It's come to this

Last night there was only one person who showed up for the FP4H class.  Thanks Gladys for being faithful in your attendance, coming prepared and participating.  It's showing.  The numbers on the scale are going down.  You're looking great and I know you're feeling pretty good too -- especially when you laid down on the floor last night to demonstrate a low back exercise.  You got back up with almost no effort... not something every grandmother can do!

Of course I knew some of the other ladies had other commitments and I know they'll be back.  But the vast majority of the class has just slowly faded away without saying a word or sending an email. I feel bad for them because they've just added another layer of guilt to their already burdened heart and chances are they headed to the nearest cupboard looking for something to sooth their guilt.

I know this is the reality because I lived it tonight.  I came home and felt like quitting.  I was discouraged and felt like a failure as a leader.

My husband was just serving himself a bowl of ice cream (a nightly ritual for him) and I had him scoop out a bowl for me.  I needed something sweet to erase the bitterness of the failure of the evening.

Then the unimaginable happened.  After 44 years, my husband asked me about my weight.  He wanted to know how much I weighed.

Really?

Of all nights you ask me how much I weigh???

When I didn't answer he asked me again. "How much do you weigh?"

Silence.  Do I tell him the number on the scale?  Do I do the best imitation of a politician and avoid answering the question?  Do I answer with some witty remark or come back with the kind of answer that will start an argument and deflect the original question?  Or should I just be honest and open and answer him?

Finally I answered -- with THE NUMBER.  Ouch!  It was painful. It was embarrassing.

I'm at a crossroads now.  Do I just give up?  Give up trying to lead a class where no one shows up?  Give up trying to make healthy choices about the food I eat.  Give up exercising?

Or do I keep trying?  Prepare for the weekly lesson and be thankful for everyone who walks in the door on Wednesday evening - even if it's just one person.  Do I make my grocery list with healthy choices and stick with it when I walk through the store?  Do I keep moving?

Do I take the advice of this Japanese Proverb?

Recipe Exchange

A couple of weeks ago the FP4H ladies shared some of their favorite "diet" recipes.

I can usually tell by the list of ingredients if it would be worth the effort (meaning if I have most of the stuff in the cupboard already or it doesn't call for some oddball spice that I'll never use again).

Husband, Glenn has had to work a lot of evenings lately and hasn't had a good home-cooked meal for several days so I thought it would be a great time to try out a couple of the recipes (of course I won't tell him that they are part of my healthy eating plan because he would immediately pooh-pooh them).

Dessert first since it took time to set.

Key Lime Pie

1/4 cup water
1 package (4 oz) sugar-free lime flavor gelatin
2 containers (6 oz) fat-free key lime yogurt
2 cups fat-free whipped topping
1 reduced fat graham cracker pie crust

°  Heat water to boiling.
°  Whisk into gelatin until dissolved.
°  In a medium bowl, stir together gelatin mixture and yogurt.
°  Fold in whipped topping.
°  Spread in crust; refrigerate at least 4 hours or until set. Store in refrigerator.

Total calories in pie = 1280
1/8 slice of Key Lime Pie = 160 calories


Main course

Onion-Crusted Pork Chops

1 envelope onion soup mix
1/3 cup plain dry bread crumbs
4 bone-in or boneless pork chops; 1 inch thick
2-4 tablespoons Dijon style mustard
salt/pepper to taste

°  Preheat oven to 375°.
°  Combine onion soup mix, bread crumbs, salt and pepper.
°  Brush both sides of chops w/mustard.
° Dip in soup mixture until evenly coated.
° Spray baking pan with non-stick cooking spray (or line pan with tin foil for easy clean up)
° Baked uncovered, turning once, 30 minutes or until done.

NOTE:  I didn't add salt to the dry mix since the onion soup mix is pretty salty on it's own and we can always salt at the table if necessary; and since it was just the two of us, I only baked two chops.

Exchange value for one pork chop = 1 veg, 1 bread, 3 medium-fat meat, 1-1/2 fat

Glenn will be a very happy man and I'll be finishing off my day with good choices!

Update

The pork chops were a hit with Glenn!  I was right in NOT adding salt.  They were plenty salty enough and next time I'll use the foil with the baking dish. Clean up wasn't much fun.

Onion-crusted pork chop; green beans and herb mashed potatoes

Overcoming a bad reputation

As a small group leader for a First Place 4 Health class I feel it's my responsibility to inform, inspire and encourage the class members. One of my more popular efforts to this end is "The Snack".  Each week I bring a low calorie, healthy snack for the ladies to take home.  It's my way of helping them keep focused and on track throughout the week; and to encourage them to try something new.

Last week I brought Sunsweet Prunes.  The super fruit. The misunderstood fruit.

Now the ladies in my group are pretty savvy.  This isn't their first go-round with making healthy choices and I can proudly say that they all enthusiastically claimed four of the single wrapped fruit for their snack the next day.

Little did I know that the left overs would turn into such interesting fodder at work.

I took the extras and placed them in my candy dish at work.

Oh my goodness the reactions have been hilarious!

My first observation -- people mindless pick up food and put it in their mouth without thinking.  More than one person tore open the wrapper and popped it into their mouth thinking it was chocolate, not a prune.  The facial expressions have been priceless and it's been a toss up as to whether they kept chewing or spit it out.

My second observation -- many of my co-workers rejected the prune because they didn't THINK they would like it.  In other words, these grown ups had never tasted one.

Once I discovered that they were rejecting the idea of even TRYING one of the sweet offerings I asked why and got answers like, "They will make me go to the bathroom." (Excuse me, but I never thought that was a bad thing.) "They taste like raisins and I don't like raisins." (No they don't, they are 100x better than raisins (sorry raisins))

I admit I was shocked that the prune had such a bad rep with my co-workers.  After all I'm working with professionals associated with the health care industry.  I'm working with people who should know that the prune packs a lot of sweet, chewy nutrition and it's far-far better for them than the donuts, cookies and cakes that grace our office way too often.

Copied from the Sunsweet web site, you can see the poor misunderstood prune gets little credit for being filled with:

Potassium

Potassium may help prevent hypertension and stroke and play a role in helping support cell energy by regulating fluid balance, nerve impulses and muscle contraction to increase energy.

Fiber

A diet containing foods with fiber can replace fats and sweets.

Blood Sugar Control

Soluble fiber may help play an important role in glucose control, helping to normalize blood sugar and insulin levels making diabetes more manageable.

Regularity

A fiber rich diet may contribute to maintaining a consistent digestive tract which helps lead to improved digestive health.

Four prunes = 100 calories

I have managed to convert a few people, but clearly the prune has some work to do to improve it's reputation.

Where to next?

When I first started riding my bike, I didn't wander to far from home because I didn't trust my legs to get me back home.

For the past year it seems like each time I go out for a ride I venture a little further from home because I've built up my leg muscles and my confidence.

My ride today took me further than I've ever gone by myself. When I turned around at the 9 mile mark I had no doubt that I could bet back home without having to call for the Sag Wagon (Glenn and his Jeep).

While I was out on a wonderful country road with cotton fields surrounding me and hawks soaring above, I thought about my spiritual muscles. Each small step of faith prepares me for the next step. My confidence grows as I learn to trust God to take me where He wants me.

When I'm riding I encounter hills and other obstacles; I get tired and hot; I can get hurt, but the reward for my effort is paying off.

The same can be said about stepping out in faith and obeying God. I will encounter obstacles (though it's not likely I could get hurt while leading a First Place 4 Health Bible study); and I certainly get tired, but as I learn to trust God, I'll get stronger and go further and He'll be able to use me in ways I could never imagine possible.

No speed record, but 19.26 miles is my personal best for distance!

Must Make!

Source: ww-recipes.net via Bette on Pinterest

It's Simple!

Nothing Butt Tough

This time last year I'd made the decision and investment to buy a road bike.

I was nervous about spending the money.  What if I bought it, rode it a few times and then it sat in the shed?  It would be one more thing I had wasted money on.  It would be one more thing sitting around, taking up space in the shed.  It would be one more reason my husband could say "I told you so." It would be one more thing I quit.

When I first got my bike I could only ride for 15-20 minutes.  I didn't have the legs, and it hurt my hiney - big time!

But I kept at it.  Each time I'd ride I could last a little longer, go a little further.

Before the weather turned cold and my attention was directed to Christmas cookies, I could ride for 40-45 minutes and I was putting some serious miles on my bike.

Spring time found me a little rusty and my butt had to toughen up again, but before long I was out and about, exploring new roads and feeling stronger and getting braver.

I've had set backs and road blocks and literally some huge hills I had to conquer that have discouraged me and in some cases even scared me.  But I didn't give up.

Today I just got back from a 17 mile ride in the country.  I went further from home than I'd ever been before.  Granted it took me two hours, but I keep reminding myself I couldn't sit on my bike for two hours this time last year.

I've proven to myself that if I don't give up I'll get better. Confident. Healthier. Stronger.

My journey to a healthier lifestyle is requiring the same perseverance.  It's taking time.  There are set backs and road blocks and even Christmas cookies that will slow me down, but I know that if I don't give up I'll get better. Confident. Healthier. Stronger.