Monday, January 16, 2012
Good Mood Foods
"Good mood foods" can leave you less irritable and cranky because they stabilize your blood sugar. High quality carbs, like oatmeal (a slow-release carb with soluble fiber); as well as proteins, like lentils (a good carb and protein), are on this list. Try our Wholesome Chicken Soup and Beef 'n' Bean Soup, both loaded with lentils and other good proteins and carbs; and Good4You Oat Pancakes and Any Fruit Crisp, for a low fat dessert that is loaded with oatmeal. Sounds like a simple, good meal on a cold, snowy night! Check out wmsyacres.com.
Friday, January 6, 2012
It's a New Year!
Welcome to 2012!
I am posting today because it feels like a Monday. We are officially done with the holidays, spent time with the grandkids, put away the Christmas decorations (most), finished up checks and deposits for 2011 for the farm, and now we move onto tax preparation and a new month.
What lovely weather we've been having with record highs this week - above 60! It's so nice not to have to deal with snow and ice, but I am getting concerned over the serious lack of moisture and the impact on this year's crops and water supplies. Pray for rain.
I am in the process of vamping up for the Women in Denim seminar at the end of this month. If you live near the Storm Lake, IA, area, you should check it out! We have a great time - just us women, and we get pampered. I may even stay over this year instead of driving home at night; we'll see if my daughter can come to help me out with the show.
Enough about me. This week I'd like to talk about getting through the holidays, or just plain eating out at restaurants, and dealing with watching your sodium in foods. I overdid this season with too many meals out in a short time, and I am paying for it now. I've felt awful - plus I picked up a virus which lead into sinus infection; and I am making an effort to get back on track now that I'm feeling better. I am proud to say I survived the holidays this year without gaining any weight and continuing on my weight loss. It's very suttle - 1 pound - but it means a lot to me to break through a plateau I've been sitting on for several months. Yay!
Do you weight yourself every day? When I was diagnosed "sodium sensitive", I was told to weight myself every morning before I got dressed in order to keep track of my fluid accumulation. So, I get up, go to the bathroom, weigh, then get dressed. It's my marker for the day as to how close I need to watch my diet and fluid. It's a habit now for me, which I find keeps me on track. You should try it. I've been doing it so long now that I know when I've eaten out I can plan on a weight increase of a few pounds in a couple of days. It takes my body 2 days to show the extra fluid from a bad day of eating, and you will notice your body's schedule if you do this every day.
So now I don't even have to use the scale to know I have extra fluid on my body - my clothes tell me! I have also learned to keep some clothes that are a little looser for those days, so I don't feel stuffed into my clothes.
I don't have as many of those days as I used to a few years ago since I learned the foods to avoid and/or limit. I make a rule that I can cheat at 1 meal as long as I make up for it at another meal that same day - for instance, eat plain oatmeal and fruit for breakfast and a very low sodium lunch if you plan to go out for a steak that evening (since those are loaded with sodium).
As for eating fast food - I like to use McDonald's (yes, McD's) where I get a plain hamburger, and sometimes fries if I've been good that day. That plain hamburger has way less sodium than anything else on their menu - unless you like to eat lettuce with no dressing. A salad with their dressing is pretty high in sodium compared to the sandwiches, so don't assume salads are always better for you. You can pick up their nutrition information at their locations or check it out online before you go to eat. You'll be surprised, and so will they. I had a worker at an Arby's discuss that with me when they were having a slow day. He was amazed at the difference in sodium levels, and had never even thought they were so unhealthy. By the way, the Arby's roast beef, smaller size, isn't too bad for sodium either.
All this talk about food has made me hungry for lunch! Have a great weekend. Until next time - Sue
I am posting today because it feels like a Monday. We are officially done with the holidays, spent time with the grandkids, put away the Christmas decorations (most), finished up checks and deposits for 2011 for the farm, and now we move onto tax preparation and a new month.
What lovely weather we've been having with record highs this week - above 60! It's so nice not to have to deal with snow and ice, but I am getting concerned over the serious lack of moisture and the impact on this year's crops and water supplies. Pray for rain.
I am in the process of vamping up for the Women in Denim seminar at the end of this month. If you live near the Storm Lake, IA, area, you should check it out! We have a great time - just us women, and we get pampered. I may even stay over this year instead of driving home at night; we'll see if my daughter can come to help me out with the show.
Enough about me. This week I'd like to talk about getting through the holidays, or just plain eating out at restaurants, and dealing with watching your sodium in foods. I overdid this season with too many meals out in a short time, and I am paying for it now. I've felt awful - plus I picked up a virus which lead into sinus infection; and I am making an effort to get back on track now that I'm feeling better. I am proud to say I survived the holidays this year without gaining any weight and continuing on my weight loss. It's very suttle - 1 pound - but it means a lot to me to break through a plateau I've been sitting on for several months. Yay!
Do you weight yourself every day? When I was diagnosed "sodium sensitive", I was told to weight myself every morning before I got dressed in order to keep track of my fluid accumulation. So, I get up, go to the bathroom, weigh, then get dressed. It's my marker for the day as to how close I need to watch my diet and fluid. It's a habit now for me, which I find keeps me on track. You should try it. I've been doing it so long now that I know when I've eaten out I can plan on a weight increase of a few pounds in a couple of days. It takes my body 2 days to show the extra fluid from a bad day of eating, and you will notice your body's schedule if you do this every day.
So now I don't even have to use the scale to know I have extra fluid on my body - my clothes tell me! I have also learned to keep some clothes that are a little looser for those days, so I don't feel stuffed into my clothes.
I don't have as many of those days as I used to a few years ago since I learned the foods to avoid and/or limit. I make a rule that I can cheat at 1 meal as long as I make up for it at another meal that same day - for instance, eat plain oatmeal and fruit for breakfast and a very low sodium lunch if you plan to go out for a steak that evening (since those are loaded with sodium).
As for eating fast food - I like to use McDonald's (yes, McD's) where I get a plain hamburger, and sometimes fries if I've been good that day. That plain hamburger has way less sodium than anything else on their menu - unless you like to eat lettuce with no dressing. A salad with their dressing is pretty high in sodium compared to the sandwiches, so don't assume salads are always better for you. You can pick up their nutrition information at their locations or check it out online before you go to eat. You'll be surprised, and so will they. I had a worker at an Arby's discuss that with me when they were having a slow day. He was amazed at the difference in sodium levels, and had never even thought they were so unhealthy. By the way, the Arby's roast beef, smaller size, isn't too bad for sodium either.
All this talk about food has made me hungry for lunch! Have a great weekend. Until next time - Sue
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)