The day started with writing and then our lovely Water Babes class. It followed with the only cup of black filter coffee I have in a day.

 
I do love Water Babes! It makes me feel so good.  And yesterday I swam 30 laps without stopping in my 15 metre long pool. Believe me, you need a pool in the hot northern reaches of this land. Summer is one long sweat, and if sweating could make us lose weight, I would be Twiggy by now, or I would have slipped down the plughole in the bath.

 
When I arrived here 17 years ago I immediately started putting on weight. On speaking to the leader of Weight Watchers at that time, she told me that a doctor had addressed the WW gathering a few weeks before and what she told me has stuck in my mind ever since. I might not say it the way he did, but this is my understanding.

In a hot climate such as ours, our bodies get really warm and our metabolism slows down. The doctor suggested that we drink iced water and exercise in air conditioned rooms. Now I know that many nutritionists and health practitioners suggest room temperature water, which I love and drink copiously. However, iced water is so very welcome on a hot day, and it begs a trial, so I am going to experiment with it. Interesting about the metabolism though. I think I will consult Google Scholar on that one.

 
Needless to say, here in our sunny clime, we do not need vitamin D supplements. My skin is turning a light gold from the pool activities and somehow one always looks that little bit healthier with a bit of tan. My legs are still milky white, but then again, I hardly ever show them! My beautiful daughter Jennifer has black skin and even she tans. Strange but amazing what the sun does for us – warms us and feeds us with vitamins – and like a little plant when it is fed good compost and kept free of pesticides and poisons (read preservatives and white carbs) we grow strong and beautiful.

 
It really is important that we see ourselves as beautiful. That we speak the language of kindness to ourselves as well as others. Go on. Say it…I am indeed beautiful and I love the me I am. Dare you…

 
Just because I am fat (as I said – tell it like it is) does not mean that I cannot strike a confident pose, a sexy pose even:) I am what I am inside…my spirit is playful and I am learning all the time. So exciting. I love life…and I am learning to love sincerely. My friends, my family, the beautiful planet that nurtures me. It is like melting into Source (whatever your name for the Centre of All) and realising just how much a part we all are of this awesome thing called Love. How the fibre of our spider’s webs are inextricably linked. We are indeed one.

 
OK. Enough rambling. Back to food!

 
Noon meal, (first of the day) is to be a lentil and vegetable curry type stew/soup thing. Don’t you love making up dishes from whatever is in the fridge? Spices are a must, especially cayenne and turmeric. If you ask Aunty G (Google/Google Scholar) about the health benefits, you will find that cayenne helps the heart as well as a whole bunch of other things and turmeric is anti-inflammatory and is a great after-dinner/meal drink with 50/50 plain yogurt and water. Yum. In fact, I might just have one after lunch.

 
Let you know later about the Lentil and Veg recipe…off to cook