Going Shopping in My Own Closet

I tried on my old work skirts today. I can fit into them. Three years ago, I couldn't even zip them up! Woohoo!

Luckily they are not out of style. They are classic A-line skirts from Jcrew and Banana Republic. They still look cute and are in good condition!

I'm so happy!

Fatso Manifesto: Weight Problems

I am now in the size I was two years ago. Two years ago I felt I looked pretty good and was in good shape due to the fact I was flamenco-ing and bellydancing 4 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This time around I look at myself in the mirror and think I'm STILL fat. What the hell is going on here?

Look At These Beauties!

New at the Farmers Market! First persimmons of the season and brussels sprouts on the stalk. Have you seen anything more beautiful?

Fatso Manifesto Update

Woohoo! I am officially in my old jeans I wore 2 years ago! YAY! YAY! YAY!

Although, I haven't reached my ultimate goal...yet.

Farmer's Market Goodness

Another haul at the Farmer's Market. I am going to make homemade marinara sauce with the celery, carrots, fresh basil, and a bushel of tomatoes still growing in our garden! I picked up some swiss chard and yellow zucchini. I asked the farmer lady what I could do with the swiss chard and she suggested to sautee it with garlic and olive oil. Also, she said the yellow zucchini is much sweeter than the green zucchini. Sounds good! I can't wait to stuff my gob!

Earthquake Weather

It is freakin' hot today! It's around 97 degrees! Either Indian summer has started early or we are going to have an earthquake. Today was way too hot to spend all day outdoors so we didn't spend much time in the Farmer's Market. We got whatever we needed and booked it out of there. My dog, Maggie was in the back of the Landcruiser, we were worried about her also. Luckily, I packed some ice so it wouldn't be too hot for her.

«Another typical but roasting day at the Farmer's Market...»

It was so hot people were walking around wit parasols

Headless people playing chess!

New goodies in season from the Farmer's Market...

Bounty of peppers: red and green bell peppers, jalapenos, banana peppers! All this for only a dollar!

Succulent and sweet strawberries! $3 dollars for a huge basket!

Fatso Manifesto: Eating With the Seasons

Today was a gorgeous day. The weather was just right, not too hot and not too cold. I went with my mom to the Farmer's Market. I can never get bored of the Farmer's Market. Every time I go, I encounter new and exciting fruits and veggies that peak my curiosity. I'm also starting to learn which fruits and veggies are in season. And believe me when I tell you this, you save a shitload of money when you shop for produce in season.Not only do you save money but you are buying produce at their peak, when they are at their highest in nutrients. August is the best month because there is so much variety to choose from! These days I hardly ever spend my money, and if I'm gonna spend it, I'd rather spend it on good food that's good for me! I spent a whopping $12 at farmer's market (plus $10 at the Asian supermarket)! Unbelievable price for the amount of stuff I got!

«Check out what's in season (and some not in season)...»

Fruits and Veggies in Season at the Farmer's Market:

Six ears of fresh, sweet corn for $3!They are cheap! Corn is at its peak in August so get them while you can! Are you jealous, Hop Along? I know you love fresh corn on the cob! :P

Organic Japanese Eggplant (or aubergine for you UKers) $2 per lb.

Zucchini (or as they say in UK "courgettes") $2 per lb.

Gorgeous red and green bell peppers. I got two for $1.50

Mini Yellow Heirloom Tomatoes for only $.75 per lb. These are so cute and they taste good too!

Such a work of art! I can stare at these all day! It's late rasberry season! I got a mix of three different berries for $3.00! Blackberries, Golden Yellow rasberries, and red rasberries

These beautiful babies are in season! You can tell they are at their peak because I bit into one and I swear it was so juicy I had to wear a bikini to eat it. It's really sweet too. White peaches and nectarines are going for $1.50 per lb!

Sold at the Farmer's Market but not in season:

Cauliflower is a winter vegetable. $2.00 a head

Broccoli, another winter veggie

Organic Parsley and Cilantro(UK translation: coriander), these Fall/Winter/Spring herbs

More stuff at the Asian supermarket:

Lime is only 10 cents here!

Spring onions are only 54 cents a bundle

Red leaf lettuce is only 54 cents a head

I crave for noodles lately. Buckwheat soba and Sweet Potato cellophane are my favorite. I like to have my noodles with sauteed veggies or the soba noodles in broth.

And for a little treat now and then, Mochi ice cream! If you never had Mochi ice cream, I suggest you try it, it is so good! Mochi ice cream is a Japanese confection made from mochi (pulverized sticky rice) with an ice cream filling in different kinds of flavors: strawberry, mango, chocolate, green tea, etc.

And on top of all the produce we bought at the farmer's market and the asian supermarket, our garden is going crazy. We are currently harvesting...

Can you guess it's tomato season? The pic doesn't do it justice. These tomatoes are as big as a newborn baby's head. They are the big bertha variety and that's not even half of it. There are roma tomatoes and cherry tomatoes still ripening on the vine. More to come!

We also have fuji apples and miniature pears!

Whew! I'm beat. Now THIS is a grocery haul! I'll be eating good this week! :)

Fatso Manifesto: Trader Joe's Haul #2

Yesterday was another grocery haul at Trader Joe's. I wanted to stock up on items so my trips would be less frequent during the month(the nearest TJ's is 30 minutes from my house, not exactly around the corner) which is why I bought more than I had intended. I ended up walking out with 3 full bags of groceries for $80! I was over my $50 per week limit, but still, $80 for 3 bags sounds like a good deal to me. I got my usual staple items and some new items I wanted to try.

«Check out the goodies...»


Grains and Nuts

Ak-mak crackers, corn tortillas, sprouted grain bread, and raw almonds

Sprouted grain bread I haven't tried before. I saw it on the shelf and decided to pick a loaf up and give it a go since I am trying to limit my gluten, carb, and sugar intake. I've also been reading about sprouted grains and how they are more nutritious than regular wheat bread:

[Sprouted grain bread] is a flourless bread made with grains and legumes that are sprouted before grinding into flour. Sprouted grains have increased vitamin and nutrient content because the seed is first sprouted, making it alive and active in its growth process.

Some of these sprouted grain breads take on a very sweet taste because sprouting changes some starches in grains to sugars. In addition, the bread is moist and is made without yeast. The bread can also be made with no or low salt, and it is sometimes flavored with raisin and cinnamon to make the bread almost dessert-like.

Sprouted grain breads are very healthy. For the most part, sprouted grain breads use organic ingredients and are grown without pesticides and herbicides. They have a low glycemic index of about 45 and are low in saturated fat. - Associated Content


Boxed Items

Almond milk, Corn and Red Pepper Soup, Organic Tomato and Red Pepper Soup

Can I just say the organic tomato and red pepper soup is da bomb? I can never get enough of this soup which is why I was very happy that they have a low sodium version.

The Corn and Red Pepper Soup I have never tried before until today. It is REALLY good! It has the sweetness of corn and a slight kick of spice.

Almond milk I have never had before. I've been reading weight loss forums and people have been raving about Almond milk so I decided to give it a try. I'm also bored of soy milk and I've been reading mixed messages about soy milk (ie how it causes cancer because of the phytoestrogens). Not sure if this claim is scientifically proven but it's freaking me out. Anyways, I can't wait to have almond milk with my cereals and oatmeal, I'm sure the nutty flavor will enhance the yumminess!


Dairy and Other Fridge Items

Nonfat greek yogurts, mediterranean hummus, and tzatziki

I liked the nonfat greek yogurt so much, I bought a tub of the plain kind. I love thick and creamy yogurts.

Of course another tub of mediterranean hummus, the best hummus on the planet (next to Mark's and Sparks).

I was so happy when I saw tzatziki on the shelves, last time it was all sold out which sucked. Now I can make falafel burgers and top them off with the tzatziki! Yay!


Canned Goods



I plan to make turkey chili with the organic black beans and the diced tomatoes. Perfect accompaniment with the corn tortillas I bought as a substitute for corn bread.

Light coconut milk for my curry fixes. It's not as creamy and thick as regular coconut milk but whatever it's much less in calories and fat.

The peach salsa and spinach sauce I haven't tried before. On the youtube grocery hauls (I confess I'm addicted) they rave so much about it, I just had to get it. Not sure what I'm going to make with these, but I'm sure I'll think of something.

Meats

Grilled Balsamic and Rosemary Chicken, Sundried Tomato and Basil Chicken Sausage

TJ meats are hormone and antibiotic free. I've never tried these before but they sound good. The Grilled Balsamic Rosemary Chicken would be perfect for salads. Chicken sausages sauteed with bell peppers and onions served over quinoa pasta. Does this sound like a weight loss diet to you?



Freezer Items

Steelcut oatmeal, meatless meatballs, soycutash, frozen chopped cilantro and basil, garlic naan

The garlic naan handsdown is the closest you can get to Indian naan served in restaurants. I like to make pizza out of it or make philly cheese steak sandwiches(instead of steak I use grilled chicken).

Frozen steelcut oatmeal is a great invention. They come in packs of two cups. You just pop it in the microwave and eat. So convenient! If you have ever cooked steelcut oats over the stove top, you already know it takes forever to cook. This will be a great grab and go breakfast for me since I will be going back to school next week.

Meatless meatballs I've never had before. 100% vegan and all natural. I figure it would be great for pasta dinners.

I was floored to see the dorot frozen herbs. These are awesome! I always by a bundle of fresh herbs, snip some off for one dish, then the rest spoils by the end of the week.

Soycutash, I've never had but looked interesting. It's a mix of soy beans(genetically unmodified I hope), carrots, and greenbeans.


Produce



I ran out of my staple greens so I dropped by Costco to pick up mixed green salad and some mini cucumbers. I like to snack on mini cucumbers and dip them with hummus. For produce, I usually go to Costco because it is cheaper to buy in bulk (and yes, I do finish it off by the end of the week.), the Asian supermarket and, of course, local farmers markets, also sell very cheap and quality produce.

Back in the Saddle Again

After being off my bicycle for a few months and gaining the 7lbs back plus change, I'm back on it again. Last time I was out back in March I ended up carrying the bike the last few miles home. I'd noticed the chain start to skip a little but didn't really think much of it until I was riding up a fairly steep street and the pedals locked. In my exhausted state I thought it would be a good idea to step down on the pedal with all my weight to see if they would free it. Bad idea. This ripped the chain off the rear cassette and firmly jammed it all the way around the rear hub between the cassette and spokes. I carried the bike to a friends place close by. I'd been talking with Paul on the phone earlier and had already arranged to call by on my way home for some tea. By the time I got there I needed it.

It just hadn't been a good day at all really. My usual 30 mile run takes me out of Belfast toward Nutts Corner roundabout, on to the International Airport, down into Templepatrick and back to Belfast. A few miles from Nutts Corner I'd got myself a puncture which took around 30 minutes to fix, mostly because I'd never used the mini pump before and couldn't work it out. Half way through trying to repair the puncture, I look up the road and not 20 feet from me and walking slowly toward me was a big shaggy golden haired dog. Now I'm in the middle of nowhere here. Nothing around for miles except a few farm houses and a gas station a mile or so down the road. The dog walked up to me, stopped and just looked at me. I'm thinking to myself, I can't believe this is happening. I'm having a hard time fixing this puncture and now this dog is gonna maul me and there's no one around to help. So I kinda slowly move the bike between me and the dog and as firmly as i can muster without upsetting the beast, tell it to go home. It slowly starts to walk again past me and on down the road. Looking back at me once with a dirty look. I continued on with the fixing. I'd had the good sense to carry and few spare tubes and tyre levers and so on. So it was really just a case of replacing the tube. I'd do the repairing when I got home. I eventually got the new tube in the wheel and the tyre back on the rim and was by this time covered in oil from the chain but was ready to set off again quietly pleased with myself. I got on the bike and looked down the road. I couldn't believe it. There was the dog coming back toward me, only this time with a small carton of milk in it's mouth. The dog had gone to the store a mile down the road and actually got some milk. It walked past me, milk in mouth. Looked at me and walked up the road a hundred yards or so. Crossed the road and disappeared up the lane way to a farm house. Now I'd seen it all.

The rest of the journey went fine until the chain incident. So since then the bike has been in the garage waiting to be repaired. The weight came back on aided by a face stuffing trip accompanying my baybee in California. We'll get into all that later. So this is day 2. To start off I'm just running the turbo trainer in the garage for 30 minutes a day to get the legs turning again. Probably do that for a few weeks until I feel up to going out again. I'm around 12 stones at the moment which is around 168lbs. The goal is to be around 11.5 stones (160lbs) by November which is when I'm back in California. This time I'm gonna try to cut out all the rubbish I usually eat.

We'll see how it goes. I'm not one to get obsessive about these things.

Fatso Manifesto: My Menu Plan

I haven't posted a fatso manifesto in awhile. This doesn't mean I've fallen off the weight loss bandwagon. Although, I must admit I haven't been consistent with the exercise and dieting when I was in Belfast. Life got in the way and the move back to America. You know how it goes...

Now that I'm in California, it's just so much easier for me to diet and exercise. For one, the weather in California doesn't dictate when I should go out for a jog/walk nor does it dictate my mood. I get very depressed in gray weather therefore I lack motivation and I am just plain lazy.

Number two, is the abundance of fresh local produce available in California all-year-round and I love, love Farmer's Markets (as you faithful followers already know). It's hard to avoid the words "organic", "all natural", or "hormone and antibiotic free". It is everywhere! Almost everyone is health conscious for the most part.

So with that being said, I have no excuses this time. And I've been doing brilliantly! I've already lost 10 lbs. That's 3/4 of a stone for you UK folks! It's only been about 2 months. Slowly but surely, I will get to my goal! Nobody said losing weight was going to be fast and easy. If you do it the healthy way, that is.

I give a lot of credit to the way I have changed my way of eating and the way I view food. I don't have a menu plan per say but follow a few simple guidelines. I hate counting calories, measuring things. It's just too much work for me. So I have stopped eating refined carbohydrates and starch such as white rice, pasta, potatoes, and sugar. I haven't been craving these things at all. I thought this would be difficult to do but surprisingly it was pretty easy. I have replaced the refined carbs with gluten free whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat tortillas, and breads. I load up on vegetables. Veggies comprise a good 60% of my diet. I try to have vegetables and/or fruits with every meal including breakfast. They say you are supposed to have at least 5-9 servings of fruits and veggies a day and eat a variety of all colors of the rainbow. I try hard to fall within this range. I cut back on eating meat to twice a week. Lately, I haven't had a taste for meat for some reason but I still add it in my diet to get the protein and omega 3 (from fish) I need. I eat only white lean meats now, chicken, fish, or turkey and it has to be organic meaning no hormones or antibiotics. On the off meat days, I get my protein from soy, beans, and nuts. Dairy at the most twice a day, organic yogurt and cheese. Water. I can't stress enough the importance of drinking water. I don't drink soda anymore nor do I drink juices because of the sugar content. The only "non-water" beverages I drink are chai or green tea (antioxidants). Fats. At the most 2 servings of good fats such as olive oil, nuts, and avocado. If I buy prepackaged food, I read the labels. If I can't pronounce the ingredients and are not a natural food, I will not buy it. If it is over 5g of fat, has high sugar or sodium content, I stay away.

I don't know if this is just psychosomatic but ever since I've been eating mostly organic and all natural. My energy is up, my mood has been up, I sleep better, my skin is clear, I have a nice healthy glow, and I don't feel as bloated anymore. Even my parents have noticed the change and have been converted into buying mostly organic, natural foods to stock the kitchen. If it's not organic or all natural, then whatever it is, it is working and my body is enjoying it!

I completely have a different take on food now. I have a better new found appreciation for food and where it comes from. Food not only has to be appetizing but have the nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy mind and body.

Here's what I eat on a typical day:

Beverages (throughout the day): Water and Green Tea

Breakfast: Oatmeal with blueberries, sliced banana, soymilk and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Exercise: Brisk walk for 3.5 miles

Snack: Organic Greek Style Yogurt - 1/2 cup

Lunch: Garlic Naan Pizza topped with veggies and a side salad of spinach w/ red onion and balsamic vinaigrette...



Snack: 1 cup of fruit salad and a handful of almonds

Exercise: 60 minutes on the elliptical trainer

Dinner: A vegetable crudite plate with stone ground whole wheat crackers and hummus dipping sauce....

Trader Joe's vs. M&S Simply Food

TJ's clever dig on Whole Foods

I have been missing Marks & Spencer Simply food for the past few weeks. There is no grocery store like it here in the US. We do have Whole Foods, Mollie Stones, and Andronico's which I wouldn't dare go into since you have to make more money than the Beatles to shop there and being the unemployed bum that I am, I am skint. So what other options are left for the cheapskate, food obsessed Flippin' Yank? Why, TRADER JOE'S of course!

I love you Marks & Sparks but TJ's is a tough contender! TJ's is the bomb diggity of grocery stores! Here's why:

1)Most of their products are organic, all natural, and high quality.

2) Hella cheap prices for organic food products. You can get away with spending two weeks worth of organic for only $40. This is unheard of!

3) A massive and unique selection you can't find in a regular grocery store like sparkling sake, soy chorizo, chili spiced mango (dried fruit snack), irish soda bread cranberry crisps (also see my grocery haul below)

4) Great wine selection for cheap prices. 2 buck chuck. Nuff said.

5) VERY Vegan and Vegetarian friendly grocery store. I'm an omnivore but if I were vegan or vegetarian, I can easily see myself going crazy in this store.

6)(Ahem...They don't close at 6PM. They don't close at 3pm on a Sunday.) TJ's is open until 9pm. Every. Single. Day.

7) Customer service is top notch. Super friendly and helpful staff. You can tell they really love their job and like being there. TJ's must treat their employees well. To top it off, they wear tacky Hawaiian shirts!


TJ's does have its cons. I'm sure some of their products are a miss (although I haven't personally encountered this yet), just choose carefully. Their "Food To Go" section is not as amazing as M&S. M&S is king in this department. Nothing beats M&S dinner for 2 for £10. Oh and M&S decadent desserts. *Sighs* Also M&S hummus is the best hummus I have ever had in my life. They must put crack (not craic) in there because I was so addicted to that stuff! Although, TJ's hummus is very close by a hair. Another bad thing about TJ's is sometimes your favorite products become discontinued and some of them come back again months after. Their stock is inconsistent. One major gripe I have about TJ's is that the layout of the store isn't very organized. I found myself running around the store like a headless chicken. They shelf products in random places like crackers above the frozen food section. WTH? TJ's should seriously send some spies to scope out M&S because their store plan is impeccable, very user friendly and well organized.

Any of you Yanks or UK natives had experience in both stores? I am curious which you prefer and why? And for the Yank abroad, do you find yourself pining for TJ's? What are your favorite TJ or M&S products? Feel free to leave a comment. :)

TJ grocery haul for this week

My grocery haul:

Organic Red Pepper & Tomato Soup $2.79
Organic Blue Agave Sweetner $2.99
Ack-Mak Crackers $1.39
Organic Greek Style Yogurt $1.69 x 3
(Plain, Vanilla, Honey flavors)
Greek Style Nonfat Yogurt $1.19 x 2
(Pomegranate, Blueberry flavors)
Frozen Garlic Naan Indian Bread $1.99
Olive Oil Spray $2.99
Brown Rice Tortillas $2.49
Roasted Creamy Almond Butter $4.99
Whole Wheat Pita Bread $1.49
Mediterranean Hummus $3.99
Portabella Mushrooms $2.99
3 Cheese Lite Shredded Cheese $3.99
Soy Chorizo $1.99
Cuban Style Black Beans $1.29
Organic Marinara $2.29
Cilantro and Chive Yogurt Dip $3.29
Pizza Sauce $1.89

Total: $50.29 <--- Awesome! :D

Fatso Manifesto: Mindful Eating

Today marks the first week of my weight loss journey and...

Holy Crap! My jeans are already loose! These are the same jeans I bought a month ago. When I tried them on, I really had to suck in my gut to button them up. I was in tears that I still had to do this even though they were a size larger. Now, I can button them up without fainting. They are hella loose, so loose I can peel them off without unbuttoning or unfastening the zipper.

The weird thing is. I don't feel like I'm dieting. I'm grazing like a cow and I'm not counting calories. I'm CONSTANTLY eating throughout the day. I even have to remind myself that I need to eat sometimes. I'm eating small meals every 3 hours and I notice the better food choices I make, the more I can eat. So for a mid-day snack, instead of reaching for those mini-rolls, I eat a really big bowl of salad enough to feel satisfied.

My biggest hurdle this week was dealing with my carb cravings. I have the worst sweet tooth. Whenever I'd have these cravings, I eat fruit or drink a fruit smoothie or a chai vanilla latte (which is SO good that it doesn't need to be sweetened). This did the trick.

I've been drinking water like a fish! At least 8 glasses of water a day. I've also been drinking at least 2 cups of green tea a day. As a result, I've been peeing every 5 minutes. Most likely the pounds I've lost are water weight. (I have no idea how much I weigh now since I refuse to step on the scale and become obsessed with numbers.)

Exercising. I'm taking this slow since I've been sedentary. At least 30 minute walks rain or shine. For the past few days I upped the ante, and have worked out on Craig's stationary bike for 45 minutes.

I'm doing well with eating fresh food. (But boy is it expensive!) This week I've been on an Asian food kick and have been cooking Asian inspired meals for dinner such as...

Thai Lettuce Wrap with Peanut Sauce

Terriyaki Chicken and Veggie Stir Fry with Brown Rice

I also notice I feel as if I have a lot more energy now and my mood has lifted. Before I used to feel weighed down, slow and icky. For the first time in months, I feel really good about myself!

Spring Continental Market

The Continental Market is this weekend at "Shitty Hall". I made the conscious decision not to go for fear of excess calories.

My Plan of Action for Weight Loss

1) Drink 64oz of water a day.

2) No processed foods; eat fresh.

3) Cut sugar and excess salt.

4) Hang out in the produce section of the supermarket.

5) Eat every 3 hours to keep my blood sugar stable.

6) Eat whole grains: brown rice instead of white rice, whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta, whole wheat bread instead of white bread.

7) Portion control: 50% of your plate should be vegetables, 25% should be protein, 25% carbs.

8) Eat a balanced diet: 1-2 servings of protein, 3-5 servings of vegetables, 2-4 servings of fruit, 1-2 servings of dairy, 6 servings of whole grains, 1 serving of good fat (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated: almonds, olive oil, avocado, salmon etc) daily.

9) Maximum daily calorie intake is 1600.

10) Exercise 30 minutes a day; the more you do, the more you burn.

Believe it or Not...

I used to be a student in her class. I studied flamenco and bellydance for many years. To think just 3 years ago, I used to be fit. 4 hours of dance classes 6 days a week does that to you. Down the line I thought being a cubicle slave was more important, I injured my back on the job, I stopped dancing and packed on the pounds. Then I moved to Belfast and now I look like something like this...



Back then, I never subscribed to an expensive gym membership. I wasn't on any fad diets and I didn't starve myself. I actually ate whatever I wanted in moderation and burned more calories than I took in. Common sense, right? Then why is it so difficult?

One Year Down!

Today marks my one year anniversary since I moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Oddly enough, I have no idea what happened that day. Neither does Craig. I think we went to Tesco to buy ingredients for making spaghetti bolognese. It is all a gray fog. You know, like a really bad car crash you don't remember happening. And don't get me started on the events that followed (ie here, here, here, and here.)

So this is me a year later, engaged to be married and many many stones heavier (notice I used stones instead of lbs. I'm getting a hang of this expat thing). My first anniversary gift should warrant a visit to Weight Watchers. Do they even hold Weight Watchers meetings here?

First things first...maybe I should stop engorging myself on chew-its...



and step away from MIL's evil snack drawer...