Ice Breaker

I have got to say- it felt really good. I received my first, “You’ve lost weight” comment. People have commented but it’s all been people that know I’ve been working at it - or it will be me saying initiating the subject and friends jumping in to say - “Yes- you’re looking good.” That is nice but it’s always the first "out of the blue" compliment that feels the best. It broke the ice because about a week after that someone else said something. Yeah!

22 weeks- 40 lbs

Train Wreck

Well, I was all caught up and now I’m not. I have decided to not post on a weekly basis at this point until after the wedding. Things have been so busy with invitation prep, garden re-haul and now, something we’ve put off for two years- painting the living room. That project starts tomorrow - not an easy task considering it’s a large living room and the ceiling must also be done. It should be fun though, Adam has a couple of days off work so we’re doing it together. Funny thing was that we were supposed to be flying to Salt Lake City for Adam’s Granddad's 90th. Unfortunately our passports did not make it . This is not good considering also that we need a marriage license which may be difficult, considering our passports are somewhere on a bureaucrat’s desk in Ottawa.

I have not been exercising due to some problems with my leg. I’m not really sure what it’s all about but I think that I hurt it doing stairs. I also have developed a rather sudden case of plantar’s fascitis. I know, I know- I’m quite the train-wreck. Hopefully I will not have to hobble with a cane at my own wedding! Considering that one is not supposed to get these things after losing a fairly significant amount of weight, I am most disturbed! Now I must go seek some lumps for my shoes. I have been hill-walking and hiking on a regular basis, my leg does not really hurt during these activities- only when I try to get up or bend it a certain way.

Last weekend- the long weekend was the longest biggest baddist binge ever. I had patiently waited for a long time and took full advantage of my free weekend. Filled myself with pork at our friend’s annual Pig roast- funny how filling fatty meat can be. Glogged down loads of wine. Took the opportunity to eat loads of cheese. Ruined a steak on our new BBQ and was very pouty until Adam rushed out to get a carton of Ben and Jerry’s to console me. It was peanut-butter cup flavor and I didn’t really love it - but I had been wanting ice-cream for weeks and I enjoyed it . I probably did gain some weight but could not face the scale until today- and now I’m back to what was good!

Right now I’m really not doing anything but eating the foods that I know are healthy and restricting wheat. I’m enjoying a cup of coffee ( with cream) every day to give me an afternoon boost. Tonight I may have a glass of wine.

So 39 lbs lost- 20 weeks

Unstuck

Well for the first time since I’ve started this blog- I’m all caught up!! That means I’m not posting 3-4 weeks behind. Originally when I started writing I didn’t know if I’d have the guts to actually post anything. Now I have. Although very few people actually read this blog, I feel very good about it. It’s very therapeutic and has allowed me to be a writer, even if the subject is boring to most.

A week ago I looked in the mirror and thought that I was staring at the face of the Michelin Man.I was so bloated!! I had been the same weight for what seemed like ages even though I have been exercising and eating well- except for too many nuts.

Who knows where the bloat came from? Dairy? I eat some low-fat yogurt. Alcohol? A glass or two on the weekends. Perhaps it was the pickled beans or banana peppers that I put in my humus - or the kimchee that I eat with my humus.What ever it was, it was making me really puffy and I suspect that my plateau had something to do with it.

So I decided to start back at square one. The good ole weight-loss cleanse. Stocked up on fruits and watercress- grabbed my CLA from the herb cupboard.

I really like having those clear boundaries. No dairy, wheat, sugar, alcohol or coffee. I don’t feel like going through caffeine withdrawal so I have continued with green and jasmine tea. I was sad when Saturday (my Americano day) came, but I have to be a trooper. No dairy is no dairy and it’s all about the cream!!

So by the end of the week I had flushed out 7 lbs and I’ve got to say I’m really happy about it.

37 lbs- 17 weeks


Yeah!

Stuck ...Again!!!

I realised early in the week that I have not been making time to go to the gym. We are still walking about 4 days a week with two of those days being one hour hill-walks or hikes that are good calorie burners. Time at the gym however, has just not been possible. I’m intensely involved in a re haul of my garden in anticipation of the big even t this summer. Gardening is good exercise but I do need some consistent cardio. I decided that I could spare at least 15 minutes a morning. I really have to make time for this. i have read that morning is the best time for exercise to burn fat on an empty stomach. So, I’ve been putting on some Beck (Midnight Vultures is really good to move to) and doing a miniature workout which involves barbells, running, dancing, and doing stairs. It’s a good start to the day and often the 15 minutes turns into 20 or 25. Usually I have a good sweat going especially if I do stairs.

Check out the above photo. Halibut topped with prawns, pasta/whole grains and greens. Very Okinawan! Really this is not a bad lifestyle. I think that i may be overdoing it a bit though- the pasta should have been whole wheat- but it was mixed with brown rice and kamut. I think that it was drizzled in olive oil (lightly!). Probably the Reggiano was not the low-fat version but you don’t need a lot.

One thing that can get out of hand for me is nuts. It’s so easy to munch away on them, you never fill up and they are quite fatty. Ditto for Pumpkin seeds. I have a great recipe where you roast the seeds in the oven and then sprinkle with Braggs, garlic powder and cayenne pepper- but you can chow down for hours. Again - it adds up in calories.

I tend to get a bit hungrier on this diet which is not a good thing -considering my evening snack has turned into a piece of toast with peanut butter or the divine almond-hazelnut butter. Again, not probably the wisest of choices. I’m not quite sure that the nut consumption is a huge part of the Okinawan plan- the nuts were still around from the high protein plan and they were very accessible - perhaps a little too accessible.

Getting back to the Okinawan plan,I do recommend the book. It’s an interesting read and as said before meant to be a lifestyle rather than just a diet. Exercise, meditation, positive thought and just slowing down the pace are part of the deal. What’s the point of devouring a donut in your car when you could cook up some miso vegetables and enjoy a cup of Jasmine tea?

We are at just under three months to go until the wedding and I’m starting to feel a little nervous that the dress won’t fit. I realise that 30 pounds actually is a significant weight loss and that I should be proud. instead I am focusing on the fact that I’m stuck here in another plateau and it probably will be harder to lose an additional 30 lbs. I’m bummed out that I’ve been doing all of this exercise and still have not dropped any more weight. I’m also feeling stupid that I have been hogging out on nuts and peanut butter and thinking that it was in the plan when it was not

16 weeks - 30 lbs

The Okinawa Program

This book was written by three doctors who based their information on a twenty five year study of Okinawan Centenarians. Okinawans are the healthiest and longest- lived population in the world- so they must be doing something right!

The diet itself is kind of complicated in that many of the types of foods overlap- but it comes down to just common sense eating, especially for those who are in the know about their healthy living.

Here is the Diet

Each Day- 7-13 servings whole grain foods- sounds like a lot but servings are generally small.

9-17 Servings fruits and vegetables

2-4 Servings flavonoid foods- tofu, flax seed, tea, soy milk

2-4 servings calcium foods- low fat dairy, OJ, broccoli, cabbage

1-3 servings Omega -3 foods- fish, flax

1-2 tablespoons vegetable oils or condiments

Each Week

no more than 7 servings of meat, poultry, eggs’

0-3 servings sweets

alcohol in moderation

So basically this is a lifestyle high in fiber and complex carbohydrates- lower in protein.
As i had mentioned, it is not quite clear whether you should be having all of the servings listed here. For instance if I had kale one night would that count as one veggie or one calcium food or would it count as one of both. It did not turn out to be a big issue as I didn’t really measure my foods or anything- just tried to eat sensibly within the parameters. I found it to be quite easy as this is kind of a natural way for me to eat. I love flax oil and probably have too much of it- but at least it’s not butter. We did cut our meat consumption but didn’t have a problem with it. One favorite meal has turned out to be buckwheat noodles with steamed veggies and baked marinated tofu. just throw them all in a bowl and drizzle some hot-sauce and some Bragg’s amino acid or some sesame oil along the side of the bowl! YUM.

i started this program right after the disastrous Yeaster ans have now completed two weeks-

30 lbs down- I had hoped for more- i had thought that the Yeaster gain was all bloat and would easily flow off - but it’s been hard work. Damn that fondue!!

I found out last week that I did not make the cut for X-Weighted- initially I was upset- ego bashed- but then I realised that it may have been too invasive.

More Yeaster

This picture was taken at Domaine Drouhin- overlooking their vineyard in the Willamette Valley. It was a cold day with a crisp wind but we were forced to stay outdoors. We had been hanging out in the tasting room, sipping wine, until a Hummer Limo pulled up and dumped off a pack of shrieking sorority sisters. The room instantly filled with a din compared only to the Rhesus monkey pit during mating season. Customers were not only deafened but treated to the god-awful aroma of whatever latest Ralph Lauren or Britney Spears scent sorority sisters are wearing.

Here is another rant: Ladies- if you are serious about tasting and enjoying wine - leave the perfume in it’s bottle. People want to smell the notes of the wine not your skanky, cheap perfume! Personally, I think that perfume restrictions should be extended from hospitals and libraries to restaurants. People are really into their food these days. It is awful to be in a situation where you are having a special meal and somebody sits close by reeking of too much toiletry.

Anyway, the wines at Domaine Drouhine were fine. We were so excited by the our day touring wineries that Adam and I decided to go again, on Sunday. Easter Sunday- you get it- all of the wineries were closed. After seeing several "Winery Closed" signs decided to go for lunch and take a chance to get a seat at Bistro Maison in McMinnville. We lucked out as it was close to 2pm and the lunch seating was finishing up. This is a sweet little heritage-style house converted into a restaurant. The service was very professional although I figure that our server must have been trained in up-selling. She mentioned that the special was a fondue which was made of three cheeses and would be perfect for an appetizer for two. Always in the mood for cheese, I insisted upon it - soon bowls of apples, bread, french country ham and gerkins arrived at the table along with a large pot of bubbling cheeses and truffle oil. We realised that we were going to be soon stuffed and we didn’t really feel that we could rescind on our orders of pasta for him and hanger steak and frites for me. Not to mention a luscious salad with hazelnuts and blue cheese which we split. Our choice of Ken Wright’ Cellar’s Pinot Blanc “Freedom Hill” 2005 helped to cut the heaviness of the delicious fondue. We then shared a half bottle of Cristom Reserve Pinto Noir with our mains. Poor us- we have never been so full but we just had to look at the desert menu and the molten chocolate cake with ganache and homemade Grand Marnier ice-cream simply could not be denied- it just sounded too good and it was damn good- it was! The bill arrived with a big basket of fresh nuts and oranges.

Since we could now not drive- we limped out for a walk just in time for a spring shower. We kind of huddled under some trees in a park and then took to our car for a big nap before driving into Portland to meet back up with Tara and Glen- for dinner!!

So now you know why Yeaster weekend resulted in a such a big gain.

14 weeks 28 lbs

Next week a new diet!

Yeaster

Whenever I go on a road-trip to the good ole USA, I have to try out the very latest flavor of Doritos. I look for something that will tantalize ever single one of my taste buds and this time I was not disappointed. I like the spark of buffalo wings and the sourness of ranch - putting them together in a chip is an excellent idea. The above bag was gone in seconds.
Can you believe it - six artificial colors!!! Thank you Frito-Lay for keeping North Americans nice and plump. We could not do it without you!

Phew what a rant!! I’m obviously bitter because I gained weight over the Yeaster weekend
although I have no-one but myself to blame.

We love the Willamette valley, land of some of the best Pinot Noirs known to man. In fact my break through Pinot Noir was made by Ken Wright who is known for putting Oregon Pinots on the map. I had high hopes to purchase another bottle from Ken Wright Cellars - that was not meant to be, but we did taste some lovely wines.

We spent Saturday afternoon with my cousin Tara and her husband Glen. We went to four wineries in all- starting in Dundee at the Ponzi wine Bar. We had the most delicious sandwiches, made at the adjoining Dundee Bistro, which is owned by the Ponzi family. The sandwiches are simple - freshly baked ciabatta breads with gorgeous meats and cheeses. Accompanied by a flight of Oregon Syrahs, there could be no better option for lunch. Adam and I enjoyed these sandwiches a year ago at the start of our Oregon/Californian vacation. We’ve talked about them a lot since then. It may seem odd that we would discuss sandwiches for a year, but we love food and they were memorable. As it turns out the cured meats came from somewhere in Vancouver BC.

Our next designation was Domaine Serene, a fairly new winery which is putting out stellar Pinot Noirs. The April 2007 edition of the Wine Spectator did an article on Ken and Grace Evenstand; a couple from Minnesota who came out west with the intention of making Pinot Noirs that would be in the same league as French Burgundies. The fact that they owned a pharmaceutical firm in Minnesota helped them to finance their Oregon Winery. Interestingly enough Ken Wright was their first wine maker. Their wines are now being made by Tony Rynders and can fetch up to $200.00 for a bottle - the most expensive price for a bottle of Oregon wine. We were not tasting wines of this caliber, but they were mighty good just the same. We did purchase a bottle of 2003 Rockblock Syrah for $48.00- this is going to be a smashing bottle of wine - in a year or two. Since 1998, Domaine Serene has produced over two dozen wines scoring 90 points or higher on Wine Spectator’s 100 point rating scale.

The tasting room at Domaine Serene is the best part of the winery. The huge room, complete with fireplace and big tables has massive beautiful wooden beams running across the ceilings - very cool. Unfortunately the rest of the mansion/winery is done in that faux - Italian look - so cheesy! If you had millions of dollars to buy vineyards and build a grand estate why go gaudy? All of us agreed that a beautifully designed west - coast cedar estate would have been a better choice. The canary-yellow castle stands out like an eyesore from several miles away, as it is at the top of the hill- it left a bad taste in my mouth- but the wines did not.

more on Yeaster weekend next time

25lbs lost- a gain of 3 lbs.. actually it was a gain of 5 lbs because before the weekend I was actually down 30lbs....GRRRRRR!!!!!