Busy times at work.
Trying to plan Thanksgiving.
Birthdays.
Christmas.
Anniversary.
Restaurant I worked for closing, unfortunately.
New Years.
Realizing that my health was not what it should be and something needed to be done about it.
Joining a gym to focus on making myself healthier.
More birthdays.
Divorce.
Yep. Didn't see it coming but then again, not everyone does. It tried to kick my ass but I didn't let it happen. Well, not like it wanted to at least. No one just bounces back from that like nothing happened and it was no big deal. Well, unless you're a complete jerk off, but I digress.With that whole health realization thing came eating habits change. Cutting back on the fat, cutting back/almost out on added salt. Watching caloric intake (not counting, that's doing too much). Which means that I've had to re-vamp the way that I cook and shop. Let me tell you, it really IS cheaper to be fat. Eating healthy on a budget isn't easy. Everyone claims it is, but my bank account just doesn't see it that way. Unless you know where to shop.
I don't eat a huge variety of veggies, so once it's goes beyond green beans, corn, broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, brussel sprouts, potatoes and butter beans I'm pretty much out. Almost everyone else I know eats ANY veggie, but there's some things that I just won't touch. Okra, cucumber and tomato being the top 3 I can think of right this second. Regardless, I have found that Aldi is the greatest grocery store on the face of the planet for everyday items. I can get all of my veggies (most of them are frozen) from there for SUPER cheap! There's always other stuff I need too, most of which can be found there as well and so far the only thing I've been disappointed with the quality of was a pack of turkey dogs I bought on a whim. When it comes to my meats though, nothing can compare to the little mom and pop grocery store right up the road. Dollar and bargain stores are your best friends, too. So I'll be posting about amazing, must try/have finds from the ones I frequent also.
In the last 8 months I have learned how to stretch money and food better than I ever thought I could. I've come up with new things that I cannot eat without (most of the time) and I'm going to do my best to transfer my new ways of doing from my brain to the screen as best I can. Since I started this better way of cooking along with gym visits, I've managed to lose 30 pounds, come off of my controller medication for blood pressure and pre-diabetes as well as fit comfortably back into my beloved size 18 Diva's (brownie points if you know who carries that style).
Between the weight loss and the divorce I have found a whole new side of myself. One that doesn't really care what anyone has to say or think of me (unless it's positive that is). Well it's not completely new, it's the way I used to be before I had to carry myself a certain way to please certain people, or worry about the impressions I gave in certain circles. I just haven't seen it in so long that it feels new. I realized I was being forced into a mold that wasn't built for me in the first place and that it needed to be broken free of. So I shattered that bitch into a million pieces, Office Space style.
One thing is for sure though, I still enjoy a good meal and I still adore my proteins. That will NEVER change. I just have to learn to do it healthier and stick with it!
Except for cheat days. Cheat days are sacred and must never be forgotten if sanity is to be kept.
-- Meg
