Stayng in the Light(ness) of t all.

"Usually I try to take it one day at a time, but lately several have attacked me at once"...~Elsabeth, a fierce warrior woman




Sometime this month,I don't remember exactly when it started exactly,but I had a rebellion. Something set off a massive temper tantrum although it mainly resided in my head, but that's ok as that is exactly where it needed to be.

I found myself angry at times & could not put my finger on it which in a way may have been a good thing as I would have found a way to excuse it, justify it or pretend...Anger was one of the paramount reasons why I was having such a struggle with my weight release despite my efforts to the contrary.

Well a word popped up n my head today as what I could do to relieve the source of my anger:

Expunge.

I wanted to look up what it defined:strike: remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line; To erase or strike out; To eliminate completely; annihilate; To completely remove leaving no trace;

I liked!

And I also liked these synonyms:
wipe out /erase/ rub out/ edit out/ obliterate/ cross out/ censor/ blue pencil/ cleanse

Especially cleanse... Seemed soothing.

In rapid order with very little effort or fanfare i had to expunge 5 relationships! 4 of the 5 had been ongoing in one degree or another for 12-15 years! And the remaining one about 5.We all had drifted in & out of each others lives some for me more a casual friendship on 1 or 2 more intimate or so I thought, but I was wrong.

Now none of these people are ogres, in fact have many great qualities... But I had changed.. a lot and many times like that favorite something we hold onto for dear life though it maybe years past it prime, I clung on.

But something had happened & especially in the last year especially I noticed and pretended to not, a certain of nastiness in their remarks , more of a snide kind of glee of my struggles & a disinterest in my triumphs. Just to me, as I cannot speak for them, their actions left me angry & bewildered and I did not want to face what it & I suspect, neither did they.

It got to the point that my continuing with them seem more of a reflex then a pleasure, but we had history and I guess that is what we were all leaning on.

So my rebellion began. I need to get healthier, release more of the weight & anger was compounding, not helping.

So I said farewell this week, at least in my head. I have not called them neither, they called I.For the last couple of weeks I've been walkng every other day for 12 blocks. I've been keeping my trusty camera with me not knowng when I will come across a nugget,all the while drinking in the beauty or homes beng rebuilt, others already restored & others yet who while in decay have a certan regalness as they make their last stand...

I know this is a turning point year for me as was just reminded of from yet another fierce warror women from the Finding Nemo movie one of the fish with the voice over of Ellen DeGeneres saying "Just keep swimming". And by George if the Sanints kept on swimming for 43 years to make it to the Super Bowl, so can I ...

Another fierce woman Dr.Jewel Diamond Taylor says:



Yet strangely in a peculiar way.. I feel strangely cleansed.

smooth.....

Single Serving Mixed Fruit/Yogurt Smoothie

Editor's note: Use your favorite milk or yogurt in this recipe. Use ice cubes instead of water for a frozen treat.

Most of the smoothie recipes I've seen are for 3-6 servings. This is a good smoothie for just 1 person. It can be made with a stick blender instead of getting the big one dirty for just one drink!

INGREDIENTS
1/4 c (2 oz) 2% milk
1/4 c (2 oz) nonfat, sugar free yogurt (I use Best Choice Boston Cream Pie)
1/4 c water
1/2 c frozen mixed fruit
1 Tbl dry old fashioned oatmeal

DIRECTIONS
Makes 1 serving, approximately 1.5 cups

Using a 2 cup measuring glass, add milk and yogurt, then add frozen fruit until liquid reaches the 1 cup line. (This measures 1/2 c fruit by displacement.) Add oatmeal and water. Drink can be prepared without the water if you like it a little thicker; I use the water to make it blend easier since I use a stick blender.

Blend & enjoy!

Number of Servings: 1

t

Nutritional Info

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 119.3

Total Fat: 1.6g

Total Carbs: 20.6g

Dietary Fiber: 1.8mg

Protein: 5g

I so want to try this!

Stepfanie's Easy Poached Eggs and Pasta

I can't get enough of this easy recipe; I've been making it for dinner a couple of nights a week. It's ready in 15 minutes!

The still-runny egg yolk adds a creaminess to the sauce and perfectly mixes with the spinach.

If you want to spruce up the jarred sauce, add a 1/2 t oregano and a pinch of red pepper flakes.

I sometimes swap broccoli (fresh or frozen) or sliced zucchini for the spinach.

If I have it on hand, I add a dollop (1/2 ounce) of goat cheese or a sprinkle of Parmesan (calories not included).

INGREDIENTS
2 servings (1 1/3 c) whole wheat penne
1 c no-salt added marinara sauce
2 eggs
4 c fresh spinach

DIRECTIONS
Place a pot of water on the stove to boil. Measure out your pasta and set aside.

Pour the sauce into a small skillet and turn heat to medium-low. When sauce starts to bubble, carefully crack eggs onto the top. Cover and cook until eggs have reached the desired doneness (you want the yolks to be runny; some carryover cooking will occur).

Meanwhile add the spinach to the pasta just before you drain it. Stir and drain well.

Divide pasta and spinach between two bowls. Top with one egg and half the sauce.

This meal is cheap and tasty!

Number of Servings: 2



Nutritional Info

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 339.8

Total Fat: 6.8g

Total Carbs: 54.1g

Dietary Fiber: 6.9mg

Protein: 18g

Skillet white beans, spinach & tomatoes over Linguine

Skillet white beans, spinach & tomatoes over Linguine

High in calcium and very yummy

INGREDIENTS
2 tsp olive oil
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
2 cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano (do not drain)
1 can any white beans (I use Great Northern or Navy usually)
1 package fresh spinach
6 cups cooked linguine
6 Tablespoons Romano or Parmesan cheese (grated)


DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet.
2. In a separate pan start boiling water for linguine and get linguine cooked while you continue.
3. Add garlic, saute for a minute or so.
4. Add tomatoes and beans and bring to a boil.
5. Cover with spinach, top with lid, reduce heat to low and simmer about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
6. Spoon tomato/beans/spinach mixture over linguine and sprinkle with cheese.
This makes 6 servings of 1 cup of pasta, 1 cup of sauce and 1 tablespoon of cheese.

Number of Servings: 6



Nutritional Info

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 318.7

Total Fat: 5g

Total Carbs: 55.4g

Dietary Fiber: 7.2mg

Protein: 13.4g

See Full Information

Linguine w Spicy Shrimp

Nutrional Information

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 393.5
Total Fat: 13.8 g
Cholesterol: 129.2 mg
Sodium: 885.7 mg
Total Carbs: 48.3 g
Dietary Fiber: 7.4 g
Protein: 24.7 g

Ingredients
3 T olive oil
4 garlic cloves
1/2 t red pepper flakes
2 T sun dried tomato paste*
15 oz Italian-style canned tomatoes
1 t salt
black pepper to taste
1/4 c parsley, chopped
1 oz white wine**
1 T butter (room temperature)
12 oz bite-size shrimp, peeled and deveined, heads and tails removed
8 oz whole-grain linguine

* Found in the international aisle. You can also substitute tomato paste.
** You can substitute low-sodium chicken broth.





Directions
Smash the garlic cloves with the back of a knife on a cutting board.

Heat a medium size saute pan over medium heat. Add olive oil and heat for 1 minute. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Heat the mixture just until the garlic starts to sizzle.

Meanwhile cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions.

Add sun dried tomato paste to garlic oil mixture.

Stir to combine. Add chopped tomatoes. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add wine and cook for 1 minute.

Add shrimp; cook just until shrimp turns pink.

Remove pan from heat and add butter. Swirl or stir pan to melt butter in sauce.

Drain pasta and place in warmed serving dishes. Top with shrimp mixture.

Serves 4 (1/2 c cooked pasta, 3 oz shrimp and 1/2 c sauce).





Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user CHEF_MEG.

Number of Servings: 4

5 Secrets of the 5% -

From an article on those who have sccessfully kept their weight off.
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=423

1. …Make It Public. Pb;c for yo may simply bea jornal.. You not have to put it in the National Enquirer

2. …Pay Attention. A permanent, healthy lifestyle is created on purpose. OK, I get it.

3. Enjoy Themselves:Make weight loss a positive experience and fun! How we have gotten to see and beleve that if we are not suffering, we are not working hard enough. Don't fall into that lie. Yes, you will work HARD & some days you may have to force yorself to do it, but that is more about attitude. Find an activity that suits your personality!

I am not a fan of being yelled @ so people like Jillian from the Biggest Loser would not work for me. Optimists are proven to reach more goals than pessimists and live healthier, longer lives

4. Make Gradual Changes. I never thought of what I am doing now as my “current lifestyle”, but honestly, now that I think about it, the accumulation of all my bad eating and cooking and shopping habits (with a few good ones thrown in) is indeed a lifestyle. I will spend time building a few small habits at a time, rather than diving into a program that’s totally incompatible with my current lifestyle. I will create a new lifestyle.

5. Allow Themselves To Fail Refuse to beat yourself up. Be kind to yourself. Surround yourself with sincere,truthful allies with no hidden agendas.
And take the word "failure" out too. Implicaton is self-defeating.