Still Hungry on Day Two

It's day two of my 30 day eating plan, and one thing's for sure. Since I've been eating lighter, I don't really feel full after any meal. Before, I suppose I was loading up on all the heavy stuff...rice, pasta, potatoes, etc....and honestly, I always ate a little bit more even when I felt full. And even after feeling full, it seems I always had room for dessert.  Now I find I'm eating less and not feeling as full. I guess it makes sense.  Who wants to eat more lettuce when eating French fries or cake tastes so much better!!!  Right??? And that's precisely why I'm choosing to change my habits. 

I've got to re-train my brain that making healthier choices is the better way to go. I'll be the first one to admit that I don't think I could eat this way for the rest of my life. Once the 30 days are up, I'm sure I'll be incorporating other not so healthy foods into my diet, but I hope the portions will be much less than I've had in the past and all in moderation. Or who knows! Maybe I'll never have cake again! LOL! Who am I kidding!

Today I ate a banana and other fruits for breakfast. For lunch I had tuna on romaine lettuce with an apple. The Hubs grilled today, so I had a hot dog and a hamburger with onions and peppers sans the bread.  Eating with my family today was hard.  There was mac and cheese and potato chips which were very tempting, but I stayed strong.  Inevitably, there will be more temptations, but I just have to remain focus and determined. 

What's been helping with the hunger pangs? Grabbing a handful of almonds here and there have helped to subdue my hunger along with drinking lots of water. Also staying active! I've found riding my bike or playing basketball outside with Buddy Roller and The Hubs have kept my mind off of food!

So far it hasn't been too torturous, but I have also been in a very controlled environment at home these last two days. What worries me is returning to school tomorrow. Long days and hunger pangs mean I need to be prepared and have my arsenal of healthy foods available and ready!

Feeling Hungry on Day One

In an effort to have some accountability, I've decided to share some of my 30 day journey of eating healthier. Remember my plan consists of only three food groups.  Fruits. Meats. And vegetables.  First of all, you should never decide to start any new eating plan without first going to the grocery store and stocking up on all the necessary food items. I was so gung-ho about starting this challenge that I just decided to do it this morning...with absolutely no planning. And after my two mile run...I found myself starving with not that many options of food to eat! I ate an orange and some tuna and was starving  for most of the morning. I stopped at Panera Bread for a chicken salad and apple before heading to the grocery store to get my food items for the week.

Three things were clear to me on this first day of my journey. One, hardly anything I picked up was in a box or processed which means I got mostly healthy foods. Two, eating healthier costs a little bit more.  And that's okay. And three, cooking healthier is actually faster than the other meals I'm used to preparing. I was excited to try out some quick and easy recipes for my first dinner eating the right way.  Tonight's dinner was simple, yet it had a ton of flavor. I grilled some scallops, asparagus, carrots and yellow peppers in a savory lemon butter sauce. I also marinated some chicken breasts in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper for about 20 minutes before grilling them. Dinner, which was surprisingly delicious, was finished off with a very sweet and juicy navel orange followed by a Larabar only because I just didn't feel quite full.  I'm sure it's because I have this really bad habit of trying to complete any meal with something sinfully sweet.  That's a main reason I want to do this challenge. I need to stop my bad eating habits.

The first bite of my Larabar was really bad and my first thought was no way I'm eating that! But...after swallowing, it really wasn't that bad, and it helped to satisfy my urge of wanting something more. Larabars are made with fruit and nut, so it's perfect to eat when I feel I need a little something extra.  And they're going to help me get through these next 29 days.

Day one. Check. I'm feeling pretty good. I hope the next few days will go well. I'll keep you posted!

If I Am What I Eat...

If I am what I eat, and that's true, then I don't like the images of what I've been feeding myself. Picture this.  Carrot cake, any cake, doughnuts, brownies, ice-cream, M&Ms, Doritos, and the list goes on. And on.

I've been dreaming of a healthier me for a while now. I want to be healthier. Eat healthier. Be healthier. I want to be in the best shape of my life. I want a body with toned muscles and definition and abs that are rock solid. Okay maybe that's a stretch LOL!  But I know what I don't want.  I don't want a body that's soft and bulgy.  I want to look and feel good.

It's easier said than done.

When I think of all the things I'm putting into my body, I can't possibly reach my goal eating this way.  If I want to accomplish these goals and live a longer healthier life...things have to change. I have to do it for me, but I also have to do it for my family. I'm my son's role model, and he sees me eating all this unhealthy stuff, then he may very well adopt my very bad habits. I can't be responsible for that! I know this takes commitment and discipline. Motivation and determination.  It makes me think of all the people who've cut either meat or sugar from their diet. Why can't I be just as committed?

I'm running the Peachtree Road Race in July. I'm hoping this annual Atlanta tradition will jump start my healthier routine because I have to train and prepare for it. I mean it's the largest 10K in the world! Even though I ran a half marathon eons ago BK (before kid), running a 5K would be a little challenge, but since the Peachtree is twice as long as a 5K...this girl better get moving!

So. Starting today I am what I eat, but in a good way. That means all fruits, veggies and meat. No sugars. No junk. I'm challenging myself to do this for 30 days.  And please understand that I don't believe in diets and weight loss fads. I do believe in eating healthy and exercising, but I do need to go without the unhealthy stuff for a month to re-train my mind and body how to do it the right way.  I will also be running three times a week and incorporating many other activities into my life...riding my bike with my family or playing a game of basketball with the neighborhood kids.

I can do it. I know it, but I need accountability. So writing about it makes this challenge that more real and that more doable. I can't wait to see the results. But more importantly, I'm excited to be a healthier me!

It's Just the Little Things

Sometimes don't you find that it's just the little unexpected things that make you happy?

I do.

Like this morning, for example. Waking up to cloudy skies with the threat of an incoming storm forced me to slow down, stay indoors, and just take it easy! Slowing down is good.

Because I was able to slow down, I got a chance to wrap a birthday present for a special friend. Yes, it's way easier to put a present in a gift bag with some tissue paper when you're in a rush.  But.  I find it way more special to take the time to wrap a present and put a bow on it! That makes me happy.

And then I received a special delivery! I had been expecting it, and I knew it was on the way, but it still made me just a teeny bit happy to get it. The story all started here, and I can't wait to get immersed in this group and start reading our first book!

Looking forward to more of life's "little things" and blessings that make one's journey that more purposeful.

Happy Friday!

Taking Outdoor Play Inside

What happens when you take the outdoors inside?

A lot of fun, sweat, laughter, squeals and an enjoyable good time for all!

Imagine a showroom for kids filled with over a dozen outdoor wooden play sets, trampolines, and basketball hoops. And the best part? Kids can play inside year-round away from the heat, cold or rain! Buddy Roller and I had a chance to check out this really cool place today when we met up with some friends. Thanks Angela for recommending this awesome place!

Here's a peek inside if you'd like to see more...

When Life Slows Down

A week off from school means life slows down.

And when life slows down, there are no schedules, no alarm clocks, no deadlines. No rush. No hassle. Just life. Without restrictions. Ahhh.

When life slows down, little things take on a bigger meaning.  There's beauty and appreciation in life's simple pleasures.

You get to play out loud in a pit full of colorful balls.

You actually make it a priority to work out.

You rediscover the joy of reading a good book.

You appreciate a visit from Pippa, a furry friend, and you actually make time to have an authentic conversation with your neighbor.

You remember how good it feels to just let loose and be goofy.

When life slows down, you recognize what it's like living through a child's eyes.

You see things from a whole new perspective and you ponder....what would life be like if I slowed down just a bit more?

"It's Not Fair!"

 

We're way past the, "No!" stage in this household. That was years two and three.  Now the unwelcomed words from this five year old are, "It's not fair!" said with a whining voice and lips that pout for special effect.

It's not fair to have to go to bed on time, it's not fair to leave someone's house after a play date, it's not fair to have to brush one's teeth, take a shower...yadda yadda...you get the point.

What are the favorite lines from your little ones these days?

Would You Dine Alone?

Panera Bread's Thai chicken salad and creamy tomato soup

Would you dine alone?

In my 20's and early 30's, I hated to eat alone and wouldn't do so voluntarily. Now in my 40's, I don't mind it a bit. There's something empowering and confident about dining solo.

Earlier today I had some rare "me time," and I treasured every moment.  I had an early morning appointment at the hair salon. The drive in the car was very peaceful and tranquil. I've said before that after working all week with children, the calm and quiet are a welcomed treat.  After my hair appointment with Creative Director, Rebecca at Toni&Guy, which included a blissful head massage and a "flawless" blow out, I casually wandered the mall browsing through a few stores. I did so at my leisure with no distractions or restrictions. If you're the mom of a young child, you can understand how being at the mall alone is refreshing. In fact, in the last five years, I've considered it a treat just to go grocery shopping alone. Ha! Can you relate?

On the way home, I was starving, so I stopped at Panera Bread for lunch. Alone. It was lovely. I ate in solitude and took my time. Not the usual 20 minutes I get at school, where you literally have to do what I call, "bite and swallow"!  I treated myself to some hazelnut coffee too, and the best part about eating solo...people watching! Just ask The Hubs. It's a favorite hobby of mine!

After my sequestration, I was ready to head home and see my two favorite guys. That's what "me time" does.  It gives you time to yourself, to do what makes you happy, to sort out your feelings and emotions, to just have time to think and process. It brings you peace of mind so that when you are around others, you can be a happier you!

So.  Back to my question...would you dine alone?

Do You Know?

Little me

Do you know the exact time you were born?

I don't, and I'm wondering if I'm in the minority on this. I've never felt that this was really important information I needed to know about myself.  I do know that many moms can tell you the exact moment their child was born.  They know this information like they know their own birthday! Yet it's something I don't know about myself.

In fact, up until yesterday, I didn't even remember the exact time of my own son's birth. I knew of the approximate time....late morning...but that's it.

Where did this curiosity come from? I was teaching my kids about text structures and we were talking about chronological order. To help them remember that chronological order is all about time and dates, I told them to draw a clock in their notebook along with the date of their birthday and the time of their birth...if they knew it. To my astonishment, a lot of them knew and they thought it was strange that I didn't.

Hmmm.....

Why is that? Why don't I know the time of my birth? Is it because back then, when I was born in Jamaica , in 1974, there weren't any smart phones and social media...technology...to record such a special event? Perhaps it's because my mom was too exhausted after laboring to push me out into the world that that was the last thing on her mind? Perhaps indeed. After a little investigation, talking to my mom and even looking at my birth certificate (it doesn't list the time of birth!), we weren't any closer to an answer. My mom feels badly that she could not help me solve this mystery. I don't want her to feel bad. Not being able to provide me with this information doesn't in any way make her less of the awesome mother she is.

Because I don't know my birth time makes me wonder if that's why it wasn't important for me to know Buddy Roller's.  I saw the excitement in my students' eyes when they shared their birth times with me, and it made me realize that Buddy Roller should at least be given the option to determine if it's important to him.

While I will never forget the events surrounding the day Buddy Roller was born, I am now going to make it a priority to remember the exact time of his birth and make sure he knows it too.  And it was easy to find. It's on his birth certificate, and it's shown on the little blue card I received in the hospital that day more than five years ago.  

11:18 a.m. 

Buddy Roller was born at exactly 11:18 a.m. on a Friday morning.  So every year, starting this year, on August 21, at exactly 11:18 a.m., we can remember the significance of that special day back in 2009.

Do you know the exact time you were born?

Life, a Metaphor

So...we're working on poetry and figurative language at school this week, and I'm really proud of some metaphors my kids wrote today. And because I promised I would, here are some of their metaphors...

Life is a story; it can be short or long.  Y.B.

Life is a seed waiting to sprout.  J. A.

Life is an ocean, mysterious, beautiful and full of surprises.  T. J.

Life is a mall. You go up, down, and all around.  L.D.

Life is an amusement park with so many rides, thrills, chills, and torture.  J.J.

Life is a treasure chest full of jewels in it.  S.C.

Life is an elevator; it can move up or stay stuck.  A.D.

Life is a bird taking flight.  M.H.

Cool right? And so insightful! 

Happy hump day!

Senor Cool - 7th grade's spotted gecko