Get Healthy Blogfest

Today I am taking part in the Get Healthy Blogfest being hosted by: Alex Cavanaugh, L. Diane Wolfe , Michael Di Gesu, and Stephen Tremp, a  Blog Hop that focuses  on health. 

Funnily enough I have been trying to do something about my weight since January and have been helped by the programme FitDay where you can record everything you eat each day to keep a track of your intake. They call themselves a Free Diet and Weight Loss Journal and that’s exactly what it is, FREE. I have been dieting since I was 11 years old and have found over the years that recording your food intake is one of the best ways to help lose weight. There are several similar programmes on the internet including Weight Watchers which, unfortunately, you have to pay to use. It is essential one cuts back one’s nutritional intake to lose weight, but at the same time it is essential that we consume a healthy balance of nutrients, including some fats which most people avoid like the plague. You cannot be healthy without a well balanced diet.

Exercise is great if you can do it. Unfortunately these days I cannot do much although its not too many years since I used to walk 4 miles a day and the weight really dropped off me. You really don’t need to spend lots of time in a gymnasium, walking is wonderful exercise and doesn’t cost anything. People often excuse themselves as they say they have no time, not true, if nothing else, turn off the TV and get out there. You can start off small and gradually increase the amount you walk. Even walking three times a week is good to start off with. Of course if you live somewhere that gets a lot of snow and ice in the winter, then you have to go somewhere to walk. Many Malls open early to accommodate Mall walkers, again, FREE. As most of you know, Matt and I go bowling which is not bad exercise, you would be surprised how many calories that uses up. I also bought myself a treadmill a few years ago and am trying to get back to using that. Slow build up, but its coming along.

I am always on about asparagus, but that is a great health food just on its own. I often cook myself some and put Butter Buds on, unfortunately Butter Buds aren’t available in Canada, but in the US you have no excuse. I love that product it is good to add to many foods such as baked potatoes and corn. Although please don’t eat too much of either.

If you are not sure of just what is a good menu for losing weight, there are many sources on the internet which will help you with just that. FitDay itself has a nutritionist available – I’ve never sought that help myself, but after having weight problems all my life, I have an excellent idea of what I should eat and how much, just don’t stick to it all the time unfortunately. I have lost 16 lbs. this year, but have quite a few more to go. If I had kept off all the weight I have lost in my life you wouldn’t be able to see me. Weight Watchers is also a great place to go but you have to pay to join and then pay every week. However they do give you good support and motivation a thing which helps most people. You can also, as a woman, join Curves which is a good place to exercise. I used to belong but with my leg problems had to quit. There is a similar place for men but I can never remember what it’s called.

Last, but not least, is T'ai Chi or T'ai Chi Chuan . I started learning some 15 or so years ago and whilst I was practicing regularly I felt fit and well. Like a fool, I have let it lapse and plan to start doing it again regularly although I don't have a lot of room to do T'ai Chi any more. The Chinese believe that it stimulates chi or energy in the body and this affects your mind, body and spirit, it is a wonderful exercise for balance both physically and mentally. The stories of people who have survived longer than expected because of practicing T'ai Chi are endless, I can't praise it highly enough myself. I still do a little now and then but need to get back to a regular habit once more. The Chinese know what they are talking about. I had originally tried to learn from a video, I found that virtually impossible but whilst living in North Carolina I was lucky enough to find a sifu (teacher) and studied with her for a number of years before we came back to Canada.

Finally, of course, if you have been reading my blogs lately, you will know I now possess a CPAP machine which is supposed to help me sleep well and not snore, and not gasp for breath during the night. I think it is beginning to work. Yesterday I felt pretty good all day.

Here is a Weight Watcher’s recipe we have been using for years and thoroughly enjoy. For some reason you can't see the carrot which makes the dish look prettier.

Pork and Black Beans

Turkey breast can be subbed for pork.


4 servings
2 garlic cloves minced
1/2 tsp hot paprika
1/3 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp salt
5 oz. lean pork tenderloin
1 tsp EVOO
2 tbs white vinegar
One 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 carrot, finely diced (we prefer this shredded)
2 tbs fresh lime juice
1/2 tomato, diced
1 red onion, chopped
2 Tbs chopped cilantro

In a small bowl, combine the garlic, paprika, cumin and salt; rub into the pork.

In a medium nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Sauté the pork until browned, 2-3 minutes on each side. Reduce the heat and cook, covered, turning occasionally, until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Halve the pork lengthwise, then cut crosswise into thin slices.

Add the vinegar to the pan drippings (stand back whilst doing this, the fumes are pungent) and simmer, stirring, until the acidity cooks off, about 2 minutes. Add the beans, carrot and lime juice, cook, tossing, about 1 minute. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add the pork, tomato, onion and cilantro; toss to combine. Serve.

Per serving: 190 calories, 3 g. Total fat, 1 g sat fat, 23 mg Cholesterol, 163 mg Sodium, 26g Total Carbs, 3 g dietary fibre, 16 g protein, 30 mg calcium. WW Points 3.

Have a great day.

Beginnings Blogfest, Internet, Dieting.

I’m a day late but I hope not a dollar short. I began my blogging journey in October 2007 with the fond hope that I could make a few bucks out of it. I had been to a seminar which had given me a few ideas so I thought I would put them into practice. Needless to say, it didn’t work. Although I had Adsense for a while, they eventually abandoned me, they obviously didn’t like what I did. I don’t know what happens because another friend who had been publishing an ezine for years with ads by Adsense was also suddenly dropped – he didn’t know why either. In his case his ezine was his only source of income, so he wasn’t too happy. I still carry ads, Amazon for instance, but I have never earned a penny from them.

It turned out, though, that I like writing a blog. I have written one almost every day since I started although I stopped posting on Sundays. I have astonished myself by how much I have written in the last few years and how many recipes I have found and tried in that time as well. Of course my first blog was about me. I thought about writing more about me, but I would imagine anyone who has been with my blog for a while knows as much about me as I do myself. Not only that if you were to follow the link on my profile, you would find out a lot of stuff.

Right now I am wasting my time writing anything as I cannot get on the internet, once again. At least we still have phone service. Now, though, when I call the ISP I get “we’re sorry all circuits are busy now” earlier, before Jeopardy! which I watch no matter what, I was waiting for half an hour. Once again they seem to be having phone problems at their end as well. Its enough to drive one gaga. I can’t do anything, let alone post a blog. Finally the internet came back on around 11:15. I was just about to pack it in and go to bed.
Having decided to try and lose a few pounds, although I need to lose more than a few, I signed up with FitDay where you can enter what you eat every day to keep track of the calories you consume. You can also add foods that they don’t have on their lists. I’ve been using it for a couple of days now. It is quite comprehensive, you can add your moods and your exercise amongst other things you can do on the site. Still got lots to explore. I got a bit fed up with all the ads on the free page so I upgraded for $4 something a month. I might say Weight Watchers used to charge $22 a month for their online membership. May well be more these days. WebMD offer a similar programme, but I entered a load of stuff, didn’t use it for a while and when I went back it was all gone so I was a bit teed off.

Talking of Weight Watchers this is a favourite recipe of theirs which we enjoy now and again. Another recipe with beans. No picture, but this is a nice one of a pork tenderloin.

Pork and Black Beans
Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook
If you like, use turkey breast instead of the pork
Makes 4 servings

2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp hot paprika
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp salt
5 oz. lean pork tenderloin
1 tsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
2 Tbs white vinegar
One 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 carrot, finely diced (we shred it)
2 tbs fresh lime juice
1/2 tomato, diced
1 red onion, chopped
2 tbs chopped cilantro

In a small bowl, combined the garlic, paprika, cumin and salt; rub into the pork.
In a medium nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Sauté the pork until browned, 2-3 minutes on each side. Reduce the heat and cook, covered, turning occasionally, until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Halve the pork lengthwise, then cut crosswise into thin slices.

Add the vinegar to the pan drippings and simmer, stirring*, until the acidity cooks off, about 2 minutes. Add the beans, carrot and lime juice; cook, tossing, about 1 minute. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add the pork, tomato, onion and cilantro; toss to combine.

* If you aren’t careful and breathe in the fumes, it can knock your head off.

Have a great day