Don't faint !!!

Don't faint - I'm actually posting a blog!!!!

Well, I didnt want to blog about what I was planning to achieve until I had achieved something!  So, as I had whinged before that I had put on weight (10kgs / 22lbs to be precise) I decided to do what always works for me and that is a ketosis diet.  Thats one serve of complex carbs in the morning and protein and veg / salad for the rest of the day.  Your body goes into ketosis and burns fat for fuel rather than carbs.  Normally it takes up to a week to get "into" ketosis but my almost dead metabolism took 4 weeks to do this.  It was soooooo dis-heartening during those 4 weeks but I stuck to it coz I knew it works for me.  So, how much have I lost, you ask ????
7.5 kgs  (16.5 lbs) in 10 weeks
I still have a bit more to go but I'm not taking any notice of the scales anymore and relying on my size 10 skinny jeans as a guide (not sure what size that is in US but a friend who wears the same size  jeans as me went to America recently and she said she was fitting into 6 sometimes a 5 in jeans).
So, what exercise did I do ?
Walking !!!!
Thats it!  10,000 steps is your goal - either incidental or intentional.  Some days I did nothing.  Its almost diet alone.  This is a typical kind of days eating plan.
M1   1/2 cup multigrain oats made on water,  5 egg white omelette, skinny capaccino
M2    low carb protein bar and skinny capaccino
M3    unlimited salad and tuna/chicken/beef/ham (100g) with evoo and balsamic
M4    protein and unlimited veg  (ate alot of fish mainly coz it was easy to prepare as its frozen fillets, skinless and in the freezer and easy to put in foil in the oven) 
M5     1/2 protein bar or fat free low carb yogurt and a cup of tea (normally after my walk or treadmill at the gym.
Veg is low carb so no peas corn carrot pumpkin potato but lots of cauli, broc mushrooms eggplant capsicums onion zucc beans tomatoes etc.
So,  my upper body is lovely and lean, very slim waist, hips OK, then ....... thunder thighs and saddlebags.  So I'm thinking of incorporating some weights for the lower half to speed things up.  I'll just see how I go for energy coz of the low carb thing.  Yes I'm skinny fat (kinda) but I'm happy with that until the butt goes.  Then its full steam ahead with my beloved weights and additional serve of complex cabs !!!!
So, here is a bit of inspiration that I hav pinned on my board in my kitchen !!!

I will do some measurements for my next blog to help with my motivation.
Have a great weekend!

Nutrition

This is what my meals were today.

M1:  steel cut oats done in croc pot on water - sounds plain but i love love love it! skim capaccino

M2:   amazing shake - ice, 1 scoop choc protein powder, flax meal, black chia seeds, All-bran cereal, skim organic yoghurt, splash of prune juice

M3:  cold shredded spicy beef and salad, dressing made of yoghurt and dijon mustard

M4:  skim capaccino and handful of raw pecan/almonds

M5:  steamed piece of salmon and brocoli

M6:  post workout - protein shake

gym - chest and back, 15 mins xtrainer

starting to feel good again!

Meals for Wednesday

This is what I plan to eat for Wednesday:-

M1:  All-bran cereal and skim milk and capaccino (waiting on an order of steel cut oats - had to order them from Tasmania (2 states away) as i cant find them in any shops near where I live - how stupid is that!)

M2: Amazing shake - protein powder, diet yoghurt, prune juice, freshly ground chia seeds and linseeds, 1/3 frozen banana and ice - blended and drunk on the run between jobs

M3:  shredded spicy beef (done in croc pot - lean cut of beef with heaps of spices cooked til it shreds) mixed in a  salad of baby rocket, red capsicum, spanish onion and cucumber

M4:  capaccino and handful of almonds

M5:  steamed fresh salmon and veg

2 litres of water, krill oil supps, multi

No meal 6 today as I cant go to the gym due to injury - slipped off the back steps and landed on my left glute, hit my head on the footpath and thru out my upper back - ouch.  i can hardly bend and changing gears is a whole new world of pain!

Happy Wednesday !

Its been a while .....

I havent blogged in ages! Its been such a horrible year, its not an excuse - just the reason.  It hasnt justified my bad eating or my lack of exercise or healthy living.  First off I became very sick, couldnt stomach anything healthy (I know, that sounds ridiculous but all I could eat was carbs and mainly procesed ones like toast, muffins etc).  That started February and I have only got over that about 4 weeks ago.
Then family dramas followed and without going into it I was absolutely devestated and there were questions that are not able to be answered and I wont get closure for quite a while yet.  It all seems too overwhelming and just too hard to take on board.
But unfortunately I didnt dig deep and took this opportunity to eat all the foods that I shouldnt.  I didnt even enjoy it at the time and felt guilty.  It was just mindless grazing on crappy foods.  Feeling lethargic, no energy, vicious cycle. Being a couch potato and not getting to bed til after midnight.  My skin is starting to suffer.  I am usually  a slave to my face as I had a lot of sun damage in the past but over the last 5 years I have "turned back time" and am pleased with the results.  I havent resorted to any botox, filler or procedure - just very good products and  facials and healthy lifestyle.
But I noticed how tired my skin is now looking and the fine lines around the eyes are coming back.
THE LAST STRAW !!!
I'm nearly 50.  Time to detox and to detox my mind.  I cant remember the last time I felt really happy with how I look and feel and realise I have to lower the bar of expectation.  I know its ridiculously high and out of my reach for me personally due to my kids and family life/health and back issues and my gruelling job.  But I'm a bit of a perfectionist and thats where it all comes undone.  Its either all or nothing - a stupid mindset. So, first step is a list.
List of things to give up and conquor :-
1.  Im addicted to strong expresso coffee - at least 4 cups a day.  Got to get it down to 1 a day
2.  I bake kids recesses and snacks instead of prepackaged shop bought stuff.  Stop eating these especially with item 1. above!
3.  Sleep, sleep and more sleep - in bed by 10.30 pm
4.  More regular gym sessions - at least 3 a week to begin with then minimum 4 x a week
5.  Eat only healthy non processed foods.  Not worry about counting cals or splitting macros at the moment.  Good carbs til 3pm.  Just concentrate on quality to get back in the groove.
Thats it to start with - just old fashion back to basics.
Wish me luck!

Soo Foo

I was reading Kristy's blog and she mentioned Soo Foo.   Of course we don't get that in Australia so I decided to make my own.

I used 6 grains - equal amounts of brown rice, black lentils, green lentils, wheat berries, barley and quinoa. I used a rice cooker and added the quinoa half way through cooking.

First batch was a bit gluggy so I used less water and the results were great. I still have to work out the nutritional facts. The taste and texture is fantastic.   A great change from brown rice. I read that if you sprout the wheat berries first then cook its way more nutritious.   I'll have to research that a bit I think! This is what it looked like ...

I will add more grains when I can buy them. You should give it a try!!

Power Breakfast

This is what i've been having for breakfast lately - I actually crave it !!

Pancakes made with 50g oats, 100g cottage cheese, 2 egg whites, vanilla blended with a stick,  topped with organic yoghurt and blueberries.

Nutritional facts :

Cals         344
Protein    25.5g
Carbs      38.2 g
Fats         8.3 g
This does not include the blueberries, I used frozen ones and I had previously thrown away the box.

It's a big serve of pancakes but I have a physical job and this keeps me going for 3 hours til my next meal. 
I just went off my normal 5 egg white and tomato omlette - just couldn't stomach the thought of it so when I was flicking through the lean and clean diet book I saw this.  It definitely hits the spot!!

Project Life - February

Up to date on my project life so far - its really fun.  The kids are getting ued to me taking photos - they have no choice!!!