Sick and Alone

One of the most important things I'm trying to make a lasting habit is food preparation. It's not easy, and that is  a common excuse to fall back into old unhealthy habits. The first thing I learned to make was a healthy chili recipe I got from my dietitian. I've made it almost every week, and I'm kind of sick of it but it is easy and healthy. Then I tried my hand at a healthy jambalaya. I just found the recipe online, and it called for a big slow cooker, so after a trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond I tossed all the ingredients in my new purchase and about 8 hours later I had my second protein packed meal. Last night I took a stab at Chicken Cacciatore.

Obligatory Food Picture - Chicken Cacciatore 

http://www.slenderkitchen.com/sunday-slow-cooker-chicken-cacciatore-with-mushrooms/

I switched out regular mushrooms for portabella, and chicken breast for chicken thighs. I just got back from lunch, and I liked it well enough but I think the chicken breasts were a bad decision. The thighs probably don't get as dry.

I get the same feeling of pride when I cook a healthy meal that I get when I complete a work out. These are the healthy habits that I need to ingrain in my brain, to trump the already too ingrained old habits. Adding new recipes will help, but ultimately I need to overcome any excuses not to cook and not to go to the gym - forever. Or at least until I am rich enough to hire a personal chef.

Honestly, during a week like this week it all feels daunting. I had to move mountains to go to the gym and cook while Claire was gone. I'm sick, I haven't slept well and my poor kids only get half the attention without her here. I'm irritable, and I want to forget about the gym until she gets home and I rest. But I also want to be able to say I kept going this week to prove to myself that I'm not gonna quit.

243.5 today. I'm doing a 6 month diet bet. During the 6 months you are supposed to lose 10% of your total weight, and each month has different goals. The first two months it is 3%, this third month was an additional 2%, and then round 4 is another 1%, with the 5th month being the full 10% and then a month of maintenance. You pay monthly and if you win you get a percentage of the pot (with the big payoff coming after the end; 50% of the pot divided among all who finish). I crushed round 4, and I'm actually under my total 10% needed. It was motivating before but now it's an afterthought. Maybe I should register for another one.

More and more people at work are talking to me about my weight loss and the upcoming Turkey Trot. I actually told somebody my starting weight at lunch today, something I was way too ashamed to do before. I'm still confident, but the thought of something triggering me to fall off the wagon never really goes away. Also, I've gone to the websites for local races in January and February a few times, but I can't seem to actually pull the trigger and register. What is up with that? I think the plan is going to be to run another 10k on January 18th and then do a half marathon on February 28th. I know that having these other races on the horizon will motivate me to keep training to improve my time from the Turkey Trot, and I think 120 days is enough time to prepare for the half marathon. I just need to get up the nerve to pull the trigger on registering. Maybe once I stop feeling like crap.