My mother-in-law was a very important part of our lives for the last 16 years, so much so that we called her every day to check on her at 8:30 AM, give or take a few minutes. We took her on most of our Hawaii vacations. I asked her to go every trip, but she decided not to go this past March. She just wasn't up to it. Then we were going in June, and Covid happened. She was sorry she didn't just go in March, but I invited my stepdad to go for part of the time we were there, so that wouldn't work.
Rick and his dad Monty, nickname for Montrose, our last name, had a strained relationship. I think it started when we asked him not to smoke at our house. He was a chain smoker. Their relationship had a strange dynamic. Rick became a firefighter for Denver, following Monty, who was also with Denver, thus Monty's nickname. The guys called Rick Monty a lot. Rick looks so much like him, even more than Ronnie and a lot more than Mike. When he died 8/12/2004, Rick didn't really mourn for his dad all that much. This time, with Helen, he has been very tearful, as have I. We were going to have Helen's funeral on Tuesday, and then we all realized that Monty died on 8/12/2004, so that would be a good date for her funeral. It also worked for Mike's work schedule.
Rick built her a Trex deck last summer. It is the nicest thing about her house. He also built her a shed the year before last. She loved being outside. She turned 92 this past June, so he felt the urge to get that deck done, and she used it almost every day, even cooler days. I see that deck when we go over to her house and just feel so sad that she only used it a year. He finished about a year ago, actually. It was hot July when he finished. It was a labor of love, and she was so grateful. Such a gracious lady. I hope I leave such an impression on my kids and grandkids at my death that she did.
Change of subject. I am down 74 pounds. I am really six pounds to goal, or four pounds would be okay. My advice on the program is to jump in with both feet, never cheat on it, because it puts you back two or three days, drink a lot of water, even more than suggested in the book (64 ounces), eat fish as much as you can, eat lean chicken more than red meat (but I am a big red meat lover, so that is tough). I have frozen shrimp and this marvelous seafood sauce that has more flavor than cocktail sauce that I use, but I use it sparingly. I toss about 21 smaller frozen shrimp with the sauce and then sit and enjoy it cold. It's my favorite.
Vegetables are so easy for me to eat, it's not been tough to get the green part of the program in. I love broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans best. I also love salad with romaine, tomato, cucumber, celery, all tossed with a little light ranch dressing. It's by far my favorite green. I make crustless quiche a lot, but I use whole eggs now and no egg substitutes, which are nasty. I add lowfat cheese, broccoli, ham, and it's a great meal for me. I also am doing cream in the quiche, which is a big no-no on the program, but that quiche >has been great as a treat once in a while.
I have plateaued and started some exercise. I may not eat that quiche for about the next six weeks and see if I can get that last six pounds gone. I may go back to the basics for a bit, not that the recipes are boring. I love the Stuffed Pepper Skillet with peppers, cheese, riced cauliflower, lean ground beef, canned tomatoes. It's a great thing to make ahead and then eat for a few days.
Another favorite of mine is cauliflower crust pizza. I don't have food allergies, so I use cheese and egg and riced cauliflower for the crusts. Those are something Rick and I make ahead and freeze, then I take them out, add some marinara sauce a little more mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, green peppers and no meat. It's really such a treat for me to eat a pizza on program. I love that meal.
With Covid, we have been saving a lot of money eating in. I am unable to enjoy a meal out now. We have gone to Texas Roadhouse twice, and it wasn't all that fun. I won't be doing that again for a while, not until things go back to normal.
, that love and cared about the health of her man. Thank you!. I wish, I was 175 pounds and 6 feet tall. I am only 5 feet & 11 1/2 inches tall at 195 pounds. When I drop those five (5) extra pounds, I really feel weak. So I try to stay between 195 and 199 pounds, I feel great right now. I wear a 34" pants and they too are falling down to my hips..