Hi friends, how's it going?

I'm still eating my 4 meals a day and paying attention to "hunger."  Evenings are the most challenging. 

On a personal note, I'm in a strange place. I am so grateful for the busy-ness of work as it leaves less time for other thoughts. I did read something that is helping me. Do you mind if I share it?

"The devil, according to legend, once advertised his tools for sale at public auction. When the prospective buyers assembled, there was one oddly shaped tool which was labeled "Not for sale."

Asked to explain why this was, the devil answered,

"I can spare my other tools, but I cannot spare this one. It is the most useful implement that I have. It is called Discouragement, and with it I can work my way into hearts otherwise inaccessible. When I get this tool into a man's heart, the way is open to plant anything there I may desire."

The legend embodies sober truth. Discouragement is a dangerous state of mind, because it leaves one open to the assault of the enemies of the soul.

Author unknown

Pretty powerful stuff, don't you think?

I hope these words speak to you as they have for me.

best.
pwc

Warming my soul

Hello friends. I am having a rough day. I am reminded of how fragile life can be. Whenever i am having such a day, i turn to my kitchen. Creating comfort food comforts me.

I still have tomatoes and bell peppers from my garden. Isn't it crazy?


I diced onions, garlic, bell pepper, cilantro and tomatoes.



Added them to a pot of brown lentils, adding a bay leaf, salt, 3 cups of water, caldo de pollo bouillon, pepper and let simmer on low heat for 45 minutes.

The result is a warm lentil soup. Perfect for warming my soul on this cold evening.


I would love to make a version of this soupwith italian sausage and kale. Doesn't that sound good?

Got any suggestions to help combat mental fatigue that spills into your energy?

Hi friends, how's your day? I am happy that it's Friday. I've been exhausted.  I had a 6 mile urban hike scheduled yesterday and all I wanted to do was rest my head and so I did. I layed on the couch. Not sleeping but just resting and it felt glorious.  I got a suprise moments later when Daniel walked in with his luggage. He was home early!  We were both too tired for catching up so we  hugged and each of us zonked out.

My exhaustion is not a physical tired. It feels more mental. Does that make sense?  There is alot of "learning" going on at work.  It's challenging at times.  But challenges are good. Especially since I was in my comfort zone for too long. Hopefully, I will adjust.

About feeling challenged. It's a glorious feeling after the fact, don't you think? I keep thinking about my last climb to Mt. Tallac and the Foam Fest where I had to dig deep. I was challenged physically and I want to keep up that momentum.  But with the challenges of work, I DO NOT HAVE the phsyical energy.

At least the challenges of work reminds me that pushing one's self is necessary in life.  Otherwise,  you stay the same.  That's what the day hikes have been about... NOT STAYING THE SAME.  I need to push my boundaries physically, but I am zapped at the end of the day.
Can you relate?  When you are mentally challenged, do you find your physical energy to be ZERO?  If so, how do you cope. Do you continue to exercise and work through the mental/physical tiredness or do you just listen and give yourself a short break?

Got any suggestions to help combat mental fatigue that spills into your energy?

Seasoning without seasoning

I guess you might be wondering what my title is all about?  Let me splain....

I looked in my fridge this morning to see what was for lunch. I grabbed some spinach, romane, deli slices, 1/2 an avocado and the last of the diced onions and cilantro left left over from Sunday's breakfast of Menudo.  I dislike menudo (tripe soup), but Daniel and the family love it. 

Well, I was hungry at 12:15 and decided to eat my lunch 15 minutes earlier.  I am still trying to get used to hunger since I no longer a snack at 10:30 a.m.  I am on week two with no snacks.
The combination of onions, avocado and this little HERB made my salad GLORIOUS.

Cilantro

I love cilantro. I always have this on hand for tacos, and usually garnish my cabbage salads with this flavorful herb, but I NEVER combine it with spinach, or lettuce. Obviously, the avocado lended lots of flavor to my salad but I still thing the STAR of my lunch is CILANTRO.

My lunch was completely satisfying.  I did not miss salad dressing.  It needed no salt, no pepper, no other seasonings. I successfully seasoned my food without seasonings.  Hmm, I think I'm going to like this new approach to eating.  It's exciting.

undo my progress

Hi friends.  I spent yesterday in bed. Totally zapped of energy. I NEVER lay in bed to watch TV.  I even found myself eating ice cream out of the carton.  Was I depressed?  I don't think so.  Was I sick?  My asthma is bothering me but not enough to lay in bed, ALL DAY.

Maybe I was exhausted. Maybe it was having two slices of apple pie with vanilla ice cream with the family on Sunday. Could my body be crashing from sugar?

Either way, I listened to my body and layed around.  I had nothing in me so I figure I needed to recharge.

Damn, a whole day wasted... but there was nothing I wanted to do about that.  That was yesterday, Today, I went to work.  My goal is to continue eating at the allotted times. 

Breakfast was yogurt parfait with fresh fruit.  I could not eat an hour after walking up. But at least I stuck to the parfait.

Lunch was half a corned beef sandwhich with salad. I joined a co-worker at an interesting pub near my office.  I could have ordered an omlette but the menu was too extensive. Instead, went with the 1/2 sandwhich/soup combo. 

My next meal is scheduled for 5:30 but I need to hit up a zumba class. I need to force my body to move.  I know I'll feel better afterwards. Instead, I ate more berries and 1/2 c. of greek yogurt.

If I get hungry after zumba, I have fresh cilantro, diced cabbage that I can top with cuban black beans and onions. 

I can't explain yesterday. The only thing I can think of is  SUGAR HANG-OVER.


You  might think "Paula, why did you eat pie and ice cream after working so hard during the 5 day fast forward?"

The answer:  My family and I planned the Apple Hill trip and I knew I would purchase a pie for the family.  I thought about post-poning the 5 day fast forward until after the Apple Hill trip.  But thought why post-pone the inevitable. I secretly prayed for will-power but fully knew that was wishful thinking. I had hoped to merely taste the apple pie but like all addicts, I used.  My drug of choice was PIE.

I will always struggle with sweets... I am hoping I will remember how DRAINED I felt yesterday and hopefully, that "feeling" will help me reconsider the next time I undo my progress and am faced with something as tempting as fresh baked apple pie.

What else can I say in my defense other than admit my momentary defeat.  Addicts remove people and drugs from their lives but sugar addicts, well, it's a little more challenging, or is it?

Hunger is a bitch!

Update 5 day Fast-Forward
Did not follow the 5 days to the letter, but I have done well to limit salt and sugar. Towards the evenings, I really craved carbs.  And then this morning, I caved and ate a hunk of fresh baked french bread.  Why did I bring that into the house?  Now, all I want is sweets.  What did I learn:  Eating carbs brings sugar carvings.

Hunger pangs
I've eliminated snacks and replaced them with water and unsweetened tea.  I like this concept and want to continue with eating 4 small meals at scheduled times. What did I learn: I need to really work on the evenings where I am STARVING, despite having consumed 1400-1500 calories even with exercise.

For example, after I've eaten, I literally felt hunger pangs in my stomach. I tell myself it's not really hunger because I've eaten something. Perhaps I'm so used to NOT feeling hunger by eating every 2-3 hours that it's something that I need to grow accustomed too? Maybe. I've always eaten until I am no longer physically hungry. Only full.  This is something the 5 day fast forward is teaching me.

Weight Loss
Did I lose 8 lbs.  like the Sass Yourself Slim promised with the 5 day fast forward?  Nope, more like 2 lbs.  But I attribute that loss to the extra miles I've been walking.  If I'm going to be honest, I did not follow the 5 day fast forward to the T. There were evenings where the hunger was too much and I more nuts or dried fruit.  Do I feel failure?  A little in that I didn't try hard enough to follow the rules.  It felt too restrictive and HUNGER was too present. I learned something here.  Hunger is a bitch and I need to learn to live with it in between meals.  It's not the end of the world and I'm not going to die.

I am also listening to my body.  Asking self: Is it phsyical hunger? How can it be when I just drank a smoothie, or eaten an egg white omlette with spinach? 

I'm going to continue reading the book. Cook some of the recipes and generally, eat more veggies, protein, and introduce more spices in my cooking. I  hope this will steer me away from salt and the ever challenging SUGAR and BREAD cravings I battle.

Journal
I've been logging my food using the My Fitness Pal app and even when I think I've eaten less food, I get the message of: If you ate this way for 1 week, you'll weigh 174.4 lbs.  Fuck!!!  Really? 1400-1500 calories is too much food and will keep  me at 174.4 lbs?

Hunger is a bitch... why won't she go away and let me live and eat less...

Okay... this is a journey. I learned something and that's a good thing, right?

Colorful scramble

Thank you Chris for sharing that video in the comment section of yesterdays post. It was a real eye opener.
My asthma is giving me issues today. Feeling tired but still managed a productive day at work and an hour walk through my neighborhood. Found a cool aquatic center within walking distance. Gosh, i am finding a new love of walking.
Came home and decided to use the peppers from my garden. It is October and the garden is still producing squash, tomatoes and peppers.
Decided on making an egg scramble even though the 5 day fast forward on sass yourself slim doesn't call for these veggies. Oh well fresh produce is always good. Loving the colors in my pan.

Dinner is served. Peppers, spinach, 1 egg, 1 egg white, topped with salsa.

I used no salt or pepper. The garlic and onions from the salsa seasoned my scramble just perfect.
It is so much easier to eat healthy when Daniel is working out of town. I miss him, but do not miss the fried food he usually cooks.
Well, gonna call it a night. Later, gators. Hope your day was a good one.

Am I being judged due to my weight?

Fast-Forward Sass Yourself Slim
Iif you read yesterday's post you probably just nodded your head.  I deleted it after reading how counter-productive my behavior was.  I needed to write it out so I could examine it. Done...

About Sass Yourself Slim/5 Day Fast Forward. It feels like a fad diet.  I find it difficult to eat during the times recommended.  I switched some of the 4 meals around. I had the smoothe for breakfast instead of 10 o'clock at  night. I am asleep at 10 p.m.  I'm eating the recommended meals but switching the order.

It's day #2 and I'm already off plan.  I added egg whites, used spring mix/spinach combo for my salad.  The fast-forward is very restrictive.  I'll continue as best I can as my goal is to reduce sugar cravings and ultimately, regulate my hunger.  I know the juice from the orange contains sugar and well, it's not easy reducing sugar from one's diet.  

I am drinking lots of water and because the fast forward recommends Tea, I'm sipping a cup of this after lunch.

Exercise
Last night, I met our walking group for an intermediate 7 mile urban hike from 65th Street, to Sacramento State College, then to Watt Avenue through the Bike Trail and back.  I cannot believe we hiked this just under 2 hours.  The group was fast.  I met a 74 year old woman who walked faster than I and she did it effortlessly.  She was such an inspiration.

While waitng for others, I introduced myself to a woman and was immediately told the hike would be tough and strenuous.  I knew this as I read comments from others who completed past hikes.  I told the woman I had climbed Mt. Tallac twice and thought I could handle it.  She looked suprised.

On the way back, I thought of the woman's warning.  I am embarrased to say this but for a minute, I wondered if the question had anything to do with my weight?  Obviously, I'm heavier than most people in the group.  I did not like this negative feeling or felt maybe my thoughts had to due with insecurity and being self-conscious.  If I'm going to be honest with self, I have felt the sting of prejudice from being fat.  Not often, but I think it lays somewhere... just below the surface. I did not like thinking:  Am I being judged by my weight?

I could be completely wrong.  It could be guilty of projecting my own feelings here. But let's be honest. Has this thought ever crossed your mind?

In the end, it really doesn't matter. We should not let our perceptions or our insecurities stop us from enjoying life.  I'm not going to wait until I lose weight to get out there and live. No way...

Tell me, have you ever felt prejudice due to your weight?  If so, do you think it's legit or all in our heads? 

Home from zumba and starving. I was tempted to grab dinner from the drive-thru, instead, i resisted and threw this omlette together using some frozen veggies.



This was so satisfying and much better than any drive-thru.

My homemade salsa was the perfect addition



Doesn't it feel great when you make a good food choice?

Here is to making it a habit.

Night all. Looking forward to Greys Anatony and my frozen grapes.

Pwc

Urban Hike - River Walk and Discovery Park

PWC got a face lift thanks to my friend Frances at Carbie Girl. Frances is one of a handful of bloggers I met when I first started blogging three years ago.  I remember how excited I was to find her first blog Cookies n Cocktail. I immediately identified with her. We're both Latina and are both too familiar with the temptations that we encounter when visiting family. Geez, if you're Latina, then you know when you go home you're going to be served Mole, Flautas and Taquitos.  Geez. You need an iron will to turn down those foods. If you've read PWC for awhile, then you know it's my biggest challenge.  I love veggies but I also love my tacos.

Thank you Carbie Girl for inspiring me and for taking the care with my blog makeover.  Mil gracias amiga.

Urban Hike #2 - Old Sacramento, River Walk, Discovery Park & Confluence (American and Sacramento come together).
I'm still feeling "burnt out' on zumba so I joined Hikers and Company on an urban hike. We walked towards Old Sacramento, crossing the bridge into West Sacramento towards the River Walk.  This bridge is special because I grew up in West Sacramento. I even think my dad worked on it when he first arrived from the State of Texas. 

Walking along the river bank reminds me of home. We spent many summers at the Sacramento River.

We crossed the green bridge entering Discovery Park. Walking across this bridge also reminds me of my youth.  I can remember my cousin and I were riding our bikes to Discovery Park from our home in Broderick.  We were probably age 14.  I recall not being able to stop in time and I ran into a jogger. Ouch... poor guy.

After crossing the bridge, we arrived at Discovery Park and looked across the confluence where the Sacramento River and the American River meet.  Funny I never realized that growing up in this area.  I just knew it was a good spot to fish.

I don't have a good picture but it was pretty amazing standing there as the sun was going down. 

Here's our group.  We walked 5.2 miles in about 2 hours. I must say, it's a pretty amazing way to spend the evening.  Talking long walks like this in a group is a great way to see your city. 

Well, I'm headed to zumba.  Not feeling it but I should get my activity in for the evenings.

Later, gators.

fightin the funk

Hi friends. I'm feeling sort of out of it today. I won't bore you with the details.

Instead, I will share a picture I took on Saturday afternoon. I didn't want to "exercise" but knew i needed to get out and be active. So I opted for a stroll to Old Sacramento. I parked downtown in a grage and walked to Old Sacramento.

After walking for awhile, I snapped this picture of a stair way.  Gosh, I think it would be neat to have a wedding here. 

This stairs lead down to the original floor level of Old Sacramento.  The town was raised due to flooding since it sits next to the Sacramento River. There were remnants of a building where the windows were covered in brick.  Raising the buildings left several tunnels under Old Sacramento. I think there is a tour that I'd definitely would like to take. 

Old Sacramento is a photographer's playground. 

I took this picture as I walked back Downtown from Old Sacramento via this tunnel. Geez, this has been here for years....  There used to be lots of shops on K Street Mall.  Many merchants have left.  Wish they'd come back. I did visit The Body Shop and bought me some lotions?

I walked for a total of 2 hours.  It's not necessarily a workout but I am still careful to be active. 

Just one of my ways of fightin the funk.