Fresh to the table...

Having some fresh herbs and tomatoes growing in pots is inspiring as I seek to eat as many salads as I can on this weight loss trip.

Still a ways to go till harvest, but like losing weight, you just have to make a start and in time you reap the benefits and results are seen.

I have joined up with Weight Watchers online because I need accountability, and I really do not have any of that on my own. 

So far it's been great...I'm not even hungry enough to eat all my points, but that's not good for my body, so I make sure I use them all by bedtime.

I have a stack of cookbooks, and will make a menu plan for a 4-week rotation. I'm really slack at doing one every week, but monthly will be perfect. 

Hugs

Jenny

xx

How many times can one person start over?

As many as they like.

Finding time for *me*, and my way of eating is harder now than it ever was, and I'm not sure why.

Perhaps I just don't make myself and my health enough of a priority?

The only person who can change that is me, and it's only when the scales tip back over the 75kg mark that I actually sit up and take notice of that truth.

Last week, scales tipped 75kgs again. I hate admitting it. I hate that I do so well, and then let everyone else's 'lack of health' desires take over.

So I start over. Again.

But one day, that starting over date will never be repeated because I'll believe I am worth it all, and take the time of my life to see it through till I meet Jesus.

This morning, a health shot to begin the cleanse...

almond milk

blueberries

banana

maca powder

raw cacao
golden flaxmeal

black chia seeds

raw macadamias

In the garden, starting small, but starting none-the-less...

And for exercise? We have a steep driveaway...perfect for climbing up and down a while. I also bought a Leslie Sansone walking dvd, and I have my old favourite Rosemary Conley dvds for toning.

Hopefully, as the weight drops again, and my knees stop hurting from carrying my excess weight, I'll be doing some of this...

Starting over.

It's not so bad.

Hugs

Jenny

Planning simply...

A major headache for me is planning meals ahead of time.

My day to day design work can lead me off on a journey that shows no respect for regular meal times, and rushing to shop for ingredients at the 11th hour makes the responsibility even more frustrating.

Discovering that I have allowed my life to run this course brought a huge sigh of dismay, a few tears, and then a kick in the butt to self. 

I can do better than this.

I have done better than this.

Assessing how best to utilise my kitchen time gave me much to ponder these last few days. 

I have a tendency to shoot for the moon, where in reality, a good earthly  meal would suffice.

My husband and I do not like eating many grains these days, so salads and stir fries are our common fare. I've decided to experiment with a different array of meat & salad meals, adding in other proteins like beans, chick peas, yoghurt, eggs etc for variety.

Slow and steady. Mix it up a bit - fish, lamb, chicken, beef, as well as legumes.

Experiment with different dressings.

Use fresh ingredients as much as possible, and let their flavours shine through.

This is do-able. 

This is healthy.

This must be a priority.

...Warm Lamb Salad & Tzatziki...

Season small lamb fillets with salt and pan fry in butter and garlic until browned and slightly caramelised. They should still be pink in the middle when you take them out of the pan. Leave the aside to rest while you make the Tzatziki.

Grate 1/2 cucumber into a large cup of Greek yoghurt / grate one garlic clove into the yoghurt mix. Finely chop some coriander (cilantro) leaves and add to the Tzatziki. 

In a large bowl toss some fresh rocket, chopped cherry tomatoes, curly green lettuce, slivers of red capsicum, whole snow peas, and sliced red onion.

Shake equal quantities of lemon juice and olive oil, a sprinkle of sea salt, and a dash of maple syrup, in a small jar.

Toss the salad in the dressing.

Finely slice the lamb fillets and add to the salad.

Place the warm lamb salad onto your plates and dollop tzatziki across the top.

Simple, fresh, healthy.

Now to keep it up!

Hugs

Jenny

Gasping...

How rude of me! 

Five months since the last blog post, and the saddest thing is that I love this foodie blog of mine. 

It inspires me to eat well, and to look after the nutrition of my family - and anyone else  who drops in for a meal.

Time to step back in and start over.

Being that designing is my occupation, it sort of consumes my life TOO much, and things like food prep and cooking don't get the attention they deserve. 

I have the best of intentions, but...well, designing just pulls on it's big bossy boots and walks all over me. 

Time to find a balance. 

Time to prioritise.

Drop by again soon, and you'll find me being a good girl and working in the kitchen again.

Promise.

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

7 months later...

It's been seven months exactly since my last blog post. Seven months of highs and lows, and more lows.

The rollercoaster of life never really stops long enough for me to adhere permanently to a healthy mindset.

The desire is always there - but the confidence, time, and fortitude to see it all through has been sojourning too long in the valleys of my life.

Even my heart scare did not have the long lasting impact on my health regime that I'd expected.

So I did what I always do, and turned to food - the naughty, sugary, doughy kind - for comfort.

Those 9 kilos I lost? 

6 of those kilos have found their way home and are dwelling happily around my sadly spongy torso once again, like an ever returning wayward child. 

*****

It's not easy for me to sit here writing this. It's humiliating and scary...but it's necessary.

Often I have heard the expression, "Man up, and face it!"

Well, I am "woman-ing up and facing my weight issues" as well as the insidious habit I have for turning to sweet comforts when life gets busier that I can handle, and too many people 'need' me.

*****

This will not be easy. I have no intention of kidding myself or you, my reader, but every step forward is a step towards being the healthier me.

Every step forward signifies I haven't taken a step back...there is great joy in that alone!

*****

Today I will read through everything I've written on this blog since it began - I know I'll see some lows, but I want to be re-inspired with all the positives so will focus on them. Already, just scrolling through the photos of all the lovely foods I prepared when losing those 9 kilos has stirred my hibernating healthy self to start over....

I hope you'll encourage me on the next leg of my healthy journey.

Hugs

Jenny

xx

Back on the wagon...or should I say back to the juicer?

It's been months since I last posted. Sickness, my husband's new job, his loss of that job, another new job, a new year, a new town, a new home - life has a habit of standing in the middle of my health road, and the worst thing is that I let it.

But there is nothing like a big health scare to push life to the side and force you back to the middle of the single lane healthy living highway! 

My heart is not happy. 

I have lost 9 kilograms (about 20 lbs) in the last six months, and I have kept it off. It wasn't difficult, but it did take determination and a mindset of not being tempted by what those around me chose to eat. I am half-way to goal weight now, so another 9 kilos to lose and I can honestly say I am in the normal weight range for my height and age.

Over the last couple of weeks this goal has taken on new urgency, so I felt a boost to my enthusiasm was needed. God heard, because I saw this dvd amongst the apples in the fruit & veg section of my local supermarket and didn't flinch at placing it right into my trolley...

Mr E and I spent a good portion of this afternoon watching it, and believe me, it was worth the $20 I paid for it!  Visit the website HERE for more information.

So here I am about to get back to documenting my healthy living journey once more. The stakes are higher now, but the outcome will be the same - a healthy, fit body, able to handle the remaining years God has given me on earth.

Tomorrow I will be stocking up on greens for juicing, and menu planning based on the DASH diet for a healthy heart. I'm also using the CSIRO Healthy Heart Program book as that is pretty similar and more relevant to Australian resources.

Have you seen the DVD, or tried the DASH diet?

Hugs

Jenny

We've been sick...

Our home has been a site of illness for the last 4 weeks, but the last two weeks were the worst. 

Due to the needs of my unwell family members, and my own battle with a cold and conjunctivitis, I chose to opt out of posting on this blog until life settles once more.

I'll be back when I can finally say that it has. 

Hope all of your own homes are places of healing and health right now! :-)

Hugs

Jenny

xx