Saturday, July 30, 2016

Green Chili Cabbage Stew

     First of all I did great yesterday. Only 2 days until my official weight count....

     I decided to create a soup that I can eat so I don't have to count each meal. Of course I won't eat it all the time but if I am in a rush I can grab a cup and not have to research the calories.

     I used my cabbage and some other foods I have around. I am not sure if I figured the calorie count correctly or not. Please anyone who knows about figuring calories in food chime in here and tell me if I have done it right, or wrong.

     The soup turned out great, it is actually delicious!

Here is the recipe.


Green Chili Cabbage Stew

3 Cups cooked cabbage     66 cal
3 Cups shredded zucchini or diced     57 cal
3 ½ cups Green chili Verde sauce    315 cal
1 cup cooked chicken breast    231 cal
1 ½ cup barley uncooked   255 cal
2 cups green chili peppers   120 cal
1 ½ cups red potatoes unpeeled         174 cal
2 cubes bouillon    10 cal
Total calories                 1228
Total cups              15.50
1228 / 15.50 = 79.23 calories per cup of stew


Thursday, July 28, 2016

Still Going Strong

     Yes it is only day 3 but I am still going strong. I stayed under my calorie count and I even ate out today. I went to a good restaurant though, did not eat junk food. I ate something in which I could find a calorie chart and my lunch was under 600 calories. Dinner was close to that too so I was way under my 1500 for the day. I do not even feel hungry either.

     I ate a lot of veggies which helps to fill me up. I am avoiding breads for now because they are where the majority of calories come into play. I can eat three slices of toast and not fill up. Now sometimes if I eat toast and an egg I fill up which hmmm sounds like a good meal tomorrow.

I would love to be this thin again...
     I am a person who steps on the scale daily. I am not sure if this is good or bad but I am addicted. It is the first thing I do when I get out of bed. I have lost 1 lb but am not calling it a true loss until I keep it off a week because my weight does fluctuate each day.

     I hope some of you join me on this journey, it is not all about weight, it is about getting healthy for my liver and my knees.

     As soon as I go back to work I will probably post every other day or less. I will make sure to check in weekly though.

   

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Checking In

     I did great yesterday and today. Yesterday I used my portion cups to control my meals however felt stressed about it. I had to make sure I put the carbs in one, protein


Back when I thought I was fat, to be that fat again ....
in another and so on. So, today I went back to calorie counting. Calorie counting has worked best for me in the past and so I decided there is no reason to change.

     Of course I am still trying to lose weight and get in shape but it is not because what I do doesn't work it is because I don't stick with it.

     I have decided to better be able to stick with counting calories I need to focus on smaller reductions at a time.

     In the past I have cut myself down to 1200 calories because I want to weigh 120 lbs. Well, that is never going to happen! I don't even have the bone structure anymore for that to look healthy. So, I decided to work on getting down to 160 lbs first. I can handle eating 1600 calories or less a day. Once I am down to that weight I will knock it down to 1500 calories. This way I am not feeling so deprived and stressed.

     Today I didn't even hit my 1500 calories because it just worked that way. It is ok though I don't have to reach that amount each day, I just can't have more than that.

     I hope to be down at least 5 lbs by the end of the week.

     For dinner I was even able to have a hot dog because it is a lower calorie one. I feel good about today....

 

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Getting Back on Track

     I have not been here for a long time! I hope that this blog will help me with my new journey to get healthy. It is so hard to lose weight, it never used to be but for the last several years it is difficult for me. I used to think thin and lose. Now I have to work hard at it.  I know how to get it done, it is just getting it done I struggle with. I LOVE food too much!

     It is important I lose at least 20 lbs, more to come later but that is my starting point. I think sometimes I reach for the final goal too quickly and end up giving up because that goal is a bit hard to reach at first. I want to lose at least 50 lbs.

     Why is it so important? Well for some reason my liver is not working right, I have never been a drinker or taken drugs so the only thing we can think of is I took too much Tylenol for pain over the years. So regardless of why the weight plays a roll in it too so I need to be kind to my liver and stop making it work so hard.

     Another health issue is my knee. I had a partial knee replacement several years ago and the extra weight is not good for my knee. It does not like carrying it around. My feet also are feeling the brunt of the weight.

     My clothes are uncomfortable. I do not like to feel the rolls of fat either. I don't like how anything fits and will not buy a new wardrobe to compensate my new flesh.

     Finally yes my vanity. I hide from mirrors and when we go to California I don't really like to be in pictures anymore. I look at the shots of me and I want to cry. I do not like what I see. It depresses me to no end.

    So losing this fat is all up to me! It is hard but it can be done. I know that I have to cut calories and I need to exercise. I am using the portion cups to help me with the calories but will also watch my calorie intake. As for exercise. That will be on hold until I get some weight off so my knees and feet aren't hurting so much. I will still walk and do what I can but not be on a really pumped up plan until I dump at least 10 lbs.

     I started eating better yesterday, so far, so good. I hope someone follows me on my journey if only just to encourage me when I start to give in to food.

     I do not plan to starve myself because that never works. I get bored and tired of it and just pig out...if I want cake, I'll give up something else for the day, if I want fries, I'll give up something that day. For the most part though I plan to only cheat one day a week.That has worked in the past. I will still eat what I like in my meals though but just less of it. That is how the portion control cups work. However from what I see with them I can eat a lot more food and still lose. It is just how it is proportioned out.

    So now I am on day 2...let the losing begin...


   

This is the me I hope to see again!!