We had homemade apple pie for dinner. Not WITH dinner, FOR dinner. And ice cream too. My kids loved it and thought Mark and I were crazy for allowing it. Perhaps we were/are. It was the best dinner we have had in a long time.While the pie was not exactly aesthetically pleasing, it made up for it by being a little slice of heaven. It was a new recipe and has now become a permanent fixture in my recipe book (and on my thighs).
What happened to no sugar for 30 days? Well, I broke up with that crazy idea after I ate mass quantities of pasta, bread and, well, every other variety of carb in place of sugary treats, and gained 6 pounds. I began wallowing in self pity when my pants wouldn't button and cursing the scale and anything/person near me. Not quite the outcome I had been hoping for.
I used to do these crazy no-sugar-for-a-month shenanigans with my sisters often. Although challenging, I always completed them with very little problem. I'm not sure what changed.
Through this experience I have learned a few important things about myself. My life requires balance. Demands it. A balance of friend time and family time. A balance of daily kid and kid-free interaction. A balance of exercise and relaxation, hard work and no work. Home cooked meals and pizza delivery, date nights and girl's nights. Hysterical laughter and deep conversation, steamed broccoli and Milk Duds.
It's who I am. It's how I stay (relatively) sane. And I am comfortable with that. Lesson #1 learned.
The second realization was a bit more alarming. I have recently come to a truce with my insecurities. After battling for years, I realized it was way to time consuming to care what other people thought about me. I was healthy and surrounded by good people. I was in a good place and I liked me. Or so I thought. What I realized was I liked the me who maintained a certain weight. As the numbers on the scale started creeping back up, a wash of insecurities flooded over me.
But I'm okay with that too. I think. Because I think it will keep me from becoming complacent. If I was comfortable with myself regardless of what I looked like, I might start popping bon bons like they were going out of style and wind up on the Biggest Loser.
So the balance has returned, although my Monday morning cardio class might pay for my apple pie transgressions. But as I lick the last crumb from my plate, I am certain it was worth every calorie-filled morsel!
8 comments:
Balance away!
The pie looks divine! I am looking forward to apple pie for Thanksgiving. I found a recipe for Apple Crumble Pie and it is replacing the usual Pumpkin Pie. My mouth is watering in anticipation :).
You can never go wrong with PIE! Yum! John (and his entire family) think I'm crazy for considering it a meal (breakfast is my favorite). But, I can't help myself.
I like you just the way you are. My theroy-all things are great, in moderation. It works for me.
I love that post! Life IS a balance. I LOVED that you guys ate pie for dinner. How fun! My favorite is my caramel apple pie recipe. I think I will post it sometime. Delicious! We all have a favorite apple pie recipe don't we?
Amyjoy
First of all, I want that recipe! Second of all, Hallelujah for balance (and no crazy no-sugar diets!). Third of all, do you read Cjane? I LOVE her philosophy on food/body image. Fourth of all I CANNOT wait to see you! Fifth of all I better quit numbering things - I could go all the way to 100 and back, I'm sure.
Fruit/Veg - check
Dairy - check
Grain - check
Protien - well, just eat some Boston Baked Beans
All in all, sounds like a perfectly fine dinner to me. I'd have to change it to cherry pie, though - funny, I know, coming from an orchard and all and I don't like apple pie, but yours sure looked delicious. Besides, it's fun to break up the norm every once in a while.
hey, i'll be over for leftovers tomorrow night. what time?
I don't know how this post didn't come up on my scroller. Your pie looks better than mine! Maybe we should have a pie contest soon. Ohhh that would be fun. Can we not use utensils and dig in face first like a real pie eating contest??
Secondly, you are beautiful the way you are. I know more than anyone what a few extra pounds can do to a person. You are such a postive role model for your chldren....and me. I treasure you for the balance you bring to my life. :)
The marshmallow roasting post made me giggle to myself for a quite a while. I love it!
I am definitely a balance person as well. I read a book that has done wonders for my health and outlook. It's called Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole. I liked it.
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