making commitments

it's been far too long since i've really committed to anything... so i figure it's past time. i'm joining the dallas runners club (because for a nominal $25 i can get about 8 "free" races /year ranging from 1 mile-1/2 marathon, and free training tips and such like) because i figure having regular goals for races (that i've paid for, darn it and i'm not wasting my money!) about every month will force encourage me to actually get out and train regularly. i know exercise isn't everything, but i'm sick of making excuses, and i'm ready to make something work (go me!). as far as goals go, in addition to running, i thought it's time to make some serious goals, not only weight loss, but also inches (i'm not super-heavy, per se, but i'm getting really flabby, and i'm too old for that!). i figure if i can lose 10 lbs (it should be 25) or 5 inches (waist, thigh & upper arm combined) i get a reward... (there are a lot of things i want, but i can't justify any of them... i figure that'll be more of a push than setting an actual date on this, though i'm open to suggestions there too).

sorry about the convoluted post, i needed to write this before i lose my drive, so it's going up as i think it... now to make it stick!

What's on the menu?

I'm shooting for 1600 calories per day, but it's easier to think of it as 3 meals and a snack at 400 calories each.  I'm not religious about writing down all my calories, because I've been doing this a long time, and don't really need to.  Plus, it's preferable to just do some quick figuring in my head as I fix each meal, then eat and forget about the numbers until next time.  I also try to include those healthy fats if I can, and they really go a long way in helping me feel satisfied.  So this is how I did yesterday.  And yes, I have 2 snacks on here, but I had some extra calories at the end of the day, and I am literally addicted to popcorn.

Breakfast:

• 1 fruit smoothie: 1/2 cup nonfat milk, 1 cup frozen fruit (strawberries and blueberries today), 1/2 scoop Muscle Milk vanilla protein shake powder (because a full scoop makes me gag a little), and enough water to make it the right consistency
• 1 slice homemade whole wheat bread, toasted, with no-cal butter spray (I only recommend this if you have delicious bread to make it taste great)
• 2 Tbsp almonds (healthy fat!)

Lunch:

• 1 can Progresso Southwest Chicken soup (canned soup is not my fave when it's over 100 degrees outside, but I hadn't been to the store yet...)
• 1 cup green beans
• 2 Hersheys Nuggets (dark chocolate with almonds--healthy fats!)

Snack: one of Chad's protein bars


Dinner:

• 2 lean ground turkey tacos (corn tortillas, meat, cilantro, tomatoes, Taco Bell sauce; I should have fried the tortillas up in healthy Olive Oil, but was lazy and starving)
• Salad with fat-free Kraft Caesar Italian dressing

Snack: Orville Redinbacher Smart-Pop

Is this thing on?

Wow, so clearly I don't blog about eating healthy or exercising when I'm pregnant.  It's been a little while since I've been here.

But I thought I'd post a link here, to mention how the USDA has yet again amended its nutrition advice, part of its ongoing effort to curb the obesity problem in the US.  Go to www.mypyramid.gov, and you'll see that the food pyramid is no longer, my friends.  Instead, we have a plate showing us what we should eat.  I think it's a much better system, finally giving fruits and vegetables the spotlight they need.  Dairy is kind of off to the side, optional really, since we Americans get enough calcium if we're eating right anyway.  And as long as we understand that protein does not just mean meat (especially if it makes us think red meat), the plate is a good thing.

So, since the government is telling us to fill half our plates with fruits and vegetables, do fruits and vegetables get half of the government's money?  Tee hee.  Ho ho ho.  So not even close.

 

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine