BACK ON TRACK . . .

I am happy to say that I am back on track once again. Wasn't as hard to do as previous times, very happy about that (any progress is still progress). Hoping not to be making a habit of it!!! I have got some very nice "healthy eating" recipes that I absolutely love, so it doesn't seem like work. They are filling and satisfying and I don't need to eat all day. I am now able to make a healthy dish with meat, vegetables and spices and it actually tastes good. Learning how to cook with little or no salt, no butter and no frying. It wasn't easy, but I am on my way!!! I am very excited to be going to watch my daughter in her Christmas concert, today. She will be singing. She definitely did not get that talent from me! As I was getting dressed to go, I noticed that my pants were fitting a bit big :) :) :) so I will take that as a sign that I am on track. The big test . . . we will be doing Xmas baking this weekend and next weekend we will be having family over. I did pretty good at Halloween, so am confident that I can handle this!!! Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year!!! I will be back in the new year!!!

HERE GOES AGAIN!!! . . .

Here is where I am now . . . I was doing very well with my healthy eating, no pressure, loving it, Aa bit more work, but still enjoyed it. Then I tried to introduce an exercise routine and I found I had no time after exercises to cook mine and the families dinners. I started to get tired and frustrated and overwhelmed and you know what comes next . . . I started to grab what ever there was or what everyone else was eating which is healthy, but not what I was needing to be eating for dinners/lunches and skipping breakfasts. Now I am having to start again. I guess if I was doing good without exercising then why bother at this point? I just feel that being healthy should include exercise as well as proper nutrition!!! This time I will wait longer and introduce it slowly!!! Here goes again . . . ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

WEIGH IN . . .

I have officially been on this journey since March 25/10 and on my healthy eating kick since August 16/10. Just came back from my physical and am pleased to say that I have lost 10 pounds. Since Aug. I look some what different, but most importantly I feel and think differently. I do eat things I shouldn't (within reason), but for the most part I focus on healthy alternates! I have asked the doctor to hold off on my yearly blood work until February/11 so I have more time to get healthier. It will be just before my journey ends and I want to see if losing weight will bring down my cholesterol which has been a great concern of mine. Also excited to say that My husband has lost 10 pounds as well and his blood pressure is lower now. I am equally proud of him as I am of myself. So here goes, almost 5 months left of this journey and am excited to see the end results . . . can't wait!!! Until then . . . NO MORE SCALE!!!

TURKEY @ THE TRAILER . . .

Spent Thanksgiving at the trailer with my family! What an amazing weekend! Wasn't sure how turkey dinner would turn out over the fire, but didn't care as long as we were all together. Turns out the weather was fabulous as was the dinner, couldn't have had a better time. I ate all I wanted without any hesitation and it felt good. By allowing myself what ever I wanted and as much as I wanted, I didn't stress, but at the same time I was also aware of what I really wanted and what I could pass on . . . I didn't have to eat everything in site if I didn't want to and I didn't. I was pleasantly surprised with myself. Turkey dinner has always been my weakness ;) Enjoyed several long walks amongst the fallen leaves, watched the sun rise and set with my children, got to snuggle my most favourite breed of dog (St. Bernard), observed the wild life, met some very nice peop le and was very sad to have to leave. Looks like we have started a new tradition . . .

Turkey @ the trailer . . .

MY TRUTH ABOUT VEGGIES . . .

Veggies. . . when I first got married, never saw them in my fridge, after my first child was born, fridge was full, but I never ate them! Now, I love them! I love them so much that I prefer to plant veggies in my yard over flowers. I could and often do eat them for breakfast. Veggies can be eaten raw, cooked, dipped, in salads, casseroles, they can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner, as a snack. They help fight diseases, provide us with much needed vitamins, they add colour to a dish, and they taste good too! My newest discovery for vegetables is how they can amazingly add bulk to your plate and make you forget that your plate is 3/4 full of vegetables rather than pasta and you feel fuller after. Lets not forget that you are getting many other benefits along with it. So why is it that we know just how important vegetables are to us yet we tend to over look them? VEGGIES ARE MY NEW BEST FRIEND . . . (rice noodles, bok choy, celery, red/green peppers, garlic, onions and snow peas with chicken)

GOOD BYE TO THE SCALE . . .

Why has it taken me such a long time to realize that the scale is not my friend. All it does is stress me out and for what. Today I am saying good bye to the scale for good and I don't feel sad about it. GOOD BYE . . .

UPDATE . . .

Ok! So, I celebrated 20 years married the middle of Sept. Hard to believe it has been that long. We have been together for almost 24 years. Went back to where we met and it was as if we went back in time. The place may have looked different, the people dressed very casual . . . we never would have been caught dead there wearing flip flops and shorts or even jeans for that matter, the people were young, but even though we were surrounded by so many changes, I felt like I did 20 years ago. It was incredible! The music was great, (played a lot of our old songs, I guess they never get old) the company, the conversation, it was like we were in our own little world, nothing had really changed, we ordered the same drinks that we used to drink, it couldn't have been more perfect! Hoping to share 100 more years together! My husband is making it easier for me to stay on track as he is doing the same thing as me. It has been nice, even the kids are starting to make better choices! We are both losing at a slow, but healthy rate and I am comfortable with that. Kids are back to school. I miss them, but wait patiently for them to come home to hear all about their day. My older son is getting a life of his own, I so dreaded the day, but I am happy I got 17 years almost all to myself. We still have our evening chats, but I am getting old, I can't stay up as late as I used to . . . Enjoying the Fall weather, something about the crisp air and colorful leaves, makes the day a whole lot better! Started making soups again . . . love soups in fall/winter months, as a matter of fact I am about to sit down and enjoy some kale and bean soup now and watch days of our lives! Could never before have sat down and been satisfied with a bowl of soup for lunch . . . LOVE IT!!! Just finished riding my bike and watching Little house on the Prairie . . . How cool would it be to live then when a new slate or hand sewn dress could mean so much!!! I think I was meant to have lived back then! Soups getting cold, gotta go!