Peace, love and joy to you.

Farm-fresh flowers

I’ve started watching travel videos.

https://youtu.be/0GZSfBuhf6Y

I’ve reflected on apartment dwelling.

https://youtu.be/RL7BECNn-RI

I’ve been trying to be present for life in the now.

I have been weeding things out everyday to better organize my life, and feel happier.

So I’ve decided to take a little hiatus from my daily blogging.

Sorry. I just need a break.

Exercise at the gym and playing ping pong with my life partner, husband and best friend Jim makes me motivated to be a better woman.

At least it helps me get focused on creating a better home-life.

Hubby is fully retired now.

I still work, albeit part-time.

Although he is not currently employed, hubby works at home to make the place cooler (installing air-conditioning,) pitching in on chores with gardening, cooking and being my chauffer when we go out together. ❀

He is a helpful husband.

Even though we haven’t got any vacation plans until November, every day spent at home with hubby is like a vacation for me, especially when the weather is nice.

While growing up in the big city of Toronto was over-stimulating and fun, living in outstate Minnesota has its perks as well.

Fresh air, parklands, Farmer’s markets, a big fenced-in backyard, and ample free time to enjoy it all is great!

Hubby likes to keep current on the news.

I like to keep current on the birds at the bird-feeder, the local temperature, recent amounts of rainfall, and what to eat.

Love this!

Wednesday Diet Wisdom: Appetite Considerations

So are you full?

Do you notice it when you have had enough to eat, or do you let the appetite needle swing into the red before you stop eating?

Observe if you feel satisfied

Eating to fullness is not the way to drop excess weight.

True, each meal is a time of rejoicing, but it is also a time to reflect on what it is we desire from our food.

Summer produce is so good!

A good meal is fresh veggies and lots of air on your plate.

πŸ˜€ If you wish to plan your meals in advance, and the amounts you think you need, it will help you to enjoy your weightloss journey with less stress.

Interesting opinion

Tempting foods abound.

Plan your meal work, and work your meal plan.

You can do it! And so can I!

This radio gal loves to eat, but knows to quit when she’s had enoughπŸ’•

Schunkelfest 2022

Hubby wearing his free T-shirt!

This morning we met around the Glockenspiel for the 8th Annual Schunkelfest!

It was the most well-attended one we had so far, with over 100 people in attendance.

This is the weekend of our Bavarian Blast.

https://www.bavarianblast.com/

Each Friday morning from 7 AM until 8 AM during the weekend of Bavarian Blast we shunkel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schunkeln

Free t-shirts, free food & drink, live oompah music and group dancing 🎢

It’s a fun time for the whole community!

Even the New Ulm Narren showed up to join in the fun!

The Narren were there too!

http://www.narrenofnewulm.com/

Wednesday Diet Wisdom: The Obesity Cycle

The ride to weightloss is difficult

Once you get fat, it’s a very hard trap.

I call it the obesity cycle: overeat, repent, repeat.

Once you get to a certain weight or a certain BMI, it can be very hard to change to get slim again.

For many people, getting fat only leads to getting fatter.

To make significant weightloss happen, it is clear that the solution to obesity is far more harder to achieve than prominent Weightloss Companies may promise, to say the least.

Yes, it’s true that exercise is the key to a healthier body, but so is what we eat on a daily and nightly basis.

Too many calories can make us fail in our quest to get fit and trim.

Today I am in the repentant phase of the obesity cycle.

For over a month I counted every little calorie that went into my mouth. Suddenly, counting calories began to be very tiresome.

So, after stepping on the scale at the orthodontist clinic yesterday, I saw that I was up 3 pounds because I recently quit counting calories.

I need to start counting my calorie intake again!

I had oral surgery yesterday and I’m kind of spent.

Keep fighting the fine fight and don’t let yourself get too fat.

If you’re already too fat, continue to get proper nourishment and lots of exercise, fresh air and rest, but continue to count calories and if you can stand it, be sure to get on the scale to check your weight.

If you fell off the weight reduction track, get back on-board

P.S. All diet advice by me is my opinion and does not reflect on any professional advice. Lose weight at your own risk.

On The Tube: Delicacies Destiny

Feelings of love abound in “Delicacies Destiny.”

Disney Channel streams this enjoyable series of 16 episodes set in the Royal Courts of China.

Food and cooking holds a central role in this show and so does the Delicacy Kitchen Head chef!

Modest Head Chef Ling

Also, slow-motion eating, combined with expressive sounds and moans of pleasure make you vicariously feel as if you are eating what you see on your screen.

Hubby and me will often eat and watch the show. Whether it’s a big steaming bowl of stirfried rice or a delicious tapioca pudding like this I had at lunchtime, Delicacies Destiny is always sure to satisfy your taste for good viewing.

Yummy πŸ˜‹

Wednesday Diet Wisdom: Gym life

Afternoon strength

Three times a week hubby and I work on strength training.

When the sun comes up

However, every morning when the sun comes up we go to the pool at the Recreation center!

Jim after our big swim

So after joining the gym we have gotten into the habit of exercise.

Whenever it is time to eat we focus on high fiber and high protein.

Of course being vegetarians it takes extra effort to eat protein and we find it in many good foods including lots of vegetables, soy products, nuts, nut butters and eggs.

Having a garden helps.

Herbs and veggies make life lush
Tasty homemade pizza full of protein and fibre I cooked for noon lunch yesterday πŸ˜‹

This morning after I rose at 5:30 I took things that were in the freezer. I cooked them in my steamer.

My big house cleaning project yesterday was to clean the fridge and freezer.

My freezer has room to breathe now!

Anyway once we get home we like to play outdoor ping pong. That’s our thing we do as a couple. No holds barred! We each play to win!!!

Ping pong rivals!

Time to eat now

Hot veggies and soy brats

Every day instead of asking what do I want for dinner? Ask what do I want from dinner?

Stay active, grow slender and be strong.

Like they say, if I can do it you can do it!

Cheers to your good health!

P.S. All diet advice by me is my opinion and does not reflect on any professional advice. Lose weight at your own risk.

On the Tube: Home Economics 1954

Stockings and skirts were the norm in the 1950’s

So things have changed for homemakers in the 21st century.

Women rarely do many of the chores and tasks of yore.

The home economics classes of the past promoted some great ideas for those who wanted to live a classy life, but many of those ideas have disappeared from our consciousness.

I watched this hilarious YouTube about some modern-day women who took a 1954 home economics test.

https://youtu.be/OE6E1sWhgZ8

Wash your stockings ladies!

Out for Good

Sozial served great meals

Three businesses closed their doors recently in my city of New Ulm, MN.

A place called Sozial was where I took my Spring Break with hubby when the going was tough.

Spring break

Its doors are permanently closed.

Sozial is now a food truck.

https://sozialnewulm.com/

Mona Lena is closed.

https://monalenanewulm.com/

Hubby and me

Yesterday I drove past Clark. Closed. Shut down. Sad.

Closed.

I made a small video of the sad occasion.

After swimming at the local rec center we went out for ice cream!

Matcha & Pistachio nut πŸ˜‹

Love and support the small mom and pop businesses in your town because it’s always sad when they can’t survive.

I scream for ice cream! Lol!

Some businesses do very well if there is a market for them.

What the market wants

P.S. Each Saturday I will focus on a “This is where I live, and this is why it’s special,” segment of my blog.

Farmer’s Market Song

Gigantic radishes

I love Farmer’s markets.

I even wrote a lovely original short song about it.  🎢

https://youtu.be/hc-ZjGYhX14

Home-grown tomatoes fresh off the farm
Lovely green onions

So, not only can you buy fresh produce at the farmer’s market, but fresh baked goods and jars of tasty delicious delights!

Yes! Farmer’s markets may be trendy, but they are growing in popularity!

Join the trend and treat yourself at your local Farmers market!

P.S. If nothing is ready, well you just have to watch and wait!πŸ˜€

Wednesday Diet Wisdom: Early Bird Exercise Experience

Brand new morning πŸŒ„

This morning I was up at 5:15am.

I planned on going to a 5:45am strength-training class at the Recreation center I’d recently joined.

When I got there I was surprised to see how many overweight, obese and over-50 ladies there were there. Not all were fat, however. Some looked great, and a few were younger than the rest.

I was thrilled there was a good turn-out so early in the morning.

But, I was frustrated with the look of the space. It seemed crowded.

I was not wearing a mask, and neither was anyone else!

Instead of jumping into the strength class, I got on a parallel elliptical machine to tighten my thighs, and then I rode a stationary bike that had a video game on it.

That was pretty cool.

I have an online membership included in my gym package and I have free weights at home.

Back home I did some stretching with the video to loosen up my shoulders and back.

It’s important to warm up before you exercise too.

Before I left for the gym this morning I made a cold caffeinated beverage. Ice cubes, oatmilk and a shot of espresso from my Nespresso machine.

It didn’t burn my tongue like the usual hot coffee I make every morning, but I didn’t think it tasted all that great.

I will start weight-training at home today.

As for my weightloss journey, I an thrilled to say I am close to no longer being categorized as obese.

Since I started in May I have dropped 12 lbs. I hope to drop another 12 pounds by mid-August .

Then I will no longer be classified as obese!

I look forward to the time when I will not be in the overweight category either.

I want to be able to be in the normal weight range again and dress up in cute retro-outfits like this.

Slim and trim goals

But, it all takes patience and time to make it to your goals.

And I always track my calories on my Samsung Health app.

Tracking my calories on my cracked smartphone as usual

P.S. All diet advice by me is my opinion and does not reflect on any professional advice. Lose weight at your own risk.