Perpetual Healthy Eating and Fitness Rant & Rave thread

[merigayle]

Meri, just another random thought - are you sure you're eating enough to fuel your training?

if i eat more i gain. 1400-1600 i maintain, 1800, i start to gain.

[debbatx]

Fair enough. I just know you're training for Badwater, so it occurred to me that you might need just a bit more to fuel those runs.

[Lanarkshire with an L]

Whew! I finally found y'all! Well, a few days ago... I've been catching up for like 3 days (from page 16!!) Goodness....looks like a lot of great successes in here, too!! Congrats to everyone for sticking to it (even when you just don't wanna...)

A few comments on stuff I can recall-
First, I am grateful that I don't crave junk food too much. Grocery shopping, even when hungry, is not a problem. I don't know what I would have done all these years if so, since I lived alone (ie no one to go for me!) I like the suggestion of staying around the outside. I go down aisles for cereal and canned tomatoes and stuff. Otherwise, I just don't go down the "tempting" aisles like soda or candy.

Meri- as a fellow veg (but not vegan), I'm wondering if maybe you need to focus on adding more protein. It is a constant struggle for me, especially since many of my go-to sources like fake meat products I'm now avoiding (too much sodium). I eat cheese everyday, but I know that isn't vegan. What about more legumes? And probably a variety of them? I also find that protein shakes/drinks help a lot- are there vegan ones you can make (with vegan protein powder)? I would recommend greek yogurt + fruit + protein powder cos that is a protein bomb for me! But you don't eat yogurt... What about seitan? I bought some the other day to try. Also gardein and quorn are both non-soy (ie, something different from your tofu protein?) I know I couldn't get by on daily steamed veggies. My brain and my stomach would be BORED. Ooh! What about quinoa? That's protein/grain. Would be easy to work into lots of stuff, too. I think there is quinoa flour, too, that could be used for making those single serving muffins maybe? And, I lose weight so very slowly. 1 lb/wk is the best I can do and not be hungry/tired from not eating (+exercise). I gained a couple of pounds in the week and a half that Stuart was visiting over Christmas/NY. And yeah, I'm *just* now getting back down to my pre-visit weight! I've been religious about counting cals and running/working out, too. I've even cut out a lot of my worst junk foods like wine/beer.

Re- eating out... I hardly ever eat out. I've been doing so more now that I live at home (my parents tend to go out for lunch on Saturdays. I join them about once/month).  I know it's fun to do with friends, etc, but I guess I'm lucky to have friends who don't have time for going out (kids/DH, etc.) I really find that I have a very hard time making the best choices when I go out (esp if there's alcohol there... which there usually is). And I have no control over my food preparation. So something that might seem like a good choice (even steamed veggies) could be bad if they add a lot of salt and butter or something. Plus, it's expensive (for me at least), so budget wise I just can't really eat out much. Maybe those who go out for date nights could choose a non-food activity? Movies with a stop at a coffee place after to discuss? Walking in the neighborhood or park?

Of course, this weekend is going to be challenging for me! Tomorrow night, we're going to my favorite local restaurant for my birthday dinner. I'm scared! I do have a 5k in the morning at least. That will equal about 2 glasses of the wine I plan to drink. And my knee is jacked up (since last weekend). I've been taking rest days in between and stretching more, but it hurts, even with icing/ibu. I really don't want to be out for the count with my half marathon coming up on Apr. 22. Running is really the only cardio I can do, since the gym schedule and my work/commuting schedule don't mesh (I'd have to wait around at least 2 hours after work, just to be able to go to spin or zumba in the evenings.)

On a positive note, the Jillian Michael's workouts have been fantabulous! I'm loving them. My butt/thighs are in a constant state of sore from all the squats, though! Tomorrow, I will finish week 2 workouts! Next week, I get to move on to workouts 3 and 4! Is it weird that i'm really excited about that? lol

Well, hope you all are having a great day! I'm happy to have found you all. Sorry for the long post. There was a lot to catch up on!

[merigayle]

Fair enough. I just know you're training for Badwater, so it occurred to me that you might need just a bit more to fuel those runs.

for my long run days i do eat 2500-3000 calories that day (20+ miles)

[merigayle]

i am having a hard time with protein for bfast, but made tofu scramble this week. For lunch yesterday i had dal kofta (lentil balls) and for dinner a polenta made with a silken tofu sauce. I do eat quinoa here and there, i made a great thai fried quinoa a couple weeks ago. i do not eat fake meats and i hate fake yogurts and milks.

[merigayle]

oh and i did have 1/2 serving of nuts last night.

[Lanarkshire with an L]

Yeah, I'm just thinking that maybe you need to redistribute those 14-1600 cals and focus on more nutrient/protein rich foods. Broccoli every day isn't enough nutrient variety.... Even looking at it from a week long perspective (vs day to day cals/nutrients). I try to make sure I get some of lots of different foods and food types every week. And I agree on fake cheese! ICK! But almond milk (plain unsweetened!) is oh so yummmmmmm.

[merigayle]

Yeah, I'm just thinking that maybe you need to redistribute those 14-1600 cals and focus on more nutrient/protein rich foods. Broccoli every day isn't enough nutrient variety.... Even looking at it from a week long perspective (vs day to day cals/nutrients). I try to make sure I get some of lots of different foods and food types every week. And I agree on fake cheese! ICK! But almond milk (plain unsweetened!) is oh so yummmmmmm.

i only like the dark choc silk almond milk, so i do not buy it it is good though!

Maybe. I am just soooo hungry, no matter how much i eat, that i just feel like i need to fill myself with something like broccoli. Next week I may make the WW zero point veg soup instead.

[BonitaApplebum]

89 days to June 1 - Scale hasn't moved since yesterday, but no biggie.  I'm starving today, which usually means the scale will twitch down tomorrow. 

My lesson for the day is we can't compare our experience.  We lose weight at different rates.  We have different "normal" weights.  We fit into different clothing sizes at the same weight.  I need to stop looking at other women and thinking I should be like that.

I saw a woman a few days ago wearing black skinny jeans tucked into boots.  I thought "I will never be that woman.  My thighs will never be thin enough for skinny jeans."  And for a moment that made me sad.  But then I thought, "I have my own style.  She probably has her own body shape issues - that sweater is probably covering for her tummy/waist issues.  She might look at me and envy my waist." 

Have a great day everyone!

So true, Mini.

I am constantly checking out other women and envying their physiques. And the whole size thing... it's worse than the number on the scale, I swear. I'd kill to be a size other women abhor, and so on.

[Run Amok]

I find that if I'm not very, very careful to balance things... I'm starving. Meri, I would struggle with the way you eat. It's not an indictment, and I know you're very committed to it... I'm not going to try and talk you into a different way of eating. I know you have a strategy you've used in the past that worked well for you. I find that not all protein is equal in its ability to fill me up. Tofu really doesn't do it for me. Not sure why. I *like* tofu, it just doesn't have the fill and stay power that other sources do. Yogurt, eggs, and seitan seem to be the best for me. There is a local company that makes seitan products called "field roast" that are particularly filling- I think because they are high in protein but also have some fat as well. I do find that a little bit of legumes (1/4-1/2 cup) paired with something higher volume usually is pretty filling for me. But, it's all about balance.

Last night's 300 calorie meal (and very filling!) was 1 cup/85 cal of braised cabbage (the flannel cabbage recipe from the i-diet book) with 1 fied roast sausage (190 calories) & 1 tsp of olive oil.

[debbatx]

Meri, what if you spread out the calories you eat on your long run days so that you're averaging a little more each day?

And Lanarkshire, yay! Glad you found us!!! My trainer seems to be on a Jillian-like kick lately. I spent an hour last night doing baby burpees (didn't drop all the way to the floor) and squats.  Trying very hard to not throw the baby out with the bathwater and convince myself to get up and run in the morning, even though I didn't get any runs in this week.

So true, Mini.

I am constantly checking out other women and envying their physiques. And the whole size thing... it's worse than the number on the scale, I swear. I'd kill to be a size other women abhor, and so on.

And this. SO MUCH this. I cannot fathom some of the numbers y'all throw around as your starting weights, because those are my GOAL numbers. At the same time, I'm a bit taller than a lot of you, I think, so I try really, really hard to remember that!

[merigayle]

maybe i will pick up some seitan this weekend. i only eat so much on my long run days because i am FAMISHED and some of those calories are during the run. i cannot imagine upping the calories, because at 1400-1600 i maintain, at 1800 i will gain weight. I cannot fit more workouts in my schedule right now, but hopefully soon, adn will adjust for that. I am also hoping to wean DD at the end of the month.  that is the last thing I can think of and i am so done with nursing at this point.

[Run Amok]

What about tempeh? I've actually never been able to bring myself to eat it but I know lots of people really like it. I don't really consider that "fake meat" either.


This stuff is essentially seitan but it is flavored and spiced up quite deliciously. My big objection to most fake meat products is that they taste too reminiscent of meat- not somethign I'm interested in. What I like about these is that they don't taste like meat... they are just yummy. I also like that they don't have a bunch of weird stuff on the ingredient list.

Ingredients: Vital wheat
gluten, filtered water, expeller
pressed safflower oil, red
wine, eggplant, onions, naturally
flavored yeast extract,
garlic, barley malt, dried red
bell pepper, fennel seed,
granulated garlic, spices and
sea salt.

I buy the "sausages" and the deli slices. They are everywhere here but you might look in your health food store. Our costco started selling their products recently.
http://www.fieldroast.com/products/

[Courtney]

And this. SO MUCH this. I cannot fathom some of the numbers y'all throw around as your starting weights, because those are my GOAL numbers.

1

I bought some "skinny" jeans last night.  I wasn't sure that I could wear them, but I guess I can.  I like how they look.  I'm wearing them today! 

My weight is not budging, and while it's frustrating, I know I'm doing the right things.  I haven't binged all week.  I am tracking my WW points, and while I've gone a bit over every day, I do have weekly points to tap into PLUS activity points.   I try not to use both.  *sigh*

[debbatx]

Oh, I blasted through my weekly points (I still want to call them flex points, but whatever), but my APs saved me. I came in fine overall this week, but being so sore has wrought havoc on the scale.

I cannot fathom wearing skinny jeans. Good for you, Courtney!

[merigayle]

i think tempeh is just ok. i have to steam it first. i usually use it in stir fries. i think i will make some baked tofu for next week to snack on. I think I have seen the field roast at our natural food store. I also make a white bean salad that is like tuna salad, i should make that to snack on next week too. i just was not very prepared this week and can only really shop on Sundays, so it is tough.

[Run Amok]

I hear ya! If I don't get everything I need for the week, I am floundering. I bought some hummus to try as a snack this week (4tbs is 70 calories + a bunch of cukes).

[Courtney]

Oh, I blasted through my weekly points (I still want to call them flex points, but whatever), but my APs saved me. I came in fine overall this week, but being so sore has wrought havoc on the scale.

I cannot fathom wearing skinny jeans. Good for you, Courtney!

Well, there is nothing skinny about them, other than the style   I've resisted even trying them on for a long time.  My super tiny boss wears them a lot, and they are so cute.  These look amazingly normal and good.  I don't know what I was expecting, but this is not it. 

[debbatx]

Yeah, I just.... can't bring myself to wear anything that tight-fitting. I just... why would I want to accentuate everything I don't like about myself?

In other news, I just turned down banana pudding. *whimper*

[Courtney]

Yeah, I just.... can't bring myself to wear anything that tight-fitting. I just... why would I want to accentuate everything I don't like about myself?

In other news, I just turned down banana pudding. *whimper*

I really don't think they are any tighter fitting than regular jeans, except in the calves.  I mean, all my regular jeans are fitted in the hip/thigh area (whether than are supposed to be or not is another story), this is just fitted the rest of the way down.  I am wearing a shirt that does come down a bit lower, just to kind of balance me out.  But if I couldn't see past my knees, I wouldn't know these jeans were different. 

If that made any sense at all...