I'm just a normal person changing my lifestyle slower than I learned the present one. This blog contains my successes and failures. Follow along if you'd like. I'm not regimented or one sided. I'm enjoying the added fruits and vegetables, but I'm not giving up my meat. I'm losing weight a slower pace than I put it on, but it's coming off and people are seeing it. I do have a goal--to be healthier, but I'm realistic and hope those that are following are having as much success as I am. Don't feel pressured to lose, just do what you can with the budget you have and together we'll be healthier than we were last month or the month before.
I've been fighting a cold for two weeks and I think it's finally on its way out. I spent several days lazing around and doing little. Still tire easily, but seem to be getting stronger. I added blueberries and oranges to my nutriblasts to encourage my immune system. I also took zicam and emergen-C as well to help me with the fight.
The garden is producing beans, spinach, leaf lettuce, garlic chives, and cilantro. The tomatoes are growing, but not yet ready to pick. I purchased some strawberry plants and will get them planted soon. Not sure what else I'll be able to grow as it's getting hotter. It was 85 degrees yesterday. Seems to be the norm for our winter temperatures this year. Our mango tree went into bloom early and has very few mangos. I hope the later trees bloom well or we're going to have a poor crop this year.
I put on a pound this week (that time of the month again). I'm a little upset it was more than last month at this same time, but I think the cold had something to do with it. I'm also under a lot of stress to get a lot of things done, taxes, books listed from our closed bookstore, money to pay the bills and no job, etc. We're going to Naples next weekend with some friends to forget about our cares and enjoy the ocean and other wonders Naples has to offer. Hopefully that will help bring down the stress factor.
Weigh-in--Beginning weight 188 pounds. Last weeks weight 166.9. This weeks weight 167.9. So that a total loss of 20.1 pounds and lots of compliments about how good I'm looking.
Benefits moment:
Grapes--Grapes work absolute wonders for the heart. The polyphenols within their skins decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and protect good cholesterols within your body.
Choose grapes that are plump and wrinkle-free. Grapes should be fully intact with no leaking juices and firmly attached to a healthy-looking stem. Green grapes should have a slightly yellowish hue, and red grapes should be mostly red.
(copied from the Nutribullet pocket nutritionist)
Locally we have the choice between seedless red, green and black grapes and red seeded grapes. I looked for concord, but didn't find any. I use both in our nutriblasts. I don't know if they help with the arthritis or if it's the combinations used in the nutriblasts, but when we added grapes, my husband quit complaining about his wrists and fingers. When he went several days without his blast, he complained the pain was back. So, I make sure all his drinks contain grapes.
What's for Sunday dinner? A turkey breast cooked in the slow cooker, with potatoes, stuffing, gravy and homemade rolls. (Almost every Sunday has homemade rolls followed by brownies, hot from the oven, and ice cream for desert. And yes, I've been losing weight even with this type of dinner each Sundays)
Happy healthy eating, thinking about exercising (do you think it'll work like it does on the Jetsons?), losing weight and becoming healthier.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Is this really week seven?
I'd like to add stuff more often, but I find myself really busy right now. Anyway, here's my weekly update.
The garden got it's first really rain since I planted it. The beans are almost ready to pick. I ate one this morning anyway. There are tiny tomatoes on the biggest tomato plant, so we'll be eating them soon too. We've transplanted the garlic chives into the herb pot and moved it to a sunnier location. We've harvested the spinach twice now and they're about ready for another harvest. The lettuce is about half way to picking. Can't wait to have a fresh salad with them. Nothing else we've planted seems to have taken and it's getting close to the end of growing season. So I guess it'll be next year for other foods.
We cooked another chicken in our slow cooker and then made chicken and dumplings with the broth we cooked out of the bones. Loving that pot more and more.
Purchased kale, blueberries and strawberries and have been adding them to our Nutriblasts. We're down to our last container of mangos from our trees. They came into season early this year and have so few. They should be coming in season now, so I don't think we're going to get much of a crop this year. Cold front in this weekend. Don't think it's going to get too cold for the garden. The only problem I'm seeing with all the heat we've been having is growing season will be short. Once it get's to a certain temperature at night, stuff stops setting and most vegetables stop producing.
Weigh-in--Beginning weight 188 lbs. Last weeks weight 167.9. This weeks weight 166.9. Not a huge loss, but I'm really ecstatic. It's that time of the month again and I've lost some weight without exercising. I'm simply drinking one to two NutriBlasts a day. Anyway, this is a total loss of 21.1 pounds in about seven weeks. Can't complain when I'm not doing all I can to lose the weight and keep it off.
Benefits moment:
Figs--Sweet, luscious figs are a surprising source of calcium, which assists in building bone density. Figs are also a wonderful source of dietary fiber, which aids in weight management and has been shown to help fight breast cancer.
Fresh figs are highly perishable, so only buy them a day or two in advance. Look for figs with a rich, deep color. They should be plump and tender, but not mushy, and smell mildly sweet--never sour.
(copied from the Nutribullet pocket nutritionist)
Happy healthy eating, hopefully exercising, losing weight and becoming healthier.
The garden got it's first really rain since I planted it. The beans are almost ready to pick. I ate one this morning anyway. There are tiny tomatoes on the biggest tomato plant, so we'll be eating them soon too. We've transplanted the garlic chives into the herb pot and moved it to a sunnier location. We've harvested the spinach twice now and they're about ready for another harvest. The lettuce is about half way to picking. Can't wait to have a fresh salad with them. Nothing else we've planted seems to have taken and it's getting close to the end of growing season. So I guess it'll be next year for other foods.
We cooked another chicken in our slow cooker and then made chicken and dumplings with the broth we cooked out of the bones. Loving that pot more and more.
Purchased kale, blueberries and strawberries and have been adding them to our Nutriblasts. We're down to our last container of mangos from our trees. They came into season early this year and have so few. They should be coming in season now, so I don't think we're going to get much of a crop this year. Cold front in this weekend. Don't think it's going to get too cold for the garden. The only problem I'm seeing with all the heat we've been having is growing season will be short. Once it get's to a certain temperature at night, stuff stops setting and most vegetables stop producing.
Weigh-in--Beginning weight 188 lbs. Last weeks weight 167.9. This weeks weight 166.9. Not a huge loss, but I'm really ecstatic. It's that time of the month again and I've lost some weight without exercising. I'm simply drinking one to two NutriBlasts a day. Anyway, this is a total loss of 21.1 pounds in about seven weeks. Can't complain when I'm not doing all I can to lose the weight and keep it off.
Benefits moment:
Figs--Sweet, luscious figs are a surprising source of calcium, which assists in building bone density. Figs are also a wonderful source of dietary fiber, which aids in weight management and has been shown to help fight breast cancer.
Fresh figs are highly perishable, so only buy them a day or two in advance. Look for figs with a rich, deep color. They should be plump and tender, but not mushy, and smell mildly sweet--never sour.
(copied from the Nutribullet pocket nutritionist)
Happy healthy eating, hopefully exercising, losing weight and becoming healthier.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Weekly Update
I know this is late. Our son's Eagle Scout Project was today, February 9, 2013 and I wasn't able to post since I was helping him get everything together.
The garden is doing well. I've been eating spinach since Wednesday, February 6th and soon will be eating lettuce. The tomatoes are blooming, but I'm concerned about the lack of winter and the fact the groundhog didn't see his shadow and spring is almost here. (wouldn't know it with all the snow falling) As soon as the nights stay above 80 degrees tomatoes won't set. It's been in the 80's during the day for most of the winter. So much so the fruit trees are confused and already growing fruits. The beans are producing and I'm hoping to start eating from them next week. Not sure if I'll plant anything else since it feels like summer is already here and gardens don't do well during our summer months.
We made a beef broth with the slow cooker and then turned it into onion soup. It's not fantastic. I'll have to try again later and with a different recipe. If I find one I like, I'll make sure you get it.
Found another good recipe for my Nutriblast this week:
1/2 carrot or 5 baby carrots
handful of parsely
1 lemon, peeled
1/2 apple cored and seeded
1-inch piece of ginger (I cut it down to 1/8th as it was too strong)
1/2 avocado (learned today with all the snow up north, farmer's down here are having difficulty getting their avocados up to you. Hope you can find some.)
add water until approximately 2/3rds of the food is covered with water and mix.
(from the NutriBullet user guide & recipe book)
Weigh-in -- Beginning weight 188 lbs.This weeks weight 167.9. A total loss of 20.1 pounds in approximately 6 weeks. I still want to bike and walk more. Guess that will come when I'm done with all the books I'm trying to sell.
Benefits moment:
Cranberries -- With their anti-inflammatory qualities and high levels of vitamin C, cranberries work wonders for the body's cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, and immune systems.
Fresh cranberries are plump, deep red, and quite firm. Those with a darker hue contain higher concentrations of beneficial anthocyanin compounds. Cranberries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 20 days. It is normal for berries to feel a bit damp when taken out of the fridge. This does not indicate spoilage unless the berries are discolored, sticky, leathery, or tough.
(copied from the Nutribullet pocket nutritionist)
Happy healthy eating, hopefully exercising, losing weight and becoming healthier
The garden is doing well. I've been eating spinach since Wednesday, February 6th and soon will be eating lettuce. The tomatoes are blooming, but I'm concerned about the lack of winter and the fact the groundhog didn't see his shadow and spring is almost here. (wouldn't know it with all the snow falling) As soon as the nights stay above 80 degrees tomatoes won't set. It's been in the 80's during the day for most of the winter. So much so the fruit trees are confused and already growing fruits. The beans are producing and I'm hoping to start eating from them next week. Not sure if I'll plant anything else since it feels like summer is already here and gardens don't do well during our summer months.
We made a beef broth with the slow cooker and then turned it into onion soup. It's not fantastic. I'll have to try again later and with a different recipe. If I find one I like, I'll make sure you get it.
Found another good recipe for my Nutriblast this week:
1/2 carrot or 5 baby carrots
handful of parsely
1 lemon, peeled
1/2 apple cored and seeded
1-inch piece of ginger (I cut it down to 1/8th as it was too strong)
1/2 avocado (learned today with all the snow up north, farmer's down here are having difficulty getting their avocados up to you. Hope you can find some.)
add water until approximately 2/3rds of the food is covered with water and mix.
(from the NutriBullet user guide & recipe book)
Weigh-in -- Beginning weight 188 lbs.This weeks weight 167.9. A total loss of 20.1 pounds in approximately 6 weeks. I still want to bike and walk more. Guess that will come when I'm done with all the books I'm trying to sell.
Benefits moment:
Cranberries -- With their anti-inflammatory qualities and high levels of vitamin C, cranberries work wonders for the body's cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, and immune systems.
Fresh cranberries are plump, deep red, and quite firm. Those with a darker hue contain higher concentrations of beneficial anthocyanin compounds. Cranberries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 20 days. It is normal for berries to feel a bit damp when taken out of the fridge. This does not indicate spoilage unless the berries are discolored, sticky, leathery, or tough.
(copied from the Nutribullet pocket nutritionist)
Happy healthy eating, hopefully exercising, losing weight and becoming healthier
Monday, February 4, 2013
Garden Pictures
As promised, the pictures have been downloaded. I'm only putting up the most recent. Taken 2/3/2013. The beans are in bloom and the tomatoes have finally settled in their new location. We'll be eating spinach soon. You can barely see them near them near the top of the pictures. Unfortunately the individual bed pictures didn't come out well. Will take them again soon.
The sticks are for support to the tomatoes and to keep the cats out. Next pictures should show beans growing.
The sticks are for support to the tomatoes and to keep the cats out. Next pictures should show beans growing.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Time for my weekly update
I finished clearing out the storage unit. Spent today organizing the books in our borrowed unit. I was exhausted yesterday and took a nap. I'm much better today. I'm working on a few articles and placing books on amazon.com. I'm looking forward to the total end of our bookstore adventure. Once the books are gone, I'm sure I'll feel free.
Still haven't managed to download the garden pictures from the camera. Took more today since the garden has changed a lot since last week. Hopefully my husband will have time soon. He's going to be with the Boy Scouts this weekend. They are participating in the Barefoot Mailman hike. It takes two days to complete.
Each time I walk out the front door I look at my bike and wonder where the time is going. I really want to add biking as my exercise, but I haven't done a thing about it. Guess I need to do more with less wishing.
Not much else done with the slow cooker, but we did have a really good meal. I purchased tostadas, a round, thick, crunchy tortilla, and covered them with refried beans, meat (this time I used ground turkey, but most of the time I use chicken), lettuce, tomatoes (sometimes I use salsa),shredded cheese (I use a Mexican mixture or sharp cheddar), and homemade Greek yogurt (in the past we've used sour cream). Our family really likes this and it's a simple meal. Usually one or two are enough, but our growing son ate three. There's always leftovers for a quick snack the next day.
Here's a great article about how "Healthy Eating will Enrich every part of your Life" It covers a great deal in such a short article and much of it is what I've been doing to work with my weight loss. The Nutribullet is a major part, but not the only part of my 'getting healthier' attitude.
Weigh-in--Beginning weight 188 lbs. This weeks weight 171.8 lbs. A total loss of 16.2 lbs since 12/26/2012 (approximately 5 weeks). Clothing is starting to fit. Buttons are now closing easily. Tucked in shirts don't feel so tight. The weight loss is noticeable to the public and the complements are frequent.
Benefits moment:
Cantaloupes--An excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium and folate, cantaloupes are wonderful for promoting lung and vision health.
Choose cantaloupes without bruises or soft spots. They should be heavy for their size and have a "hollow" sound when tapped.
(copied from the Nutribullet pocket nutritionist)
Happy healthy eating, exercising, losing weight and becoming healthier.
Still haven't managed to download the garden pictures from the camera. Took more today since the garden has changed a lot since last week. Hopefully my husband will have time soon. He's going to be with the Boy Scouts this weekend. They are participating in the Barefoot Mailman hike. It takes two days to complete.
Each time I walk out the front door I look at my bike and wonder where the time is going. I really want to add biking as my exercise, but I haven't done a thing about it. Guess I need to do more with less wishing.
Not much else done with the slow cooker, but we did have a really good meal. I purchased tostadas, a round, thick, crunchy tortilla, and covered them with refried beans, meat (this time I used ground turkey, but most of the time I use chicken), lettuce, tomatoes (sometimes I use salsa),shredded cheese (I use a Mexican mixture or sharp cheddar), and homemade Greek yogurt (in the past we've used sour cream). Our family really likes this and it's a simple meal. Usually one or two are enough, but our growing son ate three. There's always leftovers for a quick snack the next day.
Here's a great article about how "Healthy Eating will Enrich every part of your Life" It covers a great deal in such a short article and much of it is what I've been doing to work with my weight loss. The Nutribullet is a major part, but not the only part of my 'getting healthier' attitude.
Weigh-in--Beginning weight 188 lbs. This weeks weight 171.8 lbs. A total loss of 16.2 lbs since 12/26/2012 (approximately 5 weeks). Clothing is starting to fit. Buttons are now closing easily. Tucked in shirts don't feel so tight. The weight loss is noticeable to the public and the complements are frequent.
Benefits moment:
Cantaloupes--An excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium and folate, cantaloupes are wonderful for promoting lung and vision health.
Choose cantaloupes without bruises or soft spots. They should be heavy for their size and have a "hollow" sound when tapped.
(copied from the Nutribullet pocket nutritionist)
Happy healthy eating, exercising, losing weight and becoming healthier.
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