Wings and Things

So Mitch made an outstanding point while watching the Dolphin game yesterday.  He pointed out why people get drunk watching football…it’s otherwise unbearable to watch, given how many mistakes they make!  It’s either that, or your celebrating during a good game.  Makes sense to me.   Watching the Dolphins play yesterday, I am sure MANY fans were drowning their sorrows.  For the life of me I cannot understand what they are doing all week, to come out playing so poorly on Sunday.  Something is just not right.  Though I am a newbie at watching this sport and our Dolphins, I am guessing some heads are getting chopped and if I were the coach, I would definitely be skimming the want ads…and I don’t know what to say about Chad Henne.  I am sure he made it this far because he DOES play well, I just don’t get it.

Mitch and I did not drink during the game.  We ate.  But this eating lunch at kickoff, coincides really nicely with a morning stroll through the farmer’s market.  We picked up some freshly made guacamole and some insanely delicious kalamata olives to go with Mitch’s sandwich and my Gardein “chicken” wings.  I may have mentioned this before, but it’s worth mentioning again–those wings are REALLY spicy (and I am all about spice) and I add a spoonful of Earth Balance (“butter”) to tone down the HOT just a bit.

At dinner time, we had some fresh stuff from the market for our salad, including beautiful little grape tomatoes, and a humongous cucumber.  We brought home a container of vegan collard greens with hot sauce, and also made some small baked potatoes.  We had some leftover sauteed kale with garlic from the night before which I mashed into my baked potato and it was VERY reminiscent of the spinach and potato “mountains,” my mom used to make me as a kid.  It was a very, very clever way to mix some leafy greens into my favorite food…the potato.  Just for the record, though I have examined all sides of the potato/weight loss debate and I agree that avoiding the “white” starches can be helpful on a weight loss plan, I am convinced the potato, in and of itself, is still a good guy.  Rich in vitamins B6, C and potassium, one, with the skin on also offers about 7 grams of fiber and the same in protein.  Mixing mine with the kale and making it the main part of my dinner, with some of the collard greens, some grilled asparagus and a garden salad with chick peas, my dinner was not a ridiculous amount of calories, healthy and very wholesome.  Ok, the best part was that Mitch made the salad, which was a welcome change as I am generally the salad maker.  Why is it when someone else does the work, the food tastes SO much better?

Since Christmas eve is not until the weekend, this does make a pretty good week to eat healthfully before a crazy weekend.  The same might be said for next week.  ONE DAY or ONE NIGHT, does not make us fat.  Remember it takes approximately 3,500 extra calories to gain a pound.  Even if you let yourself go completely on Christmas eve and or Christmas day, but watch the rest of the week, you probably will come out pretty “even” at the end of the week.  One thing I have found since leaning more heavily into a plant-based diet, is that if I stay away from the nutritionally void foods, I don’t really have to count calories anymore.  Sure, I am always mentally tracking my calories, but that is more a leftover “habit,” than anything else, I think.  I say this with caution, however, as I know vegans that are quite overweight from eating too much bread, processed foods and SWEETS!  Keep in mind, sugar IS a vegan food…

It is nice to not sit and track each and every calorie and just this morning, I was skimming an article from the people at REALAGE.com and they suggest that people who are such strict calorie counters, may in fact be contributing to their own belly fat!  Sound like a contradiction?  Keep in mind that low calorie diets can be very, very stressful.  Stress makes us produce cortisol and cortisol causes us to store belly fat.  Once again, it’s all about balance.

Congratulations to my favorite vegan and mentor in that way and many others, Derek, on another successful semester at school.  Dad and I are so proud of your desire and ability to multi-task!  You have a lot to be proud of as you approach your 27th birthday as well as the close of another year.  You and Kyle make us proud every day, which is more than most parents can ever say.  Thank you for making parenting such a gift and pleasure.

I’ll be at TFC this morning for my last morning class till the 3rd of January.  I’ll be at Bally today for both Silver Sneakers classes, but wont be back again till next Monday as Rose will be covering my classes this Wednesday.  And on that note, it’s time to get ready for the gym.  Have a magical Monday. Thanks, as always, for stopping in.