Builders

The builders are in this week. And it is exciting if disruptive. I do imagine though, these guys make some great buttercream cakes! :D

Gain and lose

So I got to spend Christmas with my mum, courtesy of my wonderful bro - yay for excellent brothers everywhere.

It was a lazy, easy, relaxing, happy, joyful and connected time. My relationship with my mother has improved so much. I really get her now, and truly appreciate her as an adult, and see her as the wonderful inspiring lady she is and has been all along. Just as a child, and a teen, and an angry adult with issues, I couldn't do that. But now, yeah, big respect. Major hugs to you Mum! xx

Spending time in the tropics was wonderful. Not so wonderful was the continuation of the less than stellar eating habits I redeveloped since working at the bakery. Eating junk as well as real food meant I put back on a stone. Shocker, when I got back in early Jan, and found that out.

At least I got in a good dose of Vitamin D. And since starting back on HFLC (high fat low carb) my knee, ankle and hip joints are less creaky and loose, my back pain is intermittent, and woot, I have lost 12 of those reloaded pounds :) It has been just under two weeks. So I am very pleased. My current weight is 20st 13.

Next week is a blood test, and soon as they can manage it, a diabetes review. I am guessing my HbA1c (whatever does that acronym stands for??) won't be that great, as since last July I have eaten far too many carbs and loads of sugar.

I am pleased though. I didn't get a cake last week, by saying to myself that "Sugar is Poison to Me". That works, mostly. It is going to be a hard slog, just like quitting cigarettes, a lot of backsliding. Helps though that HFLC is fat satieting. I get to eat meat, fish, fat, dairy, eggs, nice veggies and occasional fruit and occasional chocolate. So it isn't all bad. And if I eat the occasional bit of bread, rice, bircher oats, that is okay.

Hey, where has that rear view gone?

Woot! Found the tape measure and got my measurements done.
I am 8 inches smaller around the bum, and 2 inches small around the waist since May last year. :)
I also notice that my arms are smaller. I do have bingo wings, but hey, I don't care. It feels so good to be able to squeeze into clothes I haven't worn for years. Am now wearing XL T shirts. Woah!
Got to start working on the work outs! Build some muscle. Retain that nice curve, and rebuild some bootliciousness.

Oh yeah, and am loving myself a little more. First ever attempt at a french polish manicure. Next time I will follow instructions!

Checking out uni's now. Seaside towns are on my list...going to try to be a sailor if I get into uni elsewhere from here. And here, there is dinghy sailing nearby after all. First though, need job, need lodger, need car. I do miss having one now.

Floating in a sea of uncertainity

First couple of days at college...and I am literally muddling my way through. Everyone else is in the same boat though so I need not be so worried. Tomorrow is Open Day at the local uni, am moseying up there to see what I need to do to get in there.

I think, keep my mind open, read the assignments, make notes, watch the videos, do some planning, some reading around and be organic about the whole thing and I will find it will come to make sense and be more straightforward. Right now, my mind is kind of blipping around not quite knowing what to do. Have to establish a routine.

Hmm, perhaps the anxiety is because I gave up the job that was killing my feet and have yet to find another... AHA! :) Yup, that is it. So, focus on finding a good job, preferably one that will help me get to uni!

Back to school again!

Well, here I am. Enrolled on my Access course. The proud possessor of a student badge again :)

It feels GREAT!

I finish at the bakery job today, and school starts tomorrow...woo hoo. So exciting.

Amazing to think, this time last year all I had was the idea. Now it is emerging, concrete in reality.
My next step is to consolidate, build, progress and realise that dream and that career that I will find fulfilling, fun, interesting and challenging in a good way.

Right now, can't sleep. Am so excited!

Hello there 200s! And a yummilicious summer soup

This morning the bathroom scales said 21 stone and 5 lbs.
That is 299 lbs. Woot!
So...hooray for me! Am now finally in the lovely 200s! Yay!

This last month has been a bit up and down. So this result today is a good one.

Ahh, and I am eating the most delicious soup, of my own invention.
Recently I've been sprouting brown lentils, in order to add them to salads.
But, a little handful of little brown discs soon fills the whole jar.
What to do with all of them?

As a reward for my volunteering, the charity I work for gives us free vegetables & fruit.
This week I had a load of fresh peas. Awesome little things, peas.
So, a yummilicious summer soup is born.

A relaxed Sunday evening supper

Summer pea & lentil sprout soup

Ingredients 

2 small onions, peeled and chopped
50g unsalted butter (it's important to use butter for the best taste)
2 small cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
4 large carrots, peeled and chunked
2 cups well sprouted brown lentils (so that the little first green leaves are visible)
500g bag of fresh peas in their pods (this will yield around a cup and a bit - well worth it)
sea salt to taste ( I use a little less than a level teaspoon)
freshly ground black pepper
dried fines herbs - I use Tesco's which contains parsley, chervil, chives and tarragon
juice of one small fresh lemon
enough hot water to cover vegetables

Method

In a nice deep pan, melt butter on medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté gently for about 5 minutes until translucent. Longer is good. What we want is a slight sweetness. Add salt and pepper.

Add chopped carrots & sauté gently for another five minutes. Add dried fines herbs, about 2 teaspoons. Add sprouted lentils, sauté a minute or two, then add hot water to cover. Add chopped garlic. Doing this means the garlic is a sultry soft note in the soup and not a harsh one.

Bring to the boil, then leave to simmer on a low heat for about 20 minutes while getting on with podding the peas while listening to the radio! After 20 mins test the carrots and lentils to see if they are soft. Cook another few minutes if not.

Add peas, and more hot water to cover if necessary, bring to boil, then simmer for 5 mins. Take off heat.

Squeeze lemon for the juice, add to soup. Now blend in batches. Add a little hot water to swill out the lovely green residue from the blender...

To serve: swirl in a couple of tablespoons of creme fraiche/sour cream/double cream. Add more salt/lemon juice if necessary to taste. Enjoy!

BP update

148/84
doc is pleased with my progress. Diabetes being managed by diet, have lost weight, lower BP...
Has been a good six months healthwise.