Fixed the hunger thing

I was still hungry after dinner. I wanted carbs. Finally, I got out some fat free dressing, baby carrots, and a celery stalk. That did the trick, now I am finally full.

Hard day

This was the first time since I started this effort that I had a hard day. I was hungry and craving carbs. I still kept my calorie count down, but it was a struggle. I hope tomorrow will be easier.

Found a cool website

found a website called diet bites that offers articles, menus, calorie counter etc.

About the soup

I know it probably looks like I am doing some weird version of that cabbage soup diet. Not so. The goal of the soup is to eat more slowly and get as many veggies into myself as possible. I am 7 pounds down. Because there are beans in most of them, I am getting some protein. (have to combine with wheat to get a complete protein, I think). I guess I will admit it now. I have been taking 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water twice a day(nasty tasting). It seems to be curbing my appitite as well. I will keep eating like this as long as I continue to gradually lose weight. 24 pounds left til goal. Wish me luck.

Meme's hot flash soup (my version)

Okay this one made me hot, really really hot and not the sexy kind.

1/2 bag 16 bean soup
1 can Rotel with lime and cilantro
2 leafs Swiss chard
2 celery stalks
8 to 10 baby carrots
1/2 large onion
1 clove Garlic
2 small home grown tomatoes with skin
1/4 cup lemon juice
5 ounces smoked sausage cut tiny
2 tablespoons ground flax seed
Sea salt

Make 16 bean soup acourding to the directions. Run all veggies through the food processor to cut up tiny. Add everything to the 16 bean soup and simmer for about 10 minutes. Take it easy on the salt.

humus

I made humus last night. I eat is spread on multi grain toast (the 45 calorie kind).

8 ounces chick peas skins removed and cooked forever (well actually about two hours)
Juice of one lemon
2 or 3 chili pequino crushed (dry)
One clove of garlic crushed into paste
1/4 cup olive oil
sea salt
water from cooking the chick peas

Put everything in the food processor and blend it until smooth and light in color. Add as much of the water as needed to make a bean dip consistancy.

If I have this in the fridge I will eat it instead of making cheese toast.

Can't eat a whole sandwich

I took the boys to lunch at Chick-Fil-A today. I love their sandwiches. About halfway through mine I got full. I managed to eat it, but now I feel awful (overfull). I am just going to have to learn to cut stuff in half and save the rest for when I am hungry again (or feed it to the boys). At least I didn't eat the fries. I don't really like fries anyway. They are just another thing I have mindlessly eaten for years and years and years.

Soup making day

I am making soup today. I will put it in the fridge and eat it when I am hungry, just like I have done for the last ten days. Below is the broccoli lentil soup recipe. The cabbage Swiss chard recipe is in an older post.

2 red potatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
One large head broccoli chopped up in the food processor
One large onion chopped up in the food processor
One celery stalk chopped up in the food processor
Six baby carrots chopped up in the food processor
5 ounces lentils
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander (ground fresh)
minced garlic clove
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash original
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons ground flax seed.
Enough chicken broth to cover all the above ingredients.

Slice the potatoes and brown in the olive oil, add all the other ingredients. Cook everything together until the lentils are soft and the potatoes fall apart. All the vegetables need to be very very finely chopped. Serve with a little (really just a little) shredded sharp cheese melted on top.

12/27

Six pounds this is working Yeah!!!!!!!!!

First ten days

I have lost five pounds in ten days. I think mostly because of the soup and just knowing I will be accountable here. I dont want to have to post failure especially this soon. I do need to exercise more and drink more milk. This feels like a great start.

12/26

didnt gain any back over christmas eve or christmas day.

12/24/07

Weighed in at 157 this morning. I ate as much as I wanted yesterday, but it was my homemade vegetable soups. We made brocolli lentil yesterday.

12/23

Meme's birthday party did not mess me up. I just have to get right back with the program today.

I did it

Dont know how and dont know why, but I weigh 158 this morning. I may eat asparagus every day for the rest of my life. That is the only thing I can think of.

12/21

I dont do as well when Larry is off work. He likes to feed me and I like to eat it. He is working for the next twelve days straight and the only good things I can say about that is big paycheck and maybe I will eat better.

12/20

Ate too much last night feel gross this morning. Have to go rehab some messed up flower beds, so will get plenty of exercise today.

BMI

Checked my BMI. I just barely stopped myself before going over into obese again. It measured 29.3. I need to get it down to below 25, which would make my weight 135 or lower. I like the way I used to look at 130, so that is still the goal. Good to know all the numbers.

12/19

Skipped dinner last night because of the burger. Dont feel hungry this morning but need to eat something. Weight stayed stable.

Was bad today. Ate a hamburger and fries and Chili's

Did pretty good today. Finally slept well last night and felt better. Solution work helped to keep me balanced.

good soup

Made a yummy pretty healthy soup.

four big cabbage leaves washed and chopped
two big swissh chard leaves washed and chopped
half a cup of garlic chives cut tiny
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups chicken broth
8 ounces low fat smoked sausage
juice of one lemon
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 clove minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon thyme or fresh
1/2 teaspoon original Mrs. Dash

Wilt the cabbage, chard, and garlic chives in the olive oil
add some of the chicken and the rest of the ingredients. Cook for about five to ten minutes. Add more water to cover the veggies and meat if necessary.

I dont know how many servings this will end up being but two small bowls filled me up. I think it should be four servicing at about 200 calories and all the good stuff from the lemon, chard, and cabbage.

The before picture

Start day.

I weighed this morning and it was not as bad as I thought. Just 161. That is up 16 lbs from my lowest and down28 down from my heaviest. The goal is 130. Here is the game plan. Do more light weight and stretching to help my body feel better right away. Try to get an hours worth of exercise on most days, but realize every day is not reasonable.

Eat mostly veggies, fruits, and legumes. No beer or wine except on the free day. Stay away from the white stuff except on my free day .

I would like to lose 2 pounds a week. At that rate I should be able to reach my goal in 15 weeks. That would put my goal date as, how funny, Easter Sunday, March 23. I like that.

Going to give this a try

I am going to try to get the rest of my excess weight. I am hoping that creating a blog folowing my efforts will make me more accountable. I will do it for two weeks and see if it keeps me motivated. If after two weeks, it seems helpful, I will invite my friends and family to view it. In the meantime, I will connect it to my other blog and see if anybody finds it on their own. If you do please comment.