Menu Plan • May 31st

It’s been a minute. But I woke up this morning in our new home, with my whole family under one roof and it just feels perfect. It feels good to be taking up some space here too. And that also means I need to get back on track. With the blog, with the menus…with life.  Can I just say that 2 weeks in a hotel and another 2 weeks in the house with out a fridge, was quite challenging. The proof is in my hips. HELLO!

When I say that our lives have been completely turned upside down over the past few weeks I am not being dramatic. I have so much I want to share but I’m going to try to break it all down so I’m not just dropping it all at your feet in one day. Today is about food so let’s just stick with that. 

When it comes to getting our weekly menus together, almost always have a little help.  I ask the guys for suggestions and am always blown away at their responses.  They will give me a few lighter healthier dishes and then throw in something heavy.  This week 2 out of 3 suggested pasta.  Well Anthony asked for pasta and David suggested Shrimp Alfredo. Alex only ever suggests the same 2 things.  Lumpia and Arroz con Pollo. Not this week son!  I threw in Mushroom chicken as my meat meal for the week because it is my comfort food and something tells me I’m gonna need a pick me up come mid week.  Lots of changes happening.  Here is what all made the cut this week

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Doctor Diaries: January Follow Ups

OK,  It has been one hell of a week.  But it's almost over.  And then we are starting all over again, but I will gladly take a few days of no doctors.  I need to breath.  And plan.  And process everything this week has thrown at me.  I also need to stay off the Googles until I have an actual diagnosis or at least some more answers.

I usually kick the year off with a bang.  I try to get as many of my follow ups over with for the first half of the year.  Most are 4-6 months apart so it works. Lab work is more often.  Usually monthly if everything is good.  Sometimes its weekly or every couple of days when it is really off.  This week it was labs for 2 doctors and 2 doctor visits.  And it went a little something like this.

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Oh Friday!

Am I the only one around here just dying for summer to be here already.  The past few weeks it seems like everything just got harder.  Waking up, cleaning, homework, cooking, sleeping... I could go on and on.  Its like a race to a finish line that seems to be moving farther away.  Its not really, I'm just being dramatic.

Anyways, its Friday again and I am so excited.  I'm not really sure why yet, but not having to get up at 6am sounds like a nice place to start. Tomorrow will be interesting.  The AC on the van is out, so its going to the shop.  I am going to be volunteering at an event for the soccer team. Concessions anyone.  That should be fun, I think.  And I have jumped back on the healthy eating train.  Which I fell off of a while back.  Got stuck on a wheel and just kept going around and around.  Horrible.

Yesterday I decided to join some friends who are doing a health challenge.  Guess what.  Mom made a bucket full of cookies the day before, my sister baked a double chocolate cake and we got some chocolate flan from my friend.  She got it from her neighbor after I have given her half a cake and some cookies so they would be out of my house.  Now a 1/4 of that flan is in my fridge. Lord help me.  This is the exact reason why I never buy snacks and sodas.  If they are there, I can't resist.  The sodas that my mom bought last week are finally gone.  And while I am not usually a chocolate person, the cake was really good.  I had a few bites off the boys slice.  Hangs head in shame.  I do have to admit, I am not one to just cut things out.  I'm more of a healthy proportions and snacks kinda girl.  When I deny myself things, I only want them more.

Hopefully sometime this weekend we will be able to get out for a good long walk with the dog.  Maybe explore some of the trails behind our community.  I've always wondered whats back there.  I also checked out some more cookbooks from the library, so grocery shopping on Sunday will be fun.  Pretty much the plan for the weekend is to move more and eat less junk.  And the fact that I am excited about that means only good things will come of it!

Anyone have any plans for the weekend?  Its been cold here the past 2 days so fingers are crossed for warm air and sunny skies! Have a great one!

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There's an app for that! Part 2 #HAWMC

Day 10. Favorites

Write about your favorite health iPhone app? Today’s post was recommended by Lori of http://misdiagnosedme.wordpress.com/

Team Android here. Just saying.  There are a few apps that I use daily. Or try to.  The past few weeks were rough but I'm hoping that by the weekend I will be back to myself again.  And that means back to my apps.

This is what my home screen looks like.  The top four apps are my "healthy" apps.   Pay no attention to the second row.  That's the fun stuff!

First up is Daily Miler.  I use this app as a bridge to update my Daily Mile page.  I usually set a goal for the month and this is just a way to track them.  You can also log in online and enter in route you ran or rode. Plus you can add friends and find a ton of inspiration to keep you moving forward.  

C25K.  I'm sure many have heard of this before.  Its also called couch to 5k.  I stopped at week 5 but now that I shared that with yall, I am going to go for a run after I post this!

My Fitness Pal.  I love this app.  I keep track of everything I eat and drink.  Its very often that I enter something that isn't in there already.  And you can just scan the bar codes to enter things too.  At the end of the day you can see how you did. How many calories, fat, carbs and what not you ate.  I recommend this app all the time.  And you can log in online too.  

Fooducate.  I didn't think I was going to keep this one at first but the more I used it the more I fell in love.  Even my boys ask me when we shop to scan their snacks and see its grade.  Its so easy!  Scan the bar code and find out the information.  Its graded A-F.  It tells you why something is good or not good and even gives you an alternative.  Love it.

What are you favorite health apps.  Or any app for that matter.  I am an app-addict!  First step is to admit it...

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Its been a while...

I have been so busy trying to settle into our new routine that its gotten a little dusty around here.  But I'm back and things are about to change.  I have so much to share, but trying to find the time to sit and write it out is proving hard  to do. Today is an off day and I am planting my butt down and getting a few posts knocked out...hopefully.

How do soccer moms (or any sport parents) get anything done?  Last weekend we had games both Saturday and Sunday.  Practice is Monday and Wednesday from 6-7:30.  We are late dinner eaters, so on practice days we eat super early so that everything can settle before Ant goes running around.  And of course by the time we get home, its past bedtime and he is starving again.  I swear these boys would eat the walls of this house if they could.  Growing boys have big appetites.  My 4 year old polished off 2 apples and a snack pack of cheerios the other day and still ate dinner.  Tell me my boys aren't the only ones who eat like this!

I'm still trying to figure out if its a positive or negative but David's hours finally got cut back and OMG he has been home before bedtime every day last week.  Life is so much easier with him going in a little later and coming home in time to see the boys before they go to bed.   But his hours have been pretty much cut in half.   So there's the negative.  I'm not sure how we will manage, but in his words "We will figure it out!"

Last week a high school friend of mine asked me if I would be willing to Skype with her college class and do a Q&A kind of thing with her students who are currently studying hematology.  I reminded her of how awful I was at doing things like this back in school and she reassured me it wouldn't be so bad.  I'm excited and nervous all in one.  I keep asking myself what could they possible want to know.  I guess I will find out on Thursday!

I was horrible about menu planning this week.  That explains why there was no post yesterday.  I'm keeping it really simple this week with some quick family favorites.

Monday- Spaghetti and Salad
Tuesday- Spanish Rice, Chicken, Beans and Salad!
Wednesday- Tacos using leftovers from Tuesday.
Thursday- Lady and Sons Porkchops, sweet potatoes and corn on the cob
Friday- Its Good Friday, and David is off so I didn't plan anything yet...

And now I'm calling it a night.  Its been a long tiring day and I have a feeling tomorrow is not going to be any different.  Here's to a great Wednesday!  Much love

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Whats a girl gotta do for a run around here?!

This year I committed to getting healthy.  And I admitted to my commitment issues.  January I spent a lot of time thinking it all out.  What I needed to do.  What I wanted to do.  How committed I could be and how to keep my commitments.  Wow, that's a lot of C words for someone with issues. So this month I decided to get my butt in gear.

I started counting my calories again.  And I also started walking/running again. I downloaded the C25K app and started on the 1st of the month.  Two weeks in, no budge on the scale, but I was feeling great!  My stress and anxiety were at an all time low.  I was calmer and less snappy.  Just all around better.

Week one was pretty smooth.  Run one minuet and walk one and a half.  Week 2 was harder, but manageable.  I had figured out my breathing.  The hardest part was trying to figure out how fast or slow to go.  Of course being on a treadmill in the garage isn't ideal, but I'm not comfortable yet with running in public.  On the last day of week 2 I slowed down my run and sped up my walk a little bit.  I also find that running on an incline is less awkward.

I noticed some pain in my ankle on the first day of week two but figured it was just because I was finally using them again!  That day, after my timed run was over, I decided to stop.  The past few runs I kept going a mile or 2 more.  I took a rest day. The second day of week 2 was hard.  Then came day 3.  Half way though the run, I called David, yes on the phone, from the garage.  I figured if I stopped to switch shoes, I wouldn't come back out and finish it.  So he brought out my other pair of sneakers out, I switched shoes and jumped back on.  By the time I was finished, I could not put my foot flat.  What the heck did I do!

Now its been 5 days of no running and I am dying here.  I'm angry and upset.  I still cant walk with my foot flat.  I have been putting my weight on the outer part of my foot.  And of course that has me hurting clear up to my knee.  I've stretched and rubbed. Heated and cooled.  I'm trying to think back if I have ever had this problem.  Bad knees, yes, but never my ankle.  Great...

No running and only light walking and the pain is still there.  I did run a little bit at the park yesterday but stopped when I realized I was running on the side of my foot.  Better not make things worse right?!  I think it might be because of my flat feet and my need of proper running shoes.  The shoe problem I can fix, but there isn't much I can do about my feet.  But I will be back at it again soon.  Even if I have to start this program all over again.  I will.  Because running has been better than any medication I have been given to help me sleep and calm my anxiety.  And its cheaper than therapy.  But mostly because I really enjoy it.

Someone told me that maybe I'm just not meant to be a runner.  I think I'm meant to be what ever I want to be.  So even if I have to take another week off, I will get better and keep on trucking.  I may not be as fast as you.  And I'm sure as heck not going as far as you, but I do what I can and that is enough for me.

Have any of you done the C25K?  Did you finish it?  What was your hardest week?  I was nervous about week three, but now I am super excited for it.

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Im back

I haven’t written in a while. Things have been more than the usual crazy. So many things going on. So many prayers sent. None answered. But I keep telling myself to have faith. That’s all I can do now. I don’t know all the details, but I know my family needs prayers.

As hard as this week will be, I’m ready for it. I used up all my excuses and pity last week. This week I’m putting my happy face back on. You know, the one that hides the pain and sadness so well. Should be interesting to see what the therapist has to say this week. Speaking of doctors, this week I see my hematologist too. Next week I have my Liver Clinic appt. And I really home my regular Dr. is there.

I also fell off the exercise train. Fell off and run over by is more like it. But it’s a new week and I’m jumping back on. I did stick to my cooking at home goal. Yay me. It felt good to know what I was making each day. I watched my serving sized and didn’t have any second servings. I did get a little chocolate happy which is quite odd because Im not a big chocolate person. We did grocery shopping today and I am set for the week. Lots of veggies and only a few processed things. I’m juts not ready to make my own hamburger buns yet.
I don’t know what I am making each day, because Ill be cooking around my Drs appointments. But here's what we are having.


Chicken strips and fries. By making these from scratch I will be cutting out about 300mg of sodium. The calorie count does go down but only by a little.

Sloppy Joes. This is another thing I started making at home. The boys love this stuff but there is no more Manwich here. Again the calories don’t go down a whole bunch, but the sodium about 300mg again! The recipe I have calls for ketchup and tomato paste, so I will use the no sodium kinds.

Chicken Roll ups are a fajita of sorts. Boneless Skinless thighs with bell peppers, seasoned and wrapped in a tortilla. Good stuff. I skip the tortilla because if I don’t then I want cheese on it and that plus the tortilla is a little to much sodium and calories for me.

Pork Tenderloin. Yes I know it was on my menu last week, but we ended up with leftovers one night, so I have carried this over to this week. Not sure if I will stick with the same recipe or not, but yeah.


I love short weeks. Especially when both my boys are sick. Stupid weather. Anthony got soaked when they were leaving Monster Jam last weekend and my this morning, both boys are coughing and congested. Should make for a fun week. I guess I better get to cooking. I started this post last night, fell asleep, wrote a little more this morning, went to get Ant from school, and now I’m tired of writing. 

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You are what you eat

So I'm on my way to getting healthy. I cant believe it took getting sick to realize just how important even the littlest things like reading labels is to our health. After my consult with the dietitian at the Liver Clinic, I came home and read the labels of everything. I am so beyond shocked at what I found.

Ive decided to give myself some time to adjust into things. Its quite hard for me because we are living with my In Laws and I don't do the majority of the cooking. And what is served isn't always the best choice for me. And I cant ask that my mother in law cater to my new diet, even if we could all benefit from it. So its going to take some planning ahead for me. But its what I have to do, so its going to get done. The hard part for me is that I love food. Ill try just about anything. Although there isn't much I haven't eaten already. Growing up, my father was the one cooking. He refused to buy us sodas and junk food. We didn't have table salt, only Hawaiian rock salt. And we hardly ever ate fried foods. Of course once I was out of the house that changed. Working long hours made take out and prepared foods a favorite. Processed food is the devil. It's time for a change.

The main goals for me are...

Sticking to a low sodium diet. To much sodium causes the body to retain excess fluid that can collect in your legs, belly and even in your lungs. That means less than 2000mg. One tea spoon of salt contains 2000-2400mg of sodium. The typical American diet averages 6000-8000. So if I were to have 2 Hot pockets and a soda for lunch, I'm pretty much done for the day.

The second goal is to watch the amount of protein I eat. To much protein means my liver will have to work overtime to process it. My dietitian said that I should not be eating more that 6 ounces of cooked red meat a week.  That's 1 or 2 meals depending on what it is exactly.  Have I mentioned that I'm a steak and potatoes kinda girl?  When I asked what to do when we have steaks for dinner and Ive already had my red meat for the week...she suggested I have a boiled egg or 2.  I about fell out of my chair.  But hey, what do I know? 

And of course the other thing, that is to be expected is exercise.  Which is maybe harder than a diet.  Because of my liver, its hard to do most just about anything that strains my core.  All my doctors suggested walking or swimming.  Walking is a tough one, because as much as I would love to do it, the pain that hits me afterwards is killer.  And I'm not a big fan of the swollen ankles that come along with it.  So swimming it is.  But I need to find a suit first.  No better excuse to shop than for good health right :)

How much sodium do you eat a day?  Do you have a salt shaker on the table?  Anyone have any tips to lowering your sodium?  Id love to hear them.  Until then, here's to a healthier me.  And you :)

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