Green is my new favorite color

Even though, I am not consistently 'on track' the format never leaves my mind.  I do try to avoid overt carbs, like bread, pasta and bakery things outright.  But I went on a bit of a carb load, eating a loaded baked potato, onion rings and I even tasted the pumpkin pie I made (not all in one day).  But it was nothing over the top and felt good to eat something I wanted.  But I find that my gym time really decreases my interest in carbs.  Funny huh?

I have been going 3-5 times a week to ride the exercycle and walk the treadmill.  Tomorrow I meet with a trainer who will outline some exercises that should help with upper body and other fat burning things.  But I find I really like the gym.  I either listen to Pandora or watch the TVs if they aren't on all the news stations or sports.  But I do read the subtitles, so time passes quickly.  And after an hour, I feel so good.  I am trying to get myself ready to going back to a fulltime routine back in the office starting late November.  I am hoping I will feel the weight changes and the benefits, so I will want to continue to workout when my life routine changes back to what it has been for 40 years.

I also am motivated to increase my exercise and reduce my weight because I seem to be having some BP issues that I want to get control of without medicines.  I meet again with my MD the end of this month and want to stabilize my BP so she won't put me on medications.  I have to take my BP daily and record and then show her.  I don't like how it ranges so know that exercise and weight loss will make a huge difference. And BTW, I was down 2 pounds today.  I haven't weighed in over 3 weeks, so 2 pounds in 3 weeks is very good for me.  I am vowing to only weigh every few weeks so I don't become discouraged with the scale, rather to motivate myself with how I feel.

And yes, I am committing to having something green on my plate at least twice a day.  As I've mentioned before, I do not care much for veggies and don't see them as a tasty part of a meal, but I am focusing on as much green as I can get.  I have met a man at the gym who is doing something similar to BFC, but I think it is probably more LowCarb/HighFat.  His picture posts on Facebook show the most beautiful meals and there is alot of green on each one.  So I decided, that I can eat other kinds of veggies, but green will be predominant on my plate.  Breakfast today, spinach, mushrooms, feta cheese mixed in scrambled eggs.  Very good, actually.

So think green means more to me than environmental protection, it means, lowering my BP.

Go Green.

OK, I am going to start again.  I have seen that most of the bloggers I follow have all renewed themselves following Labor Day or the first day of fall or something close to any of those.  So I feel right on track.

I joined a gym a couple of weeks ago and it took my awhile to feel free to be my self.  I have gotten to the exercycle and really enjoy that while listening to my music.  They have TVs with various programs, that I watch for distraction also.  I will be getting a free 1 hour training session and so will hope to be able to use some of the other equipment.  The very best thing about this gym, is that it has a lap pool, which I love.  So I walk or swim and then I allow myself to sit in the sun.  It feel like a reward for sweating.  I really hate to sweat and I think because of the menopausal thing, I sweat more than I like, without working out.  So I really have to talk to myself about the sweating on purpose.  I have always been someone who 'overheats' quickly.  But so far, I am being gym faithful and enjoy it.

I have started my way through Wheat Belly and find it interesting.  I also have cut back on fats.  Or I should say, just using good portion control.  I made the pumpkin muffins in the book on page 259.  I really liked them.  I didn't use alot of sweetner but found that a little butter is good or I broke one up and mixed into greek yogurt with a Stevia and a couple blackberries was quite good.  My daughter and her husband are doing Wheat Belly for 6 weeks.  They did it before at the start of the year with great success, but now they are preparing for a cruise and they just plain want to feel better.  They are adventuresome chefs so I like to hear what they eat.  I'm not too adventuresome any more.  Just sort of focused on increasing vegetables and using no wheat.

I know Jorge has his new focus on women over 40, but I really do believe that over 60, there is another major change in metabolism as well as other less attractive things.  By following Jorge's plan I do not drop weight.  I stay the same but feel different in my clothes.  I basically have stopped weighing and doing what I know I should do and let my clothes be my guide.  Someday I will see my weight change but it takes a long, long time.  I believe the exercising is helping my attitude about the weight so I see that as an extra benefit.

My heart goes out to Rosalie and I think of her often.  Life hands us so many challanges.

Getting back on the horse

It has been awhile since I wrote.  I was so discouraged last time and so stopped.  I didn't eat any differently, just felt embarrassed that I do not lose weight like others.  I had a nice chat with my beautiful daughter who inspires me and she has always encouraged me about my weight.  She has been following Wheat Belly since the first of the year, having been inspired by me and my interest and results with BFC.  So it is always fun to hear what she is eating and how she just hops right back onto the WB when she wanders off.

But I felt like I had been off blogging and just stopped feeling that I had anything positive to say.  Well, I am still following BFC, but can't get myself to use MFP.  I have entered food into it to get the numbers so I know what I have left but I just don't have the discipline to track every thing I put in my mouth.  I would rather not snack, unless cucumbers or 10-12 walnuts, and not have to enter everything.  

The last couple of days, I have taken pictures of some meals, which my DH thinks is the dumbest thing ever. But, I kind of like it.  I love seeing other peoples food and it gives me ideas.

I was so darn proud of myself with this breakfast.  Zucchini, bacon, and eggs.  I even had some left over I ate the next morning.

My best go to meal is a grilled hamburger.  I added blue cheese and we had a tomato, mozzarella salad that I put on lettuce so I WOULD EAT MORE VEGGIES!

So I am back blogging.  I am finding I no longer tempted by lunches out and I love my cobb salad with dressing on the side.  So I'm focusing on the good and keeping myself on the straight and narrow.  

Disappointed but not totally discouraged

I finally weighed in yesterday after following BFC for over a week.  Woo Hoo down, 0.4 lbs.  Really??? This morning I was up a pound.  I know that this will take longer for me as I am older but criminey, this long?  I had hoped for at least a pound.  I know I will not drop like others who lose a pound a day, or 2-4 per week, but I know that I did this faithfully last fall and for 5 weeks stayed within a pound.  BTW, I also stay at this weight when I eat a bag of potato chips every day.

Someone has suggest dairying for MFP every day and I really thought I was being careful enough, but I think I will try that going forward to see if it makes a difference.  The only thing, besides the crab sandwich and chowder Friday, I can think of I did out of line, was Sunday night I made a mixture of hamburger, mushrooms, sour cream and cauliflower and poured it over zucchini noodles.  A rendition of a family recipe called Sour Cream noodles.  I had 2 helpings and ate until I felt very full.  I know that is a mistake and regretted it all evening.  I am eating vegetables at almost every meal and no second portions for me.  When I see what Rosalie eats, I wonder if I am eating enough in the mornings.  That is hard for me.  I'm learning to eat salad bar with lettuce, celery, mushrooms, turkey, small amount of blue cheese dressing for lunch from Whole Foods.

I am enjoying my job more and more.  But I am sad to hear how my previous job is treating all my co-workers.  I find I cannot talk to them too much as I revert back to the bad feelings and stress I had before I left.  I am always surprised how such a negative environment can physically effect so many people.  I have been given a gift with this new job and the time I have to work from home this summer.  I do not want to take that for granted.  When I review how the past 2 years have impacted me, I am less worried about my weight than the stress and fear from my past job........so disappointed but in the bigger scheme of things, not totally disappointed.

Back in the Routine

Friday afternoon we took off in the motorhome for the beach.  It is only an hour and a half away so it's easy. Bodega Bay has a great harbor and we go often.  After we got set up, we headed out for a ride and arrived at our favorite place.  Spud Point Crab company.  The good news is that I split the world's best crab sandwich and the award winning clam chowder.  In my past life, I would have eaten the entire sandwich on the french roll and the whole container of chowder.  So I am choosing to look positively at the choices instead of whining about the fact I had white bread and flour in the chowder.  Being in my motorhome makes me so happy.  I think it's because it's like a little cocoon and I love meeting the nice people who RV as well.

The rest of the weekend, I ate according to BFC.  Sat breakfast was at another favorite spot.  I had the spinach, crab omelet.  I left the potatoes and toast on the place.  Whew, that was hard.  Lunch was crab cakes(yes I know there is filler) and green salad.  Dinner was BLT, with Avarado flax bread, that I think Amber (meandjorge.com) rates as reasonable.  Sunday, I just had coffee with heavy cream and we were home in time to make another BLT for lunch.  Snack was celery with cream cheese.  Dinner was roasted cauliflower and BBQ tri tip.

Breakfast today was scrambled eggs with cream cheese and left over cauliflower.  Also 2 pieces of bacon.  I am really taking to heart what Dawn said about veggies.  I think of her every time I go to eat something, forcing myself to add veggies.  I'm hoping it will soon become routine.

I did buy the24/7 Diner recipe book.  It was home when I got her yesterday.  I went through and marked some recipes to try.  I did notice they are not all BFC compliant but I can pick around that.

Well back to work.

No Changes So Far

Yesterday, I met my boss for some side by side computer time.  Since the building is still being redone, we meet in any room with outside light that isn't covered in dust or so distracting due to noise.  This room will ultimately be my assistant's office so in a month or two the dry wall should be painted, carpet on the floor and window dressings will improve this.  He/she will also have a real desk and chair.  The progress is nice to see each week and soon I will be back in a people filled environment.  But for now...

Dinner last night was as I mentioned.  Leftover chicken with celery, mushrooms, spinach, some sour cream with the chicken.  Actually pretty tasty.  My DH thought it was better than the night of original chicken.  I just wish I liked chicken and thought it was satisfying.  I eat because it's lower fat and so many people love it and serve it.  I prefer red meat.

This morning I made myself a green smoothie but didn't do it quite right and so basically drank thick ground spinach.  I actually didn't mind it but would have preferred what I have made in past.  I just seem to forget how I did things so will need to write them down.  For lunch I had 4 sections of akMak crackers for 1 carb, with cheese, and two bites of left over hamburger.  The akMak was the only wheat carbs I've had for a couple of days.    I also had seen a recipe for grain free cereal at satisfyingeats.blogspot.com.  I doubled the recipe and so have alot of it.  I should have used more sweetener and it was a little bland so would add salt next time but it is full of nuts and seeds and crunchy.  I hope to have it for dinner tonight with a little more stevia and unsweetened almond milk.

I am not losing any weight, in fact went up .5 lb today.  I know several months ago when I was really good, I never really lost more than 5 lbs in several months.  I think my age effects it and I am not being very careful with portion control. I want very much to lose weight.  As you may have noticed, I am not posting my weight because if I can't get it to drop, I don't want that number out there.

I am trying to look for and make new menu items rather than just eat the basics.  All of you other bloggers invent recipes.  That is so impressive.  I tend to be a throw together type and am very poor at following recipes.  I always tweak something which usually works out well, but recently not so much.  I'm hoping that by trying new recipes, it shakes my metabolism up a bit.  I'm also pushing veggies which is hard for me.  Maybe mentally I need to reset for success.  And remind myself it's a lifestyle AGAIN, not a diet.

Staying Faithful

I need to start with dinner last night.  I was so excited to try the cauliflower cheese patties that I had seen on Pinterest but changed out flax meal for the panko crumbs.  Also DH insisted I use the Manchego cheese rather than cheddar.  Well!  They were awful.  I will try to make them again and use the panko for holding power. Does anyone know what carb free flour works in the same way?  I would like to try meat loaf but need something to bind.   I like all the other fun things to do with cauliflower but this was awful.  Fortunately, I had made hamburger patties with cheese and bacon mixed in and DH grilled them.  They were terrific.

I made my zucchini with eggs and little cream cheese mixed in for breakfast.  I love the addition of cream cheese to scrambled eggs.  That breakfast is so fast and tasty and I feel so smug eating vegetables early.  I ran to Costo for dog treats and bought a slice of pepperoni pizza.  It seems, I had read somewhere that to eat the top off pizza was OK.  I sure hope so because it was delicious.  I could have had another slice (with the bottom removed of course).  I also had some nuts and string cheese in my purse so that helped me out.

For dinner I will be using left over chicken with spinach, mushrooms and may put over cauliflower.  I'll use some sour cream and cheese to see if I can make a sauce.

Signing off

Thank You Melissa

Today I drove to work at a normal time.  Something I don't do regularly as I am working from home until our new building is complete in October. (That is a whole other story) I have been working like this since June so I am out of the habit of trying to eat something good on a schedule before heading out.  Anyway, I found this 30 second milkshake from Melissa at Satisfyingeats.blogspot.com (I hope that's right)  I found it through the FB BFC stream.  I must say I really enjoyed this.  I used 3 packets of Stevia which turned out to be too much for me but I will be making again. http://satisfyingeats.blogspot.com/2012/03/melissas-30-second-weight-loss-shake.html
As you know I am still learning this blogging stuff so if I inserted this link wrong, I'm sorry and let me know how to do it differently.

It's salmon season here in Northern California and it may be in other areas as well, but I know we hear alot about it and we get great fish.  So that's what we grilled last night. Put a thin layer of mayo, season, sliced lemons and it was terrific.  I always feel so healthy when I eat Salmon.  Dr Weil always talks about how good it is for you..   Made the same coleslaw with the night before and finished with Purple Rosy's cheesecake muffins with jam.  How can any of us complain when we get to eat such great food.

I am staying focused on maintaining my portion control and find that I resent not needing to eat more to feel satisfied but I'll get past that in time.  I also am making myself think about vegetables more.  I've never been a big fan of veggies and always tried to get by with 5 fruits rather than 5 veggies to satisfy the 'rule'.  I know that never counted but geez, I've fooled myself for a long time.

Thanks for the comments from several of you who I have followed for quite awhile.  You are who I respect and have been motivated by.  If not for your blogs, I would have given up along time ago but just reading the blogs has kept BFC on my mind and wanting to try again.

It's Monday

I am still learning how to do this.  I would like to put other peoples blog on the right side of my blog, since I follow several and they are so helpful.  But I don't know how to add to my site.  Some of your blogs are wonderful but intimidating because you have figured it all out.   So I have asked my smart daughter to help me. She is a consultant for Stella and Dot Jewelry and has an Open House tonight, so she will help me after, her life settles a little.   As I think I said earlier, since I am have turned 60, I want to keep myself current and relevant and so learning how to do this is important to me.

Yesterday our beer can chicken was a success.  I wish I liked chicken more.  It is not a go to food for me.  I find it 'diet-like' and bland.  Unless I can hide it in sauce or mayonnaise, I would chose beef over chicken anytime.  But this was good and I will use the white meat today in a salad or something.  I made cole slaw and grated broccoli in it, using a home made dressing which was great.  I also made Purple Rosy's (http://purplerosy.blogspot.com/) cream cheese muffins which were good but not quite sweet enough.  I didn't have the xylitol so used Truvia.  I have ordered Nature's Hollow jam from Amazon as I can't find it in my area.  That will make them a little sweeter.  But they are a great addition to my meal choices to grab and go.

I had more than 2 glasses of wine last night, unfortunately, a bottle of wine split between two people is more than 2 glasses, so will back off the wine. I know that has slowed my weight loss in the past.  My husband and I love the evenings outside with a good bottle of wine, the water fountain running, the dogs sniffing around and just fun talking.  So I will switch to Zero Sobe Lifewater to make the habit transition easier.

Today I will bravely post this blog on the Facebook Belly Fat Page so more people will see it.  That means I'm committed to the life style change and blogging.  It also means I can thank those who do blog and inspire me.

So today I have returned to my new eating style.  I am trying to stop saying diet.  I am following Jorge Cruise Belly Fat Cure and have tried and stopped several times.  Not that I think it's hard, or wrong or feel deprived but just because I have given in to my whims.
I started with breakfast of bacon, eggs stirred with zucchini.  It really was delish and I had to remind myself to limit my portions.  I love to eat and so quantity is very easy for me to fall into.  This time around my focus is on the right things but more than that, portion control.  So I will need to eat slower and not take seconds.  I think I'm in a pretty goo place for that right now so will enjoy focusing on something different than learning a new way to eat.  Since I love the BFC food, I don't feel deprived (OK, except for pasta).
At this very moment, my husband has beer can chicken in the smoker and I am going to look for a way to make cole slaw without the usual sugar.  So I'm off to explore a new recipe.

I'm trying to get myself started blogging and focused on my weight loss.  I think this whole blogging thing intimidates me and makes me feel like I am sharing way too much information about myself.  But since I'm quite careful, I will push through those feelings to get started again.

I love the BFC Facebook group.  Try it and you find alot of great people and great ideas.  I have downloaded a couple of recipes from there from the blogs of others that I will try this weekend.  If I like them I will try to post, or try to learn how to insert them into this blog.

Still working from home and liking it.  I will be thankful to return to the structure of an office and having people around me but for now, the down time is good.  It seems to take a long time to recover from a bad job and the damage it does to one.  I finally see that I'm more relaxed and less strained.  And I love the new job.

More later after I try new recipes.

I am far behind in this blog.  I have just come home from a wonderful 4th of July trip to Jackson Hole, WY.  We flew to meet my son and his family.  They were staying in their Toy Hauler and so we were lucky enough to get a motel room on the same grounds.  We visited Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, briefly.  But since I also visited Dairy Queen twice, I can't say much for my diet.
But I did have a marvelous time with my grandchildren.  They are growing up so fast and I lost track of their ages.  I still think of them as a year or so behind what their actual ages are.  My son and DIL were wonderful and relaxed, so that made for a very relaxed time for all.
Now I have returned home, back to work on the computer and will start laundry tonight.  Already looking forward to my upcoming weekend to catch up.
I will be doing some soul searching about how I want to proceed with my weight loss/life style program.  So will talk about that soon.

This girl has become my biggest companion, now that I am working from home.  She has been allowed to stay inside with me and becomes very vocal when I put her outside.  Funny how quickly spoiling can occur.

I am starting the blog to teach myself about myself.  I love reading other people's blogs, learning things about them, from them and have admired the discipline it takes to keep up a blog.  I also admire people who have good writing skills, something with which I struggle.  My husband used to edit my Christmas letter.  So I stopped sending them.

So why now?  I am turning 60, have started a new job, am working from home for a time limited period and I need to lose weight.  So it's hard to think how to label this blog.  The weight loss by itself is no different than others who struggle with losing weight, but this is about my struggle.  I hope that using this new idea will move me successfully into my new decade.