Surviving the snow storm

Hello, yes, I survived the snow storm.  The one with the heaviest wettest snow I have ever shoveled in my life and I have lived in Wisconsin a lonnngggg time.  And boy, oh boy, did I ever shovel.

No need to go to the gym yesterday.  Two hours of hard shoveling and I think I burned at least 50 or 56 thousand calories.

I felt entitled to a cold diet soda break.  Even though I gave up diet soda and haven’t had any for over a week.

I poured that smooth elixer in a glass and drank a few pulls.  Poured the rest of the can down the drain.  It really didn’t taste all that great and I really didn’t want any more.

I count that a huge victory in the “changing behaviours” department.

On the other hand, my other hand found the chocolate chips in the baking cabinet and while one hand didn’t know what the other hand was doing, I shoveled a few handfuls of chocolate chips down the old gullet.

That’s called insanity!

Oh well, that’s my life right now.

Off to yoga to stretch out and relax all those snow shoveling muscles and to mediate about the chocolate chip shoveling incident.

Have a blessed day!

 

First workout with a personal trainer

Okay, so I survived my first workout yesterday.  This morning however, I feel like I’m walking in a fun house.  My legs are sooooo wobbly.  There are some muscles in these old legs of mine that haven’t been used for awhile.  I could tip over at any moment.  In spite of this, I am going to attempt a yoga class this morning.

Speaking of personal trainers, I think I have a nice one.  He’s very encouraging and he didn’t laugh at my attempts on the big rolly-polly exercise ball when I thought I would go flying across the room!  I give him points for that.

He kept asking me if I was doing okay, if I needed a short break, or if I needed water.  Makes me wonder if I looked like I was dying.  I lied and lied and told him I was just fine.  I have a few shreds of pride, after all.

Call me crazy.

I had a protein shake yesterday made with fresh pineapple and carrots.  It was quite delicious.  It would be refreshing on a hot humid summer day.  Yesterday it was in the twenties and snowing and windy, so the cold drink was followed by two cups of hot tea with honey.

It’s gonna take me awhile to figure all this out.  In the meantime, I may act a little crazy from time to time.  Bear with me, people!

More changes this week

Yeah for protein shakes!  I bought my very first canister of protein powder, french vanilla flavor.  Mixed it with milk, unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1 cup of raspberries.  Eh, it was okay.  I might have NOT followed any recipe and just added too much unsweetened cocoa powder.  Don’t recommend it.  I’ll try again.  Less cocoa, no raspberries.

In the process of trying to eat more protein, I’m realizing how many carbs I want to eat!  I hope I don’t get tooo crabby.

On the positive side, I haven’t had any diet soda for 3 days and I don’t really miss it.  I never thought I would be able to make it through a day without it.  Then two weeks ago I read an article in AARP magazine that made me think I should quit the diet soda habit.  A recent study found that diet soda drinkers increased their risk of diabeties by 30% or something crazy like that.  So I started weaning off of it.  And now I think I’m done.

I started brewing my own iced tea and making flavored waters with lemons and cucumbers and such.  I’m getting enough caffeine with coffee and tea, so no withdrawl headaches.  And I have lots of handy hydration that is way more satisfying than diet soda.

(also no more embarassing burping)

What’s next for this old gal?  Maybe I can give up real cheese!  Someday.  Not yet!

The Tale of Two Turkeys

Most people who know me well, know that I am not a great cook.  I’m okay with who I am.  Nobody in family ever starved.   Cooking just doesn’t come easy for me.  So I look for really easy things to make.  One of my favorite new things to make is Turkey Breast Tenderloin by Jennie-O in the Savory Roast Flavor.  It comes pre-seasoned in a nice plastic pouch.  It freezes well.  Thaws out nicely.  It is easy to cook.  Just pop it in the oven(after removing it from the nice little plastic pouch) and roast for about an hour.  Slice and serve with any side dish and vegetable.  Instant yummy dinner for two, plus leftovers.

So last week, on Monday I had to be away from home the whole afternoon.  I thought I would try this delicious turkey in the slow cooker.  A fool-proof dinner would be awaiting me and the big guy.  Except for one tiny detail.

I forgot to turn the slow cooker to “low”.  I left it in the “off” mode.  Note to everyone:  turkey does not cook when placed in “Off” slow cooker and sits on the kitchen table with the sun beating down on it all afternoon.  The turkey had to be trashed.  And a kind soul (thank you son) brought in fast food.

I was a bit dejected.  I had never ruined this easy a dinner.  Well, not in a long time.

So, on Wednesday, I trekked to Woodman’s where it is most likely to find this lovely turkey item and bought another to make for dinner that night.

I started early, making dinner that is.  I put the food item in a the oven at 1pm to cook for an hour.  Then I was going to slice in and simmer it in broth  for awhile and make potatoes and green beans to complete this wonderful meal.

I was going to do all that, except after putting the turkey in the oven, I fell asleep for almost two hours.  When I awoke to the scent of charred turkey, I knew I was in trouble.  And so was the turkey.

It was edible, sort of.  It was unique.  It was a one of a kind meal.  One that I never want to have again.

And these two turkeys have completely destroyed my confidence.  In cooking, that is.

Until further notice, we will be eating sandwiches.

Sprinkled With Humor

Actual (or nearest I remember it) conversation in the car on the way to Easter Sunday service:

Son:  Have you guys ever eaten donuts from Sil’s?

Mom & Dad:  no

Son:  too bad, it’s closing soon

Mom:  really? I wonder why

Dad:  Maybe they’re out of dough

Mom:  I thought maybe they’re in the hole

Son:  (lol)

everyone’s eyes glaze over

Yup, that’s how we roll.