Oy Vey.
What a past couple of weeks it has been. Everyone has been sick. The baby. The husband. The mommy. And while the baby is slowly improving, and the husband seems almost up to snuff, the mommy is declining. After finishing a round of antibiotics and using an albuterol inhaler, I'm still illin'. Also, not sleeping, since I can't breathe. It feels like I'm being smothered. All this lung crap is making any decent rest implausible...not to mention it's hard to sleep when you are hacking and coughing all night.
Headed to the doctor tomorrow. Er. Well, today.
As far as the food and fitness and such is concerned...Well, I've not fallen off any major wagons, but I have certainly not been focused. Mostly, all I can think about is how to get the baby taken care of, and me not lose the little immune system I have left.
I weighed myself today and I weigh the exact same amount I did three weeks ago. I'm chalking this up as a victory.
I have my gym membership, and as soon as I can do any physical activity without being sent into fits of bronchial spasms, I'm headed there with a vengeance. If this were just a cold, I'd have been there already, but I'm weak and lung congestion doesn't do well with arduous exercise.
Until then, I'm keeping it chill.
Will report back upon better health.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Den of Insickquity
This is a sick house. We are all laid up with the "epizudik" as my father calls it.
Regularly scheduled programming to return shortly.
Regularly scheduled programming to return shortly.
Friday, February 11, 2011
You gotta giiiiiive a little
Confession time.
Last night...er....early this morning...I ate TWO peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. In TWO different sittings. Let me make myself feel better for a second please: The bread was whole wheat rounds (smaller and much thinner) the pb was all natural. The jam was no sugar added. SO, it was a healthier pbj than usual. But STILL!
I used to do this thing I dubbed "sleep eating." I'd wake up in a fog, go down some crap, and come back to bed. WAY bad for the hips and thighs. I nipped that in the bud after the baby came along. I noticed I was feeling a little discouraged about my lack of February weight loss the last couple days (off and on, been fighting it successfully-mostly) and maybe I was noshing to deal with that emotion. Then, the big ol' PBJ sleep eating affair. Oh dear.
You know what though? I ain't got nothing but love for myself about it. I COULD get discouraged and be all "I GIVE UP! IT'S USELESS!" Which, I've done in days past. But why? This is a LIFE I'm trying to lead here...not a couple pounds that MUST be shed immediately. And, in life, sometimes one wakes up at three am and heads to the kitchen and makes a rather healthy version of the former pbj they used to consume, and they eat it and then do it again, and then go back to sleep and then they blog about it. Yes. It happens in life. And since it happens, you gotta roll with it.
Which leads me to opportunity cost. My husband teaches social studies and economically speaking, when you choose one thing, you usually trade it in for another. This applies to lots of things, and also-Food! Wherein I noted that I had eaten TWO pbjs in the middle of the night, do you know what I did? I'll tell you. I ate lightly today. No, I didn't deprive myself food or purge. I merely lightened up the load to compensate.
Dinner tonight is a fabulous meal out with my husband at my MOPS group. (Mothers of Preschoolers). I'm super excited to sit and eat some delicious fare, and enjoy the sweet company. I will NOT feel bad about eating almost whatever I desire. Do you know why? Because it's life. And I compensate. It's true that if you don't pick a diet (way of eating-not way of losing weight) you can live with, then you are picking a diet you won't succeed with. Why on earth would I miss out on something so enjoyable? Life is meant to be enjoyed.
The reason I'm ok with not having lost weight this week is because our bodies, like our lives, are cyclical and I can't force change. I can only offer myself a fertile ground that provides the opportunity for my body and health to bear fruit. You gotta give a little and take a little and this is how I think I can last the long haul. Because I'm in it for the long haul. And yes, I'd like to drop them L.B.'s quicker than later, but I dare not put a number on the scale above the ultimate goal of strength, purity, energy, and clean living.
So, I raise my wine glass to some great cabernet, and I dig my fork in for that chocolate cake. It IS valentine's day weekend after all!
Last night...er....early this morning...I ate TWO peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. In TWO different sittings. Let me make myself feel better for a second please: The bread was whole wheat rounds (smaller and much thinner) the pb was all natural. The jam was no sugar added. SO, it was a healthier pbj than usual. But STILL!
I used to do this thing I dubbed "sleep eating." I'd wake up in a fog, go down some crap, and come back to bed. WAY bad for the hips and thighs. I nipped that in the bud after the baby came along. I noticed I was feeling a little discouraged about my lack of February weight loss the last couple days (off and on, been fighting it successfully-mostly) and maybe I was noshing to deal with that emotion. Then, the big ol' PBJ sleep eating affair. Oh dear.
You know what though? I ain't got nothing but love for myself about it. I COULD get discouraged and be all "I GIVE UP! IT'S USELESS!" Which, I've done in days past. But why? This is a LIFE I'm trying to lead here...not a couple pounds that MUST be shed immediately. And, in life, sometimes one wakes up at three am and heads to the kitchen and makes a rather healthy version of the former pbj they used to consume, and they eat it and then do it again, and then go back to sleep and then they blog about it. Yes. It happens in life. And since it happens, you gotta roll with it.
Which leads me to opportunity cost. My husband teaches social studies and economically speaking, when you choose one thing, you usually trade it in for another. This applies to lots of things, and also-Food! Wherein I noted that I had eaten TWO pbjs in the middle of the night, do you know what I did? I'll tell you. I ate lightly today. No, I didn't deprive myself food or purge. I merely lightened up the load to compensate.
Dinner tonight is a fabulous meal out with my husband at my MOPS group. (Mothers of Preschoolers). I'm super excited to sit and eat some delicious fare, and enjoy the sweet company. I will NOT feel bad about eating almost whatever I desire. Do you know why? Because it's life. And I compensate. It's true that if you don't pick a diet (way of eating-not way of losing weight) you can live with, then you are picking a diet you won't succeed with. Why on earth would I miss out on something so enjoyable? Life is meant to be enjoyed.
The reason I'm ok with not having lost weight this week is because our bodies, like our lives, are cyclical and I can't force change. I can only offer myself a fertile ground that provides the opportunity for my body and health to bear fruit. You gotta give a little and take a little and this is how I think I can last the long haul. Because I'm in it for the long haul. And yes, I'd like to drop them L.B.'s quicker than later, but I dare not put a number on the scale above the ultimate goal of strength, purity, energy, and clean living.
So, I raise my wine glass to some great cabernet, and I dig my fork in for that chocolate cake. It IS valentine's day weekend after all!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
List-full.
1. Gym membership reinstated. BOOYAH! Now, to get my lazy, loves to sleep, five more minutes please-butt up and out of bed BEFORE my child, or BEFORE I collapse into bed at night.
2. I feel livelier (is that a word?). Haven't lost any weight in the last week or so, but it's aaaaall good. I feel spunky.
3. I hid the sugar, white flour and processed crap in the very very bottom of my pantry. Nobody in this house is doing all those bend-low squats to get to it...
4. I made a delicious protein smoothie today, USING the protein mix I bought about three years ago. I hate protein powder, but somehow, my magical powers helped me make one that masked the gritty nasty taste of the protein. Righteous.
5. Listening to "In defense of Food" by Michael Pollan on audiobook. Interesting stuff.
6. Reading "Food Rules" by the same. Also interesting.
7. New Goals:
a. "don't stop beliiiiieeeeving" aka, It's been over a month, keep your momentum and motivation up. Keep on keeping on, sister
b. be more precise about measuring out food and recording those measurments UNTIL I have a good idea of what one cup, one tablespoon, etc., really looks like.
c. eat all food at the dining table. (I predict this one will be the killer).
d. get my exercise on and on a schedule. and think turtle. "slow and steady wins the race."
e. never try and trim my own bangs again. Not food related, but I think you'll agree it's a good resolution if you've seen my bangs.
2. I feel livelier (is that a word?). Haven't lost any weight in the last week or so, but it's aaaaall good. I feel spunky.
3. I hid the sugar, white flour and processed crap in the very very bottom of my pantry. Nobody in this house is doing all those bend-low squats to get to it...
4. I made a delicious protein smoothie today, USING the protein mix I bought about three years ago. I hate protein powder, but somehow, my magical powers helped me make one that masked the gritty nasty taste of the protein. Righteous.
5. Listening to "In defense of Food" by Michael Pollan on audiobook. Interesting stuff.
6. Reading "Food Rules" by the same. Also interesting.
7. New Goals:
a. "don't stop beliiiiieeeeving" aka, It's been over a month, keep your momentum and motivation up. Keep on keeping on, sister
b. be more precise about measuring out food and recording those measurments UNTIL I have a good idea of what one cup, one tablespoon, etc., really looks like.
c. eat all food at the dining table. (I predict this one will be the killer).
d. get my exercise on and on a schedule. and think turtle. "slow and steady wins the race."
e. never try and trim my own bangs again. Not food related, but I think you'll agree it's a good resolution if you've seen my bangs.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Dear Santa
I do realize that Christmas is about eleven months away, but I'd like to put in a request. In fact, Santa, you could deliver this for my birthday instead of Christmas and we could call it even. I'd like a CSA membership please, and a cookbook to show me what to do with all my produce goodies!
Yesterday at the library I was picking up my held books, "In defense of Food" and "Food Rules" by Michael Pollan (Reviews coming shortly!) The kind gentleman who was helping me find my books asked me if I was involved in a CSA. I was all, "customer service agent?" and he's all "idiot." But no, I digress. A CSA is a "Community Supported Agriculture" program. A local farm extends membership to a community for a price for a season. Generally, members pay up front for their produce, and over a season, the produce is available for pick-up once weekly. The produce is FRESH, like right out of the ground fresh. It's varietal. Generally this program is not for the picky of heart. Lots of new and interesting choices. It's supporting your local agriculture. Why buy from Mexico when you can buy from your neighbor down the road? Especially in our current economy, supporting local farmers seems increasingly important. It's organic. I know this is kind of a hot topic in my family. My husband is sloooooooowly recognizing the benefit of organic food in some areas. I'm sloooooowly learning the benefits of choosing organic foods. These foods are typically pesticide free, for those concerned about that issue. It's community oriented. There are frequently options to go pick your own food through out the week (GREAT IDEA FOR FAMILIES WITH KIDDOS! HOW FUN!) or go to a spot to pick up your food, or have it delivered. OR, in some areas, instead of paying for membership, the option to work the farm itself exists.
This video is a pretty good summary of what a CSA is all about. I get kind of giddy when I consider how much of a community impact this could/would have on our local farmers if we started to trend more towards this option. Not only the financial impact it could have on farmers, but the HEALTH impact it could have on me, and my family.
Food is pleasure and community and experience. God made it that way. There is pleasure and delight in eating and there is pleasure and delight in the sensory nature of food. I am overjoyed to rediscover this pleasure and love of food...of GOOD FOOD. Real food. Healthy food. Natural food.
So, Santa. I think I'm pretty convincing as to why a CSA membership would be an EXCELLENT choice for me this year. Considering your size, I'm betting you could do with a CSA membership too.
If you're interested, check this site out, and find one in your area!
Yesterday at the library I was picking up my held books, "In defense of Food" and "Food Rules" by Michael Pollan (Reviews coming shortly!) The kind gentleman who was helping me find my books asked me if I was involved in a CSA. I was all, "customer service agent?" and he's all "idiot." But no, I digress. A CSA is a "Community Supported Agriculture" program. A local farm extends membership to a community for a price for a season. Generally, members pay up front for their produce, and over a season, the produce is available for pick-up once weekly. The produce is FRESH, like right out of the ground fresh. It's varietal. Generally this program is not for the picky of heart. Lots of new and interesting choices. It's supporting your local agriculture. Why buy from Mexico when you can buy from your neighbor down the road? Especially in our current economy, supporting local farmers seems increasingly important. It's organic. I know this is kind of a hot topic in my family. My husband is sloooooooowly recognizing the benefit of organic food in some areas. I'm sloooooowly learning the benefits of choosing organic foods. These foods are typically pesticide free, for those concerned about that issue. It's community oriented. There are frequently options to go pick your own food through out the week (GREAT IDEA FOR FAMILIES WITH KIDDOS! HOW FUN!) or go to a spot to pick up your food, or have it delivered. OR, in some areas, instead of paying for membership, the option to work the farm itself exists.
This video is a pretty good summary of what a CSA is all about. I get kind of giddy when I consider how much of a community impact this could/would have on our local farmers if we started to trend more towards this option. Not only the financial impact it could have on farmers, but the HEALTH impact it could have on me, and my family.
Food is pleasure and community and experience. God made it that way. There is pleasure and delight in eating and there is pleasure and delight in the sensory nature of food. I am overjoyed to rediscover this pleasure and love of food...of GOOD FOOD. Real food. Healthy food. Natural food.
So, Santa. I think I'm pretty convincing as to why a CSA membership would be an EXCELLENT choice for me this year. Considering your size, I'm betting you could do with a CSA membership too.
If you're interested, check this site out, and find one in your area!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Spicy Turkey Barley Soup
The first time I had this soup, it wasn't made with Turkey. It was made with lean beef, and I fell in love at first slurp. My sister in law made it for my mother in law's birthday, and I'm pretty sure I had like, three bowls. It was one of the first things I ate (or drank, if you will) after my procedure, and in wintertime, it's just about one of the best things I can think of to sit down to on a cold night. Since we are slowly switching over to a healthier more holistic lifestyle, I thought I'd pick up ground turkey meat instead of ground beef. It was a GREAT deal, so it was a financial "no duh."
I used the turkey instead of the beef tonight and let me just tell you, friends....I notice NO difference. NONE. NOT A BIT OF DIFFERENCE.
So, from now on, I'll be eating my spicy beef and barley soup with turkey instead!
Recipe
1 pound of ground turkey
1/2 C pearled barley
3 8oz cans of tomato sauce
1 onion finely chopped
4 C water
2 t. salt
1.5 t. pepper
1 t. hot sauce
Brown the ground turkey in a dutch oven, then drain and return to dutch oven. Add onion, tom. sauce, and barley. Stir in water, salt/pepper and hot sauce. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and leave simmering for an hour.
*This goes especially well with a hearty/oaty bread or cornbread. YUM!
Excuse me while us two sickos go nurse ourselves back to health with some delicious soup! (also great for cleaning out the congestion! Hah!)
I used the turkey instead of the beef tonight and let me just tell you, friends....I notice NO difference. NONE. NOT A BIT OF DIFFERENCE.
So, from now on, I'll be eating my spicy beef and barley soup with turkey instead!
Recipe
1 pound of ground turkey
1/2 C pearled barley
3 8oz cans of tomato sauce
1 onion finely chopped
4 C water
2 t. salt
1.5 t. pepper
1 t. hot sauce
Brown the ground turkey in a dutch oven, then drain and return to dutch oven. Add onion, tom. sauce, and barley. Stir in water, salt/pepper and hot sauce. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and leave simmering for an hour.
*This goes especially well with a hearty/oaty bread or cornbread. YUM!
Excuse me while us two sickos go nurse ourselves back to health with some delicious soup! (also great for cleaning out the congestion! Hah!)
Friday, February 4, 2011
Get r done
Please pardon my corn, but I've got to share this with you: I love sappy, motivational, bring tears to your eyes, rev up your engines, make you believe you can do anything you wanna do, music. In fact, I have a whole playlist called "GSD" wherein I listen to nothing but inspirational tunes. These songs are for my GSD days. My "Get Schtuff Done."
It's really helpful. The moment the baby goes down for a nap, I put on my sneakers, lace em up, put on my earbuds and turn to the GSD playlist.
Some examples of what I keep on my GSD list:
{NO JUDGING! I directly mean this in correlation to having a Miley Cyrus song...}
Bad Romance: Lady Gaga
Stronger by Kanye West
Stronger by Brit Brit
See you again by Miley Cyrus
Fighter by Christina Aguilera
Everybody Dance Now by CC Music Factory
In my Head by Jason Derulo
Tik Tok & We r who we r by Kesha
Yeah by Usher
Survivor, Bootylicious by Destiny's Child
You're gonna go far Kid by The Offspring
Crazy in Love by Beyonce
And, like, four hundred more or so.
But I have to tell you...there is ONE song that no matter where I am or what I'm doing, when I hear it, I stop and my chest swells up and my chin points north and I feel all crazy inspired and resolve and ABLE and powerful and excited, and if you've ever watched the biggest loser, you know what song I mean...
I share this, because I need all the help I can get. This song genuinely helps me to get on with it, to attack my goals with purpose, and to know that I can make myself feel good. God gave us amazing power to choose good...choose right...choose the best. I want to honor that gift of choice and make He AND I proud.
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