Why does it take wake up calls to change our lives?

Watched this film last night. I've often wondered why most of us wait until we (or someone we love) receive a huge, scary wake up call like a cancer diagnosis, or diabetes, or stroke/heart attack, to face up to the results of our unhealthy stress levels, the impact of pollution in environment and our day-to-day diet (not just what we eat but how much of it too).

There is a way of eating, not a diet, but a day to day way of eating that will not only promote weight loss, but may help to increase prevention of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. It's also anti-inflammatory and anti-aging! If you try to purchase most of your fresh fruits and veggies from local or regional sources, it's also good for the environment. It's called clean eating.

Anyhoo...this film is not a tear-jerker. It's a well-made, life-affirming documentary of Kris Carr's journey of seeking healing and health that was set into motion with her cancer diagnosis. Why do we wait to make the change to eating clean? Maybe we all have a delusion of invincibility to some degree. Perhaps it's most strong when we're in our twenties but I think we, regardless of our age, like to believe that our bodies can handle everything. I guess that's why it sometimes takes something really dramatic and threatening to compel us to make changes that really aren't so hard to do.

~♥~

Specific diet plans don't matter

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that the type of diet an overweight person, i.e, Atkins, Mediterranean, etc., follows doesn't matter. What does seem to matter is calorie reduction and participation in support group type activity.

In conclusion, diets that are successful in causing weight loss can emphasize a range of fat, protein, and carbohydrate compositions that have beneficial effects on risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Such diets can also be tailored to individual patients on the basis of their personal and cultural preferences and may therefore have the best chance for long-term success.

I would suggest the next study include online support. Is it a substitute for support group type interactions? Does online support have a positive impact on weight loss and healthy weight management?

~♥~

protein smoothie

I've not yet gotten in to the smoothie craze but this type of clean eating looks fantastic. I know nothing about whey protein. Any tips? Can hardly wait for the local Farmer's Markets to start back up.

~♥~

salad dressing quest continues

Progress has been made in my quest to find a great, healthy dressing for salads and my current health food crush, broccoli slaw. I'll start with the one I've actually tried: Galeos Miso Ceasar. Oh, baby, this is a good tasting and healthy dressing. I learned about it from Jillian Michaels -- it's her favorite.

Now, here are a couple recipes from blogland:

Hemp Oil Dressing (would this cause a problem with drug testing?)

1 cup hemp oil
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
3 large cloves garlic
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp Himalayan crystal salt

Blend for 30 -45 sec From Crazy Sexy Life

This one is from Lyn at Escape from Obesity:

1 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Simmer together on med - low heat for about 5 minutes. Add one teaspoon Dijon mustard, some fresh black pepper and a dash of kosher salt. Whisk away!

~♥~

Monday weigh in

Last week: 155.2. Today's number: 153. A loss of slightly more than two pounds. I'll take it!

I started doing something that I'm having mixed feelings about. This past week I weighed myself every morning. The upside is that it has given me more information about how my body is processing the food, drink and exercise on a daily basis. What I've learned is that I can still lose weight while enjoying wine with dinner a couple nights but it slows the progress. This is something good to know because I know how to lose weight but I don't know how to maintain a healthy weight. I live in one of California's wine growing areas and we like to enjoy wine with meals. Learning how to manage this while reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is important to me. What I've already done is limit the meals with wine to two or three a week. Now it looks like I should limit myself to one glass. This seems doable.

By weighing myself every morning I learned about some more tweaking I need to do with my diet. On the other hand, I'm not as excited today with my two pound weight loss because a couple days earlier I saw 151 on the scale. Think I'm going back to once a week to keep my motivation strong.

Keep learning what works, have some fun, drink your water, eat foods that make you feel good, move your body and chose a positive attitude each new day!

won't rain on my parade

It's funny how we, as humans, are such uniquely different individuals and, yet, we are all essentially the same. No matter what we have going on, it's a good idea to get negative Nelly and Neils out of our lives (or at least minimize our contact with them).

Negative People

A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded: "Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty. You're crazy to go to Rome ... So, how are you getting there?"

"We're taking Continental." was the reply. "We got a great rate!"

"Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. "That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?"

"We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome's Tiber River called Teste."

"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks it's gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump, the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly, and they're overpriced. So, whatcha' doing when you get there?"

"We're going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope."

"That's rich." laughed the hairdresser. "You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll lo ok the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."

A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome.

"It was wonderful," explained the woman, "not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked, and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job, and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"

"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope."

"Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the P ope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me."

"Oh, really! What'd he say?"

He said: "Where'd you get the shitty hairdo?"

Remember to have fun today...

good finds out there in cyberland

Just a quick post to point out some good stuff I've discovered in cyberland.

Here's a website about a book with an interesting take on getting through some of the denial surrounding finding oneself at an unhealthy weight: Eating Less (found this via the Diet Naked Blog). Here's an excerpt:

You see, your weight is not your problem. It’s one of the effects of your problem. Your problem is you eat more food than your body needs. Not more than somebody else’s body needs. More than your body needs. Not more than your body used to need when you were younger or more active. More than your body needs now. Not more than your body would need if you had different genes and metabolism. More than your body needs with the genes and metabolism you have. That’s why there’s extra weight on it.

Here's another book, The F-Factor Diet (via The Anti-Jared). There's a page on the website that compelled me to buy this book. It's about eating well while traveling, specifically while stuck in airports. I figure the book must have more of this type of practical information.

Lyn over at Escape from Obesity has reviewed The Complete Beck Diet for Life: The Five-Stage Program for Permanent Weight Loss and is hosting a giveaway of the book. I'm becoming increasingly interested in the cognitive aspects of changing and sticking with a healthier way of eating and living.

Here's a link to a terrific website/blog that is new to me: Thought for Food. Good research info, recipes, etc.

Need a laugh? This is one of the funniest posts on a wellness-type blog I've read: Cranky Fitness "Really Functional Fitness" Note: read the comments.

BTW - I was so happy with what I saw on the scale this morning 152.6, I had to update my stats even though my weekly weigh in day is Monday.

I love this

I noticed something in one of the new WW campaign ads that's pretty clever. It's at :12.



Have you ever noticed how similar opening your laptop is to opening a pizza box? Brilliant.

guess who's discovered broccoli slaw

I read about the health food super star broccoli slaw on a blog so next time I was in the store, I looked for it and there it was. We tried it the other night at the spur of the moment. I looked on the bag for a tip to make a dressing. This led to a classic WTF moment. Here we have one of the healthiest foods available, so unbelievably, the dressing recipe called for copious amounts of mayonnaise and white refined sugar! I was stupefied.

Here's what I did: I used goddess dressing that I had on hand and added roasted slivered almonds. That was it. And it was very tasty (it was still really good the next day as a leftover). Now I'm on a quest to find or create the ultimate all purpose healthy dressing for broccoli slaw. Any suggestions?

Here's something I found in cyberland that I'll give a try:

1/3 cup plain yogurt (I'll use nonfat)
1 tbsp olive oil
1.5 tbsp cider vinegar
1 tbsp brownsugar (I'm thinking I'll substitute agave nectar)

I'll keep you posted.

Monday, Monday

Monday Monday, can't trust that day,
Monday Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way*

What a week it's been. I'm with Charlie, thankfully no chocolate holidays for awhile! It wasn't chocolate that did me in, however. It was a big steak with melted Stilton cheese on top, giant baked potato, a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, roasted broccoli, and a slice of cheese cake (there were two but at least we shared only one -- but, and this is a big but, the other piece is in the refrigerator!). Geebus.

The scale doesn't lie, my friends. My antics this week (lack of exercise & not drinking enough water & the blow out take-no-prisoners V Day dinner) have resulted in this outcome: 155.2. I'm up one pound from last week. It is what it is. I'm now off to get my rear in gear.

* The Mamas and The Papas

It's Monday...you know what that means

While I don't want become fixated on the numbers I read on my new, accurate scale, it did provide a boost this morning when the number: 154.2 revealed my inner turtle had picked up the pace with a two pound loss.

This made me reflect more honestly about why my previous week's progress was so small and disappointing. Even though I had exercised more, I had also consumed a large bag of peanut M&Ms, some of which I tossed into my movie theater popcorn. I can't expect good results when I eat this way.

So, I'm kind of excited to see what will happen this week when I stay on track with food choices and do some sort of exercise everyday. Is it realistic to expect a three or four pound loss? We shall see.

groove thing

Well, I'm back from visiting my parents in Oregon. My weekly weigh in is tomorrow morning. Man, this week has gone fast. Not a lot of exercise, sad to say. But, the eating and drinking could have been worse. It's been better though.

I treadmilled yesterday and today. Tomorrow, it's time to take a stab at the step workout.

Funny how a 3 day trip can throw you off. If you haven't already, read Lyn's great post about how important it is to "find a groove."

See you mañana.

Slow going

Today was weekly weigh in time and I went from 156.8 to 156.2. I knew from the beginning that I wasn't going to see rapid weight loss but at this pace it's a good thing I started to make changes when I did. It may take until November to lose 15 pounds! At least I'm heading in the right direction albeit at a turtle's pace. Deep breath. Patience. Strengthen resolve.

We're leaving to visit my parents for a few days. It should be OK health wise as they eat very healthy and pretty active (mostly walk for exercise). If I'm lucky, I'll maintain my current weight.