Whole9 30 Day Challenge Day 9

A beautiful sunny day in Dunedin today - Summer may be back hopefully for a bit longer than previous stinks over the last month.

Customhouse Quay with the cafe to the right.

I took Mum and Dad out to their favourite restaurant/cafe for brunch today.  I do find with all the catch ups that I do when I visit - eating out definitely increases!

Ma and Pa :)

Another long black - not bad, but not my fave.  I'm finding with this challenge I am definitely drinking more water - that has to be good right? I may even be getting properly hydrated now as Im pretty sure before I was not. 

For brunch - I got squid with pepper and other herbs and spics on it and salad - see below.  YUM!  Truly some of the best squid I have tasted and completely Whole9 OK!  

A great time was had by all - a good way to spend time with the parents.  From there, I caught up with my bestie, and we hit the shops sans children.  Again a fabulous time by all and we both got some fabulous bargains!  I seem to definitely be a 2XL now and it might not be too long until I'm in size 18 jeans (all NZ sizing).  Also interesting being with my friends and listening to others in the changing rooms is not matter what size we are - even if petite or what others consider 10/10, there seems to always be something we want to change.

With this way of eating - no bloatedness, and everyday feeling more energetic and alive.  It surprises me constantly how much food plays a part in how we feel and that some of the things we have for treats (or used to pre-band) are actually poison to us and make us feel blah.

Anyway - found another cafe and another long black - this was done on recommendation from a fellow Dunedin coffee drinker - called Modaks - and it did not fail.  Awesome.  And their long black had a twist!
Served with it was a small piece of lemon rind - the purpose you may ask?  To neutralise some of the bitterness of the coffee - GENIUS!  And of course for me being a Science teacher - I said ooohhh a brilliant Acid/Base reaction - I am a geek ;). But it worked a treat!

Random humping dinosaurs on the coffee table

Lots of shopping led to dinner - another Turkish meal (third one down here) - but again very good and this time being a different place the chicken was very tender and moist and super easy to eat.  We had a mixed grill. I left the pasta, tabouli, pita, and sauces but ate the salad and meat.  Yum!  Finished off with Turkish Apple tea :)

So the food has pretty much been summed up - I had a banana and a plum first thing, and some raw nuts as a bit of a snack.

Drinks - coffee and water

Exercise - walked the dog around the quay, and hit the pavement for a couple of hours while shopping - not hard core at all - but something.

Whole9 30 Day Challenge Day 5

Today not a lot going on really initially.  Had a cruisy morning - savouring these while I can before I'm rushed off my feet at work in a couple of weeks, especially with my new job as Dean.

Caught up with my little bro this afternoon and later on his girlfriend as well.  Lovely time and good to see the changes to the place since Colleen moved in a couple of months ago.  Very trendy (well since they are both form of designers) but homely too.  Finally got a bit of exercise in with going for a walk with Castro and Scott and then playing a form of frisbee with doggy in the middle.  Unfortunately it ended with Scott going into the bushes to find the frisbee (I had thrown...) and came up covered in thorns in his arms from the bush.  All good though - he's tough.

Scott and Colleen - awwww cute!

Went out for dinner - always a little concerning for me hoping that there will be something that I can eat - but we went Turkish and I got a mixed (Chicken and Lamb) Iskender.  Had a little garlic yoghurt and hummus with it to prevent any band sticking but very little of it, and avoided the rice.  Even came with a little green salad, and had water.  I felt proud of this choice.

Also went out for coffee.  The two lovebirds got dessert while I tried another brand of long black - this time made by Allpress - not too bad but strong - needed a little water to soften it somewhat.  Also tried Jed's at my bro's place and that was great!  This long black business is getting better all the time.  May not go back to having milk in my coffee at all and don't miss the sugar either!

Something that is nice down here - all the compliments.  Everyone I have caught up with so far has said Im looking good.  I must have changed a bit since I was last down in September - I will have to compare pics.

One thing I need to remember though - don't drink coffee too late - I don't sleep!

Breakfast:  Banana

Lunch:  Subway Club Salad - with lime and coriander dressing - Ma and Pa got it for me and I assumed wrongly that the dressing would be a vinegarette - it wasnt.  So scraped what I could off.  I do find though doesn't matter what subway salad you get, they all taste the same.

Dinner:  Turkish (as outlined above)

A couple of coffees, some walnuts, and a couple of plums and cherries and a piece of fresh pineapple - need to cut down the fruit a bit I think - not going to help with the weight loss!

Exercise:  40 minute dog walk and frisbee.