Get A Jump Start On Your New Year's Resolution!

Okay everybody, we made it through Halloween, the parties, and all the candy.  So what is next on your calendar of events.  The Holidays!!!  Thanksgiving only three weeks away and Chriistmas is next month.  And with all of the holidays, parties, dinners, family get together and other special events, it is easy to see the pounds start packing on our frames.

So what can you do about it?  On my journey to a new me, I have found a new way of thinking about the holidays and now is the best time to begin your New Year's Resolution to lose weight and take control of your health.  Why wait until January 1, 2012 to do what you can today?  Did you know if you just lost one pound per week between now and then you could be down 10 or more pounds before the first of the year?  Did you ever consider that by waiting until January 1, 2012 you could actually have gained more weight than you currently weigh?  There is no telling what the scale would show on January 1, 2012 if you did nothing about your weight until then.

So what is stopping you from trying?  What do you have to lose?  Why don't you make a deal with yourself?  Give yourself three "Free Passes".  Three days between November 1st and January 1st that you can eat whatever you want, and in whatever amount that you want.  There will be no counting of the calories on any of the three days that you use your "Free Pass".  It could be called a "Food Fest"  for lack of a better title. You can call it whatever you want, but  it is Three Days that you can eat what you desire and not worry about the calorie cost.   You can start dreaming of all the wonderful and delicious food items that you have been staying away and eat them all on these special three days. 

So how does this work exactly?  How can you lose weight with the three days of "Free Passes"?  Well it is very simple.  The other days between November 1st and January 1st that are not chosen as your "Free Pass" days will be normal days that you must count your calories.  You must pay attention to what you are eating and the amounts that you are consuming.  You can visit my favorite weight loss tool www.myfitnesspal.com and set up you profile with  your starting weight and how much you want to lose and it will give you a nutritional guideline with how many calories you should be consuming every day.  Since beginning my journey to a new me I have maintained 1400 calories per day and have learned to live comfortably within this range. 

To really make this idea work for you, look at your  calendar now.  I would guess that two of the three "Free Pass" days would be Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, but there is still one more "Free Pass" day that you  could pick.  Maybe your company or church has a great Christmas Party that you know has all the best food or desserts, then this could be your third "Free Pass" day.  Or maybe you want a final splurge on January 1, 2012 before starting all over again in the New Year.

The choice is up to  you, but it is your choice to make.  Before you say it will not work for you
consider it?  How do you know it will not work if you do not try it?  When I was growing up there was a saying, "Try it, you'll like it."  and who knows, this may just be the "thing" that you need to get a jump start on your New Year's Resoution.  Don't delay, start today!

What To Do With The Left Over Halloween Candy

The last "Trick or Treater" came to my front porch about 35 minutes ago.  We had a steady stream of characters of every size and age.  Some looked to be a few years past the "proper" age for trick or treating, but you aren only a kid once in your life so why not pretend to be younger than you are and get some free candy in the process?  I remember trick or treating until I was in the tenth grade.  I dressed as a little girl and pretended that I was "tall" for my age.  When the adults would answer their door I would hide behind a group of really young and short kids so that all that they could see was my pillow case.  (Yes, I said pillow case.  We did not have all the fancy trick or treat bags that children carry today.)

So with the completion of Halloween Trick or Treating comes the thoughts about what to do with all of the left over candy.  Now as you can tell we spared no expense when we purchased candy this year.  We bought the largest Jumbo bags of assorted chocolate candy bars that Sam's Club had to offer.  I started the evening by dumping 120 pieces of Reese's, Kit Kat, Almond Joy, Milky Ways and Snickers into my largest Tupperware mixing bowl.  Little did I know that my husband had done the exact same exercise about 15 minutes earlier, so we actually had 240 pieces of the most annoyingly wonderful smelling chocolate candy that you have ever smelled in your life wafting through our house.

With every ring of the doorbell our two little minature schnauzers would do their best to beat us to the door, and after several minutes of pushing them away and telling them to be quiet, we were finally able to open the door and greet our cheerful guest who all were programmed to say the same thing:  "Trick or Treat".  This was our signal to show that huge bowl of chocolate candy to all of those who came to visit. 

We started the evening with one strategy of  "Please take one" but as the evening wore on we changed it  to "Please help yourself to Two".  My husband even had one little boy grab three Reeese's peanut butter cups and when my husband said, "Sorry your only supposed to take two."  the little boy said No I took three because they are Reese's singe peanut butter cups, and my husband said "No I said take two, please put one back".   When he came inside and told me what happened he said, "you should have seen the look on that little boys face".  and his father was standing there.  But I was proud of my husband for sticking to his guns.  What did that little guy think he was doing?  We were being very generous giving them two pieces of candy and he was trying to be just a little bit greedy.  So, now with the evening coming to a close I looked in those two big bowls of candy, and had more than a second thought about what to do with all that candy.

Here are just a few of the thoughts that went through my mind.
1.  I could bring one of those bowls over to my chair and eat until I was sick, but just thinking about all that chocolate gave me a stomach ache.

2.  I could bag it up and give it to my grandchildren but then I thought better of it.  This would probably rot their teeth out and they are so young it would be years before their permanent teeth came in.

3.  I could bag the candy up and put it in the freezer for another day, another occasion, a party or some other special  event.

4.  I could take it into the office and let my co-workers hate me for tempting them with chocolate

5.  I could do nothing.  Just bag it up  and put it away for another day.

But then I remembered something that we did last year with our church.  We took inexpensive gifts to a womens shelter, and filled gift bags with candy!  YES!!  This is what I could do with all of this candy!  I could put it in gift bags to give to the women and children who live there.  I knew there was a good reason why my husband and I both openned up a huge bag of candy tonight, and I knew it had nothing to do with me eating any of it! 

So here's a question for you.  What are you planning to do with your left over Halloween candy?  Have you already given into the temptation of the chocolate aroma?  Even if you have already caved in and indulged in the  guilty pleasureof your choice, it's not too late.  
If you are trying to get healthy find a way to get the remaining candy out of sight and out of your house.  I promise you, there is someone out there who needs it more than you do!

Good Will Is Not Just A Place To Donate Any More!

My husband and I have always given to charities. We regularly give to all sorts of charitable organizations. We know that we are blessed and when we no longer have a use for something or know that we are not going to wear that pair of shoes that we bought on the clearance rack and then only wore a couple of times, we donate to Good Will, The Kidney Foundation and other reputable organizations.


This past weekend I helped my parents with a huge multi-family yard sale, and you guesses it all of the lovely yard sale treasures that did not sell were loaded into our vehicles and carried to the Good Will store. When I drove up to the drop off area I noticed that I was at the end of a very long lime. There were seven pick up trucks loaded down with treasures of their own. (I guess there were a lot of other yard sales that day). A few of the trucks even had trailers full of furniture and other household items.

I walked inside to a very organized and well lit store. Because it was a Saturday there were quite a few families shopping down every aisle. In years past I had never had much success finding any clothing items in my size because I wore a "plus-plus" size, but today I felt lucky. On my journey to a new me i am learnng at a pretty quick pace that it is not a wise investment to over buy in the area of clothing because at the rate that I am losing weight I do not stay in the size long enough to really enjoy the new clothes that I have purchased.


While walking down the first aisle I spotted a very nice pair of jeans, and at under $6.00 who could walk away from that. Two aisles over I found a cute top and since I was having such a good time I continued until I reached the far wall where the jackets were hung in no particular order. A black leather pants length jacket with a leather belt caught my attention and as I reached up to take it down off the rack my hand was shaking. "Could I be so lucky as to find myself a winter jacket for $5.67"? As soon as I pulled it down and removed the hanger I slid my arm in one arm hole and then the other and guess what? It was a perfect fit!
I could not believe it! If I had to estimate the value of this leather jacket I would say new it would be $200.00 to $250.00. I felt so blessed! It looked fabulous and I knew it was a "must have" in my new winter wardrobe. I also knew that next winter this same great jacket will be just one of the many items that I will be able to give away because it will be too big for me!


I know it sounds like I am "counting my chickens before they hatch" but some times you just know what you know! And in this case, I KNOW!


So next time you drive into the charity of your choice drop-off lane, take moment to park the care and go inside. Walk down a few of the aisles. Who knows you may just find yourself to be as lucky as I did!

I love my new leather jacket, and at the
 bargain price  that I paid I will wear it until it
 is too big, and go and get another one!

The Real "Skinny" On Mayo

One thing that I would greatly miss out on if I cut it completely from my food list would be mayonaise.  I know if sounds silly but honestly there are so many things that I enjoy  that have mayonaise in it.  Whether it is a sandwich, potato salad, tuna  salad or other recipe, I find that mayonaise is a neccesity in my refrigerator.

So what is the problem you may ask? Well traditionally mayonaise has gotten a bad rap on the nutritional side of things.  You see mayonaise is made of oil and eggs along with a few other ingredients.  The combination of which can add quite a few unexpected calories to that Subway sandwich if you are not aware of how many calories each tablespoon has.  So what is a girl supposed to do who depends on mayonaise for one of her favorite condiments.  Well let me tell you.

Over the past few years many of the major mayonaise producers have introduced, Light, Low Fat, Fat Free or Cholesterol Free versions.  Check out this interesting research that I found on the WebMd website.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/best-tasting-light-mayonnaise

Best-Tasting Light MayonnaisePicks for the tastiest brands of light and olive oil mayonnaise, plus a recipe for healthy homemade mayonnaise.

By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD
WebMD Expert Review

It all started with eggs and olive oil. Mayonnaise mania began more than 250 years ago when a French chef, who was whipping up a celebratory sauce, ran out of cream and thought to add olive oil to his eggs instead. This popular European sauce broke onto the American culinary scene in 1905 after Richard Hellmann, a German immigrant, opened a delicatessen in New York. Mrs. Hellmann’s homemade mayonnaise was featured in salads and sold as a condiment.

Today, Americans are passionate about mayonnaise. Which brand reigns supreme depends on where in the United States you reside. Hellmann's is the one to beat on the east coast, and the same brand, sold under the name Best Foods, is king on the west coast. Duke’s, meanwhile, has much of the South sewn up.

But our love for mayo comes at a price, as it's loaded with calories and fat. Spreading just one tablespoon of mayonnaise on your sandwich adds nearly 100 calories and 11 grams of fat to your lunch – and let's face it, many of us don't stop at a tablespoon.

Enter "light," reduced-fat, fat-free and olive oil mayos, which generally have half (or less) the number of calories and fat grams. Most of the major mayonnaise brands offer a lower-fat, lower-calorie variety. Among the latest entries in this category are mayos made with olive oil. (But don't get the idea that these are made exclusively with olive oil; other oils, such as soybean, are usually among the ingredients.)

So just how do you make a condiment based on oil and eggs "light"? Although the two main ingredients in regular mayonnaise are oil and eggs or egg yolks, in light mayonnaise, water is generally the main ingredient (followed by oil, eggs, and modified food starch). With fat-free mayonnaise, it's usually water, sugar, and modified food starch.

Most of the light mayonnaise options we tried had about 45 calories per tablespoon, with about 100 milligrams of sodium, 5 milligrams or less of cholesterol (except Duke’s Light, with 10 milligrams), and 4-5 grams of fat per tablespoon (although Miracle Whip Light has 1.5 grams). Most brands had no saturated fat; the amounts of polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat varied from brand to brand. Best Foods Olive Oil and Duke’s Light had more polyunsaturated fat and Best Foods Canola, Kraft Olive Oil, and Smart Balance had more monounsaturated fat.

As far as taste, the light mayonnaise varieties tend to mirror their full-fat counterparts. If you're a Miracle Whip lover, you'll likely prefer Miracle Whip’s Light. If you're a fan of Best Foods mayonnaise, try one of Best Foods/Hellmann's lighter options (my money is on the Olive Oil Mayonnaise Dressing). If you were raised on Dukes’ zesty mayonnaise, Duke’s Light will likely be a winner for you.

Here's how six light mayonnaise products fared in our WebMD taste test.

1. Best Foods/Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Dressing With Extra Virgin Olive Oil
This mayonnaise tasted a bit more like regular mayonnaise to me than some of the other light mayos. This might be because, other than water, the rest of the top four ingredients are the same usually found in homemade mayonnaise (oil, vinegar, eggs). This was the crowd favorite for many of the taste testers.

Nutrition information: 1 tablespoon has 50 calories, 5 grams fat, .5 grams saturated fat, 2.5 grams polyunsaturated fat, 1.5 grams monounsaturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, and 120 mg sodium. The first 5 ingredients are water, oils (soybean, extra virgin olive oil), vinegar, whole eggs and egg yolks, and modified cornstarch.

2. Best Foods/Hellmann’s Canola Cholesterol Free Mayonnaise
Best Foods canola mayonnaise does the job on a sandwich or in potato salad. The texture and taste was in the ballpark of what you would expect from a light mayonnaise, but it wasn’t the top favorite of the taste testers.

Nutrition information: 1 tablespoon has 45 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 1.5 grams polyunsaturated fat, 2.5 grams monounsaturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 95 mg sodium. First 5 ingredients: Water, canola oil, vinegar, modified cornstarch, whole eggs and egg yolks.

3. Duke’s Light Mayonnaise 
Duke's light has a salty, vinegary flavor that is a little reminiscent of ranch dressing – and it's not at all sweet. Duke’s Light Mayonnaise might be preferable for those like a bit of kick in their salad or sandwich.

Nutrition information: 1 tablespoon has 50 calories, 5 grams fat, .5 grams saturated fat, 3 grams polyunsaturated fat, 1 gram monounsaturated fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 110 mg sodium. First 5 ingredients: Water, soybean oil, modified food starch, eggs, distilled and cider vinegar.

4. Kraft Mayonnaise with Olive Oil 
Opinions were mixed on this brand. A more discerning mayonnaise lover might not like the way this product tastes; others might not mind it at all. The look and taste is similar to other "light" mayonnaise.

Nutrition information: 1 tablespoon has 45 calories, 4 grams fat, 0 gram saturated fat, 1 gram polyunsaturated fat, 2 grams monounsaturated fat, less than 5 mg cholesterol, 95 mg sodium. First 5 ingredients: Water, olive oil, canola oil, soybean oil, and vinegar

5. Miracle Whip Light Mayonnaise 
If Miracle Whip is your mayonnaise of choice, this light mayonnaise might suit you. It has the winning combination (for some) of a slight sweet taste contrasted with the bite of vinegar that Miracle Whip lovers have come to count on.

Nutrition information: 1 tablespoon has 20 calories, 1.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 1 gram polyunsaturated fat, 0 gram monounsaturated fat, less than 5 mg cholesterol, 135 mg sodium. First 5 ingredients: Water, vinegar, soybean oil, modified food starch, high fructose corn syrup.

6. Smart Balance Omega Plus Light Mayonnaise Dressing 
The taste and texture wasn’t unappealing per se, but the Smart Balance Light Mayonnaise did have a more gelatinous look and feel, with a flavor that wasn’t a favorite with the taste testers. This light mayonnaise might have a more desirable texture blended with some fat-free or light sour cream and used as a dressing for potato or pasta salad.

Nutrition information: 1 tablespoon has 50 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 1.5 grams polyunsaturated fat, 2 gram monounsaturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 115 mg sodium. First 5 ingredients: water, blend of natural oils (canola, soy, flaxseed and olive), vinegar, sugar, and egg yolks.

8 Ways to Add Flavor to Light MayonnaiseIf you think you don't like light mayonnaise, you might feel differently about a more flavorful version of it. Here are eight easy ways to kick up your sandwiches and salads or create a sauce by adding some color and flavor to light mayonnaise:

Wasabi Mayonnaise: Add 1 teaspoon of powdered wasabi (Japanese horseradish) per 1/2 cup of light mayonnaise.
Mango Mayonnaise: Blend 1/2 cup of light mayonnaise with a cup of mango pieces.
Garlic Mayonnaise: Stir a teaspoon of crushed or minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of dry mustard into a cup of light mayonnaise.
Tahini Mayonnaise: Whisk 1 tablespoon each of lemon juice and tahini (sesame-seed paste) into 1/2 cup light mayonnaise.
Chutney Mayonnaise: Blend 1/8 cup of chutney and 1/2 teaspoon each of curry powder and lime juice with 1/2 cup light mayonnaise.
Sun-Dried Tomato Mayonnaise. Stir 1/8 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes into 1/2 cup light mayonnaise
Pesto Mayonnaise: Stir 1 1/2 tablespoons pesto into 1/2 cup light mayonnaise.
Dijonnaise: Stirring 1 1/2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard into 1/2 cup light mayonnaise.
Homemade Mayonnaise Recipe

If you've never tried homemade mayonnaise, you might be surprised at how much tastier it can be than the commercial variety. And if you've got a food processor, it's easier to make than you might think.

This recipe for lighter homemade mayonnaise calls for canola oil, but you can use olive oil if you prefer. You can also change some of the ingredients to make it sweeter or spicier.

Ingredients:

1 large egg (use a higher omega-3 brand, if available)

1 tablespoon champagne vinegar or lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon Dijon Mustard

1/4 teaspoon honey (granulated sugar can be substituted)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon white pepper (black pepper can be substituted)

1/2 cup canola oil

6 tablespoons fat-free sour cream (light sour cream can be substituted)

Preparation:

In food processor, combine egg; vinegar or lemon juice; mustard; honey; salt and white pepper, pulsing until totally blended.
With food processor running, slowly add canola oil in a steady stream through the open tube on the lid (about 60 seconds). Scrape sides of food processor bowl with rubber spatula, add fat-free sour cream and pulse a few seconds more.
Add more vinegar, mustard, honey, or pepper if needed for desired flavor.
Yield: 1 1/8 cup (18 tablespoons)

Per tablespoon: 62 calories, .5 g protein, .9 g carbohydrate, 6.3 g fat, .5 g saturated fat, 4 g monounsaturated fat, 1.8 g polyunsaturated fat, 12 mg cholesterol, 0 g fiber, 44 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 91%. Omega-3 fatty acids: .6 gram, Omega-6 fatty acids: 1.2 grams.

(Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, is the "Recipe Doctor" for WebMD and the author of numerous books on nutrition and health. Her opinions and conclusions are her own.)

When Cutting 500 Calories per Day Is Too Hard

I posted to my blog a few months ago (June 21, 2011)  different ways to cut 500 calories per day, and I know that many of you probably found  that to be too drastic of a goal.  Well tonight while reading different articles on the web, I stumbled upon an interesting read about "Losing Weight By Cutting Only 250  Calories Per Day".

You can read the entire article for yourself at ww.msn.com under the health tab, and the lose weight section.  But here are a few of the ideas that I thought you may find interestng.  And if you are stuck in your weight loss journey you may find a new strategy to help you meet your weight loss goals.

MSN Article published to internet 10/28/2011
It’s been drilled into our heads that 3,500 calories equals a pound of fat—cut 500 calories every day for a week and you’ll be a pound lighter. But according to a new study in the Lancet, most people actually will lose only half the weight predicted by the 3,500-calorie rule. Why? Muscle burns more calories than fat, so the rate at which your body gains and loses weight depends on, in part, your body’s make up.

Before you throw your diet—or scale—out the window in frustration, change your expectations. It might sound counterintuitive, but the same study suggests that you’re better off cutting just 250 calories a day. You’ll still lose about 25 pounds over 3 years and probably feel less deprived while you’re at it. So lose weight the easy way. Here, 15 ways to shave 250 calories from your day.

Drink Water before Every Meal
Shave 270 calories
Drinking two glasses of water before eating may reduce your consumption by 90 calories a meal, report Virginia Tech researchers. Want other strategies to eat less? Eating slowly can help you shave 66 calories per meal; chewing gum before you eat can cut another 68 calories.


Nix the MuffinShave 340 calories
America may run on Dunkin’, but your body could probably run on fewer calories and still function just fine. Instead of going with the chocolate chip muffin (610 calories, 23 g of fat), order a chocolate frosted doughnut (270 calories, 15 g of fat) and save 340 calories.

Make Your Own Trail MixShave 251 calories
Loaded with way too much sugary dried fruit and candy, store-bought trail mix has veered far from the good-old raisin and peanut blend from your Cub Scout days. A half-cup of the store-bought kind packs an average of 346 calories! Shave off 176 calories by making your own concoction with 1/2 cup of Fiber One cereal, 15 raisins, and 15 peanuts, suggests Erin Palinski, RD. Trade your regular 20 ounces of Gatorade for the low-cal G2 version and cut another 75 calories.

Take a HikeShaves 250 calories
Grab your hiking shoes and head out to enjoy the fall foliage. A 160-pound person will torch 250 calories every 35 minutes spent trekking on the trail.

Get a Healthier Grab-and-Go SnackShave 250 calories
Try these simple swaps when you’re snacking on the run. Nosh on a stick of string cheese (60 calories) instead of a sugary energy bar, which tends to average 240 calories. Pass up the whipped cream on your Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte and you’ll cut another 70 calories.

Split DessertShave 246 calories
Life’s little pleasures are better when you share them. Divvy up a slice of tiramisu with that special someone and save close to 250 calories.



Make Your Own SmoothiesShave 524 calories
Whipping up your own smoothie at home can save you more than 400 calories because you’ll skip the juice and extra sugar found in the restaurant version, says Palinski. Case in point: A 20 ounce Peanut Power Plus Grape at Smoothie King has 749 calories, but this DIY berry breakfast smoothie replaces grape juice with fresh berries for only 225 calories per serving.

Go Apple Picking
Shave 259 calories Ahh, fall! Take the whole gang apple picking and burn 139 calories in 30 minutes just from wandering around the orchard. Afterward, hold off on the apple cider doughnuts (200 calories). Instead enjoy the fruits of your labor and chomp on a just-picked apple for only 70 calories.

Make Mashed Potatoes with Greek Yogurt
Shave 480 calories Channel Paula Deen and your mashed potatoes—complete with butter, cheese and a liberal helping of sour cream—can pack up to 600 calories per serving. Upgrade the nutritional value of this side dish by subbing in Greek yogurt for sour cream and cutting down on butter, recommends Palinski. The spuds will still be rich and creamy, but for 480 fewer calories.

Eat Just the Inside of Your Pie
Shave 250 caloriesSkip the calorie-laden piecrust and enjoy the warm filling, says Sari Greaves, RD, nutrition director at Step Ahead Weight Loss Center in Bedminster, NJ. That alone will cut about 150 calories. Say no to the dollop of whipped cream (save 30 calories) and trade your scoop of vanilla Häagen-Dazs for one from its Five line (save 70 calories).

Choose a Broth-Based Soup
Shave 300 calories
"Eating a broth-based soup instead of a cream-based one is going to be a lot healthier," says Palinski. Not only does cream have more fat and calories, but also it’s typically used in soups made with starchy carbs, such as potatoes. While a serving of New England clam chowder can pack up to 480 calories, a cup of minestrone can warm you up for only 180 calories. 

Bring Movie Night Home
Shave 309 calories Because it’s popped in oil and then drowned in butter, movie-style popcorn can contain 300 calories per 3-cup serving. Prepare your own at home for movie night and shave 207 calories per serving. Instead of washing it down with a cup of Sunkist orange soda (130 calories), mix your own bubbly from seltzer and a 1/4 cup of regular OJ (28 calories).

Go RetroShave 913 calories It might not be cold enough for ice-skating, but hit the roller-skating rink and burn almost twice as many calories. A 160-pound person will burn through 913 calories an hour Rollerblading and 513 calories an hour when on the ice.

Get Some AirShave 279 calories
Whether it’s puffed, popped, or whipped, foods with added air give you volume without the calories. Start your day with a cup of puffed wheat cereal instead of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and cut 119 calories. For another 30 calories, choose Yoplait’s Whips! instead of its original yogurt blend. Later snack on a single-serving bag of Popchips in place of rippled potato chips (save 75 calories). Finish the day off by buttering your dinner roll with a tablespoon of whipped butter rather than the stick kind and save 55 calories

I believe there are some ideas in the above article that are worth trying.  I don't know about you but cutting 250 calories per day could serve me well on my journey to a new me!

I Am Now 9/10ths Of The Way There !

Okay, saying I am now 9/10th of the way there is just a fancy way of letting everyone know that today I reached my 90 pounds of weight loss on my journey to a new me!  It reminds me of the baseball playoffs and the World Series that is being televised right now.  I am finally in the "home stretch".  With 90 pounds off, and only 10 to go before I reach my 100 pounds off in one year goal.

It makes me wonder, where does the time go?  There is an old saying "Time flies when your having fun" and I began to wonder if this applied to my journey to a new me.  Honestly at first I would not really say that it was a whole lot of fun.  What it was actually was a whole lot of learning and listening.

For starters, I had to figure out how I was going to lose the 100 pounds in one year.  My doctor insisted that if I counted 1400 calories per day and did not eat more than my alloted 1400 calories per day that I would lose weight.  But how to count those calories?  So next came another learning  curve. I had to learn how to journal and log my food into my iphone app myfitnesspal.com.  There were days that I was not sure how large my serving of something was, so I did the next best thing, I guessed.  You see I had learned many years ago from a Weight Watchers meeting that journaling your food intake was important, and even if you were not sure what the food points count was, you needed to put something or some point value there to "mark" the fact  that you had eaten something.

Next, I had to learn to listen.  I had to listen to my body for clues about hunger, and when it was full.  The old me thought nothing about eating as many biscuits at Cracker Barrell, Hot rolls at O'Charleys, wheat bread with cinnamon butter at Longhorns, or  chips and salsa at the Mexican restaurant, and then finish off  everything on my plate.  Who cared anything about the little voice in my stomach saying rather loudly "STOP!  Please STOP!  I am full!  I can't hold any more!  I am going to be sick if you put anything else in here!  Please STOP!  No, before I began this journey to a new me, I never listened to this little voice.  I had a motto:  "There is food, I must eat it, not just some of it, but everything!"

Now 90 pounds lighter, I feel that I have not only learned a few things about myself, and how to control my over eating, I also have learned to listen to those hunger sounds, and those sounds of I'm full.  I know now that it is ok to leave food on my plate.   I know that some things are ok to be taken home and warmed up  for lunch the next day, and that there are some things that if I don't eat all of it
that is okay to and I don't need to worry about "wasting" food. (aka.  some fish meals are never good re-warmed the next day)

So with 10 pounds to go before I reach my 100 pound weight loss goal I have some hard work ahead of me but nothing that is impossible.  Because if God is for me, then who can be against me?  Believe me, if I can do this  I know that you can to.  Start today to do something about in your life.  Whatever your obstacle, you can began fresh and anew today.   I know that once I have reached my 100 pound goal, I can begin the next phase of my journey and I don't know about you, but I am getting excited about all that lies ahead of me!

Introducing ... My New Super Hero & Friend

If you  did not read my last blog post, The Power of "Can't", I would like to ask you to please stop reading this blog post and read the post made right before this one. 


When I was a young girl I loved to read comic books, trade comic books, read the Sunday comics, watch my favorite super heroes on TV and in movies.  As a matter of fact I still do.  I believe some of the recent SpiderMan movies that came out over the past five years or so were done quite nicely.  I also enjoyed the Superman movies shot in the 1980's staring the late Christopher Reeves .  Then there are all the Batman movies that have come to the theaters over the past 5, 10, or more years.  They are all pretty exciting to watch and then enjoy in later years on DVD.

When you search on the internet for Super Heros the list goes on and on.There are so many that I have never even heard of.  I have always liked their unique powers and their outfits. When you think about it, no two super heroes are just alike. They all have their own special abilities and their apperance is never duplicated by any other super hero. 

Every super hero has something that makes them special.  Every super hero that I like is positive and tries to bring about good in a bad world or bad situation.  Well in my last post, The Power of "Can't" I got into some of the things that my old friend, "Can't", used to tell me.  Oh the power that Can't had over me was very strong, and for so many years I was heavily (no pun intended, well maybe just a little) influenced by the power that Can't had over me.
Yesterday I introduced everyone who read my blog post to someone in my life named "Can't".  Well today I  wanted to take a moment to introduce you to my newest Super Hero and friend, named  CAN.  You see I believe deep inside of all of us is a Super Hero named, CAN.  The unfortunate thing is that most of us have just not discovered them yet.

It wasn't until I began this Journey To A New Me over ten months ago that I learned who CAN was.  CAN is that special power that we all have living within us.  It can go undetected for many years, and in my case even decades.  CAN was there all along trying to get out, trying to show their super powers, but I was very good at listening to others instead, and primarily Can't always had the louder voice.

Well the good news is that it is never too late. Today can be your day to finally quit listening to Can't and look deep inside yourself for the super hero that is living quietly on the inside begging to get out.  Yes, you too can unleash all the  power of your own CAN Super Hero complete with all of it's Super Powers.  You can begin today by saying, "I can do  this",  "I can get control of my life", "I can stop over-eating", "I can control my binge eating", "I can start every day new and fresh", "I can get healthy", "I can exercise", "I can become a little more active every  day", "I can do the right things", and "I can ___ ___ ___ (You fill in the blank".)

When you say to yourself  "I CAN _____, you are telling "Can't" good-bye.  So let's all stop  making excuses as to why we can't do something and start to think about all the ways and reasons that we can.  I know that it does not happen over night, and I know that it takes a lot of hard work and discipline.  But after all remember what I said before,  "How do you eat an elephant?"   "One bite at a time".   Now get out there and find the super hero buried deep inside of yourself, and soon you will discover for yourself the super power of CAN.  It is important that you do not delay, but do it today because the person who needs saving in this picture is not someone else but you.  So it's time to say "Hello to Can".

The Power Of "Can't "

Me at 3 years old

When I was a young girl I can remember trying to do certain things and failing miserably, or wanting to try something new and not having the courage to do it. I remember on those occasions telling my parents about my frustrations over these obstacles and it never failed that they would always say the same thing to me, "Can't Never Could".




Well to be quite honest, until I heard someone else use this expression recently I really had not thought much about it in many years. To some of you the expression is not a new one, but to others this may be your first time to ever hear it. When I was a child, adolescent and later a young adult, I had absolutely no idea what this expression meant. I figured it was my parents way of saying "Just Deal With It" or something of this nature. But now that I am on this journey to a new me it is like my mind is more open to understanding things, especially things about  my childhood. So please allow me to share with you what my new understanding is regarding this old phrase.

Me in the 3rd Grade

When I heard someone else say it to their child, what I heard went like this:
"Can't" (used here as a pronoun, as in a proper name)
"Never" (meaning - it will never happen)
"Could" (meaning - possibility of greatness)


Translation?
(My Name ... Will Never ... Do Anything Great ... )


Alright, so I know this is not as clear in my blog as it is in my head, but give me a minute to get you on the same page that I am on.   If  "Can't Never Could"  is the response that I got from my parents, were they wrong to make this statement to me?   Were they being negative to their youngest child? Were they trying
to scar me for life? The answer is very simple, No, No, and No.


What they were trying to get me to understand was that if I always "sided" with that "person" named "Can't"  then I would never be able to do anything or accomplish anything for myself.  Because when I was "choosing" Can't,  I had already made my choice.  Because when I would choose "Can't" my decision was to quit trying.


Well as an obese adult, I realize now that I had become very close friends with that "person" named "Can't".  You might even say that we had become B.F.F (best friends forever) 
I took this person with me everywhere I went.    If I wanted to eat healthy, it seemed that "Can't" was always there to detour me off the right track.  When driving by a Bruster's Ice Cream, a Dunkin Donuts or the "Hot" Krispy Kreme sign, there was "Can't" sitting in my passenger seat telling me "you can't resist, no one will know, just do it this one time".  (And if you have looked at my before pictures, you know that I always listened to "Can't")

Then there were the four different times that I joined a gym.  I started with great excitement to exercise smart and get healthy, after all the only person who could take care of my body was me. But you guessed it, my dear old friend  "Can't" always wanted to  participate in my exercise regimen.  "Can't" would  step in and tell me that the exercises were simply too hard for me, I shoudn't be attempting that.  Or that there just never seems to be a right time to go to the gym, and I just "Can't" make the time with my busy schedule.

Yes, "Can't" was a close friend.  But not one that I would proudly introduce to anyone.  Why?  Because "Can't" was really any and every excuse that I could come up with to not do the right thing. To not pay attention to what I was doing to my body.  To not eat to  be healthy, and to have an excuse to become very seditary in my daily life. 

The "Can't  Never Could" living inside of me, just about stole my life from me.  At forty years old I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2.  You would have thought that this would be a big enough reason to get me busy about making positive changes in my life.  But with a close friend like "Can't" it became easier and easier to deny and avoid the problem of my increased weight until December 11, 2010 when I came face to face with my deciding "AHA Moment".

Well that was the day that I said "Good-Bye and So-Long" to my not so good friend "Can't" because this was the day that I decided to change my destiny.  My outlook on life is so much brighter without "Can't" clouding my judgement on my food choices, my exercise and my over all well being.  I am a happier and more fulfilled person since I ended the relationship that I had with "Can't". 

So I guess I need to ask you a few questions.  When are you going to say your good-byes to your friend, "Can't".   I know you have this friend, we all do at some time in our life.  Isn't it time that you parted ways and looked forward to happy and healthier days ahead?  Just remember "Can't Never Could"  but You Can.   I know because I  did! 

Friday's Are Fabulous

What do we all work so hard five days a week for? A weekend to rest, relax, and enjoy ourselves! Well for me Friday has always been one of my favorite days of the week. Why you may ask? Because it is the starting point of every weekend. The beginning of fun things ahead.

For most of my life when Friday came around I was already planning where we would go and what we would do and all of my plans always seemed to center around food. What restaurant were we going to try? What sweet desserts had I "earned" from being so good during the week. an on and on and on

Well with this Friday I am noticing a big difference in my thinking. I have gone from thinking of food to thinking of activitires. What can I do? Where can I go? What kind of activity or exercise should I do? This is a very strange thought process for me but one that I am willing to spend a little time exploring.

So here's the question.  How does a obese woman in her mid to late forties go from thinking about food all the time to really paying attention to what they are eating, how much they are eating, and counting the "calorie cost" of all that they are eating?  While on my journey to a new me I have found it easier and easier to keep up with all of those things.  And I believe it is not only because I faithfully use the app myfitnesspal.com but because after ten months and 88 pounds of weight loss, I am a believer.

So what do I believe in?  For starters, I believe in the method.  I believed shortly after my December 11, 2011 doctors visit when he challenged me to "Do Something About My Obesity".  With very little, or I should be honest here, with no will power to speak of, I began to count every calorie from every food item that I put into my mouth. 

Next, I believe in the process.  I believe that just like the weight did not just pop onto my body over night, it is not going to fall off my body over night either.  I think that there is alot of truth to the statement that the slower that the weight comes off of me, the slower it will be to come back on, if ever.  Why?  Because I have had to count the cost to get the weight off.  I have watched every tenth of a pound drop off my body (thanks to the nice scale that I purchased early in the beginning stages of starting this journey to a new me)  I have celebrated every intermediate goal that I have acheived and I have been able to give away a full walk in closet full of clothes to a very dear friend.  That is great reason to believe in the process.

But the greatest reason is because I believe in myself.  It has been a very long time since I could say that.  In the past the person that I believed in the least was probably myself.  At least the being able to successfully take charge over my health and well being.  I am very successful at so many other things but being able to control my over-eatiing has never been one of them.  But this is no longer the case.  I can say that I do believe in myself, and the strength that the Lord has placed in me to accomplish what I started.

I have no doubt that when December 11,2011 gets here that I will be celebrating 100 pounds lost in one year.  How do I know this?  Because I am putting forth all the effort, counting all the cost (calories) and can see the finish line straight ahead of me.  Like the apostle Paul wrote in the Holy Bible :  " I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

So I believe and my faith is strong.  I will put all my belief, faith, hope and trust in the one who gives me strength. Wth the Lord's help I can do this.  I can beat obesity in my life once and for all.  I give God all of the glory for my success so far.  Without Him I would still be sneaking around, eating in secret, and looking for my next Krispy Kreme donut.  I am enjoying my new life, and my journey to a new me.  So I will conclude with my earlier statement, Friday's are Fabulous, but so is every day for the rest of my life because I have so many more of them now!


This picture was taken a week  ago                       This picture was taken one year ago

Finding "IT" When Your Not Looking

Have you ever found something really great when you were least expecting it. This has happened to me several times in my life but Sunday was an especially great "find". Here's what happened.
We came home from church after going out to eat with family and friends and my daughter and her boyfriend decided to hang out with us for a little while at the house. He asked could he look at my newspaper, the want ads to be exact. And of course I said yes. After all it was just some "free" newspaper that was being thrown in my driveway that I had not subscribed to and it  would probably end up in my recycle bin any way.

He pulled out the classified section and began his search. I began scanning through all the Columbus Day sales that everyone was offering. When he laid down the paper a page caught my eye. The heading said "Cheap Stuff - Everything Under $250.00 ". Huh? I had never seen this before, and therefore I felt it deserved a quick look.

At first nothing seemed like a great deal, or something that I had been looking for all my life until I got to the last column and scanned down the list. My eyes stopped on a ad that read:  "For Sale"treadmill in almost new condition. Approx 2-3 years old, used very little, purchased from Sports Authority, like the one in a gym,complete with  iFit. Asking Only $250.00

Well I grabbed my cell phone and began to dial the number before I could talk myself out of it.  The owners were very nice, and answered all of my questions.  Now I had two obstacles:  first I had to convince my husband that I needed another piece of gym equipment and then I had to figure out where in my house to put it.

The next day when I came home from work my husband turned into the "Best Husband In The Whole Wide World" and had gone and purchased it for me.  There are no words to describe how excited that I was.  And to be honest, it looks brand new. The family who owned it before never even broke it in.  It is really like being in my own personal gym within the four walls of my home.   I love it.  For the past few days I have been working out every morning and evening on the elliptical and the treadmill.  I believe that this is the key to unlock the weight loss again.  I can tell a huge difference already.

So just like that, in a split second it seems,  I went from someone who lead a very seditary lifestyle to someone who looks forward to working out.  Because it is not the sweat and exhaustion that I desire but the results that I am seeing on the scales by putting in the effort to get moving.  So what are you waiting on? Time is a wasting!  Even if you don't have the funds to purchase equipment to work out on.  Use what you have.  The Lord blessed most of us with legs that can be used to walk, jog, run, and do step exercises.  And don't forget about your arms, they have the abilility to burn calories to.  So again I ask the question.  What are you waiting on?   It is time to find the "IT" that you have been missing and stop making excuses.   Let's get this work-out party started!

The October 7th Dead Line Has Come And Gone



Me & My Son, Will, Celebrate
His 29th Birthday 10/7/2011

If you have been reading my blog then you already know that I began on "My Journey To A New Me" on December 11, 2010, and it was then that I set out to lose 100 pounds in one year.  In order to accomplish this huge undertaking I broke down my 100 pounds into smaller goals. Some times I would mark them by a holiday, or another special event, but recently I used my son's upcoming birthday as my next "target date".  

I always taught my children something that I am learning now for myself.  "How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!"  I had set my last goal for my son's birthday, October 7th, and
I wanted to reach 90 pounds lost by this date.  When I weighed on Wednesday,  10/5/2011
I had successfully reached 85 pounds.  By Friday, 10/7/2011 I weighed again and I had dropped to 86 pounds.  At first I was a little discouraged, but I had a feeling that I was losing weight again.  I had not only  continued to eat my 1400 calories per day, but I have also been exercising.  I begin every day with 20 minutes on the eliptical.  And  then try to get in either walking on the treadmill or more eliptical at my gym at work.  Then when I get home in the evening I work out again on the eliptical for another 20 minutes.  My goal is to build up to 3 sessions of 20 minutes each on the eliptical.  For a person of my size, working out at 3.0 to 3.5 mph can burn over 700 calories per hour! 

So instead of getting depressed about not hitting my goal, I continued to do what I knew was the right thing to do.  I may not have reached the 90 pound mark, but I was still eating that elephant one bite at a time. Saturday morning I decided to step on Mr. Scale again to see just how close I had gotten, and it was quite a surprise!  I was down 88  pounds!  Wow!  This is wonderful!  This felt almost as good as the 90 pounds would have felt had I been able to get there by the dead line.  I have now set my 90 pound goal for this Friday, 10/15/2011, and if I reach it before then it will be even better.

Our dinner with my son and his family and my parents was awesome.  We had a very enjoyable time.  I was happy to cut the birthday cake, and sing Happy Birthday, but as for indulging in the sugary sweet temptation, I was happy to pass on it.  No amount of cake or other sweets could ever make me feel as good as being 88 pounds lighter does.

Please stay tuned and I will post again my progress to my 90 pound goal.  Don't forget to set your own goals.  Whatever it is that you are trying to accomplish.  Whether it is losing weight, exercising, or stopping other  bad habits.   You can do it!  Just remember this:  "How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!"