I gave it up

So, I am giving something up for Lent. I don’t normally give things up for Lent. Infact, the whole practice of Lent wasn’t really ever a huge deal in my house growing up (it wasn’t stressed in my church, like it is in Catholic Churches).But, mostly I don’t give things up for Lent, because I never follow through.

I think it’s a similar affliction that I have with New Years Resolutions. I start out strong, and either forget about my resolution, or I fall of the wagon, and don’t hop back on again.

So, I hadn’t given much thought to giving up something for Lent, until my Husband announced a few weeks ago, that he is giving up Beer for lent. I thought he was kidding at first. He wasn’t. Beer is his chocolate. The man could go the rest of his life with out ever eating a dessert again, and he wouldn’t notice. But Beer? This is truly a sacrifice for him. Now, I’m making him sound like he is an alcoholic, he isn’t. He just enjoys a few beers on Fridays, and Saturdays. And Maybe a Tuesday.

Anyway….so I decided that I wanted to give up something to. I’m such a follower! I’ve thought and thought about this…and I thought of all the things I could give up that I probably do too much, or consume too much of, I could give up Facebook, I could give up gum, or coffee, or splenda (woops already did that, I haven’t had Splenda in a week! I don’t miss it really.). But really, none of those things would be a true sacrifice for me. A true sacrifice would be giving up desserts. Candy, Cookies, Ice Cream, Brownies, Cake, Pies….you get the idea. I have never given up sweets for Lent before, because I didn’t think I could do it.

Well…I know I can do it. It’s going to be hard. I think I will still eat “dessert” in that I will allow my self to have a small “treat” after dinner. But it can’t be any of the following items: candy, cookies, ice cream, brownies, cake, chocolate chips, etc. It can be; fruit, granola and yogurt, uh…fruit. Fruit. Fruit.

I am interested to see where this goes. I’m curious if it will add to my weight loss, or how it will make me feel.

Oh yeah, I should add…one thing I always do during Lent (and I’m better about this than the sacrifice thing) is to add something to my life that helps others. Like holding open the door for whoever is coming through it next, every time I go through a door. Or praying for a particular person for those forty days…..

Happy Friday Everyone!

In the desert of dessert...

I remember in elementary school when a teacher was telling us about the difference in the spelling of Desert and Dessert. She said dessert has the double s because, we always want double or more dessert.

Boy howdy ain’t that the truth, at least for me. I can be full and satisfied from a meal, but offer me something sweet and I’m not going to pass it up. I often feel the “need” to finish my meal with a little something sweet. Ha, who am I kidding, I would love to end my meal with A LOT of something sweet. And that my friends, is my problem.
I totally think that having “dessert” each night is a fine thing to do, Jenna and Tina offer fabulous examples of this. My issue is that sugar triggers my body to want more sugar, which isn’t uncommon for people. So one of my challenges to myself this year is to find “desserts” that satisfy that sweet tooth, and don’t leave me wanting more.

Last week I really wanted a sweet, warm, carby baked good. But…I didn’t want to make a whole batch of cookies, cause I’ll eat them all, and some of the dough. So instead I made myself a small “dessert oatmeal” it had ¼ cup oats, 1 tsp brown sugar, and ½ tsp of Dark Chocolate Peanut butter. A little caloric, but eating the hot dessert, with a spoon, satisfied my need.

Last night I took a fruitier route….Broiled Grapefruit! We happened to have a grapefruit on it’s last days of goodness.

I cut it in half...
Sprinkled it with 1/2 tsp sugar (total over both halves) and a little pinch of brown sugar.

Popped it in the oven, under the broiler for 5 minutes (as per the directions in my Joy of Cooking Cook Book.) And..Voila!

Here is a secret..I’m a little bit afraid to broil things…I’m always afraid I’ll forget about them, and char what I’m cooking or burn the house down.

So…I didn’t let it broil as long as I should have I don’t think. But…it was good! I ate each little piece with a spoon and then had some of the juice.

I think one of the keys to dessert satisfaction for my mind is eating something warm with a spoon.

Also, look at this picture of my ring. Have you ever seen something so tragic? Not the ring..the picture. I don't have a great camera..and I also don't think I know how to use all of the functions properly either! After seeing Kath’s beautiful pictures from her new camera..I want one too! Time to start saving.

ruby red

Well, today was my last day skipping the gym, fingers crossed! I'm feeling 90% better, but still a little stuffy. I packed my gym bag last night and my husband just looked at me and said "seriously?" Ugh, he was right, better to stay home and get completely healthy. But I miss the gym, and I'll be honest, the longer I say away from the gym ,the easier it is for me to stop going..and I'm terrified of falling into the "not going" rut. Healthy life style..always taking work!


I decided not to eat breakfast at work. When I go to the gym, I always eat at my desk, but I get there about 20 minutes before my co-workers. When miss the gym, I get stuck in commuter traffic, and get here right around 8am. I don't mind eating infront of my co-workers, but in a shared office, it's not always polite!
I didn't have any fruit with my actual oatmeal (it had cinnamon and walnuts, made with 1/2 water and 1/2 skim milk) but I wanted grapefruit..so I cut one up like an orange and through it in a baggie. I sprinkled with a little sugar and had it around 10:15.

I usually have fruit with my breakfast, and fruit for snack. We'll see what happens today, I might still have an apple before lunch, depending on my hunger level. I need to get some nuts to bring to work to round out my snacks!