Oh Happy Day

Today is a beautiful day! I reached my goal weight this morning.

I weighed in at 124.8 lbs. This calls for a photo.

I believe the last time I weighed 125 lbs was about 1987.  I'm feeling pretty good about that.

Go me!

Yes, I Ate It All

This was lunch today.  Leftover Cashew Pasta Bake (minus the cashews because they mysteriously disappeared from my pantry), 2 cups steamed veggies and 2 Green Leaf Lettuce leaves.
The only problem was that it was so huge it got cold before I could eat it all.
I'll be having a Green Smoothie and some hummus and flat bread for a snack today.
I missed breakfast because by the time I got home from the gym, library, grocery store and credit union, it was 11am.  So I made this ginormous lunch.
Dinner will be this Crock Pot Broccoli Chicken over brown rice with extra veggies.
And I definitely will be having a couple of these for dessert!  Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies from Trainer Momma. I made them last night because I was feeling adventurous and my kids loved them. Even my 10 year old (aka: "Pickiest Eater Ever Born") ate them, but only because he doesn't know what's in them.

Sometimes I Hate Running

 Today was one of those days when I hate running.  Especially on a treadmill.  I dreaded it before I even got out of bed, but I knew I would do it anyway.  I look forward to Zumba days.  I love dancing.  Running? Not so much. Some days it's easy. But on days like today while I'm on that treadmill I have to trick myself into running.  I talk to myself the whole time. Here's how the conversation goes on those days:

It's only the first song. It's always hard during the first song.  I'll feel good by the second song.

Feeling good.  I can do this. I'm 1/8 of the way through.  I only have to do what I've just done 7 more times.

Only 5 more songs to go.  I can run for 5 more songs.

At least run for another half mile, then maybe I'll walk.

I did another half mile, now go 3 more minutes.

I gotta get my mind off of this. I'll try not to look at the display for a while.

Oh good, I didn't look at the display for 2 tenths of a mile.

125 pounds!  125 pounds! 125 pounds!

5 more minutes.  5 more minutes, then I can quit.

People run marathons all the time. I can do another quarter mile.

2 more minutes. 15 seconds, 10 seconds, 5 seconds.  

Whew! That wasn't so bad. (now that I'm done)

And so it goes.

I REALLY wish I could Zumba every day because sometimes I hate running. 

The Gym Just Got Really Crowded

This is the time of year when all the treadmills are taken at the gym and the Zumba classes are filled with new bodies.

Two years ago I was one of those bodies.  155+ lbs and ready to try (again) to slim down.  I look at all the new faces there and I wonder how many of them will still be coming in March.  It seems like that's when the treadmills start to free up.  Those New Year's Resolutions to "lose some weight" are forgotten.

Some days I want all these new people to just go home because I've been waiting for a treadmill for 10 minutes and I'd really like to get my workout in before I have to pick kids up from preschool and kindergarten.  

I wish I could encourage them and say "I did it and so can you!  Just keep coming. Don't give up!  You're going to feel great a year from now!"

But I don't say anything.  
Because then they'd think I was a crazy stalker woman, and they'd stop coming.

And the treadmills would be free again.

I think I may be on to something.

Blackberry Giveaway!! - closed

Amy over at SuperHealthyKids.com is giving away 2 Blackberry Phones.  Super Healthy Kids is a great resource for finding healthy foods that your kids will love.  So please visit her website, but don't enter the giveaway because I really really want to win it!! ;)  Just kidding.  Sort of.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Don't Get Too Skinny

     When people say to me, "Don't get too skinny!" I'm not sure how I'm supposed to respond.  I don't think they're really worried about my health,  (Or is it a compliment?) but I wish I could tell them:
     I'm not trying to get skinny.  I'm not restricting or even keeping track of calories.  I'm trying to be as healthy as I can.  I'm learning that if you nourish your body and exercise, it will find the weight that it is supposed to be. 

     I eat fruits and veggies and whole grains because I know that's what my body needs.  I exercise because I enjoy it.  I love Zumba!  I love that I can run 2 or 3 miles now easily.  I love having defined biceps for the first time in my life.  I love not feeling like I need a nap all the time.  I have never felt this good in my life.

     I wanted (and needed) to lose weight at first.  I had a weight goal.  I set it at 135 pounds because I thought it was realistic and it was in the healthy range for my height (110 - 148 lbs).  I'm at 127 now - and still in that healthy range.  My new goal is 125.  I don't know if that's my ideal weight. I just thought it would be nice to weigh what my first driver's license said I weighed at 16. (I doubt I weighed 125 even then.  Maybe 128.)

     If I reach it - great.  If I don't, that's fine too because I feel great.

That's what I wish I could tell them, but I don't think that's what they want to hear.  Instead I just smile and change the subject.  
     So the next time someone says to me: "Hi Twiggy."  I'll take that as a compliment (backhanded as it may be).  At least it's not Fatty McPhatterson right?

Get Healthy with Small Changes

Thanksgiving weekend was not kind to me.  I think it was the coconut cream pie that did me in. Or maybe it was the pan of Peanut Butter Fingers that I made because my son begged.  I have the best recipe for Peanut Butter Fingers that I’ve ever seen out there. Courtesy of an ex-lunch lady.  I’ll do you a favor and not share it.  (Unless you want me to, but you’ll be sorry.)  That was probably the reason I gained 2 ½ pounds that week. 

One thing I’ve learned about sugar is that I can be doing so great, not craving sweets at all, then go overboard one day and bam! I want more and more.  Before I know it I’ve eaten half a pan of something. And it takes me a few days to get back to craving healthy foods again.  But I think I’m there. 

I’ve talked about small changes that make a big difference.  Since you need to do more than talk about changes, let's decide to actually do something!  Set a goal to make a change in the way you eat.  And then DO IT!

Here are some things I'm doing to get back on track.

  Small changes that make a big difference:

*  Soup Day.  Make soup once a week and make sure it’s one with lots of veggies.  I like soup because I can make enough for leftovers.  Plan your soup day for the day after a roast or chicken.  Just sauté some onions and chopped veggies, add broth, maybe some pasta and the leftover meat.  A little bit of meat goes a long way and makes a good soup. On soup days all I do is thaw some frozen rolls in the afternoon.  I love easy!

*  Add a smoothie.  There are all kinds of smoothie recipes on line.  Start with something safe that you know you’ll like and then experiment.  Smoothies are the best way to sneak some spinach in.  My favorite Green Smoothie is on my Healthy Recipes page.

*  Try one new salad each week.  If you make this goal, plan ahead! You’re not going to do it if all you have is lettuce in the fridge.  You can add fruit, beans, chicken, salsa, peas, seeds, berries, etc. to your salad. Maybe not all at the same time.  Then you’ll need a few different dressings.  Try something new.  There’s only so much you can do with Ranch Dressing.   Need some ideas?  Trainer Momma is the queen of salads. I think last time I looked she had 28 salads on her recipe page. You need to go there.

So there are a few ideas.  Anything you’d like to add?  I’m always open to suggestions and ideas.  What works for you?