Fat pants...you know you've got them!

I love fall,

I love the crisp mornings

 And

The cool nights

And

The warmth of the sunshine during the day

I love fresh apples,

Going to the pumpkin patch,

Hay rides,

Warm sweaters,

Sweatpants,

Hot tea

And

Fuzzy socks

However, fall also brings along the realization that although the summer was enjoyed, there were far too many summer indulgences, and not nearly enough activities.  I have not been very good to my body, I have ignored my inner voice and pretty much fallen off the wagon for lack of a better term. Even though I have watched the numbers on the scale quickly rise for the past 6 weeks or so (sometimes to the point of avoiding the scale for days on end, ok so maybe even for more than a week at a time). It wasn’t until I went to put on dress pants this morning that it finally hit me in the face that this is a problem that I can no longer ignore.

 

Now, yes, I could go out and buy new pants! However, really, what good would that do? I have pants…they just don’t fit right now; even my fat pants are tight.

And don’t even think about saying “fat pants, you have fat pants?”.

WE ALL HAVE THEM!

So, hitting this wall of OMG what have I done is certainly not how I wanted to start my day. When stress levels are high and then you have a weight issue to deal with on top of it, it is a shitshow situation. Albeit, a shitshow situation that I have created myself, no use in pointing fingers as they all come back to me anyway.

That’s the hardest “pill to swallow”, the fact that I knew it was happening, the warning signs were there (although ignored, put off, tomorrow, later, it’ll be ok). Now, let’s be honest here, I can’t say that my eating habits have gone for a complete spiral, my current state of excess weight gain is from a multitude of factors that are far beyond just what I may or may not be eating and drinking:

Stress

Overindulging

Social feasting

Alcohol

Stress

Lack of exercise

Ignorance

Lack of scheduling

Stress

Apparently it’s time to get some control.

 
It’s sad that we force ourselves to tackle the same battles over and over and over again. You’d think we’d all learn, however we are all human, we are not perfect, we all slip, we all fall and most of us get back up.

Determination, strength, willpower are all currently being called upon.

Give me wings and I shall fly......

 

Why is it that we are all so programmed to be grounded, firmly planted, self-conscious, take no risks, stuck in the box, to just love where we are and keep our heads out of the clouds?

Seriously, roots are one thing. We all need to know who we are and where we came from but where we are going is forever a mystery waiting to unfold ahead of us which we can change at any given time by any given choice. It’s that simple, really it is.

Why is it weird, flighty, irresponsible, childish, selfish, disrespectful or silly to dream a dream, to be open to possibilities, to accept an opportunity when it arises (even if the timing is not perfect…really whenever is it?)

They often say “grow some balls” to the boys…..so I think it should be “grow some wings” to the girls. Why not? Same thing, isn’t it? Really? Think about it.

 

Every once in a while you need to remind yourself that you have those wings. You can fly, you can soar above all else and you can dare to pursue those dreams and make them reality. Have some fun, open up your soul and take flight to the endless possibilities that await you.

 Dare to be you, not someone else’s version of you.

YOU

Just you, the one that has her own ideas, beliefs, dreams and freedom.

So, what’s holding you back? Is it time or money or fear?

Is it someone or something?

Figure it out.

Don’t let the world clip your wings but if it does, choose to never allow it to clip your soul.

 Find your wings and you too shall fly

Dear Fabulous Girl - a little motivation and inspiration

...found this and had to share:
Dear Fabulous Girl,

YOU know what you are about....you know who you are and what drives you....

Stand up for it.
Give what you have for it.
Believe in it.
Help it along.
Be part of it.
Protect it fiercely.
Love it with your whole soul.

WHATEVER IT IS...

BE BRAVE FOR IT.

If you won't do it...who will? The world needs more women, just like you...who are willing to stand up for what they believe in...what they are about.....it is time to be who you are!!! There are such important, beautiful things that will never happen if you do not do them.

You are absolutely mind-blowingly courageous....thank you for that.

Written by Brave Girls' Club.

— with Normauli Matanari Sihotang.

Borrowed from Exceptional Living's Facebook page...who borrowed it from the Brave Girls' Club Facebook page.

The Invitation - by Oriah (I read this and simply had to share)

It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me
what planets are
squaring your moon...
I want to know
if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know
if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know
if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations
of being human.

It doesn’t interest me
if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear
the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know
if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me
who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me
where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know
what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know
if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like
the company you keep
in the empty moments.

By Oriah © Mountain Dreaming,
from the book The Invitation
published by HarperONE, San Francisco,
1999 All rights reserved

The invitation is a challenge to yourself to be open, to feel and to simply be your true honest self in your entirety.

Take the invitation and dare to be.

Sunflower Seed Pesto

Vegan Sunflower Seed Pesto!

Recipe
 - 1/2 cup raw unsalted sunflower seeds
 - 1-2 gloves of garlic
 - juice of 1 lemon
 - sea salt (just a pinch)
 - 2 cups of fresh basil
 - 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1. In a food processor combine the sunflower seeds and garlic, process into a rough texture
2. Add the lemon juice, sea salt and basil and process
3. While the machine is running slowly stream in the EVOO and continue to process until combined

Viola, complete

Keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Spread it, Stuff it, Dip it or try one of the below options:

• Serve over pasta or brown rice
• Add to your favorite sandwich
• Pesto covered chicken
• Use as a dip for vegetables, whole grain crackers or tortilla chips
• Spread it on homemade pizza instead of the typical tomato sauce
• Flavour a cold grain or legume salad (quinoa, rice, beans, legumes)
• As a vinaigrette (thin it out and use as a dressing)
• Toss with some steamed veggies

Most basil recipes incude 1/4 to 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese as well which is certainly an option if you wish, just add it with the basil when processing.

Sunflower seeds are a much more economical choice over the traditional pine nuts. This could easily be made with walnuts as well for a different flavour.

A few nutritional tidbits:
Basil - possesses antibacterial properties which are effective in treating intestinal ailments. Also possesses anticancer properties.

Sunflower seeds - excellent source of protein, vitamin E, magnesium, selenium, folic acid, fibre, vit b1, b5 and b6 and monounsaturated fat

Resources: The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods - Michael Murray, N.D.

Just for Fun! Kip Moore - Somethin' 'Bout A Truck

Totally off topic, not the norm and completely just for fun......My music tastes range from one extreme to the next and not everyone loves a good country tune, however this girl still does! Enjoy!

The Benefits Of Coconut Oil Infographic

Here is a great infographic from Natural News outlining the benefits and usefulness of Coconut Oil, all the more reason to stock up on this wonderful product and incorporate it into your daily regime.

http://www.naturalnews.com/Infographic-Benefits-of-Coconut-Oil.html