Tag Archives: health

Overcoming Diet Challenges: My Personal Secrets SYW 19 May 2025

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Here are my answers to Di’s SYW questions this week

Do you exercise regularly?
Over the years, my approach to staying active has evolved and I have adapted my routine according to my changing circumstances. At one point, I ran regularly with a friend, but when our schedules no longer aligned, I continued running on my own. Eventually, when running was no longer an option, I transitioned to aerobics and walking. There have been times when I made excuses to skip exercise, but I always found my way back after a few months.
Now, in my later years, I maintain a balanced routine of yoga, aerobics, and walking.
I follow Yoga with Adrienne for yoga sessions Walk at Home for an active aerobic workout.

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Have you ever belonged to/visited a gym?
For years, I was a member of a gym, though I rarely joined the group classes. Instead, I followed my own personalized routine, focusing on the treadmill, rowing machine, and weight training circuit.
A decade before relocating to Struisbaai, I experienced a slipped disc—an injury that nearly required surgery. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that. Instead weeks of rest and then working with a personal trainer twice a week, played a significant role in my recovery. I continued training with him until we moved.

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When it comes to diet, what is your greatest weakness?
Well – food in general. When I am hungry, I tend to grab anything that’s easy to get down my throat. In the bad old days when I was on a yet another miracle weight reducing diet, I would endure the hunger until the deliciousness that surrounded me could not be resisted and binge on chocolate!
I used to have huge problems sticking to diets. They all made me hungry. But then I discovered Banting and I have not looked back. I have maintained my perfect weight for ten years.
Some people believe that if you exercise sufficiently, you will not gain weight. This is not true. You can be fat and fit. However, even if you don’t exercise, you will maintain a healthy weight if you eat correctly. Yes, exercise helps, but the most important thing is to watch what you put in your mouth.


Do you know your waist size?
I do not know the exact measurement. I could check but then I would have to find a tape measure!

Gratitude

Once again, Di’s Meme resonated with me this week. I have recently been taking a moment to drink in my surroundings and really feel the appreciation for them. It is so easy to take the beauty of the southern tip of Africa for granted.

Appreciating a Cape Bulbul enjoying the view.

Share Your World Monday 27 January 2025

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Here are my answers to Di’s SYW questions for this week

Do you have a bucket list?
I don’t have a written bucket list, but that doesn’t mean I want to stop exploring the world, enjoying wildlife and nature, embracing new experiences, and living life to the fullest. I feel fortunate to have done many interesting things throughout my life, and if I were to run out of time, I wouldn’t have any serious regrets. When I retired, I promised myself that I would say yes to any new opportunity that came my way, and I have kept that promise. However, as I get older, I do feel a bit nervous about running out of money. When my husband suggested an extended and expensive cruise, I hesitated. Can we really afford it? It’s important to be sensible about these matters, too.

Cremation or Burial?
I believe cremation is the best option for me. I would like my ashes to be scattered in Kruger National Park. Since one has to get permission for this, I should start getting that sorted out soon!

This might be a good spot!

Recognized Service/Celebration of Life, or Private Gathering?
I would prefer a private cremation with close family only. They can then decide how best to scatter my ashes in the park and hold a little celebration of life for me there.

Flowers or Donations?
Given that my death will likely occur quietly and without much fuss, I don’t expect anyone to send flowers or make donations. However, they are welcome to do so if they wish. Perhaps a donation to Save the Rhino International would be fitting.

Gratitude:
I am grateful to be in good health and to know that my death is probably not imminent. However, anything can happen, and I intend to live life to the fullest until the very last moment—just in case that moment comes sooner than expected!

Share Your World Monay 13 January 2025

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Here are my answers to this week’s Share Your World

1. Of all the household chores (laundry, dusting, hoovering, washing up, cooking etc) which is your least favourite?
I can’t say that I am particularly fond of any household chore but I don’t mind doing the general tidying and cleaning up. I have a dishwasher and other labour-saving devices as well as a weekly helper to do the major cleaning so I can’t complain. Perhaps the least favourite chore is dusting which is a thankless task when the wind blows constantly.

2.  With food prices going up all the time, do you buy less, find substitutes, or don’t buy at all?
I often face challenges regarding my food choices. I have a health problem which requires that I avoid certain foods. Maintaining a healthy diet is important to me, so I prioritize purchasing foods that I believe are best for my well-being. I don’t include pasta, rice, breakfast cereals or other processed foods on my shopping list. Additionally, I avoid junk food entirely—I don’t buy biscuits, baked goods, chips, or fizzy drinks.

When responding to my critics, who tell me they cannot afford to eat my way, I ask them to consider how much they spend on rusks, biscuits, Coke, and flour for baking and desserts. What I save by not buying junk food I choose to spend on more expensive fruits and vegetables.

3.  Do you enjoy meals with leftovers?
We often have leftovers, and I ‘recycle’ them. Recently, I cooked a leg of lamb for six people. There was enough left over to heat up in a pan and serve again the next evening. I served it with stir-fried cabbage, roast potatoes, and salad. Our guests brought 3 mini Eisbeins which we divided up to add to the dinner. There was still too much for six of us to finish so the following day I minced it all together and made a moussaka which served three of us. Thus a 1.7 kg leg of lamb which cost about R 320 (14 pounds) went quite a long way.

4. Do you prefer bagels, crusty bread, or toast?
Bread and baked goods are rare in my home. However, I find it hard to resist croissants and will have one occasionally. (I am not such a goody two-shoes!)

Gratitude:
I am grateful for the abundance in my life—delicious food, wonderful friends and family, and the good health to enjoy it all. Since returning from a holiday with my family, our home at the tip of Africa has been filled with visitors. How lucky I am!

JusJoJan Gratitude Monday 8 January 2024

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Today’s prompt for JusJoJan is Gratitude. Thank you Sadjie for this word.

It is so easy to go through life taking things for granted. It seems that the more fortunate we are the less grateful we are for what we have. I have so often heard people say, “I got to where I am by myself through sheer hard work.” And although this might be true it wouldn’t hurt to show some gratitude for the opportunities that presented themselves or the people who helped make things happen along the way. I don’t believe we can take credit for everything we have achieved or obtained in our lives. Of course, it is important to be self-reliant but I have yet to meet a happy person who has not shown some gratitude to others for helping them along their way.

I also believe it is very important to express gratitude to people who provide services for us. Are we grateful to our employees? Do we thank the petrol jockey for filling up our vehicles and washing our windscreens? Yes, they get paid for it but does it hurt to just say thank you? 

My greatest joy was when my grandson thanked me for the part I played in his life. I did not expect gratitude nor even thought about it but when he expressed it so eloquently in his own words it was better than receiving a diamond ring! 

In my experience showing gratitude to a shop assistant, a cashier, grumpy passport control guy makes all the difference to the service you will receive. While waiting in a queue to check in at a game reserve rest camp, I have seen people with long faces become irritated that they have to wait to be processed. This causes stress to the poor receptionists too. How much better to greet the overworked soul with a “Good Afternoon, Boy am I glad to be here in this beautiful park at last. I’ve looked forward to this all year.” Immediately you will get a smile back and cheerful service as they process you. The trick is to think of the other person first. What kind of day is he/she having. Of course, they should leave their problems at home but we’re all human. Let’s be kind to each other, treat each other with tolerance and thank those who serve us with a smile and friendly word. 

Gratitude is good for your health and your soul.