Try New Things.........Sure!!!

I went to my Jenny Craig appointment a little bit grouchy this week. I only lost 1.6 pounds for a two week period. I have to admit that still going in the downward direction is a very good thing. Some changes in the past two weeks are I am suppose to start incorporating my own, self-prepared meals into the program. Up to this point, I had been doing this totally, non-thinking, sticking a small frozen dinner in the microwave and adding a vegetable to the meal. It was all laid out for me without any type of forethought. Since I reached the halfway point of my goal, I have chosen to start cooking my dinner meals with my family.

Another complaint is sadly, the grocery stores are starting to become "slim-pickens" in the tasty, summer-fresh fruits and veggie aisle. I love strawberries...but they are rather tasteless this time of year. Tomatoes are fuzzy in color and taste. My Grandma once said, "This time of year, diced tomatoes are like throwing a little red rag on a salad. It's just for looks." When I aired my complaint to Sharon, my super-duper Jenny Craig consultant, she suggested I "try new things".

Oh boy.....

So, with a since of adventure, I approached the fresh Fruit and Vegetable aisle in Wal-mart on Monday. I have read in some magazine that the closer you get to eating a food in it's natural state (the way God grows it) the more nutritious it is for you. So, I decided to go with a $3.97 pineapple. Granted it is more expensive than canned, but I am going for taste and nutrition. You can't skimp on good nutrition, now, can you?!!

Pineapples have always intimidated me. Let's face it....in it's natural state it is tall and prickly. It is a variety of colors...yellow, brown, green, etc. I have always enjoyed pineapple out of a can...I love pineapple juice....and I can do this.....right?!!!! I am an intelligent person.......right?!!! (Wait, don't answer that!!)

So I get out my "Ginsu" knife that makes me look like a reject from "Psycho" and my girls [Jenna and Sammie(Jenna's friend who came over for dinner and got more than she bargained for)] back up two steps. Drawn by the irresistible pull of seeing an adult in a state of confusion, they edge closer to see if they might be able to offer up some advice.

I turn "Pat the pineapple" on his side and lop off his head and bottom. Both girls literally jump and squeal.

Jenna says, "There goes SpongeBob's house". (For those of you who don't know, SpongeBob the cartoon has a pineapple for a house.)

Sammie remarks, "Yeah, you probably are carvin' him up right now." (These girls are pretty bloodthirsty.)

I just shrug it off and continue. I start carving off the sides. This leaves brown spots all over it. Apparently, I am not carving off enough, so I continue to whittle. This project is really labor intensive!!

Tyler, my 6 foot tall, 16-year-old son, who knows way more than any adult right now, walks over, looks down at me, and offers a critique of my efforts, "Mom, that just doesn't look right."

After whittling for what seems like hours (maybe a slight exaggeration), I slice and put layers on a plate. There is still a little brown on the edges, and I haven't even got the core out. So, I warn everyone at the table. The group at the table looks at me like "You expect me to eat that."

Realising it isn't going to happen unless I make it happen, I fork the first slice, cut out the core, and give each child at the table a chunk with the old saying..."At least try it, you may like it."

Again, my son comes at me with the "I don't think your suppose to eat it like that."

My husband, ever the faithful spouse, spears a slice. He tries it and says, "It's not bad at all."

I ask my husband, "I wonder if you plant the top of the pineapple, would it grow into a tree?"

"Oh yeah," he says. "We would just need to make sure it didn't freeze." After scratching his head he adds, "Maybe I should build you a greenhouse and we could raise pineapples right here in Kansas." Leave it to my husband to turn a simple question into a hundred thousand dollar building project.

It was super juicy and delicious. We all had juice running down our chins and sticky fingers. I couldn't convince my son it was better than canned pineapple, but they all tried it. This whole pineapple preparation thing has given me a whole new appreciation for the Dole factories and workers.

So...my foray into something new wasn't all that bad, but guess what else my Jenny Craig consultant suggest I try....eggplant.

Big, purple, intimidating.....wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cleaning House!!!

"Clutterbug", "Packrat", .....those are all pretty good descriptions of me about six months ago. I have this terrible fear that something I pay good money for will come in handy at some other point in life. I know this sounds crazy, but I HATE to throw things away. What usually ends up happening, is in all the mess, I end up going to the store and buying some article, because I can't find what I need.

Over the course of time, this fear of lack has totally taken control of me in all aspects of my life. I truly think this attitude stems back to moving 25 or more times throughout my childhood as a military brat. We wouldn't ever clean house....we would just move. Needless to say, that doesn't really work for me now. I have lived in the same house for the last eleven years and am a little overwhelmed.

I don't really think I noticed the problem until a great deal of introspection after my Grandma passed away. She was a young girl in the Depression and the whole "fear of lack" attitude had valid reasoning. My Grandma actually had records in her garage dating back to the 40's. She saved every scrap of material. Every drawer and closet in her home was overflowing. I feel so sorry for my Aunt Susie, who is currently trying to finalize Grandma's estate.

Really getting rid of that "fear of lack" requires faith. I have to admit, mine has been shaken in the past year by all the adversity my family has faced. My favorite line in "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is .....All that I need thy Hand hath provided. This introspection has lead me to this need to live my life to the fullest and to start "cleaning house"!!

Financially, I paid off every bill we owe. We currently only have a small amount left on my mortgage. Jeff and I sold off rental properties and an extra lot (which is going to bless us with new neighbors by Thanksgiving).

Physically, I have lost 30 pounds and am working on another 25 pounds (see previous blog "Weight Loss Journey"). I am not allowing lack of food to control my eating habits. I truly thought I would "die" if I did not get enough sugar (i.e. donuts, pop, candy, cookies). It was an addiction and I am still battling it, but have made great strides.

Mentally, I am trying to get rid of those negative thoughts. I have a tendency to be overwhelmed and just give up on doing anything positive in my life. Writing has helped me to focus on the positive.

By taking some small baby steps, it has snowballed. My best friend, Angela, came over and helped me clean out my closet. I literally had clothes from every decade and I hauled off over twenty humungous, black, Hefty trashbags of outdated, never-fit-well clothes to Goodwill.

Jeff and I have started a remodel project on the house. With Ty being a junior, we only have one more year till he is on his own. If I was ever going to clean house...now would be the time.

I went threw my pantry and removed outdated cans and old jelly I had canned in 2000. My next project includes the "dreaded freezer".

This "cleaning house" attitude has made a big difference in my life. I try to do atleast one project a week. It is carrying over into everyday living. I hope this inspires you to throw out some old things to get better control of your life. It really is empowering. The baggage I carried around was very discouraging. Getting rid of it has allowed for better self esteem, control in my life and room to bring in some new ideas. Give it a try.

Weight Loss Journey

Many of you who know me, know I have very big "issues" when it comes to my weight. I honestly cannot remember a time when I have not considered myself to be overweight or "fat". I look back now at pictures of myself when I first married Jeff and really wonder why in the world I was so hard on myself. I was probably around 125 pounds and 5 feet, 4 inches. I think a big part of the problem is poor self image and self esteem. I have always been called "cute" when I was little. Another thing that was drummed into me as a child is "It's hereditary". Looking in the mirror, I never matched those bodies on any of the magazines or television shows.

This past year, I lost my grandmother to colon cancer. In the process of caring for her (which I never will regret), I really let myself go and did a large amount of stress eating. I spent hours at the hospital and worried how my family was coping at home. I ended up on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medicines, along with my everyday hypothyroid problems that slow my metabolism. It was a recipe (HA!HA!) for some really big weight gain.

I topped out at 185 pounds and was so depressed about my body. It took me two months to get drug free. After that, I was desperate and knew I needed some outside help....someone to which I was accountable. I called the Jenny Craig number on television....I always liked Valerie Bertenelli. I could identify with her weight gain in the busyness of everyday living.

I went in and met Sharon, my Jenny Craig consultant at their store in Joplin. She was so kind and supportive. She is truly a gift from God. She listened to all my past trials and has been instrumental in educating me on proper eating and portions. I have never been a big fan of vegetables, but I know now that is something I have to get over. I love Jenny Craig's brownies!!

I have also started taking my vitamins religiously. I have not been sick this whole time and have more energy.

After trying to master the eating part of the program for three weeks, I started back running. I love to run, but when you are overweight, it poses a whole new set of challenges. I started slow and walk/jogged for my first 5 km. It was a horrible time (around 32 minutes), but I knew it could only get better. Another encouragement has been my Ipod. I got online and purchased all these really "mean" running songs that get my pace up and keeps me entertained.

I am currently on Week 15 and I have lost 30 pounds. My running time for a 5 km has improved to under 27 minutes. My goal weight is to be 130 pounds by my 40th birthday in April and run my 5 km in a little over 24 minutes. My family has been super supportive, and my self esteem is much better. I am still working on the part of myself.

One thing I know for a fact is my Grandmother would never have wanted me to not take care of myself. She was always hard on herself, too, but took great pride in her appearance. So this one is for you, Grandma.

To all of you out there who are struggling with weight....take heart....if I can do it, anyone can and just get out there and "Just Do It".