Peanut's Exercise/Diet Journal

**mauimagic** · 04-27-2009, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by peanut

Where? How? I'm all over this! It would be great if DH knew he could still eat "sweets" at home...they just have to be ones I can eat too. Otherwise I have no willpower.

I tried using sugar free gum yesterday to keep my mouth occupied at a funeral reception. Meant I didn't touch the sweets. It worked great! It's a tip I picked up from a friend.

My orthodics appointment went great! I've finally got a pair of shoes I can stand in for more than half an hour at a time! I moved the orthodic insert into my gym shoes and wore them for 4 hours yesterday. My heel slipped a bit because the podiatrist raised the heel on my orthodic. But it was okay for general walking and standing around. I am so happy!

My podiatrist is my new hero!

If your feet don't hurt, anything is possible!! I am so excited for you. I found some orthotics in the Walking store which have really opened by life to a lot of possibilities!! Helps the back too!!

**imagine** · 04-28-2009, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by peanut

[edited to add: imagine, I noticed back in November on this thread you mentioned you had a goal to lose 20 lbs. by March this year. Did you make it? How's it going?]

Yes I reached 20 more pounds my March don't think I'll have reached 42 pounds less than was in Nov. by Summer though.

Lost 47 to 45 pounds since Oct. Doc hope I lose another 11 by Early to mid Summer ( part of her original goal for me) I was hoping to meet that Goal by May when I see her again. Looks like I'm going to be about 10 pounds short of that goal.

I currently weigh approx apparently what I weighed before I became pregnant with my first 13 years ago. My mom returned back to me some hand me downs I gave her from when I was in college and they now fit. That was cool.

Thanks for asking

**peanut** · 04-28-2009, 03:25 PM

Cool! That is sooo inspirational! If I could lose 45 lbs. I'd be in bliss! Just not sure it's possible.

I weighed myself this morning and I'm down to 184 lbs. even. The sugar free gum is really helping with the food cravings.

I heard back from the nutritionist. She claims it's okay to use the gum in moderation. I'm using Stride, which has a bunch of alcohol sugars in it. She claimed they did tend to cause diarrhea when used too much! LOL Well, at least I'll know when to back off! She also said that, while sugar free gum is good, it still has sugar in it. Meaning she would eventually like me off it too...sigh... one baby step at a time...

I watched some health DVDs I have and made notes on the diet end of things. Don't really have a good all round one on developing a good exercise program. Seems there's lots on individual bits and pieces of a program (like workout DVDs), but nothing on how to set up a well rounded program. Maybe I'm looking for the wrong types of DVDs though?

It's snowing here today. I'm waiting till after lunch to go for a walk.

**peanut** · 04-29-2009, 12:04 AM

Hi all! Two 5-10 minute walks today. It's my day off for exercise.

Breakfast: 1 ww tortilla, 1 egg scrambled with tomatoes and orange bell pepper, 1/2 large orange.

Lunch: 1 ww tortilla, 1/2 c. taco filling, tomato, lettuce, orange bell pepper.

Snack: 1 stick of Stride sf gum, 1/2 c. of fruit cocktail in pear juice.

Supper: 1 seasoned pork chop, 1/2 c. brown basmati rice, 1 c. broccoli, 4 dilled carrot sticks.

Snack: 3 Finn-crisp crackers (ff and sf), 2 tbsp. hm dilled hummus (ff and sf).

Not bad. I did find some information on About.com about setting up an exercise program. DH and I talked about possibly turning one of the old bedrooms into a mini gym. We'll see. It would mean spending money on equipment.

**mauimagic** · 04-29-2009, 01:59 AM

You guys are doing great and make me want to jump in. I know that I have to go with baby steps - however, I still need to do them. Shall be crowned queen of avoidance......

Going to start with 10 minutes of stationary bike riding before and after work and then go from there. Wy is it so hard to even do the little things? Being a human is such a challenge!!

Keep doing well - you are motivating me too!!

**peanut** · 05-02-2009, 08:14 PM

Go mauimagic go!

I've had a good few days now. I took Tuesday off for walking. Wednesday I ended up with no time to walk. I fit in a walk on Thursday, and a longish one this morning (40 minutes). No time Friday. Love the new orthodics!

My diet has been surprisingly good, considering I've had three restaurant meals the last two days. I was on a trip with some church ladies yesterday. Today DH and I were running around town and just decided to stop in at Subway for supper.

I baked a diabetic brownie that turned out really dry. We're eating it with mashed strawberries or red currant coulis (DH...it has sugar in it).

I've made more tamari nuts to snack on. And I have some hm ff, sf dilled hummus for crackers and veggie sticks. I bought Finn-Crisp crackers for spreading with hummus.

I find if I have healthy snack food I do okay. I'm also relying a lot on the sf Stride gum. But no more than 2 sticks a day.

I'm down to 182.8 lbs. right now. That means 2 lbs. a week for the last 2 weeks. That's double what I thought I'd lose each week. So I'm very pleased. My jeans are already baggy on me. I'm going to have to crack out a belt to hold them up.

**peanut** · 05-06-2009, 01:50 PM

I was at 182 pounds this morning. Not bad! I'll just keep on trucking.

Controlling carbohydrates really seems to be the key with me. Also watching my snacking. The sugar free gum is great for that.

I've been trying to walk at least 30 minutes a day. When I can't swing that I will park a long ways away from where I'm going and walk the rest of the way. Today we had to go to the mall for something. I decided to walk around the mall to windowshop. Didn't buy anything. But I did get a bit of exercise.

I've decided to try and incorporate yard/garden work into my exercise program. In the past it's been almost impossible due to back and knee problems. I'm still looking for a handy little seat on wheels to garden with. I may ask DH to make me one. All I need is a board with casters...and a cushion or something soft screwed/hooked to it. This doesn't sound complicated to me. Wonder why someone hasn't made something like this? I've had two recommendations of where to buy it and neither store has it. I can't get down on my knees at all...even with pads...the bursitis is too bad. Frustrating...

Snacks...well I made some diabetic brownies. But by the time I figured out the fat count in them I discovered my original brownie recipe was healthier. It did not, however, have as little sugar. I also found out that you can use 1/4 to 1/3 the amount of sugar if you use brown sugar instead of white sugar in recipes. Of course, best of all is to not use any sugar.

I'm still going through the book "Outsmart Diabetes" by the Prevention people. The book I have has a 30 day plan for gaining control of the situation. I don't have diabetes, or pre-diabetes even, but it still has some useful ideas I can implement.

For example, one day they give a list of what they call 'free foods'...foods you can eat any time you want. You want to bet that list made it into my diet journal for reference! I'm trying to make sure I have at least 3 items off that list in the house at any given point in time.

It also mentions dandelion root tea as being good for ridding the body of free radicals, which can damage the eyes and the heart. So I picked up some dandelion root the other day and instructions to make the tea. It doesn't taste too bad.

I'm concentrating on my walking form right now as well. This book brings up little things to do each day to improve your walking. I'm finding it easier to take in small chunks like that.

So that's about it. Talk to you all later...

[edited to add: on a sad note...

I broke my belt yesterday when I tried to tighten it too tight...I was inbetween notches...go figure...no belt...sagging pants...sigh...]

**peanut** · 05-07-2009, 10:20 PM

Twenty minute walk in a nearby park.

Breakfast: 2 small sf ff refrigerator bran muffins (not so great...but I'll wait and see if the taste improves with aging), 1 tsp. almond butter (tried it on the muffins and it was gross), 1/2 a large orange.

Lunch: 4 oz. Baked fish fillet, 3/4 c. potatoes, 1/4 c. broccoli (basically leftovers).

Snack: 2 pieces of sf ff cake. I'm trying to come up with a birthday cake alternative. This didn't work. It's kind of rubbery.

Supper: 1 hamburger (mixed with oats), a thin ww bun, spinach, tomato, fried onions (sauteed in water), 1 tsp. hm mayo, 1 tsp. ketchup, 1 tbsp. green relish, 1 c. broccoli rabe.

That's it so far. It's obviously going to be fruit for snack this evening...if I have it.

**peanut** · 05-08-2009, 10:59 PM

I went off the wagon today...all because of that birthday cake. then DD#1 invited us to her place...and served us Blonde Brownies, and gave us some to take home (no hardship I assure you!). I've been justifying it by eating peaches in pear juice with them. Still, my carb count is outrageous today. Doesn't help that the weather got cold again and I'm absolutely craving carbs at the moment.

I did fit in a couple of 10 minute walks. Needed to do more though.

Breakfast: 1/2 c. sf ff granola, 1/2 c. rice milk. It wasn't enough. I started yawning a couple hours later about 11 a.m.

Lunch: 1 hamburger, 1 ww flat bun, hm mayo, ketchup, hamburger relish, 1 c. broccoli rabe, spinach and tomato slices.

Snack: 1 Finn-crisp cracker, 1 tbsp. hm dilled hummus (I'm trying to find out what I'm reacting to. Yesterday I had my hm dilled hummus with carrots and celery and had a reaction. I'm going to have to test carrots and celery individually now. There was no reaction to my snack today.)

Supper: 1 c. spaghetti squash, 1 1/2 c. lentil spaghetti sauce.

I had 2 pieces of Blonde Brownies with about 1/3 c. peaches in pear sauce, and 2 pieces of the sf ff birthday cake with 1/3 c. peaches each. I fit in a lot of peaches today! But waaaaay too many carbs. Each piece of brownie/cake was 1 1/2"x 1 1/2" (1/16th of the recipe per piece).

**peanut** · 05-11-2009, 10:04 PM

Finally I think my body is starting to feel better after the weekend.

Breakfast: 1 c. Red River cereal, handful of dried cranberries and half an apple, with 1/4 c. pear juice concentrate.

Lunch: 1 c. ww spaghetti noodles and 1 c. lentil spaghetti sauce, with 2 tbsp. grated Romano cheese.

Snack: 1/2 c. of a blueberry/Acai juice, and a bite of a yucky storebought blueberry muffin. These were DH's and we were on the road shopping. I just needed something to get me home.

Supper: The first outdoor grilling night of the year! 1 pork loin chop with hm seasoning salt, 1/2 of an acorn squash with salt, pepper, olive oil, butter and tarragon on it, 6 spears of asparagus.

Snack/Dessert: Gingered pears (baking as we speak).

Exercise? I spent most of the morning sorting through bookcases. Most of the afternoon shopping. I'm exhausted without exercising.

I sorted through my diet/exercise books and picked some to give away today. I have more than I humanely need. I just have to do what they say in them!

**peanut** · 05-12-2009, 11:42 PM

Not too shabby a job today. I feel a lot better.

Exercise: 30 minute walk, 1 1/2 hours shopping, 2 1/2 hours stripping furniture, vacuuming, 1 hour moving furniture and boxes of books, 2 10 minute walks. Call me exhausted!

Breakfast: 3/4 c. sf ff granola, 1/2 c. rice milk

Lunch: 1/2 c. mashed potatoes, 3/4 c. lentil spaghetti sauce.

Snack: 1 carrot and 1/4 c. dilled hummus, 1/2 large orange.

Supper: Grilled Lime Cilantro Trout, 1 medium potato and 1 carrot with rosemary and olive oil.

Snack: 1 c. fresh fruit (melons, pineapple, strawberries), 2 snap pea pods, 1 baby carrot, 1 mini banana muffin, 1/4 yellow pepper.

I am feeling fine. Not craving carbs or sugar for a wonder...

Talk to you all tomorrow!

**peanut** · 05-17-2009, 12:19 PM

Catch-up time!

May 13, 2009
Breakfast: 1/2 Dragon fruit, 2 sf bran muffins, 2 thin slices lf cheddar.
Lunch: 1 chicken taco wrap (1 white torilla - DD#1 gave them to us, 1/4 yellow pepper, 1/4 tomato, 1/2 c. chopped spinach, 1/2 chx breast in hm seasoning salt)
Snack: 1/4 c. tamari nuts, 1/2 c. fruit cocktail in juice concentrate.
Supper: 1 c. ww spaghetti, 3/4 c. lentil spaghetti sauce, 2 tbsp. grated romano cheese.
Snack: 1 sf baked apple, 1 scoop sf lactose-free ice-cream.
Exercise: Lots of packing of stuff and moving heavy boxes.

May 14
Breakfast: Egg burrito (1 white tortilla, 2 egg whites, celery, yellow pepper, tomato, 1/2 c. fruit cocktail in juice concentrate.
Snack: 1/4 c. tamari nuts
Lunch: pb and j sandwich (2 slices hm whole grain bread, 2 tsp. butter, 2 tbsp. natural pb, 2 tbsp. all fruit berry jam)
Snack: Tamari nuts (just a few)
Supper: 1 bowl curried pumpkin soup, 1 1/2 slices wg garlic toast.
Snack: ?? 1/2 of a Thai Noodle salad (we went out). And when we got home...1 scoop sf lactose-free ice-cream, 1/2 c. peaches in juice concentrate.
Exercise: We did moving of heavy furniture and boxes. I was basically working up a sweat all day. I was exhausted and famished by the end of the day.

May 15
Breakfast: 1 tortilla, egg omelet (1 whole egg, yellow pepper, tomato, celery, chives)
Lunch: 1 bowl curried pumpkin soup, 5 ww saltines, 1/2 c. fruit cocktail in juice concentrate.
Snack: 1 stick "Stride" sf gum, 1/4 c. tamari nuts, 10 frozen seedless red grapes.
Supper: 2 tortillas, 1/2 c. hm chicken taco filling (chx breast, salsa, and diced tomatoes), 1/4 c. skim mozzarella cheese, 1/4c. ff sour cream, 1 c. lettuce.
Snack: 1/8th small DQ ice-cream cake...served to me that way...no questions asked.
Exercise: Spent the whole day moving books and furniture.

May 16
Breakfast: 3/4 c. ff sf granola, 1/2 c. rice milk.
Lunch: 1 chicken taco wrap (white tortilla, lettuce...I left off the dairy products this time).
Snack: 1/16th DQ ice-cream cake (my fault!), 1/4 c. tamari nuts.
Supper: 1 hamburger extended with rolled oats, 1 ww flat bun, ketchup, hm mayo, relish (1 tbsp all combined), lettuce, tomato, 1/2 onion fried in olive oil, 1 c. broccoli.
Snack: 1 scoop sf lactose free ice-cream, 1/2 c. peaches in juice concentrate.
Exercise: More moving boxes and a 30 minute walk.

My weight has held steady at 182 lbs. However my waist measurement has gone down 3" since starting my lifestyle change 3 weeks ago. That gives me a decent hip to waist ratio. I celebrated by buying a bag for my knitting!

I think the late night high calorie snacks are preventing me from losing weight. However, I am also carrying books and furniture up and down two flights of stairs. I am not even going to begin to count how many times I've been up and down stairs this week. But I can tell you it is much easier than it was at the beginning of last week! I hope eventually this will all work out and I will show weight loss.

**peanut** · 05-19-2009, 07:10 PM

Well yesterday was more action and moving of things in the house. Lots of exercise, plus a short walk. I need to get back in the habit of taking walks. Today I'm just lounging around giving my body a rest. I plan to do some walking this evening...even though it's really windy.

Yesterday's meals?

Breakfast (5 AM): 1 sf ff bran muffin

Snack #1: (7 AM): 10 frozen seedless red grapes, 1/4 c. tamari nuts.

Snack #2 (11:25 AM): 4 ww saltines and 2 tbsp. hm ff sf dilled hummus.

Exercise: Short 15-20 minute walk.

Lunch: 1 bowl Curried Pumpkin Soup, 5 ww saltines.

Snack #3 (3 PM): 4 tamari nuts, 1 apple, 1 stick of "Stride" sf gum.

Supper: 1/2 of a 13" BP Popeye Pizza (I was starving!), 1/2 c. peaches in juice concentrate, and 1 scoop of sf lactose-free ice-cream.

I figured out I ate 1000 calories in pizza alone last night. But my, I was sooooo hungry after moving all those boxes and more furniture. Thankfully that will be the last of the furniture for now...till Thursday...I hope. Then DD#1 is moving some of her stuff here, and her DH packs his boxes heavy! Too heavy for me to carry. I also fit in some shopping, so the walking for that counts as exercise too.

Today has been more normal for me. No exercise other than going up and down stairs umpteen times a day...my usual workout.

Breakfast: 1 white tortilla, 2 egg whites, 2 turkey sausages, 4 1 1/2" diameter strawberries.

Lunch: 1 hamburger with oats in it to extend it, 1 c. broccoli, and 1/2 c. acorn squash.

Snack: 10 frozen red grapes, the last slice of popeye pizza from BP.

Supper will be pork chops, artichokes and rice. I'm planning on fitting in some walking this evening. That should work...

**mauimagic** · 05-19-2009, 08:39 PM

Just got caught up on your last batch of posts, Peanut - you sure are focused!! Appreciate how you deal with your eating and exercising on a factual level - helps me out too.

I'm interesting in that book "Outsmarting Diabetes" from Prevention. I'm prediabetic and have no interest in going any further. Now that I've rediscovered swimming as a way that I can get exercise and as soon as I reintroduce myself to my recumbant stationary bike - my exercise program will be set for a while.

Adding gum really seems to work well for you - shall give it a shot too.

Mahalo for keeping us informed as to your journey - I know that it helps me too!!

**peanut** · 05-20-2009, 10:49 AM

Glad to be of help! I can't find the copy of "Outsmart Diabetes" that I have on-line. It's got a 30 day plan in it for getting diabetes under control. Really useful for me. Some things I don't need...yet. But if I ever do, they'll be right there for me...in a simply baby step process.