Less Junk in My Truck=Less Junk in My Trunk

Well, it's a given ... the less I eat of the bad stuff, the less my gluteus maximus will show it. Among other parts of my body which I won't discuss. I've been taking more time grocery shopping, going prepared with a list and sticking to it (well, mostly:)) and cooking, baking and eating out alot less. I find grocery shopping a challenge when you're trying to change your eating lifestyle. Yes, there's tons of good food out there, lots of fibre, fruits and veggies, and it seems food manufacturers are trying to do the right thing by removing salt, sugar, fat, adding more fibre to alot of their foods. They darn well know they are a big part of the reason that our population is grossly overweight. But there's still all that junk out there ... I was walking through a local grocery store recently, and after passing through the meat & dairy section, came upon their Easter display. It was monumental ... of course I had to look (ok, I'll admit it, Easter Cream Eggs and Caramilk Eggs are one of my biggest weaknesses!) It was mind-blowing. Row upon row of treats ... anything you can think of redesigned with Easter and Spring in mind ... hey, did you know that Vachon's Ah Caramel cakes now come with Easter Cream Egg filling? OMG ... I can proudly say I left them in the store, didn't even pick them up to look. I can just imagine the nutritional label on those ... if they were even brave enough to put one on it!! Carbs and fat grams OFF THE CHART!
Hunky hubby and I make the occasional trip to Costco. Now there's a store for a food lover. Sample tables around every corner, bulk baked goods, snack foods in huge bags, cereal by the truck full. I have to avoid their bakery section, it completely overwhelms me (who needs 2 dozen chocolate covered croissants or 36 huge assorted cookies? I'd eat them all if I took them home :)) So I try to focus on healthier selections (grabbing 5 pounds of grapes instead of 5 pounds of chocolate covered almonds *sigh*) Thankfully we don't live really close to Costco, or I'd be in big trouble ... or my booty would :)
Yup, I'm obsessed ... with food. Am I an emotional eater? Yup, sometimes. I eat when I'm bored with the very busy daily routine. I eat when I'm working, which is the worst, because I forget what I've shoved in my mouth, and by the end of the day I know I've doubled my WW point allowance without even knowing it. I eat while hubby and I are snuggling in front of the t.v. But I eat because I love food. Yup. I'm a foodaholic. What's not to love?
Hubby and I had a wonderful dinner out Friday evening with friends at a local bistro, our first time there. It was wonderful. Hubby had a steak that he said was one of the best cuts of meat he'd ever had. I of course had a penne pasta dish with chicken, cream sauce and veggies (is there anything better than pasta? I think not ... well, maybe Easter Cream Eggs ... ANYWAY) We splurged and had dessert ... I just had to try their chocolate mousse cake (chocolate ... yup, here I go again ... that can cure any desperate situation, can't it?) Well, it was all wonderful. Melt in your mouth yummy. I was designated driver so I didn't try any wine, but I'm sure it would have been wonderful, too. Great night out, great company, great food ... ok, who am I kidding ... FABULOUS food!! It made me want to cry (I seriously thought hubby was going to shed a tear when he took that first bite of steak ... ever seen a grown man cry over beef? I'm sure my man could do that ...)
Geez ... is there really any hope for me? I do love healthy food, too, and I'm trying to steer away from the bad stuff, bringing home more of the good stuff, trying new recipes, substitutions, healthier snacking. Being more conscious of what I pick up at the grocery store and load into the truck.
Leaving the junk behind ... so there's less junk on my behind :)

Thanks for reading!
XO

Accomplishment

I came across a great quote this morning "We must do the things we think we cannot do" Eleanor Roosevelt. This quote was in a story about a very successful and much loved U.S. university football coach that has accomplished many amazing things in life even though he was born with no hands. NO HANDS! Just amazing. He has played college football, played the trombone, he was a high school teacher and now coaches football. Makes you feel alot less sorry for yourself, doesn't it?!
So back to the quote. How true. Isn't it human nature to sometimes say, "oh I can't do that, I'm not that talented" or "I don't have the patience" or "I don't have the time". Those 3 lines are famous in my vocabulary, mostly I'm afraid of trying for fear of failing and looking like a fool. But when I look back through everything I've done over the last 20+ years, I've really accomplished many things that I never thought I could ... I got my Grade 8 RCM certification which involved alot of study and discipline, opened up my own teaching studio in my home and became a successful, loved teacher to many students. Hunky hubby and I have been running our own very successful carpentry business for the last 5+ years, and I handle all his bookkeeping, other than his yearly corporate taxes (know NOTHING about that, safer for an accountant to deal with that stuff when it involves the government!) I have my own very successful Avon business, with many devoted clients whom I'm proud to say have become my friends. I have taught myself how to use a computer (with only a one hour lesson 12 years ago to get me started on the basics). I have raised 2 beautiful children who are very successful in what they are pursuing in life and careers. I have learned special care for animals with cancer (holistic care) after having nursed my old yellow lab though cancer for 4 years (she passed away 3 years ago this past Thursday, she lived to be almost 12, diagnosed at age 8) and raised a beautiful little yellow lab puppy from 8 weeks to her current age of almost 3~a very HYPER Lab puppy I might add!! She is a daily joy to me, and I have to admit a challenge sometimes!! And the accomplishment I feel most proud of: being married for 22 1/2 years ... to the same man! And I still adore him, I love him more every day :)
So, why do I struggle so much with weight loss? Discipline? Willpower? I wish I had the answer. I love good food. I love to go out with friends or family and have a couple of drinks, a nice meal, dessert, and some good laughs. I love to cook big dinners ~ I'm really good at turkey dinners with homemade stuffing, gravy, and all the fixings!
I guess each time I start a new diet I'm afraid of failure. Or it's almost like I expect failure. I've dieted so many times for so many years, only to gain back what I've lost. I can count calories, fat grams and fibre like a pro. I can decipher any nutrition label you give me. I know how I need to eat, I just have so much trouble sticking to it. It's a mind set. Been doing it for so many years it's engrained in my brain!
So I really, really need to overcome this fear of failing again. Working at changing my lifestyle, keep trying new recipes and doing what I love - cooking, but cooking healthier. When I look at some recipes I think "oh I won't try that, too many ingredients I don't have, too complicated" but once I put my mind to it, I know I can do it. And it will taste just as great as the "bad" foods I cook. And it will become easier, to the point where I won't even have to dwell on it everyday. No more waking up everyday thinking about losing weight. I have to change my mindset. I need to think about all the delicious, healthy foods I will cook ... new recipes I will try and succeed at! Become obsessed with healthy cooking and eating, and the rest will fall into place.
I WILL succeed once and for all at this weight loss thing!!!!! I WILL add this accomplishment to my list this year!! Do the one thing I think I cannot do ...

Healthy recipes most welcome in my blog comments!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading,
XO

Keeping It Regular

I've missed my blogging. It's been over a year since I began this "Beginning the Battle ... YET AGAIN" blog, and now a new year is over 2 months in, and I'm fighting the battle again (well, in reality, still!). Almost 2 months since my last blog, but alot has happened, in a positive way; positive changes are in the making!
Hunky hubby and I enjoyed a one-week stay in Cayo Santa Maria Cuba a few weeks ago. We had a blast, we were joined on the trip by my cousin and her husband who were way, way too much fun! It was a much needed "R&R" trip for rest and reflection. We've both hit burnout. Time to step back and take a good long look at the business, and make some changes for the better. Re-focus our talents instead of "dabbling" in everything and getting overwhelmed with work ... no more late, late nights and early mornings, set a schedule and stick to it ... keep it regular :)
We've also started following the G.I. eating plan ... Glycemic Index. A couple of years ago I asked my doctor what he suggested for "weight loss" and he right away suggested this. Of course I tried other diets since, only to lose weight, go off the diet and gain it all back again. I KNOW I need a lifestyle change, that's what it's all about. And the more research I do of all the diets out there, of all the diets I've tried, the Glycemic Index seems to be the basis of so many of them. Healthy carbs, less sugar, more fibre ... it's not rocket science. We've always eaten lots of fibre, but yes, we are sugar junkies. Big time. So we're slowly weaning ourselves off the sugar high, it will take time, but I'm taking time to find new recipes, cooking more, adding lots more fibre to our diet, eating 3 meals regularly, snacking regularly to keep from being hungry ... and yup, you guessed it, all this regular good "fibrous" eating leads us where? Regularity! ;)
So my promise to myself and my followers is that I will faithfully get back to my blogging ... it does help the inspiration, I love the feedback, it gives me the strength and determination to keep going ... keep writing ... REGULARLY!


Thanks for reading!
Blog ya again soon!