Rule #6-Eat Apples and Berries Every Day

Yes, every day! Did ya' give up on me?? I am trying to do way too many things in the mornings and really, really need to cut back somewhere...It's all too much, just not sure where to stop and what to keep. But, I'll figure it out if ya'll just bear with me a while.

So, sixteen pounds down now--yay!! Still going strong. Today's rule to eat an apple and berries every day is probably one of my favorite rules. I discovered Macoun apples--super delicious. I hoard them and keep them to myself, they're so good. And they're cheap! Ninety-seven cents a pound at Walmart! Love 'em! And, berries--I'd been buying fresh berries, especially blueberries, but they're so much more expensive than frozen, which are just as good thawed out and mixed in a hot bowl of morning oatmeal, or tossed still frozen into a Skinny Shake. So, over fresh, quite happy with frozen--Wyman's Mixed Berry blend, $9.98 at Walmart for a three pound bag. Love.

Why, you ask? Apples have been shown to increase your resting metabolic rate (to help you burn calories when you're doing nothing--nice!!) and berries are anti-inflammatory, high in fiber and antioxidants--eat 'em up!!

Let's Get Skinny!!

Rule #5--Eats Your Fiber!

Hello and welcome back--or thanks for sticking around...I have a few minutes before I head out to go running this morning, so thought I'd jot up a quick post carrying on with our Skinny Rules. And I'm finally losing again--down fourteen pounds now! Oh yeah, that feels good!!

So Rule #5 is to eat between 30-50 grams of fiber every day. That sounds like a lot, but if you're eating your fruits and veggies like Bob recommends, you'll be golden. My menu plan for today actually has me over that goal at 56 grams, but most days I'm hovering around 35 grams on average. Considering this is a meatless menu day and I'm having chickpeas in my tomato soup for lunch then black bean soup for dinner, it's easy to see where the extra fiber is coming into play.

Not only does all that fiber help keep you feeling full longer, it has all sorts of other benefits as well. It aids digestion, helps keeps things running (going) smoothly, if you know what I mean...haha! There are also studies that link high fiber diets to lower risks of heart disease and cancer. Fiber regulates blood sugar levels which will help you avoid diabetes, and since it slows digestion, lowering the need for your body to release insulin, you're less likely to develop gall stones and kidney stones. Those are all big plusses in my book!

Where to find fiber? In whole grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables. If you can, eat the skins as well since that's typically where the most fiber is found.

Tomorrow will be my splurge day, though just for breakfast. I make an overnight coffeecake every year that is too good to pass up! So whipping that up later today and it'll be ready to pop in the oven first thing--mmm, I can hardly wait! Oh, I may just have to wrap the day up with a slice of my honey's bourbon bacon apple pie as well...so I'll be extra good in between!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Still Here, Rule #4, and Some Arts

No, I've not given up. I have hit a major slow down, however, and it took a week to drop another pound, then a half creeped back on, then off, on, and off again--grrfff! It is enough to make you want to give up, but I am resolved to stick to the plan, man, and not give in. Twelve pounds and several inches down, thirty-eight to go...(cue "Eye of the Tiger"...)

But I am feeling rather blah this morning: stuffy, headachey. Rowing was cancelled due to ice and high winds (dur) and, rather than climb on the treadmill, I'm taking a day off to chill and feel better. Hopefully we'll get back out on the water Wednesday, God willing. So here I sit in my jammies with a mud mask on my face, the whole day ahead of me, and thought it might be a good time to catch up on posting the Rules.

Rule #4 (and I double checked so I wouldn't get another one out of order...) is to slash your intake of refined flours and grains--which means: no white flour (no Christmas cookies, cakes, treats, or other num-nummies), no white rice, no white pasta, and no white potatoes. None. Not even on a splurge day. Well, maybe a cookie on a splurge day. Just one.

So this is not a hard rule for me--aside from the taters, I've been off white flour and rice for years. I do love me some mashed potatoes 'n gravy though....*sigh*...I can easily skip  the white bread and dinner rolls. I fell head over heels for brown rice years ago and never looked back at white rice. Pasta...I'm not crazy about whole wheat pasta but brown rice pasta, if not overcooked, is actually really good! I did buy a bag each of faro and barley, though I've yet to use them. I pulled out a recipe for mushroom barley soup that I plan to make later this week, and have another tuna salad recipe that uses the faro, so dippin' in. I'll letcha know how that goes.

I did get my hair cut on Friday for my ten pounds down reward--it's short and super curly, so it's taking a little getting used to. I colored it myself and somehow missed both my temples (another dur...) Maybe that'll be another reward later to just have it colored at the salon.

So, onward! Today is Meatless Monday. Having greens 'n beans for lunch, then black bean soup for dinner. Love me some black bean soup!! And today is a perfect soup kinda day--cold and only getting colder outside=blankets, squishy socks, and soup by the fire watching Christmas movies and doodling the day away--yes!!

And, speaking of doodling, I'm still delving into the Sketchbook Challenge and doodling my little heart out. I took a few pics to share:

A Christmas colored border doodle became a postcard for a mail swap partner

More border doodles and playing with color

The first theme of the book is circles, so doodled some circle flowers and painted up another postcard

Just simple circle fun that I want to play with more using pattern fills and color

 

Tada! And that's all I have to share today. My mask is starting to crack so time to go rinse, change out the laundry, and get this day under way. Hope everyone is keeping warm and cozy and thinking happy Christmas thoughts! See you soon!

Oops--Mixed up the Rule Order...

Rule #2 (should actually be) Don't Drink Your Calories

Sorry I've been MIA the past few days. Rowing early has me flying out the door with little time to do more than brush the teeth, wipe away the remnants of the previous day's eyeliner, grab my gear and go--but I'm so loving it! Every row is different--you never know which direction the boatsteerer will take you, who's going to show up for the row, you might see seals, you might see swans, fishing boats heading out, coming in, little tugs--we got chased by the New Bedford Police boat the one morning for getting too close to where they're blasting (to deepen the harbor for the bigger ships that come in) Some days we do drills. Once we did the slalom course. On a really good day you get to go out beyond the hurricane barrier into the bay. Other mornings we've gone the other direction up under the bridge into the river. One thing is certain, though--it's always fun! I love it and am completely hooked!

So back to the rules! I got #'s 2 and 3 mixed up--sorry, sorry...I'll have to edit the other post's title. But! Do Not Drink Your Calories!! That means: No Sugar! No soda, no sweeteners (zero calorie or not) You want to get away from what Bob calls 'hyper-sweetness' which comes from those artificial sweeteners. (Plus those things are just so not good for you!) Sugar and sweetness make you crave more sugar and sweetness. Vicious cycle. Cut it out. You're not even allowed to use honey. No sweetie sweet coffee creamers (grrrr--I was really loving those!!) And No ALCOHOL. Period. Except for a (One. Single. Not Plural. One.) glass of wine with your weekly splurge meal. Okay--I don't do wine. It doesn't like me. At all. I break out in hives from wine. So, I have a Lime-a-Rita with my splurge meal. Shoot me, Bob. I'm being really good with everything else!

This also means no iced coffees, no lattes, no salted caramel hot chocolate. No Dunkin. No Starbucks. Which is only good for the wallet--those coffees really add up! You are allowed a couple morning cups of coffee or tea, preferably without sugar or cream, but I do add a splash of vanilla Silk (which actually has less sugar than skim milk--check the labels if you don't believe me!) And on a cold day, especially coming in off the water, I'll warm up with another cup or two of decaf--I really don't miss the sugar. Honestly not even tempted when I drive by Dunkin any more. Money-I like to keep it. Fat-I like to get rid of it. And it's working! Yes!!

Still doing lots of cooking--but I like the house smelling all garlicky and yummy. Roasted off a few tomatoes the other day:

With my cutie cute snowman spoon rest from Pier One!

Super simple: rinse, core, and spritz tomatoes with olive oil spray. I tuck a spoonful of minced garlic where the core used to be, a sprinkle of kosher salt, dash of ground pepper, pop 'em in the oven at 450 for an hour. Let them cool and puree for delicious homemade sauce or thin with some broth for soup. Mmm mmm good! I love it! I pour a little over roasted chicken or add half a cup of chickpeas for a quick lunch. No sugar, no ridiculous sodium, no preservatives--just all sweet yummy goodness!

I have been doing a little more arting/doodling but didn't get any pictures taken so maybe I'll get around to a Tangle post later this week...maybe. I do have my hair appointment reward scheduled for Friday (fingers crossed!!) Excited--and scared...Hey, it's only hair--it'll always grow back and winter is a great time for hats! Not sure what my next ten pound reward will be yet--let's just get there first, right?

Have a super fantastic Sunday--I think we're gonna try to hit up a cat show later today in Fairhaven (right by the wharf--I can go visit the boats, too!) Gotta remember to bring the camera--and to NOT bring any kitties home! Well, we can all think positive anyway....Thanks for stopping by!

Rule #3--Eat Protein at Every Meal

Bob recommends consuming 90g of protein every day. Not as easy as it sounds, but adding a protein to each meal and snack gets me close most days, and it's what helps keep you feeling full (along with all that water) so you're, again, less apt to go looking for something to nibbly on.

Think lean proteins: chicken and turkey breast, beans, fish and eggs. Nut butters are good but high in fat (good fat, but fat nonetheless) so those get used sparingly. Beef and pork are less popular choices since they're so high in calories--you don't get to eat as much of it to maintain your calorie intake and when trying to lose weight without feeling hungry, you really want to eat more of the good stuff to help keep you full and sassy.

I love, love, love black beans and chick peas. I'll sprinkle them on salads, toss them in soups, I even add a can of black beans to turkey sloppy joes to pump up the fiber and nutrition content--Bug loves 'em! Bob even has a tomato soup recipe that incorporates white beans to make it creamy without the added cream--it's so so good!!

Hard boiled eggs can top a salad along with a tablespoon of slivered almonds. Fat free plain greek yogurt topped with fresh berries is a great tasting breakfast starter. Low fat cottage cheese often finds its way to my dinner plate to replace the carbs that used to be there (no mo'--and I don't even miss them) Good stuff. Do it.

I need to run--rowing early this morning which means I need to drop Bug off at the bus and head to the wharf. Have a super fantastic skinny Thursday!!

The Rules (Or Something to Blog About for the Next Twenty Days..)

Why not, right? 'Cuz I know you wanna know. Just what are these "Skinny Rules"? I will tell you. One rule, one day at a time (makes ya' keep comin' back--hahaha...)

So, we begin: Rule #1--Drink Your Water. No kidding. No Excuses. Do it.

It works. It really does. Drink your water. Half your body weight in ounces. Every day. And a super easy way to do it? Bob suggests drinking a big glass first thing when you get out of bed. Keep a glass on your nightstand so it's right there. Then two big glasses before every snack and every meal. That's it.

I used to be really good about drinking my water, kept a water bottle with me all the time and I'd just drink a little here, a little there, and by the end of the day I'd be good. Then...water got boring. I'd look at that bottle and feel blah...and I quit drinking my water. And I gained weight. Bob's way takes the thinking out of it, the negotiation of "I'll drink some later" is gone. Ready to eat? Drink first. Done. And that glass first thing in the morning--a huge health benefit as it begins to rehydrate you, boosts your energy and metabolism right off the bat, and helps kick start the digestive process and flush toxins from your system. Good, good, good!

I said it before and it helps to say it again: I am a huge boredom eater and it never mattered how 'not hungry' I was. If I had nothing else to do, I ate. Watching TV? Eating. Sitting and reading? Eating. It didn't matter what I was eating--I'd be stuffing something in the old craw. But keeping up with Bob's water routine has kicked that right out the window. I feel so full from all that water, there's zero temptation to go scrounging for munchies. Yes, I still hear that little voice, "A little something, a little crunch, a little sweet...something...would be nice." And it is oh so easy to ignore it now--no problemo! So do it! Drink, drink, drink yourself skinny!

You don't like plain, tasteless water? Do NOT add any of those zero calorie flavorings like MIO or Crystal Light. There are nasty, not good for you chemicals in there that your body simply cannot process. Chemicals linked to cancer, neurological disorders, metabolism crashing--just don't do it. There's a product I love: True Lemon--it's simply crystalized, real fruit. No artificial sweeteners or preservatives, 100% natural. Now, mind you, they also make sweetened flavors--skip those. Bad jujus. Stick with the unsweetened--there's lemon, lime, and grapefruit to choose from. Yum! You'll love it!

And, a couple pics from "What Have I Been Doing With Myself Artistically Lately?"...

First, a little Dion Dior inspired cupcake card for our Random Acts of Mail group:

 

And then a simple little exercise from a book I think I got for Christmas last year maybe? The Sketchbook Challenge:

They also have a great blog to follow here

Okay--it doesn't look like much, but an entire SLEW of ideas spilled forth just from playing with this simple little doodle that hopefully I'll get to play with later today...time permitting. First, it's off to the bus stop with McBugga, then away I row--yayayyyayayayay!! Gonna be a good, good, super skinny day! Enjoy!

First Ten Down--Woot Woot!!

I knew it yesterday when I stepped on the scale and it still lingered at the nine pound mark that today would be it--my first ten pound marker. I just knew it. I weigh every day--part of the Skinny Rules, to help keep myself accountable. If you don't have to weigh in for a whole week there's just too much room for sliding...thinking you have a few days to make up for a splurge before facing the truth on the scale. I like this every day thing. It does keep me more conscious of the choices I'm making with eating, keeping up with my water, working out...and I just keep on losing--that's the best thing!

So ten pounds down is my first reward--getting my hair cut for the holidays. It's been well over a year since I've had my hair done--I miss Shannon terribly, my hairdresser back in PA...and I'm nervous about having someone new do my hair for fear I end up looking like a crazy curly poodle (I hate curly hair!!) But I've just been whacking off the ends every few months, a couple inches here, a few more inches there, trimming bangs...Okay, I guess curly hair does have its benefits--no one can really tell the ends are all whackadoo since they just go everywhere anyway...Still, it's time for a professional to do something with this mop. I'm kinda thinking short but I'm kinda thinking not...I don't know. I'll probably lose another ten pounds before I decide on what I actually want to do! (Is that really such a bad thing???) I'll keep you posted...

I have to say it feels really good to be back in the game. Almost two years ago, going in for cervical spine surgery, really took the wind out of my sails. Before that I was running every day, three to five miles like nothing. And I've yet to get back to that point. Being separated while waiting to move, recuperating from the surgery, finally moving and trying to get settled into a normal groove again...it's not been the easiest time these past two years. But finally things are getting back to where they need to be. I have rowing a few days a week, running and strength training on the days I don't row. Some of the ladies I row with also run and we're already planning some late winter training for all the spring races--I may even make it to my first 10k next year (dare I wish for a half??) It's exciting to be planning and even better to be losing the flab...

Still doing a lot of food prep. I feel like I'm spending even more time in the kitchen now. But Sunday was roasting off chicken breasts and whipping up more butternut squash soup (my freezer is overflowing with turkey broth, tomato soup, kale soup and squash!) Yesterday was boiling eggs and roasting sweet potatoes. Today I need to make another batch of turkey meatballs...which reminds me, I need to put the rice on so that's ready...I better get a move on here! Happy Tuesday!!