Back To Brum

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

Recently back from a very busy 2 days in Birmingham.  Birmingham is known as England’s “second City”.  I am not sure why or in what regards but I must say I really like it.  Our office is in a redeveloped area beside a canal.

It looks very neat and tidy and attractive.  I am not a fan of chain bars and restaurants such as Pitcher and Piano and Cafe Rouge as I prefer independent places.  But I did really enjoy sitting outside last night enjoying a beer or two.

The downside to working with younger people!

Dinner was pork ribs, some Miso soup

and Yaki soba at Wagamama’s.

I didn’t stay out too late (I really can not take the pace these days, especially on a school night!) and enjoyed the walk to my hotel, across the canal, through a shopping centre,

past the Symphony Hall and in to my hotel.

I stayed in the Copthorne which was very acceptable.  Good sized room, attentive staff and a good location.

I had a reasonable breakfast there of muesli with Greek yogurt, stewed fruits and a grapefruit juice on the side.

One of the things I most like about Birmingham is the architecture.  New and old next to each other.  This is the WW1 War Memorial and in the background is the new library.

The new library is an extraordinary building (this photo was taken this afternoon in sunshine 🙂 ).

It is still being developed and around the outside is a very interesting mural about what they are creating and how.  I really want to go inside when it is open.

I enjoyed the walk to work this morning.

I popped to EAT for lunch and tried the Shitake and Miso soup with a toasted tuna and cheese sandwich.

After a very busy day I enjoyed being in the sunshine, walking back to the station through the lovely big open spaces and past the grand buildings in central Birmingham.

Wished I could have sat in the sun and enjoyed the tennis!

I had a lovely smoothie when I got home, made with a banana, blackberries and soya milk, with some cocoa nibs, acai and maca powder for additional nutrients.  Followed by a bowl of Shreddies.

I had a useful and at times,  fun trip,  but it is so good to be home.

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She Started Walking

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

I couldn’t resist it today – had to have a Monmouth flat white and there was hardly any queue – surely an omen to get stuck in 🙂

Then off to Le Pain Quotidien for a yogurt granola parfait to take out,

with lots of delicious fruit on top.

I have been thinking about how to incorporate exercise in to my day for ages and had the idea of walking in a circuit, left out of my office, over Southwark Bridge, right along the North Bank, South over London Bridge and back to the office.  It has rained or I have been too busy.  But today I did it and it was great.  It took me 25 minutes and that included time to buy lunch.  I will be doing this regularly and it felt great to be outside in the sunshine, striding over the bridges and enjoying the views.

For supper I made a stir fry using up the last of the picnic couscous and loads of fresh veggies.

In my stir fry went:

1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp Shoyu/Soy Sauce
1 chunk of ginger, grated
1 leek
1 small onion
1 green pepper
2 large chestnut mushrooms
Bean sprouts
Baby sweetcorn
Left over couscous with vegetables
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp peanut butter

I fried all the veggies in oil and shoyu and  then added the peanut butter which I loosened with 1 tbsp sesame oil.

It was delicious and I made enough for 2 so James could enjoy some too.

Lunch was a poor diet choice but the rest was good and I am so pleased I have started walking again.

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Briefly

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

Breakfast was tip top.  Overnight oats: 1/3 cup of oats, 1 tbsp oat bran, 2/3 cup almond milk, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 small banana chopped and 2 tbsp blueberries.

I took lunch in to work too.  Leftover couscous with vegetables plus half the extra pork chop I cooked last night.

I put lots of cherry tomatoes in it to keep it moist and it worked well.  Cherry tomatoes and Cherry Tree Farm pork – sweet 🙂

When I got home I cleared out the fridge in preparation for a supermarket delivery.  In the meat drawer were 3 frankfurters which I suddenly had a fancy for.  No idea why but I did so I had them, with baked beans.

A strange supper but I rather enjoyed it.  I ate the other half can of beans afterwards with some cheese grated over the top.

So that, is what I ate today.

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Something New

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

There is no doubt that yesterday I over ate.  I had more to drink than was probably wise but not enough to have a hang over – phew.  However, I woke up feeling jaded and uncomfortable so I tried something new for breakfast to settle my stomach and give me a nutritional boost.  I decided to make a Kombucha Frostie from a blog called Choosing Raw which I enjoy reading.

I bought this bottle of Kombucha months ago but wasn’t sure what to do with it.  Kombucha ia a fermented tea which the Chinese have been drinking for 2,000 years.  It has many health claims, from detoxification to cancer prevention.  I am not sure how much to believe the hype but was willing to try it.  On its own, it tastes like a lightly sparkling fruit drink.  Quite pleasant.

I placed one cup of Kombucha in the blender,

with one small banana and about a cup full of frozen mixed berries and the juice of one small lime.

I blitzed it for ages so it was completely smooth.

It was refreshing and very delicious.  Definitely making that again.  In fact I went to refill my glass but realised someone small had discovered it and guzzled it.  So just the one glass for me then!

I played tennis in the morning which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I need to play regularly as I love playing and it is such good exercise.  Anyone for tennis?

Lunch was picnic leftovers with some Feta cheese.

We had no plans this afternoon so we headed to the coast.  It has been far too long since I was on a beach so we went to Rye Harbour with the dogs.

Lots of pretty wildflowers to enjoy on the walk down to the beach.  I wonder what sea kale tastes like.

Love this little corrugated shack.  So dramatic.

A bit like the skies today.  Was it going to be sunny or pour with rain?

The sea was very rough.

I loved it and we settled down on the pebble bank to watch and listen to the waves crashing.  We sat there for ages.  Well, James and I sat there.  Harvey was straight in to the water.

So first the shoes are wet.  Then the shorts.

It doesn’t take too long before he is wet from head to toe!

So he might as well enjoy it then 🙂

And enjoy it he did.

It was very enjoyable watching Harvey playing in the sea.  The dogs were not so sure about it.

One small boy in such a large sea.

These waves are getting bigger!

Very exciting to watch.

From however close you are!

The waves were crashing so fast and furiously it churned the water in to foam.  It was really exhilarating watching it so it must have been amazing for Harvey.

The dogs had a brilliant time at the beach too.

The rain clouds became darker and the wind became stronger.  We decided to head back to the car before we were all as wet as Harvey.

It seemed like quite a long walk back under those black clouds. Particularly for Harvey in his wet clothes.

Would we make it before it poured?

We did literally.  As we got to the car it began to rain.  What a brilliant afternoon – it was great fun and completely exhilarating.

Back at home, a bath for the wet and salty one and a snack.  Crabbie’s and Doritos for me,

popcorn for Harvey which we made ourselves.  Popcorn is so easy to make.  You just heat 3 tbsp oil in a saucepan, add 1/2 a cup of popcorn, put the lid on and wait until it stops popping, shaking the pan regularly to prevent it from burning or sticking.

Ta daaa!

Supper was easy.  I scrubbed and sliced some sweet potatoes and added olive oil, salt, pepper and some cinnamon and then using my hands, mixed well so all slices were coated with oil and seasoning.  That went in to the oven at 200 ° C for about 40 – 45 minutes and I turned them every 15 minutes.  They are delicious and come out a combination of crispy,  soft and chewy.

Before we went out I defrosted 4 of the boneless pork chops I bought at the Farmer’s Market in Cranbrook recently.  They came from Cherry Tree Farm which is very local to me and their meat never disappoints.  The pork chops were rubbed with a dry spice mix and fried gently in a ridged pan.  Served with broccoli and mashed butternut squash.  Very tasty.  There is a chop left over for tomorrow too 🙂 .

Followed by this amazing dairy free ice-cream I bought at the Wealden Times summer fair.  We bought all 4 flavours: strawberry, chocolate, lemon and vanilla.   It is made with coconut milk and the strawberry one in particular is delicious.

Now, where am I with counting Weight Watchers points?

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Sunny Sports Day And A Sublime Supper

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

At Harvey’s school they hold sport’s day on a Saturday so working parents can attend.  The form for the day is to turn up with a picnic so as soon as I got up I started preparing it.

The chick peas I had soaked the previous day will not, unfortunately, be turned in to a delicious humous as I managed to burn them so spectacularly!

Everything else turned out ok though.  Chipolatas with Ketchup.

White bread to put the sausages in.

Couscous with asparagus, cherry tomatoes, spring onions and coriander, dressed with olive oil and lemon juice.

Pasta with tuna, sweetcorn and mayonnaise.

Grated carrot, mooli/daikon and kohlrabi with black sesame seeds and sesame oil.

2 types of chicken kebab; one coated in a BBQ sauce and the other marinated in olive oil, lemon juice and garlic.

All placed in to the different compartments of the Tiffin boxes, which make carrying a picnic and then serving it very easy.

We found ourselves a shady spot under the giant oak trees.  I wasn’t sure if I would need shelter from rain or sunshine and luckily we had sunshine.

I really enjoy picnics.

We enjoyed watching the sports, munching our lunch and wandering round chatting to people.

Jubilee fever is being replaced by Olympic fever in Britain and sports day was no exception.  The sports began with the children parading around the athletics track, following the Olympic flag.

There was an Olympic torch relay and the Olympic flame was lit.

It was all very pleasant but not a great event for a woman on a diet.  I drank wine, ate bread and cake and sausages.  But no sports for me.  No way will I be in the Mother’s race!

In the evening we headed up the hill to the home of Veg Grower and Tree Planter.  We made time before dinner to admire the lovely vegetable garden.  I genuinely get a wonderful sense of connection to life in a vegetable garden.  I like the neat rows which appeals to my fondness for order and love the food growing which taps in to my nurturing  side.  This is a beautiful vegetable garden and one I particularly enjoyed admiring with the assistance of a large G&T.

The food was fantastic.  We started with halloumi which had been fried or grilled and covered with a delicious mix of fresh herbs, capers, lime juice and olive oil and served with home made bread with rosemary.  I loved it and could have eaten that and nothing else and gone home happy.  This modest little portion is only a fraction of what I actually ate.  It was so delicious I couldn’t resist it.  To say I pigged out would be an under statement!

Luckily I didn’t just eat the starter because the main course was amazing.  I knew we were having a vegetarian meal and when it was served I thought it was lentils with brown rice.  How wrong I was.  We had lentils, fresh broad beans, leek puree and a (vegetarian) suet pudding full of delicious mushrooms.  Served with an incredible sauce made from a whole bottle of port and a whole bottle of wine, reduced and then some butter added.  Wow.

This really was sublime.  I though I might chain myself to the table and refuse to leave until I was fed again.  All far too delicious for me to be remotely sensible about how much I ate.

Dessert was lovely too.  Bread and butter pudding, served on a plum coulis with red currants from the garden.

Having eaten all this wonderful food we were then entertained by Richard who played some of the lovely songs he has written

and he was accompanied by Josh and David on the violin

and then our host played for us too.

It was a really wonderful evening with sublime food and great company.  Thank you so much to our lovely host and hostess.  I hope I can return soon 🙂 .

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WFH

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

Ever get puzzled by TLAs?  My work is full of them.  Most systems are TLAs and conversations and emails are full of them too.  Amazingly, you pick them up quickly.  Today was a good day.  I was OOO. Not on a DAL like I was yesterday but because I was WFH.  Brilliant!  I was delighted until I panicked that my RSA wouldn’t work and I lay awake worrying from about 4am.  Ridiculous.

Shouldn’t have worried though.  I was sitting in the dining room logged on by 7am.  I then went to let Harvey know I was Working From Home.  That meant nothing to him.  So I explained that every Friday from now on, I could take him to the school bus and then collect him after school.  He was so delighted it was great.

Having dropped him off I made a smoothie for breakfast.

Looks and tastes like raspberry ice-cream but is all full of goodness with no dairy or added sugar.  Raspberries, a banana, almond milk and ice cubes to make it thick and cold.

I was really tired today so I had some tea.  I have decided I want to be thin rather than ultra healthy so I need to cut out the milk, or at least cut it down and learn to drink it without milk.  Many years ago I worked in a Japanese company which employed lots of Japanese people.  They used to drink tea that came in pretty tins like this one.

I developed a taste for it but hadn’t tried any for years.  I found this tin recently in the back of a cupboard in the kitchen and had a cup.  I still like it.  And I like my new mug.

It was so good working from home.  I pooped a sweet potato in to the oven to bake for lunch.  Carried on working, then when it was nearly ready, I picked some lettuce, spinach and a radish from the garden.

I added a tin of tuna mixed with mayonnaise.

That radish was so peppery and crisp and flavoursome it was great.

A very quick and easy but simple lunch.  One I couldn’t have had in the office but one I enjoyed from home.

I arranged to work from home today so I could make it to Harvey’s school in time to hear/see him singing in the Evensong service at his school.  He was at the front so we could see him perfectly.  It was lovely and I was so thrilled to be able to see him.

With no commute home I actually worked later than usual but it was such a relief to know I didn’t have to spend an hour and a half getting home.  I made a really simple supper.  A 2 egg omelette with some cheese.

Plus half a bunch of asparagus.

Delicious.

Not quite enough though so I added a banana, some granola and almonds to a nearly finished tub of blackcurrant yogurt.  I added some almond milk and enjoyed my cereal snack.

Interested in the TLAs?
TLA = Three Letter Acronym
OOO = Out Of Office
DAL = Days Annual Leave
RSA = Remote System Access

NYK 🙂 . Oh keep up – now you know!

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A Royal Day Out

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

A day off work and a royal day out lined up.  So I started healthily.  Frozen blackberries

1 tbsp chia seeds

1 tbsp hemp protein powder

plus a banana and a mixture of coco nut water and almond milk until I reached the consistency I wanted.  It was delicious.

Then I went to Ascot, as you do 🙂 .

I love this day out, partly because it is an opportunity to dress up and be somewhere glamorous and interesting – fabulous for people watching 🙂 .  But mainly because I spend it with such special friends.  Here I am with Helen and Becky.

BJ and his lovely Mummy.

We have an early lunch and today I treated myself to the dressed crab salad.

Crab is one of my favourite foods and having it prepared for you is the ultimate treat.  I prefer it to lobster which is another yummy treat.

Before the racing starts at Ascot, the Queen and her guests ride to Ascot from Windsor Castle in the lovely Landau carriages.  Here they come.

God save our Queen.  Taken with a standard lens, not a zoom – we really were that close.

How wonderful to see Prince Philip with her too.

Princesses Anne, Eugenie and Beatrice were there too but my photos were too blurry to publish!  Kate Middleton’s parents were there but no Kate or William.  I would like to have seen them, especially since we always stand in such a good spot so we can see perfectly and get so close 🙂 .

After the Royals have entered the parade ring and disembarked the horses and carriages trot back out.

There is so much space in the Royal Enclosure compared to the other areas.

We watch some races from the barrier so we are really close to the horses.

We watched one from the outside lower stands.

For another race we wandered inside the Grandstand which is looking splendid decked out with Union Jacks.

There is always time for a little drink of Pimms.

Check out the view from the top of the Grandstand.

Frankie Dettori rode the Gold Cup winner Colour Vision.  Such a treat to watch this very talented jockey win the Gold Cup.  There’s the horse, Colour Vision in the Parade Ring.

We went to watch the Queen (arriving bottom left of the picture)

present the Gold Cup and congratulate Frankie.

We also looked at the horses in the parade ring.  The Grandstand was really grand this year, with the huge Union Jacks to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee.

Once all the racing is over we head back to the restaurants and have afternoon tea.  I had a cuppa and this delicious treat.  The base was a chewy flapjack covered with caramel and topped with seeds and dried fruit.  It was fabulous and worth every calorie.

All too soon it was time to head home.  It was a lovely day out – thank you fab friends.

I didn’t get home until just after 9pm so spent some time with Harvey and then popped round to Vicky’s where I caught up with some other lovely friends.  I had some pitta with a yummy goats cheese and walnut dip and half a cup cake for supper.  A lovely end to a wonderful day.

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A Long Day

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

Woke up, fell out of bed
Dragged a comb across my head (after I’d had a shower – natch)
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup (well actually I didn’t have time for a cuppa)
And looking up, I noticed I was late in plenty of time, as usual
Found Left my coat (it was sunny) and grabbed my hat bag
Made the bus train in seconds flat with time to spare
Found my way upstairs self a seat and had a smoke read my kindle
And some nobody spoke and I some went into a dream

And there I was in Euston where I bought a yogurt, fruit compote and granola pot.

It was quite good.

I spent the day in the Birmingham office where I worked, worked, worked.  Popped next door at lunch time to EAT and had a cheese sandwich and a small chicken laksa soup.

Worked, worked and worked some more, then hopped in to a taxi back to the station.  I like Birmingham.  The architecture is interesting

and very varied.

Gateway back to the South

I was very tired on the way home.  I had been up since 4:45 am and found the journey home a bit much.  The trouble with this long journey is a psychological one.  Usually, when I get off the train at the end of the day I am at home.  But for this journey when I got off the train I was in North London.  I then had to get across London by tube and then get the train home.  So I ate something ridiculous.  4 Millie’s Cookies.  Yes, you read that right.  I had 4 which I bought in Birmingham.

Back in London I felt too sweet so I bought a little bag of cashew nuts.  Euston, we have a problem!

I finally made it home, 16 hours after I left it.  Tired and cross with myself for my stupid snacking.  I wasn’t hungry but wanted to pack some nutrients in so I pottered about in the garden and picked a variety of green leaves (kale, spinach, radish, kale and broccoli)

which I blended with a banana, lots of ice cubes and some almond milk.

It made a long, cold and refreshing drink.

It’s frothy man!

So I did not have a good diet day.  Or maybe it was ok.  You must get to eat more calories today – it’s the longest day 🙂

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Posted on June 19, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

This is quite fascinating

docakilah's avatarCore Harmony Wellness Center

Google

There’s no question that maintaining a nutritious diet can help keep your body healthy. But when it comes to which foods can specifically benefit which body parts, science remains surprisingly sketchy. But nature gives us a big clue as to what foods help what part of our body!

Here are 10 foods that mirror the body parts they provide nutrients for—for example, brain-boosting walnuts actually look like a brain. Coincidence? Maybe. Though these healthy foods are beneficial to the whole body, the list below is a fun reminder of what to eat to target specific areas. Remember, these are best & more powerful when eaten raw.

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. According to science, eating carrots greatly enhances blood flow to the eyes. Carrot gets their orange color from a plant chemical called beta-carotene, which reduces the risk of developing cataracts. The chemical also protects…

View original post 1,047 more words

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Feeling Tired

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

I am feeling so tired this week.  I don’t know what the matter is with me!  I treated myself to breakfast take out rather then making my own.

Porridge with fruit compote from Le Pain Quotidien.  I really enjoyed a warm breakfast.

Lunch was made at home.  Tomtoes, celery and carrots,

with cucumber and feta cheese.  Plus salt and pepper.  No dressing required.

I was starving when I came home so I succumbed to bread with peanut butter and blackcurrant jam.

And then got with the programme.  Vegetables for a stir fry.

I chopped up the parsnip, carrot and broccoli stalk which I fried in coconut oil in the wok.

I added a splash of soy sauce and a dash of water, added the broccoli and covered the lot with a lid so it partly steamed and partly fried.  It means you can use less fat.

I added the asparagus, corn scraped from the cob and girlies.  Plus a few spoonfuls of brown rice cooked previously with seaweed.  I served up the veggies and rice.

Then the eggs which I scrambled in sesame oil.

I hope I feel more energetic in the morning.  Hardly likely though since my morning will start very early.  I am off to Birmingham so need to be up at 4:45.  Feeling more tired already!

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