There is a really good reason why this hermit should remain a hermit. I went to another holiday dinner at the home of my dear cousin, Johnny. For some reason, I didn't think about watching what I ate. It's been a while since I have been really strict, so I guess my brain is trying to revert back to its old way. I'm not worried about it. I've been a January 2nd dieter all of my life. I haven't lost any additional weight in the last month, but I haven't gained any back either. (I didn't weigh in today) I will be starting again strictly in two more days. That's not to say I will be eating with abandon today and tomorrow, but really, New Year's Eve only comes around once a year, and New Year's Day is a holiday. (excuses, excuses.....where are my Beck index cards?)  So, back to last night's dinner:  We started with a colorful salad, and went on to delicious barbecued lamb chops, roasted potatoes and asparagus. It was actually a pretty healthy meal. The problem is that I started with a cocktail which in turn let my resolve down, and I finished with the most delicious homemade cheesecake!!!

 

The end of the year is upon us. I always like this time of year because I feel like I can forgive myself for all of the mistakes I have made throughout the year and get ready for a fresh start. I can strive to do better. I usually am at my heaviest weight around now. Halloween candy leads to Thanksgiving overeating, then to Christmas season indulgences. But.....not this year. Thankfully, I have made a drastic change in my eating choices and I am ready to step it up in the new year. As I review the last year, my change in diet also coincided with a change in my general thinking. I have thoughtfully and emphatically tried to change a part of my personality that often gets in the way of my own happiness. I have always been a "pleaser". I want everyone to be happy and I try to do my best to help others reach that goal. In the last couple of years, I finally came to the conclusion that it is an impossible task.  As hard as I try to protect those closest to me, I have no power to insure their happiness. So, I can only be true to myself, and make choices that are well intentioned. Sometimes that means not being as social as I once was. It often means being a hermit.  There is nothing wrong with being a hermit.

As Albert Einstein once said, "Solitude is painful when one is young, but delightful when one is more mature."

Maybe I am maturing.  

 

 

I'm back!

Blogging definitely helps me choose healthier meals. I've noticed that since I have quit daily writing, I am not as particular about what I eat. I am still entirely better than I used to be, but let's just say that I haven't lost any additional weight. What I do find amazing though, is that eating a certain way for 3 months really does change the way I think about food. I am always conscious about what I am eating. Even when I indulge, it is not at all to the extent that it was. The Christmas holidays have come and gone. Christmas Eve is always a special night with just the five of us. Christmas Day was a beautiful big party at my niece's house with tons of food and decadent deserts.  In celebration of the day, I sampled it all! A couple of my nieces are pregnant, so I was lucky. Bigger stomachs really seemed to be in fashion.

Merry Christmas!

This is the last of my sermons; then I will go back to sharing what is on  Patti's Plate. When bad things happen, especially of the magnitude of Newtown, Connecticut, I think it is only normal to question one's faith. It is so hard for me to grasp the concept of "free will". I hope and pray that one day it will all be clear to me, but in the meantime, I can only seek understanding and redemption of and from my thoughts.
Mark 9:24 - "I believe, help my unbelief."
There have been many times in my life that my faith has ebbed and flowed. I shouldn't discount what I have attributed as miracles in the past, when bad things happen. I need to remember the good and not focus only on the bad. Twenty two years ago, my father died. It felt like a part of me died with him. I loved him so much. He passed away in September. Three months later I was reluctantly preparing to celebrate my first Christmas without him. Five days before Christmas, I discovered an old roll of film in the back of my dresser drawer. Not knowing what was on it, I said a little prayer when I took it  to get developed. "Please, Lord. Could I have just one picture of my Dad?" I got the photographs back and to my amazement, I was holding the greatest Christmas gift ever. In my hand was a photograph of my father, with all three of my children sitting on his lap. It was taken in front of our Christmas tree the year before. It was an answer to prayer, and more.
Merry Christmas, and God bless you all.

Amazing Grace

I've wanted to go back to writing Patti's Plate, but in light of the Newtown shooting, the inspiration just hasn't been there. Last night, I watched Anderson Cooper, and got my first glimmer of hope since December 14th. Anderson interviewed the parents of Grace McDonnell, one of the Sandy Hook victims. The love expressed by these two remarkable people gave me a sense of peace that has been evading me. The softness in the mother's voice, and beauty in her demeanor was almost surreal. They said that they plan to move forward in their lives to honor the memory of their daughter. I felt encouraged to do the same. Grace was a little girl, innocent and full of love and vitality. She was all about love and peace and even asked for a birthday cake with a pink and purple peace sign on her last birthday.
In memory of Grace and all of the victims of violence, I pray for peace this holiday season.

The Age of Anxiety

I don't care what is on Patti's plate tonight. I doubt anyone else does either. Today our country was reminded again of just how horrible life on Earth can get. Sure, for you optimists out there, stories will follow about heroism, kindness and casseroles.  I personally prefer to wallow in our misery. This is just too sad.

Day 7, Beck Solution

Lately I feel like I'm writing a restaurant blog instead of writing about weight loss. That's not good. I've been maintaining my weight with the better choices that I am making, but I think I'm ready to start losing again. It's probably stupid timing with the holiday season, but I can definitely try harder during the week.  Day 7 of the Beck Solution suggests that you change the tempting environment in your house. I need to rid my house of all fattening unhealthy items. This is definitely difficult with 4 other people living in my home, all of whom do NOT have a weight problem. Why should they suffer because I am overweight? Because we are talking about health, not just calories. I usually don't buy anything except healthy whole foods. The other night, Anne decided to make chocolate chip cookies. They have been calling to me every single night since. I am going to tell her tomorrow to take them to work, or they are going in the trash. They are definitely too much temptation.  As far as dinner goes, just another boring salad made it's way to Patti's plate.