Weekly Weigh-in Wednesday on a Tuesday

Mom’s bathroom scale is a Liar!!!!! I tell you a “liiiaaaar”!!! Liar, liar, pants on fire!!!!

It gave me false hope. Kinda like the White House. (Looks around for Big Brother) I’m not really enjoying the concept of stepped health insurance increases of 13% every 3.5 mos.!!!!! How’s Obamacare working for you??  Thank God for Freedom of Speech and right to give constructive criticism to the government.

But I digress…

As I was saying before I tripped over my soap box, last Tuesday my weight was 238.5 lbs. On Wednesday I posted my weight was at 235.4 lbs., which would be logical since I had been following my caloric intake very closely, stood in the Colorado River in a mph current expending 1936 calories! However, it was my mom’s bathroom scale and not mine. Since I wanted to be fair and honest about my weight loss, maintain my integrity, accountability, and transparency (unlike our politicians) – I reported my numbers. I stand here and Enlightened woman…Note to Self: bring your own scale next time or don’t weigh in at all. As of today, with my continued vigilance to my caloric intake, I weigh in at 242.8 lbs. Which in the metabolic terms means I”m still going to lose some weight.

Mini-goal: With the given setback, I’m setting it at 235 lbs.

Measurements: At present I’m at a size 18W

 

Inner Food Junkie meets Christmas Morning.

The last few weeks have been like Christmas morning. I wake up and rush out to the kitchen to step on the scale to see how much weight I lost during the night. This morning was no different. Well…at least in the weight loss aspect – I lost another 2 pounds.

Poof!!

Vaporized by the magic of metabolism.

So as is my normal routine, I update MyFitnessPal. I get a message back, something along the lines of “Congratulations!!! You’ve lost so much weight (over 10 lbs.) that we need to recalculate your dietary goals.” Accept or decline buttons appear below the message.

I mentally respond “Yay! “ and press accept. Flip through to my food diary section. 1200 Calories…What!? Oh, no, no, no. Where’s my protein…45 (g)…How am I going to do that?!

The Inner Food Junkie starts to emerge and panic overcomes rational thought.

I Google “How many grams in an ounce”. Google generates several possible websites. I flip through a few to get a consensus that 1.5 oz. is equivalent to 45 (g). More panic sets in. “What am I supposed to eat.?” I scan back at the 1200 calories. “1200 calories, that the bare minimum recommended Daily Values” I tell myself, wow but yay I lost another 2 lbs.

MyFitnessPal ~ My New Friend…A review

Image via CrunchBase

So if you’ve been following my blog, you will have read about me using MyFitnessPal. In the past, I’ve used other various nutritional trackers like the ADA endorsed Pyramid.gov (Shift eyes from side to side looking for Big Brother), Livestrong’s  TheDailyPlate for tracking my caloric/nutritional intake for my health classes. I had never used one to track my weight loss.

I have been using MyFitnessPal for about a week and I have to say that I’m impressed with how MyFitnessPal is setup. The program recalibrates the nutrients for every entry of weight loss. For instance I started at 245 pounds, at the time the program calculated the I needed 56 (g) grams of protein. As I continued to record my weight loss, my daily nutritional details recalibrated my protein needs to 48 (g). This helps prevent my metabolism from plateauing from having too much on any one nutrient, thus halting weigh loss. The site also records your exercise and is taken into account on your daily nutrient details, I earn back calories and nutrients to help maintain a health metabolism.

The site has a BMR, BMI, heart calculator. You have the ability to post badges and tickers on your blog that track your weight loss, you can join communities to increase the accountability factor and get support for others on the journey to a healthier weight. Gee, I didn’t really need to start this blog. Just  kidding. MyfitnessPal can be downloaded you an iPad, iPhone, Android or blackberry. As if, electronics weren’t enough of a leash, now you’re accountable to your iPhone for your caloric intake. For those of us, like me, who have fallen off the weight loss wagon often enough that we relate to Pigpen’s dust cloud. MyFitnessPal, is a Pal.

It’s about healthy weight, not the dimensions.

Thirty-six 24 Thirty-Six

Elle Says:

The title for this blog is – obviously – ironic.  In documenting our weight loss journeys, we want to discuss false ideals of body image and how they have affected our own weight struggles. In no way do we believe that the “ideal” woman has bust, waist, and hip measurements of 36-24-36.

Puh-leeze.

Not even two of our most famous icons of beauty had those measurements.  Audrey Hepburn (love her), of classic-beauty, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and strange-accent fame, was a 31.5-22-31.  Tiny, yes, but she had her own weight issues; before she was famous and was working as a dancer after the war, she struggled with overeating.  Who knew?  Marilyn Monroe, on the other hand, of Kennedy, Playboy, and bombshell fame, was supposedly a 36-24-34.  Smaller than you thought still, huh?

Daniel Akst published an article* in the Summer 2005 Wilson Quarterly that investigated evolutionary and…

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Weekly Weigh-in Wedneday

I’m on the road this week at the Bullhead City River Regatta, food and an accurate scale pose a challenge.

http://bullheadregatta.com/

Starting Weight:    240 lbs. (August, 1 2012)

Current Weight:    235.4 lbs. (August 8, 2012)

Loss of another 5 lbs.!!!!  I surpassed my mini goal

Yes, the scale says I lost another five pounds, however, it’s not my scale and I’m bit skeptical. The only confirmation for the weigh loss it my daily intake. I’ve been keeping with in my 1280 calorie limit for the last few days. My body is adjusting to this new level and is actually signaling me when I’m full. When I’m dining out I end up leaving half a plate of food. 😦 Why do they have to serve such big plates of food?  I know, I know…I’ve seen the movie Supersize Me. There’s documentary that will change your mind about fast food.

When I’m out with my daughter I try to split a plate so nothing goes to waste.

Mini-goal: 232 lbs for next week. As you know I posted last week that I broke the 30 lb gravel ball, still no update as to it’s health status, LOL. This week I will most likely be tugging and hauling my parent’s Seadoo and Shuttle in the river, plus 115 degree heat will be a workout in itself.

Food Adjuncts: Chocolate and Cocoa

My Grandma and See’s candy,  now, there’s a duo. Every time we went to the mall, we would stop at See’s, get our sample and a few additional pieces – Boudreaux, mostly. My grandmother’s passion for that powerful Aztec elixir of wonder and ecstasy surpassed Dr. Bridges’ admonitions.

What could Dr. Bridges be talking about?

Theobromine, C₇H₈N₄O₂ is found in many other foods including tea, and kola nut. Moreover, has similar attribute as caffeine. Theobromine is derived from the Greek theo (God) and brosi (food) meaning “food of the god’s”,  -ine to denotes alkaloid. Maybe the Aztecs were on to something…?

The American journal of Clinical Nutrition and Hershey’s Nutrition and Wellness cite that the therapeutic use of theobromine as diuretic, a vasodilator, and stimulant of the central nervous system by increasing the heartbeat.

As for antioxidants,…the amount of bioavailable flavanol antioxidants in 2 tablespoons of natural cocoa is more than 3 ½ cups of green tea, ¾ cup of blueberries, and 1 1/3 glasses of red wine.  All that in 2 tiny squares of dark chocolate!!! Sweet!!! See’s Candy the “Happy and Healthy Habit” (Well…in moderation)

CSA Sunday, Swiss Chard and Herb Tart

Sorry that this is posted later than I had planned…

Yesterday was CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Sunday, and I picked up my box from my local farmer’s market. I have always wanted to try a CSA and was glad an opportunity to subscribe to one. Earlier in the week, I got an email that what this week’s box would contain: lettuce, carrots, string beans, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, Swiss chard, slicing tomatoes, sweet onions, basil, strawberries, and watermelon.
Swiss Chard?…What? I quickly Google recipes for Swiss chard and finally settle on Swiss chard and Herb Tart, I’ll post the recipe below.
While I was that the farmer’s market I stopped at a few other stands to pick up some zucchini, grapefruit, and some eggs. On the way to the car I stop to pick up my box and added an additional basket of strawberries to the box per my son’s request. This being my first time subscribing to a CSA I don’t know that rules of the game. (Yes, that’s some foreshadowing).

I get the box home and prepare to store the produce. I get the Swiss chard and start to prep it for the tart and realize while I’m washing it that half the bunch is bug eaten. I understand that it come from a certified organic farm. I start to question if I have enough for my recipe and improvise by throwing is a sweet onion in to the mix. In the spirit of Julia Child, I muster up my “What-the-Hell” attitude and go to town on making the tart. I throw in some Herbs de Provence for good measure and “Voila!” Pop the tart in the oven for 45 minutes to bake. In the meantime…
My brain starts to question my choice of CSA. Well at least I can email them about my complaint. This is just the first box (Yes, it is a rocky start… but hey, I’ve only subscribed for 6 boxes) the rest could be better. I do just that. I emailed them and so far, the customer service is fair.

This recipe is a variation on Epicuriuous’ Swiss chard and herb tart.

Swiss Chard and Herb Tart

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 1 pound Swiss chard, stems and ribs removed
• 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (You can use grapeseed, also)
• 1 garlic clove, minced (I added a sweet onion)

• 1 15-ounce container whole-milk ricotta cheese (I used skim milk)
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 large eggs

• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon minced fresh thyme (I used dried thyme)
• 1/4 teaspoon minced fresh oregano (I substituted ground oregano)
• 1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg

• 1/4 teaspoon of Herb de Provence

• 1 17.3-ounce package frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed

Preparation

Cook chard in large pot of boiling salted water until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Drain. Squeeze out liquid. Chop chard.
Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic; saut
e 1 minute. Add chard; sauté until excess liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes. Transfer chard mixture to large bowl. Cool slightly. Mix in ricotta and next 7 ingredients.
Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 375°F. Roll out 1 pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to 14-inch square. Transfer pastry to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Trim edges, leaving 1-inch overhang. Fill pastry with chard mixture. Lightly brush pastry overhang with pastry brush dipped into water. Roll out second pastry sheet to 13-inch square. Using tart pan as guide, trim pastry square to 10-inch round. Drape over filling. Seal edges and fold in.
I didn’t have a tart pan, so I used a Pyrex pie plate instead.
Bake until pastry is golden brown, about 45 minutes. Cool 10 minutes.

Remove pan sides from tart. Transfer to platter. Cut into wedges and serve.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Swiss-Chard-and-Herb-Tart-103433#i

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I plugged the ingredients for the recipe into MyFitnessPal to get the nutritional info.

Calories: 375 per serving, Total fat (g) 22.3

This turned out pretty good given all the improvisations. I like the flavor that thyme adds to it.

In regarding the CSA, if you have any suggestions on tip on what to look for I would love to hear from you.

I broke the gravel ball…

After three bouts of hurling a 30 lb gravel ball over my 6 ft tall trainer’s head…up and down the gym, I killed the gravel ball. Its sandy contents spilled out onto the gym floor. Oops! 😀

Weekly Weigh-in Wednesday

I meet with my personal trainer today for my weekly medieval torture/butt kicking and he is expecting results…so here are the numbers:

Starting Weight:    245 lbs. (July 27, 2012)

Current Weight:    240 lbs. (August 1, 2012)

Loss of 5 lbs.!!!!

Mini-goal: 237lbs for next week. I will update my measurements at the end of the month, although I can tell clothes are beginning to feel loose. This news I’m sure my trainer will suggest “flipping tractor tires” across the gym or maybe even more squats while bear hugging a 40lbs sandbag nick named “Major General Parks”!!! (It’s even dressed in a camouflage duffel, too) Oh, how I dislike “Parks”, by the time I’m done doing the second set of squats I’m ready to chuck it. Either way, I’m bound to be crawling to my car.

Tweaks and Adjustments

I was reviewing my nutrient intake for this week thus far; I’m doing relatively ok, with one exception. My sodium and potassium ratio is off. Naturally!!! As I look at my swollen feet and ankles and wonder what the…? A number of factors come to mind, the weather, PMS, and then it dawns on me – that concept of the “Circle of Life” from my physiology class. “For every sodium flowing in the cell requires three potassium going out”. Yay, I have hypotonic ECF (extracellular fluid)!!! Something short of cramming my feet into my pair of  Asics, lacing them up, and forcing the fluid to my ankles, I need to find some super foods of potassium to balance these two ions out. Researching…the natural answer would be bananas, they have 400 mg of K, but 14.4g of sugar. Not a solution. A quick Google search yielded sweet potatoes, orange juice, beet greens, potatoes, white beans, dates, yogurt, tomatoes, raisins and clams. Hmmm… Most of these have high sugar content. From this list, it looks like my only sources are sweet potatoes, potatoes, beet greens, white beans, and tomatoes.