I'm Coco-NUTS for this Health Tip

Interesting Fact: During the Vietnam War when medics ran out of IV solutions, they substituted with coconut water (also known as young coconut juice), to treat the injured on the brink of death and buy them time until they could be transferred to another medical facility or more supplies arrived. The coconut water was infused straight into patient’s veins as they would with any other IV fluid. This technique was successful because coconut water has an electrolyte balance very similar to that of human blood plasma and so was able to keep patients hydrated and their blood pressure stable.

How is this relevant to me? Well, sometimes after a workout, no matter how much water I guzzle down, I will develop mild to moderate headaches. This is where Gatorade and other sports drinks usually step in. As tri-athlete Chris Legh lets us know in the latest television advertisement, Gatorade is a dehydration (and dehydration headache) buster due to all it’s fancy pancy scientifically developed electrolyte balance.

Sports drinks? I thought you were talking about coconut water. Stay on topic Diet Queen.

Ok, ok. You may have heard before coconut water, with its naturally occurring electrolyte balance so similar to our own blood, is nature’s sports drink. I think coconut water blows Gatorade and the like out of the…. water. Apart from its hydrating magnificence, it tastes yummy, it keeps in the fridge for ages, you can scoop out and eat the tasty flesh and it has plenty of naturally occurring minerals and vitamins and other beneficial constituents that I’ve read about, but I’m not inclined to regurgitate on to this page for you.


They’re also fun to drink along side homemade Thai for a feeling of smug authenticity.

One slight disadvantage is they do not have a screw off lid like a sports drink bottle. When I was first confronted with an entire young coconut and it’s hidden water treasure, I was stumped as to how to open it. Then I stumbled across this delightful video, opening your first young coconut is a very rewarding experience

So, thank you immature coconuts for fighting my post workout dehydration.

Dieting: 19th Century Style

I have rediscovered the humble Cucumber Sandwich. Not that it ever disappeared. I hadn't eaten one for years....... and now I have. And boy it was goooood. Cooling refreshing cucumbers are the perfect food to be eating during this ridiculous heatwave.

If you look at the traditional cucumber sandwich, commonly served alongside tea, you won't find much nutrition in crust-less white bread with butter salt and thin slices of skinless cucumber, and not to mention it won't be particularly filling.

I created my own modern, healthy and a bit more hearty version with wholemeal wholegrain bread (crusts on), a smidge of butter, a teensy sprinkle of salt and chockablock full of cucumber. This will no doubt have British purists spitting out their precise blend of Earl Grey in shock and disgust.

Nevertheless I will continue to eat my criminal cucumber sandwiches and still feel like Victorian aristocracy.

Super Weird Ass Yet Yummy Recipe

This is a dish that my boyfriend's mum made for him as a young lad. He then decided to make it for me one night. At first I thought he was mildly nuts, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. This meal is a piece of cake to prepare and remains our What The Feck Are We Going To Cook For Dinner Tonight go-to recipe.


Ingredients (very non proper style)

Steamed/boiled white rice for 2 (I use Basmati because it's GI is lower than other types)

2 fillets of a white fish of your choice

Fish sauce

2 tomatoes diced

1/2 a Spanish (red) onion diced



Pan fry the fish, when cooked flake it apart with a fork.

Mix flaked fish through the rice and serve onto two plates.

Mix diced tomato and onion in a bowl, mix in 1 - 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, or to taste.

Dish the tomato onion mixture over the fish and rice.

Enjoy!



This recipe doesn't appear to be rather unhealthy either, just watch your serving, and be careful of the fish sauce as it's high in salt.

I really think this dish is yummy, easy and most of all I love the combination of the hot and cold ingredients.

Try it if you dare.

Maybe I'll upload a picture of the divine dish next time I make it.

Honesty is NOT the best policy. Sometimes it is a policy that makes me want to punch you in the face.

No, no, no. I would never really punch anyone in the face. I'm very non-violent. I'm actually quite a wuss. I cried while watching The Lion King. But that is beside the point. I will get to my point in a few paragraphs.

I spent most of last weekend strolling around Manly Beach, the weather was perfect for such an occasion. It was hard not to notice the bronzed, svelte, bikini clad, young women frolicking about the beach, playing beach volleyball. I wouldn't say I was jealous (I'm not about to commit one of the Seven Deadly Sins), and I support their proud display of skin not cursed with cellulite, but I would say that after seeing said bronzed beauties, I have never before so quickly refused a detour through Ben & Jerry's.

After carefully eyeing boyfriend to discern his line of sight (ie better not be towards certain beach goers), I decided I would buy a shiny new cossi, in some flippant attempt to have a trendy bikini magically transform my body into something that could rival Cheyenne Tozzi's.

I shimmied my way over to The Big Swim, and found half a dozen cute bikinis (that all looked great on the ad's model) to try on. Half way through I was sweating up a storm, all flustered, not knowing what damn bikini was worth handing over part of my tax return. So, I called out to The Boyfriend (aka TDH) for a bit of advice. He just stood there, with his giant head peering over my change room door while I modelled the array of swimwear I had selected. What I received was not what a girl wants to hear.

That top flattens out your boobs.

You seriously like those ruffles?

That does nothing for your figure.

That colour doesn't suit you.

Nah. Pass.

Bless his cotton socks, I know he thought he was doing the right thing, ensuring when I finally braved the world in the carefully selected bikini, I wouldn't look like a sure fool.

However, honestly I have to say there could have been a tad more tact applied. He may have been grumpy because it was too hot and he wanted ice-cream, but all he had to do was say which one he liked and all the good things about it.

The Punch have come out with some articles about men's perspectives on women and body image: Guys talk about female body image; Fat bottomed girls you make the rockin’ world go round; This girl looks normal: The 100 man body image survey.

Guys, you need to learn, when it comes to women and your opinion on our bodies YOU CAN NEVER WIN, even when you are sure we'll swoon at your compliments. Every single woman has a different relationship with their own body, some women battling and some women content. Sometimes you just need to keep your pie holes shut and save yourself an argument with your significant other.

Back to my bikini dilemma. Finally I chose a floral bikini from JETS Swimwear (one that according to The Boyfriend worked well with my bountiful bosom). I found the the floral top and bottoms a bit too matchy-matchy so I paired the JETS top (image is slightly different colour to the one I took home) with a lovely Watersun Swimwear brief in a colour they call Poppy. The sales assistant was very impressed with my combination, and I continue to believe I am a fashion genius.

Now here is a very funny picture I whipped up on ol' faithful Microsoft Paint to give you an idea (I haven't even used Paint since I was about fourteen but I'm not bothering with photoshop or illustrator or any such application on my ancient lappy, I am still waiting patiently for a Mac.... please Santa, I hope you're reading this):

Don't mind the semi-dude-bashing, I have nothing against the male species, who else would explain to me what the hell is going on in a cricket match.

You need to get your eyes checked.

A wise man once said to me Put down the cracker, that Philadelphia cream cheese is mouldy.

Yo, Gramps, get with the times. This this be Sweet Chili Philly. It's delish, you should give it a go.

Mould can be red too, you know, toots.

The above account may be false.

What actually occurred was someone (definitely not me) in fact did mistake mouldy plain Philly spread for Philly with Sweet Chili and ate it..... AND ENJOYED IT.

I'm gonna get killed for leaking that one.

Always read labels.

Kicking my Street Cred up a notch.

Sometimes I feel like a bit of a schmuck having a diet blog. Especially after the Ralph Lauren fiasco, and now that the ever so stunning Gemma Ward has been labeled fat. But then it's not really all about diet, I just want to be healthy and happy in my skin, which after years of poisoning my body with refined sugar and saturated fat, may take some time. Even the title of this blog makes me cringe ever so slightly, but I'm just a girl that likes a play on words.

Whatevs (das rite, I be down wif da cool n' hip lingo, gots keep up my Street Cred), it doesn't matter what niche blog I create, when it's really all just an elaborate cover for subliminal messages to buy a particular brand of pet food.

*Please not there are no subliminal messages contained within the pages of ConfessionsofaDietQueen.

YVAN EHT NIOJ

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.

These are a few of my favourite places (not things as the title implies).

After being bummed from missing out on The Best Opportunity of My Life, I remembered some advice a friend gave about going to a Happy Place. Whenever she felt stressed or down she would go to Spotlight ‘cause they have the best range of craft and party supplies, and boy does she love planning and throwing themed parties.

Here’s a list of my Happy Places:

Any bookstore. I love books. I love reading books. I love getting lost in a world of ink and paper. I love seeing books lined across my bookshelf. I love the ten books I am reading simultaneously all perched on my bedside table. I think it’s something that’s been ingrained since childhood. Some of my fondest memories as a child are of curling up on a beanbag in the company of Enid Blyton or Roald Dahl. Moral of the story, get your kids reading books, it’s da bomb.

Oriental grocery stores. It’s like going on holiday to Continental Asia within a 5km radius of your home. I stroll around those stores in awe and wonder. Taking in everything that is so different (and zany) from my own culture. Everything is lychee or mango flavoured, and I love lychee. Also in this magical place purple means taro, not grape or blackcurrant, and I like that too. A trip to my local Oriental Grocery store always has me coming home with bright green Pandan flavoured sweet sticky rice. Sometimes I wish I was Chinese (well not really).

Priceline. I may have once been an awkward Tomboy embarrassed by my blossoming little boobies. But while still maintaining my love of Star Wars I have embraced all things girlie. There you can buy almost any product you could need for your Sunday night beauty routine. Plus it has a chocolate isle. What else could a girl want? (I was contemplating the David Jones and Myer cosmetics floor but sometimes I find them a bit intimidating, especially when it feels like you are running a gauntlet, dodging a perfume spritzer girl at every counter.)

Ok, so all those places are actually retail outlets. What can I say? I am Consumer hear me roar. But I now have a non-capitalist place to add to the list.

My very own balcony. This balcony is in not any way new. It’s a grey slab of concrete I am very familiar with. But only now have we added a table, two chairs a few potted plants and my very own little herb garden. It is such an inviting place and now an extension of our home. With Summer a mere nanosecond away, there is nothing more pleasant that sitting outside amongst a bit of greenery, under the warm rising sun and enjoying breakfast with a loved one. Or reading a book outside as dusk is setting in and the air is becoming just that much cooler.

Sometimes when it feels like everything is turning to Shite, it helps to think about the small things (and places) in life that can bring a smile to your face.

What’s your Happy Place?

Tiffany: making my butt look fat.

Have you read Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? By Peter Walsh? No. Me neither. Although I do like the premise behind the book. De-cluttering home and organising life, leads to changes for a better life, leads to better health and weight loss. So with that in mind (as well as a lot of nagging from boyfriend) I decided to do a bit of spring cleaning, and as a matter of fact we are actually in the late stages of Spring and summer is nigh, so no better time to start than now (that's right I'm taliking to You, get up off your arse and find the vacuum cleaner).

Anyhoo, I was taking out a stack of woman's magazines to the recycling bin and came across the October 12, 2009 issue of Who magazine.




This is Tiffany the runner-up from season 4 of Biggest Loser Australia: Couples, her partner on the show and Father In-law Bob, was the winner. She lost a total of 54.1kg.

She looks FREAKIN AMAZING!!!

There is hope for me (and us all) yet.

But maybe less hope for me 'cause I just ate chocolate covered peanuts for breakfast.

Diet Queen

Bright Ideas, Sad Days and Textbook Romance.

I had an epiphany today. I realised most of my blog-est ideas come to me while I’m doing the dishes. Scroll through this blog and do the math in your head. Yes, I wash up once a week. I have even developed an equation for my remarkable discovery:

Where wu = washing up and bi = blogging ideas then,

↑ wu = ↑ bi = happier boyfriend (aka TDH)

Actually, I have come up with two ideas for great novels to write with dishcloth in hand. But you know what They say. Oh, you don’t. Let me enlighten you ‘Can’t even wash the dishes, then fat chance writing a whole book’. They don’t say that? Just give it a couple of weeks to catch on.

Now onto another note. Today, apart from my Blog Ideas Equation, has been an exceptionally craptacular day. My diet was especially pitiful. I have consumed Twisties, a Curly Wurly (ol'skool) and a cup of coffee (while doing the dishes and dirty dish water splashed in it but I drank it anyway!) Oh, wait. Yes, and pasta salad. Don’t let the salad part fool you. It contains basically pasta, creamy mayo and about 0.08% RDI of vegetables.

Anyway this is comfort food to a sad little elf (ie. Me). I’ve been feeling so shite because I entered a writing competition, and earlier this week I found I had two missed calls from a private number. I have convinced myself I was in the running to win but didn’t get to the last stages ‘cause I fail to answer the call asking to meet me. Maybe they would email me then. But paranoid me believes I submitted the wrong email. Well I do have one consoling thought. It was probably just debt collectors chasing up a credit card payment. Actually not so consoling.

Great way to comfort self, is with a great book. ATM I’m reading the uplifting book Textbook Romance by Zoë Foster. Why would I, with such a fantastic, tolerant, and handsome BF need to read a romance/dating guide? (Not meaning to sound like a smug bi-atch, just putting out to the Universe my appreciation for such a standup fella.) Well, I guess I don’t really, but I love her style of writing so much, I just had to buy it. I could tell it was just longing for place on my bedside table/handbag/next to the loo.

What’s great about the book is that you don’t even need to be a struggling single to read it. TR is so inspirational it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, plain and simply for being this magnificent creature called Feline. Our fierce eyes, sharp claws and coveted ability to clean entire body with own tongue. Sorry, my mistake. I mean Female, Female. And now I have the strange desire to read a whole lotta self help books and create a vision board.

Also forgot to mention Hamish Blake's high-larious scrawls/commentary along the margin (of TR). He is a Hoot n' a Half!

Haven’t even finished TR yet. Too good. Savoring it. More details on completion.

And need it to keep the mopes at bay.

Just typing up this post and getting everything off my chest has already helped. Now I remember why an emotional brick wall like myself started blogging.

Diet Queen