The proverbial leaf

So, the ushering in of a new year also brings the the vow of many to 'turn over a new leaf.'  People decide en mass to eat better, lose weight, go to the gym, .  In most cases these goals are never realized, or they last approximately a week or so.  Just because the year at the end of the date is 2009 and not 2008 does not mean that I've suddenly grown a new personality, or acquired willpower where there was none before.  Nonetheless, I try.

I have discovered that this leaf business works better for me in phases, and with as little pressure as possible (and apologies to Toni for totally ripping off her leaf).  Baby steps, one thing at a time.



In June I decided it was time to ramp it up, skincare wise.  I immediately went on a full scale assault of my pores, and six months later the assault is still on and I feel like I'm winning the war.  In October, I roped Alisa and myself into makeovers at the Benefit makeup counter where I spent a ridiculous amount of money, and since then I've actually graduated into being a grownup and wearing makeup every day.  When I went to Michigan for Thanksgiving, my skin suddenly dried so much that I felt like I could be used for kindling, and so I've become pretty religious about moisturizing (Eucerin body lotion is the best in case you're wondering).


On the other hand, I've tried to start drinking tea, which I'm doing sporadically, but it could be better.  I am trying to cut down on the amount of soda I drink, but I really need to get the caffeine somehow (coffee is not an option).  I'd like to spend less money on food and work on having groceries around instead of getting takeout all the time, but despite my good intentions it more often that not doesn't work out that way.  I would also benefit from leaving my house more to exercise, go for a walk, or just get up and move around.  Not so much, especially when it's -150 degrees outside.  I could probably also benefit from having a consistently clean house (and not just when I know company is coming).  Anyway, slow and steady wins the race, or so they say.  Keeping up with the baby steps.


My current drive is on having groceries around.  Over the holidays I did some cooking and remembered that I actually enjoy it.  It's kind of nice to have a bunch of ingredients laying around that can be made into something delicious when put together, and it's even better when there are leftovers to be had for lunch later on (just so long as those ingredients are balanced with things that require no preparation whatsoever for the other days when I come home and don't want to expend any effort at all).  It's cheaper than eating out for every meal, and when I buy groceries I'm more likely to shame myself into buying somewhat healthy things as opposed to eating sandwiches nonstop.  I know, I'm growing as a person.



This all brings me to this morning.  I had decided I was going to start eating breakfast again (I know Mom, breakfast is important it's not good to skip it, you don't have to yell at me), and that I might as well try to do my own breakfast instead of spending money on a bagel every morning (which is really not the best idea anyway).  Somehow I got it into my head that I would mix together some nonfat yogurt, a sliced banana and some honey nut cheerios.  That would be my filling yet healthy breakfast.  I was warned ahead of time by Grace RN that this might not work due to the amount of sugar found in yogurt that would probably just make me feel hungry again in about an hour.  I thanked her for her kind advice and said I'd try it out, with worst case scenario being that I never do it again.


Well, somehow in the middle of this brilliant plan of mine I somehow forgot that I HATE YOGURT.  I hate everything about it, it makes me gag.  I thought to myself, yogurt is healthful, when mixed with bright berries it looks kind of pretty, other people eat it all the time, I could totally do that.  Um, yea.  No, no I can't.  I tried this morning.  I gave it a legitimate effort, I swear.  It was just too gross, I hated it.  HG 2.0 advised me not to start out with the nonfat, but I don't even think that was the problem.  It was the consistency, the gooeyness, the flavor, all of it.  It's too much like pudding which I also don't like.  I ended up just being angry with myself that I ruined a perfectly good banana.  So now I'm munching on some cheerios at my desk trying to determine what else I could do for an easy breakfast that doesn't take much preparation (as in, it pretty much has to be something that I can just grab and bring into work because I'm not waking up any earlier in the morning).  Yogurt is clearly not an option.  So disgusting.