Believe it or not, I do think about things other than the three F's: Food, Fitness, and my Fat rolls. Those just happen to be the most common themes of my blog. Today, I wanted to write about something else.
Buddha Nature. Have you heard of it?
Buddha taught that we are all Buddha. Meaning that we are all already complete, perfected, and awakened, just as we are. Nothing else is required other than to awaken to our "true selves", our innate Buddha Nature. It's our illusory sense of reality, living our conditioned lives, expecting particular outcomes based on our preconceived notions, and our attachment to our "ego", that prevent us from experiencing this "awakening" (that's all).
The fact that we are sometimes anxious, jealous, greedy, dissatisfied, fearful, mistrustful, judgemental, angry, unkind, etc. is not really our true state of being - these feelings (and the actions that often accompany them) are caused by external conditions that we misunderstand, or take personally (thanks, ego!).
If we were truly our selves, that is to say the natural state of being human if we were to peel away all of the layers of delusion, ego, and fear, our natural state would be one of calm, compassion, reason, understanding, kindness and most of all, love for all sentient beings.
What I find interesting, is that so many of the people that I know, be they Christian, Atheist, Catholic, Jewish, Agnostic, etc. have so much of this innate Buddha Nature. I won't name names, but my husband (I didn't say his name), who is "spiritual" but doesn't consider himself a Buddhist (he so totally is though, he's just transcended the need to put a label on it) is full of it (Buddha Nature).
My late Grandmother was a beautiful Christian woman. She never spoke a bad word about anyone. She loved absolutely everyone and everything. She went to church every Sunday and was filled to overflowing with the love of God. She embodied Buddha Nature completely. At her memorial, my uncle, while acknowledging my Grandmother's minister, said something like; "I mean no offence to you, my mother loved her church and God, but I believe she was also a Buddha". He said that he came to feel this way after attending our wedding the week before and getting a crash course in Buddhism. If anyone embodied pure love, non-judgement, and happiness, it was my grandmother.
I have a friend who is Catholic and is always so serene and calm, positive and compassionate. I sometimes wonder if she is cursing and judging inside her head. Probably not.
My sister is a Christian-slash-Buddhist, (complicated) and is awake to reality, or always working on it. She has compassion in spades, and very rarely judges others. (Or tries not to, anyway. We're all a work in progress!)
I believe, much like the Buddha taught, that everyone is Buddha. Everyone has the true Buddha Nature, deep down inside. Buddha means "Awakened", remember, so I don't mean to say that there is no God just by saying we are all Buddha (I do not personally believe in a God), I'm simply saying that the vehicle to being awakened might be God to some people (not the "man in the sky" God, but the "God is in every element" God), or it might be meditation and study to others, practice and self analysis to others, and on and on. Same end, different means to get there.
We all come to the truth in the end, don't we? And don't ask me what I think that truth is. I would never be so bold as to state that I "know". In fact, I have no desire to know, nor do I feel like I need to know. The only thing I do know, is that it's not for me to know right this minute. I'm such a slacker in everything I do, even in needing to know the purpose of my life or what will happen when I die. I don't really care.
Did you know that whenever someone asked the Buddha (anxiously, I'm sure) "What happens after we DIE?!", it is said that he remained silent and wouldn't answer. Either because A) He didn't know, or B) Because...does it really matter? In the larger scheme of things is it really that importnant to know? If so...Why? What aren't you doing now that would give you peace?
Sure we can all have our own "ideas" of what we "think" or "believe" the ultimate truth is, or the purpose of our short little stay on this great blue planet, or what happens when we die...but come on. Does anyone really "know"?
On a side note, people who claim to "know" annoy me just a little bit. You can "believe", but I don't "believe" you can know until you experience it. And as long as I'm on my soapbox, if someone's belief system is so dicey that it makes them uncomfortable or angry to be challenged, or causes them to be fearful and mistrustful of others' belief systems, isn't that sort of a red flag for them?
Be confident, and accept that others may have different belief systems. Is there just one, or are there many truths? Is belief or faith the same as truth? I have my own ideas about that. Maybe we can discuss them in a later blog post! I do know there is a difference between "adopting" someone's beliefs and "accepting" them as valid. You don't have to do one to do the other. And you don't have to be afraid to do the latter. What do we really know? What do we think we know? We don't have to be all matchy matchy. That's my philosophy, anyway.
Personally, I think that most, if not all, religions, when practiced correctly (think love, compassion, acceptance, the core teachings of all major religions) are beautiful and valuable. It is the weaker humans who corrupt them.
I may claim to be a "Buddhist", but I don't see a whole lot of Buddha in me. I'm sure it's in there somewhere and I do have my moments. Before you say, "Oh Eline, you are about the most enlightened person I KNOW!" (lol!) I need to tell you that I have no problem being a flawed human. At all. I embrace it. But I've decided (as I've decided a hundred times over the past 14 years), that I will take the Buddhist precepts and work on them one at a time. I'll jump around. I'll come back to the ones that are the most difficult. I'll play with it. I need some sort of system. Maybe a set of pretty string bracelets to stand for each precept and I'll wear the ones I'm working on and keep adding them to my wrist as I work through them as a visual reminder and...Hmmmm. I'm pretty sure that vanity is not one of the precepts, but I'm visualizing a beautifully and mysteriously adorned wrist in my future! (see what happens inside my head?).
Anyway - My first precept will be the most difficult for me. Right Speech. This means no gossip, no speaking ill of people, no idle chatter (what?), no lies, no use of words to purposely hurt people and/or to make myself feel better, i.e. - "She looks like a total skank . Good luck with that 10 years from now, idiot!" Whoa! What a zinger. WHY? Why would I need to SAY that?
Well, that's that. I really hope this post doesn't offend anyone. If it does, I apologize, that is certainly not my intent (Yeah! I just practiced "Right Speech"!!). Whooo hoooo...purple bracelet!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
On Track, Off Track, repeat....
I was on track for a few days, then I had a week long holiday, now I'm on track, but wait! I have a three day camping trip this weekend! And so it goes...all summer long. No wonder I'm the queen of maintenance. This constant off and on makes my head spin and my belly grow...and shrink...and grow....and shrink. Whatever. I really don't mind my current size....but I sure like it better when I can comfortably wear clothes I bought just two weeks ago.
(I'm not frustrated, I'm not frustrated, I'm not frustrated).
Can I please just stop having so much fun already! Ha ha ha.....Like THAT'S ever gonna happen.
Tune in next week to see if I lose my mind, gain three pounds, lose four, swear off starch and sugar, binge on wine and chocolate, go vegan, go clean, go green, go protein, go off the deep end!
(I'm not frustrated, I'm not frustrated, I'm not frustrated).
Can I please just stop having so much fun already! Ha ha ha.....Like THAT'S ever gonna happen.
Tune in next week to see if I lose my mind, gain three pounds, lose four, swear off starch and sugar, binge on wine and chocolate, go vegan, go clean, go green, go protein, go off the deep end!
Friday, July 1, 2011
I'm Dialed In
And it only took 18 months!
Since I started this blog, I've tried Weight Watchers, Low Carb, No Carb, Whole Foods, Clean Eating, The 17 Day Diet, The Belly Fat Cure (ok, I didn't do that one, but I thought about it), the French Women Don't Get Fat Diet (one of my favorites), The You On A Diet Diet, a Lemon Juice/Maple Syrup/Cayenne Pepper Cleanse, and probably numerous variations of all of the above.
I did lose a total of about 15 pounds, and I've managed to keep it off for the past year with a few small blips up and down.
I also learned a few things:
1) I get bored quickly. I'll try just about any diet, whether I need to or not, because it's sort of a hobby.
2) I love food. I don't love being obsessed with food.
3) My natural eating style is fairly healthy: lean proteins, whole grains, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, minimally processed foods, etc. with the occasional monthly nosh fest of anything cheesy/crunchy/salty/fatty.
4) The above statement is a total lie. If I were to tell you what my real "if no one was looking and calories worked in the reverse" eating style was, it would look more like: chips, crackers and cheese, heavy dips, bread, bacon, creamy soups, creamy anything, butter, chocolate, candy, candy, chips. But of course I don't feel well when I eat that way, and I feel like a million bucks when I eat the other way, so I have to be the food police for my own health, safety, and sanity.
5) I do better when I eat three "healthy squares" a day. Eating the 6 small meals a day that are supposed to rev up your metabolism doesn't work for me (I read recently that new research shows that that's a diet myth anyway). For me, eating 6 small meals a day makes me feel like I'm an indigenous tribes person living in the wild, barely sustaining my strength on small, scavenged meals of nuts, berries and the occasional roasted squirrel. I'm always hungry and always thinking about food. Since I don't like to be obsessed with food, I prefer to eat a solid meal and then think of other things for the next 4 or 5 hours.
6) The more I lament about the beef industry and about how much I love cows, the more I want to eat them.
7) There are days that I feel fit and fierce, and days that I feel fat and slovenly. That's the way it is and the way it will likely stay. I'm human, and I'm a woman. Don't let it upset you and don't argue with me that I'm not fat and/or I'm not thin. I won't believe you either way, I'm contrary that way. Unless you tell me I'm thin when I feel thin and fat when I feel fat. And since I'm not going to wear a tshirt, (maybe I should get "fat/thin day" t-shirts!!), you've only got a 50/50 chance of getting it right anyway.
8) Sure, I may always think I want to lose another 15 pounds. But apparently I don't want to badly enough to give up my dangerous lifestyle of the occasional snack shack nachos and heart-healthy amounts of red wine (I'm shrugging my shoulders here with bored indifference). Really. If I wanted it badly enough, it would have happened. I see where I could shave plenty of calories, and I make the conscious choice not to. I must secretly like myself the way I am (gasp).
9) I'm too lazy to run and I'm really not the "shredding" type. I don't like doing things I don't like. What I love is yoga and hiking. I do yoga and I hike. Sometimes I swim, ride a bike, dance, whatever I feel like. That will be the extent of my exercise regiment now.
I've taken what I have learned over the past 18 months, and I have designed the perfect plan. I'm calling it "The Perfect Plan" (of course you would have to make your own perfect plan, it's not a one size fits all thing).
As far as nutrition - Weight Watchers wins. Why? Because tracking what I eat is simply what I need to do to not be my natural glutinous self and to maintain my current figure. It keeps me in check and it's a whole lot easier (for me) to track a few points on line rather than add up hundreds of calories (thousands). The on line tools are awesome, you can eat anything within reason and in moderation, I like to cook, and Rob and I LOVE their recipes (I can visibly see his disappointment when I announce my next new eating plan, and his apparent joy when I mention Weight Watchers again). I can incorporate whole foods and cleaner eating. And come on, who wouldn't love "Hawaiian Curry Chicken with Pineapple Salsa topped with shredded toasted Coconut"?
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But if this is going to be the lifestyle I choose to adopt long term, it has to be realistic. It has to be something I can stick with. I need to minimize the obsession and do away with the guilt, because frankly, I don't have room in my life for those things. SO, I've made a few concessions:
1) Anything I eat after 4 pm one or two days a week is not tracked. This allows me to eat dinner out, or attend a Sausage Fest (this Sunday) with no guilt. It's written into the rules. And there's a clause that says I can add a third day if I feel like it. Because I can apparently! I've been doing it and I haven't gained any weight, so....
2) Wine isn't tracked at all because, 1) I'm counting it as a supplement (Hellloooo? Resveratrol?), and 2) as Kristin put it today, it's already factored into my metabolism (or something like that. It made sense at the time). Basically, if I eat three healthy meals and stay within my points for food, I still lose .5 pound to a pound a week, whether I drink wine or not. But when I add the wine to my tracker and see my points go over my allotted number of points, I have so much guilt! Two glasses of wine equals 7 points! That's like a 4th meal! I feel like a total loser and it's a buzz kill. So I'm not doing it. Life is too short.
3) Of course, I can't be a hypocrite, so to off set the points that I don't track, I also don't track the points I earn for any work outs. That wouldn't be fair.
Other than that....I eat what I want, when I want, and it tends to be three meals a day - a protein shake for breakfast, or a big bacon and egg breakfast depending on what I feel like and how much time I have. Lunch is something like soup and salad, or soup and sandwich, or salad and sandwich, or whatever...lunch stuff (if I have Chinese, Vietnamese, or Thai food, I choose a protein and vegetable dish and pass on the rice and noodles). Dinner is whatever I feel like cooking and/or Rob bbq's. That's it, easy peasy.
For exercise, I stick to what I enjoy: hike, yoga, etc.
Some friends and I were having a beer (that I didn't track) after our pedicure the other evening and someone suggested that we get together every Wednesday morning at 6:30 am, at alternating locations (our homes or a near by park), and we'll take turns leading a yoga "class". The first one was at my house and I led. It was lots of fun. What a great idea! It's such a wonderful way to start the day and we get to try different sequences (gets me out of my rut), have our tea or coffee and chit chat before the craziness of the day.
So, I guess that's it. I tried out "The Perfect Plan" this week and I lost a pound. How about that? And guess what? I'll probably gain it back next week. But that's ok.
Since I started this blog, I've tried Weight Watchers, Low Carb, No Carb, Whole Foods, Clean Eating, The 17 Day Diet, The Belly Fat Cure (ok, I didn't do that one, but I thought about it), the French Women Don't Get Fat Diet (one of my favorites), The You On A Diet Diet, a Lemon Juice/Maple Syrup/Cayenne Pepper Cleanse, and probably numerous variations of all of the above.
I did lose a total of about 15 pounds, and I've managed to keep it off for the past year with a few small blips up and down.
I also learned a few things:
1) I get bored quickly. I'll try just about any diet, whether I need to or not, because it's sort of a hobby.
2) I love food. I don't love being obsessed with food.
3) My natural eating style is fairly healthy: lean proteins, whole grains, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, minimally processed foods, etc. with the occasional monthly nosh fest of anything cheesy/crunchy/salty/fatty.
4) The above statement is a total lie. If I were to tell you what my real "if no one was looking and calories worked in the reverse" eating style was, it would look more like: chips, crackers and cheese, heavy dips, bread, bacon, creamy soups, creamy anything, butter, chocolate, candy, candy, chips. But of course I don't feel well when I eat that way, and I feel like a million bucks when I eat the other way, so I have to be the food police for my own health, safety, and sanity.
5) I do better when I eat three "healthy squares" a day. Eating the 6 small meals a day that are supposed to rev up your metabolism doesn't work for me (I read recently that new research shows that that's a diet myth anyway). For me, eating 6 small meals a day makes me feel like I'm an indigenous tribes person living in the wild, barely sustaining my strength on small, scavenged meals of nuts, berries and the occasional roasted squirrel. I'm always hungry and always thinking about food. Since I don't like to be obsessed with food, I prefer to eat a solid meal and then think of other things for the next 4 or 5 hours.
6) The more I lament about the beef industry and about how much I love cows, the more I want to eat them.
7) There are days that I feel fit and fierce, and days that I feel fat and slovenly. That's the way it is and the way it will likely stay. I'm human, and I'm a woman. Don't let it upset you and don't argue with me that I'm not fat and/or I'm not thin. I won't believe you either way, I'm contrary that way. Unless you tell me I'm thin when I feel thin and fat when I feel fat. And since I'm not going to wear a tshirt, (maybe I should get "fat/thin day" t-shirts!!), you've only got a 50/50 chance of getting it right anyway.
8) Sure, I may always think I want to lose another 15 pounds. But apparently I don't want to badly enough to give up my dangerous lifestyle of the occasional snack shack nachos and heart-healthy amounts of red wine (I'm shrugging my shoulders here with bored indifference). Really. If I wanted it badly enough, it would have happened. I see where I could shave plenty of calories, and I make the conscious choice not to. I must secretly like myself the way I am (gasp).
9) I'm too lazy to run and I'm really not the "shredding" type. I don't like doing things I don't like. What I love is yoga and hiking. I do yoga and I hike. Sometimes I swim, ride a bike, dance, whatever I feel like. That will be the extent of my exercise regiment now.
I've taken what I have learned over the past 18 months, and I have designed the perfect plan. I'm calling it "The Perfect Plan" (of course you would have to make your own perfect plan, it's not a one size fits all thing).
As far as nutrition - Weight Watchers wins. Why? Because tracking what I eat is simply what I need to do to not be my natural glutinous self and to maintain my current figure. It keeps me in check and it's a whole lot easier (for me) to track a few points on line rather than add up hundreds of calories (thousands). The on line tools are awesome, you can eat anything within reason and in moderation, I like to cook, and Rob and I LOVE their recipes (I can visibly see his disappointment when I announce my next new eating plan, and his apparent joy when I mention Weight Watchers again). I can incorporate whole foods and cleaner eating. And come on, who wouldn't love "Hawaiian Curry Chicken with Pineapple Salsa topped with shredded toasted Coconut"?
But if this is going to be the lifestyle I choose to adopt long term, it has to be realistic. It has to be something I can stick with. I need to minimize the obsession and do away with the guilt, because frankly, I don't have room in my life for those things. SO, I've made a few concessions:
1) Anything I eat after 4 pm one or two days a week is not tracked. This allows me to eat dinner out, or attend a Sausage Fest (this Sunday) with no guilt. It's written into the rules. And there's a clause that says I can add a third day if I feel like it. Because I can apparently! I've been doing it and I haven't gained any weight, so....
2) Wine isn't tracked at all because, 1) I'm counting it as a supplement (Hellloooo? Resveratrol?), and 2) as Kristin put it today, it's already factored into my metabolism (or something like that. It made sense at the time). Basically, if I eat three healthy meals and stay within my points for food, I still lose .5 pound to a pound a week, whether I drink wine or not. But when I add the wine to my tracker and see my points go over my allotted number of points, I have so much guilt! Two glasses of wine equals 7 points! That's like a 4th meal! I feel like a total loser and it's a buzz kill. So I'm not doing it. Life is too short.
3) Of course, I can't be a hypocrite, so to off set the points that I don't track, I also don't track the points I earn for any work outs. That wouldn't be fair.
Other than that....I eat what I want, when I want, and it tends to be three meals a day - a protein shake for breakfast, or a big bacon and egg breakfast depending on what I feel like and how much time I have. Lunch is something like soup and salad, or soup and sandwich, or salad and sandwich, or whatever...lunch stuff (if I have Chinese, Vietnamese, or Thai food, I choose a protein and vegetable dish and pass on the rice and noodles). Dinner is whatever I feel like cooking and/or Rob bbq's. That's it, easy peasy.
For exercise, I stick to what I enjoy: hike, yoga, etc.
Some friends and I were having a beer (that I didn't track) after our pedicure the other evening and someone suggested that we get together every Wednesday morning at 6:30 am, at alternating locations (our homes or a near by park), and we'll take turns leading a yoga "class". The first one was at my house and I led. It was lots of fun. What a great idea! It's such a wonderful way to start the day and we get to try different sequences (gets me out of my rut), have our tea or coffee and chit chat before the craziness of the day.
So, I guess that's it. I tried out "The Perfect Plan" this week and I lost a pound. How about that? And guess what? I'll probably gain it back next week. But that's ok.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Won't You Take Me To....
Funky TOOWWWWWN?
That song has been stuck in my head all week, so I decided to use it instead of just singing it badly and repetitively.
This town, Niles, is our own little funky town. Rob likes to call it "the town that time forgot", and it really is easy to feel like you're back in the 50's when you stroll or ride your bike around. Random and plentiful dogs (big 'uns!) barking in the distance, kids running around barefoot or riding bikes without helmets (gasp!), sticky with Popsicles they got from Mr. Mikey's Country Store, music drifting through the balmy air, either from the bandstand in the town plaza, or from some guy's car parked in the street getting detailed into summer sweetness. And trains; big and small, passenger and cargo, fast and slow, loud and stealthy...lots of trains. They call the area where we live "Niles Junction" for a reason. Good thing we like trains!
This year for our anniversary (one year...holla!), we decided to forgo the more extravagant plans we made, and try the local scene. We're still enamoured with our pool and hate the thought of leaving it on a nice weekend!
So here is our weekend in words and pictures.
Oh but first, a side note. I know what you might be thinking. "Why in the world would she think we want to see a bunch of lame pictures and hear about a weird town and what they did on their anniversary? It's not like a fabulous trip abroad with pictures of monuments or exotic beaches!". And I understand, I do. But I really like the idea of documenting even the smaller things. Let me rephrase that; "Especially the smaller things". Why? Because this is where our joy lies. And how lucky are we that we find such joy and adventure wherever we happen to be? Rob always says that life with me is an adventure. I used to think: "Well, yeah. Of course!" But then I started to really think about it. We go next to no where, and have close to nothing. We don't do a whole lot that I would think resembles anyone's definition of "adventure". Then I realized...adventure can be a state of mind. It can be how you see and experience even the most ordinary.
So with that, I invite you to share our most ordinary weekend! In words and pictures:
Friday night, we decided to go to Papillon for dinner (http://papillonrestaurant.com/index.html). Papillon is a French restaurant in Niles that has been around for 35 years. Back in the day, it was where my friends might go before prom, or for special anniversaries and other occasions. I was pleased that the decor was exactly the same as it was when I was in High School! I mean, exactly the same. The place is pricey. Some say too pricey for the outdated ambiance, but the food is delicious (and I really don't think it's that pricey at all when compared to some of the nicer Pleasanton restaurants we used to enjoy!).
The restaurant is (and has always been) owned by Tom Foreman, an interesting and friendly chap who punctuates the end of every sentence with a raise of his wine glass in a toast (sometimes he forgets that he isn't currently holding a wine glass, and then you just get an "air toast"). The place is definitely a family affair. His daughter in law is the head chef and at least one nephew and several other family members work there. We learned all of this and much, much more during his friendly (and numerous) vistits to our table. And for those of you who remember Papillon, yes, we got the booth with the velvet curtains. Score! We were invited back on Sunday for an art exhibit - Tom's brother Jerry and his twin sons are all very talented oil paint artists. Tom is a wood craftsman and makes beautiful pens out of rare woods.
Back to dinner. We ordered all of our dishes from the evening's special menu starting with tempura calamari in lobster bisque. For our main course, Rob had a three sausage combo: Venison with Cranberry, Duck with Fig, and Lamb and with something (we can't remember). I don't eat any of these three meats, but had to try one bite of each and let me tell you, it made me reconsider. I had the pork Rib Eye with a caramelized onion and berry reduction that was wonderful. We also got this complimentary desert!
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Next we drove on over to the Mud Puddle for a private concert with Caroline Aiken. Take a listen! You can youtube some performances or check out her website: http://carolineaiken.com/home.html
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The Mud Puddle is a little 50 square foot space on the main street in Niles operated by Michael McNevin. A good place to sit in and listen to some talented musicians doing what they do best. It's a "bring your own wine to share and hope you find a chair" kind of place that seats about 20, but the floor would be all right too.
Well, that was enough for the first night. Saturday I had to work for a few hours so we didn't do too much except make this fantastic dinner and lounge around at home!
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Sunday was the piece de resistance! We started out with breakfast at Dino's (which prompted me to sing The Boys Are Back In Town for about the next 6 hours...'cause we were "hanging out at Dino's"), then the art exhibit, then home by Noon for Mimosas pool side! Here was my view for most of the afternoon:
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Here's me on the trail:
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And here we are, SAFELY arrived at our destination....five minutes later.
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The music was a little "blue grassy" for our taste, but the scenery was awesome. Here are a few shots of the town and the plaza. This first place, "Thyme For Tea" is an antique store in the front, a fudge shop in the middle, and a tea room in the back. It sure is different from how I remember it in the 80's and 90's! We would come here to listen to local bands. I remember it being kind of gritty, and always hot. Packed wall to wall with people wearing dangerously high heels to match their dangerously high hair. It was a scary place for a girl with nicknames like "Clean Eline", "Sister Potter" and "Miss Macy's". I so wanted to be a bad ass...but just....wasn't.
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There are a LOT of antique shops in this town. It used to be biker bar, antique shop, bar, liquor store, biker bar, antique shop, bar, biker bar. Now it's just a row of antique shops and one bar. Well, there's also El Recreo, but I tried it once back in the day and no one spoke English, not sure if it's the same today or not.
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There's the train museum in the Plaza.
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A sweet fountain.
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Old cars.
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Pretty darn charming, right?
And we can't forget the trains!
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That song has been stuck in my head all week, so I decided to use it instead of just singing it badly and repetitively.
This town, Niles, is our own little funky town. Rob likes to call it "the town that time forgot", and it really is easy to feel like you're back in the 50's when you stroll or ride your bike around. Random and plentiful dogs (big 'uns!) barking in the distance, kids running around barefoot or riding bikes without helmets (gasp!), sticky with Popsicles they got from Mr. Mikey's Country Store, music drifting through the balmy air, either from the bandstand in the town plaza, or from some guy's car parked in the street getting detailed into summer sweetness. And trains; big and small, passenger and cargo, fast and slow, loud and stealthy...lots of trains. They call the area where we live "Niles Junction" for a reason. Good thing we like trains!
This year for our anniversary (one year...holla!), we decided to forgo the more extravagant plans we made, and try the local scene. We're still enamoured with our pool and hate the thought of leaving it on a nice weekend!
So here is our weekend in words and pictures.
Oh but first, a side note. I know what you might be thinking. "Why in the world would she think we want to see a bunch of lame pictures and hear about a weird town and what they did on their anniversary? It's not like a fabulous trip abroad with pictures of monuments or exotic beaches!". And I understand, I do. But I really like the idea of documenting even the smaller things. Let me rephrase that; "Especially the smaller things". Why? Because this is where our joy lies. And how lucky are we that we find such joy and adventure wherever we happen to be? Rob always says that life with me is an adventure. I used to think: "Well, yeah. Of course!" But then I started to really think about it. We go next to no where, and have close to nothing. We don't do a whole lot that I would think resembles anyone's definition of "adventure". Then I realized...adventure can be a state of mind. It can be how you see and experience even the most ordinary.
So with that, I invite you to share our most ordinary weekend! In words and pictures:
Friday night, we decided to go to Papillon for dinner (http://papillonrestaurant.com/index.html). Papillon is a French restaurant in Niles that has been around for 35 years. Back in the day, it was where my friends might go before prom, or for special anniversaries and other occasions. I was pleased that the decor was exactly the same as it was when I was in High School! I mean, exactly the same. The place is pricey. Some say too pricey for the outdated ambiance, but the food is delicious (and I really don't think it's that pricey at all when compared to some of the nicer Pleasanton restaurants we used to enjoy!).
The restaurant is (and has always been) owned by Tom Foreman, an interesting and friendly chap who punctuates the end of every sentence with a raise of his wine glass in a toast (sometimes he forgets that he isn't currently holding a wine glass, and then you just get an "air toast"). The place is definitely a family affair. His daughter in law is the head chef and at least one nephew and several other family members work there. We learned all of this and much, much more during his friendly (and numerous) vistits to our table. And for those of you who remember Papillon, yes, we got the booth with the velvet curtains. Score! We were invited back on Sunday for an art exhibit - Tom's brother Jerry and his twin sons are all very talented oil paint artists. Tom is a wood craftsman and makes beautiful pens out of rare woods.
Back to dinner. We ordered all of our dishes from the evening's special menu starting with tempura calamari in lobster bisque. For our main course, Rob had a three sausage combo: Venison with Cranberry, Duck with Fig, and Lamb and with something (we can't remember). I don't eat any of these three meats, but had to try one bite of each and let me tell you, it made me reconsider. I had the pork Rib Eye with a caramelized onion and berry reduction that was wonderful. We also got this complimentary desert!
SWEET!
Yes, I know the picture if sideways. I'm waiting for my I.T department to get back to me. Not.
The Mud Puddle is a little 50 square foot space on the main street in Niles operated by Michael McNevin. A good place to sit in and listen to some talented musicians doing what they do best. It's a "bring your own wine to share and hope you find a chair" kind of place that seats about 20, but the floor would be all right too.
Well, that was enough for the first night. Saturday I had to work for a few hours so we didn't do too much except make this fantastic dinner and lounge around at home!
Sunday was the piece de resistance! We started out with breakfast at Dino's (which prompted me to sing The Boys Are Back In Town for about the next 6 hours...'cause we were "hanging out at Dino's"), then the art exhibit, then home by Noon for Mimosas pool side! Here was my view for most of the afternoon:
After a time, we decided to fill up our water bottles with the remaining mimosas and ride into town to catch the Summer's first "Music in the Plaza" concert. Now, you may think it's foolish to bike while drinking mimosas...we beg to differ, we found it fabulously refreshing! Here's our trail:
Here's me on the trail:
And we can't forget the trains!
Yep...this is our home town now. I think we'll stay for a spell....
(That says NILES on the hill, by the way. In case you aren't from around these parts.)
Friday, June 17, 2011
I Give Up
Or DO I?????
(This is a reference to my son, who likes to answer everything we say with: "Or do I", "Or do you?" "Or is it?". Example: Me -"Jacob, it's time to go out back and pick up dog poo!" Jacob - "Or is it?" - said with one raised eyebrow)
My BMI is 23 (within the normal range), I enjoy "taking some exercise" daily, or almost daily. I also love preparing and eating whole foods, with lots of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, some whole grains, nuts and seeds, etc. Basically - a "Mediterranean" influenced diet, including red wine....and cheese. I bet I'm pretty healthy.
Perhaps it's my age, my adoration of wine & chocolate, or my healthy appetite and complete fear and abhorrence of "hunger" (even doing the low-carb thing, 16 ounces of lean Turkey Italian Sausage in one sitting is probably 13 ounces more than I need to eat), that all conspire to keep me pleasantly plump.
I should mention here that, as in all things, I'm a slacker dieter too. I have absolutely no desire (or ability in some cases...like the wine and chocolate thing) to change any one of the "shortcomings" listed above. Not a single one. I gave up smoking 5 years ago. And except for the occasional and epic fall from the proverbial wagon (a girl's gotta live, right?), I don't eat anything "white" - my carbs are limited to occasional and whole, I yoga, I hike, etc. etc.. Basically, I eat, drink, and do the things I love. So why can't I just love the body I'm already in and call it a day?
I'm at a cross roads (again). Do I just throw in the towel, "accept what I cannot change"? Or decide to put forth one last herculean effort to finally be rid of that "last 10 pounds" (more like 20, but whatever). I tell you this, I don't want to spend my entire life worrying about, or obsessing about things like weight and calories.
I have a pool and feel perfectly comfortable wearing a bikini in the privacy of my own back yard. Yes, I look very "European" in a bikini...so what? I'm of European descent, I can pull it off. In my backyard.
Self-deprecating jokes and comments aside, I honestly do think I look pretty darn good for 35 (or whatever). Most of the time. Maybe it's other people who "just aren't there yet" and can't see that, really, "European" is the new thin. And what am I doing measuring how I look against what I think other people think anyway? Or against the jeans and jawline of my yesteryears?
I'm thinking of giving up and just living fat and happy.
Or am I????
(This is a reference to my son, who likes to answer everything we say with: "Or do I", "Or do you?" "Or is it?". Example: Me -"Jacob, it's time to go out back and pick up dog poo!" Jacob - "Or is it?" - said with one raised eyebrow)
My BMI is 23 (within the normal range), I enjoy "taking some exercise" daily, or almost daily. I also love preparing and eating whole foods, with lots of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, some whole grains, nuts and seeds, etc. Basically - a "Mediterranean" influenced diet, including red wine....and cheese. I bet I'm pretty healthy.
Perhaps it's my age, my adoration of wine & chocolate, or my healthy appetite and complete fear and abhorrence of "hunger" (even doing the low-carb thing, 16 ounces of lean Turkey Italian Sausage in one sitting is probably 13 ounces more than I need to eat), that all conspire to keep me pleasantly plump.
I should mention here that, as in all things, I'm a slacker dieter too. I have absolutely no desire (or ability in some cases...like the wine and chocolate thing) to change any one of the "shortcomings" listed above. Not a single one. I gave up smoking 5 years ago. And except for the occasional and epic fall from the proverbial wagon (a girl's gotta live, right?), I don't eat anything "white" - my carbs are limited to occasional and whole, I yoga, I hike, etc. etc.. Basically, I eat, drink, and do the things I love. So why can't I just love the body I'm already in and call it a day?
I'm at a cross roads (again). Do I just throw in the towel, "accept what I cannot change"? Or decide to put forth one last herculean effort to finally be rid of that "last 10 pounds" (more like 20, but whatever). I tell you this, I don't want to spend my entire life worrying about, or obsessing about things like weight and calories.
I have a pool and feel perfectly comfortable wearing a bikini in the privacy of my own back yard. Yes, I look very "European" in a bikini...so what? I'm of European descent, I can pull it off. In my backyard.
Self-deprecating jokes and comments aside, I honestly do think I look pretty darn good for 35 (or whatever). Most of the time. Maybe it's other people who "just aren't there yet" and can't see that, really, "European" is the new thin. And what am I doing measuring how I look against what I think other people think anyway? Or against the jeans and jawline of my yesteryears?
I'm thinking of giving up and just living fat and happy.
Or am I????
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Day Three
Day three of the "Back on Track - No BS - This Time For Real" phase.
I've deduced, after a successful couple of 17 day cycles (of the 17 Day Diet), and then completely falling off the wagon, that my "carb tolerance" level (the level at which I can eat some carbs but not turn into a ravenous, moody, tired and sloth-like shadow of my former self), allows for a No Carb/One Carb schedule. That is: No carbs one day, SOME carbs the next day at ONE meal, repeat. And by carbs, I mean the starchy stuff: rice, bread, pasta, potatoes, etc. I don't limit my fruits or vegetables. I do limit my starchy carbs to whole grains (with a few exceptions on occasion).
How I came to this conclusion is pretty simple. I did really well on the first two cycles of the 17 Day Diet. I dropped a few pounds, had energy to burn, and felt really great. So great, in fact, that I thought I could increase my starchy carbs to one meal per day (a serving...every day), vs. every other day as the 2nd cycle of 17 days recommends. WRONG. That was a slippery slope that I now know to avoid. One meal a day led to two, then it was ON. I couldn't stop eating to save my life. I went from "rarely hungry, oh look it's time for lunch" to "holy shit, how am I going to make it to lunch, wait I just ate lunch, when's dinner?"
oBsEsSeD!
Beginning Wednesday, I went back to the every other day thing. So far, so good. Feeling more and more like myself, and today....I am so not hungry. I think I'm back on track!
I've deduced, after a successful couple of 17 day cycles (of the 17 Day Diet), and then completely falling off the wagon, that my "carb tolerance" level (the level at which I can eat some carbs but not turn into a ravenous, moody, tired and sloth-like shadow of my former self), allows for a No Carb/One Carb schedule. That is: No carbs one day, SOME carbs the next day at ONE meal, repeat. And by carbs, I mean the starchy stuff: rice, bread, pasta, potatoes, etc. I don't limit my fruits or vegetables. I do limit my starchy carbs to whole grains (with a few exceptions on occasion).
How I came to this conclusion is pretty simple. I did really well on the first two cycles of the 17 Day Diet. I dropped a few pounds, had energy to burn, and felt really great. So great, in fact, that I thought I could increase my starchy carbs to one meal per day (a serving...every day), vs. every other day as the 2nd cycle of 17 days recommends. WRONG. That was a slippery slope that I now know to avoid. One meal a day led to two, then it was ON. I couldn't stop eating to save my life. I went from "rarely hungry, oh look it's time for lunch" to "holy shit, how am I going to make it to lunch, wait I just ate lunch, when's dinner?"
oBsEsSeD!
Beginning Wednesday, I went back to the every other day thing. So far, so good. Feeling more and more like myself, and today....I am so not hungry. I think I'm back on track!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
AHA! I knew it.........
Wracking my brain and the internet, trying to figure out WHY I feel so much better without excessive carbs, and yet can't seem to control my cravings, I came across this article. It almost made me cry. It's me. So what am I going to do about it?
I've noticed that when I eat low carb, I feel great, have tons of energy, and rarely think about food. When I eat starchy carbs, I feel tired, grouchy, bloated, and have a constant "gnawing" in my stomach that feels like hunger. You would think that being aware of it, I could stay off the stuff. I think this is what addiction must feel like. It's very frustrating to know what you need to do to feel healthy and vibrant, and just not be able to do it. To feel totally powerless and out of control.
I'm going to give it another go. God knows it took me a hundred tries to quit smoking. I can do THIS, right? At this point, it's less about losing weight and more about feeling healthy. Like I felt a few short weeks ago!
Article by Laura Dolson:
You’ve been following a low-carb diet for several weeks. Perhaps you’ve been "experimenting" (what some might call "cheating") by eating half a bagel or some ice cream. Maybe you’ve been eating a lot of foods with sugar alcohols and hoping that "Net Carbs" number on the wrapper can really be trusted. And suddenly, there you are, standing in front of the refrigerator for the fifth time that afternoon – not really hungry, but wanting to eat something. Carb cravings are most likely exerting their influence.
What are Carb Cravings?
To be clear, I’m not talking about cravings FOR carbs (these are most common in the first few days on a low carb diet) as cravings CAUSED BY too many carbs. This is an extremely common phenomenon among carb-sensitive people. If you’ve been on a low-carb diet for awhile you might be able to get away with a meal or two with more carbs, but if you continue, it will evenutally catch up with you.
Essentially, carb cravings are 1) a strong urge to eat which is not associated with what we ordinarily think of as "hunger", and 2) usually triggered by either an excess of carbohydrates or the wrong type of carbohydrates. The craving itself may or may not be for carb-rich foods, but it can easily lead to a cycle of carbohydrate eating that is difficult to break. When people talk about "sugar addiction" or "carbohydrate addiction" they are probably talking about the same or a similar phenomenon.
My Experience
Years ago, I read a book called Welcome Silence by Carol North. North had grown up hearing voices and other noises in her head. She tells how she tried to make sense of these voices, creating what we would call paranoid delusions about them - and indeed, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, at some point in her adult life, she received an experimental treatment which totally removed the voices in her head (the probability is that toxins in her body were causing the symptoms, and a form of dialysis removed them). The title of the book refers to the morning when she woke up...to blessed silence in her head.
For me, getting rid of carb cravings was a little like this. For many years I had tried to figure out why I kept eating when I wasn’t really hungry. I sat in support groups pondering the emotional reasons I must have for keeping myself fat. I moved on to leading groups where we endlessly discussed our reasons for eating. Just like Carol North, I tried to come up with the reasons for those "voices" that didn’t seem to make sense.
Then I went on a version of the Zone Diet. And it was my own "Welcome Silence" experience. Suddenly, those urges were gone, and I suddenly had total control over my eating. I went about my day without thinking of food, until I was hungry, when I ate! Wow! Just like normal people! It was a revelatory experience.
Carb Tolerance Level
Unfortunately, I went off that diet, and regained weight. And although I tried from time to time to do it again, it never really worked for me. Now I realize that for whatever reason (I blame menopause), my body has become less tolerant of carbohydrate, and the amounts permitted on the Zone are just too high for me. Once I found my new carbohydrate tolerance level, I again experienced control over my eating, and the "Welcome Silence" experience.
Carb Cravings – Sending a Message
These days, my understanding of carb cravings has totally changed. Instead of cursing them, or giving in to them, I try to simply receive the message they are sending – that my carb level has edged up too high. It’s time to evaluate my eating patterns and readjust. Everyone missteps from time to time. Aren’t we lucky to have such a vivid communication system telling us we’re off track? It’s simply that we're standing in front of that vending machine, refrigerator, or snack food aisle when we “just need a pick-me-up”. Our bodies are calling to us in those moments - we just have to listen.
I've noticed that when I eat low carb, I feel great, have tons of energy, and rarely think about food. When I eat starchy carbs, I feel tired, grouchy, bloated, and have a constant "gnawing" in my stomach that feels like hunger. You would think that being aware of it, I could stay off the stuff. I think this is what addiction must feel like. It's very frustrating to know what you need to do to feel healthy and vibrant, and just not be able to do it. To feel totally powerless and out of control.
I'm going to give it another go. God knows it took me a hundred tries to quit smoking. I can do THIS, right? At this point, it's less about losing weight and more about feeling healthy. Like I felt a few short weeks ago!
Article by Laura Dolson:
You’ve been following a low-carb diet for several weeks. Perhaps you’ve been "experimenting" (what some might call "cheating") by eating half a bagel or some ice cream. Maybe you’ve been eating a lot of foods with sugar alcohols and hoping that "Net Carbs" number on the wrapper can really be trusted. And suddenly, there you are, standing in front of the refrigerator for the fifth time that afternoon – not really hungry, but wanting to eat something. Carb cravings are most likely exerting their influence.
What are Carb Cravings?
To be clear, I’m not talking about cravings FOR carbs (these are most common in the first few days on a low carb diet) as cravings CAUSED BY too many carbs. This is an extremely common phenomenon among carb-sensitive people. If you’ve been on a low-carb diet for awhile you might be able to get away with a meal or two with more carbs, but if you continue, it will evenutally catch up with you.
Essentially, carb cravings are 1) a strong urge to eat which is not associated with what we ordinarily think of as "hunger", and 2) usually triggered by either an excess of carbohydrates or the wrong type of carbohydrates. The craving itself may or may not be for carb-rich foods, but it can easily lead to a cycle of carbohydrate eating that is difficult to break. When people talk about "sugar addiction" or "carbohydrate addiction" they are probably talking about the same or a similar phenomenon.
My Experience
Years ago, I read a book called Welcome Silence by Carol North. North had grown up hearing voices and other noises in her head. She tells how she tried to make sense of these voices, creating what we would call paranoid delusions about them - and indeed, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, at some point in her adult life, she received an experimental treatment which totally removed the voices in her head (the probability is that toxins in her body were causing the symptoms, and a form of dialysis removed them). The title of the book refers to the morning when she woke up...to blessed silence in her head.
For me, getting rid of carb cravings was a little like this. For many years I had tried to figure out why I kept eating when I wasn’t really hungry. I sat in support groups pondering the emotional reasons I must have for keeping myself fat. I moved on to leading groups where we endlessly discussed our reasons for eating. Just like Carol North, I tried to come up with the reasons for those "voices" that didn’t seem to make sense.
Then I went on a version of the Zone Diet. And it was my own "Welcome Silence" experience. Suddenly, those urges were gone, and I suddenly had total control over my eating. I went about my day without thinking of food, until I was hungry, when I ate! Wow! Just like normal people! It was a revelatory experience.
Carb Tolerance Level
Unfortunately, I went off that diet, and regained weight. And although I tried from time to time to do it again, it never really worked for me. Now I realize that for whatever reason (I blame menopause), my body has become less tolerant of carbohydrate, and the amounts permitted on the Zone are just too high for me. Once I found my new carbohydrate tolerance level, I again experienced control over my eating, and the "Welcome Silence" experience.
Carb Cravings – Sending a Message
These days, my understanding of carb cravings has totally changed. Instead of cursing them, or giving in to them, I try to simply receive the message they are sending – that my carb level has edged up too high. It’s time to evaluate my eating patterns and readjust. Everyone missteps from time to time. Aren’t we lucky to have such a vivid communication system telling us we’re off track? It’s simply that we're standing in front of that vending machine, refrigerator, or snack food aisle when we “just need a pick-me-up”. Our bodies are calling to us in those moments - we just have to listen.
