Zzzzz.....zzzzzz........zzzzzz

Well, I take to my blog to rant a little bit about my low energy & tiredness due to a lack of sleep.

I'm bored, tired, uninspired and when I try to think about doing something productive, my mind all but contorts itself into an indistinguishable shape.  The wires do not seem to connect.  I think that I must've used up my batteries this morning conjuring up various enterprises that would make me money, either here or back in Serbia.  Then I researched online about possibly setting up a stall on Portobello Market, although I still don't know what the heck I would be selling...cue thinking about taking up a new craft to learn, then researching various courses only to remember that there are no classes convenient or cheap enough.  Well, that idea evoporated quickly.  The dream is still there though!  I 'll just have to work out the logistics when my mind is more clear, whenever that day is....

Which brings me to the conclusion that SLEEP is a sacred state of being!!!  The benefits are astounding- this is also due to the fact that it is what we actually NEED!  Like food, water and oxygen.  I don't think that sleep can be catagorised into the same amount for everyone.  For example, I've always known that I function best at 10 hours +, whereas I know people who only need 5.  Strange, isn't it?

I also find that after my usual Saturday Sleep Marathons (getting up past noon) weighing myself 1st thing upon getting up is usually a positive experience.  I'm usually a kilo lower than I would be weighing myself at 6am.  I believe the case is that my body has had more time to repair itself AND to digest anything remaining in my gut, resulting in a lower body weight.  FANTASTIC!  Now, if only I could put this into use everyday?  Hahahaha, would be nice.

Sleep is also my sanctuary from the stresses of every day life, there's nothing like peaceful slumber and lucid dreaming to pleasure the senses.  I adore it.  Sometimes in periods of over-sleeping (I guess that's possible) it has been because I haven't been able to bring my dream to its conclusion fast enough, so I have to dream it out in order to wake!  I know, weird.

Before I get out of bed in the mornings for work (6.20am) I pray the "Our Father" to God and also an extra prayer pleading Him to help me find the energy to leave my bed!  Oh boy...  well, it must be working.

I must compose a poem about sleep someday, perhaps it might wake me up!:)

Feeling a little smug :)

Well!  I am happy to say that this morning (read; 1pm) I stepped on the scales and FINALLY I am under the weight I have been for the last 4 months!  Mind you, it is the lower weight range I am talking about (emptied bowels, long & restful sleep) but nevertheless, still an achievement! 2 kilos. The way I weigh myself and judge my progress I'll cover in another post....

Anyhow, whilst waiting for my nail polish to dry, I'll briefly mention how it was for me this week.  For some reason and I can't pinpoint where, I have been feeling an extra bout of determination to carry on the weight-loss that I embarked on last Summer.  I've had a good 4 months staying somewhat stable with quite a few indulgences thrown in for good measure.  It was all good & well without the scales moving much, but once I noticed those old habits creeping up again I decided to nip it in the bud.  Perhaps the recent improvement in the outdoor temperature has brought me back to work again, I'm much more inclined to walk instead of taking the bus, or just go out for my lunch break, once I know it's not freezing/uncomfortable outside!

I think planning my snacking has been a big improvement, as knowing that I never like to feel hunger, it is always better to prepare!  If I'm feeling greedy, I just have more of the type of snack I am allowed, even if it isn't ideal it's better than running to the corner shop for an emergency carby-yet-delicious muffin.  Aunty J mentioned something very interesting about the bio-chemistry of carbohydrates in the body, that it causes craving for yet more sugar and I have to agree!  Now if I feel a sudden desire for something naughty, I try to go for something that is at least more of a protein-y treat and if possible, not go overboard!  My tendency though is just to wolf it all down.  Admittedly, I ate a whole bar of dark chocolate, shared partly with the Hubby :)  I have some walnuts at hand for a bit of a sweet crunch from time to time...

I'm also convinced that eating the kale chips has helped with the loss!  I'll have to get a better container though, one that is air-tight as it doesn't half pong!! :)

I'm still eating fried or scrambled eggs (2) for breakfast every morning and I can't say as yet that I'm bored of them, thank goodness!

I'm definitely drinking less coffee than before, if any.  I had one visiting my parents and a mocha last Sunday but for the next month, I think I'm going to carry on caffeine-less.  I don't really miss it as much as I thought I would.  For a start, PMT has significantly reduced although that could be to do with drinking better quality vitamin supplements.  Also, I have found that as I take pleasure in coffee, it spurs me on to indulge in other stuff, like a choc chip cookie to go along with it.  I've identified it as a trigger to cravings, so for now, I'm avoiding it to see what difference it makes and so far I'm pleased with the outcome.  Instead of my daily morning coffee at work, now I squeeze some lemon in hot water and have an enjoyable, refreshing lemonade-like drink.  I leave the lemon inside the mug and make sure I have most of the pulp in the water too, I never thought I would like it this much- no sugar too!

Today (Saturday) I am also pleased with my day.  Hubby and I have a date with McDonalds on Saturdays, romantic I know :)  To be honest I wasn't keen on it becoming a weekly event but for us it has become more about going somewhere affordable yet near, to get out of the house and treat ourselves.  The usual order would be a large "big tasty" meal each (burger, fries & soft drink) with an extra cheeseburger on the side for H.  The idea was that this would be our week's indulgence, although having done this for a while now, I have realised that it hinders my progress, as, !!TRIGGER!! the carbs were out to attack and tempt again.  I would go overboard and suggest we get an extra bag of chocolate covered raisins in LIDL.  NO.  Not right.   Actually, it wouldn't affect H's weight loss at all, that one day of indulgence but as I have been blessed with a metabolic disorder (PCOS) it would take the entire week to get back to what I was on that Saturday morning and then the cycle would start all over again.   ANYWAY, today H ordered his usual and I had just a cheeseburger, no fries, no soft drink.  It's half the size of the usual burger and as I ate it slowly, I didn't feel any less indulged!  I also felt a certain satisfaction that I wasn't eating as much as a man.  Plus we finished at the same time!  Now I don't mind H with his speed eating :)

I hope this following week goes just as well, as long as I have my mission in the forefront (or thereabouts!) of my mind!

Thanks for reading x

High protein snacking / Kale Chips!

Here is an email I wrote to some female relatives about some snack ideas...  Generally speaking when trying to eat healthily I go for diet ideas that encompass Primal, Atkins, Low G.I... This is because genetically I am predisposed to Diabetes, Insulin Resistance and have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).  All of these conditions/diseases need to be controlled with a diet that does not spike up the insulin levels, so basically it's low carbohydrate, low sugar, if any!

I did some research online about the variety of foods we can eat for SNACKING purposes, as we all have insatiable appetites, not in the least when we are in the 1st throes of trying to cut back!  Apparently TUNA, AVOCADO, HANDFULS OF RAW NUTS, COTTAGE CHEESE, CRUDITES are excellent between meals.


 I have also recently discovered KALE CHIPS.  Really quick to bake and very versatile in terms of what you want to do with it.  Lidl sells large bags of shredded kale, which is fantastic, I think it costs less than £1.  What you do is wash the kale then let it dry COMPLETELY.  Once it is dry drizzle some olive oil on it (not too much) and rub it in with your hands so that it coats it everywhere lightly.  Arrange on a baking tray and shake some salt everywhere.  Put in the preheated oven (300C approx) and bake for about 10 minutes.  The edges might become brown but do not allow the whole of the kale to go brown otherwise it shall be burnt & bitter, it should still look dark green.  Anyway, keep an eye on it, it bakes really quickly.  Once you are satisfied take it out of the oven and allow to cool.  Delicious!  I put some in a box today to snack on at work & I'm thinking of making large batches of it in the future.  It's good to be able to vary the snacks we eat otherwise it'll get really boring and we'll just slip back into our old habits.  I'm also going to stock up on avocados & cottage cheese from LIDL to swap the snacks around.  These things are great to grab on the go, which us ladies need!  With regards to how healthy the kale chips are, of course they are not as healthy as just being steamed but it's a delicious start in the right direction ;)  You can also vary the toppings, put chilli, garlic, parmesan, even chocolate I've seen!  That maybe a bit weird but you never know...

Welcome to my blog

Hi!

With this blog I am going to document my discoveries, inspirations and battles in my quest for self-improvement.  Of primary concern (as usual) is the never-ending mission to lose the excess kilos I have been carrying around with me as far back as I can remember.  As well as the physical weight, I aim to lose the emotional weight, get through to the ROOT cause of my relationship with food and identify the triggers to my behaviour.  I've often heard that to break bad habits, we must create new ones so often that means adjusting our routines and not being afraid of CHANGE.  

The posts may be about managing/celebrating my eating, ideas about the future or general thoughts on the journey I have experienced thus far.  I hope that I come across things that may be of help to whom ever is reading this blog & I welcome you to join in with your own comments and thoughts of what I have written.

Thanks for your interest!