Cabbage Soup Diet

The title makes this sound disgusting but please read on.  A co-worker and I decided to embark on the week long journey of cabbage, the fad diet that claims you can lose up to 10lbs in its duration.  I'd heard of the diet before and thought there was NO way I'd be able to survive 7 whole days on very limited caloric intake but having a buddy to suffer through it with me made it more bearable.

Day 1:

I call this day homicidal rage.  The only food available was the cabbage soup and leafy veggies but as much as I wanted.  You are bound to the food on the diet. When they say soup and veggies - that's it, oh and water.  The rage came on quick because I'm used to having at least 1 cup of coffee a day, sometimes two.  Luckily coffee is admitted but only black.  I don't drink black coffee.  It's disgusting but someone was going to die if the edge didn't diminish so I partook in half a cup.  Still as disgusting as I remember but it took the edge off and people lived to see the next day. 

Day 2:

Today was still difficult.  The website says you may feel weak or dizzy with possible headaches.  I never felt weak or dizzy and if I did get a slight headache I'd drink a bit of black coffee or have some aspirin.  Day 2 was as much soup and fruit as I wanted.  My co-worker and I would laugh because we kept meeting each other in the kitchen, starving, ready to eat soup and grapes or strawberries.  When I got home that night I suddenly remembered I was allowed to have a potato with butter!!!  Oh the joy that flooded my heart!  Below is the potato.  May he R.I.P.

Day 3:

By today I was thinking I should feel different and I felt nothing except hunger.  I also thought I'd be crapping like crazy but nope. All the plumbing was normal, even with all the cabbage I was eating.  Today's allowed food was unlimited soup, leafy veggies and fruit.  It was Saturday and being at home was actually easy.  Here's the thing - I was NOT craving sweets, coffee or any normal food I'd be eating.  Plus, it was the weekend and I wasn't spending money eating out.  I'll mention now we decided to start this right before the weekend on purpose so we didn't have to go through 2 weekends and figured that by the end of the week we'd be wanting to cheat and it's much easier to cheat on the weekends. 

Day 4:

Banana day.  I hate bananas.  They're disgusting and weird and it was suggested to eat up to 8 of them in ONE day.  Unlimited skim milk was allowed along with as much soup as I wanted!  I felt so lucky.  I had made a new batch of soup the day before and made it very differently.  It was much better as I made it with less liquid and more veggies. Tim and I traveled to NC to see our friends.  I told them ahead of time I wouldn't be eating any regular food.  So we trekked the 2 hours and I brought along my soup, bananas and milk.  They ordered pizza.  This was the first time I felt tortured.  The smell, oh the wonderful scent of the garlic and pepperoni and bread. But I ate my soup.  My pipes acted normally today which surprised me.  The only thing abnormal was all the peeing I did during this whole thing but I was also only drinking water and lots of it. 

Day 5:

I'd been looking forward to this day.  Beef and tomatoes, 6 to be exact and a lot of beef or chicken.  I chose chicken cause frankly it's cheaper.  A pretty non-eventful day. Soup, chicken and tomatoes.  Not bad.  Salt isn't allowed during the 7 days to prevent water retention.  But other spices are permitted so if you do this diet use them!  I use salt on pretty much everything I cook, before I cook it, for ultimate flavor. This was an adjustment especially with the chicken. 

Day 6:

Valentines Day!  Tim was out of town for work so no pressure to go out to dinner.  It was steak and veggie day.  I chose to get stew beef and 1 small steak.  Luckily they were on sale and the stew beef wasn't expensive.  During the evening I had a date with myself, a steak, broccoli and soup :)

Day 7:

The final day...it had come at last.  I thought it never would.  Today's menu: brown rice, soup and veggies.  The plan said to STUFF myself so I did.  Brown rice is quite bland when you can't put anything on it so I put soup over it to spice it up a bit.  My last meal which I enjoyed while watching Water for Elephants. 

All in all it was successful in my book.  No cravings had overtaken me.  I had stuck to the entire plan and I didn't feel like I had missed out on anything. Well, maybe the pizza.  I made the mistake of NOT weighing myself beforehand although I had a general idea of my weight. My clothes did feel different though which is what I typically go by and I had peed a lake.  I've started eating normal food and nothing bad has happened to me..yet.  People make a sour face when I say it's cabbage soup but the soup itself is quite delicious and the whole idea of the "up to 10lbs" is because you're eating so little calories.  This isn't something you do as a lifestyle.  I'll most likely do it again in a few weeks because it was a good cleansing and I honestly felt fantastic.  But the only true way to be healthy and fit is to stay away from fads, eat right and exercise.  Because a fad like the cabbage soup diet is a quick fix and the weight comes back.  But I've never eaten so many vegetables as I did in that one week so I see it as a monthly or bi-monthly thing.  Plus, it saves on the eating out portion of our budget.  

So there you have it...my cabbage soup diet experience. 

To Be Determined

This is how I have titled my trip to Wisconsin last week.  There is so much goodness that I can't come up with some clever, all encompassing phrase.  A phrase that wraps everything into one neat little bow.  This post isn't to give you details of our trip or to bombard you with too many pictures.  I'll do that later.  Nah, ok, now.

Tim made a comment on a photo I posted to Facebook of my sisters and I about how we were Wilson Phillips.  We can sing but never took our show on the road. It's a shame.  We would've been great on a tour bus together.  Not during our growing up years.  One of us would've been dead.  Most likely Leah.  She was the youngest and we pushed her around.  She took it because she had no choice.  We still push her around but now that we're adults we don't mean it and actually feel very apologetic for the way we treated her as a young'n.

Tim's comment opened my eyes a bit to how very, very different each of us truly are.  When I look at a picture of all of us I can't pinpoint 2 sisters that look like each other plain as day.  And we always get various opinions from people.  Some say Liz and I look alike, some say Leah and Liz look alike.  It's very funny.  What do you think?

And then there's the personalities.  I'm not sure how our parents survived.  I'm sure they were quite relieved to have Liz.  She balanced out the crazy between Leah and I.  She was and still is the creme to our oreo.  Two chocolate cookies right on top of each other is a bit much.  But add in the creme and you have a nice balance.  This is also why Liz is the favorite daughter.  Oh mom, don't even start.  Leah and I both know and we're ok with this fact.  Liz is making up for it by taking care of mom and dad when they're older.  Ain't she sweet?

Yours truly was the classic older sibling.  Protective, bossy and mean.  I beat up my sisters, I yelled at people who made fun of them or hurt their feelings and I constantly told them what to do and if they didn't listen I beat them again or told them they were adopted.  Much physical and psychological abuse was administered.  They're tougher.

Leah, oh Leah.  You poor thing.  She took the brunt of our brutalities.  But she played her role as the youngest well.  Was abused, got babied, abused, babied, abused, babied.  Over and over again.  I'd pay for her counseling but I don't like her THAT much.

On our trip all the couples were responsible for a meal each day.  Liz made lasagna, I did a chicken fried steak and Leah made a breakfast casserole.

All of us work very differently but we each have a good work ethic.  One of those positive things we inherited.  Liz is good at prep with a relaxed attitude.  She works ahead, schedules and gets it done.  If something goes awry she brushes it off and moves on.

Leah preps ahead as well but she is tense about it.  Things must be perfect and if they're not we know it.  This is why she makes a good boss.  She is quietly forceful.  But because I know Leah and how emotional she gets, I picture her being all calm and matter of fact and then getting a pillow and screaming bloody murder into the poor thing.  I better buy her a couple of pillows.

I am a mess from the start.  Barely any prep and I'm not calm forceful.  I'm just forceful.  So I flail around a lot.  The good thing is, when I get really pissed I become calm.  Hmmm...

These different characteristics showed in the way we made our dinners and I even overheard my dad talking about this very thing on the last day of our vacation.  Liz had made her sauce ahead of time and all she had to do was make the noodles and bake.  Easy peasy.  Now, if an ant crawls on the counter near her or she thinks she sees a spider much screaming and hyperness will ensue.  And the lasagna was delicious.

Leah made a breakfast casserole she had never made before.  I didn't watch her make it but if she gets upset or impatient it shows but she's not crazy about it.  She just fixes it and moves on.  Awesome casserole.  I need the recipe. SO MUCH CHEESE!

Then there's me.  I always make new recipes, read the full recipe right beforehand and then run around like a chicken with my head cutoff.  I can't help this.  It's a fault but that's how I'll always be.  A headless chicken.  Granted a very pretty one.

I have a friend with 3 girls that often says she hopes her 3 girls end up being as close as my sisters and I are.  Looking at her three I predict they will be.  We sorta couldn't stand each other growing up and now we can't go very long without seeing each other.  It isn't the type of relationship where we talk to each other all of the time.  In fact, I go months without talking to them on the phone but it doesn't matter.  Our hearts are bonded.

But seriously, we are so different.  I am really hoping we're related!

Now I will leave you with the quotes from our trip together:

Sarah - I have the strongest urge to stick jelly belly's up my nose right now

After ignoring the GPS and taking the long way around:
Eric - I like all the new streets!
Sarah - yeah, we've driven them all

Sarah - What are you getting cheese for?
Tim - to eat. What do you do with your cheese?

Liz - I get along with people when I'm tired.  Not so much when I'm awake because then I realize how dumb they are

Sarah - Tim is sorta like a ninja

Eric - {yeah, cause pregnant people can't drive}
Tom to Leah - non pregnant people can't drive

Sarah - Eric, can you feel these for me.  (re. avacados)

Leah to Sarah during UNO: How bout your play the right color?
Sarah - Ohhh, I thought I could play whatever I wanted

Leah - my upper is nicer than my lower

Dad - nobody has won since Sarah went out
Eric - well not when everyone keeps folding
Dad - Chowder head (supposed to be cheese head)

Sarah - What does unique casual dining mean?
Leah - They might as well say nude casual dining

Tim - Leah farts lemons.  Sarah, learn how to fart lemons.

Good night!

Fair Warning

I'll be getting on a plane and traveling this week to the Great North for work and I will be boarding this plane with a cold.  Oh the humanity!  How dare I get on this pressurized aircraft where the germs have nowhere to go but into the nasal cavities of the people around me?  While I showered this morning all of this came to mind.  I do my best thinking in the shower.  Nah, not really.  It's just that the steam of the shower loosens up the congestion in my chest and well I started to ponder my flight and how annoying it is to fly while congested and sick.  Pressure, fluid, ears.  You get my drift.

Airborne has become a standard carry-on for most passengers.  But for the few, like yours truly, that aren't smart enough to know this standard why not blast a warning email.  The airline has each passengers email address.  A simple "hidey ho!  you will be flying with a person who has a cold on your flight 1234 to the Great North.  Please plan accordingly.  Thank you for choosing RipOff Airlines for your travel needs" is all thats needed to prepare the travelers that they need to pick up some Airborne.  Granted, the sicky would need to warn the airline of their plight but it's nice to know that it's an option.  It could even be a checkbox when booking your flight.  Yes, I would like to be notified of sick passengers via phone, email, text and Facebook inbox.  Because honestly, who checks real email anymore?  It's all about Facebook homies.

After coming up with the brilliant email idea I thought about what other possible annoyances we as high and mighty Americans may want to be forewarned about.

A nervous nelly.  I think it might be nice to be told ahead of time that Nelly is going to be death gripping my arm at some point during the flight and I may want to bring along a light sedative to slip into the ginger ale.

The crying baby.  Ear plugs.  We all know the headphones to your media player won't silence the high pitched whine and those noise canceling headphones are expensive.

The talker.  I'm not a conversationalist on a flight.  I am always armed with my book or magazine and music player with headphones.  Even if you happen not to have a music player bring the headphones and put them in without the connection in plain sight.  This way the person thinks you're listening to music.  I suggest bobbing your head every once in awhile for full effect.

The muslim.  Yes, I said it and I'm not freakin racist so lay off.  Most people, if honest with themselves do a double take if they see someone who even looks muslim get on the plane.  I can't help it.  I do it.  My mind goes straight to the Twin Towers.  Sue me.  But if I know ahead of time that a full background check has been completed on everyone and all names have been compared against any Terrorist Watch Lists then I'm cool.  Maybe this already happens and I'm paranoid for no reason at all.

These are my shower thoughts for the day.  What would you like to be forewarned about prior to your mile high trip?

Safe Travels,
Phlegmy

No More Chinese Takeout!

My favorite market grocer has moved into town...Trader Joe's.  Everyone knows my excitement over this and if you don't, then we're obviously not real friends.  Sorry, just stating facts.  I'm going to *attempt* to write one blog post a week regarding something I've tried at Trader Joe's.  It may be something I don't like (shocker) and most of the time it will be things I LOVE and will demand that you try them as well. 


For my first post I'm picking their mandarin orange chicken, brown rice and pot-stickers.  With all of these items it's just not necessary to get Chinese takeout unless you're craving some lo mein or something boring. 


I want to be sure you know what each product looks like so you don't spend too much time wandering around tearing your hair out, which I do often.  This is the Mandarin Orange Chicken.   The orange chicken combo #14 at Lin Garden can't touch it.

With any good chinese dish you need rice.  I can hear the excuses now: "rice takes too long", "the rice sticks to the pan and I don't want to clean it".  Well these excuses are no good because Trader Joe's brown rice comes frozen in 3 individual packets (2 servings) and you put them in the MICROWAVE for 3 minutes...presto....done.  And it pairs marvelously with the mandarin orange chicken. 

Now, I didn't claim this was a very healthy meal.  Sure, the rice is brown and there is protein in the chicken but overall this meal isn't going to be on a dieters list of eats.  Eh, screw them...it's good stuff.  The side item won't be on their grocery list either but they're so YUMMY.  Potstickers!  Tim and I were first introduced to pot stickers through our friend Jon.  He is Taiwanese and his mom would make him potstickers and make enough for him to share.  How lucky were we?  I can't say that Trader Joe's pot stickers are better than Mrs. Ho's.  Not possible but since we no longer live near Jon we have to settle for second best.  

And if you're going to get the potstickers getting the gyoza dipping sauce is mandatory - no questions.  Tim is extremely picky about his dipping sauce and said that TGI Friday's has the best BUT after trying this sauce it wins.

Your meal is now complete.  And no need to thank me.  I share this with you because I am a wonderful person. 

Trader Joe's Luva,

Sarah

Unique

Buying presents is not a strong suit of mine.  This is why I avoid it at all costs.  Rarely will you receive a gift from yours truly.  Reasons for this are:  I don't like shopping and I don't pay close enough attention to what people like.  This being said I actually did make an effort this Christmas to find unique and special gifts to the best of my ability.  I succeeded with some and failed with others but overall I'm quite happy.  As long as I'm happy... ;)


There was one gift I received that was particularly unique and it's most definitely my favorite.  Nobody else should take offense.  Once I explain the gift you'll agree with me.  My sister Liz sent me a necklace.  And not just any necklace.  Each piece this lady makes is completely different...almost.  Each unique in its own way.  All of the sisters now have one and although I have one color and they each have a different there is one distinct piece that is exactly the same.  Liz told us we are to think of her when we see or wear the piece as it symbolizes our connection to each other even though we are apart.  


The thoughtfulness of this symbol as sisters of course made me cry and I'll wear it with just about any color even if it doesn't match 100% but now I'll be on the lookout for clothes specifically for the necklace.   And just in case you'd like to help me in my quest below is a picture so you know what color clothes to buy me.  


I can't tell you how many times I think of my sisters throughout the day.  Technically I could count but I won't.  It may nauseate you.  We miss each other a great deal and this makes me feel closer to them as odd as that may sound.  I can only hope we'll see each other soon.  I love you Liz and Leah!

The piece on the lower left with the flower design is what we all have in our necklaces

Y-Town Visit

Per my last post you are aware Tim and I traveled to Ohio/Pennsylvania for Grandma Fitch's passing.  As I predicted, her life was remembered with great fondness and insurmountable love.  Grace Fitch was truly an amazing woman and a quiet inspiration.  Despite the circumstances surrounding our visit we had a good time with Tim's family and even saw family I've never even met!

This is the Williams crew.  In the middle are Uncle Dick & Aunt Jean (who is Tim's dad's sister).  The 3 on the left are Mike, Karla and their daughter Clarisse and the 4 on the right are Kevin, Janet, Chad and Karen.  They're all a lot of fun.

Uncle Chuck & Aunt Kathy.  Uncle Chuck is one of the brothers.

All of the siblings.  Rick, Tim (father-in-law), Jean & Chuck

All of us except Grandpa.  He was understandably exhausted.

The immediate fam.  L-R: Jeff, Mike, Tabitha, mother-in-law Ruth, Shannon, father-in-law Tim, moi and Tim aka TJ aka Tigger.  hehe..he's gonna kill me.

That's pretty much all of us.  There were a few missing.  Maybe they're camera shy?  I don't know what that is personally.  

I have to tell a quick & funny story.  After the funeral and committal ceremony everyone was invited back to the church for some food.  Grandpa Fitch was making his way around the room.  He loves to visit with people and is constantly ministering even in his pain.  He made his way over to our table and started telling stories.  By the way, never interrupt Grandpa when he's telling a story.  Listen politely and nod your head laughing when appropriate.  I've never made this mistake but others have and he will put you in your place.  Quite funny to see.  Anyway, he started to tell a story of a woman and how he went to her funeral.  His speech became sad and then he said "oh wait, it wasn't her funeral, it was her birthday!  Well, she's 90.  She should be dead anyway".  I about fell out of my chair!  Snorts abounded after that and I couldn't stop.  

Tim and I did get to see other family while up north.  Some of my family was gathered at my aunt's house for my cousin Erin's birthday.  Warning: cuteness below and lots of pictures.

Yummy bday cake with little terds on it.

My cousin Erin and her daughter Ava.  With that many candles you need a helper :)

Someone acted like they'd NEVER cut cake before.  Believe me, this family loves cake.

YUM!

I think as a mother you must never be able to open presents in peace. 

Baby Landon.  He was a ham.

Ava with Uncle Andrew.  Isn't it weird to be called an uncle?

A genius in the making.  As Emily commented, "I bet he won't have any problems stacking the tupperware correctly."  This must be an issue in their household.

I always loved having my hair french braided and always wanted to learn how to do it.  I never did but love to watch it being done.

We also visited our friend Courtney.  Courtney was one of Tim's best men and I've known Courtney for almost as long as I've known Tim.  He made us a wonderful stew for dinner and of course the cameras came out.  He's an amazing photographer so if you live in Ohio/PA call him.  That's not a request, it's a demand but in a nice loving tone.  Check out his work on Flickr.  Now.  He feeds my narcissism.  There were a ton of photos taken and currently he's working on edits for a wedding he shot so as soon as he can he'll work on the photos he took during our mini shoot. 

My Thai Paparazzo

One of the shots he took.  I love it!

The trip was bittersweet and we had a good time but there's no place like home.  Especially when you come back to this.

I had to include these.  It's necessary.  Don't argue with me.  It'll be futile.

The Death Bell Will Toll

If you clicked on this to read because of the title, you're morbid and that's why you're my friend. 


Unfortunately, Tim and I are headed to Ohio for the second time this year because someone passed away.  This time it's for Tim's grandma.  She's been sick for awhile now with dementia and Alzheimer's.  Everyone knew she wouldn't be with us too much longer but it's still sad.  She was a wonderful woman and extremely kind and caring.  I remember when I was dating Tim we would have dinner with his grandparents regularly on Sunday afternoons.  She was always interested in what was going on and made the most fantastic food...from scratch.  Her servants heart never let her sit down at the table!  She was constantly making sure we had everything we needed.  Seeing her decline so swiftly in the past couple of years was difficult.  


But here is the good news.  She's in heaven and no longer in pain.  Right now her mind is sharp as a tack and so we will be celebrating her life, reminiscing with happy stories of her life on this earth.  Grandpa Fitch always has a story to tell even if we've heard it a few times or a few hundred.  We always laugh like we haven't heard it before.  I remember when my grandma passed away earlier this year.  The family was together and that rarely happens so we had fun.  Even during the visiting hours as guests were coming through giving their condolences we were snickering about who knows what.  I'm sure some of the people walking through were appalled at our nonchalant attitude.  It's not that we weren't sad but we knew where she was.  

A picture of my grandma.  Wasn't she grand?

During my grandma's funeral people talked and talked about how absolutely wonderful she was and I believe them.  I'm sure we will hear the same sentiments this weekend about Grandma Fitch.  It makes me wonder what people will say about me when I pass.  I don't aspire to be a legend.  But I do hope for happy memories and not just all bad ones.  I don't expect some people to show up.  The girl I punched in the stomach when I was 8 (disclaimer: she asked me to do it) or the girl who's hamster I dropped and killed.  I've definitely made a few enemies but I'm also pretty lovable too so people forgive me often which is a good thing.  But I seriously do think about what impact I have and realize there isn't much so now I'm at a juncture where I think about what I can do to change that.  I don't have an answer yet.  But I'll start small at first.  No reason to get crazy. 


Hamster killer,
Sarah