Fortunes, salmon cakes and Paleo?

My fortune from yesterday.  I actually really loved getting this one!

Can you tell I had nothing for a title?  You wanna know what gets my knickers in a knot?  When people either say to my face, or through someone else, that there is no way that during the time that I have changed my lifestyle, that I have not "fallen off the wagon" and had a full out cheat. Apparently, it's just too hard for some people to fathom that someone could be so committed to their health.  I have actually been called a liar in a round about way a few times.  I mean, I don't care what others think, but I have been very committed to my weight-loss efforts over the past year and a half, and have paid attention to my eating 100%. That being said, I have struggles just like everyone else.  I have had my biggest issue with eating too much of a good thing.  While I was on maintenance, I had to be very careful with nuts and could only eat them in controlled portions.  I can't purchase bulk nuts ever!

I have always planned ahead and because of this, I have been able to stay on plan in every situation I have been in.  I'm not saying it has been a total walk in the park.  Planning ahead takes a lot of effort and it sucks big time in some situations (ie: celebrations).  But I'd rather go hungry than eat off plan.  I don't get food like McDonald's or other greasy stuff if there's nothing else available.  But I also don't recall ever being in that situation.  And quite frankly, if I were to eat McDonald's at this time, I'd be on the toilet stat!  I know my stomach would not even be able to process that crap.  Or processed sugar or carbs for that matter.  I've been without it for too long.

I have one week left of Phase 1 to do.  I'm moving onto my version of Phase 2 on the 13th of April. It is my comfortable eating place, and that is where I'll stay.  It works for me.  I won't ever really go onto Phase 3 of the diet because that's maintenance and includes things like bread and pasta and rice.  I'll likely never have those things again, and I'm okay with that.  Those were my binge/trigger foods and they will not be making an appearance back into my life.  I'd just rather not go there. And even though I thought at one time that I could never live without them, I have for a year and a half and I'm fine.  The world did not come to an end!  I maintain well at my version of Phase 2, so that will be my permanent happy eating place.  I've toyed with going Paleo, but I'll maintain for a while before making that sort of commitment   It's not that different than how I eat on Phase 2, and I truly think I will be staying away from dairy permanently, so it shouldn't be too difficult a transition if I decide to go that way. The hardest thing would be giving up my red wine...

Regardless of what the scale says on Tuesday for my weigh-in, I know for sure I have gotten smaller.  The one person (besides my husband) who would know for certain would be my massage therapist.  He hadn't seen me for two weeks and when I saw him the other day, he told me that he could see that I've lost a bunch of weight.  He told me I have more pronounced muscle definition and I was definitely leaner.  He would know.  No one sees or touches my body the way that he does (in a professional manner of course).

Beautiful running weather.

This morning I woke to a -6C temperature for my 8K.  I bitched and moaned about the cold, but the sun was out and by the time I got out to the rail trail, it warmed up a few degrees and I had a fabulous run.  It was one of those runs where I wanted to just keep on going.  I was watching my shadow as I ran and although my outer thighs are still pretty wobbly, I liked watching them because it was a huge motivator to keep on going.  Something else I noticed was that my inner thighs have a very pronounced space between them.  That is also a huge motivator for me because I never want to see them rub together again.  The main reason I'd get rid of pants when I was morbidly obese was because I wore my inner thighs out.  NEVER AGAIN!

After my run this morning I made salmon cakes with left over salmon from a couple of nights ago. They were pretty delish.  I had about a cup and a half of salmon, two eggs, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1/4 cup of the Flax Rye Bread Mix from the Ontario Nutrition Store (I use it as filler for all meatballs, burgers, meatloaf), green onion (sliced thin) and half salt and pepper to taste.  I mixed the whole thing up, formed into patties and fried them in a bit of canola oil.  I served mine on sauteed cabbage, hubby made his into a wrap.  Yummo!  I will definitely be making those again.

Salmon cakes.

My filler.

I was quick thinking enough to make sugar-free jello this afternoon.  I'm so looking forward to eating it tonight as my snack.  I'm not gonna lie, I miss fruit terribly.  The jello kills my craving for fruit.  Tomorrow is my long run.  14K!  I'm gonna have to go a bit Phase 2 (I'll have my hard boiled eggs and 2 tbsp of natural peanut butter) to fuel up for my run and may need to have an energy gummie or two during my run.  It's very hard to stick to strict Phase 1 during 1/2 marathon training long runs.  Thank goodness there's only a week left before I move onto my happy eating place aka Phase 2.  And I'm really looking forward to a glass of red wine!