One box of Rice-a-ronni

Last night for evening meal (supper, dinner, what have you) I was in charge of making sides to go along with the lovely piece of salmon we were having. A few weeks back we took part in a sale of buy a lot get something for free (the rice-a-roni was the buy a lot part) so I decided I was going to make that--but we only had one box of the "flavor" I figured would pair well with our fish. I did not know what I was going to do. Would there be enough for our family of 4--2 adults and 2 children?

I grew up in and still belong to (plus gained with marriage) families that make way too much food--would hate to have anyone go hungry. There is always so much of everything. Good things too (wouldn't it be wonderful to have family that can not cook and you never wanted to eat their bounty) Some may call it hospitality, I call it a disorder (isn't everything some time of disorder nowadays?) This disorder is bad--it cause puffiness to all who succumb to the defeating questions or demands of "Did you get enough to eat" or "Don't be afraid to take seconds, I made plenty" I am normally rendered powerless to these and other familiar phrases. This disorder causes delusions of mass quantity--it causes the maker of foods to think they are feeding armies verses a mere catholic family.

So would one box of Rice-A-Ronni be enough. It was--and there were left over (lots of them) of all things. Left-overs from one single box of the stuff. There was a time in our food obsessed/oblivious/addicted past that the hubs and I would have polished off the whole box, just the two of us along with the amount of salmon that the whole family feasted on (and there was a bit left of that as well).

One small step for man, one giant accomplishment for me. Or a realization more so. I've been stuck in a silly old rut and have been trying to get myself out of it--trying to get back to counting points and measuring food amount exactly (all which do work, but really how livable are those techniques when we are talking forever). I have decided to take the highroad or the road less traveled. I am going to go with sensibility. Eat sensibly, move sensibly and lose sensibly (lost 0.8 this week). What a concept--think I could make millions if I market it right?

I've been bad

I have not been very good at blogging. I have not been very good at exercising. I have not been very good at eating healthfully. Maybe this wise facebook stat my 17 almost 18 year old cousin (is she really that old already???) posted was meant for my eyes to see:

the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can't go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.

When I wake up in the morning--I can change everything.

Back to Reality

Now that the wedding is over, I can get back to reality. This week the schedule is wide open and full of working out and eating better opps.

In the right direction

Well it seems the scale is heading back in the right direction this week. Down 1.8 pounds--surprised after birthday pie.

The Perfectionism Trap

Here is an artical I recieved from bestlife.com--I thought it had some really good things that are nice to remind myself when I'm trying to be "perfect".

By Michael Scholtz, M.A., Best Life fitness expert

It's great to be conscientious about your diet and exercise sessions, but cutting yourself some slack keeps your motivation high. Try adopting an 80/20 approach—strive to make healthy choices 80 percent of the time; this leaves room in your weight loss and fitness programs for setbacks. Here's how to do it:

• Change your thinking. Don't use the words "good" or "bad" to describe food, yourself or your behavior. These words can promote the unhealthy all-or-nothing pattern you're trying to avoid.

• Establish a range for goals. This allows for more flexibility. For instance, "I'll walk 30 minutes four to six times a week" is better than planning to walk everyday.

• Schedule off days. Take a day off from exercise each week. Use the time to focus on a nurturing activity, such as reading or catching up with friends.

• Enlist help. Consider meeting with a nutritionist, trainer, counselor or coach. They can help keep you motivated and also make sure your goals are realistic.

• Cheer yourself on. Place a note in your bathroom, your car or on your calendar to remind yourself to relax.

• Be patient. Nothing causes more frustration than thinking you should be losing faster than you are. Aim to shed up to 1 percent of your body weight each week, but realize that plateaus are part of the journey.

Nordic Walking

For the last year-ish, I have been wanting to get into something called Nodic Walking? Have you heard of it? Basicly, it is walking with ski poles--special ski poles, mind you. I looked into the "sport" a little more and found out that the poles were very special indeed--like upwards of $120 special and I'm sure there were others that were even more special. So I put that dream to rest, but still kept my eye on them on amazon.

I found them at Target!!! For $20 for both poles, not just one, but two. I'm sure there are "better" poles out there, but for me these work perfectly. They can be used on regular surfaces as well as in hiking type of conditions. They are also adjustable. My family and I went to Target yesterday to buy my birthday present. Martin kept telling me that they had to leave me at home so the present would be a surpise, but I told him that I knew what I was getting and the surpise was for them. The kids were very excited as well.

I thought that I enjoyed walking before--but now it's got a fun little twist to it. I have always tried to use my Oprah arms while walking to help burn more, but the nordic walking does so much more--you really feel it and it is such a work out. The packaging claims I can burn up to 45% more calories and strengthen 90% of my muscles. I'm not sure if it is all true, but I was tuckered after a mile so I called it a day. I know that I will need to work up my endurance before I can head up for a six mile walk with the poles. But I look forward to it. I think once I get a little more use to walking this new way, it will just start to feel and be more natural. Who would have thought walking with ski poles would be so sweat inducing?

Cheese Cake, Frappe, and Burgers...Oh, My!

After a wonderful carefree weekend of Eating Quiche, drinking yummy Frappes (but it was dark chocolate)having chips & homemade salsa, drinking a touch of wine, burgers & fries and eating a very grand baked oatmeal complete with cream to pour over the top, has left me 3 pounds higher this week.

I know exactly where the three pounds I gained went. There is about a pound that has reattached itself to my gut, a pound on my ass and my hips have been nice enough to share a pound together. The reason I know this is because I tried on my dress for the wedding I am in only a little over 2 weeks. I'm so glad that Kaylee's mother is just starting on alterations. I'm not going to let the alterations be good enough, I'm going to work my body in hopes that things will be a little smoother under the taffeta. In fact last night when I got home (after 11pm) I did a quick video. I'm not hoping for a miracle, just a little less mush and a lot more confidence.