Salad Days

"The colors of a fresh garden salad are so extraordinary, no painter's pallet can duplicate nature's artistry."  ~Dr. SunWolf, professorsunwolf.com

Lose Weight - It's Easy!

Someone posted this picture on Facebook this morning and I thought...mmm, maybe this is worth sharing. Anyway it won't do me any harm to be reminded every time I look at this blog.
How soon we forget the 'diet' when faced with a tempting delight from the bakery or take away food counter and I always think, perhaps just one won't sabotage me too much.

The weekend was great, very relaxing camping at the beach. Food wasn't a major problem either, ate a few snacky things and had some wine but on the whole not too bad so am not beating myself up too much. Long walks on this beautiful beach made me happy and realise how fortunate I am to be able to take time out like this in this amazing part of the world.

 

Back home today with new enthusiasm for getting healthier. 

Plan to make a yummy vegetable soup to help at hungry times. 

Lose weight - It's easy!!!!!

Chicken Curry

Hearty mid week dinner.

We really enjoyed this curry. I bought some red hot curry powder made in Pakistan from one of those interesting little shops in Dandenong that are filled with delights from foreign  lands. It will last forever because I use so little each time I cook with it. It's yummy, delicious, spicy and scorching.

Expecting the weather to be fine over the weekend so BBQ's and salads will be on the menu. 

Easy stress free meals the order of the day.

Cheated today and ate some potato chips, not only high fat but high carb as too...Oh well Rome was not built in a day and I am a work in progress.

Food Food Food

Isn't it interesting that when we are trying to restrict something we often do just the opposite. It always seems to happen to me...when I'm dieting all I think about is food food food, thus feeling hungry and deprived all the time.
It's such a pain and I know it's a mind thing but I just can't seem to help myself.
Ha ha I hear you saying, she has no will power and yes, you are right...None whatsoever, so there has got to be a better way.
I'm trying to focus on creating healthy interesting meals and snacks that satisfy without piling on the pounds.

So far this week I've done ok and we have had some mighty tasty dinners.
The rest of the day is a huge problem though so from today I have decided to restrict carbs until sharing dinner with the family. I will share some of these dinners with you.

 Amazing pasta shells filled with a delicious mixture of ricotta, spinach, garlic and Parmesan cheese. Baked with tomato sauce, topped with more cheese and served with a side salad...who said diet??

 


Loving these pasta shells, found them at the continental deli.
$6 for this packet and I'll get 3 meals of this size out of them, so fairly economical.

So far so good!
Had a carb free breakfast and not hungry, in fact feel quite full. I even made some flax bread so felt really good about that. There are heaps of low carb recipes on line and ahttp://lowcarbdiets.about.com/ seems to be pretty comprehensive and I am enjoying working through it all.
Am sure I'm addicted to sugar as well so will attempt to stay away from that evil white stuff.
On the job hunt front, I still have a couple of interviews to hear back from, so fingers crossed something will come up sooooon

Starting Over

I am really starting over, not only is it a new year but I'm on a quest to begin again.

I started this blog on the 11th August 2011 and that turned out to be EXACTLY one month before my dear mother passed away. and now it's almost 4 months since then. At first I thought I'd cope with grief and loss as I seemingly cope with the rest of my life....not to be I'm afraid and I'm still on that topsy turvy journey of getting on with things and feelings of unimaginable sadness.

Mum and I were really close, closer than most mothers and daughters. She lived with my family for the past 25 years and for the past 4 years I have been her carer. I gave up my last job so that she wouldn't have to face a nursing home or hospital care to go through her own journey with ovarian cancer.

Her wish not to go into the dreaded 'home' was granted and together we battled the disease the best we could. Believe me chemotherapy at any age isn't fun I'm sure but in your 80's it's really a nightmare. My mother was a brave woman, determined not to give up and in the past 4 years since her diagnosis we enjoyed many many happy times together and with family and friends.

I miss her terribly and am trying to honor her now by getting myself together. Job hunting at my age is not pretty and of course it's the 'current experience' that becomes so important. A little part time position to get me back into the swing of things is just what I need now. I have applied for many jobs in the past 6 weeks, no success yet but will keep you posted. I'm taking a leaf out of Mum's book and not giving up.

On the diet front....well things have not been good, although my weight remains the same 88klg however I feel bigger and am certainly less fit. I am trying to get a healthier perspective about food and am planning meals not only for good nutrition but trying to be budget wise as well. Hope being accountable will help!!!!

Another fresh approach to each day has been to de clutter my home and it's working so far and I'm feeling less stressed now everything is becoming more organised. I feel good about writing again and hope someone out there reads this. As the days go by I'll try to share more and more so until next time I send you blessings and wish you happy days.