I'm in the country, visiting my family, to celebrate my birthday today. I have been preparing for a photo shoot since last week, so I knew that this visit it would be really important to me to follow a nutritional plan. It's funny because sometimes when a birthday, or holiday falls around the time of a photo shoot, I feel a little pang of "ohhhhhhh, now I can't pig out as much as I want to"......and when I think about it rationally I start to realize that the important thing is the celebration, and having the joy, and good fortune to be able to spend time with my family. Celebrations don't have to be all about food! I packed some produce that I had in my fridge that I didn't want to spoil while I was gone, and made a trip to Roy's Market to buy some wild salmon, beef tenderloin, melon, and a few other fresh fruits and veggies.
I also went to the gym that I used to go to when I was in high school, and did an intense weight workout. It felt so good to stay on my usual training schedule, and to be active. I love that my family and I have an understanding, and they respect the fact that sticking to my diet and exercise is an important part of my life, just as important as say.....brushing my teeth.
When I got home, I sliced up some honeydew melon and put it in a big pitcher with ice, so that I'd have plenty of water that tasted refreshing, and my family tried it and loved it! My family decided to order chinese food, and I prepared some wild salmon with a delicious honey mustard glaze, and a big spinach salad with crispy, orange peppers, sliced roma tomato......and a bit of olive oil, lemon and sea salt on top. My dinner was so good, and I felt great after eating it.....so great that I threw on a bikini and took my niece swimming. When I looked at the chinese food which was fried, and colorless.....unlike my salad....I really didn't feel like I was missing out. I've trained my body to like eating healthy, and of appreciate the feeling of eating fresh, wholesome meals. I still had a wonderful time with my family, and they were very impressed with how delicious the salmon I made was.
I feel relieved to know that it's really not about the food, it's about whom you're with, and that I can enjoy time with my family without pigging out.
By the way....the recipe for the salmon:
Combine two tablespoons dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon honey, pinch of salt and pepper, and a tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl.....brush on top of salmon....then bake or broil as you like in the oven. Sooooo good!
My niece Emmie is hysterical, she didn't want to look at me......and ummmmm, look at this! In the next picture below she went from being animated and chatty, to totally silent and almost doll-like when she was (staring) at me! I guess she needs to get used to me!
Oh my how I love these little girls!
