Memories of Europe & Sea Salt

Posted on April 8, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Yesterday morning I was grinding sea salt onto my breakfast and realized that my grinder was almost empty. I was flooded with the memories of the trip that brought that container of Spice Islands Sea Salt my way.

In the summer of 2009 (yes, nearly 4 years ago) I was living in Abu Dhabi and was meeting my son in Amsterdam for a 3 week EuroRail vacation. I asked him to bring a shaker of Spice Islands Sea Salt with him, since I couldn’t find it over seas… he brought 2 bottles…. This is what is left of bottle number 2:

Spice Islands Sea Salt

It has reminded me of the amazing trip we had… so much fun traveling with my son… He’s so UNNEEDY and a foodie, so we ate well… here’s some pics…

Nick and me in Bruges.

Roma

I’m also reminded of how much weight I’ve lost 🙂

I think 2 bottles of Sea Salt in 4 years isn’t so bad… and the memories of how they got to me are awesome… Nick… mom needs another bottle of salt!

Ciao!

Dukan – Consolidation Day 330

Posted on April 6, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Friday was a travel south day. I went to my friend Janice’s to help her out with some office stuff and to get filled up on friendship. I love hanging out with her. I got a lot of work done.

I also chatted via IM with Cathy and we’re going on a conference cruise next February. I’m DUPER excited about that. It will be our 3rd cruise together.

Breakfast: 2 fried eggs, bacon and coffee
Lunch: shredded pork and a handful of jalapeño cheese cubes
Snack: Cottage cheese with flaxseed meal
Dinner: Arabic food: mixed grill (chicken, lamb, filet Mignon) Yummy dinner!

Then home at 11 pm and to bed.

Weight, same as yesterday 168. My friend Cathy is pulling ahead!

Ciao!

Dukan – Consolidation Days 328 & 329

Posted on April 5, 2013 by flamidwyfe

The week is going well!
Wednesday is a workday in Delray… Commute of 70 miles. I listened to a couple running podcasts while driving for some inspiration.

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with ham. 700 mL water, coffee
Mid-morning: 500 mL water, coffee
Lunch: 1 boiled egg, chicken breast, 500 mL water
Afternoon: 20 Oz Coke Zero
Dinner: Eggs and bacon (Sydnie requested)
Evening Snack: FF Greek yogurt with Splenda and flaxseed meal
45 minute fast walk at 8 p,

Thursday a day off. Spent the morning at Panera’s and catching up with friends by phone. Spring cleaning of my apartment and finished a novel in the afternoon. Nice and relaxing.

Breakfast: Fried egg and bacon
Lunch: 3 slices roast beef and FF cottage cheese
Dinner: Pork shoulder steak and onion with curry powder… Yum
Snack: FF Greek yogurt with Splenda and flaxseed meal
Total water: 2 liters

Dinner…

I hope everyone is having a great day!!

Ciao!

Edited… Forgot the weights, lol
Wednesday: 169
Thursday: 168
Down 5 pounds from Sunday 🙂

Dukan Diet – Consolidation Day 327 – Day 2 Attack

Posted on April 3, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Had a pretty awesome day. On Tuesdays I work from home, so that I’m not commuting south 3 days a week. I did most of my work from Panero’s this morning. Lovely coffee, fast wifi and everyone leaves you alone.

I then had lunch with my pastor, Rick Evans. So refreshing to spend time with someone who practices what he preaches.

Then I did work from Dunkin’ Donuts (my wifi at home is slow as sludge!) and then picked up Sydnie, borrowed a bike rack from childhood friend, Natalie (who is also Rick’s wife) and then picked up my bike from my bestie, Denise! Good to see her and Loca, her shepherd, who is on her 9th life… I thought she had died while I was in Australia, so what a surprise when she started “talking” to me. Then off to fill the tires… Now I can ride again. Yay!

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs
Lunch: Steak salad (so technically not attack, since I had approx. 1/2 cup greens)
Dinner: Stir fry – sausage with onions and garlic
Snack: FF greek yogurt with splenda and flaxseed meal

Tuesday morning weight: 172
Wednesday morning weight: 170 😀
I love Dukan 😉

Ciao!

Dukan Diet – Consolidation Day 326 – ReAttack Day 1

Posted on April 2, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Good Morning… here’s the update for yesterday!

Up early to drive Sydnie to school and drive the 70 miles to work. Boiled eggs to take with me.

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, 700 mL water, coffee x 2
Morning Snack: 1 boiled egg, 500 mL water
Lunch: Easter ham, Coke Zero
Afternoon Snack: 1 boiled egg, 500 mL water
Dinner: Baked chicken thigh x 2 with thin sliced onion over the top. Seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic powder… Sydnie’s favorite!
Evening Snack: Fat Free Greek Yogurt with 1 splenda and 2 TBS flaxseed meal, 500 mL water.

30 minute walk after Syd went to bed.

Monday morning weight: 173
Tuesday morning weight: 172

So far, so good 😀

Ciao!

Two Things

Posted on March 31, 2013 by flamidwyfe

I forgot the two main things I wanted to focus on in the last post, lol. My jet-lagged brain can be mush at times!

I saw this on the wall of a bathroom stall on my way from Adelaide to Melbourne… It truly represents how I live and I love the person who wrote it… Even though I don’t know them… We are kindred sisters!

And… I never forget how incredibly blessed I am. I chase my dreams. I travel, a lot. I spend what I earn in travel. I have very little savings. I’d rather spend it and enjoy it now… While I’m young and able to, than let it sit in the bank. I trust The Lord will take care of me when I’m old… For now, I’ve got hundreds of tales to tell because I live my dreams…

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!

International Women’s Day

Posted on March 8, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Today, March 8, 2013 is International Women’s Day. A day to celebrate women and from the International Women’s Day web site…

Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women’s Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women’s rights and participation in social, political and economic processes.

They have a theme each year and this year it is:
2013 Theme: THE GENDER AGENDA: GAINING MOMENTUM
Over time and distance, the equal rights of women have progressed. We celebrate the achievements of women while remaining vigilant and tenacious for further sustainable change. There is global momentum for championing women’s equality.

In celebration of IWD I caught a baby in Australia. Birth is an arena where women’s rights are still being trampled, all over the world. Women aren’t given the choice of where and with whom they want to deliver. Often, what is perceived as a high risk (and many times it is) precludes a woman from having choices. For most OB practitioners it is their way or the highway. Sadly, women don’t feel supported in certain settings. So they choose to birth at home where things turn out fine. As they did today. Trusting in the body’s innate ability to do what it was designed to do. Trusting that the woman and her partner know what is best for them. Trusting your own instinct as a practitioner that you will make the right decisions and seeing absolute joy and self empowerment on the women I serve is the epitome of celebrating women. Internationally. Respecting. Trusting Birth. This is what I do. This is what has sent me to 5 different continents to serve women and their families. This is why I feel so honored and blessed today…

Happy International Women’s Day!

Picture This

Posted on March 6, 2013 by flamidwyfe

More pics from my Awesome Aussie Adventure! Swimming, hiking and snorkeling in Maslins Beach and Port Willunga. And a quiet hike through the eucalyptus forest at Waterfall Gully…

And a fig, plucked right off the tree… Oh my were they good!

Enjoy! Ciao!

Exercise – Hiking & Walking Adelaide

Posted on March 3, 2013 by flamidwyfe

I am really enjoying my time in Adelaide. I’m staying with a lovely family, who are healthy and active and I’m eating good, fresh, organic food and getting tons of exercise!
I’ve met up with several people from MeetUp Adelaide and have done some amazing hikes in the mountains, beachside cliffs and national parks. Here are some stats and pictures…

Waterfall Gully up to Mount Lofty. Very steep!

Belair National Forest… Lots of Roos and koalas!!!

And yesterday a beachside cliff hike and swimming and a 90 minute reef snorkle (my calves are red!) and then another hike… Wonderful day and only one pic! LOL, my hiking companion took a ton of pictures so hopefully will have some to upload soon!

So, lots of exercise, good food and sunshine! I hope everyone out there is getting at least a 20 minute daily walk in! Get off the computer and go out now 🙂
Ciao! xoxo