It has been a hell of a summer. My cut had been going very well – I was seeing some nice vascularity and size though my delts and abs, my legs were almost looking decent, got down to 133 lbs and I think about 15% bodyfat – but personal tragedy was followed by – in no particular order – a kidney stone, a breast-cancer scare, a flu, an MRI for a possible cartilage tear in my right hip, and an eye infection that took five courses of antibiotic to clear.
I’m hardcore, but I’m not stupid – I ended the cut. I need to get healthy. (more…)
Pavlova. The word evokes the image of a sylph-like creature, lighter than air… someone who clearly never ate this dessert on a regular basis!
I have probably tried every Pavlova recipe under the sun. Okay, ALMOST ever Pavlova recipe. I finally found The One that appears to have actually been written in the land where the toilets flush backward.
I offer you my take on this sugary abomination – which I serve with lemon curd, whipped cream, and a side of insulin. (more…)
Well, it happened. I finally got my seventy seven year old mom to work out. First time in her life, two weeks ago. She goes to the physio and has him train her – she trusts him not to hurt her. And if he does, well, he can fix her!
Let me back up a bit though. I got mom dieting in November and she’s lost 15 pounds. I’m keeping it REALLY simple with her – basically Atkins without the induction. Meat, fats, green veggies and a few berries are all fine. Nuts, natural peanut butter, coffee and tea, also fine. The only restriction: nothing starchy, nothing sweet. Initially, no fruit. We’re easing into a few berries, or an apple over the course of a day.
You KNOW it’s an old-fashioned cookie recipe when the recipe calls for sour milk and no eggs. My great aunt Lucille used to make these as currant cookies – and as she grew old, and then very old, it fell upon my mother to bake these for her at Christmastime. This year, it was my pleasure to bake The Sacred Currant Cookies. Mom mailed them off with the note “MariAnne made these for you this year”. My mom’s so sweet. I wouldn’t have minded if she took credit, but to her, it made her proud that her daughter would do this for her.
Fast, short term crash diets like this can only be done safely with a PSMF – protein sparing modified fast. This is what she has set for herself, brave soul. We all wish her well.
Remembrance Day here in Canada. My husband and I went to the downtown Vancouver ceremony at Victory Square. It rained; somehow it just isn’t right if it doesn’t rain for Remembrance Day celebrations. In a way, the cold grey splatter of rain is a comfort for those of us who cry in the open without shame.
I always have such mixed feelings on Remembrance Day. Today is no different. War itself seems such a terrible waste of resources, energy, money, and life. And still, we must hate the war but love the warriors. Their country called and they stood up for all of us. (more…)
Pumpkin pie is a funny thing – for one, pumpkin isn’t a naturally delicious food, and it certainly isn’t particularly sweet. Neither is it easy to prepare.
I used to make my own pumpkin pie – from an actual pumpkin – and it was truly a pain in the ass to make (more…)
I’m training up at the Simon Fraser University gym ’cause it’s 59 bucks a YEAR if you sleep with a staff member (hubby works there). Killer facility, I sort of have access to a glute ham raise, there’s a proper official sprinting track, BRAND freaking new with a granular rubber surface, so springy it’s just to DIE for… treadmills that go to – get this – SIXTEEN MPH, and I’m kinda trying to nudge my way into the Masters sprinting group that meets on Saturdays. (more…)