Saturday, October 27, 2007

The Four Agreements



The Four Agreements

Taken from the book by Don Miguel Ruiz

Rules for Life


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Do you follow these rules? Ask yourself.


Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.


Don’t Take Anything Personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.


Don’t Make Assumption. Find the courage to ask questions and express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.




Always do your best. Under any circumstance, simply do your best and you will avoid self judgment, self abuse and regret?



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Sunday, October 21, 2007

Food Journalling.

This week I've been food journalling. My plan of attack is to make my meal/food for the next day and journal it down as well as specific times to work with my eating every few hours plan. It's not perfect but I'm becoming very aware of when its time to eat. My body tells me and I get signals like a 'sugar craash' I call it. This was originally a plan I had started but started again this week for my homework for Thursday. They wanted us to journal on the weekday and a day on the weekend to see how we eat during the week and on a weekend. Funny that, my weekend doesn't come until Thursday. Its retail, I've been working all weekend.



OSC

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Reading the Labels on Your Food


Do you read the labels on your packaged food?



Things you should look for on the label is the serving size. Remember, take that into consideration for portion control. I made the mistake in the beginning of thinking that the serving size was what I was putting on my plate. When it fact, I might be eating two servings!


If you are counting calories, you might want to be aware of the calories but also take into the nutritional value by knowing the Saturated/Trans Fats, Fiber and Sugar content. My big takeaway from today's class was finding out what per centage of my daily requirements are in the food I'm eating. When I got home I went through the pantry and found out that my husbands favourite soups had 38% for a 1/4 cup of soup of his fats for the day. Other labels surprized me at the amounts of sodium and believe me, not all tuna is created or canned equally!


Hydrogenated Fats are baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad. Avoid! Any liquid fat that comes in solid form is not good for you.


Lose Weight and Stay Healthy -- Create Your Own Personal Plan

Months back I was surfing online and came across the Capital Health's website. In Edmonton, there is an epidemic of obesity and this struck me the most when I went to a Kalan Porter concert. So many young girls are growing up into obese adults. This wasn't the thing when I was a teenager and myself didn't become obese until I was in my 20's. These were young girls in their tweens and teens. Anyways, it is a concern for our healthy care system so Capital Healthy has actioned several tools for those wanting to lose weight to use. One of them is a 2 day class for Lose Weight and Stay Healthy -- Create Your Own Personal Plan.

My first session is at 9:30 t0day so I'm up early on my day off so that I will be prepared. I'm going early to do a walk and bring along my book the Four Commitments. As well, I'll bring along a few things to eat since I don't have time to make a shake for breakfast this morning.

Tonight, I'll recap how today's class went.

It's been a week of learning for me. On Tuesday we has a session which we watched The Secret and yesterday we recieved evaluations from our associates, peers and the company as a whole. It was enlightning to see where my opportunities lie.

OSC

Friday, October 12, 2007

Udo's Oil


I've gone through periods in my life when my skin is incredibly dry and I'm like an old cat at time when I need my back scratched. I was excited to hear about Udo's Oil and since I have been taking Udo's daily, I've noticed a difference in my skin and my skin doesn't hurt anymore. Not to mention, my joint pain as also lessoned. I use Udo's each day, 2 Tablespoons. I keep my Udo in the fridge and I have to mention that you do NOT heat this oil because it will breakdown the components of the oil that are beneficial. Today I made the yummiest recipe in the Edo's booklet. I altered the recipe slighly ..

1 Can of White Kidney Beans

1/4 tsp. of Cayenne Pepper

Pepper

2 Cloves of Garlic

2 Tablespoons of Udo's 3-6-9 Oil

Parsley



Pulse until blend with your handmixer until completely blended. Serve as a dip with veggies or sandwich spread. I dip baked pita chips in the dip and its a delicious snack! A great alternative to a high fat dip and a similiar hummous type choice.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Special Sadie.




On September 1st, my Grandmother turned 95 years old and I still remember her saying when the Millennium changed that she was happy to live to see the year 2000.
Seven years later, she still graced us with her presence.


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Sadie always liked to be called "Grandma" and told me that she hated the word "Granny". She said it was for old women with no teeth!


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Grandma loved flowers and she always had deep purple Hydrangeas grace her front walkway and her rose bushes were her pride and joy. She always planted her flowers in front of her home and continued to do so until she was 90 years old! Not to mention, she insisted on cutting her grass with a push mower!


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I remember staying with Grandma in the summertime and picking blackberries in her backyard. A yard that stretched down the back of her 100 year old home to the gravel alleyway. The home was aging with its slanted, creaky floors, crystal knobs handles, dirt cellar and her figurines that would turn different colours when the weather changed. If you snuck a peak under her bed, you'd find jars of the luscious black jar of berry goodness!


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My Grandma loved to make Jams and Jellies. She taught my Mom as did her Mother teach her. Her Mother and Father immigrated from England when my Grandmother was six years old and called Vancouver her home until five years ago. Traditional British woman she was and she too lived a long life. Her Mother passed away at the age of 92.


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Berries, Blackberry, Choke Cherry, Apricot, Blueberry and Apple. Grandma loved to bake pies and I still have yet to perfect her pie crust. Mine turn to a solid ball or sloppy mess! Not wasting a bit, all leftover crusts would be made into tarts or turnovers. Christmas time would include Nanaimo Bars, Cherry Balls, Pecan Tarts and Christmas Cake. I still remember the Christmas Cakes wrapped in waxed paper and she would keep them for years!

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Grandma definitely had a sweet tooth. Her sweet of choice was maraschino cherries! I never knew what to buy her for Christmas so I knew I couldn't go wrong by buying her a broach, Lilly of The Valley perfume or Chocolate Cherries.


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Knitting and Crochetting were her passion. She used the finest of thread to crochet every Grandchild that got married a crochetted table cloth as a wedding gift. The old fashioned woman she was, she held firm to her 'rule' and that applied to the Grandchildren that lived Common Law. That included myself.
I remember her taking me by her side when I was thirteen and tryind deperately to teach me how to crochet and no matter how I tried I couldn't grasp it. Partially because it didn't interest me but I pretended to be interested because of Grandma. To this day, unlike my Mom and Sister who are ''crafty" I simply am not..
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I remember how she tried to protect me one summer from the boy next door who swore, climbed the trees and swung from tree swing. She told me it wasn't ladylike.



My Grandma always prided herself in being a 'lady' and always wore a dress with a bejewelled broach. Her dresses were always Fortrel and in the colour of purple, blue or grey. I have never seen her wear a pair of pants and I don't believe she even has a pair! I know one day I saw her changing and she wore a full girdle and stockings complete with old fashioned garters! I was amazed at the efforts she went to dress each morning and often heard her huffing and puffing as she did up her girdle!


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I always loved going to Vancouver to see Grandma. I have many fond memories of Stanley Park and being with Grandma. The old majestic trees and the walkways. Her request at the time of her passing is to be cremated and have her ashes scattered in Stanley Park.


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Grandma has silvery hair and until the last five years always had her hair done once a week by the hairdresser who would 'finger wave' the top of her hair and then pin curl the bottom. She'd make sure her perms were tight so that her hair would stay in place until she could make a trip to the hairdresser for a roller set, finger waves and pin curls.


I often wondered if the reason she wore her hair this way was to remind her of happier times in her past.


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Grandma grew up in the 'Great Depression' and we were always reminded of this. If you couldn't finish your meal, it was a given that she'd break out into -- When I was a kid....I laughed one Christmas when she came and it came to wrap stocking stuffers. Stocking stuffers were the usual oranges, toothbrushes, trinkets and she decided to buy Mom a fancy pair of panties. She thought nothing of taking the panties and fitting them into a toilet paper roll, wrapping them and making a Christmas cracker! She was a woman of means and continued to eat beef tongue because it was cheap!


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As time went on, her body began to slow and minor Dementia meant that she couldn't live alone in her home. No matter what she would do her crossword puzzles with her glasses sitting on the edge of her nose and the TV would be cranked because she was becoming hard of hearing. Both of her daughters continually asked her to consider getting a hearing aid. She got tired of them and blurted out,"If I can't hear it it's not that important!" So, no hearing aid for Sadie!


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Before she left for her new home in a Senior's center, bags were packed and her belongings were brought along. A sum of thousands of dollars were found in the floorboards and her mattresses. She didn't like to keep her money in the bank and was concerned that she always needed a cushion. That's the way she lived. Money was tight.



Mom told me of days when Grandma had to raise three girls and a boy on her wages of working in a factory where she made saddles, luggage and on one occasion when they were pressed to push on as many pieces as possible that she was rushed to the hospital when she sewed through one of her fingers. Imagine, being a single Mother in the early fifties. Unconventional by all standards.


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Grandma loved her husband dearly and when he left their family they she was devastated. Every anniversary she would pull her dress from storage and recalled what she believed the happiest day of her life. She believed in "death do you part'. When her husband had an affair, left their family and died shortly thereafter she always considered him her husband even though they had not been as husband and wife for many years.


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To the best of my knowledge, her husband was the great love of her life. She never remarried and did not have a companion. Her only companion was a widow who lived down the street and they would watch wrestling on TV while munching on Triscuits and Cheddar. We never said anything but we giggled at his name. Mr. Wright. When he passed, he left everything to my Grandmother.


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Less than one week ago my Grandmother took a fall that has caused her a broken humerus and injury. She is bed ridden, having problems breathing and suffering complications. She is tired and as a family we realize that she is in the final stages of her life.


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I have respected her wishes and will not see her. She wants me to remember he as she was and she is a tired spirit. There will be no memorial service or funeral. This is my chance to say goodbye.


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She leaves behind three daughters, a son, grandchildren and great grandchildren.


I remember her twinkling blue eyes, her hearty laugh, her hugs, her words of wisdom and her warm heart. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her role, Mother to all the generations. At heart she was a nurturer.


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Goodbye Sadie, may you find the happiness that you searched for all your life. Grandma, I will miss you.

Love,


Tina


xoxoxoxo


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Edit: Oct. 13, 2007. This morning I had a strong "pull" to phone my Mom to see how she was. I believe it was my Grandmother telling me she has left this earth and she now has the freedom she wanted. Today Grandma passed away at 9:00 AM. Rest In Peace.


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Epiphany!


Here I am 40 years old and it took myself and another person to determine what a big roadblock I have to overcome.


What's wrong with this picture?


Breakfast or small meal at 6:00 AM. Lunch at 1:00 PM. Dinner at 7:00 PM. Eating all evening long....Seven hours until a second meal and six hours until dinner. My body is going into reservation mode and storing the food = creating fat instead of burning it off because it doesn't know when I will be feeding it next! Duh.


My plan is to find a watch that I can set timers on and I will eat at 6:00, 9:30, 1:00, 4:00, 7:00 and 10:00. That's six timers. Hmmm, this could be a challenge. I can eat at 6:00 AM by myself so let's find a watch with five timers!


OSC

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Being Personally Accountable


As a woman, I think one of the easiest things for us is to be the care givers and to offer our help, time and energies but in many cases what happens along the way is that we forget about ourselves. Today this was more evident then ever.


I had committed to two people and because of being afraid to say no, it ended up in both of them being comitted and myself letting them down. Not only did I let them down but I let myself down. Its an easy thing to do and you might have the greatest intentions but listen to your body, your schedule and anything else that might prevent you from being personally accountable.


Its ok to say "No".


Try not to let the guilt of saying no take control of you emotionally. That's a lesson I have learned today.


Tuesday, October 2, 2007

How can you not love a sunset like that?



I didn't want this picture to go to waste so I've posted it here on the blog. It has nothing to do with food or anything else I usually blog about.. Fall is in the air...

This blog is about change.

I usually don't believe in psychics or mediums or as my Dad might say; mumbo jumbo. Heh. I took someone's advice and called Kandace. She knew NOTHING about me and she was so right about my life at this moment in time. Some of it is of course very personal so I won't post it here but I will share a few things. The edited and short version:

Weight loss - we've been there before. (Have I ever! I've done everything including Hoodia, Weight Watchers, South Beach, GI Diet, Pocket Diet, Bitter Orange, etc) You're really frustrated. You need to move more and the weight will come off. You have been eating more vegetables in your diet. (Ie, everyday including Sunrider) You will see changes. When you make the changes around you to purge, you will see the weight come. You need to get out walking. The walking will help with stress and it will also release the weight loss. IAs you walk, visualize the stress coming away from your body and into the pavement as you walk. It will come and you will do GREAT! Your home.

Right now you are feeling the need for space. You need to make room and get things comfortable for yourself. Go through the drawers, go through the cupboards, get rid of things that don't make you happy, and once you start, you will be glad you did. This has been on your mind for quite some time and once you release this burden, other things will come. You are feeling a resistance and someone isn't wanting to get rid of things that you are feeling aren't important. Ok, so I've been holding onto some of these books and movies. I've just purged a bunch and it felt great! Have a gararge sale. Well, I went online and have already sold a dozen books in two hours. Once I started, it freed up space and felt great to make more room. We purged, cleaned, dusted, moved furniture and made our home a home in the first time in the whole year we have lived here! I went to bed that night exhausted but felt like we'd accomplished a lot. Today I look around and its like being in someone else's home... It's all good!

I had a conversation with a woman today who is Muslim and she is fasting. For one month those that follow her faith fast from dawn until dusk. This also includes no water. It amazes me. No food, no nutrition, no water for that period of time. I wonder if it is healthy. It surely can't be. I know of some women who have worked for me in the past who felt dizzy and lightheaded and I have heard of examples where people have actually fainted due to this. I wish for such will power....

I've started to log all food that I consume during the day. Tomorrow will be day three. I put it on a word file and email by support budy daily with the results. She is amazing and has lost almost 25 pounds in six weeks. She's a workout demon and I haven't gotten to that level yet. I wonder if it will happen. Food for thought.