Resolution #2

So, I'm doing my resolutions in a series of posts this year instead of just some arbitrary list that we all know I won't stick to (see last year's list...how many of those did I accomplish? Just the first one...). I want them to be well thought out and not just a "here's a list of shit I should do and I'll do it once just to check it off" kind of thing. I'm always trying to improve my quality of life and live by what I say I am going to live by. I say that, anyway. :)

So, the second resolution this year is one way that I am attempting the blanket resolution of losing weight. For this season of The Biggest Loser, we are not going to eat junk food while we watch the show! I don't know what it is, and I know we aren't the only ones that do it, but there is something about that show that drives your primal instinct to PIG THE EFF OUT while watching morbidly obese people change their lives and their health for the better. Why do we do it? Well, let's see (yes I have excuses):

1.) The show comes on Tuesday nights. I have my running class on Tuesday nights. Therefore, I'm already one step ahead.

2.) The show comes on Tuesday nights. I have running class on Tuesday nights. Therefore, I don't get home until 8:30pm at the earliest and that is too late to actually cook something.

3.) OK, we know the first two sentences here. Jack in the Box is right next door to where my running class is, therefore, it's just easier to pick something up.

4.) Wendy's and Chick-fil-A are also on my way home. Do we see where this is going?

None of these are good excuses. Well, the first one kind of is, but eating junk food after I run just un-does (is that a word?) everything that I was able to accomplish in class. The problem is, I have seen Jonathan screw up cooking so many times (he calls "experimenting") that I don't trust him to make dinner "just the way I like it." My mom will tell you, if you don't do something "just the way I like it," then it's not worth doing. I'll just do it myself!

But, I need to give up control over something and let him cook at least one night per week. We have enough frozen chicken, frozen veggies and rice in the house that he can reasonably throw that together quickly. And last night, I let him do just that. He made us marinated chicken and rice. And it was good. Yes, I did complain about the lack of veggies, but that was my fault. He's so used to me telling him exactly what to make and what time to do everything at, that he didn't even dare think to make something I didn't mention. And I forgot to mention making veggies.

Here's the funny thing, I think Jonathan is awesome at cooking vegetables! Weird, right? He can make some great roasted asparagus. He watches Food Network all the time and a lot of it has absorbed into his brain. So, he can cook. It's just that sometimes, he doesn't think that following the recipe in the exact order (some recipes are in a certain order for a reason...it's the one thing that I will actually follow the "rules" on), or the same measurements/ratios is necessary. He also doesn't think that if you throw something with a lot of peppers in it (think spicy sausage) into a screaming hot pan, that the peppers scorching won't burn your face, nose, throat, eyes, etc. while it's cooking. That one gave me a good laugh. There are times when he thinks excess is great and in reality, the chicken just won't cook with all the extra crap in there.

I've taught him that these things aren't always the best qualities in a "chef." And, I think it's time that he is allowed back in the kitchen. At least if I let him back in there, we won't eat junk during The Biggest Loser, now will we?