The Joys of Canned Pumpkin

Haven't posted in a while, but I am still exercising.  I also am now trying to eat smarter, adding more fiber, fruits and veggies into my diet.  One of those veggies is canned pumpkin.  NOT pumpkin pie filling - 100% pure canned pumpkin, which is very low fat and high in fiber.

The amazing thing about canned pumpkin is that it's perfect for baking.  It can replace oil and eggs in a recipe.  If you're familiar with Hungry Girl, you know how she raves about it, and is always posting recipes and ideas of how to use it.  Some are kinda weird (pumpkin instead of refried beans in an enchilada?), but some are great! 

I may have mentioned before that if I deprive myself, I will go in the opposite direction and eat the worst possible foods (think greasy cheesesteak and fries...).  So, thanks to my friend Sharon who mentioned this recipe over the weekend, I made myself some low-fat chocolate cupcakes on Sunday.  Here's the extremely complicated recipe:

(1) Box of chocolate cake mix

(1) Can of 100% pumpkin puree (not pie filling)

Mix. Bake*. Eat. Yum!

*(350˚ for about 20 minutes)

I figured out the calories on livestrong.com.  Lots 'o carbs, but otherwise pretty good calorie and fat-wise:  183 calories / 3.6 g fat / 2.5 g fiber (5 pts on Weight Watchers).

These are actually very moist and pretty tasty!  I think they need a little spicing up, though, so I'm going to tinker with the recipe and try some variations with spices and maybe add some fruit.  Sharon said she's going to try it with a spice cake mix - that sounds awesome!  Maybe add some raisins, shredded carrots and a non-fat cream cheese icing; instant low-fat carrot cake!

My friend, Liz, also gave me a recipe for Squash Cheesecake Bars, which I'm going to try with the canned pumpkin as well.   Pumpkin cheesecake is so much more appealing than squash cheesecake... ick.

I think that these lower fat versions of some of my favorite goodies will help keep me on track!  Right after Thanksgiving.  Hey, I should be able to enjoy that day in its full-fat glory!

Happy Full-Fat Thanksgiving to you!!  

"Everything in moderation, including moderation."
~ Author Unknown

Working out the kinks... literally and figuratively

Straight cardio last night (Mon 11/14):

TREADMILL
15 minutes
5 incline

STAIRMASTER
6 minutes

STATIONARY BIKE
10 minutes

According to livestrong.com - burned over 400 calories.   Still having issues with my back.  Wondering if I should maybe take a yoga class to really stretch out.  Swimming is helping, though.  Going to swim tonight.

Didn't eat well, though.  Still having trouble getting into an eating program.  Really don't want to diet, per se, but I need something fairly structured to follow.  Wish I could afford a nutritionist.

It's not exactly going swimmingly...

Even after the setback of hurting my back, I refused to stop exercising.  On Saturday and Sunday, I walked.  It hurt a little, but I paced myself and kept at it.

Last night, I was so excited, because it was my first night swimming!!!  I had my new swimsuit, my new swim cap, my new goggles... Everything was in place, and I was so excited!! 

Like this:

 (Except my hair is darker, and I'm a little older than that, and I'm not a cartoon.)

Anywhoo...


I was all excited, and in my excitement, I probably was walking a little too quickly to the pool.  And then...

SPLAT!

I fell right on my ass! 

Thank God there weren't too many people in the pool because, of course, I was mortified!  And I was also worried that I'd hurt myself again.  Luckily, the worst of it that my wrists are sore from trying to break my fall.  But I was undeterred, and dammit, I got right in that pool!!!  I swam for about 40 minutes, using the kickboard like my friend Kathy showed me.  I also did underwater bicycles with my legs, and other stuff, just to keep myself moving.

I absolutely loved it, and plan to do it again on Friday!  That is, if I can stay healthy and uninjured between now and then. 

Wish me luck ;-)

Setback

So - as Murphy's Law would have it - as soon as I start working out regularly and getting excited about going to the gym, I get hurt!

This afternoon, while I was doing squats, I felt weakness in my legs and really struggled to complete the squat. When I moved onto lunges, I couldn't do it at all.  I felt something sort of pop and now have a pain in my lower back/glute area. I could barely walk to the train to go home.

When I got home, I took Advil and laid down with a heating pad; it's a little better, but I've decided not to continue with that program. I couldn't afford to have the trainer work with me, so I think I was doing one or more of the exercises incorrectly and strained myself.  

For now, I'm sticking with cardio, swimming, and maybe an aerobics-type class.  I popped my head into a class called Zumba Toning, and it looked like something I could do.  But for the next week, if my back/butt continues to bother me, I'll stick with walking and swimming.

I just want to keep doing something because I'm in a groove now and don't want to stop!! 

**UPDATE**
Took a walk around my complex/neighborhood this afternoon for about 40 minutes.  At first, I went fairly slow, but then felt pretty good and picked up my pace a bit.  Then suddenly, I felt the pain again and had to stop, and I've been sore the rest of the evening.  I won't let it stop me - I'll definitely walk again tomorrow - but I'll take it a little slower.  And maybe swimming a couple times next week will help.

Thursday, November 3

EXERCISE:  TREADMILL

• Time:  45 minutes
• Distance:  2.05 miles
• Calories Burned:  217

Some good choices and bad choices today. 

The good:  At the gym, I intended to do 30 minutes on the treadmill, but pushed myself to keep going and wound up doing 45 minutes.  Also, I made pasta for dinner:  for Alex, I mixed it with fattening alfredo sauce, but for myself, I mixed in broccoli and diced tomatoes sauteed in olive oil and garlic.  Yummy!!!  And instead of a whole grilled chicken breast, I only ate half. 

The bad:  I was absolutely starving late at night and dying for something with fat in it, so I raided the potato chips.  However, once I entered my food and exercise into my livestrong.com diary for the day, I still came out under my allotted calories for the day.  Go figure...

My stuff from swimoutlet.com came last night!  I got a new bathing suit, a lycra and a silicone bathing cap, goggles, and a new gym bag.  Tonight is my program night, so I'll start swimming next week.  Can't wait!

SO sore!!!

Every muscle in my body hurts today!  I can barely sit or get back up without pain.  Even putting on clothes hurt this morning!

I very obviously worked my back and arms, glutes and hamstrings, and about a dozen other muscles I can't name.  Haven't worked most of these muscles in at least 5 years, so this is going to take some getting used to.

I wish I had my swim stuff so that I could stretch out in the pool today.  I'm really looking foward to that.

I woke up late and not feeling well, so I rushed out the door without packing my food for the day.  I eat so much better when I plan ahead.  Today has been carb day.  I have such a hard time avoiding carbs!!  I really need to do some research, because I'm eating things like yogurt and apples and both have tons of carbs!!

Ugh, being healthy is freaking hard work!!

EXERCISE: 11/01/11 (Starting the new program)

Started my new workout program tonight. 

WARMUP EXERCISES

• Figure 4 Drops
• Open Book Stretch
• Bridges
• Half-kneeling Cable Chops
• Single Leg Lowering (against wall)
• Squat Progression

SUPERSETS:

• Smith Machine push ups  /  Modified Reverse Lunges

• Cable Rows  /  Run stairs

• Modified Kettlebell Deadlift  /  Single Leg Touch

• Anti-Rotation Cable Press  /  Bench Squat

• Tricep Pushdown (cable)*

This is technically not a superset; Charlene added this in because she said women always ask her for exercises for their arms to get rid of the "bat wings," LOL.

It look me about 50 minutes to get through it.  I was only able to do two supersets; after I was done, I could barely walk.  But I got through it and it felt good!!

I've been eating better, too.  I've been tracking calories on livestrong.com.  I'm  not trying to starve myself - I had pizza for dinner tonight - but it helps to see what I've been eating in black and white.  My biggest problem is carbs - I absolutely crave carbs all the time.  But I hope that as I add in more protein, fruits and veggies, I won't be as hungry for the carbs.  (She says, as she eats a bowl of cereal before bed.  Oh well...)