Before You Drink It

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Um, before you try out the new concoction in the blender, maybe you should bite the bullet and taste the soymilk first. I made a lovely smoothie this morning, with blueberries, frozen banana and flaxseeds with soymilk, and then when I tasted it, I thought it seemed a little "off" - now it could be the flaxseeds because I have not put them in anything before, so i don't know what they taste like. I thought perhaps that the soymilk was a bit past its prime and now was not the time to be playing "chicken" with rancid soymilk. I had a vision of myself doubled over in the bathroom later, and well, that was enough to convince me to pour that sucker down the drain.

Instead I made myself a quintessential Pennsylvania treat - a pb and butter sandwich. For my butter, I used smart balance. It's light and easy, and a bit of an acquired taste, I guess. When I see my hubby making it, I turned up my nose, and thought what is that? But fast forward 10 years and I am making it, too. ha ha ha.

Reported fog and slippery road conditions made me get up a bit earlier today and get moving so I had time to re-do my breakfast. Lunch is a little lame-o today, so I may get soup or salad to complement what I brought.

Later today, I have the second candidate up to interview for the job. This guy is worthy of the role and I hope he interviews well so it makes it easier. I am still worked up about that other guy and the "system" that allows it to happen, but I need to work on letting it go. I have my own crap to be concerned about, I know. Luckily, I have a great and amazing boss, and I couldn't ask for a better manager. His office is also about a quarter of mile away from me - and truth be told, I wish he was closer. I guess that is part of the charm of being on a college campus of 500 acres. Lots of room.

Well, I need to get cracking on my work load today. I hope everyone has a super and Sparky day!

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Victory

Monday, February 07, 2011

I did it.

I ate breakfast. I had a healthy lunch. I did not snack on candy. I drank my water. I went for a walk (in the sunshine).

When I was tempted, I prayed.

I am bouyed up by all of the inspirational tales I read on SP this morning.

It's a GREAT DAY so far! I am filled with encouragement!

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The Reluctant Health Nut

Friday, February 04, 2011

I am doing it, but I am doing it kicking and screaming.

I have been struggling so much lately, and that is because I am surrounded by things out of control and I am powerless to stop life from spinning. This is nothing new. My reaction is a bit off kilter, and this is what I am working to change.

I can't fix my parents' health issues. I can only control my reaction to it.

I can't stop traffic irritations. I can only control when I leave to go somewhere and deal with conditions as they are.

I can't stop people from doing things I wish they wouldn't - I can only control whether I ignore it or obsess over it. I am working from changing these responses from these to just acknowledging them if need be and then trying to let them go.

I am getting in my own way lately. I have a lot on my plate (no pun intended) and most of it is there because I put it there (again, no pun intended - but it is very apropos.)

Just for today, I am not going to stew that a colleague is up for a significant promotion and I have to interview him for said position. Truth be told I am mad as hell about it - but I need to get over my bad attitude pronto so I don't say something stupid. Where is the girl that used to have such an open mind? I cannot remember what I did with her!

Just for today, I am going to find a way to walk for 30 minutes.

Just for today, I am going to cut myself some slack, and stop pretending that I can somehow be perfect.

Just for today, I am going to set up a plan and track my carbs.

Just for today, I will spark and remember how much I enjoy doing that.

Happy Friday, Sparkies!

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Little by Little - You Can Still Get There

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

My commute this morning was sucky. Predicted snowfall began 12 hours early, surprising even the weather channel! Ha! Accidents all over the place, and one in particular which slowed down the first half of my drive to about 2.5 mph over the course of 5 miles. It was a long stretch of letting the brake pedal up slowly, inch ahead, and then repeat. My calf was burning, and it made me think of two things:

1) could I count this as strength training for my calf?

2) Though moving inch by inch, I was still moving, still headed in the right direction, and eventually, I was going to reach my destination.

Hmmmm. Food for thought. I was not racing, but I was still making progress. Even though I was barely moving at times, I was still a bit closer to my goal. I was well ahead of where I'd be if I left later in the morning, or where I'd be if I went off track. It made a lot of sense to me this morning, to take my time, just keep moving little bit by bit, and eventually I would get there. I stopped being concerned about the timing of when I would get there, just that I would do it safely.

That's how my journey for health is shaping up. I am moving SLOWLY towards my goals, but eventually I am going to get there. Sometimes when it seems I am spinning my wheels, or barely moving, I am doing okay, because eventually I will inch forward again. Until then, it is important that I keep my eyes focused straight ahead and just keep going.

It took me longer than I had hoped when I started out this morning, and I know I have similar feelings in my journey. Getting to my destination and meeting my goals will be all that more richly satisfying when I do keep moving ahead bit by bit. I'm not in a race. I'm just moving ahead bit by bit.

Happy Sparking!

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Early Morning Babble

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The good thing about being stressed about work, is that you can't sleep. If you can't sleep, you get up. So, I am up earlier than normal, allowing me extra time to spark, and make and eat breakfast, without wolfing it down on the way out the door. I'm also planning to hit some balls, wii style for a few mins to get jazzed up before heading to work.

For breakfast, I made my new concoction - light vanilla soymilk, i/2 a frozen banana, sliced frozen peaches and give it a spin in the blender and it is frothy, and frozen-ish and seems more substantial then it is, and truth be told, not bad. It fits into my meal plan and along with a pb sandwich, I am good to go. I wanted to throw some nutmeg in there, this morning, but my DH has the spices in disarray, but I did find some pumpkin pie spice, which in truth, may have been better, woo hoo!

I'm not sure what I am taking for lunch, or if I am taking a lunch - or will perhaps locate food at work, but breakfast is off to a good start. I think I will bring my stand-by snacks, apple, string cheese, yogurt, and nuts and get lunch later. There is a cafeteria in my building, and I can generally find good choices there.

I should NOT have read my work email before bed. It made me fixate on this problem brewing that a big cheese will not like the answer to - the person addressed in the note with me is not as savvy as myself and I'm expecting that he may say something stupid. Not to be harsh, but he's new and doesn't often think through the ramifications of his words. I prefer to respond, offering choices in this case, and let the big cheese be part of the decision process, and if it goes awry, then the cheese does not necessarily stand alone. ha! not necessarily. :)

I took a minute to remind myself of the few challenges I have tackled with finesse in my work experience to take the edge off the morning. Those were true tests and I passed those with flying colors. All will be fine - even if I have to abandon the new guy at the curb. I am not in a reporting relationship with said new guy - even though he fancies himself "above" me because he has a higher pay grade and title.

I'd actually be fighting with myself to get up at this point, and my alarm is going off. I wouldn't call myself perky today, but I am doing much better than I'd normally be at this point. I met with my diabetes educator last night and she gave me some healthy tips about staying on track and adding variety to my menus. I have a tendency to hang onto one item and have it so much, I get sick of it and then fall off the bandwagon. My next goal is to work on meal planning. Now that I have some help from the educator/nutritionist, it should be a bit easier.

Well, off to the wii! I hope you all have a great day! Let's think happy thoughts!

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