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A Newsletter of Inspiration and Imagination
February 2016
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I am writing this on my mother's birthday, February 18th. My mother was such a powerful figure in my life: in great, but also not-so-wonderful ways. I mentioned in the last newsletter that I was writing a memoir, and she figures heavily in it: literally and figuratively.
In writing about her I have been recalling her relationship with food, which certainly played a part in my weight issues as a child. Her Austrian heritage made her cooking heavy with meat, potatoes, sauces and lots of sugar. She put sugar in everything. She even sprinkled it on our fresh fruit.
Being a concentration camp survivor she could never throw food away. If it was left on the plate when she washed the dishes, she would eat it. If there were leftovers, she would eat more, and then put the remains in a container in the fridge and forget about it. She would rout around in there days or weeks later and pull out containers with mold, scrape the mold off, and if she thought it was still edible, eat it. She hoarded food, and snuck food too. I never saw her eat that much around all of us, but we knew. She dieted here and there, but never stuck to it terribly long. Consequently her 5'3" frame usually carried in excess of 200 lbs.
Until I began writing I didn't think much about her camp experience and how that impacted my relationship with eating. But in peeling back these very personal layers that comes with writing something like this, I am beginning to see how much of that I internalized and made my own.
I am also a food sneaker. I nibble here and there throughout the day, usually in private. I don't hoard food, but I can't let the refrigerator get bare, or even close to it. There must be lots of food in the house at all times. I also don't throw things away easily, though when I toss rotten strawberries or old leftovers I always think of my mother and her horror at my "wastefulness". I do not eat moldy leftovers or food left on a plate, however: thank goodness.
I nibble at the edges of cut cakes or pies, steal little bits off the turkey as it is being carved. The photo above was shot at my sister's wedding, and could well have been me. A dollop of frosting, yes! It must be inhaled immediately.
Clearly I have not broken these habits, yet through all of these years I have maintained a seventy-five pound loss. How is it possible to do these things and still maintain my weight? My secrets: I eat healthy and lean as a rule, and I seriously exercise...almost every day. My mother didn't do either of these through she went through periods of trying.
In dealing with bad eating habits we can make a choice: through force of will say no to the behavior and break the habit, or change some of your food choices and exercise habits to allow for it. I have broken many bad habits over the years, and replaced them with good ones, but these remain. For me the latter approach feels indulgent, and at the same time healthy. And in maintaining a weight loss for many years one needs some of both.
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RECIPES
Its February...still cold and rainy, so we're in the comfort food zone. Here are two dishes which are favorites for this time of year because they are one pot meals and so delish.
Ingredients: - spray oil
- 1 pkg ground turkey, or ground or chopped meat/meat substitute of choice
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 red pepper, chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (optional)
- 1 can tomato paste
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 can black or pinto beans, undrained
- 1 cup corn kernels (I use Trader Joe's frozen roasted corn)
- 2 Tbl chili powder (to taste)
- 1 Tbl red chili flakes (to taste)
- 2 tsp oregano
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup low fat cheese, grated (optional)
- 1/2 cup roasted pumpkin seeds (optional)
- shredded cabbage (optional)
Directions: 1. Spray large pot with oil and heat. Add ground turkey and saute until browned. Set aside.
2. Spray pot again and saute onion, carrots, peppers and garlic until brown.
3. Mix turkey back into pot and add paste, broth, beans, corn and spices. Let simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Garnish with grated cheese, pumpkin seeds and/or shredded cabbage.
Serves 4
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Directions:
- Fill a large pot half full with water and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook until tender. Drain and set aside.
- While pasta is cooking heat a large frying pan with spray oil and saute the eggplant until it browns. Add the onion, pepper, mushrooms and garlic. Saute until browned. Add the bag of spinach and tomatoes and cook until soft.
- Add the drained pasta and while it rests on top of the vegetables, add the spices and the cheese. Mix together thoroughly.
- Sprinkle sunflower seeds on the top of each serving.
Serves 3-4 (follow package directions for serving size)
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Train Your Emotions
I have never been a huge fan of Tony Robbins, but I am sharing this because he is talking about breaking habits. What he says is very true.
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This is Your Brain on Nature
This National Geographic article is filled with great imagery and analysis about what happens when we spend time in the great outdoors.
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Enjoy this brilliant bit of animation by BLU.
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Which Muscles Are You Stretching?
This is an interesting set of illustrations which clearly show the muscles you are stretching for each position pictured. (apologies for all the pop-up advertising in it...sigh...)
Think about where you ache and look at this guide to figure out how to give those muscles some love.
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Albert Einstein's Spiritual Wisdom
Einstein was not just a brilliant scientist. He was a deep thinker in every meaningful realm. Take a gander at his thoughts about the universe from a spiritual perspective. Powerful words!!
Einstein's Spiritual Wisdom |
Surreal Photo Montages
Australian artist Jane Long takes old images and remakes them into strange, Magritte-like works of art.
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It is gorgeous out and the weather is perfect for riding! What are you waiting for?
Is your bike in need of a little TLC? Do you need a new or used bike? Would you like to rent a bike and ride on the trail just to see if you can really do it? All of that and more and is available at our shop!
We are right off the Joe Rodota/West County Trail. We have a very wide variety of awesome bikes for sale or rent, and we are one of the best and quickest in the county for service. We sell new and recycled bike wear and have parts, accessories, whatever you need!
6731 Sebastopol Ave (Hwy 12 & Morris St)
707 829-2688 reservations@sebastopolbike.com
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Life Coaching / Weight Counseling
As a certified Life Coach I work with all issues, not just weight and body. We explore your dreams and desires and the ways you are stuck, with the goal of moving you forward. Coaching can be done in person or on the phone.
Weight Counseling is designed to help you figure out an eating plan which will help you lose weight, and which will work for you for the rest of your life. No pills or special meals, this is learning how to really eat in a healthy way, cook for yourself, and begin some physical activity. Generally Weight Counseling is done in person, but I have done it on the phone as well.
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Janet Ciel
Healthy & Happy
P.O. Box 1862
Sebastopol, CA 95473
707 824-8717
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