Since this is one of the slower boards I figure we may as well take advantage of that and actually get to know each other! Even if you mostly just lurk take this chance to pop out of the wood work!
So I'll start...my name is Casey. I'm here pretty much daily...or more often...like today.
I'm 31, stay at home mom with two young boys and we are very new to this way of eating. In fact I'm going shopping for a cook book tomorrow!
I decided to give the mediterranean way of eating a try since the food sounds yummy and my husband and kids will probably eat most of it too (saves me making two meals)...plus I'm all for anything that considers wine to be an acceptable part of a meal even if you are trying to lose weight!
I've also recently taken up bellydance and am having a great time with it. Maybe its that nightly glass of wine ((hic))...just kidding!
I'm a wife, mother of 2 boys (will be ages 21 and 18 this summer), ... I guess they are not 'boys' anymore. My family has lived a MediterrAsian lifestyle for a few decades. My husband his whole life except for recently as he is starting to eat junk.. What is up with that??? Myself.... well though I cook it and encourage the kids to make healthy choices I haven't always done that for myself... especially in the 'MOVE IT' department.
I am an elementary school teacher though I was a stay at home mom when my kids were very little. I think it is the most important job in the world. My pride is that my children are very well adjusted healthy kids. I just want to give them a mother who is the same... hmmmmmm
I'm struggling now with exercise.. not doing it but getting a plan together. Goodness knows I shouldn't complain that I don't have the time. With my boys growing up and moving on to college I should have few excuse left not to put this together.
Bellydancing sounds like such fun.. I am also with you about the wine! I've recently (over the past couple of years) realized what I was missing!
I happened to be looking at a jade ring when I was registering. The site rejected jade as someone already had it. So I just changed the spelling.. I think Jayde looks better anyway.
I've been lurking here for about a week now. I just started this way of eating so I'm just getting used to it. I grew up in Indiana and so I grew up on meat and potatoes, and M&Ms, and cookies, and basically junk.
I'm trying to set a good example for my boys (4 & 1) and teach them how to eat healthy. I am married to an Army soldier and we've lived in Hawaii and now Arizona. He's planning on getting out this fall and we'll be moving to Houston. I'm hoping to grow a garden when we finally buy a house next year.
My ID name is because I am planning on going to culinary school to become a pastry chef. That and the fact that my name is Brandi. Sometimes my sister or my husband will call me Bran.
I peek in here regularly, though I'm mostly over on the TOPS board. I'd love to see some action over here, though!
I started implementing a Mediterranean-style of eating last October, and I started losing weight immediately. I am a single parent of a teenager, and my teenager is athletic and encourages this eating style. We're not perfect about it, but we're on it about 80% of the time. It's worked so far for me ... I find it to be flexible and close to what I think is a very natural way of eating.
I don't exercise a ton, but I try to incorporate it into our daily activities rather than setting aside time to do it (i.e., meeting friends for bike rides instead of dinner, walking instead of driving to the store).
I've not purchased any cookbooks yet, but figured I would when I get bored with what I know how to cook (and that hasn't happened yet). I use a lot of online resources.
My screen name: It's been a screen name of mine for years. It actually has something to do with a mind-altering plant, but that's not why I chose it. I just thought it was a cute name.
Hi Brandi and Phantastica. So nice to meet you here in this little forum
Brandi, I am glad to hear about your plans for a garden when you move. Gardens are nice all the way around. Fresh air, exercise, focus, fresh produce.. it's all good.
Like Phantastica says... incorporate exercise into the day.. I am trying hard to do that too. I like the bike riding idea with friends instead of meeting for dinner.
Well, I'm going out of town for a few days. Take care and have a great weekend.
Jayde...I hear ya on the exercise thing...maybe we should start a weekly or monthly exercise thread here too! Lately I've been trying to make it on to my elliptical trainer (aka Firebolt) daily...and weights at least a couple times a week. The problem with weights is I can't zone out like I do with cardio. Bellydance *is* fun but its just not really a total fitness workout.
Brandi...you are so brave to become a pastry chef!! I would weigh in the neighbourhood of a ton if I did that! Although I have a friend who worked at Bernard Calabeau (sp?)...they make chocolates...not sure if they are just in Canada...anyway...after a month she couldn't stand to eat chocolate anymore. And even after leaving years ago she is not that picky for it anymore.
Phantastica...I just bought The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook yesterday...just reading through it now...it seems pretty good...I'll be sure to post recipes as we try them to save anyone else having to buy one! I like having an actual book on hand since I am very bad at organizing my recipes...everything from online is just in a heap and I learn to recognize recipes by the stains on them and how the corners are crumpled!
Its so nice hearing about who else is here! Surely there must be more than four of us though!
I peek over here occasionally, but spend most of my time on the "exercise" thread of the Sonoma Diet board.
I just wrote a really long intro but the system threw me out and it's now gone so I'll keep this one short.
I am 40, turning 41 in a week, and married. I am between jobs and making a career change; perhaps I'm in the middle of a mid-life crisis.
We are not new to this way of eating, but by sort-of following the Sonoma Diet, we are returning after a long, terrible break. I am so happy to be back to eating real food, food that tastes good. We recently planted a small garden in our back yard and my favorite part is the herbs in containers right outside the back door. I am having so much fun snipping off fresh herbs to cook with and cannot wait for fresh vegetables! Gardening is not new to us, but we haven't had time for a garden in several years.
The origin of my screen name is very dull: It consists of my initials and my age when I decided to get my health and life back.
Casey - It might be an issue at first, but I'm hoping that after awhile I won't see it the same anymore. I'm really really hoping that is what will happen. If not then I'll have to do just centerpieces or something not really for consumption. Right now I'm thinking I would like to work making wedding cakes. (Can't really eat someone's wedding cake, can I?)
Good point!! It will be an exercise in self control!
I see you have young boys...me too...2 and almost 4 for me...and I'm trying to set a good example for them with eating well and exercising. We're getting there. Its harder than you'd think it would be to change habits, isn't it?
It is harder. I am having a problem finding an eating style that works good for me and that fits into something I can live with for the rest of my life. I think I'm getting close though.
I'm pretty lucky in that my kids will eat just about anything. Including veggies! My oldest is picky about meat though, which is fine with me.
I am 40, turning 41 in a week, and married. I am between jobs and making a career change; perhaps I'm in the middle of a mid-life crisis.
Hm... I just turned 41... mid life crisis... Is that what is happening to me? I think for me not crisis.. not yet anyone... This is by far the best time of my life. Even better than when my kids were little babes and I didn't think any time would every top that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sf40
We recently planted a small garden in our back yard and my favorite part is the herbs in containers right outside the back door. I am having so much fun snipping off fresh herbs to cook with and cannot wait for fresh vegetables! Gardening is not new to us, but we haven't had time for a garden in several years.
Fresh herbs! I am with you. Nothing beats it. We have a few pots of mind strategically placed near the walks so when you walk by you can't help but to reach down and brush it.. It smells great. And the containers keep them from spreading to unwanted places in the yard.
I used to have basil. ... I forgot to plant some this year. I better get some soon.
Jayde...I hear ya on the exercise thing...maybe we should start a weekly or monthly exercise thread here too! Lately I've been trying to make it on to my elliptical trainer (aka Firebolt) daily...and weights at least a couple times a week. The problem with weights is I can't zone out like I do with cardio. Bellydance *is* fun but its just not really a total fitness workout.
I think an exercise thread would be great. It would be a great way to find out how each of us are finding ways to enjoy and make exercise a vital part of our day.
Hm... I just turned 41... mid life crisis... Is that what is happening to me? I think for me not crisis.. not yet anyone... This is by far the best time of my life. Even better than when my kids were little babes and I didn't think any time would every top that.
Nah, I don't think it's a mid-life crisis either. I think I meant that tongue-in-cheek, but kinda hard to convey when quickly typing and adding a smilie. It is a good time in my life, too. I am more sure of who I am and what is important to me, and I am comfortable remaining unemployed until I find a good fit.
Don't you love brushing against herbs? We have a lot of lavender planted in front of the house and we brush by two large, beautiful plants to get to the front door. And sometimes the breeze blows the scent right into the house. Mmmmmmmm!!
Regarding an exercise thread, y'all are welcome to post on the exercise thread of the Sonoma Diet forum. There are one or two people who post regularly but aren't on the Sonoma Diet but like the accountability. Something to think about. We would love to have you!
Roll Call?
My family has lived a MediterrAsian lifestyle for a few decades. My husband his whole life except for recently as he is starting to eat junk.. What is up with that??? Myself.... well though I cook it and encourage the kids to make healthy choices I haven't always done that for myself... especially in the 'MOVE IT' department.
