New Year's and Resolutions

Just like most people I've been thinking today about the last year, the upcoming year, and what I would like to change.  This is the night of resolutions.  We are looking at the mistakes we have made in the past and making a commitment to ourselves to do better moving forward.  Most of those promises to ourselves are broken shortly after making them.  Some, manage to make it through a month or two before it is tossed aside.  A few, a very few, are taken to heart and slowly become habit and a new part of our lives.

I sat down and made a list this evening of all of my past resolutions that I had let fall by the wayside.  Then, I made a second list of the changes I wanted to make.  You know, your annual list of all the things you know you should be doing, but aren't.

Here is my annual list:

• Lose weight
• exercise
• change eating habits
• go back to school
• begin writing again
• control my diabetes
• regain control of my life

I looked a the list and realized something:

• Lose weight - Doing it!
• exercise - Doing it!  Slowly, but I am making progress
• change eating habits - Did it!
• go back to school - I start class on January 10th!
• begin writing again - I'm writing every day and it's wonderful!
• control my diabetes  - I feel like I'm doing better at this every day.  My A1C proves it!
• regain control of my life - For the first time in many years, I feel like I'm getting there

I have to admit, I was stunned when I realized my list, my entire laundry list of here to for impossible, pie in the sky dreams. . .has been filled!

I am rarely proud of myself, I always think I can do better.  But right now, at the precipice of a new year, I am proud of myself for what I have accomplished.

You kinda have to wonder though . . .what will I come up with next?

 

Feeling Good

Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.  Sometimes I am a living definition of this little truism.

I have been feeling really good this week.  I was thinking about that today as I was eating my lunch; my very healthy and on plan lunch.

Ding, ding, ding!  Give the girl a cookie (or a stalk of celery, as the case may be) she finally figured it out.

Eat on plan = feel good

Eat off plan = feel like garbage.

Seems pretty simple doesn't it?  So why do I have to keep learning it over and over.  When will I finally figure it out?

Maybe this time is the one that will stick!

The Boy's Day

If you have ever had braces, you know the exited jubilant feeling the day that they come off.  Thee odd way it feels when you run your tongue over bracket-free teeth and the overwhelming desire to eat everything sticky and gooey!

Today is The Boy's day.  After years of torture at the hands of the Orthodontist, not to mention surgery to correct a jaw issue, the hardware comes off today.

Caramel is being purchased so that he can have some upon leaving the office today, and plans are in the works for corn on the cob, whole apples, and perhaps sticky pop corn balls for New Year's eve.

Why does it always come down to food?  In this particular case, it's obvious; but whenever we get together or there is a holiday or some other celebration, food is at the center. 

Food is comfort, and during the cold winter months, we all need as much comfort as we can get.  Steaming bowls of soup, savory soups, and melt in your mouth  desserts tend to fill our thoughts when it is cold and yucky outside.

The question is, how do we change our thinking?  How do we become "un-food focused"?  I'm not sure there is an answer to that question.  Sharing a meal has always been a source of fellowship among people.  Some of the best family memories come from events at the dinner table.  Holiday feasts and sweet treats are paramount on the list for holiday gatherings.

How do you change so much history though?  Even Jesus' ordeal began with a meal.  I'm guessing we can't get away from it.

The best we can do, is change what is laid out on our tables, ensuring that we have healthy, whole foods to offer our guests, families, and friends.  That shows our love and affection for them on a much deeper level than any cake or candy could.

Wow!  Did my thought train get derailed or what?  I started out talking about The Boy's big day!  How exciting that his ordeal (at least orthodontic) is almost over!

If I know his Grandmother, she will have ignored all the stuff about healthy, and show up at the appointment with a big bag of caramels for The Boy.

I guess we can relax our new standards once in awhile!

Vitamin D

Since being told that I was Vitamin D deficient, I have been on one of my little quests to discover all things Vitamin D.  This little vitamin has some amazing uses and quirks.

• It helps keep the heart rate regular.

• useful when treating people who are going through detox from alcohol and drugs. 

• Vitamin D supplements can reduce the occurrence of colon and breast cancers. 

• Lack of adequate Vitamin D will lead to osteoporosis, or brittle and weak bones. 

• This vitamin has even been used to help in the treatment of cystic fibrosis, Parkinson’s disease and Crohn’s disease.

• vitamin D can help the body differentiate between certain cells. This ability to differentiate is necessary to help the body and the immune system fend off invading or dangerous cells.

• It is also believed that larger levels of this vitamin may protect people against a number of autoimmune diseases. 

• Vitamin D may even prove to be very helpful in the prevention or treatment of diabetes.  

(facts found on http://www.natural-source-vitamins.com/vitamin-d-foods.html  which is a pretty cool site for all things vitamin and deserves a look!)


 Pretty cool, huh!  So where do we get Vitamin D?  The sun is the best source, but as we all know, Michigan is not conductive to sun, especially in Winter.  Not only that, but a lot of people are on medications that prohibit them from spending lots of time in the sun.

So what do you do if you are Vitamin D deficient, but can not spend a lot of time in the sun?  You search out alternative methods of acquiring enough of this amazing little vitamin.   
Foods are the best most natural way of getting more D into your system.  Here are some that can help:

• A great source of natural vitamin D foods is dairy products. You get Milk, cheese, and yogurt are really great sources.  (Does that mean that a daily dose of ice cream will do it?) 
• One of the best sources for Vitamin D is cod liver oil and other fatty/oily fish. 

I also discovered that mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D.  This is one of the things I find so confusing.  Most of the foods that contain vitamin D are related to sunshine, so how on earth do mushrooms get them?  Who came up with that idea?  Mother nature is very strange and has a weird sense of humor!


So maybe I should have a bowl of ice cream topped with mushrooms every evening. That would ensure that I get my vitamin D, right?


No, I'm not pregnant!  My mind is just working strangely today (so what's new?)
 

Shopping day

Woke up this morning and felt rotten.  My head hurt, my stomach was a mess and every muscle in my body hurt.  I couldn't figure out what was wrong at first.  When I walked into the kitchen I figured it out; I had strayed from my path.

Did I have a 5 minute freak out?  No.  I know what to do now.  I had a smoothie with the requisite flax seed, made a menu and went grocery shopping.

I spent some time reading labels and making sure I had everything on my list.  When it came time to check out, I looked around me and decided that I had the healthiest shopping cart in the store.  Feeling very pleased with myself, I went home, put it all away and then spent some time with my best friend.

I'm sitting here now, typing this and my head is pain-free, my stomach is calm and my muscles are relaxed.

It's good to be back on the path!

Merry Christmas

Why is it that the holidays and special occasions all seem to require a rich, fat laden, sugar coated menu?  Seriously, why is that?

I was worried about the holiday because I wasn't looking forward to being asked what I could or couldn't eat.  Turns out that wasn't much of a problem.  Everything was good and since most of it was buffet style, I could pick and choose what I wanted and avoid the "special" holiday treats.

I had a wonderful conversation with my brother about the Dtour plan!  I walked him through the website and we discussed his options for lunches and food on the go.  I think it may have been my favorite part of the day!

I even avoided the cherry pie!  Not to mention the ala-mode!  Can you believe it?  I had ice cream in front of me and turned it down!  I said no to ice cream!!  (and you can now purchase ice skates in hell!)

What a difference a year makes!

Gifts and Blessings

Merry Christmas Eve!  

I was thinking this morning that I have extra things to be thankful for this year.  I have accomplished some amazing things lately!  I actually, finally, have enough self-esteem to say "Look what I did!  I did something great and wonderful!"

Self esteem is something that I have always lacked.  I probably stuffed that down my throat with all my other emotions.  "Yes, I'd like some frustration and stress with a side of low self esteem, please.  Oh, and can you make that an extra large meal please."

But this year, I am saying something different.  "No thank you, I don't need that piece of pie, I have eaten enough."  The family has never heard me say that before!

I am remaking my life, and I am doing it on my own terms in my own time.  That is important to me.  I don't have to accecpt my size, my education, or my former "slacker" role in the family.

I don't know about you, but I am LOVING this!

This year I get to talk about school and about this blog and all the wonderful support I have.  I get to discuss the demise of Myron and Couch Potato (okay, they aren't fully gone yet, but I can dream).

This year I am blessed to have those around me who have loved and supported me when I was at my lowest and cheered me on for each new accomplishment.

I want to thank all of you who follow my silly little blog and offer encouragement and support.

Thank you and Merry Chirstmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Solstice.