Post Superbowl Success!

I weigh myself on Monday mornings.

I lost a pound last week! Even though I went to a super bowl family day.

 Also, the Seahawks won!!!!

Life Timing

Hey blog. I have lost one pound and kept it off this month. So yeah. That doesn't feel like much of an accomplishment, but I am taking it.

My temp job ended earlier than expected. I really loved it there. They said they might try to hire me back in the spring.

I found out today I have an interview for a new job on Tuesday. This would be a temp job for the first four months and then convert to a permanent job. It is close to my house, in a small office, and seems like a good company. The only downside is that it doesn't pay very much.  Like $2 less than what I would expect to make, and made at the last place. After four months I would get, probably, a one dollar raise. They also offer benefits, but I am pretty sure I would stay on my partners, his are so awesome.

But then if this other place wants me back in April what then? I would love to work there, so much. I don't know if they would be able to list the job normally and have me apply. Or if they were counting on going through the temp agency I am with. If they go through the temp agency, then obviously I wouldn't be available for a placement with them.

But something stable, and close to home, would be a huge relief right now. Even though it pays like crap?

In a year and a half we expect to be moving so Partner can start graduate school. I want to have a strong resume and ability to get a job right away in a new town.

But compared to not having a job, the idea of having one and then not being able to take another, sound silly. Too much of a good thing in that case.

These kinds of things get me stressed out. But dieting has been going well. I think I feel on track enough to start blogging again, and try to stick with it. My blog has become a great example of how every time you try to lose weight, you learn something and get a little more successful. I have tried and given up my efforts a handful of times. But I will keep trying, and one time it will come together and I will lose weight and have a healthier lifestyle. So there.

Post Christmas Update

Hey blog!

I gained back the two pounds lost, because of Christmas cookies mostly. And a lot of meals with family, where it was harder to control what I ate. But I am so confident that I will lose weight this year. Every time I start to try it becomes easier.

Also, I am working a temp job! This will help me lose weight, I have to eat a healthy breakfast, and pack a lunch. I really like my job so far. It would be super if they could keep me permanently.

So yay! I feel more confident and hopeful then I have in a while. Even in the depths of cloudy, rainy Seattle winter.

Still doing it

Since my last post, I have lost half a pound.

So not a huge loss. But considering it is the holiday season, I am doing ok.

I also have another job interview tomorrow. Nervous. But just normal nerves, nothing I haven't faced before.

who lost weight over thanksgiving?

Hey I lost two pounds!
Over the week of Thanksgiving!

How is that for a head start! Going into the holiday season strong.
I have also been going to the gym regularly. Woot!

I will post more now that I am feeling more positive.

Korean Soft Tofu Soup - Cooking and calorie counting

So this dish was fairly easy to count the calories in, this is because I know that my partner and I will just split it equally, and it is all cooked in one pot.

Soondubu on my stove at home

I started with two cloves of garlic and about a cup on kimchi - 8 and 0 calories respectively in a stone bowl on my stove, medium heat
I added a whole can of vegetable stock - 30 - I turned the heat up to almost high
While this gets hot, I add about two tablespoons of red pepper powder, some of the stock, and about two teaspoons of fish sauce in a bowl and mix them up, to avoid clumping in the soup - 90, 16
Add this to the whole and this whole bunch of soup continues to heat
I added five frozen clam meats - 180
I also added about five scallions and half an Anaheim pepper - 20, 5
When this is all bubbly you add the soft tofu, the whole package in this case - 300
Then once this is all back up to a boil I added two eggs, this helps thicken the soup, and it's fun once you find the yolk and break it up - 180.

I added up all these calories and divided them in half, since I knew my partner and I would both want two bowls, which comes to half the stone pot each.  This was all we had for dinner. But it's a filling soup, and served really hot, which is nice on a cold rainy Seattle day.

I recommend counting calories in each dish, and then dividing it up before you serve.

For example, the calories in whole batch of mashed potatoes, then divide it into 6 servings, if that looks about right, take one serving. The whole calories in your roasted beets, divided into four servings, then take one serving. The calories in a chicken breast. Then add the three servings that are on your plate to each other. This way you can add up the whole calories, and then divide, while you prepare each dish. This sounds pretty obvious, but until you have done it a few times, trying to count calories while you cook can be tricky. Also, if you know that the whole batch of mashed potatoes has a certain amount of calories, but you eat one cup, you may not know how many calories are in a cup. Which is why I use the divide it up method. More hands on.

I try to write down how much of each ingredient I put in, and then before I clean up the kitchen, I go back and look on all the packages, or on the Internet for how many calories are in things.
That said, if it's a recipe I have never made before, I try to add up the calories in a rough way, so I can picture how much I can have, and whether or not it will be worth it.

Counting calories

Hi blog.

I did weigh in on Monday, still the same.

I have been to the gym twice this week already. One day of weight lifting, and one of pure cardio. I can already tell I am getting stronger. One great example are squats, I am just doing body weight squats, but the first time I was sore for days, I mean painfully sore, afraid to sit down. I can already do four more squats than I could two weeks ago, and I don't get nearly as sore. It is very exciting!

I thought I would post what a day of calorie counting looks like. Today was easy, nothing I made had very many ingredients. Other days are very complicated and annoying. If it is a recipe or meal I make often, I have been trying to record the calorie count somewhere.

I really hate measuring out my food, but I know I just have to do it with many things, or I can't be accurate. It is a good reminder of what a healthy portion looks like. I am good with most foods, but there are a few things that surprise me.

Toast - 100
Jam, about a teaspoon - 50
Margarine - 40
(This is not a healthy breakfast, but all I did all morning was sew, so I didn't need the energy for anything, I am also trying not to eat if I am not hungry.)

Coffee, splash of milk, packet of light cocoa - 70
Coffee, splash of milk - 10
(I looked around the internet, to figure out how many calories in a splash of 1% milk. This is close)

Can of light soup (It was Progresso Light Chicken and Cheese Enchilada, I do NOT recommend this soup) - 180
String cheese - 80

Three tortillas - 300
Fat free refriend beans - 160
Salsa - 0   Gotta love salsa
Hot sauce - 0
1/2 tomato - 13
shredded lettuce -15
Light sour cream, two tablespoons, I really love sour cream - 70

I made a cheesecake for my partner to take to his work, I licked the spoon - 100

Hot cocoa with water - 60

My total is 1248. This is a pretty low total for calories today. I am not worried though. I was not hungry, and I felt healthy all day. I know some days will be a little higher, and some a little lower. It was a boring food day. But some days are like that.

Anyways. I will post how I cook complicated recipes and figure out the calories another day this week.