Temperance and the Devil

My sister Judy was here yesterday and we read our cards. Here are a few I got…

Temperance and the Devil…. seems apropos for my endeavor to lose weight… Temperance suggests moderation. The Devil warns me to face my shadow side and transform it. I see the Devil as the purveyer obsessions and compulsions… Temperance as the Buddha's middle way. 

Good thing I also got the Empress and the Queen of Wands… From the Empress: creativity, nurturing, and sustenance… real world phyicality. Queen of Wands: More nurturing, she is the most nurturing of the Queens. May these nurturing archetypes assist me in truly nurturing my body with good healthy food and avoiding the tempting Devil of compulsion.

Delays and Distractions

Painterly Selfie with Clock

This week was not what I thought or expected it to be. I'm here at Thornbush looking after a sweet poodle named Suzie and some gossipy chicken in an environment so lovely, warm, and at least today humid, I can almost pretend I'm in Hawaii. I usually try to clear my calendar when I stay here and kind of thought that's what it would be like so I planned to fully implement the Millet Food Plan this week while I was here. (note: I'm using "food plan" instead of "diet" because I absolutly hate the word diet). Instead it was a busy week, I was ill-prepared, and so this has been another week of "transition" with even a few wild departures. But today is a new day and I'm here until tomorrow. I still have time to complete my transition, cook up some millet, and commit to the plan… and stay away from those fruit, nut, and seed bars with the cane syrup! 

But fresh strawberries are more than OK…

Vanquishing Sugar

Still transitioning toward the Millet diet I've taken on elimination of sugar as my first step toward healthier eating. My theory is that once I get over that hump my cravings for other foods will diminish. Cravings like… last night fantasizing about a pound cake with lots of gooey coconut frosting… its a good thing I did not have access to such a temptation. As for caffeine, I've decided that as long as my whole milk holds out I'm going to have a half cup of coffee a day with that lovely creamy substance… but when that whole milk is gone, and I can probably do that two more times,… that's it…

Thwarting Sugar

The Millet plan calls for just fruit for breakfast. Feeling like I needed something a little more substantial my solution is to put that fruit into a smoothie with a cup of unsweetened almond milk and a scoop of green superfood. With blueberries and a banana that's a tasty and super healthy beverage. Not that I couldn't sit down five minutes later to scrambled eggs, bacon, sourdough toast with real butter, and hash browns 10 minutes later… but… I won't… 

Super Smoothie

Whatever you may think of Governor Christy...

Whatever you think of New Jersey's Governor Christy, he was on Jimmy Fallon this week where he danced with Jimmy. Jimmy Fallon has made fun of Christy a lot both for political scandal, and with fat jokes. Jimmy did apologize but still resorted to a fat joke and Christy slapped him down for it. I thought that was kinda good.

See the whole episode: Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

Governor Christy Dancing with Jimmy Fallon

Yogi Bhajan's Millet Diet

"I know that with millet in my diet, my temperament,
my blood sugar, my blood pressure,
and myself will be peaceful and calm,
able to fly high like a white pigeon,
symbol of peace, against the vast blue sky."

Yogi Bhajan

Millet and Tofu with Veggies

It's not for everyone and that's for sure but I'm gearing up to get down with Yogi Bhaja's Millet Diet as my food plan. I have tried it before and I felt great eating this way. The first week is tough though because you eliminate sugar and caffeine… yes… I said… you eliminate sugar and caffeine. When I did it before I confess I cheated a little on this part and had Twig Tea with Sweetened Soymilk.

"The Millet Diet not only balances out the body's metabolism and blood sugar but it is very relaxing as well."

Bibiji Inderjit Kaur, author: The Siri Singh Sahib's Weight Loss Diet a.k.a. The Millet Diet

Aqua Zumba!

Alajandra, my Aqua Zumba Teacher 

They say… find an exercise you enjoy… for me, that's Water Zumba! The best thing I have done for my health this year is join San Juan Fitness Club. I go for the swimming pool and take a Water Zumba class. While I absolutely hate all forms of land exercise… put me in water up to my neck and play some loud latin music and I'm happy dancing Zumba. Our Zumba class is Tuesday and Thursday so I'll be going tomorrow morning. 

The Return of the Plump Dumpling

It's been a few years and I'm sorry to say I'm still wearing that same Muumuu I wore when last I wrote here on my Weightloss Blog. So why come back now? Well, first of all last weekend all four of my sisters came to the Island for a program at the American Camp National Historical Park celebrating the house that our Dad grew up in. This rare get together engendered a lot of picture taking. That's me in the blue dress. Its a reality that cannot be denied. I am one plump dumpling.

McRae Sisters at American Camp

Then on Thursday I saw my Doctor for a regular check up. The time before I'd lost 6 pounds. This time I gained back 4 of them. My Doc asked me if I ever thought about going to Weight Watchers. No. I won't. I can't stand the thought of going to Weight Watchers as I've metioned before on this blog… right here. Reactivating this blog is part of my alternative approach. I welcome the comments and camaraderie of any sympathetic souls especially those who also may be dealing with issues of an over abundance of body fat. Damn.