Gone mad in the kitchen

Hi folks....Just letting you know I have gone a bit crazy in the kitchen lately and therefore can tick off one of my December goals. We are having a Mushroom Gravy Slow Cooked (Rump) Roast for dinner tonight although it is not Rump but another cut of beef. Fingers crossed it will be OK. I also made a no sugar version of White Christmas yesterday and a Banana Bread (which needs some tweaking.

I have now found a Gluten Free recipe for English Muffins (two actually) and may have a go at these after we return from Adelaide. I will probably play with this one a bit too as a couple of the flours are on my list of do not eat (ie grains or starch). Need to do some investigation on which ones are actually a NO NO. Having said that they are fairly small quantities and probably wouldn't worry me too much. Watch this space.

I did get the measuring tape out but apart from 1/2 cm from my neck there has been no change. However I am not measuring the bulge above my waist and I am sure it is not as large as it was and is definitely softer (breaking up perhaps). Not going to worry too much until after the silly season has gone but will try not to go overboard anyway as I know I will suffer if I do. Probably won't get back here until the New Year so Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to anyone that is reading.

Information Overload

Hi Blog....Just a quick one. First up my Ticker won't update and should read 20kms so I'm halfway there. Secondly this is to say I might be a bit scarce on here for a while as I am (my own fault) totally inundated with information about different foods I should be eliminating to help my health issues. I find something on a site which leads to another site (and usually more recipes) and more DO NOT EAT. So I am officially throwing my hands in the air and saying ENOUGH is ENOUGH. The silly season is here, where for the next couple of weeks, I will be eating out and will have no control over what is actually in the food and therefore, of course, some of the DO NOT EAT will be consumed. Last night was the first, today lunch we are out again but that is Roast Turkey so apart from the gravy and white potato should be OK. I have numerous coffee dates between now and Adelaide take off but of course I could just drink black tea :(

Anyway rant over just letting you know I am not going to stress over this just do the best I can and hope I don't suffer too much. May catch you again before Christmas but no promises.

December and the Season to be Jolly

Hi Blog....I really can't believe it is December and this time next month we will be gearing up to go on our cruise to Hawaii having returned from Adelaide for our regular Christmas visit. However this year we have decided not to stay for New Year.

I have outlined some new goals for the month and really would like to fit into my swimsuit a lot better than I do now so hence the goal about losing some cms. I actually think I have lost some recently anyway as I am sure the tummy bulge is lower and not as pronounced. So watch this space. It is VERY hot here today and we were supposed to have a game of mini golf with some friends but they cancelled. It is all out in the open (no shade)so probably a good idea.

I have also found a recipe for a Turkey meatloaf in an Adelaide Newspaper and would like to have a go at making it. Need to get some turkey first though and mince it in our "scooby doo" food processor. Our meals seem to have settled into too much routine so I want to shake them up a little and introduce some new stuff - hence the recipe goal also. So hopefully I will achieve all of my goals come New Years Day. Watch this space.

Recap on month of November

Well, here it is December. Where did that month/year go? We did achieve one goal, the Coconut Water Kefir did finally get made (see an earlier post). It doesn't taste all that great actually - is quite bitter and those who like beer would probably like it but I need to add Cranberry juice to it to make it drinkable. I won't be doing it again any time soon. I may use the last sachet of Kefir grains to make a yoghurt of some description. Watch this space. I didn't make my other walking goal but that is OK as Mr Achilles was starting to niggle so I cut back and being in Adelaide has curtailed my treadmill walking as I didn't make it to a gym. Have been walking a couple of kms to and from the hospital each day though so all good. Overall though my eating habits have improved and even tho scales don't seem to be moving I am sure they will eventually. Watch this space for some new goals for December. Sorry no pic as I am not too sure how to do that on this tablet. I hope to get back here soon. Bye for now.

Off to Adelaide

Just a quick one as I need to pack the last minute stuff before I take off for Adelaide. Looks like I will only meet one of my goals for this month and even that was not really successful. I DID make the Kefir Coconut Water but it doesn't taste all that great. However you can add something to make it more palatable and I have some Cranberry Juice which I will add to it. I have forgotten to have some most days but will go and have some right now. It does not keep indefinitely so I will have to make an extreme effort when I get back (Monday) to finish it. Have missed a couple of walks this week but Mr Achilles was starting to niggle so I pulled back. There was nothing to stop me getting on stat bike tho' but hasn't happened. Anyway lots of walking will be happening down in Adelaide and there is a Goodlife gym near my hotel where I can go casually - so just might do that in the mornings. Watch this space - will have plenty of time to update each evening but probably won't be able to manage inserting a photo.

Coconut Water Kefir Disaster

This should have been simple but the Crook household does not possess a sharp knife. After numerous attempts by myself and then Roger to take the top off a young coconut with an electric knife we resorted to using the electric drill (very sterile @#$). Anyway we finally got enough water out of the three coconuts and strained them into my preserving jar (with the Kefir starter pack) which is now sitting on the kitchen bench where it will stay for 48 hours. Did I neglect to mention that a HUGE argument happened in the middle of this and the three coconuts nearly went straight into the bin without being opened at all.

Anyway after "googling" again on how to get inside the coconut itself, one nut was taken outside with an old tea towel wrapped around it and bashed until it broke. However the amount of coconut inside (being only a young one) was miniscule and mixed up with some of the husky stuff we both decided we had enough and threw them in the bin. I don't think I will be doing this again anytime soon. Apparently you can buy the coconut water (unadulterated) somewhere and if I ever do decide to do it again that is what I will do.

So there you have it. Let's hope the vegie casserole thingy I made after this episode will be OK and I didn't forget a vital ingredient.

Good News

Hi Blog.....some good news from my GP. My last blood test showed improvement in liver function but I am still slightly acidic. Which doesn't mean I have to avoid acidic foods as she has discovered a new supp which means I can, within reason, return to somewhat normal eating as this supp keeps the bad bacteria at bay. Still need to go easy on the cow's milk, sugar and starchy stuff and for the first week no meat in the evenings, can have a small portion for lunch though. Apparently our bodies detox themselves overnight and the meat protein slows the whole process down. We'll see how that goes. Have a few eat out meals coming up so probably won't do too well at all.

Anyway she still wants me to make the Kefir yoghurt from the liquid inside the coconut. So I'd better put that back on my goal list. Need to find a proper jar for it first. Actually I think Flannerys had some coconut oil for sale in large glass jars so I might just go and get those. Cos I'll definitely use the coconut oil and the bonus is the glass jar.

I mentioned to her that I didn't appear to be losing any weight and she nodded and said until my system has changed from acidic to alkili I won't burn any fat. But has given me a couple of supps help that along anyway. So we'll see how they go. This is the last time I am going to try any supps as they are too expensive, I forget to take them and half of them upset me anyway. So fingers crossed we get it all sorted this time. I've actually put a reminder in my new calendar which syncs with my phone so I will get a message twice a day reminding me to take them.

I haven't returned to running yet and probably won't till I shift a couple of kgs. I went for a 3.5km walk this morning and will try for a 4km on the weekend with a visit to the gym in between. Think I've waffled long enough - see ya next time.

Tennis anyone?

Hi Blog...Sorry I've been busy again. Have been to U3A every day this week except today. Yesterday, we (hubby also) went to have a social game of table tennis. I have not played since I was a teenager and I wasn't much good at it then. Don't know why I thought the 45+ years in between would make be better at it. Anyway we had a bit of fun. There are some serious players there (including my husband) and I might let him go on his own and have some "away from me/out of the house" time.

I also changed my exercise regime this morning and took off the shoes and strolled along the beach in bare feet. Shhhh don't tell my Dad, he is frightened I will tread on a needle or something. My physio recommended this quite some months ago to help Mr and Mrs Achilles but it was too cold to do so through the winter months but not so cold now. I'll try and do this at least once a week. I haven't run at all this week but did do some serious fast walking intervals on the treadmill yesterday and I'll whiz off to the gym tomorrow morning and do some weights.

I still haven't got the tape measure out but I am sure the bulge between the "girls" and the belly button is not as pronounced. However I wasn't actually measuring this spot. Watch this space, I promise to do some measurements before I blog again.

Walk Don't Run

Hi Blog...I've been missing again. Life really does get in the way sometimes and I haven't had much to say anyway. We went on a boat cruise to Straddie on Sunday, I have a class at U3A on Monday morning, I had one this arvo (Philosophy) where I had to do a talk entitled "Schopenhauer on Happiness". That's him as a youth over there on the left. I think it went off OK, now I have to do a summary to hand out to all those who didn't attend (ie those who would rather get dressed up and go to lunch for Melbourne Cup). I am back there again tomorrow in the office (my monthly duty) and Thursday we are going to an introduction session of table tennis and Friday I won't be going there at all.

Anyway I have stopped running for the time being, although having said that I might have a go tomorrow morning at the gym on the treadmill. The track I have been using is now very hard as we have not had any rain for quite some time so I am still out there but just walking. I'm sure I am better off as I don't get as hungry and therefore not inclined to "go off the rails" in the food department. Anyway time will tell.

I'm off to my holistic doctor next week and will be having some serious discussions about FOOD and what I can and can't eat.

Moving on

Hi Blog...just a quick one. Moved onto Week 5 of C25K this morning, however the PCYC were doing another outdoor training session on MY track this morning. How dare they. So I headed down to the end of Smith Street to do my run and enjoyed the change of scenery and the different grass. The track grass is quite spongy (although not so much now without rain) but it is very dry down at the Broadwater. So the surface being harder makes it easier to run a little faster. Week 5 is a 5 min warm up walk, a 5 min run, 3 min walk, 5 min run, 3 min walk, 5 min run and finishing with a 5 min cool down. My runs were a reasonably consistent speed just getting marginally slower each time so I am pleased with my progress.

And I think one of my bulges is not as large as it was. Must get the trusty tape measure out and check it one day. Don't think I made my "go down a dress size by end October" goal but possibly a half a dress size. So I have pushed it out until November. Did make the walk/run goal and will reset that too tomorrow.

Catch you next time.

Back to the Track

Hi Blog...well this morning I finally got back to the track for Week 4 Day 1 of C25K. I have done it before but thought I would not move forward until I can do Week 4 without much effort. Surprisingly, although I didn't push myself, I did do it better than previously and what is more miraculous the GPS in my dumbphone (opposite of smartphone) actually found me. The secret is to get the program up on my phone before I even leave the kitchen so it gives the dumbphone time to find me before I actually get to the track. Well that is what I did this morning and it worked.

I've made a start at getting back to my restrictive diet (although I did have a cappucino this arvo with REAL milk) - so far so good. I was going to make a no sugar cheesecake slice but hubby has the breadmaker plugged in where I wanted to plug the Food processor so I am going to wait until tomorrow now.

I think I have a new TV addiction. I have been very naughty and downloading movies and tv shows from the internet (for free). We are actually looking at the new Downton Abbey Series 3 that is showing in the UK but hasn't started here yet and prior to taking off for Woodgate I downloaded the first series of Grey's Anatomy. I never watched it when it started here but have just watched the first episode and it will probably become my daily afternoon R&R if I can manage to squeeze it in before Roger gets to the lounge around 4pm. Fingers crossed.

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I am going off now to try and change my doctor's appointment. Falls on a day when I go to U3A and I also want to try and bring it forward. I am a tad confused with all the stuff I am reading and think I will ask my doctor to refer me to the Naturapath in the same clinic to see if she can help me with what I should and should not be eating to fix my gut problems. The more I read the more confused I get. I guess in the long run it is a bit of trial and error - if it doesn't upset me it is fine. If it does, DON'T eat it - right?

Woodgate - next move?

Hi Blog....I've been missing again - just enjoying the holiday at Woodgate. Eating has been a bit off the map but not going to stress about it. Tummy initially objected but has settled now. However I don't want to continue to abuse it. So will get back to it tomorrow when we arrive home. I have managed a 2-3km walk every day bar one so that is OK. Will probably have to reset my walk/run goal as I think I will go past it once again.

I have been busy on the laptop finding more websites with recipes that suit my eating limitations. Thankfully there are numerous people in the same boat that experiment and convert recipes to save me having to try to do it.

The pic is a photo of a house we went through today but we are not ready to move yet. However Woodgate is certainly on the list of spots to consider when we are ready for full retirement.

That's it for now - more when I get back.

Walking by the Beach at Woodgate

Hi Blog. Have managed a 2.25km walk for the past two mornings along the foreshore. Went south yesterday and north today. Might set the program to do a 40 minute walk tomorrow and I may have company. We have some friends (from Hervey Bay) coming to stay in our cabin arriving very shortly. So I may be missing from here for a couple of days. The weather is absolutely perfect, however Roger hasn't managed to catch a keepable fish yet. Lots of little whiting apparently. Anyway my eating plan is out the window with some bread, mud cake and even an ice cream last night as Anniversary Treat. Not going to stress about it - will just get back to it when I am in control of the food preparation - next Monday afternoon. Bye for now - catch you in a day or two.

Still out of routine

Hi Blog....my exercise regime is still out of whack. Only did a 3km walk yesterday (Sat) with nothing apart from a short walk to the Supermarket and back this arvo. We are off to Woodgate tomorrow morning so doubt I will get any in tomorrow morning either but could probably do a walk on the beach once we get there. I really hope to get back to the C25K jog/walk stuff soonish but only want to do that on grass. So fingers crossed I can find a reasonable patch to run around somewhere up there.

I have also strayed a little on the food side but am not going to beat myself up about it as I suspect this week will be very difficult to stay within the guidelines I am supposed to be following. There was even talk of a pizza one night when our friends from Hervey Bay come to visit.

How delicious do the cinnamon rolls look? They are grain free, sugar free (using Xylitol as a substitute) and could even be dairy free if you used coconut milk. Going to give them a try once we get back. The dough is actually made from Almond Flour and Flax Meal. Wish me luck - I don't profess to be much of a cook and have had some disasters of late in trying to modify recipes.

Anyway my next instalment will be from Woodgate - see you then.

All out of routine

This week I was supposed to get back to my normal routine ie C25K runs on Mon, Wed and Fri, PT on Tues, gym on Thu and Sat and Sun rest day. It has not happened. I did go to the oval on Monday to do W4D3 and did it reasonably well. Tuesday was a great PT session, however Wed I had to be at the U3A office at 8:30am having dropped off the doggie to the groomers and it would have been a bit tight. So I made Wed my rest day. This morning I was all set to go to the oval but, would you believe, it was raining. That stuff that comes out of the sky that we haven't seen for a long time. So I tootled off to the gym and walked (with a couple of jogging intervals) for 30 mins (3kms). Oh well, I can't control the weather and it probably won't be the last time that happens over the summer (rainy) months. At least I did something 'cos if I hadn't it would have been two days in a row and as we know that could be the beginning of the rot settling in. As Craig says (which is my signature in CK) "Motivation and excitement don't last but habits do".

Kefir Yoghurt didn't work

Hi Blog....Just reporting in that the Kefir Yoghurt didn't work with Coconut Milk. I think I have figured out why. The coconut milk I used is actually cultured (ie already fermented) and therefore it has curdled but not made a yoghurt. I tastes OK (if you shake it first) so I will put it on my breakky as it is too expensive to waste. I will have another go when I get back from Woodgate and use Raw Milk or as close as I can get to it.

The muffins also were not a success. I used coconut flour and baking soda instead of SR flour but I think there was too much of it. I'm sure I read somewhere you don't need as much coconut flour as it is quite dense. I will have another go and cut the amount of coconut flour. Once again after I return from Woodgate. They are still edible though. I have frozen them and once thawed you just need to add some cream or yoghurt or even milk.

I had a serious weight session with my PT this morning and I suspect I will hardly be able to walk on Thursday thanks to the Leg Press

I plan to do Week 4 of the C25K program again as I don't feel I am ready to move on. It was split into two - some before Adelaide and some after and one session the GPS didn't work so I will have another go - starting tomorrow.

Well, that's about it from me - see you soon

Back into it

Hi there - I am back from Adelaide and have been busy getting all my food stuff organised. I made my Coconutty Granola, some dark chocolate and after a trip to Mrs Flannery's for some Coconut Milk have made the Kefir Yoghurt - one of my goals for October . I also purchased a loaf of Spelt / Sourdough bread which I have just discovered does contain Gluten. However, as I am not a Coeliac nor am I totally gluten intolerant - I will eat it sparingly. The loaf has been frozen in small packages each containing two slices.

I also plan to make some Sugar Free Berry Muffins (with Coconut Flour) later on this arvo.

I went for a 2.5km walk this morning and am making some inroads towards my walk/run goal for October.

Not sure if I should make my long term goal to end up looking like the bikini girl on the left of the pic above - probably never going to happen - but maybe the one in the middle. What do you think ?