Health month

[rackmount]

I'm doing modified [Unknown site tag] this year.

Status at Day 0 = 137.5 pounds. Not bad in heft, but terrible in consistency. This year I will focus on:
1) big reduction of prepared foods
2) exercise three times a week, where walk does not count unless > an hour of power walking; run 1-2 times per week.
3) cooking from scratch several times a week
4) cut out all sweets that are not applesauce, dried fruit, or their ilk.
5) allow one glass of red wine per week and one mug of tea per day
6) eat at least two portions of vegetables per day, one of which must be a leafy green.

I already eat only whole-grain and multi-grain carbs, and I already eat very little if any red meat. I don't smoke, but my drinking has crept up in direct proportion to the length of my stay in Princeton.

So far so good. This weekend I made a vegetable-heavy turkey meetloaf and a butternut squash, which should provide dinner for the next few days. I also got a stockpot for purposes of making soups. I intend to start cooking whole chickens or turkeys and then using the bones for soups, which is what my parents did when I was growing up. Soup is the one healthy thing that I really really like, especially in the winter when I tend to eat carby. But the canned stuff is really disgusting, even the low-sodium variety, so it's time to get with the program, and just make it myself. It's not even like it's hard.

I think food won't be that big a deal. It's the exercise that will kill me this health month.

Comments

Re: human desire

[rackmount.livejournal.com]

lady, you're 2 pounds lighter than i am and four inches taller. and i'm on the skinny side for an American woman of my age and height (25th percentile BMI). I just calculated yours, and you're in the 12th percentile BMI. Granted, that's calculated against Americans (fat) and women not by race (black and Hispanic women tend to be heavier), but still. You're a skinny Minnie.

Don't worry about it. You're well within the heart health limits and you look good. You have the body that most American women wish for. And it does what you want it to do! Whenever I get too worried about that sort of thing, I think of my husband who has chronically bad knees, a bad back, is allergic to sunlight and air practically, etc.

[rackmount.livejournal.com]

I did! lots of great stuff, Linus has been wearing the owl jumper non-stop. I wanted to send something to thank you, it's been SO useful.

red wine

[iamatangerine.livejournal.com]

one glass per week is pretty hardcore, good for you! But I thought red wine was supposed to be good for you in moderation? I was patting myself on the back for cutting down to 1-2 glasses per day (usually one).

Re: red wine

[rackmount.livejournal.com]

moderation is good, im just doing a little overcorrection, so that when i get off of health month (january), i'll be back to a more reasonable place. it's not a permanent change, just a way to correct healthier after the hedonistic season.

From what I understand a glass a day is fine! After this month, I'm thinking of switching to The Mediterranean diet, not because I want to lose weight particularly, but because my cooking needs a little switch up and the "plan" sounds really good. Wine, goat cheese, cucumber and yogurt sauce, olives, etc.

[kellianne.livejournal.com]

Stock is incredibly easy! I just roasted 2 chickens for a party that I had (I made a chicken platter for sandwiches) and got a ton of stock out of the load. I'm probably good for a month or more in my freezer. It makes such a difference when you have stock close at hand. You can go nuts with all sorts of flavorful things.

[rackmount.livejournal.com]

i know! i've been to lazy prior to this, but there's no reason not to at this point. it's just getting in the habit.

off-topic: just found out im headed to southern italy again next summer. will think of you!

[kellianne.livejournal.com]

italy was the best cooking inspiration i ever experienced! yay!