I'm trying

Yesterday at our nutrition class we talked alot about reading labels and figuring out recipes.  I decided I needed to give it a try with a recipe since I like to cook.  First I decided I needed to invest in a food scale.  I went to Costco and found a digital one for $18.99--not too much of an investment.  But it works well and it's thin and fits in my cupboard.  My son wanted me to make BBQ chicken pizza.  First I made the dough--my recipe is really just flour a little sugar a little salt and yeast--no fats.  Then I grated the cheese and weighed it--only 6 oz. for the whole pizza--I weighed the chicken--6 oz.  for the pizza then I chopped up a bunch of red onion, red, orange and yellow peppers and cilantro.  I measured out 4 tablespoons of BBQ sauce.  I put the dough on the stone when it was ready and had it all perfect and then remembered I didn't weigh it--but I didn't want to take it off--so I kept going and added all my weighed and measured items.  While it was baking I got the calculator out and tryed to figure out the carbs and protein and fat and divide it by 12 because that was how many slices I was going to cut it into.   I think I figured it out about right--but I sure thought it was alot of effort.  By the time I was done I thought maybe I should stick with a grilled chicken breast and a salad--that's easy to figure out.  Really, it was a good effort--but I think I'll try to find something on line to figure it out for me--I never did like math.
Oh by the way, the pizza was delicious.  I ate two pieces and had a big salad and felt good about it!

Food Rules

I picked up a little book the other day called Food Rules by Michael Pollan.  It has 64 simple rules for eating healthily and happily.  Some of my favorites are:

#2  Don't eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.
#20  It's not food if it arrived through the window of your car.
#36  Don't eat breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk.
#57  Don't get your fuel from the same place your car does.
#60  Treat treats as treats.

All of the rules have made me think more about what I eat and how I eat.  Anyway, knowledge is good on this journey. 

Tina and I worked out with Chad today at the gym.  He makes working out much more enjoyable--keep telling us stories Chad--it keeps us going.  Tina also inspires me--she works so hard!  We talked to a man at the gym today who was in the employee 100 day challenge--he lost 30 pounds and doesn't have to take his blood pressure medication any longer.  Awesome example.  He told us to keep going and that it works.  He also told us to wear headphones when we don't want to listen to Chad--but really like I said--I like Chad's stories and his words of confidence that kept me going today.  Thanks Chad and Tina--it's great to be on this journey with you both to help me.

One week into challenge

Well it's been one week since I started the 100 day challenge.  I'm a little tired today.  It's been a really busy week--lots of extra responsibilites in my schedule this week.  But I feel pretty good.
We went to our first meeting with our nutritionist on Thursay.  I'm not sure I understand all that we went over--there is alot!  It seems a little confusing to figure out all the carbs in everything--but I'm sure I'll get better at it. I know that tracking what I eat really helps.  It keeps me accountable and helps me see where I need to improve.  It also helps me have balance--I need to eat more vegetables!  I've exercised everyday except Sunday--so I think that is good.  My legs felt a little fatigued by the time I finished my walk today--but I know I'm going to get stronger if I just stay consistent.  I used to be a really consistent walker--but I've slacked off in the last few months--so I know I can do it again.  I know I feel better when I exercise.  Tina and I will work out with Chad on Tuesday--that will be fun?

We met our trainer!

We met with our trainer today for the first time.  His name is Chad--he seems really nice--but I think he's going to work us hard--that is good!  Tina and I laughed alot--mostly at ourselves.  I'm really good at doing planks--Chad asked if I could get my knees off the ground!  We made an appointment to meet with him every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 am!  Thanks Chad for agreeing to meet with us that early--our schedules are kinda crazy some days.  Also, Traci went over our numbers with us--cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.  Some numbers were better than others--but it was good to see where I need to improve.  Traci is awesome--she said we could eat chocolate.  I probably shouldn't have said that-but it's true--although she did say only a little. 
I wrote a letter to my son who is serving a mission in California to tell him about the 100 day heart challenge he wrote back and said, "so what's this 100 day DEATH MARCH you are doing?"
I'm sure I might feel that way some days.  But really I'm excited to improve my health and get stronger!   Also Chad said we are going to have fun.   I'm not sure what his definition of fun is?  We'll find out soon!

Getting Started!

Hi everyone!  I started the 100 day heart challenge yesterday.  I am very excited.  Everyone seems  nice and I think it will be fun getting to know everyone.  My challenge partener--Tina is awesome!!
I went home from the first meeting and remembered I needed to make 100 heart shaped cookies for a dinner--  I don't think that's what the hospital had in mind for a "100 day heart challenge" especially since there are 5 sticks of butter involved! I did pretty well.  I only ate one cookie--usually when I make sugar cookies I eat about 10.  I really didn't want to write that down in my food journal so I stuck to one.  Anyway--feeling good.
On Saturday--I woke my husband up bright and early--6:00 am and we went for a walk--he's my hero.  We came home and had a big bowl of heart healthy oatmeal.  I cut up apples and sprinkled cinnamon in it while it cooked--yummy!