Answer...

Yes! You do want to see more pics.

OK, here goes...

For breakfast at the moment I have been trying out some of the recipes from Sheila Viers' 30-Day Oatmeal Challenge. Today I had Chocolate Covered Strawberry Oatmeal. I made mine with soy milk and 1/2 teaspoon stevia instead of a full teaspoon.


I followed this with a smoothie made with water, chocolate protein powder, banana and some roasted beetroot.


For a snack I had some homemade hummus and veggies. We are running low on veggies at the moment (delivery tomorrow) so I didn't have much left to dip into the hummus. Instead I made some hummus roll-ups with romaine lettuce and tomato.


I trained at lunchtime again today. Workout drinks ready to go...


After foam rolling and mobility and corrective exercises I did day 2 of my new program:
-squats
-press ups
-single leg RDLs
-2-point DB rows
-single-arm face pulls
-Pallof press ISO
followed by KB swings on the minute

Lunch was a homemade veggie (lentil) burger. Here it is before I put the top on


With top on, accompanied by a kangaroo sausage and some dried figs


eaten outside in the sun with Rob and Cleary (both not working this afternoon - but they did the lawns)


Think I was a bit carb depleted while making my lunch - I later found my bread in the vege bin in the fridge!

About an hour later I was hungry again so had a snack of a Cherry Pie Larabar


and then a bit later some mixed nuts


Dinner was prawn fried rice


Looking forward to seeing what fruit and veggies I get tomorrow!

Question...

Would you be interested in seeing more pics of what I eat rather than just a list?

Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: choc banana beet smoothie; pumpkin oatmeal with sunflower seed butter
M2: hummus, broccoli
foam rolling
M3: kangaroo sausage, veggie burger with tabouli (no wheat)
M4: mixed nuts, grapefruit, kiwifruit
M5: tofu and cabbage stir-fry, brown rice

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Program 1.2, Day 1

Switched my training to lunchtime today. Evenings are too busy, and I've been finding it hard to get work done after training first thing in the morning - too wiped out. So now I can walk in the mornings, have a decent breakfast, be productive with my work, get away from my desk at lunchtime, then do some work that doesn't require as much concentration in the afternoons.

Today's workout consisted of foam rolling and mobility and corrective exercises followed by
-rack pulls
-cable rows
-BB split squats with front squat grip
-single-arm DB bench
-tall kneeling PNF
-ab wheel rollouts
followed by some intervals on the crosstrainer.

Loved it!

Today's food
M1: choc beet banana smoothie; banana flax oatmeal with walnuts
M2: hummus, carrot and cucumber sticks
train, day 1 (BCAAs)
M3: kangaroo sausage, veggie burger, dried figs
M4: Cherry Pie Larabar (tasted more like cranberries than cherries to me)
M5: tofu stir-fry, brown rice

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Sunday

Received my new program yesterday - it looks great! Am looking forward to starting it on Monday.

My shopping expedition took a bit longer than expected today. I walked down to the supermarket, filled up my trolley, put it through the checkout then realised I'd left my wallet at home. Doh! So then had to walk home, get money, walk back to supermarket then walk home with groceries. Guess it makes up for not taking the dog for a walk today.

Today's Food
M1: choc banana beetroot smoothie; German Chocolate Oatmeal (made without the coconut and less stevia and pecans - still yummy though!)
M2: hummus, carrots
walk to and from and to and from supermarket
M3: kangaroo sausage, baked beans on sprouted grain toast, salad with rocket, tomato, cucumber and avocado
M4: grapefruit, mixed nuts
M5: seafood masala, rice

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Out and About

This morning for breakfast I had a pomegranate and beetroot smoothie


followed by oats mixed with some almond milk, grated apple and cinnamon


After breakfast I caught a train into the city and then another train to Frankston to look at a possible investment property. On the train I had a snack of some hummus and carrot sticks


Rob couldn't make it to the open home, so I took some photos and drew the floor plan so I could talk him through it later.

On the train on the way back to the city I had my lunch, Morrocan chickpea salad


It was lovely but didn't keep me full for very long. About an hour later I had another snack, an organic protein bar (contains Organic Almond Butter, Organic Brown Rice Protein, Organic Dates, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Bio Sprouts - Flax, Organic Biodynamic Raisins, Organic Sesame Seeds). This was yummy and filling.


I spent some time in town browsing in Habib Wholefoods on Flinders St and Evelyn Faye on Bourke St, then headed up to Brunswick to meet Rob and some of our neighbours at a bar. We have great neighbours. There are four couples (including us) who live side by side in our street. We are all around the same age and all get along really well. Three of the couples (including us) have dogs so we quite often have doggy 'play dates'. I didn't have anything alcoholic at the bar but got hungry before we left so ordered a tofu wrap with wasabi mayo (I gave Rob the chips, and yes I ate a bite out of the wrap before taking the photo!


Not long afterwards we headed back to our street. We all ended up going over to one of our neighbour's houses. Pizza was ordered. I wasn't that hungry after eating the wrap just before, and didn't really enjoy the few bites of pizza I had, so just had a glass of wine to finish my day off with.

The end

Friday

Last day of this program today. I sent off a new program request the other day and had a reply today from Mike to say he was on it. From his comments I have a feeling the next one is going to be even harder than this one (which already makes me feel nauseous sometimes)!

Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: pomegranate, kiwi and strawberry smoothie
train, day 1 (BCAAs)
M2: protein pancake with choc berry sauce
M3: leftover thai tofu stir-fry; ryvita crackers with vegemite
M4: hummus and carrot sticks
M5: frittata, apple, orange

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

New Fruit

Today I got my fruit and vege delivery from Miss Organic. I ordered one of their raw foodies boxes. I specified a couple of likes and dislikes but left the rest up to them.

Here's the box just after it arrived:


Open sesame:


Unpacked box:

See the little red fruit at the front next to the avocado?

It's a mangosteen:

Neither Rob or I have had one before so we shared it tonight. It's quite sweet, with a bit of a citrus tang. Yummy!

---

Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: apricot dumpling oatmeal (based on this recipe), egg whites
M2: apple pie smoothie (half)
M3: sprouted grain bread, lentils, fajita veg, rocket, salsa, cheese
M4: apple pie smoothie (half)
M5: thai tofu and red cabbage stir-fry
M6: mangosteen, grapes, apple

Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns

I originally printed this out from the Coles Online website, although I can't find it there anymore.

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups buttermilk warmed
2 8g sachets dried yeast
1 Tbsp caster sugar
1 x 450g packet gluten-free bread mix
1 Tbsp xanthan gum
1 tsp salt
3 tsp ground mixed spice
3 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/4 cups dried fruit*
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 Tbsp gluten-free plain flour
4 Tbsp water
1/2 cup apricot jam, warmed for glaze

Method
1. Preheat oven to 200 C or 180 C fan. Spray a 20cm x 30cm tray with cooking oil.

2. In a small bowl, combine warm buttermilk, yeast and caster sugar. Set aside for 10 minutes until bubbly.

3. In a large bowl, combine bread mix, xanthan gum, salt, spice, cinnamon and dried fruit. Stir well.

4. Add yeast mixture and eggs to the flour mixture. Using an electric mixer fitter with dough hooks, beat on medium for 5 minutes. Using a large spoon dipped into water, scoop out mixture and place onto prepared tray in 3 rows of 4. Set aside in a warm place to prove for 40 minutes (pic below is after proving).


5. Make up cross mixture by combining flour and water to form a smooth paste. Pipe cross mixture in long lines across the buns to form crosses.


6. Bake buns for 25-30 minutes until golden.


Brush tops of buns with glaze (jam)


and serve


*Check the ingredients list on the dried fruit. Many contain glucose syrup from wheat. I used Sunbeam mixed fruit.

---

Today's food
M1: pomegranate, kiwi and strawberry smoothie
foam rolling, mobility exercises
M2: frittata, small apple
M3: open tofu sandwich, red cabbage
walk
M4: lentils with cheese, salsa and egg; raw fajita veges

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Poisoned

As shown on 60 Minutes on Sunday night...

Australia's fruit and vegetables are sprayed with chemicals that are considered so dangerous they're banned around the world. Liz Hayes spent a hellish few weeks, witnessing the mutating effects of these poisons on people in other countries. And it's a horror show. Worst of all, the people who are supposed to be protecting us are pretending it's not happening.

Click here to watch a video of the 60 minutes report "Poisoned"

Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: pomegranate, kiwi and strawberry smoothie
M2: frittata, small apple
M3: open tofu sandwich, red cabbage
M4: apple pie smoothie (minus the avocado)
M5: Greek lamb salad, glass of red wine, mixed fruit

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Monday

Naughty me - stayed up late to watch the new Survivors show on TV last night (world gets decimated by virus and the survivors have to rebuild) and couldn't get out of bed this morning. Rob took TJ for a walk on his own. I walked to my friend's house to babysit this evening instead of catching the tram.

Today's food
M1: pomegranate, kiwi and strawberry smoothie
train, day 2 (BCAAs)
M2: protein pancake with choc berry sauce
M3: chilli tofu sandwhich, red cabbage
walk
M4: lentils, cheese, salsa, boiled egg, fajita veg
M5 (up late babysitting): tuna with light mayo and gherkin, orange, raisin bread

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Sunday

Rob has been hanging out for some gluten-free hot-cross buns for the last few days, so I made some for him this morning. He's also demolished a gluten-free meat pie and a gluten-free pizza, amongst other things.

Today's food

walk with Rob and TJ

M1: pomegranate, kiwi and strawberry smoothie

M2: protein shake, homemade gluten-free hot-cross buns straight out of the oven with butter *drool*


M3: sprouted grain toast topped with almond butter, chilli tofu (was going for a 'satay' kind of effect with the nut butter and chilli) and veggies, side of shredded cabbage


M4: lentils topped with cheese, salsa and a poached egg (this was delicious!), with raw fajita veggies


I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Comp Day 2

Three silvers at the 2010 Victorian Jiu Jitsu Championship!!!



Am proud of how well Rob did today. I'm sure he'll do even better at the next comp, given enough time to get his weight down so he goes into his fights well fed and full of energy.

I really enjoyed the last couple of days. It was great watching all ages and both sexes competing.

---

This morning my weight was down 100g from last Saturday. Shoulder, thigh and calf girths were up, all others the same.

Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: pomegranate, kiwi and strawberry smoothie
M2: frittata, small apple
M3: tempeh stir-fry, piece of sprouted grain bread with almond butter
M4: tuna and lentil salad


I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Comp Day 1

Rob entered four divisions in the comp. He is through to the finals for two of the divisions (held tomorrow afternoon), and will fight in the other two divisions tomorrow morning. So potentially a long day tomorrow. He has to weigh in again tomorrow, so is still having to be careful about what and how much he eats, while still having enough energy to grapple.

Rob in action today:


Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: pomegranate, kiwi and strawberry smoothie
train, day 1 (BCAAs)
M2: oats with choc berry sauce
M3: tuna salad, ryvita crackers, pear
M4: mexican lentils and veges topped with a poached egg

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Thursday

I have been enjoying watching the Shogun mini series on Fox Classics the last few days. I learnt Japanese at high school, and spent three weeks in Japan when I was 15. It's amazing how much of the language I can remember after 20 years!

It was hot and it took me ages to get to sleep last night, then I woke up about 2am, had to go to the bathroom, then couldn't get back to sleep so went into the lounge and read for about an hour. Had a sleep-in this morning and walked at lunchtime instead.

Today's food
M1: orange, kiwi and strawberry smoothie

M2: frittata, half an apple

walk with TJ

M3: open tempeh sandwhich, cabbage


M4: chicken breast, homemade falafels, hummus, veges

M5: choc PB pudding, pear

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Weight Update

This morning Rob was down to 78.9kg. So he is just under his comp weight, but still needs to be careful as he is just resting for the next couple of days (the comp is on Friday). His mate is also right on his target weight. What a relief!

Oh, and I couldn't find any of the three medicine balls at the gym today. Methinks they have been confiscated. Hmmm.

Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: orange, peach and strawberry smoothie
train, day 2 (BCAAs)
M2: oats with choc berry sauce
M3: tofu and veggie stir-fry; sprouted grain bread with nut butter
M4: chicken breast, homemade falafels, hummus, salad

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Breakfast

My favourite meal of the day is breakfast. I'm currently reading The Breakfast Book by Sue Radd. As well as lots of interesting breakfast facts, it contains lots of yummy breakfast recipes (all with a full nutritional breakdown). Here are a few that have taken my fancy (and that I'm looking forward to trying out):
-Breakfast berry and pear crumble
-Warm barley and cherry pudding
-Cinnamon spiced quinoa with dried fruits
-Bircher muesli with berries
-Fig and almond couscous porridge
-Fragrant wheat with figs, prunes and peaches
-Passion and mango breakfast drink

What's your favourite breakfast?

Today's Food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: peach protein shake
foam rolling
M2: chocolate covered strawberry oats, egg whites
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli, olive oil
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M6: choc peanut butter pudding

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Monday

When I asked Mike if there were any cues I should bear in mind when doing medicine ball slams, he said 'I always tell clients to envision they’re slamming the ball on my face. It helps them deal with the pain' . I used his advice today.

Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: peach protein shake
train, day 1 (BCAAs)
M2: chocolate covered strawberry oatmeal, egg whites
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli, olive oil
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M6: choc peanut butter pudding

Sunday

I've been hungry and eating my dinner (M5) at about 5pm the last few days. Need to tweak something somewhere!

Today's food
M1: protein shake, peach
walk with Rob and TJ
M2: chocolate covered strawberry quinoa, egg whites
M3: tuna salad on ryvita crackers
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M6: choc peanut butter pudding
*edited to add the following*
M7: 2 peaches, sunflower seed butter on toast, sunflower seed butter and craisins

Measurement Day

My girth measurements are the same as last week. Weight is down 100g. Rob wants to go back to our regular walks next week so I'm sure that will get things moving again for me.

Rob weighed in at 79.4 this morning. The upper limit of his weight class is 79kg, so he wants to be a bit under that on the day, as he is weighed with his fighting gear on.

Rob's mate is doing well too. He wanted to drop from 71kg to 67kg and is close to that already. He is stoked and I'm happy I've been able to help him out.

Today's food
M1: choc protein shake, strawberries
walk with Rob and TJ
M2 (treat meal): OJ, coffee (first one in three months!), hot cross buns
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M6: choc peanut butter pudding
M7: peach protein shake, hot cross bun

The pressure is on!

Turns out Rob's comp is next weekend, not the weekend after, so he has one week less than what he thought. I think he should still make his weight category though. He had a nice drop this morning.

I am feeling great today. Good energy levels, good mood.

Today's food
M1: banana berry protein shake
train, day 2 (BCAAs)
M2: pumpkin oatmeal with sunflower seed butter, egg whites
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
lovely glass of wine in the late-afternoon sun with my flatmate
M6: choc peanut butter pudding

Bits and Pieces

*Rob is planning to compete in the Victorian Jiu Jitsu Championships in two weeks. He needs to drop approx 2kg to make weight. He should manage it pretty easily just by taking out alcohol and his weekend chocolate-biscuit fix. But just in case, we've also upped his protein slightly and dropped his carbs back a bit. We're eating different food at the moment, so I'm doing double duty in the kitchen. Thank god it's just for two weeks!

*I'm also helping one of his mates who is doing the same comp. He wants advice on how to drop 4kg in that time. His diet is currently low in protein and high in junk food, so I think that by increasing his protein he will feel fuller and be less likely to eat junk. I've given him some suggestions so will see how he is going in a week.

*My size 8 jeans fit again. OK, I have a bit of a 'muffin top' happening, but I can get them on and done up.

*My next batch of work arrived today. I am proofreading a book for kids on how to draw fantasy art (fairies, vampires, dragons etc). I'm looking forward to starting on it!

Today's food
M1: pumpkin oatmeal with sunflower seed butter
M2: banana berry shake
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M6: choc peanut butter pudding

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Wednesday

Haven't been doing a lot of walking with Rob and TJ lately as Rob has a cold. So Rob has been walking me to the gym with the dog, then walking home again - it's a quick, flat walk for him. My food has been pretty good lately so I'm not too worried about the fact I'm doing a little less exercise. Plus my workouts are getting harder, so I'm expending a bit more energy that way.

Today's Food
M1: banana berry protein shake
train, day 1 (BCAAs)
M2: pumpkin oatmeal with sunflower seed butter, egg whites
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M6: choc peanut butter pudding

Tuesday

I have tried not to buy any recipe books lately as I have so many, but I picked up Michelle Bridges' Crunch Time Cookbook yesterday as I've heard some good things about it and some of the recipes look pretty nice. So may work some of those into my menu next week.

Today's food
M1: pumpkin oats with sunflower seed butter
M2: banana berry protein shake
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M6: choc peanut butter pudding

Oops!

The cardio area in our gym sits above a medical clinic. On Friday at the end of my workout I did my bike intervals and medicine ball slams in the cardio area. When I got to the gym today there was a message for me to speak to the gym manager. Turns out the doctors had complained to the gym manager about the noise, and when he didn't do anything about it, they called the police!. So now I have to do my 'slam' cardio downstairs in the ladies' gym. Oops!

Today's food
M1: banana berry protein shake
train, day 2 (BCAAs)
M2: pumpkin oats with sunflower seed butter, egg whites
M3: prawn sushi
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M6: choc peanut butter pudding

Sunday

I haven't had a treat meal this week. Have really been enjoying what I've been eating and haven't 'craved' anything. Am going out to lunch with my friend Vanessa tomorrow so may have something 'off plan' then.

M1: pumpkin oatmeal with sunflower seed butter, egg whites
walk TJ
M2: banana berry protein shake
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M5: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M6: choc peanut butter pudding

Measurement Day

Didn't bother doing my measurements last Saturday as I was retaining a heap of water from my period. So compared to two weeks ago, I've lost 500g on the scale. Most girth measurements were the same or slightly lower, the two exceptions being thigh (up 2cm - think my hammies are growing!) and waist (down 4cm - woot!).

Today's food
walk with TJ
M1: pumpkin oatmeal with sunflower seed butter, egg whites
M2: banana berry protein shake
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M5: kangaroo chilli
M6: choc peanut butter pudding (x2), apple

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

Program 1.1, Day 1

Day 1 of new program...

Today's workout started out with soft-tissue mobilization, dynamic warm-up and activation exercises as for Program 1, followed by

4. Strength Training
-RDLs
-chest supported rows
-offset split squats
-standing split stance cable press
-shoulder I, T, Y
-ball rollouts
-external rotation

5. Energy Systems Training
-bike intervals + MB slams (these got my heart rate up!)

Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: pumpkin oatmeal with sunflower seed butter, egg whites
train, day 1 (BCAAs)
M2:banana berry protein shake
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M6: choc peanut butter pudding

Thursday

An update on my nephew...

Generous help sees James beat diabetes

By SCOTT MORGAN - Central Leader



Photo: JASON OXENHAM

HAPPY LAD: James Taylor-Keown, pictured with mum Natasha, has a new insulin pump.

The generosity of the local community has made life much easier for Natasha Taylor-Keown and her son James.

Support from Central Leader readers has helped the Onehunga family, who featured in the paper last year, purchase an insulin pump worth $7000 for James to help control his type-1 diabetes.

Previously James, who is nearly two, needed up to 12 injections of insulin a day, making it difficult for his parents to keep it at the correct level.

"There’s no way to describe the difference.

"It gives him a constant flow of insulin," she says.

Pharmaceutical company Roche contacted Natasha after the story ran offering them the pump for a discounted price of $6000.

The Onehunga Centre Pharmacy also donated $1000 towards the purchase of the pump, after Variety Club previously granted them $4000 and Onehunga Plunket gave $1000.

The mum-of-three says the family has been overwhelmed by the response they received from the public.

"I had people ringing me up offering help with fundraising through sausage sizzles and cake stalls.

"It reinforces what a great community we have."

Natasha says having James on the pump has made life much simpler for the whole family.

"We can go out and not have to worry about getting back at certain times. We can get an icecream without having to give James an injection."

She says using the pump means it’s much easier and quicker to adjust James’ insulin flow.

"It gives those tiny amounts you could never give in a syringe," she says.

But she’s adamant there should be public funding for the devices.

Currently individual district health boards decide whether or not to fund the pumps.

Canterbury’s health board provides some funding for the purchase of pumps.

But the Auckland health board only provides money for training and consumables, such as the lines that get the insulin into the bloodstream.

Roche diabetes care product manager Nisha Taylor says the company is pleased they could help provide more flexibility to the family by offering a discount.

---

Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: pumpkin oats with sunflower seed butter
M2: choc protein shake, fruit salad
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M6: choc peanut butter pudding

Program 1.1, Day 2

New program, higher reps, harder exercises... Still working on getting my core stronger and my hips loosened up. And yes, I'm starting on day 2. Will do day 1 on Friday.

Today involved soft-tissue mobilization, dynamic warm-up and activation exercises as for Program 1, followed by

4. Strength Training
-front squats
-push ups
-hip dominant back extensions
-standing split stance cable row
-face pulls
-tall kneeling Pallof ISO

5. Energy Systems Training
-KB swings on the minute

---

Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: pumpkin oatmeal with sunflower seed butter, egg whites
train, day 2 (BCAAs)
M2: banana berry protein shake
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M6: choc peanut butter pudding

Happy Birthday!

To my sister Tash. Sorry I couldn't be there to share it with you. Hope you had a lovely day.

Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: pumpkin oatmeal with sunflower seed butter, egg whites
M2: banana berry protein shake
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M5: chicken and walnut salad
M6: choc peanut butter pudding

Monday

I usually find that I get tired a few hours after training. One good thing about training in the evenings was that I could crash in bed a few hours later. Today I trained in the morning and ended up tottering off to bed for a nana nap about 2pm. Felt good but meant I didn't get much work done this afternoon. Tomorrow is a day off training, so will try and make up the work then - am proofreading a book of fairytales at the moment.

To get where I want to be by the end of this month, I am going to try dropping my cals a bit by taking out my workout drink and replacing it with BCAAs.

Today's food
walk with Rob and TJ
M1: pumpkin oatmeal with sunflower seed butter, egg whites
preworkout: Combust
during workout: BCAAs
M2: banana berry protein shake
M3: tuna salad pita
M4: kangaroo chilli, broccoli
M5: chicken, apple and walnut salad
M6: chocolate peanut butter pudding

I will lose 10kg by 31 December