Eating Healthy – Losing Weight

We all want to eat healthy right?   It’s soooooo hard!   I know!   I’ve been struggling with the same 2-3 pounds again and again.    After my mom passed away, my comfort may have been excess calories ;-).  I have tried lots of things over the past year!   I have been exercising about 3-5 times a week for the whole year doing everything from exercise videos to walking or biking outside.   I have gained muscle definition and strength but still have a cushy layer over it.  ;-/.

I tried some other systems from protein shakes and cleanses and nothing seemed to work for me.   They “work” but you have to be super strict about them. No deviation.

I needed a system that I could eat REAL food and that I could incorporate into a very social calendar.

So out of desperation I tried a green smoothie “diet”.   A friend of mine told me about it…. AND…. it worked.  It was easy too!    I felt super good about it because I bought my ingredients and blended them up in my Nutribullet.  I have not gone to a nutritionist… YET… but for the first time in years, I’m losing weight and keeping it off.

So 2 times a day, usually, I’m blending spinach or kale with frozen fruit like Bananas, Oranges, berries etc.   sometimes adding a bit of mint.. or some Stevia for added sweetness.  After you get over the green color, you’ll find the smoothies are delicious!   Snacks are usually a hard boiled egg, kale chips, a Kind Bar, a few almonds or a green apple and a nice salad for dinner with a little egg, grilled chicken or turkey for added protein.

I’ve pretty much eliminated meats from my diet… no dairy and no processed sugar but I’m not being totally nutty about it.  On vacation,  I tasted dessert… and had a glass of wine or two.

If you are struggling with weight in your 40’s… maybe you would want to try this too and let me know how it’s going.   I’m excited to finally have found something that works for me.  I’m not at my goal weight yet.. but for the first time, I see results!

If your bananas or other fruit are about to go beyond ripe…. slice and freeze so you can use in your smoothies.  Frozen fruit eliminates the need for ice cubes and keeps your smoothie nice and cold!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The PERFECT Kale chips….. I found that if I spray them with coconut oil… they get the perfect amount of “oil” and then sprinkle with garlic sea salt or just salt and pepper… even tried cayenne pepper and that’s yummy too!  Broil on Low or bake at maybe 450 degress… turn off the oven and let the oven just simply dry it out so it does not burn.  This is a great method when you are in a hurry, want to make kale chips but don’t have time to watch the oven…. put them in a hot oven, turn off the oven and leave.  When you come back….. Voila…. kale chips!  Enjoy!

Dorm Life

Well, my first-born is going to college this fall…. and we just got back from freshman orientation.     I remember college as the BEST 4 years of my young adult life!  So I should be excited for him, right?

There are so many emotions.  I’m proud as can be, I’m excited  for him beginning this new adventure, I’m nervous he won’t get a good roommate, I’m worried he’ll get sick or need that extra nudge to get out of bed every now and then.   I’m sad about leaving him but know he’s going to have so much fun!  He’s ready.   I think I am 🙂     So now I’m overwhelmed with all the lists… the stuff one needs to set up a dorm room and get ready for college.

One idea my girlfriend told me….I thought was fabulous is for the kids to bring beach chairs into the dorm for extra seating.  Chairs can be folded and stored out of the way when kids are not using them.   Oh… I guess they are not “kids” anymore.  Maybe I should say “students”…. but they are still “kids” to me! 🙂

Definitely got gray sheets and towels…. thinking I’ll be lucky if they get washed and gray won’t look as bad if it does not get washed.   Gray should hide most things.    Maybe I should have gotten black?

Boys are definitely easier … my son truly did not want to go shopping at all.  He was, however, excited to get his new computer.

Oh.. tell me this, now is this generational or a boy thing.   I proposed getting him a white board for friends to write messages on like we all had xx years ago 🙂 but he reminded me…”Mom, they can just text me”   Wow, I thought.  Yeah, I guess they can, but what if they don’t know your number?   My son then told me that there is a directory.  Okay… So I guess we really don’t need a white board.  I suppose my son could put a sticky note on his door with his cell number for people to find him.

Finally, what about communication?    I called my mom and dad once a week I think.   With today’s technology… I really want to connect more frequently,  at least via text.     So how much is too much?  How often would you want to connect with your child/young adult/student 🙂

So much is happening to change our life… we’ll have to get used to our “new normal”.  I’d love any advice any parents have out there…. ideas…. anything!   This is my first kid leaving home and I want to be ready!

 

NYC!

New York City is so diverse!   You really do need to spend a week there to get the full flavor of it!  You’ve got Central Park… such a haven in the middle of all the concrete… IMG_3018.JPGthere are always tons of people… running, walking and biking!  It’s vibrant!

And then there’s SoHo… which was named Soho because it is South of Houston Street… (Prounounced House-ton not Houston like in Texas) … There’s great shopping… and FYI most of the restaurants are one block away on the side streets.   We tried this quaint little spot off Prince  Street called Back Forty West.  It was super nice… had a large upstairs so don’t be fooled by lack of seating when you walk in!   It was lovely and most of my party had delicious grain fed burgers which got high marks!

 

If you walk toward Columbus Circle off Broadway, you’ll find the Metropolitan Opera… and lots of shopping.. and of course there’s midtown.. near Time’s Square which is always a hub of activity!    Madison Avenue is a lovely walk Uptown with high end shopping…. and then there’s lower Manhattan with South Street Seaport and Freedom Tower… Truly a lot to cover to REALLY capture all the different neighborhoods in the city!

  

There are restaurants galore…. and it’s all expensive.. but there are ways to make it more affordable if you bring in a few items for breakfast and snacks… bottled water is a must so you don’t have to pay $3 a bottle or more!  Don’t be embarrassed to bring in some supplies!  Everyone does it!

Enjoy the sights.. the culture… the food and the shopping!    I love NYC!  Share your favorite restaurants, sights etc…. for all my friends who always ask me for restaurant or hotel recommendations…. this will be a great diary!