Need to Lose 100 LBS -Robins Thread !

@barb-- congrats on the good health update!

@tom-- I love that Eagles song. Thanks for the quote!

@kelley-- I agree with barb that you are doing awesome! I was semi-sidelined with that respiratory thing last fall and gained 10 lbs. I can't imagine if I were in your shoes. Roasted chickpeas sound yummy. Do you just roast them in the oven? Do you put anything on them? Do you use the canned variety? So many questions! LOL

@niki-- congrats on the loss! Happy the change is working for you.

@laurie-- So sorry to hear about your dad. I'm glad you made it to the sign language event. When I worked in that environment, I found the social interactions fascinating. I remember walking into a room, that through the window looked as though it should be noisy, filled with people conversing in near silence. I also remember learning that "personal space" has a different definition for people who are deaf. Proximity for conversations is so different when you merely have to be in eyesight vs. earshot. Also, it took me some time to remember not to walk "through" other people's conversations.

Monday Check-in:
I awoke a bit sore from running my 8k yesterday, but loosened up as the day went on. Still not enough that I felt the urge to go do it again today, but at least gunner got a short walk. Exercise this week will be tough due to a busy schedule. I have a meeting tomorrow after school that will go until at least 5:30. Then, on Wed. I have to go back to school to teach a 7 pm ACT prep class, so I won't get back to the gym until Thursday. I don't like to run two days in a row due to concerns about injury to my knees and feet (doc and podiatrist both recommend I avoid an every day schedule), so I won't make my 3 runs this week.

Protein was good again today and though I'm slightly over, I made the good choice of an orange when my sweet tooth hit this evening.

Work is stressful due to some administrative directives stirring up dissent amongst the ranks, but the kids are good and I'm keeping the grading under control.

Grading Goals:
1. 20/41 BNW journals

Fitness Goals for the month of February:
I will run 3x/week and at least one 5k/week:
Week 1 = 3/3 runs, 1/1 5k; Week 2 = x/3 runs, x/1 5k; Week 3 = x/3 runs, x/1 5k; Week 4 = x/3 runs, x/1 5k
I will run a 5k start to finish with no walking breaks.
I will run an 8k twice. 1/2

Nutrition Goal for February:
Eat >100 g protein 7/29

You vs Year Challenge:
52k done/ 948k to go

Exercise Goals:
Mon-- walk gunner DONE
Tues-- meeting
Wed-- walk gunner
Thurs-- walk gunner + gym
Fri-- walk gunner
Sat-- walk gunner + gym
Sun-- walk gunner

@Karen ~Great job with the 8k over the weekend, I'm sure even though you were semi-recovering from the run that gunner appreciated his walk. The first roasted chickpea recipe I found a few years ago is below. I follow the directions for actually roasting the chickpeas. I'm not a huge fan of cumin/curry in this recipe so right below that are the flavors I like--you can find a lot of ideas on Pinterest, too.

Roasted Chickpea Snack
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 3 • Size: 1/3 cup •
Calories: 144 • Fat: 1 g • Carb: 26 g • Fiber: 6 g • Protein: 8 g • Sugar: 1 g
Sodium: 84 mg • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Ingredients:

• 15 oz can chickpeas, drained
• olive oil spray
• 1/8 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp chili pepper powder
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp ground coriander
• 1/4 tsp curry powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Drain and rinse chickpeas in a colander and let them dry completely. Pat dry with a paper towel if needed, I usually leave them on the counter an hour to make sure they are very dry.

Arrange on a baking sheet in a single layer and roast for about 35 to 45 minutes, shaking the pan every ten minutes. All ovens are different so make sure they don't burn. They will be golden brown and crunchy on the inside when done, not moist.

As soon as they come out of the oven, spray or toss with a tiny bit of olive oil (so the herbs/spices will stick). Then toss with the flavors you choose, allow to cool and enjoy! Note that NI will vary for flavors below.

Variations I make:


Garlic
1tsp garlic powder
1/4tsp sea salt

Cinnamon
1/4tsp ground cinnamon
1/2T sugar (I’ve used Truvia in place of sugar, comes out great—but I use less)

BBQ
1/8tsp black pepper
1/2tsp cumin
1/2tsp chili powder
1/2tsp garlic powder
1/2tsp onion powder
1/2tsp salt
1-1/2tsp brown sugar

Ranch
1/4tsp black pepper
1/4tsp dried parsley
1/4tsp sea salt
1/4tsp garlic powder
1/4tsp onion powder
1/4stp dried dill weed

I think people have a love/hate relationship with chickpeas, but roasted they are super crunchy and nutty--roasting them completely changes the texture. However, roasted they don’t have a long shelf-life; they start to get chewy after 2-3 days so I never double the recipe. I just make one can at a time—but it comes together pretty quick.

@Tom OH no! Chocolate Day? I could celebrate that one for sure. Fortunately there is no chocolate in the house; I will wait until Friday when I am responsible for the chocolate dessert at a dinner we are attending.
@Kelley Yum, roasted chickpeas are great! Again, hard not to eat too many.
@Karen Nice job with the 8K. I am glad you are letting your body recover though. Listening to our bodies is truly important. Also love the story about walking into a silent sign language class; I never would have thought of waking between the conversation (though I like to think I wouldn't anyhow) but you made me realize that would be more important in that environment.
@Ellen So glad you brought us up to date. I hope your step mother improves soon. Was sorry to hear about the pain you are having and the vague diagnoses you got. I hope that can soon be resolved.
@Laurie Been thinking about you a lot lately. I wish you the best.
@zoe Be well; get better.
@Kai Your daily diligence is truly inspirational. Keep it up my friend!

AFM: I am thrilled to report I was down 2.5 pounds this week. I think a bit of that goes to last week as last Monday I had gotten into too much salt, but I will take the loss however it comes. I need now to keep going. Gene bought a King Cake yesterday, so I am fighting to stay out of that as much as possible....I will be glad when it is really stale so not so inviting! Keeping on track is so much easier when temptation is not nearby.
Thanks for being there.
Barb
mountmary84

Read something today on a MFP blog ... it sums up exactly what I am striving for and thus is a good Tuesday Goal statement:

"For me fitness is a healthy weight, aerobic capacity, strength, a nontoxic diet, good blood work and an emotional sense of wellbeing with every breath I take." ~ dsjohndrow

Hello everyone, my dad has been called home to heaven and is now pain free. He had been going downhill all week so this is a relief and a blessing that he went peacefully. We received the call this morning right before I walked out the door for work. Thank God, we had a 2 hour delay for school today otherwise I would have been at work. I will be off the rest of the week. I did go for a short walk today and will try to exercise the next couple of days but no guarantees. I am holding my own right now and doing okay. I am very thankful that he is now at peace and his ordeal is over. It is not easy but he is in a better place.

The flowers are from my friend Eddy and the staff at Park Deli. It was a pleasant surprise when I arrived home today.




Sorry no personal's tonight.

@LaurieK Please accept my deep sympathy in the loss of your father. I am so sorry for you loss.

@Lauriek70 ~I am so sorry for your loss.
This poem is one I received from a friend when my dad passed away, and I'd like to share it with you ...

When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not here to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes, filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry, they way you did today, while thinking of the many things, we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me, as much as I love you, and each time you think of me, I know you'll miss me too.
When tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me, I'm right there in your heart.

Memory Eternal for your father, may he rest lightly in the palms of God's hands.
Niki

Wednesday Wishing: I've been encouraged to join the Lenten Challenge on here (in the Challenge section) as an introduction to the idea of Lent itself, which I've never tried before despite my religious background. After much reflection, I've recognized the importance of giving up negativity and instead using that energy to spend more time in quiet praise and worship for the whole season. My wish, therefore, is that I do my best on this challenge, with God's help.

Happy Birthday Morgori
Laurie70~Sorry for your loss
Nikion901~ What a Beautiful thoughtful poem

Do I understand that we wish on Wednesdays? I wish I knew how to cook. I mean, I know how to cook - but all the things I'm good at making are no longer in the plan. I understand the mechanics of how to cook, but my expertise is in things like pasta, burgers, and dessert. I never roasted a vegetable in my life. I have no idea how to season a turkey cutlet so that it tastes like something. I'm also having a really hard time adjusting to cooking for just one person. Everything I make ends up lasting three or four days - and none of it has really been good enough to deserve an encore.

Anybody have a cookbook suggestion? I look at pinterest once in a while, but I'm too easily distracted by the recipes that start with a stick of butter and a dollop of heavy cream. I know how to dollop!

I'm sharing all this with my tongue sort of in my cheek, but really - I'm not enjoying food as I once did because I don't know how to prepare it correctly. So, I sit down with my mediocre dinner, gnaw on the dry meat, stab at the plain veggies, and I'm disappointed, I don't really want to eat it, but it is my only choice at the time. I can't afford to throw food away. I see a day not far off, when I utter a string of expletives and break out the cheeseburger hamburger helper. It won't be pretty.

celtikgirl wrote: »

Do I understand that we wish on Wednesdays? I wish I knew how to cook. I mean, I know how to cook - but all the things I'm good at making are no longer in the plan. I understand the mechanics of how to cook, but my expertise is in things like pasta, burgers, and dessert. I never roasted a vegetable in my life. I have no idea how to season a turkey cutlet so that it tastes like something. I'm also having a really hard time adjusting to cooking for just one person. Everything I make ends up lasting three or four days - and none of it has really been good enough to deserve an encore.

Anybody have a cookbook suggestion? I look at pinterest once in a while, but I'm too easily distracted by the recipes that start with a stick of butter and a dollop of heavy cream. I know how to dollop!

I'm sharing all this with my tongue sort of in my cheek, but really - I'm not enjoying food as I once did because I don't know how to prepare it correctly. So, I sit down with my mediocre dinner, gnaw on the dry meat, stab at the plain veggies, and I'm disappointed, I don't really want to eat it, but it is my only choice at the time. I can't afford to throw food away. I see a day not far off, when I utter a string of expletives and break out the cheeseburger hamburger helper. It won't be pretty.

I resolved to the fact a long time ago, that if I wanted to eat healthy and lose weight I was going to have to cook for myself. I cook for one regularly. A couple of things I do is I try and find recipes that only make around 4 servings each and stuff that will freeze well. I cook ahead, too, that way little time is spent in the kitchen. I also have an Instant Pot (multi-function cooker) that I use a lot, saves a ton of time. You can find recipes here on MFP, also I make a ton of stuff from http://www.skinnytaste.com/ (this week I made her mini turkey meatball vegetable soup--its fantastic, I had 4 this week and the other 3 are in the freezer). She has an excellent cookbook out too, can find it on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385345623/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=72903494653&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=622065806378681342&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_31pxyfo9hb_b

@Niki has some great ideas, too. I make a lot of soup and freeze, and I make a lot of one-pot meals. Its just easy. I think I end up cooking 3 weeks out of the month, then I get a week or two off and eat from the freezer. I also batch cook sides (except veggies)--for example, I make a huge pot of brown rice in my Instant Pot (takes 20 minutes) and then freeze in individual servings. That combined with a dish in the freezer and nuking some veg, you've got yourself a quick meal!

Thanks for the tips. I'll check out the suggestions. I wish I like soup more, because it would be easy to make, but I've never been a huge fan. Campbells Cream of Mushroom is my go to when I'm sick and that's about it. I have one book that has some interesting recipes, but they are all family size and require lots of stuff I'm supposed to be able to find in my pantry. Apparently my pantry is quite lacking. I'll get this figured out one way or another. I'm hoping to inherit a freezer when my in-laws move and that will give me a little more storage space for leftovers.

@laurie-- I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. Sending you hugs and strength to get through this rough time.

@morgori-- Happy birthday!

@robin-- what a terrible MRI experience! My experience was exactly what kelley described.

AFM-- we are back in deep freeze mode here in Chicago, so no walk for gunner today. Work has been stressful. There was a big blow up within one curriculum team last Friday and the bad feelings have been festering. My boss hasn't addressed it, so I met with her today to discuss some department concerns. She cried b/c she recognizes the issues but is uncertain how to address them. It's all very frustrating and creating much angst amongst our English department.

I made my protein goal and stayed under calorie goal. Tomorrow I will finally have an opportunity to hit the gym again.

I accepted an invite to go out in the city this Saturday; however, now I'm regretting the decision. The people who planned the outing get really touchy when others back out of plans. It's a huge group, so my attendance will not make or break the plans-- it's just meeting at a bar and pub-crawling. Perhaps my motivation to join the fun will return over the next couple of days.

Grading Goals:
1. 38/41 BNW journals
2. x/10 AP analysis activities
3. 20/41 AP quizzes

Fitness Goals for the month of February:
I will run 3x/week and at least one 5k/week:
Week 1 = 3/3 runs, 1/1 5k; Week 2 = x/3 runs, x/1 5k; Week 3 = x/3 runs, x/1 5k; Week 4 = x/3 runs, x/1 5k
I will run a 5k start to finish with no walking breaks.
I will run an 8k twice. 1/2

Nutrition Goal for February:
Eat >100 g protein 9/29

You vs Year Challenge:
52k done/ 948k to go

Exercise Goals:
Mon-- walk gunner DONE
Tues-- meeting
Wed-- walk gunner NOT DONE
Thurs-- walk gunner + gym
Fri-- walk gunner
Sat-- walk gunner + gym
Sun-- walk gunner

Thursday Truth: As I recall, my protein has either been fairly low or just barely on target. Oh dear.