Eat at Home Challenge Day 7

I did it. I made it a week without dining out! (with the one exception previously blogged about)
I started with a doctor's appointment which was a diabetic follow up. My blood results were in. She was pleased with the weight loss and the effort I have been putting towards my health. She was pleased with my food habits. She also said that my Cholesterol was perfect! She re-arranged my diabetes pills a little, increasing one of the pills that I am on but I still remain insulin free. She told me that I should increase my exercise (mainly cardio and aerobic) which is something that I promise to do, and she also told me that if I were to lose a little more weight that it would definitely be beneficial to my diabetes. (Of course she is going to say that, but I am going to work really hard to lose a few lbs.)
So after the appointment I cooked some eggs (2 egg whites and 2 whole eggs) with onions and tomatoes and also some toast with jelly! Then off to a good sweaty work out with Lynn. I also set up an "Exercise" Calendar and also a "Fasting Blood sugar" Calendar on the computer, so hopefully that will help me keep even better track of my daily rituals.
Before work I had a small piece of leftover Mousakka and some Broccoli/Cauliflower Mac-N-cheese. I am finding that if i use a salad plate, instead of a large dinner plate that I can fill it up more and still save calories by controlling portions.
After my shift I went to take my blood sugar, but found that I was out of Test Strips in my case, so I don't have a reading for last night but I DO know that it had to be good, probably right around 100.
So it had been a week, I had reached my goal, and I went to celebrate at Steak-N-Shake with Bobby. I had a coupon for a Cheesy Cheeseburger which came with Cheese Fries. My God it was delicious! I ate every bite of the Burger, but only ate about half of the fries. As I was eating it I tried not to feel guilty like i do sometimes, I earned this and I should be able to have it every once in a while, that being said, when i was done, i was done and no longer had that "itch" to eat more.
What did I learn from this week?
I learned that i can enjoy my food at home just as much, if not more, as dining out. However I don't want to give up dining out either. I love the experience of looking at a menu and deciding what I want. I love the act of being waited on and having the server bring the food to me. But mostly what I Love, and also what was the hardest thing to give up in this challenge, is going out to eat with friends. There is something special about going with co-workers for a bite to eat after work, or meeting someone you haven't seen in a while for lunch, or going for a meal with your boyfriend! I will not give it up, but I will try to keep everything in a nice balance!
Thanks for reading!

Eat at Home Challenge Day 6

Started with a yogurt and some trail mix. I had made a Rachael Ray Recipe for a Whole Wheat Pasta, Broccoli and Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese Casserole the night before, so when it was close to lunch time all I had to do was put it in the oven. It wasn't the best Mac-N-Cheese ever, but it wasn't bad for being a slightly "healthier" version. Then in the evening it was leftovers, some Chili and CornBread from two days prior, and a basic spinach salad with almonds, goat cheese and dried cranberries. I must say that leftovers can be really enjoyable. I also had some Cheetos throughout the day, and I ended with a bowl of Cereal before bed. I should have exercised at some point but did not. My 10 hour fasting sugar was 137. Not the greatest, makes me want to work harder. I have a Doctor's appointment today, so we shall see what my blood levels are at very shortly!

Eat at Home Challenge Day 5

This morning I got up and drove to Tampa to see Michael and Leif. This was a trip that had been planned for weeks, and they had planned to take me to a restaurant for lunch called Thai Ginger. When I mentioned at the beginning of this challenge that I had already committed to "dining out" once during the week this is what i was referring to, and i must say that it was pretty good. We started out with spring rolls and coconut shrimp for appetizers and then I had Amazing Chicken (Yes, that is the name of it) which was Chicken and Vegetables in a sweet peanut sauce. I have had it before at another thai restaurant and loved it, and i must say that this place tasted just as good.
Then we went shopping for groceries, since we would be cooking for dinner at home that evening.
Leif suggested that we all do a session of Zumba that he had on video. It was quite fun and we all burned a few calories which was a good idea considering the cookies that we would have later.
On to dinner, We all worked together and made a delicious Eggplant Parmesan, some Pesto Pasta and Garlic Bread. (Michael's dog Sachi co-stars in the photo) Everything turned out really good, and surprisingly i was full and did not go back for a second plate. But then came out the pillsbury cookies, buy one get one free, how could we resist? I ate too many! but after a drive back to Orlando and a 12 hour fast (Yes, I realize that is too long to fast) I had a morning blood sugar of 125.

Eat at Home Challenge Day 4

I started the day with a bowl of cereal with a little trail mix and a sliced banana. Then my friend Jasmine came over from Sarasota and I cooked some Chilli, Corn Bread, and made a Salad. It was both delicious and hearty. Then off to work, where for the second day in a row my fasting sugar after 8 hours was 108. Then a plate of left overs which contained the rest of the salad, a small piece of Mousakka, and half of the last Onion burger. Leftovers are a wonderful thing! Tampa tomorrow!

Eat at Home Challenge Day 3

Day 3 started with a big breakfast, Scrambled Eggs with Roasted Red Peppers and Zuchinni, Home Fried Potatoes and a piece of Toast. Mid-afternoon was a Fresh Fruit Smoothie. Pre-Work meal was a plate of leftover Mousakka, the rest of the Home Fries and some Pasta with Chicken and Vegetables. The portions stayed relatively small, and after an 8 hour fast during work, I came home to a blood sugar of 108. Then my dinner was an Onion Burger with a few Sunchips. I realize that all of these choices may not be the "healthiest", however I am finding that I can have very satisfying food WITHOUT going "Out to Eat" all of the time. Saving a few extra calories, and a lot of extra dollars!

Eat at Home Challenge Day 2

Today was a little easier. I started the day with a bowl of cereal, Corn Flakes that i added some Dried Cranberries and Mixed Nuts to. Lunch was a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich with a handful of Sunchips. Dinner a sandwich of Turkey, Ham, Roast Beef, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion and Cheese on an Onion Roll. and for late night, another bowl of Cereal.
I had a stomach ache for a little while, maybe my body is missing all of those preservatives and mystery ingredients?

Eat at Home Challenge Day 1

Well, i did it!
I got up, picked up John Clor and ran some errands...Bank, Bloodwork for next weeks Doctor's appt, and then some grocery shopping.
I knew that I would have to stock up on some things if I were going to be eating at home for the week.
I spent the day snacking on things like sunchips, hummus, apples, and nuts.
Then for my big meal of the day I made a Moussaka. I fell in love with Moussaka about three years ago and i have had it at six or seven different restaurants around Florida and New York, and I have also made it at home from two different recipes. The one I make from this particular recipe is my absolute favorite, layers of Eggplant, Potatoes, Beef and Onions, with a Creamy Custard on the top! I thought it would be nice to start out the week of home cookin' with something that I adore! and the leftovers are usually just as delicious! I paired it with a basic Ceasar Salad which jazzed up with some cucumbers, tomatoes and a little bit of cheese.
I will go to bed satisfied and fulfilled.