Trans, saturated and other fats...

Today I was kind of bored and decided to find entertainment by getting more info about FATS. Now I know why my cholesterol is fine. I just use foods that are low of all bad fats. I really did not read labels that much- I just checked cal content and general fat content, but if it had trans fats or saturated fats or other fats,, I just did not... I have been eating Healthy all along, BUT just giant amounts. My foods are 98% trans fat free. Which is good, since trans fat, like saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, raises the LDL cholesterol that increases your risk for CHD.(coronary heart disease). STAY AWAY FROM MARGARINE......

Following is copied from FDA website.. Very informative...

Here are some practical tips you can use every day to keep your consumption of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol low while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet.

• Check the Nutrition Facts panel to compare foods because the serving sizes are generally consistent in similar types of foods. Choose foods lower in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. For saturated fat and cholesterol, keep in mind that 5 percent of the Daily Value (%DV) or less is low and 20 percent or more is high. (There is no %DV for trans fat.)
• Choose alternative fats. Replace saturated and trans fats in your diet with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These fats do not raise LDL cholesterol levels and have health benefits when eaten in moderation. Sources of monounsaturated fats include olive and canola oils.Sources of polyunsaturated fats include soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil and foods like nuts.
• Choose vegetable oils (except coconut and palm kernel oils) and soft margarines (liquid, tub, or spray) more often because the combined amount of saturated fat and trans fat is lower than the amount in solid shortenings, hard margarines, and animal fats, including butter.
• Consider fish. Most fish are lower in saturated fat than meat. Some fish, such as mackerel, sardines, and salmon, contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are being studied to determine if they offer protection against heart disease.
• Choose lean meats, such as poultry without the skin and not fried and lean beef and pork, not fried, with visible fat trimmed.
• Ask before you order when eating out. A good tip to remember is to ask which fats are being used in the preparation of your food when eating or ordering out.
• Limit foods high in cholesterol such as liver and other organ meats, egg yolks, and full-fat dairy products, like whole milk.
• Choose foods low in saturated fat such as fat free or 1% dairy products, lean meats, fish, skinless poultry, whole grain foods, and fruits and vegetables.

Now, I love food ( you know it), and I can eat. I have eaten to a point that I threw up and then continued eating ( just some kind of chemical imbalance in my brain was shut off, and I did not get fullness sensation ..but that is long story... and happened while ago...

I can still eat to a point to a throwing up, BUT I have learned to recognize signs of fullness ( which is ONE OF THE HARDEST things to do). BUT my issue is, I still overeat and I do not feel full. I can consume about 6000 -7000 cals in one sitting and still eat, eat eat.. VERY frustrating... but anyway...
I am happy to let you know that I am on track again. I started loosing this week. I started slim fast plan, and it keeps my full . What I do to make it more appealing.
I take 1/2 cup frozen organic raspberries, 1/2cup water, 1/2 cup carrot juice , littlebit of ice, i tablespoon of extra fiber, and I blend it. OH SO JUMMY. Sometimes I use fresh bananas, fresh strawberries, carrots, apples, or mix all of them, and OMG. It is best meal ever. ALl nutrients I need in one cup. :) YUMMMMMMM...

Hopefully, ( if I do not fall off the track) I will be in my "yellow polka dot bikini " in 3 weeks ;)

dumb@$$

I'm such a dumbasssss. I really am. You know. I have not smoked since February. I DID REALLY GOOD, but then i got this giant urge to smoke. Not sure why, but probably because I am slowly getting ready for our July Mempis trip. Smoking in Mempis is a M U S T ... Gaining weight in Memphis Is a double must...

SO natural flow of things is- stop smoking -> gain weight-> start smoking-> gain more weight -> stop smoking AND NEVER START AGAIN.
I smoked 4 cigs in 2 days, and I got so sick I threw up. It was bad, really bad,,, and I just GOT My complexion under control, I was clean and clear, and because of those 4 stinky butts , my face and chest are covered with ugly white heads. SICK. sick, sick..

But yeah.. I am at this point right now. I can't stop eating. It is horrible, and now , that I am getting older ( DON"T LAUGH), it is so much harder for me to loose weight. Couple of years ago, I gained, I lost, I gained I lost . No big deal, but now, I am not sure what to do do boost my metabolism. I have been eating healthy foods, 90 % foods are organic, not processed. And there is that 10% that is still processed... Like ketchup, and other canned things I have to use once in a while... But I CAN't Loose what I am eating in. It stuck like glue in my middle section. IT IS NOT LEAVING ME. I hate it, I truly do. And part of this weight gain is due to my not smoking part. BUT I can't start again. I can't. It is just wrong. :( I rather gain few pounds and complain about it, but NO MORE SMOKING.
Shame on me for doing those 4 cigs. Bad Diana, No cookie for you tonight, just peanut brownie.

FOTO project...

Nii, tana kirjutan siis jalle Eesti keeles. On 28s Mai. Regina ajuoperatsioonist on moodas tapselt 3 aastat. Jah, Mai 28, 2004 opereeriti Reginal ajust halvaloomuline kasvaja. Tanu St Jude Children's Research haigla arstidele ja odedele On Regina terve ja tugev :) Aitahh..
Tana otsustasin vaheke jalle lilli pildistada. Panin yles omatehtud valge shadow boxi ja lilled sisse ning CLICK, CLICK. Avastasin,et ei pea sadu dollareid kulutama et taitsa hea kvaliteediga pilte teha. Muidugi, hea fotokas peab olema, kuid see on juba teine lugu... Koige muuga saab improviseerida. :)
Lisan ka siis moned fotod...

Lets talk about cuisine. I am hungry. I have been dieting for couple of days, since my size 13 pants ( largest I have been in 4 years), did not want to fit me anymore. :(:(:(
I am big Russian food lover. Just simplicity of foods and flavor. Nothing to overpowering. ( Kind of like Estonian, ;) ).
I was just watching Extra , and they were talking about this amazing new restaurant in LA. It is called Romanov, and it serves "international" food with contemporary kick. ... I add this place to my "To do" list. :) Who wants to go there with me ????
http://www.romanovla.com/


I am also big Mexican food lover. Now, I am not taco or burrito person - BUT HOME MADE Tamales, and REAL, Enchiladas - OMG. YOu got to be kidding me.. That is my kind of comfort food...

I love food, and I'd be lying to you if I tell you that Dieting is easy. :( Now, that I have not smoked a sig for over 4 months ( I think), food tastes so much better, aroma, flavor, more aroma.... Oh, ..( can you tell, I am hungry , as I am typing this???, I just opened bottle of red wine, and I am so fucking screwed , because I cant enjoy food with it. ( I thought if one of my Best friends can do it, I can do it,,, NO eating after 6 PM ; ) ),.... It sucks not to EAT, what I want to eat, when I want to eat......... BAAAAAA

HMH.

Is it me , or is it me..
Past few days I have been checking out Estonian Real Estate. I just want to know what is available and what is price range. You know what sucks. Prices are pretty good- with 3-4 million estonian crons(about 300 000 dollars , I can have pretty good 300 sq/ft house, with GIANT back/front yard. But drawback is, most of houses are NMS. I am picky. Very picky. I am just not very happy with layouts, material choices, heating/cooling systems. etc. IF I ever move back and Decide to buy house in ESTONIA. I end up spending extra 200 000 dollars to just make house fit my standards..

Just a thought...

'nuf said

Estonia is situated in Northern Europe, on the coast of the Baltic Sea, neighbouring Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Russia. It is a country with 1.4 million people, which attracts more than 3 million visitors annually.
Dates from Estonian history ( from MOFA website- Ministry Of Foreign Affairs)
02 May 2005

In the area that now forms present-day Estonia, the first settlements occurred some 11,000 years ago, after the ice cap retreated.

13th century, first half.
During the 12th century the Baltic region had been in the hands of the Teutonic Knights. Estonia was incorporated into Christendom at the beginning of the 13th century, under the pressure of crusaders from Germany and Denmark.

14th century.
In the Baltic region, power was now in the hands of the Hanseatic League. Several Estonian towns and cities belonged to the League, including Tallinn (Reval), which had received its city charter as early as 1248.

16th century, first half.
The Reformation reaches Estonia, which from then on remained a part of the Lutheran cultural space.

16th century, second half - 17th century.
From 1558 onwards, Estonia became the battleground for a war involving Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Poland. Sweden came out as winner, and Estonia remained under her sphere of influence until the beginning of the 18th century. During Swedish rule, the first university in Estonia was founded at Tartu in 1632.

18th century.
The Great Northern War left Estonia under Russian rule (1721). Estonia became a window through which Peter the Great wished to gain access to Europe.

19th century.
The winds of numerous national movements blow through the whole of Europe. In Estonia, the period of national awakening commences. In 1862, a national epic "Kalevipoeg" was published. A high point of the Estonian national movement was the first nation-wide Song Festival organised by Johann Voldemar Jannsen and the “Vanemuine” society in Tartu in June 1869.

1918.
On the 24th of February the Estonian Republic was proclaimed. At first this was merely a decision made on paper. True independence was fought for over the period 1918 to 1920, during the War of Liberation. The struggle was crowned with success, and a treaty was finally signed with Soviet Russia, which revoked in perpetuity all claims over Estonia.

1918-1939.
This was the period of the first sovereign republic. During independence, Estonia established diplomatic relations and made its existence felt throughout Europe. Independence was curtailed by the signing of the Pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939.

1940-1991.
Following the Soviet occupation in 1940, Estonia was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1941 until 1944. The Soviet Union incorporates Estonia in the fall of 1944. A large proportion of the population fled abroad. Many others were arrested and deported to Siberia. Those who remained, had to adjust to a new way of life.

The end of the 20th century.
Estonia succeeded in regaining independence by way of the Singing Revolution of 1988. She has been fully independent once more since 1991.

2004.
Estonia became a NATO member state on 29 March 2004 and a European Union member state on 1 May 2004.

In a short note- I am not liking me right now. I am not liking new me. I have lost motivation to do things or please others. I do not like even pleasing myself. I strongly dislike may. ANd aI have hated May with passion past 3 years. May 8 - my birthday- Regina was seriously ill, and I was too tough on her. May 26th , 2004, me flying to Estonia, Reginas condition was getting worse, we still had no idea what was going on. May 27, I was flying back to US, Because I was asked to . May 29th I found out that Regina had brain surgery to remove Brain tumor... I Still blame myself for not being there for her every step on the way. I HATE THAT I DID NOT LISTEN TO MY INNER SELF .... I CAN'T STAND FEELING LIKE THIS EVERY YEAR, EVERY MAY... IT IS OVER NOW, what am I afraid off?? I know I cant turn back time and change things around, but it bothers me.... I can't let go... I just cant... It is getting frustrating...

Movie/

If you have not seen Spiderman 3, go see it. Fun movie.
and Also, DISTURBIA. I went to see this movie with no high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised how well acted, directed and written this movie was. Full of suspense,. Keeps you interested the whole time :)

Happy Mothers day..

..or what's left of it :)
We had great mothers day. My dh. is full of surprises. On mothers day morning he told us to dress up because he was going to take us somewhere special :) So after fixing us up, we ran into our car and headed somewhere... And that somewhere was in Balboa Island . Restaurant- Oceanfront 21, where we had very expensive mothers day brunch. FOOD WAS AWESOME!!!! Even kids ate it. lol not to mention- gabriel discovered that crab legs are pretty tasty and dark chocolate cake tasted like it was infused with coffee.. lol he is something else. After our Long and very tasty dinner we headed to fashion island and took a walk, ate ice cream and then went back home, because all that food made us just very sleepy... ;) PLUS I was in some serious root canal pain... that had taken over my whole mouth....

Now... it is 9.03.. kids are in bed, Nick just left to airport and I am here, typing,and watching Desperate housewives.
Kids and Nick did such an awesome job to make my mothers day special. Flowers, cards, helping around house, cleaning up kids toys. etc. days like this just make me smile ....

Also, on Friday night we attended our friends wedding. Very cute wedding. It was in Newport beach on a Yacht called Icon. It was sunset wedding and lasted 3 hours. From 6pm-till10pm . Bride was beautiful, groom was handsome, BUT I had huge problem with what was going on on boat. I was checking out price list for food, and dj, and boat and planners etc. And I was not impressed with it. Food sucked. Stake was overcooked and bitter, time to meet and mingle to short , captain who married Beautiful couple was not belivable. If it was me, I would have complained my ass off, but since it was not my wedding I just smiled and acted all cute :) Congrats to Newlyweds :)

:))

Happy belated birthday to me. J
We had awesome day. On may 8th, I skipped school and did something extreme .
Few of you know that ocean is one of my biggest fears. I am scared of that big old thing.. Since I am so afraid of it, I decided to do something about it. I booked Captain Dave dolphin safari trip ( dolphin watching) and on Tuesday morning we all headed to Dana point to do this. I was nervous. I was sweating nervous, but I did it. And I am so glad I did. We drove about 8 miles out to ocean and OMG. IT WAS SO BEAUTIUFL. Ocean was quiet , It was so peaceful and beautiful I wanted to cry. And FINALLY we saw them . About 3000 yes , three thousand dolphins. That is not exact number, but close enough. Our captain told us that they have not seen such a sight for couple of years. OMG, dolphins, sea lions , fish , birds… Dolphins trying to play with our boat , trying to race us… It was breathtaking.Regina and Gabriel also loved it J

Then , around 3.30 we got home, dressed up and headed to long beach. I watch our local PBS station and once in a while I support them. This time around I HAD to support them. In march I purchased tickets through their fundrising event to see Celtic Woman. They are incredible. Voices- so pure, so clean. These day, it is hard to find this kind of voice quality. If you have not heard of them, google Celtic Woman, or listen to their music in I tunes.
CONCERT WAS FABULOS. I cryed, I did. I had to. IT is not that often I got to see my fave artists live on stage, and seeing them perform live was life changing experience. Very inspirational and uplifting. J

So that was my day..

OH, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR KIND BIRTHDAY WISHES. YOU ALL MEAN A WORLD TO ME, AND I AM SORRY , IF I SOMETIMES WRITE ABOUT THINGS MAKE YOU UPSET, BUT THAT IS ME. I DO NOT HOLD BACK… LIFE IS TO SHORT TO HIDE UNDER COVERS…. ;0)..
Hope to see you soon guys. J

Photography by Kiino.

We had such a wonderful day. Our day started with plumber showing up in our house… and fixed MAJOR plumbing problem- water pressure was triple what it was supposed to be, and we had water squirting out from faucets … after that very expensive error was fixed , we started 56 mile trip to LA.

Estonian house was converted into one huge studio with make up artist, hair stylist and photographer. Event was called house Beautiful and it was fundraiser to help raise funds towards fixing up Estonian house. We only stayed for a short while, since my dh was bored… men…

BTW dear Estonians- FOOD WAS AwesOME!!!!!
BTW, pics taken ( the ones that look professional , are taken by Kiino Villand.
http://www.kiinovilland.com/
he did awesome job. J

Then we headed to downtown LA. We went to see MOCA. ( Museum of Contemporary Art). http://www.moca.org/index.php check out this website, it has some of exhibits pics.

I LOVED it. I wish it was only me, so I had more time to look around… But since we were with kids, we had to hurry through and hit the road…

On our way home we stopped at Huntington beach and had nice early dinner . Weather was very windy, and wind was strong enough to carry us away, so we just took a short walk, and headed home .

It was very busy , but very fulfilling day. J
Tomorrow, Sunday… we are heading to Torrance, where Rides For Kids takes place…..