A New Perspective

My nest is once again empty.  I didn't have to cook my kids favorite meals.  I didn't even have to go grocery shopping if I didn't want to.  I decided to wait until Saturday to shop for groceries and house hold provisions.  And, we ran out of everything including laundry detergent by Friday evening.  I had to get real creative in the kitchen last week.  Randy has always said I cook the best meals from virtually nothing.  (Is that a complement?)   It's a darn good thing I froze those over-ripe bananas (for making smoothies) so I could feed my new Gecko, Duders (or is it Dooders?) a little something.

Great trick.  Freeze over-ripe bananas to use in smoothies!

It was not easy to get this photo of Duders.  He was hidden, sleeping inside of his tree.

I am trying to budget.  My goal is to try to spend only $50. or less each week and do the major shopping once a month.  We'll only need to supplement the perishables, such as half and half (I refuse to skimp on my one to two cups of coffee in the morning) and bread, since we have most of our own fresh produce, get our eggs from our friends and do not eat much meat.   We are also on a kick to eat unprocessed, which means we didn't buy deli items like sliced turkey.

We spent $220. at Trader Joe's, $305 at Costco and $15. at our local fish market, Santa Rosa Seafood/ Old Wharf Smokehouse.  (946 Santa Rosa Ave.  707-280-2285.)  While at the fish market we sampled their smoked salmon.  Delicious!  Afterwards, Randy took me out to lunch to our favorite Mexican restaurant, Las Palmas (415 Santa Rosa Ave.  707-546-3091).  Randy had their fish taco plate and I had a simple tostada (knowing Randy would offer me bites).

While we finished our Corona's I said, "Thank you so much for taking me to Mexico, honey!"  To which he replied, "You're welcome!  And we didn't have to deal with going through customs!"  The fish tacos were absolutely fantastic!  I think the best I have ever had.  We complimented the chef, Alberto, and he mentioned there had been a write-up in the Press Democrat about their fish tacos.  No wonder!  We spent $23.

Anyone know how you are supposed to wear a Hermes scarf?

After Mexico we went to Paris (the post office) to pick up the Hermes scarf Randy bought me on Ebay for my birthday.  While driving home I said, "Holy Cow!  It's all about perspective, isn't it?"  Randy was totally on my wave length and said, "It sure is, baby!"  We felt rich and decedent!  We didn't have to deal with airports or transfers or crowds.  We didn't have to worry about getting lost.  We really were on vacation!

When we got home, we put everything away as fast as we could, then sat outside with a cold beer.  We marveled at the beauty around us as we played with our dogs.  Then, we took a nap!  At around 4:30, we went to a party at a beautiful home with a view of our entire valley.  My cold had people a bit nervous, so we left early.  Randy made me get in bed and he served me dinner!  (Tell me he isn't a sweetie!)

We wore out Rocky.  Boomer is still running for the ball.

We woke to another beautiful day!  We breakfasted on raspberries in our garden while we harvested our vegetables.  Right now, Randy is slow cooking a turkey breast on the BBQ and I am making chicken stock with a whole chicken that we will use for tacos, risotto and sandwiches later in the week.  I'll use the stock for my Negative Calorie Soup.  My soup is the anchor to my Bodeci lifestyle.  (Don't forget, I have to get rid of 14,000 extra calories.)

Freshly harvested vegetables for my soup.  Homemade chicken stock and chicken to use in recipes.

I love to cook when I'm not under pressure.  Relaxes me!

Randy tasting his BBQ turkey breast.  We'll slice it thin and use for sandwiches.  Yummy!

Have a bit of vacation in every day!  Even if you are on a budget!

D stands for: Drink Water, (Drink Wine?)

I’m sure I don’t need to elaborate much more than that…drink water! The big question is always how much to drink.  Most of us need about 64 ounces daily, but because of the large amount of water found in fruits and vegetables, you may only require 48 ounces or 6 eight ounce glasses. 

I have green and herb tea during the day as well as the rare "lo-carb" drink.  Avoid sodas, as they truly have a negative impact on our bones and muscles.  Moreover, most diet sodas contain sweeteners that raise blood sugar just like sugar does, thus you get the sugar blues and eventually more cravings for sweets and refined carbohydrates. It was determined in one study that people actually gain more weight drinking diet sodas than those who drink regular soda.  (I have read it a billion times, just don't have the study here to quote. Google it if you are interested.)  Both aren’t good for you, and because they contain phosphorous, they leach your bones of calcium.  NOT GOOD!  Sodas also bloat the stomach and create gas.  Ah… enough said about that.*

Your negative calorie soup is a great source of water and fiber, so eat up!  Drink more water if you sweat a lot during exercise, but drink moderate amounts throughout the day, as chug-a-lugging will distend your gut and make you feel bloated. 

Drinking water or other water sources will take away food cravings. Try drinking four ounces of water before going for the goodies, and drink eight ounces extra for every alcoholic beverage you have. You’ll feel a whole lot better and you will have more self control around food.

Just drink it, will you!

That said, what about your wine or other alcoholic beverages?  The ruling is: drinking alcohol has health benefits. Now, stop before you run to the liquor store! It is, again, about moderation. Moderation is the key to a healthy lifestyle with a bit of fun thrown into the mix.  (Another Bodeci must; fun!)

Regarding alcohol consumption, this is a variable, but for sure one drink for women and two for men is considered healthier than abstinence.  I am not here to judge the amount of alcohol you drink.  I only provide BODECI information and if you drink to a point to where there are problems associated with it, even what may seem unimportant to you, go to the middle or abstain all together. (Or stop reading and “get thee to a Nunnery”).  

I hate to sound like a broken record, but you’ve GOT to choose your poison.  What is not a deal breaker is not going to often be a part of your daily and habitual consumption.  It is totally up to you to decide what you will absolutely not live without. I, for example, cannot have my one (sometimes two) cup of half-caf with anything other than half and half, period. I can give up the caffeine and juice and even wine  (maybe not my Bodecini) but I will not have my first and only cup of half-caf with anything other than half and half.

  

So, I say this to you:  If you want to have a leaner body, you will ABSOLUTELY need to nourish it with the best possible intentions and this means deciding to drink less of your daily calories and drink more water and water type foods and liquids.

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[1] Soft drinks contain high levels of phosphates and its consumption has long been suspected of lowering calcium levels and increasing phosphate levels in the blood.  When phosphate levels are high and calcium low, calcium is leached from the bones. - Michael Murray MD and Joseph Pizzorno MD, "The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Revised Edition".