Enjoying The Struggle....

Well, Well, Well....Here I am.  It's been a while, hasn't it? The kind of "It's been so long" that it really bothers me & disappoints me.  BUT....as much as I hate using excuses,  I was having a rough few weeks. About 2 1/2 weeks ago or so,  I thought I had the stomach bug....up all night, very ill, faint stomach pains.  The pain continued a week or so, with other pretty scary symptoms...so I went to the Dr.  She says "No infection...you're fine! Just head home and rest".  I'm pretty sure I know my own body and I'm pretty sure something is not right...BUT, I just nod, smile and head home.  Well...along comes 3am and what is happening? I am doubled over, in severe pain and on my way to the ER.  Gosh Darn Kidney Stone! And boy do those little buggers HURT.  I was down and out for over a week,  sleeping 1 hour a night,  not able to eat.  Just lots of crying & lots of shower to try to help me cope with the pain. Finally,  the pain eased,  but as for the eating half of things? Well...that seemed nearly impossible. My body didn't want anything to do with anything I put in my mouth.  I'm finally just about ready to eat regularly again. Which in turn means I should be able to workout again now that I can get proper nutrition!

Anyways,  this all lead up to my weigh in this morning....I was a little nervous to say the least! Well,  I shakily stood on....and what do ya know? Holding steady at 190... 1/2 a pound away from my first mini-goal.  No loss,  No gain. But that is alright with me! I was expecting 10 steps backwards after this fiasco! It was such a sense of relief.  That I am still in the game. That I can still do this!  That I am right where I left off and that is ok,  because I can go from here and make this happen.  Half a pound. One Half of a pound. That's all I need to break through my first Mini-Goal.  I can't wait for that feeling. That sense of accomplishment.

Which leads me to my quote of the day....



It's time for me to enjoy this struggle.  Enjoy this ride. This journey.  Because without it,  how much satisfaction can I get from that prize? From meeting that goal? I have to just think of all that I am doing to change my life. To create a healthier, happier me.  This is ME. This is MY work. This is MY struggle.  And I'm glad to be doing it. I am proud, thankful,  and even more motivated than ever to start being able to check off my mini-goals, one by one until I get there. I have to say,  I am very very thankful for MyFitnessPal & all of the amazing, supportive, friendly people I have encountered there.  They have always had inspiring stories,  motivating accomplishments, and the kindest words of encouragement.  They always remind me...I am not alone. There are others out there going through this same struggle, with the same prize in mind. My sincerest "Thank You" to all of them!

I'm glad to say....I'm back!

Here we go day 3, Nice to see you!

"Wake Up With Determination. Go To Bed With Satisfaction!"


Day 3. Dayyyy 3. You are here. So, three things....


Well, #1. I just found this...

And this is truly what I hope to achieve. And I am starting to think I can do this. I really can.


Number 2. Ohhhh number 2. This weekend was a real test....in my breakroom at work there is a vending machine. Oh, the vending machine--in which I usually find myself standing infront of, contemplating chips, salted cashews, doritos or fritos. Well...this weekend...I didn't buy a single thing! I did not even look at it or give it a thought. I stuck to just what I had in my lunch box. And that....THAT felt good.


And 3 I tried Quinoa pasta tonight...pretty darn good. So, I tried to find more about Quinoa and recipes I could use to include it in my diet...and found this recipe...which I can not wait to give a shot!

2 rounded cups cooked quinoa (see note below for cooking instructions)

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or other variety, if you prefer)

1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese

1 medium carrot, finely grated (OR 1 cup shredded zucchini, squeezed dry)

3 eggs

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

2 green onions, including white parts

1 /2 teaspoon Splenda or sugar

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Olive oil for frying

.

To cook quinoa:

1 cup uncooked quinoa

2 cups water

1/2 teaspoon salt

In a medium saucepan bring the 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil over high heat. Add quinoa and reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 18-20 minutes, or until all water is absorbed and the seeds are tender. Allow to cool for a few minutes.

In a large bowl combine the cooked quinoa, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, carrot, eggs, flour, green onions, Splenda, pepper, cumin, salt, and garlic powder.

(To help them stay in patty form and not fall apart, I cook them on med-low slowly so they have longer to set-up without burning. Makes them easier to flip, too.) Heat a frying pan and a couple teaspoons olive oil over medium-low heat. Mixture will be slightly sticky, so using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, drop mixture into pan and lightly flatten to 1/2 inch thick. Fry until golden-brown, about 4 minutes on each side. Makes approx. 10 burgers.

Per burger: Calories 132; Protein 8 g; Fat 5 g; NET Carbs 12 g; (Fiber 2 g); Sugar 0 g; Sodium 200 mg

Hope someone else can use it too! Enjoy =)