At last, Restaurants free from smoke!

Yahoo Canada

Quebec counting down the days until smoking banned in all public places

May 21st 2006

At the stroke of midnight marking May 31, smoking will be prohibited in restaurants, bars, private clubs, bingo halls and casinos along with all other facilities open to the public. Bill 112 also forbids smokers from lighting up within nine metres of any doorway leading to a health or social services institution, college, university or child-care facility.

Businesses that fail to butt out face fines up to $10,000 for repeat offences. Individual smokers who flout the ban could be fined $87 for a first offence and up to $600 for repeated violations.

Health Minister Philippe Couillard, a doctor, said it's a matter of public health. "Remember that death by cancer in Quebec is higher than in the rest of Canada, in large part because we have a very high rate of lung cancer which is directly linked to tobacco," Couillard told reporters last week. "Our tobacco use rate is the highest in Canada, so the link is very clear."

quick update

wow! what a weekend!

lots of dancing, including an evening of Bolivienne traditional dances.. and lots of special meals, including a 4 hour supper at "Thailande" in Montréal.

It was my son's birthday yesterday.. 24..

and today.. I've got to get down real serious on my diet.

I dropped the fitness forum I was on for 6 months. It really wasn't getting me anywhere.. no help with my training, very rare encouragements..

lots of admiration for the amount and variety of stuff I do.. but even though I like being a good example of what an 50+ active life can be.. I don't really need that.

It wasn't a rash decision, and it wasn't because of just one thing.. so I think it's all for the best.

I realized lately that I have alot of good people to talk fitness with at the gym, and lots of friends both IRL and on the net. So I rather put my energies where I am appreciated :)

I hope you all have a great Monday

xxx

Tea-Globe and Genmaicha

Genmaicha is a mix of green tea and dry-roasted rice. We had some in a Japanese restaurant on Mother's Day. At the time I didn't know the name but with a little Googling, it wasn't difficult to find. In eastern medecine it is said to be even better than green tea alone.

So now that I have my Tea-Globe it will be alot more plesant to try differnet recipies. I read somewhere that the best water for green tea is at 170-185°F, just as steam begins to leave the spout of the teapot. I used to infuse it way to long.. it should be only 2-3 minutes.. and the tea that is not in the first cup, poured through a filter into another teapot.

Idendifying..

I started yoga a few weeks ago.. and after just 1 week, I bought a yoga mat. It's really for a safety reason.. the fitness mats available are very slippery but also for comfort.. the fitness mats are too short and standing barefoot on the floor is cold. Anyways I surfed to learn a little about mats and figured it would cost to much transportation to buy one online, and so I set out to see what was available around where I live. I found this set on sail at 40% off.. with a carrying bag but also with blocks and a strap that I didn't need, but since it was such a bargin.. I figured maybe I'll need them in the futur. Usually when I start an activity I do it for quite a while. I had noticed of course that it was a Nike yoga mat.. and usually I don't care about logos on equipement.. so much.. that I wish my car didn't have make and model identification on it and on our refrigerater I took make logo off the front and stuck in inside the fridge.

But this time.. with the yoga mat something was different.. I was glad there was the Nike Checkmark on it.. and I wondered why.

The answer came to me on the first Thursday after when I went to yoga class with my mat. What's special about Thursday's Yoga class is that I don't do any training before.. (before my Monday's Yoga class I do my regular strenght work-out and a Tae-Box class). So there I am in line waiting for the class to begin, talking with the other people who take the class and having a nice social moment. However.. around me.. people are training hard.. free weights, machines and cardio.. and as I look around.. I feel like crying out.."Hey everyone, I'm here waiting for the Yoga class, but I'm not one of those 50+ year old women who ONLY does Yoga.. I train hard both in weights and cardio, and I hike and ski and.. and.." Then I looked at my Yoga mat.. and saw the Nike checkmark and felt good.. like the wedding ring of a lady eating alone in a restaurant, reassuring her that even if she is alone at a table, it doesn't mean that she is single.. the little logo on my mat reassured me that even if I was doing Yoga.. I was still an "athletic type" and not a "Yoga type".

Now there's nothing wrong with someone who only does Yoga. At least, intellectually I know that.. heck, I don't even think there is anything wrong with people doing only dance aerobics classes.. I mean.. at least they are doing "something" which is already alot more than many others. But I am not a "Yoga only" lady.. and when I go to my Yoga class it feels good to have a little momento of who I feel I really am (the athletic lady) with me.

Well yesterday while doing my cardio.. since I was doing 3 mins high intensity, 3 mins recouperation, I had some time during the recouperation to watch the people at the machines. I saw this one lady.. maybe 38 years old.. a few pounds over ideal but not much.. perfect hair with gel in it.. some make-up, fashion work-out clothes. She had just been checking her looks in the mirror when beteen weights and cardio I'd gone to the locker room to get my .mp3 player. Normally I would have just laughed to myself about her taking so much care just to go workout..

But yesterday I thought of the Nike checkmark on my Yoga mat.. Maybe that lady works in high-end realestate or maybe she organizes classy social affaires.. and looking her best is an important part of what she has to do and really identifies herself with that. Maybe she only comes to the gym because she "knows it's good for her".. (all the more merit to her if it's not her passion).. and so.. maybe all the time she is at the gym.. she NEEDS even MORE to have something identify her as "not part" of the gym crowd.

And that's ok with me.. but got me thinking again.. (after another 3 mins of extreme oxygenation lol) I need to let go of my "atletic lady" personna when I'm at Yoga. It hasn't been very strong.. no-one noticed it, I completely fit in.. but I know that somewhere in the back of my mind.. I was resisting.. and this time "resistance is futile" and not constructive.

Next Yoga class.. I'll turn my mat upside down.. instead of the Nike Checkmark.. there will be my initials.. representing me.. ALL of me.. not just the altletic lady me.

cancelled..

Tomorrow's hike is cancelled.. so I'm quite lost.. we're still going to my brother's tonight. We were supposed to just sleep overthere to get a head start on our ride to Mount Hurricaine, but now we'll just go visit. However, this means that tomorrow morning we'll be able to pick up the free trees (small) that the city is giving away for the Forest Week.

I had a date with an old friend on IRC (Internet Rely Chat) this morning, and I'll probably read him again some other Friday mornings to keep in touch.. we don't chat anymore.. so it's hard to just wait to be on IRC at the same time, and since he's in europe and only chats from his workplace we almost lost contact.. but we're ON again :) that really feels good. We've been friends for over 9 years.. :)

so today I did a whole lot of phone calls and stuff I had to do.. including varnishing a shelf and it's supports that I painted this week. I hate the smell of varnish.. and even with open windows it sort of made me sick..

which just added to the bloated feeling I have from my anti-inflammatories and my pms.. Might as well have all that togethter.. when it will be over it will be all good at the same time :)

You see.. there is always a positive way of seeing things.. Those who know me always say I have a way to find the good side of things.. even though I think I could do better. But some people don't like that. They like to feel all pittyful and turned on themselves. I'm not saying I NEVER get into that mood.. but I've learned to identify it and get out of it. It's no use thinking about what happened in the past. When I finally realise a problem.. I act on it. It sometimes takes me long to see the problem.. but when I do.. I don't stay in it. Not since my devorce.. that's one thing I learned.. and often I say to myself.. I had the courage to devorce.. I now have the courage to act again as I need to. And that helps me alot :)

but one thing I never cancel.. is friendship .

wow.. what rambling! I need a coffee..

no worries..

I can do it.. I don't eat much if any junk food.. so it's just a question of quantity. I think I've been trying to hard.. in many areas these last months.. and I just need to relax. Everything is going real well and I don't really have any worries!!! These years are good, I just have to lay back a little and appreciate them.

There will surely be more bad days ahead.. but I'll worry about those when they come. For now.. my family and friends are all healthy and happy.. I don't need anything more! :)

I don't know why I have a tendency to worry about stuff.. but I can definately do without it. And with no worries.. there will be no over-eating.. so one less thing to worry about !

I don't know where I found what's below.. but it's printed out and posted in my office at work

"I am responsible for myself at all levels of my being. I don't take any stress that doesn't belong to me, but stay full of love and compassion towards myself and others. Everything I do today is done in softness and security, in the apporpriate amout, guided by my inner wisdom."

I feel zen and I hope you do to.

up and down..

I thought going to a Sushi place would keep the calories down.. but it ended up being an "all you can eat" place.. and my son was paying for me because of Mother's Day.. so I couldn't just eat 5 pieces..

my weight was up to 144 lbs!!!the next morning..

but it's down to 140 today.. and my mind is pretty much set to loose. But this time I wont try to go all the way down low.. I'll stop at 134 and be content with that.

I was at about 136 for the past years.. just went havoc when I tried to go down even more.. I think my body really doesn't like that.

at 5'6½", 134 lbs, eating clean... I'll be healthy, even if I won't have the slim legs I'd like.

so here goes..

140 and counting .

I feeeeeeeel good!

Woke up this morning feeling like heaven!

Let's see what may be the reason for feeling so good..

-found out this week that Eric, my best friend from europe, is coming for 10 days to visit :)

-Cyril from the Gaspé region is waiting for us to go visit during the holidays.

-it's Mother's Day today and I know how much my son loves me and I'm real proud of him.

-I love the new weights program Steve Lussier designed for me. He took into consideration the exercises I did last program.. and made sure not to repeat them exactly.. (like dips) and gave me good stuff for hiking.

-even though my weight is 142 lbs (8lbs more than I want) .. my bodyfat % is still at 16%. There IS hope.


some other good things that I forget sometimes or take for granted..

-Gabriel soooo loves me and shows it all the time.

-we're going dancing tonight.. (and often)

-I have friends all over that are glad to see me when we can get together.

-my brother is always there when I need him.

-my job isn't stressful, and it's not always sitting down either (I'd hate that)

-our new neighbors seem friendly and I'll be happy to get to know them better

-there are two chatrooms on irc where I have great conversations, some friends and feel really part of the groupe

help!!!!

help! please! help!

anybody there?

:)

How many calories to cut..

This is interesting.. : on http://www.mindandmuscle.net/mindandmuscle/

The Answer : So imagine my surprise when this little theoretical paper (note the journal title) showed up on my Pubcrawler last year (1). Titled, “A limit on the energy transfer rate from the human fat store in hypophagia”, it examined (from a somewhat simplified and theoretical way) exactly the question I gave above: what is the maximum rate at which the body can derive energy from fat stores to cover a diet induced deficit while sparing lean body mass. It’s a nasty little paper, filled primarily with equations, explanations of those equations and some more equations to boot. Headache inducing to be sure.

.

I’ll spare you the details. Based on a somewhat simplified analysis of what data exists (including the seminal Minnesota semi-starvation experiment), they conclude that the maximal rate at which fat stores can provide energy to the body is 290 +- 25 kj/kg which is approximately 31 kcal/lb of fat per day.

.

So, if you are carrying a mere 10 lbs. of fat, you can sustain a 310 cal/day deficit.

.

20 lbs. = 620 calories.

.

30 lbs. = 930 calories

.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED..

Back from dance classe.. just one orange as a snak.. and picking up all my courage to start counting calories again.

RESUMÉ, WEEK 2

It's going bad.. I just feel like crying. but I'll try again and again until I get it right :(

MAKE ME LEAN ~ DAY 14

TUESDAY

AM :
PM :
evening :

2h30 am 1) 2 oz 4% Cheddar cheese, ½ cup Cottage cheese, 2 tbsp BabaGannouj, 1 oz peanuts, coffee bad girl.. :(

2) ½ cup Quinoa flakes, 1 tsp Montignac jam, 2 oranges, coffee

3) diet coke, 1 oz peanuts, 2 oz roast beef
I'll probably eat everything I can get my hands on today :(

more to come.. *sad*

couldn't log on here all afternoon..

and no.. I just can't log how much I ate at supper.. was like.. I'll "just" eat this.. and a little of this.. and a little of that.. I'm ashamed..

was talking about money problems.. and just ate..

I'm no good at all :/ It's only my fault, no-one else to blame but me.

MAKE ME LEAN ~ DAY 13

MONDAY
wieght : 138

AM : Working at desk
PM : Filing standing up

Groupe fitness classes : 280 + 188 + 170 calories

1) 1 egg + 2 egg whites, green beans, coffee

2) 1 oz peanuts, 1 orange, coffee

3) Lasagne Alfredo wiht broccoli (330 cals), ½ cup cut green beans, apple, coffee

.

4) instant Oatmeal (160 cal)

.

5) 2 slices rye bread, 2 oz roast beef, 2 oz orange juice,

2 Group fitness classes

6) 4 oz orange juice, ½ oz Quinoa Rings

Yoga

7) ½ oz Quinoa Rings, 2 strawberries, 1½ cup cottage cheese, 1 cup bean sprouts and other veggies.

and Greg makes me think I really have to get on the roll to dieting again.. maybe that will help me not to binge! but Steve (BFG) tells me he'll give me a diet and training program on thursday.. ouch.. I can try a diet.. but my training will have to go with what my (not personal) trainer Steve (Lussier) gives me as a new program .. on Friday! or else it will be "program overload, does not compute, does not compute."

MAKE ME LEAN ~ DAY 12

SUNDAY
Weight : 140

AM : Mostly shopping with my son
PM : Mostly moving the rest of the stuff

2h30 am 1) 1 cup oatmeal, 1 oz peanuts, 2,5 oz Pastrami, decaf coffee, 2 oz 4% Cheese, 2 slices rye bread

2) 1 orange, 2 eggs, 2 slice rye bread, ½ cup broccoli, 1 tsp low cal dip

3) 3 slices bread, tomato, lettuce, 1 tbsp Mayonnaise, coffee

4) 4 oz roast beef, 2 oz cheese, 2 oz lean ham. 1 cup celery, low cal dip, 1 0z 90% chocolate,
humm, still hungry...

5) trail mix (340 cals ), decaf coffee
nap at 5h30 pm

6) 3 oranges and other stuff.. I don't even know what..
I'm soooooo tired..but I don't want to go to bed before 9h00 pm.

MAKE ME LEAN ~ DAY 11

SATURDAY
Weight 138,4 lbs

AM : helping my son move
PM : helping my son move
Evening : DVD


1 multi vitamin, 3 fish oil caplets

1) 1 egg, 1 slice rye bread, 1 tsp Montignac spread

2) 1 oz Pine nuts

Lunch eaten in the car : 3) medium Cranberry and Blueberry bran muffin, coffee

Supper at restaurant : 4) ½ chicken-noodle soupe, 2 chicken souvlaki, rice, salade, diet Pepsi, 1 bite cake.

5) 1 oz 4% Cheddar cheese, 2 cups broccoli, 2 tbsp low cal dip (60 cal), décaf coffee.

6) 1 cup broccoli, 1 tbsp lo cal dip (30 cal), 1 orange, decaf coffee

MAKE ME LEAN ~ DAY 10

FRIDAY
Weight : 139,4 lbs

AM Hike : 2h20 : 620 calories
Lunch stop : 15 mins
PM Hike : 4h00 : 1112 calories

1 multi vitamin, 3 fish oil caplets

1) 1 cup oatmeal, 1 oz 4% Cheddar cheese, 1 orange, coffee

Hike 2) 1 oz peanuts & raissins mix

3) 2 slices rye bread, 2 oz roast beef, Dijon mustard, ½ green pepper, 1 apple

Hike 3) 3 oz peanuts & raissins mix, 6 oz tomato juice

4) 1 blueberry Nutri-grain bar

5) Lasagna Alfredo (330 calories) , 1 cup 1% Cottage cheese

6) green pepper, 2 anchovies with capers, ½ tbsp low cal dip

7) 1 cup 2% homemade yogurt.. feel good cheat snack

MAKE ME LEAN ~ DAY 9

THURSDAY
Weight : 138,8 lbs

AM : active.. like a waitress at rush hour for 1,5 hours.. then a little calmer
PM : active.. like a waitress at rush hour for 2 hours.. then a little calmer
Evening : Yoga class 60 mins

1 multi vitamin, 3 fish oil caplets

1) 2 eggs, 1 thin toast, coffee

2) apple, 1 oz 4% Cheddar cheese

3) 3 oz fresh salmon, ½ cup rice, 1 cup mushrooms (raw), 1 tbsp low cal dip, 1 cup 1% cottage cheese I was like SOOO hungry! coffe3

4) 1 oz pine nuts, 5 oz tomato juice

5) 3 oz lean chicken, 1 cup green beans, 1 Nutri-Grain bar

Yoga

6) 1 oz 4% Cheddar cheese, small slice of bread, 2 large bowls of mixed salad, low cal mayo. 4 anchovys with capers

not over 'til it's over.. but I hope it's almost over..

MAKE ME LEAN ~ DAY 8

WEDNESDAY
Weight : 138,8 lbs

AM : sitting at computer and walking around a classroom handing out papers (more walking than sitting)
PM : mostly desk work
Evening : dentiste appointment

1 multi vitamin, 3 fish oil caplets

1) Meal Replacement Shake with 1% milk, 1 oz pine nuts, coffee

2) 1 apple, 1oz 4% Cheddar cheese,

3) 2 oz chicken, ½ cup Jasmin rice, piece of green pepper, 1 cup 1% cottage cheese, 2 oranges, coffee

4) 1 oz peanuts

5) 6 oz tomato juice, celery, 1 tbsp humus, coffee

6) dry roasted soy beans (99cals), 1 cup mushrooms, grilled chicken and veggies (160 calories) , 1 cup homemade 2% yogurt with a few blueberries

8h20 PM having trouble not eating.. boyfriend's night at Volleyball and Floor Hockey.. no friends on the net.. I wish I had someone to talk to about it.. but at least there is no Peanut butter in the house.. and if there are Cereals.. they are hidden.

7) 2 tbsp Hummus, coffee

8) 4 mushrooms, 1 tbsp low cal veggie dip..

and a phone call from a SIL helped passed the evening.. time to go to bed.. but I feel on an empty stomach.

But I DO so want to lean down.. alot more than I am now.. my muscles are too big to have fat around them.. I feel much more agile when I am lean.. and I SO love to move and dance. *sigh*

If anybody is reading.. good night. *warm smile*

RESUMÉ, WEEK 1

Well.. I guess I'm back on track, but not sure I'm going anywhere yet.

I used to only weight myself on Sundays but since I started this log on a Wednesday, might as well change my habbits.


ahhh and I just have to keep a copy of this message Pete put up on WebMD :

Motivation for maintaining? (by PeteC122 on Apr-29-06)

Another summer season upcoming, and here I am without a care in the world about losing so much as a pound...I'll wear whatever fits the temperature...(what is a "cover up"?)...I love those commercials for desperate folks "It's still not too late to get into shape for summer!"...heehee too late, already "there"! For every time that I did not make an excuse, and skip the gym...for every time that I did not raid the fridge...for every time I was at the supermarket, but did not buy the candy just because it was "on sale"...life is sweet...and not all "sweet" things have calories!

--SW: 280+ lbs / CW: 170 lbs "Deeds, not words"

MAKE ME LEAN ~ DAY 7

TUESDAY

AM : standing, preparing exams
PM : working at desk, filling in forms
Evening : Ballroom Dance class


1 multi vitamin, 3 fish oil caplets

1) 1 cup 1% cotttage cheese, 1 cup ceam of wheat, coffee

2) 1 oz 4% Cheddar cheese, apple, coffee

3) 2 cups lettuce, ¼ green pepper, ¼ small oignon, 1 tbsp low calorie Mayo (50cals), 2 slices thin bread, 2 oz roast beef, Dijon mustard, 6 oz tomato juice

4) 2 oz lean chicken, coffee

5) 1 cup celery, 1 tbsp humus, 4 oz fresh salmon, ½ cup rice, ½ cup asparagus, green tea, 1 oz 4% Cheddar cheese

Dance Class and waited 1h15 for tickets to the Year End Gala

10h00 PM
6) ½ cup cottage cheese

MAKE ME LEAN ~ DAY 6

Monday

AM : computer stuff
PM : mostly standing, filing
Evening : 3 Fitness Group WOs : 750 calories

1 multi vitamin, 3 fish oil caplets

1) 1 cup oatmeal, coffee

2) ½ cup 1% cottage cheese, 1 oz peanuts, coffee (beurk, so weak I should call it water)
hummm I think I'll have trouble today.. I'm very hungry.. if anyone is reading.. HELPPPP!!!

3) 2 thin slices of bread, 3 oz roast beef, Dijon mustard, 6 oz tomato juice, coffee.

4) apple, 1 oz 4% Cheddar cheese, coffee

5) 2 oz lean chicken, ½ cup wild rice, ½ cup carrots.

Group WOs

6) ½ cup 2% homemade yogurt, 1 scoop Vanilla Soya Protein

7) 1 orange