Photo credit: quitsmokingtoday2010

Most people that smoke don’t really know what the cigarettes are doing to them. All they know is that they enjoy it and find it a calming and enjoyable experience. Non-smokers on the other hand find it totally repulsive to say the least. Recently 3 weeks ago I quit smoking and it has been quite an ordeal let me tell you. The cravings at times when you smoke were like someone was plucking out my eyelashes. It was horrible to deal with.

The good news is that what I didn’t realise is that due to my weight I thought I couldn’t be active because of that, however what I discovered is that the other day I went to the shopping centre ( I haven’t been for about 1 year), I would avoid them like the plague. I simply dreaded walking around. Now what happened to me this weekend was remarkable, I decided to go and do my shopping and actually wanted to walk around – even if I was in pain doing so. When I got there and walked around I was not in pain and found that I was less out of breath than usual.

This was a miracle in my eyes as firstly I didn’t think I could ever quit the smokes but what was even more remarkable then doing that was the fact that I WALKED, it was exhilarating and made me feel like I was a part of society again and very alive. It was just great and then I started thinking what other things I could do, like walking at the park, walking on the beach with my husband (whom doesn’t ever suggest going anywhere he thinks I could not handle) would have been so proud of me and to see me doing the normal things in life and enjoying it, that would be the main thing.

So the thing is I actually owe this all to quitting, now here comes the bad news and please don’t fault me on this, just listen.

So, whilst I was at the shopping centre doing the shopping I lost my EFT card and when I was at the supermarket paying for my groceries I found that I couldn’t find my card anywhere. So I was thinking what did I do with it, what, what? As I walked into the shopping centre I stopped at the EFT machine to check my balances and what did silly me do, I’ll tell you what I did, I left my card in the machine and took the paper balance sheet.

So whilst I did walking around the shopping centre and enjoying it I was now stressed that I lost my card. I was lucky I had a credit card to pay for the groceries. The bank called my mobile and asked that I call them back. When I was in my car I was on hold for what seemed an eternity and I still didn’t get through. So I thought I will just go home and deal with it then.

When I got home I told my husband what happened and he told me immediately that the police called our house asking me to pick my card up at the police station. As it turned out someone (anonymous) dropped it off at the police station, what a lovely person that is whoever it is. No money was taken and I got my card back, I really needed to pay some bills. When I got my card back I tried using the teller machine but it rejected my request. I rang the bank again and finally got through and they unblocked my card thank God.

Now here is the bad part, I was so stressed at the thought of losing my whole monthly wage that I was shaking and in turn went and bought some cigarettes. I know I know you must be saying, but I have actually been smoking since I got home and all weekend. I realise this has just ruined all the hard work I did for those three weeks and it will be hard to try quitting again, but I think that I can do it again.

So the morel of the story is that you can do anything if you put your mind to it, and quitting smoking will give you more than just clear lungs it will give you your energy back and the will to get out of your comfort zone well that is what happened with me.  Now they say that anyone person can try to give up at least 7 times before actually giving up for good and that each time gets easier and each time you go without smoking for longer.  This is my second attempt.   Wish me luck for my next attempt.

I am surprised how easy it is to eat Subway or salads and fruit.  I have really enjoyed eating this type of food.  I am also at that point again where I am sick to death of take away food.  I crave a low fat healthy home cooked meal.

Tomorrow night I am making pork cutlets, mash potato and vegies (beans, snow peas, maybe some carrots) haven’t decided yet.  I always grill my meat so I know it will be lovely and I have purchased these cutlets with most of the fat already taken off them.

My aim this week is to just buy loads of salad stuff, as well as actually use what I have in the vegie patch, got some zucchini, cucumber at the moment.  Might be ready for picking this week so will enjoy eating them.  I have also been drinking more water instead of heaps of soft drink which is a small change but a good one I think.

So anyway just thought I would share my thoughts today.

Photo credit : Katly Malgeri

It was my birthday on the 12th of Jan and I had to most wonderful day ever.  I took the day off work and booked myself into www.uniquedayspa.com.au, it was the most relaxing day of my life.   I went onto get the delux pedicure and a hydrobath with coconut milk.  I honestly can’t tell you how relaxing it was and I guess you will have now book yourself into your local Spa and pamper yourself.  The atmosphere is amazing and tranquil, and just the whole place made me feel alive and very relaxed. 

So if you think you are special like I did that day, you should try some of these places around Australia.  I am sure you will love the pamper experience as I did.

Macedon Spa – Victoria

Aqua Viva Day Spa – Victoria

Buddha Gardens Day Spa – NSW

Heaven Spa – QLD

Universal Body – SA

Savoy Baths – Tasmania Hobart

Bayview Day Spa – Perth

ENJOY!!!!

Photo credit: Wiffygal’s

As the weather starts to get cold and winter approaches we all love to keep warm, and with food there isn’t much difference.  I have a great selection of winter warmers that will suit most tastes.

1. Carrot and Ginger Soup Recipe
2. Leek and Stilton Soup Recipe
3. The Ultimate Pick Me Up Soup Recipe
4. Cullen Skink Soup Recipe
5. Vegetable and Bean Soup Recipe
6. Wild Mushroom Soup
7. Smoked Haddock and Corn Chowder Recipe
8. Cock-a-Leekie Soup Recipe
9. Cauliflower, Broccoli and Mustard Soup Recipe
10. Left Over Soup Recipe

 All soups listed above are curtesy of Britishfood.about.com

For those of you that like the low fat version of soups a list in the link provided brought to you by lowfatcooking.about.com.

Tast.com also has some lovely recipes that are their low fat collection.  Take a look and you will be surprised at what you will find.

Enjoy the colder whether and if you have any soups or recipes that you think my readers will enjoy please send them in and I’ll post them up on the site.

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 credidt: Ayomide

We all know how hard it is to stay on track with weight loss programs and how easy it is to fall off the wagon.  I have been off the wagon for quite a few months.  I think I had gotten to the point that I just plain gave up on myself.  There is light at the end of the tunnel and I think these simple documents will help you too.  I have put together some simple documents that are ready to use just by printing them.  The documents I have created are food journal, exercise log and weight loss chart.  I will start my own journal on Monday so I will be struggling along with you all.

Sometimes we tell ourselves that we can’t do this anymore and give up, but the truth is that when I keep telling myself I am doing this instead of I can’t do this it really does help.  Positive statements and thought patterns really do work when you are trying to achieve something, like weight loss.  I hope these tips and documents help you too.  Lets take the challenge together, I expect you all to tell me how you are going, and I want all of us to support each other through this. 

Weighloss chart

Food Log

Exercise Log

Photo credit : bautistalh

There has been extensive research into Low Gi (Glycemic Index) and how it affects our body with weight loss.  PCOS is common in women and the experts have associated a Low Gi diet as a great way to combat weight loss, Diabetes and of course PCOS.  For me personally I am trying to incorporate some recipes that you would cook everyday and convert them into Low Gi meals.

You can search the Low Gi database in the link above to obtain your favourite recipes with Low Gi in mind.  I am taking my own advice and doing just that.  My weight struggle has been a long and heat breaking battle.  I have tried everything under the sun to lose weight, change my lifestyle and just generally be healthy.  I have also been diagnosed with PCOS and it has definitely not helped me to lose weight. 

Every case is different and in my case it has been very difficult to manage my eating patterns, not to mention the constant pressure I have to try to fall pregnant.  It has been like a vicious circle.  I have read a few books on Low Gi and found that it may just assist me in losing weight, and ultimately fall pregnant.

Another great book to read on Low Gi is (Gi Feel Good – Health & Weight loss) by John Ratcliffe Dip. TCM, Grad Dip Psy.  Very interesting reading as well as great recipes and food charts with Gi numbers beside them, just like the chart on www.glycemicindex.com with high, medium and low Gi as a guide.  This book gives you an insight that you may not have even thought about but explains the ins and outs of the process.

Other useful websites are:

 www.glycemic-index.com

www.low-carbohydrate.com

Photo credit: Tojosan

I find it especially difficult on special occasions and parties when it comes to food, alcohol and smoking.  I tend to almost always overeat, drink too much or even smoke much more then I usually do.  The result is not much fun. 

You may ask yourselves why do we do this?  Why do we let it happen when we know that it is bad for us?  The questions are endless but the real thing we should try to ascertain is what can we do to stop ourselves.

The above link shows us what overindulgence is and what kind of help can we get for it, plus some helpful tips of how we can avoid doing this to ourselves.  I am the first to admit that when I get depressed over what ever it is, I tend to turn to food and over do it.

Then other times I am really good, but the times I overindulge out weigh the times I am good.  Not to mention exercising, which has been minimal in the last 6 months.

I guess in this instance I can relate to all of you whom overindulge and understand what drives you to do this.  Obesity is not an easy thing to have to live with and for me my fear of actually succeeding is a big part of why I am still obese.  This may sound strange to you, but there you have it ‘my fear determines whether I lose weight or not’.

I would be interested to hear your story of what triggers you off to overindulge so please email me your stories to katly@big-girls-dont-cry.com.

Some great video tips of how to handle those holiday parties when it comes to food and alcohol will give you some to plan for at the end of 2010.  Good luck – I will be attempting to take all this on board myself and will let you know how it goes at the next party or gathering for a special occasion.

Photo credit: Ahmed

Many of you may have heard of the Lemon Detox Diet and how you can lose weight and cleanse your insides.  The link will give you all the information from their website, but I am here to talk about how I think that replacing all your solid food with three drink replacements isn’t the answer.

Sure you can do this but I don’t know about you but I would be starving and break it.  Therefore you won’t get the bennefits and you just wasted your money. 

There are so many miracle diets on the market, pills, drinks, meat diets etc, but what we are all forgetting is that none of these are the answer really because you need to eat, and you need to exercise.

You need to do this every day of your life, I know because I have not done it for a while.  My eating has gone to the dog house, exercise is non exsistant and what I and everyone else should do is figure out a routine for you that you can stick to.

This post isn’t giving you facts and figures, the site can give you that.  I just wanted to voice my opinion about all these crash diet plans.  I am sure they all mean well and I am sure some of them work.

What happens when you stop – but haven’t changed your ways, I’ll tell you what happens you put all the weight back on and then some. 

There are however some great uses for the lemon, below are the uses I have found.

Readers Digest lemon uses

28 creative uses for lemons

Natural uses for lemons

House hold uses for lemons

10 Eco friendly things to do with lemons

How to save money with lemons

Healthy uses for lemons

Some of these links may overlap but you will definately get the general idea.  When I think of lemons I think refreshing.  So even though the Lemon detox diet isn’t exactly what I think will help you acheive weight loss and keep it off there are many other great uses for the Lemon.

Photo credit: Absolute Apetite

I was looking over Angie All The Way’s blog the other day and it suddenly dawned on me that all of her food that is displayed looks absolutely fantastic.  So presentation may be the key to healthy eating too.  If you make a dish and slop it in your plate or use ugly crockery the food is just food, but if you use your nice white dinner plates and present the food well you have a masterpiece.

How to cook gourmet will show you how you can present your food.  I believe that if you can make healthy food look interesting you are more likely to enjoy it and stick to it.  Have you ever steamed some vegetables and thought how bland they are, why not try to sprinkle some oregano on them with a pinch of sea salt.  You will be amazed how well it tastes and gives the vegetables some texture too.

Here is an interesting insight of how to steam your vegetables and a handy video, there is definitely a knack to it and after all you don’t want soggy vegetables for dinner, nothing worse than that.  It would be any wonder you dove off the couch for that packet of chips in the cupboard.   

So next time you are in the kitchen and trying to think of something healthy to cook, remember healthy doesn’t have to be boring and there are many websites you can find to help you with presentation, perhaps for your next dinner party.