Cloudy and sunny today. Did lots of rushing around this morning and a lot of reading online this afternoon. Cat very pleased because I got the 'right' food for her - she does not like substitutes!
Food: 2173 cals
made the mistake of being ultra hungry when I started cooking, and had eyes bigger than my tummy I now find! Next time, half a pack of rice noodles. Everything I ate today was healthy - mostly unprocessed. A habit I have been in for quite a few years now with occasional slipbacks.
Breakfast: weetabix & milk, roobios tea; Lunch: big salad with avocado, croutons & lo cal caesar dressing; snacks: 85g french baton with 1/2 tbsp olive oil & tomatoes, roobios tea, a corn on the cob, banana; Dinner: whole pkt rice vermicelli stirfried with sliced pork chop, edamame beans, 1/2 pkt stirfry veg & handful of spinach, 1/2 tbsp sesame oil, 1/2 tbsp olive oil
I've drunk at least 3 pints of water, will probably have 1 more before bed.
Exercise today: swimming! 32 laps
Feeling pleasantly tired and slightly overfull. Happy glow.
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Day 11 Truth
I've been reading Sean Anderson's blog today. In his first week he talks about telling the truth to ourselves, about being honest about food with ourselves. I think that is what I'm attempting here, with this online diary really. Plus it is nice to put my thoughts down in a concrete form. I'm also blogging for myself not for any one else to read, but just in case there are followers later, I want to make something clear. For the squeamish stop reading if TMI.
That op I referred to in my last post Day 10 Shape Changes, it was nothing to do with bariatic surgery. I had a big cyst that was starting to interfere with my bending over so my doc felt it ought to come out. Because I am big and fat, instead of nice neat laparoscopic scars, they had to perform open surgery, so I have an interesting railway track running vertically up my belly to my belly button. Nice.
I take heart however, heh, pun intended ;) from a friend who had open heart surgery and doesn't allow her scar to interfere with any kind of clothes she wants to wear. So if there comes a day when I will be able to wear a bikini or show off my flat tummy, having that scar won't bother me now.
Initially it did, now, it is going to be just another part of me I am learning to love.
That op I referred to in my last post Day 10 Shape Changes, it was nothing to do with bariatic surgery. I had a big cyst that was starting to interfere with my bending over so my doc felt it ought to come out. Because I am big and fat, instead of nice neat laparoscopic scars, they had to perform open surgery, so I have an interesting railway track running vertically up my belly to my belly button. Nice.
I take heart however, heh, pun intended ;) from a friend who had open heart surgery and doesn't allow her scar to interfere with any kind of clothes she wants to wear. So if there comes a day when I will be able to wear a bikini or show off my flat tummy, having that scar won't bother me now.
Initially it did, now, it is going to be just another part of me I am learning to love.
Friday, 3 September 2010
Day 10 Shape changes
During that two year period I was much more active. I worked as a carer for 4 months, which involved lots of moving about, quite unlike my usual career of sitting in front of a computer. I was walking most places within a mile radius of my home - to the pool, to the shops, to the park. I learned how to dinghy sail. I went to 6 music festivals which meant I had to hike with all my camping gear from the car park and walk to all the stages to hear the music. I volunteered for charity doing outside stuff.
I guess ever since my operation I have been on a pity me streak. Daft. So what if I have a huge unsightly scar down my belly, at least I am still on this earth and I have my health and the opportunity to change my life for the better. The 'low' feeling today is probably because I haven't had any exercise. And also because the friend who was coming is not now. But really that doesn't matter, because I can have fun by myself. I can do things, choose to go somewhere, find pleasure in other activities.
Weather is set to be fair tomorrow. Perhaps a revisit to the White Horse at Uffington is on the cards tomorrow. Now that would be an achievement. Rather like climbing up the steep cobbled slope to the top of St Michael's Mount in Cornwall in 2005 the year I finally recovered from my strained ligament damage from a fall in 2004. There is something so absolutely wonderful about being somewhere where one can feel on the very top of the world.
Liberation. Freedom. A sense of unity with nature.
Yep, I'll take me a dose of that.
Day 10 Reading in the Sun
Sunny day again. I sat in the garden and read a novel, the first in quite a few weeks. I have been reading non-fiction mostly this year, a lot of self-help, psychology, alternative thinking tomes all geared towards firing me up with enthusiasm to change my life.
I've eaten all the rest of the white rolls I bought yesterday. With sliced ham & sliced tomatoes. And all the roast chicken. Cat helped with that! With the bowl of Cheerios for breakfast, along with 1/3 bar of Cadbury's Dairy Nut chocolate, a banana/strawberry smoothie and a whole pot of Dr Oetker's Onken Wholegrain Peach that brings the day's total to 3409 cals.
I am astounded actually. It's a lot less than I thought it would be. And also it is a lot less than I was used to eating before this past 10 days. Normally all those rolls would be slathered with butter as well, and I may well have had cheese with it, and perhaps a bag or two of crisps - the grab bag size, extra big. And possibly a beer or two, as it is the weekend. And the whole bar of chocolate...cheese & crackers...
Even though I know I have over-eaten today, it is a huge improvement in my eating habits of the past months. Today & yesterday I suppose are the equivalent of my going off course a little, and my mindfulness navigator's job is to bring the good ship back on the right trajectory again.
Good other thoughts about the food intake - I have eaten a decent amount of fruit & veg. If I do feel peckish tonight there is beetroot, carrots and peppers available to snack on. No chocolate craving tonight, which is great. Water consumption is down though, will drink some more before bed tonight.
No exercise today.
Mood today a little down.
I've eaten all the rest of the white rolls I bought yesterday. With sliced ham & sliced tomatoes. And all the roast chicken. Cat helped with that! With the bowl of Cheerios for breakfast, along with 1/3 bar of Cadbury's Dairy Nut chocolate, a banana/strawberry smoothie and a whole pot of Dr Oetker's Onken Wholegrain Peach that brings the day's total to 3409 cals.
I am astounded actually. It's a lot less than I thought it would be. And also it is a lot less than I was used to eating before this past 10 days. Normally all those rolls would be slathered with butter as well, and I may well have had cheese with it, and perhaps a bag or two of crisps - the grab bag size, extra big. And possibly a beer or two, as it is the weekend. And the whole bar of chocolate...cheese & crackers...
Even though I know I have over-eaten today, it is a huge improvement in my eating habits of the past months. Today & yesterday I suppose are the equivalent of my going off course a little, and my mindfulness navigator's job is to bring the good ship back on the right trajectory again.
Good other thoughts about the food intake - I have eaten a decent amount of fruit & veg. If I do feel peckish tonight there is beetroot, carrots and peppers available to snack on. No chocolate craving tonight, which is great. Water consumption is down though, will drink some more before bed tonight.
No exercise today.
Mood today a little down.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Crop Rotation
It struck me today that now I have planted the potato patch I ought to make a decision on what sort of rotation I'm going to have. I have 4 raised beds, the large potato patch, and a section of ground in between some sad raspberries and currants.
Best advice suggests a five year rotation, but I haven't the space for that. So it is going to be 4, I think that will work okay.
potatoes
peas & beans
brassicas & leafy (cabbage, cauli, broccolli, brussel sprouts, kale, spinach, chard)
alliums & roots (onions, leeks, garlic, parsnips, turnips, carrots, salsify, schorzonera, jerusalem artichokes)
and to fit in wherever I can,
sweetcorn, melon, squash, courgettes, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, artichokes, flowers
mmm, hope I get to plant as many of those as I can.
Must order some garlic & raspberries soon.
Best advice suggests a five year rotation, but I haven't the space for that. So it is going to be 4, I think that will work okay.
potatoes
peas & beans
brassicas & leafy (cabbage, cauli, broccolli, brussel sprouts, kale, spinach, chard)
alliums & roots (onions, leeks, garlic, parsnips, turnips, carrots, salsify, schorzonera, jerusalem artichokes)
and to fit in wherever I can,
sweetcorn, melon, squash, courgettes, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, artichokes, flowers
mmm, hope I get to plant as many of those as I can.
Must order some garlic & raspberries soon.
Day 9 More Puff Required!
Went for a walk this evening. Lovely sunny day, very hot, bright sunshine at 6pm.
Maybe I was feeling a bit stressed anyway, but I ran out of puff! Had to sit down on the park benches every so often to stop my back from aching.
A few things could have contributed to this: one, I was wearing MBTs, which give my calves, thighs and butt muscles an extra workout so maybe I was expending more energy; two, it was too hot for me and I wasn't hydrated enough; three, I was just a little tired today from yesterday's exertions down the lottie and at the pool. It has been a few days since I did much exercise. Am so very glad I went, even though it was a struggle.
Have also had a look online for walking groups I might join. There's Natural England's Health Walks finder which found a couple of places I can go to discover walking as a pleasure! For later once I have worked up my stamina a little more. One of the walks outlined by the Goring Gap Health Walks Group is something I think I can manage fairly soon - it is a 3 mile walk altogether incorporating a stop at a nice pub should I wish for a sit down and a drink. :) It's a 12 mile drive so there's that pleasure of driving through pretty countryside as well as walking in it.
Interesting though how a 20 minute walk seems so much harder than swimming for 40 minutes. Cool environment and support of my body in the water probably helps. So while I am getting more used to the walking I am going to start upping the swimming from next week. Another reason for becoming more proficient at walking - I have been learning how to play golf and to truly enjoy the game I have to be able to at least walk through 3 holes without feeling too exerted to keep on going. My coach said the idea was to keep going forward as fast as possible, at the moment that just isn't possible. Plus the swinging action gives me terrible backache, a huge clue to developing my abdominal strength and losing some of that big belly!
Exercise: 20 minute walk around park, slow-moderate pace
Food: 2428
Breakfast: 2 weetabix with 150ml ss milk, roobios tea
Lunch: 2 cups cooked rice with 3 rashers crispy bacon, 1/2 cup peas boiled, a slug of sesame oil (approx 1.5 tsp) soy sauce & maggi seasoning plus Walls Solero
Snack: banana, pork pie
Dinner: White roll filled with sliced tomato and 1 slice ham, 2 roast chicken drumsticks, roobios tea
Water: 3 big glasses & I'm going to have another pint before bed
Middle of night cravings: corn on the cob, 2 cooked beetroot with 1 tbsp vinegar
Slow day, slightly tired out day, happy at monitoring food day. Maybe not always the healthiest choices but it was what I wanted and because I had it I am feeling fine and not deprived. Stuff in moderation.
Yesterday was a big veg day, today has been more about protein.
Maybe I was feeling a bit stressed anyway, but I ran out of puff! Had to sit down on the park benches every so often to stop my back from aching.
A few things could have contributed to this: one, I was wearing MBTs, which give my calves, thighs and butt muscles an extra workout so maybe I was expending more energy; two, it was too hot for me and I wasn't hydrated enough; three, I was just a little tired today from yesterday's exertions down the lottie and at the pool. It has been a few days since I did much exercise. Am so very glad I went, even though it was a struggle.
Have also had a look online for walking groups I might join. There's Natural England's Health Walks finder which found a couple of places I can go to discover walking as a pleasure! For later once I have worked up my stamina a little more. One of the walks outlined by the Goring Gap Health Walks Group is something I think I can manage fairly soon - it is a 3 mile walk altogether incorporating a stop at a nice pub should I wish for a sit down and a drink. :) It's a 12 mile drive so there's that pleasure of driving through pretty countryside as well as walking in it.
Interesting though how a 20 minute walk seems so much harder than swimming for 40 minutes. Cool environment and support of my body in the water probably helps. So while I am getting more used to the walking I am going to start upping the swimming from next week. Another reason for becoming more proficient at walking - I have been learning how to play golf and to truly enjoy the game I have to be able to at least walk through 3 holes without feeling too exerted to keep on going. My coach said the idea was to keep going forward as fast as possible, at the moment that just isn't possible. Plus the swinging action gives me terrible backache, a huge clue to developing my abdominal strength and losing some of that big belly!
Exercise: 20 minute walk around park, slow-moderate pace
Food: 2428
Breakfast: 2 weetabix with 150ml ss milk, roobios tea
Lunch: 2 cups cooked rice with 3 rashers crispy bacon, 1/2 cup peas boiled, a slug of sesame oil (approx 1.5 tsp) soy sauce & maggi seasoning plus Walls Solero
Snack: banana, pork pie
Dinner: White roll filled with sliced tomato and 1 slice ham, 2 roast chicken drumsticks, roobios tea
Water: 3 big glasses & I'm going to have another pint before bed
Middle of night cravings: corn on the cob, 2 cooked beetroot with 1 tbsp vinegar
Slow day, slightly tired out day, happy at monitoring food day. Maybe not always the healthiest choices but it was what I wanted and because I had it I am feeling fine and not deprived. Stuff in moderation.
Yesterday was a big veg day, today has been more about protein.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Day 8
Active day today. Also sunny, very hot, some breezes occasionally. Feeling good.
Food
Breakfast: 3 weetabix with 250ml ss milk, 1 tsp sugar, roobios tea, banana (very full!)
Lunch: 100g (uncooked) wholewheat spaghetti with 120g prawns, 2 tomatoes, 1/2 chilli pepper, garlic clove & 1 tbsp olive oil; strawberries with 2 tsp sugar & 75ml half fat creme fraiche, 2 glasses water
Snack: 2 corn on the cob, boiled plus 2 oz strong cheddar cheese
Dinner: Approx 1.5 cups boiled white rice with sliced pork chop strifried in 1 tbsp olive oil with 1/2 pkt mixed stirfry veg & edamame beans, 1/4 pkt spinach, soy sauce, slug of sesame oil, maggi seasoning, freshly ground pepper (majorly full after this)
Sweet craving around 11 pm: battled this with cocoa drink made with 2 tsp sugar, 200ml milk, 1tsp cocoa powder ( I must get some lo-cal chocolate drink sachets )
Exercise: YES!
1 hour digging and messing about at the allotment in the hot sunshine
40 mins swimming ( 34 laps HOORAY! Half a mile... )
The digging left me with tremble hands after. Maybe not quite so much enthusiasm next time. Pace myself, do some planting or weeding as well. The swimming just was ace. I didn't want to overdo on my first day back in nearly two weeks. Slow and steady to build it up again to the 1 mile I did on 1st August.
Sad news: Our City Council are closing my local pool to fund a new one 2 miles away from me. I guess I will no longer be able to walk to the pool in a year's time...heh, perhaps I will be cycling to the new one instead! With an extra good lock on the bike because new pool is going to be in high crime area. Hmpf.
Some pictures of my day today.
Heh - I'm so happy to see that little shoot. :D
Some thoughts about my food intake today. I feel very full, so perhaps I have had too big portions. Next time I can do without the rice with the meat & edamame bean stirfry; 1 corn on the cob instead of two; strawberries au naturel; cut the oil consumption to 1/2 tablespoon instead of 1 tbsp. And eating 2 instead of 3 weetabix. Well, that was a mistake, the extra one fell out of the packet...got to say that big brekkie kept me going until half two, through work time, digging the lottie AND my 40 mins swim session.
Perhaps I could consider big breakfast, big carbs for lunch, protein & veg only for dinner? And pick up some tiny chocccie thing I can freeze in small pieces and eat one bit whenever I get the urge for sweet chocolatey. Hmm, chocolate. Normally I don't crave it, why now? PMT?
Food
Breakfast: 3 weetabix with 250ml ss milk, 1 tsp sugar, roobios tea, banana (very full!)
Lunch: 100g (uncooked) wholewheat spaghetti with 120g prawns, 2 tomatoes, 1/2 chilli pepper, garlic clove & 1 tbsp olive oil; strawberries with 2 tsp sugar & 75ml half fat creme fraiche, 2 glasses water
Snack: 2 corn on the cob, boiled plus 2 oz strong cheddar cheese
Dinner: Approx 1.5 cups boiled white rice with sliced pork chop strifried in 1 tbsp olive oil with 1/2 pkt mixed stirfry veg & edamame beans, 1/4 pkt spinach, soy sauce, slug of sesame oil, maggi seasoning, freshly ground pepper (majorly full after this)
Sweet craving around 11 pm: battled this with cocoa drink made with 2 tsp sugar, 200ml milk, 1tsp cocoa powder ( I must get some lo-cal chocolate drink sachets )
Exercise: YES!
1 hour digging and messing about at the allotment in the hot sunshine
40 mins swimming ( 34 laps HOORAY! Half a mile... )
The digging left me with tremble hands after. Maybe not quite so much enthusiasm next time. Pace myself, do some planting or weeding as well. The swimming just was ace. I didn't want to overdo on my first day back in nearly two weeks. Slow and steady to build it up again to the 1 mile I did on 1st August.
Sad news: Our City Council are closing my local pool to fund a new one 2 miles away from me. I guess I will no longer be able to walk to the pool in a year's time...heh, perhaps I will be cycling to the new one instead! With an extra good lock on the bike because new pool is going to be in high crime area. Hmpf.
Some pictures of my day today.
 |
| MY NEW WONDER TOOL |
 |
| THE POTATO PATCH LABELLED |
 |
| FIRST SHOOTS |
Some thoughts about my food intake today. I feel very full, so perhaps I have had too big portions. Next time I can do without the rice with the meat & edamame bean stirfry; 1 corn on the cob instead of two; strawberries au naturel; cut the oil consumption to 1/2 tablespoon instead of 1 tbsp. And eating 2 instead of 3 weetabix. Well, that was a mistake, the extra one fell out of the packet...got to say that big brekkie kept me going until half two, through work time, digging the lottie AND my 40 mins swim session.
Perhaps I could consider big breakfast, big carbs for lunch, protein & veg only for dinner? And pick up some tiny chocccie thing I can freeze in small pieces and eat one bit whenever I get the urge for sweet chocolatey. Hmm, chocolate. Normally I don't crave it, why now? PMT?
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