Update on the weight loss journey and a reunion.

It has been several weeks since I started a health and wellness journal.
Several readers have asked me to elaborate on what I write in it.

The daily habit helps me try and stay accountable
it acts as a motivator...

It is a convenient way to document my thoughts,
to track my Weight Watcher Points and to record my weight.

Its been a busy few days

so writing has been brief and done just before bedtime. 

I like to set the mood before writing by lighting a scented candle

brew a pot of decaf tea

(caffeine later in the day does not contribute to my sleep)

I will sit in the quiet and reflect upon my day.

Here is an excerpt from the journal when I started...

A few snippets

my weight

the meals.

I often add any food temptations

 how I coped or did not cope with them.

The exercise that I did that day.

Thoughts of gratitude, things that made me smile, quotes that inspire...

the journal is very personal and I am free to write a rant if I so desire.

When I write first thing in the morning 

I often write my goals for that particular day.

If I start my day with a positive theme it continues throughout the day.

It also helps me to exercise if I put my fitness gear on right after my shower.

This is a signal for me to get that out of the way before commencing with the rest of my day.

Exercise is on the agenda and I am not going to change into my dressy clothes

until I go for my walk or do my kettle bell workout.

Fruit makes up the bulk of my snacks and is the basis for any dessert.

I track my WW points with the handy counter.

If you are keen to change or influence your health and wellness

I firmly believe that a journal can help.

The support that you get at WW meetings is incredibly helpful 

if you are struggling with your weight I would not hesitate to recommend WW.

My weight is not moving very much and I admit that I am feeling frustrated...

I may be signing up for WW again but plan to up my exercise first.

I try not to obsess about a few extra pounds

 but I do feel much better, 

have more energy 

and like how my clothes fit when I am lighter.

A reader emailed me about a gym in Oak Bay that offers classes for 55 and older 

they have exercise machines and a punch card is available for a modest cost 

so I have made an appointment and will see if it is something that I would enjoy.

A bunch of former alumni got together for a reunion at the home of one of the teachers.

There was a great turn out and it was lovely seeing so many of the staff.

We all worked together at a local community school and it had been quite a few years since we had everyone gathered together.

So much history, so many shared experiences and oodles of memories.

The animated chatter and laughter filled the afternoon to the brim.

XO

How was your weekend?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Dinner in the dining room of The Humble Bungalow...

We are fortunate to have a decent sized dining room in The Humble Bungalow.

In the home where I grew up, we had a sardine can sized dining room where guests were squeezed in around a table, and once you were seated you had to stay until the meal was over.

The white fairy lights are plugged in for special occasions

opting for simple white Sophie Conran china 

and

French Bee glasses.

There is plenty of crystal and Royal Albert china tucked away in the buffet.

Those pieces come out for bigger gatherings like Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Fragrant freesias from Thorn and Thistle Flower Merchants,

my favourite spot in town for fresh flowers and plants. 

We gathered together with darling daughter and her husband to watch their honeymoon video.

For starters

a plate of cheese, crackers, fig jam and olives were served.

Beef tenderloin cooked on a bed of mushrooms 

in a black bean Asian fusion sauce. 

Recipe is in Susan Mendelson's cookbook page 135 

 Mama Now Cooks like This!

(I cannot find her recipe online and for copyright reasons I cannot print the page so I hope you can find a copy of the book in your local bookseller or library)

Served with green beans and garlic mashed potatoes.

The garlic mashed potatoes are from The Barefoot Contessa's Paris cookbook 

(recipe here)

Mixed fruit and berry crumble which we topped with coconut ice cream.

I used Ina Gartens's basic recipe from her Paris cookbook 

substituting apples for the plums.

(recipe here)

Late Evening Tea Time

decaf Yorkshire Blend and a scented candle.

Time to reflect on the day

count my blessings 

then write in my journal.

It was a lovely evening...

Today

Mother and I walked the Esplanade this afternoon 

then we went for a coffee.

Our usual cafe was closed for holidays.

The blue skies and sunny weather were a tonic 

I am feeling a bit unsettled and persnickety.

I seem to have developed 

a headache

after purging our filing cabinet 

which took me several hours...

and 

has left me with a stack of shredding

that I need to attend to in the morning.

(UGH!)

We

also need the dishwasher motor to be replaced

we could opt for the whole new machine but I do not think that very green or eco friendly so we will replace the broken bits and hope for the best.

I plan to wake up with a fresh attitude

brew my cafe creme

sit and reflect on the good things.

Then

put on a crisp white shirt, pearls and my NYDJ boyfriend jeans

and seize the day!

Do you ever have a day where you just feel like someone has hijacked your life?

Don't be shy...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Ups and downs in The Humble Bungalow

Downstairs 

in The Humble Bungalow

in the laundry room is

where I spend a lot of my time.

Washing

hanging clothes to air dry

 heavy duty things go into the dryer

folding and ironing

all jobs that I do almost every day.

I run UP and DOWN the stairs many times in a day.

The bathroom downstairs is compact

 it has a shower, toilet and sink.

It is very handy when we work outside in the garden and need to come inside

even more convenient 

when we have house guests.

Did I mention that I run up and down the stairs many times a day?

It feels like I get a lot of exercise actioning the domestic chores but not enough to keep the pesky pounds at bay.

My new fitness regime with kettle bells is also done downstairs

in the laundry room as there is ample room to move about.

The space is bright and the cats like to sit and watch me go through my paces!

Today

I am wearing casual clothes.

OOTD

NYDJ boyfriend style jeans

Town Shoes quilted black leather flats

a simple short Joe Fresh charcoal grey T shirt

Upstairs and downstairs we have shelves for our fluffy white towels.

I am partial to white towels.

Are you?

Storage in The Humble Bungalow is abysmal 

it is minimal as our arts and crafts era home has very little space.

Our closet is tiny and so naturally my wardrobe is small.

That is actually a positive rather than a negative.

I do not like having too much stuff.

I like to see all my clothing choices which makes getting dressed so much easier.

BTW while we are on the topic of clothes...

you responses to the last post were interesting and informative.

I appreciate the time and energy that you put into your comments.

Upstairs 

the kitchen is the hub of our Humble Bungalow.

Besides doing the laundry I cook a lot.

I love to create healthy meals and enjoy experimenting with new recipes.

Simple Omelette

2 farm fresh eggs beaten with 2 tablespoons of milk

salt pepper

Melt a knob of butter in a flat crepe or omelette pan 

when bubbles form pour in the eggs.

Add toppings

herbs or arugula as I have used here.

When the edges are setting up 

run a spatula around the edges and gently coax one end

fold gently over

rolling as you go 

until you have a picture perfect omelette.

One of the "UPS" in this post is that I ate a sensible lunch.

Omelette served with a salad

a low Weight Watcher point count lunch.

A tasty pear sliced thinly and savoured with a cup of tea.

"Guilt free" eating and yet it is filling.

(protein is key to keep me feeling satisfied)

On the DOWNside...

Walking has been hit and miss with the recent inclement weather but we are expecting a warming trend so I will be lacing up my sneakers and pounding the pavement with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Have you started with a 2017 health and wellness journey ?

Are you writing in your journal?

Are you feeling more energetic and enthusiastic?

Words can be so important when motivating and engaging in change.

The Nike slogan "Just Do It" comes to mind.

Another "DOWNfall"...

There was a small cello bag of chocolate bark coated in candy cane sprinkles 

a gift from Christmas 

hiding in the drawer that I "discovered" last Sunday while watching Victoria 

on PBS Masterpiece Theatre.

Dear reader, I am weak, I am human.

 I ate it.

The UPside of this is that there is no chocolate left in The Humble Bungalow!

So it is your turn...

have you been disciplined with your fitness and food regime?

Have you been tempted by treats ?

OR

were you clever and cleaned out your pantry of those naughty things

and

restocked it with only healthy foods?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Clothes Shopping has become a problem....

"You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince..."
                      ~  The Frog Prince ~
                                        by Brothers Grimm ~

That is how I feel about clothes shopping...

It may be due to my mid life figure,
my current budget,
my colour preferences,
my age,
my personal taste
or that I have the basics currently hanging in my closet.

I can stroll through a store and easily dismiss about 95% of the items.

So when I spend an hour perusing the store and end up with only 5 or 6 things to try on that may or may not work, that is a considerable amount of time and effort.
Am I being too picky?
Am I looking for a needle in the haystack...that hidden gem?

OOTD

Style and Co. top

NYDJ

Clark boots

(Excuse the hair - weather was so icy that I had to wear a hat.)

I resorted to do my walking in the mall for several hours.

The blue Calvin Klein puffy vest on the hook in the change room is mine.

I like this swing shape of this top (above) as it camouflages all manner of sins.

I bought this blue top when I was in Vancouver last year.

Here is a 

Calvin Klein soft soft sweatshirt...

not loving the overall look

BUT 

oh how I LOVED the feel of it...

almost like sleepwear 

and 

I could wear this around the house.

Do I want to spend $60 on it just to wear it at home?

No I don't think so...

Skinny striped swing top

Style and Co.

cozy

reasonably priced

($25)

(covers the hips)

can be worn with skinny jeans, leggings or pants.

I didn't take pictures of the other tops as they were total rubbish on me.

You can see here how height challenged I am at 5'1

in clothing terms that makes me a "petite."

Not skinny though...

Let me be honest I'd like to lose 10 pounds.

So its working out with the kettle bells, walking,

and

monitoring what I eat and drink.

At my age, almost 62,  results take longer and I need to work harder so

it might be a few weeks away before I see significant results.

Drove to Willows Beach after the ice melted and walked along the Esplanade.

The fresh air cleared out the cobwebs and I felt energized.

Later I stopped for a skim milk latte.

A low WW point indulgence.

I will often take myself out for a coffee.

I don't mind being alone at a table in the coffee shop.

Years ago this would have felt very uncomfortable.

  but now 

perhaps because I am older 

or that I spent time in Paris alone at the street cafes

I feel relaxed and I am able to just be calm and enjoy the experience.

Back to shopping...

 wish that there were more petite shops in our town.

I do not like online shopping very much.

It costs so much to send back garments that do not fit

and one does not get to feel the fabrics or try on more than one size.

Oh and while I am wishing,

 how about some petite shops that cater to women of a certain age?

Travelling to Vancouver or Seattle to buy petite garments is expensive!

Are you a petite or tall woman?

Are you "average?"

Where do you like to shop?

What do you think about sourcing clothes for us over 60 gals?

Do you have a seamstress or do you sew clothes for yourself?

Do you find it frustrating to find things that fit and flatter?

Please chime in on this discussion

 I would love to hear from you on this topic.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wellness Journal...recollections from the dark moving towards a brighter future.

Have you ever kept a journal?

When I was going through a rough patch in early menopause I wrote in a gratitude journal and found it very helpful and soothing. Making note of 5 things everyday that I was grateful for was a positive attitude shift. This simple exercise was surprisingly very motivating and ultimately incredibly empowering.

Back then, my weight was "out of control" my self esteem was at rock bottom.
I had hit a wall...and felt overwhelmed and powerless.

When I was in the thick of it,
I had NO CLUE whatsoever why I was feeling this way.

Looking back, I now realize what was happening to my body and why my emotions were all over the map.
Menopause can cause so many ups and downs and unfortunately it does not come with a guide book to help us navigate this path.

I was not in tune to my own body.
I was giving so much time and energy to others who needed my help,
that I neglected to take care and do what was needed
in order to stay balanced, happy and healthy.

The tell tale symptoms were there...
low energy
stress
sleep disruptions resulting in fatigue
mood swings
mind fogs
food cravings that resulted in binge eating loads of carbs and chocolate

"Oh Woe is Me!" felt like my mantra.
I'm not proud of this period of my life but it must have happened for a reason.
This experience taught me a lot of valuable lessons...
it taught me how to establish boundaries and I had to learn to say no.
Very difficult for someone who was raised to give before receiving.

Shifting my focus from obsessing over my symptoms,
I took charge...
reading books on menopause, fitness, healthy foods and meditation.
It was hard work, took time, but I needed to do something to turn things around.
Acceptance and action was much more attractive over self loathing and self medicating.

So back to the journal...
it was a powerful tool in my journey back to wellness.

The journal was instrumental in instigating change.
So I am reinstating my habit and am starting a new journal.
It will be wellness and fitness focused and I will write in it every day.

Documenting my weight, walks, workouts, weight watcher points
and making notes of any emotions that may be contributing factors that threaten to derail my success and giving myself a written pat on the back when I succeed.


BTW ~ The kettle bells are an amazing workout and I am devoting 30 minutes every other day to this new routine, while still trying to walk everyday.

Will you join me on this road to wellness?

All you need is a

pen and some paper...

let's make our journals a beautiful and gentle record of our continued journey to better health.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

New Year walking and weight loss...

We opted for a stay at home dinner this past New Years Eve.

Bubbly, bread and butter...

 Caesar Salad

Alaska King Crab Legs

A rather festive menu and the last meal of the year...

time to get back on track and whittle away some pounds.

Come rain or come shine I will be walking.

No more excuses.

Walking is so much nicer when the sun shines

 but we cannot expect sunny days at this time of year.

Walking is convenient and free...

no scheduled time constraints

no gym fees

no special equipment.

 Weight loss is my motivation and fresh air the benefit.

Sometimes I need "a carrot" to get me out the door...

once I am out and about I am fine, 

the challenge is prying myself away from a book, my knitting or the Internet!

Walking while

running an errand

posting a letter

visiting Mother

buying coffee

getting a few groceries.

How are you doing with your fitness routine?

Do you have a membership at the gym?

Do you like to do Yoga, swim, bike or run on a treadmill?

I like to use the scale as my motivator and when I see results I reward myself with non food treats...

Flowers

a new lip gloss

fancy tea

nail polish

a thrift shop find

Staying committed is tough and we all need to keep our focus on our long term goals.

I wish it was easier and faster to get to these goals and that we can take heart by  indulging more often in things that do not derail our progress.

If you find it daunting

start small and see how it goes...

 20 minutes a day and then work up to 45 or 60 minutes

you'll be pleased to see the results.

If you feel better walking with a partner see if you can find a friend who wants to walk...

or 

join a walking group.

GOOD LUCK!

Cheerio readers, 

I'm off for my walk now...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

New Years Eve and Hostess holiday style and a giveaway!

It is New Years Eve!

We are planning a quiet dinner here in The Humble Bungalow.

I have a few resolutions in my back pocket

and 

am reflecting on all the good things in life 

sadly it was

a year fraught with so many unsettling events on the world stage.

It is my hope that we strive to be better

become more forgiving 

respectful of the differences 

that we share

 while living (hopefully) harmoniously on this planet.

The festive season is almost over and it has been a busy holiday.

I wore mostly black...

it is a matter of frugality 

and 

my conservative nature...

however

even at my age

(almost 62)

 I do like to kick it up a notch.

Mesh tights feel a bit more edgy than sheer hose

short boots feel hipper than pumps

an armful of bangles seems like more fun than a watch...

they are shiny silver and make a bit of noise!

The black slim skirt is a basic style which sits just above the knee...

it is a "work horse" in my closet.

This new skirt is a recent purchase

 made in Canada in a knit and it is lined.

I wore my vintage mink jacket out to dinner on icy Christmas Day.

(Mr. HB is not a fan of fur and I DO have reservations wearing fur)

I posted this on Instagram and many commented on the fact that it is vintage fur and 

I should wear it without guilt.

I wore my St. John black top with a bit of sparkle

black skirt

mesh tights

Chelsea boots

grey pearl drops and diamond studs.

(Thank you to Mr. HB for taking the photos.)

My sister cooked us a fabulous dinner...

tenderloin steaks and assorted veggies.

Truffles and yogurt for dessert.

Mother loved the quiet and smooth drive in our new car.

Our kids came to us this year on Boxing Day and we enjoyed their visit.

I have been eating too much and I know I need to get on top of this situation.

(I will)

Blinders are firmly affixed as I am avoiding the scale.

(until 2017)

My jeans are feeling snug 

(which us never a good sign)

 and 

already exploring local fitness program schedules

 curious about  the new Weight Watchers program 

Beyond The Scale...

I saw an advert on telly with Oprah...

she has lost over 40 pounds.

I think I heard that she owns WW

anyone out there know if this is true?

Chester my trusty assistant 

is trying to squeeze in and get some attention as I type.

He tries to do this when I am my knitting and reading too.

Started reading this book after Christmas...

I am only into it a few chapters so I cannot really comment yet but the story on the jacket cover sounded entertaining.

I'll be posting with the knitted oven mitt pattern, I have not forgotten.

New Years resolutions:

Thinking about a weight loss challenge

 continued thoughts on living a beautiful, relaxed and simple life.

A New Years giveaway...

this lovely Kennedy Watson book

could be yours

just leave me a comment and we will randomly choose a name.

Leave your comment before January 4th at midnight PST.

Watch for the draw and then email me with your mailing address if your name is the one chosen.

Good Luck

Happy New Year!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~