How did the 'Diet' go?

(Richard here) So back in September we started a 4 week diet, ( http://justwinget.blogspot.com/2008/09/no-meat-no-dairy-no-sugar-no-happiness.html ) the whole experience was really interesting. First, I had foods that I didn't know existed, and many of them are recommendable. I also learned that I really enjoy meat and cheese. As those were sorely missed. I lost 17 lbs and gained 5 of them back shortly after the diet ended. I honestly don't know how much of that is what I wanted to get rid of and how much of it was muscle, but I don't feel weaker and I did drop an inch in the waist.

The real question is what was it like going off the diet. 1) It was fun, because we ate our favorite foods and they were better than usual. 2) I got sick and I couldn't eat big portions anymore, which is odd, because the phrase 'All you can eat' is the bane of any weight management system that I could ever implement. Usually and unfortunately (depending upon how you look at it), I can eat a lot and still feel comfortable. Thus becoming quite uncomfortable when I ate a normal size meal was unnerving and unnatural. I also reaffirmed that I don't like big dinners. A small pleasant meal is where it's at. I did have more energy toward the end of the diet and I felt good, but I usually feel good. We found that while it was emotionally painful to spend a lot for some food items, our spending on food stayed pretty level. Would I do it again? Sure, but I'd still want to be able to eat sugar ;)

Sleeptalking

Richard talks in his sleep sometimes, and apparently Bryndi has inherited that from him. :) Early this morning she was talking in her sleep. First she said something about a bear. Next she said "She's over there." And a few minutes later she said, "No! Don't push Bryndi!" Sound asleep. I wonder who was pushing her in her dream!

This afternoon Bryndi wanted to watch Lady and the Tramp, which she calls "doggies". The video wasn't in its case, but after a bit of searching I found it. Bryndi smiled at me and said, "You find doggies Mommy?" Yes I found it, I said. Then she said, "High five Mommy!" and held out her hand for me to give her a high five. I couldn't help laughing!! She's so fun.

Halloween and Chocolate

What a cutie in one of her Halloween outfits. Bella's going to be a ladybug for Halloween. I haven't decided what Bryndi is going to be yet. ....Maybe a jaguar like she was last year because the outfit still fits her!

Bryndi is trying to get ready for Halloween by eating candy. She tagged her Dad's white shirt with chocolate right when he came home from work! I'm starting a business selling healthy chocolate. That is where all my time has gone lately. But no more about that until I get my website up and running. The chocolate poll at the top is just for my curiosity! :)

Cute hair days!

As you can see, we didn't have a clean room. But we had cute hair and that's what really counts!

First Prayers

So Bryndi has started saying prayers on her own now, without prompting from me. The first one she said yesterday:

"Heavenly Father, Thank you for the food. Thank you for Daddy at work. Please bless Daddy. Please bless Daddy at work. Amen"

Richard is on a scout campout tonight, so she said almost the same prayer, but said, "Please bless Daddy gone."

I can't believe how big she's getting. Speaking of big, my 3 month old weighs 17 pounds! Bella is such a cutie! Bryndi thinks so too and tells Bella so. "You cute, Bella. You have cute eyes. You have cute cheeks." Oh, and I have cute eyes too according to Bryndi :)

Recipe of the day: Healthy Chocolate Carrot Cake

Warning. This recipe is good for you. Vegan dessert. Delicious too. I made adjustments to the original recipe I found on www.sfmarkets.com and halved the recipe. This way we have one small cake for our small family!

Healthy Chocolate Carrot Cake

1/3 cup canola oil
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar (or equivalent other sweetener, I used agave nectar)
3 Tbsp cocoa powder
4 oz (1/2 cup) soft silken tofu
1 1/4 cup carrots, finely grated
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the oil, orange juice, sugar, cocoa powder and tofu in a blender or food processor and then add the grated carrot. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Spoon the wet ingredients into the dry and mix just until moistened. Pour batter into a greased 8x8 square pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. When cooled, cut into 9 squares.

Each serving has 180 calories, 9 g fat, 3 g fiber, 3 g protein

You can top it with some lite cool whip, or whatever frosting, but if you want my recipe for chocolate tofu whipped cream, here it is:

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 oz (1/2 cup) soft silken tofu
1 1/2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/4 cup agave nectar

pinch salt

You can substitute corn syrup for the agave nectar, but you'll want to add some sugar to make it sweeter.

Sleep?

So Bryndi has been having some sleep issues. She stays up too late at night. Of course when she does go to bed she gets up mulitple times because she needs another story, another drink, some lip gloss, a different blanket, a mint, some music, a different pillow, I want to sleep in mommy and daddy's bed instead, etc. Then she's tired the next day, but refuses to take a nap "No like it naps!" I can get her asleep by driving in the car, walking the girls in the stroller, or swinging her in the baby swing on the swingset. Or, just wait until she is so exhausted that she falls asleep wherever she happens to be at the time that it hits her. (See the pic from a previous post of her napping on the kitchen counter!) I bought a book called "The no-cry sleep solution for toddlers and preschoolers". I'll let you know if I find some real solutions!

As for my sleep, it's hit and miss. Bella usually wakes up twice a night, but sometimes up to four times!