Me and diets

Okay I am putting it out there....
A week ago I started another diet... I know, I know, it's supposed to be a life change not a diet blah blah blah but I am going on my first cruise in less than 2 months (yeah me!!) and for some reason the cute board shorts I bought in Vegas in March... that still have their tags on... do not fit! Ok I totally know why they don't fit... I didn't excercise all summer and with so much family and friends around showing off their amazing baking/cooking skills (cough, cough Becky and Julie) what was I supposed to do? And let me tell you my french toast with homemade buttermilk syrup is to die for... just sayin'
So there... I said it... I have struggled to take off the 70 lbs I gained with Seth, I was fortunate (?) that he was 11lbs and I had an ovarian cyst the size of a grapefruit removed (too much information??) at the same time but I have sat at the same weight since about my 8 week checkup... until last November when I was finally able to take control of my life and went from a size 16 to a 9. Yeah me! But I am going slowly back up again... feeling sluggish and unhappy.
So with this cruise looming ahead of me I am taking the leap again... It's only been a week and I have been sick for 3 days now but I have gotten on the treadmill 2 out of those 3 days, and then promptly fell back into bed for the rest of the day and night and day again but I did it!!
I feel like 4 years of my life have gone missing... I felt so miserable about how I looked that I wouldn't let anybody get to know me, pictures were shunned and moments were not captured. I was surrounded by girls who were fit and happy and I was depressed and overweight.
Until Seth, weight really had never really been a problem for me... I gained 70 lbs with each of my five kids... and I would work it off, when I met Steve I looked and felt great! Thanks to a fabulous kickboxing class and a busy life style and I admit 2 months of Herbalife I was in the best shape I had been since my militia days. I had given up on myself and thought that I would never have my body or my life back! It's been a slow process... but my kids and my hubby have been my biggest supporters... reminding me that the cookies I made for them are not on my diet but they have always loved me for who I am, not what size I am. But they like it when I can hike and play and swim with them, mostly they like me healthy. So I am doing this for them as much as for myself. Wish me luck!!

School

Today was Seth's first day of Preschool and he was a champ! We've been talking about it all summer and he was ready to go! Buzz Lightyear backpack, hair spiked up and running shoes on! He looked so so cute! He has had a cold for almost 2 weeks now so I thought he might have to miss it but I looked up the rules and unless he has a cough, fever or thrown up in the last 24 hours he is allowed to come. But now I have his cold and I just want to crawl into bed for the rest of the day. I hate getting sick! Why is it that when the kids get sick they can function yet my nose starts running and my body feels like it's been hit by a truck! I've been taking my Essential Oil blends and getting enough rest and even exercising and I still catch what ever goes around... so annoying!
With going back to school comes the strict schedules of morning and afternoon... morning consists of getting everybody up, showered, (which is no small feet when you have 5 boys who wake up at the same time and only 2 showers!) fed, scriptures, prayer and out the door. Then when they all get home its all about how much food they can eat before they need to go to a practice or a game.
Just a glimpse of what my calender looks like for Saturday....
Seth-Soccer game @ 8am
Ben- Football Game @ 10:30am
Sam- Fencing Tournament@ 8am and 7pm
Zach- Lacrosse game x2 in South Jordan (ask me how I am going to get him there?)
Ave- Soccer game @ 12:30
Oh and Ave writes his ACT test in the morning and Zach has a 3 hour landscaping job to complete too!
Welcome Fall!!!

Zucchini Pineapple Loaf

Here's a yummy recipe for all of that zucchini you, or if you're like me, you're mother-in-law has grown!





2 Eggs


1/2 cup cooking oil


1 cup granulated sugar


1 cup grated zucchini, unpeeled


1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained


1 tsp Vanilla





2 cups flour


1 tsp baking soda


1/2 tsp baking powder


1/2 tsp salt


3/4 tsp cinnamon


1/4 tsp nutmeg


1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional





Beat Eggs, cooking oil and sugar. Stir in zucchini, pineapple and vanilla.


Measure remaining 7 ingredients into another bowl. Por all at once into batter. Stir just to moisten. Pour into greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Bake in 350 F oven for 1 hour until it tests done. Cool for 10 minutes turn loaf out of pan to cool on rack. Wrap. Yield 1 loaf





I 4x the recipe and it made 5 nice size loaves. I also pureed the zucchini and added an extra cup and I used half white flour and half whole wheat. I cooked them all at the same time and they turned out great. I think they would freeze just fine too. Why make one when you can make 5!