Do These Jeans Make Me Look Fat?

I love the title of this article... The scenario went something like:

Wife "Do these jeans make me look fat?"
Husband "No, love, they don't. It's your fat that makes you look fat."

Love it. No really.

I look in the mirror once in a while, while getting dressed, brushing teeth, doing hair and make-up, and it's amazing how powerful the 'mind' can be. If you think you're losing weight you will 'see it' if you feel puffy then you will look puffy (even if it's in your mind) Why is that?

I have reached the point where I have recognised that: most women are completely *insane* when it comes to weight loss, fat in general and the shape & size of our bodies.

Admit it.

We're mental about it.

We preen, pluck, starve, hide, cream, wax and tweeze ourselves until we are unrecognisable! All the while, our dear beloveds are looking on quizzically, saying
"But babe, I love you just as you are"...
And we ignore them with a pert,
"Mmm..."

Is it the media that is to blame? Is it the fact that we were made to:
"...Sit and eat that supper until the sun comes up! Eat every last bite"
"But I'm FULL?!"
"Don't you *know* how many children are *starving* out there!..."
"Well then give *them* my supper!"

And so we ate until it hurt and subsequently lost the ability to know when to say "I'm full thank you"

Am I right here? Am I on track?

We eat too much (a few bites too much, all of the time) and are being bombarded with imagery (magazines that are photo shopped) and we don't exercise enough (time constraints, safety of environment, cost of classes, cost of gym membership) and we loathe ourselves because we don't meet the grade. Isn't it sick?

I watch my daughters, Sav is three and a half, she is carefree and happy in her skin. She floats through her day concerned about whether Belle will love the Beast in time... And not about how she looks. She eats healthily and we don't make a fuss about finishing what is on her plate - she stops when she is full. Kels is one, she also eats when she needs to and stops when she is done. She runs off, and has a ball. She has no self awareness - it is liberating.
I want to be like that.
I WILL be like that.

I challenge you - whoever you are - stop criticising yourself and try to be happy 'as you are'. Accept your flaws and try to see the person you are 'outside' of your physical body.

- Eat healthily - make good choices.

- Exercise - short bursts of physical activity are just as good as slow workouts. The idea is to get moving. Go to the mall and walk from one end to the other.

- Stop speaking badly to yourself - you set the tone for your interactions with others. If you secretly treat yourself badly, don't expect others to treat you well.

- Start facilitating change in your life. Make the most of every day.

- Challenge yourself. Do something - a project - that pushes you beyond your comfort zone, something that you will have to work on. When you accomplish a challenging task you will feel exhilarated.

Have a good day,

Sandy Bigara
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!

Wheat Free Sulk Time :o(

Please Note: I have since been sent this amazing website link : www.wheat-free.org check it out if you think you may suffer from wheat intolerance. It's more serious than I thought!

I dont usually sulk. I rant. But by Jove here is a sulk. Enjoy it - Eeyore style.

"I got my curves because of this stuff here..."

"Wheat-free is the bee's knees."

I tell myself this about 50 times a day as I enter my second wheat-free week. Not really. I swear a lot though.

My face has slimmed, my belt is one notch tighter, I don't feel bloated or uncomfortable, I'm not craving food 24/7... Wheat. It's everywhere. It's in everything. It's so damn yummy.
:o(

Is there anyone out there who is also gluten intolerant?

I can't eat:
Corn (Niknaks, Big Corn Bites, Dorito's, Sweetcorn)
Maize (Phutu, Porridge)
Wheat (Bread, Rolls, sauces, Wraps/Roti's, Bunnychow, Samoosa)
Malt (Maltabela, Milo, Horlicks)
Semolina (Whatever the hell semolina is found in)

Bread: it's evil.

How do I possibly carry on? Do I cook separate meals for myself and my family indefinitely? Or, do we all embrace the wheat free lifestyle? Cooking time has doubled and if I look at the price of the different flour and pasta options I am shocked! *sigh*

Since I jumped off the 'wheat wagon' I have lost weight for sure, but there have been other side effects - my hair has 'settled' and is shiny, my constant hunger pains and food cravings have disappeared, and my allergies (Sinus headaches, Rhinitis, Throat pains) have all but disappeared. My Doctor is amazed.

*sigh again* Well I'm off to eat a potato and some lentil bredie while my family lushious-ly pour theirs over soft white uPhutu :o( I need a chocolate. Stat.



Sandy 'wheatless' Bigara
(The blonde sulking in the wheat-free corner)

Look Out Here They Come!

Watch this space... I have an exclusive up close and personal interview coming up with the beautiful CASEY-JEANNE WALTERS a Durban Fashion Designer who has her eyes on the prize - her designs are out of this world! I'm hoping to include some pictures of her INCREDIBLE wedding gowns with the interview.

Out The Box Festival

I'm also excited to announce a great Information Burst from the fabulous Out The Box Festival the largest puppetry and visual performance festival in Africa!

Cant wait to share these articles with you all.

 

Take care and enjoy some wheat for me. Seeing as I can't...

 

Sandy Bigara

  

The photograph of the stunning Casey-Jeanne was taken by talented South African photographer Cara-Lee Gevers who is available on Facebook.

Visit her page http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=654046745#!/pages/CLG-Photography/172477801314 Click "like" and enjoy her magnificent photography.

Workshop on the Companies Act 2008

Please Note: This affects Non-Profit Companies operating in the Arts.

_____________________________

From PANSA:

Business and Arts South Africa, in partnership with The Playhouse Company and Norton Rose will be facilitating a workshop on the Companies Act, 2008.

Associates from law firm, Norton Rose, will provide information as to the developments in the law, and how this affects Non-Profit Companies operating in the Arts.

If you are affiliated to a Non Profit Company, we would like to extend an invitation to you, or a representative of your organisation, to attend this forum.

Please note that seat reservations are on a first come first served basis as there are a limited number of places for this workshop.
 
Date:
Friday, 19 August 2011

Venue:
The Playhouse Company - Alhambra Room
231 Anton Lembede Street (formerly Smith Street)

Time:
9:30am for 10:00am

RSVP:
Please RSVP to arts@playhousecompany.com or call 031 369 9460 not later than Wednesday 17 August 2011

Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!

Shoes That Elves Don't Even Want

Do I hear you all gagging?

I felt dizzy, faint, ill... and then he took the shoe off.

Here is the post that caused a stir: (can't for the life of me think why...even caught the abysmal glare of an internet Troll from Japan... and that was just glorious fun...)
____________________________________

Ok, so what the hell is up with all of these pointy assed shoes? I'm not entirely sure.

Firstly, what man in his right mind wants to EXTEND his feet by as much as 10cm into a rapidly thinning point? Is it so that he can 'be the man' and kill cockroaches? Even ones that hide in corners? I think so.

Perhaps it is so that he can fool us all into believing that he possesses some otherworldly longer toe that he uses to.........gah! I can't even be bothered to think up a use for such a thing.

Thirdly, what is wrong with women?!? Somewhere, somehow, women are barely looking up from typing on their Blackberry's when asked,
"How does this look baby? Should I get them?" And are merely replying,
"Yes. Yes. Looks good. They're fine. Just get them."

This must be. This MUST be. Unless, as I am noticing the horrifying amount of men wearing 'skinny jeans', (OMG!! My eyes bleed!!! Put the Skinny's *away* with the lycra cycling tights, white knit vests and your green speedo!) Unless, Women actually *like* these Pants... and shoes... Or, I am past it. I am *not* past it. I will never surrender to the awful ugliness of the pointed leather work shoe.

Now before you get emo on me, and saw off the tips of your R800 DH Pointy toed elf boots, just listen. Wear them, take photos. That way in a year when Fashionista's the world over stop hallucinating and realise what they've done... You'll have some 'funny' photos of yourself. Like the photo's of you with a mullet when you were 13. Go ahead. Tag me.

In the meantime, my husband (who values my friendship and so will *not* go down the elvin booted path) can not find a single store that sells good old fashioned square toe'd leather office shoes... *sigh*


Sandy Bigara 

A Picture of Strength : Teenage Pregnancy

They say that there is strength in beauty, and beauty in strength. Bear with me. I’m having a moment.

I have had the pleasure of meeting up with an old friend a few months ago, an ex-student of mine who has had an interesting change in her life. She is a teenage Mum and has weathered the storms of prejudice and judgement to bring an incredibly special little baby girl into the world. Her name is Chelsea and I wanted to honour her strength and determination with this blog post.

Now obviously teenage sex, underage sex and sex before marriage are not high on my “Things I approve of” list – but, life happens, mistakes happen, love happens. It’s what you DO about it that matters.

I still read the PRO LIFE vs ABORTION articles raging on the internet…

SUM41 Gig a No-Go at Wavehouse Gateway

¤Were you cold?
¤Did you stand in the rain waiting to hear your fave band?
¤Were you at the "Concert That Didn't Happen"?
¤Did you travel from JHB or CT to get there... Only to freeze your @$$ off and be told "NOT HAPPENING"...?

People on Facebook are swearing at SUM41, but as a performer who played a gig myself last night - I opened for TONI ROWLAND - we got rained on, sang with wet

KZN MIDLANDS! Diemersfontein’s Free-flowing Pinotage Party

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting Diemersfontein (blog post: http://sandyramblings.blogspot.com/2011/07/diemersfontein-farm-worth-visiting.html )

Whilst waiting for my darling Husband to finish his wine, I chatted to a delightful lady named Dierdre Taylor who is the Marketing Manager at the Estate. She told me of a wonderful venture called PINOTAGE ON TAP. This will be their second year and from what I heard there will be a nice sized crowd attending!...

 

Here is the Press Release incase you havent already seen it around town:

Diemersfontein's free-flowing Pinotage party returns to Midlands, Kwa-Zulu Natal

Pinotage on Tap, the u

ltimate roving party of the SA wine calendar, will return to the Midlands KZN for the 2011 vintage launch of Diemersfontein's Original Coffee Chocolate Pinotage, on Saturday 10 September at the Piggly Wiggly farm.

 

On offer are the essential features that fans have come to know and love,...

A Personal View: Art

Art. A very subjective thing.

A week or so ago, I was attacked (in writing) by an internet troll with too much time on his/her/it's hands. After googling me he/she/it did 'it's' utmost to rip apart and shred everything creative that I have ever done. Now, I don't ever profess to be a fine artist, I just enjoy painting, sewing and creating arty stuff. (If you are interested I have an older, now dormant, blog with all of my paintings etc there - note: it's old. Out of date and a little ugly, but it's my history so I'll leave it in cyber space - www.talentfactory.wordpress.com )

Do you think that it is right to 'speak with utmost authority' and judge the art of others? A person who only possesses

My Advice: A Cold Girlfriend And a Troubled Teen Love Affair

NOTE: I tried to be kind, I even designed a soft friendly banner... I had to scrap that idea. This is the new banner... I just cant help myself - if you are causing your own heartache I will tell you! Just remember: there is always a way to solve a situation. It will take work, dedication and sometimes...walking away.

"My girlfriend is acting very strangely, she has stopped sms'ing me and calls once a week. It's been about two weeks now and if I see her she acts cold towards me. I don't know what has happened? Should I try to work it out or just leave her?

Broken Hearted Lover"

  

Dear Broken Hearted Lover,

  

You're an idiot.

Have you stopped calling and sms'ing her as well? The chances are that YOU have stopped trying and now only notice that SHE has stopped also. If you really truly love this girl then make a damn effort. Call her, sms her, arrive at her house and take her...