Quickies and What has She Been Smokin'

I couldn't stay away for long. Two people asked about quickies. Meals that is. You know the go to stuff to keep you full and on track. First it was Gilly  who just discovered Monterey Jack cheese. It's been around these parts for years so I don't know what she's been smokin'. It was discovered in America, California I think (maybe Monterey??) but it crossed the border long ago. It must be she's way out in the boonies. That being said she is so excited to finally discover it's melty, stretchy HEAVEN!!.

Then Beth Ann asked for some meal ideas. 

I don't know if it is much help but my favourite go to quickie meals are: 

• Grilled cheese sandwich: made with two cheese slices (dipped in ketchup as the side vegetable)
• Meatballs: this idea came from Jessie and I finally found the PC Blue Menu Lean Italian Beef Meatballs. 6 balls/160 calories/15g protein/8g fat. 2 minutes in the microwave, covered in BBQ sauce (for the side vege) and yum. Gilly, these are only available in Canada at Loblaws, Zehrs, Fortinos, etc (their Blue Menu items) but I know the US has a plethora of similar ones. 
• Black beans and Rice with shredded Rotisserie Chicken: I now have a recipe for this and buy the chicken on my way home (it's on special Tuesday nights, only $6.99). I also use the Stouffer's frozen entré, Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans—I split it in half and get two meals out of it. OMG, you could use Monterey Jack Cheese too! 
• Soup: I don't care if they call these slider foods. I love my soup as does Amy and they fill me up with minimal calories. Sometimes I have it with my meatballs or throw in some shredded chicken. My favs are broccoli, squash and Goulash soup. 

And last but not least, I've been known to make a good meal of a half bag of chips or some red licorice! Which begs the repeat question. What has she been smokin".

Giving me the segway to a blog which had that in the title. It was such a great post: What has She Been Smokin' with some very mouth watering, non-gluten, high protein suggestions. 

As I mentioned in my last post, I've made the switch to my new blog, The Rest of Our Days. Here are a couple of posts you can check out if you haven't been to visit me yet.

• Funeral Portraits was a bit macabre but also a bit funny when Tess left me a great comment.
• And after my Coffee post I found out there are people in this world that do not like coffee. Hmmmm….

Eat up!

It's a New Day-I'm Starting a New Blog

The time has come. I am transitioning out of the Weight Loss Rollercoaster to begin a new chapter of reflection in my life. I felt my blog was too weight loss (ha! ha!, the title says it all!) centered. I wanted to begin working on other parts of me. I don't know what they are right now but I have been inspired by some of your recent posts.

So if you want to come along on a new ride with me, come see me at my new blog "The Rest of Our Days". Follow me if you like. The first post will explain why I'm creating a new blog.

http://www.restofourdays.com

Blogging has helped me so much. And all of you have contributed to my success.

But over the past few months as I watch more and more of you drop out of blogging, I became a bit jaded. I love to blog and it has been my lifeline. I couldn't imagine giving it up. So I needed to decide if I continue with the Rollercoaster or move into discovering where I am going in life.

And don't worry, I will still be following all of you and commenting as much as I can.

I will still post stories on the Superstar Blog. I would love if someone else would volunteer to help me with the Superstar Blog. It doesn't involve a lot of work maybe an hour or so every other month. Just someone who likes to format and double check the written word and organize some photos as well as contacting new "Stars" to submit their stories. So if you are so inclined to help me out, let me know at bandsuperstars@gmail.com.

Last but not least. It's my birthday. Today I'm 58 years old. OMG, where did the time go!

It's Cold

Actually, I AM COLD.

A funny thing happened when I lost weight. I got cold. Really cold.

I don't know the reason per se. I was always the one in the house turning down the heat. Visitors (and family) claimed my house was cold. I told them to put on a sweater. I would hand out blankets as they shivered on the couch. I was ALWAYS hot.

I'm now the one who keeps turning up the heat and hubby is complaining and telling me to "put on a sweater".

And maybe menopause has something to do with it. Once you lose all the hormones, you get cold. You have to go through a bunch of hot flashes and stuff, but in the end you get cold.

What I would give for a few hot flashes again. Many times at night now I have to roll over to cuddle beside my hubby to warm me up. He is like a furnace. Most days I sit at work, freezing. I constantly have a cashmere scarf wrapped around my neck and sometimes have to add a sweater. My hands get cold now. My feet get cold too—I almost always wear slippers around the house.

I don't find it cold being outside. But I have the car blasting hot air and am wrapped up in said cashmere scarf, coat and UGGS, the warmest boots ever. Granted the thermometer these days is sitting around 0C (32F) and it has been constantly snowing these last few days. March came in like a lion so I hope it goes out like a lamb. And warms up. I'm going to the Dominican Republic for a week on April 4th for my niece's wedding and worried that it would be too hot. But now I don't think I'll have a problem with the heat like I did 3 years ago when I was in Cuba. In July. I almost melted. That was pre-weight loss.

But something has changed.

One possibility is that I have new clothes. Things that are lighter and less material. I used to notice people around me in these sheer tops and tanks. That's me now, except I have to add a sweater most days.

Before I lost the fat, I would wrap myself in big bulky sweatshirts to hide. But they sure were warm—part of the reason I kept my house so cool. I still have a few but now have to wear a T-shirt under them as another layer of warmth.

A few months ago, the doc at my weightloss clinic said that with chronic imflammation (from the gallbladder), the body produces a lot of stress hormones, lots of cortisol. Now that I don't have the gallbladder anymore, my body is readjusting its hormones and chemistry. So maybe my body is just adjusting to normal. And normal means my body doesn't like the cold.

But could someone please send me some warm sunshine!

Or maybe I'll just go to the doctor and loudly discuss how cold I am. I'll invite Drazil along because you know what she thinks of "old" people complaining. But I'll loudly say to anyone who'll listen: "I'm freezing my @$$ off!"