Mom's Birthday

My Mom...She made it to 72!!  She is not sure she is so glad about that but it is better than not being here at all.   She got some nice phone calls and gifts and was properly honored for this milestone.  Does this kind of thing seem to solidify goals for you? It seems to make my goals more tangible. 
She is now beginning to see her grandchildren present us with children and it is her pleasure to hear of each new addition on the way!  It does not make my goals of seeing my grandchildren's grandchildren seem so far fetched...
Seeing other people meet goals often helps me keep pressing on toward my own... When teaching I stressed setting goals and meeting them is such a big part of any progress.  Even tiny goals are progress!!  I have to sometimes be my own cheerleader but it does help to meet even the tiny ones...
Every project every goal is made up of many small steps and sometimes I have to celebrate each tiny step on the way to a BIG goal or project...

1. celebrating each 10lbs instead of looking at the 180 or so to go!!!
2. gaining control of the front yard instead of looking at the whole 6 acres!!
3. sewing one new dress instead of the whole summer wardrobe

What are your goals? What are your first tiny steps to reach them?
Remember to count your blessings along the way!! :)

inspiration...

Where do we find the inspiration we need to become something more than we are at this time? Often mine is found in my family.  I am beginning to embark on a journey to restore my health.  It will take at least the next year and include several surgeries.  I need to concentrate on the results... not the challenges that I face.  Break it into manageable goals that will result in final goals being met.  It has been such a blessing to finally find a med(savella) that is controlling the fibromylagia pain after 20+years! Blessings abound with the addition of water therapy (started in April) and physical therapy (started in June) and the cortisone shots(first in June) as a stop gap until the surgery on my joints can be done.  Now to be stepping into the process for bariatric surgery(http://www.tylerbariatrics.com/ ) is an adventure with mixed emotions...but I am glad that it is available to me.  I crave the support of my family and dear friends... to be surrounded with prayers and positive thoughts and words of encouragement will be part of the secret of my success... I thank all who will join me.

banana bread

morning has broken... (i liked that song) today sweetheart and I get to go to the doctor... his first visit and me to find out all the news from the tests last week.

I bought groceries yesterday and tried to plan for me to be healthier. Shopped the perimeter more than the interior and so got more fresh foods than processed... this means more work but healthier food and maybe less poundage for me... I am back under 270 again...was 269 this morn... the water pills are having an effect and trying to be more careful seems to help as well. Now just to keep it up... please GOD help me keep it up... I feel so much better when I am smaller and stronger and healthier...*:)

Made banana bread this morn...no sugar, no fat, some whole wheat flour, this is not a sweet bread but uses the banana for fat and sweetener. Serve with melted butter or applesauce on it. Sweetie expecting sweet banana bread was not impressed... had good texture... I packed one of the loaves not sure yet if it will go to the freezer or the grand babies...*:) I will decide after Andy wakes up and tries it.

Here is the recipe:

Minted Banana Bread

2c white flour

2c whole-wheat flour

2tsp. baking soda

2 eggs

1/4c chopped fresh mint (didn't have so left out)(DO NOT USE DRIED MINT)

3/4c plain yogurt or buttermilk (used yogurt)

1tsp grated orange rind (didn't have so left out)

1&1/2c mashed ripe bananas (3 large)

(took mine out of freezer in Ziploc bag-microwaved 3 min-mashed in bag)

mix dry ingredients in large bow.

in small bowl combine remaining ingredients and mix well.

pour banana mixture into flour mixture and stir to mix but do not overwork.

pour into greased floured 9x5 loaf pan or 2-7x3 loaf pans (i did this one)

bake 375 degrees for 50 to 60 min until they test done

(ya know a knife in the middle coming out clean)

cool a few minutes and then turn out on rack to complete cooling.

enjoy

you be blessed today...

oatmeal, walnuts, honey

chad and his turkey leg

chad & zoe happy meals

chad and raisin bread

Just wondering how would I go about simplifying my diet? There is so much written about what we eat. What would a simple diet consist of. Some say it would be maybe vegetarian. Some only what you make from scratch. Does it mean simple to prepare or simple to eat. Simple to eat might be drop by the window and place my order...not the best for my health. So what do you think a simple diet would be?

• fruit
• veggies
• grain
• protein
• water

how simple do you make it and not get bored... does it matter if it bores us... are we eating for entertainment? "eat to live or live to eat?" is a comment heard in a diet group or two over the years... just wondering... be blessed today...