Back on the Wagon!!

So, after being off the wagon for a very, very long time, I'm back on the health train. Which is for the best, considering the diagnosis I received at the doctor today. Hypertension. That's right, I'm on blood pressure meds at 25.

I think this is the real kick in the butt that I need to actually get myself motivated and doing the right things. Which will be to cut out eating out, first and foremost. After that, it's all about portion control and making healthier choices. Which I can do. I know I can.

I'm also going to have to do some exercising. Which I started on tonight! I had a lovely walk with Mom across the bridge and into downtown. Just the bridge itself is a mile, so I did a little over 2 miles. It felt good. Getting up off my lazy ass is going to be good for me.

All of this, paired with the new Activity Director job....I think things are going to be alright. Despite the shitty diagnosis!

Today, You Are A Man!

My Mom is great, and I'm sure I don't tell her often enough! Right off today she was ready to get me into the kitchen and teach me a few things. We cranked up the Pandora radio (Disney songs and Showtunes) and got cracking. On the menu for this evening: Meatloaf, green beans, and pan roasted corn with red peppers and onions. Also, a cake for the memorial service for my Uncle Paul on Wednesday.

The first thing I learned this evening is that when your cooking material looks like this:

It may put you off what you're going to consume. Yeah, raw hamburger is totally disgusting. That's one of the bad things about meatloaf, you have to mix it with your hands. Eugh. The end result is tasty though, so I sucked it up.  

(We use cream of mushroom soup instead of ketchup to top our meatloaf) 

Up next was the cake batter. No prob. I've done many a cake in my time. I'm not a  total  failure in the kitchen. Though, when I first started doing cakes they always came out flat. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why the hell I couldn't get a cake to rise. Turns out you gotta butter the pan first. Okay...maybe I am a total failure in the kitchen! The finished product looks alright. Though, it's a bit cracky on the top. 

Green beans were already cooking when I got home from work. They turned out pretty good. (It's pretty hard to screw up green beans.) 

The corn was something I'd never done before. It's really simple and one of the few ways I actually like corn! Just a little bit of oil and butter in a hot pan, add corn and peppers and onions and cook until they're roasty. I have both before and after pictures of the corn! 

The finished product came together into a lovely and healthy dinner!! I'm pretty freaking proud of myself. Not too shabby for a first go, huh?!