What I learned About Myself Lately

               There are three things that I learned about myself this week. The first thing is that I like bags. BAGS! Purses, pocket books, whatever you want to call them. I have always been a “keep my wallet stuff in my pocket often without a wallet type of lady. And when I do carry a purse it is because I need a convenient place to put whatever book I happen to be reading, or my tablet, or sometimes even my camera. But I could never justify wanting for myself a $400, $500 bag. I would not mind spending that kind of money on a new computer some other fun electronics item. But a bag doesn’t DO anything but hold stuff. They I went purse shopping with a friend and officially fell in love with Michael Kors. I specifically this blue one. I felt like a bag snob just looking at it. I think that the snob comes out of us simply for being able to appreciate the art, regardless of whether we are able to create it or afford it, for that matter. “But Brittany,” you may ask, “how did you learn to be a snob of any kind while living in poverty and squalor?” Well, I haven’t always been a vagabond selling my thoughts to pay my rent. I used to have a liveable income that allowed me to by $400 Bulgari sunglasses from the outlet mall for $10 because I was going to Jamaica for the first time because sunglasses don’t DO $400 worth of stuff I otherwise could not justify the purchase.

              

             The second thing that I learned about myself is that I really do give a hoot about what celebrities are doing. And I don’t necessarily mean who’s cheating on who, if Brangelina is going to adopt a Chilean baby or if the Kardashians’ butts are actually getting bigger. I mean, I actually care about their endorsements. To some extent, I guess. Even if it’s just to dream. Like “Ooh! Lil Kim (yes, I am a fan) goes to Mykonos, Greece just to shop! Now I want to go to Mykonos. Paris is just sooooo….. some other time that I couldn’t afford to go their either! My latest celebrity fueled obsession, of course is this Ayurvedic dietary lifestyle. I saw Dr. Oz on the front of Woman’s World and while I was not necessarily a fan of the Doc, I knew that he was heavily endorsed by Oprah. And I’ve been a fan of hers since Miss Sophia came home. So between Oprah’s endorsement and Dr. Oz’s celebrity, I’m likely to believe everything he says. It doesn’t hurt that the ayurvedic lifestyle that he promotes seems very low risk, high in benefits and time proven. Oh, and before I forget, the third thing that I learned about myself is that I will probably follow the Doc blindly until I forget about it which is likely because I have the attention span of a four year old.

             

            So going back to my celebrity endorsement obsession fused ayurvedic kick. Rachael Ray claims that she lost all of this weight taking a Garcinia Cambogia supplement. Dr. Oz endorses it, so I bought some today. Despite the fact that Ms. Ray is a chef and probably eats better than I, and probably has a personal trainer, I still expect to get the exact same results. So today, at 5’5”, 150lbs, I have officially added Garcinia Cambogia to my ayurvedic weight management plan. And if I don’t get the same results as Rachael Ray, I am going to hunt her down and serve her garlic crusted with a red wine reduction, or whatever she’s always talking about! Haha, kidding, Miss Ray. You are not in danger of running afoul of my dubious anger over things that I have already dubbed as having a good chance of failing because of my own short comings. But they won’t, and I will fit nicely into my faux leather H & M pants!

So Far

               It has been about a week since I started drinking the Dr. Oz recommended Ayurvedic weight management tea concoction. And I am not sure if I have lost any weight. Mostly because I have not bothered to purchase a scale. (I did not say so before, but I am 5’5”, 155lbs and I would like very much to lose about 20lbs.) I have only my cool faux leather pants that I bought from H & M that I am determined to fit into properly to gage my progress by. Unfortunately, I have also just realized that I have little luck with remembering to do things like make my tea in the morning so I can sip on it all day. So oftentimes I am drinking my tea right around bedtime and I don’t think that I’m supposed to do it that way.

              

            I have some good news. For me, anyway. You may not care, or you may be going fan girl on me. I don’t know. But if you’re reading my blog, you may care at least a little bit. First off… I finally got a 12 hour thermos. It keeps hot drinks hot, like my tea, for 12 hours. And cold drink cold for 24 hours. I tried it out. I put hot tea in at 0900 (that’s 9 am or 9 in the morning for you civilians.) What was left at 2100 (9pm…) was still warm. Not burn your lip warm like MOST of the day, but pleasantly warm. The kind of warm you want your warm tea to be. The kind of warm that won’t burn the back of your throat if you want to chug it, which I like to do right before bedtime to drink it!

              

            Another tidbit of happiness that actually might apply to your immediate needs or interests. The tea tastes really, really, good with honey. I want to try it with lemon, but I didn’t have any today. But, oh my God, what a difference the honey makes! Without the honey, the taste of the warm tea is similar to the taste of cardboard. Bland enough to tough through. But the honey makes it taste more like actual tea. I think that this may actually make me more likely to make and drink my tea every day.

               

          Please follow my twitter account @ayurvedabrit. Then you can really keep up with my awesomeness!

Chocolate

Today I realized that cold chocolate cake is going to be my downfall. Along with a warm, comfy bed. For several weeks now, I’ve found myself craving cold, chocolate cake, straight out of the refrigerator. Then today, without actually asking for it, I found myself looking one straight in the eye(?). Brought to me by my beloved fiancé, who the night before, had declared that we both need to watch what we eat and exercise more! My derisive hurumph was stifled only slightly by a mouthful of cold, chocolaty yumminess! And that warm, comfy bed? No matter how badly I wanted to get up and make a tea before going to sleep, my body just sinks deeper into my bed’s loving arms. Cuddling and cradling me in its cussiony, pillowy goodness. My mind justifying my body’s surrender declaring that it lacks the wakeful focus required to await the long steep time I prefer for a nice strong tea. Plus my love of a lightly sweetened tea warm enough to hug me from the inside wile cool enough to chug before my short term memory discards its existence and lulls me into delicious delightful sleep.

               So my lovie and I have decided on multiple occasions that we would refrain from eating passed 8pm. This is a resolution what we have broken time and time again. But I MUST put my foot down! And to begin, I resolve to drink a nice warm tummy hugging cup of tea to help quell my perceived hunger pangs and prevent me from ding (eating) something I might regret!

Day 1

               I finally got all of the ingredients that I need for the tea, but I have been unable to purchase the Trifala supplement. So this morning I made my tea for the first time. I would first like to describe the ingredients. I first purchased the whole fennel seeds and whole cumin seeds from the supermarket. For the whole coriander seeds I had to go to the health food store. And I got a cool discount card. Cost me $5 for the card and $1.63 for the seeds. Neat. Anyway I tasted my seeds individually to get an idea of what I was in for. The first ones I tasted were the coriander seeds. Delicious! They have a lemony, zesty taste. Not like lemon zest, just zest plus a lemon taste. I ate a few of them. Later, I came back and tasted the fennel and the cumin. These flavors gave me pause. The fennel, the more appealing of the two, has a black licorice taste. I HATE black licorice! But the seed is relatively palatable. Lastly, the cumin. It tastes like something to rub into your steak, not to drink.

             
           Now, the three flavors together does something wacky. When it is hot the taste is mild, but the smell is strong and is like meat rub. When it is cold, the taste is strong and unpalatable, but the smell is almost nonexistent. Drinking the tea warm is recommended for its properties. I recommend it also because it is easier to drink.

               I honestly cannot wait until I get the trifala. My reason why may not be what you want to hear. Or it might. I don’t know what kind of wacky things you like to think about in your spare time. The reason why I can’t wait to get my trifala supplement is because I have an obsession…well perhaps I shouldn’t admit to an obsession in this case, but perhaps a keen interest in the digestive system and bowels! I have only been drinking the tea for a day and I have not felt or noticed any gastronomically significant changes. I was once asked by an acquaintance why my interest in bowels, and why the deep understanding of the health indicators of your bowel movement…well, he asked in words inappropriate for this forum! My answer is simply this: I don’t know. But if I should ever have aspirations of being a doctor, it would be a gastroenterologist. And if you read my blog, I will give you fair warning: there will be poop!

I have been thinking about this blog for about a week now. I have had so many ideas on how I would start talking about this new road to weight loss that I have decided to travel and I have had many ideas. But now that I actually sit down at my computer, ready to type, I cannot remember anything! What I do hope is that it will be interesting enough to keep your attention, exciting enough to make you want to come back for more, funny enough to keep you entertained and inspiring enough that when you look back on this time that you spend with me here, you will not feel that it was time wasted!

I have a confession to make. This is not really my first day on living an ayurvedic lifestyle. (I choose not to call it a diet, because it really doesn’t sound like a diet at all!) The fact is, I have not even purchased the ingredients to make the special tea yet! But I really wanted to get started with my blog to get myself motivated. I have also set a relatively clear goal. I only say relatively because the goal weight has a range and my reasoning for wanting to reach that goal weight is mostly cosmetic!

Let me tell you a little bit about myself first. The short story. The long story could fill an entire blog by itself and that is not why I am trying to lure you into my web. J I am a 37 year old mother of 3. Two boys ages 18 and 15 and a daughter who is 12. I spent 13 years in the military and I am currently working on my bachelor’s degree in animation. As you can probably guess, this is not a collegiate program filled with damned ear middle aged women with children almost old enough to make her a grandmother. I promise you that I am not competing with my fellow classmates in any kind of beauty pageants, but I am starting to look and feel older than the little girl inside of me that still prefers cartoons to live action television and can hold a conversation with anyone about the newest Naruto episode or Inuyasha and Kagome’s volatile relationship! I often hear that I look about 10 years younger than I am, but I remember what I looked like 10 years ago. And I will tell you, sister (brother?), this ain’t it! Ten years ago, I was a gym rat who even then was not satisfied with her weight! I wish now that I weighed the same thing then as I do now! But that is reason one (or two?) that I have chosen the path of the ayurvedi (Is that even a word?)

Next reason: Necocon. This is going to be my first “con.” If you are unfamiliar with what this is, it is a convention where fans of various genres get to dress up like their favorite superheroes, anime or cartoon characters, steampunk heroes, musicians, actors, etc and meet with their favorite actors, writers animators, etc.  And just generally geek out. This will be my first. And I can’t wait. I have already decided on at least two costumes. One being a semi super hero who I want to emulate using my most awesome self. And I would like to still look like my most awesome self years from now. But right now, I love my body, but I think that I could be a little bit more AWESOME! With the help of Dr. Oz’s Ayurvedic fat cure as described in Women’s World.

Ok. So if there was ever any question to whether I am as old as I say I am…from your point of view at this point, I am sure that you have no reason to believe otherwise, but trust me on this, I get this a lot. But if there was ever any doubt read the above statement where I said that I was reading Women’s World. I don’t mean to make assumptions about the magazine or the women who usually read it, but it really reminds me of the catalogues my grandmother used to get with the orthopedic shoes, hearing aids, and porcelain angels. I guess that pretty soon I will be shopping for sensible pant suits and old lady bras. I’m sorry. I digress. I don’t mean to be mean. I am just looking down the barrel of old age, and I can smell the gun powder, and I don’t like it. I need to get back in shape and feel healthy again.

Cool H&M leather pants I am trying to fit better!

So what is Dr. Oz’s Ayurvedic Fat Cure? Well, according to Woman’s Day September 2, 2013 issue article by that same name you can lose as much as 80lbs using three easy slimming tricks. If I lose 80lbs, I will disappear! I just want to lose 20. That will take me back down to my post third pregnancy weight! I never even thought that it was possible. But Dr. Oz has me convinced. And let me tell you why. Number one, barring a horrible taste to the tea, it is a sustainable plan. It is not like Atkins, where, even if you could keep it up for a long time, you put your kidney and liver at risk. I lost an entire 5lbs doing that. Number two, the meal plan is pretty simple and similar to what I do anyway. Small breakfast, lunch is the biggest meal of the day and small dinner. Not a really big change in what I eat, either. The only real concern that I have is about the Triphala supplement. It is just a blend of three berry extracts. But my experience with weight loss supplements has been extreme nausea and a general lack of comfortableness. Causing me to stop taking the supplement after the 7^th or so dosage. Resulting in no results. The last reason that I feel good about this plan is Deepak Chopra MD. I understand that this is not his plan, but according to the Woman’s Day article, it is paired down version of the kind of lifestyle that he has long recommended for weight control. And frankly, I trust eastern medicine because it is ancient and proven. And Western medicine has too many agendas that have little to do with your health. For instance, doctors who have student loans to pay off, malpractice insurance to worry about out, special interests and investments in pharmaceuticals, have too much influence on western medicine.

I also do not plan to depend just on the diet to get the results that I want. I have every intention to get running again. And Kung Fu! I have to get back to that! I am writing this blog to track and share my path to a healthier me and hopefully inspire others to do the same. So please come with me on this life altering journey and maybe we can do something great together!