What a wonderful article I found on the web that I wanted to share with you all-well worth reading!!!!!!!
How to Keep Your Weight in Line
It's annoying but true: As we chalk up additional years, we find ourselves adding unwanted pounds in the process. People who had no weight problem in their 30s and 40s watch in dismay as the needle on the scale creeps upward during their 50s and 60s, even though their diet hasn't changed. And therein lies the problem.
As the years go by, the body's metabolism rate slows down and we need fewer calories than we did when we were younger. The same diet that kept us trim at 40 may plaster on the pounds at 50. Yet we still need the same amount--or more--of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients we've been getting all along. This poses a dilemma: How to find a diet that meets no more than our basic caloric needs while supplying more nutritional value than ever.
One way around the problem is exercise. The more calories you burn, the more you can eat. And you don't have to enter a marathon or "feel the burn" of a Jane Fonda workout for exercise to make a difference. Taking a walk every day is ideal (see chapter 4). You can burn off three pounds a month by walking at a moderate rate for an hour per day. For many, however, this won't be enough.
Whether the solution is diet, exercise, or both, the problem is more than aesthetic--especially as we grow older. Studies by life insurance companies show that slim people live longer, healthier lives than those who are overweight. And the reasons for this are legion.
The Health Consequences of Excess Weight
Carrying too many pounds has a hair-raising array of potential consequences. Excess weight increases the chances of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, gallstones, certain cancers, varicose veins, pressure ulcers, and a variety of other diseases.
For example, high blood pressure is twice as common among overweight people aged 45 to 74. Overweight people are also three times more likely to develop diabetes. In fact, the Nurses Health Study, one of the largest disease-risk studies ever undertaken, showed that women who gain 15 excess pounds increase their risk of diabetes by 50 percent.
For men, the consequences of being overweight can be even more pronounced. A recently completed 27-year study of more than 19,000 middle-aged men found that those at their ideal weights lived significantly longer than those just 2 to 6 percent above the ideal. The heavier the men in the study, the shorter their life expectancy. Those who were 20 percent overweight had a risk of death from heart disease that was two-and-a-half times that of their slimmer counterparts.
Cancer and More
Obesity has also been linked with gallstones, back pain, sleep apnea (a condition characterized by brief periods when breathing stops during sleep), heartburn, stroke, gout, varicose veins, and even some types of cancer, including colon and prostate cancer in men, and uterine, endometrial, and breast cancer in women.
What seems clear is that the biochemical disruptions caused by being overweight are more complex and more prevalent than we thought. In just the last year or two, medical researchers have discovered links between excess weight and an astonishing variety of health problems, ranging from osteoarthritis of the hands and knees to carpal tunnel syndrome (a nerve conduction problem in the hand). All of these discoveries underscore the wisdom and benefits of weight control.
It Happens
Why do so many Americans tend to be overweight? The answer is simple: Many of us are taking in more fuel than our bodies need. Indeed, Americans now consume 34 percent of their calories in the form of dietary fat, the food most easily converted to body fat. (For every 100 unused calories taken in as fat, 97 are stored as fat. For every 100 unused calories taken in as carbohydrates, only 77 are stored as fat; the rest fuel the process of converting those carbohydrates to fat.)
Other factors that have contributed to the epidemic of overweight include highly processed foods laced with excessive amounts of fat, sugar, and sodium; lack of exercise in an age of labor-saving devices, computers, and tv; stress that prompts us to overeat or routinely snack on junk food; drinking (and nibbling high-fat snacks at the same time); and the decline in smoking (individuals who quit smoking often experience a 4- to 6-pound weight gain).
Sex Matters
Where weight is concerned, men can count themselves lucky. Women gain weight more easily than men do; and women have to work harder to get it off. It's all a matter of biochemistry.
A fat cell is designed to store calories (lipogenesis) when you don't need them and release fat (lipolysis) when you do. The enzymes that help store fat are called lipogenic enzymes; the ones that help release fat are lipolytic enzymes.
Women tend to have more lipogenic enzymes for fat storage; and the more you can store, the bigger the fat cell. Men have more lipolytic enzymes for fat release and, therefore, smaller fat cells.
Testosterone, the male sex hormone, activates the lipolytic enzymes for speedy release of fat. Estrogen, the female sex hormone, activates and multiplies the lipogenic enzymes. Estrogen not only stimulates the storage of fat, but also directs where most of it will be stored, concentrating it in the hips, buttocks, and thighs.
Throughout their lives, women have more body fat than men. The bodies of young girls contain a higher percentage of fat than those of young boys. And at certain milestones in the female life cycle--puberty, pregnancy, and menopause--women tend to put on even more fat. That means that the older a woman gets, the more likely she is to face the health-destroying problem of excess weight.
In technologically advanced countries, most men keep gaining weight until they reach their mid-50s, when they start shedding pounds. In women, however, body weight keeps increasing until the late 60s. After that it declines, but at a rate slower than that of men. While the metabolic changes of maturity could be a factor, reduced physical activity may be the real culprit.
Overweight or Over-Fat?
Don't trust only your scale or your mirror; they tell just half the story. It is body fat, rather than weight, that may be the best indicator of whether or not you need to trim down.
Fat comprises about 15 to 18 percent of the total body weight of a healthy, physically fit man. For a woman, the ratio is slightly higher: from 20 to 25 percent. It's quite possible to exceed these ratios without weighing in above your ideal; and the reverse holds true as well. Remember: You can be overweight without being over-fat and over-fat without being overweight.
This is one of the reasons a tape measure can be a better tool than a scale for measuring the success of a weight loss program. Since muscle weighs more than fat, your weight may seem to stabilize or even increase as you build muscle mass. Don't be discouraged. If you're wearing smaller-sized clothes or you've lost inches from your hips, waist, or neck, you are actually leaner and healthier than when you started.
Apple vs. Pear
At least as important as total weight is where the fat tends to settle on your body. While fat in the hips, thighs, and buttocks is mainly stored just under the skin, fat in the midsection is stored deeper in the body.
As we grow older, fat tends to collect around the abdomen, and many people develop an "apple shape." This can be more dangerous than having a "pear shape," in which excess fat gravitates to the hips and thighs.
Experts theorize that abdominal fat releases more fatty acids, leading to a rise in blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. While this can be a serious health problem in and of itself, it also may interfere with the action of insulin in the body, thus increasing the risk of diabetes. Some researchers also believe that "apple shape" obesity may increase the availability and activity of estrogen, leading to an elevated risk of breast cancer. The good news is that, to some degree, you can modify your shape, whether apple or pear, through exercise and diet modification.
What Weight Is Right for You?
Recent research suggests that if you repeatedly have trouble reaching--and maintaining--your ideal weight, you may be better off surrendering that elusive goal altogether and focusing on what your body really wants to weigh: your natural weight.
Natural weight is the weight your body goes to and maintains when you're eating reasonably and not drastically cutting calories, exercising vigorously, or otherwise trying to shed pounds. It will never be a fixed number, but, rather, a range of 5 to 8 pounds (since weight normally varies slightly with changes in general health, activity, hormone levels, and the time of day).
Of course, that doesn't mean that any weight is healthy. If your weight is 20 percent or more over the top of the ideal range for your height and frame (see the nearby table), you should consider trimming down to stay healthy.
Gauging Your Natural Weight
To determine your current natural weight range, consider the following factors.
Your personal weight history. Try to remember the lowest weight range you have successfully maintained as an adult, without dieting, for a period of a year or more. That is your baseline natural weight range.
Your family. Make a mental picture of family members when they were about the age you are now. Because genetics is a powerful variable in terms of size and shape, family resemblance can help define your natural weight. (Remember, however, that even if you come from a long line of very heavy people, if your weight seems dangerously high, it's wise to check with your doctor about the need to shed some pounds.)
Your exercise habits. Think back to that period when you maintained your lowest-ever weight. If you exercised regularly then and don't do it now, you may need to add several pounds to your baseline weight range--or start exercising again.
Strategies for Successful Weight Loss
Once you have determined your natural weight range, what do you do with the information? If your weight is excessive for your height, you should try to lose weight gradually by adopting a low-fat, moderate-calorie, healthful diet and boosting your exercise level. Remember that crash diets and furious bouts of exercise don't work and can, indeed, be dangerous. Moderation and consistency are the keys to success.
From a weight-loss standpoint, a low-fat diet is ideal because it minimizes the amount of fat readily available for your body to store. But how low is low? The American Heart Association, the National Academy of Science, the American Cancer Society, and many other groups recommend that we get a maximum of 30 percent of our calories from fat (with no more than 10 percent of total calories from saturated fats). Another body of nutrition experts, including Nathan Pritikin and Dr. Dean Ornish, suggest that even lower levels of fat (10 to 20 percent of total calories) are much better than 30%, and can, among other things, actually reverse existing heart disease.
Calories Still Count
Your body needs a certain number of calories per day to maintain bodily functions--referred to as your Basal Metabolic Rate (bmr). You can estimate your bmr by multiplying your current weight (in pounds) by 10 for women, 11 for men. For example, a woman who weighs 120 pounds would require about 1,200 calories per day just to maintain her bodily functions. You'll also need some percentage of calories above your bmr to provide energy for your daily activities; the percentage will vary widely based on your metabolism and activity level. A moderately fit and active person might need 30 to 50 percent more calories than the bmr to maintain current weight. Example: A 120-pound woman would need approximately 1,680 calories per day [1,200 + (1,200 x 40%) = 1,680]. A person who is very fit and exercises frequently might burn as much as 100 to 200 percent more than his or her bmr.
If your goal is to lose weight, you'll need to take in fewer calories than you use up, or burn off extra calories through exercise, or both. If you choose to decrease calories, aim for the amount needed daily to maintain your target weight, not your current weight. Most experts recommend that women take in a minimum of 1,200 calories and men a minimum of 1,600 per day. Lower calorie levels are unlikely to supply all the essential nutrients you need, and may slow down your metabolism, making weight loss even more difficult. For gradual weight loss, some professionals recommend a daily calorie target of 10 times your weight. At this level, they say, you can expect to lose half a pound per week.
Good (And Bad) News about Sugar
The "empty calories" of sugar have gained a bad reputation. Yet sugar by itself isn't a problem. It's the high levels of fat in sugary foods such as ice cream and pastries that really put on the pounds. In terms of weight loss or maintenance, sugar becomes objectionable only when you fail to keep your intake down to moderate levels. Sugar is a carbohydrate, thus it is normally burned by the body immediately, and is converted to fat only if it's present in quantities too large to be used at once.
Nevertheless, some people find that even moderate amounts of sugar stimulate cravings for yet more sweets, often of the high-fat variety. If you are one of these people, you may find it helpful to eliminate processed sugars from your diet, relying instead on the natural sweetness of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Artificial sweeteners can be an effective aid if you have occasional cravings for sweets, but probably won't work for those of us with an active sweet tooth. The taste of artificial sweeteners can trigger sugar cravings about as easily as the real thing can.
Tempting Techniques for Boosting Fiber
Fiber has many benefits, but one stands out when you're losing weight: it fills out the stomach and intestinal cavity, producing a feeling of fullness. Fiber is found chiefly in nonprocessed foods such as whole grains, beans, peas, fruits, and vegetables. Fiber may be added to processed foods in the form of bran, which is the outer coating from a grain such as wheat or oats.
The typical American diet is high in processed foods, most of which contain little or no fiber. Most people get only about 10 to 12 grams of fiber per day, while 25 to 30 grams are needed to get real health benefits. If your current diet is low in fiber, it's important to increase your intake gradually over a period of weeks or months (a sudden jump can cause bloating, cramping, and gas). Try having a small serving of a high-fiber, low-fat cereal with your breakfast; as your system becomes used to the higher fiber levels, start substituting whole-grain breads, cereals, and pastas for refined (white flour, low fiber) varieties. Increase your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, and eat edible peels and skins (apples, potatoes) instead of trimming them.
How to Put Your Diet into Action
Once you've decided it's time to shed a few extra pounds, the big question is How? The basic principles--less fat, fewer calories, more fiber--are enshrined in hundreds of dieting schemes. At any given time, you have a choice of over 300 diet books, plus all of the commercial diet centers in your area (there were over 8,000 of them recently in operation across the country). The first decision to make is whether you prefer to go it alone or seek the help of a structured program.
Tips for Do-It-Yourselfers
If you're the go-it-alone type, keep these tactics in mind. You'll need to make up for the support that comes automatically with enrollment in a program.
* Find a good time to start. "I'm going on a diet tomorrow," is a sentence that often heralds failure because it's sparked by a momentary impulse (or guilt after a triple-decker ice cream cone) rather than a well-thought-out plan. Weight loss is tough, and you should give it the same careful consideration you would give to changing your career or buying a house. Find a starting date during a relatively quiet time in your life, not while you're also moving to another state or dealing with a crisis at work.
* Create a diet "campaign." Some people prefer to start with an exercise program, and add nutritional changes later on. For others, the reverse strategy works best. And for "all or nothing" types, starting both programs on a particular day can increase motivation.
* Choose a good book for companionship. Some people prefer a diet plan book, while others do best with a low-fat, low-calorie cookbook.
* Check with your doctor if you have any medical problems. You need to make sure that the eating and exercise strategies you've chosen are suitable and safe.
* Decide whether you need a "quick start." Quick-start programs, in which you change your eating habits drastically for a few weeks, are likely to deliver the most dramatic changes on the scale. But they require a good deal of concentration during the initial phase and may not be suitable if you're pressed for time. For many people, however, this approach serves as a great motivator. After you've lost those first exciting five pounds, you can modulate the plan into one you can continue life long.
* Consider "gradualism." This strategy works best for people who don't have too much weight to lose, and those who can accept the idea of slow--but steady and permanent-- change. One approach is to modify one daily meal at a time. For example, during the first week, you can concentrate on low-fat, low-calorie dinners, assembling menus and creating tasty meals. In the second week, you can turn to lunch, and so on. Or, you can tackle one food group at a time. A switch to low-fat dairy products is a good start. The second week, pay attention to lower-fat meats and fish, and to learning how to create one or two vegetarian dinners a week. (Be careful, though: Some vegetarian recipes are amazingly high in fat.)
* Don't forget fluids. Drinking eight glasses of water a day can fill you up, prevent the shakiness and fatigue of dehydration, and give you something to put in your mouth when you're trying to forget about eating.
* Eat slowly and savor your food. Give your internal "portion control" monitor a chance to get through to you. Fill up on lots of veggies prepared without added fat. Eat pastas, potatoes, and other filling foods, too, but only within reason. Use cheeses, meat, and sweets to give an extra zing to meals, but keep them to a minimum.
* Keep track of your progress. Weigh yourself daily, keep a food diary or try on a once too-tight skirt or pair of jeans each morning. Tracking progress reminds you that you've started a change, and rewards you with a hint of the final results.
* Don't punish yourself. If you "fall off the wagon," don't despair. Learning to climb back on is a key to long-term success.
* Survive the "plateaus." While the first pounds often come off quickly, many dieters hit plateaus where their weight remains steady for weeks even though their fat and calorie counts are low. Your metabolism is making noble efforts to keep up your fat levels, in the mistaken belief that starvation is near. Don't give up; weight loss will start again once this plateau is passed.
* Reward yourself. Small treats and large pleasures will help you celebrate everything from sticking with your plan on Day One to reaching your target weight, along with whatever small markers you create in between.
Checking Out the Enrollment Programs
If you want the extra motivation and support that come from a structured weight-loss program, you'll be faced with some additional choices. How best to judge a commercial program? Make your decision based on cost, comfort, and common sense. These plans generally attract women who have a moderate weight problem and men who are moderately to seriously overweight. All the top four commercial weight-loss programs--Diet Center, Jenny Craig, Nutri-system, and Weight Watchers--include a low-calorie diet of about 1,000 to 1,500 calories a day and some kind of supportive counseling.
None of the top four emerges as better at helping individuals to lose weight and keep it off, according to a 1994 Consumer Reports survey of 95,000 readers who had attempted to lose weight in the past 3 years. Overall, however, Weight Watchers tended to be the clear favorite among those polled. It costs less than the others, emphasizes healthful dietary habits, encourages relatively slow weight loss, and generally appears to provide the most satisfying support. In contrast, Nutri-system and Jenny Craig cost more and are more likely to use high-pressure sales tactics. But as Deralee Scanlon, rd, points out in Diets That Work: The monetary aspect does not in itself lessen the potential effectiveness of a program--in fact, some people take these programs more seriously precisely because of the financial investment.
How to Keep the Lost Pounds Off
Once you've lost the weight and have come to accept your new appearance, you have to develop new skills to hold onto your hard won gains. While there is no simple formula for keeping weight off, there are skills you can develop that will help you maintain your desired weight and make maintaining it more automatic.
The "C" Word
Long-term weight management requires a conscious commitment--one just as strong as, or stronger than the one you made in deciding to lose weight. As with any large project, it's a good idea to break the task down into smaller, doable segments. Many people find it easier to make a commitment to maintain their current weight for one year.
The commitment should be specific--something like: "I will continue to go to exercise class 3 times a week and I will continue to use vegetables for my snacks." Remember that keeping this commitment is something no one can do for you.
Once the commitment is made, keep visualizing your success. Imagine yourself a year from today, still able to get into your current sized jeans. Imagine yourself relaxed and happy, eating foods you like that are also good for you.
Create New Habits
Weight maintenance becomes a much easier proposition once you've established good nutritional habits. Simplification and preparation are key to getting new habits in place. For example, if you don't habitually eat breakfast but have decided to do so to boost your morning energy and prevent overeating at lunch, start with a simple approach: Eat the same breakfast every day until the habit is firmly embedded. Prepare by keeping the things you want for breakfast always on hand.
To avoid falling back into old habits, you need to trigger your new habits on a daily basis. For example, put a note on the mirror reminding yourself to eat breakfast, and set out dishes and some ingredients the night before.
Simplifying your approach to food makes it easier to form new habits. Choose a nutritional plan that feels comfortable and doable. If possible, reduce your plan to a simple-to-remember formula. For example, plan to eat a fruit or vegetable with each meal or snack, or set a fixed number of portions from each food group to eat every day. Keep your plan in your wallet and look at it before you buy your lunch. And remember to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Connect with Hunger
People who have never had a weight problem tend to eat when their body says "I'm hungry." But hunger signals may be badly scrambled for those who have been through various deprivation diets. Judith Matz, co-director of the Chicago Center for Overcoming Overeating, suggests it's possible to relearn to identify and respond to hunger signals and to eat only when they occur. "With practice you can reconnect your eating with internal cues," she says. "Doing so helps you distinguish between a bodily urge for nourishment and the desire for emotional comfort from food." This doesn't mean you should never reach for food out of emotional hunger, but that you should know it when you do and perhaps choose another way to fill your needs instead.
If you often feel hungry between meals, consider adjusting your food choices. Some foods have "staying power," notes Sybil Ferguson of The Diet Center Program. They stay longer in your system, helping you feel more satisfied and energetic. Many foods low in calories, such as prepackaged convenience diet foods, are also low in "staying power" because they're digested quickly. Natural foods with lots of fiber, such as oatmeal, vegetables, and fruits--are helpful for maintenance because they take longer to chew and to digest, and they create a full feeling in your stomach.
Skipping meals, either because of time crunches or out of guilt from previous overeating, interferes with the steady state of satisfaction that makes maintenance easier. When the body has been deprived of food for many hours, your blood sugar level drops, leading to cravings for immediate energy boosts. Eating a balanced selection of foods on a consistent schedule helps stabilize your blood sugar level and hunger sensations, so you can continue to make intelligent decisions about eating.
Avoid Deprivation
A sense of deprivation ("oh, I wish I could eat that," "you're lucky, you can eat anything," "I used to be able to finish a whole cake at one sitting") is a prime enemy of long-term weight maintenance. Tyrannical diet programs do work well for short-term weight loss, but over the long haul, we all need to eat for pleasure as well as nourishment. Meals are among the most pleasurable social events in life, and it pays to learn to take pleasure in the foods that are good for you.
Keep a list of foods or dishes you particularly like that also fit in with weight maintenance. When you find yourself missing your old bacon, eggs, and steak diet, treat yourself to all of your favorite nutritious foods in the same day. It keeps your spirits up without expanding your waistline.
Whenever you feel hungry, there's always something you can eat that will be satisfying without threatening your weight stability. Try keeping the refrigerator stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables. Treat yourself to exotic and out of season fruits and vegetables when they look inviting in the market. Nibble on red peppers, fresh young carrots, and cucumbers dipped in a low-fat sauce (no-fat salad dressing makes a quickie dip).
Monitor Your Weight Daily
If you find you've put on a pound or three, try to ease yourself back on track quickly. This may involve relaxation efforts, visualizing more nutritional eating, or being extra careful for a few days. But once a 5-pound gain has occurred--you should consider it a "weight emergency" and construct a relapse recovery plan.
Return from Relapse
Everyone should expect to have slips from their weight maintenance program," says James Hill, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of Colorado in Denver. "The most important thing is to recover as soon as possible."
The first step in recovery is to identify the problem(s). List all possible reasons to finish the sentence, "I've started gaining weight again because ...."
Then adopt an optimistic stance about your ability to bounce back from hard times. Remembering previous accomplishments, and setting realistic goals for the future can soon have you back on the maintenance track.
Assume responsibility for your actions and beliefs--this puts you firmly in control of your future. Come up with some solutions for each of the stresses that undercut your program. For example, a new low-fat cookbook or cooking class can help you combat food boredom.
When you've patched together a recovery plan to meet your needs, gather strength for the new change by tapping into your support network. Talk to someone who is positive and reinforces your decisions. If you were part of a formal weight loss program, check in with the support group whenever you need to recover from a lapse.
Feed Your Emotional Needs
The trick to avoiding relapses--and coping with those that occur--is to remember that you're a capable, lovable human being who can accomplish your goals. Nurturing your own self-esteem can help you cope with the stress and burnout that so often lead to overeating. When you feel tired, bored, quick to anger, withdrawn, rigid and ineffective, you're most apt to abandon your nutritional program. It helps to remember the positive side of your weight loss experience: feelings of being in control, reaching goals, making peace with your appetite, taking care of yourself. It's easy to believe in yourself when things are going well. It's when the going gets tough that you need to reinforce your self-confidence.
Making positive life changes that improve your body and mind are a good way to foster self- esteem. Consider taking a stimulating class or workshop, or try a new exercise program. Developing a relaxation ritual, which may involve breathing exercises, chanting, or muscle tension and relaxation, is another excellent technique for caring for yourself.
The Maintenance Mantra
Why do you want to maintain your weight loss? What's the most important factor for you? The reasons vary from person to person. For some, lowering blood pressure or a high cholesterol level is most important. For others, cosmetic concerns loom largest. Naming your motivation proudly and loudly, at least to yourself, can help you stay on track. "Usually people go out and lose as much weight as they can, then see how much they can keep off," notes Professor Hill. "Maybe we should do the reverse: first, make the right nutritional changes, then, based on our ability to stick with them, accept the resulting weight." *
OH...MY...GAWD!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THEY BOOTED HUNTER OFF THE SHOW??? I felt for him because he was
stuck with that bunch anyway.
SOL....are you getting the puppy???? One like in the picture????
Did you get Debs email about contacting Missy? I would appreciate your sending that to her if you can.
SUSAN... SORRY about the color switch!! must have been a brain fart , because I certainly knew better! Glad to hear that little BELLE is doing well...
FROG...how's DIXIE doing since her visit to the vet? Does she like her new manicure? Hope you're feeling better today..
SUE...sorry about your friend. We're here if you need us..
POOCH...SURVIVOR will be on again WEDNESDAY and then should go back to Thursday...It's because of the NCAA basketball tourney..
We'll remind you next week...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!!!!
Found two good sites...they are as follows www.Efit.com & www.dietsite.com
Check them out...there are a few good things...
I just returned from Natchitoches, La. What a perfect “Ladies Day Out” trip. Our B&B turned out to be so great.
We each had our own room with a parlor in between. The breakfasts were outstanding and the little tours we took
were fun. Can you tell I had a good time? We got to see all the places and learn the history about the town and
Steel Magnolias, then saw a video that evening at the B&B. It really made the movie special.
I use Sprint PCS, so, was able to talk to my daughter in Hawaii. (No addition charge.) Still no luggage but they
have bought what they need for the remainder of the trip and have been able to get past the pain and disappointed
of that part. While they were on the trip they got a message that my son in law got the job he had wanted and will
be able to start when they return. Things are looking up for them.
Zanne: Thank you for you kind words and thinking of my daughter and her husband. I hope you try the muffin
recipe. It is good to freeze and pull out for a quick breakfast.
Wow- Thursday already and look at all these posts! keeping up is becoming a full-time job.
I had a bizarre and upsetting conversation with my boss today who knows what I've been doing in the gym, and sees the food I eat at work. He has a small side business selling USANA nutritional products ( high quality but expensive vitamins, and a lot of other crap ). I take their vitamins, mostly because of the convenience of having them arrive in my mailbox without me thinking about it, and to get him off my back. Today he started asking me how much more weight I wanted to lose, to which I replied it didn't really matter, just wanted to burn more fat off and would continue to do it by eating right, lifting weights and cardio. His response was UGH- You can't just keep lifting more weight! You'll look like those digusting female body builders! Your husband certainly won't like that! And of course he had a fat burner product that he could sell me that would make me look much more feminine and lean!!!! ARGH! I told him Jon was thrilled with my muscles, and couldn't wait for the day I could carry the couch up from the basement myself so we could switch the family room and rec room furniture. I was so upset I called Dh for a talk about muscles (believe me, I'm a LONG way from Ms. Olympia or the Arnold look!) and what a tactful honey! Says he loves 'em and it just spurs him on to get in better shape. He's in pretty good shape now, still plays ice hockey and racquetball at age 51. Just has a weakness for chocolate! Don't we all.
Anyway, sorry for the rant. The highpoint of my day was a quick trip to the mall for new undies. I passed the jeans on the way and tried on a SIZE 4 and they fit. Decided not to buy them yet- didn't really need another pair. Then I saw and smelled Cinnabon, which I haven't had since last June and was going to have a cheat treat, but at the last moment decided nothing could taste as good as size 4 made me feel. So I bought the jeans instead (ouch Deb, they weren't even on sale). A tad more expensive, but, hey, I'm worth it! And they won't make me sick.
Pooch and Pravda- Happy birthdays! Hope your days were good and your cakes sugar-free, stone ground whole wheat
Fruit- I too was amazed that they allow corporeal punishment there. Teachers have been fired on the spot here for touching a kid. Not that I don't sympathize- years of being a Brownie, Girl Scout, Cub Scout leader, lacrosse coach and volunteer at school have made me want to strangle a few myself. And to whomever it was that said it was their own that was the "problem child"- that's always the case. My kids, who everybody else say behave wonderfully, always acted possessed if I was around as the adult in charge.
S'Happy- So sorry to hear about the loss of your friends. Are there family for the kids? How terrible.
Vesnoid- I like your pot story. Reminds us that trying to acheive perfection just sets us up for failure- better to look at the slips and quirks as learning, enriching experiences.
Beth- Hope you are feeling better and are back on track!
Debbie- You need to get together your shopping list for me and we can email phone #'s. I'm glad I only bought 1 case of the Cucamonga agave, I don't like it as much as the sweet cactus farms, and I think that case might last quite a while anyway. I'm like you, if I bake it, I eat it. All of it. Yesterday I made a really good glaze for salmon which used quite a bit, tho. Olive oil, agave, liquid smoke, and hot pepper flakes. Basted and broiled. Yum.
Gotta go help with the dreaded word problems- I don't remember 5th grade math being this complicated when I was in fifth grade! As with my dd, I'm sure ds will figure out that by 8th grade he's surpassed my math capabilites. How degrading.
Happy Birthday Pravda and Pooch! Hope you have wonderful days!
Well, here's my confession: I have decided to start over. Since I fell off the wagon and gained back a good share of what I lost a year ago, I didn't want to post until I was back down to my lowest and then I could post losses again. Well, that wasn't working. Seeing that scale finally go down, even though a little, I need to post a loss and get inspired. To make a long story short, the scale was down 2 pounds yesterday and that gave me such a shot in the arm that I wasn't even tempted by the cake at the retirement party in my office! All of you doing so well are my inspiration so BOB - back that wagon up my driveway!!!!!
DEB, have you ever checked out this website? www.86sugar.com/index.html. I was exploring in there and was impressed with the products that I have never seen before - and they are sugarfree. Have you ever heard of wondercocoa or Slimsweet? Wondercocoa is supposed to be sugar and fat free.
Here's what they say about SlimSweet:
SlimSweet™ is a revolutionary new all-natural fruit sweetener that, unlike almost all other sweeteners (including the healthy ones), does NOT boost insulin levels or increase fat storage in the body. Because SlimSweet™ does not elevate insulin levels, it also does not lead to the appetite cravings that cause additional weight gain or serious health problems linked to sugar and artificial sweeteners.
Derived from a medicinal Chinese fruit of the kiwi family, SlimSweet™ is a truly extraordinary all-natural sweetener that provides all of the benefits of fruit sweeteners (fructose), but without the calories. SlimSweet™ contains zero calories per 1 gram serving and is also a thermogenic (fat-burning) substance as well. Discover for yourself the fascinating story and research behind one of the biggest dietary breakthroughs of the century!
SlimSweet tastes just like sugar but is 15 times sweeter than table sugar! One-fifth teaspoon is equal to 3 teaspoons of sugar. SlimSweet is LOW GLYCEMIC which means it does not significantly affect or elevate blood sugar or insulin levels.
I found a website that has some recipes using these products, but I thought I would ask and see if you knew anything about them. Thanks!
Well, I've maxed out my computer time for one night and it's time to recline! Catch ya later!
Had an ok day today. Had a very unexpected visit from TOM being that I'm not supposed to see him for 6 months due to my depo-lupron shots but the doctor assured me that it was not a problem and that things should run smoothly from now on. WHATEVER - tell me that as I'm on the toilet at little recess with NO PAD!
The good part of my day was that I walked 3 miles tonight. I usually just do 2 but we had another friend join us and we all live in different parts of the neighborhood so I start at my house and we altered our route in order to "pick up" our friend along the way. So, now we are doing a mile more than before!
POOCH & MELIRIS: Many people are surprised that we have corporal punishment at our school. It is actually allowed throughout the whole parish. The parents sign a consent form at the beginning of the year. If they sign no - then - we can't whip them. Only the principal and vice principal can do the whipping though. And - eventhough the parents say yes at the beginning of the year - they always call home before they paddle to inform the parent of what happened and to "double check" to make sure the paddling is ok. I tell you what - I've been at this school for 5 years and I was at another school in Lafourche Parish before. There are hardly no discipline problems at this school and I think it is due to the fact that they can get their *** whipped if need be. The school in Laf. parish was a zoo. Terrible experience. Our school is public but it's almost military like. They walk on lines in the halls, can't talk in the cafeteria, etc. But, like I say, because of this - we don't have the discipline problems that most schools have.
POOCH & PRAVDA: Just wanted to say happy birthday for tomorrow just in case I don't make it to the board! I'm sure I will but you never know what will come up! So, have a great day!
DEB: I heard that story about that crazy lady! What a sicko! They were talking about it on a local radio station at the beginning of this week! Some people's children huh?
JRED: Well, you definately grew up quite a ways from me. I'm southwest of New Orleans - in Thibodaux/Houma area. I'm ready to eat some good crawfish. It's so expensive right now with lent - so we usually wait and when Lent is over the prices go down.
VES: Loved the cracked pot story...it kinda made me feel guilty for the thoughts I've been having about my class - cause I always call them "crack pots!" I know that you need to accept everyone for themselves and appreciate everyone but sometimes it's so hard when some of those kids aggrivate you so damn much that you would rather scrub your skin off with brillo pads! Get my drift! The story is awesome though!
Well,I'm hitting the sack - see y'all in the morning!
Doing better here, but my throat is still swollen for some unknown reason... it hurts right at what I would consider where my tongue attaches at the back of my mouth/throat... it's weird, but it hurts worse than having teeth pulled!!! I'm going BACK to the doc today.
The pink eye is -almost- gone... it's been a darn WEEK. No work, no paycheck Tried to go in this morning, got sent home! I can't wait for all of this to be OVER with!!!
Doing better on my eating DH went and bought me a SF Whitmans sampler... I LOVE whitmans!! I did good and only ate 2 pieces a day, then the kids found it... no more temptation for me, and the runs for them
I am happy...I am definitely 165 today, leaning on the scale or not! After having a few Russell Stover's last night while our shopping I was surprised to see that this morning.
Pravda & Pooch- Birthday greetings to both of you! Have a great SB celebration today.
I picked up my winnings from the Radio Station-the 2 free Burger King Breakfasts. Someone had mentioned to me that I could eat the meat and eggs and just leave the bread. Since I have been doing SB and not Atkins, I think that is not a good idea either. The fat content in the fast food like that makes me wary. I would rather eat that kind of thing at home where I know I am not cooking with extra fat.
We are having some people over for the evening tonight. I have gotten the wife onto SB and she is just starting. She has been cutting the obvious out of her diet for a week now but she needs to really get onboard. I will make some lg foods for us and let our hubbys eat the chips and junk!
Thanks again for the birthday wishes. And Pravda - I wish you a happy b-day too I was shocked that my kids remebered when they got up this morning and my mom called too!!
My agave is finally in and I will pick it up later today - I'm so anxious to try it out. I also need to go grocery shopping and since its my b-day and lent I am going to get some fresh shrimp - yummy.
gracious - I about died laughing when you mentioned leaning on your scale for the best results. I can move mine around the floor and have it change - and believe me I have found the best spot and thats where it gets put every morning for my weigh-in
karen3000 - I am so proud of you for not taking any cake and BIG CONGRATS on the 2 pound loss.
meliris - can't believe your boss said that to you. I've always been the type that if you tell me not to do something or say I shouldn't, it makes me do it even more. I think you need to go to one of those carnival booth places that do mock magazine covers and make one saying you won the 2002 Muscle Woman Grand Championship and then go leave it on his desk. And, congrats on the size 4 - that is incredible!!!
Today is payday for us so I need to go pay the bills - oh joy!! Have a great one ladies
TTFN
Denise
Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! This is me singing. Can you hear me??
I started posting yesterday, but got interrupted in the middle then ended up losing the whole darn thing. Strictly operator error, LOL. Oh, well. We'll try again today.
I went to the GYN yesterday for my sort of annual exam. Usually this is one of those things that I keep putting off because I've always gained weight. Not this year. He commented on my weight loss. When I told him what I was doing, he told me that that is the only way that he is able to lose. He is such a sweetie.
When I came in this morning, there was a surprise waiting for me. My agave connection had come through. One of my co-workers husband gets it from his beer supply store. Supposedly it's blue agave, but I'm not really sure, since this is the only light that I've tried. I wouldn't know the taste difference between that and the wild. They charge by the pound when you take in your own container, $4.62 per pound. I'll have to break it down to see how much is in my jar. At any rate, right now it's the only place I can find it around here.
It's shaping up to be another gorgeous week-end here. We were trying to do a little family get away, but I think we've waited too late to make any plans with Spring Break going on around here. Oh, well. That may mean I'm forced to stay home and do housework.
Happy Friday to everyone and have a great OP week-end.
I had a tough day yesterday--I wanted sugar so bad I couldn't stand it. I don't much get these cravings anymore, but for some reason I was going out of my mind! Thank goodness for Lent! Otherwise I think I might have fallen. I did discover a russell stover SF pecan patty in my cupboard, so when I couldn't stand it anymore I ate that and was ok after that. The thing has probably been in my cupboard for 6 months--so let's hear it for the emergency chocolate supply!!!!!
I found a chat session with Dr. Sam Andrews--one of the authors of SugarBusters! You can read it at the following link:
My scale is down a bit this morning--239--so the TOM water is subsiding. Whew!
Pooch and Pravda--HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!
BOB--you are forgiven. Just see that it doesn't happen again! My boys play in an hour so GO WOLFPACK!
Karen3000--It's good to have you back with us! I suspect all of us have started over a few times, so you know you are always among friends here.
Mel--your boss is an idiot. Anyone who would deliberatly try to undermine someone's progress for their own personal gain is just plain evil! Trust yourself--you KNOW that you look better and feel better. You KNOW that your DH loves your look. The h**l with what anyone else thinks! I'm proud of you and your little size 4 tushie!
I can't find who posted the cracked pot story--I loved it! It is inspriing for me and all the other "cracked pots" I know!
BOB and MISSY I sent my e-mail address to Missy via PM. Lemmee know if you don't get it.
HOW 'BOUT THEM DAWGS?!?!?!
The gals and the guys are rockin'!!! TRISH Now that my parents know I have a co-cheerleader with me they give me updates on Michael after EVERY game! He's doing very well and has made some VERY KEY plays - including 2 free throws with 5 seconds left in the Alabama game to seal the VICTORY!! His sister should be VERY PROUD of him! My mom and a friend are travelling to watch the girls this week-end.
FROGGIE I'm so sorry to hear of the challenges in your life right now. You and your family are in my prayers. Please let me know if I can do anything for you.
VESNA Loved the cracked pot story. I'll be calling you next week sometime to set up a walking date with Ricky. I won't make it to the Winter Park Arts Festival this week-end, but I'm sure you'll be there. Maybe we'll have to set up a booth for you next year.
ROSE - Sorry the luggage hasn't shown up, but glad to hear about the job. Your trip sounds wonderful!
MEL "Lemmee at 'im! Why that little *&%$#%%#@@! " Who the He** does he think he is?!?! Mr. Jealous that you've made a plan, stuck to it and are reaping the rewards - is what it sounds like to me. WTG on that SIZE 4!!
BETH Glad to hear you're feeling better!
QUILTER HI! Just thinking about you.
FILLISE - I hope your team does awesome (right behind MSU) Thanks for the link - I'm gonna check it out sometime soon.
DEB I'm gonna check out that marathon training link, too! Thanks!
KAREN Welcome back! Some of us don't even tell when we've been bad
BOB Yeppers, that's a picture of one of the little cuties. We're going to e-mail the breeder in a couple of weeks to see if Heidi is preggers. If so, we're going to claim one of them thar pups before anyone else does. She says she's keeping a female if she has one so we've decided we will take either sex. I don't know how this AKC thing works since I've only ever had freebies or pound puppies, but I think they name the animal, but then we call it whatever we want. We're leaning toward Snickers, Bullet and Buckshot right now. Vince said Snickers as a joke, but I really like that name best out of all the other ones we've come up with. We've e-mailed a couple of other breeders in BKM's neck of the woods, but haven't heard back from them. We wanted to play with some more doggies and see when/if they'll be expecting anytime soon. Looks like it could be August before we have our new addition.
Sorry I can't get to everyone. Have a great friday!
I have been so busy I don't know which end is up!!! I was supposed to go to Zemurray Gardens today in Lorranger, but trip was cancelled as they weather has affected the plant growth. All I could think of was Hallelujah!!!!
Tonight I am ushering at the theater and tomorrow I will collapse!
Last night the Habitat Board held a Pot Luck Supper for the Collegiate Challenge kids. I knew two of them were vegetarians, so I made zucchini parmesean. They and everyone else loved it and it was the only thing there I could eat! So easy to make, wash and slice thin the zuchini, layer with sauce, mozzarella, parmeasean, cover with foil bake 45 min. qt 425', remove foil and bake another 15 minutes to give it a little color. Deeeeeelicious!!!!
This week I have been twice to the NH, a Habitat Board meeting, choir, pot luck, shopping, cleaned house.
My knee is better, I don't limp, but if I kneel on it I hurt. Hand is back to normal usual pain.
Right now I have Irish music blaring!
BETH - I liked your post, I am is the same boat as you. It should have been posted for Inspiration Monday.
ADRON - Great your DD watches her intake of fluids. She is an example to us, "And a little child shall lead them!"
HAPPY - Working with head trauma patients I can tell you first hand the misery that come from an accident on one!
FROG - Sorry to hear about the hard time you're going through. God Bless!
I'm really too tired to answer all, you know I care about you all. Take care, sef
Hi! Everybody! Well, guess who is so behind on her reading??? ME!!! Sorry for being away most of this week. It’s just been one of those busy ones. We had a meeting last night, so I didn’t have any time to read or write. So I will try to get back on with you all now.
I went for my yearly “ladies” exam this morning. Yes, my appointment was at 7:10. Eeek! That was certainly early. But the really great news is that I weighed in lighter!!! The last time I was there was February 25 and today I weighed FOUR POUNDS LESS than then. Oh, I was so excited. The exam couldn’t even make my spirits get low after that wonderful news at the scale.
KIMMYTK---Hey, girl! I think we should plan something really soon. I’ll go look on your bio and see if your email is there and we’ll plan something great. I definitely could use a trip to JJ’s. But my checkbook won’t be happy after that.
MEL---You are definitely kicking butt on this weightloss thing. Must be the butt you USED TO HAVE, because you are at that lovely ULTRA THIN state. How COOL FOR YOU!!!! Keep up the good work. I am taking your lead and want to know how it feels. Please share!!!
TRISHALOO---You should be thrilled!!! SEVENTEEN POUNDS is awesome!!!!! You are showing the rest of us how great it can be if we stick with what we know is the right way to eat. Keep going, girl!!! I’m doing the happy dance for you.
TONI---You are doing so well!!! I congratulate you!!! Your seven pound loss gives you such a great launch toward your first ten pounds. Way to go. You must be feeling great!!! Doesn’t it feel wonderful to watch that needle move to the left?
BOB---Sadly, there is no butt crack at my house. At least no butt crack I haven’t seen before. LOL. The workmen were all so proper. It was disgusting. But remember . . . the deck is coming in a month, so hopefully, there will be a lot more exursion and the weather will be warmer. So keep your fingers crossed. Did I totally goof on THUNDER’s growing belly? I can’t even remember. Funny.
LOUPE---Sounds like you have your hands full with the sophomore and his spelling woes. That’s truly sad. Have you ever done any fingerspelling? We use that with the little kids where each sound gets a finger. Of course, in our class we make them exaggerate the fingers as they say the sounds. But we always tell them that they can do the same thing in their regular class, just lightly tap their fingers or press harder with each finger as they say the sounds. This method is part of the Orton Gillingham Multi-sensory approach and works really well with our kids. Unfortunately, it only works on “phonetically correct” words. Anyway, good luck!!!! BTW, I thought the same thing about that horrible woman who strapped her kids into the car and let it go into the lake. She should have had to experience the same exact thing. BTW, did anybody see the creepy father on his news briefing this afternoon. He was so disgusting. I got a really bad feeling about him. Somebody asked him if he planned on having more children and he said he didn’t know. Then somebody else asked if he was going to stay married to his wife and he said he didn’t know. I was shocked, but that outright dismissal of her in his future. Of course, that was on the heels of him being outraged at the doctors. Blah, blah, friggin’ blah.
DEB---I thought the number you gave me was my ceiling, so I’ve been staying under it. Well, I just looked at my weekly average and it’s only 1382 calories. I guess that would be considered considerable below 1900. But I feel okay. It’s not like I’m walking around in a daze from starving myself. Paul’s average has been 1637 calories. Are you going to tell us we need to eat more??? We both feel really good, but I understand if we need to eat more. I keep telling him to eat more, but he says, no, he’s had enough. I think you may need to give him a talking to. Here’s your big chance to give him an earful. LOL Thanks for all the advice.
VESNOID---Thanks for the book recommendation. I love finding an excuse to buy another book. Sounds like a great one.
SOLSHINE---Was that picture your new puppy? I loved that face!!!! What a cutie pie!!! My cutie pie had a day of beauty and came home with a shamrock scarf. She’s stylin’ tonight!
Okay, that’s it for me. Sorry to all those I missed, but I’m on a time crunch. Gotta come up with something supper-ish. Hmmmmmm. That could be difficult. Hope you all enjoy your weekends.
http://www.enl.nu/rxcom/reference/guides/lifelong/FGAC03.html
Tried to go in this morning, got sent home! I can't wait for all of this to be OVER with!!!
DH went and bought me a SF Whitmans sampler... I LOVE whitmans!! I did good and only ate 2 pieces a day, then the kids found it... no more temptation for me, and the runs for them 
Good Friday Morning!
Good Friday Morning!
My boys play in an hour so 
Sorry I can't get to everyone. Have a great friday!
