"Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Blogging while watching a movie about blogging

I have discovered that I absolutely love the movie "Julie and Julia." I am watching it right now for about the third time this week. I am completely inspired to cook my way through my cookbooks and blog about it, which I probably will start doing very soon. I've always been interested in cooking, as I remember my middle school life plan was to go to culinary school and become a chef. Also, more recently, I have erred on the side of pastry, and as I mentioned in previous posts, I've looked into pastry schools. Until I pursue that again, this'll be a fun, close-enough adventure.

In the spirit of not being completely unoriginal, I've come up with a way to bring at least a little something different to the table, pun intended...

Eric and I are about to make a major move - literally. We're about to relocate five states away! As everyone who has ever moved in their life knows, it is expensive! We're going to rent out our house here and then we'll rent in the new city. So, with getting back into a rental, you have the security deposit, the first month's rent, the pet fee, the parking fee, the "move-in" fee (whatever that means), the utilities fees, an arm, a leg, and your firstborn child. Also, though these are all one-time fees at the time of moving in, where we're going has a much higher cost of living and we'll have MANY expenses that we do not currently have. I would like to start this new fun adventure of cooking through my cookbooks very soon, but I cannot, however, spend a billion dollars every week on groceries. (Not to mention, I'm also quite a bit out of practice.) To help with both of these concerns, I'll be starting with a cookbook that my mom gave me this past Christmas - a 5-ingredient-recipes cookbook.

Over the last few days, I completed a long and tedious task that I'm surprised I actually did. (To be completely honest, i actually enjoyed it!) I went through the cookbook, recipe by recipe, to find out which ones had ingredients in common with others, in order to cut down on the number of ingredients I buy weekly and to avoid having ingredients going bad and then having to re-buy them later for another recipe. While I think it'll help enormously,  I'm honestly not sure I'll be able to do that on a book that's any longer or that has recipes with endless ingredient lists. Those are probably the ones I really need to do that for though in order to save money! I guess we'll see how it all goes.

Starting out with this particular cookbook I think is a great way to jump into this endeavor. Since I haven't put much effort into cooking lately, 5 ingredient recipes will allow me to get my feet wet again, hopefully without being overwhelming.

Well, I'll get started after we move, because we can't buy gaggles of perishable groceries between now and then since we can't take them with us. The latest we should be there is September 30th, Lord willing. I suppose in the mean time I could try to work on coordinating the recipes of the other cookbooks. We shall see! Until next time, "Bon Appetit!"

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Tuesday

Eric and I went to the gym again yesterday! I probably shouldn't be excited that we did, it was only the second day, but I am. we're 2 for 2. We went to do the spinning class again and we got there early, so we both got on elliptical machines for about twenty minutes. We went to the class and unfortunately I couldn't finish it because my butt hurt so bad! Apparently riding a bike for the first time in a long time makes you very sore on your behind from that little seat. We are definitely going to have to get a couple of those gel-pad seat covers for the bikes. Ouch!

Eric somehow made it through the class. I was in it for about 15 minutes and then got back on the elliptical. SOO much better. We're planning to go to the gym again this afternoon, but there's no way I could do the cycling class. Maybe I'll try again on Thursday.

I have discovered that working out is great for getting a good night sleep. I slept SOO good last night because I was worn out. I hope this is an every night thing - probably will be because I think it'll be a while before the work out doesn't wear me out. Good stuff.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

So after a 2 month long sabbatical...

I'm finally posting again! I can't believe I got away from this for so long! Actually, I guess I can. I'm really bad about following through on things like this, as I'm sure was clear from one of previous posts about challenges. Anyway, so since we last talked, I have started a bakery business!! I've been in the preliminary stages for a while, selling goods at a farmers market and providing freebies for neighborhood and community events, just to get my name out there. I am so thankful with how it has all been going so far! I've gotten several orders! We'll see where it goes! Praise the Lord!

As for my weight loss, I am in pretty much the worst business you can be in while trying to lose weight. I can't not try what I'm serving to other people! Well Eric and I have joined a gym because amazingly his company will pay for it! We just joined two days ago (Sunday). We went to a spinning class yesterday as we understand that it is one the biggest cardio calorie-burners. It was freaking tough! But we're going again today. We figure that while our motivation is high about our shiny new toy of this membership, we better hit it hard (well, let's be realistic, not too hard).

I am unfortunately at the most I ever remember weighing. I guess it's not that unbelievable, as the increase in weight came when starting a bakery. I'm going to need to be pretty good with the rest of my eating habits to try to fend off the sweets. Like I said, I can't serve someone something I haven't tried. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.

Friday, May 21, 2010

TGIF

Wow, I haven't updated in what feels like quite a while. I think it's because I'm embarrassed. I haven't exactly been the beacon of discipline this week. With the days being a little unpredictable from my brother's move and other things, I haven't been watching things this week.I got on the scale this morning to see if I have back tracked, but fortunately, I'm exactly where I was on Monday - still down the original 3 pounds. I am the queen of maintaining. No, really. I have been in the same 5 pound range for at least 2 years. I apparently burn right around the amount of calories that I consume on a given day. SOO, if I would stick the exercise and calories-conscious eating, I know I would lose the weight. I'm actually (surprisingly) still very motivated, so I'll hopefully get back in the swing of things. When I feel discouraged, I just think back to the turning point moment and remember how i felt and that image in the mirror.

Calories Burned:

General sleeping, sitting, reading, brushing teeth, showering, hairstyling, driving – 1319 calories burned


Calories Consumed:

Breakfast
Granola Bar - 100

Should've Posted this on Monday

Wow. What a weekend. I'm so tired I'm not going to use exclamation points because they have too much energy. No, actually, I'm not too bad. I had the deepest night sleep I've had in a long time last night, I just wish I could have stayed in it a lot longer. I had a great, but BUSY weekend of helping my brother move. My parents came into town to help too. So as it always goes, all of the men were on heavy lifting duty. My brother's wife was helping with the moving too, while my mom and I kept their kids.

I didn't really watch things this weekend with the calories but I know I burned a lot!
Here's Monday #2 of May... I lost 3 pounds!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Friday, May 14, 2010 Tracking

Calories Burned:

General sleeping, sitting, reading, brushing teeth, showering, hairstyling, driving – 1319 calories burned

AM Elliptical - 30 minutes, intervals, 238 (burned a few more than usual today!)

Calories Consumed:

Breakfast
Granola Bar - 140

Lunch
Chicken and sausage gumbo - 240
5 crackers 70

Snack
bowl of fruit loops 1 cup with 1/2 cup milk 155

Dinner
Five Guys hamburger with tomato, lettuce, mustard, grilled onions, ketchup - 600
1/2 a regular fry - 310

Total Consumed: 1515
Total Burned: 1557

Friday, May 14, 2010

Thursday, May 12th, 2010 Tracking

Calories Burned:

General sleeping, sitting, reading, brushing teeth, showering, hairstyling, driving – 1319 calories burned


Calories Consumed:

Breakfast
Granola Bar - 140

Snack
apple - 80
almond granola bar - 160

Lunch
southwest veggie soup - 100
crunched up taco and salsa - 80

Snack
I fell off the wagon :( Not feeling good today and it got the best of me
cheez-its - 500-600
Laughing cow cheese 35

Dinner
chicken 70
green beans 30
peas 100
blueberry cobbler topping on ice cream - 200

Total Burned: 1319
Total Consumed: 1495-1595

I'm surprised, that's more than my daily goal of around 1200, but it's still actually not that bad. And considering how few calories I had yesterday, I'm okay with it for one day. The trick is to not give up. That happens so often it seems - you mess one time and you think, "well, I've blown it. Might as well eat whatever the rest of the day or maybe even quit the whole thing." I'm not going to do that this time. I'm staying on track! I want this more than I want to quit.