ANOTHER list

Because I’m feeling especially honest…

-multiple cups of coffee (a.k.a. coffee creamer)

-a banana

-a yogurt

-a piece of toast with peanut butter and jelly

-more coffee and creamer

-grilled chicken salad with even MORE coffee with cream and sugar

-grapes and cherries

-the last of the raspberry yogurt-covered pretzels

-Pasquale’s Pizza and Wings (only 1 piece of pizza and 3 wings–victory!)

-TWO slices of angel food cake with Cool Whip icing

-half a slice of the now cold pizza (not so much victory anymore)

-TWO mini Cow Tail candies (I had a craving while we were at Tops)

-the last of a can of Sour Cream and Onion Pringles

-a couple slurps of Andrew’s Gatorade

…yeah, it was a “no self control” kinda day!

back on the band wagon

I gave up calorie-counting for Memorial Day weekend. It really just wasn’t going to be practical to be jumping on-and-off the computer all day with everything going on. Not to mention all the yummy goodies everywhere! Cinnamon rolls and mimosas at Heather’s promotion! Rita’s gelati TWICE! Birthday cake, outrageous brownies, lemon bars, mojitos, sangria…and that was just FRIDAY. Raspberry angel food cake with raspberry buttercream icing awaited me in Carmel.

I went into the weekend knowing I’d be faced with temptation at every turn. I did my best, most of the time, to make good choices yet still enjoy myself and the food. I am a foodie, after all.

Well, you win some, you lose some. According to the scale, I didn’t do too much damage, but I didn’t lose any, either. So, basically, I’ve been at the same weight for a couple weeks now, which is fine, don’t get me wrong. But I’m supposed to be LOSING two pounds a week… I’m fine until I think about how much I COULD have lost if I’d just been stricter. And then I remember how good the cake tasted.

Thankfully, all has returned to (relative) normalcy around here, so I’m back on the calorie-counting band wagon. Yippee! After four days off, I realized I actually feel better when I’m counting. Maybe it’s a control-thing, maybe it’s just my personality, maybe it’s because I’m typically eating healthier food, maybe it’s a combination of all three, but I really do enjoy it. I know it stresses a lot of people out. Or they think it’s too complicated or time-consuming. But I love it. I just wish I had an iPhone so I could do it when I’m on the go, too…

Between eating more produce and cleaning out my fridge, I’ve come up with some great meals since last night. Dinner last night was roasted broccoli and cauliflower (leftover from the party), hummus and tomatoes and fruit. Breakfast this morning was a banana, followed by a post-workout yogurt, mango and granola parfait. Here’s what I had tonight:

Roasted cauliflower (olive oil, cumin and paprika), a Wasa Fiber cracker spread with a Laughing Cow cheese wedge and four dried figs. Yum. I spooned up a mixture of mango and watermelon as well, but I may save that for dessert–I got full!

I really do feel better when I’m eating smaller meals (like 200 calories) every 2-3 hours. I’m a fan of cottage cheese with pineapple, or an apple and peanut butter or cheese and crackers.

Off to get some more exercise: disassembling Hadrian’s crate, lugging it upstairs and into the car, followed by a walk (for him) because the weather is so nice!

sushi newbie

The other night I went to a local Japanese steakhouse for a friend’s goodbye dinner. I’ve never been a huge hibachi fan (I know, I’m majorly in the minority here); I feel like it’s a lot of show, but come on, it’s all the same. They all do the steaming volcano of onion rings, the egg toss and fancy knife tricks. I don’t want to pay more for my teriyaki because someone is lighting things on fire just inches from my plate. Maybe I just don’t like strangers at my table when I’m out trying to enjoy dinner with someone…

Anyway, ahead of time I decided it would be a great opportunity to order sushi since I don’t go places that have it very often and I’m attempting to broaden my horizons. I’ve probably had it on only five or six occasions in my life. I also didn’t work out that day, so I wanted to make sure I had something light for dinner anyway.

Three of the six of us ordered sushi platters! I’m still what I’d consider a “sushi newbie,” so if I get any at all, it’s typically just a roll with my dinner. I figured this might be a good way to just jump right in with both feet!

The wasabi was HOT! Not that I didn’t know that already… I usually don’t even touch the stuff, but I figured with all the “non-rolls” (is that what you call those? sashimi?) on my plate, I’d want a little extra flavor. Whew, no! This chick can’t handle wasabi.

Thankfully, my friend Nicole was sitting next to me and is much more knowledgeable about sushi, so she was able to help. I definitely prefer the rolls that have fish plus an assortment of other things, as opposed to the plain fish on rice. I ate almost the whole platter and still wasn’t uncomfortably full. (If I remember correctly, I think Heather and I probably munched on chips and dip when I got home that night, so to heck with the “keeping dinner light” idea.)

Bottom line: If you haven’t tried sushi yet because you’re freaked out, or you aren’t a big fish-eater to begin with, start with something cooked. Look for the word “tempura” in the name. Or shrimp or crab. You can always just stick with California Rolls (rice-coated pieces with crab and avocado near the top of the plate) for awhile–that’s what I did. I’ve really gotten a taste for it, although I don’t love it or have to have it that often.

Here’s to my trip to Thai 9 tonight with Heather and her mom! I’m thinking that because I had a whole platter of sushi a couple days ago, I’ll stick with my usual: Pad Thai ZERO HOT!