:: Free 2 Be :: the Odyssey ::

Last night late, I came home hungry and the plan was one of my favorites: Split Pea & Potato Soup!Only, I didn’t have anything for protein.

So, I started cooking in Joy-the-MH (motorhome, used for living not recreating) in the dark, just didn’t bother to start up my lights. Half way through, I noticed among all my mess (yes, it had been an… interesting… week) someone had left some groceries. Only two people have a key, so…

Thank you, Jesus! And there were some turkey sausages which I quickly, sliced, browned and added to the soup.

First cook the split peas, then add some sliced taters, spice it up with a little oil, a few chicken boullion granules, a few grinds of pepper and some sea salt. (Forgot the onion.) Mash and stir with a potato masher for smooth, silky texture (or press through a sieve, or process in a food processor or blender). YUM!! It was delish! I had two big bowls last night and just finished off the last bowl tonight.

Today lunch (late) was a WONDERFUL Reuben sandwich with my favorite kinda pickle spear, thanks to a kind friend, with ginger ale (it showed up with the sausages). And tonight I just finished off that soup.

Also today, tried on some favorite pants from the turn of the millenium, which I wore to Israel in 2001. I remember they were a little too tight then, and, they are fitting me the same way today. Okay, so I may be just a few pounds heavier now than I thought. These are still good but need some mending.

If I lose a handful of pounds and sew up my pants I’ll have some new spiffy gray slacks to wear! WooHoo! Next stop, new black shoes…

And yes, thankfully, I got the mess cleaned up today (whew!) So Joy-the-MH and I are both feeling a lot better.

Play along: Do you have a favorite soup?

This is a re-post from December 2008, based on a great post on body image by Gracie789 on Fat to Fabulous. The post is: Miss Perceptions.

Be sure to click also to see pictures of *real people*  with height, weight and BMI measure.

BMI is a wake-up call for many but has fallen from grace as a marker. Mainly, because it doesn’t take into account the weight of muscle or make allowance for “large bones.” For example, weight lifters are sometimes categorized by BMI as overweight even though their body fat percentage is low.

You probably don’t hear much about heavy bones, but mine are 99th percentile hardness so they weigh more than average bones, especially more than the bones of someone with osteoporosis, which are sometimes called “swiss cheese bones.” 

But, I digress. Point is, BMI is not necessarily an accurate measure.

Kate Harding put together a collection of images on flickr of people with their BMI. Some may amaze you. I found it very interesting.

Illustrated BMI Categories

Body fat percentage is the by far preferred method of body analysis today, but I haven’t seen a collection like Ms. Harding’s for it.

Play along: Does this collection help you *see* yourself? How did it make you feel?

Today my focus is today. =)

May sound too simple, but I’ve learned a few things about myself and how my thinking can side-track me, especially if I get to mucking around in the past or projecting out into the future.

Chicken Lentil Rice Stew today, made about 4AM this morning. After which I slept until noonish. Then had a big mug of stew. Yes, I used my coffee mug.

I’m still learning to cook in Joy-the-RV and not using the fridge or fully stocked in the pantry, so here are my ingredients: 1 c. brown rice, 1 c. small lentils, 2 teaspoons chicken boullion powder (the good kind), 1 onion, 2 carrots, 1 large can chicken white meat, *almost* 1/4 cup oil, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 6-8 grinds black pepper, “some” basil, sea salt to taste, enough water to keep the pot full. My method was basically give the rice a head start, keep adding stuff and more water, simmer until yum.

This is like camping food! I would add celery or a can of seasoned tomatoes but this was great.

Followed immediately by: a serving of oatmeal which I broke an egg in, added about 3 tablespoons of crunchy peanut butter and 1 tablespoon molasses. And a cup of decaf coffee. Another yum.

Late this afternoon, a few small pieces of candy, and then a friend took me to Jason’s Deli where she fed me and the Lord ministered to us both.

She has been out of state so it was great to get back together. Jason’s has all the best fresh stuff. Today I had the Manager’s special half-sandwich with 1 trip to the salad bar and 2 cups of hot tea. WOW on their tea. They just keep getting better. And a small vanilla soft-serve cone to go.

I should have taken a pic of the salad and sandwich, but as I recall it was a Southwestern chicken, a breast with avocado, cheese, sauce… and more good stuff. REAL-LY yum.

Tonight I had a cup of decaf green tea after church and may have a cup of cocoa once I get back to Joy. That’s it on food for the day. I did drink a huge glass or two of water also.

Wore my *good* black slacks (Jones New York Crepe, 18W) and they were baggy! What?? So I got all excited and started browsing Jones New York clothes on Ebay (using my phone) while waiting in Jason’s Deli for my friend. Size 16W. Hmmmm… I hadn’t thought of trying to go there. I used to be a misses but I think my extra waistline inches make it better to stick to the women’s sizes.

But, down a size? I’ve had a good experience with buying good quality clothes on Ebay (after a few mistakes), so I may start trying to pick up an item or two in this new size to inspire me to get there. And, who knows? They may fit! LOL

Also, there is a Jones New York store here, which maybe I could window shop for sizes. Did you notice they are my fav clothing maker?

Pretty perfect day, don’tcha think?

Play along: When is the last time you found yourself dropping down a size?

I was reading kaplods blog: Starting Over, Take 1,847 and found this post: Gaining respect for slow weight loss.

Wow. She touched on so many things that make sense to me, many of which I have thought about through the years.

My top weight was in July 2004. I haven’t weighed in months, but the *clothes fit* test tells me I’m at least over fifty pounds down from that. YEA! If I have only lost and kept off 10 pounds per year, that is still better, isn’t it? Better than gaining? Better than not losing? Better than where I was? You betcha!

I could get down on myself because last year I was over 75 pounds down. But, that’s not the point, is it? Where I am today is much more important.

And I learned a long time ago that the direction I am traveling is far more important that the speed I’m going.

IF I had not started working out (mildly) back in my early forties, I’m convinced I would have gotten up to 500 pounds and most likely be dead now. I certainly would have been an invalid for the last 10 years.

So. I’m not where I want to be, but, praise God, I’m not where I could have been, would have been.

IF it hadn’t been for my inconsistent efforts over the years, at working out, at weight loss, at eating better, I really believe I would have been a totally lost cause.

You see, foods not only put excess weight on me but bring horrible cravings and throw me in terrible clincal depression, rob me of hope, mire me in despair, bring on all other kinds of physical problems. You get the picture.

Now God has healed me of a lot of things, too. Like, I was supposed to die from blood sugar in my thirties and chronic bronchitis in my forties and have my gall bladder removed in my fifties. None of those happened and none are a problem any more. I no longer even have cravings much less the physical, mental and emotional rollercoaster I used to live by, so long as I eat semi-right.

So, slow weightloss is good weightloss.

Almost 20 years ago I became friends with a woman who had the stomach surgery over 20 years before. She was thin. But she was also very sick and made a point of telling me all the tragic health problems she had continued to have all those years, and about others she knew who also had huge problems from the surgery. She said she warned everyone.

She said, you don’t realize it, but you not only stop absorbing so many calories but also lose almost all the absorbtion of your nutrition.

Now, I’m not trying to start a fight. If you choose that way or are convinced it is your life saver… But I am glad I’m healed, and, I’m losing, not gaining.

It may be slow but I’m basically healthy and headed the right direction. I feel way better and move better and can do much more than I could do 3-4 sizes larger.

Besides, God is my medical system and this is working way better for me than what doctors can do, even with their newer, improved surgeries. Just my two cents, folks.

Play along: Have you ever experienced strong cravings for foods? What foods gave you the strongest cravings?

I’ll start: for me it was Mountain Dew and wheat.

I’ve spent three days now with Joy (the RV) parked patiently at my friend’s home in the country while I have been kicked back reading and watching the Olympics. And, pretending to be snowed in. (We are in North Carolina, after all, so any snow at all is an excuse to stay home and play.)

And eating. Let’s just say my friend has made sure I am well fed and we have been eating some really good food.

Yes, I ate some things I normally wouldn’t eat. And, I enjoyed it, too. Yum.

Today I’m getting ready to get my act together and head back to my *real* world and schedule. Sigh.

It’s been fun!

Play along: When is the last time you took a few days off and what did you do?