Sunday, August 31, 2014

Musing about mindless eating

The turkey moussaka turned out better than I expected.  So did my appetite.  I overate two days in a row.  I do wonder what the problem is where I eat mindlessly.  I am not proud of those days where I eat mindlessly.  I need to get rid or stop buying the trigger foods.  I have to stop the mindless eating or I will end up gaining the weight back.  /

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Reflections on today

What I actually ate was a lot.  I am now not sure if I was in a manic state.  It has been crazy to say the least.  I feel much calmer now.  I consumed about 3,000 calories which includes my menu for today.  I want and need to lose weight.  I am just reflecting on today.

Friday, August 29, 2014

What I actually consumed today

Breakfast
No entry

Lunch
Pepperoni Ham Pizza Sandwich
Crackers

Dinners
Pepperoni Pizza Sandwich
Crackers

Snack 1
Almond hazelnut sundae

Snack 2
Almond pecan hazelnut sundae


Thursday, August 28, 2014

New blog entry 8/28/14

Yesterday I wrote a blog entry that would have been difficult to understand or incomprehensible at the very least if someone else were to have written it.  I did manage to follow today the plan (almost) to the letter though I have not eaten any beans for breakfast.  However, despite that, I have learned that planning meals certainly takes out all of the frustration I had in the past few weeks.  Here is what I planned to eat today below:

Breakfast
Beans and bacon

Lunch
Chicken barley soup
Corn muffin

Dinner
Chicken barley soup

Snack 1
Popcorn

Snack 2
Peaches

Snack 3
Peaches

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

1800 calories

I consumed just below 1800 calories today.  Well, I hope I did.  I am supposed to be on a 1500-1800 calorie budget.  The word diet is very limiting and carries a big weight to it.  I ate a lot of protein and vegetables today.  This is a good thing.  I guess spacing out how much and what to eat at a certain time doesn't always work.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Journal for today

I consumed over 1200 calories today.  There isn't much food in the house for now so I am doing the best I know how.  That was deep down the main reason why I had to take a break from planning meals in advance today.

Here is what I ate below:

Breakfast
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
2% milk

Lunch
Bread and bacon

Dinner
Reduced fat crackers
tuna

Snack 1
Popcorn

Snack 2
sliced peaches

Monday, August 25, 2014

Journal entry for 8/25/14

Today I had to change the menu for the most part.  I consumed less than 1600 calories today.  I spent the day consuming mainly snacks and breakfast foods.  It isn't the healthiest day but it is better than snacks and processed junk during the day.  If only I had fruit on hand.

Breakfast
Yogurt

Lunch
Corn flakes and milk

Dinner
Corn flakes and milk

Snack 1
Popcorn

Snack 2
Peanut butter crackers

Snack 3
Plain oatmeal

Sunday, August 24, 2014

What I actually ate v My plan Menus 8/24/14

What I actually ate

Breakfast
Raisin oatmeal

Lunch
Baked chicken
Macaroni and cheese
Bread
Green beans

Dinner
Chicken Barley Soup

Snack 1
Chocolate

Snack 2
Peanut butter crackers

Snack 3
Broccoli

What I planned to eat 

Breakfast
Raisin Oatmeal

Lunch
Chicken
Vegetables
Starch

Dinner
Chicken barley soup

Snack 1
Peanut butter sandwich

Snack 2
Chocolate

Snack 3
Plain oatmeal

Saturday, August 23, 2014

My entry for 8/23/14

Breakfast
Raisin Oatmeal

Lunch
Chicken barley soup
Corn muffins

Dinner
Chicken barley soup
Honey wheat bread

Snack 1
Peanut butter sandwich

Snack 2
Broccoli

Snack 3
Orange
Chocolate

The menu is just over 1870 calories, which is above the 1800 calorie limit, but I have decided not to feel guilty about it.  I didn't exercise today either which didn't help matters.  I should have left out one or both of the chocolate pieces.  Everything else was okay.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Today's entry 8/22/14

Breakfast
Apple and Orange

Lunch
Beans and Potatoes
Baked Chicken
Yellow Rice
Corn muffin

Dinner
Beans and Potatoes
Baked Chicken
Yellow Rice
Corn muffin

Snack 1
Peanut Butter Sandwich

Snack 2
Pineapple chunks

Snack 3
Apple

So far, so good.  Doing things once at a time daily is something I wished I had done on a more consistent basis.  This is less than 1660 calories worth of food.  I am just concerned that this is not the healthiest diet I could come up with for a day.  I could lessen it but eliminating processed foods seems almost impossible.  If I could rid myself of unhealthy processed foods, then I will be happier.  The best I could do is to eat in moderation.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Today is 8/21/14

Breakfast
Corn muffins
Turkey bacon
Bacon and cheese omelet
Sausage
Grits

Lunch
Oven fried chicken
Broccoli
Oven baked fries

Dinner
Broccoli
Baked chicken

Snack 1
Apple

Snack 2
Pineapple chunks

Snack 3
Orange

I have learned to plan my meals wisely.  However, I still have the issue of keeping to that plan.  Yet the changes aren't too big, but they are minor.  That I will learn to have to do.  This above menu is a total of 1775 calories, which is within the 1500-1800 calorie limit.  This is an example of a day that I wish to have.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Menu for today...8/20/14

Breakfast
Pineapple chunks

Lunch
Chicken
Corn muffins
Rice or Barley
Butter beans-peas

Dinner
Chicken
Corn muffins
Rice or Barley
Butter beans-peas

Snack 1
Corn Muffins

Snack 2
Apples

The above menu is what I consumed today.  It was just under 1900 calories, which doesn't worry me.  I tend to have a perfectionist complex when it comes to how I do things.  It didn't make things better, it made them worse.  It overwhelmed me and caused quite a bit of stress.  I had to measure out my foods today.  I was surprised by how little of the good stuff I eat compared to how much of the "bad", "processed" foods I eat.  I already knew this, but I didn't feel deprived.  I do however need to bake biscuits and muffins with healthier ingredients or scrap them altogether for example.  Even changes I need or have made during the course of a day bother me even less.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Planned menu in advance 8/19/14

Breakfast
Pineapple chunks

Lunch
Hamburger
Fries

Dinner
Raisin Oatmeal

Snack 1
Peanut butter crackers (3)

Snack 2
Raisins

Snack 3
Apple

This above is less than 1350 calories.  I tend to over-think and under-do things.  I am amazing at thinking things through but application of the things I have learned is quite difficult.  I have struggled with this for a long time now and I realize that sometimes I have to do some of the work myself.   That is what I have finally been doing lately.  I made a plan in advance for today and I plan to do the same thing the next day and the next days hereafter.  Planning certainly makes life easier.

Monday, August 18, 2014

Planning in advance

I have actually followed a meal plan and while it could be a struggle, but the struggle is worth it.  Planning meals in advance requires some patience but like everything in this weight loss journey, it is worth it.  I consumed over 1600 calories today which makes me smile.  I write that phrase a lot because despite whatever mistakes I make, there is always a lesson to be learned.  Now if only I read the labels and measure my food more often.

Here is what I consumed today
Breakfast
Raisin Oatmeal

Lunch
London Broil
Brown Rice
Green Beans

Dinner
Hamburger
Fries

Snack 1
1/2 Peanut butter sandwich

Snack 2
Prunes

Snack 3
Apple

Sunday, August 17, 2014

I spent a mighty long time...

I spent a long time making blog entries full of sample calorie plans. If only I did this earlier, then planning meals in advance would not have been such a struggle.  Granted, they are subject to change, but the purpose is to stick to the plan.  I realize that going over or under a certain limit isn't unforgivable.  It is something that I need to do to track all of my meals.  That is all.  I made a mountain out of a mole hill.

Here is the menu for today:
Breakfast
Raisin Oatmeal with cinnamon and honey

Lunch
London Broil with Roasted vegetables
Green beans
Honey wheat bread

Dinner
Barley

Snack 1
Peanut butter crackers

Snack 2
Yogurt

Snack 3
Orange

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Renewed game plan

Today is a day that I have learned something new.  I have to work hard at losing weight.  I am not as lazy as I thought.  I cannot stay with the mindset about being lazy.  Nor can I stay with the mindset concerning being self-conscious.  I already know that.  Today, my mind is renewed.  I have to learn what I think too.  I gained weight for a number of reasons, one of which was a poor diet.  I have struggled with a poor diet for years and I have had great difficulty losing the weight lately.  I am here to say that my mind is not only renewed, but refreshed.  Today, I have learned that eating in moderation is vital in weight loss and I have not felt guilty about that.  I have to do the work myself.  I do need and have support yes, but I have to work hard at it.

Here is what I ate for today.  I realize that it is important to plan meals in advance and to track what I have actually eaten.  Planning meals in advance has been a struggle for me however.  I would like to be able to do so.

Breakfast
Boost Glucose Control Shake

Lunch
Tomato-Avocado salad with cheese

Dinner
Wheat toast with strawberry preserves
Turkey Bacon
Scrambled egg

Snack 1
Prunes

Snack 2
Blueberry Yogurt with Honey

Snack 3
Wheat bread slices


Friday, August 15, 2014

Fasting

Today I fasted a meal this morning.  I realized that I needed to fast but I needed to learn how to fast.  So I didn't eat breakfast.  My lunch and dinner were quite heavy.  I consumed 370 calories worth of food per meal.  Snacks are 250 calories due to the Boost drink.  I do not feel guilty today as I am okay.  However I still struggle with eating healthy.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Things I did and things that I should

Breakfast
Vanilla Yogurt with honey

Lunch
Couscous
Stuffing
Baked Chicken Wings

Dinner
Baked Chicken Wings
Bacon

Snack 1
Peanut butter crackers

Snack 2
Pineapple chunks

Snack 3
Sweet potato pudding

I consider myself a perfectionist when it comes to how many calories I consume.  However, I went over the 2200 calorie mark.  I did exercise today but not even exercise has been of help to me.  I consumed too much sweet potato pudding.  I also consumed extra couscous and stuffing after lunch.  I regret not measuring my food, which should be very important when it comes to weight loss.  It isn't easy to go on a restricted calorie diet.  The "perfectionism" isn't helping.  It should not be hard to go on an 1800 calorie diet.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Today's musing 8/13/14

I consumed 1860 calories today.  I am okay with that but I am supposed to consume a maximum of 1800 calories per day.  I feel okay that I have done so the past few days.  However, I consumed 2 servings of honey raisin oatmeal instead of one which was a bit too much.  It brought the number of calories way up.  It was 440 calories with half a cup of raisins which was also 280 calories.  I didn't do a bad job but I could do better.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Over 1850 calories

I may have consumed too many dried fruits today.  I did.  I ate just over 1850 calories which is over the limit that I was supposed to consume.  I don't feel bad, however.  I feel okay, just as long as I don't consume anymore.  I was supposed to consume 1/3 cup of craisins but instead consumed half of the craisins which increased the number of calories I consumed.  Here is what else I ate today.

Breakfast
Watermelon

Lunch
Moussaka

Dinner
Sausage Links
Wheat toast with hazelnut spread

Snack 1
Vanilla Yogurt with honey
Banana

Snack 2
Dried fruit

Monday, August 11, 2014

Food journal for today

Breakfast
Fiber one chewy bar
V8 Splash Juice

Lunch
Couscous
Chicken Breasts
Green Beans

Dinner
Moussaka

Snack 1
Banana
Cheese sandwich

Snack 2
Cheese sandwich

Snack 3
Lime Yogurt with honey

So I went to my nutritionist and I worked out the same issue that I did with her.  She recommended that I consume between 1500-1800 calories per day.  It is doable.  I know that I can do it.  The problem is how do I go about consuming all of those calories and eat healthy at the same time.  Also, how do I do this without feeling so overwhelmed?  I did however consume more than 1800 calories which is just outside my range.  Other than that, I am okay with it since it was barely outside of the range.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Applying myself

I know why I want to lose weight.  The trouble is the application.  Nothing seems to work.  It sounds so good and easy in my head but trying to apply what is in my head is harder than I think.  I do eat a variety of foods.  That is a good thing.  What is not good is the fact is that it is the wrong kind of foods with the right kinds of ingredients.  For instance, the baked spaghetti casserole has healthy ingredients but the dish itself is unhealthy overall.  I have issues that I need to work out such as this.  I am bad at eating in moderation.  That is something I need to work on.

Saturday, August 9, 2014

My own lesson

I keep thinking it deep down even though I don't usually say it to myself: I can't.  I hope that those won't be two words I use together often.  What is even worse is that I believe it which deep down I have done.  I have a tendency to eat more processed foods and less fruits and vegetables.  This weekend I ended up with rotting, frozen fruit and more pounds.  I learned that lesson as I wanted to eat strawberries but they ended up frozen and dried up.  So did the raspberries.  So did a few of the blueberries.  So did a few of the oranges. What would possess me to be fruits that are going to end up spoiled and thrown away anyways?  Why don't I just buy the chips, cookies, and crackers?  They last longer and they taste better.  I gravitate towards those.  That is the problem.  The hardest thing to do is often the most productive.  Cookies and chips especially not eaten in moderation will certainly not produce the same benefits as those fruits would have had.  That much I now know for sure.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Friday's menu

Breakfast
Fiber One chewy bar

Lunch
Turkey Pepperoni with cheese
Pretzel Chips

Dinner
Honey wheat toast
Hazelnut spread

Snack 1
Lime Yogurt with honey

Snack 2
Peanuts

I have consumed less than 1800 calories today which is something that I am proud of.  Now what I have to do is how do I consume this many servings of fruits and vegetables.  What does constitute a serving of a fruit or a vegetable?  Those are things I need to consider during the course of a day.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Short entry 8/7/14

I have used what foresight that I had today.  I have a long way to go, but I do not feel bad about what I have consumed.  Every day is a lesson, even today.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Having foresight

Breakfast
Almonds
Post Great Grains Raisin, Date & Pecan Cereal
Milk Reduced Fat Milk 2% Great Value

Lunch
Bread, Arnold's 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Banana, fresh, 1 large (8" to 8-7/8" long)
Tropicana Orange Juice (8 oz),
Banquet brown'n serve sausages(3 links),
Cream Cheese, Great Value, 1/3 Less Fat Neufchatel Cheese

Dinner
Nabisco Wheat Thins Ranch
Lays Garden Tomato Basil Chips

Snack
Pretzel Chips

Snack 2
Nabisco Wheat Thins Ranch

I wish I had the foresight that I lack early in the day.  I consumed more than 2200 calories today.  That is not a good thing but I admit that I need to lay off of the snacks and the processed foods and eat more whole foods.  I wonder why I buy them only to consume them later.  That just makes no sense to me.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

My lack of consistency

Breakfast
Fiber One Oats and Chocolate Chewy Bar

Lunch
Kool-Aid, sugar sweetened prepared
Lays Garden Tomato Basil Chips
Turkey Pepperoni Sandwich

Dinner
Almonds
Planter's Dry Roasted Peanuts
Hazelnut Spread
Lays Garden Tomato Basil Chips
Pretzel Chips

Snack 1
Wheat thins

Snack 2
Neufchatel-Cheese Sandwich on wheat

Snack 3
Cereal and almonds

Looking at the above plan, I say that this is too much of the bad stuff and not enough of the good stuff.  The good stuff means vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.  Hardly anything up there would qualify.  That is not something I am proud of.  I admit that I have not been consistent, but now is the time to be consistent.  I consumed a surprising 3,300+ calories today.  That is just way too much for me.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Trying to eat healthier

I tried to at least eat healthier.  For the past three days, I overate.  Today I didn't overeat, but I admit that I went over the calorie limit.  I am going to be okay with that.  I felt guilty yesterday about eating so much. Today, not so much.  Next week, I will go to Florence for my appointment about nutrition, exercise, and medication.  Rather, the focus will be on medication and exercise.  I exercised quite a bit today but I believe that I overexerted myself.  I also need some guidance when it comes to eating healthy so I guess I may ask a question or two about my health and my eating habits.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Overating

For the past two days I overate.  I am not proud of that.  In fact, I feel somewhat ashamed.  I wish I could go back and showed restraint, for I allowed the food to take total control.  I lacked self-control and that is supposed to be the old me.  Today is a lesson for me.  I can do that.  Everyday is a lesson learned.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Today's entry 8/1/2014

Breakfast
Catfish
Couscous
Broccoli

Lunch
Potato Chips
Turkey-Pepperoni Sandwich

Dinner
Raspberries
Blueberries
Strawberries

Snack 1
Raspberries
Sugar free Ice Cream

Snack 2
Onion-Sour Cream dip
Whole grain ranch crackers

Snack 3
Pretzel chips

I spent an hour or so shopping today after I exercised.  I was a little bit hungry or so it seems.  Above is what I ate today.  Thankfully I consumed fruits and vegetables which is what I was supposed to consume.  Maybe I should lay off of the chips and other processed meats.  I need help cutting it out of my diet but processed foods are everywhere.  How do I consume a diet without processed foods?  That is the most difficult part.