I started the day in a way that I normally don't. I ate breakfast. That is not to say that I don't normally eat breakfast, I do, but it's usually a few hours after I've dragged myself out of bed. Today though was different. Today, the moment my eyes opened I was famished. My older children and husband are back to school and work, so it's just my youngest and me. As much as I LOVED having them home for the holidays, it seriously wrecks havoc on our daily rhythm.
So I made breakfast for the both of us: a bowl of oatmeal sweetened just a tad with honey and cinnamon, a half of my daughter's banana, and three cups of water. After the breakfast, we got busy with our preschool work. Because I don't normally eat with my daughter during the day, hours will pass and I'll be absolutely ravenous. However, my three-year old grazes all day long. Not on anything unhealthy of course; her diet is far better than mine has ever been. So I decided that when she wanted a snack, I'd have something too. I have really not been hungry since this morning, but I'm also not having the severe crashes I normally get. Usually I won't eat until I am already at the "shakey" stage and by then I eat way more than I should -- or really more than anyone should, and the cycle continues. I know it's unhealthy. I am now trying to keep that at the forefront of my mind. Small munches are on the menu (I don't want to call them meals because that has an entirely different meaning in my head coming from a very large, Filipino Catholic and American Southern family).
Lunch consisted of a small part of an organic, grass-fed roast I divided up for various dinners this week, grilled fajita style to perfection with spices and served with half an avocado sliced thin on two gluten free tortillas (small size). Divine and filling. This "normal" size meal wouldn't normally cut it for me, but because I've been consistent with small and healthy snacks, it hit the spot just right. I am not suffering from food coma as normal, I don't feel like napping, and as soon as I finish this post we will be taking a walk to the park so we can get some fresh air and my preschooler can burn off some of her own energy. I can also check out our complex's gym and see if they have the machines I'd like to use. It's seriously been THAT LONG since I was there and I cannot for the life of me remember if they have an elliptical or even a stationary bike!
Dinner is already on the stovetop, simmering gently. Part of that beef mentioned earlier made its way into a delicious and mouth-watering stew filled to the brim with seasonal vegetables. Closer to dinner, I'll add in some barley and bake some sweet potatoes to go along side the stew. Normally the meat is the focus, but I seasoned it well today and made it more like a background singer with the veggies the star of the show. Hopefully the rest of the family will enjoy it as much as my olfactory senses are!
I'm down four pounds since my initial weigh-in on Saturday. I know this number is meaningless, since weight fluctuates so much and there are a million factors at work here. It still feels really nice though. :)