Archive for Eating

Foodie Journey

{ March 16, 2011 @ 9:05 PM } · { 321, Eating, Sara }
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My Lent challenge…it didn’t last too long.  I made it to Saturday when I was having a very long day and a friend upset me and I turned to rugelach for comfort.  While I am not downing sweets every day, I did fail in making it to my goal. But I plan on continuing. After today.  I needed oreos. I blame my ovaries. TMI. Sorry.

I have made some meals from my cookbooks.  From Mario Batali’s The Babbo Cookbook, I made Pappardelle Bolognese for some friends Sunday night.  Wine was uncorked, salad was tossed, and some of Pioneer Woman’s Hard Sauce (made with Rum) was thrown on a Swedish Apple Cake. Oops. Yeah, there was more sweets. But it was for my friends!  And we all enjoyed it. Tonight I made the Norwegian meatloaf from Beatrice Ojakangas’s Scandinavian Cooking. I didn’t have one spice for it and reading other recipes, I had plan on adding another.  It was good, but still needs some tweaking and definitely need to try it with tonight’s AWOL ingrediate. I also don’t plan on adding all the ketchup and other sauces that are featured in American meatloafs. I really need to update my goals list soon.

Lent

{ March 9, 2011 @ 1:36 PM } · { 321, Eating, Goals, Sara }
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Today is Ash Wednesday, which as a lax Protestant means I see a lot of people walking around with ashen crosses on the foreheads and I have more seafood choices at restaurants than I normally do.  But this year, I thought, as I was downing some Double Stuf Oreos the other night, I should take it as a challenge.  That’s a good goal. 

The past two months have been miserable and stressful.  And happiness can be found in oreos. So can a high fat content. And I have put on a bit of weight during the winter months.  Therefore, the sweets are going away. And I think I am only going to allow one type of cheese in my fridge because I have a bad habit of snacking on cheese and let’s face it, eating entire balls of fresh mozzarella, while yummy, is not that good for you.

And since life has gotten less stressful, it means I can pick up on things like running again. With it warming up, I’m looking forward to morning/evening runs.

So, there we go. Until April 24th, I am stopping the sweets.

Trekking and Tracking

{ January 7, 2011 @ 8:00 PM } · { 321, Eating, Goals, Sara }
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Around two years ago I  created an account onThe Daily Plate.  It helped out a lot, but I am a competitive person and I started trying to see how low my calorie count could be.  It got ridiculous.  Back at Christmas I thought it would be a great idea to just to write everything I ate on the memo pad on my phone.  This week I had the idea to bring back my DP account.  It has been updated and has already helped out a lot. 

Before, there were nothing telling me that since I sit at a desk most of the day and when I’m at home I like to veg, that I am actually sedentary.  Yeah, I run, do boxing and Krav, and go to the gym, but unfortunately, perserving democracy doesn’t burn many calories.

It also tracks parts of your diet like fat, fiber, protein, etc.  I think this is one of the most helpful.  I’m burning tons of calories, but I realize I need to stop eating boiled eggs as an after I leave the gym and should cut walnuts from my salads.  It’ll cut down on fat and cholesterol.  And stay away from mozzarella.  A little wouldn’t be too bad, but fresh mozzarella is just so darn tasty, especially when they’re in tiny sizes that are easy to pop.   Here’s to dawning realizations and may we be better for them.

Watch as I randomly add a new theme to this blog…

{ January 3, 2011 @ 11:33 AM } · { 321, Allison, Eating, Exercise, Goals }
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KAPOW!

If my co-horts hate it, I don’t mind if you change it. The winter theme just didn’t feel right anymore.

I can’t believe it’s already 2011. Where’d the time go? I haven’t even had a chance to really think about goals or anything like that. It’s just been constantly busy busy busy. But let’s see what I can work out right here, right now.

1) Get in a healthier state, both physically and mentally. I will not let delicious recipes or stress get me down

2) Exercise more. I signed up with a kickboxing gym. The first class KICKED MY BUTT. But it was fun enough and I realize that it’s a kick in the butt that I need to make it work

3) Find staple recipes. I always try new recipes which is fun, but I need those staples that are delicious and I can always rely on.

4) Keep the apartment clean. I’m a messy person by nature so it’s hard for me to want to clean up and do laundry and all that jazz. I do like a clean place to live so I’ll try to keep it clean myself.

5) Get married. That’s an easy goal.

6) Don’t kill anyone due to wedding stress. That’s what kickboxing is for.

I’m sure I’ll think of more, but right now…this is good.

Redemption is Painful. So are Leg Squats.

{ December 28, 2010 @ 10:16 PM } · { 321, Eating, Exercise, Sara }
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First thing, I want to give a big Hoo-Rah to Allison for starting her kickboxing classes.  As they said in 1996, You Go Girl!

Now, to me.  I am back from the Land of Fried Chicken and we’ll just leave it at that.  Rising at 5:45 this morning, I spent most of the day on airplanes or in airports.  I promised myself that as I was leaving the Peach State I would behave myself since I was away from the influence of my mother’s Mucho Leche cake (aka Tres Leche.  There is a story here.)  But as a moth is drawn to a bug zapper, a Georgian sees the curlicue signs of Chik-Fil-A and loses all will power.  Fortunately, I really haven’t been hungry since Christmas and didn’t gorge myself today and promptly went to Krav when I got home for a strike class and a Krav class. 

There were some good accomplishments tonight.  Like I didn’t pass out or throw up.  And I plan on doing the same thing tomorrow because my masochistic fat ass needs kicking.  I wonder why I act like a buffoon every year at the holidays when I know I will regret it later.  At least it’s a phase that always ends though.  Let’s hope 2011 brings us closer to what we really have in mind for goals.

Home for the Holidays

{ December 21, 2010 @ 11:06 AM } · { 321, Did Ate Thought, Eating, Goals, Sara }
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I decided the best way to combat against sweets and other bad food (or too much food) would just to simply write it down. There’s no way that I will be able to run to the blog and update it constantly, but my phone will be on hand to create list.  And my day one I have to say could be better.  I blame it on airport food.  I do find this is curbing my snacking already.  If this works out well, I will probably keep it up after the holidays are over.

Dear Lord, Please Help Me

{ December 17, 2010 @ 6:35 PM } · { Eating, Exercise, Fashion, Goals, Sara, Uncategorized }
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Yesterday, since five out of eight people in my suite have birthdays, I made a brownie mosaic cheesecake.  One slice gave me the jitters.  I was shaking.  While I have been eating mostly healthy and working out, that convinced me to stay away from sweets for a bit.  And this:

Which I assure you is not as slutty as it appears.  I think it has to do with the fact I am 5’3 and hits above the knee.  But this is my goal dress.  It’s tight, so I am going to make sure I can wear it… not so tight.

So, what do I need help with?  Holidays.  Food for the Holidays.  Southern food for the Holidays.  I am going to try my best to stay away from junk and keep myself moving.  I think the second one will be easier.  There are already problems though.  Namely my parents.  My mom and I had an argument about cake (I know, strange, right?) The family wants me to make a red velvet cake, but I don’t think they really need it. Or me.  My mom says it’s just one day. Yeah, but diabetes is forever.  Most of them are diabetic and there is no way they will polish off the cake in one sitting.  That thing will end up going home with someone. 

So, dear Lord, please help me be strong and make it through the holidays because I am facing a mighty enemy.

Ummm…Hi There….

{ December 9, 2010 @ 2:29 PM } · { 321, Bitching and Moaning, Eating, Exercise, Sara }
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I’m back.  It’s been a rough month.  Now, when I last left off I was talking about struggling through the LBD Challenge.  I would like to point out it is tough taking on a British Challenge when in American we have a holiday where you eat twelve times your body weight.  Did I eat twelve times my body weight?  No.  In fact I made a relatively healthy meal, excluding the French Apple Cake and Hard Sauce.

I did fail though since my parents were in town for eight days and we ate out all the time.  I did have some healthy meals, but some junk did sneak in there.  And I would be better off if there was more exercising, but the parents, they don’t like exercising.  Whereas I can walk and walk and walk, my father was making suggestions about taking a cab two blocks ( I said no) and sometimes sending me home, against my will, in a taxi.  I was not making it to the gym or anything with them in town.  Yes, I could have actually gotten up when my alarm clock went off and go running.  I managed that a few times, but overall, it was a eating, no-moving-around-a-lot-week.

I am trying to talk myself into getting up and going out into the cold morning to go to the gym, and it’s rather rough when today’s been the warmest day in quite a while and it’s 27 degrees. Currently. It’s around 2:30 now. But I am paying for my month of whining now.  I’m still whining, but it’s more about being a slob.  So, I guess that’s more in the right direction.

I’m exercising, but I want hot, comfort food that helps with stress, which I’m doing mostly well ignoring…maybe…

Baby Steps Start with Good Food

{ December 7, 2010 @ 9:12 PM } · { 321, Ashley, Eating }
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Okay people.

I realized something today. McDonald’s never tastes as good as I think it will. In my mind, it’s delicious. Salty. Juicy. Full of yum. In reality, it’s pretty gross.

So why don’t I eat good things instead?

That’s a good question. If I’m going to eat food that’s not necessarily “good” for me* then I should at least eat food that tastes good.

And because I can’t do a thing if my eating isn’t on track, I know that if I ever want to regain focus on my health, I have to start eating healthily. Which means cooking. Cooking good food.

 

Meals this week:

Breakfast: Kashi cereal, oatmeal, 2% milk, OJ

Lunch: Sammiches (go easy on the mayo, Ashley), Annie’s mac and cheese, leftovers

Supper: Vegetable-Jack Cheese Quesadillas (vegetarian); Soy Ginger Chicken Breasts with Warm Chili-Spiced Edamame; Curried Chicken Patties on Lemony Brown Rice; Pepperoni & Feta Pizza

 

What are you eating this week?

 

 

*I am really wary of the words “good,” “bad,” “healthy” and “unhealthy.” People can’t live on a diet of arugula salads any more than they can a diet of Reese’s cups, yet we call the salad “good” and “healthy” and the Reese’s cups “bad” and “unhealthy.” Eating Reese’s cups makes us feel guilty, and I don’t want guilt driving my food decisions. ‘Cause that’s not very healthy either.

Bring on the Anxiety

{ November 14, 2010 @ 12:53 PM } · { 321, Eating, Exercise, Goals, Sara, Self Esteem }
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Yes, I am prone to anxiety attacks.  I think it’s a feature of having a Type A personality. Usually, I might hit a few a year and will catch them before they evolve into hyperventilating and rocking in a corner, but somewhere in mid-November every year, I become a big bundle of nerves.  I have a tendency of dropping my good habits, think of all the bad things that happened over the past year, and hope I can make it through the bleak winter…ok, that was a smidge dramatic.

I guess it started this past week.  I’ve been running around crazy.  We’ve just ended six weeks of recess at work, due to the elections. Krav this past week has been reviewing basics. I started the next level in ballet last week, and whereas basic was great, let me affirm for you that I am not a tall, elegant swan princess. I am 5’3, lacking lithe limbs, and found it to be a great accomplishment in swinging my leg on the top bar during the last class. I tried Zumba this past week.  It was a lot of fun and I’ve always been told I had a lot of rhythm, but staring in the mirrors dancing, I think a few shots of Jameson would have helped. I’ve also been helping one of my friends who owns a business get ready for the holidays.

However, in the past few days as the weather is getting colder, I’m broke waiting for payday, missing a few days from the gym, holiday sweets everywhere, and relationship conversations I start thinking over the past year. How I’m broke because of trying to restock my wardrobe, how I really want a vacation, and I don’t feel like I am where I want to be.  But I have to go back and realize I had to replenish my closet because I drop around two sizes this year, how busy we were at work with the oil spill in the Gulf and how much we got through, how many great friends I made this year, how I originally I had no idea where I would be in the first place, and how many good things have happened.

So, as I am laying here writing, trying to drown out the twangy country escaping from my neighbors place, I have to focus that things are good and I still have a lot to look forward to that are coming this year.

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