walking on a warm weekend...

So, after days of cold, raw, rainy weather; the heat is on! I took my dog, met up with my friend K. and her dog Marge; and we drove to the woods, where we walked for two hours in unseasonal muggy warmth. Not fast or even very brisk walking; I couldn't sustain that for so long a time, but I didn't sit down.

Of course, my feet ached for hours afterward.

I took a gamble and have stopped eating today before having reached even a 600-calorie count. I don't recommend such a drastic step for most; but I wanted to try to take off another pound. I've had 6 cups of water (48 fl. oz); which for me is a lot; and some Crystal Light lemonade; and three carrots...So far the scale has not validated my gamble; maybe it will tomorrow...


Staples of my particular diet:
1. Laughing Cow Light cheese wedges - in French Onion, Garlic/Herb, and Original flavors. 35 calories per wedge and quite tasty.
2. Kraft Fat-Free Cheddar slices - 25 calories apiece.
3. Cucumbers
4. Tomatoes
5. Fresh peas in a package (not in pods) - only one local store has them; and I just adore the crunchy taste, even though they're about 120 calories per cup.
6. Salad Confetti, which is a local grocery chain's packaged fresh mixed and chopped radishes, cauliflower, and broccoli - I throw some into my salad and/or frozen entrees as often as possible for extra veggie nutrition.
7. Light/Fat-free lemonade - both Tropicana and Paul Newman brands, though the latter seems easier to find; 10-15 calories per 8 fl. oz. I think.
8. TAB and Diet Pepsi of course
9. Bottled water - Fiji (expensive) and Aquafina (less so) and Dasani - the local tap water is not particularly inspiring.
10. Olives - Trader Joe's Queen Sevillano are my favorites
11. Red wine vinegar, sometimes red wine and garlic vinegar
12. various Lean Cuisine and Weight Watchers frozen entrees; though I have tried to cut back on them; eating 2-4 per week instead of more as I used to.
13. Light/Fat-free yogurt (maximum 120 calories per container, usually less) - my favorite brands are Dannon and YoPlait (even if the latter has high fructose corn syrup, necessitating lower amount of consumption of the brand).
14. water-packed canned tuna
15. Road Food - chewy bars of 90 calories each; my favorite is the divine FiberOne Peanut Butter & Chocolate, but SpecialK and Quaker Oats make some nice flavors too. And I also bring along the 100-calorie packets of almonds, and, especially good, 100-calorie packets of mixed almonds and walnuts. The packets don't hold too many nuts, but do make for a nutritious little snack. And the mixed almonds and walnuts can also enliven a salad.


I'm probably not eating enough fruits. I like an occasional apple; but I don't love them. I do enjoy plums and peaches; which will soon be good. I do consume blueberries and/or blackberries a few days per week.

I made my personal Weight Loss Goal for the end of April, weighing in at 204 lbs., two pounds under my expected loss. I do admit to having cheated twice in the last 10 days; but am going to be good for the next week, since I plan to thoroughly enjoy, in terms of eating, Mother's Day. My mother likes all sorts of fattening foods; she'll pick one type of cuisine and we'll splurge. My mother, of course, is not the obese one in the family!

Still a long road to go...