The White-Tie Place to Start When We’re Losing After Fifty

Especially when we’re well over fifty we can say,

“You know what? Time for something new and amazing just for me.”

Pearl One

I want you to know about the most powerful mind-shift I clung to when I began my smart eating trek in earnest and continue to rely on as I preserve my loss.

“I won’t live like this anymore.”

That’s it. Nothing fancy. Nothing “aha-ish.” Just the plain truth: I was sick and tired of constantly dealing with the battle between me, overeating, and clothes cutting off my ability to breathe.

My really abysmal eating habits had been winning for decades.

When I finally decided that “I won’t live like this anymore” the goodness hit the fan, and I was on a roll.

Even today, I use this phrase almost daily still because it immediately reminds me that living an overeating lifestyle guarantees nothing but annoyance, emotional pain, and a constant urge to beat myself up (which, btw, doesn’t help anything).

“I won’t live like this anymore.” Tell yourself this phrase two or three times a day. Write it on stickies and put them wherever only you will see them. And write in your journal about what the phrase means to you.

In other words, don’t just read these words, the magic happens when you engage with the deeper wisdom behind “I won’t live like this anymore.”

Because once you do, you won’t. ♥

Pearl Two

As you know, I’m not a nutritionist, dietician, doctor or even a barista, but when I find smart food that makes our life a smidge easier, I share.

A thriver sent in this fantastic recipe.

Hi Wendy,

I just wanted to share my newest “muffin” creation with you. They are scrambled eggs in muffin form. And I baked them in my toaster oven. I used 4 eggs and got 6 “muffins.”

In addition to salt and pepper, I added a little cheddar cheese and bacon bits. But you could add onions, peppers, or whatever strikes your fancy. I plan to freeze them, then get one out when I want an egg. — Signed, M.

Wendy included: I used six eggs for six cups. Spray a 6-cup capacity muffin tin with nonstick oil spray or use the silicone cups I use. In a large bowl, whisk eggs and onion. Add egg mixture halfway up into each muffin cup.

Include your preferred topping combinations into the cups. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until set. Let cool.

Yum.

Thank you, M!! Keep them coming! ♥

Pearl Three

A different challenge each Friday in August!

Our challenge: be honest. Do you actually go to bed with a great book early every evening? Or do you agree that it’s a fabulous idea, but haven’t established the habit for yourself?

If you’re in the middle of watching an absorbing streaming show, I get it. Finish your show and avoid getting hooked on another one.

I’m not against a streaming-dessert as long as the screen is in your bedroom and away from the kitchen. Sitting in your living room to watch TV is a sure-fire way to fall off the Smart Eating Path and overeat.

Your goal is to disrupt the pattern or habit. And I’ve found the most success by taking a phenomenal book (cannot be dry and boring) to my bedroom every evening around 8 p.m.

I know. It’s sounds early, but here’s what I’m convinced of: after a long day we’re at our lowest mood in the evenings when it’s way too easy to think, oh what the hell? and descend on the cookies, cake, and ice cream.

So instead of “white-knuckling” it and forcing yourself to give up the evening calories – which we know doesn’t really work in the long-run anyhow – swap the negative eating for positive reading.

When we take something away from ourselves (like evening sugar), it’s important to give ourselves something in return like a spectacular book.

And I say books because if you give yourself, for example, a luxurious hot bath-dessert, the bath alone isn’t likely to lure you to your bedroom at 8 p.m. every single night for years on-end.

So do your nighttime routine: at 8 p.m. brush your teeth, jump into your jams and read your book-dessert for the next hour and a half. You’ll catch up on sleep and deep-six those evening calories. ♥

Pearl Four

My first inclination is to just say, “read this!” and not give you the plot because you might not really care about the story-line, but a masterful author can do it all even spin whitewashing a fence into a critical part of character-development, so keep the fence in mind as I give you the details. The Heart’s Invisible Furies is about a young Irish girl who’s thrown out of her community because she’s pregnant. The first chapter will grab you, no doubt, but just know that while the first chapter is super compelling it doesn’t contain the dry wit that the following chapters have. And this author John Boynce can write the blank out of dry wit, tragedy, everything. This dude can write.

I’m only half-way through this large book, but it’s such a great story that I stayed up (too) late last night reading. And if you love learning a bit of history as you read you’re in luck because the story takes us from the cultural morays of 1945 Ireland and into (much improved, thankfully) modern times. People magazine wrote, “By turns whimsical and heartbreaking, Boyne’s sprawling novel treads Dickensian territory across seven decades of Irish history, ending with a redemption for both a country and a native son.”

The book also won important awards and was on several “best of” lists when it came out in 2017.

My review: a five-star book-dessert. ♥

Pearl Five

Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

Michael Jordan

My book — the Inspired Eater: the Book — is available at the moment at no charge to KindleUnlimited members. If selling a book on Amazon, I’m required to give the book at no price on KindleUnlimited before I can release it to everyone. And if you’re a KindleUnlimited member, you’ll find the book here. 🙂

If you like the book, I would appreciate it so much if you’d leave an Amazon review. (And thank you.)

For the rest of us, the book will be available at fifty percent off ($3.99) starting next Thursday, August 3.

Have a great weekend everyone!

♥, Wendy

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!

You know the scoop: I’m an Amazon affiliate. If you buy from a link in my post, I’ll receive money, but the arrangement won’t cost you a dime.

My favorite cold-tote

The best book-desserts on the planet