If You Bite It, Write It - January 7, 2011

Today was tough, but not because of the liquids. I was just feeling bored, displaced, and a little lonely. Fortunately, I didn't/couldn't turn to food.

• Cocoa cappuccino protein shake: 1 scoop Matrix vanilla protein, 1T SF/FF chocolate pudding mix, about 1.5T unsweetened cocoa powder, Splenda, 1 cup So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk, ice, sprinkle of cinnamon.
• 1 Good Grab vanilla creme Oh Yeah! RTD protein in 2 decaf coffees (Caffe Verona, made with my new french press!)
• 1 Believe Italian cappuccino RTD protein in 2 decaf coffees, also a couple Ts fat-free half and half
• "Almond Joy" protein shake: 1 scoop Matrix chocolate, SF/FF chocolate pudding mix, cocoa, few drops coconut extract, 1 cup So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk, ice.
• Another french press decaf Caffe Verona with FF half and half
• 1 cup So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk, 1 scoop Matrix chocolate, ice, vanilla extract, maple extract, SF/FF cheesecake pudding mix

I didn't exercise today :( I was just too out of it.

If You Bite It, Write It - January 6, 2011

Day 4, and smooth sailing. :-)

• Protein mocha frapp: 1 scoop Matrix chocolate, 1 sleeve Nescafe decaf, 1T cocoa powder, 1T chocolate pudding mix, 1 cup So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk, ice
• 1 8 oz. vanilla Oh Yeah! in 2 decaf coffees
• 1 8 oz. chocolate Oh Yeah! in 2 decaf coffees
• 1 cup So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk, 1 scoop Matrix Strawberry protein, heaping spoonful of SF/FF white chocolate pudding mix, 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract, Splenda, lotsa ice
• Chocolate-mint shake: 1 cup So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk, 1 scoop Matrix chocolate protein, a couple drops of peppermint extract, 1 spoonful unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 spoonful SF/FF chocolate pudding mix, Splenda, ice.

I also tried something different at Starbucks today - vanilla rooibos tea. It was yummy, and a super-good alternative to coffee because it tastes good with a lot less Splenda than my usual coffee dosage.

I finally went back to the gym today instead of relying on Leslie Sansone - 35 minutes on the elliptical. Nothing super-impressive, but this is all about getting back to basics at this point.

If You Bite It, Write It - January 5, 2011

I'm starting to get to this beautiful point where I don't mind being on liquids. This is the sweet spot. That said, I am adding maybe too many calories to the shakes. I estimate today at being about 1300-1400 calories, which is kind of a lot.

I tried on clothes at Target today after work, and my belly is still making me upset. So many cute S/M dresses and coats, but the belly forces me to wear a L in many full-body pieces. My belly feels like a mutant. It's so much bigger than everything else on my body! I came home and oogled post-weight loss plastic surgery photos again.

• Protein mocha frapp: 1 cup unsweetened chocolate Almond Breeze, heaping spoonful of SF/FF chocolate pudding mix, 1T unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 scoop Matrix chocolate, Splenda, Nescafe decaf, and ice.
• Sbux decaf with half and half and 12 Splendas
• 8 oz. chocolate Oh Yeah! RTD
• Sbux decaf with half and half, 4 Truvias, and 6 Splendas
• 1 scoop Inspire chocolate peanut butter fudge protein powder in 1 cup vanilla Soy Slender and about 1/3 cup chocolate Soy Slender (the powder didn't all dissolve in the first cup of milk)
• About 1 scoop dry Inspire chocolate peanut butter fudge protein powder. I discovered that this powder tastes better dry than in shake form - but this definitely treads on the line when it comes to a "liquid diet." I don't think it totally crosses the line though, so not admonish myself just yet.
• Cinnamon roll shake: 1 scoop Matrix vanilla, 1 cup So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk, cinnamon, SF/FF cheesecake pudding mix, ice, Splenda
• Chocolate maple shake: 1 scoop Matrix chocolate, 1 cup combo of chocolate Almond Breeze, vanilla Soy Slender, and So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk, heaping spoonful of cocoa powder, about 1T SF/FF chocolate pudding mix.

Went back to the trough of Leslie Sansone - "30 Minute Walk" DVD again. It was really, really questionable whether I was going to get anything in, so I'm happy to have done something. Plus, it's been so long that it actually makes me sweat and works my hip flexors well.

If You Bite It, Write It - January 4, 2011

Today was support group day. It was kinda boring. But I did hear my roommates talking about weight loss surgery tonight. They think Jennifer Hudson had lapband (whatever). One roommate called gastric bypass "stomach stapling" and lapband "the clamp." It could have been worse; they weren't directly hating on it, but still now I am even less likely to tell them I had surgery. The therapist I recently met with suggested that I share that information with them, but I don't think I want to. ::Sigh::

Day 2 of 2011 kickoff liquid diet. It went well and felt a lot more normal today, even though it makes me sad that it seems some of my online RNY friends aren't very supportive of this effort.

• 1 cup unsweetened chocolate almond milk, 2 tsp. SF/FF chocolate pudding mix, 1T unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 scoop Matrix chocolate, 3 packets Truvia, 1 sleeve Nescafe decaf and several ice cubes (rich chocolate mocha shake - yum). Based on how craptastic I felt yesterday and because I decided to walk to work today, I decided to have a slightly carbier shake in the morning.
• 1 cup vanilla Soy Slender with 1 scoop Matrix strawberry cream protein and 1 packet Truvia (unnecessary, this was already too sweet!)
• 1 cup unsweetened chocolate Almond Breeze with 1 scoop Inspire chocolate peanut butter fudge protein powder
• About 3T half and half in Sbux Pike (boo! regular! but I was running late and didn't want to wait for them to brew decaf)
• 1 cup vanilla Soy Slender with 1 scoop Matrix strawberry cream protein powder and about 1.5T white chocolate pudding mix and ice
• Repeated AM protein mocha: 1 cup unsweetened chocolate Almond Breeze, heaping spoonful of SF/FF chocolate pudding mix, 1T unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 scoop Matrix chocolate, Splenda, Nescafe decaf, and ice.

Today's exercise was walking. I decided it would count because I walked fast and broke a sweat in the evening. I walked from home to work, from work to support group, and from support group home for a total of roughly 6.5 miles, large chunks of which were uphill.

If You Bite It, Write It - January 3, 2011

My two-week liquid diet started today at 9 AM and will end on the morning of January 18.  The purpose of this New Year liquid diet is to get myself on a better foot, teaching myself that while I may enjoy eating nuts, bread, etc. that I don't need them, and to remind myself that I'm strong enough to beat the disease of obesity/food addiction.

I didn't start the liquid diet officially until 9 AM, so I'm starting the record with that (although I didn't actually have any shakes until 12:15 PM).  At 4 AM on the train I had some deli meat and at 7 AM or so I had my last sugar-free Dove dark chocolate.

Also, I'm making some changes -- changing the URL to this blog and its design. I feel like I'm moving into a new phase here. I met with a bariatric/eating disorder psychologist last Wednesday who gave me new hope; now I feel generally more positive about where this is all leading.  And it feels really good to have gotten through my first day on the liquid re-charge diet.

• 1 Pure Protein Frosty Chocolate drink (170 kcals, 35g protein, 4g carbs, 1g fiber, 1g fat)
• 2T half and half in Sbux Casi Cielo coffee
• 1/2 14 oz. vanilla creme Oh Yeah! in Sbux decaf
• 1/2 14 oz. vanilla creme Oh Yeah!, 1 scoop Matrix chocolate protein, 1.5T cocoa, and 2 tsp. SF chocolate pudding mix with ice.
• 1 cup unsweetened chocolate almond breeze, 1 scoop Matrix chocolate, a little Splenda, 1.5T cocoa, and 2 tsp. SF cheesecake pudding mix with ice.

Required 30 minutes of cardio: Leslie Sansone 30-minute walk.

Final Check-in on 2010 Goals

Hi folks. It's been a while. I will catch you up on my progress (or lack thereof, or regression) when I have time.  In the meantime, it's become 2011 and I haven't checked back in on those goals yet.  I also need to set my 2011 goals.  I am not sure whether I'll have 50 in 2011, but I like this method overall.

WEIGHT, BODY SIZE & HEALTH

-Reach 188 pounds - an "overweight" BMI. MET. Though right now, I'm a couple pounds over that and back up in "obese" territory. It will only be a momentary stay. I've had issues with night binging the past month or two.
-Reach 154 pounds - a "normal" BMI. Not met at all and probably won't ever be met in this life.
-Maintain or get below 154 pounds at the end of the year. Totally didn't happen in any way, at all. I don't think my body will get that low in weight, though it should be lower than it is now.
-Wear a size Small shirt. MET (although I am in Mediums again right now - ARGH)
-Buy at least one bra from Victoria's Secret. MET, although VS doesn't make my size so now I get them from eBay.
-Unsubscribe from Lane Bryant's mailing list. MET.
-Get labs of my vitamin levels drawn at least once. MET, though I'd like to get it done again because my ferritin and Vitamin D were a little lower than I'd prefer.
-Revisit my surgeon for at least one check up. MET in early March, even though I never wrote up my recap. He was pleased with my weight progress.
-Go to the dentist for a teeth cleaning and go to the gyno. Not met.  I really need to go to the dentist.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & ADVENTURE
-Complete the Couch to 5K program. Not met on purpose.
-Register for and complete at least 3 "races" of any length. Walking them is fine. Not met. I did the Charleston Cooper River Bridge Run and registered for the Outer Banks Half Marathon, but the people I was supposed to do Outer Banks with didn't get back to me, and I wasn't motivated enough to do it on my own. I think I'll revisit this goal for 2011.
-Go hiking at least 3 times. MET. Went twice at Carrick Creek at Table Rock and once at the Clemson Botanical Gardens.
-Go fishing at least once. MET! My family did this for my birthday.
-Go to a yoga studio, preferably for bikram or "hot" yoga, at least once. MET - and it has been glorious.
TRAVEL (none met. My September "travel time" wound up being focused on Michigan; I traveled up there with my grandmother to see my dying great aunt.)
-At least once, travel to a country I've never visited. Not met.
-Visit Los Angeles. Not met.
-Visit at least one state I've never been to, preferably Texas. Not met.

READING (This was a big flop.)
-Read Pierre Bourdieu, Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. Not met.
-Read Frantz Fanon's The Wretched of the Earth (nope, I've never read it all the way through.) Not met.
-Read Mitchell Duneier's Sidewalk. Not met. Checked it out from Library, but didn't get through it. Wound up reading "Honky" by Dalton Conley instead.
-Read Mitchell Duneier's Slim's Table: Race, Respectability, and Masculinity. Not met.
-Read Katherine S. Newman & Victor Tan Chen, The Missing Class: Portraits of the Near Poor in America. Purchased, but only partially read.
-Read Katherine S. Newman, No Shame in My Game: The Working Poor in the Inner City. Not met.
-Read Mary Patillo's Black on the Block: The Politics of Race and Class in the City. Not met.
-Read William Julius Wilson, More Than Just Race: Being Black and Poor in the Inner City. MET.
-Read William Julius Wilson, The Truly Disadvantaged: The Inner City, the Underclass, and Public Policy. Checked out from the library and partially read, but not completed.
-Read William Julius Wilson & Richard P. Taub, There Goes the Neighborhood: Racial, Ethnic, and Class Tensions in Four Chicago Neighborhoods and Their Meaning for America. Not met.

PROFESSIONAL
-Finish revising my SAW for publication. Not met and I realized that I didn't want to meet it. That paper has little to do with my new research focus, so I don't see the point of moving forward with it at this time.
-Build my personal website. Well, I started a new food blog, but I think the actual personal website will make more sense once I'm back in grad school (provided that I get in).
-Take the GRE and score above 700 on verbal and at least 650 on quantitative. MET!
-Pass the MPRE. MET.
-Gain admission to graduate school and/or get an appellate clerkship. In August, I modified this goal to "Apply for graduate school."  I've applied to several schools: Chicago, Duke, Harvard (2 programs there), Michigan, Penn, and Princeton so far, and Yale is due today. So MET.
-During any gap of time between my clerkship and my next job, write and publish at least one op-ed or an LTE in a major newspaper. I actually did publish an op-ed in a major newspaper - the Washington Post - but not during the gap of time between clerkship and job. I published it with the blessing of my job. I think it counts. :)
-Develop a sharper research focus. Met.
-Finish article review for Professor Schuck and email it to him. Not met. The idea of sending in an assignment from May 2009 seems ridiculous at this point.

COOKING & EATING
-Cook with or eat 20 ingredients that I've never tried. MET.
-Write at least 15 new recipes. Completed. Mostly on my new blog, Audacity of Cooking.
-Go to McClellanville or similar coastal area to purchase fresh seafood. Not met. I just never got back down there. I was supposed to swing by en route from Charleston to Myrtle Beach in August, but wound up going back home from taking the MPRE and then going to Myrtle Beach directly from Columbia.
-Dine in at least one of the following New York restaurants: Brad Farmerie's Public, Seamus Mullen's Boqueria, Eric Ripert's Le Bernardin, Dan Barber's Blue Hill in Greenwich Village or at Stone Barns, Wylie Dufresne's WD-50, Daniel Humm's Eleven Madison Park, Anita Lo's Annisa (when repaired), Geoffrey Zakarian's Town, Alex Guernaschelli's Butter, Aaron Sanchez's Centrico, Floyd Cardoz's Tabla, or Gramercy Tavern. MET! Ate at Butter in March.
-Dine at Sean Brock's McCrady's in Charleston. MET. Wasn't as great as I'd hoped, but I was comparing it to my experience at John Besh's August and perhaps that wasn't fair.

CULTURE & COMMUNITY
-Continue volunteering at the shelter through September 2010. This was a bust. As I explained in my last check-in, I never heard back from the project manager after my last meeting with the ladies. I am pretty sure I didn't do anything wrong, but she was never the easiest to contact via email.  Perhaps I should have been more aggressive in reaching out to her, but I'd started to feel like I was more of a burden on them, like they wanted to keep me around but didn't really need me to drive anymore.
-Volunteer somewhere other than the shelter at least once. Oddly, I didn't do this unless you count volunteering for extra projects at work. Work is now a legal services office, so it was actually the same kind of work I would have completely volunteered to do. Plus, I did  a yoga training for working with homeless, overweight, mentally ill, and addicted communities that was built up around the idea of service - but I haven't volunteered anywhere yet. ::sigh:: looks like a fail.
-Watch all five seasons of The Wire. MET! And it was amazing. I am so glad I did this. Season 4 absolutely blew my mind; I am still haunted by it months later.
-Watch the Roots miniseries (nope, I've never seen it - no one revoke my "black card" please.) Yet again, I forgot about this. Shameful. I can't decide whether to add for 2011 or not?
-See at least two live theater shows. Not met. I forgot about this one.
OTHER
-Write at least ten relatively lengthy emails to catch up with friends/colleagues with whom I haven't spoken recently. Nope. Just one.
-Have at least 5 meaningful conversations about religion/faith/spirituality. Not really.
-Go to karaoke at least once. Yes! Finally, on the weekend of December 19th. It was so fun.
-Pay off my credit cards completely at least once (they may still have a balance at the end of 2010.) MET!
-Own my own car/get my current car off my mother's insurance. Not met, not on a fellowship salary . . .
 
Goals Completed: 23/50
Goals Deliberately Abandoned: 8
 
Weight, Body Size & Health Goals Met: 6/9
Physical Activity and Adventure Goals Met: 3/5
Travel Goals Met: 0/3
Reading Goals Met: 1/10
Professional Goals Met: 6/8
Cooking & Eating Goals Met: 4/5
Culture & Community Goals Met: 1/5
"Other" Goals Met: 2/5

What I Ate: November 23, 2010

What a crazy day. It started off great and continued to be great professionally, then pretty much ended with the news that my great aunt passed away. She had end-stage lung cancer so it was not a surprise (and really is almost a relief); I mostly feel bad for my grandmother who lost her last living sibling and her closest sister.

• Chocolate spice protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix perfect chocolate protein powder (60 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1g fat), 1 tbsp. Hershey's regular cocoa (10 kcals, 1g net carbs), 2 tsp. SF/FF chocolate Jello pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), sprinkle of cinnamon, ginger, allspice (5 kcals), 4 packets Truvia (1 kcals). Total - (167 kcals, 25.5g protein, 7.5g carbs, 2g fat).
• Sbux decaf with 2T half and half (40 kcals, 0.8g protein, 1g carbs, 3.4g fat), 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 4 Splendas (12 kcals, 3g carbs.) Total - (54 kcals, 0.8g protein, 4g carbs, 3.4g fat).
• 1 serving (120 grams) homemade chili con carne (149 kcals, 16g protein, 6g net carbs, 5.5g fat)
• Sbux decaf with 2T half and half (40 kcals, 0.8g protein, 1g carbs, 3.4g fat), 4 Truvias (1 kcals), and 6 Splendas (18 kcals, 4.5g carbs.) Total - (59 kcals, 0.8g protein, 5.5g carbs, 3.4g fat).
• 1 serving pasta-less lasagna (about 158 kcals, 18.3g protein, 9.6g net carbs, 3.1g fat).
• Chocolate spice protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix perfect chocolate protein powder (60 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1g fat), 1 tbsp. Hershey's regular cocoa (10 kcals, 1g net carbs), 2 tsp. SF/FF chocolate Jello pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1T ground flax (30 kcals, 1.5g protein, 0g NET carbs, 2g fat), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), sprinkle of allspice, tiny bit of vanilla extract, 5 packets Truvia (2 kcals). Total - (193 kcals, 27g protein, 7.5g carbs, 4g fat).

Total:
780 calories
88.4 grams of protein
40.1 grams of net carbs
21.4 grams of fat.

I didn't leave work till almost 11 PM, so I didn't get to walk back home tonight. I did at least walk to work for 2.7 miles. It's mostly downhill though.

What I Ate: November 22, 2010

I'm getting back on track after a full weekend of sugar craziness. More on that later.

• Vanilla spice protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix vanilla protein powder (55 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1g carbs, 0.8g fat), 2 tsp. FF/SF vanilla pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), 1 tsp. ground flaxseed (10 kcals, 0.5g protein, 0g NET carbs, 0.7g fat), maple extract, about 1 tsp. each cinnamon and allspice (12 kcals, 1.4g net carbs), 1/2 tsp. nutmeg (6 kcals, 0.3g net carbs), 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom, 1/4 tsp. ground ginger. Total - (174 kcals, 26g protein, 7.7g net carbs, 1.5g fat).
• Sbux decaf with 2T half and half (40 kcals, 0.8g protein, 1g carbs, 3.4g fat), 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 4 Splendas (12 kcals, 3g carbs.) Total - (54 kcals, 0.8g protein, 4g carbs, 3.4g fat).
• 1 serving pasta-less lasagna (about 158 kcals, 18.3g protein, 9.6g net carbs, 3.1g fat).
• Sbux coffee with 3T half & half (60 kcals, 1.2g protein, 1.5g carbs, 5.1g fat), 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 4 Splendas (12 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (74 kcals, 1.2g protein, 4.5g carbs, 5.1g fat).
• 1 serving pasta-less lasagna (about 158 kcals, 18.3g protein, 9.6g net carbs, 3.1g fat).
• Egg-white omelet: 3 egg whites (48 kcals, 10.8g protein, 0.6g carbs, 0.2g fat); 2 slices turkey bacon (80 kcals, 10g protein, 2g carbs, 2g fat); about 30 grams butternut squash (14 kcals, 0.2g protein, 2.8g net carbs, 0g fat), about 100 grams spaghetti squash (28 kcals, 0.6g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat), about 20 grams onion (8 kcals, 0.2g protein, 1.4g carbs, 0g fat), about 10 grams elephant garlic (14 kcals, 0.6g protein, 2.8g carbs, 0g fat), a sprinkle of parsley. Total - (about 192 kcals, 22.4g protein, 14.6g net carbs, 2.2g fat).
• Chocolate spice protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix perfect chocolate protein powder (60 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1g fat), 1 tbsp. Hershey's regular cocoa (10 kcals, 1g net carbs), 2 tsp. SF/FF chocolate Jello pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1 tsp. ground flax (10 kcals, 0.5g protein, 0g NET carbs, 0.7g fat), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), sprinkle of cinnamon, ginger, allspice (5 kcals), 5 packets Truvia (2 kcals). Total - (178 kcals, 26g protein, 7.5g carbs, 2.7g fat).

Total:
988 calories
113 grams of protein
57.5 NET grams of carbohydrate
21.1 grams of fat.

Walked 2.7 miles to work, then did an intermediate yoga class at Quiet Mind tonight. I took the bus most of the way home which was supposedly going to save time so I could make yoga class, but it turns out I would have gotten home faster just walking the whole way! I don't miss taking the bus at all.

What I Ate: November 16, 2010

• Chocolate-cinnamon protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix perfect chocolate protein powder (60 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1g fat), 1 tbsp. Hershey's regular cocoa (10 kcals, 1g net carbs), 2 tsp. SF/FF chocolate Jello pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1 tsp. ground flax (10 kcals, 0.5g protein, 0g NET carbs, 0.7g fat), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), sprinkle of cinnamon, 3 packets Truvia (1 kcal). Total - (172 kcals, 26g protein, 7.5g carbs, 2.7g fat).
• Sbux decaf with 2T half and half (40 kcals, 0.8g protein, 1g carbs 3.4g fat), 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 5 Splendas (15 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (57 kcals, 0.8g protein, 4g carbs, 3.4g fat).
• 110 grams butternut squash (half of a miniature one from the Columbia Heights Farmers' Market!) (44 kcals, 0.9g protein, 11.6g carbs, 0g fat) and 1 medium hard-boiled egg (65 kcals, 5.5g protein, 0.3g carbs, 4.4g fat). Total - (109 kcals, 6.4g protein, 11.9g carbs, 4.4g fat). Not great stats on that squash - yikes! Oh well, I have some roasted for the rest of the week too, so I'm gonna eat it.
• Chicken-zucchini salad of deliciousness: 84g zucchini (14 kcals, 1g protein, 2g net carbs, 0g fat); 48g green beans (16 kcals, 0.9g protein, 2.3g net carbs, 0.2g fat); 13g radish (3 kcals, 0.2g carbs), 17g beets (8 kcals, 0g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 0g fat), 10g eggplant (4 kcals, 0g protein, 0.6 net carbs, 0g fat); 2 oz. roasted chicken breast (110 kcals, 16.7g protein, 0g carbs, 4g fat); 6g onion (3 kcals, 0.4g net carbs); 2 olives (30 kcals,3g fat); 43g tomato (8 kcals, 0.4g protein, 1.2g net carbs, 0.1g fat). Total - (196 kcals, 19g protein, 8.2g net carbs, 7.3g fat)
• Spinach-turkey bacon-egg salad of deliciousness: 37g spinach (9 kcals, 1g protein, 0.6g net carbs); 41g eggplant (14 kcals, 0.3g protein, 2.5g net carbs, 0.2g fat); turkey bacon (divided 3 slices into 5 salads) (24 kcals, 3g protein, 0.6g net carbs, 0.6g fat); 5g onion (2 kcals, 0.4g net carbs); 10g zucchini (2, 0.2,g net carbs); 15g radish (3 kcals, 0.2g net carbs); 15g beet (7 kcals, 1g net carbs); 17g green beans (6 kcals, 0.3g protein, 0.8g net carbs); 1 medium egg (65, 5.5, 0.3, 4.4). Total - (132 kcals, 10.1g protein, 6.6g net carbs, 5.2g fat).
• Sbux decaf with 2T half and half (40 kcals, 0.8g protein, 1g carbs 3.4g fat), 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 5 Splendas (15 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (57 kcals, 0.8g protein, 4g carbs, 3.4g fat).
• About 2 oz. raw cashews (312 kcals, 10.4g protein, 15.2g net carbs, 24.8g fat)
• Chocolate-ginger protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix perfect chocolate protein powder (60 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1g fat), 1 tbsp. Hershey's regular cocoa (10 kcals, 1g net carbs), 2 tsp. SF/FF chocolate Jello pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1 tsp. ground flax (10 kcals, 0.5g protein, 0g NET carbs, 0.7g fat), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), sprinkle of allspice, a few slices raw ginger, 4 packets Truvia (1 kcal). Total - (172 kcals, 26g protein, 7.5g carbs, 2.7g fat).

Total:
1,207 calories
99.5 grams of protein
55.3 net grams of carbohydrate
53.9 grams of fat.

Weight Tuesday morning: 180.0. Argh.

Exercise was walking from home to work, from work to WLS support group, and then back home - a total of 6.8 miles.

What I Ate: November 14, 2010

• Vanilla-strawberry protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix strawberry cream protein powder (55 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1g carbs, 0.8g fat), 2 tsp. FF/SF vanilla pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), 1 tsp. vanilla extract (12 kcals), 2T Splenda granular (12 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (170 kcals, 25.5g protein, 9g net carbs, 1.8g fat).
• About 2.5 oz. raw cashews after church
• Roast chicken, spinach, and baked beans from James Hoban's Irish restaurant in Dupont Circule. Met some girls there for brunch. I shouldn't have ordered anything; should have just concentrated on the company. First off, I wasn't hungry. Second, I should have known the food would be terrible - it's an Irish pub and I know Irish pubs well enough to know they aren't known for their cooking. The roasted chicken sounded like it was going to taste good because of the sage, but it was way undersalted and overcooked (breast was soooo dry.) Also, I asked them to omit the potatoes, but potatoes were ALL OVER the plate. But brunch was fun anyway.
• Nibbles at the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show. I went to see Paula Deen live. At the end of the expo, I tasted a bunch of little things on the theory that this was a one-time event. I had tiny tastes of all kinds of stuff - Grand Marnier/chocolate pecan, white chocolate pecan, amaretto pecans, Paula Deen's seafood dip on a cracker, some random pumpkin cake, these utterly delicious fruit preserves on bread, these weird cookies that were designed to pair with wines (in flavors like apricot/sage, peanut butter chocolate, salted something, rosemary, espresso, etc.), sweet potato bread . . . hmm, I think that was it.
• Sbux decaf with SF hazelnut syrup, 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 5 Splendas (15 kcals, 4g carbs). Total - (17 kcals, 4g carbs).
• Sbux decaf with SF hazelnut syrup, 5 Truvias (2 kcals), 4 Splendas (12 kcals, 3g carbs), and 3T half & half (60 kcals, 1.6g protein, 1.5g carbs, 5.2g fat). Total - (74 kcals, 1.6g protein, 4.5g carbs, 5.2g fat).
• Ungodly amount of cashews! This time, roasted and salted . . . ARGH.

Weight this morning: 179.2. Uptick deserved between Pouch Party binging and Starbucks cashews. Also, I am in PAIN from the Ashtanga yoga class, so my body might also be retaining a little water due to muscle fatigue. I was expecting worse.

Exercise was walking all over DC (5.8 miles): from home to church, to the Farmers' Market, to brunch, to the food expo, and then back home.

What I Ate: November 13, 2010

• Chocolate-maple protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix perfect chocolate protein powder (60 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1g fat), 1 tbsp. Hershey's Special Dark cocoa (10 kcals, 1g net carbs), 2 tsp. SF/FF chocolate Jello pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), 1 tsp. maple flavoring, 3T Splenda granular (18 kcals, 4g carbs), 1T ground flaxseeds (30 kcals, 1g protein, 2g fat). Total - (209 kcals, 26.5g protein, 9.5g net carbs, 4g fat).
• Sbux coffee with 3T half & half (60 kcals, 1.2g protein, 1.5g carbs, 5.1g fat), 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 5 Splendas (15 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (77 kcals, 1.2g protein, 4.5g carbs, 5.1g fat).
• 1 serving (120 grams) homemade chili con carne (149 kcals, 16g protein, 6g net carbs, 5.5g fat) and large hard-boiled egg (72 kcals, 6.3g protein, 0.4g carbs, 5g fat). Total - (221 kcals, 22.3g protein, 6.4g carbs, 10.5g fat)
• Pouch Party extravaganza = LOTS of eating. Even if it was WLS-friendly food, I still overate! I had Nik's Thanksgiving Casserole, Jen's Corn Pudding (yum!!), Jen's Green Bean Casserole, Nik's Curried Cheese Ball (couldn't keep my hands out of this), Nik's Sugar-Free Eggnog (a-m-a-z-i-n-g), Nik's pumpkin pie, and Jen's incredibly delectable sugar-free Chocolate Trifle. I think they are still in the process of rolling out all the recipes on their blog, or maybe you have to pay to get all of them if you weren't at the event. At any rate, I ate good.
• 2 Sbux decaf coffees, 10 Truvias (3 kcals), 8 Splendas (24 kcals, 6g carbs), 5T half and half
• 2 packets Sahale Snacks Southwestern cashews (280 kcals, 10g protein, 14g net carbs, 28g fat) (it all fell apart here, especially)
• Vanilla-strawberry protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix strawberry cream protein powder (55 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1g carbs, 0.8g fat), 2 tsp. FF/SF vanilla pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), 1 tsp. vanilla extract (12 kcals), 2T Splenda granular (12 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (170 kcals, 25.5g protein, 9g net carbs, 1.8g fat).

In other words, I ate everything in sight.

Weight Saturday morning was 178.0 (well, the digital scale said things between 173.4 and 179.2, but 178.0 seemed the closest digital number to what the mechanical scale was saying. Yes, I've been using both every day.)

For exercise, I went to the advanced Ashtanga yoga class at Quiet Mind Yoga. It's way above my level, but it's fun, predictable, and the instructor is very good. QM is running a holiday special where you can get unlimited classes through January 10, 2011 for $100. This is a terrific deal. Just going twice a week, I could get about 18 classes in during that time. That's about $5.50/class. I wasn't planning to go back to QM; in fact, I just got a Groupon deal for Boundless. But this is a deal I couldn't pass up. My Boundless Groupon is good through May 2011, so I have plenty of time to get those 4 classes after the QM holiday deal is over.

What I Ate: November 11, 2010

• Chocolate-ginger protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix perfect chocolate protein powder (60 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1g fat), 1 tbsp. Hershey's regular cocoa (10 kcals, 1g net carbs), 2 tsp. SF/FF chocolate Jello pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), a few slivers of raw ginger, sprinkle of allspice, 2T Splenda granular (12 kcals, 3g carbs).
• Sbux decaf with 2T half and half (40 kcals, 0.8g protein, 1g carbs, 3.4g fat), 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 4 Splendas (so much for dialing the Splenda down - 12 kcals, 3g carbs.) Total - (54 kcals, 0.8g protein, 4g carbs, 3.4g fat).
• 1 serving pasta-less lasagna (135 kcals, 15g protein, 8g carbs, 2.6g fat), 2 100-calorie packs of almonds (200 kcals, 8g protein, 4g carbs, 18g fat).
• About 6 oz.? of a vanilla creme Oh Yeah! in instant decaf (95 kcals, 13.8g protein, 1.3g carbs, 3.9g fat).
• Sbux decaf with 2T half and half (40 kcals, 0.8g protein, 1g carbs, 3.4g fat), 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 4 Splendas (so much for dialing the Splenda down - 12 kcals, 3g carbs.) Total - (54 kcals, 0.8g protein, 4g carbs, 3.4g fat).
• An insane number of Bariatric Advantage raspberry calcium chews; they are gone now, thank God
• Roughly 2 oz. raw cashews
• Nibbled a teensy-tiny bit of my roommate's horribly gross Godiva brownies. I have never met a black girl who couldn't bake brownies out of a box. She should be embarrassed! lol. But the good thing is, nasty brownies aren't tempting. Black bean cake is much better.
• Chocolate-strawberry protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix strawberry cream protein powder (55 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1g carbs, 0.8g fat), 2 tsp. FF/SF chocolate pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1T Hershey's cocoa (10 kcals, 1g carbs), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), 2T Splenda granular (12 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (168 kcals, 25.5g protein, 10g carbs, 1.8g fat).

Weight Thursday morning was 180.2.

Exercise was walking to and from work, 5.4 miles.

I've worked out a little system with me and the scary, scary nuts. If I walk home from work, which is more taxing than walking to work because it's dark and there's a big uphill climb, I can reward myself with ONE SERVING of raw cashews at the Whole Foods that's about halfway between work and home. This is similar to the practice I used back in SC, where I'd stop by the Fresh Market to get a small number of whatever nuts I was into after work if I had the calories to spend. This way, I can have my beloved nuts, but I'm not able to graze on them all day long. :-) It didn't work out so well this day because I'd otherwise eaten so much, but I like the idea.

What I Ate: November 10, 2010

• Chocolate-maple protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix perfect chocolate protein powder (60 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1g fat), 1 tbsp. Hershey's regular cocoa (10 kcals, 1g net carbs), 2 tsp. SF/FF chocolate Jello pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), 1 tsp. maple flavoring, 2T Splenda granular (12 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (173 kcals, 25.5g protein, 10.5g net carbs, 2g fat).
• Sbux decaf with 2T half and half (40 kcals, 0.8g protein, 1g carbs, 3.4g fat), 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 3 Splendas (yes! I'm dialing the Splendas on down - 9 kcals, 2g carbs.) Total - (51 kcals, 0.8g protein, 3g carbs, 3.4g fat).
• 1 serving (120 grams) homemade chili con carne (149 kcals, 16g protein, 6g net carbs, 5.5g fat) and large hard-boiled egg (72 kcals, 6.3g protein, 0.4g carbs, 5g fat). Total - (221 kcals, 22.3g protein, 6.4g carbs, 10.5g fat)
• Sbux decaf with 2T half and half (40 kcals, 0.8g protein, 1g carbs, 3.4g fat), 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 4 Splendas (so much for dialing the Splenda down - 12 kcals, 3g carbs.) Total - (54 kcals, 0.8g protein, 4g carbs, 3.4g fat).
• 144 grams (approx. 1 cup) brussels sprouts blanched and sauteed with orange zest and Liquid Smoke (about 75 kcals, 5.6g protein, 6.5g net carbs, 1g fat).
• Mini-binge on Bariatric Advantage raspberry calcium chews (about 150 kcals, 15g net carbs)
• About 2 oz. raw cashews - which honestly tore my stomach up (326 kcals, 10g protein, 12g net carbs, 24g fat)
• Chocolate-maple protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix perfect chocolate protein powder (60 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1g fat), 1 tbsp. Hershey's regular cocoa (10 kcals, 1g net carbs), 2 tsp. SF/FF chocolate Jello pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), 1 tsp. maple flavoring, 2T Splenda granular (12 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (173 kcals, 25.5g protein, 10.5g net carbs, 2g fat).
• Pasta-less lasagna (135 kcals, 15g protein, 8g carbs, 2.6g fat).

Again, today my exercise was walking to and from work, 5.4 miles total. I weighed myself on Wednesday morning, but I don't remember the number now :-/

What I Ate: November 9, 2010

• Chocolate-maple protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix perfect chocolate protein powder (60 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1g fat), 1 tbsp. Hershey's regular cocoa (10 kcals, 1g net carbs), 2 tsp. SF/FF chocolate Jello pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), 1 tsp. maple flavoring, 2T Splenda granular (12 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (173 kcals, 25.5g protein, 10.5g net carbs, 2g fat).
• Sbux with 2T half and half (40 kcals, 0.8g protein, 1g carbs, 3.4g fat), 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 4 Splendas (12 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (54 kcals, 0.8g protein, 4g carbs, 3.4g fat).
• 3 oz. chicken, mostly dark meat (about 187 kcals, 23g protein, 0g carbs, 9.7g fat).
• Sbux with 2T half and half (40 kcals, 0.8g protein, 1g carbs, 3.4g fat), 5 Truvias (2 kcals), and 4 Splendas (12 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (54 kcals, 0.8g protein, 4g carbs, 3.4g fat).
• Salad with 2 oz. raw spinach (13 kcals, 1.6g protein, 0.8g carbs, 0g fat), 10 grams zucchini (3 kcals), 30 grams green peas (25 kcals, 1.6g protein, 2.8g net carbs, 0g fat), 50 grams charred green beans (20 kcals, 1g protein, 3g net carbs, 0.5g fat), 12 medium shrimp (72 kcals, 12g protein, 0g carbs, 0g fat), 1 large olive (15 kcals, 1.5g fat), and a splash of apple cider vinegar. Total - (148 kcals, 16.2g protein, 5.8g net carbs, 2g fat).
• 1 serving (120 grams) homemade chili con carne (149 kcals, 16g protein, 6g net carbs, 5.5g fat) and large hard-boiled egg (72 kcals, 6.3g protein, 0.4g carbs, 5g fat). Total - (221 kcals, 22.3g protein, 6.4g carbs, 10.5g fat); 1 100-calorie pack almonds (100 kcals, 4g protein, 2g net carbs, 9g fat); and 1 Babybel cheese (50 kcals, 6g protein, 0g carbs, 3g fat).
• Between 1.5 and 2 oz. raw cashews from Whole Foods (post-yoga meal) - probably unwise
• Unwise eating - not because of what it was but because I didn't need the calories: About 1 portion of my pasta-less lasagna (135 kcals, 15g protein, 8g carbs, 2.6g fat) and a lot of chicken (both breast and dark meat).

For exercise, I walked both to and from work (a total of 5.4 miles.) I also went to a (lame) Flow 1 class at Flow Yoga, right next to the Whole Foods. I like Flow Yoga, but I didn't care for this particular class. It was also SO CROWDED afterwards that any calmness I gathered in class was completely gone by the time I got out of there. I still want to go and try a class with their Anusaran, Megan Davis, but my 2 class for $20 is up and I just got a special on Groupon for 4 Boundless Yoga classes for $35. So for the next month or so, I'll be visiting Boundless. Even though the class was lame, it was still good to get back on my mat. I hadn't practiced in two weeks!

Weight this morning: 179.6.

What I Ate: November 8, 2010

I'm writing these on the days themselves, but posting them days later. I realized on Wednesday that I hadn't typed in any of my Sunday food - argh. But I do recall that I had lots of coffee (went to coffee with friends), a tiny sip of Oh Yeah! protein drink, a chocolate protein frosty, a banana protein frosty, and tastes of things I cooked for the week including pastaless lasagna (eggplant, zucchini, and roasted red pepper replace noodles) and the crispy skin from the chicken I roasted for the week. I also failed to exercise. It was NOT a good nutritional day.

• Banana pudding protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix vanilla protein powder (55 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1g carbs, 0.8g fat), 2 tsp. FF/SF vanilla pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), 1 tsp. vanilla extract (12 kcals), 2T Splenda granular (12 kcals, 3g carbs), 50 grams banana (45 kcals, 0.5g protein, 10g net carbs, 1.5g fat). Total - (215 kcals, 26g protein, 19g net carbs, 3.3g fat).
• Sbux decaf with 2T half and half (40 kcals, 0.8g protein, 1g carbs, 3.4g fat) and Truvia/Splenda combo (about 18 kcals, 4g carbs). I'm trying to wean myself off Splenda and lessen my sweet tooth more generally- but it will be gradual as I am an artificial sweetener-fiend. Total - (58 kcals, 0.8g protein, 5g carbs, 3.4g fat)
• 1 serving (120 grams) homemade chili con carne (149 kcals, 16g protein, 6g net carbs, 5.5g fat) and large hard-boiled egg (72 kcals, 6.3g protein, 0.4g carbs, 5g fat). Total - (221 kcals, 22.3g protein, 6.4g carbs, 10.5g fat)
• 3 oz. roasted chicken breast (110 kcals, 20g protein, 2g carbs, 2.5g fat)
• Approximately 1.5 oz. cheese, mostly smoked gouda, at an event (150 kcals, 10.5g protein, 0g carbs, 12g fat)
• Less than 1 oz. raw cashews (roughly 163 kcals, 5g protein, 7g net carbs, 12g fat)
• Chocolate-maple protein frosty: 1/2 scoop Matrix perfect chocolate protein powder (60 kcals, 11.5g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1g fat), 1 tbsp. Hershey's regular cocoa (10 kcals, 1g net carbs), 2 tsp. SF/FF chocolate Jello pudding mix (10 kcals, 2g carbs), 1/2 scoop 1% cottage cheese (81 kcals, 14g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat), 1 tsp. vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp. maple flavoring, 2T Splenda granular (12 kcals, 3g carbs). Total - (173 kcals, 25.5g protein, 10.5g net carbs, 2g fat).
• A little bit of pasta-less lasagna (made with eggplant, zucchini, and roasted red peppers instead of pasta, and ground turkey breast, homemade tomato sauce, a combo of FF ricotta and FF cream cheese (the FF ricotta can be grainy, but the cream cheese combats that)) (roughly 70 kcals, 7g protein, 5g carbs, 1.5g fat).

Total:
1,160 calories
122.1 grams of protein
54.9 grams of net carbs
47.2 grams of fat.

Weight this morning was 180.5. I deserve to go up after the ridiculousness of Sunday.

Monday was truly crazy. The only exercise I got was the approximately 6-miles of walking: from home to work (2.7 mi), from work running like crazy back and forth to the DC Council office, the walk from work to the event, and finally walking from the event home. There's no good cardio in any of that walking, but I do like the fact that it accomplishes the dual goals of calorie-burning and saving money that I'd otherwise be spending on public transportation.