4 Weeks In!!

Last night marked 4 weeks since we decided that we didn't want to change the way we ate and lived (again, and hopefully for the last time).  In these last 4 weeks, we've struggled a lot but have also have had many successes as well.

For example, we had a bit of a cheat night for dinner on Friday (pizza) and I think we've decided that our cheats have to be further apart.  We had decided that before, but always Friday comes around and we get tempted into something else.  This last Friday, though, we were so overly full and bloated with sodium that we decided that, at the very least, when it cheats, pizza is not an option anymore and that we have to do better with not cheating (even if it is once a week for only one meal - we need to try to extended it to once every two weeks for only one meal).  Of course, that may or may not happen this week as we do have visitors for the weekend...but we'll try.

In the past 4 weeks, I am down 17 lbs (12 from my official weigh in 5 weeks ago for our competition - but I put on 5 in the week between) and Kurt is down we think 15 lbs (because he didn't weigh himself when we started - but 11 from the official weigh in 5 weeks ago).

We're starting to have more energy (he gets it a bit more than I do), clothes are starting to loosen up a bit (some that I had that were feeling a little tight fit well now) and we aren't so tired after a long day of work as much as we were before.  Plus being on our feet for a long day is getting easier.

So SUCCESS!!

Cravings are slowly going away...and randomly one comes up and you think...REALLY, that's what I want.  And we've been trying hard to quell those cravings with other things.  We made some blackberry sorbet a couple days ago, and the tartness is kind of a nice change from the sweetness (I think I need to look at something that is a little less seedier though).

Yesterday we stopped by the Great Basin Community Food Co-Op which reminded me a lot of being in Santa Cruz again.  Some things were pretty pricy - raw unpasteurized almonds for $12.99/lb but other things weren't as bad - 32oz of local raw honey for $10 and some change.  We picked up some honey mustard salad dressing (which does have some cane sugar in it - but I tried to make a honey mustard vinaigrette and it was awful and I need a salad dressing).

My favorite thing that I TOTALLY want to go back for when I'm ready...refrigerated ladybugs!!  They were so cute - and depending if I actually get the garden in shape this year (because my seedlings desperately need to be transplanted), I might have to get some.

Last thing before I go (since I have to get ready for work) - our budget.  We went grocery shopping last Thursday, and we though there was no way we were going to get out of there under our budget because we bought a ton more meat than usual for this week (ground beef, pork chops and chicken breasts - more chicken than we needed but we figured we could use it the next week) and it still came out to about $142.  We were stunned.  Of course now that we went to the Food Co-Op and seeing the prices of meat there I'm starting to really thing about the meat we've been buying at the grocery store...but more on that later.

Ok...I lied...two things

1. Celery has become to salty to us...especially after reading how much sodium is in celery...we can taste it now!!  Suggestions for other vegi snacks to take out with us (to go with our carrots)

2. Dry-Rub Burgers...mmmm...check it out

We Need A Little Magic

We need a little magic spell that give us the will power not to long for certain food items we have given up on.  We had a few temptations this week, and I'd like to say we didn't give it, but we did a little yesterday.

Thursday we stopped by a 7-Eleven and although I was really wanting a Slurpee (not the intention for the stop - we can drive past one without longing to stop), we just grabbed some mozzarella cheese sticks instead.  However, yesterday, Kurt had to pull off the street to make a phone call and of course we ended up in the Jimmy Johns parking lot.  I have an obsession with Jimmy Johns that has been lessened since moving from Las Vegas by the fact that they are all on the other side of town.  It had been a long time since we had eating had a sandwich from there, so we gave in to the desire.  We also gave in to a little non-authorized chocolate for dessert. :)

They are still as awesome as I remember...but still I can live without them regularly (considering we have been anyway).

The reason we need a little magic to keep up my will-power is really because we feel like crap after eating that way.  For the rest of the evening, I couldn't get comfortable - it was as if all my limbs were restless...which Kurt pointed out that he hasn't felt that way since we've been eating better, and I can say the same thing.  And it's too aggravating of a feeling to suffer from just so I can have something I really shouldn't be eating.

Another reason to be good!!

We haven't posted very much this week.  Not a lot has been really going on.  I've been trying to find new meals to make so we don't get tired of the same stuff.  Most are good (Taco Salad and Frittata)...some just don't make it (Pumpkin Oatmeal Pancakes - the texture is just off).  I'll try to get a few more recipes up this weekend.

Today we're going to spend some time working on the house and going for a walk...or a bike ride.  I've got to look through some of the stuff I have so we can also start working on building muscle until we decide that its time for us to get a gym membership (I don't trust myself with gym memberships anymore, because at some point I always stop going and then it's just a waste of money...so I have to build up to going to the gym).

I did say that I would keep an update of budgeting for the grocery store.  This week was AWESOME - partly because I found a lot of meals for this week that serve 8...so we have 2 dinners and 2 lunches from one meal.  This week we spent about $135 and it included stocking up on a few things that we didn't need immediately (coconut oil - we still have half a container, but it was on sale this week; toilet paper; whole wheat flour - I was getting low but I need to make more bread and tortillas) and a couple of more pricy things that were needed but will last a while, like vanilla (which I really just need to order some beans to make my own).

This week was definitely easy on the budget. If I was to factor in our dinner last night, it would take it up to $150 which is another reason why we don't want to do that anymore - considering that is 1.3 days worth of what we bought in groceries!!

Whales vs. Dolphins

I thought it best to go dark for the weekend and catch up on life...only to find out that life isn't that exciting.  Tried to do a little yard work...found out the sprinklers are broken somewhere.  Want to get some rooms painted, but people are being asses about paying us on time.  Had a bit of work to finish up on (busy weeks are coming - Cassie I may actually have work for you soon if you wants it).

We started falling into a little bit of a rut this weekend.  We allowed ourselves a cheat dinner - pepperoni pizza...I was longing for the pepperoni...but ehhhh. Old stuff just doesn't taste good anymore...which is good overall, but it makes me a little sad.  Who wants to have a cheat meal if things aren't going to be as good as they used to?  Kurt joked with me that cheating is now going to entail having homemade french fries or potatoes with homemade gravy...but in a way, it wasn't a joke.  I would rather eat non processed "bad" foods that eat the crap that you can pick up quick (this doesn't include going out for a nice dinner which we are trying to save for once a month).

I am still floored by all the crap that's out there.  I hadn't been paying attention to everything.  For example, I had imitation vanilla in the pantry...didn't think twice about it before using it in a couple recipes.  One day I decide to pay attention...propylene glycol.  REALLY!??! An FDA approved food additive that when slightly tweaked is also used as an industrial additive for aircraft de-icer & anti-freeze, paint, liquid detergents and in the production of polyester resin.  I understand that they see it as low in toxicity (they say alcohol as a higher toxicity - http://www.propylene-glycol.com/index.php/faq) but I've decided that is something I do not want to put into my system anymore.  It's really the same problem I had with Splenda when it came out - chemically altering something that is intended to be ingested is risky because some may have no reactions while others could have fatal ones.

I do have to point out though, that while I still haven't hit that energy heightening that is supposedly suppose to come with eating better (maybe its a byproduct of integrating the exercising - which we still need to do), we've been sleeping better, not so congested although things are in bloom and overall just don't ache as much.  All in all - it's a good thing!! :)

I have deviated from my thought process though...we've been in a little bit of a rut.  We're plateauing a bit, which has been starting to get us down a little...but which just means we really need to get in gear with incorporating exercise.  I'm hoping that we shake it by the end of this week.  I've been trying to come up with new meals, but I feel, while some are less processed, they are still meals that we should try to limit ourselves on.  Two nights ago, we made slow cooker fajitas, which were good but I felt the meat was a little too fatty.  Last night, we made a version of salisbury steak (I read it wrong and bought steak instead of ground beef) and it was good - had a beef stock and red wine reduction sauce - but the whole thing called for 6 Tbsp of butter.  So it gets me down a bit when I am trying to be better, but it just doesn't seem to be coming out that way.  It'll get better though.

So you might be thinking...ok Whales vs. Dolphins...what does any of this have to do with Whales vs. Dolphins.  Well...here it goes!

When we were in Maui for our anniversary, we were there at the height of whale season - mamas and their calves, some with a male escort.  We got to go whale watching for the first time...and it was awesome!!

Here's some knowledge from my days of working at a marine lab - all dolphins are whales but not all whales are dolphins.  Kurt and I agreed that the next time we go to Maui, we want to be dolphins and not whales (smaller whales - hehe).

I thought of this because today I was going through all of our expenses of the last year trying to find places we can save - since this winter was a bit of a struggle for our business - and what did I have to face?  We ate SO horribly in the last year...and not only that, but it cost us an arm and a leg (and probably some internal organs weren't too happy either) to do so.  There was quite a bit of fast food (not as much as I had thought or remembered) but there were also several trips to the grocery store and all I can remember was picking up junk!!

We are trying to make an effort to not spend more than $150-$175 a week for groceries and household essentials and in the last week we've worked within the budget well.  Last summer we were spending upwards of $250-$300 a week...and what did we get from it?  Junk (and increased weight).

So I'll let you know as we progress, how we do with our budgeting as time goes on.  As we are still getting use to this and picking up things that we don't have now but will last a while, we'll be cutting it close, but I think as we start getting into the habit, it should work out for us.

Anyway, that is what happens when I don't talk to the world for a couple days....I rant and rant.  I'll stop now.  :)