Perpetual Healthy Eating and Fitness Rant & Rave thread

[Courtney]

Yeah, we'll be at Vail. We had a house in southern CO when I was a kid, and that place was at ~9000 ft. I think Vail is similar - I remember it always took a few days to get used to going up and down the stairs, so I'm planning on walking and hiking a lot, maybe doing some yoga, and not torturing myself by trying to run.

My parents have been there and swear that everything is really walkable, they have great paths and sidewalks, etc., so I'm really looking forward to it. Probably won't bother with bikes, just because I'm a bad cyclist on my best day, and we'd have to have Reid with us. I don't mind putting myself at risk, but I'm not going to take a chance with him!

Vail is beautiful   The drive there will be beautiful.  Colorado is darn hard to beat for scenery!  It will be a nice temperature change for you, too!  Bring jackets. 

[debbatx]

DH and I went to Breckenridge for a few days a few summers back, for a wedding. It was awesome. I do love CO - we spent so much time there when I was growing up. I miss it. The drive there will be fucking terrifying. My parents are picking up all of us at the Denver airport and driving from there. My dad is 83 and an... interesting driver. 

If we survive the car ride, we'll be good to go.

[debbatx]

Congrats debba and tricia! It's all about the long game, isn't it?

MM_ your back yard looks great! I'm sure you guys will get much more use out of that!

It is about the long game, but when you have as much to lose as I do, it's also about the short game. Because if I'm only focused on 60 pounds... that's a lot to lose and a LONG way off in the future before I get there. Over a year, if I average a pound a week. So I can't think of it like that. I have to take it 5 pounds at a time, and sometimes one pound at a time, and sometimes, one meal choice at a time. It does add up - see that part about 20 pounds since January - but if I only focus on the 60, it's too far away for me to give a shit about it *today.* But the next 5 pounds, and the reward that comes with it? Yeah, that I can focus on, because that's maybe a few weeks.

[debbatx]

Wow. I also just realized I've taken three points off my BMI since the end of January. Dang. I'm still firmly in the obese category, but at least it's moving the right direction.

[triciaflower]

TMI ahead:  I'm still not super regular, but I don't feel bloated/gassy/etc all the time, which I did before.  Like, my stomach constantly hurt, which is clear now that it does not. 

How about adding in flax, hemp hearts, or prunes?

[VP of Tea]

Wow. I also just realized I've taken three points off my BMI since the end of January.

That's awesome!

Things are holding steady here, I think. I haven't stepped on a scale today. But Monday night (after the weigh in) I saw a 'new' number again, which was nice. Though as my DH pointed out, I had actually seen that number before, on the way up! 

Tricia, when we have fries at home, we always make them in the oven. I consider myself a fry connaisseur (ahem) and those are pretty much the best fries I have had that were not fried in lard or olive oil. Let me know if you want the method (it's super simple, but we get consistently good results).

[debbatx]

Even if Tricia doesn't want to know the method, I DO!! And thanks. I was pretty happy when I saw that.

[debbatx]

Holy SHIT.

I'd forgotten that I was tracking measurements for a while there. I've lost 3 inches off my waist since November, an inch of my bust, and an inch off my hips. Yay!!!

[triciaflower]

NICE!!

Now I wish I'd taken my measurements. I guess I can do it tonight.

Potatoes are off my list, but since I do still indulge in them sparingly, I DO want to know your methods of cooking them, VP!

[debbatx]

I hadn't done measurements in a long time, but I did the other night when I ordered some stuff for the trip. The numbers are pretty fresh in my head, so I figured I should take a look. I'm thrilled about the waist measurement. I wish my hips would follow suit!

[cgraz]

Great progress! It is so true that focusing on the small goals really helps. I was surprised how happy I was about that first couple of pounds. Just to feel like things are going in the right direction is a victory.

MM, your yard looks great! I hope the dress fittings come along and it fits perfectly when the big day comes around.

Just trying to get through this afternoon without caving in to the snack attack. This is the time when I would graze, and if I can't resist then I need to have something like fruit instead of junk. I have good stuff in the house - but still a few too many temptations. When I'm home all day, I've noticed that I seem hungrier or think about snacking more, but I really think it's about not being as busy as when I'm out and about all day.

[debbatx]

Yeah, boredom snacking kicks my ass every time, along with "habit" snacking. I've had to watch out for both. 

And thank you!

[VP of Tea]

Perfect oven fries. The secret is in the 4 R's  (ok, the fourth is really not an R)

Russet potatoes
Rack
Rotate
(Re) Circulate

Pre-heat the oven to 400-degrees, convection if you can.

We don't usually peel the potatoes, but it works either way. Cut the potatoes in slices (I like them slightly thick, more than ¼ inch), then in strips.

Toss the fries with olive oil (don't be shy), salt and pepper (and other spices if you like though we never do)

Put a cookie cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet and spread the fries out in a single layer on top of the rack. Single layer is crucial.

Put in the oven for about 15 mins.

Rotate the sheet-with-rack-on-top and bake for another 15 mins, checking before the 15 mins are up to make they aren't over-done.

Voila, perfect fries! Consume with mayonnaise for best results! 

[debbatx]

Wait, where are you rotating them to?

[VP of Tea]

Wait, where are you rotating them to?

Around their own axis, 180 degrees. So left is right, front is back. In case the oven has hot spots, even with convection.

[diablita]

yes, I want fries with that

Congrats to all the weight losers!  What great successes.

And thanks for the well wishes.  I'm not sure if I fell or if I was run over...hopefully it's 'day after' pain that will soon go away.

[triciaflower]

Mayo!    Actually not that surprised. I learned that fact from Pulp Fiction. 

Cookie Rack!! WHY have I never thought of this before? That makes perfect sense. I usually have a problem with them sticking and getting mushy. OMG. I so need to make these soon. I bet they'd be good with sweet potatoes too, maybe?

[Courtney]

Mayo!    Actually not that surprised. I learned that fact from Pulp Fiction. 

Cookie Rack!! WHY have I never thought of this before? That makes perfect sense. I usually have a problem with them sticking and getting mushy. OMG. I so need to make these soon. I bet they'd be good with sweet potatoes too, maybe?

Yes, this would be good with sweet potatoes, too!  I actually also saw a thing the other day for crispy sweet potato fries, where you dip the fries in egg yolk before baking in a similar method. 

I do home fries a lot, and even without the cookie rack, I do high heat in the oven and they crisp up nicely. 

Debba, well done, my friend.  Well done.   

[Courtney]

How about adding in flax, hemp hearts, or prunes?

I only really know what one of those things are.    I'm going to Sprouts tonight, so I'll look for the others. 

[debbatx]

 

Thanks, Courtney!

I'm already trying to figure out how to tweak things again. I lost a point at my last weigh-in, so I'm going to have to futz with stuff a little.