Sick. Again.

For TWO WEEKS the weather in my city has been a bipolar mess. It can't decide if it wants to be semi-dry or really dry or warm or cold or really cold. I got through the first week of it by the skin of my teeth, but it didn't take long for the flu to find my compromised lungs and make itself snug as a bug in a rug. Again. 

Weigh-In #7

Yay! An on time post! As you will quickly notice, I have decided on a goal weight. My husband and I have been talking about the future and based on my body type, it is ideal for said future. Of course, if I get below this goal weight before said future begins, you won't see me complaining.

Menu Plan # 9

Was exhausted after riding on Monday and Tuesday, so I skipped chores and eating for a hot soak and soft bed. But as I find myself wired now, here's the plan for the week!

The 2013 Budget

Every other housewife blog I know of has done this kind of post, so I figured I would join in. But since budgeting isn't exactly rocket science, this is going to be kept short and sweet.

Glad for "NO"

I won't sugarcoat this - can't, if I'm honest about it. Before moving out of my mothers and into this silly place we call the real world, I was a spoiled brat. Not in the sense of material items, but in the sense of will. I never did anything unless I wanted to, be it homework or housework, and god help any who tried to guilt me into it.

Weigh-In #6 + Hiatus Update

I'm still sick from the latest round of the infamous flu, so I'm not just not actively dieting - I'm eating ice cream. Unfortunately when I get sick my appetite completely disappears, partly because I can't taste a darn thing. Ice cream is familiar. I can imagine how it tastes. It also packs a heap of much-needed healing calories.

Simple Pancakes

Yummy! I like to keep a bunch on hand to nibble, especially since 4 3-inch pancakes contain around only 200 calories.

Butterball Cookies

Easy to lazily make and always yummy, this is my "go-to" sweet. The other riders at my stable adore them!

Super Moist Apple Cake

Super moist indeed! I absolutely love this recipe.

Monday Menu-Plan #8

Sorry for the delay (not that anyone really reads this), but I was distracted.

Why I bother typing this up I don't know. I don't even make anything too difficult/complex/time-consuming/interesting. Just basics. Don't misunderstand me, basics are important, but they're just that - basics.

Accountability, maybe? Weirder things have been known to happen.

A Pre-Marriage Episode

My old mercedes hydroplaned on the highway when I was 18. The sheriff told me it did a pirouette in the air. It was an all steel station wagon - super heavy. Landed on it's rear and bounced onto it's wheels.

I didn't have a scratch on me.

A Little Bragging

I've never been a religious person, but since meeting my husband I have lived a blessed life.

The Starbucks(less) Challenge: Day 3

I enjoyed my Green Tea Latte so much this morning I think I need rehab.

The Starbucks(less) Challenge: About, Day 1, Day 2 & Amendment

aka solving potential conflicts creatively

Monday Menu-Plan #7

Found myself a bit uncomfortably full last week.....

Weigh-In # 5

It's still Wednesday in my timezone!

Starting Weight:  Goal Weight:  Current Weight:

197.0 lbs healthy 175.0 lbs

Is it me or is there something missing from this?

Nope, something's "missing". It turns out I've been reading my scale wrong. 

It turns out what I've been assuming is my BMI is, in fact, my Body Fat Percentage. Which is apparently normal. In fact, according to an online BMI calculator a friend practically had to shove in my face because I can be mule-headed sometimes and refused to believe I did something wrong, at my current weight my BMI is a mere 27.4. Which, as this website explains in simple laymen's terms, doesn't mean a darn thing.

That aside, in a way it's a good thing I've been so fixated on that number popping up on my scale. It's still the important number and the only one I should really care about. Which isn't to say I still won't be excited when I lose poundage. :)

My Body Fat Percentage This Week Is..... 

*cue drumroll*

30.9

Which puts me just inside of the acceptable range! Yay!

I still have a long way to go until I'm happy er happier with myself (4 more percentage points should do the trick), but I've been making steady progress despite multiple slip-ups and sickness, and I'm confident I'll continue to make progress! 

On a side note, my mental health has been rather stupendous this past week too! Accomplished a challenge my trainer gave me, which is going to be replicated tomorrow, and haven't had any panic attacks! Woohoo! Go me go!

Oh, almost forgot (as usual).....

Did anyone else notice I broke that plateau I was stuck on? 

It's all thanks to my husband (and my trainer, Reven)! With a Starbucks bribe in hand, he got me into the gym. And onto a treadmill. And shamed me into a jog with his gazelle-like stride. Then left me there for 15 minutes with an internal Reven daring me to stop. It was very motivating. After that torture DH reminded me I'm supposed to be working on my leg strength to help with my riding, per Reven's recommendations, and showed me the weight room. 

After that day, what with the whole not dying due to an asthma attack after freakin jogging when I haven't jogged in ages, I've been pushing myself harder when I'm at the stable. 

I guess all I needed was to know I wouldn't end up in the hospital if I tried harder than my comfort level. :)

To use an MLP fandom phrase, I made everything 20% Cooler! 

Monday Menu-Plan #6

I've decided to (semi) continue my diet from last week!

How could I not?

I feel so much more energized and healthier than before. 

Plus, I'm not hungry at all! 

Recap

Last week I mostly completely cut out packaged food and grains and stuck to fruit, veggies, red meat and lots of milk. I did cave a few times - but I kept it to one instant mac and cheese (the outrageously bad for you kind), some oatmeal-raisin cookies (I'm going to need to make a new batch if I'm going to send them to anyone) and one celebratory shrimp dinner at Red Lobster (my trainer told me I'm 95% perfect). 

Breakfast: I had a starbucks drink and a whole grapefruit (sans sugar).
Lunch: a no-sugar-added simple fruit smoothie.
Snack: a slim fast shake.
Dinner: red meat and veggies.
Dessert: milk tea and a cookie.

This week isn't going to be as stringent. Lunch, snack and dessert will be the same... but... Breakfast will continue to include starbucks, but will be with either yogurt with raisins, oatmeal or half a grapefruit (if I said I was full after just half this past week, would you believe me?). And...

Dinner

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Curried Chicken with Rice & Veggies Leftovers Beef and Mashed Potatoes Joe's Crab Shack - Lobster Pot Pie! Chicken with Rice Beef with Broccoli & Carrots Beef with Broccoli & Cheeeeeeeeese

Well, that's all I have to say. Except the next two days need to go by faster - I can't wait to see if I've lost any weight doing this thing!

Don't forget to visit/like my facebook page for more self-serving chatter and my daily smoothie recipes! :D

Disclaimer
I am not a doctor. I did not consult my doctor. This "diet" is of my own making and I came up with it on a whim. I have no idea what I'm doing. I am trying this at my own risk. If you try it, you are trying it at your own risk.

Weigh-In # 4

Why is this late?

Because AWESOME happened!

On Tuesday my trainer told me I'm 95% PERFECT in form! And on Wednesday I didn't have an asthma attack or such after running at the gym! I spent the evening celebrating with an Earl Grey latte from Starbucks*, lovingly cleaning my saddle**, followed by dinner and a movie*** and lots of sweet sleep.

Woohoo!

Starting Weight:  Starting BMI:  Goal Weight:  Goal BMI:  Current Weight:  Current BMI:

197.0 lbs 35 % healthy under 24.9 % 180.0 lbs 31.2 %

*really just a milk tea - aka just tea with milk added (trust Starbucks to fancify it)
**it takes hours when done properly and is akin to triple the amount of time spent meditating
***left-over Red Lobster shrimp and Total Recall

Monday Menu-Planning #5

Awesome grocery trip! Including the last one! I have such a surplus of meat that I wouldn't be surprised if it lasts well into next month.

A contributing factor to that statement is that I am changing up my diet for at least this week. Inspired partly by another friend successfully juicing for a whole 10 days (yay Matthew! you rock man!), I'm girding my loins for an epic battle between my wants and needs. The biggest obstacle is that my husband is not participating.

Summary

No packaged foods (other than my frozen veggies) and no grains. So no bread, pasta, or dessert. Unless it's homemade. And even then it's limited to one (1) chocolate chip cookie a day. 

The Diet 

Morning Lunch Snack Dinner Dessert

(1) venti Starbucks chai and a whole grapefruit (possibly with sugar sprinkled on it) a fruit smoothie! (I'm going to try to make a different kind each day) Slim Fast shake (if I'm about to snap I'll make an extra and add a whole banana) red meat and veggies (a heaping amount of red meat - mmmmm) chocolate chip cookie and milk-tea

With this diet I'm less cutting calories and more just cutting back on sodium, preservatives and other chemicals that like to cause bloat and linger around.

As much as I love losing weight, the advice of a euro gamer dude friend of mine has convinced me to focus on the big picture of being healthy and not obsessively counting calories and driving myself cuckoo.

Note: When cutting a grapefruit in half you want it to come out looking like the picture. Also, click here for 4 Powerful Reasons to Eat Grapefruit.

The Smoothies

I'm not going to do anything fancy-schmancy... just use the fruits I already have on hand. 

I have:

• red delicious apples
• bananas
• strawberries
• blueberries
• raspberries
• kiwis
• grapefruit
• oranges

If I begin to run out (such as with strawberries, which the husband gobbles up much much much too quickly), I'll just pick up more at my commissary. Thank goodness they're cheap there!

& Last But Not Least.....

.....My Latest Grocery Trip!

I bought:

1% milk  dozen eggs butter (2 packages)  orange juice  strawberries  apples  grapefruit  blueberries  raspberries  bananas  lemons

slim fast powder  prepackaged sf shakes (for hubby)  miniwheats cereal (2 boxes - for hubby)  powdered sugar  stew meat (I like buying these because they're cheaper, cook faster, easier to portion out and just as delicious)  frozen veggies  onions  kitty food  kitty litter

Total: $113.04 

Upon getting home I realized we forgot heavy whipping cream, lysol wipes, a tub of oxiclean and toilet paper, so I'm estimating the overall cost will be closer to $130.00



Disclaimer
I am not a doctor. I did not consult my doctor. This "diet" is of my own making and I am came up with it on a whim. I have no idea what I'm doing. I am trying this at my own risk. If you try it, you are trying it at your own risk.

Content Update Compilation

Summary:

Monday Menu-Plan
Wednesday Weigh-In
Calendar Cupcakes

Sorry for the lack of updates... Despite the inclusion of caffeine in the excedrin formula, I still find myself sluggish and capable of not much more than laying around like a boneless husk.

Had to reschedule my riding lesson for Tuesday too, and even then only made it there with the assistance of my darling husband, who tacked up the mare for me. All I did was catch her, clean her hooves and use her neck as a pillow. Yes, I almost fell asleep while on Chloe. I was that out of it. Just typing this much is honestly wearing me out.....

Monday Menu-Plan #3

My grocery trip last week went better than expected! Not only am I going to have a surplus of meat at the start of the next paycheck, but the only thing I need to restock on for this week is milk. :)

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

soup - cream of mushroom mcdonalds   >.< soup - tomato chicken with rice beef with veggies beef over rice chicken with veggies

Wednesday Weigh-In #4

Starting Weight: Starting BMI: Goal Weight: Goal BMI: Current Weight: Current BMI:

197.0 lbs 35 % healthy under 24.9 % 181.0 lbs 32.0 %

At least I didn't go up in pounds... right?   >.<

It's totally the below recipe's fault by the way. Totally. When half of the dozen was left, I found out putting them sans wrapper in a bowl with a little bit of milk poured in and then zapping them in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute resulted in a taste out of this world. Especially when the milk was mixed with heavy whipping cream. 

Calendar Cupcakes: January 2013

Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Chocolate Chip Frosting

aka Diet Busters

Beware! You WILL pig out on these!

The cake is moist and the frosting will have you making more just so you can eat it on it's own. 'Nuff said.

Cupcake Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Cupcake Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 
2. Cream butter, sugar and eggs together until fluffy. Add vanilla.
3. Combine with dry ingredients. 
4. Add chocolate chips and mix to distribute them.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
6. Allow to cool before frosting.

Frosting Ingredients

• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 1/2 to 2 lbs powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 - 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk***
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

***I forgot to buy this, so I skipped over it. 

Frosting Directions

1. Cream butter and powdered sugar together. 
2. Add vanilla and mix in the milk.
3. Continue to add milk and sugar until it reaches the desired consistency.
4. Mix in chocolate chips.