So far so good! I'm coming to the end of my 8th week of healthy eating and exercising and I'm so happy! Things are going well, weight is coming off, I'm full of energy and I'm in control of what I eat..... mostly. I allow myself the weekend, and although I allow myself a few treats, I don't go overboard. I suffer when I do. It's not worth it. I get bad stomach cramps and my bowels play up if I let go too much. So, I do eat my cake (how do you say that phrase, lol), but only small amounts. I eat whatever's on the menu (within reason) but I do it sensibly. I eat more veg. I don't feel I need to eat 3 servings. And I feel good! The scales are telling me I'm 10kgs (22lbs) lighter. My trousers seem to agree. I feel good, and will carry on. And my gardening is helping too - all that digging and pottering is so good for my body, mind and soul, I love it! And i'm taking my beloved hubby with me. He's lost some 7lbs too and is upping his cardio by walking. And he's looking fabulous for it - boy, he looks delish! And I'm so proud of him - he prepared us a super healthy meal last night - a salad with all colours in it and baked trout - never in a million years would I have imagined him taking interest in creating healthy dinners not laden with carbohydrate and fat, but he is taking an interest and I'm thankful and happy and proud. We'll keep this going for life. It feels so good to live so simply and healthfully and still enjoy every meal. It's a slow learning process but I believe that once we get it going it'll be a way of life and not an effort anymore. And the best part? Not feeling deprived! We're not hungry, we're not 'starving' ourselves, we are not looking for a quick fix.... we're setting down a firm foundation for a lifestyle change. It'll be gradual, but so far, so good!
So, off to make us a green smoothie for lunch, and till next time, do stay blessed!
Friday, 3 April 2009
Allotment Update
So far, these past 3 weeks have been wonderful for weather-wise, so gardening has been happening aplenty! My plot that looked so wild over the winter period is now tamed and dare I say a tiny bit manucured, lol. I still have a long way to go before it looks like I would like it to but it's so much better. The old dead corn plants are gone, the rustic, leaning on one side beanframe is gone, the weeds have been shown who is boss, though there are still spots which need work, and the rubbish is piling neatly in allocated corners and not strewn all over the place.
Some potatoes have been planted, broadbeans are in, peas are in, shallots, onions and garlic are mostly planted (still need to get 95 onion sets planted), jerusalem and chinese artichokes are planted too, in temporary pots - get them going till I decide where they'll live. I've also planted some lettuce, parsley, coriander and basil. And as usual, I've overdone it with a lot of things...... Take potatoes, for example.... I've so far planted close to 5kgs of the stuff. I over-estimate how much I need and I seem to have potatoes taking up most of the plot! And, I still have at least 3kgs waiting to be planted. I've put in 2 cultivars of first earlies - Duke of York reds and Sharpe's Express whites. I've also planted a variety of maincrop cultivars - Highland Burgundy (Burgundy Red?), Pink Fir Apple, Mr Little's Yelthom Gypsy, Shetland Black and Saxon (all heritage variaties -yay!). I still have Swift, Maris Peer and Cara chitting. I know the Swift should be in already, and the Maris peer but they are just not ready for planting yet - they'll go into bags, I think. Maybe I could save some for later in the year for new potatoes at Christmas? I don't know...... Plus my old pal Gilbert has some King Edwards and something he says is for me - I'll have to use bags it seems - good job I bought plenty last year. I so under-estimated how much space they all need! Lesson learnt. I just hope and pray that the harvests will keep us going till the next season and that we don't have to buy. Praying for smooth sailing non diseased crops! If all goes well, we'll be self sufficient next year for potatoes, shallots, garlic and onions. I hope they all do well, please God!
I need to plant ASAP parsnips and carrots - I bought a 4''x8'' raised bed for these, so should get that built and filled up and get these done within the next 10 days... I really do. Or, I could plant them in some of those loo roll insides I've been saving all year? Might try this - get them off to a start.
Sowings so far - Okra (Pure Luck), aubergines (Long Purple), Pepper (Californian Wonder) and tomatoes (Black Cherry). All in one tray. They should be okay - sowing distances, germination reqirements and time estimated are the same. I ned to get sowing in earnest now - time is moving! I'll probably sow some more today. Priorities include parsnips, brussel sprouts, globe artichokes, carrots and sweet peas. Don't worry, loo roll holders will keep the parsnips and carrots snug till their raised bed is done.
Some potatoes have been planted, broadbeans are in, peas are in, shallots, onions and garlic are mostly planted (still need to get 95 onion sets planted), jerusalem and chinese artichokes are planted too, in temporary pots - get them going till I decide where they'll live. I've also planted some lettuce, parsley, coriander and basil. And as usual, I've overdone it with a lot of things...... Take potatoes, for example.... I've so far planted close to 5kgs of the stuff. I over-estimate how much I need and I seem to have potatoes taking up most of the plot! And, I still have at least 3kgs waiting to be planted. I've put in 2 cultivars of first earlies - Duke of York reds and Sharpe's Express whites. I've also planted a variety of maincrop cultivars - Highland Burgundy (Burgundy Red?), Pink Fir Apple, Mr Little's Yelthom Gypsy, Shetland Black and Saxon (all heritage variaties -yay!). I still have Swift, Maris Peer and Cara chitting. I know the Swift should be in already, and the Maris peer but they are just not ready for planting yet - they'll go into bags, I think. Maybe I could save some for later in the year for new potatoes at Christmas? I don't know...... Plus my old pal Gilbert has some King Edwards and something he says is for me - I'll have to use bags it seems - good job I bought plenty last year. I so under-estimated how much space they all need! Lesson learnt. I just hope and pray that the harvests will keep us going till the next season and that we don't have to buy. Praying for smooth sailing non diseased crops! If all goes well, we'll be self sufficient next year for potatoes, shallots, garlic and onions. I hope they all do well, please God!
I need to plant ASAP parsnips and carrots - I bought a 4''x8'' raised bed for these, so should get that built and filled up and get these done within the next 10 days... I really do. Or, I could plant them in some of those loo roll insides I've been saving all year? Might try this - get them off to a start.
Sowings so far - Okra (Pure Luck), aubergines (Long Purple), Pepper (Californian Wonder) and tomatoes (Black Cherry). All in one tray. They should be okay - sowing distances, germination reqirements and time estimated are the same. I ned to get sowing in earnest now - time is moving! I'll probably sow some more today. Priorities include parsnips, brussel sprouts, globe artichokes, carrots and sweet peas. Don't worry, loo roll holders will keep the parsnips and carrots snug till their raised bed is done.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Week 6 - What!!!!!
Okay, time really does fly! I shocked 2 weeks have gone by already since my last entry - wow! Kinda silly, because I was aware that time was getting by, just not thinking about updating the blog.
Anyway, I'm so pleased to report that all is well and we're still on track with the healthy living. Green smoothies continue, though I hit a wall recently when I added spirulina to the mix - that stuff is so good for you, HOWEVER it's soooo yuck!! I mean - pond water, smelly kinda yuck - eeeewwwww! We've been taking chlorella in our smoothies for a while, so I decided to throw in some spirulina in the mix too, as the 2 'superfoods' go hand in hand. Well, I'm happy with chlorella in many ways, including taste - I can even eat and enjoy that stuff. I thought spirulina was the same - wrong! Yuck! I love it though, for it's nutrient density and all the good stuff it does, so will take it - in tablet form. It made me not enjoy my smoothies, that naughty spirulina! I'm thankful for it though!
So, in my last post I was seriously considering re-joining the gym. Well, I would have had the price not more than doubled since I left. See, we've got some basic medical cover with Pru-Health, and unlike many regular insurers, Pru does reward for living healthily. Now, they've teamed up with a few gym houses, health houses etc and the more you do the lower your premiums go. Now, when we joined Pru-Health 3 years ago, I was a member of one of the gyms they teamed up with. Without Pru, the monthly gym fee cost £67 - and this was after the NHS worker discount (EEEEKKKK!!!!). I still cannot believe I paid that fee for 2-3 years! Anyway, when I joined Pru, my fee went down to an attractive £25/month. The gym was Holmes place, now called Virgin Active. I quit gym in 2007 because I stopped going as often as I used to - thanks to my allotment. Well, when I asked about rejoining recently, I got told it now costs £54/month! I mean.... what!? So I decided not to join. Instead, I got a clever little pedometer called the Fitbug - also in association with Pru. I got it 2 days after I ordered it, set it up on my PC and got started. Now, this fitbug is like a mini computer - not only does it do what pedometers do, i.e. count steps, it also tells me when I upload my stats on the website, how many calories I've expended with the number of steps I take. So far so good - I'm such a competitive little soul, I compete with this thing daily to get my 10,000 steps in before midnight, lol - it zeroes at midnight. Why do I feel the need to compete? Well, I'm weird that way. Plus with every 10,000 - 12,500 steps, I get a certain number of what Pru calls 'Vitality Points', with 10 points for reaching 12,500 steps and
5 points for reaching 10,000 (per day). So you bet I'm bloody competitive - those premiums are coming down in 2010 and I will be a healthier, lean, mean fit machine, lol! And so far, I've had a gym fitness test which should earn me 300 points. With my fitbug, I'm aiming for the maximum 1500 by early next year when we renew. There are other things like health screening, not smoking, nutrition, education etc that earn points, and you bet I'll make use of all of these - I'm not paying over £30/month next year! Bottom line? I wanna get as healthy and as fit as I possibly can.
Okay, hope no confusion has ensued with my bubbling, lol - I am almost confused myself! Anyway, what i wanted to say is that all is well and progress is evident. Plus, as of last week, i was 15.4pounds lighter than I was when I got started - sweet! So, one stone down, 2 to go!!!!! And I'm so full of energy and don't feel deprived at all! And yeah, still thinking about doing a juice and smoothie only week or 2.... question is when.....
Till next time - bright blessings to all!
Anyway, I'm so pleased to report that all is well and we're still on track with the healthy living. Green smoothies continue, though I hit a wall recently when I added spirulina to the mix - that stuff is so good for you, HOWEVER it's soooo yuck!! I mean - pond water, smelly kinda yuck - eeeewwwww! We've been taking chlorella in our smoothies for a while, so I decided to throw in some spirulina in the mix too, as the 2 'superfoods' go hand in hand. Well, I'm happy with chlorella in many ways, including taste - I can even eat and enjoy that stuff. I thought spirulina was the same - wrong! Yuck! I love it though, for it's nutrient density and all the good stuff it does, so will take it - in tablet form. It made me not enjoy my smoothies, that naughty spirulina! I'm thankful for it though!
So, in my last post I was seriously considering re-joining the gym. Well, I would have had the price not more than doubled since I left. See, we've got some basic medical cover with Pru-Health, and unlike many regular insurers, Pru does reward for living healthily. Now, they've teamed up with a few gym houses, health houses etc and the more you do the lower your premiums go. Now, when we joined Pru-Health 3 years ago, I was a member of one of the gyms they teamed up with. Without Pru, the monthly gym fee cost £67 - and this was after the NHS worker discount (EEEEKKKK!!!!). I still cannot believe I paid that fee for 2-3 years! Anyway, when I joined Pru, my fee went down to an attractive £25/month. The gym was Holmes place, now called Virgin Active. I quit gym in 2007 because I stopped going as often as I used to - thanks to my allotment. Well, when I asked about rejoining recently, I got told it now costs £54/month! I mean.... what!? So I decided not to join. Instead, I got a clever little pedometer called the Fitbug - also in association with Pru. I got it 2 days after I ordered it, set it up on my PC and got started. Now, this fitbug is like a mini computer - not only does it do what pedometers do, i.e. count steps, it also tells me when I upload my stats on the website, how many calories I've expended with the number of steps I take. So far so good - I'm such a competitive little soul, I compete with this thing daily to get my 10,000 steps in before midnight, lol - it zeroes at midnight. Why do I feel the need to compete? Well, I'm weird that way. Plus with every 10,000 - 12,500 steps, I get a certain number of what Pru calls 'Vitality Points', with 10 points for reaching 12,500 steps and
5 points for reaching 10,000 (per day). So you bet I'm bloody competitive - those premiums are coming down in 2010 and I will be a healthier, lean, mean fit machine, lol! And so far, I've had a gym fitness test which should earn me 300 points. With my fitbug, I'm aiming for the maximum 1500 by early next year when we renew. There are other things like health screening, not smoking, nutrition, education etc that earn points, and you bet I'll make use of all of these - I'm not paying over £30/month next year! Bottom line? I wanna get as healthy and as fit as I possibly can.
Okay, hope no confusion has ensued with my bubbling, lol - I am almost confused myself! Anyway, what i wanted to say is that all is well and progress is evident. Plus, as of last week, i was 15.4pounds lighter than I was when I got started - sweet! So, one stone down, 2 to go!!!!! And I'm so full of energy and don't feel deprived at all! And yeah, still thinking about doing a juice and smoothie only week or 2.... question is when.....
Till next time - bright blessings to all!
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Wanna do a smoothie and juice only week or 2
Hmmmmm.......
Need to get planning as I cannot afford to slip on this one. I need all the nutrients my body can get, yet I don't want to fast proper. Or maybe I do but just need to get organised, juice loads of fruit and veg and freeze them so I have an easy/non messy week. I need to get my brain in gear. First up, join a gym, as I'd like to do gentle yoga workouts next time I do a juice fast. I want to lose weight too but not muscle, hence the need to exercise. Hmmmm.... just pondering!
Need to get planning as I cannot afford to slip on this one. I need all the nutrients my body can get, yet I don't want to fast proper. Or maybe I do but just need to get organised, juice loads of fruit and veg and freeze them so I have an easy/non messy week. I need to get my brain in gear. First up, join a gym, as I'd like to do gentle yoga workouts next time I do a juice fast. I want to lose weight too but not muscle, hence the need to exercise. Hmmmm.... just pondering!
Still on track!!! Week 4....
I'm so very proud of myself! Even on lazy days, I'm managing to have at least one green smoothie, one light meal and one cooked meal, of which the cooked component is really only 10-20% of my daily intake. I'm pleased! My homemade muesli is a hit with hubby too, and I'm pleased. Saves me having to smoothie something green in the morning.... I really wish hubby would get in on the smoothie-ing too. He just drinks and isn't at all interested in making, the silly man! He'd so go right back to the typical cooked butter laden meals if I were to slip - no encouragement, sigh. Ah well, such is life, I suppose.....
Exercise - well, I found my knee support, wore it while I had a run and felt so much better. This was last Friday - 4 days ago. My body hurt loads afterwards (the good, expected after exercise kind of pain), and I was determined that would not keep me from my running... well, seems like it kinda has, lol. This week doesn't look good either as I'm working nights starting this evening - I need to get my head into gear and do this! I need to at least reach my first goal and get down to my 79kgs by April 20th - 10 weeks since I got started. Must, must, must do better! Weighed in at a stagnant 85kgs this past weekend, however, the inches are going. I think I'm gaining muscle weight and losing fat - it's what happens with me. Means I need to work even harder if I want to see a difference in those scales, because I do! I know muscle is good, but I still NEED to lose the fat, regardless. Been thinking of rejoining the gym again, and I'm leaning towards joining. This is because I want to do some pilates too, as well as yoga and it'll be cheaper for me joining a gym than doing classes help in the non-gym community which charges £10-15 per session. I mean, I'd like to do at least 1 session a week, maybe 2, and no way am i paying £10 just for an hours session! Gym membership will cost me £25-30/month and I have access to ALL classes I can attend, incl. yoga and pilates, plus there's a pool and steam and sauna rooms. Steam and sauna rooms..... Now, a session in one of those rooms after a hard workout would be superb! Plus, there's a running club at the gym, so i could join them and keep with it. Yup, joining the gym!!!!!
Exercise - well, I found my knee support, wore it while I had a run and felt so much better. This was last Friday - 4 days ago. My body hurt loads afterwards (the good, expected after exercise kind of pain), and I was determined that would not keep me from my running... well, seems like it kinda has, lol. This week doesn't look good either as I'm working nights starting this evening - I need to get my head into gear and do this! I need to at least reach my first goal and get down to my 79kgs by April 20th - 10 weeks since I got started. Must, must, must do better! Weighed in at a stagnant 85kgs this past weekend, however, the inches are going. I think I'm gaining muscle weight and losing fat - it's what happens with me. Means I need to work even harder if I want to see a difference in those scales, because I do! I know muscle is good, but I still NEED to lose the fat, regardless. Been thinking of rejoining the gym again, and I'm leaning towards joining. This is because I want to do some pilates too, as well as yoga and it'll be cheaper for me joining a gym than doing classes help in the non-gym community which charges £10-15 per session. I mean, I'd like to do at least 1 session a week, maybe 2, and no way am i paying £10 just for an hours session! Gym membership will cost me £25-30/month and I have access to ALL classes I can attend, incl. yoga and pilates, plus there's a pool and steam and sauna rooms. Steam and sauna rooms..... Now, a session in one of those rooms after a hard workout would be superb! Plus, there's a running club at the gym, so i could join them and keep with it. Yup, joining the gym!!!!!
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Wow, it's been 6 days since I last updated!
Where does the time go?
Anyway, my healthy living lifestyle is still holding up very well! On a typical day, hubby and I have 2 green smoothies for breakfast and lunch and a 'light' dinner. Light in quotes because I keep it light, lol. I've also started making muesli and we had some of that this morning - yum! Made it as per Karen Knowler's recipe and hubby said it was the best muesli he's ever eaten, so thanks Karen.....
Rule of thumb is, whatever we prepare, a raw dish MUST accompany and I eat the raw first after which I'm pretty full anyway so I just have a small amount of cooked food. Hubby on the other hand.... well, he's trying, bless him. He had the audacity to complain a few days ago when I made him a pasta dish. I didn't have it, just him. It was enough for 2 servings, yet he goes and eats it all then blames me for cooking it. He believes he's addicted to food, which is probably true, lol. And when I prepare little servings, he goes on about being hungry - I just cannot win with him, sigh. It's all light hearted but still.... Anyway, salads galore!!!!!
Still jogging/walking at least 3-4 times a week and loving it. I'm staying at the 3 mile mark till I can run the whole distance..... I think. I nearly did it on Monday - run atleast 2.75 miles and walked a quarter mile. My problem isn't stamina. It's not my lungs either. It's my knees and my hip and occassionally my ankle. Left hip, right knee, right ankle, sigh - they hurt when I run. Mostly the knee - the hip and ankle kinda get better with a good warm-up so not too worried about those. I injured the knee and the ankle years ago when I used to train hard and the pain comes and goes and can be annoying. I need to find my knee support as that does help a lot. And I'm sure the sooner I lose the extra weight the easier it'll be on my joints, so keeping on! I don't give up when the joints play up, I just slow down and find a comfortable pace and keep going. The distance has to be done, running or walking. If I find I can't run it by end of next week I might add a mile and walk / run as my body tells me. I'm quite loving the park in the mornings! Now, to aspire to getting there as soon as it's light, lol.....
Anyway, my healthy living lifestyle is still holding up very well! On a typical day, hubby and I have 2 green smoothies for breakfast and lunch and a 'light' dinner. Light in quotes because I keep it light, lol. I've also started making muesli and we had some of that this morning - yum! Made it as per Karen Knowler's recipe and hubby said it was the best muesli he's ever eaten, so thanks Karen.....
Rule of thumb is, whatever we prepare, a raw dish MUST accompany and I eat the raw first after which I'm pretty full anyway so I just have a small amount of cooked food. Hubby on the other hand.... well, he's trying, bless him. He had the audacity to complain a few days ago when I made him a pasta dish. I didn't have it, just him. It was enough for 2 servings, yet he goes and eats it all then blames me for cooking it. He believes he's addicted to food, which is probably true, lol. And when I prepare little servings, he goes on about being hungry - I just cannot win with him, sigh. It's all light hearted but still.... Anyway, salads galore!!!!!
Still jogging/walking at least 3-4 times a week and loving it. I'm staying at the 3 mile mark till I can run the whole distance..... I think. I nearly did it on Monday - run atleast 2.75 miles and walked a quarter mile. My problem isn't stamina. It's not my lungs either. It's my knees and my hip and occassionally my ankle. Left hip, right knee, right ankle, sigh - they hurt when I run. Mostly the knee - the hip and ankle kinda get better with a good warm-up so not too worried about those. I injured the knee and the ankle years ago when I used to train hard and the pain comes and goes and can be annoying. I need to find my knee support as that does help a lot. And I'm sure the sooner I lose the extra weight the easier it'll be on my joints, so keeping on! I don't give up when the joints play up, I just slow down and find a comfortable pace and keep going. The distance has to be done, running or walking. If I find I can't run it by end of next week I might add a mile and walk / run as my body tells me. I'm quite loving the park in the mornings! Now, to aspire to getting there as soon as it's light, lol.....
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