Baking and crafting are two of my spare time activities. I'm lucky in that I seem to have inherited these skills from my Mum although she was an artist and I'm more of a technician.
These things keep me busy although one is a dangerous activity for me. I don't think I need to point out which one! As some members of my family are vegetarian or vegan, I have had to adapt my baking somewhat. It has led to a few tasteless disasters but I can now make a delicious vegan cake that will fool even my brother. These are some cupcakes that I made for an office function.
Baking and experimenting with baking are dangerous for me. I decided a while back
that I was only going to bake white cakes which I don't like it, but as I'm preparing, I will add a little of this and that and before you know it I have a nice spice cake... infinitely more edible! I'm experimenting at the moment with vegan-gluten free cakes. This is more difficult. My first batch were edible but the texture was odd...especially after you started to chew! I have to keep working on it as my sister wants me to make a cake for her.
The other hobby is crafting. The little lady above is one of my more recent efforts. The crafting is much better for me as it keeps my hands busy and I am less likely to be eating while crafting. For a few years, I always had a crochet hook in my hand in my spare time and I was thinner! Then my iPad made an appearance. Love at first sight and it kept me from my crafts. I have started to crochet again and maybe I'll stick with it and it might keep me away from cupcakes!
A few months ago, I had my first taste of kombucha tea and really liked it. If you are unfamiliar, it is a fermented tea beverage which contains pro-biotics and is supposed to be very good for you. The problem was the $5.00 a bottle (in Canada!) price tag. I decided that I wanted to brew my own and set about trying to find or buy a "scoby" which is the acronym for "symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast" which is what ferments the tea turning it into kombucha. Local health food stores either didn't know what I was talking about or were too expensive. So I followed instructions from the internet on the easiest and cheapest method to procure one. I bought a plain bottle of un-pasteurised kombucha, poured it into a clean mason jar, covered it with a cloth and put it somewhere warm. Within a week I had my own scoby which has multiplied many times leaving me with great tea and a bunch of scobys to spare. So far no one else in my family likes the tea. It is an acquired taste. I make a few batches a week in various large glass containers.
Not much happening on the diet front...I'm slowly getting back to the walking and trying to eat better. Very early this morning, I successfully stopped myself from going to a 24 hour pharmacy to get jujubes. But the day is young...
Yay! It was 16 °C this morning which was perfect for a walk. So I was back on the road again with my walking. I didn't walk as far as I usually do but at least I was out there. I have to take advantage of the cooler mornings when they are here as this summer there haven't been very many. It's funny, as a kid I could stay outside all day long and the heat never got to me. Now, I can't bear it.
Believe it or not, I am hopeful that I have now hit bottom in my weight gain. I am not near to gaining back all that I lost but it is enough that I can remember how miserable I was. This is what depression can do. I took the picture of the raspberries as they looked so pretty in the bowl and they are a good contrast to my food of shame picture. It's Monday and I'm starting fresh. Again. Lean protein, fresh fruit and lots of veg and some exercise. My brother, (who needs to lose some weight and won't eat a vegetable unless it is coated in batter and deep-fried) has agreed that he will eat a diet that I compose for him for one week. This will take place in a few weeks and we will see how it goes.
Look at this plate of food. It is a perfect example of what is wrong with my pattern of eating. I start off ok with the lean protein but then I ruin it with that little bit of heaven known as the chocolate eclair! It leaped onto my plate at the buffet before I could stop it. One of my sisters takes a picture of interesting vacation meals. This isn't interesting so I am going to file this plate under "Food of Shame."
I have been depressed. In March, I was laid off from my job due to a restructuring... so for the first time since I was 16 years old, I am out of work. As I am an older member of the workforce, I am in a pickle. Depression leads to eating too much and so I am in danger of undoing all the good I did in the past few years. I am helpless against the draw of over eating. I have to get a hold of myself and get back on track. And of course I have to find a job. I could take this opportunity to do something I've always wanted to do which is write a romance. Maybe I will!
I've just returned from a few days in Las Vegas. Completely out of control eating. I'm in California right now and doing better, mostly because I am not in the constant company of forbidden food. I'll be going home in a few days and once again hope to begin again. I have a lot of time on my hands at the moment as I am currently not working, so I should have time to concentrate on my health. Let's hope so.
These things keep me busy although one is a dangerous activity for me. I don't think I need to point out which one! As some members of my family are vegetarian or vegan, I have had to adapt my baking somewhat. It has led to a few tasteless disasters but I can now make a delicious vegan cake that will fool even my brother. These are some cupcakes that I made for an office function. 
