Two at a Time

       Isn't it interesting how quickly two good choices turn into three or four good choices? Just one good choice could go either way and be used as an excuse to indulge later, but If I make two good choices in a row? I don't want those good decisions to go to waste! I think a good goal for someone wanting to get healthier would be to make at least 2 healthy choices each day. They could be small things like skipping sugar in your coffee and going for a walk around the block, or eating fruit when you'd normally have something processed.

       It's been 6 1/2 weeks now, I'm down 9 pounds (though my loose clothes make it seem like more), and my gut is MUCH happier. Yesterday and today I've had a ton of energy in the morning. I am NOT a morning person, so any time I feel energized in the morning, it's a noteworthy event. 

   What good decisions will you make today?

Three weeks down...

And I've lost another two pounds! I haven't been eating as well as I'd like as far as processed foods are concerned. One night I had pizza, another I had ice cream, etc. and as a result, I've felt pretty tired this week and I've had a lot of carb cravings. It's important to have wiggle room in a diet so it is sustainable, but I hate how a treat is never just a one time indulgence. I always pay for indulgences in cravings for a few days after.

   I got tired of eating salads for dinner this week and tried a new recipe (apple sweet potato bake) and it was delicious! It wasn't as sweet as most people would probably like, but the honey made this awesome chewy caramel on the bottom of the pan that was so good! I'll definitely make it again.

http://livesimply.me/2013/11/11/apple-sweet-potato-bake/

   I also tried a few tweaks to my smoothies this week. I ran out of kale and spinach, so I used fresh snow peas instead; I couldn't taste any difference. I used dry roasted, unsalted peanuts instead of PB. They have no added sugar or oils, and tasted pretty much the same. Another change was, I used low fat cottage cheese in lieu of plain Greek yogurt. Sounds gross, right? It isn't. Once it's all blended together, it's creamier and less tangy than plain yogurt, otherwise, there's not a big difference in taste or texture.

   So, while I lost weight the past three weeks, my breast-fed baby suddenly gained a pound and a half! He gained only a handful of ounces over five weeks, now all of a sudden, he's packing it on! I'd like to think that it has something to do with how I'm eating, but I suppose it's just as likely a growth spurt. :) Either way, it's a relief!