Monday, Monday...

I just made the most wonderful lettuce wraps.  Romaine lettuce, sliced turkey, a smear of mayonnaise and a squeeze of Jack Daniels Mustard - spicy southwest flavor. 

Saturday's dinner featured a plate of baked asparagus smothered with 3 different melted cheddar cheeses, (white, mild and sharp) a sprinkling of onion and bacon bits topped with a dollop of sour cream.

Sunday's dinner featured the tenderloin side of a large porterhouse steak and a salad.

So far so good on the Atkins Diet.  I only embarked 2 illegal foods this weekend - cressant rolls with Sunday dinner (those tiny cressants that equal about the size of a half dollar, and 2 chocolate martini's with Fridays shrimp feast).

This weekend's workouts where unusually difficult. I need to watch this as I think I was energy low due to the no sugar/no carb rule going on now.

So continuing on the no carb/low carb path...

Today:  Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, snack: celery with cream cheese, lunch: lettuce roll-ups and dinner is once again a mystery - if I eat at all.

Yes I might skip a meal.  Last Wednesday I came home from boxing and ate a good hunk of salmon lightly fried in butter.   Neither could I fall asleep nor stay asleep.  

This weekends entertainment included 2 movies: Death at a Funeral (Chris Rock) and a fabulous foreign film, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  I did spend 6 hours on the Cleo book and it is more fun than a vase full of Crayola Colored Pencils.

Thanks for reading,
MiSquared @ 145.5

Day 2.

I survived Ash Wednesday. No problem.  No jumping off a cliff. Last night I worked out the traditional 1 hour of cardio boxing at the LA Boxing facility.  I'm dong well with about a 95% workout of my usual 110%.

The boiled eggs with horseradish were devine and the tuna salad was so tasty. Recipe to follow below...

Today I repeated both meals but did add 3 oz of fresh squeezed orange juice to the vitamin supplements (calcium, salmon oil and Lsyne for the immune system ). Night supplements repeats without calcium and no OJ at night.  OJ is not recommended on the Atkins induction phase but the oranges are in the house and I enjoy this treat. Once the oranges disappear from the counter I will not have any more and see if the weight loss differs.

 The news confirmed the bombing of the oil wells in Libya.  We had a dusting of snow this morning.  The drive to the bus was beautiful with the snow covered trees and bushes.

 In addition to the eggs and tuna tonight I will have chicken breast and a small salad.

The tuna recipe as promised...

2 cans white albacore tuna, drained rinsed and squeezed dry.
Celery and onion.  There is no set amount of these - just chop as much or little as you like.
Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning - approx 1 teaspoon.
2-3 Tablespoons of Hellman's Mayonnaise.

 Mix and chill.
 For the purpose of this Atkins diet - the recipe boasts 1 carb  for 1/2 the recipe.

Thanks for reading,

 MiSquared @ 148

The Big Day!

Well oh well, here it is the big day.  Ash Wednesday. So far the oil world is blowing its own self up.  The weather is this/much warmer than last month.  I need a haircut badly.  And I overdosed on sugar yesterday.  The last hurrah if you please.  Four paczi or at least 3.5, 2 handfuls of M&M's and a 3 Musketeer candy bar. If I see another grain of sugar anytime in the next 7 weeks I'll die.

Today is the first day of the big sugar toss.  The Lent  oath included a strict following of the Atkins diet, red meat once a week (preferably Saturday nights), only tuna, turkey and eggs, salad, certain veggies and lots of water. So in light of the first day of Lent, the food list included 2 boiled eggs with horseradish, 4 oz of tuna salad, mixed with celery, onion and mayonnaise, and the grand finale - salmon saute in butter.

The very  last item on this Lenten List is the hardest of all.  The promise of blogging each and every day at least one sentence whether it be good or bad, happy or sad.

 So a very happy belated birthday to my darling granddaughter Grace.  Here's looking forward to the next very beautiful 9 years.

 Thanks for reading,
 MiSquared @ 150

Seriously rethinking this blogging.  Days slip away and I feel a loss for words.  Not so much a loss for  thought but more (of less) for time and effort to put it down on blog.

 I'm beginning to think that I won't be able to get through Lent without sugar.I have cut back on my intake of sugar and all things sweet.  If there is nothing in sight I'm good to go sugarless but once I catch sight of anything that resembles cane sugar, I fall into the black hole of sugar depression.

 I need to light a candle for redemption from sugar.  I'm letting my self down.


 Thanks for reading.
MiSquared.

Gotta start somewhere.

The Kitchen Workout

Who's up for some deep knee bends?  How about some squats?  I have another suggestion for the weak of heart  and the the weak of knees. Lets just start moving.  Last week I suggested bicep curls with cans of soup.  This week how about a few squats - At the Sink.

When I started doing squats about 10 years ago my knee surgeon suggested squats at the sink.  He told me to stand at the kitchen sink and hold on to the counter and bend the knees slightly into a squat.  Ever so slightly.  It doesn't have to hurt.  Doesn't have to be a lot. Just one, or two or three at a time.  Just hang on to the sink.  The idea is to start bending the knees and lead up to challenging yourself to do a few more.  In a month or two you can let go of the sink and balance yourself at a kitchen chair.

So this weeks workout will be:

soup can curls.
squats at the sink.

Helpful hints:

I MAKE SURE the kitchen blinds are closed.  It is not necessary to freak out the squirrels and chipmunks.

Twenty months ago I couldn't perform three sit-ups without whining, crying and dying... I'm now up to 25 sit-ups a min for 6 min straight.  Although that is right after a one hour boxing/cardio workout. I sincerely believe if I would try this before the workout I could most likely pump out 26 sit-ups a min.  :)

What day is this?

I'm baaaaaack!

+1

I need to stop counting.  Just quit the sugar. Yesterday was a little Dairy Queen treat.  Medium hot fudge sunday. Ummmm Ummmm good.

 Eating out is an evilness that must be conquered. We will work on this promptly.  March 9 is approaching. Rapidly.  Today's treat will be red beets pickled with onions. 

 This week starts week 8 of the Nu-Derm skin regimen. My face still burns badly and looks like a cheese grater rubbed over it but I do have healing around the edges, under the eyes and my cheeks are improving.  I only have 10 weeks to go.  I will see if my DD notices any improvement as she has not seen me since I started week 1.

 today's menu consists of 100 grams of scrambled eggs;  2 oz. turkey on wheat; and most likely dinner will be a hamburger on a bun with lmpo ( lettuce, mayo, pickle, onion) and a side of red pickled beets. right after boxing.

 promising myself I will visit the blog everyday this week come heck or high snow.

 Come on Spring!

Thank for reading,
MiSquared.

Day 6 and 7

Sunday + 1.0

Monday -1.0

Life is good today.  I'm happy with the scale.  Now for a week of all out scale war.  This week we will undertake 90 oz. minimum liquid intake. Increase in egg consumption (extra large eggs up from medium eggs). No food after 8 pm.  Back to o% sugar tomorrow.  Valentine's Day chocolate pie, donated by one of our attorneys, proved to be the highlight of the day for everyone in the office. I was not the first to resist, nor was I the last.  I look forward to next years' Valentine's Day chocolate pie.

Yesterday: workout at 10:30 am.  Protein shake at 12:00. Pot roast at 3:00 pm and pot roast at 6:00 pm.  I resisted a strawberry Dairy Queen Blizzard and sugar free chocolate ice cream.  I'm positive the -1.0 loss was a direct result of my restraint.

Today, Monday, 10:00 am scrambled eggs w/ green peppers, onions, bacon bits and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese.  11:00 the chocolate pie; 2:00 will be the turkey on wheat w/ lettuce and a smear of mayo.  Dinner will definetly be pot roast.

This pot roast is most likely the best I've made in a long time.  DH bought a top round roast which I simmered for 6 hours.  At the last hour I added: 2 garlic cloves, carrots, onion and the last 15 min added less than one half box of noodles. DH even took some to work for lunch today. 

 Picked up a medium size cold.  Not bad enough to lay in bed for a week but bad enough to ask Lyn the pharmacist what to take.  Nose, head and sore throat symptons that are sure to stick around for another 8 days.  Please Lord, don't let me get a  cold sore, K?

Thanks, for reading,
 MiSquared.

Day five,

-1.0

 Saturday workout at LA Boxing.  Hook, upper, jabs cross 100% effort = 100% results. 50 min of classic boxing.  6 minutes of sit ups. All with no rib pain.  (The other 4 minutes are used at the beginning of the class for shadow boxing and warm -ups).  Stretching after was a bit difficult.  After the workout we stretch top to bottom.  First stretch is 'fighter's stretch'.  Laying on the floor, hand over head stretch toe to fingertip.  Sounds easy and it is very relaxing.  So I laid there hand above my head and started the slow stretch - toes, thighs, hips, abs, then the ribs. OH HECK NO. Agh. Owie. I'm outta here. So I rolled over gave a nice cobra stretch walked up to standing and I was done. Stung for a few minutes and settled to a throb.  So no lifting today. Lower body workout will wait another week.  Hurry up ribs, heal faster.

 Nothing to eat yet today.  It's almost time for lunch which will be eggs and whole grain bread.  I do not eat anything before I work out. If I work out in the evening I make sure I eat no less than 4 hours before I glove up.  I came this/close to loosing a peanut butter snack just once.  I learn fast.  The emergency puke bucket is not appealing to me.

 Dinner will be out with sister-in-law Diane.  Girl gossip and margaritas are on the menu.  I have my heart set on some prime rib.

Thanks for reading,
MiSquared

Day 4.

The Crystal Light Experiment

This week, in an attempt to reduce the sugar intake in my life, I tried lemonade flavored Crystal Light. Pros: Fantastic taste, easy to prepare, totally convenient.  Cons: massive headaches and a .5 weight gain every day.  Result: MiSquared is returning to the plain water, iced tea regime.

 1.5 loss.

 On Thursday I totally gave up on the Crystal Light Experiment and returned to tea and water.  The Lent 10 Commandments suggests I drink 80+ oz. this week and 90 oz. next week to prepare for the 100 oz. liquid per day consumption during lent.  I'm finding this to be quite easy as I can drink 32 oz. of water in one standing.  So far today I have consumed 96 oz. water, 22 oz. iced tea and a 10 oz. cup of coffee. I hope to see another 1 lb. loss tomorrow.

Today's menu:

Breakfast 10:30 am: the usual 2 scrambled eggs with green peppers, onions and a bit of shredded cheddar cheese and one piece of  whole grain toast with a bit of butter and a smidge of grape jelly.  (Yes smidge is a word, at least in this blog)

Lunch: 1:00 pm.  Chicken salad.  Recipe: baked chicken fingers cutup into bite sized pieces, cut celery, onions and a bunch of seedless red grapes. Dressing: Hellman's mayonnaise and honey to taste.  Consumed about 6 oz.

Dinner is still a mystery. Friday is grocery shopping night and DH (dear husband) and I usually have dinner before or after shopping.  I'm thinking Broadway Cafe for chicken rice soup and a salad.  I hope DH is thinking this too.

Thanks for reading,
MiSquared

Day 3.

Up another .5 lb.  (insert really sad face here).  Today I will eliminate the Crystal Light and see tomorrow am if  there is a slight improvement.  My right hand swelled slightly.  Right is my power hand and I hit fairly well at boxing last night. Since this was my first time back I'll chalk it up to being away from the bag for a few days.  NO other major pain from last night, just the usual muscle tenderness that can be worked through at the next boxing session.

 Today's menu: 2 scrambled eggs with onion. green pepper and a few bacon bits. One slice of spelt toast.

 Lunch: 2 oz turkey and lettuce on spelt toast.

Water intake as of 4 pm is 84.  20 to go tonight. Easy.

 I have no plans for Dinner at this point.  I'll see what the freezer brings.

Today's blurb:  This morning (6 am) the wind chill reached a low of -15.  Actual temp hovered around -8.  I ride the Chicago Dash from Valparaiso to Chicago every day. A 55 mile one way trip to the Loop.  A very pleasant ride for a very pleasant job I've had for 22 years.  Upon leaving Valparaiso, just a few miles west on State Rd 130, we encounter a road block because of a broken water main.  George the bus driver decided we should turn around instead of taking the narrow road designated as the detour road.  Now this bus is a large "Greyhound" type touring bus so it has some weight to it.  George attempts a turn around in a parking lot flooded with water main break muck.  Muck + water+ ice = havoc.  Bus get stuck on ice and we sit for 30 minutes. Waiting for a tow truck or replacement bus which ever comes first.  The tow truck and the replacement bus come at the same time. So 36 passengers get off stuck bus, walk through muck and ice and ankle deep water main water, slip and slide into the replacement bus  just as the tow truck showed up.

 Dinner consisted of 4 baked crispy chicken wings and approx 20 oz  of Iced Tea.  My all time favorite dinner right behind liver and onions or prime rib.

 My best guesstimate for calories would be 1000 and water intake approx 100 oz.

 Let's go to bed happy.

Thanks for reading,
MiSquared

Day two.

Up .5 lb this am.

Slightly better choices on the food list today.  Breakfast was a Boston creme donut.  Yes it was sugar but I only had one instead of the usual two.  Also ate at 8:30 am, a bit to early.

Lunch  was a cajun chicken pasta salad, (shared iwth Juliet) and Iced tea.
 
Dinner was the favorite: chicken wings.  Not slathered in BBQ sauce but dipped in sauce so I had just a minimum of sugar but a nice taste.

 Liquid intake was 88 oz. Crystal light and iced tea all day.

 Working on eliminating the DD treat and eating stuff from home instead.  Breakfast will be scrambled eggs and wings for lunch.  One of the GF's from the HOPE group listed her daily meal today.  Her WOE is mainly a 1200 calorie diet consisting of healthy choices.  This sounds good and I think I will try to count calories, something I haven't done in a while.

 Back to the gym.  Dr suggested I wait till teh 15th and try yoga a few weeks to help stretch the ribs. I missed the gym and the workout and just felt I needed to hit the bag for an hour.  The class when well and I never felt the ribs hurt until I completed about 40 situps.  I'll work on that this weekend.  I will start lifting and work on the quads and hams until the ribs are completely pain free.

 That my plan for day two.

 Thanks for reading,

MiSquared

March 9th is nearing.

    This will be short and not so sweet.  Lent is nearing.  The on again off again relationship I have with the Roman Catholic religion results in the need to give up something for Lent.  Over the past few years I have 'given up' bad habits, sometime bad habits and small irritations with success and have benefited greatly.  For instance, biting nails.  One very irritating habit that makes you look like a lovesick 5th grader. For the past 5 years my nails have benefited greatly.

This year we will be 'giving up' sugar. 

This year's 10 Commandments:

1.   I will drink 100 ounces of water, tea or crystal light every day.
2.  I shall not eat sugar or any derivative of sugar.
3.  I will not eat before 10 am or after 8 pm.
4.  I will not eat bread or any form of it.
5.  I will not eat any pasta or any form of it.
6.  I will only eat strawberries, blueberries and cantaloupe.
7.  I will only eat beef once a week.
8.  I will not eat potatoes, corn, peas or carrots.
9.  I will not eat chocolate, diet or otherwise.
10. I will come here every day and post what the daily results entail.

As March 9 rapidly approaches, I prepare myself for the ensuing 40 days of penance. I prefer to not go cold turkey and stop sugar intake all at once, so for the next 28 days I will decrease sugar and bread intake and slowly eliminate pasta and excessive dairy.

My biggest change will be the water/liquid intake.  We will double our efforts and drink no less than 80 oz a day this week, 90 oz a day next week and by March 1 we will be downing 100 oz. (come hell heck or high water - snicker.)

Today Feb 8, I have a planned intake consisting of:
Toasted bagel with butter. The jar of Nutella beckoned to me but I'm sure it will taste just fine on April 25.

Lunch will consist of turkey chili.  I made this last week but was afraid I might like it.  Last night I added a can of dark red chili beans, extra chili powder, grated cheddar cheese and a few oyster crackers. Dang that was good.  Good enough to bring to work for lunch.

Dinner doesn't exist yet. I have frozen salmon or Chicken Alfredo. I do need to plan a better food day. We will work on that as the week progresses.

Thank you for reading,
MiSquared