I had the honor and privilege of taking a life-transforming workshop this weekend: The Shadow Process with Debbie Ford. It's a little Landmark (which I have done for several years), a handful of Jungian psychology, and a big fat smidge of spirituality all rolled into one weekend where you literally get to unload years of crap. I can honestly say I look younger today.
We were asked to be in silence for the three days -- no cellphones, no computers, no texting -- and silence when we were not in an exercise where we talked. That means we had silence in every meal. Have you ever eaten with over 120 people in a big ballroom in silence. All you hear is clinking silverware. I wish in retrospect I had taped some of the clinking because it was so cool.
Eating in silence is incredible. I ate a lot slower, as you'd imagine. I enjoyed my food much more, as you'd probably also imagine. And, I just really enjoyed not "eating my words." And that means I didn't eat my emotions either. You know how eating out is such a fun past time with friends -- food, drink, laughter and chatter. And it is literally one of my favorite things to do. I love throwing dinner parties and I love going out with friends too -- in that order. "Breaking bread" is good stuff. But, man, sometimes I end up overeating and eating my words and emotions --- swallowing far more than nutrients.
I loved that this retreat was silent because in most transformational work I've done, during the breaks people let go of all the chatter that's been in their heads during the workshop -- judgments, tales of dis-ease with the process, complaints about how they are feeling or others are making them feel, etc. Instead Debbie asked us to just do our own process and not engage with anyone -- ever! "Free to just be you and me" as Marlo Thomas would say.
I got so many things out of this Workshop but I will say that one of the most extraordinary things is that I feel like I do when I would go to live in the ashram in India for a month of meditation, chanting and seva. I feel so peaceful.
The 24 hours before I left town for a business trip and the retreat I was breaking something every couple hours. I was literally completely off balance. I feel unbelievably balanced, in my skin and at peace. And, here is some proof. I live in a tiny town that has no stop lights, only stop signs. It's a sleepy little town. And, the speed limit through most of town is equally sleepy. My entire time living here I don't think I have ever followed the 25 mph speed limit in town. I found it unbearable, stupid, and truly unreasonable and unrealistic. Today I followed it, and I was more than happy to follow it and take my sleepy time.
Now, that, my friends, is transformation.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Lazy Transformation
I am very excited. The Shadow Process Workshop with Debbie Ford starts on Friday. And, you know how it is with these things, once you register you have started. So, this has been working on me since December, flipping life upside down and inside out.
I can't wait...Many stories to come next week.
I'm also STEEPED in listening to Marianne Williamson's "A Course in Weight Loss" which I have running in the car, which is just fertilizing the ground.
The most inspiring thought of the day was that our parents are "containers" of our emotions when we are children, and if they didn't model how to "contain" our own emotions, then we have trouble doing that when we grow up.
I can't believe that this simple thought was so eye opening for me. I still to this day of my 48th year bristle when I have uncomfortable feelings. I feel like I can't contain them actually....still! Shocking! I'm looking forward to the challenge of containing them ....all by my lonesome.
Marianne talks about her teenage daughter losing a friend who very tragically committed suicide, and she said "Sometimes the worst possible thing you can actually think of ...happens." And, she gave her daughter all the permission in the world to fully experience her grief, and gave her the power to contain these emotions, i.e., let them just flow through her.
This is a key to weight loss for me. When I get stressed I want sugar and/or salt. I need to just be stressed...or sad or angry and contain these feelings with no judgment, and no need to push them down with food.
Here's to Lazy Transformation, i.e., with the support and love of the likes of Marianne Williamson and Debbie Ford.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Weight Loss Inspiration: Trina Turk Dress
[Post-posting edit...just made this up...Treatspiration...when it's a treat that not only rewards you but also inspires you to lose more. Treatspiration = Trina Turk in this scenario! LOL!]
I think it was the first week of this losing-my-grieving-my-father-passing-weight-gain weight loss journey that I found myself at Nordstrom Rack in front of the most incredibly cute Trina Turk dress. And, not being able to pass up a deal, I sneaked a peek at the price tag and was jaw-droppingly shocked that it read $19.97. What?
Then I checked out the size -- size 4. Now at that moment I was a 10. But, I looked at the dress and decided that it was actually much more like a 6 for most other lines of clothing. A 6 is what I will be at my goal weight.
It has a zipper on the side. So, I put it on over my head and pulled it down over my body. I didn't expect the zipper to close at that moment, but I wanted to see how far away I was from closing it. Pretty far that first day.
But, each week I try it on -- even the weeks where the scale isn't matching up what I see are major changes in my body. Like this week the scale only showed a .2 lb. loss but this was a week where my body really shifted and kind of settled into reflecting major changes in my tummy fat particularly. So, I know the .2 isn't real. And the proof was in the Trina Turk! I am definitely within a few weeks of closing this zipper. My birthday is 3/22 and my goal is to be able to wear it on my birthday.
It looks cuter and cuter on me each week. This week my collar bones are finally visible for instance. With a nice deep v-neckline that looks a lot nicer than it did 5 weeks ago.
I love trying on the dress every week. I really do. You'd think it might be depressing but it's not at all. It's inspiring. It was the best $19.97 I ever spent.
I think it was the first week of this losing-my-grieving-my-father-passing-weight-gain weight loss journey that I found myself at Nordstrom Rack in front of the most incredibly cute Trina Turk dress. And, not being able to pass up a deal, I sneaked a peek at the price tag and was jaw-droppingly shocked that it read $19.97. What?
Then I checked out the size -- size 4. Now at that moment I was a 10. But, I looked at the dress and decided that it was actually much more like a 6 for most other lines of clothing. A 6 is what I will be at my goal weight.
It has a zipper on the side. So, I put it on over my head and pulled it down over my body. I didn't expect the zipper to close at that moment, but I wanted to see how far away I was from closing it. Pretty far that first day.
But, each week I try it on -- even the weeks where the scale isn't matching up what I see are major changes in my body. Like this week the scale only showed a .2 lb. loss but this was a week where my body really shifted and kind of settled into reflecting major changes in my tummy fat particularly. So, I know the .2 isn't real. And the proof was in the Trina Turk! I am definitely within a few weeks of closing this zipper. My birthday is 3/22 and my goal is to be able to wear it on my birthday.
It looks cuter and cuter on me each week. This week my collar bones are finally visible for instance. With a nice deep v-neckline that looks a lot nicer than it did 5 weeks ago.
I love trying on the dress every week. I really do. You'd think it might be depressing but it's not at all. It's inspiring. It was the best $19.97 I ever spent.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Takin' Care o' Business
The Marianne Williamson book on tape I'm listening to, "A Course in Weight Loss," is really working on me. And, transforming my body is working on me. It's making me want everything to work better. So, I'm starting to make things WORK! Or should I say I am now open to lots of possibilities of things working better. I think some of the pounds coming off were blocks, ounces of barriers...just dropping off.
First opening: I can see! I can see! It's a whole new world having a perfect prescription. I actually thought that I wouldn't be able to get a prescription since the last one was so incredibly off. I feel like I've had a medical miracle. But, what I had was a great optometrist finally! I love him. If you are in LA and looking for a great one -- Dr. Vipapan on Lake Avenue is yo' man!
How did I find him? YELP! Thank you Yelpers for that recommendation.
I also thought it might be impossible to get the haircut that I wanted, but in fact I got better than the haircut I wanted. Her name is Amy Edwards, daughter of the famed stylist Allen Edwards. She works in Beverly Hills and Studio City.
How did I find her? My friend Liz who literally time after time has had the most artistic haircuts. Each time I see her it's something different and each time I think "Now THAT is my favorite haircut!"...Truly Amy is an artist. She works with your face shape, coloring, best features, worst features, etc. and makes your hair just lift it all up and make you as purdy as possible.
So, I am continuing to be open to possibilities, and letting the barriers continue to fall, fall, fall...
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Lazy Weight Loss = Body + Mind + Spirit
Put on running shorts that previously used to always hike up on me and be annoying. Why? Because they were actually too small. I was in denial. Oy denial and the body, an endless story!
But now they fit, because my legs are slimmer AND my stomach is flatter. And, I just realized it's really because of this full court press I'm doing -- unintentionally it all just fell into place that I am dealing with the body, mind and spirit of my weight loss.
Was it UNintentional though? Not really. I went to a Debbie Ford/James Van Praagh workshop on December 4th, came home and printed up two beautifully laid out, colorful affirmations up: "Abundance flows into my life in surprising and miraculous ways every day" (Thank you Debbie Ford for giving us those exact amazing words!) and "I love loving my body" to which my boyfriend handwrote "Me too! Me too!" in pen. My ex ALWAYS told me how much he loved my body -- no matter what it looked like! How lucky was I?
I digress. I put up the affirmations and then three things came into my life: 1) Two friends reinspired me to join Weight Watchers which had worked marvelously for me in the past, 2) I came upon Marianne Williamson's book "Course in Weight Loss" with the supporitng book on CD and meditation tapes...I actually didn't crack the book, I just have been listening to it in the car (I'm on my second round), and 3) My accupuncturist mentioned for the second time her research on High Intensity Interval Training (aka "HIIT"). It is no mistake that these things came into my life, but I just got today that they are dealing with every level of weight loss I need.
I'm super impressed with all of them but today I'm geting an extra kick out of HIIT because I really see that my legs and stomach are visibly slimming -- faster than with normal Weight Watchers weight loss.
Intentions are very powerful and VERY LAZY! Use them, abuse them. Debbie Ford suggests you put the ones you need most across from the toilet -- that's where my body love one is. So you see it repeatedly. My other one is in the window across from my bed so I see it every time I look up. I made it very pretty too so it would pleasing to look at.
Lazily yours, a little less of me...
But now they fit, because my legs are slimmer AND my stomach is flatter. And, I just realized it's really because of this full court press I'm doing -- unintentionally it all just fell into place that I am dealing with the body, mind and spirit of my weight loss.
Was it UNintentional though? Not really. I went to a Debbie Ford/James Van Praagh workshop on December 4th, came home and printed up two beautifully laid out, colorful affirmations up: "Abundance flows into my life in surprising and miraculous ways every day" (Thank you Debbie Ford for giving us those exact amazing words!) and "I love loving my body" to which my boyfriend handwrote "Me too! Me too!" in pen. My ex ALWAYS told me how much he loved my body -- no matter what it looked like! How lucky was I?
I digress. I put up the affirmations and then three things came into my life: 1) Two friends reinspired me to join Weight Watchers which had worked marvelously for me in the past, 2) I came upon Marianne Williamson's book "Course in Weight Loss" with the supporitng book on CD and meditation tapes...I actually didn't crack the book, I just have been listening to it in the car (I'm on my second round), and 3) My accupuncturist mentioned for the second time her research on High Intensity Interval Training (aka "HIIT"). It is no mistake that these things came into my life, but I just got today that they are dealing with every level of weight loss I need.
I'm super impressed with all of them but today I'm geting an extra kick out of HIIT because I really see that my legs and stomach are visibly slimming -- faster than with normal Weight Watchers weight loss.
Intentions are very powerful and VERY LAZY! Use them, abuse them. Debbie Ford suggests you put the ones you need most across from the toilet -- that's where my body love one is. So you see it repeatedly. My other one is in the window across from my bed so I see it every time I look up. I made it very pretty too so it would pleasing to look at.
Lazily yours, a little less of me...
Monday, February 14, 2011
Lazy Lovin' on Valentine's Day
One of the most valuable things I got out of doing the Landmark Forum many years ago (thanks to Beanie!) was the idea of creating possibilities. I do it now on a daily basis, and actually have a call each weekday morning with a few other people where we create possibilities for our day and set up a few intentions.
Today, I created the possibility of being LOVE because today was the day we delivered scarves to the City of Hope. I started The Love Scarf Project (see lovescarf.blogspot.com) several years ago and today was Love Scarf Project 2011 Valentine's Day delivery to patients of all ages, shapes, sizes, backgrounds, religions. We hand out handmade scarves, hats (and a few booties too!) to the patients so that they can be reminded that they are very loved even when they are alone.
Everyone's hearts were so full of love. My pilates teacher, Melanie came to help deliver -- and later her daughter, Riley, came too. The second woman above is Carrie, who is responsible for 100's of scarves being knitted over the years, for a project starting in Salt Lake City and Chicago, and for helping the NY Love Scarf Project. And the couple on the right are Perry and Nancy. Nancy knitted FORTY FOUR -- yes that is forty plus four -- scarves!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were escorted around by the two head nurses of the floors we visited and a with a wonderful Recreation Director, Edwin, who just made the adventure even more love-filled.
The patients -- even the most exhausted and weary -- were so grateful it was breathtaking. We just wanted to shower THEM with love and yet so much love came back to us -- even as, in some cases, they struggled to just keep their energy up enough to receive us.
It really puts everything in perspective. It's just all about love isn't it. What else matters? Nada. Zip.
It's always a great reminder - if you aren't getting what you need, give it -- whatever it is that you are complaining about not having or not getting enough of....take a moment, and give it out and you will see it come right back to you. It's the laziest way of all to get exactly what you want..and need.
Happy Lazy Valentine's Day to all.
Today, I created the possibility of being LOVE because today was the day we delivered scarves to the City of Hope. I started The Love Scarf Project (see lovescarf.blogspot.com) several years ago and today was Love Scarf Project 2011 Valentine's Day delivery to patients of all ages, shapes, sizes, backgrounds, religions. We hand out handmade scarves, hats (and a few booties too!) to the patients so that they can be reminded that they are very loved even when they are alone.
Everyone's hearts were so full of love. My pilates teacher, Melanie came to help deliver -- and later her daughter, Riley, came too. The second woman above is Carrie, who is responsible for 100's of scarves being knitted over the years, for a project starting in Salt Lake City and Chicago, and for helping the NY Love Scarf Project. And the couple on the right are Perry and Nancy. Nancy knitted FORTY FOUR -- yes that is forty plus four -- scarves!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were escorted around by the two head nurses of the floors we visited and a with a wonderful Recreation Director, Edwin, who just made the adventure even more love-filled.
The patients -- even the most exhausted and weary -- were so grateful it was breathtaking. We just wanted to shower THEM with love and yet so much love came back to us -- even as, in some cases, they struggled to just keep their energy up enough to receive us.
It really puts everything in perspective. It's just all about love isn't it. What else matters? Nada. Zip.
It's always a great reminder - if you aren't getting what you need, give it -- whatever it is that you are complaining about not having or not getting enough of....take a moment, and give it out and you will see it come right back to you. It's the laziest way of all to get exactly what you want..and need.
Happy Lazy Valentine's Day to all.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Celebrating Weight Loss = Spa Day for the Lazy Woman!!!!!!!!!
Most important thing for me: celebrating the losses. I'm about halfway to my goal of 17 pounds, and it's Valentine's Day time and I wanted to give myself some extra love too.
My favorite regular LA Spa, i.e., it doesn't break the bank every time you go is Olympic Spa: http://www.olympicspala.com/.
For just literally $15 you can soak in the tubs, steam, sauna to your heart's content -- literally for hours upon hours!
I get the $70 combo of scrub + massage. You get scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed so all the dead skin layers are gone, gone, gone, and then they massage you with oil, honey and milk (yes real honest to god honey and they finish the treatment with warm milk all over your body). They also put grated fresh cucumber all over your face while they massage your scalp, shampoo and condition your hair. It is as luxurious as it sounds.
If you want a little added luxury and about 20 minutes more treatment with Bumble & Bumble products you can go up to $100 or $120. I do those every once in a while too, but honestly for $70 you get a lot of luxury. The treatment is an hour long and very nurturing and refreshing.
And, before the treatment I soaked in the hot Mugworts Tea Bath, in the icy cold tub, sat in the Oxygen Stone + Jade Walled Steamroom, and the Himalayan Salt Sauna...and then I took a luxurious nap for about 45 minutes on the warm jade floor -- yes, very warm jade floor. They give you pillows and blankets. There is nothing like napping on a very warm floor.
Everyone is naked at the spa. You actually aren't allowed to enter any of the baths with a bathing suit. So you get to celebrate ALL the different shapes and sizes, and take a moment to just love your own body, love your body moving in and out of the water, steaming it, taking care of it, nurturing all of you, inside and out.
I thanked my body for working so hard, asked for forgiveness for overeating in the past, and for all my negative thoughts -- like it was a bad friend. In fact, my body has been my loyal friend, giving me very little grief. It wasn't doing anything to me. I was doing something to it.
If you are losing weight, definitely check out Marianne WIlliamson's "A Course in Weight Loss." I am really getting a whole new relationship with my body and food out of this course. Thank you Genius Marianne!
Loving you, loving my body, loving losing, and loving CELEBRATING the loss!
My favorite regular LA Spa, i.e., it doesn't break the bank every time you go is Olympic Spa: http://www.olympicspala.com/.
For just literally $15 you can soak in the tubs, steam, sauna to your heart's content -- literally for hours upon hours!
I get the $70 combo of scrub + massage. You get scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed so all the dead skin layers are gone, gone, gone, and then they massage you with oil, honey and milk (yes real honest to god honey and they finish the treatment with warm milk all over your body). They also put grated fresh cucumber all over your face while they massage your scalp, shampoo and condition your hair. It is as luxurious as it sounds.
If you want a little added luxury and about 20 minutes more treatment with Bumble & Bumble products you can go up to $100 or $120. I do those every once in a while too, but honestly for $70 you get a lot of luxury. The treatment is an hour long and very nurturing and refreshing.
And, before the treatment I soaked in the hot Mugworts Tea Bath, in the icy cold tub, sat in the Oxygen Stone + Jade Walled Steamroom, and the Himalayan Salt Sauna...and then I took a luxurious nap for about 45 minutes on the warm jade floor -- yes, very warm jade floor. They give you pillows and blankets. There is nothing like napping on a very warm floor.
Everyone is naked at the spa. You actually aren't allowed to enter any of the baths with a bathing suit. So you get to celebrate ALL the different shapes and sizes, and take a moment to just love your own body, love your body moving in and out of the water, steaming it, taking care of it, nurturing all of you, inside and out.
I thanked my body for working so hard, asked for forgiveness for overeating in the past, and for all my negative thoughts -- like it was a bad friend. In fact, my body has been my loyal friend, giving me very little grief. It wasn't doing anything to me. I was doing something to it.
If you are losing weight, definitely check out Marianne WIlliamson's "A Course in Weight Loss." I am really getting a whole new relationship with my body and food out of this course. Thank you Genius Marianne!
Loving you, loving my body, loving losing, and loving CELEBRATING the loss!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
It Takes a Village to Lose A Pound
Ten days after break up it's clear that the ex is doing some serious soul searching and is on the brink of some possible huge transformation. Don't know how this will all pan out, only know that we started talking about potentially seeing each other. Within a couple hours of this talk I decided I needed popcorn. My favorite these days has been Orville Redenbacher's Salt + Pepper. It is divine and couples nicely with light beer. But, this mini-"meal" = 8 points.
So, I thought I'd do air-popped popcorn with a couple teaspoons of melted butter and salt. Yummy.
But I haven't used my air popper in a while so I ended up with a huuuuuuge bowl of popcorn. I didn't go so far as to it eat it all, but I will say I ate more than I normally would and I saw it was definitely unequivocally emotional eating. I watched myself doing it, was conscious of what was really going on, and took myself to the bathroom where I made myself take a hot bath instead. I still ate more than I should have, but at least I got it together, and identified the real issue.
Next time, I am committed to cutting off the emotional eating faster. And, the time after that even faster. Pretty amazing that this was the first time in 5 weeks that I've had an emotional eating outburst.
I think this is in large part due to Marianne WIlliamson's book on tape that I've been listening to....and the meditation keeping me centered. It takes a village. It takes a full court press -- spirit, mind and body -- to lose weight.
Thank you Marianne Williamson for being part of my village.
So, I thought I'd do air-popped popcorn with a couple teaspoons of melted butter and salt. Yummy.
But I haven't used my air popper in a while so I ended up with a huuuuuuge bowl of popcorn. I didn't go so far as to it eat it all, but I will say I ate more than I normally would and I saw it was definitely unequivocally emotional eating. I watched myself doing it, was conscious of what was really going on, and took myself to the bathroom where I made myself take a hot bath instead. I still ate more than I should have, but at least I got it together, and identified the real issue.
Next time, I am committed to cutting off the emotional eating faster. And, the time after that even faster. Pretty amazing that this was the first time in 5 weeks that I've had an emotional eating outburst.
I think this is in large part due to Marianne WIlliamson's book on tape that I've been listening to....and the meditation keeping me centered. It takes a village. It takes a full court press -- spirit, mind and body -- to lose weight.
Thank you Marianne Williamson for being part of my village.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Lazy Woman Loses Weight But Remains Foodie
I've lost 8.4 pounds in 5 weeks. That's a good, healthy pace. But, the most important thing to me is I have not forfeited one iota of my foodie-ness.
The amazing thing about Weight Watchers is that you can literally fit any craving into your plan. My favorite sandwich on the planet right now is LA restaurant, Mendocino Farms' Veggie BLT Melt. It has veggie bacon, jalapeno cheese, crunchy organic arugula, tomatoes..all on crunchy toasty chewy yummy sourdough bread. What does it cost me in Weight Watchers points? 15 points out of the 29 I'm allotted each day. Everyone also gets 49 extra weekly points to use over the course of a week. But, the bottom line is that I can work my way around the plan to fit every single thing that I want to eat into my plan and still lose weight. I've been to two of my favorite restaurants a few times over the weeks and I still lost weight. It can all be fit in.
So, for those of you who are NOT trying to lose weight, you can still find yummy food ideas here. Also, even though I mention Trader Joe's a lot, I promise there is an equivalent in everyone's grocery store or health food store, so if something strike's your fancy, you can google it, i.e., Trader Joe's Creamy Goat Cheese and see the nutritional counts, etc. Everything you can find at TJ's is somewhere on the net.
This morning I was craving something cheesy and fruity and crunchy, so I toasted up a Josef's Sprouted Wheat Bagel and slathered the TJ's Creamy Goat Cheese on it and then added the Organic Superfruit Spread (preserves).
Those Superfruit preserves are incredible. It has Morello Cherry, Red Grape, Blueberry and Pomegranate. I really don't like sweet jams so this is the perfect balance of sweet and tart for me, and you get nice bites of whole or nearly whole berries too. Combined with that goat cheese...Oh My God!
How many points for this #WWgasm (foodie orgasm for she who is on Weight Watchers) = 11. But, for me it is absolutely totally worth the 11 points AND it will keep me filled up for a good long while today.
Buon WWappetito!
The amazing thing about Weight Watchers is that you can literally fit any craving into your plan. My favorite sandwich on the planet right now is LA restaurant, Mendocino Farms' Veggie BLT Melt. It has veggie bacon, jalapeno cheese, crunchy organic arugula, tomatoes..all on crunchy toasty chewy yummy sourdough bread. What does it cost me in Weight Watchers points? 15 points out of the 29 I'm allotted each day. Everyone also gets 49 extra weekly points to use over the course of a week. But, the bottom line is that I can work my way around the plan to fit every single thing that I want to eat into my plan and still lose weight. I've been to two of my favorite restaurants a few times over the weeks and I still lost weight. It can all be fit in.
So, for those of you who are NOT trying to lose weight, you can still find yummy food ideas here. Also, even though I mention Trader Joe's a lot, I promise there is an equivalent in everyone's grocery store or health food store, so if something strike's your fancy, you can google it, i.e., Trader Joe's Creamy Goat Cheese and see the nutritional counts, etc. Everything you can find at TJ's is somewhere on the net.
This morning I was craving something cheesy and fruity and crunchy, so I toasted up a Josef's Sprouted Wheat Bagel and slathered the TJ's Creamy Goat Cheese on it and then added the Organic Superfruit Spread (preserves).
Those Superfruit preserves are incredible. It has Morello Cherry, Red Grape, Blueberry and Pomegranate. I really don't like sweet jams so this is the perfect balance of sweet and tart for me, and you get nice bites of whole or nearly whole berries too. Combined with that goat cheese...Oh My God!
How many points for this #WWgasm (foodie orgasm for she who is on Weight Watchers) = 11. But, for me it is absolutely totally worth the 11 points AND it will keep me filled up for a good long while today.
Buon WWappetito!
Monday, February 07, 2011
Lazy Transformation Amidst Emotional Chaos
If you didn't read "The Celestine Prophesy" in the early 90's when it came out, you probably heard about it. It was on th NY Times Bestseller list for quite a long time, and it was transforming lives left and right. It changed my own. I was reading it while on vacation in Venezuela. It was going to be my last vacation in a long time as I was about to start -- from the ground up -- the first drive though cappuccino place in Los Angeles. Starbucks, I learned from an insider, had it in their 5 Year Plan so they weren't even on my heals, and I had raised the $400,000 it would take to get it going. It was an exciting time.
We arrived home from vacation around 1 a.m. Four hours later the Northridge earthquake hit and the two houses across the street from us went down the hill, so the neighborhood gathered together to save, support and comfort. It was a life-altering event and, in fact, it became crystal clear to me that I didn't want to be working with hot coffee, food service employees, etc. I think reading the book combined with such a dramatic thing as being situated at the end of a fault line (confirmed by geological maps a few weeks after the earthquake) made me wake up and truly pay attention to the synchronicities in my life. And, the magic ensued!
I'm pleased to say I pay attention to synchronicities to this day but it is second nature now. Every once in a while though you have a series of dramatic synchronicities that are beyond your imagination. One was that I met James and Salle Redfield -- for a second time -- at an event I produced in 2006 and we realized we had something in common -- they had a Coton de Tulear dog who they wanted to possibly mate and I had a Coton de Tulear girl dog who I was dying to mate so I could have another girl puppy. Our "families" have been intertwined since.
And, I've been reading his books ever since -- including his latest "The Twelfth Insight" which I read over the evenings of last Thursday, Friday and Saturday -- during the culmination of the Egyptian conflict. Outrageously, the book also culminates in the midst of a strife in Egypt. And, equally stunning, the book mentions the exact strife that occurred in our country after the Giffords shooting. Talk about synchronicity!
But, on a personal level, I gained many things from this book. First, I take a couple minutes each day to simply send love to Egypt. They need so much, but I think we can all agree that sending love their way cannot hurt. "The Twelfth Insight" shows how love, that purest, highest, ego-less love, that comes from us here on this planet, as well as from the "other side" is healing beyond our wildest dreams, has power beyond our knowledge, and that we are vastly under-using our love everywhere in our lives.
The book also had me become clear upon reading one pivotal page that it was as if my dad (who died 10/10/09) were sitting next to me saying "Put down the book and talk to me!" There is wonderful guidance in the book about listening to the wisdom of our friends and family who have passed before us. I did put the book down and did listen to him, and I found that it created an opening for action with my break-up. That opening has lead to a ray of hope, a light that my ex has stepped into with great courage, embarking on a brave, brave journey that may lead to our getting back together. I have no idea how things will end up, but the opening I found would not have been possible had I not read this book.
Not every book is for every person, but I am profoundly grateful to have read this one.
It also, synchronistically, lead me to read about this blog: samonearth.blogspot.com which I highly recommend for real time, real life account from the ground in Egypt from an American living there currently.
In the midst of chaos finding whatever peace you can find is good, but tapping into love in all its many manifestations is supremely healing.
Grateful am I.
With love....
samonearth.blogspot.com
We arrived home from vacation around 1 a.m. Four hours later the Northridge earthquake hit and the two houses across the street from us went down the hill, so the neighborhood gathered together to save, support and comfort. It was a life-altering event and, in fact, it became crystal clear to me that I didn't want to be working with hot coffee, food service employees, etc. I think reading the book combined with such a dramatic thing as being situated at the end of a fault line (confirmed by geological maps a few weeks after the earthquake) made me wake up and truly pay attention to the synchronicities in my life. And, the magic ensued!
I'm pleased to say I pay attention to synchronicities to this day but it is second nature now. Every once in a while though you have a series of dramatic synchronicities that are beyond your imagination. One was that I met James and Salle Redfield -- for a second time -- at an event I produced in 2006 and we realized we had something in common -- they had a Coton de Tulear dog who they wanted to possibly mate and I had a Coton de Tulear girl dog who I was dying to mate so I could have another girl puppy. Our "families" have been intertwined since.
And, I've been reading his books ever since -- including his latest "The Twelfth Insight" which I read over the evenings of last Thursday, Friday and Saturday -- during the culmination of the Egyptian conflict. Outrageously, the book also culminates in the midst of a strife in Egypt. And, equally stunning, the book mentions the exact strife that occurred in our country after the Giffords shooting. Talk about synchronicity!
But, on a personal level, I gained many things from this book. First, I take a couple minutes each day to simply send love to Egypt. They need so much, but I think we can all agree that sending love their way cannot hurt. "The Twelfth Insight" shows how love, that purest, highest, ego-less love, that comes from us here on this planet, as well as from the "other side" is healing beyond our wildest dreams, has power beyond our knowledge, and that we are vastly under-using our love everywhere in our lives.
The book also had me become clear upon reading one pivotal page that it was as if my dad (who died 10/10/09) were sitting next to me saying "Put down the book and talk to me!" There is wonderful guidance in the book about listening to the wisdom of our friends and family who have passed before us. I did put the book down and did listen to him, and I found that it created an opening for action with my break-up. That opening has lead to a ray of hope, a light that my ex has stepped into with great courage, embarking on a brave, brave journey that may lead to our getting back together. I have no idea how things will end up, but the opening I found would not have been possible had I not read this book.
Not every book is for every person, but I am profoundly grateful to have read this one.
It also, synchronistically, lead me to read about this blog: samonearth.blogspot.com which I highly recommend for real time, real life account from the ground in Egypt from an American living there currently.
In the midst of chaos finding whatever peace you can find is good, but tapping into love in all its many manifestations is supremely healing.
Grateful am I.
With love....
samonearth.blogspot.com
Friday, February 04, 2011
Lazy Healthy Eating Amidst Lazy Grief
Really what I want to do is escape from the world right now. I just broke up with my great love, and it is a sad, sad, sad time. So, I took mostly to my bed for a few days, but realized it's time to start stepping outside.
You can tell I'm depressed when you see I'm not eating. I always eat. I love food, as you know. So, for me not to eat, you know I am hurting. Today I knew I had to eat something with protein and goodness.
The deliciousness above is fit for a good WWgasm -- only 7 Weight Watchers points for a lot of flavor and bang for the point buck.
Two slices of Sprouted RYE Bread -- toasted
Creamy Goat Cheese -- about an ounce -- This one is from Trader Joe's, of course
Sliced Olives -- the equivalent of about 5 olives
Baby Heirloom Tomatoes -- several sliced
A sprinkling of Pink Himalayan Salt...but any salt and/or pepper will do.
I made myself take it out to the sun to eat and photograph. We may be the only sliver of the country that isn't dealing with ice, snow, or rain. I acknowledge everyone dealing with the inclement weather. I wish you warmth in your cozy homes.
With love in my heart,
lazily yours,
bridget
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Trader Joe's Tuesday -- Instant Hot out of the Oven Chocolate Brownies!
Please forgive me for not taking pictures of the pre-baking and post-baking! But, the item you are looking for at Trader Joe's is the Gluten Free Brownie Mix. It comes in a brown bag with orange writing on it. You only have to add an oil, water and an egg or two.
I had left my 8" square pans at my boyfriends so I baked them in muffin tins and they were so cute!
The key is taking them out soon enough. They still look pretty "wet" when they are done, so pay attention to the timer.
They are so fudgey and so good for you. And if you are on Weight Watchers they are only TWO -- yes TWO -- points. It's a lot of yummy -- HEALTHY -- goodness with very little effort!
Buon Choco-appetito!
I had left my 8" square pans at my boyfriends so I baked them in muffin tins and they were so cute!
The key is taking them out soon enough. They still look pretty "wet" when they are done, so pay attention to the timer.
They are so fudgey and so good for you. And if you are on Weight Watchers they are only TWO -- yes TWO -- points. It's a lot of yummy -- HEALTHY -- goodness with very little effort!
Buon Choco-appetito!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Lazy Cold Cure
I think everyone on the planet knows someone who has had this nasty cold/flu that is going around -- the one that threatens to -- or indeed does --- worm its way from head to chest, and makes people miserable for weeks on end.
Well, I am surrounded by people who have been sick over the last three months. It's been hopping around from body to body, friend to friend, and I've almost caught it twice. Yes two times I have narrowly escaped its clutches. Each time at the onset of symptoms I have started taking this herb that my accupuncturist gave me a few months ago -- Astra Isatis: http://www.holisticchineseherbs.com/healthconcerns/astraisatis.html. I take a few tablets every few hours and within 24 hours each time I am symptom free. This time I was out of town so I didn't start taking the remedy until I was about 24 hours in but it worked again! I am almost symptom free about 30 hours after starting it.
Not every remedy works for every body, but whenever I find something like this I like to share it because most of us can't afford to get sick -- there's too much life, too much fun to miss if we get sick, right?!!!
On the other hand, one very Lazy thing I do to stay well and avoid flu seaso is I give myself old movie days in bed. When I know that I am going to get sick just to get some alone bed time, I circumvent the process and give myself the bedtime. These days are priceless because they allow me to hop back into action after the soul and body nurturing is done.
It's important to know what you need to give yourself to avoid having to stop your life by getting sick. A lot of times, we get sick to just stop life. So, what do YOU need to GIVE to yourself, to nurture you, so that you don't have to make your body suffer? It's very Lazy to get a handle on this stuff. But, if you don't catch it in time -- try Asta Isatis!
Happy Healing Lazy Days!
Well, I am surrounded by people who have been sick over the last three months. It's been hopping around from body to body, friend to friend, and I've almost caught it twice. Yes two times I have narrowly escaped its clutches. Each time at the onset of symptoms I have started taking this herb that my accupuncturist gave me a few months ago -- Astra Isatis: http://www.holisticchineseherbs.com/healthconcerns/astraisatis.html. I take a few tablets every few hours and within 24 hours each time I am symptom free. This time I was out of town so I didn't start taking the remedy until I was about 24 hours in but it worked again! I am almost symptom free about 30 hours after starting it.
Not every remedy works for every body, but whenever I find something like this I like to share it because most of us can't afford to get sick -- there's too much life, too much fun to miss if we get sick, right?!!!
On the other hand, one very Lazy thing I do to stay well and avoid flu seaso is I give myself old movie days in bed. When I know that I am going to get sick just to get some alone bed time, I circumvent the process and give myself the bedtime. These days are priceless because they allow me to hop back into action after the soul and body nurturing is done.
It's important to know what you need to give yourself to avoid having to stop your life by getting sick. A lot of times, we get sick to just stop life. So, what do YOU need to GIVE to yourself, to nurture you, so that you don't have to make your body suffer? It's very Lazy to get a handle on this stuff. But, if you don't catch it in time -- try Asta Isatis!
Happy Healing Lazy Days!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Trader Joe's Tuesdays -- More WWgasms (Weight Watchers Foodie Bliss)
One of the most delicious, divine, wonderful, amazing things about Weight Watchers is that you can have as much (probably within reason of course! LOL!) fruit as you want!
When I was in my 20's I read a lot about food combining, and was a huge fan of Harvey and Marilyn Diamon'd book "Fit for Life" because it really made me feel so good. I was full of vibrant energy and thin when I followed their plan. One of the habits I cultivated after reading the book was starting my day with fresh fruit. The book talks about breakfast being literally what it says a breaking of the fast that occurs while you sleep. It says that your body needs things that are easily digestible, like fruits which don't need much help to move their way through your digestive system.
Weight Watchers really doesn't demand me changing much about my eating except remaining accountable for the amounts that I eat when I sit down to eat! Having the fruit being zero points, i.e., FREE!!!!, is just fabulous.
And, having Trader Joe's makes it so easy. My favorite combo for the morning is watermelon, pineapple and blueberries. Generally all three of these items are in TJ's too. But, Trader Joe's has a plethora of fruits to choose from -- mango, several kinds of apples, at least a couple melon choices, oranges, at least a few berries, etc.
So, do yourself a favor -- even if you are the most perfect weight -- give your body the gift of fruit in the morning, break your fast gently, take in the many vitamins and nutrients...and have a delicious meal! If you need protein in the morning, add yogurt and/or nuts!
And, while you are stocking up, grab a bunch of bananas, peel them, break them in half and throw them in a big baggie, for a sweet frozen treat any time of day or night!
Buon Fresh Appetito!
When I was in my 20's I read a lot about food combining, and was a huge fan of Harvey and Marilyn Diamon'd book "Fit for Life" because it really made me feel so good. I was full of vibrant energy and thin when I followed their plan. One of the habits I cultivated after reading the book was starting my day with fresh fruit. The book talks about breakfast being literally what it says a breaking of the fast that occurs while you sleep. It says that your body needs things that are easily digestible, like fruits which don't need much help to move their way through your digestive system.
Weight Watchers really doesn't demand me changing much about my eating except remaining accountable for the amounts that I eat when I sit down to eat! Having the fruit being zero points, i.e., FREE!!!!, is just fabulous.
And, having Trader Joe's makes it so easy. My favorite combo for the morning is watermelon, pineapple and blueberries. Generally all three of these items are in TJ's too. But, Trader Joe's has a plethora of fruits to choose from -- mango, several kinds of apples, at least a couple melon choices, oranges, at least a few berries, etc.
So, do yourself a favor -- even if you are the most perfect weight -- give your body the gift of fruit in the morning, break your fast gently, take in the many vitamins and nutrients...and have a delicious meal! If you need protein in the morning, add yogurt and/or nuts!
And, while you are stocking up, grab a bunch of bananas, peel them, break them in half and throw them in a big baggie, for a sweet frozen treat any time of day or night!
Buon Fresh Appetito!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Laziest Workout in the World! (No Joke, No Hype)
I have to tell you, my brilliant amazing genius Accupuncturist, Marsha Connor (she cured me of a year long battle with plantar fasciitis in one session!) literally has never let me down with her advice. The last couple of sessions I've had with her she has mentioned INTERVAL TRAINING as an effective, quick weight loss solution.
I heard her but I didn't really listen because:
1. I'm scared of running because I seem to always get injured.
2. I feel like I work out as hard as I can/want/etc. already.
3. I have never "felt" like a sprinter -- like only athletes to that kind of stuff!
4. I thought -- it's not the workout I need to change, it's the food going in!
Well, last week I was on a website that had a link to an interval training sample workout. I clicked on the link and found a super cool 42 minute workout that started at 3.5 speed and went as high up as 7.0. I thought I'd give it a shot, but didn't know if I would succeed. It was incredibly fun!
I've done the workout every day since because it makes me feel so good. Today, though, my calves were so sore -- the soreness didn't start until yesterday, oddly -- that I didn't push myself as hard, and I only had time to do 30 minutes.
But, I'm actually going to be working toward just doing 20 minutes of interval training a day. If you google interval training you'll see that lots of workouts are just for 10 or 20 minutes. Twenty seems to be the average. And this is precisely why my accupuncturist suggested it -- it's a quick way to get powerful results.
I will tell you at 48 years old I have literally never in my life had more dramatic results in a one week span of time. Interval training is touted as a belly fat buster and I can literally see the belly fat melting away -- in a very different way than I have seen in the past. Yes, I'm on Weight Watchers, but healthy weight loss (up to 2 pounds a week) doesn't usually cause dramatic body changes in two weeks. This training HAS.
Listen, you don't have to be super fit to do interval training. I have pretty much always worked out 7 days a week (except when injured or ill) so I am pretty fit. You can start at whatever level you are comfortable. You can start slow and increase gradually as you see where your limits are. The bottom line is you have short periods of working at your maximum capacity (push yourself very hard) and then rest, push-rest, push-rest. It's the least boring workout I've ever had, and I always feel so proud of myself at the end of the workout.
If you want fast results, a fulfilling workout, in a minimal amount of time -- give interval training a shot.
I heard her but I didn't really listen because:
1. I'm scared of running because I seem to always get injured.
2. I feel like I work out as hard as I can/want/etc. already.
3. I have never "felt" like a sprinter -- like only athletes to that kind of stuff!
4. I thought -- it's not the workout I need to change, it's the food going in!
Well, last week I was on a website that had a link to an interval training sample workout. I clicked on the link and found a super cool 42 minute workout that started at 3.5 speed and went as high up as 7.0. I thought I'd give it a shot, but didn't know if I would succeed. It was incredibly fun!
I've done the workout every day since because it makes me feel so good. Today, though, my calves were so sore -- the soreness didn't start until yesterday, oddly -- that I didn't push myself as hard, and I only had time to do 30 minutes.
But, I'm actually going to be working toward just doing 20 minutes of interval training a day. If you google interval training you'll see that lots of workouts are just for 10 or 20 minutes. Twenty seems to be the average. And this is precisely why my accupuncturist suggested it -- it's a quick way to get powerful results.
I will tell you at 48 years old I have literally never in my life had more dramatic results in a one week span of time. Interval training is touted as a belly fat buster and I can literally see the belly fat melting away -- in a very different way than I have seen in the past. Yes, I'm on Weight Watchers, but healthy weight loss (up to 2 pounds a week) doesn't usually cause dramatic body changes in two weeks. This training HAS.
Listen, you don't have to be super fit to do interval training. I have pretty much always worked out 7 days a week (except when injured or ill) so I am pretty fit. You can start at whatever level you are comfortable. You can start slow and increase gradually as you see where your limits are. The bottom line is you have short periods of working at your maximum capacity (push yourself very hard) and then rest, push-rest, push-rest. It's the least boring workout I've ever had, and I always feel so proud of myself at the end of the workout.
If you want fast results, a fulfilling workout, in a minimal amount of time -- give interval training a shot.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Lazy Weight Loss
Weight Watchers works! I've lost 4.2 pounds in two weeks and have had many, many WWgasms, i.e., foodie-gasms while on Weight Watchers. I even ate at two of my very favorite restaurants -- Indian and Italian (cornmeal crust pizza oh my god) -- and simply didn't over-eat which is what I tend to do when sitting in front of a lot of amazing food. And, I literally NEVER felt deprived in these two weeks. If I had a craving for something I got it -- either in a less-egregious form or in smaller quantities or just as it always was.
I only just now -- minutes before writing this -- had the first thing I've eaten in these two weeks that didn't truly please my palate. The Weight Watchers Chocolate Caramels -- only two points -- and I bought them because they come in individual cute little packets and are far fewer points than their mainstream candy equivalent, and I thought they might be a good thing to put in my bag or car if I had a burning sweet tooth. But, they have an undercurrent of protein bar flavor. I can't bear that flavor. So, that's a no starter.
But, this is a great reminder of the wonder and magic of Weight Watchers - that I don't have to compromise my foodie palate. I can have a piece of fine dark chocolate or even a tablespoon of yummy chocolate chips. (I love gourmet chocolate chips!) In other words, I'd rather have a small portion of the real thing -- or even a big portion and use my extra Weekly Points -- than not have my foodie WWgasm.
I can be a FOODIE and lose weight on WEIGHT WATCHERS. And, I definitely don't need to give up literally any food on the planet. I just fit it in and make it work.
I hadn't had Spicy Tuna Rolls in a while. I was trying to stay away from tuna for several reasons. And, I only need to eat fish about once a week. But, this morning I knew I had to have TWO spicy tuna rolls for lunch. That's 13 points which is nearly half of my daily points but I can absolutely -- with great ease and LAZINESS -- accomodate that in my day's eating.
For me -- Spicy Tuna Rolls -- give me a major WWgasm with their spiciness, texture, a bit of crunch from cucumber (at the sushi place I go to), creaminess, chewy seaweed and perfectly cooked rice.
I couldn't even finish two rolls even though I wad been ravenously hungry. I took 4 of the 12 pieces home and had them as my afternoon snack.
I don't have a good track record of leaving food on my plate. I rarely leave a morsel on my plate. And, I wasn't even told by my mom as a kid that I needed to clean my plate in honor of the children starving worldwide! I simply have an aversion to wasting yummy food -- as if the trespass of overeating and hurting my body is better for me and the world than throwing away some delicious food.
I am really getting how being overly-full -- being anything other than satiated -- hurts me and my body. Somehow I have equated overly-full with comfort, but it is anything but comfort-able!
People who overeat don't love food more than people who eat to satiation. People who overeat -- WE -- ME included -- love food more than we love our bodies and the pain, dis-comfort, dis-ease, dis-tension, dis-orientation that overeating-food-coma-bloating-craziness causes.
Lazily losing weight is more than adjusting the intake (food) and the outtake (exercise). Lazily losing weight is working through the inner and outer layers of fat-producing thoughts and behaviors.
Putting boundaries on my eating with Weight Watchers is opening up lots of layers. Also, Marianne Williamson's CD "Meditations for Weight Loss" is spectacularly loving and supportive and eye-layer-opening.
Lazily lovingly losing weight...
Bridget
I only just now -- minutes before writing this -- had the first thing I've eaten in these two weeks that didn't truly please my palate. The Weight Watchers Chocolate Caramels -- only two points -- and I bought them because they come in individual cute little packets and are far fewer points than their mainstream candy equivalent, and I thought they might be a good thing to put in my bag or car if I had a burning sweet tooth. But, they have an undercurrent of protein bar flavor. I can't bear that flavor. So, that's a no starter.
But, this is a great reminder of the wonder and magic of Weight Watchers - that I don't have to compromise my foodie palate. I can have a piece of fine dark chocolate or even a tablespoon of yummy chocolate chips. (I love gourmet chocolate chips!) In other words, I'd rather have a small portion of the real thing -- or even a big portion and use my extra Weekly Points -- than not have my foodie WWgasm.
I can be a FOODIE and lose weight on WEIGHT WATCHERS. And, I definitely don't need to give up literally any food on the planet. I just fit it in and make it work.
I hadn't had Spicy Tuna Rolls in a while. I was trying to stay away from tuna for several reasons. And, I only need to eat fish about once a week. But, this morning I knew I had to have TWO spicy tuna rolls for lunch. That's 13 points which is nearly half of my daily points but I can absolutely -- with great ease and LAZINESS -- accomodate that in my day's eating.
For me -- Spicy Tuna Rolls -- give me a major WWgasm with their spiciness, texture, a bit of crunch from cucumber (at the sushi place I go to), creaminess, chewy seaweed and perfectly cooked rice.
I couldn't even finish two rolls even though I wad been ravenously hungry. I took 4 of the 12 pieces home and had them as my afternoon snack.
I don't have a good track record of leaving food on my plate. I rarely leave a morsel on my plate. And, I wasn't even told by my mom as a kid that I needed to clean my plate in honor of the children starving worldwide! I simply have an aversion to wasting yummy food -- as if the trespass of overeating and hurting my body is better for me and the world than throwing away some delicious food.
I am really getting how being overly-full -- being anything other than satiated -- hurts me and my body. Somehow I have equated overly-full with comfort, but it is anything but comfort-able!
People who overeat don't love food more than people who eat to satiation. People who overeat -- WE -- ME included -- love food more than we love our bodies and the pain, dis-comfort, dis-ease, dis-tension, dis-orientation that overeating-food-coma-bloating-craziness causes.
Lazily losing weight is more than adjusting the intake (food) and the outtake (exercise). Lazily losing weight is working through the inner and outer layers of fat-producing thoughts and behaviors.
Putting boundaries on my eating with Weight Watchers is opening up lots of layers. Also, Marianne Williamson's CD "Meditations for Weight Loss" is spectacularly loving and supportive and eye-layer-opening.
Lazily lovingly losing weight...
Bridget
Friday, January 14, 2011
Lazy Baked Treat -- WWgasm #342
I loooooooooooove to bake, and because I've been baking since I was a little kid none of it seems daunting to me. Some recipes are more complicated than others, of course, but even the most complex baking tasks are fun to me.
I've actually always pooh-pooh'd baking mixes. Never understood why another five minutes wasn't worth it and/or had a major judgment that it would never be as good as the real thing in terms of flavor. But, recently when BBIW (Best Boyfriend in the World) and I were going to Los Olivos to stay in a guest house for the New Year's Weekend, I thought it might be fun to have something hot and freshly baked one cold morning. When I was doing the final Trader Joe's shopping I happened to pass by the mixes and one caught my eye: Triple Berry Bran Muffin Mix. I looked at the ingredients which looked great and then the instructions. I just needed two eggs and one cup of water. I thought "That's worth trying!"
Well, I ended up making a different egg, potato, toast extravaganza on New Year's morning and the mix sat in the cupboard until I thought "Let me check how many POINTS that is on Weight Watchers." Lo and behold it is only THREE -- yes 3 -- that would be one, two, THREE points. So, I made them last night and they are DEEEEEEESCRUMPTIOUS!
They really taste pretty darned homemadey, have a great texture. I had fresh blueberries to throw in but decided to make the first round without to test the mix, but next time I will do blueberries and maybe banana too. But, they are truly fabulous just in their purest form.
BBIW who is definitely NOT on Weight Watchers and usually is not a bran muffin kind o' guy really loved them too! So, it's a win-win-win-low-points-treat!
Buon Bran Appetito!
I've actually always pooh-pooh'd baking mixes. Never understood why another five minutes wasn't worth it and/or had a major judgment that it would never be as good as the real thing in terms of flavor. But, recently when BBIW (Best Boyfriend in the World) and I were going to Los Olivos to stay in a guest house for the New Year's Weekend, I thought it might be fun to have something hot and freshly baked one cold morning. When I was doing the final Trader Joe's shopping I happened to pass by the mixes and one caught my eye: Triple Berry Bran Muffin Mix. I looked at the ingredients which looked great and then the instructions. I just needed two eggs and one cup of water. I thought "That's worth trying!"
Well, I ended up making a different egg, potato, toast extravaganza on New Year's morning and the mix sat in the cupboard until I thought "Let me check how many POINTS that is on Weight Watchers." Lo and behold it is only THREE -- yes 3 -- that would be one, two, THREE points. So, I made them last night and they are DEEEEEEESCRUMPTIOUS!
They really taste pretty darned homemadey, have a great texture. I had fresh blueberries to throw in but decided to make the first round without to test the mix, but next time I will do blueberries and maybe banana too. But, they are truly fabulous just in their purest form.
BBIW who is definitely NOT on Weight Watchers and usually is not a bran muffin kind o' guy really loved them too! So, it's a win-win-win-low-points-treat!
Buon Bran Appetito!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
WWgasm #234 = Rockin' Quesadilla
I know I've talked about both quesadillas and Mr. George Forman but oh my god I just have to mention them both again.
First, the George Forman Grill is the best LAZY tool for your kitchen for the following reasons:
1. It is FAST -- it heats up fast and works fast -- without overcooking.
2. It takes NO FAT -- you literally put no fat on it!
3. It gives you TEXTURE -- for instance if I want a crunchy quesadilla I leave it on longer ...if I want a warm, soft, gooey one, I take it off sooner.
4. It's SUPER EASY to clean -- super easy to take the grills off, super easy to clean.
5. It's CHEAP -- look around for best deal but it is never going to be an expensive proposition.
6. They come in all SIZES -- Teeny tiny to family size. Name your size, he done got it!!!
LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZY! Super LAZY.
Now, I'm on Weight Watchers, as we all know now and the best thing about WW is it's not a diet. You get to eat anything you want -- WITHIN BOUNDARIES. I need boundaries. If I don't have them I run wild.
The new WW Points Plus System is slightly irritating to me because it's clearly a low carb plan. As a vegetarian, I tend to do a lot of carbs. I'd rather count calories, which always works for me. But, the calories boundary has its own pitfalls -- eating stupid food being the biggest! LOL!
I had a craving for a quesadilla last night, went to Trader Joe's and started calculating the points for my favorite quesadilla ingredients -- Yogurt Jalapeno Cheese, Ezekiel Tortillas and/or Corn Tortillas. The total with one slice of cheese and two corn tortillas was going to be 6 points. So, I started looking around and found a LITE cheese and a LOW CARB tortilla. I brought them home, made a quesadilla and while it was totally fine to eat. It wasn't DELICIOSA which is important. I refuse to eat sub-par food to lose weight. I have to be having WWgasms at every meal.
So, tonight I made the real deal and made my new favorite salad:
A few cups of Lettuce
Pearl Tomatoes (the big deep red ones)
2 tablespoons of Bob's Big Boy Lite Blue Cheese Dressing
4 tablespoons of Salsa (my new favorite is Trader Joe's Serrano Fresh Salsa)
It has the perfect mexican-y salad to go with a quesadilla!
This is one fulfilling WWgasm meal -- at only SEVEN (7) POINTS!
Yeeeehaaaaaw!
First, the George Forman Grill is the best LAZY tool for your kitchen for the following reasons:
1. It is FAST -- it heats up fast and works fast -- without overcooking.
2. It takes NO FAT -- you literally put no fat on it!
3. It gives you TEXTURE -- for instance if I want a crunchy quesadilla I leave it on longer ...if I want a warm, soft, gooey one, I take it off sooner.
4. It's SUPER EASY to clean -- super easy to take the grills off, super easy to clean.
5. It's CHEAP -- look around for best deal but it is never going to be an expensive proposition.
6. They come in all SIZES -- Teeny tiny to family size. Name your size, he done got it!!!
LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZY! Super LAZY.
Now, I'm on Weight Watchers, as we all know now and the best thing about WW is it's not a diet. You get to eat anything you want -- WITHIN BOUNDARIES. I need boundaries. If I don't have them I run wild.
The new WW Points Plus System is slightly irritating to me because it's clearly a low carb plan. As a vegetarian, I tend to do a lot of carbs. I'd rather count calories, which always works for me. But, the calories boundary has its own pitfalls -- eating stupid food being the biggest! LOL!
I had a craving for a quesadilla last night, went to Trader Joe's and started calculating the points for my favorite quesadilla ingredients -- Yogurt Jalapeno Cheese, Ezekiel Tortillas and/or Corn Tortillas. The total with one slice of cheese and two corn tortillas was going to be 6 points. So, I started looking around and found a LITE cheese and a LOW CARB tortilla. I brought them home, made a quesadilla and while it was totally fine to eat. It wasn't DELICIOSA which is important. I refuse to eat sub-par food to lose weight. I have to be having WWgasms at every meal.
So, tonight I made the real deal and made my new favorite salad:
A few cups of Lettuce
Pearl Tomatoes (the big deep red ones)
2 tablespoons of Bob's Big Boy Lite Blue Cheese Dressing
4 tablespoons of Salsa (my new favorite is Trader Joe's Serrano Fresh Salsa)
It has the perfect mexican-y salad to go with a quesadilla!
This is one fulfilling WWgasm meal -- at only SEVEN (7) POINTS!
Yeeeehaaaaaw!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Trader Joe's Tuesday Spills Lazily into Wednesday -- WWgasm Hit & Miss!
I went to Trader Joe's after the gym tonight...I have Pilates at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays so I end up eating dinner late on Wednesdays since doing pilates on a full or even slightly full stomach really doesn't work.
During Pilates I realized I had a huge craving -- and plenty of points left today on my Weight Watchers plan -- for a quesadilla. Well, the shelves were 1/2 empty and my favorite little corn tortillas weren't there. So, I thought I'd try the Low Carb Sonora Tortillas. They looked sooooooooooooo delicious!
I then checked the points on my favorite Jalapeno Yogurt Cheese and compared it to the Lite Cheddar and thought "Heck, let's try that too!"
And, then I found the find of finds: Serrano Fresca Salsa. I love it when TJs comes out with a new salsa, and I'm really loving -- across the board in cuisine -- roasted peppers. The salsa looks and tastes nice and roasty-toasty. Layered flavors, good bite.
So, the WWgasm (Weight Watchers "Taste" "gasm") of the night was the salad I made to go with the quesadilla. Best kick: a couple tablespoons of Bob's Big Boy LITE Blue CHeese Dressing and a few tablespoons of the Serrano Fresca Salsa. Deliciosa!
The quesadilla -- well I'm going to go for the higher points next time because I think it's simply not forfeiting tastebud delight to lose weight. I'd rather "spend" a few more points and have a normal corn tortilla or Ezekiel tortilla and my favorite jalapeno yogurt cheese.
I don't regret it. I think it's worth trying everything and knowing if there is an alternative out there that can thrill the tummy and tastebuds.
I think I can declare myself my own Quesadilla Master. I know all the options and will continue to play. For now, Lite and Low Carb don't belong in the Land o' Quesadillas!
During Pilates I realized I had a huge craving -- and plenty of points left today on my Weight Watchers plan -- for a quesadilla. Well, the shelves were 1/2 empty and my favorite little corn tortillas weren't there. So, I thought I'd try the Low Carb Sonora Tortillas. They looked sooooooooooooo delicious!
I then checked the points on my favorite Jalapeno Yogurt Cheese and compared it to the Lite Cheddar and thought "Heck, let's try that too!"
And, then I found the find of finds: Serrano Fresca Salsa. I love it when TJs comes out with a new salsa, and I'm really loving -- across the board in cuisine -- roasted peppers. The salsa looks and tastes nice and roasty-toasty. Layered flavors, good bite.
So, the WWgasm (Weight Watchers "Taste" "gasm") of the night was the salad I made to go with the quesadilla. Best kick: a couple tablespoons of Bob's Big Boy LITE Blue CHeese Dressing and a few tablespoons of the Serrano Fresca Salsa. Deliciosa!
The quesadilla -- well I'm going to go for the higher points next time because I think it's simply not forfeiting tastebud delight to lose weight. I'd rather "spend" a few more points and have a normal corn tortilla or Ezekiel tortilla and my favorite jalapeno yogurt cheese.
I don't regret it. I think it's worth trying everything and knowing if there is an alternative out there that can thrill the tummy and tastebuds.
I think I can declare myself my own Quesadilla Master. I know all the options and will continue to play. For now, Lite and Low Carb don't belong in the Land o' Quesadillas!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
WWgasm # 532 = Lazy Ass Dessert Treat
I am in heaven. I'm not kidding. And, it's so easy.
Frozen Banana.
Zero Points.
I go to Trader Joe's and get a big bunch of bananas, wait for them to be just ripe enough -- which for me is still with a wee bit o' green -- then peel, break into two or three pieces into a big baggie. Put in the freezer.
When you need a sweet, grab a piece o' banana.
My favorite treat at Disneyland has always been the chocolate covered banana. I have to say that what I've discovered is that even though I am a chocoholic I really find this treat so incredibly delicious and satisfying.
Someone tweeted an amazing recipe for banana ice cream. Put frozen bananas in a Cuisinart, add a little almond milk and voila banana ice cream. I can't wait to try it but I'm so digging the texture and taste of just eating frozen bananas that it's on temporary hold.
Banana Heaven at Zero Points = WWgasm!
Frozen Banana.
Zero Points.
I go to Trader Joe's and get a big bunch of bananas, wait for them to be just ripe enough -- which for me is still with a wee bit o' green -- then peel, break into two or three pieces into a big baggie. Put in the freezer.
When you need a sweet, grab a piece o' banana.
My favorite treat at Disneyland has always been the chocolate covered banana. I have to say that what I've discovered is that even though I am a chocoholic I really find this treat so incredibly delicious and satisfying.
Someone tweeted an amazing recipe for banana ice cream. Put frozen bananas in a Cuisinart, add a little almond milk and voila banana ice cream. I can't wait to try it but I'm so digging the texture and taste of just eating frozen bananas that it's on temporary hold.
Banana Heaven at Zero Points = WWgasm!
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