Adventures in Fitness: Meet My Little Friend Leslie

     Ok, so here goes. I'm going to start off this post with a confession.

     Well, on second thought, let me share my excuses first.  Since August, my life has undergone many changes.  I changed jobs, worked two of them for a time, had a long and tiring bout with the flu this winter, and dealt with some tough issues watching people I love suffer.

     But that's the stuff of life, right?  It has its challenges ~ sometimes more, sometimes less ~ but these forge us into stronger beings that are hopefully better, kinder, wiser.  I'm basically happy, and I am not even really complaining, just explaining.

     Explaining what, you ask?  The *%$@$!~pound weight gain that became an additional challenge on top of it all!
     In times like these, living inside my fitness DVD collection is an old friend named Leslie Sansone.  She doesn't know me, but I know her and several of her workout videos. (And when I say "little friend" in the title of my post, I only do homage to American cinema.  Trust me, Leslie has made BIG changes in a lot of people's lives.)
     For those who don't know her, Leslie is the one I turn to when my body needs to start moving again.  Famous for her walk-at-home video concept, you might know her from the "Walk Away The Pounds" info-mercials.
     All in all, her workouts are for a wide range of fitness enthusiasts: those who haven't worked out in a while (moi), those who have never worked out at all,  those who benefit from gentle and modifiable movement, and those who enjoy a regular intermediate workout. Though they can be intensified, they tend to be less harsh compared to the collections of Jillian Michaels or Cindy Whitmarsh ~ but it is exactly this tame approach that lures a girl back in to the world of workouts.  Knowing that you are not going to get pushed to the brink or screamed at is precisely why this walking series has appealed to and been effective for so many people.  
     I am one of them. 
     In a later blog, I will give you the the entire scoop on using Leslie's multiple walking workouts along with an effective eating plan for weight loss.  But for today, just giving a shout-out to my old pal Leslie. She's funny, encouraging, silly, and encouraging:)
     If you haven't worked out in a while (or ever), you will want to meet her. Here are some links:

Official Walk At Home Website 

5 Day Slim Down from Collage Video

Exercise TV 2-Mile Walk (30 Minutes)  

Amazon Customers Reviews of Walk Away The Pounds 

5 Day Fit Walk 

Have a Wonderful Walk:)

Cabin Style Irish Grannies Mac & Cheese

     When you've got the flu, you can sure watch a lot of movies.  So as 2012 drew to a close and 2013 opened its doors, I found myself pretty much down for the count on the couch, sipping ginger ale and taking in all kinds of movies from Country Strong to The Women to Law Abiding Citizen.
     
     One of those movies was the treasured classic Forrest Gump, complete with an out-of-this-world soundtrack, an unreal performance by Tom Hanks, and the classic line: "Life is like a box of chocolates ~ you nevah know whot ya gonna get."
    
     This has rung true for me in recent months, hence the lack of time to blog like I want to.  So many changes have gone on in my life (good, bad, & ugly) that I haven't even been to my beloved cabin since October ~ yes, October!
     
     But change is God's way of bringing us to bigger and better places in life, and, thankfully, to cabin this weekend.
     
     Since arriving, I've enjoyed the wonderful company of my family, played CDs I haven't listened to in years, lit my candles like an overzealous altar boy, and skimmed through cookbooks in search of a simple but satisfying recipe worthy of the cabin kitchen.
     
     I opted with an easy Macaroni & Cheese recipe from a gift I received this Christmas called the Irish Grannies Recipe Book, edited by Eoin Purcell. Now I made some changes to this basic recipe, but only because I didn't want to remove my slippers or myself from the toasty warm log home I've retreated to for the weekend. So you will see a few modifications listed below.
    
      Anyway, here you go:

     Corn flour ~ 1 and a half ounces
     Milk ~ 1 cup
     Butter ~ 1 ounce
     Grated cheese ~ 4 ounces
     Cooked Macaroni ~ 6 ounces
     Salt, pepper, mustard ~ a fourth tsp. each

     Set over to 350 degrees, then mix the corn flour with a little of the milk until smooth.  Bring the rest of the milk to a boil separately. Add the corn four cream to it, along with the butter and cheese.  Boil for 3 minutes.

     In pot, combine the cooked macaroni with the cheese mixture and seasonings.  Pour the entire mix in to a buttered pie dish and bake for 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

     The little changes I made were: Bisquick for the corn flour and onion salt for the mustard, since I didn't have either.  I also crushed a cup of Frito Scoops and topped the mixture before putting it in the oven.  

     Sometimes it's good to change things up.

     Have a wonderful MLK weekend:)