Inspiration

So for several months now, I've been a journey to make healthier choices, lose weight and get in shape.  I haven't failed completely, but the successes have been small.  This week, I started going back to the gym.

Let me start by saying that I hate exercising.  I hate to sweat and I don't enjoy it one bit.  I have resigned myself to the fact that it is one of the ways I will achieve my goals, so I'm determined to go until I like it.

I was off work today, so I went to the gym mid-morning, which is not my normal time.  Obviously, it was much less crowded than at 5:30 in the evening.  It took me almost an hour to make myself leave the house and haul my backside in there because I just didn't want to go.  Once I got there, I looked around and noticed all the thin people working out, barely breaking a sweat.  Here I am, with my jiggly, fat body, sweating and breathing hard and honestly, quite irritated. I sat there doing the leg curl having my own pity party saying "God, why couldn't I have been born thin?  Why is it so easy for me to gain and others don't even have to think about it?"  It was a pathetic moment, I admit.

I got up from the machine and went to move to the next when a man walked past me.  In that moment, my world changed.

This young man appeared to have cerebral palsy or some type of similar disability.  He had braces on his knees and ankles and he walked with a walker.  His ability to walk was so bad that he would have to take a step, wait a couple of seconds, then take the next step.  You could tell by looking at him that he had to put a great deal of effort in just to walk.

I finished my set and moved on to the next, but couldn't get him out of my mind.  As I moved around the gym, I watched him walk to a machine where he could sit on a bench and exercise his upper body.  Then, he struggled to situate his walker so he could grab the machine for support and sit down to exercise.  More than once, he almost fell and it took him close to 20 minutes just to get seated and ready to go.

The next thing I know, I'm sitting on the leg press with tears streaming down my face.  My heart broke for him.  I hated watching him struggle to do something that I take for granted.  I hated that he was so young and knowing that he would likely spend the rest of his life like this.  I hated the part of me that was spoiled and selfish and having a pity party just moments earlier.

I hurried to the locker room to compose myself.  While I was there, I asked forgiveness for being so ungrateful.  I thanked God for blessing me with health and life, with the ability to walk normally without a struggle and for all the things I take advantage of.

I hate to sound corny, but it was moment of clarity for me.

I am so blessed.

Blessed beyond what I deserve.

I ended up leaving the gym at this point because I was almost done and I was really upset.  I just couldn't get him out of my mind.  I don't know if I'll ever see him there again.  But I will not forget.

I decided to write this down, not just to share with you, but for me, so that whenever I scroll back through this blog, I will see it.  I don't want to forget how I felt today.  I am sure I'll still have many days that I don't want to go exercise, and I'm sure I still won't enjoy it,  But I am determined to thank God every time I walk through those doors on my healthy, functioning legs, no matter how jiggly or chubby they may be.

5 Fabulously Light Desserts!

So, it's the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I'm sure you're in one of two places with yourself right now.  You're either proud because you managed to do well and are back on your healthy eating plan OR you binged (and maybe are still binging...) and you are full of self hatred because of it.  Well, if it's the latter - Stop it!  What's done is done and you can't change it now.  You just pick yourself up and jump back on that there wagon, ya hear me? (Sorry...my hidden redneck Oklahoma girl came out for a sec!)

No matter how you're feeling today, it will pass and things will return to normal.  And when they do, you're gonna have a day when you need dessert.  Not want, but NEED it.  

I mean need like you need air to breathe.  

Like you need the earth to keep turning...

Like you need a warm place to sleep so you don't freeze to death...

Like your life depends on it!

Seriously folks, that's how much I love sugar.  It's a horrible addiction that I am working to overcome, but never having it again is not an option.  So, I am always on the lookout for great healthy options to feed my sweet tooth.  Here are 5 that I found on Pinterest that I think you'll love!

1. Pumpkin Ice Cream from The Gracious Pantry

Pumpkin? Ice Cream? Yes, please.  One word.  Delish!

2. Frozen Peanut Butter Pie from My Recipes

Peanut Butter is my kryptonite.  Seriously, I could eat almost an entire jar in a day.  I crave it and love it any way you make it.  Add chocolate and I become weak in the knees.

3. Easy Lemon Cake from A Spotted Pony

This is super yummy and light.  The great thing is that the basic recipe works with any flavor of cake mix.  You could try Strawberry, Chocolate or even a simple yellow cake mix for a totally different flavor.

4. Diet Coke Brownies from Eat Yourself Skinny

What a fabulous idea!  I am not a diet coke drinker (I'm a Diet Dr. Pepper girl to the core) but I certainly can buy a can just for these.  Chocolate!

5. Pineapple Angel Food Cake from Adventures of a Couponista

We're going back in the day with this one, folks.  The first time (yes, sadly, there's been more than one) I joined Weight Watchers, this was the first recipe I got from my leader.  It's been an old standby of mine for years.  Try it.  You'll love it!

I am always on the lookout for new recipes, so if you have any you'd like to add, I'd love to hear from you!

Happy {Skinny} Eating!

Cheryl

Weight Watchers Taco Soup

I {heart} Taco Soup!  Years ago, during one of my many attempts at weight loss, I got this recipe at a Weight Watchers meeting.  I have loved it ever since!  It's one of my go to recipes when it's cold outside and I'm craving something savory.  Try it!  I know you'll love it!

It's almost as simple as the picture above.  Are you ready?

Weight Watchers Taco Soup

• 1 lb lean ground beef (or turkey)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 packet ranch dressing mix
• 1 cup water
• 3 cans (15 oz) chili beans (I like mexican style chili beans)
• 1 can corn
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes & green chilis (like Ro-Tel)

In a skillet, cook onion and ground beef until done.

Add the beef to your slow cooker, then add all the remaining ingredients and stir.  Cook on high for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.  If you'd like, you can cook it on low for 4-5 hours.

That's all folks.

ENJOY!!

I highly recommend this recipe.  I have tried many taco soups and this is by far my favorite.  The fact that it's healthy is just an added benefit!

Smiles,

Cheryl

I am not itty bitty.

Contrary to what you read at the top of this page, I am NOT itty bitty.  Not even close.  I am in fact, quite the opposite - large and fluffy!  In other words, fat, overweight, big, plus size, whatever you want to call it.  I hate describing myself in that way, but it's not like I can hide it. You take one look a me and it's obvious.

I have struggled with my weight for a while now.  When I was in high school, I was wearing my size 7 jeans and eating smaller portions so I wouldn't be fat!  Oh, for those days!  I can remember the first time my weight really, really bothered me.  After I graduated high school, I started really putting on weight.  I got engaged to my high school sweetheart and was planning my wedding at age 22.  They say every little girl dreams of her wedding dress.  Not me.  I had put on more weight than I wanted and I dreaded every minute of buying and looking for a dress.  I remember taking my poor mother to a gazillion stores, while she tried to convince me they looked good and how beautiful I would be on that day, but I was still a short, chubby gal trying to look good in a dress made for a tall, skinny gal.  Of course, we finally found a dress, but I wasn't comfortable with myself in it.  Things just went downhill from there.

After 3 1/2 years, my husband decided he didn't want to be married to me anymore, so he left and re-married in a few months.  I don't think I've ever said this out loud, but when I looked in the mirror, I could totally understand why he would want to go.  I was certainly not a wife that you'd be proud to show off to your friends.  Now, I realize these thoughts are not the type of things we should think about ourselves, but it's the truth.  Moving on, I met my current husband and we married in a few years.  Since that time, we've had job struggles, money struggles, emotional struggles and of course, my weight struggles.  Through the ups and downs, my coping mechanism has been food (and Dr. Pepper).  I now weigh more than I ever have and I am completely miserable with myself.  I feel fat and tired and ugly and disgusting.... should I go on?

Now... I tell you all this, not to make you feel sorry for me, but to help you understand the real me.  I am not very good at showing people the real me.  I have always been a pretty strong person that just got through the rough things because I had to and it's not my personality to quit.  For those of you who read this and have never met me in person, this is what you'd see.  I'm super chatty, outgoing, silly, like to be in control (yikes, I know!), a perfectionist and mostly an optimist.  A lot of folks have said "You're so confident!".  Whatever.  I am quite the opposite.  I doubt my abilities in just about every area of my life, I just hide it well to most people.

So, what does this have to do with weight loss?

I decided that I am going to change my life and my health - permanently this time.  And I want to share that journey - successes and failures - with all of you.  I want to be completely transparent because I want you to know the real me.  I want to you to know that you're not alone and that we can do this.  I want you to know that God loves me and you just the way we are. I want you to know that, if we stick together, we will succeed.

Oh yes.... One last thing..

Why did I name this blog "The Itty Bitty Blonde Girl"?  Well, I am blonde and itty bitty in terms of height - 5 foot nothing.  But, here's the real reason...  Someday, I want someone to look across the room and describe me as the itty bitty blonde girl and not be referring to my height!  Crazy, I know, but that's how my brain works. I could lie and say it's all about my health but it's not.  That's part of it, but not all.  I want to look good and feel comfortable and not hate myself when I look in the mirror.

As I embark on this journey, I hope to share my feelings, recipes, tips, ideas and who-knows-what else?  I hope you'll join me for every step of the way.

Cheryl