Monthly Archives: March 2021

Mom’s hot chocolate

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Here is a recipe that takes me back to my childhood. Growing up, we had a large Tupperware container of this mixture sitting on the kitchen counter during the cold winter months. I came from a large family (4 siblings), which means my parents had to make a lot of sacrifices. We considered this a luxury item.

Here’s the recipe:

4 cups nonfat dry milk 1.5 cups instant chocolate mix 0.5 cups non-dairy creamer 0.75 cups confectioner’s sugar

Add the dry ingredients together in a bowl and whisk thoroughly. Two batches of the above recipe makes enough to fill a two quart container. I substituted Ovaltine chocolate malt for the instant chocolate (a.k.a. Nestle’s Quick) because it’s caffeine free. I prepare my hot chocolate by putting 1/3 of a cup of this mixture into mug and adding 10 ounces of hot water using a Keurig. Stir and enjoy!

During my weight loss campaign, I have a cup of hot chocolate most evenings as my luxury item for the day. If I did the math right, each serving of hot cocoa has 165 calories and less than 1 gram of fat.

Trust

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I read a newspaper article recently highlighting the importance of trust. Paraphrasing Conan Milner in his article in the Epoch Times, human beings are wired in such a way as to depend on trust, especially in our relationships. As infants we are born with a need to trust. It’s part of our survival.

Trust enables us to allow others to have authority over us as is the case with medical professionals for example. We associate trust with honesty. When trust is betrayed deep scars can result. Unfortunately, these scars can limit our ability to trust again in the future.

As a person of faith the relationship between trust and faith is of great importance to me. Siri defines faith as “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” This begs the question, “How trustworthy are those we’ve put our faith in?”

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2

1st Update: weight loss

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Six days into my campaign and already I have achieved my first milestone (-3 lbs.). I celebrated by eating half a lemon-filled donut in the morning and feasting on a bowl of popcorn in the evening (light on the salt and butter). As good as that donut tasted, I stopped halfway through and imagined how much better off I’d be if I threw the other half away. Bravely, I proceeded to do so. The decision felt like a victory the next day.

Since I’m not really following a specific diet, I’ve decided to stay away from using that term for now. Here are my self-evaluation grades for the first week.

Steps on Fitbit B+ (there is still room for improvement on the weekend) Additional Exercise A- (all seven days, hoping for warmer weather soon) Portion Control B (made some good choices with salads instead of pasta) Water intake B+ (added additional 16 oz bottle daily) Snacking B- (still fighting this one; overall good result for week) Cheating C (2 notable incidents; still able to limit the damage) Devotion C (room for improvement; credit for desire to continue)

Morale is high. I’m looking forward to see what the next week brings.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:24-26) NIV

March 1: weight loss kickoff

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And so it begins! Starting today I’m modifying my eating and exercise regiments. The plan is to lose 22 pounds and average at least 10,000 steps per day as recorded by my Fitbit (70,000 weekly). Included in the 10,000 steps will be at least one 20 minute walk daily to elevate my heart rate.

With great sadness I will give up diet killing snack nibbling that pads calorie intake and frustrates attempts at weight loss. I plan to increase my water intake daily to aid fat burning. I also evoke portion control on evening meals.

I endeavor my fight until this goal is accomplished. Milestone victories will include a reward (tbd). I’ve marked some milestones at -3 lbs., -7 lbs., -12, lbs., -17 lbs. and -22 lbs. As the days get warmer I intend to ramp up my exercise routine, which will increase the number of steps recorded on my Fitbit.

I decided to allow one luxury in this round of weight loss, an evening mug of hot cocoa. I’ll include the recipe for Mom’s hot chocolate mix in a future post. Since it’s a homemade recipe, I can control the amount of each ingredient added.

My spirit will focus on how fortunate I am to be healthy at this stage of my life. Using the Psalms I will meditate on the many blessings I currently enjoy and the value of my life in God’s eyes. If I have a bad day trying to maintain my regiment, I will acknowledge it, pick myself, and keep going.

Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; safe your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. Psalm 86:1-4