Monday, June 3, 2013

Good Monday Morning!  It's 100% humidity (so you can imagine what my hair looks like today) and I am sitting at my desk enjoying the quiet that is early morning here.

Do you have Produce Junction where you live?  That's a link to their Facebook page (and am I the only one who thinks it's weird that a business is on Facebook?)  It started out as a way to get fresh fruits and vegetables cheaply.  I assume it's because it's all they sell and they buy in bulk.  One of the things we like about them is that we often find odd fruits and veg there.  For instance, this.  These are Rambutan and are native to tropical areas in the south Pacific and southern Asia area.  If you cut it open, you get what looks like a smooth brain inside a hula skirt.  The clerk at Produce Junction talked us into trying them (she told us her name and said we should come back and make sure we told her what we thought). 

Now, I will freely admit that I am not an adventurous eater.  Pk and Elanor will, however, try almost anything.  Their report is that it's veryvery sweet with no real flavor, just sweet.  They're so strange looking and so very odd but we have tried several odd things from this store and I'm glad they're there.  They introduced us to Asian pears which we love but almost have to sell a kidney to afford.

For the first time in my life, I am keep track of what I eat.  I downloaded an app to my phone called My Fitness Pal.  I didn't find it, it kind of found me.  I was reading the blog of one of my favorite authors, Joshlyn Jackson, and she was talking about how much she loved it.  I checked it out and decided that it might not be a bad thing.  So, I signed up.  There are a lot of features but for me, the only one that I use is the calorie keeper.  I put in my actual weight (and this is all truthful since it's not fair to myself to lie) and how much I think I'd like to weigh and  my exercise level and they told me how many calories I can consume each day- 1500.  That is not very many but most days I am managing to keep under it and still not be starving.  After 2 weeks, I have lost 3 pounds and haven't really changed much except to be more aware of what I put in my mouth.  If I know I have to put into the food diary, I think twice about whether I really want to eat it.  I try to make every calorie count.  If I go to the gym, I can have a few extra calories but not many. 

I am not a fanatic.  The beauty of this is that it's making me think about my food, not just consume it.  I am consciously eating more vegetables and less carb loaded meals.  I am happy if I end the day below my allotted calories but if I come out with a bit more, I am not crushed.  It's become habit to enter my foods and the app gives you reminders, "If you continue to eat this way, in 5 weeks, you will weigh......" and things like that.  You can also hook up with friends and offer encouragement.  I don't know if I'm ready to make tis a social activity.  Some things I can keep to myself.

Pk and the rabbits are at war now.  He started with 12 beautiful pod bearing pea plants and Thursday night when we got home, we found this.  Only 3 plants are unscathed.  He was not a happy camper.  Out came the trap and the chicken wire.  We have several rabbits in the yard and we have been happily cohabitating for years.  However, we have not planted a vegetable garden in those years so it was all good.  We liked having the bunnies. 

Not so much this year.  It's hard enough to keep the insects out without resorting to chemicals.  

We're leaving a bit early today because Pk has a root canal appt this afternoon.  I have my mp3 player and my knitting so I'm ready.  He has to get to a drug store this morning and get a toothbrush and then he'll be ready.  It should take about an hour but I remember one endodontist telling him he has particularly long roots so who knows.

This is the end of our first heat wave.  It was not unbearable all weekend.  I sat outside in the shade and there was a breeze and I was just in awe of how beautiful it was.  I didn't pick up the knitting, just sat and listened to a book and dozed.  I am so lazy.  Sunday was much of the same but with laundry thrown in.  We grilled for the first time in a long time and it was delicious.  Pk does the grilling and he is quite good at it.  I cleaned some corn on the cob and wrapped it up in foil with basil leaves and a bit of butter.  It was so good.  I ate one piece and kept eyeing a second but corn and I don't get along well as I get older. 

The doctor I work with this morning called out sick and I have been scrambling to get hold of people before they leave the house.  It's so humid and difficult to breathe so if I can keep people from coming out unnecessarily, it's all the better.  I reached everyone except the first one.  They travel a distance so I rescheduled them and gave them a prescription.  I'll talk to the dr tomorrow and we'll sort everyone else out then. My week is off to a flying start.

5 comments:

Galad said...

As the heat rises in AZ (111 this week)I'm reminding myself what I like about summer. Life is slower as most orgs end meetings for the summer,traffic is lighter,fruit I love is plentiful and there is time to think and plan.

I started using Fat Secret this weekend, which is also an app for recording food intake and exercise. I never think I eat that much until I have to record it!

Rose Red said...

I am not a very adventurous eater either, I am not sure I would give that fruit a try, although I have seen them here too.

I used to keep track of everything I ate, and everything I spent, when I was at uni. Never have since then. I should restart the habits I think, it certainly does make you think twice before eating or spending money.

DrK said...

i cant stand all the communal crap around fitness and weight loss programs, but i do know accountability and tracking works for me too. its amazing how many calories there are in carbs, people have no idea. im going to see if i can get that app on my phone. mindfulness is a good way to approach food i think. sensible and sustainable.

Saren Johnson said...

Bunny Wars! Can't wait to see how this turns out.

roxie said...

Dwat those wabbits!

Hooray for time to just sit and be! It's important to feel the breeze and the warm air and to feast your eyes on the green.

Have you tried dragon fruit? Also not much taste, but lots of fun to look at.

Happy knitting.

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