Tag Archives: healthy eating

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Winter Wonderland Woes

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Day 152 in my trek to meeting Mickey

Today’s plan was to batten down the hatches and make it through this impossibly wintry day.  The temperatures this morning were subzero with wind-chills in the ridiculous range.  Then it warmed up to above zero at about noonish so the snow could begin.  At 2:30, my boss said to go home before the weather got any worse.  So I drove through whiteout conditions on ice covered roads.  I literally inched my way home  To quote a cartoon that I saw on Facebook this morning, “My face hurts.  Why do I live in a place that makes my face hurt?”  I know there has to be something wrong with being so crazed about driving in this weather.  It points to a lack of faith…or…is it common sense?

Anyway I made it through, and I am home.  I can heat up some roasted red pepper and beef soup for dinner with a nice crunchy bread.  And then just because we have them, I will boil us each (Mike and I) a Vollwerth’s natural casing hot dog or two.  Oh, yeah, we are comforting eating tonight.  Plus we’ll have plenty of fresh veggies to compliment the meal.

Jarvi, out.   Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Things Are Looking Up

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Day 151 in my trek toward Mickey

1) Fever…gone!  Hallelujah!  I still feel exhausted, but the fever has not returned.

2) Stomach-still some issues.  But it is definitely getting better.

So my plan for today was to go back to work, stay sugar-free, eat healthy and put some extra steps in my day.  Mission accomplished.  Mischief managed.

It is several degrees below sanity outside here today.  It’s the type of day that just getting up and out the door, making your way to work, putting in your day, hitting the grocery store for a bit, and traveling back home feels like a MAJOR accomplishment.  So I feel good about this day.

I had to hit the grocery store, because we literally had nothing in the house for dinner but three bread crusts and a half stick of oleo.  🙂  It’s lousy to be sick for so long.  You eventually run out of food.

Anyway…things are looking up here at the Jarvi household.  Slowly, but surely, we are feeling better.  PTL!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Encountering Mickey

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Day 148 in my quest to encounter Mickey

Today my plan was to research and figure out where I will meet up with Mickey in October, so this is it.  On October 14, 2015 (Lord willing and the creek don’t rise) I will meet up with Mickey in the Magic Kingdom at the Town Square Theater.  I am so-o-o-o excited when I envision it.  Me: “Thank you, Mickey, for inspiring me to get healthier this past year!”  Mickey: Silently nods head and shakes my hand.  Me: “Mickey, you have been a true friend.”  Mickey: Silently nods and rocks back and forth from foot to foot.  Me: “OK, g’bye, Mickey.”  Mickey: Silently gives me a hug and waves goodbye.

I guess it’s a good thing they aren’t allowed to talk.  How would they ever do the voice, right?

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Facing the Music

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Day 147 in my disco-dance to Disney and my marvelous mate (the British word: mate, as in friend) Mickey.

Today’s plan was to assess the damages.  Now that the holidays are behind me, I had to face the music.  Yes, I was careful, more careful than I have ever been during the holidays.  BUT I was far from perfect.  So I bucked up my courage and stepped on the scale this morning.  After all, I need to know where I am, so I can dig back in, right?  I was so nervous.  Would this be my first gain in nearly 5 months?  Would I step off the scale in tears after swearing up a storm?  Would I have to break out the next size up…again?

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles…I actually lost weight over the holidays!  Woo hoo!!!  Now I am down 36.8 pounds from the beginning.  That’s another 3.5 pounds since I weighed myself on December 11.

I am so chuffed.  It makes me want to keep on keeping on.  So come on 2015, let’s dance!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Salad and Swimming

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Day 136 in my quest to be at my best when I meet up with Mickey

I’ve been at work for just over three hours, and the printer has been humming the whole time, except for a small break when I ran the church’s January newsletter to the post office.  Christmas Eve…printed and in place.  Christmas Day…printed and ready to go.  Sunday, December 28…printing now and I will stuff it and have in ready within the hour.  Praise God!!

Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, we are headed out of town on five days of vacation after work today.  My plan for today is to swim tonight at the Hampton Inn (or my version of swimming which is to walk around in the pool for half an hour) and to order a salad when we dine out at our favorite Green Bay eatery, Grazies Italian Grill.  I will skip the amazing pasta this time.  After all, it’s Christmas Eve eve, so I want to be as good as possible.  Seriously, folks, all bets are off for the next two days.  I won’t go crazy, but I will indulge in some holiday favorites.

I will meet you at the Kingdom!

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Blue Apron 3

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Day 130 in my march to the Magic Kingdom and Mickey

Today is day three in my busiest work week of the year.  Man, I am wiped out!  Every year I think it will be better than before: less stress, better organization, and every year it bites me in the butt…again.  There are just not enough hours in the day.  OK…I got that off my chest.

My plan for today was to cook a lovely gourmet meal with Mike for our dinner tonight.  We still had our third Blue Apron meal to cook: Chicken & Chestnut Pasta with Savoy Cabbage & Granulated Honey. Look at these ingredients:

  1. 8 ounces Ground Chicken
  2. 8 ounces Whole Wheat Spaghetti
  3. 2 Carrots
  4. 2 Cloves Garlic
  5.  2 Stalks Celery
  6. 1 Yellow Onion
  7. One half Pound Savoy Cabbage
  8. 1 Bunch Rosemary
  9. 2 T. Butter
  10. 2 t. Granulated Honey
  11. One quarter Cup Roasted, Peeled Chestnuts
  12. One quarter Cup Grated Pecorino Cheese

It was delicious!  And it made a mountain of food.  We have plenty left over for lunch tomorrow.  Leftovers are always my favorite lunch.

Back into the fray tomorrow.  🙂  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Nose to the Grindstone

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Day 128 in my endeavors to live healthier, so I’m in better shape when I meet up with Mickey

What a busy day.  This is by far my busiest week of the whole year at work, and today lived up to that fact.  Whew, I am bushed.

My plan for today was to keep my nose to the grindstone and get as much accomplished as I possibly could at work.  And that is exactly what I did.

I stayed sugar-free.  I ate plenty of fruit and veg.  I moved around the office whenever I could.  I stayed and worked late.  I came home and wrote bills while dinner was in the oven.  And now my day is in.  And I am all in, too.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Cleaning Up My Act

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Day 127 in my efforts to get ready to meet MIckey

Today my plan was to clean up inside and out.  So I went to church this morning to worship our incredible God, and I just got home from the sauna.  Mischief managed!

After I post this blog, Mike and I will prepare our second Blue Apron meal.  Tonight it’s Basted Flank Steaks with Beet-Freekeh Salad and Gorgonzola..   I don’t know what Freekeh is, but I keep hearing, “Get your freak on, get your, get your freak on…” in my head.  These meals are teaching us things.  🙂  Here’s tonight’s ingredients:

  1. 2 flank steaks
  2. 1 bunch red baby beets
  3. 1 Hungarian wax pepper
  4. 1 red onion
  5. 1 bunch chives
  6. 2 T. crumbled gorgonzola cheese
  7. 2 T. butter
  8. 2 T. sugar
  9. one quarter cup cracked freekeh
  10. one quarter cup walnuts
  11. one quarter cup red wine vinegar

Sound great, right?  I’ll let you know tomorrow what we thought.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: The Braised Moroccan-Style Salmon and Greens with Quick-Preserved Lemon, Pine Nuts and Red Quinoa last night was absolutely incredible!  You can see a picture on my Facebook page, if you wish.  Just look for Donna Taskila Jarvi.

 

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Blue Apron Meal

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Day 126 in my quest to eat healthier to build some stamina to run with Mickey

For my birthday, Emi and James ( my lovely daughter and son-in-law)signed me up for three meals from Blue Apron.   Last Thursday a package was delivered with all the ingredients and the recipes for putting the three meals together.  Here is what we’re having:

  1. Basted Flank Steak with Beet-Freekeh Salad and Gorgonzola
  2. Chicken and Chestnut Pasta with Savoy Cabbage and Granulated Honey
  3. Braised Moroccan-Style Salmon and Greens with Quick-Preserved Lemon, Pine Nuts and Red Quinoa

My plan for today is to put together number 3.  Even the ingredients sound delicious.  2 skinless salmon fillets, half a cup of red quinoa, 3 cloves of garlic, half a bunch of kale, 1 Meyer lemon, 1 pound of heirloom cauliflower, 1 bunch mint, 2 T. capers, 2 T. dried currants, 2 T. sugar (I plan to substitute Splenda), 2 t. Ras El Hanout, 2 T. Pine Nuts.  I’ve never heard of Ras El Hanout, but it looks like a spice.  I’ll let you know how it was tomorrow.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Thank you for all the prayers for my brother Gary.  He came through the surgeries and is recovering.  I am so glad that the surgery is behind him!  God is good all the time.

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Another Payday-Weigh Day

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Day 124 in my journey to join up with Mickey in a healthier body

Here we are at the 11th of the month again and that means time to face the scale.  I have to tell you; I was pretty nervous stepping onto that cold, glass scale this morning.  Since a month ago when I last weighed, we have celebrated Mike’s birthday, Thanksgiving and my birthday.  It was with no small amount of fear and trepidation that I faced the cold, hard truth of the scale.  Well, it’s a miracle.  I have lost another 3.2 pounds for a total of 33.2 pounds.

I have had a very good month, but somehow, when you have been a career dieter, you always expect the losses to stop.  But why should that be, right?  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  (Philippians 4:13)

So, dear readers, I will keep on keeping on.  Meet you at the Kingdom!