Tag Archives: Sugar-free

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Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

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Day 258 in moving toward Mickey

For years and years I lived my life in isolation, as much as possible.  I isolated myself and ate and tried to avoid stress.  In living my life this way, I was putting more stress on my body everyday as I added more and more and more pounds to my frame.

Part of changing that life pattern is taking on new challenges and pushing through to see them accomplished.  That’s why I took on the Women’s Retreat at church this spring.   So today’s plan was to push ahead and continue getting things set up and ready for Saturday.  I did this today.  Mission accomplished.

God has a tremendous sense of humor, doesn’t he?  Just as I take on this huge challenge, he lets me face an even bigger challenge.  The Big C.  My surgery is two days after the retreat, and I will be ready to sleep for a week when it’s all over.  🙂  Like The Message says in 2 Corinthians 12:10: “My grace is enough; it’s all you need.  My strength comes into its own in your weakness.”  I say, “Come, Lord Jesus.”  I expect great things at this retreat.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Pushing Through My Pain and Getting It Done!

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Day 257 in muscling my way to meeting up with my pal Mickey at the Magic Kingdom

Today’s plan was to set up the room for the Cafe Chocolat retreat this Saturday.  I set up six tables (4 round and 2 long), 5 chairs at each table.  Then I covered them with tablecloths.

Thank you, Lord, for Pat who is making the coffee and hot water for cocoa and tea, putting out water pitchers for the ladies, and making the centerpieces for the tables.  I seriously had a couple of nightmares about making these centerpieces.  Pat is a lifesaver!  Major mischief managed!

I was sweaty and wiped-out after setting up the room, but at the same time I felt a wonderful sense of accomplishment.  It always feels good to get active and bull some stuff around.  🙂

That’s it for today, Dear Readers.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Thank you to my sweet Emi for sending me Method Mickey Mouse Foaming Wash!  What a treat to come home yesterday and find 2 bottles there waiting for me.  Love you to the moon and back Emi-Bean!  And of course James, too! You made my day!

 

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The Best Laid Plans…

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Day 256 In my muddling my way to meet up with Mickey

Today’s plan is to stay sugar-free, to cook a healthy dinner for Mike and me this evening with plenty of fresh veggies, and to get as much done at work today to get as ready as possible to be out of the office  for 2 to 3 weeks.

We are too busy.  Seriously, we are too busy.  We are too busy to read simple instructions, or to process them if we do read them.  I had done some preparation for the next few weeks at work.  Things were labelled by date and lined up in order.  Then this weekend someone took the wrong weeks instructions, used them and completely messed up the works.  Argh!

I know I just have to let it go.  I am not responsible for other people’s mistakes.  If we’re too busy to make sense of things, then that is not my fault either.  I can only be responsible for my actions, my mistakes.  And I am.  It’s what sends me to church every Sunday, the need to give it all to Jesus, and walk away clean.  Hallelujah!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Easy Chicken and Bean Stew Koo-koo-ka-choo

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Day 249 in my plan to eat healthier to be more fit when I meet up with Mickey (5 months and 29 days to go)  OMGoodness!  It’s less than 6 months now.

Today my plan is to share a new recipe.  It’s from my Betty Crocker 30 Minutes Meals for Diabetes cookbook.  The recipe is for Easy Chicken and Bean Stew.  Here is the info:

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive or canola oil

1 1/2 cups frozen bell pepper and onion stir-fry (from 1-lb bag)

1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken

1 can (14.5 oz) Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1 can (15 to 16 oz) cannellini beans, drained, rinsed (Can use kidney beans or black beans)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves.

Directions

  • 1 In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add stir-fry vegetables; cook 2 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until crisp-tender.
  • 2 Stir in chicken, tomatoes, tomato sauce and beans. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium; simmer uncovered 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking up tomatoes, until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with basil.

People, it is delicious!  And my blood-sugar level loved it, too!  Try it, you’ll like it.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: I lost the extra few pounds I had put on, so I’m back to my lowest in years.  #smileyface

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Conquering Fear

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Day 248 in my inner journey to Mickey (6 months to go)

My plan for today was to continue to turn away from the fear that kept me frozen and on the sidelines for so long.  I dug back into our upcoming Cafe Chocolat women’s retreat materials.  It took me about an hour and a half to read through all the materials again.  Now I feel better and more familiar with how things are put together.  I am so excited about sharing this retreat with women from my St. James family!  However, I have had a nightmare two nights  in a row, about big blunders at the retreat that were my fault.  It’s only a matter of time before I have the “standing naked in front of the group” dream.  But you know what?  It’s OK.  Because God is in charge, and he is ever faithful.  I will just keep praying for this retreat and for all those who attend it.  May God’s grace become more real for each of us.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: My friend Mickey was on Dancing with the Stars tonight for Disney night.  What a treat!  Yay, Mickey!

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To Market, To Market…

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Day 246 in my exciting adventure of getting ready to meet up with Mickey

My plan for today was to go and grocery shop on my own and get us ready for the week ahead.  I was worried about going because I am having a lot of hip pain.  But, I thought, don’t let a little pain stop you.  Go and do.  So I did.  I painfully limped into the store.  But, wonder of wonders, I found that if I leaned onto the grocery cart, my hip did not bother me. Hooray!

I picked up groceries for Chicken and Bean Stew, Chunky Vegetable Chowder, Grilled Tuna and Low-fat Provolone with Veggies, and because I love my husband and he loves spaghetti, Spaghetti with Whole Wheat Noodles and Veggie Sauce.

It feels so good to get re-engaged with planning and preparing healthy, low-sugar, low-fat meals.  And the bonus of shopping by myself is I got a lot more steps in than I would have otherwise.

The sun is shining and the temperature made it to nearly 70 degrees today here in Lake Bluff.  Life is good, and God is even better.  (That is a loose paraphrase of Philippians 1:21)

Meet you at the Kingdom!

Special shout out to the Carlson Clan.  I’m thinking of you everyday and smiling to think of where you are and what you are doing.  🙂

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Confession Time

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Day 245 in my muddling my way to Mickey

My plan today was to step on the scale to get an idea of what’s up.  So I did the deed this morning and was shocked to see that I have gained a few pounds.  Not surprised, but still shocked to actually see the number.  They say that relapse is a part of recovery.  Alcoholics often drink on their way to recovery.  Drug users use.  Smokers smoke.  (My own son told me he had to quit smoking four times before it really worked.)  And, apparently, eaters eat.

In my cancer pity-party, I let my guard down and made some bad choices.  And for every bad choice I made, I felt ill…actually physically ill.  I find I am tired, just plain weary, when I don’t eat well.  So back to plenty of fresh veggies, lean proteins, complex carbs, and lots of water.

I am sugar-free, so at least I have that going for me.  🙂  It is my BIGGEST addiction.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Scare Me, Mickey!

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Day 244 in my hankering for hauntings at the Magic Kingdom when I meet up with Mickey (6 months and 4 days to go)

As I was eating my lentil soup at lunch today, I was checking out Facebook.  I was just about finished eating when I saw a post from Disney Dining that said “Tickets on Sale Today for Hard Ticket Events.”  And below it said, “Tickets on sale today for Mickey’s Fall Events!  GAH!  I quickly swallowed the last of my soup and made a mad dash for my office.  I logged onto My Disney Experience and booked our tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on October 15.

That was not my plan for today to get ready for Walt Disney World in October, but it quickly became my plan!

This trip has always been something to look forward to, but now with my health issues, it has become a finish line of sorts.  When we are there and celebrating being together in the Happiest Place on Earth, I will be beyond the moon!  Woo hoo!

And speaking of health issues, my doctor called with good news for a change.  My thyroid biopsy shows that the nodules on my thyroid are benign.  What a lovely word…benign.  🙂

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Beginning Again

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Day 243 in my dash toward Disney and Mickey

The thing about having cancer is: it makes it so easy to feel sorry for yourself.  I want to make a concerted effort to STOP.  I don’t accept that cancer is now my life.  NO.  Philippians 1:21 says, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  So cancer is not my life; Christ and opportunities for him, are my life.

Today I rededicate myself to healthier living.  I will plan the next week’s menu.  I have to get back to more veggies, lean proteins and complex carbs.

No more pity eating.  No more giving in to sympathy pains in other parts of my body.  No more.  Nope!

Today is the day that I reclaim my life.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Ahhh…Spring

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Day 236 in my traipse toward talking with Mickey

Yay!  I don’t see any doctors today.  I don’t have any tests today.  Yay!  So my plan for today is to prepare a lovely, healthy dinner for my man and me.  I’m thinking maybe a chicken and bean stew.  It will be a new recipe for me.

It’s a beautiful spring day in the neighborhood, and I have a case of Spring Fever.  I wish I was at Disney’s Animal Kingdom today.  I would love to be on Kilimanjaro Safari right now, with plans to ride Kali River Rapids next.  I get so excited when I think that our trip is only 6 months and 12 days away.

My “Happy Place” right now, is hanging out on the boardwalk at Old Key West, sharing a basket of Conch Fritters and sipping on a drink with an umbrella in it!  Ahh…that is the life!  And my “Happy Thought” right now is that my surgery will be behind me and I will be well on my way to and through recovery.  Life is good, my friends, and God is even better!

Meet you at the Kingdom!