Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Go FUBBY HUBBY


Well we are starting into our second week of the Fubby club.

The principles in Weigh Down are really working for me. I lost 10 pounds last week.

My husband and oldest daughter lost 2 pounds each.

My husband has decided to do weigh down also. He has lost an additional 3 pounds already this week. GO FUBBY HUBBY!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Joining the Fubby Club

Here is a great incentive to lose weight. My daughter's soon to be boyfriend is flying out here from PA. We would all like to give a better impression. So we started the fubby club. Fubby is for those people who will not admit that they are fat.

The goal is to lose 25 pounds before he gets here. EACH! So we have the diet rules set on the frig.

Each person is on their own with the diet and and physical activities designed to help them lose the weight. Weigh ins are on Sunday morning. Other than that.....it is a free for all.

I have already lost 3 pounds this week, my husband has lost two and I am not sure about my daughters.

I am re-committing to doing the weigh down.

JOIN THE FUBBY CLUB! I KNOW THAT LOSING THE WEIGHT WILL BE SO WORTH IT!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Diet Encouragement

Dieting is hard, no doubt about it. Take a step beyond just buying good foods. Make sure they end up on your plate.


If you fail, pick yourself back up again, and try to figure out why you got bored, hungry or stressed. Your next attempt may then be more successful.

This is my diet encouragement for the week!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

3 Signs

If you read this blog you will know that I have been hopping around a bit. I have had a time deciding exactly which diet to choose.

To each his own, right?!

Well, I have decided to go on a diet called the Weigh Down. I did this diet 8 years ago and lost 50 pounds. Had it not been for three very interesting signs I might not have decided to do this diet!

I was sitting in the car with my oldest sons girlfriend...I was telling her about the time I lost 50 pounds...something weird happened. At the exact moment I was telling her about the diet my elbow hit the toggle switch on my steering wheel and one of the tapes that I had listened to in my tape player 4 months earlier began playing...if you guessed that it was a tape from that diet program you are correct!!

Next while I was cleaning out my book shelve I found my long lost journal that I had when I did the diet and lost all of that weight.

So two signs down, while I was driving to the coast this weekend I decided that I would start the diet.

Enter sign number 3-that sealed the deal and made it a plan-The entire house was clean when I arrived home. Which in itself might be considered a sign, since it was just my husband and my 15 year old son who were at home. (a real miracle took place in the house that day-ha ha) But seriously the only thing that was out of place was a milk crate in the middle of our bed that was full of all of my Weigh Down diet information. DH was digging deep in the closet and left it there.

OK OK OK God I get the point!

Saturday, April 12, 2008

2008-DIET PLANS

Now for a totally NEW New Year's Resolution!

I plan on losing 60 pounds this year. Wow! Follow this journey!


How do I plan on doing it?

Healthier food choices
Drinking more water
Exercise
Eating Less


I know...I thought so myself, all novel ideas.

This is my accountability blog. That thought just came to me.

Well don't just sit there and read...do jumping jacks while you are reading! :)

If you will read the updates you will see that I have lost 6 pounds!

And the weight loss is.......

Well...we now have a scale so I can tell you what the weight loss has been.

I have lost 6 pounds. Not as much as I would like.....I have a long way to go.

1/10th of what I plan to lose this year.

We joined the Y. And I am totally enjoying the swimming.

Here are so benefits of swimming.

Why is Swimming So Good?
Swimming works your whole body, improving cardiovascular conditioning, muscle strength, endurance, posture, and flexibility all at the same time. Your cardiovascular system in particular benefits because swimming improves your body’s use of oxygen without overworking your heart.

As you become fitter and are able to swim longer, your resting heart rate and respiratory rate will be reduced, making blood flow to the heart and lungs more efficient. If you’re looking to lose weight, swimming is just the ticket. On average, a swimmer can burn as many calories in an hour as a runner who runs six miles in one hour. Simply put, some call swimming the perfect form of exercise.
Additional Health Benefits of Swimming
  • Whole body conditioning: Swimming tones your upper and lower body because you’re using almost all of your major muscle groups. The best strokes for all-over body toning are the freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke.
  • Low risk of injury: There is a low risk for swimming injuries because there’s no stress on your bones, joints or connective tissues due to buoyancy and the fact that you weigh 1/10th less in water. If you’re looking for a safe daily workout routine, swimming is ideal because you can rigorously work out with a reduced chance of swimming injuries. Many athletes supplement their training with swimming.

  • Low-impact exercise: So many people can reap the benefits of swimming. Pregnant women benefit from swimming because it helps strengthen the shoulder and abdominal muscles, which can be strained when carrying a baby. The elderly, women who have had a mastectomy and those recovering from an injury often turn to swimming or water aerobic exercises because it’s low impact, helps relax stiff muscles and isn’t weight-bearing. Swimming also increases circulation.
  • Improve blood pressure: Studies have shown that a workout routine that includes swimming can help reduce and possibly prevent high blood pressure, which lowers your risk for heart disease and stroke.
  • Stress reduction: You don’t have to be a water sign in the zodiac to feel the meditative and healing properties of water. Swimming is extremely relaxing because it allows more oxygen to flow to your muscles and forces you to regulate your breathing. It’s also a great way to relieve stress. Our bodies are made up of about 60% water so it’s no wonder why some feel such a draw to the water.

  • Take the Plunge
    Do you want to take up swimming but don’t know how to get your feet wet? First, if you have any existing injury or asthma, consult your doctor to determine if you should swim and at what pace. Start slowly, especially if the pool feels like foreign land. Experts recommend that beginner swimmers start with 12-20 minutes of swimming, and once your strokes become more efficient, your ability to swim longer will also. For exercise purposes, the best stroke to use in the pool is freestyle, where your arms are moving in a windmill motion while your body is pivoting and you’re breathing on the side of the arm that’s out of the water. To keep your swimming routine fresh, mix up the freestyle stroke with other strokes, such as the backstroke or butterfly. Not only will using a variety of strokes save you from boredom, but you’ll be working different muscles for a more effective workout every time.
    If laps aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other good swimming exercises. Try walking or running in water, which many people find easier to do than on land. Tread water – it can be exhausting but will help tone your legs and arms. You can also try water aerobic exercises or gather your friends and attempt some synchronized swimming. Revert back to your childhood with a game of Shark or some relay races. Don’t just take advantage of only the water either – use the walls of the pool to kick without a kickboard or to do leg lifts. The water is an ideal playground for all forms of swimming as exercise – just be creative!

    By now, you should have your swim suit or trunks on and be applying sunscreen and looking for the nearest pool, lake or ocean. You’re now informed of what the excellent health benefits of swimming are, so why not make swimming a part of your regular exercise routine? Dive into your morning with some laps to start your day off feeling relaxed and renewed or go for a dip at night to release all of the stress you’ve built up during the day. Go ahead – take the plunge into your new swimming-for-exercise workout routine.



    Tuesday, March 4, 2008

    A FEW CHANGES AROUND HERE

    1. We are eating more fresh fruits and vegetables

    2. We are exercising more- Dave more than me

    3. We are using grape seed oil in our foods

    4. We are eating less carbs

    5. We are drinking more water.

    We plan on weighing in at the end of the month. And we will let you know how much we have lost!

    How often should I weigh?

    I have been thinking about this. Since we don't really own a scale right now, I don't have a whole lot of choices. But I plan on buying one with part of our tax return. My husband doesn't want a cheap scale he wants a nice one.

    Here is something I found on another web site that kind of goes along with my thoughts on weighing.

    Weigh as often as you like! Some diet gurus will recommend that the Dieter weighs no more than once a month or once a week. Why? If you want to weigh, then weigh!

    Some of the 'Diet Logic' behind the less frequent weigh-in's is that if you don't see a smaller number on your scales, you won't get depressed and get off your diet. However, if you're dieting, you need to know where you are. If you discover that your dieting isn't rendering the results you expected, you need to act as soon as possible to polish your Diet Plan.

    If you prefer to only weigh once a month, then only weigh once a month.

    Dieting is a very personal thing, and only you have the exclusive power to set the pace!

    • Yo mama's so fat every time she walks in high heels, she strikes oil!


    Sunday, March 2, 2008

    Dave is walking and looking sexy!


    While I struggle with my weight loss my husband has become a walking machine!

    He is losing those love handles and looking hot!

    He is only walking 40 minutes a day...but he is doing it without fail.

    He is a great example to me.

    My lupus keeps me fatigued but I have been trying to join him.

    He has bought new walking sticks that say they will help increase his work out by 40%. I know he feels a bit stupid with them...but still does it. GO DAVE!

    FIVE REASONS TO USE GYMSTICK NORDICK WALKING POLES

    1. The poles include two separate fitness tools which allow you to use them for aerobic Nordic Walking and to accomplish your training with Gymstick muscle condition resistance band exercising anytime, anywhere - PERFECT!

    2. You are able to perform a muscle condition exercise in the middle of your Nordic Walking exercise - train in your own outdoor fitness studio in the nature!

    3. You can perform a muscle condition exercise also at home or in a group

    4. Cardio exercise, muscle condition exercise, flexibility exercise and co-ordination&balance exrcise with same equipment.

    5. The excercise bands can be changed in order to increase or decrease the resistance


    Try a walking stick or poles. A walking stick is helpful for balance, especially for older people. To enhance your upper-body workout, use lightweight, rubber-tipped trekking poles, sold in many sporting-goods stores. This is like cross-country skiing without the skis. When you step forward with the left foot, the right arm with the pole comes forward and is planted on the ground, about even with the heel of the left foot. This works the muscles of your chest and arms as well as some abdominals, while reducing the stress on your knees. Find the right size poles by testing them in the store: you should be able to grip the pole and keep your forearm about level as you walk. Many poles are now adjustable.

    Saturday, February 23, 2008

    7 Ways to lose 10 pounds this month

    I need this article. I haven't seen my skinny sister in years and I am going to visit her in a little less than 4 months. If I lose 10 lbs in the next 4 months that will be a great start to my goal of 60 for the year.


    Healthy Diet Plan

    Diet and Weight Loss

    It's almost like the quest for world peace. It's something everyone says they want, yet very few ever do what it takes to move them in a permanent positive direction. It is the focus of so many people's lives, yet their successes are few and far between. So what am I talking about? Weight loss. How many people do you meet in the course of a day who would not like to lose a few pounds? Not very many, I bet.

    So why aren't more people losing weight successfully? With all of the attention on weight loss and the $40 billion spent each year on diet aids, America should be the fittest country on earth (we are not, in case you were wondering). Did you know that there are more overweight and obese people today then ever before in history? Did you also know that deaths associated with obesity- related diseases are at an all time high?

    This I find interesting; that despite the constant barrage of diet information with new studies, new super diet pills, and the like, we are still fat. So what is going on?

    I can tell you that part of the problem is all of the information and misinformation out there. There are studies that prove one method works, and another study contradicting the previous study. We have various "experts" who cannot seem to agree on even the most basic information. So who do you believe, who do you trust? One quick indicator is if they have a product to sell, (i.e. nutritional supplements, meal replacements) you may want to check into their claims, as well as their motives.

    I don't have an M.D., but if there is one topic that I know a lot about, its weight loss. When it comes to weight loss, I have been there, done that and am 45 pounds lighter, thank you very much.

    What I am about to share with you is not new information. It's common sense. (Now there is something that is missing from the world today.) If you follow the tips I am about to share with you, I can almost guarantee permanent weight loss and a healthier future. Here we go?

    Give up the bacon and eggs that you have been eating for breakfast and start your day off with plenty of fresh fruit. Forget about breakfast cereals too. Instead eat bananas, oranges, mangoes, strawberries, watermelon, whatever fruits you feel like having. Don't be concerned about calories. Let fruit be all you eat until lunch.

    Limit your meat (steaks, chicken, fish, yes, it's a meat.) to 3 meals a week. A lot of people like to eat meat at every meal. I used to be one of them. If you are one of them, you need to do some research of your own to understand how hard that is on your body. Eating that much animal product is good for no one except your doctor and the meat producers.

    Increase the amount of salad you are eating. If you normally have a small token salad on the side just to add color to your meal, its time to refocus. Move that small salad to a bigger plate and add to it. Make the salad the center of your meal and watch the pounds drop off. Now remember, adding a bunch of things from the salad bar that are not vegetables is not what we're talking about. Forget the high fat dressings too. Using less dressing and those of a low fat variety will allow you to taste the salad and not just the dressing

    4 Limit the amount of processed foods. What is processed food you ask? If you didn't find it in the produce section of the grocery store, it is probably a processed food. Anything that requires an ingredient list is probably a processed food. Breakfast cereals and granola bars are advertised as health foods, but in reality they have very little going for them nutritionally. Really start to pay attention to the amount of processed foods that are out there and you will begin to understand why there is an 'obesity epidemic' in this country. Take note of the amount you are eating, and how much you are feeding to your children. Your children deserve better than that. Get them eating more of the wholesome foods too.

    Increase the amount of veggies you eat, especially raw veggies. If there is a magic food out there for weight loss, fresh fruits and veggies are it. Start eating predominantly fresh fruits and veggies and just watch the pounds melt away.

    Limit the amount of dairy products you consume to 3 meals a week. This one can get tricky. The Dairy Association is convinced that you need to be eating dairy every day at every meal whether you want to or not. When I go out and order a garden salad, why does it more often than not come with cheese and bacon on it? Since when did we start growing cheese in a garden? And how is bacon a vegetable? You really have to be paying attention because they will sneak it in anywhere they can.

    Get some form of exercise everyday. This is almost a no-brainer. Is there anyone alive who does not know what happens to muscles if we don't use them? Are we all aware that your heart is a muscle? Get out there and get your heart going. If you follow all of the above tips, you are going to have so much extra energy that you are going to need to do something with it anyway, so get out there. 20 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise 4-5 mornings a week coupled with a good weight training routine will do wonders for you.

    It is important to remember that there is no magic pill. Permanent weight loss has to be tied to your lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle will promote good health while an unhealthy lifestyle will produce health problems, excess weight, and potentially deadly diseases. You can make your choice. I have made mine, and life on this side of the fence is pretty great.

    Follow these seven tips and you will make more progress in one month than you have made all year.

    Julie Rayburn is a Lifestyle Coach for Vitality Health and Fitness. She has developed a program to help people lose weight and take control of their health.

    Sunday, February 17, 2008

    Calories in Pizza


    I won't admit how much I ate. It wasn't terrible...but it wasn't good.

    I saw that a personal pan pizza was 650 calories. I think I ate two.....and there you have it. Almost an admission. WOW! NO wonder I am fat. But Drats...who can really blame me? Arghhhhh!

    Diet and Diabetes

    Since my husband will be learning a new way of eating when he visits the doctor, I think I will just adopt his life-style change. It can't hurt.

    We are adding a 40 minute workout to our day. It might be hard for us to do it together since I work different schedules. But we are going to give it our best shots. It is always easier to walk or exercise when someone does it with you.

    I will also be doing this to help with my lupus.

    Exercise: As paradoxical as it seems, adding exercise to your daily routine will add energy to your life. Exercise provides increased stamina and strength, better sleep and increased self-esteem. All of these are important for good job performance. Even walking ten minutes a day is a good place to start. It requires no special equipment other than a good pair of walking shoes. Sometimes taking a walking break during the workday will energize you for the rest of the day. Gentle stretching after your walk is also beneficial. For some, a beginner's yoga class will improve strength and flexibility. If joints in the legs or feet are problems, water exercises in a warm water pool will improve strength and endurance. Even walking in waist deep warm water has benefits. Learning relaxation techniques or meditation can enhance your rest periods and improve performance.

    Saturday, February 16, 2008

    Looking Like an Elephant


    While this might not sound good after I have been "dieting" for a month. I thought I had gained more. (and maybe I had) I got on the scale at work yesterday and found that I was only up three pounds since the last time I weighed. Which was right before Christmas.

    I plan on weighing more often. I just need to buy a scale. So from the 13 pounds I lost last year...I am only up three. SO it doesn't seem so overwhelming to kick it into gear and lose more.

    I am going on vacation in June. My sister weighs about 100 pounds. I don't want to look like an elephant next to her. WISH ME LUCK! Only I have a few less wrinkles than she does!

    Wednesday, February 13, 2008

    Sink your teeth into this!!!

    Here is one of the best articles I have found so far on how to add some healthy good foods to your diet. I hope you enjoy reading this....and eating some of it's suggestions!

    Cooking Cures

    By: Reader's Digest

    Homemade is healthier.

    We eat 50 percent less calories, fat, and sodium when we eat at home than when we eat out, notes the American Dietetic Association, the nation's premier source of nutritional knowledge. Nevertheless, lots of obstacles can get in the way of putting a healthy breakfast, lunch, or dinner on the table. But, these cooking cures won't take any more time than you're spending now to make a meal.
    Strategy #1

    Use lots of precut, pre-washed, and/or frozen fruits and veggies

    The cure for: Thrown-together dinners that feature no produce because you don't have the time or energy to buy, clean, chop, and cook it.

    Heart-healthy bonus: Frozen veggies and fruits have as many, and sometimes more, nutrients than fresh because they're usually frozen soon after picking, when nutrient content is highest. Precut produce is also usually as nutritious as fresh.

    The plan:Load your refrigerator with precut, pre-washed, and/or frozen veggies, as well as frozen berries (and in winter, other frozen fruits, such as peaches). These convenient veggies cook up fast in the microwave, and having a variety on hand could double or triple a meal's veggie servings because it's so easy to open the bag, heat, and eat.

    Strategy #2

    Stock your pantry for heart-healthy "magic meals"

    The cure for: Nights when you're too tired to even figure out what's for dinner, and you've prepared nothing in advance.

    Heart-healthy bonus: Fiber to lower cholesterol, spices and flavorings rich in antioxidants, good fats to please the palate and protect against atherosclerosis, and calcium to help control blood pressure.

    The plan: Think like a short-order gourmet cook, and you could sit down to a cheese omelet with a spinach, mandarin orange, and pecan salad on the side; pasta with clam sauce and mushrooms and a glass of merlot; bean burritos with guacamole; and more--in just 15 minutes. The key? Your imagination--and a pantry stocked with healthy basics and a few fun, high-flavor extras.

    By keeping quick-cooking items (such as eggs high in omega-3 fatty acids; whole wheat pastas; nuts; canned beans; canned seafood; whole grain breads; and reduced-fat, low-sodium cheese) on hand, you'll be ready to whip up something fast and flavorful even on nights when you're drop-dead tired--the nights when you most need a good meal and are most vulnerable to eating too much of the wrong stuff. Here are four more fast, flavorful ideas.

    * Supercharged soup. Add rinsed, canned beans and frozen veggies to low-sodium canned minestrone or vegetable soup. Serve with whole grain toast and a fruit salad (canned fruit mixed with frozen berries).
    * Field greens with chicken. Rinse bagged spinach, arrange it on a plate, and top with nuts, precut carrots, and cherry tomatoes. Add strips of precooked chicken breast and dress with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Have sliced melon for dessert.
    * Simple pasta with white beans. Cook whole wheat spaghetti, then toss with olive oil; Parmesan cheese; black pepper; and rinsed, heated canned white beans. Serve with steamed broccoli and fruit. (Variation: Toss the spaghetti and beans with a spoonful of pesto from a jar.)
    * Turkey melt with cranberry sauce on whole wheat. Arrange sliced turkey on whole wheat bread and top with cranberry sauce and one slice of reduced-fat, low-sodium cheese. Microwave until the cheese melts. Serve with a green salad and top off the meal with mixed berries and a dollop of low-fat frozen yogurt.
    Strategy #3

    Make small changes

    The cure for: A pretty good diet that could use a nutritional upgrade--more fruit and veggies, more fiber, more good fats, more dairy, or whatever applies to you.

    Heart-healthy bonus: These changes are small enough, and tasty enough, that you'll soon make them part of your cooking repertoire--giving your cardiovascular system a steady dose of antioxidants, good fats, and vitamins and minerals.

    The plan: You don't have to overhaul your kitchen and cooking style to eat for a healthy heart. Start with these smart cooking cures.
    o Garnish fruit salads, green salads, and cooked veggies with chopped nuts for an extra helping of monounsaturated fats. Toss a handful into muffin and pancake recipes or add some to yogurt. For extra flavor, first toast the nuts in a 350°F oven until golden, 5 to 10 minutes.
    o Top salads with avocado slices, rich in monounsaturated fat. Skip the bacon bits and croutons, which are dripping with saturated fat and trans fats.
    o Cook or serve veggies with a drizzle of olive or canola oil. Fat helps your body absorb more of the antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in vegetables.
    o Think in color. Serve fruits or veggies in contrasting colors: red peppers with broccoli, blueberries with peaches, or carrots and peas. New research suggests that the antioxidants in vegetables and fruits work harder when they're combined.
    o Use canned salmon instead of tuna in your lunchtime “tuna salad” for a hefty dose of omega-3 fatty acids.
    o Toss rinsed, canned beans into everyday foods--chickpeas on salad and kidney beans in spaghetti sauce. Beans are rich in appetite-controlling fiber.
    o Keep a jar of minced garlic and a jar of minced ginger in the fridge. Use each at least once a week to season veggies, meats, or soups. Garlic may help lower cholesterol and cut the rate of plaque buildup in arteries, and antioxidant-rich ginger fights inflammation and may discourage formation of blood clots.

    Friday, February 8, 2008

    Eat Nuts



    I was talking to a woman yesterday who had cancer. She said she had to learn the hard way that sugar (carbs) feed cancer.

    I thought I would do a little research on the subject.

    Here is an interesting article.

    Home » Cancer Information » Nutrition » Your Nutrition Questions Answered » Sugar and Cancer: Is There a Connection?
    Sugar and Cancer: Is There a Connection?

    The facts about sugar and cancer can be confusing. They often are presented in a way that is misleading and anxiety-producing for people with cancer. However, if you learn a bit about the science behind the connections between what we eat and cancer risk, you can make wise nutrition choices for better health.

    The concept that sugar feeds cancer is not useful. Sugar feeds every cell in our bodies. Our bodies need glucose, or simple sugar, for energy. Even if you cut every bit of sugar out of your diet, your body will make sugar from other sources, such as protein and fat.

    So cancer cells need sugar to grow, just like healthy cells. It helps to remember that there is nothing particular about sugar that “feeds” cancer cells any more than sugar feeds all cells in our body.
    Do I need to be concerned about sugar?

    Even though sugar doesn’t exactly “feed” cancer cells, it is a good idea to limit the amount of sugar you eat. This is because when you eat a lot of sugar, your body produces a lot of insulin.

    Insulin is a natural substance made by the body. Insulin can tell cells to grow. In simple terms, insulin can “rev up” cell growth. For healthy cells, this is a good thing. This is because the cells in your body grow, divide, die, and are replaced as part of the natural process of living. However, cancer cells can grow, too, when our bodies produce too much insulin. So while some insulin in the body is normal, excess insulin may encourage cancer cells to grow more, which is not a good thing.

    This is the downside of insulin: Our bodies need it to function, but it’s unhealthy if we make too much of it.

    In summary, sugar does not “feed” cancer cells. However, a lot of sugar can cause our bodies to produce too much insulin, and this is not good for health.
    Should I avoid all sugar?

    You don’t have to avoid every bit of sugar in your diet. There are three other things in the diet that can help the body produce less insulin. These are protein, fat, and fiber. When eaten along with even the simplest sugars, these three items help the body to make less insulin in response to simple sugar.

    If you eat sugar with some protein, some fat, or some fiber, your body won’t produce as much insulin. Eating this other food helps your body process sugar more slowly, and this means that your body does not overproduce insulin. In short, protein, fat, and fiber help your body process sugar in a more healthful way.
    Putting the Information to Work for You

    For an example of how this works, think about fruit and fruit juice. The amount of insulin your body makes after you eat a piece of fruit is much lower than the amount of insulin produced when you drink fruit juice. Whole fruit contains the type of fiber that helps balance out the sugar in fruit.

    For another example, think about eating specific foods together to get a healthier snack or meal. Instead of having two pieces of fruit as a snack, try having one piece of fruit and a small handful of nuts. The nuts contain protein, fat, and fiber. These three things help your body keep insulin in balance.
    The Bottom Line

    The most important point is that sugar itself is not bad. However, too much sugar, without enough protein, fat, and fiber to balance it out, can cause our bodies to make too much insulin. To prevent this, you should limit the sugar in your diet. The key is moderation. Use the following tips to help yourself find a healthy balance with your food choices:

    * Stick with naturally occurring sugar, such as the sugar that is found in fruit. This is a much healthier option than processed sugar that is found in candy, cake, desserts, pie, and baked goods.
    * Avoid concentrated sources of sugar, such as soda and fruit drinks. It is OK to have 100 percent fruit juice in moderation. Stick to a 6-ounce serving. But avoid fruit drinks that don’t contain any real fruit juice.
    * Limit your “treats,” such as dessert, to just a couple of times each week. Have a modest serving size.
    * Focus on whole, healthy, unprocessed food, including vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes (beans, lentils, and peas), nuts, and seeds.

    When you understand the science behind the headlines, you can relax and focus on eating a healthy, well-balanced diet that will put you on the road to wellness.


    More food for thought!

    Wednesday, January 30, 2008

    Fat-on a personal note

    Ok so your fat. I'm fat. I need to lose that weight! For my health and for my self esteem.

    My husband is a diabetic. Have you ever seen what happens to diabetics?? That's right they end up losing parts of their body.

    Why is it that we can tell ourselves that we need to lose weight, so we don't end up like that...but yet we don't do anything about it.

    My husbands blood sugar was running around 300 this week. I know he is just in his forties, but it scares me to think of what will happen if he doesn't get it under control. It scares me to think of getting it because I can't get it under control.

    I found this on a diabetic website....if you think that over eating isn't that bad read this.

    DPP Data finds 1 in 12 "Prediabetics" Develop "Diabetic" Retinopathy
    Diabetes Prevention Project data reported at the ADA 65th Annual Scientific Sessions showed that "Over three years of subsequent follow-up of 302 DPP participants, 13% of prediabetics who developed type 2 disease were found to have diabetic retinopathy, and nearly 8% of "prediabetics" also were found to have diabetic retinopathy, though they never developed diabetes per diagnostic criteria."

    The diagnostic criteria used by the DPP to define "prediabetic" was a fasting plasma glucose test result that ranged between 100 and 125 mg/dl (5.5-6.9 mmol/l and/or a glucose tolerance test result showing impaired glucose tolerance: glucose tolerance test values at two hours that fell between 150 and 199 mg/dl (8.3-11 mmol/l).

    This finding would suggest that prolonged exposure to post-challenge blood sugars over 150 mg/dl are highly dangerous to your retina, with or without a diabetes diagnosis, but even more so with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Follow this link to read more.

    Saturday, January 26, 2008

    Crunch in Bed

    This by far has been the best tip so far that I have found for this weight loss endeavor. How easy is it crunch in bed?

    Chips....pretzels...popcorn..even healthy foods like carrots, celery and cucumbers can be crunched in bed!!!

    JUST KIDDING!

    Seriously if you put this "Crunching" into practice, it makes a huge dent in your abdomen. (see previous post)

    Thursday, January 24, 2008

    Encouraging article for dieters!

    Master Diet

    Getting Started

    Trying to lose, gain, or maintain your weight? Monitoring your diet for medical reasons? Maybe you are training for sports? It makes no difference why you are dieting, it is always true: Getting started is the hardest step, especially if you have never seriously dieted before. It's like learning how to eat, what to eat, how much to eat, all over again.

    After eating the way you have all of your life, you find yourself faced with trying to break the hardest habit you ever had to break. To make it worse, you have to do it in a world that encourages you to do it all wrong.

    It's important that you read these next few pages. You might even consider printing them so you can refer to them as you plan your diet.

    You may also email me to discuss any questions you might have at: John@Masterdiet.com

    - The "Mind Set" -

    You have to make a conscious decision that you are going to do this, and that you will not develop a negative attitude about it.

    People usually say something like, "That's great!" when you tell them you are on a diet, but they act like they are offering their condolences.

    Many of us feel like we got caught and now we are being punished for being fat.

    Don't fall into that trap! Training yourself in Proper Dietary Habits is like going to school/college. It is for your future good. It's like fixing something that is broken.

    You should look at dieting as though you're taking a class in nutrition and collecting lab data.

    Now take the computer, this program and all the resources available to you and enjoy this real life experiment. It will make you look, feel, and perform better. Don't worry about failures, don't worry about mistakes, and don't act like this is medicine. Play with it to learn about you.

    Positive attitudes equal SUCESS, Negative attitudes equals FAILURE.

    Learn what you can eat, not what you can't eat.

    - Simplicity vs. Consistency -

    Simplicity is the key to starting a diet. It is the old K.I.S.S. theory in action, (Keep It Simple Stupid). However, if I had one perfect food that would meet all of your nutritional needs and gave you the quantity required to maintain your desired body weight, and if I instructed you to eat nothing but this one food three times a day, experience has shown us that you would probably not do it.

    A recent survey showed "Diet In-Consistency" among the top reasons for diet failure. The same survey showed "Diet Consistency" was among the top reasons for diet success.

    There are times when simplicity is needed and other times when it is not easily tolerated. Consistency certainly can make things simpler, but it can also make things very boring.

    Humans don't want variety, they need it! So what do you do? Compromise is the wrong word. What you do is carefully balance consistency with variety.

    Simplicity is needed more in the beginning, when you know the least, while you are still learning what to do. At that stage you are too busy learning, to be bored, besides, you are probably at your highest state of motivation then. Later, as you learn more, you can experiment and enjoy more variety without risking the success of your diet.

    You can also, mix consistency and variety in the course of one day by being very consistent during one part of the day and enjoying variety in the other. For instance, you might eat the same things every morning, lunch and snack, but vary the supper meal a lot.

    - Learning the Basics -

    If you are like most of us, you don't want to use scales, books or charts at home every time you eat. And who can measure how much less you want to do it in public.

    You can avoid all of this by simply learning how to recognize what a serving looks like. With Master Diet, once you learn what a 1/2 cup of green beans looks like on the plate, you won't have to measure it.

    It's easy to learn how to estimate servings and I've found, that a little practice (in the privacy of your home) is all it takes to get pretty accurate. Then, check yourself every once in a while to keep yourself sharp.

    In actuality it doesn't make a lot difference if you are a little off. Sometime you are little over, sometime a little under but overall things tend to even out.

    - Relax -

    Don't get all up tight about your diet. There are so many variables in the nutritional values of food that it is impossible to know exactly what you are doing anyway. Relax and enjoy your diet. If you are out eating somewhere and you don't know the size of a serving, don't panic. Take your best guess and enter it into the computer.

    Although accuracy is important, it is not worth getting all upset over. Honest estimates and guesses seem to work almost as good as precise measurements.

    Relax - you are dieting for your health, and your mental and emotional health is important too. Don't get excited the day you lose a whole pound or depressed the day you gain two pounds. The body works on 72 hour averages, not single events.

    There is more of this article to come...Here is the link where I found this helpful information!

    Friday, January 18, 2008

    Blogging what I eat/ dieters don't quit!

    Blogging what I eat has proven to not work. I can't get on the computer every time I stuff something into my mouth.

    Harder to do than I thought. That and if the computer isn't up and running....I don't think about blogging my food choices.

    Back to the diet drawing board.

    I will be joining the Y-soon. We will see how that goes!

    Fellow dieters....hang in there!

    Wednesday, January 16, 2008

    What I ate this morning

    5. Become a diary dieter. Keep a daily journal of what and when you eat. It's easier to stick to goals when you are recording every nibble…and you are also less likely to scratch the whole day after one overindulgence. Review your entries from time to time to identify eating trends. Include affirming notes about goals, exercise accomplishments, etc.

    Tip number 5 on my last list was a great idea! I think I will try it.


    Ok...well, just to let you know this wouldn't normally be my breakfast, but my husband had to leave for work and couldn't eat his breakfast. I didn't want to waste it. So here it is

    Breakfast: 3 small pancakes, margarine and syrup and a fried egg.
    a cup of coffee with 2% milk. (large coffee) More to come...

    Ten Tips for a Healthier New You

    Ten Tips for a Healthier New You

    By: Light & Tasty Magazine

    Keep these easy ideas in mind when you're trying to improve the way you eat, cook and live!

    1. Savor foods slowly. Not only are you more likely to overeat and neglect portion control when you are quickly shoveling in your supper, but you are also less likely to enjoy the food. Don't eat in front of the television or (even worse) standing over the sink. Instead, sit down to your meal and give the food and its flavor your full attention.

    2. Eat regularly and snack often. Skipping meals will most likely cause you to eat more at a later time. Healthy snacks and nutritious mini-meals not only boost your metabolism and energy, but help you keep dinner portions in tow.

    3. Reconsider mealtime lineups. What constitutes a meal in your home? Meat, potatoes and bread? Does supper always involve three courses? Rethink your dinner options and get creative with menu planning. A salad that's chock-full of veggies and cubed cooked chicken, for example, is a one-dish meal that cuts back on the calories, fat and sodium often found in traditional dinners.

    4. Interview yourself. When the vending machine or other tempting delights come calling, ask yourself if you are truly hungry or simply eating out of habit. If you're really hungry, address that issue with a nutritious option. If you are stressed, bored or angry, however, find a way to deal with those emotions without involving food.

    5. Become a diary dieter. Keep a daily journal of what and when you eat. It's easier to stick to goals when you are recording every nibble…and you are also less likely to scratch the whole day after one overindulgence. Review your entries from time to time to identify eating trends. Include affirming notes about goals, exercise accomplishments, etc.

    6. Focus on how your body feels. When it comes to weight loss, the numbers on the bathroom scale are not always motivating, so reflect on other changes that your body is experiencing. Do your clothes fit looser? Has your energy increased? Are your workouts easier? Remember these benefits when it feels like the pounds aren't coming off as quickly as you'd like.

    7. Walk on by. To avoid future temptations, bypass sugary sweets and salty treats while grocery shopping. Keeping these foods out of the pantry may also help you find healthier snacking options. If you buy treats for the kids, purchase items that they enjoy but that don't interest you. Avoid buying unhealthy snacks in bulk.

    8. Get moving. You may not be ready to run a marathon, but why not take a walk on your lunch break or practice some stretches or yoga positions at night? Exercise is a key component to overall well-being, so find a fitness routine you like and make it a regular part of your day.

    9. Pack on the produce. Study after study verifies that a diet full of fruits and vegetables results in a healthier body, wards off disease and delays the effects of aging. Get your five servings a day by adding good-for-you produce to breakfast, lunch and dinner. Enjoy some fresh veggies for an afternoon snack and have a piece of fruit sometime after supper.

    10. Fill up on fiber. Most people don't get nearly the amount of fiber they need. That's unfortunate, since fiber can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It also reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes, and it leaves folks feeling full and satisfied. Strive to work beans, grains and high-fiber breads and cereals into your daily menu.

    These are all great tips. The key to losing weight, I believe is never giving up that focus...keep trying!

    Tuesday, January 15, 2008

    Fatty Fatty Two by Four

    Ok, so here is how the diet is going. I am re-committed to doing this!

    Eat when I am hungry, stop when I am full!

    We are joining a gym as soon as I get a job!

    I will go on more walks-in-spite of the bitter cold weather and the ice on the roads!

    I will drink more water.

    I will eat breakfast.

    I will make healthier choices!

    Have more sex (Try out the calorie Calculator and you will see what I mean!)

    Saturday, January 12, 2008

    I...Can't....breathe!!!

    Asthma and Overweight Individuals
    Findings from a French study published this month in the journal Allergy indicate that asthma is more difficult to control in overweight individuals than in their leaner counterparts. The study observed over 400 asthmatics, and concluded that those with a Body Mass Index of 25 or more had a significantly more difficult time gaining control of their asthma.
    (Calculate your Body Mass Index)

    I am breathing ok, but I have had times when I was SOB....Short of breath Not with Asthma. Could you imagine asthma making it harder to breath if you were overweight?

    Check out the BMI and think about what you can do to join me in this weight loss endeavor. I wouldn't mind hearing from you. Leave a comment!

    Thursday, January 10, 2008

    Excercise to lose that fat!

    Go Baby!

    Do you have to do a lot to lose weight. Not according to this article. Why is it that I like this article? Probably because it fits my lifestyle.

    Daily Exercise Suggestions

    "To climb steep hills requires slow pace at first."
    -Shakespeare, Henry VIII. Act I. Sc. 1

    Walk 10 Minutes a Day and Increase Your Fitness Level Old thinking was to work out in a sweat-filled gym for hours a day. No pain, no gain. New studies show that even short bouts of activity can increase your fitness level, especially if you're new at working out.

    Park and Walk
    Whenever you have an errand, park your car as far away as you can handle and walk to the store. At the mall, park at the farthest end and walk the length of the mall. Use every opportunity to walk. At the end of the day, it all adds up to better fitness.

    Crunch in Bed
    Before you even get out of bed in the morning, do 10 stomach crunches while lying flat on your mattress. Increase daily by one until you get up to 100. Think you'll never get there? Try it. You may eventually have to set your clock to wake up 15 minutes earlier, a small price to pay for a flatter stomach.

    article source

    I'll have to go back to bed to do some crunches!

    Wednesday, January 9, 2008

    Monday, January 7, 2008

    Eating before your period

    Wow....I didn't know it was that time of the month already. What with the move and all. Sometimes it just slips up on you.

    Last week and my horrid time I had trying not to eat-all makes sense now. :)

    I don't know if other women have this problem, but I suspect that I am not alone on feeling the need to overeat right before your period. I usually gain a few pounds right before, but it drops off within the first two days.

    Now I can get serious again!

    Here is a little chart I found on eating tips to help stave off PMS.


    Tips on controlling PMS

    * Eat complex carbohydrates (such as whole grain breads, pasta and cereals), fiber and protein. Cut back on sugar and fat.

    * Avoid salt for the last few days before your period to reduce bloating and fluid retention.

    * Cut back on caffeine to feel less tense and irritable and to ease breast soreness.

    * Cut out alcohol. Drinking it before your period can make you feel more depressed.

    * Try eating up to 6 small meals a day instead of 3 larger ones.

    * Get aerobic exercise. Work up to 30 minutes, 4 to 6 times a week.

    * Get plenty of sleep--about 8 hours a night.

    * Keep to a regular schedule of meals, bedtime and exercise.

    * Try to schedule stressful events for the week after your period.

    All good diet tips too. I must admit...if I had read this list last week, it would have made me mad!

    Friday, January 4, 2008

    Eating Breakfast-or die?

    Guess what I did today? I ate breakfast. This is just an experiment! I don't know if it will work. Ha!

    I was thinking back this morning on times I have been successful in losing weight. And one of those times was when I was a faithful breakfast eater. So, with that in mind I am going to make this a new habit.

    Here is my train of thought. I think that if I eat breakfast I won't be as hungry later in the day. I'll let you know how this works.

    Here is an article I found on eating breakfast.


    New research indicates that people who eat a healthy breakfast, such as a high-fiber cereal and fruit, actually have better health outcomes on measures such as weight gain than people who skip breakfast altogether. The study also indicates that a healthy breakfast fights diabetes, heart disease, and reduces the likelihood of stroke.


    Summary:

    * People who take the time to eat breakfast are leaner than people who skip it, according to this month's Harvard Men's Health Watch.
    * Missing breakfast increased risk of obesity fourfold, one study showed.
    * A menu of hash browns, bacon and muffins contains too much fat and salt, and fast-food breakfasts lack the fiber that can help lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, intestinal polyps and colon cancer.
    * Pick cereal containing at least 6 grams of fiber and less than 10 grams of sugar per serving, and add nonfat milk, berries and bananas.
    * Stick to toasted whole-grain or pumpernickel bread topped with trans-fat-free soft margarines or cholesterol-lowering spreads.
    * Limit egg consumption; one study showed that diabetic men who ate more than one egg a day had a twofold increase in risk of heart disease.

    Thursday, January 3, 2008

    Weight Loss- Low Carb

    Day three: (reading this post will work only if you read it with a seriously low voice!)

    I find myself drinking more water today. I am not going for lowfat dieting here. I am going to try a variety of things. Partly because I don't want to psych myself into or out of anything. Just taking it one day at a time.

    I sure did like that article on stress eating though. Keeping that in mind today has helped me get a bit better control.



    Here is a celeb dieting.Rihanna's Diet

    As the gossip rags have pointed out, Rihanna has gotten into amazing shape for Good Girl Gone Bad. When asked about how she did it, Rihanna said:
    ”I like carbs, but at the end of the day, carbs are the enemy. It wasn’t so much losing weight as being fit and toned and healthy. I just didn’t feel great.
    Now I’m working out and trying to eat healthy. That’s making me lose weight without even thinking about it.”

    She has been working out with a trainer, counting calories, and “obsessing” over her legs she says.


    About Her Low Carb Diet

    Low-carbohydrate diets that cut out foods like bread and pasta work faster than low-fat diets, two new studies show. After six months, people on a low-carb diet lost more weight than those on a low-fat diet.

    This low carb diet is designed to help you reduce cravings and lose weight at the fastest possible speed, it is packed with quick and easy low-carb meals, using ordinary foods.
    This is an ideal weight loss plan for anyone who enjoys healthy low-carb eating and who wants to lose body fat as fast as possible.

    Before starting this diet you should know:
    - Eat regularly spaced meals and snacks, approximately every 4 to 5 hours, to avoid feeling famished and to keep energy levels high.
    - Eliminate as much sugar as possible from your diet: soda, sweetened beverages, fruit juice, cookies, cakes, candies.
    - Choose as many unprocessed foods as possible. Don't worry if you use highly processed convenience foods some of the time -- just minimize the damage as much as you can.
    - Drink water between meals. If you must have flavored water, make your own. (Even sugar-free flavored water is high in artificial sweeteners, which will perpetuate your sweet tooth.) Add lemon, lime or orange slices to plain seltzer water for a refreshing taste without sugar.
    - Take a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement for nutrition insurance.



    Breakfast

    1. Breakfast egg sandwich with egg and meat or egg and cheese, one fresh orange.
    2. Protein drink (look for ones made with soy protein to promote a healthy heart).
    3. Low-carb breakfast bar (look for ones with no more than 15 grams of carbohydrate and 250 to 300 calories).


    Lunch

    1. Grilled chicken sandwich, garden salad with 2 tablespoons low-fat salad dressing.
    2. Frozen low-calorie lasagna entrée, apple.
    3. Deli sandwich: Ask for 4 ounces turkey, ham or roast beef on 2 slices whole-grain bread topped with oil and vinegar or mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato; 1/2 cup three-bean salad.

    Dinner
    1. Grocery-store take out: 3 ounces roasted chicken, 1/2 cup pasta salad, 1 cup sliced tomatoes drizzled with balsamic vinegar, 1 cup skim milk.
    2. Chinese take-out: Egg roll, 1 cup shrimp chow mein, 1/2 cup rice, tea.
    3. Quick and easy stir-fry: 3 ounces chicken breast mixed with 1 cup stir-fry vegetables (use the frozen packets for the easiest prep) and 1/2 cup rice; 1 cup skim milk.


    Snacks

    - Half cup trail mix (1/4 cup peanuts mixed with 2 tablespoons dried fruit)
    - Eight saltine crackers with 2 ounces low-fat cheddar cheese
    - Low-carb snack bar (choose one between 150 and 250 calories)
    - Two ounces string cheese and 1/2 cup grapes


    Workout Ideas

    You can't lose weight by diet alone, so...
    - Boost your metabolism by weight training. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories your body will burn -- even when you're just sitting around. Learn how to create an easy and effective weight training routine.
    - A diet won't replace your pot belly with a six-pack -- but this killer ab routine will!
    - Find out how to fit more fitness into your busy routine.
    - Still not sure where to start? Get an expert's take on walking, running, Pilates and other popular workouts that will help you shed pounds.

    STRESS EATING!!!!

    Here is a great article that I found. Ok...so I had a stress eating day. I have been having them. We moved, it's Christmas, I need to find a job-so we can pay rent.
    Top it off with getting sick, sick, sick. This article makes a lot of sense to me.

    I'll have to get my husband to.....take a walk with me the next time I am stressed! :)


    Stress and Eating
    You crave rich foods when stress is unrelenting. And a very special and well-meaning collaboration between your brain and your body makes you do it.

    By: Hara Estroff Marano

    Remember that deep dive into the peanut butter in the months after 9/11? How about the incredible allure of chocolate when the seemingly last possibility for anything wonderful has just fizzled in your face? No, it's not your imagination. You really do crave rich foods when stress is unrelenting. And a very special and well-meaning collaboration between your brain and your body makes you do it.

    The newly discovered body-brain partnership may shed new light on so-called atypical depression, the common variant of disorder in which sufferers eat and sleep excessively and gain weight, in contrast to garden-variety depression, marked by obvious anxiety, loss of appetite, insomnia and weight loss. Further, it may explain why antidepressants commonly cause weight gain.

    We seek chocolate, ice cream or napoleans, scientists have discovered, not just because they taste good. It's actually the body's attempt to put a brake on the runaway machinery of chronic stress.

    The body, it turns out, has a lot of natural wisdom in its operations. It just wasn't designed to cope with eternal stress, nor with SubZero freezers or a food shop on every corner.

    Here's how the stress system works. Say you're driving on the freeway, a car cuts you off and you instantly swerve out of the way to avert disaster. For some time afterwards you're frazzled and jumpy and your heart feels like it might leap out of your chest.

    When you experience sudden danger, your brain instantly signals your body to turn out a hormone called cortisol. It in turn relays the message throughout the body to mobilize you for a life-saving response. Your heart races. You become highly attentive and alert, even vigilant. Blood vessels constrict and divert the flow of blood from leisurely processes such as digestion to fast-acting muscles. Metabolism shifts too, and energy is made rapidly available to your muscles, readying them for action.

    But such emergencies don't last forever. Your stress response system has built into it the capacity to turn itself off. The stress hormone cortisol acts as its own shut-off signal. When it reaches the brain it commands the brain to cease the body's production of the hormone.

    Chronic stress is another story completely, reports a team of researchers from the University of California at San Francisco. The system does not turn off. As the situations that give rise to stress endure, they keep ramping up production of cortisol. You go into an inner Code Red, marked by anxiety, vigilance, and hyperalertness. Depression is one consequence of chronic stress.

    At the same time, other "nodes" of the long-term stress circuit are activated. One of them directs you to search for extremely pleasurable food, notably high-energy bundles of fat and sugar like cream puffs and chocolate bars. They become comfort foods in every sense of the word.

    Left to its own devices, the long-term anxiety set off by chronic stress would deplete your energy reserves; you wouldn't survive very long. But fat- and sugar-laden foods help your body build up reserves and stay in the game of life.
    "One of the functions of stress hormones is to move energy around," explains Norman Pecoraro, Ph.D, a postdoctoral fellow on the San Francisco team. The escalating levels of cortisol released in chronic stress usher the excess calories straight to your abdomen, where they get deposited as fat. By virtue of its location, abdominal fat has privileged access to the liver. That allows it to be quickly mobilized for energy.

    Here's the mark of the body's brilliance. Those fat deposits are absolutely crucial. They send out some metabolic signal that feeds back to the brain, telling it to shut off the stress response. Those who eat cream puffs and chocolate are trying to give the body what it needs to dampen output from their stress system, Pecoraro says. "Eating seems to ameliorate some of the symptoms of depression, so you won't feel as anxious. This seems to be the body's way of telling the brain, 'It's OK, you can relax, you're refueled with high-energy food.'"

    He finds it highly provocative that an unwanted side-effect of antidepressant drugs is obesity. Maybe it's not a side effect but the main effect. "It raises the question, what's causing the improvement in mood. Is it a direct action of the serotonin re-uptake inhibitor on the brain? Or is it an indirect action, a consequence of increased feeding induced by the drug?

    His own guess is that it's a combination of things. "We're not saying that feeding is everything, but it certainly is important. It's the coin of the realm. Life just doesn't exist without energy."

    The catch is, consumption of calorie-rich foods may make us feel better and function better, but it's bad for long-term health. The stresses we face today are not like the eat-or-be-eaten stresses we faced when our bodies evolved. Nowadays we're up against long-term job insecurity and romantic rejection. The stress goes on and on and we feel immobilized by it. The energy reserves do not get used up.
    There's a pizza place down the street or the oversize freezer in the next room that speaks directly to your ongoing need for stress relief. You keep gaining weight around your abdomen. Unfortunately, abdominal obesity puts you at specific risk for diabetes and heart attack.

    Pecoraro says the discovery of the metabolic signal from fat stores is the result of 30 years of research by Mary Dallman, Ph.D., on the stress system. The details were worked out in rats, but the findings, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, "resoundingly" apply to humans.

    What's more, he says, they seem to solve the puzzle of atypical depression. The difference between atypical and typical depression may lie in the degree to which chronic stress sets off the defensive alerting system versus the appetitive system. "Atypical depression may be an attempt to self-medicate with food, to reduce the stress hormone output, with the unfortunate side effect of visceral obesity."
    There is a way out, Pecoraro says. There are other ways to shut off chronic stress. There's exercise, yoga, meditation, hot baths and, yes, sex. They all stimulate the same pleasure centers in the brain that make us seek comfort food. Relaxation techniques may work even earlier in the process, by reducing the psychological perception of stress in the first place.

    "In the short term, if you're chronically stressed it might be worth eating and sleeping a little more to calm down, perhaps at the expense of gaining a few pounds," says Pecoraro. "But seeking a long-term solution in comfort food—rather than fixing the source of the stress or your relationship to the source of the stress—is going to be bad for you."


    Article found

    Wednesday, January 2, 2008

    Calories Burned while at rest

    Check out this website and enter your information and it will tell you how many calories you burn while resting.

    http://www.shapeup.org/interactive/rmr1.php

    If you want to know how many calories per hour you will burn typing check out this website.

    http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/burned/calories_burned_Typing_electric_manual_or_computer.html


    The only good thing about weighing more is that you will burn more calories doing these activities. Hmmmmm.....food for thought!