Chickens, Choices and Chance Meetings

The first day of the north Louisiana culinary trail presented a few challenges - mostly because of limited food choices.

Our first stop was for lunch at Big Mama's, an off-the-beaten-path restaurant where southern-style soul food is served in portions big enough for two grown men! Salads? None. Fried food, gravies, starches and desserts? Plenty!

After carefully peeling off my fried chicken skin, other folks at the table gobbled it up like hungry baby birds in a nest. My two sides of baby limas plus okra and tomatoes were the healthiest choices on the cafeteria buffet. But talk about good!!

By mid-afternoon, we were sampling fresh strawberries at the West Monroe Farmer's Market. Just across the street, Daily Harvest Bakery features huge freshly-ground whole grain cookies, all naturally sweetened, and none with more than 200 calories.

Last night, we were guests at the local university for Wine Over Water, a fundraising event where guests stroll a bridge spanning a bayou while sampling wine and hors d'oeuvres from local restaurants.

Luckily, I found a tray of fresh fruit at one station. Not far away, Dilla's restaurant - dubbed a fresh Mexican grill - handed out samples of chicken tortilla soup, made with whole wheat, lard-free and trans fat-free ingredients.

But the biggest surprise of all came when a former high school classmate said, "Has anybody gotten in touch with you about our 35th class reunion on June 6? Last I heard, nobody knew your new last name or where you moved."

I didn't attend my 10-year reunion because I was in the hospital having a baby. By the 20th, I was just going through a divorce. By the 30th, I was too fat to be comfortable. But NOW?! You betcha!
I called DH last night, and we're ON!



Here's me before Healthy You Challenge. (You'll notice nearly every picture of the less-healthy me has nearly half of me hidden!) Check out that chin!

Just Get Me to the Church on Time

Sorry for the late post today. It's been a another whirlwind weekend.

As I mentioned yesterday, our string quartet played the second wedding of the weekend yesterday afternoon. I got in a good workout yesterday morning, including the Swiss ball workout. (To answer the question, 'How do you get in the starting position?', you first sit on the ball, then lean back slightly as you walk your feet out until the ball "rolls" up your back.)

Late this morning, I went to the golf course with DH and hit three buckets of balls before joining my mom and her DH for lunch. A quick phone call to our agency's harpist led me to believe everything was on go for this afternoon's wedding - for which my only responsibility was to contract the musician...or so I thought!

After a good C25K outside workout, I came back inside hot, sweaty, but feeling good. At 4:20, no sooner than I had sucked the first sip of a frozen orange protein slush, the phone rang.

On the other end, a somewhat panicky bride reminded me the wedding rehearsal was scheduled to have started at 4 p.m. I reassured her the harpist would arrive in plenty of time to begin playing the prelude by 5:30 for the ceremony at 6 p.m.

"But you're supposed to officiate, and we were expecting YOU for the rehearsal," the bride explained slowly and distinctly while I frantically searched my contract folder to make sure I hadn't overlooked something.

Regardless how it happened, my mission was to calm the bride and guarantee that I could arrive within 30 minutes to conduct a rehearsal and subsequently perform the ceremony.

Sweat still rolling down my back, I took a 30-second shower, blow-dried my hair with the sweat in it, powdered appropriate areas, donned my ministerial garb, grabbed my liturgies - plus a food bar and a bottle of water - and hit the road. (Pant! Pant!)

The wedding went fine, everybody loved it, and I finished with 20 minutes to spare before I was scheduled to meet my DH for a 7 p.m. movie.

After tomorrow morning's workout, I'll catch up on my blog reading!!

Bushed, but Smiling!

One more GoFit ProGym workout this morning before a healthy breakfast of low-fat yogurt and an apple got me off to a good start for the last day of our press tour in Washington County, Texas.

A busy schedule throughout the day helped to log plenty of footsteps for exercise. Food choices at subsequent meals were once again broad enough to include fresh fruit, salads with low-fat dressings, plus grilled meat and steamed or sauteed vegetables

The big surprise of the day came just before lunch at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas.

The former President and Mrs. Bush were in town to greet an Australian ambassador, but were kind enough to share their time and hospitality with our group. Visiting with such a kind and gracious couple was a special treat to end a fun, informative and diverse week.