Three Week Roll! (Weekly Summary)

I am on a three week roll now with losing weight, so I am very pleased. I am 3.5 pounds into my 20 pound weight loss. My start was slower than I wanted, but I hope to keep on moving down the scale.

I was especially pleased with my weight loss this week, because I was traveling for work and attended several lunches and dinners with coworkers. I managed to stick to my calorie plan and still get in plenty of fruits and some veggies. I also worked out in the hotel gym two of the four days I was travelling. I did not keep an extensive list this week of foods consumed, so no reports for you there.

Breast Cancer Risk Increased by Drinking and Food Containers

I heard an interesting news story on my way to a museum exhibit with the hubby today. The news story discussed the growing body of research linking estrogen mimicking plastics and chemicals to increased risks of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Link to Estrogens in the Environment

The article above also includes some simple steps to lower breast cancer risks: not drinking from certain types of plastic containers, avoiding makeup and cleaners with certain ingredients, etc.

June 15-21 Weekly Diet Summary

This week was successful! I lost another pound and was very close to my total calorie goal for the week. I am pretty pleased with the food consumed (other than it being a little higher calorie at the beginning of the week than I wanted). I changed my breakfasts this week, and stayed away from oats. I mainly ate Rice and Shine in the mornings.



Monday's Summary:
2 cups coffee with agave nectar
Rice & Shine made with water, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar
2% Yogurt
Indian Lentils
1.25 cups jicama
Salad (radish, fennel, apple, carrots all finely sliced; dressed with tahini and sesame seeds)
Chips
Walked 2 miles (instead of 6 due to a storm)

Tuesday's Summary:
2 cups coffee with agave nectar
Rice & Shine made with water, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar
Salad (radish, fennel, apple, carrots all finely sliced; dressed with tahini and sesame seeds)
1 frozen banana pop (1 ripe banana, on a skewer, wrapped in plastic wrap, frozen)
2% Yogurt
Chips
Turkey bacon
Orange
Walked 6 miles

Wednesday's Summary:
2 cups coffee with agave nectar
Rice & Shine made with water, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar
2% Yogurt & 1.5 cups of cucumber with salt and pepper
1 frozen banana pop (1 ripe banana, on a skewer, wrapped in plastic wrap, frozen)
Gluten-free pasta with shrimp & sauce
Appetizers
Walked 6 miles and did yoga

Thursday's Summary:
2 cups coffee with agave nectar
Rice & Shine made with water, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar
Salad with chickpeas, salad olives, blue cheese dressing, cucumber
1 banana
2% Yogurt and Cereal
Chips
Chicken breast
Vegetables cooked in chicken breast juices
White wine
Walked 6 miles

Friday's Summary:
2 cups of coffee with agave nectar
Rice & Shine made with water, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar
0% Greek yogurt with 1/2 banana
1 medium peeled apple
Large Greek salad with gyro meat
Walked 2 miles, Ran 4 miles

Saturday's Summary:
2 cups coffee with agave nectar
2% Yogurt
Cereal
Banana
Salad with left over chicken breast, blue cheese, radishes, olives
English muffin with tahini
Crystal Light Cherry Limeade Slurpee
pickle
2 glasses white wine
Walked 6 miles and did strength training

I am only 2.5 lbs into my 20 pound weight loss, but am feeling hopeful that my weight loss will continue. I am traveling four days this week for work, but will try to keep to my weight loss plan.

Big Breakfasts Can Aid Longer-Term Weight Loss

A study that indicates that eating big breakfasts can aid weight loss is all over the news today. Here is one of many links that can be found to the story:

'Big Breakfast' Diet Helps Shed Pounds

Good News! (Weekly Summary)

I am finally down a little bit of weight - 1.5 pounds lost! Both weigh-ins yesterday and today were the same weight. I am looking to keep on going with my weight loss. I feel like I finally have a rhythm, helped by improved grocery shopping, but I am wary of making any predictions with the little plateau I hit over the weeks before this most recent one.

I ended up only a bit over my calorie target for last week and was able to successfully fit in a great anniversary dinner at a restaurant friendly to people with food intolerances and allergies, Cafe Atlantico (http://www.cafeatlantico.com/). For brunch yesterday, my honey also made gluten free pancakes with Trader Joe's Gluten Free Pancake Mix with allergen free chocolate chips from Enjoy Life mixed into the batter. The chocolate chips and pancake mix are two of the very few types of these items that I can find that are gluten, soy, and corn-free.

Today, I went a bit overboard with useless carbs, having left over pancakes for breakfast and then gluten-free pizza with fresh basil and mozarella with tomato sauce. I also had a few chips today, too! I will have to drop my calorie totals for a few days to even out of my calories over the week to make up for today's carb bonanza. I will also need to eat a lot of veggies tomorrow to make up for the lack of veggies today.

Today's Food and Beverages Ingested:
2 cups coffee with agave nectar
Gluten free pancakes from Trader Joe's mix with chocolate chips from Enjoy Life. A little bit of pure maple syrup on top
1/3 peeled apple
cherries
1 serving of chips with salsa
Gluten-free pizza
1/2 orange
2.5 liters of water
Crystal Light Cherry Limeade Slurpee

Exercise: I walked 6 miles today. Yesterday, I also walked 6 miles and did yoga for 30 minutes.

I am planning on switching to doing calorie/food summaries once a week or twice a week. I may, however, continue to post interesting food adventure and health news throughout the week.

Indian lentils. Mmm. (Daily Summary June 13)

I am a big fan of lentils. I particularly like them when they come prepared in ready to eat, Indian spiced in lunch-sized packages. They are high in fiber and yummy. Today,I was able to keep to my planned calories and save up a few for tomorrow's planned dinner out. I also got in my 6 miles of walking, and may do a bit of stretching or yoga before I get myself tucked in for the night.

Food and Beverages Ingested:

2 cups of coffee with agave nectar
Rice & Shine made with water, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar
Indian jodphur lentils
17 cherries
0% fat Greek Fage yogurt with 1/2 banana
1 large peeled apple
Salad (baby spinach, 1/2 can albacore tuna in water, 1 cup English cucumber, 2 tbl spoons salad olives, blue cheese dressing)
1 can Hanson's Calorie Free Ginger Ale with a dash of lime juice
1.5 liters of water

Props to my mother for getting in a bit of a walk today!

Slipped Peanut Butter in Again Today (Daily Summary June 12)

Why, oh why, do I keep eating peanut butter? Or roasted peanuts? Perhaps, even though I know that they make me feel gross, they taste so good? Take today's slipping in of peanut butter to have with my banana: 10 minutes later I am feeling queasy, within 30 minutes I need a nap and have a bit of a stomach ache, and now, hours later, my stomach is even more queasy on the verge of a coup d'etat, I have a bit of a headache, and I feel sluggish. Each time this happens, I tell myself I won't have peanut butter again, but something about its wonderful taste draws me back. I must stop!

It shouldn't be too much of a surprise that it bothers me. People with soy allergies can have problems with peanuts due to similar protein properties, but, alas, I still have to dip my spoon into the yummy bucket o' golden brown allergen periodically.

On another note, I have greatly enjoyed the nice change in the weather. It was easy to walk six miles outside today. Not too hot. I am doing strength training this evening.

Food & Beverages Ingested:
Breakfast:
2 cups of coffee with agave nectar
Enjoy Life Cinnamon Crunch Cereal with almond milk

Early Lunch:
2% Greek yogurt with 1 banana

Late Lunch:
Salad (1/2 can white albacore tuna in water, cucumbers, iceberg lettuce, blue cheese dressing)

Evening Snacks:
Banana with 1.5 tbl spoons of peanut butter
Cherries
Pickle
Crystal Light Cherry Limeade Slurpee

Water - 4 cups so far, not including the limeade.

I am trying to save up a few calories today and tomorrow for my anniversary brunch and dinner plans on Saturday. :)