jmcbn Posted April 19, 2017 Author Share Posted April 19, 2017 Well, the first of the forest trails ended up being pretty much cliff side by the time we found the place recommended for parking. The fog was fairly thick but the views were still amazing although the heavy rain showers forced us back down to sea level again where we did a portion of the lough-side walk, looking up in the ditrection of the mountain we'd just abandoned - we covered about 10 miles in total though, so it was all good. The lough side walk was weirdly separated from the *actual* lough by a kind of a wind breaker excavated into the land, so the path was actually below sea level and was scattered with all kinds of shells which must be brought there at high tide or during adverse weather and which my youngest was more than happy to collect for some future craft project. As we walked along we had the lough on one side & a nature reserve on the other so we saw a good variety of birds & flowers; and then beyond that were numerous fields planted in a variety of produce, but most noticeably the yellow of the rapeseed contrasting against the various shades of green & brown where the fields are currently being rested. Right now we're getting warmed up (it was damp & windy for most of the day) and contemplating dinner - not sure what the boys have in mind but for me I'm thinking 'mixed grill'.............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted April 22, 2017 Author Share Posted April 22, 2017 So we're home, unpacked, washing done, and back to the proverbial porridge - not *actual* porridge, but you get the drift.... cooking, cleaning, ironing, chores. On our last day we took a long walk in a beautiful Glen, played Pooh sticks at the bridges, counted the various types of wild flowers & sat at the waterfall for a while before heading on to a Wind Farm which was on our route home. It's been a great little Easter break - time spent outdoors, quality time with my boys, a little sorting & tidying done around the house, a couple of decent training sessions, and then yesterday I got the good news that I [finally] achieved Certification as a Nutritionist having passed the exam with a Distinction. Now I'm looking to specialise a little so am on the hunt for an accredited provider so that I can follow my chosen path and eventually ditch the job that I detest so much. Anyway - the weekend is not over just yet, and the weather is mild so a little more gardening is in order.... Drumree Bay, Co Donegal The path to Drumree Head, Co Donegal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted April 22, 2017 Author Share Posted April 22, 2017 Rush hour - Mamore Hill, Urris Mountains, Co Donegal The Foyle Nature Trail, Co Londonderry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted April 22, 2017 Author Share Posted April 22, 2017 The summit of Binevenagh, Co Londonderry Lake Binevenagh, Co Londonderry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted April 22, 2017 Author Share Posted April 22, 2017 The Peace Bridge, Foyle, Derry City, Co Londonderry - created to link what were two very separate communites known as the Bogside & the Waterside during 'The Troubles'. The Gap of Mamore, Urris Mountains, Inishowen Peninsula, Co Donegal Port Noo, Inishowen Peninsula, Co Donegal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted April 22, 2017 Author Share Posted April 22, 2017 Banagher Glen, Co Londonderry Altnahullion Wind Farm, Limavady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeadowLily Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 Congratulations. Certification with Distinction. Are we surprised, not at all. It will interesting to see where it takes you. I'm happy there's a scholar like you who'll be helping the masses with diabetes, eating disorders/dysmorphia and all of the rest of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted April 22, 2017 Author Share Posted April 22, 2017 Thank you @MeadowLily - it's been a long time coming!! And in other news I've *finally* found a locally made, grass-fed, ethically raised jerky/biltong type product that is Whole30 compliant!! Yassss!! (Although for me, being Post Whole30, it just needed to have no added nasties...) https://www.striptsnacks.com/pages/biltong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J9er Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!! So great! Such a relief to have the big part over. How will you be specializing? Or do you know yet?? I've started reading Robb Wolf's new book Wired to Eat. It's interesting so far. I think I will continue on and do his 30 day reset and seven day carb test to see what information I can glean.....never hurts right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted April 24, 2017 Author Share Posted April 24, 2017 Thanks - I'm not sure just yet. I've enrolled for certification in Sport's Nutrition just because I think it will be good to have, but it's not really the direction I'd like to take. Having spent so much time here I'm keen to look at treating deficiences, auto immune disease, mental & eating disorders, type 2 diabetes etc with food. I need to find the right course though so I'm hoping the Sports Nutrition will keep my mind active in the mean time, and I've found a little taster webinar in Weight Loss Surgery which I'll take a look at over the next few weeks so that I have the info to hand - it's not something I'd consider recommending with my current knowledge but I'd like to know a bit more so that I have the research to hand. I started watching/listening last night and was shocked at how blase the lecturer was and this was an Irish lecturer where WLS really isn't common... so we'll see. I've also got Robb's book but haven't started reading it yet. A few of the folk who completed the HTK challenge have already started the 30day reset. Steph had a copy before it was officially released so she'd given us the heads up and actually passed her copy on to one of the women who was really struggling with food. I see Paleo Mom has one on pre-order too - Paleo Principles - I'm a big fan of hers so I may invest in that one too, although who knows when I'll actually get time to sit down & read either of them?! That was the one thing I loved about commuting by train - I was getting through so many books in those days...!! Anyway, back to work this morning after my lovely, refreshing week off. Awesome. Not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeadowLily Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 You can't have too many arrows in your quiver or too many strings for your bow. I've always wanted my own health food store but diabetes and food addictions, WLS, eating disorders...those could keep you busy for the rest of your life. WLS is common here but the lasting success, we haven't got the time. My recent question for the Universe, can you fully recover from food addiction and all of the above. I do know that removing the stomach doesn't fix the appetite control center which resides in the brain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 20 hours ago, MeadowLily said: I've always wanted my own health food store My Ex always said/says I should open a little cafe offering allergen free food - at one point I pretty much had a menu put together, and a name in mind, but I've worked in that Industry before and the hours are very anti-social... Can you fully recover from food addiction & eating disorders? No. Not IMO. It's like addiction or disorder of any kind. It can be managed, but not cured. First day back at work yesterday and I didn't even make it outside at lunch, let alone get my daily 30mins brisk walk in. Not good. Although I did sleep like a log last night - that said mental tiredness is not the same as physical tiredness, and I'd opt for the latter any day of the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crastney Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 beautiful photos! love the one with the life ring - great contrast of the bright red against the muted back drop. congrats on the certification! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted April 30, 2017 Author Share Posted April 30, 2017 Loosely Whole30 related in that death by non-communicable & CV diseases are right up there, and both can be/are related to nutrition, but I am LOVING this infographic, shown to me by my #firstborn, who found it interesting in terms of History (Ideaology related deaths)..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeadowLily Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Lifting UP - you and yours.A day without jmcbn is like 30 whole days in real time. I reach for the phone to get you on the horn... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted May 29, 2017 Author Share Posted May 29, 2017 Thank you.... yes..... my head has been kind of elsewhere.... My sister is back in hospital and not doing great at all. She's back having the IV anti-biotics as the oral ones weren't agreeing with her at all (and she's had to try quite a variety!), the infection is back, and it's more severe & more widespread than before. Hopefully once her body has readjusted to the IV she'll settle down a bit but right now all she can do is sleep & vomit. We'd been having a spell of fab weather lately too which had me spending more time outdoors, but I woke today (on an unexpected day off) to rain & grey skies again - which kind of reflects my mood. Food wise I'm actually doing great. And training wise I've come on in leaps & bounds. The feral child got a place in his school of choice, & holidays are fast approaching, so if I could just see my sister's health improve a little then all would be well with the world... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J9er Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 How sad, about your sister. Hope she turns a corner soon. Just awful for her to be so sick for so long. Thanks for the update, have been wondering how you've been. I went to start typing this comment and realized I had replied to you a while back but never hit the reply button and there was my reply, still sitting there today....oops! Congrats to your son for getting into school. He worked so hard for that! Has he or will he start back at his gymnastics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted June 3, 2017 Author Share Posted June 3, 2017 On 30/05/2017 at 2:17 AM, J9er said: Congrats to your son for getting into school. He worked so hard for that! Has he or will he start back at his gymnastics? Thanks - he's delighted. He's to go for an interview with the Headmaster on Monday so he should find out then if there's anyone he knows in his form class. Most of his close school friends chose not to sit the exams so they won't be going to the same school. He's a very sociable kid though so I've no doubt he'll make friends quickly enough. He's not gone back to gymnastics.... I think he enjoyed having the time to actually play with his friends and not have to rush to get homeworks done/eat dinner etc so he could get to training. He took up Cross Country running with the school and he's been doing pretty good at that, and it doesn't eat into his free time - he's keen to trial for that at the new school. They're big into sports there & I can see him getting involved in a whole lot more. My sister is still in hospital and looks to be staying in for another 6wk stint. Her white blood cell count is still rising, although she's in good spirits, looks well, her appetite is slowly coming back & the vomitting has settled. Not sure what the meds are doing to her head though as she goes through phases of talking complete nonsense & hallucinating! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted June 27, 2017 Author Share Posted June 27, 2017 Soooooo....it's been a while! Life has been a little hectic and there are some changes afoot. My sister is still in hospital and not in great health - she's spent so much of her energy fighting her cancer that she has little energy left in her to fight this virus & it's dragging her down and it's hard to watch... Work has been busy, and on top of that I've started doing some Lifestyle & Nutritional Consultations - mostly for people I know through family/friends, but it's getting my name out there & keeping me out of mischief, and is paving the ground for me waving goodbye to a job I've disliked for as long as I can remember. Schools are winding down for the summer, exams are over, holidays are approaching, and with the recent spell of good weather we've had we've been making the most of the outdoors. If I could just see my sister home where she belongs I'd say life is pretty good............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeadowLily Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 Your beautiful pix are gone. Haven't seen you around in a long time but you are missed. Hope everything's alright with you and yours. Most of all, hope you come back someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted August 16, 2017 Author Share Posted August 16, 2017 Well, be careful what you wish for, cos I'm back..... Life has been a bit hectic of late. My sister has been in & out of hospital - more in than out - and she is now awaiting surgery to have her left lung removed. Hopefully this will see a huge improvement in her quality of life as it's been a struggle for her this year if truth be told - and for my folks, and for her family, and for me to stand by and watch her suffer. She's a trooper, it has to be said, but there's only so much fight in a person and all of her fight goes to fighting the cancer. Anyway, summer is pretty much gone here, schools are starting back next week, I've been living off of salads & the emergency supplies in my freezer so I'm looking forward to getting back to routine, and back to 'food prep proper', starting this weekend. Gym wise I've come on in leaps & bounds, have gained weight, lost inches and am totally in the zone. Changing gym way back earlier in the year was supposed to only be a temporary thing but is absolutely THE best decision I could have made - and what a supportive little community we have become. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeadowLily Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 I did wish for it and I even told the Universe today. I told someone here I was wishing for it. For real. You're back. This makes 2 wishes in 4 days. I'm going to wish for a 3rd. Your sister. Then I'm going to wish for a 4th, something extra special just for you. You deserve it 'cause you were missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted August 17, 2017 Author Share Posted August 17, 2017 Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted August 18, 2017 Author Share Posted August 18, 2017 Just back from visiting my sister in hospital and she is hoping to get out again on Monday, when the Rapid Response team are able to take over dispensing all of her medications. Her tummy is currently SO swollen from all the meds that she looks about 7mths pregnant and we had a good long chat about probiotics - she's been on IV ABs for so long, and will be on them for at least another year (in fact a year from the day she gives three clear sputum samples in a row) that she really needs to start taking action to improve her gut flora. On Monday she's starting on Greek yoghurt (not Whole30!), sauerkraut, and booch - like it or lump it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted August 30, 2017 Author Share Posted August 30, 2017 Sooooo..... Two weeks on, the boys have their first full day back at school under their belt, food prep is going well, but my sister has yet to make it out of hospital. With the school term though comes routine so life seems a little more ordered - set bed times & alarm calls, home-works, school runs, uniforms to sort, lunches to pack, and on top of all that a full time job, a little consulting, and a lot of training to squeeze in. I'm trying, this week, to switch to ALL morning sessions at the gym. Today was the first that the boys had to get up & out to school with me having been at the gym before work. We did a trial on Monday, which was a Bank Holiday here, and the first born slept through the alarm Last night I switched his alarm to the loudest most irritating thing I could find, set a 2nd alarm that would ring to let him know he'd been in the shower long enough, and then proceeded to phone from the gym during a break between sets... Success!! When I got in from the gym both boys were awake, out of the shower & eating breakfast. I got my own breakfast, packed their lunches jumped into the shower & heard them shout to me that they were leaving, as scheduled, at 08:30. Wait, what?? 08:30?? That's when I need to leave....!!! So yeah, I was maybe a little bit late into work this morning Not quite the success I first thought but I'm not giving up just yet - It looks like their lunch prep is just going to have to happen in the evenings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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