Ok so I've managed to walk 30 mins one day and 20min for 2 days. Still doing my vegetarian best. I actually had a pretty good dinner of black beans and quinoa. Tasty and boyfriend approved. Meanwhile, he would probably eat charred brick if I made it, he's very sweet--and has an iron stomach.

Go in short, GO ME!!


But in all honesty I might diverge from my meatfree diet tonight. I'm starting to crave something different. I've also had some sort of hybrid allergy/cold thing all week, but that's thankfully starting to wane. Not 100% yet but getting there.

The chi-town weather is lovely as always with the overcast and chilly rainy day and they were talking about snow on Sunday. I was like, "I protest."

Stupid Global Warming.

I tried to make a new batch of black beans but I burned them but accident and I don't think they are salvagable. I'm leaning towards wagon-jumping because due to some financial constraints that were somewhat under my control--I just blew it really; I have limited funds and as a result limited options food wise. We're not talking cereal city--but only because I don't have any milk.

I like a little variety and since I was sick I was eating that vegetable soup everyday for 3 days for lunch and dinner(except yesterday) and frankly I'm over it.

Can I express my profound love for Glee?

It is my new favorite show. It's kind of like Ugly Betty, with built in Music Videos. It's snippy and clever and those people are seriously talented. I had no idea who Kristin Chenoweth was now I like Kurt--worship-- her.

I immediately downloaded her 3 songs. Jane Lynch is made of awesome and I love that she is from Chicago.

Anyway, I digress.

So I hae no idea what's happenning for dinner later. Maybe BLTs with leftover soup? Besides, bacon is more like a "seasoning" it's doesn't count.

Ok it counts, but I'm out of cheese.

Otherwise I'd make grilled Cheese. I could make nachos with refried beans, I still don't have salsa though. This requires more research....

Veg Out Week

My allergies are *killing* me. Stupid sinuses. I walked yesterday about 20 mins and for dinner I made a delicious vegetable soup with kale, spinach, sweet potato, tomatoes, carrots, and onions. It was served with cheese(of course) and whole wheat bread.

For breakfast I brought 6oz of vegetable juice (those little cans they sell at ALDI) the faux V8 juice and a chewy granola bar. For lunch I bought a big canister of soup and a few slices of wheat bread.

Apparently a 12 oz bottle of V8 gave you 3 out of 5 servings of vegetables, so I guess I have i and a half, which is fine since I have the soup.

I also brought nuts, but I really need to restock my almond stash. I got a 8lbs jar from Costco for $9. It was a steal and both me and the boy like roasted almonds. I have a mild allergy to the raw ones.

Let's Get it Started

Today I ate a serving of cheese lasagna with a side of penne, a side salad and a roll. I typically use whole wheat pasta when I make it, but I bought it off the truck for lunch. I do enjoy salads, but as the weather cools in the Windy City, I tend to want a bit more warmth in my meals. I am also lazy(you'll see this phrase A LOT) when it comes to cooking, but I still want it to healthy and tasty.

I could give up meat, but I don't think I can part with cheese. I am considering going vegetarian for the month. Granted cheese lasagna is still not really a weight loss meal considering the pound of pasta I consumed at lunch. Who serves lasagna with a side of pasta? I guess the answer is: The same person who would eat it.

Oy, I used to think I was a compulsive eater, then I read about it. Apparently you are only compulsive if you are a binger on a rather grand scale or if you wake up in the middle of night and get in your car and bum rush to the drive through.

Apparently, I'm just greedy.

I lost about 50lbs 5 years ago and have maintained the weight, until 2009 when I gained about 10 lbs. I somewhat blame my boyfriend (even though it's not his fault). It's a lot harder to pull myself from bed to make myself exercise, when there's someone warm and comfy in it.

I also blame my new and incredibly adorable puppy (I got both her and the boy late last year) I used to head to the gym after work at least 3 times a week. But having a new puppy I had to get home to walk her, because she was(is) little and consequently so is her bladder. She's a bit better now, but I still couldn't leave her alone for like, 14 hours. That would be cruel and unusual. I have a dog walker, but I can't afford the $120 a month. I have a decent job but I went to an expensive college so I am still paying off those loans.

I'm sure that one day when my hair probably prematurely gray I will finally be done with my stupid loans.

It was hard enough keeping up the willpower to do the gym but I managed, than my Bally's membership ended in Feb, so I started using the "fitness center" in my building. I use the sarcastic air quotes for the "fitness center" because it's more like a small room with a treadmill from the 70s, a rickety eliptical machine, a stair stepper from the early ninties, and a weight machine.

I really shouldn't complain though, because at least it's free and in my building. I do miss those yoga and pilates classes. My only really complaint about the Bally's I went to was that they had the same classes all year long, at the same time and that the classes are so repetitive that after a few months, it is boring which can also deter me.

Also, a few of the good classes like bootcamp fitness, pilates, etc where during the day while I was at work.

Anyway boo hoo, excuses:
I fell off the wagon big time and this blog is hopefully a step (hopefully more than just *one* step :) to getting back on track.

I want to lose about 60lbs. I cannot accomplish this without exercise and a whole mental re-tooling of how I deal with food. So I plan to set goals for myself and see if I reach them.

1 food goal and 1 exercise goal a week

I had sausage & pepperoni pizza on Sunday so I'll make it Monday to Monday

I'm attempting vegetarian week for my food goal and at least 30 minutes a day of walking for at *LEAST* 3 days. 3 days out of 7.

Greetings!

This is my food and exercise and general complaint blog. In an attempt to lose that last(ok first) 40lbs, I am tracking what I eat and the exercise I do. Ultimately, I should be exercising for at least an hour for 5 days a week. I can usually get started, the problem lies in the sticking to it. So far I haven't managed to start fully. False starts are apparently no problem, but a 30 minute walk a week doth not a healthy body nor effective weight loss make, but dammit at least it's something :)

So wish me luck!