Food is Fun

Ah, that's the problem, isn't it? :-) A friend commented I must like to be creative and innovative in the kitchen. I must admit, there's some truth in that. My experiment for today isn't quite as healthy, although I'm cutting down the portion sizes a bit. Yesterday I made some chocolate cookie dough. Pressed half of it into a pie pan to make something resembling a chocolate cookie crust (for today's experiment) and made the rest into delicious chocolate cookies with white chocolate chips. They're small cookies, so I think only 3 or 4 weight watchers points each. At least, that's what the recipe card says from when I made the cookies at Christmas. Today I'll make 1/2 batch cheesecake for the chocolate cookie crust. I plan to bypass the chocolate glaze the recipe calls for and just put the raspberries on top, thinking the chocolate cookie crust will be enough chocolate. We'll see. That may change! I figure this will be fewer points than store bought cheesecake?? Not sure on that one. :-) Yes, I did my exercises today and will do elliptical tonight to offset this chocolate. :-)

Step by step

That's what it takes these days. Lots of challenges always. I did make that mark on the calendar Saturday for doing exercises. But have bailed on that this week. I'm continuing to work on other challenges: reduce sugar and drink enough water. Will try to keep exercise of some sort going on a regular basis as I go into a long weekend/vacation. I did bring plenty of healthy food into the house, so have been making salads and stir frys and enjoying fruit. :-) Strawberries and cream, yum! What's one of your favorite summer fruit treats?

Choices

I promised an update on the option I investigated for becoming more motivated with my weights. That particular gym isn't the answer for me. But considering the possibility, plus investigating another program, plus reading about the benefits, motivated me to do my exercise/weight routine yesterday. I got to make another mark on the calendar. Whatever it takes, one day at a time. :-) Today I'm resting - at least from that part of the routine. I'll be doing my regular walks and elliptical. But my goal is to make that mark on the calendar tomorrow! Meanwhile, I'm on my way out the door to weight watchers to stay accountable - since *someone* keeps bringing chocolate into my space! :-)

Challenges

We don't reach fitness all at once -- it's step by step, day by day. Not sure I'll ever feel as if I've "arrived," with no challenges to face. This week I'm fighting the exercise (light weights) routine for strength training. I want to know just how necessary it is. And are there other ways to accomplish the same thing? They say we have better motivation and consistency if we find types of exercise we enjoy. Not sure I *enjoy* the elliptical, but I like it --and the end results -- enough to keep doing it. Walking is just something I do. I don't really think about the enjoyment factor. If I can talk to someone or read a book while walking, so much the better. Or I walk in a different place for a change of scenery. On the elliptical I can change the radio stations or even watch a video, if I can wrestle the DVD player from dear hubby for a few days in a row. But the weights are just there. A trainer said I could change up the routine. But it would still be weights, by myself. I haven't yet found a way to make it more enjoyable, although I'm going to investigate an option later today. If I discover anything of interest, I'll post an update tomorrow.

Fitness: a lifestyle

I'm pretty sold on the elliptical as a tool to help me reach my goals. That said, not everyone likes the same type of exercise or has access to these new machines. :-) I read once that at the Biggest Loser ranch participants have 2 hours of exercise per day. Whatever I read didn't specify the type of exercise, but in my experience, I'm not sure it matters. Yes, 2 hours per day is a lot. And I rarely reach it. But a 35 minute walk in the morning first thing, a 30 minute walk during lunch break, and 30 minutes in the evening after dinner adds up to an hour and a half without any trouble at all. I've found it takes that much to reach and maintain my personal overall fitness goals. If I can throw in some exercises (light weights, stretching) for 20-25 minutes, so much the better. The elliptical gives me the intensity to allow a little wiggle room in what I eat. (I'm just not ready to give up jam squares and chocolate chip cookies!) However, walking in the neighborhood seems to count, as long as I get the minutes in. Or making one walk during the day a treadmill walk, with a book. :-) When we're away from home (and machines), walking on the beach (sand provides resistance) works well for accomplishing the same thing. When I visit my parents, we just move and walk around more in daily activities, and that seems to work okay too, for a few days at a time. So this is not as rigid as it sounds -- just doing the best I can each day with what my life allows that day to meet long-term fitness goals.

Back on track

Oops! Not quite yet. I'm back at the computer... with a bit of snacking today. But so far back on track with exercise routine for this week. My main goal for this week is to at least *taste* what I'm eating - to practice again the weight watchers tip to be in the moment and savor each bite. Lots to savor in our food, that's for sure!

Waffles, part 2

Some friends saw my post on facebook yesterday about perfect waffle batter, baked in a perfect waffle iron. The good news is the batter keeps for 24 hours, so I had some this morning for breakfast, with strawberries again. Thought I'd share the recipe (originally from Betty Crocker, I think) with you. When we have these at home, we usually get at least 5 waffles from the mix. In that case, 1 waffle = 5 weight watchers points, which isn't bad. The tricky part comes in what we put on them. Hubby likes sticky syrup. I much prefer strawberries, or butter, or butter and jam, or ice cream! But it doesn't take much of any of those to keep me happy, as I like my waffles to remain crispy. :-)

Waffles
Stir together:
1 egg
2 T. oil
1 1/4 c. buttermilk
Add and stir in:
1 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Preheat waffle iron to steaming. Bake waffle 3 min.
No waffle iron? No problem! This recipe also makes great pancakes, cooked traditionally in a fry pan in a little hot oil if needed.
Store leftover batter in container with lid in the refrigerator. If you're having them the 2nd day, let the batter come back up to room temperature and stir well before baking.

A walk is good for what ails you...

That will be my practice this afternoon. My afternoon walk will miraculously cure all minor aches and pains from too much sitting and too much quilting and... That is my positive thinking for the day.

Summer? Sun!

Given the norm for this corner of the Earth, I'm not going to say it's summer yet, although we're promised summer-like weather this week. That's great for exercising and healthy eating! Good thing, too, after a family celebration yesterday. But I'm ready to put it all away a little faster this time and get back to my healthy habits. :-) Granted, I had cake for breakfast, but the rest is on its way to the freezer. And I'll have fruit and salad later today. And another walk and the elliptical -- right back on track. Speaking of, hubby has promised to take me to a track some time (after he recovers from oral surgery and we find a time to go) so I can see what new abilities a year on the elliptical might have given me. I'm thinking also that hiking (outside) season is almost here. What's not to love about summer?!

Progress = success

So far I'm accomplishing what I wanted with my plan to reduce sugar. Not that I've reduced sugar as much as I could, but combined with an increase in speed on the elliptical and some attention to exercise routines, I'm making progress. I did try a couple of healthy alternatives at recent "social events" (a fellow weight watcher's term for those gatherings with friends that always seem to involve food). Twice this week I was to go out for ice cream with friends. Both times I tried having frozen yogurt. Not perfect, as it's not exactly the season so it's not as fresh as I would like, but workable. Another meeting with a friend involved a milkshake, but I had the small size and balanced it with some healthy foods. Next week's goal: to continue with healthy food choices. Once I get the new speed/routine down on the elliptical, I'll try to add a resistance level--something I've never tried.

Balance

I've probably typed this word before, but for me, it seems to be the key to success. I don't always eat 100% healthy, and I don't always have time to do my full exercise routine. But as long as I get some of each in, it all works out in the end. For the most part. Today, if I can get some walking in around the work project/deadlines, I'll consider that good. I'll balance that with my continued efforts to reduce sugar. I'll let you know end of the week how the approach worked! How do you find balance?

Challenge

My challenge for this week: to reduce sugar! I have a date with a friend for a milkshake today. Then after that, I should be able to go sugar free for a few days. (except Bible study Thursday morning?? I can try!) Therefore, my pledge is to have tea and nothing else at Friday morning's coffee shop meeting....
What helps you stick to your healthy goals?

Argh...

Sometimes eating healthy goes out the window! Homemade pizza, apples, bananas and jam that needed to be used, and a Great Harvest sample. Fortunately, there's walking to balance it out! I have already calculated the points for lunch out with a friend tomorrow and hope to plan the rest of the day accordingly. I could up the activity by crawling around on the floor basting a quilt... we'll see how time goes this evening.

Busy week

It's been a few days... I've been enjoying the sunshine! One thing I like about warm weather is it can be easier to eat healthy. This week I've enjoyed some healthy lunches using leftovers from our grand Chinese meal last weekend. Good simple food. :-)

Chow Mein
Heat 1 tsp. oil in fry pan. Add a little black pepper and ginger. Stir fry vegetables (I used what I had: bean sprouts, celery, red and green pepper) for a few minutes. Stir 1 tsp. cornstarch into 1/4 cup water or chicken broth to dissolve. Add 1 tsp. soy sauce. Stir all this into vegetables and heat until thickened. I've been having it over Chinese noodles but I'm sure there are good variations.

Broccoli salad (have I posted this before?)
chopped broccoli
1-2 pieces cooked bacon
chopped celery
minced cashew pieces
Stir ingredients together. Mix dressing ingredients separately. Toss with salad.
Dressing:
1 tsp. mayonnaise
dash mustard
dash black pepper
drizzle of honey