Hello Friday

I had to drag myself into work today. Unfortunately I had a few new hires coming in to do their HR paperwork today. I felt like I was apologizing all day and explaining I have a sinus infection, even though I sound like I'm dying from coronavirus. :) Didn't feel like cooking dinner so we ate BK for a quick dinner.

630am: 1 light multigrain English muffin + 1/3 tbsp. earth balance + 1 MSF breakfast patty + 1 c. earl grey

1pm: Stir-fry: 2 c. veggies + 4 cloves garlic + braggs seasoning + 1 tbsp. sesame seeds

3pm: 2 slices SF 100% whole wheat bread + 4 slices tofurkey deli slices + 1/2 c. raspberries

6pm: BK impossible whopper

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total calories: 1431
morning weigh-in: 368.8

Congratulations--sinus infection!

I stayed home today and was miserable as could be! I upgraded to a sinus infection. I called my Dr. so she could call me in an antibiotic. If she had bothered to look in my ears, I bet I had an infection yesterday. I told her my face (sinus) area hurt.

10am: earl grey

1230pm: 3 crescent rolls wrapped around 1 fieldroast apple/sage "soysage"

6pm: 1 quorn chik'n + 1 c. mashed cauliflower

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total calories: 834

Dr. appt

I give up. I finally called my Dr and made an appt. Luckily they could "work me in" around 1030, so I was happy. I was not happy that I sat there waiting for almost 3 hours! Everyone around me acted like I had the coronavirus and tried to sit as far away as possible in the waiting room. Haha, well, I like my space, so fine with me. She sent me for chest x-rays because I have trouble breathing, especially when I lay down. She thinks it's just allergies/asthma and I'll have to suffer through. I'm like, really? With the pain my throat, face, and ears? What a waste. Oh, and no pneumonia--x-rays came back clear, so it's just my asthma.

630am: 1 light multigrain English muffin + 1/3 tbsp. earth balance spread + 2 strips MSF breakfast strips + 1 c. earl grey

9am: 1 c. earl grey

3pm: 1 c. taco soup + 2 slices SF 100% whole wheat bread w/2 tbsp. PB

630pm: 1 beyond burger on bun + 1 slice onion + 3 oz baked potato wedges in oven w/spices

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total calories: 1419
morning weigh-in: 365.8

The allergies continue

630am: 1 c. earl grey + 1 light multigrain English muffin + 1 tbsp. black current spread + 1 MSF breakfast patty + 1/2 c. raspberries

1230pm:  1 c. taco soup + 1 tbsp. Tofutti sour cream + 2 slices SF 100% whole wheat bread w/ 2 tbps. PB

630pm: 1 simple truth plant burger + 1 c. baby bella sliced mushrooms + 1/4 red pepper + 1/4 onion + 1/2 c. mushroom gravy + 1 c. mashed potatoes (broth, not milk) + 1 slice crusty Italian bread

Not sure what I have been sick with, but  I really wanted just warm comfort food today. I think it's allergies, not a cold, since I can taste and smell. I'm just miserable!

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total calories: 1533
morning weigh-in: 365

Monday, Monday

And it's back to work today. It's not that I hate my job, but I do not "like" working with some of the people here. I have an HR position, you know, getting people in here to fill out their employment paperwork, tax forms, bring me their IDs for employment verifications, make sure they get "entered" and paid, all that jazz. Today I have a headache. A supervisor gave me the wrong ID# for an employee. So now I have to "fix" this little mistake with payroll and the main HR office on campus. Did the supervisor apologize for their error? Of course not. She acts likes it's my fault. Whatever. I don't give a crap what these people think of me. In fact, as little contact as I have with them, the happier I am.

Did I mention I'm not feeling well today? I don't know what's wrong. I've been "sick" for almost a week now. I just feel nauseous all the time. As soon as I eat, it gets worse. I wake up in the morning with a terrible sore throat.  I guess I have a lot of sinus drainage going on which is probably why I feel sick.

630am: 1 pumpkin English muffin + 2 tbsp. black currant Just Spread + 1/2 c. raspberries + 1 c. earl grey tea

1030am: 1 c. earl grey tea

1230pm: 1 c. stir-fry mixed veggies (broccoli, purple cabbage, snow peas, brussels sprouts, carrots) w/ 1 c. baby spinach (cooked in Braggs liquid aminos) + 3 oz. purple potatoes + 5 grape tomatoes + 1/2 Tofurkey vegan Italian sausage + sesame seeds (Note the cute bento box!) I keep my sesame seeds in the cute little pink-topped container. Everything tastes better with toasted sesame seeds!

I have my eye appt this afternoon in about another hour. I'm trying really hard not to think about it, but well, you know how that goes. I've been doing drops for my glaucoma the past 2 months and today is the day we find out if it's working. If not, surgery. I resisted that 2 months ago--he wanted to do surgery right off! He tried to discourage me that only 20% of people see real results with the drops, but I'm trusting someone bigger and greater to take care of this. I'm doing my part--I haven't missed a night of drops, no not once! And I'm eating a lot of the rainbows. Purples and reds are really good for your eyes. We'll see how it goes.

6pm: 1 black bean crunch wrap fresco style!

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total calories: 1247
morning weigh-in: 363.4
* 35 min pedaling

So my appt. wasn't bad, wasn't great either. Good news--the pressure in my left eye has come down 10 pts, but it needs to drop 10 more. (yes, I still show damage in my left eye.) I could tell he was really surprised the drops worked. Bad news-- the right eye is "dangerously high" and I have to start drops in them next. Keep eating the rainbow and doing the drops! Repeat tests in 6 weeks.

Sunday Blahs

Here it is Sunday and I was up early to get ready for church. I thought I'd try something different for breakfast. I don't eat egg whites anymore, but keep egg beaters in the house because Jeff still eats them. (I can't eat egg yolks because of an allergy.) So I fixed French toast for a change. I might have used 1/8 EB on my bread. I barely have any egg on them at all. SICK! UGH, I was so sick. I couldn't believe it. I had to go back to bed and I slept 3 hours! I felt so bad and learned my lesson. No more egg whites for me!

830am: 2 thin slices Italian bread + 1/8 c. egg whites + 2 tbsp. Just spread (black currant) + 1/2 c. strawberries + 1 Morningstar breakfast patty + 1 c. earl grey

130pm: 3 oz. grilled salmon + 1/2 bowl (=1/2 cup) yakisoba noodles + 6 oz. red swiss chard

330pm: 1 c. earl grey + 1 apple

6pm: 2 c. taco soup + 1 tbsp. Tofutti sour cream + 1 slice French bread w/1/2 tbsp. marg.

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total calories: 1288
morning weigh-in: 358.6
**30 min. pedaling

Ah, Saturday, my favorite day of the week! It was a rainy cold day and we decided just to stay in and watch tv all day. I have been feeling yucky and tired this week, so it didn't bother me one bit.

I tried making pizza at home today. We haven't eaten pizza in months. I just can't see paying pizza prices when we can't eat cheese. I used a ready-made thin crust, added a plant-based alfredo sauce (actually not too bad!) I added veggies and a lot of "sausage" for my husband so he would hopefully not notice "no cheese". Did he notice? I don't know! He didn't say anything and ate it all! Success!!

11am: 1 packet Better Oats (Maple & brown sugar = Splenda) + 1/2 c. strawberries + 1/2 banana + 1 c. vanilla chai

1pm: 1 crispy thin crust (about 5 inches across) + 1/4 c. vegan alfredo sauce + 1/2 tbsp. nutritional yeast + 10 green olives + 1/4 red pepper + 2 green onions + 1/2 Tofurkey Italian vegan sausage

230pm: 6 gingersnap cookies + 1 c. earl grey

630pm: beyond burger + 1 bun + 2 slices onion + 2 tbsp. ketchup + 3 oz potato wedges with spices

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total calories: 1503
morning weigh-in: 360.8
** 30 min. pedaling

Working from home today - Inclement weather

TGIF! Because we had a winter weather advisory from midnight last night to 6pm tonight, I was able to work from home. The beauty of that is I could sleep until 730am which is about 2 3/4 hours more than I usually get. Yes, BK again for dinner.  It's so rare for me to eat them, I didn't feel guilty about two days in a row!


730am: 1 c. earl grey

10am: 1 c. earl grey

1130am: Pumpkin spice English muffin + 2 tbsp. Just Fruit (Black currant) + 1/2 c. raspberries + 1 c. vanilla chai

1pm: 1 c. Pepper Pot soup + 1/2 PB sandwich (1 slice SF 100% whole wheat bread w/ 1 tbsp. PB)

6pm: BK Impossible whopper

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total calories: 1128
morning weigh-in: 365.2
**30 min. pedaling

Oh how I love peanut butter

I thought I was getting a cold, but I think my asthma is irritated by all the wood smoke around our house. We have several neighbors who burn wood for heat and as soon as I step outside, it chokes me. I'm feeling better today. I took a sick day yesterday to recover and rest. I did some more reading and still can't figure out why I'm not losing weight. I know people look at me like, well, gee, it's so obvious, you're eating too much! OR you're eating unhealthy foods! Uh, no. Do I have the occasional donut? yeah, I might once a month. And I don't feel bad doing it because I remember 20 years ago when I'd polish off an entire dozen in one sitting and still be looking for more snacks. I rarely drink a soda, maybe one every couple of months.

One funny thing is I have started eating peanut butter in the last few years. My mother always made me pack a bologna sandwich (which stinks, literally) or a cheese sandwich for lunch. I was never allowed peanut butter because she thought it was  "unhealthy" and a "junk food". My, my, how times change! I now LOVE eating a peanut butter sandwich.

(note: all items are weighed/measured + tea is always unsweetened/plain)

630am: 1 pumpkin English muffin + 2 tbsp. all fruit spread (black currant) + 2 strips Morningstar Farms (MSF) veggie"bacon" + 1/2 c. raspberries + tea

10:30am: 1 serv. almonds (1/4 c.) [Forgot to take a picture!] + water
1230pm: 1 1/2 c. Pepper Pot soup + 1 serv. (17) black grapes + water

Almost forgot the 1/2 PB sandwich! (1 slice 100% whole wheat sugar-free bread w/ 1 tbsp. PB) + 1/2 c. raspberries (I would usually eat this early afternoon, but I have a meeting, so I'm eating it now.)

 

6:30pm: BK Impossible whopper

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total calories: 1573

RECIPE: Instant Pot--Pepper Pot Soup

I don't remember where I found this recipe, but adapted it and absolutely love it! I'm not a big fan of peppers (too many flashbacks of my mom's stuffed peppers with meat, UGH, when I was growing up.)

• 1 medium red pepper, chopped
• 1 medium green pepper. chopped
• 1 medium yellow pepper, chopped
• 1 medium orange pepper, chopped
• 1 container (1 1/2 cups ea.), BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles
• 1 1/2 container (6 cups total), Organic Low Sodium Vegetable Stock
• 1/2 white onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic
• 3 tbsp. diced jalapenos (adjust to taste, we like spicy!)
• 28 oz. can San Marzano tomatoes with basil, pureed
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• Add to instant pot and cook on "soup" for 5 minutes; NR for 15 minutes.
• Add tablespoon of *Tofutti sour cream to each serving for "richness".
• 10 servings = approx. 1 c. each (95 calories each, no fat, 15 c per cup with 5 grams of fiber!) *Tofutti calories add about 30 calories.

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Six months and a whopping 5 lb. weight loss

Yes, it's been six months since that Dr's appt. and I still can feel the sting. I have to go back in July,and God help me if I haven't lost some significant weight. I have hovered around the same weight and have only lost about 5 lbs in the last six months. I swear to God I'm the only person who can eat plants and stay fat. I'm seriously wondering if there is something wrong with me. I can't face my dietician when I have to go back next month. I know she has to think I'm binging on something like Dorito's and chocolate! No one can eat healthy like this and stay the same weight. I don't blame her for doubting me. It makes me so angry when I think of all the foods I've given up and how many times I've actually been nauseous from being so hungry. What the hell is wrong with me?

So what am I eating? I try to make plants the majority of my plate. On occasion I do eat the "bad" foods (like a donut or soda every so often, so I know I'm eating sugar and eggs and dairy when I do the dessert.) On occasion I will eat grilled salmon (maybe once a month or every two months? It is rare.) I have no dairy in my house. I do have egg whites because my husband eats them.

Maybe I need some accountability here. I thought "what if I post my food?" Yeah, I write down the portions, but maybe I'll add a picture. Is there something I'm missing? It's like a puzzle I can't solve. When I log my food, it doesn't matter if I eat 1200 or 2000 calories, I don't lose an ounce. Are the scales broken? No, I don't think so.

I just bought Dr. Gregor's "How not to diet". (I need all the help I can get at this point.) He makes a big to-do about a calorie isn't a calorie (of course, we know that! 100 calories of carrots is a lot different to my body than 100 calories of chocolate!) But he talks about when we eat is just as important as what we eat. It's all tied into our circadian rhythms apparently. Our bodies burn more in the morning than in the evening, so we should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. Ok, I get it, but there's one thing. I hate breakfast. I mean I really hate breakfast. My body does not like food when I first get up. BUT I decided today, I was going to give this an honest go. I ate oatmeal with a banana for breakfast. OMG, I have been so sick all morning. I hate breakfast!