I am a woman of somewhat even proportions. I am 5' 3.5" (that half inch is important to me!!) and curvy in all the right places .... maybe a little too curvy!!
OK!!! So, I am waaaay over my "suggested" weight. I won't bore (or shock) you with the details!
I used to blame it on 3 pregnancies so close together (my kids are 23 months apart). For six years I was either pregnant or breastfeeding. I have no regrets. Well, maybe a few...eating too much junk food, not staying on some kind of fitness schedule, getting my hair cut very short that one time, not drinking enough water. every day., being addicted to Taco Bell and Dr. Pepper during my last pregnancy and Coke forevermore after. =/ Really, I have many regrets, but none pertaining to my kids and pregnancy!! So, in these, my mid-to late 30 years, I have realized that something must be done. I can no longer eat what I want and "get away with it". Although, clearly, I have not been getting away with it for years!!!
My quest started last year, when after years of not doing so, I thought it would be great fun to play a game of volley ball. It was great fun!! ......for about 20 minutes!!!
** Let me digress for a moment. I was somewhat athletic in high school. I played volley ball and tennis, then took up racquetball (which I love!) after graduation. I graduated in 1993. (Yikes!!!)(That is like 20 years ago!!!!)(YIKES!!!!)That in itself should explain a lot, but I must go further. I have played off and on throughout the years and never suffered more than sore arms so why should now be any different. Right??**
About 20 minutes in to this game of my beloved volley ball my right leg felt a sharp pain and I heard a snap! Yikesamoly!!! Charlie horse of the century people!!! After a trip to my doc the next day it was concluded that I tore my calf muscle. This was a severe blow to my (ego is not the right word, but I can't seem to think of another word...) psyche (maybe?). What??? My body could no longer handle volley ball?? What is this? What does it mean??
It meant wearing a monstrous "boot" for 6 weeks and Physical Therapy for 6+ weeks. That's right
P.T.!!!!
Guess who had to start "exercising"??? >>Me<<
So, after years of avoiding regular exercise I started doing these "Strengthening and Stretching" routines for my leg to heal properly. I actually enjoyed doing it. It motivated me to start going to the gym!! I did that for about 6 months, them life started happening and I got off track! Also, my knee started hurting constantly...
But, I am starting back my gym fun tonight and I have started changing the way I eat.
Eating is probably my hardest area of change for me. I gave up all soda. I have also given up bread (gluten) and that has made a huge impact on my energy levels. No one will tell you this (except for the guy who wrote that book, "Wheat Belly"!!) but breads and gluten in particular effect your snacking urges, energy levels and overall health!! When I first came off of wheat I lost about 10 pounds! Nice!! Well, apparently, my body was not impresses. I have since gained back five of those, but have maintained that weight for these last six or so months!!
....Until we went camping! Who new that you could gain five pounds in 4 days??!! Amazing! I have to give credit to the many Cokes I drank and the junk food I consumed. Laying the full blame on myself for being so weak and lazy!! However, since I have been home, I have been a good girl.
I have lost those five pounds I found while camping and am determined to go down even further, hence my Blog Post title >>>>New Fall Soup.
>>>>>>>Last night, I was not very hungry, but needed to eat so I wouldn't be munchie later...as I perused my pantry for something gluten free (I almost made my self a grilled cheese sandwich! BAH!!!!) I came across a can of pumpkin. Libby's. Hmmmm....What can I do with this??
I'll tell ya!!
I MADE SOUP!!
It was kind of the texture of tomato soup (which I love, but didn't have on hand) and totally easy and super yummy!!!
I spooned out half the can of pumpkin (Let me insert here that the entire can of pumpkin is only 140 calories!!), added about 1/4 C of milk, put in cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, a pinch of salt and a bit of brown sugar (because I have not given up sugar yet...I"m working on it!!).
It was sort of the directions for the pie on the back of the can, but without the egg and guesswork on the amount of spices. I may try it with the egg today, just to see how it is and to add a bit of protein. Mixed it all up and nuked it for a minute or so. Added a bit more cinnamon and heated it up a bit more and Viola! a super yummy (almost) guilt free soup!!!! Now, I will confess that I cheated a bit on the G.F. part, because I dipped graham crackers in the soup a few times...wow!!! That was super yummy!!! But on the whole, I could eat it with no graham crackers and be just fine!!! =)
Mu hubby thinks it's weird, but it really was delicious and satisfying!! A girl can't ask for more than that!!!
Blessings!!!!
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