Nordic Walking

Nordic Walking Australia
They offer a free trial class for anyone who would like to try out Nordic Walking. If you were to book a group of 5-10 people, that would be enough to make up a group of your own and they would be quite happy to run a free trial class for your group, at a time you would prefer.

If you decide after the free trial walk that you would like to take up Nordic Walking, they offer a number of packages:

1. A package including a pair of poles and 4 lessons which is $199.00
2. Monthly membership to a walk group at $69.00
3. A package including a pair of poles and 3 months m'ship for $295.00
4. Poles purchased on their own are $150.00

However, if you decided that the whole group would like to continue with Nordic Walking, they would be able to put together a group package, particularly around the introductory lessons. They always recommend a number of lessons to ensure you learn the right technique to get the most value from your Nordic Walking.

Note: photo has been taken from the respective website.

For the love of food!

I think I love food more now than I ever did. I experiment more, treat myself more and know when a little is just enough. Losing weight and getting healthy doesn't mean that you can't enjoy your food. You really can and it's up to your imagination!

I love eating out on weekends, especially breakfast and lunch. One of my favourite cafes is Corelli's in Newtown. I love it's charm and character. The food is always amazing and the staff are great with their friendly and efficient service.

Pictured above is what Dan ate. The Ricotta Hotcakes with berry coulis, banana, maple syrup and yoghurt. I had Vegie Eggs which was scrambled eggs, mushys, tomato and toast. Simple but a great Sunday brekky.

Corelli's Cafe
352 King Street
Newtown NSW

Tomato & Basil Penne

I've been eating a lot of pasta lately because it's quick and super easy. If you try this, make sure you use quality ingredients because cheaper products/produce really don't do a simple dish like this justice.

I've also made a permanent Recipe Index post to all my recipes now and will update it with each new recipe.

TOMATO & BASIL PENNE
Serves: 4
Points per serve: 6½
Cook time: 25 mins

• 400g penne pasta
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 x 425g can tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cloves, crushed
• 1 cup vegie stock or water
• ¼ cup basil leaves, chopped
  
• 4 tsp parmesan cheese, shaved
  

1. Heat a medium saucepan to medium high heat and spray with olive oil. Add onions and garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
2. Stir in remainding ingredients, except penne and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 mins until thickens slightly.
3. Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook penne for 10-12 mins.
4. Stir pasta through tomato sauce and serve with mixed green salad if desired.

Note: I also added 1 chopped zucchini to the sauce in the last 5 mins.

Source: Australian Healthy Food Guide, March Issue 2006

One year later...

Mar 2005 Weigh In: 92.4kg
Joined Weight Watchers

Sep 2005 Weigh In: 75kg
Reached goal + reward

Mar 2006 Weigh In: 73.2kg
Maintained for 6 months

Clothing Size
Then: 16-18 Now: 12-14

I'm a little uninspired with my post today. I may be a little distant this coming week and not comment so much on your blogs but please know that I am still reading and wishing you all well on your journeys. Be good to yourselves and those around you!

RIP Šime Paić

Healthy Food Guide Magazine

On my recent travels, I picked up a little A5 magazine titled Healthy Food Guide. It's quite an informative little magazine without all the hype and pretention other mags seem to have. The recipes are good which include the nutritional values. They also give an estimate of how much the meal will cost which is pretty handy if you're on a budget, both weight and mulla wise. Another incentive is that the magazine isn't promoting any particular weight loss program so I thought it'd be a good little mag to plug.

Life's Curveballs

WARNING - SOMBRE POST

It's raining. I am sitting down on the farm on my parents computer while my younger brother and sister are at work, my older sister's are elsewhere (Melbourne, New York), Dad's down in the sheds and mum well, she's gone to get her hair cut. Today is the day she leaves for Europe. I feel a little numb. My mum gets under my skin as only she knows how but I've had to restrain from causing any more stress this time around. Her brother is dying and this trip is quite a sombre one.

We've known that his body has been slowly shutting down from a rare muscle disease since December and consequently mum has since had two strokes. Do you think we might be worried about her going? Hell yeah but we also understand that she has to do this.

Please don't anyone dare leave any comments of sympathy for me because I really don't need or deserve any. I'm just trying to process all this and how it'll effect my mum and her immediate family. I can't possibly imagine how horrible it would be for one's body to shut down when the mind is still as sharp as ever and that you couldn't do anything for yourself anymore.

There's plenty of junk in the house here and I've had 6 snickers bars already. I do have control but I just said stuff it. I'll get back on track tomorrow, when I've cried my guts out tonight. Airports always make me cry too. It's a sombre day for my family.

I'll be back doing the blog rounds on Saturday so I hope everyone is having a much better week and keeping up the great work!

Getting to Goal & Choices

LMS got me thinking about the aftermath of losing weight. How does it make me feel and how do I perceive myself once I shed the kilos? How do other people perceive me?

In response to LMS I wrote:

Since I lost the weight, I do get more attention but I don't encourage it and the attention is more from females!? Figure that one out :-) I guess some skinny girls only like hanging out with other skinny girls LOL. I just find people are friendlier. Or is it that I am more confident so therefore more approachable?

After I wrote that, I realised that I really am a happier person and definitely more approachable. I am more confident, walk taller and seem to have a glow from exercising and eating healthier which you just can't buy. I don't shy away in corners anymore or avoid social situations so if anyone is noticing, it's because they're seeing more of me, literally. Of course I still have my bad days and seriously malfunction but somehow it's easier to get back on track now.

I don't think it's really only about the weight loss either but all kinds of issues have come to the surface for me to work through and continue to work through. Life just got easier for me since deciding to succeed on the weight loss front and I did decide to succeed. It won’t simply happen by itself. You’ve got to do the hard work that’ll challenge you not only physically but emotionally. But try not to fear it.

For some perspective (and not in relation to anyone's post!), I can think of worse things in life. We don’t have to worry about where our next meal will come from. We do not live in a third world country. We have choices and we should take responsibility for the ones we make. If we are happy with the ones we make, great. But if we are not, then we must do something about it instead of find excuses. We wake up everyday and we have choices. What a luxury.

For those that are at the beginning, middle or nearing the end of their weight loss journeys...keep going, it’s worth it!

Energy Food

A slice of light rye toast with light peanut butter is my absolute power food. Great for an afternoon pick me up. I never used to like peanut butter as a child but my tastes are evolving.

I also like to add chilli to most of my dishes now as well, when once I would have spat it out and followed it with copious amounts of water. Mmm, chilli and peanut butter together though? Maybe not.


Another favourite and very special rare treat of mine is Green & Black's Organic Maya Gold.

"...a dark chocolate with a refreshing twist of orange that is perfectly balanced by the warmth of cinnamon, nutmeg and a hint of vanilla."

I buy Green & Black's from Oxfam but you can find it at other outlets such as David Jones. Delish and decadent when having only a few pieces at any one time. Buy the single serve pack!

No Weigh In - Week 50

I'm not weighing in today. It was my mother's birthday yesterday so we're off for a weekend with the folks. I need a break.

I've also decided with a little help from reading Sarah's and Emily's latest posts, that since I made it to goal in September 2005, my determination to continue losing weight is just not there. I've been maintaining for nearly 6 months now and that feels good. The only thing I'll worry about now is exercise.

I'll still weigh in monthly with WW but other than that, the figures are just there to keep me in check with my 75-70kg goal. This is within my Healthy Weight Range.

I've realised I'm very happy with where I'm at in terms of my health and overall fitness so why would I want or even need to lose anymore? I don't and stuff being *skinny*, I'm healthy. I still like my curves and really can't afford to lose anymore boob also!! LOL :-)

HAPPY MARDI GRAS SYDNEY!!

Food Blogs

• Culinary Escapades
• Grab Your Fork
• Look Hunny, I Cooked
• Skinny Latte's Cook Book
• Sue's Favourite Recipes
• The Food Palate
• The Points Cafe

Recipe Index

LIGHT

• Layered Vegetable Salad
• Low Fat Mashed Potato
• Roast Beetroot and White Bean Salad with Balsamic Dressing
  

MAIN

• Lentil Mushroom & Ricotta Lasgane
  
• Mushroom Risotto
• Pumpkin Topped Lentil Hotpot
• Ratatouille + Berry Dessert
• Red Lentil Dahl with Spiced Basmati Rice
  
• Spicy Lentil Patties
  
• Sweet Corn & Bean Succotash
• Sweet Potato & Bean Burger
• Sweet Potato & Lentil Curry
• Tomato & Basil Penne
• Vegetable & Barley Soup
  

SWEET

• Blueberry Muffins
• Date & Apple Slice
• Pancakes
• Quinoa Porridge w/ Banana, Raisins & Pistachios
  

Blueberry Muffins

HEALTHY COOKING CHALLENGE

Serves: 12
Points per serve: 3
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 20-25 mins

• cooking oil spray
  
• 2 cups (300g) plain flour
• 1 tbs baking powder
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup (100g) firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 (300g) ripe bananas, mashed
• 300g fresh or frozen blueberries (I used mixed berries)
  
• 60g ww canola spread
  
• 3 egg whites, lightly whisked
• 3/4 cup (200g) ww sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a 12 hole, 80ml (1/3 cup) capacity muffin pan with paper muffin cases or spray with cooking oil.
2. Stir the flour, baking powder and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add brown sugar and stir to combine. Then add the blueberries and combine. Make a well in the centre.
   
3. Combine the banana, spread, egg whites and sour cream in a bowl. Add to dry ingredients. Use a metal spoon to fold together until just combined. Don't over mix!
4. Spoon mixture evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.

[Source: WW Family Food Fast]