Its a Miracle!

Now - while I was traveling last week for work and being oh-so-good and burning a consistent 2+, I planted myself at the bar with my iPad and ordered a Perrier.

That was hardest thing to do, with a lovely globe of Rosemount Zinfandel taunting me...

However, as I was reading up on Low Glycemic diets (for fun...) I came across an interesting product that claims zero calories and non-carb.

Miracle Noodle  http://www.miraclenoodle.com/default.aspx

Now - noodles in a stir fry is my downfall.  I love Pad Thai and all things rice noodle.  I was intrigued about this product and its claim.

The noodles are made of Shirataki - a naturally water soluble fiber with no fat, sugar, or starch.

The noodles and rice:
* contain zero net carbohydrates and zero calories, no gluten -made of a healthy natural fiber called Glucomannan.
* are wheat & gluten free and kosher.
* easily absorbs the flavors of any soup, dish, or sauce.
* are instant and come in a variety of styles - I bought the rice (looks like risotto rice), the angel pasta and fettucini noodles
* have shown beneficial effects backed by medical studies for Type II Diabetes, Constipation, Obesity, and Cholesterol.

Im going to try them tonight, but I dont know if they will kick me out of ketosis or not.  I reckon though since they are a natural fibre, have no sugar or starch, they shouldnt affect the ketosis burn.

 If you check out the website, there are some pretty good testimonials.

They arent cheap though.  For the 3-type noodle sampler box (4 rice, 4 angel hair and 4 fettucini noodle packs that are individual serving sizes) it was $75.

A costly risk, but if they work, taste reasonable and dont kick me out of ketosis, I could actually significantly modify my food choices.

Certainly not Bernstein-approved, but Id like to try this product.

Heres to my noodle experiment!

???????????
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UPDATE ALERT!

I tried the rice for supper tonight, and here is my assessment.  Once you open up the package and release the water that is keeping the Shirataki fresh, there is an overwhelming fishy/sea water smell.  I dont eat fish or seafood and am really sensitive to that smell, so I was put off initially.  

After rinsing the contents under cold water as instructed, I plopped the rice into a pot of boiling water for the requisite 1 minute of blanching.  I drained (but didnt dry them between a paper towel like youre supposed to) and added some soya sauce.

I must admit, I wasnt very hungry tonight, so I didnt have it in a proper stir fry that I typically make, with soya sauce, bok choy, brocolli, cauliflower, celery, garlic and ginger.  I think the noodles will be a welcome addition to my stir fries.

The texture was interesting - like little gelatinous balls - but it absorbed the soya sauce and did not taste fishy.  WHEW!

For the small packets, they actually contain a lot - a full size plate worth.  Hence, it would be enough to add to a full stir fry for sharing.  I think with the proper spices, it will add the texture that Im used to for my stir fries.

Ill check the old pee-o-meter in a couple of hours and see if Ive sabotaged my ketosis burn.

Wish me luck for phase III of this experiment.

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Do me a favour leave your plastic wrapping at the supermarket!

Dont fret, this old softie hasnt suddenly turned into an an all-guns-ablazing activist overnight but I have come across some good news that will help householders across the country quietly join the move towards a more active zero waste lifestyle.

Reported in this weeks LetsRecycle bulletin is the news that the UKs key supermarkets (Asda; The Co-operative Group; WM Morrison; J Sainsbury’s; Tesco; and Waitrose) are officially accepting thin plastic film packaging through their existing in-store bag recycling facilities.

This wont be a new idea to some as several supermarkets have been doing this already, but it is welcome news that this recycling facility is now officially being rolled out at more than 4500 stores across the UK, providing customers with a place to leave packaging such as cereal bags, toilet roll packaging and multi-can wrappers.

What really struck me about the value of collecting back these materials was that according to LetsRecycle, this type of plastic makes up 43% of all plastic household packaging, weighing in at 645,000 tonnes each year.   Plastic bottles make up only 32%, or 480,000 tonnes, by comparison.  Wowsers!  It just goes to show how much there is knocking around this planet of hours and thats a lot of plastic that would otherwise go to waste if it is simply dumped in the rubbish bin.

Of course, much of this packaging can be reduced at source or reused at home (e.g. bread bags being repurposed as sandwich wrappers, and loo roll bags doubling up as bin bags), but much of it can now go back to the supermarket to be reprocessed.  To find out more information about this scheme and the on-pack recycling label that underpins it, visit Caelia Quinaults article at LetsRecycle.com Supermarkets take back plastic film in-store.   Oh....and tell your friends.  Well theres no point in keeping news like this to ourselves is there.

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Confessions of a rubbish blogger for Recycle Week

Blimmin eck, its Recycle Week!

The 9th one apparently - although Ive only ever been aware of the last 5.  I reckon I must have been sleepwalking beforehand, probably too busy at work or with the kids, or doing the washing up, picking pins out of the wall or probably flossing.

Well it is a bit of a bizarre thing to have on your kitchen calendar isnt it!

"Recycle Week whoop whoop. I love a bit of that!" isnt quite the typical cry to be heard in the average household, unless of course you happen to be someone entrenched deeply in the recycling sector and cant wait to make a big noise this week.

So, seeing as Im pretty much of a waste groupie, with one leg dangling inside the recycling industry whilst keeping the other one safely on my home turf near the kitchen sink, I thought I ought to contribute in my own way and confess a few things that might bring hope to you all....

Gawd help us!

Here goes.

Sometimes, dare I admit, I get caught without my resuable bag. Yes, mostly I juggle, partly to stand by the the refuse principle and sometimes to replicate the challenge of Buckaroo, but on a few occasions Ive had to give in.  But eh! I have refused plastic bags in Harrods! Yes Harrods, the place where I would once go just to get my hands on one of their shiny green carriers! So I reckon my halo remains intact, even if on the rare occasion it might look a bit dangly!

I once called my sister a waster! I was five. She was two. She was wasting her food. I got told off for swearing. I was simply being truthful. Tact was never my strength.


Many people think I live at the recycling centre!  I dont. I only pop in when passing, which might be once every 4-6 weeks. Thanks to a number of joint projects, I now have a Recycle for Suffolk hi-vis jacket but I promise you all, I never attempt to impersonate a recycling operative, that would be mean to the professionals and the unsuspecting public.


I can be a real prude! So when asked by an Irish radio presenter, about the one thing we should never send to landfill, to this very day I still dont know why I blurted out sanitary towels. Still blushing, I think I should have said food waste instead, even if I was secretly proud of getting over my hang-ups and abandoning the disposables. I fear it was too much for both me and the unsuspecting man on the radio, let alone his audience!


Ringing up my local councils waste strategy officer to ask where I could recycle my husbands old pants, just a matter of days before we did a joint presentation, did nothing to end my blushing or help my professional reputation! But bagging them up and dropping them in the textile bank did make me feel a whole lot better, as well as knowing what to do with the dodgy old loo seat!


Kevin McCloud once took a shine to my lovely upcycled handbag, which is made from old redundant firehose diverted from landfill. When he asked to look inside, I became utterly embarrassed that it had been a long while since Id last emptied or recycled its contents. Always be prepared has since been my motto, even if in reality, I still use my bag as a mini waste transfer station.  From that day I have not let anyone else peer within!


One of my scariest moments was during filming for a TV documentary when I had to go through a familys rubbish that was spread out on their lawn, within minutes of meeting them. Apparently the director got that idea from this very blog.  However, I dont remember writing anything about me personally emptying out bags of doggy doo.  Thank goodness for the protective masks, even if the elastic did break frequently, adding to the waste pile! It was worth it though. By picking out all the things that could be recycled locally, stuff that could be reused as well as disposables that could be replaced with longer lasting alternatives, the family reduced their rubbish even further during the week that followed.


And finally, there is the matter of my own rubbish. Despite forever pushing towards the road towards Zero Waste, we still have some rubbish that unfortunately has to go to landfill.  Things like confectionery wrappers, crisp packets, toothpaste tubes and other types of multi-material laminate packaging, plus the odd scrap of food waste, when our wormery needs a pepping up or if, like any other household, things havent quite gone to plan.

I admit that we are lucky to live in a part of the country where the recycling services are extensive, where we can recycle almost every type of plastic packaging in our kerbside bins as well as hard plastic such as broken kids toys and coathangers at the countys Recycling Centres.



The moral is that recycling services are improving all the time and councils across the country are using Recycle Week to help boost awareness of what can be done to reduce waste locally, whether its encouraging you to recycle all your plastic bottles or to find out more about organic waste.

So if youre not up-to-date with the latest facilities in your area, it really is worth logging onto your councils website to find out whats happening, or visiting www.recyclenow.com.  And if youre a newcomer to the whole idea of wastebusting, especially when it comes to food, youll find even more advice at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com.

And my last piece of advice is, no matter how daft your recycling query might be, dont be shy about calling your council.  The worst thatll happen is youll cheer up someones day and at best, youll know what to do with that thing thats been niggling your recycling muscles for far too long!


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Blogger disclaimer: In the climate of sponsored blogs, Id like to clarify that this blog is totally independent of Recycle Week and all websites listed above. This post is not sponsored. I just know a blimmin useful resource when I see one!

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Pumpkins Paleo and a Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!!!  (the best holiday ever!) Unfortunately, given that candy is public enemy no. 1 on Paleo, Im not going to be stuffing my face with Mars and Nestle products tonight; however, I think I can still manage to enjoy my favorite holiday.

Candy aside, there is another fall treat I am allowed to indulge in : pumpkin. Since day one on Paleo, I have been dying to make something fall-worthy, and I found a recipe for Paleo Pumpkin Bars which I modified to suit my own tastes. I have made three batches of the bars in the week and a half since I started Paleo. Im officially addicted.

For anyone who wants to join my in my epic quest for pumpkin, here is the recipe :

Paleo Pumpkin Spice Bars

1/2 c. Pumpkin Puree (or similar squash)

1 c. Almond Meal (flaxseed meal works as well, but makes the bars far more savory)

2 Large Eggs

2 Tbsp Maple Syrup (the real, grade A, dark amber kind)

1 Tbsp Raw Honey

1 tsp Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Bean Paste

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp Nutmeg

1/4 tsp Ground Clove

1/4 tsp Allspice*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Thoroughly mix all ingredients in a large bowl, and pour into a greased 8 x 8 baking pan. Bake for 28-35 min, or until an inserted toothpick removes clean. Devour without shame.

*many people may want to include Cinnamon in this recipe, but Im not a fan, so its not included here

Now, as for the rest of Paleo, the non-pumpkin part, I will have to admit that, at the moment, I am underwhelmed. For my personal tastes, a Paleo diet leaves much to be desired. I am hungry all the time, I crave foods Im not allowed, and on top of that, I have actually gained weight since I started a week ago. (not that I really mind, but isnt the point of Paleo to lose weight?)

Now, I am willing to shoulder much of the blame for my issues with Paleo, as I do not eat ninety percent of the meats the diet advocates. However, even with the added variety of a full complement of proteins, it is very easy to get bored on Paleo. My mother, meat eater as she is, has found she is already tired of the restrictiveness of the Paleo diet.

On the other hand, I do find Paleo to be much more athlete friendly than Atkins; I have had the energy to get out and run, even if it just ends up making me more hungry. I enjoy the demand to eat lots of fresh foods, and Im happy with how many fruits and veggies I get to consume on a daily basis. My mom has said she has already lost weight on Paleo, and finds she has fewer hunger issues than I do. For her, Paleo allows her to eat enough to find satiety.

I think perhaps if I were to follow Paleo to the full extent of its theories, I might find I enjoy it more than I currently do, but its too late to go back now. Hopefully, Ill be able to resist the bowl of Halloween candy tonight, but my willpower has already waned considerably. Perhaps the magic of Pumpkin Bars can help me make it through.

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Slimming your waste at work a Suffolk case study

Regular visitors to this blog will be familiar with my passion for slimming down our rubbish at home, but I am also a sticky-beak when it comes to finding out what goes on behind closed doors in organisations across the country.

Inspired by my recent Smart Mums visit to British Gas, where I managed only a passing glimpse of their internal recycling activities, I was keen to find a smaller company closer to home that would allow me to have a poke about their own waste management facilities.  I really dont think I could have found a finer example of corporate recycling.


Music Sales is an international company which specialises in music copyright, printed music, book publishing and digital distribution. It also has 20 music shops that fall under the MusicRoom brand as well as 125 affiliated stores around the UK.

Rob Child, who manages the companys waste stream took me on a tour of their distribution centre, which is based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

The first thing that struck me was the relevance of Robs role within the business. Until fairly recently he was responsible for managing the procurement of packaging materials that are required for distribution.  It was only 18 months ago that a newly appointed Head of Distribution had the vision to expand his responsibilities to incorporate waste management.  

Waste is something that Music Sales cannot take lightly. The company distributes to the public as well as trade customers in over 100 countries and its online business provides access to over 250,000 products.  From a waste management perspective, this means a heck of a lot of packaging coming through its warehouse door.

The companys trade waste service is provided by St Edmundsbury Borough Council.  Until 18 months ago, much of the packaging waste was landfilled and Rob explained that when he took over the waste management role, the landfill skip was collected two or three times per week.

These days, their landfill skip is now only collected just once a fortnight and as a result, their waste management bill has dropped by two thirds.

That is a startling saving, which has been achieved simply by diverting recyclables out of landfill through easy in-house segregation.

The warehouse now separates cardboard, paper and plastic film, which are common materials that travel through its distribution facilities.  These are sorted by staff into the crates that are provided before being baled ready for collection.

When you consider that last year alone, 90 tonnes of paper were handled by the distribution centre as well as 10 tonnes of plastic packing, responsible procurement and recycling processes can make a huge contribution to the companys waste footprint.  Rob recognises this and since taking over the waste management role, his own procurement processes have led to a focus on packaging that contains recycled materials as well as products that can be more easily recycled.

But the companys waste reduction activities dont stop there. As well as core business recycling, Music Sales takes legal responsibility for its electronic waste.  Rob also encourages staff to use desktop recycling boxes and recycle their coffee machine cups and refillable Thermos flasks were provided to staff in the warehouse, which has helped to cut down even further on waste.  Dotted around the site are trade-waste equivalents of the wheelie bins that St Edmundsbury residents can find at home, which means that staff can also recycle aluminium cans and mixed plastics.

In just 18 months, the culture at Music Sales has totally changed and Rob is pleased with the fast turnaround.  A waste audit conducted by an independent company a year ago revealed that they were already achieving so much, they couldnt find any other way of improving their process.

Personally I think the transformation of the companys waste stream is a real success story and it would be great if it could inspire other businesses to follow suit.  Not only has the business seen a great financial saving from diverting recyclables from landfill, but Rob and his colleagues are also delighted with the contribution that the company is making regarding sustainability.

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A hairy situation

For those of you who have followed my Bernstein Diet Chronicles from the beginning, then you likely stumbled upon my musings about my thinning hair and hair loss.

It struck me a few mornings ago, as I was readying myself for work, how my hair looked like I had had a lot of new growth peeking through my longer lengths.

Jetting at the top of my head, and along my hairline on my forehead, are masses of short tufts.

At first I thought my daughter took a some scissors to my hair when I slept (wouldnt put it past her...!) until I realized, it must just be the new hair growth from the masses that broke and fell out during the program.

A little disconcerting, but glad to see that its coming back, and didnt leave me forever.

My hair is feeling thicker. As my hair stylist friend noted (who was also on the program years ago) the thyroid takes a beating with the rapid weight loss, and hair loss is common for many people.

Still. If I had known that before signing up for the program, it wouldnt have been a deal breaker for me. I lost hair during my pregnancies. To lose some but be at my BMI and healthier overall - its worth it.

So I have to endure an awkward hair-growing period. Just reminds me of high school...just fewer zits and bigger boobs now.

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A general overview of the program

Image by Wrote via Flickr

The first week is always a large drop in weight - a lot of water released and some fat. Its a great motivation.

On average though, by following the diet with your preferred foods (and cut down the salt) you should lose usually 1 pound every 2 days. You are guaranteed 16-20 lbs per month by following the diet strictly. I average around 15 lbs per month, and thats having tried a few different approaches, but always staying strict.

I found in the first couple of weeks I was trying a bunch of the recipes and trying to get really creative. However, I found that I actually just prefer my meals simple and fast, so I dont do many of the recipes now.

I dont need to, but you might want to.

The nurses advise against changing your diet all the time though; stick with a pattern for a week to let the body start the ketosis/burning. Too many sudden changes of food can throw it out of whack.

Its always a good idea if youre traveling or expecting to be delayed from a meal to bring some extra hard boiled eggs or a protein bar (Dr. Bernsteins) just in case.

Ive tried the sample bar that you get in the kit. They are good, but I just dont like those types of things. They are too rich for me. Plus when you look at the salt and fat content, your loss will crawl to a snails pace.

I should pick up a few though, in case of an emergency. Its not always easy to have your chicken/eggs when you need them.

If youve never had to measure and watch portions, start slowly and progress over a weekend to measure the food according to Dr. Bernstein, to see what its like.

Eat that as the base, but add extra vegetables to fill in the gaps.

If you give yourself a running start up to Tues/Wed (if you start the program, Thursday will be her first 100% strict day) so youd have almost a week to get used to the portions and routine.

Practice writing down what youre eating too, so you can see how you have to write down the daily portions for the nurse visits. After doing groceries and selecting the foods from the list, youll also need to make a list of the foods you use so the nurses can refer to it to see what youre eating.

Eg.

Monday

Breakfast:
3 egg white omelette (1/2 P)
125 gr applesauce (1 F)
2 oz tomato, onion, asparagus (1/4V)
1 caffeinated coffee
1 tbsp 2% milk (O)
Splenda (O)

Snack
1 apple (1 F)

Lunch
3.5 oz tandoori chicken strips (1P)
8 oz mixed veg (celery, radish, cucumber, cauliflower, broccoli) (1 V)
1 tbl Kraft Italian dressing low-fat (O)
5 PC Ancient Grain crackers (1 B)

Supper
3 oz asparagus / 3 oz bok choy (3/4 V)
1.75 oz lean beef (1/2 P) with soya sauce (O)
8 Dare Breton Mini Original crackers (1 B)
(add any 1 tablespoon of soya sauces, tandoori, etc.as an O)

Evening Snack
1 Jello cup (F)

Daily totals: 2 Protein; 2 Vegetable; 2 Bread; 2 Fruit + 1 jello cup; 5 O

* * *

It feels good to review my progress and lessons learned so far, for my body and weight loss. Everyones different, but I wanted to share my experience so far.

For those not on the diet, check out the Canada Food Guide for portions. However, the diet is much more restrictive eliminating all sugars, starch and fats for the period youre on the diet. They can reintroduced in the Maintenance phase once youve reached your goal weight.

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More than just a playgroup!!

Thank you to all my sweet friends and Moms at Chase Oaks Church! We all get together often for a playgroup with our kids on the Wednesdays that we dont meet at church. A couple Wednesdays ago when we got together for a playdate with the kids they all brought something with them to add to our stash of baby items that weve been collecting. Now we have so many great things to take to the School Age Parenting Program through PISD. Such a fun way to get together and at the same time, invite everyone to participate in giving to others in a simple, small, easy way. Now that February is over...were going to deliver all the great baby items from the playdate and our family giving bucket. Thanks to all the families who helped us and donated items! You guys are so great!!!

"They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed."
Psalm 37:26

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3 Week Diet Secrets like a celebrity Lets Investigate How

THE 3 WEEK DIET SECRETS is a revolutionary new diet system that not only guarantees to help you lose weight — it promises to help you lose more weight — all body fat — faster than anything else you’ve ever tried.          

Lets Investigate How... [Click Here!]

3 Week Diet Secrets like a celebrity?

       

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Farewell my lovely hens The end of a chapter!

Speckledy, Snowflake & Chickie meeting their new pals

While everythings been busy on rubbish front, theres been a lot happening in the background too.

A few weeks ago, I took the really difficult decision to rehome our chickens, our three lovely hens which we introduced to the family around two and a half years ago, and which had become well-loved pets.   However, since the spring, coinciding with a lot more bird activity in our garden, the hens had become very lively and loud and I have spent much time trying to calm them down and living on tenterhooks that wed get compaints from the neighbours.

Then one day we did.  An apologetic appeal from a neighbour asking if we could quieten them, particular at dawn.  Dont get me wrong, shes a lovely lady.  She didnt want to complain, but I understood what she meant. We live in a tightly packed modern housing development.  They probably werent making any excessive noise for chickens and if the houses were more dispersed I may have felt less conscious, but and that day marked the turning point for a very difficult decision which was to find a better home for them.  Id been spending months feeling tense, darting into the garden whenever the clucking got louder than normal.

But, geez did I feel that Id failed.  Im a person that believes in commitment.  These chickens were our pets and even at the beginning of the year, my expectations were that we would have them until they passed away.  They were good layers, were full of character and brought something special to our lives.  The day I decided to rehome them, I knew Id miss them, but I also knew that I couldnt continue with neighbourly disturbances either. 

Moving Day came two weeks ago.   A good friend of mine, who lives in the countryside, said that she could take them.  Shes kept hens for a long time and had plenty of room for more. So with floods of tears to accompany the dismantling of the coop, we set about moving the threesome to their new home....to a chicken run, which was the size of our entire garden, with the opportunity to spend their days foraging in a neighbouring field.  Once the new pecking order would be established, I just knew their new home would be more suited to their needs. However, that didnt stop the tears during the drive back home.

Its certainly quieter around this way since theyve left.  The garden still feels empty and my routines havent quite got used to their absence.  The first time we had leftover scraps, I automatically reached for the kitchen door to take them down to the chicken run.  I know our youngest misses them too, even though the run has since been turned into a den with its own jungle camp and shelter,

In different circumstances we will most definitely return to hen-keeping.  Should we ever move into a house with a bigger garden in a more spacious neighbourhood, we would gladly welcome more feathered characters into our lives.

In the meantime, Ive got plenty of opportunity to visit our three lovely girls and cant thank my friend enough for having them and making this possible.

And as for the food scraps, for us, its back to the art of worm-keeping.  Not quite as much fun, but certainly quieter.  Thank goodness weve got a seven year old who also loves worms!

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An educational farmers market Lessons from a Suffolk primary school

On Friday, my sons primary school held its end-of-year award winning "Farmers Market".

With gazebos and traditional bunting to set the scene, the hall was transformed into a wonderful entrepreneurial venture, with fresh vegetables, plants and food on offer as well as toys that the children had either decorated or made.

Organised entirely in-house, with just some support from the school community and a couple of external producers, the school Farmers Market has already won a Green Suffolk award.  And it really is well-deserved.  This is something really special and heres why I love it....

• Most of the vegetables sold - including those in the photograph above - are grown by the children and are planted and watered during lesson time or by the gardening club.  Not only do they learn about growing food as part of the curriculum, but they also learn that there is a real market for their produce as well as the economic value of food.

• In preparation for the event, some of the classes had the opportunity to make food and drink for sale. The Year 4 children were really proud of the pizzas they had made. Year 3 had also been busy that day making fresh lemonade. Not only was it a great commercial opportunity, but the educational benefits can be long-lasting. My 8-year-old was so proud that he knew how to make lemonade, he woke up on Saturday and Sunday wanting to show off his new skills and make some more!

• Its also a fabulous way to raise funds from existing resources. Our school is blessed with lots of lavender, which flourishes in the summer and is then cut back as part of the grounds maintenance work.  The market offers a great opportunity to gather bunches and sell it to children and parents, raising a few extra pounds from a resource that could otherwise go to waste.

• It also gets the wider community involved. Families have a chance to contribute, with home-made jams, cakes, biscuits and seedlings helping to raise money for the school. Kind donations were also received from local potato growers as well as a supplier of free-range eggs.

• The older children have a chance to manage stalls, serving their customers and handling the money, some independently and others with staff help.  It was obvious to see that it was a great confidence-builder and what a fantastic way to bring maths out of the classroom into a real practical setting!

For an after-school event that only lasted an hour, I could rave on about it for hours more, but I guess you already get the gist.  This is only the second summer Farmers Market, but the school has also held one at Christmas, which was a real festive highlight.  Seriously, if youve got school-aged children, Id recommend having a word with your headteacher in the hope that they can organise something similar. This is learning at its finest - with children and the school community, working together on a practical project that doesnt even feel like education!

So, while you go and stir up the vegetable beds, Im off to indulge in a glass of my sons home-made lemonade and ponder a proposition that might encourage him to become my regular supplier.

I could get used to this life.  If I play my cards right, this could lead to my retirement on a lemon orchard somewhere on the continent, or even here in Suffolk.  By then, we might even have the weather for it.

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Bryans House Adopt A Child Back to School Program

School is just around the corner & Greyson is starting Kindergarten this year...I cant believe it! So, were going to adopt another kiddo staying at Bryans House that is also going to kindergarten and fill a backpack full of supplies to send on their way. Families with children who have serious health problems find love and warmth at Bryans House when they need child care. For more info on how to send kids back to school with a backpack full of school supplies....go to www.bryanshouse.org They have a list of needed supplies for each grade level.

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Madam would you like a dash of rubbish with that No thanks!

Thankfully, when eating out, I dont get asked that question.  It would put me right off my food.

However, if you take responsibility for your waste footprint, you really have to have your wits about you, to know that the drink youre consuming isnt going to result in the bottle ending up in landfill, along with any excess plate waste going to the dump.

Over the last few years, Ive become increasingly aware of the sustainability practices of my favourite eateries and yes I confess that I am much happier to frequent those that take this subject seriously, much more than those that dont, even if their motivation for reducing waste is simply financially motivated.  At the end of the day, I want to ensure that wherever I spend my money, I am not leaving a waste trail behind me.

And one of my favourite haunts is the visitor restaurant at Ickworth House, a National Trust property close to Bury St Edmunds, where we often go for family walks. Being a member of the NT, I am aware that the national organisation has championed a range of sustainability projects over recent years, from energy conservation to allotmenteering.  Therefore it was of no surprise when I met with the buildings premises manager last week, that catering waste was also high on the propertys agenda.

Ickworth House takes recycling very seriously and already uses the local councils trade recycling services, which enables them to recycle mixed plastics and aluminium as well as paper.  Glass bottle recycling was introduced a couple of years ago along with separated cardboard.  In the last six-seven months the kitchen has also started to compost whatever food waste it can, saving an estimated £500 per year from trade waste costs.  The compost is used in the grounds, to feed the Italianate Garden and the next project on the horizon is a rocket composting system, which will also enable the property to manage any cooked food waste.

Admittedly, Ickworth House is privileged to have such facilities, but any catering business can take steps to reduce waste, whether its buying into the local authority or private contractor recycling services, to divert cans, glass or plastic bottles or other packaging from its landfill waste bill.  Many services also now include the collection of food waste.  Depending on trade waste costs, these services should incur a saving and help increase profits. And if youre paying for a skip in collection service, a mini-compactor can help to reduce the number of collections.

Tackling catering waste is a major issue and one which brings many opportunities. The Sustainable Restaurant Association offers advice to the catering industry on how to reduce waste as well as improve other areas of sustainability, conducting audits and providing consultancy.  If businesses want to find independent solutions, they might want to consider reducing packaging at source, speaking to suppliers, or switching from single servings to refillable jars etc. 

For restaurants in London, signing up to the Too Good To Waste campaign and supporting customers who may want to take leftovers home with them is another way of reducing the food waste impact, as is, in some cases, reducing portion sizes. It would be great to have more of these campaigns rolled out regionally to raise awareness more locally.

Pubs and bars in the Soho area of London are also leading the way in reducing the number of plastic straws that go to waste.  Straw Wars is an independent campaign that encourages the community to think twice about single use disposable plastic and supporting establishments now only offer customers a straw if they really want one.  Again, this is a simple idea that could be adopted by towns and other cities across the UK.

Another idea that Ive seen being introduced more locally in my own town, include cafes such as Saints in Bury St Edmunds giving away its coffee grounds for customers to take home for composting.  The Coffee House, in Moreton Hall, also encourages "take-away" customers to use the Keep Cup, which they sell onsite and give a 10% discount on every top up.

So during this finale week of The Rubbish Diet challenge, do keep your eyes peeled for examples of good practice while you are out and about.  Reducing waste might just begin in the home, but our waste footprint follows us wherever we are.

If youve spotted any great ideas being implemented, then do please share them in the comments box below.

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Thighs are my favourite Wait a minute let me explain !

Image via Wikipedia

THE NEEDLES

Theyll start the first week with the injections in the butt. They do it to see if there will be a reaction. Likely not, but that is standard.

They then give the option of the belly or thigh.

I highly recommend the thigh. They say it circulates the most throughout the body. The belly works on the belly/butt in the butt, but they do not reach all areas.

I only do the thigh now and its amazing. It really does seem to hit everything.

However, they dont inject in the inner thigh - the flabbiest part. Darn...I really could use some help there....

The nurses will say - ooh, youre so brave because it hurts. Thats bull - it stings (pinprick for 2 seconds) the same as the butt or belly, and by the time you walk out of the clinic, you dont feel anything.

I recommend the thigh - well worth the overall fat breakdown.

There - have I clarified my appreciation of thighs? ;-)

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The end of an era and the start of a new chapter

Well, there had to come a point when I pulled my finger out, pulled up my socks and opened my laptop to finally write a blogpost.

I know Ive been utter pants over the last few months.

Its not as though Ive had no news to share. Ive probably had too much and I never even blogged about the impromptu moment I asked the legendary Michael Parkinson about his rubbish.

But now that the school holidays are upon us, this is the first occasion Ive had to properly slow down since September last year and stay at home instead of gallivanting around the country.

And this holiday feels like a period of transition in more ways than one.

On a personal level, our youngest has just left primary school and is getting ready to start middle school in September.  Yes, that little man who was only 3 when I started this blog has just turned 9 and is growing up.  To watch him confidently leave one school and be ready to embark on the next stage of his life feels like a real milestone.

Elsewhere, Ive spent the last 8 months coming to terms with my mothers unexpected death in December.  Nothing can prepare you for losing a parent and Im very aware that the constant flow of activities and deadlines this year have kept me very distracted, so much so that when we completed the sale of her house last week, it kicked me so hard that it felt like shed died all over again.  My mother taught me lots about whats important in life and much of that teaching was in her death.  One day, I hope to share her wisdom - not yet but soon - the wisdom of an average woman who would never have expected to have been considered remarkable but in many ways truly was.  I really wish she was still here to see whats around the corner.  I know shed be one of the first to laugh at my misadventures and then, without me knowing, quietly share her pride.

For things are changing on The Rubbish Diet front and at a rate of knots too.  Remember that Nesta competition I entered last year in partnership with Cwm Harry and Rachelle Strauss from My Zero Waste?  Were still right in the middle of the challenge and following the success of running the Rubbish Diet in Suffolk and Shropshire (which even saw 22 households in one street taking part in Shrewsbury), the novel bin slimming action is spreading to Ludlow and very soon Powys, the latter of which will be launched during this years National Zero Waste Week, 2-8 September.   If you havent checked out Zero Waste Week yet, go and have a peek at its new website and do get involved, especially if you need to get tough with your food waste.

But theres lots happening between now and then.  Dont miss yours truly helping a family slim their bin as part of the Throwaway Britain Tonight documentary, which is being broadcast this Thursday 1st August (9pm, ITV1).  Without giving away the final reveal, I cant wait for you to see how Sandra and her family tackled their waste. 

And to give you even further inspiration to reduce waste, Ive been pulling together the first UK tour of the Clean Bin Project documentary, which will see my old Canadian blogging friend Jen and her partner Grant travelling around the UK, to attend screenings of their movie in Brighton, Suffolk, York, Shrewsbury (tbc) and Wiltshire.  The official dates and venues for late August will be published soon, but if youd like to know more please email me.

But coming back to the most major thing thats happening in my life right now, although Im taking time out to enjoy the events of the summer holidays and pause for reflection, its also a time for significant change, especially as the success of The Rubbish Diet trials featured in the Nesta competition has led to much interest from a range of local authorities.

The Rubbish Diet has already travelled a long way from being just a random housewife with a blog.  In the last year, it has developed into a website and a team to support the Nesta Waste Reduction competition.  And now, still in conjunction with the Do Think Tank Cwm Harry (the people who are also behind the Peoples Design Lab), we are preparing for the next stage, which will see The Rubbish Diet becoming a social enterprise, developed to help households and communities reduce their waste by 50% within as little time as eight weeks.  More info on the next stage will be available soon, as will the final results of the Nesta competition later in the year.  Meanwhile if The Rubbish Diet challenge launches in your neck of the woods, do join in and say hello.

With so much happening it really does feel like the end of an era and the beginning of an exciting and potentially nerve-wracking new chapter.

Thank you for sticking with the rubbish adventures of this Almost Mrs Average over the last five years.  I know there are lots more adventures to be had yet, but from now on it will be in a very different context.

I just hope I will still have time to blog about them.

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The Rubbish Diet could be coming to a town near you!

The Rubbish Diet team visiting Nesta!

Please excuse my tardiness in sharing this VERY EXCITING news with you. 

I should have done it last week, but with news of my mum falling ill, then rushing to Wales to see her, then losing my laptop en route, and continued worries about her health, understandably this blog has had to take a back seat.

However, I cant keep it quiet any longer!  Whats happening with The Rubbish Diet is far too exciting to keep tucked away in my desk drawers and if you follow me on Twitter, you may have indeed caught a few snippets of the news.

So to the sound of an imaginary drum-roll, I am chuffed to pieces to announce that my Rubbish Diet challenge has been selected as a semi-finalist in a national waste reduction competition, which could see the slimming club analogy rolled out to villages, towns and cities, right across the UK, helping communities achieve an amazing impact on reducing their rubbish.

The Waste Reduction Challenge, run by Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation, and funded by the Cabinet Office, aims to identify new ideas that can influence and mobilise communities to make significant reductions in waste and impact behaviour for years to come.

In partnership with the Zero Waste Alliance UK (working with Katy Anderson, pictured above), the Rubbish Diet competition entry proposes to engage with established community groups around the UK, including schools, Transition Towns and W.I. branches, to help them organise their own waste-busting challenges, following an 8-week plan of fun and lively events that will help to empower households to slim their bins.

The idea is, of course, based on the very roots of this blog, when I took St Edmundsbury Borough Councils Zero Waste Week Challenge almost five years ago, (remember that plaster?), and which then developed into the online Rubbish Diet Challenge 2012, where I mentored 8 households through the process of slimming their bins, by at least 50%, at the beginning of this year.


Building on that, I have since been busy with Transition Shrewsbury, which has already launched its Rubbish Diet Shropshire community pilot, where 20 households have signed up to reduce their waste.  This is just the first stage. The Rubbish Diet Shropshire project, which is being managed locally, will launch even wider in the new year,  with events run by the community for the community, with households just like yours and mine, sharing knowledge about how they reduce their waste and attempting to overcome the hurdles that arise.

And its that process, which the Nesta Waste Reduction Challenge will help to replicate around the UK.

So, were in the semi-finals!  What next?

This is where even more hard work begins, in putting together an ambitious but realistic plan to roll-out the Rubbish Diet challenge next year, featuring a communications strategy, participant engagement, measuring & monitoring procedures and lots of other exciting things that will help communities launch their own slimming clubs for bins.

So, there really really could be a fun Rubbish Diet challenge coming to an area near you.  Just imagine!

We just need to get through the next round! But, boy, is the competition tough! So please keep watching this space for further news.

And of course, if you think your community would like to join in, then do get in touch.

___________________________________

The Waste Reduction Challenge Prize is offering a prize for the innovation that achieves the biggest measureable reduction in waste, by providing new opportunities for communities to come together to give time, skills and resources.

The semi-finalists (which also includes a Mattress Recycling Scheme in my home county of Suffolk) will be supported to develop a detailed plan for their idea. In January, five concepts for each, with the potential for sustainability and scale, will be selected to test their ideas. They will receive up to £10,000 and professional advice to set up and test their projects before a winner for each challenge is selected in September 2013 and awarded £50,000.

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A good dilemma to have clothes shopping

Image by StreetFly JZ via Flickr

Well, I am officially 43 lbs lighter than when I started.

I cant believe it... I just cant believe it!

I was feeling so silly at work last week. It was Monday morning, and I pulled out some pants - light size 14 capris, recently purchased - appropriate for my back-to-back meetings slated for the day.

I slipped them on, and I stared as they hung like a wet paper bag.

Here I was only two weeks previously, shopping at MEXX, and jumping for joy that I could slip into a size 14. A little snug in the hips (of course) but good in the waist. However, here I was, my pins floating in the pant legs, and searching for a belt (no loops) to keep them from slipping down and looking baggy.

No luck - I looked like such a shlub!

I chuckled with my colleague who suggested I get them taken in. Normally I would, but the amazing thing with this diet is that literally every 2 weeks, youre dropping down a full size.

I just added them to the next clothing stack of things that are waiting to pass along to friends or to take to Value Village. Ill be packing up my winter coats too.

So - I brought my daughter shopping right away that evening, to replenish my wardrobe with some pants for work. Of course, I had to bring her to Mrs. Tiggy Winkles after she endured a good chunk of time for my needs. Actually, she had a great time critiquing my selections.

What did I come away with? Two pants in size 12 and one in size...10! The first time since I was 25 years old - geez - memories of 16 years ago. I also bought a bikini (size L, instead of XL or 1X!) Yes, a bikini.

I also had to buy new bras (again) this week. Ive gone down from a 40DD to a 36C.

They dont mess around with the inches, I tell you. I can easily button up a very expensive jacket I bought last year in Toronto (which was far too tight, but the material was just gorgeous) to now it fitting comfortably, elegantly and properly.

I didnt want to buy too much because I still have another 20-25 lbs to lose. Luckily the summer collections are on sale now, making room for the fall collections.

Its a nice problem to have...but I feel like Ill need a part-time job just to afford a whole new winter professional wardrobe Ill need at my final weight.

Here I come Montreal - shopping!!!

(I wonder if they still sell those tight Jordache jeans with the embroidery on the back pocket...)
;-)

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2 litres of liquids a day Thats the trick!

Image via Wikipedia

LIQUIDS

The key to staving off hunger is:

1) pace the protein four hours apart - I find meat is much better than egg whites, though the protein level is max. in eggs, it doesnt fill you up like meat. Even 2 oz of meat in the morning with fruit and a coffee ties you over to lunch much better than eggs.

2) take the potassium (ask for K-Lite tablets) at breakfast and lunch. Potassium is needed to help get the protein immediately into the bloodstream, and keeps circulation in your body. I was on their intro level and had some cold feet/tingling and dizziness. They tell you to advise them immediately if you feel that, and they will put you on K-Lite. Its a stronger dose, and about 98% of patients are on it. Its a Tang-flavoured orange tablet which fizzes in 3-4 oz of cold water. You down it and tastes great. Take the first one with our daily multivitamin in the morning to give your body the nutrients for the day.

3) you have to drink about 2.5 litres of liquids per day - half being water. I will have a couple of coffees in the morning (one caffinated; one decaf) and use only 1 tablespoon milk. Because I like sugar in my coffee, I bought SPLENDA. It is the only sweetener you can use in unlimited quantities. I use it on my grapefruit, coffee and wherever I want some sweetness.

For water, I bought a 2 litre jug and bring it to work every day. After a few weeks of experimenting, I bought the largest bottle of ReaLemon lemon juice (because there are 0 calories and you are allowed unlimited lemons and limes. I fill up the container with water; put in about 1/4 of the bottle, and sweeten to taste with Splenda. I have it to the point now that its like a sweet lemonade - 0 calories and delicious! I put some fresh lemon slices, and have that at my desk. I have no problems drinking my daily requirement. In most cases, Ill make another 2 litres when Im at home, and will drink that in the evening.

The water is key because as your body burns the fat, you need to pee it out. You go to the washroom often, but it works. I dont get bored of the water that way, and it keeps me absolutely full!

I will have a half can (you know, the mini ones I buy at IGA) of Diet Coke. However, again, it has sodium, and it was holding back my progress. If you like sparking flavoured waters, etc., there are plenty on the list.

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Paint with a Purpose for Leukemia Lymphoma Society

Im so super proud of my sister, Tori, for a goal she has been training for!!! Shell be joining many others in this years Nations Triathalon in Washington D.C., this September. Shes racing in honor of a patient that she had a couple years ago when she was working at Childrens Medical Center. This sweet little boy will be completing his last round of treatments this September as they race.
In additon to training for the swim in the Potomac River, her run and bike past the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and many other spectacular landmarks.....shes also been raising money for the event that is helping towards the cure for blood cancer. One really fun opportunity is coming up at Painting with a Twist in Dallas. 60% of the proceeds will go to the Leukemia / Lymphoma Society. Its so fun! You go with a group of girlfriends, take a bottle of wine, and they provide your canvas, paints and guidance as they walk you through your own painting. To read more about Painting With A Twist and sign up for a fun night of painting for a great cause go to www.paintingwithatwist.com

Sign up and go with us next Thursday, August 18th :)

The following information is from their website....

August 2010 PAINT WITH A PURPOSE will focus on the family

In our ongoing commitment to give back to the community, Corks N Canvas and Painting with a Twist is proud to sponsor a monthly fund raising class – Paint with a Purpose. Corks N Canvas and participating Painting With A Twist locations will again host a Paint with a Purpose night in Augst. Proceeds from Paint with a Purpose in July will be donated to local non profit organizations in honor of families. Already some of our designated non profit partners are the St. Tammany Professional Womens Scholarship fund and Playworks. We will be painting SUMMER PAISLEYS To sign up to participate visit www.corksncanvas.com or www.paintingwithatwist.com.

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
-Matthew 18:20

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BritMums Live! A glimpse at blogging for the greater good

The Blogging for the Greater Good panel at Britmums Live with Camila Batmanghelidjh - Kids Company, blogger Kylie Hodges, Claire Hazelgrove - ONE.org, Polly Gowers - Give as you Live and blogger Kate Davis-Holmes

If you havent been introduced to BritMums yet, I urge you to listen up and take note.

This weekend, the online community, formerly known as British Mummy Bloggers, gathered together for BritMums Live, a high-profile conference with over 500 delegates in attendance, attracting members from all parts of the country and with a diverse range of personal stories and blogging achievements.

Bloggers, old and new, listened to inspirational talks from blogging peers, as well as a range of celebrities from the more traditional media world.  Well-known bloggers such as Antonia Chitty, Julia Boggio and Kate Davis-Holmes, sharing programme time with some of the nations well-known faces including Sarah Brown, Cherry Healey, Eleanor Mills, Katy Hill and Ruby Wax.  The topics were just as extensive, from experiences with depression to finding your voice, photography, publishing, video blogging, beginners tips, advanced tips, work loglife balance, food and blogging for happiness.  And the great thing was, it didnt matter about any individuals background, whether it was journalism, TV or blogging, being a speaker or a member of the audience, the atmosphere felt very much a level playing field.

One of the key messages to emerge from the conference was how influential bloggers have become and the evidence was pretty clear, with major names such as TK Maxx, Crocs, Panasonic, Lego, Warner Bros and Butlins being present on the day as sponsors. Brands are keen as ever to win over online voices, using modern-day word-of-mouth to share news of their latest products, through blogging platforms and micro-blogging such as Twitter.

But its not just about manufacturers and retailers getting buy-in. In recent years, there has been an increased trend in bloggers standing up for their passions and working in partnership with the third-sector, raising the profile of charities and key issues.  For example, many of the BritMums community have already voiced support for PiggyBankKids, a charity founded by Sarah Brown, that helps vulnerable babies and children.  PiggyBankKids presence at the conference spoke volumes, as did the fact that fundraising enabler Give as You Live was the events key sponsor, highlighting how online shoppers can raise money for their favourite charity at no extra cost to themselves.

At the Blogging for Greater Good discussion, members of the panel - pictured above - highlighted the power of bloggers in profiling good causes and reinforced the point that charities dont necessarily need bloggers donations, its the blogging that is most important, encouraging support from online followers, as well as friends and families.  Its very much about sharing the personal stories that people have to tell that can connect closely to a specfic cause.

Whether as individuals or a a group, blogging seems to be entering a new era,  It was mentioned on more than one occasion how professionals within traditional media have been turning to bloggers and Twitter to source stories, topical commentary as well as content for programmes and new TV formats.  My own experience can already testify to that, having had several opportunities to contribute towards and influence production content for a range of local radio broadcasts, national radio and a TV documentary.  It now seems to come with the territory and as been something thats taken some time for me to get used to.

Four years ago, it felt like wading in jelly to justify myself as a blogger but things have since changed and both BritMums Live and the recently-held Cybher demonstrated that many other bloggers have noticed the changes.

So, what did I personally gain from this weekends event?

Firstly theres the gratitude that Ive continued to blog about a topic that I care about, despite numerous moments of self-doubt and the odd period of burn-out.  BritMums Live served as a reminder of why I started blogging.  Its about the passion and the sharing.  This blog may be niche, but I do it because I care about my children and the generations that follow.  If I can learn and help shape positive change as a result of my discoveries, I will be happy that Ive done my job as a blogger.

Then theres the awesome support. A hugathon, full of old friends and new aquaintances. I tend to be one for discrete waving than shouting out a total roll-call, so I shall just say, quite warmly and with much appreciation, thank you all, you know who you are. And to my pals who buffered my nerves during the awards evening, and then boosted the flow of wine when I didnt win, an even bigger thank you to your good selves.

And finally, theres that kick up the backside again, the one where I should really pull my finger out and write that book. With great advice from author and mentor Antonia Chitty, I now need to jump those hurdles of time-conflicts, mobilise my resources and get cracking.

Of course, being a waste-geek at a conference that coincided with Recycle Week, I couldnt help cast my mind back to the fabulous contribution the community gave to the campaign, just three years ago in 2009, and I wondered if there could be scope again.  It was much fun with lots of people rising to the challenge and demonstrating tonnes of creativity in spreading the word, so I very much hope it can happen again.

In the meantime, theres no way a rubbish blogger should really end a blogpost about a blogging conference, without demonstrating some evidence about what bloggers are doing to shrink their rubbish.

So heres my old pal and Rubbish Dieter, Tim, author and blogger at Bringing up Charlie, who after a dash of wine, attempts to reveal the fullness of his relatively new compost bin.  He slimmed his bin by 50% you know!

Oh yes, sorry I forget to say, the conference may be called BritMums Live, but in this age of equality, fathers are made welcome too.

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