Here we are — month two in the rear view mirror. So far so good doesn’t really sum it up. So far so great, maybe.
I know going meatless cold Turkey isn’t for everyone, but for me, it’s why I think making the change has been so successful. I didn’t give myself an out. And I haven’t relegated myself to eating side dishes. I have been experimenting with lovely, hearty foods.
New this month on the menu was fennel. Also known as Anise. Raw it has the texture of jicama, but with a light black licorice taste. I probably lost half of you right there. But I love black licorice. It tastes like the liquor of my Greek heritage (Uzo). For years it was the flavor of my favorite candy (both black licorice and Good & Plenty). So for me, it feels like a treat.
There was a Bean, Fennel & Orange salad for dinner one night. So, I bought my fennel bulb (which is huge, by the way) and came home ready to prepare it, but I didn’t have a clue what to do and no where did the recipe explain what to do with the furry tops?! Youtube to the rescue. What did we do before that?
I watched long enough to learn you cut off the woody, furry tops and discard them. Then you cut the fennel bulb in half (top to bottom) and expose the core, which you then cut out if you are going to use the fennel raw. You can keep it in if you want to hold the fennel together for roasting. I went ahead and cut the core out on one side and then sliced it very thin for use in my salad.
And still, I overdid it. Turns out a little fennel goes a long way!
I enjoyed the fresh crispness of this vegetable, and today I’ll try to roast it, so we shall see what technique wins out.
Today we are going for a barbeque over to my bestie’s house. All week long it predicted highs in the 80’s and sunshine. Then yesterday the forecast turned to crappy, wet weather. Which is a bummer. Mel bought a house with a beautiful pool and today was the day we were going to christen it. But we’ll go over and have some fun with or without it.
Having her here is still surreal eight months later. In all the best ways. It’s been comforting knowing now when I’m thinking about her, she’s just 12 minutes down the road from me rather than 28 hours by car away.
I was worried about our difference in faiths. She being an active Mormon, me being several years post-Mormon, but actually, our conversations on the topic have been rich and interesting. Mel has a deep faith. If not for the fact that her God is not the God of the Bible, we’d be on the same page. So often I just long for the ability to sit her down and explain it all to her, and maybe one day that door will open and I will take the opportunity, but for now, I am just glad we can have dialog at all about faith. It’s been a long time since that was the case, and there was definitely less of that when we lived apart.
She recognizes the cultural issues within the organization, and some of the damage the messages have done, especially to her kids; and at the same time, I can speak to the things that I gained from my time in Mormonism. So, it’s been a meeting in the middle and it’s brought a sweet component to our friendship I thought was going to be lost forever when I walked away.
Mel is also taking a stab at WFPB eating. Which has been fun for both of us. She and I recipe swap and talk about all the new things we’re trying; what’s working and what’s not. In the end, we’re both feeling so much better.
I have my annual physical Monday morning – fasting blood work and all. I’m excited to see my numbers all around and to see where my health has improved. I’m now down 15 pounds. That should make my doc happy right off the bat. I’m back to working out as well, now that my sprained ankle has healed. Working on toning and resistance training. My first love will always be cardio, but I know the importance of weight training, especially at this stage in my life.
My friend Michele is a certified personal trainer. She’s wonderful, and the best thing is her training is all available online as an app. Her website is Total Wellness For You, if you’re looking for a program to get started — she offers a 6-week introductory course for $97 – from there if you continue she can customize based on your needs and goals. Check her out. And with that – it’s time for me to hit the gym.
Shrinking Shay 