Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Whew!

Whew! I feel like my life has been such a whirlwind lately! But all is well, and Iwanski is doing well, so I couldn't be happier.

I've been busy working, exercising like a mad woman (gotta keep my heart healthy, too!), and researching and cooking healthy, yummy recipes.

It's been busy, but honestly, I'm having fun with the whole healthy eating and exercising thing. I love our new exercise bike that Iwanski's family were so very kind to buy for us, and best of all, I've discovered that I really do like cooking!

I have to marvel at the magic of the universe sometimes. It really was a natural progression for me, to learn to cook and enjoy cooking.

It all started a couple of Christmases ago, when we did a "homemade gifts" Christmas with Iwanski's family. I decided to bake cookies for Iwanski's sister, and I discovered that I like baking. So over the next year or two, I started to bake more and more often--but I still didn't really like cooking. I think that most of it was just that I was afraid to try it and fail.

Then, my good friend Jonathan started to have me over for "Julia Child night" every Tuesday, during which he showed me many useful and relatively simple cooking techniques, like how to chop an onion, or how to peel & devein shrimp. I started to realize that cooking wasn't quite as crazy-difficult or as scary as I had previously thought. I began to develop "cooking confidence" and made a couple of tasty dishes that Iwanski and I really enjoyed.

Then, this whole thing with Iwanski's surgery happened. It was completely unexpected--something I couldn't have prepared for--but I do feel in a way that the Universe was at least preparing me for one part of Iwanski's recovery--how to cook healthy meals for him...and for me! I've got a good 30 pounds to lose, too.

But guess what? I've already lost 5 pounds! Whoo hoo! This healthy eating and exercising thing really does work, folks. The challenge is to make sure that we stick to it. But I'll tell you, there's nothing more motivating than open-heart surgery!

Now I'm eagerly doing things like sprouting my own bean sprouts, researching healthy seafood recipes, and looking up recipes for various types of hummus...I just found one for sweet potato hummus that sounds divine!

So I guess life handed us a bit of a lemon recently...and I'm making a giant jar of lemonade!

Oh, and for all of my wonderful blog buddies who have been busy posting and haven't seen a single comment from me, I want to assure you that I will be back soon to read blog posts and leave a comment or two. Believe me, I do miss reading your funny, interesting, and even sometimes silly blog posts. I've just been a wee bit busy as of late.

But as former California governor Ahhhhnold said in The Terminator... "I'll be back!"

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I love to cook, but I admit it's not always healthy.
Like you I need to get on a healthy kick.
Congrats on your hubby's continued healing, and you go girl in that kitchen!

murry said...

Hummus recipe:
2 cups cooked garbanzo beans (I use one can/don't have to cook)
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tsp garlic powder or two fresh cloves
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup water

Blend all ingredients until creamy and chill
Serve with vegees or pita chips. Yummy!!!

poet said...

we have been counting those calories since beginning of December, and i think i am down almost 10 pounds. mind you i have a long way to go, but walking the dog twice a day helps alot.
hope that 2011 is wonderfully fabulous for you and mr.healthypants. :)

Mom said...

So glad to hear how well life is going for you two. The prayers of blogland can be very powerful.
One of these days we will travel to Chicago and eat one of your heart healthy dinners.

yellowdoggranny said...

I love to bake..one of my favorite things I love to do..Im so proud of you 2 for all the hard work your doing to eat right and lose weight.