Long Live Kale!!

Happy Friday! I just poured myself a cup of coffee, my boys are snuggling up next to me and Spring is in five days. Not to shabby, I have to say. Lets have a chat, shall we? :) 

Today I work 11-7. But it's OK. I am happy to have a job and the hours mean not much traffic if at all, which is nice. Traffic is very assy around here! I have been working more but it's good. I need the money. I'm kind of in this alone out here on the East Coast. My family is all on the West Coast and the burden of working and bringing in income has been placed on my shoulders. Not cool but it is what it is. I don't mind working at all and in fact think it's good for us. The only thing I don't like is seeing my boys less. My heart hurts. And last night my little guy fought sleep and stayed awake late. I kept telling him to go close his eyes and rest and he would shake his little head and say "No, I wanna be with you forever". He wouldn't sleep because he didn't want to miss out on time with me while I was awake. I finally turned off the light and snuggled up with him and we both slept. It's a killer!! :(

Yesterday, somebody on My Fitness Pal told me they read my blog every day and another person said they went out and bought Kale after reading it. That made me feel great! And it's exactly why I started the blog in the first place. Baby steps leading to a new lifestyle is the way to go and I can definitely help with that as I have done it myself. That is what I want to do as a health coach as well. Even go shopping with people to show them how I shop. Perhaps even cook with them. 

I had written a post on My Fitness Pal that is read by many and I have been told it has helped them and even  had some people say it was the most helpful and informative post they had read about how to lose the weight.  I can't even tell you how great that makes me feel. I have had the idea of creating a blog and eventually a website for the last couple of years. Part of the reason I held off is because I wanted to get to a place that was true success in maintenance as well as weight loss. I know so many wanting to lose weight and change their lifestyles like to know that you can lose it and keep it off. And I feel like advice coming from someone who has "been there" can be more related to. Hence why I am here writing. 

I have actually experimented a bit with my weight as I actually got too thin there for awhile. I can't eat when super stressed now. Amazing how that happened. I have a great inner-peace and ability to see the perspective in life due to experiencing a few toughies which has helped me keep from feeling the stress too much. I just keep thinking I have my health and ability and my boys do as well. Things could be much worse. But I have been trying to get some weight on in a controlled way and keep healthy and fit in the process. I had lost every curve I had! And that funny determination that I was not actually "big-boned" happened in the process. Man, to think of the weight my poor small frame was carrying. No wonder I have a weak lower back. I'm working on it though. 

When you are severely overweight and start the process of losing, it's almost like your body shouts "YEAH BABY!" and the weight starts coming off pretty fast. Once you get into a healthier "range" that's when it slows down. Your body isn't as keen to get rid of the weight. That is when you need to buckle down and resolve yourself to keep going despite the plateaus or small losses at the end. Don't feel like you aren't doing well or all the hard work you're doing is for nothing. Every single ounce that comes off is success. Remember that. And just because the stinkin numbers on the scale don't move it does not mean you aren't successful that day or week. Healthy habits, exercise, nutrition, change...they are all being celebrated inside, trust me! It might be in the form of clearer skin or less heartburn or firmer muscles or more energy and less fatigue and fewer aches and pains (except those from working your muscles which feel great!!)....so the numbers on the scale are not the only way to determine success. 

I never weigh. I think since meeting my goal weight over four years ago, I have weighed only a handful of times. Mostly when I was pregnant. Some experts say either don't weigh OR weigh very regularly..every day to see the minute changes. But the fluctuations on the scale can be very damaging to a person's psyche and cause them to feel like a failure which can often lead to giving up. I don't want that for anyone. The finish line IS there and I do live life and enjoy it. You can too! 

Today if you want to live a healthier life but not sure where to begin, just take some baby steps. Eat kale, berries and drink more water. Start with that. I am the kale queen! lol! I know I probably annoy my friends talking about it but it is this magic, awesomeness!! If you do ONE thing today, eat kale!! Kale kale kale!! :) Sometimes for dinner I saute/steam some kale with spices and then scramble a couple of eggs. Good stuff!! Cut the kale small to get the bitter out. Kitchen shears are one of the best kitchen gadgets out there, I am convinced. I use them to cut everything for my boys too! Pizza, chicken, veggies! :) 

Here is an amazing soup from Gina's Skinny Recipes. Great site!! And an easy way to get the kale in. I used the Jenni-O sweet Italian turkey sausage. My boys were tilting their bowls to slurp up the last of it, it was so good. And got kale into their little bodies. Muaahaaahaaaaaa!! 
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/01/turkey-sausage-kale-and-white-bean-soup.html
Here is a photo of the soup from her site. Come on, doesn't that look amazing?? 

Have a lovely day. I know life is tough and we all have a lot going on but you are worth being healthy and making your health a priority. You aren't going to be much good for anyone else if you aren't good to yourself. 

"Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing is gonna be alright" - Bob Marley

God Bless, 
Tami