Square Soul Round Body

Weigh in: 278.2 ➡ -1.6 That's a bit better than the last few weeks.  Almost 2 pounds!  I'm a little confused about it because I was not as careful this week with my calories and diet.  But I'm also not going to overthink it.  I tend to obsess over things like that.  I don't want to do that this time.  This journey is not only about weight loss.  It's about all around health.  Overthinking...Obsessing over little things... Not mentally healthy.  So I'm going to take this loss as a WIN and leave it at that!  Enjoy my life instead of trying to pick it apart. Positive note this week: We had an amazing family day at the park this week.  I taught my daughter (and my fiance who has amazingly never played) how to play 2 square.  It was a workout that was much more fun than just a basic walk or lifting free weights.  It didn't feel like a workout until the end when we got home.  Suddenly I noticed all the muscles I had ...

What happens when you have a Family day on Foodie Friday, and you're too busy enjoying it to remember the blog you were supposed to write? You get a Scrumptious Saturday instead!  This week, I decided to switch it up. We have been focusing on quality family time. So I decided, rather than cooking a new recipe myself, I would teach a family favorite to my fiancé and our daughter. But, because I'm a smidge obsessive in the kitchen and knew I'd end up taking over so we had one rule. No mom in the kitchen! I was giving instructions, step by step, without being able to see what they were doing.  So here it is! Chicken Divan Step 1: I asked my fiancé to cube the chicken breast into bite size pieces. Then season and cook. I'm really happy he used our cast iron. It gives food just a bit of extra iron, which in a dish as calcium rich as this, we can use it! Little tip: calcium inhibits iron absorption. I'm proud of him for remembering all four seasonings I asked h...

Weigh in: 279.8 ➡ -1.0 Going into week 8 and another pound down. It didn't occur to me that I titled these blogs at the beginning of the week. It probably should've been titled Week Zero and so on. It's throwing me off a bit. Second guessing my progress because it just doesn't feel like enough. But maybe I'm feeling down about it, because my body has been in excruciating pain lately. A positive note for the week: Despite the pain, I made an amazing soup with fresh ingredients. I didn't take the easy way out with pre-made meatballs, and frozen veggies already chopped. I took the extra time, and added that extra love into my recipe. Planning it out, and executing it, felt like an accomplishment. Pre-made meatballs and frozen veggies are fine if that's what you prefer. But I really wanted to take the extra step, and I did it! Little victory for the week: I'm out of the 280's! Now I know a little gain can undo this little victory. That's why...

Recipe of the week - Albondigas! This week we were feeling a little under the weather.  So I searched for recipes for homemade soups.  What's more comforting than a big bowl of warm soup when you're feeling less than stellar?  Of course, the go-to recipe is always chicken noodle.  But we weren't feeling that for Foodie Friday!  We needed something different.  Still brothy with tons of veggies.  But still something new.  I found several recipes for albondigas (Mexican Meatball Soup).  And this week I decided, rather than follow a specific recipe, I was going to make it my own!  So instead of linking the recipe here, I'll type out what I used. For spices, I don't measure, so really you just eyeball it.  Just a dash here and a pinch there.  You be the judge. The great thing about this recipe is that you can tailor it to your own tastes.  You can use any vegetables you prefer, change up the spices to your liking, and measur...

Weigh in: 280.8 ➡ +0.5 This week was hectic. Fighting fibromyalgia symptoms takes a toll. Getting a sinus infection adds to it. I haven't been sleeping as well, so I've taken my thyroid medication late a few times this week. And it really does make a difference. I did all the research about the best way to take thyroid meds for the best absorption. This week, I didn't follow my schedule as closely as I had regimented, and I paid the price. More pain, less concentration, and a gain on the scale. A small gain, but a gain nonetheless. I'm still learning how to navigate the ups and downs in this new lifestyle. On a positive note: I am proud of myself for not falling into old eating habits while I'm sick. I'm choosing to believe that's why the gain was less than a pound. Now, time to get ready for next week.

Pinterecipe of the week! Chicken gyros. Linking it here:  https://tasty.co/recipe/chicken-gyros Step 1: Ok, so this was daunting. Most of these spices I've never cooked with before. Actually, some of them I'm not sure I've ever eaten before! I mean, coriander?  But I decided to go all out and get all the spices the recipe called for on this one, instead of just using what we had.  Expand my horizons I guess.  I was nervous.  Especially when I saw the word "cinnamon".  Cinnamon on chicken?  Really?  Who am I to question?  I've never made a gyro before.  I've never eaten a gyro before.  Up until last year, I had never pronounced the word "gyro" before.  This was really adventurous for a woman like me with a phobia of unfamiliar foods.  I have allergies.  Lots of them. I tend to stick to what I know.  And it was an interesting adventure to say the least. Step 2: There we were.  All the spices,...

Weigh in: 280.3 ➡ -1.0 Another week, another pound. Still slow going. I'm struggling with my fibromyalgia more, recently. It's getting harder to recover if I push myself during my workouts. It's a little worrisome. But I'm trying to keep going. On a positive note, I made it through a 2.4 mile walk this week! I honestly didn't think I'd make it through. I did. Barely. But I did it. If it hadn't been for my daughter, I don't think I would have been able to complete it. She's my motivation. And that's it for this week. Lots going on. But I made a commitment to post a weekly weigh in every Sunday. And I'm sticking to it!

So we all know that a big part of weight loss is DIET !  What an ugly word.  It literally begins with the word "Die".  A connotation it's upheld most of my life.  But I'm going to have to change that if I want to make progress.  Associate the word diet with something positive, so I don't sneer every time I hear it.  Or say it.  Or write it.  After all, "diet" doesn't just  refer to those ridiculous fads that never seem to work.  It doesn't just  entail yo-yo dieting and other extremes.  Diet is simply, what a person eats.  So how can I change my perception of the word into something I might ENJOY? Well, I focus on the cooking!  I love to cook.  I love to make new recipes.  I love trying old recipes in new ways.  The best ones usually come out of my little family getting in on the fun!  But how do I incorporate it into the blog?  Here's how: Welcome to Foodie Friday.   This w...