According to a judge in Brazil? Yes, your job CAN make you fat and because you ate on the job, you should be awarded a ton of money for all the weight you gained….Let me explain. This article tells how a young man in Brazil actually sued his employer, McDonald’s, because he gained weight while working there. And the part that really pisses me off? The judge agreed!? I thought I’d heard all the excuses for why people can’t lose weight, or why they don’t want to exercise (I’m guilty too!) but this one seriously takes the cake.

I’m sick of people not taking responsibility for their life and their actions. This man could have exercised; knowing full well that working in a fast food restaurant could cause weight gain if you snack…so of course you need to off-set the choices you make.  This is COMMON-FREAKING-SENSE and I don’t understand why that concept is so hard for some to grasp. I know what it’s like to gain weight, I feel for the guy; I’m sure he felt crappy and tired but lets not forget he was in control of the situation the entire time. He made the decision to work there, eat there and NOT do something to burn the calories. Simple math: if you put greasy high-caloric food in your body day after day and not burn some of those calories, you gain weight…

The article mentions he felt obligated to taste everything to ensure it was up to the high standards the company enforces. (Huh? OK that’s another story on it’s own!) If was serious about this statement, tasting should mean a bite or two at the most…it doesn’t mean to consume 2 Big Macs to make sure they’re OK for public consumption. He says he was given free food for lunch…could have packed a lunch, or opted for the salad, or *something*. There is always an option.

This just reinforces everything that is wrong about not only the judicial system, but of our lives and the way people are choosing to live. Accept responsibility…take action…treat your body and mind with respect….common stuff you know?

Jeez, who the hell can I sue?

I’ve decided to stop the Cleanse. Today was the 1st day without the ‘stuff’…although I did have some Metamucil in my morning OJ this morning. I plan on starting up with Greens again…I figure this is probably the better route for me. Now. I’m not saying Colonix is a bad program but I don’t feel it’s the program for me, at this stage in my life. I felt clear-headed today, not as sluggish or tired and I can’t help but wonder if it has ANYTHING to do with no Colonix. This is my body, my mind and I have to do what’s right FOR ME. So here I go…

My Guy is making one of his amazing pizza’s loaded with mushrooms, feta, olives, red onion, tofurkey Italian sausage and red pepper….waiting for us to press play is the movie Sunshine Cleaning with cutie Amy Adams…went to the library today and filled up on new books- so life is good. Real good.

I’m planning on working my knee a bit harder this week; I can walk about 20 blocks without much pain. While I’m not setting as brisk a pace as I’d like, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. I will get moving and I will burning the cardio soon…..*sigh*

How are YOU getting active??

So many things to write about today; where to begin? As I settle down to write, I have CNN on in the background as they prepare to rescue the first of the 33 trapped miners in Chile. I can’t help but marvel at the strength of the human spirit in times of struggle and of all the countries to endure yet another test of faith and hope, it falls to the Chileans to show us again how strong they truly are.

While I rejoice in that story and keep an ear tuned to my TV for the first sounds of the siren…I’m thinking also of how truly inconsiderate and rude mankind can be. It’s quite the opposite feeling from the joy of a rescue, to the realization that not everyone out there thinks in the same terms as myself, and My Guy. We had an experience today that reinforced this and it’s challenge to not take it personally. My Guy is looking for a new car, right? He finds one he’s interested in, calls the owner (private sale) and expresses relief at getting through to them after busy signal and that the car advertised is EXACTLY what he’s looking for. The Car-Seller seems eager too, happy to hear from a prospective buyer and expresses empathy that they too, know how hard buying a car is! A time was agreed upon to meet and My Guy and I hopped in my car to drive out to The Valley (not exactly a short ride away either) to see this car. We’re not even half way there and we get a call…the Car-Seller has sold the car. “It just happened” she reported to us. I can only imagine: a gun was held to her head and she was forced to sell the car, it just happened….yes….poor soul.

I guess we believe in handling things a little differently. My Guy believes in honoring a prior commitment and that as the 1st person to express interest in the car, he should have at least been able to see it. But to get a phone call half way to the meeting point, only to be told “I’m sorry, it just happened, it sold..” is pretty damn lame. So this is one little story about how people really need to think about their actions, beliefs and how they affect others. Sometimes I just wonder, why can’t we all just get along?? Is someone, somewhere, watching the Human Race, and smirking at the fine mess we’ve made of day to day issues?

Treat others with the same courtesy and respect you expect. Simple. Nothing more to it.

On a different note, it’s day 12 of my Cleanse. So far, so good…I don’t have anything HUGE to report. Things are….ahem, errr, “moving” along so to speak. I find the tea EXTREMELY effective and am taking every 2nd or 3rd evening now. In keeping it real, I haven’t lost any drastic amounts of weight yet, I don’t feel things are going that much differently now except for the fact I’m beginning to feel more ‘regular’ and have less bloating pain. I am well aware however that is only Day 12 in a 90 day Cleanse so I’m perfectly content to keep going.

If you are interested in Colonix and try to live a healthy lifestyle, than I think you’ll be impressed with how ‘natural’ this product is. I’m not overwhelmed with harsh medicines or chemicals and I don’t feel like I’m doing harm to my body. I can understand every single ingredient listed on the 3 products and better yet, I can even pronounce them!

The Food Channel recently released it’s Top 10 Snack Trends of 2010 (jeez and the year isn’t even over!) I thought I’d break it down for you, add my comments and maybe alternative suggestions? Depends what’s on the list exactly; you see, I haven’t exactly looked at the list thoroughly yet. The story caught my eye this morning and I thought, “Hey, I should blog about that…”

10. “Nostalgia’s New Again.” The article mentions such dietary necessities (not) like Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Ho-Ho’s. *Shudder* Now I am not opposed to yummy treats…but c’mon! Twinkies?? Hasn’t it been said there are so many preservatives in these things they are incapable of molding? I love old stuff; old stuff can be cool…when we’re talking antique furniture or metal lunch boxes….let’s not go back to the snacks of the past.

9. Bold and Spicy is IN, bland is out. I don’t know about you all, but I do prefer some flavour to my snacks…who wants bland?

8. Yogurt. This makes me happy. I love to see that North American yogurt sales are sky-rocketing and consumers are embracing this seriously yummy, and low calorie option for a sweet attack. When was the last time you looked in the yogurt section of your local grocer? The flavour combo’s, milk fat percentages and sizes are out of this world! If you can’t find a yogurt within all that, there’s something wrong with you. I try to keep yogurt in my fridge all the time because I often get cravings for something smooth, cool and sweet (and I think, “YES ICE CREAM!”)…so while yogurt isn’t ice cream, it does satisfy me.

7. Sweet & Salty. Oh yeah. Kettle Corn- need I say anything more?

6. The Granola Bar. Praise the bar! All hail the granola! These guys are a staple in my daily life…I have them in my purse for quick snacks and they’re a great snack to offer kids instead of stopping at a store for a chocolate bar. Like yogurt, the varieties available nowadays are really amazing. If you’ve read my earlier posts you know I am a fan of Nature Valley and Kashi. Both brands offer superior ingredients, low fat and calories and great taste. Yes, really.

5. Fruit in all it’s glory. Yay! Fruit is here to stay and it’s about time we embrace it. It’s portable, low calories, delicious and good for us. Fruit is sweet…mmm sweet.

4. Nuts for nuts. I support the nuts. Hey, head out of the gutter people…I’m talking about almonds, pecans and peanuts to name a few. These are best in their raw form; the fat is a good fat as long as it’s eaten in moderation. A handful of nuts with a piece of fruit makes a smart choice for a snack…so does throwing on some seeds and slivered almonds on your salad at dinner. Nuts make sense. I always wanted to be a Nut Farmer.

3. Liquefy it. I guess we’re all loving our smoothies, anti-oxidant laden fruit drinks, energy beverages and so on…that’s all good as long as these drinks don’t replace the idea of a REAL MEAL.

2. “Grazing is the new Snacking”. This is what the Food Channel says. Really. I’m a fan of grazing. I do it. But one should keep in mind, grazing is SMALL amounts of usually good for you type things…not a half scoop of ice cream 8 times a day.

1. Chips and Dip. Huh. Really. This is number one?? The article goes to explain this isn’t just your run of the mill chips and dip- it’s been redefined. We’re talking falafel chips, hummus, black bean spread and pita chips. Ok, cool. I can definitely dig that.

Sometimes I feel like a utter and complete wreck. If it’s not my bowels bothering me, it’s my head…which pounded for 3 days and I went to the doctor at My Guy’s insistence. I grumbled, “I’m not a SICKIE!” but my doc said I’ve got an ear infection…in both ears. I wish at times I could rip these hunks of flesh off my head and chuck them in the ocean for all the grief my ears have caused me over the years. This was one more little thing to add on to make me feel just a little bit crappy…I’m on different antibiotic drops (with a steroid in it) and it’s only day 2 but I have high hopes. So to those who know me and work with me, just speak a little louder because I swear, I’m not ignoring you!

The new digs are great but there are some problems in the name of Aslan, the cat. He’s keeping us up at night, every night, with his meowing, batting at the pulls on the blinds, beating up his brother, swatting My Guy’s alarm clock off his bed-side table at 4 am….the list goes on. I thought maybe it’s just because we’re in a new place and surely he’ll calm down…but no, not so far and we’re both getting grumpy. Shutting the bedroom door does no good because Aslan just throws his big body against the door and howls in rage…then the other cat gets all agitated…and the madness never stops…See this vicious cycle?

On the bright side, everything I need is within walking distance now. Technically it was before but I had to wade through Suburbia-Hell to get to it, so I always hopped in my car to get where I needed to go that much faster. Now it’s different. I WANT to walk along Main…I want to walk to my doctors and take Cambie back or explore a new little street and discover a tucked away little family grocer I never knew existed.

I’m standing here on this invisible line; one step in front of me is this new life and I’m so eager to jump head first into it. It’s one step at a time, one day at a time and all these little obstacles (like my ears and Aslans night-time antics) are just little bumps along the way. Life is a collection of these little things and we should be in tune to them.

Before I leave, let me leave you with one little story…it happened this morning at 7 am. I decided to walk out with My Guy as he left for work, a little kiss on the back porch, you know how it is. As I’m standing there watching him walk off in the pouring rain, I see some of the items we haven’t really found a home for yet, getting wet so I think “I should go move those out of the rain.” I reach behind me and pull the door closed so the crazy cats don’t escape…little do I know My Guy has locked the door (the bottom twisty-type lock). I go about my business and move some stuff and decide it was a dumb idea, too cold and want to go back inside…BAM! I walk into the door as I attempt to turn the handle. It’s locked! It’s 7 am, and I’m in a robe and slippers…the more I hesitate the farther down the street towards the bus stop, is My Guy. I hitch up my robe, kick off my slippers and run down the side of house bellowing his name…he can’t hear me! It’s raining and he’s probably running for the bus…I bellow more for good measure though.

I had to admit defeat and thought long and hard about the possibilities of crawling through the barred windows (albeit the bars are quite decorative and all) while the 2 cats stared at me. No doubt they were wondering what the hell I was doing on the wrong side of the window when there was breakfast to be dished out…

Hundreds of thoughts flew through my head: ‘Yay I can take the day off, but wait how will I call in? And wait, what kind of day off will it be in the rain?’ Sigh. The landlords live 2 streets up the road so again, I hike up my robe, clutch my slippers to my chest and head out into the rain. It’s pouring- hard, typical Vancouver rain. Unrelenting. (Turns out the radio announced it was the wettest day today…but I digress) I run up the street in my bare feet, the cool water feels kind of nice actually and it’s liberating to fly by morning commuters in your robe; a flash of my fuchsia nightie lending me a touch of mystery (or so I like to think…).

I rounded the hedge to landlords house, and there He was. On the porch, face to face with a drenched mad-woman, no doubt homeless in a robe with wet slippers in her hand…I had nothing to say but ‘Um hi. I locked myself out…’ and he laughed. I laughed too.

…I ran home with the spare keys clutched in my fingers, the cool wetness no longer feeling that great because my feet felt raw….but I got in to the warmth and to my hungry cats!

That my friends, was a helluva way to wake up…and all before my coffee!

I have to admit I was a little surprised to read celeb chef Mario Batali was in the process of writing a vegetarian cookbook. I absolutely love watching the Food Network but often had to change the channel if too much meat was being flung around. Now while Mario did introduce me to a side of Italian eating I hadn’t seen before, I just couldn’t handle the odd cuts of meat (cheek, tail etc). I realize they are delicacies and all that, and I’m not one to push my beliefs on anyone….HOWEVER…I chose to not watch. An article in the New York Daily News reads he has confirmed he is writing it and also that he has cut down his meat consumption to five days a week. I don’t care what a person cuts their meat intake to, just the fact they are cutting it makes all the difference. It tells me they are aware, they are willing to make a change…and who knows, five days may go to three and so on and so on….

Little steps…

So yay I say to Mario for penning a vegetarian book! Stay tuned for the info.

When I say almost I mean, I’m not due back until Monday August 16th at the clinic. Phew. I need time to rest after my vacation ‘home’ to the Island. As you can see from my previous post it was alot of hard work shuttling between swimming holes and cold beers, sun-tanning and late nights. We got back last night, had some settling in to do and needed to lavish a weeks worth of attention to My Boys who actually didn’t seem to notice someone else had been looking after them and I was now HOME. Sigh.

One thing I did when I was back home, that I’ve missed in my life here…is get outside and appreciate what nature has to offer. I think I forgot to stop and appreciate where I do live, and it took a trip for me to stop and take in all the smells and sights of just being outside. I may be biased, but the air sure feels a helluva lot cleaner back home, the water just that much clearer and pure…the mountains that surrounded my parents house literally took my breath away.

We vowed to get off our butts once we got back and get out and GET MOVING more…to feel as alive as we felt there….here. I may live in the city, and probably always will, but my heart will always be in the small town I grew up in, and I value that way of life. My goals this fall are simple: get more active, continue to eat well and conquer what ails me- NATURALLY. I have an amazing support system in My Guy and I have treasured friends who constantly motivate me to embrace each day. I’m lucky. I’m truly lucky to have my entire life before me and to be in control of how I approach it. I’m happy I’m not alone in facing it and thankful for the little things.

I wanted to end this post by acknowledging a few things I’m thankful for:

- I’m thankful I had a good friend who watched over My Boys while I got to go home. Knowing that they were taken care of and happy, made all the difference.

- I’m thankful I had this time to visit with my parents. I miss them very much.

- I’m thankful My Guy got to experience my home-town memories and see the place (and people) that made me who I am…

- I’m thankful I have a car that could take me home without any worries!

A few snapshots of my vacation, to sum it up for you…

Here's the slug we named The Great Canadian Leopard Slug...

The best shoes to wear in a river...can walk with ease!

Our version of that Corona Commercial, but with Stella.

The Deep Hole. One of the swimming holes of my youth.

I’m home. I arrived last week, and My Guy followed a few days later. It’s great to be home and in the place I grew up in, on the Island, but it’s also tinged with sadness at the place it’s become. It’s quiet. Like a ghost town actually…and that’s not how I remember it. Big Industry moved out of the town some years ago, and with that went a good deal of the population- in came retirees from all over North America to replace them…

This is still the sweet village I remember, just a little frayed around the edges and a little less people out and about. What hasn’t changed is the natural splendor of this small hamlet nestled in a valley surrounded by tall mountains, some still capped with snow. The pristine rivers still flow and the swimming holes remain as idyllic as I remember. What amazed me yesterday as we were out hiking and taking in the sights, how few people were out in the sun. I realized it’s not because they don’t want to- it’s because there is HARDLY ANYBODY to be out! We had the river to ourselves, took the Peppercorn trail through the still glistening wet forest, stopping at every rocky beach to behold the perfectly clear green water. You could all the way to bottom and count the rocks there…it was that pure and clean.

My Guy couldn’t believe the stunning beauty or the fact we had it all to ourselves. We didn’t talk much as we sat on the rocks and looked out over the river; there weren’t words to describe the colors and the tranquility we were experiencing.

There truly is no place like home. This is West Coat living at it’s finest- did I mention cell phones don’t even work here? (of course there is the Internet though, phew!) I’m so happy right now, and so content but with each moment I can’t wait to get back to The City and get on with The Move…new changes are a-comin’!

I hope this post finds everyone happy where they are in life, and if not, that you have the means to start making the changes to being where YOU want to be. Where you NEED to be. Now I’m going to go out t0 my parents back yard, sit on the swing in the sun and watch the blue jays play in the garden. And the best part? Zucchini from the garden for dinner.

Maybe it’s because I’m going through some digestive health issues, but it seems to me that ALOT of women I know are experiencing varying degrees of medical problems involving digestion and intestinal upset. Right now, I know of 6 women personally who are going through *something* that is equally frustrating and disheartening. They’ve all struggled through their doctors testing and re-testing…of living with some kind of pain…and of experimenting what they can and cannot eat successfully. I don’t know if it’s my little world, or is this a sign of something bigger?

Personally speaking, I don’t do alot of dairy. This isn’t because I’m a vegetarian (if I was a Vegan I would abstain from eating dairy) but rather because I feel my body can’t handle it properly and it just causes me too much discomfort in the end. I love my cereal but have found a soy milk I love (Silk) and eat cheese in moderation…

My next avenue to explore is a gluten-free diet. Gluten seems to be a major player in abdominal pain and in the 6 women I know of with issues, 3 are in some stage of attempting to go gluten free. It’s like a last ditch attempt at a pain free and uplifting day…

So what’s a person to do? Go gluten free? Go Veg? I firmly believe everything we put into our bodies must be something we are ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE is the right thing for us. We need to make conscious decisions and eat right….eat for LIFE.

In my research I’ve found some really great gluten free blogs and sites I wanted to share for those of you who may be looking down this avenue…

I’m really impressed with this site, Gluten Free Girl because it’s colorful, fun and the recipes are REAL. By that, I mean not frou-frou recipes that you have to hunt all over the city for a few weird ingredients that NOBODY in their right mind keeps in the kitchen. I’ve told a few people already about this blog and they love it….

A Gluten Free Day is another great blog mainly because the variety is really amazing….(plus the desserts!).

Stop over at I Am Gluten Free for one bloggers take on living gluten free and check out the yummy looking recipes!

All you have to do is Google “gluten free” for a wealth of information. This is definitely a road I’m considering taking, I’m just not 100% sure yet…I’m taking one day at a time and making sure I give my body the absolute best…

I’d love to hear YOUR story.

I’ve had trouble sleeping the past few nights. I don’t know if it’s the warmer weather (OK those of you in Vancouver, know I’m probably grabbing at strings here….) or the fact My Guy has been away all week. It’s something. I’m on the brink of some new changes in my life, and it’s as if I’m balancing on the edge of a cliff- knowing the slightest move could upset the delicate balance I’ve achieved; but yet knowing I must embrace the fall with open arms.

There is a move in my future. Soon I will have the green space I once had and again, I can flourish in a garden as I did many years ago in the Heights. I can let The Boys out to roam in the grass, and enjoy drinks on the patio…it’s been a long time coming. I’m not worried about that move. I feel in my heart it’s a great thing to do- I’ve missed being a part of a lively and active community so the fact I’m heading to an extremely funky neighborhood has me tickled pink. While it’s not my West End, it’s damn sweet…I feel there are only positive things to come from this move.

I do worry about age…I worry about never getting the opportunity to be the wonderful Mother I know I could be. I worry about not sharing my creativity and watching another human being blossom into their own person…but I can’t worry. Do I not tell people, life happens this way for a reason? We’re where we are FOR A REASON…and everything we did to get to this point, was what we NEEDED to do? Taking a dose of my own medicine is sometimes akin to getting a kick in the head. I don’t know what tomorrow has in store for me, let alone a couple of years down the road. I need to take my own advice to heart and just enjoy…

Acupuncture is helping alot with allowing my mind to slow down, and my body to heal. I have had 4 sessions now, and I truly feel refreshed once the session is over. I don’t fall asleep during the session (I can’t sleep well at the best of times) but I do feel my mind drifting and my thoughts are not the jumbled mess they usually are. I don’t know if the sessions are helping my bowels at all YET, but I do feel an overwhelming sense of calm and peace- and positivity. That’s gotta count for something right?

A trip home to the Island is in my cards as well next month. I still say “home” when referring to where I grew up. I didn’t appreciate it as a teenager- I just wanted to get to the CITY- but I get all warm and fuzzy inside when I think of the journey back…

You are always welcome at home.

This post has been all over the place; but to try and sum up my thoughts I’d have to go with: It’s a season of change for me, and I must let go of my fears and worries and let life simply, run it’s course.

Love Chere Michelle