Tuesday, September 29, 2009

"Friend"

Webster's dictionary defines a "friend" as "one attached to another by affection or esteem" or "a favored companion."

Is that it?

To me, a friend should support. She should tell me when I'm being stupid, and not be afraid to argue with me. She should be there for me to call when I've had an argument with someone. She should tell me when she thinks I'm making a bad decision, and trust that her opinion won't be a friendship-ruiner. She should be honest--always.

I can count on one hand the people in my life that live up to the description above. They are people who have laughed with me, cried with me and fought with me. They are people who have shared my deepest sadness and my most amazing joys. They are friends that I know will be there until the end, because they've been there from the beginning.

And then, there are friends that I thought would be that for me. But, when the tough times came or they disagreed with something I was doing, they bailed. They were friends of convenience.

Many of my best friends are not convenient.

One, who I've known since I was 8 years old, has never lived closer than 30 minutes from me. For the past six years, we've been five-plus hours away from each other and only see each other a few times a year. But, I still consider her one of my best friends because, when we are together, it's like we've never been apart. I know I can call her whenever, talk to her about anything, and trust her to be honest with me.

Another, who I've known since I was 14, has lived at least a 14-hour drive away from me for the past six years. She now lives in London, and while I know I'll only see her once a year if I'm lucky, we keep in touch through Skype and Facebook--and she is and will continue to be one of my best friends.

To me, being friends with someone shouldn't mean supporting or agreeing with everything they do. It shouldn't mean you need to see or talk to them daily or weekly. But it should mean that you'll be there for them through the good and the bad, and hopefully they'll be there for you too.

So, thanks, to my best friends.

Friday, September 18, 2009

11 Day Diet Review

I have a confession: I didn't finish the 11-day diet. I tried, really I did. But here's the thing: I have an intolerance to eggs and milk. So the days where eggs was all I could eat for a meal or two, I was sick as a dog. It's not pretty, I promise you.

On day eight, I just couldn't take it anymore.

Maybe if I had finished, I would have lost more, but I did manage to lose one pound per day (8 total) without being hungry all the time. So that's the good news.

The bad news is that apparently I have less willpower than I thought. I love food. And it's not even that I'm overweight, but when I say "I love food," I mean that I adore cooking, baking, basically anything to do with creating or enjoying food. I'm trying to maintain a healthy weight so that my sweet husband doesn't wait up one day and realize the woman he married was half the size of his current wife.

Anyway, all that to say I do recommend the 11-day diet, if you have the willpower!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Seasons: For Baked Potato Soup

It's 85 degrees in San Diego, as it has been for two weeks, and it makes me want one thing: fall/winter.

I know, something is wrong with me. I'm a California girl, but I truly love fall and winter. Something about the coats (I'm obsessed), the crisp air, and the rare but beautiful orange and red leaves gets to me. Mostly, I love (1) being able to cook soups, bake dishes in my oven and come home to dinner cooking in my crockpot; and (2) being able to decorate for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays....without it being 85 degrees and having to turn on the AC because my cooking has warmed our condo.

I've been driving my Lumberjack crazy. When September 1 came, it was fall in my mind. I started looking at Christmas decorations. I started hoarding soup and baked dessert recipes. I even considered wearing a sweater or two (until I realized I haven't turned off the AC in two weeks because it's been so hot!).

Don't get me wrong, I love summer. I love the long days and not driving home from work in the dark, but I also love weather where I can comfortably wear a sweater and pull a homemade chicken pot pie from the oven without breaking into a sweat.

Unfortunately, I will be driving the Lumberjack crazy for a few more weeks, until it truly is fall. In the mean time, I'm getting my recipe arsenal ready for cooler weather, starting with For the Love of Cooking's Baked Potato Soup.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The 11 Day Diet: Day Four

On Saturday, the Lumberjack and I started the "11 Day Diet." Actually, it seems to be more of a cleanse/metabolism re-setter, and we're sticking to it so far. Today is day four, and we haven't cheated yet.

Mostly, the diet consists of lean proteins, almost no carbs, and under-10-calorie drinks. We've been eating a lot of deli meats and eggs. And, while I haven't necessarily been hungry, I do find myself wanting certain foods (even those I know I don't love), just because I suddenly can't have them!

The toughest day so far was day 2, which was all fruits except for one sandwich. Surviving on all three meals of fruit during the day is tough! We planned it so that the fruit day would fall on a Sunday, so that we wouldn't be drained while at our jobs. It was tough, but we did it. The good news is we're in the clear until Saturday, which is vegetable day (yuck!).

I had read about this diet online and when Whitney over at The Glamorous Life of a Housewife blogged about her success, I had to try it.

So far, it seems to be working. The Lumberjack and I have both lost between 1 and 1 1/2 pounds per day, so far. The goal is to lose 10 pounds in a week, 15 if we're lucky.

For anyone that's interested, here are the meals and rules:

Day 1
Meal 1: scrambled eggs, low-fat milk
Meal 2: cashews, cottage cheese, banana milk shake
Meal 3: turkey slices, ham slices, fresh grapefruit
Meal 4: walnuts, pastrami slices, garden salad

Day 2
Meals 1,2,3: Fresh fruit only (oranges, pears, apples, grapes, peaches, plums, strawberries, kiwis, grapefruit)
Meal 4: deli meat sandwich (only one)

Day 3
Meal 1: cottage cheese, scrambled eggs
Meal 2: sausage links, regular cheese slices
Meal 3: shrimp, hard boiled eggs
Meal 4: chicken, cashews, bowl of oatmeal

Day 4
Meal 1: pastrami, sausage links
Meal 2: low fat milk, turkey slices
Meal 3: shrimp, regular cheese slices
Meal 4: ham slices, walnuts, frozen yogurt

Day 5
Meal 1: orange pineapple smoothie, apple
Meal 2: cashews, cottage cheese
Meal 3: hard boiled eggs, chicken
Meal 4: scrambled eggs, low-fat milk

Day 6
Meal 1: bowl of green beans, fresh pears
Meal 2: walnuts, pastrami slices
Meal 3: turkey slices, ham slices, bowl of pinto beans
Meal 4: bowl of green vegetables, fruit salad dessert

Day 7
Meal 1: sausage links, regular cheese slices
Meal 2: shrimp, hard boiled eggs
Meal 3: chicken, cashews, bowl of mixed vegetables
Meal 4: cottage cheese, scrambled eggs

Day 8
Today is a day of vegetables and salad only. This means that all 4 meals must consist of only vegetables or salad and nothing else. You’ll be eating 4 meals, but you must choose foods from the list below only:
Lettuce, onions, celery, carrots, pinto beans, sprouts, spinach, broccoli, zucchini, squash, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans
You may top each meal with only ONE of the following 2 items (not both): 1 ounce of grated cheese or 3 teaspoons of low-calorie salad dressing.

Day 9
Meal 1: oranges, banana milk shake
Meal 2: grapefruit, garden salad
Meal 3: low-fat milk, turkey slices
Meal 4: ham slices, walnuts

Day 10
Meal 1: fresh apples, orange pineapple smoothie
Meal 2: cheese slices, shrimp
Meal 3: bowl of oatmeal, frozen yogurt
Meal 4: pastrami, sausage links

Day 11
Meal 1: scrambled eggs, low-fat milk
Meal 2: cashews, cottage cheese
Meal 3: green beans, pears
Meal 4: hard boiled eggs, chicken, bowl of pinto beans

Diet Rules:
1. You may eat your four daily meals in any order.
2. You must eat all four meals on the day they are scheduled. This means you can’t move a meal from day 5 to day 10.
3. Follow the 11 day menu for 11 days, then you may take 3 cheat days where you can eat anything you want for 3 days. After the three day period, you can either follow this menu again or generate a new menu at www.fatloss4idiots.com. The site has a cost , but you can pick and choose your menu based on foods that you like.
4. You must wait at least 2 ½ hours between each meal.
5. You may drink the following beverages: any diet soda, iced tea with lemon, coffee (must have less than 10 calories per glass), water, any low-calorie drink (with less than 10 calories per glass). These drinks may be consumed as often as you like each day, with no limit.
6. You must drink at least 8 – 8 ounce glasses of water per day, and they must be spaced throughout the day.
7. These condiments may be used on any meal: lemon juice, ketchup, barbecue sauce, salsa, salt, pepper, mustard, seasoning salts.
8. There is no limit on portions. You should eat until you feel satisfied but never stuff yourself full.
9. For each meal, you may eat any combination of the foods. You may eat all or just 1 of the foods listed.


Food Explanations:
1. Banana Milkshake - Add the following ingredients in a blender: 1 large frozen banana (cut into chunks), 4-8 oz nonfat milk, 2-3 teaspoons vanilla extract, splenda for sweetener
2. Garden Salad – This means a salad made with vegetables only (potatoes and corn not allowed) – you may have 3 teaspoons of low cal salad dressing (we used that spray dressing).
3. Frozen Yogurt – normal frozen yogurt, the kind that looks like ice cream (no toppings)
4. Oatmeal – instant/flavored oatmeal (no extra sugar)
5. Orange Pineapple Smoothie – Add the following ingredients in a blender: 4-6 oz orange juice, 1 cup of nonfat milk, ½ banana, 4 ice cubes, pineapple chunks, 2 tablespoons vanilla extract, splenda
6. Fruit Salad Dessert – mix the following ingredients: fat free cool whip, your choice of fruit
7. Bowl of Mixed vegetables – no potatoes or corn
8. Deli Meat Sandwich – Make the sandwich from the following ingredients: 2 normal slices of bread, any deli style meat, your choice of allowable condiment, lettuce, tomatoes, onions (optional)

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Comforting vs. Fixing

As a newlywed, I'm still learning things about the Lumberjack, and how men in general think.

Last night was a prime example. I've been frustrated in an area of my life recently and don't have too many options in regards to it. Last night, I let it get the best of me and got upset about the situation. The Lumberjack, being the amazing husband that is he, tried to comfort me in the best way he knew how--by fixing it. And, luckily for both of us, I was rational enough to see it.

While all I wanted was to be told, "It's gonna be OK; you're doing your best," he told me I need to buck up and be happy because I am blessed beyond many other people. So, I didn't get what I wanted. And as he was talking, I could have gotten angry that he wasn't comforting me how I wanted. Instead, I was thankful that he was comforting me the best he knew how.

Like most men, the Lumberjack thinks in terms of fixing things. And instead of getting irritated at him for not doing things "my way," I need to be thankful that he's willing to do something at all. I am, more than anything, a work in progress.