I've had an amazing weekend with Heather. Both of us have been rather busy for the most part, with me emceeing at Oktoberfest yesterday and today and her catching up on her business and 1/2 marathon training schedule. She ran over seven miles Saturday while I worked and another four plus this afternoon. I joined her at the trail today, after my emcee duties for a great 2.7 mile brisk walk. It was a good exercise day!
The dinner at the Italian restaurant Friday night further proved to me that if you express your needs and you do it in a very pleasant, friendly way--people will likely bend over backwards to help accommodate those needs. I still can't get over how accommodating they were--actually going to a store to purchase gluten free pasta prior to our arrival. That's above and beyond good customer service. They absolutely have my loyalty. That was incredible.
We enjoyed a nice dinner in this evening. Heather prepared roasted broccoli as a side dish. We got our feet wet with a video! Heather grabbed the camera and gently encouraged me to try broccoli for the very first time in my life. I tried asparagus a long time ago--and it was the same thing--I'd never actually tried it--and then learned that I actually loved asparagus!! So, with this in mind-- it is theoretically possible that a love affair with broccoli could blossom if only I would give it a try. This was the basis of Heather's gentle encouragement in the following video:
I didn't die. That's a plus. Honestly, it wasn't bad. Of course--it didn't lead to me loading up my plate with it, but--I tried it and discovered it wasn't as bad as I thought. What's next? Maybe a salad!
I'm looking forward to more videos with Heather. Not all of them will be like this one. I believe Heather and I have a good combination of skills and insights--and could present some wonderful videos with practical weight loss and fitness content delivered in fun and entertaining ways. I'm seriously looking forward to doing more!
My Oktoberfest experience this weekend was much better this year. Last year, I was struggling horribly and my weight gain was very noticeable. This year was different--and not just because I've once again lost a significant amount of weight. It was different because I feel very different about myself these days regardless of my weight. Below is a post from my Facebook page at last years event:
Sean Anderson
First
of all, let me state for the record: I believe wholeheartedly in The
Four Agreements. The 2nd agreement is my favorite. Never take
anything personally. What others do or say is a reflection of them,
not me. With a bright smile on my face, I hereby award today's most
creative way someone approached me in public to call me out for
weight gain: "Sean, you're a shadow of your former self, but
you're making a come back!" I give everyone the benefit of the
doubt. I think he was genuinely concerned for me, so I thanked him
and said I was doing okay. And I am...doing okay. Really.
I wasn't doing okay on October 5th, 2013, really. I wasn't deliberately lying--I was desperately trying to convince myself I was okay--but I clearly wasn't. It's no wonder the gentleman made a comment that day--because I was walking around projecting how I felt about myself on to everything and everyone I encountered.
This weekend was like a 180 degree turnaround. I carried myself with a new level of confidence--a peace and clear understanding of who I am and what I'm all about. I projected a wonderful attitude and positive feeling about me--and regardless of my weight, it was noticed. The weight loss was noticed too, of course--and yes, that feels good too. But more and more, I'm getting compliments that go beyond my appearance--and are brought about simply because I feel good about me on a level I've never known before--and this new perspective and attitude of unconditional self-love is projected very easily because it is a very natural dynamic.
I normally listen to music during my exercise, but today I listened to the TED Talk Radio hour, all about creativity. The talk featured Sting discussing his creativeness and how it works--and what happened when it stopped working and how he rekindled his creativeness. During the interview, he perfectly described what I experienced on my epiphany day, May 15th, 2014. He said that his happiness wasn't dependent on hit records or money or anything like that--his happiness is present within him--a peace he has about who he is and what he's about, and it resides in him regardless of his successes or failures--and this happiness ultimately allows his creativity to flow freely.
I listened to him speak and felt every word, deeply. I knew exactly what he was describing. It was wonderful to hear him say it. For me, it was a conformation of sorts. Sting gets it.
My Tweets today:
Whenever I have Starbucks the evening before, I most always reuse the cup the next day. Sugar free creamer. 30CX2=60c pic.twitter.com/nLMvPLMMf8
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 5, 2014
Turkey (3oz-lean ground) & swiss omelet w/2 whole eggs & 2 whites, pineapple 4.5 oz, 1/2 Honeycrisp apple. 477 cal. pic.twitter.com/WHByWc4jMC
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 5, 2014
At Octoberfest earlier. After much research on ingredients I accepted this beer. I took 3 sips and tossed it. 28 cal. pic.twitter.com/DPSndE8Zaw
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 5, 2014
This is more my kind of drink. Iced coffee with sugar free hazelnut flavor and 2% milk. 30 cal. pic.twitter.com/PM6QPYffsP
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 5, 2014
Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips (28g), mild salsa with light sour cream (30g). 210 cal. pic.twitter.com/9MrGHtLHrR
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 5, 2014
Baked chick. breast (4oz), pineapple (4oz), sweet pot. medallions (225g), roasted carrots, broccoli. 460 cal. pic.twitter.com/WlFQFp9ur0
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 6, 2014
Large Honeycrisp apple and natural peanut butter (32g). 340 cal. #lastfoodofday pic.twitter.com/YWWAquPWvS
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 6, 2014
Oh yeah-- forgot to tweet the workout earlier. 2.7 mile brisk walk earlier this afternoon!
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) October 6, 2014
Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
You gotta love broccoli, Sean
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I could classify it as an immediate "love experience" like I had with asparagus, but I did lose much of my automatic resistance to it--and I'll likely give it a shot again, soon.
DeleteI hate many vegetables, including the sweet potato that you seem to like, but broccoli is one of my favourites! The rest of my family doesn't agree.
ReplyDeleteNatalie, I'm with you in the "I hate many vegetables" camp. I prefer the sweet potato prepared like this--sliced and baked, rather than baked whole. You're a broccoli lover, too? Interesting!
DeleteMy daughter, Amber, shares my aversions for most veggies--however, she loves spinach--and I do not!!!
This video made my day! Still smiling! I loved Heathers voice in the background gently encouraging you to try the broccoli..."chew, chew." Looking forward to more videos! Shirley from TN
ReplyDeleteThe video was fun and I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Shirley! We're looking forward to doing many more with a variety of subjects---and both of us on camera! Her style of encouragement fits perfectly into my personality. She's absolutely lovely in every way! ;)
DeleteI've eaten way more broccoli than I care to, but I just keep eating it....cause it's good for me. I heard Heather say it had some olive oil on it and was roasted. There is a good recipe for broccoli (that can be used for other veggies too, I think I heard Heather say the carrots were cooked the same way), where you sprinkle a tiny bit of olive oil on a sheet pan of broccoli, sprinkle some garlic and Parmesan cheese over the top and roast it for like 20 minutes in a hot oven, like 425 or maybe 450. It's delicious, of course the cheese and olive oil add some calories, but it's definitely more palatable. Loved the video, looking forward to more. You're looking GOOD!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dupster!! Mmmmm...olive oil and did you say cheese??? You're speaking my language!!!
DeleteGlad you enjoyed the video--more to come! Thank you for the compliment!
LOL Sean, that video was hilarious. It reminded me of an old episode of "Leave it to Beaver" that I saw a few months ago where Beaver will not eat his brussels sprouts, and then at the end he eats them and likes them! But seriously, a lot of people who do not like various vegetables prepared most ways DO like them roasted. Good for Heather to prepare them that way and get you to try it. And thank you, your video reminded me that I have a head of cauliflower in my fridge that I need to use before I go away in a few days...was planning to try the pizza crust, but if I don't get to that, either mashed OR roasted! Roasted cauliflower is great, too! Looking forward to future videos from you and Heather and I want to check out the Sting talk, too.
ReplyDeleteDede
I remember that Leave It To Beaver episode!!! Yes, indeed---when it comes to trying new veggies--I can act--and I certainly feel like Beaver Cleaver. :)
DeleteHeather prepared it perfectly for my first time!!
The Sting talk was a part of the Ted Radio Hour podcast titled "The Source of Creativity" released Thursday October 2nd. Great podcast!!
Glad you enjoyed the video!! I'm really looking forward to doing more!
Sean and Heather, yall had me giggling during the video. Can't wait for more! Sean, you did great being open to trying it out. I love cawliflower and broccoli. Roasted is definitely the way to go! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it was roasted and not boiled or steamed to the point of limp and mushy. It was a good experience! Thank you for watching! We're looking forward to more, soon!
DeleteLove your attitude of being willing to at least TRY broccoli Sean! Perhaps other veggies absent in your menu could be tried also? Preparation makes a big difference. Thanks for the video - it was really good and will be looking forward to more!!!! N~
ReplyDeleteWe're developing a list of things I haven't tried. And I will get to turn the tables on Heather very soon. She has a list of things too. It's much shorter than my list--but still, fair is fair, right? LOL A salad is coming soon, for me! I agree--it's all in the preparation! Thank you Nancy for your support!
DeleteOkay, the video only confirms it -- Heather is made of awesome :) Another good roasted vegetable is cauliflower. In my experience, I prefer it to broccoli when roasting because cauliflower actually gets kind of nutty flavored. It's really good!
ReplyDeleteOkay, that said, naturally "good" is highly subjective :) But I'm absolutely tickled to see you finally tried broccoli -- well done! I've always loved broccoli but hated most beans for ages until I decided I would like them despite myself after I married my husband in my very-late 30's. See, he's from Louisiana and loves his red beans... and since I was preparing them I figured I should be able to eat them too. And what do you know... beans, when cooked well, are awesome!
We're never too old :)
(in other news, I say "Okay" too much. My kingdom for an edit button)
DeleteI agree, Amanda--Heather is absolutely made of awesome and several other good things! Cauliflower is on the list for me. I've never tried it in any form, whatsoever--so that will be very interesting!
DeleteGreat job on the beans, Amanda! Red beans is a big deal down South!! "well cooked..." that's the key, huh? Preparation is the biggest thing!
I use several words and phrases like crutches, sometimes. And commas---I write like I speak, so dashes, commas and an assortment of odd additions creep their way into my writing, all in an attempt to be read in the way I speak.
I say there's no right or wrong in how we write--as long as we're communicating our message clearly! Okay! :)
Never too old--you got that right! Thank you for the wonderful comment, Amanda!
Good for you for stepping out of your comfort zone. You two are cute together!!
ReplyDeleteI loved the video Sean, I had Mike watch it since we both struggle with veggies, we both got a smile out of it. Loved Heather supporting you so much through it :) You inspired me to buy some veggies I had previously said I didn't like as I'm very much like you with veggies as you know :) I still haven't tired asparagus, broccoli or brussel sprouts but they are on my list :)
ReplyDelete