Third time's the charm... Right??

Signed back up for Weight Watchers this weekend. My weigh-in day is Monday, so I feel like I have the weekend to get re acclimated with the program.

I did the online program after having Conner in 2008. It worked really well and I was very excited. When I went back to work, the company I worked for didn't allow personal use of the computers and it was way before I had a smart phone. My interest faded as I couldn't track during the day and my momentum came to a screeching halt. I ended my membership and tried to employ what I had learned.

After my second child was born, I had gained a LOT of weight due to the bed rest I was on because of a difficult pregnancy. A very close friend and I joined WW again, but this time we went to the classes instead of doing the online program.

I don't enjoy group activities. I'm not a "joiner". But I love Amber and I wanted to have and give the support, so off we went to meetings. They were fun! I was pleasantly surprised! This was the year they introduced Points Plus, so we were both learning a new system. She had used the "Simply Filling" program before, and I had started when "Momentum" was the standard.

My husband saw the success we were having and he joined with us. He went to a different meeting than I did so we could alternate who stayed home with the kids. We even walked our first 5-K during this time. It was pretty cool. But, the excuses came easily and quickly and soon I wasn't going to meetings anymore. Once again I canceled my membership and went back to my old ways of eating.

I'm doing some job-hunting and needed a nice outfit for interviewing. When I went to the store, I discovered the need to buy size 20 pants, and shirts from the "Women's" section. I was so sad and disappointed with myself. I avoid social activities and even family gatherings because of my weight.

So. Here I am again. Facing this battle and addressing my need and want to be healthy, happy, and thin.

Wish me luck. I've got about 80 pounds to loose, and if I can manage the 2-pound weight loss per week that's recommended, it will take somewhere in the 40 week mark at the earliest before I see my goal, so we're looking at next January for a reasonable "best-case-scenario". I have to keep that in mind! I'll want it to instantly vanish, so I have to train my thinking into knowing and understanding that this will take a LONG TIME. This weight has been slowly added over 5 years. Fully understanding and coming to grips with a slow loss is key.

To put it in terms that I "get", I can't eat raw meat. I have no problem waiting for it to cook. I need to wait for this too. I can't have produce the day I plant a seed. I have no problem cultivating, carrying for, and nurturing the growth to get a healthy and fruitful crop. I need to learn to see my body in that same way.

Cook well my friends.

Scotch-English Stirfry

Friday night I had a late middle-aged Scot and Englishman in my home for dinner. The Scot made us supper of a Chinese chicken and noodle dish that was DREAMY! The Englishman, John, sat on the sofa and had a spot of tea while Patrick helped Johnny, the Scot, in the kitchen.

These guys are mentors of Patrick. They are world famous for a new technique in fire fighting. Patrick can explain more if you're interested, but the premise is that you contain and control the fire with airflow and physics in an effort to extinguish with safety and intelligence. But it's met with a lot of political fights because its so different from the "Manly" FIRE WATER OUT mentality that attracts people into the fire service to begin with.

It was so much fun! These guys travel all over the world teaching these new techniques, and Patrick adores them. I asked him to invite them over for supper, and they were so excited that they wanted to cook for me instead. They were excited to have a home-cooked meal. The kids were perfectly adorable and Conner gobbled up his supper like an angel. GG on the other hand went to bed hungry. The dogs were loved and appreciated. John has a chocolate lab back home, so he thought Homer was fantastic. Johnny called him a "sook", which means softy, in Americanized English.

They asked where in England and Scotland we were from, but I couldn't answer. I don't know where the Chipley's are from specifically. Patrick can pinpoint both his moms side and dads side in Scotland and he knows the tartan prints for each clan he's kin to.

Right now, Genna is still sleeping, Patrick is at work, Conner is playing Legos, Stella is sleeping in her chair, Homer is sleeping next to me with his humongous head on my lap. I'm watching cooking on TV and enjoying the quiet.

Growth Spurts

So far this morning, my children have each eaten: a bowl of cereal, a glass of milk, a cheese stick, a hot dog, an orange, and are now enjoying some valentines candy. Good LORD! Can you say "Growth Spurt"? They also asked me for eggs that they didn't want to eat after-all because I made mexican omelets with mixed cheese and salsa in them.

What's for dinner?

We're both pooped. My gorgeous husband has folded 2 loads of laundry and is snuggling with the girl-child on the sofa while we finish watching Tangled. The boy child is cuddled up with me and asking every few moments if its bed-time after the movie... which it is.

This week we're all getting up at 5:00am so Daddy can get to work at 6:00 and Mommy can have help getting everything together in the morning, so right now, 7:15 feels like a late night.

The kids have had their suppers. Mac-n-cheese for GG and chicken noodle soup for Boo. Yes. I swore I'd be the Mom who made fabulous dinners that were loved and gobbled up by my children, much like the kids in the Hilshire Farm Ranch salad dressing commercial with the kids fighting over the broccoli. But real life "happened", and there are nights when it's just easier to give them something quick, nutritious, and happiness-filled rather than something time-consuming and fight-provoking.

The laundry just buzzed to tell me it's done with its current cycle and the kids are peacefully and happily and quietly enjoying the movie. This, of course, leads me to start thinking of supper for me and My Honey.

Thinking of grilled steaks, fresh corn on the cob, and left-over sweet potatoes from the experimental fantastic gratin the other night.

Time to tuck in the kids, think about details of supper flavor combinations, and cooking techniques to perfect tonight's masterpiece of yummy.

Bean follow-up from yesterday

Good idea, but too smoky for me. Next time I'll use just one wing per pot of beans, and I think it will be MUCH better. I rinsed them off and they'll be super with some added goodies added in. I'll perhaps use them as a base for a bean and vegetable soup. Or I'll add molasses, garlic, and mustard to make a killer pot of baked beans.

I've never used these smoked wings before. Not sure what they're used for, but it has to be flavoring soups and the such. The meat is way too smoky to eat (in my opinion) and salty as all get-out. The smell reminds me very much of a ham hock. The salt level is through the roof, so I'm very glad I didn't add salt to the pot during cooking.

Happy tasting!

Sweet Potato Gratin(ish)

I thought it was GREAT!! The salty Parmesan with the sweet starch... I thought it was dreamy! Both were mild so not too salty or fatty and not too sweet from the sweet potato.

I precooked the sweet potato then placed a layer in a small casserole. Sprinkled Parmesan in a thin layer, really just a dusting. Another layer of sweet potatoes, another dusting of Parmesan. So on until I filled the casserole and ran out of sweet potatoes. I then melted fake butter in the microwave and poured that on top of each slice. Then poured a little 2% milk in just to make a cream sauce, but that might not have been needed.

Baked at 350 until lightly brown and bubbly, as seen here.