Follow your Dreams

Food What I Ate signs off.

"I made a deal with a guy the other day. He promised me fame and fortune as a crime writer and I signed his contract with my blood. The downside is that I only get to live for another 6 years, 6 months, and 6 days. Them's the breaks."
Daniel Hatadi, Crime Writer

Yep, he's my man and a great inspiration to be who you are and do it well. Thanks babe! Daniel is dressed by Antons in Sydney. 40's flavoured clothing for men and woman. Ooh la la.

ANTONS
Sky Garden Lvl 1 / Shop 105 (Pitt St Mall) Sydney
Melbourne Central Lvl 2 / Shop 224 300 Lonsdale St Melbourne

Weigh In - Week 37

Goal Weight: 75-70kg (my 5kg maintenance buffer)
Current Weight: 72.2kg
Loss this Week: 2.3kg

There will be an inevitable death in my family in the coming month/s so my mother is flying out to Croatia in the coming weeks for 2 months. I'll need to help my father out and unfortunately they live 2 hours away. It'll be a real challenge especially since I've taken on full time work. I've also not been able to get used to the early starts so I'm real tired all the time. It's affecting every aspect of my life. I think this is possibly making me really depressed.

The whole identity crisis also was about being able to blame *being fat* for feeling like crap. I don't have that excuse anymore so I've got to work shit out. The family stuff goes much deeper than simply a death we are going to have to deal with so it will be challenging.

It'll all work itself out though. My life is like that. At least I am not turning to food. I have no desire to stuff myself with food for comfort. There's so much good food around and rediscovering vegetables is so much fun! I am going to try a loaf thingy from one of the WW books tonight. Will post about it later.

Now off to shop for birthday presents. I love giving presents. Gotta take the good things in life with the bad hey and hopefully there's enough good things to drown out the bad. Of course there is right folks!

The Invitation

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

© Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Pumpkin Topped Lentil Hotpot

HEALTHY COOKING CHALLENGE
My man's a little sick so I thought I'd cook something hearty. This was a good meal. Very tasty and I love pumpkin (and sweet potato!) to add a bit of sweetness to a curry. This meal was very low in points and very filling.

PUMPKIN TOPPED LENTIL HOTPOT
Serves: 4
Points per serve: 3
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 50 mins

• 3/4 cup (150g) dried red lentils
• 1kg pumpkin, chopped
• cooking oil spray
• 2 medium brown onions, chopped
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 3 trimmed celery sticks, chopped
• 3tsp minced garlic
• 2 tsp curry powder
• 800g can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup vegetable stock
• 2 tbs tomato paste
• 60g reduced fat tasty cheese

1. Preheat oven to 200C. Place the lentils in a large pan, cover with water and bring to the boil, then simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until lentils are tender. Drain.
2. Boil, steam or microwave the pumpkin until tender, then mash.
   
3. Coat a large pan with cooking oil spray, heat and cook the onions, carrots, celery and garlic over a medium heat for 2 minutes or until the onions are soft.
4. Stir in the curry powder and cook a further 1 minute, then stir in the tomatoes, stock and tomato paste. Bring to the boil, add the lentils to the pan, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Transfer the lentil mixture to a 2 litre overproof dish. Top with the mashed pumpkin and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes or until golden browned. Sprinkle the cheese in the last few minutes. Serve immediately.

Note: Recipe taken from Weight Watcher's The Contented Tummy Cookbook.

No Weigh In + Exercise

I didn't weigh in this week but that's cool because I only really need to weigh in once a month now. I will be going back to weigh in on Saturday. With all the changes in my life right now, I was crazy to think that I could deal with changing my weigh in day too. That's the one thing that's been consistent in my life for the past 9 months. I am going back to it and sticking with it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it hey or something like that.

I am noticing my body shape changing now too. Since I started doing the whole 10 Minute Solution - Target Tone for Beginners DVD (50 mins) for 3 days a week in addition to cardio most days, I am looking tighter and definitely feeling stronger. I am so amazed that I can now do situps, reverse crunches AND push ups without feeling like I am going to die. It's a pretty good feeling and a great way to know that I am also getting fitter.

So where did the old Mary go? Does anyone ever miss their old self? I think I might be having a bit of an identity crisis. Maybe. We'll see.

Note for Philippa, you've got to try and get yourself a copy of the Yoga Shakti DVD because I think you'd appreciate it. The way the DVD is set up is awesome. The matrix menu allows you to pick and choose sequences to mix up your practice so you'll get heaps of use out of it. Not for beginners though.

I hope everyone is doing well this week!? I will be doing the rounds Tuesday night :-)

Creamy Mushroom Veal

I'm a little all over the place lately. My eating has been really good but I feel so exhausted with my new routine and finding it really hard to exercise. I am managing a minimum but I know I should be doing more. I am also dealing (or not dealing) with something I can't really blog about. I'm just a little emotionally exhausted so I haven't been commenting but please bear with me. I just need a little *me* time and then I'll come back around to everyone's blogs and comment soon. I am reading!

CONGRATULATIONS to MISS NICKY for making it to goal!! You are a legend girl!

HEALTHY COOKING CHALLENGE
This meal was relatively nice but with my inexperience and hate of cooking meat, I didn't cook it enough. I ended up just eating the mushy sauce w/ rice. Make sure you cook the meat well before adding it to the sauce. It's not as bad as it sounds but as I've said before, I don't like cooking meat. I ended up having to *stew* the meat with the sauce, until it was cooked. I don't know why I am forcing myself to cook meat!? A challenge is a challenge though and then you learn some more. Oh yeah, this recipe tastes a little salty too. Maybe the canned soup?

CREAMY MUSHROOM VEAL
Serves: 4
Points: 3 (no rice)
Cooking Time: 20-30 mins

• 600g diced veal
• 4 shallots, chopped
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 250g button mushrooms, halved
• 440g can cream of mushroom soup
• ½ cup water
• 1 chicken stock cube
• 1 tsp Hot English mustard

1. Coat a pan with cooking spray, heat and brown the veal in batches until cooked. Remove from the pan and set aside.
2. To the same pan add the shallots, garlic and mushrooms. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the soup, water, stock and mustard. Bring to the boil, lower heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
3. Return the veal to the pan, coat with the sauce and heat through. Serve.

Note: Taken from Weight Watchers Recipe Archive Online

Weigh In - Week 35

Goal Weight: 75-70kg (my 5kg maintenance buffer)
Current Weight: 74.5kg
Gain this Week: 1.4kg

Scheisse, nearly 75kg again! This is going to be interesting, weighing in after my weekend. This will be my new challenge up until Xmas. I would like to get out of the habit of enjoying more than my fair share over the weekend.

Maintenance has been kind to me but what I am finding is that I eat a little too much on the weekends and then I am having to catch up during the week. I'm a bit tired of having to chase myself. If I can ease up on the weekends, it'll level out during the week so I am not always in damage control. This also means I can enjoy my exercise more too. Exercising just to work off the weekend is not fun. Exercising just because I want to do it, sounds and works better for me.

I hope everyone is doing well!? I'll be doing the blog rounds tonight :-) The lead up to Xmas is so busy ain't it!? Much less time to do everything. Have a great day people!

MEME Things I Like

I am not weighing in today so I thought I'd do this meme. I am also changing my weigh in to Monday's now because the past few weekends I have allowed myself to be a pig for no good reason. I started to really abuse my "weekend off" mentality. I'll still have treats here and there but not in spite.

And for those that think I'm so good with my eating, I had a LARGE Big Mac meal from the dreadful golden arches diner. It was seriously digustingly worth it for that moment I was having a panic attack and needed a quick fix, after being incredibly hungry and waiting for over 30 mins in a cafe for my meal to arrive. They forgot about it. Don't you hate that.

Alrighty, my turn...

Twelve movies I like

1. Amelie
2. Wings of Desire
3. Faraway So Close
4. Chocolat
5. Life is Beautiful
6. Johnny Stecchino
7. The Hunger
   
8. Mary Poppins
9. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (original)
10. The Gift (Jane's Addiction)
11. Preaching to the Perverted
12. Dogs in Space (Australian film w/ Michael Hutchence)
    

Eleven good bands/artists

1. Einsturzende Neubauten
2. Jane's Addiction
3. Dead Can Dance
4. Iggy Pop
5. The Pixies
6. The Smiths
7. Tom Waits
   
8. Madonna
9. Beasts of Bourbon
   
10. The Legendary Pink Dots
11. PJ Harvey

Ten Things about me

1. I suffer anxiety (panic attacks) but not so much now that I am healthier and fitter in mind, spirit and body
   
2. I have a lot of love for those that are close to me
   
3. I am a virgo
4. I can't sit still
   
5. I try to be open minded, tolerant of other peoples ideas, opinions, lifestyles
   
6. I am guided by pagan spirituality, based on respecting the earth and humanity
7. I am a thinker
8. I am a chucker
9. I am a minimilist
10. I am an empowered woman
    

Nine good books

1. Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins
2. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
   
3. Vurt by Jeff Noon
4. Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
   
5. The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
   
6. Art Lessons by Deborah Haynes
7. The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
8. And the Ass Saw the Angel by Nick Cave
9. Design Basics Index by Jim Krause

Eight favourite foods or drinks

1. iced coffee
2. gherkins/cheese on bread
   
3. sauerkraut/mash potato
   
4. lentils/sweet potato
   
5. tea
6. anything with apples
   
7. red licorice
8. vodka/apple juice/crushed ice (drink of romance!)
   

Seven Things I wear daily

1. g-string
2. bra
3. rings (my partner has one identical)
   
4. singlet
5. leather strap
6. mascara
7. lip balm
   

Six things I hate

1. ignorance
2. self importance
3. religion as a means to control people
   
4. anger
5. bitchiness
6. hate itself
   

Five things I do daily

1. exercise
2. shower
3. moisturise
4. smile
5. make silly noises
   

Four Shows I watch

1. The Simpsons
2. Huey's Cooking Show
   
3. Ready, Steady, Cook
   
4. Neighbours
   

Three places I have lived

1. Darlinghurst
2. Surry Hills
3. Newtown
   

Two Things I want

1. More tolerance in our society
   
2. More compassion/patience in our society
   

One person I want to see right now

1. My parents
   

Ratatouille w/ Penne + Berry Dessert

HEALTHY COOKING CHALLENGE
To make this weekly cooking challenge even more real, I invited Cath over for dinner and guess what!!? I didn't kill her LOL. I was pretty tired so I was a bit worried it wasn't going to work out but it did and I even made dessert. Thanks for the wine too babe!

I just started working full time hours in my casual job to compensate for Xmas spending so I have less time to blog and leave comments. BUT I am reading. Keep up the great work guys!

RATATOUILLE w/ PENNE
The recipe was taken from Mostly Mains (2006) by WW, page 79. I'm a bit too tired to type it out right now but if you want a copy of it, please let me know. It's quite nice and I added more vegies to it. If you add anything, please make sure you add some more stock so it doesn't end up too dry.












SUMMER BERRY SALAD w/ PASSIONFRUIT SYRUP
Serves: 4
Points: 2
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: nil

• 150g raspberries
• 150g blueberries
• 250g strawberries
• 3 passionfruit
• 50g palm sugar, grated (or brown sugar)
• 200g tub Vanilla Frûche Light (or low-fat fromage frais)

1. Combine all the berries in a glass serving bowl. Remove the pulp from the passionfruit and combine it with the palm sugar in a small bowl. Pour the passionfruit mixture over the berries and stir gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate for several hours to allow the flavours to develop.
2. Serve the berries in 4 tall serving glasses and top with Fruche.

Sydney Bloggers Christmas Dinner

The wonderful bloggers from our weight loss community are invited to a Christmas dinner. If you live in Sydney and/or will be in Sydney on this date (see below) please RSVP if you would like to come along. It should be a fun night! There will be no expectations other than to relax, have fun meeting the people you have been communicating with through blogger for the past couple of months and enjoy a good meal. I will disclose the location in Newtown NSW when you RSVP.

I sincerely apologise if you can not make it on the night or if you live in another state, or even country!

RSVP'd so far: Cath, CKK, M, Sarah

WW Lifetime Member

Goal Weight: 75-70kg (my 5kg maintenance buffer)
Current Weight: 73.1kg
Loss this Week: 300g

Whoot, I did it!! I actually went through with this until the end. This has got to be the first time in my life that I've actually stuck with something long enough to succeed officially. I'm a bit of a gypsy in all aspects of my life but I needed to prove to myself that I could stick with something long enough. I now know what it feels like to receive official recognition.

Before the weigh in, Cath and I went for a great walk through Newtown. Sydney Uni is a beautiful place to walk through. Such great architecture. After the walk, Cath made me breakfast!! Fetta/Basil Eggs and a Strawberry/Banana Smoothie too, yum! I tell you she makes a damn fine brekky and I really enjoyed it. The fact that she made a *healthier* brekky than what we normally have together at the cafes, made all the difference too. Thank you babe!!

So the next few days I am going to reassess lots about my current work/life situation. What I want to do, how I want to get there and hey, just do it. If I can put as much commitment into all aspects of my life as I did my weight loss, wow, there'll be no stopping me!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS!
THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME SUCCEED!

My Current Addiction

Although not bad for me, a bowl of Vaalia French Vanilla Yoghurt and Carmen's delicious Fruit Muesli is just too tempting. I've been having maybe one, two or three serves a day. Can you tell I'm tired and not really focusing on much else!? Time to go shopping for other food.

I am officially 3 days over points this week. I'm not worried. Should be interesting to see how weigh in goes tomorrow. So junk food isn't my problem now, it's my portions of the good stuff and how often. And cooking, I love it!

I've got to also declare that there is NO WAY you can make a *point friendly* nachos. I tried....I liked... so I had another serve. You just can't stop at one bowl when it comes to nachos. So more-ish. I shouldn't make it anymore I think LOL.

Layered Vegetable Salad

HEALTHY COOKING CHALLENGE
This week I am not very inspired to cook. I am still trying to get used to my hours and now that the daylight savings have robbed me of an hour, I am more tired than usual. I am still eating well and exercising so hopefully it'll only be a matter of a few more days to re-adjust.

I just felt like a salad tonight. I'm not a fan of rocket or coriander but tried this anyway. Interesting but not worth the points if you are hungry. I think I might try it with different greens next time.

LAYERED VEGETABLE SALAD w/ AVOCADO & SALSA
Serves: 2
Points: 5 per serve
Prep time: 5-10 mins

• 1 cup baby rocket leaves
• 1 large carrot, coarsely grated
• 1 Lebanese cucumber, coarsely grated
• 1 medium avocado, peeled and seeded
• 1 tbs lemon juice
• 1 tbs low-fat natural yoghurt
• 100g cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 tbs coriander leaves, finely chopped
• 1 tbs lime juice
• 50g corn chips

1. Layer the rocket, carrot and cucumber in individual serving bowls. Combine the avocado, lemon juice and yoghurt in a bowl and mash until smooth. Combine the cherry tomato, coriander and lime juice in a separate bowl and mix well.
2. Spoon the avocado puree over the layered vegetables and top with the tomato salsa. Serve with corn chips.