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.

It's Summer, Dieters Rejoice!

So much of the focus, when we're dieting, is on the things we SHOULDN'T eat. I decided today that it might be a good idea to focus on what we CAN eat that is truly delicious. This morning I ate the most perfectly ripe fresh peach and it was so amazingly good. Last night I had marinated chicken on the grill. There's a fantastically refreshing watermelon, sweet and juicy, sitting on my counter cubed and ready to eat. One of my favorite summer staples has come into season....fresh tomatoes. I can eat a tomato salad, a tomato sandwich (thick with black pepper and light dressing), some delicious bruschetta when paired with some basil from my garden, fresh salsa that includes jalapenos and cilantro, or an unadorned sliced beefsteak tomato sprinkled only with a little salt. Need I go on?

There are so many great things we can and SHOULD eat this time of year. Dig in and ditch the guilt.

Not an OCCASION to give in to TEMPTATION!

Today begins the festival that our town has every year called Milford Memories. It's a nice craft show, fair, sidewalk sale, food, music, and fun outing and it lasts three days. We are close enough that we just walk from home every year.

In order to avoid the temptation that awaits there (can you say 'elephant ears', 'cinnamon almonds', and 'Italian sausage and peppers'?) , I'll have to be diligent by eating before we go. Taking along a few bagged snacks so that I have something to eat while my 5-yr-old eats the treats should do the trick.

I'm well past a week now and haven't eaten one thing that I didn't document and every mouthful was within my daily and weekly point allowance. I will stay on track until Christmas eve. Nothing tastes as good as thin feels. Truer words have not been spoken in the diet realm. Maybe I'll have it carved into a sign over my fridge and pantry.

P.S. I've already divested myself of a whole can of Crisco. How about you?

First 'Y' Visit Since October 2006????

Well, I finally got my behind to the 'Y' yesterday! I didn't get near the exercise in that I should have but it was so hot in there I thought I would pass out. I did walk/run for a mile on the treadmill at a pretty good clip. I swam with Carrie for at least an hour, part of that running through the water with her on my back (also great exercise, believe me!!!)

The scale is still happy with my results. I am going to try not to be too married to what the scale says because that isn't always in my control. I am, however, going to be absolutely ruthless when it comes to sticking to the program. I do so much better if I don't compromise with my points AT ALL. If I give myself an inch, I take a mile. I REALLY don't want to ever have to do this whole process again. Maintenance is one thing, but losing is a bit of a pain. If I can start the new year sans the extra pounds.......WoW! I would feel pretty unencumbered.

I better go eat something. I'm HUNGRY!

Two Pounds Down.....Forty to go!

Week One was a success.

I went shopping yesterday. I realized that I really hadn't been eating enough fruits and vegetables so I came home with a car FULL of low point goodies from the produce department at Meijers. (For any of you out-of-towners.....that's like a nice Wal-Mart with a full grocery store)

Looking forward to an even better second week, devoid of trips to Outback and such.

Another Day Down....Weigh-in Tomorrow

Today my points worked out perfectly. I ate well, had dessert, and came out exactly right on my points! Feels good. One week of success!

What THEY'RE Having...

I think this is the toughest part of dieting for me. The rest of the family. Right now I'm going to go downstairs and make them pancakes drenched in butter and syrup. If I take one little taste, I'm done. So I ate a good, filling 3.5 point breakfast and a LOT of tea to make me feel full. I will be able to respect myself an hour from now. I will be be that much closer to my goal weight because I stuck it out for the 15 minutes it takes to make those pancakes.

I read somewhere that brushing your teeth right before you know you're going to have to face a major food temptation helps a little bit. The peppermint and just-brushed freshness and all:-)
I think I'll try it.

How is YOUR day going?

BTW----I was down 2 pounds this morning. It's nice to get results when you're working hard.

Day 6 down! With points leftover!

I finished up today with too many points leftover so I had to go eat another bun-less burger. Even still I have 3.5 points left to burn. Hmmmm. Piece of WW toast with 1 tsp each of butter and jam? Sounds goood.

I'm at least down 1 pound. I get on the scale every day. I was hoping for an enormous loss the first week but we'll see on Wednesday Morning. Two pounds weekly will get me to goal safely by Christmas.

I Corinthians 10:31-So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

This week I will do my best to eat and drink to the glory of God by showing restraint and contentment.

G'day Mate

Day is done. I made it through Outback with no damage. I didn't touch the Ominous Onion of Obesity. I ordered only what I planned, ate a WW candy while they were all eating dessert and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I even passed up the half a bowl of ice cream with hot fudge that my daughter left on the table. Food going to waste is tough for me to pass up, but if I look at it as though it will be going to my WAIST if I eat it, I can leave it alone!
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things....
12.....I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.


I, unlike the apostle Paul, haven't come to the point where I am completely content in every situation, but with the grace of God I'm learning. When I overeat, I'm not being content with the amount of food it takes to keep my body healthy. I want to enjoy the delicious food He provides with joy and thanksgiving.

Whew!

Made it through Phase I. I brought rice cakes into the theatre, along with a black tea and a few WW candies. Had a hot dog for lunch. I'm actually full.

Planning for Peril

Today could be a dangerous one so I am planning ahead. We will be taking our 5-yr-old daughter to see Underdog. I know she will be eating the dreaded butter-soaked movie popcorn and some candy. I know I'll want something so I'm going to go armed with a small bag of the lowfat popcorn in my purse and a few weight watchers chocolates to eat---(all planned into my daily points, of course).

I know from the the last time I did this that pre-planning helped me out of those tempting moments unscathed.

Our second oldest is heading back to college this week and we plan on taking everyone to Outback tonight. Watching them all eat a Bloomin' Onion will be torturous but if I put it in perspective, it helps. That onion will be on our table for about 15 minutes. If I eat it, it will stick to my thighs for a lifetime. It would take me hours to work it off and ten minutes after they finish eating it, I won't even know it had existed. Here's the rundown per chowbaby.com ---

Outback Steakhouse©
Aussie-Tizers - Bloomin Onion w/Dressing©
Serving Size: whole
Calories: 2310
Total Fat: 134 grams
Carbohydrates: 241 grams
Protein: 35 grams

It doesn't list the fiber but I'm sure it's negligible. One of those lovely onions could use up my points for the next two and a half days.
Sooooo.....I think I'll have Chicken on the Barbie with Steamed plain Vegetables. I'll skip the potato, eat slowly, guzzle lots of unsweetened ice tea, and dine on wonderful conversation with my family. Maybe I'll have coffee and a WW chocolate for dessert.

When I get home this evening, I won't have to start all over again on my diet or feel guilty for eating too much. It's all in the planning.

Have a great day!

Still on the Wagon

Yesterday and today were both good days food-wise! Stuck to my points like glue! I enjoyed a Mr. Pita Ultra Lite Chicken Caesar for lunch.

Only 143 more days to go.

What the Challenge is All About

In my other blog, I put out a bit of a challenge to myself, but I'm hoping to get a few others to tag along. While doing Weight Watchers a couple years ago, I noticed that when you lost a few pounds, they'd congratulate you with things like, "Be proud---you lost the equivalent of four sticks of butter" or a gallon of milk or something like that. Well, I can't think of a fat that is much grosser than Crisco (okay, well maybe whale blubber but it doesn't come in premeasured cans)so I'm using that as my weight-loss yardstick.

If I lose weight too quickly on a very restrictive diet (Atkins, low-carb, etc) I just pile the pounds back on with all their cellulite-packed little friends. Weight Watchers worked nicely for me before. I haven't gained the majority of my weight back that I had lost, I just need to finish the job once and for all. What I need to lose is 14 cans of Crisco (they're 3 pounds each) If we all lose two pounds per week between now and Christmas, we can be down 42 pounds by Christmas. Merry Christmas to us!

The rules are only these. Lose weight safely...no starving yourself or taking ridiculous pills. Always tell yourself the truth about what you've eaten. Use any reasonable plan that works for you. Be nice to everyone else on the blog:-)

I will report every day on how I did with my eating. I'm looking for others who want to check in frequently to report on how they're doing. We can keep each other going. Will you help me on this? How many cans of Crisco do YOU need to lose?