Howdy, Folks!  And welcome to the great State Fair of Texas!

Okay, so the State Fair doesn’t start for another 3 weeks but that doesn’t mean my taste buds aren’t already a-waterin’ with a hankerin’ for some good ol’ down-home Southern-fried treats.  And the best place to enjoy those artery-cloggin’ deep fried goodies is - you guessed it - at the State Fair.

If this transplanted Yankee has learned nothing else in the years I’ve called myself “Texan”, I can claim to fully understand this: Southerners can fry ANYTHING.  And I do mean ANYTHING.  If it grows, sows, or blows, they can fry it.  If it breathes, bleeds, or has teeths, they can fry it.  If it hops, drops, or flops, they can fry it.

Oh, and they can pickle anything, too.  But that’s a different blog post.

See, Northerners don’t FRY stuff.  They BOIL it.  They STEW it.  They ROAST it.  Have you ever heard of New England FRIED dinner?  How about a traditional New England Open-Faced FRIED Beef Sandwich?  Or better yet, how about New England Lobster FRY?  Those sound like someting on the menu at Hardee’s that should come with a large sweet tea and hash browns and pickled fried okra on the side.

But even in the South, we have our own chicken-fried heaven.  A beacon of bacon grease shining forth it’s golden light for all to see: the State Fair of Texas.  THE place to go for anything fried.

Don’t believe me?  Just check out this year’s winner of this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards: for best taste we have FRIED Frito Pie (because Frito’s are apparently not fried enough), and for most creative we have FRIED Beer.  Yes, you heard me right:  fried BEER.

Just in case you still need further proof, you can check out this post from a couple years ago, listing all the fried delicacies that were available in Big Tex’s backyard.

I’m part of a revolution, it seems.

Somehow I’ve become part of a community committed to losing weight, getting fit, and leading an overall healthier lifestyle.  Maybe it’s the fact that we’re all growing older and realizing the need to take better care of ourselves.  Maybe it’s the realization that we need to set a better example for our children.  Maybe it’s being tired of feeling yucky about ourselves.  Maybe it’s because we’re weary of dealing with all those weight-related health issues.  Maybe it’s simply knowing that bathing suit and shorts season is suddenly upon us.

I’ve been down this road before.  A few years ago, I joined Lady of America.  I started out by using the elliptical and doing some weight training on my own.  Then I started doing Pilates and body blasters classes.  After a few weeks of that, I was able to get a few friends to join.  We would bring our babies to child care and settle in for our workouts.  But then I moved and friends got pregnant and other friends got jobs and the gym closed and memberships were transferred…and that “revolution” fizzled and died a slow, lonely death.

Then came South Beach and - without even really exercising - Matt and I were both able to lose nearly 30 pounds and keep most of it off for the past couple of years.  But knowing I needed to kick it up a notch, and the fact that we were essentially wasting our gym membership, I started going back to the gym.

All of a sudden, I find this time that I’m not alone.  I’ve got friends who have joined Weight Watchers and are having great success with their points system.  I’ve got other friends who have started a Facebook group to help us share our successes and failures along this difficult path toward healthier living.  I’ve connected with several friends through DailyMile where we share our workout stories and encourage each other in our attempts to become more physically fit.  I’ve got other friends who are in various stages of training for bike rides and warrior dashes and foot races: 5K’s, 10K’s, half-marathons and marathons.  Still others get together for spin classes and Latin fusion or zumba or yoga.  We cheer each other on.  We moan and groan about our sore muscles and aching body parts.  We dream of chocolate and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and the guilty pleasures we are denying ourselves to gain better bodies and healthier lives.

It’s working.  It’s making a difference.  I’m grateful for the way this shared endeavor is bringing me into community with such a wide variety of people.  I’m grateful for the changes I see in my own body, and the new confidence I feel about myself.  I’m grateful for the accountability and how it keeps me in line with my eating habits and exercise routine.  I’m grateful for those who encourage me along the way, and for those I can be an encouragement and inspiration to.

It’s a great thing.  And, ironically, to borrow a line from the leader in unhealthy eating, I’m loving it.

I’m happy to report that Mr. Scale and I have reached a truce of sorts.

Sure, he’s still a bit stubborn and, frankly, a tad arrogant.  And I am by no means perfect, though I think I’ve made far more of an effort to change my behavior this week than he has done to change his attitude.  But whatever.  He can be like that.  Because I have a new bff to hang out with: Ms. Measuring Tape!

See, when Mr. Scale gets all pigheaded and bullish and refuses to compromise or see things my way, I can go to Ms. Measuring Tape.  She is all kinds of niceness and positive reinforcement.  Because she confirms what I’ve known all along: that regardless of what Mr. Scale tells me, I’m thinner, leaner, and trimmer than ever!  And those smaller sizes I’m now wearing reinforce that she’s right.

So even though Mr. Scale still tells me I’m about 15.5 lbs. away from my goal, I can rest assured knowing that I’m making progress in other ways.  And that’s all the motivation I need to keep going.

My scale and I are not speaking to each other.

I know, I know.  It’s my fault.  Mr. Scale is just being honest.  But that doesn’t mean I have to *LIKE* his honesty, or his blatant in-your-face attitude.  I mean, really…whatever happened to a thing called GRACE, huh?  How about cutting a girl a little slack, here, Mr. You-Really-Wanna-Know-What-That-Sonic-Shake-Cost-You?!?

So until he quits with the attitude - or I get my act together and stop fooling myself into believing that a chocolate chip cookie from McDonald’s is part of a low-carb lifestyle - I’m no longer speaking to him.  I’m hopeful we can resolve our differences peacefully and that he won’t end up curbside in the Blue Cart of Doom.

Since I don’t have any weight loss to report, thanks to Mr. You-Ate-More-M&M’s-Than-You-Thought, I’m going to share with you this recipe which I made for breakfast this morning.  It was a bit time consuming, as it only makes one at a time.  I had to make Matt’s first, and then once he was off to work and the kids were off to school I made mine.  It was easy and simple, but oh-so-good.  And Mr. No-That-Birthday-Cake-Is-Not-Low-Carb should be impressed.

EGG PANCAKE (original recipe from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Low-Carb Cooking, but I tweaked it some)

1 T butter (I used Smart Balance)

2 eggs

salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter over medium-low heat in a 10″ skillet.  Beat eggs, adding salt and pepper to taste.  Pour eggs into skillet and cook without stirring until set on top.  Using a spatula, slide egg pancake onto serving plate.

In a separate skillet, I sauteed 1/4 C diced green peppers, diced onion, and sliced mushrooms in 1 T Smart Balance butter (you could use olive oil as well).  I put the veggies on top of the egg pancake and sprinkled a small amount (less than 1/4 C) of low-fat mild cheddar cheese over all of it.

It’s man-approved, too, as Matt gave it a big thumbs-up.  Serve with a glass of tomato juice or V-8 and you have a perfect low-carb, South Beach-friendly breakfast that’s easy to whip up.  You can use whatever veggies, meats, and cheeses you have on hand and make your own flavorful combinations:

zucchini, red bell pepper, and basil

cilantro, black beans, salsa, and cheddar

spinach, mushroom, and mozzarella

feta, olives, and diced tomatoes

bacon, avocado, and a dollop of sour cream

ham, shredded swiss cheese, and asparagus with sprinkles of thyme and rosemary

Oh, and one other thing.  You can even roll up the pancake with the veggies inside for an on-the-go breakfast burrito!

Happy breakfast, everyone!

“When I run, I feel His pleasure.”  - Eric Liddell,

in the film “Chariots of Fire”, 1981

“When I run, I feel very tired.” - Debily,

in the gym “Express Fitness”, 2010

This is clearly the worst case of sabotage I’ve ever seen.

Okay, it’s not technically a shipwreck yet, but the Black Rock is under full sail while Jacob and the Man in Black sit on the beach of a mysterious island, under the shadow of a large statue, discussing the balance of light and dark, good and evil, luring the ill-fated ship to its unquestioned destiny…

Oops.  Sorry.  I got this post confused with my “I Heart LOST” one.

But seriously.  The “Biggest Loser” competition ends next Monday.  April 5.  The day after Easter.  The day after my freaking birthday, for crying out loud.

As if that’s not bad enough, I’ve got leftovers from the Sloan Creek Estates Easter Egg Hunt baiting me in my pantry: a half-dozen homemade chocolate chip cookies, leftover resurrection rolls, and a rather hefty stash of brownies.  Not to mention jelly beans and the special Easter Egg candies I made but forgot to take out of the fridge before the hunt.  Oh, and let’s not forget the famous “treat bucket”, now restocked and refilled to overflowing with chocolate eggs, malted milk balls, starburst, and a plethora of Skittles.  Oh, how I love the rainbow of fruit flavors!  I mean, seriously, whose idea was this low-carb, no-refined-sugar, only-good-fats kind of lifestyle anyway?!

Obviously someone whose hell-bent on winning this thing, no matter what.

I’m not naming names, but Shellie, Roxann, and Reshma whoever it is better watch out!

As some of you are aware, I started the new year by joining a “Biggest Loser” game with several friends from McGowen.  We have been going strong for the past two months and although I’m not in the lead, I’m not far behind.

Over the past few weeks, I have hit another plateau, this time at about 35 lbs.  At my lowest, right after I returned from Uganda, I was at 38 lbs. lost.  I’m much happier with this plateau, and could *almost* bring myself to live here…but I know my goal is so close: 14 lbs.  And the irony is that NOW people are noticing I’ve lost weight again.

Last week, in an effort to re-motivate but also celebrate, I treated myself to looking at swimsuits.  Last year, for the first time in decades, I was able to wear a true 2-piece.  Bare belly and all.  This year, my goal is to ditch the skirt.

So I did it.  I tried on a 2-piece with a true bikini bottom.  And to my surprise, it looked decent.  I am now more motivated than ever to make sure it looks more than decent come summer.

Who knows?  I may end up winning that “Biggest Loser” competition after all.

Well, it’s that time again.  The calendar tells me it’s a brand-new year.  And although I sit here, finding it nearly impossible to believe that another 365 days have come and gone, I know it’s true.  Each year, January 1 finds me optimistic: a whole calendar year spread out before me, 365 days filled with possibilities: adventures, new friends, times of fun and celebration…all waiting to be lived.

Which begs the question:  How WILL I live those days? Will I treasure each day, fulfilling the promise each new dawn brings?  Will I capture the opportunities that come my way, recognizing the divine appointments God provides me?  Or will I waste my time with empty pursuits, meaningless activity, or futile thinking?  Will I face each day looking forward with a sense of optimism and anticipation, or will I spend more time looking back, longing to recapture once was and can never be again?

This year, as I reflect on that question, I realize it may be time for a change.  So, with that in mind, this year is the year of the “Re-Solutions”: a  year to re-focus, re-new, re-dedicate, and re-fresh.

Re-focus

Last year began with our family undergoing a tremendous challenge.  And throughout those months of uncertainty and waiting, it was easy to focus on each other.  We needed each other.  We had no idea what the outcome would be, so we clung tightly together out of necessity.  But now that life has returned to a sense of “normalcy”, I’ve found myself being distracted from making my family the focus of my attention.  So this year, I will re-focus my energy and time on my family: on carving out time daily for my children and husband to have my undivided attention, to talk together, to build into one another’s lives through shared activities and interests.  I will re-focus my energy on deepening the love - and friendship - that Matt and I share, and commit myself to ensuring that our marriage continues to grow stronger through the challenges we face.

Re-new

Over the past year, I have witnessed the beauty of friendship.  And I realized, more than once, how blessed I am to have such wonderful friends.  This year, I will re-new friendships…both by embracing and welcoming new friends into my life, and by strengthening the bonds I share with tried-and-true friends.  Whether it’s sharing a meal, playing games, shopping, scrapping, or simply talking on the phone, I will take the opportunity to reach out to those who are part of my world and become a part of theirs.

Re-dedicate

Over the past months, I’ve definitely become a victim to bad habits once again.  Those disciplines that once were such an important part of my daily routine have fallen by the wayside.  So this year, I will re-dedicate myself to those things that make me healthier: physically, mentally, and spiritually.  I will commit to regular Bible study both individually and as part of a community.  I will make going to the gym regularly a priority, and will rededicate myself to truly healthy South-Beach eating habits once again.  I will continue to challenge myself to grow professionally, and will be open to God’s leading, whatever the direction may be.

Re-fresh

As we exit 2009 and enter 2010, I can feel a need for refreshing in my spirit.  Throughout the past year, I have found myself more than once in a dark, gloomy place.  The new year provides me with an opportunity for “in-the-light” living.  And while I still struggle with those familiar temptations, I know that the victory is already mine…and that hope can give me the strength and the courage to live looking forward.  Throughout 2010, I will find ways to refresh my spirit, through times of reflection, recreation, and rest.

May this year be a year of re-discovering all that God has in store for us!

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

Yes, it’s true.

Remember last year, when I had to go out and buy a new swimsuit on our trip to South Padre because all of my old ones were too big and I was - literally - “swimming” in them?  Yes, that suit that I was so proud of…that suit that bared my midriff…yeah, after one day I couldn’t wear it.

No, not because it’s too big.  Actually, it fit better than last year, and I had one happy and proud husband when he saw me wearing it.  No, the problem stems from that bare midriff.  Despite slathering on the sunblock - and SPF 50 at that - I somehow managed to get a wicked sunburn to that pale, white skin.  And it HURT.

So once again, I set off to buy a new swimsuit.  A one-piece this time, that would cover the belly, so that I could actually bear to sit in the sun without screaming in agony.

But this time, I was shopping a full 6 lbs. lighter than I was last year.  Yes, you read that correctly.  As of Sunday morning, I had dropped a full 2.5 lbs. from the week before, and reached the 34-lb. mark in weight loss.  I am now a mere 15 lb. from my goal weight, a goal that now seems attainable - and maintainable - by year’s end.  And much to my surprise, with those few extra pounds gone, I was shopping smaller - as in size 10 smaller.

And for the first time in a long time, that 10 fit me.  And I believed it.

Well, we made it!

And so, apparently, did the red tide.

As soon as we opened the car doors after pulling into the parking lot at Marisol, it started.  Coughing, choking, nearly gagging, we stumbled up to the apartment wondering what in tarnation was going on.  Sure enough, a local informed us as we picked up a few staple grocery items at the Blue Marlin IGA that it was “spores from the red tide.”  Or, as we learned on Wikipedia, scientists prefer to use the term “Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)”.  Whatever it is, it’s no fun.

But despite the hacking, we are managing to have a great time.  We enjoyed a bright, sunny, warm day at the ocean, playing in the largest waves we’ve enjoyed in all our visits here.  As we quickly learned, not only does the “Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)” make it hard for humans to breathe, it also makes it hard for the fish to breath.  To the point where they don’t.  And they die.  In large numbers.  And wash ashore.  We saw our first of many casualties as we set up our chairs oceanside:

Trey and Crisana were totally broken up about it:

But playing in the ocean always makes you feel better, even if it is a little cold at first:

Unfortunately, the way the calendar fell this year, we missed both Roar by the Shore and Sandcastle Days.  Since Roar by the Shore is a bike rally, we aren’t too sad about coming in on the tail end of it, but we were very disappointed to miss the sandcastles.  That is always one of the things we look forward to each year.  We did walk down to the Sheraton to see if any were still standing, but we only found a couple of sculptures left:

We thought this one looked an awful lot like Clifford, despite him being neither big nor red.  And being made of sand, not fur.  At least Crisana could “pet” this one.  And then there was Tide-Eyes…the great sea sandserpent, rising out of the deep….

Trey decided it was better to be behind him than in front.  I guess people are harder to swallow that way.

So with a little dip in the ocean, we headed back to our neck of the woods:

After a few more hours of fun in the sun, it was time to head out for dinner.  We traveled across the causeway to Port Isabel to enjoy the fun and ambience of Pirate’s Landing, one of our perennial favorites.  You gotta love a place where you can dine with pirates, especially pirates with 4 arms like this one:

Or pirates with really cute, small faces, like this one:

Or really pretty pirates in sundresses, like this one (but beware, I hear she has a mean left uppercut):

Beach time, sun time, sandcastle time, family time, pirate time.  All in all, I’d say our first day at Padre was a success.  If only I could be this productive all the time.