Jane Eyre...one of my very favorites!

There are many versions of the movie Jane Eyre, of course non so good as the reading the book! However, the best version I have found, and I have seen them all, is the 1996 version with William Hurt and Charlotte Gainsbourg. They are amazing, I can watch it over and over! 

My favorite quote, among many is: 

Low calorie comfort food!!

I heard the tail end of this recipe on a cooking show this morning and decided to try to just wing it since I only got to hear the last 5 minutes of the show. The end result was delicious and satisfying. My husband and I both loved it.

I cubed about one cup of each of the following veggies and cooked them in 3 cups of chicken stock until tender. 

Rutabaga

Parsnips

Carrots

Sweet potato

Redskin potato

Acorn squash

3 cloves of garlic

Separately I cooked up a pound of ground chicken then added it to the veggies along with a cup of frozen peas. 

I then made a slurry with 1/2 cup of water and about 2 tbsp of cornstarch and added this to the pot to create a creamy rich gravy with less calories. 

Then I placed it all in a 13x9 pan and cover it with 5 layers of phyllo dough brushing each later with a bit of olive oil. 

I then baked it at 425 for 30 minutes, until it was bubbling and the phyllo was brown and crispy. 

I let it cool for about 6-8 minutes...I was hungry so that was as long as I could wait! ;) Divided into 6 serving each serving was 294 calories and low in fat!  Make it the way you like it by adding whatever veggies you enjoy. then  just calculate the calories to stay within the 300 per servings range. Then, if you are planning a 500 calorie dinner you can add a yummy salad! 

This meal tasted rich, creamy, and delicious!!! A great comfort food and when you consider that it is low calorie and low fat, you can feel really good about it! 

Low Cal Root Beer Floats!

 

Simple and delicious! 

 

Low Calorie Vanilla Ice Cream and Diet Root Beer = Low Calorie Treat that tastes indulgent!

 

The glass on the right was for my husband 1/2 cup of ice cream & diet root beer = 90 calories. 

 

The glass on the left was mine, I chose to have a 45 calorie float by putting 1/4 cup of ice creams . . . that way I can have seconds!

 

"I am not a glutton - I am an explorer of foods"

Erma Bombeck

Sixty-Eight Sticks of Butter!

Okay, so I have had it...it's not the fact that I get squeamish when I see pictures of myself or that I dread swim suit season...it's more about that fact that I am a nurse, I know better and I deserve to do better for myself and make some lifestyle changes! It started with a change in jobs with less stress in my life I could not justify the fat laden comfort foods that I had been consuming without a second thought. My 10th wedding anniversary was coming up and I am soon to be the big 40....okay well not too soon, but it's a few months off and what better gift can I give myself than not to have an Myocardial Infarction going up a flight of stairs??!!

So, for my wedding anniversary I asked for jewelry, a bracelet. More specifically I asked for the Nike Fuel Band!! It tracks my steps, calories burned, and fuel (you'll have to read what this is on the Nike website). The bracelet is a visual cue and it it motivating. You can push the button and it light up where you are on fuel for that day and where you need to go to reach your goal. It has encouraged me to go the long way, no more short cuts...let's get those steps in!! Plus you can "win" trophies and get little encouraging banners along the way when sync your band with the app on your phone!

In addition I downloaded the My Fitness Pal app for iPhone/iPad. I use it M-F to help me track what I eat.  On the weekends, I give myself a break from tracking my eating, I am just careful and tell myself I am only hurting myself if I over do it! This app also helps me to see the nutritional content of the foods I am eating and work to get all my vitamins in by looking up different good foods to eat!

Armed with these two resources and a LOT of self motivation I started out 6.5 weeks ago to lose weight. So many diet attempts have failed for me in the past but I was not to be daunted on this endeavour...I have a determination that I have not had in the past. Now, I do not have to be a size 2, I have never been there nor will I ever be...but I do want to be healthy! I want to eat good whole foods and veggies. I want to pay attention to what it is I am putting in my body. As a nurse I want to set an example, how can I talk to my patients about their health when I am neglecting my own? I am determined...I WANT THIS, I am strong and I can do it! Then YOU came alongside me!!

YOU, are my friends and family who are encouraging me along the way, boy do I need that!! Wendy and Tonia cheering me on!! Tara "making me" do 8 thousand flights of steps each day!! The other day when she reached the top she said "you aren't even out of breath!" AWESOME, I wasn't and yet just a few weeks ago I thought I was going to pass out as I gulped for air at the top....trying to look dignified but feeling mortified! My husband for sharing excitement with me for each pound lost we measure weight loss in sticks of butter it's more fun to say "I lost 4 sticks of butter" vs "I lost 1 lb." Thanks Honey!! Thanks Mom and Claudia who promise me a trip to Toys R Us when I reach my goal!! :) Thanks to the many others who are cheering me along on the side lines...don't stop!! PRAYERS and ENCOURAGEMENT APPRECIATED! Although I am motivated I am not naive enough to think this cognitive and lifestyle reframing will be easy!

Week 6 weight loss total: 68 Sticks of Butter!!

Truly, Madly, Deeply!

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...literally!

First off, I HATE going to the dentist!  Since my childhood and then after my car accident, I ahve been there more than I wish to even think about!

So, with a pretty intense oral surgery looming today, I have been sick over it for weeks and try not to think about it.  Last night I took valium, this morning Valium and Xanax....still anxious....but ready to get it over with..I trudge in.

I get they get me all settled, consent signed, me sedated, mouth numbed, and I hear her showing the partial to Beaver. I asked to see it....in my stupor I note a possible error, but think it might be the medication speaking....so I slowly formulate my question and I hear silence in the room.........Uh-oh....I am so sorry, the partial is wrong.  I got laughing so hard I had tears steaming down my face!  Only me!!!

Long story short, I ended up with free sedation, another Rx for valium, an appointment for another day, and LOTS of apologies.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY TWO FRONT  TEETH....LITERALLY!!

His plans are higher

Following a mix-up in communication between 2 leaders of the hospital, I dropped my Master's classes to finish my BSN (even though I already hold a BS in a related field).  Only to find out the information had been clarified, and I could go back into the Masters program. Ridiculous!  So, I decided to finish out the BSN and be done with it. 

I graduated this week BSN, RN, 4.0  J!! After contemplating a break, I will forge ahead and begin taking the Master's classes again Dec 3rd! :)

I was disappointed in not getting to finish the Masters right away and was not proud of the BSN completion.  However, my husband and a special mentor encouraged me to BE PROUD of the accomplishment. I just felt the switch was pretty nuts, but oh well, God knows why!

I heard a quote once, “Never regret money spent on books or flowers.”  I am going to amend the quote, “Never regret TIME & MONEY invested in education.” 

GOAL:

Complete MSN in 18 months

and

Obtain my DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) within 5 years. 

In setting a goal, I humbly realize God has His own plans that I will embrace, should they change!

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.

Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Praise be to God, for He is always good.