Being proactive

I realize this blog has been a bit of a downer lately. It is hard to stay positive when it seems like everything is working against you. From knee and foot problems, to house problems to major illness, it's been a ride.

And then I really do believe in keeping it real. I'm not fishing for compliments when I lament about my unexplained weight gain on here. I appreciate your comments, but the facts are pretty depressing. I have gained 30 lbs. in the past year. And it keeps going up. My BMI is now officially overweight. Despite working out an average of 90 minutes a day. Despite the fact that I eat better than most people I know. It is depressing.

So, I am trying to be proactive and maybe that will help me stay positive. First of all--this new diet I started. I have been reluctant to actually name it on here because it seems like such a fad diet and I am totally opposed to such an idea. I believe in long term solutions--not "quick fixes." As a personal trainer I always thought it was ludicrous for people to sign up for one session. COMPLETELY POINTLESS!!!

The more I researched this eating style, the more I saw the value in it. Plus I know a few people that have had great success with it. So, here I introduce...

The South Beach Diet. I think it would seem a lot more legit if it had a different name. I mean, really. What a stupid name.

So I'm over a week into it...with absolutely NO POSITIVE RESULTS. And I haven't cheated once. At least on purpose. I did accidentally taste a lick or two of the frosting for the cupcakes the other day. But that's it in a week and a half. And still, nothing.

That leads me to my proactive decision numero dos...

I set up an appointment with an Endocrinologist yesterday. I went to the doctor about six months ago for this exact issue with my weight and left very, very, very discouraged. She tested my thyroid and all came back normal so I was basically without answers and told to join weight watchers. Like a slap in the face.

So I finally called and made an appointment with a specialist. They can't see me until May, but at least I got an appt. and got the ball rolling. There has to be something wrong, right? It just doesn't make sense.

And, for the record, I can't stand medical receptionists. Guess what, lady with a job answering a phone in the doctor's office, you. did. not. go. to. medical. school. In fact, I can almost guarantee that I am more highly educated than you. I am not an idiot. So don't tell me something lame like, "We normally wouldn't see someone for something like that, but..." What is that even supposed to mean? I am the one paying (or at least my insurance is.) Shouldn't I be allowed to see the doctor if I want to? She finally set me up when I told her I needed a second opinion. Apparently second opinions are legitimate reasons for seeing a doctor, but unexplained weight gain is not.

Okay, enough for my negativity. I will think positive thoughts and get this figured out...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

I try to avoid posting my last name on this blog for privacy reasons, but let's just say it's Irish. I married into it. And to celebrate my children's heritage, I go all out!

Cinnamon rolls with green frosting for breakfast:

For me--eggs with lots of green veggies, tomatoes and Feta.

We were hiking all day, so this was my lunch:

The kids loved the hard boiled eggs, too.

And then corned beef and cabbage, red potatoes, rolls, and green jello salad for dinner:

I had corned beef, cabbage and broccoli:

(I know corned beef could hardly be considered a "lean meat", but my plans to make myself a different meat were foiled. In my defense, I didn't eat a lot of it and I trimmed off all the visible fat.)

Oh, and what would St. Patrick's Day be without a cute green dessert?
(I didn't eat any, but the kids loved them! Check out my other blog for instructions, if you are interested.)
In terms of working out--I got in 20 minutes on the elliptical this morning, then hiked all day. Not too shabby.

Today---AAAAACCKKK!!!

Woke up. 20 minutes on elliptical.

Finished grout on countertops.

Made breakfast for kids--baked apples.
Took shower.

Made my breakfast--scrambled eggs with mushrooms, topped with a tomato.
Took kids to Chick Fil'A for free breakfast. (Yes, that would be their second breakfast. But it was free.)
Ran home, made cupcakes.
Cleaned basement. Cleaned kids' rooms. Made lunch. Fed kids. Leftovers!
Went to park for a playdate.

Ran home. Gave kids snack.

Took Isaac to class.

Ran home. Frosted cupcakes.

Picked Isaac up from class.

Ran home. Started dinner. Hawaiian haystacks.
Took kids to a program at library.

Ran home. Threw my dinner together. Protein shake, celery and cucumbers and hummus.
Picked up other kids. Went to soccer practice.

Ran home. Cleaned whole kitchen.

15 more minutes on elliptical.

Made bread dough for breakfast in the morning.

Updating this blog. Need to update other. Need to finish cinnamon rolls, and make rolls for dinner for a friend tomorrow. Need to fold laundry. Need to make picnic lunch for hike tomorrow. Need to sleep...

AAAAAACCCCKKKKK!!!!!

Catching up

I've had a couple e-mail requests for recipes in the past few weeks and I am just now getting them up here! :( Sorry!! And no pictures, either, but I'll have you know that the people requesting these recipes were asking for them because they tasted them and know how dang good they are. So that has got to count for something!!

Spaghetti Pie
1 pkg. whole wheat spaghetti noodles
1 15 oz. container fat free cottage cheese (or Ricotta)
1 egg
1/2 cup grated Parmesan (the fresh stuff)
1 cup grated Mozarella
1 TBSP basil
2 tsp. oregano
1 jar spaghetti sauce

Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, mix together cheeses, spices and egg. Combine with cooked noodles. Place in a casserole dish. Top with sauce and additional cheeses, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour. Let sit 10 minutes before cutting.

(I've also considered creating a sort of "crust" layer out of Italian-style bread crumbs, but have yet to try it. I'll let you know when I do!)

Ham Roll-ups
**the original of this recipe is loaded with fat, fat, fat--here is my lightened up version!!

12 slices thin cut, fat free ham (like cold cuts)
12 slices low-fat swiss cheese
cornbread stuffing (below)
Apricot sauce (below)

Lay out ham slices and top with slice of cheese. Spoon about 1/3 cup cornbread stuffing in the center of each ham/cheese slice. Roll up and secure with a toothpick. Place in a shallow baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Spoon 2 to 3 TBSP sauce over each roll-up at serving time. Makes 12 servings.

Cornbread stuffing
1 cup finely chopped celery
4 TBSP finely chopped onion
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup apricot preserves (get the kind that is just the fruit with no added sugar)
1/4 cup water
1 pan cornbread, any favorite recipe--make it a healthy one--add some whole wheat and flaxseed!!

Cook celery and onions in butter until soft. Stir in preserves and water. Toss mixture with lightly crumbled cornbread. Add more water, if desired, for a moister stuffing.

Apricot Sauce
1 TBSP cornstarch
2 TBSP brown sugar
1 cup water
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 TBSP butter
1/4 cup (Simply Fruit) apricot preserves

In a small saucepan, mix cornstarch and brown sugar. Add water and pineapple juice; stir over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens. Stir in butter and preserves.

Enjoy!!!

Veggin' out

I talked (in a texting sort of a way) to my running buddy Becca today. We are tentatively planning on attempting an easy run this Saturday. I will have my inhaler in my pocket and a portable oxygen tank on my back and we will hope for the best. (Okay, I'm just kidding about the oxygen...) I am really excited to get back into things.

I am Lindsay. It has been 28 days since my last run.

Breakfast this morning had an ethnic flair. I cooked black beans with salsa and had them with two (cage free organic) eggs. The kids had Swedish pancakes.
Our activity for the morning was starting our indoor cold weather vegetable seedlings! Let's just hope my winter reading and study project pays off!
So, this is probably not news to any of you, but unless you live in my region, you shouldn't start planting willy nilly just because I did. I really spent a lot of time researching the right dates to start this process--I have all kinds of things mapped out on the calendar. But the planting times/dates are all very region-specific. So even if you live in a different part of Colorado, it might not be time for you to start. See you probably already knew this, but there is a reason that I got the book for DUMMIES, because it is all new to me! Hopefully all my research and preparation will yield us an abundant harvest this year!!
Today onions, two kinds of lettuce and peas! We have much, much more planned...all in good time.

Well, back to food that we actually ate. It was supposed to be a beautiful day, so I packed up a huge picnic and packed up seven kids (three extras today) and went to the park. We lasted all of ten minutes--it was so cold!! But my lunch was still so good!
Celery with natural peanut butter to dip, cucumbers and tomatoes with roasted garlic hummus, a light string cheese and a hard boiled egg.

Our dinner menu had spaghetti and meatballs planned for tonight. The rest of the family had their (turkey) meatballs on whole wheat spaghetti, but since I am off carbs I did...
green beans and meatballs! It was delish!!

I'm thinking I will try some Pilates tonight--I should be able to handle that without having an asthma attack. And if I do start to die, Ryan is close by! ;)

Short order cook

Breakfast time! Late due to the annoyance of daylight savings time. Blah.

The kids had a huge stack of banana pancakes.

For myself, I sauteed mushrooms, onions, zucchini and asparagus, then cooked in some eggs and turkey bacon.

Lunch time! The kids had turkey sandwiches, apples, bananas and pretzels.

For myself, I tried to switch things up for lunch since I seem to be eating the same veggies over and over and over...

Organic tomato soup and leftover chicken.

The kids are off-track, so this is a daily necessity.
The family had cheese stuffed shells for dinner.


For myself, I added some of this...to a skillet full of hmm...onions, zucchini, asparagus and mushrooms.
Just for kicks I added some roasted garlic hummus at the end and let it sort of melt in like a sauce. Super yummy!!

I'm considering going back to the doctor. I'm still having such breathing issues and I'm feeling SO HUGE but I can't work out. What to do, what to do...

Baby Steps!

Last night I slept all the way through the night without waking up even once having a coughing fit!!! Yay for small victories!! It's been weeks since that has happened.

Breakfast was divine--made all the better by a functioning kitchen! I keep having these intentions to make an omelet--but somehow those things intimidate me, so I just scrambled up the egg instead. I had mushrooms and broccoli and tomatoes and onions with my eggs and egg whites. And I added the rest of the rotisserie chicken from the other night.
I had a protein bar during church and a protein shake when I got home. Dinner was a typical Sunday dinner for the rest of the family--chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and carrots. I am avoiding starches as well, so I had my chicken and gravy with sauteed zucchini, yellow squash, asparagus, broccoli and peas--with a little added fresh parmesan. Yummy!!
The thing I have noticed about carbs is that they are so convenient. Pastas, breads, crackers, potatoes--they are so quick and easy. Chopping, preparing and cooking veggies takes a lot more planning ahead and work. But I tell you, I am loving it. All except the celery I ate for breakfast the other day, but that was admittedly a low point.

I don't have a kitchen

Why, exactly, do I do this to myself? Why do I decide to start a new diet when I am recovering from a severe illness and completely remodeling the kitchen? You will not even believe what I ate for breakfast this morning. I was without a sink, microwave and stove top. That doesn't leave a heck of a lot of options for making things. And then I am trying to stick with this strict list of what veggies I can eat...

It just doesn't seem normal to me to eat vegetables for breakfast, but I'm on day 4 of this and determined to keep it up. So here is what I came up with (and notice my beautiful new countertops!!!)...

Luckily I already had boiled eggs in the fridge or I really would have been up a creek!! Wasn't the best breakfast I ever had (really, celery for breakfast?!), but I had to make do.

I had another protein bar for a snack--they really make me happy. Then I had to grab lunch on the go, mainly because I have no kitchen. Have I already mentioned that?
SALAD!! With some chicken strips.

And then a frothy chocolate peanut butter protein shake for an afternoon snack.
For dinner I threw a bunch of veggies and some beef strips in a casserole dish and baked it while I put the kids to bed. I had broccoli, yellow squash, zucchini, peas and onions. I added some fresh parmesan when I took it out of the oven. It was really, really good. I am getting pretty good at this no carb thing!
Still no working out. :( I was feeling so guilty the other day but Ryan pointed out to me that I need to take it easy as I am still recovering. It's true, I know. I am still so weak and tired all the time and still dealing with lung issues. I'll get back someday (SOON, I hope.) But I know that if I push too hard now, I'll just make it worse for myself.

Lizard food

This avoiding carbs thing has proved somewhat challenging. Well, I just need to get creative is all. Especially at breakfast. I am such a baked goods lover. This morning I made a concoction of black beans, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, turkey bacon, an egg and a little cheese. I really felt like I was eating a breakfast from a third world country. Except in a bigger portion size. As unappetizing as it looked (with a tiny helping of turkey sausage gravy on the side)...
it tasted really good. I took the kids to the zoo today and we noticed that the lizard was eating his lunch. Isaac turned to me and said, "Mom, that looks just like your breakfast." Yes, yes it does.
Morning snack was a chocolate peanut butter shake chugged and dribbled down the front of my shirt at the zoo. Lunch was a huge salad with more rotisserie chicken prepared last night and packed in to the zoo.
Afternoon snack:

These are really good. I want another one. Now.
Things went downhill at that point. Not entirely my fault--I got so busy with soccer practice and other such things that I didn't get to eat dinner until 7:23. I was STARVING!!! I inhaled my salmon and roasted broccoli.
Then I had some almonds. And now I might have to have a hardboiled egg. Cause I am still hungry. And I am trying my hardest to not cheat even though I know there is Rocky Road Ice Cream in the freezer...

Oh-- I'm still having breathing issues so no working out. Unless you count pushing a packed double stroller through the zoo for approximately 6 hours. Yes, I am going to count that.

I may end up sick of salad...

I didn't realize how much this illness had taken out of me until this morning. I took Kirby and the boys on a walk. The route we took was one I have run easily many times. Today walking it left me very winded. I am so weak!! I hate it!! Well, I guess things can only go up from here, right?!

For breakfast I had a vegetable egg scramble. I mixed two eggs with some chopped turkey bacon and tons of veggies--tomatoes, broccoli, peas, and green onions.
My morning snack was a chocolate peanut butter protein shake--with added spinach.
Lunch was leftovers from last night. I made a low fat chicken salad that the rest of the family had on rolls. I had mine on lettuce. Yum!!
I had a snack of a few almonds and light string cheese in the afternoon, but we were out and about so I didn't get a pic. Not that exciting anyway! Dinner was a crazy time. We are still remodeling the kitchen and I have been without a kitchen sink or microwave for two days now. Not enjoyable, let me tell you. So I got the kids and Ryan pizza and went to a grocery store to grab more salad and a lemon pepper rotisserie chicken for myself. (I didn't eat the whole thing. Not quite...)
I am eating differently...I am trying something new. I am so discouraged with the weight issues I have been having. So you may notice a glaring lack of carbs. We will see if I can keep it up. Bring on the veggies and lean proteins!!

I'm on my way!

So today I did about 15 minutes of Pilates! Woo hoo!!! In the last three weeks the most working out I have done is crawling from the bed in my room to the bed on my couch.

My lungs are still iffy and I'm still TIRED and I get massive sinus headaches every day, but I am finally feeling like I'm on my way back!! I'm hoping to start blogging my food and work out choices again tomorrow.

It's been way too long.

Just when I thought things were starting to look up...

I came down with a horrible case of the flu on Thursday. I am miserable. Wait, you say, didn't you just have the stomach flu last weekend? Why, yes. As a matter of fact I did. Now I have the severe bodyache/headache/painful cough/sore throat/MISERABLE EXISTENCE kind of flu. Otherwise known as Influenza B.

So, um, yeah, I haven't really been doing much of anything lately.