Spring, Fruit Trees and New Beginnings

I took a lot of time to think about whether I should start a new blog, or continue with this one.  I decided that I am going to share real life with you and continue with this blog.

I did SO well on my journey to weight loss and health, and then I fell...I fell hard.  I wanted to be a motivator and share my success.

I decided that I am not the only one to fall and fall hard.  Instead of giving up, I am going to pick myself up and start again.

I am not promising perfection, but I am promising truth, I will try hard and I would like to share health, because that I what I am aiming for!

I was out planting 4 beautiful little semi-dwarf fruit trees that we got.  I don't think you realize what a huge deal that is to me.  I LOVE FRUIT TREES...I always have.  When I was little, we had an apple tree in the back yard that I spent hours in.  I had a special spot that was my sitting place.  I loved to eat the green apples out of the tree with my best friend Becky.  We would salt them.  When the kids were little we had a beautiful peach tree that I tended with tender loving care.

When Jeff and I got married, he did not want fruit trees because his experience with them was having to pick up the fruit that fell before mowing the lawn or playing around the trees.  I promised I would take care of them and he still said no.

When he finally said yes this year I cried with joy.  I planned too hastily how to convince my kids to help me plant them and didn't take things into consideration like the buried gas lines, how to remove the rocks and how to do lots of manual labor when I am in the middle of a pretty serious treatment regiment for my health.  ( I am going through radiation for breast cancer).  We had an argument and I fell into tears on the kitchen floor.

Poor frustrated Jeff did not realize my passion for the trees and I didn't plan well.

We talked it through, and I started again, with a plan in hand.

Is it easy?  NO.  Am I scared I don't have the strength and health to accomplish this task, YES.  Am I going to complete the planting...YES.  ONE STEP AT A TIME!

I failed at the first attempt.  In that failure I realized a few things:  I CANT DO IT ALONE, I CANT DO IT WITHOUT PLANNING, I AM GOING TO SLIP UP!

I also know that I am going to have incredible return in a few years...beautiful side yard where there has been the trash of the home in that corner of the yard. I am going to also enjoy the fruits (literally) of my labor with fresh, crisp apples, sweet and sour cherries, beautiful juicy plums and sun kissed peaches.

That is how I feel with my weight loss.  Did I start out with great ambition?  YEP, did I succeed for a while, YOU BET.  Why did I slip up?

I thought long and hard about this:

1.  I didn't plan long term
2.  I didn't change my mind set for a life style change
3.  I do well with SUPPORT.
4.  I tried to change everything and didn't stop to take one step at a time.

I am in the planning stages again, which I will share with you, but I do know that I have to have MOTIVATION, PLANNING, SUPPORT, DAY TO DAY CARE, and know that the fruits of my labor are not going to be instantaneous...it is a day to day choice to be healthy.

Paleo Challenge!

WOW....what a fun and crazy adventure this has been!  I feel bad that I have not written every day, but with life so crazy, I will catch up by posting some pictures of dinners, telling you about the benefits, and hoping you are all doing well!

This has been a test of motivation, of self awareness and of sheer discipline.  There were many times when I wanted to grab "just one candy" from a basket on someones desk, or eat "just one hamburger".  It has helped me be strong and feel SO GOOD!

My work-out schedule has consisted of MON and WED zumba, TUES and FRI 30 minutes of weights.  I have been walking 10,000 steps per day as well, as our company has a challenge for this.

My breakfast consists of : 2 eggs with spinach, red pepper, onion and any other vegie on hand, or a shake with spinach, berries, almond milk and almonds.  Pineapple and mango or oranges are thrown in there on occasion.

My lunch is either leftovers from the night before, or a salad with spinach or romaine, cherry tomatoes from the garden, grilled chicken or tuna, a touch of feta cheese, pine nuts at times and balsamic vinegar and olive oil, or a squeeze of lemon and olive oil.

Here are some examples of dinners:

Roasted Cauliflower and onions with a slice of crispy bacon. Grilled Salmon with caramelized onions and a touch of that one slice of bacon on a bed of spinach with a lemon to squeeze...yum!

Beautiful Jacey turned 21 on September 14!  We had a fun BBQ, played games and had a great time.  There were some things I couldn't eat, but I didn't have to, because there were plenty of things I COULD eat and didn't feel left out at all!  I had my amazing garlic burger plain without the bun, some watermelon, fresh tomatoes out of the garden with lettuce and grilled onion, and it was great!

Here are some pictures from Jacey's party.  I sure love this beautiful lady...with a heart that is tender, a fun sense of humor, a quiet strength and a spunky nature, with a style all her own.  I am SO lucky to be able to call her my daughter!

I will post a few more dinners on this, then add a few each day:)

This is a simple "Make your own Chicken Taco night".  I had Corn tortillas for the family with fresh salsa, chopped garden tomatoes and cherry tomatoes, chipotle grilled chicken, lettuce, avocado, lime, cheese, lettuce and fresh mango.  My salad had the fresh lime, chicken, salsa, lettuce, both kinds of tomato, mango, avocado, and some nasturtium flowers and leaves out of the garden...they taste like watercress and give a nice bite to the salad...YUMMO

This is a simple Nicoise Salad with romaine, fresh garden green beans-steamed, chunky tomatoes, grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, onion slices, hard boiled egg and olives...with fresh lime for a squeeze.

Another easy dinner salad.  With the abundance of fresh produce out of the garden, we tend to each fresh, simple meals for dinner... This is a Southwestern salad with chipotle grilled chicken ( I grill a lot and use throughout the week to throw into lunches, salads, tacos etc...sun easy prep, which I mostly do on Sunday evenings.  I also bag and chop fruits and vegies to stir fry, steam, grill and for snacks...
this also has Spinach, chunky tomatoes, pico de gallo with roasted jalapeños and onion.  Lime for squeeze of flavor.

OK...here is the BEST PART OF ALL!  The last three weeks I have had more energy, felt better, and I have lost 12 pounds!  WOOT WOOT.  I have a silly thing that really works for me.  I have a nice diary that is flowery and cute and I write positive and uplifting things in this diary.  I record dreams, goals and things that are positive.  In this journal, I record every time someone says something about noticing my weight loss.  It was fun, because I had not seen Jordan, my sweet daughter in a few weeks.  She came in yesterday and said "Mom, you look so good!"  If you know Jordan, you know she doesn't mince it, and only says nice things when she means them.  IT FELT GOOD!  Lynsie also saw me at Erin's reception and said I looked small.  Their opinions mean a lot to me!

It is happening!  I am not perfect, but I am trying.  If I slip, I get back up and keep trying.  There were a few discouraging days when I was sick with a fever and cough and could not exercise and it felt lousy.

It is SO exciting to see that this is a long term lifestyle.  I will probably add a bit of whole grain food to my diet after this Paleo challenge, but I will never fall back into a sedentary unhealthy life style!

I want to thank Danee for being such a great example.  Laura ( my cute Canadian niece that came to visit with her amazing mother and my incredible nephew Jeremy) and I were talking about that last night about what a great example she is to us!  I will tell you all about our fun night with Laura, Jeremy and Jackie in another post!  SO MUCH to catch up on!

REMEMBER: Eat Right, Sleep Right, and EXERCISE!