from somewhere in my imagination

The Skinny

By definition skinny literally means looking like skin and bones.  Last time I looked in the mirror, which wasn’t long ago, because I like looking at myself in the mirror, I’m pretty sure what I saw was not resemblant of skin and bones.

Two years ago I weighed about 5kg more than I do now and I know that my chest resembled skin and bones a whole lot more than it does today.  Today my chest is covered with muscle.  I have visible abdominal muscles, some say my back is quite impressive.

I am strong.

I am fit.

I am healthy.

I am physically the healthiest I have been in my adult life because I want it to be that way. 

It doesn’t stop there though because there is an element of mental health to this to.

I am strong.

I am healthy.

I am focused.

I am mentally the healthiest I have been in my adult life.

Why is it then, that because a Size 6 is not a squeeze for my ass, that people feel it is okay to tell me that I am too skinny/too thin/too muscly/need more meat on my bones,  whatever.  Why is that okay to say that to me when it would be considered rude to tell someone squeezed into a size 24 that they were too fat?

Yes I did just say that.  I needed to get it off my chest.

Why is it okay to imply that maybe I have a problem, when I am actually in amazing physical condition, when it’s socially unacceptable to tell someone who is actually unhealthy that they are unhealthy?  It’s a bit of a double standard don’t you think?

I train like an athlete because I love it, not exclusively to make my body look a certain way, I can assure you that I eat like one too.  I don’t deprive myself of foods.  I eat exactly what I feel like eating and what I feel like eating is good, nutritious stuff.  When I get hungry it’s not the empty belly growling hunger you get from a nutrient poor carbohydrate induced low, my arms and legs get hungry.

If my physique makes you uncomfortable perhaps you should be asking yourself why.

Call me skinny if you want, it’s an easy term to use although I personally think lean is more appropriate to me just leave the too bit out of it.

If you are not a regular reader here I would suggest that you don’t read this post in isolation because it will possibly give you the wrong impression of what I stand for.  I believe in leading a healthy lifestyle and I strongly believe that we are fed all sorts of body image bullshit by the media so our impression of what is healthy has become severely distorted.  To me a healthy person looks a whole range of different ways and what t right for one person is possibly not right for the next person.  I don’t compare myself to others or vice versa, I’m just focused on me and achieving the things I want out of life.

Breakfast Time

I am a breakfast person.  I can get up and go for a run or exercise without it but I definitely won't consider walking out the door without having eaten it, nor will I let the kids leave the house with no brekky in their bellies.  Sebastian actually likes to have at least two breakfasts before we leave, I think his record is five.

I don't muck around with breakfast either, wholegrains and dairy are the things that are going to fill those bellies the best too.  Here are a few things that are being served up to the table each morning at our house.

With the chilly winter mornings fruit toast is the kids bread of choice, even better if I've bought them some fruity sourdough.  We'll be heading to dough in the market for some today.

Be Natural breakfast cereals are new firm favourites of mine, Sebastian's and Jasmine's.  The boy likes the pink lady apple one best, the nutty one is my favourite.

Cinnamon and cranberry porridge from Goodies and Grains in the Central Market.  I don't know what it is about this porridge but it is amazing.  The girls in the store told me it has quite a cult following across Adelaide.  I love diving into the big tub of it every week for a big bagful to bring home.  I top my porridge with a little drizzle of golden syrup and a spoonful of the high protein cereal sprinkle that I also get from goodies and grains.

On the weekend I my fancy schmancy bacon and eggs is my absolute favourite.  It regularly shows up for brunch on a Saturday or Sunday after I've put in the hard yards in the gym or out running.

I down a smoothie at least three mornings a week, usually on my work mornings and often between exercise on the weekend.  I don't get time to sit and chew on week mornings.  Right now my smoothies are 1 cup low fat milk, 1/3 cup low fat natural yoghurt, 1/3 cup frozen blueberries, 1 Tbs unprocessed bran and a banana.  I often mix everything except the banana and bran in a container and pop it in the fridge the night before with Tbs chia seeds and it saves mucking around too much in the morning.  I double the recipe and share with my big girls often too.

This morning I tried something new and it was delicious.  If you have Jamie Oliver's Return of The Naked Chef then you have the recipe for Pukkolla.  I tried this when I first got the book many many years ago and it really wasn't my thing but prompted by discussion with Lauren last night I threw a batch together and I couldn't wait to get up and eat my breakfast this morning!  If you google pukkolla you'll find the recipe all over the place but here's how I my made mine:

Dry Ingredients

10 cups rolled oats

1 cup dried apricots, chopped

1 cup dates, chopped

1/2 cup flaked almonds

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup walnuts, chopped.

Mix all of that together in a gigantic bowl.  I dished it out into four x four cup portions and stashed them in the pantry in zip lock backs.

Tip 1 of the four cup portions into a bowl.  Grate 2 apples and mix through with 2 Tbs chia seeds (I also had 3 passionfruit starting to go dodgy in the fruit bowl so I added them too).  Just cover with milk (I used 3 cups), cover and pop into the fridge overnight.

To serve in the morning dish out about 2/3 cup into a bowl and top with 1/4 cup frozen berries.  I zapped it in the microwave for about 30 seconds because I didn't want it fridge cold.  Finish with a dollop of yoghurt and maybe a drizzle of honey.  I also added about a Tbs of my high protein cereal sprinkle.

After all these years of not eating it because I didn't like it I think it will become a new breakfast staple.  My tastes must be maturing as I'm getting older!

What's on your breakfast menu right now?  I'd love to hear your homemade brekky recipes!

Tatum xx

Pasta with Artichokes, Capsicum & Chilli - Meatless Monday

I remember a few years ago there was this warm artichoke and parmesan cobb dip thing that was all the rage.  It was quite salty and oily but it tasted oh so good.  I haven't the slightest clue how it was made, I don't think I've ever made a cobb dip.  I do know that I love artichokes.  The marinated ones are good any old time and the ones in a tin are awesome for adding to a tomato based pasta sauce or sliced and added to a toasted ham and cheese sandwich.  Yum.

Anyway, I have had an idea kicking around in my head for a pasta sauce that kind of emulated the dip but less oily and salty.  Steven looked at me funny the two times I suggested it so I waited for him to be out of the house to give it a go, and boy did he miss out.  He'll agree when I make it for him.

For my 12WBT friends I am going to let you in on a bit of a secret.  I don't know why it is but the Woolies Macro organic pasta is much lower in calories than all the other kinds.  I've been eating it for ages and I find that all the other kinds don't really agree with me when I eat them now.  So you can make this, parmesan cheese and all and walk away feeling like you have eaten a proper pasta meal without the heaviness or the calories.

Pasta with Artichokes, Capsicum & Chilli - Serves 6 (260 calories/serve)

Ingredients

500g Woolies Macro Organic Pasta Shells

2tsp + 2tsp Olive Oil

2 x tins artichoke hearts, drained

2 x red capsicums, sliced into strips

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 long red chilli, finely sliced

1/2 bunch flat leaf parsley, finely chopped

80g parmesan cheese, finely grated

Juice of 1 Lemon

Method

Pop on a pot of water to boil.

Puree one tin of artichoke hearts and cut the other into quarters.

When your water boils pop in the pasta to cook and heat 2 tsp olive oil in a frying pan

Add the garlic and red capsicum and cook until they start to soften then add the artichoke hearts and chilli.

As the capsicum and artichokes start to caramelise add water from the pasta pot about 1/3 cup at a time to deglaze, adding more each time it dries out.

When the pasta is done add about half a cup of pasta water into the frying pan together with pureed artichoke and stir through.

Drain the pasta and return to the pot with the contents of the frying pan.  Stir through then add the further 2 tsp olive oil, lemon juice, finely chopped parsely and grated parmasen.  Stir until everything is evenly incorporated and serve, finishing with some freshly ground black pepper.

Enjoy.

As usual I am linking up with Veggie Mama for meatless monday, and with that done I better go and write myself a menu plan and shopping list before heading off to the central markets tomorrow with all four kids.  Usually it's my Thursday thing with Miss J but with school holidays tomorrow it'll be me and the whole tribe.  Love market lunches :)

Have a great week...I'm not sure what happen to last week but hopefully this one goes a little slower!

Tatum xx