Playing Possum

I was very good today. You would all be so proud...Salad, smoothies, egg, tilapia, spinach, nuts, water. If the topic hadn't kept me engaged, I might have hit up the cookie table, just to stay awake. These days, there are enough U.S. Constitutional Law cases to keep the fur flying for hours...gay marriage, Hobby Lobby, Stop and Frisk, abortion, Affordable Health Care, gun control, you name it. However, I or anyone might stand on any of those topics, here's my perspective; I paid attention, looked at both sides and stayed away from the cookies. That's a good thing,

Truthfully, I could eat anything right now. But, the day is almost over. I think I might make it. 
I was lucky enough to distract myself with some re-runs of The Beverly Hillbillies. I just love Granny. I'm so hungry, her possum sandwich and gopher gravy sounded appetizing. If you haven't watched them in a while, turn to TVLand. Just as your stomach starts to grumble and you find yourself getting a bit dizzy, lie down on the floor or your nearest fainting couch and laugh you a$$ off. Do 30 minutes of sit ups, too and get it over with. I laughed so hard, I think it was worth a few extra sit ups. Uncle Jed's lines are pure gold, "He lies so much, somebody else has to call his dog to him."

By the way, I have to settle for sit-ups and some upper body stuff for right now. No excuses. t's something, at least. Being the honeymoon girl that I am, I got all "gussied up" in my pink outfit, as Granny would say and over-did it on the treadmill. My knee is a little swollen. I'll give it a little rest and start up again. Gradually, like I should've in the first place.

I'm worried about my knee. What if I wind up like my dog, Sydney? My poor pooch has an ACL tear on his knee. Poor little fat boy. Like his human mommy, he was a little over indulged with treats. And like me, he over-did it on the exercise routine when he first started. Long story short, the vet refuses to repair his knee until he loses 12 pounds. He's been living off of a diet of green beans mixed with dog food since August. Something is working. He lost 8 pounds in two months. Tonight, I even found his bowl enticing. He looked up at me with a quizzical yet, "#ainthavinit", expression on his little treat deprived face.

I'll be glad when this week is over. Next week, Kristie says we can have beans (we're still in negotiations about whether a smoked neck bone would be out of compliance). Bless you Kristie. Otherwise, I might have to fight my dog for that big heaping bowl of dog food and green beans. We know that works.

Day Four...

It Was Worth A Try





Is it Day Four already? Who am I kidding? I'm counting the minutes. I know. I know. No negativity! Speak Life! Just wondering...does anyone else have a headache? I can't think very clearly. Is there such a thing as chocolate withdrawal?

There is an upside. I cooked. It might not look like much, but it was a gourmet meal to me. That little one serving shrimp stew was like a party in my mouth. I guess we can have shrimp. Shrimp is fish...I think. I swear. I'm so hungry, I can't tell what food group fish belongs to. It took exactly 5 minutes to thaw and five minutes to sauté, add fresh spinach, tomatoes, Italian seasonings, Fennel Seed, ginger, garlic, crushed red peppers and a splash of coconut milk. It took less than that to slurp it down. Picture me hunched over the table with a spoon in one hand and the other protecting that bowl with the other, like a prison inmate.

I don't know why, but it sounded like a good idea to add coconut milk to shrimp. I might have read it somewhere. In my delirium, I just started throwing stuff in the pan. I liked it. The cooking, not so much. The mad scientist in me needed to be fulfilled. And, I'm still hanging in there.

I'm digging the smoothie recipes and the menus on Kristie's Face book page. The reminder to plan my meals comes right on time. It's such a simple concept. But, I almost forgot. Yesterday, I went to a meeting and I passed on all the yummy chips, turkey and cheese wraps and cookies. I passed on chocolate chip cookies. Thank goodness for the veggie tray. I survived...without the dip.

I am going to an all day U.S. Constitutional Law seminar tomorrow. I can't contain my excitement. (You don't really believe that, do you?) I will stay committed to my little bag of Boot Camp regulation foods and I will rush the veggie table at lunch.

What was I saying again....?

Get Your Ta-Tas In A Twist!



Happy Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 

Don't you just love Maxine? She's who I want to be when I grow up. I often consult her with the real problems I face in life...Like "Don't let aging get you down, it's too hard to get back up" and "Everyone seems normal until you get to know them". She's rarely kind but always honest and she means well. It's time to consult the sage, grumpy old gal again. It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So, do what she says!

 

This morning, bless her heart, Kristie (aka Caligula), gave us a new challenge. She's hearing all the whining on Facebook. Or maybe it's just coming from me. She told us all to "Speak Life"! No negativity! I usually try not to look at my cell phone until I'm already in my office. Who needs to deal with crap before your morning shower? These days, though, I find myself grabbing my phone (after I hit the snooze a few times) and looking out for a few words of inspiration. So, I actually managed to scribble a few words of thanks before I rolled out of the bed...late.

 

It's certainly the right thing to do. I have a lot to be thankful for. Those of you who know me, get that. Today, I was just moved to think about one other reason to "Speak Life". Many women can't. We're lucky enough to have each other to remind us of that. Stay healthy, eat clean, and GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM.

 

I don't know why Kristie picked the month of October. It's funny, I didn't hear anyone ask. I speculated why she picked 21 days in yesterday's blog. I'll take a guess. Could it be that we can use October to give each other the gift of encouragement and good health? I'll go with that. Why not? Apart from heart health, we know that healthy eating; fresh fruits, vegetables, Omega 3's, whole grains, low fat and exercise just might save us from one of the most deadly diseases that women face today.



 



Type "Breast Cancer and nutrition" on any search engine. I got this tidbit from BreastCancer.org:
"Although more research needs to be done on diet and breast cancer, findings suggest that physical activity, a healthy diet (particularly one low in fat and high in vegetables and fiber), and a healthy weight can help reduce the risk of breast cancer or the cancer coming back". http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/nutrition/reduce_risk/foods

That's good by me. I'm tired of making "Pink Ribbon" baskets. It seems like there is an ever increasing number of friends in my life with that horrible diagnosis. It's horrifying to hear someone you love say "I have Breast Cancer". It's even harder to realize that we are helpless. It's out of our hands. All we can do is give a hug, promise to help, make a basket of hope, and pray. If there is any one thing you can do to keep from hearing those awful words, wouldn't you do it? Doesn't it make sense to Speak health, Speak Friendship, Speak a Cure....Speak Prevention?!

Now, I know that I have a bit of a "chocola-tude" problem. I'm working on it. Let's do this. SPEAK LIFE. Lest you forget, your best friend's life depends on it.

Chocolate Is A Plant, Right?

Smoothies Are Your Friends

 

Day two...I think I'm actually getting weak. Could I be starving to death? Shouldn't it take longer than two days? Well it feels like it. I actually "shushed" a bowl of M&M's so I believe I was hallucinating, too.

 

Smoothies aren't really that bad. They're actually pretty tasty. I'm glad I re-thought the boiled egg piece of this cleanse. Surely, a couple of eggs isn't going to kill me. In fact, I've never been so happy to eat one as I was today. Did I mention, I think I'm starving to death?  

 

I'm so weak, I can barely write. Especially since I walked two miles after work. Hey, ya gotta just get it done. I'm searching well inside of my soul for discipline. Discipline to stay within the lines, blog daily and get that exercise in. They say that it takes 21 days to form a habit. At least that's what Weight Watchers says...but I didn't stay in long enough to test the theory. So, if I stick with this, I'll find out. Then I'll be on track to stay focused on healthy eating habits. I think that's what Kristie had in mind when she designed this 3 week program. Otherwise, she could give Caligula a run for his money.

 

I thought I'd give you nice followers a tip. Wal Mart sells a nice little blender for less than $25. You can probably find it a little cheaper. The little Oster blender has a travel mug and it works really well on ice cubes. I like mine. Others work just as well. So does your standard, run of the mill counter blender and a plastic to-go cup from the Dollar Store. Remember, smoothies are our friends.

 

Now, I know we have a list of suggested ingredients. I want to consider something. Are there any other suggestions for smoothies or juices that are plant based out there? All suggestions are welcome. I'm a one trick pony, so I buy what is convenient and cheap and then I make the he_ _ out of it until I just can't take it anymore. Then, I'm toast. I don't want that to happen. And just sayin', if I don't get some chocolate soon, I'm going to lock myself into "Suzin' L's". What about this for a quick fix; berries, almond milk, coconut milk, vanilla and unsweetened cocoa powder, add ice and blend. Oh please??? Chocolate is a plant, right?









Day One...

I ain't goin' out with no muffin top!

 



Day One...I'm hungry!!! That's it! Remember, I'm a honeymoon girl?! I got up and had my smoothie, ate my egg, almonds, veggies , salmon. I even made fresh green juice for tomorrow. I got on the treadmill. I did cheat. I had a cup of coffee. Sorry Kristie. How about black coffee with half and half flavored water?

It's probably not so much that I'm hungry. It's mostly that I can't stop thinking about food. Halloween is right around the corner and there is nothing else I can think about except candy and potatoes. Isn't that funny? Potato chips, potato skins, baked potato's with lots of cheese and butter, French fried potatoes, tater tots. And Snicker bars. Lots of the little mini/fun sized bars. And Mounds. Oh and Almond Joys (sometimes you feel like a nut...).

I hope I can keep it together. How can I not? With all the water, I spent most of my time in  um...what my friend Steve calls, "the necessary". But seriously, like I said before, it's not easy being clean/green. It's expensive. Not "cruise" expensive, but I could surely have satisfied my intense passion for a Coach purse yesterday, shopping for fresh food. I think it's worth it.

It's worth it for the discipline. It's worth it for the habit of thinking about what you put in your mouth. It's worth it because you are what you eat. Unless you couldn't tell by the nice muffin top in my before pic, I am a big Snicker bar. It's worth it because, we all know what fresh fruits and vegetables with their vitamins and nutrients, and a diet free from high fructose corn syrup and aspartame leads to a longer healthier life. I was reading an article recently that low income people who are overweight, are actually suffering from malnutrition. Yep, it's right here, read it for yourself; http://news.discovery.com/human/health/how-can-people-be-overweight-and-malnourished-130506.htm. How can we be overweight and malnourished?

“It does happen because people choose to eat the wrong foods,” said Dee Sandquist, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It’s one reason many Americans are plagued by chronic diseases, she said".





I'm convinced, it's worth it because I'm a "SURVIVOR". Now, there are statistics out there that point to cancer causes from marshmallows to lipstick. Sometimes, we don't know what to believe. But what we do know is that obesity, fatty and processed foods don't make surviving any easier. And a Coach purse can't save my life. It just holds all the old lady pills I'll have to take. I ain't goin' out like that. Now, somebody please convince my sweet-tooth. 

Day one down, twenty more to go. How's everybody else doing?

#WEGOTTHIS

ü  Smoothie Maker
ü  Soy-Free, Fruit Protein Mix
ü  Apples
ü  Lemons
ü  Spinach/Other Green stuff
ü  Carrot Juice
ü  Blue, black and raspberries
ü  Tilapia/Shrimp/Salmon
ü  Whole Wheat Pasta
ü  An assortment of other healthy eating properties

I’m what you might call a “honeymoon girl”.  That’s a person who gets all set up for a project and basks in the glow of the preparation and then, all of the air just blows out of the balloon. I buy the running shoes, the socks, the Nike© sweat-flicking running clothes, the tennis racket, the golf shoes and matching outfit, the golf clubs, the juicer, the smoothie maker, the vitamins, the treadmill, the elliptical machine, the gym membership…you get it. Ever heard of Freecycle.com? That is where my elliptical machine went and I don’t miss it. I spent enough money on gym memberships to feed a small third world country. The rest of the stuff is either in the closet or hanging on the glorified clothes hanger otherwise called a treadmill. Didn't I see that set of golf clubs out in the garage last spring?

What I’m saying is, I’m all set for Kristie’s Clean Eating Boot Camp challenge. My accountability partner, Erica Jackson and I are on our “honeymoon”. We expect our cleansing “marriage” to last. While I didn’t buy everything on the list, I think I got it right. I’m going to try to stay away from too much dairy and sadly, butter. I don’t plan on eating the eggs (the hormones in chicken feed scare me). I have a vat of lemon, peppermint water in the fridge. You don’t want to know how much all that costs. It’s not easy being green, as Kermit the Frog would say.

This morning for breakfast, I ate a left over cheeseburger, a cup of coffee and a cup of Raisin Bran, just to keep it healthy. No more of that. Tomorrow will come and I will be ready to drink my green smoothie and take a 30 minute walk or move faster than usual somehow.

I'll try to check in everyday. Make sure to comment and share. I'm counting on you to keep me honest. Take the poll. What's holding you back?

#WEGOTTHIS!

I Shall Not Be Moved!

Hi Y’all,

Has it really been over two years? I’ve missed you. Let me start by saying, 2011-2014 was a trip! I survived and I am very thankful to God and my friends and family for pulling me through. That said; remember, this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Think Pink! Remind someone you love to schedule a mammogram. Early detection saves lives.

What have I been up to? Just about everything. Ask my friends or check out my Face book page. I finally got off my cancer-free a$$, stopped feeling sorry for myself and got busy livin’…it beats the hell out of the rest of that line from Shawshank Redemption. Don’t blink or you might miss me. I’ve been traveling, involving myself in my community and thinking up new trouble to get into. I’m still editing that book I started 12 years ago. But who’s counting? I’m just happy to be here to polish and fuss over it like a piece of fine china

My closet is still a mess. I won’t even change the picture. It might even be worse, now. I got rid of a crap-load of clothes, purses and shoes. Still, I’m shopping a little too much. But anyone who saw the dress I bought from JC Penney for $2.97, will forgive me that indiscretion. By the way, remember how when this all started, I kept wondering why I couldn’t seem to make friends with the bank? Well, it wasn’t just me. You may have read that the banks have been court ordered to reimburse millions for scheming people out of illegal overdraft fees. Personally, I got a few “C-Notes” back, myself. So see, it wasn’t just me.

But I digress. I’ve been inhaling donuts like they cure cancer. I’m still busting out those New Balance running shoes now and then, trying to keep from having a heart attack (See May 2011). And I still have 20 pounds to lose (who doesn’t?). So, it’s time for something more drastic. Instead of my closet, I’m cleansing my body.  It's time to eat to live, not live to eat. We all know what we need to do.

My friend Kristie Duffy has issued a Clean Eating Boot Camp challenge. I and a few other brave souls have, with great trepidation, accepted (I have to exercise too...boo!). Now, Kristie is the truth...No excuses! So, I don’t want to disappoint her or my colleagues. I’m excited. But, remember when I tried to go vegan (See Jan 2012)? We shall see.  It’s only 3 weeks, right? If you’re on Facebook, check her out, https://www.facebook.com/groups/256921401107513/...if you dare.

Follow along with me. Keep me honest. This should be interesting. Life will always hold a special challenge for me. It always has. For as long as I can remember, it’s always been something. I guess just about everyone can say that. Someone once said, “If we all threw all of our problems up in the air at the same time, you’d still catch yours coming down”. I believe I would. I keep trying and living and bringing people into my world. I’ll try again. I enjoy sharing and hearing what’s going on in your lives. That Zuckerberg kid sure had it right.  

I’m so glad to be back. I’m so glad to be me again, whoever that girl may be now. “…my description cannot fit your tongue, for I have a certain way of being in this world, and I shall not, I shall not be moved”, Maya Angelou.