Food journal

Ok... so was home with the folks during the weekend. I have read that when trying to lose weight it is important not to deprive yourself cos that can cause violent withdrawal symptoms.

So, i usually indulge a little during weekends... so this weekend...

Breakfast -- had papaya with bliss (really works on the digestive system
Lunch -- mom made vege and chicken soup and had a bit of wan ton
Snack -- had grapes and a bit of durian ice cream (not together of course!)
Dinner -- had indian meal with dad and aunty (2 idaly, with vege curry)
Snack -- durian fruit.. :-P

Today... (this is going to be a nasty list :-P)
Breakfast -- chinese beef soup (without the noodles), with satay
Lunch -- Sambal fish with vege
Dinner.... er, later will update... not done with lunch yet! :-P

Food journal

I havent updated my food for a while... but never the less, I NEED to do it, as mentioned for accountability sake to whoever may stumble upon this. Hope I can recall everything...

Wed:

Breakfast -- Cereals with milk
Snack -- a box of carton ribena
Lunch -- savory oats and half a corn
Dinner -- (this might be gross) corn with baked beans... :-P (was just something I was dying to have!)
Snack -- 2 ginger cookies

Thurs:

Breakfast -- banana with a cup of coffee
Lunch -- (was so hungry) bought 2 vege with taufu
Snack -- grapes
Dinner -- (ok... had to go for a food tasting... so... dont cringe!)
1. Pasta aglio oglio
2. Roast chicken with rosemary
3. Lamb stew
4. Dory fish (with loads of chilly paste!)
5. Stir fried vege

But it was all sample portion lah!

Fri
Breakfast -- banana with a cup of coffee (had late breakfast)
Snack -- orange
Lunch -- homemade greek salad
Snack -- grapes
Dinner -- Decided to sin for a bit, so had some instant noodles with vege

I am trying to track my weight loss....

maybe by putting this up publicly might push me harder because of accountability... :-P

Food journal

Ok - today's menu was...

Breakfast -- weetabix with milo
Lunch -- Soya bean, salad and tau fu far
Dinner -- savoury oats.
Snacks -- I had another packaged soya during tea time

What was great - saying no to any of the stuff they have during the tea time and I said no to Lindt chocolates!

^__^

True Beauty

By the way... the lyrics to Mandisa's True Beauty mentioned here...

Do you think that a California girl is supposed to have curls and wear a jean size 3?

All the curves in all the right places, spray tanned faces just like on TV?

And we read in the gospel of Vogue that we're all suppose to dress and move and be

Visions of perfection

Such a misconception

'Cause the real connection is deeper than the eye can see

What's inside of you

What's inside of me

The hands that made the moon and stars

The mountains and the seas

Made you wonderful, beautiful, marvelously

Let the whole world see your

True beauty

Don't know much about Dolce & Gabbana

Seems like a lot of drama to me

And you can keep all your red high heels

And open-toed shoes - I'm good in my bare feet

Let's gown to the nitty gritty

Enough sex and the city

What about purity?

Skin is just the surface

The passion and the purpose that's burning down inside us

Is really what we need to see

Doesn't come in a bottle, doesn't come in a box

You can't spray it on, you can't wash it off

You can't nip and tuck, you can't sew it up

So don't waste your time

It's the love in your heart, the peace in your soul

The hope in your smile lets the whole world know

This little light - you gotta let it shine 

What's your true beauty?

Psalm 139 : 14-16

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

So, this is a struggle. The bible tells us that we should rejoice in how God has made us. And every flaw I have should also be a gift from God... so remind me again why am I trying to lose weight?

Even Mandisa sings about how God has made us wonderfully marvellous...

Well, for one, whilst I am made perfect in the image of God, He also gave me free will to decide what is good for me and what is bad. And if I know over-eating or being overweight is bad, shouldnt I do something about it?

AND, if my body is a temple, then shouldnt I do something to take care of it?

I think, (I could be wrong) both the psalmist and Mandisa was trying to focus on the fact that we should rejoice in the "me" He made, and not keep looking at someone else and say, "why cant I look like her?" or "why cant I have her butt/boobs/mouth/legs/abs/eyes/etc..."

I think when we start comparing, we lose focus of how wonderfully marvellous we were made, and therefore, lose focus on the Creator himself.

But, if we go forth to rejoice in how we were made, find ways to use ourselves and our body for His glory, then losing weight has a much higher purpose then just being able to fit into a smaller size jeans.. Losing weight literally means multiplying the talents God has given us to testify of his gifts in our lives...

Does this make sense?

Healthy Tips # 2

I LOVE soya... soya milk, tau foo far (chinese soy pudding) and taufoo in itself. But some ppl have voiced out to me that I may be putting myself at risk for breast cancer because of it's natural compound that mimics the female hormones.

Also, I was told that the home made soya milk which I actually love is unhealthy because it hasnt been purified of any fertilisers / toxins when planting it. So that also, I have stopped drinking for a long time. I have been encouraged to drink carton packaged soy - which I sometimes find too sweet and too light (not filling unlike the home-made).

Anyway... got this off the net - so you decide lah.

THE TRUTH ABOUT SOY


Q: Should I worry about eating soy?

A: No. If you’re a healthy woman with no history of breast cancer or thyroid disease, soy can be part of a balanced diet.

Chances are you’ve heard confusing reports about soy. Some say it’s a healthy superfood; others claim it boosts cancer risks. Here’s what we know for sure: Soy foods are high in protein, fiber, calcium, potassium, and B vitamins. And a European research review found that soy could lower heart disease risk and relieve hot flashes. So, eating a little soy each day is OK for healthy women, experts agree. But there are caveats.

For starters, soy is most healthful when eaten in its most natural forms and limited to one serving a day, says Maria Romano, RD, an oncology dietitian at Montefiore-Einstein Center for Cancer Care in New York City. She suggests choosing edamame or tofu over refined items such as soy “meat.”

Health.com: 25 breast cancer myths and misunderstandings

Soy should be eaten in moderation because it contains phytoestrogens, which act like estrogen in your body—and too much estrogen can cause some breast cancers to grow. In fact, studies show that high-dose soy supplements might up breast cancer risks. “To be safe, women with a personal or family history of breast cancer shouldn’t eat soy or take supplements,” says Katherine Lee, MD, a surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic’s Breast Center. Soy may also interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland, which controls how efficiently you burn energy.

Bottom line: If you’re a healthy woman with no history of breast cancer or thyroid disease, soy may help you. If you’re interested in soy supplements for menopausal problems, ask your doc first about your personal risks.

Safest ways to enjoy soy
It’s OK to eat soy once a day in natural forms like edamame, and the foods below.

• Tempeh
• Miso paste
• Soy milk
• Tofu

The latest soy research:

• One study showed you can cut five points from your total cholesterol by eating soy foods instead of red meat.
• 30% of people eat soy foods at least once every month.
• Women who eat soy as children may enjoy a 60% decrease in breast cancer risk.

This is hard!

My first declaration of ambition was Sept 27 and after that, proudly posted one issue if health tip and then abandoned ship. *sigh*

Well, I am back again... These past few weeks, I have been trying to lose weight, with a bit of exercise thrown in and also managing my food. I tried the no carbs thing, while most of the time I succeed, sometimes I crash and burn. My greatest temptations are biscuits. Chocolates I can say no to. Ice cream also yes. But chocolate biscuits! Now that  is painful to reject. 


To date, I have managed to only lose 1 kg, and I am aiming for 15 kgs... 5 kgs in the next 3 weeks - if that is possible! 


Anyway, I said I should do a food journal as well. So...


Breakfast --> 2 Weetabix with milo (no sugar) 
Snack --> Coffee, less sugar 
Lunch --> Home made greek salad with little olive oil and lemon juice dressing. Washed it down with 2/3 liter of water to fill up the gaps. 


Today's message from the book which I havent shared about is Matt 6 : 33

Seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all things shall be added unto you. 

And one of the key things that jumped out at me was this:

 Putting God first means seeking out to know whom He loves and loving them too. 

 I have already identified 2 people that has been getting on my nerves... well, one is removing himself from my life tomorrow onwards, but I will wish him all the best. The other... well... this one I am still learning...

Wish me luck!

Update:
* I was so hungry at 5.30 I had a cereal bar...
Dinner --> corn and a yogurt.

hope I dont snack later... :-P

Healthy Tips # 1

So, i think I failed to mention that I am not going to attempt some bizarre diet plan. Just to eat healthy and exercise more and focus on God more. I am going to give that Christian based weight loss plan another try! I was actually on it for about 3 months, and was showing signs of losing my ample hips. 

So, as I was saying, part of the plan is to eat healthy so every now and then when I come across any interesting healthy / losing weight tips, I will share. After all, the bible says share your blessing. 

So this is number 1. 

6 biggest lies about food busted

• by The Editors of EatingWell Magazine, on Thu Sep 16

The other day while I was making zucchini bread, I cracked an egg and dumped it right down the drain. Total mistake. (With a baby who still wakes up multiple times a night, I’m still a little sleep deprived.) There was a time, however, when I intentionally washed egg yolks down the drain—and used only the whites—because I thought that egg yolks were bad for my heart.Joyce Hendley tackles this food myth and 12 others in the September/October issue of EatingWell Magazine.

Here are the details of why you should go ahead and eat the yolks, plus highlights of other food myths that just won’t die.

Myth 1: Eggs are bad for your heart.
The Truth: Eggs do contain a substantial amount of cholesterol in their yolks—about 211 mg per large egg. And yes, cholesterol is the fatty stuff in our blood that contributes to clogged arteries and heart attacks. But labeling eggs as “bad for your heart” is connecting the wrong dots, experts say. “Epidemiologic studies show that most healthy people can eat an egg a day without problems,” says Penny Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., R.D., distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State University. For most of us the cholesterol we eat doesn’t have a huge impact on raising our blood cholesterol; the body simply compensates by manufacturing less cholesterol itself. Saturated and trans fats have much greater impact on raising blood cholesterol. And a large egg contains only 2 grams of saturated fat and no trans fats. The American Heart Association recommends limiting cholesterol intake to less than 300 mg daily—less than 200 mg if you have a history of heart problems or diabetes or are over 55 (women) or 45 (men). “That works out to less than an egg a day for this population—more like two eggs over the course of the week,” notes Kris-Etherton.

Related: Two Dozen Easy, Healthy Egg Recipes

Myth 2: High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is worse for you than sugar.
The Truth: The idea that high-fructose corn syrup is any more harmful to your health than sugar is “one of those urban myths that sounds right but is basically wrong,” according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a health advocacy group. The composition of high-fructose corn syrup is almost identical to table sugar or sucrose (55 percent fructose, 45 percent glucose and 50:50, respectively). Calorie-wise, HFCS is a dead ringer for sucrose. Studies show that HFCS and sucrose have very similar effects on blood levels of insulin, glucose, triglycerides and satiety hormones. In short, it seems to be no worse—but also no better—than sucrose, or table sugar. This controversy, say researchers, is distracting us from the more important issue: we’re eating too much of all sorts of sugars, from HFCS and sucrose to honey and molasses. The American Heart Association recently recommended that women consume no more than 100 calories a day in added sugars [6 teaspoons]; men, 150 calories [9 teaspoons].

Related: Delicious Desserts with Surprisingly Low Added Sugars

Myth 3: A raw-food diet provides enzymes that are essential to healthy digestion.
The Truth: “Raw foods are unprocessed so nothing’s taken away; you don’t get the nutrient losses that come with cooking,” says Brenda Davis, R.D., co-author of Becoming Raw: The Essential Guide to Raw Vegan Diets (Book Publishing, 2010). But the claim by some raw-food advocates that eating raw boosts digestion by preserving “vital” plant enzymes, Davis explains, just doesn’t hold water. “Those enzymes are made for the survival of plants; for human health, they are not essential.” What about the claim by some raw-foodistas that our bodies have a limited lifetime supply of enzymes—and that by eating more foods with their enzymes intact, we’ll be able to spare our bodies from using up their supply? “The reality is that you don’t really have a finite number of enzymes; you’ll continue to make enzymes as long as you live,” says Davis. Enzymes are so vital to life, she adds, “the human body is actually quite efficient at producing them.”

Myth 4: Your body can’t use the protein from beans unless you eat them with rice.
The Truth: Proteins—which our bodies need to make everything from new muscle to hormones—are made up of different combinations of 20 amino acids. Thing is, our bodies can make only 11 of these amino acids; we must get the other nine from food. Animal-based protein-rich foods like eggs and meat provide all nine of these “essential” amino acids, but nearly all plant foods are low in at least one. Experts used to say that to get what your body needs to make proteins, you should pair plant-based foods with complementary sets of amino acids—like rice and beans. Now they know that you don’t have to eat those foods at the same meal. “If you get a variety of foods throughout the day, they all go into the ‘basket’ of amino acids that are available for the body to use,” says Winston J. Craig, Ph.D., R.D., nutrition department chair at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Related: Cheap, Quick Dinners Using Canned Beans

Myth 5: Microwaving zaps nutrients.
The Truth: This is misguided thinking, says Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Ph.D., R.D., professor of nutrition at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Whether you’re using a microwave, a charcoal grill or a solar-heated stove, “it’s the heat and the amount of time you’re cooking that affect nutrient losses, not the cooking method,” she says. “The longer and hotter you cook a food, the more you’ll lose certain heat- and water-sensitive nutrients, especially vitamin C and thiamin [a B vitamin].” Because microwave cooking often cooks foods more quickly, it can actually help to minimize nutrient losses.

Related: How to Cook 20 Vegetables

Myth 6: Radiation from microwaves creates dangerous compounds in your food.
The Truth: “Radiation” might connote images of nuclear plants, but it simply refers to energy that travels in waves and spreads out as it goes. Microwaves, radio waves and the energy waves that we perceive as visual light all are forms of radiation. So, too, are X-rays and gamma rays—which do pose health concerns. But the microwaves used to cook foods are many, many times weaker than X-rays and gamma rays, says Robert Brackett, Ph.D., director of the National Center for Food Safety and Technology at the Illinois Institute of Technology. And the types of changes that occur in microwaved food as it cooks are “from heat generated inside the food, not the microwaves themselves,” says Brackett. “Microwave cooking is really no different from any other cooking method that applies heat to food.” That said, microwaving in some plastics may leach compounds into your food, so take care to use only microwave-safe containers.

What food myth are you sick of hearing people defend?

By Nicci Micco

Nicci Micco is deputy editor of features and nutrition at EatingWell and co-author of EatingWell 500-Calorie Dinners. She has a master’s degree in nutrition and food sciences, with a focus in weight management.

The start of another hopefully not so gruesome journey...

So I was sitting on the "throne" excreting certain things and thought wouldnt it be great if whatever I excreted could weigh at least 3kgs? or maybe 5? Well, life isnt always so great. So there I was, thinking about Julie & Julia and thought, "how many people would want to read about the perils of losing weight!?"

Well, I dont know. But I do know many would like to read about tips on losing weight! I know I do. Sometimes I am inspired. Sometimes I laugh at the ridiculousness. Sometimes I actually stop and think! 

Well, to be honest, some times really work. Like they say drink a glass of water 30 minutes before you have a meal can cut down on the amount you eat. But then sometimes it fails to tell you that after about 2 hours later, when you have peed that glass of water out, you will get hungry. 

So what do you do? You go looking for food. Then this is where you refer to the other  tip about snacking on foods that require you to chew, takes a while to digest and has lots of fibre like apples with their skin. 

Well, to be fair (to me), I have always been big. And I have tried various times to lose weight. Once I actually lost about almost 10kgs. At that time, I had a pact with a few friends. When also lost a few, and others gradually fell of the wagon with a loud THUD. So, then I decided to take matters into my own hands and tried doing it myself. I found this Christian based weight loss book that basically says if my body is a temple, not only should I protect myself from sexual or other forms of impurities, this also includes food that can endanger my health! (i will go more into it at a later stage)

Now, THAT theory worked as well. But after a while, i fell off too. One key thing about the plan was to have partners to cheer you on and be your food conscious. And because I was doing it myself, it kinda got challenging to argue with myself about taking another piece of choc from the fridge. 

So, while I was sitting on the throne, I figured, maybe I should blog my struggles with losing weight (again). I may not have physical support, but at least perhaps, someone might chance on this and be encouraged. Or when I finally hit the goalpost, I can show my kids (which I hope to eventually have) how mummy overcame one of her biggest battles! 

So this marks the first step.. A public accountability to myself.