Hi Everyone:
I haven't blogged in a while, but better to blog when I have something to say, then to blog for the sake of blogging and say nothing of consequence. Anyhow, I've now been doing Weight Watchers for eight weeks. Most of the time, I've been good at staying within my Points target. But let's just say this, when I'm good, I'm very good, and when I'm bad, I'm really not that bad. LOL! Case in "Point", excuse the pun, in eight weeks, I've lost exactly...6.4 pounds, which isn't a whole lot in eight weeks, but the "point" is, that I haven't gained anything back. If I've have a bad weekend, it seems the work I put in during the week allows for my weight from the last week to remain the same, at least. I've also increased my exercising (treadmill with weights and mall walking) to an hour whenever possible. But one of the key areas I've also changed is eating "reduced fat" foods, and yes, there are some out there, that are just as tasty as the originals, and you don't miss the fat.
Now, when some people diet, they cut out sugar, or meat or everything mostly besides fruit, veggies and a bit of protein (aka..the movie star diet.) I can't do that. I love food and I love a variety of it. So, reducing fat, or going with a "light" version of foods without totally eliminating them from my diet seems to be the way to go for me. And it's the "for me" I want you all to concentrate on. This works FOR ME. For you, find a diet you can stick to and that works and that doesn't leave you wanting or starving. And up that exercise!
And so, for those of you who do want to try reduced fat foods, here are some of my favorites:
Ruffles Reduced Fat Potato Chips....all you miss is the grease. I've had friends eat them not knowing they were "reduced fat" and say "These chips are really good." :-)
Yoplait "Light" Yogurt
Pringles, Sour Cream and Onion "Reduced Fat' chips. Seriously, if there's a difference between these and the full fat chips, I'm hard pressed to find it.
Full Circle Organic Microwave Popcorn, Butter -this can be found in the health food/organic isle of your grocery store. Really tasty and about half the fat of other "butter" flavored microwave popcorn.
V-8 Fusion "Light"- You get a half cup of veggies and a half cup of fruit in each one cup serving for only 1 Point per glass. And it's DELICIOUS and more flavorful and lower in calories than orange juice.
Thomas's Whole Wheat "Light" English Muffins-- very tasty, but they fall apart easy. Still, worth eating them in several pieces for less calories. LOL!
Shedd Spredd's Country Crock "Light" margarine- I've been using this for years. It's tasty and you get so many fewer calories than regular margerine or butter.
So, that's it for today as I have to get my child out the door. I hope I've helped in some small way. Just remember to keep at it. You can't fail if you're still trying!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Week Four on Weight Watchers
Well folks, I had another successful weigh in. Down another pound and a half, giving me a total of three pounds in three weeks. The weight loss is going rather slow this time, but my metabolism is a lot slower, so I'll take it. At least the scale is moving in the right direction. Positive thoughts, people!
I've talked about changes in diet over the past several weeks, so today I'm going to talk about the other half of a healthy lifestyle...exercise. Don't you hate that word? I do.
In my twenties, I became very active and very fit (Jane Fonda aerobic workouts, Jazzercise, volleyball and walking) which lasted to my mid-thirties when I became very married and then very pregnant (which I whole heartedly used as an excuse to eat for three, even though I was carrying only one baby.). Subsequently, I became very tired and very busy, and exercise went downhill except for stroller and after dinner walks, which really did not help me lose weight because I was still eating big portions of the wrong foods. And, as a new mother, I was stressed.
As I approached forty, however, I could no longer call my extra weight "baby weight" for my baby was nearly six. So I decided to go full throttle and start exercising again. Let me tell you, the body is not happy to restart exercising at forty. At least not the way I did it. Long story short, I pulled a tendon in my upper back. It took a lot of physical therapy and several more times of pulling it out of whack before it finally healed, and I realized I would forever have to baby that tendon. Thus, I can no longer lift weights above my head.
Then, at about 45, I started a really good exercise program called "Walk Away the Pounds" which is a DVD you can do in your home. It involves a lot of marching, walking, knee-lifts, you get the idea, while holding light weights (and no I did not lift them above my head). And this program worked for me (and I do recommend it) until I developed chronic tendonitis in my left thigh. I was then restricted, per doctor's orders, to ONLY exercise with natural movement, such as walking, or water exercises which puts no strain on the joints.
So here I now am, pushing fifty. I walk everyday, either on my treadmill, outside (weather permitting) or I mall-walk with a friend. And I enjoy it. Why? Because I found ways to make it fun. When I'm on my treadmill, I watch rented television series from Netflix. I sometimes carry one pound weights and no, I don't lift them over my head. The hour FLIES. Or, I watch the news with the sound off, while playing tunes on my Ipod. When walking outside, I use my Ipod for companionship and work out plot lines for my novels. And mall walking with a friend is great...good conversation and the hour flies!
So, I guess my bottom line is this: No matter what your age, there is some form of excerise you can and must do. Even if you are sidelined by injuries, find something to do that you like: dance, play volleyball on a league of your level. Join a gym! Or, if nothing else, do what God and nature built you for. WALK!!!! It's natural and it works for great weight loss! And the best news ever: movement keeps your circulation going. Circulation keeps your organs healthy! Move people, move!
Till next week!
Linda
I've talked about changes in diet over the past several weeks, so today I'm going to talk about the other half of a healthy lifestyle...exercise. Don't you hate that word? I do.
In my twenties, I became very active and very fit (Jane Fonda aerobic workouts, Jazzercise, volleyball and walking) which lasted to my mid-thirties when I became very married and then very pregnant (which I whole heartedly used as an excuse to eat for three, even though I was carrying only one baby.). Subsequently, I became very tired and very busy, and exercise went downhill except for stroller and after dinner walks, which really did not help me lose weight because I was still eating big portions of the wrong foods. And, as a new mother, I was stressed.
As I approached forty, however, I could no longer call my extra weight "baby weight" for my baby was nearly six. So I decided to go full throttle and start exercising again. Let me tell you, the body is not happy to restart exercising at forty. At least not the way I did it. Long story short, I pulled a tendon in my upper back. It took a lot of physical therapy and several more times of pulling it out of whack before it finally healed, and I realized I would forever have to baby that tendon. Thus, I can no longer lift weights above my head.
Then, at about 45, I started a really good exercise program called "Walk Away the Pounds" which is a DVD you can do in your home. It involves a lot of marching, walking, knee-lifts, you get the idea, while holding light weights (and no I did not lift them above my head). And this program worked for me (and I do recommend it) until I developed chronic tendonitis in my left thigh. I was then restricted, per doctor's orders, to ONLY exercise with natural movement, such as walking, or water exercises which puts no strain on the joints.
So here I now am, pushing fifty. I walk everyday, either on my treadmill, outside (weather permitting) or I mall-walk with a friend. And I enjoy it. Why? Because I found ways to make it fun. When I'm on my treadmill, I watch rented television series from Netflix. I sometimes carry one pound weights and no, I don't lift them over my head. The hour FLIES. Or, I watch the news with the sound off, while playing tunes on my Ipod. When walking outside, I use my Ipod for companionship and work out plot lines for my novels. And mall walking with a friend is great...good conversation and the hour flies!
So, I guess my bottom line is this: No matter what your age, there is some form of excerise you can and must do. Even if you are sidelined by injuries, find something to do that you like: dance, play volleyball on a league of your level. Join a gym! Or, if nothing else, do what God and nature built you for. WALK!!!! It's natural and it works for great weight loss! And the best news ever: movement keeps your circulation going. Circulation keeps your organs healthy! Move people, move!
Till next week!
Linda
Monday, January 16, 2012
Week Three/Weight Watchers
Hi Again!
Well, I've begun week three on Weight Watchers Points Plus. I should note that I'm doing this on my own. I haven't officially signed up with Weight Watchers, nor do I attend meetings. I learned how to do Points several years ago from a friend, and so, do it on my own. I did purchase the 2011 Points Kit off ebay and it's been very helpful, because it included a Points calculator which is extremely handy.
That said, weigh in went "okay". Down .4 ounces, which if you're keeping score gives me a total of a two pound loss after two weeks, which, for my size, is a safe weight loss each week. Granted, I would have liked to seen more weight gone, but, as those of you who watch "The Biggest Loser" know, Week 2 on a diet does not give you the great results of week one, because week one is a lot of water weight loss. That said, at this point, I'll take ANY loss.
So, what did I learn this week to share? First of all, I received in the mail from my dear relative and friend, Val, a HUGE stack of Weight Watchers Weekly Meeting Brochures, which she got from a friend. I keep them nearby and whenever I feel the urge to cheat, I pick one up and read it for motivation. So, here are some things I learned from them, and on my own.
1. Don't think of the scale as the be-all, end-all judge of you as a person. Think of your "weigh-in" as a "guide" to how you're doing on your journey, not a "judgement" of you. (I really liked this one!).
2. Remember how I talked about dividing your plate into fourths last week? One fourth is your protein serving size, one is for your carbs and the other TWO are for veggies. I can stick with this, but I learned another trick that really helps with this idea. Think of your veggies, salad, etc. as your MAIN COURSE. The protein and carbs become your sides. Still hungry after you've consumed your plate? Feel free to have another serving of that main course! Try it, it works.
3. I'm not a huge veggie eater. I like salad and all the fixings, and green beans but that's about it. (Love corn and potatoes but, sorry folks, they are starches, i.e. carbs.) But let's face it...eating a half plate of green beans is just boring and wrong. So here's a fix. Cook frozen or canned green beans in a pot and then drain. Add in a teaspoon or two of fat-free cream of mushroom soup, some fresh or canned mushrooms and a small handful of slivered almonds. Heat and stir. Serve. Yum! But remember to take a point or two for the soup and almonds if your beans are really loaded up!
4. I don't know about you, but in the winter, I want to eat hearty carbs in the way of thick, cream soups, because they make me feel warm and happy. But man, the Points! By looking through my WW Points Book, I found out that Lipton Cup A Soup, Cream of Chicken is only 2 Points per cup. And it's really good! Give it a try.
5. Finally, bar food. Yes, you can go out to a bar (we had to go bowling) and eat relatively well. First of all, let me tell you, I planned in advance for this, and saved up my extra points for this bad food extravaganza. Then, instead of ordering my usual fried onion rings, or fries, or pizza, I had a BLT and that was it. But, when they delivered it, it was a triple stacker, which I could eat, but shouldn't. So I quickly gave away a quarter of it to my husband. I also opted for Diet Pepsi instead of beer (we usually have beer when we bowl) and it really wasn't any sacrifice (although I didn't bowl as well. LOL!) I was full, didn't blow Points on bar food and was proud of me for once.
So that's it for this week. I hope I'm helping and inspiring to you in some way.
Have a healthy week!
Linda
Well, I've begun week three on Weight Watchers Points Plus. I should note that I'm doing this on my own. I haven't officially signed up with Weight Watchers, nor do I attend meetings. I learned how to do Points several years ago from a friend, and so, do it on my own. I did purchase the 2011 Points Kit off ebay and it's been very helpful, because it included a Points calculator which is extremely handy.
That said, weigh in went "okay". Down .4 ounces, which if you're keeping score gives me a total of a two pound loss after two weeks, which, for my size, is a safe weight loss each week. Granted, I would have liked to seen more weight gone, but, as those of you who watch "The Biggest Loser" know, Week 2 on a diet does not give you the great results of week one, because week one is a lot of water weight loss. That said, at this point, I'll take ANY loss.
So, what did I learn this week to share? First of all, I received in the mail from my dear relative and friend, Val, a HUGE stack of Weight Watchers Weekly Meeting Brochures, which she got from a friend. I keep them nearby and whenever I feel the urge to cheat, I pick one up and read it for motivation. So, here are some things I learned from them, and on my own.
1. Don't think of the scale as the be-all, end-all judge of you as a person. Think of your "weigh-in" as a "guide" to how you're doing on your journey, not a "judgement" of you. (I really liked this one!).
2. Remember how I talked about dividing your plate into fourths last week? One fourth is your protein serving size, one is for your carbs and the other TWO are for veggies. I can stick with this, but I learned another trick that really helps with this idea. Think of your veggies, salad, etc. as your MAIN COURSE. The protein and carbs become your sides. Still hungry after you've consumed your plate? Feel free to have another serving of that main course! Try it, it works.
3. I'm not a huge veggie eater. I like salad and all the fixings, and green beans but that's about it. (Love corn and potatoes but, sorry folks, they are starches, i.e. carbs.) But let's face it...eating a half plate of green beans is just boring and wrong. So here's a fix. Cook frozen or canned green beans in a pot and then drain. Add in a teaspoon or two of fat-free cream of mushroom soup, some fresh or canned mushrooms and a small handful of slivered almonds. Heat and stir. Serve. Yum! But remember to take a point or two for the soup and almonds if your beans are really loaded up!
4. I don't know about you, but in the winter, I want to eat hearty carbs in the way of thick, cream soups, because they make me feel warm and happy. But man, the Points! By looking through my WW Points Book, I found out that Lipton Cup A Soup, Cream of Chicken is only 2 Points per cup. And it's really good! Give it a try.
5. Finally, bar food. Yes, you can go out to a bar (we had to go bowling) and eat relatively well. First of all, let me tell you, I planned in advance for this, and saved up my extra points for this bad food extravaganza. Then, instead of ordering my usual fried onion rings, or fries, or pizza, I had a BLT and that was it. But, when they delivered it, it was a triple stacker, which I could eat, but shouldn't. So I quickly gave away a quarter of it to my husband. I also opted for Diet Pepsi instead of beer (we usually have beer when we bowl) and it really wasn't any sacrifice (although I didn't bowl as well. LOL!) I was full, didn't blow Points on bar food and was proud of me for once.
So that's it for this week. I hope I'm helping and inspiring to you in some way.
Have a healthy week!
Linda
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Week Two on Weight Watchers, What I've Learned
Hi Friends:
Well, I'm into Week 2 on my Weight Watchers journey to lose the extra weight. Week One went well, lost 1.6 pounds. I'm not getting too excited though, I've been here before. I do really well Weeks One and Two only to start sliding Week 3 or 4 and then it's pretty much over. But this time, I'm determined, and have learned a few things this week that I thought I'd share to help anyone else who started "to get healthy" at the beginning of the year. And so without further ado, here are my Top Ten Tips from Week One on Weight Watchers:
1. Eating a half plate of salad at dinner really does fill you up. I jazz my salad up a bit by adding sliced black olives and red wine vinegar dressing...each worth a point. Still, if you can eat a half plate of food that is filling and only 2 Points, it's a pretty good deal.
2. There's a new fruit out there, well, new to me anyhow, and it's delicious! It's called a "pink grapefruit orange" and it's a cross between an orange and a pink grapefruit. My whole family likes them and that's saying something as I have a very picky eater in a teenager, although he does love most fruit. The taste is not as sweet as an orange, but not as sour as a grapefruit. Find them near the oranges. Give them a try. Zero Points!
3. You can eat at Olive Garden and not blow the diet. Fill up on lots of the salad first, limit yourself to ONE breadstick, eat mushrooms if you must have the appetizer and order a low point entree and then eat only half. I ordered the cheese pizza, no meat, just extra cheese. Found out that I was so full from all the previous mentioned consumables, that I only ate two pieces!
4. You can eat at Burger King and not blow the diet. I ordered a hamburger and apple fries. Who knew the apple fries were so good? And no points! Next time though, I think it would be worth it to take an extra point and get a cheeseburger and a second bag of apple fries.
5. I like pita chips. Who knew?
6. Air Popped Cheese popcorn: 2 1/2 cups for only 5 points and so tasty and filling!
7. Sugar free, fat free Jello cups and also the sugar free, fat free instant pudding. I use a Point and put a little light whip cream on top of each and it makes for a delicious snack. As for the pudding, it really satisfies the chocolate cravings at 3pm, plus, you get in a good dose of calcium (I am not a milk drinker, so this is one way for me to get a good dose of skim milk.)
8. Craving potatoes? Ore-Ida makes a great line of baked varieties of fries. You can have a decent handful with your dinner for very few points. Also, mashed potatoes. Very low on Points if you can limit the butter and sour cream. (I don't like sour cream on them, so that's not a problem for me.)
9. Musslemann's "No Sugar Added" Cinnamon Flavored Applesauce. Very tasty, not tart and zero Points for a 1/2 cup.
10. Decaf coffee is my friend. The warmth and water fill me up and help me not snack.
So there you have it folks, my Weekly Diet Finds. I hope they are helpful to you on your weight loss (or "getting healthy" journeys. Feel free to leave your own tips here!
Have a successful week!
Well, I'm into Week 2 on my Weight Watchers journey to lose the extra weight. Week One went well, lost 1.6 pounds. I'm not getting too excited though, I've been here before. I do really well Weeks One and Two only to start sliding Week 3 or 4 and then it's pretty much over. But this time, I'm determined, and have learned a few things this week that I thought I'd share to help anyone else who started "to get healthy" at the beginning of the year. And so without further ado, here are my Top Ten Tips from Week One on Weight Watchers:
1. Eating a half plate of salad at dinner really does fill you up. I jazz my salad up a bit by adding sliced black olives and red wine vinegar dressing...each worth a point. Still, if you can eat a half plate of food that is filling and only 2 Points, it's a pretty good deal.
2. There's a new fruit out there, well, new to me anyhow, and it's delicious! It's called a "pink grapefruit orange" and it's a cross between an orange and a pink grapefruit. My whole family likes them and that's saying something as I have a very picky eater in a teenager, although he does love most fruit. The taste is not as sweet as an orange, but not as sour as a grapefruit. Find them near the oranges. Give them a try. Zero Points!
3. You can eat at Olive Garden and not blow the diet. Fill up on lots of the salad first, limit yourself to ONE breadstick, eat mushrooms if you must have the appetizer and order a low point entree and then eat only half. I ordered the cheese pizza, no meat, just extra cheese. Found out that I was so full from all the previous mentioned consumables, that I only ate two pieces!
4. You can eat at Burger King and not blow the diet. I ordered a hamburger and apple fries. Who knew the apple fries were so good? And no points! Next time though, I think it would be worth it to take an extra point and get a cheeseburger and a second bag of apple fries.
5. I like pita chips. Who knew?
6. Air Popped Cheese popcorn: 2 1/2 cups for only 5 points and so tasty and filling!
7. Sugar free, fat free Jello cups and also the sugar free, fat free instant pudding. I use a Point and put a little light whip cream on top of each and it makes for a delicious snack. As for the pudding, it really satisfies the chocolate cravings at 3pm, plus, you get in a good dose of calcium (I am not a milk drinker, so this is one way for me to get a good dose of skim milk.)
8. Craving potatoes? Ore-Ida makes a great line of baked varieties of fries. You can have a decent handful with your dinner for very few points. Also, mashed potatoes. Very low on Points if you can limit the butter and sour cream. (I don't like sour cream on them, so that's not a problem for me.)
9. Musslemann's "No Sugar Added" Cinnamon Flavored Applesauce. Very tasty, not tart and zero Points for a 1/2 cup.
10. Decaf coffee is my friend. The warmth and water fill me up and help me not snack.
So there you have it folks, my Weekly Diet Finds. I hope they are helpful to you on your weight loss (or "getting healthy" journeys. Feel free to leave your own tips here!
Have a successful week!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
My Top Ten Reading Picks for 2011
Hi Friends and Family!
Today's blog is a rather fun one, and I give credit to my friend and author, Anne Stratton for the idea. Below are my Top Ten Picks of books I've read in 2011. Please note that these books may or may not have been written or released in 2011, I just READ them in 2011. (Also, they are in random order, not rated by which I liked best to worst, they were all worthy of a #1 ranking.)
Here's hoping you find something on the list that encourages you to go forth and read! Or, if you've read one of these and agree or disagree with my picks, let's hear from you!
And so, without further ado:
1. The Assassin's Accomplice: Mary Surratt and the Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln by Kate Clifford Larson (non-fiction)
2. There's a (Slight) Chance I might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Swere Pipers, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble by Laurie Notaro-(fiction)
3. Elizabeth I by Margaret George (historical fiction)
4. The Sixes by Kate White (fiction)
5. Rough Country by John Sandford (fiction)
6. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (young adult fiction)
7. The Queen and I by Sue Townsend (fiction)
8. Pale Rose of England by Sandra Worth (historical fiction)
9. Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony by Jeff Ashton (non-fiction)
10. Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe (non-fiction)
Happy Reading in 2012!
Today's blog is a rather fun one, and I give credit to my friend and author, Anne Stratton for the idea. Below are my Top Ten Picks of books I've read in 2011. Please note that these books may or may not have been written or released in 2011, I just READ them in 2011. (Also, they are in random order, not rated by which I liked best to worst, they were all worthy of a #1 ranking.)
Here's hoping you find something on the list that encourages you to go forth and read! Or, if you've read one of these and agree or disagree with my picks, let's hear from you!
And so, without further ado:
1. The Assassin's Accomplice: Mary Surratt and the Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln by Kate Clifford Larson (non-fiction)
2. There's a (Slight) Chance I might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Swere Pipers, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble by Laurie Notaro-(fiction)
3. Elizabeth I by Margaret George (historical fiction)
4. The Sixes by Kate White (fiction)
5. Rough Country by John Sandford (fiction)
6. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (young adult fiction)
7. The Queen and I by Sue Townsend (fiction)
8. Pale Rose of England by Sandra Worth (historical fiction)
9. Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony by Jeff Ashton (non-fiction)
10. Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe (non-fiction)
Happy Reading in 2012!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Negative vs. Positive Thinking
Hi Friends, and Good Morning!
I broke a New Year's Resolution already, which though, turns out, led me to create another. Here's what happened:
Horrors. I didn't blog yesterday. I had promised myself to blog every day for no other reason than to get my creative on. Well, yesterday it didn't happen because, heck, I just couldn't think of anything interesting to say. And the bad news about that is that I beat myself up over it all day and evening. "Linda, you still need to blog. Linda, you haven't blogged. Linda...blah, blah, blah."
And then this morning, I woke up with a revelation. Yes, I hadn't blogged, it was the one thing I planned to do and didn't. And I couldn't quit obsessing about it. And why? The answer is because we, as a society, (okay, maybe just me and I don't want to feel so lonely) are programmed to concentrate on what we don't do each day, so that the next, we can be more productive. When I stopped to think about what I *did* accomplish yesterday, I was astounded. Here's the list:
Woke up at 6am, walked and fed dog. Worked out and showered. Cleaned up house and did laundry. Woke up boy and then went grocery shopping. Made sure to spend quality time with boy by helping him study and we did a trip to Barnes and Noble. Walked dog three times. Made a healthy dinner for family. Wrote (well, edited) for 40 minutes. Answered important e-mails. Stayed within Points on my diet. Tried to be kind to everyone I met and to pay it forward at least once.
Well, you get the idea.
So, my new resolution is to keep doing the postivie things that I can, and if I can't get to something on my list, not to beat myself up. I mean it's not like anyone out here is sitting around tapping their fingers and saying "Where the hell is Linda's blog today?" LOL!
And so, friends, with that idea in mind, I challenge you all to be a little easier on yourselves. Do what you can and pat yourself on the back for it!
Have a terrific Wednesday!
I broke a New Year's Resolution already, which though, turns out, led me to create another. Here's what happened:
Horrors. I didn't blog yesterday. I had promised myself to blog every day for no other reason than to get my creative on. Well, yesterday it didn't happen because, heck, I just couldn't think of anything interesting to say. And the bad news about that is that I beat myself up over it all day and evening. "Linda, you still need to blog. Linda, you haven't blogged. Linda...blah, blah, blah."
And then this morning, I woke up with a revelation. Yes, I hadn't blogged, it was the one thing I planned to do and didn't. And I couldn't quit obsessing about it. And why? The answer is because we, as a society, (okay, maybe just me and I don't want to feel so lonely) are programmed to concentrate on what we don't do each day, so that the next, we can be more productive. When I stopped to think about what I *did* accomplish yesterday, I was astounded. Here's the list:
Woke up at 6am, walked and fed dog. Worked out and showered. Cleaned up house and did laundry. Woke up boy and then went grocery shopping. Made sure to spend quality time with boy by helping him study and we did a trip to Barnes and Noble. Walked dog three times. Made a healthy dinner for family. Wrote (well, edited) for 40 minutes. Answered important e-mails. Stayed within Points on my diet. Tried to be kind to everyone I met and to pay it forward at least once.
Well, you get the idea.
So, my new resolution is to keep doing the postivie things that I can, and if I can't get to something on my list, not to beat myself up. I mean it's not like anyone out here is sitting around tapping their fingers and saying "Where the hell is Linda's blog today?" LOL!
And so, friends, with that idea in mind, I challenge you all to be a little easier on yourselves. Do what you can and pat yourself on the back for it!
Have a terrific Wednesday!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Hello Weight Watchers My Old Friend!
Well, here it is, the day after New Year's. Friend, food and festivities have come and gone, and now it's time to get back on track and pay the piper. I would like to lose fifteen pounds. I gained something like that (or more) in the past two years, and I'm going to blame it on: Age (metabolism slowing) and overeating. I exercise nearly every day, but I could step that up a bit too.
That said, I don't want to bore you with my battle of the bulge, but if you're struggling too, and are making weight loss or "getting healthy" or "getting fit" a 2012 New Year Resolution, I will try to share my tips and hints for success (not that I have any yet, I just started today!) with you.
I have been "readying" myself for this by buying a WW (Weight Watchers) Points Plus kit and along with it, came a page of helpful hints. Here is one to start you off on your journey:
When eating off a plate (and most of us do), mentally divide the plate into four equal parts. (Or use Hershey's syrup. Just kidding.) One portion should be for your meat (a.k.a protein). The second, for your starches or carbs (ie. potatos, rice, etc.) and the last TWO for veggies.
Okay, I'm NOT a veggie eater. In fact, the only "true" veggies I like are green beans, carrots and mixed veggies. You have no idea how sad I am that corn and potatoes do not qualify as veggies. But I digress. So, instead of filling those last two portions with broccoli (kill me), cauliflower (kill me again), brussel sprouts, spinach or beets, I'm going to eat salad (I do like lettuce, raw spinach, onions, tomatoes and cucumbers (which are really fruits since they have seeds), with no-fat dressing. Stay tuned to see how I do.
I will not blog on my diet journey all the time, that would be boring. But feel free to post your diet successes, tips, encouragements, ideas here, anytime.
And, have a successfully healthy New Year!
That said, I don't want to bore you with my battle of the bulge, but if you're struggling too, and are making weight loss or "getting healthy" or "getting fit" a 2012 New Year Resolution, I will try to share my tips and hints for success (not that I have any yet, I just started today!) with you.
I have been "readying" myself for this by buying a WW (Weight Watchers) Points Plus kit and along with it, came a page of helpful hints. Here is one to start you off on your journey:
When eating off a plate (and most of us do), mentally divide the plate into four equal parts. (Or use Hershey's syrup. Just kidding.) One portion should be for your meat (a.k.a protein). The second, for your starches or carbs (ie. potatos, rice, etc.) and the last TWO for veggies.
Okay, I'm NOT a veggie eater. In fact, the only "true" veggies I like are green beans, carrots and mixed veggies. You have no idea how sad I am that corn and potatoes do not qualify as veggies. But I digress. So, instead of filling those last two portions with broccoli (kill me), cauliflower (kill me again), brussel sprouts, spinach or beets, I'm going to eat salad (I do like lettuce, raw spinach, onions, tomatoes and cucumbers (which are really fruits since they have seeds), with no-fat dressing. Stay tuned to see how I do.
I will not blog on my diet journey all the time, that would be boring. But feel free to post your diet successes, tips, encouragements, ideas here, anytime.
And, have a successfully healthy New Year!
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