It’s a Quickie

Posted on May 23, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Just a quickie update… I’m doing well, maintaining my weight. Nick is on the mend after his frightening illness. I’m hoping to be back to regular blogging after next week.
Things that have made blogging difficult:
Having a 9 year live with me Monday-Friday… School ends next Friday so she’s back to her mommy full time then!
Commuting 70 miles ONE WAY to work 3 times a week. I leave home at 655 am and get home after 6 pm.
I know they are excuses, but I’m committing to be back on track June 3. I want to run again… The 9 year old refuses, lol.
Things I have been doing… Eating clean. Walking 3-4 times a week about 5 miles with a friend on the mornings I don’t commute. Lots of family time.
Here’s to a great week!
Ciao!
My mom (GiGi) and granddaughter Sofia. May 17. Mom turned 82 and Sofia turned 5.

Me and my 3 at the birthday party. Nick did the cooking at his restaurant and I have to say the Sea Bass was AMAZING!

What a Week and a Half

Posted on April 23, 2013 by flamidwyfe

It’s been 10 days of up and downs, but things are improving!

Last Sunday a bike ride after church and then a drive 70 miles north to Melborne to visit Nick in the hospital. Very sick, my boy 😦 He had surgery for this unknown infection in his left leg at 0700. Ask for prayers for healing… so many responses… THANK YOU!

Monday drive 70 miles south to job at the birth center. Call on my drive home, Nick being rushed back into surgery after spiking at 104.6 temp.

Tuesday drive 70 miles north to see Nick. Things not looking good. Surgeon says he may have to amputate to save Nick’s life. Lots and lots of prayer and healing energy, lots of emails and messages on facebook… my friends are AWESOME! Still no work on what this infection is.

Wednesday. Drive 70 miles south to birth center drive. In the late afternoon we’re told that it’s Group G strep… I’ve never heard of it. Conversation with my friend Julie so positive and full of light. Great suggestions! She also sends texts which I forward to Nick. I go to my Wednesday night bible study and everyone asks how Nick is… prayers said, uplifted by everyone’s spirit and positivity. Go to wifi cafe to read up on this G strep and it doesn’t look good. The first study I read 1 in 5 die. 2 of the 4 that survive have amputation. I decide to meditate on his leg and body being WHOLE. I went home, tucked Sydnie into bed and went for a 45 minute run… forgot to set the RunKeeper, but think it was about 3 miles total.

Thursday… NO IDEA WHAT I DID… LOL Oh wait! Tiffany and I ran the billing business all day… sheesh, I have NO BRAIN! Nick got his PICC line. That is an indwelling catheter in his subclavian artery so they don’t have to keep poking him for blood draws and resticking for IVs every 72 hours. Nick will be receiving long term antibiotics through this port for approximately a month.

Friday… Drive 80 miles to my college teaching job. Had a GREAT class. I really, really love teaching midwifery. LOVE IT. Then 10 miles north to the birth center to hook up with my girls and a 180 mile drive across the state to the west coast to see the mother of US midwifery Ina Mae Gaskin’s film premier and a meet and greet with her. Thank you boss lady, Miriam, for the trip… you’re the best… I still think the highlight of the trip was the stop at the TACO TRUCK in the middle of nowhere (South Bay) on the way over. FYI: I only ate the pork with the onions and cilantro… yum!!! Then 180 miles back to the birth center, where I spent the night, exhausted!

Saturday… Drive 70 miles north to home. Catch up on housework, saw the grandkids, did a nice bike ride. Nick improving. Doc cautiously optomistic. No temp over 100 for 3 days!!! Woo hoo!!!

Sunday… rode my bike to church 4.25 miles. Then rode it home, but took the long way…

Gorgeous day for a long bike ride!

My butt hurts, LOL. But it was a GORGEOUS ride! Lots of time to think and not think and just enjoy the wind in my hair. Nick update… surgeon says Nick is doing so well, he MIGHT go home this week! Last Tuesday he told him he’d be in hospital for at least 3 weeks! He will keep his PICC line in and continue on the long term antibiotics, but be at home. This is awesome news!

Monday… 70 mile drive to birth center job. It’s EARTH DAY and we’re celebrating. So much fun! Nick is still doing well and is waiting on news whether he gets to go home this week.

On the Dukan front… I’m eating very well, but my weight isn’t budging. I was starting to get VERY discouraged, but had a pep talk with myself. I know the Dukan Diet works… I mean everyone that follows this blog knows that. I also know that stress causes cortisol levels to rise, which makes it difficult to lose weight… I’m thinking my cortisol levels are through the roof this past week and a half 🙂 My weight is 164. I’ll take that, for now. I’m focusing on my boy and that’s what is important. I’ll just keep eating right and it’ll happen.

So that’s the update. Waiting on word on whether he is going home today. My mom and sis are on the way there now. I’ve been skyping him on days I can’t be there. And I am so grateful for the technology that we have!

Skyping with Nick

My bike… a gift for which I’m grateful 🙂

Ina Mae Gaskin at her movie premier.

So that’s my week… what have you been up to? How is your exercise and food choices going?

Ciao!

Australia Wrap Up & a Dukan Update

Posted on March 31, 2013 by flamidwyfe

So, we’ll start out with my wild adventure down under 🙂

I stayed 3 full days after the baby was born. On Saturday I went snorkeling with a group from MeetUp.com. And had an awesome time. Great way to wrap up 4 weeks in Adelaide.

I then rented a car and started out on the Great Ocean Road from Adelaide to Melbourne. It was a long, but lovely 700 mile drive.

Fun things to see…

Then I got to Melbourne and stayed a few nights with Kay. A Scottish midwife I met in Abu Dhabi. We went for a long walk and lunch down by the water…

The second night we met Melissa a Kiwi midwife I met in Abu Dhabi and Jax, a friend of a friend for a Thai fusion dinner…

Then it was off to Malua Bay to see Gen, Dean and Gracie. I met this lovely family in Abu Dhabi, as well…

We hiked, went to the zoo, BBQd breakfast at the sea, hiked some more, burned a bonfire, FUN!

Then off to Sydney to meet up with Gail. Gail was my trainer in Abu Dhabi and my neighbor. And she is one of the funniest people I know. She invited me up for “tea” one night and so I ate dinner and went up to her flat only to find that “tea” is dinner. She’s called me Dickie since then… I’m sure it’s derogatory, but she says it with sarcasm and love at the same time 😀

We drove from Sydney to The Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane, in 16 hours… Long ass day, but wonderful company! She lives about 30 minutes from Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo!! We went with Gail’s daughter Olivia and her wee little man, Angus. What a fun day!

And after cuddles and see ya laters, it was time for my 6 week Australia Adventure to come to a close. I flew out of Brisbane with ZZ Top, no kidding. On my second favorite plane…

And, no, I didn’t get pics of ZZ Top, I try to think how I’d feel if people were interrupting me for pics.

And now I’m home a week. It’s Easter. I had a lovely day with my mom and Tiff, Joey and ALL the grandkids at church and then a wonderful dinner at Jenni and Chris’ house.

Now my update. I’ve gained 18 pounds since I’ve come back to the States in September. 9 of them in Australia. The first 9 creeped up. I’m freaked out. My clothes still fit, but are snug. I noticed my undies were snug last week and couldn’t imagine what was up. Then I got on the scale. I have stayed gluten free. In Australia I logged more miles on my RunKeeper app than any other 6 weeks in the past year. I hiked almost every single day! i swam and snorkeled. I climbed a freaking mountain!!!

I’ve done a few things that I need to rein in… 1. Too much full fat cheese. 2. Replacement foods (in Australia I splurged on GF pretzels, muffins, crackers… One night I ate GF crackers with organic honey!!!) 3. Wine. I’ve had a couple glasses a week, which is a lot for me. Moscato… Damn you, Cathy Cook! LOL

So, starting tomorrow, I’m doing 4 days of attack and then alternating PP (Pure Protein) and PV (Protein Veggie) days until it’s off. And I’m going to blog EVERY.SINGLE.DAY… To hold myself accountable and to get the support I need from all of you.

So, I’m back… Daily posts. Looking forward to getting back on track!

Ciao!

Recipe – Dukan & Paleo – There’s A Kangaroo in my Crockpot!

Posted on February 13, 2013 by flamidwyfe

I’m in the land of the Aussies and when in Oz…

I traveled here last Friday and what is wonderful about flying west is that you don’t have such bad jet lag. It’s the flying back east that does you in! It is summer here in Adelaide and the weather is glorious! I’ll do a post on the hikes I’ve been doing tomorrow, but today’s special is Roo!

We purchased the kangaroo in the market and to me it looks like beef…

I made a spice rub with chili, garum masala and cumin and rubbed it in all the crevices…

I then seared the Roo on both sides in 2 Tbs of coconut oil…

I chopped 2 onions and a nice piece of ginger and tossed into the crockpot, put in just enough water to cover the bottom, placed the Roo on top of that and poured the drippings from the pan on top of all of it…

Cooked on high 3.5 hours and bam…

Tender, falling apart meat! The onions cooked down nicely and the gravy was yummy!

Plated with an organic salad and this was a perfect meal 🙂 I also enjoyed a 1/2 cup of rice and those purple things are carrots!

I liked the meat. It wasn’t gamey at all. Reminded me of buffalo meat, but tastier and more tender. I would definitely try this again!

Have you tried something different? How did you like it?

Dukan – Consolidation Day 249

Posted on January 15, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Monday was a PP day 😀 I haven’t written those words in a long time! I weighed myself and was up to 154 and said out loud, “whoa, Nelly” and decided to get better control. I think it’s more about reduced activity than anything else. I’m eating clean, gluten-free food.

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, coffee, 500 mL water
Lunch: 4 slices roast beef, 2 slices provolone, 500 mL water
Dinner: stir fry pork loin with onions and garlic, 500 mL water
35 minute quick walk
Snack: Fat free Greek yogurt
Bed

Woke up this morning down 2 pounds. Happy girl : D

Ciao!

Dukan – Consolidation Day 249

Posted on January 15, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Woke up this morning down 2 pounds. Happy girl : D

Ciao!

Finding Sandi…

Posted on January 12, 2013 by flamidwyfe

It’s been a busy week! I started out with my typical day off and spent all of Monday cleaning house after having grandkids there all weekend! 😀

On Monday (or was that Sunday? Sheesh, I can’t remember!) I managed a walk with a friend over the bridges that I posted about last week…

Walking the bridges! Around the 3 km mark there is a dock that goes out over the water!

Then Tuesday and Wednesday a commute to job 1… the Center Director at an amazing birth house. Upside… I work with some crazy and fun people. Downside… it’s an hour drive each way and for only 3 days a week, which doesn’t pay the bills 😦

It’s been a grey kinda week! Grey dress, grey hose, grey shoes… at least the sun is shining!

Then on Thursday I started a new, every once in a while job, teaching at a college about 20 minutes even further from my home… Not complaining, as it supplements my income!

Then on Thursday afternoon I drove another 35 miles south to do some admin work for a midwife friend of mine who is converting her practice to electronic medical records. I spent the night at her house, so I could get an early start (and not waste time and money on driving!) and had this yummy breakfast…

Chicken sausage, mushrooms and eggs. Mmmm!

Here it is finished…

Breakfast plated. I love adding avocado!

I then set out for a long day of data entry and scanning. Totally worth it. As it could all be done via wifi I sat outside on the deck next to her pool and worked all day! The Vitamin D was welcome! BeBe loved it too…

BeBe loves being a Florida dog!

Janice came home just as I was cooking this for dinner…

Stir fry: Omaha steaks with scallion, garlic, mushroom and asparagus! OH MY!

I have found myself in a bit of a rut and a little down the past few weeks. My plan was to come home, work PT at the birth house and take time to get my health and fitness business up and going. Part of the problem with feeling down is that I COMFORT EAT 😦 I have caught myself reaching for things (mostly dark chocolate or Fritos) when I’m feeling sorry for myself. Two significant things happened yesterday to kick me back on to the right path.

One… I spoke with Jamie, my amazing logo designer, about getting my web site for the business going. She is so encouraging and gave me an assignment to get the text going. So do know that I am committed to getting the site up by FEBRUARY 1st (I say this more for me than anyone else, lol)

Two… I got a message on Facebook in my “other” folder, while on the phone with Jamie! I opened it and found these words (I’ve not posted the whole message)…

I just wanted to let you know what an inspiration your Dukan journey has been for me. I started Dukan on August 20th of this year and so far have banished 50lbs. I have about 35 more to go. Not sure how I came across your blog, but I have finally got caught up to date with your journey. Soooo many times I have turned to read a few days of your blog when I was battling cravings etc and the words spoke right to me!

Towards the end of the message the letter writer encourages me to write more posts, and I need to, and thank you for encouraging me to do that! This weekend I am going to write out a blog post schedule and STICK TO IT! Ironically, she and I started Dukan on the exact same day (a year apart) with the exact same weight to lose! How cool is that!?!!

I need to find myself. I need to take the time to immerse myself in solitude and write and write and write my business goals out, again, once more, so that it becomes clear again. I need to keep writing out my vision boards and focus on making them a reality. And I need to respect who I am, what I’ve achieved and continue to feed my body GOOD.CLEAN.FOOD! Because I look and feel better than ever!

How do you make sure that you turn your visions into reality? How do you keep yourself on track?

Ciao!

Busy first week of the New Year!

Posted on January 7, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Wow, it was a busy first week of the New Year! Started out by spending New Years Day at the Orange Bowl with my niece, Charity…

My friend Ed had 2 tickets that he could not use and graciously gave them to me… THANK YOU, ED!!! Charity and I had a blast!

Then had a few crazy, and I mean CRAZY days at work and then my mom came to visit. Thank God for her sanity and the balance she brought to me this week. Her advise to simmer down and let go was truly needed!

Sydnie and I have started Couch to 5K at the beginning, so she can work up to some decent runs. She’s doing great on the Paleo diet with me at home and has stopped complaining about me starving her, for the most part 😀

And I took two 4.5 mile walks with a friend who is fun to chat and walk with. Both of us wanting to get in and stay in shape. I’ve made it a goal to do this walk, across the big bridge in Stuart and back, 3 times a week, minimum… I’ve done it twice this week. Here’s the bridge:

It’s a mile across, each way, with a nice elevation and the views are wonderful.

I’ve also been attending church regularly. Rick Evans is the leader of the church and is married to my dear friend from school, Natalie. He isn’t preachy, they don’t pass a collection plate, he’s an amazing storyteller and I love it. I’ve been taking the grandkids and they enjoy it, as well. Natalie is an accomplished photographer and took pictures a few weeks ago. The church meets at a community center on the beach… The joys of living in south Florida!

That’s Sydnie, Sofia and Sadie with me.

I had grandkids with me all weekend, off and on… Faelynn, Sydnie and Sadie spent Friday night and Faelynn and Sydnie (who lives with me) on Saturday night… At some point the all curled up in my bed 🙂

So that’s the weekly wrap up… Week One of 2013 is in the books!

How did y’all spend New Years Day??

Happy 2013!

Posted on December 31, 2012 by flamidwyfe

Wow… what a CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY year! 42 Take offs and Landings… 91,000 air miles logged. From huge airplanes (Boeing A380) to a small 9 seater. China, Hong Kong, U.S., Japan and the Bahamas.

I completed the Dukan diet in May, having lost 111 pounds! And for the most part have kept it off. I bounce up a few pounds, readjust and it comes back off.

I went from not being able to run for 45 seconds to running 5K and completed one. I am now training for a triathlon next August with bloggy friends Cindy, Sandra and Anna and can’t wait!!!

I’ve also done yoga and a program called D.I.R.T. regularly… D.I.R.T. kicks my ass!

Last year I brought New Years in with my dear friend Lucy in Hong Kong…

New Years Eve in Hong Kong Dec 31, 2011. With Lucy Rowney.

Crazy how much has happened in the past 12 months! Crazy how blessed and fortunate I am to have the people in my life that I do. Crazy how lucky I am to have an amazing job with two crazy women that I adore and love working with!!

December 2012
Lorie, Me and Miri

The next adventure? Planning a conference for birth workers in Ecuador for July this year and planning my own little trip into Peru to visit Machu Picchu afterwards. It’s going to be an amazing trip!

What are your plans for 2013?

I hope all of you have a blessed, amazing, healthy and prosperous 2013!

Ciao!
Sandi 🙂

Day 5 – National Health Blog Post Month

Posted on November 9, 2012 by flamidwyfe

Today’s Topic: Health Activist Soapbox.

I know, I know it’s the 9th and this post is Day 5… I’ve been busy, lol. New job that keeps me very busy, traveling last week over 2600 miles in a rental car. North Florida to see my son, back to the south, Orlando to go to Disney with Cathy, back south, Tallahassee for a State meeting in regard to changing the fee structure for midwives and birth centers and back south and then STREP THROAT — UGH 😦 As of this morning it’s turned into full-blown upper respiratory infection and I’m thisclose to calling the doctor. I’m trying to avoid antibiotics, but know that they may be necessary.
Hell, THAT subject could be my soapbox, but it isn’t.

Wheat. QUIT WHEAT is what I want to shout from the rooftops!! I didn’t quit wheat intentionally for any other reason than its not on the Dukan diet. And I lost and lost weight. By December last year I had mentioned many times in my blog how I hadn’t had heartburn, painful IBS, headaches, sinus stuff, knee pain, arthritis in my fingers was gone, no vertigo, the list goes on and on. Mel from NZ sent me what I call “the best link ever”! She sent me to Dr. William Davis’ blog and his book on Amazon, Wheat Belly.

I read the book on my trip home to the States in January and it was an eye opener! I’ve bought numerous copies for people, I’ve shared the info, I encourage everyone to read the book. It makes sense, a light goes on. I can’t tell you how many people I know that have quit wheat after reading this book, Lee did and is now writing her own blog! I saw my dear friend Cathy and her daughter Sarah last week up in Orlando. They’ve bought the book and taken my challenge 😀 Sarah has said that if her tummy troubles go away by cutting out the wheat, she’ll buy me a side of beef!! Woo Hoo… I plan on collecting!

Having quit wheat I know my insides are happy 😀 My knees are 😀 My head is 😀 I can run! RUN! Without pain 😀 I can type without my right index and left middle fingers being sore because my arthritis is gone 😀 And I don’t have debilitating vertigo anymore 😀 (Can you tell I’m happy?)

So here it is… I ONCE AGAIN CHALLENGE YOU TO QUIT EATING WHEAT FOR ONE MONTH. Yes, through Thanksgiving! I will start posting recipes from last years Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts that I cooked and that were completely wheat and gluten free. All the “traditional” goodies.

Who’s joining the challenge? Who’s still on the challenge from September? I’ll work on putting a separate tab up to track our progress! Join me, get healthier, lose unwanted weight and more importantly, lose the gut aka wheat belly!

WHEAT BELLY – With Cathy summer 2008