low carb...low fat...low sodium...low sugar...and on and on and on

One thing that I have always had trouble with is what set of guidelines to use for myself when deciding what to eat. There are so many diets out there and almost all of them direct you to cut out whole groups of foods. What I have come to discover is that while every body reacts differently to food, when it comes down to it, weight loss occurs when you burn more CALORIES than you eat. But, it's not as simple as just eating less, because most people run into a problem when they do this - they get hungry! The power foods are those that are low calorie, yet high in protein or fiber because they keep you full longer. My favorite go to foods that stay true to this concept are yogurt (Greek is the best because it has double the protein of regular yogurt!), apples, cheese (in small amounts), beans, oatmeal, and jerky (beef or turkey). Another great thing about these foods is that their portions can be easily controlled. I am all about eating a serving size or less. I feel like these foods keep me from the snacking that adds on pounds and they are all healthy choices!

Exercise

These shoes look just like mine. I love that there are so many options out there to choose a pair that fits your style and personality!

This is a no-brainer, but I think people avoid this aspect of health because they can only see it being accomplished if they are one of those runners you see on the side of the road, or a guy lifting weights in the mirror at the gym, or a full-on swimmer, cap/goggles and all. Most of us aren't talented in one particular sport, at least I'm not! My commitment that I've made to myself is to do at least one form of physical activity per day, specifically for the reason of moving my body. Another thing I've learned is, if I wait to join an exercise class until I'm "comfortable" I will never get there! I'm not the most athletic, coordinated, nor do I look "pretty" while I'm exercising, but I'm learning that the gift I'm giving myself in improved health is worth any insecurity I feel.

I've enjoyed the variety that classes at my local gym provide me with. Some things that I've liked doing recently:

*walking outdoors, around a lake or a set track so I know how far I've gone
(Rancho Santa Margarita lake is 1.1 miles!)

*step aerobics with weights incorporated
(S.E.T class at 24 Hour Fitness - if you have a membership check it out!)

*kick boxing/dancing - I look like a fool and sometimes even stop moving completely to stare at the instructor with my mouth dropped open, in hopes of just maybe understanding one more move that she's doing
(Turbo Kick Box, 24 Hour Fitness)

*swimming laps or "running" across the pool
(so refreshing in this hot weather and the water gives you great resistance, burning more calories, yet easier on the joints!)

My main reason for writing posts about this is to keep myself accountable - I figure if I'm putting my thoughts out there, I need to maintain my attitude. So get out there and exercise with someone - meet someone at the gym for a class (trust me, it is SO much easier to try it the first time if you go with a friend), go for a walk, turn on an exercise video, do SOMETHING! Replace a bad habit with this great one. Ask me about how I'm doing if you like! :)

Starting Anew

I don't expect anyone to read this as I haven't posted on here for 2 years. I kept coming to my blog and seeing my last post about Ginny, and not wanting to move on from it. But so much has happened, and she's with Jesus, so let's move along. I am going to refocus my future postings on health. Physical health, emotional health, spiritual health. The things that help me to be healthier or the things that I aspire to do to help in these areas. Should be fun!

Bittersweet

Today was our first pastors' wives breakfast without Ginny. I miss her, a lot. I felt like I needed to set a place for her at the table, and save a seat for her on the couch. I made her cinnamon rolls in honor of her. They were good.

Another recipe was a new one - a breakfast torte. It's layered inside with ham, cheese, grilled potatoes and onions, and egg and parsley, all wrapped up in puff pastry. I think it's a keeper! You can see the outside and inside down below.

Breakfast cooking down, a few graduate papers to write, lesson plans to organize, loads of laundry to do, and hopefully a nap is on the horizon.

Long time no see.

Future highlights of my summer:

1. Hawaii - a parent of one of my students owns a condo on the big island in Mauna Lani. She offered it to us to use for a week and we're really excited! This will probably be the nicest vacation we've ever had. Oh wait, besides our honeymoon 5 years ago this is the only other real vacation we've been on!

Things I'm looking forward to in Hawaii: going to the seahorse farm, staying in a nice condo, having reserved beach loungers on the beach, seeing the volcano erupting, and a lot of other things.

2. Not going to work - so being a teacher is paying off now. It is so nice to work so hard, especially at the end of the school year, and then have the summer off. I need to think of some projects I can work on so I don't get bored!

3. Washington DC - Adam has to go to a conference in Maryland in August and I decided I would go with him and we would spend a few extra days in Washington DC. I am looking forward to visiting the Holocaust Museum and a few other Smithsonian museums. We also want to go to the Arlington Cemetery because Adam wrote the music for a self-guided headphone tour there! I'm looking forward to using public transportation there - I know people who live there may be annoyed with it, but here in CA it's difficult to use so I think it will be fun to experience it.

4. Baby showers and births - many friends are having babies these next few months and I am excited to meet their little ones. All of them are girls except for one that I'm not sure about. (I think/hope it's a boy!) I threw a shower for a friend that turned out so awesome! I will post pictures soon.

Hopefully I will get back into this soon! I got a Flip video camera for my birthday so perhaps I can make some videos of things that lots of you have wanted to see pictures of.

Hasta for now!

Crack of Dawn

On Friday, I treated the kids to a little ice cream party while we watched the recording of our annual Christmas musical.

I had dropped something underneath a table and had climbed underneath it to pick it up. I was wearing a clingy shirt that day, and thanks to the lower and lower rise of pants these days, I felt slightly drafty back there. I figured nobody was paying attention - they were all laughing at the video.

All of a sudden a loud voice booms across the room:

"Mrs. Green, I can see your butt!!"

Oh my goodness. Shock. Utter embarrassment.

My cute little autistic student comes closer to me and says in the same loud voice:

"Is it okay that I said I can see your butt?"

I said to her more quietly:

"That's fine, but next time maybe come over to me and whisper it."

One of my boys hears the conversation and says with a huge grin,

"We're all family!!!"

Yikes. Kami will make sure there are no wardrobe malfunctions ever again. :)

Come to this event!!!