It’s amazing how just a week or two away from healthier eating can take its toll.  I’m more sluggish, seek sweets a lot more, and just don’t feel as great.  Maybe not all of that is the result of “processed” eating, but I think a lot is.

Here we go again!

So, I’ve been told by a coworker that she has mentioned my blog in our work blog.  I guess that’s my little nudge, or perhaps a huge kick in the keister, to get back on here!

If you haven’t run after seeing my before pictures, welcome (and please try to erase the bathing suit images from your mind when you see me in person)!  Those who know me in “the real world” know that I am a pretty open person, so I am hoping anything I post in my blog doesn’t offend anyone.  That being said, take what you want from this blog and leave the rest .

Now for a quick update.  So far, I’ve lost 10 pounds and have been a total angel with my new eating habits.  Well, the first part of that was true.  I’ve had a few struggles, and am still trying to totally define how I want to eat.  I would say I am eating about 80% clean, and right now I am okay with that.  I feel better, am losing weight slowly, and don’t feel like I am stuck on some crazy diet that I know would eventually lead to a total binge.

I am really hoping to have a huge stall in weight loss soon, as my husband and I have decided to take the plunge and start trying for a second child.  I do want to continue to eat clean while pregnant though (when I eventually get pregnant), especially as I am still “fluffy” and want to stay as healthy as possible and keep my energy levels up. 

This blog will be branching out more into the roller coaster of trying to conceive, hopefully pregnancy, and still trying to be healthier as I go along.  Here we go!

Today was weigh in day.  Although I was not the biggest “loser” of my co-workers this week, it was still a successful week.  Three pounds down.  Although I admit I was hoping for a greater loss, I keep trying to envision three pounds of greasy, gloppy, butter.  That is what has hopefully melted off my body (well that and a bit of water weight I am sure).

So, down to 254.  Only 114 more to go…..okay, maybe it’s a little premature to focus on how much farther there is to go!

Well tonight was the night to take clean eating out on the town.  I just didn’t feel like cooking (even though cooking would have been as simple as heating up leftover quinoa and beans).  The big question was where to eat?  Pizza?  I think not.  Burgers?  Nope.  Chinese Buffet?  Are you insane?  Vegetarian restaurant?  None near us, and I also hoped my daughter would eat tonight.

Then we remembered a nice little restaurant near by that basically allows you to choose your raw ingredients and they stir fry them for you.  Perfect!  I filled my bowl (and not even to the brim) with broccoli, green onions, mushrooms, scallops, shrimp, a little bit of beef, flax seed, cilantro, sunflower seeds and some coconut milk.

I was most impressed by my daughter’s choices!  Broccoli, baby corn, chick peas, kidney beans, and some shrimp and a few noodles.  Who was this child and where was my sugar-demanding daughter?  She didn’t even eat the noodles once we were at the table, and picked out the beans to eat them first!  I hope she will continue to learn healthy eating as we go on this journey.

At the end of the meal, our server brought us three fortune cookies.  I must say, I didn’t even mind cracking mine open and then handing the cookie part over to my daughter.  The fortune itself just made me smile.  Maybe the universe is acknowledging my efforts….now hopefully the scale does the same tomorrow.

This was my first ever attempt at making bread without the help of my bread maker…which seems to already be packed for our move.

Oh yes, did I mention we are moving in less than two months?  I would say that maybe starting a new health lifestyle was not a good idea during the transition, but I am betting my moods will be better and stress will be managable as a result of my diet.

I decided to try my hand at foccacia, which didn’t seem too intimidating.  My daughter said it was the best homemade bread she’s ever tasted, which is saying a lot as my mother-in-law is always making bread.  Don’t tell her what my daughter said though!  This will definitely be a repeat recipe in our house.

The Goodbyn is packed for tommorrow.  This time I’ve got quinoa (with tomatoes, garlic, and chick peas),  one of my not-so-hot muffins, greens with sunflower seeds and apple cider vinegar, an egg, pecans, and an apple.

Here I am January 10,  2010.  I weighed in at 257 on January 6th, so I imagine I am right around there. 

I will try to post progress pics once a month…I’d say weekly, but putting this swimsuit on is rather depressing!! LOL *sigh*  All I can do is have a sense of humour an plod on.

Here’s what went into my concoction:

• 2 1/4 cups spelt flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda – missing from cupboard
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 beaten egg
• 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1 tablespooon olive oil
• 1 cup shredded carrot

And the results……..

Doesn’t look too bad.  The taste is a little bland though, and I am seriously debating the introduction of a small amount of honey to baked goods!  Maybe I’ll try a little mashed banana in there next time….or maybe I should just find the elusive Muffin Man who lives on Drury Lane?

Tuesday was a morning like any other. A quick snuggle in bed with my daughter, shower, make breakfast, get daughter ready for school, realize I haven’t packed lunches, rush around doing so, remind daughter fifty times to put her snowsuit on, realize we’re running late, GET THAT SNOWSUIT ON!!!, scrape enough frost off the car to see, and drive daughter to school. Whew.

Walking through the schoolyard with Sophia, I saw two other parents of children in her class. I smiled at them as we passed. Both parents shot me a strange look and kept walking. Huh? What did I do? I don’t even really know these people. Am I still in my pajamas??? No. I did remember to get dressed. My yet unstyled hair wasn’t THAT bad…hmph. Maybe they were just both in bad moods! I began to feel a little grumpy at the rebuff. Sophia happily went to play in the snow with her little friends, and I headed back home to finish getting ready for work.

Now, before I go on. I am a fairly low-maintenance kind of girl. I don’t have a closet full of shoes. I love a good consignment find or sale for my own clothing. My nails are chewed, and I don’t subscribe to Cosmo. BUT, I did decide to girly myself up a little the day before.

Looking in the mirror, I drew back from myself! There was yesterday’s mascara UNDER my eyes, and my unstyled hair was a little more than unstyled after the morning rush…….I remember this look…..I think it was from a Sunday morning back in the mid 90’s..college days (okay maybe it was more than one Sunday morning).

I just dropped my daughter off at school looking like I should be flung on a couch popping Advil and cursing the sun!

So now, I can only imagine what the other parents must be thinking about my child’s mother. Eeek. I will definitely have to make super-duper extra Martha-Stewart-y cupcakes for the next bake sale to erase what may be my new “reputation”!

I did have dreams last night of eating chocolate Timbits.  I’m not missing the sugar during the day, but apparently, my mind is still on it at night.  The dreams were so vivid though, that I woke up swearing I could still taste chocolate.  I think it’s actually a good thing….a 0 calorie doughnut binge. Mmmmm…maybe tonight I’ll dream of pumpkin pie!

I tried quinoa today…and actually liked it!  (which I am so greatful for as I STOCKED up for this clean eating lifestyle change)  I also bought spelt flour, which I am hoping to try making bread with, and maybe even homemade pasta!  Of course, that depends on when my four year old actually goes to bed in the evenings, and how much time I really want to spend in the kitchen.

My Goodbyn is packed for work tomorrow.  It has two snacks and lunch, consisiting of a hard-boiled egg, apricots, an apple, pecans, quinoa and broccoli, pork, and greens with carrot and sunflower seeds…oh, and water…gotta get that water into me (with about 3 more litres!).  Why can’t we just absorb water through lovely bubble baths instead of having to drink it?!

All packed for tomorrow