Soothing Stress With Food

This week has been interesting.  First we had a rare east coast earthquake.  I didn't actually feel it myself but it sure got a lot of people excited around here especially because of the nuclear power plant nearby.  Then there is my ongoing lack of fiscal responsibility.  I have not been very organized with my family finances and it has been difficult making ends meet lately.  Of course my job as an ER nurse is typically stressful from time to time.  Then this weekend we had Hurricane Irene.  I'd been noticing how I react to stressors with food.  Usually I do this without necessarily feeling actual hunger.  I grab something easy and quick but not necessarily the best choice.  I have not turned to sugary snacks but I'm not having vegetables either.  When I have fruit like cherries or grapes I have a hard time stopping myself before I eat too many.  I get overwhelmed and I just want to stuff things in my mouth.

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I have been getting posts from Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) on facebook.  Today there was one that really spoke to  me "Why Obesity Doesn't Fit Into a Bento Box".  Every time I've had a major weight loss I have always gained back more than what I'd lost.  This article goes into detail about why that happens.  Here is a link for the article http://www.huffingtonpost.com/will-aguila-md/emotional-eating_b_935289..  Obviously this is something for me to work on.

Truly exercise is part of the process I hadn't used before.  I missed a day at the gym on Saturday because of the hurricane.  It really bothered me that I would have gone too long between gym days so I went on Sunday.  Normally I save Sundays for church and family but church was cancelled due to widespread damage from the storm.  On Friday I made a trip to Manhattan.  I definitely noticed a difference from the last time I went to the city.  I got around pretty well including all the stairs to the subways.  My left knee got sore but nothing like before when both knees were screaming for mercy.

We have been parking offsite at work due to temporary closing of a parking garage.  We are transported by coach bus from the parking lot.  Today was such a nice, sunny day that I walked instead.  It took me about thirty minutes.  The bus isn't that much faster by the time I board and wait for it to leave!  I've been trying to keep my pedometer to over 7000 steps per day.  So the walk put me over my goal.  Unfortunately my drive home was more trouble than my walk.  There are still many roads blocked because of downed trees and wires.  Many traffic lights were not working.  I'm very lucky to have not lost power from the storm.  We had flooding in the neighborhood but our basement just got a little damp.

I'm going to work on the stressors.  I want to be healthy and stay that way.

Love to all,

Marlena of Mohegan

Humility is Always Around the Corner

Just when I'm poised on the boundaries of overconfidence I will be jolted back to reality.  Naturally after losing 163 pounds I hear plenty of positive feedback from my acquaintances.  My clothing is roomier and activity is easier.  It isn't hard to get carried away with myself.

I can always count on my mother to burst my bubble.  She loves me but she has a way of deflating my ego without meaning to.  Today she asked me if I was still losing weight.  I told her yes and gave her the total.  She said that she wondered because I looked bigger around the middle lately.  Thanks Mom.  (Maybe I need to stand up straight and keep my shoulders back).

Yesterday I was in the supermarket in the self-checkout aisle.  As I was finishing up the computer said "Please remove all items from the scanning scale".  I had no items on the scale.  It was my abdomen leaning on it.

Friday at work I was having trouble using the HMED computer program.  For some reason I could not type in commands.  I called ITG for help and they didn't know what was wrong and gave me the usual advice to reboot the computer.  I was about to do that and bent over to get at the power button because typing wasn't working.  I discovered that the keyboard now worked because my breasts were no longer leaning on the keys.

This Monday I walked into the locker room at work to find my locker and several others wide open and empty.  I asked aloud "am I fired?".  I was not fired but my locker was the victim of a water cooler flood from upstairs.  All my belongings were in bags in my supervisor's office.  Some things were soggy and had to be thrown out.  I had some spare clothing that needed to be laundered.  I took a picture of the lockers with my cell phone and posted it on Facebook..  My daughter informed me that that was the cleanest my locker had been in years.  I have to admit that she was right about that.  That doesn't meant it was easy to hear.

So thanks to my loved ones and to the computerized world in which we live I am well grounded in reality.  Just in case you were all worried.

Love to all,
Marlena of Mohegan

Martha Stewart I'm Not

I decided to make some healthy soup the other day.  I felt a need to increase my intake of vegetables and I made up my own recipe for white bean and kale soup.  I thought I'd share it here along with pictures of the process.

White Bean and Kale Soup

Slice an onion and brown in olive oil till brown and carmelized.  Add one or two minced garlic cloves

 Add two cans chicken broth, one large can diced tomatoes, one or two cans of small white beans plus one cup of red wine.  (I had some fresh tomatoes so I diced them up and threw them in the pot too.)

 One Smoked Pork Hock.  Use one and freeze the rest for another time.

 One large potato peeled and diced.

 Four cups Kale washed and chopped.

 Add all ingredients to the pot with the onions.  Season to taste.  I used about 1/2 tsp tumeric, freshly ground pepper and a sprinkle of salt.  Cook for about an hour to let flavors blend and vegetables are tender.

 

 There is such a variety of green leafy vegetables available in the average supermarket.  We should all eat more of these but I rarely do.  I don't even know what to do with them all.  I'm not really fond of cooked greens in a soggy lump on a plate.  I like raw spinach in salad and I like spinach cooked into lasagne or other pasta recipes. Things like Swiss chard, kale, beet greens and collards were never served in my home when I was growing up.  I've tried broccoli rabe a few times.  I sauteed it with garlic but it tends to be bitter.  Rachael Ray made it on TV once and she said you have to parboil it then discard the water to get rid of the bitter taste.  Then saute with garlic in olive oil. I'll try that next time.  I like fresh beets but does one use the tops along with the bottoms?  Beets seem expensive in the store though.  You pay about a dollar per beet in the supermarket.  I planted them once or twice but only got a few pitifully little ones.

One of the things that intimidates me about the other leafy vegetable is that you can't buy just a little bit.  The package of kale I bought was as about the size of a throw pillow.  Everyone says it cooks down but I used four cups in my recipe and I still had practically the whole bag.  Well it did cook down but even though it was supposed to be washed and trimmed there were still some of the ribs present that did not get soft enough.

Anyway, my soup was very tasty and at least two of my family members ate multiple bowls.  Next time I want to try using the Swiss chard that comes in mixed colors.  First I'll have to use up the rest of my kale.  .

Love to all,
Marlena of Mohegan

Your Fat. A Treasure Trove?

I heard on the news today that Bartolo Colon, a pitcher for the NY Yankees, had his shoulder injury treated with stem cells harvested from his fat?  This sounds way too good to be true.  After an internet news search I found that this little-known procedure was done in The Dominican Republic.  Colon is 38 years old and throwing heat like he's in his 20's.

I also saw other articles suggesting stem cell treatments for face lifts and breast augmentation.  Stem cell research was such a polarizing issue when scientists used fetal stem cells from aborted babies.  Anti-abortion activists  held back the progress in this field for decades.  Federal funding was withheld.

 Now, after all this time, we chunky types were chock full of stem cells all along?  This is a veritable bonanza!  With the soaring rate of obesity in this country we have an incalculable supply of this resource!  I am certainly happy and willing to donate as many of my fat cells as science can use.  Of course if they'd like to pay me that would be fine.  I'm ready.

Love to all,
Marlena of Mohegan.

Get PAID to Exercise? What a Concept!

My employer has just started using a new program to encourage the staff to be more healthy.  I signed up about three weeks ago and I love it.  Virgin Healthmiles helps us keep track of our exercising and make other healthy choices.  After one year we can earn $500.00!  When you sign up you receive a free pedometer.  You log in and download your steps.  Virgin keeps track of our progress.

My Planet Fitness routine works nicely with Virgin.  We are encouraged to get in at least 7000 steps per day.  Between my workday routine and my stationary bike I am doing that with extra!  I'm even doing extra walking on my off-gym days.  I like seeing all those steps add up.  One of my co-workers has worn her pedometer during some horizontal workouts at home (well, actually she didn't specify horizontal but I didn't ask) Exercise IS exercise.

What's in this for the employer?  Healthier, more productive workers. Check out the link and encourage your boss to sign up.

 http://virginhealthmiles.com

Love to all,
Marlena of Mohegan

Happy 100th Birthday Lucy! My Hero.

I grew up watching I Love Lucy.  I never get tired of seeing her creative solutions to her problems.  As you can see she was inspiration for one of my favorite opera costumes.  I wore this for the Mardi Gras scene in Mefistofele.  Always the drama queen, I did not mind calling attention to myself on stage in spite of my size.  

I even was featured in a book of opera poses with another cast member from The Taconic Opera Chorus.   Previously I had to make most of my costumes myself because professional costumes did not come in sizes to fit me.  In the future I may be able to use rentals but I still like the creative challenge in doing my own.  

Love to all, 

Marlena of Mohegan