NOTE: Courier-News freelance writer Janelle Walker has signed up for the second round of the "Elgin's Biggest Loser" challenge. Participants weigh in Wednesday nights, and Janelle is blogging the experience exclusively for The Courier-News.
Ever notice that when you start a diet or an exercise plan, there are some friends who are supportive and encouraging and other friends who seem to want to push you off the straight and narrow?
I will have to admit that I might, at times, fall into the latter category. Not that I would ever intentionally try to sabotage someone's diet or pooh-pooh their efforts to their faces. However, those from The Courier-News office will tell you that I might have an evil streak, too.
I told Laura Dion-Jones, the life coach who has put together Elgin's Biggest Loser, that I love to bake. I get bored at night or just need something to clear my mind, and I will start pulling out the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies or peanut butter chocolate chip cookies or banana bread with chocolate chips or a cheesecake or brownies. I usually have all of the ingredients needed for the above in my kitchen at any time.
How does baking make Janelle evil? Find out, after the jump.
For a few years in a row, I said my New Year's resolution was to shake up my baking repertoire and add new recipes. I started adding scones into the mix, different kinds of brownies (ask me about the brownie cookbook we ordered at the Courier).
Now, this New Year's resolution of mine also would coincide with other folks' resolutions to cut out sweets. So, sort of jokingly, I said my REAL resolution was to screw up those OTHER resolutions.
I am evil ... and sorry. I promise not to do that anymore. I promise to start finding some healthier recipes for my sweets addiction. Or, at least, cut down the baking to just once a month or so.
On the other hand, this winter I got into the habit of Baked Goods Mondays. I got bored on Sunday night and baked something--usually cookies of some sort. Then, I would put it out on Facebook that I had baked, and if friends wanted a delivery, they had to let me know before it was all gone. Some friends REALLY got into Baked Goods Mondays.
Good news for them, though, I probably will get back into the habit once summer is over. But I will not be doing it to ruin their diets, just to spread a little joy.
-- Janelle Walker, Freelance Writer
You're livin' the REAL LIFE!
and i luv it!!
by the way, if you ever decide to clear out any of that "good stuff for the soul"...send it my way :)