Stay tuned for this encouraging word. . . .

It constantly amazes me that I am now in a place where (#1), people ask my advice about health and fitness and food and (#2), they come to me to seek encouragement in their own endeavors in these areas. As an overweight person, I am used to being overlooked, overjudged, overwrought, over it, and sometimes over sensitive. . .I am not used to being a positive center of attention. I am not used to being sought out, valued, admired. . . .so the steady streams of compliments have been a bit heady since school began. Almost every day, someone new notices, "You look different." "You look great." "That is a gorgeous outfit." "You look very pretty today." "Did you do something different with your hair?" "Where are your glasses?" With this newfound focus on my looks from others, I feel a responsibility to look my best. Now, those who know me, know this has NEVER been the case for me (Maybe for a short time as an arrogant and self-centered teenager, but no other time in history. . . ). If it were a special occasion, I would get dolled up, but otherwise, what you see is what you get.

Now, however, it is gel in the hair, blow-dry or scrunch and air dry, skin care, make-up, contact lenses, no dumpy outfits. . . . . . .I tell you . . . being even remotely cute takes work!!!!!!!! And some days I feel a bit resentful about the time it takes to present myself well, so that my efforts are not hidden under a bushel. But, can I also tell you that it feels doggone good when a co-worker who has never really had too much nice to say to me stops and tells me how great I am looking and asks for my help for her own struggles. Or when I walk in at my mom's in denim shorts (a little shorter than I normally wear them, though not scandalous) and she says, "Wow, don't you look great???"

I do understand that great, gorgeous. .. .are relative adjectives. Not everyone would get it. Someone who didn't know from whence I've come would simply see a fat, forty plus, fading fast, female. . . But to those who saw me at 236 and see me now under 200, it is great and gorgeous and amazing. And really, it's much too late to turn back now. . . .:~)

So, if someone you know is struggling with their weight, give them a little compliment, a little encouragement, a little word of hope. It could truly make all the difference in the world for them!!!!!!!!!

Tonight's recipe is Cheesy Chicken 'n Shrooms

Monday night when Shane was in class, I came home to fix dinner. We had cooked some chicken breasts the day before (which we had BBQed), but I wanted something different. So I sliced one thinly, sauteed some onions and mushrooms in the pan (seasoned with salt, pepper, and oregano), removed them once done, tossed in the pre-cooked chicken, let it brown up a bit and reheat. Then I served up the chicken, topped it with the mushroom onion mixture, and sprinkled a little mozzarella cheese and parmesan over the top. I served thinly sliced sweet potatoes, brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with salt and baked in a 350ish oven for 30ish minutes, and a side salad with a pineapple vinaigrette. It was so good I ate the whole chicken breast, half an onion, half a package of mushrooms, a whole sweet potato and a small salad!!!!!!!!!!! Really really delicious, and a definite keeper -- It will be one I come back to again and again!!!!!!!!!! Of course, you could totally switch out the oven-backed sweet potatoes for another favorite veg. Give it a try -- it is yum-m-m-m-m-m-OOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

A Missed Goal is Still Progress

~ Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded. ~ Goethe


I started this journey in April -- officially and completely in June. That's 4 months altogether, and in that 4 months I have lost 30 lbs!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited about that!!! I've dropped over 3 inches in my waist and over 5 inches in my hips!!! That is pretty significant. It is tremendous progress! And yet, I did NOT meet my goal. My goal was 200 lbs by Aug. 15, and I missed it by 6 lbs. I knew it was a lofty goal, but I wanted to aim high. The problem with aiming high is that you've got to be willing to accept if you miss it. And while I am slightly disappointed not to have met that goal, I have come so far! So I cannot begrudge myself the positivity that should come with this milestone. Neither can I get complacent, because there is so much left to do -- so far still to go. I am trying to decide about my next goal. My class reunion is coming the first weekend in October -- about 6 weeks from now, so that would make a great goal. I've been averaging just over 2 lbs a week since I started in earnest. That would be 194. I wonder if I could make it to 190. . . . It's a high (or rather a low :~) goal, but I think I'm going to try for it! 190 by class reunion . . .16 lbs to go!

Losing weight is awesome! But I need to remember that I'm doing this for lots of reasons -- #1 is simply to be a better me -- healthier, stronger, and, hopefully prettier, too. #2 is to balance my hormones to maximize whatever chance I might still have at this late date to conceive. #3 is to lose weight -- for a million different reasons (and I won't list all those :~) But there are some very good ones, including the new BMI restrictions for insurance.

I love Goethe's quote at the top of the page. . .this is the only body I'm going to have -- the only legs, the only ears, the only eyes. . . I need to take care of them so I can enjoy this journey in its fullness -- until the ride ends! Here's to 30 lbs closer to the final goal!

Today I'm going to share a recipe I made up on the spur of the moment last night. I had some ingredients I needed to use -- namely fresh spinach and cottage cheese. I thought about doing a lasagna, but I didn't have any lasagna noodles -- nor any mozzarella cheese. So I modified. Here is what I came up with. It was pretty good.

Green Cottage Pasta

1 lb. brown rice shell pasta
1 T olive oil
2-3 handfuls of fresh baby spinach, chopped
1 cup cottage cheese
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 onion, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions. In the meantime, heat oil in a skillet. Toss in chopped onion and garlic. Then add the baby spinach, sauteeing until wilted. Add in half the parmesan cheese. Add the cup of cottage cheese, salt and pepper. When the pasta is done, drain it well and add it to the spinach mixture. Add the rest of the parmesan cheese, stir well and serve. If you wish, garnish with a couple of fresh spinach leaves or a shaving of parmigiana reggiana. Serve alone or if you need a heartier meal, add a small green salad or steamed veggie and/or a piece of Ezekiel garlic toast.