Dear Me,

Dear Me, I am sorry to say it is time for some tough love. This letter has been a work in progress. But then much of your life seems to head in that direction. What I am going to tell you will not be news, it is not meant to hurt, but this is meant to motivate and help. You're struggling. You and I both know it. You've whined, you've reflected, and now it it time to do the work. You want this journey, but you're terrified. Take a moment to really hear that. Yes, you can do this, but it means changing everything. Doesn't that sentence sound loaded? Too much to do. Too much to change. Too much to imagine. But now, here is the good news. That's the prize! That's where all the efforts and attempts and hopes are aimed. That everything is going to change. That you deserve to feel more energetic. That you stop feeling extremely self conscious (of yourself and those around you). That both the critical and fearful voices calm themselves. The journey is certainly not easy, but it was never promised that it would be. I know when we were in the full swing of things working hard, feeling great, and then nothing. After a long period of time without any weight change the journey became super frustrating. But think back to when we were putting in the effort, the time, and the heart? Weren't you feeling better? More confident? More energetic? And just. . . happier? The numbers on a scale are not the only measure and you know that. But after a couple of months there should have been a change. That created a whallop slam against the motivation. However, let's be honest, there could have been a little more tweaks in the system on both the meals and the exercise. No one is expecting you to be flawless, except maybe yourself. Were you doing good? Absolutely! Were you doing great? Sometimes. Was their room for improvement? Yeah, and that was all the scale was saying. A few more tweaks in a couple of different areas were needed. Again, this is a journey not a sprint. No overall transformation has to take place overnight, nor should. Tweaks, changes, those can happen in a second. String them together, taking only one moment at a time, and the overall will G-R-A-D-U-A-L-L-Y change. Now, it is time to refocus. Some bad habits quickly recaptured their place in your routine. They can be quickly ousted. It may be harder to recommit. You've stumbled, and once we come across a roadblock it is easy to get discouraged. And that's something that weighs especially hard on your heart. You may easily find triumphant energy, but the other side is that discouragement can quickly snatch that victory away. We gotta work on that! Enjoy the good moments, learn from the rough, and never succumb to the ugly. So what big changes can we work towards in baby steps. First, let's accomplish the LIST. The ever-present always adding List of Undone. That list grows continually. I know good-byes and closed doors are not your thing. But on your list is over twenty-five things that are up in the air, to worry, to weigh on your shoulders and heart, to suck up time, at a second's notice. Now this isn't your daily to-do list. This is the list that you carry every day, through every year, going on decades now. And let's discuss this fondness for lists briefly, lists are great to get organized but they don't count as actually doing. Remember that! So, let's take the List of Undone and Finish it. Each item falls into three categories: Finish, Forgive, or Forget. Let's look at some examples. Finish: Get the Christmas Cards Out, PRONTO! Forget: this one is going to hurt, brace yourself, forget your dream to return to Covenant Players. I know that you want to honor that commitment, but life has changed and picking up to travel isn't going to become a viable option soon. Think of different ways to honor them. Forgive: Apologize to the world about the wedding thank yous. Tell the World "I messed up! I wanted to send out the world's most perfect thank you from the heart that was to be charming, impressive and showing creativity but overlooked it was an opportunity to just humbly say thank you for celebrating one of life's biggest blessings. So often I have thought how to send them out in a cute manner even as late as our six year wedding anniversary. I originally addressed the envelopes before the wedding so that I could be timely and efficient and found them two weeks ago when I lamented that life just kept throwing the craziest ironies our way. I feel like the world's biggest schmuck and all I can say is Thank you and I am so sorry I didn't make it more personal in a timelier manner. " I truly believe by just competing the List of Undone a lot of weight (pun and literal) will begin to finally release its hold on your life. It is time to clear out the clutter and the chaos. And Fully Understand Life by Living. I think the other two steps in the HealthFULL Journey include going back to the original objectives and to just do them. No procrastinating, no lamenting, no complaining, no half-way attempts, do the best you can and move forward. Not everyday is going to be perfect. But every day you are going to try your best and that's it. No worrying or fretting about more or the route of perfection. And Third and lastly, Enjoy the FULL approach. Count your blessings and truly embrace the last two-thirds of this "planned" Journey. You can do it. Find your rhythm, figure out what results you want, and then Embrace it. This is gonna sound schmeepy but I am proud of you. and I think you know, I love you too. So, to sum up this long-worded but needed letter. I want you to complete the List of Undone, to review your goals and planned actions for this HealthFULL Journey, and then to Embrace the idea of Fulling Understanding Life by Living. I'm glad we found the time to talk. Now, get to work! :) <3 Always, Me who is also You :)

10 am version vs 5 pm version

10 vs 5? What does that mean? I made a comment to my husband several weeks back and it weighed upon my thoughts as something to explore. I innocently said one evening, "I wish you could meet the ten o'clock Suzy." And he replied (as only a husband can) "Why? Is she nice?" And I lovingly looked up my husband and snapped "Yes, she certainly is!" We both laughed and then the thought lingered. The ten o'clock Suzy is amazing and the five o'clock she's kind of a lazy whiner. Am I alone? Or do you too have perkier, kinder, wittier, and all around better alter -ego version? There is something about the ten o'clock version of me who is ready to conquer the world. And I don't want to put down the five o'clock version of myself, but she is closer to being conquered BY the world than completing any conquests of her own. At ten I have got energy and plans. Lots and lots of plans, oodles I dare say. By five, I just want to sit down in front of the TV and rip up all the lists I have jotted. Because the five o'clock version has no intention of stepping off the couch; let alone out of the house. At ten I can't imagine resting until all ten lists are completed and two more are started. I am so excited to get going, I beginning fidgeting in my seat. Because at ten, I am full of positive energy and the can-do spirit. My lists begin to fill quickly and schedules dance around in my head. I believe the ten o'clock version of myself could be Santa's Personal Assistant. Organized, friendly, excited to get to work, that's me! But hours begin to pile as the perkiness begins to subside. By the time I hit traffic to head home five o'clock Suzy has quietly and moodily slipped into my car. She is cranky, exhausted, and can barely read the schedule of daily needs. At ten I just know I am going to hit the gym, try out a new recipe, go grocery shopping, update the blog, contact friends and family, and still be super pleasant to greet my husband and pets. At five I know I am going....home. And TRY to put on a happy face and try not to grumble to much about the day, traffic, and the dirty house. Because thou who complaineth, cleaneth! There is obvious reasons why at ten life seems a little better, a little brighter, and just all around a little bit perfect. Mostly, there is time to dawdle and take the scenic route while trying to accomplish the daily tasks. By five, time has dwindled and the pressure to get everything done NOW is compounded. At ten, there are few burdens traveling throughout the mantra of lists. It is easy to plan for the gym when there is no headache, no problem to run errands straight away from work forgetting half the objects are sitting on the cupboard ready to go, and still pick up groceries. Because at ten I am not hungry, after work I for some reason am famished as if I have traveled the desert for a week's time. Finally, I would say the lure of no crowds makes breezing through the lists fantastically easy. In the imaginary world everyone else is still at work while I breeze in and out of lines, traffic, and stores. The five o'clock Suzy has no such luck. This version gets sandwiched between the most annoying people in the world, the other five o'clock versions of everyone else who have ten places to be, right now!!! So in this exploration vision I have learned my ten o'clock energetic self has to one day meet the cranky run-down five o'clock version. If for no other reason my hubby deserves to meet the "nicer" version. May your HealthFULL journey be FULL of wisdom, insight, and laughter. Remember to Fully Understand Life by Living whether it be as your ten o'clock version or your five o'clock version! 'Til we meet again. . .

Pity Party for One, Please!

Can you see it? I am waving my white flag. It has been kind of a rough week. Yes it was Christmas and to this day is my favorite holiday. So I do wish everyone a belated Merry Christmas. It is a joyous holiday regardless of my personal circumstances. I do warn you the following rant is going to come off as whining. But this is a pity party and I do intend for it to be a good one. Where shall I start? Well this is my HealthFULL Journey so let me update you about my health. This week I suffered from the Seasonal Flu according to a doctor's best opinion. I believe it might have been the flu nicely topped off by a cold. But I am not the doctor just the patient. I suffered four full days of fever sprints. One would break and then another would quickly replace it. I have had no energy. I am on the sixth day and still find it completely draining to walk room to room. I have blown my nose through TWO kleenex boxes and am soon to start my third. I have been achy and chilled. It was actually the chills that drove me away from work Monday. I tried to keep warm by wearing my jacket at work and the sleeves drove me crazy. Every time the cool lining touched my hot skin I wanted to cry as if I was being burned. But ask me where I went after work on Monday? Did I go home? Oh no, I headed to my parents to nap for the afternoon. Because our house was being worked on by a plumber. A fantastic plumber, a kind plumber, but he was doing extensive work on our house. What work you may ask out of curiosity? Well, remember the hole in our bathroom. Our slight hole with a slight mention. Well that hole was joined by a new friend, another hole that was much bigger on the outside of our house. Our plumber was more determined than I to discover the leak. He proceeded to remove the siding from our house, pry into the board, and then drilled out our concrete slab to get a peek at our pipes. Well concrete when drilled turns into a fine dust, a powder that travels through the outside hole into the inside hole and covers our bathroom, our connected master bedroom and our living room with a gray sheet of dust. Yay! We spent that evening last Thursday (the evening before the predicted snowstorm) dusting and vacuuming and completing four loads of laundry so we could sleep in a semblance of home. I do blame myself as I asked and hoped for a clean house for Christmas. Be careful of what you ask for!!! So our plumber returned Monday to complete the outside work which he did. It looked wonderful. But Monday afternoon I could not handle drilling noise and drafty holes while I rested and recuperated. I returned home to a completed outside wall and then climbed into bed. I believe it was Tuesday I discovered that showers/baths provided a needed way to combat the chills. We were choosing not to use our master bath as we were resting the pipes to make sure that everything had a chance to set after recent construction and needs a good cleaning from the initial gray powder storm. It was then Midnight of Wednesday that I gained the strength of the Hulk and managed to break our one working shower's only handle. You might think "Oh no" and I say, "Oh yes even in my sickly state I can have the impossible happen." I was pretty devastated. So after a morning conference with my husband who pointed out that I broke our only working bath and reminded me our plumber was en route to visit his family for the holidays about six states away. He figured out how to make a temporary fix and stole the master bath's shower handle. We then headed to the Urgent Care. Because I am going to admit now. We don't get sick often and still haven't really found our family physician. So my wonderful husband had called several (I think five or six) doctor offices to try to make an appointment and their was no luck. So to the Urgent Care we went. We then waited ....and waited....and waited some more. I believe we spent over two and half hours waiting through the appointment and lab results. Mind you this is the day before Christmas Eve. We aren't completely done shopping, no presents wrapped, Christmas letters waiting to be sent, library books overdue, and Christmas decorations are not up. We had plans, numerous discussions, and here we were in the final hours of prep sick as can be. I with my flu and my husband with a cold well on the way. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh! Corey finished our shopping with detailed instructions and late Christmas Eve together we wrapped. Every couple presents we passed back and forth the anti bacterial foam. I was stubborn and with hubby's help put up our tree Christmas Eve. Now granted it comes in three parts and is pre-lit; but I was still as impressed as if we, ourselves, displayed the Rockefeller Center Tree. We did enjoy Christmas Day with the family though I was under Dr's orders " No hugs, no kisses, no sharing spoons, avoid contact with the kids, and no holding the baby(my youngest niece)". I am a hugger. But I got through the holiday following the orders to a T. I had big plans for today even being down for the count all week I figured this weekend I would get the Christmas Cards done and out. No such luck. This flu is not an easy bird to kick. But it was a big lesson this week. I haven't been grateful for the Health I do have and that Health really does matter. Without our Health everything else stands still. It is our Health that mostly dictates our abilities. So though I am way off the HealthFULL Journey I do look eagerly upon my return. May your HealthFULL Journey deserve appreciation and that illness stays far away from you and those you hold dear. 'Til we meet again. . .

The ART of CHOKE

Can we just say D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s?!?!? Because the veggie of the week was a goodie. I will confess I have been a fan of artichokes in the past, but those artichokes have been hidden in a dip, with a salad, or on a pizza. This means the hard work had been done for me and just leaving me the tangy flavor. The artichoke as been quite the enigma to me. I had heard stories that you couldn't eat the leaves, that there are pricklies to avoid, and that the delicious heart of the artichoke is well hidden. Let me tell you these stories are completely true. I am also going to say yes it can be quite the production to get the veggie prepared. But it is WELL WORTH the wait!!! Have you seen an artichoke? They are quite intriguing. Some really could be used as artwork as they look like a fun sculpture. Maybe that's why artichokes start with "art" :) The sizes range from a ping pong ball to a huge softball or perhaps a big grapefruit. Our artichokes were a little bigger than a baseball. Then imagine a deep forest green color and the shape of pinecone. The artichoke is just leaf layered upon leaf. Then most leaves appear to hold a tiny solitary needle at the very point of the leaf. This is because the artichoke is actually an overgrown thistle. Yikes right? No need to worry. The prickly can be intimidating, but we can easily win this battle. Big universal tips when picking out produce. You can read these tips in most literature, web information, or just acquired knowledge. Choose heavy produce items. If you pick up a squash, an eggplant, or an artichoke and you think wow this weighs a lot more than it looked , put that produce in your cart. That weight tends to be flavor. If the produce gives you the opposite reaction, "Wow that is as light as a feather." Put the vegetable or fruit down and walk away. The light factor can be the produce did not develop or that dried up. Either way, not tasty. Also look for appearance. Do the colors look inviting, stand out, draw attention? That means the nutrients are alive and well. That food is going to have flavor. If there is a darkness, a haze, or a fuzzy coat (Kiwis are from the tropics they deserve their fuzzy coat :), that produce is not worth your time because they are past their prime. Now preparing these delights does take some effort, but there will be fun in the consuming I promise!!! You can cook artichokes in a variety of ways. But it is highly suggested as they are such a hearty thistle to either steam or boil before applying the "final flavor". You can even microwave them. Boiling you lose nutrients which means you are also cooking out some of the flavor. Steaming allows you to hold in your flavor and maintain the health benefits. We ate barbequed artichokes. Mmmmmm goood! I pulled out our fun little steamer basket. Which honestly I don't remember using before. But will be pulled out more often now that I have figured out the contraption. After I uncurled the peaces I placed water to boil in the pan and covered it with the steaming basket. Now the directions on the steaming basket remind users do not lose the water. Maintain the level of boiling water. I remember specifically asking my hubby who would not pay attention and would let the pot run dry. And he so nicely reminded me that the basket will cover the pot so it is easy to forget and not pay complete attention to the water level. Pish posh I am becoming quite the cook who can create smoke haze. Ummm yeah I'm the novice that they write those simple reminders specifically for. Yup because I scorched the bottom of our very nice pan. I scrubbed and scrubbed the layer of char. It is soaking as we speak. So yes steaming is easy, especially with the fun little basket. BUT DON'T FORGET TO MAINTAIN WATER LEVEL!!! Just speaking from experience. The steaming can take 25 to 50 minutes from what I read. The fork will tell you. If you can pierce it easily you have completed stage one. Before you steam you should rinse your artichokes and cut off the top third. I strongly recommend if you don't already have one, purchase a big, strong, and heavy knife. A rinky dink paring knife will be your nemesis against this hearty plant. Remember you have layers upon layers of leaves to cut through or more accurately, saw through. This exposes your "heart". Some articles also suggest that you trim up your leaves and cut off that prickly tip. It's just a suggestion, but does not affect the flavor or the edible facor or your choke. I'm kind of wimp so I didn't want to take chances with eating a thorny thistle. The trimming is kind of fun. You are making the produce attractive, easier to enjoy, and the activity has a soothing rhythm to it. I also chose to cut off the stems that left me an even base to steam the artichokes. Www.oceanmist.com recommends of only trimming the stem as it can be quite flavorful and that you can steam either base down or base up. After the artichokes are steamed, any cooking method is correct. I found an easy marinade that gave the tangy a rich brightness. But you could even enjoy the artichokes once steamed. Dips are encouraged. After letting the artichoke pick up the marinade's flavors I pulled out our trusty grill pan. Love this piece of our cooking arsenal. We've only owned the pan for maybe four months and have used it on a weekly basis. I placed the yummy leaves in the grill pan until it reached a mild char on both sides (six minutes each side for mine). Then it was placed on our dinner plates and the festivities could begin. As you take a bite there is a manly, dainty way to attack the leaves. The leaves are both what you eat and yet remain inedible. Take a leaf and scrape it with your teeth. The masculinity of eating with your bear hands is quite thrilling. And yet, by closing your teeth and dragging the leaf through. It feels dainty to eat without the munching and the crunching. The artichoke blended the flavors really well together and picks up great taste through it's leaves. The tanginess factor seems to blend fairly easily towards spicy or sweet. Definitely a favorite. Please experiment and experience all that you can on your HealthFULL Journey. Fear compounds too easily. So, make choices, discover your options, and fully embrace what at first appears challenging. 'Til we meeet again. . .

Celebrating milestones

We all tend to celebrate milestones. Some common events are celebrated by most of us through birthdays, anniversaries, and other holidays. Other milestones can lean to the more personal victories such as sobriety, travels, or championships. Some milestones may remember a tragedy, acknowledge a life-lesson, or simply exist. We each travel our journey. We cannot move forward without creating a past. Which means each of us will create and celebrate hundreds of milestones. Some will be good, some will be sad, and some will be downright ugly. But without these events, we wouldn't be the same individuals we are today. It is these events that shape our understanding of life, living, and interactions with others. It is easy to become pensive and reflective during the Holiday Season. We use the Holidays as reminders to be grateful of what we have, love those around us, and to both accept the past and celebrate the near future. As we move through the holiday season we work to create memories. We seek comfort, love, happiness, and peace. the aftermath of a milestone tends to be more interesting than the actual event. It is hard to truly feel an event as we are constantly processing and going through the motions. But in the aftermath we can reflect and feel all that has occurred. As you travel your HealthFULL journey I hope you Fully Understand Life by Living as you celebrate your own personal milestones. May your journey be full of lessons and celebrations. May your reflections be exciting, comforting, and joyful. 'Til we meet again. . .

A Plentiful Feast

Mmmmmmmmm..... My hubby and I just finished a delicious feast with tons of color, wonderful variety of textures, and no meat. Our meal included stuffed delicata squash and red quiona blend. I joked about taking a picture as it was just so pretty to see. But I couldn't quite bring myself to that level of boastfulness and I didn't know where the camera was hiding :) It was a supper full of newish foods. We first roasted the squash which couldn't be easier. The delicata squash are oval - shaped and either dark colored like watermelon. Or like the ones we sampled tonight that were bright yellow with beautiful orange stripes running along the ridges. It was super simple to prepare the squash. Rinsed it as the peel is completely edible and super thin. As most squash prep starts , first you cut it in halves and scoop out the seeds. The delicata especially is reminiscent of those jack o lantern carving days or scooping out the pulpy seeds. Place the halves on the cookie sheet and cover with a little salt and pepper. Then the fun comes with mixing up a stuffing. Around our house we had some silken tofu, canned black eyed peas, canned spinach and collard greens. Drain and rinse the canned foods and saute everything together. After the squash can be pierced easily then you can fill it with the stuffing. Place panko breadcrumbs and some cheese on top. Then put the squash back into the oven to create a crisp crust. Yummy right? Then our side dish was an easy blend of red quinoa with Israeli couscous, Baby Garbanzo beans, red quinoa and orzo. The blend has just the right amount of chewiness with nutty goodness. Oh the holiday season comes with its own craziness. As we race around trying to get everything done it is easy to lose focus. It was fun to be healthy creative with our evening meal. I already can feel how nice it was to take time to discuss our days and enjoy a meal packed with nutrients. I hope while you travel your own HealthFULL Journey that you can find a little down time to pamper yourself while you improve your own well-being. Hurry back soon when we discuss , "Wish you could meet the 10 am me vs the 5:00 version". 'Til we meet again. . .

What if?

Do you play the game of questions? I would have to consider myself a sort of master at the "what if" game. I am a champion worrier. We currently have a hole in our bathroom wall. ( You may remember me mentioning that we were having plumbing issues. ) I am "nervous" with this hole. If I am to be candid I am terrified that a creature of unknown proportions will pop out of the wall at any moment. Or that our furry creatures will decide to explore and squeeze through. (This would be quite a feat, but it still makes me nervous.) My fantastic hubby has helped quell my worries by covering the hole. I am not a hundred percent confident but I do feel a little more secure and that we keep the bathroom shut until our second friendly plumber pays us a revisit. Part of the what if game can lead to worries, solutions, or some intriguing discussions. I dally in the what-if game for all three reasons. Let's play a quick little round now. Since I am sitting here anxious about animals let's think about that theme. What if you could be any animal what would you choose to be? I tend to think that most of lean towards the powerful beautiful felines. There are the royal lions, the quick cheetahs, and the agile tigers. But what if we changed the question what would you CHOOSE to be to the question; what animal do you most resemble currently? Again I think many of us would like to be a quick cheetah, a humorous monkey, or perhaps a loyal dog. If I am to truly be honest with myself and all of you. I would have to pick the turtle. That doesn't so "cool" or even exciting, but strikes close to the truth. I like to carry "my shell". I like to think out solutions to most problems; regardless of how probably the outcome. I want to tuck my head in my shell and ignore the "problem areas". For instance I was not ready to call the plumber. I pull my vulnerable self into my shell and all is well. Also like the turtle I have always moved at my own pace. Most often the pace is slow and steady, but it is my own. I will hole up in my shell until I feel secure enough to move forward. The other quality I believe the turtles and I share is the ability to adapt. When you bring your home with you everywhere it is pretty easy to adapt. On your HealthFULL Journey I hope your what-ifs lead to few worries, many solutions, and interesting discussions always. 'Til we meet again. . .

Bok to you!

When my blogs were on the sporadic weeks my hubby and I tried an interesting veggie that should not be overlooked. I have previously mentioned my taste for yummy Chinese cuisine. So we set out to fix ourselves a healthier version at home. We pulled out our trusty wok and threw in some bok choy. Oh yummy! How do I describe this intriguing vegetable? If I was limited to one word I would choose "rich". The flavor is very mild which matches well with its light color. Be on the look-out for this vegetable next time you are out shopping for produce, especially if you are a fan of celery or cabbage. I am not a big fan of celery and appreciate that in some instances that bok choy could easily stand as a replacement. Bok Choy is the chubby celery except it is actually part of the cabbage family. Bok Choy is tall like celery. Its base is a silky white bulb and then the white stalks stand thick and tall. Gorgeous green leaves cover the stalks. The leaves are a deep rich green tone offset by the silky white stalks. Simply divine darlin'. Simply Divine! The richness factor does not simply stop at the appearance. The flavor is delightfully mild. It blends into the meal as subtle as a broth. The subtle flavor allows it to blend really well with almost any other ingredient, especially spices. The stalk and the leaves are completely edible. You can choose to eat it raw or cooked in a variety of ways. We created a bok choy stir fry. Its texture upheld really well in the heat. Depending on the method of cooking will greatly determine the texture of this vegetable. In most instances the stalk will remain firm with a meaty texture. The leaves also have a strength that can handle the heat. The texture almost melts into your bites which adds to the richness of bok choy. Each bite includes a reminder of the comforts of home. I build up this vegetable because I was pleasantly surprised. I was under the impression that the vegetable would lack any sweetness and for some reason I thought it was going to be just bitter. And bitter it was not. Some of the nutritional facts I could find about bok choy were quick to mention that it is very low calorie. It is also a great source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C according to www.essortment.com. Also Bok Choy is a high source of calcium. So I encourage you to continue to stretch your meals with nutrition and new flavors. I highly recommend this versatile vegetable that will could add richness to any menu. I continue to travel on this scenic route of my HealthFULL Journey with my eyes wide open and have experienced a ride I could never imagine. 'Til we meet again. . . .

Tradition or Habit?

Oh the holiday season brings so many wonderful "traditions" forward as we celebrate the season. But what really qualifies as tradition instead of habit? Don't the two words play power games in your head? "Tradition" to me needs to be honored for the sentimental factor, the coziness of past honored every year because of the good memories it holds. "Habit" kind of is blah. Habits tend to run on the negative side of the spectrum. Yes, good habits exist but bad habits persist. It is bad habits that lead us to destructive paths and run parallel to addiction. Habits can be boring and when we start to fall in a rut. Traditions are noble and habits are everyday. Habits can be changed and Traditions are to be upheld. I am playing with this word choice because though I am a fan of traditions I am aware of how I use my friendly term as another excuse. It is okay to try everything at Thanksgiving dinner because it is Thanksgiving. What is wrong with one more, two more, or the honest five more cookies that are Christmas themed? It is holiday season only once a year right? It is tradition to enjoy the holiday sweets dressed up in green and red colors. The treats of limited flavors like cinnamon, mint, or egg nog deserve a taste before they disappear. These bonuses just encourage us to feel the spirit more, right? Even though we know these holiday items are not exempt from the everyday calories or offer little nutritional value to our bodies that we have to carry with us all year round. Traditions allow for splurges on a habitual basis. And habits? They are boring because we are not powerless to their sentiment factor. We use the good habits to establish routines that help minimize the hassles and allow for most rewards. Bad habits are to be discarded when found non-helpful. Eating constant sweets in the everyday world and as a habit is not looked upon as the healthy choice. Skipping the gym under the guise of tradition during the holidays to focus on family and friends again seen as noble and caring. Skipping the gym for extra treats is a horrible habit. So though I am all about traditions I am going to try to honor the true roots of the tradition and not substitute it with its horrible imitation. If baking pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread with my dad is the tradition. Then spending time with my dad is the tradition. Remembering what kitchen duties I was assigned and joking about memories is how to revive the tradition or even throwing on the apron and pulling out the recipe. Polishing off a store pie is not the memory to cherish and relive. May true traditions abound on your HealthFULL Journey. For I truly do believe to Fully Understand Life by Living we need to honor the memories and that the magical spirit of Christmas is rooted in true traditions. Just beware of those cleverly disguised habits that offer little substance for your health or memories. 'Til we meet again. . .

The Little Things

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Today is the day we choose to celebrate the little and big moments we cherish with gratitude. Do you know what I am thankful for? A working toilet. Was that a thank-you at the top of your list too? If it wasn't; I am gonna guess you haven't had plumbing problems of recent weeks. Then you need to be thankful because our bathroom is slowly draining our patience *wink*. It is having one issue after another. We tried to ignore the initial problems or at least downplay them. But the toilet that one got our attention and a plumber on their way. The plumber was happy to give us an estimate for all of our troubles, but notice I am grateful for the toilet. One issue down and many more to address down the line. It was a slight problem. We would flush the toilet and it would do its thing. Empty the water and then fill back up. Keep filling the back tank. And keep filling. And not stopping. Do you know where the water went? Out the handle!!!! Like Niagra Falls. I am not a handy-person. But that, that was wrong and kind of gross. I know I know. It's just water. But ewwww!!! My husband and I both became scared of the toilet. It was a rough roulette. Because sometimes it worked and more often it did not. The toilet was winning the war because we were running halfway around the house to use the non-issue bathroom. When the plumber came for his first visit of what might sadly turn into many he quickly fixed our first issue. And as mentioned gave us an overview of what events have sadly played out in the bathroom and what could be done to remedy them. We've all been there. Those moments that need to be addressed but that we just want to ignore. Weight is that way for many people. One pound, Two pounds, five pounds, who is really going to notice. No one really, twenty pounds might get an extra look, fifty there is gossip or at least chatter, and then hundred piles on within a nanosecond it feels. But it doesn't happen in a nanosecond, probably not even a week, possibly a month, but most likely a year's plus of looking away choosing to ignore the current moment. Life is complicated there is no doubt. But life is full of choices. Do we fight or take flight? Sometimes we can't do it all. It would be nice to roll over and go back to sleep and ignore everything like: the pets that need to be fed, comforting the sick child, balancing the impossible check-book, sorting the mountain of laundry, washing the never-ending dishes and the list goes on and on for all of us. It is in the moments of chaos we need to focus on the little things. We can't fix the whole picture in one stroke. But, we can fix a little thing one stroke at a time. By realizing with each little step we are choosing to improve the whole picture. I like to rush the masterpiece and try to paint everything with one stroke. It doesn't work and then I try to ignore everything. But that also doesn't work. Nothing gets done. So we pick a small project and focus. Because each step forward may be a little thing, but it tends to be a little thing worth our gratitude. So thank you plumber for fixing the niagara falls toilet. On this day and everyday I hope you have the people in your life that help you either enjoy or laugh at the little things from your daily life. May your HealthFULL Journey be FULL of choices and focus and gratitude. 'Til we meet again. . .

Touchdown!!!

It is football season people and I am caught in the middle of all the excitement. GEAUX SAINTS and Yay Vikings! Isn't it fun to cheer for the winners? Especially, if you feel you were there for the long run regardless of the good and the bad and week after week they pile on the wins? There is something about watching this American pastime. There is a sense of camaraderie I hadn't really grasped until this year. I have watched games in the past, but this year I feel invested. Watching a game is kind of an emotional experience. I cheer, I scream, I get frustrated, I feel sad, I laugh, I cry, I tense up, I explode, I comment, I criticize, and at the end feel a little bit emotionally drained. American Football is a true outlet for almost every athlete. There is a place for runners, catchers, throwers, kickers, blockers, tacklers, punters, coaches, cheerleaders, tumblers, and fans. Fans who go all out and dedicate themselves for the betterment of the team. Which makes me ponder? Who would I be on the football team? Would I be benched because I can't face the opposing team? Could I coach in all situations and devise the best strategy on the drop of a dime? Would I cheer in all circumstances even when morale is down and encouragement is most needed? Could I catch under duress while all eyes looked upon me? Would I block and/or tackle to save the ball risking my own health in hopes of saving my quarterback? Where do you think you would best perform in the world of American Football? I am having trouble imagining where I would best fit in the Football Family. But, I do know that I would like to be the type of player who completes The successful Hail Mary. A person that you can trust regardless of all situations, a person who trusts them self. I would hope I could protect my teammate even if the end result could cause me pain. My point is regardless of your role, couch potato to Head Coach. You matter on the field and off. Because we all have a role to choose to cause optimum results. Our daily routines include game plays. We tend to forget that we choose our schedule everyday. If the end result isn't working then call a different play. Because only when we choose to change do we choose to explore our options, to build a better team, and to grow confidence in the ever-dramatic Hail Mary. For every bad toss is a chance to improve and increase the probability of scoring when all eyes are on you to save the big day. May your HealthFull Journey include a team that cares. I thank you all for helping me to establish and reach this goal. Til we meet again. . .

New Staples

When changing a lifestyle the pantry goes through a makeover of its own. Slowly and surely old standbys are traded out for healthier alternatives. Some of the big changes in our pantry is that "kiddie" cereal is traded up for adult breakfasts, like oatmeal and Kashi brand. Good-bye Lucky Charms and Corn Pops. *sad wave* (Though I will confess it is nice to invite my precious nieces and nephews over so that I HAVE to buy the magically delicious cereal.) What can I say? I am truly like a child ;) Though oatmeal with a small scoop of raisins and topped with a splash of almond milk and on "special" days I stir in a spoonful of peanut butter. Mmmm, satisfying and comforting, what a great way to start the day and of course a banana. I kind of have a meltdown when I can't start the day with my banana. If you were paying attention you might have noticed almond milk. Have you had the chance or taken the time to try a milk other than dairy (cow's) milk? There are some great choices worth tasting. There seems to be an increase in findings that more and more of us have trouble tolerating lactose (the dairy's milk sugars). We might not all have as much trouble as a person formally diagnosed as lactose - intolerant, but it still might help some of our stomachaches, digestive troubles, and headaches by eliminating or at least cutting down on the lactose we consume. Even if you don't want to trade out the milk you regularly consume it is worth checking out your choices. The flavors, the textures, and the added nutritional benefits makes these beverages a great option. I regularly keep almond milk in our fridge. It has a great consistency and flavor that I find useful for most of my needs. I found Coconut Milk to have a rich thick texture. It would probably be great for a milkshake base. It was a bit pricey and I didn't find it quite as tasty as the Almond Milk. I found Soy Milk to leave a bit of a chalky aftertaste for me when drunk by itself. However, mixed in something like coffee or used for cereal I didn't notice the aftertaste. Also, the consistency reminded me of Skim Milk. Which I like, though others might find that they miss the rich heaviness like some dairy milk. The other additions would include beans. Which I have gone kind of nuts about. Do you get in buying habits? Where you like to have a huge variety available? I get in these a lot. I would say cereals, chips, and yogurts were my old variety buys. Now I would have to say my new shopping compulsion is buying beans. I pick up the canned and the bagged, little and big, and the array of colors. Another pantry staple we quickly adapted into our routine is quinoa. Oh fantastic grain. The Incas according to www.Wikipedia.org referred to quinoa as the mother grain. This teeny tiny pellet packs a heck of a nutritional punch. Quinoa has great protein value with all of the amino acids. Great fiber source and remains gluten-free. We have also found it to be quite tasty and pretty easy to swap it for rice in most recipes. Quinoa cooks in less time than white rice. So you can have the health benefits and save time. Love that!!! The other big change is that tofu makes regular appearances in our dinners as we learn how to use it in a variety of ways. Don't let the word tofu intimidate you. Tofu can be bland but then so is most meat/entrees until you add the spices and flavors. I slowly am learning how the textures really effect the overall meal. And that's why practice makes perfect. I hope your HealthFULL Journey brings you a wealth of nutrition as you stock your pantry. 'Til we meet again. . .

The stalks of many Colors

Have you ever seen rainbow Swiss chard? G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S ! Honestly if you need a showstopper of a vegetable side as we move into this holiday season, I highly suggest you figure out how you can make use of this interesting and beautiful vegetable. The beauty in my opinion comes from the brightly colored stalks. The colors can range from bright flamingo pink, orangy, and sunny yellow. Then sprouting off these pretty stalks is the dark fluttery greens. Both the stalks and the leafy part are both edible. The cooking of this vegetable could not be easier. And trust me on this as I still haven't quite lived up to my name as Suzy Homemaker. The leafy greens are very similar to the richness of spinach and you can sub in the Swiss chard for spinach in most recipes. I do warn you the bright colors will mix into any cooking liquid. Which can be pretty, but to those who don't know what you were cooking could be slightly alarming. For instance tonight for dinner we had PINK tofu scrambled eggs. Interesting and tasted pretty good. I sauteed (look at me using the cooking vocab) up the greens on my second attempt. The first attempt may or may not have included burning the garlic. Let me tell you garlic turns from golden brown to STINKY black in less than three seconds in way too hot olive oil. I am just sayin'. The second attempt yielded a flavorful wilted green with some sweet heat. Then I chopped up the stalks and sweated them in a frying pan before adding the scrambled tofu and eggs. Which wasn't the recipe I had planned, but what are you going to do when the tofu and you enter a battle and the tofu wins? Tofu won the battle, but I won the war :) Tofu entered the battle pale and sinister and left as a pink yummy entree. The stalks could taste a little more bitter than celery but with a little heat and a splash of flavor they become tender and mild. Like most greens ,Swiss Chard (which is a huge family that includes Rainbow Swiss Chard) is a nutritional powerhouse. If someone mentions Vitamin C most of us know to reach for the citrus fruits, but leafy greens also tend to be a great source. Swiss Chard also includes Vitamin K and Vitamin A (according to www.whfoods.com ). Plus to round out the nutritional lowdown the vegetable also includes magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron, copper, calcium, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, and protein. There are even more nutritional benefits to be found, but I don't want to overload you with too much information. May your holiday side dishes be loaded with personality, nutritional benefits, and yumminess. I encourage you to find out where your rainbow leads (and hopefully, not just to a bag of colorful candy that rhymes with vittles) on your HealthFULL Journey. FULL means to Fully Understand Life by Living. 'Til we meet again. . .

Celebrating the Small Victories

And the crowd goes wild!!! Or at least a part of you shouts out in joy and hears your inner cheerleader. We all do this, don't we? Well if you don't I give you permission to celebrate your own personal victories. If professional athletes can do a celebration dance, a business CEO can high-five and pets receive praise for just not being bad, then we can hoot and holler for ourselves. My small victory might not make sense to you or register on your scale of victories but for me was a giant leap. I have committed myself to taking my health journey in a stricter direction, (not crazy strict but with the hope of losing at least some "physical" weight). One of my goals or big efforts towards health is to limit one of my greatest vices. I feel I need to hang my head and maybe cover my heart in reverence. But I love me a good Chinese buffet. I know I know - buffet and HealthFULL Journey don't really walk hand in hand. But the sign to a good Chinese buffet is like a beacon in the night or a siren of the vast ocean. It calls to me. And though we have had a good selection before in our area we have an incredible one with tons of value. The buffet is HUGE and the price isn't bad. Less than seven dollars for a lunch buffet (since I am drinking water vs soda. ) Seven dollars for a super-filling, tasty lunch. GREAT!!! But that is my problem with this vice I lose my mind at a Chinese Buffet. It is all the yummy unhealthy foods on display with no effort to attain. It includes foods that are fried, layered in sauce, and sweetened. Ahhhhhhh, I am licking my lips. I know I know I know!!!! My plan is to not to visit one until next year (it helps make my commitment sound dramatic). But I hope to avoid eating at any Chinese buffet until after January 1st, 2010. This is kind of dramatic as we were frequenting one almost every two weeks and getting closer and closer to once a week. I am hoping that by avoiding them for two months; the cravings will die down. That I will have trained my palate and fullness scale to enjoy myself and not to lose control or sight of my BIGGER goals. The victory occurred Thursday night. We had ran some errands during the evening. We were very close to my favorite buffet, literally driving by its sign advertising their yumminess. We were hungry and definitely wanted a quick dinner with no fuss. The night that sets up a visit to the Chinese buffet. However, I had voiced my choice previously when I was in a rational mood. And knew I couldn't let myself down. So, as we drove by the temptation we stayed on course and visited a sub shop that we had never frequented previously. I told my husband that I was in the mood for a satisfying veggie wrap or a close alternative. What did they sale? A grilled veggie wrap which I found delicious. Now I think the deliciousness factor included the flavor of the tasty wrap (which I will be enjoying again in the future, most definitely). But I also think some of the deliciousness I enjoyed was the taste of a small victory. So, I encourage you on this HealthFULL Journey to fully enjoy your taste of success by celebrating those moments you choose to resist your personal temptation in lieu of the choice that betters you. No victory is too small to celebrate because every win is a win regardless of the margin. Celebrate you and your win when you choose to Fully Understand Life by Living on your HealthFULL Journey. I am cheering for you and myself 'til we meet again. . .

Ridding the Excess Baggage!

Well Howdy, did you notice something? I didn't get three blogs out last week. I didn't even get two :( But, I did make a choice for what would be best for my health in the moment. I chose sleep over blogging late Saturday night. So the big news! Well not so great of news, actually, I am kind of sad, but not shocked; that I haven't lost a pound! Though if I wanted to look at the other side, the good news is I haven't gained a pound either. So this HealthFULL Journey is quite the adventurous experiment. I did say that this effort was to find my way into a healthy life. I sure was hoping to get rid of the extra weight physically, but I am learning there is quite a bit more emotional and mental baggage that needed handling first. I have to say I am not shocked as I haven't found the consistent rhythm for my life, yet. But I am working out kinks everyday. I went into this gung-ho and they say ignorance is bliss. I like to wear the rosy color glasses when starting a project and then I quit when the hue is not so pretty. But this journey I am seeing through, it's life, so it's not really an option. I was excited when picturing the cute outfits I could wear for the holidays and knowing when New Year's hit I would not have to state the same old resolutions because I would already be living them. And though those dates are still in the future. Time is continually speeding up. And I have to start being real. Yes there will be perks when I hit certain milestones. But I have to focus on the task at hand instead of celebrating 3 months to a year in the future. I need to be aware of the big benefits (and risks) and not the "perks". I forget the view from the other side of gaining weight. There was a time when I gained 60 - 70 pounds in a year and I didn't know if it was going to stop. There was four years I couldn't take off my wedding ring. So though I am "disappointed" that I haven't lost more physically. In these last three months I have started to polish off the rosy hue on some memories and polished off the tarnish of others. And slowly, but surely, as some of us tend to spring clean. I am becoming more balanced. I am sorting through the emotional and mental baggage that STILL serves a purpose and the baggage that has overstayed its welcome. Though, I continue to sort through some hang-ups I am growing a bit stronger as a whole person who looks forward to the days where I will enjoy not only the big benefits, but some of the "perks" :) May your HealthFULL Journey be made easier with the good baggage and never hindered by excess baggage. 'Til we meet again. . .