!!!

I had a salad for lunch 5pts and 240 calories.

I was hungry again before my afternoon students and grabbed a medium fry and a diet coke while running errands for work. They were 380 calories and 6pts.

After work, Matt and I went out to dinner and saw Black Swan. We had good intentions of hitting the gym, but it was closed! Just one of my many foiled plans today.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

TGIF!

Happy Weekend everyone!! I am SO GLAD It's the weekend! Yesterday was really busy at work, but I am proud of the foods I chose despite the chaos. Breakfast was a cliff bar (go figure) 2pts 130 calories.

Lunch was pretty balanced. 0pts for my 8 oz. diet coke, 5pts for the Santa Fe Style Chicken Salad (my favorite for 240 calories), and 2pts (110 calories) for pretzels. I had the tangerine as a snack later for 1pt and 40 calories.

Look, I did a good job tracking yesterday too! I was pretty proud of myself for keeping notes.

The bottom scale is my hunger level throughout the day.

Matt and basically all of my friends in C-Ville took Friday off to go skiing, so I was on my own after work. I made a Morning Star Spicy Black Bean Burger for dinner. I may never make a real burger again. It was delicious. 2pts and 120 calories for the patty, 1pt and 80 calories for the light wheat bun, and 1pt and 50 calories for the 2/3 piece of provolone. I had a side of baked organic fries (Pictured is 2 servings according to the bag) for 4pts and 220 calories. So this meal at a restraunt would be my whole daily pts value, a ton of calories, and probably make my tummy sad later, but at home, it was only 350 calories and 8 points! Amazing what you can do with a little preparation!

I shopped a little, worked on my thesis, and read for the rest of the night. I snacked on a whole grain baguette around 10 when I got hungry for 3pts and 150 calories.

FRIDAY STATS:

Points: 21/22

Calories: 1,120

Weekly Allowance Points: ? used / ? weekly left

Exercise: none

Water: 50 oz.

Weekly Weight Loss: ? lbs / 39 lbs total

Friday, January 21, 2011

Mediterranean Veggie Wraps

You might have seen these puppies on my blog a bit lately. I thought I would share my lunchtime 2pt favorite with you because it is AMAZING. It's about 100-110 calories depending on if you're heavy handed with the humus.

What you need:

1 multi grain tortilla (mine were 60 calories)

5 slices cucumber

4 thin slices roma tomato

Lettuce, shredded

1 1/2 large olives, sliced

1 slice red onion

1 1/2 Tbsp Roasted Red Pepper Humus

What to do:

1. Smear humus on wrap.

2. Layer on cucumbers and tomatoes.

3. Toss on the rest.

4. Nosh and don't share.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

New Beginnings

I've been needing to hit the reset button on my healthy living and blogging. While I've been feeling like a complete overhaul of goals has been in order, I'm settling on the exercise bit first because honestly, I don't have time to commit to re-fooding my life. Maybe that will come soon. I'm still going to post my food, but its going to be less detailed so I can spend some time really focusing on my new goal...training for a 10k!

Jamie, my older sister, and I, and maybe my younger sister, Shelby, (if we can con her into it) are training for the Charleston Bridge Run on April 2nd. Its 6.2 miles and a little over 2 months away. I'm going to follow the following running program if anyone wants to join, I'd love it to have some readers do this along with my sister and I. Should be fun and give me the push I need to get back into exercise. I have been shying away from running since I've been back in town because it is bitterly cold here and I HATE the ~~dreadmill~~ treadmill. This plan is adapted from an about running site. It comes from the advanced beginner plan, but if you're intimidated by the distances, check out the beginner plan.

I'm not going to focus on time as much as I am the distances and maybe once I hit the 6.2 miles I need, I'll work on my pace. So the plan starts on Monday of next week, but hopefully I'll get out for a run this Saturday and see what I can do. You'll be able to view my plan and my progress on the Exercise page of my blog.

Today was a very busy day as usual. I packed my lunch last night and tried to include as many food groups as possible. I am trying to get the right variety of food into my diet. Eating takes so much work sometimes!

Cliff Bar for Breakfast 2pts 130 calories

Caesar Salad for lunch 5pts 200 calories

Apples with Yogurt, more from lunch 2pts 90 calories

Baguette 3pts 150 calories with laughing cow cheese 1pt 50 calories

1 cup risotto for dinner 5pts 250 calories

2 slices of Matt's pizza for 2nd dinner 10 pts 350 calories

About the size of my hand, thin crust.

I realize I haven't been the greatest with keeping up posting, but I'm going to make an effort to do better. My goal is to write 1 page of my thesis minimum everyday (mainly to make sure I have forward progress on 12 hour work days), and to post on my blog minimum 5 days per week (which gives me two freebies). There's just not enough time in the day for everything! I'll hopefully be getting fitted for and purchasing some new running shoes this weekend and get to transition into them over next week. I'm excited!

THURSDAY STATS:

Points: 28/22

Calories: 1,220

Weekly Allowance Points: ? used / ? weekly left

Exercise: 10 hours of fast paced work count for anything? Thinking about running?

Water: 50 oz. getting better slowly!

Weekly Weight Loss: ? lbs / 39 lbs total

Monday, January 17, 2011

Weekend Recap and Last Day to Enter!

It has been a busy weekend for me, and my eats have been all over the place. Here's a brief recap and don't forget, today's your last chance to enter my giveaway (or to score some extra entries via another method)!

Cliff Bars (chocolate chip are the best) 2pts

pb&j 2pts

Santa Fe Salad with chicken 5pts

Risotto

$3 DUMPLINGS!!!!

Wendy's

Mediterranean Wrap- definitely my favorite meal of the weekend

There was all that, plus some pizza, chic fil a, beer, and work on the thesis.

Enter the giveaway!

Go here to enter!

xoxo

Friday, January 14, 2011

Thursday

Happy Friday! I am so excited for the weekend I can't contain myself! It has been a super long week for me! Yesterday, I had an organic kids cliff bar 2pts and 130 calories for breakfast.

I got to steal a break for lunch around one and scarfed down my salad. This salad is by far my favorite prepared salad you can get at the grocery. It is the kroger brand Santa Fe Salad with chicken- 230 calories for 5pts. I used to ~~cry~~ hate when I packed salad for lunch, but I look forward to my lunch so much when I bring this one. Its romaine, tortilla strips, tomatoes, mexican cheese mix, carrots, and tangy chicken with a creamy dressing. So good! You must try it. It even comes with a fork so its super easy!

By the time I got off work around six, I was famished. I am going to have to pack more food and schedule more breaks into my work day to eat. I was so busy I didn't even have time to pause for a snack! Basically that meant the moment I got off work, I went to Wendy's (I had a coupon). I got a kids cheeseburger meal, and traded my kid's fry for Matt's small fry. He loves me. Burger = 6pts, 210 calories. Fries = 7pts, 340 calories. (I also had ketchup 30 calories 1pt)

I'm planning to hit the gym later tonight for the first time in a week and a half, if not tonight, then tomorrow morning! Promise! And don't forget.....

I have a giveaway going on!

Check it out here for instructions on how to enter!

THURSDAY STATS:

Points: 21/23

Calories: 940

Weekly Allowance Points: 1 used / 29 weekly left

Exercise: nadda

Water: 50 oz.

Weekly Weight Loss: -3.4 lbs / 39 lbs total

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

One Year Later...

A week and a half ago, on New Year's, most bloggers posted some year-in-review posts of how far they've come and what they've done over the past year. Well, I decided to save mine because TODAY is the one year anniversary of when I started actively working on a healthier lifestyle. (Make sure to check out my 1 year giveaway below!)

One year ago today, I decided I wanted to be thinner, happier, and feel stronger. I made a commitment to myself to make my life and body a priority. I made a new year's resolution on the 9th of January to lose 50 lbs. I didn't quite make it within the year mark, but I got pretty dang close. Looking back, I couldn't be more proud of myself for sticking to it.

A year ago, I was missing myself. My personality was the same, but I was missing my pride. You might say my light was diminished. I was sad about how I looked and even a little self conscious toward my husband. I was buried under work that I didn't want to be doing and felt lost in my priorities...but I made a decision.

It was simple and it started with my weight, but it has turned into so much more. Through starting my blog, Running Out of Me, I began to gain so many things. It instilled determination and a sense of capability in me. As I started to succeed at losing weight, I gained confidence. As I showed people my struggle, I gained transparency. As I encouraged others, I gained friendship. When I doubted myself and kept going, I gained perseverance. As I lost weight, I regained the knowledge that we are beautiful creatures. There have been several times in my life that I look back on and think, "What richness God gave me at that time" and this year is certainly one of them. I have been blessed to have the ability to write this and to have so many people who check in on me, so THANK YOU ALL for sticking with me, reading Running Out of Me as I regained myself.

Remember, it all starts with a decision...

Main things that have changed:

I am taking a break from school- this was a big decision for me, but was definitely the right one. I am still working on my thesis, but I took all pressure off and decided to do it at my own pace and not make myself feel guilty for not finishing it by a date. Maybe this semester, guys. Its getting close!
I weigh 40 lbs less than last year!
I don't want to eat until I'm full...even if its french fries! I used to eat food because I wanted a certain taste or because it was "time to eat." You don't have to eat because its noon. You don't have to eat because its your lunch break. You have to eat when your body asks you to and it can be a big difference from when your work lets you off, or when your hubby wants dinner, or when you're driving by Wendy's. My best advice is to listen to your body.
I like running. I don't just tolerate it, or push through it, I like it now. A lot.
Grocery shopping is an adventure, not a chore.
Sometimes food network trumps going out.
I read food and nutrition blogs like an addict.
I can run FOUR MILES. Probably more, but comfortably FOUR MILES a day. FOUR MILES. ok I'm done...FOUR MILES.
Size D to a C...enough said.
I live for reader comments
I am thinking about nutrition school as a hobby (maybe a career path?)...only I would be finishing a master's degree in engineering, breaking from school, and talk about a career change requiring more school.
I know I am beautiful.

Some things that have stayed the same:

I am beautiful.
I still drink alcohol. A lot. I love going out.
I still eat french fries (even if my favorites are now baked organic ones)!
I love cooking, just better foods now.
I still eat fast food.
I still have stretch marks. Maybe once I get to my goal weight I'll do a section on homeopathic remedies and document how they affect me...such as olive oil on stretch marks, anyone? Maybe I'll keep them and say they add to my personality?
I can procrastinate like nobody's business about going to the gym.
I suck at push-ups...despite the hundred push up plan, my man push-ups could fit in well in "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid"

In honor of all of the things I have gained this year, and as a thank you to all of you for reading, I'm going to do MY FIRST GIVEAWAY OF MY BLOG!! I tried to think about what things been the most helpful to me this year.

The first part: I am going to giveaway one of the same food scales I got for my bday this year. I use it all the time. The best part is- its pink, just like mine- which will make you happy despite when you see how little food an oz. of cereal actually is.

This is my scale, but the one I ordered is the same, just new. I love it!

The other part of the giveaway is a food journal. People who write their food down lose about two times more weight than those who don't. Journaling my eats has been one of the best ways to keep me accountable and focused on my goals. I ordered this adorable food journal online. I use a steno pad, but this was too cute to pass up for one of you lucky bloggies. It has a Julia Childs quote in it too. Umm, can I say insta-love?

What I ate, food journal

Most pages are like the one on the left, but I had to show the Julia Childs quote on the right! "You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces- just good food from fresh ingredients."

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER!

(If you don't have a blog, you can still enter, just be sure to leave your email address!)

1. Leave a comment on this post with one thing you have done this year you are proud of. (1 entry)

2. Add Running Out of Me to your blogroll. (3 extra entries)

3. Tweet or Share this giveaway on facebook or twitter. (2 entries)

4. Post about this giveaway on your blog. (2 entries)

Leave a comment letting me know what all you do so I make sure to get all the entries! I'll have a random number generator choose a winner on the 17th (next Monday)!

Thank you all again so much for following my blog. I'm looking forward to another year of bettering myself and learning to live and love life more!

_________________________________________________________________

Some other tid bits from last year:

My Favorite Posts: A few that I remember well. They cover a lot of the ups and downs of the diet year.

Favorite Recipes:

A few goals for 2011:

Achieve goal weight.
Run a 10 miler.
Run more, period.
Incorporate weight training.
Be thankful.

Butternut Squash and Pancetta Risotto

Is there anything better than butternut squash in creamy risotto? I really don't think so, but then again, I am pretty young and haven't done everything. My pooched out tummy right now doesn't think so though. It makes about 6 cups at 300 calories each. It is so filling though. The recipe is from epicurious.com, although I first experienced it through our friends, Chris and Amy. After tasting this the first time, I may have referred to them as food gods for a week...so if you want to be known as a food god, make this. Now.

Ingredients:

"6 cups canned low-salt chicken broth

1 cup dry white wine

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 ounces pancetta, coarsely chopped
2 cups 1/2-inch pieces peeled butternut squash (about 18 ounces)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 cups arborio rice

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, room temperature
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
Additional grated Parmesan"

What to do:

"Bring broth and wine to simmer in medium saucepan. Reduce heat; keep hot.

Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add pancetta; sauté until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add squash and onion; stir to coat. Add rice; sauté 1 minute. Add 2 cups hot broth mixture. Adjust heat so that liquid bubbles gently. Stir until liquid is absorbed. Continue adding hot broth 1 cup at a time until rice is just tender, simmering until liquid is absorbed before each addition and stirring often, about 20 minutes.

Mix butter and 2 tablespoons Parmesan into risotto. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon risotto into bowl. Serve, passing additional Parmesan separately"

Monday, January 10, 2011

Monday

Weigh in today- down 3.4 lbs from last Tuesday! Woohoo. Back into the 150's! I repainted my toenails too so they weren't chipping this time in the photo. You can't see that well, but they went from black to plum.

My eats today weren't that hot, but I was busy with work and hammering away writing so I didn't have much time to think about them. Breakfast was greek yogurt, pumpkin puree, rolled oats, a few slices of banana and honey 100 calories 2pts. Not that great. I'm going to have to toy around with this some more.

At least its pretty

Mushed up

A ton of these throughout the day with cheese dip. It was a bad choice, my tummy is reminding me. Blahh. 840 calories? 18pts? Didn't count the handfuls, but assuming the worst.

Matt's leftover shells and cheese for dinner because I was lazy. 200 calories 4pts.

Currently we're watching the game. WAR EAGLE! I wish all SEC teams could have won their bowl games.

MONDAY STATS:

Points: 24/23?

Calories: 1,240?

Weekly Allowance Points: 1 used / 34 weekly left

Exercise: dancing during the game count?

Water: 50 oz. getting better slowly!

Weekly Weight Loss: -3.4 lbs / 39 lbs total

Weekend!

Happy Monday, everyone! My weekend was pretty full as well as the few days before. Over the past week since I've been back from the holidays and even somewhat during the holidays, I've had an overwhelming sense of freedom with food. As you know, I've been making an effort to track what I eat differently. I've been seeing how my body responds to food, tracking pts, calories, food groups, ect (see here for details). At first, it was daunting to try and remember more information about food than just the pts value. I wasn't really selecting that many different foods than when I was doing WW either (save for the usual holiday splurges). However, that's slowly started to change. Through being less concerned about points, I've started eating more fruits, salads, and items you could call whole foods. I guess the change has come mostly through listening to my body and enjoying how it feels and looks in response to certain foods.

I am comfortable eating out at almost any restaurant and don't regret the choices I make. With the points system, if I went out, most things were about the same pts value regardless- like do I want to spend 8pts on a salad or 12pts on fries? My answer was always 12pts on fries any day. Now, without the points values guiding me and only a rough value of calories in my head, I choose the salad because I know how it will make me feel later, not only physically, but mentally proud of myself for doing something good for my body. I choose whether to put meat on my salad depending on whether I've had enough protein that day or if I worked out. And those times that I do want something like pad thai or fries, I don't feel bad about it because I know the choices I've made the rest of the day were sound. I feel like I enjoy food more, rather than obsess about it until I get something I don't really want. So far, this approach seems to be working for me, but we will continue to see over the next few weeks.

Side Note: I think Weight Watchers is the way to go to lose weight. I think that it is one of the only diets that promotes a lifestyle change rather than a "diet" per say. I wouldn't have been able to lose the 34 lbs I did last year without having used the tools it provided. I also think that the only reason I'm able to try what I am doing now is because I followed the weight watchers point system for a year and the framework it gave me is embedded in how I think about food now. So- if you're looking to start weight loss- I recommend WW if you need a boost.

Now for my weekend eats:

2 sips of a slimfast for breakfast friday 1pt 40 calories

Smart Ones Ravioli 5pts 270 calories

Christians Pizza- MAJOR SLICE (I thought it was 2!) Thin Crust Avocado and Roma tomatoes with tomato sauce and feta cheese. 7pts 320 calories?

After that I had 2 small gin and tonics- 6pts 340 calories

Veggie Delight at Subway Saturday. Ate 1/2 for 5pts 253 calories (I added cheese).

Dinner was chic fil A kids meal 490 calories, 11pts

Played cards with Matt and read for the night 12pts on beer 600 calories

Pad thai from TARA THAI for lunch. I love that place! I had 2/3 for lunch and the last 1/3 for dinner with a cliff bar. Munched on chips for a snack later

It has been so cold lately! Maybe I just forgot while I was out of town, but this is seriously how I look plus puffy blue Christmas socks while sitting inside my house working on my thesis.

Have a good week! Weigh in post tomorrow, get ready!

Hope to see less of each other next time!

Casey

Friday, January 7, 2011

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I have been going like CRAZY trying to get caught up at work since I've been back. I did weigh on Tuesday when we got home. I'm at 163.8. About the same as when I left. I SURVIVED THE HOLIDAYS! And Lord knows you don't want to know what I ate the week I stopped posting. Let's just say holidays at my house are a little less healthy than holidays at Matt's!

Yesterday- work 10 hrs, same Wednesday and Tuesday. Uhg. I had 1/2 a slim fast in the morning, 2pts (100 calories).

For lunch, I had a lean cuisine steamer 5pts and 280 calories.

Dinner was McDonald's- cheese burger ($1!) for 300 calories and 7pts and large fry- 500 calories and 11pts. I didn't take a picture because I scarfed it down and passed out on the couch.

THURSDAY STATS:

Points: 25/23

Calories: 1,180

Weekly Allowance Points: 2 used / 33 weekly left

Exercise: noshing on the couch count?

Water: 20 oz. Need to work on this!

Weekly Weight Loss: +.4 lbs / 34.4 lbs total

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Here are some of the things I've been eating over the past week!