Weeds, Really?

Yesterday, I called Joan the nature center coordinator at Lake Geneva Youth Camp to find out when Domino goes back to camp. First, I want to say I love this lady she is the most knowledgeable person I know. She not only knows a lot about animals but nature in general. I guess that is why she is the nature center coordinator. LOL In our conversation, she remembers me as the girl who was there when she found the missing iguana. Upon our conversation about the lizard she starts telling me about the weeds you can eat. I knew about a few weeds you could eat like dandelion and garlic mustard but Joan mention lamb quarter. Holy Cow! That stuff grows in an abundance in my yard.

So Joan intrigued me to see what else is growing in my yard can I eat. I found the following links that show/name the plants as well as medicinal uses of them:

http://oldfashionedliving.com/weeds.html
http://www.wisebread.com/free-food-in-your-yard-edible-weeds
http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/discovering-edible-weeds/

So if you are looking for a new green to try. You may not have to travel very far!

Please be aware of the Safety Precautions that I am posting from the Old fashioned Living Website...

When using any type of plant material moderation is key. Ingesting too much of even the most benign substance can cause you to become ill.

Never harvest weeds from the side of the road. These plants may be contaminated from vehicle exhaust fumes.

Never harvest weeds in the wild unless you are absolutely certain of their identification and you have the permission of the land owner and you know that the field hasn't been sprayed with any harmful chemicals.

The safest way to harvest weeds is to look in your own yard. I have purslane growing allover my yard but I had to purchase seeds to establish my patches of chicory and dandelion which I planted in my garden next to my other herbs and vegetables.

Always practice organic gardening techniques in your garden especially when it's food you intend to eat.

Buckwheat

No, I am not talking about the Little Rascal! But I have heard a lot about Buckwheat recently. Then I was at Garden Fresh the other day BAM! There was a large end cap stack of buckwheat for $0.99 a bag. My hand went to grab some just to try but I hesitated and decided not to get it. Why does this little grain scare me so much? I have only had buckwheat soba noodles. So how exactly do I fix it? So I thought it was time to face my fears and do a little research on this little grain.

Did you know?

• Buckwheat has been grown in America since colonial days. In fact it was a common crop on most farms in the northeastern and northcentral United States.
• The leading buckwheat states are New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota.
• Buckwheat hit its all time high in 1866, when it was in demand for livestock and flour.
• 75% of the grain produced is used for livestock and poultry. 5-6% is used for flour. 5-10% is turned under for green manure. EW!
• Buckwheat can cause skin rashes if consumed in large amounts.

Ok so the big question is How do we cook it??? Well here we go...

Both roasted buckwheat (kasha) and raw hulled buckwheat (buckwheat groats) are easy to cook. For each cup of buckwheat, use two cups of water. Expect the buckwheat to expand to about double its size as it absorbs the water during cooking. After cooking, there are many ways to use buckwheat and kasha in main and side dishes as well as in baking and desserts.

Instructions for Cooking Kasha:

•Place two cups of water in a 2 quart pot and heat on medium high.

•Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt and bring water to a boil.

•Add kasha to water and stir it in well with a fork.

•Turn temperature to low and cover pot.

•Simmer for ten to fifteen minutes until kasha absorbs the water and is softened.

•It is important not to overcook buckwheat or it can become mushy.

Serving Suggestions:

Hot kasha is served as a healthy and filling porridge in Russia and Eastern Europe. Indeed, kasha served hot with cream makes a very nutritious breakfast. It can be sweetened with sugar or honey, and topped with fruit or nuts.

Hot kasha may also be seasoned with salt, pepper and other spices and served as a side dish in place of rice. Roasted kasha will have a deeper more earthy flavor than buckwheat groats.

Instructions for Cooking Buckwheat Groats:

Add two cups of water and 1/4 teaspoon of salt to a two-quart pot. Heat to boiling. Stir in 1 cup of buckwheat groats. Lower heat and simmer for fifteen to twenty minutes, until water is fully absorbed, stirring occasionally.

Serving suggestions:
Add sauteed onions, season with salt and serve hot as a side dish.

Well I guess that does not sound to frightening. I am actually interested in trying the porridge route. If any of you have tried cooking buckwheat and/or have any recipes, I would love to hear from you!



Sources: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/buckwheat.html
Read more at Suite101: How to Cook Buckwheat: Nutritious and Gluten Free, Make a Place For Buckwheat on the Menu

Does what we eat affect our moods?

This is my million dollar question of the day. I noticed that a fellow facebook friend posted they pigged out on pizza. Then today they mentioned they were crabby. It got me thinking does the foods we eat affect our moods? I know it holds true for me. When I went on my junk food binge last week I was not a happy camper. Those who know me well knows I love a good research project so here is what I found...

• According to Mayo Clinic, Omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, tryptophan, foliate and other B vitamins, low glycemic foods, and chocolate have all been studied to assess their impact on mood. They warn that there is not a direct link between these foods and improved mood. However, most of these nutrients and foods are part of a healthy diet. When one eats a diet of fruits, starchy vegetables and whole grains throughout the day they are fueling their body and keeping their blood sugar levels stable. They also suggest combining carbohydrates and proteins because they enhance the availability of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter said to have a calming effect and to play a role in sleep.
• Another article written by Rachel Lerner suggest that foods we eat wither help one to to feel better or worse. She says that one way to boost our moods is through a healthy diet. Lerner says a diet that is rich in vitamin B12 and folic acid can be found in beans, greens, meats, fish, poultry and dairy. These type of foods contain nutrients and antioxidants, which are needed for good health. The added bonus to these types of foods are they are lower in calories. Learner also suggest to eat foods that contain selenium. Consuming foods with selenium have been known to reduce oxidative stress in the brain. Selenium can be found in whole grains such as whole grains such as oatmeal, brown rice, beans, legumes, lean meats, dairy foods, nuts and seeds and seafood.
• I also found some more great information on Good Food, Good Mood. What I like about this article is they break down what foods are good for different scenarios including PMS. Did you know that calcium helps with impulse transmission in the brain?

Well there you have it...you are what you eat. Next time the office is cranky...bring in a veggie and/or fruit tray!

Small Accomplishment

Ok, so I have experienced some major set backs recently. I can even tell you where they have come from. The only thing I can think of, is I set a goal for myself to be at my goal weight by the end of March. Well guess what...I am not there. Is it because I have not been pushing myself hard enough? Maybe. Is it because I have been not watching portions and eating things I shouldn't be? Possibly. Lets face it I am human and I give in to tempations!

However, yesterday was a great reminder of how I used to feel when I ate junk. Maybe that was what I needed to get my head back where it should be. My alarm went off at 5:30 this morning. Remember I said I was going to get up at 5:30 and walk every morning? Well, here in Chicago it is gloomy and rained most of the night. My alarm went off and there was no sun shining in my window. I turned it off and thought that I would go back to sleep for another 30 minutes. Well...as I laid there I heard the birds chirping and then a little voice inside me said "Go Dawn, you can do it". I then thought if the birds were singing it couldn't be raining that hard. I put on my shoes and a sweat shirt. Called to the Shogun and we hit the pavement. There was a misty rain and we came back a little damp but I am left feeling a sense of accomplishment. It is the little things that add up and the same goes for BLT's (bites, licks and taste). ;-)

Feeling Crappy

I am writing this as a reminder to myself how I feel at this moment...

I did not eat a very good breakfast this morning. I am not even sure why I did that to myself but I did. Then I went with my best friend to Superdawg for her birthday. I ate all of my hotdog, fries and some deep fried veggies. At this moment saying a feel like crap is an understatement. I have a headache and I am tired. All signs that my body was not properly fuel today.

I am not sure why I felt the need to go off plan as badly as I have the last few weeks. I guess I have been all caught up in providing encouragement to others that I have forgotten about myself. Or maybe it is because I have been so close to goal I have given up on myself. It really doesn't matter because I need to get my head out of my rear!!!

The following comments are from my fellow Weight Watchers friends. I am posting them so that I can remember them when I start feeling like I do right now.

• You can't accomplish your goals with your feet to the ground. There is no advice to give other than DO IT. You have to take that first step and as you know from your previous losses, the first step is the hardest. Soon enough, it gets easier and easier. Welcome back.

 

• First off, I would give just about anything to have your stats. We all have weeks where we gain. Would you talk to a friend the way you're talking to yourself if she gained weight? Remember that if you continue on this way, you'll end up back where you started.

 

• Don't give up! Look how far you've come, and you're so close to goal! Take out old photos of yourself at your heavtiest/starting weight, and more recent ones. You don't want to go back there ~ take it from someone who has! Remember what it felt like to be that overweight. It's miserable. Just start tracking at your next meal and move forward. Even if you're just maintaining, at least focus on not gaining it all back!

 

• You're super cute in your white pants that I wish I could wear!! Remember how hard you worked to get to this point and don't let it all be for nothing. Too many of us have done that. It feels great to lose weight the first time around, but when you have to do it a second time, it's aggravating.

 

• Please don't be so hard on yourself. Get yourself back to a meeting even if it's not your regular one. Even if you gained back 10 lbs better to nip this is the bud now! I know I gained back every pound & then some because I felt the same way. Stop yourself now before you're too far gone. You can do it! Never again let yourself get so far gone!

 

• Take the first 5 full minutes of the day and clear your mind of everything but one item to ponder. A candle, a sunrise, a golf ball. Whatever. Surprisingly this really puts my mind into focus everyday. Second: start a diary to yourself. Coo at yourself. I write to myself every morning, as if I'm having a conversation with myself. No negative talk; I talk to myself as if I'm soothing my best friend. This whole process is ultimately about how you love yourself, how important it is to take care of yourself.

• That story is familiar to those of us who have been to WW before. Don't let a couple of bad weeks derail all of the good work you have been doing for so long. Face the scale and work from there. Sometimes, the numbers aren't as bad as you imagined. Hope you find some peace!

Biggest Loser Awakening (Spoiler Alert)

WARNING: If you are reading this and you have not seen this weeks Biggest Loser this will contain spoilers so you may want to STOP NOW!

So last night's Biggest Loser was pretty intense. All of the contestants had to run a marathon and they all were able to finish. What an accomplishment for people who were severely morbidly obese. Most of them probably have never been inside of a gym prior to the Biggest Loser.

I think who touched me the most last night was Daris. Why? Well I can relate. Overall, I have done very well in my weight loss but even after a year and a half I still find myself slacking off. Old habits are hard to kill. I think Daris had that eye opening experience last night. He was so focus on his goal of beating Tara Costa's time on the marathon, that he forgot about his weight loss program as a whole. This lack of focus caused him a 2 lb gain on the scale putting him below the yellow line with Koli. I can only imagine he was eating what he wanted because he thought it would be ok because he was running for hours.

What happened to Daris is a prime example of what kind of life we all lead. Let's face it we are all busy and the moment that we let our healthy eating habits or daily exercise slip away, we find our self back in the same situation. The scale is moving the wrong way. We are feeling fatigue because we are not exercising or eating properly. What Jillian said about Daris not controlling his food portions was eye opening to me. Recently, I have been guilty of the same thing. When Daris was not concerned about his gain and said how proud he was about his time on the marathon, I saw myself. Now don't get me wrong it is great to celebrate our accomplishments of our goals. However, when we allow them to over shadow our set backs it can lead us into dangerous territories. But I do think that Daris deserves a second chance. So vote DARIS!!!

Good Advice

Sorry I have been MIA. Life sometimes gets a little on the hectic side and I have very little time for me. I really don't have much to say today. I must confess I did not weigh-in or to my meeting. I am just feeling a little fat this week and did not want to see another positive number on the scale.

Anyway, I am trying to refocus myself again for the one millionth time and Tara Costa posted a new blog today. In case you don't know who Tara is she won Biggest Loser last season. You can view her blog here. I think this is pretty good advice and I am going to give it a go tomorrow morning.

Suffering from Negative Body Images

I am in constant battle with myself and my body. In my head I have always been a size 16. I was close to 250 lbs but in my head I was a size 16 but really I was a size 22. Even today, I have lost a little over 80 lbs, I find myself looking at plus size clothing. Especially, if I am shopping alone. My weight loss to me always has been and probably always will be a number on the scale. I am proud of my accomplishments and how healthy I become but I just don't see myself as other see me. When I look in the mirror I see myself still as an overweight person. The only time I see myself as thin is in picture comparisons. I am not alone in my struggles of negative body image.

Shepphird (2010) highlights three core elements associated with body image which includes the following: the way one sees oneself when looking in the mirror, the mental picture one has of one's body and attitude one has towards one's body such as perceptions, feelings and beliefs.

Usually people who suffer from distorted body image also suffer from eating disorders. I can say I am lucky and do not have an eating disorder. I don't have the will power to not eat. However, when I look in the mirror and see a fat person or I feel fat, I will push myself even harder to be active. If I don't I become very depressed. When I feel myself falling into this pattern I rely on some close friends who have helped me to see myself for me. They remind me of the positive things about myself. There is no such thing as a perfect body and we need to love the fact that God made us perfect in His image.

Reference:
Shepphird, S. (2010) 100 Questions & Answers About Anorexia Nervosa Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett

Eating Out is Nothing to Freak Out About

You are doing so well on your weight loss and now your invited out for dinner. You can feel your pulse rising and your stomach has butterflies. What do you do? You have not eaten out since you started losing weight! It is OK. Changing your eating habits is a life changing experience. In the real world you are going to face the challenges of eating out. Here are some tips to keep you on track:

How to Prepare

• Look Online. Many restaurants have online menus. You can look ahead and know what you are ordering before you even go. This will help you to identify the healthier items on the menu. Some restaurants will even post the nutritional values making it even easier to figure out what you are eating. Can't find the values online, try Calorie King. Tip: If you have acess to the menu ahead of time, don't look at the menu once you get there. Looking at the menu makes it easier to change your mind to something else.
• Mental Rehearse. It is helpful when you visualize in your head what you are going eat and the questions you are going to ask. It is like practicing for a speech or a performance, when you go over it ahead of time, you will feel less nervous and/or awkward when ordering your meal.
• Save your Points. If you are a Weight Watcher member you get an extra 35 points every week. If you know ahead of time you are going out with friends, family, etc. You can use those points when going out.
• Exercise! Calories in = Calories out. If you know you are going out, you may want to increase your exercise that day to burn off some of those extra calories you are going to eat.
• Suggest a Restaurant. When going out with friends or family, make a restaurant suggestion. We all know some ethic foods are better than others. If you suggest the restaurant then you are in control of what you can order off the menu.
• Don't Go Hungry!!! We all know what happens when we go grocery shopping hungry. Well going to a restaurant hungry usually leads to poor food choices. It can also lead to dipping into appetizers and bread baskets.
• No Elastic Waist Bands! If you wear a pair of pants that fit, you will easily know when to stop eating. Enough said!

How and What to Order

• Order on the side. Ordering sauces and salad dressing on the side will allow you to control your intake of them.
• Substitute. It doesn't hurt to ask if they can substitute fries for a salad or fresh veggies. Maybe they offer a salad with fried chicken, you can always ask for grilled. Restaurants are there to serve you and they want your business!
• Order First. If you are in a group ask to order first. This will prevent you from changing your order to something else.
• Ask Questions. Always ask how things are prepared. There is nothing worse than ordering a side of veggies only to have them come swimming in butter and/or oil. I am still working on this one.

Eating out does not have to be a stressful situation. The more prepared you are the easier it will be!

How I earn my Activity Points!

This is not one of my usual blogs but I wanted to show how I earn activity points.
Here are some photos of my hard work...

This is a photo of my house before I started working in the yard

This is what it looks like now!

The newly installed sidewalk.

 

This patch contains: Eatable Plants: Swiss Chard, Rhubarb, Chives, Mint & Spearmint

(Gardening Tip: Plant Mint in an underground pot. It will keep it from taking over everything.!

Uneatable Plants: Roses, Columbines, Day Lillies, Gladiolus and Tickseed

My little Gnome hard at work in my Petunia basket.

Hey little man!

My Clematis is full of huge blooms this year. I planted this mid summer last year.

Notice the bamboo fence? I installed this to hide the neighbor's ugly shed and garbage.

This is my new addition this year. This patch contains Azalea, Forget-me-nots, Longwort, Gladiolus, Pansies and some plant I forgot the name of. LOL

I had to show these little guys. Aren't they cute?!?!?

They hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil!

This little guy loves helping in the garden. He is such a good Gnome.

Now if he only would pull the weeds around him! LOL

If you visit my front walk way you will come across this adorble little terracotta frog. He is there to remind me of dad. When I was a little girl my dad called me "Toad". If you are wondering why a dad would call his little girl toad well...I loved catching toads. When I was outside in the summer there was a high chance you would find a toad in my hand.

This is all I have to report from my garden activity today. I will post more of my vegetable garden later on in the month. Just another reminder...earning activity does not mean you have to go to the dreaded gym (unless you like going to the gym). Find a hobby or something you enjoy that keeps you moving. Make activity fun and get your children involved.

Surviving Weight Loss Setbacks

I am happy to report in another loss this week. I am now 1.6 lbs away from being back where I was. It sure is easier to gain than lose!!! It is a known fact that we all suffer from discouragement and setback on our journey to find our thinner self. When I created this blog it was to help me get through those trials and struggles. So here are some of my suggestions to help survive those setbacks:

• Why I am eating that? You're in the line at the store and the next thing you know there is a Snickers bar in your hand. What is it about that Snickers bar that you want it? Are you hungry? Did you have a stressful day? By identifying the reasons you want that snack or junk food may help you to make better decisions later on. My husband keeps buying Twinkies, ding-dongs and Swiss rolls for the kids lunches. This morning I was starving when I woke up and I just couldn't wait to eat my breakfast. Instead of opening the box of Swiss rolls, I reached into the freezer and pulled out a 1 pt frozen Chocolate bar. I saved myself 5 points and got the chocolaty sweetness I was looking for. It kept me in check until my oatmeal was done. :)
• Take a time out. Sometimes taking a walk or making some busy work will get rid of that food craving. For some reason when I come home from work I want to snack. It didn't matter if I was hungry or not. I have found if I come home change my shoes and go work outside or walk the dog it takes that food craving away.
• Don't Beat yourself up. I have said this many times...One bad meal does not blow a day, one bad day does not blow a week and one bad week does not mean give up. What is in the past is in the past, move on and reframe yourself. Set a small achievable goal to get yourself back on track.
• Dial a friend. If you are having a bad food day, call a friend. We all need friends to help us through the rough spots in life, weight loss is no different. You might be surprise and your friend might offer some advice you have not tried yet.
• Hit the gym and/or pavement. Instead of feeling frustrated with yourself use those feelings to push yourself harder. Remember it is not a punishment but a way to workout negative energy and stress.
• Had a bad week? Look back and see what happened. This is why it is important to track or journal the foods you are eating. If you have a bad week you can see where you might have gone wrong and fix it going forward. If you had a really good week then you can look at it and use it to help you get back on track.
• Review your goals. Be sure to set small achievable goals for yourself. It doesn't have to be "I want to lose 5 lbs by X date". They can be goals such as I am going to track 7 days this week or I am going to plan all my meals ahead of time.

Remember, you're not a failure. Reverting to old behaviors doesn't mean that all hope is lost. It just means that you need to recharge your motivation, recommit to yourself and return back to healthy behaviors.

Suffering from slight exhaustion.

I overworked myself this weekend. Saturday I spent the entire day outside working. I started at 9:30 AM planting until my dad arrived around 10:30. We installed a new paver walkway in front of our house. The old walkway was useless and was not properly installed. We wrapped up the project around 4 PM and I continued working on the final touches until about 7:30 PM. Needless to say it was a VERY LONG day!

Yesterday, my son, daughter and myself spent 3 hours pulling gralic mustard weeds at a local nature center. I still cannot get the smell out of my nose. BLAH! I am happy to report that none of us got posion ivy. I was a little rashy last night and I was worried that I may have gotten into some. But I woke up with nothing this morning. Praise God!!!

After all of that weekend activity, I am left feeling like I have not slept. I added it all up and I raked in about 27 activity points in two days. I don't know if I can say it was worth it. I am so exhausted right now that I totally understand why people get hospitalized for exhaustion. It is a horrible feeling and I feel like I could sleep for days. But if I don't do it, then it will never get done. I was told this morning that it is "my fun." I don't know if I would call it "fun" but I take pride in myself and my house. If I don't put forth the effort and up keep then it will cost more in repairs later on.

I hope you all had a great weekend. Tomorrow is weigh-in day for me. I hope to have a good number to report!