Friday, October 21, 2011

Would you like plastic with that oatmeal? (167.4)

Because of my new work schedule, I've been having to eat part of my breakfast at work. I usually have my homemade soy latte, an egg & a few bites of oatmeal at home, then bring the rest of my oatmeal to work & finish it at my desk.  This is a new routine for me; I usually only eat a snack and lunch at work.

Last week I reheated my oatmeal in a plastic glad ware container, and the whole thing tasted like burnt plastic.  Blech.

I know reheating food in plastic is a horrible idea.  At home I don't, but at work I will sometimes heat anything that won't stay on a paper plate in the glad ware containers I bring the food in. 

After the oatmeal incident, I decided it was time to invest in glass containers.

I've looked at them at Target before, but they were a fortune.  I found a set on Amazon called Snapware for $45.  There were mixed reviews about the durability of the lids and the glass, and indeed, the large container arrived with one of the snaps broken off.  It wasn't a huge deal--it's not a container I'd bring with me to work, which is the only time I need seal-tight lids--so I just kept it and didn't bother with a return. I needed the containers right away. 

The rest of the bowls and rectangular dishes have been great.  They seal tight and don't leak, they have gone through a couple dishwasher cycles & the seals are still OK.  I haven't broken any yet.  I'm very happy to have the set and glad I won't be filling our bodies with toxic plastic any more.

Any my oatmeal this morning tastes like oatmeal (and pumpkin and peanut butter and cinnamon, 'cause that's how I roll).

***
My weight yesterday was 167.4, too.  I had lunch with friends at Panera yesterday, 2/3rds of a chicken salad sandwich, and I expected my weight to bump up today. I was surprised & happy it stayed the same.  It's my lowest weight yet this year.  I'm half a pound away from losing 20 pounds.

My clothes are fitting better and better, and I'm feeling better.  I really want to be in size 10s by Thanksgiving.  I have very few fall clothes in 12s, and am just wearing the same clothes over and over (I barely have enough to get through one week without doing laundry, but I manage) until I lose more weight.  I have two pairs of jeans in 10s but nothing else for fall, so I'll have to buy a few pieces when I get to 160.  I'm looking forward to it.  

To that end, I'm working out regularly now.  Pilates on Tuesday, weights at lunch and a 75 minute walk at night with my friend Debra on Wednesday, weights tonight, and a 5 mile run tomorrow morning with the girls.  Princess Half Marathon (in February) training starts this weekend; it's the first time I'll train for a race with other women, and I'm really excited about that. I can FINALLY share my love for running with friends In Real Life.   Hooray for exercise!

5 comments:

Vickie said...

I buy Anchor Hocking at Meijier or Walmart. They are still made in america and are glass container, plastic lid.

The seals would not work fully if the container was upside down or on its side with soup for example, but they work fine right side up with nonliquid stuff.

we use no plastic in the microwave and I am nearly to no plastic in the refrigerator. But it has taken me a while.

NOTE- FOr the things I make that go in the freezer (soup for example) they are still in plastic. And as I think about it, a rectangle in tupperware is not seal proof either.

I just bought 4 more (round, 4cup) glass last night and I think they were less than $4 each.

I just buy a few pieces every once in a while as I see what size I need more. This particular (4 cup round) size everyone likes for soup as there is a lot of bowl left so the soup does not slosh.

I warm soup for youngest's packed lunch every day. I microwave it in one bowl, put it in her thermos and then rinse the same bowl and use it for my oatmeal and then my omlete. One bowl for 3 things makes me feel good every single day. (The amount of dirty dishes at our house is staggering).

My favorite glass size is rectangle, a couple quarts for leftovers in the refrigerator because they stack beautifully and what is inside can be seen. (I just went and looked for you they are 2.75 quarts)

Since I cook ahead a lot - this is important. I will make a whole batch of something and it goes directly in refrigerator (last night I made large batch of rice and then chicken/spinach/kidney bean middle east dish for ME and then another spinach dish for youngest and it all went in 3 containers in refrigerator. that was 3 cups of dry rice to start the finished batch was almost exactly 2.75 quarts).

how is it you have no clothes in smaller sizes? I was picturing that you had piles you were going to be so glad to get back to wearing. did you get rid of them? or wrong size/season? what size were you in at your lowest before and for how long?

Tim Gunn had a very short lived show were he what not to weared someone and then got them started with a very small amount of things that really worked.

Vickie said...

I am pasting the whole thing (I found) here because I had a hard time finding it:


On Bravo's TV show Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, the star outlines a shopping list for clothing that make a good foundation for any woman's wardrobe.



The Ten Essential Wardrobe Elements as devised by Tim Gunn are practical pieces around which you can build your wardrobe.

Tim Gunn is the star of a reality makeover television show on Bravo called Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. He became well known from Bravo's hit TV show Project Runway, where he counseled contestants on their stylish creations.

The Ten Elements are mostly classic pieces, but what's important is whether they fit you properly, are not outdated, and bring out your best features.

The following is the shopping list of Tim Gunn's 10 essential items, with helpful hints from this article's author.

If you would like more advice from Tim Gunn, read his book A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style or watch his show on the Bravo channel on Thursday nights.

Vickie said...

his show was on in 2007 for 2 seasons and is long gone - here is more -

Vickie said...

Basic Black Dress - The basic black dress has been around for a long time. It is often called the "Little Black Dress", and it's true that shorter skirts on the basic black dress, when they hit you in the right place, can be more flattering than a long black dress.

Trench Coat - The trench coat is one of the pieces that is both classic and currently a hot fashion item. Most any store sells this piece now. It is great for fall and you can pick it up in a wide range of lengths.

Dress Pants - Although it doesn't say black, this is probably what you want to look for. Black is flattering on all figures and goes with everything.

Classic Shirt - The white shirt is a definite classic. But it can also come in many different styles to make it look trendy and not dated or like a man's piece of clothing. Find one that accentuates your best attributes and minimizes trouble spots. For example, if you have wide shoulders, stay away from large collars.

Jeans - Everyone has a pair of jeans, but does everyone have a pair of jeans that make them look great? The wider leg, low-rise jean style has been popular (and still is) but a narrower leg is coming back along with a higher waist, which eliminates the unflattering "muffin top" look.

Any Occasion Top - Find something you look great in that can look respectable under a jacket but bring on the fun after hours.
Skirt - If you need dress pants then you also need a skirt. A skirt is womanly and can be flirty or businesslike. Nowadays women do not wear many skirts or dresses, which makes a lot of them fall into a rut of dressing sloppily or like men. See number 8.


Day Dress - Women also are not wearing as many dresses anymore. It was certainly liberating to go from the '50s when women wore dresses every day to wearing more practical pants for gardening, exercising, and so forth. But the dress does not have to be abandoned altogether. They can be very flattering, and there is nothing wrong with "dressing up" for daytime.


Jacket - A jacket does not have to be masculine. Find one with a proper, fitted shape. Women's jackets should follow the silhouette of a woman's body and accent the hourglass curve at her waist. It is also a perfect piece to put with the skirt or dress pants, and white shirt. Or make it casual with a pair of jeans.

Sweatsuit Alternative - As mentioned before, women wear fewer skirts and dresses these days. But some women have taken casual to the extreme and spend days on end in sweatsuits. It is possible to be casual and comfortable without looking like a slob. Find a comfortable material (that's why this doesn't say jeans again – denim is not as comfortable as a nice soft cotton) that you would want to wear every day. It could be khakis, cords, a cotton dress, or much more.

Bonus: One Indulgent Trendy Item

(In the second season, the Jacket replaces the Blazer on Tim's list, and the Any Occasion Top replaces the Cashmere Sweater.)

https://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=237380306915&topic=11880

or

http://kelly-whitt.suite101.com/tim-gunns-10-essential-elements-a31173

Laura N said...

Thanks for the info on the glass containers and Tim Gunn. I need some larger round containers & will look for the Anchor Hocking brand.

I have enough bottoms for fall in size 12s. I mostly need tops and maybe a dress. I am hoping that by winter I'll be back to 10, and I'll have more clothes then.