The last three weeks have been crazy to say the least. I have finally succumb to the fact that I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 month old that need... ahhhh... almost all of my attention. Not that I am using that as an excuse for a lack of anything getting done, because I am not. I love every crazy minute of it. I am also thankful for a teenager who is so willing to help :). My reason for saying that is this: I finally realize that I will probably not be able to write once a week for approximately the next 18 years. :)
I did exercise over the last couple of weeks, running mostly and I must admit that I am happy with my slow progress. My lowest weigh-in was 177! Woohoo!!! Of course, it goes up and down due to water weight, and what time of day that I weigh in, but all in all I am okay with it (well, not really, but I will get to that in a second).
As far as exercise goes, I really do enjoy running, but I don't have access to a treadmill so when I run it has to be outside and of course, unless Brian is home, I have to run with the kids. For those of you who live in Colorado, you know how unbelievable the wind has been and I hate having Josiah out in that craziness! So, I choose not to run as much as I would like. I am wayyy too tired to wake up in the morning ( I will explain that in a minute as well) and do Pilate's (LOVE!!) which if I feel up to it, I can get done in home, before the kids wake up. Oh! I almost forgot to tell you... I ran 4.33 miles one day and 4.93 another! WOOHOO!!! Okay.... I had to get my "pat on the back" out of the way ;) I learned from those two days... baby steps Heather, baby steps. And one of the BEST things about those two days is that I had my kids and hubby with me for t least one of the runs! Let me tell you, there is nothing more sweet to my heart than hearing my 13 year old gently say, "keep going mom! You can do this!" Not to mention my husband cheering me on. I am blessed!
I am still eating fairly well, yet I can tell you that I also feel like I am slowly treading my way back to cruddy eating. Our pastor gave a sermon this last Sunday about temptation and how it always starts out small. Temptation doesn't have to be something sexual in nature, it can be food, as is my temptation. And it has started out small for me... I can hear it now; Just one cookie. Just one bite of the brownie, just one bite of the bread. It isn't just ONE bite!! It never has been for me and hopefully that will change, but for now, it is what it is and I cannot allow myself to have ANY of the "bad" foods. At the very least, it's just something I have to watch out for. That ever creeping desire to eat my way into oblivion.
So, the reason for this weeks title? I have been suuuuper tired, and really wondering; WHY am I not losing more weight?!?!? When I was pregnant, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism (not very uncommon at all) and took synthroid. I stopped after Josiah was born and I was supposed to get re-checked in February. I kept pushing it off and finally had decided not to get it checked because I felt okay, just tired. Sooo, thank goodness for my husband!! He convinced me that I needed to go. My doctor called me the next day (today) and let me know that I needed to see an Endocrinologist because the "normal" level for my thyroid should be 5.5 and mine is 181. That is correct, one-hundred eighty-one. My doctor said she had never seen a number so high for the thyroid.
So, what that explains is that I am very tired because of my thyroid, and I am probably having problems losing weight due to my thyroid. Not to mention all of the other things that can go haywire in your body. She believes it is something called "postpartum thyroiditis" which is fixable. So, please take a second if you think of me over the next couple of weeks and say a prayer that we get this under control quickly and I have no further reaction to my levels being so high.
Hopefully this will get things back on track and I am trusting in my Lord for healing and strength! My family and I have fun exercising together, and although I am "stuck" in a cooking rut, we are still eating so that's good ;).
So, If you are someone who tried my cake like brownies, I have to apologize. I really am not sure what happened with that recipe! I made it again according to what I posted and it was awful! So, here is another recipe and I promise, it's a keeper :)
EASY CURRY CHICKEN
SERVES 2-4 PEOPLE
· 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into chunks.
· 2 tbs canola oil
· 1 green pepper, cut into cubes
· 1 onion, cut into cubes
· 2 carrots, peeled and cut on a bias
· 2 tbs. curry paste ** (can be made with curry powder and water. Mix into a paste)
· 1 cup chicken broth
· ½ cup low fat coconut milk
· ½ tsp sugar (Splenda)
·
· 2 servings brown rice
Begin by cooking the rice first as it usually takes about 45 minutes for brown rice.
Heat a wok or deep-sided frying pan over medium-high heat. Add canola oil and allow time to heat until it ripples. Add the onion, carrot and pepper and “stir-fry” until the onion is cooked translucent. Add the curry paste and cook until fragrant.
Add the chicken and stir-fry for approx. 5 minutes or until the chicken is browned and coated with the curry paste.
Add the chicken broth, Splenda, salt and pepper flakes. Cover and cook over LOW heat for approximately 20 minutes, making sure the chicken is cooked through.
When it is done, pour OVER the rice on a platter and serve family style. I also have lite soy sauce available on the table.
**I have had to add more paste (up to an additional 2-3 tbs).
