The Challenge: Balance

How do you find the balance between being a crazy psycho parent who doesn't let their kid eat any sugar, and a parent who lets them eat anything. I am trying hard to find a balance. I know what he eats when I am home, but while I am at work, there is no telling what he is eating. He is with daddy, or Grammy, and their choices might not be what I would like. Do I want to be obnoxious and make him a lunch to eat while I am at work? Do I just throw everything I have been trying out the window?

I need a balance. I need to find a good middle ground.

My husband isn't fully on board with everything I am doing, and wouldn't even be doing it if it weren't for me. He wants soda, Spaghetti O's and Oreo's. I want them to want water, fruit and veggies, and whole grains.

If it's not easy they won't eat it. Hubby won't cook, and Eli isn't picky. Eli is content to eat cereal(leftover from before) all day. Easy, instant, real food. That's what I need.

How do I decide on a good balance between "crazy" and "normal"? I really don't want Eli to be left out of anything, but I really want him to know what choices are healthy and good for him. I want him to make the right decision.

OK, anyway, we are struggling with cooking everyday. I am realizing that making everything from scratch every night isn't really an option with working so much. I am finding that we are eating quick unbalanced meals, because nothing is prepped, and by the time I get home from work, I am way to tired to spend an hour minimum to cook. To solve this problem, I am going to do most of this weeks prep work this weekend, and try to freeze most of the meals so that it will be easier for the week. I am also going to make rice and several different beans for the freezer.

This weeks menu:

• Lentil Chili with Baked Potato
• Quiche
• Butternut Squash Ravioli
• Black Bean Quesadillas
• Pizza
• Roast Chicken
• Chicken Soup
• Stuffed Peppers
• Pork Chops with Dijon Mushrooms

Here's hoping for a successful week!

To The Farmers Market

It's the first time this year, the farmers market just opened last week! I love the idea of getting my stuff from local growers. It's better for you, because it is fresher, and its kind of fun to walk around and see all the produce that everyone has put so much hard work into.

We didn't get much, but what we got was awesome! We got local honey, while expensive, it is way better than store bought. Eggs, sweet potatoes, and butter lettuce were the other things that I felt were cost effective. I also bought 2 tomato plants, and I'm really hoping the survive, it would be really nice to be able to can some tomato sauce this year.

We never made it to Whole Foods, since we spent more than the $75 we have for the week, between the Farmer's Market ($16), Publix ($15), and Target($54). We have lots to eat, so hopefully we make it to next Friday.

The only thing I'm worried about is that we haven't had to purchase meat, since we are using what is in our freezer still. Hopefully I will continue to be able to find some really good sales at Target.

Our first meatless dinner was an epic fail. I have learned that just because it's on Pinterest, doesn't mean it works... We ended up having Ants on a Log(celery, peanut butter, and raisins) and roasted broccoli. Eli did eat some of the macaroni and cheese I tried to make, but neither one of us were thrilled with it. Roasted Broccoli is the MOST AMAZING thing ever!!! I hate broccoli, but not this. Eli and I ate the entire head of broccoli!!!

Roasted Broccoli

1 head Broccoli
Olive Oil
Salt

Chop and wash broccoli into bite size pieces. Make sure its dry, and drizzle with olive oil, and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt(I used kosher) Roast at 400* for 20-30 minutes or until tender.  EAT!!! ENJOY! MAKE IT AGAIN!

Next time I will take a picture, but I was too busy eating it to stop and take a picture. Oh well, next time I will pause...

A New Way of Life

My husband has been calling me a hippy. With my hippy medicine, which led to my crazy cleaning products (or lack of products, as the case may be) and then finally the final step is our food.

The way we eat is our way of life. So this past 6 weeks we have been slowly making our way to "clean eating." Also called "Real Food," this is a complete change from the couponing crazy person I used to be. I am learning that it is OK to spend money on food, slowly. The cost of fruit and vegetables is much higher than the bag of chips, or box of cookies. The grass fed organic meat is 2-3 times what my cheap sale meat was. 

Since the cost of meat is one of the biggest differences to our budget, we will also be cutting out a majority of the meat that we are used to consuming. We are now what is called a "Flexitarian," we are semi-vegetarian. We have a plant based diet with an occasional inclusion of meat.

I did the great fridge clean out today, getting ready for the fun of the farmer's market, and a Whole Foods shopping trip today. My poor fridge looks really sad right now... We have a few blocks of cheese, (which are left from before the craziness became excessive :) My husband has the last of his sugar sweetened tea, and the minimal condiments that are still OK. Cage free eggs, even though they were purchased at the enemy. I am actually hoping to pick some up at the farmers market.

I am really looking for a good dairy source. I want whole, local, organic, grass fed cows milk. I am hoping to find that too. I am not sure if that is a reasonable option in this area of the world.

We are still on a budget, that hasn't changed, but what we eat certainly has. 

I will be posting snippets of how it is going, what we are buying on our budget, what I am cooking, and how we are feeling. The goals for us are: weight loss for me, and a drastic change in my 5-year-old's behavior. 

Welcome to Real Food on my blog!!! 

In 5 Weeks...

I would weigh 270.7 

I started keeping track of that number this week just to see if it is right. When you complete your day on MFP it gives you a weight that if you ate the same way every day you would weigh. Today it told me I should lose 12.3 lbs in the next 5 weeks. 

I weighed in today at 284, which is 26 lbs down! I am happy with that number. The past month has been rough, I am only losing .5 to 1 lb a week, which isn't enough. Hopefully with the exercise I am planning on adding in today, that number will be a lot lower next week.

I am having a really hard time with my eating habits on my days off. At work I get 2 15 minute breaks, and a 30 minute lunch, so I can't eat all day. At home there is nothing stopping me from eating all day long. Also the days I work, I pack a lunch that I have thought about, and planned into my day. At home I eat whatever I can find in the fridge. I think I need to start scheduling my days when I am off so that I don't give myself the opportunity to eat all day.

Here's to the coming week...

Weigh In Day...

Up? Down? That is the question on my mind every day. The scale is taunting me. I am having a hard time with believing I can do it, I have such a huge goal, and I have never made it past a few weeks. This is the first time that I have stuck to something for any length of time. I have been on a controlled calorie diet for about 5 weeks, and even though I have had some rough nights when all I want to eat is junk food, because I am logging everything I eat, and my food log is public, I have kept to my diet.

I am down 1.2 lbs this week, and while I always hope for more, at least it is a loss. I have a definate goal in mind, and I had thought I would be able to accomplish it much faster than it is happening.

I started walking this week, it is not fun, because Eli goes with me, and spends the entire time hysterical that he will never see his stuffed animals again. I have tried to go by myself, but he doesn't want me to be out of his sight. With all of the challenges of the emotional side of my child, I am very surprised that I worked out at all.

I also made my husband hide the scale from me. I am really bad about weighing myself every day, when I don't see a change or I see a gain, it puts me in a bad mood, and causes me to want to eat. I am definitely an emotional eater through and through. He will pull it out only on Friday mornings, I will weigh myself, then he will hide it again.

For now I am going to focus on my smaller goals, which is 275, I only have 12.2 lbs until I reach that goal. I am really hoping to reach that goal by Halloween. Here's to hoping...

Changing the Eating Plan

I am now down 21.6lbs While I am very happy to be losing, I am unhappy with the amount of time it is taking to lose it. I only lost 1.6 lbs in the past 11 days, which isn't enough.

I went to the message boards on My Fitness Pal, and everyone suggested that I was not eating enough, that my body had been shocked by the sudden 20 lb loss, and my hormones were out of whack. I am trying to be patient, but it is very difficult, I like instant gratification, so I am having a hard time with the lack of movement on the scale.

On Wednesday I decided to increase my calories from 1200-1400 to 1800. Based on my Basal Metabolic Rate, which is 2,086, I believe that my calorie intake may have been too low. I will try this for a few weeks and see if it helps.

I also have started adding exercise into my daily routine. I am using my Wii Fit for around 30 minutes. It is something I can do anytime, from home, so I don't have to have someone to watch Eli. Eli has started doing it with me as well. We have been running the Island Run together, and even though he can beat my by about half of the race, it makes it a lot easier to have someone want to do it with me.

I am really enjoying My Fitness Pal! I love that I can be friends with people, and I can ask questions on the message boards. I love that you can calculate the calories from everything you eat, and all foods with a barcode can be scanned with my phone.

So far so good, even though I am not getting the numbers I desire, I am not getting discouraged, and I am NOT giving up!

It's A New Day

I am down 14 lbs. It is much easier to do this when you have a plan.

I have a plan. Sweet protein shakes to curb the cravings, Banana "Ice Cream" for my snacks. A challenge workout every other day. Less junk food, more healthy food.

I log everything into My Fitness Pal.

The countdown to my final goal has begun.

I love the idea of being healthy. I want to be able to do more with Eli.