All the time cooking.

I have gotten several requests to know more about this "green sauce" that I spoke of the other day...

Here is a link to the WeightWatchers recipe. I did a few things differently...I sauteed celery and fresh jalapenos with the onion...and didn't use any olive oil, just Pam in the pan. I used two big heads of fresh broccoli, 2 cups of fat free chicken broth, and 1/2 cup of low fat cream cheese. I liked it, but I salted and peppered it pretty generously and had it on wheat angel hair with a scidge of shaved parmesan (so if you are counting WW points, it is a bit different than the recipe). Someone in the review section made a comment about not pureeing it...I think I concur as long as you chopped the broccoli pretty small. It made quite a bit. I had it twice, my sister and her husband had some (which they liked but found a bit bland...I forgot to tell her to salt/pepper it after heating it up), and I froze another third of it for a 'rainy day'.

Today I made a Cooking Light macaroni and cheese, and it is good, really good. It is creamy and rich for the times when Annie's isn't going to cut it. BUT, it is a bit spendy...the cheese alone cost $10. (Also...I built the recipe in WW and got 11 points, but the nutritional information on Cooking Light has it at 9 points, and I used whole wheat rotini instead of cavatappi, so not sure where the difference is.)

While on the topic of cooking...last night I made "Chicken Pot Pie innards" (I simmered boneless, skinless chicken breast in chicken broth, added pearl onions, diced potato, mixed veggies and Heart Healthy Cream of Chicken Soup. I had to doctor it with a little bit of butter, skim milk, and lots of pepper and a few healthy dashes of Tabasco. We ate it for dinner with crescent rounds, and that didn't quite get me the experience I was craving, so today I baked a pie shell that I cut into strips (before baking after laying it flat on a baking sheet) and we used the pie crust strips as garnish for a more thorough Chicken Pot Pie experience.

All of these foods I prepared in a way to maximize volume and minimize WW points, and I think they all turned out fantastic. Plus I got to feed my family (I delivered to my sister and my son) some homemade, nutritional food!

(OH, and I mixed an Angel Food cake with a can of crushed pineapple in its juice for a yummy dessert. ONE point for 1/8 of a cake. Now that is some counting I can live with.)

Food logic

FINALLY, I have gotten a significant amount of writing done---all on an alternating diet of Milky Way cake and chips and dip. No food to speak of other than those two food groups. I realized that was getting WAY out of control, so I finished off the cake so that I would quit eating cake. I will get to work on the chips after I get another section of my paper done.

Research Support

So far, my research summer support has paid for the following accomplishments:

• I have watched every episode of The Office.

I never watched it originally because it made me SO uncomfortable. I get embarrassed by characters on television. I have to turn away or change the channel. I watched on HULU and when I needed a break, I would switch to something less stressful for me, like Law & Order: SVU.

• I have mastered all crops (except for one) on Farmville.


• I have committed to THREE new research projects.


• I have committed to teaching an extra course this Fall, which needs to get prepped.


• I have spent 18 days at the beach.


• I have seen: Super 8 (Twice. I loved it.), Hangover 2, Bad Teacher, Horrible Bosses, Transformers 3.


• I got all the way through Couch to 5K week 7, then regressed back to week 4. I wanted to run a half in November, not looking that good.

Now the time is starting to get REALZ. I have 5 weeks until my Fall semester starts and I will be teaching two master's courses (same course, two sections) and a freshman course. In the mean time, we are going to Texas for 6 days and Denver for 5 days. Plus I will certainly spend a good deal of time celebrating my birthday and I am going to Biloxi to see Kathy Griffin. I still need to get significant work done on some research, but instead of working on that tonight, I decided it would be MUCH better to bake this cake and watch Toddlers and Tiaras on Netflix.

Looks like I will be teaching every summer from here on out since I took this summer way more OFF than I really should have. DAMN.

So, slept came

and had me under its spell for FOURTEEN hours. Oh my. I got up at 12:45pm today. I woke up once when Mr. P was getting ready for work and I was so disoriented I thought our house was flooding...it was raining and I could hear it just pouring in, but really it was Mr. P in the shower. I did take a generic sleep aid, but I think my lack of good sleep the last few nights contributed as well.

That meant my day was severly cut short. I ran and took 6 minutes off my 1.5 mile time from Monday. I think it was because today sucked ass weather wise, and I just wanted to get my butt home. I went to my office because I have to get my stuff for my conference which starts tomorrow, and I have yet to finalize my presentation...but that isn't until Saturday morning. I have to go by myself tomorrow, so I will have tomorrow afternoon and night to work in the hotel room. Mr. P will join me on Friday so we can watch the Cotton Bowl together with some friends at the conference. Would it interest you to know that my presentation is on procra$tination and its effect on tech.nology use in the workplace? (I put that $ and . in there because people in my field are known to google titles, and I really, really, don't need them to find this blog.) OH, that isn't interesting? mm.

So today was such a bummer weather wise, that I counted the days until it is officially spring. 75 days. Damn. To combat my rainy day blues, I made this:

It is Texas Caviar that Mr. P and I are going to eat on spring mix with some rotisserie chicken for dinner tonight. Isn't it bright and cheerful? Yes, it is about 16 cups, because I don't really know how to make less than that. My kids will finish it off while dog sitting this weekend, I am sure.

Oh, and if you like Sonic Cherry Limeaids, Diet Cherry 7-Up is a pretty tasty subsitute.

Grapes are the new gold

I went to the store to get some grazing foods for the rest of today and tomorrow. Mr. P wanted Chinese, but I was feeling fruit/cheese/crackers/hummus/crudites/pretzels/perhaps a nacho.

Note how I wrote crudites? It is 2K11 and I am all about Klassy in 2K11.

Anyhow, I got some grapes:

I dare you to get how much I paid for said grapes.

No, really guess.

Pretty close.

TEN DOLLARS and THIRTY SEVEN CENTS.

Fuck me. No wonder in 2K11 I never bothered with WeightWatchers more than 2 days in a row, and all but quit running and gained 20lbs back. Grapes cost some freaking jack.

BUT no worries, I got them anyway and now I can graze on this:

I hope everyone finds 2011 to be the best year yet. I also hope to learn to crochet...which I have dubbed a necessary two-handed hobby that prevents food from being put into mouth while hobbying. I hope to put together a puzzle my school bestie sent me for getting tenure. I hope to get my shit together with respect to healthy, healthy, healthy. I hope to work on my relationships with my adults. I hope to grow the balls to ask for what I want/need at work to be really happy and to feel like the equal that I know that I am in a fairly predominant male office. I hope Mr. P gets the boat of his dreams and we have a divine summer on the water.

Here's to hoping on hopes.

what I did today

• Slept through the alarm set for 5:30am and managed to drag out of bed at 7am. I set the alarm so early because starting next Monday I have to teach a class at 8am and the heat makes it impossible to run at times other than 7am and 7pm. I like TV at 7pm.
• I weighed in DANGEROUSLY close to scootching up a decade. I immediately logged into http://www.weightwatchers.com/, updated my weight and made a note to self to get shit together. asap.
• Started week 2 (note that week 1 happened several weeks ago) of my half marathon training. AND AND AND, I warmed up and stretched before I ran. Pain free the first mile (well, my hip/knee crap, lungs? different question), then a bit of pain the second mile. Managed a decent time for me. Stretched again. Iced hip.
• Made a frappe with my new Mr. Coffee Cafe Frappe. YUM. (Impulse buy yesterday because I was sure that it would help me through said early morning class starting next week.)
• Watered plants. Fell in love with my baby cucumbers all over again. Tried to decide how many times we are going to have to have Thai food based on the 450 peppers that are growing.
• Showered.
• Wrote three blog posts and deleted every.one. of them.
• Quit the gym. OF COURSE, you have to quit by the 20th so you don't get charged an extra month. I bet they change the form every day so that you are always a day late. fuckers. I want to quit the gym!
• Changed my address at the post office.
• Went to Chick Fil A for lunch and to read to decompress for class.
• Taught an hour and a half class about writing queries.
• Taught an hour and a half class about accounting for corporate bond issues.
• Graded projects while eating a Fage 2% with Honey yogurt thing. I almost threw it away because it was weird. But then it got a bit warmer and blended and then I liked it...but maybe not 4 points liked it. I added some Corn Flakes. Did you know that Kellogg's Corn Flakes contain high fructose corn syrup? Yeah, I didn't either.
• Came home.
• Made HOMEmade salsa/pico. Tomatoes, red onion, homegrown jalapeno/serrano/habanero peppers, fresh corn, black beans, garlic, cilantro, salt/pepper, red wine vinegar. DAMN it is good. and fresh. and delicious.

Now I am waiting for Mr. P to get home from his run, and we are going to eat the salsa/pico stuff on corn tortillas with some refried beans and a bit of 2% cheese. We have 8 days left in this house, and it can't happen soon.enough.

OH.MY.GOD. I have the Bachelorette on and I think one of the dudes got a tattoo with her name on it....what the hell man??? psych.o.

How was your Monday?

EDITED TO ADD: My iPod had died, and when I charged it the date/time was funky, so it logged my run at May 5, so it isn't showing up with my Nike girl. My next run (Wednesday) will be there.

pshaw...I can make that.

So, we are in the midst of packing up our kitchen so that we can accomplish step's one and two of the worst moving plan in the history of earth:

1. Get Mobile Attic (this Thursday).
2. Pack most of our stuff into Mobile Attic.
3. Have Mobile Attic moved to Penny's yard.
4. Move rest of stuff into one bedroom apartment for 30 days.
5. Move out of tiny apartment into mom's apartment for 7 days. Repack some stuff and shove into mom's apartment. Throw rest of stuff away.
6. Have Mobile Attic moved to street in front of new old house.
7. Unpack Mobile Attic, paint bedroom Sea Glass (which is the new white, by the way).
8. Have refrigerator delivered.
9. FINALLY BE THE FUCK MOVED after 2 months of horrible, random shuffling around.

Anyways, today is the day I decided I NEEDED one more planter of watermelons, AND that I should find plans online to build my own adirondack chairs while we are staying in the apartment. And a gardening bench. Because of course, a tiny apartment is the perfect setting for an amateur woodworking studio. Also, I spent about an hour researching the cost of a weekend trip to NYC because I feel like I need to jog in Central Park, eat a chicken salad BLT at Carnegie Deli and eat fluffernutter cupcakes and Mr. Misty ice cream cones. All seems very reasonable.

Do you ever make unreasonable or weird plans that you are determined to see through because if you don't, your life might be completely ruined otherwise??

Oh, and I gained 4lbs this week. McDonald's TWICE. Pizza. Wings. Fried Chicken. No jogging. I am so lame, I have got to get my shit together, I am 12 weeks out from our first half marathon of the running season. YIKES.

but...I like to eat candy

We had a great weekend. After work on Friday we hightailed it down to the beach. Got up early on Saturday morning and got loaded on the pontoon boat and had a really good day--we snorkeled, floated, ate food, repeat for the entire day. I am so glad we went, the oil is SO close to ruining a really gorgeous area.

Got up this morning, and went out for a leisurely breakfast, then Mr. P drove home like he was trying out for NASCAR so we could get to our school's baseball games. We are in the NCAA tournament, hosting one of the brackets actually. We won both games today, one easily, the other one was a nail biter. I am actually washing my exact outfit now so I can wear it to the championship game tomorrow afternoon!

But I digress, on to where the post title is coming from....

On the trip I was looking through my backpack for a band-aid and found a baggie of candy from when we went to Belize in MARCH. Tonight after we got home from the baseball game, I ate the gummies out of it, which left Mr. P's licorice candies. I handed them to him, and he said he hated stale candy and was going to throw it away if I wasn't going to eat it. Then we had this conversation:

Me: I love stale candy.
Mr. P: I hate it, I am going to throw this away.
Me: Yeah, that is okay, I tried to eat a piece and convince myself I loved licorice and it didn't work.
Mr. P: WHAT?!?
Me: I like to eat candy.

so. apparently I ate a sticker.

My bed was the exact.perfect temperature this morning. My alarm went off at 7 and I rationalized that I ran nearly 6 miles yesterday, so I probably SHOULD take the day off of running, or at the very least I should wait and run after my office hours this afternoon.

FINALLY, I drag myself out bed, get cleaned up and finally get dressed. Change because the pants I picked made my ass look big. Change again. (NOTE TO SELF: Your ass is big, get over it.) Grab a yogurt, plum and my last tiny box of Peyton cereal. Fill up water bottle. Drive through Chick Fil A to get a giant soda. Park 1/2mile from office because I didn't get to work in time to get good parking.

Decide to multi-task and eat my plum on my walk. I notice the little produce sticker on one side, but decide that I can't really peel it off with one hand, so I will just eat around it.

Get to office and only the plum pit is left.


hmm.

and racing season begins!

Our first 5K of 2010 was on Saturday. I had a personal best of 37:11 seconds which is FIVE MINUTES faster than my first 5K of 2009!!!

We have this weekend off from an organized race, then a 10K on February 6, 5K on February 13, and the half is on March 7. I would like to find another one for the weekend of February 20 because one of the races we like is being held on March 6 and we will have already left for the half since it is several hours away.

I would love to think that after logging so many miles that I would have a good loss this week, and things were looking good UNTIL Friday. After the 10'er we went out for Mexican food and then I ate macaroni and cheese. No fruits or veggies to speak of. Then Saturday after the 5K things were going great with banana pancakes (wholegrain with flax seed), then a yummy salad for lunch. Then we met our half marathon buddy for drinks which led to hash browns at Waffle House. Then today I had a salad after I scavenged the house looking for chips, then broke down and had chicken fingers. and FRIES.

I have heard over and over and over this week about how "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels" and since I haven't been thin in EONS I am tempted to call bullshit since cheese dip and chicken fingers taste awesome. I guess recency effects are ruling me for now.

We shall see how the scale reacts to my ode to sodium. But the kinda very cool thing about this being a life.style not a diet is that I always have a chance to get it right the very.next. meal and I never really throw in the towel and completely revert.

Here's to yogurt, Kashi and fruit in the morning!

fried circuits!

If any of you read Shelley's blog you know that she has awesome trainers and she does a bunch of exercises via circuits. I mentioned on her blog awhile back that in her honor I was going to give a circuits class at my gym a try. THEN on Saturday, the instructor for the class was out having drinks with several other trainers (where we were having drinks) and I opened my drinky mouth and said I would be there today.

I was. It was TOUGH. and pretty awesome. I have NO core strength, and the abs/core workout in Body Pump is so thoroughly insane in this edition, I likely won't improve much in that class because it is at the end and I am drained so I don't have great motivation to look for substitute exercises. But back to circuits, It was 10 stations...each one you do for 30 seconds, then cardio for one minute (I jogged around the indoor track, duh), then back to the same station for another 30 seconds then cardio then SWITCH. I was super sweaty and dog tired. I will be back next Tuesday!

On a different, but related note...I am now at TWO days of not going over my daily points. Usually I am into my weeklies on Mondays because I justify working out making me hungry. Tonight, I, for the first time on this journey, made box macaroni and cheese. Annie's Homegrown Organic Whole Wheat Shells and White Cheddar. OH.MY.GOD. (said in the style of Janice from Friends). It was SO good. I stir fried a bunch of veggies to have with it, and I swear I passed out kind of a little bit I was shocked that it was BOX mac and cheese and, and, AND it was well within my points. SO well within my points and what I had already eaten for the day, I could have eaten.the.whole.box and would have only gone over my POINTS by .5 for the day. I logged it. I had it in my bowl. I had it salted and peppered. I clicked open the microwave to heat it up...then I dumped it in a Rubbermaid container and slapped it in the fridge. Instead I had a yogurt breakfast...for dessert, for half the points.

I think I didn't eat it because I have eaten SO many boxes of macaroni and cheese by my.self. that I need to break that cycle even IF the points are there.

How about you? What are your triggers...even the healthified ones?


OH, before I head to bed, a few of you asked about hooping (thanks for caring, by the way)...
No hooping for me today because I had to be at a meeting, but the DVD that I am practicing with is a Hoopnotica trial version that my friend lent me. I requested the next two DVDs from Netflix, and I will let you know how they go. Luckily the hooping class is so popular it is offered now on Tuesday AND Wednesday, so I get to go tomorrow! I have been practicing, so tomorrow I might get to learn a TRICK. I am very CAPITALLY today.

Saturdays as they were meant to be...

I am LOVING today.

Mr. P and I got up early and completed a 5K trail run. I have never really done a trail run, let alone a timed trail run. It was fun, but sort of sad because I didn't get to enjoy any of the scenery, I could only look down, look down, look down and try not to trip over tree roots or roll my ankles on rocks. I had to grin because as I came around the final corner I could see Mr. P checking me out for dirt...he admitted it awhile later. My time was a little over 42 minutes, and I was sort of disappointed because I thought I might beat my old time, but then Mr. P told me he was 5 minutes off his normal pace, so that made me feel a bit better.

Then we went to the grocery store to pick up fresh jalapenos for the TRIPLE batch of chili we just made...it took 2 hours just to get it to simmer, but it is SO SO SO worth it in the end. It is NOT point friendly, but considering this is the first Saturday in probably 6 months that I still have weeklies, plus all my activity points, I don't.even.care.

We also went and picked up supplies for our Halloween costumes, Mr. P and I are going to try to replicate these dudes (we have purchased hula hoops, clear shower curtains, duct tape and silver spray paint):

I just popped in some jalapeno-cheese corn bread and have caught up on some farming while we snuggle on the couch and watch football. I think after some chili and corn bread I will be having a nap, then out tonight with friends to watch our game.

THEN, if that wasn't good enough, last night we had dinner with the family, then browsed the mall a bit where I got Mr. P this ornament

and then we went on a movie date to Couples Retreat. Plus, tomorrow, we are going to the same pumpkin farm as last year and then working on pumpkins and costumes tomorrow afternoon. (I think I might spray paint my pumpkin silver.)

Interestingly (to me) when I was looking back for the post about the pumpkin farm from last year, I read the few posts around it, and I made chili the same weekend. We are definitely suckers for tradition!

I think his hair is in the trash

One of the great things about Penny et al. moving to Alabama is our new founded family dinner night each and every Wednesday evening. Penny, Teddy, Eli, CK, CK2, Mr. P and I gather and go out to eat at one particular spot that we used to take CK and CK2 for dinner when they were just a year or two older than Eli is now. Tonight, as usual, Eli was the star of dinner, even though it was slightly at Mr. P's expense.

Eli was sitting in between CK and Teddy, and in the midst of coloring, this conversation took place:

Eli: MR. P., where is your hair?
(Mr. P is not bald per se, but does wear his do "high and tight" if it were.)
Penny: Eli, where do you think his hair is?
Eli: In the trash.

Then we all died from laughing right there at the restaurant. Well, except Mr. P and he took his sweet time reviving us. OH, and then we got laughing really hard just TALKING about this clip:

what else goes with habanero mustard?

Last weekend when Mr. P and I were getting our groceries we happened upon Habanero Mustard...we are both HUGE fans of the hottiest hot foods so it went right in the cart.

Yesterday for lunch we had tiny ham and swiss sandwiches with the mustard. YUM. Now it might have helped that we were in the middle of the lake on a perfectly awesomely gorgeous day, but still...Last night Mr. P wanted more food that we could eat with the mustard so we got some cheddar sausages...mine was outstanding. Sadly, Mr. P dropped his two on the floor, but he rinsed them, then microwaved them, and still thought they were tastey. I also found some veggie eggrolls with wheat wrappers that worked well with THE mustard.

Now we are at a loss...most things that we are coming up with to go with the mustard...hot dogs, cheeseburgers, corn dogs, mini-corn dogs, don't really go with having to weigh-in tomorrow. IDEAS???

P.S. Should I be concerned that Mr. P is GIDDY over discovering a Bridezillas marathon on WE?

my name is HP and

I love Costco and an empty house.

Even though CK2 moved out over a week ago, we have barely had two nights at home together since then...my Dad showed up for two days, my cousin from Virginia that I hadn't seen in 6 years was in Alabama for business and she visited the latter half of the week, actually we just got back from taking her to the airport, and we should have a stretch of a week being home alone. (Then I take off for a weekend with my friends from high school.)

On our way home from the airport we decided to cruise around a Costco to see if it was any better than Sam's...we have a Sam's in our town, and we would have to drive an hour to go to shop at a Costco, so it would have to be really good because I don't dig riding in the car, but...OH.MY.COSTCO. I am in complete love. They have all the stuff I like, Kashi, cheese, fruit, boneless/skinless chicken breast in two portion packets (perfect for empty nesters, like myself and Mr. P), lots of delicious looking stuff. We didn't join and shop today, because we didn't have a cooler with us, but one night this week I will be feasting on horseradish cheddar cheese on multi-grain crackers, and maybe a piece of grilled chicken mixed into a bowl of couscous pasta salad....mmm.

I also saw an INCREDIBLY tacky AWESOME chandelier that I totally want to have even though it is quite ridiculous. Check it here. I want to put colored Christmas lights in it. I can not even believe how much I want it. I just left Costco two hours ago, and I had to look it up online as soon as I got home (they only had gold, and I wanted to see it in chrome). It would be an incredibly stupid buy at this point considering I live in a rental for now, and I have no idea what/where we are moving into next July.

Speaking of moving, we got this email from my mom today:

I will be moving to [redacted] Apartments sometime around Oct20 to nov 15-excited, mom

That was the complete message. It made my stomach hurt, but as my sister pointed out, there is good news---apparently she realized I wasn't keen on the moving in with me plan.

On the way home the weather was weird...first we saw these low, low clouds:

Then it POURED. Then the sky looked like this:

Now I am in complete heaven watching a Criminal Minds marathon on my new chaise that Mr. P bought me last Friday. Z's will be fast approaching I am sure. I think we might try to go to the lake for a few hours tomorrow, or we might be TOO lazy and watch television all day and do mock fantasy football drafts and eat take out Mellow Mushroom.

It was fun just to get to ask

I think many of you know that my sister moved to my town last week, and our houses are 4.2 miles apart. We have accordioned most of our lives....we lived together, then far apart, then closer together, then VERY far apart, then closer together, then far apart, then further apart, and now close together for the first time in 9 years, exactly today, because we moved to Texas the day after my sister got married, and today is her anniversary.

Did you get my super awesome symbolism? Get it, like an accordion? My mom plays the accordion---by choice, if that gives you any insight....

Today after class I was getting ready to go to lunch and I got a lightning bolt. DUDE, your sister lives here, maybe she can go to lunch?!?!? So I texted her, and boo, she was busy, but it was GREAT that it was even possible. In retrospect she is probably glad that she was buying her new router because here is how the end of lunch went:

Me: I am ready for my check.
Server Girl: Here you go, I will take it when you are ready.
Me: (Putting my credit card on the receipt) All set.
Server Girl: (WALKED AWAY)
Me: (in my brain) What the fuck?
Server Girl: (comes back) Can I get you a 'To Go' cup?
Me: Sure, I'm all set.
Server Girl: (comes back with soda in a paper cup) Whenever you are ready...
Me: (in my brain) WHAT THE FUCK?

So I snatch up my card and my receipt ready to go pay my own damn self and that is when I realized I put a Chick Fil A gift card down instead of my credit card.

oops.

P.S. I was NOT at Chick Fil A.

when in doubt, FLUFFERNUT

This week I have tried to jump on the eating breakfast bandwagon. I started with the Kashi/yogurt/fruit combo, and I am really enjoying it...but I know me, and I will get bored shortly....which got me thinking back to when during the winter Swistle wrote about her love of her baked oatmeal recipe, and I have been wanting to try oatmeal with accouterments ever since...okay, okay, I will wait if you want to go look, BUT even though she is completely awesome, come.back.

As I spent time this week thinking about oatmeal, I remembered that I bought some steel cut oats a few weeks ago when Amy challenged us to create a whole grain meal. (Which I did not do, by the by.) However, as I was thinking about oats, steel cut oats, little snippets of those Fluffernutter cupcakes kept butting into my brain and confusing me.

So, guess what I did? I made up a batch of steel cut oats:

Then I added a tablespoon of peanutbutter, and nearly TWO tablespoons of marshmallow creme. OH MY.

I tallied the points: 5, but it took me awhile to eat (which I like), and was delicious (which I love), and I actually enjoyed it more than the cupcake (it didn't taste better, I am not HIGH, but had elements of healthy and decadent...not just decadent) and now 2 episodes of Nurse Jacky later (THANKS, Nilsa), I am still feeling quite content on the hunger front.

Now we just have to see if I can stay out of the marshmallow creme..... (I won't tell you how I calculated the Points for the whole jar just in case I lost my mind and ate it.)

OH, and thanks for all the well wishes regarding my empty nest...but do not fear, I am FINE. Mr. P is on his way home from his last moving chore, bringing giant Low Cal Diet Cherry Limeades...then maybe we will be having some naked time in the...well, ANYwhere we want!!!

Where do the fat people exercise?

Greetings from NEW YORK CITY!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, I had a great day, and it was really fun to check in on my comments and see so many wonderful people sending me good wishes.

So this will be quick because dudes, my sister is taking me to brunch where supposedly there is creme brulee french toast. frittatas. specialty cream cheeses. chocolate fountain. mimosa. mmm.

BUT, before you get all frowny on my unhealthy eating...check out my girl <-----. That is right you are not seeing things, after my class yesterday (which went very well...whew), I did Central Park, walk/joggy style! (My title comes from the fact that I saw a TON of people exercising, but none that were even chubby...what is THAT about?)

Whoops it is raining and I am going to need time to try to find a Hello Kitty umbrella on my way to the train!

nachos taste like guilt....

I wrote a blog post last week about the goals I have set for myself, and the ways I was going to reward myself when I reach those goals.

I left one out, and it has been gnawing at me all week.

When I first started this journey to healthy, healthy, healthy, I completely cut out one of my favorite meals.

For those POINT tallyers (I am not sure that is even a word, but I am sticking with it), that is a whopping 32 points, which is more than I am even allotted for a whole day's worth of eating. But look at the calcium, the fiber, the iron, the saturated fat. Yikes. Anyway, if you have never had these nachos, DON'T EVER DO IT. They are super delicious, and especially with a Diet Coke and a great book. mmm. Back to the story. I cut these out, completely. With a small caveat. I promised myself that when I lost 40 pounds I was going to have them.

Then I wrote that post that was all sanctimonious with prizes and not one little mention that I planned to reward myself for losing 40lbs with 79 grams of fat at one sitting. I was sitting pretty at 39.8 lbs lost last Monday. I knew that this was going to be the week I was going to have the nachos as my 40 lb reward.

Today when I weighed, I was down 1.2 lbs, so that has brought my total lost in 2009 to 41 lbs. I am now 85.77% of my January 5 weight. And even though I broke that 40 lb barrier, I am NOT going to get those nachos.

I had them yesterday.

le fait de manger propre

Aujourd'hui est le jour que j'ai décidé que j'essaierais de manger propre. Pour l'instant, il me tue parce qu'apparemment je soutiens le marché d'aliments traité et je ne l'ai pas même réalisé.

OH wait, sorry. I just watched, Ne le dis à personne, which is Tell No One from Harlan Coben's book of the same name. Oh man, I follow Harlan on Twitter and I feel all goofy and weird when he posts normal stuff like, "my kid has a funny bathingsuit" because I super love his books, and when my sister first moved to New Jersey which is where he lives we worked out a plot to try to go to his house and ask him to please.please. write a little bit quicker, but then we chickened out, OH, but the movie was a French movie, so I was feeling all frenchy. OH, and anyways, back to what I was saying:

Today is the day that I decided I would try to eat clean. So far, it is killing me because apparently I am nearly single-handedly supporting the processed food market, and I did not even realize it. I have had watermelon, blueberries and a kiwi for breakfast:

After I ate this, and watched the movie and started this post I started getting antsy, like if I stayed in this house one second longer I was going to have a partially hydrogenated corn syrup sandwich (on white bread)...so I took off to work. I got a bunch done. Then I did my campus 5K route and managed to get through all 5 K's still doing the running motion. So whoo hoo!!

I went to the store to pick up a few "clean" eats, and decided on black beans and brown rice, with homemade guacomole (WOW), salsa and organic, all natural cheddar cheese...I was so hungry I snacked on some delicious cherries while I prepped:

Here is my complete dinner...yeah, it looks pretty gross in the photo, but it was delicious (brown rice, black beans, 1/2 grilled chicken breast, homemade guac (tomato, avocado, jalapeno, onion), and Pace picante...I was a bit concerned that the picante may be considered "processsed", but all the ingredients were regular food things and no chemicals, so I decided it would be okay.... Now we are all watching "Meteor" ... in addition to reality television, I love disaster movies...even made for television, awful, horrible disaster movies. I make my entire family watch them...every minute. So far this is not disappointing in the awful department, and I am super excited because when I was getting the link for the movie, NBC is having "Survival Sundays"...week after week of crappy disaster movies, sometimes just when you think life is so hard, something really great happens.

But, back to my clean food...I made some banana ice cream (frozen bananas in the food processor), and topped it off with some more cherries. (oh.my.god. if you are a fan of the bananas, this stuff is beyond good.)

I still have points left over for today, but considering this week I earned 40.5 Activity Points yet am STILL 43 POINTS in the hole, I think I will just call it a day and hope that my journaling, exercising and ONE day of clean eating will keep me out of the weight gains....(yeah, two birthday parties, Olive Garden, late night burgers and 7 buffalo wings add up really quickly, yikes!)

I may have taken the clean eating a bit more literally than most, but I am proud to say I had a whole day and did not eat a single bit of artificiality. I do plan on incorporating more real foods, but brother, give me back my DIET COKE!