Saturday 27 October 2012

If this does not inspire you , I'm not sure what will ...


I know it does me.


Meanwhile at walmart lol!


Does this person have a mirror in their home?  It is not the size that makes me shake my head it is the graphic placement of the tie and face which makes me shake my head and say why? Why would you wear this? Why have you given up so much that you do not care how you dress, or what you look like.  This perception could be due to my age or something but I can remember a time when you never left the house without your hair done, your makeup done, your bra strap never showed and you sure did not go out in your 5 year old child's outfit.  I'm glad things have relaxed, and we don't have such strict expectations anymore, but lady I think this may be just a little too relaxed.
It is weigh-in day, so with this in mind I venture forth, and pray I never see my rear view on Pinterest with the notation Walmart Shoppers.


I have lost 23 lbs from September 1st until today 10/26/12.
Doing the happy dance.  I have set my goal weight at 130-135 lbs, dependent on how I feel and look when I reach that weight. 
I am ecstatic with the progress I'm making and I'm noticing I have developed a whole new attitude.  The other day I was out shopping, it was near lunch, and I thought I had not gone out for lunch in sometime.  Why don't I stop for a bite.  I walked into a restaurant, looked at the menu and thought, "No, I don't want this, there's nothing here that appeals to me.  Turned and left, now without knowing me, you would not know that 3 months ago that would not have happened: 

1. I would have been afraid of offending the staff or appearing strange, and I would have felt awkward just walking out.  Not this time.

2. It seemed I could always find something that would appeal to me to eat on any menu.  It's easy when you don't care about what you are putting into your body, but this time I chose myself and took myself home and had a wonderful salad with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, avocados, sprouts, sunflower seeds and home canned salmon and entire pot of tea.  A meal I could feel good about and it didn't cost an arm and a leg.

So I guess things are truly changing and it is true that it's your mindset and how you view yourself that makes the difference.  It is also said that it takes 21 days to form a habit or to break it so maybe at least for now I've broken the overeating habit, I'm hoping it's going to be a life long change.
Talk to you soon keep smiling and remember to check the rear view, you never know when someone is going to say smile you are our new "people of Walmart Shopper".  Have a great day. 



                                                       

Friday 26 October 2012

I took advantage of the old adage "A woman's prerogative to change her mind"....




Let yourself go...Her favorite moments were those when she let go of all expectations and worries and just simply celebrated the very moment she was living...Kelly Rae Roberts
Let yourself go...Her favorite moments were those when she let go of all expectations and worries and just simply celebrated the very moment she was living...Kelly Rae Roberts


Written by Linda Gauthier

A woman's prerogative has come into play on several occasions in the last while, according to Gary, I'm indecisive, but I contend it is my right to change my mind, besides the fact that sometimes you just darn well don't want to eat fish when you are craving chicken.  So, on Tuesday we ate Chicken rather than Salmon.
The following is the recipe I used.













Another dish I made this week was Tilapia wrapped in Swiss chard and parchment.  I dipped them in coconut milk then rolled them in Epicure Satay Mix and Epicure Roasted Red Pepper.  I would normally wrap the fish in the Swiss chard alone, however, the leaves were small so I decided to wrap it in the parchment as well.  

Tilapia wrapped in Swiss chard
Parchment wrapped Swiss chard and Tilapia
Rolling it out of package onto plate served with couscous, beans and squash


Final dish served with cucumber salad

The couscous had some steamed squash mixed into it.  I prepared the squash in the Epicure Rectangular Steamer, the acorn squash had Epicure Hot Buttered Rum, Maple Bacon Sea Salt and Roasted Red Pepper Flakes sprinkled on it prior to steaming.  Steaming time was 4 minutes.


Acorn Squash, cut into cubes, in Steamer  



Epicure Products used on Squash to add flavour during steaming.
I'm going to sign off and say goodnight,  I'd like to thank you for spending time with me.  I hope you try, and like, my recipes.

This guy looks like I feel right now so smile, and have a great night. 



Another rainy day, requires comfort food...

Written by Linda Gauthier

It seems like only yesterday I was walking around in t-shirts and shorts, wait a minute I was or at least up until our Thanksgiving I was, now I can't seem to get warm and the wet drippy days of fall are truly here.
Just came back from the little farm market up the road and they are closing up for the season.  I bought another 25 lbs of tomatoes just because I can't bear the thought of no fresh tomatoes, however, they will be opening again in 4 months.  Heavy sigh, but I believe I've put enough veggies away to get us through the winter or at least I hope so.  This last batch is going to be made into stewed tomatoes with kale, celery and peppers.  Perfect for soup bases, or pasta dishes, or or or, the list can go on and on.

So comfort food means something different to everyone, but to me, it means things like homemade soups and chowders; I love mushroom soup, thick seafood chowder, Boston-style not Manhattan, macaroni and cheese.  Notice a theme here?  Thick, creamy soups and pastas, not exactly what is on my diet right now, BUT, never fear, the mother of invention is here.  So, on Sunday evening we had homemade wild mushroom soup.  I didn't include a picture because, well, while the taste was to die for, the color was a little like it had died 2 weeks ago.  By that, I mean that it was a little grey and dark colored, so not the most appealing colour.  This colour issue would most likely be alleviated by adding more cream, but on my diet I won't do that now, maybe at a later date.  The flavour and texture were wonderful and satisfying.  In case you have not noticed, for me, a lot of the joy in cooking is the smells, the textures, the sensuality of it.  I have always been like that.  I can remember my cousin watching me as I tasted something for the first time, it usually involved me eating it very slowly, most often with my eyes closed for a good portion of the time and me trying to analyze what spices or herbs were in it, what cooking method was used.  For me, eating is an experience, not just a chore we have to get through, which once again may explain my issue with weight. 

This is my recipe for Wild Mushroom Soup.











Well, I'm going to go put dinner on the table for my family.  I'll write more later this evening.  I leave you with a little something that made me smile today, keep smiling and remember this little ditty....



It always helps to carry a little mistletoe for your back pocket. ❦

We all have an image in our head of who we are...

written by Linda Gauthier
:)

These words should be taught to all young people from womb to adult hood. If we all saw ourselves as we truly are, and not how we are told we are, or we are told we should be by parents, teachers, peers, magazines, movies, etc. we would have a society that in all likely hood would not have young people starving themselves to death, or destroying their health with bulimic binges.  We would not have young people killing themselves, because bullies who feed their own inadequacies by attacking and destroying others, have chosen to victimize them.  If we all believed and understood that we are all unique, and talented and beautiful in our own way defined by ourselves and not defined by others, we would be a happier, healthier society.  We are a society that has created unrealistic expectations among our young men and women, We have allowed the bullies of this world to hide behind anonymity of social networks, and the technology of today.  We as adults allow the fashion industry to influence how our young people see themselves,  movies promote the image of beauty, and how beauty, popularity and success all go hand in hand; the nerd the geek, the misfit, the overweight, the different are portrayed as being lonely losers who yearn to be the popular beauty, and guess what,we fall for it. 
All this from a caption under a cartoon you say; this cartoon struck a  chord in me, because for years I chose to believe that the view I perceived others held of me was the true image and not the one I felt I was inside.   It was a misconception on my part, but it was one I believed to be true. I wish I had seen this cartoon when I was young and recognized the truths it conveys, it would have saved me a lot of stress and pain,I could have reached the peace I feel now years earlier.  I know this is a strange way to start a blog about weight loss, but for the first time in my life I am losing this weight not to be popular, or pretty, or to fit into a dress or to look good in some picture, I am losing it because I want to. To be healthy and for no other reason other than that. So here we go another week another pound hopefully more but I'll accept 1.  

So this is the menu I've been using this week.



Oven Fried Chicken, Cucumber Tomato Salad, Couscous Stuffed Peppers





Well its now time to leave you, I'll be talking to you again tomorrow. Sorry I was so serious at the beginning of this entry, but sometimes these things just come out, and like the genie I can't put it back in the bottle.
That is another thing that has happened to me in the past few years, with my acceptance as to who I am, I have learnt that I have an opinion and I have a right to it and it is okay to express it. I don't have to expect that everyone will agree with it, but that's okay.


                          1930's advertisement - what a different world!

This is an actual 1930's advertisement   Oh how we have changed !!

Have a good day talk to you soon.


Thursday 25 October 2012

Wow!!! I know a T.V Star......


Last night I watched an exciting event.  Stephen Childs, a young man my husband works with, and that I've gotten to know over the last few years, was on the TV program, "Recipe to Riches".  We knew he had made it into the finals with his recipe and just to know he had made it that far was exciting, but seeing someone you know creating his recipe on TV was a lot of fun, especially when you know he's an engineer and not a chef .  Well the exciting outcome of the competition is that he won, and now can proudly say he has created the best snack food in Canada.  His Chipotle Chili Slams will be on sale this weekend at Great Canadian Superstore across Canada, and  other stores selling "President's Choice" products.
Stephen will be at the Langford Superstore on Saturday for the product launch.  So I'm asking you to please stop by to say hello and buy this delicious treat.  Stephen now moves on to the final for the possibility to win $250,000, it couldn't happen to a nicer young man.  Imagine what winning this could mean to Stephen and his young family, your purchase and repeat purchase helps him move closer to the final goal.  Congratulations to Stephen and his family, go get 'em Stephen.

Here is the finished product that will be on sale starting this weekend.


Sunday 21 October 2012

26 years ago I lost a fair amount of weight....


written by Linda Gauthier


I've told you in the past, I've always had a battle with my weight and for the past 26 years I've more or less taken it as given that I'd remain as I was.  It was also my belief that if I was to lose, it would be a couple of pounds, but not a lot.  I was a busy mom with 3 kids, a set of twins and a very special younger sister, they were 11 months apart in age. The youngest had a few more requirements than the other 2, but it was part and parcel of being blessed with these wonderful kids.  However, it didn't leave a lot of time for Mom, so that is why I felt I would remain at, or close to, the weight I was for the rest of my Mommy years.  Now I'm in the Mom Years, kids grown and out on their own and I'm determined to make it.  So today is weigh-in day, let's see what I've done this week.


Ta dah !!!  Yeah!  Yeah!   20 lbs gone, since September 1st, exactly 20 lbs, half way to goal.  Happy, Happy, Happy. 


On this date 26 years ago today, I lost exactly the same amount,
20 lbs as well.  I was working at eating healthy, and working towards a goal weight.  My goal had been for January 7, 1987, but for some reason my body decided that October 20th 1986 was the date I'd achieve my goal.  I was extremely happy but it came as a complete surprise.  The fact that it happened so soon and ahead of schedule left me surprised and apprehensive, and in a strange way I'm feeling the same way today.  I've reached this goal a way ahead of my intended halfway goal, I thought I would be hitting this weight around Christmas, but as before I'm extremely happy.


I thought I'd show you some vintage pictures taken 26 years ago.


#1 Katie with Dad 4 lbs 5 weeks old         #2 Eric 4 lb 5 weeks old      #3 trying to get them to go to sleep     Walker Races,
                                        Notice in pic #4  the attire Katie is  wearing, the very  latest in toilet roll covers
                                                                                         
These little bundles were 3 months premature, and arrived weighing in at just over 2 lbs each.  The first 2 pictures are of their first time out of the incubator, the first time we were able to hold them.  Dad and his little girl.  Today is their 26th birthday, and I'm so proud and happy to be their mother. Happy birthday kids, all our love Mom and Dad.  
When they where born I was terrified to believe they'd make it to their first Birthday let alone their 26th one. I would not have thought they'd be doing what they are this weekend.  Eric is in Thailand riding an elephant through the jungle, and Katie is in St. Johns, Newfoundland starting her new life with a wonderful boyfriend.  I miss them both with all of my heart, but I'm really excited for them.
So anyway onto other things.  Talk to you soon.

White Christmas Butter Cake


Happy Birthday Guys, since I can't bake you a cake I thought I'd let you know this is what I would have made for you.  Looks good Uh?
Too bad you are not here, love ya :)