Progress Update #2

Well kids, it's been 2 weeks and 2 days, and a whole lot has happened, healthy-living wise. I could spend a thousand words describing the progress that's been made...or, I could just draw your attention to the picture below, which (miraculously) depicts the meal I made myself for dinner tonight...without help, google, youtube, or the fire department's involvement:

And hey, if you don't appreciate the significance of this image (don't blame you, it would look like a regular dinner to most people)...well, allow me to highlight the fact that you could have handed me a clove of garlic, red pepper, onion, or any other vegetable for that matter a mere 12 days ago, and I would have stared blankly back at you, asking "so... what do I do with it?" Yup, I may not be Rachel Ray yet, but it's a decent outcome for 2 and half weeks of dedication to the cause.

Here are a few of my favourite things I've learned or discovered so far:

• The same smoothies I buy at Starbucks can be made at home for way less money, and even tastier results (strawberries + banana + kiwi + yogurt + ice cubes + milk = aaaaamazing.)
• Having a gym buddy makes going to the gym WAY more tolerable...I daresay, even enjoyable.
• Pita chips. Best, easiest and yummiest healthy snack. Mmmm. Enough said.
• One's ability to efficiently chop vegetables is directly proportional to the sharpness of one's kitchen knife. (Learned this the hard way as I hacked away at my veggies with a dull knife for a week before realizing it wasn't just my lack of chopping experience creating the problem...)
• Adding fruit or a pinch of brown sugar makes SO many things taste SO much better.

In sum, I feel like I may actually be starting to get the hang of this whole health living thing. And so far, it feels fabulous. Still, I know there's lots to learn (like, for example, what the heck antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, and probiotics are...how to saute something...and what's so special about the "blue zones"....) and I know there's definitely a lot of gym work to do before I can even remotely refer to myself as "fit". So, the journey continues, my friends...

xo Janine