YAY Laurie! I like the uncluttering efforts. I'm trying to do some myself.

I too declutter at this time of year. It's a result of cabin fever, I think!

Two thoughts for you -- and then it's back to Corporate Overlord.

I'm glad you posted about breakfasts, because I haven't made my breakfast cookies in years. And my husband & 3yo are granola-bar junkies. This isn't my original source, but I don't have that at work, and it does get the point across:
http://www.grouprecipes.com/s/healthy-breakfast-cookies/recipe/1/relevancy

>just stirring the coffee in a Parisian cafe
My special spot is a little Lebanese cafe we stumbled across just south of Notre Dame. My husband's family is half Lebanese so he was hooked. (Footnote: his great-grandfather came over from Lebanon in the 1800s about the same time my German ancestors made it here...apparently a lot of Catholic Lebanese wanted out of the Ottoman Empire...)

It was great timing in another way -- we were exploring Gay Paris on Gay Pride Day. Unexpectedly noisy due to the parade. Happily for all, our only problem with that was that they were loud.... and this little cafe was outside in an area where the sound did NOT echo around. :)
Please imagine mint tea on our table, and kibbie and dolmas....mmmm...

Rats, now I'm hungry again.

Major progress has been made on the 'free to a good home' space aka our basement and I am in such a better mood when I take laundry down there, etc. It actually resembles a basement rather than a mound of junk. I keep trying to remember that feeling (or just run down look around and come back ) to continue getting rid of other junk upstairs. Good for you, Laurie, on staying aware of your goals and how to reach/improve upon them!

I'm starting to prep my own foods too, as part of my "healthier lifestyle."

I find that the "steamer" frozen veggies are actually pretty gosh darn good if you have a microwave - very little prep required!

I have a tendancy to run around screaming about the Emporer and His Nakedness! A "cooling off period." Dude. I could use one of those. Where do I get one?

"Her Ladyship PantiesInAWad" - thx, made me laugh out loud!

Great column, Laurie!

I'm traveling to LA later this week, and I'm horrified that Dallas Raines is predicting clouds and rain. OTOH, it will be 30 degrees warmer than here!

I got rid of loads of stuff before moving last August but two weeks ago I got rid of more things. These were the things I wasn't sure I would miss in my new life however now that I'm settled out they went. Perhaps this is the way it is for you. Happy sorting!

I think I may need to be known from now on as "Her Ladyship PantiesInAWad." I love that. I mean I try really hard not to get my PantiesInAWad because as we all know it's a rather uncomfortable state. I definitely feel like the last few weeks have been rather uncomfortable for me. I need to find the Place of YES. We are trying to buy a new house and it's stressful and I am not coping well. I'm getting into shut down mode. Not So good. I need to find my calm place. My usual calm place is the horse barn but there've been issues there lately too so that just leads to more fretting.

I am envious of all your cooking but not quite there myself.

I'm impressed Laurie. Way to go with the Resolutions!

Regarding a healthy breakfast - ever since you posted your kefir smoothie "recipe" (what was that, 2 years ago??), I've been having that for breakfast nearly every day. I put it in a travel mug and bring it with me and then drink it once I get in the office. Yum!

I go through phases with breakfast (I have to eat bcs of one of the medications I take in the morning - I get dizzy if I don't take it with food). I was on an instant (low sugar) oatmeal kick but last week started a dried fruit craving so I've switched to that. I would love to do smoothies but I'm up two hours before Hubby is and he gets pretty cranky if I wake him up when I'm getting ready for work.

To quote you:

""(It is not the two tablespoons of olive oil on the roasted cauliflower that make you fat.)""

Amen! contrary to popular belief and what we've all been brainwashed by the diet industry to believe, food does not make us fat. OVEREATING makes us fat.

"I want to get better at letting go of other people's crap."

That's the second perfect thing I've read today. A perfectly round, compact, quietly lambent pearl of wisdom.

I have a lot of trouble parting with stuff too (see latest post), and I think it is related in some way to my son, like if I hang onto the baby clothes long enough I will somehow get magically transported back to before he got sick and life was simple and only good things would happen, or at least only the normal small bad things that happen to everyone would happen. It just struck me that none of the cats we had when he got sick is still with us, not too surprisingly since it was over 11 years ago: things change, things end, it is time to haul the boat off the stupid sandbar and move on.

Popcorn - get a hot-air popper and some real popcorn. Then you can control how much butter and salt goes on it, if any, instead of the microwave stuff. We've gotten hooked on heirloom varieties that we ordered from Crown Jewel Popcorn.

I too am trying to revamp my breakfast routine. I am super slow in the mornings and having breakfast and coffee can take me more than 30minutes some days! Not ok!

So I found a crockpot breakfast that is really yummy and I can easily eat it in the car after zapping it in the microwave for a few seconds.

Crockpot Breakfast

3/4 c. applesauce
2 c. water
1/2 c. oatmeal (not the quick oats)
1/2 c. quinoa
1/4 c. oat bran
1/2 c. dried cherries or apricots diced
1/2 c. raisins or whatever dried fruit you like
3 T. cinnamon (I like cinnamon so use as much or as little as you like)
dash of salt

Cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring periodically. Add 1-2 diced apples and 1/2 c. of chopped walnuts about 30 minutes before end. The apples stay somewhat crisp and add yummy texture, along with the walnuts.

It will turn an odd color because of the fruit and cinnamon. But it tastes pretty good and is reheatable. One batch lasted me all week and I ate pretty healthy portions. Cut recipe in half if you're a light breakfast eater. It's very easy to modify... if you don't have oat bran, use wheat berries. Or 1/4 c. instead of 1/2.

:)

Yeah, I need to try that Get Healthy thing too. Ignore It and It Will Go Away hasn't work very well. Not sure the Shoot It Up With Cortisone approach is any better. How about I just do it vicariously through you?

Great post, Laurie. I like the olive oil/cauliflower reference, too. Back when I used to go to Weight Watchers one of the leaders was going on about the size of a "1" point apple and I was caught rolling my eyes. When confronted I commented "none of us got fat eating "2" point apples," and I thought the leader was going to keel over before she could get her breath back. You had to be there, but good point (so to speak) about eating vs overeating.

Now I need to let go of someone else's crap and go clean some closets . . . . :).

I'm with you on cooking ahead. If I can't re-heat something healthy within 5 minutes of arrival home, I'm going to eat bread, popcorn or cereal for dinner. I like these for breakfast...

Kraft Breakfast Bake
Prep Time: 5 minTotal Time:
30 minMakes: 6 servings, 2 muffins each
What You Need
1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken 12 eggs
3 Tbsp. OSCAR MAYER Real Bacon Bits
1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Colby & Monterey Jack Cheese
Make It
PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package, omitting stand time. Spray muffin cups with cooking spray. Press 1/4 cup stuffing firmly onto bottom and up sides of 12 muffin cups, forming about 1/4-inch rim around top of cup.

CRACK 1 egg into each stuffing cup. Sprinkle with bacon bits and cheese.

BAKE 20 min. or until yolks are set. Let stand 5 min. before serving. From KraftKitchens.ca

Great Post! It is good to see the small victories along the way. I too have been working on keeping the crappy thoughts out of my mind. My happy spot is on the beach somewhere. I also find that getting the regular workout is so very helpful.
Keep it up!

I'm getting rid of all of the bad juju from my marriage and replacing it with new paint and floors. It is very freeing...but there's a lot more to let go. Onward into February!

I love LOVE the idea you took the first of February and looked back at your resolutions and made tweeks for them to be successful...instead of just throwing in the towel. I will do that tonight. Some things have really slipped but overall...

and about that new camera... Patience may be a virtue, but I really don't know how much longer I'll be able to stand the wait, to get to know...

Breakfast is a challenging meal for me, too, because I feel ill if I eat too much, but I feel ill if I don't eat at all. For the past year or so I've been having a Luna bar and a glass of milk or a cup of coffee (depending on how awake I am). I'm generally not a fan of sports/meal-replacement bars (mostly because of taste), but some of the Lunas taste pretty good, so that has turned out to be a good solution for me.

Anyway, I applaud you for not only sticking with your goals, but also for talking about them publically. I had some New Years goals, I just saw them around here a second ago... I'm sure they'll turn up; I probably put them in a good spot... somewhere.

Bravo! As always, I find you a huge inspiration in the important things in life. :-)

YES! You go girl!

Pema Chodron says to think compassionate thoughts about the people you like, then when you have that down, to work on the neutral people, then when you have that down, think compassionate thoughts for the difficult people starting with the easiest of the difficult ones. It's kind of like weight lifting....

Reading about how you prepare food ahead of time has prompted me to start preparing my breakfasts for the week on the weekend. I can't take the large leap to lunches and dinners that you did - but thanks to you I always have a breakfast burrito or sandwich in the fridge ready to accompany my coffee and I out the door. Currently I'm alternating between a whole wheat english muffin with a poached egg and a sprinkle of cheese or a whole wheat flatbread with a scrambled egg and some green salsa. They're in baggies which I can grab and nuke or grab and take to work with me.

Although now that I think about it, last night I even baked a whole chicken last night and pulled it all off the bone and put it in little containers to take for salads or sandwiches at work. Little steps....

You don't even need special popcorn to have microwave popcorn. I keep a jar of regular old popcorn around and just put a couple of tablespoons of it in a regular old brown paper lunchbag and microwave it until it stops popping. You can add whatever you want. I like butter and Old Bay, but I'm from Maryland so that's acceptable.

I like that it doesn't have that fake butter smell that most microwave popcorns have... and it's not all chemically tasting.

You are an inspiration to me. I need to pre cook more so it isn't so tempting to get fast food!
As for difficult people, I have found if I let them talk/complain/vent for a while, alot of the time they become easier to deal with.
Loving your posts, and loved your latest book!

I too need some ideas for quick and healthy breakfasts. I just found this recipe a week ago and tried it out. It was tasty, but doesn't heat well in the microwave. It's basically a quiche.
2 Tbsp dry breadcrumbs
4 large eggs
1-1/4 C 1% milk (I used 2% because that's what I had)
1/2 tsp salt
pepper, to taste
2 cups cubed whole-wheat country bread
3 cups broccoli florets
2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
4 slices canadian bacon, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup grated monterey jack cheese

Spray a deep dish pie pan with cooking spray, and add breadcrumbs to coat.
In a mixing bowl, whisk eggs, milk, hot sauce, S&P, add bread cubes and set aside.
steam broccoli (I used frozen, so I just had to thaw it)
Heat bacon and onion in a saute pan with the oil. 3 to 5 minutes.
Pour everything into pie pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes at 350.
I sliced mine into wedges and froze each wedge separately.

Here's another breakfast suggestion - I like this one because I can keep all the components at work, OR make in the am in a couple of minutes and bring with me. Mix a spoonful of honey with 6-ish oz. plain nonfat yogurt. Top with frozen fruit (I use raspberries). Stir and let it sit for awhile for the fruit to thaw, top with granola, and bingo! Yummy, easy, portable, healthy breakfast.

I like buying the plain yogurt because I typically use less sweetener than is in the pre-sweetened stuff, plus I think honey is a wee bit healthier. I used to use maple syrup which tastes divine but gets expensive. If you get bored, you can switch things up with different fruits or different granolas. I can eat this every weekday for months at a time without getting tired of it.

Thanks for all the breakfast tips. I don't know why I have a mental block on breakfast. I even bought some corn tortillas and fancy cheese and sliced turkey to make myself a breakfast roll-up and still just had coffee this morning. I think it's because it's so cold in the mornings (insert lame LA whining here about the weather!)

Also -- I buy a great microwave popcorn at Whole Foods! It just has organic popcorn and salt in it, that's it. I love microwave popcorn. Delicious.

(It is not the two tablespoons of olive oil on the roasted cauliflower that make you fat.)

I'm so glad to see someone say this. I'm sick of people acting like fake butter and fake sugar and fake meat are all so much healthier for you than real food. Seriously, how much butter would one person have to eat to affect her health that much?

One of the best things my current manager has done for me is encouraging me to take the step back...I have a tendency to answer emails immediately, and sometimes defensively. She's been gently supportive of my taking some time before hitting "send."

i'm much more of a fruit person than a veggie person. i have a very hard time eating veggies that are cooked any way but grilled - the texture or something?

i love the idea of a monthly check-in. going to go ahead and write that post for my blog right now!

Geez, I feel as though I could have written part of that...I am the exact same way when it comes to handling difficult people and reacting too soon. I take things too personal too! It's easy to say but harder to do..glad you are working so hard at things. It's a great accomplishment..feels good - one day at at time-we improve! :-)

The year of yes! I read somewhere that the default answer to questions is "yes". I agree with you!

I can relate to so much of what you wrote here. I have been decluttering like made lately and have finally reached a place where I am letting go of things I'd always thought I wouldn't be able to part with. It gets easier with each thing you release.

Here's my quick/easy breakfast:

1/4 cup Bob's Red Mill Scottish Oatmeal (porridge)
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
a splash of soy milk

Stir it all up in a large bowl, zap in in the microwave for 2 minutes, and let sit for a couple of minutes before eating.

It also travels well - when I have yoga class or know I won't have time in the morning I put it all together the night before in a Ziploc container (1 quart, I think) and stick it in the fridge. I pack it in my bag and then stick it in the microwave when I get to work.

Frozen blueberries work best because the freezing process breaks the cell walls and makes them juicier and sweeter. And like you, I'm not a fruit person, so not having to wash or prep them makes me more likely to eat them.

Excellent! I too have a tendency to react quickly and have been making baby steps of progress stepping back. Good to see someone else doing the same. Go us!

I'm having new business cards printed with "Her Ladyship PantiesInAWad" ... thanks for that! LOL

I love shredding trimmed brussels sprouts in the food processor, then sauteeing them in bacon grease ( or sub a little olive oil). I then crumble the previously cooked bacon throughout the mixture (salt, pepper, and sometimes a little parmesean to taste). Yummy all the time- but for breakfast, I'll eat a serving with a poached or sunny side egg on top. One of my favs!

Do you like oatmeal? Slow cooker oatmeal could be ready for you when you wake up; no morning thinking required! And you don't have to have one of the tiny models to make a single serving. The following link has good general instructions and points to the Bain-Marie method of cooking a smaller quantity in a big pot.

http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-overnight-crockpot-oatmeal-oatmeal-in-a-thermos/

My hubbie just loves loves loves his Nike pedometer (the thing that goes in his shoe and talks to his Nano). He reckons it really keeps him motivated. Look forward to hearing from famous personalities as you hit milestones. He got a real fright the first time Lance Armstrong spoke to him after a run.

Love your blog Laurie!

This is what I do for most weekday breakfasts and is reasonably healthy and very quick. I put about 2 TBLS rolled oats (the kind that come in the big can)and just enough water to cover that in a bowl and microwave for about 1 minute. Then I add one package instant flavored oatmeal and more water to cover that. It has just enough sweetness and good oatmeal texture (without the over sweet baby food consistancy of just the instant). And you could easily add fruit if you have that around, too! Super easy and you could easily stash the 2 items in your desk drawer or office kitchen.

Laurie, this is an awesome post and so closely mirrors the same things I am going through this year. Thanks for being you. :)

I've recently realized I've been holding on to too many things also. My kids are teens now and I still have their stroller~I was thinking for nieces and nephews, but forget it. It's gone along with a bunch of other stuff. Feels good!

I agree with previous reader "Her Ladyship PantiesInAWad" cracked me up! I love to get to work in the morning and read your gems about life and what you are dealing with. I admire your bravery and honesty. I really like your community of readers too, their comments are very interesting and encouraging. Good luck with the conflicty person, those people do my head in! My preference is avoidance but probably not such an empowering option. Have a great day and thanks so much for sharing your life with us all!

Yeah, the breakfast bummer is that I can't eat oatmeal or bread or anything breakfasty. And I hate eggs. The elephant in the room here is that I'm not supposed to eat gluten, and I promised myself that I would be 100% gluten free compliant in 2010 except while on vacation. That was a deal I could live with.

So I'm having to come up with breakfast alternatives and none of them sound good at 5 a.m. I also think it's partial laziness, because in the morning I just don't take the time. Maybe what I'll do is start packing breakfast the night before like some of you have mentioned. That could work. I don't know why I didn't think of that!

I signed up for Flylady a few months ago to tackle my clutter and mess, and I must admit it actually works. It's all common sense stuff (and free), like routines, and cleaning and de-cluttering a little at a time instead of going whole hog and burning out. It's definitely made my mornings less stressful.

Also, I think I'm finally going to buy snowshoes tomorrow. I really need to get some exercise.

Oh, and the yogurt/berries/granola thing used to be a favorite, I forgot about that one. I found a good GF granola, too, at whole foods. I'll have to remember that.

Jeannie, I read somewhere that snowshoeing is the best exercise ever. You'll have to tell us how it goes!

Best exercise ever? Then, damnit, I'm getting snowshoes! I will not allow my butt to get any bigger!

You have this uncanny ability to say exactly what I need to hear when I am stewing over problems, whether they're financial or relationship-based or attitudinal, and you inspire me to me see things in a new and positive way and take constructive action. Thank you so much!

PS. Greek yogurt, fruit and granola with nuts is a delicious and easy breakfast that also makes me feel fancy! You can switch it up with different fruits or flavors of granola, add honey if you want it sweeter, and sprinkle on some flax seed for extra healthiness.

breakfast - do you like hot oatmeal ?? I do a weeks worth in my crockpot on Sunday evening - 2 cups of Quaker steel cut oats and 4 cups of water in a buttered crock pot, a pinch of salt, couple of teaspoons of cinnamon and then you can get real creative...throw in dried cranberries, or raisins, nuts (I'm partial to pecans) orange peel, maple syrup (maybe 3 T.)....or you can leave it plain. On Monday eat it hot at home or take it to work and eat it there. The rest of the week I just put a big scoop in a microwave container and heat it for 1-2 minutes as necessary. If I left it plain, then I add something to spark it up a bit every day (raisins, etc). I love this, and have no problem eating the same thing for breakfast everyday.

Your food wisdom has been good for me - thanks for lining it out so nicely. It's onen thing to say "I want to get healthy" but quite an accomplishment to set some truly realistic parameters around that task.

If you use your walking shoes all the time, but not the sportsband then I highly recommend taking the chip out of the shoe when you aren't recording. Stepping in the shoes helps run down the battery. I completely drained my first chip in under a year, because I used the shoes everyday for commuting.

Hi Laurie, I have really enjoyed your new years resolution ideas and have been able to maintain mine through you and your tweaking ideas now I realize that with all of your moving and new year busyness that not much knitting has been mentioned and I was wondering if you might be attending the Stitches West convention at the end of Feb. if you are as an author great but if not just as a knitter should be amazing. Hope you will check it out and maybe join us in Santa Clara which is basically San Jose I am attending but only 1 day and I will be driving 2 1/2 to 3 hrs to get there I am told it will be worth it. Thanks Traci

It makes me happy to read your check in. Sounds like you really are starting to meet your goals, or at least recognizing the steps it will take to get you there. Which rocks. (does this sound weird coming from a total stranger? I imagine it would...ah well.)

I'm currently dealing with where my own rage comes from. Never really allowed myself to feel rage before, which might be part of the problem.

So there's that.

Lots of good thoughts in your general direction.

Regarding Breakfast Recipes: For my cereal-hating kids I make healthy muffins. Store in the freezer, 20 seconds in the microwave (or overnight on the counter). See BobsRedMill.com for yummy, healthy, easy, portable muffins.

We particularly like the 10 Grain Cereal Muffins (which I make with the Organic 6 Grain cereal instead) and the Pumpkin Quinoa Muffins.

Yay Laurie! And thanks for posting your progress, it's very inspiring. Especially with the food. I don't have a major commute, but I am usually starving when I get home, so I bolt whatever's in arm's reach! I think I'll try your way instead. Thanks!

I want to thank you for the roasted cauliflower recipe. I finally got my husband to eat cauliflower and like it. After 16 years.

We've also been de-cluttering. It's so nice to feel like you're not holding on to stuff just to have stuff doesn't it? Some of it is stuff we've moved cross-country...twice. Which is just dumb.

So kudos to you for doing the healthy eating and cleaning up your home too!

Hey. I love your resolutions: they seem about making progress, not about making rules.

And, I deal with a lot of stupid people... customers, and co-workers. (And sometimes-stupid loved ones. But we all have our moments, right?) And in order to be compassionate and professional and HUMBLE in the practice-humility-and-empathy way, I have developed a strategy.

Person Stupid says "STOOPID."
I take a breath. If neccessary, I take a drink.
And then, I ask a question. One they can't answer with a monosyllable of "STOOPID."
While they answer, I gather myself. THEN I respond.

It's cut down on the eviscations. Which wreak hell on the team-building, y'know?

I googled gluten free breakfast and found (among other things) one list of 12 suggested breakfasts but the one I thought was doable for you was "12. Or simply abandon the usual breakfast menu, and have whatever you feel like eating. After all, why be constrained by tradition? How about a gluten-free scone and jam? Or a ham sandwich? Or soup?" That vegetable soup recipe I posted in your comments a few posts ago would make a great breakfast soup.

And thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. It inspires me to think too.

Thanks, Abby! That was very good advice. Sometimes the happiest breakfast I have are on the weekends when I heat up leftovers like chicken and rice for breakfast. I don't know why I don't do that during the week.

Congratulations on being able to look at and change how you handle parts of life. I hate when pop psychologists say people don't change. I know it isn't easy, and maybe most don't but some are always evolving, and you're my inspiration for today.

My escape memory of choice is an early morning stop in Sequoia Park at least thirty years ago. We didn't do a major hike, just walked quietly up a path and stopped and listened and breathed. It was silent except for the constant dripping of dew off the pine needles. There was that overwhelming fresh smell of the piney woods, birds calling to each other, a quick flash of color in the treetops, a rustle of leaves just out of sight, and a feeling of utter insignificance, which, to me, is very freeing.

Hi! I've been decluttering too! I'm so proud of myself for going through the whole house and doing a MAJOR purge a few months ago. It's much easier now, to let things go. In fact, just yesterday I gave away a cookbook I have never used. It was a gift about 7 years ago.

I also thought I'd mention my popcorn popper! I got it on clearance at Target about 6 months ago. We eat popcorn pretty frequently and it's much cheaper to pop yourself. The popper paid for itself in a few weeks. Plus, the popcorn is so much better than the microwave stuff (at least, I think it is!).

Good Luck on your Resolution Quest!

Two of my lovliest friends sent me a care package this summer while I was recooping and in it was this homemade granola
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/blueberry-almond-granola?autonomy_kw=blueberry%20almond%20granola.. you could sustitute maple syrup and other dried fruits of course or add sunflower or pumpkin seeds.. etc..I ate it everyday with fresh fruit and yogurt and oh man was it delish!
Hats off to you Purlie for really doing the stuff that is making a difference in your healthier self!( she typed while eating a Tombstone and swigging a Rolling Rock..)..also( FYI) I have found listening to " A New Earth' and "the Power of Now"
has helped me endure yet another unendurable stupid day job( with stupid people) for now....(like chewing serenity gum or ... something??? almost an instant relief..). thanks for sharing all you do... you have been an inspiration and a delight to me for a long while now! Rock on Sistah!

I am also working on responding to the wackadoos in a more relaxed and professional manner. One strategy that works for me is the two question method:

first-when I find myself suddenly totally pissed I ask myself question #1- what fear is making me feel this way? My answer might be: my fear is that this person thinks I am stupid or crazy or doing this wrong or going to be late. The best thing about step one is that it takes a nice calming moment to complete :-)

Second I ask question # 2 of the other person to confirm or disprove my fear: Do you believe that I am being stupid/crazy/doing this wrong/going to be late?

Sometimes the answer is yes, but by then we're in a more rational discussion and can resolve it. More often the answer is oh gosh no, I was just making conversation/a comment/shooting my mouth off without thinking-sorry.

two question strategy has changed my life. It's like a secret weapon of calm cool and collected.

something about the dead of winter and i guess being surrounded by all our stuff - leads to decluttering. i started a many month process last year in february... and a year later.. have kept up and continue to throw more out - and not bring more in.

cooking one's own food is great - do you read the pioneer woman's blogs? she has a cooking blog too - i love her recipes. and smitten kitchen is great too.

as for breakfast = due to low blood sugar in the a.m. i have had to find something to eat within the first 1/2 hour of rising - if i am not ready for real food , i make a protein shake - whole foods has a great soy protein powder that comes in yummy flavors (i'm a vanilla girl myself) and you can mix it with yogurt and fruit like a banana if you want - sometimes i just have the shake. it gives me enough energy to start off and not get that sinking craving feeling about 3 hours after wakeup that i would quell with something bad.

hope this helps!

cant wait to hear about the new camera!

In the last few years, I've tried to live by Heinlein's Razor -- even before I knew it had a name. Anyway -- I've decided that most people don't do stuff maliciously, but only because they don't know any better. Heinlein's Razor actually says "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity," but I don't really believe it's *always* stupidity - sometimes people do things to protect themselves or just because they don't know how to behave any other way. They don't usually mean to be mean.

Excuse me -- that's Hanlon's Razor, not Heinlein's! But anyway - it means to just let go and not get offended/excited by the actions of others...

Yay, I'm happy to read you again! I feel the same way with the whole food situation! I just found in this month's issue of Real Simple a meal plan for a month and so inspired bought groceries. I'm on day two. My resolve to work on the exercise is slow and of course compounded by rain. Ugh! Who wants to walk in rain?! Fish! lol Try the recipe from Central Market for Brussels Sprouts - amazing! I had never liked/tried them before and now I am converted. Who knew?

Your post today made my evening... I'm having one of those "oh my god, what have I done with my life and how do i fix it all RIGHT NOW" days - you just reminded me to stop and take a breath. Oh, and Her Ladyship PantiesInAWad - HIGHsterical.

Laurie - I'm one of those folks without the filter. It's been a struggle my whole life, and I'm 53 (!) now. But about a year ago, a friend helped me by giving me this advice. Before you open your mouth, think very quickly - is what I'm about to say going to add value? Value to the meeting, to the argument, to what? And most of the time the little remarks I would usually make to show I know what I'm talking about or to fling a barb really don't add value. It's short and sweet: "Does it add value?" I seem to be able to fit that into my brain in the nanosecond before words come out of my mouth. Maybe it will work for you too.

Oh yes -- breakfast -- it comes and goes for me. Mostly I drink a coffee, today I had a banana.

But try this, when I get in the mood to make breakfast this is my go to: a handful of granola (I like Bear Naked Vanilla Crunch)(totally because it's called "bear naked" heehee) topped with 3 spoonfulls of vanilla yogurt, a sprinkle of walnuts, and a handful of *fresh* blueberries.

When I make it, I usually fling it in a plastic container in the morning and then eat it when I get to work, that way the granola has gotten just a tiny bit mushy almost oatmeal-ish.

Or if you make it the night before, buy the single packs of yogurt and you can premake it all in the plastic container bowl and then just dump your yogurt on in the morning at work.

January suddenly is over and its good that you're checking in with yourself as the new month begins. I was just thinking, while driving home tonight, that checking in with myself once a week would probably be a good idea. Maybe monthly is more realistic....congratulations on your progress and goal setting. Humans love a routine, it calms the mind (did the Dalai Lama say that anywhere?, and now that you have one with your food, your focus can expand. Exercise is the hardest, I think!

Yikes, the gluten-free dilemma. I was diagnosed with Celiac AND lactose intolerance 15 years ago and believe me, meal prep became a real challenge from the get-go, not to mention eating out. So my kitchen turned into a science experiment and I came up with alternatives that are totally satisfying. Plus, I'm a savory eater, so sweets don't always do it for me. My savory b-fast fave is leftover polenta nuked with crumbled bacon. Or if the sweets hit you, maple syrup works, too. BTW, Betty Crocker has gone mainstream with gluten-free cake and chocolate mixes. Go figure!

Oh boy, I can so relate to Her Ladyship PantiesInAWad...!! I'm becoming more consious about my problem, and I guess that's a good start, but it also frustrates me that I don't seem to be able to keep my emotions in check. :S I might also have to try a cool-down period.

Hope the new camera works out!

Good job with the resolutions! When you figure out how to break the Doritos cravings let me know!

I did not take the time to read each and every one of the above comments, but I would vote for making your own smoothies for a healthy, portable breakfast. A good, dark juice (blueberry, Pom., or acai), some soy milk, and frozen fruit. Whip it up and go.

I LOVE your Paris visualization! I kind of have a similar goal and I think I will try that Paris idea (although my city is in Italy or Greece). Fabulous!

Good job decluttering. You are making your new placed yours slowly.

Congrats on your success. I am doing the same regarding being healthy, except I am calling it "Be good to yourself." That encompasses a host of things, not just eating. Doing pretty well so far, cross my fingers. I am having the same problem with healthy quick breakfasts, so I am taking note on some of the previous comments.

P.S. I, too, have a lemon Kodak. I had it for 6 months when the zoom button fell off. When I contacted them, they said my warrantee expired. Pretty irritating, since the warrantee was supposedly one year. Oh well, I have just been making do and hoping I don't need to zoom. Good luck on your new camera.

A smoothie makes an excellent breakfast if you can get into that...otherwise I find even a scoop of natural yogurt with some top of the line museli can keep me going for several hours. I've pretty much done the OPPOSITE of all the healthy stuff I'd planned, but I do recognise it's a work in progress and I just need to keep getting back on the horse!

Yay for your success so far!

Good for you! Sounds like progress to me.

So many good comments about being healthy and good to yourself. I just wanted to mention something about popcorn. We have a Whirlipop and OMG it makes the BEST popcorn. Most good cooking stores have them, but I actually bought a replacement at Bed Bath & Beyond recently. We have had ours for sooooooooo long that the whirly mechanism is starting to malfunction! But here's the thing - there was an article in Jan? Prevention magazine about the 10 foods that should never pass your lips and microwave popcorn was one of them!! Something about the chemicals exuded from the bag when popped. The whole article was a little scary - canned tomatoes was also on the list - due to unhealthy chemicals in the can liner that is affected by the acid of the tomatoes. But really - the Whirlipop popcorn is soooo good and really quick too!!

Thank you! You have no idea how your sharing helps others.

The cafe visualization is a great start. Another might be to print a picture of a garbage truck and tuck it away (under your keyboard or in a drawer?) and look at it when *that person* gets to you. That person is a garbage truck; they take all the world's garbage and internalize it. They take things personally that aren't meant that way. When they get filled with junk it starts to spill out onto other people. Don't be a garbage truck, and don't let garbage trucks dump on you!

One of my favorite breakfasts with coffee is lowfat multigrain waffles with just a touch of lowfat peanut butter. I even like the waffles dry. Keeps my energy up till my midmorning yogurt with blueberries snack.

Your well on your way to change...I did the same when I moved..it took awhile to finish parting with the things I should of a year ago. But it feels good to clear the unused clutter and pass it on to someone who needs it...and better yet I can finally find things in the storage closet.
Love reading your blog and wishing you all the best in your journey.

Sometimes when I can't sleep, I imagine myself somewhere else--it's always somewhere mudane and not very exciting, but I focus on the small details and it does help calm me down. So, I totally get what you're saying about the paris cafe.

Speaking of Paris, remember that trip you took several years ago when you yelled, "I'm from Los Angeles, motherf***er! I'll bust your ass!!" at the guy? Funniest story ever. I was in a meeting, secretly surfing the web when I read it for the first time and I had to get up and leave the room because I couldn't stop laughing. That story still crosses my mind from time to time and it always makes me laugh!

Hooray for the Year of Yes! Congratulations on your good stuff. Here's my update for my Getting Healthy res - on my half-marathon walk training I'm currently up to 7 miles on my long walk day, 4 miles on the 3 short walk days and I haven't missed a scheduled walk yet. I've also cut out sugar for a while (I'm a real sugarbaby) and feel better for it. I'll indulge on Valentine's Day probably. Go Laurie!

Congrats on the great progress!! Tip I found valuable for those who mentioned the breakfast problem, and for you on your commute - mix OJ and Water in a 1:7 ratio (one part OJ to 7 parts water). The little bit of sugar in the OJ will stabilize your blood sugar and hold off hunger pangs. Most people aren't really hungry for breakfast, their blood sugar is just too low. If you sip on this all day, your insulin will stay stable, and you'll eat less overall.

Wow! It sounds like you're doing so well! Go, you!

When I find myself dwelling on an icky situation or a difficult person, I find that doing some sort of "random act of kindness" thing helps (like letting someone go ahead of me in the grocery store line). I like to tell myself that I am Breaking the Axis of Evil with my small act. And if that doesn't stop me from dwelling and thinking negative thoughts? I break out the Cheetos and vodka, take some Advil PM and call it a day.

You really are inspirational you know.

What an inspiring post. Just to see your daily struggles and progress. I think you're doing great. Good for you!

My favorite breakfast (as I remember Elvis) is a piece of whole wheat toast spread with 1T peanut butter and topped with 1/2 banana sliced. Not deep fried but delicious and nutritious and quick.

Go Laurie go! Apparently the fast food places have seen a huge downturn as people cook at home more. You are a trendsetter.

As a flight attendant, my fave thing is being home and being able to choose what I eat. On the road, circumstances dictate what's available. Like living on the African savannah.

OK, weird suggestion. I like apples but hate gnawing them, so I bought one of those apple slicers at the Target and it changed my life. So easy to cut up a few and snack on them all day. Good luck figuring out breakfast. Homemade granola and yogurt maybe?

So, basically, your whole post reflects where I am right now. I also cook my meals for the week on Sunday (marketing is for Saturday) and pack my lunch every day. I'm eating more fruits, veggies, beans, and whole grains. I work out almost every day for an hour. I may not be seeing changes yet, but I feel good about doing things that are good for me! I'm glad you have this going on for you, too.

It's hard to let go of physical stuff. I find I need another person around when I am cleaning my area...it makes it easier for me to be a hardass to myself and to give things away that I don't need!

Imagining something positive is something I do, too, when I find myself focusing on the negative. Also, there is always stuff to look forward to. (I sound so Pollyanna-ish.)

I've been reading your blog for a long time and I really enjoy it--especially the travel entries! I've always been afraid to travel alone, but I think I may go to Europe on my own sometime in the next year.

Cheers!

Mid-ick. I love that...

WOW - good things(actually great!!) in the post as well as comments... Like so many others the "pantiesInAWad" thing made me laugh.

I certainly get mine in a twist much less frequently as I get older (pushing 55) but there are those things that I allow to get me on occasion and a reminder is wonderful. I hope that when I think to laugh instead of snarl next time as I tell myself to not be "Her L..."

Unfair to compare as I work from a home office so no commute, minimal hair/makeup/dressing time - but I cook from scratch and the most natural ingredients I can find. I'm not skinny and "fighting" the 50's weight stuff, but obviously as we all know - eating the best we can, moving about a bit - everything works better. I like to remember what you said - the little things/little changes add up.

Breakfast - lots of good ideas in comments, but I have always been a breakfast eater. My fav "I don't have time" breakfast is peanut butter on toast or since I've gone gluten free - on a corn muffin. (corn muffins - cornbread in muffin tin). Or cheese and a bit of tomato on the corn muffin.

The cornbread/muffin recipe:

1 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil (olive or canola or your fav)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda
1 cup frozen corn (recipe calls for 1 can - I don't like canned corn)
1 lg onion diced fine ( I use 1/2 an onion - you can saute in butter first if you want)
1 cup grated cheese (I like cheddar)

I usually add about 3 T diced jalapenos and call it Mexican Cornbread. You can use canned green chiles or fresh chopped chiles or ?? if you prefer.

This recipe makes a dozen muffins - not giants.
It halves fine.

I have a Vita-mix blender ...oh, these are spendy, but I think worth it. I put about 1/2 the mix in the blender and puree it. You can food process it as well - blend all or leave chunky - whichever you like.

Bake at 400 for 25 minutes. They toast fine or if you have time, stick a cookie sheet in a 350 oven to get hot, spritz a bit of olive oil on in and stick muffin halves in for 5 minutes to oven heat/toast.

Happy February!

Everybody's talking about breakfast, but I am stuck on your comment about not getting enough exercise. I know I'm going to sound like a commercial and start with a pretty hefty cash outlay, but we got a Wii last year and Durwood gave me Wii Fit Plus for Mother's Day. I. Love. It. I get up every morning and go into the living room in my tank top and panties (curtains stay closed so as not to truamatize the neighborhood) and I work out. Sometimes only 10 minutes, sometimes 30, but you can take a walk or bike ride or step aerobics or yoga and you don't have to pay for classes or drive someplace. I've never been an exerciser and I'm hooked.