Pickle and healthy Beef Koftas...

I made another Pickle purchase from Juanita Tortilla ... Check out her Etsy store here ...

https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/juanitatortilla?ref=em

What or who is Pickle? Pickle is the beautiful Birman ragdoll cat who belongs to Juanita - or does Juanita belong to Pickle?

My Pickle Pocket will hold all of my power cords and adapters and it fits snugly in my glove box. Because I swap cars fairly often (the perils of owning a car dealership!), I need to be able to grab everything out of my car quickly and for travel its perfect too! My Kobo fits nicely.
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The pocket came in a cute Pickle draw string bag which I will use for my latest acquisition - a blood pressure monitor!  :(

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I recently had my 51,000km service and I have started on BP meds as it's been too high of late so hopefully it will come down to near normal.  My cholesterol is down from 7.4 last July to 6.1 - still high but better.  This lead me to drag out a WW recipe book for a healthy dinner inspiration.

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Beef Kofta with chickpea couscous...

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I ditched the skewers when they were cooking as they just got in the way!
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I'm not big on couscous (I don't like the texture) so rather than have plain, I tried this sachet from Ainsley Harriot...and added half a can of chickpeas to it when I poured on the water.  It was very tasty but not my cup o tea!
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I made my own salad of lettuce mix, tomatoes, cucumber and kalamata olives and used a zero fat french dressing.
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I found the koftas to be a bit dry, maybe a bit of skim milk and a handful of fresh bread crumbs might lighten them up...but it was a yummy dinner anyway!

Cheers - Joolz xx

Juicing...

I got out my juicer and made my veggie/fruit juice this morning...
(Raw beetroot, carrot, celery, apple & orange)

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This is it before I stirred it... pretty, isn't it?
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A glass full of goodness!
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We had a chicken Caesar Salad for dinner last night (sorry no pics) and I used Praise 99% fat Free Caesar dressing and it was delicious. I chopped up baby cos lettuce leaves, browned off some lean bacon then my chicken tenderloin pieces and let them cool off. Once cooled/cold, sprinkle the lettuce with bacon pieces and chicken, add the dressing (I don't like to use too much) then sprinkle in some croutons (I buy mine but you can make them too). Finely grate some parmesan cheese over it all and give it a good toss. I find you only need about 2 tablespoons of the cheese and that is not a lot, weight wise. Enjoy!
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It was a little bit ironic as I had just bought the January copy of Australian Healthy Food Guide and it suggested swapping the normal dressing for reduced fat version. I did that before reading it! This edition is packed full of good swapping ideas so I will share a few over the coming days.
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Angus & I are walking each morning (40 minutes) and I am really enjoying it. He makes me accountable for going.
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HEALTHY SWAPS
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Instead of feeling hungry after only having a piece of fruit for breakfast because you are trying to be good - Add extra fibre and protein by adding a handful of muesli, a tablespoon of LSA (ground linseed, sunflower and almond) and a good dollop of low fat yoghurt to a bowl of fruit salad (chop it up the night before).
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Instead of getting a pie from the bakery - Make extra dinner and pack it so you have healthy left overs for lunch the next day.
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Instead of pouring sauce or dressing like it's going out of style - Use a tablespoon or a pump bottle to spray a small amount over your meal.
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Instead of choosing juice, cordial or soft drink throughout the day - try to choose WATER first. Add some fresh lemon or lime juice or a few sprigs of mint for flavour.

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Instead of having icecream or custard for dessert - opt for low fat versions. Individual serve packs will reduce the likihood of over doing it. Make a low fat fruit crumble with apples and berries.
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As you can see, I am back into it! I didn't over-eat over the Christmas/New Year break but I did eat a little too much of my favourite thing - CHEESE! I have it out of my system now and will not be buying any delicious, scrumptious, mouthwatering vintage cheddar (Cracker Barrell!).
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Cheers - Joolz

A good day....

I started yesterday off with a 30 minute walk. I did some tidying around the house and ended up getting to work rather late. Oops! Home for lunch, I had left over Cottage Pie - even better than the night before! I cut up watermelon and pineapple and dolloped on some yoghurt - banana & creamy honey Forme (no fat, low sugar). So good!

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I went out to a pub for dinner last night with my WW committee friends. We all chose sensible meals - no Schnitzel Parmy & Chips for us! Instead we chose rump steak or grilled chicken breast with either vegetables or salad. I had tossed salad, rice salad and beetroot. No creamy noodles or potato salad.
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As a treat and to save us making poor choices for dessert, I made Annette Sym's Wicked Chocolate Cake. I made it in a paper lined 'sponge roll tin' so it was less than 2cm high. I cooked it in the oven at about 170C, not the microwave. I was in a rush to make it because I didn't get home from work until 5pm and I had to be at the pub at 6pm! I whipped it up and had it in the oven at 5.15pm - it was cooked by 5.30pm! I slipped it out of the tray and onto a chopping board - into the fridge for 10 minutes to cool (which it did because it was so thin). Out of the fridge - whacked the icing over it, sprinkled hundreds & thousands over it, back into the fridge for 10 minutes then out again to cut it into squares, onto the plate and out the door! Phew!
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It was so gooood! Just a small piece is packed with lots of chocolatey goodness to satisfy any dieter craving chocolate. The trick is just to have ONE piece as a treat! Moderation, girls!
We each enjoyed a piece and I bought leftovers home so that is going to work today for 'smoko' for the menfolk! It is a lovely moist cake.
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I'm off to work today then tonight is weigh in night at WW so fingers crossed for another loss. I had someone tell me I had lost weight yesterday so that has boosted my spirits a bit! I can see a bit of difference in the mirror - my aim is to be able to see my 'caesarean' scar when I look down - Lol!
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Looks like it's going to be a cracker of a day here ~ I enjoyed my 30 minute walk this morning ~ enjoy your day where ever you may be~
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Cheers ... Joolz

Seeing some results...

I stopped to take this picture on my way into town this morning before my walk. Low fog drifting along the ground, lit by the sun...
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It's been a great week so far - I have walked 4 mornings for half an hour, I have had two days of solitude at home (Gus and Bri went to Adelaide), I have been busy at work and yesterday's fitness workout was quite enjoyable. We only did a bit of aerobic stuff before getting down on the mats for some strength work. Leg lifts, butt lifts and crunches. This sort of routine, I like! Afterwards, we had a personal trainer speak to us about strength training and nutrition to fuel the body. It was good to hear that what Sheryl had been telling us was backed up by this guy too! We all came away from it very empowered and rearing to go again.
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I weighed in and had a 1.0 kg loss which is just fantastic. It is slow, but that is a 2.0 kg loss since 17th October. I am on track and have not felt the need to break out and be bad with my eating habits. Sheryl has set a goal for the group to lose 5% of our body weight, therefore I should lose 3.82 kgs. I think I can achieve more in the 7 weeks - 5kg would be incredible!
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Today, my muscles are aching once more but I powered through my walk, even doing 2 short bursts of jogging to elevate my heart rate. This is all important for healthy weight loss.... but I think I need a sports bra! He he he!
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A few samples of what I have been eating and the portions. Monday night when we got home - a pork chop seasoned with Tuscan seasoning, small serve mashed potato and peas and carrots and corn.
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Yummy dinner last night - Angus and Bri bought home some King George Whiting fillets which I had pan fried, sprinkled with Lemon Pepper seasoning, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, olives, baked potato and sweet potato and also tomato, onion and zucchini bake topped with wholemeal bread cubes and the tiniest bit of cheese. Delicious!
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I freeze our wholemeal loaf of bread in 2 slice portions - this will last us 4 mornings for breakfast and no wastage. I buy 1/2 loaves of white bread for Brianna.
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Around the garden - this Blue Moon rose has been neglected so badly - hasn't even been pruned the past 2 years and this is what is produces!
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More McLeod's Daughters...
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Yellow carpet rose...
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Hot pink carpet rose...
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Coral, single petal carpet rose...
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Petunia...
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Our front porch area - could still use a bit of spruce up...
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We had a power spike on Wednesday evening and when I got home from my meeting, the computer and printer were off. I turned them back on but the printer was as dead as a maggot! Yesterday I bought a new one - $99 for a Canon Pixma MX410 - printer, copier, scanner and FAX and its a good one for printing photos too! There was a promotion going to enter a draw for $20,000 cash plus you got 10% discount on the purchase so it only cost me $89.00! Yay!
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Anyhoo, last night I proceeded to install the new printer - I first disconnected the old one from the power and pc points. Phew, I had to get in under the desk (bum up!) and sort out the tangle of cables...
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As you can see, there is not a lot of leeway once the pc is connected to everything. It only comes out so far...
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S0 much for wireless technology! I finally had it hooked up so I proceeded to 'Read The Manual' (yes, gentlemen, women sometimes to RTM!). The printer can be 'wireless' so I went through all the steps, page by page, until I got to the part of 'detecting the machine'. Do you think I could get the modem to detect the printer? No way, no how! The modem wouldn't accept the WEP Key number that I was keying in... (hey, I sound like I know what I am doing!). Anyway, I gave up and attached the USB cable to the printer and computer (more bum up!) and away it went!
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I shall call him Darth Vader... very similar black plastic exterior and who knows what lurks inside!
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We are in for a cracker of a day - blue skies and warm temperature - spring is definitely in the air today!
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Cheers - Joolz

Two weeks down...

(Tuna salad plate for lunch)
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(Chow Mein for dinner last night)
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It is two weeks since I started the Spruce Up For Life fitness program and I am struggling. This old body just doesn't like jumping around like a mad thing! I did not even walk on the 5 week days last week. My hip hurts, my back hurts and my shoulder hurts. My muscles are stiff and ache. Gee, I am having a good pity party, aren't I?
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We headed into Victoria for the weekend and cooked all of our meals instead of eating out. Dinner in Ruby - chicken skewers and salad (Sunday night)
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Pan fried potatoes (microwave until nearly cooked then slice into rounds and fry in pan sprayed with oil)
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Lettuce, tomato, cucumber and mango salad with Balsamic vinaigrette.
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Lamb cutlets on the barbecue with the above salad and chips... so much better than a pub meal or a take away pizza! I munched away on fruit and nuts during the day when I felt hungry.
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As far as healthy eating goes, I have been very, very good (see above). Apart from Sakata rice crackers (Seaweed flavour), barely a processed food has passed my lips. But I just hate the exercise because I know I will hurt afterwards. Don't get me wrong - I am not even over-doing it... I have been especially careful with my shoulder while doing light weight routines and Sheryl is not pushing me to do more than I am comfortable with. I walked yesterday morning (30 minutes) and today (probably 20 minutes because it was raining) - walking seems to be my exercise of choice - my muscles burn it's tolerable. I missed the Monday session because we were on our way back from Pt Fairy then didn't attend the free 'Step' class yesterday morning because, quite honestly, I detest 'Step' class and fail to see the point of getting frustrated with my 'unco-ordinatedness'. I have never played sport in my life and I guess my body likes it that way! When I exert myself, I hurt!
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Okay, rant over. Back to the Thursday morning outdoor class tomorrow with a mind to participate as best I can. I will weigh in tomorrow and would hope to have lost another 1kg. Here's hoping!
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Cheers - Joolz

Friday roundup...

I have been struggling with muscle aches from my fitness classes but I am persevering. Yesterday's class was held out of doors. We did 30 minutes of quite easy cardio then took our yoga mats under the shady gum trees and did leg lifts and tummy cruches with hand weights included. Wow, I can feel all those muscles today! It was so lovely, lying on the ground looking up at the sky through the trees, with an Enya CD softly playing in the background. We all go at our own pace so I didn't do some of the arm/weight exercises so my shoulder doesn't get aggravated. That is the good thing about this class - we can go at our own pace without feeling like we are failing. Sheryl is a bouncy, very energetic coach and sometimes I just march on the spot if it gets too hard and fast. But that is okay.
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Tomatoes on toast - a favourite breakfast of mine...
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Turkey, cranberry and salad lavash bread wrap - delicious!
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Fresh fruit and yoghurt...
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On the mornings that I have exercise class, I come home and have scrambled eggs on soy/linseed toast. Good protein.
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We had to go out for dinner on Wednesday night and I chose a healthy option. The King George Whiting was supposed to be battered and come with fries but I asked for it to be grilled and said no fries please! It was delicious with just the salad. I didn't even touch the tartare sauce.
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My roses are just starting to pop...
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The garden has filled in since I weeded all those weeks ago...
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Bonnie likes to walk the balance beam...
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McLeod's Daughter's rose...
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We are off on a Ruby adventure for a few days to a pretty part of Victoria so I hope to get some nice pictures to share with you.
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Enjoy your Friday wherever you may be. I am off to work then home to pack! I will need to take some healthy snacks/food with us. We will be having barbecue and salad Saturday night and Sunday we will make salad rolls so that shouldn't be too bad.
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Cheers - Joolz

Oh, my aching bones...

It is a week since I started my 7 week fitness campaign. I am aching all over!
We have a Monday session of aerobic activities for 45 minutes then we listen to a guest speaker. Last week it was a personal trainer who spoke to us about nutrition while training. Some things that I got from the talk were:
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* Fuel your body for the job it needs to do - a good breakfast with low GI foods to keep you full until mid morning (fruit, water and yoghurt that is low in fat and sugar) then protein at lunchtimes. Eat carbs at midday to see you through the day and less carbs in the evening. Drink lots and lots of water - carry it with you always.

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* Eat 6-8 smaller meals a day to keep you satisfied and less likely to binge eat.

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* If you eat early dinner with a young family and find yourself hungry again at 8pm - only eat half of the meal early then reheat/eat the remainder later when you feel hungry again, that way you are not snacking on extra food or make a healthy choice and have fruit/veg snacks.

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* Steer clear of processed foods - muesli bars (full of sugar), cheese slices in plastic (real cheese is better for you), salty snacks like savoury biscuits, dips and chips.

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Plan what you will eat - pack healthy snacks and water so you are not tempted to buy takeaway foods and soft drinks.
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* Plan ahead for what you will have for lunch and dinner for the next day. That way if you are prepared you won't be tempted to grab quick and unhealthy takeaway food.
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On Thursday, we did a session at Sheryl's house - outdoors on her paved driveway. She lives 15kms out of town in a lovely bush setting. About 15 of us skipped, hopped, jumped and shimmied our way through 45 minutes of loud, pumping music and felt so good afterwards! But OMG, how I ache now!
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Monday 24th October we had another full Zumba Gold session and I must say, after the tiring weekend I had, I did not feel like even being there. I am sure that showed on my face each time Sheryl looked my way. I was so depleted of energy that I basically marched on the spot instead of launching myself in every which way direction that she had the group going. I am so very uncoordinated and Zumba calls for total coordination! Anyway, at weigh-in I had lost 700gms which makes my total loss 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) since my assessment.

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Food wise, I have been very good. We had pizza on Saturday night for a quick dinner before Brianna's 18th Party started but I only had 2 slices (instead of the usual 4-5) and when we had some supper, I only had one little vol au vent.
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When I start 'eating healthy' I tend to be good with eating good snacks/fruit between meals then into the second week, I do away with snacks and therefore do not eat all my required fruit/veg for the day. Yesterday, because I did the class at 9am, I only had a tub of yoghurt for breakfast. When I got home (after taking Mum to the hairdressers etc) it was nearly 11.30am so I had 2 slices of wholemeal toast and 2 scrambled eggs. This became breakfast and lunch combined because it seemed unnecessary to eat again at 12.30pm. I was busy at work and only had one cup of coffee in the afternoon then nothing until I had my homemade spaghetti bolognese (with microshaved parmesan on top) for dinner. I need to have those healthy snacks so I don't bust out when I am hungry. Do you have the same trouble?
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Really, why is it so hard to work out that this crap above is so bad for you compared...
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to this display of goodness?
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Well, this has been a long post but I hope you get something out of it. I do feel better for not eating processed food and less bread (only 2 slices a day and no white bread at all).
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Cheers - Joolz