CLICK HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF FREE BLOGGER TEMPLATES »

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Day 28 of 57

Back to my morning routine with a slight change. I needed something juicier so added a half an apple sliced and reduced the prunes to 3, planning to eat more prunes later but I didn't.
Lunch and supper was rolled into one because I got home after 3 from Family History Center and Urgent Care.
I had a big serving of my pesto pasta salad with 1/2 oz cheese in it. Also a small turkey sausage burger in a bun. 3/4 cup pinto beans and half an apple.
Again I ask...where are the green vegetables ? There was celery along with red pepper in the pasta salad. A thick slice of tomato in the burger.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Day 27 of 57

I must step up my efforts and have a strategy for special events or days. Like days when we have company and I am making special foods.
Today was the first day since my commitment that I did not have a single almond or prune. I had tons of watermelon morning afternoon and evening. No room in the fridge. I had 2 pancakes for breakfast with a half bratwurst and 2 for supper with a whole bratwurst.
Complete with a small smear of butter and syrup. I did have half of an apple at one point.  Also some leftover shish kabobs of chicken with rice and humus. Also, because I have a UTI...after coming home at 8:30 pm pfrom a meeting, I had to have the pills Sheelah gave me with food and also had to have chopped garlic with food so I had a bowl of my pesto pasta salad.




Day 26 of 57

Breakfast: 30 almonds, 5 prunes and an orange!
Lunch: various bites of leftovers from the fridge plus a shake.
Snack: frozen hot chocolate.
Supper: beet greens, beans and parmesan cheese. A tomato sandwich with mayo.
Later snack: watermelon.

Analysis: I need more veggies!!!
I did 30 minutes on the stationary bike!

I have been faithful with my quart of lemon or lime water every morning!

Monday, July 27, 2015

Day 25 of 57

Strange order today.
Breakfast was a bowl of pesto pasta salad. It was leftovers from another day. I added a chopped tomato and 1/3 chopped cuke. What can I say? I was in the mood.
Then lunch was the 30 almonds and 5 prunes plus a half cup of green grapes.
A handful of peanuts in the afternoon and a raspberry banana coconut milkshake. Then some fresh cooked beets.
Supper? It was 7:30 when we sat down. John had leftover salmon stroganoff.....wuth sauteed chopped onions added. I had oatmeal with apple chunks and milk and cinnamon.

Very random eating patterns today. I was following my hunger and cravings.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Day 24 of 57

There were 3 full pizzas leftover so that's what some if us had for breakfast. I had 2 slices. The rest of the people had cereal and milk. We got home around 2 and had frozen banana pineapple shakes. Supper was salmon burger, corn off the cob and black beans.  My nightcap was oatmeal and half an apple chopped up in it.

Sheelah reminded me that red rice yeast is good for lowering cholesterol.

Day 23 of 57

No pictures. We are still at Carpinterua beach and because I misplaced my almonds and prunes I ended up eat one pancake with syrup and some milk for protein.
Apple slices and occasional munching on whatever was around in bags on the beach: chips, string cheese, cookies. A very OFF day. Oh and for supper...2 slices of pizza that had lots of mozarella on them. A bit of homemade ice cream.

Next trip get 3 watermelons for 40 people!!! And several big lidded tupperware type containers. Healthy and  juicy!  I did not personally eat any watermelon...not enough.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Day 22 pf 57

No pictures today. Spent my camera power on taking lot of beach pictures.
Breakfast was almonds.
Lunch a sandwich (turkey lunch meat and lettuce)

Today I ate standing up a lot ...and ate some forbidden foods: a small candy bar, a few potato chips, a half of a campfire roasted banana with melted peanut butter cups in it. I had 2 fat chicken sausages and beans and pasta salad. That was supper.
At days end I had a whole apple.
I got a lot of exercise today.

Day 21 of 57

Packing and traveling today.
I cannot recall breakfast! Oh...I remember now...I made a double batch of buttermilk pancakes for company. Had 1/2 pancake.
In the car we shared a banana  pineapple coconut milk shake. I had about 3/4 serving of really good tortilla chips.
At camp I had big plate of taco fixings.no tortillas ( carbs)...but beans onions tomatoes Cilantro cheese sour cream hominy. A homemade cookie and 1 thin Oreo. My nightcap later was sliced apple a few nut and 3 prunes. I left my supplements at home I think.
Sheelah said to me."red rice yeast is good for cholesterol. Statins are nasty."

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Day 20 of 57

As I write this it is 10:30pm and I am eating my apple slices and 3 prunes. See picture. I should have had my 30 almonds in the morning! Instead my breakfast was late ...a big bowl of soup made out of leftover in the fridge. In the soup I had a cup of beans and tomato sauce etc.
Supper is pictured here...we had company. So I cooked!

I am now going to eat a few almonds. I cannot NOT have almonds each day.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Dat 19 of 57

A weird day requiring some repentance.
Breakfast was a cup of beans and a slice of leftover pizza. (John did not want it and I couldn't throw it out. Sliced green onions and olives made it so good.)Had my antidotes with it: Vitamin C and E, clove of raw garlic, 2 garlic pills, my Cholestoff, my omega 3 coQ 10 pills.

So then lunch was the prunes and almonds meal.

Then at the birthday party I resisted the potato chips and the cake and ice cream but DID have a cup of Costco macaroni and cheese and a small polish sausage. And some broccoli slaw. And grapes.
So I felt full and believed I had too much fat today. So tonight I am eating a bowl of oatmeal with half an apple chopped and extra oat bran and some ground flax seed . Cinnamon and coconut milk top it off. To absorb anyn extra cholesterol.
Tomorrow I will eat less than usual to make up for overdoing it today.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Day 18 of 57

Breakfast: 30 almonds 5 prunes.
Lunch:  1 cup spiral pasta and 1/2 cup beans.2 and 1/2 cups chocolate coconut milk.
Supper: homemade chili.
Dessert: sliced raw apple.

Looks like I need more vegetables! Especially green ones.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Day 17 of 57

An unusual day. It rained!  And I ate a ton of fruit! Breakfast 30 almonds and 5 prunes as usual. Then a bit later... a bowl full of papaya chunks! Lunch was sardines on a bed of beans plus some good sweet corn on the cob! Notice the green onion. It helps to have something green on your plate.
Then we got company and I had a buffet of fruit on the table: Blueberries, cherries, strawberries, grapes from our grape vines, and more papaya which no one really liked so I got to eat another bowl full. Besides nibbling on all that fruit.
Supper was pizza for the company while I had a green salad. The protein in the salad was from some kidney beans, an ounce of cheddar cheese and some sunflower seeds.
I also had a few chunks of chocolate covered mangoes with the kids when we played Clue.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Day 16 of 57

Breakfast: 30 almonds and 5 prunes. This is truly quite filling. I get thirsty after that if I do not drink my quart of lemon water (not all at once but over the course if an hour).
Second breakfast: 2 cups of bing cherries.  Truly a bumper year for cherries!
Lunch: Beefy bean soup. So yummy and savory. Used up the last of that beef.
Supper: Salmon Patty and a bean grain rice medley I made in the crock pot last night. A few slices of cucumber.

I never am hungry enough for that cup of oatmeal I am supposed to have daily.

I did have a slice of bread and jam when the grandkids were over and having snacks here.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Day 15 of 57

Temptations today. And I overcame them easily because I am focused.
1. Cheesy potato chips at the grocery store. Eye level...8 inches from my face.In my past, I would have bought them.
2. John suggested buying 2 Papa John's pizza because there was a deal online and he'd give one to Amy and one for us so we don't have to make supper. Easy answer from me: What? I don't eat pizza anymore. Let's save money and not get pizza. I like making supper.
3. Amy invited us over for strawberry cream puffs. John enjoyed his 2 and I did not in the least feel deprived.
Today's report.
Got up late and rushed out the door without my usual drinks and breakfast. At 12:30 pm I ate my half of an apple, 5 prunes and 30 almonds.
At 3 pm I had a bowl of beans and some beef chunks ( cleaning out the freezer)
At 5:30 pm...a big salad with some cheese in it...and for dessert...carrot sticks and celery sticks with my favorite dressing-jalapeno ranch.


Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Day 14 of 57

Breakfast is always 30 almonds and 5 prunes after I have hydrated myself enough with lemon water.
That kept me quite full until lunch.
Lunch today was beans and kefir.
Then I got the munchies!
I was cleaning out the fridge and ate about 3 oz of cheese, a cup of miso soup, 1 Roma tomato, 1/2 apple, 2/3 cup kefir, cup of leftover green vegetables.
Supper was the green salad I promised myself..with mustard sardines on top.

What I learned is this..
If you are going to do a new way of eating, clean your fridge out first!
And have your allowable foods ready to grab.
WHY?
It is a good feeling and then you won't be too tempted to eat what you shouldn't.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Day 13 of 57

Sometimes supper is a shake.
Like tonight.  Made with frozen bananas,  frozen strawberries, plain nonfat yogurt and coconut milk.

Breakfast: almonds, prunes, half an apple.
Lunch at Grandma Betty's: ( we had Del Taco take out) I had 2 crunchtada tostadas and 2 cups beans with  cheese. Orange juice.
A bit much but I did pass up dessert.

Oh...before lunch I was so hungry that I guzzled 2/3 of a bottle of kefir from Trader Joe's.

I had no leafy greens, no garlic, no oatmeal or apple cider vinegar in juice.
So tomorrow I will be back on track more.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Day 12 of 57

Pigged out at supper. See that plate?  I actually had a whole other serving of corn, bigger than the first. And another half of a salmon burger. Now I feel to full.
The 2 jarred items are favorites. I spread the Jalapeno Ranch dressing on the salmon burger.  It is pretty caloric. The sweet and sour red cabbage is a big treat for me. Brought it home from Utah because they do not sell it here.

Other foods eaten today: 30 almonds, 1 apple, 1 and 1/3 cups oatmeal with milk and cinnamon, 1 cup orange.

Day 11 of 57

First breakfast today was fruit. If you like fresh pineapple,  that white tool you see is made for coring your pineapple as you cut it into rings. The action is like a drill would do...going down in a spiral  motion. Second breakfast was my obligatory 30 almonds plus some prunes. And a little side of red pickled cabbage.

That left me too full for lunch. But before church I had a tall glass of watered down orange juice with a scant tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
Very tangy & good.
Supper was this: salad, the obligatory beans, and a ground turkey sloppy joe. I always have my spoonful of minced garlic after supper with my other supplemen
ts.
I feel better now and have lost some
Weight!!!

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Day 10 of 57

Today I had no breakfast at all. Just my usual hydration routine of 2 tall glasses of lemon water. Then when I finally got home I had my 30 almonds along with 2 kiwi.
An hour after that I was so fs missed I had my cup of oatmeal with milk cinnamon and a half of an apple (chopped )stirred into it. Then 2 hours later we had supper.
Zucchini, beets, fish fillets, BBQflavored beans and some crudites.

Lately I have been going to bed feeling hungry. And that is OK with me.Before I started all of this I ate freely. Including snacking while I cook. Now I eat everything on pretty plates enjoying it all with full attention.

Friday, July 10, 2015

Day 9 of 57

Our "second breakfast" today was a packed salad complete with kidney beans for protein. I did add  tiny cherry tomatoes, a few tiny squares of cheese on my salad and some toasted sunflower seeds.John does not eat cheese or tomato products now.

Earlier in the day I had my 30 almonds and 5 prunes ...too full for oatmeal. When am I going to fit in the oatmeal each day?

We also had chocolate banana shakes made with coconut milk. That was for a snack around 2:30.
Supper was a noodle dish with ground turkey and dill sauce. Broccoli and sliced carrots (steamed) on the side. I absolutely love dill.

Every day I am to have one clove of garlic and a garlic pill. You chop up the garlic and let it sit a while and put it all on a spoon and swallow it with water.

Still trying to figure out how to get soy in my diet daily. It has to be fermented soy. Temple or miso.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Day 8 of 57

A Pretty Plate
Today we had so much fruit to eat! Inexpensive at the stores and so John had a buying spree while I worked at Family History Center.
The plate you see here was going to be my dessert for supper but since I ate lunch at 3:30 (soup made with 1/2 cup of kidney beans, tomato sauce, chopped beet greens and half of a tuna sandwich on high fiber bread)this ended up being my supper. John had a fruit plate too after I made him 2 fried onion sandwiches.
Breakfast was oatmeal with flax and half a chopped apple, 5 prunes and 20 almonds.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Day 7 of 57

Had my 30 almonds! Half an apple. Half the cup of oatmeal. 5 prunes.
That was breakfast. Lunch was yummy sardines and beans with diced sweet onion and cherry tomatoes the size of marbles.
Snack was our watermelon yogurt smoothies. Supper was very random...Corn on the cob and a few tortilla chips. 1/2 cup chocolate coconut milk. No wonder I am going to bed hungry. It is an OK feeling for me, though.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Day 6 of 57

Was not hungry in the morning so just hydrated myself with a tall glass of water with about 1/3 cup orange juice in it to flavor it a bit.
Lunch at Tokyo Central was...a little smorgasbord which included some tempura vegetables, some yakitori, some okonomiyaki.
Yum!!!
When we got home later...for a supplement to our lunch I made blender shakes with frozen bananas, coconut milk, soaked chia seeds,
cocoa and plain non fat yogurt.  That was at 12:30 pm
Around 4, we finished off the can of macadamia nuts we had going. I had 1/4 cup, which is one serving.
No almonds today. Only half an apple. No oatmeal.
But again we had to eat a ripe avocado so I again made salads for supper and put in chunks of leftover ahi tuna John's mom gave us. I put in some chunks of cheese for more protein.
I got my garlic requirement in. And for the soy requirement I am planning to have miso soup every day.
Did not exercise. Too busy. At least I walked around a lot today. But I need to get the heart rate up!!!

Monday, July 6, 2015

Day 5 of 57

What I Did NOT Eat

This is a victory. We were in the 99 Cent Deals store in Glendora. I saw a display of my favorite brand of potato chips. Here was my rationalization as I held one bag lovingly in my arms: "I will just eat 2 a day." Oh how I wanted this crunchy salty treat! And besides, potatoes have a lot of potassium which is an important dietary mineral.
Well...after much emotional and logical wrangling in my head, I put the bag back on the shelf before I got to check out. WHEW! That was close.

So no pictures of what I ate today but a report.
I had my apple and the 30 almonds for breakfast. I had my regular lemon water in the morning plus a glass of a green drink I made from John's powder...ugh..very bitter...How jjj can he drink that stuff?
For lunch...avocado on toast again.
Supper?
We went out to eat with Johns mom. I had a grilled breaded piece of cod, a big pile of O' Brian potatoes and a salad with regular ranch dressing. I easily resisted an awesome root beer float.

Today I found our little grinder to grind flax seeds in. I bought oat bran to add to my daily oatmeal, too.

ASSESSMENT: Next time visiting and eating out anywhere have your supplements easily accessible. Like in your purse. I skipped  them today.

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Day 4 of 57

Fast Sunday today. We broke our fast with what we call avocado toast. John got some huge avocados at the swap meet...so we each had about 3/4 cup mashed avocado on our high fiber toast with a touch of mayo spread on first. I had to have something more, so sliced Roma tomatoes sounded good.
For my "dessert",  I finished up  2 and a half nitrate free franks...expiration date was near and I do not like to throw away meat. ( D and C 49: 21 states "...wo be unto man that wasteth flesh and hath no need.") 
Tomorrow I start in earnest to follow the rules since today we just had an evening meal. I also had some chocolate coconut milk.

My New Rules


First, eat 1 cup of oatmeal every day. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends three whole-grain servings daily. This is linked to reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, some cancers, lower blood pressure, and improved bowel movement. Oatmeal lowers LDL, may raise HDL--the good portion of cholesterol, and studies show that the more consumed, the greater the benefit.

Second, eat a handful of almonds daily, approximately 30. In addition to warding off heart disease, they also are particularly preventive toward colon cancer, and help with weight loss. The FDA, American Heart Association, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute all recommend eating almonds to lower heart disease risk, possibly by 50%.

Third, eat at least 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily. Flaxseed has been shown to be preventative toward breast, colon, and prostate cancers, and is known to lower LDL cholesterol and aid in brain functioning.

Fourth, consume 3 grams of psyllium husk daily, gradually increasing to 10 grams. For the average consumer that means Metamucil. Dr. Brill states that psyllium husk, the active ingredient in Metamucil is "the most powerful LDL-lowering viscous soluble fiber in existence....For every 10 grams of total dietary fiber intake per day, risk of heart attack dropped by an estimated 14% and risk of dying from the disease by 27%." Metamucil also promotes digestion, moving toxins out of the body quickly.

Fifth, eat ½ cup of beans, peas, or lentils daily. Legumes help reduce blood pressure, provide minerals and vitamins, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. Beans help fight obesity, diabetes, constipation, hemorrhoids, and various cancers--lung, colon, breast, esophagus, and stomach.

Sixth, eat an apple every day. Pectin, the soluble fiber within the apple lowers LDL cholesterol. Apples also help maintain a steady blood sugar level, aid in weight loss, provide nutrients, antioxidants, and tannins helpful with preventing urinary tract infections. The fruit is known to promote healthy lung function as well.

Seventh, consume 2-3 grams of phytosterols per day at two separate meals. This chapter is titled, "Step 7: Eat Margarine with Phytosterols." During the last twenty years we've been moving away from margarines. But recently, new healthier versions -- those without hydrogenated oils and now containing phytosterols, have arrived in the supermarket. The National Cholesterol Education Program asks Americans to eat 2-3 grams of phytosterols daily, to aid in cholesterol reduction by 6-15 percent. Phytosterols are also a protection against colon, breast, and prostate cancers. I highly recommend this chapter is thoroughly read by consumers to raise awareness of how their purchases affect their bodies. A small decision such as which type of margarine to use can yield significant results.
Eighth, eat 20-25 grams of soy protein every day -- also recommended by the U.S. government. This Dr. Brill says, does not include soy oil nor soy sauce. Soy consumption reduces risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and various cancers. It promotes kidney function in diabetics, prevents osteoporosis, eases menopause symptoms, and possibly prevents male balding.

Ninth, eat a clove of fresh garlic and one Kyolic One Per Day Cardiovascular aged garlic extract supplement daily. Modern research reveals garlic's effectiveness against cholesterol. Garlic is also the food of history used for bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections. Its phytochemicals work naturally against stomach, colon and larynx cancers. Further research shows positive results with garlic's use in possibly treating leukemia.

The last step of the Cholesterol Down Plan is to walk for 30 minutes every day. The American Heart Association regards the lack of physical activity as the biggest risk factor for heart disease. Exercise prevents diabetes, increases length of life, lowers LDL cholesterol, reduces risk of breast and colon cancers, prevents loss of muscle mass, reduces risk of senility, and will save you money when compared with those who are sedentary.

Dr. Brill provides a fresh approach to cholesterol reduction in her simple ten-step plan, freeing patients of undesirable prescription drug side effects. The book includes a daily checklist, a progress chart, meal plans, and recipes. Cholesterol Down: 10 Simple Steps to Lower Your Cholesterol in 4 Weeks -- Without Prescription Drugs should be read by every person with high LDL cholesterol, or who is at risk of heart disease. An affordable paperback and a best-seller, it receives 5 Stars.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Day 3 of 57

I started the day with lemon water and then a salad. 1 tablespoon of salad dressing added to what the picture shows. I had way too much fat today...in the 2 1/2 franks ( for lunch), in the coconut milk, in the fried fish filets ( for supper), in the grilled ribs at Christine's. ..in the half of a dark chocolate bar John got me. I must have had 120 grams of fat today instead of what I should have had: 36 g. Good thing I will be fasting tomorrow.

Friday, July 3, 2015

Day 2 of 57


Still focused on eating well!

It sure helps to know I am reporting on my blog.

After going to see Jurassic World, we were hungry. After walking around the food court at the mall we left. We were uninspired as to what to get. On the way home,  John said "How about Waba Grill?"

I looked up their menu on my phone. I had all the ingredients for their teriyaki chicken bowls at home!

So we went home and while the brown rice was cooking, I cut up the carrots and broccoli to steam, thawed out a bag of frozen diced cooked chicken breast and whipped up the teriyaki sauce.  We had a great meal.
I did not have as much rice as John did. Here is my bowl. The 4 pills: 2 are the Cholestoff, and 2 are my CoQ10 Omega 3 pills. Oh...and I had some raspberries and yogurt for dessert...1/2 cup.

For breakfast I had raspberries, macadamia nuts, 5 prunes and lots of lemon water before that. Lunch was s salmon sandwich with a sliced tomato and some lettuce and Ranch dressing.

For a snack before the movie I made us chocolate shakes out of frozen bananas, cocoa and coconut milk.
I feel like I am on a roll here.  I am committed! I have resisted temptation the last 2 days! I laugh at temptation!  Even as I write I am a bit hungry but I do not care. Ha...I laugh at my so called hunger!

My big challenge will be to exercise. Exercise is great for lowering cholesterol, so I have heard.
Now, If I lived where there were great bike paths, I would have no problem riding my bike for hours every day...doing errand or just enjoying nature. But alas..where I live, there is no good place to ride a bike. I do have my stationery bike but it is so boring...even if I watch TV while using it.
I have not exercised the last 2 days, other than regular household tasks.

RECIPE FOR THE TERIYAKI SAUCE

In a saucepan, heat up...

1/4 cup soy sauce
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon Ginger
1/4  teaspoon garlic powder
5 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
1-2 Tablespoons honey (I used 1)

Separately mix 2 Tablespoon cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold water and stir to make a slurry...pour into saucepan with the other hot ingredients and cook (stirring with whisk) until thick, adding more water if it is too thick.


Thursday, July 2, 2015

Day 1 of 57

Starting today I am going to eat a diet geared toward lowering my cholesterol.

Here are my numbers now...
Cholesterol. 336 (Way too high!)
Triglycerides 113   (OK)
HDL 67 (OK)
LDL 246 (Way to high!)

I get another blood test August 29.

I hope to lower my LDL a lot and my total cholesterol # by at least 80 points.

I purchased Cholestoff Plus ($24.00) at Costco to help. I do not want to take the Crestor that was prescribed for me.
Here is tonight's meal...chicken curry sandwiches..full of celery and apples and white chicken. The bread is Kirkland whole wheat bread at 5 grams of fiber a slice. A side of yogurt and raspberries. Also today I had a chocolate banana shake (1  1/4 cups coconut milk, 3/4 cups frozen banana slices and 2 Tablespoons Hershey's cocoa blended in our Ninja blender) and some raspberries in a bowl.
I also had a lot of lemon water.