My Year (Almost) Without McDonald's

Well, folks.  It's November.  And I've spent most of the year in hiding- hiding from my scale, hiding under baggy clothes, hiding from you.  And while many people are entering the season of "to hell with my diet, let's enjoy the holidays and hit the healthy train in January".  I find myself finally getting around to being serious about my weight loss. The year continues to find my scale creeping to a point of new horrors - beyond my pregnancy weight.  I've not been super active on any regular basis.  I've not been in overdrive about feeding my face, but I've not been crunching the numbers either.  

Has anything gone right?

Well,  one thing.  Back in January, my husband and I both secretly made a silent resolution to not eat at McDonald's.  One year without the golden arches.  It's not that we LOVE Mickey D's.  It's just that it is our easy - go to - starting to feel sick -and really needs some salty food - meal.  With the intro of their $1 menu - we could feed the family a sackful of poison for a small bill.  

Anyway, we had both been talking about how we eat there too much.  About how the food doesn't live up to our "memory" of how good it USED to taste.  And about how we feel like crap after we eat it.  So we both set up this idea that it was "off limits" for 2012.  In my personal resolution- I built in 2 "cheats".  I figured if I went from eating there a few times a month to two times a year that would be a marked improvement AND if I fell off the wagon - it would not be an instant fail with permission to relapse for the rest of the year.

So as of this date - I am happy to report that we have only eaten there 1 time--and it was breakfast. (And it was horrible enough that we have not even since spoken of doing it again.)  Fry free.  No nuggets.  No McChickens.  And seriously, every time we've had that salty craving - we've been able to satisfy it with a healthier alternative.  (For the record, we've also only had Burger King 1 time this year.)

So while my success list will be short for health goal in 2012.  At least I can put this on in the win column.  

Inappropriate (?) Compliment

I was out for my walk today, and I saw an elderly neighbor toddling out to his mailbox with his cane.  As I approached him, I popped my earbuds out so I could say hello.  Keep in mind, I've never said more than, "Hello," to this man.  In fact, I've probably only waved before.  And he was old.  Like walking with a cane old.

He turned to me after I said, "Hello," and he said, "Say, that walking is helping you!  You're looking gooooooood!"

Ummmm....thanks?

I mean, it was a compliment, I'm sure, but it was inappropriate on so many levels.  Like, I don't know this person at all.  And there's an implied, "You looked like hell before," in comments like this.

Whatever.  Apparently I'm looking goooooood.  Might have to step on the scale soon.

Huevos Rancheros Spaghetti

I haven't posted a recipe in a long time, but I tried this one last week and loved it.  Now that I'm living alone, I'm focusing more on what I really want to eat.  I'm finding that it doesn't involve much meat, and I actually feel a lot better when I don't eat meat.  So, here's a yummy vegetarian recipe I adapted a little from O Magazine.

10 ounces spaghetti (I used Barilla Thin Spaghetti, and I recommend a "healthier" pasta option, whether whole grain, or whatever.  Also, this is a bit less pasta than the original recipe called for.  I thought it was way too much pasta and not enough other stuff when I made it the first time.)
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 1/2 cups canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped green onions
3 eggs (original recipe called for 4)
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups salsa, plus more for garnish
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus more for garnish

In a large pot, cook pasta according to package directions.  In the last three minutes of cooking, add corn, black beans, and green onion.

In a separate skillet, scramble eggs with some salt and pepper.  I used cooking spray instead of oil.  (The original recipe says to fry the eggs and put them on top of the pasta, but I prefer them scrambled and mixed in with the pasta mixture.)

When pasta is finished, drain, reserving about 3/4 cup of pasta water.  Return to big pan.  Add pasta water, egg, salsa, and cheese.  Add extra salsa and cheese to top of each serving.  (Makes 4 servings)