A Day in the Life, WI

Hi Everybody.  I had a good day yesterday.  I went out to my running trail with DH and we had a good fast-paced walk along the trail for about an hour.  We ran the final 1/2 mile.  [My Nike+ girlie in the sidebar is happy again.] Then back for a shower and off to my WI.  It was bad, as I expected, but just under my "scream weight."  I wanted to record the weight so I can revel in my big weight loss next week. :-)  I stayed after the meeting for the review of the plan, just to cement it in my mind.  I recorded everything I ate yesterday and plan to track my eating and my points for a while to get myself firmly back on track.

We had enjoyed a honey-baked ham during the holidays and I returned with the ham bone in the cooler.  The day we got home, I started a Navy bean soup.  We had it for dinner yesterday.  Yum.  Just the dry beans, onion, water, a chopped sweet pepper, and the ham bone.  I did take the precaution of checking with my WW leader for  advice as to how to count the ham part. [She recommended counting 2 oz of ham worth of points even tho' there weren't 2 oz in each serving--this accounts for the bone marrow that infuses the soup.]   No picture, sorry.

Here's another picture from our trip:

This is my 87 yr old Aunt Bettie.  She's my mom's sister.  She enjoyed playing pool.  Notice DH in the  mirror.

Johnny has the week off, so I do too (no grand babies this week).  We'll have them over for supper and exchange presents in the next few days.  I want to tackle my house, send lots of things to the thrift shop, straighten, sort, do laundry, clean out drawers, etc.  Is it spring yet??  Guess I'd better prioritize by room so I actually accomplish something.  I also have some business to take care of concerning my Dad's estate.  I'm his executor, but he was so organized that he's made things pretty easy for me, but there are still many hoops to jump through.

Exercise today will be another trip to the gym for weight training and swimming some laps.  I'm not a strong swimmer--I think I failed baby tadpoles when I was little and swim just well enough to have passed the test so as not to have to have an "adult" with me in the pool.  I'm thinking of maybe taking a basic swimming class for adults to try to improve my form.  This new shorter hair style really makes it believable that I'll get in the pool twice a week.  My hair dries fast and I can even get away with not doing anything to it and yet have it look okay.

I haven't decided about dinner tonight--maybe roasted pork tenderloin with baked apples.  There'll be a "numbers game" post coming up soon.

Be good.
Tish
189.4

Take Me Home Country Roads, Unbelievable 0 point Apple Pie

We're home!  We had a great trip.  We really enjoy road trips.  Here are some of the highlights:

The Peachoid--a 150 foot tall water tower in Gafney SC, on I 85.

We stopped by Jefferson's Monticello, near Charlottesville, VA on our way home.  What an amazing place and so well done.   Curiously, the vacation rental house where we stayed was in Monticello, GA (home of Tricia Yearwood).

Jay and my Aunt Bettie in the back seat (our huge cooler took up the 3rd seat)

Self portrait.

DH did all the driving.

Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz had it right.  There's no place like home.  We might miss the company and the fun activities, but nothing's going to feel as nice as our own bed tonight and we really like our house.  I have a definite date with my jacuzzi tonight!

As I promised my self, I've jumped right back into my good routine.  We had baked talipia for dinner with grean beans and whole wheat roasted vegetable ravioli.  This afternoon when we got home I made a new recipe I learned from my sister.  It's amazing.  If you like apple pie, but want your pie without ANY WW points (in the new, fresh fruit is 0 points system) here it is:  

So simple:  Core and Slice Fuji apples in 1/3" slices (no need to peel apples).  Place in pie pan spritzed with non-stick spray.  Add a generous sprinkling of cinnamon--I used 2 tsp for about 10 small apples. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until fork tender.  You can add a TBSP of water, or cover with foil for the last part of cooking if they seem dry, but mine came out fine without.

These are unbelievably delicious.  The type of apple makes a difference--Fuji's have just the right degree of sweetness so as not to need any sugar added.  They are wonderful warm (on ice cream--not WW), but equally scrumptious cold in your oatmeal, or just plain.  I love cold apple pie and these have that same appeal to me.  They would also be a nice dessert with a dollop of FF Cool Whip.  Try 'em, you'll be amazed.  AND the house smells delicious with the apples and cinnamon while they're cooking.

I went to the gym to lift weights after dinner and got in the pool afterwards to swim some laps.  Tomorrow morning I'm going to go out to my running trail to try to earn some R-E-S-P-E-C-T from my little Nike+ girlie.  Then I'm going to go to my WI and face the music from being AWOL for the past couple weeks.  Oh, and my gym is offering Zumba classes starting in early January.  DH and I are both going to go.  I went a couple times with my daughter, Laura, when we were out there earlier this year and it's great exercise.

Onward and downward,
Tish

Charlie Brown Christmas

Here's our tree.  Note my camera tripod which served nicely as a frame.  Fortunately, I was able to use the tripod to photograph the lunar eclipse before the tree took shape!  I figured out a techie way to get it from my camera to my blog without a cable. :-)
 

We have had a good Christmas.  The most important things took precedence.  Time to reflect about God's gift of His son.  Time to spend with family, to support my sister while she's working to regain her health and energy and to remember our Dad.  Time to relax and have fun (pool, ping pong, foos ball, and jigsaw puzzles).  Good food (too much and too many sweets.)  Exercise (too little--I'm not sure pool is exactly aerobic!).

Here's another picture of the gang at the lake house.  (you can see the lake outside the window in the Xmas tree picture).

We'll be home day after tomorrow and I'm happy to say that I'm really looking forward to getting back to my routines.  I can't wait to get back on my running trail.  I notice my little Nike+ icon on the sidebar is dissing me.  I have a couple new cookbooks that are calling to me.  I also want to get back to learning the new Weight Watcher's program and LOSING weight.  I know I've added a few unwanted pounds.  I'm not waiting for the new year.  Just get me home and let me at it.  I've had my fling and I'm ready to embrace my real life.

See you in a couple days.
Tish

Merry Christmas

Hoping you all have a wonderful Christmas day.  I'm with family (sister, brother, DH & Jay, an aunt, and nieces and nephews).  Family is great.  I missed my Hot 100 Update yesterday, but I have to say I'm not doing it now.  We'll get home early next week.  Then it's back to work.  Here's a picture of our "Christmas Tree."  We're in a vacation rental home outside Atlanta.  No decorations at all here, but with this and that, we came up with a tree  (that's my camera tripod under it all!).  Oops, I forgot that I didn't bring my download cable.  You'll have to use your imagination.  Santa found us last night--Jay was worried.  He even filled the shoes in front of the fireplace.  My mother's mother was French and we grew up with shoes, not Christmas stockings.

Have a blessed Christmas.  See you soon.

Tish

Friday Fly By, Hot 100 Update

This will be a Fly By.  I am still not "on plan," in that I'm not tracking or counting up points, but I feel okay about how I'm eating.  Very busy getting through laundry and family papers/pix to get ready for a family rendezvous over Christmas.  I've spent way more time than I'd like in our very chilly attic looking for one certain document among dozens of boxes of my Dad's papers.  Aaargh.

Look what I discovered when I finally took the time to click through the many pix I downloaded from our kids' visit in November.  A good candid "cousins" (our grandchildren) picture.  IIRC, little J was squirming a lot, trying to get himself out of the picture.  His oldest cousin, J, did a grand job hanging on to him and tickling him into smiling for the camera!

Hot 100 Update.  Again failed all three, but I did go to my WW meeting and gained only .2, I have exercised 3 of the past 3 days, and the chocolate is more or less back under control.  Even tho' I'm not meeting my original goal, the fact that I'm still thinking about it and paying attention to it has made a positive difference in how I've managed over what has been a difficult holiday season.

Stick with me, I will get back to my "real" life one of these days!

Tish

Getting Ready for Christmas, Wednesday WI

Hi All,

I'm back home and jumped right in with getting ready for Christmas.  I'd put up the pre-lit tree that I ordered, so when I got home Saturday evening, and I'd forgotten that we'd agreed to babysit that night, I let E unwrap ornaments and deck the tree.  Very cute--she decked it very deliberately all around the bottom foot of the tree, but couldn't reach any higher (our tree is on a piece of furniture).  DH came to her rescue and held her up while she put the others on.  Funny, I've been very territorial about being the one to decorate the tree and decide where things went, but I was quite happy, this time, to cede the responsibility to E (& DH).  While she was thus happily engaged, little J sat in his chair at the kitchen table and played with the new (to him) Fisher Price Nativity scene.  I used the time to make dinner and reflect on my many blessings.

I can't say that I've been at all "on program" this past 10 days or so, but I haven't gone "hog wild" either. Today at my WI I gained .2  After last week's 2.4 loss, I'm okay with that.  I really want to hop back into the new WW plan and did pretty well today.  I got out to run yesterday (dressed for the low 20s complete with ear muffs, scarf, mittens and layers).  Back to the gym tomorrow and easing back into my routine.  

My sister seems to be improving, but we've changed our plans and will rendezvous with my TX brother in GA and spend our Christmas together.  That will be good for us all, I think, in this first holiday season without our Dad.  We've found a lovely big rental house (thanks, Sharon, for the idea! ) and I'll cart food down there so we can do our own meals instead of eating out.  

Oh, another Christmas thing I did with the kiddos when they were here yesterday was making a gingerbread house.  I bought one of those kits from Michael's (I think) for less than $10.  What a deal--everything you need is in the box.  I put the house together the night before and, while J was taking his morning nap (that was his contribution to the effort--napping!), E decorated the house.  She was very precise and loved it.  It didn't tempt me a bit (though I did toss the leftover candy in the trash as soon as we finished) and I sent the house home with her at the end of the day.  Here are some pix:

E has a "thing" about having her photograph taken, so I had to take sneak pictures while she was otherwise occupied.  You can see how carefully she was putting the decorations on, though and the last shot captures her satisfied smile when she saw it sitting under the Christmas tree.

I'm weeks behind with my shopping, but my near and dear know I love them.  I'll try to have presents for the little ones, but am making no promises about cards or cookies for the neighbors.  I am holding together pretty well, but a couple of times a day something will make me realize how much I'm going to miss my Dad and I'll get a little teary.  I guess that's okay.  I'm keeping tissues in my pocket at all times.

Once again, I'm not doing a lot of blogging, but will get back to it soon because I MISS you all.

184.4

Friday Fly By, Hot 100 Update

Thank you all for your kind comments about my father's death this week.  I have been in Atlanta the entire week with my sister who is seriously ill.  Fortunately, she got a diagnosis today and will start treatment tomorrow.  As you can imagine, it's been a very difficult week for our family. Dad's funeral will probably be sometime in the spring.

As to my Hot 100 goals, I have failed all three, but still managed to go to a WI here and registered a 2.4 pound loss.  I need to get back to my routines and I'll do that when I return home tomorrow.

I'll be back next week.

Holding tight to the "reason for the season."
Tish

My Dad

Hi friends,

I wanted to let you know that my wonderful father died today.  I am with my sister in Atlanta, but when we got word that he'd taken a turn for the worse, I called DH and he and our son Johnny were with him when he died.  He was the best father I can possibly imagine and we'll all miss him so much.  That said, I'm glad this final suffering has ended and that he is with God in heaven and is reunited with my mom.

Tish

I did it!

You can just start calling  me Tech-Tisha!  I got my sister's new Mac wireless system up and running in less than 15 minutes.  I am on my computer which found her new network with no problem at all (easy when I know all the passwords!).  Now all I have to do is find the right cord so I can get her ancient PC and printer connected to the network.  She's asleep in that room right now, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow. I think I'm going to get myself one of those Airport Extreme routers --they are awesome.

I decided to check a bag on my flight down.  I usually travel with a 26 inch suitcase, but, because I was bringing the computer & router as well as a couple bulky boxes of Christmas presents, I decided to bring my huge suitcase.  I checked it and only managed to squeak under the 50 pound limit by decanting a few items to a carry-on bag.   My trip was otherwise uneventful.  Oh, I did finish the "difficult" level sudoku in the flight magazine that had apparently been attempted by several previous occupants of my seat.  That felt good.  I also started reading the book Unbroken, by the author who wrote Seabiscuit.  This one's a true story, but it's not about horses.  It's about a second-generation Italian boy who was on the fast track to becoming a delinquent until he discovered he could run.  Really run. He ran for the US in the 1936 Olympics and was on the way to breaking the 4 minute mile.  Then the war came.  His war involved flying, crashing into the Pacific, being a prisoner of war, and becoming an unsung hero.  I like this kind of book and it's so well written, it almost reads like a novel.

This is how I like 'em best, cut in wedges.

I think I'm going to do fine staying OP here.  We had baked fish, 1/2 of a potato, and green beans for dinner.  I'm going to run to the store tomorrow and stock up on a few of my staples.  I'm already missing the huge box of navel oranges I scored at Costco on Friday.  They were delicious.  I want some NOW.  :-)  Hmm, maybe it's time for a nice glass of water.  I always have trouble staying hydrated when I fly.

I brought along my running shoes and my Nike+ ipod thingie.  I'm going to try to get out for a run tomorrow.  I only have about 25 miles to run to reach 500 for 2010.  That sounds like a nice round number, no? It's supposed to dip down into the 20s here tonight, so maybe I'll wait to do that run until the sun has had a chance to warm things up a bit.

Okay, that's it for now.

Have you enjoyed the first northern hemisphere navel oranges of the season yet??

Friday Fly By, Hot 100 Update

Hi Everybody.  Is everyone else incredibly busy right now, or is it just me??  Whew.  Today I went to my Praise Moves Yoga class, paid bills, shopped at Costco, visited my Dad, took some homemade turkey soup to my neighbor who just got out of the hospital, and set up our Christmas tree.   I'll take this chance to relax a bit while I compose this post.

Just lights for now, decorations come later.

I didn't post yesterday, but I had a full day.  After a day of taking care of J&E, I made lemon-soy chicken for dinner.  WE also had brown rice and roasted butternut squash.  Yum.  I used 34 points yesterday, my daily 29 plus 5 of my weekly points.  I felt well nourished and satisfied and I managed to fit my oz of dark chocolate into that points packet.  I feel good that I haven't yet felt the need to use all of my quota of extra points for a day.  There are 49 weekly extra points, so the quota would be 7 per day.

We did our regular Thursday night strength training at the gym, but then we did something new and different.

A few weeks ago, when we were at the beach in NC, DH and I had several great talks while we took our daily walk along the beach.  The kind of talks that are memorable and where we come up with some of our best ideas about things we want to accomplish or do.  Anyway.  We were talking about how much we enjoy biking together and about running.  DH has 10 or so marathons under his belt and I like to run and have run a few races including a 1/2 marathon in the distant past and a 10 miler last year, but neither of us feels led to run long distance races any more.  But we both want to stay in shape and to pursue a variety of modes of fitness.  We got the idea that we might enjoy trying a tri.  Soooo, last night, we hit the gym 20 minutes earlier and after 45 minutes of lifting weights we went to the pool and swam laps.

I'm not a natural born swimmer.  In fact, I think I flunked the swimming classes my mom dutifully took me to when I was 6 or 7--it seems to me I never graduated from the "minnow" class.  I got to the point where I could tread water, do the breast stroke, side stroke, and an acceptable crawl.  I apparently passed the swim test necessary to go in the pool without an adult.  But, natural born swimmer--no.  So last night, I was pretty content with my 6 laps in 15 minutes.  Slow, but okay.  I was content until DH gently pointed out that a "lap" is swimming in two directions, not just across.  Okay, so 3 laps in 15 minutes.  At least I have a good baseline.  AND, I tried something new.  Good for me!  We're going to "train" in the pool twice a week for the winter and look for a tri in the spring.

Day four and my "streak" is on track.  I'm feeling good about the program and about my eating. I've stayed "on plan" and tracked every bite to make sure I'm keeping to the point allowances.  I'm already looking forward to switching to the Power Point plan (CORE) and not having to track daily points, but I'm still getting acquainted with the new point values, so this is good.

RATS!  I just managed to wipe out about 15 lines of this post.  Okay, so you'll get the concise version.

I want to spend some time with my sister and I found a great airfare, so I'm flying down on Atlanta.
Missy, if you happen to be reading this and you don't want to know what you're getting for Xmas, I suggest you stop reading right now, okay?
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Missy has an ancient PC and her house isn't set up for WiFI, so we took advantage of the Black Friday sale at Apple.com and are giving her a MacBook Air  and an Airport Express (router).  Setting that up for her will be my #1 priority.  I have a bit of a vested interest, because I can't imagine being "unplugged" for almost a week!

Okay,  Hot 100 Update

Goal 1: I think I have to admit that I'm not likely to reach my WW goal by Jan 1st, having taken a 7.4 detour in the wrong direction, but I have almost a month left and I'm going to do my best to lose and stick to my plan.  I'm excited about the new WW plan and think I'll do well.  I've rediscovered my motivation to stay on plan.  (and yes, I've found a WW meeting close to my sister's house in Atlanta).

Goal 2:  Yes.  I exercised 6/7 days and it was quality exercise.  Adding swimming and a goal of doing a tri is a fun extra.

Goal 3:  Finally.  The chocolate is now under control.  I have been able to eat well and treat myself to a mini-splurge of 1 oz per day.

I noticed Jack playing with the soccer ball yesterday.  He was sitting on it and then scooting around.  It looked like very good exercise--Bosu Ball?  He's all boy--he loves any ball he sees.

Have a great week end.  My next post will be from Atlanta (God and my computer-geek-skills willing!)

Two Good Days--Is that a streak??

I'm loving the new WW plan.  I looked it up online and followed it the best I could yesterday.  Today I went to my WW meeting and heard the official introduction.  It has come at the perfect time for me.  I'm feeling strong and confident about being able to stay on plan and reach my goal weight and I haven't felt that way for a month or two.  This is all good.

I think I mentioned that I'm going to do the new program "PointsPlus" as written for a few weeks at least, before I go back to my "CORE" (Simply Filling) variation.  This means that I can eat whatever I choose as long as I stay within the daily points allowed (29--everybody I've met has 29 which is the fewest number of points allowed--oh, except for guys--they get more--about 36 I think).  It also means I need to track points for everything I eat (as opposed to Simply Filling where I'll only need to track the non-power food points).  Power foods are what used to be called CORE foods and don't count against the 49 extra weekly points which they intend for you to use and I will use them.  Points on many of my go-to foods have increased a bit.  Fruit and veggies (except for starchy veggies--corn, potatoes, etc) are all 0 points.  Anyway, I'm looking forward to my favorite ever breakfast tomorrow--a soft boiled egg, and toast with ICBINBJ.  I'll have a nice cup of mint tea to round it out.  (2, 3, 1, and 0 points, respectively, for a total of 6 points.  I may splurge and have a nice chilled half pink grapefruit sprinkled with Truvia. (0 points!)    

I'm a convert to Truvia.  I had tried it once last year and found it bitter, but I read on a blog (one of yours?) that if it seems bitter it means you're using way too much.  I like it and it doesn't taste bitter at all. One packet is just right for the grapefruit though I usually like grapefruit without anything on it, too.  I especially like the way Truvia tasted "granulated" like sugar rather than powdery like Splenda.

For you viewing pleasure:  Laura with her three J,B&R and J&E

Tonight, for dinner, I made a new recipe:  Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Spring Vegetables.  I know, I know, it's not spring, but I was able to buy beautiful fresh ingredients at Whole Foods and, believe me, this was wonderful.  The recipe is from the brand new WW cookbook:  Weight Watchers Points Plus Cookbook.  

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Spring Vegetables

prep time:15 min      cook time: 30 min      Serves 4 

1 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed  (power food)

1 T chopped fresh chives (I used 2 T of finely diced shallots)

3/4 t salt

1  pkg frozen artichoke hearts (9 oz), thawed

1 pound baby potatoes, cut in half  (my baby potatoes were large-ish so I cut them in quarters)

1/2  pound asparagus, trimmed

1 c baby carrots

2 c small fresh mushrooms (optional, but very good!)

2 t olive oil

1/4 t black pepper

1.  Preheat oven to 475.  Spray large shallow roasting pan with nonstick spray

2.  Sprinkle pork with chives (shallots) and 1/4 t of the salt.  Spray large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium high heat.  Add pork and cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.

3.  Transfer pork to roasting pan.  Combine artichokes, potatoes, asparagus,carrots, oil, and remaining 1/2 t salt and the pepper in large bowl; toss to coat.  Arrange vegetable mixture around pork.  Roast, stirring vegetables once, until vegetables are tender and instant read thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 160 F, about 25 minutes.  Let pork stand 5 minutes before slicing into 12 slices.  Serve with vegetables.

Per serving  (3 slices pork with 1 1/4 cups vegetables):

352 g, 293 calories, 6 g total fat, 1 g sat fat, 0 g trans fat, 62 mg Chol, 549 mg Sod, 31 g total carb, 3 g total sugar, 7 g fib, 28 g protein, 57 mg calcium.

Okay, today's WI.  I gained 1.6 from two weeks ago.  It's okay.  My morning weight this morning (after 1 day on the new plan) was down 1.4 from yesterday morning.  And it's going to be down again tomorrow and way down next week.  I'm very confident.  Do you remember this great post  from Charlie about the On/Off switch?  My switch has apparently toggled back to ON!  Two days may not constitute a streak, but just keep watching.  I'm going to DO this.

I put the turkey wings into my crockpot with an onion, some peppercorns, a bay leaf, celery, and a couple of carrots.  The beginnings of a(nother) good turkey soup that I'll have on hand for the next few days.  (broth--0 pts,  2 oz turkey--2 pts,  carrots--0 pts,  celery--0 pts, onion--0 pts, 1/4 c cooked barley--1 pt, mushrooms--0 pts)  Three points for a bowl of great turkey soup.  YES!  Did I mention that I cooked a 27 pound turkey???

I have been tagged twice with the question quiz.  I will work on that while the kiddos are napping tomorrow.  I am also really missing spending time on your blogs and that's the other thing I want to do tomorrow.

Thanks for your good wishes for my Dad.  I went to see him today and spent about an hour singing to him (Christmas hymns which I know he loves) while he slept--his pain meds keep him very sleepy.  I saw his leg and the site of the break doesn't have any bruising and the swelling has almost all gone. His pain is being well controlled and he seems comfortable and they report that his appetite is good.  

I had a short session with the exercise bike this morning--I don't love it, but it beats the rain, wind, and very chilly temps outside today.  I think I may go upstairs now and do my 10th kettle bell session.  I'm looking for those guaranteed results right after!  :-)

G'night.

186.4
hoping the light color makes the gain less noticeable!