Hi All! I hope you are all doing fine this week. I’m amazed that it’s been three weeks and I’m now looking forward to writing these Friday-on-Thursday-night posts!
This week I’m down a pound. I have to tell you, if this was the rate of loss when I was in my thirties, I would have been so discouraged. But—I’m coming to terms with a slow loss. It took a couple of years to pack the weight on.
Down a pound. Much better than being up a pound!
If I lose a pound a week at a steady rate, I’ll be 15 pounds lighter at Christmas. Trust me—that is a good thing. I’ll tell you why—because that kind of weight loss will encourage me to not wolf down all the baked goods and holiday foods!
Nope! THIS holiday season I won’t let the baked goods tempt me!
But—I’m starting to ease into a change of eating habits on this third week. I’m beginning to think twice about that mid-afternoon craving, reaching for a bottle of water, and concentrating on tasks that need to be completed on the job. It’s working a bit.
And I’m not going to get all self-righteous either. There are times that I find it difficult to limit my intake of cheese. I’m like a mouse—actually more like a rat in the fact that I could inhale a wheel of brie at any given time.
That’s right. I AM cheesy–Mozzarella, Brie, Swizz, Those plastic orange processed cheese-food sheets. I don’t discriminate!
My “trigger” food is pasta. I can’t eat one serving size. And when I cook macaroni, it is incredibly difficult for me to not cook the entire box. That is because physically I am able to eat an entire box!
Macaroni, spaghetti, linguini, elbows. I don’t care. I’ll even eat it without sauce!
I’m trying to talk myself into craving produce and fruit. Vegetables—I love. Fruit—it depends on what it is. Blueberries have been my bestie the past two weeks. It’s nearly impossible to get a decent strawberry around here and bananas sometimes give me heartburn.
Look at this beautiful produce. Keep looking because it isn’t mine. My daughter Oona took this picture of her Farmer’s Market goodies. I think she was trying to give me a hint!
This weekend Bonaparte and I are going to take a drive to Nyack, NY and I’m hoping to bring home a decent amount of NY State apples. There is nothing like a crisp, crunchy apple to satisfy those cravings for sweets. Well, maybe perhaps a warm apple crisp instead with vanilla ice cream or a freshly-baked apple pie……
Cortland and Empire are my favorite apples. This chart is from Maine’s Fresh Ideas–how ’bout them apples?
For a main meal, I’ve been cooking one particular dish lately. It’s simple. Here’s the recipe!
Tomatoes, Black Olives and Chicken Breasts
Ingredients:
6 Roma tomatoes cut lengthwise and quartered.
1/2 cup of large black olives pitted and cut in half lengthwise.
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced—or do what I do and grate the garlic with a microplane.
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded flat.
1 Cup rice flour—poured into a plate so you can dredge the chicken in the rice flour.
To taste: Salt, pepper, red pepper flakes
For garnish: Fresh basil
Olive oil
White wine or rosé.
Heat a bit of olive oil in a pan. Add the cut tomatoes, garlic and olives. When the juice from the tomatoes starts to release, add about a half cup of wine.
Cook until the tomatoes are soft but not mushy about 5 to 8 minutes.
When cooked, transfer to a plate and set aside.
Dredge the chicken in the rice flour. I use RICE flour because it doesn’t taste floury; it doesn’t give a heavy coating either. Rice flour keeps the moisture in the chicken and is gluten-free. It’s my secret to moist chicken breasts!
Add a bit more olive oil to the pan that you cooked the tomatoes in. No need for a new pan. I’m teaching you the value of being lazy.
Sauté the breasts until they are browned. Now add the tomatoes, olives, and garlic. Don’t drain them either—make sure all that juice goes in there. Season with red pepper flakes and salt and pepper.
You’ll know when it’s done. And when it is, place the breasts on a plate and load the tomatoes on top and garnish with the basil.
This is a very good dish because it is filling and it has tons of flavor! And—it leans to the healthier side.
I promise, next time I make this dish I’ll take a photo of the chicken too! The tomatoes should look like this. I keep the garlic on top and away from the bottom of the pan because I don’t want it to burn!
The other thing about losing weight is that I refuse to buy any new clothing. (Well, maybe a sweater). I touched on this last week and will touch on it again. Clothing with stretch is your best friend while losing weight. The fabrics really hug your body and you can begin to see progress!
Here are some of the outfits I wore this week. Like always, I keep it simple.
Tuesday’s OOTD was very simple. I try to stick to a monochromatic palette because it helps to give a slimmer appearance. The blouse is from J. Crew–about six or seven years ago. Navy cardigan and pants with a hint of stretch also from J. Crew.
I had to give these shoes some love because they are one of my fave pairs of flats. Suede and patent and I love the little straps and buckles and look at that toe clevage!!! These are also very old shoes. Via Spiga. I got them for next to nothing on sale at Nordstrom maybe four years ago.
This was my OOTD on Wednesday. The pencil skirt is pure stretch. It also has a high waist so it really sucks the gut in. I love this skirt. I think it was ten bucks at TJ Maxx. I wore a stretchy sleeveless shell with it and my Kut From The Cloth Denim Jacket. The denim jacket is actually a cotton with stretch blend. See how the skirt hugs my hips and the upper legs? It doesn’t fall into a rectangular shape–which would make me look boxy and heavier!
And when the office gets hot, I can take the jacket off with my right to bare arms. Who says older women can’t go sleeveless? HEY–take a look at my mid section. It’s not slender but I’m still wearing a body-hugging shell. And it looks better than a baggy shirt!
Today’s outfit. That great t-shirt dress from Old Navy (the $15.00 one). Again. The stretch in the fabric gives the dress a nice fitted look. I don’t accessorize too often but today, I wore a brown leather belt and wore it loosely so that it fell below my waist. Wearing a belt that way doesn’t “cut” your body, it lengthens it. And while losing weight, the length is a good thing! And even though I’m not a fan of Mr. Kors, I’m so in love with this wrap watch. I can’t afford an Hermes wrap watch but this will suffice! The shoes are literally ten years old from Seychelles. I love the brown with the pewter and the comfort level of these shoes is illegal! They are like slippers!
The weather has been wreaking havoc on my hair. Adam did a great job blowing it out, but those muggy mornings love to bring the frizz around and I’ve been wearing my bio hair in a side bun and a top bun. Today I put it in a big-ass bun with the help of one of those hair donuts. I also added a couple of hair extensions to wrap around the bun. Make a high pony tail and slide the donut over the pony. Wrap the hair around the donut and you have instant bun.
My big-ass hair bun. See that little white hair? I was playing with Chippy! I need to be more careful!
A big-ass hair bun is much better than getting a big ass from a cinnamon bun—or from the pain au raisin that I’ve made for Bonaparte!
My hair bun has a lot less calories than these pain au raisin I made for Bonaparte..but they are the same size!
Have a great week. Remember we are here to support each other. If you have any strategies you want to share—chime in with the comments dearies!
I’ve been listening to “All Things Must Pass” constantly this week. Since we’re going into apple season, I thought I’d give you some “Apple Scruffs”—by George, my favorite Beatle! It’s a feel-good song and we all need to feel good! XOXOXOXO!
Wow – I think you look fantastic! I love your OOTD’s, and I’m going to try your chicken. One thought when you’re craving anything – go brush your teeth. It helped me quit smoking 30 years ago. Might help food cravings too. Good luck!
Hi Elizabeth! Thank you!! Definitely try the chicken. When those roma tomatoes cook, the flavor is just stupendous–and use the rice flour. I’m never without it these days. I think I will take your toothbrushing advise. Not only will it curb my appetite, but I’ll have the cleanest teeth in the neighborhood! XOXOXOXO!!!
That’s a great tip! I’m going to try that as well. I’d like to lose a couple of pounds this Fall.
Catherine, you look fantastic, love your OOTD. I’m a big fan of Via Spiga shoes, too. They really fit my feet. Always on the lookout for them when they go on sale. 🙂
Oh Vava! I LOVE Via Spiga. My feet are on the narrow side and Via’s fit my narrow width and my high instep quite well. I’m always on the lookout too! Rice Flour. The only way to go!! XOXOXOXO!!!
Good for You Catherine. You do look great and it’s exciting to hear the excitement and determination that you have to do this. I stopped in at Old Navy and found the “Catherine” dress…my husband just laughed. I love it…thanks for the tip! And NY apples…I miss those apples…nothing else comes close. Mr. Doodle says I’m an Apple Snob…later for him! Have Fun Picking!
Thanks JeanneDoodle! Oh!! What color “Catherine” dress did you get? Isn’t it the greatest? Was it on sale? Nah. You’re no apple snob. You just happened to live in the state that produces the greatest apples!! I’ll have a ton of apple pickin’ fun!! XOXOXOXO!!!
$15. Crazy $15. Got 2 – black and black/white stripe. Love them! Do you draw those wonderful caricatures on your posts? They’re fabulous!
You look wonderful in your office clothes and well done you for not only losing a pound but also changing your diet – that will go a long way to keep the pounds off. I’ll definitely try that chicken recipe as it’s very Mediterranean with the tomatoes and olives and for people not on a diet it could be served with couscous or rice – yum. And go get those apples – so interesting to see your varieties. We have Red Delicious and Golden Delicious but not the others. What about Pink Lady? Does that came from the States? I’m off to France next week – will look at the apples there!
Hi Penny! Hmmm. I don’t think I’ve ever tried Pink Lady apples..but I’m not a fan of Delicious apples because they are too spongey for my taste. Where in France are you headed? Paris? You sly fox you. Please write about your adventures–I have to wait till November to get back to France!! XOXOXOXO!!!
That recipe looks wonderful!
Well I am a couple of pounds down from “a lot” to “still a lot but not quite as much”. I love vegetables, there are very few vegetables I am not keen on and I particularly love salads or greens (you wouldn’t think to look at me) and especially fresh herbs. However fruit and I have a tricky relationship – too much sugar gives me mouth ulcers and I have a real horror of bananas. I grew up totally spoilt in terms of good fresh food – my 88yr old mother is still self sufficient in terms of fruit and veg which she bottles or freezes or gives away so unless an apple is really good I generally don’t eat them – mum grew all sorts of unusual but delicious varieties you just won’t find in the shops. As I have a lot to lose I am on a clothing diet too – the shops are filling with nice new autumn things, but I have learnt to wait (not natural for me) and if I am going to succumb to any nice new colours/trends then I only succumb in the form of accessories or make my own with some knitting or jewellery work to keep my hands busy and away from food.
Good luck ladies – onwards and downwards
Hi Juliet. You are one step ahead. Don’t concentrate on the clothing. Pick up an accessory or two instead. The process is slow but when the numbers on the scale go down–it is so worth it! XOXOXOXOXO!!!
Those pain aux raisins look delicious – miam, miam!
June. Let me tell you. Those pain au raisins turned out fantastic. Miam. Miam. Miam! I’ll have to make some more. After I lose the weight!! XOXOXO!!!
Elizabeth. I’m 5’6″. Not tall but not short. Somewhere in the middle. I’m trying to take dairy out but I need calcium so I drink skim milk. I’ll have to check out Knife to Fork. I love apples and can’t wait to get to NY tomorrow to get some! XOXOXOXO!!!
HOW TALL ARE YOU?I think YOU LOOK PRETTY DARN GOOD!!!!!
Now, I have taken DAIRY OUT as of a week AGO and I already see a difference in my TUMMY!MY oldest SON had us watch KNIFE TO FORK or something like that a documentary on FOODS…….Two DOCs in your HOOD.VERY INTERESTING!
I KNOW I KNOW NO CHEESE…….the WORST for me is the MILK SUBSTITUTE which I have finally found after buying 5 different cartons is SILK ALMOND MILK 40.NO FLAVOR!Those are way TOOO SWEET and HIGH in CALORIES……….
I Have been eating an apple mid afternoon…….slicing it and biting.HELPS!
XX
I love your blog!
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Thank you Tracy!!!!!!!!!XOXOXOXO!!!
You, my dear GF, are looking amazing!!!! 😘😘
Thank you Linda! I’m channeling my George-Harrison-Spiritual-Side to help me and it seems to be working!!!!!!!!!!!! I am down another 6 ounces! XOXOXO!!!
XOXOXOX……My weight loss has been slow, but I’m ok with that…I’m close to my goal, but happy with where I’m at!!! You Got This!!!!
And with George in your corner you can’t go wrong!!!! 😊😊
I love your blog. It inspires me. Congrats on your weight loss! Way to go Girl!
I appreciate all the creativity and work you put into your blog!
Thank you Julia! You have no idea how important your comment is to me. I’m so happy that you are enjoying! XOXOXO!!!
Did you make the pain au raisin. You are a fantastic baker and where do you find the time to do yeast baking. I used to make bread using the dough hook on my Kitchen-aid but haven’t for years though I make kilos of different shortbread snd gingerbread at Christmas. I too find the baked items at Christmas the hardest things to resist.
Hi Yvonne. Yeah. I did make the pain au raisin. Bonaparte was waxing sentimental *hint hint* so I looked up a recipe on the internet and baked. They turned out very well but I’ll save the next batch for cooler weather and when I’m down about ten pounds more! I LOVE the kitchen aid dough hook. I make my brioche dough in the kitchen aid. Hmmmmmmmmmmm shortbread! I love with a nice up of tea! Definitely–Christmas baking IS the hardest to resist! XOXOXOXO!!!