My Thoughts on Stevia

I usually use low GI raw cane sugar when i need to add sugar into things like tea, custard and porridge. But recently, i've been contemplating switching from sugar to something with an even lower GI count. This is mainly because i have PCOS and Syndrome X so it's always better to consume things that wouldn't be making my insulin resistance worse. For those who know anything about Syndrome X, you'll know that insulin resistance makes it more difficult for you to shed any weight and that the carbohydrate you consume is mainly turned into fat. But if you follow a low GI eating plan, you're more likely to be less insulin resistant without the need of medication.

My doctor mentioned that Stevia doesn't have any GI value at all so it'll be a good substitute for sugar. With that in mind, i was quite excited when i went to Woolworths to purchase the stevia brand pictured above. My excitement was soon cut short when i tried it with tea. All i can say is that it had a really sharp taste that made my tea taste so bad i had to pour it down the sink.

Don't get me wrong, it did have the sweet taste of sugar but it was accompanied by a sharp bitter taste. I already feel like i've wasted my money purchasing this but i refuse to give up any hope. 

Does anyone know anything that's like stevia out there but doesn't have the same sharp bitter taste? I would hate to give up my search so quickly and return to sugar. I'm looking for something that has 0mg of carbohydrates and fat as recommended by the doctor, thanks.

Image   via Shopmania

Breakfast Ideas

For the last few days i've been skipping breakfast by sleeping in because i've run out of healthy breakfast ideas for myself. Previously, i used to have oats/ porridge for breakfast but i've noticed recently that i do get some sort of acidic feeling in my tummy whenever i have it. The only way to describe it is that it reminds me of the same feeling i get the day after i've experienced heartburn; and i can tell you that it is not a good feeling, i always end up worrying that i might get sick. My other healthy breakfast idea i know of is making custard using the custard powders they sell at the local grocery. But the problem with that is, it never keeps me full. An hour or less after eating it, i tend to start feeling hungry all over again. As for bread as some sort of breakfast, i have to admit that i've had some sort of unexplained addiction to bread since i was a kid. If it's not in the house, it doesn't bother me at all as i never crave it. But if it's there, you can bet that i'll find a way to have it for breakfast and another meal during the day. The minute i get a bite in my mouth, i'm never really satisfied with it so i'm always wanting more. The only good thing about it is that when i have it with eggs for breakfast, i'm pretty full for the next 3 hours. What are other healthy breakfast options i can indulge in that'll keep me full and are tasty? Please do not recommend smoothies because i'm not patient enough to make mine at the moment, neither am i willing to pay for one every single day. On another note, i'm lactose intolerant so something that doesn't already have a high milk content is preferable [but if i can substitute the milk for something else, then that's fine]. Thanks in advance :)

Image via Milliesays.files.wordpress.com

Apple Cider Vinegar

I've been using Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) for a very long time now and i absolutely love it because it is cheap and i can use it for lots and lots of things. I usually buy the Cornwell's brand which sets me about $3 back at my local Woolworths. I usually use it for my hair, face and underarms because it helps with fading out scars on my face and warding off ingrown hairs as well; i will definitely use it if i get another bikini wax to ward off those nasty ingrowns. On my hair, it sort of acts as a clarifying rinse to get rid of all the build up from using products and also helps to seal the cuticle, i usually use 50ml of ACV to every 1 litre of water and use it as a final rinse after i've washed and conditioned my hair. You can also use it for marinating chicken, beef and fish; and as a mix in your salad dressing. Personally, i've only added a few teaspoons to my homemade chicken marinade mix. But last night, i came across a random article online about using it to cleanse your insides of toxins and that it also aids in weight management. This to me makes sense because i remember back in 2007 when i was complaining to my dietitian about having difficulty losing weight, she sent me to this health food store in Loughborough that sold ACV tablets but i can't remember why i didn't buy it. But from this article i read last night and a few others, the actual ACV that has all the health benefits is actually not clear, it has more of a cloudy look to it so i'm going to assume that you'll probably have a better chance at finding this in a health food store than your regular Tesco, Sainsbury or Woolworths. Or maybe it might be in the same aisle you find maple syrup; i have no idea but i'm going to try finding an organic one and get back to you guys; and if anyone has used it please feel free to comment :)

Image via Blog1.ebates.com

In Need of Inspiration...

Ashley Greene has said in the past that she does pilates 6 times weekly and Dita Von Teese has said she does pilates with Mari Winsor and on her own 4-5 times weekly; she said she loves Winsor Pilates' bun and thigh sculpting workout and she thinks every woman should own the dvd because it is fantastic. I'm hoping that there are some fit and healthy people out there who would be willing to share their regimen in the comments section. Maybe what you eat, or what you do to stay fit and healthy. All ideas are more than welcome and very much appreciated...
Image via Justjared.com

I've Been A Lazy Girl

I have a bit of a confession to make. For the past few days, or over a week now, i've been a pretty lazy girl. I've been waking up towards midday and going to bed just before sunrise and i'm very aware of how detrimental this pattern could be to my body and my fitness. Least to say, i've become a couch potato and i've only had two decent workout sessions in the last 2 weeks and i really need someone to act as my personal trainer to get me off the couch and do one of my workout dvds or go for a long walk up a hilly road. I've been so lazy that i've had the same nail polish on for about 3 weeks and counting which is VERY unlike me. The only thing i've consistently done is take care of my hair, apply for jobs and have two phone interviews, have my training sessions for AVON and clean my apartment religiously! I need something or someone or even just an inspiration to spur me into action because i'm getting tired of being tired.

I almost forgot to mention that i'm officially done with my shopping ban! For about 24 hours, i wac excited about shopping and the lot because i haven't done it in such a long time but right now i really can't be bothered anymore. For some reason i've lost all interest and the only thing i'm really keen on is getting my new Apple laptop i told you guys about a while back. I'm meant to be going to Sydney next month for a spot of shopping with Cookie but i must admit that i've also lost interest in that. The only thing i'm truly looking forward to during that trip is our usual stop at China Town for lunch/ dinner; i can't wait to get my teeth sunk into some delish food and i think this time i'll order something with pork. I say pork because i think that's what Cookie ordered the last time we went and it tasted real good!!!

Image via Stylewillsaveus.com

Interesting Read

So....yesterday i was doing some random browsing on the internet as i've been quite bored and being on a shopping ban means that it's a very bad idea for me to be hanging around places like Sportsgirl, Cotton On and Supre for some bargains to keep me entertained. And i must say that it is pretty good as it has made me reconsider all the amount of emotional shopping i've done in the past and how i could have saved the money. Plus, the recession that has swept across the world has increased my belief in sticking to my simple style as opposed to passing trends and fads that tend to hurt the wallet every season. By not shopping like a candy-happy child, i've managed to save myself some money that could come in handy in the future...

Anyways, back to my online browsing i was talking about. I came across an interesting article about how to conquer your cravings and i think it might be helpful for me and others out there that tend to have a lot of sugar craving. You can read the article here.

Healthy Start?

I was watching TV last night and most of the people that got interviewed about their New Year's Resolution said they all wanted to lose weight. Well, if you read an earlier post i made then you'll know that i didn't bother making this particular resolution because i know how easy it is to fall off the resolution bandwagon. But i have a link for those of you who might be interested in going on some sort of health detox or cooking something lighter and healthier. Click here...

Health Kick...

Seeing a photo of Zachary Quinto automatically makes me want to do a downward dog. In all seriousness though, in this picture Zachary is on his way to a yoga class and this is a very good health kick for us all ey? After all, today is the last day of the year and there's no need to get pissed off about all the things we didn't do to be in better shape or in my case how much Pepsi i drank on christmas day. Instead let's put all our worries aside, be grateful that we're still alive and just do better in 2010.

So, what is your New Year's resolution? I'm not really big on those to be honest because i never actually keep them. Cameron Diaz once said that her resolution every year is to give up smoking but she never gets round to it. I have a friend James who has a similar resolution 'neither smoke less or more'. Dude is like a walking chimney and i always tell him not to bother buying perfumes because his scent is Eau de Malboro.

My resolution for 2010 is to Love, Live & Enjoy Life More. I'm sure you might be wondering why it's so simple. Well, i'm a perpetual complainer incase you haven't noticed. I complain about the heat during summer, how it's not cold enough during winter, how my hormonal imbalance is turning me into a crazy person...there always seems to be something for me to winge about, but all that wingeing never really changes anything. It only just makes me a more cranky person which is why i've chosen this resolution.

So what's yours for the New Year??? Feel free to share in the comments section. And don't forget that there'll be a new look come January 1 2010 towards the evening so do stay tuned...

Photo Credit

The Cost of Healthcare

So, i finally got round to getting my blood test done about 2 weeks ago and found out that my hormone levels had increased about 50% more than they were in 2008 [and they were already abnormally high for a female at that time anyway]. Now i have to get my pelvic ultrasound scan done and then see the endocrinologist. But of course, none of these are coming for free as it is costing me about $633.80. I don't find spending this amount of money in 3 doctor visits funny at all considering that i don't actually get anything reimbursed back to me by my insurer. Seriously, Australia needs to step up their game when it comes to healthcare because if i remember correctly, in England endocrinology visits are covered in your insurance.
Images from Justiceleagueunlimited.wordpress.com and Justjared.com

Time For A Fresh Start Because...

...here in Australia, the 1st of September is officially the beginning of Spring. Yes people, the fake winter season is over and i have to say i'm somewhat sad to see it go because the temperature would soon be flying off the roof considering the fact that the Australian spring is capable of being much warmer than the average british summer; but i'm looking back on the month of August and reviewing how some of the changes i made went. I have to admit that i think i took on a bit more than i could possibly chew so some things got dropped by the wayside and i'm hoping to pick them up again for September but with much more realistic goals.

So, as i type this, i'm still 87.3kg and if you've been reading my blog for a while then you'll realise that me shifting weight is like one person trying to lift 10kg worth of weights during their first session at the gym. I actually thought i'd gained weight but my flatmate told me to stop weighing myself the minute i'm done drinking tea because it does add to the number on the scale...and i thought i was mega smart...lol. Anyway my aim for August was to lose 4.3kg and not procrastinate on any of my uni assignments, so it's fair to say i scored 1 out of 2 because i'm pretty much on top of all my assessments. I've even managed to keep up with my weekly readings on 3 out of the 4 subjects i'm taking at uni which has never really happened during my previous semesters.

So all my marathon studying meant i couldn't pull in 6 hours of workout on a weekly basis because on some days, i couldn't even spell simple words without making a mistake. That's how mentally drained i was. But i'm really glad that there wasn't any procrastination with my assignments like i tend to do. I made weekly timetables of the things i had to study for and the research i had to take in order to get to that point. Of course, it meant missing some lectures which i've pretty much made up for in my readings so far. But for this month, i'm not even going to put myself through the mental torture of actually setting a goal weight because i end up beating myself up whenever i don't reach it. Instead, i'm aiming to workout for at least 30 minutes for 6 days on a weekly basis. This is much more realistic for me because i can easily squeeze in a 30 minute workout before going to bed....i hope :).

I'm also going to try and be more positive as opposed to being very negative, smile as much as i can and say hi to strangers. I've actually been considering getting a tattoo of a smiley face on my wrist like Lily Allen and the phrase 'Love Life, Live Life, Enjoy Life'. I already know the reaction i'm going to get from my mum: after she's made it very clear that tattooing yourself with permanent ink is a sin in Christainity, she'll remind me of the fact that i'm still unmarried and that nigerian families in the region i'm from do not accept daughter-in-laws with tattoos because it shows you're a 'loose girl' and that your parents didn't bring you up well. This would mean that i'd have to wait for my dream to come true: getting married to a caucasian! As for my dad, i certainly would not be surprised if he decides to disown me!!! Such is the seriousness and importance of culture and religion in my family. It is also the same reason why i chose to study in Australis which is on the other side of the globe....ha!!! Image via thedailygreen.com

I leave you with a quote i read/heard somewhere...

Every new day is an opportunity to take the steps toward the
life you want to live and the person you truly want to be. Each day provides you
with another chance to create your own reality and live your dream.

Weigh-in Day!!!

First off let me start by apologising for not posting anything in a while. Somebody has run up the internet quota so now it works at the speed of a turtle and a millipede combined together. Yesterday was the 30th of June, and if you remember that was my landmark for the first stage of my weightloss goal and 'The Hall of Shame' game. I actually treated myself to a bottle of Pepsi Max yesterday; i haven't had soda in so long i was worried that my brain was going to explode from all the zing but i was alrightie. I'm also not suffering any withrawal symptoms from my usual daily dose of coffee.

Right now, i feel like the girl in the picture above. She was a size 14 contestant for one of the ANTM series. I'm sure you're wondering why i feel like her; well that's because I AM OFFICIALLY A SIZE 14!!!!! Yeeeeeeeha!!!! I wish Bruce Willis was here to congratulate me and give me a gigantic hug and say 'Yippie ya yay mo-fo'. But oh well, i'll result to watching Die Hard 3 and 4 to get the feelings. You'd remember that i weighed myself at the start almost 6 weeks ago.

Well, i weighed myself again this morning and i weigh 87.1kg. That means i've lost exactly 2.1kg which is equivalent to 4.6 pounds. It's not as much as i expected to lose but i'm happy that i lost something and that i'm actually down one dress size. I'm going to take a break for the rest of this week because i have to start packing as i need to move out on Sunday. But from Monday next week, i'm going to start weighing myself weekly and i'll put it up here for you guys.

Pump It Up

Hey guys, just finished working out as i thought it'll be a good idea to workout before having my dinner. I just did the Ministry of Sound's Pump It Up dvd workout and i have to say i couldn't finish the whole thing. I only managed to do 20 minutes of it and i think i might have pulled a muscle close to my ribs and another in my butt cheek in the process. Usually in most workouts, there's always someone doing the beginner option but in this one, i couldn't actually find a beginner's option so i had to just modify some of the moves myself to the standard that i could do. Be warned though, if you've got two left feet don't even bother with this workout. I like to think i'm ok with choreography but it took me a while to get some of the moves in this dvd. You can purchase a copy of this workout here.

Source: Photo

Day 6: Slow Stress Building.

I pretty much spent my whole day relaxing indoors. But despite my physical calm, inside there's a turmoil slowly building up into some kind of rage and my stomach was feeling it as well. This week is going to be pretty hectic as i've got a test and a reflective journal summary due on the 2nd of June. So i figured it might be best to take a day and just be calm and review everything that needs to be done this week to make it as smooth sailing as possible. I've made a plan that should give me some sort of structure that would help ease the stress and take my mind off things. So far i've been getting about 8 hours of sleep and i'm hoping to continue this because when this week ends, i need to introduce another change that would aid in the process of having a healthier lifestyle.

Here's what i ate today:
Breakfast: Oats with soy milk and two slices of toast
Lunch: Large cup of milo
Dinner: Boiled rice with nando's moroccan curry made with chicken and potatoes.
Snack: Large cup of milo and a large cup of peppermint tea.

Source: Photo

Goop-ing It!

If you've been reading my blog for a while then you'll know that i've got a girl crush on Gwyneth Paltrow. She happens to run a blog/website on lifestyle and some other random stuff. I have to say that some of the things she writes can be pretty puke inducing but i just take the stuff i like and leave the rest out as you can't please everybody so i know that not everything will be to my taste. Recently i've been thinking about making significant changes to my life and the things in it and it started with the shopping ban i went on in Febuary which i found hugely successful. It taught me about shopping wisely and investing in key pieces that would last for years and be critical about buying into 'trends'. I'm one of those people who love fashion and admire it on others but i'm pretty picky about applying it to my own wardrobe. The same thing applies to makeup. I tend to go for a neutral wardrobe that has the basic items and quality accessories that add that special something to my ensemble.

This is one of the main reasons i like Gwyneth as she's simple and stylish and it's the little details that make her stand out. When she wears her clothes, they might just be in black but it's the little details like the ring or bracelet she wears with it, how she styles her hair and the makeup she wears that makes the whole ensemble really work. For her Iron Man promotional tour, the key things she focused on were a polished hair and SHOES. The shoes caused some major envy and spiked sales and also introduced new designers to us that we probably wouldn't have noticed. She's not there trying to be in your face - i guess as long as she shuts up and not say something retarded and as far as Chris Martin isn't talking either. With shopping bans and shopping diligently going well for me, i've decided to take the next step and work on my health and lifestyle.

Of course, from reading Goop i've discovered a gentle method that i believe i can use to get into a healthier lifestyle. Basically, Gwyneth has asked qualified health practitioners [i think] ways in which you can ease into a healthier way of life and here's what i gathered from it:

Sleep at least 8 hours each night. To induce sleep take valerian, chamomile tea or vitamins (magnesium plus vitamin B6). Sleep better for two weeks before changing your diet: try eliminating white foods [after 2 weeks of sleeping for 8 hours each night]. Start with flour, then diary and sugar - give yourself two weeks to get used to not having one food item before eliminating another. If out of shape: start by walking 15 minutes daily adding an extra minute each day for the first month. At the end of a month, you should be up to 45 minutes a day.

If you're looking to go on a hardcore detox, you might want to try reading Joshi's holistic detox book. As for me, i plan on starting from tonight by trying to sleep for 8 hours each night. This would mean that i'll have to go to bed at 10pm each night and i have to say this is going to be a bit difficult to apply as i happen to do the majority of my studying at night and tend to go to bed at 1am or even 2am so i tend to just get 4,5 hours of sleep each night. I'll keep you updated daily on how i'm going.

Sources: Photo & Source