Mumentum - 2012 - Monday Linky and Blog Hop

The reason this Linky is being loaded up REALLY late on Sunday night - so late it is very nearly Monday, is because I have spent the last few hours reading up on some of the issues I wanted to address in this post.

I spent a long time on my old blog talking about weight loss and never lost any, and most weeks when I load up this linky (apart from the 4kg that fell off me in December 2011) I haven't lost any.

So what's a girl to do?

Well, I have gone through a lot of soul searching in the last 3 weeks, thanks to 3 books that I was reading on the kindle (I have blogged about all of them recently).  Each book made me encounter various blocks, and so I would put the book down, or in the case of kindle, buy another, which is how I ended up reading 3, in similar subject areas......

Now the blocks I am facing are that I need to start looking IN instead of OUT.  I need to address me.

So, that means dealing with my physical clutter, my body clutter, it necessitates a detox, in mind and body, and it is all underway.

Then and only then, will I be able to answer questions like WHAT makes me happy!?!?!?!?!?

So I even got to the stage where I thought Mumentum needs a new name.  It is a word that encapsulates the Mum Tum which is what it is all about.  

However when we focus on clearing our debts, all the brain hears is debt and we attract more of the same.  I only cleared ALL of my debts, except the mortgage (before getting pregnant) when I started focusing on prosperity.

So what does that say about our Mum Tum challenge.  It is like focusing on the debt we want to get rid of (the Mum Tum), rather than the prosperity (in this case radiance) that we want to bring on.

SO I had a light-bulb moment this afternoon, and decided to change the name to #CurveLurve as I know most of us allow ourselves to stay this size as on some level we do like certain aspects of our size.  Let's admit it! Which bits do you really love.  I know I don't tend to wear baggy trackie bottoms; I tend to dress for my best bits - certainly when I am making an effort.

Anyway, I googled curve lurve and didn't necessarily like what I found.

I then spent HOURS brainstorming - hence the lateness of this post - and I came up with #InnerTruth.

What do you think?

Because I truly believe that when we walk this planet, walking our truth, walking our path, all the clutter (and weight) falls off.

But it means being brave (fear is a lower vibration) so it means addressing every area of your life where you feel afraid.  I did that recently with my You Tube video, and because I stepped up to the task, God held my hand.

And you know when you take the brave step forward, the leap is a leap of freedom.

So I ended up doing quite a bit of Googling and considering I was a Kundalini Yoga teacher for 6 years I was very happy to come across this. PLEASE FORGIVE THE SCARY SERPENT IMAGE.  The words on there are worth the read.

Some highlights being:

1. The ability to make and break habits is associated with the navel center or third chakra. When our navel center is strong we have the will to make decisions and to keep them.

2. The abdominal area is our power center. Women especially learn to hold in their stomachs. The result is a constant tension and continual blocking of our internal source of power. This is the area where our digestion and elimination is regulated. When we create stress by holding in our stomachs and have a negative attitude toward this part of our body, we interfere with our normal biological functioning. (This part of the body is where the Mum Tum resides, so fits in with my feeling that a rename is necessary). 

3. When the belly is relaxed, digestion and elimination can occur in a natural and peaceful matter. Imagine you were a large or small intestine and that you had to carry out your job under the adverse circumstances that we create by holding in our bellies, blocking the energy flow and cutting off the breath. You wouldn't get the job done properly, so matter how hard you tried. 

4. SELF-LOVE on an energetic level is our goal. For self-love to be real, we have to enjoy being in our bodies. This is of course a process that takes time. We have to be willing to feel uncomfortable and to experience our emotions. If we are willing, we will over time experience inner power and peace.
   (We can't experience self-love if we are slating our Mum Tums!) 

So what do you think? Would you feel much better if you loved yourself?  Wouldn't you ensure that what you ate was healthy if you really viewed your body as a temple? If you REALLY loved yourself, and what you stood for?

Anyway, I have decided to finally do the detox that I have been waxing lyrical about for a couple of years.  Now no matter how many times I blog about it, it doesn't seem to create the impetus to do it.

I knew I needed some external pressure (other than the blog) so I have that in 2 forms: (1) I have a Justgiving Page that will look pretty silly if it remains empty and (2) I am proposing to start my detox during the Do Something Yummy week for Clic Sargent which is running from 10th to 18th March.  With me, I need deadlines, or I do nothing! I am just glad that it starts the week after this, as I don't feel up to starting it right now.

And great that 10th is a Saturday, as then I can start the detox on my days off, (I work Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays).  I wouldn't want to start a detox on a work day and certainly not the one I am proposing to do!

If anyone decides to join me, don't do so without reading the book as there is quite a bit to it.

Let me know your thoughts on a possible name change and don't forget to link up below.

Liska

x

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Mumentum

Hi All

I am so soooorrrryyyy that I did not do this post last night but I was just too tired.

And we didn't get up till 10 a.m. so I could not do it any earlier than this - sorry again.

So for the majority of the past week I was on my time of the month, so I did not eat sensibly in any way and consumed a whole load of sugar.

The size 16 jeans still fit, but they leave a horrid red mark across my stomach - yes they are tight! Very tight!

So this week, I will have to sort my life out.

I didn't buy the ingredients for the smoothies that the Spent book recommends - see previous post.

I hope some of you have had great weeks and can give the rest of us some much needed inspiration.

As I don't have any good news on the weight loss front I think I'd better just head straight to opening up the linky.

One thing I will say is that we can offer each other Mumentum in every area of life, i.e. Midlife Singlemum wrote a post about the dishes piling up and she gave me a boost in the comments of that post and as a result I caught up on ALL the laundry yesterday so am all set for going back to work tomorrow. Thanks. High five!



Liska xx

MUMenTUM - Monday Mum Tum

Hi All

I am doing what I have been doing for a few weeks now - just posting up the linky, so that those who are losing weight can do their weekly check in.

I still haven't got in the game myself.

Thanks to a bout of the big D for 4 days at the beginning of November I did shed a bit of weight around the tummy and I can feel that I have kept it off, but I have not weighed myself.

I am still yet to start the Lemonade Diet (aka The Master Cleanse)... and had intended doing so, so that I would look nice at the Tots 100 xmas party - kinda running out of time now though.

Most of the weight loss mummy bloggers I look up to, are waxing lyrical about Thinking Slimmer at the moment so I really ought to get me a slimpod.

Anyway, if you are in the Mum Tum game, or wanna be, sign up to the Linky below.

Then grab the code for the bottom of your related post, so that people can hop from blog to blog - this is a blog hop after all.

Liska xxx

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MUMenTUM - Monday Mum Tum

Hi

This is my BIG IS BEAUTIFUL POST :-)

Yes, I still have not started, but Aaron has his baptism and party on 30th October and as I want to start with the Lemonade diet there will not be chance to do it justice before the party (even though I'd originally intended slimming down for the party to look good in the photos). But I hadn't bargained on how stressful work got and that makes me EAT.

So I will start the Lemonade Diet (AKA the Master Cleanse) after the party, and until then Big is Beautiful - hubby has given me a few compliments lately :-)

So over to you, what are you up to?

Linky below. Don't forget to "grab the code" if you are writing a post and entering the link to it.  Putting the code at the bottom of your post is what makes this a Blog Hop.

MUMenTUM - Monday Mum Tum

Hi Everyone

Another week of me eating naughty things I am afraid.

And I feel bigger not slimmer.

I am just purely here to open up the linky for you all but I will read all your posts and spur you on.

Much love

Liska
x



Here is the linky - write a relevant post add it to the linky and then grab the code for the bottom of your post.

Liska xx

MUMenTUM - Monday Mum Tum

Hi

I know it is no longer Monday but I just have to do this Mumentum post for my friend Mich.

She is a blogging die-hard extraordinaire and she gave me the nudge I needed to sit here in the dark, with Aaron asleep and the only thing illuminating this room is this laptop.

I used to be so good posting my Mumentum post and the Linky on a Sunday so that you could do your post on Monday before I got out of bed if you wanted..... but I have slipped, to say the least.

But here I am and I have just read Mich's Mumentum post here and been humbled by it.

Anyway I have had a few things going on both at work and at home that have seen me reaching for all the wrong foods so my Mum Tum is still out in force, but it is soon to meet its equal, in the form of the lemonade diet which I will be starting some time in the near future.

I bought the book for my much loved Kindle (yes I have been reading instead of blogging as a way of keeping my sanity).

Anyway, the book (for the lemonade diet) is called The Master Cleanser, and I have read it now twice.

I will do daily video diaries while I am on the diet so that'll be a good laugh :-)

Mich we met up at the Mads Awards on Friday, and while you didn't like the photo you posted in your Mumentum post, I think you will like this one.

At the MADS blog awards on Friday. Left to right: me, Super Amazing Mum, Bloggomy and Mummy from the Heart.

For those who don't know us, I am on the far left and Mich from Mummy from the Heart is on the far right.

Errrrrrrrrm I just found this FAB video from the Mad Blog Awards that includes me and Mich and my Mum Tum is firmly on display, although there aint anything firm about it :-)

http://www.whosthemummy.co.uk/2011/10/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-mad-blog-awards.html


Untitled from Sally Whittle on Vimeo.



Bye for now, Liska xxxxxxx



Anyway for those wanting to participate in the Linky here is the Blog Hop.

Feel free to grab the code for the bottom of your post:

MUMenTUM - Monday Mum Tum

Hi Everyone

Apologies that I did not open this Linky yesterday so that you could do it whatever time today you wanted.

I will get back to being organised I promise.

Anyway, I have finally started.

I am now having porridge for breakfast instead of toast (which always comes with Nutella or lately jam) and I am having proper saucepan cooked porridge, as I believe microwaves should be used as little as possible - if at all. I believe giving up bread will kickstart my progress.

I am giving up latte, and crisps, and alcohol and and and and, but the most important thing is I have begun. Today was my 2nd day in a row of a healthy home cooked meal by yours truly.

I have started :-)

Latte is history

My favourite bread has been "fired"

Porridge is now breakfast number 01

I hope to be able to report back next week with a few pounds off.  I feel like I need to make a pledge so that I won't let you all down.  I pledge to have lost 3 pounds (minimum) by this time next week.



Here is the linky (grab the code to put on the bottom of your post as that is what makes it a blog hop):

Getting Off the Starting Blocks - Mumentum

Hi

Well I still haven't got into a groove with this weight loss thing, despite coordinating Mumentum.

Weeks ago I had 1 week where my size 16 instead of 18 jeans fitted but it was a fluke and have been wearing the 18s ever since.

The last couple of days all my jeans were in the wash so I put on a maternity pair and used a belt to ensure they were tight - what scared me was that they were tight on the thighs yet when I was pregnant (even heavily) all my jeans were loose on the thighs.  I ate healthily when pregnant, that's the difference...

So this week I want to make a difference and report a decent loss to you all next week.

My Mum Tum and large arms on display at Cybermummy (with @Grumpinator)

I am going to have to start theming these weeks or something, to give us some direction.

Maybe it would help to publish the facts - yet again:

Normally at my heaviest I am 88kg.


I am currently 95kg.


I have a triplicate Mum Tum thanks to a C section.


I am a size 18 lady trapped outside a size 12 frame :-(

Liska xx

MUMenTUM - Monday Mum Tum

Mumentum Blog Hop

Hi

 

This is the Monday, weekly blog hop linky, if you would like motivation and momentum in the form of Mumentum, to lose your Mum Tum.

Simply write a relevant post, then add it to the linky below, and then grab the code so that the linky will appear at the end of your post too (hence the blog hop).

You can read about us here: http://newmumonline.blogspot.com/p/mumentum-biogs.html

We can also be found on twitter tweeting with the hashtag #Mumentum...

Liska x

Hi

I am going to be different this week, and do a post of my own (tomorrow) that I will add to the Linky.

For now, with it being nearly midnight and me having work tomorrow, I simply open the Linky forthwith :-)

For newcomers, below are the criteria

• You are a Mum
• With a Mum Tum
• Who needs some Mumentum to lose weight, get fit, get healthy or ... all 3
• Please write a relevant post and that is the post that should be added to the Linky.  It can be a slightly older one, if you have a relevant one already, and you can write a fresh one for us next week.

I am not a rules type blogger but last week there were about 8-12 Links that I had to remove and it is tedious so I guess that's why rules get invented and here they are.

Lots of love and I hope you either had a good week, or have plans for having a good week in the coming week.

On my homepage you can find a link to the biogs of people who are already part of Mumentum - we are a friendly bunch.

And if you are looking for daily chat on Twitter we can be found tweeting at #Mumentum.

Bye for now,
Liska xxx

Good Bloggers Pay it Forward: Blog Award

Hi Everyone

I am SHATTERED and want to go to bed, but I have received 3 tags today so thought I ought to take care of at least one of them before bed.

The wonderful Mum in Meltdown has awarded me a Pay it Forward tag.

The rules are as follows:

1. Put the award badge at the top of your post...............Done!

2. Refer to the lovely blogger who awarded it............Proudly done!

3. Pass it on to 5 others................................ hhhhmmmm let's think!

So after much thought and deliberation:

1. Grumpinator @Grumpinator
2. Mummy and The Beastie @Mummyandbeastie
3. Inside the Wendy House @wendymcd83
4. Would Like to Be a Yummy Mummy @wouldliketobe
5. Multiple Mummy @MultipleMummy

Only being able to choose 5 means of course I have had to neglect some wonderful bloggers...... which makes me sad, but rules are rules....... so that's my five.  They are all ladies I have got to know so well, I feel like they are friends now, and have even met 2 of them in person at the Nivea event and we will ALL meet at Cybermummy.

Of course they are ALL Mumentum ladies, as the whole thing about Mumentum was that it started with a group of blog friends talking about a joint concern - the Mum Tum!

Anyway bed beckons, and if you are not in my list of 5 it doesn't mean I love you any less.  Well maybe 2 millimetres, but what's that between friends eh, and in cyberspace it's negligible :-)

Liska xxx
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

MUMenTUM - Monday Mum Tum

Hi

It's that time of the week once again. Mumentum for ladies with a Mum Tum.

I load this on Sunday in case anyone wants to do their Monday post a day early, or tonight.

Since I started saying that this blog hop is open to anyone with a Mum Tum, we've had quite a few new members. And they are lovely ladies too.  I think we had 14 participants in the linky last week, and we have a few new ladies since then.

I add each person to the #Mumemtum list. There's a thing on Twitter called Lists and everyone should be on there.  It means for a new person that you can follow all of us in one click by following the list (I think).

Biogs
The ladies who have given me their biogs (by email) are also all listed here, with a bit about them that they've each written themselves. The great thing about Mumentum is there is something for everyone. Karen at Would Like to Be a Yummy Mummy is the driven type: exercising properly and eating properly and making FABULOUS progress, so if you are looking for a role model, she's the gal. Then there's Wendy, who's had 5 children, yet has managed to lose 2 out of 3 stone.... I could go on, but their stories are in their biogs so go take a look. We are such a mixed bunch of girls, there really is a friend for everyone.

My problem is candida and I know the weight will drop off when I start fully tackling my diet and the Dida that I bought from Holland & Barrett is really helping.  (I posted about it last week).  I have drastically reduced my bread and coffee intake this past week.  Since taking Dida I have noticed that coffee now makes me feel rubbish so it is obviously detoxing me.

Now, on the horizon, quite a few of us have something called Cybermummy coming up........ Now for this we want to look our best, but it is now - since yesterday - only 3 weeks away, and in the last few weeks I have lost pounds ZERO, so I need to take things a tad more seriously in the next few weeks.  Now some of the comments on Mich's Mummy From The Heart recent post said "what's all the fuss about?" but it is a pride thing rather than a caring what anyone thinks thing. I am not saying that going to Cybermummy is the equivalent of going to a wedding, but I would have liked to have looked like my onscreen self, and not the 7kg extra that I currently am.  I had lived with being 88kg for the last few years, but now I am 95kg and that's not cool! Hi Mich by the way.  I know you are joining us this week and I am looking forward to having you with us.

Just to prove I am not expecting to be a supermodel, above is July 2009, and I was a size 16 (compared to the current size 18) and I like how I look.  I am not a person who expects to be wafer thin.  Far from it......

I would love to write inspiring posts about all the exercising I am doing, but I am just not.  Not getting the chance either....... Trying to think of a way of fitting yoga back into my life as I taught yoga from 2004 to 2010.  Even taught it while I was pregnant until I was 36 or 37 weeks... I should just try doing it with Aaron in the room and see what he makes of that.  It's not as if I have even tried.  He may enjoy clambering around trying to copy me.  I owe it to myself to at least give it a try.

I may just go and re-read all of Karen's posts to see how she manages to exercise with two little girls, after all there is only 2 weeks in the difference between her Rosie and my Aaron, and her fitness posts are easy to find as they are all listed here.  As you can see there, she's been at it for 18 weeks and is self-disciplined, so no wonder she has seen results.  Another one who is managing to get some exercise in is our very own Claire at Grumpinator.

Mumentum is managing to attract the attention of companies. A few of us were invited to the Nivea Your Shape event, and we are all being given free Hot Pants.  We love Hot Pants but are desperate for them to arrive.......... please Hot Pant man get them in the post, so we can see results before Cybermummy.  Hot Pants are even sponsoring Claire.

This is a blog hop, so if you are participating feel free to grab the code for the bottom of your post.

I don't really do rules, but if you are entering the linky, it should be with a link to a post, that is relevant to Mumentum.  Say hello on Twitter or in the comments.

Have a good week.

Bye for now, Liska xxxxx

MUMenTUM - Something's Clicked into Place

Hi

I don't know if it was my bear all approach in my Monday Mumentum post but something's clicked into place.

I finally have fire in my belly and a will to succeed. Nothing, nothing, nothing happens without those and I have them now.

It has really helped that the girls have upped the ante and written REALLY inspirational posts this week. There is something of interest in all of them.

It's now GAME ON.

But what I did yesterday, I did before I read their posts, because like I say, something has clicked.

Here's what happened:

I went to the shops yesterday, and I decided that even though I hadn't rung the Nutritionist yet, and even though I don't have a Revital near me, I would just ask my local Holland & Barrett what do they have that is good for Candida... and I am glad I did.

Here's a photo of my purchases:

Dida for the Candida, herbs for yogi tea and their magazine

Cardamon from Sainsbury's as Holland & Barrett didn't have that!

Also for the Candida! Also from Holland & Barrett! And tastes like strawberry milkshake!

In other news: Aaron's now at the "cupboard phase"

Say yum yum to the stir-fry - thanks @grumpinator for the top tip!

Aaron's gone "outside" with his walker and doing really well!

Even though I am only on the 2nd day of the Dida I can already feel a difference. Whereas normally I have to have coffee to feel better, I am already! starting to detox, because today a coffee made me feel awful and that is how I am when I am detoxing. Way to go I am well impressed!

And the ingredients sound marvelous! Love it!

As I used to be a Yoga Teacher I used to love Yogi Tea and as I am about to give up tea and coffee I thought I ought to start drinking it again and girls it is EASY to make:

10 ounces of water
3 whole cloves
4 whole green cardamon pods cracked
4 whole black peppercorns
1/2 stick of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of black tea
1/2 cup milk
2 slices of fresh ginger-root (which is optional).

I double all of the above when I make it.

Instructions:
Bring the water to a boil and add the cloves, cardamon, peppercorns and cinnamon. Cover, and continue boiling for 10-15 minutes, then add the black tea. Let it sit for a minute or two. Add the milk and return to the boil. Strain and serve with honey to taste.

I typed up the above with my trusty book by my side from which it is sourced: The Golden Temple Vegetarian Cookbook.

I wanted to blog about the above because I made it yesterday (with the ingredients I purchased and photographed above) but wasn't going to bother, but as a few of the #Mumentum ladies have been discussing tea on Twitter I thought it my duty to share it with you all. :-)


Liska xxxx

MOMenTUM - Monday Mum Tum

Hi All,

Anyone is allowed to join us.  All you need is a blog and a Mum Tum, and you can jump on our bandwagon.  Please write a post in keeping with the theme: losing your Mum Tum, and link to it below.

So ladies this week it's over to you.  I am not setting a theme or any questions.  So invent your own subject.... mine is:

What's your problem?

So I took the photos below today in readiness for this post...... as my main problem is that in weeks I have not cooked.... I graze on nibblies instead and hence the pounds have piled on.  I said last week that I would cook every day this past week - I didn't....... I know...... I failed, but the first step in progress is admitting you failed right?

I use Aaron as an excuse not to cook...... to be fair now he's mobile it is harder.....

But tonight I cooked and that is what I need to do if I am going to shift this weight.

In December I was lighter and slimmer than I am now, as I spent the whole Summer last year cooking.  My Mum was here for 9 weeks when Aaron was born, so I used to make healthy dinners for us all.

Everytime I go to Working London Mummy's blog I feel terrible, as I know this is one of my biggest issues currently and she excels in that area.  I promise to do one of her recipes one of these days......

Anyway today I made a meal and luckily hubby was able to eat it before going on a night shift, so it's nice to know he has gone off with a full tum :-)

I didn't make diet food, I made what we happened to have in:

Dolmio sauce with fried fresh onion and fresh tomatoes

Basmati done in a skillet which tastes like a rice cooker.

Fragrant fluffy rice - delicious! Turned bowls onto plate for the presentation effect!

 

The stew and rice and 2 steak burgers and stuffed vine leaves.

So, at the Nivea and Xbox event I found out that my candida is back, and the lady I saw there, recommended that I give up coffee and sugar.  I will try and make an effort with that this week.  I know that's urgent as she said I have high blood sugar and to be honest I don't feel myself.

But at least I have broken the "no cooking" thing I had inflicted on myself....... that's progress.

Over to you...

Gok Wan - In the Powder Room

Hi

This post is to enter the competition on In The Powder Room.

The question they want us to answer is: Who would you most like to meet in The Hoxton Powder Room, and why? 

I thought I would answer this with something that is relevant to how I am feeling at the moment.

I'll give you some hints:

I don't look good naked...

My "bangers" are heading south...

I wear baggy clothes...

and hold it all in underwear is a staple part of my underwear drawer...

When other bloggers meet me, they know it's me,
but shy from saying
"You are fatter than you are onscreen"...

A long time ago when I had one of my many bra fittings in Debenhams (for the bigger chest they are way better than M&S) I was reliably informed that he has come into the ladies fitting rooms there so I feel confident that he could and would come into the Powder Room in the Hoxton :-)
(Now, I know what I heard was right, this is Gok in Debenhams...).

So this is the scenario.... In The Powder Room...

I am looking in the mirror, and I hear someone enter.
I see his reflection in the mirror and recognise him instantly.
He oozes self confidence and fashion chic!

He says:
"Girlfriend you can't go to Cybermummy looking like that!  You do realise this is the Mummy Blog outing of the year.  The creme de la creme will be there".

"Your jeans are the wrong cut, your jumper cuts off at the wrong point and makes you look dumpy, the neckline is all wrong and your jewellery is taking the eyes off your best asset - your cleavage - show off your bangers! Don't be shy".

"And if you get a better bra, it will make your waist look smaller".
"Come on "strip off I want to see you!"
"What are you hiding under there?"

"I was bullied myself at school for being overweight; there's nothing you can tell me about weight issues I don't already know! I know how it effects self esteem and that's why I want to help"...

"You're in your 30s.  You should be a Yummy Mummy.  Don't let these years pass you by!"

"I've styled thousands of women over the years... how long have we got?"

Me: "Well Cybermummy is on Saturday".

"Okay well it's Thursday now and it's late night shopping in Oxford Street - let's go!"
"I'd say your belly is the bit you want to change the most? 49% of women say that to me".

Me: "Yeah, I call it my Mum Tum and I even set up something called MomenTum with my online blog friends".

"Look, you simply need to start loving what you've got.  You might think those bangers are heading south, but with the right bra those beauties will be your best asset!"

"Anyway, I have proven in my shows that men prefer women with a little bit of meat on".

Me: "Yeah but at Cybermummy I'll be with all women and you know what they can be like.... a lot more critical than men!"

"I think with the right clothes you have curves in all the right places.  Girls with meat on are sexier.   Think J Lo rather than size zero".

"You are not as big as you think you are.  Look in the mirror, it's all yours and you need to feel proud of it.  You should have been born in the 50s, think Marilyn Monroe, think curvaceous hips, movie starlets".

"My girl! Baggy clothes make you look and feel bigger than you are!  For every square inch of extra material, you may as well be carrying an extra pound"...

"Slim is not necessarily beautiful - learn to love what you have!"

"Right, now to the shops, Cybermummy, bring it on!"