gray skies are going to clear up

Chef Boyardee ain’t got nothing on ME!

I’m sure you’ve all seen the annoying commercials.

The Dad tries to share with the Mom that Chef Boyardee pastas have a serving of veggies in them. The Mom, not wanting the child to turn up his nose in disgust and refuse the pasta, makes all sorts of noises and motions to quiet the Dad, leaving the boy completely in the dark.

All well and good that they’re trying to pack more goodness into canned goods (whether it be true or not), but nothing beats the real deal.

So I made some packed with veggies.

Usually when I buy frozen ravioli, I add crushed tomatoes and broccoli. This time I decided to use matchstick carrots, red & green peppers, and some green onion. Then I added some plain tomato sauce, Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese (because every meal should have cheese). YUM!

Now THAT is a serving of veggies!

And I ended up with three servings, so more ravioli this week!

 

What about you? What canned/packaged food do you make better than the original?

Blessing in disguise

I had a good weekend.

A REALLY good weekend.

I was at Whisky Live on Friday night, spent time drinking, eating & dancing with amazing women on Saturday and spent yesterday just recovering.

I was ready for whatever the digital devil gave me today, knowing I’d be up but that it wasn’t a “true” weight gain. I knew I had to take a picture of it, come here and be accountable for it. So I jumped on it, and it gave me this…

Yup. That lil begger is dead again. I am THRILLED and peeved, both at the same time. I didn’t want to see the number that I’m sure I was going to face, but I only replaced the batteries in July! What is up with that, Duracell?!

But since I won’t be hanging out with awesome women this week (unless I run with Sam or something), I know I’ll be ok for staying on track. And I’ll replace those crappy batteries so my ugly toes can make a reappearance next week.

Just what I needed

Take over 60 women from across Canada.

Add a big honking tower and a challenge (well, not for all of them, but it was a good excuse for a gathering).

Then mix in food, shopping, dancing and alcohol.

What do you get?

An amazing time, incredible memories and lasting friendships.

Plus hangovers and tears.

It was all worth it.

I’m sure the scale will tell me just how much tomorrow. Sigh.

(Photo via Civic Footprint. Obviously EVERYONE isn’t pictured. Just the climbing crazies.)

When there's nothing left to say

I have a lot to say lately, but when I go to write it out, nothing appears to make sense. Or it’s so miserable that I don’t want to share.

So, Crystal tagged me in some meme/award thingymabobber. I am humbled, of course (it’s rare – go with it), and have chosen to play along.

There are always rules and I always ignore them. Refer back to her post for its original intent.

 

But enjoy/hate/tolerate mine. ON Y VA!

 

1. Where is your cell phone? Uhhh…

Seriously, I rarely know where it is until it rings. And most times it will be my bedroom and I have to RUN to get it before it goes to voicemail. But no one ever leaves me voicemail. Why am I paying for it anyway?

2. Your hair? Frizzy

If you have curly/wavy hair, I’m sure you feel my pain. Plus, it’s raining. Hot. Mess. Literally. I just came in from a run.

3. Your mother? Saint

Seriously. She prays enough for all of us, God bless her!

4. Your father? Adorable

You just want to put him in your pocket and carry him around all day. I love when he leaves me a message. It always starts with, “Mouser? This is your Daddy!” Like I didn’t already know.

5. Your favourite food? Broccoli

But you already knew that :)

6. Your dream last night?  Race

For some odd reason I dreamt that I was running a big race, but was late, and on the way I lost my wallet. It flew out of my bag getting off of a streetcar and blew onto the roof of a pizza pizza. Seriously. I can’t make that crap up.

7. Your favourite drink?  Americanos

All that I drink is coffee and water.

8. Your dream/goal?  Job

GET ME OFF OF THIS COUCH!

9. What room are you in?  Living Room

See number eight.

10. Your hobby?  Baking

It’s dangerous. I urge you to do something more constructive, and active :P

11. Your fear?  Animals

I really should get over this. People make me feel like I’m a child. I mean, I am getting better. I’ve actually tried to pet a dog in the last few years. I still scream like banshee when one jumps at me, though.

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years?  Happy

Life is that simple to me. I don’t care about places, materialism, property. I want to not feel worried about my future and be content. That’s all.

13. Where were you last night? Couch

See number eight.

14. Something that you aren’t?  Patient

I hate waiting. I hate being late. It’s then that my short fuse becomes apparent.

15. Muffins?  Pumpkin

I have been on a pumpkin baking streak lately. Muffins, cookies, pies – UGH.

16. Wish list item?  Job

See number eight.

17. Where did you grow up?  Beaches

It’s one of my favourite neighbourhoods in TO. It’s almost got a small town feel to it in such a big city. If you’ve been to TO and never spent time there, make a point of it next time. But not in the winter. It’s freakin’ cold down there.

18. Last thing you did?  Run

And it probably wasn’t the best idea. Wind, rain, cold – my legs are cherry red and my wheeze is ridiculous. As is my hair.

19. What are you wearing?  Socks

And I hate wearing ‘em. Must rectify that.

20. Your TV?  Little

I totally get mocked for the size of my TV. It’s cute. 23” LCD. I don’t need anything bigger than that.

21. Your pets? brothers

Given my fear of animals and a lack of space in the house growing up, we never needed a pet. I’m sure my dad and one of my brothers would have loved a dog, but the rest of us who aren’t so keen outnumbered them.

22. Friends?  Um, yes?

I have them. Aren’t you one of them?

23. Your life?  stalled

Need help getting into Drive again…

24. Your mood?  excited!!!!!!

There are about 60+ women coming to TO this weekend to climb the CN Tower and partake in other assorted shenanigans. Leanne, Stacey, Katie, Tara and a few others will be there. WHEEE!

25. Missing someone?  Nieces

They grow up WAY too fast. I hate that I miss so much.

26. Vehicle?  feet

They’re all that I need to get around this city. People think I’m nuts for walking everywhere. Especially my parents when I tell them I walk to their house every Tuesday. It’s only 10km, people!

27. Something you’re not wearing?  PANTS!

They’re capris :P

28. Your favourite store?  Guess?

Jammer dragged me in there yesterday. Neither of us have enough money lately to buy anything. Especially not the $89 sweater and the $229 coat I was coveting.

29. Your favourite color?  Blue

I don’t think this needs an explanation.

30. When was the last time you laughed?  5p.m.

Jammer and I were walking up Yonge St. and there was a man walking south acting as though his finger was a gun. Too bad he looked more Fonz like than scary/threatening.

31. Last time you cried? Every Day

One day I’ll stop. I promise.

32. Your best friend?  Journal

Weird that a book is my best friend, but I don’t think I’d be able to retain my sanity without an outlet for all of my feelings.

33. One place that I go to over and over?  Library

FREE BOOKS, PEOPLE! I’m shocked at the number of people who do NOT take advantage of such an amazing resource.

34. One person who emails me regularly?  facebook

I should probably cut off those stupid notifications instead of complaining, eh?

35. Favourite place to eat?  kevin & giselle’s

Because if I’m there, it’s usually a family gathering. And there’s pancit. Yes, I’m a tad obsessive about it :P

 

As always, I tag no one but if you choose to do it, link me back or comment so I can read.

Better than a kick in the face with a golf shoe

Well, I’m up .2lbs. Am I upset? Yes, but at myself.

I made A LOT of bad choices this week and I deserve to be much higher.

Given that the week started out with Thanksgiving, including turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberries, lumpia, baked pasta, trifle, and apple crisp, I’m really shocked that I’m only up that much.

Did I make any good choices? Yes, and that’s probably what saved my butt.

I ran a few times this week, including Saturday’s race, I measured my food about 75 per cent of the time and even made chicken soup from scratch.

But what I’m most proud of is me being accountable again. I’ve hidden my ups and downs (well, you get a lot of down me lately, but given the circumstances, I could be a lot worse!), but I won’t be anymore.

Expect to see my ugly feet each Monday from now on.

There's nothing like crossing the finish line...

If you're considering running, I swear it doesn't make you as dizzy as this video does! ♥

It’s always better to take the stairs

 

Today, I am thankful…

 

That this two layer pumpkin pie

These mini oreo cheesecakes

and these pumpkin cake cookies with cream cheese frosting

 

ARE ALL LEAVING MY APARTMENT!

 

And since this is a weight loss blog (hard to tell sometimes, I know), I am thankful that my weight is back to 163.

Happy Thanksgiving to all :) Yes, even you Americans :P

Maybe a tv diet is in order

 

 

“We’ve dieted ourselves into obesity.”

Um…really?

I was watching the Agenda with Steve Paikin last night on TVO and they were discussing the “obesity epidemic.” Now, I have a lot of respect and admiration for the show, its producers and host, and not only because I interned on the show’s predecessor, Studio 2, in university ;).

But last night…I don’t know.

They held a panel discussion (as well as a live chat online with the segment’s producers) with a couple of scholars, a fitness and lifestyle writer and a funny fat chick (just to round it out, ya know). The discussion had my mind racing about a lot of things, but it was Valerie Taylor, an assistant professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at McMaster University, and her comments that had my mind spinning. She’s responsible for the lead quote.

The reason I don’t believe it to be true is because I had never dieted a day in my life before I stepped on a scale for the first time in YEARS and realized I was well over 200lbs. It was only THEN that I decided to try a diet (with moderate success). And it wasn’t the diet that was responsible for the backslide that occurred after. It was all me, unlike the next gem from her that bothered me where she felt that when people say, “it’s not the diet’s fault, you just don’t have the willpower,” that they were placing blame in the wrong place.

I fail to see how it’s a diet’s fault. Yes, some can be restrictive, leading people into the yo-yo dieting cycle, but is it the diet’s fault? Really? I’m the one shovelling crap in my mouth. I’m the one making the decisions. How is it Weight Watchers’, Jenny Craig’s or Dr. Atkin’s fault?

If anything, I think it’s more about wants and needs, behaviour modification and overall goals of the individuals. Do I want to be a size 6, run a marathon or wear a bikini, or do I want to enjoy a piece of cake, a fancy dinner at a French restaurant or a bucket of wings while watching hockey? It was the latter list that had me back over 200lbs by 2005 and back up to 160 now.

I think, if anything, social pressures (whether real or the ones you conjure up in your head) lead us both to diet and to stray from those diets. We assume we have to look a certain way so we diet, but are afraid to be left out so we stray from them as well. We claim it is their restrictive nature that really causes us to binge and balloon up again, but I don’t buy it. We’re not meant to consume so many calories in our more sedentary lifestyles, so being “restrictive” should be the norm. In fact, we shouldn’t be saying “restrictive” but rather “conscious” of what we’re ingesting, how we’re burning off calories and the choices we make related to our health.

Chelsey Lichtman, the co-founder of the fat activist and performance duo the fat femme mafia and the only panel member with any real meat on her bones, summed up her feelings on why we go from small to big and back again. She feels that we’re constantly searching for “perfection” when there is no one true and concrete example for us to aspire to.

I wondered if that held true for me. In the 130s I still felt like I was the biggest in the room but looking at pictures now, I was anything but. In my warped mind I needed to look like health and fitness magazine cover girls, with flat stomachs and toned arms/legs. With all of my POINTS counting and working out, I never got that flat stomach and I never will have it short of plastic surgery.

But is that what’s stopping me now? That I still don’t know perfect? No. It’s that I make poor choices, from not running today because of rain to that extra cookie after dinner.

I never dieted myself fat, but the cookies sure did help.

Just food for thought, I guess.

What’s your take on it?

GBU – the drowned rat edition

Good – CAMPING!!!! Bad – Camping in the rain. Boooooo! Ugly – “hey Scouter Rick! You have a lake in your tent!” My poor daddy :(

Good – Putting a tarp up over your cooking and dining area to stay dry Bad - “Hey! This tarp is looking a little thread bare…” Ugly – Um…If I’m under a tarp, why am I wet?

Good – CAMPFIRE! Warmth! Dry out the wet drawers! Bad - “Some of the scouts started a fire over there…” Um, say what?! Ugly – My scary voice. Yes, I have one and it doesn’t sound “cute.”

Good – Wearing water-proof boots to camp. Dry, warm feet FTW! Bad – The only water-proof boots that you own are your ridiculously expensive UGGS (please note that they are not the UGGO UGGS, but practical and almost stylish ones) Ugly – Hey! My boots used to be dark brown. What are these gray things on my feet?

Good – Taking advantage of that North Face warehouse on a trip to NY a couple of years ago and buying a gore-tex jacket for half the price. Bad – Not paying attention to the LENGTH of said jacket despite its price. Ugly – Did I mention the wet drawers?

Good – Wearing a toque to bed on a cold night. Bad – The sweaty head you get from wearing a toque to bed AND sleeping in an army mummy bag. Ugly – The toque does NOT muffle the sounds of snoring adults in the tent next to yours.

Good – HOME! Shower! Clean clothes! BED! Bad – Oh – this is my parents’ home…apparently there’s a birthday dinner scheduled for my brother Kevin. Whoops! So much for being reunited with my bed. Ugly – Let’s wear the wet woodsie smelling clothes you wore all weekend…in the rain…but clean running shoes you keep at mom & dad’s…just in case. YAY!

City Mouse, Country Mouse

I got asked today why I volunteer.

What is it that drives me to donate my free time to something else in return for nothing?

I personally blame my parents. They’re so involved in the church and their community that I truly know no other way. Registering as a Scout leader was really a no-brainer despite the  nights when the kids curse at me I wonder why I’m even there.

It’s amazing to watch them learn new skills and grow into adults. It really gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment.

And then there’s that camping thing that makes it all worthwhile.

Tonight, I’m heading out with the boys in the wilds of Ontario for two nights under the stars. I know it’s odd for someone who is so firmly entrenched in a concrete jungle to be THRILLED to go off into the woods without washrooms or showers, but I fully admit to being ridiculously giddy about it.

Although, I’m not so giddy at the prospect of having my hair smell like a campfire for the next week. The price I pay for being a role model!

So call me crazy for not only volunteering, but taking a bunch of kids out into the woods on what is shaping up to be a cold and wet weekend.

Feel free to pray for my safe return :)