Day 81: The Day I Decompressed from Our Trip by Taking a Nap and Cleaning the Chicken Coop

Because any time we travel there is a certain level of stress involved. It always takes a day or two to return to normal. The nap was great. The coop was downright nasty.

• slice of Adam's French toast w/ a squirt of whipped cream (no syrup, no butter), 1 c of Cocoa Pebbles in 1% milk (breakfast)
• turkey & ham wrap, baked Lays chips, water (lunch)
• can of grape soda
  
• Mexican salad w/ chicken, tortilla chips, water (dinner)
• Greek yogurt, 16 dark chocolate chips

calorie total: 1,685

Officially back on the wagon.

Day 80: The Day We Returned Home

• a banana, Melissa's cereal in skim milk, a slice of toast (breakfast)
• dry cereal (Oatmeal Squares & Honey Bunches), pretzels, bugles, 1/2 PB&J (all as snacks in the car)
• 6" grilled chicken Subway sandwich on WW w/ all the veggies except olives,water (late lunch)
• a 2" square piece of Zakk's cake at Mutual
• 1 San Pellegrino aranciata
  

calorie total: 1,635

Day 79: The Day I Was Left to My Own Devices and Failed Miserably

Because Grace was throwing up all morning, Adam stayed back with her while I took Abigail and Miles out for the day. As a result, I indulged the three of us beyond what could ever be considered normal or healthy. I'm not even going to attempt to total my calories.

• a slice of toast, 1 c of cereal, Greek yogurt (breakfast)
• pretzels and chocolate chips (way more than a serving) as I drove to Strasburg, PA
• a bowl of chicken and corn soup, a super lame turkey sandwich, 1/2 a pickle, very watery instant lemonade (lunch)
• a fresh and hot out of the oven soft pretzel with mustard
• 2 mostly chocolate chocolate covered pretzels (is it evident yet what one of my all time favorite snacks is?)
• 3 chocolate and peanut butter covered mini pretzels
• WW linguine w/ veggies in a tomato sauce, asparagus, green beans, 1/2 piece hearty bread, a gagillion calories worth of leftover sweet potato goodness from yesterday, water, diet Coke (dinner)
• 10 mostly chocolate milk chocolate covered mini pretzels way after the 7.30 pm cutoff, water

calorie count: I don't know ... maybe a bizillion?

Lest you think less of me, I must add here what I resisted: oversized cinnamon rolls w/ cream cheese frosting, fresh, hot donuts and enormous whoopie pies at the Amish market, carrot cake, shoofly pie, chocolate covered potato chips, peanut butter s'mores, huge bags of giant chocolate chips, chocolate (not chocolate covered) pretzels, and Grace's chocolate covered Rice Krispies treat on a stick.

Day 78: The Day We Went to Church in Reading and Nobody Spoke to Us

Not a hello, not a goodbye. I've decided it's just the way of the Pennsylvania Dutch and not because our kids were cranky and squirmy and covered in toothpaste.

• 1.5 Willie's popovers w/ real butter (b/c you just can't eat them with the fake stuff), Greek yogurt, banana (breakfast)
• veggie crisps and tortilla chips w/ sundried tomatoes, soft goat cheese, olives, guacamole, diet caffeine-free Coke, water (lunch)
• pineapple
• turkey breast, mashed sweet potatoes w/ coconut-pecan crumb topping, mashed white potatoes, cranberry sauce, asparagus in lemon, green beans, diet Coke, water (dinner)
• tofu milk chocolate mousse w/ Cool Whip

calorie total: 1,911

I'm over! Blast!

Day 77: The Day We Spent in Philadelphia

And I had my second dissapointing Philly cheese steak experience. It has to be due to my aversion to cheese wiz.

• 1 c of Melissa's mixed up Kashi cereals in skim milk (breakfast)
• random bits of kids' snacks in the car -- kettle corn, teddy grahams, bugles, chocolate chips
• 3 bites of a cheese steak, a handful of super delicious fries, diet Coke, banana water ice layered with chocolate frozen custard which was suuuuper yum (lunch)
• WW spaghetti w/ Melissa's homemade sauce, 2 pieces foccacia, 1 slice sauce-lessn homemade pizza, diet caffeine-free Coke, water, strawberries w/ reduced fat sour cream and brown sugar (dinner)

calorie count: 1,872 (which was shocking to me -- I was certain I had gone way over)

Day 75: The Day We Left for PA

Since we are away, I don't have a lot of time to figure out my exact calorie count. I'll just have to settle for a rough estimate.

• 1.5 servings Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• pretzels
• 1/2 Caesar salad, 1/2 chicken bacon ranch wrap (lunch)
• the HUGEST diet Coke, which, sadly, I am beginning to really like
• random bites of kids' car snacks, piece of leftover pizza crust
• Melissa's super yummy pizza - 1 slice just sauce, 1 slice w/ veggies & mozz, vegetables marinated in Balsamic and sprinkled with some goat cheese (dinner)
• 1/2 scoop Grace's ice cream

estimated calorie total: 1,800

Day 74: The Day I Nearly Killed Myself Cleaning

• scrambled eggs, one slice of toast, Abby's Cocoa Pebbles because she decided she couldn't eat them right after I poured the milk (breakfast)
• WW cheddar quesadilla, water (lunch)
• pretzels & choc. chips
• plain pasta w/ sprinkling of parmesan, broccoli, a 1/2 banana, sparkling cranberry juice, water (dinner)
• Greek yogurt

total calories: 1,968

Which again puts me over. ARGH! Why am I starving all the time?? I only have 76 surplus calories left :(

Day 73: The Day I Remembered What it Feels Like to be Full

Because since we started all of these changes to our diet, full is something I rarely feel. Today I couldn't finish my quesadilla! Who can't finish a quesadilla??

• bowl of Life in 1% milk, slice of WW toast (breakfast)
• pretzels and choc. chips
  
• whole wheat quesadilla w/ mozzarella and fresh basil (lunch)
• Greek yogurt, 1/2 a banana
  
• Fudgesicle (we're almost done with these 60 calorie wonders)
• Teddy Grahams
• grilled chicken sandwich, mashed potatoes, diet Coke (which I find gross, but satisfying for 0 calories), a few bites of Mile's crust, 1/2 scoop Grace's ice cream (dinner out with kids at Friendly's)

total calories: 1,923

That's 46 calories over my daily limit, but I have a surplus of 213 some-odd calories, so I don't feel bad about it. I did my homework before we went to Friendly's and knew that there were two menu items I could have with plenty of calorie wiggle-room: the chicken sandwich and the Asian salad. Sadly, I opted for mashed potatoes (240) instead of doing what my gut said to do and order broccoli (80). Oh well. Next time.

Day 72: The Day Adam Left for South Carolina

• 1 bowl Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk, 1 banana (breakfast)
• 1 Greek yogurt w/ 3 T wheat germ
• black bean burger w/ mango salsa & lettuce (I am sooo done with these), 1/2 sweet potato, water (lunch)
  
• pretzels & dark choc. chips, kettle corn
  
• 1 berry GoGurt (b/c they are only 70 calories!)
• 1 Fudgesicle
• pita pizza w/ basil, water (dinner)

total calories: 1,864

Hmm ... what could I have used those extra 13 calories for?

Day 71: The Day We Started Counting Calories

Never in my life have I counted calories before. At Adam's suggestion, we took our self-proclaimed "Year of Fit" up a notch: using a handy little calculator, we figured out how many calories we each need in order to lose 1 lb a week and thereby reach our goal weights. No, I will not share mine, except to say that -- according to the calculator -- I should reach it by July 19th. My magic number is 1877, provided that I'm getting moderate exercise. Since mid-January I've been running between 2 and 3 miles 5 times a week. My plan is to work my way up to 5 miles. And I think we are registering for this race, should (either of) you care to join us. Twice I've cheered Adam along in this race; it's about time I joined him.

• 378 calories worth of the leftover Vegan chocolate cake the girls made for Danielle last night. I won't tell you how many pieces that was. And yes, it was totally breaking my dessert rule. (breakfast)
  
• 1/2 Greek yogurt, glass of milk
• black bean burger w/ mango salsa & lettuce, water, fudgesicle (lunch)
• 16 dark chocolate chips, serving of pretzels
• slice of WW bread w/ SB
  
• egg blindfolded over garlic-cheddar grits, WW tortilla, roasted sweet potato, water (dinner)

total calories: 1,680

I ran out of time before I ran out of calories. I'll plan more wisely tomorrow.

Day 70: The Day We Had the Carniauxs and the Patchogue Merceds Over for a Vegan Dinner

Because Brenna is vegetarian and Danielle is vegan. It was very bean-y.

• bowl of Oatmeal squares in 1% milk, half a banana (breakfast, 8 am)
  
• pretzels
• 3/4 English muffin w/ PB&J and 6 oz Greek nonfat yogurt, water (lunch 12.30 pm)
  
• Kettle corn
• black bean burger on WW bun w/ mango-avocado salsa & lettuce, WW tortilla w/ homemade refried beans, roasted sweet potato, Jack cheese, guacamole & low fat sour cream, corn salsa & chips, cream soda, water (dinner 6pm)
• DsOTW: Danielle's vegan strawberry pie in a Grape Nuts crust, slice of yellow cake w/ chocolate buttercream (which the Cs brought from Audrey's), milk, water
  

Day 69: Marathon Saturday

Parents' day at both swimming lessons, yard work, middle school musical, Stake conference, grocery shopping, house cleaning, etc. Why oh why did we stay up until 3 last night?!?

• 3 chocolate chip pancakes (1 plain, 2 torn and dipped in 1 T syrup), 1% milk (breakfast)
• WW spaghetti w/ meat sauce, 2 small bread sticks, water (lunch)
• 1 low-fat yogurt w/ 3 T wheat germ
• small handful dried mango & berries
• big salad w/ egg, candied pecans, cucumber, pear, goat cheese, homemade croutons, dressing, lots of water (dinner)
  

Day 68: Girls' NIght in Queens

• bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats mixed w/ the remains of a box of Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
  
• 1 rice cake at Mom's
  
• dried mango, blueberries & strawberries
  
• warmed up pita w/ cheddar cheese & black pepper, water (1st lunch)
  
• 2 mini cinnamon raisin bagels w/ butter, water (2nd lunch)
• 1 frozen berry GoGurt
• 3 or so graham crackers w/ Nutella (trying to get myself over being annoyed)
• 1/2 fish taco w/ mango-avocado salsa, 1 tandoori something wing, crispy duck in a spicy tamarind sauce, brown rice, 2/3 of a piece of chocolate caramel cake (dinner at Jade and dessert at Martha's Bakery in Forest Hills)
  

Day 67: The Day I Took the Kids to the Dentist and Then Liberated the Front Yard

It is now free from the seven ugly, prickly bushes that seemed to only serve as a garbage catchers and a cat haven. It took 4 or so hours of hard, scratchy work, but it feels sooooo good to have them out.

• 2 small slices toasted brown soda bread w/ indulgent Irish butter, small bowl of Oatmeal squares in 1% milk (breakfast, 8.30 am)
  
• another piece of soda bread w/ butter, 6 oz yogurt w/ 3 T wheat germ, water (was this lunch? 12.30 pm)
  
• strawberry all-fruit ice pop from Suzanne
  
• leftover pita, warmed and slathered w/ PB&J (or was this lunch? 4 pm)
• chocolate bran muffin, water
• I think I may have had another piece of soda bread -- can't remember
  
• Dad's chicken and rice w/ pigeon peas, diluted apple juice, water (dinner, 6.45)
  
• 2 graham crackers w/ Nutella, glass of Ovaltine
  

Day 66: St. Patrick's Day

• green Irish-German pancake w/ green whipped cream, syrup & SB, green milk (breakfast (8am)
• dried mango, blueberries & strawberries
  
• 1 pita w/ PG&J, green milk (lunch (1.30pm)
• a few raisins and choc. chips
  
• some of Brenna's secret recipe soda bread, yogurt, water
• tomato soup, soda bread (great recipe in last month's Bon Appetit), cheddar cheese, water (dinner 6.45pm)
  

Day 65: The Day Mother Nature Took Sides

Adam and I disagreed about the big pine tree in our front side yard. He wanted it to stay, I wanted it gone. The wind storm over the weekend decided for us and it is now in heaps and piles on our curb. Sad day for the pine, but a happy one for the Magnolia that will soon take its place!

• same as the last few days - Oatmeal squares and a banana (breakfast, 8am)
• 2.5 slices of leftover vegetable pizza, diluted apple juice (big lunch, I know, 1.30pm)
• 3 low-fat Ritz crackers
• 1.5 homemade pita w/ 3 falafel, tzatziki sauce, red bell pepper slices, sliced cucumber, more diluted apple juice (dinner, 6.45 pm)
  
• 1 chocolate bran muffin
  

Day 64: The Day I Couldn't Remember What it Felt Like to Be Warm

Brrr! Our first daffodil has bloomed, but where did Spring go??

• 1 banana, 1 bowl of Quaker Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (late breakfast - 11.30am)
• 2 slices of oatmeal bread (one with honey butter, 1 toasted w/ SB & jam), water
  
• 4 low-fat Ritz crackers each w/ a small piece of cheddar, 1/2 pear, 1 bowl Cinnamon Life cereal in 1% milk -- nothing else really looked good. (late lunch - 4.30pm )
• 2 slices of homemade pizza -- 1 cheese, 1 super veggie, plus the broccoli I picked off another slice of pizza, water (dinner)
• glass of Ovaltine
  

Day 63: The Day We Celebrate π

Since it was a holiday (at least at 17 Mulford St.) -- and knowing I would be subject to a ward munch and mingle prior to the Youth Fireside -- we decided to take our dessert day early this week. And yes, I totally over did it on dessert and feel nasty and bloated.

• bowl of Quaker Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• small scoop each ziti and salad, a small roll w/ 1 slice ham & 1 slice turkey, 1 mystery meatball, a handful of red bell pepper slices, 1/2 piece the Ambrosia Layer cake I sold at the dessert auction, 1/2 piece of Mere's homemade baklava, a three-bite size slice of Ami's chocolate cream pie, 4 cups of water (lunch at the Munch & Mingle)
• 2 cups of 1% milk to wash down the 3 T of leftover chocolate mousse frosting that was hanging out in the fridge, which I consumed immediately upon waking from a 2 hour nap
• chicken pecan salad w/ pears & goat cheese, 2 pieces garlic bread, water (dinner)
• 1 slice homemade Asphalt Pie in commemoration of the date (π = 3.14)

Day 62: The Day I Exercised Great Restraint at the Youth Dessert Auction

• bowl of Quaker Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• toasted pita w/ chickpea salad & tzatzki sauce, water (lunch)
• lots of tastes and finger-fulls of icings and batters as I was baking for the auction
  
• 2 pretzel logs, water
• bowl of white chicken chili, muddy buddies, water (dinner)
  

Day 61: Book Group

• 1 chocolate bran muffin, 1 bowl Rice Krispies in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 4 oz yogurt w/ wheat germ
  
• 2 eggs scrambled w/ leftover taco meat, 2 slices whole wheat toast w/ SB, water (lunch)
• chickpea salad w/ toasted pita & feta, tzastziki sauce, hummus, olives, 1 falafel, homemade baklava, strawberry cheesecake trifle (a trial portion of one of the things I made for the dessert auction tomorrow). (dinner & dessert -- for shame!)
  

Day 60: The Day Our Treadmill Nearly Killed Me

Because it stopped working while I was full-on running. Good thing I have cat-like reflexes.

• 1 bowl Quaker Oatmeal Squares (my new fav) in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 1 PB&J on toast, 1 banana w/ 2 T peanut butter and 2 T wheat germ, milk (lunch)
• 1/4 serving Pocky, 1 6oz yogurt w/ wheat germ
• blackened chicken quesadilla (delish), gorganzola-crusted sirloin (bad -- took two bites) with garlic mashed potatoes (worse -- only took one) and sauteed spinach (bland -- don't even think I took a whole bite), water, bread, bites of Adam's meal (which was okay), apple crisp w/ vanilla ice cream (a total waste of a DOTW and made us both feel sick). All in all, a terrible dinner at Café Joelle. So disappointing. At least it was free.
  

Day 59: The Day I Signed Up for a Bagillion Events at the PTA Meeting

• 1 6 oz. yogurt w/ wheat germ, 1.5 leftover carrot pancakes w/ SB & syrup (breakfast)
• tiny portion of penne w/ olive oil and parm, water (lunch)
• feeling depressed, so I ate about 1/3 c milk chocolate chips (I know, I know!), 5 pretzel rods w/ 1 T Nutella, 1% milk (felt better for about a half hour and than I crashed on the couch for 45 minutes)
• about 3/4 c popcorn (at PTA meeting)
  
• laaaate dinner (because of the PTA meeting) so I was famished. 2.5 burritos on Ami's tortillas w/ taco meat, lettuce, salsa, avocado, sour cream, Jack cheese (dinner)
• guava juice that someone left in our fridge (Ami? Em?) and which I will have to replace because it is delicious
  

Day 58: Shopping with Neighbors, Baking with YW

• 1 bottle water (during run)
  
• 1 bowl cream of wheat w/ sprinkling of brown sugar, water (breakfast)
  
• 1 mini everything bagel w/ butter, tiny OJ (2nd breakfast, out w/ friends)
• 1 piece focaccia
• 2 leftover enchiladas, rice, water (lunch)
  
• 1 frozen berry GoGurt (an attempt to trick myself into thinking I was eating ice cream -- it worked)
• dried mango
  
• penne w/ garbanzo beans, tomatoes, & feta, piece of focaccia, water (dinner)
• a few teaspoons of cookie dough (while baking w/ YW), water
  

Day 57: The First Day of Yardwork 2010

It was the first truly warm day of the year. Also the first day in recent memory that the kids and I spent more time outside than in. I think all of my physical labor brought on all the afternoon snacking.

• 1 bowl Honey Bunches of Oats w/ Strawberries in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 1 bottle of water (during particularly great run)
• 2 pieces leftover focaccia, water
• 1 breast of chicken parmesan, 2 mini chocolate bran muffins, water, milk (lunch)
• 1 serving Pocky, water
  
• 2 pretzel rods, water
• 1/4 each green bell and yellow bell pepper, ranch dressing, water
  
• 2 chicken enchiladas, white rice, water (dinner)
• 1 banana w/ 1 T peanut butter and 2 T wheat germ, milk. YUM! Fantastic sub for dessert.
  

Day 56: March Fast Sunday

We amended one of our diet rules. We are now allowing an extra dessert day -- on Fast Sunday. And my, how welcome this change was!

• 1.5 chocolate chip Rice Krispies treats (moments before dinner I broke my fast on this)
  
• chicken parmesan (1/2 breast), whole wheat pasta w/ marinara, chopped spinach, 2 pieces rosemary & sea salt focaccia, water (dinner)
  
• another Rice Krispies treat w/ small glass of milk
  

Day 55: Stake Youth Activity

• 1 bowl corn flakes w/ 1/2 sliced banana (breakfast)
  
• 1 apple, 1 banana, water
• 1 hot dog & 1 hamburger (both w/ sauerkraut, mustard, ketchup), tiny bag of Cheetos, bottle of water (lunch at the Stake)
• yet another banana, small handful of dried mango
• broiled salmon, quinoa, edamame, water (dinner)
• chocolate bran muffin, small glass of 1% milk
  

This is not what I ate today, but I still thought I'd share.

My big (but very petite) sister, Melissa, started a food log blog, too! Very exciting to me. Check her out here.

Day 54: The Day I Spent with Em

Few things are as fun as a laid-back day with one of your dearest friends.

• 1 bowl Honey Bunches of Oats with Strawberries (breakfast)
• 1 mini chocolate bran muffin
• Asian-glazed salmon, quinoa, brussel sprouts, water (lunch)
• 1 banana
• 1 regular-sized chocolate bran muffin, 1% milk
• (went out to dinner (Painters) with my neighbors and my friend Suzanne and I shared the following) spicy pan-seared sea scallops, sticky rice, baby bok choy, 1/2 chicken grilled under a brick w/ lemon and rosemary pan juices, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, (the rest was just me) 1 slice sourdough, 2 bites each of my friends' desserts (totaling 6 bites -- worth every extra calorie and gram of fat, especially the banana caramel chimichanga), water, herbal tea
  

Day 53: The Day I Decided I Hate Paint

There are now 7 swatches of varying shades covering one of the walls in our bedroom -- the self same room I painted blue two weeks ago. After two weeks I still feel like I'm living in an Easter egg and am on the hunt for the perfect hue. Suggestions???

• 1 bottle water (during run)
• 1 bowl Raisin Bran (breakfast)
• 1 triangle of Miles' quesadilla
• 1 black bean and butternut squash burrito, water (lunch)
• 1 c Ike & Sam's Kettle Corn, 3 Pocky
• 2 pretzel rods, water
  
• 2 carrot pancakes, 2 scrambled eggs, 1% milk (dinner)
  

Day 52: The Day I Ate My Weight in Cereal

Honestly, I was starving when breakfast finally rolled around at 11am. By then it had been over 16 hours since I had last eaten, which is why I ate more bowls of cereal in one sitting than I think I have since I was 12.

• 1 bottle of water(during a great run)
• 3 bowls of cereal! -- 1 Vanilla Honey Bunches of Oats, 2 Corn Pops (breakfast)
• 1 bread stick, 1 slice of bread w/ SB, water
• 2 pretzel rods, water
  
• 2 black bean and butternut squash burritos (with all the fixins), water (dinner)
  
• DOTW: warm chocolate pudding w/ 2 mini scoops of ice cream (1 vanilla, 1 chocolate peanut butter)
  

Day 51: The Day the YM & YW Leaders Argued About Styrofoam and Apple Juice

• 1/2 bottle of water (during a lame run)
• 1 bowl Rice Rice Krispies in 1% milk (breakfast)
• a few of Miles' goldfish
  
• PB&J on toasted molasses bread, water (lunch)
• dried mango
  
• kettle corn, water
• spaghetti in homemade red sauce w/ sausage, 2 bread sticks, corn, water (dinner)
  
• glass of 1% milk w/ Ovaltine
  

Day 50: The Day My Sweet Tooth Got the Best of Me.

Too much sugar and too many carbs. No wonder I feel crummy today.

• 1 bottle of water (which I totally gagged on) during my run
  
• 1 healthy chocolate muffin, glass of 1% milk (breakfast)
• dried mango, pretzel sticks
• 1 homemade pita - half w/ hummus, half w/ peach jam, water (lunch)
  
• Teddy Grahams -- a handful each of honey and chocolate (snacking with Grace)
• 1 tiny slice dark sour bread (nothing on it)
  
• 3 nasty albeit satisfying mini Entenmann's glazed donuts (from mom) that left a gross film in my mouth, small glass of milk
• Beef & Guiness Stew, 1 slice of bread w/ SB, water