day 185: cleansing weekend
Have you ever taken an 86 year old woman shopping for clothes? Let me tell you, it is a nearly impossible task. My sister and I took my Nonna to the mall on Saturday morning to go shopping for a shirt to wear to an upcoming wedding. We always dread taking her shopping for clothes, not because she walks painfully slowly through the mall corridors, nor because she shouts commands at us (“Pay the lady!”) but because she is the world’s pickiest shopper.
You could pick any top off the racks of the most “old lady friendly” clothing store and she’ll find something wrong with it before even bothering to try it on. I believe the standard response to anything that we presented to her was “Oh ca’mon, I look ridiculous!”, a phrase used to mean anything from “I don’t like the colour” to “The sleeves are too short” to “The top is too long”. My sister and I were able to get he to try on several tops just by ushering her into the change room and bringing tops to her that we thought she might not hate. Whenever Nonna put on a top in the change room she would lament at how tight it was on the belly and tell us that she was getting fat. …I guess I know where my fat talk comes from.
So I guess fat talk doesn’t stop with age. It grows with you if you let it. It crosses generational boundaries. I hope that if I live to be a spunky 86 year old woman, like my Nonna, I won’t still be standing in front of the mirror picking at my body. I hope that my wrinkles will tell of all the days I’ve spent enjoying the sunshine, and that my chubbiness will show off my penchant for decadent desserts, and that my grey hair will make me look distinguished (okay, maybe that only works for men, but a girl can dream).
Eventually we were able to find a beautiful sheer black tunic with a grey camisole that makes her look 20 years younger. We even convinced her to buy a trendy long silver necklace to go with the outfit. Before we left my sister and I mentioned that Nonna is very picky when it comes to clothes. Nonna piped up and said: “I know what I want, and that’s what I’ll buy.” So, in spite of her fat talk I’m proud that she knows what she wants and what will make her comfortable with her appearance. I wish I could say the same.
Saturday was another raw food day for me as part of the final cleanse. My meals kept me energized for a day of weightlifting, running, and shopping.
I had intended to make some chia pudding for breakfast because I loved it on my first and second raw days, but I was out late on Friday night catching up with a friend and I totally forgot to make it. Instead I made a Sesame Banana Bowl with a very ripe banana.
1 Banana, sliced; 1 T tahini; 1 t molasses; sprinkling of cinnamon
After I made my dish pretty for the camera, I just mushed it all together and ate it with a spoon. Oh Yeah.
Bananas are my favourite food.
Lunch was a papaya salad from Red Papaya.
Dinner was a raw zucchini and carrot salad with a dressing made of cashews, tomato, and LOTS of basil.
Today was a green smoothie only day. As is tomorrow. I’d be interested if anyone has any good green smoothie recipes they want to share.
Update: Look out tonight for my first post in the Bikini Confidence blogger series!
July 18th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
I loved reading about your shopping adventures with your Nonna. You wrote it so beautifully.
And your salad looks amazing! And very pretty too. Love it.
July 18th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
I love the Nonna shopping story! I can totally sympathize. I’m usually pretty particular about my clothes.
Food also looks great — and so healthy. Do you find you feel full and sated after your meals? Once I can afford it, I definitely want to up my vegetable consumption.
July 19th, 2010 at 12:33 am
my nonna is 85 and she is super spunky. i think she has more energy than me which is both terrifying (for myself) and exciting at the same time!
plus i can relate to the fat talk because my grandma ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT FAT and diets and bodies etc. its crazy!
xoxo
July 19th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Wow that carrot and zucchini salad look incredible!
I just found your blog (although I have been seeing your name on comment sections for awhile now) and I really like it.
Also bananas are my FAVORITE too!! I eat them every single day!
July 19th, 2010 at 9:19 am
she most definitely knows what she wants! After a lifetime of shopping with your body, I would think any of us at 86 would know what we wanted and be stubborn about it!
Good luck with the smoothies. I like spinach because I think it’s really neutral. Frozen Peaches, using almond milk (but read the ingredients on store bought ones–no freaky stuff when CLEANSING) and mint.
July 19th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Your Nonna does sound super spunky! That’s awesome you and your sister still take her despite the challenges you know you’ll face.
July 19th, 2010 at 9:57 am
I really, really love what you wrote here:
“I hope that if I live to be a spunky 86 year old woman, like my Nonna, I won’t still be standing in front of the mirror picking at my body. I hope that my wrinkles will tell of all the days I’ve spent enjoying the sunshine, and that my chubbiness will show off my penchant for decadent desserts, and that my grey hair will make me look distinguished (okay, maybe that only works for men, but a girl can dream).”
Beautiful, truly, and something we should all aspire to feel – graceful acceptance of ourselves.
July 19th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Haha, shopping with my grannie is PAINFUL, as well! Except she’s a size 0-2 and looks perfect in everything!
2 days of green smoothies…you’re a strong woman!!
July 19th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
My green smoothie is always vanilla soy milk, flax, banana, spinach, frozen strawberries and peanut butter. I don’t think that is the most original recipe ever but it works for me everytime
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July 19th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
I like bananas also….have to have them daily!
July 20th, 2010 at 8:00 am
Can’t wait to hear how the rest of your cleaning goes! I’ve never done one!
July 20th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
http://greenmonstermovement.com/?page_id=39
All the green smoothie recipes you could want!
July 21st, 2010 at 12:26 pm
That dinner looks so good! your pictures are beautiful
July 27th, 2010 at 2:07 am
Fortunately I don’t know any 86 yr old woman to go shopping with
Bananas look good!