Good morning everyone! How is everyone today? After about 6 straight days of gloomy, rainy weather, the sun is out again and I feel 95% better 🙂 I’m also so thankful for all of y’alls encouragement too. It made me laugh, cry, and truly made me feel a lot better about the scale situation. As clarification, I don’t weigh myself at all, so the number was a shock period. In wake of that, I’ve been cutting down on my portion sizes and trying to eat better choices. With the exception of pizza Friday 🙂
I only had 2 small slices of pepperoni, where I would normally have 4:
Since I still wasn’t feeling good we stayed home and watched The Young Victoria and The Blind Side. I still want to bee Leigh Anne Touhy as portrayed by Sandra Bullock… 😉 We went to bed and the next morning Nate so sweetly asked me on a breakfast date! We went to Panera Bread (my choice) and split a chocolate chip muffin top:
And I had the breakfast power sandwich (it’s an egg, ham, sharp white cheddar, and grainy bread):
And Nate had a bagel sandwich with sausage, egg, and cheese:
We shopped around at PetsMart, Target, Home Goods, and TJ Maxx for a while. We got a white board to do some planning for a book (EEK! :)) and a jar to do meal planning like Christie suggested! When we got home I was actually pretty pooped, so we just relaxed the rest of the afternoon.
For dinner we went over to Robbie & Stefanie’s house for shrimp tacos with Jason & Stephanie. Sounds seriously delicious, right? It was! We had this amazing salsa that Stef made:
It had tomatoes, cucumber, tons of cilantro, onion, garlic, and champagne mango! I’d never had it until last night (champagne mango, that is) and I’m planning a trip to Whole Foods later today 🙂 Heaven on a chip right there:
The shrimp were marinated in lime juice and hot sauce. And they were sooooo good! We also had some Spanish rice made with some sort of sweet short-grain brown rice, which was dangerously good. I kept going back for more of that!
My tacos had a little cheese, 4 shrimp, some rice, and were topped off with that yummy mango salsa:
And dessert was chocolate-covered acai berries and a homemade cappuccino (unpictured).
And y’all, that’s when the madness commenced. I would say that these guys are our best friends, and there really isn’t a time where there isn’t just a ton of laughter! I don’t remember how we go on the subject last night, but Robbie announced that he wanted to cut his hair in a bowl cut just for fun, just to see what it looked like. You don’t say that in front of Nate and Jason unless you actually want it to happen 🙂 This next series of pictures might not be that funny to anyone else, but rest assured I’m cracking up just scrolling through them!
Before:
Before:
After:
Y’all, the three guys went upstairs to give Robbie a bowl cut, and they left a rat tail to surprise him!
And here it is in all it’s glory:
The funny thing is Robbie didn’t know they’d left it…
Jason is so dedicated to bowl-cut perfection…
…as well as rat-tail perfection…
…and the combination bowl-cut rat-tail perfection…
Robbie still had no idea there was a rat tail! Guess it was just hidden enough to be invisible.
We’ll call this the “bridal shot” because it reminds me of one of my favorite pictures we’ve taken of a bride getting ready:
We didn’t get this on film, but I will say that the best part about the rat-tail-making was that Nate and Jason laughed so hard they were crying! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen either of them laugh that hard, but it definitely made for a great time. In fact my abs are sore from so much laughter last night 😀
Breakfast this morning was going to be a GM, but the milk was bad. I maintain that there’s not a whole lot else in this world that smells as horrible as bad milk…makes me shudder just to think about it! So I made a roasted maple cinnamon almond butter and banana grilled sandwich:
It was delicious! I had a leftover hoagie from the other night, so I used that, about 1 Tbsp of the nut butter, and 1/2 of a banana. YUM! Now I’m getting ready for church and excited to be outside!
Again, thank you all so much for your sweet encouraging comments. You’ve been there for me when I really needed encouragement from strong women, and for that I am so thankful! My plan moving forward is:
- continue to work on eating smaller, reasonable portions,
- continue to work on eating real, healthful food whenever possible,
- getting rid of change in my office so as to limit snacks to healthy options rather than those in a vending machine,
- continue to work on healing my knee so that I don’t have to limit my physical activity anymore.
Do y’all have any other suggestions for steps I can take to continue to live a healthier life? I do snack on junk food, and portion control is my worst enemy. It’s almost like if I like something I can’t STOP eating it. Any hints on how to savor my food better? I’m thinking take drinks of water in between bites and always ALWAYS set my fork down while I chew.
You guys are amazing! Have a wonderful Sunday!
wow! that night looked so fun! shrimp tacos…yumm-o!! that salsa looked amazing. i’ll have to ask stef for that recipe. 🙂 robbie’s hair cracked me up! glad you’re feeling better. 🙂
Aw, I feel ya on the weight thing. One week ago I came home from a week long work in San Diego 8lbs heavier than when I left. Usually my weight rebounds within a couple days of eating right, but after a whole week of counting calories and exercise these pounds are refusing to budge! It’s been really stressful! Especially because all my friends will be in town in 2 weeks and I know there will be lots of pool time in…. bikinis! Ekk!!!
The best way I deal with portion control is to eat more of the good stuff. Have a full plate, just fill it mostly with veggies. One cup of broccoli is just 45 calories and very feeling, so if I’m going to eat more of something, it’s usually veggies!
That rat tail makes me shiver.
That is hilarious! And those shrimp tacos look amazing. I love shrimp tacos. Anything Mexican really, but shrimp tacos are my favorite. I must try this salsa because my mouth was watering just looking at it.
HEY girlie!!
LOVE this post for the RAT TAIL!!! ohhhh my! I would have been on the floor laughing!!
and the SALSA ACTION holy deliciousness!!!
Try drinking a cup of ice water before you begin a meal, and think about why you are eating: food=fuel…so savor and enjoy. That way you slow down and you will know when to stop…I think 🙂
I heart you chica, don’t stress you will return to your happy weight soon! you are beautiful regardless the # on the scale! (throw that thing out!)
~I hope you are having a great start to your monday!
-xoxo!
Those are great ways to continue managing a healthy lifestyle and YES water while eating is SO important because it really doesn help fill you up. Make sure you’re hydrated alllll day because often we confuse hunger with thirst and it’ll help you just FEEL healthier and want to make the right decisions in regards to food options.
And of course you already know but veggies are SO important! Plus they really do fill you up so that can’t be bad, right?
That salsa looks aaamazing and I love the pics! HA
I LOVE your blog! 🙂 I just added you to my blogroll 🙂 Woo Hoo! Those tacos look super yummy! I may have to make some for dinner tonight! Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
Too funny about the rat tail! I find eating outside of the kitchen helps me slow down a bit – I am such a fast eater but if I sit down, I slow somewhat.
hhahah those rat tail pics cracked me up. that’s gotta tickle your neck ya know??
shrimp tacos sound delish for summertime! I’ll have to remember that. And tip to feeling satisfied: eat what you’re craving.. but in moderation!
how FUN!! oh my gosh!! what a GREAT weekend of eats! ive been seeing the naner sandwich all over the blog world!
I’m going to have to go back and read your last post now, I feel out of the loop!! But I think that a little mindful eating will go a long way. I know for me, I’d probably cut back on the wine and sweets if I needed to lose a little weight. But not cut OUT. Just portion control, like you said. I would measure things that can add up like ice cream, nut butter, grains, etc. Good luck!! But you know, you are BEAUTIFUL just the way you are!!! 🙂
So many great suggestions here!
I must say I laughed at the rat tail. Too funny! Maybe they will make a come back 😉
I agree with Katie’s suggestion about staying present in the moment. I am HORRIBLE at this when I eat. I always eat too fast and I don’t slow down to savour the food. What a great reminder!
I totally agree with removing change (and singles) from your wallet, makes good choices so much easier!
Those shrimp tacos look amazing!
Also, the rat tail is hilarious 🙂
Hahahaha – lovely pics and post, Heather!
Loved all the sandwiches… holy YUM!
Hahahahaha 😉
Have an amazing Sunday, girl!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
I have serious problems with snacking and portions sizes too 😀 but hey, great job for only having 2 slices of pizza.. I’m never able to leave it at that!
That salsa looks so great, so fresh and colourful!
I think meal planning will help alot. As fo snacking…my suggestion would be just don’t buy the junk food. You can’t snack on something you don’t have, right? Instead by fruits, greek yogurt, nuts and other healthier snack foods so you when you get the muchines you can go for veggies dipped in hummus versus chips or something.
I agree with what Christie said, and I also think your ideas about slowing down while eating (by taking sips of water and putting down your fork) are good ideas. I’d also say try to remind yourself to stay in the present moment. So when you’re eating, focus on that, but as soon as you’re finished, move on (physically and mentally) to the next present moment. I’ve sometimes said to myself, “Ok, eating time is over, moving on!” to help myself focus on what’s next instead of continuing to think about how I want to eat more. I hope that makes sense!
Glad you are feeling better! The food looks yummy! My tip is to eat food slower. I struggle with that but it helps.
I totally agree with Christie, when you use the “fat talk approach” you are using negative-self talk, and that won’t help you control what you are eating, it’ll just keep you feeling down if you overindulge. Whereas an inquisitive approach is a positive way at looking at how to control your portions.
Stay strong sister, you are awesome! Love yoU!
Hooray for a meal planning jar, thanks for the shout out.
As far as your question about portion control, my suggestion would be to ask yourself why you can’t control yourself around whatever food makes you feel that way. Why does that particular food have such control over you? Why don’t you honor your health by stopping when you are satisfied? Is it because you feel deprived from previous days of not allowing yourself to have it? Does it go even deeper than that? Does the food represent something that is missing?
Take an inquisitive approach instead of a blaming or fat talk approach and really get in touch with they why. Food isn’t about willpower, despite what we are led to believe. Learn why.