quinoa tabouli, my little ponies and donuts.

Some weekend highlights:

1. Went out for dinner with friends and rocked the ordering.  Thanks to a very kind and patient server who was tipped well, I got exactly what I wanted and it was healthy and oh so delicious.  On my plate were 2 broiled fish tacos with pico de gallo and black beans on corn tortillas with just a sprinkle of cheese.  Then for a side I had quinoa tabouli - WOW.  So amazingly good.  I chose club soda with lime to drink all evening with one little vodka drink (that had more ice than liquid) a bit later on. SUCCESS I say.

2. I attended a My Little Pony 4 year old birthday party, complete with a delicious cake full of pastel frosting and ice cream on the side.  I had to turn down the birthday girl's sweet grandma TWICE, but I did not have any. WOOT.

3.  I attended a super fun workout called a Bike & Brunch.  The caterer brought tons of food - including a huge box full of donuts!?!? Not only did I not eat one, but I sought out the planners and expressed my concern (which of course she supported - she had specifically requested fruit.) Not all that long ago, not only would I have been tempted to eat one or more donuts, but I probably would have let my kids have one too.  Now, I was the one working advocating for healthy options. POSITIVE CHANGE people! Keep on keepin' on.

Hummus Plate

 13

quinoa tabouli, grilled tomato salsa, sunflower seeds and flatbread

http://minneapolis.looprestaurants.com/food-drink-menus/lunch-dinner-menus/appetizers/

create space

Something that I have learned in the last 3 months as I've been on this journey is to be kind and true to myself.  I've learned that I do in fact have time to eat healthy food, to drink gallons a day of water, to get the sleep I need, and to treat myself to a mani /pedi (on a very regular basis [sorry Steve].)

I love myself.  um, no not in a creepy way. ;) But seriously, if I don't take care of this body - of this life - that I've been gifted, who will? I'm not putting that on my husband and kids.  I am not putting that responsibility and honestly, that privilege, on anyone else.

I am blessed to be a blessing.  However, in order to be even half a blessing - seriously, in order to be able to contribute, to give back, to share myself with my family, my friends, this world: I MUST TAKE CARE OF ME.

apple of my eye

This is going to be the most boring-est post you have ever read.
Here goes.

I LOVE apples.  An apple a day? No problem.  And it is August! it isn't even peak apple season! I cannot wait to go to the apple orchard. Who wants to make me apple pie? Oh wait.  maybe not on my seattle sutton plan.  How about applesauce? Oh hell, never mind, I'll just eat them straight up.

Today friends - go eat an apple.  Yummy.

(see, I told you, boring.  But I bet you kinda feel like having an apple, don't you?!?)

#choosehappy

Good morning friends.  Today we get to choose to be happy or not.  I choose to put a smile on my face and to get out there and try. How about you?

I choose:

• Healthy food to fuel my body
• Water water and more water
• Movement whenever possible
• Positive and healthy relationships 
• Faith to ask God to use me as God's hands and feet in the world

Giddy-up kids!
Happy Monday!


 

family time. plus mosquitos.

Andy made a little journal yesterday that he decided was meant to collect "nature stuff."  He asked me if we could go on a nature walk. So after school we hit the trail. 

A few months ago there's no way Steve would've been up for this - but today, he came right from work, threw on the tennis and off we went. 

Yes. 😊 love it. 

 

#imcallingBS

Tobacco industry 1974: "nicotine is not addictive."

Sugar industry NOW: "sugar does not make you fat/ unhealthy/ diabetic. "

Just watched the documentary Sugar Coated for the second time on Netflix. Eye-opening and so worth it. 

Holy crap. Seriously makes me so angry and even more intent upon teaching my kids that sugar is NOT healthy. Fruit snacks that have more sugar than a candy bar!?!? Sigh. NO thank you. 

#wemustchoosewisely

#liarliarpantsonfire

#eyesopened

 

grateful

Today I am grateful for so much and my heart is full. Here's a top 10:

• My supportive husband, who loves me through my crazy
• My hysterical kiddos who keep me on my toes
• A job that I feel called to and that challenges and fulfills me
• Music and the joy of sharing it with others
• Dancing like a crazy fool in public when a song comes on the radio that we do in Leslie's Zumba class (Cheap Thrills by Sia is the latest)
• My treadmill desk and being able to move throughout the day
• Being strong, especially when I feel my sore glutes from ridiculously tough workouts with Troy
• Enough money to pay the mortgage and fill my gas tank, plus a little extra to let A&A each pick out something at the dollar store
• Healthy food to nourish and provide fuel for my body
• A Starbucks venti light roast misto with coconut milk

Here's some homework.
Make YOUR list of 10 things that you are grateful for today.  It will put a smile on your face.

PG13

It's not just the weight loss, it's the body confidence. Plus we have to do something instead of eating together. I realize this is already TMI, but SSHE should add the tag line "you too could be getting it on a little more often."

Gooooooooo team. 😏💏

#DarthPhelps

I love watching the Olympics. It is so motivating to me to watch these incredible athletes. The strength, determination, grace and finesse that are required for each sport are amazing. 

I can't help but thinking about those runners and swimmers that are being lapped though. What is going through their minds as the cameras pan away from them and toward the leader? Is it motivating or defeating? 

Being healthy for me is such a head game. I need to be like Michael Phelps, all headphoned and hoodied, sitting in the corner visualizing myself making good choices throughout the day. 

Seriously maybe I need to try that. 

 

olive it

Today for lunch I had SSHE's Greek style chicken sandwich. Very yummy for sure but I don't really do suace. So the cucumber ranchy yogurty sauce went unused and I was looking for something to add to my sammy. 

Now, I probably don't need to say this, but I'm not one of those farmer's market people. Come on - cupcakes are not usually organically grown and available for purchase.  Not to mention that culinary prowess with unusual vegetables is not on my resume.

 

But I happened to be at Plymouth's farmer's market last week and walked by some olive salsa. Olives, peppers, onions etc all chopped up. Omgoodness YUM. I love...ahem, olive olives. 

So I added them to the wrap tortilla thing, chicken, tomatoes and lettuces and wow. Now that's a yummy lunch I can get behind. 

This blog is brought to you by the letter D

Okay, if you are not a fan of boob talk leave now.  You've been warned.

So some girls live their whole lives looking at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue saying - I wish I had a chest like that.  I wish I could fill out those cups like that.  I wish I could hold up that strapless dress.  Well girls, let me tell you.  It's no picnic.  My whole life I've looked at those little B cuppers and thought, wow, how nice would that be.  What if I could run without actually injuring myself?!?  What if I could wear one of those shelf bra tanks and the shelf bra was enough support? What if I could skip all the boob spillage and cleavage all over everywhere?!?!

After I had Andy things were just off the hook.  I honestly don't know what letter but let's just say it was further along in the ABC song than regular stores carry.

Then Abby came along and - whoa.  Stop the presses, I didn't think it could get BIGGER.  Well, I knew that Dolly Parton and lots of porn stars existed but STILL.  I rationalized the bigness for myself, saying that when I finished breast feeding they would shrink.  That I really DID like buying bras only at Lane Bryant and that I wasn't sad that I no longer was privy to Victoria's Secret.

Well guess what.  I swear half the 30 plus pounds I've lost in the last 9 weeks eating Seattle Sutton meals has been in the boob region.  Seriously.

NOW HEAR THIS:
This day is brought to you by the letter D and I AM SO HAPPY.
C is not for cookie, it is for my goal cup size.  (sorry Steve)  WOOT! Go me.

March

Today

oops I did it again

Um. Team of supporters please still love me. But I broke down and ate an actual cupcake after my cancelled concert tonight. I blame...

Myself. 

Well anyway it was good. (Yeah Nadia's.) But I'm going to be in the bathroom if you know what I mean which will not be good. 

😫💩🙃

hopeful

One of my good friends who has been religiously reading this blog emailed me today with wise and kind words. She pointed out that it seems like I'm a bit sad sometimes and not as joyful as I could or maybe should be. 

She's right. 

I guess there was some part of me that really hoped that after a month or two on this journey that things would get easier. That I wouldn't want ice cream every day. That I would magically find my way. Or actually, that I would have been further down this road in terms of never falling off the wagon again. I feel like I'm dangling on the edge of the wagon sometime, gripping with all my might to stay on. 

I do feel proud of the work I've done so far and must celebrate the positive.  My very wise trainer fills us with words to live by during cycle class (well, during class but also basically any time he speaks.) "Attack your weaknesses as that's where you'll make the greatest change."

Well damn, I'm attacking mine head on and am making significant, real progress and change. I'm on the way. I guess I expected it to be different - easier, more set in, even after only 9 weeks. 

I am realizing that I must continue to flush my expectations and simply embrace today with everything I've got. I'm a work in progress and, honestly, I always will be. All we can do is love ourselves and forgive ourselves and take a breath when it feels like we can't. Today I lift my chin and smile. 

#grateful

#canIgetanamen

 

the blank stare

How do I explain to someone who has never, ever struggled with weight issues what it is like to walk a mile in my shoes? Because I'm sure she has her own stuff - come on, we all have stuff. Stuff that keeps us in hiding, holds us back, lingers in the corners of our minds: "You can't. You're not enough.  You're too much."

It was still hard to see the blank expression on her face when I said I'd been dealing with weight / food issues my whole life. Was there pity in that stare? Or empathy? Honestly more than either of those it was just a complete lack of experience - she simply could not relate. 

And what did I walk away thinking? 

Dear God. Please let that be how my kids will be. Please let the curse skip their generation and the one after that and the one after that and the one after that and...

 

#beyourpotential

It was slow but I did it! 3.2 baby. You know you have good friends when they could run an 8 or 9 minute mile but they wait for you with your 12 min mile and love you up with encouragement. 

☺️

#beyourpotential

#sweaty

#iranandnoonewasevenchasingme

 

I sat in the nachos

Okay I fell down a bit kids. I had cereal as a snack both last night and tonight and we're not talking just a 1/2 cup per sitting. I think about what my transgression may have been a few months ago and the calorie count would be much, much higher. But honestly I haven't been "cheating" and I don't want to make this a habit. So here is my food confession: I ate generic Aldi brand lucky charms 😥😫 and I regret it. 

I feel like I should wear a sign like this pup: 

Sigh. Here's to dusting the nachos off my butt and trying again tomorrow. 

 

check out it

Mom, Check Out It!

Um, Andy...it is Check it out!

Oh. Ok.

Hey Check out it kids - I bought a new pair of jeans on clearance that were 2 sizes smaller than 2 months ago. And they actually fit.  Like no laying on the bed or jumping up and down to try and zip them. Yippee!

that is all.