My New Business

In an attempt to earn money while writing, getting out to meet people, and having a little fun, too - I started as a Consultant for Thirty-One Gifts, and it is working to keep me occupied enough to cut down eating a lot.  Snacks are gone.  I don't have time for them - not between this awesome company and my own writing.

Why mention this?  Nothing but shameless self-promotion... I have a good reach with this blog, and I thought that some of you will be interested.

FIRST person to make a $60 order of products alone, (plus shipping and tax), will win a free gift!

Here's the link for you to take a look at what I have to offer through the company.   Feel free to put your order under "Kristina's Catalog Party."

https://www.mythirtyone.com/poppies/

Also, if you are interested in selling Thirty-One, message me! :)

Pounds Going Down...

I've lost three more pounds, and the rings on my fingers need a guard now, just so they can stay on!  I am very excited, because I'm only 7 pounds away from a big number, and that would be great to have lost that much in 9 months, and to keep it off.

If you think you can't do it, you can.  It's all in your head, and then once you get over the fact that, yes - you DO need to lose weight, can't cheat every day, and must exercise, you will lose the weight.  If I exercised more, I would be dropping faster, and that's my plan, for now, but a huge goal for the new year.

Hubby and I must, for our health, lose the weight.  It's not a choice at any age, but we are in our forties, and we need to get it off before major problems occur.  We're doing it!  (Hubby is at a 57 pound loss!)  Slow, but sure, we are heading down in the pounds department, and they are staying off, which is the most important part.  You can do it!

Losing on Vacation!

I'm on a 12 day trip to see all sorts of family, and I've actually lost a pound!  32 down now!  I really thought I would gain on this trip, but there's one element that it has that I am not keeping up at home: being really active.

Part of losing weight when you are over 300 pounds, (not anymore!) is moving.  Really moving.  I've been through North Carolina and Tennessee, which have one thing that Florida doesn't: hills, lots of them.  So, I've been climbing hills and stairs.  My legs and lower back are feeling it, but my stomach is smaller.  I'll take that in a heartbeat!

So, when I go home, I need to do an incline on the treadmill, walk outside for fresh air, and really stay busy.   I've got to get back to yoga, hobbies, getting the house together, and taking care of hubby while he's in his busy season.  I am sleeping better than I have in a very long time, and I know it is due to all the activity.  Got to stay busy.

After all, isn't that what life is all about?

Eating on Vacation

Vacation and food go together, unfortunately.  However, there are ways to combat this evil!

Make food for the car or whatever ride you are in.  I'm on a car trip, so my hubby made chicken salad for me.  A couple of bananas, and I was on my way.  I did have a Frappe, but I had to stay awake!  For dinner, I made sure to fill half my plate with salad, a small piece of meat, some potatoes and a corn muffin.  Gotta have cornbread in the south!  It was a good food day.

Today will be challenging as it is my first full day on vacation, and I'm not in control of everything, only what I put in my mouth.  I'll have a small breakfast, since we are going out to lunch.  I hope there is some yogurt in the fridge.  I'll pick up some if there isn't.  It's my go to breakfast.

Join me on my other blog, Veronica the Vagabond to see updates on my trip!

Low-Cal, Elegant Birthday Lunch

My future son-in-law made a delicious meal for my birthday over the weekend.  Kristina felt horrible about taking me to a buffet for Mother's Day, citing one of my past posts, too.  I explained to her that there were three events that weekend, and I should have chosen one of the events, preferably the one with her, to have my treats, and cut back on the other two events.  I hope she got it.

Anyway, I had small slices of skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, garlic smashed cauliflower, and a side of green salad.  We had the best chocolate mousse I ever had, and it was made out of avocado and dark chocolate as the main ingredients, and don't balk at the avocado.  You can't even taste it - it's a healthy thickening agent.  It was fantastic.  Overall, smaller portions of great food will leave you satisfied.  I loved it.

Now hubby is in the kitchen making an equally healthy meal. :)

Mousse recipe, from Giada De Laurentiis by way of Carlos Cabeleiro...

Ingredients
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, such as Ghirardelli
4 very ripe (8 ounce) avocados, peeled and pitted
1/2 cup agave
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
Fresh raspberries, for garnish
Directions
Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl. Place over a small saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.

Place the melted chocolate, avocados, agave, cocoa powder, almond milk, vanilla and salt in a food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Spoon into glasses and refrigerate for at least 3 hours (can be prepared 1 day in advance). Garnish with fresh raspberries and serve.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chocolate-avocado-mousse-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

Body Image and Weight

A friend of mine has been telling me for years to "dress the package," no matter what my weight was at the time, or that I didn't believe I could.  She tried to take me shopping so many times, but to no avail, I usually ended up with my usual stretch pants and a big top.  I got to where I detested shopping.  Soon, I couldn't shop at those stores anymore; I even got too big for Lane Bryant and had to order my ill-fitting clothes online, receiving them in the mail.

I hated my body, and I'm still not happy with my belly or flappy arms, but I've learned to dress the package.  I never thought anything would look good on me, and I grew up with all thin women - oblivious to my problem of finding clothes.  I remember one outfit my grandmother bought me, and I looked like a grape in it- an all purple jumpsuit!

It was my hubby that reminded me of beauty at any weight, and I shouldn't punish myself with no decent clothes just because I'm big.  It was strange the first time he took me shopping.  In fact, he told me to go to the dressing room, as I was freaking out - knowing that nothing would fit, but he came back with a ton of clothes.  Only a few fit at the time, but it was a start - in a real store!  Fitting in a bathing suit came next, then more stores were added, and I've found I love Wal-Mart's women's section.  I can buy cheaper clothes while I'm losing weight and then branch out some more.

It's been a very long journey, and to most people (those that judge), I look big no matter what I put on, but I like what I wear now, and I wouldn't change a thing.  I dressed the package, and now I like it!