1 1/2 pounds stew beef, cut into cubes
1/4 Cup flour
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 c beef broth
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp paprika
3 carrots, sliced
3 potatoes, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, sliced
2 tsp kitchen bouquet (gravy browner) (optional~~I never use)
~~Place meat in bottom of crock-pot.
~~Mix flour, salt and pepper and pour over meat; stir to coat.
~~Add remianing ingredients and stir to mix. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours. (High 4-5 hours).
~~Stir stew thoroughly before serving.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Some of my favorite Quotes
Don't quit when the tide is lowest, For it's just about to turn;
Don't quit over doubts and questions, For there's something you may learn.
Don't quit when the night is darkest, For it's just a while til dawn;
Don't quit when you've run the farthest,For the race is almost won.
Don't quit when the hill is steepest,For your goal is almost nigh;
Don't quit, for you're not a failure,til u fail to try . (Unknown)
"There is no try -only do or not do." (Yoda)
Sometimes it is not good enough to do your best; you have to do what is REQUIRED~~Winston Churchill.
It is not sufficient just to WANT; you have to ask yourself what you are going to DO to get what you want~~Franklin Roosevelt.
Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration and inspiration.Evan Esar
If it's to be, it is up to ME!
Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels!
A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips!
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.~~Anatole France
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when your take your eyes off your goals.~~ Henry Ford
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.~~ Lao-Tzu
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.-- Thomas A. Edison
I have learned that I have the strength,the drive and most of all the courage to (for once) put my wants and needs first. To make a positive impact on the lives of the people I love,I first need to make a positive impact on mine. ~~~ Septy
Far better it is to DARE MIGHTY THINGS...than to... live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.~~Theodore Roosevelt
The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.~~Walter Bagehot
There is no shortcut to fame and comfort, and all there is is to bore into it as HARD as you can.~~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
"It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan"Eleanor Roosevelt
"I shall shape my future.Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own.I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me.Or I can be lost in the maze.My choice. My responsbility.Win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny."~Anonymous
"There are two choices really.You can either surrender to the pressures of life and the struggles of this particular battle....or you continue the fight...and do so with even more vengence and determination to reach your goals then you did before.I choose the fight.....I know what it will get me."~ Kim - Getting2Goal.com
"One of the secrets of life is learning to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks." ~Jack Penn
"Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game."~Voltaire
"The road to someday, leads to the town of nowhere. Procrastination is the silent killer."~Anthony Robbins
THE DISTANCE ISN'T IMPORTANT:IT IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP THAT IS DIFFICULT.- Marquise du deffand
"If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down but the staying down." by Mary Pickford
When faced with making a choice between alternatives, it pays to put some time and effort into making the best choice.Then after the choice is made, it's time to put your effort into making the most of that choice.Certainly it is important to put thought and care into the decisions you make. Be sure to also put just as much energy into the living and fulfillment of those choices.Making the best choice is a great start. Yet it is only a start.The value of any choice comes from following through on it.The actions you take to support and carry out the choices you have made are what give those choices real meaning in your life.The way your decision works out depends on what you do to make it work out. As important as the decision itself may have been, it is not nearly as important as what you do to bring it to life.You've made the choice.Now is your opportunity to make it real.~~Ralph Marston (greatday.com)
"There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going" - Beverly Sills
Life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. Coach Lou Holtz
"Do you live in tomorrow when you must face today? At times, I forget to live in the moment, but what do I miss? The setting sun, the sound of birds' singing and, most importantly, I miss meeting myself. I am constantly changing, and if I don't spend time with myself in the here and now, I will never get to appreciate who I truly am because I am too busy focusing on who I want to be." ~Gary Barnes
We create the situations & then we give our power away by blaming the other person for our frustration. No person, no place & no thing has any power over us for "WE" are the only thinkers in our mind." ~Louise Hay
"You Can Heal Your Life"
"Success is not a doorway, it's a staircase."~Dottie Walters
Conquering your fears through actionLife brings with it many doubts and fears. But the unknown and the untried have held more people back than any lack of ability. Most successes are never seen because they're never attempted. The courage to face your fears can build momentum that creates magic. Each time you overcome an obstacle, a fear or a step back, you gain confidence. Every small victory helps you feel more certain of yourself and your direction, pushing you further and faster than you ever thought possible. You can do it! What's holding you back? True, fears are intimidating. So start small. Believe in yourself and take one small swipe at your fear today just to see what happens. If you can't talk yourself past the "point of no return", get a friend to help. In the end, half of the doing is in the deciding. If you stumble, don't be afraid to brush yourself off and jump back inI believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experiences behind him.~~Eleanor Roosevelt, human rights advocate
There are two primary choices in life....to accept conditions as they exist, OR accept responsibility for changing them.~~Denis Waitley
Don't quit over doubts and questions, For there's something you may learn.
Don't quit when the night is darkest, For it's just a while til dawn;
Don't quit when you've run the farthest,For the race is almost won.
Don't quit when the hill is steepest,For your goal is almost nigh;
Don't quit, for you're not a failure,til u fail to try . (Unknown)
"There is no try -only do or not do." (Yoda)
Sometimes it is not good enough to do your best; you have to do what is REQUIRED~~Winston Churchill.
It is not sufficient just to WANT; you have to ask yourself what you are going to DO to get what you want~~Franklin Roosevelt.
Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration and inspiration.Evan Esar
If it's to be, it is up to ME!
Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels!
A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips!
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.~~Anatole France
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when your take your eyes off your goals.~~ Henry Ford
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.~~ Lao-Tzu
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.-- Thomas A. Edison
I have learned that I have the strength,the drive and most of all the courage to (for once) put my wants and needs first. To make a positive impact on the lives of the people I love,I first need to make a positive impact on mine. ~~~ Septy
Far better it is to DARE MIGHTY THINGS...than to... live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.~~Theodore Roosevelt
The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.~~Walter Bagehot
There is no shortcut to fame and comfort, and all there is is to bore into it as HARD as you can.~~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
"It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan"Eleanor Roosevelt
"I shall shape my future.Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own.I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me.Or I can be lost in the maze.My choice. My responsbility.Win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny."~Anonymous
"There are two choices really.You can either surrender to the pressures of life and the struggles of this particular battle....or you continue the fight...and do so with even more vengence and determination to reach your goals then you did before.I choose the fight.....I know what it will get me."~ Kim - Getting2Goal.com
"One of the secrets of life is learning to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks." ~Jack Penn
"Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game."~Voltaire
"The road to someday, leads to the town of nowhere. Procrastination is the silent killer."~Anthony Robbins
THE DISTANCE ISN'T IMPORTANT:IT IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP THAT IS DIFFICULT.- Marquise du deffand
"If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down but the staying down." by Mary Pickford
When faced with making a choice between alternatives, it pays to put some time and effort into making the best choice.Then after the choice is made, it's time to put your effort into making the most of that choice.Certainly it is important to put thought and care into the decisions you make. Be sure to also put just as much energy into the living and fulfillment of those choices.Making the best choice is a great start. Yet it is only a start.The value of any choice comes from following through on it.The actions you take to support and carry out the choices you have made are what give those choices real meaning in your life.The way your decision works out depends on what you do to make it work out. As important as the decision itself may have been, it is not nearly as important as what you do to bring it to life.You've made the choice.Now is your opportunity to make it real.~~Ralph Marston (greatday.com)
"There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going" - Beverly Sills
Life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. Coach Lou Holtz
"Do you live in tomorrow when you must face today? At times, I forget to live in the moment, but what do I miss? The setting sun, the sound of birds' singing and, most importantly, I miss meeting myself. I am constantly changing, and if I don't spend time with myself in the here and now, I will never get to appreciate who I truly am because I am too busy focusing on who I want to be." ~Gary Barnes
We create the situations & then we give our power away by blaming the other person for our frustration. No person, no place & no thing has any power over us for "WE" are the only thinkers in our mind." ~Louise Hay
"You Can Heal Your Life"
"Success is not a doorway, it's a staircase."~Dottie Walters
Conquering your fears through actionLife brings with it many doubts and fears. But the unknown and the untried have held more people back than any lack of ability. Most successes are never seen because they're never attempted. The courage to face your fears can build momentum that creates magic. Each time you overcome an obstacle, a fear or a step back, you gain confidence. Every small victory helps you feel more certain of yourself and your direction, pushing you further and faster than you ever thought possible. You can do it! What's holding you back? True, fears are intimidating. So start small. Believe in yourself and take one small swipe at your fear today just to see what happens. If you can't talk yourself past the "point of no return", get a friend to help. In the end, half of the doing is in the deciding. If you stumble, don't be afraid to brush yourself off and jump back inI believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experiences behind him.~~Eleanor Roosevelt, human rights advocate
There are two primary choices in life....to accept conditions as they exist, OR accept responsibility for changing them.~~Denis Waitley
Water
The following will probably amaze and startle you.. . One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University study.
Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen.
Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?
Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen.
Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?
Dieter's Prayer
septy-speaks
Lord, my soul is ripped with riot incited by my wicked diet.
"We are what we eat," said a wise old man!
And, Lord, if that's true, I'm a garbage can !
I want to rise on Judgment Day, that's plain,
But, at my present weight, I'll need a crane.
So grant me strength, that I may not fall
Into the clutches of cholesterol !
At margarine I'll never mutter
For the road to hell is paved with butter.
And cream is cursed, and cake is awful,
And Satan lurks in every waffle !
Give me this day my daily slice,
But cut it thin and toast it twice.
I beg upon my dimpled knees,
Deliver me from jujubes please !
And when my days of dieting are done,
And my war with Snickers bars is won,
Let me stand with the heavenly throng,
In a shining robe...size seven, long !
I can do it, Lord, if You'll show to me,
The virtues of lettuce and celery.
Teach me the evil of mayonnaise...
Of pasta a la Milanaise, potatoes a la Lyonnaise...
And crisp-fried chicken from the south ...
Lord, if you love me... shut my mouth !
Lord, my soul is ripped with riot incited by my wicked diet.
"We are what we eat," said a wise old man!
And, Lord, if that's true, I'm a garbage can !
I want to rise on Judgment Day, that's plain,
But, at my present weight, I'll need a crane.
So grant me strength, that I may not fall
Into the clutches of cholesterol !
At margarine I'll never mutter
For the road to hell is paved with butter.
And cream is cursed, and cake is awful,
And Satan lurks in every waffle !
Give me this day my daily slice,
But cut it thin and toast it twice.
I beg upon my dimpled knees,
Deliver me from jujubes please !
And when my days of dieting are done,
And my war with Snickers bars is won,
Let me stand with the heavenly throng,
In a shining robe...size seven, long !
I can do it, Lord, if You'll show to me,
The virtues of lettuce and celery.
Teach me the evil of mayonnaise...
Of pasta a la Milanaise, potatoes a la Lyonnaise...
And crisp-fried chicken from the south ...
Lord, if you love me... shut my mouth !
My Bill Of Rights
septy-speaks
Stole this one from my buddy Nany's blog. Hope you don't mind!! I really like it!
In WW we talk alot about behavior modifications during our meetings. They call them the Tools For Living Strategies. One of them is called "asserting", and this post from Nany's blog really made me think of that.
My Bill of Rights
I have the right to be treated with respect.
I have the right to say no and not feel guilty.
I have the right to experience and express my feelings.
I have the right to take time for myself.
I have the right to ask for what I want.
I have the right to ask for information.
I have the right to make mistakes.
I have the right to do less than I am humanly capable of.
I have the right to feel good about myself.
I have the right to act only in ways that promote my dignity and self-respect as long as others are not violated in the process.
Stole this one from my buddy Nany's blog. Hope you don't mind!! I really like it!
In WW we talk alot about behavior modifications during our meetings. They call them the Tools For Living Strategies. One of them is called "asserting", and this post from Nany's blog really made me think of that.
My Bill of Rights
I have the right to be treated with respect.
I have the right to say no and not feel guilty.
I have the right to experience and express my feelings.
I have the right to take time for myself.
I have the right to ask for what I want.
I have the right to ask for information.
I have the right to make mistakes.
I have the right to do less than I am humanly capable of.
I have the right to feel good about myself.
I have the right to act only in ways that promote my dignity and self-respect as long as others are not violated in the process.
Ziploc Omelet
Ziploc Omelet
This works great!! Good for when all your family is together. The best part is that no one has to wait for their special omelettes.
Have guests write their name on a Quart-size Ziploc freezer bag with permanent marker.
Crack 2 eggs (large or extra-large) into the bag (not more than 2) shake to combine them.
Put out a variety of ingredients such as: cheeses, ham, onion, green pepper, tomato, hash browns, salsa, etc.
Each guest adds prepared ingredients of choice to their bag and shake.
Make sure to get the air out of the bag and zip it up.
Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes. You can usually cook 6-8 omelettes in a large pot. For more, make another pot of boiling water.
Open the bags and the omelettes will roll out easily. Be prepared for everyone to be amazed. Nice to serve with fresh fruit and coffee cake; everyone gets involved in the process and a great conversation piece.
Imagine having these ready the night before, and putting the bag in boiling water while you get ready. And in 13 minutes, you have a nice omelette for a quick breakfast!
Why Do We Beat Ourselves Up?
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=212
Why Do We Beat Ourselves Up?
A Look at Self-Destructive Thoughts
-- By Mike Kramer, Staff Writer
If we had friends that treated us the way that many of us treat ourselves, they wouldn’t be our friends for very long. Imagine a friend who calls up just to complain – about you. Or an alleged buddy who quickly says “I told you so” when you screw up. Or someone who encourages you to give up instead of encouraging you to do your best.Why do we do this? Why do we treat ourselves in such horrible ways? For some, the negative self-talk is so bad that it would literally be considered verbal abuse if coming from another person. Do any of these sound familiar? “I’m not good enough.” “I knew I’d fail.” “I can’t believe I messed it up again.” “Why can’t I be more like (fill in the blank)?” “I don’t deserve to be happy.” If someone said these things to you, imagine the impact it would have on your confidence.Negative reinforcement can easily turn into a damaging self-fulfilling prophecy where you live down – instead of up – to expectations. It’s a bad habit that could strangle any growth and needs to be dealt with now. This is not “friend” talk. Yet it’s exactly the kind of destructive feedback we give ourselves.This kind of language can have serious consequences, but people turn it on themselves all the time. Why? What did we do to deserve this? Is our self-esteem so low that we think we need to be talked to – even by ourselves – like this? Hopefully not.You’re a fantastic person on an exciting journey, in the middle of creating a life that you want. If I were you, I wouldn’t put up with that negative voice in your head. You deserve better. If anything, weight loss is such a sensitive issue that your self-esteem needs to be built up, not torn down. What’s so wrong with reminding yourself of how wonderful you are? Isn’t that what you would do for a friend who needed a word of encouragement?Sometimes, this can be easier said than done. Any self-bashing you might do may actually have its roots in something other people have told you over the years. Harsh words can leave scars that never go away. Still, that doesn’t mean we have to carry on the legacy of beating ourselves up.You deserve to be treated with respect, encouragement and patience. You demand that much from people you know. Demand it from yourself.
Why Do We Beat Ourselves Up?
A Look at Self-Destructive Thoughts
-- By Mike Kramer, Staff Writer
If we had friends that treated us the way that many of us treat ourselves, they wouldn’t be our friends for very long. Imagine a friend who calls up just to complain – about you. Or an alleged buddy who quickly says “I told you so” when you screw up. Or someone who encourages you to give up instead of encouraging you to do your best.Why do we do this? Why do we treat ourselves in such horrible ways? For some, the negative self-talk is so bad that it would literally be considered verbal abuse if coming from another person. Do any of these sound familiar? “I’m not good enough.” “I knew I’d fail.” “I can’t believe I messed it up again.” “Why can’t I be more like (fill in the blank)?” “I don’t deserve to be happy.” If someone said these things to you, imagine the impact it would have on your confidence.Negative reinforcement can easily turn into a damaging self-fulfilling prophecy where you live down – instead of up – to expectations. It’s a bad habit that could strangle any growth and needs to be dealt with now. This is not “friend” talk. Yet it’s exactly the kind of destructive feedback we give ourselves.This kind of language can have serious consequences, but people turn it on themselves all the time. Why? What did we do to deserve this? Is our self-esteem so low that we think we need to be talked to – even by ourselves – like this? Hopefully not.You’re a fantastic person on an exciting journey, in the middle of creating a life that you want. If I were you, I wouldn’t put up with that negative voice in your head. You deserve better. If anything, weight loss is such a sensitive issue that your self-esteem needs to be built up, not torn down. What’s so wrong with reminding yourself of how wonderful you are? Isn’t that what you would do for a friend who needed a word of encouragement?Sometimes, this can be easier said than done. Any self-bashing you might do may actually have its roots in something other people have told you over the years. Harsh words can leave scars that never go away. Still, that doesn’t mean we have to carry on the legacy of beating ourselves up.You deserve to be treated with respect, encouragement and patience. You demand that much from people you know. Demand it from yourself.
Low Fat Raspberry Summer Sensation
See that photo????
That is what I have staring me in the face everytime I go to the weightwatchers.ca website, which is quite often. It is a wonder I have not short circuited my keyboard with drool!
I had remembered seeing this on the biggest loser website, so went and got the recipe. I have not tried this YET, but thought I would post it! Oh, and for all your Biggest Loser fans, the new season starts in September, and Jillian isn't returning. And remember Matt and Suzy from last season? They are now engaged. Here is the Biggest Loser site, http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/
Here is that recipe,
Low Fat Raspberry Summer Sensation 1 pt. (2 cups) raspberry sorbet or sherbet 1 cup cold fat free milk 1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Reduced Calorie Pudding & Pie Filling 1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP FREE Whipped Topping, thawed 1 cup raspberries LINE 9x5-inch loaf pan with foil. Spoon sorbet into pan; freeze 10 min. POUR milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping. Spread pudding mixture over sorbet in pan. FREEZE 3 hours or overnight. To unmold, invert pan onto plate; remove foil. Top with raspberries just before serving. Let stand 10 to 15 min. to soften before cutting into 12 slices.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
100
Total fat
1g
Saturated fat
1g
Cholesterol
0mg
Sodium
130mg
Carbohydrate
22g
Dietary fiber
1g
Sugars
15g
Protein
1g
Vitamin A
0%DV
Vitamin C
10%DV
Calcium
4%DV
Iron
0%DV
More diets counting on you to cheat
More diets counting on you to cheat
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/life/story.html?id=a985a57c-ce03-402f-89cf-719ceec5632a&p=1
Chris Zdeb, CanWest News ServicePublished: Saturday, July 15, 2006
Cheating can make you a loser. More and more diet plans are counting on it, allowing dieters to have their cake and eat it, too.
Proponents of the new weight-loss programs say the more strict and rigid the rules surrounding eating healthily, the more likely people are to fail. For example, you're more likely to crave and binge on chocolate if you're banned from eating it than if you're allowed to eat it occasionally.
It's an idea that goes beyond popular media, notes Dr. Geoff Ball, director of the Pediatric Centre for Weight and Health at the Stollery Children's Hospital, and assistant professor in the department of pediatrics and child health at the University of Alberta.
Weight Watchers' dietary approach and nutrition plan has changed dramatically throughout the years from something quite rigid to something much more flexible. The Canadian Diabetes Association has also come out with a new eating approach that is more liberal.
"There's some good evidence that having a diet that is much more flexible is more realistic," Ball says.
Based on the fact that people are more likely to cheat or eat foods they normally don't eat on the weekend, Dr. Paul Rivas, a Baltimore internist and diet doctor, practically gives them dispensation to do so in his book called The Cheater's Diet: Lose Weight By Taking Weekends Off.
If you eat healthily 80 per cent of the time, eating something less healthy the rest of the time won't hurt you, Rivas explains. Monday to Friday people follow a "Mediterraneanish diet," but on weekends they can cheat with chocolate, pizza and beer.
The restriction is you can't cheat on binge foods that you can't stop yourself from eating once you start, Rivas says. But the diet tries to make cheat foods healthy as well.
"If you're going to have chocolate, pick the dark (it's healthier); if you're going to have pizza, choose thin crust and vegetarian."
Ball doesn't like the idea of specifically cheating on weekends because it's tied to the dichotomy that there are good foods such as broccoli and skim milk, and bad foods such as burgers and fries and you are what you eat.
"If you eat good foods you're a good person, but if you eat bad foods there are a lot of negative connotations that go along with that," he says.
Nobody's eating habits are perfect. There are going to be days such as birthdays and anniversaries or situations such as when you're travelling when you won't be able to eat healthily, Ball says and if you think that's bad you're going to feel guilty and possibly give up.
For almost five years, Christina Cacho has kept off the 165 pounds she lost while loosely following a Weight Watchers plan. When she first started to lose weight she ate everything by the book.
"Then I began to realize I'm passing up so much," she remembers, and decided to treat herself while still staying within the points or calories allotted for the day.
Cacho says she never called it cheating. "I don't think treating yourself to something that you normally don't always have should be called cheating.
"I figured if my body is craving that, then there's something obviously lacking," Cacho says. She basically responds to cravings but analyses first if they're what she really wants. If the craving is related to boredom or to give her hands something to do, she gets busy in other ways.
Charlotte Vareem-Sanders, a registered dietitian, guesses that The Cheaters Diet is named that to stand out from the hundreds of other diet books on the shelves.
She tells her clients that losing weight is more skill-power than willpower.
"When people have the skills and knowledge to help them eat healthily and then have some treats, that's the ideal," Vareem-Sanders says.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2006
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/life/story.html?id=a985a57c-ce03-402f-89cf-719ceec5632a&p=1
Chris Zdeb, CanWest News ServicePublished: Saturday, July 15, 2006
Cheating can make you a loser. More and more diet plans are counting on it, allowing dieters to have their cake and eat it, too.
Proponents of the new weight-loss programs say the more strict and rigid the rules surrounding eating healthily, the more likely people are to fail. For example, you're more likely to crave and binge on chocolate if you're banned from eating it than if you're allowed to eat it occasionally.
It's an idea that goes beyond popular media, notes Dr. Geoff Ball, director of the Pediatric Centre for Weight and Health at the Stollery Children's Hospital, and assistant professor in the department of pediatrics and child health at the University of Alberta.
Weight Watchers' dietary approach and nutrition plan has changed dramatically throughout the years from something quite rigid to something much more flexible. The Canadian Diabetes Association has also come out with a new eating approach that is more liberal.
"There's some good evidence that having a diet that is much more flexible is more realistic," Ball says.
Based on the fact that people are more likely to cheat or eat foods they normally don't eat on the weekend, Dr. Paul Rivas, a Baltimore internist and diet doctor, practically gives them dispensation to do so in his book called The Cheater's Diet: Lose Weight By Taking Weekends Off.
If you eat healthily 80 per cent of the time, eating something less healthy the rest of the time won't hurt you, Rivas explains. Monday to Friday people follow a "Mediterraneanish diet," but on weekends they can cheat with chocolate, pizza and beer.
The restriction is you can't cheat on binge foods that you can't stop yourself from eating once you start, Rivas says. But the diet tries to make cheat foods healthy as well.
"If you're going to have chocolate, pick the dark (it's healthier); if you're going to have pizza, choose thin crust and vegetarian."
Ball doesn't like the idea of specifically cheating on weekends because it's tied to the dichotomy that there are good foods such as broccoli and skim milk, and bad foods such as burgers and fries and you are what you eat.
"If you eat good foods you're a good person, but if you eat bad foods there are a lot of negative connotations that go along with that," he says.
Nobody's eating habits are perfect. There are going to be days such as birthdays and anniversaries or situations such as when you're travelling when you won't be able to eat healthily, Ball says and if you think that's bad you're going to feel guilty and possibly give up.
For almost five years, Christina Cacho has kept off the 165 pounds she lost while loosely following a Weight Watchers plan. When she first started to lose weight she ate everything by the book.
"Then I began to realize I'm passing up so much," she remembers, and decided to treat herself while still staying within the points or calories allotted for the day.
Cacho says she never called it cheating. "I don't think treating yourself to something that you normally don't always have should be called cheating.
"I figured if my body is craving that, then there's something obviously lacking," Cacho says. She basically responds to cravings but analyses first if they're what she really wants. If the craving is related to boredom or to give her hands something to do, she gets busy in other ways.
Charlotte Vareem-Sanders, a registered dietitian, guesses that The Cheaters Diet is named that to stand out from the hundreds of other diet books on the shelves.
She tells her clients that losing weight is more skill-power than willpower.
"When people have the skills and knowledge to help them eat healthily and then have some treats, that's the ideal," Vareem-Sanders says.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2006
Gender: Does it Really Make a Difference
Gender: Does it Really Make Difference?
Someone on the ww.ca site posted this article taken from sparkpeople.com. Thought I would share! It's a long one, but a good read! And if any of us are trying to get serious about our weight goals any time soon, instead of just talking about them, we need to start educating ourselves. Enjoy!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gender: Does it Really Make a Difference?How Sex Affects Fitness, Weight Loss, and More-- By Dean Anderson, Fitness & Behavior Expert
No, this is not an article on that ever-popular question about whether sex counts as aerobic exercise. (It doesn't. Get over it.) This article is about gender differences in exercise and weight loss. This is your chance to get the facts you need to answer such burning questions as: Does weight training cause women to bulk up and look like one of the guys? Is it really easier for men to lose weight? Do men and women of the same weight need different calorie intakes? Should men and women utilize different approaches to exercise? Are men and women different in their reasons and motivation for losing weight? Do men secretly worry that their outfits make their butts look bigger? Let's get the facts! Body Shape & Bulking Up: The Testosterone FactorFACT: Most women (and many men, for that matter) will NOT build large muscles in response to weight training, especially while restricting calorie intake for weight loss. The ability to build large muscles depends mostly on levels of the male sex hormone, testosterone. Every person has some amount of both testosterone and estrogen, but the average man has 20 to 30 times more testosterone than the average woman. But even this amount is not enough to allow every man to build large muscles. The bottom line is that relatively few men, and very few women, will end up looking like bodybuilders, even with extensive weight training. The difference in testosterone levels among men and women is also responsible for gender differences in total body fat percentage and fat distribution (where the body stores fat). On average, women have 7-10% more body fat than men, and correspondingly less muscle mass. Minimum ("essential") body fat percentages are about 12% for women, and 4% for men. This difference in body composition means that men typically have higher metabolic rates and will usually need more calories (about 300 more per day) than women of comparable weights, because muscle burns more calories than fat. Men tend to be apple shaped, storing more body fat in the upper body (known as central fat) and within the body cavity, which is called visceral fat. Women tend to be pear shaped, storing more fat in the hips and thighs (known as peripheral fat), and beneath the layer of skin, which is called subcutaneous fat. This explains why women also tend to have visible cellulite more often than men. Weight Loss: Not All Fat is Created Equal FACT: Although all body fat is made of the same stuff, where it's stored can make a big difference in both how risky it is to your health, and in how easy it is to lose. As a general rule, visceral fat (located in the upper body cavity) represents a greater health risk, but is easier to lose than peripheral fat (located in the hips, thighs, and limbs). This is because visceral fat, which is metabolically active, is the bodyĺs preferred energy source when fat is burned as fuel. Therefore, men (and women) who are apple shapes will have an easier time losing fat,especially in the beginning. The bad news is that their greater proportion of visceral fat (big, firm, beer belly) puts them at a much higher risk of obesity-related diseases than people who are ôpearö shapes and who store more subcutaneous fat (soft love handles, spare tires, or rolls of belly or back fat). This does NOT mean that it's impossible to lose subcutaneous or peripheral fat. If you maintain a caloric deficit, your body will burn fat from wherever you have it stored. In general, most people lose fat deposits in a "first on, last off" pattern. Those pesky problem spots will most likely be problem spots to the bitter end, unfortunately. And weight loss is not likely to change your basic body shape,just your size. Fitness and Performance FACT: Although women naturally carry additional body fat, it does not impair fitness, performance, or health. In fact, women who reduce their body fat below 12% may experience loss of menstruation, bone density problems, and an increased risk for breast and endometrial cancers, as well as other problems associated with poor nutrition. Gender differences in muscle size, speed, and strength are mainly the result of testosterone-related differences in the quantity of muscle mass. There's no evidence of gender differences in the quality of the muscle itself. Women will respond equally well to both strength training and aerobic exercise, improving in strength, endurance, speed and efficiency. The maximum intensity and duration women can achieve during aerobic exercise is typically 5-10% less than their male counterparts. This is because women typically have 5-10% less hemoglobin (an iron-containing protein in red blood cells that helps deliver oxygen to working muscles). Women who find themselves unable to workout as hard or as long for no apparent reason (or during that time of month) should ensure they're getting enough iron, vitamins and B vitamins. If the problem persists, get checked for iron deficiency and anemia.
Body Image & Body Satisfaction Recent national studies involving over 11,000 high school students and 60,000 adults found the following differences in how males and females feel about their bodies: Among adults, 48% of women and 26% of men described themselves as overweight, while 38% of the women and 24% of the men were trying to lose weight at the time of the survey. Men showed a greater tendency to see their weight as normal when it was actually above normal according to their BMI; women were more likely to see themselves as overweight with a normal BMI. Among high school students, 44% of the females and 15% of the males were trying to lose weight. Females were four times more likely to restrict calorie intake than boys, who more often reported using exercise as a weight loss method. 55% of women reported being dissatisfied with their weight, compared to 41% of men. Both men and women rated health concerns lower than appearance and social acceptance as reasons for their dissatisfaction. Although excess body fat was the number one cause of dissatisfaction for both men and women, over 60% of men (and only 10% of women) reported being significantly distressed about lack of muscle development. Among individuals who were classified as underweight according to their BMI, 83% of women reported that they liked their appearance, compared to 77% of men. Males were significantly more likely to report that regular exercise made them feel good about their bodies, while women were more likely to report that changes in their weight influenced how they felt. The magazines most read by women had 10 times more diet and weight-loss related content than magazines read by men, which featured content related to body building, fitness, muscle toning, and muscle building supplements. Males and females reported similar problems with emotional eating. However, men were more likely to report high protein foods such as meat as comfort foods, while women were more likely to turn to high carbohydrate foods such as sweets. Despite their apparent lack of fashion sense, men are very much concerned about their appearance. In fact, men and women share the same obsession, washboard abs. But the genders differ when it comes to other major concerns. Women tend to focus on firm, round gluteus maximus muscles, while men pursue the overdevelopment of biceps and triceps muscles. Speaking on behalf of men everywhere who have been rejected (on aesthetic grounds) from membership to the Federation of Muscle Shirt Wearers, this writer wants to express his appreciation to those women (and men) who remain firm in their convictions that it's not the packaging that's important, but what's on the inside that counts.
Someone on the ww.ca site posted this article taken from sparkpeople.com. Thought I would share! It's a long one, but a good read! And if any of us are trying to get serious about our weight goals any time soon, instead of just talking about them, we need to start educating ourselves. Enjoy!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gender: Does it Really Make a Difference?How Sex Affects Fitness, Weight Loss, and More-- By Dean Anderson, Fitness & Behavior Expert
No, this is not an article on that ever-popular question about whether sex counts as aerobic exercise. (It doesn't. Get over it.) This article is about gender differences in exercise and weight loss. This is your chance to get the facts you need to answer such burning questions as: Does weight training cause women to bulk up and look like one of the guys? Is it really easier for men to lose weight? Do men and women of the same weight need different calorie intakes? Should men and women utilize different approaches to exercise? Are men and women different in their reasons and motivation for losing weight? Do men secretly worry that their outfits make their butts look bigger? Let's get the facts! Body Shape & Bulking Up: The Testosterone FactorFACT: Most women (and many men, for that matter) will NOT build large muscles in response to weight training, especially while restricting calorie intake for weight loss. The ability to build large muscles depends mostly on levels of the male sex hormone, testosterone. Every person has some amount of both testosterone and estrogen, but the average man has 20 to 30 times more testosterone than the average woman. But even this amount is not enough to allow every man to build large muscles. The bottom line is that relatively few men, and very few women, will end up looking like bodybuilders, even with extensive weight training. The difference in testosterone levels among men and women is also responsible for gender differences in total body fat percentage and fat distribution (where the body stores fat). On average, women have 7-10% more body fat than men, and correspondingly less muscle mass. Minimum ("essential") body fat percentages are about 12% for women, and 4% for men. This difference in body composition means that men typically have higher metabolic rates and will usually need more calories (about 300 more per day) than women of comparable weights, because muscle burns more calories than fat. Men tend to be apple shaped, storing more body fat in the upper body (known as central fat) and within the body cavity, which is called visceral fat. Women tend to be pear shaped, storing more fat in the hips and thighs (known as peripheral fat), and beneath the layer of skin, which is called subcutaneous fat. This explains why women also tend to have visible cellulite more often than men. Weight Loss: Not All Fat is Created Equal FACT: Although all body fat is made of the same stuff, where it's stored can make a big difference in both how risky it is to your health, and in how easy it is to lose. As a general rule, visceral fat (located in the upper body cavity) represents a greater health risk, but is easier to lose than peripheral fat (located in the hips, thighs, and limbs). This is because visceral fat, which is metabolically active, is the bodyĺs preferred energy source when fat is burned as fuel. Therefore, men (and women) who are apple shapes will have an easier time losing fat,especially in the beginning. The bad news is that their greater proportion of visceral fat (big, firm, beer belly) puts them at a much higher risk of obesity-related diseases than people who are ôpearö shapes and who store more subcutaneous fat (soft love handles, spare tires, or rolls of belly or back fat). This does NOT mean that it's impossible to lose subcutaneous or peripheral fat. If you maintain a caloric deficit, your body will burn fat from wherever you have it stored. In general, most people lose fat deposits in a "first on, last off" pattern. Those pesky problem spots will most likely be problem spots to the bitter end, unfortunately. And weight loss is not likely to change your basic body shape,just your size. Fitness and Performance FACT: Although women naturally carry additional body fat, it does not impair fitness, performance, or health. In fact, women who reduce their body fat below 12% may experience loss of menstruation, bone density problems, and an increased risk for breast and endometrial cancers, as well as other problems associated with poor nutrition. Gender differences in muscle size, speed, and strength are mainly the result of testosterone-related differences in the quantity of muscle mass. There's no evidence of gender differences in the quality of the muscle itself. Women will respond equally well to both strength training and aerobic exercise, improving in strength, endurance, speed and efficiency. The maximum intensity and duration women can achieve during aerobic exercise is typically 5-10% less than their male counterparts. This is because women typically have 5-10% less hemoglobin (an iron-containing protein in red blood cells that helps deliver oxygen to working muscles). Women who find themselves unable to workout as hard or as long for no apparent reason (or during that time of month) should ensure they're getting enough iron, vitamins and B vitamins. If the problem persists, get checked for iron deficiency and anemia.
Body Image & Body Satisfaction Recent national studies involving over 11,000 high school students and 60,000 adults found the following differences in how males and females feel about their bodies: Among adults, 48% of women and 26% of men described themselves as overweight, while 38% of the women and 24% of the men were trying to lose weight at the time of the survey. Men showed a greater tendency to see their weight as normal when it was actually above normal according to their BMI; women were more likely to see themselves as overweight with a normal BMI. Among high school students, 44% of the females and 15% of the males were trying to lose weight. Females were four times more likely to restrict calorie intake than boys, who more often reported using exercise as a weight loss method. 55% of women reported being dissatisfied with their weight, compared to 41% of men. Both men and women rated health concerns lower than appearance and social acceptance as reasons for their dissatisfaction. Although excess body fat was the number one cause of dissatisfaction for both men and women, over 60% of men (and only 10% of women) reported being significantly distressed about lack of muscle development. Among individuals who were classified as underweight according to their BMI, 83% of women reported that they liked their appearance, compared to 77% of men. Males were significantly more likely to report that regular exercise made them feel good about their bodies, while women were more likely to report that changes in their weight influenced how they felt. The magazines most read by women had 10 times more diet and weight-loss related content than magazines read by men, which featured content related to body building, fitness, muscle toning, and muscle building supplements. Males and females reported similar problems with emotional eating. However, men were more likely to report high protein foods such as meat as comfort foods, while women were more likely to turn to high carbohydrate foods such as sweets. Despite their apparent lack of fashion sense, men are very much concerned about their appearance. In fact, men and women share the same obsession, washboard abs. But the genders differ when it comes to other major concerns. Women tend to focus on firm, round gluteus maximus muscles, while men pursue the overdevelopment of biceps and triceps muscles. Speaking on behalf of men everywhere who have been rejected (on aesthetic grounds) from membership to the Federation of Muscle Shirt Wearers, this writer wants to express his appreciation to those women (and men) who remain firm in their convictions that it's not the packaging that's important, but what's on the inside that counts.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Don't Just Veg Out - Work Out
From www.weightwatchers.ca
By Christi Clifford 23/11/2005
We always have a reason not to exercise:
"I don't have enough time.""I'm tired." "It's raining." "I think I left the oven on."
Some days you just want to go home, put on your pajamas and sit in front of a warm, glowing television. Well, who says you have to sweat it out in the gym? You can burn calories in your own living room and you don't even have to miss your favourite TV shows! You've already blocked off Monday nights for "Corner Gas," all you have to do is make the most of that time by doing a little exercise.
What's the best part about working out in front of the TV? It takes your mind off working out! Follow these tips and take the advice of some of our online message board users to get started.
Get off your duff
Congratulations! You've made it off the couch. What now? The trick is to start small—but not so small that you're really just lying on the floor. Do some push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, lunges, jog in place, dance or just stretch. Message board user FUNWIFE says, "It takes me about 20 to 30 minutes to do some toning each night." It may not sound like much but it's something, and you're sure to feel it the next day (in a good way). So after starting small, try turning it up a notch each week. Slowly increase the number of repetitions until you find an amount and an intensity level that you feel comfortable with.
Mix it up
Come up with a weekly schedule based around TV shows you watch regularly. For example, try weight training on Mondays, yoga or Pilates on Wednesdays, and ride the stationary bike on Saturday mornings. You could even vary your workouts within a single show. Start out by stretching while the program is on and doing some more vigorous exercises during commercials. Once you feel stronger, switch it around.
Prove your resourcefulness
You know that thing out in the garage under the stack of boxes? It's called a treadmill. Perhaps you haven't seen it since the 80's. It's easy to ignore out there, but just try to forget about it when it's in your living room.
Thirty minutes on a treadmill at the gym can seem like an epic tragedy, but if you're watching a favourite show, it can be a breeze. Before you know it you've walked a few miles!
And you don't have to have fancy gym equipment to get a good workout in your home. All it takes is a little imagination. Message board user deasmom says, "I like to use soup cans as weights and resistance training bands. March up and down your stairs, if you have them, or march in place." You can also use small (but weighty) household items like a dictionary, jugs of water or a bag of flour (just make sure these are tightly sealed) to strengthen your arms and back.
Channel-hop
The Outdoor Life Network and TSN air the aerobics show "The Caribbean Workout" several times each weekday across Canada. And if aerobics isn't your style, there are all varieties of exercise videos available from the library, video store, book store or internet. Message board user DAWNYA73 likes the "8 Minute Workout" series. It focuses on your abs, buns, thighs and arms. She says, "I'm bad at getting myself to do them but a couple of days ago I started getting up 15 minutes earlier in the mornings and doing the abs at least."
Indulge your inner couch potato and appease the health nut within you at the same time! Exercising has never been more convenient; just know that the time is there and make use of it. So tonight, instead of pajamas put on your gym clothes, turn on the television and get moving.
By Christi Clifford 23/11/2005
We always have a reason not to exercise:
"I don't have enough time.""I'm tired." "It's raining." "I think I left the oven on."
Some days you just want to go home, put on your pajamas and sit in front of a warm, glowing television. Well, who says you have to sweat it out in the gym? You can burn calories in your own living room and you don't even have to miss your favourite TV shows! You've already blocked off Monday nights for "Corner Gas," all you have to do is make the most of that time by doing a little exercise.
What's the best part about working out in front of the TV? It takes your mind off working out! Follow these tips and take the advice of some of our online message board users to get started.
Get off your duff
Congratulations! You've made it off the couch. What now? The trick is to start small—but not so small that you're really just lying on the floor. Do some push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, lunges, jog in place, dance or just stretch. Message board user FUNWIFE says, "It takes me about 20 to 30 minutes to do some toning each night." It may not sound like much but it's something, and you're sure to feel it the next day (in a good way). So after starting small, try turning it up a notch each week. Slowly increase the number of repetitions until you find an amount and an intensity level that you feel comfortable with.
Mix it up
Come up with a weekly schedule based around TV shows you watch regularly. For example, try weight training on Mondays, yoga or Pilates on Wednesdays, and ride the stationary bike on Saturday mornings. You could even vary your workouts within a single show. Start out by stretching while the program is on and doing some more vigorous exercises during commercials. Once you feel stronger, switch it around.
Prove your resourcefulness
You know that thing out in the garage under the stack of boxes? It's called a treadmill. Perhaps you haven't seen it since the 80's. It's easy to ignore out there, but just try to forget about it when it's in your living room.
Thirty minutes on a treadmill at the gym can seem like an epic tragedy, but if you're watching a favourite show, it can be a breeze. Before you know it you've walked a few miles!
And you don't have to have fancy gym equipment to get a good workout in your home. All it takes is a little imagination. Message board user deasmom says, "I like to use soup cans as weights and resistance training bands. March up and down your stairs, if you have them, or march in place." You can also use small (but weighty) household items like a dictionary, jugs of water or a bag of flour (just make sure these are tightly sealed) to strengthen your arms and back.
Channel-hop
The Outdoor Life Network and TSN air the aerobics show "The Caribbean Workout" several times each weekday across Canada. And if aerobics isn't your style, there are all varieties of exercise videos available from the library, video store, book store or internet. Message board user DAWNYA73 likes the "8 Minute Workout" series. It focuses on your abs, buns, thighs and arms. She says, "I'm bad at getting myself to do them but a couple of days ago I started getting up 15 minutes earlier in the mornings and doing the abs at least."
Indulge your inner couch potato and appease the health nut within you at the same time! Exercising has never been more convenient; just know that the time is there and make use of it. So tonight, instead of pajamas put on your gym clothes, turn on the television and get moving.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Choices
Life is full of choices. From the second you open your eyes to start your day, till the second you lie down and close them.
Today I made the choice to lay in bed, after I woke up and watch some TV. I could have jumped in the shower immediately.
I made a choice to get out of bed when the dog started whining to go out to pee. I could have stayed in bed and let him pee on the floor.
I made the choice to jump in the shower, so that when my kid called to say come pick her up, I was ready. I could have went to get her with bedhead and dirty.
I made the choice to sit here and blog. I could have done something domestic. And I also made the choice to have a chocolate bar and a couple cookies. WTF??
You see people come into the chatroom I go to asking, " Where do I find the motivation to exercise?" all the time, and I personally, am one of 'those' people that think you choose to, or you choose not to. You either make the choice to get up early and exercise, and watch your intake, or you don't. I was doing phenomenal with my choices, until an injury kicked me in the ass, and despite that the injury only affected one part of my program (albeit a major part for me, mentally) I totally let it shut down my entire program. I wimped out! Instead of making the choice to continue to watch my food intake, I made the choice NOT to watch it. I made the excuse. And essentially, in my opinion, an excuse is still that, YOUR CHOICE! Now, don't get me wrong, I totally accept responsibility for my choices. I don't eat some junk, then whine I ate the junk. Cause it was my choice to do so, and whining about it doesn't help the situation.It only makes you feel worse about it, again, IMHO, but it got me to thinking. What drives us to make the choices we do?
When I want to cross the street, I stop at the curb, and look both ways before crossing to ensure there is no car coming. Entirely my choice. I could just dodge out, without a thought, but I choose to look cause I don't want to get smooshed by a bus!
When I want my children to do well on a project or test, I help them with homework if they are unsure of things. I could choose to say tough, your problem. But I want them to succeed in life, and be proud of who and what they are.
We teach our children everyday about things to be careful of in todays world, to protect them. How to not only protect their physical self, but how to protect their mental and emotional health too.
So then why is it so hard to make the RIGHT choices for ourselves? When do we say, enough is enough? When do we say I don't want to live this way anymore, I don't want my kids to see me live this way anymore? Cause I know myself, personally speaking, do not want my kids to face this same battle. Luckily for me, my kids have a wider variety of likes, in the food department. This is something that definitely comes from my dear hubby. And I have definitely been trying to open myself up to new things, food-wise in the last few years. For that, I commend myself. I eat some foods now, that would totally shock my mother to death, if she was still alive.
Even tho we ( I ) know that some of my choices can definitely be having an impact on my life span, and the amount of time I have to spend with my kids, I STILL make the choice to hide those thoughts, deep down inside, and buy that bar, or those doritos. My question is why? Some might say, you are not ready then to lose it. And ultimately, maybe this is true. After all, wanting something simply isn't enough. You have to be willing to do the work required to GET what YOU want. So then, how do you get to that point? Does it take having to go up to a larger size clothes in the store? Does it take not being able to fit in a seat at a movie theater, or at a restaurant where there are booths, instead of chairs? Does it take being rushed to the hospital cause of some weight related condition? Do we need to have a heart attack or a stroke before we finally clue in, and get scared enough to CARE about ourselves? It took a heart attack and dying twice on the table, for my aunt to give up smoking. And this was a woman who was very physically active, very fit and skinny. Do I (we) really need to hit that point before we put ourselves first? Does a near death experience have to be the 'defining' moment? The straw that broke the camel's back? I have said, many times, when someone says how do I find the motivation to lose, that you have to get to the point of being sick and tired, of being sick and tired. But is it going to take me being sick and tired and damn near dead, to get there? That is a scary sobering thought.
You have to want this for yourself, that is a definite. But I also think the other people in your life are also a consideration.We shape our children's futures. And yes, once they reach a certain age, they have free will, freedom of choice, about what they do to their bodies, but is it so surprising, when all they have witnessed during their life, is us abusing ours, that they end up following in our footsteps? I don't want my legacy to my children being heart disease, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, etc. Yet, that all being said, I still am sitting here thinking of a DQ blizzard.
Food is my drug of choice. Plain and simple. Unfortunately, one can not live without it.. I had an old WW leader that put it best. A drug addict can give up drugs, and live. A smoker can give up smokes, and live. An alcoholic can give up booze, and live. But a food addict can not give up food and live. We have to learn to moderate our addiction, and quite simply, it is not easy. Anyone that has always been slim, can not totally comprehend this. They might say I am making excuses for the choices I make, and you are totally entitled to your opinion, but unless you have lived the life of an obese person, you have not got a clue. It is so much more then 'just put down the twinkies'.( and for the record, I have never had a twinkie)
Not sure what I am hoping to accomplish by writing all this? I guess I am in a babbling mood today, not sure why. But I would certainly welcome anyone's thoughts or persceptives on this issue.
Today I made the choice to lay in bed, after I woke up and watch some TV. I could have jumped in the shower immediately.
I made a choice to get out of bed when the dog started whining to go out to pee. I could have stayed in bed and let him pee on the floor.
I made the choice to jump in the shower, so that when my kid called to say come pick her up, I was ready. I could have went to get her with bedhead and dirty.
I made the choice to sit here and blog. I could have done something domestic. And I also made the choice to have a chocolate bar and a couple cookies. WTF??
You see people come into the chatroom I go to asking, " Where do I find the motivation to exercise?" all the time, and I personally, am one of 'those' people that think you choose to, or you choose not to. You either make the choice to get up early and exercise, and watch your intake, or you don't. I was doing phenomenal with my choices, until an injury kicked me in the ass, and despite that the injury only affected one part of my program (albeit a major part for me, mentally) I totally let it shut down my entire program. I wimped out! Instead of making the choice to continue to watch my food intake, I made the choice NOT to watch it. I made the excuse. And essentially, in my opinion, an excuse is still that, YOUR CHOICE! Now, don't get me wrong, I totally accept responsibility for my choices. I don't eat some junk, then whine I ate the junk. Cause it was my choice to do so, and whining about it doesn't help the situation.It only makes you feel worse about it, again, IMHO, but it got me to thinking. What drives us to make the choices we do?
When I want to cross the street, I stop at the curb, and look both ways before crossing to ensure there is no car coming. Entirely my choice. I could just dodge out, without a thought, but I choose to look cause I don't want to get smooshed by a bus!
When I want my children to do well on a project or test, I help them with homework if they are unsure of things. I could choose to say tough, your problem. But I want them to succeed in life, and be proud of who and what they are.
We teach our children everyday about things to be careful of in todays world, to protect them. How to not only protect their physical self, but how to protect their mental and emotional health too.
So then why is it so hard to make the RIGHT choices for ourselves? When do we say, enough is enough? When do we say I don't want to live this way anymore, I don't want my kids to see me live this way anymore? Cause I know myself, personally speaking, do not want my kids to face this same battle. Luckily for me, my kids have a wider variety of likes, in the food department. This is something that definitely comes from my dear hubby. And I have definitely been trying to open myself up to new things, food-wise in the last few years. For that, I commend myself. I eat some foods now, that would totally shock my mother to death, if she was still alive.
Even tho we ( I ) know that some of my choices can definitely be having an impact on my life span, and the amount of time I have to spend with my kids, I STILL make the choice to hide those thoughts, deep down inside, and buy that bar, or those doritos. My question is why? Some might say, you are not ready then to lose it. And ultimately, maybe this is true. After all, wanting something simply isn't enough. You have to be willing to do the work required to GET what YOU want. So then, how do you get to that point? Does it take having to go up to a larger size clothes in the store? Does it take not being able to fit in a seat at a movie theater, or at a restaurant where there are booths, instead of chairs? Does it take being rushed to the hospital cause of some weight related condition? Do we need to have a heart attack or a stroke before we finally clue in, and get scared enough to CARE about ourselves? It took a heart attack and dying twice on the table, for my aunt to give up smoking. And this was a woman who was very physically active, very fit and skinny. Do I (we) really need to hit that point before we put ourselves first? Does a near death experience have to be the 'defining' moment? The straw that broke the camel's back? I have said, many times, when someone says how do I find the motivation to lose, that you have to get to the point of being sick and tired, of being sick and tired. But is it going to take me being sick and tired and damn near dead, to get there? That is a scary sobering thought.
You have to want this for yourself, that is a definite. But I also think the other people in your life are also a consideration.We shape our children's futures. And yes, once they reach a certain age, they have free will, freedom of choice, about what they do to their bodies, but is it so surprising, when all they have witnessed during their life, is us abusing ours, that they end up following in our footsteps? I don't want my legacy to my children being heart disease, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, etc. Yet, that all being said, I still am sitting here thinking of a DQ blizzard.
Food is my drug of choice. Plain and simple. Unfortunately, one can not live without it.. I had an old WW leader that put it best. A drug addict can give up drugs, and live. A smoker can give up smokes, and live. An alcoholic can give up booze, and live. But a food addict can not give up food and live. We have to learn to moderate our addiction, and quite simply, it is not easy. Anyone that has always been slim, can not totally comprehend this. They might say I am making excuses for the choices I make, and you are totally entitled to your opinion, but unless you have lived the life of an obese person, you have not got a clue. It is so much more then 'just put down the twinkies'.( and for the record, I have never had a twinkie)
Not sure what I am hoping to accomplish by writing all this? I guess I am in a babbling mood today, not sure why. But I would certainly welcome anyone's thoughts or persceptives on this issue.
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