Vee getting healthy

T-DAY MINUS 1

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:31:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. This time last year I was soooo close to 200 pounds but never did get below it. But so many things have changed since last year. My son developed epilepsy and was confirmed to have autism and OCD. My husband's father passed away which resulted in a huge family fight. We saw lots of baby chicks and baby goats born to our farmette. Got a puppy to be my son's service animal. And my health deteriorated so horribly that if I don't stay off my leg 3-4 months, I'll need surgery that will without a doubt keep me off my leg for 3-4 months.

So... we're not overdoing it for tomorrow. Breakfast is bacon and eggs (from our own hens!) with whole grain waffles. But at Linner (lunch/dinner), we're having:

17.82 turkey - in about an hour I'm cutting that raw thing off the bone and sticking it in the crockpot with onions, garlic, apple slices and celery ... should be ready by noon tomorrow
stuffing with mushrooms, onions and sliced water chestnuts
cranberries cooked with mandarin oranges, apple chunks and walnuts with a tad bit brown sugar
raw carrots, celery sticks, pickles and olives
sweet potatoes cooked and served with butter and walnuts
baked potatoes with sour cream, cheese and bacon (that's for my son ... plus a pepperoni pizza and carrots)
croissants and dinner rolls
3 desserts (1) pumpkin pie (2) pecan pie per my kid's request, and (3) graham cracker tart shells filled with pumpkin-bread-frozen yogurt from Gotcha Yogurt and topped with pecans

Oh shoot. Didn't think about drinks. Well, I have lots of tea in the fridge, and instant coffee. And seltzer. Plus it's only the three of us. As it is, we'll be eating this food for weeks to come!

I'm thinking Christmas is gonna be low-carb!

HALLOWEEN AND OTHER HOLIDAY THOUGHTS

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:59:00 +0000

Today is Halloween. I haven't had any candy for quite a while now, and have really avoided soda pop too. I have one of our chickens in the crockpot with a little smart-balance-butter, garlic, and seasoned salt. Once Hubby gets home from work, he'll grab some chicken, some baked butternut squash (with cinnamon and brown sugar) ... then put on his costume and take my Kid trick-or-treating.

Yes, they are bringing home candy this evening. One of my huge weaknesses. So I'm PLANNING on eating a few pieces of candy tonight. We'll go through all the candy, fill up a quart canning jar with what my Kid can eat (no corn or peanuts or artificial colors), then we'll buy the rest of the candy from him with a movie.

What Hubby and I don't eat tonight goes to his job tomorrow. Thus, only ONE day (evening, really) of candy!

Now, on to the coming holidays ... my plans have to be (1) gluten-free (2) corn-free (3) dairy-free (4) use as much from our little farm as possible. Planning these menus:

Thanksgiving:
huge chicken (ours!), roasted with garlic, "butter" and poultry seasoning
stuffing with mushrooms and water chestnuts
potato skins with bacon and rice cheese
sweet potatoes with "butter" and cinnamon-toasted-pecans
cranberry-and-orange muffins
pecan pie tarts

Christmas:
ham (gotta buy this year)
homemade bread
green beans with sliced almonds
mashed potatoes
apple chunks fried in cinnamon with walnuts and pecans
pumpkin-cheesecake-yogurt tarts

Fairly healthy. The pecan pie tarts are made with brown sugar instead of corn syrup. Took a while to find THAT recipe! And the pumpkin-cheesecake-yogurt tarts are made from a frozen yogurt we discovered yesterday at local frozen yogurt place.

What would YOU add to these menues? What are you serving?

STILL ON TRACK

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:10:00 +0000

My goal was to start back with just eliminating (1) candy and (2) soda pop. DONE! Very tempted MANY times, but resisted.

When I wanted soda and at the same time didn't want plain water, I did make some plain tea, flavored tea or coffee but still ... one step at a time.

As for exercise, I can't. Well, not anything below the heinie. No leg work. Ortho doc told me that I'm missing most of my cartlidge in BOTH knees, have arthritis, and on the left leg, the Baker's Cyst pushed grew so big that it pushed my knee off tracking and can't get back on. So either I stop using my knees (at least 90%) for a while (3-4-5 months) or I pay through the nose for surgery and will be completely down (100%) 3-4 months.

Obvious choice.

So any exercising I do is upper body and what sit-ups I can do on the bed without bending my legs. Plus building winter accommodations for our goats and chickens really took a lot of upper body work.

Getting healthy will take longer now, but it's more necessary than ever.

I don't get online very often any more so updates will be sporadic but when I have something to say, I will.

SMILE!

GETTING BACK ON THE HORSE

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:55:00 +0000

Okay, if you read my blogs at all, you know we don't have horses. Just goats, chickens and now a service dog.

But what I mean is ... it's time to talk myself back into getting healthy.

Had a little episode last Friday. Fixed French Toast for Hubby's breakfast to take to work. Made too much egg mixture, so made myself some. Not gonna say exactly how many, but it was too much. Plus syrup and powdered sugar (eating it the way I grew up with it).

Within an hour, I started getting a tingling sensation all up and down my spine. Felt really weird, and started to faint a couple of times.

I figure, it's the sugar.

No more. No more french toast (unless I eat it with jam instead of syrup). No more candy (haven't had any at all since). No more constant snacking.

We were busy all weekend. Still winterizing the chicken coops so that was a lot of work, then on Sunday we got a lot of firewood delivered, and stacking that up took most of the day. LOTS of exercise. Lost 4 pounds between Friday and Monday morning.

Couldn't believe the scale. With all the crap and candy I've been eating since last Fall, I thought I'd gained all 99 pounds back. As of last Friday morning, it was 255. As of yesterday, Monday, morning, it was 251.2.

Wow.

However, I felt depression several times since Friday. Realized it's probably just chocolate that I missed. Chocolate helps stabilize my moods, so gonna find a way to get a LITTLE dark chocolate in me daily. Last time it was choc chips with peanut butter. Sounds gross to me now.

Not that I"m going around the bend. Still ... gonna eat healthier than I have been.

It's time.

Again.

BEING LAID UP IS BAAAD!

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:07:00 +0000

I hate that my knee hurts. The Baker's cyst grew so that it has made my knee pop out. In pain much of the time. Laid up right now with ice under my knee, and another pack over it.

This isn't doing much for me eating healthy. And exercising.

Got on the exercycle a couple of days ago and couldn't last more than a minute. The knee was making huge popping sounds, and it had an obvious bulge on one side.

Really will be glad to get all of this done.

And since my goats and chickens ate most of my garden, we're not eating cucumbers and tomatoes like I'd hoped. If I could walk, I'd go to the farmer's market next weekend.

Oh well. I have an ortho appt scheduled for Oct. Soon soon soon!

EATING HEALTHY WHEN YOU CRAVE COMFORT FOOD

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:04:00 +0000

Won't be posting for a few days; services to attend, family members to console, and funeral. When Hubby came home yesterday, there was a lot more junk food wrappers in his car than usual. Not usually bad with willpower, he gave in over the last couple of days. I don't blame him, but want to do the best for him, and for us.

So over the next few days, we'll be eating frozen gf mac-n-cheese, apple slices, bananas, red grapes, celery, carrots, eggs, homemade trail mix, cereal with goat or rice milk, etc. Not planning on cooking beyond the microwave, but want to provide good alternatives.

I'll get him some more Twizzlers, caffeinated soda and chips. He also loves spam and salmon with crackers. All of these are HIS comfort foods.

And yes, I'm sure we'll have a meal or two out with family members, but I'm thinking this is a pretty healthy plan!

Thanks for the e-mails of condolences.

DEATH

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 16:25:00 +0000

Hubby's dad passed away yesterday. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts as they go through this difficult time.

NOT AGAIN!

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:29:00 +0000

That pest is back. The one who leaves mean not-helpful comments about how I should just get off my duff and just do it? (I'm paraphrasing). I'm thinking that person has never been on a diet, or ever NEEDED to diet.

PPPBBBBSSSTTTHHHH!

(I don't know how to write a raspberry).

Anyhoo, I've turned off the comments again. Sorry.

Back to the program at hand: was sick yesterday and again today. Fever, headache, dizziness and general exhaustion. My Kid has a headache too. We must've gotten a little bug. Could be from the MILLION flies we have!

Today's Food:

B: pecans, grapes

L: 2 poached eggs today. Well, 3 actually but 2 were from my bantam chickens and together equal 1 egg. Added a tad bit of spicy mustard. Plus a whole cantaloupe. YUM!

D: no clue.

Really don't feel like eating again. Sweating and just feeling yucky. Think I'll make Hubby fend for himself and I'll just drink a V8 and more tea or water.

I really need to make cheese today but I'm thinking I'll put it off until tomorrow. Hopefully this is only a 48 hour bug.

PROGRESS

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 04:35:00 +0000

Started the day out with an entire cantaloupe (YUMMY) and a protein drink. Have to have protein in the a.m. or else my hypoglycemia kicks in. The chickens got the cantaloupe rinds and seeds.

Lunch was a handful of almonds and a few strawberries.

For dinner I ate some ground beef with onions, 2 kinds of cheeses and a bit of mayo and ketchup. No bun. Tasted kinda like a hamburger. Also drank a V8 and had more water.

Nope. Not satisfied but at least it was healthy.

Grocery shopping tomorrow. Hope there's some fruit for sale! Maybe a couple of avocados. We'll see.

PALEO DIET

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:03:00 +0000

Was recommended to http://www.paleodietlifestyle.com/ ... it gave this list of foods on the paleo diet: "game meat, fish, vegetables, wild fruits, eggs and nuts"

Question: what about seeds, like sunflower and pumpkin?

My problem is that when I'm hot like I am these days, I don't want meat. I had 2 eggs last night for dinner and I've been sick ever since. It was just too heavy. And I don't care for much fish (tuna but only with mayo and pickle relish). But I'm hypoglycemic and need lots of protein. Can I get that by eating pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, filberts, and seeds?

Another Question: Can I assume that the only drink acceptable is water? What about green and herb tea? What about coffee?

Another Question: Are onions, garlic and potatoes counted as vegetables?

Another Question: Are any seasonings acceptable, like basil?

I'm thinking about doing this, but I'll need to probably add beans, peas and lentils, as well as tomatoes. After all, we have lots growing here!

Thoughts?

PANTING DOG

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:48:00 +0000

I feel like a panting dog. I need water. Liquids. Cooling water rushing over my sweat-drenched body.

Gimme!

LOST WEIGHT!

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:58:00 +0000

You get it from the title... somehow, without really sticking to my plan, I'm down a few more pounds! It's just been so hot, I haven't felt like eating much, just drinking some bottled starbucks coffee and lemonade, and a sandwich or two. A LOT of water. We did pick some blueberries last night for dinner (our very first, from the garden!) but I basically just "drank" dinner.

I'm sure most of it is released from me as sweat. We did a lot of work this past weekend (moved two chicken coops - rebuilding - and moved about 50 out of 65 chickens) and I probably sweated buckets out there. Close to a hundred degrees. ARGH. Hate this weather. Well, at least it's not raining.

June 15: 258.6 pounds
June 29: 253.0 pounds
July 19: 247.0 pounds

Went to the grocery yesterday and stocked up on more drinks: juices for the Kid, some more bottle starbucks coffees and V-8s for me, and dog bones.

That's right.

We have Krypto the Super-Service-Puppy now. Sure wish this pup would sleep through the night without whining. Right now, he's laying on my bed, trying to eat my toes. That's pleasant. Not. House-training then he'll start to spend more time with my Kid. Until then, it all falls on me.

I'm the mom. Don't we always get stuck with the majority of the work?

Anyhoo, hopefully soon, I'll cut out the bottled coffee drinks (too much sugar) and just make my own. Right now, I don't even want to use the microwave to heat the water to make instant and then add my own goat milk and ice. Too much work. I did exercise in bed a few moments last night. Nobody ever responded to my post about how to work out while laid up so ... trying to figure it out on my own.

Have a great one, all!

I AM A WHINEY BUTT

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 21:43:00 +0000

Whine whine whine. I just want to whine about all of this rain, and the muck my livestock is in, and how much my knee and leg hurt.

Bored yet?

Ready for Krypto the super-service-puppy ... be in the next hour or so IF the trainer can get through the hailstorm. ARGH!

CONUNDRUM. HELP!

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:17:00 +0000

I have a weird kind of cyst in my left leg. It's so painful that I can't walk. I'm getting crutches today, but the doc office says I either rest or it won't go away. Then comes surgery.

Yuck.

So ... how can I lose weight without moving? Except for caring for the livestock and driving to therapy appointments, I'm not allowed to get out of bed. So how on earth can I lose weight? Are there exercises I can do in bed? Is there some diet plan I can do without hobbling to the refrigerator or standing to cook?

Help!

BLEW IT

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:18:00 +0000

I'd like to blame it on stress, but it all comes down to ME.

So ... **I** screwed up.

Well, this is a new minute.

SPUR OF THE MOMENT DINNER

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:25:00 +0000

Invited my kid's service dog/puppy trainer to dinner last night. Came to show us pix of the puppy that we'll be picking up in a couple of weeks. Browned some ground beef, added seasonings, served with pasta (or corn chips) and salsa. Bowl of fresh raw veggies on the table. Tea.

Delicious!

Hubby got leftovers for lunch. Meat had salsa on it. Pasta in separate compartment with goat cheese. Hope he likes it.

I forgot what I was doing and tasted a pasta for doneness. Wasn't gluten-free. Was only one tho.

Coffee only so far this morning. I'm so hungry!

A GOOD KIND OF DAY

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:42:00 +0000

On the health front, did very well yesterday and so far, today. Wrote down what I ate. Exercised a little. Drank lots of water.

Progress, right?!?!

Yesterday:
B: chocolate protein drink
L: Subway: turkey, bacon, mayo, lettuce
S: Gotcha Yogurt: fresh fruit, nuts, coconut (no frozen yogurt!!)
D: salad, milk

Today:
B: vanilla protein drink
L: coffee, gf bagel w/cream cheese & pb, grapes, plum, milk

Already made a big thing of decaf green tea for later.

My son's puppy trainer will be here close to dinner time. Plan to invite her to stay. Will make meatballs. Hubby's picking up misc fresh veggies on the way home (all I have is carrots right now).

So ... woohoo!

WOOHOO ... 253 lbs!

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:23:00 +0000

Last week was 258.6 (if I remember correctly). Weighed this morning. Back down to 253.0 and that's without trying really. WOOHOO!

Up early with Hubby, milked the contrary goat, made Hubby's breakfast and lunch, and went back to bed for an hour. Up to incredible heat already, then feed and watered the livestock.

For the next week or so, I won't be tracking calories or carbs. I remember enough from my successful weight loss last year. Will do low carb except for fresh fruit once a day. Will do an egg or two a day (since my girls are laying pretty well, except when acclimating to this horrible heat). Will exercise regularly (already did arm and chest exercises). Will garden a few times a week (weeding and watering).

After a few weeks, I'll start tracking my calories, fat and carbs. I still have that spreadsheet I made last year. I had added the foods and drinks I most used and have to say that I did really really well. It was only the emotional horrible situation at the end of Oct 2010 that blasted me off my getting-healthy path.

Now, I need to get healthy again. For me.

Breakfast so far: chocolate protein drink.

Yum!

Off to run errands now. In this near-record heat. NOT looking forward to this. My car hates it too.

HERE I GO AGAIN!

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:28:00 +0000

I am sooo ready to be healthy! I'm hot, sweaty, huge, and did I mention hot? I have too much going on to ignore my SELF anymore.

So ... here I go again. Back to the drawing board.

Rather, back where I was exactly a year ago. Last year, when I started for real on this getting healthy plan, I was 269.4 pounds on June 29. By October 25 or so, I weighed 201.? pounds. Great job, right.

Gained back right around 58 pounds since.

I'll weigh tomorrow morning. Curious. Aren't you?

SO HOT

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:55:00 +0000

In 90's today. Hot hot hot. My car doesn't like hot. Doesn't like cold. Doesn't like wet. What do you expect ... it's an 84!

I'm putting together a cookbook to help raise money for my son's seizure dog and such. Go to : http://vikkisverandah.blogspot.com/p/cookbook.html ... you'll also see pictures of our goat babies and chicks for sale.

Sections in the "GETTING HEALTHY" cookbook:
-crockpot dishes
-pantry put-togethers (using stored foods)
-gluten-free
-sugar-free
-corn-free
-raw
-low-carb
-side dishes and salads
-entrees
-desserts
... ... ... and so forth. Open to suggestions!

Perhaps a section of tips and tricks for dieting and getting healthy? Maybe a section for enticing children to eat healthy?

Please? Send your recipes.

Deadline: July 29 2011.

THANKS!

GREAT NEWS!

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 02:28:00 +0000

Okay, this isn't diet or (my) health related but we have a puppy! The trainer found him for us!

Son wanted a white boy lab puppy (so he can be called "KRYPTO The Superdog" after his favorite cartoon).

Got a MOSTLY white boy lab puppy, with a black nose. Very smart (first in litter to find the doggy door), sweet, friendly, even temperment, and low prey instinct (perfect since we have chickens that I do NOT want chased!).

I'm dancing and shaking my booty! Oooh, good exercise!

Now I have to get the house puppy-proofed. We have until July 11.

Woohoo!

CEREAL AGAIN?

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:55:00 +0000

Yup. Gotta admit. I love eating cereal. Drop some frozen mixed berries in the bottom of a deep bowl. Pour on a little milk (prefer goat milk but usually have instant on hand). The milk turns to slush. I break up the berries with a spoon then add my gluten-free cereal (Mesa Sunrise, Rice Chex, etc.). Stir it up and munch it down.

Delicious!

Especially on a scorcher day like today. It's already hot and it's not even 9 a.m.! I think I'll drink iced decaf coffee today.

THIRSTY

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 03:45:00 +0000

Here's what I don't like about Summer:

It's hot.

Yep. That's the biggie. It's hot. Therefore, I sweat, which I hate. And I get really thirsty. And sometimes, ice water and iced tea just doesn't do it.

I've been so thirsty today.

Tomorrow it will be hotter, but I have more work to do for the garden. I'm really only just beginning. But because I care ... I gotta grow these fresh fruits and veggies and grains. Which means we need Summer.

Suck it up, right?

Sigh.

Ok.

PICK ME UP

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:13:00 +0000

Thanks... for picking me up.

Needed that.

STRESS

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:45:00 +0000

Balancing on the delicate beam of life, one bit of stress can be handled, but like a strong gust a LOT of stress can push one off the edge.

I've fallen but I **can** get up.