Jennifer

So I am a little competitive with myself, but in a good way.  I want to see how many days I can go without eating after supper.  I am not counting if I am truly hungry.  In such a case I will eat fruit, veggies or yogurt.  But I want to stop the eating after supper.  It’s just not productive.  So how many days can I go???

This is for me.  Here I go…..

Wishing everyone a great week!

All right so I feel that I have been a wee bit irritable lately.  I feel like I can get my last few days of possible irritants in before it’s - No You Should Not Have That!  So anyways, I see this.  Craziness.  Portions and whole foods, but a couple poor choices. (Feel flushed, a bit compulsive, etc.)  NO EE though and so this is progress.  I also think just upping the intake a little bit is good around lunch time.  No snacking last night as I had a good helping of sweet potatoes with my shrimp and mixed greens.  No eating at night, I just have not wanted to.  Really all in all, very nice and just 3 weeks until I decide what to wear for a new pic or if it is a confident me at the time, what not to wear…..hehe.   I finally think that I am seeing the real me in the mirror and not the old fat me.  This is making a huge difference.  Focussing on the positive and then everything else is coming into place.

Exercise is a high right now and I do not see too many things changing for my next unstructured week.  Still going to do what I feel.  I just thought I would have more inflammation with all the cardio and weights and I don’t.  Yah for essential fatty acids (healthy fats) and antioxidants (fruits and veggies)!!!  I do believe that this level of exercise, which is not that much for the the huge results that I am seeing (looser pants, muslces are peeking), like maybe 45 min of strength and 25 min. of cardio as an example 3 days this week/other stuff on the off days too, is just right for me because I am NOT hungry at night, but still the results are coming.  Love it. 

Journalling no longer works for me as it reinforces my perfectionism which can not be lived up to.  I knew this, but thought maybe….  NO!  I tried it for a day…laughable!  I am good with this.  You know me, just had to test the waters of control only to realise how silly I was.  I like enjoying good food in the propper portions and just eating optimally most of the time.  Listening for the hunger signals just makes for good eats.  No points either.  Bye bye.  “Hello Body I Never Knew Was In Me!”

Have a great day Everyone!

Be back in a couple weeks……

How do I want to eat?

I want to eat like the Buddha. Not like a gluttonous pig, but rather I want to savor the smaller portions and eat simple and healthy. I just recall reading a long time ago what some young lady gave the pre-Buddha, some rice pudding, when he must have been so hungry from not eaten for so long. The old me would chow down and be disappointed it was gone so quickly. I just see some people eating slowly and savoring and I think it is a bit of an art form.  I am so much better at this.

My favorite new creation lately is a ever so slightly thickened brown rice soup (like rice pudding) that I added a little dried fruit, nuts and seeds. I used 1% milk and almond milk. I added some cardamon and cinnamon and it was perfect. I have been avoiding all sweeteners lately…ALL and I feel very good about this. I have such an incredible sweet tooth. This is me, I will go to a restaurant and plan my meal around what I will have or split with another for dessert. Anyways, I am not having so many desserts after meals. If I want later as a snack I am having fruit. So how else do I want to eat?

These days I am afraid to eat and for a variety of reasons and some are not obvious, I have no energy to exercise.  Obviously some days I have less energy because I have not eaten so much, but then other times I feel like I have so much energy and I have eaten only a little.  This does not make for good health to be up and down.  But for too long now it seems that I will eat something and suddenly I am weak and have horribly sore glands.  It seems the less I eat and the more whole it is the better I am.  Sure I do not have energy to workout for a lengthy amout of time, but less seems to be better.  Yah, next week I see my first allergy specialist.  I feel like I should be able to figure this out, but alas, no.  Is this the problem?  I hope so.

 I recieved my letter from the prevention program for cervical cancer and my Pap was NORMAL… great news.  

SO, at times I feel depressed and completely mental, but I am not going to go down that road: Depression.  No, no, no.  I am going to continue to eat what I think my body is asking for, take certain vitamins and herbs (and I will even try REMEMBERING THEM) and do some gentle exercise.  These days, rice, fish, most veggies and many fruits, some seeds and nuts do not make me feel bad.  So I am going with this.  Note: will snap if it is shown that I am sensitive or allergic to chocolate!  Haha…

THIS WEEK….. 

Monday: 30 minutes walk

Tuesday: blah…. I was a bum.  Nadda. 

Wednesday: 15 minutes of pilates, abs, Wii boxing

Have a great day everyone! *hugs*

AND YES, LET’S REMEMBER TO LAUGH OR BEHINDS OFF…. RIGHT OFF.  Humor does heal most things.

Check out this GORGEOUS picture.  A buddy sent it to me and I needed to share because it is so beautiful and I want to feel this way.  Plus she is holding a little tree and it seems that all the possibilities in the world are in her hands.   Cheers.

So I am writing this because one of my buddies made the cool choice to write a blog instead of eating mindlessly and I think that is just so great.  So, last night I did not chose sweets after supper, but rather I read blogs, ate some mini mandarin oranges (I guessed 6 was a serving once peeled) and watched the Oilers win, YAH.  I really, really, really wanted to eat something and was a little hungry so later in the evening, I had 2 cups of air popped popcorn.

http://www.efreshfruit.com/fruits-info/oranges2.htm  

Anyways, these mini mandarin oranges are so AMAZING and can you believe they are about an inch and a half wide.  SO CUTE!

I love all fruit nearly equally though I am not the biggest fan of most melons.  Good on occasion though.  I guess I love berries and fresh pineapple the best. 

And Saskatoon berries in a pie are just HEAVEN.  LOL… no pie right now.  I know it is not the most ideal thing to see food as a reward, but sometime before this year ends, I would like a piece of this pie.  OOH ooh, I know, the next person to tell me this year that I have lost too much weight will have to buy me a piece of Saskatoon Yum!  Ok, I may have to just treat myself!  Dieter’s Power!  Like Girl Power, but I am in just the best place in a long time with diet.  I know things will just happen when they happen.  And I am ok with slow, because my overall form will look better as I do not rush it.  Ok, I wrote about it and it is done.  The pie fantasy is out of me.  *wink* (I fully recognize that this was NO fantasy.  I do not want to temp others, so it was in my head, a talk briefly about it and BAM, done. )

What is your favorite fruit?

Jo, did you get your 2 servings of fruit in???

Yesterday I had a banana, prunes and mini mandarin oranges.  I count my tomato as a veg, but I guess it is a fruit.

Happy munching on that sweet juicy piece of fruit that’s just dying for you to savor it’s delightful nutients.  What a terrific way to give your body energy and life!

Little tiff last night with my sweetie over the fur child, so today I am really going to think only positive.  I love myself today and ALL thoughts and choices will reflect my desire to choose Happiness.  I am looking at the big picture and not the tiny unimportant things.  I know that one way I can chose to love myself is giving myself fruits and veggies.  If I am doing this then I will be less likely to eat senselessly.  So….. here goes… Breakfast, workout and studying…..

On this Rememberance Day, my prayers go out to family of military personel and soldiers serving their countries and also I remember the past soldiers who have fought for what I have in this society.  May peace come to us all someday…. 

Just a question…..  “All villages matter !!!”  - Who said this?  Barak Obama or Colin Powell?

Changing, inclusive, beaUtiful America !!!

We are a huge group with interesting ideas here at Buddyslim and though sometimes we disagree, we are truly stronger with each other by our cyber-sides.  People are hurting, so let’s understand that change is difficult for many. 

I feel hope as I turn on the TV.  I have to admit I did not feel for sure that it would happen.  After last election where I just was so confident of the pending results and only was left shocked.  Mouth on the floor….  But there is so much hope and energy in me now, it is almost overwhelming.  I CAN NOT imagine what it is like to be a part of this huge moment in history.  Yet, I do believe that others outside the US feel this way too.  Change and hope and SCREAM !  :)  When I got home it seemed right to snack on something - I was anxious.    BUT I WAS TOO EXCITED WHEN I LEARNED THE NEWS.  Food was forgotten. 

The show last night was a bit disappointing (TSO) and David was perhaps more so.  So we left early to get home before we were stuck in traffic and had to hear the results on the radio.  I quickly turned on the TV.  Katie Couric announced the winner and I felt like I was in a dream.  The only thing that is bringing me to a bit of an ugly reality is the Obama bashing and racism that has been sparked a little more.  I am hoping and praying that everyone can come together and ride this Hope all the way towards Peace. 

Peace to everyone!

So I found a fantastic new show (new to me) and I love that it is only 20 some minutes to watch one episode and yet it is nearly 20 minutes of smiling and laughing and this feels so wonderful.   Increased SEROTONIN !!!

The Big Bang Theory is so fantastic!!!  I laughed my behind off. 

It is early to talk about my experience with St. John’s Wort, but I like it.  I do not take it early in the day because I would feel tired all day.  But I take it minimally and I feel comfortable starting out small.  I sleep so well and wake up refreshed.  I am not constipated at all THANK GOODNESS.  What I have found is that I have had a decreased desire to emotionally eat or eat out of boredom.  I feel more content to just be still.  I was feeling a little OCD before, but I feel good.  It is too bad that it interferes with the birth control pill because it could potentially be helpful for people who experience mild to moderate depression.  It is so awesome to have not cried this weekend and truly, that says something.  It was a good weekend and many things have increase my serotonin.

After my fasting blood test yesterday I was so hungry and I ate and ate yesterday.  Seriously I rarely go 14 hours with out eating.  I kind of felt like I might faint, but did not.  YAH.  I am not judging what I ate or how much, but I did eat a lot and I know this because I felt FULL.  Not sure how many  calories or points and I am good with this.   So I am maintaining and my spirits are good.  Though this week I would like to see some progress (any) because I finally feel a little better.  Energy is not optimum, but still it is time.

Love the new tub and more and more baths with candles……..

Whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, etc.), fish, fruits and vegetables, water, good healthy fats (salmon oil, hemp seeds, flax, nuts and seeds) vitamins, treats in moderation and light-moderate exercise (6/7 days).   David and I have decided no eating out until the end of the week.  No sugary desserts and instead we are chosing fruit.  I know this is not really a principle that Intuitive Eating believes in, but my sweetie suggested it (not me who usually says such things), so I think he has been feeling a bit like he wants to see changes for himself.  It will be good for both of us.   I also will be continuing to respect my full feeling……

Have a wonderful week Buddies!  Chamomile tea cheers.  *clink*

Thank goodness I did not set myself up for a perfect idea of what I should eat, because we know it never works out.

I would have been wise to pack a snack.  I mean I think it is always good to have snacks when you go out but I have not been doing this for months.  Hmmmm I have gained and been eating out more.  Perhaps it is time to pack the granny bag with some healthy snacks (granola bars, fruit, small container of pumpkins seeds, WHATEVER!!! Even soy nuts that I have in the cupboard would be better then nothing.)

So this was the deal today.  I had yogurt and pineapple for breakfast and then off to work.  It was rush rush and I figured this will be a short shift.  Well I met my cleint and spent double the time with her.   Grrr….  So, as we were out and about and I was helping her with her business I realized it was late and I was hungry and because I wanted to not spend any money all stupid-like, I left my money at home.  (It is crazy but with all the bad finance news I really do not want to spend ridiculously - yoga classes and eating out too!)  So I was famished!  I got home after six hours and I ate a huge amount mid afternoon.  I mean it was just more then I would normally eat at one meal.  I was not even stuffed.  Anyways, of course at supper, not hungry!  OF course.  So then after “supper”, snacks.  Anyways, what ever.  I am not at all discouraged.  I just needed to remind myself tomorrow I have to buy some kind of a cheap bag/tote so I can carry things like snacks.  That whole devouring of the kitchen, not such a good thing!   I am exaggerating…..Still I know, if I want to lose weight I need small meals/snacks more often and a little protein thrown in.

Anyways, I am in a great mood despite the stress of the day.  I am thinking crisp fresh air and hours and hours of walking helped to put me in this mood.  Yah!

I wish everyone a greak weekend.  *hugs*

FIRST: Thank you to my buddies who were there for me at various times.  You are so fantastic !!!

Second: Intuitive Eating -  This is truly the only way for me!  That without saying, I have needed to just keep in mind points because I am either not eating enough or I eat too much later in the day and that DOES NOT work….lol  As we know.  So I am trying to reject the extreme diet mentality, but I am still trying to be aware, of course.

This is no excuse, but someone in my family has a very serious health condition and I did EE (emotionally eat) this week. I was not allowed to call this person because I was not suppose to know, but things are Out now and I can communicate, thank goodness.  Things are going to be tough, but I believe things will be ok.  I have to believe!

Anyways, I knew I was doing it (EE) and I just did it.  Well I was at least with the food when I was doing it.  Half way through what ever I was eating (snacking foods or left overs, I can not actually recall as it was days ago) I do remember that I made myself slow down and that was good.  I have figured it out, if I can actually BE WITH THE FOOD in those moments, it does not seem like the old EE at all.  So this is improvement.  And then this week, I did very well, so all in all a good week with the food.

I have been honoring my hunger for the most part and this is so empowering.   When I was out with my client I had my lunch and she had hers.  I was so satisfied with my sushi I did not feel like I needed another thing.  She told me she bought me one of those cookies from Subway and I felt like I could have a taste and so I took of a piece for the taste, but that was satisfying enough.  I was full.  I respected my fullness!!  Food is not the enemy.  Not even the choice I made to eat a few plus a few more chocolates yesterday was evil or sinful.  It was what it was.  Thank goodness.  I was not good this week and I was not bad.  I just enjoyed life, moved as much as I could and feel content.  Have I lost, I do not know.  But my head is on straight and I am ready to have another great week.

This week, because I have been doing pretty well with the top 6 of the 10 Principles of Intuitive Eating, this week I kind of pay a bit more attention the the last 4.  I have kept them in mind, but I do find it a little consuming, overwhelming and just unnecessary to do it all, so to speak.  I naturally did what I could and now, I can work on those things I struggled a little with and move on to being a little more attentively with the others.  All good here my buddies.

THIS WEEK I learned that I can sit on my butt and not axiously move to the kitchen because I do not like where my head is at.  It can happen.  I also learned and is not diet related, but I learned that this life is so precious and in an instant EVERYTHING can change, so it is good to make each moment count.  It is so important to make ammends and do now what you in the past put off.

10 Principles of Intuitive Eating

1.  Reject the diet mentality - pretty close though I think points are ingrained and helpful for eating enough and then not going over board. It is a tool.

2.  Honor your hunger- no starving, lol, like I have never done this anyways.  When hungry I did just eat something little to tide me over.

3.  Make peace with your food - a little EE, but I feel good with this, but will still be aware.

4.  Challenge the food police - no bad foods.  I started to see carbs as something to avoid just for awhile and then I realized this would only make me stupid, LITERALLY.  So I checked that reality and enjoyed moderately.

5.  Respect your fullness - did VERY well with this.  No discomfort this week.  Though I was pleasantly full after the mole sauce, chicken and beans at Labamba!  Wow… pumpkin seed mole sauce - YUM!

6.  Discover the satisfaction factor - a little of anything that I desired in the moment, savoring slowly, was simply the only way to live.  Pleasure and moderation.  Should have bought better quality chocolates yesterday and had a little less.  But all is good.  No regrets, but rather lessons to learn from.

7.  Honor your feelings without using food - work on to be more consistent

8.  Respect your body - continue……..

9.  Exercise - feel the difference  — keep it up!  I did a lot of walking this week and pilates.  Some pain prevented me from doing certain activities, but that is life.  I did what I could and I am happy about this.  I was not so happy in some of the moments when I felt like I could not do this or that.  But I GOT OVER IT and did not dwell for too long…hehe

10. Honor your health  - my motto that is old, but some how I always must carry it in my pocket like a pebble for those times when it does not seem to be important.

The most important thing for me to remember and this is an Intuitive Eating philosophy, “you will not get a nutrient deficiency or weight gain from one snack, one meal, or one day of eating.  It’s what you eat consistently over time that matters, progress not perfection is what counts.”

The journaling has been good. But what I am most impressed with is how my mind has calmed a little. I have been really anxious about the whole dieting mentality and hence this has lead me to open my eyes to new things (The Book, the only book, Intuitive Eating and the Joy of Silence). I am often racked with all kinds of hormones this time of the month, but this time when I wanted salt and chocolate I went with it. BUT I AM EATING WITH TRUE AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE. It is not the irresponsible eating that we call binge eating. Rather it is healthier view of food and myself where I did not judge the food or try to hide myself. Truly my emotions change like the wind, but this moment has been coming. Anything worth having comes with a preliminary hell. I will keep doing what I know is correct for my form and for my mind. That which is Beyond me is a comfort because I do not need to know the plan. I just need to do what I know is True. These are the challenges I face. I know I have to do things and change is always scary.

My goal this week is to NOT hide behind food or use food to cause me to feel like a failure. This week I feel Everything. I have learned so much about myself by being present with the Silence and the emotions of loneliness and I could not have asked for a better teacher then the stillness of the moment. Also, I need to get my own copy of Intuitive Eating so I can mark it up.

I really enjoyed watching all the Olympics this weekend. There is a quality with in each athlete that is truly magical. Just one example, but watching that woman from Romania (Constantina Tomescu-Dita) just run and run and press on and on was truly inspiring. How is it that some have that drive and others just do not? Not everyone has great roots to inspire this strength, so what is it? Where does this belief in oneself come from? How does one become a believer in oneself? Just some thoughts I am having right now……..

Ok, my stomach is telling me it is breakfast time….

Before I go, the scale says a gain, but this is so far from the truth. GEORGE! My body is so different and this is due to exercise….walking and strength training. I am so thankful for all that my body does. I will do my best to respect it so that it might continue to provide me with this much loved movement. I am sending out a big thank you to my physical body! *THANK YOU*

Have a great week everyone! I will be back next Sunday. (I have updated my profile too.)