On the Road to Better Health

[bunsofaluminum]

Quote: (I am corny -- and for some reason this song helps me... not to feel too bad or sorry for myself....) -
"Raindrops keep fallin' on my head,
And just like the guy who's feet are too big for his bed,
Nothin' seems to fit,
Those raindrops are falling on my head,
They keep falling...

So i just did me some talking to the sun,
And i said i didn't like the way he got things done,
Sleeping on the job,
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head,
They keep falling...

But there's one thing, i know,
The blues they send to meet me,
Won't defeat me,
It won't be long 'till happiness
Steps up to greet me...

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head,
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red,
Crying's not for me,
'cuz, i'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining
Because i'm free
Nothin's worrying me
Nothin's worrying me...

But there's one thing, i know,
The blues they send to meet me,
Won't defeat me,
It won't be long 'till happiness
Steps up to greet me . . .

Raindrops keep falling on my head,
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red,
Crying's not for me,
'Cuz, i'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining
Because i'm free
Nothin's worrying me
Nothin's worrying me..." - B. J. Thomas

Cheers,
Stephanie

I love it! This was the number one song when I was in eighth grade, and I memorized it in its entirety. I remember sitting on a swing with friends, belting this out while we soared on our swings! What a good way to keep your spirits up.

[VegSeekingFit]

Hi Vegfit, I just came across a home made vegetable broth that sounds very simple and easy to make. No added salt of fat. I haven't made it yet, but plan to soon. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Good day

http://cherryblossomkitchen.com/homemad ... -fat-free/

Hi Ebonyeyes!
Thanks for the link! May give it a go!! Wishing you success McDougalling!!
Cheers,
Stephanie

[VegSeekingFit]

I love it! This was the number one song when I was in eighth grade, and I memorized it in its entirety. I remember sitting on a swing with friends, belting this out while we soared on our swings! What a good way to keep your spirits up.

Hi Buns!

That sounds like so much fun!! I have found that music can help my mood -- belting out songs!! Fun!!!

So, you have given me a crazy idea that I had half-baked.... I walk in the early AM and stop at a park for the water fountain. The swings are awfully tempting.....

Cheers,
Stephanie

[VegSeekingFit]

Hi!

Hoping problem solved on the 900 things that folks at work wanted from me... I'm not even sure how long it would take me to count that far. Anyway, tried my approach and will see if that puts it to rest.

Fun! Buns' post has inspired me to try Congee. Today!! So, calling it an experiment. Here's what I put in the crock pot:


10 Cups water
1 Cup Brown Rice ( I only had Jasmine, noted that Arborio is recommended)

4 heaping t. minced garlic

8 oz. chopped carrots
8 oz. chopped mushrooms

A couple of handfuls chopped onion

A bunch of grated ginger
A sprinkle of dried tumeric (wish I had fresh, but no...)
Wow... too much parsley (thought there was a lid on it and poured too much in pot, but took some out...)

Anxious to try this tomorrow... smells good!!

Cheers,
Stephanie

[VegSeekingFit]

Friday means it is weigh in day again.

I am down 1.4 lbs. this week to 117.0. A total of 35.8 lbs. lost since I started on 1/5. I'm now a couple of pounds away from my weight when I got married - was about that weight from teens - late twenties.

My intent is to continue on eating primarily MWL and calorie density principles with minor deviations (fruit, 2-3 regular plan compliant foods/wk, tofu last weekend of the month). I like MWL because it has helped me to more clearly define rules around what is and what is not a food that I would eat. Are you a fruit, vegetable, whole grain, or bean? If not, what are you doing on my fork?? (Better be a good reason...) I love the MWL foods and don't find myself really craving anything off plan. Earlier on, I did crave pizza a couple of times and satisfied that by using fat free whole wheat pita as the crust and topping with tomato sauce and veggies.

Today's Eats:

B: Honeydew melon, strawberries, potato waffle, black beans

L: Tomatoes (Yellow cherry from garden - delicious!), nectarine, split pea soup over baked potato

D: TO come - Oven fries, veggies

I liked the congee that I made earlier this week! Next time will not add as much ginger and will double down on the onions and mushrooms.

Had one weird lunch this week - was a day where I had meetings scheduled every hour on the hour from 9-6. So, no opportunity to eat lunch, but will get HANGRY if I don't have lunch. So, I packed things easy to carry with and eat "quietly"... 2 bananas and 2 corn tortillas filled with smashed black beans and onions. Wasn't my favorite lunch, but it filled me up and kept me going through a ridiculous day.

Continuing on with the no coffee, no diet pop, minimize sodium. Still has not been a problem.

Weekly Movement:

Daily AM walks continue. One day had to use the treadmill because it was pouring, so was a shorter walk. Exceeded my July goal for 4.5 hrs/wk. Continuing to ignore my resistance training goal. I do have a week off in August and think that I will use that time to get in the habit of doing something...

Date...AM Mi....Time...Pace....Total Daily Mi.
7/20....3.9...…..61...….15:39....4.6
7/21....0.0...….000...….xxxxx...3.4 * 2 miles walked on TM in AM
7/22....4.8...…..74...….15:39....5.7
7/23....3.4...…..53...….15:30....8.1
7/24....3.6...…..56...….15:37....6.7
7/25....3.1...…..49...….15:48....6.2
7/26....3.9...…..63...….16:12....7.8

Moment of Zen:

* Appreciating time spent with my husband and son. Lots of music. Lots of laughter.

Quote of the Week (A lift much needed!) :

"I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people goin' by
I see friends shakin' hands, sayin'
"How do you do?"
They're really sayin',
"I love you."

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
What a wonderful world " - Louis Armstrong

[Idgie]

I am having a really similar experience with not really minding MWL foods, and liking the clarity it provides. I feel so happy to have companions like you on this journey. Thank you!

[Rosey]

I keep seeing people mention congee what is it?

[Idgie]

It's a rice soup that's like a very thin porridge. It's usually served savory, but not always. The rice is cooked down until it's basically a thickener to the broth. Before I went veg, I used to make it with chicken stock, green onions, garlic, ginger, etc. I haven't made it in a long time; might have to pick it up again. It's a really common breakfast food in east Asia (also called jook).

[VegSeekingFit]

I am having a really similar experience with not really minding MWL foods, and liking the clarity it provides. I feel so happy to have companions like you on this journey. Thank you!

Hi!

Glad to hear your are enjoying the foods. You are like a recipe genius too - if I may say so!

Love this forum - nice to not always feel like a square peg in a round hole.

Appreciate you!!

Cheers,
Stephanie

[Idgie]

Aw, thank you! Teamwork! Being on this plan, it's surely a benefit to have some chef training, but I think even without it, I would be grooving on this food, because in general, it's so simple and easy to make. Way less fussy than meat and sauces and stuff.

[VegSeekingFit]

Aw, thank you! Teamwork! Being on this plan, it's surely a benefit to have some chef training, but I think even without it, I would be grooving on this food, because in general, it's so simple and easy to make. Way less fussy than meat and sauces and stuff.

Your chef training or natural ability shines.

Cooking doesn't come easily to me. I (may) be getting better at it. I love the easy recipes you posted that I read and think ... even I could do this.

Teamwork, like you said. . If you ever need ideas on how to get people off you back, I may be good at that.

Cheers,
Stephanie

[Idgie]

[VegSeekingFit]

Thanks, Idgie for this best motivation ever posted here!! So glad to have met you on these boards!!!
--------------------------------------

Wanted to post to re-visit my own motivation for this journey -- because it wasn't weight loss -- although that is one measurement that is quantifiable.

Motivation #1 - Sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. 2017 was maybe my worst year ever - physically, psychologically. This way of eating changed the psychological rather quickly and gave me hope and made me feel like a "real" person again. Also, opened my mind to find alternative methods to cope with different situations and think out of the box. Physically, feel better every day.

Motivation #2 - Fear of not being independent as I age. My mom is in a nursing home. She has been there for over 3 years and is relatively young. None of the people there have a way out. It depresses me every time I go there. I have been able to change my thinking from an interaction and support perspective, but know that I NEVER want to live this way.

Goal: I wanted to build habits that would allow me to eat "black and white" on this way of eating like I have done for 15+ years with no animal products. There is not a gray area here for me. I am repelled by animal products (watch some PETA videos) and would NEVER go there.

Results: This is a work in progress. I have tried to make negative mental associations with "non-foods" (stealing that term from someone on these boards...) This helps at work - where all kinds of crap are out there for the eating. Also helps at parties where I try to eat immediately before, but then stay away from all food (unless it is one where I brought a dish and can scarf down veggies or fruit). Have challenges around certain foods. Mainly, savory.... For instance, went to a graduation party over the weekend and cayenne pepper/season salt pretzels were featured (all over )… Had to keep in my mind that they were made of butter (and gross) - or I could have gone over the edge. Not being a person of moderation, knew I couldn't have one. (Now I'm not sure they were made with butter, but had to convince myself that they were... or, who knows?)

Anyway, I think that I won't be able to measure success until I am much older. For now, will keep on in my black and white way - with rules - that are off MWL, but regular plan compliant - that allow for some treats.

I think that the more times you repeat, that you create a habit or a coping mechanism -- which should help avoid relapse. Holding onto this thought tightly and will be journalling for awhile.

Cheers,
Stephanie

[Idgie]

Thank you so much for this post. I am going to go right now and think about this, and journal about it. It's really important stuff!

[Rosey]

My honey laughs when I sing that B.J. Thomas song. I have always loved his music.