Menu Planning and a Challenge

I think I might start doing a weekly menu planning.  I've always been against it, as I like to be spontaneous as to what I make and I like to be creative and see what I can do with what I have on hand.  But I've been thinking about it for a while and hope that it would serve two purposes.

First, I hope that it would help us to eat healthier.  If I plan ahead, perhaps I can work in healthier entrees and sneak in extra vegetables.  I don't know what exactly I would do differently, but because I have to prepare, I would hopefully put more thought and less calories into my dinners.  Also, if I shop for only what is on my list to feed us for the week, I won't be buying more fattening and convenient foods as I peruse the grocery aisles.

Second, I hope that it would help to save us money.  Not only would we waste less, as we plan to eat everything we buy, but I would buy just what I need for the week.  I will still need to buy the pantry essentials and work on bulking up our food storage, but no other unnecessaries.

Currently we are spending $100-150 per week on groceries.  That is way too much for just the two of us.  Yes, we are building up our food storage and freezer, but we need to cut back.  We should be spending $75 or less per week, so we need to cut by 25-50%.  Doable????  Maybe.  It might take a little to get there.  BUT, no more candy, chips, pepperoni (Keith's favorite), cookies, chocolate.  Less convenient, fried, greasy, fatty, gross.

Part of the problem is that Keith comes shopping with me.  I don't mind him coming, but he is constantly throwing things in the cart.  I try telling him no, but then we just end up fighting in the store and so I just have learned to give in.  He mentioned doing a menu plan today, so if I'm going to do this, he needs to be committed too.

In related news, we've only been out to eat once since Christmas, and because we used a gift card, we only paid $5 out of pocket as a tip to the waitress.  I want to cut going out to eat as much as possible.  Yes, it is fun and relaxing to go out, but it is so expensive!  Keith thinks we have to make going out to eat an experience, meaning needing drinks, appetizer, entree, and sometimes dessert.  $60-plus later, we just spent half a week's worth of groceries on one meal.  Bad.  Very bad.  Plus, home cooked tastes better. So, the challenge is to eat out only once per month.  I'm not sure how long we can last, but we are going to try.

Wish me luck!

Weightless

Everyone knows that January is the month of losing weight.  All the home fitness items are on sale and everyone who buys has good intentions.

Today we went to Superstore.  I headed first over to the sports equipment department to get my hand weights.  I want to shape up, just like everyone else.  Of course the hand weights were on sale and of course Superstore was completely sold out.  No 3's, no 5's, no 10's or 13's.  Nothing.  I was so bummed.  I guess it is time to get creative.

Today I'm grateful for the snow.  I know, I know, I really don't like the snow, but I am grateful for it nonetheless.  It snowed just a little today, and as it has been a rather dry winter, it was nice to see the beauty that snow can hold.

Broccoli and Babies

Lately I've been having a love affair with broccoli.  I don't know what it is about the tree-like florets, but I want to eat them ALL THE TIME.  I want it steamed, stir-fried, roasted, sauteed.  I don't care, I just want to eat it and eat it all.  Keith isn't as pro-broccoli as I am, as he's only a fan if it has butter or sauce, but I'm the one making dinner, so he has to suffer or just learn to suck it up.  Good thing broccoli is good for me because I've been eating a lot of it.

As to babies...Dawn recently announced she is expecting.  We are so excited for her, but I can't help but feel a little, dare I say, jealous...?  I do  not begrudge her being pregnant (and I'm very glad grandbaby #2 was born over Christmas and that Dawn no longer has the corner on McLean grandchildren), but I just wish were expecting a baby too.  We aren't TRYING to get pregnant, but we aren't KEEPING it from happening, either.  Keith has become more open to the idea, but keeps saying "We'll just see what happens" when I try to have the Baby Discussion with him.  I guess I worry because it hasn't happened yet.  Maybe it just hasn't happened or maybe it can't happen.  Keith worries about his messed up "procedure", and I worry because of Chelsea and Dave's infertility struggles.  Maybe I worry too much.  And it doesn't help that everyone in Keith's family already suspect that I have a bun in the oven (no, I'm just getting fat).  Aunt Jacquie asked Odette on Christmas Eve if I was, and James told us yesterday that Monica thinks I am.  I told James to fuel the rumor, since I think it funny.  Hopefully one day...

Today I am grateful for my washer and dryer.  I love having in-suite laundry.  Every time I go to do laundry I have to smile because I love these two appliances so much (even if they are old and don't work very well).  Nothing beats being able to do laundry whenever I need to without having to lug it up stairs or down stairs or to the car or through the snow.  And I love not having to feed coins to the machines to make them work.  In Edmonton we were spending $12-15 every week to wash our clothes.  I know we still pay electricity and water to run our machines here, it is by far less expensive.

Zipped

Today I asked Keith to help me with a zipper in my skirt. I had him zip me up and then about 5 seconds later I had him zip me down. The skirt was uncomfortably tight around my mid section. I think it is time to go on a diet.

Today I am grateful for good conversatom. James came over after church and it was good to talk to him. (Plus he knows all the family gossip). It was a nice Sunday evening.

Days Three and Four

Yesterday was a bad day.  Keith has been a bit sick and when he is sick he is a bit of a whiner.. Anyway, it wasn't a great day.  I definitely was grateful when the day ended.  Today has been much better.  Keith is still under the weather, but he is much more amiable.

As to our resolutions for the year, I haven't been doing great.  But, I'm getting ideas as to how to change our diet by tweaking dinners, and I'm thinking more of spiritual things, and I'm paying better attention to blessings and the things I have as I know I"m going to have to write about it later.  My brain is preparing...which is half the battle, so I'm getting there.  James is really gungho, so, Keith and I need to reciprocate so that James doesn't lose his fire, as he needs to change just as much as Keith and I do.

Today's scriptural thought:

"But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction.  They could not be taken in their snares."  Alma 55:31

This is just a good reminder that if we are remembering the Lord, doing the things that we ought to do, we will never be taken in the the snares of Satan.  It is hard sometimes to always be reading or praying or keeping the commandments, especially in times of trail or challenge, but it is at those times that it is the most important.  That is when we are vulnerable to doubt or blame or dark thoughts.  Yet, if we are remembering and calling upon the Lord, He will help us to overcome those feelings.

Today I am grateful for Lazy Days.  Today was a very lazy, good day.  Keith was still too sick to go to work, so we watched tv together, ate meals together, etc.  We stayed in our pajamas until noon, and neither of us really fully dressed for the day.  It was just nice to take it easy.

Day Two

I ate horribly today.  We still have a bunch of junk left over from Christmas and today I was a willing participant.  I could have done without the chocolate bar, but those butter cookies sure were tasty.  I probably should just chuck the whole lot of it out, but I have a hard time doing that.  It's like throwing away cash versus eating my wallet.  At least when I eat it I get some sort of return, even if it isn't the sort of return I want...

I didn't read my scriptures last night, and I haven't read them yet today, but I've decided that, instead of starting the Book of Mormon at the beginning, I'm going to start where I left off...about a year and a half ago.  I've read Alma many times before.  It shouldn't be too hard to pick back up.

Today I am grateful for Keith's job.  Sure, it isn't his favorite and we aren't becoming rich by it, but today he got a 2% raise (about $0.42).  Every little bit helps!!

Day One

It's been a while since I've written on this here blog.  I know no one reads it, mostly because no one knows about it.  But I know it is here and I know its purpose.  Even though it hasn't been greatly successful, I'm hoping I can use it again for it's original intent:  to improve me in all ways I need improvement.  What a perfect day to start, too.  January 1, 2014.  A new year with new goals and new ambitions.

Last night I was talking with Keith and James and we decided we were all going to work together.  Our goals/resolutions are not too different than they are any other year, but this year we have a support system and will be checking in with each other.  It is amazing how much more motivated you can be if you have to report on your doings at the end of each day.

This year we are simply going to improve our physical health by being healthy.  More exercise, more veggies, more water, more movement.  We are going to improve our spirituality by letting our spirit communicate with God's.  More praying, more reading (at least 15 minutes daily), more meditation.  And we are going to improve attitudes.  More gratitude, more happiness.  I can do that right?

And so it commences.  Wish me (and the others) luck!

***

Today I am grateful for the opportunity to have a new start and new beginnings.  There is always something so great about New Years.  As the year changes, so can we.  We can make our year and ourselves anything we want.  We can become a better version of us.  How cool is that!?

Beginnings

Another night of Taebo and Criminal Minds.  I must admit, I really like the combination, though this episode of CM totally had me freaked out.

Taebo is interesting...  I get sweating like crazy yet I don't feel like I am working that hard.  That's probably why I like it:  it seems easy but gives me a good workout.    And I feel really good afterward.  Except for the Criminal Minds induced nightmares. 

I am starving today, which is weird as I haven't been very hungry for the last few days.  Sure, I continue to eat my meals, but by the time the next meal comes around, I haven't been famished like I usually am.  And I've been eating less, which is completely awesome.  The perfect diet for me: one that is completely unconscious.  But today I am hungry, probably because I worked out hard last night and ate breakfast at 6:30 this morning.  So I had a snack: some licorice...and a bagel..., and now that it is lunch time, I find I can go for that too.  My stomach still feels empty.  What is wrong with me?! 

This week I feel that things have clicked, finally.  I feel less sleepy, stronger, ready to kick my butt into gear.  Hopefully it doesn't wear off anytime soon...

Video Ga Ga

I ran into a problem recently.  (Ran?  Slowly meandered is more like it).  It is this: all my workout videos have disappeared.  Gone.  Lost.  Bu jian le.  I can't find them anywhere.

My theory?  I think that when my mom was cleaning and organizing she saw all of our workout videos, thought no one used them, and gave them all to my sisters.  Thanks, Mom.  Do you want me to be fat?  I use those videos...on occasion...really, I do...every once in a while...  How do you expect me to workout now?

And that is when I discovered YouTube. 

Since I couldn't find my regular Donna Richardson, I turned to Billy Banks instead.  Yep, I sweated it out to TaeBo while watching Criminal Minds.  It was intense, both the workout and the TV show, and I loved it.

Next I'm hoping to find me some Turbo Jam, or at least some Richard Simmons.

Hi, Bye, Where'd You Go?

Good Heavens! 

What happened to July?  It just sort of got away from me.

I don't know if I am still affected by the mono or if I am just really out of shape, but I find it very difficult to excercise. 

And I don't get nearly enough sleep.

I blame all my troubles on the boy.  You see, the boy gave me mono, and I stay up far too late talking to him at night, and the whole of July was focused on his one-week visit, and everything else has been a blur.

Except for my homework.  My homework is still in focus.  Until I actually try to do it.  Then it is all sorts of craziness and I can't focus at all.

Maybe I have adult ADD.

Or just the lingering effects of mono.

Or am just twitterpated.

Maybe I have adult ADD and mono because I am twitterpated?

Darn that boy!

I need a vacation.  Here's to August.

Low of Calories

Zip. Zilch. Ling. Nil. Nada.

I have absolutely ZERO energy today.

It's going to be a long afternoon.

Slightly Overdone

I think I overdid it yesterday.  Here's what happened:

• I went to work and sat for 8 plus hours
• And for those 8 plus hours I did data entry (snooze)
• But, as my attention span is approximately 7 seconds (the mono's only made it worse), it was a very, very long day.
• I forgot to mention that I took the train to and from work yesterday (go me!)
• Which means I have to wake up a whole lot earlier
• And add an hour plus to my already long day.
• After my train ride home, I ate dinner, my beautiful mother having it ready for me when I walked in.
• Unfortunately, we had tacos.  I don't like tacos.  I made myself a cheese quesadilla.
• Once dinner was eaten and cleared I had to run to FHE because I said I would be there.
• They ended up not officially starting FHE until 7:30, so we all just milled around for a half hour.
• As I had already predetermined I was going to leave at 7:45, at 7:50 I headed home.  At home, I changed my clothes, pulled out my laptop, and turned on the TV.
• I watched a workout video on my laptop while watching the Bachelorette on the tube (I love technology).
• And for the first time in over a month (that's right, I said a month), I exercised (something more than walking or working in the garden).
• It kicked my butt, and I didn't even try very hard, and for only 30 minutes.
• Once the show was over and I was through with my sweat session, I cleaned out my backpack
• And called my boyfriend .
• And then I got mad at him and said good night, as neither of us were very congenial.
• And then I stewed for a little while.
• I got ready for bed
• And did a load of laundry.
• I grumbled through the bedtime routine
• And finally turned off the light.

And this morning I am beyond exhausted.  I was 15 minutes late to work (but no one noticed because I was still the first one here) because I was in slow motion all morning.  And I still am.  Only now it is 9:42 and all I have to do is more data entry and I just don't want to.  So I'm trying to avoid it as long as possible.  But regardless of how long I avoid it, I still will be sitting at work for 8 hours plus today, in addition to the 5 hours I get to sit at class tonight.  And I'm pretty sure my attention span is still only 7 seconds.  And soon my body will start telling me it is sore from the Pilate's, and my poor sleep will start catching up to me.  And I really need to tell my boyfriend that I am sorry...but making up just isn't the same when you can't do it in person.

Today I Walked Across the Bridge

And then got peed on by a bird. 

Lovely.

I finally made it across Legacy Bridge and back.  As everything on campus, it is closer than it seems; it just looks far away.  I don't know why it has taken me so long to cross it.  Maybe it is the fact that even the bridge itself is slightly slooped uphill.  Or that there really isn't anything on the other side.  Still, it was a fun adventure, one that I will probably be repeating. 

And the best part is that the sun was finally out and the skies were warm. 

Welcome, June.  It's about time.

Oh, Yeah!

I took the train to work today.  It was my first time in months.  Go me!

Still Working

I guess one good thing that has come from being sick is that I was out of work for a week due to my coworker's fear of contracting whatever it was that I had.  As I was at home and bored, I did get a lot of piano practice in, which requires little energy.  No Chinese, no reading, no homework, but my fingers were flying on 'Fur Elise'.

Taking the Good with the Bad

Well, the bad news is that I've been super sick for 2 plus weeks.

The good news is that I've lost 3 pounds due to lack of appetite and severe sore throat.

The bad news is that I am now addicted to drugs, as they make me feel better.

The good news is that I am getting better.

The bad news is that I've just been diagnosed with Mono.

The good news is my energy should be coming back soon.

Isn't life fun?

I Ate Cookies for Lunch

And drank a sprite. 

It reminded me of Jr. High, when my friend Kim and I would go to the Pony for some good ole' Grandma's and a creme soda nearly every day.

Not super healthy but oddly satisfying.

Pride

I'm so proud of myself.

I sat in class for 5 hours last night and did not play a single computer game.

I did my homework instead.  :)

Weekend Fail

But oh, so yummy.

It Has Begun

Day 1: 

So far, so good, as it takes a lot of self control to last one whole morning.  :)  Anyway, it is Friday, and sometimes I get exceptionally lazy on Fridays.  I will not want to make me a lunch and will end up buying food.  But, no more!  Food at work is expensive and so not worth the money (or the calories).  So today I brought cold spaghetti salad AKA whatever-I-could-find-in-my-fridge-before-running-out-the-door-this-morning.  I did put a little too much dressing on it, but I also didn't add extra cheese like I wanted.  Score!  I'm amazing!  I don't know if I'm going to make a lunch-time walk today, but hopefully I will get some sort of exercise in tonight.  Anyway, this salad packs a nice 1 fruit, 2 veggie punch, plus a carb to keep you fuller longer.  Buono Appetito!

Cold spaghetti salad

Leftover spaghetti noodles from the previous night
Olive Garden salad dressing
1 Roma tomato
1 handful of baby carrots
1 stalk of celery

Chop veggies, mix all ingredients. Eat chilled.

P.S. For breakfast I had 2 pieces of wheat bread toasted, with peanut butter and grape jelly, and a glass of milk.  Good, though it could have used a banana.

Coming up:  Tackling the bathroom...and the scale.