fairies and princesses June 4, 2007

I’m in full birthday party mode right now. My eldest daughter will turn 4 this Saturday. On Sunday, pretty much her entire daycare class, plus assorted friends and family with their children will be descending upon my way too small house for this many people. My daughter is the epitomy of a “girly girl” so unlike myself, who remains somewhat of a tomboy. The little mermaid is hosting the dressup party, faries and princesses for the girls, and pirates and princes for the boys. We now need to seriously get my house in order. Tomorrow, we’ll be moving out a bunch of assorted clutter, getting the carpets cleaned, and moving a bunch of furniture. I’ll certainly get my exercise in tomorrow.

Speaking of exercise…I haven’t been noting my workouts in my blog, so I’ll have to start doing that now.  A month ago, I started walking very slowly on the treadmill as I have some health issues. I didn’t want to push it, but in the last couple of weeks, my stamina has improved greatly. I’m now up to 1.5 miles on the treadmill, with an incline of 2.5, and i slowly increase the speed over the walk to 3 mph. This is the first time I was able to get up to 3! I’m very excited about this, and I’m going to try to push myself just a little bit harder every day until I’m able to jog.

I didn’t have the nerve yet to try the grenadilla’s. I found a bunch of conflicting reports on whether or not the seeds were edible.  I think I’ll take the safe route and juice it through a sieve.

Today I ate a green smoothie, magic musli (shazzie breakfast delights) with almond milk, a huge navel orange, 2 salads, a banana, a date, and some nibbles of my kids swiss chalet dinner.

I’m a bit peckish, so I think I’ll make another green smoothie tonight.

I’d really like to be able to go 100% raw, even if just for a week or 2 to see if I could do it. But I’m not going to fret about it. I’m doing way better than ever before!

weight today was 223.4 - Down 22.6 lbs!

Fruit of the day June 3, 2007

I never did get back down to Whole Foods, but while I was stocking up on my usual arsenal of banana’s, apples, pears, and oranges, I also picked up 2 Granadilla’s.  I’ve never tried these before. I’ll keep you posted on how I like them. I’ll probably eat one later tonight.

I’m pretty wiped, as I spent the day teaching an art class. Whenever I do weekend classes, it leaves me completely exhausted. I don’t get this way during the week.

I’ll keep this short so I can go veg. on the couch

breakfast - green smoothie (or part of one) Hubby made this one, and it wasn’t quite blended properly. I don’t like having to chew my smoothies! - dandelion, lettuce, lemon, and apples.

larabar, banana, salad with sprouts, and walnuts and non raw dressing….it was in the fridge. This week, my goal will be to make some  raw dressings that will keep for a few days.

dinner was guacamole with carrot sticks,  and then I had to try the manna bread that my husband bought the other day. I’ve never had it before, so although it’s not raw I had to eat it anyway :-)  - I put raw almond butter on top.

Today I weighed in at 224.4

Cherimoya June 2, 2007

Oh, my god! I have never tasted anything quite so scrumptious as a cherimoya. According to Wikipedia

Mark Twain called the cherimoya “deliciousness itself”.  It was a little custardy, quite sweet, but It’s hard to describe the taste. In any case, I’m going to purchase more of them today. It was certainly worth the $5!

This morning I made an excellent smoothie with dandelion greens, baby spinach, watermelon,  and a little bit of mango (maybe a half mango) The mango was frozen, so it was a little hard to tell how much I used.

For lunch I whipped up a neat salad. 1 zucchini spiroolied into noodles, 1 avocado, juice of a 1/2 a lime, a handful of various bean sprouts purchased from whole foods, and a handful of sunflower seeds. It needed something, but I didn’t feel like just adding oil, so I threw in a little bit of garlic/lemon organic non raw salad dressing.

I’ve snacked on a couple medjool dates, and I had a bit of Mango, papaya, banana ice cream that I whipped up today. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this before. It’s so easy! Just process or blend it all, and put it in a bowl in the freezer. It tastes awesome. Especially in the heat we’ve had today.

Dinner was only sort of raw tonight. I made another salad with the sprouted beans, lettuce, pumpkin seeds, cabbage, carrots, and raw walnuts. More of the non raw dressing from lunch. I also ate 2 barbequed shrimp skewers. It was a nice treat, and I’m not feeling too guilty - also I shared a nice big bowl of cherries with the kids.

 added in late - I just ate a raw chocolate bar. I feel like I ate a lot today, but I was really hungry. I’m curious what effect this will have on my weight in the morning.

Weekly stats

Weight - 225 (down 2.2 lbs for the week, and down 21 lbs total)

Arms - 16.5 (-.50)

Bust - 44 (-2.5)

back - 38.5 (-2.5)

waist - 40 (-2.0)

hips - 55.5 (-2.5)

thighs - 29 (-1.0)

calves - 17.75 (-.25)

Yummy! June 1, 2007

I went to my first ever “raw” food restaurant. Above is a pic of Live in Toronto. The food was awesome, and I was even way too full for desert. Unfortunately, I’d like to go more often, but with the kids, and the fact that we live out in the boonies makes it a bit of a trip. I sometimes miss living in the city. Especially when it comes to food. The only restaurants we have here are the major chains. I’d rather eat at home.

So, another raw day for me! After dinner we went to Whole Foods Market, and I bought a bunch of stuff I didn’t need, but again…I can’t get these sorts of things where I live. I’m anxious to try the cherimoya - I only bought one as they wanted 4.99 for the single fruit. I also bought some mixed sprouted beans. I’ve already got a salad planned for that.

The girls at work are becoming quite curious about my diet. My buyer even suggested that we get a blender for the office, so that we can all make green smoothies at work. I’m just floored by this. I was very quiet about my diet just in case they all thought I was completely nuts (and I think they did) However, it’s become obvious that I’m much healthier than ever before. And the changes have been dramatic, and fast! I’ve only been doing this for about two months, and the first month was far more haphazard than it is now (which is still somewhat)

 Here’s what I ate today

A large green smoothie (lettuce,  spinach, apples)

a peach, and a banana

a huge pomegranite juice  (i purposely didn’t eat much as I was saving my appetite for dinner)

For dinner to start : Fairy Dust
grapefruit, hibiscus flowers, anise, sparkling water

and then I had the huge sampler plate of these: (no, not full size portions of each)

Bohemian ‘Wrap’sody A flax and fresh herb ‘pita’ dressed with a Kalamata Spread and filled with a Kale, Tomato, Avocado Medley topped with Fresh Sprouts; Served with Root Veggie ‘chips’ a Caper Sunflower Seed Dipping sauce. Nut-free	$11.50
The Rat-a-tat Primavera An Italian influenced Ratatouille served over Cauliflower ‘rice’, and topped with a Balsamic ‘reduction’; served with Garlic Sesame ‘Bread’; Nut-free!	$9.00
Spaghetti & Neatballs Noodle-like Zucchini topped with our Fresh Sun dried tomato marinara, sprouted walnut sunflower seed veggie neatballs’ and finished off with a scrumptious Kale pumpkin seed pesto. Delish!	$10.00
The Dhali Baba Pizza A sprouted buckwheat crust topped with an Eggplant Baba ganoush, marinated Fennel, Red peppers, and Leeks in a Spinach pesto, and topped with a cashew ‘feta’ cheese; Super Duper!	$8.75
Add side of mixed field greens salad

The deserts looked really good, but I just couldn’t stuff any more in. I’m getting a little peckish now though, so I’ll have a few dates, and maybe that cherimoya.

My weight today was 225.8 - whohoo finally going down again!

til tomorrow….

short and sweet May 31, 2007

I don’t have much to report today food wise. We slept in, so I didn’t have time to make a smoothie. I did eat a banana at some point, and some leftover “purchased” smoothies that were in the fridge at work.
Dinner was a garden salad from Swiss Chalet, and raw dressing. After work, we had to run over the my daughters new school for an information night. We just got home and settled not too long ago. I had just realized that I had eaten hardly anything, so to prevent all out binge in about an hour…. I just had 2 slices of sprouted grain bread with two different “raw” toppings. One coconut/chocolate, and raw pecan butter on the other.

Another short update as my hand still hurts

I am back down to my update day weight of 227.2 as of this morning.

carpal tunnel May 31, 2007

My posts will be fairly short over the next few days. I can barely use my right hand (and i’m right handed). I had another great day today. I spent most of Tuesday night “uncooking” lots of treats, and some corn tortillas from the Naked Chocolate book, and Alissa Cohen’s book.
I kind of ate a lot today, and I probably went a little overboard on the chocolate tarts…..but they were so good, and even a hit at work. This from my staff who I know secretly make fun of my new diet Mind you, some are becoming quite interested, and asking lots of questions. My weight loss is becoming more noticeable. Now that they see it’s “working” I think some are considering trying it themselves.
anyway, more on this another day…my hand hurts too much.

what I ate today
3 green smoothies (tall glass sized not 3 full quarts)
3 chocolate tarts with strawberry “creme” (almonds, banana’s and strawberries) - not all at once, but spread out over the day - they are very good. If you plan on making them, make sure you have someone to share them with. The temptation to eat them all is too great.
corn tortilla
guacamole
dipping veggies - broccoli and celery
and my one non raw item of the day (barbequed meatless burger on a bun) - I don’t think I’ll have one of those again. I had thought it was a garden burger, but in fact I don’t think it actually had any vegetables. I think it was mostly grain based. Good, but it really sat in my stomach for a long time afterwards.
weight today was 228.2

recovery day May 29, 2007

I really did need a day to recover from that horrific food I ate yesterday. I felt ill most of the evening last night.

Today I stayed raw, and I’m feeling much better. During the day I stuck with 2 green smoothies, and a carrot ginger concoction from the juice place at the mall. It was pretty good, but nothing compared to my homemade smoothies.

Tonight I made the Zucchini pasta with marinara sauce from Alissa Cohen’s book. I liked it, however it really looks like spaghetti, and I can’t get the thought out of my head that it should be hot. It throws me off and I have a hard time eating it. I ended up just having a bit, and then putting the sauce on some dehydrated flax crackers.

Later tonight I’m going to make some sunburgers for tomorrow’s dinner, and maybe a desert type thing as well.

I weighed in a bit higher again today (no surprise there) at 238.8 - Hopefully, the rest of my week will be good, and I’ll at least be back down to my update day weight of 227.2

We should call this…. May 28, 2007

So, I wonder what crap Jennifer ate today?

I was so tempted to not write today, but to keep myself honest I’ve got to spill the beans.

Day started fine, ate a green smoothie, 2 banana’s, an apple, an orange, and a nice bog spinach salad. All fine and good.

On my desk, I found a package of sponge chocolate that a co-worker brought back for me from a trip to Buffalo last week. I saw them, and was about to take them over to the kitchen for other people to eat. I thought that it couldn’t possibly hurt to have one little piece. Well, within a few minutes I consumed the whole bloody bag. The bag was the equivalent of about three Crunchie bars. Not only did I feel incredibly guilty and disgusted with myself, I was also seriously ill That’s a lot of garbage when for the last 2 months I’ve been eating extremely healthy foods, with the odd indulgence in small quantities.

Don’t tune out yet, it gets better! - I get home, and am about to make myself a green smoothie. Instead, inexplicably I decide to make the leftover hot dogs from the weekend. I eat three of them, with processed white hot dog buns. - I’m really not sure what has come over me today. I’m not a binge eater, and never have been. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten three hot dogs in my life, and certainly never a huge bag of sponge toffee all in one go. I do recognize that I did binge, for whatever reason. Hopefully, that will be the last. I must have been craving something, but I can’t imagine that my body really needed sponge toffee and hot dogs

I do know that anytime I’ve tried to lose weight in the past, it’s usually once I’ve lost 20 to 30 lbs, that I start to “give up” and sabotage my diet plan. I do not want that to happen this time. I think this blog will help. Even just the act of writing out where I’ve faltered, and of course my success. The fact remains that I’ve lost almost 20 lbs, I feel healthier than I have in many years. I have more energy, my skin is clearer, and I just noticed earlier today that I have not had indigestion in about a month. I practically lived on tums not so long ago. I drink far less coffee than I have since my early 20’s when I became addicted to it.

Yesterday, I even started a bag of clothes that no longer fit. These I’ll donate somewhere. It felt absolutely incredible to fold them up knowing that I would never have to wear them again.

Anyway, I’ll keep plugging along. I do know how good I feel when I eat primarily raw. Hopefully whatever came over me today is now out of my system.

This morning I weighed in at 228.2 lbs - tomorrow should be interesting

Hectic weekend! May 27, 2007

I’m here, I missed writing my weekly update yesterday as we had company all weekend. Last night, my mom and I were up late making team t-shirts for a transplant fund raising walk that happened today. I mentioned in an earlier post that my father passed away on March 7th. He was a double lung transplant recipient after developing COPD. Just before he received his transplant, he was given less than 2 months to live. Two weeks later, we got the call that lungs were available for him. Instead of having him only for a few months, this gift gave us almost three years.

This walk today was organized by a young mother who developed lung cancer. She was not a smoker, was not subjected to second hand smoke, nor were there any workplace health risks. She has also been given a second chance with donated lungs. The walk raised over $25000.00 today for the transplant team at the Toronto General Hositpal. The hospital foundation is going to match the donations we made today.

Please sign your donor cards, and let your family know your wishes. More lives could be saved if enough organs were available. Most on the organ waiting list die before a suitable organs (or organs) become available.

So…about food. ummm, let’s just say that if it wasn’t on my new diet lifestyle plan, then I ate it. Not a great weekend, and I even missed my green smoothies. At one point, I popped into the grocery store and bought one. However, my 2 year old decided she wanted a taste of the “turtle juice” - I never got it back

I did take the time to take my measurements - So here is Saturdays info. I’ll post Sunday’s below that.

Saturday - Weight 227.2  down 1.4 lbs from Friday, and down 3.8 lbs for the week.

Down 18.8 lbs from my heaviest

Measurements (loss calculated from heaviest)

Arms  - 16.5  (-.50)

Bust - 44 (-2.5)

under bust/back whatever - 38.5 (-2.5)

waist - 40.5 (-1.5)

hips - 55.5 (-2.5)

thighs - 29.25 (-.75)

calves - 17.75 (-.25)

Either stuff is shifting around, or I’m measuring incorrectly. It’s probably me.

Sunday - Today I weighed in a bit higher at 228.2 - but that will work itself out by next week :-)  I’m glad to be going back to work tomorrow, this vacation is wrecking havoc on my diet.

mmmm….chocolate May 25, 2007

Raw chocolate that is.

 

 

Yes, more Shazzie delights. Along with the books and DVD’s I ordered a while back (which I still haven’t had a chance to read) I did order a bunch of her chocolate bars. Wow. They’re awesome. The one above is my favourite so far it has rose petals and Gogi Berries. They’re pretty intense, and I find one little piece is enough to satisfy my chocolate cravings, and this is coming from an insane chocoholic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, I managed to stay raw all day again. Hey, for my week challenge I managed 2 out of 5…not so bad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I ate more of the raw muesli for breakfast, including my daughters portion, who is too bright to fall for my trickery.

 

 

 

a couple of green smoothies throughout the day

 

 

 

Dinner was a nice big spinach salad with walnuts, seeds and strawberries.

 

 

 

Guacamole and chopped up veggies

 

 

 

and of course 1 little piece of chocolate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weight today - 228.6