Lemons

The old adage goes "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade."  Then some clever and fun loving person changed it to "when life gives you lemons, make a lemon martini."  Well screw that, I want the Ritz Carlton Famous Lemon Pound Cake with a blueberry compote. I made it over the summer and it was amazing!!!  Here is the recipe I came across while browsing pinterest.  http://www.plainchicken.com/2011/10/lemon-pound-cake.html  and then drizzled, topped or smothered in this http://www.two-tarts.com/2011/07/blueberry-vanilla-compote.html  Most excellent when paired. Go all out and put some fresh whipped cream or vanilla bean ice cream with it too.

The problem?  I decided to take part in the six-sister's stuff 8-week Get Healthy Challenge.  http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/01/8-week-printable-weight-loss-get.html
Not only did I commit myself to this challenge but I am the lead person in our mini Facebook group.  In this challenge you are supposed to forego sweets for six out of seven days in the week.  And I know I shouldn't eat a full cake in one day.  And I am too competitive to let the points go and eat the cake over the course of a week.

Normally I allow a few calories for sweet treats.  This is my favorite recipe that comes in at only 74 calories a cupcake: http://sweet-verbena.blogspot.ca/2011/08/pumpkin-muffins.html  these are so tasty and you can freeze them a defrost when the sweet tooth hits.  But instead of these, and instead of that delicious lemon pound cake, I turn to peanut butter.  I finally broke down and bought some sugar-free pudding.  I am trying to resist these as well because I don't want to get into the habit of eating them everyday.

But let's get back to the cake.  Ever since I received the news and the deadline to a life changing situation, I have wanted to binge.  On sweets, on salty treats, whatever I can find and most definitely I want to bake cake after cake after cake and eat them too.  So I am very thankful of my transformation in the last year.  While I don't always have self control around food, I am 85% better.  I haven't binged, only dreamed.  Dreamed about warmer temperatures, dreamed about getting a job in Disneyland and dreamed about eating lemon and blueberries in sweet tasting bliss.

This is me

(heading out to see the Lion King on stage)