Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Having trouble getting back into it


A lot of you know that I've been on a diet of late, or rather, I was on a diet, then I went on vacation and I was only on a semi diet.

Now I'm back to work and the real world and I'm finding that I am having trouble getting right back into my diet.

I'm not doing anything crazy, but I'm also not back to my strict calorie counting and dieting. I've been sneaking in a morning snack, and this morning, I even had toast with butter!!

It's just been hard in the last week or so getting back into a regular routine of dieting.

I've also been afraid to step on the scales, in case I have put weight back on!!

That said, while on vacation, I did not put on any weight and just maintained. I think the beloved even managed to lose a pound or two while we were away.

So far, I'm stalled at the original 2 or 3 lbs that I had lost and it's not going anywhere. I really need to get back into my 1300 calories or less days in order to get the weight loss going again.

The beloved has done beautifully. He has lost about 12 lbs now and it is showing on his face and his body. I am so proud of him for doing so well.

There's not much else to this post. Just wanted to say I'm struggling with the diet and hoping that writing this would help me just start my determination.



Find me around SOCIAL MEDIA:
Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/langshipley
Makeup and beauty blog: http://langshipley-deannasworld.blogspot.com.au/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/langshipley (this is the best way to reach me, I will always respond to this the fastest).
Twitter: @langshipley https://twitter.com/langshipley
Instagram: @langshipley http://instagram.com/langshipley
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/langshipley/
Keek: http://www.keek.com/langshipley
Cooking blog: http://dazinthekitchen.blogspot.com.au/

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Juicing for life, for health, for breakfast


I am no expert on health or nutrition by any stretch of the imagination. What I know I've learned from reading books and articles, and talking to friends who are a lot more savvy about the whole thing than I am. That said, I do what works for me and what makes me feel good.

You may have seen my previous posts about dieting and weight loss, calorie counting and so forth. Dealing with my weight has always been an issue for me, for reasons that I will not go into because that's just a whole lot of baggage you don't want to read about.

I'm also pre-diabetic. My regular quarterly blood tests and sugar levels, which I go to my doctor to check are good and I'm in the healthy range. That said, I'd say that my blood sugar levels tend to be on the high side, but right on the borderline of still okay. That's been the case for 2 or 3 years now, so I can't complain. It's being managed.

For the most part, I eat normally and I enjoy my food. For any of you who follow me on instagram you'd see a lot of pictures of the food I post. :-) I have not had to cut out anything drastically from my diet, but I do my best to do everything in moderation. Plus if you don't already know, I also write a cooking blog called Daz in the Kitchen, so you just know I love my food!! 

Recently, thanks to some leftover fruit from a BBQ which I didn't know what to do with, I juiced for the first time and I juiced it in the Thermomix.

Now, I've juiced in the past and using a juicer (I've killed one!) you get a lot of pulp leftover that comes from the juicing process. Anyone who owns a juicer will know what I mean.

With the Thermomix, there's no leftover pulp and every it of the fruit is used up. Nothing is wasted. I love that. The Thermomix blends everything to a very fine pulp, then with some added water turns into juice.

I am loving juicing in the Thermomix and after a few weeks of regular daily juicing, I am feeling healthier and my insides feel good. This may be TMI but going to the bathroom has been so much better too. I used to have to take fibre supplements on a daily basis but now, I'm feeling better with the juice I'm drinking even without the fibre supplements.

The big thing with juicing in the Thermomix is that there is no waste. You use up ALL the fruit and vegetables. All the fibre and nutrition is maintained and consumed. I love that.

I've been alternating between a red juice and a green juice.

My red juices are beetroot (fabulous for detox) and red fruits, like red grapes, apples, nectarines, etc., but mostly whatever is in season and fresh.


My green juices are usually spinach, celery or kale or any combination of those, along with packham pears, green grapes or any other green and sweet fruits. This morning, I added kiwi fruits to the mix.

And yes, I'm a bit anal about green stuff in my green juices and red stuff in my red juices. I don't like to mix the colors because I just love the vibrant greens and reds I get when my fruits and vegetables are in the same color family.

So yes, I'm loving juicing. On a work day, I take my juice in the morning as my breakfast and have recently added some protein powder to add a little substance and so the juice lasts me longer and I don't get hungry s quickly. If it's the weekend or a non work day, juice is usually something that Steve, the beloved husband and I have as an afternoon snack. Both ways, they work out great. I only use the protein powder when I have the juice for breakfast though.

So enough of my blathering on about my juices, here's the recipe that I use to make my juice. Bear in mind that if you do not have a Thermomix, you can still juice in your blender this way. 

Ingredients:
  • 500g of fruit of your choice, can be one kind, can be a mixture
  • 200g ice cubes
  • 450g cold water

Instructions:
  • Blend fruit and ice cubes on speed 8 / 35 seconds
  • Add water, blend speed 8 / 2 minutes
  • Serve and drink
I hope you give juicing a try and let me know if you do. I also hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Stay healthy.



Find me around SOCIAL MEDIA:
Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/langshipley
Makeup and beauty blog: http://langshipley-deannasworld.blogspot.com.au/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/langshipley (this is the best way to reach me, I will always respond to this the fastest).
Twitter: @langshipley https://twitter.com/langshipley
Instagram: @langshipley http://instagram.com/langshipley
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/langshipley/
Cooking blog: http://dazinthekitchen.blogspot.com.au/