3 month update!

Hi! I'm Christine. I am almost 29 years old. I am happily married, and have been for almost 10 years. We welcomed our beautiful son into the world November 7, 2004. I stay home and take car of my baby boy. I try to keep the house in order, as best as I can. I put home-cooked meals on the table nearly every night.

Pregnancy, post-partum, and new parenthood have been crazy, to say the least.

It hasn't been easy... being a new mom... you put yourself last a lot of the time. Between the demands of a newborn, and breastfeeding, and trying to keep the household running... I wasn't making any time for myself. My diet was atrocious.

When I did eat, it was always on the run, between baby's naps, playgroups, or worse, not at all. I chronically skipped breakfast, sometimes lunch, too. I didn't eat nearly enough fruits and vegetables. I relied on pre-packaged foods, because they were easier. Take-out meals were becoming more common. Pizza was a 2 times a week occurance. One day, as I was feeding my baby boy some sweet potatoes, I just snapped inside. How on earth was I supposed to be able to take care of him when I wasn't nourishing myself? How was I supposed to instill in him the importance of self-care, and good diet if I wasn't modelling the same behavior?

Well, I made a concious deciscion to change. I'd tried Weight Watchers in the past... but I needed something that was beyond a diet. I needed a lifestyle. Something that I could feel was really a part of my life, and not a temporary "band-aid."

I went to the bookstore and got the Sonoma Diet book. I joined the website, and got tons of great recipes. I spurged and bought a jogging stroller.... because face it, it's hard to make time away from your baby to exercise. I figured, why not make him a part of my fitness routine?

We love to eat. It has to be good food. It has to be pleasing to the eyes as well as the palate. I mean, that's the best part of this plan. The food is so good, you never feel like you're "dieting". Trust me, my husband is loving it, and losing weight too!

It has been nearly 3 months since I first enbarked on the Sonoma Diet. In that time, I have lost 23 pounds! In fact, I have lost a grand total of 63 pounds since the day I gave birth. I have more energy than I've had in years. That is especially important, since I am a mommy to a VERY energetic 17-month-old boy.


The main problem I am having, is that I can't fit into my jeans. As in, I buy a smaller size, and they look great! For a couple of weeks. And then? They are baggy and unflattering again. Well, as far as problems go, that's a good one to have, I guess! :)

Basil-Stuffed Steak (Wave 1)

Ingredients:

• 1 2- to 2 1/2-pound boneless beef sirloin steak, cut about 1 1/2 inches thick
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 1 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped, or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped, or dried thyme, crushed
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  

Instructions

1. With a sharp knife, make 5 lengthwise slits three-quarters of the way through meat.

2. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, and parsley flakes. Sprinkle over meat; rub in with your fingers. In the same bowl, combine basil, onion, garlic, rosemary, and thyme. Press basil mixture into the slits. Using 100% cotton string, tie meat loosely at 2-inch intervals to close the slits and hold the filling in. Drizzle with oil.

3. For a charcoal grill, arrange medium-hot coals around a drip pan. Test for medium heat above pan. Place meat on grill rack over drip pan. Cover and grill for 32 to 36 minutes for medium-rare (145°F) and 36 to 40 minutes for medium doneness (160°F). (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Adjust grill for indirect cooking. Grill as above.) 4. Transfer meat to carving board; remove strings. Cut meat into 1/2-inch slices.

Serves 6