Weight Off, week 3

[cornerofmadness]

A little late in the day but here I am with another round of the weight off. I've lost another 2 pounds for a total of 4. baby steps but what the heck I'm walking.

Go back and check out last week's post here. There were so very many good suggestions here.

1. eating smaller, healthier portions (this is what I've been doing)
2. exercise (yes we all know this but if you have tips/styles you want to share please do)
3. cut out high fructose corn syrup and soda (these I never thought about being diabetic I did this a decade ago)

So how have you all been progressing? leaping ahead? stumbling a bit? Let it all hang out. this is what we're here for.

Me, I'm not so much on the exercise that most others will enjoy (I.e. mostly I do stuff for the old folks because of the sheer amount of arthritis i have) But i'm betting some of you have suggestions for that.

I do however cook. These two came from a book I had forgotten about until I wanted the soup recipe this weekend (then forgot to make it). Both recipes are from Sugarbusters one of the anti carb crazes from the late 90's. While i'm not a huge proponent of dieting fads some of the recipes DO have worth. I really like both of these.


Spicy Spinach
2 10 oz packages of frozen chopped spinach
¼ cup low fat milk
2 TBS of butter
2 TBS prepared horseradish
Salt to taste

Cook the spinach according to directions, drain and squeeze out excess water (can’t stress this one enough). Combine the milk, butter, horseradish and salt in a small skillet, stirring frequently (milk and butter burn easily), cook over high heat until butter has melted and the mixture blend (@ 4 minutes), stir in the spinach and cook for another minute to coat.

Serves 4-6 (easily halved)




Garlic –White bean soup
20 garlic cloves, peeled
1 ¾ cups chicken broth (one 14 ½ oz can)
2 cups cooked navy beans, rinsed and drained
2 TBS crumbled goat cheese
3 TBS lemon juice
½ tsp dry sherry
½ tsp dried thyme
Salt and pepper to taste

Two different cooking methods

1. per the book. Put garlic and broth in a 2 cup microwave-safe bowl, cover and microwave on full power for @ 10 min. Transfer to blender or food processor. Add all the rest of the ingredients and puree. Return puree to the microwave bowl and heat it for @ 4 minutes.
2. per me. Put garlic and broth in a stock pot and heat on the stove for 10 minutes (be careful not to boil too hard) until the garlic is soft. Add all the other ingredient and then use immersion blender to puree.

NOTES: 1. only use GOOD sherry not the cooking stuff you find in the vinegar isle. It does not good taste and it’s very strong. For the ½ you’d be better off leaving it out.
2. To mix it up a little roast the garlic in its papers (with a little olive oil over it) then pop them out of the papers and into the broth. Roasting makes the garlic milder, nuttier and even easier to puree.

Comments

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

Both those recipes look excellent.

stuff that's worked for me

[seatbeltdrivein.livejournal.com]

I haven't gotten to weight myself this week, but I do have a comment on the exercise! Most of the weight I've lost, I haven't done anything fancy. I started by walking 15 minutes three times a week, then slowly bumped it up until I was walking 30 minutes a day five to six times a week. Honestly, that's all you have to do. It's free, and you can do it anywhere. I usually have my ipod, and I just sort of zone the entire time.

Even if you can't dedicate a specific amount of time just yet, it's a good idea to walk when you can, like by taking the stairs rather than the elevator, walking to lunch rather than getting in the car, and so on.

Another thing that's helped me is to stop using sweeteners and cream in my coffee. Since I drink a freaking ton of it everyday, the sugar I used really hurt any possible weight loss progress. Once I started just drinking straight black coffee, that helped a lot.

Also seconding the smaller portions. I've found that having snacks to graze on throughout the day helps me keep my actual meals to a very small size. Just keeping things like trail mix (a healthy mix with no candy!) or granola to munch on really helps.

And (I swear, last thing!) something I use for motivation is clothing. I try to keep a pair of pants/shirt/whatever that's one size below where I am on hand at all times. I try to pick something I REALLY want to be able to wear, and seeing whatever it is hanging on the back of my door is good for motivation. Or maybe that's just me lol.

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

Stumbling and then falling over this weekend. Had a party day Friday, and didn't let up all weekend. Very bad indeed. Gained back a little, but since I'd lost five, it's still not too bad. I'll behave better this week (I hope).

[marlex.livejournal.com]

Since I didn't weight myself for the first week, I'll have to estimate, but I think I'm down four pounds. I know I'm down two.

Been bad on the exercise end. I did get the den cleaned out today so I will hopefully start using the stationary bike that until today been a clothes hanger.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

hahaha good conversion from clothes hanger back to bike

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

good luck. partys are a good excuse

Re: stuff that's worked for me

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I can only do it if I want run over unfortunately (or stopped 100 times trying to get around campus). we have no side walks. sigh. I like walking.

beng diabetic i'm supposed to have small snacks in the day. It does help

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I enjoy them but the latter can be problematic if you're not used to eating beans

[bob_fish.livejournal.com]

I only lost a pound this week, but I'm not yoyoing and I haven't plateaued, so over all I'm pretty happy, although if I stop losing next week I'll have to cut back some more. I've now dropped all the weight I put on over the last year, and can fit comfortably into a whole bunch of clothes I couldn't before.

I think my weakness is portion size rather than snacking or sugary drinks (I like my coffee black and unsweetened, and I've never been much of a soda drinker). One thing I've found helps cut back is to supplement a smaller portion of whatever you were going to have with a pile of green veggies or salad (undressed or dressed with something virtuous).

I am being lazy about going running, despite the fact that it's a super-easy programme I've used before that tapers gradually from run-walk to 30 minute runs. I need to get off my butt.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

one pound is better than nothing. yay to fitting into clothing (here's hoping my pants don't fall off in class)

portion size is really hard for americans since we're trained to eat like pigs. going over to your neck of the woods biggest tourist complaint is not enough food but it sure helps

i've been doing the water over the greens just because of my digetive issues

you and me both on the butt thing

[bob_fish.livejournal.com]

American restaurant portions are impressive, man. Not that the British are particularly healthy, we love lard and are famous across Europe for being pale and flabby.

[ital-gal.livejournal.com]

well only down a pound this week and I'm still working the I'm traveling with my parents excuse, but all and all I'm not unhappy with how I did this week. Managed to get some work out in most days, some days we ate out, but the days we didn't I was pretty much able to stick to eating light on the days we didn't. This week I'm at home with them, so hopefully will do better. Plus amd trying to get my on the verge of type 2 diabetes dad to pull himself togehter, so I have to set a good example.

[caffeinified.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks for the recipes.

My work out regiment suffered last week since I was sick, but I'm back at it today, so there's that!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yeah and if you can't eat your weight in food here we get pissy

hahaha this is also true

[bob_fish.livejournal.com]

Pissy how? As in people will be all IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY COOKING?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

as in I paid money, i want more food than I can eat in 3 settings for that price

[enemytosleep]

2 more pounds for a total of 6. :D

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yay you

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

no problem. enjoy. I love to cook so yeah recipes will probably be my big contribution to this

good luck with it. glad you're feeling better

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

these recipes would be good for him. good luck

[ishte.livejournal.com]

Well, if nothing else most of my weight gain I griped about last week went away. I weighed more today than I did yesterday, but am still down five pounds from there at 153. My scale is not working very well though. It seems to be having a hard time turning on. I replaced the batteries thinking that might be the problem, but it didn't help really.

I'm preparing another multicook session this week, but I've chosen vegetables that are not as starchy, and also will be watching the starch on the entreés as well. We'll see. I had planned to do this on Saturday, but forgot to lay my meats out. I laid it out yesterday, but it took too long to thaw. Today I'm a little tired and usually go to my friend's house on Monday to eat, so maybe I'll multicook tomorrow.

The recipes you shared sound good. I may try the Spice Spinach. The Garlic - White bean soup is probably too starchy for me, and I can't afford some of the ingredients right now. The only thing I'd need for the spinach is the spinach and the horseradish.

My cooking is enclosed within the cloak of simplicity. I'll try to think of something to share later. My brain is really running slow at the moment. I just got out of a nice hot bath. hehehe

[ishte.livejournal.com]

Oh I meant to say something about exercise too. Can't brain... I have some pretty bad arthritis too, especially when the weather sucks. It's why I cycle. The activity is smooth and non impact, but it certainly has an impact on my health and energy levels. In winter, I normally have my bike set up on my stationary rider. I can pop in a movie and ride while I watch it.

This year I haven't done that yet, for two reasons. 1) I haven't really recovered my strength from my illness yet. 2) the old TV hasn't been brought downstairs by someone who has strength to do it and set up for my use for this purpose. For the moment, the bike is hanging on it's rack in the music room.

I also roller skate, but not as much as I used to. I don't like to go by myself, and not as many people know how to dance on skates any more, which kind of bums me out. Most of the music they play now is not the right speed for dancing either, which may be why people aren't dancing with their wheels on, but instead wait until the end of the session when they let them dance in the middle (an annoyance to me as it eliminates the entire freeform skating area).

I like hiking and walking, but my hips can't take it as much as they used to. I'm stubborn to admit the pain, but it hurts. Not to mention that few of my friends who like to walk can keep up with me, which walking at that slow plodding pace is actually more painful because it's impossible to set up any kind of rhythm. So I don't do that much any more. I do not like walking on pavement. That just hurts. Forests and natural surfaces are much better for me.

The less exercise I get, the worse my arthritis is, and the more locked up I feel. If I can keep moving, I can stay moving.

[ishte.livejournal.com]

American restaurant portions are outrageous. I'd love if I could order a plate with a normal sized portion of each item, and pay half what they charge for overfeeding me. Some places will let you order off the senior's menu even if you're not a senior but it's very limited in most places. I think if you order half the portion of something, you should pay half price... or close to it. My daughter and I often order one meal and split it.

That's something I strongly recommend when you do out to eat. Go with someone you can agree on a dish with and have them split it for you. Most restaurants will happily put it on two plates and when they do, I always improve my tip for the service.

[bob_fish.livejournal.com]

Annoying as it sounds, that's what I've done sometimes when visiting American diners - split one meal between two.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

oh I do it a lot myself