think small.

In light of yesterday's post on how inappropriate the tube feeding diet is, I thought I would do some posts of appropriate ways to go about weight loss.  If you read yesterday, then you know tube feeding should not equal dieting.  A good way to go about weight loss is to think small and realistic.  These are some of the biggest things to successful weight loss, in my eyes.

I like to tell people to make small changes that are realistic.  For instance, if you drink soda all day- don't say you are never going to drink soda again.  That's just not going to happen.  But maybe you could cut down the number of sodas you drink each day.  We all like for change to happen big, especially when it comes to weight loss, but that's not how successful weight loss happens.  If you eat out for dinner and eating out is what you enjoy, don't give it up.  Yes, eating at home is typically healthier, but if you aren't going to do it then don't kid yourself.  But do make healthy choices while eating out [which is another post in and of itself].

via

These are just two very brief examples of small, realistic changes.  To some people they may seem to small, but they do add up when they are followed.  Once you get the hang of your first small change, you can take the next step to a bigger change and implement that in your life.  It's exciting to conquer small changes!  They provide motivation on the long journey that is weight loss.

breakfast out.

Happy New Year!

We have had an awesome weekend!  Tommy was off work yesterday and today so we really enjoyed our extra time together.  Yesterday my sister babysat Jack while Tommy and I went on a lunch date and went shopping.  It was so fun and a great time for us to reconnect-- we haven't had much alone time since we moved.  Thanks Lindsay for loving on Jack and loving us too!

Today we celebrated with breakfast out!  It's one of our favorite things to do, and it's definitely a special treat.  We went to We're Cooking.  Never been there before but my brother is a big fan, and now I see why.  Love the hospitality and kindness of the man working there, love the food.

It was 18 degrees this morning... 

Apparently in the morning my eyes don't open. 

My breakfast-- amazing pancakes! 

Tommy's breakfast -- the best french toast in town. 

confessions of a dietitian.

This morning I ran out the door and was running behind.  Besides the fact that it was after 830 and I had been up since 4 something, I still didn't have anything together.  Typical for me.  I used to be really organized and then it slipped, but it's going to have to make a come back if I'm ever going to get anywhere on time with a baby.  Anyway...  on my way to work I drove through McDonald's to get some coffee.  I drink decaf coffee these days because Jack is really sensitive to caffeine-- like he twitches if I even drink a Coke.  But my brain is so hooked on coffee that if I drink decaf it still does it for me.  I feel more awake just drinking coffee, plus it feeds my coffee habit that started in college.  So I had my McDonald's cup of coffee-- oh and while I'm confessing I should also mention that I got breakfast there, too.  Here's where the confession comes in-- I had a coffee mug in my car and came up with a plan to pour the coffee in there so no one in my morning meeting would notice that I went to McDonald's.  There are several things wrong with this.
1.  Apparently I think people are really interested in me.  Truth is I highly doubt they are and likely wouldn't have noticed.  
2.  I am a dietitian and don't want to sit through the morning managers meeting appearing like I condone McDonald's and eat there myself.  This was my logic, but the problem is that I clearly did eat there and I was so focused on hiding it I was going to put up a front.  
3.  Dietitians by no means have perfect diets, but of all of them, I am probably the worst.

I'm really tired so I apologize for this post as it probably doesn't make sense. 

and the thunder rolls.

We had a bad storm Monday night. I was all set to cook dinner, too. Honestly, I was. But just before dinner time a huge flash of lightning struck our neighbor's yard, and I saw it strike. It was really scary. Instantly our power went out, thus ending the option of making dinner. So we went out to Chickfila, and I got a the-power's-out-milkshake. It was awesome.

where the strike happened- huge burn mark.