Another Goal Met, Another Year OVER

 December was a hard month for me.  I won't rehash the details.  Suffice it to say that I am welcoming in a new year.  Hope springs eternal.

I did meet my weight loss goal of being down by 15 lbs by December 31st.  I am down by 16 so I'm going to have some FRIED food tonight.  I got rid of a few large bags of clothes and will soon be able to retire another size.  I am losing weight at a very slow pace and this feels right.  I don't have any fear that it will jump back on me like it has in the past.

Part of the reason for my confidence is that the changes I have made in my diet are permanent.  Like double fiber bread by Nature's Pride, non-fat powdered milk, Ocean Spray Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice.  Not letting my tongue rule my body.  Bonding with reason, divorcing passion.  But because this fitness journey is so difficult, I am developing a respect for myself.

I will share (paraphrasing) a New Year's thought with you that I heard from Dr. Wayne Dwyer on a PBS show.  If you tell yourself something is going to be too difficult to accomplish, you will not attempt it.  So even though it may seem to be a lie, you should tell yourself that you can do it and it is not only possible, but might also be easy for you.  I guess the bottom line is this.  Tell yourself whatever the hell it takes to get the job done.  Or in the immortal words of Larry the Cable Guy - Get 'er Done!

So.... whatever your goals for 2010, dear friends and fellow travelers on this journey to self-improvement - GET 'ER DONE! and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tandoori Chicken and Brown Rice

Tonight I made Tandoori Chicken of a sorts.  Sorry, no photo.  But since it did turn out good, I'm committing it to post.  What's in Tandoori powder? 

Ingredients
Cayenne Pepper, Ginger, Granulated Garlic, Coriander, Salt, Paprika, Other Spices.

Now who knows what the other spices are, but I bought this Sun Brand and it's really good.  If you are not familiar with this spice blend, experiment with the level of intensity since it can be quite hot.  I've found that eating less fat and less sugar almost demands more flavor and tandoori certain provides flavor!

2 Chicken Breast Halves
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Powdered Chicken Boullion
Dusing of Tandoori Powder

Saute Chicken Breasts in Olive Oil just enough to sear all around
Remove and Cut each breast crossgrain into 5 medallions (10 total)
Meanwhile, add the following to the skillet

Sauce
2 Tbsp Asian Chili Sauce
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Cup Orange Juice
1/2 tsp Orange Zest
1 tsp Adobe All Purpose Seasoning (the kind without the cumin)
1 tsp+ Tandoori Powder (taste test and add more if desired)
1 Spring Onion (Scallion)

Add:
1 Tbsp Flour whisked into
1/2 Cup Coconut Milk

Add:
2 Cups Frozen Asian Vegetable Mix

Return Chicken to the mix, cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes

Serve 2 medallions with vegatables and sauce over Brown Rice
Makes 5 Servings

I make the brown rice in the rice cooker.  This made enough for five small meals, so 4 went into the freezer.

Weigh In for November

I met my goal of losing 10 lbs total by November 30. It was not easy since we made a trip to New Orleans and were enticed by liquor and food. And succumbed. However, I did use restraint. I had only ONE beignet instead of 3. My god, it was good.



And then of course, came Thanksgiving week. I was bad. I knew I would be. Still, I was not AS bad as I would have been if I had not been conscious of my goal.

This change in lifestyle is very challenging. However, the size 14 jeans that I wore to NOLA were too big. I'm back down to the 12. Now that I made it for November, it's on to my mere 5 lbs for December. I can see a size 10 maybe by the end of January.

Seeing An Old Friend

My daughter and I went to visit my mother today and Mom suggested that we get Subway for lunch. Not that all of their selections are healthy, but we split a well-behaved sub that was quite tasty.

When I was trying to decide toppings, a man leaned over to me and said Excuse me, do I know you? Maybe, I said, and gave my maiden name. In a couple of seconds we had placed each other and were both so delighted to see each other.

So many years had passed, but there was this middle-aged man connecting with this middle-aged woman who felt like she was 16 again in his eyes. Man, we had some good times during those high school years when we worked together at the diner. Not that I remember them much. It still amazes me that there are such wonderful people who come into your life that you forget all about until you see them again.

Anyway, I felt good about myself that I was 9 lbs lighter and somewhat brighter than I was this time last month.

Beauty of a Living Thing

Have you heard this?



You are a molecular machine. I hope you appreciate the way your atoms are put together and the beauty of a living thing.

Weigh In 1st Month

I exceeded my goal of losing 5 lbs by October 31. I am down by 7 lbs. Gotta say - It Feels Great!

Shut Up and Sit Up

I'm up to about 30 crunches now.

I'm using an ab roller that I got at the thrift shop for $2.

I think the lady felt sorry for me.

I think she might have paid me to take it if I had wavered.

When I first tried to get off the floor,

I moaned - this thing doesn't work.

Turns out it works great.

It spares the spurs in my neck.

I'm getting stronger in my core

and my posture is improved.

My record time on the elliptical is a whopping 14 minutes.

When I started I was only able to do 5.

Really, only 5 minutes.

I know when I get up to 30 minutes

the weight will come off faster.

I have not picked up the weights yet.

They're still waiting on me.

I'm happy with the pace I have chosen

because it's easy enough that I won't be tempted to give up.

Can't Get Wet From the Word Water

WORTH: Arriving at your goal weight will not make you a person who is worth more than you are today. Would failing to achieve your goal make you worthless? I hope not! You set your fitness goals not to achieve worth but because you are a person of great worth. You are worthy of a better body – a body that feels great.

HOUSE: If you had the ability to go from a small apartment to a mansion, you would most likely choose the mansion. It’s the same with your body, only more important. Your body is the most important house you will ever own. If you knew that with the same amount of work it would take to get fit that in 6 months you could go from a tiny little dingy apartment to a beautiful mansion, would you make effort? I bet you would.

SCREENPLAY: I won’t make the comparison of the body to a vehicle because it’s so much more than a vehicle. It doesn’t just get you around. The body houses the mind, the seat of joy and imagination and beauty. All of that wonder is enacted on the screen of your mind and cannot be given to you from the outside world. You cannot create, project, visualize, and enjoy the show if your body is not fit. It just won’t happen. You cannot substitute laying on the sofa watching TV and eating chips for the scenarios a healthy mind will create for you.

BRAINWASHING: Your mind cannot experience all of the wonderful aspects of being if your body is not bathing your brain with health. The saying is true that one hand washes the other. The mind must wash the body and the body must wash the mind. They must work together to come clean together. So go ahead and brainwash yourself and do it with both the words you speak to yourself and the exercise you give your body. I believe it was Alan Watts who said – You can’t get wet from the word water.

Take It Off

And the shoes, too, honey.
Always take the shoes off
when you weigh.
...

Go Do It

Nutrition Data

Nutrition Data's motto is Know What You Eat.

http://www.nutritiondata.com/

It has in-depth information on food values as well as health.

:

Weigh In

Looking Good! Down by 4 lbs this morning. And still have 12 days left in the month to reach that that 5 lb goal.

Dr Vincent Bellonzi on Physical Activity

Dr. Vincent Bellonzi tries to convince us to get out and move. He makes a convincing case and I like his voice.

The Scales Moved

Well, finally, I can say that I have lost 3 lbs. And 2 more to go by October 31st. I spent a lot of time today looking for things to help me stay motivated and this is one of those videos that does it for me. This is the trailer to a movie to be released early next year.

Grocery Shopping

It’s easy enough to say the words – I want to be healthy.

My trip to the grocery store today was an adventure. I could not travel the beaten path. I had to explore new territory today. The Kroger where I shop has a large section for healthy and organic foods neatly tucked away. I was there for quite some time exploring these strange new foods and only one person entered the lair the entire time. Methinks this health angle is a loss leader.

I gathered extra firm tofu, soy milk, soy nuts (what? am I nuts?), and some pelleted cereal that has oat bran and psyllium husks. Oh, and some B-12 dots. I could feel the B-12 dots same day. You let one of these powerful little pills dissolve under your tongue. I had some B-12 tablets but they did not cut the mustard. As for the Smart Bran cereal, it tastes great and with 13 grams of fiber and 90 calories per serving, you can’t go wrong there. The Soy Milk is Naturally Preferred (a Kroger brand) and is 90 calories per 8 oz serving. It's delicious.



In the International section, I finally found the Krino’s green cracked olives. I thought they were in Italy but they were in Greece. These olives are not the bitter astringent olives. They have the pits in them and so you have to get involved in eating one. 10 calories each and they are some kind of wonderful.

My search for low fat tortilla chips was in vein so I’ll have to figure out what else I can do with the salsa in my cupboard.

I eyeballed the diet frozen dinners and they eyeballed me back. I won and walked away. I figured with what little food was in there, I could whip something up in my kitchen and package it out for the freezer and save myself from wondering what the heck that spice was in there.

I got honey, mustard and some pomegranate infused red wine for salad dressing. I prefer to mix my own since the fat free kind tastes so slimy. I got fresh spinach, red leaf lettuce, bell peppers and such for salad making.

I spent some time looking for a really good coffee bean but didn’t have any luck and will have to visit the Rainbow Grocery for those. When you’re making sacrifices, you need to reward yourself with the best cup of coffee you can find. I only grind my own beans for the espresso. For morning coffee, I use the ground Columbian blend.

So… all in all, it was a good trip and an uplifting experience. But it was amazing that there were whole isles that I could not go down for there be dragons there.

Food Exchange List

This Food Exchange List from the National Institute of Health helped re-educate me on the kinds and quantities of foods I need to be eating.

I know how to do this. But the list is still very helpful.

Weight Loss Target Date Calculator

I found this handy calculator on Fit Watch. The Weight Loss Target Date Calculator gives you an idea of how long it will take to lose desired weight.

After you enter your info, the calculator estimates how many calories you need to stay at the same weight (total daily calorie needs). It then calculates 5 different calorie deficits and how long it will take you to lose those pounds.


Instructions:

1) Enter your current

weight
height
age
activity level
your start date for losing weight
number of pounds (or kilos) you want to lose


2) Click "Calculate."

My target date was six months but I had to increase my activity level to get there since I did not think I could handle as few calories as allowed without exercise. Besides, I needed to exercise for health reasons other than weight loss. I shortened the six months to five for motivational purposes.

Borderline Obese

I took this test for BMI (Body Mass Index) and was not very happy with the results. As you can see, at 29.3 BMI, I am less than 1% away from the obesity mark.

But I didn't really need this test to tell me that I'm overweight. I don't feel good. I haven't for a long time. So I decided it's about time to do something about it. This blog will chronicle a journey I expect to last at least six months. Five of goal meeting and one of followup.

In concert with my Feel Great Music blog, I'm calling this one Feel Great Body.

You need to Feel Great IN your body. That's the Healthy Part. The right food, exercise, and rest.

You need to Feel Great ABOUT your body. It may not seem right to some people, but I think it's much better to Feed your ego than stuff your face. To be strong and agile gives you a feeling you can't get anywhere else.

And you need to Feel Great FOR you body. Your mental attitude is crucial for your brain chemistry to change the course of your body. This means you can't be the taskmaster. You embrace your goals with faith in outcome and joy in motion. You know that you're doing the right thing for your body.