Eating Good in the Neighborhood... Snippets of my journey

OMG can I share my Amazing lunch??? I brain stormed it this morning ... having some for dinner too WOOT ... I am modifying it a bit tonight and stuffing peppers with it ... 

Kay, my mind was kind of restless having returned from a short trip overseas to home and family ... we have several plans underway for the next few months that involve a lot of brain storming/soul searching and as I sorted out mental lists of to do's sleep eluded me....

I got up  wayyyy TOOOOOOO early for my early morning run and in the interim wanted something 'creative' and  'pana' tasting for lunch and dinner today for ME .... the Easter Sunday leftovers were just too much for another day.... so..   I put on my thinking cap like quick ... this is a little after 3:00 am and I am running at 4:00 am ... I just wanted this ground beef-like casserole that we call 'cocinao' back home BUT I did not want to deal with beef ... I had the next best thing though .. I had veggie burgers in the freezer... so...   I Took two veggie burgers and nuked for 3 minutes ...    Took a skillet and sprayed it and emptied chopped vidalia onions, chopped cherry tomato, chopped fresh cilantro and parsley and a pinch of chopped garlic..

Into the pot I placed the veggie burgers which I proceeded to chop with a knife right there in the skillet ... to the mixture I added 1/4 cup of sweet peas, low fat mozzarella cheese and one tablespoon of whole wheat macaroni elbows a tablespoon of sofrito and a tablespoon of recaito ... simmered for a bit and ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my God to die for!!!! this is just YUMMY ...

You CANNOT tell me I am not in heaven and that I am not having a delicious veggie burger casserole... and there was enough for both dufus DS and dufus DH to eat from too.... AWESOME.... HEYYYYYYYYY STOP TASTING MY LUNCH YA'LL lol ... vultures in the workplace .... we are an awesome team....   Picture of my container of 'cocinao' .... Tonight I am just going to stuff this into some peppers and have stuffed peppers with it too .... YUMMMYYYYYYYYYYY.....


Eating Good in the Neighborhood.... Exercising for a Healthy heart.. Mindful choices ... and accountability reminders...   I will NEVER FORGET why or how I got to this WLS journey ... I will work it one.day.at.a.time....

I remember WHY and WHO and WHAT I wanted from my journey ... I wanted health and quality of life for me .. Can you imagine that one day I could not make it up the flight of stairs to help my beautiful adult daughter who had taken a fall? because my mobility was impaired? and my breathing challenged? the paramedics got there before me and moved me out of the way as I was trying to drag myself up the stairs .. OH I knew drastic times needed drastic measures ... this was my clue ... 

For this my beloved daughter or my beloved son I would risk it all ... I know love starts with self but I have a love bigger than myself when it comes to my children ... they are booty adults today and ARE STILL MY BABIES ...

These are my most favorite collages ... TWO PEOPLE I LOVE MORE THAN ME ... THEY CAME INTO MY LIFE AND FROM MY WOMB AND STOLE MY HEART FROM THE MOMENT I KNEW THEY WERE THERE ... WHEN I HELD THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME I KNEW LOVE SO POWERFUL THAT TO THIS DATE I WOULD STEP IN FRONT OF A MOVING TRAIN TO PROTECT THEM...

MY BEAUTIFUL AND BELOVED DAUGHTER CANDIE AND I... OMG I FEEL SO OLD AND SO BLESSED WHEN I LOOK AT MY MUNCHKINS NOW FULLY GROWN

 

 MY HANDSOME AND LOVING AND SOMETIMES PITA SON KENKEN MY YOUNGEST ... I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS KID ... HE TOO WILL BE FOREVER MY BABY EVEN THOUGH HE IS GOING TO MAKE ME PREMATURELY GRAY LOL... NOW THIS ACCIDENT PRONE DUFUS IS SOMETHING ELSE ... LOL ..

This is my favorite collage of my son and I...



Just week before last before heading out on my trip here I was sweating bullets in Pacu as my DUFUS DS as I lovingly called him fell off a rock climbing and goofing around and fracture the base of thumb and a few carpals necessitating an ORIF of the thumb... so here is mom on duty ...

 

 I have been struggling again with major stressors ... and we are all pooling together in prayers and faith for my beautiful older sister.... I came to work on Monday after my brief absence and decided to wear hot pink to brighten my day ...  lawdy I dropped 6 pounds in just a couple weeks without even doing anything differently except running around airports and doing a lifetime of things in just a week... I love the tropics and will be heading back soon....

So on Monday hot pink brightened my day...

 

EATING GOOD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.... MAINTENANCE .. .HEALTHY DIET AND EXERCISE ... ACCOUNTABILITY ... UPS AND DOWNS AND TEARS AND FUN ON THE JOURNEY .... I AM LOVING IT ALL...

 It is working for me.. 5 years 2 months post RNY   This is me at work today... with my 3.5" open toed half boots and Size 2 Express Suit... rocking my long extensions courtesy of my own hands and supplies from my own shop....

 

and this is me ... getting ready to enjoy my eats... yikes this is a late lunch...



THANK YOU OH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE ... FOR OFFERING A COMMUNITY WHERE OUR DIVERSITY COMES TOGETHER TO CREATE A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE ON A JOURNEY THAT NEVER ENDS.... I CAN DO THIS!!! ONE.DAY.AT.A.TIME...

Marta, you always make me smile.  You are truly a beautiful person! 


And on another note, your daughter is one tall chica!

Thank you beautiful ... how awesome to hear from you .... yup my DD is one tall chica and my DS is a good 4" taller than her they are both 6 ft + ... now I wish I had their height ... my mom (RIP) and I are the shortest ones in the whole family of tall peeps LOL

 Arn't ya lucky cuz ya get to wear HEELS ?!!  Marta U look  TO DIE FOR  

Keep workin' it  Beautiful .. U inspire us all!  

Thanks .. but you are supposed to be the 'hawt' one remember? LOL .... I love my heels I think I am going to die with my heels on but not before at least ONCE trying this here workout in heels ... I already ran in heels so how about I try this toning workout hmmmmmmmm now let me write a disclaimer: I am not recommending this for anyone to try nor endorsing it ... I, ME, MOI want to try it for MYSELF.....

I have been rocking my heels from my very highest weight so I am used to them ... seriously ... I want to try this ... at least ONCE  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oCkF1 u7VolE

Martita-Love you girl! Hugs to you and your beautiful kids (gray hairs they cause and all!) Love your stories and pictures - they make me smile and also motivate me to try again-I have gained 20# and am trying to work on getting it off or not gaining anymore.  It is quite the challenge for me as I, too have a few "stressors" going on though I am sure not as bad as yours!
I live with my brother in our family home and could not make it if he wasn't here to help with finances.  However, he wants to move on and would like to relocate out west (northern california) and so we are cleaning out the house (50 years worth of mom's stuff with 4 kids) and it saddens me but I know it must be done)
Luckily he does it while I am at work most of the time.  Anyhow, I find I nibble alot at night when I get home and try and relaz a bit! So.... time to stop relaxing with food!!! Marta thanks for your posts I so enjoy them and am so happy you have been so successful - you are truly one of my models here on OH that I try to imitate. (Can't however duplicate your sixe 2 and beautiful figure hair & eyes & stature but I guess I can try and be the best I can be panni and all for now!!
Take care and thanks it is a pleasure to know you and read about your wonderful success.  Thank you.  Hugs Mary (Molly)