Cluttered House, Cluttered Life?

Clutter and Mess.

What does it say about someone? I have my own theory and usually it proves me correct.

When I walk into a house that is cluttered, crap everywhere, dirty floors and benches etc; one thing pops into mind immediately.

The person’s life is out of control. Why else would one have no pride to present the space that they inhibit in such a way?

My theory is based on personal experience, my first marriage was a shocker… my house was never dirty, but I didn’t put things away… every now and then I would have a big clean up, but for the most part, I was messy. There, I said it.

So, I try not to judge. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Some people apologise for their mess, offering excuses like, oh I work and my kids keep me busy and and and and ……

Others don’t apologise.

I don’t require an apology. I am not there to look at their house. I am there to visit them. Although it may be more pleasant if I didn’t have to look at their washing etc!

This brings me to my own current situation.

My house is always presented neat, tidy and clean.  And if I know someone is coming, the cleaning gets extra attention.  I do believe it’s a pride issue. It doesn’t matter if I have worked a 40 hour week, been a taxi to my kids, etc etc … our house is clean and tidy.

We have structure and rules.

We do not eat or drink on the couch, in bedrooms, etc
The only places we eat or drink are either at the Dining room table or the breakfast bar. No exceptions.
This means no spills on our carpet or lounge suites. We have ALWAYS lived with this rule and the kids know no different.
We all make our beds in the morning. (The simple things)
Both children have some cleaning duties and whilst not usually done to a high standard, it makes it easier for me to go over it and do it properly.

My son even has to wash his football boots after every training session and every game. I don’t like seeing children in dirty clothes or shoes.

My Grandmother always says that it doesn’t matter how poor you are, you should always have clean shoes! Of course she is right.

Am I Clutter free? No. I have little corners of my house that have little clutter issues.

I see this as a reflection of myself.  Like my house, I present myself to the world as a neat and tidy person who has her shit together. But look a little deeper and you find the corners where the clutter is buried. 

I have decided to attack the physical clutter areas one by one. I have a pile of papers over 6 inches high that need to be sorted, filled in, posted or filed. Tomorrow is the day.  I am hoping that with each pile of clutter I manage to sort out, that I can work on one internal one. Sounds good in theory hey?

 Over 6 inches of papers to be sorted

I am not sure which internal issue to choose first!

I have up until now, chosen to hide my clutter.

I have a variety of hidden clutter piles I need to address, my cupboards especially.  I want to rid my space of anything that is taking up room….. much like my life wearing elastic waisted pants.

Food treats dont have to be junk.. or do they?

I have been on my best behaviour since round 2 of my new lifestyle.
I have made the best food choices 100% of the time.
I have recorded everything I have eaten in the Biggest Loser Online Diary, therefore keeping a calorie count.
I struggle with my fluid intake of 2 litres a day but get as close as I can.
I am  about to plan my weeks meals and go grocery shop for the ingredients.
I can't wait for my Bikini Cook Book Vol 2 to arrive tomorrow !
( http://thebikinicookbook.com/ )

I cooked the nicest Indian Beef Curry from Volume 1

This mornings Treat Brunch "Brekky Omelet"from Volume 1

So even though today's brunch was extremely low in calories (205), I actually consider it a treat. This is the type of dish that hubby & I would have ordered previously when we would eat out for breakfast.

Though the version would vary slightly with the addition of a lot more dairy, calories and fat... today's version was as tasty as any omelet I have ordered at a restaurant.  I don't usually cook breakfast. In fact I never have breakfast in the traditional sense. Usually a muesli bar and a banana is my breakfast.  I have decided to treat myself at least once a week to a cooked breakfast. I consider it a treat because I am fuelling this big tank of mine with food that is full of goodness and taste. It's a treat because I am making time for me to enjoy this meal. It's a treat because I say it's a treat ! hehehe

Am I missing non healthy food?  hmmm I don't think so, but can't be certain. My daughter has a big jar a pistachio's on the kitchen bench and my son has a family size packet of skittles. The pistachios are enticing me. I know it would be OK to have a few.. BUT .. I don't want a few, I want the whole jar, so I will stay away. I don't care for lollies so the skittles are safe.

I confess that I miss the ease of takeaway food, that's about all at this stage. Tomorrow maybe different.  I change my mind like the wind, that's how I roll in my life wearing elastic waisted pants !



50 reasons I want to lose weight

Inspired by my friend Nic, I have come up with 50 reasons that I need to lose weight... there are probably 1000+ reasons.... but these are the ones that come straight to mind:

1. To prove to myself that I can complete this journey once and for all
2. To be proud of myself
3. To feel confident
4. To make my family proud
5. To not be the fat friend
6. To be healthy
7. To be rid of sleep apnoea
8. To be rid of asthma
9. To stop snoring
10. To not be judged by my size
11. To blend in to a crowd
12. To be confident naked
13. To love myself
14. To lower my risk of weight related diseases
15. To not be defined at Fat
16. To buy sexy underwear
17. To receive jewellery and not have to pay to have it re sized
18. To have my husband proud to be seen with me
19. To feel in control of myself
20. To buy nice clothes
21. To have more photo’s taken especially with family
22. To be in control
23. To be in the healthy weight range on the chart
24. To not use my weight as an excuse
25. To not worry about fitting into booths at restaurants
26. To apply for jobs without fear of missing out because of my weight
27. To be able to walk longer distances without losing my breath
28. To make up for lost time
29. To have a healthy glow
30. To try on a wedding dress
31. To not hide from the camera
32. To have my knee and hip joints pain free
33. To play a round of Golf with my Dad before he dies
34. To not be a statistic
35. To participate in life
36. To not have my kids embarrassed by my weight
37. To use a Public Toilet and not worry whether I will fit in the cubicle
38. To end the assumption that I am lazy
39. To erase the memory of being called a Fat Pig
40. To fly on a plane again
41. To wear bathers
42. To have more energy
43. To go to a concert without worrying about squishing the person next to me
44. To hold my head high
45. To go to a day spa with girlfriends and not be embarrassed
46. To be comfortable in clothes that I chose to wear
47. To wear heels again
48. To be as feminine as I can be
49. To prove I can do this to those that doubt my ability to succeed
50. TO NOT HAVE TO WEAR ELASTIC WAISTED PANTS

The F Word

FAT


There I said it!


I don't  have a problem with saying it either.

I don't see it as politically incorrect.

I don't see it as degrading.

It is what it is. It's fat.

I just happen to have a shit load of it. Therefore, I am fat.

I prefer to be called fat than, cuddly, stocky, very chubby, big,  well conditioned or wide.

I find those words patronising.


I definitely prefer to be called fat rather than severely morbidly obese.

The moment you bring the words "morbidly" into the discussion it brings a whole new dynamic.

Does being Fat define who I am as a person though?

Apparently it does.


I have read MANY doctors reports that read as follows:


She presented as an Obese married woman and mother of two.


So, in their eyes, I am defined by being Obese. It's the first adjective they use to describe me. Did they note I have green eyes? brown hair? long finger nails or even a tattoo ? NO ... but they are more than quick to point out I am obese.


Why do I take offence to this?


Because my weight had NOTHING to do with the reason I was sitting in their Office.

There is a time and a place for discussing my weight and its not when I am asking for a referral to an ear specialist.


For ALL of my life I have been fat. Do I like it? NO . But am I realist? YES


I am fat, but should not be defined it !



I am a wife, mother, daughter, granddaughter, Auntie, Niece, Employee & Friend who just happens to be fat.


If I was not fat, I would not have to wear elastic waisted pants !

The Bosses Wife

Hubby works for one Australia's Big 4 Banks.

In fact, I worked there for a long time and encouraged him to apply for an entry level position.

He quickly climbed the Corporate Ladder.

He currently leads a team of 20 staff.  He has held this current position for almost 1 year.

Previous to this position, he lead a team of staff who were once my colleagues. I am still friends with many of them. I never really associated hubby with being their Boss though. It's not really something we ever spoke about.

I have always been somewhat intimidated by people in Management and the "power" they held over me. I'm not exactly sure why. My leader of preference though is usually male. Again, I don't know why.

Hubby announced last night that he is organising a "Team Dinner" for his staff and their partners for next week and would like me to accompany him.

Hmmm ... It finally hit me that he was a "Boss"

I studied his face and imagined what his staff thought of him. I wondered quietly if he enjoyed the "power" aspect of his position. I wondered how it felt for him to have to discipline staff. How it felt to praise staff. How did it feel to have their pay rise (or not) in his hands. My mind boggles.

I only know him as my husband.

I am secretly looking forward to watching the interactions between him and his staff at the dinner.

This revelation brought a whole new perspective in the way I view this complex man I call my soul mate.

Tuesday night I get to be The Bosses Wife ... will be an interesting night in my life wearing elastic waisted pants.

Being Organized for Dinner Time

Usually, I am semi organised.


This has not always been the case but over the past 10 years I started to get my shit together.


I am totally organised with some aspects of my day to day life and totally unorganised with other aspects.


I am trying my best to plan ahead with my meals and grocery shopping. The past week it has served me well.


As previously mentioned in an earlier blog, I have purchased The Bikini Cook Book Vol 1. I chose 3 dinner recipes that I would cook for the week. I also made a huge pot of my own home made soup and which combined  has covered us 7 meals. 


www.thebikinicookbook.com/

Traditionally, I hate lists. BUT ... I wrote a shopping list of all the ingredients I needed and managed to get them all in one trip to the Supermarket.


I also put my slow cooker to good use which cooked 2 of the meals. (which I doubled the portions to eat over two nights)


When I find a recipe I love I actually type it up in a word document, print it out and put it in my little folder with clear plastic pockets. This way there is no chance of getting spills etc on my cookbooks. (little bit anal about stuff like that!) and it also means I create 1 place for recipes I use often, rather than flicking through different books.


Now.... I just need to apply the organisation to other area's of my life in elastic waisted pants ...

Biggest Loser Club Week 1 Weigh In 18/7/12

Well today is a happy day!

For the first time in a long time I was happy to weigh in.

Today marks 1 week of 1200 calories a day.

I am happy to report a loss of 5kgs !!! I still can't believe it !

I am really hoping to smash the 130 kgs mark by next Wednesday

I would do a happy dance but my elastic waisted pants may just fall down.