Family Traditions

While cycling on the bike at the gym, I got into a conversation with an older lady. We talked about family traditions. She told me that while growing up, everyone had to be together for the holidays. Not everyone wanted to do it, but they did it for their mother. She said that after her mom passed away, her brothers and sisters all went their separate ways. No one really talks to each other, neither do they get together for the holidays. Looking back at the old photos, she said, "These smiles are all fake. The true colors came out after mom passed away." It is hard when this happens to a family. This is family and we should put aside the differences because we are family.

I think about my family, but our family is the complete opposite. We enjoy each others company and having the time with each other. Yes, things have changed. Our youngest son will be getting married, but he has told me that they want us over next year for Thanksgiving. After my parents divorced, it was about spending time with each parent. This changed even more after dating my soon to be husband. It was tough because we had a family dinner with all of our relatives: my dad, stepmother, and her brothers, sisters-in-law and the cousins on their side. Then, we had dinner at my mother-in-law's house, with all of my husband's relatives. Later in life, we would pick up my mom and she would join us at my mother-in-law's house for Thanksgiving. My mom enjoyed visiting with everyone and just having all that delicious food that my mother-in-law cooked. My mother-in-law wanted to make it all and delicious it was.

This year, our oldest son will barbecue our turkey. Our youngest son will join us the day after Thanksgiving, since he has to work that Friday. Although, we won't all be together for Thanksgiving, I am glad that we will have some quality time together.

Veggie Omelet

This is one of our favorite ways to eat our vegetables. I begin by cooking the following ingredients in a pan, just like a stir-fry:

bell pepper
zucchini
onion
tomato
spinach

Sometimes, I make my own broccoli slaw and use it in the omelet as well.

After the veggies are cooked, I will then add eggs. We usually have more veggies with only a small number of eggs. The second picture shows that there is liquid. This is not the raw eggs, rather juice from the tomatoes. You can use your own seasoning. This time, I used Herbs of Providence.

Looking To The Future Instead Of The Past

So...I once again dragged myself to go the gym. That is ok. It is going to be a long and hard road, but it will be all worth every day that I choose to go to the gym. I should have started this a long time ago and then I would be closer to my goal. I said this to a friend. My friend said, "We can't look to the past, but to the future." We can say all we want, "I should have done this or I should have done that." As long as we take the step that is the main thing.

I usually see the same people every day. There are some quirks that happen. Maybe, I shouldn't say it that way. There are three of the bikes that are out of order. Usually, the remaining bikes get used immediately, with only one left. I have never seen the person do this, but the people like this individual will put a bottle or a towel on the handle bar, to indicate that it is reserved. Technically, that isn't reserving it. I would say that the person probably goes off to do something else, hoping that the bike will be waiting for them, when in turn someone will take the towel and put it on the bike that is out of order.

Getting Back To The Old Me

Growing up, I was as skinny as a rail as they say. I was never overweight until my early 20's. Not too overweight, but I needed to lose about 20 pounds. I took a weight loss class with a dear friend of mine, and together we managed to lose weight, only to eventually gain it back, plus some. I won't say how much, but I had never had this serious of a weight issue before. After having two sons, the weight never managed to come back off. Never mind you, I think that back then my eating habits were unlike they have been for the last two years.

The weight crept and crept up to an alarming number. When I needed surgery, I was told that my blood pressure was extremely high. In fact, at one point it my blood pressure was over 200. Yikes! The surgery was postponed until I good get a grip on lowering the blood pressure. Since then, I have been on amlodopine. Not one to want to take drugs of any kind, I needed I had no other choice then to take this medicine.

Prior to the surgery, we began eating healthier. Only eating organic vegetables, no red meat, and little chicken. The weight started coming off. In fact, I had lost 50 lbs. within a matter of months, but then it just hit a wall. Although I was eating healthy, the weight just wouldn't budge, even with long walks. Mind you, this weight just wouldn't go anywhere for over a year. Can you believe that? I certainly couldn't.

So....for the last month and a half, I have been working out at the gym. They say that it is easier to put weight on than to lose it. They aren't kidding. But....when I was in that weight class back when I was in my mid 20's, the instructor told us that we can lose inches without losing any weight. This is so true. The scale is still not budging like I want it to, but the weight is slowly coming off and so are the inches. There are days that I would rather not go into the gym. In fact, my body just didn't want to exercise today. The bed seemed like it was calling me to stay a little longer, but if I didn't drag myself to the gym, then I feel that I wouldn't be helping myself. Besides, if you see the picture of the little baby, that little baby is all grown up. I have to exercise and lose weight for myself, not anyone else...but for myself....for my health. It will be a long and hard road, but I am in this for the long haul.