Back on Track and well over 50

[lisa0702]

Good Morning Everyone!

Jo- Thank you for the hummus recipe. I am definitely going to make this. I still have mine from Trader Joes but then I will make it. Jo you are definitely the BEST!!! Thank you so much for the info on Shirataki Noodles. Where have I been. I am so going to buy these today and last night I allowed myself some whole grain pasta as I can only allow every now and then because I am all Italian and cant just eat a little. They actually sell it at our Harris Teeter and it says online the cost is 1.50 and you dont cook it. I so cant wait. No calories, fat or sugar and very very low in carbs. Cant beat that. I am so excited. I will let you know how it taste.

Cleaned house yesterday, hardwood, boys rooms and took out summer clothes and winter up. I hate doing the clothes. Also did laundry. I have 3 children all graduated from college but the 2 boys are still living at home but both have good jobs and I want them to save so when they do move out they will buy a home but they are going to have to do better with keeping their rooms clean. Today I will do the bathrooms, grocery shop and some of my work from home I usually do as I get so busy during the week and walk my german shepherd who is my big baby and I love love love.

Well thats it for now. Hope you all have a great Sunday.

[Chris55]

Hummus on the brain. I'm not a huge fan of the stuff and am trying to acquire a taste for hit. Like the garbanzos fine in salads, but need to find a way to like the dip so I can have it as my go-to snack. I like to make an herb cheese, similar to boursin, using Friendship farmer cheese, lf cream cheese, and lots of garlic and herbs, but cannot find farmer cheese reliably here in Maine. Need to stock up on my next NY trip. So looking to hummus as my substitute. Bought some at Trader Joe's yesterday - tomato/basil I think. They also had big containers of some kind of spinach/kale/yogurt dip, but I was afraid to buy a big one. I know you can bring stuff back there, but it's 50 miles from my house so that's not an option. They also had a white bean and basil one made with great northern beans. I think I need to experiment with my own flavors, too, just try things in small batches. I have a new Nook cookbook called "Bean by Bean" that has an interesting sounding adzuki dip w/asian flavorings.

Spent the day eating our way through Portland yesterday, not beachy at all. Chinese food with lots of crunchy noodles in my hot and sour soup, but at least I had brown rice. Then some samplings of goat cheese quiche and crab cakes in the Old Port, then our favorite frozen custard on the way home. Had a small dish. BUT, made a huge plate of salad for dinner with some leftover grilled zucchini topped w/basil and mozzarella. I would like to move towards more veggie meals, but the carnivores here will rebel, so trying to eat more meatless for my breakfasts and lunches.

We were supposed to have rain all weekend, postponed a trip to New Paltz, so of course the sun was out all day. But today it's already pouring and we're supposed to get much-needed rain for the next few days. A good thing since we've had some brush fires already, not as bad as LI though.

Big news here is the Yankees tromping on Boston AGAIN and ruining their 100th anniversary celebration. I'm gloating just a bit - grew up doing ladies' days at Yankee Stadium as well as Shea.

[BytheSea]

Good evening ladies!

Finally, rain! I think I heard the plants send up a sigh of relief! well, dh & 8 held on thru the weekend and thus fae our results are ( for phase 1 one week) me - 4 lb & dh 5 . That just goes to show that we had really been " enjoying" ourselves since the wedding. bring on week 2 . I made the breakfast quiche to go for a few breakfast, hard boiled eggs and picked apart a roasted chicken for salad. tuna tomorrow night - I partied and now I have to deal with the results of free living.

a very small glimmer of hope for the woman at work who received notice, the legislatures are meeting tomorrow to review a listing of people who's jobs are funded by grants. even though hers is not a grant, probation does bring in revenue to the county and we are fairly self sustaining so her position will be amount those that are be looked at.

On Thursday I have an appointment with my dermatologist to have a couple of pre-cancer spots on my face taken care of. I'll be having the Levulan Kerastick treatment - so for tow - three days I will have to stay out of light, even flourescent lighting. Not looking forward to this, but this should get the problem under control quickly and will help out with the years of sun damage. from the pictures I've seen, I won't be going out in public for at least a week.

Chris, my nephew is grinning ear to ear about the trouncing the Yankees gave the Red Sox! My daughter on the other hand is about ready to burn all her Red Sox hats,etc. Yes she is a long life New Yorker, but her college days were spent at Springfield and was converted. actually most North Fork east end long islanders are Red Sox fans - had something to do with the fact that before cable, the only tv stations you could get we're from Ct/New England so you watched the Red Sox and the tradition continues.

Have a good nite and a wonderful week to come - catch up with y'all later. ~ gail

[lisa0702]

Good Morning! We also had rain this weekend and my plants as well were very happy. I am trying to do better this year and water them. Since I was born in the Bronx I also pull for the Yankees and the Mets as well.

Chris, I hope you like the hummus from Trader Joes. I actually bought the white navy bean with basil and really did like it.

Gail, I wish the best for the woman at your work. It is hard times right now. I think I am going to go back to Phase 1 for a week. I ate way too many nuts yesterday and I am just going to have to take it off my list for awhile.

I did not find the Shirataki noodles at Harris Teeter so this week I will try Trader Joes and Earthfare. I really want to try them.

Well have to go running.

Have a great Monday.

[Chris55]

It's pouring here! YAY!! Watching my basement for flooding, though.

That's funny about the eastern LI people rooting for the Red Sox. Red Sox fans here are tormented people. They seriously hate the Yankees to the point of obsession. We Yankee fans don't really bat an eye if we lose to the Red Sox, but they get CRAZY!! Makes it more fun rubbing it in.

I did like the hummus - had it with broccoli for a snack yesterday. I've been reading this book called "Eat to Live" by Dr. Fuhrman and he's very very pro veggies and anti animal proteins. He says you should ideally eat 1lb. of raw veggies, preferably leafy green ones, and 1lb. of cooked veggies a day. I think the idea is that you'll have no more room in your stomach for anything else. I may weigh my veggies today out of curiosity. One lb. of leafy greens is huge, so that won't happen, but generally I have some kind of green salad every day.

Thinking about a big pot of bean/pumpkin soup for tonight. And toasting up some bread for the guys.

Exercise has not been happening. Maybe Total Gym or yoga stretches today. Cold and dark and rainy does not motivate me even when I'm inside and dry.

[feminist54]

Good news: I actually got cold yesterday! I had closed all the windows earlier...BUT it was the first time in almost 10 years that I actually wore a sweatshirtto bed!
This a.m. I made oatmeal, so I almost did a week of Ph 1 (oatmeal being a ph 2 food)...only one cheat, and that was a handful of tortilla strips and a glass of wine yesterday. So I'll do Phase 1.5 for a few days... Though I just realized that I have two dinner functions this week to attend--one for AIDS Related Services, and the other for a big local social service group, that is recognizing community service of different couples, as "Families of the Year" and this year they are recognizing good friends who happen to be a gay married couple (what a bruhaha, that stoked when the reciepents were announced!)...Hopefully both Tim & Pete will be there, working besides doing LOTS of community work & working, they also care for their 90+ y.o. moms in their home, and Pete's mom is really slipping--she has dementia, and does not recognize anyone but Pete & Tim,and Tim's mom....
In a bit I take BabyJudy & maggie to the vets..., already put Bj in the cat carrier--she is not a happy kitty --but since our house has 4 floors (think brownstone) and she can hide, I had to get her when I could...
Growing up our house was split between the Red Sox & Yankees & Dodgers--my parents were Bostonians, but living in NY... my father also did work for the LA Dodgers...my mother watched (!) golf , I really think that she napped...
well. off to the vets...

[feminist54]

Ok, I am $500 lighter from the visit to the vet (arghhhhh) and Baby Judy & Maggie are healthy nine year olds! They just needed their yearly physical, boosters, etc.... we need health insurance for our pets, too.
Maggie has lost 3 pounds , adn BJ 0.75 pounds, I am the one of the diet, go figure!
Today's cold & wet/drizzly...southwest soup is on the menu for dinner....

Hope you all sty warm dry --Chris I heard the torrential rain was headiing your way...

[Chris55]

The news is claiming there was 2.5-3.75 inches of rain today, but I didn't see that much. It poured for a while this morning, then tapered quite a bit and we had another burst later in the afternoon. But my basement is barely damp (it's usually wet all the time) and no streams of water flowing down the street, so I think it was a false alarm. Not a big deal at all, but then I was able to stay home all day.

I really bumped up my veggies today. I'm trying to sustain that for a while to see if staying away from a lot of cheese and protein helps. Today I had beans, veggies, and one egg for breakfast, a huge salad w/a bit of feta for lunch along with a can of sardines, black bean/pumpkin soup for dinner with another large salad. Apple, strawberries, nuts, broccoi, an hummus for snacks. And my glass of wine, can't forget that!

Trying to figure out a weekend to go see the kid. Were planning on the first weekend in May but the hotel we usually stay at is booked - must be prom weekend or something! Need to find another place or change plans again. We're running out of weekends and really wanted to get into the city with him soon. Time to get searching again....

[lisa0702]

Good Morning! It is raining right now and coming down hard. I am hoping it will stop so I can run. After today they are calling for no rain for the rest of the week, so that means I will have to start watering again.

Chris I am so glad that you liked the hummus. Next time you will need to try the white bean basil as well. I had some hummus last night with whole grain crackers and you just made me feel bad as I should of had them with my celery but I was hungry. I eat a lot of spinach everyday. I have a spinach salad for lunch that I make from home and I eat the whole bag of Trader Joes chopped spinach just about every night with grilled chicken, pork chops, skinless cornish hen or turkey meatballs. That is basically what I eat, the meat and spinach. Every now and then I will have whole grain pasta.

I probably should eat more celery and hummus for my after dinner snack instead of popcorn or nuts, dont you think that would be better? I really am not going to have nuts for awhile since I really over did it on Sunday, like eating the whole jar. It was the honey roasted nuts. That was my treat for the month.

I found the Shirataki noodles! They were at Harris Teeter in the produce and cost 1.50. I am going to try them this weekend. The ones I bought have Tofu and I wanted it without Tofu but that was all they had. I think it has 3 carbs, 0.5 fat and 20 calories. I found some recipes online showing how to make them. You do not cook them at all.

Well I am going to run in the rain I guess. It seems to be drizzling for now. Hope I dont get poured on while I am 2 miles out.

Hope everyone has a great day!

[lisa0702]

Well I am back from running and yes it happened, I was 2 miles out and got rained on but it felt good. I actually had a great run. I ran 4 miles in 39 minutes which is great for me especially at 50 years old. I do love to run. Now I am eating my 2 eggs with 1/2 cup of fiber one cereal and fresh blueberries.

Gotta go. Talk to you all later.

[Chris55]

I really admire you, Lisa, for getting in such a good workout and before 6am!! My walking buddy dragged me out yesterday - I was skeptical because it had been raining and the sky looked threatening, but we walked for over an hour and the sun and blue started peeking through. It's wonderful to have an optimistic friend!

My good news is that my scale is still heading down, so my veggie fest is definitely helping. I stocked up some more yesterday, made some tzatziki to have with some leftover lamb on my salad, made my son a gyro with a whole wheat pita. I may indulge in a pita myself today. I also bought some frozen spinach to have on hand for omelets and other dishes. I got a few of those small boxes along with some winter squash and brussels sprouts. Sometimes I like to just pop something in the microwave as my second veggie.

I'm going to try mixing my own hummus in small amounts. I have some small white beans and may jazz them up and see how I like it. I need to find my adzuki beans, though. I KNOW I have a small bag of them somewhere in my cabinet. I have a recipe to make an Asian flavored hummus with them, but I may just have to get more of them a the health food co-op.

Last night I made a very nice eggplant dish. I used about half an eggplant, diced, salted and drained, and roasted in a very little bit of olive oil. Then I made a sauce from one of my Mollie Katzen books, mixing miso and almond butter with hot water. Put a spoonful on the hot eggplant, OMG It was probably my third serving of nuts yesterday, but it was worth it. I will definitely be using this sauce on other more boring veggies! Like Emeril says, if you rub it on the bumper of a car, it will taste good!

[feminist54]

Morning all...sunny but cool here. LX and I were going to take down the heavy winter curtains and move the living room from winter in front of the fire mode to summer this mpast weekend, but didn't because it was ccccold.

I haven't been able to locate the shirataki noodles, will try an asian grocer outside of Poughkeepsie...otherwise I will have LK bring some north if they are found at Harris T(w)eeter (our nickname for the up$cale store).

Chris, that miso/almond butter sauce sounds good --my other recipe for bland veggies is a little OO, garlic, red pepper flakes heated until fragrant than add a bit of lite soy sauce, 1 T peanut butter, stir until melted & add 1/2 c + water--a quick peanut sauce... (my midwest still at heart & stomach family loves steamed to death veggies with way too much butter, a Gramma Rosie special, but then they also love anything fried...as I maintain, west of Scranton if they can't fry it they butter it)

Molly Katzen's cookbooks were my go to recipes when I cooked on The Clearwater...her split pea soup was [i]the[i] recipe for a cold rainy sailing day... stick to your ribs warmth!!!!

Tonight is the dinner honoring Tim & Pete, I am wearing my black straight legged pant suit (jacket has a shawl collar), and the best news is that my muffin top that was leering over the pants when I wore them a few weeks ago is GONE!!! I'm going to stick to ph 1.5 for awhile though, because lurking in my closet is a pair of size 10 linen pants that I would love to wear to the Kate Millet function the end of June....that is my goal...and then to maintain that size.

ciao enjoy your day on SoBe

[BytheSea]

Hello Ladies!

well, I'm back from the dermatologist and now sitting in the darken rooms so as to not reactivate any remaining gel from the levulon for the next 48 - 72 hours and wait for my face to start to peel......yuck!

feminist54 - I hear you about the vet bills! Not even our own but strays that show up at our house. we live in an area that surrounded by tree farms and it appears to be a perfect dumping ground for unwanted cats - adults and kittens. At this point, we have spent enough monies on spay & neutering to take a few GOOD vacations! Not to mention the feeding of these little guys. I keep telling my friends that one day they'll turn on TV and see me on Animal Hoarders

DH & I did well for week one of ph I, and my mindless nibbling has stopped for the most part. at least one more week, if not two on ph I would be good. Exercise it still there, I should step it up. the local library is starting the Tai Chi class(not really exercise but mind clearing) yoga II and Pilates and in two weeks Zumba. Add a few of my own things at home and I should be back in the swing of things.

Now for the Best News - I'm going to be a Gramdma! First Grandbaby coming this October and we cannot stand ourselves!!! The approx. due date is two weeks after our other DS's wedding! Oy, my head is spinning!!!!

Chris, feminist54 and Lisa I hope you're all doing well today and feeling your best - take care and I'll catch up with y'all later ~ Gail

[Chris55]

Congrats on the baby on the way, Gail! How exciting!!

Raining here, so skipping the hour+ walk today. Had a bad nights sleep due to late coffee consumption. My former UWay co-workers got together at a gelato store and it was nippy our so I had coffee along with a very very small serving of outrageously good sorbetto. So good I swooned Was very strict the rest of the day, but did have a serving of pita with my leftover lamb and veggies last night (after the sorbetto). At any rate, I'm tired today and may not get around to moving very much. I also have yet another interview at the same social services agency, long story. The just called and moved my appointment up to 11am from this afternoon, so now I have to hustle and get dressed!

I did make some hummus the other day, an Asian-inspired one with adzuki beans, tahini, and some hot pepper and it came out fantastic. I've been eating it with veggies in the afternoon and it holds me over nicely until dinner. DS also likes it, so definitely a keeper.

[feminist54]

Morning: sunny but cool & windy...l;ast night's dinner for ARCs was fantastic -- a glass of wine, salad of endive, blue cheese & pecans followed by soft shelled crab on a bed of fiddlehead ferns, with some fingerling potatoes ... the night before I arrived late so I missed the hot and cold running Hors D' (the function started at 5:30 and ended at 10--long for a weekday evening, but the families who were celebrated were worth it) I ate the innards of the veggie lasagna--spinach & riccotta rolled into a handmade lasagna noodle, a large mesclun salad preceeded, but I did succomb to the choc covered strawberry and the finger size piece of flourless choc. torte on the dessert plate ( I left the cheese cake alone )

This weekend is grading grading and more grading...and for breaks: changing the living room into summer mode, and taking a walk with Evan to feed the ducks. The end of every semester I become the boring woman.
I did buy microwave popcorn 100 cal. bags to have as a treat.

I hoping the zumba! in the park will start up again....otherwise I am stuck with exercising in front of my computer screen
Tonight will grill salmon to top my mesclun salad...breakfast was oatmeal, lunch will be turkey rollups, snack: some cheese & fennel.

Have a good day/weekend on SoBe.

ciao