Sabotage and Bumps in the Road...

I am still alive! I haven't posted on here as much in the last few weeks for a few reasons... 1) I have had a nasty old cold for the last 3 weeks that turned into a sinus infection/asthma and has had me down for awhile and 2) I'm still looking for that lost "mojo". You know how that one goes...the motivation comes and goes, ebbs and flows. It's a constant cycle. As much as I wish that it could always be at a high and that I'd always have great info to share with everyone, that is not how this journey goes. There are constant bumps along this road to a healthier life. I've been really struggling over the last few months with some personal issues. In addition to my own self-sabotage, which I talk about here from time to time, I have also been trying to deal with sabotage that is not self-inflicted (and no, not from hubby or my family :)). I have had to step back and re-evaluate some things and make some changes in my life to try to avoid as much of the sabotage as possible. This one has been a newer experience for me. I have always felt so fortunate to have had so much support from everyone around me as I've worked on becoming healthier. I've watched many others have to deal with saboteurs along the way. I've learned, firsthand now, that it is difficult enough to deal with self-sabotage, but when you have to deal with others that you have no control over, it's a whole other ballgame. You do what you can do to change it and you move on the best you can. It's all part of the journey. I'm climbing back in the driver's seat and I'm ready to move forward on my journey again!
I had an interesting experience the other night. I was at a different WW meeting than I normally attend and was speaking with some new (second week) members before the meeting started. They were asking a friend and I how long we'd been coming to WW. I told them that I'd been coming for almost 4 years and that I'd lost over 100 pounds. We talked about how this is a healthy way to lose the weight, because you are taking the time to make it a lifestyle change and to learn to overcome some of those bad habits that led up to us joining WW. It is my own opinion that the longer it takes (within reason) to overcome those "bumps in the road" and reach our goal weight, the less likely we will be to gain the weight back and have to start that trip all over again later. I know that for me, personally, it would be absolutely devastating to have experienced this weight loss and then gain a large part or all of it back. I've seen too many friends go through that. I'm okay taking longer to get there and to work on conquering my issues and hang-ups now.
Would I love to show up at my high school reunion this summer looking hot in a size 6? Of course!! BUT...it's more important to me to show up feeling happy, healthy and confident about who Jamie is. That's what true beauty really is!

Chinese Chicken and Broccoli

I made the yummiest new recipe for dinner tonight...Chinese Chicken and Broccoli. In my opinion, it was better than anything I've eaten in a Chinese restaurant. Yes...it was THAT good! I found it on Pinterest (what did we do before Pinterest??) and it originally came from the following blog:
http://www.ateaspoonofhappiness.com/chinese-chicken-and-broccoli/


Chinese Chicken and Broccoli

Ingredients

• For the marinade:
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 large head of broccoli, crowns only, cut into bite-sized pieces
• For the sauce:
• ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

1. Mix the marinade ingredients in a small bowl – pour oven chicken.
2. Marinate the chicken while preparing the sauce and broccoli.
3. Steam broccoli for just 3 minutes – set aside.
4. In a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat, saute the chicken with its marinade and ½ of the sauce mixture in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil.
5. Once chicken is fully cooked through, add the steamed broccoli, remaining sauce and 1 tablespoon water.
6. Cook for 2 minutes to thicken sauce or until broccoli is tender, but still crisp.

 

** I served it over brown rice.

** 8 PPV for Weight Watchers for 1/4 of the recipe. (Add additional points for rice!)

I can do hard things...

I noticed something interesting tonight at a church ladies meeting. A lady came up to me and was asking me about my weight loss. She was so excited for me and commented on how huge of an accomplishment it is. My response? "Thanks, but I still have a ways to go." Why is it that I felt the need to discount her compliment? Why is it so hard to just say, "thank you" and accept a compliment? It's because in my head, I am focusing on how far I have to go and feeling overwhelmed. Instead, I need to appreciate and be proud of how far I've come and what I HAVE accomplished.
I, a food addict, an emotional eater who is the mom of two "high maintenance" boys with their own challenges, pushed through the obstacles, the self-doubt, cravings and physical limits to lose over 100 pounds. That is something to be proud of. I can do hard things. I am proud of what I've learned and who I've become. I have inspired people to begin their own journeys to better health and that is a huge responsibility. I can now push through this plateau, remind myself that I am worth it and I can do hard things and continue to realize my potential.

The ups and the downs....

The first few months of my weight loss, I did see losses every week, but soon your body decides to not let that weight go as easily! Then it starts looking like this picture. Remember it's all part of the journey. If there weren't some challenges along the way, if it were all easy sailing, we wouldn't learn anything. I wouldn't trade the small gains and the struggles because they have taught me so much about myself. It's something that we will work on our entire lives. Being healthy is a journey, not a destination.