From SparkPeople

I just got this email in my inbox and it's got some things I need to remember, so I figured I'd share...

Squeezing in Exercise

Do you feel more like a chauffeur than a parent? We all know that exercise is important for us to stay healthy, but between cooking, cleaning up, budgeting, homework help, and--oh, yeah--sleep, who has the time?

Next time you feel too busy to exercise, try squeezing it in to your schedule with these tips:

During Drive Time
Try some isometric exercises: Squeeze your glutes, contract your abs, and work your calves by raising your legs up on your toes at red lights. Park far from your destination so you have to walk farther. Arrive early to your event, if possible, to allow time for a brisk walk.

At Programs, Practices, and Games
Walk around the facility before or after the event; look for chances to combine a class or activity with those of your children. For example, take aerobics while your daughter has basketball practice at the YMCA.

While Keeping House
Shop at big stores where there'll be lots of walking; do meal prep and cleanup with a little music and dancing. Clean to music, and shun some of your labor saving devices (like remotes). When doing yard work, keep moving! Use your leg and glute muscles (instead of your back) to shovel, rake, move dirt, etc.

When doing laundry, do squats to pick up unfolded laundry from the basket, and take fitness breaks during homework time, such as stretching or jumping rope for a few minutes. (Your kids will love it too!) Become your dog's best friend--most dogs are always ready to boogie!

For Play Dates
Keep in mind the old adage that children live what they learn. If you don't want your kids to be couch potatoes, be a good example. Walk to the library for story hour; plan regular play times at the park or pool; when snow keeps you home, go play in it. By making physical activity fun, you'll lay the foundation for your kids to have healthy, active lives. What's more, you'll rediscover that activity can be fun--not just another item to check off your grown-up list!

I know that I already know this stuff, but sometimes it is just so hard to remember! I feel like I need to schedule it in, but sometimes I just need to squeeze it in even if my schedule doesn't "allow" for it. Exercise is important, and I need to make it a priority.

Need to get back on track...

... but I've been so busy lately it's just been too difficult for me to even think about counting calories, exercising, or anything like that.

Still, I need to make it a priority. Ask me in a week how making it a priority is going....

Tortilla Soup

That's what we had for dinner tonight. It was really good! Especially since I didn't use a recipe! (I was really hoping it would turn out...) I made it in the crock pot, too, so it took minimal effort. I love that! Here's basically what I did...

1 can of cream of chicken soup (I might use a second next time, or a bigger can)
1 can of corn (I would use two next time)
1 can of black beans (I would use two next time)
2 or more banana peppers, chopped (you could also use a can of green chilies)
1 packet taco seasoning

I put all that in the crock pot on low all day. Then I spooned it into bowls, added a handful of tortilla chips, about 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar, and a dollop of sour cream. It was good!! Even Ellie ate it, which is saying something!

Cube Steak with Feta

It sounds gross. It really does. But.... it was really good!

I ordered the menu mailer a while back and haven't really used it since my subscription expired. I got a year's worth of recipes (including nutritional information) and I printed them all out and put them in a binder. Some of the recipes I liked, and some I am just too lazy to make. But this one was easy. I didn't follow it exactly, but here's what I did...

I seasoned two cube steaks with paprika (both sides) and pan fried them in some garlic oil. Then, when they were cooked through, I pulled them off the heat, sprinkled feta over the top, and put the lid on the pan to keep the heat in while the feta melted.

Like I said, it sounds gross, but it was pretty good. I'm glad, too, because I'm sure there's another couple cube steaks in our freezer from the portion of a cow we purchased a couple months ago.

As a side dish I made mashed sweet potatoes. I wanted regular mashed potatoes, but we didn't have any white potatoes and we DID have 2 sweet potatoes that were going to go bad if I didn't use them soon. Not a bad side! I did put butter and salt on mine (as I would have done with a regular potato, though perhaps not as much since these had their own flavor already) and it was good! Full of vitamins, too, which is always good.

So that was our dinner tonight. We followed it up with some hot chocolate, which was just perfect for a cool fall evening. Yum!

Dinner Tonight....

From the Body-Clutter Menu Mailer we're having Cube Steaks with Bleu Cheese. Except that I'm substituting Feta for the bleu cheese. Quick, easy, and relatively healthy. And it uses ingredients I already have on hand and thawed.

One day at a time....

Self control?

Pretty much gone this week. And that's a sign I need to deal with more than just my eating. It's a sign that I've already lost all the self control in the other areas of my life.

Stink.

I hate it when that happens.

So I'm back to trying to stay on top of things. Prioritizing. Making lists. Using a timer. Flylady. Menu planning. Eating right.

I haven't gained that much weight, but my weight has gone up in the past week. I've been binge comfort food eating. And that usually means I'm at the bottom. So... it's time for a change. It's time to head back up!