Teri Parris Ford's Blog

A Fine Friday

Today was another great day-- gorgeous out side and pretty nice inside. We had visitors from Edgewood's art ed program. I gave them a tour of our department and then school. I made copies of the backyard sheet for our lunch meeting during the tour. I met with student government during the lunch hour and got in a quick photo shoot of the sophomore officers after our meeting. Elections for next year's officers are next week. This years officers did such a great job but they are still nervous about being re-elected. I'm in the awkward situation of being both the mother of the kid running for the junior class president and the advisor of the junior officers. I normally stay out of the process. Well, I more than slightly biased this year.

After school Balt and I went for our walk and then my husband took me out for dinner. I got vegetable fajitas with corn tortillas-- I couldn't eat even half of what was served. I brought the left overs home for another day. I'm not quite half way through my vegan challenge and while I'm convinced it's a healthy way to live, I'm not convinced I can eat this way forever. I purchased "silk" creamer, a soy alternative to half and half. It was disgusting. I couldn't drink my coffee with beads of palm oil floating on top of it-- too gross and I'm positive it isn't more healthy than half and half. 

Peanut Butter in my Belly

I'm surviving because of peanut butter. I had plan coffee this morning and realized that now that it's getting warm, I'll just pass on it altogether. I'd rather have a diet coke or iced tea than black coffee. My cereal taste great with rice milk, so no complaints there. Yesterday I had steal cut oats with apple and that was great too. Lunch for the past two days has been a peanut butter sandwich with bit of honey and I love it. I eat a grapefruit as well and am stuffed. Dinner has consisted of soups with bread... but I'm not sure how sustainable this is for my life. It seems the basis of a vegan diet is grain and legums. I'm not sure I'm going to lose weight on that.

The paper got finished and posted today. I met with student leaders during lunch to discus backyard sheet, Friday's meeting and Prom. My juniors sold nearly 300 tickets now which only leaves 200 for tomorrow and we'll have a good showing. After school I met with the technology committee to discuss a grant for the school. I checked out a bit early to pick up Balt, then Monika and meet up with Jessi, who'd gone to swimming. We had dinner together and ran errands. It was a balmy evening and kind of fun being out and about. Erika was waiting once we got home. I made her a quesidilla, caught up and then she was gone again. Now that she's well, we only see her once every couple of days agian. I kind of feel like tonight is the calm before the storm... it's only get crazier.

The Highlight of the Day

I saw a facebook post over spring break that said, "Is it wrong that mealtime is the highlight of my day?" I know the person was a kindred spirit. The highlight of my school day is lunch of course, as it is for most every one of my students. I used to go out to eat a lot early on as a teacher at JMM. There are so many options so close by. BUT those days are gone. Although I'm constantly dieting and budgeting, what keeps me in are lunch meetings 3 times a week. Monday I meet with my class officers, Wednesday I meet with student governement leadership and Friday I meet will backyard reps. Tuesday and Thursday I try to get in the pool but that gets interupted with meetings also.  

These days I'm keeping a diet of 1200 calories and am down 10 pounds since starting nearly 2 months ago. Calorie counting offers  some flexibility-- I can shoot my wad all at once or spread it out thin all day. Today I was very hungry for dinner but only had 400 calories left for the day. Vegitable stir fry from Chins is about 300 calories and brown rice is about 100. I was stuffed and still had 47 calories left for my day. I admit there are plenty of days I go over, but I try to balance them off with days like today when I keep it under. I'm learning that I don't need to do anything crazy. Some have told me that 1200 calories is very low but my metabolism is just that slow. I can't lose wieght unless I keep it that low, even with exercise. Food taste so good when I'm hungry. An orange for my mid-day snack keeps my energy up and oranges are feel alot better than chocolate after I'm done eating. 

After school was just crazy time. I ran a few errands, picked up Jess from track and took her to swim, then picked up Monika from soccer, ran an errand with her quickly before having to pick up Jessi from swimming. We went to Chins for dinner and then popped into Old Navy to get 40% off (today only). I got home after 8pm exhausted and it's another late night!

Easter Sunday

We had a wonderful holiday. I woke up early and started working on breakfast and dinner. I snapped a picture of my husband's handiwork with the Easter baskets. Once I had everything together, I took Balt for his morning walk and then off to a yoga class. We had an early dinner (or late lunch). All three girls were home. Erika had been scheduled to work but after going was sent home and told she would be called if it got busy-- it didn't. After our meal we all sat around together, reading and napping. We watched Kicking & Screaming (2005). I took Balt for another walk and spent some time on an essay I had started earlier in the week. 

We watched a documentary on food, Forks Over Knives (2011). Both my husband & I are struggling with middle-aged middle section weight gain. We had recently started doing a high-protien diet, but this documentary advocated for a whole-food, vegan diet not only to loose weight but reverse health problems and prevent cancer. I must say this is not the first time I have heard this message. It is a compelling documentary with amazing documentation on real reasons to give up not only meat but dairy, but oh, so hard to think that that is what we need to do.

Tuesday?

I was out the door by 7am and got home after 8pm. Today was one of those days that was long, semi-productive, but left me exhausted. I made a cup of tea with a little cream and was out cold before finishing it. When I dropped Balt off at daycare, they noticed his smell right away. I asked if they might take care of it and when I picked him up, I paid for the $14 bath and could still smell a bit of "bog" on him. After school I met with my newspaper kids and got dinner for everyone. Monika had soccer and then a parent meeting that she just texted info & q's to me. Monika was made captain of her team which made the disappointment of not making varsity not so bad. She's now in charge of getting warm ups for the team. Jessi had track and her ACT class. All 3 of us were weary from the day when we got home. 

The best thing about the day was that I finally weighed myself. I rarely do anymore as I feel that I start getting obsessive with it, so I leave it. That's how 20 pounds can creep on me after several months. At the end of Febrauary I started counting calories with the help of a phone ap. I'm 8 pounds lighter a month later. I still have 12 more pounds to get down before feeling a bit more "normal" which is about 15 pounds more than I want to be but now I know I'm progressing -- 2  pounds a week is good progress. 

Not quite Friday

Today had a Friday feeling, but it wasn't. I was tired and hungry for much of the day. I decided I would not go out and buy anything for my diet, instead I'm finishing up all the leftovers-- turkey for dinner is pretty healthy. Yesterday, I had a cup of pineapple that was a good 4 months old and cottage cheese on the verge of going bad, but not bad. Today I had a yogurt, not that old but with a granola bar that was about 3 months old. I've finished the chocolate protien and now working on the vanilla. I might call this one the "don't-buy-any-new- food-to-go-on-a-diet" diet. 

I have had a list of about 10 things to do this week and I've able to knock about 2 a day off the list. It's been slow going and had thought about taking a day off to get it all done. It seems silly to take a day off work in order to get work done for work, but I won't have to. I haven't made it to a yoga class all week as a result, but I'm kind of giving my feet a break. I'm still getting a walk in with Balt both in the morning and the evening. Tonight I rushed out to get walking before snow was forcast to fall but other than a couple of flakes, it didn't materialize. It still has been very cold all week. It's totally hot chocolate weather. 

At work kids are transitioning from metal into glass in my afternoon classes. My first stained glass ornaments are getting done. It's been a fun transition. I got a new camera so I snapped a few pics in my class. Also this evening I took Jessi finally to get her hair chemically stripped (of chlorine mostly), deep conditioned  and cut. She hasn't had it done since last year and it was starting to look very snarly. Tomorrow's her first basketball game and I want her to look pretty out there. I'm not sure I'm going to get to see her play as I have to work the hockey game. I'm trying to get someone to trade with me as I'd hate to miss out on seeing her play for the first time this season, but I know there'll be plenty of opportunity.
 

Running

I wish I could run on empty, but I can't. I seem to always find time eat, no matter how much running around I do. I had a newspaper club meeting this morning at 7:30am. I have been bringing donuts to these meetings and even with one sugar donuts left at the end, I didn't even have to smell it. Not that I didn't want it, I just refused to let it tempt me. My "no sugar for a month" diet has been cheated on, but in general, I'm doing fairly well. I've learned to snack on salty foods instead. 

My classes are great, but the energetic ones keep me on my toes. That's not bad. I had an appointment today to have Balt assessed for daycare and he passed. I signed him up for 2x a month-- at $22 a day, I thought it would be a nice treat for him in the winter months especially. After school, I had to take Monika shopping and make some purchases for Jessi before taking Balt out on his walk but it did happen. It was a beautiful evening, but very brisk-- below 50. 

It's easy to love vegetables in the summer!

I made a broccoli salad today. I had a couple of bunches that were starting to bloom, so I needed to eat it all up fast. The broccoli slaw recipe I had used ramen noodles, so that was a no go. I found other recipes with mayo and I can't do that either. I finally found this recipe that I love:Chopped up broccoli heads with stems, Red onion chopped up, Chopped pecans, Raisins, Apple vinegar cider and oil- I used walnut oil. I threw in some soy sauce and ginger just to spice it up a bit more. I loved this salad. I ate some for lunch and dinner-- it was quite filling.

With a high of 95 & 80% humidity, it's even too hot for the pool, but it's never too hot for hot yoga. With all of my fruit and veggies I'm eating, I knew it would be a good time to detox, so I did a Bikram set at noon. I sweat so much my face hurt from the constant pouring out of liquid. I got a little shaky, knowing my plum-grapefruit smoothie for breakfast was not enough. I feel frustrated at times that after a solid year of yoga practice,inconsistently consistent as it is, I still feel like a beginner at times. I still struggle with balance and strength--made worse because of my feet. Still, I left today invigorated

The Ford is in the shop so I had to do a little extra picking up and dropping off today. I don't mind it at all, and sometimes wish we could go back to being a one car family, but I know others are much more bothered than I am.  Monika had a school planning meeting today and Jessi is working all week at her pool. I decided to go to Costco for dinner. I was craving strawberries and I could get a roasted chicken and cheese pizza for the family. Everyone was happy. I made a strawberry lemonade for dessert. Heaven.

Summer; Week 8, Day 1

There's only 4 full weeks left of summer but next week both Jessi and Moni have tryouts for their sports, so the school year will feel like it's starting then. I have a long list of things to do to get ready for the school year and while there's plenty of time to get it all done, it's still not quite the way I really want to spend the end of summer. 

I had two big projects today I needed to deal with: 1, get my computer fixed and 2, figure out what my new August diet will be. I started with iced coffee this morning and decided not to eat anything until I knew what the plan was. In the mean time after I walked Balt I ran into school. I made the rounds talking with Joe, Geof, the custodian and finally the computer tech. I was lucky he was available (he showed me the stacks of computers he needed to deal with while he was looking at my laptop). God bless him, he spent about half an hour with me explaining that I had overheated my motherboard badly. Luckily after a day of cooling off, it started right up for him. He installed a gadget to note the temperature of my cpu on my desktop and told me to get a fan lap pad to use under the machine, especially when I use it on my lap. It had kept me nice and toasty during the winter, but this summer heat literally killed it. 

That left me with my diet. I have found I need to have limits or else I get myself into trouble when it comes to food. I had thought of doing a liquid fast, but I have a lot of Wisconsin grown organic vegetables that need to be eaten and I don't like cold liquid vegetables-- it's way too hot for soup. Melissa told me about a movie called "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead" where a guy from Australia completely overhauls his health by juicing. I love juicing, but not the way that pulls out pulp (fiber). I have a juicer that I never use, instead I use a blender. I need fiber and the more the better.By noon I was starving and wanted to get to an afternoon yoga class so I threw a grapefruit and plum into the blender with ice and lemon and made a nice fruit juice to get by. I wanted a diet I could do all month, not just a couple of days. Juicing would not be enough. So I'm doing all friut, nuts and vegies (no beans, no grains). I am allowing milk in my morning coffee, but no other dairy, esp cheese! I allow olive oil for sauting vegies and salads. For dinner I made a sauted zuccini, onion and tomatos. It was delicious. I made a cucumber salad for desert. Day one was a grand success!