Healthier

Ok - I admit it.  I joined the healthy you challenge and promptly did.... nothing.  Well, not entirely nothing, I have been watching what I eat a little more closely, but, let's just say... the gym and I are not on a first name basis! 

Several weeks ago, though, I had my mirena removed.  I feel TONS better, have more energy than I've had for a long time, and I lost 7 pounds without even trying! 

So... I am recommitting to my health challenge. I am relearning my way around the gym and I have started taking slim shots to help control my appetite. 

I should say here - I am not a diet fad/ diet drug/ what have you kind of person.  Slim shots seem to be more natural than some, and I had heard of them, but was undecided about trying them.  When they offered me a chance to try them out for a review on this blog, I knew that this was as good a time as any to test them. 

I have actually been pleasantly surprised!  It's not the best taste in the world... something between chocolate and a really oily sunflower seed.  But added to another drink (I put mine in a small glass of milk) it's fine.  The meal replacement shakes I've tried have been MUCH worse.  And if I take it in the morning, after breakfast, it actually does control my appetite for the rest of the day.  Which is helping me control what I eat at mealtimes, and especially during those times of the day when I just crave snacks.

Maybe now, with my renewed energy, and slim shots and my friend Gym, I can really make some progress toward becoming a healthier me!  If I can just steer clear of those Thanksgiving leftovers...

j

Some local items on our Thanksgiving table

Let me start by saying, there are many things that could be on this list and aren't....  Many people who choose to focus on local foods have pretty stringent guidelines about what qualifies as local, and strive to be exclusively local.  I applaud this committment.

I also know, however, that many people make changes in baby steps.  Rather than skip the idea of including local foods because you see it as too difficult or restrictive, try starting with a few ingredients and commit to only buying those locally.  Or choose to have at least 1-2 local items per meal. 

I have joined an eat local challenge, and I really wanted to buy a local, heritage turkey for our meal.  But I am feeding 19 people today, and heritage turkeys were not even close to being in the budget.  So this is what I am doing... on our table today the following local ingredients will appear in key and supporting roles in one or more dishes...

• cornmeal
• carrots
• pecans
• green beans
• herbs (dried and fresh)
• crabapples
• squash
• apples
• peppers

Try it out!  Not only does it save gas and result in tastier produce that was picked at its peak (instead of early so it could travel!), it's satisfying to know where your food comes from, and who grew it.  And the more connected to our food we are, the healthier we - and our planet - will become.  And that will truly be something to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving! and welcome back, me.

On the eve of this year's day of thanks, I pause for a moment in the chaos that has become Thanksgiving, to be truly thankful.  What am I most especially thankful for this year?

• That my family has once again, managed to come together in body, if not entirely in spirit, to have a good time, to reconnect, to laugh and sing and play and BE together.  And that this family has come together from near and VERY FAR, safely.
  
• That we have another Thanksgiving with my Nana.  Truth be told, I'm thankful for her every day.
• That, financial struggles and all - we will still have more than enough to go around tomorrow.
• Tha t I am finally back to this blog!  and boy, do we have a lot to talk about!  Here is the flash update, to be discussed in more detail in a day or two... slim shots, healthy you challenge, local food, bad mirena, soap!  

Stay tuned, dear reader, stay tuned.  And know that I am thankful for you during this season as well... and
please let me know - what are you really grateful for this year?

j