December 04, 2011

Stupid glazed carrots

I think I finally understand exactly how important a role exercise plays in reducing stress. It has been three weeks since I've gone for a run, which is the longest I've gone without running in almost 2 years. Even after my jaw surgeries, I was running after about two weeks.

I feel really on-edge and bitchy lately. My body feels really antsy, like I need to be moving or doing something. I don't feel ready to go for a run yet; I feel okay as far as my lower body lift goes, but my knee is still really bothering me. I'm going to give it another week or so, and see how I feel about it then. When I scheduled my surgery, I didn't plan on running again for six weeks; so I really need to stop feeling guilty for not running!

Anyway, I think that the running regularly kept me from feeling this on-edge. Even though I didn't realize it at the time, it was making my body feel used and useful. Now my body just feels like it's good-for-nothing. I don't really know how else to explain it. Hopefully once I start running again, I'll stop being so bitchy!

I've been snapping at Jerry a lot lately for things that are really stupid. Today we got in an argument before he left for work. An argument that started because of glazed carrots, of all things.

I made turkey loaf for dinner, and I decided to make something different than the usual potatoes to go with it. I had a bag of frozen carrots in the freezer for a while, so I decided to make glazed carrots, thinking that the kids would like them because they're sweet and sugary.

Glazed carrots with cranberries...a.k.a. How I tortured my family.
Jerry has never been a fan of vegetables, although he's come a long way since we got married. When I told him I was going to make glazed carrots, he didn't say anything, which I expected. I knew he wouldn't exactly be thrilled with the choice, but he never complains about what I cook.

I thought the carrots turned out good. We all sat down to eat, and the kids immediately started complaining, like they always do. They are NEVER happy with what I cook--today the turkey loaf was "too spicy" and the carrots were "gross". Then, of course, they act like they are gagging and going to throw up. This is a daily routine, no matter what I make. Jerry ate all of his carrots before he even touched his meatloaf, which I know means that he doesn't like them. (He always eats his least favorite thing first, so that he can truly "enjoy" the rest of his meal).

I asked if he liked them, and he said yes. When I was cleaning up after dinner, I asked if he wanted to take the leftover carrots to work with the leftover meatloaf, and he said no. He kept insisting that he liked them, but I'm not stupid! We've been together for 12 years--I should know. I got mad and said "If you don't like them, just TELL ME YOU DON'T LIKE THEM."

So he said, "Fine, I don't like them."  Which just pissed me off. I wasn't mad that he didn't like them, but for two other reasons: 1) He lied the first dozen times, and 2) He made up his mind before he even tried them that he wouldn't like them, just like the kids. All I have to do is tell the kids what I'm making, and they say, "I hate that" when they've never even tried it.

I love to try new things, no matter what they happen to be. Even if it's something I "know" I won't like, I try it anyways. And I'm just mad that my family is the exact opposite, which makes it very difficult when I cook. I want to make new things all the time, but they never like to try new things with an open mind. Jerry insists that I should just make whatever I want, and he'll eat it without complaint, but I feel guilty doing that. I always feel like I need to make something everyone will like. My kids want to live off of pasta with butter and parmesan cheese, nothing else.

Enough about all that.


Here is a picture I took yesterday and forgot to post. Jerry and Eli rollerskating... love Eli's face! He's still at the age where he's proud to be seen with his parents. Noah avoided us like the plague, because one of his friends was there ;)




I am writing a post about "the good, the bad, and the ugly" of a lower body lift/circumferential tummy tuck/belt lipectomy/whatever you want to call the surgery I just had. So if any of you have any questions about the surgery, recovery, my surgeon, or anything, feel free to ask!  When I was researching the surgery, I couldn't find any blogs about it. There were a few tummy tuck blogs, but not the full extent of the surgery I had. So I'm hoping to make a post with a ton of info for anyone who might be thinking about the surgery.

I'm still super swollen in my lower abdomen. I'm dying for the swelling to go away, so I can wear my small jeans. Lately, I've been wearing the same jeans I wore before surgery--they fit a lot looser than before, but that makes them more comfortable against my incision.

I can't stop thinking about how glad I am that I had the surgery! I wish I didn't have to wear this compression garment 24/7, because I would probably walk around in my bra and panties, just because I like looking at my belly.  ;)


And I'll leave you with this picture of Estelle--she's LOVING Christmas!


22 comments:

  1. I just had to say I could have totally written that first paragraph. My husband tells me he likes things when he doesn't, everyone in my family (4 kids and hubs) could live off of pasta every night. Except me. And guess who does all the cooking? So, tough shit, kiddos. And stop saying you don't like chicken. Who doesn't like chicken????? :)

    Thanks for allowing me to vent. Haha!

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  2. I am not a fan of sweetened carrots. I like them with a bit of salt and pepper. I also prefer freshly steamed, because of the texture that happens when they get frozen.

    I tell my son that he has had "whatever I made before and he liked it" and he tries it. I always try to make one thing he likes. I know that is harder when you have 3 other people you are trying to please.

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  3. If you are worried about running or are thinking about putting it off a while longer - can you walk? Maybe just take the time you would to run, but walk (perhaps at an incline), will give your mind that zone out/stress less time you need. It might not make you as less cranky as running would, but it would be worth a try!

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  4. I have a similar problem with cooking family meals. I like cooking NEW dishes. My husband's motto is "Stick with what you know." I am not making that up. He has said those exact words to me many times! If I cook something new, my daughter usually eats it but not my husband or son.

    My husband doesn't like cheese of all things, and after years of eating chicken decided he no longer likes it!!

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  5. 1. I'll second sagesadvice - could you maybe take a longer walk? I find that even on the days I can't do hard exercise, if I take a long walk with a podcast (I've been listening to RadioLab), my mood improves drastically.

    2. I feel your frustration!! I had to sit down with my partner a few years ago and let him know that it was really important that he tell me the truth about what he likes and doesn't. Being apathetic really hurt my feelings and made me angry. It still is rough, but better now... One trick that one of my friends has been doing with her family is to gather a dozen or so vegetable recipes, and have the kids and husband actively "rate" each dish, then basing repeats on the better ones. If they don't like something that is a-ok, but they have to explain in a few sentences why they don't. My partner similarly dislikes veg, but I have a few standbys - roasted cauliflower or broccoli with dipping sauces, carrot salad, marinated green beans, and raw spinach leaf salad that he'll eat without too much grumbling.

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  6. Such a funny and "normal" post ....love it!!

    So much like my kids too...they will ask what we are having and if they haven't heard of it before they immediately say "I hate it!". Hubby and I pretty much eat anything...I eat any thing...hubby will at least try a bite and then not finish. Why do I like every thing??? It kind of sucks...that's why I can't get rid of these thighs!!

    Anyway, thanks for making me chuckle. ;-)

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  7. Katie,
    Did the carrots have cranberry sauce in them? It looked like it and I bet they were delicious.
    My brother (that shares the house with me) doesnt like food with "chunks in it." He will eat raw veggies, but not cooked. His ideal recipe for stew is beef chunks and potatoes swimming in gravy.It is very frustrating when I know how important fruits and vegetables are to a balanced diet. I cook whatever I feel like making and he will cook noodles with butter if he pre-determines that he won't like it. We work opposite shifts, so I dont have to see or hear his objections or groans or even congratulate him when he accidentally eats a carrot and then wants a medal for bravery!

    I have to give Jerry credit for eating the carrots without the drama that the kids were giving you. At least he was setting a good example.
    I agree with the other posters who suggested long walks for now. See if your knee can tolerate it, and if so, walk away your frustration.
    In a few weeks this will be a distant memory.
    Take care,
    Pat

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  8. Your tiff with your hubby sounds just like when Marc and I argue! It's always over something silly, but really means something more! Like how your fight meant you wish your eating habits influenced your family sense of adventure in the kitchen! I would TOTALLY have nothing but 'clean' foods in my house if it weren't for Marc and Nana. They haven't had weight issues so they are all for cookies and sweets, etc. It's so hard to compliment lifestyle changes when others are reluctant. At least he ate them, if I make veggies, sometimes Marc won't touch it! It's ridiculous!

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  9. Oh man, that's so annoying about the food. I hate when people don't try stuff before making up their minds! You can't say you don't like it if you haven't tried it! I don't like blue cheese, but I always give it a go because maybe one day I'll find the one I like :)

    It's fab that you're feeling so great about the surgery :) I know many people will be appreciative on a post of surgery info.

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  10. I am so thankful for my daughter, she eats most things and is pretty adventurous in her tastes. It's just the 2 of us so I cook what I like to eat, and most of the time she eats it, sometimes she even comes back for more. If she doesn't like something she will at least try it and can usually explain why she doesn't like something. And she LOVES vegetables and salad. We once went out to eat and she ordered a cesar salad and a bottle of water (she was 8 or 9 at the time I think) and the waitress looked and her and went "really?" lol. But that's my daughter, she loves to eat healthy, which is great because hopefully that'll mean she'll avoid the weight issues I've had all my adult life.

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  11. I had a hard time when my son was little getting him to eat. At one point I was cooking dinner and making him a grilled cheese or a pb and j and he wasn't eating that. So, it was dinner at the dining room table and I made whatever I felt like making. He had to try things. I didn't force him to finish. Now, at 15 he eats a pretty good range of foods. Chelsea will eat pretty much anything, except rice! Charlie LOVES rice. They pretty much are opposites. My gf next door had a rule at the dinner table: You tried everything. If you said "YUCK!" you had to finish it ALL. You might want to try that!

    I've been thinking about your post on FB about your surgery and my biggest question is how did you deal with the possible risks associated with surgery, especially elective surgery? Basically, how did the rewards outweigh the risks? Were you scared about what could happen?

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  12. People always tell me that I am lucky that my kids will eat anything but I never really gave them a choice. Dinner is whatever I make, they don't need to finish unless they want dessert. Peanut butter sandwiches (or any other dinner substitute) is not an option and making "yuk" comments or gagging noises will get you sent to your room. I'm a tough cookie. :o)

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  13. I had a silly fight with my dh last night, if that makes you feel any better!!! We fought over who was going to buy our nephew his Christmas present, mind you, I have ALWAYS bought his gift, but now that he is 5 years old and into hunting, dh all of a sudden is going to take over... I don't think so!!! I suggested we each buy him a gift, which he finally relented to, after giving me the silent treatment for 15 minutes!!! Silly men!!!!
    ~Laura

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  14. Thanks for this post! It made me feel more normal since this is something that drives me totally crazy. Recently, I got in a big fight with my husband about this very issue.I was trying to learn to like shrimp just because he's always told me he likes them and after a while of cooking the same old same old you look to branch out and be creative. I made this dish that he said was great, so I continued to make it periodically through the first year of our marriage until I started to notice he was eating it less and less and throwing out more and more of the food (which makes me SO MAD! Don't waste food, don't tell me you like it and encourage me to make it and waste my TIME and then throw it away...arrgh). Finally, after confronting him a dozen times he admitted he doesn't like the dish anymore...so now I have a bag of frozen shrimp in my freezer (expensive!) that I don't know what to do with and I don't like them much at all! So, I definitely understand what you're saying! (but it is good that Jerry ate his veggies in front of the kids, I'll have to make sure my husband does that when we have kids...)

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  15. what about walking? That could help w/your antsy feelings. I feel you on need to get some stress out. I didn't get to workout last week and I could tell the difference too. If your doc okayed you to run I would think walking is better then nothing...just pace yourself.

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  16. Estelle should have a cigarette hanging out of her mouth--then she would really be Estelle.

    I absolutely HATE it when anyone says anything bad about what I make. It's like it's a part of me and when they don't like it, they don't like me. Dumb, but it's how I feel. I made tacos a few weeks ago using a new seasoning powder. They hated it, and didn't hesitate to tell me so. At that time, I thought, OKAY FOR THEM. I won't make tacos at all anymore. I'm not a big fan of tacos but they (youngest son & hubby) LOVE tacos. I thought, in my anger, that'll serve them right. And you know what, I don't think I have made tacos since. So at my house, you better not complain to the cook!!

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  17. I hate trying to decide what to make for supper. I don't think my husband realizes how much thought I put into it sometimes. I was so tired of cooking the same things all the time that I handed him one of my cookbooks and said "pick anything and I'll make it one night this week." He looked through it for about 15 minutes and said "I dunno, there are so many choices." He never did pick 1 thing, and we ended up having the same old things we always do. I am lucky in that he never complains about what I make. He's not a picky eater.

    My son came home from college for the weekend, and I had made some vegetable chowder. I was not sure what he would think of it, but while he was eating it he told me he really misses my cooking. Aww shucks, it made me feel really good.

    I love your cat in the tree. I had a cat who did the same thing. I had to put her to sleep about 7 years ago. Every year I think warm and fuzzy thoughts of her when I put up my tree.

    Katie, you have inspired me to try running my first 5K in February. Our hospital has a run called "February Freeze." All of the proceeds will go to our cardiac rehab department. I have been walking for exercise for a long time, but I decided to give running (jogging) a try. For the first time ever, I jogged for a full quarter mile without stopping! Thanks for sharing all of your struggles and successes.

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  18. How do you keep your Christmas tree from falling over, with the cats climbing in it? I've just about given up putting up a tree because my cats kept climbing in it and pulling it down!
    Patty

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  19. I know what you mean about lack of exercise affecting your mood. My hubby talked me into buying a treadmill last week because he said that I will "get all pissed off" this winter when it's cold and snowy, and I can't run outside.

    I actually have the opposite food problem at my house. I'm fairly picky and boring in my food choices, and Hubby likes pretty much anything. Sometimes I feel guilty that I don't make more things that he likes, but it feels strange to cook something that I won't eat...especially because I don't know if I make it good or not since I don't like the way it tastes!

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  20. I feel you on not exercising regularly making you feel bitchier than usual. I don't have an excuse though so I better get on it! lol. It's also nice to see you get upset over silly things like carrots too that don't really matter. Sometimes I think I'm crazy... but at least I'm crazy with someone else. lol.

    I am soo thrilled you are loving your new belly though! I like walking around in my bra and panties now too its like hey my body is rockin! lol. i dont even mind all the sag... its still ten times better than it looked last year.

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  21. Does your cat not ruin your tree? My cat gets in the tree and the branches sag and I can never get them back the way they are suppose to go! It makes me so mad. I also can never get a cute picture of it. That might make it worth it. But instead he does it at night or when we aren't home. Cause he KNOWS better. LOL

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  22. Hi! I have been reading the "old" post for about two weeks now :) Wanted to get "caught up" on your story! Anyways I couldn't help but post on this one, because I have the same problem in my house. Not so much with my kids, but my stepson. If it isn't processed he won't eat it. We have been eating clean for a few months now and I have been switching out the processed stuff slowing and unless he doesn't realize it isn't processed he refuses to eat it. I even switched to organic milk and he won't try it so I feel your pain. Part of why I gained weight is I moved in and I had been eating healthy but when I moved in they had been living off of hamburger helper so I felt guilty when I made something healthy that he wouldn't eat (esp since he is super skinny as it is) so I started making his high fat and high cal favorites (and of course eating them myself :) ) I finally decided a few months ago and 50 lbs later that enough is enough, he doesn't want to eat what I make then he can make himself a PPJ!!!

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

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