Accepted

After, let's see, four months I finally feel like "one of the girls" in the pool's river walk.  These ladies have been at it for a couple of years-they all know each other and talk while walking.  Well, since I talk and SWIM, I don't get to know them as much.  But we are talking now a bit and I am slowly getting to know their names.  Some of them KNOW everything about EVERYBODY.  I don't need to know all that, just want to be friendly, you know what I mean?  Everyone exercises in the river walk a little differently; some slower than others especially, as I've mentioned, when they all walk and talk together.  It is like a log jam in the pool.  Mondays are the worse day; everybody is there. No swimming today-I was up in the night with the storm;  so slept in this morning.  I will be up and at 'em tomorrow.  

Fresh Veggies

Since I have been feeling somewhat better this week (could the Lord have cured me?-all things are possible!) I have been eating more; which makes me more interested in food.  I am sure I have gained a few pounds back, so I concentrated on the fresh veggies at the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market.  I have to say, I forgot how much I loved it there.  It is open Wednesday and Saturdays and beside the few plants I bought-we did buy some little baby potatoes and some other things.  I put them in plastic freezer zip-lock bags and close them almost all the way and then suck the air out with a straw and finish zipping them up.  They stay fresher and don't get as bruised plus taking up less room the refrigerator.  Didn't feel too good after my Cat Scan today; all the contrast I drank really made me sick.  So we will enjoy some tomorrow. We left some apricots, peaches and tomatoes out to ripen.  

Demonstration with these cute little squash

Ah.....all the air gone

Baby cukes

Peaches: this system really helps keep the peaches from bruising

Green and yellow beans; yummy fresh!

                           

Wheat

                             
Well, the headaches are back full force and I was thinking I have slowly been eating more and more wheat, and I am having bad headaches again.  There seems to be no rhyme or reason to them, except July and August are always bad-you know it's the summer harvest of wheat. I was eating wheat-free crackers and pancakes and ran out of them, so starting eating the wheat versions of the same food.  I don't know but I think it's worth it to try it.  There was a time about a month ago, I didn't have a headache for about 3 weeks.  Now if I could just leave the dark chocolate alone......

Venison

I think we are going to have some Venison for Thanksgiving, Christmas....it will probably last us all winter :) They should be nice and fat after eating our grass, plants and fallen apples all summer! Anyone have any good Venison recipes??

Now here's a guilty look if I ever saw one!!

You guys are getting mighty close to the plants there!

Say what????

Oh yea just graze away!

Coming back for a few more apples

                   

Potent Quotable

                                                             

"He has taken me to his banquet hall and his banner over me is love....strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples.  Song of Songs 2: 4-5

"For the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."  Galations 5: 22-23

Who Cares?

         

                            

      
After a whole morning of not eating; and a wonderful experience at U of M....I was ready for FOOD.  No diet just food.  So the chef and I stopped at the BROKEN EGG in Ann Arbor (our favorite plass from farmer's market days) and we split a huge plate of Breakfast Stew.  It had sliced potatoes, eggs, carmalized onions, spinich, peppers and Zucchini.  It was very good.  We each had a thick piece of buttered raisin cinnamon toast.  It ended up being breakfast and lunch; Brunch I believe it is called.  Then we did a little shopping in Kerry Town and headed for home. 
 I could not believe the way God had worked in this whole experience and yet what is there not to believe?  This is God we are talking about. 
The afternoon continued with 3 mini biscotti with my coffee and one dark chocolate candy.  I think most people have a relationship with food; we use it to celebrate, we use it when we are sad and we use it when we are bored.  One day, a diet does not break as long as you are back on it the next day.
And exercise, don't forget that.  The doctor told me yesterday morning I would be the only person that told him I exercise 6-7 days a week.  Ah...that felt good.  So inspired by that, I was in the pool exercising this morning at 6:15 a.m. 

100 Degrees and

                                                               
 15 pounds weight loss today.  Even after drinking all the coconut juice Donaldo bought for me.  This isn't an easy way to lose weight; not feeling good.  Hoping to get fixed up and feel  good again soon.  Enjoyed swimmng this morning.  It's so easy not eat when you don't feel good; you wonder why you can't just do it all the time.  That's why I am saving my clothes that are too big right now :)   

So How's It Going?

                  
Yea, well my GI doctor wanted me to be on a clear liquid diet; I figured out that it is probably in case I need emergency surgery.  But no call from him today yet and an appointment with U of M not until next Wednesday, I was starving on the liquid diet.  I had some applesauce, a scrambled egg and toast.  I will have to take my chances here and eat soft food.  Donaldo bought me some coconut milk; it is like water really.  It is supposed to have all the electrolytes in it and natural sugar.  He thought it would be good for me.  I have had it before-it doesn't have much taste, but hey, I might as well drink it.  Made some sugar-free jello-YUCK!!  That's a last resort food if you ask me.  The low-sodium organic chicken broth isn't bad, but a little of that goes a long way.  And isn't chocolate a clear liquid?? I am sure it is.  I do have to be careful because the more I eat, the more my stomach hurts.  Meanwhile I am just hanging in there.  We skipped swimming today and yesterday so we will see about tomorrow.  I don't want to become a couch potato. 

Twenty Two Grams Of......

SUGAR??!!! Once again I was forced to have sugar against my will.  Ha ha.  It came in the form of a can of chocolate Ensure@
that I had to drink for my test today.  It had all the things I consider unhealthy  Mind you, I didn't read the ingredients until after I drank it.  So...22 grams of sugar, 57 carbs, high fructose corn syrup and plenty of dairy and other things I can't even remember.  Why you ask?
When they are checking the arteries in your abdomen about 30 minutes after you eat, more blood goes to the area to help with digestion.  If you have a blockage they can see a blockage better and believe you me, I felt the pain.  I think I read somewhere it's like Angina in your heart, but in your abdomen.  This is all very interesting and I saw the images on the screen, but of course couldn't make out a thing.  One thing I know I will never drink Ensure@ unless someones makes me.
So yes, I had sugar today and look where it got me.
Now after my doctor's call I am on a clear liquid diet.

Chili Powder?

Nasturtiums along with Marigolds and Lavender. 

What?  Did I make chili on such a hot day?  Did I use it in taco salad?  Did I put it on nachos?  No, my giant jar of chili was sprinkled on my plants because I planted some bargain plants to fill in where the bunnies had nibbled the previous plants. Hopefully they will come back in, but I had to fill the spaces.  I can't quite figure out why the bunnies like begonias.  They don't even look the appetizing....not like Nasturtiums; I use them in salads.  The leaves have a crunchy slightly peppery taste and the flowers look beautiful sitting on top of a salad; especially a potato salad.  What I am really hoping is that bunnies don't like chili powder!!  I am going to keep up the sprinkling this week and hope they feed in someone else's garden. 
My weight loss has remained stable at 14 pounds; I am happy with this as there was no cheating going on this weekend except for a little dark chocolate.  We hit the pool this morning before church and it was perfectly uncrowded.  The swim bags are on the table for tomorrow morning.
     

Content

                    
"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength...and my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  Phil. 4:12, 13, 19

I am far from this goal and this is my prayer for today.

Salads

Aren't salads great this time of year?   The other day I had a salad with left-over steak.  I cut the steak into very thin, small pieces and added my greens, some fresh Parmesan cheese, and some tomatoes.  I added a little garlic and oil dressing and it was OH so good.  The nice thing about salads is you can add almost anything you want to them which adds a lot of variety.  And the crunching is so satisfying.  I figure salads take the place of soup that we make in the winter.  What are your favorite salad ingredients?  Tomorrow I will tell you about an unusual salad ingredient. 

Off the Wagon....

Joy Boy loved the hobo bread

                                                                 
......a bit.  Was it my fault we forgot our lunch at GFV and had to have frozen custard for lunch?  Well I did share a small one with Joy Boy, but is still seemed like I ate a lot!!  Did I have hobo bread?  One bite.  Did Joy Boy's father have to take us out for dinner?  Of course he did.  So how many carbs are in pecan encrusted talapia and veggies in angel hair pasta?   I skipped the bread and left a little angel hair pasta.  I figure you have one day that's a little off, you can make up for it the next day.  I still maintain it is hard to get a healthy meal at a restaurant.  Who knows what they put in it or cook it in?!   And I did swim this morning so that is good.  I may be having the frozen banana dessert tonight though-but that's not too bad.  Isn't it funny how you can just FEEL that things are getting tighter-doesn't take much.  I am on this diet to stay healthy-and being off one blood pressure medication has been worth it.  As they say, "tomorrow is another day."

A Little Tea

                          
Summer is a great time to make sun tea.  I bought this pvc-free container at my local grocery store. I just put in four English Breakfast tea bags and set it in the sun for a couple of hours. Sometimes I like to add fresh mint and lemon balm to give it a nice flavor. You can use any kind of tea you want and add a nice flavored herb to jazz it up.  I think lavender would be good also.  Add some fresh Stevia leaves which is a natural sweetner. After it is brewed, take the tea bags out and keep it refrigerated. It makes a refreshing summer drink. 

Potent Quotable

                            

How to Tell It's Time to Go on a Diet...

"Reality check:  you can never, ever, use weight loss to solve problems that are not related to your weight.  At your goal weight or not, you still have to live with yourself and deal with your problems.  You will still have the same husband, the same job, the same kids, and the same life.  Losing weight is not a cure for life."  ~Phillip C. McGraw, The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom, 2003

Mostly Sugar-Free

Getting back on track from the birthday festivites; I gained 1/4 of a pound this week.  Not bad since I am feeling better and actually feel like eating. Someone asked me how I do the diet-what book do I use.  I told her it was the easiest diet I have ever done.  Basically-no sugar which also includes simple carbs.  I have no white bread, and no sugary desserts.  I watch the serving size on pasta and only get thin-crust pizza.  We buy Barilla PLUS Pasta@ which is high in omega 3s and is multi-grain.  As far as prepared food or condiments I try to stay under 3 grams of sugar.  Barbecue sauce, honey mustard and some salad dressings have tons of sugar.  I don't eat anything with high fructose corn syrup.  If I do have pancakes they are whole grain and I stick to 2 medium pancakes with sugar-free syrup and some lean Canadian Bacon for protein.  If I do use jam, I make sure it is low sugar and use just a little bit for flavor. 
The thing that makes it easy for me is I don't have to count calories, or points or eat special food...just no sugar. 
If you do eat out keep the portions small; it helps.   

Off The Wagon

                         
Well, it wasn't hard falling off that diet wagon.  Just an excuse that it is my birthday and off I went.  It really started yesterday because I am finally started feeling better and then today-hmmm...let's see...

Breakfast:  2 eggs scrambled, two sausage, one sweet potato pancake (my fav. at a little place called "Rebeccas") and an Arnold Palmer to drink (ice tea with lemonade) So there was some sugar in this meal for sure.  Even had REAL maple syrup.

Lunch:  Hmm...wasn't hungry so had some cheese and crackers-no sugar there.

But dinner!!!  Ate at California Pizza Kitchen and shared a carmalized peach salad greens salad with Donaldo, had two pieces of chicken pesto pizza on thin crust and then a free chocolate fudge icecream sundae for dessert which thankfully Ms. Riles ate a lot of.  But I had my couple of bites and ooohh yes it was good. It was all good and I had a great day.
I feel like I gained at least 3 pounds overnight ha ha so will just have to get back on that ole "no sugar" wagon tomorrow.
  

Favorite Treat

My afternoon snack is my favorite treat-2 rice cakes with cream cheese and all fruit jam.  It's funny how you get in a rut eating the same thing; but it sure is easy.

The Day After The Fourth...

.....which would be the 5th :) I had a nice swim at 6:30 this morning. I keep going earlier and earlier.  I wake up and can't sleep so I just go swimming.  I almost had the pool to myself. I love the routine of it now.  
I was in major pain all morning and called the doctor for the report on my tests.  They had it, but he hadn't read it yet so they so they said he would call me back-NADA.  How did I know that would happen?!
I feel a little better this afternoon.  Had two miniature biscotti for a snack this afternoon-first sugary white carb thing intentionally eaten in two months.  It's what I felt like eating. I am liking my Tazo green tea with mint-I make it iced and it is so good.  Sometimes I add a dash of REAL LEMONADE@
Speaking of sugar, we are having a hard time getting hummingbirds to our new hummingbird feeder.  We see them on the flowers, but they don't land on the feeder too much or too long. 
Tomorrow is the day-before the BIG DAY of my birthday-I have to feel better by then!!  I promised myself.

The 4th Dinner

All in all dinner was pretty good.  We had grilled burgers, waffle fries, cut up fruit, spaghetti salad and cake that Karen made for dessert.  I had 2 bites of the cake that I shared with Joy Boy. 

Red, white and blue flowers from the garden

Festive tableware from my favorite store-Target :)

Riles getting ice tea for everyone

Grilling burgers

Riles got a new haircut

Happy Birthday America

Sparklers

Joy Boy on the "big boy" swing

Aren't I Phones great?  Kris sent me this picture of Megan.  How do these girls look so grown up???

                          

Perfect Holiday Meal

                              
If I had to choose and could eat anything I wanted, this would be what I would choose for a 4th of July meal.  We came pretty close to this with my 2nd brother and his wife one year.  Drum roll.....Grilled burgers, potato salad, baked beans, fruit salad, frozen Margareta's, jello cake with strawberries and blueberries decorating the top like an American Flag and s'mores later on.

Fourteen Pounds.......

and counting. The test yesterday went down (so to speak ha ha) without a hitch.  It wasn't fun and I was there for 3 hours...but its over.  Still dealing with some pain, but I figure I have to get all the barium out.  They gave me some yucky fizzie stuff and told me not to burp---Are you kiddning????  That's one of my main problems!!!
So now I have lost 14 pounds since May 1st.  It doesn't seem fair to congratualate me when I have not felt well for two of those weeks.  Now I have another problem-all my clothes are too big.  But I will save them because you know when I hopefully feel better, I am going to gain some of that weight back.
The pool was quite busy this morning for 7:00 a.m. I did my stint and it felt great!

Waiting.....

I am sitting in the x-ray department @ the hospital waiting for some tests-upper GI and small bowel to specific. I get to drink barium which is definately NOT on my diet!! I could take up to 4 hours to go through my small bowel. I am not a patient person-so this will be an exercise in patience! Anything to get to the bottom of my pain and gas problems. It has not been a fun time.