3 Ways To Enjoy Fruits And Oats: Healthy Living Project

If you're a regular reader of The Letters In November, you probably know by now that I am into a "weight loss/healthy living project," so I am always looking into ways I could incorporate less of the unhealthy source of carbohydrates and more of the healthy types into my diet.

The past days the hubby who is very supportive of my advocacy (but not yet fully joining me) brought home some fruits for me- papaya, bananas and strawberries.

 The papaya was hours away from being over ripe while the bananas were starting to be more than soft and chewy so I had them sliced into bite sizes, sprinkled some raisins and non-fat milk. I didn't put any sugar since the natural sweetness of the fruits plus the raisins was enough to bring me to a fruitilicious delight!

1. Banana-Papaya raisin Surprise!

The next day we had some strawberries and still some bananas so I did the same thing minus the raisins because the luscious berries provided more than enough satisfaction to this sweet tooth! I was tempted to coat the strawberries in peanut butter but hesitated and just had...

 

 

 

2. Milky Strawberry-Banana blend!

Then for breakfast the next day with the papaya and the strawberries gone and the banana left in the fruit basket I had it with my whole oats and some raisins. Hmmm it was yum!

 

 

3. Oats in A River of Banana and Rain of Raisins

This week, we have ripe Guyabanos and I just sliced some of 'em and removed the peeling and they're ready to dive into the juicer tomorrow morning!






Eating more fruits not only boosts our immune system, regulate our elimination of toxins to name a few benefits but also gives us a sense of well-being. Just looking at those vivid colors makes my mood cheerful knowing that I have done something good for my body....because being HEALTHY is MUST for us to be productive and continue helping make a huge difference in the world!

Still haven't joined my NO SODA, no bad cholesterol project? Come jump right in! It is never too late!

Life is already short, we should not make it shorter!

 

Healthy Living: Update On My Healthy Living Project

It is the 47th day of the year.... so far so good on my healthy living project.....

The day after heart's day I had a joyous time devouring luscious strawberries from the hubby. I had a pretty hard time stopping myself from eating 'em before taking photos.  The sun was coming out setting the mood for my daily walk. 

The berries were vividly red and almost perfectly heart shaped!  I spent an enormous time taking in their beauty with my naked eyes and then with my smartphone's lens. What is there not to love about strawberries?  They are rich in antioxidants being packed with Vitamin C! Immune boosters and heart healthy treats they most certainly are! They were the perfect match to the hubby's gift, a bouquet of mini Roses.

He was a tad late for Valentine's day dinner because he was busy working to protect citizens in his area of work. I must admit that disappointed me a bit because I fantasized about attending another themed celebration with him this year.  But what matters most and what will always matter most is that we Love each other and that nothing can ever compare to the happiness we feel when we are with our kiddos.....

HAPPY HEART'S MONTH EVERYONE!!!

~Kulasa~

Healthy Living: Update on My Weight Loss Project

Hi there! So I am into the 58th day of my healthy living project. So far, I've kept my promise

• not to consume carbonated drinks
• to eat more fruits and vegetables
• to have time for rest and recreation
• to smile always and laugh a lot

 ...on the other hand the following need my attention

• I still lack exercise
• I still can not say goodbye to some junk foods
• I sometimes can't resists sweet treats and gobble them up

...but I am willing to conquer the challenge

...because LIFE is SHORT and I DO NOT WANT TO MAKE IT SHORTER!

JOIN ME!!!

ME, on the 58th page of my healthy lifestyle project

Heathy Living: Update on My Healthy Living Project

Five (5) Ways To Stick To Your Healthy Eating Plan

oats and some berries, what I had for breakfast

I've made it to day fifteen! No soda, calorie counting and regular brisk walking. Yey!!! Believe me it is quite a feat! For someone like me who loves flavorful meals and whose appetizer is the love of family and friends it's totally a mind game controlling these urges to binge.

I am proud to say I was able to say NO to offers of those colorful, sweet, cold, temporarily refreshing drinks that come in bottles! I learned through researching on ways to keep a healthy diet that...



1. Acknowledging our little victories helps a lot to boost our determination to stick to our dieting.

2. It pays to "think before you open your mouth"- before you put a spoonful of something looking oh so delectable to chew on and munch, take time to breathe in and breathe out. Is the food okay for your system? Will it contribute to making your body's immunity strong or will it drive your sugar and cholesterol level to the ceiling? If the answer is the latter then don't eat it! Grab the glass of water instead and drown your cravings.

3. However, there are times when you also need to reward yourself with a little bit of the sinful goodies otherwise you might go nuts! But remember to eat them in moderation and to take time to burn those extra calories.

4. Whatever you do, do not give up! 

 People might try their best to sway you to join them instead having the time of their life, drinking beer and soda or feasting on fats and carbohydrate loaded recipes like there is no tomorrow but keep your eye on your goal! Tell them politely that NO, thank you, you are on a diet. That statement would be responded with a lot of chuckles, laughter and ridicule even but just shrug your shoulder and walk away if you must. Not joining them when you can not stop them in this case is ALWAYS the right thing to do.

5. Your goal is not merely to lose weight but to make healthy eating a LIFESTYLE and ultimately to live a long, sickness free life you could use inspiring and helping others.


...now these 5 bullets on sticking on a healthy eating regimen are for me too to keep reading when the urge to GIVE UP and go back to wayward lifestyle becomes too strong...please add your inputs too so we could support each other onwards to GOOD HEALTH!

...our bodies are the temple of the One Above and goodness is spread through us so let's keep these senses working in full swing...

...to see beauty in every living creature...

..and touch so many LIVES for the better....

One of our latest blooms in the garden being kissed by a baby bee

Have a blessed day one and all!

I am using the Google automatically uploaded photos on my smartphone for posting some photos here and the ones posted here have a motion feature which was created auto with the series of four five shots. I love smartphones and Google+! :)

Healthy Living: Sardines with Tomatoe Overload

I am still hanging on to my healthy eating project :)

For breakfast two days ago I had one of my all-time favorite meals!

"Sardines" with a side dish of grilled "bitter melon" and an overload of tomatoes!

I had a hard time suppressing my craving for more rice and had to constantly remind myself that

anything in excess is bad. 

Drinking fruit juice and eating a slice of fruit helped satiate my huge appetite.

 

Join me on my healthy living project!

...because we must live long enough for the ones we love and be able to share our blessings with 

the less fortunate...

10,000 Steps Goal Met!

Yay! So yesterday I re-embarked on my journey to good health. Eeee seems like it's a love-hate relationship goin' on here 😀

Well, the thing is, yes for years I was able to stick to my low carb diet but my physical activity level depended largely on my mood. But yesterday I officially launched my "healthy living project" 2.0!

I will now add jogging to my daily routine!  Yep, Sharing with you yesterday's achievement above. 

Breakfast, Healthy Choice

In keeping with my healthy living project I chose more of veggies and fruits while still enjoying breakfast buffet at a hotel.

Always can't get enough of watermelon and papayas!

Orange juice plus refreshing water is always a great way to start the day!

Healthy Living: This Week I Conquered A Craving

Hmmmm it may sound very simple but it took me a great amount of energy to resist the temptation of ingesting the not too healthy type of carbohydrates and fatty food.

Yesterday as I was on a long queue at a fast food chain to buy the hubby and the kiddos' requests I had this yearning to order strawberry ice cream laden with chocolate cookies and oh so sweetie goodie syrup! I stared at the photo of the treat and as I did that my id and superego fought. "Just this one more time!" the Id said. "No no no no no!"- my superego whispered. I took a deep breath, and another and another until I reached the counter and had the courage to just buy what the hubby and the kiddos wanted. I had a bottle of water and a pie, no more, no less. Hmmm okay I had some popcorn too. As we were leaving the mall, the carnivores aka my watchamakulits craved for some protein yet cholesterol packed snack. I stared at the juicy meat wrapped in flour and oozing with oil and uttered to myself- hmmm "You don't need those fats and protein dear but the kiddos do, so pass on this one." I obliged and went home happy.

This afternoon I dropped by a cakes and pastries store to purchase something for the kiddos and was mesmerized by chocolate cakes and everything enticing to the eye. I did the trick I recently learned. I breathed in and breathed out in succession and imagined my huge belly and my unsightly fats. The trick worked. I simply snapped a photo instead of ordering...and I went home happy.

I ate just the right amount of dinner and then had my needed fruit-therapy. The hubby bought these colorful nature's gifts for me yesterday. I allowed myself to enjoy them with some non-fat milk and bits of raisins. Next time I will add some nuts. It was yum!!!!

So tonight I congratulate myself for another healthy living job well done!

Documenting it makes it more worthwhile I think.

Breaking up with bad carbohydrate binging- Check!

Saying goodbye to soda- Check!

My next project is to completely ditch my junk food cravings!

So you wanna join me?

Home Sweet Home: Onions and You

 5 Reasons You Gotta Love an Onion

• Onions lessen our risk of developing cancer.
• Onions guard us against infection.
• Onions help increase our bone density.
• Onions prevent heart attacks.
• Onions help regulate our blood sugar level.

I've been incorporating Onions in my meals as a part of My Healthy Living Project

which has inspired me to spend more time in the kitchen. I must admit I am quite a spoiled wife and daughter-in-law. Both the hubby and MIL love cooking and most of the time I do the tasting hehehe. Yet things changed a bit when I became more conscious of what I eat. So these days the kitchen has become my favorite part of the home and I have been requesting the hubby to purchase  undermount drawer slides so he could set up a better cooking area for the family. We all LOVE to eat and oh boy our home sweet home being at the neck of the woods with fresh air and breezy surrounding is very conducive to eating yet we are trying our best to serve healthy meals for us to live, long, happy and fruitful to be able to share our blessings with others.

Want some Onions? When sliced improperly they could hurt our eyes but when consumed in the right amount and cooked just right, Onions spell a lot of difference- like imperfectly perfect marriages :)

Healthy Living: Update on My Weight Loss Project

 It is week two (2) of my weight loss project. I am proud to say I am still hanging on! I am in no hurry to lose weight. My goal is to make healthy eating and exercising a lifestyle. I have been counting my calorie intake and so far my brain has been programmed to refuse unhealthy food. I am still looking for a weight loss partner though!

 

I have found a walking buddy! Not one who walks along with me though but one I could carry and hug and kiss and talk to along the way. Meet Jhuny, a year old nephew who loves tagging along on my early morning walks. When he becomes fidgety I take it as a cue to hand him over to his mom and to start jogging and sweating out on my own. 

 I am slowly finding my way back into the arms of gardening and all its pleasures. So many of my countrymen are still hungry and homeless. A part of my plan is to keep doing my part to help them spiritually and in action.

Thank you for once again reading my thoughts and inspiring me to live a purposeful, meaningful life. 

May your day be blessed and together let us embrace A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE!

Valentine's Day 2015

We had a pre-Valentine celebration. We had to rush our passport renewal at the DFA main office so we took advantage of our time in the metropolitan to enjoy some sweet treats. The hubby also had business to do at the camp so we had lunch at the nearest buffet resto in the area.



In keeping with my healthy living project I tried my best not to indulge in the meaty area of the resto and kept my plate colorful with veggies.



Ahhh the hubby's plate was the exact opposite. I didn't take a photo of his meal which is against The Letter's In November's code of discipline LOL.

The hubby explained he only has such huge an appetite when we are together and that Heart's Day is supposed to be enjoyed. He added he'd resume his dieting after the weekend. I didn't bother to argue with my Valentine for reasons only the heart understands LOL.

I had so much room left for dessert so off I took a sample of each cake.



My huge excuse was that it was the season to be sweet hehehehe.



Needless to say the hubby and I had a blast walking down memory lane as we ate together like young lovers once more. ☺



We'll visit this restaurant again that's for sure.

Happy Heart's month one and all! ☺

Healthy Living: Update On My Weight Loss Project

....I have slowly turned my back on junk foods and started eating more fruits...I have started my early morning brisk walks and now have a stronger commitment to keep going...HEALTH IS WEALTH and it is worth the sweat!...Come join me!

 

 

 

Healthy Living: Two Gifts, Onwards to Fitness

 Yesterday I gave myself something I have been meaning to buy for months now to aid me in my weight loss project- another "pedometer"!

My first pedometer fell off while I was attending a trade fair. The second one I purchased got broken so I gifted myself with a new one! Determined to meet a quota of 10,000 steps a day I am once again all set to walk myself to fitness.

Today on our Christmas party I received a shirt with a very apt message for my goal and I totally LOVE IT!!!

Thank you Clarissa!

Join me, change for the better embracing good health!♡

Veterans: Re-adjusting To Civillian Life Quickly And Healthily

If you’ve recently come back from deployment with the military, then you may be finding it pretty hard to adjust to civilian life. You’ve probably heard before that this is completely normal. After the initial joy and relief of coming home, you may be re-living the harrowing experiences you had overseas. You could find that your mind is reacting to certain stimulus in a way that was commonplace and natural in a combat zone, but is inappropriate back home. While you’ll probably never be quite the same as you were before seeing combat, you can still feel like you’re really home. Here’s some helpful advice for adjusting to civilian life.

The first and most important piece of advice I can give is to allow yourself time to settle in. Every service member who returns from a combat zone will take time to re-adjust. No one can come back from an environment where they’ve been exposed to life-threatening events, witnessed violent deaths and experienced personal losses without bringing some of it home with them. The fact that you’ll be there one day and home the next makes the transition even more difficult for a lot of people. Even if you didn’t have any particularly intense experiences overseas, the change can still feel very extreme. You may find yourself missing the strict structure and clear objectives of military life, and struggling with the various uncertainties that come with life at home. You need to realize that re-adjusting isn’t something that will happen overnight, so give it time.

3 Ways To Keep Your Husband Happy

 Well well well, hmmmm the title I wrote made me laugh out loud alone. Maybe it's because I'm still struggling to change myself for the better in many aspects yet confident that the hubby LOVES me anyway. Yet for the sake of making the hubby truly happy this is my TO-DO-LIST:

3 Ways To Keep Your Husband Happy

 1. Keep your waistline along the ideal measurement. 

     Ouch!!! Let's face it, tendency is, the longer you've been married, the more children you've given birth to the larger you become! I envy those women who have inborn sexiness who seem not to be exerting any effort to stay fit but remain looking absolutely gorgeous even after just a few weeks of giving birth. I honestly think sometimes life is really unfair LOL.

I've been asked time and again whether I am on the way and believe me, that hurts my ego to the highest level that one time I was not able to stop myself from throwing back the question to a meat vendor acquaintance because she has more mid body part fats than me LOL. I regret that I haven't kept my cool as I usually could but I was with the hubby and I just could not take the humiliation he witnessed LOL. Hmmm so to prevent the same scenario from happening in the future I have resolved to STICK TO MY WEIGHT LOSS PROJECT- so wish me luck! And I wish all of you going through the same ordeal a lot of patience and determination in counting your calorie intake and regularly exercising. After all, it is not JUST about looking GREAT for our husbands that matter most, IT IS BEING FIT AND HEALTHY to take care of our families.