Last Week’s Basket

One of the things I’m thinking of doing with this blog is keeping track of what we get in our Farmer’s Market Basket each week and what I make.

I’ve had a few posts already that I put what we got – but I think I’m going to start not only putting what we got that week, but also what I made from the basket. It seems  to be a good place for me to keep track of what I’ve made with some of the ingredients and also helps share some yummy, healthy recipes!

So, last weeks basket. I got the “Veggie only” basket since we still had lots of fruit from the last two weeks. We seem to eat a lot more vegetables than we do fruit in our house. 

Potatoes (I bought several extra), broccoli, spinach (I bought an extra bunch of organic spinach), Lettuce (I bought an extra head), tomatoes, spring onions, tomatoes and cabbage (we don’t eat cabbage so I “swapped” my cabbage for an extra bunch of spring onions). I also bought some garlic and organic raspberries.

 

My Middle and What I Intend To Do About It

Before Sam was born I decided I needed to lose some weight. I lost 30 pounds and managed to keep the weight off for quite some time.

The weight seems to be creeping back on. I’m not happy. My middle in growing.

The last two years have been a bit stressful and our schedules have been messed up. We didn’t know if Rich was going to lose his job (he didn’t, phew!) and with Rich’s schedule our meal times have been a bit… weird.

I’ve tried diets, I’ve tried working out. I can’t seem to lose weight right now. I’m ready for something a bit different. I love the Clean Eating Magazine and, while we already eat relatively clean, I would love to be “more” clean than we are. I’m hoping if I start to incorporate the changes gradually, my middle will become less.

I'm on a 12-week Mission.

I had a horrible realization the other day.

Our pool opens on Saturday and I'm about 12 pounds heavier than I was last year at this time! YIKES! No wonder none of my shorts fit me!

And then... the kids are almost done with school! YIKES!

If I don't start some type of plan for meals and snacks, I'll go out of my mind.

Before I had Sam I lost a significant amount of weight by following the Curves diet and the Body-for-Life exercise routines. They are both great, but I'm getting bored. And I've stopped doing the weights... I keep struggling with costochondritis for about 18 months and I find it goes away if I don't lift weights. But I can still run and do light weights and the WiiFit!

I just haven't been able to stay focused. But I'm determined now. I think I've mentioned before how we have to make adjustments now that Rich is at work late every day. Up until this week, he'd get home, we'd both be tired so we'd open a bottle of wine, unwind... soon the cheese and crackers come out, then we find some chocolate or some other type of junk food to eat.... now 12 pounds later, I'm paying for it!

Well this week, I decided I'm making some changes. I bought the EatingWell Diet book and I subscribe to the CleanEating Magazine. They are very similar in that they focus on eating fresh, healty, non-processed foods. And eating locally when possible.

I also joined a co-op of sorts. When we went to visit my mom and dad last June, my mom had just joined a local CSA farm. The produce was fantastic -- fresh, yummy, sometimes a bit different to what we normally eat, locally and organically grown. I really wanted to try this for our family, but have had problems finding one with a drop off point near enough to my house.

But, I found the next best thing (thanks Summer and Jackie). A lady right around the corner collects money and goes down to the Georgia State Farmer's market once a week and fills up baskets with fresh produce. All this for $15 a week. Score!

So with my newly armed arsenal of yummy, healthy recipies and my newly stocked fridge full of fresh produce... I'm good to go. This time I'm determined to stay the course. We go to my parents house in 12 weeks and that is my target. Twelve pounds in 12 weeks. I think it's doable.

Now I know with the kids getting out of school this may prove difficult to accomplish all the time. So the plan is to be strict for the next 3 weeks. Then, once the kids are out, I'm going to make a "Weekly Breakfast & Lunch Menu" for the kids too. I decide what will be for breakfast, snacks and lunch every day of the week. Or we can work together to make the menu but we're sticking to the menu!

Hopefully, this will help me keep the kids eating healthy, save money, save time and just take the meal time worry away.

Of course I realize I'll have to build in a day or so a week for a treat like pizza or ice cream. And sometimes things come up and you need to be flexible...

So, wish me luck! I'm going to try and post my weekly progress here Just for the support and accountability! And I'm going to start taking part in Meal Plan Monday so stay tuned for that.