Cleansing

Cleansing. Fourth time’s a charm, as they say!

The weather in Chicago is finally sauna-like, whirling hot air, and I’m ready to rid my mind of old, tired beliefs, my body of junk, and shake the cold winds from my hair.

(Clearly it’s been a long time since I’ve written anything – my wording is just as stagnant as I feel).

I’ve started the Master Cleanse once again – the one in which you don’t eat solid foods for a period of time: lemons, cayenne pepper and maple syrup.

When I found out I was not only deficient in Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, but also in Iron, I met with a nutritionist (as suggested by my doctor).  She recommended I do a cleanse to figure out what foods my body doesn’t like and which foods it does. I asked her about the Master Cleanse, and she feels the same way I do – almost every culture/religion in the world has a fast incorporated in their diets, and she felt it could only be beneficial to do one.

After the cleanse, I will spend 3 weeks taking foods out of my diet one by one, then slowly reincorporating them, and journaling how I feel after eating each one.

Bored yet? I am.

But! What I’m not bored with is shaking up the pile of passionless muck I’ve been wading around in. It’s ridiculous. And still trying to figure out what that’s all about.

Other than that:

My book is coming – getting impatient, but the graphic designer is a busy guy, and he’s that good. I must wait. I finally got the copyright certificate in the mail for my novel, so it’s official – no one can come in late at night to my apartment, hack into my computer and steal my only copy of the novel. No, the government knoooows!!! You will be found out, I say!

As for social media, I am busy tweeting and facebooking all day for my clients, so please don’t be concerned if you see my many facebook comments fluttering on your page – I’m on there anyway. And don’t forget to say hi on Twitter!

At the end of the month we’re back in England for over a week, so the Lady Who Lunches will be sure to have commentary on my experience back across the pond. (Can’t believe I left nearly a year ago.) After all, that’s what this blog was founded on, right?!

Workout DVDs Killed the Gym Star

This whole New Year’s resolution to challenge myself even more with workouts has finally taken off. I am now truly a Lady who Lunches because surely all ladies who lunch buy themselves workout DVDs! Yes, it’s true. I have succumb to the good housewife’s saving grace of the workout DVD.

Which ones did I buy after careful research you may ask?

Davina McCall’s Davina Fit DVD AND Pilates Weight Loss Workout for Dummies . Amazon, always the cheapest option, will be shipping it the house in the next few days. I feel very sorry for my new downstairs neighbors who will have to endure my jumping about left and right. Gotta make a sweat, right!

To be fair, it is cheaper than a gym membership. It adds to my running twice or thrice a week, and I can sport my newly bought (by my mother) lycra in the privacy of my own living room. Viva la lycratech! If only I had this outfit!

(UPDATE: After forking out £18 for the two DVDs, I have come upon this FREE website that delivers full length workout videos. DOH!)

Bye Bye 2009 Fat. Hello 2010 Thin.

God. Christmas was good…despite my PMS hitting right on Christmas day and the subsequent moments of emotional outpour due to missing friends and family. It hits at the darndest times, doesn’t it? Christmas was really really good. Jock’s mom outdid herself another year, and since this is the last year Jock will be with his family for an unknown amount of time…I think we made it count.

New Year’s was great too. A lot of fun. A lot of drink (and water inbetween the drinks). Why is it that when you ask for water at a bar, the reaction is always “What? What a loser! You want waahder!?” (always mocking my accent on that word, and always in a disgusted tone.) But I don’t mind because my head is always clearer in the morning than theirs is and I feel that much less hung over when mixed.

But now, I feel fat. Despite having run three or four times over the holiday time. I am fat. My face is swollen. My cheeks are puffy. My stomach is bloated. My head (despite the wahder) is muddy. I am ready for detox! Time to unleash the sexy body that is under that pudge. No more shaky butt. No more wobbly bits. Yoga starts next week. Three days run each week and sit ups during commercials. No alcohol. Yummy healthy food. Fuck this fatty MAL. Who’s with me?

ARGH!

The Menu

After reading Mid-Atlantic English‘s blog, I realized I have way underestimated the task I am about to partake in.

Michelle has actually ordered things online! Shit. How am I possibly going to make pumpkin pie?

And she ordered a Turkey! Am I supposed to do that?

This is the list of menu items I sent out to my helpful friends. So, other expats – what won’t I be able to find here?

Tableware – (we don’t have enough. Help!)

Thanksgiving Menu:
Turkey – Me
Stuffing (In the Turkey) – Me
Stuffing (Out of the Turkey) -
Gravy – Me
Cranberry Sauce or Relish-
Sweet Potatoes – Me
Mashed Potatoes -
Bread Rolls and Butter

Thanksgiving Sides:
Green Bean Casserole -
Creamed Spinach -
Cheese Cauliflower -
Glazed Carrots -

Dessert:
Minced Meat Pie (with hard sauce) – Me
Pumpkin Pie – Me

Optional Desserts:
Pecan Pie -
Apple Pie-
Ice Cream -
Drinks:
Beer – Jock
Cider – Jock
Red Wine – (We’ll have four or five bottles, but if some people could bring a bottle as well, that would be great)
White Wine
Soft Drinks – Jock