Aunt Sue: A long walk

I had a pretty nice day today. I went for two long walks and had lunch with a friend. Of course, we both had burgers and shared fries. So I probably offset the benefits of walking. But it felt really good to be walking, even though it was freezing, and I really enjoyed the food and the company. It didn't feel like emotional eating or anything more complicated than a fun lunch.

I don't know if I've lost any weight - I guess we'll see on Sunday! But I do feel a lot better since we started this blog. I just feel pretty optimistic and I think that's because I enjoy being in touch with my niece and also I appreciate the feedback from other bloggers. Life is complicated and people are just trying to find ways to get through it without eating so much that they have to start wearing mumus everywhere. Or housecoats.

I'm going to eat light for dinner - maybe some soup. And look for a good recipe to make tomorrow. And I'm just grateful for a good day.

Aunt Sue: Finally, a workout

I went to the gym today for the first time in a long time. I'm off on Fridays, so I had no excuse not to go. I've always been bad about getting exercise. In the mornings I don't get up early enough to go to the gym before work, telling myself I'll go in the evening. But then I get home from work too late to go.

The funny thing is that I'm always glad that I've exercised on the rare occasions that I do. I must look like hell while I'm doing it because attendants keep handing me towels. I blame that florid Irish complexion of mine.

So I have to find the motivation to get up early enough in the mornings to exercise. Wouldn't it be nice if there were cash prizes available for doing the things you're supposed to do? $25 for flossing your teeth? $35 for moisturizing? $50 for exercising in the mornings?

Aunt Sue: I'm impressed!

Wow, Genevieve, I'm impressed on several counts. First, that you made that delicious dinner for the family, second that you figured out how to link to the brushetta recipe and third that we've now got a photo on our blog! I'm feeling very high-tech, despite the fact that I had nothing to do with these developments.

I went to the kidney doctor today for my annual checkup and my weight is up from last year. So my blood pressure and blood sugar are a little up too. I'm grateful that we started this blog together because I think sharing this journey will make reaching the destination possible. It's really great that we're starting to get feedback and comments too.

I have an embarrasssing confession to make. I don't know how to use the broiler. I'll consult with my friend Lori because she's a good cook and I'd like to try that beef flank recipe.

Sorry you're so stressed. Hang in there!

Aunt Sue: A reclusive day

It's the end of the day and I'm watching a very cool documentary about the very cool Patti Smith on TV. She's my hero. She's had such an amazing life. Right now she's singing a duet with Sam Shepard.

I have a bad cold and have spent the day kind of hunkered down. But it's been a good day even so. I usually feel entitled to eat lots of ice cream when I'm not feeling well and I didn't do that. I made Genevieve's pasta recipe from earlier in the week and it was really good. I made one-fourth of the recipe, which was probably too much for one person but I actually dumped the box of penne out on the table, counted them and divided by four. If I had eyeballed it, I probably would have eaten half the box.

I watched some food shows on TV. One was You Are What You Eat on BBC America. This fairly unpleasant nutritionist orders people about, including demanding a poop specimen, about which she always has some unflattering observations. But there are generally some good suggestions, like today she had the "tubby twosome," as the narrator called the mother and daughter on the show, make sandwhiches in whole wheat pitas that had hummus and lots of other interesting ingredients. Seems like a good lunch option.

Then I watched Jacque Pepin's fast-food show and he made a couscous dish that I think I could make myself. Both of these shows have web sites - the BBC America site and KQED for Pepin.

Made the mistake of taking a nap after watching an episode of Sponge Bob and had dreams of Sponge, Patrick and I being chased around the ocean floor. But that's a small complaint in an otherwise peaceful day. We're starting to get comments and followers, for which I'm very grateful. We weigh ourselves tomorrow and I hope I'm down at least a little. But even if I'm not, it's been a good week.

1/11/10: Genevieve

Today was pretty good. I woke up and made some kind of fruit-yogurt smoothie sort of thing from a print out booklet that I got from the weight loss camp, Camp Shane, I went to for three weeks during the summer of 2007 and 2008. It was decent, but it didn't keep me very full. Here's the recipe anyway, if you like something not too sweet... it would probably be more of an afternoon snack to hold you over until dinner.


"Fruit-Yogurt Swirl"
(3 1-cup servings)

1/2 cup drained canned, unsweetened pineapple chunks
1/2 cup drained canned, unsweetened sliced peaches
(we couldn't find unsweetened canned fruit... it probably doesn't even exist)
5 ice cubes
4 whole fresh strawberries, caps removed
1 medium-size ripe banana
8 ounces low-fat vanilla yogurt


It probably would have been better if I actually had vanilla yogurt, but I didn't and I used plain yogurt. School was a little tough with everyone around me eating bunches of delicious food from all these different restaurants in my town. I had my apple with a sandwich for lunch, and I had two bottles of water, which is four glasses. I was planning to do some Wii-fit after school today, but I still have a paper to write and Algebra homework.
Also, I was babysitting yesterday and when I babysit, I usually take a joyride in the kitchen, so it was hard to break that habit.. but I had Shrek 3 to distract me.


Anyway, I have a paper to write.


Genevieve