Jan 20

Today is my mom and dad's wedding anniversary. They would have been married 51 years today. Not feeling sad - just celebrating the two awesome people who made me. :-)

I've made a couple good choices! (Made some bad ones, too, like too many potato chips during the playoff game yesterday....) But still, yay me! ha ha

Yesterday, I wanted to have wings during the game, but instead I cut up a couple chicken breasts, quickly roasted those, and dunked them in Frank's Hot Wing sauce. They were super yummy!

Also had homemade coleslaw (tons of fiber!) for both lunch and dinner.

And...walked this morning with Lisa despite the cold wind. We put on hats and gloves, zipped up our coats, and headed out. Only walked for 35 minutes, but that certainly was better than nothing.

What good choices have you guys made? I want to cheer you on. :-)

xoxo

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Here's my latest can't stop eating it, super satisfying for lunch or dinner coleslaw. I shred a big ziploc bag of the cabbage and carrot at a time, but don't dress it, and it doesn't get soggy at all. Stays super fresh so all you have do is dress it, add the fun stuff, and eat it. QUICK!

1 head each of green and red cabbage, enough shredded to almost fill a large ziploc bag
2-4 carrots, peeled and shredded and added to bag

when it's time to eat, I add dried cranberries
a small handful of slivered or sliced almonds or chopped walnuts
sometimes a chopped or shredded apple
a chopped up orange would be tasty, too

dress with:
coleslaw dressing
any vinaigrette you like
this Asian-style vinaigrette I made up (but you can buy something similar at the store)

2 Tbs each rice vinegar, white sugar and soy sauce
1 Tbsp sesame oil
red pepper flakes, garlic powder and sesame seeds to taste

Jan 19

Good morning, wonderful friends!

Lisa, in 2009 Julie and I decided to try keeping a blog together ... to see if it challenged, motivated, encouraged us to get healthier. I thought I'd resurrect that effort. :-)

So here we go!

I woke up this morning with a couple new-ish thoughts in my head about getting healthier and losing weight. First of all, I thought that since we all have the same goals, possibly we could work together to encourage each other, keep one another accountable, etc. Not sure if either of you have time or the energy to contribute, but I thought we might give it a go. Of course, we could do it via e-mail, too, if that's easier. Anyway... :)

My other two thoughts were pretty simple - nothing revolutionary.

First, I have some visual images of things I'd like to be able to do when I lose weight - clothes I'd enjoy wearing, stores in which I'd enjoy shopping, a couple tattoos I'd enjoy getting that would certainly look better on a smaller body. ;-) I'm going to try to recall those visual images when I'm having cravings, having a tough time making good decisions, or sitting around instead of exercising. Maybe actively reminding myself of my long-term goals, my long-term desires will help me put off short-term satisfaction from too much kettle corn.

Second, I am going to try a new strategy when it comes to cravings that is two-fold. First, I am going to give myself one day a week to kind of feel free to indulge a little. Second, if I am able to resist a craving, I am going to keep track of what it was I craved and on my "indulge day", I'll take a look at my list and see what items I'd still like to enjoy - in moderation, if at all possible. Hopefully, this will remind my body and my mind that I can, in actuality enjoy the things I really love without making it an unhealthy habit, without sacrificing goals, without feeling weak and without control.

Just passing these thoughts on. :)

I think I'll try to share yummy healthy recipes, when I have great successes (big or small), strategies that worked, etc. I'd love it if you guys wanted to write, too (and I've added you as authors if you'd like to do so), but no pressure, of course. If this ends up not feeling fun and motivating, then we'll quit.

Love you both! C