Everyone's talk of goals, especially those who are keeping public records of their progress to meet them, has got me all fired up to follow suit.
So, in the right-hand column, I've added a link to track my two major goals for the month of January: to follow through with the first mini-goal of Quit Smoking 2004 plus a health and fitness goal of sticking to my planned workout for the month. For each day I successfully complete each goal that date gets crossed off. If I don't, the date will turn red.
It's all about the accountability.
*****
My ass is on fire.
Well, not really, but after the past four days of sticking to my workout schedule -- it with two days already completed with The Firm's Cardio Blast sessions -- my body is all set for Saturday to come around. Since Boot Camp doesn't begin until next week, in its place I've ran and done the elliptical machine for a total of four miles. I do two miles running on the treadmill, and two on the elliptical. It works out to 30 minutes of cardio, which is substantially less than what the boot camp classes will consist of, but I thought I should take it easy for my first week using The Firm.
The Firm is good stuff. Even after only two sessions, I'm really enjoying myself, despite my desire to now have handrails installed on each side of my toilet so I can sit down.
Upon reflection, I truly believe that my weight-loss efforts were stymied this fall due to my inconsistent workout schedule. While I got into the gym at least four times a week, I didn't always have a plan as to what I was going to accomplish when I was there. I need structure, so hopefully my self-imposed challenges will help me get over the hump.
And in the interest of doing everything I can to soundly leave the 150's behind me, I've returned to counting POINTS and following them rather diligently using WW's eTools. I've always used it to track my food intake, but didn't pay too much attention to the POINTS factor. This system seems to work well for me, so it's back to POINTS counting I go.
*****
Speaking of which, I made a FABULOUS dinner tonight that sated my need for winter comfort food AND kept me within my POINTS range for the day. It's cold as hell here in Chicago. In fact, there was no outdoor running to be had tonight, as the wind-chill factor is a little too severe to be running safely. There is nothing I like more on a cold night than a hearty meal of meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
Since I made the decision to stick with the POINTS system again, I've made a concerted effort to find some new recipes as to not make the whole thing a chore OR simply a game of "How Much Food I Can Get Away With And Stay In My POINTS Range." The idea is to eat healthy, well and mindfully. Mindful eating means planning. So, I planned for meatloaf this week and tonight was my first free night to make it.
If you're looking for something in the hearty, meaty range, give WW-designed meatloaf a shot. I used no beef -- 16 oz. of lean ground turkey only -- so it may be even lower in POINTS, but I didn't bother to find out. I also added a bunch of ketchup on top for the last five minutes as well as two strips of low-fat bacon I purchased at Whole Foods. I figure the added bacon makes up for any POINTS subtracted by not using beef, and since you probably only get about one-fourth of one strip of bacon per serving ... well, you get the idea.
There are no portion guidelines, so I decided to play it safe and have about a 2-inch square of the meatloaf, which I made in a shallow baking dish since I don't have a loaf pan. I also had 3/4 cup of potatoes. WW usually delves out servings in 1-cup portions, so it made sense.
For those of you who may have received a Kitchen-Aid mixer for the holidays, this is a PERFECT recipe with which to try it out. Makes the whole process A MILLION times easier and faster! Follow the directions for mashed potatoes in the Kitchen-Aid instruction book for mixing speed guides.
Meatloaf with Chive Mashed Potatoes
POINTS® value | 6 Servings | 6 Preparation Time | 15 min Cooking Time | 60 min Level of Difficulty | Moderate
Hot pepper sauce adds zip to this slimmed-down meatloaf, served with a healthy version of chive-mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
8 oz lean ground beef 12 oz lean ground turkey 1 medium onion(s), chopped 1/2 cup uncooked old-fashioned oats 8 oz canned tomato sauce 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 Tbsp hot pepper sauce 2 large egg white(s), beaten slightly 1/4 tsp table salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 4 large potato(es) 1/4 cup fat-free skim milk 1/4 cup plain fat-free yogurt 1/4 cup light sour cream 1 Tbsp chives, minced 1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray loaf pan with cooking spray. Combine beef, turkey, onion and oats in a large bowl. Mix together tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, egg whites, salt and pepper. Add to meat mixture and mix well with hands. Press into pan and bake for 60 to 70 minutes. (Note: Add an extra egg white if meatloaf does not hold together properly.)
Peel potatoes and cut into large chunks. Cover with salted water and bring to the boil. Cook until tender when pierced by a knife. Remove from heat and drain.
Mash potatoes. Combine with milk, yogurt, sour cream and chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Do not over beat or potatoes will become gummy.
Serve potatoes with meatloaf.
posted by Erin S on Wednesday, January 07, 2004
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Monday, January 05, 2004
As promised, I weighed myself today, after a five-week hiatus.
151.5, a two-pound gain from whence last Tanita and I crossed paths and made funny faces at each other, with me grunting and stomping and kicking. Well, not really.
Now that my little experiment is over, I have to say that I'm so pleased I went through with the boycott. Beyond pleased, actually. Ecstatic. Thrilled. Happy as a clam. Why? Especially after gaining two pounds?
Because five weeks ago, before the Holiday Boycott of 2003, I was just letting that damn number control my mood, my view of myself, and essentially everything in between. The moment I stepped on the scale this morning, I didn't feel one way or the other about the number. I've spent so much of the past two weeks refocusing my efforts on eating well and designing a new workout routine for myself that the number on the scale is kind of an afterthought right now.
There you have it. 151.5 pounds. No big whoop. Now we’re back to the weekly weigh-in routine, every Thursday. Which means I'll weigh myself again this Thursday. I doubt we'll see any difference, but that's not really the point. I just want to be somewhat consistent about when I weigh-in.
I did The Firm Cardio Sculpt this morning before work, and it's safe to say that while I need to go out and buy 10-lb. hand weights to challenge myself on certain segments, the majority of them kicked me in the ass. I'm sure I'll be feeling it tomorrow. My fanny is lifting itself all over the place as we speak.
*****
My best friend, Ali, is writing a story on obesity in the U.S. and how restaurants play or don't play a part in this. She's looking for random people to interview for her story.
Ali says: "Ideally I'd like it to be someone aged 40-55. I'd basically be asking questions like, 'How big of a problem do you think obesity is for Americans today?', 'How much responsibility do restaurants have to help people eat healthy?' and 'Should restaurants do things like list nutritional information on menus or decrease portion sizes to help consumers make healthy eating choices?'. I'd just need maybe 10-15 minutes of the person's time on the phone, hopefully today or tomorrow."
If you would like to be interviewed for Ali's story, Leave me a note in the Comments section below, as well as an email of where she can get a hold of you during the day. Thanks in advance!!
posted by Erin S on Monday, January 05, 2004
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Sunday, January 04, 2004
A perfect way to combat the cold and snow: Bikram Yoga.
This morning, I hauled my ass out of the house, just as the snow began to fall, and went to the Bikram yoga studio where I practice. Or, I should say, haven't been at to practice since the beginning of October. Practicing yoga isn't like riding a bike; after a couple of months away, you can't just pick up where you left off.
"Practice" is the operative word here.
Just the same, like any workout/fitness activity, you can begin again and benefit from it. Instead of worrying about performing the moves with the elasticity and depth I could back in October, I simply concentrated on my breathing and posture. After the fifth pose, I felt myself catching a nice groove and becoming calmer -- more loosened up, I guess.
And that hot, HOT room was a nice contrast to the cold, heavy snow that started to blanket Chicago in the 90 minutes I was in there.
My muscles are a little tight, but a hot shower should help that. I'm looking forward to going back to Bikram, though I'm only going to shoot for once a week, on Sunday's. I think it'll be a nice way to round off the week and I can't see myself making it to a class on the weekday with my commute anyway.
During my practice today, I had a thought much along the lines of what Fred has always said, which is "If you think like a healthy person, and act like one, you will be."
I put so much pressure on myself to try and work out every day and eat right to the point where sometimes it becomes a little obsessive. My relationship with the scale back in the Fall can attest to this behavior. As a result, I became disappointed in myself, which led to me missing workouts and allowing myself more than one bad food choice. I've now shaken off that kind of behavior, but how do I make it stick?
So today, as I was thinking about putting off the yoga until later in the afternoon, I realized that I just had to get out the door and go because this is what I do. Not what I have to do, or what I should do, though there is that. What's at issue here is that I stop making such a big deal of it all and, as I've said before, get doing.
I hope you are all doing as we speak here.
*****
But if you AREN'T doing, and you are looking for a good kick in the behind, the Discovery Health Channel is sponsoring the National Body Challenge this year.
I was ADDICTED to the Body Challenge shows last year, as many of you were. Watching a group of average people get in shape over a course of a few months, on television no less, was pretty sweet. I'm also a fan of the "Buff Brides" series, for the obvious reasons.
The COOLEST element of this program is that ANYONE who weighs in gets a three-month FREE membership to Bally's, a review from a registered dietitian and free use of the diet and fitness programs on the National Body Challenge Web site. Finding a Bally's near you is like finding a rock, kids. They are EVERYWHERE. These fabulous folks at Discovery are taking away EVERY EXCUSE you could have for NOT getting into shape.
The weigh-in at Discovery Stores nationwide is January 10. Since there is one located in the mall down the street from my office, I plan to take advantage of this program on my lunch hour that day.
Be warned: the Web site states that there is a chance for people weighing-in to appear on the National Body Challenge television show when it premires on April 5. I don't know what that actually means, so check when you get to the store.
*****
Wednesday night will find me running outside with a friend of mine in a local women's running group. I mentioned that this year I'm training for a half-marathon with my friends, Erin and Jacquie. A local running store, along with Nike, sponsors free weekly runs and seminars that I thought might be a good way for the three of us to train with a group of women of varying paces. Plus, it gets our butts out of the gym and running on pavement.
I ran into Jacquie this morning on my way to yoga, and she's in for a run with the group this week. The weather is supposed to be about 20 degrees, and the sun will be long-gone by the time we get out there. I highly doubt all of this snow will be melted, either. I don't know if we'll go every week, but if we can hit at least two sessions a month, I think it'll be a great way to train.
I'm off to make Hearty Black Bean Soup, courtesy of WW, for dinner tonight. Here's the recipe if any of you are looking for a new soup recipe. Snow and soup sort of go together in my book.
Slow Cooker Hearty Black Bean Soup
POINTS® value | 3 Servings | 8 Preparation Time | 20 min Cooking Time | 270 min Level of Difficulty | Easy
Ingredients
1/4 pound chorizo 1 small onion(s), chopped 1 medium garlic clove(s), minced 1 small sweet red pepper(s), chopped 1 small green pepper(s), chopped 2 Tbsp dry sherry 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp bay leaf, crumbled or 1 whole bay leaf 15 oz cooked black beans, undrained 15 oz chicken broth, fat-free 1 lime(s), squeezed 2 Tbsp cilantro, minced 1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Discard chorizo skin. Crumble meat and brown in 12-inch (30 cm) nonstick skillet for 2 minutes. Add onion, garlic and peppers. Sauté over medium-high heat 5 minutes. Add to slow cooker. Add sherry, cumin, bay leaf, beans and broth. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
Remove lid. Scoop out 1 cup beans and press with the back of a fork to mash. Return to pot. Add lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered just to warm through, about 5 minutes. Yields about 1 cup per serving.
[Update: Made the soup, and it turned out fabulous. If I do say so myself. A word of warning -- it's a little spicy, due to the chorizo, so if spicy isn't your thing, you might want to either forego the chorizo altogether or choose a less-spicy version. Also, I would advise sticking to the 1/4 pound of chorizo as it's a tad greasy. Not too much where it's not palatable, but I can see if you add too much chorizo the grease from it would ruin the soup. This was my first nearly all-organic dish -- the chorizo, alas, was not organic.
I suspect I will be leaping tall buildings in a single bound as a result. If you see a short redhead with a buddha belly flying over your city, don't call the United States Transportation Security Administration. It's not a terrorist, it's only me.
It has NOT stopped snowing here in Chicago. There is an insane amount of snow on the ground. The soup was nice to have.]
posted by Erin S on Sunday, January 04, 2004
