Simplest Form

“I’m going to eat clean for an entire week.” That is what I told a good friend of mine a couple weeks ago and I was determined to do so. Wanting to live both a healthier and simpler life is part of the drive of this above statement. Also, while my husband was working late one night I stumbled upon a documentary on Netflix titled, “Hungry for Change.” I didn’t instantly believe every word and idea that came from the television, but it did get me thinking. It talked about how addicting sugar is and the way the food companies manipulate the chemicals in the food. Something else that seemed to be true is that we, as humans, at one point in time had a hard time finding fatty foods and it is something that we naturally crave. Fat is something that helped up stay alive when it was rare. Now, we still have those same cravings, but we seem to not be able to get away from it. If I have a choice to have a piece of fish with some steamed vegetables or a yummy steak with a baked potato accompanied with butter, sour cream and other toppings, the latter sounds much more appealing to me. At least for me, I have a constant struggle with choosing the healthy foods over the yummy fatty ones. Anyway, back to eating clean….

The following morning after my declaration to my friend I fixed a couple eggs with some onions, mushrooms, and a little salsa mixed in. I checked the salsa ingredients, and I didn’t like what I saw: words I couldn’t pronounce and had no idea what they meant. I also had some Greek yogurt and instead of mixing in the vanilla yogurt (after looking at the ingredients for the first time) I sweetened it with a little vanilla and honey. And guess what: I liked it! I checked the milk in the fridge and saw that there were no chemicals or hormones before pouring a small glass. I’d say that was a pretty successful breakfast. Maybe I CAN do this! I had a plan to go to the grocery later that day and buy only natural foods to fill my pantry and refrigerator and to rid my house of processed food. I then realized that money was low and the food was expensive and my thoughts of changing everything instantly were little…ambitious.

Instead of changing all at once, I have now decided that going forward, I will make better decisions when buying groceries. Just a couple days ago I went to the store for my weekly shopping and paid very close attention to the food I was putting in my basket that would soon be going into my body. There were several things I picked up, turned it on its back to read what was in it, and placed it right back on the shelf where it belonged. Certain things I once thought were healthy surprised me very much. I guess when the sugar and fat are left out of foods, they have to add man made flavors to make it taste good.

I bought dry black beans this time instead of canned. It was actually kind of fun soaking them for several hours and cooking them, knowing that they were in their simplest form. I also bought natural salsa and was able to read and understand every ingredient on the label. (I hope to make my own this summer from my garden veggies). I was planning on making a dish called “Salsa chicken” which includes using some taco seasoning. I read the ingredients on that small packet of “seasoning” and was stunned by what was in it. That evening I made my own seasoning from a simple recipe I found online. It took me less than a couple minutes and I already had everything in my spice cabinet. Why had I been buying those little packets of “spices” all these years? I guess because I never knew better and believed what was on the front of boxes rather than looking on the back.

I don’t plan on changing everything in my house  to simple foods from the crazy stuff that’s in there this instant (I think my husband would have a meltdown) , but I do hope to slowly adjust the food that’s going in my kitchen and eventually, in me and my husband.

 

simplest superlative of sim·ple (Adjective)

Adjective Easily understood or done; presenting no difficulty. Plain, basic, or uncomplicated in form, nature, or design; without much decoration or ornamentation.

Trial and Error

Obviously, I haven’t been writing here every week like I had said. I guess I either need to live up to that, or just not commit to writing that often. A lot has been going on since I last posted on here. I now have a pretty regular workout schedule. I’m finding out what works for me and what doesn’t. This is the first time I’ve done this, so it is going to happen by trial and error.

This is what a normal day looks like for me at this point:

6:10 Wake up

6:40 Ride with Joel to work

7:15 Walk/Jog 2 miles at the park

8:30 Breakfast

Late morning/early afternoon: Run errands, get things done around the house, eat lunch, play with Awlee, etc.

3:00/3:30 Jillian Michaels’ 50 minute circuit workout video

Late afternoon: computer, more stuff around house, some TV, whatever else, start preparing dinner

Evening : pick Joel up from work, have dinner, spend time with him playing cards, watching Biggest Loser, etc.

In the beginning, I had said I was going to swim also, but it seemed to not be helping, and the whole process of changing clothes, driving home in a wet bathing suit, changing out of a wet bathing suit, washing hair to get chlorine out – just didn’t seem worth it to me. I enjoy swimming, and will do it when family is there, but don’t plan on using it as part of my daily routine. I’m really hoping that sticking to this schedule 5 days a week (taking whatever day Joel has off work and Sunday to rest) will really help me to start losing weight. I still haven’t lost anything, but I can feel myself improving in my workouts and I know I’m getting stronger.

The Cyst of Doom (title name with the help of Joel MacDonald)

I realize it has been way more than 7 days since I last wrote here. I think there are several reasons for that. And a lot has happened since my last post. Let's just say I'm still working towards being more healthy, it's just a lot harder than I realized. 

After going to the boot camp class several times, my left foot became very painful. One day I looked and examined it, and found what had been a small, round cyst on the top of my foot had turned into a large clump of weirdness. It hurt to walk, especially if I had my tennis shoes on. I had to resort to wearing flip flops as much as possible, and if it was necessary to wear tennis shoes, I had to tie the shoe awkwardly loose. I went to the doctor soon after, and after about a month's time, I am getting surgery done on my foot in just a couple days. Meanwhile, I have been trying to make myself go to my parents house where I am able to borrow a bicycle to ride around the neighborhood. The first day, I rode the bike for 45 minutes, and man did I feel it the next day. Not in my legs, but oh! did my booty hurt! And not just for one day, for several days later. While I was riding the bike that first day, I had to choose if I wanted to let my leg stretch some by putting more weight on my bottom, or give my tush a break by putting more weight on my legs. It was a lose-lose situation. What's crazy is I used to ride my bike several times a week, and for long periods of time, and it never seemed to bother me them. I'm going to blaim it on the fact that it was a guys' bike rather than a ladies'. Thankfully, my butt did eventually go numb, so I was able to focus on other things. 

After the surgery, I will be home recovering for 2 weeks. That's going to be difficult for many reason: I'll be bored out of my mind, I wont be able to exercise, I'll want to eat more because I'll be so bored. It's going to be a long 2 weeks. I hoping to occupy myself with starting my T-Shirt quilt during this recovery time. Hopefully that will help with the unnecessary snacking; it seems that if I have something I'm fully engaged in, I don't think about the over snacking. We will see how things go with these next couple weeks and hopefully I'll have a t-shirt quilt by the end of it!

The New Normal

I missed last week’s blog. I kept meaning to write, and then something else would come up. Not much is has happened. I’m dealing with all the normal weight loss struggles, not wanting to exercise, and wanting to eat crappy foods. This is going to be a long and hard battle for me. 

The best thing that happened to me last week was I had three different people tell me it looked like I had lost some weight. And it wasn’t like they are all in the same room agreeing with one another, it was three different situations. That was great to hear, because I can’t tell at all. The words from those friends and family are what keep me motivated to continue and to not give up. 

The hardest thing for me: going to the boot camp workout alone. It seems as if everyone that is in the class either come with at least one friend, or have been going for so long they have made friends there. It’s very hard for me to walk pull into the parking lot, walk up the stairs and into the studio, knowing I know no one. I am able to have some of the awkward small talk with some of them, but that usually last for under a minute, and then they are back talking to those people who are more familiar to them. I am actually looking forward for this month to be over so that I don’t have to go to the dreaded workouts. 

The good thing about the class is it works. If you call ‘not being able to move your muscles in a normal way for three days’ working. We usually focus on either lower body or upper body, not both in a single class. The last time we focused on lower body, I felt like an 85 year old woman from my hips to my knees. I grunted and grumbled and squinted my face up as I walked up and down the stairs to my apartment. I found every possible way to avoid any stairs in sight. Trying to bend my legs as little as possible, as I walked around the apartment and in some public places, I’m sure I looked anything but normal.

The day we worked on upper body, I knew from the beginning it would not be good, as I have very little upper body strength. After struggling through the class, I began my 30 minute drive back home. As I pulled into a parking spot and removed my hands off the steering wheel to turn the car off and grab my purse; so I could head up the stairs with my already sore legs, that’s when I knew it was going to be a long 3 days. It took more effort than ever before to lift my purse on my shoulder. I would have been convinced if you told me it weighed 50 pounds.

I have now come to terms with this new normal of soreness. I’ve gotten a little more used to it, and now do not complain about it every 5 seconds when I try to reach for something, or bend over to tie my shoe, or stand up from the couch, you know, all that everyday life stuff.

First time, but not the last.

As I am trying to have this healthier life, part of it is eating healthier. If I say I'm on a diet, I freak out a little, so "eating healthier" is what I'm going for. This includes foods like lots of colorful veggies and fruits, yogurt for snacks, less carbs, and so on. What it also includes is not eating yummy, cheesy pizza with crunchy on the outside soft on the inside crust. That's what I was faced with earlier this week. 

 I am a nanny for a little girl and currently, her grandfather is living at the house, and he is in the house sometimes while I am there. This particular day he was home for lunch. He was sitting at the table checking his email as the delicious looking pizza was cooking in the oven and it's aroma was filling the entire house. After a while, the pizza, the WHOLE pizza, was sitting in front of him on a plate, ready to devour. Of course I had to walk through the kitchen, and past the pizza, to throw a diaper in the pin, and then walk back by again. As I ate my asparagus and small piece of chicken, he ate every morsel that was on that plate of his. This is my first run in with temptation, and I know it is only the beginning.

Starting Over, Again

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

This is going to be an important verse for me for this next stage of my life. It is one I will have to look at daily, maybe several times a day. I am now trying to be more healthy, and to lose weight, the old fashion way. Exercise and eating healthy. It couldn't be more simple nor more difficult. This is going to be a weekly, daily and hourly struggle for me. To eat the things I should and to not eat the things I shouldn't. To wake up early 3 days a week for my work out class and to have the courage to walk in knowing I'm probably the one that's the most out of shape. To continue living healthy after the month-long class is over and to not get discouraged and give up when I don't see the results I feel I need.

I'm writing this blog for several reasons.  

1. To record my thoughts so I can look back at them and see my progress (and the setbacks)

2. To share the real struggles of beginning a healthy living - the emotional and physical struggles

3. To have some form of accountability - even if no one ever reads this, there is still a chance that someone could and that is enough for me to think twice

4. To have a light-hearted blog about the process - sometimes we just need to laugh at our struggles. Life can get too serious if we're not careful

I plan to write at least once a week to share what I’ve learned, how I’ve grown, and the funny and … interesting things that happen while trying to start a new life.