Check-in

Nothing to report on weight - need a scale!

I have done a bit of exercise, eaten too many biscuits (would love to blame the visitors) - its funny how our weakness change as we get older.
Mine has changed from chips to chocolate to biscuits.

Ratatouille is becoming one of family favourite meals we make it at least once a week.
My husband walked my daughter to school this morning. I will have to make sure I do some exercise. She does swimming today, so we will probably pick her with the car.

Ratatouille

A soul-warming, guilt-free, gastronomical gift from on high.

Fun Factoid: 98% of the world's olive oil comes from the Mediterranean region, which has a 6,000-year history of olive tree cultivation.

Serves 6

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 yellow pepper, chopped
2 small eggplants, cubed (about 2 cups)
1 small zucchini, cubed (about 1 cup)
3 cloves garlic, diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 can Italian-style stewed tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (I used low fat cheese)
1 lb. whole wheat spiral pasta (I use low-GI 100% durum pasta - any shape)

Instructions:

1. Heat the oil in a 4-quart sauce pot over medium heat.
Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Add both the red and yellow peppers and sauté for another couple of minutes. Toss in the eggplant cubes and cook a couple more minutes.
3. Add the zucchini, garlic, bay leaf, and oregano.
Season with salt and pepper and continue to cook for a couple more minutes.
4. Add the tomatoes and simmer for 40 minutes, uncovered.
5. Boil and drain the whole wheat spiral pasta.

My child and weightloss

When we moved to Northern Ireland a nurse came to see us to check that my daughter had all her injections and if she needed any special care.
My daughter has been generally healthy except for two episodes of croup - something her father had and grew out of by the time he was 10. Thank goodness it seems she has already outgrown it.
Anyway, she asked if I had any concerns. I spoke of the fact that my husband and I are struggling with our weight and that she has now become slightly overweight and despite the fact that I try to boost her self-esteem and encourage her to eat healthy - I suspected that she was starting to develop a negative body image.
This led to a visit by the school nurse and subsequent appointment with a dietician. My husband had to go to that appointment because I had a job interview at the same time.
She came back very motivated to make healthy choices and to exercise. We are supposed to keep a diary.
I misplaced and so alas I am only starting it today.
Yesterday she wanted me to exercise with her but I didn't feel like it - so I managed to get kicking a ball around outside while I read my book and watched her.

Today she wanted to walk to school instead of driving - my husband walked with her-took them 30min.
I walked to walked to my volunteer job - that took me 20min.
Then the idea is I walk to her school and then walk home - it will take about 35-45min due to the fact that it will mainly be uphill. We walked home last week Tuesday.

I need strenghth to become a positive role model for my daughter. Its so easy to become distracted and neglect yourself - unfortunately the after effects / consequences do not only affect you but the people around you too.
As a child I was slightly chubby but after 10 I lost a lot of weight and for the next 8 years I was really slim - the next 6 years I struggled to stay under 60kg but I did it and then I went on the pill - ballooned - went off fell pregnant went to 89kg - after that I have just steady lost and then added on extra weight till the all time high this year of 111kg.
My daughter has only known me as overweight.
She has seen me camp, hike, play a little bit of sport now and again, do some open swims and 5km walks.
But she has also seen me go through a deep depression and struggle with food choices and continually eat incorrectly.

She came across the Biggest Loser program one day - and became almost obessessed about weighting herself. The scale is now broken (I secretly suspect my husband of sabotage - he refuses to replace it).
We have decided to use the Biggest Loser program as a motivator.
We have begun today!!! All of us.

Diet Articles you may want to read

Cut Calories without Counting Them

If You're Planning To Lose Weight, Experts Say "Think Sleep"



"Do not use your weight to measure your self-worth What does weight have to do with self-worth? Your self-worth is the sum of everything that makes you special and unique - not just your thigh and waist measurements! Add up your assets, talents, how you treat others, how you treat yourself, the contributions you make to your family, friends and community. Now you have self-worth."

Praise loudly, condemn softly
There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.
John Holmes (source SusanAnthony)

Check-in

Down another 0.5kg YAY

To celebrate I have spent sometime making a list of songs I enjoy listening to and ones I have enjoyed in the past but never had the actual music.

It was a great going down memory lane, dancing to some and sing at the top of my voice.

My daughter and husband also got caught up with the project - needed to put a 100 songs together for a swap. They helped me.

Quite a number of love songs, some I like more for the music than the words.

Goal for the next week to start recording what I eat and do so I can improve and modify my habits.

Anything Can Happen If You Let IT

Anything can happen if you let it.
Sometimes things are difficult, But you can bet it
Doesn't have to be so, Changes can be made
You can move a mountain, If you use a larger spade
Anything can happen it's a marvel
You can be a butterfly, or just stay a larva!
Stretch your mind beyond fantastic
Dreams are made of - strong elastic
Take some sound advice and don't forget
Anything can happen if you let i

George Stiles & Anthony Drewe

Weigh-in # 7

Maintain at weight at 108.2kg/238.5 lbs , this is an accomplishment considering that I went on a Woman's Retreat and had dessert for lunch and supper and had lots of biscuits in between.

The exercise definitely helped.

I am back on track but must admit that I am craving chocolate wheat biscuits.

Lots of things going on in my head right now.

What Question has changed you?

Procrastination Poem

I read and it really made laugh - this is no longer me.
Procrastination. Here’s a poem:

I spent a fortune on a trampoline,

a stationary bike, and a rowing machine.

Complete with gadgets to read my pulse

and gadgets to prove my progress results

And others to show the miles I’ve charted

But they left off the gadget, to get me started.

Inspiring thought

"Everytime you achieve a goal that you have never achieved before, no matter how small, you deconstruct a previously held limiting belief" Robin Sieger

Weigh In # 6

Progress Report.

Starting Weight: 111kg/244.7 lbs

Current Weight: 108.2kg/238.5 lbs Total loss so far: 2.8kg/6.2lbs

Target Weight: 65kg/143.3lbs

I am very pleased with myself. And to celebrate I walked 3miles/almost 5km in 1hr05 along the Scarva Centre path.

I have succeeded at exercising and eating more veggies. I have also done my visualisation exercises and motivational reading.
I need to work on water-in take and cutting out junk food.

Next 4 Days:
5 glasses of water (managing between 2 and 4 glasses - aiming for 8)
No eating out (make my own meals - will be good on my budget as well)
Maintain 25min visualisation exercise
Reading 42 Day Challenge motivational readings
20-30min Exercise
Do something positive/kind for someone else

Motivational reading from the internet:

Eating Your Way Thin

Cheating On A Diet: Avoid The Tailspin!

posted @8:00am ET on September 2, 2008