What's on my plate and Spring 2017 Semester stuff

This year's journey towards becoming a Registered Dietitian starts with my bullet journal and goal writing and lots of visits to advising.

Due to being a non-traditional student, I am not taking a full load.  Three classes in the spring, two in the summer, two in the fall.  My courses are as follows:

Spring 2017:

English 1023 Composition II
Math 1013 Financial and Quantitative Literacy
History 1013  Years 1492 - 1865

 Summer 2017:

NFS 1301, 1302 Food Preparation Principles
History 1023 Years 1865 - Present

Fall 2017:

BIOL 1111, 1113 Principles of Biology 98% scared 2% excited
GOV 2013 US Government


I chose to only take two classes in the fall because I want to focus on keeping my GPA up.  I hear that Biology is really hard and to be honest, I'm worried about it.  But it's only February and I don't have the energy to deal with that just yet.

English is a lot of work.  This is more reading and writing than I've had to do so far.  Writing isn't my strongest skill and I'm concerned I will not make an A.  Oh well, it is only February.

I like History.  I remember some of this from back in the day.  It's a fun class.  History is my jam!

This is a lighter load without a Statistics class using all my brain power!  Although I think I should have taken MATH 1013 before Stats.  Last semester might have been easier.

I work on assignments daily to keep up with the pace of the semester and so far that's working well. And like all previous semesters, I watch too much television and eat too much popcorn.

Shows I'm caught up on and now watching the current season:

Blue Bloods
Blacklist
How To Get Away With Murder
Grey's Anatomy
Scandal
Suits

mini rant.... seriously, House of Cards has been pushed back to May! I used to come out on Valentine's day! That's how hubby and I spent 02/14.  So romantic.

New network shows I like:

Designated Survivor
Timeless

Shows in the Que:

Mad Men
Goliath
The Mindy Project
Man In The High Castle


I'm open to suggestions on binge-worthy shows.   I really miss The Good Wife and haven't found another show close to it.


Only this week's schedule and menu.  We start the week with shouting out PLOT TWIST!  I have been puny since I returned from Mississippi.   Headache. Pressure.  Earache. Sore throat. Chills. Fatigue. No fever, just puny and tired.   Sunday afternoon I had to lay down and rest if the neighbor kid hadn't rung the doorbell I would have slept beyond three hours.  A three-hour nap wasn't enough.  I woke up with the same headache I laid down with.  Meh.

Went to bed early.  Slept eight hours only to awaken to an intensified headache.  Coffee, Water, Meds. Homework.

So, here's how the week should look.

Sunday:

Rest day
No Homework
No Exercise

Dinner:

Lemon Rosemary Chicken
Asparagus
Peas

Monday:

6 AM run  chose sleep
Homework/Study
Chores and Laundry

Dinner:

Skillet Chicken
Nope, not gonna happen
I made bone broth to sip on during the day and will use the remainder for Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup from Damn Delicious!

Tuesday:

Math on Campus
Study
Gym - Arm Day

Dinner:

Taco Salad

Wednesday:

6 AM Run
Meetings
Lunch with Bub
Homework/Study
Chores/Laundry
Gym - Leg Day

Dinner:

Stuffed Peppers - Stouffers
Hot Crash Potatoes - Pioneer Woman
California Blend Vegetables

Thursday:

Math on campus
Study
Gym - Back and Abs

Dinner:

Salmon Patties.  Pan "fried" cornmeal and panko bread crumbs.
Asian Salad - Taylor Farms

Friday:

Walk in the park
Study, Read, Write papers
Chores

Dinner:

Pizza Night - Make your own pizza.  Occasionally I make the dough, but most of the time I purchase it premade in the freezer section at Central Market.  Cento makes my favorite red sauce and our toppings vary from all cheese to veggie lovers.


This is what the week holds, as well as lots of bone broth breaks and naps.   Follow along on Instagram and Twitter "Salsa Is A Vegetable" Pix and Running Updates.

What's On My Plate? Week of 01.15.2017

Spring semester begins Tuesday. I have one more day of chillin' out and then back to the grind!  I've only received one syllabus thus far and it was enough to scare me! So I planned my meals out accordingly.

Sunday.  Green Bay Packers Football!  You'd think I'd be a true blue Cowboys fan living in the metroplex, but I'm not.   Mainly I dislike Jerry Jones.  Still holding a hard grudge over the way he fired Tom Landry.   And well, my dad is from Mississippi and so is Brett Farve, so we've been Packers fans for a long time, beyond his retirement, obviously.

I can't decide how I'd like this to go.   Dak is from Mississippi State and well I'd be happy for him to win, his rookie year.  That would be exciting because this season has been our of Jerry Jones' control. Romo injured, again, nothing new.  Dak had to play.   It's been an interesting season for the Cowboys.

If they keep winning, I'd be okay with that.

On the other hand, I like Green Bay for the win.  It would be such a historic year if they win this game, then go on to win the Atlanta game.   That would all hinge on Kansas City beating Pittsburg, and the Patriots, then Green Bay would play Kansas City in the super bowl!  Historic.

Anyway, all of that to say it's been a dreary weekend in Dallas.  Foggy. Rainy. Meh.  Football and cold winter days call for soup.   One of my favorite football day soups is from Eat Live Run.  Black Eyed Pea Stew.  It hits the spot every time!  Sometimes I make it with cornbread, other times I skip the collards and roast cabbage.  I add that to the bottom of the bowl before ladling the soup over it.   Mmmmm.... cold night calls for comfort foods.

Monday is my last day off.  It's possible we'll have left over Black Eyed Pea Stew or I may make another staple soup.   Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, from Damn Delicious.  This has everything. Chicken, Rosemary, Brininess,  Carrots, Celery, Orzo, so yum!

Tuesday is my first day of class.  So far no syllabi so I'm not sure what I'm up against.  I've decided o another Damn Delicious recipe, it's an all in one pan, so that's always a bonus on class days.  Garlic Ranch Chicken and Veggies.    I'll need the comfort of carrots and potatoes by the end of the day.   I'm already stressed out about Contemporary Math; Homework and Quizzes and Preview Chapters, Oh My!!

Wednesday The Adhesive will be at a youth event where they will go out to dinner.  Hubs and I will have a meal before we go work out.   Spaghetti and meat sauce packed with veggies (onions, bell pepper, zucchini), and crusty sourdough bread.  Then a hard workout at the gym! Leg Day!


Thursday I'll have a better grasp of my assignment schedule and fill out my bullet journal and hope to get ahead in a few of my classes if that is allowed. At least the reading and writing parts.  My family is a fan of Breakfast For Dinner.   This week I will make Protein Pancakes with Kodiak Cake Mix, Eggs, and Sausage Patties.

Friday is Pizza Night!  New York Style Pizza is my favorite.  Nearly cracker thin and crunchy yet chewy, yeasty and salty.  And just cheese.  I like a good veggie pizza, I also like anchovies.  That's the only "meat" I prefer.  Because I'm a 'just cheese' kind of gal.

I don't have a #SalsaIsAVegetable Pinterest account yet.  Until then, check out this pizza board.


That's what's on my plate this week!  What's on yours?

Are you resolved or resolving?

I'm a planner.  I have planners.  I have Erin Condren Planners, Day Designer Planners, Power Sheets. I have a Type B Planner, yet, I am a Type A person.  Yea, I write things down.  Everything, in a bullet journal.  The main way my to-do list, assignment schedule, appointments, homework load, goal reviews, miles get logged, menus get planned is because I write it down.   It is not fancy or pretty.  I purchased an Eccolo Journal on a whim and began scribbling things down at the beginning of the 2016 Fall Semester.

Paper and pencil, well pens.  Lots and lots of pens.  I may or may not have a problem.

I wrote a review of 2016, I wrote down what worked and what didn't.  I wrote down what I needed to accomplish in 2017 and where I need to improve.

After years of "dieting" and injury and "dieting" and injury.  I decided to do something different.   I tore my knee, in three places and went to physical therapy and started over again with C25K.

Although I made the lofty goal (again) of running 1000 miles in 2016, after my knee tear during marathon training, I settled for 300.  If I could run 50 miles in a month, that would be good.  I ended up with 600.  Yay!

Other health goals: 

Nourish/fuel my body (done)
Drink more water  (done)
Meal Plan/Prep (not as well as I'd like)

Education goals: 

Maintain 3.25 GPA or higher (3.67, still mad about that B)
Enroll in summer classes (done)
Attend tutoring (done)

Less is more goals:

Clear the clutter  (done)
Less screens  (not as well as I'd like)
Project 333  (done)

You notice that? Three goals in three categories.  Not an underwhelming list of fluff.  Also not an overwhelming list too out of reach or out of scope.

This year I've done the same.  Top Three:

Health Goals:

Nourish/Hydrate
Run 850 miles
Rest as needed (also known as when)

Education Goals:

Maintain 3.67 GPA or higher
Enroll in summer classes at TWU
Set timer for study time.

Less Is More Goals/More Is Best:
[Continue] Project 333 >
< Yoga/Downtime
Structured time >
Less screens <


I've read Ann VosKamps blog for several years and most of her books, over the past few years she's blogged about resolutions or what she calls SOULutions. I wrote mine out (again) this year.

Embrace Imperfect
Engage Silence (Reflect in the eyes of souls, not screens)
Be Still
Believe The Best
Break Free
Daily 3 for 10
Do Hard Things
Let Go Of The Outcome
Learn To Endure
Live Hopefully
Give Away
Grow In Grace

What are you resolved to accomplish this year?   What are your #SOULutions?

What's On My Plate: Week of 01.09

I'm not a photographer.  I have an iPhone.  I have a nice camera that my high schooler primarily uses. I don't have an eye for lighting and or technique.  For now, I will not feature photos of my meals.

A menu and recipes, yes!  Maybe just evening meals or snack ideas.  I'm honestly not sure just yet. This feature will grow into something solid soon.  Bare with me.  :)

I like Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving food so much that I go through the joy of preparing said meal in part once or twice a month!   Sprouts stocks turkey breasts year round and jewel sweet potatoes and I can usually get brussel sprouts in the frozen food section.    Monday was Thanksgiving night.

I prepare the turkey the same way I do for Thanksgiving.  A good rub of herbs and garlic and olive oil.  Sear it on a hot cast iron skillet and bake it in the oven slow and low for several hours.

Next is the sweet potatoes.  They get a good rub down of olive oil, then are wrapped foil and baked along with the turkey.

I keep cranberries around for as long as they will stay fresh after the holidays specifically for a Thanksgiving brussel sprout dish.

Herb Crusted Turkey
Sweet Potatoes with cinnamon and walnuts
Brussel Sprouts with cranberries and bacon

Tuesday and Thursday are class days for me.  I generally prepare something simple, if not leftovers.

Italian Chicken Toss is a simple recipe that is a "what's in the fridge" toss that in!   Chicken, bow tie pasta, a can of tomatoes and all the veggies in my fridge.  Onion, bell pepper, carrots, celery, green beans, peas, turnips, beets... literally whatever is on hand.   Grill the chicken, boil the pasta, chop the veggies, open a can of tomatoes, toss it in a skillet with some olive oil.  Dinner! :)

Wednesday The Adhesive (AKA our youngest teenager) heads off to a youth group event, where he is fed.   I prepare a meal that isn't his favorite for my husband and I.  This week is stuffed bell peppers, mashed potatoes, and green peas.    Hubs and I go to the gym, work out for an hour before we pick The Adhesive up.

Thursday.  Another simple meal.  This week it's Polish Sausage with cabbage and a side dish of quinoa.

Friday is typically Pizza night at my house.  A giant salad with a side of flour all over the kitchen.

We make the dough and top it with a variety of toppings from anchovies to spinach and basil to sausage.

I do my grocery shopping over the weekend.  We'll see what's on the menu next week when class begins!  Sophomore year, here I come!

A dusting off...

I thought 2016 I would blog and talk about my college experience.  Classes, professors, classmates and the things said on the interwebs that make me want to silently screen scream and type in ALL CAPS!

Topics like:

Food Fads
Fake News
Nutrition Memes
Fake Foods
Running
Why I'm Injured, Meh!
Meal Planning
Metabolism, the truth.
The Biggest Loser, my thoughts
Orthorexia, it is a real thing

Moderation, what that looks like
Embrace where you are, just do it

Yea, so I did not accomplish much (or any) of that.  I cried over my classes, over my grades, over my homework.  So much homework!  When did college become such a chore?  I appreciate my husband for working to provide for our family and being supportive of my career/education choices.  

I've had this fire in my belly for years.  After I began running, losing weight, becoming cognizant of how nutrition affects my body, performance, my overall health.

Having researched "How to become a registered dietitian" at least ten times a year; in July of last year I made an appointment and sat for a college entrance exam.   My forty (something) year old brains test result were surprising.  I was eligible to enroll in courses and begin the steps necessary to embark on this career change...er...learning curve. 

And although this blog won't be full of pictures at least until I master that technology.  It will include the above and weekly updates about class, the good, the bad and the ugly cry about making a B.

eighty-eight point ninety-four (88.94).  Most students may be happy about a B in statistics.  I cried.  I emailed the professor, he didn't reply.  I asked for extra credit, he didn't reply.  I cried.   My four point oh was gone.  Bring on the tears.  All The Tears.  It is even hard for me to say the words three point six seven.  

So this semester, I work harder.  I study longer.  My new mantra is if Nothing Changes, then Nothing Changes.   I have resolved to get up early to run.

This semester's schedule begins January 17th.  I am taking (what I hope) is an easier schedule than last semester.   Contemporary Math (in person), English 1302 and History 1301 online.  

Monday and Wednesday are run days and will begin at 6:00 am either at the gym or running outside to give me more time to study.  Study time will be from 10:00 - 2:00.  Reading, writing, arithmetic.

Tuesday and Thursday are class days.  Contemporary Math or Quantitative Reasoning or scary math term.  Imagine me with a scary face right now.  It is possible I may begin a part-time job on class days.  TBD.    These are also gym days.  I meet the hubby at the gym after work.

Fridays are for turning homework in.  More reading, writing and arithmetic.  The goal being to keep weekends free of college stress, homework, deadlines, and tears.   I did not occur to me that there would be so much crying in college.

Here's to a successful semester, debunking the latest fads, more blogging, and (hoping for) less tears! 

The One Where I Choose To Write

I run.  Those are words to live by.  Words I live by.  I started running seven years ago.  This past weekend is the anniversary of my first 5K.   I ran a 5K this weekend with my niece.  She's in training for a physical in which she needs to run 1.5 miles.  I ran with her this past weekend.  We had fun.

She's the girl who gave me the title Aunt.  I wear it proudly.  She's my sweet girl.

I also Looped The Lake.  White Rock Lake in Dallas is nine miles.   My BFF of 19 years wanted to Loop The Lake by her birthday weekend.   We trained in the summer.  We trained in the heat.  We trained in the humidity.  We ran the lake this past weekend.  Running's my favorite!   Kat and I decided to set our goals for shorter distances, pick up our pace, and lengthen our intervals.  I like to run intervals, it keeps be running uninjured and allows me to run farther.  Yay! 

Our White Rock Lake run was Sunday.   We didn't run Monday.  Rest.  Stretch.  Mostly rest.  

Today we were meeting to begin speed training.  She was unable to make it.  So I ran a mile of intervals and two miles of hill repeats.  Three miles total.

It felt good to push myself.  Hills are my friend! What doesn't 'hill' you makes you stronger!  As long as I'm not rolling down!

I had negative splits! Yay! I wasn't trying for that, it just happened!  Bonus!

Choose to Write.   New Topics. 

What I ran today.  Weekly update on training and mileage.

Food fads.  When possible, the science behind what to know.

Love yourself.  Weekend wrapup. 

What to learn before you learn.  Also known as how this semester is going 

So Another Fall Semester Begins

Why do I think that things will go normally? Or maybe this is how things go in high speed world of the interwebs.  My first class, an online class begins tomorrow and no information.  None.  No email or syllabus or anything.

I guess I thought that I'd have something before the class starts.  I'm a little frustrated.

It's hard to be a 40-something college student.  There are days I wonder if this is worth it.  The time and effort, the going to class, the studying, the lack of sleep.  Meh.  So I want the initials, the degree bad enough.  

Tomorrow I start basically my sophomore year, except that I don't have the correct amount of credits towards my degree.  The credits I have toward my degree still make me a freshman in my first semester.  (insert embarrassed emoji)

Fall 2016:

English Composition
Elementary Statistics
Philosophy

My goal for this blog is to document my journey.  Classes, classmates, professors and my progress.
Oh and the occasional salsa review, meal plan, recipes, what's working for me and what's not.

The One Where I'm Frustrated

I don't know where to start with this semester.  Last semester I took an online class.  I can say that I don't care for that format.  Essentially I taught myself.  I read the book, I took notes based on information I thought I should know.  I took quizzes and tests.  I made an A.   I can't say I really learned anything.  I couldn't take a test today and tell you what I learned.

This semester I signed up for classes that my Math Study Group would be in and I could take another class in person.   It all worked out.

I don't care for the format of the math class, although I'm doing well, I'd rather have two lecture days instead of the modular math component.  I don't feel as prepared for hight math courses.  I have an A, so I guess I've learned something.

The other class this semester is Community Health.  Today is April 4th and the professor hasn't once lectured over what this class is about.   He called it a hybrid class.

This is the class description:

Emphasis is placed on relating course content to lifestyle to foster a better understanding of the major health issues of today. Current issues include, but are not limited to: emotional health, chemical use and abuse, human sexuality, major diseases, physical fitness, nutrition, aging, death and dying. This course does not satisfy the physical education activity course requirement. (3 Lec.) 

He has not one time discussed: 

Emotional Health
Chemical Use and Abuse
Human Sexuality
Major Diseases
Physical Fitness
Nutrition
Aging, Death or Dying 

I have a total of 9 pages of notes.  Mostly discussing the days we aren't meeting, how to use the quiz function of the Pearson Software, so we can take a quiz over content he hasn't covered. 

I've had online tests and quizzes.
I've had a "pop quiz" over obesity. (in person, on paper)
I've written a paper on cardio vascular disease.
I've given a presentation on Nutrition (Chapter 9). 

I haven't received grades.  He hasn't returned our papers.  He didn't provide us with a syllabus.   From one week to the next I'm not sure what this class is about.

We have 5 - 6 classes remaining.  Oh and a 100 question (in person, on paper) final!  Goody.

Two of the four students that were to give their presentation last week when I gave mine were absent.  So naturally I used their time.  Mainly because this was the only information this class would receive about the the content of the course.  It's not as if the professor has lectured or given us useful knowledge about this class.

After my (well over 5 minute) presentation he said he has one more question.  "Do you know how long five minutes is?"  I said yes, and I used it. 

I'm frustrated with this class, for several reasons.  

1) I wanted to continue to take classes with my study group, so I enrolled again at an out of county college; which means I'm paying over triple the tuition price to attend;  
2)  I haven't learned anything about this subject and it's a class I need for my degree, I'm not taking it for fun!
3)  It has been a waste of my time, I could have taken this class online, for less money and learned more and saved gas.
4) He's not doing the students any favors by his lack of preparation. 

5) He calls me an overachiever because I strive to keep my 4.0 GPA.

Seriously, Frustrated.

Currently looking up classes for summer and fall semesters.  Better check "rate my professor"

In my previous years in college, professors lectured over the actual content of the class, you took notes, you read the book, you participated in class, you learned.   I'm hoping this time around is similar and I've just had two fluke experiences. 

The One About Gluten And Salt and Sugar Oh My!

As it turns out the college has a library!!  When I pass by the library on the way to or from classes what I see is computer stations.  Rows and rows and rows of computers.  I've used study rooms in the library, still didn't see actual books.  

Last week I asked the attendant if they have books and if so where are they?  She directed me to a "back room" dimly lit.  Scary!! 

With a bit of trepidation I walked down the hall into the rows and rows of books.  Not seeing a card catalog or computer to look up a catalog, I roamed the aisles of books.  When it dawned on me, the card catalog is on my phone!!   

Without hesitation I look up "Nutrition" and nearly sprint to the row of books!! Ceiling to floor!! What?!?!  It must have looked like books were flying off the shelf!!!  Text books,  best sellers, books I've wanted to read, books with interesting titles.  I took a stack up to the desk and then asked how many I could check out and how long! 

Here are the titles: 

1. The Gluten Lie by Alan Levinovitz 

I read it in less than a week. Its a really good book about why we still cling to food myths and where they came from.  Very eye opening about science and how it has or hasn't shaped the Western Diet.  The Main Theme is to relax, stop letting headlines dictate your meals.  

A few quotes that stood out: 

For the true believer, the myth will always be more sacred than the evidence. 

Science Fiction is still Fiction.

Anxiety about what you eat can produce precisely the same symptoms linked to gluten sensitivity. 

People will worry that you have an eating disorder if you say 'I'm afraid I'm getting fat,' but they don't bat an eyelash if you say you're Paleo or gluten free. 

You can show the brain any reward - sugar, alcohol, sex, a movie - and it will light up.  That says noting about things being addictive. (regarding "sugar addiction"). 

'Every food is a potential demon...' Talking about food this way is harmful.  It creates neurotic eaters who see foods as pure or impure, natural or processed, good or evil.  

With every so-called superfood, it's always the same story; overhyped, under researched, superstitious nonsense, hidden under scientific rhetoric. 

2. Food Rules. An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan

I didn't realize I picked this up, I actually intended to check out a different book.  This is a small book; less that 200 pages and is nicely illustrated.   I like this book.  It's simple and funny and talks about food in a sane way.   It's broken up into three sections.   What Should I Eat? (Eat Food)  What Kind Of Food Should I Eat? (Mostly Plants)  How Should I Eat?  (Not Too Much) 

A few quotes that I especially interest me as a dietetic student: 

People who get off the Western Diet see dramatic improvements in their health.  We have good research to suggest that the effects of the Western Diet can be rolled back and relatively quickly.  

Avoid food products that make health claims. 

Avoid foods pretending to be something they aren't.  I.E.  Margarine, non fat cream cheese, artificial sweeteners. 

Eat only foods that have been cooked by humans, rather than corporations. 

Drink Your Spinach Water. 

There is no such thing as a healthy soda. 

Don't eat cereals that change the color of the milk. 

Food is a costly antidepressant. 

 

I follow a few dietitian blogs: 

ImmaEatThat

Abby Langer

Both of these ladies philosophy is to enjoy food, eat well, and relax! Practice mindful eating.  Have a healthy relationship with food.  

3.  The Mindful Diet by Ruth Wolves, Ph.D., Beth Reardon, M.S., R.D., L.D.N. and Tania Hannan. 

Will be reading it this weekend!!  

4. The Industrial Diet.  The Degradation of Food and the Struggle for Healthy Easting.  By Anthony Winson 

5. Whole.  Rethinking the Science of Nutrition.  by T. Collin Campbell, PhD with Howard Jacobson, PhD 

I have two more weeks to read the books!  If I don't get through them, I can add 3 more weeks.  :) 

The One Where I Rub It In!

As promised my dry rub recipe for chicken.  In years past I've used a blend called Southwest Seasoning from Whole Foods.  However it hasn't been offered at my "local" store in several years, so I had to make my own!

I remembered a few of the ingredients and tweaked it until I had it just right, with my own twists of course!

1 Tablespoon Mortons Season All
1 Teaspoon Cumin
1.5 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
1 Teaspoon Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper
1 Teaspoon Mrs. Dash Table Blend Garlic
1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Dark Roast Coffee Grounds

The cumin and smoked paprika really set this rub off making the chicken have that grilled or liquid smoked flavor.   The surprise ingredients are of course cinnamon and coffee.   I was surprised myself when I read cinnamon on the Southwest Seasoning bottle however it gives it that but of a sweet finish.   The coffee adds to the richness.

I use it on chicken, ribs, pork chops and Chicken Lime Stew.  

Enjoy!

The One Where There Are New Beginnings

It's hard to say where this began really.  Was it when I started running or was it when I began reading labels? Was it when I realized that nutrition has a lot to do with how I feel? It's possible.

April 2009, I received news from my doctor that I needed to clean up my diet and get moving.  I did just that and have continued for nearly seven years.

I've researched how to become a registered dietitian off and on over the years.  I want to help people, inspire people, educate people on nutrition and how important it is to overall health.

After a series of life changing events in 2015 I took the leap.  I took a college entrance exam and enrolled!  EEEEEK!!

I'm on my way to the dream.  To completing a major goal.  To enter the health field as a dietitian.

Dietitian: An expert in prescribing therapeutic nutrition.

This blog will document my journey, challenges, nutrition, recipes and the hilarity of being a forty-something college student in the twenty-first century!

The One Where I Lost My Trash Can (or Mind)

I've thought a lot about this subject, I've thought  about what to title such an blogging adventure. 

Odd title I'll admit, but where is your trash can and where was it before? Is your kitchen trash can under the sink? near the stove? Have you ever moved your trash can to a new location? Mine for instance it at the end of the island. Occasionally I move it next to the sink depending on what I'm preparing. If I'm peeling a lot of veggies, I'll move it near the sink. Or when I've been handling chicken.

Sometimes I forget and leave the trash can by the sink, then head to the end of the island and remember, oh yeah! I moved it. I don't discard the trash on the floor where the can used to be. I dispose of it in the proper place. It would certainly get messy if I did that wouldn't it? Instead of making a new habit of discarding trash in the can near the sink, if I discarded the trash onto the floor where the can used to be located?

But we're people, right, capable of learning new habits. right? So what is all this talk of trash cans and their location?

Its simple really. You can remember that you've moved the location of the trash can and dispose of trash properly. Even when you (or I) forget, you head back into the correct direction, right?

Its the same with a healthy lifestyle. You've moved the location of your today and your future. So what if occasionally you forget. Just turn back toward the new location.

I've seen so many friends become discouraged lately. Forgetting their location. I've seen so many say they don't know how to get back. But I say to that if you can remember the new location of a trash can, you can remember how to stay on the journey!  And enjoy the journey.  If you got a speeding ticket you wouldn't go out and break all the other laws that day.   So what if you have pizza, you don't have to eat the whole pie! 

One piece of (or even the whole bag) __________ isn't the end of my journey.

I have to remember the scale is not a reflection of who I am, but a snapshot of a location on the journey.

I ask you today......where is your trash can?

The One Where George Lasso's The Moon

If you haven't seen It's A Wonderful Life, I encourage you to. I saw it repeatedly while at the hospital giving birth to my oldest son, back in the days of no cable! He was born over Christmas. When I say over Christmas; I mean a days worth of labor

PBS was the only station that was on 24 hours because they played that movie back to back from Christmas Eve to Midnight Christmas Day. I've seen the move. And even so, I really like it.

It's a great story. One where it reminds us of how many lives we touch. How we've changed them and they've changed us. How different the world would be if it weren't for the people we've bumped into or rubbed shoulders with throughout our life.

One of my favorite parts is where George and Mary are walking home after the dance, singing "Buffalo Gals." He's telling her about his goals to leave the dust behind him from this old town and travel the world; she's admiring an old abandoned house that she romanticizes over, throws a rock at what's left of the windows and makes a wish.

He says, in the tune of Buffalo Gals "What'd you wish for when you threw that rock?"

She doesn't say.

He says: What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.

She says: I'll take it. Then what?

He says: Well, then you can swallow it, and it'll all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair... am I talking too much?

Am I talking too much? Hmmmmm.....

People talk too much don't they. Say too much. Say the wrong things. Hurtful things more times than good things. At least that's how it's been a lot of my life. I didn't grow up in the Bailey household. George and Mary weren't my parents. I think I would have liked that though. It seems as though they stuck together, worked things out, had a great community, had a good support system, had a guardian angel.

I didn't have those things, those people. A lot of my life I've experienced what I term "the wagging of tongues." Bad words, lack of encouragement. The message I received was, I'm too weak, I'm not good enough, I'm not......enough. This isn't for me, that isn't for me, I can't do this. Not only from my parents but from others. I began to be conditioned to think negatively about myself and about others. I began to be fearful about everything. Scared to try, Scared to fail. Scared to succeed, really.

After talking with a few of my friends over the past few days...weeks. It seems there's alot of tongue wagging going on. Maybe a lot of fear. Living in the fear bubble. Making what is said real; ingesting it and living as though the words are true about you and/or your circumstance.

It's like you've lasso'd the moon (words) and swallowed it....and it's all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams (words) would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair...

I did that. I swallowed the words and I made them real. And I lived out my life, my living and breathing and parenting and working and fellowshipping as though the words were real.

A sweet friend asked me recently, have you always been this confident. I said no, not by a long shot.

I don't know when I made the switch; when I stopped swallowing the words. I know it was a process of canceling the negative with the positive. In showing myself that I'm not those words, others thoughts or actions, I became more positive each day, more confident in myself. I had to "raise my deserve level".

You aren't others words, thoughts or actions either. You can make the choice today to stop swallowing the words. Even if you're plate is full, you don't have to eat it. Even if you take a bite, you can spit it out. Even if you ingest half the plate, guess what, you don't have to finish it!

Even if George Lasso's The Moon, you don't have to swallow it!

The One Where I Am The Driver

I met a friend at the bridge today, we had a great time, walking and talking. We talked more than we walked. It was a four mile walk, a four hour talk.

Having someone like minded gave me an opportunity to bounce alot of my thoughts off her and honestly I think we both have hours of blog material now! LOL And this is one of them....but I got to thinking about this particular part of our conversation and I hope it translates as well into blog as it did in person.

I hear the term or phrase: I fell off the wagon. I'm getting on the wagon. While I understand what the phrase means and that it applies to other aspects of life issues. 

To get there I want to sing a little song, some of you may know it and some of you may not. It's kind of a strange song to make the point but I hope it will make sense.

Time Warp - Rocky Horror Picture Show

It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right
Put your hands on your hips
And bend your knees in time
But its the pelvic thrust, that really drives you insane
Let's do the Time Warp Again!

I equate the Time Warp to being "on or off the wagon". And if it's a wagon, and you're ON the wagon, who's driving it? You? And if not you then who? Are the horses out of control? Hmmmmm....that's a foder for an whole other blog....back to this one.

If getting on the wagon is a jump to the left
And getting off the wagon is a step to your right
And while your off the wagon you put your hands on your hips (or calories) and bend your knees (only exercise when I feeeeeeeeeel like it)
I think the pelvic thrust that drives you insane is binge eating and guilt.

Are you really moving? Isn't it just a series of "a jump to the left and a step to the right"? How are you moving forward with all the side stepping?

And again I ask you WHO is driving the wagon?

At some point in this Journey, you have to decide to take the reigns, you have to do the work, you have to stop trying to fill the hole, the void, the abyss, the loneliness, the "someday syndrome", the I'll be happy when thoughts, with food, with bad food or good for you food, alcohol, whatever, you fill in your own blank (destructive behavior).

Until you stop being content (and who are we kidding, you're not content) with riding in the wagon, getting off and getting on and getting off and getting on...

Until you become the DRIVER (taking control of your life) and not the PASSENGER (blame anything else for "perceived failure") you will not be successful. I said it. You're right! This won't work.

Until you take the reigns, Until you make the choices: water and fuel, Until you use the Spark Tools, Until you get off the couch and put on the shoes. You're not moving forward. You're not the driver of the wagon.

Are you ready to grab the reigns?

Don't just think you are.
KNOW you are.
Don't just TRY.
DO.

It Began As Terrible Too's.....

Yeah, here's another running blog.

I started running (nearly) four years ago when my Dr. told me I had a "a case of the Terrible Too's"

My cholesterol was too high.
My blood sugar was too high.

Then he said, let's be honest, the scale is too high.

He wanted me to lose 20-25 pounds before I saw him again.  Otherwise he would put me on a handful of meds that he knew I wouldn't take and my problem would only become more complicated.

I had purchased a treadmill month earlier and walked on it occasionally; but nothing to write home blog about.

Years earlier  I found SparkPeople in a recipe search.  But didn't use it.

The light went off!  I logged back onto SparkPeople and began using the tools.  I logged my food.  I tracked my fitness.  I lost some weight.

But I found I could burn more calories if I ran.

Through SparkPeople I found the C25K Program at CoolRunning and off I went!  I trained for my first race and caught the running fever!

April will be four years of running.  25 pounds lost with real food and miles logged.

No Potions.
No Pills.
No Shakes.
No Fads.
No Restricted Foods.
No Excessive Exercise Programs
I eat real food.
I lost weight for real.
I've kept it off!