All done…Bad News, then some good.

I felt like I should not take much of a break from studying yesterday, so I really didn’t.  I am so glad my test is over and the semester is over!  I just have to do a very simple take home test and e-mail it to my professor by Wednesday night, which is nothing to worry about.  I think I did well on my test…I hope.  Those are the most difficult tests I have ever taken in my life.  I know the material, but his tests are ridiculous.  So, let me catch you up on my food!!  Yesterday for lunch was a simple but delicious PB and honey sandwich on fiber and flax bread, carrots, and grapefruit.  I had a snack before dinner…a banana bread muffin and an apple!  Dinner-I had leftover pumpkin baked ziti and slowly enjoyed it this time.  It was just as good as it was fresh out of the oven.  I spent the rest of the night studying…bummer.  Studying makes me want to eat.  I guess that goes for any school related work…not just studying.  Papers too.  I fought the urge though!  I am very proud of myself because this is a huge accomplishment for me.  I wasn’t hungry at all, I just get bored while studying and the stress probably adds to it too, I’m sure.  I just kept reminding myself that I wasn’t hungry, and that I was just bored studying, and it worked.  So, yay for that!

I think this picture turned out better!

This morning I got up early at 7 and made a bowl of strawberry banana oatmeal before heading out to catch the bus into Pittsburgh.  I love the way this looks in the pictures…so fresh.  I made them the same as yesterday with rolled oats, about 8 strawberries? (half mixed, half on top), 1/2 cup soy milk, 1 sliced banana cooked in, 2 Tbsp flax, and cinnamon.  Today, I put a Tbsp of walnuts on though to hold me over about an hour longer.  I don’t think I needed it though because I wasn’t even hungry for lunch at noon which was when I experienced (and I am so ecstatic to say) my VERY LAST MEAL EVER in the DINING HALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  HOORAY! 

It was actually not bad today, but it’s just not fresh tasting and neat if you know what I mean?  I had some orange slices, watermelon, and went back for pineapple that I saw after I was finished (not pictured), and I had a salad.  I used spinach, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, cucumber, green bell pepper strips, and snow peas.  I drizzled a little bit of oil and vinegar on top.  It was pretty good!  I know the picture is terrible, but I felt like I was being watched and got a little embarrassed, so I just snapped it.  

After lunch, I studied for another hour, took the test, and got back on the bus to head home.  I was so excited to go home because I was going to go to Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s with my sister.  I had a PB and honey sandwich to hold me over while we went shopping, but (Bad news) we ended up not going .  My dad said it’s not a good area, and he is right.  So, I will wait to go with my parents when they can go.  I want my nutritional yeast!  

My nails are in need of some help from a manicure…

For dinner I had the same thing.  Pumpkin baked ziti!  Followed by a banana bread muffin shortly after!  

Yes, this is the same picture as above haha!

As for exercise, I’m taking a rest day because I’m both mentally and physically exhausted.  I guess school will do that.  Oh, yeah…the good news!  I got the job that I had an interview for a couple weeks ago!!!  I’m very happy and can’t wait to start working in the hospital  I’m going to do some meal planning now and try to think of some different things to have over the next few days.  I have a spaghetti squash waiting to be cooked.  Anybody have any suggestions on what to do with him?  I loved the V’con recipe but need something new to try.  Thanks!  Have a great Monday night everyone! (for me it is almost like a Friday )

 

Breakfast and lunch

This morning I made a pancake with Hodgson’s Mill Pancake mix.  They are not vegan, but I bought it a while ago and am going to finish it up.  I used 1/3 cup mix, 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 tsp oil, (did not use 1 tsp egg like it called for, which probably was the cause of my problem), 1/2 sliced banana, and 1/3 cup frozen blueberries.  I mixed that all together and plopped it into a skillet.  It wasn’t cooking very well, but I flipped it anyways because it was browning.  It did not hold together!!  It was a big pancake scramble sort of although one big chunk stuck together.  It still tasted great!  I topped it with 1.5 tsp PB, 1.5 tsp honey, 1 Tbsp ground flax, 1 Tbsp walnuts, and the remaining half of the banana sliced.  I forgot to take a picture but remembered before it was totally gone.  I made something very similar without the blueberries on April 5, so if you would like to see a much better picture you may look there  

Lunch in the dining hall was better today.  I went over to the section where they serve vegan/vegetarian/gluten free meals.  They were serving Jasmine rice cakes with Asian vegetables, and mediterranean hummus wrap.  Well, the rice cakes were not vegan, and I was sure to steer clear of the wrap!  Instead, I just asked for a big blob of hummus!  haha.  I assembled that onto two slices of  Food for Life brown rice bread with some spinach, tomatoes, onions, and carrots.  On the side I had a delicious apple and some more raw veggies.  I planned ahead this morning in case I couldn’t find enough to eat by bringing a half serving of sunflower seeds and some dried apricots with me! Yum!

You will see a picture of a red apple.  I did not eat that one but bought it along with another green one, an orange, and two 12 oz bottles of water to make a meal pass worth of food, which is the equivalent of almost $10.  I know what you’re thinking…3 pieces of fruit and two small bottled waters for $10!!! What a bargain, right?  NOT!  The cashier looked at me very strangely for only buying fruit and water.  I wasn’t even going to bother asking for a salad again today.  So back to the red apple.  I noticed when I got back to my room that it is somewhat deformed!  It has a lump on its side…interesting!  I just thought I’d share.  

 

Then, I logged onto my e-mail where I have msnbc Health on my home page.  I saw and read this article.  I think it is kind of crazy.  I know it is not good to promote anorexia nor extreme thinness, but some are just naturally thin.  About the media promoting extreme thinness…I think it can have an impact on people, but I feel that the food toxic world we live in is the more important factor IMO.  If there weren’t so many different foods created by food science and we focused on and stuck to our more natural whole foods would this be so much of a problem.  There are so many issues surrounding food it’s crazy.  Like trans fats, low carb, HFCS blah blah blah.  No wonder people are confused and feel overwhelmed.  There is no secret to being healthy, and in turn being at a healthy weight usually.  People just need to eat real foods.  A balanced diet.  and of course EXERCISE!  We are becoming increasingly sedentary as we are sitting down more trying to figure out why we are becoming fatter?  Even at that, most models aren’t really that skinny.  Our society has warped.  When I used to be skinnier at 5′7 and 110 ( I know that was unhealthy) people would say I was too skinny, and my aunt said so what?  That’s exactly what I weighed and how tall I was when I was your age.  Exactly.  A size zero today was a size 4 or 6 back then or something like that.  There are so many overweight people today that it seems like if someone is thin they look anorexic or something.  At risk for making no sense at all I apologize for the rant!  Off to study…

 

Surprise, surprise!

Before heading back to school to my empty dorm room, I made some pumpkin/banana oatmeal with ground flax, cinnamon, light brown sugar, walnuts, soy milk, and a spoonful of PB!  I know I ate this the past three days, but the past two were pre-made that I heated up in the microwave.  I was craving a fresh bowl  Plus, tomorrow I will be forced to eat mucousy dining hall oats!  I also had a cup of decaf green tea.  Yesterday I had a cup of regular green tea after eating my breakfast, and I got sick  This has happened once before though I occasionally get nauseous from it.  I guess I really cannot handle it.  

I moved everything out of my dorm room on Thursday except for my sheets, pillow, brush, tootbrush, some books, and a change of clothes because tonight is my last night staying here.  Everything is so bare I feel like I’m in a psych ward or something.  I only have one class today and two tomorrow morning and I am heading back home until Thursday because I have one more class and a final.  Monday is officially my last day for one more final!  I can’t wait then I get two weeks off before the start of summer term.  This morning I snuck a picture of my breakfast while my dad was outside with our dog!  

Well, all I have is my computer and books, so either I can study or spend time on the computer.  This should force me to get a good amount of studying done today and tomorrow.  (No gym today because I don’t have gym clothes or shower stuff, but I will be going tomorrow when I get home!)  See you for lunch!

 

 

Something different

For breakfast I made a banana pancake with Hodgson Mill Pancake mix.  I used 1/3 cup which is one serving, and added 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 tsp canola oil, and 1/2 a sliced banana.  I cooked that in a skillet to make one big pancake instead of two smaller ones.    I topped it with 1 Tbsp ground flax, the other half of the banana sliced, 1 Tbsp PB, 1 Tbsp honey, 1 Tbsp walnuts, and a lot of cinnamon! It was nice for a change, and I didn’t really miss my oatmeal because I kept a lot of the same toppings.  Lunch was leftover couscous and navy beans/chickpeas with kale sauteed in EVOO with sea salt (I love kale.  the texture is great), an avocado topped with some salsa, and I had a plate of kiwi and strawberries on the side  Very good and filling lunch!  Dinner will be leftovers too because I don’t think my meal from last night will freeze well and I definitely don’t want it to go to waste!!  (My mom wants to try it though, so I’m excited about that!!) I think I’m taking the day off from the gym today, but I might just take a long walk outside for a change.  It’s a beautiful day, so I should take advantage of that!  

 

Nothing better

This morning I told myself I would do something different for breakfast.  I stood in front of the refrigerator with the door open and stared…nothing.  I did the same thing in front of the pantry and found nothing that I wanted more than oatmeal.  So, oatmeal it was again!  I used 1/2 cup old fashioned oats, what was left of the soymilk (a little less than 1/2 cup), 3/4 cup water, 1 sliced banana that I cooked in half whipped, 1/2 cup libby’s pumpkin, vanilla extract, tons of cinnamon, 1 tsp light brown sugar, 1 Tbsp ground flax (I kept the flax on top this time, which I think I liked better), 1 Tbsp walnuts, and a spoonful of PB that I measured out to be 1.5 tsp!  1.5 tsp is more than I thought, and I never measure my PB, I always just guessed that it’s 1.5 tsp.  I normally don’t use that much, but hey, it was great!  I tend to barely even eat the PB as I eat my oatmeal.  I would rather kind of save the big blob for the last bite with some oatmeal.  Mmmm.  Plus I had a cup of green tea and my vitamins.  I LOVE PB!  I have gotten used to the natural PB I’ve been using it for about 2 years now.  I couldn’t imagine going back to the creamy JIF I used to use.  It’s way too sweet!  eww.  Well, I have a job interview to go to shortly!  I’m excited…I need a job!    

 

Reliable oats

I sometimes think about eating something different for breakfast (like I was pondering the mango/carrot combo that Kath used), but I just love my oatmeal and would miss it to much.  I like it with pumpkin and without pumpkin (both with banana, walnuts, flax, vanilla, cinnamon, soymilk, PB, and sometimes brown sugar) either steel cut or old fashioned…although sometimes I use oat bran or cracked wheat.  I probably don’t get enough variety in my diet, but I enjoy what I eat.  I think it would be easier if I lived in my own house and bought my own groceries though.  So, this morning I had old fashioned oats without the pumpkin and with brown sugar.  Perfect, although I must say I like steel cut much better.  Nothing is better or more satisfying to me than a nice warm, creamy, chewy, tasty, crunchy (i feel like a taco bell commercial) bowl of oatmeal.  

 

Favorite

I am back at school now, but I Pumpkin oats again at home for breakfast this morning!  Always a great way to start any day.  1/4 cup dry steel cut oats, 1/2 cup libby’s pumpkin, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup soymilk, 1 whipped banana, 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed meal, about 1 Tbsp walnuts, 1 tsp light brown sugar, lots of cinnamon, a tsp vanilla extract, and a spoonful of PB.  Pure delight!    Plus a nice hot cup of green tea!…and vitamins!  See you for lunch in the dining hall.  

 

Back on track

The past few days I feel like I have just kept eating and eating and not listening to my stomach.  Today has been good, and I feel much better.  It felt great to sleep in a bit (til 10)…I didn’t go to sleep until 2.  I haven’t gotten more than 6 hours of sleep for the past 3 days, so I definitely needed my sleep.  I think that has a lot to do with my uncontrollable eating.  It is a beautiful day  I had 3 servings (2.25 cups) kashi Heart to Heart cereal with 1 cup soymilk and a blueberry soy yogurt for breakfast.  I didn’t take a picture because it’s basically the same as yesterday.  Lunch was at the dining hall.  A BBQ mushroom wrap that was very tasty.  It had a little too much oil in it though for my liking.  Plus I had a small banana and a few bites of pasta salad that I stopped eating because there was absolutely way too much dressing on it.  Gross!  I estimate my lunch was about 500-600 kcal and breakfast was about 600.  Right now I am sipping on some Tazo calm tea  I need to vacuum my room and maybe watch Yes, Dear.  Then I will be off to the gym for a workout before dinner!   

 

Breakfast

I didn’t have time to post yesterday…too busy working on my speech because I waited until the last minute.  I had Kashi Go lean cruch for lunch with soymilk and two small oranges.  I also had silk yogurt, clif nectar bar, snacked on Kashi H2H, and ate some soy crips throughout the day.  I went to the gym and did 50 min ET.  Dinner was at the dining hall…soba noodles and kale.  I like kale!  That is the first time I had it.  It was tasty…probably from salt and oil they used.  haha.  But it was good.  I snacked on newman’s own pretzels until late even though I wasn’t hungry.  I think I ate out of boredom/not feel like doing my speech.  It happens.  I swear all that easter candy really threw my body out of whack because I could not get satisfied all day, but my tummy was so full from snacking all day!  I got really tired at about two.  I think that is from the sugar too or something.  My breakfast wasn’t balanced either, so that didn’t help.  Oh well!  This is exactly why I like to eat balanced and healthy meals because I feel soo much better and energized…not polluted with all kinds of garbage.  Breakfast today was Kashi H2H (about 1.5 cups), soymilk, and a small banana.  With water and multivitamin.  My speech went okay.  Could have been better, but that’s what I get for procrastinating.  I went to bed at 1 am, which is better than my last speech, which before I went to bed at 4 and got up at 6!  Crazy!  I may take a nap at 1 after my morning classes are done.  I feel like drinking tea all day long  It always makes me feel so good.  

 

Back to the real world

Yesterday was a crazy day, and I didn’t get to post lunch and on.  For lunch I had a PB and honey sandwich this time toasting the Ezekiel bread first.  It was better!  The crust was not as hard, and I was very pleased Thanks hk!  I also had a delicious orange and a plate of veggies with a blob of my hummus, which I added some more lemon seasoning to for more flavor.  After that I watched two movies with my sister, ate more easter candy than I should have (it was worth it though. haha), and finally, dinner.  Dinner was half a baked sweet potato, fresh green beans, ham, plus a salad w/dried cranberries and balsamic.  Needless to say, I was stuffed!  Yes, I did end up eating some ham.  Sorry, I don’t have a picture of my candy or dinner.  Candy consisted of Peeps, peanut m&ms, starburst jelly beans, and a reeses peanut butter egg all of which are not vegan.  As I said I’m not a strict vegan (for times like these…holidays and family functions), but almost all of the time other than these exceptions I like to eat vegan.  Now I’m back at school and was upset when I went to get milk, but nothing came out .  I asked an employee, and he said the soymilk didn’t come today.  What the heck is that?????  I settled for a bagel (I don’t know what kind it was), with some strawberry preserves, and a banana.  I don’t think this will hold me over very long because hardly any protein, and no fat.  We’ll see.  I have a speech to do today that is due tomorrow!  Will be working on that all day long.  Have a happy Monday!   PS - check out the gooey PB and honey… the best part!!