Realizations and Resolve

Things have happened. Some good. Some meh. First for the good. I came to the instant realization this morning of just how much smaller I am. I mean I knew I had lost 25 pounds. I saw that on the scale. I knew I wear a smaller size clothes now. I saw that in how my clothes hang where they used to hug. I knew I could maneuver more easily in tight spaces. I saw that in the fact that the shower curtain no longer touches me....I HATE for the shower curtain to touch me...don't ask why...I haven't a clue.. But today, standing in the shower dreading having to shave my legs, that's when I realized...I'm really a lot smaller than I used to be. Strange as it sounds I despised shaving my legs because of the acrobatics involved. It required contortions just to reach the vast expanse that was my hamstring...or so it seemed to me...but today it was like "there you are.....that was easy". When did that happen? And why did I not notice until now?

Now for the "meh". We had strayed away from Meatless Monday... Or meatless ANY day. We went from veggie meals two to three times a week to having them only occasionally. It's more expensive to buy fresh fruits and veggies. I really need to learn to garden. But not only that, it was so simple to slip back into my routine of buying only what's on sale and preparing from what I have in the freezer. But guess what happened. My weight loss slowed down. My energy flagged....but I'm blaming at least part of that on this gloomy winter weather! Something else happened too....my kids complained of.....slower digestion! Their little bodies were getting so much good nutrition and fiber from those meals! I didn't understand how much they mattered. So, I've started them on a fiber supplement but I've got to get our menus back under control! Veggies are good for you! Now I need to make my grocery list....and there needs to be more veggies on it!

New Year, New Food

Our family had no New Year's plans this year. Our six year old could not wrap his head around this concept. He said, "How will we celebrate the New Year!?" I was not about to stay up all night so, being half Cajun and half Creole, I decided the best way to celebrate at a decent hour must involve food. So I offered this idea to my poor confused son. New Year, New Food. He said,"huh?" So I explained: this is a new year we've never had before so let's look through my recipes and find some food we've never had before. He was cool with this. Especially since he got to help me choose the food.

So on a search we went. My son, being the fruit of my labor, got excited about a soup recipe in my "Eating for IBS" cookbook that has crab in it. He loves crab. I would have never chosen this soup myself because, reading the recipe, it sounds a lot like Chinese egg drop soup with crab in it. I've never had egg drop soup but I've seen it on a buffet. It just looks unappetizing. But I DID tell the child we'd try something new....so here we go! Off to the store on New Year's Eve to find the few ingredients we didn't have. The store we went to was close to home and, in case you've forgotten, we live out in the boonies. So, unsurprisingly they were out of crab.  My son was HIGHLY disappointed. I told him we'd just substitute some small shrimp, which the store did have. He tried his hardest to convince us that this was a culinary emergency that warranted a trip to "town". I, however, assured him that it would be just fine with shrimp. He was not happy with this decision but knows that what Mom says goes.

Back at home now we made the soup. It took, quite literally, less than 30 minutes to throw together. Then the hubby and I spent a few minutes fine tuning seasoning because it was rather bland. Once we got it to our liking we served it with some rice (of course). Both my husband and myself thought it was pretty good. My daughter doesn't like anything these days (so she says) but she ate two bowls. And the tiny gourmet? He said, "it would be better with crab.......can I have some more?"

Holidays....and Hind Ends

The holidays are here! This is most definitely my favorite time of the year. The cooking and the gifts and festivity...and the cooking....The feast we had for Thanksgiving this year made me so happy! The seven of us put a dent in a feast big enough for twenty! Unlike years past though, the whole experience made me happy: the delicious food, my pretty table, the dainty napkins my husband folded into a shape because he's awesome....I usually use Thanksgiving as a day to see just how far my stomach will stretch. This year, while I did indulge (and not log calories for the first day in over a month) I did NOT eat until I was sick. I just enjoyed. Everything. My family, the food. Giving thanks for all we're blessed with.

Speaking of holidays, my husband has witnessed what I'm sure he believes is a Christmas miracle. I have started tracking caloric intake....and have kept it up for over a month! He doesn't question it though. He just hands me the measuring cup when he's done....because, once again, he's awesome. I have been attending a very interesting and eye opening Bible study. One of the things that this study has helped me to realize is that, my loathing for calorie tracking and "restrictions" was rooted in rebellion. When I repented and gave it over to God, I started tracking my calories and with a positive attitude! It's astonishing what God will show you if you actually, honestly look!

I have not lost any more weight recently but I HAVE been rearranging the landscape a bit. My husband says he notices a tuck in my waist. The biggest change I have noticed has to do with my rear. It has lost its shelf-like shape and actually resembles, dare I say it? A butt! It's weird. I woke up one day and there it was....And I do apologize to those of you who know me in person and will now not be able to control the urge to examine said fanny perpendicular. I've been going to the gym three days a week; logging a lot of miles on the exercise bike. I just got done with a kickboxing class this evening. I kept having to hike up my pants. Maybe I should start saving for a new pair. It will not do to moon the poor unsuspecting ladies in class!

Tonight, for dinner we had pan seared shrimp, oven roasted sweet potatoes and green beans. It was good, but what surprised me was that I THOUGHT in my HEAD that it sounded good. Usually I would have thought "that sounds healthy". I actually thought though "mmm. That sounds good!" Have I begun to reprogram my brain to crave better food? Interesting thought...

With the leftover turkey, I made a delicious Mexican-spiced soup with lots of veggies. Go look for it on the recipe tab. Seriously, it makes my belly happy!

And there you have it, my ramblings about holidays and hind ends....

Tortillas and Tiredness

This week I have been an exercising machine! Halfway through the week I am sore and sleepy! Seriously, I am laying in bed typing this on my phone (ah technology). I'm trying to be extra quiet and hope the kids sleep late...yeah that's gonna happen. Anyway, so I went to kickboxing Monday (and I'm STILL sore today). Then, yesterday, I trotted a mile and a half. I am pretty sure I almost died. And early this morning I went to the gym and pedaled my hiney off. I came home, took a shower and just crawled back in bed. I'm sooo not a morning person!

I am trying to prepare myself for a 1 mile "Fun Run" in November. Whoever named it that needs their head examined. But I promised my son I would do this with him. The things we do for our kids. So far I can run the length of the street. Then I have to walk and recover for a while. Because I almost died.....

I would like to talk to you today about last night's supper. Why? Because it was fully awesome. Chicken, spinach and white bean quesadillas. Yes, yes, I know....tortillas again. I do not know why in the world I can't seem to stay away from dishes involving them. But for this dish? I was so okay with it. Everyone ate it like it was going out of style. They are so so so yummy. Protein and veggie packed. The recipe came from theothersideof50.com. The app on my phone won't let me link up but be watching the recipe tab for the recipe because that site is next to impossible to search!

Did I say already that I'm tired??

Veggies, Veggies Everywhere!!

I have three meatless meals planned this week...3! Yesterday, for me, was a completely meatless day. Mostly because I found a new smoothie recipe that I liked so much, I decided to have it twice. Mmm smoothies. This was was suspiciously dubbed the "Green Monster". This made me slightly wary. Then I saw the blogger's picture of it and was downright frightened. I had already committed though so I dove in. She describes this smoothie as tasting like a guilty treat. And it really does! Your penance for indulgence? Staring at a glass of bright green liquid. If you can get past the color, it's awesomely delicious. And you know what? I can get past the color. My sister-in-law was over yesterday at lunchtime when I made the Green Monster for the second time. She was just as disturbed as I was the first time, but I mean who wouldn't be disturbed by something that looks like blended up grass? She tried a sampling though and was impressed with the fact that you can't taste the spinach....and there's LOTS of it in there. But it tastes like a peanut butter banana shake. I think I'll be having one again for lunch today...

Yesterday's dinner was a Mexican Lentil Stew that I got by stumbling across a blog called Budget Bytes (link ALL the things!) I think my lucky "Pin It!" button and I will be further exploring this blog for meal ideas. Yes, I know. Mexican food again. At least this time there are no tortillas. The blogger suggested dipping tortilla chips in this stew but I'm sure you can guess that I did not take this suggestion. I have started logging calories so I was excited to find that this stew is extremely low calorie. We served it over rice....because we're Cajun. My kids said "beans and rice!" and ate it like it was going out of style. My husband made lots of yummy sounds and said multiple times that it was really good. I thought it was excellent too. It had a smoky flavor from the fire roasted tomatoes and all the spices. Don't leave out the lime juice. I think it really needs it to brighten up that heavy smokiness. So, I'm guessing I've added a new recipe to my collection.

Speaking of, I've really got to go through the recipes in my box. There are so many pieces of copy paper crumpled up in there that I can't hardly put the lid on anymore. It's ridiculous. I'm sure that there are recipes in there that I'll never make again. Those need to go away. Then, the ones that I'm going to keep should be transferred to cards that actually fit inside the box...yeah...that's gonna happen soon...

Tonight, we're having hamburgers and fries. I really should have put that on a day when I go to the gym...Thursday and Friday though are going to be meatless dinners too! Thursday is veggie lasagna (the recipe for that is posted on my recipe tab). And Friday is baked potatoes. I may cheat Friday though and sprinkle some bacon on my potato. Bacon.....

All my clothes are too big. While most think of this as a good problem, I can't afford to replace them . I guess I know what I'll be asking for for Christmas. Maybe I should take to Craigslist too. Seriously. My wardrobe is pitiful.....

The Good, The Bad and The Tortilla

Ok so my title is bad and I feel bad....

We had veggies in a tortilla for the third week in a row. This time it was sweet potato and black bean flautas. I am really tired of tortillas. I am going to be scouring the Internet for something...anything!....meatless that does not go anywhere NEAR a tortilla! Any suggestions?

I just finished my first kickboxing class. I thought the other class I was taking was hard! This one may kill me! It's only once every week though, and then I can only come every other week because of other schedule conflicts. I've lost 20 pounds though and I hope to keep it going. I'm seriously considering coming at the crack of dawn to get on a bike! I'm officially crazy!

Tomorrow is my Dad's birthday. Or it would be. If he was still here. I don't think about it too much but last week in our Bible study discussion we talked about unfulfilled longings. We talked about how some longings will never be fulfilled this side of Heaven. Somebody told me it was easy for me to say that. And it hit me like a ton of bricks. Dad. I had asked God to let him stay here longer but God's will was different. It was a long road to the place where I accepted that I can't see the big picture like God can and He really does know what's going on. But I got there. Then last week it slapped me in the face again. A fresh wave of grief. It kinda dragged me down. But I'm shaking it off and remembering why I'm here.....to be a daughter of the King. To raise my kids to love Him, and hopefully be light to somebody else along the way. Dad's turn is done. He's "graduated" as my friend says. It's my time. I don't intend to disappoint.

So there you have it. The good, the bad and the tortilla (not in that order).

Tacos, Tacos Everywhere...

I missed posting last week because I was so incredibly busy! This week we had the unexciting textured vegetable protein tacos. So I won't talk to you about THIS week's tacos. I'll talk to you about LAST week's tacos. My family, if I put it on a tortilla they will try anything. We tend to have Mexican food often. My husband loves it. My oldest child loves it. Frankly, I could take it or leave it. These tacos though, the ones of which I am about to tell you, I will take any day!

Vegan & Gluten Free Sweet Potato Tacos With Spicy Cream Sauce  <------- There it is. The taco recipe that makes me say "Yum! More Please!" Go to it. Read it. Make it. Eat it. This way you also may experience the yummedness. I altered the recipe to what I had on hand or could easily find. The store I chose to shop in this week did not have silken tofu. I used a soft yogurt cheese instead for the sauce. It came out okay but it was still missing something when you taste it by itself. Add it to the taco though and it was all good!

My kids loved this taco. Well, my youngest kind of said "I don't want carrots and sweet potatoes." Then, I handed her a taco and she was like "oh a tortilla" and ate it. She liked it too, but she would not pick up any veggies that fell out of the tortilla onto her plate. Without their tortilla coat apparently they are not nearly as good and she promptly declared "I don't like that." She has also moved into the stage of childhood where she likes nothing. Even if she has eaten it before she says "I don't like it." We say "tough" and sit her down with it and she eats what she just said she didn't like. Therefore, I do not trust her judgement when it comes to food. My son, the tiny gourmet approved of this dish and said he'd gladly eat it again! This made me happy. My hubby even liked it, but he absolutely adores anything in a tortilla and he loves sweet potatoes. I was pretty sure that when I combined the two I would be hitting a home run.

Come to think of it, we had several successful dinners last week. One of the more interesting ones was a "pasta" dish I made. I used squash cut into ribbons instead of pasta noodles to go with a parmesan cream sauce. My son asked if we could always have "squash noodles" instead of "regular" ones. My daughter, however was not as intrigued. She didn't even finish what was on her plate. So we probably won't have that one as regularly.

Last week was a week of culinary "wow". This week has just kind of been meh. And there's been a lot of meat so far this week. I don't like that. Red meat too. I have to be careful to balance it out. My IBS does a lot better without so much meat. AND I lose weight a little easier too. I'm slowly but surely losing weight. People are starting to notice, which is both nice and awkward. What DOES one say when someone says "you look like you've lost weight"? Because I've taken to saying "yes, thanks for noticing." Maybe that's rude? I don't know....