Good Lord

The weekend is over. I have 1 more day off. Where have I been? Where has the time gone? My days have NOT transpired the way I had hoped. Pigeons on my balcony, 2 nests, 2 babies... balcony is a mess... I chose to ignore it. An owl appeared Friday, took 1 baby. 2nd baby left abandoned. Owl returned Saturday, 2nd baby had died. Early AM trip to Walmart to get the essentials to clean up one hell of a mess on the balcony. NO relaxing time. No treadmill. LOT'S of food (healthier food, but TONS of it).

Owl on my balcony(through a dirty window):
Road trip today. Departure at 6:30. No wait at the border. Shopped for food and cheaper clothes (avoided the outlet mall though). 45min wait to come back across the border at 4pm. Stop in Hamilton on the way home. Home since 7pm. Non-stop eating.

I'll cut to the chase. I bought some new clothes... smaller size than I planned on. They fit... which means to me they feel tight. Still lot's of work to do, but I'll be able to wear these clothes for a bit longer since they are a tighter fit now. Bought 2 pairs of capris, pair of dressier jeans, 3 dressier tops, exercise pants, t-shirt, hoodie, underwear, bra, sunglasses. Bought groceries... but nothing unhealthy (almost)... You know what? just check out the million photos I took of my purchases (grocery that is). Sorry, they will be out of order, but I need to get to bed so I don't care if they follow any order!














(flatouts to last me a while!):









Okay... so here's one of the high lights of my day, stopping in Hamilton to see Simon!
Finally... here's my new shades!

Back to my regularly scheduled programming tomorrow. Which... will need to include a LONG run (which is okay, I have fun drink to stay hydrated!). Also, I apologize for any typos... I am exhausted!!

No change

So, the scale had the me the same. I don't know... there's really no reason for it this week. I will just keep up the efforts and move on to next week!! At least I didn't gain!

For good measure...

Just a little extra good luck!

The day before...

So, here we are.... another hump day. This week is different though in that after work tomorrow I am free for 4 days!! My plan at this point is just to relax. Run some errands, do some shopping on Friday... Saturday will be reserved for total relaxing (read: being lazy). Sunday is a run for the border... and Monday is another day of relaxing.

Today started out with a jog and also included some mall walking at lunch (I really don't like walking in the mall, people get in my way... but it's better than walking in the rain). Tonight is reserved for nothing but dishes and quality couch/tv time.

Here's what I've eaten...
Breakfast: 1/2c kashi (2), 1/2c skim milk (1)
Post jog: protein shake (3)
Snack: strawberries (1)
Lunch: salad with veggies (0), 1/2c chick peas (2), cheese (2), EVOO hot balsamic (2), yogurt (1)
Snack: edamame (1)
Dinner: sample of wendy's "black bean pie" sheppard's pie type thing - VERY good (2), 4 egg whites (1), veggies (0), 6 dates (2), 2 dried strawberries (1)
Total: 21
Water: 3L

What does the scale have in store for tomorrow? Stay tuned... I will tell you that if I do pull off a loss, it won't be the 3lbs I always strive for. I'll just take a loss at this point.

Of course... good luck to Tara and me for tomorrow!

Who doesn't like a quickie?

I'm tired... this will be quick.
I just got home not long ago. This evening was spent in Pontypool. That's the short version. The bottom line is my plans for today changed yesterday and I left work at 3pm to run and get mom after work... dad showed up around 3:45 with Simon (dad had to run to Hamilton, mom and dad have Simon until Thursday... everything is okay though). The good news is that I spent the evening with Simon. He's so fun... we played 'animals'... "Jen, you be a dog and say 'woof' and I'll be a cat and say 'meow', kay?". Who knew he'd develop an imagination already. Then we moved to cars... I had to be the blue truck and he had to be the green and black car and we had to run the cars up and down his arms (which was putting him to sleep practically). Oh, and if you see Jacob's parents... they don't know the other grandparents have Simon for a few days!! Don't tell them!

Anyway, I am home now. Today did start with a nice jog in the morning... but since I left work at 3pm I didn't take a lunch, so... no walk. It's okay.

Here's what I ate today...
Breakfast: 1/2c kashi go lean - still LOVING it (2), 1/2c skim milk (1)
Post jog: protein shake (3)
Lunch: 1/2c quinoa (2), 4 turkey n' veggie meatballs (2), veggies (0), 1/2c edamame (1), yogurt (1)
Snack: larabar - chocolate coconut one (4)
Dinner: lasagna casserole (6), spinach and dressing (1)
Total: 23
Water: 3L

I saw Dr. Oz on Oprah today (I ended up making dinner for everyone... sent the grandparents outside to play with their grandson and I stayed in the kitchen and watched TV while preparing dinner)... he says women should aim for 25g of fibre a day. He also said a study recently found that a high calcium diet (1200mg to 1g a day) helps the body rid itself of fat more (like 100x more or something). You can try to get your calcium from food... but he recommends calcium and magnesium supplements. I found it interesting. I think I will watch his show in the fall. Regulartiy and body functions have always interested me... I'm gross, I know.

Okay, time for bed (10min ago!). Happy hump day!

Take that, Monday!

Well... here we are, another week. The difference with this week is that it's only a FOUR day week for me! I'm taking lieu time on Friday AND Monday... AND I have the weekend off from Sickkids... 4 whole days off and I can't wait. No travelling to Pontypool, no family commitments... just relaxation. I can feel it already. I also am already making my 'to do' list...

So, today has been a typical Monday. I'm happy to report I jogged a full hour today and have stuck to my 'healthy' plan. Nothing unhealthy in this body today (unless you want to count the aspartame in my crystal light... baby steps).

Here's what I've eaten...
Breakfast: apple crisps (1), 4 strawberries (0), 1/2c kashi go lean (2), yogurt (1)
Lunch: 2 flatouts (2), peppers and onions (0), turkey n' veggie meatballs (2), applesauce (1), 4 dried strawberries (1)
Snack: 1/4c BBQ soy beans (2)
Dinner: salad (0) with 1/2c chick peas (2), light old cheddar cheese (2), EVOO balsamic dressing (2), yogurt (1)
Total: 19
Water: 4L

I'm not at home right now. It's Monday evening... you know where I am *wink*. I will head home at 8pm and juggle a big TV night. Jon and Kate plus 8, bachelorette... AND the hills. Somewhere in there I also have to make tomorrow's lunch and do dishes. Happy Monday!!

Jennifer = BAD girl!!

Happy sunny weekend! (and hello to my slightly burned face, which is fully engulfed in freckles!)

Where did this weeked (of NOT working) go?? Saturday consisted of a 5am wake up call to head to Pontypool and then to Oshawa by 8am. I helped out at Kristen's car wash (for her ride to conquer cancer) until about 5:30 (8hrs on my feet, holding a sign on a street corner in Oshawa... at least I didn't have to wash cars). Mom and I then headed to Shoppers and Sobey's and then back to Pontypool. I crashed somewhere around 8 or 9pm on the couch and headed to bed at 11:30... slept through until 9am (NICE! I never sleep in that late!)... then went shopping at Costco and Superstore with mom. We got home and I made 4 pizzas (for our lunch, and then leftovers to feed them for the week)... at least 2 of those pizzas were my 'healthy pizza' recipe. I had taken home chocolate chip cookies for my dad, but he had them almost gone by today!! So... I whipped up another 3 dozen cookies for them/HIM before enjoying a few hours out in the sun visiting with my parents, Kristen, and her friend Laura, and then heading back to my place. I got back here and unpacked.. did some food 'prep'... and here I sit. I will go to bed soon!

I won't bother posting all of my food from yesterday and today (although, I did track!). I used 7 flex points in all... and my indulgences included 1c of ff ice cream on Saturday... about 12 peanut m&m's on Saturday... 3 chocolate chip cookies today and some baked old dutch dill pickles today. Today I managed to NOT use any flex points... but still, I didn't make the healthiest choices and am prepared for what the scale has to say to me tomorrow morning (I didn't weigh myself today).

I will work hard to recover this week. I want to gear up for a big loss on Thursday!

Cheers to a successful week for everyone!!

Diet Coke is the Anti Sleep

What a day. Last night I had half a diet coke. Next thing you know, I couldn't sleep. By 4:30 I hadn't slept at all and was ill... I decided to take a SECOND dose of gravol and call in sick to work. I knew at that point I wouldn't function well enough to go. I thought I'd take gravol, get a good sleep and then get stuff done. I woke up totally groggy and felt like crap all day. I've gone between lying on the couch and lying in bed (and sleeping). No jog. No errands... nothing but relaxing. I still don't feel the greatest... I'm not sick, just blah. I have my appetite back and I'm not nauseous and am still going to Montana's for dinner (courtesy of more gift cards... more free dinners!).

Here's what I've eaten today...
Breakfast: 1c kashi (4), 1/2c milk (1), watermelon (1)
Lunch: 1/2c sun dried tomato quinoa (2), 4 turkey n' veggie meatballs (2), wasabi peas (2)
Snack: popcorn (3), blackberries and grapes (1)
Total so far: 16
Dinner will likely be vegetarian fajitas and I might dip into flex points. I think it will be okay... tomorrow I will be on my feet ALL day washing cars for Kristen's charity car wash... that should burn enough calories to make up for today... I hope.

Another week, another loss

Down 0.4lbs.

Not a lot, but I'll take it. Last week and this week are my bad weeks of the month... if I can pull off a loss, I'm okay with that. Honestly, I had hoped for more this week... but the scale wasn't moving a lot. It's good it moved in the right direction at least!

I jogged this morning and at lunch I decided to jog and walk... stupid idea as I was far too hot returning to work... but lesson learned.

Tonight has included subway, a couple of cookies and some baked old dutch dill pickles chips (yeah, bought them weeks ago and totally forgot about them!).

I will now conintue watching Ugly Betty and bid you a fond Friday!!

It's only Wednesday?

Today has been a typical Wednesday. Uneventful. For the 2nd evening in a row I came straight home from work. Poor Alex has a big trial coming up so he is very busy at work... which means, I stay out of his way. Although it sucks not seeing him for a few days, coming home and having some down time is nice (especially when weekends don't exist for you).

Today I pulled off a full 1hr jog before work and walked for 55min at lunch. Just for fun I wore my cheapo kellogg's pedometer today. Before I came home from work I had taken a total of 12904 steps. You're supposed to aim for 10,000 apparently. At least I surpassed that.

I don't know what to say about the scale. To be honest, it's fluctuating this week. Not for lack of effort (again). I think I did better this week than last week even... normally the scale goes in a downward pattern from the weekend on... but yesterday it had me UP, so who knows. Having my period this week doesn't help. It sucks. I'm not as bad as last week when I was sure I'd be UP... but because the scale surprised me so much by the end of the day last week (on Thurs), I don't know what tomorrow will bring! Time will tell.

Here's what I ate today...
Breakfast: watermelon and grapes (4)
Snack: 6 dates (2)
Lunch: salad with veggies and cheese (2), EVOO balsamic dressing (2), yogurt (1)
Snack: lemon larabar (4)
Dinner: turkey meatballs (2), wasabi peas (2) - odd dinner, yes. I love those wasabi peas though.
Total: 19
Water: 4L

I have to admit... I am worried about Tara. She struggled last week and we haven't heard from her this week... which usually means she is busy. I hope she is having fun and not struggling!!

See you tomorrow... THURSDAY (aka SUB DAY!).

It's a tough Tuesday!

I am struggling... and I am winning (and as a result, perhaps losing?). I am hungry tonight. There are fresh chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen. I want one (or two or three). I have not even TOUCHED them.

Today I allowed myself to sleep in. I woke up with a headache (day #3 of this headache... and I STILL have it. What's up with that?). I still walked at lunch though. Tonight has consisted of being lazy. I didn't get into any cooking and/or baking because I have no hot water... which means I can't do dishes and clean up. How do I cope with this situation? I spend the evening on the couch (and hope my headache goes away).

Here's what I ate today...
Breakfast: 1/2c kashi (2), 1/2c milk (1), fruit salad (2)
Snack: 5 dates (2), 3 dried strawberries (1)
Lunch: flatout wrap (1) with veggies (0), 4 turkey meatballs (2), salsa (0), watermelon (1), yogurt (1)
Snack: motivate protein bar (4), fruit bites (2)
Dinner: mexican chicken (2) with salsa, onion, black beans and corn (0)
Total: 21
Water: 5L

I'm off to watch some TV (90210) in bed and hope my headache goes away by morning!

Happy hump day. I want a cookie.

Ode to the dried strawberry!

Some questions have come up (on here and from coworkers) about the exact nutritional information and points values for these yummy little treats.

I wish they were the same as regular strawberries... alas, they are not.

The information I've found online about them is as follows:
40g (approx 1/2c), which is approx 10 strawberries
Cal 150
Fat 0
Sodium 0
Carbs 34
Fibre 3
Sugar 29
Total = 2pts

I typically only eat about 5 strawberries now (because they are $$!!!), which is only 1pt. As soon as you have 3 of them they even appear to be 1pt.

It's unfortunate they are so many points, but just because they are so expensive... I'm okay with portion controlling them!!

Happy May 2-4!

So... happy holiday! I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend. I worked yesterday and today (3:30 to 11:30), but time and a half pay today makes it well worth it. Take note though - it's 11pm and I am at home, in my pj's... blogging... and still getting paid! Tonight's shift was awesome. Aside from working with a girl with such a severe eating disorder she has to be in 5 point restraints constantly... She remained in restraints and I got paid to sit and watch TV with her (not only got paid, got paid time and a half!). Come 10:20 I was told to just go home... I have been home for 20min now!!!

So, today consisted of a nice 1hr jog and baking like 6 dozen chocolate chip cookies. I took some to work to share with the nurses (it was nursing week last week AND it's a holiday today, they deserve baked goods). I wasn't so hungry this morning... I'm not sure why.

Bottom line? I didn't eat much... but here's what I did eat...
Breakfast: 2 dates (1), 2 cookies - oops! (3)
Lunch: quinoa (2), meatballs (2)
Snack: fruit salad (3)
Dinner: taco salad with veggies (0), black beans and corn (0), cheese (2), chicken (3), salsa (0)... edamame (1), yogurt (1)
Total: 18
Water: 3L
I am happy to report I resisted any more cookies once I was at work... and resisted the chocolate cake (with chocolate icing) that a night RN brought in... and tonight I am not eating anything once home. In fact, I must head to bed... 6am comes early and I need sleep!!

Happy short work week!!

It's a fruitastic healthy weekend!

First things first, happy long weekend! I have enjoyed one day off... today I worked and tomorrow I work as well (hello time and a half!).

Yesterday consisted of shopping for many hours (lot's of healthy snacks and lot's of fruit!), and then some relaxing.

Today was a bit more shopping, some cooking/food prep, some jogging... and going to work.

Here's what I ate today...
Breakfast: 1c. kashi crunch (4), 1/2c milk (1), fruit salad (2)
Snack: kashi dark chocolate and cherry bar (2)
Lunch: 1/2c sun dried tomato quinoa (2), home made turkey n' veggie meatballs (4), dates (2), dried strawberries (1), wasabi soy nuts (1)
Dinner: peppers, zucchini and chicken (2), tomatoes and cucumber salad w/ vinegar and mrs. dash (0), yogurt (1), 1/4c bbq soy nuts (2)
Total: 24
Water: 4L

Some photos from the last couple of days...
The cereal bought yesterday...
This one is yummy!Kashi crunch with a sprinkle of smart bran... sooooo good!
soy nuts (plain, roasted, unsalted) WASABI PEAS!!!
Dried strawberries (at the bulk barn. Very expensive. VERY yummy) Wasabi soy nuts... yumm! I love wasabi BBQ soy nuts
Dates (plain... but still plenty sweet)
Chicken flatout wrap (yesterday's lunch)
FRUIT!! I bought soooo much fruit yesterday. Hello summer!
Today's lunch (sun dried tomato quinoa with some turkey n' veggie meatballs I baked last night)

The sun dried tomato quinoa is quite yummy. It's from my "eating clean" recipe book. The turkey meatballs are just ground turkey and chopped/pureed veggies. All mixed together, formed into balls and baked.

Happy Victoria Day! Tomorrow's plans are to bake some cookies, do some jogging... and go to work!