Thursday, April 7, 2011
Sushi
I love California rolls. They feel like a huge splurge, but they're not. What could the problem be? That's all for today.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Greek Yogurt and other Wonders
I have discovered Greek yogurt. I cannot describe the depths of my joy in discovering this tasty healthy treat. It is good alone. It is good with fruit. I'm devising a mock cheesecake type dessert with fruit and Greek yogurt. I'll let you know how it turns out. God bless the Greeks.
I have discovered yams. Yams rock. This should be a cheer. Here are some of the things I have done with yams: 1) steamed them like steamed potatoes; 2) baked them like baked potatoes; 3) cut them in wedges, season with whatever spices, and bake like baked potato wedges; 4) roast them; 5) I am going to slice them very thin and dehydrate them, like chips. My brothers have joked for years that the pilgrims ate yams at the first Thanksgiving because they thought the Indians brought them, and the pilgrims didn't want to offend them (the Indians, not the yams). YET, the Indians thought the PILGRIMS had brought them, so the Indians ate them so as not to offend the pilgrims. My brothers are idiots: not because of this story, but because they won't eat yams. Yams is yet another food that will rise with us in the resurrection. God bless yams.
Shrimp. I haven't discovered shrimp, I've just been eating it in my homemade cocktail, which is something akin to chunky V-8 juice with attitude. God bless shrimp.
Oatmeal. Oatmeal with fruit and walnuts in the morning, and a couple of tablespoons of fat-free Coffeemate is almost the equivalent of fruit cobbler for breakfast. God bless oatmeal.
When you start looking for healthy food, and eating more healthy food than low-octane, only-fill-you-up food, food is an amazing experience that fuels you, strengthens you, makes your joints stop aching (less inflammatory than SUGAR), and your brain is overcome with C-A-L-M. And here's the best part of all: you start actually craving healthy food. Except it's not celery. I think it's for certain that I shall never, not even in a resurrected state, crave celery. I'm just sayin'.
I have discovered yams. Yams rock. This should be a cheer. Here are some of the things I have done with yams: 1) steamed them like steamed potatoes; 2) baked them like baked potatoes; 3) cut them in wedges, season with whatever spices, and bake like baked potato wedges; 4) roast them; 5) I am going to slice them very thin and dehydrate them, like chips. My brothers have joked for years that the pilgrims ate yams at the first Thanksgiving because they thought the Indians brought them, and the pilgrims didn't want to offend them (the Indians, not the yams). YET, the Indians thought the PILGRIMS had brought them, so the Indians ate them so as not to offend the pilgrims. My brothers are idiots: not because of this story, but because they won't eat yams. Yams is yet another food that will rise with us in the resurrection. God bless yams.
Shrimp. I haven't discovered shrimp, I've just been eating it in my homemade cocktail, which is something akin to chunky V-8 juice with attitude. God bless shrimp.
Oatmeal. Oatmeal with fruit and walnuts in the morning, and a couple of tablespoons of fat-free Coffeemate is almost the equivalent of fruit cobbler for breakfast. God bless oatmeal.
When you start looking for healthy food, and eating more healthy food than low-octane, only-fill-you-up food, food is an amazing experience that fuels you, strengthens you, makes your joints stop aching (less inflammatory than SUGAR), and your brain is overcome with C-A-L-M. And here's the best part of all: you start actually craving healthy food. Except it's not celery. I think it's for certain that I shall never, not even in a resurrected state, crave celery. I'm just sayin'.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Mid week
Technically, this is the end of Day five in a Game On week. I've finished teaching for the day, and I'm pooped. It's been a good day, exercising, eating, and otherwise. One day at a time....
Monday, April 4, 2011
Monday, Monday
Let's talk about gratitude... I am thankful I am seeing sunshine today! I am thankful that the 15 points for sleep is getting to be fairly routine - first thing I thank Heavenly FAther for every morning. I am thankful I am finished with my loathesome exercise for the day. I am thankful I get another chance today. 5 points. Go me.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Conference and Parallels
There was a talk about the difference between what we DO and what we ARE. (To be, or not to be...). GREAT talk. It got me thinking about how we try to change unhealthy habits.
It's not enough to DO the right things, as all last year's contests have clearly taught me. I didn't BE somebody different underneath, so the minute the contest was over, I went back to unhealthy habits. Not all of them, thankfully, but GOOD NIGHT. I have never fought my crazy drunken Swedish genes more than this past winter. I really need to ponder the connection between DOING and BEING when it comes to healthy eating. I want to DO these healthy habits enough that I BECOME someone who doesn't want to DO it the way I am right now.
That's why I decided to just jump back into this, by myself, with no one to account to, but myself. I can't super-impose all this outer structure onto this project, only to find that the minute that structure is gone, I fall back to my old ways. Even as I type this, that makes me sick: what am I, four? Oprah Winfrey said something to this effect: Integrity is doing the right thing, even when you know that no one is ever going to know. I want these habits to be an integral part of my BEING, so they don't go away when no one is looking! Which, sadly, could mean that I will be at this for ANOTHER six years.
I started, six and a half years ago, working on weight management in earnest. In 2004, I weighed 30 pounds more than I do right now. Sadly, though, I weigh nearly 15 pounds more than I did last summer. And here's the stupid thing: I kept most of that off over the holidays! It's been January and February that really did me in. (remember the crazy drunken Swedish genes? Yeah, that. If I were in Sweden 400 years ago, I would have been drunk in a corner, sleeping till spring. Instead, and thanks to the gospel, I'm EATING and sleeping in the corner till spring) Pretty good weekend with my free meals today (only 2 - had a fabulously healthy breakfast).
When it comes to weight management, DOING is extremely important, but you need to DO until you BE......different......inside. Here's to it.
It's not enough to DO the right things, as all last year's contests have clearly taught me. I didn't BE somebody different underneath, so the minute the contest was over, I went back to unhealthy habits. Not all of them, thankfully, but GOOD NIGHT. I have never fought my crazy drunken Swedish genes more than this past winter. I really need to ponder the connection between DOING and BEING when it comes to healthy eating. I want to DO these healthy habits enough that I BECOME someone who doesn't want to DO it the way I am right now.
That's why I decided to just jump back into this, by myself, with no one to account to, but myself. I can't super-impose all this outer structure onto this project, only to find that the minute that structure is gone, I fall back to my old ways. Even as I type this, that makes me sick: what am I, four? Oprah Winfrey said something to this effect: Integrity is doing the right thing, even when you know that no one is ever going to know. I want these habits to be an integral part of my BEING, so they don't go away when no one is looking! Which, sadly, could mean that I will be at this for ANOTHER six years.
I started, six and a half years ago, working on weight management in earnest. In 2004, I weighed 30 pounds more than I do right now. Sadly, though, I weigh nearly 15 pounds more than I did last summer. And here's the stupid thing: I kept most of that off over the holidays! It's been January and February that really did me in. (remember the crazy drunken Swedish genes? Yeah, that. If I were in Sweden 400 years ago, I would have been drunk in a corner, sleeping till spring. Instead, and thanks to the gospel, I'm EATING and sleeping in the corner till spring) Pretty good weekend with my free meals today (only 2 - had a fabulously healthy breakfast).
When it comes to weight management, DOING is extremely important, but you need to DO until you BE......different......inside. Here's to it.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Day 2
Hardest part of today: walking outside again. Who knew you used different muscles for outside walking and treadmill walking? WO.
Free meal for breakfast - @ JB's, before conference. I was quite excited about the hash browns - the biggest splurge of the meal. In fact, because of the hash browns, I chose poached eggs. Very satisfying, controlled free meal. Shrimp cocktail for lunch - it's like sassy V-8 juice. Well, it IS V-8 juice, with green peppers, green onions, and celery. And Worcestershire. And horse radish. And lemon juice & vinegar. Then shrimp. What could the problem be. Add a big plate of veggies with some dip.... Dinner was a little dicey, and almost got out of control. Big D was @ the priesthood session of conference, I was alone....you do the math. I had a piece of Italian bread, and realized that was not what I wanted. So I had Special K. Weird, but true. And Greek yogurt for dessert. New sensation. After careful consideration, I believe it will rise with us in the resurrection. No veggies, but I consider the Special K & Greek yogurt a clear save from what could have been a disastrous evening.
Tomorrow is a free meal for dinner, with MY peanut butter fingers for dessert at the extended Forced Family Fun. Yes, I embrace my bad attitude. 5 points for blogging. Two days of perfect score. It's nice to be back in the driver's seat.
Free meal for breakfast - @ JB's, before conference. I was quite excited about the hash browns - the biggest splurge of the meal. In fact, because of the hash browns, I chose poached eggs. Very satisfying, controlled free meal. Shrimp cocktail for lunch - it's like sassy V-8 juice. Well, it IS V-8 juice, with green peppers, green onions, and celery. And Worcestershire. And horse radish. And lemon juice & vinegar. Then shrimp. What could the problem be. Add a big plate of veggies with some dip.... Dinner was a little dicey, and almost got out of control. Big D was @ the priesthood session of conference, I was alone....you do the math. I had a piece of Italian bread, and realized that was not what I wanted. So I had Special K. Weird, but true. And Greek yogurt for dessert. New sensation. After careful consideration, I believe it will rise with us in the resurrection. No veggies, but I consider the Special K & Greek yogurt a clear save from what could have been a disastrous evening.
Tomorrow is a free meal for dinner, with MY peanut butter fingers for dessert at the extended Forced Family Fun. Yes, I embrace my bad attitude. 5 points for blogging. Two days of perfect score. It's nice to be back in the driver's seat.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Going Solo
Last year I did a contest for healthy lifestyle changes with several other people. It taught me some valuable new habits, but, like most new habits, they didn't stick like I hoped. I decided this week that I'm going to resurrect the contest for myself, to hold myself accountable.
Myself! Accountable! Myself accountable....I know these are all English words, yet together, in this strange, new combination.....it's blowing my mind. Nevertheless, today is Day 1 of my own Game On competition. I am going to pay myself for every week I score 685 or better, and there will be a bonus at the end if I get 100%. (I, like George Lucas, am sort of making that part up as I go along - I need to figure it out precisely by the end of the weekend) But I love starting on Fridays, so today is Day One. I've got fresh vegetables and a low-fat dip to take to the ward party. I've used "My Plate" on the Livestrong website, to track my eating, exercising, and water drinking for the day, and I feel great.
The trick for me - perennially - is PAYING. ATTENTION. For longer than 35 seconds. That's why I've got to do this - to make some of these newer behaviors (that flew OUT the window after Christmas) automatic, where I don't have to think about them.
Best thing I ate today - strangely - was my homemade roasted vegetable soup for lunch, with a plain piece of whole wheat bread. I felt like Heidi up in the mountains, eating with her grandfather. Best overall thing of today - WALKING OUTSIDE IN THE SUNSHINE. Oh my goodness, Vitamin D - how I have missed you. Here's to 8 fantastic weeks, and ca$h at the end for smaller clothes for choir tour. :)
Myself! Accountable! Myself accountable....I know these are all English words, yet together, in this strange, new combination.....it's blowing my mind. Nevertheless, today is Day 1 of my own Game On competition. I am going to pay myself for every week I score 685 or better, and there will be a bonus at the end if I get 100%. (I, like George Lucas, am sort of making that part up as I go along - I need to figure it out precisely by the end of the weekend) But I love starting on Fridays, so today is Day One. I've got fresh vegetables and a low-fat dip to take to the ward party. I've used "My Plate" on the Livestrong website, to track my eating, exercising, and water drinking for the day, and I feel great.
The trick for me - perennially - is PAYING. ATTENTION. For longer than 35 seconds. That's why I've got to do this - to make some of these newer behaviors (that flew OUT the window after Christmas) automatic, where I don't have to think about them.
Best thing I ate today - strangely - was my homemade roasted vegetable soup for lunch, with a plain piece of whole wheat bread. I felt like Heidi up in the mountains, eating with her grandfather. Best overall thing of today - WALKING OUTSIDE IN THE SUNSHINE. Oh my goodness, Vitamin D - how I have missed you. Here's to 8 fantastic weeks, and ca$h at the end for smaller clothes for choir tour. :)
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