Steak, Sweet Potato and Salad, Etc.

Hello!  I'm just checking in before the official checking in tomorrow.  :)  

It seems like my days are flying by.  They are nice full days, but I miss blogland at times.  So, grab a cup of coffee, because I have lots on my mind, a fast typing hand and some time to spare.  

But if you don't have time...

Short Story:  I am still making better changes in my life and it gives me hope that I'll reach my goal weight eventually.   And my sister-in-law is becoming a healthy eating friend also trying to lose some weight.  Knowing she's watching me is motivating me to do well.  

Long Story:

Things are going pretty well on the weight loss aspect.  My sister-in-law is staying with us for a while and we've been going to the gym and having some discussions about eating better.  She put some weight on this past year and wants to continue working on losing it, so we're kind of helping each other now.  

Funny about that...she kept saying I was making sweets (Yes, I had to make Autumn Pumpkin Cake for a dinner we were invited to, and I may have made some similar desserts as well) and not helping her at all.  Or I made a baked sandwich with soup for dinner last week, but put my lunchmeat on a salad and she was like, "What?  You're eating a salad while I eat bread?!?!"  

I laughed because I'm usually the one who is saying those things, or thinking them at least.  Knowing she wants to work on her weight, and knowing I need to finish what I've started, have helped me think a bit more about what I'm eating.  

The baking is going to happen off an on over the next couple of months, so I can't help her there.  We were talking about how we just need to be careful to keep it in small portions.  I also told my husband that she is going to see what a challenge it can be to lose weight and cook for a family who doesn't necessarily have weight issues.  

Speaking of eating differently...or at least...turning blinker on for a new subject here...

I am changing how I pick my meals and it's not killing me. 

Take a dinner date this past week for example. 

Last Monday evening my husband and I went out for dinner.  Our meal started with salad made up of a spring mix grass, as my husband calls it and I ordered the Balsamic Vinaigrette.  The dressing was in a little container on the side and I didn't even use half. 

We ordered steaks and I decided to get the sweet potato with mine instead of the baked or mashed potato.  The sweet potato came with three pre-wrapped pats of butter and a tiny (maybe 2 Tbsp. size) container of brown sugar.  I used half a pat of butter and maybe half of the brown sugar for the entire thing.  

Before you get too proud of me...I did eat plenty of the spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips, so that probably ruined the calorie count of my healthier meal.  

However, and getting back to my point, I was very proud of being able to choose a couple things different during this meal and not feel deprived of what I used to always order.  Read: baked potato with all trimmings and a salad drenched in ranch dressing.  I enjoyed my healthier choices.  My salad with little dressing was fine.  

I'm also still eating plain oatmeal made with almond milk with about 1 tablespoon peanut butter and some ground cinnamon for breakfast and loving it.  It's not nearly as sweet as what I used to make, but I prefer it now.  

I guess I'm sharing these little bits to show you that I am still changing for the better.  Just when I think these months of maintaining, and even gaining about 4-5 pounds, can be vexing I see some changes still happening.  

And it's these small changes in my food choices that give me hope that I can be "that" girl who eats healthier and maintains a healthy weight.  

Little by little ...  choice by choice.  I will win!  

See you tomorrow.