For starters...we have found a lot of really good, healthy meals to cook at home. There are so many recipes are out there where you don't have to sacrifice flavor just becaue you are eating healthy! So far, Andy has loved just about everything we have made. We have found that he LOVES the taste of whole wheat. One night, I bought whole wheat pizza doughs and made pizza for dinner. He said, "Guys, I really like the pizza. It's my favorite! Look Daddy, I ate it all...I even ate the crust! Not like Mommy!"
That last part cracked me up...
So moving on to the Holiday Food Tour...
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were spent with family and it was great. Food-wise, I didn't do great but I wasn't horrible. I had 1 plate at each meal, which was good. However, they might have ended up being a tad larger than I originally intended.
So moving on to the Holiday Food Tour...
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were spent with family and it was great. Food-wise, I didn't do great but I wasn't horrible. I had 1 plate at each meal, which was good. However, they might have ended up being a tad larger than I originally intended.
On to our 2nd Christmas of 2013 (celebrated on Jan 12, 2014). The Fenstermakers (both Seymour and Shelton) and the Mellos went Mexican! I made a healthier version of chicken enchiladas and Melissa made a great version of steak fajitas (from what I'm told, I don't eat steak).
...Pause...
Its a texture issue...I hope everyone has stopped freaking out about the fact that I don't eat steak...
Moving On...
We had reduced fat cheddar cheese, RF sour cream, fat free refried beans, whole wheat tortillas and all the other healthy fixins'. I have to admit, everything was really tasty!
Now for the 3rd Christmas of 2013 in Philly (celebrated on Jan 18, 2014). This was a true test for me. My mom, my brother and I went to a little Italian market in Ardmore, PA and got food for the entire clan. This place was FANTASTIC!!
Right when I walked in I was sucker punched in the face with the smell of Italian pastries! Why you ask...because there is a pastry case right at the front door...GENIUS! Then I veered right to see all kinds of prepared soups and cold salads and antipasti. I followed that display case all the way down and find myself head on with the butcher and a ridiculous amount of meats and charcuterie. Then at the end...I took a left directly into the PIZZA ZONE. They have a fairly large pizza oven, where they are making fresh pizzas all day long. Then, running as fast as I could past ALL the pizza, I found a large cooler case full of fresh pasta, upon fresh pasta, upon fresh pasta!! I went around another corner where I found breads and cheeses up the WAZOO! Then, I came across an entire area devoted to all different kinds of olive oil with a sign that said "tasting is free" and it had little tiny cups. And then just as I was praying for it to be all over, I took the last left and found...a 25 foot display case (roughly) of HOT PREPARED ITALIAN FOOD! I kid you not...this place was RIDICULOUS!
www.carlinosmarket.com
For someone who loves food, loves to cook, loves almost all things Italian and definitely loves to eat...this place was amazing!!! The best part of it all (other than my mom and dad paying for everything) I came out of there with a piece of Tilapia cooked with lemon and white wine and brussel sprouts. Another great thing about this little adventure was I realized that I am not a huge fan of Tilapia. (it's a little too mealy for me)
I'm not going to lie and say I didn't try anything else we brought home but thats all I did. I had a little taste of certain things but not 3 full plates like I would have a month ago. I was feeling really good about myself. I felt like I was making great strides towards my goal.
I know it's very early in my journey and I have a long way to go, but my thoughts were...this really isn't that hard. Eat Less, Move More...it works and its not that difficult especially when everyone in the house in on the same page. For me, having Melissa on board is making all the difference. So, I was feeling a little cocky. I MADE IT THROUGH 1 CHRISTMAS EVE AND 3 CHRISTMASES!!!
With those thoughts...I had just mushed myself!!
Sure enough, I was quickly brought back to reality with the help of my favorite little boy.
Here's the scene...
I was at my brother's dining room table, playing with my niece (Macy), my nephew (Davin) and Andy. Andy looked at me and said, "Daddy, I am SOOOOO HAPPY!" (not going to lie...I got a little verklempt). I picked Andy up and gave him a bear hug and said, "I'm going to squeeze the happiness right out of you!!!" I squeezed him and put him down. Andy was hysterically laughing and came back in with his arms spread as wide as he could make them. He "wrapped" them around my stomach, squeezed, and said...
"I'm going to squeeze the jelly right out of you!!!"
That wonderful amazing feeling abruptly changed to what I can only describe as a KICK IN THE NUTS! All of my cockiness (your welcome dear) left me in an instant.
I understand that he didn't mean it that way but the damage was already done. It hurt. The day after we got back from Philly, I went to the most "reputable" pawn shop I knew and bought a treadmill. I think about those words everyday...
So, I want to welcome you all to:
We now have an elliptical, a treadmill and don't forget the amazing Total Gym Platinum Plus!! Needless to say, I have no more excuses. I am on the treadmill and/or elliptical almost every day.
I have also picked up my newest gadget...the FitBit Force.
I can see how far I've walked throughout the day.
I can see how many stairs I climb throughout the day.
I can see how many calories I "burn" throughout the day.
It will also motivate me to get up and move.
I can see how well I slept...seriously...it records and charts sleeping patterns.
Oh yeah...it also tells time.
So after ALL of the holiday shenanigans, here is my summary of the last few weeks..
I have cut my calorie intake to what an "average-sized" person should eat.
We, as a family, have changed our pantry and fridge to much healthier foods.
This has sparked an even stronger curiosity about food and I am constantly searching for healthy recipes to cook.
I am exercising...
I AM EATING LESS AND MOVING MORE!!
I have lost a total of 17 lbs. and I am feeling better and better every day.
It takes some work, but everything that's good in life does. The harder you work, the more you appreciate the results!
Thanks for reading! See you soon!
Jay
...Pause...
Its a texture issue...I hope everyone has stopped freaking out about the fact that I don't eat steak...
Moving On...
We had reduced fat cheddar cheese, RF sour cream, fat free refried beans, whole wheat tortillas and all the other healthy fixins'. I have to admit, everything was really tasty!
Now for the 3rd Christmas of 2013 in Philly (celebrated on Jan 18, 2014). This was a true test for me. My mom, my brother and I went to a little Italian market in Ardmore, PA and got food for the entire clan. This place was FANTASTIC!!
Right when I walked in I was sucker punched in the face with the smell of Italian pastries! Why you ask...because there is a pastry case right at the front door...GENIUS! Then I veered right to see all kinds of prepared soups and cold salads and antipasti. I followed that display case all the way down and find myself head on with the butcher and a ridiculous amount of meats and charcuterie. Then at the end...I took a left directly into the PIZZA ZONE. They have a fairly large pizza oven, where they are making fresh pizzas all day long. Then, running as fast as I could past ALL the pizza, I found a large cooler case full of fresh pasta, upon fresh pasta, upon fresh pasta!! I went around another corner where I found breads and cheeses up the WAZOO! Then, I came across an entire area devoted to all different kinds of olive oil with a sign that said "tasting is free" and it had little tiny cups. And then just as I was praying for it to be all over, I took the last left and found...a 25 foot display case (roughly) of HOT PREPARED ITALIAN FOOD! I kid you not...this place was RIDICULOUS!
www.carlinosmarket.com
For someone who loves food, loves to cook, loves almost all things Italian and definitely loves to eat...this place was amazing!!! The best part of it all (other than my mom and dad paying for everything) I came out of there with a piece of Tilapia cooked with lemon and white wine and brussel sprouts. Another great thing about this little adventure was I realized that I am not a huge fan of Tilapia. (it's a little too mealy for me)
I'm not going to lie and say I didn't try anything else we brought home but thats all I did. I had a little taste of certain things but not 3 full plates like I would have a month ago. I was feeling really good about myself. I felt like I was making great strides towards my goal.
I know it's very early in my journey and I have a long way to go, but my thoughts were...this really isn't that hard. Eat Less, Move More...it works and its not that difficult especially when everyone in the house in on the same page. For me, having Melissa on board is making all the difference. So, I was feeling a little cocky. I MADE IT THROUGH 1 CHRISTMAS EVE AND 3 CHRISTMASES!!!
With those thoughts...I had just mushed myself!!
Sure enough, I was quickly brought back to reality with the help of my favorite little boy.
Here's the scene...
I was at my brother's dining room table, playing with my niece (Macy), my nephew (Davin) and Andy. Andy looked at me and said, "Daddy, I am SOOOOO HAPPY!" (not going to lie...I got a little verklempt). I picked Andy up and gave him a bear hug and said, "I'm going to squeeze the happiness right out of you!!!" I squeezed him and put him down. Andy was hysterically laughing and came back in with his arms spread as wide as he could make them. He "wrapped" them around my stomach, squeezed, and said...
"I'm going to squeeze the jelly right out of you!!!"
That wonderful amazing feeling abruptly changed to what I can only describe as a KICK IN THE NUTS! All of my cockiness (your welcome dear) left me in an instant.
I understand that he didn't mean it that way but the damage was already done. It hurt. The day after we got back from Philly, I went to the most "reputable" pawn shop I knew and bought a treadmill. I think about those words everyday...
So, I want to welcome you all to:
CLOWN SHOES FITNESS
 |
| MY A..DIDAS!! |
I have also picked up my newest gadget...the FitBit Force.
 |
| Just a fantastic coincidence that the time on the FitBit is my birthday!! |
I can see how far I've walked throughout the day.
I can see how many stairs I climb throughout the day.
I can see how many calories I "burn" throughout the day.
It will also motivate me to get up and move.
I can see how well I slept...seriously...it records and charts sleeping patterns.
Oh yeah...it also tells time.
I can set silent alarms...So,when I get up at 5am to go exercise...I'm not waking up the whole house...just a little buzz on the wrist.
So after ALL of the holiday shenanigans, here is my summary of the last few weeks..
I have cut my calorie intake to what an "average-sized" person should eat.
We, as a family, have changed our pantry and fridge to much healthier foods.
This has sparked an even stronger curiosity about food and I am constantly searching for healthy recipes to cook.
I am exercising...
I AM EATING LESS AND MOVING MORE!!
I have lost a total of 17 lbs. and I am feeling better and better every day.
It takes some work, but everything that's good in life does. The harder you work, the more you appreciate the results!
Thanks for reading! See you soon!
Jay
It is definitely great to do this together. I'm enjoying our "Clown Shoes Fitness" center and the red sneakers that you rock! In the grocery store the other day, you rounded the corner as I was looking for you. I had to do a double take because, at first glance, I didn't think it was you. You look amazing and the results are very visible. I love you...jelly or no jelly!
ReplyDelete