We are approaching Oscar Season (which I prefer to fall or winter as far as seasons go) and every year I have a very daunting list of films I need to see before the awards.
Time and money often make it impossible to get to them all, it gets expensive hitting the theatre every weekend. Finally, I narrow down my list to must-sees and then promise to watch the rest on DVD.
Right now I have a good number of last year's Oscar noms on hold at the library. Curled up on my couch with some knitting I will get to see 7 or 8 of the films that didn't make the cut last year for free.
As for this year's plan, here are some tips for going to the movies:
1. See a matinee, up to $5 cheaper than the evening shows. Do the movie first and then a take-out dinner back home and save a bunch.
2. Bring your own candy, this is a no brainer even if you aren't on a budget and a diet. Candy at the theatre is so over-sized and overpriced.
3. Skip the popcorn, see #2. If you do get popcorn, share it.
4. Loyalty is rewarded. I have a loyalty card for Regal and after so many movies I get free soda, popcorn and even movie tickets.
5. Find a local theatre, like the Somerville Theatre, which now runs current releases in addition to things that have been out awhile (great place to catch something you missed in bigger houses). Cheaper tickets ($8 evening/$5 matinees), cheaper better concessions and beer!
With some planning I am going to see as many movies before the Oscars as I can afford and not sweat the ones I miss because my library will have them for me soon.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The Most Important Meal of the Day
There are pros and cons to the fact that I work from home. A big pro is breakfast. I do not have to grab something on my way out the door, or worse at a coffee shop on my way into the office. I have breakfast at home every day.
I generally have the same thing Mon - Fri and then variety on the weekend and I try to rotate through several weeks worth of breakfasts so by Friday I am ready for whatever next week holds. Here is my weekly rotation to date:
Week 1 -- 2 Eggo Nutrigrain low-fat waffles with 1 T peanut butter, 1 sliced banana
Week 2 -- 1 cup regular Cheerios, 1/2 cup skim milk 1/4 c blueberries
Week 3 -- 1/2 cup nonfat greek yogurt, 1 nectarine, 1/4 c. low-fat granola
Week 4 -- 1 whole wheat English muffin with 1 T peanut butter, apple
Week 5 -- 1 cup (prepared) regular oatmeal (not instant) made with skim milk, honey, Craisins, flax seed and cinnamon
Week 6 -- Small tortilla, 1/2 c. egg beaters, 1 T low fat cheddar, 1 T salsa, 1 c. grapes
Breakfast has definitely been the most successful meal of the day for me consistently through the nearly 7 weeks. To me it is the most important meal of the day because it sets the tone for how I will eat the rest of the day. If I blow it at breakfast I will consider the day a total loss and the slippery slope to pie is steep.
Any good breakfast ideas out there??
I generally have the same thing Mon - Fri and then variety on the weekend and I try to rotate through several weeks worth of breakfasts so by Friday I am ready for whatever next week holds. Here is my weekly rotation to date:
Week 1 -- 2 Eggo Nutrigrain low-fat waffles with 1 T peanut butter, 1 sliced banana
Week 2 -- 1 cup regular Cheerios, 1/2 cup skim milk 1/4 c blueberries
Week 3 -- 1/2 cup nonfat greek yogurt, 1 nectarine, 1/4 c. low-fat granola
Week 4 -- 1 whole wheat English muffin with 1 T peanut butter, apple
Week 5 -- 1 cup (prepared) regular oatmeal (not instant) made with skim milk, honey, Craisins, flax seed and cinnamon
Week 6 -- Small tortilla, 1/2 c. egg beaters, 1 T low fat cheddar, 1 T salsa, 1 c. grapes
Breakfast has definitely been the most successful meal of the day for me consistently through the nearly 7 weeks. To me it is the most important meal of the day because it sets the tone for how I will eat the rest of the day. If I blow it at breakfast I will consider the day a total loss and the slippery slope to pie is steep.
Any good breakfast ideas out there??
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Hitting the Books
As part of my Debt Management Plan I have a 12 part self-taught course in Money Management and Finance to do. The course, unfortunately named "Making Cents" (I really hate puns), is designed to teach me the things most 36 year olds should (but likely don't) know about finances.
After the 12 Chapters there is a 3 part exam. If I pass the exam I get a certificate to send to the 3 big credit reporting agencies and I get a gold star (or the credit bureau equivalent) on my credit report.
There is a 6 question Pre-Test which I took this morning and I got 5 of the 6 correct. The one I got wrong was on mortgage brokers, an area I admit to having no knowledge of whatsoever.
It amazes me that in the 19 years of education I have gone through I have never once been taught this kind of really useful information. I can recite soliloquies from 6 of Shakespeare's plays, tell you what X equals in any basic algebraic formula, I can write a poignant argument against the death penalty and know that in a chemistry lab you should always add acid to water and not the other way around. None of my brilliant educators taught me how to balance a check book though.
Tonight I tackle Chapter 1: Organizing Your Financial Life. Stay tuned.
After the 12 Chapters there is a 3 part exam. If I pass the exam I get a certificate to send to the 3 big credit reporting agencies and I get a gold star (or the credit bureau equivalent) on my credit report.
There is a 6 question Pre-Test which I took this morning and I got 5 of the 6 correct. The one I got wrong was on mortgage brokers, an area I admit to having no knowledge of whatsoever.
It amazes me that in the 19 years of education I have gone through I have never once been taught this kind of really useful information. I can recite soliloquies from 6 of Shakespeare's plays, tell you what X equals in any basic algebraic formula, I can write a poignant argument against the death penalty and know that in a chemistry lab you should always add acid to water and not the other way around. None of my brilliant educators taught me how to balance a check book though.
Tonight I tackle Chapter 1: Organizing Your Financial Life. Stay tuned.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Calling All Veggies
I like vegetables. I really do. Lots of them. Yet some days I go to bed thinking "did I eat a vegetable today?"
Working veggies into my meal plan in interesting and easy ways is proving harder than I imagined. I get 3 or 4 servings of fruit a day no problem, but often only get 1 serving of veggies and that is on a good day.
I think stir-frys might be the way to go, I made a delicious one a couple weeks ago with pork, several veggies and a sauce with soy and tangelo juice (also tangelo zest with the ginger and garlic -- delicious)
One of the great things about Whole Foods is the variety of veggies available for "serve yourself" quantities. Bins of snap peas and various mushrooms, not prepackaged so you can just grab a few to add to a dish. They have celery stalks and carrots for individual sale so you don't end up with a watery mushy pile of dead celery in your crisper. It is a stir-fry maker's dream come true. You can snap off a bit of fresh ginger and grab a single shallot. Most things at Whole Foods are pricey, but produce is worth it for the quality and variety.
With fall upon us, soups and stews will also be a good way to incorporate more veggies.
If you have a soup, stew or stir fry that you love let me know, I'd love some new choices!
Working veggies into my meal plan in interesting and easy ways is proving harder than I imagined. I get 3 or 4 servings of fruit a day no problem, but often only get 1 serving of veggies and that is on a good day.
I think stir-frys might be the way to go, I made a delicious one a couple weeks ago with pork, several veggies and a sauce with soy and tangelo juice (also tangelo zest with the ginger and garlic -- delicious)
One of the great things about Whole Foods is the variety of veggies available for "serve yourself" quantities. Bins of snap peas and various mushrooms, not prepackaged so you can just grab a few to add to a dish. They have celery stalks and carrots for individual sale so you don't end up with a watery mushy pile of dead celery in your crisper. It is a stir-fry maker's dream come true. You can snap off a bit of fresh ginger and grab a single shallot. Most things at Whole Foods are pricey, but produce is worth it for the quality and variety.
With fall upon us, soups and stews will also be a good way to incorporate more veggies.
If you have a soup, stew or stir fry that you love let me know, I'd love some new choices!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday Re-Cap Week 6
OK, let me just start off by saying I haven't made it to week 6 of a diet in years and well, I have never made it past week 1 of a budget, so big sigh of relief, aaahhhh....
Diet: 5 good solid workouts this week. I am doing more in the same amount of time, so either I am upping my speed or my new found strength can manipulate time, either way that's cool. Still fighting with my meal plan, lunch particularly as noted in the blog this week. On track to meet month 2 weight loss goal.
Budget: OK, went a little nuts on groceries Friday but I am chalking a little bit of it up to book group at my place this weekend which is more entertainment than food. I bought a coffee pot finally so that means more coffee, less money spent, woo hoo!
Mood: Pretty good overall. Tired, which I think is more physical (the extra working out) than mental, although the days getting shorter is threatening to send me into sadness. Luckily the warm temps this week kept me pretty even-keeled.
Hunger: I am adding a category to my re-cap to track my hunger. I noticed a little hunger this week, again I think due to the workouts. Yesterday though I think I had "boredom" hunger for the first time. I wasn't truly bored, but I was less busy than I am during the week and food kept creeping into my mind. Overall though I do not have the aching hunger I usually have on a diet, must be doing something right with the meal planning.
On to week 7!
Diet: 5 good solid workouts this week. I am doing more in the same amount of time, so either I am upping my speed or my new found strength can manipulate time, either way that's cool. Still fighting with my meal plan, lunch particularly as noted in the blog this week. On track to meet month 2 weight loss goal.
Budget: OK, went a little nuts on groceries Friday but I am chalking a little bit of it up to book group at my place this weekend which is more entertainment than food. I bought a coffee pot finally so that means more coffee, less money spent, woo hoo!
Mood: Pretty good overall. Tired, which I think is more physical (the extra working out) than mental, although the days getting shorter is threatening to send me into sadness. Luckily the warm temps this week kept me pretty even-keeled.
Hunger: I am adding a category to my re-cap to track my hunger. I noticed a little hunger this week, again I think due to the workouts. Yesterday though I think I had "boredom" hunger for the first time. I wasn't truly bored, but I was less busy than I am during the week and food kept creeping into my mind. Overall though I do not have the aching hunger I usually have on a diet, must be doing something right with the meal planning.
On to week 7!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Alone in the Kitchen
A couple of weeks ago I was having lunch with a friend and discussing my upcoming post on dining alone. This friend, being one of the many talented and attractive librarians I know, said: "There are tons of books on that topic. The one I want to read is called Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant."
We both agreed that was a great name for a book. When I did a Google image search for a picture of a woman eating alone to use in my post, what popped up? The cover of this same book. The cover doesn't actually have a woman on it, but rather (as you would guess) an eggplant, but clearly this book was meant to be read, by me.
The book is actually a collection of essays, edited by Jenni Ferrari-Adler, who was an MFA student in Michigan, living on her own and cooking on a grad student budget for the first time.
It begins with the titular essay "Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant" written by Laurie Colwin in the 80's and has contributors like novelist Anne Patchett, foodie Steve Almond, novelist Haruki Murakami and Colwin's own daughter Rosa Jurjevics.
The essays are touching and funny, each person finding themselves alone in the kitchen for different reasons, some empowering and some sad. The recipes run the gamut from overindulgence to basic sustenance and many of them involve eggs. I did not copy out a lot of the recipes as they don't necessarily fit into a healthy lifestyle, but Single Girl Salmon and almost anything with anchovies got copied down.
The book made me realize I am not alone in my solitude, many people are alone in their kitchens and what we do there can be good or bad for our bodies and our souls.
I was so inspired by this book (which I completed in the span of 1 weekend) that I have written my own Alone in the Kitchen essay and will post it here next week.
We both agreed that was a great name for a book. When I did a Google image search for a picture of a woman eating alone to use in my post, what popped up? The cover of this same book. The cover doesn't actually have a woman on it, but rather (as you would guess) an eggplant, but clearly this book was meant to be read, by me.
The book is actually a collection of essays, edited by Jenni Ferrari-Adler, who was an MFA student in Michigan, living on her own and cooking on a grad student budget for the first time.
It begins with the titular essay "Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant" written by Laurie Colwin in the 80's and has contributors like novelist Anne Patchett, foodie Steve Almond, novelist Haruki Murakami and Colwin's own daughter Rosa Jurjevics.
The essays are touching and funny, each person finding themselves alone in the kitchen for different reasons, some empowering and some sad. The recipes run the gamut from overindulgence to basic sustenance and many of them involve eggs. I did not copy out a lot of the recipes as they don't necessarily fit into a healthy lifestyle, but Single Girl Salmon and almost anything with anchovies got copied down.
The book made me realize I am not alone in my solitude, many people are alone in their kitchens and what we do there can be good or bad for our bodies and our souls.
I was so inspired by this book (which I completed in the span of 1 weekend) that I have written my own Alone in the Kitchen essay and will post it here next week.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Sweet Sweet Wine
Wine is such a great thing. I could, in fact, use a glass right now and it is barely 9:00 a.m. You can feel the alcohol begin to work with the first crisp fruity sip of a Chardonnay or the first warm smooth sip of a rich red. There is a wine for every palate and cuisine.
There is also a wine for every budget. You can get a very good, unique bottle of wine for less than $10 (split that with a friend and you get 2 or 3 glasses of wine for $5). Now beware, there is a big difference between wine that costs $4.99 (Trader Joe's famous Charles Shaw being the most famous exception) and a bottle that costs $8.99 or $9.99.
You do not need to drink Boon's Farm on a budget, you can even drink French wine!
This is a bottle (empty of course) of les Shadok's White Bordeaux purchased by a friend for $9.99 in downtown Boston (probably cheaper in the burbs if you can find it). The first time she saw this bottle she was skeptical of the seemingly silly label, but the helpful man at the liquor store assured her it was a good find.
My intensive search of the internet (i.e. Wikipedia) informs me that the cartoon birds on the front of the bottle are characters from a late 60's French cartoon still referenced today with great cultural significance. Do we have California wine with Tom & Jerry on it?
Regardless, the birds are cute, the wine is good and a white Bordeaux for $10 is hard to criticize. Don't think you have to by the ubiquitous wines to stay on a budget, I love a good Chardonnay or a Merlot, but if you have the time to look for different vineyards and vintages you may find a gem like this one.
There is also a wine for every budget. You can get a very good, unique bottle of wine for less than $10 (split that with a friend and you get 2 or 3 glasses of wine for $5). Now beware, there is a big difference between wine that costs $4.99 (Trader Joe's famous Charles Shaw being the most famous exception) and a bottle that costs $8.99 or $9.99.
You do not need to drink Boon's Farm on a budget, you can even drink French wine!
This is a bottle (empty of course) of les Shadok's White Bordeaux purchased by a friend for $9.99 in downtown Boston (probably cheaper in the burbs if you can find it). The first time she saw this bottle she was skeptical of the seemingly silly label, but the helpful man at the liquor store assured her it was a good find.My intensive search of the internet (i.e. Wikipedia) informs me that the cartoon birds on the front of the bottle are characters from a late 60's French cartoon still referenced today with great cultural significance. Do we have California wine with Tom & Jerry on it?
Regardless, the birds are cute, the wine is good and a white Bordeaux for $10 is hard to criticize. Don't think you have to by the ubiquitous wines to stay on a budget, I love a good Chardonnay or a Merlot, but if you have the time to look for different vineyards and vintages you may find a gem like this one.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Home Salon
I am nervous to estimate how much of my credit card debt was accrued in salons of various sorts over the years. This was an area where I never saved and always charged. It was a great treat to get my nails done and I didn't think twice of $200+ trips to the hair salon.
Those days are gone. Below are lists of salon-type services I will save up to pay for in a salon and those I can do at home for a minuscule fraction of the cost.
Spend
Hair Cut: Despite a friend's suggestion to check out Ebay for a vintage Flowbie, I must get my hair cut by a professional. If you have ever seen my hair you know why. Luckily I do not have to have it cut very frequently and I have successfully put away the money to pay for a salon cut next month which should get me through the end of the year.
Pedicure: Not every week, but a professional pedicure once or twice a year is worth the money. I live in New England, after boot season is over my feet need help before being seen in public in strappy little sandals. For simple grooming and polish I can certainly do that on my own.
Highlights: If you get highlights save the money and have a professional do them, you can buy at home highlight kits, but this is a process you should not attempt without training. Highlights are supposed to look natural and if they are uneven and crooked they will look anything but. I gave up highlights a couple years ago because of the cost, thanks to my curls I get enough play of light and shadow on my own.
Save
Manicure: Like a pedicure a once in a blue moon professional manicure is nice to get your nails in good shape. A good quality manicure set, however, is not super expensive and a manicure is a great thing to do while watching TV (instead of eating Twinkies). Bored with your polish choices? Invite some friends over and pool your resources.
Hair Color: There are a zillion high quality hair colors in drug stores nowadays and there is bound to be the perfect match for you. All over hair color is easy to apply and kind of fun. Remember to wear the rubber gloves they give you!
Eyebrows: It is faster and less painful to pay to have your eyebrows waxed, I totally agree and if you can afford it without putting it on a card, go for it. I try to keep up with the tweezing so it isn't an all day project, I fear Saturday night the bulk of my time will be dedicated to this though. I have never attempted DIY waxing.
Mini-Pedicure: While I leave the serious scraping to the professionals, I can certainly do the mini-pedi myself. A nice soak and scrub, pay my toenails some attention and slap on some pretty polish, it's a snap and makes me feel fierce watching reruns of America's Next Top Model.
Facial: I admit to neglecting my face and now that I am closer to 40 than 30 I have to do more to keep my skin in fine condition. I love a good face mask and have a couple of excellent ones in my beauty drawer.
Girls, face it, we are all vain in our own ways and while all of this may be your regimen or only one or two items pertain to you it is safe to say we could all save some money on beauty.
This Saturday evening I am turning my apartment into Salon Annmarie and dedicating some me time to soothing my own vanity needs for under $10.
Those days are gone. Below are lists of salon-type services I will save up to pay for in a salon and those I can do at home for a minuscule fraction of the cost.
Spend
Hair Cut: Despite a friend's suggestion to check out Ebay for a vintage Flowbie, I must get my hair cut by a professional. If you have ever seen my hair you know why. Luckily I do not have to have it cut very frequently and I have successfully put away the money to pay for a salon cut next month which should get me through the end of the year.
Pedicure: Not every week, but a professional pedicure once or twice a year is worth the money. I live in New England, after boot season is over my feet need help before being seen in public in strappy little sandals. For simple grooming and polish I can certainly do that on my own.
Highlights: If you get highlights save the money and have a professional do them, you can buy at home highlight kits, but this is a process you should not attempt without training. Highlights are supposed to look natural and if they are uneven and crooked they will look anything but. I gave up highlights a couple years ago because of the cost, thanks to my curls I get enough play of light and shadow on my own.
Save
Manicure: Like a pedicure a once in a blue moon professional manicure is nice to get your nails in good shape. A good quality manicure set, however, is not super expensive and a manicure is a great thing to do while watching TV (instead of eating Twinkies). Bored with your polish choices? Invite some friends over and pool your resources.
Hair Color: There are a zillion high quality hair colors in drug stores nowadays and there is bound to be the perfect match for you. All over hair color is easy to apply and kind of fun. Remember to wear the rubber gloves they give you!
Eyebrows: It is faster and less painful to pay to have your eyebrows waxed, I totally agree and if you can afford it without putting it on a card, go for it. I try to keep up with the tweezing so it isn't an all day project, I fear Saturday night the bulk of my time will be dedicated to this though. I have never attempted DIY waxing.
Mini-Pedicure: While I leave the serious scraping to the professionals, I can certainly do the mini-pedi myself. A nice soak and scrub, pay my toenails some attention and slap on some pretty polish, it's a snap and makes me feel fierce watching reruns of America's Next Top Model.
Facial: I admit to neglecting my face and now that I am closer to 40 than 30 I have to do more to keep my skin in fine condition. I love a good face mask and have a couple of excellent ones in my beauty drawer.
Girls, face it, we are all vain in our own ways and while all of this may be your regimen or only one or two items pertain to you it is safe to say we could all save some money on beauty.
This Saturday evening I am turning my apartment into Salon Annmarie and dedicating some me time to soothing my own vanity needs for under $10.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Great Plate Debate
There is much research on the link between overeating and the size of your plate. As Americans we have been trained to fill our plates (and our homes and our purses and our gas tanks) and then to clean our plates. We also have a tendency to want everything bigger (plates, houses, purses and gas tanks to name a few).
The question becomes if we have a smaller plate, will we only fill it once and thus eat less?
I am going to give it a try.
Earlier this month I started to organize my kitchen. This weekend I will complete that project by shifting my dinner ware.
I own 2 sets of dishes. The first set was the set I bought at an outlet when I moved into my first apartment in the US back in 1997. They are Pfaltzcraft fairly plain but lovely every day dishes. The 2nd is a set my grandmother gave me when she was cleaning out her kitchen, they are beautiful and the dinner plates -- considerably smaller.
So Saturday I will take the fancier and smaller dishes (and bowls and serving pieces, look a whole grown up person's dishes!) and put them on the accessible shelf and I will remove the bigger plates (hopefully they will go to a nice person's home).
My kitchen cabinets are overflowing with things I don't use or need and I intend to divest myself of some things to make way for the useful and the necessary. Wish me luck!
The question becomes if we have a smaller plate, will we only fill it once and thus eat less?
I am going to give it a try.
Earlier this month I started to organize my kitchen. This weekend I will complete that project by shifting my dinner ware.
I own 2 sets of dishes. The first set was the set I bought at an outlet when I moved into my first apartment in the US back in 1997. They are Pfaltzcraft fairly plain but lovely every day dishes. The 2nd is a set my grandmother gave me when she was cleaning out her kitchen, they are beautiful and the dinner plates -- considerably smaller.
So Saturday I will take the fancier and smaller dishes (and bowls and serving pieces, look a whole grown up person's dishes!) and put them on the accessible shelf and I will remove the bigger plates (hopefully they will go to a nice person's home).My kitchen cabinets are overflowing with things I don't use or need and I intend to divest myself of some things to make way for the useful and the necessary. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Single in the City
Since I no longer have the money to distract myself with endless activities and shopping, I spend a lot more time in my apartment analyzing myself. I'm 36 and single and not only single, but really really single.
Now, I do not think that I am single because I do not look like a Supermodel, I know plenty of woman over a size 4 that are happily married.
Part of why I believe I am still single is that up until recently I really enjoyed being alone. I got a bit of a thrill out of living in the city on my own, proof that I was a strong independent woman who can handle anything. Except, as we all know now I wasn't really handling it very well.
This all started when I graduated from college and moved to Moscow, if I could do that I could certainly do anything on my own.
And I do like being alone. I recently visited my parents and the amount of talking and activity that goes on in their house was kind of overwhelming to someone who may go a whole day on the weekend without saying more than "thank you" to the person selling her her coffee.
So now that the diet and the budget are underway I have to start to think about finding someone to share my new fabulous life with. Perhaps someone who doesn't live in this state, so I can still have my alone time...
Now, I do not think that I am single because I do not look like a Supermodel, I know plenty of woman over a size 4 that are happily married.
Part of why I believe I am still single is that up until recently I really enjoyed being alone. I got a bit of a thrill out of living in the city on my own, proof that I was a strong independent woman who can handle anything. Except, as we all know now I wasn't really handling it very well.
This all started when I graduated from college and moved to Moscow, if I could do that I could certainly do anything on my own.
And I do like being alone. I recently visited my parents and the amount of talking and activity that goes on in their house was kind of overwhelming to someone who may go a whole day on the weekend without saying more than "thank you" to the person selling her her coffee.
So now that the diet and the budget are underway I have to start to think about finding someone to share my new fabulous life with. Perhaps someone who doesn't live in this state, so I can still have my alone time...
Monday, September 20, 2010
Same Old, Same Old
Same old lunch. I am in a serious lunch rut. While I have worked hard to come up with 4 or 5 weeks worth of rotating breakfast menus and am trying to cook new and exciting dinner options, lunch has fallen by the way side.
Since I began the diet over 6 weeks ago I have eaten either Greek Yogurt with fruit and granola or Cottage Cheese and fruit for lunch 5 days a week with the occasional turkey sandwich thrown in for excitement.
Part of this is keeping with the budget, these are very affordable options. Part of it is my brain is tired from all the other things I am trying to focus on and I can't be any more creative.
So I am calling all lunch ideas, no idea too crazy. If you have a quick easy lunch that is even remotely healthy let me know I will give it a try!
Since I began the diet over 6 weeks ago I have eaten either Greek Yogurt with fruit and granola or Cottage Cheese and fruit for lunch 5 days a week with the occasional turkey sandwich thrown in for excitement.
Part of this is keeping with the budget, these are very affordable options. Part of it is my brain is tired from all the other things I am trying to focus on and I can't be any more creative.
So I am calling all lunch ideas, no idea too crazy. If you have a quick easy lunch that is even remotely healthy let me know I will give it a try!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Sunday Recap, Week 5
On to Month 2 of my journey!
Budget: I have been working hard at meal planning and organizing my grocery shopping and that has helped lower my grocery bill a little. I have sucessfully put a little bit of money into savings. This coming week I will tackle the cable company.
Diet: Ate well this week and have increased my time, speed and resistance on my cardio workouts and increased strength and reps on my free weight, month 2 workouts are underway.
Mood: Good overall despite the shortening days and impending season of doom.
I have a nice stretch of time ahead of me free of any planned diversions from my goals. I hope to keep my focus. I have also started expanding some of these blog posts into longer pieces, writing again (even if it is solipsistic) feels good. Thanks for all of the great notes of support!
Budget: I have been working hard at meal planning and organizing my grocery shopping and that has helped lower my grocery bill a little. I have sucessfully put a little bit of money into savings. This coming week I will tackle the cable company.
Diet: Ate well this week and have increased my time, speed and resistance on my cardio workouts and increased strength and reps on my free weight, month 2 workouts are underway.
Mood: Good overall despite the shortening days and impending season of doom.
I have a nice stretch of time ahead of me free of any planned diversions from my goals. I hope to keep my focus. I have also started expanding some of these blog posts into longer pieces, writing again (even if it is solipsistic) feels good. Thanks for all of the great notes of support!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Pizza and Beer!
Now that I have your attention... last night I had both pizza and beer. It was a study in compromise,but I enjoyed both immensely.
I have already intimated that I am not giving up pizza, along with dessert, so it should not come as a shock to you. I am trying to limit my pizza consumption to 2 slices every other week. It is a fairly arbitrary rule, but it makes me feel in control.
Last night was pizza night and I won't lie, I thought about it all week. My pizza of choice is Upper Crust and they have a fairly new shop in my neighborhood. If you are familiar with Upper Crust you know their pizza is very thin crust, fine chunky natural sauce with delicious cheese used sparingly and not laid on with a trowel. If you get toppings they are fresh, delicious and unique.
Their slices are a gem, huge and in a few choices: cheese, pepperoni and Slice of the Day. The SOD changes each day and is usually something unique and creative, sometimes with veggies that I will opt for. You can get your Cheese or SOD on white or wheat crust and due to an unfortunate wheat crust pizza incident I have not tried the wheat crust yet, but I will...
Also, from a budget standpoint Upper Crust gives a 10% discount to Charlie Card holders and has a loyalty slice program where you get your 11th slice free with a little punch card, so it is a very affordable treat.
Usually I get 1 cheese and 1 SOD, but if the SOD has greasy meat on it I get 2 slices of cheese. I noticed yesterday that the Upper Crust website has a nutrition calculator now and was "shocked" to find that my two huge slices of pizza were pretty high in calories (the fat was not terrible as the cheese is used sparingly).
I discovered this early in the day, so I planned accordingly and pretty much reduced my lunch to an apple, justifying that one of the slices would be my lunch and one my dinner. I was eating very early due to later beer-related plans, so it worked out fine.
Physically I could have had my regularly-scheduled lunch and 1 slice of pizza and also been fine, but psychologically I am still someone that needs 2 slices of pizza. Some day I will be that girl that will be mentally satisfied with one, but that day isn't here and until it arrives I hope I can compensate so as not to overeat.
I then indulged in 2 full calorie handcrafted beers with a friend, which I had also factored into my calories for the day. I tend to drink light beer so 2 regular beers were more than filling and satisfying.
My mini dessert, was 4 pieces of Russian candy from the Russian supermarket in my friend's new neighborhood, a true treat in every sense of the word (although now that she lives there it may become a regular treat).
I did not go over my calories or fat for the day, felt like I indulged and was completely satisfied at bedtime. I have found a way to have my pizza and eat it too.
I have already intimated that I am not giving up pizza, along with dessert, so it should not come as a shock to you. I am trying to limit my pizza consumption to 2 slices every other week. It is a fairly arbitrary rule, but it makes me feel in control.
Last night was pizza night and I won't lie, I thought about it all week. My pizza of choice is Upper Crust and they have a fairly new shop in my neighborhood. If you are familiar with Upper Crust you know their pizza is very thin crust, fine chunky natural sauce with delicious cheese used sparingly and not laid on with a trowel. If you get toppings they are fresh, delicious and unique.
Their slices are a gem, huge and in a few choices: cheese, pepperoni and Slice of the Day. The SOD changes each day and is usually something unique and creative, sometimes with veggies that I will opt for. You can get your Cheese or SOD on white or wheat crust and due to an unfortunate wheat crust pizza incident I have not tried the wheat crust yet, but I will...
Also, from a budget standpoint Upper Crust gives a 10% discount to Charlie Card holders and has a loyalty slice program where you get your 11th slice free with a little punch card, so it is a very affordable treat.
Usually I get 1 cheese and 1 SOD, but if the SOD has greasy meat on it I get 2 slices of cheese. I noticed yesterday that the Upper Crust website has a nutrition calculator now and was "shocked" to find that my two huge slices of pizza were pretty high in calories (the fat was not terrible as the cheese is used sparingly).
I discovered this early in the day, so I planned accordingly and pretty much reduced my lunch to an apple, justifying that one of the slices would be my lunch and one my dinner. I was eating very early due to later beer-related plans, so it worked out fine.
Physically I could have had my regularly-scheduled lunch and 1 slice of pizza and also been fine, but psychologically I am still someone that needs 2 slices of pizza. Some day I will be that girl that will be mentally satisfied with one, but that day isn't here and until it arrives I hope I can compensate so as not to overeat.
I then indulged in 2 full calorie handcrafted beers with a friend, which I had also factored into my calories for the day. I tend to drink light beer so 2 regular beers were more than filling and satisfying.
My mini dessert, was 4 pieces of Russian candy from the Russian supermarket in my friend's new neighborhood, a true treat in every sense of the word (although now that she lives there it may become a regular treat).
I did not go over my calories or fat for the day, felt like I indulged and was completely satisfied at bedtime. I have found a way to have my pizza and eat it too.
Friday, September 17, 2010
What's in a Name?
Earlier this week I read this article on Yahoo! about buying generic. It was interesting to see some dollars and cents equivalents to practices I have had for years. I am not a "name brand" snob for most items and often find the generic an affordable and acceptable option.
The item on this list that grabbed my eye though was the last one, spices. I had already been planning a blog post about spices and was glad to see that I was correct in my assumption that name brand spices are a total waste of money.
Dried spices are a great way to keep the healthy food I am trying to eat interesting without adding fat or calories. The idea of stocking a pantry with all the great spice options from the name brand aisle at the grocery store sends my wallet into shock though. At $5 or $6 a bottle it becomes a pricey endeavor.
The article is correct, the store brand spices are cheaper, but I have found an even better buy in my grocery store's ethnic food aisle. There is a great spice section in the "Latin American" section of my grocery store, over by all the Goya beans (also a great value!) and it is way cheaper than the store brand.
What is even better about this section is it has the spices in different size containers, so if you just need enough for a recipe or 2 you can buy a packet for $1.19 instead of a bottle. The regular size bottles are around $3 and they have big restaurant size bottles for things you use a lot.
Now I shop at an urban grocery store, I hope the suburban stores have this same great find. Check it out and spice up your meals without bankrupting your budget!
The item on this list that grabbed my eye though was the last one, spices. I had already been planning a blog post about spices and was glad to see that I was correct in my assumption that name brand spices are a total waste of money.
Dried spices are a great way to keep the healthy food I am trying to eat interesting without adding fat or calories. The idea of stocking a pantry with all the great spice options from the name brand aisle at the grocery store sends my wallet into shock though. At $5 or $6 a bottle it becomes a pricey endeavor.
The article is correct, the store brand spices are cheaper, but I have found an even better buy in my grocery store's ethnic food aisle. There is a great spice section in the "Latin American" section of my grocery store, over by all the Goya beans (also a great value!) and it is way cheaper than the store brand.
What is even better about this section is it has the spices in different size containers, so if you just need enough for a recipe or 2 you can buy a packet for $1.19 instead of a bottle. The regular size bottles are around $3 and they have big restaurant size bottles for things you use a lot.
Now I shop at an urban grocery store, I hope the suburban stores have this same great find. Check it out and spice up your meals without bankrupting your budget!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Annmarie, Party of 1
I live alone. I work alone. I am alone a lot. I would say of the 28 meals and snacks I eat in an average week I eat 25 of them completely alone.
I don't generally dress up for my meals alone, but maybe I should.
There are pros and cons to being on a diet alone.
PROS
1. You only have to feed yourself
2. You do not need to shop for multiple likes and dislikes, you can make your list for you and that is it.
3. No one else will be bringing home their personal cravings.
4. There are no other schedules to juggle. You eat when you want to and don't have to worry about waiting for someone to get home and then end up devouring a pint of ice cream because you were hungry an hour ago.
5. There are no long conversations to linger over the meal picking at seconds and thirds.
CONS
1. There are no long conversations to linger over and share, eating becomes a lonely compulsory activity.
2. No one sees what you eat, you could eat a box of Pop Tarts for dinner, no one would know.
3. It is hard to motivate to cook a whole healthy meal for one person when take out is so easy and often more cost effective.
4. When you do cook something you end up eating it every day for a week as it generally is enough for a whole family. Redundancy is the killer of all diets.
5. Value packs aren't a value for 1 person, buying in smaller quantities usually costs more.
As far as the cons go I have done a fairly good job of avoiding #2 and am trying hard to work on #3.
I don't mind eating alone for the most part, but I love to have dinner guests...
I don't generally dress up for my meals alone, but maybe I should.
There are pros and cons to being on a diet alone.
PROS
1. You only have to feed yourself
2. You do not need to shop for multiple likes and dislikes, you can make your list for you and that is it.
3. No one else will be bringing home their personal cravings.
4. There are no other schedules to juggle. You eat when you want to and don't have to worry about waiting for someone to get home and then end up devouring a pint of ice cream because you were hungry an hour ago.
5. There are no long conversations to linger over the meal picking at seconds and thirds.
CONS
1. There are no long conversations to linger over and share, eating becomes a lonely compulsory activity.
2. No one sees what you eat, you could eat a box of Pop Tarts for dinner, no one would know.
3. It is hard to motivate to cook a whole healthy meal for one person when take out is so easy and often more cost effective.
4. When you do cook something you end up eating it every day for a week as it generally is enough for a whole family. Redundancy is the killer of all diets.
5. Value packs aren't a value for 1 person, buying in smaller quantities usually costs more.
As far as the cons go I have done a fairly good job of avoiding #2 and am trying hard to work on #3.
I don't mind eating alone for the most part, but I love to have dinner guests...
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Shrink Those Bills
When I went over all of my finances with the credit counselor the only things he asked me to cut back on were entertainment, gifts/charitable contributions and my cable bill. The first 2 were more about keeping track of what I spend on those items and trying to stick to a set figure, not just spending willynilly whenever I felt like it.
The cable bill he offered up as a challenge. "See if you can cut your cable costs by $20 a month," said Joe, sounding confident.
Now I have already told you that I do not intend to give up television for my diet, I am certainly not giving it up for my budget. With the impending seasons of doom here in New England I need my cable.
So I checked out a website I had heard about called Bill Shrink. At Bill Shrink you enter your address and your desired shrinkage and answer a few questions about "must haves" and it scans all the local cable options and offers you the best bet to shrink your bill.
Bill Shrink has assured me that Comcast can offer me a decent package (not as thorough as what I have, but do I really need 6 versions of ESPN -- I might actually) and save me $30 a month. I did my own independent research and the package Bill Shrink offered me only appears to be offered to NEW Comcast clients, the age old cable conundrum.
I have not called Comcast yet, it is on my list for September, but Bill Shrink has at least provided me the ammunition to go in to the call.
FYI, Bill Shrink offers similar comparison shopping for telephone services and other utilities as well!
The cable bill he offered up as a challenge. "See if you can cut your cable costs by $20 a month," said Joe, sounding confident.
Now I have already told you that I do not intend to give up television for my diet, I am certainly not giving it up for my budget. With the impending seasons of doom here in New England I need my cable.
So I checked out a website I had heard about called Bill Shrink. At Bill Shrink you enter your address and your desired shrinkage and answer a few questions about "must haves" and it scans all the local cable options and offers you the best bet to shrink your bill.
Bill Shrink has assured me that Comcast can offer me a decent package (not as thorough as what I have, but do I really need 6 versions of ESPN -- I might actually) and save me $30 a month. I did my own independent research and the package Bill Shrink offered me only appears to be offered to NEW Comcast clients, the age old cable conundrum.
I have not called Comcast yet, it is on my list for September, but Bill Shrink has at least provided me the ammunition to go in to the call.
FYI, Bill Shrink offers similar comparison shopping for telephone services and other utilities as well!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
A Cautionary Dream
So I have not eaten a single deep-fried thing in over 5 weeks. Not a french fry, not a fried clam, not a chicken finger, nothing. It must be some kind of record for me.
I was thinking last week that I might allow myself the indulgence over the weekend for fear that, like dessert, if I continue to deny myself I will gorge on a big plate of fried. Quickly I realized I had not been denying myself, I had not been longing for fried at all. So I didn't have it.
Last night at my knitting group (which takes place in a food court with all manner of temptations), I proudly declared that I was not craving fried. Then I went home and fell asleep and dreamed that I was eating a huge plate of fried.... stuff. What was on the plate was predominantly a mystery, although I know that at one point I was eating fried ham. I know, gross!
Perhaps this is my subconscious's way of keeping the cravings at bay. I woke up disappointed in myself for giving in to the fried, until I realized it was all just a scary dream and I am 5 weeks and counting. I am not saying I will never have french fries again, but if I can go 5 weeks without them I have much more control over them than I ever had before.
I was thinking last week that I might allow myself the indulgence over the weekend for fear that, like dessert, if I continue to deny myself I will gorge on a big plate of fried. Quickly I realized I had not been denying myself, I had not been longing for fried at all. So I didn't have it.
Last night at my knitting group (which takes place in a food court with all manner of temptations), I proudly declared that I was not craving fried. Then I went home and fell asleep and dreamed that I was eating a huge plate of fried.... stuff. What was on the plate was predominantly a mystery, although I know that at one point I was eating fried ham. I know, gross!
Perhaps this is my subconscious's way of keeping the cravings at bay. I woke up disappointed in myself for giving in to the fried, until I realized it was all just a scary dream and I am 5 weeks and counting. I am not saying I will never have french fries again, but if I can go 5 weeks without them I have much more control over them than I ever had before.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Will That Be Cash or Charge?
There are hundreds of articles on the value of using cash over credit and vice versa. Tons of credit cards now offering points and rewards are great if you can pay off the balances before you accrue all the interest.
I no longer have a choice, I am a "cash only" kind of girl now. Here is one of the many articles about why this lifestyle can be good and I have read a bunch like it this past month.
My questions about my "cash only" lifestyle is: is it preferable to withdraw a lump sum of cash at the beginning of the week or use my debit card like cash?
As long as I have had a debit card I have wondered about this, and I have never studied my spending habits enough to come to an accurate conclusion.
Right now I am going with the lump sum cash option. I take a fixed amount out at the beginning of the week and the only thing I use my debit card for is to put $ on my Charlie Card (public transportation pass).
For me I find having a specific amount of money in my wallet a true test of what I can afford. When the money is gone it is gone, even if there is more in the account.
I would love any comments on others experiences with this issue, thanks!
I no longer have a choice, I am a "cash only" kind of girl now. Here is one of the many articles about why this lifestyle can be good and I have read a bunch like it this past month.
My questions about my "cash only" lifestyle is: is it preferable to withdraw a lump sum of cash at the beginning of the week or use my debit card like cash?
As long as I have had a debit card I have wondered about this, and I have never studied my spending habits enough to come to an accurate conclusion.
Right now I am going with the lump sum cash option. I take a fixed amount out at the beginning of the week and the only thing I use my debit card for is to put $ on my Charlie Card (public transportation pass).
For me I find having a specific amount of money in my wallet a true test of what I can afford. When the money is gone it is gone, even if there is more in the account.
I would love any comments on others experiences with this issue, thanks!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sunday Recap -- Month 1
So I survived the first month of life on a diet and a budget. I am no worse for wear and in some ways a lot better than I was at this time last month!
Budget: The final tally of my monthly household expenses was well under budget, of course I had no medical expenses or salon visits or any of the higher priced items. Of the laundry list of household items on the breakdown I was over budget on 3 things:
1. Cable (over $21.55) because I have not yet called the cable company to negotiate a lower rate/cut my plan, that is on this month's goal list.
2. Utilities (over $25.74) not unexpected as my electric bill allotment is an estimate for the whole year and this past bill had a lot of AC on it, it has already dropped to budgeted range for the next month.
3. Entertainment (over $1.68) which was the biggest slash to my previous spending habits. This category will be the hardest each month to manage.
Overall I am pleased with my first month of budgeting!
Diet: Successfully hit my weight loss goal for month 1, which was 10% of my overall total goal. I have established a good habit of getting to the gym 5 days a week and I am improving my meal planning. Favorite Snack for month 1 -- apple and peanut butter!
Mood: I have been very focused and organized for month 1. I am fearful of what will happen if I let my focus slip, but I have to sneak in a little more fun in Month 2. I have spent time with friends and had some great days, but overall I was kind of tense for month 1.
I have read that when it comes to healthy habits like going to the gym and eating well it takes 28 days to stick to it and as little as 3 days to break it. I have gotten past the 28 day mark and hope that I can keep going in the right direction.
This next month will include my online money management class that I need to take and more investigation of savings plans for my vacation fund!
Thank you all who have commented and supported me this first month, you are the best!
Budget: The final tally of my monthly household expenses was well under budget, of course I had no medical expenses or salon visits or any of the higher priced items. Of the laundry list of household items on the breakdown I was over budget on 3 things:
1. Cable (over $21.55) because I have not yet called the cable company to negotiate a lower rate/cut my plan, that is on this month's goal list.
2. Utilities (over $25.74) not unexpected as my electric bill allotment is an estimate for the whole year and this past bill had a lot of AC on it, it has already dropped to budgeted range for the next month.
3. Entertainment (over $1.68) which was the biggest slash to my previous spending habits. This category will be the hardest each month to manage.
Overall I am pleased with my first month of budgeting!
Diet: Successfully hit my weight loss goal for month 1, which was 10% of my overall total goal. I have established a good habit of getting to the gym 5 days a week and I am improving my meal planning. Favorite Snack for month 1 -- apple and peanut butter!
Mood: I have been very focused and organized for month 1. I am fearful of what will happen if I let my focus slip, but I have to sneak in a little more fun in Month 2. I have spent time with friends and had some great days, but overall I was kind of tense for month 1.
I have read that when it comes to healthy habits like going to the gym and eating well it takes 28 days to stick to it and as little as 3 days to break it. I have gotten past the 28 day mark and hope that I can keep going in the right direction.
This next month will include my online money management class that I need to take and more investigation of savings plans for my vacation fund!
Thank you all who have commented and supported me this first month, you are the best!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Modern Day Piggy Banks
I have never been very good saving money. I had a tiny little silver piggy bank when I was a kid and as soon as a few coins were clinking around in there, enough for gum or some stickers, I would jimmy the stopper in the bottom open and shake them out into my palm.
As an adult I became good at saving money here and there, finding bargains and using coupons, but I never actually "saved" the money I saved, I would just spend it on something else.
So now I am challenging myself to save in 2 ways. I am saving $10 a month into a generic "rainy day" fund and I am saving my extra money and gym reward money for the express purpose of going on vacation.
I am considering a couple different types of accounts to do this. For the general savings I am going to investigate linking a standard savings account to my checking account so I can just transfer the savings every couple weeks.
For the vacation fund I am looking for something with a little higher interest rate. I also want something I cannot access easily as I do not want to be tempted to spend this money on yarn or highlights or pie. I am going to start by doing what every 36 year old woman does, asking my parents... (pathetic I know, but they have a vacation account which I envy and want to emulate).
I still have a little piggy bank in my desk where I put my change, I try hard not to spend it on stickers and gum.
As an adult I became good at saving money here and there, finding bargains and using coupons, but I never actually "saved" the money I saved, I would just spend it on something else.
So now I am challenging myself to save in 2 ways. I am saving $10 a month into a generic "rainy day" fund and I am saving my extra money and gym reward money for the express purpose of going on vacation.
I am considering a couple different types of accounts to do this. For the general savings I am going to investigate linking a standard savings account to my checking account so I can just transfer the savings every couple weeks.
For the vacation fund I am looking for something with a little higher interest rate. I also want something I cannot access easily as I do not want to be tempted to spend this money on yarn or highlights or pie. I am going to start by doing what every 36 year old woman does, asking my parents... (pathetic I know, but they have a vacation account which I envy and want to emulate).
I still have a little piggy bank in my desk where I put my change, I try hard not to spend it on stickers and gum.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Say Yes to Dessert
I know, I know I just wrote yesterday about not rewarding myself with food any more, but this is a different issue. Whenever I cut a food out of my life completely it is all I can think about, to the point of obsession and then I must have it. In huge quantities. Such is the issue with dessert.
In the past when I have dieted I have stuck to a strict "no sweets" rule, seems logical as it is an awful lot of empty calories. Somewhere around Week 3, and usually on a Wednesday for some reason, I crack and end up eating an entire cake.
So this time around I am trying to work dessert into my life in a way that keeps me satisfied and away from the Entenmann's boxes. This won't work for everyone, we all have a different relationship to baked goods, but here is my plan so far.
6 days a week I eat a small, 100 calorie dessert. So far my favorites have been 3 mini York Peppermint Patties, fudgcicles or non-fat pudding. I like each of these things just enough that I don't need to binge on them, but yet they give me the dessert euphoria.
1 day a week I can have a real dessert. I am trying very hard to make this one dessert count. The first week I had homemade chocolate cake, then my mom's peach cobbler, last week it was ice cream on the beach. One week the opportunity did not arise and I did not seek it out.
I am trying a similar approach with pizza, more on that later...
In the past when I have dieted I have stuck to a strict "no sweets" rule, seems logical as it is an awful lot of empty calories. Somewhere around Week 3, and usually on a Wednesday for some reason, I crack and end up eating an entire cake.
So this time around I am trying to work dessert into my life in a way that keeps me satisfied and away from the Entenmann's boxes. This won't work for everyone, we all have a different relationship to baked goods, but here is my plan so far.
6 days a week I eat a small, 100 calorie dessert. So far my favorites have been 3 mini York Peppermint Patties, fudgcicles or non-fat pudding. I like each of these things just enough that I don't need to binge on them, but yet they give me the dessert euphoria.
1 day a week I can have a real dessert. I am trying very hard to make this one dessert count. The first week I had homemade chocolate cake, then my mom's peach cobbler, last week it was ice cream on the beach. One week the opportunity did not arise and I did not seek it out.
I am trying a similar approach with pizza, more on that later...
Thursday, September 9, 2010
I've Earned It!
Part of the reason I am in the situation I am in both financially and otherwise is my tendency to reward myself for rather mundane accomplishments with food or something I cannot afford and thus put on my credit card.
Did the laundry -- deserve an ice cream. Didn't tell off my boss at work -- let's buy that new pair of boots! And my personal favorite, went to the gym -- now go out for an expensive fattening dinner -- the double whammy!
Now that I have been living on a diet and a budget for about a month I have learned that I don't really miss those things and I am finding smaller healthier ways to reward myself.
Every time I go to the gym I put $1 in a jar. When I hit certain milestones I am going to cash that money in. At first I planned to use the money for smaller indulgences, a manicure or a knitting book, something to make me feel good in the immediate moment. I have reconsidered. I am going to save this money and all the money I get this year that is not earned (i.e. gifts, tax return, that lottery I still intend to win even though I don't play) and when I hit that final weight loss goal I am going to go somewhere. I don't know where yet, but I will be wearing a bathing suit.
Today is the first day of cashing in the jar. I hit the weight loss goal I had set for Month #1. I have lost 10% of my total goal. Since I have a year to meet the goal I am slightly ahead of schedule which is great as I accounted for plateaus and the holidays, so yay me.
Coming soon, how and where to save the money...
Did the laundry -- deserve an ice cream. Didn't tell off my boss at work -- let's buy that new pair of boots! And my personal favorite, went to the gym -- now go out for an expensive fattening dinner -- the double whammy!
Now that I have been living on a diet and a budget for about a month I have learned that I don't really miss those things and I am finding smaller healthier ways to reward myself.
Every time I go to the gym I put $1 in a jar. When I hit certain milestones I am going to cash that money in. At first I planned to use the money for smaller indulgences, a manicure or a knitting book, something to make me feel good in the immediate moment. I have reconsidered. I am going to save this money and all the money I get this year that is not earned (i.e. gifts, tax return, that lottery I still intend to win even though I don't play) and when I hit that final weight loss goal I am going to go somewhere. I don't know where yet, but I will be wearing a bathing suit.
Today is the first day of cashing in the jar. I hit the weight loss goal I had set for Month #1. I have lost 10% of my total goal. Since I have a year to meet the goal I am slightly ahead of schedule which is great as I accounted for plateaus and the holidays, so yay me.
Coming soon, how and where to save the money...
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
New Fall Lineup
So every diet book and medical professional on the planet will tell you that television is evil. There are studies on how many more calories we consume while watching TV, on how sedentary we are while watching TV (apparently they have never seen me watch a Red Sox play-off game, I can get 10 miles worth of pacing in) and how we watch TV instead of interacting with the world.
Well, I am not giving up TV. I live alone, I am on a budget and can thus far still afford my cable, so I am watching TV. The trick is finding things to do while watching TV that are not eating. So, I present...
Annmarie's Top 5 Things to Do While Watching TV
1. Knit: I learned how to knit two years ago and I love it! Having the yarn in my hands makes me completely averse to eating for fear of getting food on my project. I always have a fairly easy project going that I can work on and still watch TV.
2. Paint my Nails: Fingers, toes whatever needs it. The time it takes to file, buff, top coat polish and let dry will get me through an episode or two. Then I am so afraid of messing them up I won't eat anything.
3. Exercise: You can actually move while watching TV, it is not against the law.
4. Laundry: Save those towels and socks to fold while watching TV, keep your hands busy and accomplish something at the same time. I used to do laundry on Thursday nights during the Friends/Will & Grace era.
5. ??? I am taking suggestions! What do you do while sitting on the couch watching the beautiful people on TV?
Well, I am not giving up TV. I live alone, I am on a budget and can thus far still afford my cable, so I am watching TV. The trick is finding things to do while watching TV that are not eating. So, I present...
Annmarie's Top 5 Things to Do While Watching TV
1. Knit: I learned how to knit two years ago and I love it! Having the yarn in my hands makes me completely averse to eating for fear of getting food on my project. I always have a fairly easy project going that I can work on and still watch TV.
2. Paint my Nails: Fingers, toes whatever needs it. The time it takes to file, buff, top coat polish and let dry will get me through an episode or two. Then I am so afraid of messing them up I won't eat anything.
3. Exercise: You can actually move while watching TV, it is not against the law.
4. Laundry: Save those towels and socks to fold while watching TV, keep your hands busy and accomplish something at the same time. I used to do laundry on Thursday nights during the Friends/Will & Grace era.
5. ??? I am taking suggestions! What do you do while sitting on the couch watching the beautiful people on TV?
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Membership Has Its Privileges
Living on a budget and afraid you will be stuck home every weekend with nothing to do? Investigate a membership at your favorite local attraction!
I live in the Fenway and for the past 4 years have been a member of the Museum of Fine Arts. For $75 a year (fully tax deductible) I get unlimited visits to the museum, 2 free passes for any visiting exhibits, 10% off in the gift shop and restaurants and discounts on parking (don't have a car and the museum is walking distance any way, but still....).
Now I have included this $75 in my annual budget, so it is planned for. It is tax deductible so it is a nice investment and it more than pays for itself after a couple of visits and a few souvenirs.
The best part of my membership is I can go any time I want and stay for as long or as short a period of time as I wish and not feel like I have to "get my money's worth". Regular admission is $20, I would not pay $20 to go look at one amazing portrait of John Adams, but I can do that with my membership.
A friend of mine with a child is a member of the New England Aquarium and assures me she is happy with her investment as well.
Obviously you want to make sure you will visit enough to make the investment worth it, but if there is a place you go to 3 or 4 times a year investigate their membership options, you may find some savings and an easy answer on that day when you have no extra money and would like something to do!
Any of you members of a local museum or attraction?
I live in the Fenway and for the past 4 years have been a member of the Museum of Fine Arts. For $75 a year (fully tax deductible) I get unlimited visits to the museum, 2 free passes for any visiting exhibits, 10% off in the gift shop and restaurants and discounts on parking (don't have a car and the museum is walking distance any way, but still....).
Now I have included this $75 in my annual budget, so it is planned for. It is tax deductible so it is a nice investment and it more than pays for itself after a couple of visits and a few souvenirs.
The best part of my membership is I can go any time I want and stay for as long or as short a period of time as I wish and not feel like I have to "get my money's worth". Regular admission is $20, I would not pay $20 to go look at one amazing portrait of John Adams, but I can do that with my membership.
A friend of mine with a child is a member of the New England Aquarium and assures me she is happy with her investment as well.
Obviously you want to make sure you will visit enough to make the investment worth it, but if there is a place you go to 3 or 4 times a year investigate their membership options, you may find some savings and an easy answer on that day when you have no extra money and would like something to do!
Any of you members of a local museum or attraction?
Monday, September 6, 2010
Let's Get Physical
OK, so the title of this blog post comes not only from the subject matter but from the episode of Glee where Sue Sylvester does the Olivia Newton John video and then Olivia Newton John shows up, just watched it this weekend and it was hi-larious!
I digress... Dieting is about more than cutting calories, you have to move your body too. I am just about 1 month into my diet and I have done a good job of getting into an exercise routine of hitting the gym 5 days a week. I choose to exercise Mon - Fri as I work from home and can get over to the gym easily at lunch or right after work.
I give myself the weekend to recover (not as young as I used to be) but I like to engage in "found exercise" over the weekend. I don't want it scheduled into my day and I don't want to exhaust myself, but I also do not want to spend 48 hours with my ass attached to my couch.
Luckily, I live in a city and do not have a car, so I have to walk somewhere almost every day. Last weekend I went to the beach and spent 90 minutes in the water, and not just standing there, I swam and tread water and generally splashed around like a goon. This weekend I helped a friend move on Saturday and yesterday had some more beach time that was more sitting than moving, but did involve a walk to search for starfish and hermit crabs (SUCCESS!)
A couple weeks ago I chased my nieces around for a little while and helped pick tomatoes in the garden at my parents' house. As I stay committed to my gym workouts these little moments over the weekends will feel less like exercise and more like what normal people do every day. I can already feel more strength in my legs and better endurance.
Today it is back to the gym!
I digress... Dieting is about more than cutting calories, you have to move your body too. I am just about 1 month into my diet and I have done a good job of getting into an exercise routine of hitting the gym 5 days a week. I choose to exercise Mon - Fri as I work from home and can get over to the gym easily at lunch or right after work.
I give myself the weekend to recover (not as young as I used to be) but I like to engage in "found exercise" over the weekend. I don't want it scheduled into my day and I don't want to exhaust myself, but I also do not want to spend 48 hours with my ass attached to my couch.
Luckily, I live in a city and do not have a car, so I have to walk somewhere almost every day. Last weekend I went to the beach and spent 90 minutes in the water, and not just standing there, I swam and tread water and generally splashed around like a goon. This weekend I helped a friend move on Saturday and yesterday had some more beach time that was more sitting than moving, but did involve a walk to search for starfish and hermit crabs (SUCCESS!)
A couple weeks ago I chased my nieces around for a little while and helped pick tomatoes in the garden at my parents' house. As I stay committed to my gym workouts these little moments over the weekends will feel less like exercise and more like what normal people do every day. I can already feel more strength in my legs and better endurance.
Today it is back to the gym!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Sunday Recap Week 3
Overall another successful week. Nothing earth-shattering happened this week, which is often the time the mind and wallet wander to expensive and calorie-rich solutions for filling the void and I am happy to say I resisted both.
Budget: Went a little over budget on groceries/food this week, but did not do a good job meal planning and had to scramble for some last minute dinner items. Hope to remedy this with better meal planning in the future.
Diet: Ate well during the week, had a big indulgence yesterday (let's just say it starts with "pepper" and ends with "oni"). Blew my weight goal out of the water (that was before the pepperoni...) for the week and started on a path towards meal planning.
Mood: My mood was pretty good. It was a long hot week with the prospect of a hurricane a-comin' (poor Earl fizzled before he got here) and the long weekend ahead. I was happy to see Friday at 5.
Speaking of the long weekend, I am enjoying myself over the beautiful 3 days I have off. Getting good rest, seeing great friends and finding some exercise where I can. More on that to come in a future blog post. In the meantime I am taking my own advice today and hitting the beach!
Budget: Went a little over budget on groceries/food this week, but did not do a good job meal planning and had to scramble for some last minute dinner items. Hope to remedy this with better meal planning in the future.
Diet: Ate well during the week, had a big indulgence yesterday (let's just say it starts with "pepper" and ends with "oni"). Blew my weight goal out of the water (that was before the pepperoni...) for the week and started on a path towards meal planning.
Mood: My mood was pretty good. It was a long hot week with the prospect of a hurricane a-comin' (poor Earl fizzled before he got here) and the long weekend ahead. I was happy to see Friday at 5.
Speaking of the long weekend, I am enjoying myself over the beautiful 3 days I have off. Getting good rest, seeing great friends and finding some exercise where I can. More on that to come in a future blog post. In the meantime I am taking my own advice today and hitting the beach!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Hit the Beach!
It is Labor Day Weekend (by no means the end of summer, but a definite harbinger) and thanks to the cooperation of Hurricane Earl it looks to be sunny and beautiful, so hit the beach!
If you live in New England and have not been to the beach this year, shame on you! This has been the best summer in recent memory and even for a city girl like me the beach is less than 30 minutes away.
The beach can be a very affordable day: pack a healthy lunch and a book from the library and you have hours of free entertainment. The beach can also get pricey with high parking fees, tempting concessions and the end of day cocktail. The latter is fine for a splurge the former should be the norm.
The beach can also be a great place to get a little exercise:
1. Take a walk on the firm sand of the shore line: this can be done year round, weather permitting, and in the off season you can really move with fewer people in the way.
2. Get in the water to raise your heart rate: whether it is from exertion, a recent viewing of Jaws or, here in New England, the shockingly cold temps, being in the water will raise your heart rate.
3. Go beach combing: for shells or to pick up litter the combination of walking and reaching and bending is a great work out.
Even if you just sit on your towel and stare out at the infinite expanse of water, the colors changing to reflect what is above and below the surface, and relax for a day it is good for your body.
Be careful this weekend, Earl might have churned up some riptides, so be sure to go to a life-guarded beach. Have a great weekend!
If you live in New England and have not been to the beach this year, shame on you! This has been the best summer in recent memory and even for a city girl like me the beach is less than 30 minutes away.
The beach can be a very affordable day: pack a healthy lunch and a book from the library and you have hours of free entertainment. The beach can also get pricey with high parking fees, tempting concessions and the end of day cocktail. The latter is fine for a splurge the former should be the norm.
The beach can also be a great place to get a little exercise:
1. Take a walk on the firm sand of the shore line: this can be done year round, weather permitting, and in the off season you can really move with fewer people in the way.
2. Get in the water to raise your heart rate: whether it is from exertion, a recent viewing of Jaws or, here in New England, the shockingly cold temps, being in the water will raise your heart rate.
3. Go beach combing: for shells or to pick up litter the combination of walking and reaching and bending is a great work out.
Even if you just sit on your towel and stare out at the infinite expanse of water, the colors changing to reflect what is above and below the surface, and relax for a day it is good for your body.
Be careful this weekend, Earl might have churned up some riptides, so be sure to go to a life-guarded beach. Have a great weekend!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Deal a Meal
Yes, I confessed early on in this blog that I have tried many many diets over the years. I have even sent away for items from this man. That was back in the days before the interwebs, when you had to call in after the infomercial.
What I enjoyed about Deal a Meal was the organization of it all. You had breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks on playing cards and you mixed and matched to create menus. It added an element of fun to the otherwise daunting task of dieting.
What I have come to realize is any elements of fun associated with food lead me down a dark path, usually one involving cake. So I need to do the same level of planning, but I can not consider it a game.
One of the most useful take-aways from Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?, which I reviewed earlier this week, was the idea of Meal Planning. Walsh tasks the reader to plan out 1 week's worth of meals, make a shopping list consisting of only ingredients for those meals and shop only once a week for all those ingredients. He says if you want snacks, put them on the menu.
He advises you do this for 4 weeks, mixing up the meals from week to week, and then you have a month's worth of menus and shopping lists.
This is both a weight loss and a budgeting help as sticking to your list forces you to avoid the impulse buys that cost money and calories every week and add up on both accounts very quickly.
It is not as easy as it appears on paper though, especially when you don't have a lot of quick healthy recipes in your rotation. I am planning to tackle 1 week's worth of planning over the long holiday weekend, any great meal ideas out there?
What I enjoyed about Deal a Meal was the organization of it all. You had breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks on playing cards and you mixed and matched to create menus. It added an element of fun to the otherwise daunting task of dieting.
What I have come to realize is any elements of fun associated with food lead me down a dark path, usually one involving cake. So I need to do the same level of planning, but I can not consider it a game.
One of the most useful take-aways from Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?, which I reviewed earlier this week, was the idea of Meal Planning. Walsh tasks the reader to plan out 1 week's worth of meals, make a shopping list consisting of only ingredients for those meals and shop only once a week for all those ingredients. He says if you want snacks, put them on the menu.
He advises you do this for 4 weeks, mixing up the meals from week to week, and then you have a month's worth of menus and shopping lists.
This is both a weight loss and a budgeting help as sticking to your list forces you to avoid the impulse buys that cost money and calories every week and add up on both accounts very quickly.
It is not as easy as it appears on paper though, especially when you don't have a lot of quick healthy recipes in your rotation. I am planning to tackle 1 week's worth of planning over the long holiday weekend, any great meal ideas out there?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
All the Wrong Moves
Do you go to a gym? When you get there do you revert back to the awkward 11 year old in PE class who looks wrong in shorts and a t shirt and isn't quite sure what to do with a volley ball? Just me? I don't think so...
I go to a pretty bare bones gym, there is no juice bar and no yoga studio which I kind of like, I don't go to the gym to be seen. Most of the time I go to the gym to hide, to do my workouts in solitude without the prying eyes of skinnier girls. It seems strange to hide at the gym, the way I hide some of the awful things I eat, when I do go out in public and am not invisible (no matter how much I think I am).
Because I do not want to speak to anyone at the gym I have never asked for help. Sometimes I will glance askew at a woman doing something I think looks possible and then try to emulate it, but my repertoire of moves is pretty limited.
As I approach the 1 month mark of my diet I am looking to spice up my workout so as not to get bored. I have been cautious, not wanting to do anything that might cause too much pain and result in a slow down of my efforts, but after nearly a month of working out 5 days a week I feel better and think I can branch out.
I don't workout much at home due to my 3rd floor location, but my Comcast Cable has On Demand Exercise for free and I may try a few different strength and conditioning moves at home until I am comfortable enough with them to take them to the gym.
No matter what your fitness level just moving really does make a difference. I am getting at least 30 minutes of focused cardio a day and I feel so much stronger than I did a few weeks ago. I still look ridiculous, but I don't care as much as I did when I was 11.
I go to a pretty bare bones gym, there is no juice bar and no yoga studio which I kind of like, I don't go to the gym to be seen. Most of the time I go to the gym to hide, to do my workouts in solitude without the prying eyes of skinnier girls. It seems strange to hide at the gym, the way I hide some of the awful things I eat, when I do go out in public and am not invisible (no matter how much I think I am).
Because I do not want to speak to anyone at the gym I have never asked for help. Sometimes I will glance askew at a woman doing something I think looks possible and then try to emulate it, but my repertoire of moves is pretty limited.
As I approach the 1 month mark of my diet I am looking to spice up my workout so as not to get bored. I have been cautious, not wanting to do anything that might cause too much pain and result in a slow down of my efforts, but after nearly a month of working out 5 days a week I feel better and think I can branch out.
I don't workout much at home due to my 3rd floor location, but my Comcast Cable has On Demand Exercise for free and I may try a few different strength and conditioning moves at home until I am comfortable enough with them to take them to the gym.
No matter what your fitness level just moving really does make a difference. I am getting at least 30 minutes of focused cardio a day and I feel so much stronger than I did a few weeks ago. I still look ridiculous, but I don't care as much as I did when I was 11.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Hello September!
Historically I have a love/hate relationship with September. No matter how old I get and how far removed from organized education, September will always bring the fond memories of new notebooks and new shoes, the promise of a whole new year of learning.
At the same time the days are getting markedly shorter and although temps in Boston are supposed to nudge back into the 90's today the smell of fall tinges the air, the wind is shifting (and I don't just mean the approaching hurricane).
I hate fall. Let me set the record straight, not all New Englanders long to wrap themselves in a Slanket and sip hot cocoa by a fire while dead, albeit pretty, leaves fall off the trees.
I have to work to fight off the dread of fall and not succumb to it with a gallon of ice cream or a brand new pair of boots I cannot afford. I need to keep my focus on my goals and hope my own accomplishments can shine a little light in my life as the sun starts to fade.
At the same time the days are getting markedly shorter and although temps in Boston are supposed to nudge back into the 90's today the smell of fall tinges the air, the wind is shifting (and I don't just mean the approaching hurricane).
I hate fall. Let me set the record straight, not all New Englanders long to wrap themselves in a Slanket and sip hot cocoa by a fire while dead, albeit pretty, leaves fall off the trees.
I have to work to fight off the dread of fall and not succumb to it with a gallon of ice cream or a brand new pair of boots I cannot afford. I need to keep my focus on my goals and hope my own accomplishments can shine a little light in my life as the sun starts to fade.
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