Fertilehealthy

I spend a lot of time on the computer. Craig keeps a sharp eye on the bandwidth usage and tells me I’m addicted. Sigh. He just doesn’t get it! Look at all the fabulous things I’ve been reading!

Have you seen the world’s coolest flight attendant video? I want to fly Southwest Airlines!

I’ve been saying this for a long time, but now studies once again confirm that all calories were not created equal. What you eat matters as much as how much you eat.

This post made me cry. Kim had been sneaking food and lying about it to her friends, but realized that friendship was more important than food. Great post! It made me look at my past behavior in a whole new light.

Have you joined the Meatless Monday Campaign yet? You should! Check out all the reasons, and some excellent recipes, on their website. Stella McCartney says:

It’s ok to just give up meat for one day, it doesn’t make you a vegetarian if you hate vegetarians, it doesn’t make you a cranky, hemp wearing pot smoker. It’s alright, it’s allowed – it doesn’t make you a kind of the person you don’t want to be. It just means you are doing something positive.

This article made me so happy that I don’t eat frozen dinners. I don’t want any of that stuff in my glorious body, or as Crazy Sexy Kris Carr calls it, my God-pod.

Dr. Frank Lipman wrote a wonderful article in The Huffington Post about the 2 questions to ask that are more important than a diagnosis when we’re confronted with health issues. He’s most definitely my kind of doctor!

BBC News featured a great article about the weight loss industry. It’s well worth a read!

That’s just some of the enlightening and informative things I’ve read recently.

If you’re not reading Jack Sh*t, Getting Fit yet, you should! He makes me laugh every single day!

I found it curious that quite a few of my fellow bloggers went through a rough patch emotionally this week, just like I did. But they all seem to have made it through stronger and more determined than ever. Onwards we march!

For my American Friends, have a great holiday weekend! And for the Canadians, I hope you enjoyed Canada Day!

I’ve been trying and adapting various vegan burger recipes over the last few weeks. This one was very tasty, so I thought I’d share it with you.

Chick Pea Burgers

2 Tbsp coconut oil
3 baby leeks, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp chili powder
1 large red or green bell pepper
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 can chick peas, drained and rinsed
dry bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbsp cilantro

4 whole wheat rolls, cut in half
2 avocado pears, mashed with some herb salt
a few lettuce leaves
a few slices of tomato
organic sun-dried tomato pesto

Cook baby leeks, garlic, oregano and chili powder in 1 Tbsp coconut oil over medium heat for about 2 minutes.

Add the bell pepper and chopped tomato and cook while stirring until tender. Remove from heat, add the chick peas and, using a hand blender, puree this mixture. Add salt, pepper, cilantro and enough bread crumbs to make stiff patties.

Shape four patties and fry them over medium heat in the remaining coconut oil until heated through.

Spread the bread rolls thickly with mashed avocado. Add a few lettuce leaves and slices of tomato, followed by the patties. Top with a dollop of pesto. Enjoy!

This is not something we eat often, but it’s a great treat! And much healthier than what you’d find at any takeout place. We both had two of these for supper and it was plenty. I was clever enough to only buy four rolls today, so I don’t have the temptation of more bread rolls hanging around. In the past I’d buy a packet of six and end up eating the other two “just because they were there”.

I’ve found my mojo! Guess where it was? In my Inbox this morning when I read all your amazing comments. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I knew you’d send it back…

Seriously, I woke up a different person this morning. The funk is gone! I rocked the treadmill (new best time over the mile – 16 minutes 34 seconds!) and threw myself into my aqua class with joy and passion. I ate before going to the grocery store and treated myself to a jar of malted carob powder, which will last for weeks, instead of something fleeting and unhealthy. Then I came home and had a green smoothie. The glass is half full again, instead of half empty.

I still think it’s important to examine where it all went pear-shaped. If there’s one thing I’ve come to appreciate this year it’s that there’s a lesson in everything. When we don’t pay attention to the lesson, it will be repeated. Um, no thanks! I don’t like feeling like that!

The problem is that I took my eyes off the abundance and blessings in my life. And what do I see then? Lack. Deprivation. Poverty. Emptiness.

Look, we’re all feeling the pinch these days, but I know that my needs are generously provided for. So I’m not sure why I suddenly felt so poor. So worried about money. So lacking in things. It’s obviously a security issue. And maybe an indication that I felt that I was not enough. That I was lacking in some way. Broken.

Suddenly I was this vast empty space. And I had to fill it. I didn’t eat very badly, but I ate a lot. I’d go back for more not once, but twice! It gave me no pleasure, but I didn’t know what else to do. Shopping didn’t work either. It only hurt my credit card.

I knew that it wasn’t about food. Or stuff. It also wasn’t about lacking the confidence for this journey. I never felt that I couldn’t do this. I know that I can! I just lost my connection to the good in my life. To myself.

Previously something like this would send me spinning out of control, but this time it only slowed me down slightly. Still, I’m grateful for the lesson. I must keep one eye on the precious bounty that is already there and the other on the promise of dreams brought to life. Remember, thoughts become things! I bought some cardboard today to make a vision board. I need to see my dreams in technicolor!

Mizfit mentioned today that we’re halfway through the year. How are we doing in terms of resolutions and goals? I didn’t make resolutions this year – I sparked some revolutions! And I am very pleased with my progress. There have been some profound changes so far and I think the impact of those will be even more apparent in the second half of the year.

Today is also the official start of the Missouri 60 challenge! I’m ready!

Thank you once again for your amazing support. My spirit has been lifted and I am feeling strong and confident again. I’m so glad that I don’t have to walk this path on my own…

I’m taking a bit of strain at the moment.

It’s as if I’ve lost my groove. I haven’t been as consistent in eating healthy the last few days and I’ve missed a few workouts. I feel totally blah! Nothing is giving me pleasure right now (certainly not the supposed “treats” I’ve been having. Why do we call things that harm us treats anyway?).

There are deeper issues at play here and I am working through them… I will definitely write about this in the days to come.

In the mean time I’m just hanging on for dear life and trying to remember that I already have the answers. It’s just a question of assembling the pieces of the puzzle.

If you happen to come across my groove, please wrestle it to the ground and send it back to me. Express delivery will be appreciated!

Yay! I had a loss this week – 1.8 pounds. Finally!

Although I’ve been feeling and looking great, it’s still gratifying to see the scale moving again

I had to buy a new leotard today, since my old one was falling apart from chlorine. It was also getting a bit baggy. So, instead of another 3XL I got a 2XL! Woohoo!

Watch this space! This body is under construction…