My last rendezvous with my doc was not exactly, shall we say, happy. He pretty much threatened me with more meds should I not be successful in getting the pounds off. In some ways, one could say that he was motivating, possibly a bit inspirational, but I still was leery about how successful I could be at this daunting task. I diligently ate my veg at every opportunity, opting for salads and steamed veg for dinners, stayed away from bread products, as well as pasta, and had a breakfast of some design every day. I drank water all day with a couple of herbal teas thrown in and limited my coffees to the weekends. I also limited most, I must be honest here, but not all of my wine to the weekends too and have found, as I posted previously, a new love for fizzy water, creating wine spritzers. This I thought was genius as I still get to enjoy my wine but I am literally cutting it in half with each glassful. I also am appreciating the vegetarian lifestyle a little more as I really do prefer veg and dip or salads for lunches, with an accompanying bit of cheese. I have also gone back to a childhood delicacy in sardines.....don't look at me like that and uncurl your lip! My mother introduced me to the delights of sardines when I was very young. She would make sandwiches of sardines and chili sauce. Yum. I prefer them straight out of the can, personally. Interesting that the "foodies" are all so enamoured with them now and their wonderfully nutritious qualities. Coco has introduced me to a rather odd but strangely yummy combination also: warm peanut butter with pea pods! I know, I thought that too! I think it is the savouriness (?) of the pb and the super sweetness of the pea pods that make such a lovely pairing. Deelish.
I really am lucky to have my cheerleaders cheering me on and continuing to encourage my smarter choices. PJ is benefiting from it all too; he is feeling much happier having his salads for lunches. And when he is shopping for the veg and fruit, he is very discriminating, looking for the best buys and freshest produce. He and Coco are shopping ninjas on Saturdays, armed with their flyers and ready with the items circled to ensure they get their price! Tee, of course is oblivious to it all and just eats whatever is in the house. Including his dad's no sugar fruit muffins and my low cal cereal. Brat!
So I have told you all this to say that I had good news at the doc's today! I have lost 8 1/2 pounds! Now, don't get too excited; I have a very, very long way to go. 8 1/2 pounds is a drop in the bucket compared to the 100 that I want to lose. The doc has given me a challenge of 25 off by June, so any ideas you want to share would be very much appreciated. Or you can just stay tuned for the next installment!
Love from Lulu xxxxxx
PS - I found an interesting website, http://summertomato.com/ that talks about eating healthy and seasonally. If you are interested, check it out.
Wednesday, 20 February 2013
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Back to Normal.....Well, Sort of
Life in this household is back to as normal as it will ever be here. Tee has successfully come through his trauma and returned to work as of yesterday. His stitches are officially out now since he prodded and picked at them on Sunday. Oddly enough, he sustained very little swelling and managed to fend off any real pain due to his vigilant regimen of advils and percocets. Last night his biggest area of concern was his aching feet after standing all day!
Coco was over on Sunday doing laundry and testing out some "healthy" recipes that she found. We made chocolate muffins that were primarily rolled oats and applesauce - an interesting combination but they came out very moist and almost brownie-like. The chocolate was Fry's pure cocoa powder which was intensely choco! She also found a recipe for beet / carrot chips; not really successful but we will try to find another as the basic concept was tasty, they just didn't crisp up like a chip. Also a fruit based gelatin "candy", not unlike the various fruit strips commercially made. It started with strawberries and blueberries, cooked down and pureed then a horrific amount of gelatin (and whisking) added to create the wobbly treats. All in all, it was an experimental day, highs and lows, but I think we will continue to test out some more.
What's that you ask? How is my "healthy" eating going? Pretty good, actually. I am eating brekkie every morning and not just coffee! As a matter of fact, I have only had weekend coffees for about 3 weeks now. Through the week I drink herbal tea and have found a new love for fizzy water. I have it in a wine glass, for the sophistication factor. And speaking of wine, I am only indulging on weekends now and adding my fizzy water to make spritzers. I've all but negated grain products, except for my cereal, shunning breads and pastas. I have also been indulging in another fave, bean salads. I love chick peas and black beans and have been creating phenomenal salads with celery, cucumber, black olives, scallions and cherry tomatoes. I refuse to look at scales and rely on the "baggy" measurement theory: when the clothes get baggy, I have done good! LOL
PJ has been eating healthier too and has chosen to take salads and lean meat for lunches and it has apparently paid off. He was at the doctor's a week ago and has lost 10 lbs. He came home and joyfully announced it.
I am not speaking to him anymore.
Love from Lulu xxxx
Coco was over on Sunday doing laundry and testing out some "healthy" recipes that she found. We made chocolate muffins that were primarily rolled oats and applesauce - an interesting combination but they came out very moist and almost brownie-like. The chocolate was Fry's pure cocoa powder which was intensely choco! She also found a recipe for beet / carrot chips; not really successful but we will try to find another as the basic concept was tasty, they just didn't crisp up like a chip. Also a fruit based gelatin "candy", not unlike the various fruit strips commercially made. It started with strawberries and blueberries, cooked down and pureed then a horrific amount of gelatin (and whisking) added to create the wobbly treats. All in all, it was an experimental day, highs and lows, but I think we will continue to test out some more.
What's that you ask? How is my "healthy" eating going? Pretty good, actually. I am eating brekkie every morning and not just coffee! As a matter of fact, I have only had weekend coffees for about 3 weeks now. Through the week I drink herbal tea and have found a new love for fizzy water. I have it in a wine glass, for the sophistication factor. And speaking of wine, I am only indulging on weekends now and adding my fizzy water to make spritzers. I've all but negated grain products, except for my cereal, shunning breads and pastas. I have also been indulging in another fave, bean salads. I love chick peas and black beans and have been creating phenomenal salads with celery, cucumber, black olives, scallions and cherry tomatoes. I refuse to look at scales and rely on the "baggy" measurement theory: when the clothes get baggy, I have done good! LOL
PJ has been eating healthier too and has chosen to take salads and lean meat for lunches and it has apparently paid off. He was at the doctor's a week ago and has lost 10 lbs. He came home and joyfully announced it.
I am not speaking to him anymore.
Love from Lulu xxxx
Friday, 1 February 2013
Al Dente
Yesterday was the day for Tee's operation: the removal of the cursed wisdom teeth. He had been experiencing a lot of aggro and pain over the last month and went to see the dentist who declared that they must go. Tee had been prescribed an anti inflammatory and an antibiotic as well since one of the teeth was actually infected. With great trepidation, Tee went to see the maxilla-facial surgeon (the guy who rips them out) for a consultation. According to the surgeon, they were truly in need of removal, so a date was set. I would be the chauffeur as he would not be able to drive himself. We got ready and set off to the office for the appointed time.
Me: How are you feeling?
Tee: Nervous
Me: Don't worry; you will be fine.
T: I'm starving.
Since he has been working steadily, he has been eating at proper intervals and some improper intervals as well. Due to the anesthesia, he was not allowed anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before. This was not boding well with his tum, which made its protestations clear.
Anyway, we got to the office and waited a few moments before he was ushered in. The doctor, his nurses and the other staff were very sweet and welcoming to Tee who was still unnerved by the whole procedure. A few minutes (and I am guessing a few whiffs of laughing gas) later, I heard his familiar giggle and knew that all was ok. He told me afterwards that he was awake throughout although deeply frozen and high on the gas. With the procedure complete, the nurse invited me into the recovery room where he was still giggling. I asked him how he felt and through gauze stuffed teeth, he said, "Great!", while giving me the thumbs up. The nurse came back in to give him final instructions and check his mouth and his bp and pronounced him safe to go.
Needless to say, he slept all the way to the pharmacy then home. Once home he went to his room to relax. I went in a little later to discover him asleep, head slung forward in front of his tv. I convinced him to get up to change the gauze, which he did then back to his room again. As the day went on the bleeding eventually lessened and stopped altogether so no more gauze and we could actually understand what he was saying. LOL
2 things surprised me through this:
1. Tee is not swollen like a chipmunk even at Day 2 of this and
2. The surgeon actually called the house last night to see how he was doing.
Stay tuned, more to come!
Love from Lulu xxxxx
Me: How are you feeling?
Tee: Nervous
Me: Don't worry; you will be fine.
T: I'm starving.
Since he has been working steadily, he has been eating at proper intervals and some improper intervals as well. Due to the anesthesia, he was not allowed anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before. This was not boding well with his tum, which made its protestations clear.
Anyway, we got to the office and waited a few moments before he was ushered in. The doctor, his nurses and the other staff were very sweet and welcoming to Tee who was still unnerved by the whole procedure. A few minutes (and I am guessing a few whiffs of laughing gas) later, I heard his familiar giggle and knew that all was ok. He told me afterwards that he was awake throughout although deeply frozen and high on the gas. With the procedure complete, the nurse invited me into the recovery room where he was still giggling. I asked him how he felt and through gauze stuffed teeth, he said, "Great!", while giving me the thumbs up. The nurse came back in to give him final instructions and check his mouth and his bp and pronounced him safe to go.
Needless to say, he slept all the way to the pharmacy then home. Once home he went to his room to relax. I went in a little later to discover him asleep, head slung forward in front of his tv. I convinced him to get up to change the gauze, which he did then back to his room again. As the day went on the bleeding eventually lessened and stopped altogether so no more gauze and we could actually understand what he was saying. LOL
2 things surprised me through this:
1. Tee is not swollen like a chipmunk even at Day 2 of this and
2. The surgeon actually called the house last night to see how he was doing.
Stay tuned, more to come!
Love from Lulu xxxxx
Monday, 28 January 2013
Updates and Other Bits
A few things to talk about this morning.
As I mentioned before, Coco works at a local daycare and has been there for over 5 years. She has become very good friends with several of the girls there as well as the beautiful woman who cooks all the culinary delights for the children. This woman amazes me; she faithfully prepares wonderfully nutritious meals for all the children daily. Fresh, home made and really spanning the spectrum. Many children are so picky about food and yet she can create delicious dinners that they enjoy. Bravo, M, you are truly an earth mother! Anyway, having said that Coco tells me I have a bit of a cult following with the beauties that work with her. So I thought I would make mention of a few. T, who we fondly refer to as Barbie, is a gorgeous, tall blonde. She thinks that she is pretty tough but I just find her adorable. She and her man, C, have raised two fantastic kids who are sweet and loving and certainly make her proud as a mother every day. Another T, recently back from maternity leave, is another beautiful young woman who is thoughtful and kind and always has a smile for everyone. She and her man, C (I just realized that both couples have the same initials) are the proud parents of a beautiful little boy with the most piercing blue eyes. You just know that he is going to steal many little girl's hearts one day! Another girl who Coco has known for many years is A, yet another beauty at the daycare. A is happy and loving and sweet and I am always glad to see her. As with K, another young lady who is always happy and smiling and truly in her element working with the children. I really can't name everyone there and of course I will leave someone out, but Coco is fortunate to work with such lovely women and I appreciate that as well.
Tee is scheduled for his wisdom teeth extraction on the 31st. I will have to deliver him and pick him up as I am sure he will be hallucinating by the end of it all. Stay tuned in case I get any good video.
Work is going great as is my effort to appease the doc and try to eat healthy. I have recently been addicted to a wrap that is available at the sushi counter at the local grocery store. It consists of lettuce, cucumber, carrot, avocado and mango wrapped in rice paper with a dip. The dip may be a mustard base but is citrusy as well. So yummy. I have been successful in eating breakfast, lunch and dinners so far and have a piece of fruit in between. But it is early days, so I won't crow about successes until I see some. Actually, I must go eat breakfast now. Coco is monitoring this and has made it clear that I MUST eat within an hour of getting up. Oh, oh, it is an hour on the dot right now! Gotta run!
Love from Lulu xxxxx
As I mentioned before, Coco works at a local daycare and has been there for over 5 years. She has become very good friends with several of the girls there as well as the beautiful woman who cooks all the culinary delights for the children. This woman amazes me; she faithfully prepares wonderfully nutritious meals for all the children daily. Fresh, home made and really spanning the spectrum. Many children are so picky about food and yet she can create delicious dinners that they enjoy. Bravo, M, you are truly an earth mother! Anyway, having said that Coco tells me I have a bit of a cult following with the beauties that work with her. So I thought I would make mention of a few. T, who we fondly refer to as Barbie, is a gorgeous, tall blonde. She thinks that she is pretty tough but I just find her adorable. She and her man, C, have raised two fantastic kids who are sweet and loving and certainly make her proud as a mother every day. Another T, recently back from maternity leave, is another beautiful young woman who is thoughtful and kind and always has a smile for everyone. She and her man, C (I just realized that both couples have the same initials) are the proud parents of a beautiful little boy with the most piercing blue eyes. You just know that he is going to steal many little girl's hearts one day! Another girl who Coco has known for many years is A, yet another beauty at the daycare. A is happy and loving and sweet and I am always glad to see her. As with K, another young lady who is always happy and smiling and truly in her element working with the children. I really can't name everyone there and of course I will leave someone out, but Coco is fortunate to work with such lovely women and I appreciate that as well.
Tee is scheduled for his wisdom teeth extraction on the 31st. I will have to deliver him and pick him up as I am sure he will be hallucinating by the end of it all. Stay tuned in case I get any good video.
Work is going great as is my effort to appease the doc and try to eat healthy. I have recently been addicted to a wrap that is available at the sushi counter at the local grocery store. It consists of lettuce, cucumber, carrot, avocado and mango wrapped in rice paper with a dip. The dip may be a mustard base but is citrusy as well. So yummy. I have been successful in eating breakfast, lunch and dinners so far and have a piece of fruit in between. But it is early days, so I won't crow about successes until I see some. Actually, I must go eat breakfast now. Coco is monitoring this and has made it clear that I MUST eat within an hour of getting up. Oh, oh, it is an hour on the dot right now! Gotta run!
Love from Lulu xxxxx
Thursday, 24 January 2013
Push Has Come to Shove!
While waiting to see my doc to get my renewal for my prescriptions, his nurse, who I have known for many, many years came in the room to take my blood pressure. She used a machine that, once the arm band is strapped on, does the work itself. It also has a little digital read out that she and I were watching, half-heartedly, while chatting about the weather. In my opinion, the numbers did not seem excessive and after she left I continued to wait for the doc. When he came in the examining room, he exclaimed about the numbers, took his stethoscope from around his neck and immediately put the arm band on and took the bp the old fashioned way. He frowned and said that it was NOT GOOD! Hmmmm, here I am, minding my own business, waiting for my prescrip renewal and he starts talking about how he is forced to increase the bp meds or I must "get the pounds off"! WHAT???? I didn't think the numbers were that bad. NOPE, he says, and gives me his stern look.
Now, I know that I need to take off a few pounds, not new news to me. So I guess this will be the beginning of a new part of the blog, "What the hell will she eat today?" My newest life drama. I am terrible at planning and keeping track of what I should have eaten, what I did eat and how much, so this will be another full time project for me, unfortunately. I also am not a person who eats the way all the nutritionists prescribe, you know that whole breakfast, lunch and dinner thing. And nothing after 8 PM. Firstly, the only breakfast "food" that I really enjoy is coffee, usually more than 1. Secondly, if I am busy during the day, lunch could happen anywhere between 11 am and 3 pm; I don't necessarily feel obligated to stop everything at noon. Also, if I am having lunch at 3 pm, chances are that I will not be eating dinner at 5 or 6 and may be munching at 8 til possibly 10ish, if the mood strikes me. It seems that this behaviour is frowned upon by the "health and fitness" community.
But, I suppose I should at least give it the old college try, so I am enlisting PJ, Coco and Muffin to encourage, advise, help and generally put up with me for the next little while. I choose not to encumber Tee with this as he, although rather chubby as a teen, is a lean, mean, 165 lbs. at 6'1" in height and eats whenever and whatever he chooses then burns it all off at work. Good for him; he didn't get that trait from me. Coco, however, at 5'2" is very vigilant about eating healthy and is giving me lots of suggestions as well as being a cheerleader; bless her heart. Muffin is gluten allergic and vegetarian, so we share the virtues of vegetable based dishes and rice noodles. And of course, PJ is diabetic and is very watchful of all he eats. So I figure I have a pretty good team, but I guess we will see what happens. I may fall off the wagon tomorrow.
Love from Lulu xxx
Now, I know that I need to take off a few pounds, not new news to me. So I guess this will be the beginning of a new part of the blog, "What the hell will she eat today?" My newest life drama. I am terrible at planning and keeping track of what I should have eaten, what I did eat and how much, so this will be another full time project for me, unfortunately. I also am not a person who eats the way all the nutritionists prescribe, you know that whole breakfast, lunch and dinner thing. And nothing after 8 PM. Firstly, the only breakfast "food" that I really enjoy is coffee, usually more than 1. Secondly, if I am busy during the day, lunch could happen anywhere between 11 am and 3 pm; I don't necessarily feel obligated to stop everything at noon. Also, if I am having lunch at 3 pm, chances are that I will not be eating dinner at 5 or 6 and may be munching at 8 til possibly 10ish, if the mood strikes me. It seems that this behaviour is frowned upon by the "health and fitness" community.
But, I suppose I should at least give it the old college try, so I am enlisting PJ, Coco and Muffin to encourage, advise, help and generally put up with me for the next little while. I choose not to encumber Tee with this as he, although rather chubby as a teen, is a lean, mean, 165 lbs. at 6'1" in height and eats whenever and whatever he chooses then burns it all off at work. Good for him; he didn't get that trait from me. Coco, however, at 5'2" is very vigilant about eating healthy and is giving me lots of suggestions as well as being a cheerleader; bless her heart. Muffin is gluten allergic and vegetarian, so we share the virtues of vegetable based dishes and rice noodles. And of course, PJ is diabetic and is very watchful of all he eats. So I figure I have a pretty good team, but I guess we will see what happens. I may fall off the wagon tomorrow.
Love from Lulu xxx
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Internetitis..... the new flu!
I have not been posting of late due to my recent illness, Internetitis. You may have experienced it yourself. Symptoms include blogthargy, webseausness, googleizziness, as well as minor postingaches and surfingpains. Sadly the Internetitis started with blogthargy and googleizziness and just percolated from there, but I am feeling a little more with it today. It tends to be more active in January and February, thought to be caused, in part, by the post Christmas let down. Not to mention the influx of Christmas bills. I believe that those who take a shot of hot sandy beach in mid February do experience a little relief, although I have not tried that remedy.
Not much to talk about here other than KitBoo's abhorrence of the recent snow and windy weather we are having. The princess does not like her little toes to touch snow and has an internal fight every day on whether to risk going outside or not. She has her morning "constitutional" in my garden and it is not her preferred choice to have to use the litter box. We believe that she only goes outside to prove that she can dominate us and demand that we let her out. But when it is windy, she will stand at the door and think twice when it is opened. Snow, on the other hand, can be tolerated in very small amounts, if necessary. For example, when the door opens, there is a very small curb that separates the sliding door frame and the deck. This curb is covered by the deck overhang as well as being protected somewhat by the door frame, so it does not get as much, if any, snow on it, unless, of course, the wind is blowing it that way. This makes for a narrow little area that can be used for sitting and observing, until one has summoned enough courage to actually walk in the hated white stuff to get to the garden. Needless to say, patrolling the yard is completely out of the question in this weather. On occasion, I have been known to forget that the princess is outside and upon remembering and opening the door, I have been met with dirty looks and a few snotty rowrowrs accompanied with a tail flick for emphasis. Windy weather, however, is a different story. KitBoo will NOT suffer the wind blowing in her ears, in her face or up her butt. On the rare, summer day that it is particularly windy she may or may not tolerate it for the sake of the aforementioned "constitutional" or if her bird friends are about, but in winter this is never acceptable. One is bad enough but to have to endure the tag team of wind and snow is just all too much for the princess. Speaking of which, I think I have forgotten her outside again. Oh, dear!
Love from Lulu xxx
Not much to talk about here other than KitBoo's abhorrence of the recent snow and windy weather we are having. The princess does not like her little toes to touch snow and has an internal fight every day on whether to risk going outside or not. She has her morning "constitutional" in my garden and it is not her preferred choice to have to use the litter box. We believe that she only goes outside to prove that she can dominate us and demand that we let her out. But when it is windy, she will stand at the door and think twice when it is opened. Snow, on the other hand, can be tolerated in very small amounts, if necessary. For example, when the door opens, there is a very small curb that separates the sliding door frame and the deck. This curb is covered by the deck overhang as well as being protected somewhat by the door frame, so it does not get as much, if any, snow on it, unless, of course, the wind is blowing it that way. This makes for a narrow little area that can be used for sitting and observing, until one has summoned enough courage to actually walk in the hated white stuff to get to the garden. Needless to say, patrolling the yard is completely out of the question in this weather. On occasion, I have been known to forget that the princess is outside and upon remembering and opening the door, I have been met with dirty looks and a few snotty rowrowrs accompanied with a tail flick for emphasis. Windy weather, however, is a different story. KitBoo will NOT suffer the wind blowing in her ears, in her face or up her butt. On the rare, summer day that it is particularly windy she may or may not tolerate it for the sake of the aforementioned "constitutional" or if her bird friends are about, but in winter this is never acceptable. One is bad enough but to have to endure the tag team of wind and snow is just all too much for the princess. Speaking of which, I think I have forgotten her outside again. Oh, dear!
Love from Lulu xxx
Monday, 14 January 2013
Crisis Averted.......For Now
In keeping with my usual laziness, I did not complete the project that I shared with you and intended for the upcoming bday. Whilst talking to Muffin last week, we were discussing her birthday celebration plans. She informed me that she and Tee were attending another performance of their friends' band in Toronto then were meeting some other friends at another club. She also informed me that she and Tee were getting a hotel room downtown as well so as not to have to rely on a designated driver and so they could both enjoy a few celebratory drinks and taxi back and forth to the clubs and hotel. Both my kids are very much anti drinking and driving enthusiasts and Tee has made use of the Christmas season "Red Nose" services. I fully endorse this service and it has been functional in our area for a few years now. It is a group of volunteers who will come to wherever you are: club, party, whatever, and drive your car home for you. It is funded through donations made by the users and is not exclusive to those who have had a few too many drinks. It can also be used by folks who have worked too many hours and are just too tired to drive as well as those who have indulged in, shall we say, less than legal substances. The object of these organizations is to get you home safely with your vehicle and to keep dangerous drivers off the road. What is more commendable than that?
Anyway, getting back to the bday. PJ suggested that if they are getting a hotel room, perhaps a more practical gift might be some money toward that cost. I said, Brilliant thinking, old dear! Of course he did not know that I had still not even dug out the material for the gift I was intending! But there you have it. No fuss, no muss. PJ slipped Tee a few twenties and told him to treat Muffin to fun night. All was well with the partygoers. Coco also went to the celebrations and enjoyed a little sauciness while there. Apparently, an old friend of Tee's who moved to Toronto a few years ago was there with his new gf. He spotted Coco and immediately grabbed her face and kissed her. The gf was not happy about this and stormed off with Tee's friend running after her to explain who this cute little blonde was, I assume! HAHAHAHA Little does she know that Coco has known this boy since he was 16. If she had any interest in him, he would have known before now!
Love from Lulu xxx
Anyway, getting back to the bday. PJ suggested that if they are getting a hotel room, perhaps a more practical gift might be some money toward that cost. I said, Brilliant thinking, old dear! Of course he did not know that I had still not even dug out the material for the gift I was intending! But there you have it. No fuss, no muss. PJ slipped Tee a few twenties and told him to treat Muffin to fun night. All was well with the partygoers. Coco also went to the celebrations and enjoyed a little sauciness while there. Apparently, an old friend of Tee's who moved to Toronto a few years ago was there with his new gf. He spotted Coco and immediately grabbed her face and kissed her. The gf was not happy about this and stormed off with Tee's friend running after her to explain who this cute little blonde was, I assume! HAHAHAHA Little does she know that Coco has known this boy since he was 16. If she had any interest in him, he would have known before now!
Love from Lulu xxx
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