Weight Loss #3 Mid Update

Hi huns!

Okay, I really had to post this out to you guys now. I have been battling frustration for a good week  and I just want to let you know, if you're on the journey of losing weight, that you are NOT alone.

I have been counting points to the dot, and my weight loss is slow. It has a trend, and it is going down, but it's fluctuating downward and when it fluctuates, it's depressing.

I'm in a hurry, my body is doing it right. But while living in a shallow world, sometimes the shallow mindset rubs off on you. I begin to hurry. Then the mindset is all wrong, then I get discouraged and disappointed and shallow. I'm thinking not good enough, not enough, not good enough.

I lost my focus. I lost my more important reason for this weight loss.

Also, I took 3 days off. Yes, you read this right... it just happened. One morning I postponed tracking my points on my app and before I knew it, I was munching away for 3 days. I could've stopped and picked up from where I left, but I kept postponing that too. No worries though, at least this is how I feel like because, I was munching on nuts, seeds, fruit, kashi bars and so on. So, anyhow, back on track! Like I said, this diet, won't last forever. I just badly need to get back to a healthy size and become fit, build stamina, help my heart!

Next week I will update on my weight, hopefully it'll be more dramatic:) Stay tuned!!!!

Read more about my weight loss process HERE

Gardening 2013 Part 4

My very own raspberries. It seems that we pick a handful daily. Perfect! I freeze them for my smoothies...mmmm....

Luscious berries. What can I say... I'm so very pleased.

Zucchini. From MY garden. Ah what bliss. So, I read that courgettes (zucchini) should be picked when the size of your finger, any finger really. They say, that when they are self grown they are the sweetest and, if left to grow larger, they become tasteless and dry. I slice up one every morning into my 1 egg and 3 egg white omelet.

The sweetest carrots I've ever tasted.

My radish, all shapes and sizes. Funny thing is, I can't remember what I did with them? Maybe added them into a coleslaw...

Laundry Whitener 2

I've experimented with every laundry whitener there is. I have used oxy vanish, lemon, baking soda, vinegar, borax, bleach and so on. I must say that the #1 main laundry whitener I have during the summer is, the sun. How come most of us didn't know that? This is old school, something our grans used to do, yet never passed on as important stuff, like most of the old school, healthy and economical stuff. Sad.

Well anyway, the sun brightens my whites like no tomorrow and even removes stains etc. Incredible.

Raw Almond Butter

I made raw almond butter. There is no way I would roast almonds. By doing so, you kill the enzymes and kill most, if not all, of the goodness in them. I put them in a food processor and kept scooping the sides clean once in a while; however, the seeds' and nuts' own oil will "activate" and therefore no need to add any oil. If you want to add oil, then I recommend taste-free coconut oil or almond oil.

After I covered and chilled the butter, I found it easier to cut slices off, rather than buttering it on the apples. I prefer it this way, especially with tiny little hands with tiny little sticky fingers, a.k.a my kids.

Weight Loss- Recipes, My Favourite!

 Quinoa Salad

Makes 4 Servings

Points 4 per serving

• 2C cooked quinoa, chilled
• 1/3C pecan halves chopped
• 4T orange juice
• pinch of fresh thyme
• seasoning
• 1/2C dried cranberries, or to taste

 

 Serving suggestion

Quinoa Salad and Chicken Thigh (but please omit the skin).

My Pre-Workout Snack

Serving(s) 1

Points   6

• 1C fat free Greek yogurt with 
• 1T hemp hearts, 
• 1T chia seeds, 
• 1T ground golden flax seeds, 
• 6 pecan halves, 
• 1t xylitol
• berries and cinnamon.

Weight Loss #3 Part 7

Okay, before I tell you about how much I've lost so far, I want to share with you my two top lunches that I love, and about my new -old -thing, which I have taken more seriously than ever! Keep reading...

Here are my top two favorite lunches. 

Recipe one

Serving(s) 1

Weight Watchers points 7

1/2 C quinoa, cooked and chilled

1/2 cucumber, deseeded and cut in chunks

1 tomato, deseeded and diced

1 T fat free Ranch dressing

100g extra lean ground beef, fried and seasoned.

Mix -ENJOY!

Recipe two

Serving(s) 1

Weight Watchers points 9

1 whole wheat tortilla

1 slice of cheddar cheese (wrap)

100g extra lean ground beef, fried and seasoned (preferably with taco spice)

handful of shredded lettuce

1t death sauce, or any other spicy hot sauce (speed up that metabolism!!!)

1T salsa, hot

And now, the updates.

Last week I pulled my back for the second time in a few months. This is not good. Obviously, I have been so focused on weight loss and exersice that I have lost focus on well-being within, meaning the core. Well-being for me, is STOTT Pilates. I, as an instructor, should know that it's the best way to heal the body, especially the core. Not only does the body get stronger and leaner, it actually sculpts the body as well. No other exercise has been as fast as STOTT in losing inches around the waist. It's incredible. I suffered years of back ache, neck ache and so on, had to quit my job as a hairdresser 2005 because of it. Ever since I started doing STOTT Pilates in 2009, the pain and aches went away.  Hence the reason I became an instructor.

Back to the story, so yes, I pulled my back for the second time! This is because since giving birth to our 3rd, I haven't done any STOTT whatsoever. Why? I don't know how to answer that, I don't know why. I guess the people or places you associate with weekly rub off, a certain way of thinking, especially when it comes to health and fitness. No, I'm not putting the blame on them, I am keeping the blame on myself, myself only. I had attended group ex body pump and so on without strengthening the core at the same time. This is a big mistake. I won't even blame the group ex pump for my bad back. The pump did amazing stuff for the rest of my body, but focusing on the superficial muscles, made my problems worsen. Since I pulled my back, after my back felt a bit better, I've been on the mat again and after one session of STOTT Pilates, the difference is amazing. I feel way better and feel like I'm on the road to recovery and well-being. I won't quit lifting weights, however, it's not my priority. It's high up there on my priority list, but STOTT Pilates is for sure #1 at this moment.

Then for some picture updates... tam-tam-taa! 

was 205 lbs

I found that top which I am wearing in the top picture, to show you the difference in how it fits me today. On top, it's tight. Below, not so much!

Yes, I'm being silly.

Now I am  185 lbs!!! Yay!

This means, I have lost -20 lbs!

I have give or take 40 lbs to go!!!

Here is my Diastasis Recti -Seperation of the abs. I am doing STOTT Pilates to help my body to bring it closer together and give my lower spine the support it deserves! I'll keep posting updates on that side of things as well.

Read more on my weight loss #3 here, where it all began

Read more on STOTT Pilates here, where you should begin

Read about my Diastasis Recti here

Homeschool - DIY Story Time Pillow Covers

We have circle time daily with our kids. This usually happens just before bed time. We ask the kids to grab their "Bible-Piiri" (Bible Circle in FINg-lish) pillows and gather around in the living room. My husband has normally prepped a topic, which he then reads about and then we discuss it. This is a real hit, the kids have so much input. Sometimes we discuss straight from their kids Bibles and sometimes the topic is related to what happened during the day.

Anyhow, here is how we made their circle time pillows even more special. I got a set of white pillow cases from Walmart and fabric pens. I have increased the colour range of the pens since then, ready for future projects.

 They drew things that made them happy, things they like, are good at etc.

The theme of the month is OBEDIENCE. This theme should last a life time, hence the printing on the pillows :) A good verse to memorize.

Gardening 2013 Part 3

In this post you'll read about the new scary addition to our vegetable patch and about how we made a SAFE fungicide and pesticide.

Well, we have had a few set backs. Sigh! One, is the thieving crows and two, is the mildew growing on my zucchini plants.

Set backs, set back, but very educating ones. Firstly, I've needed to expand the little knowledge that I have on gardening, and secondly we get to build our very own custom made scare crow!

The weather has not been the best, little sun and lots of rain. It looks like my garden has taken a long pause and my pea plants have not grown a millimeter since I transplanted them. BIG sigh.

There is not much I can do, but to wait. Wait for the sun, hope the crows stay away and hope I can save my plants from mildew.

Two ways to fight fungus (mildew) on your plants. One is to mix 50:50 ratio water and milk into a spray bottle and spray generously over the leaves. Second is to puree an onion, a head of garlic and 4T cayenne pepper with 4L of water, let it sit for a hour and strain the water into a bucket and then some into a spray bottle. This can be used as both, pesticide and fungicide. Don't spray too wildly with the garlic concoction, it kills the good bugs too. 

Oh, I have a ton of reading to do tonight! I think I just might make it, just maybe. I am slightly hesitant about dreaming of canning our own produce.

Until next time!

FLUBBER -Homeschool Science Experiment and FUN!

 Stretchy, slimy, soft, and bubbly FLUBBER!

Here is how,

Instructions

• 2C white glue (I want to try it with clear and add food colouring)
• 1 1/2C warm water
• 4 tsp borax
• 1/3 C warm water

A. Mix the first two in a bowl

B. Mix the last two in a separate bowl

Pour A. into B BUT, DO NOT MIX! 

Cover over night. Store in air tight containers or zip lock bags.

 It makes FUNNY sounds, ha ha! I know, I'm such a kid. Flubber molds to any surface and can be used as meditation putty! ...Just kidding, it's just fun to squeeze it.

Use as PIZZA crust and be creative with toppings, they come off easy once play time is over.

ENJOY!