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....