Hurley respawns

[RedPandaOne]

It's time for a respawn. I haven't been active here for....well, a long time. And I haven't been ACTIVE for even longer. I can't even walk up 2 flights of stairs without getting winded and my legs being sore for a couple of days. That's such a far cry from where I used to be. I want to be able to walk to that conference room on the 7th floor (from the 5th) and not have to stop at the top and catch my breath. I want to look at my closet and not have to remember what fits and what doesn't. And I want to be able to order food on Wednesdays at trivia and not feel like everyone is staring at the fat girl eating only half a salad (and I'm only eating half because a full one is like 900 calories!). 

 

So here's to respawning and getting to all those goals!

 

How am I going to get there? Well, I am going to start with these simple goals: 

 

1. At least 3x a week walk up the stairs in the parking garage instead of taking the elevator. 

I'm usually on the 3rd level, so this will be a nice cardio workout for me at the end of the day currently

 

2. Drink more water/less chai lattes.

If you look back at any of my old challenges, you'll see how much I am addicted to chai lattes. During the week I do k-cups, weekend is either Starbucks or my own homemade ones. It's how I get my caffeine. Yesterday I had 3 k-cups (8oz each)! Today I am already at 2. So, my goal is to stop drinking the one at lunch during the week and have water instead. I am going to gradually get this to only a couple a week. But right now I just want to get it to once a day.

 

3. Eat more fruits/vegetables

I moved out of my parents back in mid December. I am now feeding me all by myself. I'm not even sure if what I do is called feeding. I eat raisin bran in the morning. Lunch is either a ham and cheese or just cheese sandwich. Dinner can be anything from cheese and crackers to a full blown meal, but it is typically something like a pb&j sandwich or something just as simple. But since moving out my fruit and vegetable consumption has hit pretty much zero. I have a salad every Wednesday and Thursday, but I need more. So my goal is to cook 1 meal a week that has a full serving of fruit or vegetables. And since most of my recipes are for 2 or more servings, that will make it so at minimum I am getting it twice a week. I will work my way up from there. 

 

That's it for now. Hopefully I don't fade out halfway through this like I have done in the past. But my last challenge was when it was still 6 weeks long, so maybe I will have better luck with 4 weeks!

[Sylvaa]

You are back!

 

Super excited to see you getting back in the swing of challenges. I'm going to be stopping by to see how well you do - the 4 week challenges are a lot easier to stay focused with and I know you can do it!

[RedPandaOne]

I am back!! I'll probably need some nudging, help get me back into the routine of doing challenges. 

 

And I'm happy to report that I am eating lunch right now and NOT having a chai. I am drinking water, but it's vitamin water zero, but sure if that's exactly a step up or not, though.

[Sylvaa]

0 calories versus - I'm not even sure how many in a Chai?

 

I totally think it's a step up!

[RedPandaOne]

It depends on where I get it and how much. The k-cups are only 60, while a venti a Starbucks is around....300 I think. 

 

So, yea, step up!! 

 

And I also had to shovel this morning. Not a lot, just enough to be able to back up my car out of my parking space. But it did get the hear rate up a little.

[RedPandaOne]

Just bought some apples to snack on! Now not to drench them in peanut butter when I do

 

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[RedPandaOne]

Turkey Sausage with bell peppers. Weight watchers recipe. This is my first time making it (but not the first time eating it). Hopefully I don't give myself food poisoning again.

 

 

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[RedPandaOne]

Happy to report no food poisoning!

[WolfDreamer]

 

Glad you're back with us. And that turkey sausage with peppers looks delicious. 

On 2/7/2017 at 2:35 PM, hurley8604 said:

I'm usually on the 3rd level

 

I also work on the third level of my building (which is the top level), and I never take the elevator, unless I have a load of stuff to carry. There is another building on campus that has 9 floors, so on my strongest days I walk all the way up and all the way down.

[RedPandaOne]

Thanks for the welcome back! Love the minions! 

 

It is really good. Mine tasted different from my moms, but it was still good. Might cut back on the garlic next time. I'll try to remember to post the recipe tomorrow if you want it. 

 

If I go into work tomorrow I'll take the stairs. As of right now, it's all depends on what the weather is doing in the morning. I can't tell if it's snowing or raining at the moment. I think it's raining. Oh Mother Nature, giving us a whole winters worth of snow in 4 days. I hate New England weather. I should have tried harder to get a job out west. Oh well.

[RedPandaOne]

I'm at work, so I'll attempt to take the stairs in the parking garage tonight. 

 

Had water at lunch!

 

However, I'm bored and still hungry.... trying really hard not to go visit the vending machine. I'm going out for dinner tonight and I've already planned all my calories for today....

[RedPandaOne]

I caved about half an hour ago and went to the vending machine. My stomach was growling. I'll try to adjust with dinner tonight.

[RedPandaOne]

Took the stairs! Was breathing hard by the time I got to the 3rd floor, but no where near as bad as I thought I would be.

 

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[RedPandaOne]

Well, yesterday didn't end on a good note. It was our monthly trivia night. I always order the same thing, so I knew without a doubt what I was getting. The place we go is a restaurant/bowling lane. I walk in, and the entire restaurant area is dark. Not even a hostess at the stand. I remember seeing something on the door, so I walk back out and read the sign saying that after 7pm it's closed to the general public. Trivia starts at 7 (this was at 6:15). A couple other people walk in and go to the bowling area and the person doesn't know much, other than the restaurant is closed. I text my friend who is hosting the trivia night (it's part of a social group, I just tag along). Because it's part of a social group, we have reservations since we can get up to 20 people coming some months. No one ever bothering to call the company and say trivia was cancelled. Even looked on both the trivia companies and restaurants facebook page, and nothing mentioned about it being cancelled. Great. Luckily my friend was able to get ahold of most of the members coming and told them not to show.

 

The other 7 of us went to another restaurant. One I had never been to before. So, all my careful planning went out the window. My options were pretty much either a burger or a pizza. I ended up getting a bacon cheese burger. I ate 90% of it, and maybe 40-50% of the fries. But to make matters worse. When I got home I ended up pulling the Ben and Jerry's Reese's ice cream out of my freezer and finished the pint. Granted, there was only one serving left. But still. 

 

The plan is to take the stairs again today. My right knee acted wonky this morning, but hopefully it will be better by 5pm. Sometimes, when I'm down on the floor, typically kneeling in some fashion (trying to catch a cat or fetch a cat toy from under something), when I stand up I feel a pulling in my knee. Kinda like my knee cap is going in the opposite direction of everything else. If I can push past the pain and stand up, everything pops back into place. But it hurts like hell, and I have to stand up when it starts. Going back to the starting position doesn't help. Once, I was upstairs in one of the bedrooms and this happened and my mom could hearing my screaming on the next floor down. This morning wasn't that bad. I just wish I knew was was going on. 

[RedPandaOne]

Oh, here's the recipe if anyone wants it:

 

http://www.food.com/recipe/turkey-sausage-and-bell-peppers-weight-watchers-style-231271

 

[RedPandaOne]

Had water at both lunch and dinner. 

 

Didnt take the the stairs in the garage, but I did have to chase my cats up and down the apartment stairs after they escaped. Fitbit said I only did one flight, but I don't believe that. Salem made it all the way to the third floor. 

 

Had leftovers of the sausage and peppers. Didn't eat all the peppers, so I had an apple with peanut butter. Trying so hard right now not to go eat some cheese. For some reason I got a craving for it. 

[WolfDreamer]

You're doing great. Chasing cats up the stairs sounds like a very practical and powerful workout. Stay mindful of your need for water and how it affects your body (more energy, less soreness, etc.). Keep us posted. :-)

 

[RedPandaOne]

I ended up having the cheese.....

 

But I will keep you posted! 

 

This weekend will be interesting because I'm spending it at my parents. There will be lots of food choices and soda. Oh god, soda. I've been good since I moved out for the most part. I had one bad week, but I really only drink it now on Wednesdays when I'm out at trivia. And it's factored into my daily calories. But at my parents, I can drink it every day. She just buys the 20oz pack of bottles. Hopefully I will do okay. I'll work on a plan....

[WolfDreamer]

10 minutes ago, hurley8604 said:

Oh god, soda.

 

This was my worst enemy before I started my health journey. I, too, allow myself one day/week. I work at a movie theater part time and we get drinks for free. Our options? Water, soda (like fourteen different kinds) and slushies (three flavors: cherry, blue raspberry, and freaking Coca-Cola).

 

Be proud that you owned up to eating the cheese. Just stay mindful of cravings and how they differ from actual hunger/needs. You can do this!

 

 

[RedPandaOne]

Wow, that's a lot of options. My willpower would be so tested if I worked there. When I worked at Blockbuster, we got some free candy, like, a handful a day. I had to stay away from the candy because I found myself just standing there eating it. It was bad. I gained 15 pounds that summer. Lost it all when I went back to school and gave myself very mild food poisoning the first week.

 

Yes, I have a history of poisoning myself. I don't do it on purpose I swear. I'm just not that great in the kitchen (yet). And I swear I could count the number of times on one hand!

 

I mostly gave up soda years ago. I only had it when I ate out, and I didn't eat out all that often. Then something changed, and I don't know what and I can't remember when. But I started drinking it everyday again. It's gone in ebbs and flows. Better when my parents were away and I was in charge of grocery shopping, worse when they were back. I just don't keep it in the apartment now. If it's not there, I can't drink it. 

[WolfDreamer]

39 minutes ago, hurley8604 said:

If it's not there, I can't drink it.

 

That's a solid solution.

 

And I didn't mention that we also get free popcorn. I could gorge myself on that stuff, with or without butter (which isn't really butter, btw).

[Sylvaa]

16 minutes ago, Wolfen said:

And I didn't mention that we also get free popcorn. I could gorge myself on that stuff, with or without butter (which isn't really butter, btw).

 

I don't care what it is, I would be eating the crap out of movie theater popcorn!

 

I stopped drinking soda a few years ago. My teeth are naturally prone to cavities and the like, so I gave up soda. Have you tried alternatives like sparking water? 

[RedPandaOne]

24 minutes ago, Wolfen said:

with or without butter (which isn't really butter, btw).

 

That's probably why I always feel sick after I eat it with "butter". I usually sneak in my own food and drink, sorry, not sorry. It's just so expensive and the small sodas are so damn big! 

 

5 minutes ago, Sylvaa said:

Have you tried alternatives like sparking water? 

 

I have, and I can't get over the taste. They are too....sour. No, that's not right. They are just, yuck, to me. I don't drink soda for the fizz, mostly for the taste (aka sugar). I also think they are bit thicker than water, and sometimes I just want that thickness. 

[Sylvaa]

1 minute ago, hurley8604 said:

I have, and I can't get over the taste. They are too....sour. No, that's not right. They are just, yuck, to me. I don't drink soda for the fizz, mostly for the taste (aka sugar). I also think they are bit thicker than water, and sometimes I just want that thickness. 

 

Totally makes sense! I know a lot of people that don't like the taste. 

 

What about smoothies? They are thicker, have sugar, and would solve the poisoning yourself problem! 

[WolfDreamer]

17 minutes ago, Sylvaa said:

alternatives like sparking water

 

I second this. S. Pelegrino is my favorite. Coconut water is also a good "sweet" drink option. I also drink a variety of tea, coffee, and a really good Icelandic yogurt drink from B'More Organic (definitely thicker than water, lol).

 

 

12 minutes ago, hurley8604 said:

I usually sneak in my own food and drink, sorry, not sorry.

 

This happens so often that we hardly monitor it anymore. My only frustration is when the person brings in their own food and leaves their trash behind. If you pack it in, you should pack it out.