Confessions of a Bulk Eater

I wanted it to be an okay day.  I wanted to end the week strong.  I ended it by eating way too much.  Grrr….   I did exercise though!!   That was a good thing.  Maybe it counteracted the stuff I ate (wishful thinking)  I actually feel sick now.  I want to throw up.  Where did it go so horribly wrong?  I’m not sure.   Dinner went to hell in a handbasket because I attempted to make sietan.  What is sietan, you ask?  Well, basically it’s bread.  It’s pretty much boiled wheat gluten.  It’s not bad….   there is a restuarant here that makes a mean sandwhich with it (what’s not to like, it’s bread in bread).  I’ve been craving it.  Next time I am craving something, I’m just going to go get exactly what I want.  When I try to substitute something, it just doesn’t work out.  I did some Debbie Siebers today and I even did some DDR.  Not a lot though.  I haven’t played for about 2 weeks….wow, I could totally tell.  I was SO bad.  That’s what I get for playing guitar hero for the past 2 weeks.  Oh well.    So here it is:  the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Breakfast:  we went to dennys(bad) but I had an egg-beater omelet with tomato, mushrooms, and green peppers/onions.   The baby actually ate about half of it so that wasn’t too bad.   I ate hashbrowns too.

Lunch: 1/3 of a corn fritter; a black cherry portabella burger (SO GOOD!); triscuits and some herb and garlic dip.

Snack:  3 pieces of Easter candy

Dinner: I had a few bites of Seitan with Polenta and Greens but since it wasn’t what I wanted, I had 2 fat free tortillas with fat free refried beans….  and more triscuits with herb and garlic dip.  UGH….

Not to mention the fact that I drank WAY too much diet soda.  Blah…. I feel sick and fat.

Saturdays.  Gotta love ‘em.  Not having to get up early….well, as early.  With kids, one is always getting up early.  But I didn’t have to get up at 5am to go to work.  YAY!!!   The baby woke up at 7:45 so I got up with her and attempted to exercise.   I say attempted because I only got through about half of Debbie Siebers due to the baby being crazy.  She was all over the place so I finally had to stop and keep up with her.

Chores kept me busy the rest of the day.  I wanted to do some DDR since I haven’t done it in over 2 weeks.  Maybe tomorrow.  We went and played volleyball tonight.  It was a fairly good work out. Could have been better, but it was something.   The best part is… I felt stronger.   I could feel more power in my hits and serves.  It was great.  I attribute it to the workout DVD I’m doing. 

And for eating….well, it was okay.  I could have been better, but I could have been worse.  Like right now, I feel like I could just eat until I’m sick.  I’m not hungry, I just want to eat.  Thankfully there isn’t any food in the house since I didn’t make it to the grocery store, so I can’t eat anything.

Breakfast: egg white and cheese on english muffin

Lunch:  2 refried bean tacos from Tijuana Flats (the BEST!! — but of course, not the healthiest)

Dinner: basmati rice; Red Lentil Sambar; 1/2 corn fritter

One more day of week 1 to go.  I can’t wait to weigh in and see what the results are.

This was so good, I have to share it with you. Thanks to Susan at Fat Free Vegan Kitchen for this great recipe. If you get a chance, you should really check out her blog. There are so many yummy looking things to make. And healthy. For one, there are no animal product in the food plus Susan sometimes takes traditional recipes and figures out a way to cut the fat out of them with pleasing results. I’ve tried quite a number of things from her site and they are so good. So, without further ado…

Chocolate Orange Cake

1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (I used white whole wheat)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup soy yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons grated fresh orange peel

Chocolate Icing:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa
2 teaspoons orange juice
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (or 1/8 tsp. if double strength)
–plus extra orange juice as needed

Orange Icing:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon orange juice
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (or 1/8 tsp. if double strength)
–plus extra orange juice as needed

Spray a Bundt cake pan with non-stick spray and dust it lightly with unsweetened cocoa. Preheat oven to 350F.

Combine the flours, sugar, baking soda, salt, cocoa, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Add the yogurt, vanilla, balsamic vinegar, water, and orange juice. Beat by hand or with a mixer on low speed just until well-combined, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in the grated orange peel, and pour into the prepared pan.

Bake for about 30-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then invert it onto a serving platter and cool completely.

When the cake is cool, make the icings. For each icing, mix the ingredients in separate small bowls. One half teaspoon at a time, stir in enough extra orange juice to make a drizzling consistency. Drizzle the chocolate icing over the cake, wait a few minutes for it to set, and then drizzle the orange icing.

Makes 16 servings. With icing, as shown: 198 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (3% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 47g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 294mg Sodium; 3g Fiber.

Cake without icing: 167 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (3% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 39g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 294mg Sodium; 2g Fiber.

Try it out!! And check out Susan’s blog!!

I didn’t get a chance to blog yesterday.    We had a dinner with some other couples from our church last night.  We are new to the church so it is nice to meet some people there.   Anyway, I was a little nervous going since I am trying to watch what I eat.  You aren’t in control when other people are cooking.  Plus, I haven’t eaten meat in…   geez, I have no idea how long…  so I was a little worried.  I was in charge of dessert so I made a vegan Chocolate Orange Cake from The Fat Free Vegan Kitchen and it was SO good!! I had never made it before, but it turned out yummy. It was a little dense, but I was expecting that since there is no egg. No one asked, but I would have told them it was vegan… after they ate it (evil grin)   Plus, it’s only 3 pts per serving (16 servings) but these probably ended up being 4 or 5 since they were cut a little bigger.

No exercise yesterday. We got home too late to do anything. But that’s okay (that’s what I’m telling myself) I have to give my body a chance to rest. I’m making up for it today though (you’ll see that in day 6 post) So basically Friday was my off day. I ate okay though:

Breakfast: orange

Lunch: lettuce with tomatoes, red pepper, broccoli, cucumbers and Fat Free Ceaser Italian Dressing; grapes

Snack: 2 pieces of cheese (oops); peice of caramel choclate candy (double oops)

Dinner: spaghetti with sauce (I didn’t eat any of the meatballs); lettuce with grape tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, croutons and poppy seed dressing; 2 pcs of wheat garlic bread; chocolate orange cake

Why am I so tired?  Is it because I am cutting calories and my body is trying to get used to it?  Could it be because I’ve stopped taking a huge glass of tea with me in the morning to have some caffine?  Whatever it is, my body better start getting used to it.  I was so tired today, I was walking into things at work.  I don’t know what I accomplished at work after lunch.  I know my eyes were open staring at my computer screen, but I don’t think I actually did anything.  Of course it could also be because I’ve stayed up late every night this week.  My husband brought home Guitar Hero III the other night.   He is absolutely stunned that I am better than he is.  I think it’s great.  He’s such a gamer, so it’s nice to be able to beat him at his own…. well… game.

Eating today was okay.  I had to go out to lunch today, but I still made healthy choices.  Then we went out to eat for dinner, but I still made healthy choices.

Breakfast - orange

Lunch - fire roasted vegetable soup; salad with lettuce, broccoli, tomatoes, mushrooms, sprouts, raisins, sunflower seeds, cucumbers, croutons, and mozzarella cheese with sweet and sour french dressing (that was really the only downfall)

Snack - plum

Dinner - once again, we headed to Sweet Tomatoes.  I had a replica of the salad I had last night except I put balsamic vinegar and some olive oil on it.  Then of course came the tomato soup and the stupid grilled cheese foccacia.   Oh, and some low fat ice cream (I shared it with the baby) and a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie.

Uh, and I guess I should mention the stuff I ate before dinner.     I ate 1/2 a peice of cheese.   I chewed up the other half and then spit it out.  I also chewed up a piece of carmel Easter candy, but I spit that out too.  Gross, I know.  I could see how it could become a habit though.   Most of the time I just want the taste…   by chewing it up, I get the taste and then by spitting it out, I don’t get the fat or calories.

 But to redeem myself, I did exercise again tonight.  YAY!  This is day 4… a record.  My 5 year old did it with me as well… or tried.  It was so cute.  The baby even tried.  But it is good to see because it makes me think that I am instilling good habits in them.  

Today went well too.  Despite the stress at work, I haven’t been stuffing my face with food.  I did want a bagel this morning, but I text messaged my friend who is doing this with me and she talked me out of it.  Thank God for supportive friends.    Again, I was super hungry before lunch, but by the time I got to eat, I wasn’t so hungry anymore.  At least I didn’t eat all of my salad.  Maybe b/c I’m getting bored with salads….which is not good since I plan on having one every day for lunch this week.  Maybe it’s because the impromptu meeting before lunch caused a wee bit of stress.  Who knows.  

I went to dinner with a friend tonight and I chose to go to Sweet Tomatoes.  Yes, I know, more salad.  But I figured there was so MUCH to put on the salad plus I could get soup.  I even looked up their menu online before I went and got the nutritional value of certain things so I would know what to get as well.   Things went well until I got up to get my son some macaroni and myself some soup.   That’s when I saw the bread and everything else…  YUMM!!!!!   I did get one piece of bread and that was my downfall.  4 pieces later, I was done.   I hadn’t had bread since Sunday, so as soon as it hit my tongue, I think my body started celebrating.   I probably ate too much, but I didn’t feel over loaded or bloated when I left.  Nor did I feel fully satisfied.  Truth be told, I could have sat there for hours eating bread and soup and salad.    Especially the tomato soup and the grilled cheese foccacia bread they had….  ummmmm, I am starting to drool just thinking about it.

After I got home and got the kids to bed, I did exercise.   I did Debbie Seibers again.  I better have a beach body in 6 weeks as much pain as I’m in.  It’s a good pain though.  I know it’s working at least.

So here’s the low down today:

Breakfast - orange (oh, how I wanted a bagel with cream cheese)

Lunch - iceburg lettuce, escarole, tomatoes, cucumbers, red pepper salad with strawberry/jalepeno dressing; grapes

Snack - banana

Supper - salad with romaine lettuce, spinach, shredded zucchini, shredded cabbage, chickpeas, kidney beans, cucumber, tomatoes, mushrooms with f/f honey mustard dressing; cream of tomato soup; 5 pieces of grilled cheese foccacia bread; 1 pc quattro formaggio (that’s 4 cheese) foccacia bread; a few bites of Ceaser Asiago Salad (probably 3 b/c it wasn’t that good); and a fresh baked cookie.  

Really, looking back, dinner wasn’t all THAT bad.   The salad was pretty much “free” except for the dressing.   Basically, I used up my weekly point allowance with the other stuff.   PLUS, I exercised.  I think that’s what I’m the most excited about since I am NOT one to do it on my own.

(this is actually the morning of day 3, but the website was down yesterday)  

I am so sore!!  I usually consider myself to be in fairly good shape even though I am overweight due to the fact that I play volleyball every weekend and run around after my kids.  Boy was I wrong!!   As I said Monday, I woke up early and did Debbie Siebers Beach Body in 6.  Just the Start it Up, mind you.  It’s the first phase.  Usually I am bored with it because I have done this so many times.  I guess I pushed a little harder than I usually do…  went down a little further in the squats and such because my thighs hurt so bad.  And my butt!!!    OUCH!!!!

 Anyway, I did well today too.  I was complaining Monday that I was hungry, but I thought to myself, it’s going to be a L-O-N-G 16 weeks if I keep telling myself that.  I tried not to think of it as much today.  Plus, I was hungry before I went and ate lunch, but then I got busy at work doing something so by the time I was able to go eat I wasn’t hungry anymore.  Go figure.   Here’s how it went down:

Breakfast: orange

Lunch: iceburg lettuce, escarole lettuce, tomatoes, red peppers, cucumbers, portabella mushrooms with fat free Ceaser Italian dressing; strawberries

Snack:  a few bites (like 5) of leftovers from last night (quinoa)

Dinner:  brown rice; some Indian dish with lentils, kidney beans, tomatoes, onions, and a ton of spices.   I thought it was tasty, my husband did not.  I say when he starts grocery shopping and cooking, he can make what he likes.   Strawberries

Snack:  1/2 a banana

And I exercised again too.  I pushed through the burning in my thighs (burning means it’s working, right?!)  I didn’t wake up and do it, I did it when I got home from work.   I know that exercising it the morning is *optimal* but I am NOT a morning person.  I have to face the fact that it’s not going to happen every morining.  I may try to do it in the morning 2-3 times a week.  Okay, let’s not push it… maybe just 2 times a week.   If I try to do it every day, I’ll burn myself out and just stop completely.   As long as I am doing it when I get home in the evenings, it’s STILL exercise.   It is still doing my body good.

So today is the first day of the next 16 weeks….   I wouldn’t say that it’s been easy, but it hasn’t been that hard either.   I mean, I’ve been dieting since the first part of the year, so that isn’t new.  It’s the focus and intensity that is different.  This time I actually have a goal in mind.  I have a number and a date - there is no vagueness about it this time.

So…  how did I do today?   Fairly well, I believe.    I was going to try the Eat to Live diet, but the more I look at it, it’s very similar to Weight Watcher’s Core Diet.   I’m familiar with that, so I’m looking at it that way.  Plus, I was just taking the info from the Eat to Live diet off the internet and I haven’t read the book yet, so I didn’t feel all that prepared.  And we all know that being ill-prepared is death to a diet.       Anyway, I actually woke up and exercised today!!!   WOO HOO!!  Of course it was so freaking EARLY, and if I keep doing it, I will have to wake up earlier and earlier since the workout I’m doing ramps up to almost an hour.   But the point was I did it.  And then I walked to go pick up my son from after school.

As for eating, well, here it is:

Breakfast: 1 orange

Lunch: salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, edamame, portabella mushrooms with balsamic vinegar/water;  1 plum

Snack: banana

Dinner:  Quinoa Skillet Dinner (quinoa with kidney beans, rotel, hominy); broccoli

That’s it.   Yes, I’ve been a bit hungry today, but I am totally focused this time around.  No more messing around.   I want to go tear through my son’s Easter candy, but I am resisting the siren call of chocolate.  It will NOT tempt me this time!! 

So I lost another 2 lbs this past week. Apparantly too much alcohol and a lot of dancing causes weight loss. Who knew?! I’m going to take it for what it is though. Weight lost is weight lost. AND… I was able to put on a smaller pair of pants today!! I haven’t been able to fit into this size since my second trimester almost 2 years ago!!! YAY!!!!!! It was exciting. It helps when you see progress.

So anyway, I have a new weight loss goal set. I want to lose at least 2lbs a week for the next 16 weeks. By July 11th, I want to have lost at least 32 lbs. I’d actually be happy with just losing another 20 by then, but I am going to aim for the 32lbs. Why July 11th? Well, I’m going back up to NY for a music festival and I want to look tight. My friend who lives there has the same goal and we are going to do this together.

What will losing 2lbs a week entail? I’m not sure. For one, I need a LOT of willpower. It will be bringing my lunch to work everyday and EATING what I brought. It will involve exersise… LOTS of exersise EVERY DAY!! I am not big on exersising. In my mind I am, but when it comes down to doing it….well, I don’t. This will involve having to do some sort of exersise every day. Maybe twice a day… like walking to pick up my son and then doing DDR or even some Debbie Siebers. It will involve being mindful of what I eat. It will mean I will have to cook every night even when I don’t want too. It’s too easy to order pizza or something else when I come home tired. It will invlove planning.

This just has not been a good week.  It’s been an okay week eating-wise, but only because my throat feels like I’m swallowing shards of glass every time I swallow so I’ve been not eating that much.   I haven’t been keeping track very well, but I can guarantee I am WELL within my point range for the week.  I did eat pizza Tuesday night, but I had only eaten a veggie sub for lunch that day so I still think I’m okay (see what I mean about keeping track?).   Yesterday I had soup for lunch because the hot liquid soothed my throat.   Then I ate 2 nutty bars and a fat free tortilla with hummus when I got home from work.    I went to bed around 7 when my husband got home.  I woke up around 9:30 long enough to take some medicene and then went back to bed until this morning.

I did have some vegetable broth this morning just to get something in my stomach.  I did just eat lunch Patty Pan Squash stuffed with Cajun White Beans but I am still hungry. I don’t know if I can hold out another 3.5 hours until work is over.