Feeling like a Hypocrite.

I spent the day at the annual training up-date for work, we had an interesting speaker talking about the really appalling things that the tobacco industry gets up to, but I'll leave that for another day.  The other talks were about healthy eating and exercise, boy did it make me feel bad.  I have put on so much weight over the last couple of years after my health problems and feel like a hypocrite advising other people on their weight and exercise.  I really need to get my act together and practice what I preach.  I know the theory, I just can't get my head in the right space to do it.  It all comes down to what I am putting into my body versus what I am burning off and that balance is completely wrong at the moment.  I know I need to eat less and exercise more, but I come up with one hundred and one reasons why I'm not doing this.  I know I can't go back to the gym, after my operations that isn't an option, unless I want to end up in hospital again!  A bit of running again would be good for burning off calories but I am in the catch 22 situation that I need to lose weight to do this or I will be putting too much strain on my knees.  So the perfect exercise for me is walking, I just need to make time in my day to do it.  I eat lovely healthy food, but just too much of it for someone who is so sedentary.  Yes I know, First World problems, but one that seems to be becoming a huge problem, there is even talk of doctors refusing to treat people who are obese.

The so called diet industry are making a fortune out of it, fooling desperate people into parting with their money for decidedly dodgy diets.  At my age I have seen an awful lot of them come and go, the eat as much protein as you want diet, yes full english every morning is so good for you.   The only eat cabbage soup diet, probably contributed to the damage to the ozone layer :)  The starve yourself for two days diet, where I know people who put on weight, literally eating what they wanted on the other days.  Yes I'm sure you can lose weight on these things but they're not exactly healthy or something you can keep up.  I was listening to someone the other day raving on about the diet she is paying some 'so called' health expert a lot of money to advise her on.  Basically it is eat only veg that is grown above ground in the morning, and veg that is grown underground in the afternoon. Seriously?? I would like to hear the science behind that one.   In reality I need to eat less and move my arse more.  What are the weirdest diets you have heard of or tried?

Keeping an eye out for queue jumpers

While I'm on the subject of food, I couldn't resist taking a photo of this little guy (or girl) lining up patiently waiting for his turn at the bird feeder.  I love watching them lined up along the branches in their pecking order.  The ones trying to jump the line soon get short shrift, then you have the bossy little robins chasing the others off, and the woodpecker who I still haven't managed to get a photo of, everyone scatters when he comes along.  Who needs television when you have the daily soap opera of the birds.  They have a really hard time in this cold weather so if you can, put a bird feeder out, it will give you lots of entertainment.

I took the photo at the top when I got home yesterday, there is something magical about the moon during the day.  I also spotted some cherry blossom on my tree a few days ago, surely November is a bit early?

Chickpea xx

Yes I know my previous post had a chocolate cake recipe, but it was a healthy one :)