Choosing the right course...

In 54 years of living, I have never been away on my own.

But when you decide your life has more value than you realised, you do strange things.

You may even have adventures.

Last week, on a spur of the moment impulse, I left husband and daughter behind and had my very first solo-away-adventure. 

And I loved it.

I traveled north to Mission Beach, amidst wild winds and unseasonal rain and storms.

In a secluded cabin...

...with rainforest behind me and the beach in front of me...

...I prayed, read, stitched, cooked, and reflected on the sum of my life.

The wisest thing I did was leave behind the laptop and all 'work' distractions. This was time to slow right down in order to hear God and my heart.

I enjoyed a lovely rich block of dark chocolate during my stay, and did not beat myself up about it because a life separated from occasional treats is not really a life is it?

But, aware that both body and mind are nourished when we take time to think about what we eat and drink, the rest of the time I made healthy and tasty choices with what was available locally...

The bringing together of two things - nourishing foods and uninterrupted rest - gave me what I've badly needed for the last year. It's incredible how a few days like this can recharge and refresh the emotions, whilst also clearing negative thoughts and adjusting out-of-sync priorities. 

I came back changed for the better, yet still on a journey.

One thing about my daily diet that seemed clearer was the importance of taste.

Natural taste.

You see I love wholefoods, raw foods, fermented foods, sour doughs, nuts, seeds and fresh from the farmer/garden produce - but as good as that sounds (and tastes!) it has a downside.

To diet one needs to restrict calories. This can lead to a growling, empty tummy. In order to fill the empty tummy one gets from those lower calories, one needs to the lower the calorie content of the food eaten in order to eat more so that tummy can be filled to satisfaction. At least that's how it works for me.

BUT...I don't want to eat diet yoghurt. I don't want to eat fake sugar (and I do use stevia but it's not as nice as I'd like it to be), and I don't want to cut out wholegrain sour dough breads, nuts, olive oil or seeds.

I used to tell myself, "eat the low-cal stuff until you've lost the weight, and then maintain it with healthy foods".

But when I was away I knew I couldn't do that on any level.

When I eat wholefoods I fill up for longer, and I am happily satisfied in taste and appetite. I *feel* healthy, and my body functions better.

My nails are stronger, my hair thickens and gleams, I get less migraines, sleep more soundly, have no digestive issues, and my knee and ankle joints don't ache.

But I don't lose any weight. 

When I eat 'diet' foods I get way more migraines, sleep fitfully, lose handfuls of hair, and my nails 'peel' off in layers.

Answer for me: exercise more, eat wholefoods for three meals a day, don't snack.

Sounds simple, but isn't (I love snacks). However, the pay off is sooooooo worth it. Healthy inners, strong outers, and less migraines.

So back on the treadmill this morning (haven't been on in 13 days) and a more consistent approach to cleaning the house a bit deeper each day (good for the body, the soul, and weight loss). Also adding in some very basic stretches from a beginner yoga app on my iPad.

Wholefoods and exercise, plus a good dose of fresh air and time out with my husband...perfect.

Might even look at growing some more things in pots outside. Having health at your back door is wonderful. This morning's crop of tomatoes sort of inspires that thinking...

 

How are you going? What things trip you up in your desire to live and eat healthy and lose excess weight?

hugs

Jenny

x

A value on health?

How did you go with your walking this week?

After my post last week I got to talking with my husband about walking, and asked his opinion on why we have stopped doing something we did quite naturally a couple of years ago.

The answer is rather simple.

We live in the tropics, and for nine months of the year it is simply too hot, and humid, for either of us to do anymore than a lap around the block! Over winter here, when the weather is pretty much the same as a temperate summer region, walking is wonderful. But, I don't want to set up this wonderful habit only to fall away as soon as spring arrives with its stifling heat once more.

So, we discussed the value of our health. Have you ever done that - put a value on your health?

It's quite a daunting thing at first because our lives are usually so rushed that the importance of maintaining, or beginning, a good health plan, doesn't enter the life plan radar, or if it does it's a rather fleeting visit.

On Saturday morning I actually made time to look at myself critically. I rain my fingers through the long greying hair, saw the lack of twinkle in my 54yo blue eyes, patted the soft pudgy flesh around my middle, and wobbled some flesh on my inner thighs. I saw that my nails - both fingers and toes - were cracking and peeling, and there was more dry patches than ever before across my legs and upper arms. Rounding cheeks could not hide from the mirror, my knees complained as I bent down to read the scales - and finally, the breathlessness that struck when I had to bend over to tie the laces on my trainers.

One body, one life on earth. Have I invested into it? Not really. 

So with the blessing and assistance of my husband we went shopping for a treadmill. We knew this would be a huge financial investment that in monetary terms was going to set us back a bit, but boy did we underestimate that cost!

After the initial shock of a price tag in the thousands for one that monitors heart rate, has lots of programs for varying fitness, as well as being suitable for the long haul with three of us at home using it every day. We thanked the sales person for their time, and decided to look for their same current model second hand. Within two hours we were loading one into the station wagon, exactly the same model, barely used and with all it's warranty intact, for just a 1/4 of the new price!

It's brilliant. Rain or shine, humidity or not, we can walk every day. We can walk flat, up hills, we can jog, or we can do a mix of all. It has a socket for my ipod so I can listen to music, audio books, the Bible, and podcasts.

This was great on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, but then I got sick. So Wednesday and Thursday I was laid up with a tummy bug, but today I am much better and can get back to the new routine.

I'm just pleased that I made a conscious decision about my health, and rather than putting it aside till another day, I acted on it immediately and am already reaping the benefits. 

I have more points of value to work towards, but making life changes is all about one step at time.

Can I ask you this week to think about, and write down, what value points you put on your health?

 

I lost a whole kilo this week, but I think that was a mix of the walking and the tummy bug. For one whole day I only managed to stomach large glasses on gingered water, but the second day I enjoyed my coffee again and some fruit smoothies.

This fruit smoothie is one that I have most days, with slight variations. If I'm not very hungry in the morning, or if I am 'very' hungry mid afternoon,  I'll have this ....

1/2 banana

1/2 cup of frozen berries or cherries

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

2 teaspoons golden flaxmeal

2 teaspoons of stevia sweetened cocoa

Blend it for about 30 seconds and enjoy.

When I am extra busy I but the unsweetened almond milk, but other times I make my own. You can find the easy recipe HERE in a previous post.

Have a lovely week ahead, and please take this week's challenge.

Write down the things you may need to change in order to truly value your health.

Choose the one you know you can do straight away, and make that change today - or at least take one pro-active step towards that change.

Keep a list of the others in a prominent place - perhaps on the front of your fridge?

Look over them every day and as you are able, make those changes too.

It is only by slowly and patiently chipping away that a sculptor can turn a shapeless and worthless piece of rock into something of value and admiration.

Hugs

Jenny

xx

 

 

 

lose it:naturally...

If you've had a read through the last few years of sporadic posts on this "poor-neglected-second cousin-blog-of-mine", you'll know that I have had a constant struggle with diet, weight, exercise, and healthy eating.

Girls, I have studied this stuff for YEARS.

The head knowledge is crammed tighter in my brain than a stuffed rag doll full of polyester fibre-fill!

I can lose weight - no problems there, because I know how, and it always works.

BUT, having a mindset to commit long term to smaller serves, healthier food choices, daily exercise etc...that's the revolving door issue I always discover a few months in. And nine times out of ten I walk into that revolving door and end up walking 'round till I'm back where I started - out of breath, overweight, and plagued with sugar-fueled migraines.

Well, I want to change that. 

Weight loss can be a fairly private affair for most people. We know the pounds are expanding in our flesh when doing up your jeans zipper leaves your head spinning from lack of oxygen and you almost pass out (yep, been there a lot lately); the mirror becomes our nemesis because it certainly doesn't say, "hey girl, you sure are the fairest of them all!" anymore; and we watch the vibrant fruits and vegetables stocking our refrigerator since last grocery day go limp, even mouldy.

But hiding alone to get in shape isn't going to keep me or you going long term with our desire for a healthy, active, toned life. 

Even though I have the knowledge to lose weight, I'm no expert at keeping my motivation - if I was, I think I'd be striding hills with confidence and energy at dawn every day! 

Between the knowing, and the being, there is a chasm I haven't been able to cross. And I think it's because I try to cross it alone. 

Even Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms when he was weary during the battle of Rephidim! (Exodus 17:8-14)

Are you doing this alone too? Do you need some support? 

My arms are wide open, friend. Welcome to lose it:naturally.

I'll post here every week, sharing any new information I've discovered to help with changing my physical life for the better. I'll also offer some spiritual health along the way, because how we think correlates to how we respond to, and choose, what's best for us.

As I said before, it's hardest to make these changes when you're doing it alone.

If you're ready to walk with me, then neither of us is alone anymore.

You can put that grab button (up on the left) on your blog if you like, but it's okay if you'd rather not go public about the journey we're taking.

I'll set us both one task each week, a new habit to begin; the first of many life giving habits.

Week 1 Habit

Walk

It doesn't have to be difficult. You don't need special equipment. You don't even need special clothes.

Just put on your most comfortable shoes and some loose clothing, and walk out the door.

This can be to the corner and back, around the block, or up the hill; if you're embarrassed to walk outdoors (hey, I've been there too!) just walk around your yard. 

One lady in Australia started walking around her clothesline, and ending up writing a book about it. She started where she could, with what she had...but she started. And she actually succeeded in losing her weight and changing her life. By walking.

Let's walk this week, ok?

Hugs

Jenny

Fresh to the table...

Having some fresh herbs and tomatoes growing in pots is inspiring as I seek to eat as many salads as I can on this weight loss trip.

Still a ways to go till harvest, but like losing weight, you just have to make a start and in time you reap the benefits and results are seen.

I have joined up with Weight Watchers online because I need accountability, and I really do not have any of that on my own. 

So far it's been great...I'm not even hungry enough to eat all my points, but that's not good for my body, so I make sure I use them all by bedtime.

I have a stack of cookbooks, and will make a menu plan for a 4-week rotation. I'm really slack at doing one every week, but monthly will be perfect. 

Hugs

Jenny

xx

How many times can one person start over?

As many as they like.

Finding time for *me*, and my way of eating is harder now than it ever was, and I'm not sure why.

Perhaps I just don't make myself and my health enough of a priority?

The only person who can change that is me, and it's only when the scales tip back over the 75kg mark that I actually sit up and take notice of that truth.

Last week, scales tipped 75kgs again. I hate admitting it. I hate that I do so well, and then let everyone else's 'lack of health' desires take over.

So I start over. Again.

But one day, that starting over date will never be repeated because I'll believe I am worth it all, and take the time of my life to see it through till I meet Jesus.

This morning, a health shot to begin the cleanse...

almond milk

blueberries

banana

maca powder

raw cacao
golden flaxmeal

black chia seeds

raw macadamias

In the garden, starting small, but starting none-the-less...

And for exercise? We have a steep driveaway...perfect for climbing up and down a while. I also bought a Leslie Sansone walking dvd, and I have my old favourite Rosemary Conley dvds for toning.

Hopefully, as the weight drops again, and my knees stop hurting from carrying my excess weight, I'll be doing some of this...

Starting over.

It's not so bad.

Hugs

Jenny

Planning simply...

A major headache for me is planning meals ahead of time.

My day to day design work can lead me off on a journey that shows no respect for regular meal times, and rushing to shop for ingredients at the 11th hour makes the responsibility even more frustrating.

Discovering that I have allowed my life to run this course brought a huge sigh of dismay, a few tears, and then a kick in the butt to self. 

I can do better than this.

I have done better than this.

Assessing how best to utilise my kitchen time gave me much to ponder these last few days. 

I have a tendency to shoot for the moon, where in reality, a good earthly  meal would suffice.

My husband and I do not like eating many grains these days, so salads and stir fries are our common fare. I've decided to experiment with a different array of meat & salad meals, adding in other proteins like beans, chick peas, yoghurt, eggs etc for variety.

Slow and steady. Mix it up a bit - fish, lamb, chicken, beef, as well as legumes.

Experiment with different dressings.

Use fresh ingredients as much as possible, and let their flavours shine through.

This is do-able. 

This is healthy.

This must be a priority.

...Warm Lamb Salad & Tzatziki...

Season small lamb fillets with salt and pan fry in butter and garlic until browned and slightly caramelised. They should still be pink in the middle when you take them out of the pan. Leave the aside to rest while you make the Tzatziki.

Grate 1/2 cucumber into a large cup of Greek yoghurt / grate one garlic clove into the yoghurt mix. Finely chop some coriander (cilantro) leaves and add to the Tzatziki. 

In a large bowl toss some fresh rocket, chopped cherry tomatoes, curly green lettuce, slivers of red capsicum, whole snow peas, and sliced red onion.

Shake equal quantities of lemon juice and olive oil, a sprinkle of sea salt, and a dash of maple syrup, in a small jar.

Toss the salad in the dressing.

Finely slice the lamb fillets and add to the salad.

Place the warm lamb salad onto your plates and dollop tzatziki across the top.

Simple, fresh, healthy.

Now to keep it up!

Hugs

Jenny

Gasping...

How rude of me! 

Five months since the last blog post, and the saddest thing is that I love this foodie blog of mine. 

It inspires me to eat well, and to look after the nutrition of my family - and anyone else  who drops in for a meal.

Time to step back in and start over.

Being that designing is my occupation, it sort of consumes my life TOO much, and things like food prep and cooking don't get the attention they deserve. 

I have the best of intentions, but...well, designing just pulls on it's big bossy boots and walks all over me. 

Time to find a balance. 

Time to prioritise.

Drop by again soon, and you'll find me being a good girl and working in the kitchen again.

Promise.

Hugs

Jenny

xxx