One Step Forward and Two Steps Back

I am so glad I decided to set December goals and not let it become a total free for all. For breakfast, I scrambled two eggs with a cup of frozen spinach and some turkey sausage. I was surprised how simple and delicious it turned out to be. That will definitely be happening again.

A couple of months ago my husband and I went to my college homecoming. We were given these coffee cups. My husband is not a hot beverage drinker at all. I occasionally will have tea or hot chocolate. So the cups have been sitting on the top shelf in the cupboard ever since. Yesterday, I had a sudden epiphany - I bet I could use the coffee cup for water in the car. Who knew coffee cups were so versatile?? So 12 oz. of water can easily go with me to work. I have about a 15-20 minute commute each way and I can easily add 24 oz. of water to my day.

Now it is time to play with the broth I made the other day from my rotisserie chicken leftovers.  For this soup I simply a bunch of sliced Brussels sprouts and carrots. I had a little left over dry pasta in the cabinet, so I decided to throw in too.

I made the soup in the morning before work. This is the beauty shot that I took right after I made it.

And this is how my "soup" looked by lunch time. The pasta had sucked up all the broth. It was still tasty but not soupy. Next time I would use less pasta and maybe cook it before putting it in the soup.

I saw a great tip recently for chicken soup. Chef Alex Guarnaschelli recommended adding the cooked chicken right before serving. I can't tell you the number of times I have added the chicken early and it became pretty flavorless with a unappealing texture. I used some of the rotisserie chicken I had removed from the bones before making the broth. Adding that chicken right at the end allowed it to retain its deliciousness and texture. A vast improvement!

I have about a quart and a half of broth left. I put one quart in the freezer. The partial quart will be the base for my next soup experiment.

After lunch I headed out for a walk. I almost didn't go because I forgot my Garmin watch. Seriously? I can't walk without it? I overcame that minor lapse and used my cell phone to check the time. I will never know how far I walked, but I am okay with that. I was just happy to be outside walking again after several gray days and marching in place at home.


It was trash day and I had to do some dodging of empty cans.

 I also indulged by love of fire hydrants. I love the subtle style variations and the weathered paint.

Apparently this is the season to trim trees (not only in a decorative way). I saw a couple different companies working in the neighborhood. I found this one's slogan amusing. "Our business is pretty shady."

 Attention purple lovers - how pretty are these little berries?

I wish this picture had turned out a little better, but you get the idea. This yard was filled with metal butterflies.

 I am a little worried about this retaining wall. I wonder how much longer it can last.

 I have always thought this is a funny shaped tree, but appreciate their decoration :)

 One of my favorite parts of a walk is when I finish. No, not for that reason. I like the way I feel - thinner, stronger, healthier.  Some days I wish the feeling would last longer. Yesterday it bottomed out when I was scrolling through the pictures I had taken for the blog. I was horrified at one picture I had taken. I am not really a fan of having my picture taken, but have been much better about it for the sake of a realistic blog portrayal of my life. I much prefer to be behind the camera.

In this picture, the camera had actually been taking my picture instead of what I had wanted (another hydrant I believe). It was the most unattractive picture of my squinting into the camera screen with about a million chins. When the sun is bright there is a glare on the phone screen and am never quite sure how the picture will turn out. I can't tell you how bad that stupid picture made me feel for the rest of the day. I could feel my fat everywhere. Although, I like to think I am open on this blog, I will not be sharing that picture. I deleted it immediately. Hopefully only the FBI could find it (if my phone were involved in some terrible crime) and even then, I hope they are distracted by all the ridiculous Google searches I have done.  Anyway, it is inexplicable to me that when I am looking out on the world through my eyes I feel like a normal sized person, who at times is even cute. But then a picture or noticing how much space my hiney takes up on the couch can instantly crush that more positive self view. It that really what I look like when I am not trying to strike a flattering pose for a picture??

Unfortunately, that feeling doesn't fuel my motivation very well. Last night it had quite the opposite effect. I made several poor choices, which only lead me to be sad and angry. I had had such a great day start to the day (see above food and walk.) I know I am not alone in these feelings. I would love to hear how some of you get yourself through some of these feelings without adding to the "problem."

Reading back, I hate to have even written the above paragraphs and considered deleting them. It embarrasses me. I am not looking for sympathy or people to reassure me that I am cute. I just want to be real about my struggles. And hopefully, when I come out on the other side my sharing will help the next one to overcome.

And today is a new day....I am already at 30 oz.of water,  I have had one fruit and one veggie with breakfast and I have my shoes for a lunch walk (oops I forgot my watch again, but now I have proof I can walk without it, so no excuses!) 

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DECEMBER GOAL ACCOUNTABILITY

 

December 3

5 Fruits/Veggies -  1 c spinach, orange, 1/2 cup Brussels sprouts, 1/4 c carrots. 1 c. Brussels sprouts/butternut, 1 1/2 c. broccoli/peppers/onions
100 oz. water - 100 oz. (on the nose)
Next best choice - I was pulling out of driveway and remembered I meant to take my walking shoes to work. There have been other days when I just said forget it. This time, not only did I go back in for the shoes, I didn't grab the cookie I wanted on my way back out.