We had a great day – no broken bones! I ended up skiing instead of snowboarding, and think I have now graduated from “beginner” to “intermediate.” I went down many of the medium level slopes, but I’m still not ready for black diamonds (even if they are “East Coast” black diamonds 🙂 ) My legs are pretty tired (and my knee joints as well) and my face is bright red from the wind and sun. I’m ready for a good night’s sleep!
Breakfast
We started the day around 7:30 a.m. with – what else – banana oatmeal (luckily this is an easily transportable breakfast!). It was really good here made in this strange kitchen. And I loved their bowls! They were the perfect size. We brought some cinnamon and walnuts from home – delicious! I had hot tea on the side.
Snacks
I thought I’d need lots of snacks while skiing and packed some bars and nuts, but I guess the activity curbed my appetite because I didn’t really get hungry. I did snack on some trail mix while on the trails though! I shared this with the group –
And they shared their flask of bourbon with me! (I only had about 3 sips, but it was a fun way to warm up 8) )
Here we are on the lift – with my sister, Laura, and her boyfriend, Matt (another Matt!)
Lunch
We breaked for lunch around 12:30 – but my parents got a flat tire on the way to meet us!! Luckily my responsible dad had just checked the air in his spare and was able to fix it on the side of the mountain. So we ended up having a later lunch around 1:30 at a cute deli in a general store in Beech Mountain. I was pretty hungry when we finally sat down and started my lunch with a beer! Probably not the smartest choice because I felt kind of dehydrated during the early afternoon and hadn’t had much water, but skiing and beer just seemed like a good pair!
For lunch I got a cup of chili with a half grilled cheese on whole wheat. I only ate about 1/2 of this cup – the husband polished off the rest. It wasn’t the greatest. I also had a bite of his cheeseburger. The bite was delicious, but not something I’d want for my main course.
I also ordered a side salad with the BEST honey mustard dressing! It also had green pepper, tomatoes and black olives. Although salads aren’t always the most filling, I love how they keep you busy and take a while to eat. It allowed my stomach to feel full slowly instead of wolfing down the chili and then being stuffed and unable to ski!
All together – I ate the pickle and crackers too.
But there’s more – I had another 1/3 of a beer
I wish I hadn’t had this because I really didn’t feel that great when we got back to skiing, but it fit the moment.
Andddd….I had a big bite of the group carrot cake and a piece of cookie – both were wonderful.
My parents were both first-time skiers and didn’t come out until the afternoon. I wish I’d gotten a photo of them 🙁 Although they didn’t feel ready to try the bunny slope from the top, they were great sports! My dad and I walked halfway up the easy slope so he could ski down from a lower point. It was quite a workout!
Fun in the sky:
Cocktails
Although I only had about 8 oz of wine last night, I felt really bad in the middle of the night (headachy and dehydrated) and knew I didn’t want tonight to end up the same (especially since I’d already had a good amount of alcohol before 3 p.m.!) So I enjoyed two diet tonic + limes before dinner.
But I did end up having a little wine with dinner 🙂
We had homemade guacamole and chips set out too, and I nibbled on a few. That’s Matt’s hand dipping in!
Dinner
The husband and I volunteered to cook dinner again, which makes my parents happy after 25 years of cooking for me. On the menu –
Rosemary Grilled Lamb. I had a very small piece. Red meat just doesn’t do much for me and I’d rather fill up my stomach on sweet potatoes and kale! But it did taste wonderful.
Grilled and roasted sweet potatoes –
Kale and broccoli with brown sugar, cinnamon and almonds. My family had never had kale before and I think everyone liked it (except for my sister, who hates all veggies!)
And grilled portabello mushrooms (which were just a little extra on the side)
All together with 4 oz of red wine –
Seconds on the delicious vegetables –
We’ve got Edy’s Thin Mint ice cream, but I’m not really in the mood for any. This meal was perfect on my palate and my stomach is satisfied. I might just have a spoonful though – TBD!
Thank You
I want to express a big thank you to all of you who have sent me personal emails in the past few days – I really appreciate all of your positive feedback on the blog!
Justy2003 says
Congrats on no broken bones while skiing! You were more successful than I was last time! 🙂
Looks like you guys had fun…and good food while at it!
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Karen Downing says
What a fun day! Great job getting down those intermediate slopes!
Nicole says
Looks like you are having a great time! That’s too funny that your sister’s bf name is Matt also!
Question for you, but don’t worry about answering until you get back:
The other day you mentioned that you like bulgur better than quinoa. I have never had either of the grains- you are really good at explaining how things taste/compare. Could you please describe? Do you like cous cous, that seems popular as well. Enjoy your trip!
Kelly says
Glad to see you are having a good time. Will you come cook for me on my next ski trip. Seriously!
Also glad to see you are indulging a bit. 🙂
Marcy says
Gotta ask- how in the world did you get a picture of the 4 of you while riding the ski lift?
I noticed that you typically eat bread or pita- not wraps/tortillas. Do you find them more filling?
Have fun 🙂
arimcg says
Kath, did you measure the wine, or do you just know how to eyeball it by now? I’m not trying to be controversial, I’m just wondering because I ALWAYS over pour (and then drink what’s in my glass, naturally).
Also, go for the ice cream! You’re on vacation! Even though I’d go for it even if I wasn’t…
Lorlie says
Kath, is honey mustard dressing your fav flavor, I find bottled dressings to be disgusting thats why I ask. Any good honey mustard dressing suggestions? (not to sound dumb, but is it the same as the packets of honey mustard for sandwiches?
Mint’s my favorite flavor!
Michelle says
Does anyone know why people prefer seedless cucumbers?
Katie H says
Michelle,
Personally, I prefer seedless/English cucumbers because they are more “meaty”, less watery and have a stronger flavor. Plus, you can eat the skin because it’s thinner and usually not waxed, unlike regular cucumbers. While I don’t have a problem with it, some people also complain of bloating after eating cucumbers with lots of seeds.
Susan says
Kath your homemade tomato sauce looks so good, two questions about the recipes.
1. do you use oil to sautee the garlic, if so how much?
2. why do you add sherry (I am new to cooking, so just trying to learn)
Is the sauce you made the other night your recipe or alton’s?
Susan says
Sorry to add to that, but did you just let the tomatoes sit on the stove with the fire on for an hour? Do you have to sit in the same room then?
Cara says
Just curious- if the meat tasted good, why would you prefer to have kale+ sweet potato, which you have all the time?
the vegan blog tracker says
lol… warming up with bourbon… that’ll do it!
Sara V says
Glad skiing went well! I am very excited to have just confirmed details for a trip to Aspen for my boyfriend and I, can’t wait!
You guys are such cute couples. Maybe it is just the picture but the two Matt’s look so similar!
Lauren says
Your dinner looks so good! I don’t eat red meat, but I do eat a lot of kale and sweet potatoes, so that component of the dinner looks absolutely delicious 🙂
Hope you continue to have fun skiing! My parents are in Breckenridge right now for a week-long ski vacation; I’m so envious! I’m by no means a fantastic skiier, but I love ski vacations…they’re just really invigorating and cozy, at the same time. My boyfriend and I are trying to plan a weekend where we can get up to Vermont to ski…(well, I mostly want to ice skate, to be honest!)
Take care 🙂
Fig says
Can I just say the blog is so much easier to read with the one giant post like yesterday with the one comment section.
Who agrees?
Kath says
Readers,
In response to Fig’s comment, I’d be happy to do one post a day if that would be the preference of the majority. How do you all feel about it??
Kath
SawSaw says
I think Fig’s suggestion is a good one and may minimize some of the cruel interjections that some blog readers share.
sarita says
(First time commenter, out of desperation)
Nooo! Your periodic updates are one thing that keep me going during the workday! And the site doesn’t crash my crummy work computer!
Lynn says
Kath, for me, your post is something fun I do when I need a break from studying (and I believe people out of college do the same for a break for work). It’s fun to take breaks and see what you were up to as the day progresses. That’s part of what I love about your blog (as to opposed to a different one which blogs sparodically). With that said, if its too much work for you, obviously then, one post is fine.
Lynn says
Jenna, since you read this blog, just so you know your blog was NOT the other blog I was referring to- yours is great too 🙂
Kath says
Nicole,
I’m not sure what exactly I said about quinoa, but I think my answer would be I liked chewier grains – like pasta, oatmeal, bread and bulger – than the smaller ones like quinoa and couscous. “Chewy” is my texture of preference, so the bigger and chewier the grain the better, but I do like almost all of the whole grains.
Marcy,
Matt’s realllly long arm! I eat tortillas on occasion, but there are less brands I like so I only get them when I go to the grocery store that has them. I had a package about 2 weeks ago. I don’t find them quite as filling as whole wheat bread, but they are still fun to have, especially for things like butternut squash quesadillas!
Arimcg,
I just eyeballed it, but I’m pretty good at guessing on wine since I am pretty familiar with liquids and measuring cups (but strangely I’m horrible at solids!). I agree it’s VERY easy to overpour – and overdrink – wine!!
Lorlie,
I do love honey mustard dressings, but I hate 99% of the bottled dressings I find. You can make your own honey mustard with equal parts mustard, olive oil, honey and lemon juice. Add a bit of fresh garlic and S + P if you like. It’s great!!
Michelle
I prefer seedless cucs too. I think they are firmer and don’t have that mealy, watery taste that regular ones do. To me the English ones taste more like the texture and taste a pickle, minus the pickling method of course. And Katie is right about the skin – I don’t really like that thick waxed skin.
Susan,
The husband made the sauce, so I’m not 100% sure, but I think he used about a tsp of two of oil. The sherry pairs really well with tomato sauce – our summer sauce that uses all fresh tomatoes is SO good with sherry. You could easily leave it out though and still get great flavor. I think our sauce is pretty close to Alton’s – but we omit the onions and probably use less oil than he does.
Cara,
Because although the lamb tasted good (in contrast to bad…) I LOVE sweet potato and kale which is why I eat them a lot.
Re. posts,
I think it would be easier for me to do them 1 at a time, but I can see the benefits to one big post too. I’m willing to do what the majority wants, but I have a feeling it’s better to have little doses to read than have to read them all at once. Once option might be to build on the breakfast post. So I’d put it up, but I’d edit it to add lunch so by the end of the day everything would be in one. Thoughts?
Kath
Paula says
Kath,
I like your last suggestion. Simply building on the breakfast post would also mean that all the comments would be in one place for the day.
Have fun with the rest of your weekend!
Sana says
Personally think it’s easier seeing the meals one at a time as opposed to one long post. Adding to a breakfast post seems like the same idea so yea, that seems like a good suggestion too 🙂
Btw I’ve been following this blog for awhile and love it. Keep up the great work!
MO says
I hope you have a wonderful rest of your weekend! I am so sorry for all the criticisms that have crept into your comments section lately. I just wanted to let you know I love your blog, and from someone who has had trouble with food in the past, it really has helped me! and given me some delicious recipes in the process! Thank you so very much for the time and effort you put into this!! Have a safe trip home!
Jem says
I vote for adding to the breakfast post.
Kathy says
I love your healthy but moderate approach and the pictures really inspire! And because of you, I had oatbran with a banana and a little almond butter this morning for breakfast instead of my usual rolled oats. I loved it and it filled me up…thanks!
mel says
Hey kath! I’m glad you are having a great time!! I’m jealous! I really like the posts throughout the day, but anything to make it easier for you would be fine. I love your blog and will continue to love it either way!! Take care and keep up the great work!! I have a quick question..I have 2 medium to large sweet potatoes and I wanted to make your sweet potato soup- yours calls for 2.5 lbs.. about how many would that equal and would I just cut the recipie in half if I don’t have enough potatoes? thanks Kath
Mel
VeggieGirl says
Kath, you have no IDEA how relieved I am that you went skiing instead of snowboarding – I had such a bad experience with the latter that I try to sway ANYONE to go skiing instead of snowboarding, haha.
Looks like you’re thoroughly enjoying your time in the mountains with your family – can’t wait to see more photographs and read more about your trip!! Happy Sunday!! :0)
Karen L. says
I want to offer a slightly different perspective on what might be causing a disconnect for some readers of this blog and might be a contributing factor to some of the recent “dialogue.”
Let me start by saying I really enjoy many aspects of this blog, especially Kath’s emphasis on eating whole, nutrient packed foods, enticings photography, creative recipes and Kath’s engaging personality.
That said, the only slight disappointment I have grown to have is that the supposed overiding theme of this blog – “eat real food..” which was taken from Pollan’s In Defense of Food is inconsistent with Kath’s stringent eating/exercise plan. In my opinion, this blog is really more like the weight watcher’s blog (Roni?) except Kath substitutes calories for points. Pollan’s book is about keeping it simple, applying generally accepted guidelines for eating well, sticking with natural whole foods, and then “letting it go.” Although I can’t recall him discussing the matter, it seems unlikey he would be an advocate of the “net calories” concept!
Of course this is Kath’s blog and she can do what she wishes and either way I am sure she will enjoy great success. And, I will be here taking what works for me and discounting what doesn’t. But, I would personally love to see less of what I consider a “diet blog” and more of what I consider a “healthy living” blog. To me, counting grams (fractions of ounces!) is just not practical, nor is it a habit I wish to return to. It seems we are bombarded by that type of restrictive mantra in every publication. It seems to me that Kath has the potential to send a different, more positive food/body embracing message.
This is just my opinion and I know I am one reader among many with very differinng needs. I hope this did not offend anyone, Kath especially!
I just wanted to share my perspective, with the hope that it would be useful in tweaking this already fantastic blog.
Laurel says
Hi Kath,
I just started reading your blog and love it! Your enthusiasm is truly motivating. It’s refreshing to see you eat various appealing real foods in reasonable portions.
I see that you’re maintaining a considerable weight loss, and also that you’re very active. Do you feel tired from daily rigorous exercise? What was it like when you first started out? And how do you protect yourself from injury when you do cardio frequently?
I’m thinking about switching my exercise to the a.m. which will be hard since I’ve never been a morning person and I have to be at work by 8 am (luckily the gym opens at 5am).
I’ve already picked up a couple of recipe ideas from your blog, but I’m looking to drop 20 pounds, not maintain my weight. I joined Weight Watchers and I’m always hungry. It seems like I can eat only very little (19 points per day; I’m not sure how many calories that equals; a Google search said 50 calories per point and it also depends on fiber, but that seems low to me).
I’m 29 years old and relatively active (3-4 gym visits a week, once with a trainer for one hour to do intervals of cardio and weights, and the other times I do high-intensity interval cardio for 30-45 minutes). I’m 5 feet tall and 123 pounds. I know I need to lift weights more often. The problem I have is finding the time–if I have time to go to the gym I want to do cardio and burn off some of the food I ate that day. Should I eat more?
Any advice appreciated. I look forward to visiting your blog every day. Thanks for the great work and the obvious effort that you put into it.
~Laurel
Puffins says
Also, I am pretty sure Kath admitted she didn’t even read that book. What a farce.
RT says
Puffins – She is a farce. As others have said, she’s great at the PR thing, but when it comes down to it, there is a huge disconnect.
Karen L. – That was the most rational post I have seen on this blog.
ibex says
i love the blogs coming periodically throughout the day, but don’t stress about it…whatever’s easiest works for me. Keep up the great work and enjoy your sunday “swooshing” down the slopes!!
hk
J says
On another forum someone posted about this blog having a negative impact on her recovering from her eating disorder. Since reading she has felt her eating disorder tendencies were coming back. She felt like intuitive eating wasn’t enough and she should count and weigh everything and get a heart rate monitor to count how many calories burned when working out.. etc. Thankfully she realized she shouldn’t go down this path but it was apparent that this blog DOES have a negative impact on some. I am also willing to bet that a lot of people who read this blog do have some sort of distorted eating (myself included) so please stop with the excessive counting and weighing and measuring. It makes people feel like they should and that they aren’t good enough when they don’t….
bev says
I agree with Figs post
Fig says
haha! I just think its nice to see comments in one place and I also think it gives kath a break.
Its also nice to just read an overall day as a whole in my opinion. Today I read Kaths day and I though wow its so nice to see it organized in order at once.
Just a suggestion. Kath did it make it easier for you?
kelli says
I don’t think people care so much about how the comments section is organized. Many of us are far more concerned about the unhealthful tone of this blog and how it has fallen short of our initial expectations. I agree with Karen L. that this blog has a confused identity. It is really odd that Kath didn’t even read the book that this blog was based on!
Stephanie says
Kath— about your question on posts- I highly recommend your suggestion to ‘build on the breakfast post’ and edit it. That way ALL the comments are in the same spot for the day!
Mandy A says
I personally think it would be great to build upon the breakfast post during the day 🙂
Angie says
I’ve been reading this blog for a few weeks now (the first and only blog I’ve read), and it’s a fun break during the day. I’m a healthy, 150 pound woman, and I enjoy reading ideas from someone else who loves food. I’ve gotten fun ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Titling a blog after a book is simply use of the public domain; it doesn’t show any disrespect. I respect people whose values and ideas about the world differ from my own, and I learn from those people. Even if my lifestyle doesn’t match yours, Kath, I enjoy reading your blog and I learn from it. Please keep up the good work, and good luck in school.
marissa says
kath- i am trying to lose about 12 lbs. should i determine my daily calorie consumption looking at net calories (after exercise) or before net, without taking the burned calories into consideration. thanks so much for everything!
Alison says
I think building on the breakfast post is a great idea!
NC says
Ryane,
(this is in response to your q from the other day– quinoa for breakfast!)
Fruited Breakfast Quinoa
– 1/2c uncooked quinoa
– 1 1/2c vanilla rice milk
– 2T raisins
– 1c chopped fresh or canned apricots
– 1/4tsp vanilla extract
In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the rinsed and drained quinoa with rice milk. Bring to a low simmer, then cover and cook for about 15 minutes until the quinoa is tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients, then transfer about 1 1/2c to a blender, puree. Return pureed mixture to the pan and stir to mix. Serve warm or chilled.
(Makes about 3c)
— Recipe by Jennifer Raymond; Neal Barnard, M.D.
You can easily sub soy milk or skim, and likewise, use any combination of dried fruit you want, or add some nuts… or dark chocolate chips! And you can puree it with an immersion stick blender, or skip that step altogether if you want some more chew!
kate says
Angie – You are missing the point – it’s not about disrespect of the author – it’s that she chose a quote (actually a subtitle of) a book that is at odds with her philosphy and what this blog is really focused on which is her obsession with calories consumed and calories purged. I don’t think she really understood the meaning of that quote, and yet it is how she advertises this blog.
Ryane says
Oooh, NC, thanks! That sounds delish!
And thank you on posting that on today’s post and not from a couple days’ ago!
One reason why I vote on building onto the breakfast post. If I ask a question in the morning, but also want to read lunch and dinner, it gets kind of annoying going back and forth through each meal.
Thanks again!
goalie30 says
I don’t care if the posts are one at a time, or just once per day for all of the meals…whatever is the easiest on you, Kath 🙂
Kath,
Quick questions:
1) Did you and the husband go grocery shopping and bring all the great food up to the cottage with you? I’m assuming you planned the dinner menus before you went out there? Just curious…
2) Do you ever eat hummus/ do you like hummus? I noticed how many raw veggies you eat, which I’m a big fan of too, but sometimes I just like to dip them in something, and I really like using a few tablespoons of hummus, since they’re made of chickpeas (a legume) which helps add a little protein and good fat (olive oil) to my healthy snack (it’s also good on the kashi crackers!!). Anyone else out there a big fan of hummus, and what do you like to eat it on?
grace says
I love hummus. I often put it on sandwiches with veggies (cucumber/tomato/spring mix/anything else i have). It’s my new favorite! I also use the sprouted bread b/c it stands up well to all the veggies. I also use hummus in place of cream cheese for things like bagels and stuff.
Katie F says
Kath–no need to feel bad about that beer at lunch! One of my running buddies sent me this a few months back: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=491236&in_page_id=1766&ito=1490
Jennie says
I use hummus on veggie wrap sandwiches instead of mayo. I also dip raw veggies as a nutritious snack.
Lauren says
I vote for adding on to the breakfast post so there’s one post per day.
Keep up the great work, Kath! I loooove the blog! 🙂
sue says
Goalie – I think we all know that chickpeas are a legume! No need to explain!
stephanie says
kath, do you remove the stems from the kale when you make it?
i made something with kale the other day and found it rather “stemmy”.
Sarah says
I vote editing so there’s only one “Post” per day but multiple edits. I love checking in throughout my day and seeing new meals posted. I tend to eat breakfast and lunch after you, so a lot of times I copy your meals ; )
Katie says
Sue,
Was that comment really necessary? What if someone didn’t know that chickpeas are a legume?
First people attacked Kath….now they’re attacking other readers…I don’t understand the need to attack people!!!
bev says
I agree that your sister boyfriend looks like Matt. I also agree with Sarah posts to have on post with updates
marge says
Well Katie, Goalie is has been condescending in all of his comments, as if he has greater knowledge than everyone. It’s tiresome – every time he makes a comment he speaks as if we are all idiots! It’s offensive!
chaigirl says
Goalie sounds very well informed/has given some good tips I think. Wish Goalie would also have a blog. Kath is great too of course! 🙂 We’re all entitled to your own opinions. I don’t think Goalie is doing anything intentionally rude. My e-mail is [email protected]. I was going to start my own blog soon if anyone is interested. Exact content TBD. I’m a part time musician facing some health issues/ trying to make some positive changes (diet, stress reduction, creativity etc).
Jem says
Why do peope think you are male, goalie?
katherine says
Could be cause he/she is so aggresive and overbearing. Someone suggested Goalie get his/her own blog the other day so that he discontinues spending all his time writing long rants (bashing other bloggers) and I too think that would be just swell, so we don’t need to contend with him/her.
Kelley says
Goalie is a SHE!
TR says
GOT IT!!! (who cares? Obnoxious either way!)
mah says
I do not think that Kath, Jenna, Cristin, etc. should be attacked for their food choices. They are for THEM, and are not telling anyone to eat the same. If someone feels that they are slipping into eating disorder patterns when reading the site, then please, leave the site ASAP! That’s not meant to be rude. I had one for 6 years. But believe me, these sites can be dangerous for anyone with an eating obsession. So it is not the fault of Kath or what she eats. She is not measuring the food and placing it in front of us, she is placing it in front of herself. That’s all that matters. Obviously she is maintaining her weight and energy in a busy lifestyle, so I don’t see a problem. I have gotten a lot of great ideas from her (and Jenna) in ways to eat well and treat my body more purely. Thanks for the time put into this, Kath.
Kate says
I made a delicious variation of your oatmeal pancakes today and just thought I would share! I used a packet of Kashi Go Lean Truly Vanilla Oatmeal mixed with 2 large egg whites, a tsp vanilla, tsp cinnamon, and tsp baking powder. It made 2 HUGE, yummy vanilla pancakesfor what I’m guessing was about 200 kcals! (150 kcals Kashi Oats, 50 kcals eegg whites)
goalie30 says
This has nothing to do w/ a food blog, but for those watching the halftime show, my husband and I are wondering why Tom Petty is playing the show? I had heard Paula Abdul was playing the show; anyone know what happened to her? I had kinda been looking forward to hearing some music from her, it had been awhile, and I think she is so cute on American Idol…Hope you’re enjoying the game if you’re watching it…
goalie30 says
Tom Petty’s definitely not a bad substitute though, and my husband much rather listen to his music than Abdul’s 😉
J says
Abdul played before the game started.
steph says
Kath – the kale & broccoli you had with dinner looks fabulous! Could you or anyone else let me know how you made it?!!?!? thanks! Your meals always look delicious!
hk says
yummmmy, kate! That sounds like a really good way to make quick and vanilla-y pancakes. Did you not use any baking powder? I’ve been wanting to make Kath’s pancakes, but I keep forgetting to get baking powder. I figured it was a crucial ingredient, so I have yet to experiment. Let me know…thanks!
NCCarter says
Wow, tons of comments. Interesting to read. Kath, I like seeing several updates a day, but either way, I’ll keep reading. 🙂
Stephanie says
Paula Abdul is a nutjob!
Kath says
Mel,
I hope I’m not too late on this response! I’ve found a medium sweet potato to be about 10 oz – so 2 of those would be 2.5 lbs. “Medium” for me is about the size of my hand? I guess all hands are relative too! Really just 2-3 potatoes will do the trick.
Re. In Defense of Food,
I have NOT read the book – it’s on my Amazon wish list for when I have some extra cash and I’m really excited about reading it when I do – I’ve heard a lot of great things. If I haven’t read the book, how could I steal the idea/concept you all are referring to? I have read his NY Times article, which is where I came across his ‘Mostly plants’ quote, but I read the article over Christmas, long after the KERF title was posted. Please don’t make assumptions! Karen L, thanks for your very polite and well-thought comment.
Laurel,
I don’t feel that tired from exercise on a regular basis. Sometimes my upper body will be sore from lifting and I don’t do weights for a few days. Or I go skiing and my legs are so sore I decide to take a day off! But my regular workouts are intense, but not very rigorous. Give morning exercise a try for a full week and and then assess how you like it. You’ve got to do a full week because it really does get easier with time! But I always recommend working out during the time when you are most likely to enjoy it and stick with it. I can’t really give you advice on how much to eat over the Internet, and I’m not an R.D. yet, so it sounds like you’d really enjoy an appt with an R.D. in your area to figure out what plan will work best with your lifestyle. Good luck on the weight loss, and thanks for reading!
Marissa,
You always take exercise calories into account because you need to ensure you have enough fuel. Gross caloric intake = NET + Exercise Calories. NET is usually your BMR + 100-500 kcal, depending on how much you have to lose. This is CalorieKing’s method, so to get more info I recommend checking out the site. It costs $55 per year to join, but they’re the experts and could give you numbers that they recommend for someone with your stats.
Goalie,
We brought some of the ingredients, such as our chef’s knife, spices + seasonings, fruit, lamb from Costco, but we got some of the veggies there.
I do like hummus, but not many of the store brands. I eat it a lot more in the summertime. Not sure why it becomes unappealing every fall/winter since it’s not really a seasonal food!?
Katie F,
I can’t open the link, but it seems to start with “a pint of beer is better” so I can only guess it’s going to say better after exercise!? YAY!
Steph,
Yes, we cut out the thick stems and just leave the leafy parts. Same with most of the greens like collards.
Kath
Meredi says
Kath, I have to make this quick as I’m almost ready for work, but I wanted to say that I recently discovered your blog and am finding it absolutely marvelous.
I saw a suggestion in these comments that concerned me though — that’s the idea of adding to your breakfast post throughout the day. While this works for anyone coming straight to your blog, it will screw up all of us who read you through RSS readers! Once I’ve read a post (like your breakfast post) in Google Reader, for instance, it gets marked as read and never appears again. If you append to it, that means I won’t get to read all the great stuff you add over the day.
Anyway, just something to keep in mind! Personally I like when you post whenever it’s convenient. If you happen to post throughout the day it means I have something to read on my breaks, which is fab!
Thanks again for all the wonderful content. I will comment again soon with some more specifics and thank yous 🙂
Meredi
Kath says
Kate,
Pancake sounds delicious! I’m having one today 🙂
Stephanie,
We put about 2 tsp of olive oil in the pan and added the broccoli and kale. Toss gently as it cooks and turns bright green. It’s ready when it’s to a good eating texture (just taste a few leaves). I added about 1 tbsp brown sugar (this was for about 10 cups of kale), 1 tsp of cinnamon and about 2 tbsp chopped almonds, toasted in the microwave first. It was perfectly slightly sweet!
Mereidi,
Ah, the first obstacle. The majority of readers wanted the “edit” posting, so I think I need to do what the majority wants. I’m sorry if you’ll have to come check during the day, but I do try to keep my posting a regular times (around 8:30am, 1:00pm, and 8:30pm) and usually say so if it’s going to be late so I hope checking won’t be a pain for you. This is just a trial though, so if lots of RSS readers complain I could re-poll.
Kath
Adeline says
Hi Kath… I just found your blog about a month ago, and like some earlier readers, you keep me going throughout the day! I find myself checking in every few hours on your blog, and it’s really nice to see what you eat and how you’re going about your day, so please do keep posting up your meals as you have them, if it’s not too much trouble!! 🙂
Otherwise, I want to tell you that I am really grateful about your calorie counting and your approach to weight loss in general. I’ve been going crazy for about a year using variations of low-carb dieting and six small meals etc. without counting calories — precisely because I was told that it was obsessive and unrealistic — and I always ended up either starving or gorging myself. I work out a LOT as well, and am a runner — I think especially if you exercise, calorie counting is really important because the window for weight loss really varies in proportion to your activity, and it’s the best way to lose weight.
Once I started following your method of calories NET in January, the pounds have just slipped off something crazy, my energy levels are high, I’m comfortably satisfied 98% of the time — which is AMAZING. It’s helped me in fact become less obsessive, and enjoy my food more… as well as try to eat as much whole, unprocessed superfoods as possible 🙂
This is then just a quick (heh) note to let you know that your blog has done a world of good for me, and that it is a pure pleasure to read. Thanks so much!
Kath says
Adeline,
That is great feedback! I found the same with NET calories. Before I was either worried about eating too much o still lose weight and hungry or eating too much and not losing! I love how it’s proportional to exercise so I know I’m fueling myself properly. So happy you’ve found something that works for you 🙂
Kath
JT says
Right…it’s a great method for weight loss, no one is denying that. Is this a diet blog though? Isn’t it time to move on, Kath since you should be a bit more relaxed about your weight by now. Do you plan on being obsessed for the rest of your life? UGH!