Love and a Whole Lotta Other Drugs...

At the ripe old age of 28 I'm officially falling apart...

I believe a little backstory is in order. Travel back in time with me... ~wavy lines and dreamy crap~

About a month ago I went into my family physician for my regular yearly physical. Everything was going hunky dory (aside from those few extra pesky pounds that make me go ~whine~) until they tried to take my blood pressure. 158/95?? What the crap?! I've never  been that high ever before. In fact, I've always been low!

Lather, rinse, repeat with the same results. ~ le sigh~

Well I had been getting these nasty headaches and they were getting worse so I reasoned it might have been the medication I was taking for those. Doc put me on some other tabs for my headaches in the hopes that that was the problem and gave me orders to come back in a month's time to get re-tested.

Okay okay. I can deal with this.

A month goes by and headaches persist. I start seeing a back-cracker but the pills seem to be doing what they're supposed to do so I take it in stride.

I go back a month later or so and voila! 160/98 WHA?!! Oy vey, guess who is the proud new owner of her very own 50 miligrams of Atenolol (BP medication)? This girl!. ~le sigh~ Supposed to go back in another month and get meself tested once again. Hope this solves the problems....

I think I'm ready for my walker and cane now though. Matching set.

Then again, this is maybe just the kick in the pants that I need to get fully active again. I'm by no means obese at 150 lbs and I try to exercise at least 4 times a week including my cardio kickboxing classes (see: "Kicking Boxes and Other Exercise Misadventures") but there's always room for improvement. With diet and exercise Doc seems to think there might be hope to get off of them so here's hoping!

We're just going to take this little setback as a new motivation to dig in and learn to be a better person (physically).

Until that happens though, please pass my Metamucil and prune juices. I don't want to miss my Wheel of Fortunes...



The Epic Battle

This...

is ka-rot.

Ka-rot and I are trying out a new thing after my recent breakup with snack bad boy, Cheez-its.

Ka-rot is nice, Ka-rot is orange (just like Cheez-its), Ka-rot treats me well (unlike Cheez-its). In theory Ka-rot is perfect!

The only problem is that Ka-rot is like the very nice, but very dull boyfriend. He is the personal accountant to Cheez-its's super spy. It excites you less. With Cheez-its, good times were very good (handprints on the rear when cheez laden hands are wiped on back pockets.) and the bad times were very bad (that third cellulite divot from the right on previously referenced rear)

Ka-rot is really trying hard to be a good substitute for naughty snack-affair but the truth of the matter is.

We're both still adjusting to the switch...

Cheez-its is not giving up without a fight either. Even now, it's tempting me with cheezy crunchiness and calories! Even more attractive than when we were still together... ~le sigh~I just snag another ka-rot and try to put the temptation out of my mind. It's only the first day! I refused to be quite that weak.

It's about time to find a snack that helps me to become that person I want to be without guilt, judgement and self-ridicule. Ka-rot is that. Ka-rot is my Superman snack!

Then why is it that I can't stop thinking about Lex Luther...

The Joy of Healthy Cooking Episode 1

Salad win!

But....

Salad FAIL!

I needs to learn moderation when on the subject of extras...oh well.

Kicking Boxes and Other Exercise Misadventures

In my effort to better myself, I've decided a (not-so) new lofty goal would be to lose about 15-20 lbs. This would put me at my target body weight of about 135 and not to mention help to firm up my flaggy arms into something lean mean and sexy.

For about a year now I have been taking aerobic kickboxing classes. How about a little before shot?

The Sara before:

Okay okay, maybe not quite that bad, but really it's done me wonders. Since starting I've lost about 30 lbs. I unfortunately have gained a nice chunk back during a period of epic fail (and mass Cheetos).

My personal goal now is to get back to that goal by eating better and getting back into my exercise routine.

Last Wednesday was my most recent kickboxing class and dare I say I was a little hesitant to go.

Right brain says: Go home and stuff your face!

Left brain says: You should really go to class!

Well left brain won out and there I am standing in the sea of fellow box kickers. Our very peppy and happy instructor comes in and my spirits lift a bit. Sure, this will be great fun tonight! Get me energy for the rest of my night!

Flash forward about 30 minutes later and I am this:

(minus the fur, stripes, and, well...make it a very sweaty human)

Our instructor is still all peppy, happy and ready to get on with the second half of our workout! Abs!! I've never wanted to punch somebody so badly in all my life at this point. I grin bear it and do it anyway though!

25 minutes later and I am still breathing, barely. I did, however, complete the workout and the sense of accomplishment is terrific. I feel no guilt for not going and maybe I'll be less likely to go home and un-do all the good I did in class. One step at a time and I will reach that 135 lb. goal of mine. I'm 1/1000 of the way to being that smexy mama I've always wanted. Small steps...yes but steps nonetheless.

Can't you just smell the progress?

I didn't say it smelled sweet...Just plug your nose and it'll be just fine.

Duped!!!

THESE....

ARE CHEERIOS!

Yeah I know, that statement is probably not making a lot of sense to you right now, but nice discount grocery store sold me this generic version of Honey Nut Cheerios and dammed if they don't taste just the exact same as you get in the General Mills box **emphasis** but CHEAPER!

I know a lot of you are probably rolling your eyes and thinking "Duh!", but for years I was duped by the pretty colors, the goofily loveable characters and thinking the taste would be different. Yeah, now I know this little secret, I'll never buy the brand name again! Stupid little bee and all his powers of persuasion...I've got my eye on that crafty little leprechaun too...

Food Snob

I. Hate. Grocery. Shopping.

But I do love to eat and according to my receipts I spend an inordinate amount of money on food every month (Which is probably why every morning my pants and I enter into fierce battle for dominance around the area of my ass) Grocery shopping though? Not on my list of Top 5 favorite activities...

Which is why after seeing the extremely bare contents of my cupboards I decided it was time to brave the crowds and go out and gets something more than a box of chocolate pudding and some dry whole grain pasta (Now, that would be quite a culinary adventure...maybe for another blog.)

I donned my headphones and put on a little Muse for energy, Pat Benatar, for the hell of it, and Dirty Dancing, which was a mistake. Apparently breaking out into spontaneous dance between the lemon-scented Pledge and the Swiffer Sweeper is considered mentally unhealthy.

The grocery store vaguely resembles something out of a Mad Max movie with carts zipping around each other while other manage to serve as frustrating roadblocks. I tend to be more the Mad Max. Rule of thumb, do NOT get in my way or I might be inclined to ram you out of it.

How is it that when you go to the store, you always end up getting more than what was on your list, never fail? I had a list, albeit a hefty one and did get everything on it but when all was said and done I additionally ended up with a whole rotisserie chicken, a bag of minestrone soup (makes a half gallon, I live alone...you do the math), and some kicky new nailpolish.

Well there blows the grocery budget for this month. When all was said and done I had spent the upside of $140 and earned about 5 separate trips up my apartment stairs with my loot (Plus side: no need for the gym today!)

I did happen to notice a lot more generic store labels in my purchases this time around which is a major turn around from when I wasn't quite so strapped for cash. I used to be a major food snob. Old way of thinking: "But brand names are tried and true! I know I'll like them!" New way of thinking: "Screw it and give me the cheapie oatmeal!" I've learned the taste is not that different (oftentimes tastes the same!) and I save money! Little lessons learned are still a lesson learned right?! Small steps, my friend. Small steps.

Somehow these still managed to hop into my car when I wasn't looking though...

What can you do? When it's right it's right no?

Hola!

After much poking and prodding and self doubt and some time in the fetal position. I've decided to just start putting my ideas of simple things I can do to help me help myself down on paper. It then occurred to me, who uses paper anymore? Next best solution: blog it of course!

I keep telling myself I'm going to read more, or Imma gonna cook more or I'm going to be awesome with money and become the next Warren Buffett. Does it ever really happen?...no, not really. I'm going to make this blog my accountability for actually doing what I say I'm going to do now! If this blog is going to live a long happy life, I need to give it fodder otherwise it will die sad and alone. That is unacceptable. So we'll see how this goes. I'm welcome to suggestion so throw 'em if you got 'em.

After that little spiel...last night I was craving something sweet. This almost never happens so when it's right it's right no? Problem: It's late in the week and my pantry is bare. I had been trying to save money by living off of tuna fish and cheez-itz (but that is a story for another time) so I'm due up to shop this weekend. I find no sweet things in my cupboards except granulated sugar which (trust me) not worth the sweet fix...Oh but wait, I also see some lonely little tortillas in my fridge. I think that maybe with the proper TLC they could become...(say it together)...awesome!

So I decide to try for a poor man's sopaipilla (even though the actual recipe is really nothing like a true sopaipilla, but just go with it okay?). I took those oddball little tortillas and gave them a nice sponge bath in margarine. Spread a little sugar and cinnamon and even a dash of nutmeg on top to make them fall-ey and baked until crispy and browned.

They were pretty darn tasty, and (even with tortillas, butter, and sugar) were probably less calories than other desserts...say....cheesecake or the fried decliciousness that is an actual sopaipilla.

Yes, I DID take a bite out of one before I took this picture. So?

Viva la Mexico and my poor version of it!