Oh no problem. I'm happy to make suggestions.

This time of year I don't want to cook much either - it makes the house so hot. I tend to grill a lot in the summer to keep the heat outside. I live in Georgia and so I totally understand the heat and humidity thing.

Let's see ... I just got back from the grocery store and here's what I bought for snacks for this week.

Grapes - I love them plain, but in the summer I LOVE frozen grapes. Just wash and dry a handful and throw them in the freezer in a plastic container or a ziploc bag. They're soooo good when you're really hot. They're also good thrown in drinks in place of ice ... and then you can eat them after you finish your drink.

Watermelon - I could eat an entire watermelon by myself. Another thing you can do with watermelon (and this sounds weird, but you GOTTA try it) is cut up your watermelon in bite sized pieces and mix it with crumbles of feta cheese. The feta is a really salty cheese with a tangy flavor and when you mix the sweetness of the watermelon and the salty/tangyness of the feta, it's so good. Chill it well and then serve it with just a sprinkle of pepper.

Radishes - I am a HUGE radish fan and they're at the best in the summer. I could just sit and eat them whole, washed and sprinkled with a little salt. But another really great way to eat them is to slice them as thin as you can, sprinkle them with a little pepper and use them to top crackers and cheese. I will spread some laughing cow cheese (it's the only low fat type of cheese that I like) on a wasa cracker and then put a whole bunch of thinly sliced radish over the top. They add a crispy crunchy spiciness that I love.

Grape tomatoes - especially if you can get them from a farmers market, but even the grocery store ones are pretty good in the summer. I don't like the "pop" when I bite into them whole (I'm weird that way) but I will cut a bunch of them in half, drizzle with a little olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper ... so good.

On the same note, you can make a sort of caprese salad with grape tomatoes: cut them in 1/4s, and toss them with some basil and some shredded mozzarella (or chopped fresh moz if you can get it at your grocery store - it's so much better than the shredded kind). Drizzle a little olive oil over and sprinkle with salt and pepper. A tiny drizzle of balsamic vinegar is yummy on it too. This is my favorite ever summer salad.

And .. have you ever eaten gazpacho? It's a cold, raw veggie soup that is to DIE for on a hot summer day. If you have a food processor or a blender, it's super easy to make. The basis of it is 1 regular tomato (or 2 of the smaller vine tomatoes), about 1/4 red onion, 1 cucumber (peeled and seeded), 1 clove of garlic, some olive oil, a splash of hot sauce, some vinegar, and some tomato juice or V8. Whirl all of that in the food processor or blender until it's chunky, then refrigerate it for at least a couple of hours (or even better, overnight). Serve it with a piece of crusty bread and a couple of slices of avocado or a dollop of sour cream. You can add whatever other veggies you think might be good ... I've added zucchini, bell pepper, red pepper, jicama, all kinds of other stuff.

That's what I can think of off the top of my head ... but if I come up with anything else, I'll post it.

Thanks KaraCooks, thats a huge help! I can't wait to try the grapes for ice cubes, such a fun idea.

Lets see, for today I woke up alot later then I meant to, so instead of breakfast, I had a couple handfulls of peanuts. A couple hours later I went out to eat with my mother. I ordered a club without tomatoes. This sounds like a normal thing, but I'm rather happy with it because for the last 10 years I was sure that I HATED lettuce, so ordering and eating a sandwich with it was kind of a big deal for me. And you know? it wasn't half as bad as I remember it being. Aside from that, I have been snacking on grapes, carrots and an apple all night.

I finally finished my paper for class, now I just need to go over it and proof read and it will be ready to go. I also finished three for drawings, just two more. I also got in a walk with the dog, the poor girl thinks she went to heaven, she's not used to walking everyday like this.

so all in all, its been a good day.

Hi Othie, I totally understand how it feels when you get the 'real' numbers' of weight and measurements and find out that they were way different than what you figured. I remember when my doctor told me i was over 350lbs... it was overwhelming yet not surprising. I have been struggling to keep on a regime and I also easily get persuaded to have "treats" like ice cream and such. You have come to a great place for support, and now is the time to teach yourself what good healthy choices are all about. THEN...the fun part is... believing YOU are worth it.
*because YOU are!*

Welcome, othie, and congrats on both taking steps to change your life, and starting a journal. Many people around here find them incredibly helpful.

But, as you know, you can change your stars!

I love snowpeas, but I only really like them raw. Even lightly steamed or in a stir-fry, not so much. Everyone is different, hey?

I wish you success in reaching your goals. Glad that you have joined us in the challenge!
If you need any help, advice, or whatever, just ask.

Thank you Cord and Brazen. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's seem that movie lol I was starting to feel old. Careful Cord I might just take you up on the advise one of these days.

Well for today I have some cereal, three cucumbers and some peanuts. I haven't gone for a walk yet, but I usually walk in the evening after it cools down. I did finishing my drawings finally, not bad, 8 drawings in four days. That will teach me to put things off until the last moment.

alright, painful day. I wore my shoes for the gym and every step pushed my sock into my wound that my shoes gave me. I guess I need to break down and hunt up money for new shoes, sigh.

As far as goals go, well I was gone all day, so aside from going to class, I didn't do much. I did go to the gym, spent about 45 mins there.

I didn't get my 5 veggies today, only two. I had a bowl of cereal, and a arby's dip sandwich, some peanuts, and some carrots...not the best, but far from the worse

Hi Othie, when working out it is soooo important to have shoes that fit properly. It makes the difference between just surviving a workout to being be able to advance to the next level. You may end up having aches and pains that will stop you from exercising for periods of time while you heal. A good athletic shoe store will watch you walk in different types of shoes and will then help you pick out something that best suits your foot and athletic needs.
Man.... looks like i work for one of those companies! lol... *i don't* I suffered for so many years until I finally got fitted, so I'm an advocate..lol
Michelle

thanks brazenlysasse, I think your right, today I just wore my crocs and talk about being different! Trust me, as soon as I have the money I'm off the shoe store.

Lets see, today went well enough, atleast it ended well (with a walk with the dog). I admit though, I had a hard time getting started. Hopefully I'll feel better, tomorrow is another gym day, so I should get more time in as far as working out goes. My plan (if it holds) is three days at the gym (tues, thrus, and sat) and a walk with the dog atleast three days.

I'm rather depressed. I weighed myself at home and got a 316....but when I first weighted myself it was at the gym, so I'm hoping the scale here is just alittle off....otherwise I'm going to be pretty depressed...

Hi othie, *getting sick of me yet???...lol* All scales are a bit different. Some for the better some for the worse...lol
Find one scale, no matter what the number is, if the scale is a good accurate one, go with it and just focus on the weight being LOST after finding that fist number. weight watchers, the gym and my home scale were all different...talk about frustrating..lol. My home scale at home is good quality, but not accurate after 300lbs... *the needle bobs* even though i bought one that supposedly is accurate up to 400lbs. So, for now, i weigh at the doctors, cuz his is... *sighs* right..

**fist = first**

brazenlysasse, I love your comments, they help me remember to write everyday! thank you.

Today was a good day. I got out to the gym for almost an hour, got a B+ in Art1100 for midterm and got back a essay from English with a 93 out of 100.

As far as food goes, I have a jimmy deans cheese and ham sandwich for breakfast with some orange juice, some peanuts to snack on, some chicken strips for lunch and a glass of wine to unwind with. I'm hoping to get some more veggies in to hit my goal, but we'll see. I think the days I'm out are going to be harder for that goal, but atleast I'll be home tomorrow.

Only major down point of the day is that I weighted myself and I'm only down to 310.5. I had hoped to be a bit more down, but then I haven't really been great with my food, so I can't complain to much

well I believe my diet has died. I was doing pretty well until I got invited to the movies...when I got home I seemed to have left my will power at the theater. I was hungry so I ate...an hour and half later, I was hungry again, so I ate again...and then again two hours later. The worse part? I had no fruits or veggies (aside from orange juice in the morning).

On the good side, I walked for 17 mins today, instead of the usual 15....yay...a whole two more mins....sigh..

Don't bust youself up too much about it. Stuff happens.

Your diet hasn't died - it just took a nap.

Stand up, dust yourself off, and get back in the game. Don't fret about what happened in the past - yesterday or yesteryear. What is important is what you are going to do - today. And tomorrow. And - I think you see where I am going with this.

Didn't eat enough vegetables today? Eat more tomorrow.
Didn't walk enough today? Walk more tomorrow.

Every day is a new day. Every day is a new chance to get it right, to do better than before.

You can do this. Take Care. Be Strong.

BTW - what's Jimmy Dean's? Is that a restaurant?

That's like saying because you tripped on the top step, you might as well just throw yourself down the whole flight of stairs.

Your diet is not dead. You slipped. So you regain your balance and keep going. You can do it!

hey! don't be so harsh on yourself over the slip! do better tomorrow! use your mistakes as motivation to not make them again