Back to blogging again...

Well, it's been a while...and now it's time to get back into blog mode...lots has happened, not just in the last year, but geez...even in the last three months!!!

Let's see - found out that I was getting evicted from my little abode of almost three years as my landlord chose to sell the house. I was a bit up in arms, because with the two dogs and two cats, the likelihood of finding something to rent was slim to none. I would have to buy.

Bring on summer - no parties, outdoor patios, no long training rides, no fun for me - it was all spend looking at houses and houses, and yet more houses. Time started to wear thin, and I still hadn't found the one I felt that I would be able to call home. I had to be out of the house I was in by October 1. Finally, by near the middle of August, we finally found something and it wasn't long thereafter that I had a new place to live (well, not new, exactly - it's pretty much a throwback to "That 70's Show", but it has charm and a lot of space, which should do the five of us just fine, thank you very much).

So, that being solved...I then got a permanent job (after almost two years on contract with the same company). I also had an epiphany of sorts in terms of figuring out my whole ability to "self-sabotage" and talk myself out of succeeding at things that most other people have no difficulty with. It took a huge fight with my dad to sort it out, but sort itself out, it did - now all I have to do is try to keep it in practice. I won't be 100% consistent at first, but it's like a habit - you have to give it time to develop.

I have again signed up for Ironman Canada - and hopefully will get it done this time. I have a new resolve and a new attitude to take into my training, and anything that comes out of it can't be anything other than positive.

Life is good...

Okay...I've come to a decision...

I need to kick start the weight loss again - I've been stuck for over a month now and I'm not sure what's causing it...so...with fear of being lambasted, I'm going to take drastic measures...

Starting Monday, I'm going to go on a diet that worked wonders for me the last time I decided to lose weight. It's brutal, and usually messes with my metabolism, but I think I need to do something. It means cutting way back on calories, but I really don't know what else to do.

It goes something like this - Mondays are nothing but clear fluids, Tuesdays you add two servings of protein, Wednesdays you add two salads, Thursdays you add breakfast (an egg, piece of toast and orange juice), Fridays you add a fruit, Saturdays you add another fruit and Sundays you do the same thing as Saturdays - then go back to clear fluids on Monday.

It's gross - means a huge cut in calories, but I need to do something!!!

Crap...has it been 5 days already??? Okay...be prepared...

This is going to be a long one...so brace yourselves!! I can't believe it's been 5 days - life kinda sorta got in the way again - but I've been religiously tracking on Fitday...just haven't had time to post (as usual).

So let us take a trip back in time together...I can't even remember that far back...thank God I've tracked it all...

Okay...November 28th...Protein shake with an apple chaser for breakfast, midmorning snack of yogurt. I had a banana and 2 peanut butter and jam sandwiches for lunch, then meatballs, mashed potatoes and veggies for dinner.

Total Calories: 2005, Fat: 22% (5% sat, 5% poly, 9% mono), carbs: 54%, Protein: 24%.

November 29th - breakfast - protein shake, banana and yogurt. Lunch - a large salad. Dinner was some chicken breast, whole wheat spaghetti, and veggies with a white sauce.

Total calories: 1903 Fat: 27% (3% sat, 18% poly, 6% mono), Carbs: 45%, Protein: 28%

November 30th - this was a weird day, as Gabriele went into labour. I had breakfast as usual (protein shake and a banana and yogurt), then had an apple when I got home from Apache. Gabriele had called me at 7 that morning to tell me that she thought her water had broken, and that it may mean I'd be on call to help her in the delivery room. So...I got home, let the dog out, grabbed some stuff (digital cam, discman and my MP3 player just in case, and some food for lunch), then picked up my cheque from Kigep and went to Dad's place to try to find his parking pass - to no avail. Arrived at Foothills just as they were turning on the Syntocinin (sp?). Things were off and running then - but it still took 13 hours. She was doing okay and hadn't progressed much, but she had a sore throat - so I went home to feed Aramis and let him out again - then my evening kind of went to hell in a handbasket - I bought some Wagon Wheels (big OOPS!!) when I picked up her throat lozenges. Lunch was the leftover chicken, veggies and spaghetti from the night before - but I didn't really eat anything for dinner (except the wagon wheels and a small bag of chips). ARGH!!! She delivered at 3:20 am and I got home at about 5:3o am. I was beat...baby was delivered without incident and raised the roof with his indignation at being yanked out of his warm cozy environment.

Anyway...total calories was a blowout 3471 Fat: 33% (10% Sat, 12% poly, 8% mono), carbs: 43% and protein: 24%

Yesterday - December 1 - another rough one, as I still had the wagon wheels - but not totally bad I guess...had some beef dip for dinner and tried to behave myself for the rest of the night.

Total calories: 2124 Fat: 31% (18% Sat, 3% poly, 5% mono) Carbs: 57% Protein: 12%

Today I'm back on track: had the protein shake and a banana for brekkie - yogurt for a mid morning snack, then went out with one of the girls from Apache for lunch - had Paella. I got home and dinner was a salad.

Total calories: 1995 Fat: 29% (5% Sat, 3% poly, 10% mono) Carbs: 43% and Protein: 28%.

Looks like I'm back on track now...let's hope!!!

or maybe every three days...

Well, winter arrived again last night. Freezing rain, snow, and it got colder. There, I said it...now it can go away again!!!

I'm still with the hectic schedule - and not much time to do much else - I would really like to be able to get back into training again - but I guess that will have to wait for a while. Other priorities to tend to at the moment.

I've been keeping track on FitDay, every day - just haven't found time to write it all down here.

So...let us go back...to Friday -

Breakfast was the standard protein shake with a yogurt chaser, followed by a big salad at lunch and an apple. When I got home from work, I made another of my famous concoctions - chicken breast with some veggies and white sauce over some whole wheat spaghetti.

Total calories: 1886 Fat: 25% (5% sat, 3% poly, 5% mono) Carbs: 41% and Protein: 34%

Saturday - I got the munchies at work and had a granola bar, then went for brekkie with the gang and had the standard breakfast bagel and chai tea latte (with skim milk). I slept, then got up and had some more of the Chicken a la Kirsten, then met up with Gabriele for some hot chocolate (for her) and some wings and coffee for me.

Total calories: 1982 Fat: 37% (14% sat, 6% poly, 13% mono) Carbs: 31% and Protein: 29%

Today, I got the munchies again at work so had a bowl of Alpha Bits mixed in with cheerios. I got home and crashed right away, and then got up, started my laundry and had the rest of the leftovers. Not sure what I'll do for dinner yet...turned out to be just a couple of PBJ sandwiches - so nothing special. I wasn't very hungry anyway...

Total calories: 1789 Fat: 25% (6% sat, 6% poly, 11% mono) Carbs: 51% and Protein: 24%.

Hmm...maybe I should just blog every OTHER day...

It's not that I haven't been keeping track of what I've been eating - I have - it's just that when I get home from work at midnight, the LAST thing I want to do is write - somehow sleep is more important!! I got home at 11 tonight though, so now I've had time to shower and feed the dog, and now I can quickly make notes of what I've been doing the last couple of days here in my blog.

Okay...yesterday...that was the 23rd...okay...let me look it up on FitDay...

Breakfast was the protein shake once I hit my desk at Apache, followed by a midmorning yogurt. I came home and actually had a bit of time to eat, so made myself a HUGE salad for lunch, then packed up the dog and headed out for Cochrane. Dinner was some pasta and meat sauce that Anita had made everyone for dinner, with a bit of parmesan cheese and half a piece of garlic toast.

Total calories: 2162 Fat: 30% (4% sat, 4% poly, 7% mono), Carbs: 47% and protein: 22%

Today went better and I think I'm feeling better - I didn't get much sleep last night on account of the fact that for some reason, as I get older "that time" of the month seems to be fraught with pain - I was kept up most of the night until I broke down and took some Naproxen to try to ease the cramps. I think I finally konked out sometime around 3:30 am. UGH!! Made it in to Apache at 7:30 though and worked my 5 hours then came home and took off for Cochrane again.

Breakfast: protein shake and yogurt, lunch was an apple, an orange and a bit of popcorn, dinner was a hotdog (smokie) in a bun with some potatoes.

Total calories: 1341 Fat: 21% (7% sat, 3% poly, 9% mono) Carbs: 51% and Protein: 28%

Okay...time for bed...

Well, I let a day slip past - but I have an excuse!

I was sick - I have no idea what hit me, but it was BAAAADDDDD!!! I'm still not feeling 100%, but at least the stomach cramps and the trips to the washroom every three minutes has stopped.

And so....you will notice that my eating hasn't been great - I found out today that I may be able to get full time work at Apache (even if it's under contract) for the Land Administration Department - we'll see - I'll talk to Michele tomorrow and see how serious they were about it when I talked to them on the phone today.

Okay yesterday - all I could manage was breakfast (which was a protein shake) and some yogurt. I was really feeling awful - even at work last night - so not a very productive evening for me.

Total calories: 634 Fat: 9% (1% sat, 1% poly, 5% mono) Carbs: 50% and Protein: 42%

Today went a bit better, and my eating went better too. Breakfast was a protein shake again, lunch was a big salad (don't know how wise that was, given my little "problem", but so far, so good). Dinner was some yogurt.

Total calories: 1025 Fat: 31% (1% Sat, 21% poly, 3% mono), Carbs: 40% and Protein: 29%

It would sure be nice to get away from having to do these late night stints again and get back to a somewhat normal routine!!! Keep your fingers crossed!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

And the weather's been gorgeous - and I've slept through most of it...more's the pity!

I'm madly trying to get my laundry done - Tuesday night will be for cleaning house (it's been a while - other than maintenance stuff like the odd dusting and mopping of the floors). Not that I'm an untidy person, mind you - but with all the critters running around, it seems to collect a lot of stray hairs!

Eating today went well - helps that I sleep through most of the day! I skipped breakfast in favor of a poop patrol in the back yard this morning - after a very hard night at work - had to talk to another guy who works at the home for almost 2 hours, and I have this bad feeling that I got positively nowhere with him. Well, hopefully I got a little bit through to him - I guess time will tell.

I had a latish lunch of the leftover turkey, veggies and rice, then made banana bread (which I have given to Gabriele - it's just not safe in my house). At least it got rid of some very tired bananas that I had laying around! Must eat fruit, must eat fruit!!! I'm hearing your voice in my head right about now, Diane!!

So the tally is: Total Calories: 1797 Fat: 23% (5% Saturated., 6% poly, 9% mono) Carbs: 54% and Protein: 23%

Oh yeah...talked to "the boy" again tonight -briefly - but it was nice to touch base...it's kind of a pain that he's so far away, but I guess you never know...if it's meant to be, it's meant to be - if not, I've made a friend...