Showing posts with label WeightWatchers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WeightWatchers. Show all posts

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Greenery and good manners....

With the festive season just around the corner we are focusing on greening up our Humble Bungalow...


A simple wreath hangs upon the door.

I love to use natural accents when it comes to decorating for the holidays.
Scented green swags with fir boughs and pine cones that one can gather outdoors feels much more genuine than buying the plastic ones sold in stores.

Our arts and crafts bungalow lends itself to organic and natural elements.
From the wood walls and beams
to the granite fireplace

we live in an unassuming space
one that does not lend itself easily to shiny silver baubles and tinsel.



We all have our own personal tastes and I appreciate that we may disagree on certain topics...
 in our disagreements we need to be mindful of our manners
carefully monitoring how we conduct ourselves
there is no excuse for rudeness or bad behaviour.


The lobby of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel is looking dressed up for the holidays.
Mother loved seeing all the decorations on our lunch date this past week.
I dressed up for the luncheon.
I wore my black top with a grey boiled wool skirt, some textured tights and my Chelsea style boots.

Mother schooled us on manners from the time we were toddlers.
She insisted that we pay attention to our choice of words, our tone of voice and how we behaved, especially important when it came to our elders and when we were out in public.

We were expected to say please and thank you 
to listen politely
 to send thank you cards in the mail.

We were also sent to Charm School...
 I doubt that many youngsters are sent to charm or etiquette classes these days.

We teach children by modelling good behaviour and by comporting ourselves in a manner that is beyond reproach.


I wore a vintage Sherman rhinestone brooch the other day when I played bridge.
It was a grey rainy day and I craved a wee bit of sparkle.
The ladies that convene to play cards take care in their choice of clothes and wear pretty jewellery.
Dressing up has its rewards...it does elevate the spirit.

“I have always believed that fashion was not only to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence.” 

~  Yves Saint Laurent ~


“Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life.” 
~  Bill Cunningham ~



Stir frying oodles of veggies has become a bit of a habit
which helps keep my WW points within my daily allowance.
The scales are not reflecting my efforts as quickly as I would like but I am keeping my eye on the goals that I have set.

The WW cookbook giveaway contest from the previous post closes November 30th
 Good Luck.

I wish you a weekend filled with JOY and good things.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

More snapshots...OOTD

We are going for a walk along Hollywood Crescent.
It is the street that snakes and curves along the waterfront past Dallas Road.


Ross Bay Beach just across the street from the Ross Bay Cemetery.
This beach is open to the Straits and fierce storms are common in the winter.
The beach is vulnerable to the gale force winds and the crashing waves.


Large rocks were brought in and placed on the beach to help alleviate future storm damage.
There was a serious threat that the road and the graves would be eroded and washed away.

You would never know that this idyllic scene could be whipped up into a boiling frenzy of white caps and rolling waves...the water crashes over the seawall and onto the road.
When there is a storm of this magnitude the road is blocked off.
Logs are thrown high up into the air like match sticks and land "willy-nilly" on the sidewalk.


Driftwood is washed ashore along the beach.
An artist carved this on the roots of a huge log.
Art for all of the beachcombers to enjoy! 


Beach combing on a calm day is very meditative.

The sound of the waves as they greet the shore
the call of the gulls
the gentle salty sea breeze




many interesting stones and logs intertwine in muted shades


stones feature prominently in this garage
look at the "green" roof
this structure has been here as long as I can remember


A fence of flowers...all dahlia blooms.





the stone wall along the boulevard
inside is a large vegetable garden


This enchanting home and garden just oozes charm.
I like to think of it as "Dahlia Cottage."
The couple who live here are often seen tending their garden and flowers.
Geraniums run riot in the Spring and Summer and come Fall the Dahlias are the stars.


I stepped on the scale after the weekend and my heart nearly skipped a beat...
I have to get back on track and count my WW points!


OOTD
Saint James Top
Eileen Fisher Ponte knit pants
two strands of Opera length pearls
Coach loafers

Hope that your week is off to a great start!

Friday, June 26, 2015

Watching my Weight...the UPS and downs.

Maintaining the Weight Watchers goal weight has proved to be a challenge...
my weight is on an upswing and I am not happy about it at all.

My weight fluctuates a bit each time I step on the scale...it might be the time of day or what I'm wearing or if I have just eaten a big meal or skipped a walk.
I weigh myself regularly and I try to be mindful about what I drink and eat.
I need to be accountable to ensure that my weight does not get out of control.
Weight Watchers helps to keep me motivated...and it's discipline that helps me stay on track.

Since returning from Paris I have neglected to go to a meeting or to weigh in....


Life is full of tasty temptations!
I don't like to be too obsessive and avoid everything that is offered to me.

I need to remind myself of the rules.

There are many strategies that come in handy when dining out.
~ choosing low point foods during the day so a splurge at dinner time is within the WW range
~ eating a small snack to ward off hunger pangs when you know that dinner out will be late
 it's difficult avoiding the bread baskets when you are ravenous!
~ you may even amp up your exercise in anticipation of a colossal caloric encounter
~ order dessert and share it...take a few bites and savour the flavour
~ my husband often orders fries which I LOVE so I'll sample a few of his instead of ordering my own
~ develop a love for colourful salads and add some lean protein on the side
~ ask to have the dressing served on the side
~ if you know where you are going to be dining go online and check to see if their menu has          nutritional information on their website so that you can determine which options would be best
~ opt for baked, broiled or grilled over battered and deep fried foods
~ put your knife and fork down often and chat over dinner
~ avoid over eating...take home leftovers for lunch the next day
~ if you really want to indulge, do so and then get right back on track the next day!



I try to eat simple and healthy meals.


Island grown strawberries and plain yogurt.


To start my day I often opt for fresh fruit and yogurt.
Danone make a low point count one with Stevia as the sweetener...
Weight Watchers logo and point count is stamped on the tub.


Silver Hills Little Big Bread makes a great WW friendly base for a sandwich.


I have loaded this bread with grainy Dijon mustard, a slice of cheese, lettuce and pickle slices.
Some days I opt for tomatoes, cucumbers, sprouts and slices of lean chicken or turkey.
I find these sandwiches satisfy and I rarely feel hungry before dinner time.

On days when I do experience hunger pangs I will snack on an apple with two wedges of Laughing Cow low fat cheese or a few carrots and celery sticks with a couple of tablespoons of hummus.

Dinner usually consists of lean meat, vegetables and a salad.

I rarely eat potato chips or other salty snacks.
Cookies and cakes are a rare treat.
Chocolate, however, is eaten in moderation and enjoyed immensely!

One thing that keeps me on track are my walks.
Walking = exercise.
We live so close to the ocean and the scenery is beautiful 
so it makes my job of getting out the door and "just doing it" much easier.

Walking with a friend or my spouse is enjoyable as we chat while we walk.
When I am on my own I seek out the beautiful details along the way.

Losing weight and keeping it off is not easy.
The rewards ARE worth the effort.
Less hip and joint pain have been an unexpected bonus.
I feel more confident in my appearance and my doctor and I are both happy that I no longer require high blood pressure medication.

I could not have lost the 30 + pounds if I had not taken a leap and joined Weight Watchers.
I went alone because no one I knew was interested in going...
most of my friends are slim and trim and keep active and are fit.

I met a wonderful and supportive group of women leaders and "losers" and we all attended the meetings with the same goals in mind.

If you are struggling while trying to lose weight on your own and need some help
 I'd suggest you attend one of the WW meetings...
you'll find out how easy the program is and the only thing you need to do is follow the rules...
and in time you'll succeed.
It took me the better part of a year to get to my weight goal.

It's time for me to get on track again and go back!



"Anything worth doing is worth doing well."

~ Hunter S Thompson ~

Hope you have a great weekend!

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk..."Sisters" and a healthy new recipe.

My sister is several years younger than myself blond haired and blue eyed.
I was born with brown hair and hazel coloured eyes...
She was athletic and I was "bookish" she was a lean child while I was the chubby one!
We are opposites in many ways, have different opinions on politics, medical and scientific practises but we do enjoy each others company. We see eye to eye on many topics and we rarely argue...
we listen to each other with great respect.
We used to fight like cats when we were young...we were very territorial about our space, toys and clothes.
She would sneak into my closet and steal some of my clothes and wear them to school...some she lost.
She once cut the hair off of one of my Barbie dolls...
in retaliation I gave her Midge doll a mustache with a ballpoint pen...
it was LOVE/HATE back then...happily things mellow as we age and we change.

We both love animals, gardening, entertaining, walking, cooking, our friends and our families.
I suppose we are "normal" sisters...it depends on your definition of normal.
We are bound together by blood and linked with a rich history of shared experiences...


My sister is passionate about horses, is an accomplished equestrian with several horses in her barn...
she teaches riding and makes custom made leather chaps.
There are all kinds of physical jobs that go along with owning horses.
Mucking out the stalls, feeding, grooming, riding and training the horses.

Exercise is incorporated into her daily routine which keeps her svelte but it also gives her a big appetite.
While I struggle to keep my weight in check she does not.
I've seen how much she eats and I eat only a portion of what she does, but it is "what she eats" that is different...

She eats a lot more salads, vegetables and "raw food" than I do...
we spoke about this on a recent walk and she explained to me how cooking food often takes away the naturally occurring enzymes...
cooking can also enhance some nutrients too...
it's complicated and there is a lot of conflicting information out there.

I thought I'd spend some time reading and researching the theory behind the raw food movement and there are plenty of resources available online...I budgeted an hour while my laundry was drying and it was not enough time!


Weight Watchers recommends eating fresh fruits and vegetables in their natural state.
 No food is forbidden.
She listened to my thoughts about food and fitness and I listened to hers...


My sister walks at a much brisker pace than I do and I attribute that to her being a few inches taller.
(I kept pace with her and we chatted effortlessly the entire time we walked!)


Bleeding hearts in pink...


and in white.
Aren't the flowers so pretty in the Springtime?
It's a season of beauty...
quite possibly my favourite time of year...
everything is new and fresh coming to life after a winter of hibernation.
Carpets of pink petals line the walks and boulevards...
we both took note of the beautiful things along our walk.


The beat of the wings of this majestic eagle were heard above as it soared overhead.
The ease with which this large eagle flew was quite graceful.
The two of us below in our sturdy athletic shoes, arms swinging, and bodies surging forward at a rapid gait...
looking rather like "women on a mission."

Waking fast to counteract our breakfast...
improving on and building up our mid life bone health
walking with intention.

chatting
laughing
talking about Mother 
our spouses 
and 
grandchildren.
(mine, as she does not have children)
((another difference))

~ ~ ~

There is a lot to learn about the raw food movement...
how you cannot use much heat when preparing any food, it is kept quite low to keep the enzymes alive.
Nuts are soaked and used in a lot of recipes.
Blenders and food processors come in handy when mixing nuts and seeds.
It is a VERY labour intensive way of preparing food.

We have several raw food restaurants in Victoria...
are just two that come to mind.
We are taking Mother out for dinner at Be Love before I leave for France...
it will be interesting to see what she thinks of the food.


My sister mentioned that she lost almost 2 pounds by eating exclusively raw food for two days in a row.
So...
I'm thinking that those pesky few pounds might be shed if I consumed only raw foods...but having said that
  I am not going to commit to a complete overhaul of my cooking practises.
(old dog new tricks kind of thinking here!)
(besides I can pretty much guarantee that my husband would not be a fan)

I came up with a new salad that uses zucchini instead of pasta
it's not raw but it is a step in the right direction and if it helps me shed those few pounds I can eat like this and still enjoy the big flavour and benefit from the lower point counts!

Mock Pasta Salad
Grate a large zucchini and set aside in a colander to drain.
Place in a large bowl and add a few tablespoons of Pesto.
Chop and dice 1/2 red onion
quarter a handful of cherry tomatoes
add 1/4 cup Greek Olives
Salt Pepper to taste
Mix and chill for about an hour before serving.






This is a super tasty salad...
I can imagine this wrapped up in a whole wheat or corn tortilla!


Pesto Salad for lunch with roasted yams and carrots...
I made extra for snacks and lunches.
love the bright colours too!

"Children of the same family, the same blood, with the same first associations and habits, have some means of enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connections can supply"
 ~ Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814 ~



                                             "A sister is both your mirror - and your opposite."
                                                                ~ Elizabeth Fishel ~

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Food for Thought...weighing in on mid life weight gain.

Spring has arrived and I am struggling trying to shed a few pounds.
They are proving to be rather stubborn despite the walking.
Is it a sluggish metabolism or the hypothyroid condition that I have?
Whatever it is I am getting frustrated!

The Weight Watchers Regime advocates keeping track...so I'm writing down the WW point count of everything I eat and drink.

I am not too hungry at breakfast time so I usually eat lightly...some fresh fruit and yogurt.
But I am usually really hungry by lunchtime...

Keeping busy with chores, actioning domestics, walking, running errands doing the things we women do can really give you an appetite.

Something that fills me up, satisfies and sustains me until my tea and a small mid afternoon snack is what I need.

Wraps are the stars in my book...they are fast, easy and versatile.


Hummus, red cabbage and pea shoots on a corn and wheat wrap.
High fibre goodness that sates and satisfies.
You could use a scrambled egg, a modest serving of lean meat or poultry, 
a bunch of cooked, raw or roasted veggies 
whatever you have on hand.
Think healthy and use salsa or hummus.
 Avoid the creamy dressings which will quickly add fat and sabotage your eating regime. 



A piece of fruit for "dessert."


Loaded with flavour and simply delicious...plus it's a low point count lunch.
Weight Watchers and Hostess Approved!

I'm waging war on these persnickety pounds!


It won't be long before the weather warms up enough so that we can sit outside and dine al fresco.

How are you handling mid life weight gain and a slower metabolism?
Tish Jett the writer of one of my favourite blogs wrote about it in a recent post.

I think Candace Bergen is lovely and it is her right to choose how she eats and if she is comfortable in her own skin I say Bravo!

Monday, February 2, 2015

Keep it Simple...Watching my Weight.

I like to keep things simple...
Staying fit should not be complicated or costly...I know if it is I won't do it!
If it is simple and convenient I know that if I keep at it, success will surely follow.


I didn't always feel this way...I thought I could keep fit without much effort...
I was lazy and I admit it was short sighted of me not to put much effort into exercise.

I now choose to walk...it's that simple.


walking...is free
it keeps my bones strong
it burns calories and helps to keep my weight in check
when I walk with a friend...we chat and stop for tea before returning home
when I walk alone I look at the scenery and listen to the sounds of nature
I often stop to take a picture of something that I think beautiful
greeting other walkers along the route imparts a sense of belonging...a community of walkers
many are the same faces that pass
and some are new
most are smiling
even when the winds blow and the raindrops fall



I am so much happier when I walk.

Walking as not something that I did regularly when I worked...
and I now know I could have avoided so much anxiety and stress if I had adopted a regular walking regime...
the weight gain every year which sent my self esteem plummeting
And then there was the sky rocketing blood pressure and prescription medication that I was on for a year...
tick tock it's time to get serious!



My physician read me the riot act and said I needed to lose at least 10% of my body weight or I would be jeopardizing my health...so I joined Weight Watchers.

I purchased a pair of good walking shoes, a pair of black Lands' End performance pants and a bright coloured hooded jacket.

I started slow and revved up my pace, starting with a 20 minute jaunt and then a brisk 60 minutes.


I've written this post in hopes to inspire
and to remind myself that I need to remain committed to fitness.
I have slacked off a bit and the scale has reflected the recent slip...


I'm feeling rather sheepish, guilty is a better word...
and it will become very evident when I weigh in at WW this week.
I know that I need to get back on track
 I'm going to make walking a renewed focus in my daily routine.


I'll capture some of the beauty 
that I see along the way and share it with you here on the blog.

Renewed focus...directed energy...a commitment to health.
I think we are worth it don't you?

What do you do to stay fit and healthy?