food log- let's get specific

I am committed to eating a healthy diet with the goal of preventing/delaying recurrence (and feeling great as a bonus). I follow the Weight Watchers core plan and also use the Beck Diet solution. Keeping a food journal is part of both programs. I wonder if there are other women out there doing the same or similar? I would like to share my daily food log and wonder if others might like to do the same. The benefit in this is that it would help me stay honest with myself and on track and we could also learn from one another. Please post if you are interested. I'll be glad to start with my report once I know if there's an interest out there. Allyson

Suzy and OBB/very cute dog woman. Excellent! Suzy, I guess I just answered my own question re: which thread you read.I now that I have company I am already more motivated. Part of the Beck approach, at least initially, is planning your meals ahead. I slacked off on this during treatment after my brain got fuzzy but I am going to get back to it now (like after I write this). I have done really well with these 2 approaches which I started just before I was dx with the breast cancer in May. It gave me a good head start at making healthy, research-supported, lifestyle changes that may prevent or delay (hopefully prevent obviously!) recurrence. The Beck method- for those who aren't familiar, is the "Beck Diet Solution" by Judith Beck- very well known cognitive behavioral psychologist- there's a book and also a workbook. I don't go to Weight Watchers meetings but have the program materials from when I joined in the past and follow on my own. You can join on line if this appeals to you. It's not too expensive and is user friendly. Some people may have another diet approach that they prefer. I think it is really important to do something that you can maintain as a lifestyle and that fits with the recommendations for women with breast cancer (i.e., plant based, lowfat, healthy oils, etc.). I have lost weight VERY slowly but also consistently and relatively painlessly. At the time I was diagnosed in May 2007 I was at 143. At the start of chemo I was 138, at the end of chemo (10/4/07) I was 136, and today I am 128.6. I wasn't sick during chemo but focused on not gaining versus trying to lose. My goal is to get to the lowest end of my healthy weight range 116-120.

I realize that some people are not comfortable saying what they weigh- there's no pressure to do so. Okay. I am going to get to work on my Beck tasks since I started this. Looking forward to doing this together. Allyson

Today's food log

Breakfast: oatmeal, 1 T bran, 2 T wheat germ, 1/4 c dried cranberries, 1 t brown sugar, 1 c almond milk, 2 Brazil nuts

2 c. 1/2 caf coffee w/ l.f. organic milk 2 t sugar

(You will soon see that I eat this, or some variation, nearly every day. It's my favorite breakfast.)

Lunch: lg bowl lentil soup (I made it yesterday) w/ organic spinach (frozen chopped), carrots, tomato, celery

2 slices whole grain bread, 1 t butter

snack: 1/2 c. All Bran, 1/2 c frozen blueberries, almond milk, 1 raw carrot, 2 tiny squares organic milk chocolate (1/8 of a small bar)

1c blk tea, 2 c decaf green tea

Dinner: Whole wheat penne w/ carmelized onion, broccoli, pine nuts, and olives- 2 t olive oil (recipe from Debra Madison's "Vegetarian Suppers" , the newest addition to my cookbook collection.

Baby romaine, roasted beets, w/ Annie's lf raspberry vinegrette.

Exercise: Moved wood 45 minutes- emptying truck and stacking it in the shed.

Still thinking re: tomorrow's menus. Breakfast and lunch will likely be repeats. Dinner will probably involve kale because we have a bundle of it taking up the bottom of the fridge.

Tender- Welcome. Glad to see you here. I always enjoy/get a lot out of reading your posts. Wow, re: yesterday's food log for you- I'm a big eater pretty much no matter what. Allyson

 Tender-

Hope the pain issue gets resolved. Certainly that along with meds can ruin your appetite. Re: the calcium. I know- this stuff can drive me crazy. However, the more I read about calcium, the more it sounds like the biggest issue is losing it from your bones versus not taking enough in. Still I do as you do almost exactly- supplement with calcium, magnesium, and D3 1000, and forego other supplements in favor of getting my nutrients from real food.

There are a lot of good whole grain pastas out there- Full Circle Organic (Big Y Brand?) is good- smooth texture, chewy as pasta should be. Barilla also is good. It's a multi-grain that has extra protein (not from soy!)

As far as the bran- I'd rather stick with real wheat bran in my oatmeal and All-Bran than the Citracel-it's part of my real food mentality.

I think you would love the Debra Madison book- it's beautiful for one thing. My daughter has been using it almost exclusively since she bought her copy (which in turn led me to go out and buy my own copy). The recipe I made last night was actually very quick and simple to prepare, as are most of her recipes.

I love salmon too- crave it sometimes. We stick with the wild caught. I hadn't heard of the organic farm raised- definitely healthier than non-organic- they must not crowd them so much as most farm raised or they'd have the disease issues.

I was diligent this morning and planned our meals for the week, then Jim and I went shopping. He's working on dinner while I am writing this and enjoying the night off.

Food log, Sunday 1/13/07- Weight today 128.0

Breakfast: 1 sl. whole grain bread w/pumpkin butter; 8 oz low acid orange juice; 2 Brazil nuts; 1/2 caf coffee x 2 w/lf organic milk, 2 t. sugar

Lunch: 1 sl. whole grain bread; lg bowl lentil soup w/ organic spinach, carrot, tomato

Snacks: g. tea decaf x 2; blk tea x1; 1/2 t sugar, 3 sm. homemade oatmeal cookies (low sugar, mostly whole grain)

Dinner: 3oz seared tuna steak (wild caught); light wasabi mayo w/ scallion; 2 c. dk. greens; 1/2 c. grated carrot; 1/2 c. red and yellow beets; 1/4 c. red pepper; 2 T broccoli sprouts; 1/2 baked sweet potato; 2 T Annie's lf Gingerly Vinagrette dressing; 1/2 baked regular potato

Exercise: 20 min walk- beat from moving wood yestereday- still recovering from rads which ended 12/18/07

Looking forward to more food log sharing and food talk together.

Be well (and well fed). Allyson

Hi Tender, Lynne, Suzy (waiting in the wings), others(?),

Just got home from work and I'm ready for bed! Lynne- I do the weekend cooking and planning ahead too. Definitely paid off tonight with the leftover minestrone and roasted beets. Come to think of it lunch was leftovers too. On dogs- we have 2- a longhaired standard dashshund and a cardigan welsh corgi. Isabella the cat is boss around here. I've just learned to post pics- maybe tomorrow I'll post something here. Tender- I found that thread re: the estrogenic foods.

Wednesday 1/16/08 Food log

Breakfast Half caf coffee x2, lf organic milk, 2 t sugar; 2 brazil nuts

1 c. OJ, 1 c. Kashi 7 grain flakes, 1 c. almond milk

Lunch 1 c. dk. greens, 1/2  baked potato, 2 oz tuna steak, 1 t. light wasabi mayo, 1/2 c. blueberries, 1/2 sm. chocolate bar

Snacks apple, 1/2 c All Bran, 1/8 c. dried cranberries, green tea x2

Dinner Minestrone soup- homemade heavy on the kale and carrots, 1 sl. basil parm. whole grain bread, 1/2 t. butter, 2 c. + dk. greens, roasted beets, carrot, onion , celery. Annie's lf raspberry vinagrette.

No working out- I did't plan well. Tomorrow  will do it early so the day doesn't get away from me. Allyson

Lynne- If I can learn to post pics anyone can- trust me on this. If you want go to the "post chemo spa" thread and look at the recent postings by Raye- she coached me through it. I can help you if you have questions. On this thread you'll also see some pics I posted yesterday.

On corgis- Gus is a cardigan corgi versus a pembroke corgi- the cardigans are different in that they have big fluffly tails, are a bit bigger, come in different colors, and are quieter and more reserved. Gus is AWESOME at 11 years old he plays like a puppy and is great with the cat and the other dog (female dashshund). He does not like strange men or male dogs but that is his issue- not a breed characteristic I don't think. I got his as a rescue- he's an ex-show dog oddly enough- had some kind of breakdown and was EXTREMELY fearful when I got him 6 years ago- he's really come around and is mostly over it. In the past I had a Pembroke corgi- Emma- who was great- noiser and more outgoing than Gus who almost never barks. It would be fun to share some dog and food pics. Allyson

Good morning! Right behind you Lynne.

Breakfast- oatmeal, 1 T bran, 2T wheat germ, 1/8 c dried cranberries, 1 c almond milk, 2 Brazil nuts, 2 c my usual 1/2 caf coffee, 1 c orange juice

Lunch- Minestrone soup (homemade w/organic vegs, lots of kale)- lg bowl, 1 sl. whole grain parmesan and basil bread, 1 t organic butter, g. tea X 2

Dinner- exact same thing as lunch

Exercise- 20 min walk/run, 20 min dog walk

I had packed snacks and brought them to work but then things were so busy I never ate them.

Today is a day off- much needed- I am doing some cooking ahead- the next week or two will be very busy and I want to be prepared.

Here's a nice quick soup recipe:

Creamy Root Soup

4 c veg broth

1 lg onion, chopped

1 lg potato, chopped

2 lg carrots, sliced

1 med. rutabaga, peeled and chopped

1 lg sweet potato, chopped

1 1/2 t salt

1/2 t ground ginger

1/2 t cumin

1/2 t turmeric

1/8 t crushed red pepper (I omit this)

4 c. washed, coarsely chopped fresh spinach

Cook onion in 1/2 c broth till soft. Add everything except spinach. Simmer 30 min, add spinach and cook 5 min more.

This recipe is either from Nutrition MD or Physician's for Responsible

Medicine- they promote vegan eating for cancer survival- have some points but not for everyone. Regardless of what you think of their recommendations the recipes (that I've tried so far) have been great.

Allyson