I bought something terrible!

And by Terrible I mean something deliciously terrible. Do you know about this stuff? "Chicago Mix" popcorn!

Seriously ya'll this stuff should be outlawed and come with a warning label. Highly addictive. You get the perfect combo of sweet and salty. If you eat too many cheese pieces in a row you just switch to the caramel pieces. Then when you get sick of those you go back to the cheese pieces and so it goes. Sweet, salt, fat!

It's a vicious cycle! The bag will be gone by the end of the day. Now I ask myself, do I put that detail in my food journal? I am doing a food journal now because I have an appointment with a dietitian at the end of the month.

Eating on the road

Eating on the road is challenging when you are trying to change your habits. I've been trying to make good choices but it is tempting to make the wrong ones.

I am on the road in Billings Montana for a conference for work. Conferences are the worst because you don't have a lot of control over the food provided. Last night was a heavy hour dovers at the Zoo here. It was a fun night and I really liked the opportunity to walk around the zoo. I think I made some good choices from the buffet. I did have a roll but I didn't eat the brownies.

However, when I got back to the hotel I did walk over to a close by gas station for a sweet treat. A huckleberry flavored ice cream sandwich. It was Sweet and berry flavored and a lot better than I was expecting.

Also near my hotel is a fun sex boutique, Adam and Eve. I went in there to browse. I did find a couple of corsets that didn't fit AT ALL! I was pretty disappointed that even in an XL with the laces all the way out it didn't come close to closing together around me. Mehh. Oh well, I guess I need to shop somewhere else. I'll tell you about my corset search later.

So this morning I missed the provided breakfast for the conference, so I ate in the hotel restaurant. I made a choice I really enjoyed, a skillet with potatoes, bacon, sausage, peppers, and  mushrooms topped with 2 eggs. I only ate a quarter of it, which was a good choice IMO. I probably could have made a better choice, but I enjoyed it.

Making better choices...mostly

I feel achy and tired and sore. I'm not sure what is wrong with me but mostly I believe it is my weight gain. I don't know what I am at right now, but I know my body is in shut down mode. I ran out of my Singular (the medicine they give you for asthma) and thought I could go without it. Turns out I was wrong. I couldn't breathe!! I was using my inhaler about 4 times a day. It was insane!

Well I got a refill of that prescription and feel much better now. But I can't help but think about if I lost some weight if that would help. People who loose weight always brag about how they don't have to take their prescriptions anymore and how their health has improved. So I'm going to start making better choices and turn things around. I've made up some steps to start with and hopefully I can stick to them.

1) Stop drinking (alcohol)

2) Do something active every day

3) Cut sugar - sugar detox!!!
4) Cut carbs - try going gluten free
5) Eat at least 2 vegetarian dinners per week (one potentially vegan)

So let's see how this goes. I'm on day 3 of my sugar detox and it is going ok. I had trouble last night but had a sugar free ricotta cheese dessert and felt better.

I'm 40!!!!!!

My surprise 40th rockin' birthday party

 Well, I've made it to 40 years old. Can you believe it? I feel that there are some activities in my life that surely had I not had luck on my side I would have died. But I'm hear and a much more cautious adult because of those experiences.

I've also found that I've become a lot bolder. I am more sure of my opinions and am not afraid to voice them. I've become more confident in those opinions and views and do not apologize for them. I've also found what is important in life. My kids, my husband, my parents, my brother and his family, my friends, all these things I cherish.

And Disney...I love Disney!!!

We met Elsa!

I also believe that I have come to a point in life when I want to make my mark. I've taken on a couple of tasks as I reach this point in my life that my heart has guided me to. I've become a Lamaze Childbirth Educator because I feel the women in my community need this resource. I searched for childbirth education that would help me have an unmedicated birth and couldn't find it. So now I'm going to provide it. I have a blog for that too.

I've also decided to get involved with the movement to make kids safe around guns and the Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America group working to encourage legislation that would keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. My friend and I were recently part of a "Day of Action" for the group where we went to Senator Heidi Heitkamp's office in Bismarck to ask her to support background checks. We were on the news on two stations and in the Bismarck Tribune.

So that is what 40 has done to me. I'm bolder and more concerned about things. Enough to take action to fix them. And I'm proud of that.

Why I'm staying in the U.S.A.

Dear United States of America,
I refuse to leave! As the political battle of presidential candidates rages on I have heard and read statements from people saying they will move to a different country should a certain person become president. I can't lie, this thought has crossed my mind. I do love Canada (except for the cold), and France would be really nice. But as I consider my position as a feminist, a mom, a conservationist, a breastfeeding defender, a lover of love, a hunter, an agnostic, and pro-choice, I feel it is my duty to stay.

I am staying because this country needs people like me. It is my duty to remain in my country and let my voice be heard. It is my duty to show the people in our government that the voices that got them elected are not the only voices they must serve in the office of president. The U.S.A is a diverse country with many needs and to be the leader of this country means you must work to serve those needs...ALL of those needs.  

I am concerned about all the things I have seen out there that fuel hatred. Hatred among races, among religions, among other countries, among beliefs. We can't fuel this country on hate and fear! That makes us just as bad as the terrorists. Wouldn't our children be much prouder of us if we hugged each other rather than punched each other?

(This video does not serve as my endorsement of any particular candidate, it is just to illustrate the differences between a hate and love and the power of a hug. It also illustrates how the demeanor of a public figure can influence the behavior of his/her supporters.) 

As president you are responsible for representing all of us on the international stage. If you cannot do so with professionalism, dignity, and compassion you do not deserve the honor of being president. We are progressive, we are not afraid, we want better for our children.   

I am staying because no matter who gets elected president that person will need to know my views and those of people like me. We will need to fight to maintain and advance our views, we will need to shout that hate and fear will not run our lives and that we as Americans have an integrity to uphold. We need to make sure we do not regress on policies that have protected our natural resources, advanced our economy, and protected our civil rights. We need to make sure we continue to move forward with policies that serve our needs, ensure our health, and protect our vulnerable populations.

So hear me now! You will hear from me once you are in office. The people of this country cannot be silenced by the statements that got you elected. You will have supporters that feed into your policies and programs (or lack there of), but once elected you will need to answer to all of the citizens of the U.S.A. 

So no matter who I vote for in November and no matter who wins this presidential election, I will work hard to make my voice heard and try to influence policies that make sense for the U.S.A. Because it is important that our government work for us. It is important that they know what we want and that they cannot govern a people without listening to the people. 

For the love of all that is holey in weight loss

A calorie is a calorie is a calorie....not exactly. We (the royal we) have been learning more and more about how 100 calories of pure sugar does not equal 100 calories of almonds.

Now there is an article out that says we, as humans, don't process calories the same due to our gut fauna.

Wow! I'm confused! Is this why I can't loose weight even when I eat the same food as my 6'6" 160 pound husband? I'm sure genetics are in there somewhere.

We are spoiling our kids

I am afraid we are spoiling our kids and raising brats! As I start to think this thought I get an email in my in box from "What to Expect" titled "How not to spoil your child"

Alice screams a lot and tries to get her way that way. Miles starts to cry. These are the tantrums I have to put up with. I guess I just need to get tougher. One night I put a bunch of Alice's toys in "time-out" and nothing worked. Why won't they listen to me and do as I ask?!!!


Thursday, December 17, 2015
Cottage cheese
HB egg
2 cup tea
2 rice cakes with humus and avacado
DC coffee
Light egg nog (I bought this light stuff by mistake, but it isn't too bad)
Chunk of mozzarella cheese