Things I want in my Garden
Veggies:
- carrots
- onions
- peppers, hot and sweet
- cucumbers
- summer squash, green and yellow
- snaps (green beans, for you northerners)
- tomatoes
- lettuce
- spinach
- oregano
- basil
- rosemary (mmmmmmmmm…)
- mint
- thyme
- raspberries
- strawberries
- pineapples
- lemons
- tangerines
If you life in Richmond, and things go well, I might have some veggies for you next year.
-j
Rough weekends, but fun
I’ve learned that you really have to be on your game if you want to maintain consistent weight loss while traveling. I am completing a quick, long-weekend trip to Florida and I am nervous for positive results on Wednesday.
When you go to visit someone after dinner and they serve you sausage and cheese, then cake, then fruit, then nuts, you get to a point where you feel rude because you just can’t eat any more. It also makes you realize how important food is to our culture. It’s actually pretty frustrating.
The other problem is that it’s so stinkin’ humid in Florida, you want to be outside as little as possible. I guess I should just suck it up and get used to it. Richmond will be the same way in short order.
I’m just gonna have to push it at the beginning of this week. Maybe I can offset the damage that has been done so far. We’ll have to see on Wednesday.
-j
Battle One, Battle Won
victory
A new coworker started today, and as is our tradition we went out to lunch with her. I love going to Mexican places, but at the same time I dread it. I love it because, well, it’s delicious Mexican food. I dread it because it’s dripping with fat. From the moment those chips come out to the moment that last bit of cheese-covered, guacamole-sour cream-beefy burrito slides down. Not today, my friends. Not today.
I woke up this morning just after 6 without trying. I debated waiting until my alarm went off, but I figured it was pointless. I was going to use the time wisely. Today was day-in-a-row number two for the morning jog. Two miles and 30 minutes later, I was getting ready for work feeling mighty fine. I packed two apples, two oranges, and a package of snow peas for the day. One apple was ravaged on the way to work where I also ate a package of oatmeal for breakfast. At 11 I had a 4oz container of cottage cheese so that I wouldn’t be hungry at lunch. I was feeling abnormally well (see my tweet to the right). I determined that today’s lunch would be different. A taco salad without the shell (I debated getting a fajita and not eating the tortillas), cheese and sour cream on the side.
At lunch I portioned out what I think was pretty close to a serving of chips and knocked back a bit of salsa. As soon as my salad arrived (they had forgotten the cheese and sour cream, but I’m better for it), I dumped out the insides and discarded the shell. It was really hard not to eat it, as well as the amazing cheese dip they brought out for the group, but I didn’t. Here’s why:
You might have read about the Bible study I’m doing about overeating. Combined with the Bible class on Sunday, yesterday’s study gave me what I think is the key I’ve been looking for: keeping my eyes on Christ. When Peter walked on the water and took his eyes of Jesus, he started to drown. When the Israelites were being bitten by snakes, they had to look at the bronze one and they would be healed. Jesus has already paid for my sin of gluttony, and beyond that He offers me a way out of it. I just need to fix my eyes upon Him.
The Bible class reminded me how good intentions aren’t enough. Uzzah died because he was trying to save the Ark of the Covenant. What he failed to do was give God the reverence He demanded. My prayer life does not give God that reverence. I usually pray however I am, and while I’m certain God hears my prayers, I’m missing out on something because I’m not being as reverent as I should. Last night I got on my knees and prayed for today. I prayed for the desire to run when I got up, and I prayed that God would show me what to eat, when, and how much. I confessed that I absolutely can’t do this on my own – I’ve tried many times – and how I trust Him to show me the way.
When I woke up today, that’s exactly what He did. This uneaten shell, the first of its kind, is the proof. Selah.
-j
A Tip
It’s a good idea to measure out how much food you’re going to eat instead of eating straight from a container. Even with good intentions, impulses (or carelessness) can get the best of you and before you know it, that pint of ice cream is history. Then you look to see how many calories you just ate and you cry a single tear of shame.
This has been a public service announcement. I now return you to your regularly scheduled internet, already in progress.
-j
Food vs. Food
Have you ever found yourself hungrier an hour or two after eating healthy food? Then a different time you eat fast food, and three hours later you’re still feeling full and bloated? I read an article that made me realize why.
I can’t find the article right this second, but it basically had a lady who has been carrying around a certain un-named fast food joint’s Happy Meal for – ready? – four years. Four years, and the only thing that looks different is the roll, which only looks crumbly and hard. The fries look as fresh as if they had just come out of the fryer. The burger and “cheese” look as tasty as ever.
I had always wondered why I feel so hungry from eating healthy food just a short time later until I realized that being hungry and having an empty stomach are two different things. Feeling full isn’t as great as it sounds, especially when you have been feeling full for hours. Have you figured out why you’re still full after the Arches and not asparagus? It’s because the food doesn’t digest! Bacteria doesn’t touch it even after four years. The acids in our stomachs have to work overtime to get that stuff broken down.
To me, now, fast food isn’t food. I mean, I still like it and find myself craving it, but I also have realized that I’m starting to crave vegetables too. Like tonight, I didn’t know what to eat, so I threw a bunch of veggies into a pot and made some stir fry with a bit of rice and chicken. I ate a lot of food, but my stomach is empty now. That means what I ate was used as fuel by my body. Now that I know what it means, I like the feeling of emptiness after eating. It’s gratifying, and the best part is I don’t feel sick before going to bed like I would have if I had made a poor choice on the way home.
-j
The Little Things
Sometimes I forget to be thankful for the little things. Maybe this is kinda silly, but today I’m thankful for this amazing hot and sour soup from a local Chinese joint. Sometimes it can be hit or miss, and I’ve noticed that different Chinese restaurants are better at some things than others. Well, the one by my office makes hands down the best hot and sour soup I’ve ever had. Whenever I get it, I’m never disappointed. It’s the perfect blend of hot and sour, and just enough of each to make me slightly warm in the mouth. Mmmmm…..
-j