Pantry Challenge Day 1

 Today was the first full day from the Pantry Challenge.  Well, I should say, pantry fridge and freezer challenge.  It was pretty easy today!

For breakfast we usually kinda fend for ourselves unless it's the weekend or special occasion.  The boys often have breakfast before I get up because, let's face it, I'm NOT a morning person!  They often get up before Daddy leaves for work at 730, but I don't get up until 8 or 830 (9 if I'm lucky!!)  Scrappy has a tendency to just give Monkey a granola bar since he's not a cereal eater. Sometimes we change it up with peanut butter toast.

Scrappy likes oatmeal or cereal or yogurt with cereal or granola.  Rarely he'll make an egg.

I'm more of a Maltomeal or yogurt and granola breakfast person... sometimes an egg... 

So, I rarely "plan" breakfasts.

Today, Monkey had a granola bar and peanut butter toast, Scrappy grazed on all kinds of stuff before finally making a bowl of oatmeal, and I had some raspberry yogurt with granola cereal.

Lunch was a repeat of yesterday: Italian dunkers: the rest of the garlic Texas toast from the freezer - mine and Scrappy's with some cheese on it, and some leftover spaghetti sauce warmed up.

For supper I made a banana chocolate chip baked oatmeal and sausage patties. 

I was making an apple cinnamon one for a friend, so I threw one together for us while I had all the stuff out already.  (There isn't much left.... that may be breakfast tomorrow - depending on if Princess eats it tonight after work!!)

I've started planning a little bit of the week out.  I'm not sure how true to the schedule I'm going to be able to stay.  I haven't plugged in lunches yet because if I cook depends on how much leftovers we have.  Except tomorrow since I know we don't have much.

I have a list of some foods in the fridge I'm trying to work into my plan because I don't want to throw them out.  Here is this week's plan (so far!)

Wednesday: breakfast: yogurt & granola for me and Scrappy, freezer waffles for Monkey

lunch: Egg roll ravioli (using up some egg roll wrappers) stuffed with veggies, eggs, and cottage cheese with a garlic scape pesto

supper: Egg rolls with cabbage, carrots, and Italian sausage, veggie fried rice, and dessert egg rolls

Thursday (work day): supper: Pancakes with blueberry sauce

Friday: supper: chicken tacos (I have a couple big packages - about 5# each - of taco seasoned chicken in the freezer)

Saturday: lunch: chicken tortilla soup or white chicken chili

supper: Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes

Like I said, this is the plan.  I'll see how well we can stick to it.  I'm hoping to get a chance to go through the freezer and see what else I have in there.  I want to cook up and can some of my dried beans since I'm low on canned beans.  I haven't seen a really good sale on them lately.  I did get some kidney beans in chili sauce.

Let's see how well we do!!

What did YOU make today?

It's been a while

A lot has happened since I last posted.  After my Opa left us, I had a hard time with a lot of things. 

But I'm back now. 

I'm better now.

And I have a mission.

I'm working on a frugality challenge right now.  I started it this afternoon.  But I need accountability to help keep me going and doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

Which is why I'm here.

And I'm inviting anyone reading this to join in.

Too often I find myself resorting to quick and easy fixes for meals, and don't worry about the nutritional value in the food.  Or the calories.  I really need to.

I had gastric bypass surgery on March 4 this year.  I had struggled with so many failed diets, then tore my calf muscle which benched me from exercise.  Then came the diabetes.  4 finger pokes a day.  2 insulin injections a day.  Struggling with lows because wasn't eating often enough.  Then the highs came.  300+ blood sugars.  Elevated liver enzymes. My health was going quickly downhill, so my doctors recommended bypass.

Here I am, 6 months later, and 60 pounds lighter.  I lost all of my weight so far in the first 3 months, and really haven't lost much since.  But I know I need to increase my activity.  And I need to be more conscious of the choices I make in my food.  Ideally, my diet should consist of 70% protein and 30% other (mostly veg).

So in addition to eating healthy, I'm giving myself a Pantry Challenge.

Here's the rules:

1) Anything in my pantry/fridge/freezer is fair game.  Pretty much, any FOOD in my house is fair game.

2) I'm allowing myself a WEEKLY budget of $20 to put towards any meals (milk is not included in this budget because my kids go through 1/2-1 gallon per day.  When I buy milk, I try to buy it when I go to town 30+miles away, because  (like today) I was able to purchase it for $3.19 per gallon, whereas if I purchase in town 3 miles away, it's $5.35 per gallon.  This morning I bought a gallon close to home because I NEEDED it, then I bought 6 gallons when I went into the bigger town)

3) I'm TRYING to get my husband on board, but I know he wants an exception for his Coke.  Without it, he gets migraines 😢

4) USE UP leftovers.  Yes, my chickens LOVE getting treats in the form of people food that would otherwise be thrown out, but we need to be throwing out LESS.

Now to the plan:

On Friday, we met with Hubby for lunch and took a couple pizzas.  There was half of each pizza left over, and he forgot them at work.  Today he brought them home so that was supper.  Quick and easy.

Tomorrow I have to work (unless Monkey has to go to the hospital... he had a feeding tube put in about a month ago and has granulation and bleeding coming from the tube.  Waiting to hear on what the clinic wants us to do... I messaged them yesterday, called and messaged and sent photos a couple times today... but the GI doc was out.)  I made an apple baked oatmeal to take to a friend today, so I mixed up a second oatmeal -banana chocolate chip - and stuck it in the fridge.  Supper tomorrow night - just 30-40 minutes in the oven and top with milk. Mmmm.

Tomorrow morning we are also going to another small town near us to see what's coming on the Food Truck.  Basically it's a mobile food pantry.  There are no income or residency requirements.  My great uncle actually works as a volunteer with it and said that if people don't show up for it, they won't do it.  It's all surplus food that is distributed so it won't go to waste.  (Even with the people showing up they still have excess food.)  Sometimes there are dairy boxes (milk close on date, 5 lb tub of yogurt, cheese, sour cream, etc), sometimes there are meat boxes (fully cooked frozen sausage patties, bacon, meatballs, etc) and there is always fruit and veggies (corn, green beans, tomatoes, peppers, and more).  There are usually other odds and ends.  Last time we got a big box (20+ pounds) of granola cereal, crackers, pina colada mix, instant mashed potatoes.  I can't wait to see what's on the truck this week!!

I'm going to start working on a list for meal ideas... tomorrow after we "meet the truck," I'll have a better idea of what is going to be on which day.  I'm hoping to post again then 😁😁😁

Let me know in the comments if you want to play along!  What meals are you making this week?

I made it!!!

Yesterday was Day45.  I made it.  But it was very difficult, especially this last week.  I almost gave up several times this last week.

I received a text message on the morning of March 10 that my Opa, my very best friend in the world, was in the hospital and wasn't doing well.  See, Opa was diagnosed with cancer Dec 16, 2016, and it had spread.  But he had been fighting it fiercely.  

But the message I got had me getting my children situated and hopping in my vehicle and on my way to the hospital in less than an hour.

I spent the entire day there with much of my family.  My Opa was on pain medications much of the time.  I was grateful to have a little bit of time alone with him while he was lucid to tell him things that he already knew but I felt I just had to say.  And to hear him tell me he loved me too one last time.

I lost my Opa on Saturday evening.  I was with him when he went to heaven.  I had prayed with him just a short time earlier.  First I had prayed God would give us a miracle.  Then I prayed God would take my Opa's pain away.  I miss him terribly, but it was worse to see him suffering so.

It was a very rough week between his passing and his funeral.  I battle with depression on a regular basis as it is, but losing him sent me into a deeper than normal depression and I had difficulty with functioning as normal.  He was my person, my one to call, the one who I could talk to about anything in the world.

I stuck with my Whole45 plan because I knew Opa would want me to.  My health was important to him.  It was something we often discussed.  We would compete when he was gone for the winter to see who would lose the most weight, or who would have the most bragging rights for exercising, or who had been to the gym the most often.

So...

I kept with the plan and pushed through.  I made it all 45 days.  Since Jan 1, when I started pushing my weight loss efforts, I've lost a total of 15 pounds. 

I've had some great NSVs (non-scale victories) too! 

• I don't have heartburn all the time. 
• My hemoglobin is usually around 12.5, the minimum for donating blood.  At my last blood donation it was over 14!
• I tried on a dress for the funeral on Saturday that I've never worn - it fit.  It was a size SMALLER than I normally wear!!
• My blood pressure, which is usually normal, is even lower.
• My black yoga pants are falling down :)
• I sleep better at night.
• I have less cravings.

As of today I can add back in my grains, dairy, and beans.  Scrappy has been talking about pizza all week so he's had me craving it, so we ordered Papa Murphy's.  Unfortunately I overdid it :(   I should know with pizza.  I don't eat it very often because it's one of my foods-without-brakes.  Fortunately it doesn't happen with frozen pizza - I'm not much of a fan of frozen pizza.  And I have a plan to get back on track tomorrow morning.

My plan now is to try to stay on Whole30-plus-dairy-grains-and-beans-with-an-occasional-treat until after my surgery.  I think it would be hard to be on plan while I'm recovering from my surgery because cooking would be difficult.  I'm also hoping to get my bicycle out soon because I want to start riding it more.  Monkey likes his bike helmet now, so hopefully I can get him to ride in the bike trailer this year!

R1D30!!!

Oh wow!! OMG I made it to Day 30!!  I still have 15 days to go since I decided my first bout is going to be a 45 day test, but I'm still super excited that I made it this far!!  I can't wait to see what my weigh in results are. 

I've been thinking about it, and decided I want to do a post on all my favorite Whole30 recipes and meals.  I'm sure it will turn in to more than one post.  I'm going to be sure to post the ones that were not so good too.  I think I found a favorite recently too!!!  Who would have thought chicken and cucumbers would have been such a great combination??

I did a little bit of running around today after taking Monkey to preschool.  It was just misting until I went to pick him up.  Then it started raining.  After we got home it started sleeting.  Princess got home from school 2 hours early because the weather was supposed to get bad... well... it started snowing.  Thunder-snowing.  And lightning.  She's been home for 2 hours and we probably have at least 2 inches of snow.

Everything is cancelled or postponed for the day.  Princess was supposed to have a concert tonight.  Scraps was supposed to have archery.  I can't see half a block away.  I think I'll just camp out right here with some crochet.  I'm actually COLD right now...  I did go to the meat market and get a couple soup bones... maybe I'll make some soup tomorrow...

Fountains Upon Fountains

I had every intention of writing last week.  I really did!!

I was on a roll!!

I was cooking.
I was cleaning.
I was getting my workouts in.

And then it happened....

Princess got a stomach ache...  and it's been slowly taking the rest of us out...

I kept her home from school for 3 days.  Hoping and praying it was just her and she wasn't going to share.

I mean, I try to teach my kids to share.  Every good parent does.  But for the love of all that is good - not germs.  Please don't share your germs.

Friday Princess was back at school....

.... and I was down for the count.

No please! No please! Nopleasenopleaseno!!  If you're a parent, especially a stay home, homeschool parent, or heaven forbid, a special needs parent, you know what I mean!!  We don't have time to be sick!!

I did the only thing I could think of... bribed Scrappy... no homework and some babysitting money to help out with his brother.  Thankfully Monkey was good, save for wanting to snuggle with Mommy.  I told Daddy he HAD to come home and there was NO working for him over the weekend because I couldn't manage running Princess to the extra dance practice AND wrangling the boys while being sick. 

I did feel well enough for a little outing to the craft store to get some stuff for work on Sunday (plus I needed the fresh air and to get away from my little angels who I love so much!)

Monday morning, right on cue, hubby was taken down by it, and yesterday it struck my Monkey.

I'm finally feeling well enough to get back into my routine.  I knew I was bad off when I couldn't even keep up with my bujo!!  At least I managed to stay on plan with my Whole45!!

Sharks and Dragons

Day 12 of my Whole45 and I am doing well!!

OK, I am struggling a little bit.  In the bujo world (this is a little TMI) this is called Shark Week, so my Sugar Dragon is coming out and wanting to attack.  I'm a little tired and battling with a mild headache.  It started yesterday, so I went to bed early in spite of it being Valentine's Day.  I got close to 10 hours of sleep last night!! 

I was too broke to buy anything for my sweetheart, but I cooked him a good meal and gave him my first drawing that I've done. 

I can't draw to save my life, but that doesn't mean I'm not trying to learn!  He was impressed :)  He didn't believe me at first that, besides using a compass to draw the circles themselves, everything else was done freehand!!  I'm happy that he liked it!  For supper I had made Whole30 beef and broccoli except I didn't have any coconut aminos so I told everyone else to just add soy sauce to their meat.  The kids didn't like the sunshine sauce, but he and I really did!

For lunch the boys and I had made zoodles with my Veggetti.  We had gotten it at Walmart a while ago for only $7 on clearance.  I wish I would have opened it earlier - it's so easy to use!!  I cooked some chicken with garlic powder, salt and onion, then tossed to zoodles in the pan with some fat and cooked those for a few minutes, and topped them with the chicken and some tomatoes.  Soooo gooood!!

Veggetti

Zoodles with chicken and tomatoes

I know it's against the rules to weigh during Whole30, but I had an appointment with the dietitian earlier this week.  She wanted to see how I was doing with my weight loss because that was the reason I was seeing her, and we discussed W30 a lot.  I'm down 5 pounds since my last appointment with her!!!!  I told her about my plans to do Whole45 and she was fine with that.  I asked for input on doing it long term.  So we have a plan.

Long term is fine, as long as I take some breaks in between... 30-45 days on, 2-4 weeks off, reintroducing beans, grains, and dairy, then 30-45 (60/90) days on.  If I decide I want to do more than the 45 I should let her know.  Sometimes people do 60-90 days, but I'm not sure if I want to do that long.  I think doing 30-45 is a good amount of time to keep me on track and compliant.  My journal and blogging should help me keep on track too.

Emily, the dietitian, also said it's OK to break one of the rules - which isn't a food rule.  I should continue with my weekly weigh ins because I'm doing the Whole45 and because I need to get myself into a healthy weight range.  Weight actually IS an important part of this for me. 

We set a goal of another 5 pounds for my next appointment in a month.  I wasn't getting all the water I need to in each day, so that's another one of my goals, and to get my 30 minutes in 4x a week, since I'd been slacking on that.  If I can get my exercise back on track I will really be doing amazing!!

Here is my tracker from my bujo.  I really love the quote on the top:  Do not reward yourself with food.  You are NOT a dog!!

Eat ALL the things

Today is Day 5 of my Whole45.  (It's still Whole30, but I'm planning on going for 45 days instead.)  I know we're not supposed to weigh during it, but I had a doctor's appointment today and they HAD to weigh me.  SO I can say I KNOW I'm making progress in that department even though weight isn't the point of the program. Yay me!!

Last night I made shepherd's pie using this recipe as a guide.  I never would have thought of pureed mushrooms and onions working as a gravy!!!  I did adapt the gravy a bit because I didn't have all the stuff... I had canned mushrooms on hand, and no bone broth, so I pureed the mushrooms and onions with a little bit of water BEFORE cooking them and added a little bit of nutritional yeast to it for a little bit extra flavor.  I added cauliflower, broccoli, and spinach for veggies, and used white potatoes since I didn't have any sweet potatoes.  It must have been good if my husband and both boys ate it!!  (Princess was at youth group so she didn't eat supper at home.

I know the timeline predicts Days 4-5 as Kill ALL The Things, but I don't think I've been in an unpleasant mood at all.  At least, not without justification.  Of course, every mom is going to get out of sorts at the teen or boys when they're being naughty or mouthy or whatever.  But around here, it's just been... life.