Help!!!!

I'm actually doing okay but I know the busy-ness around our house right now is making it tough to stay on track. I am doing fine weight-wise.....I haven't gained, but I haven't been tracking the last week and a half.....so I know I'm probably eating more points than I should and I won't LOSE that way.

I suppose I need to get up a little earlier every morning so I can prepare a lunch and snacks ahead of time so I'm not 'nibbling' until I find something I 'feel' like eating. DANGEROUS! Especially during the time of year when I'm making Christmas cookies for my very thin children. I have limited myself to, say, two small spritz cookies with my tea---so I'm not going hog wild crazy. I just need to buckle down and get strict with myself again so I can be DONE once and for all with losing weight.

So, right here in front of God and all my blogging dieter friends, I re-commit to complete adherence to the diet! It makes such a difference when I'm posting every day. So, I'm back!

Have I Completely Lost My Marbles?

I picked up a book we've had sitting around the house for a while now. It's the Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer. When my husband was reading it about three years ago, it didn't pique my interest but I started thinking.......Why NOT?

Actually, there are way too many reasons why I shouldn't consider running a marathon. Training takes time. I hate to run. I'm not all that fond of exercise. I can't imagine running when it's cold or rainy. I've never run more than one tenth of a mile at any time in my nearly half-century of life.

I guess the better question to ask is WHY? I need to get in good shape. It would provide some accountability once I tell everyone I'm doing this. It would give me the opportunity to accomplish something I never dreamed I could actually achieve (and still have my doubts). It would help to whittle off those last 20 pounds while I'm doing the prelimary training in advance of the real training. It would provide long stretches of time with not a whole lot to distract me from praying or memorizing the Word. (I used to memorize while walking on the treadmill)

Right now it's kind of the "manana marathon" as in "tomorrow I'll start training." Just like the dieting, though, once I open my mouth about it and start blogging about it, I think I might actually do it.

The Detroit Free Press Marathon is October 21st, 2008. I have a book with lists of marathons all over the country and when they are held. If anyone else is interested, we can train 'together' via blogworld and run in our separate marathons all over the country. Maybe this is a little bit crazy but there are a few projects in my life that I want to get started on and completing a 26.2 mile race might just give me the dose of confidence I need to tackle other feats or dreams that I thought were out of my reach.

There is no time like the present. I'm going to get my sneakers on.



**************UPDATE****************

I just got back. I covered two miles.....almost all walking ....but threw a few short runs in there! At least I got started!

Correction: The Detroit Marathon is October 19, 2008.

I'm back!

There was just no room to bring the laptop with us without risking damage to it so I just plugged in all my Weight Watchers points this morning. I weighed myself first thing last night when we arrived home. I lost weight this week. I stuck to the plan and ate well. I almost choked when I looked up my breakfast choice yesterday. We were in a hurry to get on the road so I ordered a reduced fat blueberry muffin at Dunkin Donuts. Mind you, I usually only eat a 1-3 point breakfast, NEVER more. I looked up that muffin and it was EIGHT points. Oh well. It still did the trick and we made great time coming home.

I am way too tired to post much today. I'll be back tomorrow.

Karen

I'll say it again...

.....nothing tastes as good as thin feels. Nothing.

We went out last night for my Dad's birthday. The detroit area has the highest concentration of middle eastern people anywhere in the United States. This makes for some fantastic restaurants. We ate at one of them last night. I was able to feast on tabouleh, hoummus, fresh pitas, and lamb shish kabob. It was wonderful and I didn't go over my points. I ate probably half of what I usually do when I go there but I was plenty full. It probably helped that I drank about 6 cups of their wonderful tea. Mmmmmmm.

It was nice. The celebration was about the birthdays we were celebrating, not the food. There is life outside of a food-centered existence.

Hanging in there (with a lot less lard),
Karen

Chip, Chip, Chip

Slowly but surely, I am chipping off those extra pounds. Only one pound came off this week but I certainly won't complain. It's still going in the right direction.

Tonight is son#4's birthday and, of course, it is the tradition to make the favorite meal of each kiddo on his/her birthday. Dave's choice is Spicy Shrimp Fettucine Alfredo. I will make myself a lame version made with skim milk and a hint of a hint of a hint of cheese, thrown over some whole wheat pasta. The version I will serve him and the rest of the family would use up my daily points for the next week and a half. I also will have to make yet another version because son #3 will end up in the hospital if he eats shrimp. A day in the life of a mother.

The house is a little out of control right now, but I'm getting on top of it. I need one day with NOTHING else going on to get some of this stuff done completely. Thursdays tend to be my afternoon to do that but this week I have to run all over the place. Our trip home from NY will be through Canada and I have never gotton a copy of #5's birth certificate. I also need to pick up a few maps.

Back to reality.....

You know tomorrow might just be Weigh-in Day....

...if you had three bowls of Extra Fiber All Bran for your midnight snack.
.....if you have your alarm set at 1-hour intervals all through the night to get up and go to the bathroom.
..... if it's January and the clothes you've laid out for tomorrow consist of a lightweight t-shirt and a pair of bike shorts
.....you wear a double layer of sweats to bed and turn up the heat in the house in hopes of sweating off a little extra weight.
.....if you actually thought about making an appointment to get your hair cut in the morning before you weigh-in
.....if you trimmed your fingernails and shaved your legs and refused to wear any make-up so as not to add ONE OUNCE to that scale!

Social Sushi

Today I had fun dieting. I discovered something fun I could eat and not kill my Weight Watcher's points all in one sitting. Son#1 is my food expert. He has worked in a restaurant since he was about 14, first washing dishes but then working as a sous chef. He likes to cook but loves to eat. He likes to be adventurous with his food. I love ethnic food but he always takes it to more of an extreme and it's a lot of fun. Today he asked me if I wanted some sushi. I sprung for lunch but told him to pick out whatever he thought I should try. We had barbecued eel, some marinated but uncooked tuna, and some other wild combination. I am somewhat blissfully unaware of exactly what I was eating rolled up inside that seaweed. What a trip! There's something exhilarating about the kick you get from the wasabi paste hitting you in the back of your brain. Intense!!! Wow!! It was delicious, weight-watcher friendly, and a lot of fun all at the same time and it provided some nice time with my eldest! I ate a quick bowl of soup ahead of time and had three cups of green tea, so I didn't have to eat much to fill me up. This is good news as I was hoping to still be able to have enough points left so that I can actually eat dinner tonight.

I'm not going to eat any leftover candy. I'm not going to eat any leftover candy. I'm not going to eat any leftover candy.

The Farmers' Market on Steroids

On Saturday, son#3 and I went down to the Eastern Market in Detroit. It's a bit past the harvest season so it's not quite as huge and colorful as it would be in late August. A square mile's worth of stalls and shops participate and the fresh produce available is great! There were loads of peppers (who could resist), potatoes, winter squashes, cabbages, brussels sprouts, etc. Of course, the first thing I bought was a cabbage for a buck that must have weighed more than my daughter. Luckily #3 carried it around for me. We bought so much produce we had to make a trip back to the car in the middle of our excursion. It was great. I got home and made roasted green salsa with the tomatillos I had purchased, a huge pot full of 'fried' peppers & garlic, trimmed and cleaned the whole enormous stalk of brussels sprouts (if you've never seen how they grow, google an image of them just for fun) and put them in the fridge, made a batch of cooked salsa, and cut up raspberries and strawberries for whoever was interested. It was a fun time and I got a ton of good produce and other staples for so much less than I would have paid at the store. My son was going primarily to make sure I brought home a ton of fruit but brought all his camera equipment in hopes of getting some good shots for his photography class. That part of it was a wash. It was drizzly the whole time and very overcast. We left the house at 6:45 and got there around 7:30 so it was still fairly dark when we arrived.

Having all these great, fresh foods in the house has helped to make the weight-loss journey a little more palatable. It has made it much more work to keep the kitchen clean as I am forever chopping or peeling or cooking something. It's worth it.

The sink is not all the way there yet this morning. My bed is made. Laundry is put away. I will probably get a little off course this week as Son#1 is home for a couple weeks without his car so I'm spending a little more time playing chauffer. It's great to have him home.

I best get started. Too much to do. I doubt I will post much this week. I'm under the gun on a few projects.

The Day to Pray....oh wait.....They All Are!

As you know, today is my 'Pray with the Gals' day as well as my afternoon off from homeschooling! It always so happens that if there is a big decision to be made, it usually ends up that it comes to a make or break moment on Thursdays, right before we pray. This week it's career decisions for my dh. I won't go into detail until after the decision process but let's just say that once again, the decisions are coming down to the wire on a Thursday!

The diet is going well. Jim had a long, grueling day and we felt like going out. We ended up at the Mongolian Barbecue. I don't know if these are all over the country these days but if you've never been to one, they're pretty good when you're dieting, and when you're not because you always get exactly what you want! Here's how it works.....There's a huge long table of raw foods, steak, shrimp, scallops, squid, pork, sausage, chicken, and an enormous amount of vegetable choices. Then there are dry seasonings and many containers of premixed sauces like 'mongolian ginger', 'kung pao', or 'chili garlic'. A few other additions like sesame seeds or an egg are also there. You pile your bowl full of whatever you want and get a little bowl of seasoning. You walk over to the 'grill', which is a LARGE, round, flat cooking surface. A 'griller' takes your bowl and dumps it on the grill and tosses it around with these 3-foot-long stick-like utensils. At the end, he dumps your sauce or seasoning over it, slides it into your bowl with the sticks and your return to your table where the rice and tortillas are waiting for you. It's fun and you can go to their website and build a cyber-bowl of food so you can get the nutritional information from what you just ate. This certainly makes it easier for those of us counting WW points or calories. Oh, was it ever good!

Seeing that it was close to Borders, we spent an hour there as well. We are bookstore addicts. The coffee shop in there has something to do with it but all those books! How wonderful! Enough about my evening out.

So...............

I'm on target with my eating. My bed is made. My laundry done and put away and new load started. My kitchen is in order. The trash has all been emptied and I will put it on the curb when I leave for prayer. Aaahhhh.........peace!

Have a great day everyone!

Karen

The Dreaded Plateau

The invisible wall. The frustrating threshold. The dreaded weight-loss plateau. I've hit it. Full force! I only lost a half pound last week, none the week before, and not an ounce this week. I would not being singing the blues about it except that I have been 100% faithful to plan! I do realize that these things are very typical when you've been dieting for a while. I need to push through this, stay with the program, and keep my chin up. Thanks to the accountability I've established with you, my blogging buddies, I am not throwing in the towel. Normally at this point I'd say, "it doesn't matter what I eat, I can't lose weight!" and then I'd go back to eating the same stuff that got me tubby in the first place. Now I can't! You're watching me!

I guess what I want to say is a big THANK YOU for checking in from time to time!

As far as my other stuff goes.......My completed laundry is put away, my sink is shining, my dishwasher is running, sheets are in the washer, and I shopped for groceries this morning and had it all put away before 9:30! Do miracles ever cease?

Have a good day everyone!

A Long Walk in the Same Direction

It's been said that discipleship is a long walk in the same direction. I would have to say that weight loss is the same thing. It's not a sprint or a jog. It's more like a meandering! Progress is slow, but it's still progress. While God is pleased with us steadfastly following Him even if we falter in our ignorance sometimes, I need to be happy that I have been steadfast in my commitment to eat a healthy diet, regardless of the scale. That being said, I did lose poundage this week! Yeah!

My sink is clean, the dishwasher has been divested of its clean contents, this morning's laundry has been washed, dried, folded, and--more importantly-- PUT AWAY! Load #2 will be popped into the dryer soon. I hereby promise that it will be folded and returned to its proper places while it still retains some of the warmth from the dryer!

After Load#2 goes into said dryer, dinner will get started. Wednesday is generally 'crockpot night' because I take Carrie to gymnastics and then soccer, usually arriving at the homestead about the time when Jim is getting home from work. Having a hot dinner waiting makes us all happy!

I need to get back to my other blog soon. Homeschooling has kept me very busy. I forgot how teacher-intensive those primary years are.....especially when it involves more than just my own daughter. I'm getting into the pattern and rhythm of it once again.

Progress

I'm looking forward to my weigh-in tomorrow. I'm acting like I go somewhere to weigh in, but I just weigh myself at home like I do 10 times a day, it's just 'official' on Wednesday....the one I record at the Weight Watchers site. I seem to be going in the right direction. This week is particularly exciting because I will hit a weight I haven't seen in a good long time. Wahooooooo!

My sink is spotless. My bed is made. I already did two loads of laundry and put them away this morning. Life is good.

Right now I'm paying attention to the last three minutes of an ebay auction because I bid on an old copy of a book that I quoted in a post for my other blog, http://allthingsnerak.blogspot.com/search/label/family%20history . I have a recent reprint under another title, but this is the real deal from 1914. Hey, I just won the auction! It's coming from England. My dad was offered an original copy of the book by my great uncle but refused it because he wanted him to give it to his own son. My dad found out after he died that he REALLY had wanted him to have it and that his son wasn't all that interested. The book just got passed off to someone else. Could THIS be THAT copy? Ah, the mystery. In the description on EBAY it says there is a light signature on the first page. Wouldn't that be awesome if it was my great-grandfather's? Oh, I'm getting all carried away here. I'm just so excited that it will be on it's way to me. What a treasure.

I've STUNK at getting all my exercise in, but I have been pretty good at getting the house under increasingly more control. I probably should have made those two consecutive challenges rather than concurrent ones but I'm not going to give up. I have been active, just not as much as I'd like.

I need to get over and post on my other blog. I haven't wanted to take the time to sit down and post when I've had a lot to do around here. I'll probably get to it later today or tomorrow.

Off to do the last-minute preparations for another day of schooling.

Excuses

I want to talk about the reasons why we (myself included, obviously) neglect trying to lose our excess weight. I've used all of them at one time or another! Here are some of those excuses and the way I view them now.

1) I'm too busy to diet. I guess my answer to that one is, "Who isn't?" Honestly....we're all busy and at times I think being occupied with other things can be a blessing as far as keeping us from thinking about food 24/7. It DOES, however, take a little extra time to be prepared so you don't get in a food jam. In the morning, you need to have a convenient healthy breakfast on hand that you can just grab. (a few options: boiled eggs, a handful of roasted almonds, a whole wheat mini bagel-Pepperidge Farms makes good ones, a banana with some real peanut butter. a bowl of healthy cereal with skim or soy milk) While you're grabbing that healthy breakfast, pack yourself both a lunch AND a snack( baked chips, cut up veggies, fruit, mini bagel with some peanut butter). This will avoid the dreaded 'Drive Thru Syndrome' that results when you haven't planned ahead. If you will be out all day, throw something in the crockpot that will be ready when you get home. Be like the Boy Scouts....always prepared!

2) I hate diet food. My answer to that one is that you're dieting instead of changing your eating habits permanently. If what you eat is not the type of diet you can sustain for a lifetime, try being a little more well-rounded in your food choices. I don't like to dismiss whatever is working for someone else but I can tell you my personal experiences. I dropped a lot of weight in a hurry back in New York, using the Atkins diet. While I love meat and cheese, sometimes you need a little something else in your diet. I know that it's not ALL beef ALL of the time, but the minute I backed off the strict part of the Atkins diet, the old pounds piled back on with all of their new flabby little friends.

Take a look at what you like to eat. What do you have to eliminate? Start with sugar. Lose it except for special celebrations or treats once in a while. Eliminate empty calories. Chips are a great example of this. If you feel you need to keep chips around in some form, go ahead but always count out a portion ahead of time and eat them with some salsa to get some extra veggies in you. If you love italian food, don't give it up! Just eat less of it and modify it. Use half the amount of meat you used to in your sauce. Lighten up on the cheese. Use Healthy Harvest Blend Pasta. Just revamp some of your recipes and control your portions. If you start eating foods that you've never liked just to lose weight, your efforts will be short-lived.

3) I can't give up fat. Good! You shouldn't. Fat is necessary for proper brain function. Just don't be so mindless about how much you eat. Use fat sparingly and use good fats. Get rid of margarine, shortening, or other hydrogenated fats. Use healthy oils. You can even use a tiny bit of butter for flavor. Fats in fish are tremendous for you.

4) I can't give up carbs! Just give up white bread. Ditto for what they label as "wheat bread", which is usually just white bread with a tiny bit of whole wheat and a whole lot of carmel coloring. Look for 100% whole wheat on the label. Brownberry makes a great one and it's also available in a double fiber variety. There are whole wheat /low-fat tortillas made by The Tortilla Factory. Switch out your white rice for brown. Go grab a loaf of delicious whole grain bread from Great Harvest for a treat!

5) I'll start watching my weight after *insert event here*. Oh yeah! That is my very favorite excuse! I lost all that weight about three years ago and was going to get all the way to goal once my son's baseball season was over with. Didn't happen. Then it was going to be after the holidays. Again it didn't happen. Then it was going to be after things settled down in my husband's work situation. Ha! Then baseball again, or company coming, or an upcoming dinner at someone's house, an anniversary, etc. Guess what? It's NEVER the right time to get started so we just have to get Nike-fied and Just Do It! Now almost three years have passed and I never got near my goal. The time has passed anyway. I'm no less busy now than I was then. How I wish I had just DONE it. The fat seems to get more stubborn the longer it stays. I'm glad I started back in August. Now the time has been passing and so have the pounds. At the risk of sounding cliche, there truly is no time like the present.

6) I'm way too fat, it's too overwhelming. One pound is like a drop in the bucket and it won't make a difference. That was probably the biggest one for me.....especially when you're losing weight sensibly. Sensible dieting takes the weight off s-l-o-w-l-y and it's easy to get discouraged. I always have to remember, like in the last point, that the time is going to pass anyway. It will pass much more pleasantly with one pound coming off at a time than it will with a 5 pound gain every year. Imagine what will happen in one year's time if you even lose just five pounds per month (which is extremely do-able for pretty much everyone). That is SIXTY pounds GONE in one year. A year is nothing. Really. In the grand scheme of things, what is a lousy twelve months.

7) I like to go out to eat! First of all, you shouldn't be going out to eat if you can't afford it. Eating out is usually a huge hole in most people's wallets. Unless you don't owe any money on cars or credit cards, you'd be wise to save the money and eat at home anyway. (time to get off my no-debt soapbox) If you can well afford it, there are many ways to eat healthy at a restaurant. I've probably covered all this before, but here are some things we do when we go out. Applebees! Everything on their Weight Watchers menu is delicious. REALLY! If we're being 'el cheapo' we go to Wendy's and I have a side salad with either no dressing or fat-free french and a small chili. A plain baked potato with the chili dumped over it works, too. Subway. Jared was right. It's good. Lots of choices and a good way to load on some veggies. Don't forget to use the fat free dressing or just mustard. (lose the cheese)

8) Emotional baggage. Yep, that keeps our faces in the feed bags, doesn't it? Losing the excess weight, however, will lighten up some of that emotional baggage instead of increasing it....at least it has for me. It's not the end-all. Only the Lord truly heals our emotions but I think being a healthy size can help.

I can't think of anything else, but don't delay due to excuses. We need to be healthy. I realize that thin does not always equal healthy but having a lot of excess weight on is bad for our hearts, makes it hard for us to get exercise, increases our chances of getting certain types of cancer or diabetes. We have families that love us. I can't think of an excuse that would be legitimate enough to risk hurting our families by a premature death. That might sound dramatic but I think that is how we have to look at it.

Hormones, Shmormones

It just so happens that the beginning of "that time" of the month was yesterday. All I wanted to eat was chocolate. I didn't give in to that temptation even one bit. I didn't even have anything sweet. Even though I have been diet faithful, I am completely bloated (gross, sorry!) I had homemade soup for dinner that was way too salty (kill the cook! .... Oh wait, that's me!?!) I need to drink gallons of water today to get it out of my system. I will weigh in tomorrow morning instead of today. Don't worry, I'm not cheating the plan.....next week I will only have 6 days between weigh-ins to make up for it.

My sink is clean & shiny. My sheets are getting washed. I'm going to do my ab exercises while the girls are having their physical activity for the day.

Yesterday was a fairly awful day as days go. My across-the-street neighbor passed away. She just didn't wake up in the morning. She was less than 10 years older than me, a nice lady who was the backbone of her family. I didn't know her very well, we were at different stages of our lives. I don't know what her relationship with the Lord was. The neighborhood is just floored.

Her death also served as a reminder to do the best for my health. She was, unfortunately, overweight, had heart problems and diabetes. I think a lot of her health problems had much to do with her genes. My genes are pretty good......I shouldn't squander what I've been given healthwise. I need to be around to see Carrie well into adulthood. She doesn't need a couch potato mom. I have choices. I CAN exercise, I CAN eat healthy foods, I CAN watch my portions. I CAN still celebrate, live life, and enjoy food without it controlling me.

Have a great day! I'm off to take care of some laundry and some learning.

P.S. Anyone out there from the Raleigh, NC area? My husband is going down there in November for some training and Carrie and I will be tagging along. I'm looking for some fun stuff to do in the area, cheap or particularly good restaurants (Jim's meals will be paid for, ours will not), or fun parks. There is an awesome looking park near the airport so if you know anything about it, please speak up!

The Best Laid Plans

The sink is clear. My bed is made. No laundry left to put away. I was going to get my walk in about 10 minutes ago but my second student's mom just called and said she'd be over early today which will preclude my walk. Any other time, I would just say, 'sorry, I've got to walk' but she has to drop someone off at the airport. If I want said student in class today, I will have her early rather than not at all.

I think I'll get them started on their journaling project and then have #3 watch them while I do a 30 minute walk and stop at the grocery store to get something we need for an art activity today.

Have a great day!

Karen

It's a Process, Isn't It?

I'm here to report that I have been completely faithful to the eating plan now for 68 days! It feels great. I am also here to report that I still haven't gotten this exercise thing worked into my routine. I haven't been a couch potato and son#4 has been good with challenging me to do a few ab exercises here and there but it is still not a regular part of my routine......I cannot lie to my blog friends. As I become more organized, I am reworking my schedule to accomodate that measly 30 active minutes. Jim and I were going to walk last night but he had a very stressful week last week and ended up sound asleep by around 9:00. He needed it and I don't begrudge it, but I need to somehow get that stuff in earlier so I'm not dependent on someone else. I have plans with one of my friends to start walking in the morning but she has obligations early for the next few days. I'll get there. I promise. I guess I should tell you how I plan to get my exercise today....then you can hold me accountable tomorrow! I will get my 30 minutes in today right at 5:00. The Y is nearly empty then and Carrie can actually come for 30 minutes of Kid's Club for free. I know the people there and it's fun for her. The Y is usually a great option because I tend to end up doing 45 minutes to an hour. I also usually push myself to run nearly half of it. You would laugh if you saw me. I am the lamest runner EVER! I can't go more than a tenth of a mile before I'm ready to pass out, so I alternate walking and running every tenth mile.



Just so you know that I haven't been a complete couch slouch, Carrie implored me to go outside and rake leaves yesterday. Somehow that activity loses some ambience and romanticism when it's 84degrees out. No nip in the air here. It did make it more of a workout and Carrie was thrilled that we did that together. We then made chalk drawings of fall leaves all over the driveway!

My laundry is done and put away although I still don't have a good answer with what to do with all those 'single' socks that inevitably show up at the bottom of the basket. How DOES that happen? My sink is clean and bleached! The dishwasher is running. My bed is made. I will start another load of wash in a minute. Then school will start.

Thanks to my formerly unfit blogging buddies who are now keeping me 'honest' in my quest for fat loss and fitness and encouraging me by example. Hopefully I can encourage some that are struggling as well. This weekend I wanted nothing more than to stuff my face with a greasy grilled cheese sandwich and a brownie sundae but I knew I'd have to answer to this blog and I'd have to tell the truth. Thanks! I survived unscathed. A few months ago, I would have said, "Nuts to it, I'll start the diet again tomorrow, bring on the fatty foods." Now those temptations are fleeting thoughts and I'm able to stick with it so much better.

Have a great day. Stick to your goals. Someone is depending on you!

Things are going well! I did ALL of my 30 minutes of exercise yesterday (I walked briskly around the schoolyard where Carrie is having soccer practice as well as walking/running TO the practice). My dishes are all done and put away. The countertops and table are clean and decluttered. My laundry is all put away except for the load that is in the washing process right now. Today I should be able to get to the Y for a good, long workout.

It's been a very productive morning and I think I'm going to go have a bowl of Bran Buds and soy milk. (Don't knock it 'til you've tried it!!!)

Wahoo Weighdown!

The hard work is paying off. I'm down two pounds from last week! I've lost the equivalent of 5 cans of Crisco! That's less fat dragging me down, making me tired, discouraging me, staring at me in the mirror, and keeping me from being an energetic mom for my kids. I'm not all about the scale, but it does motivate me to see some concrete 'pounds lost' results....the visual results aren't always apparent to us women since we tend to criticize what we see in the mirror so much.

My sink is clean, my laundry put away, and my bed is made. I have already started my exercises this morning. I've decided I need to get a good chunk of that out of the way in the morning since I end up very reluctantly squeezing it in at the end of the day when I'm zonked.

Off to eat my oat bran!

Fiber, Fiber, Fiber!

I found an another great fiber-rich food that I can use instead of bread. They're whole grain, high fiber, low carb tortillas made by The Tortilla Factory. I got them at the grocery store on a shelf in a part of the store that had nothing to do with bread or mexican food.....so you can ask at the desk, I guess. One tortilla is ZERO Weight Watchers points so I can wrap it around an egg & salsa, tuna and fresh jalapenos, peanut butter and jelly, etc. They come in a few flavors. I suppose how good they are is somewhat dependant on how long you've been eating rabbit food. I love these things but my dearly beloved hates them. I think in another week or two he'll be wanting me to share mine with him :-)

The other higher fiber things that are great for you are all the peas and beans! They are so good for you and as the weather gets colder they make a wonderful addition to soups of all kind. Bran Buds are another great source, as well as Pepperidge Farm mini whole wheat bagels (it helps if you have a Pepperidge Farms outlet near you)

My bed is made, the sink is clean, pots are scrubbed, laundry is started, and I did manage to squeeze about 25 minutes worth of intense exercise in last night. It was pouring out so Jim and I couldn't walk. I knew I had to answer to my blogging friends so I pried my behind off the couch about 30 minutes before the Y closed. The good news is that I was able to RUN for almost half the time I was on the treadmill. I then spent my last few minutes on the circuit machines doing glute and leg exercises. This morning I'll use my medicine ball for my abs. The scale is looking promising this week. We shall see tomorrow morning. I'm at the place on the scale where I usually stall a little bit so I will keep exercising to make sure that doesn't happen.

Sorry for the long-windedness! Off to FINISH the laundry ---- that's what usually gets lost in translation.

Reforming slowly but surely,
Karen

Monday, Monday

The antique market was fun. We didn't get anything but enjoyed the day out. I stuck to my points like glue. It was gorgeous out. Carrie had a party to go to in the afternoon so David (#4)took her.

Speaking of David. What a trip! He's a piece of work. This week is what they call school spirit week at his high school.....the week before homecoming. Each day has a different theme. Today's is "get up and go" day. You can show up with your hair a mess, wear your slippers, etc. Now my son is a Junior and although he isn't really tall, he works out so he is BIG! He got some big, glow-in-the-dark fuzzy footie pajamas with dinosaurs all over them and he wore them to school today. I just sat there shaking my head. I must post pictures.

I know that had nothing to do with weight loss but it was my laugh of the day.

Nighty night!

I'm too pooped to party! I worked out at the Y for about 45 minutes.....did the circuit training and walked/ran two+ miles. I came home and finished making my de-fatted homemade chicken soup with whole wheat blend noodles. My sink is empty, dishwasher ready to run, pots and pans washed and put away and laundry done.

Now I will plop into bed. Jim was so exhausted that he went at around 8:00.....it's been that kind of a week at work. I had to stay up to give the kitten her meds at 11:00 and make sure the kitchen was up to snuff.

Soccer with Carrie tomorrow morning. My parents are coming to watch, as will one or two of her brothers. And since I've been getting my house somewhat under control(still a long ways to go, though), maybe I'll have my parents over for lunch afterwards.

Jim and I are going to the last antique fair of the season this weekend, but just for a day. Should be fun!

G'night!

Partial Success

I kept the sink clean of debris. I folded and put away the laundry warm from the dryer. I kept within my points. However, I did NOT exercise. I think the biggest reason is that I have to have a better "plan B" when my schedule for the day changes. Yesterday was supposed to be my day sans kids, but my friend wanted to switch that afternoon to today. I still got a lot done but couldn't make it to the Y or out for a walk that would be brisk enough to be exercise with the girls tagging along. My friend had to head out for a few hours so her daughter wasn't picked up until 6ish. While they had been playing together, I was scrubbing bathrooms, doing laundry, etc. After she left, it was time to get dinner going, take a shower (I was grubby from doing scrubbing stuff and cleaning out garbage cans and such), and have dinner waiting for my dear husband, who has been getting home rather late due to some projects he's trying to 'hit out of the ballpark' during his first hundred days at his new position. Once he's home and we have dinner together, I don't want to leave and go to the Y when it's our only real time together.

I talked to my other friend yesterday about walking in the morning after dh leaves and before school. Son#3 is home then to watch #5 and then I get my activity early in the day and don't have to try to squeeze it in. I then have the added benefit of spending time with this friend who I don't get to see enough.

Looks like I forgot to make the de-caf tea this morning, hence I am talking your ear off.

Have a great day!
Karen

Ah, Thursday. I like Thursdays. It's garbage day so I get to empty all the trash from my garage and I usually clean out the fridge on Thursdays, too. Thursdays are also my "pray with the ladies" day which usually changes the whole tone of my day. Carrie (#5) usually stays after we're done praying. I homeschool Carrie and her friend so on Thursday afternoons, she stays at the friend's house to give me some catch-up around the house time. I realize that most people don't need this but I need to get things back on track around here and I have a few big house projects I want to bless my husband with. I DON'T want to start in on them without having the house nearly spotless in all rooms first.

I have made a discovery. Kittens and medication are a dangerous thing. When the medication wears off, she is pretty near comatose. If I happen to sit down, she climbs up on my shoulder or lap and just crashes. After I give her the medication and it kicks in, she turns into a crazed hunter. My husband is 6'4" and she was lying in wait to capture him as he walked around the corner last night. While she's sick she won't eat so I've had to capitalize on this psychotic hunter thing. I have to take each TINY nugget of kitty chow and roll it across the floor so she can stalk it, torture, and 'kill' it. It takes forever to get a lot of food into her but is extremely effective. Right now she's about 15 minutes before medicine time and in the 'cuddly stage', so my life isn't in grave danger from being attacked by this 1.9 pound kitten.

Off to get the kitchen spotless, do some laundry, change the sheets, and take out the garbage!

So I start my day, on target and off my keister.

Weigh-in Wednesday

Well, weigh-in was less than exciting but I did go down a pound. It's not a lot but , hey, I'll take what I can get. What's important is that I was disciplined and did the right thing.

I did my workout yesterday. My fourth was kibbitzing the whole time, giving me exercise tips. Of course he was right on everything he said and has the muscles to prove it so I had to swallow my pride and listen. He was a real taskmaster. I was glad he stepped in to keep me going. I do think my triceps might not like him so much this afternoon when they will more than likely be screaming in pain.

My bed is made, my sink is clean and empty, and I have exercised planned for later in the day. I confess that I have a load of laundry sitting in the dryer which I plan to go get and fold AND PUT AWAY!!!!!!!!! in just a few minutes. I'm blogging while the girls are doing their math. I've already taught the lesson, they're just doing some seatwork.

Like I mentioned to Connie, I am taking baby steps. I've got this eating thing down pat now, but the bad housework habits I've gotten into the past few years will take some real work. I am up for the challenge.

By the way, our kitten - Shirley, is doing much better. The vet sent me home with an antibiotic, an antihistamine (she could barely breathe), and nosedrops. Shirley thinks they are all torture. I feel like the bad guy cramming pills and medicine down her throat and drops in her nose, but hey, after raising 5 kids I can take it.

This is a great day to accomplish all our goals! Go for it!

So Far, So Good

I went to the wedding on Sunday. We were gone pretty much the whole day so no time to walk. However, I did fail to mention on the details of my challenge, that weekend workouts are optional. Family time is more important to me on the weekends. I promise that this is not a copout! I actually did walk on Saturday and spent enough time standing in high heels on Sunday to actually count for some serious exercise and I have sore leg muscles to prove it.

Monday, my husband and I got a brisk 2+ mile walk in. Very nice. Felt great! I have stayed within my point allowance....even with the wedding.

My sink has been devoid of lingering dishes, my laundry has been getting put away as it is finished. I am still finishing some catch-up work in the laundry room, as I stated yesterday.

Tomorrow, I have a feeling I will be spending some time sitting around the Michigan Humane Society Vet Clinic seeing that our precious little kitten seems to have brought a respiratory infection home with her from the shelter. While fairly common, I guess it can be dangerous which is why I woke up in the middle of the night and sit here blogging while monitoring kitty's breathing. I'm waiting for the clinic to open so I can call.

When I'm tired, I ramble so I will stop here. Just know that I'm hitting my goals! Have a great day!

Playing Catch-Up

I got my 30 minutes of exercise in via a walk with my daughter, although it was more of a run for her ---she's only six! We went two miles and on the way back I ran by a clothing store to see what time they were opening today. I am going to a family wedding this afternoon and needed some shoes for my dress(nothing like the last minute, eh?) We went in and I found the right pair of shoes in the right size and color. I hadn't even paid attention to the price at that point. I looked and they were on sale for $24. I knew I'd have to come back because I didn't have my purse or wallet on me. Then she told me that everything on clearance was only $6.98. Ha! I got my shoes for under $7 and purchased them right then because I actually had that much in my pocket. I was so glad......I don't have that many occassions to wear really dressy stuff so I really didn't want to pay much.

Here's the rundown from yesterday.....

Got my exercise in.
I never let dishes sit in the sink.
I cleaned off the counter.
I did what seemed like a million loads of laundry.
I folded, hung, and put them ALL away.
I left the room before making the bed because my dearest was catching up on some much-needed sleep.
I stayed within my Weight Watchers points.

I'm looking forward to seeing what a difference all these changes will make! I can do pretty much anything for just 40 days, right? After 40 days it becomes a habit.

Have a great day everyone!
Karen

My Messie's Manifesto

Let me just say this---if you're a clean freak, you just might NOT want to venture any further. You might be sick just contemplating the fact that dishes might sit in my sink for a while or my bed sometimes doesn't get made. I must, however, state my goals here for all to see.

As a `natural 'messie', in order to stay on top of things, I must:

Never leave my room in the morning until the bed is made.
Never leave ANYTHING in the sink.
Keep the counter and the table cleared off.
Unload the dishwasher the minute it stops.
Complete tasks on a checklist for every room in the house, every afternoon.
Complete a different tasklist for each room for weekly chores & monthly stuff.

And the biggie:

Fold and PUT away all laundry as it comes warm from the dryer. THIS will be the tough one but the most needed to end the c.h.a.o.s. (C-an't H-ave A-nybody O-ver S-yndrome.....see http://www.flylady.com/ ---great website for people who struggle with messiness, a little hokey but it works)

Yesterday I put a lot of time in to prepare for this and I will put more in today. I believe that tomorrow is the beginning of Jen's next challenge so I start tomorrow. (I get to practice today:-D) The other reason I am doing this challenge as well as the 30 minutes of exercise challenge is that I feel guilty pulling myself out to go to the gym or walking for an hour if my house looks like garbage. If my house looks decent, I feel free-er to spend time doing other pursuits.

By the way, I finally baked that apple pie yesterday and had a carefully measured slice last night with a 1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream. What a treat! I didn't even have to feel guilty because I only dipped into my weeklies by 8 points, which gives me 27 left to blow at the family wedding this Sunday. Life is good.

I'm looking forward to blessing my family in this way. Is anybody out there a 'messie', too? Feel free to join in the challenge.

Karen (soon to be: behind no more, ahead of schedule, in shape, out of clutter, on target, off the sugar, up on energy, and down in pounds) Whew! That will feel great!

Joining Jen's 40 day Challenge

Jen at http://jensmakeover.blogspot.com is just completing 40 days of breaking the habit of eating chips. She has been successful and is about to change another habit for the next 40 days. I plan on doing the same. I don't know what hers will be yet, but I've decided that mine will be a dual-sided challenge for those 40 days. The first will be a commitment to 30 minutes(minimum) of exercise per day, whether at home or the Y. I will not come in on my weight target by Christmastime if I don't add consistent exercise.

The next part of my self-challenge is not fat-related. It is something that causes me as much shame as my weight. I have trouble keeping my housework under control. I am not naturally one of those extremely organized people so I have had to struggle against this my whole life. I am not lazy, just scattered, busy, and needing to put my 'system' to work for me. I have had some success in this area with some real analyzing and work, but, like with the weight, it's time to conquer it completely. So, I have refined my plan to 'keep it together'. I will post my 'messie's manifesto' tomorrow as a way to make myself accountable via this blog.

On a positive note, I was just enjoying the fact that I have gotten rid of the equivalent of 4 three-pound cans of crisco from my carcass! That is pretty exciting. Kind of gross to think that a month and a half ago all that fat was hanging on me. Good riddance! I'm going to a wedding on Sunday and I'm very thankful I don't have to carry all that lard on my bones. Very unbecoming.

Four cans down, ten to go.

Weigh-in Wahoo!

Well, the numbers travelled in the right direction this week. I lost my 'quota' for this week plus a part of last week's. That took some patience. I was doing all the right things but to have a week where I went up instead of down was pretty disheartening.

A kind of weird thing happened yesterday. My husband just started a new position about a month ago. Yesterday someone approached him in the hallway and said, "I recognize your last name, but I'm not sure from where." We have a last name that is a little unique. Every phone number listed across the country for our last name belongs to someone who is a close relative. I believe I have only found one exception to that, so if someone recognizes our name, they know someone who is related. Anyway, they started talking about where he could possibly know the name from and finally pinpointed that he knew me from UP Bible Camp back in my high school days and must have heard the name from someone when we got married.

I must say that I was mortified thinking that I might run into this guy while at my husbands' office for something. Why? Because I was so skinny back then that he probably wouldn't even recognize me now. Don't get me wrong, this isn't someone I'm trying to impress.....the only one I need to impress is my dear husband. I am just humiliated and embarrassed that I let myself get this much heavier. Oh well. Maybe things like this will keep me going when I'm getting impatient and want to quit. Sheer embarrassment works wonders I guess :-D !

Since this morning was weigh-in, all my extra points reset today so I will bake that apple pie for sure. Son#3 has threatened to bake it himself but I kind of want to enjoy the process. He can bake all he wants....we've got a whole bushel!

I've been at this a month and a half now. I'm a third of the way there, timewise, and just under a third of the way to my weight goal. This just hasn't been that horrible and I'm enjoying staying focused. I hope you are, too!

Birthday Celebration

Today is #5's sixth birthday! We celebrated yesterday at Chuck E. Cheese with all the relatives (since there is flooring and trim stacked all over our place, we couldn't fit them all there. We had a wonderful time. I had two small pieces of pizza (on plan) and no pop or cake. I finished the day completely on target point-wise and we had so much fun! Wow! Food really DOESN'T have to be the center of every party!

I still haven't made that apple pie....just too busy. Maybe tonight.

Just a Quick Update

Kids #3 & 5 went with me to pick apples yesterday. #5 went to pick apples, #3 went to take photos of #5 picking apples for his advanced photography class. We had a ball. I drooled but stayed completely in control as I watched them eat a half dozen cinnamon sugar cider doughnuts and iced pumpkin doughnuts.

Didn't make my pie yet. Busy weekend. I'll explain Monday because I know I won't have three minutes to sit down between now and then.

I'm on target. Still motivated--even though it wasn't a losing week! Ready to say 'adios' to to all that crisco come Christmas!!!!!!!!

Karen

Friday!!!!

Apple picking day! Which also means pie day! Oh, I can't wait. I already have my points figured so I can eat a big juicy slice.

I am still 'on plan' and doing well. I am going to join Jen at jensmakeover.blogspot.com in a 40 day 'adventure'. Her last one was no chips for 40 days. I don't know what her next 40 day thing will be but I'm pondering mine. Probably exercise.....with a twist. I'll let you know in a few days.

Hang in there all you fit friends!

Karen

Weigh-in Woes

I won't freak out but the scale was actually UP from last week's weigh-in. This is more than likely a monthly cycle type thing and should adjust itself by later in the week but let's face it.....it's more fun to see those numbers drop!

I have been faithful to the program and I won't stop. Now my husband and my mom are on the bandwagon too. There's strength in numbers! I'm excited to see the "thin" three of us come the new year!

Hey, wonders never cease! My son found the cable connector for hooking my digital camera to the computer. I am so thrilled. I want to be able to post some pictures of what's going on around here. Maybe I'll even post a before and after picture. Okay.....well maybe an after picture. The 'before' is still a little embarrassing to me. I can't believe I got to that point. Oh, well.....now I press on!

Oops, It's Been a Few Days!

I guess I just don't post much on the weekends. I am still with the program and doing well. After today, I have just 105 days left and I should be either at or close to goal. I will definitely reach my goal of sticking to the eating plan until Christmas Eve, but I suppose I am not in control of whether my body loses weight that quickly, so I'll try not to get too hung up on the scale at that point.

This week is one in which I will be saving all 35 weekly bonus points for one thing. Homemade apple pie! Carrie and I are going apple picking with my cousin and her daughter on Friday. To me, there is nothing quite like homemade pie. I have yet to taste any fruit pie at any restaurant anywhere that has even come close to BAD homemade apple pie, let alone the good stuff. So I will be saving those points, dreaming all week, and savoring the flavor in my mind even before I climb that first apple tree.

So far I'm not down more than a half pound from last week, so I think it might be a slow week. You know what? That's okay. I have done my part and been faithful to plan. The rest is not under my control.

Mountains out of Molehills

I got my exercise mowing the lawn yesterday. We've got MOLES!!!!! It made it so hard to mow that I didn't have to even think about going to the gym. Going up the hill over the molehills was a crazy workout in that heat. Yes, I do most of the lawn mowing in the fall. Most of the guys are in school and working and it blesses my husband. Also---then he doesn't have to do it on the weekend and we can get a step closer to getting the trim finished in the living/dining room. Enough about that. I'm rambling.

Connie's Beef Stew

Last night for dinner I made a recipe I got from a new blog friend. She is a delight and so was her recipe for Russian Beef and Cabbage Stew. You will find it here http://connies-kitchendelights.blogspot.com/ I did cut the brown sugar in half just to make it more Weight Watchers compatible and to suit my taste. I figured I could always add more in later....and it turned out I didn't need to. It was fantastic.

That's all for today. Have a great, disciplined, joyful day!

Karen

Weigh-in Wednesday Once Again!

Wahoo! I'm down 2.5 from last week's weigh-in! I am trying to fully enjoy the consistent weight loss right now because about 8 pounds from now is the place I typically get stuck. Then I will need my wonderful 'loser' friends to get me over the slow patches.

Oh, I found another great(that's a relative term) breakfast. I have a third cup of Kellogg's Bran Buds with fresh berries and about a cup of fat-free plain soy milk (the real stuff makes my mouth and throat itch). The Bran Buds have about 13 grams of fiber and the whole meal is only 2 weight watchers points.

Since it's peach season, I've also been enjoying that delicious fruit with cereal, by itself, and yesterday I had it in some homemade salsa. I just chopped up a tomato, a peach, a small onion, garlic, and cilantro. Throw in a little salt, black pepper, lime juice, and a teaspoon of oil. I ate it with one serving of Baked Tostitos Scoops (sorry, Jen:-D) for a total of 3 points. I also had some of it later in the day with fat-free light rye seasoned RyKrisp. Those are zero points for 2 crackers. (I've even had pbj's on RyKrisp before----they are a dieter's delight)

Eating Like a Loser

What a joy to be past the holiday weekend, even eating at someone's house on Labor Day, and still be able to say that I stayed on target. I didn't go over my daily or weekly points....although it felt like it because dinner was so amazingly good. Chicken marsala over angel hair pasta. Baby greens. Strawberry shortcake (1/2 a piece of course). Water with lime. That's one of the reasons I love this program. I didn't even have to mention 'diet'. I could eat what they were eating....just less of it.

No big diet tips today. I'm just happy that we're all hanging in there!

Saturday

I'm not blogging much of interest this weekend. Just checking in to let you know that I haven't gone off the diet deep end. I'm still plugging and on plan. I walked down into the village yesterday, played with Carrie running around outside and I'm about to play outside with her again in a minute.

Today, I have been at this for one month. It doesn't seem that long. It doesn't seem like it's been grueling either. Thank you, Lord! He really does give us the strength to do these things we need to do.

I've got promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.

Karen

What is going on here????

For some unknown reason the needle has been going the wrong way on my scale since Weigh-in Wednesday. What is up with that? I have not cheated. In fact I've had to push it to eat all my points. I have been eating dinner later in the evening. Maybe that has something to do with it. I've been fairly active, running around with Carrie outside and all. It must just be one of those ups and downs that I need to ignore and not get discouraged about.

My beloved took the day off today. We want to work on the trim in our house some this weekend. He's been coming home so exhausted from the new job that we've not dented it yet. It is, however, in 16 foot lengths laying in our dining room/living room. Very convenient:-)

Despite the slight gain, I will remain faithful today. I have to keep the big picture in mind. Overall the scale has been steadily going down.

Nothing New

The electricity went out for the second time in a week last night. These storms! I am thankful we haven't had any flooding or wind damage but getting a little tired of no power. I've been getting nothing done. As a result, I'm staying away from blogworld for the most part today.


Just checking in first. No cheats. I went to Applebee's because we needed a break from tripping around the dark house. I had the Weight Watchers Steak & Portabellos for 7 points. It was amazingly good. I have to find time to get some exercise. I got up and showered really early this morning and I don't feel like getting all sweaty and showering again so I might wait until dh is home and then we can walk together.



Have a great on target day. Once I get past today, only 117 more to go. I can't believe it's been a month already tomorrow. Not too bad. It's been do-able. I weigh less today than I did in July. Wahoo!

Back from Kroger

I just got back from Kroger. At least I got a little exercise. I carried a gallon of milk and the rest of the groceries up the long hill home. It's not much, but it's something. I had to move fast since it's close to 2 million degrees outside right now and I didn't want the milk to get warm.

Weigh-in was okay. Another 1.5 pounds. Better than one. Not the two that I was hoping for. Two days ago I was down further. Go figure.

I'm not going to spend much time in blogland today. My post on Nerak was a lengthy one and I've got a ton to do. I want to paint the master bedroom this week and maybe the bathroom. It would bless my spouse so much.

Karen

Weigh-in Wednesday

For some reason I feel HEAVY this morning. Before I get on the scale I can usually tell, within a half-pound or so, just how much I will weigh. So today, I don't want to weigh in. I've been good and stuck to the program. I don't know what the deal is. I've got to run to Kroger and get some butter. I'll do it when I get back. I'll post it later.

Just thought I'd note that the Y is closed for an overhaul this week so it'll be pretty tough to get in any cardio until next week. Maybe that's my problem!

I'm off. I'll report later.

Two posts today!

I got this in an email from cybersalt. Thought it was pretty funny...

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting medical studies.
1. Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. Africans drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than the Americans.
CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Black Bean Salsa-With Apologies to Dr.Seuss

I truly like this on a chip
On a taco
As a dip



I would eat it by itself
from the fridge
Right off the shelf



I would eat this here or there
I would eat this
ANYWHERE



I would eat this with a spoon
or a fork
or on the MOON



Black bean salsa is so good
I'd even eat it
Over wood

2 - 15 oz. cans of black beans, rinsed & drained
1 - 14 oz. can of corn, drained
2 - large ripe tomatoes, seeded & chopped
1 - large avocado diced
2 - jalapenos chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro (this is the most important ingredient IMHO)
4 TBS fresh lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil (when this is for me, I take this down to maybe 1 TBS)
1/4 cup wine vinegar
1/2 tsp ground black pepper (fresh from a peppermill is the best)
salt to tast
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

Give yourself a workout by chopping up all this stuff. Mix it up and pop it in the refrigerator. I frequently leave out the avocado because my sons don't like it, and it gets icky looking after a day in the fridge. There's no doubt that the oil makes it taste great, but I love it immensely (can you tell?) even without the oil.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

I had an omelet make with one egg, one egg white, a jalapeno, a little onion, and a baby eggplant. I had a piece of Brownberry 100%whole wheat, double fiber toast sprayed with Pam so the garlic salt would stick to it. Two tablespoons of "Screaming Hot Salsa" jazzed it up a little bit.

How about you? What are some of the things you eat for breakfast when you're losing weight? Since I'm going to be doing this for a while, it's nice to try something new once in a while so I'm anxious to hear your creative breakfast ideas!

I have stayed on target! I dipped into my weekly bonus points yesterday. (for those of you who have never been on Weight Watchers, you get a certain amount of points daily, and then 35 points weekly that you can use any way you like---divide them up and use a little every day or go eat something disgustingly rich and use up a week's worth in one sitting). I always feel like I'm cheating when I do that, even though that's part of the diet. I need to get over that! It was fun to have pizza yesterday and it didn't blow the plan! I shouldn't feel shame just because I happened to enjoy availing myself of the extra points I had coming my way:-)

Also, it is time to make myself accountable to you all for the exercise I'm NOT doing. Now that I'm 'in the zone' with the diet, I need to do the same with my exercising. My goal is 30 minutes of cardio every day except weekends ...walking or treadmill....doesn't matter, and then weight training at least 4 times per week. I know that losing weight will be easier if I build more muscle and the older I get, the more effort that takes so I better get on it. Nagging is most definitely allowed, thank you very much!

Too much to do today...

I've got a million things to do today....we have to shut down our little bathroom to replace the toilet next week so I'm getting the other bathroom in shape for guests. Right now it's awful. I will be taking off the wallpaper border (hideous whimsical fish), repainting (it's bright aqua from the last owners), painting the cabinet (should be interesting), and replacing the faucet. I will be doing all this as a surprise for my husband. He just started a new job a month ago and has been so busy. Today while he's working on his table saw in the garage, I will be sneaking in and out of the bathroom to do these things. Fun! It might take me a few days, but hey....it will be worth it. All that to say, I probably won't even be thinking about food today. No time.

Have a good 'on target' day, contented in the Lord, enjoying His presence in your life.

Manage that Mellow Metabolism (Wow, I Could've Had a V-8)

If you're like me, your metabolism is about as sluggish as a pond slug. How this happened, I do not know. In my teen years, I used to come home from school and eat half a loaf of toast with lots of butter, some homemade raspberry jam, and a few slices of cheese. I never gained an ounce....and I think I weighed all of 105. All that has changed. It's just not fair. Unfortunately, it is what it is. So I have to deal with it.

Aside from exercise to build muscle (which burns fat very efficiently), there are some little things that help. Who knows if the science actually backs this up, but in my experience, these things do seem to help, for whatever reason. When I lost the first half of my extra pounds, I used a lot of these foods and they did work. I had read about this stuff in several fitness articles, etc. The website I took this from yesterday had some questionable ads, etc, so I didn't link to it, but their article was the best so I have copied it here. It didn't appear to be copywrited....so here it is. (I typed this while my mouth is still burning from the scrambled eggs & jalapenos I had for breakfast with some screaming hot fresh salsa on the side!!! I cooled the burn with a tall glass of iced tea)
"Here’s a list of specific foods that raise your metabolism and help burn body fat.
Cayenne Pepper -
Oxford Polytechnic Institute proved that cayenne pepper stimulates the metabolism approximately 20%. It not only stimulates the body’s metabolic rate, but also cleans fat out of the arteries. Cayenne pepper also adds great zip to foods such as spaghetti sauce and soups.
Salsa -
Salsa was proven at the Oxford Institute to stimulate the metabolism approximately 15 to 20%. It’s also America’s number 1 condiment now. You can throw it on anything from baked potatoes and scrambled eggs to beans and even veggies. It’s going to help because it is a natural thermogenic food that increases your metabolism. Of course, the hotter the better, but only choose what best suits your taste buds.
Hot Peppers -
Dr. Henry at Oxford University proved that hot peppers were very effective at stimulating the metabolism by adding just 3 grams of chili peppers to a meal consisting of 766 calories. The peppers led to what Dr. Henry calls “a diet-induced thermo effect”. “It doesn’t take much”, he says, “but I caution that you must listen to your taste buds.”
Chili Sauce / Mustard -
British investigators added about 3/5 of a teaspoon of hot chili sauce or ordinary mustard to a meal, and the hot stuff caused average metabolism in 12 subjects to shoot up 25%! The subjects burned off an extra 45 calories in the next 3 hours. Mustard and hot sauces such as Tabasco, caused one person to burn off 76 calories!
Ice Water -
High water intake reduces fat deposits and rids the body of toxins. Simply drinking eight 16 oz. glasses of water throughout the day, cooled to 40 Fahrenheit, will burn 200 calories; that’s equivalent to running 3 miles! Ice water will burn more calories since your metabolism will increase to warm the water to body temperature. It is also very effective for reducing cravings. Don’t drink Ice Water with meals as it dilutes digestive enzymes. A little warm water or herb tea is a good choice then.
Green Tea (Iced or Hot) -
Studies have shown that green teas that contain both Cannatic Extract and Gymnemic Acid, reduce absorption of sugar into the blood, and lessen the craving for sweets. More importantly, green tea inhibits the action of amylase, a primary digestive enzyme of carbohydrates and therefore, moves food more quickly through the digestive system, raising the metabolism quicker, and burning more calories. Green tea is best consumed before a meal to aid digestion. Other advantages include links to cancer prevention and health benefits for people with diabetes.
Apple Cider Vinegar Drink -
An excellent fat burner, apple cider vinegar assists in the reduction of excess weight. Make a potent cocktail consisting of: 1 % teaspoons of apple cider vinegar (unpasturized) in a glass of pure water. Take twice daily.Organic apple cider vinegar has the best flavor. Apple cider vinegar has received glowing reports from both Patricia Bragg MD, Ph.D. and C. Scott. If a person who is too stout takes 1 teaspoon in a glass of water first thing in the morning and then during one other meal, he/she observes that in 2 months his/her waistline has been reduced by 1 inch. In 4 months, 2 inches and so on. Inch loss is evident but it does not always reduce weight.
The cider vinegar treatment will allow surplus fat to gradually disappear, whether it is a double chin or love handles. It is best to drink for 2-3 weeks, then go off for a week, so your body does not become immune to it. Works great for plateaus! Do not use this drink if you have Candidias.
* Thermogenic Cocktail - According to a group of Oxford researchers, hot spices can boost your metabolism by an extra 25%! A thermogenic cocktail, for instance, cayenne pepper, will assist your body not only by burning off calories, but will also give you more energy. An excellent thermogenic cocktail is a glass of V-8 or tomato juice sprinkled with cayenne and tobassco. Stir with a celery stick. Now your body is going to be cremating calories.
Not all fat burning foods have to be hot, though. Vegetables (preferably raw) and most fruits also increase your metabolism. Okay, maybe you haven’t been too keen on veggies in the past, but many of them are very tasty and some fruits are as sweet as candy. All vegetables are good, but the most effective for flushing out the system are the following:
Cabbage -
Red or green cabbage should be shredded, raw or steamed. Start including cabbage in your diet as it is a longevity food. Studies in the United States, Greece and Japan have shown that people who eat a lot of cabbage are less likely to develop colon cancer, and also have a lower incidence of disease-related death. Try coleslaw instead of green salad with your next meal.
Celery -
Celery takes more energy from the body to absorb and digest than the calories it provides. Celery has also long been used as a nerve tonic; it’s a good, crunchy raw vegetable to chew on if you are stressed out. Celery will calm your nerves, help flush fat out of your system, and make you sleep better. Try eating celery with low-fat yogurt dip.
Brussel Sprouts -
If you are a fan of these mini cabbages, you are in luck. Dr. Wattenburg’s research concluded that brussel sprouts are an ultra-nutritious vegetable, extremely high in vitamin C and richer in protein than any other vegetable. Dr. Wattenburg recorded that healthy young people given a diet rich in brussel sprouts and cabbage improved the functioning of their metabolic systems.
Broccoli and Cauliflower -
Both broccoli and cauliflower rank number 1 as America’s favorite vegetable, according to a poll by the Epcot Center. Your bones will love them, as they are one of the few calcium-containing vegetables. A cup of broccoli provides over 150 mg of calcium. Broccoli and cauliflower are both great in stir-fries or casseroles.
Lemon or Vinegar -
A small amount of vinegar or lemon juice (1 tablespoon), because of its acidity has a powerful slowing effect on stomach emptying, thereby slowing down the rate of starch digestion. Have a glass of water with lemon in the morning. It’s a great way to keep your blood sugar balanced.
Vinaigrette Dressing -
A vinaigrette dressing (1 tablespoon vinegar and 2 teaspoons of oil) with your salad can lower the blood sugar response to the whole meal by up to 30 percent. Best vinegars for this are red or white wine vinegars.
Apples - A low-glycemic, low-insulin food loaded with pectin, apples leave you feeling fuller, longer. According to Dr. James Anderson, apples prevent hunger pains by guarding against dangerous swings or drops in your blood sugar levels. An average-sized apple provides only 81 calories and lowers blood sugar and blood pressure. Because of their high fiber content, apples are also a heart-healthy food.
Grapefruit -
Grapefruit is not a diet myth. It actually helps dissolve fat and high cholesterol, as proven at the University of Florida, by Dr. James Cerda. Grapefruits are loaded with over 15 grams of pectin, which helps curb your appetite by expanding in the body and making you feel fuller, longer. It is rich in natural galacturonic acid, which adds to the potential to fight fat and cholesterol. Try sprinkling cinnamon on your grapefruit to reduce the tart taste, or a little fructose if you have a sweet tooth. For a unique taste, sprinkle the grapefruit with cinnamon and broil for a few minutes; it makes a nice appetizer for a meal.
Berries -
Berries are one of the best rate reduction foods. They have a natural fructose to satisfy your cravings for sweets, but enough fiber so you can absorb fewer calories than you eat. British researchers found that the high content of insoluble fiber, found in most berries and vegetables, reduces the absorption of calories from foods enough to promote weight loss, without hampering your nutrition. Berries are also an excellent source of potassium which is effective for your blood pressure control. Enjoy berries; they make a great dessert when topped with low-fat yogurt."

Baby Steps

We all have foods that are pretty near irresistable in our weak moments. I've already told you that food that is about to be wasted is hard for me to leave alone.......especially when it's pancakes all cut up in bite-sized pieces with syrup all over it. I've caved many a time when my daughter's left a few bites on her plate. But that was before. Yesterday I served her and son#3 some pancakes. She left her typical 4 or 5 bites on the plate. I didn't touch it. Quite honestly, I didn't even think about those pancakes until this morning. Success comes in baby steps, doesn't it? One day we turn down a chip or a pancake, another day maybe we ramp up our exercise program. Before you know it, we've all lost a little weight and can fit into a size we haven't seen in a decade or two.

I've been 100% faithful to the plan! I dropped that other half pound this morning so I have lost two full cans of crisco now! I will really have to get exercising more intensely to keep losing at the same rate. (I tend to plateau a little when I get around this weight) I'm encouraged! I'm not finding this to be horrible, but a fun challenge. It makes it more fun knowing there are others around doing the same thing!

Have a great day. Stay on plan. Suck your stomach in. Be content in your circumstances. Enjoy your food today with joy and gratitude for what the Father has provided. Focus on your family today rather than your fleeing fat :-) Your family will be around for a while, your FAT won't!

1 John 3
"1How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!......"

Weigh-In Woes

My weight was down this week by 1.5 pounds. I've been shooting for 2 per week but I need to listen to my own words and realize that if I am being faithful to a sensible plan, I shouldn't fret so much about the scale. The scale will catch up with the habit changes.

I am thankful today that I have stuck to the plan. I didn't eat one mouthful that was not accounted for. I ate good things that I enjoyed. I was able to do things with my family and not feel lousy afterward because I gave in to crummy food choices. I'm still motivated and the needle on the scale is moving in the right direction.

I sat down a lot yesterday instead of standing up while using the computer but I'll get back on track with that. I actually wasn't home much of the day and, unfortunately, most of that was with my keister seated in the driver's seat of my van. It made me extremely thankful that I took an extra few minutes to pack myself a filling low-point lunch before we left as the trip ended up being much longer than expected and I didn't have to blow money on fast food--healthy or not.

Have a great 'on target' day!

Get the Fat Out

One of the things I've found that makes cooking for the family a little easier while I'm dieting, is cooking some things the day before and refridgerating them. Why? Because then I can make some of the typical soups, stews, spaghetti sauce, taco meat, french dip, etc., that I usually do, but when it gets refrigerated, any of the fat I was unable to skim off before turns into a solid clump and I can easily get it out of there before reheating. Also, I just think most things taste a little better the second day..when the flavors have had a little time to mingle.

Most of the recipes I do this for are better suited to colder weather and when we get into the fall with it's cooler temps, I will post some of them.

Nothing too exciting in 'diet world' today. I have been faithful to the plan. My lovely daughter hauled a bunch of little weights into the kitchen yesterday along with my medicine ball (a 6-pound weighted ball--that's just what they call it). If I didn't exercise, she was going to leave it there in the middle of the floor so I'd trip over it all day. Good girl! We had fun using the equipment together and I got my exercise in. I still have to somehow work the 'Y' into my normal schedule so I get the cardio workout as well as the weight training. I don't have a treadmill at home and it's been pouring outside so I haven't walked. Have a great day---one day closer to our goals if we stick to our plans!

Oh---don't forget to take this week's poll down near the bottom of the page!

Afternoon Antiques

This afternoon, my husband and I went antique shopping. Just to give you some background, we live in a house built in 1991, but we're aiming to make the inside look a little more like 1891 or earlier. We've put wide plank pine floors in the living room and dining room, and in September, we plan to do the same in the kitchen and hallway. Eventually the family room will be wood and tile (we think). Anyway, this year we've purchased a number of antiques or reproductions for those 'already floored' rooms and just needed a piece for one specific area. Today we combed the Antique fair for hours, didn't find it, and ended up getting a reproduction from one of our favorite little stores (http://www.dixboro.com/). Next weekend we need to finish all the trim in the room, find a lamp to go on top of the piece we got today, hang a few pictures, and we're done.

Now, back to my eating habits. The food at the Antique market smelled amazing. I was able to walk right past many of my favorites...Thai food, doughnuts, etc.. I ate oat bran before I left in the morning, and then had Wendy's for lunch. I like to get a small chili and dump it on top of a small side salad with no dressing. I also had a plain baked potato(with the skin for more fiber).
I had plenty of points left over for dinner at home. Weight Watchers frozen dinners were on sale at Kroger today so I ate one of those for dinner. I snacked on a bunch of seasoned fat-free RyKrisps among other things, and ended up the day with a few extra points. I am IN THE ZONE! I really love this program....it just works so well for me and fits my lifestyle so well. I'm not bored with what I eat and I don't walk around hungry all the time. My weight loss is steady.

Tomorrow I shall exercise and, yes, you can hold me accountable for that!

One hundred thirty days to go! I'm still on target. I haven't had one mouthful over my point limit. I went to a wedding shower today. There were two types of homemade quiche, homemade scones, pumpkin bread, banana crumb muffins, cheese blintzes, and other assorted diet-killers. Fortunately my dear Aunt also had a huge bowl of unadorned cut up fresh fruit. I didn't eat breakfast in preparation for this so I was able to eat a bowl of fruit, a small piece of quiche, and a lot of coffee and tea. Oh, and NO cake.

I'm not planning on getting any exercise in today but you can start nagging me come Monday, thank you very much.

Correction

Before you read my regular post, I do need to make a correction of sorts. The other day in functional foods I mentioned Green Giant Simply Steam Vegetables. I have since discovered that not all of them are sans sauce, so please read their labels first.

Sorry, folks!

NOTHING Could Possibly Taste as Good as Thin Feels!!!

I've been kind of long-winded lately so I thought today I wouldn't say much. The title pretty much says it all. I always need to remember that. Before I lost a good deal of weight a couple years ago, I couldn't even remember how thin felt! Probably because back when I had been thin, I didn't even appreciate it or think that fat was a possilibity for me. Now, having gotten fat and then MOST of the way to thin before, I remember.....and it felt GREAT!

One more thing. I had to remind myself yesterday to do a few things that make me feel and look thinner while in the process. Stand up straight. Pull my stomach in just like I'm trying to make my bellybutton touch my spine (not that it's anywhere close at this point, LOL). Tighten up my keister. Don't slump over or lean on things...like a shopping cart, chair, etc. I have to remind myself several times a day. Old habits die hard.

1 Timothy 6:6But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Functional Foods

There are a few foods that are either staples in my weight loss diet or are just particularly helpful substitutes from time to time. Today I'll talk about a few of those.

1) Bread---I use Brownberry Whole Grain Classics Double Fiber 100% Whole Wheat Bread. The double fiber is great for the diet for obvious reasons. When I want something other than a regular slice of bread, I use Thomas' 100% whole wheat bagels, or whole wheat tortillas (for a sandwich wrap or breakfast burrito). If I am having toast with an egg for breakfast, I spray the toast or bagel with Pam and give it a light sprinkle of salt. The saltiness hints of butter and the spray is butter flavored. Not much, but it helps.

2) If you love potatoes but shun them while you're losing weight because they're just too dry without all that butter, try this. Bake your potato the usual way, slice it in half and mash the insides, adding as much skim milk as necessary to make it the right consistency for you. Use garlic salt, fresh ground black pepper, and a small dollop of fat-free sour cream. Not bad! After I've eaten most of the potato out of it, I usually take a little extra salt and 1 teaspoon of real butter (don't guess-measure it) and put it inside the skins and eat them. That's where the fiber is and that little tiny bit of butter lends tremendous flavor without a ton of fat.

3)Fat Free refried Beans. Lots of fiber, filling, tasty. Use with a whole wheat tortilla or some Baked Lays Scoops(which us chip addicts always count out ahead of time and put the bag away). Buy some salsa that you like and use it generously or make fresh salsa. I will post a recipe for that one of these days. Add a tiny bit of fat free sour cream. Delicious.

4) Worcestershire sauce. This can provide flavor for your lean hamburgers or any kind of beef, or soups/stews with beef in it. When you're getting rid of a lot of fat, you lose some flavor so substitute something like worcestershire that packs a lot of intense flavor without fat or a lot of sugar.

5) Fresh garlic! Honestly, can you think of anything garlic doesn't improve? Okay, besides your love life! Just feed it to your husband, too! When you're sauteeing your spinach, zucchini, onions, carrots, peppers, snow peas, broccoli, or any combination of them, add some fresh garlic. It's good for you and tastes fantastic. Also---I use the term 'saute' loosely. What I really do is spray a nonstick pan with Pam (or generic equivalent), add the veggies and a little garlic and salt, and after a few minutes add a little water so the veggies don't burn. When they're done you can even use a little soy sauce on them. Skip it if you need to lower your salt intake.

6) Tea--- When my husband and I finish our kitchen cabinets, I am certain that one of them will be used strictly for tea! I love the stuff. It helps me drink all my water and it keeps me feeling fuller. Regular tea is great, as well as green, or white. Some flavors that are great are Bigelow's Lemon Lift (great hot or iced), any of the mint teas, Bigelow's Constant Comment (hot), and Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime (hot at bedtime). Celestial Seasonings Sweet Coconut Thai is amazing as iced tea. A friend recommended Crystal Light On The Go Peach Tea. It's fantastic although I use it a little more sparingly than they recommend because I don't like it quite as sweet. Tea is great and it is good for you. They say it's like drinking the nutrients from a serving of vegetables as far as flavonoids and antioxidants. Drink up, ladies!

7) Green Giant Simply Steam frozen vegetables. Easy in the microwave, quick, without added sauce. Not that it's that tough to cook veggies in a pot but when these go on sale, I stock up on the asparagus and a few others that my kids/husband don't particularly like but I do....that way I have zero prep time cleaning and cutting and it's ready in just a couple minutes for a quick lunch with a half sandwich.

8) Eggs tend to keep you feeling full for a while but sometimes one egg seems a little meager for a veggie omelet. Just add an extra egg white. Yes, you'll have to throw out a yolk but remember......better to waste it than to wear it on your waist! Don't save it unless you're going to cook it for your dog. The only other thing you'll use it for is something you shouldn't be eating anyway :-) Us cheapskates just can't handle throwing food down the disposal.

Nothing earth-shaking here. This stuff just works well for me and helps me stay focused for the long run.

Have a great day and remember....you only need to worry about today's eating. One day at a time.

The Replacements, or What if?

After reading someone else's blog yesterday where they were talking about keeping their hands busy exercising while watching TV or reading, I started thinking about some interesting possibilities. I already decided yesterday to replace my sitting-on-the-couch-blogging-time with 'always-standing-up-blogging-time. It burns more calories and helps me to be succinct instead of long-winded. I also don't get so comfortable that I waste a lot of time web-browsing.



Anyway, I started thinking about what the real implications could be if I started doing only one very important 'replacement activity'.



Suppose that every time I am tempted to eat what I know is wrong for me, I go up to my room and spend a few minutes talking to the Father. Wow! Do you know how many people would get prayed for? I am tempted a LOT! What if I make a very specific list of others' needs and just keep crossing those names off everyday as they're prayed for? What will happen if I take the focus off of my struggle and turn it to praying for my neighborhood? I know it would have an impact. I think this is a habit I need to learn and it's all a part of practicing His presence in my daily life. John 17:3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

In just over four months I will be quite different physically. I believe four months of praying with the same diligence as dieting can turn the world upside down.

P.S. For what it's worth, I did hit my weekly weight goal! Wahoooooo! Down two this week. That would be a total of just over 1 large can of Crisco! Gross!

Weak Weeks---Ugh!

As I am getting closer to weigh-in day (Wednesdays for me), I see that I have not come down any further than last week, although there is still time for that to change. I haven't cheated even once on my points. I haven't been a couch potato. I just remembered about THIS part of the diet. The dreaded 'week before that time of the month'. <cue scary music here> . I need to remember that this is the week that I have to keep motivated to stick to points regardless of what the scale says because I NEVER lose weight during this week.....it will come off the week after along with the usual from that week. This week is also always the one in which chocolate seems to call to me from every store shelf and ice cream freezer. It's okay. I'm ready. I bought some chocolate-flavored rice cakes......but learned last night how important it is to count them out and put them in a bowl rather than munching with the bag next to me. I didn't listen to my own advice from the other day and SEE what happened? I ate a couple more points worth than I intended. Thankfully I stayed within my daily parameters.

Today's point is this. There will be weeks that in spite of our best efforts, we won't lose a THING. As discouraging as it is, it is not a license to scrap the whole diet because "I'm not losing anything, anyway!!!" Rather it's an opportunity to be diligent in spite of the circumstances. As a believer, I need to walk a lot of things out through faith. Right now dieting is one of them.

Today's goals for me: 1)Finish blogging and then don't sit down until lunchtime, and then not again until dinner. If I have to check my email I can do it standing up. Don't laugh.....Once I park my keister on the couch and start on the computer, I can waste a lot of time. Plus, I need to burn those extra calories. 2) Take my daughter to the Y this afternoon---I can do my workout and then we can swim together. I might even do it this morning .

Another Important Tip

I know a lot of my overeating has taken place simply because I'm not paying attention. Eating is a great thing....a gift from God. We should take pleasure in eating and be thankful for what we eat. So I think we need to give eating it's own time. In other words....don't combine eating with other things like watching a video or teaching your kids or driving....or blogging! When you've combined eating with another activity, once you've finished eating you barely remember having the meal, snack, or whatever it is. Pick a place in your house to eat (hmmm...how about the kitchen table) and then only eat there. When you're eating, enjoy the flavor of the food, enjoy the activity itself, and enjoy those who are eating with you. Then move on. If you're used to eating while watching tv....you will eat more than you intend. If you eat while blogging, you'll down a pile of food before you've even conciously registered that you're consuming something. Condition yourself to confine eating to your kitchen table or wherever your designated spot is. If you are a homeschooling mom that teaches at your kitchen table, try to have the school stuff off the table when you eat. Eat breakfast there before the books get set up, clear the books to have lunch. Don't make stuffing your face a part of your teaching routine. Been there, done that, gained a lot of weight!

Remember.....I Corinthians 6:12"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything.

Success Tips

Although everyone is different, it is sometimes helpful to know what has helped someone be successful at what they're doing.

Here are some things that help me.

Be Prepared. When I get up in the morning, I have an idea of what I'll be eating that day. If I've got an event that poses a big problem, I plan for it. If it means cutting up a few bags of veggies so that I have some 'munchies' to eat while the kids or my husband are eating chips, then I've got it covered.

Beware of salty snacks. I love these so I had to find a substitute. Baked Lays Chips, Baked Doritos, Baked Scoops are all great. EXPENSIVE, but great. It's worth it if you're the only one eating them. One caution. Don't sit down with the bag next to you. Count out 1 serving and put it in the bowl and put the bag AWAY. Get some salsa that you like or make some fresh stuff and use it generously. By the way, Sam's club is about the cheapest place to get these...about half the price of the grocery stores.

Get rid of stuff that you just can't resist. For me it's Cheetos, donuts, and believe it or not, boxed macaroni and cheese. If you can't handle it don't have it in the house.

Don't eat stuff you don't like. It doesn't satisfy you at all and you're more likely to make bad food choices later.

Don't expect to lose the weight quickly. If you do, you'll get discouraged and quit and gain everything back plus a few more pounds for good measure. Losing at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per week is painfully slow but then your eating habits will change and the pounds will stay off for the most part with a little self-control. See how your weight loss works....if you tend to lose a pound per week, see how long it will take you to get to your goal weight and make that a red letter day on your calendar....even if it's two years from now. Look forward to that day. When you're struggling to stay on target, tell yourself, "If I keep on target, I will get to my goal by that date". The time will pass anyway, you might as well have lost some weight in the process.

Us frugal moms HATE to waste food. Unfortunately sometimes we forget that when we finish up what our five-year-old left behind on his/her plate, it is wasting it just as much as if we threw it away. Our bodies don't need it. To feed myself what I don't need is wasting it. Get over it....throw it out. Better to waste it than to 'waist' it.

Portion control. Portion control. Portion control. Those serving sizes mean something. Use a smaller plate! No seconds. You won't wither up and die.

Thou shalt not lie. I think we need to recognize that we are very capable of lying to ourselves about food and how much we eat. This dishonesty is not pleasing to the Lord or the scale. Our bodies are not fooled.

Find a program that works for YOU and stick to it. If you can' afford a program, keep a food journal and write everything down. I use Weight Watchers online. I like it because I'm not a Rah Rah! meeting kind of person (maybe you are and that's great). I also like the simplicity. It calculates everything for me --I just type in what I eat. It has me losing at the right pace. No foods are off limits, I just have to stay within my point allowance. I LOVE this program.

Rely on the Lord. He knows you and your struggle. He knows what we're made of. He knows temptation. He can give you the strength to do the task at hand. Think what a fantastic testimony this can be for someone struggling with other addictions.

Remember that you can discipline yourself to do pretty much anything for just 24 hours, so take this thing ONE day at a time. Control yourself TODAY. Worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

Find some new favorite foods and make sure they're always in your house. I have discovered oat bran and I love it. I also love Brownberry's Double Fiber 100% whole wheat bread. Seedless raspberry jam of the Smuckers variety. Summer fruits! Tomatoes! Fresh salsa with baked chips! Grilled chicken salad with lowfat dressing!

Psalm 139
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Milford Memories, Part Deux

I must congratulate myself! Two days down at the festival and I'm still successfully dieting. My dear husband had sausage & peppers as well as an elephant ear. I had a Mr. Pita Ultra Lite, baked doritos, and a water. He thought he was going to barf. I felt great! It was just enough and I'll still respect myself in the morning.

I splurged a little this evening. It was a calculated splurge and I had a chicken patty sandwich & 18 fries. I logged the points, of course, and I only dipped into my weekly points by about 4. Not bad considering I'm halfway through the week. It was delicious. I love Weight Watchers because I can have things like that as long as I log it and stay within my point allowance. I don't eat like that all the time because those things chew up a lot of points.....thus lessening the daily QUANTITY of food I can have.

Take heart, dieters....we can all be losers!

I made it!

Oh, the smell of sausage & peppers and the visuals on the cheese fries.....bad food choices were lurking everywhere at Milford Memories. I managed to spend 3 hours there and not eat anything. I will be down there tomorrow so I scouted around for something I can eat while my husband enjoys the aforementioned foods. Mr. Pita has a wagon down there and the Ultra Lites only have 5 Weight Watcher points per roll-up. Hey, it's not exactly comfort food, but it'll do in this 'social eating' situation.

I'm still on target with points left over for today. If dh wants to walk downtown later, I still have room for a latte, or a coffee and a mcD's ice cream cone. Hey, I even walked 2 miles today! I forgot. I even have another point or two extra.