I LOVE "Firsts".

Denise

First of all a big shout out to my sis, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love you, sissy! 🎈

Working six days a week wears me out, especially working for six days a week consecutively for months on end, but it makes it easier to keep to a routine. I am on vacation for a week as of yesterday and I'm very interested as to how I'm going to deal with my day to day exercise routine that I've kept up with for the last 7 ½ weeks. Tune in next week and wish me luck.

Last week was the first time I've dealt with “real” emotional eating desires since I started this journey. My dad was in the hospital for a heart issue and underwent surgery and, my parents, my whole family for that matter, are all 3000 miles away from where I live now. It was tough and I was so scared. When I got the news that he was out of surgery my adrenaline started slowing down and the almighty emotional eating desires kicked in the high gear. I planned on going to Mexitaly for a beer and French fries after work and just veg out and collect myself until I realized I was going back to old habits. I picked up my phone and told my husband how I was feeling and what I was planning and he talked me off the cliff. This was a huge step for me because for all of our marriage my usually behavior was to do whatever calmed my emotions down and not talk about it for a day or a few days, and then tell my husband how I was feeling and what I did about it. The lesson I learned by this was amazing, it was a “first” to deal with my emotions in real time with my husband, well with anyone for that matter. I felt empowered, not right away, but the next day I felt so proud. Not just that I didn't suck down some carb filled beers and fattening fries (btw, if you're local, Mexitaly has awesome beer and fries!), but learning that I can share my feeling in real time. I'm 48 and this has been an issue for me as long as I can remember. This brought my husband of 30 years and I just that much closer. I love the “firsts” in our relationship, it happens in all different ways and always makes me smile. I'm not out of the woods though, my daughter is due any time and the excitement is building, I just have to throw myself into the moment of every wonderful emotion and leave the food out of it!!

As far as my “baby step” approach is going, it's working for me. Everyday I move my body and everyday I choose whole healthy foods, besides last Sunday, my first cheat day! I ate bacon, egg and hash browns and enjoyed every bite of it! The big bowl of fruit puffs a little later was over kill and the handful of mini chocolate chips was definitely pushing it, oh, and wine😬,  but at the end of the day it was what it was, a little cheat after weeks of making great decisions and now I'm back on track. My clothes are getting loser, my body is getting firmer and I'm happy. I can't ask for more than that. I'm mean, I can ask for my body to shrink faster! Then I remind myself to take it day by day, choice by choice…baby steps.

If you NEED comfort foods like I do, here is a recipe I'd like to share. Beef stroganoff on the light side but so comforting.

1 lb mushrooms, chopped

1 onion, chopped

3 or more garlic cloves, chopped

Sauté

Add 1 lb. ground beef

Cook until beef is cooked through

Add 1 box or can condensed cream of mushroom soup

Heat through.

Remove from heat.

Add ½ C low fat sour cream

¼ C sour cream

Mix.

Serve over spiraled zucchini.

Add hot sauce if desired.

Have a blessed week.

Peace,

Panda