Friday, December 25, 2009

Over the River and Through the Woods


Actually it is up the turnpike and through the swamp for a Florida Christmas. There is something to be said about a green Christmas. No jackets, gloves or mittens. No boots or scarves and no snow, just a sunny day decorated with stately palm trees and colorful flowers. My memory bank is filled to capacity with winter scenes and I can download them at will. I almost felt nostalgic watching a Christmas movie (one of the thousands that have been plaguing the television screen for the past several weeks). But the nostalgia disappeared pretty quickly when I remembered driving on slippery roads and freezing my buns off in spite of being swaddled in many layers of clothing.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Faking It!


This was written on vacation in the Virgin Islands a few weeks ago. A bit of dieting wisdom to share...
It’s the morning after. I’m sitting on the wooden deck of my hotel room overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Last night was the Full Moon Party, and not just any full moon party. This was a monthly event attended by hundreds, sometimes thousands, held in a hastily thrown together shack made of driftwood, leftover lumber, signs, old license plates and ladies panties! Live reggae music blared, alcohol flowed, mushroom tea boiled in cauldrons over an open fire. The smell of BBQ ribs was in the air. This was the ubiquitous Bomba Shack. And there I was, on a diet, surrounded by French fries, rum and other delectable no-no’s. What’s a girl to do?

FAKE IT! (No, not like Meg Ryan in "When Harry Met Sally").

Monday, December 14, 2009

Candy Cane Heaven


I just found the greatest tea. I am NOT a tea drinker but this green tea really rocks! It's got everything I want in a "0" calorie beverage - green tea with peppermint, orange peel, carob, vanilla bean, cinnamon, blackberry and thistle. It's like drinking a bit of Christmas, warm, toasty and sweet. I had to read the label to make sure it didn't have sugar.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

healthy chEATING


If you’re anything like me you probably spend a lot of time thinking about food. It’s an obsession and it seems like I constantly need oral gratification, even after finishing a satisfying meal. My thoughts immediately turn to “What’s next?” I’d like to be able to brainwash myself into thinking celery and carrots sticks are yummy. Don’t get me wrong, they’re OK, but vegetables just don’t fill that longing.
What are some healthy comfort foods? Are there really guilt-free snacks that satisfy? As a WW member I count points. I am penalized for losing weight by having my points reduced, my now 19 points are used thoughtfully. After following the Healthy Guidelines I might have 2 or 3 points left over. So what can I eat?

Thursday, November 26, 2009

It Wasn't About the Food After All...


We tweeted about the turkey, the cranberry sauce and the dessert, we debated on whether to pig out or be good on Thanksgiving. I made my plan and stuck to it. So while the table was groaning under the weight of the overladen plates, my plate was something to be proud of - few slices of turkey and a humongous helping of roasted veggies. As I was silently extolling my weight loss virtues it hit me... this day was not about the food. It was about sitting at the table with the people I loved most in the world; my wonderful 86 year old mother (sorry mom for revealing your age to the world), my amazing daughter and my three precious grandchildren, my brother and his family, my cousin Lynn and on and on.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Thankful is a State of Mind

Here are some of the things I am thankful for this year:

  • Not giving in to my food cravings.
  • Finding new healthy indulgences.
  • Maintaining the motivation to go to the gym regularly.
  • Weight Watchers for giving me the tools I need for healthy weight loss.
  • My boyfriend, Len, for making the journey with me.
  • Having discovered an amazing weight loss support group in my fellow bloggers.
  • My nightly bag of 94% fat free popcorn (couldn’t do it without you).
  • Being back in a size 10 (the 8’s are still waiting in my closet).
  • My personal trainer, Bryce, who makes me work harder than I have ever worked before.
  • My water aerobics instructor, Debbie, who is absolutely the best!
  • My determination to reach my weight loss goal.
  • Vita Tops, a yummy one point treat.
  • Dr. Praeger who sees that I eat my veggies in the best burger ever.
  • Fage, who makes me think I am eating something naughty when I eat my daily yogurt.
  • My scale for seeing me through my 21.4 pound weight loss.
I am so fortunate to have the support and encouragement of my family and friends. Thank you all. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Panting to Pandora


The dentist knows what he’s doing when he pipes relaxing music into his office, a pleasant distraction from an unpleasant situation. Like the dentist, I turn on my own music when I hit the gym. Time passes faster, the energetic beat makes me pick up speed or perhaps slows me down and I stop thinking about how much I long to be somewhere else, anywhere else! In case you haven’t guessed it, the gym is not my favorite place.
Music makes it better though and Pandora is my answer.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Bust the Sugar Cravings

I'm joining Jen of Watch My Butt Shrink in her sugar-free two weeks. That means swearing off the sweet stuff until Thanksgiving in an effort to kick the sugar habit. The problem, according to Mark's Daily Apple is "that sugar has addictive properties complete with a serotonin rise and crash as well as some cranky withdrawal symptoms. Please forgive us if we're a little cranky for the next few days but we're going to give it a try.

So from now until Thanksgiving no sugary sweet treats will pass my lips, or Jen's. Maybe you'd care to join us. You can find Jen at Watch My Butt Shrink and let her know you are joining her challenge to beat the sugar craving!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Too Much, Too Fast

Have you been watching the The Biggest Loser? Don’t you wonder how those people can take off so much weight in such a short time? They have to live, breathe and eat (or not) weight loss! Is pushing yourself to the limit really worth it?
Depressingly, studies show that 80% of weight loss is gained back within 3 to 5 years. It’s also been demonstrated that if you lose weight too quickly the odds are against you and without a maintenance plan there is little hope for keeping it off.

So look at those Biggest Losers, they are dropping huge amounts of weight in astonishingly short time periods.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The Battle Within

I have two selves and, no, I am not a mental case. There is my fat self and my thin self. The thin me picks a garden fresh salad over a burger and fries. The thin me goes to the gym regularly and almost always makes the right food choices. At the moment the thin me is in control. But the fat me lurks behind the scenes, drooling over the display of chocolate bonbons in the store window, ogling the cakes and pies in the bakery department of my favorite gourmet market and inhaling the heavenly aroma of their freshly baked bread. The fat me thinks up excuses why it would be OK to indulge in a rich treat, a reward for being so good, and why I deserve to skip a day or two at the gym. The battle between my two selves, like so many major wars, is never ending.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Splish Splash Cardio


I hate exercise, plain and simple. It’s nasty, sweaty and boring. Then I discovered water aerobics. Our local gym has a dynamite instructor and now three times a week I actually have fun exercising!
Our class is made up of 15 to 20 men and women of all ages and sizes. We jump around in the pool, using all our major muscles and the water’s resistance for a wonderful cardiovascular workout, increasing our flexibility and toning ourselves in the process. It is a great way to exercise, make new friends and, best of all, no sweating!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

My Enemy the Scale

I used to think getting on the scale was like going to the dentist – something I would put off until there was no other option. I didn’t want to visually confirm what my clothing was already telling me – I was gaining weight, seemingly overnight! It was depressing so I indulged in all the feel-good food that I shouldn’t be eating. I knew things were getting out of hand but I stubbornly refused to step on that device which seemed to be designed to measure my failure pound by unflattering pound. Passing the mirror I wondered who that chubby person was looking back at me.

This time, however, I have a new attitude. I look at the scale as my friend and guide, gently letting me know when to cut back or reminding me how good I’ve been. I will use it often. But how often is the question - every day, every couple of days, once a week?

Unfortunately there is no clear cut answer as to which is the best strategy. It is totally a personal choice. On one hand a daily weigh-in helps insure you keep yourself on track. If you overindulged you would see the bad news right away and do something about it rather than put it off until the damage is overwhelming. On the other hand I’m already obsessed with food, I don’t need another obsession.
I chose to weigh myself once a week. I’d rather wait than keep an eagle eye on my poundage. The National Weight Control Registry found that most people maintaining their weight weigh themselves more than once a week and nearly 4 out of 10 people weigh themselves daily. I never have been know to follow the crowd.
What about you? How often do you weigh yourself?

Saturday, October 17, 2009

My Very First Blog!

Last night I dreamt about cake, thick slices of heavenly moist cake; nutty, buttery carrot cake, deep dark fudgy chocolate cake, dense, flavorful banana cake – each piece generously topped with lots of creamy frosting. Yum. Of course cake is only something I can dream about right now. I am, as I have been so often in my life, on a diet. No fun, as you probably know.
This blog is not so much about dieting as about keeping off the pounds. Sadly the time to keep it off is not yet here, in fact, I am 16 pounds away from my goal. Who knows, when I get there I might be inspired to take off another 5 to 10 pounds. I am kind of playing it by ear, or should I say by mirror.