Photo credit:  Andrecarol

We consume so many foods and don’t really know what is in them; yes I am talking about fresh vegetables and fruits.  Chemicals are still used all over the world on crops.  As many of you already know I am married to a wonderful man who just so happens to have a green thumb. 

My husband has created our very own veggie patch as well as some lovely herbs.  The reason I am telling you this is because they are chemical free and will no doubt be the yummiest tasting vegetables you will ever eat.  So I thought I would write a post on the benefits of having your own vegetable garden.

Whilst it costs money to set up and maintain your garden it can ultimately save you money with your grocery bill.  Not to mention the fresh produce you have in your back yard that you can come home from work, go outside pick your lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber, along with some parsley or basil to create a wonderful salad with your lean chicken, fish or meat.  On the other hand you might be feeling the cold like I am and come home, dig out some carrots, beans and even potatoes and leaks to create a warm comfort food soup, infused with a little chicken or beef or lamb it will warm the most fussiest of hearts.

The main point of this post is to show you that you can eat healthy and have fun watching your vegetables and fruit grow right before your eyes, then think of many different combinations to make a healthy, low fat meal that is also packed with nutrients.  This will assist you in losing weight because you have these foods at your doorstep (well in your back yard) anyway. 

Now I realise that some of you are not much of gardeners – neither am I really, however I see how my husband’s eyes light up when he plants something from a seed and it grows into a lovely healthy vegetable that we can eat.  I am more of a herb gardener – you can do this in pots and they look lovely on a window or balcony.

Photo credit: Mfoley25

By having herbs and vegetables in your garden you can really make the most wonderful meals and you will know they are fresh because you picked it from your own garden.  So why don’t you give gardening a go for the pleasure of watching something grow, for the peace it gives you, the health aspects and not to mention that gardening is a great exercise for you to do without you even knowing it – and it certainly doesn’t feel like you are slogging it out in the gym.  I hope this inspires you all to start growing something of your own.  I would love to hear your success stories.

Here are some helpful sites for you to visit that will help you set up your own gardens with the help from the professionals.

Suburbanfarmer

One Green Generation

Vegatable Garden Feng Shui

Photo credit :  Slipper04

Yes, I am writing about this subject again because after doing some research I found this very interesting article on the subject.  You really have to read it as it outlines issues that are very important to us all.  Attitudes may or may not change and every one has their own opinion BUT come on people you have to understand what us fatties face every day.  Being obese is not a choice I can tell you from personal experience, however things are not that simple as cho0sing or not cho0sing to be obese.

When are we going to stop apologising for being who we are, we still have the same colour blood as everyone else, have arms, legs, hearts.  It is the time to stop all this fat bashing.  Every time I go into research mode and find new and intersting articles – it could be about a fashion question like ‘why can’t the over weight ladies find nice clothing?   It turns into a fat bashing.   Ahhhh I am mad that is for sure but in any case you really have to read the article because it has many points and I think you will find it interesting. 

Please let me know what challenges you face by commenting.

I think it looks great, looking forward to hearing your opinions.

Kat

There have been that many setbacks to my progress that I am slowly losing faith, in myself and in my ability to once again start to make progress.  I know you have heard it all before and I agree it sounds like a cop out.  

I have just been agonizing over it, blaming myself, blaming others.  It is honestly a vicious circle.  The good news to this whole thing is that I finally got my period.  And it was actually under two months that I had it last.  I think the Gym is helping me with that.

My fitness has improved quite a bit, however my weight is the same – well from what I can gather.  It is a terrible thing to always fall ill or injure yourself and not be able to do the things you would like for example – the Gym.  I feel like I am on a roller coaster.

The one person that has been very encouraging is Julie my personal trainer, she said that I am doing really well, but even though she says that I don’t feel that way.  I even got that frustrated with my foot that I did the step up; I made it higher and hurt my foot again.  I really kicked myself over that stupidity.

I was so impatient that I stuffed myself up.  I guess I just keep trying and do my best not to hurt myself or get sick and I should be fine right?  If anyone knows a good place to go online to create a meal plan for the week, please leave your comments with the details. 

You know I feel a lot better now that I talked to you all about this; sometimes getting stuff off your chest really helps.  Please stay tuned as I am working on something that you will really enjoy.

Photo credit: Danusunt

There are many reasons why a woman doesn’t end up having children.  My situation is only one of them, along with the other physical reasons.  Sometimes it could be your career, or you just waited so long and when you tried it never happened.  Then there are those women who just don’t want to have children, and then there are woman who never found the right person to father their children.

What I am talking about is being childless.  When a couple get’s married and have been married for more than two years and there are no children, people often are insensitive to those couples that don’t have children yet.  There are many reasons why people don’t have children as I have stated before but what people don’t realise is that there are deep emotions going on in a woman’s and man’s mind when struggling through the fact they don’t have children.

A couple often feels ostracized from their friends and family whom have children, you find that you stop putting yourself in that situation of being around couples with children.  You also don’t get invited to these functions as much because you don’t have children.  After all these occasions are usually children’s parties, with parents getting together to praise their children, except you don’t so you feel like you are not part of the group.

You also don’t want to put yourself through a day or night of parents telling you how wonderful their children are.  You don’t want to hear it, quite frankly.  This only makes you more depressed and that longing feeling just grows as is the case with couples that want children but don’t or can’t have them.  It is a little different with your sibling’s kids, but none the less it only makes you feel like you are a failure.  That is how I feel. 

You go on to ask those critical questions like – why can’t I give birth?  And why is it that my sister can?  That realization comes from men and women who can’t fall pregnant physically, or others whom have just waited too long.  Couples who don’t want kids don’t feel this way.

For those who don’t want children they face a different dilemma, that is people criticizing them and telling them that they should have kids now because they might regret it.  So essentially you are being made to feel as though you are selfish or that there is something wrong with you for not wanting them.

The truth is, parenting isn’t for everyone, when you don’t have kids you don’t feel that pressure on you to think of kids before making decisions in your life. For example:

• Come and go as you please
• Stay out late if you want to
• Save money
• Go on trips more often
• Have a nice home with less clutter
• Be carefree
• Work full time
• Have parties with loud music
• Give more attention to other people’s kids and buy great presents
• Financial security
• General happiness
• TIME for yourself
• Stress free (children often give you stress)
• Less arguments with your spouse (usually over children)

An interesting article by washingtonpost.com on the subject was fascinating because it had the point of view of someone whom didn’t want children.  Also, there was Childless not by choice a great forum for all to talk about their feelings and experiences, a great support network.   There are many support groups for those of us that cannot have children, and there are many forums for which you can participate in.  My favorite place to search is Google.  

Photo credit: Andrev1988

I was reading a post by 101 reasons I hate being fat and I was horrified to say she was absolutely right about this post she wrote.  It is funny that even when you lose weight your mind still thinks you are the same weight as you were before.  I myself have done this, recently. 

She points out the obvious that this type of hysteria is in your mind, which leads me to even more so believe that obesity is a disease and an emotional thing rather then a medical physical thing.

Most of the reasons why people are overweight are usually an emotional thing that has happened to them.  Be it at child hood or a divorce, perhaps some trauma in your life.  What really gets me is that it is so built into your mind and heart that even when you lose weight you still feel fat. 

People do pick on you, even when you are doing what 101 says she did at the coffee shop.  The fact is people are cruel and what they say and do really effects you and this is why you can’t let it go. I do believe that a lot of people will lose weight and be very happy but the others will still have those same thoughts. 

You know the ones where you feel like people are watching you, but this time they are watching other fat people and you see this and it will infuriate you.  So even though you feel better, dress like a million bucks – in the back of your mind you are still fat.  You are vulnerable and still scared despite of it all.  Sometimes your confidence is an act and you can’t stop this feeling.

Do you need a Psychiatrist?  Maybe you do because you can’t let this feeling go.  You need to process all the issues in your past to try to find a way to finally deal with them and then deal with the fact that you were fat and it isn’t your fault.  You were caught up in a world wind of emotional garbage. 

I know this young girl who lost all her weight and became a gym instructor, she still feels scared that she will go back to her old ways.  She is even paranoid that she looks terrible and she can’t allow her self to relax to enjoy her life because if she does she might put weight on again.

This is no way to live, after all life is meant to be interesting and fun and adventurous, not filled with doubt and feelings of fear.  So I guess what I am trying to say here is that we can all lose weight but can we all deal with out demons on our own?  That is the question you need to ask yourself.

If the answer is yes then you are on the road to recovery, if the answer is no then try to find an outlet, a councilor, a priest, a doctor, a friend – I am not sure but I do know that things will seem a lot clearer if you talk to someone who can listen to your fears and foes. 

Photo credit: light_arted

Last night was my first personal training session at Fernwood.  It went exceptionally well and I am so proud of myself.  I usually do around 5 minutes on the treadmill, last night I did 10 minutes.  You might say ha that is only 10 minutes, but when you weight 148kg, which in pounds is 326.27 lbs, it is a BIG accomplishment.  Then I went onto doing three sets of 15 of the circuit weight machines, and finishing off with tummy hovers and stretches.

Mind you still not well with the reflux and now the flu.  Honestly, I am just glad I did it and I feel better for it now.  Still a little ill but I just keep telling myself – “you’re not sick, your not sick”.  That seems to be working.

My eating isn’t perfect, but I have made a few changes in regards to this.  I can’t remember the last time I went to McDonalds, Hungry Jacks and all those other junk food restaurants.  When I do get take out I now go to Subway. 

It is amazing how easy it is to make this change; I thought it would be a lot harder than it was.  I still have real trouble with portion size, but I guess that is going to take a little longer.  That is the worst part for me, changing what I guess is habit.  You know the getting a large dinner plate and filling it to the brim.  I have smaller dinner plates and I will have to start using them.  I found that if you use smaller crockery then this helps with the portion size.

Photo credit: Magic74

Kaboose has kindly made up a list of ideas for spring.  From de cluttering to recipes and craft, it is that time of year when you wash away your winter blues.  When spring comes all you want to do is stay outdoors and do your gardening, tidy your yard, have BBQ’s.  There are also some things you would rather not do but you really need to.  This is my list of things I will be doing this spring.

• 1. Clean the windows
• 2. Steam clean carpets
• 3. Re arrange closets
• 4. Freshen the couches
• 5. Wash your curtains
• 6. Take out your healthy eating cooking books
• 7. Get rid of that winter food out of your fridge and cupboards
• 8. Restock them with fresh fruit, vegetables, lean cuts of meat
• 9. Take out those beach towels
• 10. Organise activities outdoors
• 11. Walk your dog
• 12. GO to the park
• 13. Have a picnic
• 14. Go to your local knick knack market
• 15. Go to the beach
• 16. Have the friends around for an Alfresco dinner/BBQ
• 17. Go for a long drive to the country
• 18. Day trip to the Mountains
• 19. Wash your car
• 20. Don’t go the gym, go to a park and exercise

These are the 20 things that I will be doing this spring, take special note of the healthy things I will be doing.  My home will look great, food will be fun to prepare and going outdoors will be exhilarating.

Spring is a time for me when I come alive, have loads of energy and am just generally happier.   It is a very good time to make changes in your life, start a fresh and exciting new time for yourselves by the power of positive thinking.  Spring will do that to you and so will Eating well.

Photo credit: cemeterypolka

I read an interesting post from 101 reasons I hate being fat, it suddenly rang true for me.  Have you ever not gone to a concert, restaurant or just any place where you may have to sit down because you were too fat too fit in the chair?  Well I have and it is a constant battle, the people looking at you, the uncomfortable seat you’re in because you are too big to fit in it.  This is the topic for the day from me.

There was one incident that happened when I had to go out for dinner with my sister and her boyfriend.  Because I am so big I had to get my sister’s boyfriend to ring the restaurant whilst booking it to also ask them to make sure there was a chair with no arms on it.  This was simply because the chairs provided at this place were just too small for me.  My hips or the fat around my hips would be pushed up and over the arms of the chair, needless to say this was very painful and I just couldn’t be comfortable to sit there so I made every excuse to get up and walk around. 

This happened the last time I went to this place that is why I knew I couldn’t sit there one more night in agony.  So you see obesity can be very debilitating to your life in more ways than people realise.  The worst thing for me is that I can’t go to the places I want because of seating issues.  It is very embarrassing for obese people to do much of anything because it will either be the seating, or on the other hand the stares you will get – most of the time people don’t even realise they are doing it but they do stare and make you feel like you have no right to be there.

This is my own personal wish – to be fit and healthy and enjoy life like others do with no prejudice or looks of disapproval.  A life with peace.