Judy's Joyful Journey

Sunday, November 6, 2011

2011-11-06T13:57:00.002-05:00

I have so much to learn about blogging. I read blogs. In fact sometimes I start reading and get very sidetracked. Fortunately, I still read books. Currently I am reading "the art of EATING IN - How I Learned to Stop Spending and Love the Stove" by Cathy Erway. She wrote about NOT
eating in New York restaurants for two years. She tells about some of the meals she made and friends she made while on her journey. I haven't read
the book about Julia and Julie yet but it is a book that started me thinking about cooking my way through a cookbook. I just haven't decided which book I want to work with yet.

Starting

2011-03-03T17:27:00.000-05:00

I did it - I had my first 'treatment' this morning. After that I did a round of exercises on the WAVE machine http://www.wavexercise.com/index.html

He wants me to come back twice a week to do the exercises. It's too bad it is in A'burg but that is better than going to the city that often. He was having trouble with his printer so he couldn't give me the paperwork he had for me. He told me to eat every 3 hours; have protein with every meal; no white foods; and stop eating at 7 p.m. These are all things I try to do.

I will try to go to tai chi on Monday mornings and then do the WAVE, tai chi Tuesday afternoon, walk on Wed., WAVE Thursday morning, tai chi Thursday night, and walk Saturday and Sunday. That sounds like a do-able schedule, doesn't it?

Now I'd better have something to eat before I leave for my class. Carol isn't going tonight.

Fresh Start

2011-02-28T13:13:00.000-05:00

Actually my fresh start will be on Thursday. After days of agonizing over my next move, I decided to try laser therapy. It isn't cheap ($300) but if it helps, it will be worth it.

I am ready. When I got on the scale Sunday morning, my weight was up. I cannot explain why it is up because I haven't been overeating. Well I suppose that can't be true since I am gaining. If I am gaining, I must be overeating - for me.

I am going to keep at it until I figure out what is right for ME. I am tired of being obese. Overweight has a better sound and it will surely be better for my knees. So, I am aiming for 'overweight' on the BMI scale.

Spring Is Coming!!

2011-02-18T12:02:00.000-05:00

It is so good to look outside and see the bright sun shining. It is incredible how much snow melted yesterday. At the start of the day there was a shoveled path in the back yard for the dogs to use. Mid-morning there was muddy grass showing through. Now you cannot see any remnants of the path. There are still a few small piles of snow but mostly it is gone. In the front of the house, all that remains is one pile that was created by the snowplow. It will take longer to melt because it is more packed down.

I realize that is probably not the last snow we will see this winter because it IS only February but it is still good to see it going. It is not the prettiest time of year but it is tolerable because we know that soon there will be flowers and green grass. Already I have noticed the birds are starting to sing. AND, last night when Carol and I drove to Essex just after 6, it was not dark.

I think I want to use my blog to keep track of my attempts to lose weight. There are so many weight-loss blogs out there. I'm not ready to be real public about what I write by posting my link but if someone comes here by accident, no problem. I appreciate positive comments but I'm not ready for criticism. Some people seem to bare all. Perhaps it is the anonymity of the internet that attracts them but I still have fear that someone will use something I write against me.

So, here goes - on Wednesday at my TOPS meeting I gained 1/2 pound which put me back at 190. I have been stuck in this area for a very long time. I have nothing against maintaining, in fact I hope that when I finally reach goal, I maintain but I am still too heavy to stay at the weight I am. I am still classified as obese according to my BMI. At 165, I will be overweight. It sounds better and it would be a healthier weight for me.

With losing in mind, I have been looking at tools that might help me. I wondered about laser and also hypnotism. Cost (unknown at this time) is something that keeps me from further pursuing those options.
I considered a dietitian to help me figure out what would be a sensible plan for ME.

In 2010, I followed a link (probably on Facebook) to http://www.ichange.com/ It was another free site. (SparkPeople is the only site I have ever paid for and if I remember correctly, it was less than $10. It is now a free site I use every day.) When I found ichange, there were 2 counsellors from which to choose. One of them is a holistic nutritionist. Holistic health has always interested me so that was my choice.

Linda was very helpful and I learned more about how I should eat. I didn't lose anything but she assured me that I will, once my body knows there will always be healthy food available.

Before Christmas, they offered options that would cost money. You can still use the site for free but you don't have access to the counsellors unless you pay. They made an offer to their current clients but even so, I could not justify in my mind that I should pay more money to lose weight. I sure could use all the money I have spent over the years for joining weight watchers multiple times and other programs for which I have forgotten their names. I withdrew.

A short time later, I was missing the site and re-joined the free part under a new name. It was helpful but it wasn't the same. During my investigating of local dietitians, I re-checked the price on ichange. Of course it is more than what I was offered before. It is $1.65 a week. I know I cannot find anyone local for that.
I am enjoying my first week which is a free trial. Only time will show whether or not I made the right decision.

January 3

2011-01-03T15:09:00.000-05:00

Today was the day when I finished taking down the Christmas decorations. Now I have to put the boxes away.

It was a beautiful day for a walk and to get some natural Vitamin D. I was cold yesterday so today I wore a big scarf and came home in a sweat. That's okay.

This is another Santa who hasn't heard that Christmas is over. There are still a few of them around.

See how blue the sky is today. I told Hubby it would be a good day for a ride.

This morning I got the quilting pattern I won on one of the blogs I read. I almost missed out because I forgot to check back after I entered and she was looking for my e-mail. I am hoping this might be just what I need to get busy in the sewing room again.

January 2

2011-01-02T17:15:00.000-05:00

It was colder today than yesterday. It was harder to convince myself that I wanted to go for a walk. Finally I realized that it could not be put off any longer or my 'streak' would end at ONE. The sun was already setting by the time I got out.

The second Santa that was photographed yesterday has totally quit. Who can blame him - the holiday is but a memory.

Unlike yesterday when the sky was covered by clouds, there were a few bits of sky showing. This part of the walk was not as cold as the first part.

The home stretch. The street light in front of our house is on already. Actually that is not a true indicator of the time as that particular light is always early.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T15:01:00.010-05:00

I can see why some people have more than one blog but I don't see how they have time or energy to keep them up and actually do the baking, crafting or whatever else the blog is about. This particular day, I have many thoughts rushing through my mind. Probably I should start by deleting from my list some of the blogs I like to read but I hate the thought that I might miss something.

This is the assignment I answered earlier today:
"Imagine yourself 3 months from now based on where you are today. Are you happy, healthier, employed? Write down this image of yourself and at least 3 steps you can take immediately to help you get there."

My answer: On April 1, I will be lighter and smaller. I will be walking a minimum of 30 minutes 6 times a week. I will be doing tai chi twice a week. I will have finished knitting the hat I started before Christmas.

Today is the first day of a new year. It is a mild day - so mild in fact that Hubby rode his motorcycle to the city to meet for breakfast with some other bikers. While he was gone, I went for a walk. I have promised myself that I will walk at least 30 minutes 6 times a week. Besides, I am aiming for 10,000 steps daily. Leaving the house is my main problem. I figured if I didn't go today when it is not cold or icy, I will never be able to make myself go when it IS cold or icy. (I know that ice will keep me in but if I am dressed properly, cold should not.)

Believe it or not, there is a couple who were walking ahead of me. You can 'almost' see them at the top of the road. Notice also how the rain has taken away all our snow.

Well, almost all the snow. There were occasional little piles like this one. It rained so hard I wonder why this bit of snow didn't melt away.

This Santa is still greeting people cheerily.

This one is tired of the whole business.LOL

Notice the cloudy sky. I didn't see any patches of blue.

No snow in the back yard either - just mud and bare spots.

But the snow blower is waiting by the back door, ready for the next job.

Blogs

2010-11-14T17:23:00.000-05:00

This afternoon I spent some time on one of my favourite activities - reading blogs. I am so easily distracted that I jump from weight-loss blogs to recipe blogs or craft blogs. I think one of the reasons my own blog gets neglected, is that I cannot decide what direction I want to take it.

I enjoy writing but some of my writing is for ME. Some things I am not ready to share. It's funny but some things I don't mind sharing with strangers but I am not ready for family or friends to read it. I mean, what difference does it make? Am I afraid someone will use something I write against me?

I am impressed by the pictures on most of the blogs I read. I enjoy taking pictures. It is so easy these days with digital cameras. When we go out on the bike, I usually have my camera tucked in my pocket. Many of my photos are of clouds. Part of the reason is because I read about clouds on this site http://www.clouds365.com/year2/ I thought it was a good idea. I actually posted a picture there one time. I tried to find a cloud picture for this blog but we had a computer crash and I lost many of my pictures. I will have to re-build my supply. I am thankful my cover photo intact because I like that picture. :)

Sunday, August 29, 2010

2010-08-29T16:12:00.004-04:00

As I typed today's date, it reminded of an e-mail I got this week:

"This August has 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays, 5 Tuesdays, all in one month.

It happens once in 823 years. [I'm not sure who figured that out. It sure wasn't me.]

I probably will miss it next time!"

This afternoon we went for a motorcycle ride to Leamington. http://www.leamington-on.worldweb.com/

I took some pictures as we walked beside the water. I am always looking at gardens to see how I can improve mine. But first we saw some friendly ducks.

There are several plaques telling about various ship wrecks. This was one. The D.L. Filer was built in 1871 and it sank in 1916. http://freaquewaves.blogspot.com/2006/10/black-friday-of-1916_21.html is one account I found on-line.

I took pictures of several of the plaques so that I can look for more information on the computer.

Next there is a picture of some of the pleasure boats that are docked. There were lots of ducks enjoying a Sunday afternoon swim. I even saw a loon but he was too far away to get a decent picture. In the bright sunlight, I have trouble seeing the screen on the camera so I am often unsure if I got any pictures until I get back home and get them downloaded.

Now some flowers. The sign in the first picture reads, "Please...no dogs in the flower beds". I wondered aloud if the dogs knew that. :)

I am hoping my husband will make me one or several flower boxes before next summer.

We left Leamington and were heading back home when we met several bikers who were taking part in the ride, "On a Mission for the Downtown Mission". http://downtownmission.com/ecom.asp

We made a donation and joined in for part of the ride.

Making our way through the lights. All the stopping and starting is not fun (to me).

I took this one over my shoulder of some of the bikes who were behind us.

It was an extremely hot afternoon. We decided to head for home. This is some of our friends leaving for their next stop. We are safely home and Hubby is down for his nap.

Troubling Thoughts

2010-08-09T19:30:00.000-04:00

Today was our monthly breakfast with the other retirees. I was sitting next to Gary. His wife stayed home. He was telling us about some of what she has been going through. They are concerned that she has the start of Alzheimer's. That is something that worries me. When I start having those worries, I wonder if it is a legimitate concern or if I am acting like a hypochondriac.

July

2010-08-07T21:42:00.002-04:00

In July, I had my 65th birthday. No big deal - I knew it was coming. :)

Two days after my birthday, we packed up and went on vacation. The first night we stopped at our daughter's (2 hours away) because she was taking care of our two dogs while we were away.

That's Buddy on the left and Wiggles leading.

We left from our daughter's early Thursday morning. We crossed into the United States via the Peace Bridge. We stopped at the Best Western in Concord, New Hampshire the first night. We were very happy with our accommodations. We enjoyed the pool and had a good sleep. Breakfast was included and they offered a good selection to choose from. We got away the next morning about 9.

Our second night was spent in Maine at Redclyffe Shore Motor Inn. http://www.redclyffeshoremotorinn.com/ We stopped for supper and decided to stay for the night. It was a pretty spot next to the water. The next morning we crossed back into Canada. We stopped in St George for lunch http://www.town.stgeorge.nb.ca/ We enjoyed getting off the main highway so that we could see more of the countryside.

For whatever reason, I did not keep notes like I usually do while we are traveling. Now I am sorry I didn't because even though it is only a month ago, I already forget many details. We got to the farm around 8 p.m. There was a note on the kitchen table that everyone was at the lodge for a music night. I took a quick shower and changed my clothes and off we went to join them. It was good to see some familiar faces and enjoy the entertainment.

On Sunday we went for our first motorcycle ride with my brother and his friend, Norma. We rode to Tatamagouche http://tatamagouche.com/ for ice cream. It was a lovely day for a ride. We stopped in Amherst http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amherst,_Nova_Scotia for supper. We had a good time with them.

That's enough for now...

June

2010-06-03T18:23:00.001-04:00

Here we are in a new month. In fact, it is already 3 days old. May flew by. We enjoyed some incredible weather. The strawberries blossomed early. I was concerned it might be too early but it wasn't. I am now enjoying fresh strawberries. The berries are small and I wish there were more but they sure are tasty. The ones we have been buying just don't compare.

Yesterday I discovered that all the pictures I took over the past month had disappeared. I'm not sure how or why but they are gone from the camera. Fortunately there was nothing extra-special but I had several shots of various plants as they progressed. I like looking at the pictures during the winter.

May was an expensive month. Hubby decided we needed a new TV. We now have a huge one sitting in the living room. The computer has been 'acting up'. We took it in and they did something but it is still 'acting up'. Sometimes we have to try 5 or 6 times before it will stay on. When they did their 'thing' they changed or eliminated some of our programs. We are still learning how to make it work (when it works).

This week the expenses continued when an engine light came on in the van. Hubby took it in and the mechanic thought it was something to do with a fan and I shouldn't drive it while we were in a heat wave. Lucky me, I got to drive Hubby's truck - standard - into the city. If it hadn't been a meeting I really wanted to go to, I probably wouldn't have set out but I managed just fine. I was on some easy country roads while I practised and built up my confidence. Afterall, I learned on a standard. I decided I should drive the truck occasionally just to make sure I don't forget how.

The mechanic put in a new part to the tune of $175. It didn't work and he could not return the part. It was decided we'd better take the van to the dealership. It took all afternoon but they finally found the loose wire that was causing the light to come on. That was another $175. Let's hope the rest of the month will be lighter although I don't think it will be because the motorcycle insurance is due. (That was another expense we had - the house insurance). We are planning to go away in July so we don't need any more big bills.

The Road Ahead

2010-05-01T13:11:00.000-04:00

I like the picture I chose for my blog. I was on the back of the motorcycle when I took it. I think I was trying to capture the clouds but I like the way you cannot see what is on the road ahead. Every time I see the picture, I remember that nice afternoon ride.

Moving Forward

2010-05-01T13:06:00.000-04:00

Friday was a good day. I followed my plan until suppertime. We went out to eat. I had battered halibut and french fries. That was probably not a good choice but I enjoyed it. I know the best advice is to eat at home but I like not having to think about what to prepare. It seems like what to have for supper is the first thing I think about in the morning when I wake up. Finding something Hubby will like that is on my plan seems to be getting more difficult. He has little interest in good nutrition so I have to be sneaky with our meals. Sometimes the whole process gets very tiring. That is one of the reasons I am working at making a cookbook just for us. I have been looking for recipes for 2 to try. After years of making family meals, I still prepare too much. It is nice to have something to freeze but some things don't freeze well. I don't mind having leftovers when Hubby is not home but I can tell that he is less than thrilled if I give them to him. Yes, I know - he is spoiled. Sometimes he will even admit it. LOL

Cooking for Two

2010-04-16T15:39:00.001-04:00

Cooking for two after cooking for 5 and sometimes more, is often a challenge for me. The recipes I have collected over the years are too big. Even when I cut them half, we end up with leftovers. I am captivated by all the recipe sites and food blogs on the internet. I spend way too much time looking at them. So far I have not figured out a system that will help me 're-find' ones that are possible for us. I cannot print every one I come across. There is already too much paper on my desk.

I have been reading about people who cooked their way through specific cookbooks. I am looking for a small-quantity cookbook for us to work through. We have specific needs. The book I am looking for will have healthy recipes that are low in fat and sugar. The recipes will be tasty enough that Hubby won't know he is eating healthy.

And since I am cutting down, I am 'recycling' some of my cookbook collection. I am having a hard time with this. For whatever reason, I enjoy cookbooks. I sit and get pleasure reading them. When you look at my books, you can follow my progress through the years. There are the early years when I was making mixes and lots of bread. For a few years, I bought several of the Farm Journal books like Busy Woman's Cookbook and Family Favorites from Country Kitchens. After a workshop on feeding our families healthy meals, I was buying books like, The New York Times Natural Foods Cookbook, and Recipes for a Small Planet as I tried to convince my family they wanted to eat whole wheat bread rather than white. My 'kids' still remember when I tried to feed them spinach noodles.

Then there are all the diet books. Those were for me on my endless journey to a healthier weight although I was always hopeful there would be recipes everyone would like. Now, of course, I don't want to be making two meals for two people so I am trying to find things we both will eat. Meals cannot seem to be too healthy or Hubby will not consider eating them.

Tonight we are having meat loaf. I have been mixing my regular recipe and then I divide it. We eat half and the other half goes in the freezer.

Frustration

2010-04-09T20:02:00.001-04:00

This will not be a joyful blog but rather a 'rant'. I don't like grocery shopping with my husband. I managed quite well doing it by myself for 40 years. When he retired, he decided he needed to accompany me. At first I thought it would be fun, something we could do together. I remember the first couple times. By the time we got to checkout, I was sure we wouldn't have any money for the rest of the month because of all his impulse buys. Fortunately, things have improved and we aren't quite as broke when we leave the store.

Today was not a major shop but just a stop to get a couple things.  During the years when I shopped alone, I was a careful shopper. We were mostly a one-income family, feeding three children. Now I read labels and try to make informed decisions that will help keep us healthy. I also try to choose local products or at least Canadian products. A couple years ago I read "The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating". It made me more aware of where our food comes from and how important it is to support local farms.

At this time of year, we are looking forward to things like asparagus and strawberries. BUT, those products are available now from places further south than we are. This morning, Hubby decided he wanted frozen raspberries (because he saw them when I was looking at something else). Alone, I would consider them if they were Canadian. These were not. The raspberries are now in the freezer and I am sure he has already forgotten about them. Then he saw some asparagus. Asparagus is grown locally and it will be available soon. I suggested we wait. We almost got in an argument right there in the store. Of course we came home with asparagus.

When we get to the checkout, he stands back and watches me unload the cart. No big deal this morning because we didn't have much but sometimes we have a big order and I can feel myself simmering.   Fortunately, he is more helpful when we get home because he will carry the bags into the house for me to put away.

Do I feel better now? Yes, at least until the next time we are in the grocery store together. :) I guess that is where being together for 43 years is a good thing. Although he can frustrate me and make me want to make him see my point of view, I realize he isn't all bad.   We are on our joyful journey together. In the grand scheme of things, buying produce out of season isn't the end of the world.

Goals for April

2010-03-28T23:40:00.000-04:00

Here we are on the edge of a new month. I think I say it every month, "Where does the time go? How can it be a new month already?" As we move from one month to the next, I spend a lot of time thinking about goals. What are mine? Will I make new ones for the new month or just continue doing what I have been doing?

I borrowed "The Flat Belly Diet" from the library. It is interesting and I believe, do-able. For now I will continue to follow DASH http://dashdiet.org/ . We are coming to the time of year when we will have lots of fresh vegetables and fruit available and I will continue to work more of them into my plan. One thing the Flat Belly book talks about is healthy fats. I will try to use olive oil more often and maybe try to develop a taste for olives.

I have been going through everything in my desk. It is an old teacher's desk we got from Hubby's brother-in-law. It is too big to be upstairs so I have it in the basement in the laundry area. It tends to collect junk on top. I threw away several articles I had printed off. Hubby would like me to toss everything including the desk but I'm not ready for that yet. I will continue to work away. I am not ready to let go of everything the way he would like but I am doing what I can handle right now.

Time for bed. We were up early this morning because he had to work. He is off the next two days.

Blogging

2010-03-24T21:51:00.000-04:00

One of my reasons for starting this blog was to see if it would be helpful in my plan to lose weight. Others have cited their blogs as helpful. In order for my blog to be helpful to me, I will have to make sure I write more often than I have been.

This morning was my TOPS meeting. My weight has not changed. A couple of my friends were offering suggestions to help me. K. suggested that I change my walking pace. She said that perhaps I could speed up for a minute or two and then walk at my normal pace for awhile before speeding up again. Since one of my long-term goals is to try running, this sounds like a good approach.

Someone else suggested I might not be getting enough fat. I have been trying not to add fat (butter) to my meals. If it is already there, I don't worry about it but I do not add it to my toast or potatoes or whatever. She said that maybe I could 'up' my calories for a day or two to see if it would shock my metabolism.

I have been logging my food on http://sparkpeople.com/ but this week I plan to write everything down in my notebook to show my friends to see if they can see what I am missing.

I know that I need more exercise. I will continue to work at small changes. Tonight after supper, I took the dogs for a walk around the block. Sure, it wasn't far enough or long enough but I did walk and my journey has to start somewhere. (This is a picture K. took when she had the dogs at her place last summer.) They will be happy if I walk with them every evening after supper.

Saturday

2010-03-06T10:50:00.001-05:00

Hubby is working today. I am continuing to clear the basement. I have to be in the right frame of mind for this job and I have to do it when he is not around. He would be happy if I just tossed everything in the garbage but I can't do that. I know I shouldn't develop ties to stuff but I do and I find it hard to let go. I know that the more I do now (before we even think about putting the house on the market) the easier it will be on me later. I did meet my goal from last week to pack up some books. I think my goal was 7 books. I surpassed that.

I'd better get back to work. I needed a short break but I have to get on with it.

Wednesday

2010-03-03T16:16:00.000-05:00

My TOPS meeting was this morning. I was down a pound since our meeting two weeks ago. We did not have a meeting a week ago because of icy conditions. We had our annual election. All the officers are the same. I will continue as the assistant weight recorder.

I have walked every day this week. I did not reach my step goal (8912 steps) on Monday which meant I had to aim higher on Tuesday. Dr. Oz suggests 10,000 steps most days; at least I thought he did but now I cannot find it in the book. I did find where he says to walk 30 minutes every day. Perhaps the 10,000 steps is on his website.

Anyway, I walked 6,921 on Monday, 10,182 on Tuesday and 8,809 so far today.
I was a bit disappointed when I came back inside this afternoon after walking 75 minutes to find my pedometer registering only 8,800 steps. I should be able to reach 8912 by the end of the day. Perhaps for now I should concentrate on 30 minutes a day with the eventual goal of 10,000 steps.

Walhalla to Mt Hotham

2010-02-28T22:02:00.005-05:00

Your Australian Alp trail begins in Walhalla in Victoria, a small gold mining community from the 1800s. From Walhalla make your way through the Alpine National Park, an unusual National Park which allowed cattle grazing in the summer up until 2004. Continue through the national park, luckily it is easy walking as it is summer, to your destination of Mt Hotham. Mt Hotham is home to a ski resort and village; the village is 1750 metres above sea level making it the second highest resort village in Australia.

The track from Walhalla to Mt Hotham is 221km and the challenge requires you to achieve 276,250 steps between the 1st and 31st of March. To reach this target you will need to average around 8,912 steps per day.

I did not achieve my step goals in February. I am aiming for 10,000 steps eventually. March will help me get there.

(The site I use to keep track of my steps is Australian. Maybe someday I will see some of the places I am walking.)

Goal Suggestions for Exercise

2010-02-28T20:52:00.001-05:00

Re-assess your goals!
If you are losing motivation, maybe your goals were too easy or too hard. It may even be that you have changed what it is you now want to achieve.

List your obstacles to exercise and design a plan to overcome them!
Be thorough, think of every reason you can find not to exercise, then write down a reason that you should.

Don't do anything that you don't like!
You will have a greater chance of continuing to exercise if you find it enjoyable so if you don't like to run, do sit-ups, or swim, then don't do it.

Find the right location!
It is always more enjoyable to exercise in a nice environment so take a visit to a local lake or park.

Reflect on your exercise history!
When you last enjoyed exercise, how did it feel? What is different now?

Spend the time with your best friend!
Take your dog with you. He will always be keen and it will help to keep him healthy as well.

Eat well!
Improving your diet can give you more energy and increase your motivation to exercise.

Use intervals!
Break your training up over the day. Do half in the morning and half in the evening.

Invest in your future!
View your workouts as an important part of your lifestyle and as an investment in your health instead of a daily chore.

Use exercise as a trade off!
You must exercise "X" times per week if you want to do/have "Y".

Surround yourself with positive people!
You will be surprised at how positive your attitude will be if you spend time with people who really enjoy their life.

Use your workouts as "zone-out" time!
Don't be contactable and don't think about work/family.

Use positive mental imagery!
Each night as you go to bed spend time imagining what it would be like to be fit and healthy. How would your life be? How would you feel? It will be more attainable if you can imagine yourself reaching your goals.

One step at a time!
Think of every rep, set, metre, or workout you do as being one step closer to your goals.

Change your surroundings!
If you always train indoors, then start exercising 1 day per week outside.

Challenge yourself!
Move out of your comfort zone. Do something that will challenge you physically and mentally.

Variety is the spice of life!
Change your training regime every session.

Be accountable!
Organise for someone to re-assess your fitness every month. This way you will be less likely to take time off.

Set a plan! Fail to plan, Plan to fail! Write down what you want to achieve, then how you will achieve it. Ensure that it is realistic and attainable.

Sunday

2010-02-28T16:28:00.001-05:00

Today's entry is off topic although since it is my blog, nothing is off topic. It is something I have been thinking about this afternoon. Perhaps my problem with weight over the years is related.

To my pastor: I can only imagine how difficult it was for you to call the family meeting this morning at church. Ever since you came here, you have impressed me with your compassion and care for your flock. You seem to know what to do and say in difficult situations. (It was shortly after you came that B. went missing.)

I was also impressed with D. She was so composed and calm. I cannot imagine her church family being anything other than loving to her. Although I never stood in front of a church body and asked forgiveness, I have been there. When it happened to me, girls went away. My parents would not mail letters to me from our small town post office because they wanted to avoid gossip.

When I went away, I planned to surrender my baby to adoption. Plans changed. Two months before my baby was born, I got married. My new husband was in the navy and was leaving on a 3-month cruise about a week after our wedding. We rented a housekeeping room for the week. When he left, I returned to the 'home'. One day after my husband turned 20, our son was born. The following week, my father came and took me home. My son and I lived with my parents until Hubby returned from the cruise and we got our apartment.

I have so many memories from that period of my life. I was living in a one-bedroom apartment with three other girls when I realized I was pregnant. I was so afraid. Back then only 'bad' girls got pregnant out of wedlock and I didn't consider myself a 'bad' girl. I expected to lose my job but my boss was the one who arranged for me to meet with the supervisors (or whatever their title was) at the home. He told me I could continue to work as though I was married. It was so hard to tell my parents. In fact, I told only my father and left it up to him to tell my mother. Then I waited on pins and needles, fearing her reaction. They loved me and did what they could for me. I can think of no one who was unkind or cruel to me but I know there are many girls for whom that was not true.

Now I am trying to think what I might do for D. She, too, has loving parents who are standing with her. I expect some of the ladies from church will have a shower for her at some point. They have done it for others who found themselves in the same position. She will be all right.
Times have changed and there are few families who have not had single mothers in their midst. It may not be what we would choose for young ladies but there are much worse things that could have happened to them.

Saturday

2010-02-27T13:50:00.003-05:00

The Olympics are almost over. Because of the time difference, I have been staying up way too late watching. Some of the events are quite exciting.

I have been thinking about all the training the athletes go through. Whether or not they ever wear an Olympic medal, they can be proud to even be there.

I used to skate when I was a girl. We used to take our skates to school so we could go skating after school. We used to skate outside too. The last time I went skating was the year I went to business school. We had a skating party at one of the girl's farm. All I remember is how cold my feet were. There are times I could go skating at the arena here in town for a minimal price but now I have no skates and I am so afraid of falling. It's too bad I couldn't use one of those chairs that toddlers use when they are just starting out. It would be good exercise.

Shake the Salt Habit

2010-02-26T23:29:00.001-05:00

Nutritionists recommend limiting sodium intake to less than 2300 mg per day. Sodium controls fluid balance in our bodies and has a crucial role in maintaining blood volume and blood pressure. But a diet high in sodium can lead to high blood pressure and water retention. Here are a few tips to help you reduce sodium and shake off that salt habit!

Did you know that you can train taste buds? Slowly reduce sodium in your family’s diet and over time they’ll prefer foods with less sodium. Start by limiting your use of the salt shaker at the table, and use less salt when you cook.

Buy fresh, frozen, or canned "no salt added" vegetables.

Packaging can get a little confusing with all the varying terms out there but stay on the lookout for terms including: unsalted, no salt added, sodium free, very low sodium, low sodium, reduced (or less) sodium, or light in sodium.

Most of the sodium we consume is in the form of sodium chloride, which is common table salt. There are other forms of sodium in the products we buy so look out for both “salt” and “sodium” on labels.

They may sound more refined than ordinary table salt, but rock salts, sea salts and kosher salt are indeed salt. Be sure to include them when you’re calculating your daily sodium intake.

One of the easiest ways to cut back on salt intake is to flavour your food with herbs instead.

Now try to get all that across to my husband.

A Recipe I Want to Try

2010-02-26T22:46:00.001-05:00

I have a weakness for recipes. Would you believe that one of my first purchases when I started working was a paperback cookbook. At the time I was living in the residence of the YWCA and had no access to anything related to preparing a meal. We ate what someone else prepared. I still have that book and many more have been added to my collection. If cookbooks made a person a better cook, I would be up there with Julia Child. :) I sit and read them like novels. As I wrote in a previous blog entry, I am now in the process of weeding out my cookbook collection because at some point we will probably move to a smaller place. Now I spend a lot of time reading recipes on the internet. I still have the problem of not being able to find the recipe I want when I need it. Printing them off doesn't help because I have to remember where I put the page. If I remember that I made a note in my blog perhaps I will be able to retrieve it when I need it. It is worth a try anyway.

http://cook.scalejunkie.com/2009/01/chicken-barley-vegetable-soup.html

Decluttering

2010-02-26T13:46:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking about the article I read yesterday. I get e-mail from http://flylady.net/. I need to start doing the 15-minute fling she takes about. Hubby talks selling this house and moving to the city. I know my stress level will be much lower if I have already eliminated much of what fills our home. We do not need all the books we have and it is doubtful I will ever read most of them. I have been working at cutting back on my cookbooks. I no longer need those that I used when I was feeding my family. Now I need recipes for one or two people. Why do I hang onto them?

This week I will take 7 books to the thrift store.

Easy Chocolate Mousse

2010-02-25T18:59:00.000-05:00

Prep 10 minutes Cook 1 minute Serves 4

1/3 cup fat-free half-and-half
1/2 teaspoon instant coffee powder
5 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch salt
1 1/3 cups fat-free sour cream
1/2 pint fresh raspberries

Mix the half-and-half and instant coffee in a medium microwavable bowl. Microwave on High 1 minute; stir in the chocolate chips. Let stand about 2 minutes. Beat with a whisk until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Add the vanilla and salt, whisking until blended. Let cool to room temperature.
With an electric mixer on high speed, beat the sour cream in a medium bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. With a rubber spatula, gently fold half the sour cream into the chocolate mixture, stirring just until blended. Repeat with the remaining sour cream. Divide the mousse among 4 dishes. Refrigerate, covered until thoroughly chilled and set, at least 2 hours or up to 1 day. Serve with the raspberries.

Per Serving (1/2 cup mousse with about 1/3 cup raspberries): 266 calories, 11 g fat, 7 g sat fat, 0 g trans fat, 9 mg chol, 231 mg sod, 41 g carb, 4 g fib, 5 g protein, 148 mg calc. WW POINTS VALUE: 5

Declutter Your Mind

2010-02-25T18:41:00.000-05:00

If you acknowledge your emotional clutter (the unhealthy habits that lead you to overeat) and find ways to deal with it, the weight will fall away. But as soon as you let your emotions - be they depression, anger, or joy -- make your eating decisions for you, the weight will creep on. Do some personal spring cleaning to break the habits that steer you in the wrong direction.

Do a reality check: The fat didn't appear overnight and won't disappear overnight.
Imagine the life and body you want and hold that idea in your mind; refer to that mental image when you're swayed by unhealthy foods.
Organize where, how, and what you eat--it's the first step toward achieving your ideal body. Take time to plan out your meals.
Determine what your goal is for your body (to fit into your favorite pair of jeans or to be able to run a mile, for example). If a food doesn't help in your efforts toward achieving that goal, don't eat it.
Live in the present, not the past or the future. If you're eating for emotional reasons, home in on why. Anger? Despair? Fear?
Make mindful eating a way of life. If you don't, the fat will creep back on. Celebrate every meal; it will remind you of the great things a meal provides, beyond food.

May/June 2008 Weight Watchers Magazine

Blogging

2010-02-25T16:36:00.000-05:00

Blogging is still new to me. I have had journals through the years but with those I would sit down and start to write. With blogging, I have to make decisions about formatting, backgrounds and other 'stuff'. I see blogs I like but I am still unsure how to make mine look the way it does in my mind. I wanted my title to have some kind of sweeping letters. I want a nice background picture. I want it to be easy to read. This could be something else that will take my time as if I need another 'hobby'. At least it is taking me away from my farm on Facebook.

This afternoon before I left for my massage, I was reading 'diet' blogs. I knew I wanted one for myself.
While I was lying on the table, the idea for the title came to me. It got harder after that.

Because I have been concentrating on food, habits, and goals, I have been careful with my intake today. It will be interesting to see how this goes.