Attaining Our Ideal Fitness

2004-05-28T08:13:00.000-04:00

FRIDAY, May 28

Miranda (134.5)
breakfast: skim cafe au lait. raw bagel. (400 total cals?)

2004-05-27T13:12:00.000-04:00

May 27. What goes around comes around.

Miranda: 134.5
breakfast: raw bagel. Also fruit and lemon cookies (snacks for team meeting). (400?)
lunch: rice bowl (300)
dinner: udon and sushi (400?)
workout: none. But we are moving offices tomorrow and everything is packed up into these blue plastic crates. And I did get into one of the boxes, just because we were debating whether a person could. Very gratifying to get into the box, as there was a time when Miranda would not have fit into two boxes.

Lovely Lulu?

Shanna lee
Breakfast: oatmeal and raspberries
Lunch: 6 california rolls, choc. cake
workout: 25 situps. Plan to go do politicking tonight. Hiking this weekend, anyone?

2004-05-26T12:43:00.000-04:00

May 26. Another day on the blog. Like a desert island: Me. My lunch. No palm trees.

Miranda's starting weight: 135.5
Breakfast: raw bagel. 1/2 coffee. (total cals: 250)
lunch: amy's veggie lasagna (300 cals). yogurt (130 cals).

workout: planning to go to BOXING.

Shanna lee
Breakfast: oatmeal and raspberries
Lunch: subway turkey six-inch, diet coke, junior mints
snack: cookie
workout: no, overcome with deep fatigue...going home

2004-05-25T18:28:00.000-04:00

It's my blog, all mine hahahahahaha
Miranda's starting weight: 135.5
brekafast: raw bagel, skim cafe au lait (300 cals total)
lunch: amy's enchilada (300 cals)
snack: creamy tomato soup (200 cals)
dinner: small pasta salad (300 cals)
yogurt (130 cals)
total: 1230
workout: Playing softball tonite; not really a workout but hey.

Shanna Lee
breakfast:oatmeal with raspberries
lunch: roast beef sandwich on french bread, choc chip cookie, diet pepsi
dinner: sushi, naked berry juice
Workout: ran around the white house, situps

Don't know why i didn't blog. sorry

2004-05-24T13:22:00.000-04:00

Miranda's back

Monday, May 24

Starting weight: 135?
breakfast: raw bagel (200 cals)
lunch: veggie lasagna (300 cals)
snack: About to be soup (150 cals)
Workout: Nope, planning to stay and work tonite
Weekend: 60 minutes kickboxing plus weights on Saturday. Hiking on Sunday (not too rigorous though.
New goal: I had my body fat measured last week: 27%. Would like to reduce that to 22%. What do you ladies think? Also, MY APOLOGIES for my absence, I am an idiot. But I do care about my health and yours and am about to read through what you have been eating, and whether you have been working out. Love to all. Lulu, you are about to move, that is crazy.

Shanna Lee
Starting weight:
breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
lunch: veggie sub
Workout: 25 morning sit-ups. Nope, as have meeting this evening for my volunteer political work but walked 1 hour at lunch and about to walk 30 minute to meeting and 30 minutes home again. Think maybe 2 hours of brisk walking counts.
Notes: What a lovely day yesterday. Filled me with peace.

2004-05-21T13:05:00.000-04:00

Friday, May 21 - 4 working days for lulu!

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
breakfast --
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
- Breakfast:
- Lunch:
Workout:
Notes:

Shanna Lee;s starting weight:
situps:
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal w/raspberries
-Lunch: spinach empanada, cranberry juice, peppermint patty
Workout:
Notes: Thank god it's Friday! :)

2004-05-20T13:04:00.000-04:00

Thursday, May 20 - 5 working days for lulu!

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
breakfast --
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: 179.5
Pounds to goal: 9.5
Food:
- Breakfast: kashi cereal with strawberries, small oj
- Lunch: leftover annie's mac and cheese. am going to go scrounge something more soon.
Workout: 2 big walks yesterday (including one at midnight, ahh work stress). Will do bike ride or walk this afternoon. Have been good about doing pushups lately too.
Notes: Thanks, Shan. It's not going fabulously, but at least it's almost over. Can't wait to come visit you guys this summer!

Shanna Lee;s starting weight:
situps: 25
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal w/raspberries
-Lunch: amy's organic frozen indian something or other
-Dinner: hors d'oevres (chicken on a stick, beef on a stick, assorted egg roll thingeys and cheese), 2 beers
Workout: Err, no.
Notes: Hope last days are going well, Lulu!!!!

2004-05-18T11:53:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, May 18 - 7 working days for lulu!

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
breakfast --
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: Not sure, forgot to weigh today
Pounds to goal:
Food:
- Breakfast: small bowl no-oil granola, skim milk, oj
Workout: Gym after work today.
Weekend in review: Had a good weekend. Walk Friday, bike ride and walk Saturday,gym sunday, two walks monday. Had fancy board going away party sunday. Was extremely lovely. I took yesterday off just to hang out and get organized. Was very nice. Work is still dramatic. Ugh. Hope you guys are well!!!!

Shanna Lee;s starting weight:
situps: 25
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal w/raspberries
-Lunch: lovely chopped salad and fresh lemonade
-Dinner: microwave thai bowl, 4 chocolates, grape juice
Workout: No
Notes: I love you, Lulu, and the fact that you're on the blog even when Miranda and I are very, very bad. I had a lovely weekend but not good on exercise unless count 1 hour of walk on Sunday. Truly i have been walking all over place. Walked 1 hour yesterday and did my 25 situps yesterday too. Also tried to run in the morning but that turned into a walk after coughing.

2004-05-14T11:43:00.000-04:00

Friday, May 14 - 8 Working Days Left for Lovely Lulu - Thank God!

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
breakfast --
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: 181
Pounds to goal: 11
Food:
- Breakfast: Bagel that I didn't eat for lunch yesterday, skim latte
Workout: No. Have to go to a funeral for a board member this afternoon. May go for a walk after that.
Notes: Am doing fine, but really just want to close my door, be quiet, get me final things done and slip out of here. Ugh. Hope you two ladies are doing ok with your crazy work.

Shanna Lee;s starting weight:
situps to goal:
Food:
-Breakfast:
Workout:
Notes:

2004-05-13T10:54:00.000-04:00

Thursday, May 13 - Lulu has 9 working days left! Wow!

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
breakfast --
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: 179.5
Pounds to goal: 9.5
Food:
- Breakfast: Out with my first high school intern, she's getting ready to graduate from college and change the world! Ate a few bites of scrambled eggs and potatoes, a sausage patty, side of baby sour dough flap jacks.
- Lunch: Will be smoothie and dry bagel.
Workout: Hopefully. Am teaching workshop all afternoon and then having 30 kids over for a BBQ (there's 3 inches of snow on the ground currently, but we're just not going to talk about that).
Notes:

Shanna Lee;s starting weight:
situps to goal:
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal w/ raspberries
-Lunch:
Workout: I'm not working out b/c asthma is really bad, but I am walking all over the place. Yesterday I walked 1 hour (to and fro Ani Di Franco concert).
Notes:

2004-05-12T11:16:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, May 12 - Lulu has 10 working days left!

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
breakfast --
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: 179.5
Pounds to goal: 9.5
Food:
- Breakfast: Cereal and tea
- Lunch: Dried soup stuff and a banana
Workout: Did 50 minutes cardio at gym last night. Will go tonight also since is dumping snow outside.
Notes: Love you guys!

Shanna Lee;s starting weight:
situps to goal:
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal w/ raspberries
-Lunch: chicken tenders with mashed potato, diet coke
-Dinner: chicken sausage, carrots, hummus, cranberry juice
Workout:
Notes: Sweetie, so sorry I was blogless. Also, FYI Miranda is on a weeklong retreat. I love you too! 10 more days. Wow!

2004-05-11T10:45:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, May 11

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
breakfast --
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: 180.5
Pounds to goal: 10.5
Food:
- Breakfast: Cereal and tea
- Lunch: Beef noodle soup and artichoke with about 1 tablespoon mayo/butter. Also most of a piece of cake. Was celebratory going-away lunch with friend.
Workout: More snow today so no bike commute. Am going to the gym after work.
Notes: Was overcome last night by desire to never see this place again. Unfortunately, boss got stuck trying to get home and so won't be in until tomorrow. I feel awful, but think that I've handled things as well as I could. We'll just have to wait and see how things turn out. Double ugh.
Thanks, Shan. It means a lot to know that you guys are out there and love me. Boss is back now and things seem to be going ok. Please take care of yourself! What are you going to do about the bad paint fumes??? Can your office get you an air filter or something?
Hope you feel better, Shan! Your asthma sucks big time.

Shanna Lee;s starting weight:
situps to goal:
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, oj, apple juice
-Lunch: hummus sandwich, apple
Workout: Still no.
Notes: Dear Lulu, I'm sure you are doing a very principled and excellent job. Perhaps this is all happening to help make your leaving that much easier. I'm feeling better but still pretty phlegmatic and wheezy, especially with paint fumes.

2004-05-10T13:12:00.000-04:00

Monday, May 10

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
breakfast --
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: Forgot to weigh this morning
Pounds to goal: 10?
Food:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal, tea
- Snack: dried banana
- lunch: 2 scrambled eggs, sliced homemade multigrain bread, orange
- Snack: dried banana
- Dinner: macaroni and cheese and strawberries. Comfort food all around.
Workout: Bike commute
Notes: Entire office has exploded. Boss may get fired. Have been walking a tight-rope for days now trying to manage all of the yuck and not make things worse. Am very, very tired. Boss comes home from Europe today. Ugh.

Shanna Lee;s starting weight:
situps to goal:
Food:
-Breakfast: granola bar, oj, cranberry muffin, green tea
-Lunch: chef salad, cranberry juice
-Dinner: hummus sandwich, leftover salad, 1/2 veggie burger, chardonnay, beer
Workout: No. Still have very bad asthma residual from that nasty cold. And exacerbated by paint fumes from new very cozy and otherwise idyllic office.
Notes: Oh dear, Lulu. What shocking news! Curious to hear all about it. Cannot imagine what CF would do with no you and no boss. Hang in there. I'm off to my politico volunteer meeting tonight. (I'm doing voter reg in W. Va.) Yay!
- posted by LC @ 8:57 AM

2004-05-06T08:57:00.000-04:00

Thursday, May 6

MIranda's starting weight: 134.5
Pounds to goal: 9.5
Food:
breakfast -- bagel with cream cheese. Out of cereal again.
lunch -- Served at a meeting: chicken sandwich (yes, it had a piece of cheese). Salad. Small piece of carrot cake.
Workout:
Notes: Good morning, nice friends!
Shanna Lee, what is your situp situation?
Lulu, I am doing well, though working hard. Very engaged in work though; interesting problems. How are things with you?????

Lulu's starting weight: Forgot to weigh this morning
Pounds to goal: 10?
Food:
- Breakfast: Cereal and oj
- Snack: 1.5 dried bananas
- Lunch: Amy's cream of mushroom soup, one dry, toasted rice cake.
Workout: Sadly worked late last night and didn't get to go for post-work ride. Also unable to ride today. Am looking very much forward to my bike commute tomorrow.
Notes: Nice talking with you last night S.L. Hope today is looking up a bit. Nice to hear from you too, Miranda! How are you???
Glad to hear you are well, Miranda! Things here are pretty good. Just heard from boss that she is going to spend an extra week in Europe - am very happy that she is going to do that. Give her more of a break, plus things here are toodling along fabulously. Only 14 working days left! Crazy, crazy!

Shanna Lee;s starting weight:
situps to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

2004-05-05T10:21:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, May 5

Miranda's starting weight: 136
Pounds to goal: 11
Food:
breakfast: cereal, skim cafe au lait
lunch -- salad with chicken
snack -- wheat pretzels, mmmm.
dinner -- another salad; strawberries for dessert. 5 pringles. (one of these things is not like the others!)
Workout: 30 minutes elliptical runner; weights; abs.
Notes: Shanna lee, everything will be A-OK!

Lulu's starting weight: 180
Pounds to goal: 10
Food:
- Breakfast: Cereal, oj, coffee
- Lunch: Sandwich. Followed by Mr. Misty Float from Dairy Queen. Ruh-roh.
Workout: No bike commute today as it is supposed to be my rest day. Looks like I won't be able to do it tomorrow due to a meeting, though, so am going to do a ride after work.
Notes: So sad you are having a bad morning, Shan! I'm sending you all of my best vibes. I'm sending them to you too, Miranda! Oh, Shan. Sorry your day didn't get better. Am very glad you are taking yourself home soon. Hang in there! I almost called you to give you the 5 second pick-you-up call, but ended up stuck in meetings all day. The thought was definitely there, though!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situps to goal:
Food:
-oatmeal
-hummus sandwich
-three chocolates
Workout:
Notes: It's already a very bad, no good day and it's only 10 o'clock. So sad. It was still a very bad, no good day. I have happy hour for a friend's b-day and then I'm headed home to wallow in my misery in bed. Thanks for the good vibes Lulu. The blog was a bright light. Actually, the blog is making me giggle because just writing out my misery makes me feel better.

2004-05-04T14:38:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, May 4

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: 180 on home scale
Pounds to goal: 10
Food:
- Breakfast: cheerios/grapenuts mix
- Lunch: Same sandwich as yesterday, orange. Two tic-tacs.
Workout: Bike commute
Notes:

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situps to goal:
Food:
-oatmeal with raspberries
-hummus sandwich, banana
-burger, choc. milk shake
Workout: no, too much work
Notes: oh sad. poor lulu all alone.

2004-05-03T14:24:00.000-04:00

Monday, May 3

Miranda's starting weight: ??? But it won't be good, I promise you!
Pounds to goal: probably 10
Food:
breakfast -- bagel with cream cheese (out of cereal; will get more tonite) - 300 cals
lunch -- frozen "chicken with almonds", 260 cals.
snack -- popcorn. (200 cals?)
Dinner -- having sushi and miso
Workout: Going to the gym with coworkers!
Weekend: kickboxing on saturday. Softball practice on Sunday. Need coaching on how to throw, as am very ineffective at present.
Notes: Sorry, Shanna lee. You get an unfair share of sickness, in my opinion! Hope you feel better :(
Lulu, you are looking awesome (on the blog and of course in reality I am sure!). way to bike commute and eat healthy today.

Lulu's starting weight: Made transition to scary home scale which puts me at 180, 5 lbs. different from gym scale.
Pounds to goal: ?? Am still going to say 10.
Food:
- Breakfast: cheerios/grapenutts mix
- Snack: 2 dried bananas
- Lunch: whole grain bread sandwich w/ 2 slices cheese, 2 slices turkey, spinach, cucumber, avocado and lots mustard.
Workout: Bike commute! Am going to try for 3-4 days this week.
Notes: Good exercise weekend but bad food. Am very sorry to hear that you are sick, Shan!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situps to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: oj, hot chocolate
-lunch: turkey chili, bean/corn/tomato salad
Workout: am still sick. bed for me.
Notes:
Weekend in Review: Healthy eating but no exercise whatsoever. Much sleep to try to beat back cold. Still sick. Whine.

2004-04-30T11:50:00.000-04:00

Friday, April 30

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: 175 ish???
Pounds to goal:
Food:
- Breakfast: Had a date at a healthfood restaurant, had 1/2 a pecan waffle and a soy, low sugar chai.
Workout: BIKE COMMUTE!!! With my girl seat! Hoo-hoo is doing just fine today!
Notes: Am feeling much more in control of my world today. Hope you guys are too.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situps to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: granola bar & yogurt smoothie, raspberry tea
-lunch: hummus sandwich, cheese, hot chocolate, raspberry tea
Workout: am getting somewhat sick, think am going to go home and go to bed
Notes: my world is a little more under control except for this nasty cold; lulu, you're married -- it's not fair for you to have dates. I want a date. I want a lot of dates. Ai, ai, ai, spring fever. :)

2004-04-29T09:38:00.000-04:00

Thursday, April 29

Miranda's starting weight: 134.5
Pounds to goal:9.5
Food:
breakfast -- multigrain cereal (200), skim cafe au lait (100), half bagel with cream cheese (200). still hungry. (so far: 500)
Workout:None planned for tonight -- whole department going out for nice dinner.
Notes: Funny how working out makes me hungry.
Lulu, sorry about the hoo-hoo.

Lulu's starting weight: Must get on scale some morning soon -- based on clothes and look, figure I'm around 175 still
Pounds to goal:
Food:
- breakfast: oatmeal, tea, some ovaltine
- lunch: little leftover pasta , oarange
- snack: rice cake with spoon peanut butter, skim latte
Workout: Am going after work tonight. Wanted to ride my bike today, but it SNOWED 4 inches.
Notes: Hi friends - am totally out of control! Work is so nuts.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situps to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, oj
-lunch: chili, bread, raspberry tea (2)
-dinner:sushi, lemonade, garlic
Workout: 20 situps, 2 mile walk
Notes: good morning, sunshines. Miranda, your advice last night was very helpful. I'm having a very relaxing day. Gasp. Hope you are too.

2004-04-28T10:02:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, 4/28
Miranda's starting weight: 136
Pounds to goal 11
Food:
breakfast -- skim cafe au lait; multigrain cereal;pear. (500 cals total)
lunch -- frozen indian dinner (300 cals)
snack -- apple with peanut butter (200 cals)
dinner -- freshfields salad, mmmm. (300 cals)
Workout: 10 minutes on elliptical runner, 60 minutes of BOXING.
Notes:
how can I be up to 1000 cals already, eating all healthy foods? Oh well. Going to the gym.
Go lulu-- way to bike to work!
Go Shanna lee -- way to prioritize the Return to the Gym!

Lulu's starting weight: ???
Pounds to goal
Food:
- Breakfast: oatmeal (the real kind) w/pecans, spices, currants and brown sugar
Workout: Not yet. But I had my first bike commute of the season yesterday! Am very impressed with self. It went extremely well and was so happy on bike. Only problem was that hoo-hoo hurt very badly. Am taking break today to rest hoo-hoo, plus it's pouring rain and snowing.
Notes: Yeah Shanna Lee! Work out like a queen!

Shanna lee's approximate weight: 115?
Situps to goal
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-lunch: amy's organic santa fe enchilada bowl, diet coke, raspberry tea
-snack:
-dinner: amy's organic country veggie bowl
Workout: oh dear...looks like will not get to work out tonight as have haircut at 7:30. (am going to be a dummy for an Aveda salon class so will only pay $15 for expert cut...yay!) too many meetings today to do any work. boo.
Notes: Hooray. Here's to the blog. What I've noticed is that when I don't blog, I don't exercise. Last night I left work at 5 but didn't go to the gym. In fact, can't remember last time I went to gym. Shame on me. So I will get back on the wagon and stay on the wagon because you're right, Miranda. It matters. And it shows...am turning into skeleton with flab. Not so attractive.

2004-04-27T15:31:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, 4/27
Miranda's starting weight: ONE THIRTY SIX. Pants too tight.
Pounds to goal ELEVEN
Food:breakfast: multigrain cereal, skim milk, no coffee. (=300 cals)
lunch: six-inch subway veggie delite, baked lays. (=400 cals)
snack: apple (=100 cals)
Workout: MUST GO TO THE GYM.
Notes:
Ladies, it's time for miranda to get back on the wagon. I know for a scientific fact that when I blog/track my eating and fitness, I lose weight. When I cease to track those things, I gain weight. Every time, like clockwork. Why then do I waffle? (not to bring up waffles on the blog). Well, I don't care if no one else shows, I must blog or become huge, like a balloon in a parade.

Lulu's starting weight:
Pounds to goal
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Shanna lee's approximate weight:
Situps to goal
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-lunch: amy's organic veggie loaf with mashed potatos
-snack: chocolates
-dinner: salad, lentil soup, couscous, beer
Workout: No
Notes:

2004-04-26T13:15:00.000-04:00

Monday, April 26

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lovely Lulu's starting weight:
Pounds to goal
Food:
- Breakfast: cereal
- Snack: skim latte and a couple dried apple slices
- Lunch: Delicious sandwich on multi-grain bread (2 slices pastrami, 1 slice cheese, handful of spinach and lots of mustard), orange.
Workout: Going for a bike ride with my honey this p.m.!
Notes: Keep looking for you guys in pictures of the march. Haven't spotted you yet, but am confident that I will!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pounds to goal
Food:
-breakfast: grape juice, granola bar
-lunch: choc milk shake and grilled cheese sandwich, diet coke
-snack: peppermint patty
-dinner: pasta with cheese, salad, very berry smoothie
Workout: 3 hour walk in woods
Notes: So exhausted from march took day off from work. Much needed.

2004-04-23T13:13:00.000-04:00

Friday! 4/23

Miranda's starting weight: 134.5
Pounds to goal: 9.5
Food:
breakfst -- bagel
lunch -- frozen veggie lasagna
snack --
dinner --
Workout:
Notes: Health stuff has to re-attain its priority with me!

Lulu's starting weight: ???
Pounds to goal:
Food:
breakfst -- several bites tapioca pudding, cereal, small oj. Dear god.
lunch- yogurt, two brown rice cakes with peanut butter, orange, soy milk.
snack --
dinner:
Workout: Great walk with hubby last night, going to gym tonight prior to going bar hopping (against my will) with hubby's school friends. Ugh.
Notes: Shan, hang in there. Rise above and stick to your morals. It'll see you through in the end.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
situps to goal:
Food:
breakfst -- chocolate donut, oj, granola bar
lunch- chef salad, yum, yum (Went to John Kerry rally! Hurray!! So inspiring to hear him.)
snack --
dinner: hmm, don't know
Workout: no, bad week for that, so sad
Notes: much love to you both. worked out problem at work. broke up with boy. boy sent me flowers. dear me. had lovely, very busy day.

2004-04-22T08:26:00.000-04:00

Today is a big blog day. I can feel it!

Thursday 4/22

Miranda's starting weight: 134. 5
Pounds to goal: 9.5
Food:
breakfst -- bagel with cream cheese, it's my personal albatross.
lunch -- amy's veggie lasagna.
snack -- bad cookie.
dinner -- pasta with chicken; salad; roll with cheese. an OK dinner.
dinner:
Workout: no gym

Lulu's starting weight: ???
Pounds to goal:
Food:
breakfst -- cheerios and oj, strawberries
lunch- chinese food with colleague, not very healthy
snack -- mentos, and some low-fat birthday cake I made
dinner:
Workout: Had great workout last night the gym, am planning to go out on the pathway tonight when I get home.
Notes: Eek! Have locked myself in office for at least an hour today so I can get some work done. Have decided that I may need to focus on maintenance and slight loss in weight category right now, as much of life seems to be spiralling out of control. Shan, great to talk to you last night! Miss you guys both lots!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
situps to goal:
Food:
breakfst -- oatmeal with raspberries, oj
lunch- lentil soup
snack -- hot chocolate
dinner:
Workout: Miranda, I think I'm going to go for a run on the mall to try to find inspiration. Then go home and sleep for 12 hours. Let's talk tomorrow.
Notes: Hurray!!!! Here's to a big blog day. Did I tell you we won?!!! We won!!! The Constitution is intact. However, there's lots of bad blood in the office, and I don't know how to deal with it. Oh well. Rise above, rise above. Much love to you both.
It was a sad day with office politics. Am going to try to go home and get some sleep and a new attitude. Funny how even winning can bring out the worst in people.

2004-04-21T09:13:00.000-04:00

Return to the Blog continues....

Wednesday 4/21

Miranda's starting weight: 134. 5
Pounds to goal: 9.5
Food:
breakfst -- bagel with cream cheese, it's my personal albatross.
lunch- amy's tofu lasagna
snack -- bagel with peanut butter
dinner: big salad, yogurt.
Workout: Boxing class! plus 10 minutes of elliptical runner beforehand.
Notes: Hello, hello. I posted for yesterday too. Back on the wagon as you see! Hope you two nice girls have nice days, see you ON THE BLOG.
PS-- Lulu, thanks for the kick in the pants.
PS-2- Now, this is justice! Here i am, and no one else. Well, I deserve that!

Lulu's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

SHanna Lee's starting weight:
situps to goal:
Food:
-breakfast:oatmeal with raspberries
-lunch: Amy's organic Santa Fe bowl
-dinner: pizza (2 slices), margarita, chips, guac.
Workout: No
Notes: Such a stressful day but alls well that ends well.

2004-04-20T13:36:00.000-04:00

The Return to the Blog

Tuesday, 4/20

Miranda's starting weight: ?
Pounds to goal: Probably 10
Food:
breakfast: bagel with cream cheese (ouch). no coffee.
lunch: Amy's tofu lasagna
snack: baggie of multigrain cereal
dinner: rice, some chicken with cashew nut (not a lot, it wasn't too good). oranges. fortune cookie.
Workout: none
Notes: Hi guys, sorry i am such an idiot. just super busy, that being no excuse. Probably no coincidence that I have fained a couple of pounds since last posting a few weeks ago. Lulu, do you live on the moon? Where did the snow come from??

Lulu's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
- Breakfast: cereal
Workout: one hour fast walk IN THE SNOW this morning.
Notes:

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situp situation:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, oj
-lunch: Amy's organic Mexican bowl (beans, tofu, veggies, cheese), liquid yogurt drink, 3 chocolates
-dinner: Amy's organic country bowl (pasta, tofu, veggies, cheese)
Workout: no, sad, no
Notes: very, very bad day. Constitutional amendment vote could be tomorrow. So sad. So bad. Lulu, snow?! That's awful! It's really hot here. 84 degrees last night at 7pm when I went for my run.

2004-04-19T11:54:00.000-04:00

The Return to the Blog

Monday, April 19

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
- Breakfast: 1 piece homemade multigrain bread w/little mango jam, 1 dried banana (the healthfood store kind, not the fried kind).
- Lunch: 2 fresh pork tacos (no cheese), rice and beans, coffee, strawberries
- Snack: 5 gummy fish, 5 sour gummy fish and 2 skinny licorice ropes from carepackage sent to our staff. (DIDN'T eat any of the mounds of chocolate that were sent, or any of the chocolate from the bowl sitting on the front desk.)
- Dinner: yogurt smoothie and half bowl wheaties post gym.
Workout: 55 minutes cardio
Notes: Yeah Shanna Lee! Am committed to having excellent, blog-friendly day and week. Have realized that the calendar is short in terms of getting this aspect of life totally under control before taking on much bigger stuff. Here we go!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situp situation:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raisins, oj
-lunch: Amy's organic teriyaki bowl (tofu, veggies, teriyaki sauce, rice)
-dinner: salad (greens, tomatos, carrots, cottage cheese), ice cream
Workout: 4 mile run (2.5 miles uphill with boss's boss. Lovely man. Then 25 situps!)
Notes: Weekend in review: 25 situps both days. 4 mile run yesterday. Eating okay with a little ice cream splurge last night. Okay, we need to get back on it. Get back in it. Here's to us and the blog and our wonderfulness. Much love!!!

2004-04-14T15:02:00.000-04:00

The Return to the Blog

Wednesday 4/14

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: ??? - walk instead of gym
Pounds to goal:
Food:
- Morning: Cereal, banana, yogurt.
- Daytime: Amy's spinach lasagna, soy milk, scone.
Workout: 50 minute brisk uphill at lunch.
Notes: Am sending you both good vibes to help cope with the craziness!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situp situation:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

2004-04-13T15:57:00.000-04:00

The Return to the Blog

Tuesday 4/13

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: ??? Skipped gym this am due to extreme sleepiness
Pounds to goal:
Food:
- Breakfast: cereal and strawberries
- Snack: Banana
- Lunch: Grapes, two pieces peanut butter toast. And a SCONE! It was just sooo good.
Workout: Went for 40 minute vigorous walk up butte at lunch with Carrie who described me as her mentor. Who would have guessed??? A very nice warm fuzzy.
Notes: Shan, am so impressed and grateful to you for your hard work. BUT, most important to remember that balance. Have you done your taxes, by the way?

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situp situation:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

2004-04-12T10:04:00.000-04:00

The Return to the Blog

Monday 4/12

Miranda's starting weight: 133
Pounds to goal: 8
Food:
breakfast -- bagel with (skim) cafe au lait
Workout:
Notes: Ah, nice friends, sorry we have all been so absent. Actually, apologies are due to Shanna Lee, who was crazed at work but STILL faithfully posted. Some of those who were absent had good reasons (lulu-- vacation) while some had extra bad reasons (miranda -- just ceased posting altogether; gained 2 pounds). The short version of this story is: Friends, we need to recommit. Or at least Miranda does. Miranda did NOT meet her goal in time. She must keep slogging. Ideas for new goals/initiatives?

Lulu's starting weight: 176
Pounds to goal: 6
Food:
- Breakfast: cheerios/grapenuts mix, tea, propel water
- Lunch: 1/2 chicken enchilada with beans and some rice. Skim latte. 1/2 piece pecan pie. (Eaten at cafe where Shan and I had breakfast, very much like storm cafe where Miranda and I used to spend the afternoon sometimes. Thought of you both.)
- Dinner: Oatmeal and apple juice. Was very sleepy.
Workout: 50 minutes cardio
Notes:
A) LOVE YOU FRIENDS! Missed you both lots while I was gone!
B) Vacation was perfect in all ways. Will chat with you both in more detail via phone eventually, but it was better than I ever could have hoped. Each day bliss, tons of snorkeling, amazing wildlife, perfect place to stay, etc. Two-piece bathing suit was fabulous. Am very tan in some new places! Happy to be back, but now stressing a little about the move. Oh well.
C) Recommital sounds like a very good thing. I am feeling great and ready for some solid exercise and food consciousness. Have adjusted my goal to what seems a very reasonable 6 pounds prior to moving day. If I choose to tackle more than that later, great. If not, I'll be very happy at 170. Miranda, I'm totally behind you. Let me know if I can help motivate.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situp situation: Sadly deteriorated. Here's to a blog recommit!
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, orange/carrot juice
-lunch: organic Indian food of some sort -- basmati rice and unidentified yummy garbanzo bean thing, granola bar, hot chocolate
-dinner: have to go home and eat
Workout: Does rushing around trying to save the Constitution count? Kidding. Tomorrow will be better.
Notes: Am totally reverting to last fall crazed Shanna Lee. Need to exert control and balance over life. Arggh!!! Lulu, so impressed with your two-piece and tan lines. Envious too. DC is cold and wet and lonely. Boo.

2004-04-06T13:09:00.000-04:00

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lovely Lulu's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Notes:

Shanna Lee's starting weight: 118
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, oj
-lunch: Amy's veggie rice bowl
-dinner:
Workout: hopefully
Notes: Having a freak attack with work crazed. Arrgghh!
.

2004-04-05T19:25:00.000-04:00

It's a new month -- a new week. April 4, 2004

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lovely Lulu's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Notes:

Shanna Lee's starting weight: 118
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-lunch: chicken, mozzarella, tomato sandwich, carrots, diet coke
-dinner: spaghetti-os, 4 crackers, grape juice
Workout: 5 mile run
Notes: Come on, lovelies. Rally forth. I miss you!!
Weekend in Review: Long walk on Saturday but no work-out Sunday. Healthy eating on Sunday and moderately healthy eating on Saturday. No pig-outs.

2004-03-31T17:40:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, March 31

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lovely Lulu's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Notes:

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-lunch: ravioli, orange
Workout: social life seems to be interfering today. have too many potential social engagements. arggh.
Notes: Miss you two. But will blog to keep up spirit of the blog.
Last week in review: Tons of walking with parents (literally probably 4 or 5 miles per day) and tons of eating, but mostly healthy, 'cause parents were concerned about how thin I am.

2004-03-25T10:11:00.000-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIRANDA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lovely Lulu's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Notes: No time for real post, but wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIRANDA!!!! You are fabulous and fun and I wish I were there to celebrate with you. Am sending huge hug and kiss!!!

Also, hi S.L.! Hope YOUR bday was fantastic! Loved the babe comment, by the way.

My food today overall has been very good. Weight is 175, so holding steady. Take off tomorrow on our trip. If I don't get to post tomorrow, love you both lots and will be in touch when we get back!!!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
Workout: maybe
Notes: I feel so lucky to have the both of you in my life. Today I'm just sort of sitting here and glowing about life. Miranda, you really are the greatest. May today be wonderful.

2004-03-24T21:43:00.000-05:00

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lovely Lulu's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Notes:

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-lunch: chicken, mozarrella, tomato basil sandwich, diet coke, carrots
-dinner: turkey sandwich, cranberry juice
Workout: 4 mile run
Notes: Today I'm the solo poster. Hope everyone is well. Much love!

2004-03-23T19:33:00.000-05:00

SHANNA LEE'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lovely Lulu's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Notes: This is bad, you guys! It's 5:30 p.m. and I am making the first post of the day! Happy Birthday Shanna Lee! Am hoping that you are currently enjoying wonderful birthday festivities with your DC friends. I miss you lots and wish like crazy I could be there. In keeping with the birthday spirit, am not going to write down the pizza and chips ahoy cookies I consumed today. Rather am going to focus on how beautiful and perfect we all are! I LOVE YOU SHANNA LEE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: none
-lunch: Santa Fe chicken wrap, Coke
-dinner: sausage, olive, mushroom pizza (2), champagne, hard cider (2), 1/2 beer, 3 GS cookies, fruit tart (1)
Workout: Errr...no
Notes: Many folks at my party commented on how thin and hot I look. Quote from Jen, "Gosh, you're a real babe now." :)

2004-03-22T09:12:00.000-05:00

Miranda's starting weight: 131.5
Pounds to goal: 6.5
Food:
breakfast -- cafe au lait, multigrain cereal.
Workout: not sure
Notes: As I just put in my Friday notes, must raise the workout frequency and avoid some of these small indulgences this week. It's BIRTHDAY WEEK and I am not going to make my 125 goal; I need to give myself the present of getting there ASAP with some discipline!

Saturday: ate cafe au lait and a bran muffin; subway veggie delite with baked chips; another cafe au lait; and then an entire small pizza (with pineapple) plus cereal after that. Did this out of anxiety, basically. No workout.
Sunday: ate hard boiled eggs (whites only); vegetarian chili; wheat pita with PB; a 300-cal frozen amy's veggie lasaga. PLus a workout (30 mins eliptical runner, 15 minutes of jumping rope, whoa that is a hard workout, weights).

Lovely Lulu's starting weight: 175
Pounds to goal: 10
Food:
- Breakfast: oatmeal, will soon progress to cafe americano and a banana
- Lunch: Veggie burger w/side salad
Workout: YES! Committed to being at gym by 7:00 to ensure full 60 minutes cardio. Was awesome. Am going to work this week on vigorous workouts every day. On weight days am also going to do session of cardio, even if it's just a brisk walk.
Notes: Ate many chocolate chip cookies this weekend. Ate so many that they don't even sound tasty anymore. Have been slacking lots on food lately and only doing moderate workouts (though doing them every day). Am upping calibre of workouts and going to be more careful on food. Am already planning lots of in-treehouse workouts for during vacation.
HAPPY ALMOST BIRTHDAYS LADIES! Apparently, have NOT gotten cards in mail yet - found them on my kitchen table to my surprise. They are coming soon, I promise!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-lunch: mac & cheese
Workout: hopefully
Notes: up and down day -- very crazy
Weekend in Review: 4 mile run on Saturday. Dancing all night Sat. night. 2 hour hike on Sunday. V. healthy eating except maybe too much alcohol. Sit ups.

2004-03-19T13:26:00.000-05:00

Friday, March 19

Miranda's starting weight:
Pouds to goal: Approx. 7?
Food:
breakfast -- cafe au lait, bagel.
lunch -- big salad, tomato soup.
snack -- wheat pita with PB.
dinner -- pasta with tomato sauce and veggies; salad; pound cake with ice cream.
Workout: none
Notes: looking at this list of food -- plus no workout-- i can see some fixing i need to make if i'm going to progress to Phase II!

Lulu's starting weight: ??? - Hike after work yesterday ended up being pretty intense, decided it earned me a sleep-in
Pouds to goal:
Food:
- Breakfast: wheaties and cheerios w/soy milk
- Snack: one spoonful peanut better, raisins, couple of pretzels
- Lunch: pad thai w/tofu, thai iced tea. Yummy!
Workout: after work
Notes: have decided that one good aspect of work stress is that the resulting nervous energy is bound to burn calories!!!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situps to goal: Proud to say while I haven't counted up situps, I have been doing them daily for 2 weeks now.
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-lunch: leftover tuna salad and left over half of pureed oj/banana/carrot juice thing
Workout: maybe?
Notes: oh evil day, when will it end? So stressed out. Hope it's burning calories but not convinced. Plan to drink self into oblivion tonight at friend's fun merlot party (everyone brings bottle of merlot).

2004-03-18T11:47:00.000-05:00

Thursday, March 18

Miranda's starting weight: 133. Argh!
Pouds to goal: 8
Food:
breakfast -- multigrain cereal. coffee.
lunch -- amy's rice bowl.
Workout: not sure. need to go, but crunched at work.
Notes: lulu, don't worry. You can only do your best, and then they are on their own. It's a mistake to think you can set them on the perfect track, and then let them follow that track into the sunset once you leave -- your job is/was to do your job. Once they hire someone else, that someone else's job is to do that job. Yours will be some other job.

Lulu's starting weight: 174 - yup, right back to where I started pre-fast
Pouds to goal: 9
Food:
- Breakfast: 2 packs instant oatmeal
- Lunch: 2 slices wheat toast, 1 with peanut butter. Carrots, hummus. Will probably also have small piece leftover chocolate cake, but have agreed to meet friend for an hour hike up a butte after work to compensate.

Workout: 40 minutes cardio
Notes: terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. work is horribly busy and so depressing. whole staff is a wreck. new staff member started tuesday and is not blending well. have so much to do and no time to do it. am freaking out that will leave job in bad shape due to lack of opportunity to train and lack of receptiveness on part of trainee. hating this. will go for a walk at lunch to try to get self back under control.
- S.L., way to go getting YOU under control! can't wait to hear about budget and general life organization.
- Thanks for advice, great friends. am throwing self into work and trying not to think about it too much. as you point out, this really isn't in my control.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situps to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: strawberry nutrigrain bar
-lunch: 1/2 tuna salad, 1/2 orange/carrot/banana puree, 1 blonde brownie
-Dinner: sushi, 3 choc chip cookies, banana
Workout: Missed workout because of overwork but then walked briskly one hour to meet friend at friend's house very far away and mostly uphill! Go me!!!!!!!!
Notes: Lulu, can only echo what Miranda said. Hope your terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day gets a little brighter. Mine did after manic clean-up/clear-out.

2004-03-17T10:43:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, March 17 Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Miranda's starting weight: 131.5 -- more like it!
Pouds to goal: 6.5
Food:
breakfast -- multigrain flakes, coffee.
lunch -- rice bowl (teriyaki)
snack -- wheat pita, peanut butter, one half cookie.
dinner -- cheese ravioli from downstairs restaurant. tomato soup. hot chocolate. ginger snaps.
Workout: NONE
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight:
Pouds to goal:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situps to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, hot chocolate to stave off panic attacks
-lunch: pad thai, spring rolls, 2 thai iced teas, diet coke
-dinner: leftover pad thai, carrots
Workout: 25 situps
Notes:
Had nightmare about my budget last night. Definitely need to get on that.
Arrggh. What an awful day.
It's 11:30 and I'm just leaving the office, but I updated my budget/bookkeeping and cleaned my office! The psychic benefits are huge already I can tell. Hopefully no nightmares tonight. And while exercise would have done me good, I think feeling like my life is UNDER CONTROL is going to be a huge benefit to my psycho stress levels.

2004-03-16T10:02:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, March 16, 2004

Miranda's starting weight: 132.5 Wrong way!
Pouds to goal: 7.5
Food:
breakfast -- multigrain cereal, coffee.
lunch -- amy's rice bowl, tomato soup.
snack -- wheat pita with peanut butter
dinner -- two hard boiled eggs (whites); Amy's lasagna
Workout: 60 minutes of totally unsatisfying, unstrenuous "yoga". 30 minutes real cardio.
Notes: Felt very good heading to bed after reasonable, even minimal, dinner. I find it so hard not to eat everything in sight at night. not getting super hungry in the afternoon seems to be the key.

Lulu's starting weight: 171.5
Pouds to goal: 6.5 + some more muscle to add
Food:
- Breakfast: two packets flavored oatmeal (ran out of Zoom), small not-so-sweet soy chai
- Lunch: took new colleague to chinese restaurant to celebrate first day. Had veggie plat with steamed rice.
Workout: 55 minutes awesome cardio
Notes: Thank you, Shan, for enjoying my return to food with me. Definitely wasn't one of the smartest things I've ever done, but oh well! How's your crazy work life? And your crazy social life? And your budget? I am very anxious to chat with you sometime soon. Life has been too hectic lately! I have plans most nights this week, but hopefully we can catch up this weekend BEFORE I GO ON VACATION!!!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situps to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: oj, oatmeal with raspberries
-lunch: leftover steak w/ tortilla, corn
-dinner: chicken stuffed with salmon and cream cheese, spinach, peas & corn, 2 glasses merlot, 4 pieces of bread and butter, 5 GS cookies. arggh. only good choice was spinach instead of potatos as side to my chicken.
Workout: 25 situps
Notes:
Lulu, glad to see you're back on food. Was suspicious of fasting but was trying to hold back judgment.
Let's definitely talk this weekend, Lulu. My crazy work life is nuts. My crazy social life is less exciting than it used to be because of my crazy work life. And my budget, ahhh, my budget...

2004-03-15T08:14:00.000-05:00

Monday, March 15, 2004

Miranda's starting weight: 132
Pouds to goal: 7
Food:
breakfast -- cafe au lait. oatmeal with milk.
lunch -- big salad with egg whites, hummus, beans.
snack -- half a bagel with peanut butter. Half a cookie. (compromise).
Workout: plan to hit the gym tonite after picking the dog up from the kennel....
Notes: PHASE I COMPLETED. I have now broken these into phases! Phase I: 132. Phase II: 128. Phase III: 125.
-- Lulu, welcome back to the eating world. Your body is good, it doesn't need to be purged of anything!
--NIce blogging friends. so great to have everybody on today!

Lulu's starting weight: Not sure - no gym this morning due to early meeting
Pouds to goal:
Food: YES!!!
- Breakfast: Soy chai, strawberries, toasted rice cake w/peanut butter
- Lunch: 2 boiled egg whites, toast, carrots, hummus, raisins
Workout: Am going for walk with friend after work
Notes: Yeah Miranda! Great thought on the phase program. Particularly like choice to break into three phases - each ten pounds really does seem to have three phases to me. Am hoping to join you in phase 2 (will have to check scale tomorrow). Way to go S.L. on your big walks this weekend! Miranda and I were talking yesterday about how fabulous and fit you look now. Re: Me: am very glad to be eating again. Was an interesting experience to fast, and feel pretty successful in terms of will-power part, but am also glad not to miss socializing opportunities and SANITY because of it.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situps to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: oj, oatmeal with raspberries, bologna
-lunch: split pea soup
-dinner: steak, rice, beans, tortilla, salad, pico de gallo, tamarindo juice, 3 girl scout cookies, licorice tea
Workout: 4 mile run, 25 situps
Notes:
Miranda, I like the breaking out into Phases and congrats on Phase 1!
Weekend in Review:
Eating was unhealthy -- high in sugar and fat with chili party on Sat. night and too many Girl Scout cookies yesterday. However, walked at least 5 miles both days!!!!!! Yep, 5 miles. Also, spent some of yesterday trying on bikinis. Go us!

2004-03-12T10:57:00.000-05:00

Friday, March 12

Miranda's starting weight: 132
Pounds to goal: 7
Food:
breakfast-- mulitgrain flakes
lunch--salad with egg whites, some chicken, veggies. Tiny cup of tomato soup.
Workout: pretty sure none
Notes: lulu, you are not the only one who can't wait to see what happens next. You should know I will be eagerly -- not to say anxiously -- tuning into the blog throughout the day to see if you are still doing OK!
--So, lulu, you get unlimited amounts of this lemonade to drink? Yes, SL is fine, see below!

Lulu's starting weight: 173.5
Pounds to goal: 8.5
Intake: Water, tea, fasting "lemonade"
Workout: Nope - will go for walk along the river with my honey later
Notes: Feel FABULOUS! They say that you can feel pretty crappy the first couple of days as a bunch of the yuck in your body starts to break up. Am going to chalk previous malaise up to that. Last night my food panic of the previous evening turned into a simple list: I was mentally listing all the wonderful foods out there, but didn't actually want them. CAn't wait to see what happens next!
- Miranda: I love you! You're a fabulous friend. I will be a dilligent poster so you can keep tabs. It's 10:45 and am still feeling extremely good and productive. Got a tiny bit hungry -- think the problem was that I put too much cayenne in my first batch of lemonade and therefore was extremely slow in drinking it. Took me about 3 hours on the first glass. Now have new batch (more consumable!) and am feeling better. By the way, is S.L. ok? Am assuming she's just completely under water at work.
- Yeah S.L.! So glad to have you back. Also am glad to have you out there fighting the good fight. You are doing such important work! Re: Miranda's question -- pretty much yes. They suggest between 60 - 120 oz per day. I've probably had about 30 so far plus lots of water.
- 2:00 and all's well! Got a little hungry around lunch, but that seems to have passed. Tongue is now coated in yellow/green gunk - apparently a sign that the detox is doing its thing!

Shanna Lee's starting weight
Situps to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: oj, bologna and cheese sandwich
-lunch: carrots, bologna and cheese sandwich
Workout:
Notes: I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCkkkkkkkkk!!!!! Hooray! So sorry. I have been manic Shan on speed as of late. Not sleeping, not really eating, certainly not exercising. Just working. I blame it all on the administration. Am trying to remind self that am in marathon not sprint.
Lulu, very curious to see what happens!
Miranda, thanks so much for supportive call last night.

2004-03-11T12:44:00.000-05:00

Thursday, March 11

Miranda's starting weight: 132
Pounds to goal: 7
Food:
breakfast -- multigrain cereal; small OJ; coffee.
lunch -- salad with a bit of tuna; tomato soup; ginger snaps.
afternoon snack -- wheat pita with 1 tbs peanut butter
dinner -- [went to a party]: 1 cosmopolitan. two scallops on some kind of cracker. only one cracker with cheese. veggies with white bean dip. 1/2 cup tomato soup, too tired to finish, went to bed.
Workout: none
Notes: Wait lulu, I'm confused. Tell me again: you're going to go totally without food for 10 days??? That can't be right.
--Lulu, you barfed at the gym?????? This alarms me. I don't know about this. What's in this lemonade drink? How are you supposed to work, etc., without eating any solid food at all???

Lulu's starting weight: 173.5
Pounds to goal: 8.5
Intake: Water, banana, will eventually move to quinoa and steamed veggies
Workout: 60 minutes weights/strength
Notes: Most interesting thing to note of cleanse so far is how much time we spend thinking about food. It's crazy to go home at dinner time and not really be able to consume. I had a little crisis last night thinking about not getting to have a snack or a peanut or a drink of soy milk or anything for 10 days! Crisis passed two hours later and now feel great about it, but it is so strange! Our psychologies and daily routines are incredibly linked to food!
- Yeah, Miranda! Look at how skinny you are today! In answer to your question, not no food for 10 days. We spend two days on a strict diet: 1 piece of fruit in a.m., 1/2 cup quinoa cooked in cider, and lunch and dinner = small bowl of steamed veggies. Then we spend 6 days on just this lemonade drink. No solid food at all. Then two more days on the quinoa and veggies as we emerge. All the while we're drinking herbal tea. Impacts so far are interesting. Felt horrible this morning -- barfed at the gym! -- but now feel like a million bucks. Am totally psyched to start the lemonade thing tomorrow. I'll keep you posted on how it goes! (my food crisis last night stemmed from lack of ability to eat something other than steamed veggies on top of trepidation about moving to just liquid tomorrow.)
- Don't worry, Miranda! Am trying to be very smart about all this -- definitely taking program w/ a grain of salt. Lemonade is: water, fresh lemon juice, cayenne pepper, grade B maple syrup. Theory goes that it gives you all the basic vitamins and minerals you need, and that you extract the rest from what's already in your body. I've spoken to several people who have done it and now have read 3 books -- all agree that you just don't get hungry while you're on it. Regarding work, they also say that you get super productive and energic (not what I would have expected). If I don't feel good while on it, I'm going to stop. If I do feel good, though, I'm stickin' to it! As regards the barfing this morning, no idea what that was about. Actually immediately went and took an EPT (negative). If I keep feeling gross, definitely won't continue. Really do feel great now, though!

Shanna Lee's starting weight
Situps to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: cheese & bologna sandwich
-lunch: cobb salad, diet coke
-dinner: cheese and bologna sandwich, girl scout cookies, french onion soup, wine
Workout: 50 situps
Notes:

2004-03-10T11:07:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, March 10

Miranda's starting weight: 132.5 -- progress at last!
Pounds to goal: 7.5
Food:
breakfast -- cafe au lait, brought by nice commuting friends as a surprise! multigrain flakes.
lunch-- amys rice bowl with veggies. tomato soup. several small ginger snaps.
dinner-- handful of pirate booty. tomato soup. veggie burger on a wheat pita.
Calorie clock: -- DEFUNCT, see yesterday's notes
Workout: 30 minutes of cardio; 60 minutes of boxing.
Notes: Sorry lulu! I have been crunched at work. But that is no excuse. Also, I am re-doing my eating plan, dropping this calorie counting thing because it was making me eat like a crazy person. See yesterday's notes. Good luck on the fast but BE CAREFUL! Bob's response to your cleansing fast, by the way, was "cleansing of what? why?"

Lulu's starting weight: 175 -- Not for long!!!! (It's day 1 of the cleansing fast)
Pounds to goal: 10
Intake:
- Last night: "Smooth Moove" tea -- a cleansing must
- First thing this morning: two glasses water, one with 1/2 lemon squeezed in it
- Breakfast: Lemon-ginger herbal tea, banana, will soon move to 1/2 cup quinoa cooked in water and organic cider
- Lunch: small bowl steamed veggies with 1 teaspoon "better butter" (butter mixed with cold-press canola oil) and Bragg sauce - kind of like soy sauce.
Calorie clock: N/A!!
Workout: 50 minutes cardio, abs, pushups (probably last cardio until end of cleanse)
Notes: Will optimistically forge ahead with blog, dilligently posting in hopes that friends will return!
- Yeah! SO happy not to be alone! And Miranda, am very pleased with your decision on the calorie clock. Think this only works when we can be healthy and not crazy, food-obsessed people.
- Entry into fast going very well so far. In answer to Bob's question, I fear I must be graphic. Apparently you still poo several times a day after consuming nothing but liquid for a week. So, cleansing of THAT -- whatever that might be. (As I said earlier, though, the most important part of this for me is the head game. Am excited to be quiet and contemplative and take baths and do yoga and sleep and read and empty out my body. I need it!)

Shanna Lee's starting weight
Situps to goal:
Food:
Calorie clock:
Workout:
Notes:

2004-03-09T10:06:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, March 9

Miranda's starting weight: 135.5
Pounds to goal: 10.5
Food:
breakfast -- cereal, coffee.
lunch -- turkey chili, wheat pita with 1 tbs. peanut butter
dinner -- tortilla soup, salad, chips with salsa.
Calorie clock: --defunct! see notes.
Workout: NONE
Notes: OK, I have had it with calorie counting. Even if it worked, it was driving me crazy, making me very anxious about my calorie budget. talked to bob about it. he said to scrap that and eat normally, just keeping track (by writing it down) of everything. Am now doing that in a notebook (for on the spot recording) as well as on the blog. This has worked in the past, i think it's better than the calorie thing. The past couple of days, I have been trying to keep under 1,000 calories and then, at the end of the day, freaking out and eating all kinds of weird things, being too full afterwards. This is not a good pattern! I like the new plan better. Makes me feel more normal and healthy, and not like a freak.

Lulu's starting weight ???
Pounds to goal:
Food:
- Breakfast: 1 oatmeal, zoom (270), tea w/honey (15)
- Snack: Banana (105)
- Lunch: (ugh -- was at a fundraiser) 2 pieces pizza, salad, 2 1-inch little square cookie things (calories = lots!)
Calorie clock: 285 of 1815
Workout: Nope - took mom to the airport this morning
Notes: Have worked hard to eliminate snacking and dessert in preparation for fast. Feels pretty good!
-- Am lonely blogger!

Shanna Lee's starting weight
Situps to goal:
Food:
Calorie clock:
Workout:
Notes:

2004-03-08T13:47:00.000-05:00

Monday, March 8

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Calorie clock:
Workout:
Notes: Lulu, please don't worry about it!!!! Glad to see you had such a healthy eating day on Monday!!!!

Lulu's starting weight 175
Pounds to goal: 10
Food:
- Breakfast: 1 oatmeal, zoom (270), banana (105)
- Lunch: Scrambled curried tofu, brown rice, undressed mixed greens (400?)
- Dinner: Spinach salad, 1 chicken sausage, bread (half with butter)
NO SNACKING TODAY!!!! AND NO DESSERT!!!!
Calorie clock: 1300 of 1815
Workout: 32 minutes cardio, pushups
Notes: Starting cleanse routine on Wednesday, am excited. Miranda, I have been a bad friend of late. I haven't gotten the reading in the mail to you. So sorry! Things have been nuts between work and having my mom here. If you are still interested, let's talk on the phone and see if we can work out the best resources, etc. for you. Sorry! Shanna Lee, hope you are healthy and not too stressed. Also can't wait for update on new crush-free you!

Shanna Lee's starting weight
Situps to goal:
Food:
Calorie clock:
Workout:
Notes:

2004-03-08T13:44:00.000-05:00

Monday, March 8

Miranda's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Calorie clock:
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Calorie clock:
Workout:
Notes:

Shanna Lee's starting weight
Situps to goal:
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal
-lunch: chef salad
Calorie clock:
Workout: YES! Brought my stuff. So determined no matter what.
Notes:

2004-03-05T10:42:00.000-05:00

Friday, March 5 - A better day!!!

Miranda's starting weight: 135.5, damnit
Pounds to goal: 10.5
Food:
breakfast -- bagel with cream cheese. (300).
lunch -- salad with egg white, corn, beets, a bit of pasta. (300?) How to measure cal. content of salad? Cookie. (200).
Calorie clock: 800 of 1375
Workout: planned for tonight; 60 minutes cardio plus strength.
Notes: Am not seeing so many results from the past couple of weeks. Am feeling a bit puzzled about it ... I guess more workouts, fewer cals. Planning to hit the gym for significant workouts both weekend days.

Lulu's starting weight 175
Pounds to goal: 10
Food:
- Breakfast: 1 oatmeal plus zoom (270), tea without honey
- Snack: Raisins (65)
Calorie clock: 335 of 1815
Workout: 45 minutes cardio, 10 minutes abs and pushups
Notes: Resolve to have better day today. Yesterday sucked too horribly to repeat. Have been reading about upcoming seasonal cleanse and am getting excited about it. Think it will be extremely good for me. (By the way, S.L., I think I'm going to send you the stuff to read too -- it talks a lot about using cleansing to treat recurrent allergies.)

Shanna Lee's starting weight
Situps to goal: 50 situps done today
Food:
-Breakfast: 1/2 bowl of oatmeal at 11:30. So stressed have no appetite.
-lunch: cobb salad
Calorie clock:
Workout: Probably not.
Notes: This Congress is out of control. It looks like they are going to vote to amend the constitution twice in the next two months. damn them. i blame lack of sleep, lack of exercise, and general malaise on the republicans.

2004-03-04T11:01:00.000-05:00

Thursday, March 4
"Misery loves blogging"

Miranda's starting weight: 135.5
Pounds to goal: 10.5
Food:
breakfast -- multigrain flakes, measured! 140 cals. cafe au lait, 150 cals. snacking on grape nuts, 50 cals.
lunch -- amy's rice bowl. 240.
second lunch -- trader joe's rice bowl, 300. More grape nuts (100)
Calorie clock: 980 of 1375
Workout:
Notes: hated seeing 135.5 on the scale today. World champion bad mood. Total grouch-o-rama.

Lulu's starting weight 175
Pounds to goal: 10
Food:
- Breakfast: Bagel, about a teaspoon cream cheese per half
- Lunch: Rice, beans, shared steak quesadilla with cheese removed
- Dinner: half chicken sausage, tortellini, tapioca.
Calorie clock:
Workout: 50 minutes great weights
Notes: We're three for three, am also exhausted and in champ bad mood. Could eat entire pint ben and jerrys if given chance. Help! Help!

Shanna Lee's starting weight
Situps to goal:
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal
-Lunch: mac & cheese with tuna
-Dinner: pasta with sauce, 4 girl scout cookies
Calorie clock:
Workout: ummm...worked until 8:30 p.m. workout just didn't happen. did do my situps though
Notes: Miranda, I really don't think you gained a pound overnight. Chock it up to water retention. But I know it's annoying to see that number creep up when you're trying to get it down.

2004-03-03T11:13:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, March 3 - 22 days until Lulu wears her fabulous new red two-piece bathing suit!!!

Miranda's starting weight: 134.5
Pounds to goal: 9.5
Food:
breakfast -- bagel with cream cheese (300). Coffee. 50
lunch -- rice, bean, salsa, grilled chicken bowl, about 500.
afternoon snack -- grape nuts, plain. about 100.
dinner -- steamed broccoli and miso soup. ABout 100.
Calorie clock: 1050 of 1375
Workout: 60 minutes of boxing
Notes: so full after rice bowl, i now feel ill -- this wasn't a frozen one, it was from a mex. place down the street, having lunch with a friend. This was their "light" menu item. Lulu, I'm sure you will look amazing in your suit. Shanna Lee, I'm sure you will WOW them!

Lulu's starting weight: 174.5
Pounds to goal: 9.5
Food:
- Breakfast: 1 oatmeal + zoom.
- Lunch: (Clare's bday lunch at four seasons) - Grilled steak sandwich, salad, fries, fruit tart. Calories = LOTS!!!!!!!
Workout: 46 minutes cardio plus 10 minutes abs (which I sucked at today)
Notes: Got the books on the cleansing fast today. Miranda, am going to photo copy a bunch of stuff and stick it in the mail to you today. S.L. GOOD LUCK on your big speech today! And Miranda, hope the interview last night was fun!

Shanna Lee starting weight:
Situps to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: peanut butter and Lulu's homemade peach butter sandwich on whole wheat
-lunch: club sandwich, carrots
-dinner: green curry chicken
(YES AM LAPSING INTO EATING ALL MEALS OUT because didn't go to grocery store this weekend and have no time to go now and not even cans of soup in my cupboard. Arrrgghh.)
Workout: errr...no....too busy defending civil liberties...resolved to get life more under control
Notes: 25 situps done in office just now so could blog it.
Lulu, did you buy your red two-piece already? If so, I've definitely got to get on this. I think all three of us should have red two-pieces to wear together to the beach this summer one day. What better incentive?!
My speech was awesome. More importantly so was this big hearing I was preparing for. It's 9 pm and I'm at teh office again, having been working since 7 a.m. this morning, but I'm so content that I have work that I love. And friends that I love. Felt like force was with me.
I definitely should not do this "cleansing" thing -- sure it would be bad for my immune system. And I still have that bad cough that I've had for two weeks. Howeve, support you and curious to see how you feel about it.

2004-03-02T14:00:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, March 2

Miranda's starting weight: 135
Pounds to goal: 10, folks!
Food:
breakfast -- bowl of cereal (240).
lunch -- amy's rice bowl (teriyaki) (300). Bagel, one half with cream cheese (200).
Calorie clock: 740 of 1375
Workout: Not tonight -- must go do alumni interview for a candidate for our own alma mater this evening!
Notes: lulu, i don't know. Maybe. Will you send me the info?

Lulu's starting weight: 175 - Got period today, think that means am going to drop down in next few days!
Pounds to goal: 10
Food:
- Breakfast: 1 oatmeal plus zoom
- Lunch: Big salad from organic place, roll, tea.
- Snack: Fruit salad (orange, pineapple, coconut, toasted pecans) - Sorry no calorie counting today, am swamped!!!
- Dinner: Small bowl multi-bean/tomato/veggie/soup with a couple chunks of pork in it. Peanuts. Tapioca. Soy Milk. Cadbury Cream Egg. Woops.
Workout: Amazing 75 minute weight/strength session w/friend
Notes: BREAKTHROUGH!!! Have friend who just got 1 personal training session, she shared w/me all the new stuff she learned so I have a whole new workout to enjoy. Makes me want to do it more! Also, she's meeting me at 7:00 a.m. each day, whereas I have gotten a little lazy and have been going at 7:15 or even later, which has cut into my workout time. NOW FOR BREAKTHROUGH PART: am going to undertake a cleansing fast with friend. Starting the 9th, ending the 19th. Fast involves 3 days of quinoa and alkaline veggies (brocolli, spinach, peppers, etc.), 5 days of liquid (lemon, water, cayenne pepper, honey, ginger), 3 more days of quinoa and veggies. (She's bringing me some literature so I can read all about what we'll be doing.) During this time will focus on mental health, yoga, walks w/ friends, lots of sleep, and general health. She says she does weight training during fast, but not heavy cardio. More yoga and walks and stuff. Have only done day-long fasts in past, but those have been just water. Am excited to try this new cleansing routine. She says it also inevitably helps her drop at least five pounds. Of course, not sustainable, but feel good about doing some drastic me-health. What do you guys think??? Anyone want to join me???
- Yes, Miranda, will send stuff to you. Am very excited for opportunity to do some mental and physical housekeeping.

Shanna Lee starting weight:
Situps to goal:
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal
-Lunch: mozarella, tomato, chicken sandwich
-dinner; veggie pizza and diet coke

Workout: situps
Notes: no time to think or eat or blog. so sorry. it's 10 pm and still crazed and have to be here at 7 and give speech to hundreds of people tomorrow. much love.

2004-03-01T11:37:00.000-05:00

Monday, March 1

Miranda's starting weight: 134.5 OUCH. NExt monday aim to be 130 flat. I know it's doable.
Pounds to goal: 8.5
Food:
breakfast -- 4 hard boiled eggs (whites only): 60 calories! small glass of OJ, 70 cals. Multigrain flakes, 150 cals.
lunch -- amy's rice bowl with veggies (240). two cookies (200). cherry tomatoes (60). Three figs (120)
dinner -- bowl of peas (125), tomato soup (200).
Calorie clock: 1225 of 1375 -- YEAH!
Workout: 60 minutes of cardio, 60 minutes of strength circuit (my newly traditional Monday butt-kicking workout!)
Notes: You guys are nice.

Lulu's starting weight: 175 - Can't remember the last time I've been this steady for so long!
Pounds to goal: 10
Food:
- Breakfast: Bagel and cream cheese (300), latte (150)
- Lunch: Veggie burger and side salad
- Dinner: Grilled portabella mushroom tostada, tapioca, 1 oz. plum liquor.
Workout: 45 minutes cardio
Weekend in Review: Nothing Saturday, excellent 60 minute cardio workout Sunday.
Notes: Felt like I did great calorie-wise last week. Weekend was ok, but did eat chocolate cake at oscar party last night. Am excited about another good, smart week.

Shanna Lee starting weight:
Situps to goal: 575
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-Lunch: changed my mind -- don't really like tomato soup -- had ham/turkey sandwich on kaiser roll and diet coke
-Dinner: still here at 7:30. just broke out that tomato soup.
Workout: not looking likely as still have at least one hour, maybe two of work to do before going home but will do sit-ups!
Weekend in Review: Such a lovely weekend. Couple hours of walking on Sunday. Sit ups both day. Still recuperating from nasty cough. Eating was good on Saturday and a little sinful yesterday with too much Ben & Jerry's ice cream.
Notes: Can't believe it's 1:30 already. My life is nuts. God, it's so late and so much work left to do. Maybe will have tomato soup for supper. My life is really nuts.

2004-02-27T11:08:00.000-05:00

Miranda's starting weight: 133
Pounds to goal: 8
Food:
breakfast -- cafe au lait (150). oatmeal (100).
lunch -- chipotle burrito (rice, tortilla, black beans, corn.) (approx 600?)
Calorie clock: 850 of 1375
Workout: planned!
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: 175 - at least I'm being consistent!
Pounds to goal: 10
Food:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal and zoom: (300)
- Snack: Raisins (130)
- Lunch: 2 pieces whole grain toast w/peanut butter (490), apple (80)
Workout: 50 min weights/strength.
Notes: Where is poor Shanna Lee?

Shanna Lee starting weight:
Situps to goal: errrr, have to get back on wagon. am starting right now. :)
Food:
-Breakfast: Oatmeal and raspberries
-Lunch: Two pieces of pizza (lunch meeting), diet Coke
-Dinner: chardonnay (3), french fries, sweet potato with butter and sour cream, tomato mozzarella basil salad, mint tea (5)
Workout:
Notes: So sorry for my absence -- work is absolutely insane in a wonderful, wonderful way.

2004-02-26T08:54:00.000-05:00

Miranda's starting weight: 133
Pounds to goal: 8
Food:
breakfast -- bagel with cream cheese (300). tea.
lunch-- Big salad with tons of veggies and, inspired by Lulu, three boiled egg whites. Also three small tofu blocks. Hmm. Estimating salad calorie count at 300? Tough to evaluate salad calorie content.
second lunch -- tofu bolgna, cheese and wheat bread sandwich (270). COOKIE (200).
dinner -- Peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat (300). egg beaters with salsa (50).
Calorie clock: 1420 of 1375
Workout: None.
Notes: Lulu, how in the world did you keep to only 1310? I feel abashed because I can't seem to! Also, what did you and your mom do? Now I am psyched because I can envision places you went or things you did.
--sounds like a fun day you had with your mom, Lulu! Sorry she is feeling under the weather, but I can only imagine the coziness of staying home in your little place with Short Bus.
--According to my calculator, if you're taking in 1700 calories per day, you'll end up at 154, which seems low to me, for you. At 1600, you're looking at 145, which is DEFINITELY too low for someone your height! I guess whatever you can sustain is OK for the "dieting" phase, but at some point it would be good to figure out how many calories equal a steady weight of 165. (My formula says 1815.)

Lulu's starting weight: 175
Pounds to goal: 10
Food:
- Breakfast: Small oatmeal and zoom: (225), banana (105)
- Lunch: Amy's mushroom soup (280), whole grain rye toast (120), 1 Tbs. peanut butter (100)
- Dinner: Grilled chicken, steamed broccoli and quinoa. Big cup tapioca.
TOTAL FOR DAY: 1600
Workout: 10 min situps, 55 min cardio
Notes: No weight difference, but body feels fantastic. Tummy feels a little flatter, upper legs a little more defined. Also, Am wearing a size 10 today!
- Unexpectedly took day off with mom yesterday. Had wonderful time. She is calorie counting too, which makes things easier. Yesterday's final count was 1310, Tuesday's was 1637.
- Miranda, please don't be abashed! I think yesterday was an anomalous low. Here's the breakdown: Small bowl wheat chex and skim milk (250), apple (80), carrots (40), hummus, (50), egg salad (1 whole egg, 1 white, 1 tsp. mayonaise, vinegar = 130 - had no idea a boiled white is only 15 calories!), 7 low fat triscuits (170), homemade gnocci (approx. 6 small) and sauce (sauce was garlic, onion, tsp. olive oil, red pepper, spinach, 1/2 tsp. chicken bouillion, lemon juice) = (400), 1 cup homemade tapioca (190). Think a more reasonable daily for me while dieting is between 1600 - 1700. Knowing what you eat every day, I have been extremely impressed. I don't see where you would cut out! (Excellent workout that you logged yesterday, by the way!)
- Mom and I spent day at home playing scrabble, working a puzzle, chatting up a storm and preparing low cal foods. It was so fun! She's home again today nursing a slight cough. It's snowing perfectly, she has a puzzle and the teapot and tapioca pudding. What could be better?!
- Ahhh! No way do I want to end up below 165! Am just trying to speed getting there a bit. I like having dessert in my life!

Shanna Lee starting weight:
Situps to goal:
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-Lunch: split pea soup
-Dinner: brownie, veggies off a veggie tray, cream puff, 1/2 Wendy's cheeseburger, sprite (was at public forum -- no time for real meal.)
Workout: no
Notes: Crazy busy.

2004-02-25T13:09:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Hellooooooooooooooooooo ... where are yououououououo?

Miranda's starting weight: 134.5
Pounds to goal: 9.5. This is not a good trend!
Food:
breakfast -- oatmeal (100). Coffee (50).
lunch -- trader joe's chicken vindaloo (350). Carrots and grape tomatoes. (50). Sugar-free hot chocolate (50). 3 figs (120)
second lunch -- lean pocket (240)
dinner-- tofu boglna-and-cheese sandwich (270), peanut butter on 1 pc of whole wheat (190)
Calorie clock: 1420 of 1375.
Workout: 60 minutes of boxing, 10 minutes on the elliptical runner.
Notes: Am really hoping all this takes effect soon!

Lulu's starting weight
Pounds to goal:
Food:
Calorie clock:
Workout:
Notes:

Shanna Lee's starting weight
Pounds to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, oj
-lunch: lentil soup, orange, carrots
-dinner: pasta with spinach and peas, 5 girl scout cookies
Calorie clock:
Workout: No, still too sick. But will try to do sit-ups.
Notes: I'm soooooooo busy. Crazy busy.

2004-02-24T11:02:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, February 24 - Lulu's mom comes to visit today!

Miranda's starting weight: 134. ouch. but not for long.
Pounds to goal: 9
Food:
Breakfast -- small OJ (70), egg beaters with salsa (100). Oatmeal (100). coffee (20).
lunch -- carrots and grape tomatoes. (i never get tired of grape tomatoes). (100). Tofu bologna sandwich (300)
second lunch -- trader joe's chicken tandoori (360)
dinner: egg beaters (50) and cereal (300)
Calorie clock: 1410 of 1375.
Workout: 60 minutes of cardio (30 elliptical, 30 reclining bike)
Notes: Feeling like at least i have a plan!
WElcome, lulu's mom!!!

Lulu's starting weight: 174
Pounds to goal: 9
Progress: 2
Food:
- Breakfast: Big bowl oatmeal and zoom (400)
- Snack: Apple (80)
- Lunch: Homemade burrito (no cheese) with chicken, black beans, leeks, garlic, chilis and spinach. (375 I think)
- Snack: Yogurt (150), Raisins (130)
Workout: 5 minutes cardio warmup, 50 minutes strength (am feeling very strong these days!)
Notes: Wow, Miranda! Look at all of your super healthy food yesterday! Excellent job! This calorie counting thing, while it will never become a life-long habit for me I think, is very eye opening!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries (220), raspberry tea (0)
-lunch: black bean soup (260), hot chocolate (240)
Workout: No. Feel under weather still.
Notes:
I think calorie counting is good idea for at least short while.

2004-02-23T09:35:00.000-05:00

Miranda's starting weight: 133.5. No progress!
Pounds to goal: 8.5
Food:
breakfast -- oatmeal (100). Tea. small orange juice (70). apple with 1 tbs peanut butter (200).
lunch--whole-wheat-(tofu)Bologna-sandwich -- 250 cals. Carrots and grape tomatoes -- 50 cals. small v-8 (35)
second lunch -- veggie soup. 240 cals. Three figs -- 122 cals.
total so far: 1067. With only 308 calories for dinner, looks like i am eating cereal!
dinner -- egg beaters with salsa, 100. Cereal with skim milk: 250. Calorie total: about 1400... still too high ... but see killer workout
Workout: 60 minutes of cardio (30 reclining bike, 30 elliptical). 60 minute strength class.
Notes:
Getting annoyed at lack of progress. More specifically, at lack of self control re: food. Must make a change -- am focusing on two. First, being more proactive about including healthy low-cal foods, rather than just trying to exclude the non-healthy foods. Two, must return to counting calories. AIming to take in 1375 cals per day (on the 125 * 11 calories per pound methodology). Must also have 5 workouts per week.
Lulu, we have to do something here. I just called my health plan to see if a nutritionist is covered, but they said no.
--doggedly eating healthily today and counting calories. but feeling very unsatisfied and wanting popcorn.
--ASked "bob" for some assistance, but didn't like his response too much -- all about how i lack self-discipline. can't argue with him, but this was not very inspirational. Meanwhile, look how much I am eating today, and I feel so hungry. I think the _idea_ of dieting makes me hungry.
--calorie counting: Lulu, per my e-mail, I think your real calorie target is 1815. As for me, actually, I am feeling a bit more cheerful about all this, if only because now I have a plan. as long as i stick to it, I should be fine, but if I stray, i know i will be mad at myself again!

Lulu's starting weight: ??
Pounds to goal: ??
Food:
- Breakfast: Multi grain cereal (200?)
- Lunch: Amy's organic creamy spinach lasagna (370) and an apple (60).
- Snack: Pear (100) and yogurt (150)
- Dinner: carrots (40), hummus (50), pasta w/pesto, walnuts, olives and steamed broccoli (620)
CALORIE TOTAL: 1590
FRUIT SERVINGS: 2
VEGGIE SERVINGS: 2
Workout: 54 minutes cardio
Weekend in Review: Double workout friday, cardio session saturday. Slacked Sunday, but was generally active cleaning house in preparation for mom's arrival tomorrow.
Notes: Miranda, I'm with you! Workouts are great, but can't seem to manage food. Had a thought yesterday that perhaps I'm having trouble because I don't care as much anymore. Must care!
- Have shifted workout to end-of-day so will have more time. Just want to snack and eat all day long! Need motivation. Also need portion help. Am not sure if I should eat more dinner so not so interested in snacking rest of evening away or if I should eat less dinner KNOWING that I will continue to snack regardless of hunger factor. Will try to be active during home time so don't just veg and eat. What else to do? Perhaps should read more fitness-oriented stuff so get inspired ... Will also try to count calories. Have never really done that before.
- Miranda, I'm trying a new approach. Just spent lunch hour printing out a calorie list for 1000 common foods and creating an excel chart for my total calorie intake for next week (includes space for checking whether got enough fruits and VEGGIES). Am going to see how this works for me. All fitness calculators say my body needs approx. 3,000 cals per day to maintain current. That's a lot! Shouldn't be hard to cut some out and lose a bit more. Thoughts?

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pounds to goal:
Food:
-breakfast: coffee cake & hot chocolate as was late for staff meeting and didn't eat beforehand
-lunch: asparagus, roast beef, roll, house salad, bite-sized cheese cake (totally unsatisfying lunch)
-dinner: chicken noodle soup, carrots, tomatos, broccoli, peas, Girl Scout Cookies (8)
Workout: Home sick. No.
Notes:

2004-02-20T10:58:00.000-05:00

Miranda's starting weight: 133
Pounds to goal: 8
Food:
breakfst -- bagel with cream cheese, because it is Friday. Coffee.
lunch-- rice and beans. banana.
Workout:
Notes: our formatting problem seems to have sorted itself out!

Lulu's starting weight: ?? Gym this afternoon
Pounds to goal: 10 probably
Food:
- Breakfast: Wheaties/Cheerios mix. Coffee.
- Snack: Orange
- Lunch: Veggie burger, side salad, coffee. No dessert, though dining companion ate big piece of keylime pie.
Workout: No. Had mishapp with 5 chocolates last night (on top of 3/4 peanut butter cookie earlier in the day). As a result, have shifted to afternoon workout today to give time for full round of cardio + full round of weights.
Notes: Will be a food and fitness angel today!!!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Situps to goal: 825
Food:
-breakfast: Yogurt. I think I also ate a muffin and a banana. Remember buying them but no memory of eating them. So strange. At same time, can't find trace of them near my desk.
-lunch: cobb salad
-snack: colleague's b-day cake 1 piece
Workout: Probably not. Feel lousy. Headed to happy hour but then going to go home early and go to bed. Did walk back to office from coalition meeting this afternoon to celebrate lovely day. Approx. 30 minute walk. Also did my 25 sit-ups this morning.
Notes: Miranda, I've changed my mind about plan regarding crush. Let's talk before you talk. Much love to both of you. Have great weekends. I am hoping I can stave off this cold. Have date tomorrow. Hurray!

2004-02-19T11:15:00.000-05:00

Thursday, February 19

Miranda's starting weight: 132.5
Pounds to goal: 7.5
Food:
breakfast -- oatmeal with skim milk; coffee.
lunch -- beans with spanish rice. popcorn (sorry!) 2 pieces of chocolate.
second lunch -- no second lunch due to popcorn and chocolate. drinking tea instead.
dinner--out to world's fanciest Spanish restaurant with team. Paella, crab meat appetizer, a single forkful of unbelieveable chocolate dessert, cafe.
Workout: can't; taking team out to dinner tonite. plan to eat as minimally as possible. workout both weekend days.
Notes: oh my gosh. so busy.

Lulu's starting weight: 175
Pounds to goal: 10
Food:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal and zoom, water.
- Lunch: Leftover turkey chili, yogurt, organge.
- Snack: Dried fruit
- More Snack: Woops. 3/4 of peanut butter cookie (the ones I avoided yesterday). Will try to compensate at dinner.
- Dinner: Spinach salad, rice, toasted walnuts, avocado.
- Dessert: 5 chocolates while watching Survivor. I am pathetic.
Workout: 55 minutes cardio, microwaving situps and pushups
Notes: S.L., how are you feeling today?
- Am back to 25 pounds down. Celebrating by wearing very skinny jeans today.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Sit-ups to goal: 850
Food:
Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, oj
Lunch: 1/2 tofu sandwich on olive bread, walnut pear salad, oj
Dinner: chicken noodle soup, bread, chinese food, rice, diet coke
Workout: Hope to. Got 1/2 hour walk in at lunch. It's beautiful outside. Had to take off my coat. Got another 1/2 walk home from evening out but worked too late to be able to work out.
Notes: Yay skinny jeans girl! Also so busy. Having relaxing day though. Just cranking through. Physically still fighting that cold. Ark.

2004-02-18T09:26:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Miranda's starting weight: 132.5
Pounds to goal: 7.5
Food:
breakfast -- oatmeal with skim milk, coffee.
lunch-- rye bagel with t bs. peanut butter.
second lunch -- lean pocket (one of approx. six foods that keeps bob alive). about 250 cals.
dinner-- some sweet potatoes; two low-fat crescent rolls; beans and rice.
Workout: 15 minutes elliptical bike; 60 minutes boxing; 50 situps with shanna lee
Notes: i just want to lose weight without dieting. is that so wrong?

Lulu's starting weight: 176
Pounds to goal: 11
Food:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal and zoom, water. Will probably have coffee and an orange too.
- Lunch: 1 piece whole grain rye toast with 2 T. peanut butter, orange from breakfast.
- Snack: One small low-fat, organic snack bar (probably equiv. to 1/2 a luna bar)
- Dinner: Hummus and carrots, 1 chicken sausage, dry tortellini, mug of smoothie (peaches frozen from summer, strawberries, yogurt, mango juice).
Workout: 6 minutes cardio warmup, 50 minutes weights and strength
Notes: YEAH! New coworker has joined my fitness quest. We have agreed to be mutual support during the day (rest of office seems to be snack crazy right now) and to focus particularly on healthy dinner at night and no (or very little) dessert. Kept me from munching some chocolate chips last night. Am feeling very good about this next round of weight loss! Probably won't hit goal by time I go on vacation -- it's a pretty big goal! -- but will make significant progress (within a couple of pounds!). Lingering goal should also keep me toeing the line while away and committed when I get back. Will definitely hit AND MAINTAIN 165 before driving out of Jackson in June.
- Miranda, had an idea about your sister. Ever considered giving her a subscription to Shape or Cooking Light? Both are GREAT, well-rounded, life-friendly magazines. Cooking Light has tons of casseroles and other easy foods that her enfianced would probably enjoy plus some great fitness and health stuff. Also, would let her look at them in private vs. having to talk about her weight with someone else.
- S.L., had a lovely dream in which you appeared with the cutest ever pixie haircut!!!

Shanna Lee's starting weight: 120
Sit-ups to goal: 875
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, oj, raspberry tea (getting sick -- arrggh)
-Lunch: organic chicken tettrazini
-Dinner: split pea soup, broccoli, cottage cheese, orange juice, mint tea
Workout: Kickboxing
Notes: Still don't like haircut. Reaction in office is mixed.

2004-02-17T11:47:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, Feb. 17

Miranda's starting weight: 133.5
Pounds to goal: 8.5
Food:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with skim milk. Tea (straight up). Really trying to make some progress here.
lunch: 300 cals frozen indian lunch.
second lunch: wheat bagel with 1 tablespoon peanut butter. 50 cals sugar-free hot chocolate.
dinner: Bob's birthday dinner: baked chicken, mashed sweet potatoes, mashed regular potatoes, no butter in either one. Steamed carrots, two low-fat crescent rolls.
Workout: Bob's birthday is tonite, so no workout (am making him dinner, we will see what kind of a present THAT will be.) Worked out last night though -- 50 minutes cardio (elliptical and bike), 30 minutes of strength (legs, arms and abs). Plan to work out every day this week, except tonite. SHanna Lee, kickboxing tomorrow?
Notes: Hello, friends. Lulu, such a lovely visit!!!!! Thanks for everything. Shanna Lee: I was so sorry to see your sad Friday message -- and sorry I couldn't talk for longer on the phone last night. How are things looking today, any better?

Lulu's starting weight: Not sure - no gym until after work
Pounds to Goal: (LOVE this new category, A, will be very helpful!) Probably 10
Food:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal and zoom barely consumed by 11:00 a.m. Tea
- Lunch: Lentil Soup, Apple. Successfully avoided temptation of Thai Food Takeout and delicious hunk of cheese.
- Snack: Dry raisin bagel, double skinny latte (blog helping me resist temptation all over the place)
Workout: Will go this p.m. and have date for tomorrow morning in effort to get self back on morning track. Bed is just so nice!
Weekend in Review: Full day snowboarding on Saturday and fabulous snowshoe on Sunday. Both made so much more fun due to presence of Miranda and Bill. What a wonderful visit we had!
Notes: S.L., glad you had a nice weekend with family but very sorry about love funk. Wish you had been here for fun weekend, although that might just have been TOO much fun. Not sure I could have handled it.
- Also, just realized that my mom arrives on TUESDAY for two weeks and, when she leaves, there will only be two weeks until we go to the islands. When the heck did that happen? Must make plan to continue steller health initiative when madre is in town. Luckily fabulous blogging friends will help.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal, hot chocolate
-Lunch: chef salad, orange/carrot/banana puree (300% Vitamin C), Reese's peanutbutter cups
-Dinner: sushi, mint tea
Workout: 30 minutes cross training cardio at gym with full body weights work-out and 30 minute brisk walk home.
Notes: Kickboxing tomorrow for sure, Miranda. Happy Birthday to Bob! I'm staving off the blues and life is indeed looking better today. Visit with my adorable niece and the most charming nephew in the world was good tonic. Presence of parents, grandparents (grandfather just switched party affiliations from R to D), sister and brother was super bonus. So fun! Of course, V-day call from red-haired crush almost sent me spiraling into sadness. His latest squeeze is in town this week for a booty call. So why is he the only guy in my life calling me on V-Day to talk for long time and flirt?
Weekend in Review: Went for brisk 30 minute walk in freezing cold on Sunday and did a LOT of dancing in the kitchen with niece and nephew in arms. Sit-ups every day for 3 consecutive days! And Friday night dancing at a club. Eating was terrible though as my sister's primary food groups are cheese, chocolate, and beef. I know, I know, not fair to blame on sister.

2004-02-13T10:54:00.000-05:00

Friday, February 13 -- The day Miranda comes to visit lulu!!

Miranda's starting weight:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: 177
Food:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal mixed with Zoom (you guys should check this stuff out -- $1.75 per box, I think. It's 100% whole wheat hot cereal. Ok by itself, great mixed with instant oatmeal. Get the whole grains, make the oatmeal stretch a bit further, etc. I love it!)
- Lunch: Amy's organic cream of mushroom soup, some crackers, apple, water.
Workout: 40 minutes cardio, 100 situps/crunches, 20 pushups (during microwaving)
Notes:

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pledge not to go out to eat today (or carefully budgetted once-in-a-while planned outting): going out tonight with friends will try to be frugal
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal
-Lunch: broccoli pocket, diet Coke, 3 pieces choc.
-Dinner: ?
Workout: ?
Notes: Lulu, so sorry for not posting earlier or at all yesterday. Life feels very blah and blue and out of control. This is probably due to lack of exercise, sufficient sleep and lousy eating. Arrggh. Valentine's Day also has something to do with it. Esteban called me today to invite me to lunch and wish me happy V-Day. We reminisced about last V-Day. Arrgh.

2004-02-12T11:25:00.000-05:00

Thursday, February 12

Miranda's starting weight:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: ??? Slept until 8:00 this morning.
Food:
- Breakfast: bagel w/ little cream cheese, water.
- Snack: Apple
- Lunch: (see similarities to Miranda's favorite food days) bagel, w/ little cream cheese, 2 boiled egg whites, orange, water.
- Dinner: Pear, cottage cheese, and several not-so-good-for-me snack-type items.
Workout: At lunch maybe? YES! Did 1 hour Bosu fitness class with co-worker. Fell off bosu-contraption about 20 times, but got excellent workout nonetheless.
Notes: So tired. Feeling your pain, Shanna Lee. Terrible night sleep. One good thing was a dream that I woke up and Miranda was already here. Was a very nice dream-land surprise. So happy she is coming tomorrow! Wish you were coming too, S.L.!!!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pledge not to go out to eat today (or carefully budgetted once-in-a-while planned outting): Spent $6 on dinner
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal
-Lunch: 3 pieces pizza (gasp)
-Dinner: 1 piece pizza, pepperoni, 3 chardonnays
Workout: no except half hour walks to and from getting together with friends
Notes: so sorry for the delay in posting. i'm a stressed out big wimp

2004-02-11T10:55:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, February 11

Miranda's starting weight:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: 176
Food:
- Breakfast: Raisin bran/twig cereal mix. Water. Lots of water!
- Lunch: Black bean wrap with cucumbers, rice and lettuce on whole wheat tortilla. Water. Shared a couple bites of companion's oatmeal raisin cookie.
- Dinner: Um, pancakes and half a chicken sausage. I was having a little breakdown. Not so much in the way of vegetables today ...
Workout: 60 minutes cardio, plus sit-ups and push-ups
Notes: Am very inspired by friends. Helped get me out of bed this a.m. Bob arrived last night - very fun to have him here. Feel so lucky to have so much friend exposure lately!!!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pledge not to go out to eat today (or carefully budgetted once-in-a-while planned outting): err...did go out
Food:
-breakfast:oatmeal with raspberries
-lunch: hamburger (Atkins style) with guacamole, bacon, cheese, house salad. diet coke ($12)
Workout:
kickboxing tonight?
Notes: Tired. So very tired. So much work to do.

2004-02-10T10:01:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, February 10

Miranda's starting weight: 134.5 wake-up call!
Food:
breakfast: bagel with cream cheese and coffee -- but only b/c i forgot the oatmeal i bought. check out the rest of the day.
lunch: lean cuisine: chicken in peanut sauce, approx. 300 cals.
second lunch: home-packed bag of baby carrots and grape tomatoes (love grape tomatoes)!
dinner: ???
bad thing: one chocolate-covered macadamia nut. Only one! Had to taste it!
Workout: Planning to go tonite.
Notes: Thanks, you guys. This is really helping me! I feel better already. Also, realized this morning when I wroke up with a terrible headache that I am chronically dehydrated these days. Made a huge effort today to drink lots of water and tea. I am psyched up for the goals, and shan, i love yours! I WILL make it, and you both will too!

Lulu's starting weight: 176.5
Food:
- Breakfast: grapes, go lean bar. Was peer-pressured into putting big pastry on plate at morning meeting, but DIDN'T TOUCH IT!!! Am stud.
- Lunch: Rest of leftover mexican casserole, apple, 1 dove chocolate. Still no pastry.
- Snack: Half pastry. :(
- Dinner: Oatmeal eaten very late.
Workout: 5 minutes cardio warm-up, 55 minutes strength (plus 60 minutes cardio last night)
Notes: You guys are really helping me buckle down! Have had great success avoiding tempting treats and putting in the extra efforts on the workouts. Thank you! (Shan, can't wait to see your iron flat abs!)

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pledge not to go out to eat today (or carefully budgetted once-in-a-while planned outting): definitely not going out to eat today
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-Lunch: Amy's organic veggie potpie, hot chocolate
-Dinner: (eaten at 10 p.m.) pasta with butter, cottage cheese, 4 spoonfuls of choc. syrup/frosting (what is wrong with me?)
Workout: 45 minute run, 25 push-ups. Woke up very stressed out. Run was perfect antidote.
Notes: Okay, you've convinced me. It is best to have goals that you can really strive for. My goal will be to do 25 sit-ups every day from now until March 23 so that my birthday present to myself will be flat-iron abs.

2004-02-09T11:31:00.000-05:00

Monday, February 9

Miranda's starting weight: 133.5 . how did I become so huge?
Food:
breakfast: bagel, cream cheese, coffee. CUPCAKE. must have been the jet lag, affecting my judgement. Must now cut out that number of calories and/or work out enough to cover it. Why did I do that?
lunch: salad with tuna.
bad thing: popcorn.
Workout: 40 minutes of cardio (workout time got squeezed)
Notes: Hello, fine friends! Hawaii was lots of fun, so wonderful to see K and nice fiance C. Looking forward to seeing Shanna Lee on Wednesday for kickboxing, and Lulu Friday!
Focus on fitness: I really need to buckle down this month. February is fitness focus month. I am so darn close to my goal, yet floating just out of reach ... I need to set a weight and a time. How about this: by March 25, I will be at 125. How hard could that be? It will be a birthday present and also symetrical: 125 on March 25, when I will turn 25. Wait a minute ... something isn't right there. But the rest is on target. Comments?

Lulu's starting weight: 177
Food:
- Breakfast: Mix of raisin bran and wheat chex with a little sugar. Tea.
- Lunch: Leftover bean, ground turkey, mexican-type casserole. Apple.
- Snack: Yogurt (successfully avoided entire bag of dove chocolates that ambushed me in the kitchen ... go blog!!!)
Workout: Will go after work.
- 20 Microwave Pushups.
Notes: Love being sandwiched between friend visits. So fun seeing Shan last week, Bob arrives tomorrow and Miranda on Friday. Yahoooooooo!
- Friends, you inspire me. I'm in. Let's say ... 167 by March 27 (the day I head to my island tree house). Am definitely in need of a little kick start. Have lost some motivation lately, and can most definitely see the difference between 174 and 177-179 where have been hovering since Chrismas. Clearly NOT in bikini (or even regular bathing suit!) shape right now. On the positive front: Had dinner party last night and made all recipes from Cooking Light.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pledge not to go out to eat today (or carefully budgetted once-in-a-while planned outting): definitely not going out to eat today
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-Lunch: handful tomatos and carrots with garlic hummus, Amy's organic veggie loaf with mashed potato, corn, peas, hot chocolate (Wow, feel full just writing it all down.)
-Dinner: veggie pizza, cranberry juice, carrots with hummus, 2 cookies
Workout: stayed at work too late to work out.
Notes: Miranda, 8 pounds in 2 months sounds like a major lot -- I might do 128 by March 28 as a post birthday present to celebrate being 28....errr. And then 125 by May Day in celebration of spring.
Crazy busy at work but love my job. Hurray.
Weekend in Review:
Worked out both days but ate entirely too much chocolate on Saturday. Chocolate consumption is out of control.

2004-01-30T11:20:00.000-05:00

Friday, January 30

Miranda's starting weight: 132.5 blah
Food:
breakfast-- bagel, big cafe au lait
lunch-- piece of pizza
second lunch -- burrito
Workout: must work out before sitting on plane for hours, but am so lazy, not to mention full of heavy foods.
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: 179???
Food:
- Breakfast: oatmeal
- lunch: Ummmm .... tomato fennel soup, 1 asian veggie fried roll thing with yummy sauces, chicken pot pie with peas in the pod and peppers and tea and champagne and dessert -- I ate the pile of fruit and sorbet prior to diving into molten chocolate cake in attempt to fill self up before doing too much damage, still managed all but half of shell. Coffee. Ruh-roh. It was fancy staff birthday lunch a week late.
- dinner: I doubt it!!!
Workout: 50 minutes cardio
Notes: Great job again, Shan! You are a budgeting stud right now!! And thanks for the thought to bring gym clothes - sounds perfect. I will have been up since 5:00 that morning (that's 3 a.m. mountain time!), so don't expect much from me, but I would definitely like to have at least something of a workout. SEE YOU MONDAY!!!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pledge not to go out to eat today (or carefully budgetted once-in-a-while planned outting):
Yes. Friend and I just decided that we would meet up after eating ramen in our respective apartments, so we will be spending less money and note, last night I only spent $9.58 on dinner!
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, oj
-Lunch: minestrone soup
-Dinner:
Workout: Definitely going to go to gym tonight
Notes: Hi, lovely friends. Can't wait to see you on Monday, Lulu! If you remember, bring your workout clothes and you can come to my gym before we go back to my apartment to cook dinner and chat.

2004-01-29T11:33:00.000-05:00

Thursday, January 29

Miranda's starting weight: 132
Food:
breakfast-- bagel, cream cheese, coffee.
lunch-- chicken vindaloo -- trader joes comes through again! Also popcorn.
Workout: no -- not tonite, Bob is coming in.
Notes: Hi guys. love to you both.

Lulu's starting weight: 177 - new scale at gym seems to bounce around a lot less, which is very comforting
Food:
- Breakfast: oatmeal, partially frozen raspberry tea left in mug in car overnight
- lunch: cup of butternut soup and spinach/goatcheese/raisin/walnut/cucumber salad
- snack: honey wheat pretzels, some raw veggies and hummus
Workout: 45 minutes cardio (overslept)
Notes: Kinda nuts here too. S.L., was just assured by intern in WY Sen'tor's office that the info being sent out by the your org. regarding pat'riot act is "absolutely ridiculous". Told him we would be meeting w/ your org while in dc, he said he hoped his info would be useful to us in talking to you. Can't wait to verbally abuse him while I'm there!!! (like my good message coding, by the way! lots of stray 's to throw off the search engines!)

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pledge not to go out to eat today (or carefully budgetted once-in-a-while planned outting): Spent $9.58!!!!
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, oj
-Lunch: Amy's organic pasta primavera
-Snack: Diet Coke, Twix bar. (stop, must stop chocolate binging)
-Dinner: Baked sweet potato with sour cream, lentil soup, peppermint tea
Workout: Didn't make it to gym. Too busy at work. Did walk 30 minutes briskly to date and 30 minutes home again and then did 50 situps!
Notes: Quiet day on blog. Have been wicked busy. Hence lack of posting. Sorry, Lulu.

2004-01-28T10:53:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, January 28

Miranda's starting weight: 132. look what has happened already with my bad attitude!
Food:
breakfast: bagel, cream cheese, coffee.
lunch: brace yourselves, readers! chicken curry sandwich. yogurt. chocolate milk. diet coke. so full, want to die.
Workout: WENT TO KICKBOXING, yeah!
Notes: i feel ill and stupid. must go to the gym. i think it makes a big difference when I don't get as much sleep as i would like. that's my excuse. i feel a lack of energy. i feel slow and large.

Lulu's starting weight: ???
Food:
- breakfast: oatmeal (eating it at 11:00), tea
- lunch: lentil soup, apple
- snack: about 8 pieces of penny candy (to compensate for way-too-healthy lunch), tea. Promise won't eat any more candy today.
- dinner: yikes! about a 1/4 cup chex mix while waiting for it, rice, chicken sausage, no veggies since out of spinach, 5 yogurt-covered pretzels, small bowl of plain rice chex w/ 1 tablespoon chocolate chips mixed in, 4 little ginger snap cookies, tea and a shot glass of plum liquor. Holy crap!!! Husband was so appalled as to say, "why are you eating so many snacks tonight?" Am very ashamed. : (
Workout: 5 minutes cardio warm-up, 45 minutes weights
Notes: S.L., I love you!!! Your postings are so adorable. Can't wait to hear how everything goes. And must reiterate serious pride in your current good budgetting.
- Miranda, I feel your pain!
- Both of you: there's a job opening for an advanced physics teacher at St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont!!! Whether Dave gets the job or not and whether we decide that's where we want to live or not, I'm just THRILLED to know there is at least one physics job in VT! YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
- So happy just can't stand it! In love with fabulous, funny, life-enriching friends; am starting to have legitimate vision of future life in vermont; and just bought SIX PAIRS new pants at great sale, including one pair cutest-ever red cargo pants. Life is good!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Pledge not to go out to eat today (or carefully budgetted once-in-a-while planned outting): I pledge to spend no more than $5 on lunch today. I will buy soup which is nourishing, filling, and cheaper than a sandwich or salad. I am not eating out tonight. And Lulu, I love your advice and coaching and I'm not sick of it at all. Thank you for helping me. In fact last night, J asked me if I wanted to eat out or eat in, and I remembered the pledge and said, why don't we cook.
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-Lunch with ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend: 3 bean chili with bread ($3.58. That's right folks. Fiscal responsibility and emotional equanimity achieved in one sitting.)
-Snack: 2 Hershey's kisses, 2 Lindt chocolates, 1 cup hot chocolate. Jerky co-worker got me really stressed out. Needed dose of emotional equanimity achieved only through chocolate. Plus already had cravings because of lack of sex or something.
-Dinner: pasta with cottage cheese, broccoli, avocado, tomatos, chocolate cake still leftover from Sat. foray to Cheesecake Factory. Continue rant about portion sizes and also still think that self control is 90% removing temptation from the house.
Workout: Kickboxing. Yay! Totally kicked my ass.
Notes: WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Glad to know they're still teaching physics up there in VT. No seriously, that's truly very exciting and must make you glad. By the way, my giddiness today is a result of still very much having a crush on "J". Even though I know deep down that he's not at all interested in me.
Red pants -- wow -- always wanted pair of red pants. Wow. V. impressed.

2004-01-27T10:43:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, January 27

Miranda's starting weight: home scale, that lying machine, said 130. Probably more like 135.
Food:
breakfast: bagel, coffee.
lunch: Salad from downstairs with tuna; a bit of pasta.
Second lunch: frozen dinner (found one in the freezer!) of chicken with mushrooms or some such thing.
dinner: squash soup from trader joes. ramen.
Workout: None.
Notes: Lulu, i am with you. motivation is low, weight is high. I want to gorge myself on carbs and then hibernate, fat and warm.

Lulu's starting weight: 179 - yikes!
Food:
- breakfast: oatmeal, coffee
- lunch: tasty soup and salad. 1/2 piece coffee cake.
Workout: 5 min core strength, 50 min cardio
Notes: Seem to be having a very low day. Shocked by scale this morning, but can't seem to care about food restriction right now. Help! I need some motivation!
- Thanks for commiserating, ladies. Good to know I'm not alone. While I am not up for the total denial routine right now, I will make an effort to curb self somewhat and also to be sure to get to the gym each day.
- S.L.: Good job on the pledge!!! I'm very proud of you. You are doing such a good job bringing your lunch to work, which is definitely hard when you are stressed. Now, regarding your two upcoming eating-out dates, have you thought about how much you are planning to spend on each? If you are up for it, I think it would be great to come up with a budget for them both, taking into account the overall monthly budget. May help you say no to a glass of wine or some of those other things that can drive the price up. (As always, tell me if I should just shut up.)

Shanna Lee's starting weight: 121
Pledge not to go out to eat today (or carefully budgetted once-in-a-while planned outting): I pledge not to eat out today. :) And I didn't eat out yesterday. But I do already have plans to eat out tomorrow and Thursday.
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-Lunch: Amy's organic mac & cheese. So good.
-Dinner: with our favorite red-haired college friend "J". Eggplant and onions, chicken in mustard sauce, rice (and we cooked rather than eating out). chocolates (3), meringue (1), pretzels, decaf coffee with Bailey's, merlot, hard cider
Workout: 30 minute brisk walk from my office to J's house.
Notes: I think we all need motivation. I'm having insane chocolate cravings -- time of the month, lack of sex, dont' know why but I want to run downstairs and buy out the little shop's chocolate shelf. It will be okay. This too shall pass. We are all far thinner and fitter than we were four months ago. And we are all going to look bikini fabulous this summer when we meet up in Vermont.

2004-01-26T11:02:00.000-05:00

Monday, January 26

Miranda's starting weight: home scale said 130
Food:
breakfast: bagel, cream cheese. coffee.
lunch: frozen pad thai. popcorn. no excuse for the popcorn, it just smelled so good!
second lunch: half a bagel with peanut butter.
dinner: burrito. CARB FEST
Workout: none
Weekend in Review: Worked out both days, thank god. Saturday was 60 minutes of cardio kickboxing. Sunday was 60 minutes of weightlifting.
Notes: I dont feel like working out; feel like sitting around eating burritos! i feel guilty for being the CHeesecake factory instigator. shanna lee and lulu: next time iwill socialize with shanna lee in one of our own houses!

Lulu's starting weight: Not sure - no gym this a.m. (again)
Food:
- breakfast: oatmeal, tea
- lunch: salad with grilled chicken, bread, oatmeal raisin cookie at fundraiser lunch. Currently nursing double skim latte.
- snack: yogurt
- dinner: salad, rice, chex mix, tea
Workout: 10 min core strength, 50 min cardio
Weekend in Review: Great workouts Friday and Sunday, nothing on Saturday.
Notes: Had a perfect birthday - made all the more so for getting to chat with you both. Did eat leftover birthday cake for breakfast on Sunday, but what are you gonna do?
- S.L., I put that line there!!! We must get a hold on this current addiction!!!

Shanna Lee's starting weight: 120
Pledge not to go out to eat today (or carefully budgetted once-in-a-while planned outting): Who put this line in here? What's going on? LOL! :) Oh well, given that I ate out all but one day of the last 7, guess that's okay. Awww yeah. Didn't eat out today.
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, hot chocolate
-Lunch: lentil soup from a can brought from home
-Dinner: spinach & tomato salad with fresh mozzarella, pasta with cottage cheese, leftover choc cake (from Sat.) Note about portion sizes - that cake from Sat. night has now provided 3 days of dessert for me and I still have some left over. I think this underscores the need not to ever be part of the clean plate club when dining out.
Workout: Cardio kickboxing class
Weekend in Review: Very good. Went to gym for good workouts including situps both days and going to the gym entailed 30 minute walk each way totaling grand 2 hours of brisk walking in freezing cold. Dining yesterday was particularly well balanced. Sat. was good except for little treat at Cheesecake factory.
Notes: It's a winter wonderland outside today with lots of white fluffy snow. Really tempted to see if can leave work early to take walk in park but insanely busy thusfar.

2004-01-23T11:01:00.000-05:00

Friday, January 23

Miranda's starting weight:
Food:
breakfast:
lunch:
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: Not sure - no gym this a.m.
Food:
- breakfast: oatmeal, tea
- lunch: thai chicken, tofu, veggie thing over rice (larb gai), tai tea, rice crispie treat.
- dinner: rice and spinach salad
Workout: 10 minutes cardio, 50 minutes weights/strength
Notes: Shan, that ad thing is just terrible. I also wrote CBS. Hate how big money is buying this country.
- Shan, your optimistic response is wonderful. I'm just so depressed about it all, though. Weren't some of those ads great, by the way?

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
Breakfast: oatmeal, raspberries, hot chocolate
Lunch: (group lunch with financial planner!) Italian sub, sour cream & onion chips (errr), diet Coke.
Workout:
Notes: Nurse says I won't be scarface. Says strange disfiguring rash around cyst wound should clear up in a few days.
CBS has refused to air MoveOn.org's Super Bowl ad. Makes me so mad. I just wrote and called CBS to complain.
Lulu, I am heartened by the activism of smart, dedicated folks just like us. You and me and dirk and two other friends have already written. Hurray!

2004-01-22T12:34:00.000-05:00

Thursday January 22

Miranda's starting weight: 132.0 What's up with this? Revised weight: 136. (see "notes").
Food:
breakfast: Bagel, cream cheese, coffee.
lunch: corn and potato soup; bagel.
Workout: not sure ... arms sore from yesterday (in a good way!)
Notes: This weight thing is so weird. Why, when I start working out, does the scale add 3 pounds? No way have I gained that much muscle or fat in such a short time. Here's the thing. The scale at the gym always has me about 4 pounds heavier than the scale at home. I'm thinking of switching my weight basis to the gym scale -- better to be on the conservative side anyway, right? This won't be consistent -- my benchmark has always been the home scale. But I actually think the gym scale is closer to reality. So, I am now back at 136.

Lulu's starting weight: 175
Food: being good today! (see last night's dinner)
- breakfast: oatmeal, skinny latte
- lunch: "smoky" pumpkin soup, steamed artichoke. Delicious!
- snack: chocolate chip cookie while driving to idaho for a meeting
- dinner: chex mix, rice, spinach salad, gingersnaps -- so much for being good today
Workout: 50 minutes cardio
Notes: discovered cool thing on dress pants that makes waist smaller - thought it was only decoration! Much happier now that love handles (however reduced) don't show every time I move as my pants no longer slip down.
- Ooh, Miranda, that's very frustrating about your scale. You are brave and wise to recalibrate. Go you!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
Breakfast: oatmeal, raspberries
Lunch: veggie loaf with mashed potato, corn, peas, hot choc.
Dinner: pasta with butter and spices (no sauce or cheese available), snickers' bar
Workout:
Notes: stressful day in a good way. v. busy. love new job.

2004-01-21T10:16:00.000-05:00

Wednesday January 21

Miranda's starting weight: 131.0.
Food:
breakfast -- bagel, cream cheese, coffee.
first lunch -- trader joe's rice bowl with veggies
second lunch -- trader joe's chicken satay. Plus oatmeal (snack). PLus some bad snacks: cheese crackers.
dinner-- corn and potato soup
Workout: 60 minutes of kickboxing, including pushups etc. Ouch.
Notes: Massive food --especially cheese- craving today. not sure what was up with that! Lulu, your celebretory dinner sounded so tasty!

Lulu's starting weight: 176
Food:
- Breakfast: oatmeal, juice/water
- Lunch: leftover pasta w/ not enought tomato sauce, olives, grapes.
- Snack: 2 brown ricecakes w/homemade jam. 2 mini packs smarties.
- Dinner: Yummy mexican food date with cute hubby followed by cappucino and tiramisu at a fun bar/restaurant. Celebrating debt-freeness and pile of house savings!!! (paid for on credit card due to $5 in checking account until dave gets paid tomorrow -- heee!)
Workout: 5 minutes cardio warm-up, 45 minutes strength - completely bonked, I think due to giving blood last night (thought about you, Miranda!)
Notes: Shan, all I can do is repeat my mantra that he is evil and must be stopped. A constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage?! Argh!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
Breakfast: oatmeal with two tsp sugar, hot chocolate
Lunch: chef salad with roast beef, turkey, orange/carrot/banana puree, 4 hershey's kisses (stress!)
dinner: chicken tacos, guac with chips, margarita (damn expensive)
Workout: errr noo. worked late and then was late to friend's b-day celebration.
Notes: only good thing about president's sotu -- he used my organization's slogan as line in the speech "keep america safe and free." we're famous.

2004-01-20T11:29:00.000-05:00

Monday, Jan. 19

Miranda's starting weight: 130.0
Food: standard breakfast (bagel, cream cheese, coffee).
lunch: chicken curry on dark bread sandwich. small chocolate milk. yogurt.
Workout: 45 minutes of cardio, weigths (just arms)
Notes: Lulu, WHAT a day you are having! Congratulations! That is so awesome, i am very proud. Not to mention inspired!

Lulu's starting weight: 175
Food:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal, juice/water
- Lunch: pad thai with tofu
Workout: 50 minutes cardio
Notes: Today we are 100% debt free!!! Am sending checks to pay off last student loan, Dave's dad's loan (that we have been paying), and our car. YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and I weighed 175 this morning!!!
- Thanks, Miranda! Can't help also being impressed by your scale reading 130.0! That's fantastic! It appears that you are pretty solidly where you want to be!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
breakfast: skipped, too busy
lunch: Amy's organic ravioli, hot chocolate
dinner: angel hair pasta with artichokes, sausage, 2 pieces bread, 2 beers (depressed by SOTU)
Workout: Maybe. We'll see. Stressful day.
Notes: YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Congratulations!!!!!!Lulu, you are an inspiration! And go Miranda!

2004-01-19T11:43:00.000-05:00

Monday, Jan. 19

Miranda's starting weight: 130.0
Food:
breakfast: bran muffin. cafe au lait.
lunch: angel hair with tofu "meat" balls and tomato sauce
dinner: ditto
Workout: 30 minutes of cardio (elliptical runner), weights (just legs), abs. feeling out of shape.
Notes: Must whip self into shape for upcoming vacations!!

Lulu's starting weight: 176
Food:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal, Juice/Water mix
- Lunck: 2 pieces homemade pizza (wheat crust, veggies, no sauce, very little cheese), yogurt, pear.
- Snack: 2 scottish tea cakes (little sweet pancake things - no fat)
- Dinner: Pasta with tomato sauce (after hearing story on NPR about a Japanese ramen restaurant - made me crave noodles like crazy!!!)
Workout: 60 minutes Cardio
- Microwave workout (which I have been doing but not reporting lately!): situps, pushups.
Weekend in Review: Great workout Saturday - 45 minutes cardio, 50 minutes weights. Nothing Sunday. Food generally much better, though slight calorie crisis on Saturday resulted in some untoward snacking.
Notes: Greetings from Wyoming, where we are too backward to recognize Martin Luther King Day!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
Lunch: pbj with Lulu's delicious blackberry jam
Dinner: peking duck roll, spring roll, wanton soup, garlic ginger chicken, green tea, port (2)
Workout: Yes. Super long walk. (1 hour)
Notes: Was out celebrating MLK day at peace event. V. beautiful and had fun date to boot.
Weekend in Review: Did not kickbox as paranoid about becoming scarface. Did however walk lots (1 hour on Saturday) and 40 minutes on Sunday. Weight workout Saturday too. Generally great eating except guacamole stuff at AFC Championship party and then oops, Ben & Jerry's cookie dough late night. First ice cream craving in long time but think it is notable that did not come close to finishing pint and then just threw rest away.

2004-01-16T10:44:00.000-05:00

Friday, Jan. 16

Miranda's starting weight: Keep in mind, this scale is definitely about 3 pounds lighter than the gym scale (a.k.a. "my real weight"). But what the heck, I've been using this one as a benchmark all along, so may as well be consistent, right? ANyway, this morning I weighed 129.5. Yup, that's right.
Food:
breakfast -- oatmeal and a bagel. and cafe au lait.
Workout: none tonite either. but both days this weekend, i swear.
Notes: TO respond to something shanna lee said days ago .... Shan, i think you shoudl tell esteban that you're glad that the two of you have remained friends, because his friendship is so great. (And that clearly you guys were always meant to be friends, just not partners! )
--Shanna lee: I'm so glad you went for the cyst removal. i know that's something that's been bugging you forever! way to be brave. i'm sure you will look fine, don't worry about a thing!

Lulu's starting weight: Not sure - no gym again
Food:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal, coffee, juice/water blend
- Lunch: Two tortillas with a cheese single wrapped in each. Will soon go for yogurt and pear.
Workout: No! This is two days in a row! Am feeling totally flabby and slug-like. Will be going for two big workouts this weekend for sure.
Notes: Go miranda! That's incredible! I can't even imagine what that looks like! Am so proud of you. Now you get to turn to just maintenance, yes? And Shanna Lee, that's so great! Am thrilled you got the cyst removed and am very confident there won't be much of a scar. Can't wait to see your beautiful face in a couple of weeks!
- Annual adult spelling bee tonight! Dvandva! Mitrailleuse! Myxomatosi! Frondescence! Wish us luck ....

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
Breakfast: banana, hot chocolate
Lunch: Going to another fancy restaurant in celebration of Restaurant Week with work folks.
house salad, salmon, julienned vegetables, potato something or other that was fantastic, errr...creme brulee (part of the special), iced tea, 3 Hersheys Kisses
Workout: Hope to. Yes. Running off right now to get quick work out in before dinner plans.
Notes: GO MIRANDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!So impressive. This morning I got my cyst removed from my eye. Now filled with panic that will have terrible scar, but I am glad I did it. Took literally 15 minutes.
Good luck Lulu. And you too Miranda. Don't drink too much. Or rather drink way too much but get home safe. :)

2004-01-15T10:27:00.000-05:00

Miranda's starting weight: 131.5
food:
breakfast -- bagel, cream cheese, cafe au lait. oatmeal.
lunch -- 2/3 of a lean cuisine. too stressed to finish it!
dinner-- minestrone soup. Chocolate soy milk
Workout: none .. work is enough of a workout!
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: Not sure
food:
- Breakfast: raisin bran, latte
- Snack: yogurt
- Lunch: multigrain bagel w/egg salad and lettuce. Apple.
Workout: Nope. Forgot all my stuff at office last night, am going to try to squeeze one in today.
Notes: Almost didn't come to work today. Just couldn't want to be here. Sorry about your raspberries, Shan. That's very disappointing.

Shanna lee's starting weight: 123
food:
Breakfast: oatmeal with two tbsp sugar because someone threw my raspberries away. over zealous office cleaners.
Lunch: leftover tilapia and mashed plaintains, tomato soup
Snack: Double hot chocolate and 6 Hershey kisses. Now feel slightly sick. Where is this sudden craving for chocolate coming from?
Dinner: french fries and 2 diet cokes at happy hour. Banana, black bean soup with cheese right before bed. Eating right before bed -- not such a good idea.
Workout: Errr...25 city blocks at very brisk pace has to count for something but recognize not quite same as putting in time at gym.
Notes:

2004-01-14T09:49:00.000-05:00

Miranda's starting weight: 131.5.
food: cafe au lait; bagel with cream cheese
Workout: Shanna lee and i DID GO to kickboxing class! Where the instructor did single me out of the crowd to say, "And where have YOU been?". Everyone's gym nightmare, i am sure!
Notes: I'm kind of sad to see my low weight today because i KNOW i'm out of shape these days. Must get on that. Silly to weigh less if none of that is muscle!

Lulu's starting weight: 178 in my workout clothes
food:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal, Juice/Water mix, will probably go for yogurt too. (Never did eat yogurt)
- Lunch: Oriental duck wrap - yucky. Scraped much glup away and tried to focus on just pita and duck. Also side salad.
- Dinner: Chinese food while studying with spelling bee team.
Workout: 55 minutes cardio. Forgot towel. Had to shower at work. Am slightly discombobulated.
Notes: Good attitude, Miranda! Can't wait to see you all buffed out and ready to kick my ass. Of course, that would never happen, but it's a good thing for you to work toward. : )
- Shan - You're a stud!

Shanna lee's starting weight:
food:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with raspberries
Lunch: Doing late lunch at very fun restaurant as is restaurant week and everything is cheap and is my former office mate's birthday. House salad, Pumpkin seed encrusted tilapia, mashed plaintains, errr...chocolate cake (was part of the restaurant week special)
Dinner: apple butter and peanutbutter sandwich, chicken noodle soup
Workout: KICKBOXING. Yeah! Get ready, Miranda. Maybe I'm about to kick your ass in kickboxing tonight!
Notes: Just got a weblink from my ex Esteban about an online dating service to meet other liberals. He is the best ex ever. He gets me. He really understands me. I'm trying to figure out how to tell him that without making him think I'm hitting on him or expressing any nostalgia for our past relationship.

2004-01-13T11:13:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, January 13

Miranda's starting weight: 133.4
Food: bagel, coffee. .... rice bowl ...handful of doritos...pizza with shanna lee and our friend "j"
Workout: not tonite
Notes: Lulu, it dawned on me recently that i need to get into better shape to be in your neighborhood, especially if we will be skiing! Shanna lee, don't forget we;re having dinner tonite!

Lovely Lulu's starting weight: 177 -- scale hogging new girl not there today
Food:
- Breakfast: Twig cereal mixed with raisin bran. Am going for yogurt now.
- Lunch-type snack: Oatmeal.
- Dessert: Huge Gala apple and heavenly skim latte. Sweet nectar!
- Snack: Handful candy. Am very bad.
Workout: 5 minutes cardio warm-up, 50 minutes weights and strength.
Notes: Body feels excellent today, like it did pre-Christmas vacation. Still a couple pounds different but at least am feeling super good again. Wearing skinny new skirt from Nordstrom today. It's blue.
- What the heck was up with my optimistic start to the day?! Quickly fell into coma-like state, I think resulting from allergy medication taken last night. Am now dying.
- Miranda: Yes! You should definitely think about breathing our thin mountain air! Snowshoeing, especially, can be super tiring. I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO can't wait for you to get here!

Shanna Lee's starting weight: 121
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-Lunch: being eaten now at 3 pm. split pea soup
Dinner: mushroom, green pepper, sausage calzone, 1 glass merlot. Miranda and "J"'s treat. So fun.
Workout: no
Notes: Yes, you had such a happy morning, Lulu, hope you are re-emerging from coma state. I am having an overwhelmed 4 hours of meetings and counting sort fo day but am off to do dinner tonight with Miranda and our redhaired college friend. So looking forward to it.

2004-01-12T10:52:00.000-05:00

Monday, January 12

Miranda's starting weight: 133.5
Food:
breakfast-- bagel, cream cheese, the standard. coffee.
first lunch -- trader joe's pad thai bowl, about 300 cals. not as tasty as their indian food versions!
Workout: will go tonite with bob
Notes: didn't work out at all over the weekend, except friday. lazy.

Lovely Lulu's starting weight: Not sure, new girl at gym parked self over scale while changing (think she's shy)
Food:
- Breakfast: Raisin bran. 1 inch raspberry juice mixed with full glass water. Am going to try for a yogurt as well (a la breakfast of champions)
- Snack: Granola bar. Yogurt turned out to have aspertame in it. I hate that.
- Lunch: Yummy white bean/veggie/turkey sausage casserole. About to eat 2 low-fat lemon biscotti I made to cope with dessert cravings.
- Dinner: I admit, it was pancakes with oranges and maple syrup. Sometimes I just need them!
Workout: 50 minutes cardio
Notes: So sleepy again! What's wrong with me? Sorry to hear about your rental car, Shan. That is a HUGE bummer.
Weekend in Review: 60 minutes excellent mixed cardio on Saturday, day off on Sunday despite big breakfast out with college friends.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-Breakfast: egg salad sandwich, apple juice
-Lunch: chef salad with roast beef and turkey, Naked berry blast juice
-Dinner: pasta with cottage cheese, cherry tomatos, 2 slices Muenster cheese, Diet Coke
Dinner:
Workout: 35 minutes cardio, complete weight workout. Felt really good.
Notes: Woke up at 4 a.m. this morning and it was snowing hard in Maine so missed flight out fo Manchester and then had to wait 2 hours for another one. Grumpy and stressed. But weekend with sis was very nice.
Weekend in Review: Saturday replayed 60 minute dance mix twice and danced around kitchen with 18 month year old nephew who is hilarious (and loves to dance) and then climbed sister's stairs 10 times. On Sunday, shopped for 5 hours (significant mall walking). This is good because it offsets massive quantities of ice cream, m&ms, baked potatos with cheese and butter. Convinced that 90% of eating well is removing opportunity to eat badly. My sister's house was a landmine of unhealthy comfort foods.

2004-01-09T11:25:00.000-05:00

Friday, January 9

Miranda's starting weight: not sure
Food:
breakfast -- bagel with cream cheese, coffee.
lunch -- salad with tuna. should probably eat something else.
bad stress snacks: two pieces of chocolate.
Workout: planning one tonite; picking up bob to go to the gym
Notes:

Lovely Lulu's starting weight: 176.5
Food:
- Breakfast: Twig cereal/corn chex mix, coffee.
- Snack: Nutrigrain bar
- Lunch: Leftover spaghetti with tomato sauce and olives. About to have clementine.
Workout: 10 minutes cardio, 50 minutes weights/strength
Notes: So sleepy!
- Shanna: Nice to see you on blog! Hope you're having a great time with your sis. Are you doing any volunteering for [that awesome candidate], by the way? I just wrote a couple of letters to undecided voters in Iowa over lunch. It's really fun! Downloaded a poster to hang in my car, etc. I'd be psyched if you gave some Shanna-power (especially given our limited ability to give financial support!).

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-Breakfast: banana
-Lunch: two slices cheese, chicken patty, rocky road ice cream...hmmm...wish had done blog before lunch. Might have convinced lazy self to drive somewhere get something healthier. Looked for healthy in my sister's fridge but literally no fresh fruits or veggies except for bananas.
Dinner: Convinced sister that we are going to do healthy thai food. course will be costly but better for me than pizza which is all she has in fridge.
Workout: Maybe. Logging on to blog makes me think I should go take a long walk toward end of day. Must note however it's 5 degrees below zero outside with wind. Am in maine without workout stuff but could take long walk. We'll see. Note: couldn't do it. Stepped outside. Changed mind. Too darn cold. Maybe i don't want to move back here. It's insane.
Notes: My sister is having a baby v. soon and I am hanging out here with her. Was absent from blog yesterday because was in maine at meetings all day for work.
Notes: You're right, lulu. I should start volunteering for that awesome candidate. Have not yet started (except wearing his button) but it's a good way to contribute. Unfortunate blow to wallet -- my rental car company does not have an office in maine (so i have to eat $200 as does not make sense to return it to nh today (6 hours roundtrip) and cannot justify billing my company extra money because i take weekend off.

2004-01-08T10:18:00.000-05:00

Thursday, Jan. 8

Miranda's starting weight: 133
Food:
breaskfast -- medium cafe au lait, mmmmm. bagel with cream cheese.
lunch-- two slices of tomato-mozzarella pizza. tomato soup.
Workout: perhaps!
Notes: Shanna Lee, don't forget about kickboxing! Also, are you doing 25 situps each night?

Lovely Lulu's starting weight: 178
Food:
- Breakfast: Twig cereal, grapenuts, raisins. Am going for coffee now.
- Snack: More coffee!
- Lunch: Meeting at chinese place. Food not too greasy at all, but still not great for me. Shared delicious dumplings, ate about 2/3 of veggie/tofu lunch plate (included rice, low mein, egg roll). Feel very sick now. Am going to have clementine to encourage system to feel healthy.
Workout: 60 minutes cardio.
Notes: Am a stud. Went to gym this a.m. despite being out until MIDNIGHT with previously mentioned visiting Midd friends. Am also happy to be getting tough with self again. Very vigorous workouts, laying off desserts, etc. It feels good!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-Breakfast: 1/2 fat free blueberry muffin, oj
-Lunch: italian sausage artichoke soup, salad with lettuce, egg, chicken, & tomato
-Dinner: meatloaf, fried potatos, salad, root beer
Workout:
No. Woke up at 4 a.m. to catch plane to maine for work. full day of meetings. got home to sister's house late and had dinner with them. errr. terrible excuse but simply did not have time.
Notes:

2004-01-07T10:20:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, Jan. 7

Miranda's starting weight: 131.5. (the miracle of dehydration!)
Food:
breakfast-- bagel, cream cheese.
lunch-- rice bowl (300 cals). handful of doritos (100 cals?)
2nd lunch -- trader joe's tomato and red pepper soup, mmm. Maybe 200 cals.
dinner -- about to eat bertucci's pizza ...
Workout: none ... but see last night! what a champ i am, i _actually went to the gym_. that's supposed to be sarcastic; going to the gym should not be such a rare event!
Notes: we are so minimal today! Everyone's too busy to write.

Lovely lulu's starting weight: 177
Food:
- Breakfast: Twig cereal w/ raisins, coffee.
- Lunch: Amazing portabello mushroom tostada.
- Snack: mug of dry honey nut cheerios, tea. Eaten to stave off dessert attack. It worked!
Workout: 60 minutes cardio
Notes: Sorry about my security breach yesterday! Thanks for catching me.
- Yes, all very busy today! Hope everyone is doing ok. Remember to be good to yourself, take a moment to relish in the quality of your life (a la Miranda), and get to bed at a reasonable hour!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, oj
-Lunch: breakfast burrito, hot chocolate
-Dinner: Diet coke, Quorn and veggie curry made by dear friend from work when realized I was leaving office at 8:30 p.m. (Had dinner ready for me and lent me awesome sweater set for important meeting next day.)
Workout: Errr...no...was at work until 8:30. Realize poor excuse.
Notes: super busy. arggh. but good busy.

2004-01-06T11:08:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, January 6

Miranda's starting weight: 134
Food:
breakfast-- bagel, coffee.
lunch-- tandoori chicken (300 cals).
2nd lunch -- peanut chicken (300 cals)
dinner -- trader joe's butternut squash soup; frozen (heated) veggies; pirate booty :)
Workout: 35 minutes on the elliptical runner, weights; abs. feeling a little winded on the cardio!
Notes:

Lovely lulu's starting weight: 177 -- a step in the right direction
Food:
- Breakfast: Twig cereal with raisins, coffee
- Snack: Clementine
- Lunch: Shepherd's pie, asian pear. Am jonzing for something sweet, now, but will satisfy self with tea.
- Snack: Clementine (in place of tasty looking chocolates)
- Dinner: Modest bowl spaghetti w/ red sauce and olives. Mug of hot ovaltine.
Workout: 15 minutes cardio, 50 minutes weights and stretching
Notes: It is something like 20 below here right now. Brrr!!! [NAMES OMMITTED due to security! Careful, lulu!] are in town skiing. We're having dinner with them tomorrow and then they're coming to stay a night with us this weekend. Should be good fun.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-breakfast: 1/2 croissant, hot chocolate (breakfast meeting)
-lunch: chicken tettrazini, eaten at 2 arrggh
-dinner: healthy choice dinner (chicken burrito with corn and beans), pear
Workout: no, too tired. arrgggh. will work out tomorrow
Notes: Busy, busy, busy.

2004-01-05T10:27:00.000-05:00

Monday, January 5

Miranda's starting weight: 134
Food:
breakfast-- bagel, coffee
first lunch-- frozen dinner: sweet &sour chicken, 300 cals
second lunch -- veggie chili, 240 cals
Workout:
Notes: welcome, friends! So happy we're all back intact. ANd then some, right!?! just kidding, i know we can bounce back from any holiday indiscretions, food- and workout-wise.
--I'm really determined. This month has got to be a big one. For one thing, bob and i are going to hawaii at the beginning of Feb ... which totally ASIDE from the whole bikini issue, also that's where I had my baseline fitness assessment, and i can return to the same guy again to have my progress measured! i really want to have made good progress. Plus the new year thing, and the post-holiday thing. So far today I have avoided popcorn and an oatmeal cookie.

LULU'S BACK!!!!
Lovely lulu's starting weight: 179. Ummmm. Hmmmm. Well. Yeah. At least a little due to impending period. Rest due to complete lack of self control during vacation. Oh well.
Food:
Breakfast: Twig cereal.
Snack: Clementine
Lunch: Totally reasonable portion of leftover lean shepherd's pie. Am now going to eat another clementine since am hungry.
Workout: 60 minutes rockin' cardio (am committed to serious workouts from now until when I reach my goal!)
Today's Notes:
- Miranda, I'm totally with you. Let's rock out this month! Have been great so far today and am feeling generally very motivated.
- Just announced my departure to fellow staff members. Am telling the full board this week. Yikes!
Vacation in Review Notes: It was fabulous. Took a bath almost every day - most days did it in the middle of the day! Read books (have you guys read the DaVinci Code?), went snowshoeing and skiing, and ATE EVERYTHING IN SIGHT! ALL DAY LONG! ATE, ATE, ATE! Fully deserve to have gained weight, but don't plan to allow it to hang around long. Am on a new mission!
Notes on you guys: Boy did I miss you! Thought about you lots. Wondered how Shanna Lee was doing on her budget. Am thrilled to hear that you got the new job! Not that I had any doubts. Wondered if Miranda managed her stressful travel plans alright. Sounds like you did. Am so impressed by the cumulative blog results. We rock! Also am very impressed by all of the new year's resolutions. You are both wise and introspective and get to be better people every single year.
New Year's Resolutions:
- Like Miranda's one on keeping secrets. I'll work on that too.
- Maintain consistently healthy lifestyle. Continue weight loss, fitness and strength increase.
- Leave the Community Foundation in good shape through excellent preparation, organization and getting everything written down.
New Year's Ambitions:
- Move
- Get Dave a Job
- Buy a House
- Put Furniture in the House
- Get me a Job
- Get Pregnant!

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, oj
-lunch: Amy's organic pasta primavera (300 calories)
-dinner: last of left-over lasagna (hurray!), leftover pbj pizza slice, oj, mixed greens with tomatos & cottage cheese
Workout: Errr...no...left work too late and too tired.
Notes: First day on the new job!!! Welcome back, Lovely Lulu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Weekend in Review: Eating v. good. Exercise not so good except for about 2 hours of walking on Sunday. Was feeling a little under the weather. Looking at week with renewed energy.
New Year's Resolutions:
1. Financial responsibility: Joined 401(K)! Hurray! Stayed in Saturday night to save money and recuperate. But fell off wagon on Sunday when ate out all meals.
2. Clean desk: Cleaned desk. Such good karma.

2004-01-02T10:09:00.000-05:00

Happy new year to us!! we're the best.

Friday, Jan. 2

Miranda's starting weight: 134
Food:
breakfast: coffee, bagel with cream cheese
lunch: sushi: one alaska roll, one spicy tuna roll. salad. miso. Can you guess that we all went to lunch?
Workout: none, but i did go to the gym yesterday! (60 minutes of cardio! weights! etc.!)
Notes: off to VT for the weekend, bearing christmas presents for bob. Lulu, it's been so long since we saw you on the blog -- miss you, but hope you are having a terrific time off from work. Shanna lee, thanks for inviting me to your cute party. it was really fun!
New Years resolution(s)
1. Time management/laziness: Every time I have the opportunity to complete a task, and then say to myself, "well, I can also just do that later," I am going to stop and just do it right then.
2. Confidentiality/discretion: Every time I feel the urge to share some story or information of a confidential nature, I am going to stop and ask myself what my _purpose_ for doing this is. In other words, if no good can come from sharing, I am going to keep some things to myself for a change!

Lovely lulu's starting weight:
Food:
Workout:
Notes:

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
-lunch: it's going to be lasagna. lasagna in fact will be the entry for about my next 10 meals. Why did I make so much of it? Why?
-post-lasagna snack: hot chocolate
-dinner: going to be lasagna, salad, and ginger ale.
Workout: Yes, plan to work out for sure.
Notes: We are the best! Wow, so impressed by year in review. 20 lbs since September. You go, Lulu. And Miranda, you looked fabulous on New Year's. And today I'm wearing a pair of jeans not worn since Esteban told me they made me look fat last winter (co-worker said they make me look very hot today), and on New Year's I wore a pair of jeans that I had not worn since before peace corps! Hurray.
New Years resolution(s)
1. Live within my means. Keep a budget, and start paying off my credit card debt. Here's to fiscal sobriety! Note am so mad at dems about nasty attacks on dean. they need to keep their attacks focused on the real bad guy in this election season. have vowed that if i can end the month with a surplus rather than a deficit, i will donate half of that surplus to dean.
2. Keep a clean desk at work. Take care of business as soon as it comes in.
3. Do 25 situps per day since trying to do more than that isn't working out for me at all.

New Years hopes -- out of my control
1. That I get to toast to President Dean next year.
2. That I'm toasting with a hottie who is just as deeply in love with me as I am with him.

Weekend: Miranda, it wasn't the weekend. It was Thursday. :)
Food:
-breakfast: banana
-lunch: lasagna, pear, coke
-dinner: mega salad with lettuce, tomato, spinach, carrots, mushrooms & cheese, ginger ale
(Have tons of soda in house. Should probably pour it down the drain before drink it all.)
Workout: 30 minute run. 45 minute brisk walk after I was too tired to keep running. 25 situps
Notes:

2003-12-31T10:08:00.000-05:00

Wed. Dec. 31, 2003

Miranda's starting weight: 134.5. Not great, but not too worrisome. Just need to continue back on right track.
Food:
breakfast-- bagel, cream cheese, coffee.
lunch-- veggie chili (240 cals), small salsd with tuna (maybe 150 cals)
Holiday Coping: Shanna lee, sorry for my waffling about the party! I would love to go, I'm just super lazy.
Workout: hm, need to get on that.
Notes: What a nice new year is shaping up. Trying to decide what my resolution should be. Any thoughts?

Lulu, you have a lot of info to fill in!

Lulu's starting weight:
Food:
Holiday Coping:
Workout:
Notes:

Shanna Lee's starting weight: 120 (gasp, losing all semblance of muscle tone?)
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries, banana (trying to up fruit & vegetable intake)
-lunch: meatloaf, sweet potato (leftovers as trying to be more fiscally responsible)
-dinner: lasagna, salad, chardonnay (3)
Eating healthy!-thanks, miranda
Holiday Coping:
Workout: did work out! 30 minute run on treadmill plus full upper body weights workout
Notes: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2003-12-30T10:10:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003

Miranda's starting weight: 134. Yikes.
Food:
breakfast-- bagel with cream cheese, coffee.
lunch-- ramen
second lunch -- frozen dinner, 300 cals.
Dinner -- ramen. i know it's bad, but it's so tasty!
Holiday coping: well, I consider the holidays to be behind me now. In more ways than one! I'm AMAZED how quickly I gained two pounds at my parents. That is really impressive. Just goes to show how I gained all that extra weight in the first place: whenever I'm there, I just can't help eating things the way I used to. Now I'm really relishing the idea of going back to my normal food consumption/workout patterns. I feel confident that as long as I go back to my normal ways of being, the weight will slowly disappear as it was doing before.
Workout: Not sure.
Notes: I am so grateful to have nice friends who are actually INTERESTED in what I eat every day, how much I weigh, etc. Sure, it's become fascinating for ME, but it's hardly a topic of broad general interest. Nice to have an interested audience. Also, it's coming to seem normal to me to be interested in the fitness of all my friends ... I find myself tempted to ask too many questions of non-blogging friends ("how many calories do YOU eat in a day??" etc.)

Lulu's starting weight:
Food:
Holiday coping:
Workout:
Notes

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
Breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
Lunch: organic chicken tetrazzini frozen lunch (370 calories)
Dinner: meatloaf, sweet potato, house salad, chardonnay (1), peppermint tea
Holiday coping:
Workout: For sure going to work out tonight after work (before date with cute environmentalist -- yay). Need to lift some weights. Was speed workout. 10 minutes cardio followed by quick weights focusing on lower body as was late for date, which was super fun.
Notes: I find the blog fascinating too. It's like our own little reality show. And it's such a positive reinforcement for good eating behavior. Took time out last night and again at lunch today to work on my finances. Spent $283 eating out since Dec. 15. What is wrong with me?! Feel lucky to have friends who are so interested in self improvement in general and inspiring me to be more frugal or at least track what's going on.

2003-12-29T13:19:00.000-05:00

Monday, Dec. 29, 2003

Miranda's starting weight: 133.5. Looks like I received an extra pound for Christmas!
Food:
breakfast-- bagel with cream cheese, coffee.
lunch-- some kind of chinese chicken; green bean salad; fried rice; piece of pineapple.
dinner -- thai food: my favorite vegetable curry (gang jae).
Holiday coping: Ate quite a bit over Christmas -- all the standard things plus the standard treats I tend to help myself to while at home (thus the extra pound!). This includes Twizzlers, crackers and cheese; cookies, pumpkin pie, etc., etc. Ah, it was all so good though. And I did get two workouts in at my mom's gym. Not too worried about the extra pound. January is coming, and Shanna Lee and I have resolved to batten down our hatches that month, especially with regard to going to the gym.
Workout: Not sure... cleaning the house is getting to be a red-alert priority, so not sure whether I will make it to the gym tonite.
Notes: Hi, nice friends. Hope your holidays were great. mine were very relaxing. My parents gave me a very nice leather jacket -- size 4, and a good fit. I think of this as a celebration of fitness!

Lulu's starting weight:
Food:
Holiday coping:
Workout:
Notes

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
breakfast: oatmeal with raspberries
lunch: chef salad with ham and turkey
snack: gumdrops (errr...oops)
dinner: ribeye steak pasta dish (needed iron), diet coke (2)
Holiday coping: Now that I'm back in DC am coping just fine. No more cookies on plates on the living room table or chocolates in stockings or desserts after dinner. And horrors -- dinners weren't that healthy at home either. Pizza 3 nights in a row. (Chose to have it on first night. Then my sister made it for dinner on night two. Then went to grandmother's house anticipating balanced meal. Harrumph.) Clearly my distaste for cooking is inherited. The good news is my bras fit fine once again. The bad news is that I've definitely gained a pound or two.
Workout:
40 minute morning monument run (my favorite hangover cure). As forgot running shoes when went home, workout options were limited but did take 2 long walks (1 hr each) during the week. Not very good.
Notes

2003-12-24T11:08:00.000-05:00

Tuesday 12/24 It's Christmas Eve Day in the morning!!!!

Miranda's starting weight:
Food:
Holiday Coping:
Workout:
Notes:

Lulu's starting weight: 174.5
Food:
- breakfast: multigrain hot cereal mixed with oatmeal.
- lunch: rice and veggie pilaf and SHOPPING!
Holiday Coping: Only one more day! Yahoo!!
Workout: 40 minutes cardio, 150 situps (done while car was warming up)
Notes: Blogging into oblivion. Miss you guys very much, but very happy that you are with you families for Christmas. Have a great time! I'll be back in the office on Jan. 5.
- inspired by a coworker who made me try on her size 12 pants, I just went out and bought cute new jeans and three cute new shirts. All very little and very adorable! It's amazing to see my body in clothes that fit. I've been so hesitant and nervous about buying new stuff. Guess I just needed a nudge! Thanks to you and blog for being so wonderful in helping me lose all this weight.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-breakfast: no
-lunch: hamburger soup (made by grandmother)
-dinner: pizza
Holiday Coping: Various holiday indulgences during the day. Like 8 Christmas cookies. Arrgh.
Workout: No.
Notes:

2003-12-23T10:56:00.000-05:00

Tuesday 12/23 -- Only one more day until it's Christmas day in the morning!

Miranda's starting weight: 133 . phew, that's more like it!
Food:
breakfast -- bagel with cream cheese, coffee, shot of OJ for the vitamin C. Must not get sick!
Holiday Coping: no kidding around, this time i'm really going to the gym. brought stuff to work, going right after 5:30 tonight.
Workout: planned. will take your advice, lulu, about the weights.
Notes:
--What the heck is buche noel?
--Lulu, you are so, so skinny. Look at that "175." Look at you writing "5, maybe 10 pounds to go." Wow. so, you are thinking now of 165???? You are so, so awesome, I can't help admiring you all the time.

Lulu's starting weight: 175
Food:
- Breakfast: Multigrain hot cereal mixed with one packet oatmeal. Latte. Mmmm!
- Lunch: Seeds of Change creamy spinach lasagna, a few crackers and cheese, three little meringues, a clementine and some nuts. Am officially a bottomless pit. Shit, I think I'm hungry again!
Holiday Coping: Was frenzy of productivity last night. Am preparing a Buche Noel for Christmas Eve dinner with friends, and doing a million other things. Have run out of money in check book, so I think all shopping is now done. Phew! And thank goodness once again for the blog, has been a great workout motivator for me. I'm planning to email the site to me at home so I can log on sometimes while on vacation. (I'll be out of the office from the 25th - 5th.)
Workout:
- 5 minutes cardio warm-up, 50 minutes weights
- 30 minute hilly lunchtime walk to compensate a tiny bit for vast amount of food consumed.
Notes: EUREKA! Miranda, I have found out what it takes to actually feel as skinny as we are. Go lift some weights! Let's you feel your body again and realize how little of it there is left. I feel positively tiny today (while at the same time realizing I have at least 5, maybe 10 pounds to go).
- Hang in there Miranda! Don't get sick and don't get stressed out. Are you crazy with work before you leave? Did you find a home for Gabe? Thank you for you niceness about my weight. You, however, are the inspiration! A BMI of 22 -- holy cow! At 175 I'm still 23.7. I'm so impressed that you are very nearly at the end of the weight loss road. Won't that be an incredible thing! My thoughts on 5-10 lbs more comes from the fact that I definitely have a little belly left and a little on my thighs. Would be great in a regular bathing suit now, but don't feel quite ready for a 2 piece. At 165 I have to think I would be perfect. : ) Plus, then I really could think about a pregnancy without getting higher than I was when I started this odyssey! Not much going on at work today and tomorrow, so forgive my overactive blogging! Am listening to Cake and grooving out.
- Buche Noel: translates to Yule Log. Is a rolled cake decorated to look like a fallen log. Mine comes complete with a little
forest of meringue mushrooms and holly berries. Unbelievably adorable. Just the frosting took me 2 hours to make.
Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-Breakfast: pizza
-Lunch: little tiny sandwiches at Xmas party, veggie platter veggies, pie, brownie, M&Ms, Xmas punch, cookie
-Dinner: pizza
Holiday Coping: Really pigged out as Xmas party. For shame.
Workout: 1 hour walk.
Notes: Too much pizza. Sick of it.

2003-12-22T09:48:00.000-05:00

Monday 12/22

Miranda's starting weight: 131.5. See "freakout" below.
Food:
breakfast: Bagel with cream cheese. coffee.
lunch: chicken with almonds (frozen dinner, 240 cals).
second lunch: bean chili (frozen dinner, 240 cals). roll.
dinner: ramen (my favorite, teriyaki chicken!). Whole plate of edamame, watching the taped finale of "survivor."
Holiday Coping: Help!
Workout: yikes!
Notes:
FREAKOUT! What is up with the scale. I definitely do not feel 10 pounds lighter than when this blog began! I'm starting to get the willies. Keep thinking maybe I am suffering from some obscure weight loss disease. (No, I'm not thirsty all the time, so it can't be adult onset diabetes). Am weirded out. Incidentally, putting "131.5" into the BMI calculator comes up with a BMI of like 22.
--Lulu, you're the best. thanks for your words of encouragement. Also, look at your own skinny self!! I agree, you need new pants. Baggy-in-the-butt is not a motivator. You deserve some new pants and if you CAN"T really afford whatever is in Jackson, I will go to Target and purchase you some awesome dressy work pants for $20 apiece in your new skinny size.

Lulu's starting weight: 176
Food:
- breakfast: special k-type cereal with blueberries, strawberries and almonds mixed with a bit of grapenuts. Lots of water. tea.
- lunch: delicious leftover "stew" of potatoes, onions, apples, wine, bratwurst and apple dumplings. Also three beautiful little meringues with sparkly sugar on top. (I checked while making them, by the way, and meringues are indeed an extremely healthy holiday cookie option. Four egg whites and a cup of sugar makes about 4 dozen cookies depending how big they are. )
- Dinner: (eaten very late) bagel, cream cheese, 2 boiled egg whites, clementine.
Holiday Coping: Only three days 'til Christmas! Yahoooooooooooo!!!
Workout: 50 minutes cardio.
Weekend: Great workout Friday after work - 55 minutes cardio and 40 minutes weights. Nothing over the weekend. Food ok, but definitely into holiday mode -- lots of calories and very little caring! Must try very hard to work out consistently.
Notes: MIRANDA!!! That's so great! I very much doubt that you have some bizarre disease. Rather, I think you have been extremely healthy over the past few months and it is paying off! Stop being freaked out by the scale and just BE HAPPY AND PROUD OF YOURSELF!!! And now go home for Christmas and eat crackers and cheese with abandon! You can afford it!
- Miranda: Thanks! You are the best. I did end up getting up a little bonus from work and am planning to take myself pant shopping after Christmas. There's a Target a couple of hours away in Idaho -- I may end up needing to take a trip there. My hesitation now is being torn between urge to buy and urge to be 5 lbs skinnier before I buy. Thoughts? Perhaps one or two pairs of pants now and more later ...
AM LISTENING TO THE MESSIAH AGAIN AND THINKING MORE OF DORM ROOM CHRISTMASES!
- Thank you for your nice call, Miranda! Great to hear about the weekend and everything else.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
breakfast: Dunkin Donuts egg sandwich with bacon on english muffin
lunch: huge Chinese food buffet
dinner: pizza
Holiday Coping: fudge
Workout: No
Notes: Eating like crap.

2003-12-19T11:22:00.000-05:00

12/19/03

Miranda's starting weight: I think I was 133. Or maybe 132. 5 See "freakout" for Monday.
Food: let's see... I think I had a bagel with cream cheese... frozen dinner (chili, 240 cals), small salad with tuna. Then we got on the bus and ate nothing 'til "z" made us a terrific pasta with veggies at z+ Jan's place. such a nice visit.
Holiday coping: Not coping too well.
Workout: Not working out.
Notes: Not sure what's going on with the scale.

Lovely lulu's starting weight: 177
Food:
- Breakfast: Shredded wheat, coffee.
- Snack: Raisins, clementine, 2 little cookies. : )
- Lunch: Fabulous luncheon at the new Four Seasons here in Jackson. Mind numbing program on the current legislative budget session, but great food, service, etc. Ate caeser salad, roll, pasta with mushrooms and veggies, tons of delicious ice tea, and CHEESE CAKE. I typically dislike cheese cake, but this stuff was wonderful. Got a tour of the facility afterward. It's amazing.
Holiday coping:
Workout: Slept in again. Am planning to go after work, though.
Notes: Am again in full clothing crisis. Every outfit I put on looks dumb. Can't wait to do a tiny bit of shopping after Christmas. Want to at least buy some pants that fit.
- S.L.: How far are these guys getting with you?! At any rate, I'm not convinced that all men understand the subtleties of bra sizing. I think you're fine. Sad about the sleek pants. I'm wearing my nice suede pants today and they are saggy in the ass and keep slipping down. Argh!
- I'll miss you guys! I'm awfully sad not to be able to be there with you. Have a wonderful time and give everyone a squeeze for me.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-breakfast: oatmeal
-lunch: chicken, tomato, mozzarella, basil sandwich (3/4 not hungry enough to eat all), peppermint tea
Holiday coping:
Workout:
Notes: Lulu, I completely understand. Yesterday I was wearing pants that used to be my favorite (I bought them in April). They were so sleek. Now they fall off me and look too big and dumb. Then there are my bras. I'm a little embarrassed to hook up with anyone knowing that I'm wearing them one size too big these days. The guy is going to think I'm a wishful thinker! We're victims of our success!
Speaking of hooking up, I redeemed myself last night with the guy I maimed last week. Had nice, normal, lovely date. Now question is whether or not I'm interested in him. Maybe I'm not. Hmmm.
Lulu, miranda and I are off in a wee bit for nyc. We'll miss you!

2003-12-18T09:55:00.000-05:00

12/18/03

Miranda's starting weight: 133. What the heck!
Food:
breakfast -- bagel, coffee.
Holiday coping: **must finish christmas shopping **
Workout:
Notes:This is positively weird. I don't feel very skinny, yet there is the 133 on the scale. It's creeping me out!

Lovely lulu's starting weight: 175
Food:
- Breakfast: Bagel, cream cheese, cafe americano. All being consumed right now.
- Lunch: Leftover spaghetti and some grapes.
- Snack: Clementine, several tiny christmas cookies with sesame seeds on top.
Holiday coping: Have now had naked Christmas tree taking up half the living room for 4 days. Must get it decorated eventually.
Workout: 50 minutes cardio. Was in car at 6:35 a.m. and didn't get on machine at gym until 7:15 due to frosted interior car windows that still aren't thawed. Think it's from hauling a dripping wet Christmas tree this weekend. Got day off to very frantic start, as had 8:30 meeting to tell first board member that am quitting job. I only cried a little. Gulp.
Notes: On the weight front, the first thing I have to say is THAT'S 25 LBS FOR ME!!!!! Like Miranda, am not feeling particularly skinny or virtuous, but the scale says what the scale says. I'm taking it!
- Forgot to finish earlier thought on Miranda's skinniness. Is very impressive though not at all surprising! And thank you, Shan, for the vote of confidence and support. Am feeling pretty dreadful today as I reflect on what this next few months will be like. Will not be fun.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
-breakfast: giant orange, tea (2), oatmeal
-lunch: 1/3 salad with ex-boyfriend, granola bar, cranapple juice, tea (2)
-snack: 2 stone wheat crackers
-dinner: lebanese lamb in yoghurt sauce, chardonnay (1)
Holiday coping:
Yes, Miranda, I have your present but propose that we exchange after Christmas as do not want to lug it to NY. (And you don't want to lug it back either.) Other than than, I'm so behind in my shopping.
Workout:
Notes:
Miranda, you are skinny, you. WOW Lulu -- amen to hard work and persistence. Great job! And good for you for sucking it up and telling everyone about your departure. You are a shining example of integrity adn I love you for it.

2003-12-17T12:48:00.000-05:00

12/17/03

Miranda's starting weight: 135
Food:
breakfast -- bagel with cream cheese. Got coffee, but got busy, and it got cold.
lunch -- 240 cal. chicken-with-peanut sauce frozen dinner. supplemented with some popcorn.
Workout:none planned! this is out of control, I haven't worked out since saturday. but still no plans to do that. Bad holiday coping!
Holiday coping: Bad!
Notes: I have lulu's XMas present here on my desk ....!

Lovely lulu's starting weight: 178.5
Food:
- Breakfast: Wheaties, oj.
- Lunch: HUGE LUNCH! Beef, potato, veggie soup. Leftover cheese and crackers from meeting. Bunch grapes, 2 clementines.
- Snack: Handfull chocolate covered almonds. Want coffee too. There isn't any. Miranda, could I have your leftover coffee from this morning??? Am so damn tired.
Workout: Nope. Slept in. Am lazy bum.
Holiday coping: HELP!!!! Have become bottomless pit. Several handfull's of chocolate covered almonds, a melty mint and some nuts. Can't be stopped. Need reinforcement!
Notes: Went to dentist this morning to have a couple of old fillings replaced. Am now unable to pronounce any hard consonants. Kinda funny, kinda sad.
- Mouth recovered. Did have hilarious moment trying to say word "implement". Also had fortune of baby talking to Lynne Cheney's assistant around a numb tongue. I just continue to impress those people at every turn.
- Shanna Lee: FEAR NOT! I just stuck your communal present in the mail yesterday. Miranda's must be out-going.
HANG IN THERE YOU GUYS!!! SLEEP, DE-STRESS and GET HEALTHY!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Shanna Lee's starting weight
Food:
-Breakfast: banana, oj
-Lunch: pasta primavera, herbal tea (4)
-Dinner: cream of mushroom soup, tea (2), chicken quesadillas (2)
Workout:
Does excessive coughing count? Am sick. Am also stressed.
Holiday coping:
Notes: Love to both of you. Wait, methinks that Lulu's Christmas present is meant to be opened together. Sounds like fun! Yay!
Have date tomorrow with the guy I maimed last week. Hurray to second chances. Wish however that had someone to practice kissing with tonight. Suppose I could hook up at bar but rather not. Suppose I bite him again. Worse yet, suppose I cough, snot, or snort all over him. Will focus on feeling better by tomorrow.

2003-12-15T11:08:00.000-05:00

Miranda's starting weight: 134. this is silly!
Food:
breakfast -- bagel with cream cheese, coffee.
lunch -- bagel with peanut butter and jelly. Diet coke. Notice all these food items are free at my work.
Workout:
Holiday coping:
Notes: Security alert: We have really got to start thinking about this. Remember the college friend with whom I ate in steve's park diner some weeks ago? This friend googled herself and found the blog, where I had stupidly put her full name. (She was like, "wow, you guys are really serious about this health thing!"). I think "bob" is right. we need security. Thinking about signing up for paid blog services and password-protecting the blog. Thoughts?

Weekend: one workout: 35 minutes cardio, weights, abs. Ate moderately. SAMPLED A PIECE OF ELK. long story.

Lovely lulu's starting weight: 177
Food:
- Breakfast: Twig cereal, water.
- Snack: Raisins, honey wheat pretzels.
- Lunch: Amy's enchilada casserole thing, raisins, clementine.
- Dinner: Crackers, cheese, cookies, grapes, bowl of cereal. All available at long board meeting except the cereal. Ate that at 10:00.
Workout: 35 minutes cardio
Holiday coping: Blog got me to work out this morning! Would have preferred to sleep and/or wrap christmas presents, but went to work out and it felt great. Yeah me! (Caution: see yesterday to understand urgency of working out.)
Notes: Sorry guy! Now it's my turn to be the slacker. After taking Friday off with Amy I got pulled into an all day conference yesterday at the last minute. As for securing the blog, I'm not too worried about it. We'll just have to be more careful about using no real names.
WAY TO GO MIRANDA!!! 134 IS SO SKINNY!!! AND WAY TO GO SHANNA LEE!!! YOU ARE SHOWING GREAT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY!!!
(p.s. elk, Miranda? I actually must confess to cooking a buffalo pot roast on Sunday. Also long story.)
Am I posting on the right day?

Shanna Lee's starting weight
Food:
-Breakfast: oatmeal with blueberries, oj, tea
-Lunch: lentil soup, crackers, cheese, grape juice, apple juice
Workout:
Just a sad walk to the pharmacy.
Holiday coping:
Notes: Was sick. What happened to Tuesday, girls? Also not too worried about privacy. Just need to not use names.
Weekend: Went for a run on Saturday. Yay! And then a half-hour walk. And this was all while working on my budget and for last four days have been itemizing all of my expenses. And ordered salad with my burger at dinner that night. Although must admit that did have choc. cake for breakfast on Sat. morning. But then on Sunday was sooo sick. And sad.

2003-12-12T10:53:00.000-05:00

Miranda's starting weight: 135 (though the scale also did say 134 -- twice!)
Food:
breakfast -- bagel with cream cheese. coffee.
lunch -- bagel with peanut butter and jelly. diet coke. Does anyone see a theme here?
Workout: none planned
Holiday coping:
Notes: cannot call my soul my own these days. Lulu, i apologize especialky to you (since shanna lee was out of the office yesterday anyway) for my absence on the blog. i will try to fill in the info -- just am so, so, so strapped for time at work these days. heading out to VT tonight to see bob. how are things there?

Lovely Lulu's starting weight: 177
Food:
- Breakfast: Clementine, grapes, half piece lemon raspberry coffee cake.
- Lunch: Chinese salad.
- Dinner: Two pieces pizza and salad.
Workout: 50 minutes cardio.
Holiday coping: BAAAAAAAADDDDDDD!!!!!!! Plates of holiday cookies kept getting passed around during the retreat and I kept taking them! I probably ate 10 cookies yesterday!!!! I tried to choose several meringues as the healthier, lower cal option, but god! It was horrible. And then went to boss' house to stuff holiday packages for board members and submitted to pizza dinner. Ugh.
Notes: Weekend in Review: Generally low calorie, though also somewhat sparse on workouts. Don't think I worked out at all on Saturday. Sunday went christmas tree hunting in snow up to my waist. Very fun and very cardio-intense. Went up a crazy slope, found the perfect tree, hacked it down and hurled ourselves back down the hill. Ahh, I just love that kind of thing.

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
--breakfast: oatmeal with two tbsp sugar
--lunch: ham, mac & cheese, sweet potato, stuffing (leftovers from holiday party)
Workout:
Holiday coping:
Notes:

2003-12-11T11:10:00.000-05:00

Miranda's starting weight: 134.5
Food:
breakfast -- bagel with cream cheese, coffee
lunch -- pasta, salad
dinner -- rice, fajita, cranberry juice, tiny piece of apple pastry
Workout: none except for playing this intense boxing video game at the dept. outing to an arcade. in this game, you had to duck the punches of this video guy, and punch him by jabbing toward the screen with these heavy gloves on. my office mate and i both exhausted ourselves trying to punch the video man. catherine thinks she pulled a muscle in her leg, and i got severe acid reflux from doing this just after eating fajita
Holiday coping:
Notes: love you guys. sorry i am so busy!!

Lovely Lulu's starting weight: Not sure, refused to step on possessed scale (had a dream that it read 189, which freaked me out!!!) and didn't go to gym.
Food:
- Breakfast: Juice and tea so far. Will go find some food. (Ended up with yogurt and a granola bar)
- Lunch: Frozen rice, veggie, tofu stirfry. (340 cals) Will probably also eat clementine.
Workout: Nope. Woke up feeling under the weather again. Opted for additional sleep.
Holiday coping:
Notes: I'm off tomorrow with my friend Amy to make breakfast and go Christmas shopping - a wonderful annual tradition. Am hoping to finish everything up and get it in the mail this weekend!
WHERE ARE YOU GUYS???

Shanna Lee's starting weight:
Food:
--breakfast: two cups black tea with sugar and cream
--lunch: 2/3 spinach black bean burrito
--dinner: Office Holiday dinner: veggies, green beens, sweet potato casserole, mac & cheese, ham, 1 glass chardonnay
Workout: No. That's bad part of holiday coping.
Holiday coping: V. proud of self as had second dinner party after holiday party (to celebrate friend's birthday) and decided that they wanted me for my company not how much i could eat so explained had just eaten and didn't eat again. Saved both calories and money.
Notes:
Was at all day immigrants' rights conference. Sorry Lulu!