Off to Market

I had a lovely lie-in this morning after my extra early mornings and late evenings for the past week. I woke to the rain slamming against my window and just lay there listening to the rain and the wind for half an hour before I got up

I am just waiting for Liam to finish his "breakfast" and then we are going to the Market Outlet to pick up vegetables, fruits and eggs and then to the grocery store. I like this market, not just because the produce is local this time of year, but because it is so much less expensive and better quality than the grocery store. Then we will go to the grocery store and get the rest of the stuff.  

We're planning on going to see the Star Trek movie this afternoon and then I will prep and meal plan for the week.  Nice, easy, day.

It occurred to me as I was making my shake this morning that one of the reasons I like eating this way is because I don't have to measure and weigh my food. If I stick to whole foods and cut out the wheat and sugar, it's very hard to overeat carrots and strawberries.  Yes, I know its possible, but these are not the type of foods that "I can't stop" or "I'll have just one more" with.  As well, with the sugar and wheat gone, there are no wild blood sugar swings and cravings and I have actually over the last week, a few times.......wait for it.....forgotten to eat!

It does take some planning. For example, last night I thought I would be ok until around 9 when Liam got home from work to have dinner, but by 7 I found myself wanting "something".  Sure enough my blood sugar was low and the easy fix is something sweet or bready. But I made myself a small snack of walnuts, goat cheese and a drizzle of honey and it was enough to see me through til dinner.  I wanted to have a handful of crackers or chips or cookies, but I stopped and thought first.

I'll check back in later!

Freakin' Friday- Finally

So I did make it through yesterday without giving into mindless carbs or junk food and I did get to leave right at 3:30 and was home by 5.  I can't believe I used to commute farther than that for so long, I am definitely spoiled now, just being 10 min from work!

Anyway, the healthy dinner went out the window as I took my son and his friends to "Hutch's" which is a diner at the waterfront. They are famous for their fish and chips, so I picked up a small order and brought it home for dinner. Of course, it was delicious.   My blood sugar was at a good level 2 hours after eating so although it wasn't healthy, it didn't negatively affect my blood sugar - because there was no sugar or wheat !! (I took the batter off the fish). Potatoes and other grains do not affect my blood sugar the same way processed sugar and wheat do - those two are the worst and put them together and it is a disaster.

Today is my last day working away from my office and I am glad. It will be another long day - not out of here until 5 - hope to be home by 6, but it is the start of a three day weekend so I am looking forward to the R & R. I have to get groceries and meal plan/prep this weekend as both my fridge and pantry are down to bare bones.  I let it get really low every few months so I can clean out the cupboards and fridge and freezer and use up the stuff that gets pushed to the back.

My son is working tonight so I'm not sure what I'll do for dinner, I tend to not cook when he's working and just have a protein shake or throw together a salad or some kind of stir fry.  But then I do cook for him when he gets home, although it's later than I like to eat so it's usually just for him.

I am rambling. Not much to say today, I guess. Mostly just want to keep the habit of blogging daily.

Later: So I ended up leaving at lunch to get some fresh air and pick up a few groceries for tonight's dinner until I can do the big grocery shop tomorrow at the vegetable market and grocery store.  I picked up a BLT wrap from Metro and some grapes for lunch. I ate half the wrap and about half the grapes (I tore off the folded over part of the tortilla wrap - so much bread, so ended up eating about 1/4 of the tortilla in total.  I'll eat the rest around 4:00 before I go home if my blood sugar gets too low to see me through til dinner time.

Tonight's dinner is stirfry with lots of vegetables, beef and cilantro/lime rice. The rice is more for Liam but I will have probably half a cup.

No other plans for tonight.  Relax, finish the book I've been trying to read for weeks; catch up on some laundry and meal plan for next week so I can do some prep and cooking on Sunday for the upcoming week.  I am hoping this will help Liam too so he will stop buying crappy takeout when I'm not home to cook - saving both his health and his money!  

Day in my life

Today is one of those days, from when I woke up - nothing has gone right.  Woke up late, couldn't find my phone or keys, couldn't make my protein shake this morning because my son (and his friends) left my kitchen an absolute mess and I didn't have time to clean it up to make room to use the sink and counter because...yeah I woke up late.

Grabbed some high protein cereal and some milk and rushed out the door thinking I'd eat that when I got to work. The milk leaked all over the seat of my car so now it smells like sour milk on this 35 C day. Awesome.

Realise I left without my wallet so I'm counting change at McD's drive thru to get a Coke Zero and coffee (when I really want a bacon muffin with extra cheese) and a hashbrown.

So...for breakfast I had a coffee, Coke Zero and a handful of almonds. Go me.

For lunch (which may end up being a morning snack if I get hungry) I have an apple with almond butter and an egg.

Hopefully I am working til 3:30 and should be home by 5. Hopefully my kitchen will be righted by then (else all hell will break loose) and I can make something healthy and delicious for dinner.

Did I mention its 35 C?  I am working off site today and in office in a town house and it is very hot even with the portable A/C going full tilt.

I have contractors, painters and cleaners to deal with.

Give me strength. On the good side, there is no junk food here and the closest place is a 10 min drive which I don't have time to make as I am supposed to be here with the office open all day.

Wish me luck.

Today can only get better.

Here we go again

It has been really hard since Den died to pull myself together.

It was only when I went to an endocrinologist appointment and saw the cumulative effect on my health that almost two years of crappy eating and no exercise has done to me (through bloodwork) that I realised how crappy I had been feeling, emotionally and physically for so very long.

It has only been just over a month but I am down over 10 lbs and my fasting blood sugar is below 7 most days.  I am tracking my blood sugar very carefully and watching to see which foods send it high - of course - sugar and wheat! Which I have known all along.

I wanted to do a Whole30 but honestly, didn't want to set myself up for failure, so I am waking up each morning with intentions to not eat sugar/wheat/grains all day and so far, with only 2 days of non-success it is working. With a fresh start each day, I can see the differences.  I am already sleeping better and waking up refreshed rather than exhausted and achey. I am already finding that I am not craving sugar mid-afternoon and am able to eat three meals a day and only an occasional snack (apple and almond butter) in the afternoons.

One day at a time has always been my mantra and it is only when I get away from that, that I completely lose the plot.

I have one child out of the house now, one who is pretty much independent, a great job, a paid for car, no debt - this is the time to take care of me.  My life has never, ever been easier and as stress-free as it is now.  So...I need to do this.

Stay tuned.

Weight: 228.8