Reading about different beans and what level of protein they all have and how rice and beans combined make a complete protein because of the different enzymes together etc. was fascinating to me.  I still don’t feel like I totally understand (so if you do, please comment and help me also understand).  In my search I saw that Spirulina is a complete protein and in-fact and very high amount of it.

I see green drink mixes and stuff and Henry’s and Sprouts and places I frequent but I’m a weirdo about drinking stuff that I know has “weird” things in it.  Even if it tastes good I can convince myself it’s like medicine or gritty etc – even if it’s not.  I’m strange and I accept this.  So I picked up tablets of Spirulina. They are 500mg and says to take 6 a day with food.  I’m going to start at 3, 1 at every meal and see how I feel before I up it.  Mostly because I need to get some paychecks before I get crazy with this kind of thing.  But now I’m curious what other forms of spirulina there are and which is best.

I’m off to investigate.

I also made a veggie burger wrap the other night I was gonna post about but I wasn’t a fan of it.  Maybe I should post the brand info so you know which one I don’t like.  It’s from Costco.

Whew that’s a lot for one day.  I’m also getting all my accounts in order on mint.com so that I can get us out of debt and into the positive and save for a vacation.  I have a lot of planning to do which I’ve been avoiding like the plague, but now I can be all organized and planning and responsible like, and it feels nice to know that I was just handed a shovel – instead of the spoon I’ve been using – to get us out of debt.

I don’t have much to post because I feel like I have a lot to do in the week coming up.  Papers to fill out, gyms to scope out (staying fit while working is priority #1) and meals to plan and prepare (staying healthy is actually priority #1).  I’ll think up a real blog post once I just down off cloud 9

I’ve been varying what’s in my salads a bit just based on what I have in my kitchen.  The base has been romaine and baby spinach and then add ins including: fresh corn, blue cheese, figs, broccoli, tomatoes etc.  There’s more I just can’t seem to remember them, obviously the salad does nothing for my memory

I’m off to go swim my laps and get ready for our garage sale tomorrow.  Up super early, blah!

We went to dinner at the Italian place next door and I had my most unhealthy meal so far in the whole journey. I enjoyed every minute and tried to push out the self guilt talk figuring I’d work out hard today.

Sleeping last night was awful. Even with AC on I was dying of heat. Maybe I had a slight fever, I didn’t check. Woke up an still feel nausea. Hopefully it goes away so I can work out and run errands.

Today might be another blah day

Days like this make me so hard on myself.  Most days I’m a huge cheerleader for team Jaymie  but I am so easily also my worst enemy.  I know my limitations are higher than I’d like them to be.  In my head I feel like health wise I should be able to run to the moon and back.  Most days I feel freaking fantastic.  Then when I’m on the treadmill having a rough run all I can think is “what’s going on?  Why are you sucking so much today?  you’re never gonna run a 5k at this pace!” and so on.  I see the results in the mirror and in my clothes and in the photos taken, and I know the results are huge and promising, but sheesh, sometimes it’s harder to be positive.  I’d love overnight results.  Heck, wouldn’t we all?!?  I am realistic that the way I’ve done this so far is the healthiest way, and the way to also stay successful long term.  That is obviously the long term goal – keep the weight off and be healthy and feel great.

I have to keep reminding myself that I’ve come quite a distance.  I’ve worked my tail off to be where I am.  And I’ve still enjoyed myself.  I am not suffering, I am still enjoying life to the fullest not living in some awful diet.  I am doing things I used to dream of doing.  Workouts I never thought I’d be able to do.  But I do want more.  I guess in some ways that’s healthy.  If I just become complacent with this success I’ll never get further.  I just need to find a healthy balance between cheerleader and enemy.  I definitely have self-induced guilt issues that keep me on track.

Off to the pool to cool off and swim some laps in the process.

I also finished off these super yummy pickles I’ve been munching on, I should’ve taken a photo or at least written the name down.  I believe they were from either Sprouts or Henry’s.  I will be getting those again.

And a few pita crackers with blue cheese.  Yummy lunch I’ll say.

I was just watching Dr. Oz while I was on the treadmill (a good motivating show to workout to) and he had a very very obese woman named Amy on the show who has decided to make her change to healthy and they had a girl named Nancy who was her inspiration and had been on the show before come in and be her coach.  What a touching story.  One thing the Amy said was that Dr. Oz had said once, while on Oprah, that 95% of people that decide to lose weight fail!  Not me!  I will never gain that weight back.  It feels more than amazing to know I’ve done this the healthy way.  I’m not done, but I will not quit and I will not go back to fat.

I’ll get some photos too, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted any and my poor blog is looking plain and sad.  It’s been a busy few weeks.

Of course long long nights mean eating very late. I’ve done well with choices except all the cheese since we are also enjoying wines.

The other night we went to a steak restaurant that we usually go to that is also the only local restaurant carrying their wines at this point. Its a nice place, great food and great steak. I however, as I’ve mentioned eat vegetarian about 90% of the time.

Anyhow I was craving good veggies like nobody’s business. Lol. So I ordered a side of asparagus, green beans and mashed potatoes. And it was fabulous. I was so satisfied! They have amazing veggies there. And I enjoyed every bite of it.

So I think you know you’ve really made a change when you go to a steak place and order all veggies. I found it quite funny.

I also learned of a super yummy treat. You take a date, blue cheese and prosciutto (tho I didn’t use the meat on mine). Spread a bit of cheese on the date, wrap prosciutto around and enjoy. I don’t know what it was like with the meat (tho everyone was raving how good it was) but I really enjoyed the cheese and dates. I will be making this a more regular treat.

Better day tomorrow

My sister let me know today that her cholesterol is through the roof high.  She is 19.  She’s had issues with this since she was about 17 I believe.  This worries me.  The doctors words were “at these numbers your blood is like sludge and you are at risk for a heart attack.”  She’s 19!  My response was that she needs to go vegan or at least mostly vegan.  I think this would drastically change her numbers.  She responded she doesn’t have the will power I have.  I love her to pieces and if you’re reading this sister, I love you and I don’t mean this offensively but OMG if this isn’t motivation enough I don’t know what is.  Besides watching me battle weight and never being successful until I made a complete dietary 180, and knowing that I was where you are today at that age (weight wise).

I asked what the doctor suggested she do.  Lipitor every other day, aspirin and fish oil is the suggestion.  I just asked her if he even bothered to suggest that she meet with a dietician or nutritionist, the answer was no.  I am a firm believer this should be step #1!  Give her the meds, fine, but demand she get her diet in order as well and adjust the meds as the diet helps.  Doctors no longer seem to even have any knowledge on nutrition, instead just the medicine to “fix” the symptoms someone is showing.  This infuriates me.  You can’t tell me they didn’t have to take any classes on nutrition when they were getting their PhD.

I have suggested she goes back to him and demands he “prescribes” her a dietician meeting so that the insurance will cover it and she does this the healthy way.

***When I say diet I do not mean a torture-yourself-to-lose-weight change, I mean the food you eat, your diet.***

My fear is this – at 19 she goes on these meds and doesn’t change her diet but the meds work.  Great fantastic.  BUT what toll do these meds take on her body?  In 5 years? 10? 15? 20?  You know there are going to be some.  And that is not a solution to me.  Fix the underlying problem, don’t mask it with a band-aid and keep replacing the band-aid.  Fix the sore!

Again, I love you sister and I don’t want any of this to upset you but I am passionate about this.  You have seen my huge successes and I just can’t imagine losing you to something easily fixable (or any other way).  We have heart disease in the family tree enough, the last thing we need to do not battle it the best we can when we have the means and methods to.