Happy Valentine's Day

I am taking a break from my blog for a week, two at the most.

Not a break from exercising, or keeping track of my food, but from spending time on the computer and talking about things instead of doing things. I have been feeling antsy and out of sorts all weekend and today it came to a head.

Not a bad antsy, but more of a "Man I am tired of looking at the mess and the things I have to do", antsy. I have this overwhelming urge to get things sorted and finished and I am going with it. Early spring cleaning? Maybe. I'm not going to bother questioning it, I'm going with it.

So I'm off to go putter, craft, organize, clean, and cook. Have a wonderful week or two and I'll blog again soon!

Fabulous Friday

Not feeling so fabulous today. I wrenched my neck yesterday and had to make a last minute appointment with my chiropractor. (Who rocks by the way!) So I had to try to sleep on my back or side all night and try not to lift the baby. (Yeah right!)

Moving on! I LOVE my BOB stroller. Look out snowbanks and uneven pathways, my BOB is going to kick your butt! Best stroller for outdoors I have tried yet. Not so great for shopping, I will have to keep using my Baby Rock Star stroller. (Yes I have a stroller called Baby Rock Star.)

For all of you in the Calgary area, Calgary Deal blog has some amazing spa and massage deals today. Check it out here.

I would love this play set for myself. From the Met Opera Shop.

Also, I would make this space for me!

Food

Weighty Thoughts for a Thursday

February 17th will mark 2 months of my journey. I am tempted to weigh myself. I am also fearful of weighing myself. What does weight represent? Do the numbers on the scale accurately tell the story of the past eight weeks? Probably not. I am worried that my weight on the 17th will not match how I am feeling. In this instance I feel that ignorance is indeed bliss.

One of the main reasons I worry is every time I see a weight loss, I binge eat to feel safe again. Why? Being thinner in my mind means more attention from the opposite sex which freaks the hell out of me. I know, I used to be in front of many people performing on a regular basis. But that was my job, not the private me. Now, it's just me. The knitting, running, mom and wife me. Sigh! Looks like I need to find a fix for this because I am tired of yo-yoing back and forth with my weight loss.

Another reason I am hesitant to weigh myself is that I know my weight has nothing to do with how fit I am.

Here I am at 169 pounds thanks to Weight Watchers. I was also so flabby that I hated showing any skin. I was counting points but did no exercise whatsoever!

 Here I am on our wedding day at 185 pounds but man I was firm! I was getting my but kicked by a personal trainer,but I paid no attention to how I was eating.

Here I am at 179 pounds and three months pregnant.

No more sugar, wheat, or pre-packages foods and I was interval training.

This was the best I have ever felt.

The solution? I will wait until April 17th to weigh myself. However, I have a goal dress that I would love to wear on my birthday in December. I will take a photo of myself on the 17th of this month and post it the following Monday.

Eeep!

Food

Food Feb 9-15

WEDNESDAY

1 cup hot cereal with skim milk and 2 tbsp of sugar free jam

4 olives, 1 carrot, and 12 crackers

1 cup of biriyani with 2 cups of spinach, 1 cup of squash,

 2 pepperchinos and 2 tbsp of mango chutney

1 cup quinoa salad with balsamic dressing and 2 pepperchinos

1 cup quinoa salad with balsamic dressing,

2 pepperchinos and 4 olives

1 cup quinoa salad with balsamic dressing,

2 pepperchinos 4 olives and 1/4 cup of cashews

1 cup of grapes

Plus: 1 apple

Beverages: 1.5 litres of water splashed with apple juice

THURSDAY

1/2 cup of yogurt, 1 cup of brown rice cereal, 5 strawberries 3/4 banana

1 cup of falafel chip 3 carrots

1/2 cup of falafel chips, 1/4 cup of cashews

7 olives and 2 carrots

cheeseburger wrap with 1/2 cup of noodle bake

Beverages: 1.5 litres of water

1 extra large decaf coffee with cream and milk

FRIDAY

1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 cup brown rice cereal, 5 strawberries, 1/2 banana

1/2 quinoa salad, 1/2 biriyani, 1 cup falafel chips, 6 olives

4 pepperchinos, 1/4 cashews, 2 tbsp mango chutney

1 extra large iced decaf latte

Original joes chicken burger with cheese and bacon, 1 cup of fries, 1 cup of veggies

2 cups of potato chips, 1 cup of fruits and veggies

2 carrots, 7 olives, 1/2 cup of falafel chips (no cashews this time)

Beverages: 2 litres of water



Mid Week Check-In

I am wearing a belt. This is significant news because my pants are loose enough that I need a belt. Yay! Not only am I wearing a belt, but I am wearing the belt that I bought a few years ago from Addition-Elle and had to ADD three holes to it. I am in the last original hole! Wahoo! Little one likes my belt too. He thinks it's a new toy. Ha!


So it's Wednesday again I have learned quite a few interesting things this week.

1. I was at a talk with Dr. Reed Ferber, the man behind the Running Injury Clinic at the University of Calgary. They can diagnose what is going wrong with your body when you run to rectify the problems. They don't teach you how to run, they do a series of tests to determine what muscles are weak and if you have bad running habits. Also, because you are working with a physiotherapist, part of the $400 fee is eligible for claiming on certain work benefits programs. Score! Here is a link for some basic exercises to strengthen your body for running. http://www.runninginjuryclinic.com/resources/hip-muscle-strengthening.html

2. It's important to change your daily exercise sequence. Your body is really good at muscle memory, so if you do the same exercises in the same order everyday, after a few days the exercises become less effective. I run 3 times a week, yoga 1 time (increasing to 2 times while mum is here) and now I want to add some floor exercises at home. It's important to change the paths I run, the style of yoga I do as well as change the order of my floor exercises to trick my muscles.

3. I noticed that I eat a lot of the same foods on a daily basis. This works for me because the less I focus or fixate on food, the better it is for managing my food addiction. Having the same healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner every day teaches your body to crave these foods. Here is the link for Dr. Oz http://www.doctorozwebsite.net/dr-oz-diet-what-food-is-right-for-you.html.

4. I have to be more diligent taking photos of the foods I eat. It is so easy to forget what you had to eat the day before.


Food

To do or not to do, that is the question

A few weeks ago I wanted to improve my habit of procrastinating. I'm not sure if this is a problem. I need to look at what causes me to procrastinate. I think the root of this evil is my to do list.

Every day I have a list of everything I would like to get accomplished. Is it normal to have 10 to 15 items on your DAILY list? I think this is where my problem lies.

So I am making a conscious effort to stop overloading my to do list and only have a maximum of 5 items per day.

Meh, we'll see what happens. (I'm a girl who loves lists!)


Food

Motivation for a Monday (and thankfulness)

Thank God for support! I mean it. Why do we find it so hard to ask for help? You know how it is, you decide you don't want to bother anyone so you try to manage on your own. Then you get talking to a friend and they say, "You should have called me, I would have been glad to help!"

So friends, get ready 'cause I'll be calling. Also, be ready to say no if you can't. It's all right. I understand. Everyone is busy and has a life and sometimes they just can't. It's all good. This works two ways, call me if you need help!

Also, thank you to all the wonderful people in my life who have looked after my baby so I could pursue my goals. You are angels of the highest order. Also, thank you to my mom who comes out for two to three weeks at a time to help me out and keep me company when hubby is away in the field.

I started to think of support on Friday when I finally caved and started to wear my knee brace again. I was too proud. And then my pride started to hurt, literally. So I am jogging with my brace. Also, I asked my running coach to recommend exercises to strengthen my knee. Friday night we had a bra fitting at the clinic (see, more support). Tonight I am attending a seminar on how to build strength in the body to avoid injury while running.

I know this time that I am committed to my goal. In the past I would have used every little setback as an excuse to stop. My jogging stroller is sub-par? Get a better one. Minus 31 with the windchill? Dress warmer and get a babysitter. Joints feeling out of whack? Visit my chiropractor and get adjusted. Slightly pull my groin? Take my coach's advice and rest. Knee starts to hurt? Wear the damn brace!

I AM NOT GIVING UP! You hear that universe???? I am starting a one woman revolution by looking and asking for help when I need it.

Saturday Craftiness

Met with my "chicks" today. I am working on a cowl for little one when we go out jogging together. (Well, I jog, he gets pushed, you know what I mean.)

Saw these wonderful inspirations:

These boots look like knitted lace!

Knitted socks from Prada

Love this pillow



Loving the ribbed tights with the loose knit sweater and boots.


For those of you who want to cruise and knit (or crochet or spin) check out http://www.craftcruises.com/featured_cruises.php. Probably the only way I could handle going on a cruise.

Wondering how to make those children's foam pads a little more decor friendly? Check out Sarah's blog here.

Saw my yoga ball pouf (okay, these isn't a yoga ball in it, but I still love the design) here.


Food blog post here.

Fabulous Friday - Fashion, food, and a fantastic voice!

I wasn't quite sure what to feature today until Kelli Harker from Soul Reflection sent out her newsletter. She shows us how to pull off the sweater, legging, and boot look. The link to her video newsletter is here.

Yesterday I happened to be in the car over the lunch hour and am I ever glad I was. The topic was weight loss and what has worked for you. One caller recommended the Dietitians of Canada's website for their recipe analyzer. Yay! I hardly ever eat any processed food, so to find a tool that will figure out calories for me using my recipes, Hurrah!

Thanks to Jay for sending me this fabulous link. Move over Amy Winehouse, Adele is going to whoop your butt! Check out her video here.


This week's food is here.

Karma is a B*****

Last week I had discovered that the coyote is the karmic enforcer, reminding us that whatever we do to others will be done to us. Yes well, that karmic enforcer bit me on the behind last week.

I am always bugging my hubby about speeding especially through school and playground zones. Not only could it be dangerous, but who wants to pay over a hundred dollars to the city? Not me! This has always been a sore point in our relationship. Well guess who got a speeding ticket last week? I should have paid more attention to that damn coyote. I really should have paid more attention to the road signs. CRAP! I never speed. I used to, but since having a baby and having him in the car, it's just not worth it.

So I made a deal with my hubs. If either of us get caught for speeding it comes out of our fun money. That way it financially hurts the person who was speeding instead of the family's savings. I don't like to call it an allowance because I am to old for that. Hubby and I get an equal amount of fun money in a week and ALL of our discretionary spending comes out of that. Even eating out. You wouldn't believe how much money we save since we stopped thinking of eating out as grocery money.

Peace has been restored and I can finally relax and let him drive the way he wants to.

I have made a change to the food posting. I am making one post and adding to it all week, but I will continue to link it here.

Food Feb 2-8th

WEDNESDAY

1/4 cup of yogurt, 1/2 cup of brown rice cereal, 1/2 banana, 4 strawberries

cheeseburger wrap, 1 hamburger patty, 1/8 cup of cheese, 1/4 tomato, 3 leaves of

lettuce, pickles, 1 tbsp of sugar free ketchup, 1/2 tbsp of mayo, mustard

1 large bag of movie popcorn

 (yup, I ate the whole thing with two times to the butter dispenser. gasp!)

corned beef lettuce wraps with dijon mustard and 1 cup of carrot parsnip soup

1/4 cup of almonds

2 apples

PLUS 1 banana

BEVERAGES

 1 cup of skim milk

1 venti iced decaf latte with 2% milk

2.25 litres of water with a splash of apple juice

 THURSDAY

2 egg omelet with 1 cup of spinach, 4 slices of deli ham, & 1 tbsp of butter

1 hamburger patty, mustard, 1 tsp mayo, 1 tbsp sugar free ketchup,

 1/2 tomato & 4 pickles with 1 cup of carrot parsnip soup

2 carrots and 1/4 cup of almonds with spices

2 apples

1/4 cup of almonds

PLUS:

1 1/2 cups of grapes

1 large serving of McDonald's Fries (ugg! my belly felt so gross after)

Beverages:

2 litres of water splashed with apple juice

2 decaf earl grey teas with sugar and lemon

1 venti iced decaf latte

FRIDAY

1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 cup brown rice cereal, 4 strawberries, 1/2 banana

corned beef wrap, 1/2 red pepper, 1/2 cup sprouts, 1 1/2 tbsp feta dip

1/8 cup almonds

1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 cup brown rice cereal, 4 strawberries, 1/2 banana

1/2 a bag of smart food popcorn (bluch)

1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 cup brown rice cereal, 4 strawberries, 1/2 banana

Beverages:

1 grande iced decaf latte

2.4 litres of water with a splash of apple juice

SATURDAY

1/2 cup of yogurt, 1 cup of brown rice cereal, 1/2 banana, 4 strawberries

1 banana & 1 apple

2 carrots

8 slices of shaved deli ham, 18 crackers, dijon mustard

2 carrots

1 cup biriyani, 1/8 cup mango chutney

1 apple

1/8 cup of almonds

1 1/2 cups of grapes, 1/2 square unsweetened chocolate with xylitol

8 crackers with 1/8 cup of cheese

BEVERAGES: 1 Xlrg decaf coffee with milk and cream

1.8 litres of water splashed with apple juice

SUNDAY

 (I don't know how this day got away from me)

Breakfast: 1 cup of gluten free style "cream of wheat "

with 2 tbsp sugar free apricot jam and 1/4 milk

Ham wrap with 1/8 cup of cheese, 1/3 red pepper, lettuce,

alfalfa sprouts, dijon mustard and 1/2 cup noodle & broccoli bake

1 cup of milk

Dinner:

2 cups of decaf coffee with cream

1 large romaine, red pepper, tomato and egg salad with oil & vinaigrette

with 6 garlic prawns

1/3 portion of gluten free pasta in a chicken cream sauce

Beverages: 1.5 litres of water

MONDAY

Started the day at 3:15 (whimper!)

packed my usual yogurt cereal & fruit plus 3 apples

Deli ham wrap with lettuce, sprouts, mustard

1/2 cup of noodle and broccoli bake

1 1/2 cups of grapes with 1/8 cup of walnuts and

 1/2 square of unsweetened chocolate with xylitol

2 carrots and 8 crackers

1 cup of biriyani with 1/2 cup of squash and 1/8th cup mango chutney

 broccoli noodle bake and 1 carrot

Plus: 1 banana

Beverages: 1.8 litres of water

2 Earl Grey tea with xylitol & lemon

1 glass of skim milk

TUESDAY

1 cup of hot cereal with skim milk, 1 tbsp of sugar free jam

 and earl grey tea with xylitol

usual cheeseburger wrap with 4 pickles, 1/4 tomato

3 leaves of lettuce and condiments with 2 carrots

Kale chips (quite yummy!)

Because I ate another helping with 2 carrots

and another with two carrots

1/2 banana & 1 apple

2 cups of quinoa salad (yummy too!)

ingredients: black beans, spinach, cucumber,

yellow pepper, mango, green onions

Beverages: 1 x-large decaf coffee with cream & milk

1.2 litres of water splashed with apple juice