Writing on a daily basis is much easier than trying to recap important events over the course of several months. Yet, for simplicity sake, please allow me to streamline:

I have stuck to the BTD principles as much as possible.

I offer all four-food groups at every meal in order to accommodate the different nutritional requirements of different family members (rice milk counts as dairy in my book.)

I have postponed a multitude of family responsibilities in order to prepare for my upcoming 3-day exam. (Personal Trainer Certification.)

I need to schedule 3 dentist appointments and two doctor appointments for family members.

I need to buy 3 family birthday gifts.

I need to Christmas shop.

And last but not least, I need to vent my frustration with AFAA (Aerobics Fitness Association of America.)

Why? Because they have cancelled my exam, and the next available exam is over three hours away from my home.

How incredibly inconvenient. I was notified 24 hours prior to the start of the workshop. Now of course, anything could have caused this. Perhaps the instructor fell ill. Perhaps I was the only participant who signed up for the exam and the workshop was no longer economical for the host. Whatever the reason, I find myself with little to show despite all of the effort and study time I have put into trying to prepare for this exam.

I am furious.

However……..

Maybe just maybe – there is a guardian angel trying to protect me from something. In the past, I have been severely disappointed by goals that fell through unexpectedly, but in the end it was a blessing in disguise. I suppose these challenges will only make my eventual success taste somewhat sweeter. (Ha – that’s the mature part of my brain talking. I am still furious.)

AFAA is going to be plagued by phone calls from me until I receive reassurance that my next scheduled exam WILL NOT BE cancelled!

Ok, ok – on with the diet.

Prior to Thanksgiving, I stupidly drank 16 cups of coffee during “cleaning day.” It was one of those mindless things where I just kept sipping from my cup and kept on brewing a new pot until the work was done. I also gave myself one of the longest heartburn episodes I have ever experienced.

My family doctor had explained to me once before that heartburn can actually ‘simmer’ in your stomach for a long, long time and be reactivated at every meal. So, it was easy to figure out why my stomach kept on hurting after day three. What does one eat after one has damaged their stomach with coffee?

Brown rice. In my humble opinion, it was a simple brown rice pilaf (basmati brown rice from Lundberg farms) that finally calmed my stomach. I had to eat it for three or four meals, but I started to feel relief after the first. In fact, I find myself craving it. Throw in some white beans, leftover turkey, chicken, etc and it is definitely a ‘comfort’ food on a cold winter’s day. The recipe is on the back of the rice package.

Anyway, I am about to phone AFAA for the fourth time today – maybe I will try e-mail instead. Take care everyone. God Bless.