I've made a decision today regarding this blog. I've enjoyed writing to all of you trying to explore my relationship with food, trying to become healthy, to lose weight and to take you all with me on the journey.
I was confident that I could lose 60 pounds in 365 days. It was mathmatically possible, all I needed was will power and the right diet. There was nothing wrong with my will power, although some of the diets that I've tried were extreme and not right for me.
I was doing really well until Dolores died 12-21-09. Since then I've struggled with this endeavor on a daily basis and I still am struggling.
At my appointment with my physician today, we discussed the fact that I need some help with my grief. I thought I could manage this on my own and with Aaron's and my Mom's help, but I think I need to talk with a grief counselor. I don't think I can progress with dieting or becoming healthier until I settle some issues with my grief. I will be making an appointment soon so until I'm settled, I'm going to be signing off.
Those of you who wish to continue a relationship with me, please contact me on my facebook page or on my e-mail. I still need your support and prayers and your loving comments.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
It's a good thing that we cannot predict the future, most of us would not want to live through it.
This is my last posting for this year. I will update everyone in early January as to my next blog, which will be the poetry that I've written as I struggle through this process. Not sure what I will name it yet. Look for my new blog name on my facebook page and in your e-mail in early January.
I welcome your comments.
-Jill Angel Langlois
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Calvados - enjoying some as I write this
Calvados is an apple brandy from the French region of Basse-Normandy.
Calvados is distilled from specially grown and selected apples, of which there are over 200 named varieties. It is not uncommon for a Calvados producer to use over 100 specific varieties of apple to produce their Calvados. The apples used are either sweet (such as the Rouge Duret variety), tart (such as the Rambault variety), or bitter (such as the Mettais, Saint Martin, Frequin, and Binet Rouge varieties), with the latter category of apple being inedible.
The fruit is picked (usually by hand) and pressed into a juice that is fermented into a dry cider.
It is then distilled into eau die vie (water of life). After two years aging in oak casks, it can be sold as Calvados.
The longer it is ages, the smoother the drink becomes. Usually the maturation goes on for several years. A bottle of twenty-year-old Calvados can easily command double the price of a bottle of ten-year-old Calvados.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
So sorry to see that I've lost one follower. I know it's hard to wait and when you're in limbo waiting for the kitchen of your dreams to be completed, things tend to get very boring. The waiting, the hoping, the dreaming, the building up of recipes to try as soon as the stove is hooked up. I've purchased so many new cooking untensils and equipment and they are all still in their boxes just waiting.
I thought I would educate all of you on Calvados. Aaron just poured me a little and it is so delicious. Apple brandy. And the perfect season to be tasting something apple-flavored. He's sipping some Talisker Scotch tonight. He says it's reminiscent of buring leaves. Oh, I just tried a sip and he's right.
I went to Target today to pick out a birthday card for my Baby Cousin, Jared. I stopped by the candle section and they actually have a candle that smells like a rustic cabin. Amazing. I couldn't believe it. If it wasn't $13, I would have bought it. Come to think of it, I still might!
With all of the natural, rustic looking brick that's going up in our new kitchen, I've decided that the perfect medium of decoration would be colored glass. Brick and glass are almost the same common denominator and they are so pretty together. The brick is red, brown, grey, gold, silver, black, oh, so pretty. The glass I chose is the color of jewel tones, ruby, emerald, sapphire, amethyst and I'm also going to add topaz and smokey quartz. I'm on a colored glass hunt now.
Calvados is distilled from specially grown and selected apples, of which there are over 200 named varieties. It is not uncommon for a Calvados producer to use over 100 specific varieties of apple to produce their Calvados. The apples used are either sweet (such as the Rouge Duret variety), tart (such as the Rambault variety), or bitter (such as the Mettais, Saint Martin, Frequin, and Binet Rouge varieties), with the latter category of apple being inedible.
The fruit is picked (usually by hand) and pressed into a juice that is fermented into a dry cider.
It is then distilled into eau die vie (water of life). After two years aging in oak casks, it can be sold as Calvados.
The longer it is ages, the smoother the drink becomes. Usually the maturation goes on for several years. A bottle of twenty-year-old Calvados can easily command double the price of a bottle of ten-year-old Calvados.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
So sorry to see that I've lost one follower. I know it's hard to wait and when you're in limbo waiting for the kitchen of your dreams to be completed, things tend to get very boring. The waiting, the hoping, the dreaming, the building up of recipes to try as soon as the stove is hooked up. I've purchased so many new cooking untensils and equipment and they are all still in their boxes just waiting.
I thought I would educate all of you on Calvados. Aaron just poured me a little and it is so delicious. Apple brandy. And the perfect season to be tasting something apple-flavored. He's sipping some Talisker Scotch tonight. He says it's reminiscent of buring leaves. Oh, I just tried a sip and he's right.
I went to Target today to pick out a birthday card for my Baby Cousin, Jared. I stopped by the candle section and they actually have a candle that smells like a rustic cabin. Amazing. I couldn't believe it. If it wasn't $13, I would have bought it. Come to think of it, I still might!
With all of the natural, rustic looking brick that's going up in our new kitchen, I've decided that the perfect medium of decoration would be colored glass. Brick and glass are almost the same common denominator and they are so pretty together. The brick is red, brown, grey, gold, silver, black, oh, so pretty. The glass I chose is the color of jewel tones, ruby, emerald, sapphire, amethyst and I'm also going to add topaz and smokey quartz. I'm on a colored glass hunt now.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
The in-between times
Not much happening right now. I have another physician appointment on Tuesday and I'll update all of you then.
The kitchen is not ready yet. Although alot of progress has been made. The fridge, dishwasher and microwave are in place. The dishwasher is not hooked up, the sink is not hooked up and the stove is still in the garage. Ray is working on the entertainment center, the shelves in the living room, dining room and the table this coming week.
Almost there and getting VERY anxious to start cooking with all my new equipment.
We went to see my sister, Marie yesterday. Nicolas just turned six so we celebrated his birthday with a mostiaccoli dinner. Then we all sat outside by the fire and roasted marshmallows, talked, laughed, enjoyed the kids, the night, the stars, the weather. Just beautiful.
I'm still having a horrible time trying to deal with Dolores being gone from our lives forever. I just can't wrap my brain around it completely. I was having another hard day today. I made beef stew despite how I felt, and it turned out really well. We ate that while watching Dexter.
I spent some time outside today just sitting enjoying the breeze and letting my thoughts wander...
The kitchen is not ready yet. Although alot of progress has been made. The fridge, dishwasher and microwave are in place. The dishwasher is not hooked up, the sink is not hooked up and the stove is still in the garage. Ray is working on the entertainment center, the shelves in the living room, dining room and the table this coming week.
Almost there and getting VERY anxious to start cooking with all my new equipment.
We went to see my sister, Marie yesterday. Nicolas just turned six so we celebrated his birthday with a mostiaccoli dinner. Then we all sat outside by the fire and roasted marshmallows, talked, laughed, enjoyed the kids, the night, the stars, the weather. Just beautiful.
I'm still having a horrible time trying to deal with Dolores being gone from our lives forever. I just can't wrap my brain around it completely. I was having another hard day today. I made beef stew despite how I felt, and it turned out really well. We ate that while watching Dexter.
I spent some time outside today just sitting enjoying the breeze and letting my thoughts wander...
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Scan results
Waiting for my Mom to arrive so we can go together to get Mongolian BBQ and Sushi. So healthy!
The results of my scans showed I have 2 herniated discs in my neck and several of my lymph nodes are enlarged but there is no specific cause that could be detected. The neurosurgeon did not recommend surgery at this time. The discs are pushing slightly against my spinal cord but not enough for surgery. He recommends that I go back to my family doctor and continue to look for reasons why my lymph nodes are enlarged and why I'm still becoming dizzy when I stand up. He said the scans did not show any reason for my dizziness.
So I have more appointments coming up. Good Grief!
For breakfast today we had lox and bagels with onions, tomato and capers. Delicious. We skipped lunch.
I had another stressful week this week but we still ate pretty healthy so that's good.
The results of my scans showed I have 2 herniated discs in my neck and several of my lymph nodes are enlarged but there is no specific cause that could be detected. The neurosurgeon did not recommend surgery at this time. The discs are pushing slightly against my spinal cord but not enough for surgery. He recommends that I go back to my family doctor and continue to look for reasons why my lymph nodes are enlarged and why I'm still becoming dizzy when I stand up. He said the scans did not show any reason for my dizziness.
So I have more appointments coming up. Good Grief!
For breakfast today we had lox and bagels with onions, tomato and capers. Delicious. We skipped lunch.
I had another stressful week this week but we still ate pretty healthy so that's good.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
A Trying Week
A trying week. And all the while I was trying to keep my head above water. Work has been very stressful with my work load.
I had my 2 MRIs and MRA on Tuesday morning. It took 3 hours and I had many thoughts during this time. It's very hard to sit absolutely still for 3 hours straight. They are looking at my soft tissue, bones, blood vessels and nerves. The results came back today and I have to see my neurosurgeon on Monday at 9am to go over everything and what is going on with me. Hopefully he'll have an answer for me.
I had a great week foodwise. We ate healthy and felt better for it. Lots of salad, chicken, Mediterranean food, fish and veggies. I do feel good eating this way.
The kitchen remodeling project is coming along beautifully. Ray is putting up the brick along the wall by the bar area. Our new viking microwave with convection arrived today and it's gorgeous. My cook book stand arrived and Aaron bought me a torch to make creme brulee with. He's such a great support to me.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I wanted to say a little something about poetry. We recently watched a great movie called Blue Car. It is a new movie that went straight to DVD. It's about poetry, coming of age, writing what you truly feel inside and it's also about divorce and the pain it causes the children involved. It inspired these thoughts...
"One night recently, Aaron, me and my Mom sat down with Wallace Stevens's poem: "The Emperor of Ice Cream" and we looked at that poem for about 2 hours and it looked so much different than it did when we first glanced at it. It's a great poem, a sarcastic twist underneath the surface of his words. Some poems are not good, meaning they don't have a root or a nucleous, they are just fluff and gush and I hate this kind of poetry, it makes me want to throw up. However, when you experience a great poem, (Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas) it will change you and you will remember it forever. One of my favorite poems is "The Lovesong of J. Alfred Proofrock" by T. S. Eliot. Have you ever read it? It took him 8 years to write it. It will probably take 8 years to analyze it, but once I got the meaning of the root of the poem, I never forgot it. The sound of a good poem is musical and it will touch a nerve that you didn't even know was sensitive until it's too late and you feel sucker-punched. Your guts will be twisted and you'll react emotionally and may not even understand it. That's why analyzing a poem is so important. You may end up loving a poem that you first hated. You may hate it because it touches you and you don't want to be vulnerable but you can't help it. It's telling the truth and you know that truth..."
I had my 2 MRIs and MRA on Tuesday morning. It took 3 hours and I had many thoughts during this time. It's very hard to sit absolutely still for 3 hours straight. They are looking at my soft tissue, bones, blood vessels and nerves. The results came back today and I have to see my neurosurgeon on Monday at 9am to go over everything and what is going on with me. Hopefully he'll have an answer for me.
I had a great week foodwise. We ate healthy and felt better for it. Lots of salad, chicken, Mediterranean food, fish and veggies. I do feel good eating this way.
The kitchen remodeling project is coming along beautifully. Ray is putting up the brick along the wall by the bar area. Our new viking microwave with convection arrived today and it's gorgeous. My cook book stand arrived and Aaron bought me a torch to make creme brulee with. He's such a great support to me.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I wanted to say a little something about poetry. We recently watched a great movie called Blue Car. It is a new movie that went straight to DVD. It's about poetry, coming of age, writing what you truly feel inside and it's also about divorce and the pain it causes the children involved. It inspired these thoughts...
"One night recently, Aaron, me and my Mom sat down with Wallace Stevens's poem: "The Emperor of Ice Cream" and we looked at that poem for about 2 hours and it looked so much different than it did when we first glanced at it. It's a great poem, a sarcastic twist underneath the surface of his words. Some poems are not good, meaning they don't have a root or a nucleous, they are just fluff and gush and I hate this kind of poetry, it makes me want to throw up. However, when you experience a great poem, (Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas) it will change you and you will remember it forever. One of my favorite poems is "The Lovesong of J. Alfred Proofrock" by T. S. Eliot. Have you ever read it? It took him 8 years to write it. It will probably take 8 years to analyze it, but once I got the meaning of the root of the poem, I never forgot it. The sound of a good poem is musical and it will touch a nerve that you didn't even know was sensitive until it's too late and you feel sucker-punched. Your guts will be twisted and you'll react emotionally and may not even understand it. That's why analyzing a poem is so important. You may end up loving a poem that you first hated. You may hate it because it touches you and you don't want to be vulnerable but you can't help it. It's telling the truth and you know that truth..."
Friday, September 17, 2010
MRI-MRA
I haven't written for awhile because I haven't been able to get to my computer. Our loveseat and 2 recliners have been in our office all week while our new floor was being installed. It's beautiful!
We took today off and Aaron, me and Mom went to the eye doctor then out for lunch at Pappadeaux in Westmont. I had a Shrimp Po Boy, which was very good. I could only eat half of it. Then we went to a wine tasting at Phil's store, Wine Knows, in Grayslake. We came home, took a nap and then watched a movie. It was a nice day off.
Tomorrow we are going to be with some friends who we haven't seen for about 5 years. It will be nice to catch up with them.
I've been making some pretty nice meals in our little kitchen in the basement. I've made egg plant parmesan, tuna melts, lamb and beef over whole wheat pita, meat pies, spaghetti, etc. It's worked out very well.
Since I've written last, I've found out that my dizziness may now be related to my herniated discs in my neck. I went to see a neurosurgeon who needs to get a few MRI views and an MRA. This is an angiogram. They will shoot die in my neck to look at my blood vessels to make sure they are all ok when I turn my head certain ways. I have a feeling my herniated discs are pressing against my spinal cord, which is why I'm getting dizzy. But the tests will be able to tell that and hopefully this can be fixed...surgery? Most likely.
I'll keep you posted. My tests are on Tuesday morning.
Until then,
-Jill
We took today off and Aaron, me and Mom went to the eye doctor then out for lunch at Pappadeaux in Westmont. I had a Shrimp Po Boy, which was very good. I could only eat half of it. Then we went to a wine tasting at Phil's store, Wine Knows, in Grayslake. We came home, took a nap and then watched a movie. It was a nice day off.
Tomorrow we are going to be with some friends who we haven't seen for about 5 years. It will be nice to catch up with them.
I've been making some pretty nice meals in our little kitchen in the basement. I've made egg plant parmesan, tuna melts, lamb and beef over whole wheat pita, meat pies, spaghetti, etc. It's worked out very well.
Since I've written last, I've found out that my dizziness may now be related to my herniated discs in my neck. I went to see a neurosurgeon who needs to get a few MRI views and an MRA. This is an angiogram. They will shoot die in my neck to look at my blood vessels to make sure they are all ok when I turn my head certain ways. I have a feeling my herniated discs are pressing against my spinal cord, which is why I'm getting dizzy. But the tests will be able to tell that and hopefully this can be fixed...surgery? Most likely.
I'll keep you posted. My tests are on Tuesday morning.
Until then,
-Jill
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Fantastic Weather Today!
What a fantastic day! The weather was beautiful and I spent some time outside weeding my flower gardens. I bought a couple purple mums for my pots on my front steps and an orange mum for Dolores's flower box.
I made 2 different recipes - Tyler Florences's mac n cheese and Rachel Ray's meat pies in phyllo dough. Both very good.
Then I spent some time outside on my deck thanking God for such a beautiful day. I wanted Him to know it didn't go unnoticed.
__________________________________________________________________
We had a terrific time with my Mom this weekend. Friday we brought over some White Castle hamburgers for her birthday along with some champagne and 4 champagne glasses, which were a gift from Aaron. I bought her a blue topaz bracelet to go with her earrings. We watched some music videos - Dream Theatre.
Saturday we went to Johnny's Chop House for dinner and then back to our house to watch some more Dream Theatre. We were so tired that I was in bed by 9pm. I slept until 9:40am this morning. It was wonderful.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
We're in the midst of chaos with our home renovations and this week is going to be intense, but it's all going to be wonderful after it's completed. So in the midst of chaos, I hope to remain calm and creative.
I made 2 different recipes - Tyler Florences's mac n cheese and Rachel Ray's meat pies in phyllo dough. Both very good.
Then I spent some time outside on my deck thanking God for such a beautiful day. I wanted Him to know it didn't go unnoticed.
__________________________________________________________________
We had a terrific time with my Mom this weekend. Friday we brought over some White Castle hamburgers for her birthday along with some champagne and 4 champagne glasses, which were a gift from Aaron. I bought her a blue topaz bracelet to go with her earrings. We watched some music videos - Dream Theatre.
Saturday we went to Johnny's Chop House for dinner and then back to our house to watch some more Dream Theatre. We were so tired that I was in bed by 9pm. I slept until 9:40am this morning. It was wonderful.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
We're in the midst of chaos with our home renovations and this week is going to be intense, but it's all going to be wonderful after it's completed. So in the midst of chaos, I hope to remain calm and creative.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Labor Day update
Oh, what a great long weekend we had!
We spent so much time with our cats this weekend, it was very soothing. Dolly and I actually took a nap together on Monday afternoon in the recliner. We didn't turn the TV on all day. What a joy.
I finished reading "Alice I Have Been." It's an historical fiction novel based in the real life of Alice in Wonderland. I really enjoyed it and it convinced me that I need to start writing my own story. Now I'm reading Michael Symon's new cookbook and Jim Butcher's latest Harry Dresden novel - "Changes."
We spent some quality time with my cousin, Lynette, who is at the beginning of a divorce. She is going to be ok and will eventually love again. We pray for her daily and ask God to hold her hand through this difficult process.
Our kitchen renovations are coming along and we're happy with the progress we're seeing. Tomorrow the new stone floor will be laid in the kitchen/dining room and it will be tricky in the living room and hallway for awhile until the tiles dry and set, then we can walk on them.
We gave our couch sectional to my Mom and had the love-seat that matches our 2 leather recliners delivered on Wed. It's beautiful and the cats love it too! ha .
Baby, our 17 year old cat, has grown so attached to me that he now meows at me in the morning to get up and pet him. I get up and he follows me in the bathroom, then in the living room, then downstairs to his food bowl. He is sitting next to me now as I right this snoring away. What a little lover he is.
Dolly, our 10 year old, waits until I'm done on the computer each night and then jumps in my lap, kneads my fingers and chest while I pet her, purs like a boat motor and then falls asleep on my lap. She's such a precious little princess kitty.
As you can tell we have really fallen for these cats. We wouldn't have chosen to have pets, but Dolores passing away 8 months ago sealed that commitment for us.
As far as my relationship with food goes, we have been in a torid love affair as of late. I've been cooking 4 simple meals during the week in the basement kitchen, which has turned out quite well. On Fridays we order food to be delivered, on Saturdays we go out to Johnny's Chop House and on Sundays I cook a more elaborate healthy meal and include my mom when she's up to it.
Today is my Mom's 64th birthday! Happiest of all birthdays to you! I hope you find at least 365 reasons to smile this year.
We will bring over to her some White Castle hamburgers tomorrow night and a bottle of some fine wine to share. Hey, when I turn 64, I just may want White Castle hamburgers too!
Tonight we went to Roti Mediterranean Grill for dinner and each had a steak wrap with baba ganoush, egg plant, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, red pepper sauce, kalamata olives and feta cheese. We also shared an individual chicken roti pizza with onions, olives, and parsley. It was fantastic! We must eat there more. How delicious and healthy!!
In my new kitchen there is now a pasta faucet installed. This is getting exciting! No turning back now, I must learn to be the best cook in Lindenhurst, IL.
We spent so much time with our cats this weekend, it was very soothing. Dolly and I actually took a nap together on Monday afternoon in the recliner. We didn't turn the TV on all day. What a joy.
I finished reading "Alice I Have Been." It's an historical fiction novel based in the real life of Alice in Wonderland. I really enjoyed it and it convinced me that I need to start writing my own story. Now I'm reading Michael Symon's new cookbook and Jim Butcher's latest Harry Dresden novel - "Changes."
We spent some quality time with my cousin, Lynette, who is at the beginning of a divorce. She is going to be ok and will eventually love again. We pray for her daily and ask God to hold her hand through this difficult process.
Our kitchen renovations are coming along and we're happy with the progress we're seeing. Tomorrow the new stone floor will be laid in the kitchen/dining room and it will be tricky in the living room and hallway for awhile until the tiles dry and set, then we can walk on them.
We gave our couch sectional to my Mom and had the love-seat that matches our 2 leather recliners delivered on Wed. It's beautiful and the cats love it too! ha .
Baby, our 17 year old cat, has grown so attached to me that he now meows at me in the morning to get up and pet him. I get up and he follows me in the bathroom, then in the living room, then downstairs to his food bowl. He is sitting next to me now as I right this snoring away. What a little lover he is.
Dolly, our 10 year old, waits until I'm done on the computer each night and then jumps in my lap, kneads my fingers and chest while I pet her, purs like a boat motor and then falls asleep on my lap. She's such a precious little princess kitty.
As you can tell we have really fallen for these cats. We wouldn't have chosen to have pets, but Dolores passing away 8 months ago sealed that commitment for us.
As far as my relationship with food goes, we have been in a torid love affair as of late. I've been cooking 4 simple meals during the week in the basement kitchen, which has turned out quite well. On Fridays we order food to be delivered, on Saturdays we go out to Johnny's Chop House and on Sundays I cook a more elaborate healthy meal and include my mom when she's up to it.
Today is my Mom's 64th birthday! Happiest of all birthdays to you! I hope you find at least 365 reasons to smile this year.
We will bring over to her some White Castle hamburgers tomorrow night and a bottle of some fine wine to share. Hey, when I turn 64, I just may want White Castle hamburgers too!
Tonight we went to Roti Mediterranean Grill for dinner and each had a steak wrap with baba ganoush, egg plant, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, red pepper sauce, kalamata olives and feta cheese. We also shared an individual chicken roti pizza with onions, olives, and parsley. It was fantastic! We must eat there more. How delicious and healthy!!
In my new kitchen there is now a pasta faucet installed. This is getting exciting! No turning back now, I must learn to be the best cook in Lindenhurst, IL.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Professional Kitchen = mail order business?
Hello to my new follower, Annie. Glad you're going to follow along.
I have been thumbing through my new Michael Symon cookbook - "Live to Cook." I also watch his every move on his TV program - "Cook Like An Iron Chef." This guy is phenomenal and he makes it seem so easy. The ingredients that he chooses to blends together are very inspiring.
In fact I made a dish inspired by Chef Symon tonight for dinner. I sauteed some veal liver and hot Italian sausages with some red onion, Kosher salt and crushed black pepper and set it aside. I then mixed chopped roasted red peppers with green olives stuffed with pimento and some capers and set that aside. I grilled some whole wheat pita bread and used that for a base on the plate. I placed some liver and sausage and onions over the bread and topped it with the pepper/olives/capers mixture. I added some sour cream and sliced raw red onion for a garnish. As a second dish I made a salad with feta cheese, tomatoes, croutons and Caesar dressing. For a fun appetizer I took some seasoned pita chips and melted feta cheese over the top to make some Greek Nachos. These dishes were so delicious, full of flavor, simple to make and beautiful to look at. Aaron (my husband) was licking the sautee pan!
I have never used liver in that way before, but it was so easy and fun to make. And with my anemia, my body appreciated the iron.
I'm getting very anxious to see my professional kitchen materialize. We have our Viking 6-burner stone, our Samsung french door refrigerator (the one with the blue light), and our Samsung dish washer in our garage. The Viking microwave/convection oven is on order. (All stainless steel). We've purchased a coffee/espresso combo machine and a coffee grinder, a pizza stone and peel from AKitchen.com - a professional restaurant supplier. We also purchased a stainless steel 4-slice toaster that has a blue digital light and defrost option, a grill/griddle for our middle 2 stove burners, a grill press, a double basket deep fryer with a funnel and strainer and a cook book holder. I'm hoping to begin cooking with all my new equipment in about a month or so. First dish? Chicken Paprikas a la Dolores Hattie Langlois! We're going to put her urn on the counter next to the stove for inspiration!!!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Aaron has been encouraging me to start a mail order cooking service. I would cook all my own recipes and freeze them, then ship them out overnight in dry ice. Hmmm, not a bad idea at all. I must contemplate this...
I have been thumbing through my new Michael Symon cookbook - "Live to Cook." I also watch his every move on his TV program - "Cook Like An Iron Chef." This guy is phenomenal and he makes it seem so easy. The ingredients that he chooses to blends together are very inspiring.
In fact I made a dish inspired by Chef Symon tonight for dinner. I sauteed some veal liver and hot Italian sausages with some red onion, Kosher salt and crushed black pepper and set it aside. I then mixed chopped roasted red peppers with green olives stuffed with pimento and some capers and set that aside. I grilled some whole wheat pita bread and used that for a base on the plate. I placed some liver and sausage and onions over the bread and topped it with the pepper/olives/capers mixture. I added some sour cream and sliced raw red onion for a garnish. As a second dish I made a salad with feta cheese, tomatoes, croutons and Caesar dressing. For a fun appetizer I took some seasoned pita chips and melted feta cheese over the top to make some Greek Nachos. These dishes were so delicious, full of flavor, simple to make and beautiful to look at. Aaron (my husband) was licking the sautee pan!
I have never used liver in that way before, but it was so easy and fun to make. And with my anemia, my body appreciated the iron.
I'm getting very anxious to see my professional kitchen materialize. We have our Viking 6-burner stone, our Samsung french door refrigerator (the one with the blue light), and our Samsung dish washer in our garage. The Viking microwave/convection oven is on order. (All stainless steel). We've purchased a coffee/espresso combo machine and a coffee grinder, a pizza stone and peel from AKitchen.com - a professional restaurant supplier. We also purchased a stainless steel 4-slice toaster that has a blue digital light and defrost option, a grill/griddle for our middle 2 stove burners, a grill press, a double basket deep fryer with a funnel and strainer and a cook book holder. I'm hoping to begin cooking with all my new equipment in about a month or so. First dish? Chicken Paprikas a la Dolores Hattie Langlois! We're going to put her urn on the counter next to the stove for inspiration!!!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Aaron has been encouraging me to start a mail order cooking service. I would cook all my own recipes and freeze them, then ship them out overnight in dry ice. Hmmm, not a bad idea at all. I must contemplate this...
Monday, August 30, 2010
Mediterranean Grill
Oh, I'm so excited! I've just found Roti Mediterranean Grill, which opened up across the street from where we work. Aaron and I tried it for lunch today.
We had a chicken wrap with laffa bread. The chicken is made on a big rotisserie (like lamb for Gyros). They cut it up into small pieces and then there's a bar where they add your sauce. I tried roasted red pepper (medium heat), then they add vegetables and other toppings. I tried eggplant, pickled red onions, salad greens, tomato, cucumber, and feta cheese. I've got to say it was totally great!
For 2 wraps and a bag of assorted pita chips the bill was $15 +. So we've got to try to fit this into our budget. Honestly, the sandwiches were a little too big for us, but we were so excited that we ate more than we should have. So I think in the interest of eating healthier, we will get one and spit it with some pita chips and hummus or a salad. I'm thinking twice a week...
Next time we'll try the steak...cous cous...baba ghanoush...etc etc.
We had a chicken wrap with laffa bread. The chicken is made on a big rotisserie (like lamb for Gyros). They cut it up into small pieces and then there's a bar where they add your sauce. I tried roasted red pepper (medium heat), then they add vegetables and other toppings. I tried eggplant, pickled red onions, salad greens, tomato, cucumber, and feta cheese. I've got to say it was totally great!
For 2 wraps and a bag of assorted pita chips the bill was $15 +. So we've got to try to fit this into our budget. Honestly, the sandwiches were a little too big for us, but we were so excited that we ate more than we should have. So I think in the interest of eating healthier, we will get one and spit it with some pita chips and hummus or a salad. I'm thinking twice a week...
Next time we'll try the steak...cous cous...baba ghanoush...etc etc.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Poetry and Cooking!
We had a great weekend. I went to the dentist yesterday morning to get my teeth cleaned and my new dentist said I had a Rolls Royce mouth and all I needed to do was get the oil changed every six months. He is so proud of the condition of my teeth...so am I.
Aaron and Mom can't say the same thing, however. They both need alot of dental work and will be taking the rest of this year and most of the next to get their work done. $$$$$$$ to say the very least!
We went to Johnny's Chop House again yesterday for dinner...can't seem to stay away. It's so good! Aaron ordered his usual 1/2 dozen raw oysters. We all had a $5 Cosmo special and then started off with chicken rosemary soup with peas. I had the pork chops and a sweet potato. Mom had shrimp diablo and Aaron had shrimp alfredo.
Our favorite waitress, Mary, and I are now trading poetry regularly so it was my turn and I read her "The Eleventh Hour." It's a poem I wrote in November 1995 when my life didn't seem to be going anywhere at the time and I felt I needed to accomplish something. I also was feeling a sense of urgency. The poem goes:
When the moon at eleven
hovers over the fields,
when the wispy clouds
lace the foggy light,
when the last few grains of sand
threaten to fall
through the curved glass,
I take a stand...
against time.
I reach for hat and gloves.
Bursting through the door
into the brisk cold,
my face catches the wind.
Coming alive again
in the eleventh hour -
time ticking away.
I strangle a chrysanthemum
with my clenched fist,
feeling strange,
light,
as if floating
like those alluring clouds
that snap under my nose,
bringing the scents of old,
wet leaves, eternal dampness,
everything cold, crisp, crackling.
I walk on under the midnight sun,
my beacon, my guide.
Enlivened by this chill
striking a balance in my being,
commanding my lungs,
pumping my heart,
a surge of energy prevails!
Feet pound pavement,
stamping out the ache inside.
The final stretch toward home,
the race almost run,
yet, running out of time.
Needing to seize the finish line,
I circle around the bend
with a tear stained face,
bursting through the door
into the safe warmth of home.
At dinner Saturday, we had a long talk about my poetry. Aaron had a great idea. He said that I should make a collection of my poems and write a short bio about what was going through my mind and what was happening in my life at the time. He and Mom are really encouraging me to do this. And after only a short time to think about it, I think they are right and I will be striving to do this very soon.
Poetry and cooking! Cooking will be my poetry in motion!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I am on the edge of my seat waiting for my new appliances to be installed. The project is coming together very nicely and it's already beautiful - even with just the cabinets up. Today Aaron and I bought a stainless steel toaster and deep fryer and a griddle for the top of the stove, a pizza stone and peel from a restaurant supplier, and we're researching coffee/espresso combo machines. I am going to dedicate myself to learning how to make everything. I will have no excuse and I don't want one! I really want to be able to say I can make anything from a crown roast to a souffle to pasta made from scratch, an apple pie, soup, sauce, all different ethnic dishes, french fries (healthy), homemade pizza, and the list goes on.
Aaron and Mom can't say the same thing, however. They both need alot of dental work and will be taking the rest of this year and most of the next to get their work done. $$$$$$$ to say the very least!
We went to Johnny's Chop House again yesterday for dinner...can't seem to stay away. It's so good! Aaron ordered his usual 1/2 dozen raw oysters. We all had a $5 Cosmo special and then started off with chicken rosemary soup with peas. I had the pork chops and a sweet potato. Mom had shrimp diablo and Aaron had shrimp alfredo.
Our favorite waitress, Mary, and I are now trading poetry regularly so it was my turn and I read her "The Eleventh Hour." It's a poem I wrote in November 1995 when my life didn't seem to be going anywhere at the time and I felt I needed to accomplish something. I also was feeling a sense of urgency. The poem goes:
When the moon at eleven
hovers over the fields,
when the wispy clouds
lace the foggy light,
when the last few grains of sand
threaten to fall
through the curved glass,
I take a stand...
against time.
I reach for hat and gloves.
Bursting through the door
into the brisk cold,
my face catches the wind.
Coming alive again
in the eleventh hour -
time ticking away.
I strangle a chrysanthemum
with my clenched fist,
feeling strange,
light,
as if floating
like those alluring clouds
that snap under my nose,
bringing the scents of old,
wet leaves, eternal dampness,
everything cold, crisp, crackling.
I walk on under the midnight sun,
my beacon, my guide.
Enlivened by this chill
striking a balance in my being,
commanding my lungs,
pumping my heart,
a surge of energy prevails!
Feet pound pavement,
stamping out the ache inside.
The final stretch toward home,
the race almost run,
yet, running out of time.
Needing to seize the finish line,
I circle around the bend
with a tear stained face,
bursting through the door
into the safe warmth of home.
At dinner Saturday, we had a long talk about my poetry. Aaron had a great idea. He said that I should make a collection of my poems and write a short bio about what was going through my mind and what was happening in my life at the time. He and Mom are really encouraging me to do this. And after only a short time to think about it, I think they are right and I will be striving to do this very soon.
Poetry and cooking! Cooking will be my poetry in motion!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I am on the edge of my seat waiting for my new appliances to be installed. The project is coming together very nicely and it's already beautiful - even with just the cabinets up. Today Aaron and I bought a stainless steel toaster and deep fryer and a griddle for the top of the stove, a pizza stone and peel from a restaurant supplier, and we're researching coffee/espresso combo machines. I am going to dedicate myself to learning how to make everything. I will have no excuse and I don't want one! I really want to be able to say I can make anything from a crown roast to a souffle to pasta made from scratch, an apple pie, soup, sauce, all different ethnic dishes, french fries (healthy), homemade pizza, and the list goes on.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Managing the stress, finding the cures
It feels like an eternity since I've written, only a few days ago.
We are working out the details fo rour kitchen, dining room and living room upgrade. Tonight we picked out the stone tile flooring, ordered the microwave and kitchen faucet. We picked out the pendant lights last night and will pick them up this weekend or next.
We will have to buy 8 new chairs for around our island in the dining room and then just all the little things like a new deep fryer, a new coffee maker, toaster, etc. Ooh, this is so fun!
It's been interesting cooking meals in the basement kitchen area. It's a little old fashioned. For instance, I have to manually fill up ice trays with water and stack them in the freezer. I giggle doing it because it's been years since I've had to think about that. It feels like camping out.
Our kittens are confined to the basement for now but it's only temporary. They are handling the stress quite well. We are too for that matter.
However, I am making very simple meals...hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken breast sandwiches, fish tacos, tuna melts, egg and bacon sandwiches and, of course, we are ordering food to be delivered on Fridays, going out to Johnny's Chop House on Saturdays, and I'm cooking a healthy family meal on Sundays.
Tonight I had such a taste for a Greek salad, that I stopped at Panera on the way home and purchased one to share with Aaron. We loved it and will do it more often. Got to eat our greens!
I took Baby outside tonight and put him on Dolores's flower box. He had fun sniffing everything and then decided to jump into the middle of it and sniff the rosemary and geraniums. He's such a little brat! He's had an allergy to the plaster dust in our house due to the remodeling, so his eye is a little goopy and he's got the sniffles. I've given him an antihistimine last night and tonight and he's made remarkable recovery since then. I think he's 99.9% healed! Thank Goodness!
I went to see Dr. Clark last week for a follow up blood test...hemoglobin, INR, etc. He called and said my hemoglobin is improving so he doesn't need to see me until November. That's also good news. He is suspecting uterine fibroids, which is causing my iron deficiency anemia, which is causing my orthostatis (which I still have). I will know more when I get my pap smear and pelvic exam September 1st. If nothing is found on exam, then I'll most likely have an ultrasound. We have to find the cause of the bleeding to make my hemoglobin low that causes everything else. If it's not gyne related, then we have to see how my colin is doing. Oh Great!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
"It's hell to get old!"
We are working out the details fo rour kitchen, dining room and living room upgrade. Tonight we picked out the stone tile flooring, ordered the microwave and kitchen faucet. We picked out the pendant lights last night and will pick them up this weekend or next.
We will have to buy 8 new chairs for around our island in the dining room and then just all the little things like a new deep fryer, a new coffee maker, toaster, etc. Ooh, this is so fun!
It's been interesting cooking meals in the basement kitchen area. It's a little old fashioned. For instance, I have to manually fill up ice trays with water and stack them in the freezer. I giggle doing it because it's been years since I've had to think about that. It feels like camping out.
Our kittens are confined to the basement for now but it's only temporary. They are handling the stress quite well. We are too for that matter.
However, I am making very simple meals...hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken breast sandwiches, fish tacos, tuna melts, egg and bacon sandwiches and, of course, we are ordering food to be delivered on Fridays, going out to Johnny's Chop House on Saturdays, and I'm cooking a healthy family meal on Sundays.
Tonight I had such a taste for a Greek salad, that I stopped at Panera on the way home and purchased one to share with Aaron. We loved it and will do it more often. Got to eat our greens!
I took Baby outside tonight and put him on Dolores's flower box. He had fun sniffing everything and then decided to jump into the middle of it and sniff the rosemary and geraniums. He's such a little brat! He's had an allergy to the plaster dust in our house due to the remodeling, so his eye is a little goopy and he's got the sniffles. I've given him an antihistimine last night and tonight and he's made remarkable recovery since then. I think he's 99.9% healed! Thank Goodness!
I went to see Dr. Clark last week for a follow up blood test...hemoglobin, INR, etc. He called and said my hemoglobin is improving so he doesn't need to see me until November. That's also good news. He is suspecting uterine fibroids, which is causing my iron deficiency anemia, which is causing my orthostatis (which I still have). I will know more when I get my pap smear and pelvic exam September 1st. If nothing is found on exam, then I'll most likely have an ultrasound. We have to find the cause of the bleeding to make my hemoglobin low that causes everything else. If it's not gyne related, then we have to see how my colin is doing. Oh Great!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
"It's hell to get old!"
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Saying Goodbye
We had a great time with Brandon yesterday. He came out to spend the day with us. We took him to a wine tasting at Phil's wine shop in Grayslake - Wine Knows. He sniffed a few of the ones we were tasting. Then we went to Johnny's Chop House in Antioch.
Aaron and Brandon had cowboy cut rib eye steaks and I had the Mediterranean chicken - one of my favorite dishes. We had Brandon try a raw oyster and he liked it. He's adventurous and that's always fun for us.
I made him a care package to take to NYU. It has some healthy foods such as 100 calorie popcorn, cereal bars, 100 calorie blueberry muffins, cans of soup, etc. I wanted to give him a little head start on the groceries for his dorm room. I also gave him a couple easy to cook recipes.
We watched the movie, "Almost Famous" together. He really liked it so we felt good about that.
We will miss him very much as he heads toward his new life in NYU. We'll keep in close contact though and we'll see him again in December.
Now we must plan a trip to New York in the Spring...
Aaron and Brandon had cowboy cut rib eye steaks and I had the Mediterranean chicken - one of my favorite dishes. We had Brandon try a raw oyster and he liked it. He's adventurous and that's always fun for us.
I made him a care package to take to NYU. It has some healthy foods such as 100 calorie popcorn, cereal bars, 100 calorie blueberry muffins, cans of soup, etc. I wanted to give him a little head start on the groceries for his dorm room. I also gave him a couple easy to cook recipes.
We watched the movie, "Almost Famous" together. He really liked it so we felt good about that.
We will miss him very much as he heads toward his new life in NYU. We'll keep in close contact though and we'll see him again in December.
Now we must plan a trip to New York in the Spring...
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Emotional Day
Aaron and I took my assistant, Brandon, out for lunch today. It was his last day for the summer. He goes off to NYU for the first time to study film and dramatic writing.
We had a very nice meal and conversation at Wildfire. Brandon and I had the filet mignon medallians - one with blue cheese crust and one with horseradish crust. Aaron had a crabcake melt. We enjoyed some calamari and mussels together and then Brandon had a blue berry pie dessert and I had a low carb chocolate mousse.
We are really going to miss Brandon so we showered him with presents and our love and support. Thankfully he will be coming over to our house this weekend to spend one last day. We will take him out for a nice dinner to say our final goodbye...sniff sniff.
I will send him some care packages throughout the year and will keep in close contact with him so I can be a great help and resource and a friendly strong shoulder for him. He's a great young man and I'm proud to know him.
Day 3 of the demolition:
The plumbing and electric are being re-routed so we can see the changes behind the drywall! I made fish tacos tonight and it worked out beautifully. I even boiled some fresh broccoli to go with it and we shared a glass of white wine and had a great conversation about our faith. We spent some quality time with our cats before going to bed early.
We had a very nice meal and conversation at Wildfire. Brandon and I had the filet mignon medallians - one with blue cheese crust and one with horseradish crust. Aaron had a crabcake melt. We enjoyed some calamari and mussels together and then Brandon had a blue berry pie dessert and I had a low carb chocolate mousse.
We are really going to miss Brandon so we showered him with presents and our love and support. Thankfully he will be coming over to our house this weekend to spend one last day. We will take him out for a nice dinner to say our final goodbye...sniff sniff.
I will send him some care packages throughout the year and will keep in close contact with him so I can be a great help and resource and a friendly strong shoulder for him. He's a great young man and I'm proud to know him.
Day 3 of the demolition:
The plumbing and electric are being re-routed so we can see the changes behind the drywall! I made fish tacos tonight and it worked out beautifully. I even boiled some fresh broccoli to go with it and we shared a glass of white wine and had a great conversation about our faith. We spent some quality time with our cats before going to bed early.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sense of Accomplishment
Continued success for day 2. The floor in the kitchen and dining room has been pulled up and the plumbing is being re-routed to where the new sink will be.
We had Ray buy our hood vent for the new stove because we couldn't figure out what to buy. The new "Wonderfridge" and dish washer will be delivered Thursday along with the stove (2 separate trucks!)
I am using Dolores's stove now, so for dinner I made Angel Hair pasta with 95% lean ground beef, onion and some jarred pasta sauce with roasted garlic. I served it with some unbuttered bread. Thought I would just keep it simple tonight.
Tomorrow I have grandiose plans of making fish tacos. This will be a difficult process with no counters downstairs. I have a stove, a table for 2, 3 hung cabinets and a laundry room sink that I'm employing...but I am a stubborn woman! Throw the cutting board on the dryer and away we go.
It's actually rather fun learning how to live with limited resources again. We have to wash dishes every night, dry them and put them away. I don't think we've done that once in the past 6 years that we've been at this house. Aaron washes, I dry and put them away.
Our TV is not hooked up downstairs, so we've been reading together and spending time with the cats and just talking. It's refreshing to not hear the TV.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I've learned some things over these past couple weeks as I've been packing and preparing for this new kitchen, dining room and living room remodel project.
I've learned that I have way too much "stuff." It took me 5 weeks to go through all of Dolores's things, my things and decide what to keep and what to get rid of. I had over 30 big black garbage bags that were picked up by the Cancer Federation over a span of 3 weeks. I brought many things to work for my co-workers to pick over. I garbaged many things that weren't worthy of anyone having. We've moved everything downstairs into the back bedroom and closed the door so the cats wouldn't get at it. I can't even go into the room because there are still so many boxes and bags of things all over the floor. It's actually quite overwhelming to think of all the stuff that I still have. Some of it has sentimental value - my grandmother's things, Dolores's things, Aaron's grandmother's things, etc. I know in my mind that it's all just stuff, but in my heart it's hard to let go. We don't have any children either, so who the heck am I going to give this stuff to?
I also learned that if we ever had to move (God forbid!), that I would have to hire people to help me pack. HA! Seriously, I think I would collapse if I had to do it all by myself.
Another thing that I've learned is it's ok to be distracted to not feel grief so much. I actually had a decent time going through Dolores's things. I'm glad that I waited 7 months before doing it. I couldn't have done it before without sobbing. I thank God that she lived with us and we didn't have to rush through it like some people have to do with their parents' items. Grief takes time and sometimes TIME is a four-letter word.
I feel such a sense of accomplishment and now that our project has begun and it's day 2 and the sky isn't falling and our cats are ok, I am ready to take a deep breath and remain calm and just let it happen. I'll stay on the side lines writing my poetry, reading my books, playing with our cats, talking to friends that I've inadvertently snubbed over the past couple months during my focused frenzy. (I know they forgive me...) Oh, I can come up for air now.
Perhaps I'll begin by looking at Mediterranean Diabetic recipes, Asian Diabetic recipes, and then I'll get some sleep.
We had Ray buy our hood vent for the new stove because we couldn't figure out what to buy. The new "Wonderfridge" and dish washer will be delivered Thursday along with the stove (2 separate trucks!)
I am using Dolores's stove now, so for dinner I made Angel Hair pasta with 95% lean ground beef, onion and some jarred pasta sauce with roasted garlic. I served it with some unbuttered bread. Thought I would just keep it simple tonight.
Tomorrow I have grandiose plans of making fish tacos. This will be a difficult process with no counters downstairs. I have a stove, a table for 2, 3 hung cabinets and a laundry room sink that I'm employing...but I am a stubborn woman! Throw the cutting board on the dryer and away we go.
It's actually rather fun learning how to live with limited resources again. We have to wash dishes every night, dry them and put them away. I don't think we've done that once in the past 6 years that we've been at this house. Aaron washes, I dry and put them away.
Our TV is not hooked up downstairs, so we've been reading together and spending time with the cats and just talking. It's refreshing to not hear the TV.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I've learned some things over these past couple weeks as I've been packing and preparing for this new kitchen, dining room and living room remodel project.
I've learned that I have way too much "stuff." It took me 5 weeks to go through all of Dolores's things, my things and decide what to keep and what to get rid of. I had over 30 big black garbage bags that were picked up by the Cancer Federation over a span of 3 weeks. I brought many things to work for my co-workers to pick over. I garbaged many things that weren't worthy of anyone having. We've moved everything downstairs into the back bedroom and closed the door so the cats wouldn't get at it. I can't even go into the room because there are still so many boxes and bags of things all over the floor. It's actually quite overwhelming to think of all the stuff that I still have. Some of it has sentimental value - my grandmother's things, Dolores's things, Aaron's grandmother's things, etc. I know in my mind that it's all just stuff, but in my heart it's hard to let go. We don't have any children either, so who the heck am I going to give this stuff to?
I also learned that if we ever had to move (God forbid!), that I would have to hire people to help me pack. HA! Seriously, I think I would collapse if I had to do it all by myself.
Another thing that I've learned is it's ok to be distracted to not feel grief so much. I actually had a decent time going through Dolores's things. I'm glad that I waited 7 months before doing it. I couldn't have done it before without sobbing. I thank God that she lived with us and we didn't have to rush through it like some people have to do with their parents' items. Grief takes time and sometimes TIME is a four-letter word.
I feel such a sense of accomplishment and now that our project has begun and it's day 2 and the sky isn't falling and our cats are ok, I am ready to take a deep breath and remain calm and just let it happen. I'll stay on the side lines writing my poetry, reading my books, playing with our cats, talking to friends that I've inadvertently snubbed over the past couple months during my focused frenzy. (I know they forgive me...) Oh, I can come up for air now.
Perhaps I'll begin by looking at Mediterranean Diabetic recipes, Asian Diabetic recipes, and then I'll get some sleep.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Dday - A Success!
Well the first Demolition Day was a big success. We spent our evening downstairs with our little furry children. I made hotdogs and a salad, pickles and reduced fat chips. We shared a glass of rose wine and played with the cats until they decided to go to bed. Baby is sleeping in a magazine basket and Dolly has found a space on Dolores's bed that she loves. I don't understand the magazine basket but OK - as long as he's content.
I'm planning to try some Rachel Ray 30-minute meals...most likely next week since our menu is planned for this week. This week I'm mostly preparing things I don't have to cook in an oven.
We've decided that we are going to keep Dolores's old stove. It has a broiler beneath the oven which is not available in the newer stoves. We like that feature. So we'll get rid of our gold harvest Kenmore stove that I've had upstairs for the past 6 years and keep Dolores's. We had a long discussion about it tonight. I'm looking forward to my Viking professional stove, which is going to be delivered on Thursday. And I'm looking foward to having my back up stove be an old fashioned stove. A white Admiral. This should be interesting!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I am a very lucky woman and I don't take this for granted! With this new change, I've renewed my commitment to making healthy choices. Mediterranean and Asian cooking...here I come. I'm going to learn how to make just about everything healthy that you can imagine. I'm so excited! Thanks, Mom!
I'm planning to try some Rachel Ray 30-minute meals...most likely next week since our menu is planned for this week. This week I'm mostly preparing things I don't have to cook in an oven.
We've decided that we are going to keep Dolores's old stove. It has a broiler beneath the oven which is not available in the newer stoves. We like that feature. So we'll get rid of our gold harvest Kenmore stove that I've had upstairs for the past 6 years and keep Dolores's. We had a long discussion about it tonight. I'm looking forward to my Viking professional stove, which is going to be delivered on Thursday. And I'm looking foward to having my back up stove be an old fashioned stove. A white Admiral. This should be interesting!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I am a very lucky woman and I don't take this for granted! With this new change, I've renewed my commitment to making healthy choices. Mediterranean and Asian cooking...here I come. I'm going to learn how to make just about everything healthy that you can imagine. I'm so excited! Thanks, Mom!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Kitchen Demolition Tomorrow!
We're all packed up and ready for the kitchen demolition tomorrow. I think the kitties know something is up. I just pray it won't be too stressful for Baby and Dolly with all the noise. Although, they made it through the past 5 months. In the past 5 months we've:
Replaced our deck
Replaced our siding
Replaced our windows
Painted the 3 bedrooms upstairs
So we're on the verge of the last project - a new kitchen with all new appliances, a new built in bar and island in the living room, a new entertainment center with built in bookshelves and a big screen TV with surround sound in the living room. This is going to be awesome!
We had our last meal in the old kitchen tonight. I made scrambled egg sandwiches with cheddarwursts. We also had a nice white wine to go with it.
The kitchen is now bare and it echoes when we talk. Weird.
It finally cooled off today so I took Baby outside for awhile. He sniffed around for about 15 minutes and then came back upstairs and waited at the deck door to be let in. Dolores's flower box is doing wonderfully. Our tomatoes and hot peppers are doing well, our rose bush is not and all our marigolds died. I think I will fill those in with pretty stones next year instead.
Mom, Aaron and I all had a great dinner at Johnny's Chop House once again. Mom and I had London Broil with broccoli and a salad. Aaron had Mediterranean chicken and cream of potato soup. We shared a bottle of Crossings Savignon Blanc. The meal was perfect, healthy and within our budget. Johnny's is our favorite restaurant. Our waitress-friend, Mary and I are now sharing our poetry. I brought a poem that I had published in a book and read it to her. She has all of her's memorized so she performed one for me! It's so fun to share this way.
Now that I'm going to be in limbo for awhile with the kitchen project, I've promised Mom and Aaron that I would write more. If I find it worthy of an audience, I will also post my writing here.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I'm trying to decide if I should continue this blog after the 1 year mark or if I should begin another one of all my creative writing instead. What do you think? What would you like to see? Let me know.
Replaced our deck
Replaced our siding
Replaced our windows
Painted the 3 bedrooms upstairs
So we're on the verge of the last project - a new kitchen with all new appliances, a new built in bar and island in the living room, a new entertainment center with built in bookshelves and a big screen TV with surround sound in the living room. This is going to be awesome!
We had our last meal in the old kitchen tonight. I made scrambled egg sandwiches with cheddarwursts. We also had a nice white wine to go with it.
The kitchen is now bare and it echoes when we talk. Weird.
It finally cooled off today so I took Baby outside for awhile. He sniffed around for about 15 minutes and then came back upstairs and waited at the deck door to be let in. Dolores's flower box is doing wonderfully. Our tomatoes and hot peppers are doing well, our rose bush is not and all our marigolds died. I think I will fill those in with pretty stones next year instead.
Mom, Aaron and I all had a great dinner at Johnny's Chop House once again. Mom and I had London Broil with broccoli and a salad. Aaron had Mediterranean chicken and cream of potato soup. We shared a bottle of Crossings Savignon Blanc. The meal was perfect, healthy and within our budget. Johnny's is our favorite restaurant. Our waitress-friend, Mary and I are now sharing our poetry. I brought a poem that I had published in a book and read it to her. She has all of her's memorized so she performed one for me! It's so fun to share this way.
Now that I'm going to be in limbo for awhile with the kitchen project, I've promised Mom and Aaron that I would write more. If I find it worthy of an audience, I will also post my writing here.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I'm trying to decide if I should continue this blog after the 1 year mark or if I should begin another one of all my creative writing instead. What do you think? What would you like to see? Let me know.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The new stove shipped!
Well Greek Hot Dogs didn't go over too well. In fact, I never even got to make them. We talked about it in the car on the way home and Aaron crinkled up his nose so tight that I just made regular diet hot dogs with fat free turkey chili, mustard, onions, tomotoes and whole wheat buns. Sounds boring doesn't it?
I did make an artichoke and black olive salad with olive oil and vinegar and seasonings to go with it though.
Oh, well. I guess it wasn't the best of ideas that I've had.
Tomorrow night I have to work late, which is very rare. Aaron is going to the dentist for phase 2 of his many phases of dental work that he needs done. So, I think I'll go to Subway for a turkey sub tomorrow night. I'm not sure what Aaron will be able to eat but I hear that it may be filet of fish at McDonald's. Not the best choice, but considering what he's going through and the fact that it will be "soft" food, I won't put up too much of a fuss about fast food.
The Viking professional 6-burner stove that we ordered from New York for our new kitchen has shipped!!! The new stainless steel refrigerator and dish washer are in at Lowes and ready to be delivered as soon as we say so. I still need to pick out a microwave, a hood vent, a new kitchen faucet, stone flooring, stones for the archway over the stove and lighting. But one day at a time! Demolition of the old kitchen is scheduled for Monday, so we have time.
I've been looking at some 30-minute Rachel Ray meals from her magazine. Once we move into the basement (Monday) I'll need some quick meals to cook during the week that are easy to make. I'll have limited space and time with all the construction and chaos going on in our home. I've found a few that look good and I will share them when I make them. I love the fact that she's trying to help get kid's school lunches healthier. Kids are so much heavier now and it will be that much harder for them to lose weight later. I commend her for this!
I did make an artichoke and black olive salad with olive oil and vinegar and seasonings to go with it though.
Oh, well. I guess it wasn't the best of ideas that I've had.
Tomorrow night I have to work late, which is very rare. Aaron is going to the dentist for phase 2 of his many phases of dental work that he needs done. So, I think I'll go to Subway for a turkey sub tomorrow night. I'm not sure what Aaron will be able to eat but I hear that it may be filet of fish at McDonald's. Not the best choice, but considering what he's going through and the fact that it will be "soft" food, I won't put up too much of a fuss about fast food.
The Viking professional 6-burner stove that we ordered from New York for our new kitchen has shipped!!! The new stainless steel refrigerator and dish washer are in at Lowes and ready to be delivered as soon as we say so. I still need to pick out a microwave, a hood vent, a new kitchen faucet, stone flooring, stones for the archway over the stove and lighting. But one day at a time! Demolition of the old kitchen is scheduled for Monday, so we have time.
I've been looking at some 30-minute Rachel Ray meals from her magazine. Once we move into the basement (Monday) I'll need some quick meals to cook during the week that are easy to make. I'll have limited space and time with all the construction and chaos going on in our home. I've found a few that look good and I will share them when I make them. I love the fact that she's trying to help get kid's school lunches healthier. Kids are so much heavier now and it will be that much harder for them to lose weight later. I commend her for this!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Kitchen, Hot Dogs and Revelation
Getting ready for the kitchen demolition which is scheduled for Monday, 8-16-10. We are really excited and hopefully I will be able to post some photos. If not on this site, then on my facebook page.
All packed up in the kitchen, dining room, living room and hallway. Sunday night we're moving downstairs. Ray and gang are coming over Saturday to move the final pieces of furniture in place so Sunday won't be that big of a deal.
I'm spending some quality time with the cats tonight. They are going to have to adapt to moving back downstairs and we are feeling sorry for them, but they are doing pretty well considering all the changes they've dealt with since Dolores passed away.
Tomorrow night I'm going to try Mediterranean hot dogs. I'm going to make diet hot dogs on wheat buns, but I'm going to add feta cheese, onions, tomatoes and green olives on top. Then on the side I'm going to make a black olive and artichoke salad with oil and vinegar dressing with seasonings. Aaron turned his nose up at the idea, but I think he's going to like it. At least he said he'd try it. I'll have mustard and fat free chili waiting in the wings just in case!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I've been reading Revelation in the Bible. It's very interesting how many times the reference to supper, eating with Jesus, wine, olive oil, the wedding feast, etc are mentioned in this book. It is an honor to share a meal and all food must be blessed and not sacrificed to an idol in order to be holy and worthy of eating. God is very interested and specific about what should and shouldn't be eaten. Take a look, despite many other topics discussed, food is mentioned throughout as John describes his vision.
All packed up in the kitchen, dining room, living room and hallway. Sunday night we're moving downstairs. Ray and gang are coming over Saturday to move the final pieces of furniture in place so Sunday won't be that big of a deal.
I'm spending some quality time with the cats tonight. They are going to have to adapt to moving back downstairs and we are feeling sorry for them, but they are doing pretty well considering all the changes they've dealt with since Dolores passed away.
Tomorrow night I'm going to try Mediterranean hot dogs. I'm going to make diet hot dogs on wheat buns, but I'm going to add feta cheese, onions, tomatoes and green olives on top. Then on the side I'm going to make a black olive and artichoke salad with oil and vinegar dressing with seasonings. Aaron turned his nose up at the idea, but I think he's going to like it. At least he said he'd try it. I'll have mustard and fat free chili waiting in the wings just in case!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I've been reading Revelation in the Bible. It's very interesting how many times the reference to supper, eating with Jesus, wine, olive oil, the wedding feast, etc are mentioned in this book. It is an honor to share a meal and all food must be blessed and not sacrificed to an idol in order to be holy and worthy of eating. God is very interested and specific about what should and shouldn't be eaten. Take a look, despite many other topics discussed, food is mentioned throughout as John describes his vision.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Weekend Update
Pam seared some rainbow trout for dinner tonight. I served it with some home made potato salad, fresh asparagus, french bread and diet butter, and Mama made a fresh salad with a little salmon in it. Oh boy, that was a good meal.
Friday I was having some trouble with anemia...completely wiped out. Aaron took me out to Johnny's chop house in Antioch for raw oysters and liver. I had to get some iron in me. I felt much better after that.
Saturday we went out again to Johnny's this time with Mom. We all ordered chicken. Aaron and Mom had Mediterranean chicken and I had martini chicken. It was a chicken breast char broiled with vodka and vermouth cream sauce and then smothered in green olives. It was very good, but not as good as the Mediterranean chicken. That dish has a chicken breast with tomato, spinach, feta, lemon and garlic piled on top of garlic mashed potatoes. It's very yummy.
We took it easy this weekend, watched movies and got some rest.
Tomorrow we find out when we'll break ground for the new kitchen. I am so looking forward to it!
Friday I was having some trouble with anemia...completely wiped out. Aaron took me out to Johnny's chop house in Antioch for raw oysters and liver. I had to get some iron in me. I felt much better after that.
Saturday we went out again to Johnny's this time with Mom. We all ordered chicken. Aaron and Mom had Mediterranean chicken and I had martini chicken. It was a chicken breast char broiled with vodka and vermouth cream sauce and then smothered in green olives. It was very good, but not as good as the Mediterranean chicken. That dish has a chicken breast with tomato, spinach, feta, lemon and garlic piled on top of garlic mashed potatoes. It's very yummy.
We took it easy this weekend, watched movies and got some rest.
Tomorrow we find out when we'll break ground for the new kitchen. I am so looking forward to it!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
More sleep
I just love my Mediterranean Tuna Melts that I was inspired by Rachel Ray to create. Canned tuna in water, capers, roasted red peppers, green olives with pimento, onions, salt, pepper, garlic powder, olive oil. Put this mixture on whole grain English Muffin halves and sprinkle Fontina cheese over the top. Bake at 450 degrees until the cheese starts to turn brown. They are yummy.
I'm all packed up in the kitchen and we are just waiting for a go-date to break ground so to speak. The kitchen will be gutted. The renovations will take place in the kitchen, dining room and living room. The hallway will also be painted and we're getting all new interior doors.
Can you believe that we ordered a Viking professional gas oven/range with 6 burners in stainless steel? I am so excited. We're getting a new fridge, dish washer, microwave, sink, all new cabinets, a built-in bar which will incorporate our 3 wine coolers, a built in entertainment center and new TV and stereo system, new floors, an island that seats 8 people and the list goes on and on. I am blessed. My Mom is helping us with all of this both financially and creatively. She is a special woman. I do have to say. She is encouraging me to cook right and eat right in our new kitchen.
I've been eating dried Mediterranean apricots with raw almonds and edamame lightly salted for a snack at work. Also, I alternate with South Beach protein fit bars. I've found these Lean Cuisine Asian lunches and they are really good. The stir fry chicken with peanut sauce is excellent for a diet meal.
Tonight we had diet hot dogs with fat free chili and whole wheat buns, onions, mustard, cheese and a spinach and romaine salad to go with. Must keep up the iron intake!
Good night everyone. Remember to get your beauty sleep. That's so important and I just don't get enough. However, tonight I am seeking a long night of sleep!
I'm all packed up in the kitchen and we are just waiting for a go-date to break ground so to speak. The kitchen will be gutted. The renovations will take place in the kitchen, dining room and living room. The hallway will also be painted and we're getting all new interior doors.
Can you believe that we ordered a Viking professional gas oven/range with 6 burners in stainless steel? I am so excited. We're getting a new fridge, dish washer, microwave, sink, all new cabinets, a built-in bar which will incorporate our 3 wine coolers, a built in entertainment center and new TV and stereo system, new floors, an island that seats 8 people and the list goes on and on. I am blessed. My Mom is helping us with all of this both financially and creatively. She is a special woman. I do have to say. She is encouraging me to cook right and eat right in our new kitchen.
I've been eating dried Mediterranean apricots with raw almonds and edamame lightly salted for a snack at work. Also, I alternate with South Beach protein fit bars. I've found these Lean Cuisine Asian lunches and they are really good. The stir fry chicken with peanut sauce is excellent for a diet meal.
Tonight we had diet hot dogs with fat free chili and whole wheat buns, onions, mustard, cheese and a spinach and romaine salad to go with. Must keep up the iron intake!
Good night everyone. Remember to get your beauty sleep. That's so important and I just don't get enough. However, tonight I am seeking a long night of sleep!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
New website support
This past week has been stressful at work with all the goings on. Good things, very good, but stressful just the same.
At home, all I've been doing is packing up the kitchen, dining room and living room and moving things downstairs in boxes - with Aaron's help of course. It's been fun but very time consuming and labor intensive. Getting alot of exercise though.
With this anemia, I'm cold all the time and so tired. I am not as dizzy and my neck feels better now that it's aligned so I'm sure that's helping. I'm still taking the One A Day Plus Iron supplements so I'm doing better. Today at work I had on a thick blouse and a sweater. I wore it outside and I know people were looking at me funny but oh well, I was COLD!
Ok, so the diet update. I actually am so frustrated by trying to watch what I eat and not seeing the good results that I Googled: "Can Type 2 Diabetics Lose Weight?" Here's what I came up with:
Lifelong changes in eating habits, physical activity, and attitudes about food and weight are essential to weight management. Unfortunately, although many people can lose weight initially, it is very difficult to maintain weight loss. People with type 2 diabetes may have a particularly difficult time. Here are some general suggestions that may be helpful:
1. Start with realistic goals. When overweight people achieve even modest weight loss they reduce risk factors in the heart. Ideally, overweight patients should strive for 15% weight loss or better, particularly people with type 2 diabetes.
2. A regular exercise program is essential for maintaining weight loss. If there are no health prohibitions, choose one that is enjoyable. Check with a doctor about any health consideration. 3. Hunger pangs should not be taken as cues to eat. A stomach that has been stretched by large meals will continue to signal hunger for large amounts of food until its size reduces over time with smaller meals.
4. Be honest about how much you eat, and track calories carefully. Studies on weight control that depend on self-reporting of food intake frequently reveal that subjects badly misjudge how much they eat (typically underestimating high-calorie foods and overestimating low-calorie foods). In one study, even dietitians underreported their calorie intake by 10%. People who do not carefully note everything they eat tend to take in excessive calories when they believe they are dieting.
5. For patients who cannot lose weight with diet alone, effective weight-loss medications are now available, including sibutramine (Meridia) and orlistat (Xenical). Orlistat may have particular benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes. This drug may delay or even prevent the onset or progression of diabetes. It may also improve cholesterol levels, regardless of weight loss. Sibutramine is also helpful in weight loss but should not be used by patients with high blood pressure or kidney or liver problems.
6. Once a person has lost weight, maintenance is required. To maintain a healthy weight, make careful decisions about how many calories you consume in food and how many calories you expend through physical activity. Such thinking will eventually become automatic.
Well, I'm glad I found this website. It's from Health Central (MyDiabetesCentral.com). I guess I just needed some reassurance that it's harder for Type 2 Diabetics to lose weight and maintain the weight loss.
My recipe for last night's dinner was my own creation of a cross between lamb stew and beef stroganoff. I cooked lamb and beef in the crockpot Sunday with seasonings and water. Then last night I made some eggwhite noodles, and put some fat free sour cream in the stew and mixed everything together. Aaron added some merlot to the pot and we had a really nice stew. It wasn't the best, but it was really good. There is so much flavor in the M-A diet. We're really liking it.
We just began watching Michael Symon's Cook Like An Iron Chef on the Food Network. He made lamb a few different ways last night with some fresh mint leaves in his sauce and it looked so good I had to run outside and cut some mint leaves from the garden so we could munch on them while we watched. That was kind of cute.
At home, all I've been doing is packing up the kitchen, dining room and living room and moving things downstairs in boxes - with Aaron's help of course. It's been fun but very time consuming and labor intensive. Getting alot of exercise though.
With this anemia, I'm cold all the time and so tired. I am not as dizzy and my neck feels better now that it's aligned so I'm sure that's helping. I'm still taking the One A Day Plus Iron supplements so I'm doing better. Today at work I had on a thick blouse and a sweater. I wore it outside and I know people were looking at me funny but oh well, I was COLD!
Ok, so the diet update. I actually am so frustrated by trying to watch what I eat and not seeing the good results that I Googled: "Can Type 2 Diabetics Lose Weight?" Here's what I came up with:
Lifelong changes in eating habits, physical activity, and attitudes about food and weight are essential to weight management. Unfortunately, although many people can lose weight initially, it is very difficult to maintain weight loss. People with type 2 diabetes may have a particularly difficult time. Here are some general suggestions that may be helpful:
1. Start with realistic goals. When overweight people achieve even modest weight loss they reduce risk factors in the heart. Ideally, overweight patients should strive for 15% weight loss or better, particularly people with type 2 diabetes.
2. A regular exercise program is essential for maintaining weight loss. If there are no health prohibitions, choose one that is enjoyable. Check with a doctor about any health consideration. 3. Hunger pangs should not be taken as cues to eat. A stomach that has been stretched by large meals will continue to signal hunger for large amounts of food until its size reduces over time with smaller meals.
4. Be honest about how much you eat, and track calories carefully. Studies on weight control that depend on self-reporting of food intake frequently reveal that subjects badly misjudge how much they eat (typically underestimating high-calorie foods and overestimating low-calorie foods). In one study, even dietitians underreported their calorie intake by 10%. People who do not carefully note everything they eat tend to take in excessive calories when they believe they are dieting.
5. For patients who cannot lose weight with diet alone, effective weight-loss medications are now available, including sibutramine (Meridia) and orlistat (Xenical). Orlistat may have particular benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes. This drug may delay or even prevent the onset or progression of diabetes. It may also improve cholesterol levels, regardless of weight loss. Sibutramine is also helpful in weight loss but should not be used by patients with high blood pressure or kidney or liver problems.
6. Once a person has lost weight, maintenance is required. To maintain a healthy weight, make careful decisions about how many calories you consume in food and how many calories you expend through physical activity. Such thinking will eventually become automatic.
Well, I'm glad I found this website. It's from Health Central (MyDiabetesCentral.com). I guess I just needed some reassurance that it's harder for Type 2 Diabetics to lose weight and maintain the weight loss.
My recipe for last night's dinner was my own creation of a cross between lamb stew and beef stroganoff. I cooked lamb and beef in the crockpot Sunday with seasonings and water. Then last night I made some eggwhite noodles, and put some fat free sour cream in the stew and mixed everything together. Aaron added some merlot to the pot and we had a really nice stew. It wasn't the best, but it was really good. There is so much flavor in the M-A diet. We're really liking it.
We just began watching Michael Symon's Cook Like An Iron Chef on the Food Network. He made lamb a few different ways last night with some fresh mint leaves in his sauce and it looked so good I had to run outside and cut some mint leaves from the garden so we could munch on them while we watched. That was kind of cute.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Feeling Better
It's so sweet to be a mommy of the 2 best kitty cats there are! I had fun with them over the weekend.
We're packing up the kitchen and taking it all into the basement. Getting lots of exercise going up and down the stairs.
I'm feeling better with the iron supplements and also getting regular adjustments to my neck and spine which I believe has something to do with my dizziness. Baro-receptors play a big part in keeping you balanced. Mine are off because my neck has so many structural problems. So we're working on that too.
I'm getting compliments on being a little smaller in my figure. My clothes are fitting better. All this exercise is paying off.
For dinner tonight I made Agnes Dish, a casserole of 95% lean ground beef, onions, canned peas, tater tots and on the top cream of mushroom soup (diet version). Brown the meat and onion, layer with the other ingredients in a casserole dish, bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 375 and serve it immediately with ketchup, hot sauce, or just plain. It's really good.
I must remember my beauty sleep and get to bed now.
We're packing up the kitchen and taking it all into the basement. Getting lots of exercise going up and down the stairs.
I'm feeling better with the iron supplements and also getting regular adjustments to my neck and spine which I believe has something to do with my dizziness. Baro-receptors play a big part in keeping you balanced. Mine are off because my neck has so many structural problems. So we're working on that too.
I'm getting compliments on being a little smaller in my figure. My clothes are fitting better. All this exercise is paying off.
For dinner tonight I made Agnes Dish, a casserole of 95% lean ground beef, onions, canned peas, tater tots and on the top cream of mushroom soup (diet version). Brown the meat and onion, layer with the other ingredients in a casserole dish, bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 375 and serve it immediately with ketchup, hot sauce, or just plain. It's really good.
I must remember my beauty sleep and get to bed now.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Blood Test Results
My blood tests came back showing iron deficiency anemia. My hemoglobin is 10.5. Hmmm, that would explain my tiredness and dizziness. Dr. Clark has put me on a multivitamin plus iron.
I also have to concentrate on eating food rich in iron...liver, beans, seafood, red meat, broccoli, nuts and dried fruits (raisins, prunes, dates, apricots). I also found out that the red wine that I'm leaning toward is an iron absorption inhibitor, but white wine is not. So for now, I will be eating an iron-rich diet and switching to white wine to wash it down.
Gosh, I hope I start feeling better soon. I am so tired and I work all day, then come home and work in the house getting it ready for our kitchen remodeling. I must take a beauty-sleep break.
Maybe tonight!
I also have to concentrate on eating food rich in iron...liver, beans, seafood, red meat, broccoli, nuts and dried fruits (raisins, prunes, dates, apricots). I also found out that the red wine that I'm leaning toward is an iron absorption inhibitor, but white wine is not. So for now, I will be eating an iron-rich diet and switching to white wine to wash it down.
Gosh, I hope I start feeling better soon. I am so tired and I work all day, then come home and work in the house getting it ready for our kitchen remodeling. I must take a beauty-sleep break.
Maybe tonight!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Messages of support from friends
Yes, this is much better. I am even more relaxed than I have been in a very long time. I've received some messages from friends that I would like to share with all of you. The first is from my friend, Joyce...
I read your blog today and want you to know how happy I am with your decision. Your less stressful approach to your health will certainly bring you success. Sometimes we try too hard, when in fact the more relaxed route is the best one. It may take a little more time to meet your goal, but you will probably feel a lot better along the way. Most diets are pretty extreme and cause us to deprive ourselves to an unhealthy level. My belief is It is better to have a little of the things you love than none at all. Also, the most important factor in any exercise program is that it is one you really enjoy. Finally, my doctor has always advised me that the benefits of red wine are unsurpassed, so if you want to have a drink, make it red wine! Cheers!
The second is from my friend, Cindy, who I went to high school with...
Hi Jill,
You go girl! I love reading your blog, you just tell it like it is. I have tried to do more of the M-A cooking as well (thank you for sharing that info!!)... Hoping this next week finds you making good choices all around :)
Thank you both for your helpful comments and support. I really appreciate hearing from those who are reading.
I wanted to share what I made for dinner yesterday. I boiled some shrimp (the big ones of course!) and set them aside. I then made some thin spaghetti and put it in a large bowl, added EVOO, parmesan and some black pepper and tossed it. For the sauce I chopped and sauteed some artichoke hearts, canned mushrooms, canned clams, roasted red peppers, green onions, green olives and minced garlic in EVOO and mixed it all together. I added a little balsamic vinegar over the top as I served it for a splash of flavor. I served this with 1 piece of french bread with diet butter for each person and some Le Seur peas with lemon pepper seasoning. It was so healthy and flavorful and so easy to make. We had a glass of rose wine to go with it.
When my Mom left and Aaron was in bed I packed up some more kitchen stuff in boxes and carried them downstairs. I think I made about 16 trips downstairs and I had a great workout, heart pumping, sweating, leg muscles and arm muscles pumped up. It felt great.
Tonight is left overs, tee hee! But no wine and no bread. I love this way of eating. More trips down the stairs tonight too.
I read your blog today and want you to know how happy I am with your decision. Your less stressful approach to your health will certainly bring you success. Sometimes we try too hard, when in fact the more relaxed route is the best one. It may take a little more time to meet your goal, but you will probably feel a lot better along the way. Most diets are pretty extreme and cause us to deprive ourselves to an unhealthy level. My belief is It is better to have a little of the things you love than none at all. Also, the most important factor in any exercise program is that it is one you really enjoy. Finally, my doctor has always advised me that the benefits of red wine are unsurpassed, so if you want to have a drink, make it red wine! Cheers!
The second is from my friend, Cindy, who I went to high school with...
Hi Jill,
You go girl! I love reading your blog, you just tell it like it is. I have tried to do more of the M-A cooking as well (thank you for sharing that info!!)... Hoping this next week finds you making good choices all around :)
Thank you both for your helpful comments and support. I really appreciate hearing from those who are reading.
I wanted to share what I made for dinner yesterday. I boiled some shrimp (the big ones of course!) and set them aside. I then made some thin spaghetti and put it in a large bowl, added EVOO, parmesan and some black pepper and tossed it. For the sauce I chopped and sauteed some artichoke hearts, canned mushrooms, canned clams, roasted red peppers, green onions, green olives and minced garlic in EVOO and mixed it all together. I added a little balsamic vinegar over the top as I served it for a splash of flavor. I served this with 1 piece of french bread with diet butter for each person and some Le Seur peas with lemon pepper seasoning. It was so healthy and flavorful and so easy to make. We had a glass of rose wine to go with it.
When my Mom left and Aaron was in bed I packed up some more kitchen stuff in boxes and carried them downstairs. I think I made about 16 trips downstairs and I had a great workout, heart pumping, sweating, leg muscles and arm muscles pumped up. It felt great.
Tonight is left overs, tee hee! But no wine and no bread. I love this way of eating. More trips down the stairs tonight too.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Moving Forward, Not Looking Back
Good Morning,
I've been doing alot of thinking about this whole weight loss endeavor and trying to be healthy. I have been on many different diets with many different approaches and have either lost a little weight, or became sick. The only diet that's ever worked and that has fit into our lifestyles has been Weight Watchers. But, sooner or later, we "go off" all of the diets that we "go on" and gain all the weight back and are right back where we started.
I'm not going to do this anymore. I'm not going on a special diet where I have to buy a book, special food, see a doctor, etc.
I'm going to follow the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association recommendations for what all people need to eat on a daily basis. I am simultaneously going to continue eating the Mediterranean-Asian style. I am going to coninue to eat less, exercise more, less alcohol (concentrating on red wine as my main alcoholic drink), more sleep, more laughing with friends and family, less stress. It just seems to make the most sense to me.
In the days to come before my year is up on this endeavor and blog, (October 27th) I will share my successes with different recipes following the M-A style of cooking, my weight loss and other thoughts about my relationship with food, Diabetes and how I'm going to fit this all into my lifestyle.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I've learned something about myself over the past couple of weeks. I've been relying on "the diet" to make me lose weight and to make me healthy. But "the diet" is not going to do it for me. With God's help and His gift of free will to all of us, He wants me to choose to be healthy and to lose weight. It's all up to me. Me on the inside, me making choices every day, me me me. I have to rely on what I think and feel and do to make this happen. I obviously need God's help and all of your support, but it really is up to me. I pray I choose well every day.
I've been doing alot of thinking about this whole weight loss endeavor and trying to be healthy. I have been on many different diets with many different approaches and have either lost a little weight, or became sick. The only diet that's ever worked and that has fit into our lifestyles has been Weight Watchers. But, sooner or later, we "go off" all of the diets that we "go on" and gain all the weight back and are right back where we started.
I'm not going to do this anymore. I'm not going on a special diet where I have to buy a book, special food, see a doctor, etc.
I'm going to follow the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association recommendations for what all people need to eat on a daily basis. I am simultaneously going to continue eating the Mediterranean-Asian style. I am going to coninue to eat less, exercise more, less alcohol (concentrating on red wine as my main alcoholic drink), more sleep, more laughing with friends and family, less stress. It just seems to make the most sense to me.
In the days to come before my year is up on this endeavor and blog, (October 27th) I will share my successes with different recipes following the M-A style of cooking, my weight loss and other thoughts about my relationship with food, Diabetes and how I'm going to fit this all into my lifestyle.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I've learned something about myself over the past couple of weeks. I've been relying on "the diet" to make me lose weight and to make me healthy. But "the diet" is not going to do it for me. With God's help and His gift of free will to all of us, He wants me to choose to be healthy and to lose weight. It's all up to me. Me on the inside, me making choices every day, me me me. I have to rely on what I think and feel and do to make this happen. I obviously need God's help and all of your support, but it really is up to me. I pray I choose well every day.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
100th Posting!
Well hello there, I hope all of you had a long, relaxing and enjoyable weekend. We sure did.
I spent most of my time outside making minor repairs, decorating upgrades and painting various outdoor fixtures. I had a ball!
Our friend from work who is from India made us a whole curry chicken for our dinner Thursday night. I served it with a salad and some Ramen noodles. It was fantastic! He made the curry with yogurt, ginger, garlic, cumin, cilantro, and what he calls Opium seeds - poppy seeds! He is an excellent cook.
Friday we had a grilled steak, corn and mashed potatoes at our friends - Ray and Kortnee's house and met a very nice couple at their party and quickly became friends.
Saturday we went to Johnny's Chop House in Antioch. Aaron and Mom had Grecian Chicken and I had coconut shrimp. It was the best I've ever had.
Sunday I had such a taste for crabcakes so I went grocery shopping and bought some lump crabmeat and made them for my family. They turned out great. I used Italian bread torn to shreds instead of breadcrumbs and the consistency was very good. I served some mussels, a salad, creamed corn, pickles and olives to go with it.
Monday we were off too and decided to do a simple meal - Mom's idea. We made some diet hotdogs!
Aaron took me out for breakfast on the 4th of July to Triangle in Grayslake. I had some of the best eggs benedict that I've ever had.
It was truly a delicious weekend. But we didn't go overboard. I'm enjoying not being on a special diet. We are still making a great effort to eat less, exercise more, drink less, laugh more and get better sleep. We are feeling better for it.
Enjoy your week.
I spent most of my time outside making minor repairs, decorating upgrades and painting various outdoor fixtures. I had a ball!
Our friend from work who is from India made us a whole curry chicken for our dinner Thursday night. I served it with a salad and some Ramen noodles. It was fantastic! He made the curry with yogurt, ginger, garlic, cumin, cilantro, and what he calls Opium seeds - poppy seeds! He is an excellent cook.
Friday we had a grilled steak, corn and mashed potatoes at our friends - Ray and Kortnee's house and met a very nice couple at their party and quickly became friends.
Saturday we went to Johnny's Chop House in Antioch. Aaron and Mom had Grecian Chicken and I had coconut shrimp. It was the best I've ever had.
Sunday I had such a taste for crabcakes so I went grocery shopping and bought some lump crabmeat and made them for my family. They turned out great. I used Italian bread torn to shreds instead of breadcrumbs and the consistency was very good. I served some mussels, a salad, creamed corn, pickles and olives to go with it.
Monday we were off too and decided to do a simple meal - Mom's idea. We made some diet hotdogs!
Aaron took me out for breakfast on the 4th of July to Triangle in Grayslake. I had some of the best eggs benedict that I've ever had.
It was truly a delicious weekend. But we didn't go overboard. I'm enjoying not being on a special diet. We are still making a great effort to eat less, exercise more, drink less, laugh more and get better sleep. We are feeling better for it.
Enjoy your week.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Back in Action
Wow, it's been a busy week and 1/2. Work and personal life very busy.
Aaron and I are looking forward to the 4 day weekend we have planned this Friday through Monday.
Between our health issues - Aaron had a virus, Baby is over his virus, and I'm having serious dizzy spells - and our home repairs/upgrades, there is hardly a moment that we are at rest.
I am so happy that I am not on a special diet where I have to read what medication to take and read what to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, that I feel free. We are following the Mediterranean and Asian diets, eating less, exercising more and cutting back on the alcohol. It's so simple. The weight will come off I'm sure. Obviously, since I've been at this for over 6 months with very little weight loss, it's been very difficult for me and it's frustrating but I'm not going to concentrate on how frustrated I am. I'm going to enjoy my summer, eat the foods I know I can have, stay away from the ones I shouldn't eat, go for walks, have fun with friends and not worry so much about this diet thing.
I do have an appointment with an ENT specialist who is also a surgeon on July 15th. My family doctor thinks my dizziness is from either viral labyrinthitis, a medication that I'm on - fluoxetine - or possibly a benign tumor in my inner ear.
Last night we ate tuna melts with olive oil, green olives, almonds, green onions and capers on top of whole grain english muffins and 2% american cheese melted on top.
Tonight I am making salmon filets with scrambled eggs and a spinach salad. Yum!
Here's to you!
Aaron and I are looking forward to the 4 day weekend we have planned this Friday through Monday.
Between our health issues - Aaron had a virus, Baby is over his virus, and I'm having serious dizzy spells - and our home repairs/upgrades, there is hardly a moment that we are at rest.
I am so happy that I am not on a special diet where I have to read what medication to take and read what to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, that I feel free. We are following the Mediterranean and Asian diets, eating less, exercising more and cutting back on the alcohol. It's so simple. The weight will come off I'm sure. Obviously, since I've been at this for over 6 months with very little weight loss, it's been very difficult for me and it's frustrating but I'm not going to concentrate on how frustrated I am. I'm going to enjoy my summer, eat the foods I know I can have, stay away from the ones I shouldn't eat, go for walks, have fun with friends and not worry so much about this diet thing.
I do have an appointment with an ENT specialist who is also a surgeon on July 15th. My family doctor thinks my dizziness is from either viral labyrinthitis, a medication that I'm on - fluoxetine - or possibly a benign tumor in my inner ear.
Last night we ate tuna melts with olive oil, green olives, almonds, green onions and capers on top of whole grain english muffins and 2% american cheese melted on top.
Tonight I am making salmon filets with scrambled eggs and a spinach salad. Yum!
Here's to you!
Monday, June 21, 2010
It's hard to cook when there's no power!
It's hard to cook when the power is out! We lost power from Friday afternoon until late yesterday night. Terrible rain storm and then ComEd couldn't find the problem.
Luckily our financial advisor and friend, Michael, took us all out to eat at Bob Chinn's Friday night. We didn't know out power was out until we got home after 9pm. Too late to cancel our Peapod order so the groceries were delivered. Our driver, Griffin, has also become a friend and he gave us 5 coolers with dry ice. All of our food sat in our kitchen until we finally heard Saturday that our power wasn't expected to go on until tonight at 11pm.
We drove everything over to my Mom's because her power was still on. We stuffed her fridge and freezer to the hilt! We couldn't fit the hamburger and italian sausage in the freezer so we decided to make spaghetti yesterday. We made some garlic bread out of the french bread that Peapod just brought and we had some fresh broccoli and a garden salad. Yum. Oh, don't forget the wine.
Sleeping without air conditioning on Saturday night didn't go over too well and when I left the house on Sunday - couldn't take it anymore - to get a new hairstyle and pedicure, I came home and Aaron was sweltering. I said, Good God, let's go to my mom's and if you want to stay in a hotel tonight, ok. So we did...
We tried to get a place close to where we work. The Staybridge in Glenview was booked, so we ended up at the Sheraton in Northbrook - right across the street from where we work. It was Fathers Day so maybe that's why we had to spend $244 with tax for a room with 2 double beds, and a toilet that didn't flush. No fridge, no microwave. Hmmm. We ended up in the lounge. It was just us 2 and the bar tender. Aaron ordered a bourbon and I ordered a scotch. As we were sitting there watching golf and chatting with the bar tender, I thought maybe they would have a nice appetizer - seafood related. So we orderd 1 crab cake each. They were very good. When we got the bill it was $52. What? My scotch was aged 21 years so it was $25 a pour. The crabcakes were $13 and Aaron's bourbon took up the rest of the bill. Then I had to leave a tip. I wanted to call my lawyer and sue ComEd for the inconvenience.
Anyway, the good news is, it was all wonderful and we made a new friend, the bar tender - Joe, who had so much fun with us that he asked us to stop by and have a drink with him again soon. The beds, pillows and comforters were fantastic. The only thing was, the power came on at about 9pm (instead of Monday night at 11pm like they had estimated) while we were at the hotel, so we didn't even need to sleep there!
In the morning Aaron was very nauseaus, (probably from the heat and maybe the crab cake that he had wasn't so wonderful after all?) so I ended up driving him all the way back home again and then turned around and in another rain storm, headed back to work!
I had no food and Aaron had no food at home because it was all at mom's house, so he had to call her and then go over and bring the food back home. I had to stop and get breakfast, and then go out for lunch. At least lunch was healthy - a tuna salad sandwich on wheat bread. Breakfast was an Egg McMuffin and a diet coke! Oh well. I guess under extreme circumstances, what can you do?
Tonight we'll have the left over spaghetti, salad and broccoli, so then we'll be back on track.
What a nightmare! We finally get a weekend where we don't need to do something and then all this crap happens.
Baby is so upset that he's attacked Dolly 3 times today. Poor kitties. Must sit with them for a long time tonight.
Luckily our financial advisor and friend, Michael, took us all out to eat at Bob Chinn's Friday night. We didn't know out power was out until we got home after 9pm. Too late to cancel our Peapod order so the groceries were delivered. Our driver, Griffin, has also become a friend and he gave us 5 coolers with dry ice. All of our food sat in our kitchen until we finally heard Saturday that our power wasn't expected to go on until tonight at 11pm.
We drove everything over to my Mom's because her power was still on. We stuffed her fridge and freezer to the hilt! We couldn't fit the hamburger and italian sausage in the freezer so we decided to make spaghetti yesterday. We made some garlic bread out of the french bread that Peapod just brought and we had some fresh broccoli and a garden salad. Yum. Oh, don't forget the wine.
Sleeping without air conditioning on Saturday night didn't go over too well and when I left the house on Sunday - couldn't take it anymore - to get a new hairstyle and pedicure, I came home and Aaron was sweltering. I said, Good God, let's go to my mom's and if you want to stay in a hotel tonight, ok. So we did...
We tried to get a place close to where we work. The Staybridge in Glenview was booked, so we ended up at the Sheraton in Northbrook - right across the street from where we work. It was Fathers Day so maybe that's why we had to spend $244 with tax for a room with 2 double beds, and a toilet that didn't flush. No fridge, no microwave. Hmmm. We ended up in the lounge. It was just us 2 and the bar tender. Aaron ordered a bourbon and I ordered a scotch. As we were sitting there watching golf and chatting with the bar tender, I thought maybe they would have a nice appetizer - seafood related. So we orderd 1 crab cake each. They were very good. When we got the bill it was $52. What? My scotch was aged 21 years so it was $25 a pour. The crabcakes were $13 and Aaron's bourbon took up the rest of the bill. Then I had to leave a tip. I wanted to call my lawyer and sue ComEd for the inconvenience.
Anyway, the good news is, it was all wonderful and we made a new friend, the bar tender - Joe, who had so much fun with us that he asked us to stop by and have a drink with him again soon. The beds, pillows and comforters were fantastic. The only thing was, the power came on at about 9pm (instead of Monday night at 11pm like they had estimated) while we were at the hotel, so we didn't even need to sleep there!
In the morning Aaron was very nauseaus, (probably from the heat and maybe the crab cake that he had wasn't so wonderful after all?) so I ended up driving him all the way back home again and then turned around and in another rain storm, headed back to work!
I had no food and Aaron had no food at home because it was all at mom's house, so he had to call her and then go over and bring the food back home. I had to stop and get breakfast, and then go out for lunch. At least lunch was healthy - a tuna salad sandwich on wheat bread. Breakfast was an Egg McMuffin and a diet coke! Oh well. I guess under extreme circumstances, what can you do?
Tonight we'll have the left over spaghetti, salad and broccoli, so then we'll be back on track.
What a nightmare! We finally get a weekend where we don't need to do something and then all this crap happens.
Baby is so upset that he's attacked Dolly 3 times today. Poor kitties. Must sit with them for a long time tonight.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Orthostatic Hypotension
So the new plan with Heal N Cure actually made me sick.
I found out that all of the products I was on were at such high levels that they were toxic! As a result, I have developed Orthostatic Hypotension. That means when I stand up I feel like passing out.
I visited my family doctor this week and we had to do a medication and vitamin change. My blood sugars were out of control, and I was feeling weak and dizzy. I still am.
I am very angry about this and incredibly frustrated. I did this to try to become healthier, lose weight and to get rid of the Diabetes. I was commited, I did everything I was supposed to and it all made sense...for someone else.
So no more shakes, no more high potency probiotics, Vitamin D, Metformin, detox cleansers, medical food, proti-snacks and bars, etc. No more feeling like crap!
After all this time and all this effort, I got on the scale today and guess what? I'm back to where I started on October 27th - 199.5! Good Grief.
I feel like I've been on a roller coaster ride, round and round, upside down and right back where I started. The only thing is this time I got sick.
So, back to the basics. We're sticking with the Mediterranean - Asian Diet, exercise, less alcohol, more sleep, less stress, more laughter.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I can't help thinking a certain amount of Vanity got in the way of my good judgement. I wanted so much to have an easy answer to get to "healthy" and "thin and beautiful" as quickly as possible. I guess that's why it's one of the 7 Deadly Sins.
God, please forgive me...and restore my health. Amen.
I found out that all of the products I was on were at such high levels that they were toxic! As a result, I have developed Orthostatic Hypotension. That means when I stand up I feel like passing out.
I visited my family doctor this week and we had to do a medication and vitamin change. My blood sugars were out of control, and I was feeling weak and dizzy. I still am.
I am very angry about this and incredibly frustrated. I did this to try to become healthier, lose weight and to get rid of the Diabetes. I was commited, I did everything I was supposed to and it all made sense...for someone else.
So no more shakes, no more high potency probiotics, Vitamin D, Metformin, detox cleansers, medical food, proti-snacks and bars, etc. No more feeling like crap!
After all this time and all this effort, I got on the scale today and guess what? I'm back to where I started on October 27th - 199.5! Good Grief.
I feel like I've been on a roller coaster ride, round and round, upside down and right back where I started. The only thing is this time I got sick.
So, back to the basics. We're sticking with the Mediterranean - Asian Diet, exercise, less alcohol, more sleep, less stress, more laughter.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I can't help thinking a certain amount of Vanity got in the way of my good judgement. I wanted so much to have an easy answer to get to "healthy" and "thin and beautiful" as quickly as possible. I guess that's why it's one of the 7 Deadly Sins.
God, please forgive me...and restore my health. Amen.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
American vs Mediterranean
The Tallgrass hotdogs were very good. Much healthier but still so much flavor. I will definitely get them again. They are about $5 for 6 big hot dogs on Peapod.com. Rather pricey but I'll still buy them.
We went out to eat on Friday and I ordered grilled shrimp tacos, which were great.
Saturday and today neither of us were feeling that great...some stomach issues and just overall exhausted. We decided we need a break from all the house projects. We are almost done with everything, just a small amount of little things for that finished look. I'm still putting the painted rooms back together...slowly.
We won't begin the kitchen project for at least another month. That will give us some time to pack up the kitchen, get rid of some things we don't want, order the cabinets, make sure they are in stock and then we'll be ready to go. The project will take about 6 weeks to finish with everything that we want to have done. We are going to take the cats over to Mom's house for the duration. It's just too much demo work, banging and sawing, etc. They have gone through enough these past 4 months already. "Grandcatmom" is thrilled to have her little grandkitties with her full time.
Getting back to food, over these past 2 weeks we have been eating more American foods and neither of us have been feeling that great. It just goes to show that the American diet is just not healthy. Our bodies don't even want it anymore. It was an interesting test to go back and see if we were missing anything. I surely am not. Maybe Aaron a little bit - he loves ribs and french fries! My body just can't take all those carbs and fat anymore. It wipes me out.
So tonight, Aaron had fish tacos for dinner, Mom had a grilled shrimp and spinach salad and I had a tuna melt. Back to Mediterranean...Ahhhh!
We went out to eat on Friday and I ordered grilled shrimp tacos, which were great.
Saturday and today neither of us were feeling that great...some stomach issues and just overall exhausted. We decided we need a break from all the house projects. We are almost done with everything, just a small amount of little things for that finished look. I'm still putting the painted rooms back together...slowly.
We won't begin the kitchen project for at least another month. That will give us some time to pack up the kitchen, get rid of some things we don't want, order the cabinets, make sure they are in stock and then we'll be ready to go. The project will take about 6 weeks to finish with everything that we want to have done. We are going to take the cats over to Mom's house for the duration. It's just too much demo work, banging and sawing, etc. They have gone through enough these past 4 months already. "Grandcatmom" is thrilled to have her little grandkitties with her full time.
Getting back to food, over these past 2 weeks we have been eating more American foods and neither of us have been feeling that great. It just goes to show that the American diet is just not healthy. Our bodies don't even want it anymore. It was an interesting test to go back and see if we were missing anything. I surely am not. Maybe Aaron a little bit - he loves ribs and french fries! My body just can't take all those carbs and fat anymore. It wipes me out.
So tonight, Aaron had fish tacos for dinner, Mom had a grilled shrimp and spinach salad and I had a tuna melt. Back to Mediterranean...Ahhhh!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Week Off
I took a week off - I'm sure you noticed. Things are still going very well.
The focus has been on our house projects. We are almost done with everything...just tying up some loose ends.
We just had our 2 bedrooms and our office painted so there is furniture, books, knick-knacks, etc all over the house. We've got to get that back together and finish what we've started. Once everything is done and in perfect shape (good luck with that...) then we are going to start remodeling our kitchen. More on those details later.
I wanted to say a little about the fish oil capsules that I'm taking. They are wonderful. I love the way they are changing my skin, especially on my face. I may have mentioned this before, but my face is clear of blemishes, dry spots, etc. My skin is soft and smooth. I really recommend the fish oil for all the health-related reasons but also for your skin. It's also supposed to help with inflamation. Although, skip the salt on your margarita and that will help too. ha!
Shrimp egg foo yung for lunch today and boy was that a treat. No MSG of course.
I've found these Tall Grass Beef hotdogs that are supposed to be really much better for you than regular processed hotdogs. We are going to try them for dinner tonight so I will let you know what I think of them.
More in the days to come...
The focus has been on our house projects. We are almost done with everything...just tying up some loose ends.
We just had our 2 bedrooms and our office painted so there is furniture, books, knick-knacks, etc all over the house. We've got to get that back together and finish what we've started. Once everything is done and in perfect shape (good luck with that...) then we are going to start remodeling our kitchen. More on those details later.
I wanted to say a little about the fish oil capsules that I'm taking. They are wonderful. I love the way they are changing my skin, especially on my face. I may have mentioned this before, but my face is clear of blemishes, dry spots, etc. My skin is soft and smooth. I really recommend the fish oil for all the health-related reasons but also for your skin. It's also supposed to help with inflamation. Although, skip the salt on your margarita and that will help too. ha!
Shrimp egg foo yung for lunch today and boy was that a treat. No MSG of course.
I've found these Tall Grass Beef hotdogs that are supposed to be really much better for you than regular processed hotdogs. We are going to try them for dinner tonight so I will let you know what I think of them.
More in the days to come...
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Weekend Update
Yes, it was truly a wonderful weekend. I got on the scale Sunday morning and found that I weighed 197 pounds. So I am now down again. Yeah!!!
This Mediterranean-Asian diet is really working well. I'm getting more exercise now that it is summer. Walking, gardening, running here and there to the store, etc.
Our house is really shaping up well. We now have a new deck, all new siding, windows, garage and shed are the same color as the siding. I've planted some flowers so it looks gorgeous in front of the house.
Aaron bought me a new cookbook. It's the Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook so I'm looking forward to reading that soon and sharing what I've learned with all of you.
This Mediterranean-Asian diet is really working well. I'm getting more exercise now that it is summer. Walking, gardening, running here and there to the store, etc.
Our house is really shaping up well. We now have a new deck, all new siding, windows, garage and shed are the same color as the siding. I've planted some flowers so it looks gorgeous in front of the house.
Aaron bought me a new cookbook. It's the Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook so I'm looking forward to reading that soon and sharing what I've learned with all of you.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Weekend/Holiday/Anniversary Plans
Hello there! Well, Aaron and I will be married 13 years on Monday, May 31st. So, we are taking a little time off to rest and relax and enjoy ourselves.
Tonight we will be dining in Northbrook at Di Pescara for their fabulous Chilean Sea Bass, shrimp and tuna tartar. Then we'll be moseying over to the Sybaris for a fantastic evening sipping wine by the poolside, hot tub, sauna and steam room, massage chair, movies, music, table for 2 by the fireplace, waterfall over the pool. Ahhh, I can't wait. Oh, did I mention that I secretly ordered 6 huge chocolate covered strawberries to be waiting in the refrigerator upon arrival?
Tomorrow my Mom will be taking us out to eat at Kawa, our favorite Japanese restaurant, for our anniversary.
Saturday, we are entertaining Michael, our financial advisor, to a Greek feast of barbecued beef, chicken and lamb shish kabobs, garlic-cucumber yogurt sauce, olives, hummus, pita and some good wine.
Sunday I think we'll fall over from too much excitement and I'll be forced to order in. Maybe Ray and Kortnee will come over to spend some time with us.
Monday I'll get the grill going again and we'll grill some chicken breasts, asparagus, egg plant and I'll make some Spanish potato salad and some fruit for dessert.
So, if you don't hear from me for awhile, you'll know that we're going to be having a heck of a good time.
I'll check in again on Tuesday!
Have a great holiday weekend and stay safe.
Tonight we will be dining in Northbrook at Di Pescara for their fabulous Chilean Sea Bass, shrimp and tuna tartar. Then we'll be moseying over to the Sybaris for a fantastic evening sipping wine by the poolside, hot tub, sauna and steam room, massage chair, movies, music, table for 2 by the fireplace, waterfall over the pool. Ahhh, I can't wait. Oh, did I mention that I secretly ordered 6 huge chocolate covered strawberries to be waiting in the refrigerator upon arrival?
Tomorrow my Mom will be taking us out to eat at Kawa, our favorite Japanese restaurant, for our anniversary.
Saturday, we are entertaining Michael, our financial advisor, to a Greek feast of barbecued beef, chicken and lamb shish kabobs, garlic-cucumber yogurt sauce, olives, hummus, pita and some good wine.
Sunday I think we'll fall over from too much excitement and I'll be forced to order in. Maybe Ray and Kortnee will come over to spend some time with us.
Monday I'll get the grill going again and we'll grill some chicken breasts, asparagus, egg plant and I'll make some Spanish potato salad and some fruit for dessert.
So, if you don't hear from me for awhile, you'll know that we're going to be having a heck of a good time.
I'll check in again on Tuesday!
Have a great holiday weekend and stay safe.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Appointment with Dr. Clark - update
I'm back now from Dr. Clark's office. He said overall, most the products that I'm on are for profit making for the doctor. He liked the ingredients in the shakes except for the caffeine. He cut me back to 1 scoop (1/2 the dosage) twice per day. He said I paid for it, I might as well eat it and this way it will last me longer. This container is almost gone.
He loved the fish oil and said it's probably the best fish oil out there that he's seen but way too expensive. He said when choosing a fish oil, make sure you can see through it and be able to read a page in a book, that's the best kind of oil. He also said that fish oil should be mercury free and from the smaller fish such as anchovies, sardines, etc. The bigger fish (salmon, tuna) are likely to eat a bunch of different things that aren't good and this gets passed to us.
He loved the D3 and said to keep on that because most of us are deficient anyways. I went to CVS and found this exact strength for 1/2 as much money.
He thought the detox pills were a waste of time and won't do what they promised to do. He said this is the latest fad, a few years ago it was hair implants! (He also noticed that these pills had taurine in them...Red Bull)
He thought I could get what I needed from a daily yogurt in the probiotic department and I could buy alot of daily yogurts for the $54 the probiotic cost me just to make me bloated and have diarrhea.
He liked the idea that I was on Glucophage (Metformin) 1000mg twice a day and wanted me to stay on that but agreed with me that I need something additional. He said since I'm on Metformin now, he would give me Actos 15mg once daily in the morning instead of Glipizide. He gave me samples for 2 weeks. He said if my blood sugars aren't between 100-150, then he's bumping me up to Actos 30 mg and he gave me a week's worth of those too. He also gave me an RX for Actos 15mg with 1 refill if the 15mg works.
He said I am trying very hard and after seeing my food log/Blood Sugar log, he said anyone with that much detail and effort is going to succeed. He told me not to beat myself up and that we have to tweak the plan along the way, everyone's metabolism is different and what works for some won't work for others. He said he thinks I'm almost there. He asked about my relatives because metabolism is genetic. I thought of my Aunt Jenny on my Mom's side and had to laugh. I look just like her.
He also said that many people are frustrated with the way allopathic medicine and medication have missed the boat on keeping us slim and healthy so it's very common to want to investigate diet supplements, shakes, pills, etc and he is actually blaming modern medicine and the drug industry for people feeling that they need something different.
Anyway, I asked him about the Mediterranean Diet and the Asian Diet. He said both of them individually and combined are excellent and anyone could lose weight and keep their blood sugars down eating that way. I asked him what he thought about if I should stop this diet at HNC or continue. He didn't want to make the decision and said, well you could try it for another month and just see or you could start the Mediterranean Diet if you want. I took that as a big hint.
So, we keep Metformin, add Actos, keep fish oil, D3, eat the shakes until they are gone, keep all the other meds I was on and start eating Mediterranean and Asian foods and continue walking 20-30 minutes a day. This is so much simpler and Aaron is VERY happy I went to see Dr. Clark and heard all of this from him. He's convinced that the M and A diets are the way to go. So am I.
For dinner tonight I made some boneless skinless chicken breasts, sauteed some green beans in olive oil, tossed with ff feta cheese and toast some whole wheat pita for dinner tonight. I also put that over some sauteed water cress. Yes, and I had 2 small glasses of red wine.
I took my blood sugar at 9pm and it was 120!!!
Ahhh, I feel so much better now. I think I have the whole plan.
He loved the fish oil and said it's probably the best fish oil out there that he's seen but way too expensive. He said when choosing a fish oil, make sure you can see through it and be able to read a page in a book, that's the best kind of oil. He also said that fish oil should be mercury free and from the smaller fish such as anchovies, sardines, etc. The bigger fish (salmon, tuna) are likely to eat a bunch of different things that aren't good and this gets passed to us.
He loved the D3 and said to keep on that because most of us are deficient anyways. I went to CVS and found this exact strength for 1/2 as much money.
He thought the detox pills were a waste of time and won't do what they promised to do. He said this is the latest fad, a few years ago it was hair implants! (He also noticed that these pills had taurine in them...Red Bull)
He thought I could get what I needed from a daily yogurt in the probiotic department and I could buy alot of daily yogurts for the $54 the probiotic cost me just to make me bloated and have diarrhea.
He liked the idea that I was on Glucophage (Metformin) 1000mg twice a day and wanted me to stay on that but agreed with me that I need something additional. He said since I'm on Metformin now, he would give me Actos 15mg once daily in the morning instead of Glipizide. He gave me samples for 2 weeks. He said if my blood sugars aren't between 100-150, then he's bumping me up to Actos 30 mg and he gave me a week's worth of those too. He also gave me an RX for Actos 15mg with 1 refill if the 15mg works.
He said I am trying very hard and after seeing my food log/Blood Sugar log, he said anyone with that much detail and effort is going to succeed. He told me not to beat myself up and that we have to tweak the plan along the way, everyone's metabolism is different and what works for some won't work for others. He said he thinks I'm almost there. He asked about my relatives because metabolism is genetic. I thought of my Aunt Jenny on my Mom's side and had to laugh. I look just like her.
He also said that many people are frustrated with the way allopathic medicine and medication have missed the boat on keeping us slim and healthy so it's very common to want to investigate diet supplements, shakes, pills, etc and he is actually blaming modern medicine and the drug industry for people feeling that they need something different.
Anyway, I asked him about the Mediterranean Diet and the Asian Diet. He said both of them individually and combined are excellent and anyone could lose weight and keep their blood sugars down eating that way. I asked him what he thought about if I should stop this diet at HNC or continue. He didn't want to make the decision and said, well you could try it for another month and just see or you could start the Mediterranean Diet if you want. I took that as a big hint.
So, we keep Metformin, add Actos, keep fish oil, D3, eat the shakes until they are gone, keep all the other meds I was on and start eating Mediterranean and Asian foods and continue walking 20-30 minutes a day. This is so much simpler and Aaron is VERY happy I went to see Dr. Clark and heard all of this from him. He's convinced that the M and A diets are the way to go. So am I.
For dinner tonight I made some boneless skinless chicken breasts, sauteed some green beans in olive oil, tossed with ff feta cheese and toast some whole wheat pita for dinner tonight. I also put that over some sauteed water cress. Yes, and I had 2 small glasses of red wine.
I took my blood sugar at 9pm and it was 120!!!
Ahhh, I feel so much better now. I think I have the whole plan.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Not Working - need a new plan
The adjustments that were made at my last appointment are making me feel terrible. I have been feeling wiped out, exhausted, still bloated and puffed up. In fact, my blood sugar is totally out of control. On Sunday my blood sugar reading was 317. I was in a daze and could hardly move around. I ended up taking a whole Glipizide (what she took me off of) and this morning my blood sugar was back down to 83. The lowest it's been since before I went on this Metagenics diet.
My Mom and Aaron and I took a look at all the ingredients of everything that I'm taking yesterday afternoon and found that I'm taking a probiotic that is a milk dirivitive. Well, I'm lactose intolerant and I told them that. Ok, my fault for not reading the label myself (even though I asked repeatedly if any of these pills, shakes, protein bars and puffed protein balls have milk in them.) Gee, I wonder why I was so bloated!
So I stopped taking that as of this morning and I did not take my shakes today. I did go to work (yesterday I spent most of the day in bed feeling very sick) and I felt much better. I did take the vitamins, fish oil, D3 and detox pills along with 1/2 Glipizide.
Tonight 2 hours after dinner my blood sugar was 212. Now I'll take another set of pills and another 1/2 Glipizide and see what it is in the morning. I hate to self-medicate and I think there is something wrong with this diet and my body - they are not getting along. So, I've made an appointment to see my family physician tomorrow at 2pm. Aaron strongly suggested that I see him for the defining diagnosis and plan going forward. If the diet is not right for my body (I'm so darn sensitive) then I will take my doctor's advice and do what he says.
I did look up The American Heart Association Diet, The American Diabetes Association Diet, The Mediterranean Diet and the Asian Diet on line last night and they pretty much all say the same thing. My mom and I were joking today that I should eat what God put on this earth in the first place. So we decided to look up the diet in the Bible and guess what? It's the Mediterranean diet! Thousands of years later, it all comes round to this.
I found this great website www.Mediterrasian.com It combines the Mediterranean Diet and the Asian Diet together. It makes alot of sense. Even if I continue on the shakes, detox pills, vitamins, etcetera, Aaron and I (and my Mom) have decided to eat this way. It also stresses exercise, relaxation and good sleep.
So stay tuned, I'm still not giving up on getting rid of Diabetes. I will find a way!
My Mom and Aaron and I took a look at all the ingredients of everything that I'm taking yesterday afternoon and found that I'm taking a probiotic that is a milk dirivitive. Well, I'm lactose intolerant and I told them that. Ok, my fault for not reading the label myself (even though I asked repeatedly if any of these pills, shakes, protein bars and puffed protein balls have milk in them.) Gee, I wonder why I was so bloated!
So I stopped taking that as of this morning and I did not take my shakes today. I did go to work (yesterday I spent most of the day in bed feeling very sick) and I felt much better. I did take the vitamins, fish oil, D3 and detox pills along with 1/2 Glipizide.
Tonight 2 hours after dinner my blood sugar was 212. Now I'll take another set of pills and another 1/2 Glipizide and see what it is in the morning. I hate to self-medicate and I think there is something wrong with this diet and my body - they are not getting along. So, I've made an appointment to see my family physician tomorrow at 2pm. Aaron strongly suggested that I see him for the defining diagnosis and plan going forward. If the diet is not right for my body (I'm so darn sensitive) then I will take my doctor's advice and do what he says.
I did look up The American Heart Association Diet, The American Diabetes Association Diet, The Mediterranean Diet and the Asian Diet on line last night and they pretty much all say the same thing. My mom and I were joking today that I should eat what God put on this earth in the first place. So we decided to look up the diet in the Bible and guess what? It's the Mediterranean diet! Thousands of years later, it all comes round to this.
I found this great website www.Mediterrasian.com It combines the Mediterranean Diet and the Asian Diet together. It makes alot of sense. Even if I continue on the shakes, detox pills, vitamins, etcetera, Aaron and I (and my Mom) have decided to eat this way. It also stresses exercise, relaxation and good sleep.
So stay tuned, I'm still not giving up on getting rid of Diabetes. I will find a way!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Appointment Update
My appointment went very well with Dr. M. She is keeping me at 1300 calories and is adjusting some proteins and carbs around at different times. I am to delete the grain and to cut back on salt and red wine and to increase my exercise. She sent an Rx to CVS for Glucophage 1000 mg which she wants me to take twice a day. That should get my blood sugars down. The nerve conduction study showed early signs of neuropathy which she said were so early that it is going to be no problem at all to reverse that if I keep on the plan. Which, of course, I will.
I now weigh 197.5 on my scale naked as a jaybird before breakfast. I weigh 200 on her scale with clothes and shoes and after breakfast and coffee. So, I'm doing very well and she is happy with my results. I have lost 3 pounds of fat, gained one pound of muscle and the rest was fluid. Now that I've gained muscle (new this visit), the weight will be easier to keep off and I can eventually have more calories the more muscle I build. Protein and exercise!
She also did a UA today and said I'm not drinking enough water that my urine was "dry." I don't know what that means, maybe too concentrated? So I also need to increase my water.
As far as the bloating was concerned, she think's its hormonal because I am ovulating. She wants me to keep a chart of my periods and ovulations.
Everything makes sense and she thinks I get it too, so she said not to come back for one month. I was so happy that I'm on the right track I forgot to make an appointment!
I now weigh 197.5 on my scale naked as a jaybird before breakfast. I weigh 200 on her scale with clothes and shoes and after breakfast and coffee. So, I'm doing very well and she is happy with my results. I have lost 3 pounds of fat, gained one pound of muscle and the rest was fluid. Now that I've gained muscle (new this visit), the weight will be easier to keep off and I can eventually have more calories the more muscle I build. Protein and exercise!
She also did a UA today and said I'm not drinking enough water that my urine was "dry." I don't know what that means, maybe too concentrated? So I also need to increase my water.
As far as the bloating was concerned, she think's its hormonal because I am ovulating. She wants me to keep a chart of my periods and ovulations.
Everything makes sense and she thinks I get it too, so she said not to come back for one month. I was so happy that I'm on the right track I forgot to make an appointment!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Bloated
I am so bloated today that it feels like I didn't lose any weight at all. I see Dr. M tomorrow at 11:30am and I get weighed then. I hope all this water goes away by then. This time it feels like water and not gas because I think my feet and legs and hands are swollen. I know she will help me make it go away so even if I don't have a good weigh-in tomorrow, I know she'll help me. I felt fine when I got up but then after my shake I swelled up and stayed swelled. I didn't do anything different...hmmm. DRAG!
Yesterday I felt so good - and skinny - that it seemed I had lost over 10 pounds. I guess I will find out tomorrow. In the mean time, I'm drinking some water, laying off the salt and keeping my feet up.
I'll let everyone know the results of my appointment tomorrow night.
Sleep tight
Yesterday I felt so good - and skinny - that it seemed I had lost over 10 pounds. I guess I will find out tomorrow. In the mean time, I'm drinking some water, laying off the salt and keeping my feet up.
I'll let everyone know the results of my appointment tomorrow night.
Sleep tight
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Japanese
It was the quietest Sunday that we've spent in a very long time. A spa-day of a sort. Relaxing, not even thinking about too much, reading the paper, sitting with a cat on my lap, taking a nap...
Saturday night we went out to a Japanese restaurant, Kawa (in Grayslake), with Phil and Diane and had a great time. We enjoyed so many wonderfully healthy dishes and brought our own wine. We also sampled some sake that was divine.
In the Japanese mood, I made Udon for dinner tonight. Japanese wheat noodles in chicken broth with green onions, an assortment of different mushrooms, water chestnuts, shrimp, tofu and red, white and black pepper.
I can feel that the weight is coming off and am very happy about this. I've lost all of the weight I gained eating comfort food after Dolores died, and then some. I started out 6 months ago at 199.5, lost very little weight, then gained. Now, in a matter of 10 days, I'm down to 198.5 on this new diet and I feel great. I see Dr. M. again on Thursday. I know she will adjust my Metformin because my blood sugars are a little high, but that's ok. It will only make me feel better.
Must get some beauty sleep now for tomorrow we exercise!
Saturday night we went out to a Japanese restaurant, Kawa (in Grayslake), with Phil and Diane and had a great time. We enjoyed so many wonderfully healthy dishes and brought our own wine. We also sampled some sake that was divine.
In the Japanese mood, I made Udon for dinner tonight. Japanese wheat noodles in chicken broth with green onions, an assortment of different mushrooms, water chestnuts, shrimp, tofu and red, white and black pepper.
I can feel that the weight is coming off and am very happy about this. I've lost all of the weight I gained eating comfort food after Dolores died, and then some. I started out 6 months ago at 199.5, lost very little weight, then gained. Now, in a matter of 10 days, I'm down to 198.5 on this new diet and I feel great. I see Dr. M. again on Thursday. I know she will adjust my Metformin because my blood sugars are a little high, but that's ok. It will only make me feel better.
Must get some beauty sleep now for tomorrow we exercise!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Happy Birthday to me!
So far I'm having a great day. I had another appointment with Dr. Malhotra at Heal N Cure. She really liked the results. I had another body composition test and found that of the 4 pounds I lost, 1 was water and 3 were FAT!!!!!!! I have not increased my muscle yet, so I need to now increase exercise to do that.
She made some adjustments:
1. I now take a probiotic 20 minutes before my breakfast shake
2. I now take 2 detox pills in the morning and 2 detox pills at night
3. I now take 2 fish oil pills in the morning and 2 fish oil pills at night
4. I must walk each day beginning with 1 mile a day (eventually up to 5 miles a day)
5. I must begin a light "weight" exercise such as bar bells or that Shake away Weight thing you see on TV.
I spoke with Michael about meal planning. He said I have to take my Vitamin D3 with a protein or else it won't do any good. He said that Vitamin D isn't even a vitamin, it's a hormone.
He also gave me a meal planning guide for 1300 calories a day which include the shakes twice a day. Everything is all measured out on the sheet and you don't even have to think. Ah, that's the way I like it. Now I can have very lean beef and lean lamb. The daily alotments are:
1. Medical Food - 2 shakes
2. Legumes - 1 serving
3. Non starchy veggies - unlimited
4. Starcy veggies (carrots) - 1 serving
5. Concentrated protein - 2 servings
6. Oil - 4 servings
7. Nuts/Seeds - 1 serving
8. Fruit - 2 servings
9. Dairy - NONE
10. Grain - 1 serving
She also took a nerve conduction study to see if the diabetes has done any damage. I will talk about those results with her next week.
I am feeling great and am glad that I went on my birthday. I wanted to remember that for my 46th birthday, I did something really great for myself!
She made some adjustments:
1. I now take a probiotic 20 minutes before my breakfast shake
2. I now take 2 detox pills in the morning and 2 detox pills at night
3. I now take 2 fish oil pills in the morning and 2 fish oil pills at night
4. I must walk each day beginning with 1 mile a day (eventually up to 5 miles a day)
5. I must begin a light "weight" exercise such as bar bells or that Shake away Weight thing you see on TV.
I spoke with Michael about meal planning. He said I have to take my Vitamin D3 with a protein or else it won't do any good. He said that Vitamin D isn't even a vitamin, it's a hormone.
He also gave me a meal planning guide for 1300 calories a day which include the shakes twice a day. Everything is all measured out on the sheet and you don't even have to think. Ah, that's the way I like it. Now I can have very lean beef and lean lamb. The daily alotments are:
1. Medical Food - 2 shakes
2. Legumes - 1 serving
3. Non starchy veggies - unlimited
4. Starcy veggies (carrots) - 1 serving
5. Concentrated protein - 2 servings
6. Oil - 4 servings
7. Nuts/Seeds - 1 serving
8. Fruit - 2 servings
9. Dairy - NONE
10. Grain - 1 serving
She also took a nerve conduction study to see if the diabetes has done any damage. I will talk about those results with her next week.
I am feeling great and am glad that I went on my birthday. I wanted to remember that for my 46th birthday, I did something really great for myself!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Heal N Cure Plan of Attack
I had a really nice visit with Dr. Malhotra.
1. I found out that I am at 3 times the risk of a normal person for a heart attack.
2. I have a vitamin D deficiency and inflammation that is a contributing factor to my weight.
3. The Glipizide that I'm on is forcing my pancreas to produce more insulin but since I have insulin resistance, the insulin is storing in my fat cells and making me FAT. My problem is not producing insulin, it's using insulin.
4. She took me off all my vitamins and herbs and the Glipizide
5. She added Glucophage 500 mg extended release once daily
6. She added fish oil to help with inflammation once daily
7. She added Vitamin D3 supplements once daily
8. She added Advaclear detox supplements twice daily
9. She wants me to stay on Prozac, Prilosec, Xyzal, Baby Aspirin and Simvastatin
10. She wants me to take my blood sugars in am before food and 2 hours after dinner
As far as diet is concerned, I get 1300 calories a day: (that's 26 Weight Watchers points)
1. 30 minutes after I wake up is Breakfast which is a protein shake which I got from her. I can make this with unsweetened Almond Milk or water.
2. Lunch is a salad with lots of chicken or fish (or egg whites), beans and 1/4 avacado (or olives) with all kinds of greens and veggies and only oil and vinegar dressing. She said eat according to the rainbow - something green, yellow, red, etc.
3. Another shake at 4pm
4. Dinner is fish or chicken (or egg whites) with veggies, fruit, fat free cottage cheese and if I can't stand it, then 2-4 oz red wine (but then no fruit)
5. Snacks can be either plain almonds 5 at a time as many times as I want, or 1 protein bar which I got from her (sweet), or a (salty) soy snack which I got from her.
6. I CANNOT HAVE: soda, juice, corn, banana, pineapple, potato, all other alcohol
So, the plan is to do this for 1 week, see her again next Thursday at 2:30. I should have lost 2 pounds. Luckily I had my Flexible Spending card for my health care account because I paid alot for the supplements, shakes, bars and snacks.
She said no fat free foods (except for cottage cheese) or sugar free foods, nothing processed or packaged. Only real, natural foods and only olive oil to cook with. She also said I will be getting good carbs in the beans, some veggies, fruit, protein bars and shakes so I will not be getting hypoglycemic and not to worry. She said something interesting about carbs. She said a carb whether it's a good carb (fruit) or a bad carb (Cheetos!) should never be eaten without a protein. The protein keeps the carb from spiking your blood sugar and keeps the level more appropriate and keeps you from getting hungry again quickly when the blood sugar goes back down. So eat an apple with peanut butter or peach slices with cottage cheese and eat the Cheetos with bologna. (Better to eat the apple with peanut butter...)
She also said something about women, estrogen and heart attacks. She said that my 3 times the cardiac risk factor is even worse for me because I still have my hormones. She said we have to get rid of this problem now because when my estrogen depletes, it can no longer protect my heart. That's why men get more heart attacks than women because of the estrogen. I never knew this.
She also said something about waking up and eating right away. She said 30 minutes after you wake up should be your meal if you are hungry or not. Within 30 minutes, if you body does not get protein, it will go into starvation mode and look for that next meal. When you finally do feed yourself it will hold on to all the calories thinking it will never see food again. Doing this repeatedly over time will alone cause weight gain. (So eat breakfast!)
I will be getting good proteins and good fats to keep me satiated. There will be natural fiber in the fruits and veggies and I already know that I can handle that. She stressed the point that this is not an Atkins diet.
If this works for me, I should be losing about 2 pounds a week consistently. We may need some time to adjust things here and there. She said after I am on the Glucophage for awhile, she's going to put me on something to help protect my kidney's from the diabetes as a preventative measure - an ACE Inhibitor (Ramipril?)
Since I have Diabetes, I had another test that measures the hardening of the arteries in my main arteries. They measured this in each arm (like blood pressure) and on each ankle.
She's great! I love her. I think this will work for me. No appetite suppressants like I thought, so I'm ok with this plan. The shakes, etc are expensive, but so are the ribs and corn dogs and booze! ha. What price do you pay for your health? Especially after seeing that I am 3 times the cardiac risk, you'd better believe I'm doing this! And the best news of all is that it's doable.
1. I found out that I am at 3 times the risk of a normal person for a heart attack.
2. I have a vitamin D deficiency and inflammation that is a contributing factor to my weight.
3. The Glipizide that I'm on is forcing my pancreas to produce more insulin but since I have insulin resistance, the insulin is storing in my fat cells and making me FAT. My problem is not producing insulin, it's using insulin.
4. She took me off all my vitamins and herbs and the Glipizide
5. She added Glucophage 500 mg extended release once daily
6. She added fish oil to help with inflammation once daily
7. She added Vitamin D3 supplements once daily
8. She added Advaclear detox supplements twice daily
9. She wants me to stay on Prozac, Prilosec, Xyzal, Baby Aspirin and Simvastatin
10. She wants me to take my blood sugars in am before food and 2 hours after dinner
As far as diet is concerned, I get 1300 calories a day: (that's 26 Weight Watchers points)
1. 30 minutes after I wake up is Breakfast which is a protein shake which I got from her. I can make this with unsweetened Almond Milk or water.
2. Lunch is a salad with lots of chicken or fish (or egg whites), beans and 1/4 avacado (or olives) with all kinds of greens and veggies and only oil and vinegar dressing. She said eat according to the rainbow - something green, yellow, red, etc.
3. Another shake at 4pm
4. Dinner is fish or chicken (or egg whites) with veggies, fruit, fat free cottage cheese and if I can't stand it, then 2-4 oz red wine (but then no fruit)
5. Snacks can be either plain almonds 5 at a time as many times as I want, or 1 protein bar which I got from her (sweet), or a (salty) soy snack which I got from her.
6. I CANNOT HAVE: soda, juice, corn, banana, pineapple, potato, all other alcohol
So, the plan is to do this for 1 week, see her again next Thursday at 2:30. I should have lost 2 pounds. Luckily I had my Flexible Spending card for my health care account because I paid alot for the supplements, shakes, bars and snacks.
She said no fat free foods (except for cottage cheese) or sugar free foods, nothing processed or packaged. Only real, natural foods and only olive oil to cook with. She also said I will be getting good carbs in the beans, some veggies, fruit, protein bars and shakes so I will not be getting hypoglycemic and not to worry. She said something interesting about carbs. She said a carb whether it's a good carb (fruit) or a bad carb (Cheetos!) should never be eaten without a protein. The protein keeps the carb from spiking your blood sugar and keeps the level more appropriate and keeps you from getting hungry again quickly when the blood sugar goes back down. So eat an apple with peanut butter or peach slices with cottage cheese and eat the Cheetos with bologna. (Better to eat the apple with peanut butter...)
She also said something about women, estrogen and heart attacks. She said that my 3 times the cardiac risk factor is even worse for me because I still have my hormones. She said we have to get rid of this problem now because when my estrogen depletes, it can no longer protect my heart. That's why men get more heart attacks than women because of the estrogen. I never knew this.
She also said something about waking up and eating right away. She said 30 minutes after you wake up should be your meal if you are hungry or not. Within 30 minutes, if you body does not get protein, it will go into starvation mode and look for that next meal. When you finally do feed yourself it will hold on to all the calories thinking it will never see food again. Doing this repeatedly over time will alone cause weight gain. (So eat breakfast!)
I will be getting good proteins and good fats to keep me satiated. There will be natural fiber in the fruits and veggies and I already know that I can handle that. She stressed the point that this is not an Atkins diet.
If this works for me, I should be losing about 2 pounds a week consistently. We may need some time to adjust things here and there. She said after I am on the Glucophage for awhile, she's going to put me on something to help protect my kidney's from the diabetes as a preventative measure - an ACE Inhibitor (Ramipril?)
Since I have Diabetes, I had another test that measures the hardening of the arteries in my main arteries. They measured this in each arm (like blood pressure) and on each ankle.
She's great! I love her. I think this will work for me. No appetite suppressants like I thought, so I'm ok with this plan. The shakes, etc are expensive, but so are the ribs and corn dogs and booze! ha. What price do you pay for your health? Especially after seeing that I am 3 times the cardiac risk, you'd better believe I'm doing this! And the best news of all is that it's doable.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Anticipating my new diet plan tomorrow
Tomorrow I got back to Heal N Cure to go over all my test results and learn about my personalized plan for losing weight. I am very excited. I will let everyone know about it tomorrow night or Friday.
I can't even grocery shop yet because I have no idea what will be on the menu...other than lamb.
I feel like I'm giving this to me for my birthday this year. The gift of health.
This should be interesting. I know I'm going to learn alot and then Aaron will also be getting healthier.
We had tuna noodle casserole tonight with peas, mushrooms and chopped red onions. It was very good.
Tomorrow the guys come back to do some more things around the house while we wait for our new windows that we ordered to come in. The deck is almost done, the windows are on their way and then they can finish the siding, gutters and all the other little projects that we wanted them to do. I'm thinking we should be done by Memorial Day. That would be great with me.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Lots of change for us over these past four months with Dolores gone, adjusting to the cats, getting allergy injections, learning about my past and trying to heal from it, making home improvements and now this life-altering diet. It's alot of stress and they will be managing me for that too. I feel confident that I will be taken care of.
I can't even grocery shop yet because I have no idea what will be on the menu...other than lamb.
I feel like I'm giving this to me for my birthday this year. The gift of health.
This should be interesting. I know I'm going to learn alot and then Aaron will also be getting healthier.
We had tuna noodle casserole tonight with peas, mushrooms and chopped red onions. It was very good.
Tomorrow the guys come back to do some more things around the house while we wait for our new windows that we ordered to come in. The deck is almost done, the windows are on their way and then they can finish the siding, gutters and all the other little projects that we wanted them to do. I'm thinking we should be done by Memorial Day. That would be great with me.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Lots of change for us over these past four months with Dolores gone, adjusting to the cats, getting allergy injections, learning about my past and trying to heal from it, making home improvements and now this life-altering diet. It's alot of stress and they will be managing me for that too. I feel confident that I will be taken care of.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Mad Cat (Baby)
Monsieur Babbeaux H. Langlois has returned from the SPA! He had his hair done and his back nails clipped and he's royally pissed!!!
He gave me the finger when we got home and then ate some dinner. He ate the catnip I gave him as a peace offering and shoved the plate with his paw when it was gone.
He finally graced us with his presence upstairs where he proceeded to lick himself for 15 minutes, gave me the cold shoulder, a few dirty looks, refused to come on my lap, then jumped up on the back of the couch and closed his eyes pretending to be asleep. When Aaron came over to pet him he blew snot in his face. I had enough of the attitude and finally put him to bed at 9pm. I scooted him down the stairs where he stood by the door and then I got Dolly down there. He hissed at Dolly and promptly put himself to bed after one final dirty look at me.
Ooh, bad, really bad!
He gave me the finger when we got home and then ate some dinner. He ate the catnip I gave him as a peace offering and shoved the plate with his paw when it was gone.
He finally graced us with his presence upstairs where he proceeded to lick himself for 15 minutes, gave me the cold shoulder, a few dirty looks, refused to come on my lap, then jumped up on the back of the couch and closed his eyes pretending to be asleep. When Aaron came over to pet him he blew snot in his face. I had enough of the attitude and finally put him to bed at 9pm. I scooted him down the stairs where he stood by the door and then I got Dolly down there. He hissed at Dolly and promptly put himself to bed after one final dirty look at me.
Ooh, bad, really bad!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Weekend Update
I'm getting mentally ready to begin this new weight loss adventure. I have another appointment on Wednesday to discuss my personal weight loss plan. I am so excited.
We had so much fun with our new friends Ray and his wife Kortnee at their beautiful home Friday night. Ray made dinner for us and he's a great cook. He made a shrimp dish with lime, butter, garlic and seasonings and sprinkled cilantro over it. It was great. For the main course he pan-seared tilapia over shoe-string sweet potato fries and then topped it with mango and red onion salsa. Superb!
Yesterday we spent a lovely evening with my mom watching the documentary on Lenny Bruce - Swear To Tell The Truth. It is a very good account of his professional and personal life and his eventual demise. We still all have some sadness and pain with our certain issues, so we took a portion of the evening and tried to help each other heal. It was a good family counseling session!
Today we spent alot of time with the cats and I made a garlic stuffed chicken, oyster stuffing and brussells sprouts. Oh, and morels were in season so I bought a number of those and sauteed them in some real butter. You can't spend all the money on morels and then not use real butter! Well, I guess you could but it just wouldn't be the same...
We're looking forward to being with my cousins next weekend to celebrate our birthdays. Grant, my cousin Chris's son just turned 11, Chris's birthday is May 3 and I'm May 11. Not to mention Mother's Day! It will be fun being with the family.
I wish everyone a good week to come. I'll keep you posted about Wednesday's appointment.
We had so much fun with our new friends Ray and his wife Kortnee at their beautiful home Friday night. Ray made dinner for us and he's a great cook. He made a shrimp dish with lime, butter, garlic and seasonings and sprinkled cilantro over it. It was great. For the main course he pan-seared tilapia over shoe-string sweet potato fries and then topped it with mango and red onion salsa. Superb!
Yesterday we spent a lovely evening with my mom watching the documentary on Lenny Bruce - Swear To Tell The Truth. It is a very good account of his professional and personal life and his eventual demise. We still all have some sadness and pain with our certain issues, so we took a portion of the evening and tried to help each other heal. It was a good family counseling session!
Today we spent alot of time with the cats and I made a garlic stuffed chicken, oyster stuffing and brussells sprouts. Oh, and morels were in season so I bought a number of those and sauteed them in some real butter. You can't spend all the money on morels and then not use real butter! Well, I guess you could but it just wouldn't be the same...
We're looking forward to being with my cousins next weekend to celebrate our birthdays. Grant, my cousin Chris's son just turned 11, Chris's birthday is May 3 and I'm May 11. Not to mention Mother's Day! It will be fun being with the family.
I wish everyone a good week to come. I'll keep you posted about Wednesday's appointment.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Heal N Cure
Well, I may not have been excited about Heal N Cure before, but I am now!!! I just made the best health decision of my life!!! I had an appointment today at this weight loss center and here are the results of what happened:
The Doctor took my BP, urine, did an EKG, a Spirometry test, a BIA which is a test that tells you how much fat vs muscle is in your body and your hydration levels (where your water is. Is it in your cells or outside of your cells trying to get rid of toxins?) I have 30% body fat and 70% muscle. They even told me how much my fat weighs and how much my muscle weighs! There is not enough water in my cells because I have too many toxins that are trying to be washed away. Part of the plan is going to be to get rid of the toxins (alcohol, some foods, medication, etc) so the water will stay in my muscle cells.
My EKG was "pristine" but my Spirometry test was not. I am not getting enough oxygen in my lungs and therefore my weight is harder to come off because my body is releasing steroids so I can breathe. (she said like I have my own Prednisone factory).
I am going back there tomorrow for the fasting blood panel that will show absolutely every possible thing that blood can show. Then in one week I will see her and we will start my plan on May 5th. Cinco De Mayo!!!
The man that was giving me the BIA test is a licensed Lipidemiologist/Cardiologist and talked briefly about what it was going to take for me to burn fat and build muscle. He said America has it wrong and ALL of the diets out there including Weight Watchers have failed miserably. He said the single way that I will burn fat is to eat fat. Low fat diets are the absolute worst thing in the world and it's making everyone fat. I sat there with my mouth hanging open and thought of all the low fat foods in my house right now. He said before he started this program, he was eating 1,950 calories to maintain his body weight. Now he eats over 3,000 and most of it is good fat and he's trim and healthy and full of energy. Huh? He also said that the number one food to help you burn fat is eating lamb. We LOVE lamb! He said he and the Doctor will tell me exactly what to eat and when and how it will affect me.
We talked about my general aches and pains and the Doctor said that was not normal and we would get in to that later. She also said that the Glipizide that I'm on for Diabetes is not what I should be on. She said Glipizide is like beating a tired horse. It will go really fast at the beginning but then fall off and slow down really fast after that. I've been on this for over 2 years! Apparently it's doing absolutely nothing for me anymore. I am seeing a medication change in the very near future.
She is a wonderfully happy, bright, caring, nurturing and affectionate physician. Very hands on and appreciative that I came to see her for help. Her assistant is also very happy and nurturing.
The last words I heard as I left the room was, "This is going to work for you. It's never not worked!"
I am so very excited. I told Aaron all about it on the way home since he was not able to come with me. Aaron is so interested now that he wants to make an appointment as soon as possible.
The best news is that our health insurance is going to cover the costs and we'll have to pay co-payments each time we visit.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I found out about this place when a new person came into my life earlier this month for a totally unusual reason. When we met, our personalities clicked instantly. For some reason she began talking about some of her problems (she didn't know I had the same problems) and that she got help at Heal N Cure. When I mentioned that I had the same problems, she gave me the number and told me where it was (across from where I work). I made an appointment and then saw her again and we talked some more. She told me to tell them that we were friends and that she referred me. I did and everyone there who knew her got a big smile on their face at the mention of her name.
Now I may be a little dense (well maybe alot) but I do know when God finally hits me over the head that I shouldn't ignore it. Even though I may have ignored everything else that He was trying to lead me to...
You know, the story of the man who prayed to God that He would show Himself to the man and God sent a rainbow and the man ignored it. Then the man prayed to God that He would touch the man and God sent him a butterfly and the man ignored it, etc.
...well my experience was so blatantly obvious that even I could get it this time! Amen!
The Doctor took my BP, urine, did an EKG, a Spirometry test, a BIA which is a test that tells you how much fat vs muscle is in your body and your hydration levels (where your water is. Is it in your cells or outside of your cells trying to get rid of toxins?) I have 30% body fat and 70% muscle. They even told me how much my fat weighs and how much my muscle weighs! There is not enough water in my cells because I have too many toxins that are trying to be washed away. Part of the plan is going to be to get rid of the toxins (alcohol, some foods, medication, etc) so the water will stay in my muscle cells.
My EKG was "pristine" but my Spirometry test was not. I am not getting enough oxygen in my lungs and therefore my weight is harder to come off because my body is releasing steroids so I can breathe. (she said like I have my own Prednisone factory).
I am going back there tomorrow for the fasting blood panel that will show absolutely every possible thing that blood can show. Then in one week I will see her and we will start my plan on May 5th. Cinco De Mayo!!!
The man that was giving me the BIA test is a licensed Lipidemiologist/Cardiologist and talked briefly about what it was going to take for me to burn fat and build muscle. He said America has it wrong and ALL of the diets out there including Weight Watchers have failed miserably. He said the single way that I will burn fat is to eat fat. Low fat diets are the absolute worst thing in the world and it's making everyone fat. I sat there with my mouth hanging open and thought of all the low fat foods in my house right now. He said before he started this program, he was eating 1,950 calories to maintain his body weight. Now he eats over 3,000 and most of it is good fat and he's trim and healthy and full of energy. Huh? He also said that the number one food to help you burn fat is eating lamb. We LOVE lamb! He said he and the Doctor will tell me exactly what to eat and when and how it will affect me.
We talked about my general aches and pains and the Doctor said that was not normal and we would get in to that later. She also said that the Glipizide that I'm on for Diabetes is not what I should be on. She said Glipizide is like beating a tired horse. It will go really fast at the beginning but then fall off and slow down really fast after that. I've been on this for over 2 years! Apparently it's doing absolutely nothing for me anymore. I am seeing a medication change in the very near future.
She is a wonderfully happy, bright, caring, nurturing and affectionate physician. Very hands on and appreciative that I came to see her for help. Her assistant is also very happy and nurturing.
The last words I heard as I left the room was, "This is going to work for you. It's never not worked!"
I am so very excited. I told Aaron all about it on the way home since he was not able to come with me. Aaron is so interested now that he wants to make an appointment as soon as possible.
The best news is that our health insurance is going to cover the costs and we'll have to pay co-payments each time we visit.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I found out about this place when a new person came into my life earlier this month for a totally unusual reason. When we met, our personalities clicked instantly. For some reason she began talking about some of her problems (she didn't know I had the same problems) and that she got help at Heal N Cure. When I mentioned that I had the same problems, she gave me the number and told me where it was (across from where I work). I made an appointment and then saw her again and we talked some more. She told me to tell them that we were friends and that she referred me. I did and everyone there who knew her got a big smile on their face at the mention of her name.
Now I may be a little dense (well maybe alot) but I do know when God finally hits me over the head that I shouldn't ignore it. Even though I may have ignored everything else that He was trying to lead me to...
You know, the story of the man who prayed to God that He would show Himself to the man and God sent a rainbow and the man ignored it. Then the man prayed to God that He would touch the man and God sent him a butterfly and the man ignored it, etc.
...well my experience was so blatantly obvious that even I could get it this time! Amen!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Fantastic Weekend!
We had a fantastic weekend! Friday night my Mom had us over for dinner. She made one of John's mom, Eleanor's recipes. It was macaroni noodles, tomatoes, onions and bacon. She also made a salad and canned green beans. We can't forget the garlic bread. She makes the BEST garlic bread. Mom had some Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and a bottle of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Excellent choices and they were so yummy. We had a great cathartic talk during dinner, just the three of us. Then we decided to come back to our house to watch some music videos, such as Chris Cornell in Audio Slave. We listened to Sound Garten, Audio Slave, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Pearl Jam, and then pulled out the videos to Woodstock and the Monterey Jazz Festival and watched Joe Cocker sing his heart out and Ravi Shankar play his heart out.
Saturday we slept in, did some chores, and then went to The Chicago Theatre to see Anthony Bourdain from the Travel Channel's "No Reservations." He had an hour and 1/2 stand up talk with us and then took 30 minutes of questions from the audience. It was really fun. We stopped at the Halsted Street Deli next to The Chicago Theatre and shared a hot pastrami sandwich with swiss cheese and spicy brown mustard. It was the best!
Today my Mom and I went to the Confirmation Service at Church for our 2 secret prayer pals. It was a really touching and personal service. Each Confirmand was called up with their families putting their hands on them while a prayer was offered to bless their soul. I was in tears (of course!)
After church, my Mom came over for dinner. I made a filet mignon and a small baked potato for each of us and some Hot and Sour Soup. They loved it and it's so healthy. If anyone wants the recipe, let me know. We watched some Anthony Bourdain because we "caught the bug" last night.
The cats were really enjoying our company today. Dolly was extra "talkative." She really has come a long way in opening up to us. I think Aaron has really done some great "trust" work with her. He sings to her and walks around and around the kitchen table with her patiently. She loves the attention.
Back to work tomorrow...drag...I was having such a great weekend! Oh well.
Saturday we slept in, did some chores, and then went to The Chicago Theatre to see Anthony Bourdain from the Travel Channel's "No Reservations." He had an hour and 1/2 stand up talk with us and then took 30 minutes of questions from the audience. It was really fun. We stopped at the Halsted Street Deli next to The Chicago Theatre and shared a hot pastrami sandwich with swiss cheese and spicy brown mustard. It was the best!
Today my Mom and I went to the Confirmation Service at Church for our 2 secret prayer pals. It was a really touching and personal service. Each Confirmand was called up with their families putting their hands on them while a prayer was offered to bless their soul. I was in tears (of course!)
After church, my Mom came over for dinner. I made a filet mignon and a small baked potato for each of us and some Hot and Sour Soup. They loved it and it's so healthy. If anyone wants the recipe, let me know. We watched some Anthony Bourdain because we "caught the bug" last night.
The cats were really enjoying our company today. Dolly was extra "talkative." She really has come a long way in opening up to us. I think Aaron has really done some great "trust" work with her. He sings to her and walks around and around the kitchen table with her patiently. She loves the attention.
Back to work tomorrow...drag...I was having such a great weekend! Oh well.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Faith Walk
My Mom and I had an interesting evening. 2 years ago, our church had asked members of the congregation to become secret prayer pals for Confirmation students. Dolores and I signed up. We each received a profile and a photo of a young girl in her 1st year of confirmation classes, so we knew who they were but they didn't know who we were. We prayed to help nurture their faith, sent them anonymous cards and little presents for their birthdays and Christmas, etc. We received updated profiles and new pictures this past year. Well, tonight was the night that the secret prayer pals would be revealed and then on Sunday, they will officially be Confirmed at a special afternoon service and my Mom and I are invited too.
I asked my Mom to come with for support and I had a gift for both of our "girls." It was a beautiful cake and punch reception where each student was called up to receive their certificate, gown and Bible verse. Then the prayer pals were called up to be revealed. Mom went up with me for Dolores's girl and I went up for my girl. After the ceremony I explained to Dolores's girl what had happened. She was wearing the necklace that Dolores gave her for Christmas. It about broke my heart but now after thinking about it for awhile, Dolores had touched her life in such a positive way that she wanted to show her gratitude by wearing her necklace. That is just so rich and I am so thankful that Dolores is still touching people. The girl was so disappointed not to be able to meet Dolores but I promised her that I would get to know her.
Dolores had been struggling with her faith for awhile and I thought this would be a good idea for her to learn to pray for someone else. It was also a good experience for Dolores.
By the way, I did not have any cake or punch! Ha ha. No kidding, I'm trying to be good.
I ate a chicken sandwich with roasted red pepper and onions for dinner. This afternoon I ate a lighter lunch than usual and when I was hungry later on about 3:30pm, I ate 1/2 apple with some natural peanut butter. Pretty tasty.
Aaron and I are looking forward to going to the Chicago Theatre this Saturday to see Anthony Bourdain from "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. He's supposed to be really good with his one man show. We are doing this for our anniversary - a little early. We'll be married 13 years May 31st. On May 27th we are going to the Sybaris overnight and then maybe into the city for the Matisse exhibit at the Art Institute. I say maybe, because you know that Sybaris can sure wear you out!
I asked my Mom to come with for support and I had a gift for both of our "girls." It was a beautiful cake and punch reception where each student was called up to receive their certificate, gown and Bible verse. Then the prayer pals were called up to be revealed. Mom went up with me for Dolores's girl and I went up for my girl. After the ceremony I explained to Dolores's girl what had happened. She was wearing the necklace that Dolores gave her for Christmas. It about broke my heart but now after thinking about it for awhile, Dolores had touched her life in such a positive way that she wanted to show her gratitude by wearing her necklace. That is just so rich and I am so thankful that Dolores is still touching people. The girl was so disappointed not to be able to meet Dolores but I promised her that I would get to know her.
Dolores had been struggling with her faith for awhile and I thought this would be a good idea for her to learn to pray for someone else. It was also a good experience for Dolores.
By the way, I did not have any cake or punch! Ha ha. No kidding, I'm trying to be good.
I ate a chicken sandwich with roasted red pepper and onions for dinner. This afternoon I ate a lighter lunch than usual and when I was hungry later on about 3:30pm, I ate 1/2 apple with some natural peanut butter. Pretty tasty.
Aaron and I are looking forward to going to the Chicago Theatre this Saturday to see Anthony Bourdain from "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. He's supposed to be really good with his one man show. We are doing this for our anniversary - a little early. We'll be married 13 years May 31st. On May 27th we are going to the Sybaris overnight and then maybe into the city for the Matisse exhibit at the Art Institute. I say maybe, because you know that Sybaris can sure wear you out!
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