Seattle

Four Days in Seattle.
It has been a long time since I enjoyed a new city so much.
The weather was perfection and I loved the lack of humidity (Florida can be so gross in the summers)
Great restaurants, great times with a friend from college who i haven't seen in 13 or 14 years, beautiful produce at Pikes place Market, and lots of good seafood (as many of you know, I hate seafood and will only hesitantly take small bites of it, but I can still appreciate it, and find enjoyment in how delicious other people seem to think it is)

Just a couple of highlights...

The breakfasts from the Local Yoke across from out hotel in Lynnwood, with biscuits the size of baseballs.

The lunch we had with Leslie at the Bite of Seattle.

a delicious cobb salad at Salty's.

and the Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwich at the Urbane before we headed to the airport.

Mt. Rainier

Two days at an amazing cabin at Mt. Rainier national Park was an incredible experience.
Not only were the views breathtakingly beautiful, but I didn't think that I would enjoy going for three hour hikes as much as I did.

Foodwise the area was limited, but there were a couple of nearby restaurants such as the Wild Berry Restaurant and Bakery where I had my first ever piece of Huckleberry Pie.

But our favorite place was the Copper Creek Inn where one night for dinner I had Hawaiian Chicken Cordon Bleu with Asaragus, Baked Potato, Salad and Garlic Cheese Bread (so hungry after hiking that I ate every bite) and the next morning we stopped back by for breakfast before we headed to Seattle.

Portland

The next three posts are just going to be pictures and food descriptions.
Then I will follow up with a diabetes update.

Portland, the first stop on our trip, was quite a beautiful and interesting city.
We didn't have a whole lot planned on our agenda, but managed to find plenty to do including delicious food that we had previously looked up on the internet.

The world famous VooDoo Doughnut not only allowed me to try the amazing Bacon Maple Bar, but also provided us with a box of sinful deliciousness to snack on throughout the week.

My favorite meal of the entire trip came from Tin Shed Garden Cafe. Squashed- Fresh gorgonzola- butternut squash ravioli, spinach & mushrooms in a rosemary-port cream sauce,
topped with parmesan cheese and candied walnuts
This is a dish that I was highly anticipating, and I was not in the least bit disappointed!

and we also were referred by a local to the Davis Street Tavern where I had one of the best Artisanal Cheese plates ever!

getting ready for Vacation!

So I apologize for not writing every day.
I'm getting ready to go on vacation.
Portland, Mt. Rainier, and Seattle
I'm excited for the trip and also for all of the delicious food.
I will take lots of photos and write a recap when I return.
I will keep up with my blood sugars.
I did recently have a fasting sugar of 123.
That was a day when I didn't play the 10 French Fries game, and i ate them all.
I need not do that.
Other then that I have had sugars in the 80s and 90s.
I have also managed to keep some of the weight off.
My highest ever has been 199, but I have stayed in the mid 180s for awhile now, however for the past week or so i have been either 180 or 179.
Next weight goal .... around 175
Next Blood Sugar goal.... under 100 for a week straight
Both goals are completely achievable!
Off for Seattle, I'll write when I get back!

Tuesday, July 6th

Great food with a couple of tricks thrown in.
Started the day with a not so typical breakfast of Guacamole.
I took two small Avocados and the juice of one Lime and mashed them together.
Then i opened up a bag of multigrain chips.
I ate all of the Guacamole (but only about half of the bag of chips) but I ate it in two sittings, once early morning and the rest in the mid-afternoon.
Then off to a workout with Lynn.
Then off to a housewarming party for one of my managers where I had three crackers with cheese and then Addison and I split this Giant Hot Dog. (3 big bites is better then the whole thing)
Then Addy and myself went to a meeting with a friend at Elephant Bar.
I had Fresh Whole Milk Mozzarella with Bruschetta Tomatoes and also Fresh Pear, Glazed Walnuts and Gorgonzola Side Salad.
Then off for a night of dancing at I Bar.
My legs are definitely sore from the dancing and the workout.
Then after the bar we went across the street to eat and I had a Gyro (No Fries) and I didn't eat all of the Pita either.
I was completely satisfied and didn't overdo it.
this morning's blood sugar.....89!

Monday, july 5th

What a day of eating!
I was at Wal-Mart picking up a few things and I was planning on eating somewhere when I left, and then i remembered someone telling me that they had a pretty good deli. I went and looked and I did see some Chicken Tenders that looked delicious, along with some side items, and then the lady asked if she could help me.....
Lets see....
Wal-Mart Lady "What looks good to you?"
Me "Chicken Tenders, Do they come as a meal? or just buy the pound?"
Wal-Mart Lady "Either one"
Me "I'll have the meal"
Wal-Mart Lady "Do you want the $3 Meal? or the $4 Meal?"
Me "The $4 Meal, Of Course"
Wal-Mart Lady "What 2 sides do you want?"
Me "Mac-n-Cheese and Jalapeno Poppers"
Wal-Mart Lady "You're gonna love the Jalapenos"

She was right!
I did!

Then for my evening meal Mark and i went to Graffiti Junktion.
I can't believe that after all this time that this was the first time that he had been.
It is always one of my favorites. We split the Potato Skins appetizer. and then i had my usual Burger, well done with Bleu cheese.
I ate most of my Burger, and about 10 full french fries.
My French Fry trick is to either just eat 10 fries, and then leave the rest
or what i did tonight....
Eat about 20, but only take one bite out of each fry.
I find that the portions they usually give are way too much (although they are so delicious that it would be easy for me to complete them) and then by doing it this way I get full french fry flavor and satisfaction, and still feel a little relief knowing that I saved a few calories by not cleaning my plate.

So, after a fast of almost 7 hours, my blood sugar was 87.
Not bad considering it was a day of basically ALL THINGS FRIED.

Goal for tomorrow... perhaps a salad, and some other vegetable at some point during the day!

Sunday, July 4th

I did better today.
I cooked.
Sweet Potato, coconut and hazelnut casserole.
Baked Eggplant Parmesan.
I ate small amounts throughout the day.
I worked a long shift and snacked throughout.
I didn't go crazy.
My blood sugar was actually too low.
70
Perhaps I should eat a little more.
Or
Hopefully...
Dr. Greaves will take me off of insulin all together.

Pasta!

Usually when I eat PASTA I end up with high blood sugars.
This makes me a little sad, because not only is it easy to prepare, but you can flavor it up so many ways.
Pesto, Marinara,(and dare i say it....) Alfredo!!!
Although i will never completely give it up, I do try to not eat it all of the time like i would like to.
So yesterday when my parents were coming to town I asked them where they would like to meet, and of course they said..
BUCA DI BEPPO
They always insist on the APPLE GORGONZOLA SALAD Tart Granny Smith apples, spiced walnuts, dried cranberries and Gorgonzola cheese tossed with our fresh lettuce blend in our signature Italian vinaigrette.
It is delicious and I will never complain.
However they usually want the lemon chicken, which is also great, but today I talked them in to PENNE SAN REMO Tender chicken breast, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes and peas tossed with imported Italian penne pasta in a white wine cream sauce.
I had it once before and it is excellent!
Now the good thing for me (and Nicole) was that they sent all of the leftovers home with me to enjoy after the bar, which i did.

Now as for blood sugar, i probably should have eaten a slightly smaller portion before bed, but I had a morning reading of 108.
Now that IS the highest that it has been in 12 days, but remember my Doctor wants it to be between 90 and 120, so 108 isn't half bad, especially since I did have PASTA!

How is that for justification?
I do plan on lowering it tonight!
I'll keep you updated!

Consistency!

So I have not blogged in a week or so, however I must have been doing something right.
My last eleven morning blood sugars:
78
99
85
86
92
100
96
104
83
98
99
I have been eating what I normally do. Nothing special or out of the ordinary.
You can tell by the photos.
The only thing differently that i have been doing is maybe leaving a little bit on my plate?
Maybe eating a little less before i go to bed?
I have eaten delicious, extremely satisfying things!
I have been very regular with my eating and taking my medication, i know that helps.
My next Doctor's visit is in August.
If I keep this up perhaps I can get off insulin all together!
We will see.....