Morticia's Musings

[slendablenda]

What a lovely picture

I had of you in a bath covered in pretty fairy cakes - then I thought you said
Hope everyone is having a FLABBY week so far - and the vision disappeared !!!

 

[Morticia]

Hahaha SB, that's just too funny....

A wee update re food. I've taken to making fruit compotes since Jez raves about them. Well oh my goodness how fabby are they. I made a blackberry/blueberry/strawberry and plum one earlier in the week and have had it with everything...well almost, had it with jelly and yoghurt as a pud, had it with my porridge as a breakfast and also just had it as a snack. Today I made a banana and nutmeg one, a apple/strawberry/cinnamon one and a very odd/interesting satsum and mandarin one.

Just had a makeshift cheesecake made with 2 oatcakes crubbled at the bottom, a good dollop of greek 0% yoghurt and the warm banana compote on top.....it was divine. I just need to stop myself doing the old habit of going back for more as it was so scrummy....

 

[thin_inside]

Haha - good posts to read.

Tell me - compots - is it just a case of stewing fruits and or spices together with a little water and then blitzing with a blender?

You all sound like they're fab - and I'm planning ahead for Christmas....

 

[katalena]

They sound great don't they! I am looking forward to these too so will keep an eye out for the replies to this post.

Kat xx

Haha - good posts to read.

Tell me - compots - is it just a case of stewing fruits and or spices together with a little water and then blitzing with a blender?

You all sound like they're fab - and I'm planning ahead for Christmas....

 

[Blonde Logic]

Basically yes, but very little water as the fruits will release their own juice in plenty.

I prefer to leave the fruit whole and chunky. Yum yum

 

[katalena]

Sounds great!

Basically yes, but very little water as the fruits will release their own juice in plenty.

I prefer to leave the fruit whole and chunky. Yum yum

 

[slendablenda]

I usually do mine covered in the mcrowave. Don't need to add water.Sometimes I'll add orange or lemon juice, vanilla essence or goji berries, cranberries, pine nuts - you get the idea.
the only limit is your imagination.
Serve with a dollop of natural yogurt. yummy xx

 

[thin_inside]

Compots are definitely a habit to develop I feel . Thanks!

 

[katalena]

I agree!

Kat xx

Compots are definitely a habit to develop I feel . Thanks!

 

[daisydoll]

ive never tried making a compote - inspired now (but can't at the moment!)
the cheesecake sounds lovely, hadn't thought of using oatcakes
daisy x

 

[Morticia]

Ohh I had another cheesecake version with warmed frozen berried....scrummy...

I feel I should do a bit of an update, but not sure there is anything to update. After last weekend being full on and eating more than I normally would, my weight settled by about Wednesday. Still not having any major problems.

One thing that did make me think was my usual Friday routine of going to the Starbucks in Borders, I had my usual black coffee but had decided as a one a week treat I can allow myself a goodie from the cake section. So there I was after 7 months of not having anythign other than black coffee from Starbucks being faced with the choice of what to have. Normally I'm a real cakey sort of gal, I always went for the likes of carrot cake....whatever was the biggest and most indulgent, not for me a little light mouse..no, no. Anyway, I'm standing there looking at all this and I get totally overwhelmed. Not by any fear of not being able to stop, or any fear at all. I was just overwhelmed by the size of everything. I looked at everything individually and thought "gosh they look so big, I could never manage that"...which is a first, usually protion sizes were too small for me. So there I was being turned off by the cakeage and eventually said to my hubby that he should get his usual goodie and I would have a small portion of it. And that's exactly what I did. After that I had a chat to him about this and what I've decided to do is each week either one of us can choose the cake (we both like totally different kinds of cake) and we can have half each....a bit of a treat but not enough to do any damage really.

Today I had another moment much the same when I was out shopping and stopped off for lunch. I decided to have the lentil soup. I saw it being brought over to my table with a small baton of crusty bread and the first thing I thought was "gosh that's an awful large portion". In reality it was a normal portion of soup and bread but I'm finding that after LL I am being turned off by large portions, which I think is a good thing. I think as well as physically not being able to eat as much my head has finally caught on to normal portion sizes and how much it would take to make me full. I did have about a quarter of the bread and all the soup and as predicted I was full. I'm liking this new mindset....

 

[Jezebella]

Wow hun, awesome strides there in the real world so to speak, and once again done with such an adult head. It seems if we are smart we can have our cake and eat it!!! Very proud of you!!!

Jez
xx

 

[Minerva]

Very wise indeed there Morticia! I always have a go at the supposed 'portion' sizes in restaurants and such - often they really *are* too big for our needs. Cake wise - you do have to remember, that just because you buy it, doesn't mean you need to finish it... meaning if you're on your own and you fancy a bit of a treat, leaving some on the plate is not a sin... the waiter won't look at you funny!
Usually I try to have only what I want and need rather than what my greedy head or anyone else tells me I should have. And as KD always has so rightfully pointed out - it's usually only the first couple of bites of anything that are the most powerful, which is an instinctual response to ascertain if a food-stuff is poisonous/harmful. ... after those initial bites the senses dull and we definitely don't get the same pleasure from the thing we're eating.
A weekly treat is a healthy approach - makes those days out that little bit more special, and actually quite romantic - you each get to pick a cake on a weekly basis and 'evaluate' them! May I perhaps suggest a 'Chocolate Tasting Club'? My stepmum and I did this quite a few years ago, on a monthly basis, a chocolate club sends you a set of truffles (two of each) and a score card. So perhaps, each week you could take two chocolates from the box with you to Starbucks and evaluate them over a lovely coffee with your hubby!

 

[Morticia]

Aww what a lovely suggestion there Min....thanks for that, and all the other input you've given over the months. You really should give yourself a good old pat on the back at times as you seem to have so much sussed when you're applying it to others and the advice you give. I hope you do the same for yourself and don't give yourself a hard time too much.

Have not really had time for proper updates recently. Had lots of eating out over the last few days, lunch on Sunday, Dinner on Monday, lunch yesterday and going out for dinner again this evening. No idea what to expect as it's a Korean restaurant, never been before and they don't have an online menu. So will just hope for the best and try to use my adult head. Trying to increase my exercise by running a bit more each time. That's working well and I'm enjoying the freedom of running. It's so much easier to just throw on my trainers etc and head out. I have a park opposite so I can fit in 30 minutes easily before I start my day. It would take me 30 minutes before just to get ready to go to the gym never mind get there and get started. So running is fitting in nicely with being quite busy....to be honest the busy I'm talking about here is socialising, can you see a theme in my last 4 days..., hey ho, we've all got to eat and we have all got to enjoy ourselves.

Next week I'm off on another walking holiday. Probably won't get as much walking done as we did in July (approx 12 miles per day) as it will be dark earlier, but I plan going for a run each morning before breakfast and possibly walking for the best part of 4 hours each day. So that will be nice and will give me some lovely daylight hours that might just get me through a few more weeks of winter before feeling any effects from SAD syndrome.

Had to chose 12 pics from my phtoshoot to go in an album. There were 70 or so shots to choose from so that was difficult but eventually did get it down to my favourite 12 and got the album last night....wow I'm so pleased with it I nearly started crying.....I can understand so easlily how emotional others have felt on this journey...but it's good emotions I guess...

So my next little treat will be to get the top of my ear pierced which I will do when I get back from my week away. So looking forward to a week of walking, chilling out, reading and nosing round some of the east coast lovely little fishing villages, and of course there will be the lovely fish restaurants......bliss.

Hope everyone one is having a good week. Special hugs to you Jez in this difficult week.

 

[Jezebella]

Thanks for your kind thoughts hun. Sounds like you have a had a fantastic week, and a great time planned for your walking holiday - take a few "beautiful scotland" snaps for me <G> Sorry I am a cheeky mare, but still dreaming of that lovely time by the lochs. Life in the real world seems like it is going really well. I just admire how much you take things in your stride. You are wonderfully aspirational.

Have a great trip hun

Jez
xx

 

[Morticia]

Aww thank you Jez, I really don't think I would have done so well without the support of everyone here. Any time I felt the least bit like freaking with all the head stuff all I had to do was come here and get some inspiration. I'm sure others who are just starting out on RTM will be doing the same.

Just a quick post here today, I feel like I've had no time this week to read and reply to posts as normal....and it takes it's toll I tell ye! Anyway just been for another 30 minute run. I'm getting so much out of this running I'm thinking of really upping the goal to something like a half marathon for next year, yes I know it's a big jump but taken in small steps I really think it's do-able. Also I'm really inspired by Girloutdoors and her fitness regime. It really makes you think that these things are achievable. Eating wise I'm doing good. Made a big batch of soup, ratatouille and fruit compotes to take with me next week so I have control over some of the food choices. Due to this kitchen extravaganza I've been chasing my tail all week with getting clothes ready, doing a tiny bit of work and some socialising....oh it's a hard life.

Lately I've also sold quite a bit of stuff on ebay, some of the clothes still had labels on them, an evening dress which was quite expensive still had the label on it. Anyway have made over £500 in the last 6 weeks or so. Has anyone else done this? if not I'd highly recommend it....it helps with financing the new wardrobe....

Well if I don't manage back online before goign away have a good week everyone. Jez I hope your next week is so much better than the last, and enjoy your shopping meet this weekend if it's still going ahead.

 

[katalena]

You have done and continue to do so incredibly well and being only in week 2 of RTM I found your posts, along with a few others so helpful and reassuring - especially when you start doubting, questioning different bits and bobs.

Have a fabulous time away and looking forward to hearing all about it when you get back.

Kat xx

 

[Minerva]

A very, very quick stop inbetween reviewing literature on policy transfer from US to UK on prison reform, and theories of social control... thought I'd go back to my reference to the chocolate tasting club - because I think Jezzy showed some interest!

Here is a link - it's a lovely thing to do with someone, and terribly exciting too... Brings back the meaning of chocolate to how it's supposed to be enjoyed... Try Some of The World's Best Chocolate - Join The Chocolate Tasting Club

Enjoy!!!

 

[katalena]

I have had a look at that link. What a lovely idea.

Kat xx

 

[daisydoll]

oh ebay!
i sold about £500 worth of clothes too - just as well as i have needed to replace everything! it gets a bit addictive doesn't it!
daisy x