Tag Archives: pie

The Glory of a Walk in the Sunshine

Maintaining Weight Loss, Sidewalks and jet streams, walking March 11, 2015 Comments: 8

1 sAfter a couple weeks of abnormal cold and snowfall, Colorado has finally been released to the blue skies and sunshine that makes much of the country covet our little neck of the wood (or plains as the case may be.) What’s especially glorious about living in Denver this time of year is the incredible views of the snow covered mountain peeks.

After curling up and ignoring the snow and grey skies for the last two weeks, I’ve finally came out of hibernation as the sun and blues skies lured me into the fresh air.

It started last Friday with walking up and down main street in a small town north of us. 1 mountainsHubby and I enjoyed exploring the little shops and sampling one of the best cups of chai we’ve ever had. (If you ever have the choice for bhakti chai vs . . .  well, any of the others, it’s bhakti all the way!)

While I got in some decent exercise, I can’t claim it helped my efforts toward a smaller summer waistline because my husband couldn’t resist the pie factory at the end of the road. I’m positive that whatever calories we walked off found their way back on as we plopped on a park bench and enjoyed a blackberry/raspberry pie. (Both our favorites–blackberry for him, raspberry for me, all in one!) Thankfully, it was a not full-sized pie. This is especially good because we ate every single last bite. He even licked the pan!

After this indulgence, however, I am happy to report that more fruits and veggies (and less unhealthy foods) have found their way into my mouth in the following days, and that I got a walk in every single day since! Those Colorado skies are simply irresistible.

As I browsed online today I found an article that made me feel even better about the walking habit. It’s called Why Steve Jobs Took Long Walks and Why You Should Too. According to this article walking not only improves health, productivity, communication, but also makes us at least 60% more creative. Need proof? Many of the creative giants like Beethoven and Charles Dickens were known walkers!

So lace up those tennies.

See you in the sunshine,

Paula another test (401x192) (2)

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Balance: Days 63 and 64

The Early Weight Loss Journey March 12, 2013 Leave a comment

Who’s thinking about weight loss today?

Shaped-Crust-Pecan-Pie

Picture taken from the Karo Syrup recipe page: http://karosyrup.com I alter my pecan pies slightly from this recipe. A great trick for better pecan pie is to allow your eggs to come to room temperature before baking.

I probably ate 2500 calories, at least, with the cheesy potato breakfast casserole, homemade cinnamon rolls, buttery mashed potatoes, and homemade pecan pie! It was the best I ever baked. Mmmmm . . . but the good news is, I don’t think I ever felt that “too full” sick feeling everyone else complained of. Even though I ate high calorie foods, I somehow didn’t eat past full—quite an accomplishment for me, and not even a conscious one, just what happened. I suspect my metabolism is also better from walking, and that the BeLean I took before breakfast and lunch also helped burn away the food. Yay!                                                  ~December 25, 2012

The good news is I was actually under calorie count today. I walked just over 45 minutes, which was tricky because people didn’t shovel their sidewalks. I want to have a good attitude, but seriously! Those icy patches are scary. After the two car accidents I fear taking a hard fall. I want to be strong and stay strong!

I almost didn’t walk. It was 21 degrees when I took off. Thankfully, a friend gave me an ear warmer for Christmas. Only I forgot to put it in my pocket, so I didn’t have it with me. I went back after about a mile, grabbed the ear warmer, and walked another two.

I skipped my shake today because I knew I’d get none of the left-overs if I waited. With three teenage boys in the house, you have to grab the turkey when it is available because it will be gone in a heart-beat!                                                ~December 26, 2012

Real Time Update:

Balance. That’s why I put those two days of posts together. I’m learning that a successful weight loss journey isn’t about perfection or self-deprivation or never again putting anything high calorie into my mouth. It’s about balance. A day of celebration doesn’t blow weight loss goals. Christmas Day was about family, food, joy, and worship. Not losing weight. But the next day needed to be business as usual.

That’s balance.

pecan, apples spinachI read a great quote in the Made to Crave Devotional: “Perseverance is just one choice away.” No matter the calorie count at any given moment one choice puts me back on the path to success. Whether my increased calorie intake is intentional, like on Christmas Day, or out of frustration and rebellion (I’ll admit it, that happened a few times over the last week), I’m always only one choice away from perseverance–the path to complete victory.

Speaking of victory, the scale moved that last couple of pounds this morning so I can officially say I’m down 40 pounds since October 24th! I think I’ll celebrate–with an lovely pecan, apple, and spinach SALAD.