Neglected

Yes, this blog has been feeling neglected of late.  Kind of like my diet.  I have reverted back into old habits, as I feared I would.  It’s the lack of time and energy that’s dogging me lately.  I really need to get the ol’ Weekly Menu planning thing happening to get back on track.  I haven’t lost or gained any weight, but my moods have improved.  I’m exercising less than I would like, although this afternoon the girls and I went for a walk/bikeride, which I felt good about afterwards.  As the Autumn weather begins to take hold and there is less humidity, I’m feeling the urge to walk, rather than take the car.

Walking.

I finally found a small luggage trolley, so the girls and I have started walking to school.  I refuse to carry their heavy bags, hence the trolley.  We walked 2 days last week and after dropping them at school, I walked a few streets past home to get in that little bit extra exercise.  We drove to school today, so if the rain holds off I will walk down to collect them.  It’s a small change, but every little bit helps.

Snail’s Progress

Yes, my progress has been very slow.  My main problem is I’m a bit lost at the moment.  I’m finding it hard to get a good routine going and because of this, my grocery shopping has been all over the place.  More often than not, the fridge and the fruit bowl are empty.  I go to the supermarket and remember to grab some nuts, and very little else.  Also, my favorite store for organic produce has recently closed.  I know there is another store close by, but it’s always extremely busy when I go there, so I grab a few things, get flustered and leave.  I’m beginning to think I need to sit down and plan a weekly menu and then do a big shop early in the morning.

Yoga classes have started back and that’s a good thing.  I’m enjoying the combination of a workout of the muscles and a calming of the mind.  I need to incorporate it more into every other day and have vowed to do Salute to the Sun every morning.(Starting tomorrow!)  Also, the girls have settled into the school routine, so I think it’s time we all started walking home from school.  Exercise for me and a chance to wind down for them.

All in all, I need to lift my game and make sure that I don’t slide into bad habits this early on.  I need to STOP MAKING EXCUSES!!

A good week.

My doctor’s appointment was very positive.  I left with one clear ear, and the other is now making that crackling sound that it does before it clears.  Basically, it was just a build up of wax.  I will continue with ear candling and peroxide and hopefully I won’t have this problem again.

My rash needs to be tested by pathology, but the doctor is pretty sure it’s what I’ve been treating myself for, a conditon called Malassezia furur or Pityriosis versicolor.  It’s a difficult one to treat.  Basically, I’ll be washing myself with Head&Shoulders shampoo for the next couple of months.

My eating patterns this wek were a great improvement on last week, although I really do need to work on my breakfasts.  Toast with jam and a large coffee ar not the ideal way to start the day.  I really need to get that lemon juice in water thing happening, and hook into the porridge.  Can’t say I’m a fan of porridge in Summer, though.  And I just can’t seem to kick the sugar on my Weet-bix thing.

I’ve been snacking on my trail -mix and have noticed that DM is enjoying it as well.  I haven’t eaten a cake or a sweet biscuit since tea at my parents’ house last weekend.  And I haven’t really craved sweet stuff, either.  I’m having trouble with dinner though.  With the kids away and DM working late, I could quite easily skip dinner altogether.  But I’ve cooked, even if it is a bit later than when the girls are home.  I even did well when out for tea on Wednesday.  We went for Chinese, and rather than ordering noodles as per usual, I ordered 2 entrees, vegie rolls and vegetarian hot & sour soup.  I was very satisfied by the end of the meal and did not feel bloated whilst at the movies, as I normally would.  I also refused the Jumbo box of popcorn, although I did have a choc top!

My energy levels have been great this week.  I had a headache once, propably due to diminished vitamin levels, but other than that, I’ve felt great.  Now all I need to work on, is throwing some exercise into the mix.  Yoga starts next week. Yahoo!!

A busy social life.

The end of last week proved to be quite busy, socially. It also proved to be my downfall when it came to healthy choices for meals.

Thursday, the girls and I were invited to a friend’s house for lunch. We had white bread sandwiches, and snacked on crisps and microwave popcorn. I could not resist temptation. (Chips are one of my biggest enemies!!)

For lunch on Friday, DG, RL and myself were shopping, so decided on a cafe. The one I used to eat at had closed, so we picked one I had never been to. It was a fairly modern cafe and although it had a kid’s menu, it was geared more to the latte/beer set than the white with one/water set. DG wanted nachos so I said I would share a plate with her, despite craving a simple green salad. They were the worst nachos I had ever tasted. They were loaded with so much sour cream, salsa and guacamole that the corn chips were a soggy, cheesy mess. I had about 2 mouthfuls then helped RL finish her crumbed chicken peices (upmarket nuggets!) and chips. I mananged to steer the girls out of the shopping centre before their cries for ice cream caused me to relent and buy them both one. I knew if I bought them one, I would have one as well. We instead settled for deliciously cold watermelon at home.

Friday night is take away night. As DM arrived home late and the girls and I were in the middle of doing something else (can’t remember what!) we left our decision quite late. It ended up being Indian. I made sure that I kept my portion size alot smaller than usual, and only ate a small peice of naan bread. It helped. I went to bed late enough to let my meal digest and managed to escape the usual bloated feeling from a large meal. I would have preferred to have eaten a few hours earlier, though.

Saturday night was a family meal at my parent’s house. It consisted of sliced meat, cold chicken and salads. I have always liked my Mum’s cooking, but in later years as she replaces everything with low-fat products, I have not liked it quite so much. I don’t have low-fat products in my own house, except for milk, as I have never liked the (lack of) flavour, nor the fact that they are usually laden with sugar or salt. I know my parent’s are trying to keep their weight and cholesterol levels low, so I have never complained to them about their food preferences. Of course, Mum made custard trifle and that is another food which I find hard to resist. It brings back many childhood memories.

Sunday night, after the girls went to stay with their grandparents, DM and I went out for tea. We decided on Mexican. I refused an entree, but DM pushed his potato wedges under my nose and I couldn’t resist. My beef quesadilla was huge so I pushed the plate away after eating half. Later on that night, my body struggled with the rich spicy food and I felt hot and sweaty and very bloated all evening.

Over the course of the last few days, my alcohol intake has been moderate. My one bugbear I have with myself is that I have been drinking beer. I need to stop with beer and switch to red wine. But a stinking hot Aussie summer is the perfect environment for an ice cold, crisp beer. And we’ve had a few very hot days! And with the frustration of not being able to hear I just shrug my shoulders and say,”Oh well. A cool breeze on the verandah with a cold beer will make me feel less sorry for myself!” Excuses, excuses!!

I’ve been to the doctors today and he has managed to clear one ear, which is a relief. The other is still ringing incessantly and that is causing my neck muscles to tense. By the end of this week, I hope to have the other ear cleared. I’m also off to pathology to find out once and for all what the rash is. My doctor says that if it is what he/I think it is, it’s going to take a while to treat. Not really what I wanted to hear, but a step in the right direction, nonetheless.

I’ll leave you all with a picture of my healthy lunch. Organic canellini beans with tomato and spices.

On the right track, but deaf as a post.

I did well with my grocery shopping yesterday. We took a trip to Yarra Natural Foods where we stocked up on fresh fruit and vegies, some Asian condiments, apple cider vineger and biodynamic meat.  I also grabbed a nut mix which I plan on keeping in the office for when my blood sugar levels drop.

They dropped at around 5.00pm yesterday and boy, did the girls cop it.  As my blood sugars dropped, my mood went from calm to raging Mum on the warpath.  By the time I had finished yelling, not a single item was out of place in their rooms. It may have had something to do with DM having a quiet word in their ear as he got home from work and walked straight into the maelstrom.  He suggested that we got out for tea, to a Chinese restaurant.  I suggested homemade Chinese was a better option.  So we threw together a chicken and vegetable stir-fry that turned into a delicious spicy soup.  The girls were happy, I was happy and guilt free and most importantly, DM was full.  And to top off the healthy meal, I had not a single drop of alcohol,nor any sweets.  I felt good.

Unfortunately, my ears are completely blocked at the moment and I can only hear when someone is talking directly at me, and not when I’m chewing.  I have a doctors’ appointment, but not until Monday.  Hopefully, they will clear by themselves before then, as the cotton wool feeling and constant ringing is starting to drive me a little nuts.

Also, the rash flared up on the left side of my groin, and the itching nearly drove me insane.  I think that is because I had 2 beers on Tuesday.  I am yet to cut out all yeast products to see if that helps.  I think it needs to be sooner rather than later.

Let’s start with the stats.

Height: 1.6m (5′3″)

Weight:82kg (180.8lbs)

Clothing size: Bust 109cm (43″), Waist 103cm (40.5″), Hips 104cm (41″)

 

I am a typical apple shape and I am carrying far too much weight around my middle. I have been asked on more than one occasion, if I was pregnant. By complete strangers!! Whatever weight I gain goes straight to my waist and then my bust. I don’t carry much on my hips or butt. I guess I got a bit lucky there!

Diet and lifestyle has been my downfall. Although I thought I have been eating a healthy diet, high in organic produce, I have actually been consuming foods in the wrong amounts. Too much refined carbohydrates, way too much sugar, empty calories and so on. And doing yoga once a week doesn’t really add up to nearly enough exercise. Not when my days are spent sitting in front of a sewing machine or a computer.

The by-product of this unhealthy lifestyle has not only been weight gain, but also a change in my mental health. Whereas I was once quite outgoing and fairly adventurous, I now find myself venturing not much furhter than my locality. I suffer boats of depression, anger, anxiety,low self-esteem and genareal despair. I think these hormonal imbalances are a kind of short circuiting of the brain, caused by malnutrition.

My physical health has been affected in other ways as well. I suffer from headaches, shortness of breath, excess fluid at the base of the neck,back pain(not helped by lack of abdominal strength!),an external tinea on my skin(caused by an overabundance of yeast in my system),indigestion and heartburn,bloating,skin tags(insulin resistance),excess mucus production(dairy products!!), inflamed sinus and blocked ears. My energy levels are very low and my sex drive is basically non-existent!!

My guidebooks on my path to better health are as follows:

Feast and Famine by Dr. Rick Donald

Fat around the Middle by Marilyn Glenville

I’m now off to do my healthy shopping to stock up on fresh fruit and veg as well as lots of nuts and some green tea.

Wish me luck!!xx

Let the journey begin.

2007 is the year I regain my good health

It is the year that I stop saying to myself, “I’ll start next week.” 

It is the year that I take control of my actions and stop the path to a slow destruction of body, mind and soul.

I hope that anyone reading this will help me with my journey with words of encouragment.  I know I’m going to need them.