Cardiac Arrest = Heartbreak

Now that I have worked my way into magazine publishing, I thought I would be a bit more attentive towards my blog and maybe even post some well researched health focused articles.

That's what I thought.

Then tragedy struck.

A dearly loved relative passed away a month or so ago. It's still hard to think that such a wonderful person is no longer with us. He was indescribably one of a kind and left an impression of every person he met, which is why it's no surprise, that even for a simple family man, there were over twelve hundred people trying to cram into the church for his funeral.

For myself, the shock of the matter hit me the hardest. We all have our own way of grieving and coming to terms with the loss. Myself, my siblings and parents have all been able to accept what has happened and can continue forward in our lives. However, I don't think life can ever return to what it was and any type of normality is still some time away for his wife and adult children.

There is also a lesson that lies within his genes, some of which i must share. He was quite a healthy man, much more so than many living relatives. He in fact suffered the fatal heart attack while out on his daily jog. He had slightly elevated cholesterol, and with the support of his doctor he was attempting to lower it through diet and exercise and chose not use medication.

The thing is, cholesterol plaque build-up in the arteries which leads to heart attack is a result of a lifetime of elevated cholesterol, it doesn't happen over night. And with that, I myself am now to get my cholesterol levels tested and be more conscientious of the foods I'm eating now because they can potentially affect my future health.

So, that's where I have been all these weeks. I was actually considering shutting down this blog. But now i realise I have discovered all this information that could shed light for others and I am compelled to share it. Also, with these revelations in my family health history it's even more important now than ever that I really strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

I'll probably post next when I get my blood test results and i want to talk a little more in depth about cholesterol.

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