Sweet Potato Casserole | Skinnytaste#c8121981039865218038

Sweet Potato Casserole | Skinnytaste#c8121981039865218038

It's that time of year, where I just think of orange!!! Of course, it also helps that I am a Texas Longhorn and I bleed orange. So what does someone who bleeds orange like to eat, to keep their orange blood???? Well, one of my favorite things to eat is Sweet Potatoes. My mother makes an excellent sweet Potato Casserole, I came across this one on Skinny Taste and it seems very similiar to my mothers. This I will be trying for sure!!!!!!!

In case your wondering, here is what it looks like.  Of course, this is not mine, and this picture was taken from www.skinnytaste.com

Tears of tiredness, frustration.. ?

Ugh.. these past couple weeks have just been so tiring for me.   Work has been extremly hectic, and I just feel like I haven't had a chance to breathe.     I even had a day last week, where I was just so tired, that I wanted to cry.  Actually, I did get emotional and just go to bed.  I hadn't had a day like that in a while.      I have been working 2 jobs(neither one full-time) , one of which was supposed to be not full-time but because of the shortage of therapist I have been working it full time.  The other job I was actually enjoying,  but it was just to much between the two jobs, oh and taking a class at a local University.  Geez, just talking about it makes me  tired.     Well to make a very long story very short, I decided to quit one of the jobs.  Unfortunatly, it was my part time job, that I was enjoying.   However, the other job although not full-time still provided me with insurance so I decided to keep that one.    I am a bit relieved knowing that soon one thing will be off my plate, but I am stressed about how I am going to make ends meet financially.                

I also had to go to the endorcrinologist last week, and I have to say I felt like I had really dissapointed myself, and him this time.   I had been so busy with work, that I have completely lost my dedication to eating better, and exercising.   I felt embarassed telling him this.    I was also nervous, because he decided to run a test for diabetes, since not having a thyroid and thyroid medication increases your chances of developing it.    Luckily, that came back fine.   My TSH was in the normal range, but I really feel  like I need to call him because while it is normal for most people, it is not where I feel my best at.  I think it was 2.5 and I feel best between 1-1.5.       My calcium was fine, not sure about my vitamin D, but that darn PTH level was escalated.  Actually, the past two times I have gone it has been escalted,  it was going down and I felt happy,  now it is going up and I am not happy.    I just don't know what to do.   I wish there was a way to control it, but I haven't been able to figure that out yet.     I think when it was at it's lowest is when my TSH was almost at 0 and when I wasn't under a lot of stress.    So because I can't exactly put my finger on it, and neither can the doctors, I am going to take some steps to see what happens.     In the past when I would get like this I would buckle down, focus on my eating and get to running, so that will be my solution, my outlet.          I am tired  of being tired, and I am tired of getting teary when I get tired.  It's such a awful feeling, so limiting so time to get mind over matter right??        Well, that's my plan  to push myself and get back to the basics again.      I keep hoping I can get back to the basics, or my basics but like I said work keeps getting in the way.  So enough work, and time to take care of myself.            

I have already taken some steps to get myself on track, and I will not have a choice but to get myself on track  I registered for several races!!!       One is a diabetes run/walk,   one is a Turkey Trot, and the other two I am extremly excited about  :  Color me Rad (I did something similar last year, this should be fun), and  Dirty Girl (another mud run like  I did last year but this one is for women only)     

My next step is to come up with a running, workout schedule and really start focusing on nutrition.   It's a little frustrating that I have leet myself get to this point of truly having to start over, but I need to pick up the pieces and get going or else I am going to be worse off.       

Finally.. I am back new computer!!

Geez, it has been so long since I have been able to log on here!!!  So much has gone on!!!     I don't even know where to start.        So I will start with the most recent happenings.  My computer crashed and burned, and I just now replaced it.   I do have access to other computers but it just wasnt' the same.    I was really wanting a Mac Book Pro, but because I don't have that kind of money I actually found a really nice HP for a good price and so far, I like it :)     Now that I have a computer, hopefully I can catch up a little bit on everyone's blogs that I follow, and catch up on my blog!   

My friend and I started a challenge,   we decided to wear our pedometers and shoot for 10,000 steps a day.     This is going to be a very difficult task for me, between work and school I have lately found very little time to exercise.   However, I know that excercise is key to weight loss and good health.     Let's see what else,  I read a book called the Eat to Live diet by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  I really like what he has to say.  He emphasizes eating fruits and vegetables.  He really promotes a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle.   I have to say that I did try it some before I went back to work and I did feel better about myself overall.  Unfortunately, work has been so crazy that lately my eating habits have gone out the window.      So,    I think now it is a absolute must that I get back on track.   I keep telling myself that I don't have time for anything,  but I need to find time to get my nutritional habits back in order and get some exercise in.           For a while I haven't been able to get my schedule in order either.      Between work and school by the time I come home I am exhausted, so I am hoping that now that I have adjusted a little bitter to all the craziness I can find at least 30 minutes 2-3 times a week to get in that exercise.        
There is a run coming to San Antonio, called the Dirty Girl Run so my plan is to register for it, and then get back to training.  I figure if I register, then I will have no choice but to do it!      A friend of mine is doing a little challenge on FB she  started it off easy and then gives little challenges every day.    I did start off doing it with them,but that things called work got in the way again and I fell off the wagon :(          So today I am going to start with my own challenge: 1)   do 25 crunches, 2) get as many steps in as I can.         I am feeling a little sick so while my challenge seems easy, it is a start!    
Anyone up for a challenge?   

Change is good!!!

Well I just came back from my trip to Boston,  I hope to get some pictures up here soon!    Now, I am back at home and I am ready for my new adventure.     I had been trying to figure out my plan of action all summer, and instead of listening to mother and going to speak to an advisor at one of the Universities here in San Antonio, I of course waited until the last minute.    So here it goes!!!!   I went to go speak to an academic advisor and found out that I only have 24 hours left to finish a degree in Biology with a neuroscience concentration.   Now I know there isn't a whole lot to do with a degree in Biology, however I am hoping that it will give me an extra boost for when I apply to some other programs.     Of course I came home, told my mother about it and she said you see, if you had talked to them sooner then you could have gotten things done sooner ha ha  :)        Well my mom and I did come up with a plan, I am going to continue working for the school district but drop my employment down to 75%, pick up some home health clients the make up the difference money wise, and then take one class to get myself started.        It is going to be a crazy and hectic semester for me, but I am determined to set my goals and get it done!    Now somewhere between all this I need to figure out how I am going to fit in exercise, and of course eating better.    I have tried all summer to get myself on track in terms of eating and I just can't seem to get it together.   I am happy to say that I did monitor my self today and did a good job with eating healthier and I even went for a walk!!!!!       I hope that know that I have come up with some sort of plan for my career, that now I can try and focus on the other very important thing in my life... My health!!!!!       I have discovered that in terms of exercise that I felt healthiest when I was running and monitoring my food.  Of course I realize this was also before I had my thyroid removed so naturally I would feel healthier with my thyroid then I do without it.         I have also discovered that while I have benefited from boot camp in terms of stamina it just hasn't done for me what running did.   I don't get that feeling of euphoria after boot camp like  I did when I was running, and I am just not getting the same "thinking time" as I did when I was running.    My plan had originally been to do boot camp and go running on my off days, but that just didn't work out b/c boot camp was wearing me out.      Don't get me wrong I think boot camp is an excellent form of exercise, but I think I need to go back to my old routine.    Running, eating better, and giving myself that time of reflections that I so loved when I would run!      So here's to hoping from some changes some new habits, some old habits, and hopefully a new and improved me :)     
How about any of you???  Are you trying anything new as we start the school year??  

Spain!!!!

Once again,  I have been busy so I hadn't had a chance to post some pictures from Spain.    I finally downloaded the pictures.     Here are some of the pictures from my travels to Spain.     I loved visiting Spain and was lucky enough to get a chance to travel there 2 summers in a row.      Well next year be a 3rd visit???  I hope so,  I hope I also get a chance to go back to Italy some day, as well as France and London! 
  
Before we got to Spain we had a stop in Boston. It was my mom's Bday so we celebrated by having Crab cakes and Salad!!!! It was yummy!!!

 

We landed in Madrid, and we to a restaurant we discovered last year across from out Hotel.  El Rincon!!!!   I had a ham and cheese bocadilla!!!  I love those things.  We were very tired but we just had to keep on going!!!    The coffee was very helpful!

My friends' husband told me to go check out the soccer stadium.  El Bernabeu. Spain is very big into soccer this is where the Real Madrid team plays!!         

My dad and I taking a picture with a picture of the  Real Madrid team!!!    I wish it had been the actual players.

 I love the way the street's look at night.  This is at one of the plaza's   

This was the best cannelloni I have ever had in Sevilla Spain!!!!     It was so delicious, I wanted to save it, but of course I had to eat it.

One of the church's in Sevilla Spain.     I love the contrast of colors.

We took a trip to a town called Carmona!! It was very beautiful all the building are white with yellow/gold trim.  I have never been to Greece but I imagine it would look something like this.

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This is one of the coins from the city of Carmona.    

 I had a chance to take Flamenco lessons. No this is not a picture of me, but this is one of the many flamceno shows I got to see.  Many places do not allow you to take pictures of the dancers. However, we were able to take pictures at the Museo de Flamenco of the performers.

One of the many beautiful places in Spain. 

 This is in Sevilla Spain, across from the University.   I just love how the eat outside and everything is so relaxed!      Of course if we tried to eat like this in Texas we would probably melt.

These are two of my favorite dishes!  Patatas Aleoli, and Shrimp aleoli.  (I think that was what the shrimp was called).   The potatoes are so not health but I just absolutely love them, which is so odd because I am not a fan of potato salad.  The shrimp was so good,  similar to shrimp scampi the left over butter was good enough to dip your bread in!   





Of course I have many more pictures,   I just shared some of the main ones!      I think if I had to I could live in Spain, despite the very high unemployment rate, the way of life there is just so relaxed.

Decisions, Decisions??

Well I am back from Spain!!! I hope to be blogging about that soon!   But first things first!!!  I have had work on my mind.  I know of all things to be thinking about work!!!  Seriously, I am supposed to be on summer vacation and all I can think about it work work work.  Not so much the work that I have to do more along the lines of what should I do about work??   I have been considering some options, one of which includes leaving the school system and working in a clinic, I love the idea of working in a clinic, but I am not thrilled with the hours of the clinic.      I love my ability to travel in the summer's and have my time off during the holidays, none of that which I can get if I work in a clinic.      So, I am at a crossroads, do I try out the clinic assuming the job does come available so that I can get new expereinces,  or do I stick with the school setting, and focus on getting into a PhD program which is my ultimate goal?????         I know that if I stay in the schools setting, I will have more "off" time to focus on studying the GRE and apply to different programs.     However, I also know that working in the clinic may give me some experiences amd the chance to work in a different setting, thus hopefully increasing my knowledge, which could also be helpful for applying for a PhD.        Ugh...this is such a random posts, but I just needed to get this out on paper, well in this case cyberpaper :)   I have tried to do a Pro's and Con's chart but it hasn't helped much.      I guess only time will tell!

Ouch I can hardly stand up!

Well this was a great week in terms of working out for me!!!    I am now so sore, that it hurts for me to stand up!  However,  I do believe all my hard work paid off.  I believe I managed to shed about 2 lbs this week.    My cousin is in town from Colorado for the summer, and her and I got on a crazy workout routine.      Here is what our week looked like:

Monday: 5:30 am bootcamp
Tuesday:   went for a bike ride in the neighborhood
Wednesday: 7:00 am bootcamp (this was a tough one but a fun one, there where only for of us that showed up that day, and he had us race against each other at different stations!    I came in 3rd but  I was glad I survived)
Thursday:  went for a walk at 7:00 in the outdoor mall we have
Friday:  5:30 am bootcamp



I am happy to report also that  I did have enough energy to get me through my week!   I am a little low today but I think it's because I basically worked myself out like a crazy person.   My ankle does still act up sometimes, but it is getting better with time.
   In terms of eating I did pretty good, I could have done better!  I did do a great job of having nutritional shakes every morning except one.   So my goal next week is to keep up the workout, but be a little better about nutrition when it comes to lunch and dinner!     I know I need to eat more veggies, and eat leaner overall.     I also want to get a book, and try to eliminate some of the gluten that I eat.     Because I have Hashimotos and even though I don't have a thyroid, I will still have issues with Hashimotos.      So, I have heard some people say that it helps them when they cut out gluten.     Knowing myself I don't know if  I can completly give up gluten, but I am willing to take baby steps and try it just to see if I get any results!      Have any of you tried to reduce your gluten intake??       I have tried to make gluten free cookies, and I thought they tasted good, but my mother didn't like them.        

I hope everyone is doing well!    Happy Friday, and remember that exercise is key!