Busy Weekend

Saturday, we took the kids to see the new Pixar movie, Cars, at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. (My daughter and I saw Princess Diaries 2 there a few years ago and loved it - we've wanted to go back ever since.) What a great movie! The kids had a fantastic time - definitely a fun day.

On Sunday, we left the kids home with my parents and drove over to Santa Barbara for 2 days to participate in a golf tournament fundraiser for Cure Autism Now. It was put on by Athletes Against Autism. We stayed at the beautiful Bacara Resort. There was a wonderful dinner/program Sunday night and my husband golfed at Sandpiper with Curt Warner this morning while I enjoyed a (heavenly!) Citrus Avacado Body Scrub/Massage at the spa.

In attendance was:

Olie Kolzig/Washington Capitals
Byron Dafoe/former Atlanta Thrasher
Scott Mellanby/former Atlanta Thrasher
Ryan Nece/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Billy Volek/Tennesee Titans
Travis Hall/Atlanta Falcons
Stu Barnes/Dallas Stars
Brent Johnson/Washington Capitals
Jeb Terry/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bill Krueger/former MLB pitcher
Fox NW broadcaster
Curt Warner/former Seattle Seahawk
Jim Gott/former Los Angeles Dodger
Ron Cey/former Los Angeles Dodger
Greg Swindell/former Arizona Diamondback
Darwin Cook/former New Jersey Net, LA Legend of Basketball
Randy Smith/former Buffalo Brave, Legend of Basketball
M. Campy Russell/former Cleveland Cavalier, Legend of Basketball
Fred Brown/former Seattle Supersonic, Legend of Basketball
John Egan/former Houston Rockets coach, Legend of Basketball
Don Ford/former Los Angeles Laker, LA Legend of Basketball
LaMar Green/former Phoenix Sun, Legend of Basketball
Marques Johnson/former Milwaukee Buck, UCLA star, LA Legend of Basketball
Ed Ratleff/former Houston Rocket, LA Legend of Basketball
Robert Smith/Legend of Basketball
Don Felder/former guitarist, The Eagles
Marc Blucas/actor
Jason Olive/actor
AVP volleyball player
Bruce Greenwood/actor

It was the inaugural event - we hope to be involved next year at the 2nd annual!

Birthday Trip

It's hard to believe that my "babies" are now 6 and 7 years old. I can remember every minute of the days each of them were born - like they were just last week.

For their birthdays, they decided that they wanted to celebrate with Mickey at Disneyland. Again. (We were just there over Spring Break in April.) We agreed and invited my parents and sister to go along with us. What a great weekend! We went down mid-day on Friday the 16th and had their birthday dinner at The Rainforest Cafe before spending Saturday and Disneyland and Sunday at California Adventure Park. The weather was great and everyone had an excellent time. The kids loved the "birthday fuss" the park employees made over them!

Progress!

I'm getting there - slowly but surely. I feel really good about everything and have learned a lot about my body and what helps/hinders my weight loss efforts. I'm currently weighing about 3 pounds more than I did the day I married my husband (11 years ago) - less than I have in 8 years! I'm not 100% certain I'll meet my goal weight by August 18 like I'd hoped to but I do feel confident that I'll get there eventually.

INXS

In the late 1980's, I was a huge INXS fan. Last Summer, when the Rock Star: INXS show debuted, I was all over it. I loved Michael Hutchence, of course, but missed the bands' music and was excited that they were looking to start performing/recording again with someone new at the helm. From the very first episode, I knew who I thought was going to give them the best chance at succeeding with their "comeback". My husband and I watched religiously all Summer long and were thrilled on September 20, 2005 when J.D. Fortune was chosen to be the bands' new lead singer.

Last night, we drove up to the Tachi Palace Casino in Lemoore, California - a 90-minute drive - but the show they put on was well worth the trip! Scott Stapp (former lead singer of Creed) opened for them and was good - we had dinner and caught his last 3 songs. The INXS show was incredible - exciting, full of energy, sexy... They did a lot of classic INXS stuff but played some songs from their new album Switch as well. The set-list was as follows:

• Suicide Blonde
  
• Devil's Party
  
• Mystify Me
  
• Hot Girls
  
• By My Side
  
• Afterglow
  
• Taste it
  
• Original Sin
  
• Hungry
  
• Never Let You Go
  
• What You Need
  
• Kick
  
• Devil Inside
  
• Pretty Vegas
  
• Spoken Word (Encore)
  
• New Sensation (Encore)
  
• Amazing Grace (Encore)
  
• Never Tear Us Apart (Encore)
  
• Don't Change (Encore)
  

They look and sound incredible. What a night - I wish it didn't have to end! I'm so thrilled that they are back. They just make me so... happy.

Al-Zarqawi Dead

We awoke to big news this morning. I, personally, will not mourn for Al-Zarqawi. He was an animal - sub-human - and I can't help but feel that the world will be a better place without him in it. Back in the Spring of 2004, I managed to come across the actual videotaped footage of Nick Berg's be-heading (which CIA leaks have said was pulled off by Al-Zarqawi personally). It was the most horrendous, hideous, savage thing I've ever seen.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

My Dad celebrated his 60th birthday yesterday. We had his BBQ birthday party at my house on Sunday the 29th and I used the Betty Crocker Bake N' Fill set my Mom gave me for my birthday last year to make him a golf ball cake. I made a chocolate fudge cake with Haagen Daazs chocolate ice cream for filling - it was delicious (if I do say so myself!) and looked adorable!

In The Zone

I haven't been very good about diet updates recently, have I? I became extremely frustrated with South Beach. I was on it hard-core for 4 weeks and lost 5.5 pounds. It was hard - I was often hungry, lacked energy and felt constantly deprived of things that I wanted. Too - the weight loss was so wacky and unpredictable - I'd be up 5 pounds in one day, down 3 the next - a total roller coaster. I began more research and, for a few weeks now have been doing something similar to The Zone Diet. In general, I don't believe in "elimination diets" - I never have. I believe that moderation is key. I gave in, though, to the "no/low carbs" hype before trying South Beach but just didn't feel like it was for me. I am using FitDay to keep track of my food intake and am trying to keep my percentages (of calories consumed daily) to 40% carbohydrates, 40% protein and 20% fat. I think The Zone Diet is actually 40/30/30 but I have definitely found that the 40/40/20 works better for me. (The less fat in my diet, the better.) I've lost a few pounds on it already but, more importantly, I am happy and feel great. I never feel left out or hungry and, after 7+ years of maternity clothes and sizes 10-12, my 8's are now falling off of me!

I hope to reach my goal weight (which is about 5 pounds less than where I was 11 years ago when I married my husband) by my 36th birthday on August 18th. I'm confident that I have a chance at succeeding!

Seriously... Wow.

I'm exhausted - emotionally spent after last nights' 2-hour Grey's Anatomy season finale. Sundays' show was good. Mondays' was excellent. God I love that show. I can't believe I have to wait until - what - August? September? - to see what will happen next. (Have I mentioned that I love that show?)

A few things to note... I'm not sure I'm thrilled that the writers made Izzie do what she did. I understand that sometimes love makes you desperate - but that was so wrong. She's gone through so much to get where she is and I can't imagine how her career can be saved now. I adored Denny's character and hate that he had to die. (God forbid, of course, that you have a happy couple!) I love that Alex finally put on a human-being hat and that he was there for Izzie. The scene where he coaxed her from the bed of her dead boyfriend was fantastic. Sandra Oh's Christina made me want to pull out my hair. She is the most emotionally constipated person I've ever seen! I kept begging for her to give Preston a little bit of what he needed but she just could not do it - not until the last second, anyway. I was bothered by her distance - was it because she was upset by his injuries and couldn't handle seeing him in pain/turmoil? Or was it because an injured man - a man who might not again be the brilliant surgeon he once was - not attractive to her?

Being the tortured Mer/Der fan that I am, I, of course, hope that she chooses (chose) to go home with Derek after the "prom". I've heard, however, that Chris O'Donnell (Finn) is going to be back next season so it doesn't look terribly likely...

I read that the show is moving from Sunday night to Thursday in the Fall (not sure what time). I have no doubt that it will do well and that loyal followers of the show will move with it!

Thank you Shonda Rhimes for creating the show that is Grey's Anatomy!

Flowers For Mom

ProFlowers announced that it will donate $10.00 to Autism Speaks for every bouquet ordered for Mother's Day or any occasion. Click here to shop!

End of Phase 1

While I haven't lost anywhere near the 8-13 pounds the South Beach Diet promises is possible during Phase 1, I'm calling my official weight loss 5 1/2 pounds over 2 weeks. Not stellar or inspiring - but a start, I suppose. I am going to try to move into Phase 2 (slowly adding certain carbs back into my diet) but am not looking forward to the fact that it will probably slow the already-painfully-slow weight loss progress. I was hoping to reach my goal by this Summer - long way to go still, though!

For dinner tonight:

Ginger Salad

1 T. dijon mustard
1 T. fresh lemon juice
2 T. rice wine vinegar
1 T. fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
3/4 c. canola oil
kosher salt
18 t. fresh ground black pepper
1/2 head iceburg lettuce, shredded
2 T. chopped fresh parsley leaves
lemon slices for garnish

In a blender on high speed, combine mustard, lemon juice, vinegar and ginger for just a few seconds until smooth. Then turn the blender to a lower speed and slowly pour the oil in a continuous stream. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place shredded lettuce piled high in the center of a bowl with edges. Add dressing to lettuce and toss. Sprinkle parsley around the edges of the bowl and garnish with a lemon slice.

(I haven't tried the salad recipe but it sounded good and should go well with the other things I'm making (tried and true family recipes!)

Egg Fu Yung

5 eggs
1 c. bean sprouts
1/2 c. shredded celery
1/4 c. shreded onions
1 t. salt
1/4 t. MSG
4 oz. can drained mushrooms
1/2 c. canned crab, shrimp or chicken (I'm using fresh baby shrimp)
1 t. dry sherry
dash of pepper

Combine all ingredients in a bowl just enough to break yolks. Do not beat. Cook in hot fat (pancake shape) until browned, turning once. Keep warm and serve with sauce.

Egg Fu Yung Sauce

2 c. chicken broth
1/4 t. MSG
1/2 t. salt
1 T. soy sauce
1 T. catsup
1 T. sugar
3 1/2 T. flour
1/4 c. cold water

Mix first 6 ingredients together in sauce pan. Add flour to water and mix into broth. Cook over medium high heat stirring constantly until thickened. Cover and keep warm.

Harder than I thought...

I was prepared to give this whole diet crap up yesterday. I awoke this morning, though, to a 2 1/2 pound loss - in 24 hours! Crazy. I suppose that is what I get for weighing myself every day - I wish I'd started keeping track of my "success" via measurements instead of weight. I've definitely noticed a change in my waist and lower abdomen.

I hate this

Dieting sucks. What a roller-coaster. I'm still down overall (3 pounds total lost since I started 12 days ago) but the scale shows I've gained weight both yesterday and today! I'm eating nothing but lean meat, vegetables, eggs and cheese - how is that possible? This is so frustrating. I gain weight just fine on my own - I don't need the South Beach Diet to help me do that.

Over the past 12 days, I have seen a pattern in the weight loss - I'll lose 2 or 3 days in a row and then have a no change day (or actually gain 1/2-1 pound one day). I've never seen 2 gain days in a row, though. I don't know what is going on. With just 4 days left in phase 1, I'm definitely not going to lose between 8-13 pounds during it like the diet promises, though.

I haven't cheated once (absoluntely no desire to) so I know it's not that. I've spent a few hundred dollars since I started on vegetables, lean meats, fish, safe snack foods, special oils to cook with, butter with no trans fat, water bottles... I'm feeling terribly discouraged.

I did a little research online and found a few things that might be causing this to happen. Not drinking enough water was mentioned most frequently. I'm drinking 60-80 ounces/day, though, and don't think that's the problem. An underactive thyroid could be the problem (no idea if that might be an issue for me). A few websites mentioned sodium intake (causing water retention) and not getting enough calories on a diet like this being the cause for weight gain or a stall in weight loss. I have not been keeping track of calories (one of the nice things, I thought, about the SBD) and can't imagine that that's the problem. Who knows, though. Maybe I'll try to find a caloric content chart online... Hate this!

Brokeback

Are we the last people on the planet to see the movie Brokeback Mountain? It'd beensitting on my kitchen counter for weeks (a la Netflix) but we just hadn't had a minute of free time to watch it. We made time last Saturday night. My husband was leery initially - uncomfortable at the thought of watching the whole "mounting" scene. Once whe got past that, though, he actually ended up really enjoying the story. We both did - tremendously. We, very quickly, stopped seeing the characters as "two dudes" and just started seeing them as "two people" - obviously connected and in-love yet completely unable to be together. We rooted for them and their love until the end. The scenery was just incredible - it was a beautiful movie - and everyone in it was amazing. I adored Jake Gyllenhaal's character, Jack, but Heath Ledger's portrayal of Ennis blew me away.

Mexican Chicken Soup

I was given this recipe by a friend who also is familiar with the South Beach Diet. I made it tonight (desperate for a change from the salad and BBQ steak/chicken I've been having for the past week!) and it was excellent and very easy.

Mexican Chicken Soup

1 T. canola oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, diced (I used 2 - we like things spicy)
2 cloves garlic, minced (I used 3)
2 t. ground cumin
5 c. lower-sodium chicken broth (I used 6)
1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
2 c. mild refrigerated fresh salsa (I used 8 ozs. fresh pico de gallo because it's what I had)

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring often, until vegetables are tender - 5 minutes or so. Stir in garlic and cumin and cook 30 seconds longer. Add broth. Increase heat to high and bring to rapid simmer. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink - about 5 minutes. Stir in salsa and heat through. Makes 4 servings (2 1/4 c. each)

Per serving: 320 cal, 46 g. protein, 14 g. carbs, 8 g. fat, 1.5 g. sat fat, 100 mg. chol, 2 g. fiber, 680 mg sodium

Another Good Morning

Down another 1/2 a pound today - that's -1 pound total so far (over 3 days).

Yesterday was a pretty decent day. I didn't have any real hunger pains. I'm not hungry at all, in fact and actually have to force myself to get the AM and PM snacks in. I think that knowing I can't have what I really want just makes me lose my appetite.

We went out to dinner with friends last night (a steakhouse) and it was very nice. But for the bread/butter I was dying to have before dinner and the beautiful pieces of garlic toast with butter that came with our shrimp and hot sauce appetizer, I didn't have any cravings or temptations. I'm really proud of myself. Having never dieted before, I didn't know if I'd be one of those "cheaters" or not. I haven't even really been tempted. This is too much work and too difficult for me to even think about just blowing one night on a piece of bread!

Breakfast: 1 cup decaf lemon tea with no sweetener, scrambled eggs with sliced mushrooms, fresh thyme and feta cheese
AM Snack: celery stick, 1 low-fat mozarella string cheese
Lunch: hamburger (lean ground beef) with lettuce, a slice of tomato, a slice of cheese, a slice of red onion and dill pickles
PM Snack: pistachios
Dinner: small amount of BBQ pork and greek salad
Water: almost 3 liters

Food Ramblings

Well, according to this mornings' scale, I've lost 2.5 pounds since yesterday morning so I'm down 1/2 a pound (net) from where I started 2 days ago. They say that it's typical to lose between 8-13 pounds during phase 1 of the SBD - we'll see... I'm definitely happier than I was yesterday morning!

The only thing I'm really missing is my Starbucks - I think about not having my morning coffee from morning until bedtime. I've been a fan for 8 years and have had one/day for the past 7 so giving that up has been tough. The headaches I had over the past 2 days (caffeine withdrawal?) seem to be subsiding - I haven't had any today.

Breakfast: 1 hard-boiled egg with salt and pepper, 2 strips lean turkey bacon, small glass of tomato juice
AM Snack: 2 mini kosher dill pickles, 1 low-fat mozarella string cheese
Lunch: greek salad (tomatoes, feta cheese, cucumbers, red onion, olive oil and salt and pepper)
PM Snack: handful of pistachios
Dinner: 2 shrimp with hot sauce, salad (lettuce, chickpeas, cucumber, 2 cherry tomatoes and oil/vinegar on the side), cooked broccoli/squash, sirloin steak (we went out with friends to Hungry Hunter)
Water: almost 3 liters

Columbine Remembered

I can't believe it's been 7 years... I also can't believe that I didn't see anything about the anniversary of the massacre mentioned on television yesterday!

My husband and I were living in Colorado at the time it happened. I was 7 months pregnant with my first child and lived about 15 minutes from Littleton High School. I'll never forget what that afternoon was like - I was glued to the television - stunned at the events unfolding before me.

I think about what happened and the families affected by it periodically. I can only hope that time has helped to ease their grief.

We're hooked

I refused to start watching Grey's Anatomy when it began. I am addicted to so many television shows as it is - I just didn't want to get hooked on another... I managed to stay away (ignore) the hype from it for over a season but the whole "code black" thing, hyped up during the Super Bowl this year, sucked me in. We watched that episode and were intrigued. The show was part 1 of 2 so, obviously, we had to tune in to the following week to see how the storyline ended. We then watched the next weeks' episode and knew that we couldn't stop. I went out the day after Valentine's Day to buy the season 1 DVD as we had so many questions about the characters and their relationships... We managed to watch all 9 episodes from season 1 over a 3-day period and absolutely loved it.

My husband and I both are now tormented Mer/Der fans and we can't wait for Sunday nights at 10 PM!

2 Pounds!?

I had an awful day yesterday. It was filled with headaches, feeling hungry, eating things I didn't want because the diet said I "had to", bitchiness and feelings of resentment towards those around me who were stuffing their faces with whatever they wanted to... I sure hope this gets easier!

I couldn't believe it this morning when I stepped on the scale only to find that I had GAINED 2 pounds in the 24 hours since I last weighed! I stood in my bathroom and cried. I have no idea how to explain that. I feel incredibly defeated and discouraged but I am determined to stick with this for at least 2 more weeks (the recommended length of phase 1 on the South Beach Diet).

Exercise: nothing but errand running and working in the kids' classrooms
Breakfast: 1 fried egg with salt and pepper
AM Snack: none
Lunch: low-carb $6 Burger from Carl's Jr. (hamburger patty, lettuce, onions, 1 slice cheese, 1 slice tomato, pickles, catsup, no mayo)
PM Snack: 1 low-fat mozarella string cheese
Dinner: beef & broccoli - no rice (went out for Asian food)
Water: 2 liters

D-I-E-T

I have never dieted in my 35 years - until now.

Up until the time I was in college, I was always thin - 5'6" and maybe 105-110 pounds. I was one of those annoying people who could eat whatever they wanted and not seem to gain weight. Unfortunately, that all changed when I was in my mid-late 20's. My weight began to s-l-o-w-l-y climb (most obvious around my mid-section) and then 4 pregnancies and 2 full-term births throughout 1998-2000 certainly didn't help my situation.

Although charts (online and in my physician's office) say that my weight is "within normal range" for someone my height, I am at the high end of that range. I joined a Curves last January and lost 10 pounds in the first 3 months before hitting a wall. Weight loss was my main reason for going (exercising, in general, isn't something that I do just "for fun") and once the pounds stopped dropping, I was not motivated.

I managed to keep those 10 pounds off (even without exercising) for 6 months but decided in January of this year that I wanted to be more active. I'm very unhappy with my body currently and am desperate to do something about it. I started shopping around for another gym in February and joined one that is just for women (like Curves but full-service with cardio machines, free weights, classes, a pool etc.). I am very, very happy there. Except for a few weeks (when I had a sick child or was on vacation out of town), I have gone at least 3 - sometimes 4 - times every week yet, over the past 3 months, I have not lost an ounce. My weight can fluctuate 3-5 pounds based on the time of the month but I am, in general, still between 15-20 pounds away from what I consider my ideal weight.

My Mother and sister both had luck, initially, with Atkins and I've read a lot about it. It just isn't right for me, though. I'm a person who loves her carbs and I know right now that starting a diet that restricts them so severely would, without a doubt, set me up for failure and disappointment. I've read about Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig and actually know a dozen or so women who have joined a Jenny Craig center that just opened up here recently and who have done really well. For a number of reasons, though, I don't think either of those programs are right for me.

I've decided, after much research, to give the South Beach Diet a try. I know - I mentioned that carbs are an issue for me - and, although the first phase restricts them on the SBD, during phases 2 and 3, they are re-introduced (sensibly). I've been to the grocery store and have printed off a few recipes. We'll see how the next 2 weeks go - if I can stick with it and if it'll work for me!

Today:
Exercise: 25 minutes on stationary bike, 100 sit-ups on sit-up machine, 4 upper body machines (lat pull-down etc.) 3 sets of 10 reps each (10-30 pounds of weight, depending on machine)
Breakfast: 1 hard-boiled egg with salt and pepper and a few sips of a horrible tall decaf coffee (no milk and 3 Splenda packets) from Starbucks (giving up caffe mochas and caramel macchiattos is going to be very difficult!)
AM Snack: 3 mini kosher dill pickles, 1 celery stick and 5 Laughing Cow Light Gourmet Mini Swiss Cheese Bites
Lunch: asparagus and mushrooms sauteed in olive oil and topped with mozarella cheese
PM Snack: none
Dinner: chicken caesar salad (at Dodger Stadium - thank heavens they had something I could have - it didn't make up for not being able to have nachos, a Dodger Dog and a coke - but at least I didn't have to sit there with nothing and watch everyone else eat!)
Water: 1 liter