For Me For Life

Geez…I don’t know what happened, but snacks showed up in the teachers lounge yesterday and I completely let myself go.  This was followed up with Chinese (and not healthy Chinese) for dinner last night and 2 donuts this morning.  Are you freaking kidding me?  This is not how I eat anymore!  Starting right this minute, I am done! Pregnancy IS NOT A FREE PASS!!!  Especially for someone like me who gains weight very very easily!

I’m having an issue with snacks.  I needed something a little more heartier for a snack earlier this week and got some pretzels from the store.  Before pregnancy, I snacked on fruit or popcorn, but that hasn’t sounded hearty enough.  Pretzels fill me up, but there is no longevity to them.  I think I might pop a big batch of popcorn on the stovetop in olive oil to have at school to snack on.  That sounds a little bit more Core and healthy.

I also ran out of eggs and milk at home and just haven’t been to the store to replenish.  Like my first pregnancy, I’m suffering from night sickness….not morning sickness.  It gets really bad and if I don’t go to sleep right away I’m just miserable!

 The irony of this all is (and I might have written about this before) that I have gotten at least 5 comments this week about how skinny I’m looking.  This is awesome…but as I start to grow with baby, I’m not going to look so skinny anymore…especially if I continue to keep eating the way I’ve been eating!  SO, I just had a reality check with myself, and this will be my turning point!  Thanks for listening!

I wish I took pictures of my food to entice some of you more.  However, this soup I made tonight was positively amazing, so easy to make, and totally Core.  I adapted it from Rachael Ray.  It was so so so good.  You must try it and feel super healthy, comforted and happy at the end of your fall/winter night! Here goes:

Chicken Noodle Soup - Italian Style

• 1 T. olive oil
• 3 celery ribs chopped
• 2 medium carrots, chopped (I used a couple of handfuls of baby carrots)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and ground pepper
• 2 quarts chicken stock (broth works fine too!)
• 1/2 pound whole wheat penne pasta
• 1 pound chicken tenders (or breasts) cut into bite-six pieces
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 can kidney beans rinsed
• 1 can white beans (cannelini, great northern, whatever) rinsed

Place a large soup pot over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.  Add celery, onion, carrots, garlic and bay leaf and season with salt and pepper.  Cook for about 2-3 minutes.  Add chicken stock.  Bring to a boil, add the penne pasta and cook according to package directions (I cooked mine about 8 minutes).  Add the chicken during the last 4-5 minutes of cooking.  Add the tomato sauce and beans to heat through, about 3-4 minutes.  Simmer until you serve.

I continue to be actually kind of proud of my eating choices.  They are truly so much better than they were the last time I was pregnant.  I think maybe I’ve had dessert more times than I would probably if I were officially dieting…but it still feels like a great deal of moderation is taking place.  Here are a couple of victories:

1)  This weekend we went to Chipotle.  I LOVE Chipotle and all things that are caloric about it.  While counting points I always get the Burrito Bowl with pinto or black beans, no cheese and no sour cream.  This weekend, I MADE THAT CHOICE!!!  I DID NOT get the chicken soft tacos with cheese and sour cream and I DID NOT get the barbacoa tacos.  I made a great choice and felt so good about it afterwards!

2) Another time (too much eating out this weekend!) we went to Applebees.  I was thisclose to getting the shrimp and teriyaki skewers on the WW menu, but instead opted for the blackened chicken salad with Ranch dressing on the side.  I forgot to ask for no cheese, but figured the calcium wasn’t going to kill me in the end.  So, not only did I pass up sandwiches and fries, I chose a salad AND I didn’t finish it!  That’s right people, I stopped eating when I was full.  It was a true miracle! :)

So those are kind of my updates.  My week last week was insane.  I’m in charge at our school when the principal is gone (I call myself the VIP when she’s out :)) and she was gone twice last week.  That meant two subs and a loss of all my prep time.  Then, we had company over the weekend.  It felt like craziness!  I already feel like this week will be better because I can just do my job of teaching…at the same time, I like busy weeks because it makes everything feel like it’s going quickly and I like that…except on the weekends!

All else is well.  I’m weighing myself once a week.  I gained a pound last week…probably would have gained it no matter what…and haven’t been amazing in the walking department, but again, I’m not feeling all yucky and full and bloated (at least not yet!)  I get nauseous every now and then, but it is easily subsided with a cracker or something.  And my boobs…man do they hurt!  Sometimes not at all, other times literal sharp shooting pains.  I’ll be glad when that ends with the first trimester…at least it did last time!

So I’m slowly reading all your blogs and posting whenever I can.  It really sounds like everyone is doing a great job! Cheers everyone!

Ok, so days 1-4 after finding out I was pregnant seemed to go quite well.  I tried to just continue to eat as I had been, but didn’t stress out when I picked a brat over a veggie burger for the BBQ we had on Sat. night.  If I were focusing on the dieting aspect, I definitely would have chosen the veggie burger though!  Generally, I feel like I ate as I would have on a regular weekend…and that’s really what I’m going for here as I embark on the next several months of baby-baking!  I took two 3 mile walks and a short bikeride with the babe over the weekend… I’m going to keep trying to post menus….and keep up  my fitness page….I really want to inspire others to eat well even when they are pregnant.  More than anything, I’d be doing it for myself and my awesome growing family! 

I can’t thank you all enough for your incredible words of encouragement as I announced my positive test on Thursday. I am so so so excited about all of this!  Nervous, but so so so excited!  Menu later!  Cheers!

It’s true…it actually happened!  For hubby and I it’s all about perfect timing and I guess we had it this month!  I just found out yesterday, so it’s very new and I’m still just letting it all sink in.  I’m so excited I want to tell the world…but we’ll wait awhile and just let the three of us enjoy it.  Abel will be 20 months when the new one is born…that’ll make for an interesting house!  But as I’ve said before, I’m weary about being pregnant past 35 (I know there are many who get pregnant after 35… I’m just not a big fan of doctors and tests and everything that goes along with all of that…it just gets worse after 35!) and having the option to have 3 kids would be great.

SO, the newest challenge of the century will be to gain only what I truly need to gain while pregnant.  I am 10 pounds away from previous pre-pregnancy weight.  I’m only slightly bummed about that….but at 190 and 5′5″, I was still pretty far away from a healthy weight.  So, the new idea is to continue to stick mostly to Core foods, make sure I get in all my milk, fruits, veggies, and water, walk and lift light weights, and just plug through this thing…be healthy!  I’ve got a seriously growing family to think about!

I’m so excited you guys….I could barely sleep last night thinking about all that could potentially be happening to us in the next year.  Hubby is hoping to finish writing his dissertation and find a job… which means selling our house, me finding a job, us finding a new house….IT’S EXCITING!  I’m not overwhelmed…just ready for it all to happen…which is why I had such a hard time sleeping last night!

So I’m still going to blog…because I want to make a point that healthy eating does not stop at pregnancy.  I hope I can motivate others to do the same.  Lord knows I needed that in my last pregnancy!

Cheers to a great day everyone!

One big question, many possible answers (excuses?) and remedies for those answers.

Why is it that after a great weigh-in I have 2 days of terrible eating?

1) I’m leaving to go out of town to my parents and a reunion party this weekend and why the hell not? I’ll fall apart anyway while I’m there!

Remedy:  Um, no, it doesn’t have to be that way.  Why not be of the mind that I could set an example to my parents, stand proud when I’m at the party not munching on the snacks and keep my momentum going.  Trips and vacations do not equal gorging!  What’s up with that mentality?

2) I’ve been pretty stressed at work.

Remedy: Listen, Courtney, remember how great you feel emotionally and physically when you work out?  Chocolate does not make stress and your wacky students go away.  In fact, none of that is going away! You must focus your efforts on feeling better about work towards working out, spending time with your family, and remembering that it’s just a job!

3) Either Time of Month is coming, or you’re pregnant.

Remedy: Listen lady, time of month does not mean a bad eating week and if you are pregnant, do you seriously want to start it off like you did the last one and gain 70 pounds again??? You’re 10 pounds away from your pre-pregnancy weight!  Don’t ruin it! Snack on fruit and popcorn.  You really do like that just as much!

So, I bounced back this morning.  I had a 100 cal. pack of 94% FF popcorn during my break (ok, fine, I also had 2 mini muffins that some kid made for her birthday….I don’t even LIKE eating food kids bring….you really never know who or what has touched it!), I’m planning on my on the road meal while we travel to Indy, and I’m going to do everything I possibly can to do a good job while we’re there.  But at this point, I’m not counting on a loss this week. We’ll see though!  I guess I shouldn’t count my chickens before they hatch!

Cheers to a wonderful weekend everyone!

I seriously can’t believe it!  -4.8 this week!  I maintained last week, had a relatively good week this week, busted up the exercise and was down 4.8.  I can’t believe it!  I keep thinking tomorrow morning will be different, but really, I should just rejoice in the fact that I am thisclose to being OUT of the 200s!  I can’t believe that when I went into the hospital to have Abel (my babalicious) I weighed 260.  Wow!  Anyway, when I hit 199, I also hit my 10% from when I started tracking on etools at 221 and that’s a huge (I started WW at 240 but had to resubsribe…so complicated!) turning point for me!  YAY!!!

I’ve been so inspired by some of the boards.  Many of you go to the Y, so I started thinking about the Y as a family place.  I still feel like I’m new with being a family, and didn’t really think about the benefits of joining the Y.  So, we went and checked it out last week and have been using guest passes this week.  Hubby had to think about it from a different level too.  We were used to just going the two of us when we lived in Indy years ago.  It’s a whole new ballgame now!  We can drop off the baby at the daycare while we work out…therefore not giving us any excuses of not having time!  He’s home with Abel 2 days a week and tried it out yesterday. Abel loved the nursery and all the kids and toys in it, and Ryan (the hubby) was able to workout!  Then, last night, I tried a strength class and loved it.  It was scheduled awesomely…I was able to eat with the family and play with them, and then Ryan bathed and got Abel to bed while I worked out.  I love this!  The Y also has a pool which will give us a great winter activity.  We’re trying really hard to make sure we USE the membership and don’t waste the money….between the swimming, daycare, and schedules, I hope it happens!  So anyway, thanks to all of you for the great inspiration!

I’m off for a day full of motivation.  This weekend we head back to Indy for our 10 year college reunion.  Wow!  We will also see my parents which we haven’t since mid-August, so while they drive will be kind of annoying and it’s a quick turnaround, the trip will be fun.  I just hope I keep the eating (and drinking for that matter!) under control so I don’t WASTE this great week!

Cheers everyone!

Oh man…after a 13 day hiatus from any exercise and just downright down… I managed to get on the treadmill and pick up at Week 2 Day 1 of Couch to 5K. I felt good on the treadmill and am feeling good about picking up things again….although I have to say, I would have been just as happy in bed watching Dancing With the Stars! SO, I guess that’s a pretty big NSV for me!

So, other than the rice krispie treat debacle I posted about earlier today, it was a great day. I’m pooped though…so I’m off! Cheers!

Every freakin’ year I go through this.  I have to avoid the wicked horrible teachers lounge treats.  They are there every day.  I’ve already had 3 rice krispie treats today.  I normally don’t like those, but they are the peanut butter ones with chocolate icing.  So, new goal (AND HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PLEASE!) I won’t give into the treats!  Even if they do involve chips of any kind OR peanut butter and chocolate!

After a pretty good weekend (haven’t said that in weeks!) I lost it with the teachers lounge treats.  I will move on….but will have to avoid them AGAIN this afternoon at a meeting.

Why oh why are people compelled to celebrate birthdays (or anything for that matter) or “survive” meetings with food and only food? 

Talk about something to struggle with for life! Cheers to a great week everyone!

I did it!  I managed to maintain this week.  Unbelieveable….but seriously, it just goes to show how a few days of good eating a week can really help you! Plus, my general mood is up.  Here are my menus from Monday and Tuesday that is proving to me how healthy eating can change everything:

Monday:

Breakfast: Grits and an egg made in Pam

Lunch: Rotisserie chicken breast (no skin) with a huge salad full of veggies and 1 T. of Ranch dressing.

Dinner: (My hubby published a book [isn’t he cool?] and I munched on pita chips and fruits and veggies at the party)

Tuesday:

Breakfast: Power Bar

Lunch: Chinese Chop salad with tofu and FF Asian dressing from Noodles

Snack: 94% FF popcorn

Dinner: Pork chop with sauteed apples and onions and roasted sweet potatoes.

So, I know I haven’t been getting in all my fruits and veggies, but I’m close!  I’ve been doing well with the water, but haven’t worked out since last Tuesday.  I’m planning on a Firm video tonight…but sometimes, that’s just big plans.  When I’m consistent, it WORKS!  I’ll figure this out eventually…but as Roni posted last night, it takes time.  And that’s just the bottom line.

Thanks to all of you and your wonderful comments yesterday.  You seriously have no idea how great it felt.  I’ve been low and it’s nice to have support!