Giving Up

I have a friend or two who have "given ______ up for Lent."  Some of these people have given up chocolate.  WHAT?!  Really?  I would much prefer to give up housecleaning...I'm already succeeding at it so there's not too much risk involved.  Several years ago I gave up (not for Lent, mind you) Diet Coke.  I was drinking way too much and felt it would be better for me to stop drinking it all together.  I succeeded for almost one year.  But then I had that one sip, then a gulp, and I was a goner.  I know my friends worry about my DC addiction.  So a couple of weeks ago, I gave up going to the convenience store or (yikes) Sonic for a crunchy ice diet coke...again, not for Lent. I just wanted to see if I could do it.  Of course I could, but let's face it: an addiction is addicting!  Some struggle with drugs or food or diet coke.  We are all powerless when it comes to our addictions, right?  Shopping/ sex/ gossip/ it doesn't matter what it is...try giving it up for a while and you'll know what I'm talking about.  Again, forever late to the party, I'm wondering what I can "give up" for good.  I wouldn't give up chocolate...I know I can't keep that up.  I would like to say I'll give up diet cokes with the crunchy ice, but I know that would be a struggle especially while I'm trying to lose weight.  The only responsible thing to give up right now for me would be the 8 pounds I'm trying to take off before April 1st.  I think I'll restate my goal and say for Lent I'm giving up 8 pounds for good.  I won't ask for them back or resume to get them back after Easter.  I will gladly and joyfully give up 8 pounds for Lent.

Update:  kitchen sink was clean for 1 1/2 days.  The bathrooms are/were clean and shiny.  The thing I despise about housework is it is never done.  No sooner had I cleaned the bathroom then someone went in and used that sparkly clean bowl.  I mopped the kitchen floor only to have the muddy dogs run back through.  So welcome to my pigpen.  We are happy and if it really bothers you, I'll show you where the broom and mop are!

Flying?

A while back I posted about time flying and how I'd begin using the book Sink Reflections by "Flylady"  Flying  Unfortunately I had forgotten about my own post and well.....  this is just a glimpse of the state of my house!  Not a pretty picture

As a working Strawberry, I am so very appreciative of other working strawberries who CAN work and keep a clean house.  Gee, even when I wasn't working I couldn't keep a clean house so I shouldn't be shocked at my little strawberry patch.  But I am!!!!  I don't like living this way.  Just this morning I popped my whole wheat eggos (I'm having oatmeal for dinner.....save!)  in the toaster oven while I started on this post.  The ding-er went off and I had cold eggos in my toaster.  The night before, Boy had changed the settings to "oven" and since I turned the "toaster" knob- no heat in the "toaster" oven!  Second try and thus I see how my morning will go.  I'm falling back into my old unorganized self.  Flying by the seat of my pants.  I've been on this journey since August and yes I move ahead 3 spaces and fall back 15.  This is why I don't gamble!!!  I'm horrible at the betting, but you know, I'm still betting on this Strawberry because I am determined to go against my grain; I can do it.  I know I can.  For 9 days I've been eating healthy breakfasts and once that is second-nature to me, I'll add another challenge.  One little baby flight at a time.

GWTG

Good morning, Grainiacs,

It's raining here in Rural, USA and I don't mind if I'm inside but I get all gussied up for work (make-up/ hair/ HAIR SPRAY!!!!) and I don't want to get out in the rain.  Oh yes, there is the umbrella but you've heard the song about Oklahoma and the wind and most of my umbrellas wind up inside out and not a whole lot of help when it rains AND the wind is sweeping down the plain.  As a child, I laughed at the ladies wearing their plastic rain scarves over their heads but now I'm thinking... hmmmm...... Yikes!  I must be getting old!!!!  Somebody stop me if you see me trying to buy a plastic rain bonnet......please!!!!

Boy's alarm went off so "the time is now 7:33 a.m."  Do you remember calling in to Time and Temperature?  Do they still have a T&T number since the invention of the internet?  Why dial 7 numbers when you can click a button and ta da-- the time and temperature for all over the world!?  Just a random thought for this morning.  Boy's alarm is still going off; I look at the handy time clock in the corner of my computer and it is now 7:55 a.m.!  I wonder how someone can sleep with an obnoxious buzzing sound right by their head.  I will wake up every time a mosquito buzzes around my head.  That is probably where the first inventor of the alarm clock came up with his/her idea.  Buzz....buzz....swat....hey, I think I'll invent an alarm clock (thank you, Al Gore; I know YOU really invented the alarm clock [wink wink buzz]).

Well, I've heard from some of you Grainiacs about breakfast.  Thank you.  And the winner is:     OATMEAL.  Yep, you Grainiacs love your oatmeal in the morning.  I prefer to have oatmeal with some vanilla yogurt swirled in (I do love yogurt...I wish I could have it in the mornings...sniff sniff).  But some of you like oatmeal with peanut butter swirled in.  I've never had peanut butter in my oatmeal before but there's always today.  One Grainiac mentioned she likes oatmeal with raisins (Hubby's favorite) and peanut butter AND cheese!  Never had that combo before!  She also eats yogurt with fruit and 1/2 - 3/4 cups of bran flakes added for a nice crunch.  Fruit is always a favorite.

So in honor of my grainiacs, I'm starting my week with a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast.  Yes, I can start my week any time I want and my week starts on a Thursday!  I also started my New Year's Resolution in March, remember?  I'm "Going With The Grains" starting today.  What?  You thought GWTG meant "George, where's the goat?"  or  "Gee, who's that geek?"  Rev. Hubby thought it meant "Give wonderfully to God" but then added it could also mean "Go wind the gong."  LOL

Bacon and Eggs

That's my healthy breakfast today.  Some might not think it's too healthy but others will say "it is the breakfast of champions!"  Strawberry says I was craving bacon and eggs and so I'm a gonna have them!  I haven't heard from anyone so I'm assuming 1) you aren't on a healthy breakfast challenge with me; 2) you don't eat breakfast; 3) you already eat a healthy breakfast so there is no challenge; or 4) and most likely- you have stopped reading this blog and I'm talking to myself (again!).  That's okay- I'm still up for the challenge.

I got on the scale and I'm down 1.6 pounds. Yipee!!!  Could it be the good start in the morning?  If I start off eating right, does that guide my choices during the rest of the day?  I guess I'll know by the end of the month.

So for now, Tootles, Graini-self.

Going Strong

Day 5 and that is 5 days of healthy breakfasts!  I can do this but I will NOT get cocky so soon.  I know myself and 5 days is still earlier enough to fall off the health train.  I must admit, I am getting energy.  I didn't see it on Day 3 but looking over my Day 4 and now this morning, I can tell a difference in myself-  of course it could be psychosomatic.  I believe that the mind has great influence over the body (of course I'm not the only one, but I'm just saying "I believe it too!").  But what happens when you have a great attitude that you will lick that weight struggle and it just doesn't happen?  Does that mean you don't really have a great attitude- that I CAN DO THIS resolve?  I don't think so; just like some with 98% positive attitudes about defeating cancer can still succumb to this hateful, awful, sickening disease.  It isn't fair.  She had the right stuff to beat the odds yet she still lost her fight.  RIP Janet and may God comfort your family and friends during this time. I believe we can have that 98% (let's face it, doesn't doubt creep in?) determination and still fail?  Of course, we can think it but until we do it, it's just that-- in our minds.

I might have mentioned in a previous post that I moved my stationery bicycle back into the TV room.  Last night I got off my duff and put the pedal to the metal or actually the pedal round and round!  I spent 40 minutes on the bicycle and felt great.  That's the energy I'm talking about since I've started the day on the right path.

Day 4 was a busy day at the church.  We invited a neighborhood apartment complex to breakfast.  I was busy cooking and serving so I didn't get a chance to sit down and eat (I did sit down and visit...you know this Strawberry--has to meet new people).  Thankfully I woke up with enough time to eat a bowl of oatmeal.  Yum.

Day 5- more oatmeal and a banana.  Not exactly a huge "queen" meal, but I hit the snooze button too many times!!!

Have a great day, Grainiacs and remember I love you and am rooting for you.

 

And We're Off

Good morning, Grainiacs!

I have good news.  I have completed 3 days of my healthy good eating good for you breakfasts.  I'd like to tell you I have more energy, my temperament is excellent and everyone loves me, but alas I'd be lying.  I DO feel better but as for the energy- I'm still a couch potato.  I work 9 - 5 with about 45 minutes for lunch (driving time subtracted), I get home and want to vegetate in front of the TV vs. putting on jogging shoes and wobbling down the street.  I did "walk away" a few pounds while washing dishes-- thank you Leslie Sansone.  So as you can see there is still much work and I continue to fight with myself and try to go against my grain.  I know I'm making healthy choices now and ingraining healthy breakfasts into my DNA so I will reach for a whole grain waffle instead of a doughnut (although I was dreaming about them last night!).  I want to think healthy for the rest of my life and not for one month.  You know?

Day 2 Healthy Breakfast:

Day 2 of eating like a Queen!

2 whole grain waffles (generic variety) with 2 Tbsp of all natural peanut butter and a banana.  I've always heard about peanut butter and banana sandwiches but never EVER to my recollection had one.  The thought of it never appealed to me.  Going against my grain (I almost wrote "brain"  LOL --I guess it would be apropos) I decided to try the combo.  Can I just say it is not at all bad?  As a matter of fact, I kept one waffle banana free but decided to add slices to my second waffle.  The brown stuff on top of the banana waffle is cinnamon lest you think I hated it and spit it back out!  I will check how large the holes in the cinnamon container are before I sprinkle dump cinnamon onto my dish.  (for my WW grainiacs, this breakfast was 10 points but before you spit your milk out through your nose, remember, I'm eating breakfast like a queen, lunch like a princess, and dinner like a pauper!  My most or next to most points come at breakfast time).


Day 3:  Aya en el rancho grande

not pretty looking but good!

  Scrambled eggs with bacon bits and chunky salsa and pear slices.  WW- 7 ppts  Arriba!!

Are you taking the healthy breakfast challenge with me?  I'd love to hear how it's going. 

Got Milk?

I don't "got milk" or rather I can't...at least in the mornings.  I take a thyroid hormone replacement pill and am warned not to consume calcium or iron for at least 4 hours after taking the little pill.  This wreaks havoc with my love for yogurt and specifically my fruit and yogurt parfaits.  But a challenge is a challenge and today is Day 1 of my March Breakfast Challenge.  Onward, Grainiacs!!!

This morning I dined (or breakfast-ed) on a ham and cheese (shhh, I can't totally go without dairy in the morning) omelet topped with peppers and onions-- my poor co-workers.  As I didn't have any fresh fruit, I pulled out a bag of frozen peaches.  (sidebar: I did plan and I did go to the store but our one and only grocer was trying to sell old fruit.  That is a different post for another day!) Those peaches didn't look any better than the dried up, smushy fruit at the store so fruit for breakfast was out today.  It must have been a very old bag of fruit; that's all I've got to say or my store is taking their old fruit and bagging it and selling it as frozen fruit.  I don't know.  But anyway, I got my protein and veggies in this morning.  I also pulled out the fine china and crystal.  I did not, however, pull out the silver.  I would have had to polish it and I'm not into polishing silver at 7 a.m. or anytime of day really.

All in all, Day 1 of the breakfast challenge was a success.  I am satiated and happily posting on my blog.  Success.  Hope you are having a great breakfast challenge day and here's hoping it isn't a challenge!

The omelet is hidden under all the peppers and onions!

P.S.  I dished up my delicacy on a salad plate.  I've read where we are to fool our eyes and we tend to eat less when we serve our food on a salad plate.  Something to do with it looking like more food on a plate.

P.S.S.  The "table cloth" is a Native American blanket....or so I thought.  I tried taking a picture for you but it wouldn't come out so I'll have to tell you what it says.  On one side: "Especially for you from the children at St. Labre Indian School."  On the other: "Ashland, Montana  100% Polyester.....Made in China."  hee hee hee