How is this even possible???

OK SO SOMEONE CLUE ME IN! I went to the doctor with a broken foot and was weighed. Only one week later, I returned. I had been sick and couldn't swallow for 2 days and had a fever for three. I did not eat much at all because, of course, I couldn't swallow. When the nurse weighed me, I had GAINED a pound from the previous week! I can't see how that is possible. Unless Sarah had put her foot on the scale too. Ridiculous.
Yes, GWR, I too am starting all over again. We need to get serious about this thing. REALLY serious. No more foolin around for me. I can and will. I'll keep you guys posted and you do the same.

Down by Four and I Can Do MORE!

Why are there no posts for the month of May? What's the deal here? I know, Final exams. That's the problem. Anyway, back on track and glad to report that I am down 4 big pounds. And they really were BIG. Those first few pounds are all about reconditioning your mind to being on a budget. I have been living free, just eating whatever whenever even since I came home from California in December. Come to think of it, I ate pretty much whatever when I was there for all of November so I had to recondition my mind. It's easier today because I am not operating on the habit of popping in something all the time. Now my brain say, "let's do something lighter today" or "Its not time to eat yet" or something similar. I have even made a ton of cookies to mail and the scale has been consistenly down. I'm so proud of these 4 pounds! When we started, I said I needed to lose 47 pounds. I decreased that to just 7 pounds so I could get myself mentally started. Glenna W R.... maybe you only need to drop those 6 pounds!! LOL

DOWN three pounds here! Consistently down three since we started blogging!

Little Things mean BIG results!

I just read something that said if you consistently eat 100 calories more than you need each day, that turns into a 10 pound weight gain in only 1 year. That's how this happens! I wonder if you underate by 100 if you would lose 10 pounds per year?
We are having chicken skewers with peppers and onions and tomotoes. That should fix it! No over eating today!!!

Grilled Chicken Skewers with Satay Sauce

GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH SATAY SAUCE
Servings: 4
9 oz uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced into 8 pieces of 8 chicken tenderloins
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
3/4 cup fat-free sour cream
2 Tbsp reduced fat peanut butter
1 TBSP low-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp dark sesame oil

Preheat outdoor grill or broiler

Thread chicken tenders onto 8 individual metal or wooden skewers (soak wooden skewers in water first to prevent charring); season to taste with salt and pepper. Grill or broil skewers until chicken is cooked thoroughly, turning skewers frequently, about 5 to 7 minutes

Meanwhile, whisk together remaining ingredients to make satay sauce. Yields 2 skewers and about 1/4 cup of sauce per serving.

Watch the Ounces

I heard a woman yesterday that was talking about saving money and she said, "You know, it's like the old saying, 'watch the ounces and the pounds will take care of themselves'". I thought about that for awhile and two things came to me that I hope to remember a LONG time.
(1) It really IS both those little ounces that add up to all these unwanted pounds! And when I cut out little things, like using lowfat or fatfree products, or throwing in an extra amount of carrots in the soup, I am taking care of all those big things, addressing them through the little things. And when I get on the scale, those lost ounces really DO matter. The scale didn't go up pounds at a time, it was ounces. The weight must come off the same way.
(2) Have you ever noticed that when you are out of control in one area, you are out of control in others? And when you conquer a vice, it is easier to conquer another one? That is so true when I am gaining-losing weight. When I am on an eating binge, the money is usually spent on less fruitful purchases and before you know it, the bills are piled up on the desk. When I am in control of my eating habits, the bills suddenly get paid and the money is more available. Weird but that's how it often is with all of us. Out of control in one area of our lives (eating) yields out of control in another. Why in the world would I want something like food to be in control of my like(or my bank account)?

A New Week is Coming!

I have made a promise to spend time on the week's menu on Saturday. Do all the shopping on Sunday afternoon and see how this works out. I think planning the entire week while leaving room for those changes out of necessity will really help keep me on task.

HALT

In treatment realms we teach people to avoid being overly Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. These things can cause an urge to use that could result in a relapse. I am convinced that the same things in life can cause someone to relapse who is simply trying to lose weight. The catch is all in how to avoid them.
Hunger - When trying to reduce, most people find themselves totally hungry at times due to eating so much less than their bodies are accustomed to. There is a big problem here. When you allow your body to experience true hunger, the sugar levels fluxuate and set up a craving, especially for those of us who are sugar addicts. The sugar released into your system due to hunger makes you want to run to the kitchen and eat it all.
Anger - When a person gets truly angry, not only does it make all kinds of changes in the chemistry of your body but many of us EAT when we are upset!
Lonely - This prompts eating out of boredom or feeling sorry for ourselves.
Tired - This too plays with the sugar levels in your system and once again, you find yourself craving stuff that you are likely to eat.
Now, how in the world do we avoid these things? First, I can eat regularly, just reduce portions and change WHAT I eat to healthy fruits and veggies. I can also keep a supply of baby carrots, apples, things handy that I can eat a lot of it I want to and it won't hurt a thing. Also, I can continue to increase my water intake. When I feel a little hungry, I can drink water to calm the sleeping giant.
Angry - Reframe like. In the grand scheme of things, ask myself what it really matters anyway?
Lonely - FACEBOOK! lol
Tired- Not figured that one out yet.

I QUIT

I was looking over a book that I have to read for a class and there it was. An alcoholic with a bunch of guys (who weren't drinking) and he buys a six-pack. The other men say, "I though you quit!" to which he answers, "I quit everyday. Quittin's the easy part!"
I thought of weight loss. You draw the comparison. The question is not whether I will change my eating habits but will I have to do it again tomorrow? How many times in a week do I "quit"?

Also, my little Joey (4 years old) said he needed fiber in his diet (he's a real parrot) and then said, "what's a diet?" As I explained your diet is simply what you eat, it hit me again. Why do we say we are on a diet? Everyone who eats is on a diet of somekind! I am simply modifying that diet!

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail

A true realization came my way while I was working on a term paper for one of my classes. The assignment had to do with procrastination again. I don't know why this subject keeps coming up but it does. This is the SECOND lengthy assignment I have completed in two classes about procrastination. The first one is posted on my school blog (which I am behind on) at ribboncandy.blogspot.com and is called "The Very Idee".
Anyway, the current assignement has to do with procrastination and planning, how both of them contribute to failure of a project or to its success. I was just typing away when it hit me. It's the missing link in my "get healthy" plan! I remember this working well once before and how I could have forgotton so quickly is beyond me!
I will spend some time (as long as it takes) to put together a total and complete menu for the entire week, recipes and all. I will post it on the frig. I will make my grocery list from the menu and will stick to it. I will each what is on the menu! I will, at the end of everyday be able to see how many calories or points I consumed. This is something that will benefit me immensely even if it sounds a little corny. This is what works for me and it might for you. It just takes a little homework up front but its well worth it. So stay tuned for more and post your own ideas!

The Mind is a Funny Thing

OK, so I got the messages from you guys about throwing away the food. The first thought was in reply to you, Candice, when you said I had the poor person's mentality. At first I went with that thought and then I changed it to "there are other people in this house besides me". You know, someone else would be deprived if I selfishly threw away all the food. It's not all about me...............
And then in all this arguing over whether to throw the food away or not, it came to me. The other people that I am saving it for are just an excuse to keep it for ME. These little kids don't care if there is Strawberry Shortcake in the refrigerator or not. They haven't even eaten one piece yet. And they had rather have those fresh strawberries sitting in the frig.
And that bunny cake, they have not asked for it since Easter. And the fun of the bunny cake was making it anyway, not eating it. And as for Dad, well HE ASKED me to cook healthy! So the bottom line is this:
IT'S NOT ABOUT WASTING THE FOOD AND IT'S NOT ABOUT KEEPING IT FOR OTHERS- IT IS ALL ABOUT ME!
Somehow, this simple realization provided a measure of freedom to choose and freedom to lose. It was a liberating thought to know I was being selfish! The mind is a tricky thing, always bringing things back around to the protection of my secret drug. FOOD. Somehow, this felt like a major breakthrough when I realized my altruistic approach to the preservation of the Easter feast was all about ME!
So, the bunny cake and the Strawberry Shortcake are history. All the mini carrot cakes went to work with Dad to put by their coffee pot. The sausage casserole and cheezy potatoes are gone. All that's really left now is the ham. That I can cut off the bone and freeze in small pkgs to use at another time for seasoning or something modest. It's all gone.
Now, I wonder what reason I have for holding onto these pounds. Is it a security blanket? Am I cocooned inside for a reason? The mind is tricky, I tell you! There's more than meets the eye here. What's the real deal anyway? There's more to ponder.

Somedays drinking all this water can be a real inconvenience!

Dear God:

How can I tell you what a terrible/great weekend this was? Family around you with all the great foods we love to eat. I was in trouble from the beginning of the holiday, even though I did things like make the strawberry shortcake from a diabetic cake mix. And use low fat or fat free stuff.
Then they all went home and to work and left me in this house with all the leftovers. Today has been terrible! I pray I have the strength and willpower to begin again tomorrow (Tuesday) and successfully complete the week. If I can just do it one day at a time. No, that's too long. I will divide the day as follows:
1) I will make it from wakeup time to 10am without eating things I cannot have.
2) I will make it from 10am to noon without eating things I cannot have.
3) I will make it from noon to 3pm
4) I will make it from 3pm to 5PM (this is my danger time)
5) I will make it from 5pm until dinner
6) I will make it from dinner to bedtime.
Thanks,
Glenna

I can do this and I will. Tell me about your strategy. Maybe it will help. I'm desperate and feel terrible.

The maximum amount suggested for an adult when monitoring sodium intake is 2300 mg. I just looked it up and a fastfood chicken dinner (they didn't say nuggets or strips or from which FF place) is 2246 mg! Holy Cow! No wonder America suffers with high blood pressure. And just think of what you are giving the little ones when you get a chicken nugget Happy Meal!

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday. Isn't this Ash Wednesday? Looks like I had company with yesterday being a difficult day. I hope we all survived the little emotional setback and are once again ready to get on with the business of being healthy.
I won't even go in to all that made me eat and want to eat more yesterday. It's enough to say that I will eat with I am upset, just like any other good old addict may revert to their drug of choice when stressed. I have to recognize that it is an addiction and that I am reaching for my drug of choice before I am empowered to change the behavior. I also have to remember that I am NOT on a diet. I am simply eating healthy and when those pounds melt away, well it's just a wonderful fringe benefit. If I think of it as a "diet" that signifies to my brain that this is a short term situation. And if I can suffer through it, life will return to normal. No, brain, this is NOT the case. This is a forever situation and we are relearning habits that will keep us healthy! I must learn to change how I eat and make healthy choices become a habit.
Funny, when you start to think about it, eating is a pretty complex issue. We just pop things in our mouths and think it will all come out well in the end (no pun intended here). But that's not the case. What would happen if you put deisel in a gas engine or added oil in the gas when you aren't supposed to? What would happen if the gas was watered down too much or if there was debris in the gas tank? We used to have a minivan that would not run (literally leave you on the side of the road) if we put cheap gas in it. It had to have the premium stuff. And that was back when mere pennies meant a lot of difference to our budget. Oh, and it couldn't get below 1/4 tank of gas because there was something in the tank that would float up to the filter if you did and once again you would be by the side of the road. It just had to have the high octane gas, not that ethenol stuff. Then there was the old Ford LTD that, when you put the cheap stuff in it, would "PING" when going up hills. My Daddy said the engine was just "sluggish". Isn't that what happens to me when I eat sugar for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? I "ping" when I go up those hills and run "sluggish", can't wait for bedtime so I can rest my worn out body. And fatty foods and fast food- well, that just leaves me on the side of the road like I was running on Ethanol. And additives? That's like putting oil in the gas. Those chemical things we use to make our food taste "good", help kill our appetite, make us feel fuller........ yea, I'll say it again. We are ruining our engines!
Daddy always said that an engine is only as good as the fuel. HMMMM and he wasn't even trying to talk about food!
OK, SO I GOT IT! NOW LET'S GET BACK TO THE CHANGE!
Water: Let's drink at least 4 bottles (20 oz) per day. I used to label mine #1, #2, #3, #4 so I didn't get mixed up. It's easy to forget where you are in the drinking process if you are busy. That way, I didn't have to think about how much I had drank. When the bottles were empty, it was all good. I also kept a basket of crystal light packages of all different flavors for those times when I just couldn't drink another drop. I would reach into the basket and pull out the flavor of the day. My husband can't drink water straight up unless he is doing manual labor so I started keeping them around for him. Then the babies and I started drinking it a lot too. Overall, I just like that good old water. It flushes out all kinds of poisons in my system, fills me up, and kick starts my metabolism (like you said Glenna R). And research tells us that when we feel hunger pains, it is often dehydration. The body is telling you it's thirsty, not hungry and we are so used to eating that we don't know the difference.

I challenge you today to down those 4 bottles of water......... let's see if we can do it for a week. Starting today. Natalie, didn't you post something about what happens when you drink a soda? Can you post that again if you did?

Welcome Aboard to All The Followers. Jump on in and share with us!

The Bleeding Heart

I couldn't help but post this beautiful picture. Thank you Glenna R. for taking it. Easter is almost here and this symbolizes it perfectly. My concern is how to do the wonderful meal without all the calories and that feeling of "heaviness" you have after gatherings.
Things decided so far: (1) I will make the bunny cake for the little ones but will substitute egg beaters or egg whites for the eggs. That will help a little. And then I will NOT eat more than one piece but will let all the kids have fun serving it to each other at an Easter Tea Party. I am working on what else to include in their party. Ideas anyone?
(2) At least a couple of us will go walking in the local park Easter afternoon. That's a BIG change for family get-togethers.
(3) I am looking for a Smithfield ham that has the Paula Deen label. It is supposed to be already prepared with no glaze needed and has a crunchy top. Should be lower in calories and fat than what I would make and there should not be so many leftovers to eat throughout the week. Not that I don't like my ham! I just can't afford all that leftover stuff cause I'll nibble all week!
(4) Salad fixins are highlighted more this year.
(5) OK... what do I do about those potatoes? WE LOVE mashed potatoes with garlic and cream cheese in them. I think the recipe is Amish Mashed Potatoes and I could eat a 5 lb bag. Hmmmmm
(6) The special carrot cake. Now that's another high risk situation. Could I just eat ONE piece?
So what are you guys going to be doing differently this year?

Good Morning World!

Hello World! It's great to see you! I am so excited that today brings us another chance to take control of what we have become. I want to accomplish so much more than I have in so many aspects of my life that I can't afford to feel bad due to extra weight. I have lost 2 pounds since I have made the committment to serve an eviction to those 47 pounds and I did it with little discomfort. I admit I wanted brownies yesterday, or rather brownie dough. (I like that much better than the brownines themselves.) But working outside, bananas, and Skinny Cow icecream got me through.
Supper was wonderful, filling, and very low cal. I sliced chicken breasts into small bite-size pieces and sauteed them in 1T Shedd's Spread Country Crock (the kind with calcium), after spraying Pam in the skillet. When the chicken was almost completely done, I added a ton of cut up bell papper and onions and finished cooking it. I added enough stirfry sauce to flavor. Then I steamed 2 pkgs of Birdseye Asian Vegetables, added them to the mixture and served over 1/2 cup rice. The only real calories are in the chicken (make certain you only use breast with NO fat), the rice (eat only 1/2 cup!)and the stirfry sauce. I don't use as sauce much as I would like to add but since I fixed it for others in the family, I simply heated more sauce and served it as an option along with soy sauce. I always eat a LOT or the veggies as one whole cup only has less than 50 calories and NONE from fat. Anyway, the meal was absolutely delicious and my husband asked for the leftovers in his lunch today. HEALTHY EATING with BIG RESULTS!
If anyone has found a low-cal stir fry sauce, please let us know as I don't know of one YET.
Tip for the day: If you are like me and have a sweet tooth: You can use Nature's Own Light bread, Shedd's Spread Country Crock with Calcium, and Smuckers SugarFree jelly for that wonder toast and jelly we like so much. Bread (40 cal per slice) Country Crock Shedd's Spread with calcium (1T 50 cal and you can make that go a long way) and Smucker's Sugarfree Jelly (10 cal per 1T). Smucker's comes in a wide variety of flavors and if you find it isn't quite sweet enough for your taste, remove it from the jar and blend in Splenda until you are satisfied. Return to jar for storage. This makes a wonderful sandwich when the sweet tooth monster gets you!

Happy Saturday and please share your tip of the day!

2:44 P.M.
I want to make brownies! I'm fixated on them but ate a banana instead. SIGH. I wish I didn't like sweet stuff!

This is NOT me. Just food for thought. Let's get motivated!
Well, how is everyone feeling today? Inspired, I hope! Yesterday was a good day for me. I know I didn't lose any pounds yet but I made the decision and committment to do it. That's always the hardest part of anything. Making the decision and then applying the committment. (That's why a lot of marriages don't make it. There is a decision but no committment). I did BOTH yesterday.

I went to the grocery store and bought what I needed to get started and didn't even cheat. I ate fruit for snacks and had a bowl of soup for supper along with a low cal grilled cheese. Oh it was good to be back on a "plan". Surprisingly enough, my husband actually asked me to go back to "the plan" a few weeks ago and stated he felt better when we were eating light. That's a plus! He loves butter and bacon and potatoes! And he ASKED me to cook light! Must be some good cookin' going on here!

For breakfast we had scrambled egg sandwiches with cheese. And no guilt. Here's how: Spray skillet with PAM (no butter or oil!). Scramble 1/4 cup eggbeaters(cal 30) with chopped green onion and bell pepper. When eggs are done, stir in one slice of Kraft no fat cheese (Cal 25). Lightly brown 2 slices of Nature's Own Light bread (40 cal per slice). Spread with 1/2 T Hellman's Light Mayo (18 cal). A one slice tomato. You have made yourself a very tasty garden scrambled egg sandwich for only 153 calories, almost none from fat and you have gotten 4 gms of fiber (from the bread). On weekends when you have a little more time, add a small bowl of fresh fruit to the meal. MMMMM good!

What's your tip for today?

If you are reading this blogspot, I know you have thought about how hard loosing weight can be. It's the only substance that we can't totally steer clear of. Alcoholics have their battle but they don't have to drink. Drug addicts have a hard time but it is not necessary to take drugs every day in order to stay alive (in most cases). Food, however, is another animal all together. We HAVE to eat! We can't just abstain from it like other vices. This is absolutely the hardest addiction to conquer simply because we have to continue using.
The only way we can conquer our "problem" is to modify the use. That means we have to reframe the way we think about food in general.
Just for starters, go through your cabinet and check out what you are starting with. Is there anything in there that meets your nutritional needs without making your hips grow? Then, think about what you will need in the cabinet to be successful and go get it! While you are in the grocery store, do some people watching. Look at those huge folks with all the potato chips and fatty foods in their cart and ask yourself, "do I want this to be me?"
TIP: Don't simply look at calorie content on food items. It's a mixture of calories, fat from calories and fiber content that matters. Of course the lower number of calories the better and certainly the number of FAT calories needs to be as low as possible. The higher the fiber, the better.

This Load is TOO Heavy!

I was watching my little grandson pulling his sister along on a makeshift wagon the other say when he stopped and said with a sigh, "Mimi, this load is just too heavy!" And then I thought about it. I thought about all extra pounds we carry on our frames that we were never meant to carry.
I have determined that there are 47 pounds that are going somewhere else. They have received their eviction notice and have to leave. I know how to do this. I've done it before (now that's a shame to have to admit) and I can do it again. If you want to come along with me, follow this blog. Post your thoughts, your recipes, your adivce to others and let's see what we can do together. If you don't want to ride this train, it's pulling out full steam anyway! All ABOARD!