Healthy Choices 07/21/08

Good morning Viny and everyone. Your menu sounds really good for yesterday and the distance you walked is excellent. I wish i could say the same.

B: Fruit & yogurt Parfait from McDonald's

L: 2 chicken strips from KFC, mashed potatoes & gravy and green beans

Snack Skinny Cow, WW 1 point vanilla yogurt w/ Hershey syrup on it

Dinner 1 brat on a roll w/ onions

It was so hot we didn't want any more.

 Well we went again to look at the vacation property and the realtor feels the seller will accept the lowball offer which is a surprise to us. So I still don't know what will happen with it.

Last night DH took off the trim around the family room doorway because I had been hearing noises in it. Well we found a nest of large black ants that was like a horror movie. I was screaming and vacuuming them up while DH was spraying Raid like mad. He ended up removing the baseboard trim around 2 sides of the room and the hallway on the other side of 1 wall. Needless to say we were really pooped after this, had to move the furniture too. I have to call a pest control company today and find one that can come out right away. We haven't use a pest control company in years so I guess I'll try the big ones like Orkin or Terminix.

That's all for me, got to get moving. Have a good day, Sue

Good morning Viny and everyone to come by today.

Sorry I didn't post all weekend.  The time just seemed to slip away.  I baby-sat on Friday for my niece and nephew's two children and on Saturday and Sunday, I spent a lot of time on the phone with my friend E who lives in TX and also has had MS for years, now.  She is the one I asked for prayres for because she has had to have surgery on both feet to straighten her toes.  Thanks for your prayers.  She is in extreme pain because, even though her feet are in casts, her toes are going into spasms because of the MS and she said that she cannot bear the pain when they spasm.  We talked on the phone, between episodes, and  I tried to just be there to listen and to reassure her that it would all be behind her soon.  She's being very brave, but just exhausted at this point.  They had to break her toes, reset them and put pins in them to hold them while they heal. She's in rehab for two more weeks.

I have to go back to read the weekend posts, but it looks like our Viny is setting a good example for us and journaling his meals on the BB.  I'm all for that.  It makes me stop and think about what I want to eat and how to stay within the WW recommended points.  I'll give that a try too. Yesterday's meals were:

B-toasted WW bagle with Smart Balance, cantalope, strawberries and blueberries.

Early Dinner:  Chicken  cacciatore (new crock pot recipe) over whole grain penne pasta, tossed salad, lima bean salad and broccoli.

Skipped supper and later,  had tea with one slice of almond poppyseed loaf for a snack.

Have to improve on the water and also have to fit in the milk servings.

Wow, when I write it down, I can see how unbalanced it really is. There are some healthy elements in there, but I know way too many points and not enough water and no milk servings.

I do like my new crock pot and cooked this recipe on high for 4 hours and it didn't cook too hot.  That's a big improvement over the Rival crock pot I had.

Vammie, I'm going to get busy and bake Frank's birthday cake.  Thanks for the recipe.  I'm only making two layers, though, and splitting them.  Using a boxed lemon cake mix.  I am doubling the recipe for the lemon butter cream frosting, as recommended.  I think the 4 layers will take extra frosging..  Ken, Judy and the trips are coming over and we're celebrating Ken's birthday too.  He was away on vacation when it was his birthday.  Can't wait to hear all of their vacation stories.

I'm taking Dh out to dinner tonight.  I know, that's as much a gift for me as it is for him. LOL

Well, have to go pay some special attention to the "birthday boy".  Back later.  God bless. Jo Ann

Good morning, Sue.  Missed you, while I was posting.  Your menu sounds much healthier than mine.  I'll have to get serious about this.  Today will be a challange, though.  We're going to our favorite restaurant for dinnr and then birthday cake afterwards.  :)

 Hi.  Sue, I hope you get those ants sorted out.  I'm fighting with them in our sauna these days.  Happens every year at this time.  But it lasts only a couple of weeks normally.   I need to investigate outside the window and see where they are  getting in.   

I took the car in for the repair job from the little accident.   So I am biking everywhere I need to go.   Good exercise.   And I have Pilates class a little later today.

Here is my menu for the day:

B:  oatmeal and blueberries, milk

S:  peach

L: rye bread with cream cheese spread and salad

D: baked cod topped with LF cheese, tomato, zuchinni (a WW recipe for 5 pts)

Evening snack will likely be fruit.    

 
I haven't got the new materials from WW here, so I still use the old ones.  But today I read on the Finnish WW board that all citrus fruits and all melons are points free.  Even apple and kiwi.   Could this be true???   

Hop everyone is off to a good start this week!  lusi

I am so mad at myself I like the Crystal Light green tea in the little individual packets good for 16oz of water. Well when we were at the store I seen Lipton had this also for a cheaper price so I bought 2 boxes. When I went to use one this morning it was offal weak so I read the box more closely only to find it’s only for 8oz of water. Grrrrr

Hi everyone.

Off to the City soon but wanted to say Hi first.

JoAnn, I'm sorry about your friend with MS.  My nephew has it too.  He was a super athlete, so good at golf that he was about to turn pro when he came down with it.  I guess that's been about 20 yrs. now.

Sue,  I like those Parfaits from Mcdonalds.  In fact, it's the only thing I eat there because I don't eat fried food.  Well, let's say, RARELY eat fried food.

Viny, when I was going through the WW plan we had to count cereal, beans, potatoes, all starches as bread.  I believe women could have only 2 a day so I always had to make a choice on weather I would save mine for  a popcorn snack in the evening.  I mention that because I notice your menu yesterday would have been mostly starch with no fruit or veggies....am I wrong?

Lusi, I plan to get out my old WW stuff and use it next week.  I am going to try that instead of going back and learning something completely different at this point.  I think it really is all the same, just a different road to get to the same place. Calories in, Calories out .....move your body. Boy that sounds a lot easier than it is !!

Gotta get movin. 

So, As Vammie would say.....have a good day "Dudes" 

You are so right Viny. You really have to read labels even more these days. I bought some baked Scoops chips thinking they were better because it said BAKED in huge letters. When I got home and compared them to the regular tortilla chips they weren't very much lower in calories and I paid triple for them! GRRR

Who else has a grocery store rant?

Good morning, what an active  group we have this morning. Viny, I too have gotten frustrated with what all the grocery stores are doing, downsizing and going up in price.  We really have to watch everything we buy now.  You are doing so great with the walking, way too hot to walk outside but I've made my rounds at the gym today

Verna, your email was returned with the pictures, I sent again this morning.

I called this morning and canceled my trip to Cape Code in October. Randy was coming to stay with Joe, but I'm not sure he would be up to my being away.  After i canceled the trip, I told him and he was upset with me for doing this, but I had rather we do something together than leave him when he is not feeling up to par.

Maureen, Joe would have smelled the sizzling pot, but most men wouldn't,  I'm glad you were able to salvage the beets.  I have not had fresh beets this year but I love them.

Barb, enjoy your shopping with your sis.
Sue, what a mess you must have had and how scary,  I hope you get someone to check and get rid of those pest today.
Jo Ann, good to see you post, I'm so sorry about your friend. Pins in your feet are painful without having to cope with the MS.  Remembering her daily.  Happy Birthday wishes for Frank & Ken.
Enjoy the cake.
Yesterday's choices:
B.  WW english muffin with 1 slice of cheese
L.  3 oz. roast beef, lettuce/pineapple salad no dressing, green peas, 1/2c  Pot. salad. 8oz. tea w/splender
D. 1/2 cup cream corn, 1/2  green peas
S. watermelon, peach and water, I stayed within points limits.
Lusi, I will look at the new WW book and see how the fruit is counted and I'll post it later.
I have walked a little over 4 miles this morning and lack 2000 steps having 10000 steps which will be 5 miles, I'll get that in.

Good morning y'all.  I was a lazy slug this morning...didn't get up until 830.  This heat just zaps my energy...even when I'm in most of the day.  102º yesterday with more of the same predicted for the rest of the week.  And no rain predicted until August...like they can really tell.  If a hurricane or tropical storm strikes the Texas coast, we sometimes get rain from that....

I have eaten so poorly.  Egads!  This is the weekend meal plan (yeah, right.  some plan!)

Saturday

B... SBB mix, 1 c ff milk

L..bacon cheeseburger with guacamole, onion rings and fries

D..2 slices leftover pizza

No real fruit or veggies except with the burger.  Lots of water though.

Sunday

B...coffee, one donut

L..the last two slices of leftover pizza

S..lots of little crispy gingersnaps

D..Frozen Kashi dinner

And lots of water.

And today I'm starting off bad...with 3 donut holes and a donut!  Lunch will be a chicken Caesar salad.

Sue!  Ants!!  Are they carpenter ants?  The ones that eat wood like termites?  Hope you can get them eradicated immediately!!  Do they bite??

Good to see you Jo Ann...You might not need a double recipe of the frosting for the smaller cake.  It just goes on the top and sides...not inbetween the layers.  Y'all have a fun day!  Prayers for your friend with MS....does she live close to me here in TX?

Marti, sure hope I can see the pics of the baby...maybe one of the others could forward them and I could see them.  Seems like we had this problem last time!  I think you may be wise to have cancelled your trip.  Joe's health is so fragile.  I'd love to do the train trip across Canada but as I understand it, you get off the train every night and spend it in a hotel.  For me, that just too much getting aclimated to a new environment as well as the packing and unpacking.  Let's just rent our own bus and driver...perhaps Reba McIntyre would loan us her tour bus!  LOL!

OK...guess I'd better get  busy...never did do the laundry yesterday so it's still waiting for me!

Viny, you left your teeth at home???  Seriously??

I'll check back later.

vammie

Good morning all... Its going to be another warm one today. Well, I had a rude awakening this morning - I had to go back to work! Ugggg

Barb, I believe with the new WW point system, you can have as much starch as you want (although, they don’t recommend it), as long as you are within your allotted points for the day and have eaten the required veggies, milk, etc. The new point system is not quite as strict as the old WW plan and maybe doesn’t work quite as well - jmho. However, it is a lot easier to stay on program. But, are right about the calories in, calories out, exercise, etc. Yesterday’s paper had an article about your city in it. It was written by a writer for the Oregonian - it was very interesting. Enjoy your day of retail therapy.

Sue, I know I have a grocery store complaint - but, for the life of me, I can’t think of what it is right now. If I think of it, I will let you know. How far is the vacation home you are looking at from where you live? Also, there is a pesticide called Tempo. It is very safe for people, animals, etc. (they even use it in hospitals, schools, etc.) and very effective for eradicating bugs, bees, ants, etc. You may have to go to a farm supply store to find it. It also as a residual effect. If you can find it, it sure would be a lot cheaper than an exterminator.

Viny, so Pat did make bean soup after all? I will have to look into those tea things.

lusi, you did well on your eating yesterday (or, is that today’s menu?).

JoAnn, you had a busy weekend. Please tell Frank happy birthday for me. Enjoy his special day and your dinner out.

Verna, after hearing how hot it is where you are (and with your humidity), I think I will quit complaining about our hot weather - at least we cool down at night.

Would you all please keep my mom in your prayers. She ended up in the ER yesterday afternoon with arrhythmic heart (I’m not sure what that is); fortunately, my sister (the one that lives about 4 hours away) was over visiting for the weekend and she was able to take her in. Thanks.

Until later...

JoLynn

Marti, I didn't mean to leave you out. I think you were wise to cancel your trip. If Joe is feeling better by then, it would be much nicer to do something with him. You are doing good on your walking today. Dh & I are still walking each a.m.

Hi guys,

Just a quick check in.  I still haven't read the weekend posts, but it souds like I missed some pictures from Marti. 

Marti, if you emailed them, I didn't get mine, sorry.  I did check, though.  I think it's wise not to leave Joe alone too soon.  Doing something together will be much better and you'll have peace of mind not being away.

Sue, I have a complaint too about the downsizing and price raising.  They put the frozen vegetables in the same sized bag, but now it feels half empty!!!  GRRR is right!!!

Vammie, my friend doesn't live near you.  She lives in San Antonio and is such a wonderful person.  I'm sorry she has to go throug all of this pain. Thanks for the prayers. You're right about the frosting.  I forgot I am making the cake smaller and not frosting between the layers.  The cake is baked and cooling right now.  I'll make the original recipe another time, I'm just worried because I won't make a three layer cake.  I don't have anything high enough to store it in.  I could make three layers and freezed one, I suppose, but I've never frozen cake, have you? 

Time to go, will try to get back later before company gets here.  Take care and God bless. Jo Ann

JoAnn & Verna,  I've sent the pictures again,   I sent them to all of you.

Lusi,  I checked the new WW book and all fruit still counts about a 1. 
apple, 1 small  1 pt
Orange, l large 1 pt
Watermelon, 1 cup  1 pt
Mango  8oz         2 pts.
Most of the fruit is 1 pt.