New eating regime that the science community says is proven to work ~ it may surprise you!

It feels like January was a loooong month...
Snow followed by winds and torrential rains
we broke rainfall records!

A lot of time was spent indoors keeping dry...
maybe just a wee bit too much.

February is finally here and I am not unhappy putting January behind me!

My doctor recently reduced the dosage of my thyroid medication.
He advised me to increase my activity and reduce my food intake to avoid putting on weight, he went one step further and suggested that I lose 10 pounds.

In order to achieve this goal I am trying a new eating regime that has been proven by science to work...

CBC has a podcast on their website about it and the reporter who covered the story lost 30 pounds by simply changing the hours when she ate and the rest of the day she was "fasting."

So my day starts with coffee and I do not start eating until around noon and stop eating by 8pm. I've added larger portions of vegetables and small leaner amounts of protein. Carbs have been left off many of the meals that I have prepared although I will have a few of them over the course of the week.

Chicken thigh and salad

I did eat a second chicken thigh as they were small.

Broccoli and a thin breaded pork cutlet with mushrooms and gravy.

Chicken breast sauteed 

topped with lemon juice and capers 

roasted vegetables

beets.

Love making a pan of veggies to roast.

The flavours are so much more intense.

The recipe that follows is a winner!

"Gail's recipe"

She was an Australian exchange teacher 

 at James Bay Community School.

I make this dish regularly and think of her.

My doctor asked me not to weigh myself every day.

He said once a week is plenty

suggesting instead that I use my clothes as a guideline.

There is some extra space in my jeans 

which is promising

and 

the scale reflects that I have lost a few pounds!

It is encouraging 

despite the fact that I have not been out walking

 as much as I should...

I blame the weather.

The clouds parted for a brief time when we were on our walk.

That glimmer of sunshine put a bounce in my step!

The Hellebores are blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden!

I purchased this plant for Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver a few years ago...

love the rich deep dark shade of the bloom with the lime green stamens.

A local shop 

"The Root Cellar"

is a farm style market

with a wide variety of vegetables and food.

They also have a garden centre

 a floral department 

 I enjoy going there for some inspiration.

So that's next on my agenda...

Hope you enjoy your weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Swimsuit shopping...

My need for a new swimsuit came as a wee bit of a shock to me...

I was in the change room at the local pool and was putting on my old swimsuit and working up a sweat trying to pull it up! I had to wriggle and ease the spandex up inch by inch and when I was finished I realized that I could hardly breathe!

What happened?

It must have shrunk!
(Wrong)

So I HAD to go swimsuit shopping...
not my favourite thing to do, but we are off to the cottage,
and they have two lovely pools and I like to swim laps,
so needs must!

Do you believe in miracles?

This is what a size 14 swimsuit looks like on the hanger...

I am not proud of the fact that I have gone up a size.

The weight gain is all in my midsection where I once had a waist!

Simon Chang swimsuit.

This one is also a size 14 but it looks smaller because it is black.

I like the mesh detail at the top and at the leg holes.

I purchased two swimsuits because I don't like putting a wet bathing suit on and I may be swimming a couple of times each day.

I walk everyday and some days I walk farther than others...

I do watch what I eat but I could always cut down on the carbs.

My husband loves pasta so I make it once a week and I adore potatoes.

My thyroid is sluggish 

(but that's no excuse)

 I have taken medication for hypothyroidism since I gave birth 

to our daughter 40 years ago.

Loving life and feeling gratitude is part of my daily routine.

Every day is a gift and it never fails to offer up something of beauty. 

So in the whole scheme of things 

is a size larger worth getting all bent out of shape over?

I am doing what I can to stay active and healthy.

Thank you for popping by and reading The Humble Bungalow Blog today.

It's sunny here at the cottage and we plan to go swimming today.

With two suits to choose from I have to make a decision which one to wear...

I hope you are having a great weekend.

Until next time

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Smitten by a scarf...and a spring cleanse.

Have you ever seen something beautiful in a shop that caught your fancy?

Something that was a tad expensive so you left it behind...

Yet something so pretty that you started dreaming about it?

I had this exact thing happen to me.

My friend H and I walk at Butchart Gardens as we have annual memberships. We plan a walk once a month and have tea or lunch when we are there.

One benefit of having an annual membership are the discounts available in the gift, coffee shop and restaurants.

The item that I had been lusting after was a scarf
this beauty might possibly be going home with me...

I just had to make sure that I still felt the same passion
upon seeing it a second time.

Whisper soft bamboo

watercolour effects

wearable art

Beautiful colours

Design 

 "The Sunken Gardens"

exclusive to Butchart Gardens

I plan to wear this a lot this Spring and it will come to Europe with me.

I have a khaki Eileen Fisher jacket that it will pair well with and because it is so soft it will be cozy on the plane.

Our weather has been amazing this past weekend 

it continues to be warm and sunny.

Perfect weather for walking and beach combing.

Plans are in the works for eating more mindfully after the winter.

A Spring cleanse...

more fresh veggies and fruits.

Weight watching has been a battle that I have not won this past year.

Interrupted sleep patterns,

Emotional eating and stress have all been factors.

My goal is to start back slowly

by setting attainable goals of 5 pounds at a time.

With the sunshine and light,

warmer weather 

walking longer will be easier.

Cutting out "comfort foods" 

(those dishes that I crave during the winter!)

Fresh veggies are starting to become available at the local Farmer's Markets.

It's salad season again!

Opting for meals with fish and lean protein and drinking lots of water...

will write down my point count as that really helps me be more mindful 

of what and how much I am eating.

Must close for now and get outside for my walk!

Until next time...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Meat Pie for the Mister

Lately on my WW regime I have been eating different food than my husband.
Mr. HB likes to have a hearty meal and I have been avoiding heavy meals, preferring to nibble on salads with a small amount of protein.

The reduced point plan has definitely been a success as I am closing in on my goal weight and have about 5 pounds to lose.
Last week, or rather the past 10 days I hit a plateau and the scale stayed at the same weight which I find rather discouraging, but I press on...

Encouraged by the results so far I continue to be mindful of what I eat and the portions that I put on the plate...if I have a larger lunch, I'll opt for a smaller dinner.

The meat pie recipe that I served Mr. HB follows...

Meat Pie

Brown 1-2 pounds ground and stewing beef in a small amount of oil.
Add 1 large onion and cook until soft.

Chop and dice:
3 carrots
3 ribs of celery
3 medium sized potatoes
1 parsnip
1 small turnip

Add to beef and onion mixture 1/4 cup flour,
blend to coat and cook for a few minutes then add 2 cups beef stock.
Season with salt, pepper, and thyme.

Add all the vegetables and simmer with the lid on until they are cooked.
Pop in a cup or 2 of frozen peas and put lid back on and let simmer while you make the pastry topping.

Pastry

In a bowl measure 1 1/2 cups of flour, 1/2 tsp salt then mix it together.
Cut in 1/2 cup cold butter with a pastry blender until butter is coarsely blended.

In a cup measure
beat 1 small egg with 1 tsp vinegar
add just enough ice water until it measures 1/3 cup.
Drizzle into flour and butter mixture and mix to form into a disc.
Wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to chill.


Place stew mixture into an ovenproof dish.
Roll pastry put on a lightly floured board large enough to cover stew and leave a little bit overhanging the edge to crimp and seal it in.

Cut vents in top of pastry and bake at 400 degrees for about 35-40 minutes or just until pastry is golden brown.

Before baking

Dinner is served !

I highly recommend this wee Weight Watcher calculator.

It has simplified my shopping choices and makes it fast and easy to calculate the points of any products using the nutrition information on the package.

My favourite snack these days is a tart crisp freshly sliced apple 

served with 2 wedges of Laughing Cow cheese and 2 Wasa rye crisp crackers.

I will opt for this mid afternoon with a cup of tea and it keeps me satisfied until our dinner is served  around 7 o'clock.

How is your weekend going?

Anything fun and exciting to share?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD and random snippets from The Humble Bungalow

Our weekend harvest of home grown vegetables in Mr. HB's new wooden Trug.

The Trug looks very much "at home" with the wooden cutting boards.

Mr. HB tends to the veggies in the garden and grows tomatoes in his greenhouse.

The tomatoes are so tasty and sweet, 

nothing like those that you find in the grocery stores.

The potatoes were amazing too...we ate them for dinner last night.

Love being able to go outside and harvest some home grown veggies.

After much consideration and testing many samples I was finally able to chose a rose fragrance...the one that I opted for is Le Labo Rose 31.

It was a time consuming exercise testing all the samples.

Some were too sweet, some too strong,  and one made me break out in hives and I had a rash with a couple of other ones which was a surprise as I have never had a reaction to any perfume before.

Le Labo makes a "natural product" that is compounded fresh at the retailer 

 when one places the order.

Nordstrom's Fragrance Department in Vancouver were extremely helpful.

They sent me all the samples for free.

  I received the scent promptly after placing my order and a few samples of Le Labo Rose 31 lotion and shower gel were included.

The scent is subtle and can be worn by both women and men.

It is a subtle fragrance and layering the lotion with the eau de parfum makes it last longer.

Fall is in the air and our furnace came on this weekend when it rained.

We need the rain badly as there are forest fires still burning in our province

and the gardens are looking quite parched.

With the change of season comes the change of clothes from the out of season closet downstairs and swapping out the summer things in our bedroom closet.

Some pieces overlap and are worn all year long.

I do not have a huge list of things to replace.

(or a big budget)

 I did get rid of a pair of basic grey pants last Spring...

they had lost their shape and the seat pouched out making them look shabby...

 having worn them for 2 or 3 seasons they had served me well and owed me nothing.

I went out and did a wee bit of shopping this past Sunday 

after our family brunch 

and the beach play time with the grandchildren.

OOTD

NYDJ boyfriend jeans

Cupio tank top

OM3 jersey jacket

Jungla shoes

OOTD without the jacket.

Calvin Klein sturdy skinny knit pants

a wide elastic waistband with a slim line

no extra details to add bulk

smooth across the tummy

I like these very much!

Gap long sleeved top

a basic in a neutral shade that is very soft and will be cozy for Fall and Winter.

Great for layering under my vests.

Patterned Mod-O-Doc tunic top in black, grey and white that will be paired with the skinny knit pants.

All three items totalled $130

plus they can be worn with several other things already hanging in my closet.

Machine washable

 hang to dry 

which extends their life 

keeps them looking new as long as possible.

Still on my list for Fall and Winter are a new pair of black leather Chelsea boots.

I wore out my last pair...

which is not surprising 

because I must have worn them 5 days out of 7 for the past 2 years!

The weight loss regime continues...

I have lost 6.8 pounds in the past few weeks.

Eating lower WW point count food and not drinking wine

coupled with more exercise has finally paid off.

It's hard work and dedication that make the difference.

It is my hope that the losing will continue and that the scale will reflect my efforts.

The goal is to get back to my WW goal of 132 pounds which is at the top of the WW weight range for someone my height.

If I eventually weigh 135 I will be content...

132 would be amazing.

My heart goes out to the people affected by the recent wild weather events.

The devastating earthquake in Mexico and that powerful hurricane Irma. 

There are so many things that are beyond our control.

 Watching the news it is encouraging the way that people are helping each other get through these troubled times.

Hope that your week is off to a great start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Cottage Life...the views from Quarter Deck Cottage

Roses from The Humble Bungalow.

Cheers!

Cottage holidays are new to us and we are both enjoying the slow pace.

We eat simple meals, walk, swim, explore the island and read our books.

The Saturday Farmer's Market is super popular...

Wonderful fresh produce from Raven Rock Farm and there is a stall run by a French baker who makes delicious pain au chocolat and breads.

Another stall is run by a meat pie chef who is also involved in catering local events.

There are stalls with crafts, jewelry, pottery, leather goods, teas, jams, and more...

There is a line up before the 9:30 start with eager shoppers and their array of beautiful baskets.

The view from our deck of the Arbutus trees and The Salish Sea.

Lunchtime and salad makings from the market. 

(I didn't eat the bread!)

A glass of rose from the local Sea Star Winery.

Keeping cool on the deck with the gentle ocean breeze.

The candle holders are a vintage modernist design by Timo Sarpaneva 

glass fish floats and a yellow David Austin Graham Thomas rose

atop an IKEA tray on the cottage dining table.

Pink sunsets

Arbutus tree with the peeling bark seen on one of our walks.

Toes poolside...

OPI Do You Sea What I Sea?

My current goal is to swim 20 laps every day.

Pretty red and white flowered planter 

brought from home to encourage the hummingbirds to visit.

They are attracted to red and a few visit the red geraniums on the front porch of the cottage.

Dinner salad

New book which is totally engaging...

but I must sign off for now as we are expecting the family to arrive and I have a list of things to get done.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow.

or rather The Quarter Deck Cottage!

Before I sign off I

Thought that you might find this amusing...

saw this at the Pender Island Golf Course on my walk.

Hope you have a weekend filled with good things.