It's been a very busy month. Not only did I complete When David was Surprised, I began work on another story that belched itself out of my brain quite unexpectedly a couple weeks ago. The characters are a little sketchy, but the plot is clear. I have nearly twenty thousand words completed and lots of notes to incorporate into a second draft.
At the after-school program in Meriden where I've been working as a literary consultant twice a week, the kids are getting into the nitty-gritty of their stories. It's so much fun to work with all of them, even the ones who aren't particularly in writing or in telling stories themselves.
This month, my focus has been on what I eat. After the power outage last fall, I think my body went into starvation mode and I woke up one morning amazed to find I'd managed to pack on not just the five pounds I lost during the nine-day ordeal, but an extra five more. Not good at all, given how sedentary writing can be. One thing I've learned about myself is that I simply can't do it all at once, including getting my act together. So this past I've focused on food and I'm happy to say I've adopted these healthier habits:
1. I decided one cup of 1% milk in my many cups of coffee was acceptable. Every morning, I pour a measruing cup of milk and add it to my coffee. When the milk's gone, I'm finished drinking coffee for the day. It's helped me limit both the amount of milk I'm using, and the amount of coffee I drink.
2. I eat salad (at least) twice a day. I find I'm craving dark leafy greens of all kinds, and it's been challenging to explore the produce aisle for different greens. I've been buying two or three different varieties every week, and mixing them together in one big salad that lasts three or four days. I also toss in shredded carrots and purple cabbage. To this, I add other veggies, fruits and sometimes nuts. I'd like to start making my own vinegarettes, but that will wait for a few months while I focus on other aspects of my life.
3. I've cut the amount of meat I eat by two-thirds. I've been eating one serving of Greek yogurt every day... my favorite brand has introduced some new flavors like apple cinnamon and blood orange I love. I add cinnamon to a lot of other things besides yogurt, including coffee and tea.
4. Friday afternoons and Sundays are my "indulgence" days when I eat pretty much anything I feel like eating.
5. With the exception of the pomegranite vinegarette I've been putting on my salads, I've been sticking as much as I can to non-processed foods. And when I do eat processed foods... like yesterday, when I had some crackers, I've been choosing the ones made with the whole wheat, the soybean oil and the sea salt over the ones made with a list of chemicals.
This coming month I plan to focus on fitness. I've been considering what small changes I can committ to making that in the long run will make a difference.
At the after-school program in Meriden where I've been working as a literary consultant twice a week, the kids are getting into the nitty-gritty of their stories. It's so much fun to work with all of them, even the ones who aren't particularly in writing or in telling stories themselves.
This month, my focus has been on what I eat. After the power outage last fall, I think my body went into starvation mode and I woke up one morning amazed to find I'd managed to pack on not just the five pounds I lost during the nine-day ordeal, but an extra five more. Not good at all, given how sedentary writing can be. One thing I've learned about myself is that I simply can't do it all at once, including getting my act together. So this past I've focused on food and I'm happy to say I've adopted these healthier habits:
1. I decided one cup of 1% milk in my many cups of coffee was acceptable. Every morning, I pour a measruing cup of milk and add it to my coffee. When the milk's gone, I'm finished drinking coffee for the day. It's helped me limit both the amount of milk I'm using, and the amount of coffee I drink.
2. I eat salad (at least) twice a day. I find I'm craving dark leafy greens of all kinds, and it's been challenging to explore the produce aisle for different greens. I've been buying two or three different varieties every week, and mixing them together in one big salad that lasts three or four days. I also toss in shredded carrots and purple cabbage. To this, I add other veggies, fruits and sometimes nuts. I'd like to start making my own vinegarettes, but that will wait for a few months while I focus on other aspects of my life.
3. I've cut the amount of meat I eat by two-thirds. I've been eating one serving of Greek yogurt every day... my favorite brand has introduced some new flavors like apple cinnamon and blood orange I love. I add cinnamon to a lot of other things besides yogurt, including coffee and tea.
4. Friday afternoons and Sundays are my "indulgence" days when I eat pretty much anything I feel like eating.
5. With the exception of the pomegranite vinegarette I've been putting on my salads, I've been sticking as much as I can to non-processed foods. And when I do eat processed foods... like yesterday, when I had some crackers, I've been choosing the ones made with the whole wheat, the soybean oil and the sea salt over the ones made with a list of chemicals.
This coming month I plan to focus on fitness. I've been considering what small changes I can committ to making that in the long run will make a difference.
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