Weight Loss #3 Part 8

I have GAINED 7lbs!!!

Yes, it's true!

After and during my tonsillectomy and a visit from my mother, my whole dieting took a pause. My working out took a pause too.

At one point my mind couldn't even focus on my WW app or even getting us to the gym and back.

I have continued walking. I've randomly attended Yin Yoga, which is the lighter version of the exercise. I keep my cross with me.

I am preparing for a speech, come lecture, on nutrition for the mother child group at C- Alliance Church.

I am making my herbal medicine to sell (remedies) at a Christmas market, soon.

I am planning a Christmas party.

I am homeschooling.

I am hosting a visitor (3 weeks).

I am doing what I need to do to keep this home afloat.

I am attending a Bible Study.

I'm feeling good!

I've hiked Grouse Mt.

I've hiked the Chief, in Squamish. Peak 1 and 2!

I have not taken this gain as a discouraging thing at all. I'm still on my way, to feeling healthy and fit!

MY Favourite Recipes this week :

Lima Bean Salad

Lima beans, soaked over night and boiled soft.

Chill

Dressing:
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Himalayan salt
ground pepper

Quinoa and Pinto Beans 

Prepare the quinoa as instructed on package. Cook it in broth, makes it taste yummy!
Pre boil pinto beans (1-2 C, depending on the servings)
1T Curry powder
1/2T dried thyme
1 t garlic powder
salt
pepper
oxo cube
cilantro
tinned tomato
olive oil
onion


Chop half an onion and fry it until soft in olive oil. Add the tinned tomatoes and fry for about 15-20minutes until the tomatoes form a paste. Mix in the spices and pre-boiled beans. Add the water and oxo cube. . let simmer until oil reaches the top. Season with cilantro. Enjoy with quinoa! YUMMMMMMMY!

Mothers, Daughters and Heavenly Father

Only a few days ago, I found myself deeply longing- soul wrenching longing for my mother. This kind of longing, is in fact unusual. Of course there are times I miss my mom, times when I miss her very much (right after giving birth, for example) but never have I felt this way, since becoming an adult.

We live in seperate continents, nevermind countries. I see her once a year, so far, which to most expats -that is good! She said goodbye to me and my family a few days ago (this post has been published late), and my heart sunk. Within, I curled up into a fetal position, holding onto her scent, her "being" and cried myself to sleep. But in reality, I kept on going, picking up after my kids, prepping for bedtime and for "tomorrow's lunch" etc. I swallowed my tears, until I couldn't anymore, and I gave my self a minute or two to straighten up and continued with my tasks. But, all I wanted to do, is push aside the responsibility, the load and become that daughter I once was. The daughter, I was once cared for, at home, by a mother.

I am a mother now.

Sometimes it's hard to shake off the "person you once were -reputation" and behave a certain way, from habit, with family, the way you used to. It's almost like, during family gatherings and visits, you subconciously taking the role you once unfortunately mastered in your family when you were a kid and growing up. I was a "hot head", in some ways I still am. But by God's grace and His strength and guidance, I no longer carry that sign above my head. A lady at church put it very wisely, "I used to live in my sin and acknowledge His Grace, but now I lvie in His Grace and acknowledge my sin".

How can the people within a family be so different, yet so alike? Doncha just hate it, when sometimes you open your mouth and your mother comes out!? SMILE! That WAS a joke, but so true isn't it?

Time flies, we get older, everyone around us grows older too. We do our things, get families, careers, attend and serve at church, surrender to and follow Christ. Yet, inside me, there is a little girl who misses the times she got rides from her dad on his bicycle to preschool, riding the bus with her mom on our way to the movies, and playing with her brothers in the sandbox, and the endless days and endless summer holidays that felt like forever. Now, time flies, I can barely grasp it. I just can't grasp it.

I have to believe that what God has in store for us, in Heaven, IS worth it all. Worth growing old, worth saying goodbyes, worth the diseases we fight, worth the tears we shed, worth everything we bare.. Heaven is and will be worth it all. This is a promise, I have to hold on to dear life.

My children, OUR children, are first God's before they were ever given to us. His love for them, is far greater than ours, multiplied, could ever be. His plans for them are perfect, regardless of how we feel about them (plans). Our parents are His children too. His plans for them, are perfect as well.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by reading. When trials and tribulations come, not IF, but WHEN they do...we need to be rooted fast in His Word, so that we may stand strong and carry the peace that surpasses ALL understanding. 

Figs Figs Ev'rywhere!

I feel so blessed. Who would've known that the tree in our garden would produce so much fruit! Lip lickin', nectar drippin', super delicious figs! Didn't Jesus eat figs and dates? :)

Anyway, I feel so abundantly blessed. So I noticed we had some droopy looking figs on our branches, so after google'ing about them, I wasted no more time and picked as many as I could reach. My husband climbed the tree like a pro and picked the rest. The figs were oozing nectar and so sweet!

I am quite apprehensive about making jam (making it unhealthy) out of any vitamin and antioxidant rich fruits and berries, so I chose to dehydrate and freeze them. I even made fruit leather! If my mom was here, I would ask her to make me a small batch of jam to go with my cheese addiction!

and by dehydrating them, I save room... tadaa! Flat as a pancake.

When needed, I'll soak them for about 15minutes before using them in my Super Bar recipe. Which I'll post soon.

Here is a fantastic recipe for you guys to try out! You won't want to miss this opportunity to taste heaven!!

FIG-Banana Ice cream. 

((You don't need an ice cream machine to make this!))

If you don't have access to figs, then double the amount of bananas, it's just as good!

Ingredients:

• 1 tin/can of coconut cream/milk, chilled prior (6h in fridge)
• 2 frozen bananas (peel and chop before freezing them)
• 2-4 frozen figs (dice them into fours before freezing them)
• dash of salt
• honey

In a blender, blend all, but honey, into a smooth ice cream like texture and (place into the fridge for 15minutes if it is too runny) drizzle with honey. Oh heavenly YUMMYness!

Check out my recipes HERE!

Don't forget - enter to win a FREE BOOK, HERE!

Tell me, how do you like your figs?

I'm Alive and Well!

It has been quite the month! It's still quite the month. I find myself in a crazy state and I can't quite put my finger on it. I found myself swallowing back tears today, while sitting in a massage chair, studying lesson 19, in my Mandarin Chinese course. Maybe it is all rolled into one:

My mum's visiting. What is about mother-daughter relationships!? Why are they so bizarre?? Time flies, I wish we lived a bit closer. I wish I had more time with her. One day.

The school year has started and I am homeschooling my kids, grade 2 and preschool with a toddler running around my feet. This will be a challenge, but a challenge I am ready to take. It feels a bit overwhelming, but not hopeless. I am hopeful.

I'm missing my friends. Longing for bosom friend(s).

My weight has gone down, but I haven't hit the gym in a month and my eating has not gone to plan due to a tonsillectomy, which I still have not fully recovered from. Depressing.

I was 205 lbs

I am 173 lbs

=

-32 lbs, 

and 28 lbs to go! Yay! 

Excuse the tired eyes.

More on my weight loss here!

Enter to Win!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MARLIA OIKARI, MITCHAM UNITED KINGDOM!!!! YOU'LL RECEIVE THIS BOOK IN THE POST VERY SOON!

Well now,

I thought I would spice things up a bit, and create a chance for you to win an amazing book. It's an easy read, well put and motivating book which you'll enjoy.

Here is your chance to win, your very own "God's guide to FOOD, FITNESS and FAITH -for women!! 

by simply listing your three things

1. your favourite form of physical activity
2. your favourite (healthy) recipe
3. your favourite relaxation method

and then emailing it to me at cathyrosepilates (at) gmail.com

Every person that sends through this email, will receive a ballot to win the book. The draw will be made on August 29th, 2013 and, the winner will notified by returned email. Please indicate in your email, if you do not wish to be announced as the winner on the blog.

Sorry

Hi Guys!

I know, it's been a while. Well, I had a tonsillectomy and the first week and a half after, I was pretty much in bed, whimpering in pain. The recovery is slow. I will blog, I got a ton of cool stuff to show you next week! And, ta-ta-taa, my weight loss update!!!! You're dying to know, aren't you!!??

Until next week,

PEACE OUT!

DIY Create-a-Meal Fridge Magnets -Homeschool

Here they are! DIY Create-a-Meal Fridge Magnets, by Cathy Rose! The coolest thing ever! :) What a great way to be creative, meal plan, and teach your kids how to create healthy wholesome meals. This is how I made them.

You'll need

• scissors
• card stock
• small magnets (elmer's)
• sharpie, colours
• creativity and inspiration (you ALL got some!)
• laminating sheets and a laminator (borrow one!)
• double sided tape
• a fridge :)

1. I  made a list of the foods we eat. I kept it as healthy as I could, this way we automatically plan good nutritious meals for the whole family. I just started drawing, nothing fancy, just plain lines and even gave my veg faces!

No rush with the drawings. You can't think of the meals all at once, take your time, even days.

2. Name them and colour them in. And again, let your kids do the colouring, no stress.

3. Cut out the pictures and laminate.

4. Cut out the pictures. Stick the pictures and magnets together by using double sided tape.

Teach your kids how to create healthy meals, using a correct food pyramid. 

 

(I.P stands for "ILTAPALA" which means evening snack/bite in Finnish)

VOILA!

Need help in creating healthy meals? Check out my recipes here!

Need help finding an healthy food pyramid? Click here!

Don't forget to ENTER to WIN A FREE BOOK!

My Top 10 Now Are

Here are my top 10 interests, in use! Enjoy
1. Beehive products. Propolis for treating colds and building immunity, beeswax in candles for cleaning the air and in lipbalm, royal jelly for longevity and treating skin problems, pollen for the amino acids and for good health, RAW honey for sweetness etc...

2. PhytoFUEL

Incredible.

3. Nutribullet. This crafty little machine is amazing! It extracts any type of seeds you put in it (even strawberry!) and makes even smoothies in seconds. It's quiet and just so, so convenient!!

4. My correspondent box. I love my little "letter box" I got from Nancy for my birthday. It goes so well with my fountain pen. The paper and envelopes are so "Jane Austen" and it makes letter writing so enjoyable and pretty.

5. Scent and taste free coconut oil. I love the health that coconut oil adds to our lives but I don't always fancy eating coconut flavoured foods.

6. Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar. In my drinking water, in my bath water...

7. Dried eucalyptus. I'm growing my own plants and then I'll dry them in my dehydrator. I love the scent that they give. It reminds me of being in a country home, next to pottery and beeswax candles... Soul comforting..

8. Glass containers. Economical, endurable, always shiny, non-toxic...

9. Weight Watchers app. Keeps me on track, always!

10. The gym. My outlet. Just so convenient.

What are your top 10 this summer?

You might enjoy reading about my homemaking, click here!

Don't forget to enter to win a FREE BOOK!

My 30

Last month I turned 30. I was reading through one of my weekly reads, Imperfect Homemaking blog, where I got inspired to write 30 things I have learned over the years. So here it is, my 30 things, I have learned.

1. Everyone has an opinion on child care and how to raise kids. You can let 85% of that flow out the other ear.
2. Food matters. You are either working for or against your body and, you are responsible for what goes in your kids' mouths too.
3. Children are a blessing from the Lord. Psalm 127
4. "We spend our lives dreaming of the future, not realizing that a little of it slips away every day" -B.J
5. God created each plant for a purpose. Gen.1:29
6. Fast food and seedless fruit/vegg are, in fact, from the devil! Ha ha
7. I can't keep my home constantly tidy with 3 kids, 7 and under, without missing out on life.
8. Cooking takes a lot of time away from family. Our meals are a combination of fresh and quickly cooked food. No fuss.
9. Exercise is so important. Our bodies yearn for movement and fresh air.
10. STOTT Pilates is a really great form of daily physical activity.
11. My scrapbooking might have to wait. And, my other projects too.
12. My style, "Jane Austen meets Bollywood" in fact is, simply, "bohemian".
13. His Grace is New Every Single Day.
14. Divorce is not an option and by believing that, makes us work harder towards a stronger marriage.
15. Taking loans and borrowing money, is not biblical and does more harm than good. We can live a debt and loan free life and we are! It's so liberating!
16. Refined sugar is bad, if not, evil.
17. There are thousands of things to be grateful for, as corny as it sounds, there are. Truly.
18. When God's behind it, it is possible.
19. Most things we own are baggage.
20. I love minimalism. Hard to imagine, with a bohemian like.
21. While traveling, it's not detrimental if a child doesn't stick to a certain rhythm.
22. There is great freedom in letting go and not trying to be in control of everything.
23. It is far more important to be godly than goodly.
24. I am a TCK (Third Culture Kid) and my kids are too. I have peace with that.
25. It takes two to tango. 
26. I love growing my own vegetables and I see it as an act of worship and a way to meditate.
27. I love to homeschool and it feels the most natural way.
28. With God's help, I could overcome my biggest fear of moving away from my parents. Not just down the street, but across continents!
29. Simplicity of life is something I value, i.e writing hand written letters rather than emails.
30. The old educational system was wrong. I am not stupid. I'm a Swiss Army Knife. 'Nuff said.  

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!