Wed 30 Nov

Had a very hard time waking up and getting going this morning. Still don't feel quite on track. Struggled through exercise. Even chewing breakfast seems like work. Don't think I'm getting sick, just unusually tired. Not even really tired, just lethargic. Oh, well.

Thanks for the responses on the Christmas questions. It is undeniably easier to go with the Calphalon pan, but since I had not previously been aware of the Le Creuset option, I felt the need to offer it. The Calphalon pan is also more versatile.



Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
12:00 pm Vanilla soy shake, 2 slices cinnamon bread, 2 tsp soft margarine, Yoplait 100 cal parfait
3:00 pm Dove raspberry dark Promise, 2 chocolate pizzelles
5:00 pm 1 pc English toffee
6:15 pm 1 c leftover chicken casserole (light on the chicken), 3/4 c Carnival squash, 1 tsp soft margarine, 12 oz skim milk, 1 slice beer bread



Exercise:

4:50-5:50 am Brand New Butt DVD

Tues 29 Nov

Got back from Wausau last night and dropped Grandma off around 7:30 pm. As I was turning on to Center St, my pager went off and I ended up spending about 1 1/2 hrs on the call. Perfect timing if it had to happen. Was too tired after all to come record my food consumption.

Hope you made it home safely and are nestled into your apartment again. Thought for an additional Christmas gift: Would you like a small space heater to take the chill off those under-heated evenings?

I just got an online offer today (which I am getting for myself) from Le Creuset for a dedicated crepe pan set with rake tool and a package of crepe mix. Would you prefer this to the 8" Calphalon pan? (I expect I could return the Calphalon without too much difficulty.) Here is the link: http://cookware.lecreuset.com/cookware/product_Crepe-Pan-&-Crepe-Mix-Gift-Set_10151_-1_20002_50562__

Wow, was I hungry tonight. Guess half a pecan roll isn't a good lunch item to hold you through the afternoon. But the chicken casserole was yummy.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
9:45 am 1 Tootsie Roll midgee
11:45 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, 1/2 caramel pecan roll, 2 clementines
5:00 pm 1 Finn Crisp wafer
6:00 pm 1 c Fit N Active whole grain penne pasta, 3 oz chicken breast, 1/8 c green pepper, 1/8 c onion,1 tsp olive oil, 1/4 c Reduced Fat Four Cheese blend, 2 tbl Grandessa spinach/cheese marinara, 1/2 c asparagus, 12 oz skim milk, leaf-shaped chocolate bottom cookie



Exercise:

4:55-5:50 am Buns/Abs of Steel 2000 video

Mon 28 Nov

Today I take Grandma to Wausau for her eye checkup. She looks forward to being able to tell the doctor that she doesn't feel she sees as well as before, even though she knows there's likely nothing he can do about it. Winters are harder because her eyes function better with brighter light and the winter days are often gray and overcast. I hope they come up with a cure for macular degeneration before it hits you and me. I find myself trying to drink in all the beautiful sights I can while I know my eyes are still functioning, and also thinking about how to do things without vision if necessary. I have no wish to be helpless.



Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
12:00 pm Chocolate soy shake, 2 slices cinnamon bread toasted, 2 tsp soft margarine, Babybel gouda



Exercise:

4:50-6:00 am Jane Fonda Complete Workout video

Sun 27 Nov

Hope you are enjoying your respite from school and work for the last few days. If you have an opportunity to get to a Market of Choice and can manage to transport a box of the oatmeal spelt scones on the airplane, a certain mom would appreciate a few. You could stick some in your freezer when you get home. I expect we'll get down to Madison the weekend of Dec 10 or Dec 17. We have a choir thing at 10:30 am on Dec 10 but it only lasts about an hour. The weekend just before Christmas is still open at this time. (Next weekend is filled with choir concerts.)


Food:

8:15 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
12:00 pm English muffin, spinach/mushrooms/tomatoes, 2 poached eggs, 2 tbl hollandaise, 1/2 c hash browns, wedge cantaloupe, wedge honeydew, coffee
3:00 pm 25 g English toffee
5:15 pm King's Hawaiian dinner roll, 1.5 oz turkey, 1/2 c homemade applesauce, 12 oz skim milk, slice fresh-baked beer bread



Exercise:

6:50-7:40 am Brutal ballet DVD

Sat 26 Nov

Nothing special on today's agenda except laundry. Will consider putting up the Christmas tree this afternoon. Actually looked longingly at fresh trees on the lot yesterday, but the urge passed. Maybe some year. Hopefully the pager will leave me alone - have had 2 calls this week but not too intrusive.

Ah, I'm enjoying all the old Christmas vinyl! Right now, Julie Andrews is Decking the Halls.

Got my new Jane Fonda tape in the mail today - Stress Reduction. Some of the aerobic routines are part of the Fat Burners montage. The overall tape is only 20 min aerobics (only one song that isn't in the other collection) but it has 20 min of good, slow stretching and a 10 min guided relaxation series. I felt relaxed but still needing more work when it was done, so I did the 50-min Prime Time Workout DVD (reads "meant for old people"). I don't know if I ever did the whole of that tape before. It is slower-paced but continuous in the aerobics section so your heart rate does rise a little. The combination of the two slower tapes was a nice relaxing Saturday workout.


Food:

8:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
12:30 pm Vanilla soy shake, 2 slices cinnamon raisin toast, 2 tsp soft margarine, Babybel gouda, large apple, 1/2 tsp sugar
1:15 pm Last 1/2 pc cranberry pudding pie
5:45 pm 1 c lobster ravioli, 1/2 c spinach/cheese marinara sauce, 1 tbl grated parmesan, 1/2 c green beans, small slice pumpkin pie, Cool Whip Lite, 4 oz cherry wine


Exercise:

2:00-3:30 pm Jane Fonda Stress Reduction and Jane Fonda Prime Time Workout videos

Fri 25 Nov

I really enjoyed talking to you yesterday to share a little of our Thanksgiving together. You were missed in Wisconsin by all. Grandma is really looking forward to seeing you at Christmas. Our dinner was a little unusual in that everyone except Grandma and Leone ate in the living room with Rodgers and crew, grabbing our food between plays. Christmas dinner may be similar, depending on game time.

Dad and I will head out soon to do some minor Black Friday shopping. I'm hoping to get going shortly after 9:00 as several stores have extra discounts just til 11 am.

I tried to estimate everything I ate yesterday to the best of my remembering, and I actually stayed within my calorie range for the day. I also realized today that several people commented after lunch that they ate really well but didn't feel stuffed and bloated. I wonder if that is because my Thanksgiving fare tends not to be high fat?

My brother, Mark, would have been 60 years old today. Happy Birthday, bro!



Food:

8:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 1 Two-Bite pumpkin walnut scone, coffee
11:30 am 3 crepes, 1 tbl lemon butter, coffee
12:30 pm Red Tootsie Pop
2:30 pm Pumpkin pie, Cool Whip Lite
6:30 pm 8 oz Kristin Regale black currant sparkler
6:45 pm 4.25 oz turkey, 1/2 c stuffing, 1 tbl gravy, 1/3 c sweet potatoes, 1/2 c cranberry waldorf, 12 oz skim milk



Exercise:

4:50-6:20 pm Neighborhood walk w/Dad

Thanksgiving 2011

Happy Turkey Day! Hope the family gathering is a wonderful day - hugs to everyone! We will be a small group with Michael and Ali, Grandma, Leone and Mick. I tried brining the bird this year so I'm anxious to see if it adds layers of flavor. The pumpkin pie and cranberry pudding pies look yummy and all the accompaniments will hopefully be delicious, too. Take a photo of your Thanksgiving spread and send it to me. (Borrow someone's phone camera.)

Ate during the game (GO PACK!!!!!) and resultantly didn't really taste most of my food, but I think it was delicious. The brined turkey was very flavorful. I think I oversalted the gravy, but I'm not sure if I did it twice because I was watching the game or if I only salted once but the brine in the juices was also salty. Regardless, it still tasted good. And the Packers will be playing during Christmas dinner too!

Ooooh, of all the Thanksgiving goodies, the pumpkin pie most hit the spot. The brined turkey was delicious, too.


Food:

8:15 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
1:30 pm Turkey, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry waldorf, baked corn, roasted asparagus, sauvignon blanc, slice pumpkin pie, Cool Whip Lite
5:30 pm King's Hawaiian dinner roll, 1.55 oz white meat turkey, slice pumpkin pie, Cool Whip Lite