So.. this post could go a myriad of ways. I could talk about the upcoming peaches and blackberries that have been percolating away down in my beloved Elk Ridge/Payson/WestMountain orchards and farms. My two favorite fruits are bursting on the scene and I have big plans for both of them. Of course they won't be the carmelized peaches with dulce de leche and vanilla ice cream or the blackberry pies of my prior life. But there will be healthy dishes incorporating both fruits.
Or I could talk about my labors with the births of each of my children... but that wouldn't be fun for anybody to listen to... nor for me to me to relive. So let's just leave that right where it belongs... in my memory-challenged aging mind.
Nope... what I'm referring to is my productive appointment today with my new doctor. (Shout out to Dr. Elizabeth Huff!) I like her style and straightforward talk. I like that she actually listens to my questions rather than cut me off with standard "I'm in a hurry, let's get finished" answers.
I had my vitals taken today. My weight loss was verified on her scale. (Isn't it nice when two different scales say the same thing?) Woo hoo! It was also very encouraging to see my blood pressure has dropped in the past 8 weeks. Can I get a "woo hoo" again?
Yep! Healthy living. Who knew it would be so much fun?
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
For JD
Chicken Tacos in 30 minutes
2 Tbsp butter or margarine
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tsp chipotle chili in adobo sauce, chopped
1/2 cup orange juice
3/4 cup chopped cilantro, divided
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp mustard
Melt butter in large frying pan. Add garlic, cloves and chipotle. Saute in butter. Add orange juice, 1/2 cup cilantro and Worcestershire sauce. Place chicken breasts in liquid. Cover and cook 10-15 minutes (depending on size of chicken pieces). Halfway through cooking time, turn chicken over.
Remove chicken from pan, set aside and cover with foil. Let sit 5 minutes.
Reduce liquid to about 1 cup. Whisk in 1 tsp mustard. Cut chicken into small pieces (or shred if that's your preference). Put chicken back into glaze in frying pan. Add 1/4 cup cilantro. Toss together. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve in tortillas (whole wheat or regular) with shredded lettuce, chopped cucumbers, diced tomatoes, diced avocados, cheese, salsa, etc.
2 Tbsp butter or margarine
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tsp chipotle chili in adobo sauce, chopped
1/2 cup orange juice
3/4 cup chopped cilantro, divided
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp mustard
Melt butter in large frying pan. Add garlic, cloves and chipotle. Saute in butter. Add orange juice, 1/2 cup cilantro and Worcestershire sauce. Place chicken breasts in liquid. Cover and cook 10-15 minutes (depending on size of chicken pieces). Halfway through cooking time, turn chicken over.
Remove chicken from pan, set aside and cover with foil. Let sit 5 minutes.
Reduce liquid to about 1 cup. Whisk in 1 tsp mustard. Cut chicken into small pieces (or shred if that's your preference). Put chicken back into glaze in frying pan. Add 1/4 cup cilantro. Toss together. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve in tortillas (whole wheat or regular) with shredded lettuce, chopped cucumbers, diced tomatoes, diced avocados, cheese, salsa, etc.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Stop that Racket!!!
Well, it happened. We went to the tennis courts at Provo High on Saturday. I actually played a full set of tennis for the first time in more years than I have fingers and toes to count them on. James, JD, his wife and I. We played doubles. Girls against the boys. We lost. There I said it. We lost. Oh well.
I have to confess... after getting over feeling self-conscious about how I couldn't move very well around the court, I loved it. I had forgotten how much I love the game of tennis. I love the pinging sound of the racket hitting the ball (that is of course when you hit it with the strings and not with the aluminum side of the racket itself... sigh!) I'm rusty. So very rusty. But I could remember enough to get the ball over the net most of the time. I want to do it again. I want to play every Saturday. Any takers? JD? James? Anyone?
I have to confess... after getting over feeling self-conscious about how I couldn't move very well around the court, I loved it. I had forgotten how much I love the game of tennis. I love the pinging sound of the racket hitting the ball (that is of course when you hit it with the strings and not with the aluminum side of the racket itself... sigh!) I'm rusty. So very rusty. But I could remember enough to get the ball over the net most of the time. I want to do it again. I want to play every Saturday. Any takers? JD? James? Anyone?
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Very Quick Check-In
Sorry to have been so AWOL lately. Summer is a busy time for me. Lots of leaving the state and no access to the Internet.
I'm back home in sunny San Diego. It's been days of beach, cove, sunshine and visiting old haunts. Lots of fun. One of our family's favorite places is Mr. Frostie's in Pacific Beach. Yesterday, the sister, the nieces and the son decided to head there after an afternoon at the beach. I fought the demon impulses of "rationalize and tell yourself lies that you won't order anything... you'll just be there with everyone else." In other words... I chickened out!!! Wasn't sure I could withstand the menu calling my name with bright neon transfat lights and seductive sugary subliminal messages. So... I went home instead and waited for them there. For the first time in I don't know how many years, I didn't go to Mr. Frostie's. Now, here comes the true confession: I'm not happy about it. I didn't (and don't) feel triumphant or strong or anything. I feel like I missed out on a family tradition. It bums me out. I hate thinking I'm still so weak about that kind of stuff that I can't be around it without caving.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not a zealot. I'm not living a "no sugar, not ever" life. But, I've been watching my caloric intake during this vacation, and I just knew I couldn't fit in the calories of a trip to Mr. Frostie's.
I'll be back home on Tuesday. Back to the gym. Back to the Provo River Trail. If the rumors are true, I hear I'll also be back on the tennis courts on Saturday (after a 30-year hiatus). So, for the next two days, I'm just going to continue to enjoy my escape here in San Diego and the beach life that doesn't exist anywhere in Utah. (Don't kid yourself... that Provo Beach Resort thing at RiverWoods doesn't even come close!!!)
See you all next week!
I'm back home in sunny San Diego. It's been days of beach, cove, sunshine and visiting old haunts. Lots of fun. One of our family's favorite places is Mr. Frostie's in Pacific Beach. Yesterday, the sister, the nieces and the son decided to head there after an afternoon at the beach. I fought the demon impulses of "rationalize and tell yourself lies that you won't order anything... you'll just be there with everyone else." In other words... I chickened out!!! Wasn't sure I could withstand the menu calling my name with bright neon transfat lights and seductive sugary subliminal messages. So... I went home instead and waited for them there. For the first time in I don't know how many years, I didn't go to Mr. Frostie's. Now, here comes the true confession: I'm not happy about it. I didn't (and don't) feel triumphant or strong or anything. I feel like I missed out on a family tradition. It bums me out. I hate thinking I'm still so weak about that kind of stuff that I can't be around it without caving.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not a zealot. I'm not living a "no sugar, not ever" life. But, I've been watching my caloric intake during this vacation, and I just knew I couldn't fit in the calories of a trip to Mr. Frostie's.
I'll be back home on Tuesday. Back to the gym. Back to the Provo River Trail. If the rumors are true, I hear I'll also be back on the tennis courts on Saturday (after a 30-year hiatus). So, for the next two days, I'm just going to continue to enjoy my escape here in San Diego and the beach life that doesn't exist anywhere in Utah. (Don't kid yourself... that Provo Beach Resort thing at RiverWoods doesn't even come close!!!)
See you all next week!
Monday, July 11, 2011
So... What's It Like?
"... to be thinking about improving your health?"
"...to be exercising everyday?"
"Do you feel like you're on a diet?"
I get asked those question a lot. So, here's what it's like:
"...to be exercising everyday?"
"Do you feel like you're on a diet?"
I get asked those question a lot. So, here's what it's like:
 |
| The Journey |
 | ||
| Fellow Travelers |
 | |
| Fellow Travelers |
 | |
| Coming and Going |
 | |
| Individual Style |
 | ||
| Reverie |
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| "In the Zone" |
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| Buzzkill |
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| Temptation |
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| Mind over Matter |
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| The Daily Grind |
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| Nemesis |
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Three Guesses...
... where I've been. Okay, first some hints:
No... not a trip to Mars. Let's try another:
Not quite sure??? Here's another:
People, people... come on now. Okay final clues:
Yep! I've been living in Yellowstone. Here's the homestead:
I was able to snap a few photos of the natives:
I'm here to tell you it's possible to vacation and still eat healthy and exercise too. The food was great. I passed on the sweets and had only one portion of the things I chose to eat. I drank so much water I know most every outhouse/picnic area throughout the park. Being in a national park made a daily 30 minute exercise routine easy. While I'm in no shape to do any serious (or even pseudo) hiking, there were enough walking trails to get my heart rate up for at least 30 consecutive minutes each day.
Oh, and by the way... the Captain enjoyed the scenery, too:
(Of course, I'm not sure which view he's looking at from that direction.)
No... not a trip to Mars. Let's try another:
Not quite sure??? Here's another:
People, people... come on now. Okay final clues:
Yep! I've been living in Yellowstone. Here's the homestead:
I was able to snap a few photos of the natives:
I'm here to tell you it's possible to vacation and still eat healthy and exercise too. The food was great. I passed on the sweets and had only one portion of the things I chose to eat. I drank so much water I know most every outhouse/picnic area throughout the park. Being in a national park made a daily 30 minute exercise routine easy. While I'm in no shape to do any serious (or even pseudo) hiking, there were enough walking trails to get my heart rate up for at least 30 consecutive minutes each day.
Oh, and by the way... the Captain enjoyed the scenery, too:
(Of course, I'm not sure which view he's looking at from that direction.)
Friday, July 1, 2011
The Power of a Decision
Most everyday this week, I have had a conversation with myself as my workday ends. I start asking, "Am I going to the Wellness Center to work out or am I going home?" I vacillate between the two choices for a good ten minutes. Then as I walk to the car I have chosen to say to myself, "Yes, I am going." It sounds like a silly thing. But surprisingly enough, the simply act of saying definitively, "yes, I am going" seems to end the debate in my head. I turn down 300 West and turn into the driveway by the Outpatient Center and then head up to the Northwest Plaza, park, grab the bag holding my workout clothes (clothes I detest, by the way), and go on in.
I don't really enjoy the "during" part of exercising. But I sure like how the "after" feels. There must be something to this whole endorphin thing. I hope someday the "during" becomes more enjoyable. But, if not, I'm still committed. I guess I'm a junkie for the "after."
I don't really enjoy the "during" part of exercising. But I sure like how the "after" feels. There must be something to this whole endorphin thing. I hope someday the "during" becomes more enjoyable. But, if not, I'm still committed. I guess I'm a junkie for the "after."
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