My Cardboard Box

Last night I decided to join up with Lauren to start a new healthy-living/fitter-me diet. I have already been trying this during the past couple weeks, but it’s always good to be accountable to someone, right? I don’t have a cardboard box, per se. What has happened is this: Last year I lost a lot of weight. I went from a 14/16 to a solid 8. To keep myself in an 8, I got rid of all of my larger clothes. I’ve now as of this minute gained back 8lbs of what I lost. It’s not a ton, but my clothes are tighter, and a couple of my pants don’t fit (damn Lucky brand and their slim cut capris) and I just don’t like how I’m fitting into the clothes I do have. So here are my goals:

Goal 1: those pesky 8 lbs

Goal 2: a total of 15lbs, which brings me to my goal weight for the year

Goal 3: a total of 25lbs, which is my ideal weight overall.

I know that “numbers” and “weight” isn’t the best way to keep track of a “healthier you” but I have a hard time tracking other things. This is just a starting point. I really am not the type of person to get particularly down about a specific number on a scale; I just use it for reference.

I’m not a dieter. The moment you tell me I can’t have carbs, I’m huddled in my closet with a French baguette and a tray of brownies. I’m working on portion control and just consuming less. I don’t mind exercise after I’ve done it but I’m terrible about getting up the drive to do it. I have two small children and a husband who I like to spend time with, and a tv that I tend to enjoy and books that I’m a little obsessed with. Last year I found a balance between all of these things, although frankly I think last year the kids were a whole year younger and frankly, they were less needy then. I do still need to find a balance. I can probably count on my fingers how many runs I’ve gone on this YEAR. Last year I was regularly running three times a week. Somehow I need to get that back.

Weigh-in: 149.8 (I’m counting it as 150)

Exercise Completed: I can’t say I’ve done any formal exercise at all. Can I blame it on Tropical Storm Debby? Maybe a little, but there’s a gym at work and I haven’t been at all this week. Informally, I have been taking the stairs at work consistently and I mowed the front and back yard yesterday (which is pretty hard work, especially in this heat).

Splurge/Guilty Pleasure: Grape salad, grape salad grape salad. We had friends over for what was going to be a barbeque, but with the weather turned into an all-indoor party. I made pulled pork and macaroni and cheese and guac and jalapeno popper dip and grape salad and brownies. The majority of the food was demolished but I ended up with half a tray of grape salad (which is basically grapes and pecans in cream cheese icing and topped with brown sugar) which I’ve been eating all week. As of last night, it’s gone!

Success Story: No. 1: FINISHING THE GRAPE SALAD! No. 2: Joining this initiative.

Recipe(s): I have nothing really to share for you because I’ve been pretty lazy on the cooking front, but Tuesday night I made these little chicken and cheese pockets that were delicious from basically the contents of my fridge. I took a can of Pillsbury French bread dough and rolled it as thin as possible. Then I mixed some low-fat cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, diced chicken, a can of green chiles, and cilantro. Then I spooned little clumps onto the dough, folded it over and cut little pockets and pinched the edges and cooked them. I served them with some avocado cream: avocado, sour cream, onion, cilantro and lime juice. I made twelve and 3 was a perfect serving.

Photo: these evil things are my downfall:
 

If you want to join the Cardboard Diet, visit LfT!