Transformation Butterfly's Journal, 01 September 2015

I recently visited Macy,JcPenny and Khol's all in one day looking for a 1.5 saucepan. (You thought I was going to say clothing or shoes sorry to disappoint.) I discovered something about all of these stores they have incredibly small housewares departments. Personal observation from someone who use to work in retail stores years ago. These stores have allotted more space to clothing and we wonder why the health of our society is in danger of obesity. No one is cooking any more! People are eating more fast foods and pre-packaged food that can be nuked in a microwave. I recently discovered that my sixteen year old son who lives with my ex-husband is suffering from malnutrition. I found this to be a profound confirmation about eating homemade healthy meals. I am finding it frustrating to see a child suffering from low weight but wearing $300 sneakers and designer clothing that is literally hanging off his body like a scarecrow. When I asked about what he was eating I was told to mind your own business and he is fine. Does anyone besides me find it strange that a sixteen year old is being told to drink ensure daily by a doctor.

Today is September 1st a new month, a new start for a new me. I have let my work schedule,stress and emotional upset take over my life for the last three months and the scale is showing the results. I have gained a total of 7 lbs during the last three months due to lack of any exercise at all and coming home to fall asleep and start the whole thing all over again. This stops today. I have been up since 3 am this morning. I rode my bike for an hour and then proceeded to cook the following recipe at 5 am so it will be ready for me to warm up when I come home tonight as I am taking part of the challenge not to eat anything after 7 pm.

Eggplant-Tomato Sauce

3/4 cup dry sherry
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 cup cubed unpeeled eggplant
1/2 cup minced sweet red peppers
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 cloves of garlic, minced
3 cups Italian Tomatoes,coarsely chopped (substitute fire roasted canned )
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
black pepper to taste

In 3 quart saucepan cover medium-high heat, heat the sherry and oil until bubbling. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until soft but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the eggplant, red peppers, celery and garlic. Cover and cook for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes,basil and nutmeg. Bring to a boil,then reduce the heat to medium. Simmer,uncovered for 20 minutes. Season with salt substitute and black pepper.

The above recipe was taken from "The No Cholesterol Cookbook" by Mary Carroll with Hal Straus. This is a medically proven kitchen cure for High Cholesterol. (It smells great in my apartment and my neighboors will probably tell me again that my early morning cooking makes them hungry. Old habit I am getting back into.) Give this a try and tell me what you think.

I found this book after a recent doctor's appointment. The doctor told me everything is fine keep doing what you are doing and you will live to be 95 years old. I then received a letter in the mail two weeks later from my insurance company telling me that my doctor has diagnosed me with high cholesterol. I went online and pulled up my medical test results and discovered that my doctor lied about my test results and wanted me to come back in three months. The surprise will be on him as in three months I am determined to get my cholesterol down to a normal range, my body fat is currently 20, and my BMI is 31.00. I have done this before and will do it again. I mentioned to my doctor during my visit the vitamins and minerals I was taking and he went ballistic on me about Dr. Oz ruining the medical profession. Thank you doctor Oz for turn the spotlight on healthy eating, because I personally feel doctors have forgotten that medicine is to help get someone well not become a lifestyle of pill pushing.

I just got a flash back to Jack Lalanne at age 95. (Wow) If he could do exercise and stay that fit. There is hope for all of us. (We can do this!)

Today's Affirmation: Today I make a commitment to make myself a top priority as I honor myself and my world.

181.0 lb Lost so far: 4.0 lb.    Still to go: 41.0 lb.    Diet followed reasonably well.

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198 kcal

Fat: 3.28g | Prot: 5.63g | Carb: 39.32g.   Breakfast: Blueberries, Millville Rolled Oats 100% Whole Grain Old Fashioned. more...