Fibromyalgia and Fat - Tomi's story page 79

[tomi]

So - I'm tired!!!! walked this morning, did some housework, mowed the grass and pulled up a bunch of stuff thats done for the season, and now - its time to make some dinner!

Breakfast was 4 strips of bacon. Then 1 oz of Almond Butter. I'm now going to have a salad with salmon and I'm going to mix my own dressing with balsamic vinegar and oil......... just as soon as I find a recipe

However - I did not do the basic body weight movements. I may eliminate that from my goals for this 21 day challenge. Why push myself so hard that I end up failing? I'll stick to the 5 hours per week of walking and call it good!

have a good evening all! I'm off the night.

[tomi]

I did it! I just completed the 5 hours of walking for this week! I can take tomorrow off if I want - but I think I will go for a shorter walk instead - just to keep the momentum going.

I'm noticing a smaller me in the mirror - and I'm pretty pumped about that! I haven't weighed yet....... Not til October 1st.

I haven't talked to hubby since he left Thursday morning - except for a couple text messages each day. He's somewhere up in the Pudget Sound. The weather is perfect this year and they are having a great "man-cation" Still feeling a bit jealous...... as I'm emptying the dishwasher I was thinking - "he's relaxing on the boat, probably just finishing breakfast and watching the whales go by" UGH! I hate to admit it but the more I think about it the worse I feel about it. I need to get out of my head - and remember that this is wonderful for him and he loves this annual trek with the guys. Why would I want to deny him that? I don't........ I'm just jealous that I'm here, holding down the fort while he's up in all that clear water and beautiful scenery. I want to be up there too. Oh boo-hoo............ SUCK IT UP, TOMI!!!!! Okay I'm going to look at this way...... if I was up there on the boat - I wouldn't be walking an hour a day - I wouldn't be so strict on my diet - and I would probably be having a few cookies, maybe a few chips - and most likely some rum on the evenings. So....... I'm better off right where I am! Safe and sound in my home where I can totally control what I'm doing without the inner arguements! So, I'm good!

So, I'm starting day 6 in the 21 challenge and going strong! I made a balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing that I got off the internet last night............ BLECK! Not so good. So, I saved it, but didn't eat it. I will add it to the pork in the crock that I need to get started.......... be right back. ................ there, pork shoulder is in the crock pot with organic vegetable broth and the yucky dressing mix. So, for dinner last night I had salmon and small bit of sweet potato with LOTS of butter! My numbers were good....... Total calories 1204, carbs 13%, fats 58%, protein 28%. Can't say anything bad about that!

I'm wondering if the dressing needs some kind of sweet - the recipe called for 1 tsp brown sugar - instead I added a little molasis and some splenda (I know, but its all I had). It just tasted bitter and way to strong! Will do some more experimenting until I find a good one. I need to find an olive oil with a milder flavor cuz I'm not big on the olivey tasting thing. I have to go to Costco today - maybe I'll see what they have.

On a very personal note: I had to take some magnesium this morning!!!!! I haven't - ehem........... "gone" for 3 days!!!! Must be the Armour Thyroid? I don't remember the last time I went more than ONE day without using the little girls room . I'm not feeling bloated or yucky - just know that nothing has moved for 3 days - so I took 2 magnesium capsules - I'm sure they will be working in an hour or so.

I slept pretty good last night. I turned off the TV and headed for bed at 9:30. I did some "primping" for a while - you know - plucking, scrubbing, lotioning, soaking .............. and well, at my age "de-furring" the face! Yes, I have the dreaded menopausal facial hair!!!! I use one of those european hair plucker things that looks like a ladies electric shaver - except its actually a zillion little tweezers on a roller thing. ............ I think the first one I remember was called an Epi-Lady shaver???? I'm sure y'all know what I'm talking about! It stings as its pulling out all those fine little hairs!!!! and then if I get too close to the side-burn area - OUCH! The part I hate doing the most is the upper lip area!!! those hairs are a bit more coarse! still white so they only show from the side really - but I hate them just them same and will not be one of those older ladies with a furry face! So, I suffer through the bi-weekly industrial plucking! I usually do that in the mornings when hubby is at work - so it was sorta nice to have the freedom to do a little primping before going to bed. I crawling into bed with a good book, written by our former Pastor, John Stumbo, about his journey through a severe illness and long, difficult recovery. Many tears have been shed reading this book, and I'm not even 1/2 way through it yet. I turned off the light at 10:45 and was out soon after! Did the usual potty breaks at midnight and 4:30. Then woke up at 6:00 and couldn't go back to sleep...... those weird thoughts again. I managed to fall back to sleep and finally woke up for the day at 9 am!!! so I got a good LONG nights sleep and I feel pretty good today!

Plans for the day include some more house cleaning, changing out that light switch (didn't get to the hardware store yesterday), and making a trip to the dreaded COSTCO! UGH! I bought some laundry soap at Fred Meyers the other day - I'm thinking, "this is the same price as Costco" ....... then got it home only to find out for the same price I was getting 80 loads LESS!!! That made me a little pissy! for $18.99 I got 90 load of Tide liquid at FM. But at Costco - I get 170 loads for the same amount of money! GRRR! I won't make that mistake again. I need chicken, some spices, and laundry soap. I hate going to costco on sunday! If I go right now I might miss the crowds..... as it gets worse in the afternoon. But........ I'm waiting on those magnesium pills to do their thing - I don't dare leave the house until that task is done.

So........... there's my little saga for the day - or at least for this morning. Happy Day, y'all!

[Sabine]

Thinking of you, Tomi.

[tomi]

Thinking of you, Tomi.

[runnerbean]

Hi Toni!
Great journal. I am in awe of your progress on so many fronts.
Just wanted to chime in on salad dressings. Simple can be so good. A little oil, a splash of vinegar, a pinch of salt and just beat it all together with a fork. Herbs or mustard powder make nice additions. If you don't like olive oil for flavor, maybe see if you can find avocado, hazelnut or walnut oil. They are a bit pricy but still way cheaper than commercial dressings. Lots of flavor so you really don't need much. I made salad for three last night and drizzled maybe a tablespoon of oil over it with a little salt. I had lots of tomatoes so didn't even need to mix in vinegar. Walnut oil with sherry vinegar is a classic for lettuce. A citrus vinegar with olive oil is awesome on spinach.
Another option for chunkier veggies is a mayonnaise type dressing. Beat a few yolks in a bowl with a little salt and mustard powder or spices as desired (tarragon is my favorite). Beat constantly while slowly adding olive oil until you achieve the desired consistency. If you add oil too fast, it can curdle but you can easily fix by beating in another egg yolk. Really nice with fish too
Have fun experimenting!

[tomi]

End of the day - and doing great. My legs are little tired - I walked the hour, then did some light housework, I sat for too long and get a bit stiff. Then I went out to the yard and started in on the fall yard clean up. Trimming, cutting, dividing. My yard debri can is nearly full for the 2 weeks, and I still have a bit more to add to it. YUM --- I might have to pile it in the wheel barrow and wait for another couple weeks. Soon it will be time to cut down all the banana plants. 1200-1300 pounds of banana plants to haul to the yard recycle joint. We have several hundred non-fruit baring banana plans in back yard. It makes a bit of a tropical feel in our Oregon yard We started with 6 plants about 7 years ago - but they multiply like crazy!!!

Anyway - I'm right on target with my goals for the 21 day Challenge! Pretty proud of myself for being so strict. If I can do it for a week - I can do it for 3 - easy! I've just got to make sure hubby understands I'm not drinking while in the challenge. I'd like to say until I reach my goal weight - but I'm not sure that will work. But I could try, right? It would be GOOD for me.

Texting with hubby........ he's anchored at Hope Island, Washington. He's having a great vacation! He wants to take me up there for a long weekend before we winterize the boat. that would be awesome, but not really in our budget. We're going to Vegas in October for a buyers convention with Diversified Marine Products. They will reimburse us for the airfair, and pay for our room. They provide a couple meals as well. So, other than time away from the boatshop, and a day off work for me it shouldn't be too costly for us. We are not gamblers so thats not a problem, but we may want to see a show if there is anything good happening. The show is at South Point Casino. Anyone familiar with it?

I'm heading to bed early tonight so I can read some more in Pastor Stumbo's book. So - night all!

[jenn26point2]

Hi Tomi. I understand your jealousy of DH's vacation. I experience the same jealousy when DH is just away from home for the day and I'm at home with two kids who are driving me nuts. It's when they're at their worst that I am most jealous. Like when he's racing... and I'm at home. Hence my post earlier this year about wishing I had a hobby that I could get away from home to do and feeling like I'm trapped in the house b/c we have young kids, blah blah blah. So, I understand your jealousy and wanted to suggest that DH take you up there some weekend, but then saw your mention of it and the cost. Understood. Money is a tight commodity for most everyone right now.

I hope the rest of his vacation goes quickly for you. Enjoy your day of yard cleaning. I'm envious of your time to get it done.

[Judg]

Tomi, did you see that Mark is coming out with a cookbook in December for sauces and such? You think he's been spying on your journal? LOL!

With home-made vinaigrettes, it is important not to use too much. They're not full of cornstarch and water and other fillers that reduce the flavour and up the bulk to make you use and buy more. Put on a little bit, toss well, and then don't add more unless some of the greens are actually dry. If you have puddles in the bottom, there's too much. And balsamic vinegar already has a little sweetness to it; no need to add more. Try drizzling a little EVOO on your salad, add salt and maybe some basil and/or oregano, and then a wee splash of vinegar. You might like it. With a little practice, you get good at knowing how much to put on.

Good for you to be sticking to the plan so well. I think you will be so glad you have done it, at the end.

[tomi]

Hi Toni!
Great journal. I am in awe of your progress on so many fronts.
Just wanted to chime in on salad dressings. Simple can be so good. A little oil, a splash of vinegar, a pinch of salt and just beat it all together with a fork. Herbs or mustard powder make nice additions. If you don't like olive oil for flavor, maybe see if you can find avocado, hazelnut or walnut oil. They are a bit pricy but still way cheaper than commercial dressings. Lots of flavor so you really don't need much. I made salad for three last night and drizzled maybe a tablespoon of oil over it with a little salt. I had lots of tomatoes so didn't even need to mix in vinegar. Walnut oil with sherry vinegar is a classic for lettuce. A citrus vinegar with olive oil is awesome on spinach.
Another option for chunkier veggies is a mayonnaise type dressing. Beat a few yolks in a bowl with a little salt and mustard powder or spices as desired (tarragon is my favorite). Beat constantly while slowly adding olive oil until you achieve the desired consistency. If you add oil too fast, it can curdle but you can easily fix by beating in another egg yolk. Really nice with fish too
Have fun experimenting!

Thanks, runnerbean! Y'all make it sound so easy - but I still need measurements I'm still looking on line for recipes. Yes, I will try to find a different oil - and an eevoo, as I've heard that has a milder flavor. I have some balsamic vinegar and red wine bvinegar, I think I also have some apple cider vinegar. Truthfully ---- I think the biggest problem is that I like a more "sweet" dressing. My favorite is honey mustard - I also like ranch and thousand island. I'm not big on Italian. So I'm not sure how I'm going to make this vinegar thing work - unless I just force feed myself until the taste buds adjust. I've done that with many vvegetables over the years.

[tomi]

I hope the rest of his vacation goes quickly for you. Enjoy your day of yard cleaning. I'm envious of your time to get it done.

In due time, Jenn --- remember - I'm 52, my kids are grown and I have the privelege of working a p/t job (sorta both privelege and health necessity). I paid my dues with little ones and little time. I mostly do my yard work on the weekends though, evening though I have mornings free monday - wednesday. I can't to do too much before work or I don't have the stamina to get through the afternoon. You will see a time when your days are less filled and your choices become more than "do I do the dishes or empty the dishwasher - which one can wait?" Once your kids reach middle school - much will start to change. They will be able to pick up their rooms and help with the household chores. Get them involved in gardening and you'll have 4 more hands to pull weeds and keep things tidy! Make it a pleasure, not a chore. When they are old enough to help you cook you can teach them all your best dishes - and then cleanup time is just a part of the process.

Things gets much easier when you get a bit older - but you in the middle of the time crunch years! Take heart............ your time is coming!