A Penny For Your Thoughts

Do you remember that movie Somewhere in Time?  I bet I have seen that film over a dozen times.  It was a favorite of my mom's and chick flick lovers alike.

In the movie Christopher Reeve falls in love with a women from the early 20th century and trains his mind to live in her era.  He meets her and they fall in love.  The whole science of the matter get lost in the romanticism - like all the greats do.  At the end (beware spoiler ahead), he pulls a bright and shiny 1979 penny from his pocket and his "trick" is up.         

I have found that "pennies" exist for me in my mental training as well.  When they pop up it is disheartening.  I am not talking about being sick of the work it takes to be healthy, it is not a motivation thing at all.  Nor am I talking about some kind of plateau that drags on and on.  It is an instant dash of reality... or not.

Enough with the bull..ogna.  The other day "the penny" (it is a long story and really not relevant) made my image in the mirror bigger.  In an instant I see the old me.  I know it isn't the bigger version of me in the mirror, I know that logically, but the flaws stare out at me like the sun shines .

Part of the "training your mind" stuff I am always talking about is looking at the positive. Building yourself up.  Focusing on all the good parts of you and ignoring all the rest (most everyone does that with you so why not join the crowd).  You only have to convince one person that the person in the mirror is smokin' hot.  Nothing else really matters, right?    

Fighting these "pennies" are, for me, the hardest battle in weight loss.  I would much rather deal with cravings or lack of motivation to exercise.  Pennies take all the strength I've got.

How do I conquer pennies?  Well, in the movie he had try a different tactic to be with his beloved again.  Was it a good one?  That is the great part about movies.  We all get our own opinion.

For me, I have to talk my way through the pennies.  I have the most wonderful husband that will listen and I have to go right back to my chants.  Which now that I think about it is the way he made his journey in the movie.   And, I have to be patient enough to know that it will take a little time to get back on track.  If I let my expectations rule my  timing then I am doomed before I start.

This road is hard but the hardest challenges have the biggest rewards.  Let's keep our heads in the game, this game right now not yesterday's game, and we will eventually win.  That is why this is the greatest game ever invented.  You win when you lose and when you lose you win;D   

Weighing in on Weights

Here is 12 reasons to add weights to your workout.  I believe in weights. I love weights.  You don't have to sweat to get results with weights and I am all about that.  As I am getting up there in age  (I am not a whippersnapper anymore which by saying whippersnapper I am proving my point)  I am adding more strength training to my routines.   Results take a while but then one day you say "hey, I am lookin' good!"

Go Veggies!

I just read an article that was warning us about the rise is food prices, especially fruits and vegetables.  Yikes!  It is hard to maintain a healthy diet when the cost of those essentials can bust the bank.   So, I am going to try to give you some ideas to help ease the wallet at the store.

1. One of my best and proudest money savers is my cleanser recipe.  This is used as a replacement for glass cleaner but I have cleaned my bathroom with this as well.  Take that empty Windex bottle and fill it with warm water (only to help mix, no need to add warm at every use) and a couple of squeezes of dish detergent.  I buy a big bottle of blue Dawn and it has lasted forever.  It even looks like Windex and I love this even more for mirrors and glass.  Dish detergent has been THEE very best granite cleaner I have used.  Try it, you won't be disappointed.  

2. Invest in some dryer balls and then reduce or skip the fabric softener.  I did this a few months ago and I have noticed my clothes are dryer faster.  I still use a little softener for the smell factor but I am open to skip it once my supply runs out.

3. Watch ads and clip coupons whenever possible.  There are several websites like  smartsource.com   that will let you print out coupons.  I think I bought that big bottle of Dawn for 99 cents when I used a coupon while it was on sale. 

4. Sometimes the price is worth it.  When you take into account the guilt factor, the way-you-feel factor and the cost later on in health care costs the price is greatly reduced.  Remember, demand influences the price so if we all demand better food then the prices will come down.

5. Checked out the frozen food isle lately?  It is fabulous.  There are all kinds of stir fry mixes as well as add-ins that make life easy and delicious.  You would have to spend $10-15 to buy all the different things that come in these already prepped mixes.  Stay away from any that come with "sauce" if possible.  Just add a little salt and pepper and steam in the microwave, YUM!  (remember this is not chocolate yum)  

Good luck at the grocery store next time and pick up a little something different in the produce section.  You might surprise yourself at what your adult taste buds favor. 

Today I grabbed Kale and tonight I am making...

Chef Tom's "Smoked" Kale Chips
Prep time 5 min Cook Time 10 min

    * 1 bunch of Kale
    * 1 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Sesame Oil
    * 1 Tbs fine sea salt
    * 1 Tsp Smoked Paprika


Wash kale thoroughly, let dry.

With a knife or kitchen scissors, remove the thick stem in the middle of each Kale leaf. Tear the remaining leaf into chip size pieces.

Drizzle kale with Olive Oil, sea salt and smoked paprika

Load sheet tray with one layer of Kale and cook in 350 oven for 10-15 minutes / until edges are slightly brown.

What's for dinner?

These days one of my favorite mealtime helps is the allrecipes app.  If you have a smart phone you must get it.   You can name an ingredient and a dish and how long you want it to take and whalah!  You have a tested recipe at your command. 
My latest recipe was the Garlic Chicken Pizza.  It was a hit!

Super fooooods...to the rescue!

 

                                                                                                                      Image from howsuperareyou.com

Below I have included a list of the so-called super foods.  I am going to look at this list as I am making my menu each week and try to incorporate a few of the foods each day.  Some will be easier than others but I am going to feel good about what I add and forget about what I missed.  You must admit that your mouth waters a bit as you read the list  (and you thought healthy wasn't tasty).         

      Alaskan King Crab
    * Dried Plums
    * Bok Choy
    * Oysters
    * Bananas
    * Kiwis
    * Broccoli
    * Spinach
    * Leeks
    * Artichokes
    * Tea/Green Tea
    * Chili Peppers
    * Ginger
    * Blueberries
    * Cinnamon
    * Sweet Potatoes
    * Tomatoes
    * Figs
    * Mushrooms
    * Pomegranates
    * Quinoa
    * Grass-Fed Beef
    * Nonfat Ricotta
    * Tofu
    * Lentils
    * Eggs
    * Greek-Style Yogurt
    * Quorn
    * Chocolate Milk
    * Wild Salmon
    * Pineapples
    * Olive Oil
    * Bing Cherries
    * Dark Chocolate
    * Turmeric
    * Wild Fatty Fish
    * Flaxseed
    * Almonds
    * Apples
    * Whole Grains

There is a website dedicated to helping you choose and understand the super foods
howsuperareyou.com

All is right in the world:D

This is what life is all about people. Eat to live don't live to eat.  Have a gigantic belly laugh once in a while.  And, enjoy the moment - in the moment - more often.

Live! Laugh! Love!