Less Sugar + More Exercise + Liquor on the Weekends

Trying. Really I am. But eating from a box is so easy. (That's what he said)

I am trying to eat a little healthier in 2014. I'm not going to go crazy and swear off carbs or alcohol or caffeine but I need to make some adjustments due to my cholesterol and muffin-top. For a family history that didn't have grandparents live past the age of 65 I should know better. (Stroke-Alcoholism-Stroke-Colon Cancer)

I adore food. I don't order salads when I go to dinner and have been known to eat as much as my husband. On a recent trip with friends where the food was included I would order 2 entrees. WHO DOES THAT! This girl. Who also loves McDonads, Taco Bell, Chick Fil A, Moe's....etc? This girl. Who demolished an entire box of white fudge covered oreos? This girl.

So here is an idea of what I am trying to do Monday-Friday. Let me know if you have suggestions for healthier alternatives or ideas on how you could get me to eat more vegetables. I like vegetables as much as I like Scotch. (I don't.)

Breakfast

I need to lower my Cholesterol. The Dr isn't that concerned with it yet but being in a family with arterial disease and a bunch of other fun issues (minor episode of Afib) I need to take better care of myself. Oatmeal fixes that right? That's what that old man said.

On the weekends I will drink one of these. You can get them at Sam's. I'm sure that negative-Nancy Food Babe would tell me these shakes will kill me just as she says every other type of food will but they serve a purpose and the chocolate actually tastes pretty great. 

Lunch

Sweet Southern Prep suggested these soups and I am digging them. 

They actually do fill me up (at least for 2 hours) and taste pretty good. I dump most of the liquid out to make it more stew-ey. Other than these and a turkey sandwich on whole-grain bread does anyone have any other ideas for lunch? I make Tuna salad too but I probably use way too much Mayo.

Dinner

Dinner is mostly left up to the husband. We do Grilled Chicken, Pork Chops, Soups, Stir-fry...etc. We need some new ideas because he gets sick of me requesting Broiled Chicken and Peas. We try not to do too much pasta for dinner but are open to ideas. We did start incorporating Spaghetti Squash as an alternative to whole wheat pasta and I actually like it. More healthy dinner ideas??

Snacks

NUTS. I love NUTS. I buy bags of raw pecans at Trader Joe's but should probably limit how much I eat. I know almonds are better for you but pecans are just too damn good. And its pronounced Pe-cahn. Not CAN. 

String Cheese

Apples and Peanut Butter

Exercise

I am dying to get back to Pure Barre. I have never seen results so fast and loved the classes. It is a little pricey and would take longer than my lunch hour but I am trying to figure out a way to start up again. For now I'm just doing 30-45 minutes of cardio 5 days a week and arm weights. And chasing my kid around public spaces. You know you've seen me do this. Its embarrassing. 

Booze

I hit up the good ole' Pinot Evil Box 2-3 times a night. (Max won't let me drink the good stuff if he isn't drinking with me) I never pour a full glass but it is hard to stop walking over and getting a "little" more. I try to stick to red wine M-F and save Bourbon for the weekends. This changes if feeding my son proves to be more difficult than a glass of wine can handle or if friends come over. The Tar Heels and Saints haven't helped either so if they are playing (were playing) I would usually have to step it up to Bourbon for those guys.

Cheating

There are two things this time of year that can totally derail my plan and make me have an affair on the above plan...

Girl Scout Cookies

King Cakes. Order Haydel's. Trust me.

Do you all have any advice/recipes/suggestions for more meal options?

Have a great weekend!

xoxo

Unroll.me (I'm not talking dirty)

Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant. 

Unroll.me goes into your email and finds all of your subscriptions and lets you pick if you 1. continue receiving, 2. unsubscribe, or 3. add to your "Roll-up". (As I typed that I remembered Fruit Roll-ups...I was obsessed as a kid and could probably eat a box right now.)

Do I really need to hear from Zappos or Zulily or USAir every freaking day? NO. The answer is you don't. And if you have FOMO (Fear of missing out) you can "roll up" all your junk emails into one nice pretty newsletter that gets delivered once a day. That's it! I am not buying any clothing/shoes/useless stuff until my birthday (60 days) so there is no need to read all these emails!

Here is a snippet from my Roll up from today....

Do yourself a favor and go do it!

I wasn't paid for this post. I'm not paid for any of my posts. It is just a really really awesome service and I wish I had thought of it first!

WHY Downton Abbey WHY!!!!!!?????

While most of you were watching the Golden Globes I flipped over to watch Downton Abbey because I knew if I let it record it would be forever until I got to watch it. 

I'm not going to spoil anything for those that have yet seen the episode but I was so incredibly disturbed after. We have all seen this type of "moment" before on television but somehow this was just shocking. Anybody agree? 

Please discuss in comments....I almost don't want to see where these storylines go. But for those that haven't watched yet don't ruin it for yourselves.

It aired first in the UK, here are a few articles about the response.

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Also...I hope Braithwaite dies of gonorrhea and rots in hell. (Phrase stolen from...)

Winter Blues

Christmas was a whirlwind and while it was a wonderful time with family and friends it was a tad stressful. I won't go into details but I know that family get-togethers will never be the same they once were and that is a hard truth to swallow. While I have read people's happy quotes about how this year will be even better than the last I know that with Alzheimer's we cannot cling to that positive hope. We will try, but I fear things only start to go slowly downhill on our journey through this disease.

Our good friend's mother passed away unexpectedly over New Years. She was such a beautiful person and always genuine and concerned how others were. You can tell she was a fantastic mother because both of her boys are not only brilliant and well mannered but hilarious and amazing people. I flew down to New Orleans for the funeral not because I am considered to be in their closest circle of friends, but because this family along with another are fixtures of our summers in the Mountains and their mother had the same love I do of taking photographs and preserving memories made together. And there is really nothing you can do for a friend in this situation except to let them know you are there and love them.

I know some warmer weather and exercise will help shake these winter doldrums I am experiencing but since writing can be so cathartic thought I would post as well. I have to thank the friends and family that are there for us while we learn and understand how to navigate this territory of dementia. You might not know how to help but just being there for email venting, coffee, cocktails or helping with Mom go far more than you know. I know I need to be a big girl and snap out of this mood but maybe I'll let it linger the rest of today and be a big girl tomorrow.

I hope you all had very Merry Holidays and are looking forward to outstanding 2014's.