Tasty Tuesday

Things have been going really well here.  I feel like I have been super productive, and I know Hans is thrilled with all the work I've been getting done.  I've cleaned and folded laundry, and I've even been cooking regularly (eggs and bacon with an orange and toast every morning is always a plus).  Part of my cooking has meant that I've been exploring some new recipes, and I've been returning to old favorites I haven't made in a while.  While most of my cooking has been fairly healthy, I've had a few that could be healthier.  That said, the way I see it, it's all healthier than eating out, so it's a plus.

Anyway, I'm hoping to post some of my recipes online regularly.  I'd like to be able to do every Tuesday, but I'm not going to promise anything.  Just be patient, and you'll get a recipe every now and then.

For our first recipe, I'm sharing:

Apple Chicken Stir-Fry

Not the best picture, but still tasty.

Ingredients:
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
- 1 1/2 Tbs + 1 1/2 tsp Vegetable oil
- 1/2 c. onion, vertically sliced
- 1 3/4 c. carrots, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp dried basil, crushed
- 1c. fresh or frozen snow peas
- 1 Tbs water
- 1 medium baking apple, cored and thinly sliced
- 2 c. cooked brown rice

Heat 1 1/2 Tbs  of oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat.  Add cubed chicken breast and stir-fry until lightly browned and cooked.  Remove from skillet.  Stir-fry onion, carrots, and basil in remaining 1 1/2 tsp of oil in same skillet until carrots are tender.  Stir in pea pods and water; stir-fry 2 minutes.  Remove from heat; stir in apple.  Add to chicken, serve over hot, cooked rice.

Per serving: 330 calories, 8g fat, 1g saturated fat, 65mg cholesterol, 115mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate, 5g fiber, 29g protein.  Makes 4 servings

This recipe is courtesy of Martinsfoods.com.  It is quite tasty, but I do have to say there are some things I'd like to try.

While the recipe is delicious as is, it was also a little plain.  I'd like to see how it would taste if it were cooked in sesame oil instead of vegetable oil.  I also wonder how it'd be with a splash of apple cider or even a spritz of citrus juice to flavor things up.  All in all, though, it's a great way to get all your veggies in one meal.  Oh, and I think it would be easy enough to add or remove any veggies.  I would definitely add some peppers and mushrooms, because I love peppers and mushrooms.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

Well That's A Pain

So, I mentioned a while back that I'd had to stop running for a while because my knee was really bothering me.  And it was!  It hurt when I went up and down stairs, it hurt when I was driving, it hurt when I walked the dogs.  In fact, the only time it didn't hurt was when I was bicycling (curse the flat tire that prevented me from biking more often).  So, today I finally went to see an orthopedist.

As is the case with most things that cause us problems, the knee wasn't acting up today.  There was some tenderness, but nothing too major, and I almost canceled at the last minute, but I decided it had been enough of a problem for long enough that I should go.  A few x-rays and some stretches later, and we have a diagnoses.

Patellar Tendinitis

Basically, it's nothing serious yet, but if not treated it could cause problems.  The doctor said I may also have lost some cartilage, but that's no concern at this point.  For now, I have a few physical therapy appointments, and a patellar strap to wear whenever I'm standing.

This is not my leg, but it is what my strap looks like.

I can tell that strap is going to help tremendously.  Already, I'm able to climb the stairs without wincing in pain, and going on a walk does not leave me limping at the end.  So, I'm excited to get this thing worked out and get back into action!

Oh, and in case you're wondering what could cause patellar tendinitis: It's generally caused by repetitive motions like jumping, running, or biking, but there could be other contributing factors such as wide hips (thank you to my baby-making hips), or hyper-extension (apparently I do this a little too).  Also, don't tell the doc, but I think that having dogs run into your legs multiple times a day could be a contributing factor.  :)  Either way, let's hope I'm up and running again soon!

I Used to Be Independent

Eight years ago I was graduating high school and going off to college.  I was fairly independent back then.  I was independent enough to go to a school that was 1250 miles from home.  I was independent enough to go to parties on my own.  I was independent enough to ask a boy a barely knew for a ride home, and I was independent enough to program the TV and VCR without the boy's help.  Somewhere over the past 8 years, I lost that independence.

In fact, I remember the day my independence left.  It was shortly after Hans and I got married, and I had bought a bathroom shelving unit.  I wanted to surprise Hans by having it assembled and set up by the time he got home, so I got to work.  Three hours later, it was mostly assembled, but I couldn't get one crucial part together.  I pushed and shoved and squeezed, but those puzzle pieces would not fit.  When Hans came home I was still sitting in the middle of the floor with pieces of shelves around me.  I asked for some help, and Hans, being the builder that he is, had that thing completely assembled in about 30 minutes.  To add insult to injury, the whole unit didn't even fit in our bathroom, and we had to disassemble it and return it to the store.  Anyway, that was the first time I realized how much faster Hans could handle certain things.

Over the years it's gotten worse.  Hans was the best at building things (he is a carpenter after all), painting things, and making decisions.  I can't seem to program the VCR to save my soul, and my ability to go to a party on my own is barely existent.  I'm much more comfortable with Hans.

Here's the thing, though.  While I often lament my loss of independence (and scream at Hans, "I used to be able to do things before I met you!"), I'd much rather have Hans around.  I definitely prefer having Hans here to chat with and cuddle with and share dinners with than to have the ability to paint and build and program VCRs. 

Maybe some day I'll regain some of my independence, but for now I'm quite happy to be codependent.

Fighting the Winter Blues

I am on my second week of greatly decreased / no processed sugar, and things are going well.  The stomach bug was a great jump-start, but that doesn't mean things have been easy.  While I feel my cravings are passing, earlier this week was particularly bad.  I think a lot of it had to do with the cold, but all I wanted was cake.  I didn't want anything cold...just cake.  Luckily, Hans and I had picked up some fruit-filled bread last Saturday, and that helped to satisfy my needs.  Otherwise, I've been doing OK.  I'm feeling good, but aside from all that cutting sugar does for me, there's one other side effect I hadn't anticipated.

I feel like I've accomplished something.

One of the worst things about the winter blues is that I end up sleeping a lot.  When I sleep a lot, nothing gets done.  When nothing gets done, I feel bad.  When I feel bad, I want to sleep a lot.  Do you see the vicious cycle?  By cutting sugar, I didn't have to really do anything (other than fight urges).  It was something I wanted to do, and it really didn't require a lot of work.  Now I feel like I've accomplished something.

Since I accomplished one thing, I now want to tackle other things.  I've done the dishes.  I've folded laundry.  I've even cooked a few meals.  I'm going to they gym this afternoon, and I think I'm going to set up a pretty awesome work out plan.  Tackling one hard thing has made it easier to tackle other easy things, and that's pretty cool.  So, for now, I'm keeping processed sugar to a minimum. 

Great Falls National Park

Two dogs excited to be on a car trip.

Hans took a painting!

Cody, Ollie, Ippa, Lollie

The two bullies.

Scenery along our hike.

Everybody chase Ippa!!!

Did someone say, "Ippa?"

Run!!!!!

Tired puppies

A very tired Ippa.

Yesterday, Hans and I took Cody, Lollie, and their friend Ippa to Great Falls National Park.  There, we met up with Oliver and a good time was had by all.

How A Stomach Flu Can Be Good

As you know, earlier this week I was suffering from a stomach flu.  It was awful!  I had a fever and chills.  Everything made me nauseous, and I didn't eat for 4 days.  Yes, in the last post I joked that I had dropped 6 pounds, but it wasn't very fun, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  That said, there was some good that came from it.

I have already discovered that processed sugar is awful for me.  I don't just mean it's bad physically.  I mean, it really messes with my head.  It makes me depressed and lethargic.  It makes me cranky and sad.  All in all, it makes me feel like I'm the shell of a person struggling to get by.  The problem is, I am kind of a sugar addict.  All it takes is the bite of cookie or the sip of a milkshake to send me spiraling back.  The one cookie will make me crave a second cookie.  That milkshake (and the justification of that milkshake) will make me crave more milkshakes, or hot chocolate, or a banana chocolate-chip coffee cake, courtesy of Starbucks.  Stopping is easier said than done.  I can come up with a million excuses as to why I deserve more.  I've had a hard day.  It's cold outside (particularly good for hot chocolate).  It's only one, and one is fine.  I need a pick me up.  I'm tired.  I'm worried about xyz.  I'll say anything to have another bit of sugar.  The problem is that each bite makes me feel worse, and each bite makes me crave more.

I knew I needed to cut the sugar.  I needed to "sober up" if you will.  I've done it before, but it's extremely hard.  For me, it's even harder in the winter, and most of my sugar cuts have happened in the summer.  I'm happier in the summer, and I'm more active in the summer, so I can usually fight off silly cravings.  Cutting the sugar was going to be really hard this time.  I hadn't been feeling great emotionally, and things have been kind of stressful.  I was trying to succeed, but I kept getting in my on way.

That's where the stomach flu comes in.  Not only could I not eat sugar, the thought of anything sweet repulsed me.  I would think of saltines or very simple soup and be OK, but the thought of one of the Oreos sitting on our counter made me ill.  Smelling something sweet was even worse.  Heck, even the smell of our caramel-scented candle gave me pause.  I didn't enjoy being sick, but even at the time I could recognize that this was a good thing.

I started eating real food again on Wednesday, and I started eating colorful food (not plain rice and chicken) on Thursday, but I've done well with the no sugar thing.  I haven't really wanted any sugar.  My mentality seems to be, "I've gone this long without sugar, what's another day?"  It was something I recognized right away...I no longer needed all the sugar.  So, yesterday when Mom and I went to Starbucks like we often do, I let her buy coffee, but I had nothing (I already had tea that morning, so I really didn't want more).  I didn't have hot chocolate even though it was chilly out, and I didn't have that delicious banana chocolate-chip coffee cake.  Sure, the thought passed through my mind that I deserved one, but it was easy to squash.

Oh, and how has this paid off?  Am I feeling better?  You bet!  I'm sleeping better and requiring less of it.  I'm spending more time at the gym.  I'm cooking dinner (which makes Hans extremely happy).  I'm a happier person all-in-all.

Now, I know, realistically, that I can't hide from sugar forever.  There are some treats I refuse to give up (like Culver's custard), but I don't need those treats on a regular basis.  I can get by with only having them once or twice a year.  They will be more special because I did get by.  For now, I'm just thankful that my stomach flu ended with a happy outcome...or maybe that's just the lack of sugar pointing out the positive.  :)

10 Step Diet

Step 1: Invite a friend over for pizza.  This will THE LAST DAY you will eat junk food. 

Step 2: Call the husband and ask him to pick up ice cream and candy, because you're going to make milkshakes.  In the absence of a husband, get them yourself.

Step 3: Consume nearly an entire pizza and a lot of chocolate before entering a sugar coma and going to bed.

Step 4: Start the day with a healthy breakfast.

Step 5: See the chocolate from the night before and decide to finish it off.  There wasn't a lot left, and it's better to be rid of it so it's not tempting you.

Step 6: Immediately curse because you just ate chocolate!

Step 7: Move on with your life and begin your day.

Step 8: Eat a healthy, hearty lunch because you've been working hard.

Step 9: Catch a stomach bug with fever and chills included.  Stop eating for 3.5 days because the thought of food makes you ill.

Step 10: Lose 6 pounds!

Yes, I've been sick.  After Sunday I was functional, but my stomach couldn't seem to digest any food.  Today I am feeling much better, and I'm starting to eat some proteins and cooked veggies.  I hated that stomach bug, and I felt miserable, but it was nice to lose 6 pounds.  That said, I don't recommend that diet for anyone!