179.4 You Are What You Eat

This post could be entitled "You Are What You Eat", or "My Blue Period". I just tried to call my sister Priscilla who knows all things art history-wise, but sadly she wasn't home. I know there's at least one well known artist (well known because I have a memory of this) who was known for his blue period. As I gathered my food and dishes for my breakfast I realized they were all blue toned, from my blackberry yogurt, to my berries, to my dishes. But I don't feel especially blue today. My weight doesn't make me feel yellow (my color for feeling really great), and to be honest, maybe my mood is basically just a lighter shade of blue than my breakfast.

People often talk about not eating white, meaning potatoes, rice, pasta. Has there been conversation about eating blue? Maybe I can start the conversation since it represents very healthy eating.

Sorry about how it looks like I have loaded tons of butter onto my Ezekiel toast. It's Smart Butter and is probably the least healthy part of my meal, but it is low fat and low calorie.

So I'm planning a surprise date for Jeff and me this afternoon, and that will turn this blue day into bright yellow! Hope you will have a great day, too.

175.6 Charlee Chooses Healthy!

I've decided that when Jeff and I leave our little dog Charlee home alone, she listens to Jennifer Scott's hypnosis CDs. She must! Today when we came in from church, plant shopping, and grocery shopping, I was starving. I opened up a small bag of sugar snap peas, a favorite snack food of mine, and took out a heart shaped chicken dog treat (Newman's finest) for Charlee. She wanted the peas. I put one of each on the floor and she ran off with the pea pod. I knew she liked them, but not to the exclusion of the organic chicken flavored dog treat! She's into healthy eating, obviously!

And so the salt saga continues. I dropped down again this morning, and was glad to see that. And, so it goes!

174.6 Getting Ready to Get Away

We are getting ready to get away again. This time we are staying fairly close to home rather than heading to Boston or Memphis where are kids are. We are driving up to the Four Corners area where the states of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado come together. There are some very interesting Indian ruins to visit including Canyon de Chelly (pronounced Canyon de Shay). We've wanted to do this ever since we moved here about six and a half years ago and are really looking forward to it. I'll be checking out the Indian jewelry, as well as the artifacts in the area. And, we'll be spending some time in Sedona on our way home which is always wonderful.

It feels like we are heading into vacation time with this trip and trips to Arkansas and Boston already planned. I love to go, but I have to keep my wits about me when we travel because of so many food options. Just yesterday Jeff reminded me that we needed to buy a lot of apples so we could take them with us. From experience I've learned, and I guess he has also, that being prepared with good healthy food keeps us both out of the trap of eating too much "impulse" food. I just made that up but it does describe that trip through CVS or a fast food place to help get rid of the hunger pains with unhealthy quick fixes.

This morning on the radio I heard that new research shows that cutting calories is the best way to reduce arthritis pain. Why didn't they just ask me instead of spending $$$$$ on research? I still get a little stiff when I sit too long, but I am in a pain free zone now compared to when I was lugging all of that extra weight around.

175.6 Susan's Gainin' !

But it's okay, I'm telling myself. We spent ten days in Boston eating out often twice a day and so I'm actually experiencing a great sense of relief that I didn't gain more. And I feel like I know what to do to get back down in the 170 range. I think that this is how my life will be now...enjoying my vacations, and eating out with friends and family and then getting right back on track. Last night it was chicken and spinach and fresh berries. Not too shabby, and oh so healthy.

We had a great time in Boston, seeing our family and friends, many of whom we hadn't seen since Miranda's wedding. Today I'm feeling so much gratitude for the friends in my life and my dear family.

168.2 Back To The Future

It's warming back up out here so today I was able to go to our community center pool and do my water therapy. I wore one of my water jackets that cut the wind and help to keep my upper body warm and that really helped.

I am seeing a new physical therapist about my cock-eyed pelvis and so had to modify some of my workout. What she's found that really surprised me and kind of bothers me is how weak my left leg is. I think I have more to work on than just getting my pelvis in alignment.

I may as well confess, last night I had my first hamburger in about 3 years. It came with cheese and bacon - no, it wasn't a Whopper from Burger King - we went to Flemings (a rather high end restaurant in the area), sat at the bar and paid $6 rather than the $12 they normally charge since we were there before 7 pm. No, I didn't eat all the meat, I asked for no bacon, and I ate about 1/4 of the bread. Yes, it was good, but somehow not as great as I thought it might taste. I think my "clean, healthy living/eating" has really changed what I want to eat. But what I really liked is that my weight didn't shoot up. I hope this trend continues as I venture back into carefully eating some of the old favorites.