March 10 - Terrific Tuesday [Archive]

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gitfiddle

03-10-2009, 06:21 AM

The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.
Chauncey Depew

We came here by choice, because we were ready to make a change. Are we still waiting for “something” to change us? Protein Power basics are so simple! Just do it! Once we get into the habit, then we can optimize it.

Good morning! :)

Breakfast will be a protein shake made with a 1/4 cup of ricotta because I’m out of cream. Lunch will be the cauli-bake (latest version: chicken, breakfast sausage, red, yellow & green peppers, cauliflower) Dinner will be ham and vegetable.

Cold, wet weather today. S'posed to be nice by the weekend, though, so I'll just look ahead. My back is 75% better this morning, which improves my outlook as well! ;)

What's going on with you today?

Ammy

03-10-2009, 06:58 AM

Carol, that quote couldn't describe my life any better right now.
I'm struggling but i REFUSE to stay where I am and 'wait'. I have found a new sponsor, I have gotten back to recording everything I eat...AND I have gotten back to the gym. One day at a time, but so far so good.

Meals are planned. Tonight will probably be a workout at home - thorough PT exercises, and maybe a workout DVD.

6am lc scone
8am 3eggs, 4turkey bacon, 1men's bread, 8oz diet v8 splash
11:30am turkey noodle casserole, 4romaine leaves
3:30pm 1.5oz mixed nuts
6pm lc goulash

Pro: 127.7
Ecc: 29.4
Fat: 112.8
Cal: 1808

Mitra

03-10-2009, 06:58 AM

Good morning, Carol, I'm glad your back is better today :).

Hello, Amy :).

I didn't eat the sandwiches I made yesterday, but I did end up with a fairly bitty day foodwise, so it's back to proper meals at the usual times today.

I like the quote. It does seem that many of us are here because we reached that point where we just decided that something had to change. Of course, working out what to do to improve things isn't always straightforward, but it's the recognition of the need to change that gets us to start looking.

Billie

03-10-2009, 07:51 AM

Carol, Ammy and Mitra, good morning!

Had a good day yesterday on program, should do the same today!

Off to the gym in awhile, stay well everyone!
b

BeccainSC

03-10-2009, 08:14 AM

Morning all!

Dinner is in the crock-pot, but not turned on, really helps having that done. It will be a slightly higher carb than allowed meal as it contains sweet potatoes, but I know that going in. Not like I'm going on a bender or something. ;)

So breakfast: shake
Lunch: bunless burger w/ cheese and a packet of ketchup
snack: tuna and almonds
dinner: chicken and sweet potatoes

'becca

Dutchess2009

03-10-2009, 08:15 AM

I love this quote!!! I have to remind myself that a miracle is not going to happen overnight.....and if I do not want to feel how I feel today, I need to be the one to change my life, know one is going to do it for me.

Good morning everyone!!!

Not sure exactly what I am having today, probably shrimp, tuna and some other protein. I have to go shopping after my long weekend. Lots of water of course!

Karole

03-10-2009, 09:22 AM

That is a great quote, Carol. It takes that attitude to make a change in our way of doing things. We have to recognize where exactly we are , then we can do something about it , if we aren't happy with the way things are going in our life. And there is always room for improvement.

We are starting off the day with beautiful weather, however they said last night that by late afternoon or evening 2 fronts will collide and we may be in for another round of thunderstorms. Wish they could be wrong, but they actually do a pretty good job of predicting this stuff anymore.

Anyway, I'm off to get my exercise done and over with. Good for my mood, good for my blood pressure, good for my bones--why on earth would I put it off ?:D:D:D

maxlharris

03-10-2009, 09:36 AM

Probably steak + cheese course for dinner. Same old eggs + meat + cottage cheese for lunch, same old shake for breakfast. Same old water and vitamins.

Working up a menu for our two dinner guests this weekend. I'm thinking, for the meat eaters, of doing a 3 bone standing rib roast. Prime Rib. Easy to cook, impressive as hell. Before anyone gags at cost, we were going to pay the neighbors $100 to look after our cats while we're in France. They have refused payment, so I have a budget to make something nice for them. And still be ahead, costwise.

As our president has said, "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

That, plus the Wooden, plus "If 'ifs' were gifts, everyday would be Christmas," are my current favorites.

gitfiddle

03-10-2009, 11:39 AM

gitfiddle

03-10-2009, 11:43 AM

It does seem that many of us are here because we reached that point where we just decided that something had to change. Of course, working out what to do to improve things isn't always straightforward, but it's the recognition of the need to change that gets us to start looking.I think so too, Janet. How did your photos turn out yesterday? Have you looked at them yet?

Had a good day yesterday on program, should do the same today!Good morning, Billie! That a wonderful thing to say!

Dinner is in the crock-pot, but not turned on, really helps having that done.Yup! I love my crock pot. Mine runs a little too hot to leave it on for nine or ten hours, though, even on low.

gitfiddle

03-10-2009, 11:49 AM

I have to remind myself that a miracle is not going to happen overnight.....and if I do not want to feel how I feel today, I need to be the one to change my life, know one is going to do it for me.
Hi, Heather! Slow miracle? I like that idea!

We have to recognize where exactly we are , then we can do something about it , if we aren't happy with the way things are going in our life. And there is always room for improvement.I think that first we need to be uncomfortable where we are, then we have to get out of denial, THEN we start making progress.

We are starting off the day with beautiful weather, however they said last night that by late afternoon or evening 2 fronts will collide and we may be in for another round of thunderstorms. Wish they could be wrong, but they actually do a pretty good job of predicting this stuff anymore.I drove in the worst rain this morning. And we're going to get more tonight and tomorrow night. Maybe even snow!

Anyway, I'm off to get my exercise done and over with. Good for my mood, good for my blood pressure, good for my bones--why on earth would I put it off ?:D:D:D :D That's the attitude, Karole!

That, plus the Wooden, plus "If 'ifs' were gifts, everyday would be Christmas," are my current favorites.
I like your Niven quote rather well, too, Max. "Evolution in action" and I'm trying to decide if I look at it as my own evolution or our grassroots movement to make low carb an accepted alternative to low fat. Both, I guess. :)

Thank you all for chiming in today. I'm glad you like the quote!

Puddin

03-10-2009, 12:03 PM

Great quote Carol. That's how I got to Italy - decided not to stay where I was. That's how I started PP - decided that I couldn't stay in the same LC rut in the other diet I was doing. Each segment of life is movement towards. Going from one point to another.

Day was spent at a market which is more like a fair then to the Opthamologist who gave me the all clear and green light for my right eye. WHOOPIE! in 20 days I must call her to tell her if the 'fog' has cleared-up. Seems that the liquid in my eye has moved around a bit and is settling in place so that the 'fog' should clear on its own. If the condition persists I will have to do some extra exams but she is confident things will fix themselves.

SO!!! here I am on a bright sunny day inside after having had a wonderful duck breast and tofu with mushrooms and bamboo shoots for lunch and breakfast It was oh so good to have something different for a change.
Dinner will be artichoke and tuna salad with mayo
Snacks almonds cheese and apple

Feeling chipper and really bushy tailed today. Guess that the positive results at the Dr were really spirit raising.

Sounds like everyone is on track. Could it be that with the change of the season we're getting more positive. I know I get that way when the sunshine starts popping out a 6:15 in the AM.
Max, France? What a wonderful trip.

Mitra

03-10-2009, 12:15 PM

I think so too, Janet. How did your photos turn out yesterday? Have you looked at them yet?

I had a quick look through them this morning. They could have done with some more light, but I'll be able to find enough decent ones. I really need to learn how to use a flash though :rolleyes:. And my bad husband keeps showing me lots of tempting Pentax lenses :o.

gitfiddle

03-10-2009, 12:49 PM

And my bad husband keeps showing me lots of tempting Pentax lenses :o.He must be planning a purchase of his own and is trying to keep from feeling guilty! :eek: I know that game. ;)

I wouldn't mind a new lens myself! :p

Jackie

03-10-2009, 12:51 PM

Good morning everyone.

I am stuck and I am tired of being here "stuck". Carol thanks for the quote and Amy for the inspiration. I know what I need to do, but seem to be faltering in getting it done.
I am exercising at leat 5 times a week (check mark)
Am I recording my food properly (x)

I need to start recording everything I eat, as I know I am for the most part eating good food but way too much of it.

Weight wise I keep flucuating between the same five pounds now for almost a month. I want to see the scale move. At first I thought some of it was muscle gain and maybe a tiny bit is but I think I am consuming too much food altogether. Am I willing to find the time to record all the food I comsume. God I hope so!!!
Is there any online program that is quicker than FitDay. I find it so time consuming or am I using it right???? It takes forever for me to find the food and quantity????

Today: breakfast: strawberry shake with 2tbsp of cream
lunch: two scrambles eggs
Dinner: salmon steak and broccoli

I have alreay had 1 ounce of cheese for a snack

I find it so hard to be motivated when it is March 10th and it is -30 outside. We had a couple of nice "springish" days and now we are back to this!!! Depressing!!!

Mitra

03-10-2009, 01:07 PM

He must be planning a purchase of his own and is trying to keep from feeling guilty! :eek: I know that game. ;)

I wouldn't mind a new lens myself! :p

I think it's more that he likes the idea of them as toys, but doesn't really want to go digital himself. If I get them, he gets the fun of new toys without having to change the way he does things, or even having to take any photos ;). But my camera body is a Canon, so Pentax lenses aren't much use to me even if they are seriously cute, unless I get a new camera body to put them on.

maxlharris

03-10-2009, 01:08 PM

Max, France? What a wonderful trip.
I keep saying France, because it's easiest. It's really Paris, Belgium (Bruxelles, Ghent, Bruges) and Amsterdam.

But yeah, we're getting excited. Just finished The Flaneur, a book about an American journalist's wanderings around Paris in his 20 year stay there. About to finish Clothilde's Edible Adventures in Paris, a guide to all things edible and wonderful in Paris (in English! By a real Parisian! Who wants Americans to come to Paris and sample it all! Crazy!). Need a fun book about Amsterdam, which was the original idea, something to get me excited again.

Any suggestions?

Ammy

03-10-2009, 02:43 PM

Is there any online program that is quicker than FitDay. I find it so time consuming or am I using it right???? It takes forever for me to find the food and quantity????

the more you use it, the easier it is.

As soon as you get your shake calculated, then the next day, you go to recent foods, and click all the same buttons. So you don't have to search again.

Also, when there is a food that you FINALLY found after much searching, I always "custom" it. I did that with "ground beef, regular, cooked" because it's on the second page when use the search button, so I customized it so I could find it easier.

Also, if you make the shake the same way, go out a couple days, put in the all the ingredients, and take those totals and create a shake by searching "shake" then "customize" and change the numbers to the exact numbers of your shake.

Fitday is not cumbersome if you continue to use it...but when you only spot-use it, you struggle every time.

one final note, when I do put all the ingredients down and get the totals, I then PRINT that page and put it in a photo album so I have the "recipe" for next time.

Hm...am I being a little anal about these things?? Maybe....but I'm down 120lbs, so I must be doing SOMETHING right, eh?? :nod::nod:

maxlharris

03-10-2009, 04:28 PM

I point everyone to the browse feature. It is the easiest way to parse Fitday and solve a lot of the "Is it this or that" type questions. If you are having trouble finding your item (and it's a commodity item, not a custom thing or a weird packaged good), you should use the browse feature. Eventually, you get the feel on how to find things.

There is a learning curve.

Someone has recommended Cron-o-Meter as being better. I am too invested in Fitday to figure that out.

Jackie

03-10-2009, 06:09 PM

Thanks everyone for the useful hints. I look forward to giving it another shot. It may encourage me to eat simpler foods which in the end may reduce my caloric intake for awhile!!

BeccainSC

03-10-2009, 06:13 PM

Afternoon all! Just passing through.

Re: Fitday

I'm back to using it. From my own experiences if I don't use it (or at least write things down) I have troubles. Writing things down requires keeping, Fitday is stored in cyber. I actually do keep a month's worth of scrap papers that I keep my daily info on - no way could I remember what to enter if I didn'tand even then I forget things (usually condiments or related items).

My big issue is the tracking of every little thing and I admit I do a lot of estimating as I'm not going to get out the spoons and cups for everything I eat. That's not a Fitday thing, I'd have that problem with any tracking program.

I also will print out the info on a recipe, and I'm anal about everything else so I guess I am about that too ;)

I've got a lot of custom foods, even things that are actually in FD simply because what's on my label doesn't match what they have (cottage cheese, almonds, tuna, almond butter come quickly to mind). This go around, in addition to priting the carb/protein etc... info for a recipe I will actually print the whole thing (with vitamin breakdown) so that when I enter the custom food I can get all that as well. Helps that I now have 2 user names (one from 06/07 and a new one from 09), I keep the stored recipe on the unused name if I lose something.

As to the browse/search. I use both. Sometimes I can't find exactly what I want browsing and searching will bring it up. Sometimes the search has so many hits it's easier to browse. I really like being able to go to recent foods (the big list, not the drop down) and add things again. I use that a LOT. And as I keep a log of what we have when for dinner I can even find the right date :D

Okay, enough rambling about Fitday....

I had my cookie today, one left in the box for DD1 after dinner. As it's "hers" I'm not tempted to eat it. However I know I would've had a problem if I'd had my one while there were still plenty in the box.

Dinner will be high too, mentioned that earlier, so this is more of a structured "off" day. Not emotional (or tired) eating so I'm okay with it :D

Will post the numbers later.

'becca

Karole

03-10-2009, 07:21 PM

Today was a good day carbwise, but still to many calories and too much protein for someone close to goal. sigh. I will give it another go tomorrow.

sharthejoysheila

03-10-2009, 07:41 PM

Hello everyone, I am Sheila from arkansas. I am going to be here from now on to bug you.. lol for today i had egg,spinach, and mushroom omlet. with cheese. coffee with half and half.. for lunch two hamburger patties with cheese. and water.. Then i had some pork skins and water for a mid day snack.. I had water for supper with chicken, sauted zucchinni in butter, romain lettuce with small tomatoe,and mozzerella cheeze.. that is it for now.. nice to meet you .. sheila Oh and yes we are suppose to have storms here in arkansas too Karole.. so battin down the hatches..

BeccainSC

03-10-2009, 08:25 PM

Today's totals:

Protein: 133
Carbs: 67
Water: 117
Supps: yes
Exercise: not yet, the car is fixed so things will improve after an insane day tomorrow (as the other car is now out of town)

Considering I had sweet potatoes and a cookie today I'm very happy with my numbers. :)

'becca

gitfiddle

03-10-2009, 08:56 PM

But my camera body is a Canon, so Pentax lenses aren't much use to me even if they are seriously cute, unless I get a new camera body to put them on.I have an idea, that will make all of us happy: buy the cute Pentax lenses, send them to ME! :D

Hello everyone, I am Sheila from arkansas. I am going to be here from now on to bug you.. lolWell, hello Sheila and welcome in! Feel free to ask questions any time. You may find it interesting/helpful to check out other sections of the board, too. :)

Jackie, recording what you consume has a tendency to keep you from popping extras into your mouth because you "have to" record everything to get any meaningful data.

Still raining here! Supposed to be freezing by morning, so it will be an interesting commute! :paranoid:

My dinner tonight is ham and green beans. I'm starving!

Ammy

03-10-2009, 09:29 PM

We have wind and light snow, but nothing major...well, the wind and cold will make the commute terrible tomorrow.

pro: 129.1
ecc: 34.1
fat: 114.9
cal: 1859

I did a 20min upper body and butt/thigh workout. I also walked 1.5miles.

I'm hungry...so I'm going to bed.

maxlharris

03-10-2009, 10:29 PM

Today:
Protein: 170
Carbs:~30
Cals: ~1700
Water: Good (1.5 L + 1.5 mugs of decaff + 2 diet cokes with dinner, and a glass of water with it as well, and one at lunch, both not counting in the 1.5L)
Pills: Took everything. It's really an all or nothing, or all but the second ADHD dose.

For the year: 66/68 or 97%.

A day of getting things done at work. Not everything done, but a lot. A lot more to do before I go to France.

Jackie

03-11-2009, 12:06 AM

Mitra

03-11-2009, 03:22 AM

I have an idea, that will make all of us happy: buy the cute Pentax lenses, send them to ME! :D

Nice try :p. Last night at dinner (we ate out) he kept asking which of the lenses I would choose if I were getting a Pentax camera. I do have a birthday coming up so maybe....

I did pretty well for dinner choices. They had a new starter on the menu of ricotta and spinach quenelles in creamy tomato sauce, which was pretty good. Then I had confit Guinea fowl legs. It had some dauphinois potatoes with it, but I only ate a small section, which is OK for me at maintenance.

maxlharris

03-11-2009, 09:51 AM

This is what I ate today actually and here is the totals I got from Fitday.

Breakfast: 35 grams protein powder, 2 tbsp heavy cream, 4 strawberries water of course and tons of ice

Snack: 1 mini baby bell cheddar cheese

Lunch: 1 can salmon

Dinner: 3 cups lettuce, 3/4 sm tomatoe, 5 mushrooms, 1 oz cheddar cheese, 2 tbsp caesar dressing and 1 cup ground beef

Could someone take a look at this and tell me what they think???? I think the fat is way too high. Please give me some pointers. I know I am way too low in the calorie department and in the fibre but what could I have done to improve that while keeping the carbs down????

Calories774
Fat43.4
380
49
%Saturated11.8
104
13
%Polyunsaturated18.8
164
21
%Monounsaturated9.5
84
11
%Carbohydrate18.2
71
9
%Dietary Fiber10.5
Protein80.1
328
42
%

First: don't worry about the fiber. You don't actually need it. If you get it, fine, but don't spend more than two seconds thinking about fiber.

Next: you are not eating enough. Unless you are very small, you do not really want to fall below 1200 calories a day.

Third: I dunno what your protein requirement is, but you are probably below what you are supposed to get. Remember, the protein number is a per meal minimum, not a maximum or a bullseye. Minimum.

Fourth: Your dietary fat is fine. If you up the protein, you could even have more. And really, since you are so low on calories, they have to come from somewhere.

Fifth: really, you are striving to go somewhere around 5-10% of daily calories from carbs, about 30-45 in protein, and everything else should be fat. Your day was:

If I am reading this right, Fitday is OVERstating your calories. I calculate you at 742, with 53% from fat, 4% from carbs, 43% protein.

The plan:
1- Figure out your minimum protein. Make sure you get that.
2- You don't worry about the fat content in the diet. Eat until you are sated. I would imagine you might be a little hungry today.
3- You are allowed to have more carb than this. Have a salad with the salmon can. Drop a little less water and a little more cream in the shake, and add some more strawbs, or add in some other berry.
4- I dunno from 1 cup of ground beef, but dinner sounds protein light. Try that again in ounces, and go for 6-8 ounces of ground beef in that dinner.
5- To make it more interesting: I am giving you the mission (if you choose to accept it) of switching out one cup of lettuce at dinner for a different salad green. There is a world of interesting greens out there, from mesclun, dandelion, argula, spinach, mizuna, sorrel, radiccio, chard, frise, and on and on and on:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_leaf_vegetables
Make it interesting. Or don't. Your science experiment. But the way you're doing it doesn't sound like a lot of fun.

gitfiddle

03-11-2009, 12:15 PM

Help??:o:) Jackie, I just ran across this stall-breaker calculator (http://www.phlaunt.com/lowcarb/DietMakeupCalc.php)and tried it myself. It told me how much to eat to maintain my present body weight and how much to eat for weight loss. It was surprising.

I'm going to take the suggested percentages of protein, fat and carb and see how close it comes to my FitDay percentages.

Ammy

03-11-2009, 12:35 PM

Carol...good calculator!
You should save that somewhere for others to find!

The reading was almost exactly what I have calculated I actually need to maintain and lose!

Karole

03-11-2009, 08:10 PM

I love that whole site Carol . Thanks so much for bringing it to our attention. Lots of good recipes there too.

Jackie

03-11-2009, 09:14 PM

maxlharris

03-12-2009, 05:20 PM

Thanks for the info Max, I appreciate the time you took to figure things out for me. I often do switch the lettuce up for mixed spring greens or spinach. Winter in rural Canada, thats about it for options for me untill I can plant my own garden!!!

I am very low in the protein department and should probably be using ounces to measure but must admit I am not good using ounces!! I will try to increase the protein. I know I did not consume enough calories but I was not terribly hungry????

Thanks, not sure I did too much better today but we'll see.
No problem. Benefits of a government job. :evil:
I forget that people aren't all in the US (part of why other countries hate us, assuming they do, probably) where everything is available all the time, flown in.

I would not be surprised if Fitday has cups for things like ground beef. Worth looking at.

It is not surprising that you weren't very hungry. If you are limiting carbs (and at <8 for the day, you are limiting carbs), you will not get that hungry. It's an evolutionary reaction to tough times. Or to protein eating. Or to carb free. Or to starvation. Gary Taubes talks about hunger and calories and carbs in GCBC. Worth checking out if you need a light weight workout for both the arms (it's a big book) and the mind (it's a big book).

Last, if you're not failing at least part of the time, you're not really challenging yourself. And if you're not really challenging yourself, you're not doing anything really worthwhile. You'll get there.