Menu - my diet/nutrition plan from Spark People for the week - 08-16-15

This is a straight copy/paste from Spark People diet/nutrition program.  The recipes are easy to follow and really quite good!

FOOD CALORIES CARBS FAT PROTEIN Peanut Butter Toast, Orange Juice; Yogurt Orange Juice, 5 fl oz 68 16 0 1 Peanut Butter, smooth style, with salt, 0.5 tbsp 47 2 4 2 Bread, whole wheat (including toast) prepared from recipe, 1 slice, thin (3-3/4" x 5" x 3/8") 91 17 2 3 Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt, Plain, 6 oz 80 6 0 15

	Salmon Salad; Greek Yogurt with Berries; Wheat Roll
	Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt, Plain, 6 oz	80	6	0	15
	Balsamic Vinegar, 1 tbsp	8	2	0	0
	Dinner Rolls, wheat, 1 roll (1 oz)	77	13	2	2
	Atlantic Salmon (fish) (.5 filet option = 198g), 2.5 oz	101	0	5	14
	Strawberries, fresh, 12 large (1-3/8" dia)	65	15	1	1
	Lettuce, leaf salad, 2 cup, shredded	20	4	0	1
	Olive Oil, 1 1tsp	40	0	5	0

	Skillet White Beans & Tomatoes over Spaghetti with Parmesan Cheese; Fruit Cocktail Heat oil and add minced garlic and saute. Add chopped tomatoes and properly prepared beans and simmer. Spoon over prepared noodles and top with cheese.
	Olive Oil, 1 1tsp	40	0	5	0
	Fruit Cocktail, 0.5 cup	69	18	0	0
	Parmesan Cheese, grated, 3 tbsp	68	1	5	6
	Red Ripe Tomatoes, 4 slice, medium (1/4" thick)	17	4	0	1
	Beans, white, 0.5 cup	153	29	0	10
	Spaghetti, cooked without added salt (pasta), 0.5 cup	110	22	1	4
	Mrs. Dash (R) Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend, 0.25 tsp	0	0	0	0

	Turkey Wrapped Asparagus Wrap asparagus spear in thinly sliced turkey.
	Asparagus, fresh, 5 spear, medium (5-1/4" to 7" long)	18	4	0	2
	Turkey breast, sliced, oven roasted, luncheon meat, 4 ounce(s)	119	5	2	19

For Monday, 8/17/2015

FOOD CALORIES CARBS FAT PROTEIN Shredded wheat with milk, blueberries and flax; herbal tea Shredded Wheat Spoon Size Cereal, 0.6 cup (1 serving) 102 24 1 4 Blueberries, fresh, 0.75 cup 61 15 0 1 Milk, nonfat, 1 cup 83 12 0 8 *Flax Seed, 0.66 tbsp 30 3 3 2 Herbal Tea, 1 cup (8 fl oz) 2 0 0 0

	Broiled Tilapia Parmesan; Wild Rice; Salad; Oranges; Milk
	Wild Rice, 0.6 cup	99	21	0	4
	Balsamic Vinegar, 1 tbsp	8	2	0	0
	Broiled Tilapia Parmesan, 1 serving	177	2	10	19
	Milk, nonfat, 1 cup	83	12	0	8
	Olive Oil, 1 1tsp	40	0	5	0
	Oranges, 1 fruit (2-5/8" dia)	62	15	0	1
	Romaine Lettuce (salad), 2 cup, shredded	16	3	0	2

	Spicy White Bean Soup, Applesauce Saute chopped onions with fresh garlic in oil, add 2 cups water, rice and beans and season with oregano, cumin, ground cloves, and cayenne pepper to taste and simmer for about 1 hour. Top with Mozzarella Cheese and serve.
	Onions, raw, 4 slice, medium (1/8" thick)	21	5	0	1
	Canola Oil, 1 1tsp	40	0	5	0
	Applesauce, unsweetened, 0.75 cup	76	21	0	0
	Mozzarella Cheese, part skim milk, 1 oz	72	1	5	7
	Wild Rice, 0.6 cup	99	21	0	4
	Beans, navy, 0.5 cup	127	24	1	7

	Celery with Cashew Butter
	Celery, raw, 2 stalk, large (11"-12" long)	20	5	0	1
	Cashew Butter, 1.5 tbsp	141	7	12	4

For Tuesday, 8/18/2015

FOOD CALORIES CARBS FAT PROTEIN Grapefruit; Toast with Cream Cheese; Tea Grapefruit, 1 fruit (3-3/4" dia) 74 19 0 1 Cream Cheese, 2 tbsp 99 1 10 2 Tea, brewed, 6 fl oz 2 1 0 0 Bread, whole wheat (including toast) prepared from recipe, 1 slice, thin (3-3/4" x 5" x 3/8") 91 17 2 3

	Black Beans with Wild Rice, Romaine Salad with Swiss Cheese; Tangerines
	Wild Rice, 0.6 cup	99	21	0	4
	Beans, black, 0.6 cup	136	24	1	9
	Balsamic Vinegar, 1 tbsp	8	2	0	0
	Swiss Cheese, 1 oz	107	1	8	8
	Olive Oil, 1 1tsp	40	0	5	0
	Tangerines, 2 small (2-1/4" dia)	62	16	0	1
	Romaine Lettuce (salad), 2 cup, shredded	16	3	0	2

	Spicy White Bean Soup, Applesauce Saute chopped onions with fresh garlic in oil, add 2 cups water, rice and beans and season with oregano, cumin, ground cloves, and cayenne pepper to taste and simmer for about 1 hour. Top with Mozzarella Cheese and serve.
	Onions, raw, 4 slice, medium (1/8" thick)	21	5	0	1
	Canola Oil, 1 1tsp	40	0	5	0
	Applesauce, unsweetened, 0.75 cup	76	21	0	0
	Mozzarella Cheese, part skim milk, 1 oz	72	1	5	7
	Beans, navy, 0.5 cup	127	24	1	7
	Wild Rice, 0.6 cup	99	21	0	4

	Veggie Burger; Sweet Potato
	Morning Star Garden Veggie Burger, 1 serving(s)	110	9	4	10
	Sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, without salt, 0.5 small	27	6	0	1

For Wednesday, 8/19/2015

FOOD CALORIES CARBS FAT PROTEIN Wheat Bran Muffin; Yogurt with Blueberries; Coffee Butter, unsalted, 1 pat (1" sq, 1/3" high) 36 0 4 0 Blueberries, fresh, 0.75 cup 61 15 0 1 Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt, Plain, 6 oz 80 6 0 15 Wheat Bran Muffins, with raisins, 1 muffin, toaster 106 19 3 2 Regular Coffee, brewed from grounds, 1 cup (8 fl oz) 2 0 0 0

	Baked Sweet Potato topped with Black Beans, Brown Rice, Sour Cream and Salsa; Tangerines; Soymilk
	Beans, black, 0.6 cup	136	24	1	9
	Brown Rice, long grain, 0.5 cup	108	22	1	3
	Silk, Plain Soymilk, Original 1 cup, 1 serving	90	8	4	6
	Sour Cream, reduced fat, 2 tbsp	41	1	4	1
	Sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, without salt, 0.5 small	27	6	0	1
	Tangerines, 2 small (2-1/4" dia)	62	16	0	1
	Salsa, 0.13 cup	9	2	0	0

	Brown Rice with Chopped Broccoli and Almonds; Applesauce; Milk
	Broccoli, fresh, 2 spear (about 5" long)	17	3	0	2
	Almonds, 0.25 cup, sliced	137	5	12	5
	Butter, unsalted, 1 pat (1" sq, 1/3" high)	36	0	4	0
	Milk, nonfat, 1 cup	83	12	0	8
	Applesauce, unsweetened, 0.75 cup	76	21	0	0
	Brown Rice, long grain, 0.5 cup	108	22	1	3

	Celery with Cashew Butter
	Cashew Butter, 1.5 tbsp	141	7	12	4
	Celery, raw, 2 stalk, large (11"-12" long)	20	5	0	1

For Thursday, 8/20/2015

FOOD CALORIES CARBS FAT PROTEIN Yogurt with Fresh Peaches; Wheat Bran Muffin; Tea Peaches, fresh, 1 large (2-3/4" dia) (approx 2-1/2 per lb) 68 17 0 1 Yogurt, plain, low fat, 0.5 cup (8 fl oz) 77 9 2 6 Wheat Bran Muffins, with raisins, 1 muffin, toaster 106 19 3 2 Tea, brewed, 6 fl oz 2 1 0 0

	Black Beans with Wild Rice, Romaine Salad with Swiss Cheese; Tangerines
	Beans, black, 0.6 cup	136	24	1	9
	Wild Rice, 0.6 cup	99	21	0	4
	Balsamic Vinegar, 1 tbsp	8	2	0	0
	Swiss Cheese, 1 oz	107	1	8	8
	Olive Oil, 1 1tsp	40	0	5	0
	Tangerines, 2 small (2-1/4" dia)	62	16	0	1
	Romaine Lettuce (salad), 2 cup, shredded	16	3	0	2

	Garlic Ginger Rice with Almonds; Green Beans; Blueberries; Milk Add grated ginger and minced garlic to warm oil in skillet and heat for a minute then add cooked rice, mix and heat throughout. Add in almond slivers and serve.
	Almonds, 0.25 cup, sliced	137	5	12	5
	Canola Oil, 1 1tsp	40	0	5	0
	Green Beans (snap), 12 beans (4" long)	20	5	0	1
	Blueberries, fresh, 0.75 cup	61	15	0	1
	Milk, nonfat, 1 cup	83	12	0	8
	White Rice, long grain, cooked, 0.5 cup	103	22	0	2

	Salad Greens with Cranberry Vinaigrette and Almonds; Tea
	Tea, brewed, 6 fl oz	2	1	0	0
	Salad Greens With Cranberry Vinaigrette, 0.5 serving	24	3	1	1
	Almonds, 0.25 cup, sliced	137	5	12	5

For Friday, 8/21/2015

FOOD CALORIES CARBS FAT PROTEIN Cheesy eggs with toast; tangerines; tea Cook the eggs in a nonstick skillet, then serve with toast. Either spread cheese on toast or scramble it in with the eggs. Serve with tea and tangerines. Tangerines, 2 small (2-1/4" dia) 62 16 0 1 Neufchatel Cheese, 1 oz 74 1 7 3 Egg white, fresh, 2 large 34 0 0 7 Bread, reduced-calorie, wheat, 2 slice 101 19 1 6 Tea, brewed, 6 fl oz 2 1 0 0

	Cashew Butter Half Sandwich; Cream Cheese filled Celery; Grapes; Milk
	Bread, whole wheat (including toast) prepared from recipe, 1 slice, thin (3-3/4" x 5" x 3/8")	91	17	2	3
	Low fat cream cheese, 1 tbsp	35	1	3	2
	Milk, nonfat, 1 cup	83	12	0	8
	Grapes, 18 grape, seedless	35	9	0	0
	Celery, raw, 2 stalk, large (11"-12" long)	20	5	0	1
	Cashew Butter, 1.5 tbsp	141	7	12	4

	Skillet White Beans & Tomatoes over Spaghetti with Parmesan Cheese; Fruit Cocktail Heat oil and add minced garlic and saute. Add chopped tomatoes and properly prepared beans and simmer. Spoon over prepared noodles and top with cheese.
	Red Ripe Tomatoes, 4 slice, medium (1/4" thick)	17	4	0	1
	Parmesan Cheese, grated, 3 tbsp	68	1	5	6
	Fruit Cocktail, 0.5 cup	69	18	0	0
	Olive Oil, 1 1tsp	40	0	5	0
	Mrs. Dash (R) Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend, 0.25 tsp	0	0	0	0
	Spaghetti, cooked without added salt (pasta), 0.5 cup	110	22	1	4
	Beans, white, 0.5 cup	153	29	0	10

	Veggie Burger; Sweet Potato
	Morning Star Garden Veggie Burger, 1 serving(s)	110	9	4	10
	Sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, without salt, 0.5 small	27	6	0	1

For Saturday, 8/22/2015

FOOD CALORIES CARBS FAT PROTEIN Wheat Bran Muffin; Yogurt with Blueberries; Coffee Blueberries, fresh, 0.75 cup 61 15 0 1 Butter, unsalted, 1 pat (1" sq, 1/3" high) 36 0 4 0 Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt, Plain, 6 oz 80 6 0 15 Regular Coffee, brewed from grounds, 1 cup (8 fl oz) 2 0 0 0 Wheat Bran Muffins, with raisins, 1 muffin, toaster 106 19 3 2

	Asian Chicken Salad with Whole-Wheat Crackers; Tomato Slices with Cottage Cheese; Fruit Cocktail;
	Whole-Wheat Crackers, 0.75 oz	94	15	4	2
	Asian Chicken Salad RECIPE, 1 serving	127	20	1	11
	Mayonnaise, regular (mayo), 0.5 tbsp	45	0	5	0
	Cottage Cheese, Nonfat, 0.75 cup (not packed)	120	8	1	23
	Fruit Cocktail, 0.5 cup	69	18	0	0
	Red Ripe Tomatoes, 4 slice, medium (1/4" thick)	17	4	0	1

	Skillet White Beans & Tomatoes over Spaghetti with Parmesan Cheese; Fruit Cocktail Heat oil and add minced garlic and saute. Add chopped tomatoes and properly prepared beans and simmer. Spoon over prepared noodles and top with cheese.
	Red Ripe Tomatoes, 4 slice, medium (1/4" thick)	17	4	0	1
	Fruit Cocktail, 0.5 cup	69	18	0	0
	Olive Oil, 1 1tsp	40	0	5	0
	Parmesan Cheese, grated, 3 tbsp	68	1	5	6
	Mrs. Dash (R) Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend, 0.25 tsp	0	0	0	0
	Spaghetti, cooked without added salt (pasta), 0.5 cup	110	22	1	4
	Beans, white, 0.5 cup	153	29	0	10

	Pea Pods and Hummus
	Hummus, 0.3 cup	125	11	7	6
	Peas, edible-podded, raw, 12 pea pods	17	3	0	1

Goals for Week 34 - 08-16-15 - 08-22-15R

GO AND DO
Done PT appt -
Done Post office

HOUSE

• Zone 1
• Front Porch 
• Done Zone
• Done WHB
• Entrance and 2nd floor landing
• Done Zone
• Done WHB
• Back Stairs
• Done Zone
• Done WHB
• Zone 2
• Kitchen
• Done WHB
• Zone 3
• Bath
• Done Zone
• Done WHB
• Laundry Room
• Done Zone
• Done WHB
• Sewing room
• Done Zone - see Bonnie's Spiff up
• Done WHB
• Zone 4
• Bedroom
• Done WHB
• Zone 5: 
• Living Room
• Done WHB
• Study
• Done WHB

EDUCATION 

• RELIGION
• Complete module
• Israel Memorial
• How to Run
• Done 304, 307, 308, 443
• Israel Independence
• How to Run
• Done 218, 04, 307, 308, 440, 444
• Done 449-456
• Yom Yerushalayim
• How to Run
• Done 218, 304, 307, 308, 440
• Shavuot
• TIMG
• Done 73-75
• Jewish Woman
• Done 168-172
• Song 
• Done 206, 208
• Done 209, 210
• SCIENCE (doing review of some of work)
• L 5
• Done 5-1R
• Done 5-2R
• Done 5-3R
• CB
• Done CB9
• Done CB10
• Done CB11
• Done Review 
• EARTH
• Book of Life
• Done 6 - Reconstruct and Deconstruct the Past
• Done 22- Life and Time
• Done 37- foundations:Life in the Oceans
• The Story of.....
• Done Chapter 6 - Living Earth
• Done Chapter 7 - Red Earth
• Life on a Young Planet
• Done Chapter 2 - Tree of Life
• EXERCISE
• Done PT appt
• ALGEBRA
• Done Lesson 20
• Done Lesson 21
• Done Lesson 22
• Done Lesson 23
• Done Lesson 24
• Done Lesson 25
• CREATIVE WRITING
• Level 4
• Done 4-2
• Done 5-1
• Done 5-2
• Done 5-3
• Done 5-4
• Done 5-5
• HANDWRITING
• B - 
• Done 25
• Done 26
• Done 27
• Done 28
• Done 29
• Done 30
• RUSSIAN
• Done Lesson 33
• Done Lesson 34
• Done Lesson 35
• Done Lesson 36
• Done Lesson 37
• LEARNING TO LEARN MODULE
• Done Ch. 10
• Done Ch. 11
• MUSIC
• Done Rachmaninoff - 2nd C
• Review sect 1-14
• intensive 15
• once over up through rest of first movement - through 16
• Done Scarlatti
• ART
• Done Lesson 6

QUILT (Needs to be revised - Monday at latest!)

• Done STASH REPORT (Sunday)
• Done DESIGN WALL (Monday)
• Done 15 MINUTE "SPIFF UP" WITH BONNIE (IN STITCHES' BONNIE!) (Wednesday)

Day 8 - Whoops! No! It's Week 1 all over again! With a change!

Yup - you didn't miss anything - and I'm debating whether or not to start Week 1 all over again!  I'm seriously thinking about it!  As for what happened to Week 1 - uhmmm - personal difficulties, definite unhappiness soothed by (this is NOT good!) ice cream and graham crackers and a 2 liter bottle of birch beer (non-alcoholic type).  DEFINITELY not a good time was had by all!

So - on THAT note - I'm starting again! BUT this time - some differences - due to finances - uhm - I won't be doing the 8 Minutes in the Morning DIET - But will be doing a variation of the Spark Diet instead.  Spark Diet does have a pre-printed diet - BUT you can substitute like crazy (I qualify) and if wished, you can plug in all kinds of stuff to find the calories and adjust accordingly.  All in all it is an extremely good diet with super amounts of leeway.  My ONLY argument with it is that the online program takes FOREVER to record the amounts, etc. BUT it does show all the vitamins, minerals, calories, etc. consumed over a day - and makes suggestions for diet improvement, as well as being printable - WITH a grocery list (for the original diet), has a gazillion recipes (taste tested).  It is just the WAIT factor for everything to record!  Ugh!  Strangely enough, however, I don't have complaints against anything that I find in a book or on a printed paper!  Just something where I can change the diet plan!  LOL

I'm keeping the Week 1 responses however - and maybe adding to those!   Below I've re-copied my Week 1 Day 1 responses to the questionnaire.  And yes, I'll be checking in to Spark Coach!

• I know goals are important - BUT every exercise/diet program I've ever joined in focuses on what do I want my body to look like - do I want sculpted lines, etc. blah blah blah!
• 
  
• Ugh!  I just want my body to not droop where it used to be perky, not sag where it used to be essentially almost flat, not have knees that resemble yo-yo's in regard to staying in place, not have pain in my legs, lower back.  Sigh!  And worst part, I can't even say I want my body to be 20 years old again!  Especially since my legs have hurt like this since I was a little girl.  (My mom used to call them "growing pains".  Sorry, but I HOPE I've stopped growing years ago!)  The droopiness - well, that could be an aging sign - more probably it is a sign of muscle tissue that has just decided that droopiness is "where it's at!" and, yes, I CAN correct for SOME of it - but considering the lines in the face - a body with perky attributes - and a face that resembles a map of New York City - it's jarring, I tell you!  Truly jarring!
• 
  
• One of my goals is to be able to run upstairs without sounding like a steam engine.  I live on the first floor.  Plus WHY would I want to run upstairs?  Is there any reason on this Earth or off of it to do so?  Has a new law been passed that now requires citizens to sprint lightly up a flight or two of stairs, all while breathing normally?  Hah!
• 
  
• Losing some of the sag in my stomach means I can see my feet.  And, yes, this can be a good thing!  At least now I can see if indeed my socks and/or shoes are a matching color.  Gone are the days when I would wear tennis shoes from 2 different sets.  TG!  but now that I can see my feet - I can also see where my feet walk.  That means I can also see the floor - and therein lies the problem.  Now I can see the cat fuzz that escaped the vacuum cleaner and the crumbs from the graham cracker ice cream sandwich I sneaked for lunch. Of course, I can still at the same time see where the chocolate ice cream (from the ice cream sandwich) dripped onto my tummy roll.  Of them all - maybe seeing the chocolate ice cream drip is the most important - especially if I need to go somewhere.  The apartment I can always close the door.
• 
  
• Still and all, I do want to - and will continue to exercise.
• ..............................................
• Dehydration is another topic for Day 1, Week 1.  As a rule this doesn't bother me too much because I drink anywhere from 64 - 96 ounces water daily.  I used to drink more - but got myself into deep kimchee when my potassium level dropped way down as a result.  Now I try to keep it between the 64 and 96 ounces.
• .............................................
• (More may be added later)

Bonnie's "In-Studio Spiff Ups" #7 and 8

Bonnie's #7 () reads - Straighten and Clean Your Ironing Station!!!! 

Ummm - Mine is - um - strange!  I have an over the door thingy that holds all my ironing apparatus, a small tray thingy that holds the rest (tray is pink, fwiw!) - and usually have my ironing board taking up space in my bedroom - where it sits in front of the TV or my bed and serves as an ironing board, a TV tray, an impromptu desk, a sorting station, a laundry folding station.  Handy things - ironing boards!


#8 reads Time to organize and straighten up your books
MOST of my books are pretty well organized!  Mostly because they fit on half shelves - which means the shelf they sit on is only half as wide!  And every time I go ruffling through them in an effort to browse - I end up with a major book cascade!  

While my non-fiction books are categorized by subject, then author and my fiction books are shelved according to author, my quilting books are grouped primarily by quilt groupings - ie, applique, Bonnie Hunter books, Quilt in a Day books, Charms, Landscape, Block patterns, Machine quilting, hand quilting, Sewing.  G-d forbid that I would end up with a book that would involve several categories!!!  And, no - I don't really file by author - except for Bonnie Hunter's and Quilt in a Day.

Day 4 - Make It Real!

This morning I'm trying to do a Visualization Exercise!  Not of the body I have - but of the body I want to have!  What do I see?

First of all - I'm not all slumped over - but stand tall!  My clothes are back to the size 14s I wore when I went to college - and that includes the bottom half of me! (I won't mention what size the bottom half of me is at present!  The top is a size 16 - Women's - and I want it a size 16 REGULAR! To say I'm currently pear shaped - oh yeah!  I'm there!)

While I visualize myself - I can make that "me" run around - jump, dance, and all those nice coordinated lighter weight things I would like to do (notice - I said COORDINATED!).

I can see the "tone" of my arms and legs - so nice to not have arms with a big flabby thing hanging down instead of muscle!  I don't really want sculpted muscles - just TONE with a capitol - and no gelatin jelly dance! Yup!  That's what I want!

Today's exercises are for the hamstrings and quadriceps!  which should be interesting - especially since my quads don't want to cooperate terribly well!  Well - no time like the present to "encourage" cooperation - think "Tone" with a capitol T!
.......................................................................................
The Dietary part discussed healthy oils - ie, most specifically olive oil - which actually is the ONLY oil I use - and actually the only kind I CAN use without side effects developing along the way!  For some reason my body refuses to recognize butter, marg, any other oil as real food and rejects it!  Olive oil, however, is something I CAN use and, fortunately, I like it - a lot!

As to the KIND of olive oil - I personally do better when it is either virgin olive oil or even plain olive oil.  I burn the daylights out of the extra virgin olive oil - EVERY TIME I try to use it!  I do like the taste however!

Archive night on Bonnie Hunter's site!!! The First one!

Today I listened to Bonnie's Cam for 03-15-13 - WAY back when!!!!  And tried sewing some of the things Bonnie was working on! The reason for not tonight is - tonight is LIVE quilt cam - and hopefully I'll be able to join up!

Yes - I know this means I'll end up with a lot of odds and ends - but hey - I'll also end up with the truly vital pieces I need for some awesome quilts too!  Already I'm in love with the lozenges Bonnie sewed into a quilt!  And - having said no - I'm now saying "Yes! Yes! Yes!" to the lozenges!  Such a cute way to showcase the 3.5 inch fabrics!

BTW - this one I've heard (and quilted to several times!)(03-15-13, that is!)  One of my favorites!

Was a sheer delight of a day - Morning and very early afternoon - VISITING Evan, Lilly, Sean, and son Nathan (I still can't babysit - I can't trust my knee/leg AT ALL!).  Home for a short (VERY short!) nap, a trip to the paint store in neighboring CT, dropping that off, home and quilt-cam archive - and read until I fell asleep (approximately 3 1/2 minutes! LOL)  So - I got to see family, nap, drive and change of scenery, sew, read!  A very nice change of pace!  (I HAD planned on cleaning and studies - but what the hey!  Into every life a little fun must fall!)

Oh - and re pix for the last quite a few days - uhmmm - I'm having some probs uploading pix onto my blog.  Hopefully that will change as the day wears on.  Hopefully!

Day 3 - Passion Reasons to lose weight

Today I'm supposed to write down the 3 strongest reasons to lose weight as well as  creating a Power List.

What ARE the most important things in my life?  What are my Power Reasons?

1. My family certainly - my son, my daughter, their spouses, my grandson Evan.  Also the kids who came and stayed a while, whether officially or not - Kelly, Tray, Royal, Dawn, Haman, Sean, Dean, Josie, Jonathon and most certainly Sammi.
2. My little furry friends - my cats, the dogs who shared my life over the years, the gerbils, hamsters and Alfie - the guinea pig who thought she was a cat!
3. Being able to garden, see beauty in nature, see, appreciate and give thanks for God's gifts to the world.
4. Adding a 4th MAJOR reason here - my religious beliefs about God, religious observances.

To each point on my list, now, I add how my losing weight will affect this - what I will gain by losing those pounds and inches.

1. Family - born, fostered - both official and unofficial, guardianship.
1. Losing weight and exercising regularly means I will be around longer to enjoy my family.
2. I'll be in good health so that my being around won't be a burden to my family.
2. Furry friends
1. Losing weight means I will be around longer to care about and for them, that they will continue to survive and survive well.
2. Being around them longer means that my elderly kitties and critters can live out their lives instead of being put down because they are elderly.
3. Garden and enjoying beauty of the world
1. Losing weight and exercising regularly means that I will continue to raise a garden and not be a burden to society, my family, that I will not spend major $ in groceries or shops to guarantee my continued existence but can instead share with others
2. Exercising regularly means I can interact with nature, can enjoy hikes in the countryside or around town, can garden and enjoy God's works on a daily basis.
4. I'm not sure what losing weight and exercising regularly will do as regards religious observances and about giving thanks, except that I will be around longer to do so.  
1. Exercising regularly DOES mean however, that when called to read Torah, that I can do that and that is such a joy!
2. Exercising regularly DOES mean that when given the chance to dance with the Torah on Simhat Torah - that I can, and that I can join in the processional around the synagogue on Sukkot - that I can participate more fully and with the joy I feel.

......................................................................

The 8 minutes book today mentioned that fruit juices, while tasting great and all, are loaded with calories.  They suggested that I dilute the fruit juice with sparkling water and enjoy it that way.  Already I dilute it by half.  The idea is that over time I can dilute it more and more until there is only a hint of the fruit juice there.  No, - I don't think I want to do that - sort of like diluting Nature's goodness until all that's left is the diluted part.  Nope!  Half and half - that I can live with - and that's where I'll stay!

Interesting thing I found out is that I can also dilute other things with sparkling water as well - wine (I have maybe 4 glasses a year - on Passover), tomato juice, and soda.  I can do without the soda quite well!  tomato juice - or even vegetable juice - that's a treat!  I'm going to TRY that - but think I will probably stay with the real McCoy!  We'll see!

Day 2's Meanderings

This morning's assignment is to figure out how I feel about what inactivity and overeating have cost me.  I'm supposed to keep Ebenezer Scrooge in mind - and how he changed from a miserly selfish person to a generous and giving person - overnight.  Personally I always figured that unless he was given a LOT of positive reinforcement by others, his reformation may not have been lasting.  He may have wanted it to be - but chances are it wasn't.  UNLESS he was given a LOT of positives by others along the way - and for a LONG time!!!

Hmmmm!  Several thoughts....  First of all - what kinds of problems/challenges have I encountered because of my overeating and inactivity?  Well, this knee problem for one.  That is to say - chances are I would have messed up my knee regardless of what weight/inactivity was going on.  I mean - when MOST people turn completely around, they move their feet.  When this first happened - I didn't!  Instead I kept my feet solidly planted in one place facing one direction - and turned 180 degrees around - FAST!  Yup!  Knee joints ARE NOT supposed to have that happen!  Worst thing was - I was showing someone else what stupid thing I had done - and did it again.  Same thing!  Same knee!  And then, I decided that was NOT a good thing to do on that knee - so I showed someone else how I did this - on the OTHER KNEE!

And no, STUPIDITY does not run in my family!  I seem to have cornered the market on that!

I wish I could say that was the end of it.  Nyet!  Over the years I have revisited STUPIDITY INC. - and played Soccer - dribbling the ball down the field - at least until the knee popped out and I did a face plant!  Dancing frantically - and not well - and doing a face plant! (I must like face plants!) and running the risk while hiking long distances - without an ace bandage on hand!

So - while I have an interesting knee challenge - it has been certainly contributed to by my being x number of pounds overweight!

There are a variety of other physical challenges that most certainly have been complicated by my being overweight, and being overweight means that I had to buy clothes to cover the body.  I don't know that I've ever lost or not gained a job because of my weight - but I do know of others who have.  Same goes for friends - and while I've had a few people make unfortunate remarks about my weight - most people haven't.  Which is probably a good thing since I have a real 'thing' about people who respond negatively to others who may be a different weight, race, religion, political belief - or whatever - ie, those who respond negatively to anyone who isn't them!

So - what pain has being unfit caused me - has been primarily physical or financial.  Certainly NOT social since I don't want to waste my time on those idiots for whom that would be a concern!
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The second part of the exercise has to do with "eating because the food is there".  In other words, if the food is NOT there - the eating won't happen!  This is interesting - because it smacks of what my family calls the "clean plate club" - and to which every member of my family belongs!  Part of that stems from my parents having gone through the Depression of the 30's - and food was something you did NOT waste!  In part because there may not be enough food later!

Has that ever happened to me personally?  Yup!  I called it the 2 week 20 pound loss diet for years! When my dd was little, things were tough - and there was just enough food (leftovers from the day before turned into soup) to feed one - my daughter.  For me? Well, I continued to look for a job and visited every restaurant along the way (you could get a cup of hot water and the tomato catsup packages were on the table.  Sometimes there was cream and sugar on the tables too!)  YOu can make an almost decent soup with the catsup and hot water!  And the cream, sugar and water were almost a white hot chocolate!

I had wished that neither of my kids would ever have to experience the 20 pound weight loss diet - but my daughter did and then years later, my son did.  As a result - both joined the Clean plate club!

That being said - how to counteract that?  When my dinner is cooked - IF I AM SMART (I'm not always!) I will subdivide my dinner into pre-measured portions - and freeze each portion of food - PRIOR to my serving it at the table!  This includes vegetables, fruits, main dishes.  That way when I want the same item(s) again for some other dinner - I grab the frozen cubes or rounds of whatever, thaw and nuke them - and dinner is ready!

I also like to take a PART of my meal - and designate that as a snack - since snacks can all to easily become a food binge for me!

And I TRY to keep things like ice cream, graham crackers OUT OF THE HOUSE!

It doesn't always work that way - and sometimes I rebel and refuse to do any of that - and invariably gain weight all over again!

My BIGGEST problem however has been exercise - my metabolism has slowed down - and approaches a minimum.  AND while exercise burns calories, NO exercise doesn't burn very many calories at all and can really add on the weight!

Design Wall for Week 33 - 08-10-15

BINDING

Log Cabin quilt - needs binding!  GORGEOUS custom quilting done by my dd!

2 pix - closeups of the Log Cabin quilting detail

QUILTING

It's All about Hearts Table Runner

APPLIQUE 

Applique - Halloween Wall Hanging!

LEADER-ENDER

Crazy Quilt Vest - or it will be - the decorative Stitching will be added last!

Virginia Bound by Bonnie Hunter - I'm not supposed to be on this LE yet - but I am!  :)

PIECING

On Point for Quilt class.  I'm WAY behind!

SWAPS

log cabin swap for quilting sisters

Friendship Star for SH quilts

Thoughts on Day One of 8 Minutes in the Morning....

I know goals are important - BUT every exercise/diet program I've ever joined in focuses on what do I want my body to look like - do I want sculpted lines, etc. blah blah blah!

Ugh!  I just want my body to not droop where it used to be perky, not sag where it used to be essentially almost flat, not have knees that resemble yo-yo's in regard to staying in place, not have pain in my legs, lower back.  Sigh!  And worst part, I can't even say I want my body to be 20 years old again!  Especially since my legs have hurt like this since I was a little girl.  (My mom used to call them "growing pains".  Sorry, but I HOPE I've stopped growing years ago!)  The droopiness - well, that could be an aging sign - more probably it is a sign of muscle tissue that has just decided that droopiness is "where it's at!" and, yes, I CAN correct for SOME of it - but considering the lines in the face - a body with perky attributes - and a face that resembles a map of New York City - it's jarring, I tell you!  Truly jarring!

One of my goals is to be able to run upstairs without sounding like a steam engine.  I live on the first floor.  Plus WHY would I want to run upstairs?  Is there any reason on this Earth or off of it to do so?  Has a new law been passed that now requires citizens to sprint lightly up a flight or two of stairs, all while breathing normally?  Hah!

Losing some of the sag in my stomach means I can see my feet.  And, yes, this can be a good thing!  At least now I can see if indeed my socks and/or shoes are a matching color.  Gone are the days when I would wear tennis shoes from 2 different sets.  TG!  but now that I can see my feet - I can also see where my feet walk.  That means I can also see the floor - and therein lies the problem.  Now I can see the cat fuzz that escaped the vacuum cleaner and the crumbs from the graham cracker ice cream sandwich I sneaked for lunch. Of course, I can still at the same time see where the chocolate ice cream (from the ice cream sandwich) dripped onto my tummy roll.  Of them all - maybe seeing the chocolate ice cream drip is the most important - especially if I need to go somewhere.  The apartment I can always close the door.

Still and all, I do want to - and will continue to exercise.
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Dehydration is another topic for Day 1, Week 1.  As a rule this doesn't bother me too much because I drink anywhere from 64 - 96 ounces water daily.  I used to drink more - but got myself into deep kimchee when my potassium level dropped way down as a result.  Now I try to keep it between the 64 and 96 ounces.

Menues for Week 33 - WB 08-09-15

Some thoughts on this at the END of the menu

Menu (and exercises) come from 8 Minutes in the Morning by Jorge Cruise

SUNDAY
B:Scrambled Eggs 2, slice ww toast with 1 t PB, 2 T raisins, 1 cup milk, coffee
L:turkey melt, mixed green salad, 
D:1/2 BLT with avocado (1 slice bread with 1 oz turkey bacon, iceberg lettuce, tomato, 1/8 avocado) 1 cup tomato soup
S:licorice twist, diet soda;  1 diet soda; 1 cup air popped popcorn

MONDAY
B:1/2 cup oatmeal, 2 T raisins, 1 cup milk, 1 t butter, coffee
L:1 cup vegetable soup, tuna pita, 
D:Chinese stir fry - 1 oz chicken, 2 C veg stir-fried w water, pepper, lo sodium soy, 1/2 C brown rice, 1 dinner roll

S:2 T raisins, 1 diet soda; 1 cup air popped popcorn; sparkling water (1 cup)

TUESDAY
B:Breakfast Burrito (2 eggs scrambled with 1 ounce cheese, salsa), apple, 1 cup milk, 1 cup coffee

L:Chicken baked potato (1 small baked potato topped with 1 ounce cubed sauteed chicken breast, 1 ounce cheese, salsa), large plate of steamed vegetables, 

D:1 oz grilled salmon with grilled onions and garlic, 1/2 cup rice, large green salad

S:1/2 cup gelatin, 1 glass club soda; 8 gum drops???? (in MY house???  Around ME????); 1/2 small bagel,

WEDNESDAY
B:Hard boiled eggs (1), wwheat toast, 1 t butter, coffee, 1 cup milk
L:1 cup chili, 1 ww tortilla, plate steamed veggies, 1/2 c frozen yogurt, 
D:Lettuce wrap (1 ounce white meat chicken, 1/2 cup brown rice, salsa, lettuce leaf, large mixed salad, 4 wwheat crackers
S:1 licorice twist, 1 glass sparkling water; 1 large marshmallow (you've got to be kidding - and leave that big bag in MY house????), 1 glass sparkling water with lemon; 2 fat free cookies (HAH!).

THURSDAY
B:1/2 cup lo fat granola, 1/2 cup yogurt, 1/4 cup fruit (apples - chopped)
L:1/2 turkey sandwich (1 slice bread with 1 ounce white-meat turkey, lettuce, tomato, mustard), 1 cup vegetable soup
D:Fajitas (1 oz. cooked chicken breast, 1/4 cup onions and peppers sauteed with pam or water, tomato, lettuce, 2 T guacamole,
S:1/2 cup lo fat frozen yogurt, 1 diet soda; 1/2 c fruit salad, 1 diet soda; graham crackers (1 - 2.5 in square)

FRIDAY
B:1 ff waffle, 1 t butter, fruit
L:1 soy hot dog on bun with mustard, 1.2 cup corn, large mixed greens salad
D:Pasta with meat sauce (1/2 cup cooked pasta, 1 oz cooked ground turkey breast, tomato sauce, garlic), mixed-greens salad, 1 dinner roll,
S:1/2 cup lo fat frozen yogurt, 1 licorice twist; 1 diet soda; 1 cup air-popped popcorn

SATURDAY
B:Melon, 1/2 cup lo fat granola, 1 cup milk, coffee
L:1 cup lentil soup (stew) with lots of veggies cooked in it, whole grain roll (challah),  1 fortune cookie, 1 glass club soda
D:tuna pasta salad (tuna, mayo - 1 T, 2 T chopped onion and pickle, 1/2 cup cooked penne pasta over lettuce), 1 small corn on cob, large plate of steamed veggies, 1 sparkling water with lemon
S: 1/2 cup frozen lo fat yogurt; 8 animal crackers

THE END OF THE MENU - thoughts
Obviously I've decided to go on a diet - AGAIN/STILL!  Obviously I am NOT sure about this!  The exercise part of the program I do like.   Diet - uhmmmm.......

1. While I could definitely lose weight if I stick to all this - I wonder how well I would maintain that once I would return to my normal eating patterns.
2. Next point has to do with STICKING to the diet!  And even the thought of this makes me cringe!  True - I do NOT eat a lot of meat anyway - but this has meat both more frequently as well as in very tiny amounts and I wonder about that - a LOT!
3. What I want is something that will work as a PART of a lifestyle program (which is why I tried to rearrange the set meals in something similar to my usual eating pattern), but something I can stick to and enjoy.  Not sure about this - and may have to bite the bullet and just try!
4. some of the snack and dessert items are serious danger points for me - as in for the past x number of years I have tried REALLY hard to NOT have those items in my house!  Why?  I eat them!  Not only do I eat them - but I BINGE!  Easier to not keep them around and to just keep fresh fruit around for snacking anyway!
5. And, seriously - all that SODA and sparkling water!  All those bubbles!  All that GAS!  My tummy blows up just thinking about it!  Ugh!  And yes - I do understand about drinking tea, coffee instead - those are stimulants and not only psychologically encourage snacking (on the wrong stuff) but PHYSICALLY will affect negatively how my body will react - both in terms of the stimulant itself, but also in terms of how I would metabolize all the other foods!  Stimulants - NOT a good idea!

Still though - as a sort of kick-start for working on my diet and eating patterns - I'm going to try doing this!  More next week!

Goals for Week 33 - WB 08-09-15R

GO AND DO
Done Make appt - PT
Done Post office
Done Pay bills on Monday (I forgot last Friday!)

HOUSE

• Zone 1
• Front Porch 
• Done Zone
• Done WHB
• Entrance and 2nd floor landing
• Done WHB
• Back Stairs
• Done WHB
• Zone 2
• Kitchen
• Done WHB
• Zone 3
• Bath
• Done WHB
• Laundry Room
• Done WHB
• Sewing room
• Done Zone - see Bonnie's Spiff up
• Done WHB
• Zone 4
• Bedroom
• Done WHB
• Zone 5: 
• Living Room
• Done WHB
• Study
• Done WHB

EDUCATION

• RELIGION
• Complete module
• How to Run
• Done 218, 304, 306, 308
• Jewish Woman
• Done 245, 247, 244-245
• Jewish Holidays & Festivals
• Done 10, 155-159
• Done 159-163
• Song 
• Done 197
• Done 199
• Done 201
• Done 204
• Holocaust Remembrance Day
• How to Run
• Done 304, 307, 308, 443-448
• Lag b'Omer
• Done Song
• SCIENCE (doing review of some of work)
• L 5
• Done 5-1 Lab
• Done 5-2 Lab
• Done 5-Plant ID
• CB
• Done CB8
• Done Review 
• EARTH
• Read + Notes -Dust to Life
• Done Chapter 2, p. 29
• Origins
• Done p. 1 - Intro
• Done II. First Light
• Done III. New Look at an Old Planet
• Life!! 
• Done Origins
• Done Iapetus and Avalonia
• Book of Life
• Done 1 - Flawed Work
• ALGEBRA
• Done Lesson 14
• Done Lesson 15
• Done Lesson 16
• Done Lesson 17
• Done Lesson 18
• Done Lesson 19
• CREATIVE WRITING
• Level 4
• Done 2-2
• Done 2-3
• Done 3-1
• Done 3-2
• Done 3-3
• Done 4-1
• HANDWRITING
• B - 
• Done 16
• Done 17
• Done 18
• Done 19
• Done 20
• Done 21
• Done 22
• Done 23
• Done 24
• RUSSIAN
• Done Lesson 33
• Done Lesson 34
• Done Lesson 35
• Done Lesson 36
• MUSIC
• Done Rachmaninoff - 2nd C
• Review sect 1-11
• intensive 12 - 14
• once over up through rest of first movement - through 16
• Done Scarlatti
• ART
• Done Lesson 5

QUILT (Needs to be revised - Monday at latest!)

• Done STASH REPORT (Sunday)
• Done DESIGN WALL (Monday)
• Done 15 MINUTE "SPIFF UP" WITH BONNIE (IN STITCHES' BONNIE!) (Wednesday)

Stash Report for Week 32 - 08-09-15 and THE KNEE!

2015
08-09-15 - Week 32 - And you expected something NU???  Yeah, Right!  Guess if I'm going to have a BIG yardage score this year - I had best get busy!  Once again - nothing added!  Not a lot used - at least not enough to complete a flimsy, nor anything sewn into an outfit either (not sure whether I will count that or not!  NOT counting scraps I use as rags however!)
Used This Week: 0 yards
Used This month (August): 0 yards
Used Year to Date: 4.25 yards 

Added This Week: 0 yard
Added This Month:0 yards in August
Added Year to Date: 4.33 yard

Net Used for 2015: +1.92 yards

Oh yeah - the cartoon above just about pictures how I feel - I popped my knee out of joint last June - and it has been SOOOOOOOOO much fun ever since!  I went to the ER last week because it hurt so badly (usually popping it out of joint does NOT hurt a lot - once the intial pop is done!  THIS HURTS!).  The diagnosis? Yup, I had popped the knee out of joint (for this I could have saved my $$$) - and I also had sciatica pain AND arthritis (severely).  This I already knew!  But now I can maybe get a back brace, and physical therapy.  Not that I truly wanted either one!  Just want this stupid dumb knee to stay IN JOINT and for it to not hurt!

Fantastic book! Gotta Share!

Wow!  I just read a fantastic book - and gotta share!  My daughter Wendy authored a young adult science fiction book - Sentient!  It's definitely a gotta read!

To quote from the blurb:
"Sentient is based on an uninhabited planet nicknamed Colossus. Seventeen year old Palamourah de la Croix, a female cadet marshal, and her team embark on a routine escort mission.  Once there, they are attacked by their own machines as well as a deadly virus.  Over two-thirds of her team, including her boyfriend, are killed. Struggling with the betrayal of those she trusted, Pala must keep charge of the mission and discover the truth behind it while she saves two planets, Colossus and Earth."

Go see the trailer either at , , or on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Sentientbook

It's the In-Studio Spiff up night (LATE!) again! 07-29-15 and 08-06-15 - #4, #5 and #6

Two weeks worth of Bonnie's Studio Spiff up (http://institcheswithbonnie.blogspot.com/p/15-minute-studio-spiff-up_5.html)!  Mostly because I didn't publish last week!

_________________________________

#4 Straighten up Sewing Desk or table - where my machine is.  This one is Easy Peasy for me - since other than my current project there really is no room for me to stack anything!  Besides - IF I did stack something on the sewing desk - my cats would promptly knock it off because they view this spot as THEIR spot - and woe betide me if I appropriate that space for anything other than my current sewing project!
_________________________________

#5 The Batting collection!  Straighten it up!

But then too - my batting always seems to run neck and neck with those projects I absolutely have to finish - and what is left over isn't much! and it all fits into a box.  Actually this is the ONLY 15 minute project that is taking me less than 15 minutes to do!  

_________________________________

#6 Straighten and organize the yardage fabric!

This one isn't too bad for me - sorta....  My fabric is already sorted by color and my yardage is separate from my FQ and scraps.  Also most (supposed to be ALL) of my fabric has been wound around my 6.5 inch ruler and then folded in half.  As a result it stacks neatly and for the most part doesn't keel over unless the fabric pile is awfully high!  Still and all, I do need to go through and straighten quickly.  

No pix yet - but I'll take pix tomorrow and post!

Ode to my new Shark Vacuum Cleaner

New Shark vacuum cleaner -
I love you!  I love you! I love you!

Now that I can repeat many times more!
Best part is that it cleaned my floor!
Dust mice, threads and grit

Whatever - I love my new vacuum cleaner! (and I'm NOT going to post the NEXT line which involves a word starting with S and ending with T!)

Design Wall for Week 30 - 07-27-15

BINDING NEEDED - Log Cabin quilt.
My darling daughter custom quilted this - and it's GORGEOUS!

FLIMSY - NEEDS QUILTING!
 This will probably go to the preemie baby ward

FLIMSY - NEEDS QUILTING!!!
This will probably go to the preemie baby ward as well!

ON POINT CLASS - PIECING

PIECING - JANUARY'S UFO - Irish Double Chain

PIECING - NOT A LE - BUT A DO-THIS-BECAUSE-I'M-BORED-AND-DON'T-WANT-TO-WORK-ON-WHAT-I'M-SUPPOSED-TO!  Virginia Bound by Bonnie Hunter - I love this - but screwed up - should have added a 1/4 inch all the way around and I didn't!  Drat it!  Still I think it will be a handsome quilt - chopped points and all!