2013 Resolutions/Goals

Things I'd like to do in the next year...

1. Cut down on pop & artificial sugar consumption. I'm thinking I need to limit myself to 24oz a day. So, 2 12oz. cans or 1 20 oz. bottle. THIS INCLUDES ENERGY DRINKS.

2. Come up with and stick to a manageable budget. I always come up with stupidly unattainable goals for a budget then I fail spectacularly and spend several months catching up. I need to come up with something better.

3. Go to the gym 12 times per month. We have the membership now. We should use it. We'll see how crazy it is around the new year, but

4. Stop making excuses about allergies. I allow myself to eat potato chips and tomatoes occasionally. I don't check information when I eat out. I don't want to do this. I'm tired of being sick. This leads into #5.

5. Get back on a keto/paleo/low-carb diet. I feel better, I can maybe lose a little more weight. If only Moose would join me, it would be easy!

6. Get into art and music more. I intended to do something spectacular this year with music, but the goals were a little too lofty. I want to actually develop my hobbies instead of just think about what I would do if I had the time. Sundays have already morphed into cleaning days around our house, so maybe I can find time then.

Food and Diet

I've made a lot of changes in how I eat over the last year.  I think all of them make me feel a lot better, a lot healthier, and just less sick in general.  Turns out finding out about all of the things that have been making your sick does a lot for your physical well being.  It sucks, but it's worth it.

But... I'm left with very few "vice" or "comfort" foods.  I turn to eating excessive amounts of Old Dutch potato chips and ice cream.  These things are fine in moderation, but once I have a taste, I want the whole bag/pint/etc.

The best I have ever felt would have to be when I was following an extremely low carb diet.  I would love to get back to that.  Bonus: I could lose that last 15-20 pounds I have hanging around before I'm back in the "normal' BMI range.

Using the keto calculator, I can determine what sort of calories, protein, fats, and carbs I should be following.  It gives me the information below (for a 6.5lb loss per month).  Also, I really just like the round numbers.

1400	kcal Net Calories Consumed
25	g Carbohydrates (7%)
100	g Protein (29%)
100	g Fat (64%)

I'll eventually need to tweak this, but I think these are good guidelines for me to follow. 

I may still splurge a bit over the holidays, but it's hard when you can't eat flour, corn starch, or soy...  I might be able to have some treats if I make them myself, but I'm not hopeful.  I did find an awesome recipe I could make keto-friendly.  Maybe I'll try it for the christmas party.  Substitute sugar for sugar-free sweetener, sub cool whip for heavy cream, use dark chocolate/unsweetened cocoa for the chocolate. I think it has great potential!  Heck, I might even make it with normal sugar if I feel up to it.  It only has 1/3 cup as it is... that may or may not be taking into account the sugar from the cool whip, though.  WORTH A SHOT!

Another LoL halloween costume idea

I got a dress like this from Charlotte Russe for $5.

I've been trying to decide what to use it for, so here's a half-assed halloween costume idea... sexy female astronaut teemo.

Plus, I already have (something like) these:

So, to complete the costume, I would need:

1. A helmet.
With modifications to face shield, adding ears, etc.

Another option would be dealer visor + ears:

2. A pair of snowboarding mittens, painted silver (or buy silver mittens...). Or could do something like this:

3.  A big (silver) belt.

4.  Dryer vent hose (not required)

5.  Face paint.

6.  And making the blow gun/staff.

Crock Pot Indian Cuisine

Gotta try this!

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/12/crockpot-chicken-makhani-indian-butter.html

Costume Idea Dump - Arcade Sona

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Credit Card Crud

I have a credit card.  It has a modest limit.  It is tied to my main checking account.

It has grown fat and tired.  It has been over used.  It's too easy to buy things when you don't have to pay for them right away.

My credit card expires today.  I don't intend to activate my new card.  I'm not going to use it.  I'm not going to tie it to every goddamned online store and use it willy nilly.

I've made a couple of purchases online today.  Cards Against Humanity - Second Expansion, and another pair of slightly larger (and super onsale) Vibram 5 Finger running shoes.

Hopefully, putting things on my debit card (with a limited supply of money!) will help me to not buy things as much.  I've been doing better, but not as well as I had hoped.  Gencon kinda screwed up my savings plans.... and I haven't even paid Moose back yet.

Yay...

Let's see how this goes...

Nightshade

So, I was told at the allergy doctor that I am allergic to tomatoes.  Generally, a tomato allergy is a nightshade allergy.  Generally, this type of allergy causes joint pain, inflammation, and/or stomach discomfort.  I've been valiantly avoiding tomatoes since I got the results, but apparently I should also be avoiding:

• eggplant
• potatoes
• bell peppers
• spicy peppers
• cayenne
• paprika
• pimentos
• tomatillos

I haven't had bell peppers or anything for a while, but I have been eating potatoes and bell peppers and spicy things rather heavily.  I can't really be sure if these things are affecting me or not, but it probably can't hurt to cut them out for a while as well.  I know I had a really bad reaction to a meal a while ago that involved a baked potato, possibly undercooked. I should really be avoiding potatoes all together.

Not sure I can live without potato chips - might have to eat lots of pork rinds again.