It’s the end of the year and as I look back over the past 12 months I see a lot of inconsistency. I've had great moments, horrible moments, and everything in between. My best was two weeks in June when I ate nothing but fresh vegetables and fruits, healthy fat and lots of protein. I haven't felt that great in years, I lost 8 pounds and felt stronger. Unfortunately we went to a family reunion, I fell to temptation and...well...
I can't beat myself up too much though. Suffice it to say 2011 was a Year of Experimenting. Experimenting with new foods (chard, liver, kale, and bok choy to name a few), new exercises (P90X), starting at the university and trying different study methods, and transitioning from raising a baby to raising a toddler. I didn't lose the weight or put on the muscle I had planned but so what? I now know what diet works best for me, what exercise program motivates and keeps me coming back for more, and how to balance school, kiddo, and personal growth.
Here's to 2012. With my new skills will it be the Year of the Bikini? Probably not since we are hoping to add to our family, but it will be the year of healthy eating, more time outdoors, more laughter and less stress and, best of all, more time with the people I love.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Scrolling through and seeing new posts? I've decided to combine my older gardening blog with this one to have all my stuff in one place. Enjoy!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Meatloaf...The forgotten bread
I've been trying to get out of my rut of chicken breasts/baked chicken, pork chops, and steaks and finding new ways to prepare meats. Today was cold, dark, and after receiving some bad news about an ill family member I just wanted comfort food. I was idly flicking through my recipe box while trying to find a car title* when I stumbled on an old meatloaf recipe I haven't made in years.
Basically, take some ground beef, an egg, some seasonings, maybe some diced onions or peppers depending on whats on hand, and mix it up good. Roll it out on a sheet of wax paper till its about an inch think and six inches wide, put down a layer of provolone and prosciutto, use the wax paper to roll it up like a burrito, set the burrito in a pan and bake till done. The recipe calls for a tomato topping but I think it tastes nasty and don't use it (plus that keeps the carbs down). Cheesy beefy goodness in a neat little package that is wonderful fresh from the oven and spectacular cold the next day. Yummmmm, add some root veggies on the side to help soak up some of the grease and you've got a meal fit for a caveman.
As I type the meat and seasonings are all mixed together (letting them sit and become friends helps the flavor in my opinion) and I can't wait to sit down to a big slice of "bread". Now, if only I could find my car title the day would look a lot brighter.
*No, I'm not crazy. I've lost my car title, I've gone through the obvious places 4 or 5 times and now moving on to any place where paper has a tendency to congest. The damn thing has to be in the house!
Basically, take some ground beef, an egg, some seasonings, maybe some diced onions or peppers depending on whats on hand, and mix it up good. Roll it out on a sheet of wax paper till its about an inch think and six inches wide, put down a layer of provolone and prosciutto, use the wax paper to roll it up like a burrito, set the burrito in a pan and bake till done. The recipe calls for a tomato topping but I think it tastes nasty and don't use it (plus that keeps the carbs down). Cheesy beefy goodness in a neat little package that is wonderful fresh from the oven and spectacular cold the next day. Yummmmm, add some root veggies on the side to help soak up some of the grease and you've got a meal fit for a caveman.
As I type the meat and seasonings are all mixed together (letting them sit and become friends helps the flavor in my opinion) and I can't wait to sit down to a big slice of "bread". Now, if only I could find my car title the day would look a lot brighter.
*No, I'm not crazy. I've lost my car title, I've gone through the obvious places 4 or 5 times and now moving on to any place where paper has a tendency to congest. The damn thing has to be in the house!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
MMMMmmmmm...Soup
Its been in the 30s all this week with freezing fog and rain. Finals are done and I think I passed my classes *fingers crossed*, now I can finally get into the holiday season!
Yesterday we put away all the Halloween/Fall decorations, the house looks rather bare without all the reds, oranges and bronzes. We also moved furniture and scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed. Now the place is sparkly-bare and awaiting red, green, silver, and gold. I've got the Holly station on and Christmas carols rolling up and down the hallways, the guest room is full of presents waiting to be wrapped for the gift exchange and Secret Santa, and the many boxes of Christmas decorations pulled out waiting to be emptied. I can almost smell eggnog and pine.
Without the stress of school I am suddenly a much happier and carefree person. Could be because I've also been watching my meals closer and cutting out a lot of clutter that has been sneaking in. Yesterday I leaped out of bed for the first time in weeks, obviously I've been getting too much sugar or carbs or something. With the cold and all this energy I went a little nuts and made two huge pots of soup: for lunch was Chinese Egg Drop and for dinner was Minestrone. Admittedly the minestrone was rather high in carbs and beans but its tomato-y goodness was perfect for a cold day; and the egg drop soup hit the spot (even if it is more of a summer-type soup). I'm already eye-balling the last pumpkin we have and trying to think of how it could be turned into a savory, winter-y, soup. Any suggestions?
Mark's blog had an interesting post today about rituals. Being the holidays I'm starting to notice other families and what they do, and the little things we are starting to do that are becoming our own unique rituals. Having a child makes these little things more important, for some reason. I look forward to when she is a little older and understands a little more about what is going on.
Now, to find a gluten-free, low-carb, healthy gingerbread recipe. Wish me luck!
Yesterday we put away all the Halloween/Fall decorations, the house looks rather bare without all the reds, oranges and bronzes. We also moved furniture and scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed. Now the place is sparkly-bare and awaiting red, green, silver, and gold. I've got the Holly station on and Christmas carols rolling up and down the hallways, the guest room is full of presents waiting to be wrapped for the gift exchange and Secret Santa, and the many boxes of Christmas decorations pulled out waiting to be emptied. I can almost smell eggnog and pine.
Without the stress of school I am suddenly a much happier and carefree person. Could be because I've also been watching my meals closer and cutting out a lot of clutter that has been sneaking in. Yesterday I leaped out of bed for the first time in weeks, obviously I've been getting too much sugar or carbs or something. With the cold and all this energy I went a little nuts and made two huge pots of soup: for lunch was Chinese Egg Drop and for dinner was Minestrone. Admittedly the minestrone was rather high in carbs and beans but its tomato-y goodness was perfect for a cold day; and the egg drop soup hit the spot (even if it is more of a summer-type soup). I'm already eye-balling the last pumpkin we have and trying to think of how it could be turned into a savory, winter-y, soup. Any suggestions?
Mark's blog had an interesting post today about rituals. Being the holidays I'm starting to notice other families and what they do, and the little things we are starting to do that are becoming our own unique rituals. Having a child makes these little things more important, for some reason. I look forward to when she is a little older and understands a little more about what is going on.
Now, to find a gluten-free, low-carb, healthy gingerbread recipe. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Current Measurements
It's been a while so I whipped out the measuring tape. Gad, this is depressing but oh well:
Bust: 47"
Waist: 48"
Hips" 51"
What I want them to be (and what they were in high school):
Bust: 36"
Waist: 25"
Hips: 38"
Man....I gotta ways to go.
Bust: 47"
Waist: 48"
Hips" 51"
What I want them to be (and what they were in high school):
Bust: 36"
Waist: 25"
Hips: 38"
Man....I gotta ways to go.
Monday, December 5, 2011
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