Homemade Goodness

Saturday, July 24-Made myself go downstairs and do a JM workout even though I didn't feel like it. Wasn't exciting but I felt great when it was over. Picked some parsley & my first ripe Roma tomatoes and made a homemade Tabbouleh salad to go with the dinner I had planned for our company that evening. Tabbouleh is time-consuming to make but it is very healthy & tasty. Also made homemade lemonade as a special treat. Yum. Served a platter of assorted raw cookie balls for dessert. Paris had made a beautiful chocolate cake at a friends so I wasn't sure if anybody would want my healthy alternative but they did. Shawn and the kids ate the cake while the rest of us adults sampled the raw cookie balls. Always an experience when I cook.

Sunday, July 25-Made our family favorite for breakfast. French Toast. For years I evaded this meal because traditionally it is made with white Texas toast bread with lots of Aunt Jemima syrup on top. I have, over the past few years been able to adjust my family to D'Italiano wheat bread and more recently to the agave syrup. For myself, I use the lite wheat bread. Now everyone is happy. Well almost. It used to be Shawn's favorite meal but it's slipped a few notches since I gave it a makeover.
We had roast beef & cheese wraps for lunch. As a family we agreed that tortillas are only for taco meat. I personally enjoy scrambled eggs in them too. We ate the wraps but we would have enjoyed the roast beef on a traditional crusty roll more.
Family bike ride together at a leisurely pace. We stopped for ice cream because that is probably the biggest incentive to getting my children on bikes in the first place. I'm getting used enjoying my water while they indulge. I remind myself that this is my choice and not everyone has to make the same one as me.
Sunday PM after prayer I finally indulge in a special treat. Homemade almond milk ice cream. This time I used peanut butter in the mix and at the end of the blending added a few of my fudge raw cookie balls. I ended up eating 3 wonderful servings and gave myself the chills!

Monday, July 26-Had a breakfast of cottage cheese, blueberries, and Kashi cereal. Getting used to this cottage cheese thing. It was kind of enjoyable with the crisp cereal & fruit mixed in.
Rode bike to/from work as my workout for the day.
Was exhausted after work to the point where I couldn't get off the couch. Shawn ordered pizza and I ate my 3 pieces appreciatively. Limited myself to one serving of homemade ice cream this time around.
Went to bed early.

In the past two weeks since increasing my protein levels and continuing to eat healthy, nourishing foods (except the pizza of course) I have lost 4 1/2lbs! This is a 6lb total for me since the New Year. Losing weight isn't my 100% focus but it's nice to see some of the extra pounds I've gained since my dramatic career change melt away. Doing things the right way and in balance with the other demands on my life. Whoohoo!