Weigh In

It's been over three weeks since I weighed in. My real estate business got in the way as did the upcoming garage sale. I have been stressed out to say the least. That's bad for a stress eater. I have no idea why I didn't gain at least five pounds over the last 3-1/2 weeks except that my metabolism must have been in overdrive 24 hours a day. Sleepless nights, active days, and little time to think about eating properly, I have been grabbing comfort food on the run -- ice cream, KFC Popcorn Chicken is only the start. I didn't have time to eat three meals a day, so even though I made poor food choices, I didn't eat that much of the bad stuff. In addition, I drank gallons of water. We went through a torrid heat spell for five days and whatever I ate I washed down with a huge glass of water.

When I did find time to eat right, it was easy. Afterall, summer is upon us with its harvest of fresh fruit and vegetables. Breakfast one morning was a pint of Oregon strawberries and yogurt. Fresh lettuce from my garden is a taste treat at both lunch and dinner. Dining al fresco somehow diminishes your appetite by focusing on the scenery instead of on your hunger.

I am happy to report that I woke up this morning and still weighed in at 162 pounds. There's still hope.

Chow for now!!

Quick Chicken or Turkey Stew

Well, I promised you a recipe, and this one is so easy, I don't know why I don't use it more often. I pulled it out after three weeks of intense pressure in my work because I needed some comfort food. Boy, did I comfort myself. In addition to enjoying a bowl, every time I passed by the stove, I took a teaspoonful or two. I finally put the remainder in the fridge, or I would have eaten it all in one day.

1 (10-1/2 oz. can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup fat-free Half-and-Half
1/2 pound frozen stew vegetables
1/2 pound mixed vegetables
1 4-oz. can sliced mushrooms (do not drain)
1 10 oz. can chunk turkey or chicken (do not drain)
1/2 tsp salt or to taste
1/4 tsp pepper or to taste
minced parsley

Pre-cook frozen vegetables in microwave. Cut large chunks of carrots and potatoes into smaller pieces.

Mix mushroom soup and cream in large saucepan. Add all other ingredients (including pre-cooked vegetables) except parsley. Cover and simmer 10 - 15 minutes. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust as needed. Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with parsley, and serve with large salad topped with your favorite low-fat, low-cal dressing. Approx. 225 calories per serving for each of 4 servings or 450 calories for each of 2 servings.

If you're like me, you'll opt for the 2-serving portion.

Chow for now!

Feel Taller and Thinner

This is a temporary filler for my more traditional posts. I have had over two weeks of hell, and my posting has had to take a back seat to more profitable ventures.

Some time ago, I became aware of my posture. As one ages, everything starts to sag. Long hours at a desk lead to a more relaxed sitting position. Fatigue causes slouching. All in all, I noticed that I was hunching over more and more. On my morning walks, I also noticed myself walking with my head faced down to the sidewalk. This was true of many people I saw walking, young and old, creating a rather despondent appearance.

One day, I watched a lady in her 60's walking towards me. Even from a distance she seemed to be tall. As she came closer, I realized she was no taller than I and in addition appeared to weigh no less than I although she looked thinner. She walked almost with an air of superiority and yet offered a gracious "Good Morning" and an infectious smile as we passed each other.

The difference between us was in her posture. She walked with head held high, stomach pulled in and shoulders pushed back to where they should be, not slouched. I immediately altered my posture and lifted my head.

I felt 4 inches taller and 20 pounds slimmer.

Talk about a boost to ones self-confidence!! It took me about two weeks of constant re-adjustment to undo some really bad posture habits I had fallen into, but the results of these small changes are immeasurable. Not only do I feel better because there is less strain on my back, shoulders and almost all parts of my body, but I also look 100% better.

Although I certainly don't weigh any less, I am taller. Slouching can diminish ones height by at least 4 inches. Standing tall returns your true stature.

Try it and see if you don't feel and even act differently.

Chow for now.

Oops - Almost Forgot To Weigh In

Yeah!! I hit 162 pounds this morning. Next week I'm trying for one more pound.

Eating Out

I eat dinner out a great deal mostly because I don't like to cook for only one person. Eating out creates many challenges for dieters. I personally like to order items that I wouldn't cook for myself. They tend to be higher in calories than what I would normally eat. Most of the time I'm really good at maintaining some semblence of a diet, but there are certainly times when I can't help but splurge. However, I always get back on the diet horse the next morning. Following are some helpful hints for "maintaining" when eating out:

1. Don't starve yourself beforehand. In fact, have a piece of fruit before you leave the house. You won't be tempted to eat nearly as much at the restaurant.

2. Watch the booze. Alcoholic beverages tend to increase ones appetite, and fermented alcohol (wine) usually makes one hungrier than distilled alcohol (vodka). If you must have a drink, have it WITH dinner -- not before, and alternate sips of liquor with sips of water. Preferably fill up with water, not alcohol. Add a lemon or lime squeeze to the water for flavor or order sparkling water.

3. Skip the bread. If you must have something before your entree, order a small dinner salad with low-fat dressing. If you happen to be dining at a restaurant that has lettuce wraps, order these as an appetizer and share with your tablemates. Both Chili's and P. F. Changs have delicious lettuce wraps. They also act as a low-cal filler so you won't want as much of your entree.

4. If the restaurant allows substitutes, opt for vegetables instead of potatoes or rice. However, I know that many times I WANT potatoes. I love potatoes. If I were stranded on a desert island and could only have 3 foods, one of them would be potatoes. To satisfy that craving, I order a baked potato and eat it plain or with only a little salt and pepper. And I always eat the skin. If it's a honker potato, cut it in half and remove one-half from your plate.

5. Ask for a take-out box at the same time you receive your entree. Immediately put half your meal into the box. You will avoid overeating and have lunch or dinner for the next day. As an alternative, eat family style. Order fewer entrees than there are people and pass around the dishes. Fill the gap with side dishes of vegetables.

If you have helpful hints, please share them here.

Chow for now.