Day One of a New Life

Yes, I have lived a day without cheese.

I wasn't certain that it was possible, but I did it... and honestly, it wasn't so bad. 

I woke up this morning with a dedication to a new lifestyle... not a diet.  And no, I wasn't perfect, but as I near the end of my day, I am pretty content with myself.  The positive is that my Peanut is home this week and she is eating what I am eating.  We need to nip her eating habit now, before she has a lifelong battle with her weight like her parents do.

That being said, here is what we ate:

Breakfast:  2 egg whites and 1 egg - scrambled and 2 slices of bacon.  Plus a cup and a half of grapefruit.  (It is spring break, and we slept late, so we had a late breakfast)

Snack for me:  banana

Snack for the Peanut - yogurt covered pretzels (I had about 7 of them myself)

Supper:  spinach, strawberry and blueberry salad.  (This is big... my kid actually ate spinach!!)

               1/2 marinated pork chop

Snack -   homemade granola - recipe to follow.  Probably had 2 cups--- delish!!

I had one sweet tea, 2 diet cokes and water/crystal light.  This is big... not just the only 1 sweet tea, but the only 2 diet cokes!!  I've been in the bathroom all day!!

All in all, it was a good day.  I weighed myself this morning, so I have a good starting point.  Maybe tomorrow I will do pictures or measurements.

Now... the granola recipe...

I got this from Betsy Karetnick, who used to do the morning show on Martha Stewart Radio.

1/3 cup Maple Syrup   (I use sugar free)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I use extra light olive oil)
1/3 cup honey (I use honey :-) )
4 cups old fashion rolled oats  (Today, I used 1 cup oats and 5 cups corn chex in an effort to use less gluten)
cinnamon
nutmeg
clove ( I use cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice)
salt

Now the fun stuff.... nuts, dried fruit, whatever you like.  I just pull out whatever I have in the cabinet.  today I included pistachios, almonds and sunflower seeds. 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine the syrup, oil and honey in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  I add the spices into this mixture.  In a large bowl, combine your oats and other ingredients.  Pour the syrup/honey/oil mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well.  Pour onto a cookie sheet and bake for 40 minutes.  Let cool and dig in!!  Its delicious and addictive.

So... a good day... time with my little one, some work around the house, got my sewing machine out of the shop, and didn't pig out.  Let's call it a success!!

Until next time....

Beginnings...

I am reading two books right now.  I NEVER read two books at the same time, but I am now.  A couple of trips ago, I bought "The Happiness Project" in paperback so I would have something to read until we reached 10,000 feet on the airplane.  It's a great book, and something that I can relate to.  The author is someone who wasn't unhappy, but wanted to find a deeper and greater happiness.  I get that.

Gretchen Rubin tackles a different area of her life and happiness each month.  For April, she suggests writing a blog.  She talks about her blog and how it opened her creativity.  So... here I am!  I need to figure out a way to find 15 minutes a day to blog.  It is something that I enjoy, and feel oddly creative when I do it, even if I am not blogging about something creative.

On my iPad, I am reading, "Ada's Rules".  This isn't really one of my normal reads, but it is set in Nashville and it is about someone trying to lose weight... again... things I relate to.  "Ada" is approaching 50, very overweight, unsatisfied with her marraige, and preparing to go to a college reunion where she will see "the one that got away."  She has a lot on her plate between being the "first lady" of her church, running a daycare, and taking care of aged parents.  While I don't have all the same issues that she does, I certainly relate to her lack of free time to concentrate on herself and her need/desire to lose weight.

She has a series of rules, like "Drink 8 glasses of water a day" and "walk 30 minutes a day, every day."  Another of her rules is to keep a food and body journal. 

My idea is to combine the two "rules" right here.  I can blog everyday about what I am eating and if I am moving.  It is going to make me accountable... even if no one is reading.  I will post before and after pictures.  I might even post measurements... I have to think about that one. 

This all plays into my need to be "Authentic" this year!  So.... stay tuned... I am going to get happier and skinny, right here before your very eyes!!  Oh, and I will post some crafts, recipes, tales from the road and more. 

Until next time....

New Year... well, sort of...

Another year has come and gone, leaving behind successes and regrets.  As I look back on 2012, I am happy with many of the new projects and adventures that I have started with my sewing business, and I am pleased with the job that I did at the CVB.  I am blessed to have two beautiful girls who are healthy, happy and well adjusted.  I have a husband who loves me, a job that I find rewarding and a beautiful home to live in.

All that being said, somehow I still feel somewhat unfulfilled.  I haven't lost the weight that I want to lose.  I haven't put my house in order as much as I would like to.  I travel too much.  I don't have enough hours in the day to do everything that I want to do.  It is time for me to refocus, plan and do things differently.

This year, 2013, is going to be the year for change.  My word for the year is AUTHENTIC.  I want to live an AUTHENTIC life.  I want to know that I am being true to everyone, but mainly to myself.  I am not saying that to suggest that I have been dishonest, but I haven't always been AUTHENTIC.  I haven't said what I've wanted to say and done what I've wanted to do.

Tomorrow is the first day of change... yes, I know that I am nearly a month late on the new year.  My travels have overwhelmed me this month, so now is the time.  Tomorrow, I will really start changing our eating habits, not just mine, but also my girls.  I will start to exercise regularly.  I am going to schedule my time better, so I can do the things that I NEED to do, as well as the things that I WANT to do.  I am going to learn to say no... even to myself.  I am going to try to travel less and spend more time at home. 

This blog is going to be my outlet.  It might be crafting, cooking, sewing, parenting... or just ranting!  So.... hold on for the ride... it's time for CHANGE!!