Zen and the Art of Creamed Spinach

I think that Michelle Obama has been reading my blog.

Otherwise, why would she be taking up the crusade for healthy eating and healthy living?

Well, maybe she's just one smart cookie -- er, carrot. Regardless of how she came up with the idea, I think it's great. My daughter is only seven months old and her food needs are pretty basic, but I plan on making sure that as she gets older her dinner plate continues to be filled with colorful, healthy -- and still tasty -- whole foods. And I'm getting a head start by getting into the habit for myself and my husband, so that we can set a good and healthy example.

On a side note, Obama's also got the nation buzzing about how to make creamed spinach -- without the cream. A recipe I am most definitely going to be trying for myself one day, soon.

I'll let you know how that creamed spinach goes.

Getting My Groove Back

I can be as on-the-ball-cruising-along-all-systems-go as anything with the healthy lifestyle, and all it takes is one nasty cold to blast it all to hell.

Well, maybe it's not that bad... but for a few days last week it really seemed like it. At the very least, life as I knew it pretty much screeched to a halt. I didn't feel like eating, much less eating well, and forget about the running routine. All I wanted to do was wrap myself up in a blanket and sleep until it was all over.

After a mess like that, it is really, really hard to get back into the swing of things. I had stopped exercising, given up the food diary, lost control of the meal planning and had no motivation to go to the grocery store. I had lost my momentum.

For another several days after I started feeling better, I kind of floundered a bit as I tried to regain my footing. We ate take-out more often than I'd like because a) there wasn't much in the fridge and b) I had no inclination to cook, though I am proud to say that for the most part (short of being in control of every single ingredient) we were able to keep it healthy: Chinese shrimp & mixed vegetables, Greek chicken souvlaki with grilled vegetables, and that one Wendy's baked potato with some chili. Having lost a week on my running program, I wasn't sure where to start back up. I regained one pound that I lost during my illness -- which was fine, because that was kind of a "cheat" pound, anyway, but it also shined a light on the fact that I have been really off my game.

This weekend, I started taking steps to get my groove back:
1. Meal plan. I buckled down and created that meal plan for the week. From that, I made the grocery list. And then... I actually went to the grocery store. The house is now stocked with everything I need to stay on track, and I once again have a road map for the week's dinners. Now, at dinnertime, there is no "but there's nothing in the house" or "I don't know what to cook" -- my two favorite excuses.
2. Running program. When it comes to exercise, Nike really had it right: just do it. Seriously, I just had to get up off my arse and do it. I ran one day at the level where I last left off; then stepped right up to the next level and will continue the program from there. And you know what? It felt good. Why that fact is so easy to forget is beyond me.
3. Food diary. Really and truly, I believe in the food diary one hundred percent. Not only does it keep me honest, it helps me to evaluate my eating habits and ensure that I am eating enough of the good stuff. I know, for example, that I really need to kick up my vegetable intake a notch; I'm not getting enough dairy, or fruit for that matter; and I should probably pull back a little on the cheese. That doesn't even sound painful at all -- go figure, a "diet" where I have to eat more!

Despite a minor detour, I think that I am headed back down the right path. And it only took me a week to figure it out; in the past, it might have taken a year. That's progress!

The Spice of Life

For me, there is nothing more energizing, nothing that recharges my batteries more than a new look. I am constantly reinventing myself, and have over the years been known to surprise many (including Dave) with dramatically different...locks. Red, blonde, long, short, spiky, curly, straight...you name it, I've done it to my hair. (Well, except for maybe purple, mohawk, or completely shaved. But you get the picture.) I have virtually no fear when it comes to my hair -- my mantra is, It will grow back.

So, since the cold, cruel winter renewed its icy grip this past week -- dumping snow, ice, and a nasty cold on my doorstep -- I needed something to pull me out of a rut of despair. Off to Supercuts I went, armed with some pictures I printed from the Web of what I hoped would be my next cool, new 'do. (If you're looking for some ideas for your next haircut, this short hairstyles blog is chock full of inspiration.)



Twenty bucks (and a box of ColorSilk #42) later, I have an awesome new look and a renewed sense of vigor. Yesterday, although the temperature barely broke freezing, I had the distinct feeling that Spring was on its way. I could almost smell it. There was decidedly more spring in my step (no pun intended). The effect was immediate, and truly amazing.



So what is it about changing my look that is so invigorating? I think the key word is change. The one thing I hear over and over again on South Beach is, when you hit a plateau in your weight loss, change up your food choices. Exercise routine in a rut? Throw in something different. Our bodies get used to the same thing day in and day out, become complacent, figure out the path of least resistance. We need to throw it a curve, shake things up to get it revved up again. I believe the same holds true with the mind. When you get into a rut of negative thinking, the path of least resistance is to continue that train of thought. A new look is the quickest, easiest way for me to jump start my brain, plain and simple.

They say that variety is the spice of life. It's what makes life interesting... it's what makes life worth living. Don't be afraid of change; embrace it. And if you find yourself stuck in a rut, take yourself directly to the nearest hairdresser. Don't worry, it will grow back!

Taking the Potato Off Its Pedestal

You know those revealing photos you find on People, TMZ, or XYZ (insert your favorite gossip rag here) that show celebrities without their make-up? And you are horrified to discover that those gorgeous, flawless and oh-so-put-together celebs, underneath layers of meticulously applied make-up, are actually wrinkled or blemished or worse, just (gasp!) plain?

That is the sad realization I came to yesterday after a few bites of a much anticipated baked potato. On its own, a potato is just dry, pale and pasty... not unlike some of these make-up-less celebrities.

I know what you're thinking. Stephanie ate a baked potato? What about South Beach? Isn't that illegal? Okay, so maybe you're not thinking that. But yes, I did eat a baked potato, which is actually okay to eat (VERY RARELY) on the Beach. I took precautions, such as pairing the potato with carb competitors like a little fat and fiber -- in the form of some chili -- to slow down digestion of the starch. I even ate the skin, which is full of fiber and holds pretty much all of the worthwhile nutrients the potato can claim. But that's beside the point.

I realized, as I added my Smart Balance, and (low fat) sour cream, and loaded on the garlic pepper...that the potato itself actually has no real flavor on its own. Think about it: have you ever had a plain, no-frills potato? A baked potato is all about the toppings -- butter, sour cream, chives, even broccoli and cheese. The flavor in mashed potatoes comes from butter, milk, cream cheese and whatever else you throw in. Even french fries taste like salt and the fat they're fried in (and if you think I'm wrong about that one, consider how you felt when McDonald's went trans-fat-free on their fries).

I never thought I'd say this -- not in a million years -- but I think I'm done with the potato. I would much rather enjoy a food that doesn't have to be "doctored" to have any flavor. A sweet potato, for example, is far more moist, nutritious and flavorful without adding anything to it.

Forget the make-up. Natural beauty is where it's at. And if you are what you eat... well, you do the math.