Sunday, May 25, 2014

BRAIN AND HUNGER GAMES !!!!

Soo we have you ever stopped and thought for a moment... WHY am I so HUNGRY??      You know you just ate.. but you are still getting those hunger messages...  my theory is... If you know you just recently ate... and yet you still are getting that signal.. you know the one... like a Pinball machine.. the ding ding... flashing lights... sreaming EAT ME!!!! EAT ANYTHING!!!!!!  so  I was going through this this weekend...  and I discovered that if I was not hungry enough to eat a carrot or an apple.. I was not hungry.. I was BORED...  of if the Buzzers are BUZZING... try and quench the Hunger with water or  a diet beverage of your choice... did it miraculously go away ??????   it just might have been a thirst issue not an actual hunger issue...   I also had another epiphany.. I was not eating enough... PROTEIN....   where did this epiphany come from...??  tonight I ate some lean beef.. Super LEAN beef   Laura's Lean beef ... ( found it at walmart) ... and I ate 1.5 oz of Spicy honey Chicken breast.. both freshly grilled..  when I ate that protein.. it was like.. BAM  BAM BAM in my head.. these flashing signals said.. YEP that is it... THAT IS WHAT I NEED...  You finally got it right... I did not want carbs... I wanted pure protein...   guess what... I am not hungry... ... I am not kitchen surfing...  I am not perusing... I am comfortable.... I finally listened to my body...

 SO my thinking is.. and I am sure most of us know this... all the signals we get that light up in our brain regarding food... or those hunger signals... its all like a game... Like a big pinball game... a game we have to figure out the best path to win.. and really ring those bells.... Those bells that tell you .. you are satisfied... you listened ... to what your body needed..    I am going to pay attention more to my protein intake..  I don't think there was a stitch of fat on that beef.. and  while it was chewy it was so tasty..    I do not eat meat a lot.. maybe every other week...   but this sure hit the spot at least for me...   I am really glad I am starting to learn this.. I never mastered it on on MF... I just ate what I could eat on MF... now I am trying to pick up on my body and what it is telling me it needs... Most of the time our bodies are not going to say.. Feed me  a Frosty... or a Ding Dong.. or a Pizza.. that is our brain being teased by an ad or product we might have seen...  So my  theory is ... when you get those signals.. try feeding them  water first.. then try a  piece of fruit or some raw veggies..... if you are not satisfied with the crunch of a carrot or an apple... if you totally turn your nose up at that... and nothing healthy appeals to you.... Check your  level of activity.. are you bored..????.   If so....Then go do someting that does not involve the kitchen..  

Its all in the brain.. those hunger games...  stratigize like you would if you were playing a game... think out a plan.... so you are prepared...  Always remember no matter what you are in charge.... 
So you are invited over to someone's houe and you just had a great lunch.... Go visit your friend but tell them you just ate... .. ( if they get offended... welllll... they need to put their big girl or boy panties on... and get the hell over it ..)  You are the boss of you... no one forces you eat...  You do not have to accept that challenge... be prepared... 

Be ready for the Brain and Hunger Games...

Rock the WEEK coming up !!!  

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

YOU ARE A HABITUAL DIETER AND YOU KNOW IT!!!

SO ... IF YOU DO NOT LOSE 10 POUNDS EVERY WEEK..... YOU ARE A COMPLETE FAILURE ... YOU ARE A SCAB ON HUMANITIES BUTT....??????    

OHHHHHH  BACK FAT... LOOK AT MY BACK FAT... I AM A MONSTER.. ... I AM UNATTRACTIVE...  ( yet when you weigh your weight is perfect for your height your body is a just a little more mature now... and your skin might not be as tight as it once was... ) 

ERRRGHHHHHHHHH !  SIZE 2 I MUST BE A SIZE TWO.. OR BETTER YET I NEED TO BE A ZERO.. yes.. IF I AM A ZERO ALL WILL BE RIGHT WITH THE WORLD...  ( hell if i was a zero chances are I would be considered dead... a Zero.. you really want to strive for a Zero???? )   if normally you are that tiny then thats awesome.. but if you are a size 20 W AND 5FT 5  .. TAKE OFF THE  WHIRLY GLASSES AND GET REAL! .. 

WHOAHHHHHH ....  

That my friends is a bit excessive but  I am sadly sure many of you Can appreciate those comments.. People hunger for  that quick fix... that  way to get the weight off so fast...  and then they turn around ... and  non of the old issues are fixed so the weight "magically" reappears...... RIGGGGHHHT??? magically reappears... I dont know how I gained it back.. I dont know what happened??    
WELLL  I am here to shake it up a bit... the weight did not magically reappear... your eating was not the most healthiest .. your exercise went in the crapper.. and you  went back to your old habit of comfort.. like worn out sneakers.. or baggy pair of sweat pants... you went back to the old you.... it is simple... it happens... So you think fresh and  start again...  
the thing is it does not matter how many times you start just as long as you keep at it... and keep trying...

Be realistic...  Find a program that suites you and do not blame the  program if you do not lose 10 pounds a week.. ( which somehow in your  brain you think.. is suppose to happen)...  
Ask any doctor  and he will say  1-2 pounds a week .. is healthy... even a half a pound a week is healthy... if you lose a pound a week... you will loose 52 pounds in a year... and that my dear is perfect...  Stop looking for miracles... Find your path.. get off the HABITUAL DIET SHIP... only you can make any program work...  
I get so annoyed at people who say WW does not work.... the reason is... YOU DO NOT WORK~!!!! you are not following the program the way you should be...  if you really examine things.. and really look deep down.. thats the only reason any program does not work... IF you have 26 daily points ... it does not mean eat those points in FRITOS... or PIZZA .. or Cake...  it means eat well balanced small to moderate meals through out the day with a couple or 3 snacks thrown in based on your daily point allowance... You have weekly points to be used at your discretion.. THIS IS NOT A SIN.. they are there for a reason.... you have activity points too... again to be used if you want... IT IS NOT WRONG TO USE THOSE POINTS... hell even I got sucked into the void of   OHHHH I AM TERRIBLE IF I USE MY WEEKLY OR ACTIVITY POINTS..  I am such a failure.. well oddly enough by using those other points the scale is getting a little jiggy and I am losing a little weight again.. my engine is pumping again.. yay ... WW allows you to decide with in those certain number of points what works for you.. So some days I high it.. Some days I low it.. just depends... I am learning what works for me on this.. my Last program...on the Diet train.. I have decided not to become a habitual dieter.. I have decided to live free... live life.. enjoy myself... and just..

JUST BE HEALTHY AND HAPPY  DAMNIT! ... 
thats what you should do .. if you ask me... quit worrying about what you are not... and how far you have to go...
 Just get busy.. and it will all happen in good time..
Find your path... Find your way...  
DO NOT BECOME A HABITUAL DIETER... become  a HABITUAL  LIFE LIVER! 

Monday, May 12, 2014

YOU DECIDE WHETHER YOU SUCCEED OR NOT

It is so easy to forget who is the one in charge of your choices...

Day in and day out we are surrounded by choices we have to make . 

What to wear .. how to fix our hair, what make up to use,  which route to take to school or work... what job around the house to tackle first..

For those of us.. working on improving our lives by getting healthier.. losing weight and keeping it off.. this Statement is so true. 

It is so easy to forget who is the one in charge of your choices... You are... I am in charge of my choices all of them..

No one is forcing you to eat... Those are your choices... 
In our concrete visual world  temptation is always there... and we can come with any excuse to make a day  "special"...  ( special in the sense of choosing to eat something we would not ordinarily eat ) .. that being said... when it comes to WW ... the constant message  that they try to promote but it appears to always fall on deaf ears... ..

 Is that NO FOOD is off limits...

 it is all about the choices you make..
 
Now granted I am not saying every day go have a walloping slice of cake for heavens sake...  but on those occasions when the trail of life leads you to a bend in the road you were not expecting.. You have that choice... and that choice is not BAD or GOOD... I see so many people saying... I am so BAD.... I CHEATED all WEEKEND... 

  It is a sad state of affairs when WW is looked at merely as a diet.. because if you spend time reading and really learning the program.. not being a policeman about points but really learning the program.. ( which I am learning now) ... then you see it  is a foundation for a  HEALTHY balanced meal plan..

THE thing is ... it gives you that MAGIC WORD.....

 CHOICES..

 only you are in control of that... 
 
My feelings are that if you basically stay with in your daily points... and indulge in a little extra every now and then... then the program.. is easy peasy...  hence why you have the extra 49 points... you can use them daily   7 points a day .. or save for a upcoming event you might have on the weekend when you know those will come in handy...

Personally I try and not use them at all..

We also have a great tool  ... tracking...  by logging OUR food daily .. WE can be confident WE are staying with in our points...  to help US lose weight.. now I have not tried the SS program.. because I like choices.. and  PP works better for me I hope... I might try SS ... one never knows with me ... lol...

My weight loss has not been stellar on WW because I lost over 50 pounds on Medifast  July 8th 2013- Mid Feb.  ... and got off about that time due to digestive issues.. I tried for 2 months on my own.. and finally  decided WW was a good place for me to be to learn how to eat.. and be comfortable with food again.. while finishing up what I started and losing the last 20 pounds that are ohh so stubborn .. I weigh again this Thursday and my hope is to see a pound off...  ..

 I often give a simple piece of advice to the support group I belong to  and tell folks .. to try and get out of the old mindset that WW is a diet...  to me.. You go on a diet and get off of a diet... WW is about learning how to eat... and be accountable for that.   I do not think  BAD or GOOD should be in the equation ....   It is simply a choice you made in the moment.. and choices are okay... it is not a signal of your self worth ...

So .. it is Monday and in my world.. it is prep time for a Food Show... Tues and Weds.. most of you know I work in the food business.. ( ironically ) ... it is tough.. but I do my best in the last couple weeks since I started WW to track what I eat.. Good or BAD......... DAMN  look... even I did it... lets try that again....  I DO MY BEST TO TRACK MY FOOD BASED ON WHATEVER CHOICE I MADE IN THAT MOMENT....

First thing in the morning I  try and  plan my food for the day .. Sometimes I can and sometimes something comes up and I have to shift things around.. but logging your food and activity is the most awesome tool you have.. lets face it..when you do not keep track you are only harming yourself..no one else is affected but you... it might take courage to be honest.. but the person you are trying to be honest to is yourself.. It took me a while to get that courageous.. I guess I thought well if I don't log it .. it did not happen lol...

So the bottom line for all of us.. on any program ...  is simple... YOU ( WE)... (ME) ( I) DECIDE WHETHER I SUCCEED OR NOT... AND SO DO YOU !

Friday, May 9, 2014

GET BUSY COOKING

OKAY SO I AM GOING TO DO MY BEST TO GET THESE RECIPES OUT  AND ABOUT .. HOPE YOU LIKE THEM... 


APPLE SALAD... EASY EASY 

1 APPLE OF YOUR CHOICE

WALNUTS  ( ABOUT A TABLESPOON CHOP FINE)  

  2 TABLESPOONS LOWFAT GRANOLA  PREFERABLY LOCALLY OR NEAR LOCALLY MADE IF POSSIBLE   ~  CHECK CALORIES AND AND FAT /FIBER/PROTEIN ...

A TON OF CINNAMON..OKAY ONLY KIDDING BUT USE CINNAMON TO YOUR TASTE I LOVE A LOT.. SPICEY ME... I USE SIAGON CINNAMON

I USE SWERVE SWEETNER... ITS MY FAV AND MEAUSURES LIKE SUGAR WHILE BEING CALORIE FREE... I ORDER IT FROM AMAZON..

( RIGHT NOW I AM USING A WHEAT FREE GRANOLA.. NO REASON.. JUST FOUND IT... AND ITS LIGHT ON THE SUGAR) 

SO LIKE I SAID .. ITS EASYY!!!!!!

CHOP UP APPLE.. LEAVE SKIN ON

PUT IN A BOWL 

ADD GRANOLA

ADD  WALNUTS

ADD CINNAMON UNTIL YOUR HEARTS CONTENT

ADD A LITTLE BIT OF SWERVE OR SWEETNER OF YOUR CHOICE OR   GO COMANDO... 

NO SWEETNER AT ALL   ....  

MIX WELL..  TAKE SPOON AND EAT... YUMMY

ALL YOU HAVE TO COUNT IS THE WALNUTS AND  GRANOLA  2 POINTS.. YUM AND FILLING!!!


OKAY THE NEXT RECIPE IS A BIT MORE COMPLICATED BUT STILL EASY..

I FOUND THIS RECIPE ONLINE AND PLAYED WITH IT A BIT...  
A GREAT WEBSITE IS  THE SCIENCE OF EATING...  ( not sure if this site is back up as they were having server work done) ...  LALOOSH is another great website .. google it ... 

SO  here we go....... GET ONE BUNCH FRESH SPINACH OR ONE BAG OF BABY SPINACH...  RINSE AND SAUTE WITH  VIDALLIA ONION OR ANY SWEET ONION AND FRESH GARLIC... TO YOUR TASTE..

ONE LARGE HEAD OF CAULIFLOWER AND BREAK UP INTO FLORETS... PUT IN  POT WITH WATER AND  BOIL UNTIL FORK TENDER.. AND DRAIN WATER ( YOU CAN BOIL IN BROTH IF YOU WANT ..)   


WHILE YOUR CAULIFLOWER IS  COOKING..

PAN UP 3 PIECES OF TURKEY BACON UNTIL CRISPY OR TO YOUR LIKING..

PAT BACON UNTIL DRY..

CRUMBLE BACON UP AND SET ASIDE  

ONCE CAULIFLOWER IS DONE...  DRAIN... ADD COOKED SPINACH

ADD 1 CONTAINER OF FAGE  0 FAT  GREEK YOGURT.. OR PLAIN GREEK YOGURT OF YOUR CHOICE...  

ADD 1/2 CUP SHREDDED PARMASEAN CHEESE

ADD TURKEY BACON  

SEASON TO TASTE 

I LIKE TO ADD 2 AND 1/2 TEASPOONS OF  BETTER THAN BULLION FOR FLAVOR... 

I USE A HAND HELD IMMERSION BLENDER AND MIX EVERYTHING ALL UP..  I LOVE WATCHING THE SPINACH AND YOGURT AND CAULIFLOWER BLENDING...

SEASON TO TASTE... AND THIS  SIDE DISH IS YUMMY .. SOMETIMES I USE IT AS AN ENTREE TOO... 

ENTER INGREDIENTS IN PP CALCULATOR  ... I COUNT THE YOGURT, AND THE PARMESEAN CHEESE.. AND USUALLY END UP WITH  2 POINTS...  THIS RECIPE SERVES 2-6 PEOPLE DEPENDING ON SIZE OF CAULIFLOWER.. 

THIS RECIPE IS ADAPTED FROM  THE SCIENCE OF EATING.. THEY RECCOMEND  USE KALE INSTEAD OF SPINACH BUT SAY THAT YOU CAN USE SPINACH IN ITS PLACE... 

*****Be forwarned I like to over estimate points too... just for my safety sakes..

Tommorow night we are going to experiment making Honey Spiced Chicken thighs a bit different.... we are going to take a whole chicken ( Paula Deen Chickens./ Springer Mountain Farms . shockingly are the best  most delicious whole birds we have used... all natural.. not pumped and absolutely delicious)  SO tommorow night we are going to make the sauce and baste the whole bird and either grill or  roast.  This recipe came to me via way of Steve's daughter...  and it amazing.. 

I figure points out when I add the dinner to my tracker... I count 2 chicken wings ( thats what I like ) .. and then I count the honey... 

Here is recipe..  from BUDGET BYTES..adapted from Cooking Light.

Honey Spice Chicken Thighs

honey spice chicken thighsIt
4.9 from 7reviews
honey spice chicken thighs
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: 
Total Cost: $5.13
Cost Per Serving: $0.64
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 8 (4 lbs.) chicken thighs $4.16
  • ⅓ cup honey $0.59
  • 1 Tbsp cider vinegar $0.06
  • 1 Tbsp chili powder $0.15
  • ½ Tbsp garlic powder $0.08
  • ¼ tsp smoked paprika $0.02
  • ½ tsp cumin $0.03
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper $0.02
  • 1 tsp salt $0.02
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, combine everything except the chicken thighs (honey, cider vinegar, chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne, cumin, and salt). Stir until combined.
  2. Remove the skin from the chicken thighs if desired. Place the chicken thighs either on a roasting pan or a baking sheet covered with foil. A roasting pan can be simulated by placing wire cooling racks over a baking sheet to allow juices to fall below the chicken. Brush the honey spice mixture over the surface of the chicken thighs, using about half of the total honey mixture.
  3. Place the chicken thighs in the fully preheated oven. Roast for about 20 minutes. Remove the chicken thighs from the oven and use the remaining honey spice mixture to brush on a second coat. Return the chicken to the oven and roast for another 20 minutes. Serve hot.
Notes
Do not brush any of the honey spice mixture onto the chicken after it is finished cooking because it is contaminated with raw chicken. Use all of it prior to the last 20 minutes of cooking.

and that my friends is all I have for now...

Just some of my favorite recent recipes...  

The only original recipe  included is   the Apple Salad.. that is proudly my creation..  after going having lunch at a local organic cafe.. and having their version which had honey and other sweet things in it... I changed it up a bit.. and created the Apple Salad... actually there is nothing green it.. so can it still be a salad.. lol... hmmm for now it is... 

Monday, May 5, 2014

ACCOUNTABILITY

   A message from one of  our group members ..


"We're here to support you and offer advice and act as a place where you can totally come and vent and seek guidance during the rough patches. That being said -- for those who are new to WW or feeling nervous to commit to the program, posts saying that WW "doesn't work" aren't very fair; the program has been shown to work as long as the person in question works the plan and plans the work. I know it must be very frustrating to not be getting the results you want -- but that just means this is the most important time to focus on your goals, make sure you remain accountable, and plow forward! An adage I was once told: "The times when you're feeling the most discouraged are the times you need yourself the most -- don't let yourself down."  ~KEM




ACCOUNTABILITY !  


Do you have the  COURAGE to be ACCOUNTABLE for your actions... ??...  are  YOU  tough enough to wade through the goofiness of your life and be honest with yourself ..???


see honesty can hurt...


HOWEVER, it can also be constructive.


 are you BOLD enough...???


 Do you want IT bad enough to be  ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR EATING ACTIONS!!... ??? 


 Its easy to whine about things... its easy to say .. this program does not work... I can't do this... this is too hard...  I don't have the time to track my food....  wah wah wah wah... really... ???  not very accountable in my opinion..


ACCOUNTABILITY  is probably one of the most cliché and overused terms out there.. but .. for us there is no other term that fits.. 


You have to be real with yourself to accomplish what you want.. 


ASK yourself this:


Why on earth did you join WW if you are not willing to  do the job that goes with it.. ??


Fact:  The only person you  do good for  or harm .. is yourself


Fact:  WW works   if you eat with in the parameters of the programs offered.


Fact:  THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE


Fact:  If you want it bad enough .. do it...   how much simpler  can it get than that.


Fact:  You are not the sum of your pounds


Fact  YOU ARE THE CONTENT OF  YOUR CHARACTER ( as MLK would say)  How you are measured should only show value via how you treat others   and... how you treat yourself.


FACT:   YOU REALLY HAVE TIME TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE


FACT:   HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT???    hmmmm well okay.... that's not really a fact.. but a question........................................


 HOW                    BAD                          DO               YOU                    WANT            IT?


 So dust  off... brush off and get busy....  This is the one life you have got..  your one shot ...
live it by making healthier choices...   live it by following a livable program..   track your food.. get your water in.. exercise... laugh ... play.... enjoy life..  create your universe to better health... ask questions  ......educate yourself...  .find support groups  .. there are tons on FB with great people... who are on the same journey as you ... Find us...   join in...   Laugh... Learn ... Live..   and finally be the person you are meant to be...  Healthy .. Alive  .. and finding a new way to enjoy a fuller life..


Do me one small  favor please.... Do not blame any program you are on...  It is not the programs fault... it is your responsibility to yourself  that needs adjusting.... Be honest... even over estimate what you have ingested...  I would rather over estimate than underestimate..


 BE REAL......
.
BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS... 


BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR CHOICES...


 BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR VOICE IN HOW YOU WILL LIVE YOUR LIFE..

Sunday, May 4, 2014

GOOD VS.BAD Or WHY MUST WE DEFINE FOOD

  Dusting off soap box...adjusting microphone... Stepping up :::

" ohhh I had cake today. I am soooo bad"   "Ohhhhh I had pizza on a stick today. ( is that even possible ?.. lol...)..I am damned for all eternity "    "Ohhhh I had ice cream instead of string beans"  " what a failure I am". " ohhhh I had 3 jelly beans.. I never can stick to a diet"

The list goes on and on ... People classify everything. You are either good or bad... Or you are good or bad based on your food consumption... Or if you drop 3 pounds then life is amazing but if you gain a quarter of a ounce then  DAMNIT!! You are one mighty loser !!   

BOY !! I have been guilty of some of that... WAY TOO MUCH...

Measuring myself by the sum of my pounds rather than the whole human I am... 

Our worth is not what the scale says nor is it based on the food we consume...
Food is a choice...We can eat what we want..much like anything though.. There are good or bad consequences based on those choices... 

If you are following a program such asWeight Watchers..like me... You are given choices.. You keep track of those choices with in the parameters of the program. SOME FOOD CHOICES ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS... But to label food or yourself GOOD VS. BAD ..to me gives way to much power to it.. Don't you think...?? I mean ..why can't food be food... So you CHOSE TO HAVE HALF A DANISH WITH YOUR COFFEE???  If you are on WW   Did you log it??  My point is?? As the saying goes..if you bite it..write it!! ( or scan it.. Or take a photo of it to log later..) . A food diary  is simply a tool to help you know what you are consuming and how to modify things to help you shed poundage if that is your intended goal.. 

We are fortunate to live in a time where we can easily keep track of our food consumption ..I PERSONALLY LOVE WW ONLINE.. Some folks prefer the meetings... Whatever works for you is my thinking.

  I love the support I get via the WW  FB pages I have joined. And via my FB page I created as well   ( you can click on this link ) .ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE  .. The WW FB pages I have joined are closed groups.. You have to ask to join... I love the ideas and new products that are shared .. I love the help offered...

You have to create your universe to achieve what works for you....  I am constantly creating and changing...

To me releasing the demons from eating is a good place to start... No one is really ~that not right in the head ~ to think a candy bar is better for you than say an apple. RIGHT???!!!

 CHOICES. ... remember that word.

.MAKE YOUR CHOICES  and BASE YOUR SELF WORTH ON THE CONTENT OF THE PERSON  YOU ARE AND THE WAY YOU TREAT OTHERS...not on the scale and not on your food consumption...
STEPPING OFF SOAP BOX ...and moving on into this beautiful New day!!!