I got up with a good feeling about today.  The breakfast oatmeal was actually quite good and very filling.  I thought I might need to add some almond milk, but this was not necessary.  Enjoying my herbal tea now.  I have a written plan in place. 

Here's hoping that writing about my continuing struggles will help me get through a rough patch.  I was lucky enough to take some wonderful classes on a vegan lifestyle last February, so stayed with that program until June when personal problems ran me right off track.  I have been stress eating all summer, with a subsequent weight gain of about 25 pounds, and I am really having difficulty getting with a healthy plan once again.  My stress continues, and there's nothing that I can do to change the situation in which I find myself, so I am going to start a very structured plan tomorrow, hoping that this will make things easier.  I have the Medifast food all picked out, and I have the healthy protein and vegetables for my lean and green dinner tomorrow, and I am feeling rather excited about this.  I just need some structure somewhere in the chaos.  This just feels right.

I am trying my hand at making more healthy breads in the bread machine.  I now have some barley flour and some whole grain whole wheat to experiment with.  First recipe used 3 cups regular bread flour and one of barley.  It was OK.  I think whole wheat and barley would make a dynamite recipe instead and have found one to try next.  The barley flavor was just not very strong in this first load, and the top caved in, but the crust is heavenly.   My weight is up and down.  Repeat.  Need to get cranking on the vegetarian plan again.  It's labor intensive but really filling and fun too. 

Fruit for Breakfast

Apple, banana, kiwi.   Coffee.  

Yummy.  

I like this breakfast.

New Veggie Burger

Had my first Dr. Praeger's California veggie burger for lunch today.  It was quite tasty and plenty big too.  Put it on 1 slice of Dave's Killer 21-Grain bread along with tomato and 3 baby dill pickles.  Good lunch.  Will probably do that again tomorrow.  I am getting used to salad without dressing, except for salsa, and sandwiches without added mayo.   Dave of Dave's Killer Bread fame is going to be at our local Costco tomorrow.  I may head over there to just tell him how much I like his breads.  He certainly has an interesting life story. 

We had sauteed mushrooms, scrambled eggs and asparagus for dinner last night.  It was a nice change.  I will need to make another big salad for dinner tonight.  Wonder what else we could have.  Maybe some brussels sprouts.  I could make Mom a nice baked potato too. 

Went to the food co-op yesterday and looked around.  They did not carry whole grain flour.  There was whole wheat and spelt and some other such, but no whole grain.  There must be some around here!  I walked down the aisles and decided that there's too much junky food in that store, and I would be better off staying out of there.  Just because it's on a shelf in a health food store doesn't make it healthy. 

My weight is hanging in there for a few days, but I know it will be heading down again, slowly, soon. 

Still Doing Fine

Day 8 without meat, cheese, fish.  Still feeling fine!  Had a great dinner salad tonight with red and green lettuce, green olives, celery, an orange, onion, a little pineapple, garbanzo beans, and salsa for dressing.  I love using salsa on my salads now.  No fat involved there! 

To sum up my 8 days, over this first week I had one serving of yogurt and 2 whole wheat/cornbread muffins that I made myself.  I had 2 slices of Dave's Killer Bread this week, and 3 mornings I enjoyed some steel-cut oats with raisins and walnuts and without milk.  I had 2 boca burgers, the smaller ones.  Had black beans and garbanzo beans, a little of that mixed quinoa and sprouted brown rice.  Had some great cauliflower soup for dinner last night.  Lots of great salads with fruit and veggies.  Need to get to the store to stock up on greens and fruit again. 

New Plan; New Day

Have been eating whole foods since Sunday, and I feel pretty darned great.  Because of a previous commitment, I am unable to attend a great class put on by the local SDA church called CHIP which helps people start a healthy living program.  It teaches the participants that eating whole foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains can improve health.   

Since the program meets 3 days a week, and one of them is my TOPS meeting night, it does not seem possible for me to attend at this time.  I hauled out my "Eat to Live" book by Joel Fuhrman, and dived right into the program on Sunday.  On Tuesday night saw the documentary "Forks Over Knives" which further convinced me that I am on the correct path.

My cholesterol and glucose levels are not great, and my plan is that they will be wonderful numbers within a few months.  There is no doubt in my mind that this will happen as long as I stick with this program.