Where Have All the French Fries Gone?

Since the start of 2013, I have been taking my health a lot more seriously, for no reason other than it's about time I care about myself. I wasn't working towards anything specific, but feeling good about taking care of myself for the first time. I've always been skinny, but I've never had a real reason to be proud of my body because I'd never put any of my own effort into it. I ate garbage whenever I wanted because I didn't have anything to worry about as far as weight gain, and I never thought of health beyond that. I've had body image issues for a long time. There was a time that I tried hard to gain weight, to gain more noticeable curves, to feel more womanly and accepted. But I'm starting to really be proud of my body for what I accomplish through hard exercise and healthy eating. I can feel good about how I look because I work for it.

I started this at about 120 lbs/size 4 or 5 in jeans. My plan wasn't to track weight loss (as I was in no position to lose weight), but for now it is the only way to really tell if I am getting results. I dropped down to 114 lbs and a size 2, which put me just underweight for my height, but I am working towards gaining muscle to make up for the loss. Right now I am 118 lbs, which is my "ideal" weight. If I could make it back to my highest weight of 123 lbs solely on muscle, that would be ridiculous.

 Basically, the biggest thing that I've been doing is saying goodbye to my beloved fries (and other junk food that made up the majority of my diet). It has been full of ups and downs. I eat a ton of raw vegetables now, which I never thought would be as filling as they are. I avoided eating rabbit food because I have an unusually large appetite and I never thought eating vegetables could hold me over from meal to meal. But I don't mind eating my veggies. I'm not picky. I've even started craving them, sometimes. I do still have those days when the broccoli just isn't satisfying. I spend a lot of time reading up on healthy foods and recipes to try to learn how to spice things up once in a while, and that has helped push me through the "bad" times. I've only had fries three times so far this year, and I feel like someone recovering from a nicotine addiction. It's been hard, but I'm actually proud of how far I've come.

I have a few new hobbies now that I've made so many changes, namely, making my own granola. It started with a peanut butter granola recipe. Tonight alone, I've made an almond butter granola, chocolate granola, and my own spicy granola much like that herbed oyster cracker recipe, but with a kick. I only stopped there because I ran out of oats. I'm considering starting a small business, but I'm not sure there is enough of a demand for granola right now. 

My Love Affair with Food

I'm on the left

It's Valentine's week, yes, week, and I don't have any tutorials to share like other bloggers. But, I've been checking out a lot of different ideas from recipes to crafty gifts to makeup looks. There is always so much fluff on the internet come v-day. I love it. I think there are two types of people, those who love valentines and those who really aren't people at all. I've always been a big fan of this holiday, whether there is any true merit to it or not. I just like the idea of taking a day to celebrate love, and chocolate, and flowers, and hearts, and fluffy stuffed animals, and pink and red and... My love affair with food?

I've been dating my beau Steven for 2 years (and two months on the 14th) and if there's one thing I would say really bonded us in the beginning, it would be food. It's what brought us together. We were chatting one night on facebook when I mentioned how hungry I was. He showed up at my dorm with a delicious buffalo chicken pizza he made himself. Clue #1 he was a keeper. So, in a lot of ways, I associate him/our relationship with eating. As much as I love going out with him, I most enjoy the nights in that I am able to cook with him or try out some crazy new recipe on him. (He is the biggest critic, but I just keep trying). What better excuse than Valentines Day to cook for my sweet beau?

"I wish I had an elephant for you to ride, but here's a small one to make you smile"

I've rounded up a few recipes I'm thinking about trying out this week, keeping his tastes in mind along with my level of chefs-pertise. We recently did a big grocery shopping trip, so I was excited to find a recipe for Spicy Lime Tilapia from Womens Health Magazine. We have a LOT of tilapia to use, as well as limes, and Steven and I both enjoy spicy foods. This recipe sounds like a win for our Valentines dinner. It seems very simple to follow, and at only about 177 calories a serving, it saves room for a more indulgent dessert. Bring on the chocolate fondue!

Or Molten Chocolate Pudding Cake? I found this recipe from Fitness Magazine and I am very tempted to try it. Steven and I love chocolate lava crunch cakes from Domino's and I would love to be able to make my own at home. For some reason I think of this as a more difficult dessert to pull off, but this particular recipe is probably the easiest I have seen. How could you go wrong with molten chocolate? If I can find some heart shaped ramekins in the next couple days, that's a sure sign I have to do this. But, if not for valentines day, I will for sure try them in the future. I just can't pass it up.

I painted this heart dish recently in tribute to my beloved foods.

The other dessert I am considering is Chocolate Cannolis using another recipe from Womens Health Mag. I've actually never had a cannoli, so it might be weird to just make them, especially an alternative kind like this. The recipe calls for wonton skins in place of normal cannoli shells. But I'm looking for something fun, different, and decadent for this week, and these might fit the bill. If Steven knows what's in cannolis, I doubt he'll like or even try them. So for now I am on the fence about it. If all else fails, I'm just going with the chocolate fondue. I mean, valentines day kind of insists on chocolate covered strawberries if nothing else.

What foods make your heart skip a beat? Not literally, that's a health hazard. Do you have any special recipes in mind for Valentine's Day, or are you a love-hating hipster who doesn't recognize such cooperate ploys?.. Just teasing, you know I love you.