17 Day Diet:
1. This won't be a pleasure diet. You've got to stop eating unhealthy crap. You've got to eat vegetables, fruit and lean meat.
2. Keep your portions down, cut your intake of fatty, sugary, salty foods, and move your butt.
3. Anyone can do anything for 17 days.
4. Excess weight is always a sign of nutritional and metabolic imbalance. It's not strictly a question of what types of foods are eaten, and how they are digested, assimilated and metabolized.. If any of these components of good nutrition are compromised, then the body will not be adequately nourished at the cellular level, metabolic function will be impaired and toxins will accumulate.
5. Tubs of ice cream and bags full of chips are not worth shortening your life over. We're already in so much trouble with trans fats, cheap sugars, excess sodium, and unpronounceable additives jazzing up junk food.
6. So if you find yourself saying, "I didn't have time to prepare healthy food," let me ask you this: would you have found time if your life depended on it? Well, it does.
7. You need to eat vegetables if you want to get thin. Vegetables=thin. No vegetables=flabby
8. Having too much fruit can sabotage your diet (pineapple, watermelon, bananas)
9. You can go overboard on carbs, even the good kind, and this can be devastating to your natural metabolic process.
Cycle 1: Accelerate: to promote rapid weight loss by improving digestive health. It helps clear sugar from the blood by boosting fat-burning and discourage fat storage.
Eat unlimited protein. (salmon, tilapia, light tuna, chicken, turkey, ground turkey, eggs (2 egg=1 serving) (4 egg whites=1 serving)
Eat unlimited vegetables. (celery, cucumbers, green beans, green leafy vegetables, mushrooms, onions, spinach, tomatoes, watercress)
Eat up to 2 whole eggs a day. Unlimited egg whites, No more than 4 yolks a week
Eat 2 servings/day of fruit (berries, apples, oranges, peaches, pears, plums, red grapes)No fruit after 2 pm.
Take 3 grams of fish oil supplements daily.
Drink 8 8-oz. glasses of water daily.
Drink 3 cups of green tea a day. (negative water)
No white bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, chocolate, biscuits, sugary desserts, and sweets.
Drink 1-2 cups of coffee a day. (negative water)
No alcohol and sugar
2 servings of Probiotics daily (greek yogurt, kefir, low fat acidophilus milk, Liveactive cottage cheese
1 to 2 tablespoons of healthy fats (olive oil, flaxseed oil)
Exercise at least 17 minutes per day.
Cycle 2: Activate: To reset your metabolism through a strategy that involves increasing and decreasing your caloric consumption to stimulate fat-burning and to help prevent plateaus.
Cycle 3: Achieve: To develop good eating habits through the re-introduction of additional foods and move you closer to your goal weight.
Cycle 4: Arrive (ongoing: To keep you at your goal weight through a program of eating that lets you enjoy your favorite foods on weekends, while eating healthfully during the week.
The 17 Day Diet is based upon lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and small amounts of grains.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Inspiration Desperately Needed...
and here's what came to me today.
The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment, it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone.
– Orison Swett Marden
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Biggest Loser
I've been spending the past couple of days watching the latest season of The Biggest Loser, and I must admit, I LOVE the contestants! So far there are only two who have gotten on my nerves...ok 3 (Dan, Don, and Arthur) but I just love the personalities and commitment of soooo many others! I've watched 4 episodes so far and will catch up on more today.
One of the best scenes (that really hit home for me) involved Jennifer from the green team talking with Jillian about how her weight loss journey had been so closely tied to her father. Jillian asked her, "How would it feel if you lost all of your weight and your father didn't." Jennifer said, "I would feel like I let him down!" Jillian pointed right in her face and and stated, "And THAT'S why you're not losing weight." Tears come to my eyes as I'm typing this now, because I can completely relate. I DO believe that my weight struggles are closely connected with my father.
My father is obese. My father has struggled with weight for most of his life, particularly in the last decade. Many of my bad eating habits were learned from my father. Finding comfort and enjoyment from food was learned from my father.
Even when I lose weight, my father will see me eating a dessert and say things to me like, "Oooooo, You're just like me! You can't resist. You've got the Burkhouse gene in you." Or if he sees me making good choices, he'll say things like "C'mon, Sue. You've gotta eat more than that!"
When he says these things to me, it reaffirms my beliefs about myself and it goes right to my heart. I FEEL COMPLETELY BAD ABOUT MYSELF.
He would NEVER say something like this to my sister or brother. Aside from never having struggled with weight, my brother wouldn't care and my sister would put him in his place. (I love her for that.) I am the one he identifies with in this particular area. He's always found a "friend" in me for being the one who will have dessert with him.
Just the other week, Willie and I spent some time with my mom and dad. Our time together lapsed into lunchtime. Now, Dad is having a lot of health problems and desperately needs to lose weight. But the only one who's desperate about it is my mother. So Mom and Dad were suggesting a lot of restaurants in the area where I did NOT want to eat. I had been on a really good path and was at my lowest weight in a long time (164 pounds). So I suggested that we stop and pick up some turkey so we could go back to their house to make sandwiches.
The entire drive to the store and the entire time in the store, my father is talking to me about all of these foods he's been eating and how good they taste. (And these are things that he should NOT be eating.) I was getting so pissed off, because I felt again like the "friend" with whom he was sharing all of his food secrets. I am the one whom he knows can relate to this kind of pleasure. But I didn't say anything to him, because I didn't want to hurt his feelings or make him feel alone. Classic Sue.
We interrupt this broadcast to bring you the following public service announcement:
Definition of an Enabler (i.e. Me): An enabler in most definitions is a person who through his or her actions allows someone else to continue destructive behavior. Though the enabler may be acting out of love and trying to help or protect a person, he or she is actually making a chronic problem worse.
So back to more of my enabling behavior...
When I say he's talking to me about food, it's more like asking me if I've ever had....such and such. When I say no, he says, "Oh, it's so good."
Have you ever had Watergate Salad from Millers? No. Oh, it's so good.
Have you ever tried the bread pudding at Nells? No. Oh, it's so good.
I finally had to walk away from him in the store just to stop hearing it!
Then when we got home, he asked if he could pour me a soda and I told him that I've just been drinking water. He made a groan (which of course I perceive as he doesn't approve of my healthy choice. I'm surprised he didn't follow his groan with "C'mon, Sue. You can't live like that.")
Interestingly enough, after lunch, after the barrage of food talk that I had just endured, I decide to tell him about a bakery in Hanover that I discovered that has "healthier" choices (if there can be such a thing in a bakery.) His comment to me? "Oh, no. I can't have that." Pardon my french, but...WTF!
I know that part of my weight loss journey involves confronting my father about his perceptions of me being just like him. Or rather, telling him how much it bothers me when he says I'm just like him. But would that insult him? ABSOLUTELY. The thing is, I ASPIRE to be like my father in so many other ways. There's not a man on the planet whom I look up to more than my father. He's my hero. But can your hero also stand in your way??
Did I mention that since that day I gained 5 pounds? Enough said.
I spent yesterday planning, planning, planning. Overusing internet trackers to compare data. And I was down 2 pounds today! I knew I would be..simply for the fact that I drank my water yesterday, exercise, and tracked my food. For me, those are the three key things. Spark People posted a challenge yesterday to give a 6-word summary of success. Those would be my 6-words:
drink water, exercise, and track calories
This morning, I began my day shoveling the 5 inches of snow that came down last night. I CHOSE to shovel despite the fact that my husband has a snow blower. (He thought I was crazy, but he knows me well enough by now to just go with it.) I was looking for an alternative workout that would work my muscles instead of being strictly cardio. So I set a goal for myself to shovel for an hour, and it definitely paid off! Mid 400s calorie burn, an hour of exercise, and I was finished by 6:45 am! Woo Hoo!
Insider fact #1: If I don't get my main workout finished in the morning, I never do it. So it feels so good to be back on track and have two consecutive days of exercise under my belt!
Insider fact #2: This entry was supposed to be just a copy/paste of the article below. But I've spent the last hour typing.
I found this quick snippet on the Weight Watcher's email about gaining weight. It gave me a really good perspective on gaining weight, so I wanted to share.
"Gaining weight is part of the journey, and just like any journey, it doesn’t necessarily follow a linear path from point A to point B. Sometimes you have to stop for gas, sometimes you get off at the wrong exit and need to loop back in order to get back on the road. Your goal is not to go straight through the process without gaining a pound, but rather to aim to lose the majority of the time. Do realize your body might not let go of weight on your schedule. Research proves weight loss is an intricate combination of many factors. So forget about gauging your progress from week-to-week and look at one-month snapshots instead. This simple change in perspective will prevent you from becoming discouraged. or worse, giving up. Stop, take a deep breath, and stay the course."
Stay the course, my friends.
One of the best scenes (that really hit home for me) involved Jennifer from the green team talking with Jillian about how her weight loss journey had been so closely tied to her father. Jillian asked her, "How would it feel if you lost all of your weight and your father didn't." Jennifer said, "I would feel like I let him down!" Jillian pointed right in her face and and stated, "And THAT'S why you're not losing weight." Tears come to my eyes as I'm typing this now, because I can completely relate. I DO believe that my weight struggles are closely connected with my father.
My father is obese. My father has struggled with weight for most of his life, particularly in the last decade. Many of my bad eating habits were learned from my father. Finding comfort and enjoyment from food was learned from my father.
Even when I lose weight, my father will see me eating a dessert and say things to me like, "Oooooo, You're just like me! You can't resist. You've got the Burkhouse gene in you." Or if he sees me making good choices, he'll say things like "C'mon, Sue. You've gotta eat more than that!"
When he says these things to me, it reaffirms my beliefs about myself and it goes right to my heart. I FEEL COMPLETELY BAD ABOUT MYSELF.
He would NEVER say something like this to my sister or brother. Aside from never having struggled with weight, my brother wouldn't care and my sister would put him in his place. (I love her for that.) I am the one he identifies with in this particular area. He's always found a "friend" in me for being the one who will have dessert with him.
Just the other week, Willie and I spent some time with my mom and dad. Our time together lapsed into lunchtime. Now, Dad is having a lot of health problems and desperately needs to lose weight. But the only one who's desperate about it is my mother. So Mom and Dad were suggesting a lot of restaurants in the area where I did NOT want to eat. I had been on a really good path and was at my lowest weight in a long time (164 pounds). So I suggested that we stop and pick up some turkey so we could go back to their house to make sandwiches.
The entire drive to the store and the entire time in the store, my father is talking to me about all of these foods he's been eating and how good they taste. (And these are things that he should NOT be eating.) I was getting so pissed off, because I felt again like the "friend" with whom he was sharing all of his food secrets. I am the one whom he knows can relate to this kind of pleasure. But I didn't say anything to him, because I didn't want to hurt his feelings or make him feel alone. Classic Sue.
We interrupt this broadcast to bring you the following public service announcement:
Definition of an Enabler (i.e. Me): An enabler in most definitions is a person who through his or her actions allows someone else to continue destructive behavior. Though the enabler may be acting out of love and trying to help or protect a person, he or she is actually making a chronic problem worse.
So back to more of my enabling behavior...
When I say he's talking to me about food, it's more like asking me if I've ever had....such and such. When I say no, he says, "Oh, it's so good."
Have you ever had Watergate Salad from Millers? No. Oh, it's so good.
Have you ever tried the bread pudding at Nells? No. Oh, it's so good.
I finally had to walk away from him in the store just to stop hearing it!
Then when we got home, he asked if he could pour me a soda and I told him that I've just been drinking water. He made a groan (which of course I perceive as he doesn't approve of my healthy choice. I'm surprised he didn't follow his groan with "C'mon, Sue. You can't live like that.")
Interestingly enough, after lunch, after the barrage of food talk that I had just endured, I decide to tell him about a bakery in Hanover that I discovered that has "healthier" choices (if there can be such a thing in a bakery.) His comment to me? "Oh, no. I can't have that." Pardon my french, but...WTF!
I know that part of my weight loss journey involves confronting my father about his perceptions of me being just like him. Or rather, telling him how much it bothers me when he says I'm just like him. But would that insult him? ABSOLUTELY. The thing is, I ASPIRE to be like my father in so many other ways. There's not a man on the planet whom I look up to more than my father. He's my hero. But can your hero also stand in your way??
Did I mention that since that day I gained 5 pounds? Enough said.
I spent yesterday planning, planning, planning. Overusing internet trackers to compare data. And I was down 2 pounds today! I knew I would be..simply for the fact that I drank my water yesterday, exercise, and tracked my food. For me, those are the three key things. Spark People posted a challenge yesterday to give a 6-word summary of success. Those would be my 6-words:
drink water, exercise, and track calories
This morning, I began my day shoveling the 5 inches of snow that came down last night. I CHOSE to shovel despite the fact that my husband has a snow blower. (He thought I was crazy, but he knows me well enough by now to just go with it.) I was looking for an alternative workout that would work my muscles instead of being strictly cardio. So I set a goal for myself to shovel for an hour, and it definitely paid off! Mid 400s calorie burn, an hour of exercise, and I was finished by 6:45 am! Woo Hoo!
Insider fact #1: If I don't get my main workout finished in the morning, I never do it. So it feels so good to be back on track and have two consecutive days of exercise under my belt!
Insider fact #2: This entry was supposed to be just a copy/paste of the article below. But I've spent the last hour typing.
I found this quick snippet on the Weight Watcher's email about gaining weight. It gave me a really good perspective on gaining weight, so I wanted to share.
"Gaining weight is part of the journey, and just like any journey, it doesn’t necessarily follow a linear path from point A to point B. Sometimes you have to stop for gas, sometimes you get off at the wrong exit and need to loop back in order to get back on the road. Your goal is not to go straight through the process without gaining a pound, but rather to aim to lose the majority of the time. Do realize your body might not let go of weight on your schedule. Research proves weight loss is an intricate combination of many factors. So forget about gauging your progress from week-to-week and look at one-month snapshots instead. This simple change in perspective will prevent you from becoming discouraged. or worse, giving up. Stop, take a deep breath, and stay the course."
Stay the course, my friends.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Reflections...
So, I joined Weight Watchers. Again. Mostly because I felt like I needed a program, but also because I was excited about their new system. My sister-in-law, her friend Miss Pat, and my sister are joining me in this quest to eat better and lose weight.
And the results so far have been less than stellar.
Basically I'm finding that I'm questioning and feeling resistant to this new points system. Yes, I know that our daily allowance was increased and our weekly points were increased as well. Both very good things! However, I am finding that my food choices use up my points SO QUICKLY! I've been over my points every single day...Thank God I've been exercising so make up for my overage.
So here is a list of things that are hovering in the back of my mind about this new program...
1. I am approaching Weight Watchers with a "Clean Eating" mentality, and it seems like a lot of the choices that I am making are high in points. I know that these foods are good for me, but somehow I'm not feeling any advantage (points wise)to choosing whole foods over processed.
2. I HATE that traditional Weight Watchers staples have gone up in points. It's messing with my belief system!
3. As my sister-in-law told me, on this new program, we are penalized for carbs. Should I be eating less carbs? Yep. However, the carbs that I am eating are whole grains, but they are still carrying a lot of points values. Again, no advantage to eating whole vs. refined.
4. This new program does not count calories-it looks at the nutrients that make up the foods (fat, carbs, protein, and fiber). I am interested in tracking calories along with these nutrients to see how many calories I am actually consuming.
5. I am finding that the harder I exercise to earn activity points, the hungrier I am! It's almost like I am sabotaging myself and my weight loss. And this is something that I most definitely DO NOT want to do!
6. Did I mention that I am eating WAY too many points every single day?
7. I need to eat more vegetables. I was talking about this with Mimi, and mentioned that I needed to eat more salads. She made a comment that she's not going to make salads..just eat more vegetables. So last Saturday when I went to the store, I bought everything I needed to have salad fixings at home. I prepped everything...and there they sit in the fridge. I packed a salad twice for work, and didn't have any interest in eating it. I do, however, love these new vegetable salsas that I've been making, so I thought, maybe Mimi's onto something here. It doesn't matter what form my vegetables take...as long as I am eating vegetables!
8. To piggyback on #7, I enjoy salads prepped at restaurants SO MUCH BETTER than salads prepped in my own kitchen.
9. I started out texting Laura and Mimi my daily points and activity points for the first week. I lost almost 4 pounds the first week! Then I stopped texting and only maintained the next week. I haven't texted them since that first week, and I really fear that my number will again be the same on the scale tomorrow morning. I'm thinking that maybe I Need to go to the support meetings, because having someone "see" how I am doing is very motivating for me.
10. I do feel better about my body. It's only been three weeks, but I feel really good! Some days my pants feel very loose! The scale numbers may not be moving, but I'm praying that if I stick with it, I will see the scale start to go down.
11. I eat entirely too many points every day. (I didn't want to forget to mention that.)
12. I do love to track my eating...except when I don't. Sometimes I find myself omitting things that I've eaten or manipulating the amount of the food that I've eaten. Yea, definitely not the thing to do when I'm trying to lose weight. Maybe I should note how many days I'm "cheating" on this program so I can stop this insanity. I mean, Who am I kidding? It's not like those calories don't count if I don't enter them! (Although, sadly, I think part of me believes that.)
13. I want to be thinner. I want to fit into my summer clothes from two years ago. I want to be healthy and fit. I want to exercise everyday. I want to eat more fruits and vegetables. I want to eat less processed food. I want to fix my poor eating habits. I want to be a good role model for my son.
14. I have about a dozen chocolate topped cookies sitting in my freezer since this program began three weeks ago. I've thought about them many times...I've even opened the freezer once to get them. But I haven't touched them. I can't bring myself to throw them away, but I haven't touched them yet. That makes me proud of myself. And I'm hoping that before I reach for them again, I'll work up the courage to throw them away. And I think I need to explore what's making me hang onto them in the first place!
15. I have not had a soda for 18 days. I only drink water, orange juice, and coffee.
I have felt tempted to drink soda two times, but I've reached for water both times. I can't say I can really tell a difference from cutting out soda, which is disappointing, but I know it's not healthy, so I'm just going to hang on for dear life and see where that takes me.
16. I still reach for sweets over veggies. Daily.
17. In the three weeks since I've started, I've walked/run so many miles on my treadmill. In the first week alone, I tracked over 26 miles! That's like running a marathon! That really struck me, so I've added a tracker to my blog to track my mileage on the treadmill to see how far it takes me!
18. I WILL NOT GIVE UP. I signed up for 3 months of Weight Watchers and I am determined to figure out the right combination of eating and exercise for myself.
19. I want to start swimming again, but Will is working so much overtime at work, that I'm not sure when I could fit it in.
20. I am finding that it takes so much mindful planning to be successful on a plan like this. If I don't plan my meals and track after I've eaten, then I find that I've underestimated how much I've consumed and suddenly my points for the day are gone! Last weekend, I spent a lot of time searching for recipes that are Weight Watchers friendly and I made a few really delicious meals! (Weight Watchers beef barbeque, shredded barbeque chicken, pot roast with veggies, roasted red potatoes...all very yummy. I haven't eaten any as leftovers...another habit that I need to work on.)
I've started reading Jillian Michael's Master Your Metabolism again. I'll leave you with one of the quotes that really spoke to me in the first chapter...
"We have to wake up and realize that every bite we take and every lifestyle choice we make matters. Not just for calories or fat or carbs, but because those bites or choices tell our bodies how to react. With bite after bite, sip after sip, breath after breath-when we pick the wrong foods or surround ourselves with toxic chemicals, each moment of consumption tells our hormones to do things that, consciously, we would never want them to do."
And the results so far have been less than stellar.
Basically I'm finding that I'm questioning and feeling resistant to this new points system. Yes, I know that our daily allowance was increased and our weekly points were increased as well. Both very good things! However, I am finding that my food choices use up my points SO QUICKLY! I've been over my points every single day...Thank God I've been exercising so make up for my overage.
So here is a list of things that are hovering in the back of my mind about this new program...
1. I am approaching Weight Watchers with a "Clean Eating" mentality, and it seems like a lot of the choices that I am making are high in points. I know that these foods are good for me, but somehow I'm not feeling any advantage (points wise)to choosing whole foods over processed.
2. I HATE that traditional Weight Watchers staples have gone up in points. It's messing with my belief system!
3. As my sister-in-law told me, on this new program, we are penalized for carbs. Should I be eating less carbs? Yep. However, the carbs that I am eating are whole grains, but they are still carrying a lot of points values. Again, no advantage to eating whole vs. refined.
4. This new program does not count calories-it looks at the nutrients that make up the foods (fat, carbs, protein, and fiber). I am interested in tracking calories along with these nutrients to see how many calories I am actually consuming.
5. I am finding that the harder I exercise to earn activity points, the hungrier I am! It's almost like I am sabotaging myself and my weight loss. And this is something that I most definitely DO NOT want to do!
6. Did I mention that I am eating WAY too many points every single day?
7. I need to eat more vegetables. I was talking about this with Mimi, and mentioned that I needed to eat more salads. She made a comment that she's not going to make salads..just eat more vegetables. So last Saturday when I went to the store, I bought everything I needed to have salad fixings at home. I prepped everything...and there they sit in the fridge. I packed a salad twice for work, and didn't have any interest in eating it. I do, however, love these new vegetable salsas that I've been making, so I thought, maybe Mimi's onto something here. It doesn't matter what form my vegetables take...as long as I am eating vegetables!
8. To piggyback on #7, I enjoy salads prepped at restaurants SO MUCH BETTER than salads prepped in my own kitchen.
9. I started out texting Laura and Mimi my daily points and activity points for the first week. I lost almost 4 pounds the first week! Then I stopped texting and only maintained the next week. I haven't texted them since that first week, and I really fear that my number will again be the same on the scale tomorrow morning. I'm thinking that maybe I Need to go to the support meetings, because having someone "see" how I am doing is very motivating for me.
10. I do feel better about my body. It's only been three weeks, but I feel really good! Some days my pants feel very loose! The scale numbers may not be moving, but I'm praying that if I stick with it, I will see the scale start to go down.
11. I eat entirely too many points every day. (I didn't want to forget to mention that.)
12. I do love to track my eating...except when I don't. Sometimes I find myself omitting things that I've eaten or manipulating the amount of the food that I've eaten. Yea, definitely not the thing to do when I'm trying to lose weight. Maybe I should note how many days I'm "cheating" on this program so I can stop this insanity. I mean, Who am I kidding? It's not like those calories don't count if I don't enter them! (Although, sadly, I think part of me believes that.)
13. I want to be thinner. I want to fit into my summer clothes from two years ago. I want to be healthy and fit. I want to exercise everyday. I want to eat more fruits and vegetables. I want to eat less processed food. I want to fix my poor eating habits. I want to be a good role model for my son.
14. I have about a dozen chocolate topped cookies sitting in my freezer since this program began three weeks ago. I've thought about them many times...I've even opened the freezer once to get them. But I haven't touched them. I can't bring myself to throw them away, but I haven't touched them yet. That makes me proud of myself. And I'm hoping that before I reach for them again, I'll work up the courage to throw them away. And I think I need to explore what's making me hang onto them in the first place!
15. I have not had a soda for 18 days. I only drink water, orange juice, and coffee.
I have felt tempted to drink soda two times, but I've reached for water both times. I can't say I can really tell a difference from cutting out soda, which is disappointing, but I know it's not healthy, so I'm just going to hang on for dear life and see where that takes me.
16. I still reach for sweets over veggies. Daily.
17. In the three weeks since I've started, I've walked/run so many miles on my treadmill. In the first week alone, I tracked over 26 miles! That's like running a marathon! That really struck me, so I've added a tracker to my blog to track my mileage on the treadmill to see how far it takes me!
18. I WILL NOT GIVE UP. I signed up for 3 months of Weight Watchers and I am determined to figure out the right combination of eating and exercise for myself.
19. I want to start swimming again, but Will is working so much overtime at work, that I'm not sure when I could fit it in.
20. I am finding that it takes so much mindful planning to be successful on a plan like this. If I don't plan my meals and track after I've eaten, then I find that I've underestimated how much I've consumed and suddenly my points for the day are gone! Last weekend, I spent a lot of time searching for recipes that are Weight Watchers friendly and I made a few really delicious meals! (Weight Watchers beef barbeque, shredded barbeque chicken, pot roast with veggies, roasted red potatoes...all very yummy. I haven't eaten any as leftovers...another habit that I need to work on.)
I've started reading Jillian Michael's Master Your Metabolism again. I'll leave you with one of the quotes that really spoke to me in the first chapter...
"We have to wake up and realize that every bite we take and every lifestyle choice we make matters. Not just for calories or fat or carbs, but because those bites or choices tell our bodies how to react. With bite after bite, sip after sip, breath after breath-when we pick the wrong foods or surround ourselves with toxic chemicals, each moment of consumption tells our hormones to do things that, consciously, we would never want them to do."
Thursday, January 6, 2011
New Year's Resolutions
Shared from Heavenly Homemakers blog: This pretty much sums up my new year's resolutions...specifically the first three items. And hopefully by following the first three tips, I can meet another resolution that I have every year: Lose 20 pounds and keep it off. First and foremost, I need to follow tip #2 and cut out diet soda!! There is nothing about diet soda that is good for me! Why can't I get that through my thick skull!
In addition to these five, I really REALLY need to improve the nutrition that I provide for my son and myself. I am being negligent and my son is suffering because of it. No wonder he's sick all of the time...it's totally my fault!! And I'm feeling such deep regret about it. But I can improve and I will improve...for my son's sake!
I also bought my own copy of Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels, a MUST-READ in my opinion. I'll reread that this year and try to adhere to advice more soundly.
So here's the blogger's post that I wanted to share...Enjoy!
Five Simple Ways to Live a Natural Lifestyle
By Laura · Jan,04 2011
What does it look like to live a “Natural Lifestyle”?
There are all kinds of different definitions for the word “natural”. Many foods are labeled “natural” in an attempt to appeal to the conscientious consumer. Corn growers pay for advertisements that say that High Fructose Corn Syrup is “natural”. Well, sure it is…in a loose sense of the word I suppose, but that doesn’t make it good for us. Shucks…arsenic is natural.
My own definition of living a ”Natural Lifestyle” I suppose would be “getting back to the basics”. Whether we’re talking about food, family choices, in general taking care of ourselves…doesn’t it just sound refreshing to “get back to the basics”?
Here are five simple ways I’d like to suggest to live a more Natural Lifestyle:
1. Eat Real Food
Yes, you’re so surprised I listed this one aren’t you? Real food is best. Food in it’s natural form. Food that isn’t processed. Food that tastes so stinkin’ good you don’t know what to do with yourself!!! It’s amazing what food without chemicals tastes like!
2. Drink Water
I already wrote about how you should drink more water and told you about some healthy alternatives to soda and other not-so-good-for-you beverages. But really…one of the simplest (and cheapest!) ways for you to adopt a more natural lifestyle is to stop filling your body with icky beverages and just drink water.
3. Exercise
Yeah, and this advice is coming from me…the girl who doesn’t really like to exercise. Guess what though?! My husband and I have made it a point to exercise together three days a week for the past few weeks and I’m actually starting to like it! I’ve heard people say that once you start exercising regularly, you begin to crave it. I never believed them. Until now.
It’s really not as hard as you think, but exercising is just like anything else you need to be doing…YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO IT. I know, profound. The main idea is this: Do what you can to not be sedentary.
A side benefit of exercising: You’ll crave more water and more real foods. Yeah, somehow having a candy bar and soda after exercising feels a little silly. Water and fruit sounds much better.
4. Stay Home More
This may seem like a weird item for our Natural Lifestyle list…but it doesn’t get much simpler or more natural than this. Stay home more. You’ll save money, your vehicles will last longer…and joy of joys…you may not be so worn out all the time! I find that when I’m running from here to there and back again…I am completely exhausted AND behind on all the work I need to do at home. We don’t need THAT much outside “stuff”. When you’re home more…you’ll find you’ll be more rested and more relaxed…naturally.
5. Waste Less
The more natural your lifestyle, the less waste you’ll have. If you make your food from scratch, you’ll have a lot less packaging trash. If you serve smaller portions and make it a point to eat leftovers, you’ll throw away less food. If you don’t buy stuff you don’t need, you’ll waste a LOT less money. If you use cloth napkins and let your kids draw on used scratch paper, you’ll save a lot of trees. None of these things are hard. You just have to be a bit more intentional.
And then of course there are all kinds of other things I’d recommend as you work your way to a more Natural Lifestyle, like planting a garden, buying locally grown produce and other foods, getting good sleep and eating lots of chocolate.
Just kidding. Chocolate may be natural, but eating lots of it would be “The Simplest way to Gain Five Pounds”. That‘s another post for another day.
In addition to these five, I really REALLY need to improve the nutrition that I provide for my son and myself. I am being negligent and my son is suffering because of it. No wonder he's sick all of the time...it's totally my fault!! And I'm feeling such deep regret about it. But I can improve and I will improve...for my son's sake!
I also bought my own copy of Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels, a MUST-READ in my opinion. I'll reread that this year and try to adhere to advice more soundly.
So here's the blogger's post that I wanted to share...Enjoy!
Five Simple Ways to Live a Natural Lifestyle
By Laura · Jan,04 2011
What does it look like to live a “Natural Lifestyle”?
There are all kinds of different definitions for the word “natural”. Many foods are labeled “natural” in an attempt to appeal to the conscientious consumer. Corn growers pay for advertisements that say that High Fructose Corn Syrup is “natural”. Well, sure it is…in a loose sense of the word I suppose, but that doesn’t make it good for us. Shucks…arsenic is natural.
My own definition of living a ”Natural Lifestyle” I suppose would be “getting back to the basics”. Whether we’re talking about food, family choices, in general taking care of ourselves…doesn’t it just sound refreshing to “get back to the basics”?
Here are five simple ways I’d like to suggest to live a more Natural Lifestyle:
1. Eat Real Food
Yes, you’re so surprised I listed this one aren’t you? Real food is best. Food in it’s natural form. Food that isn’t processed. Food that tastes so stinkin’ good you don’t know what to do with yourself!!! It’s amazing what food without chemicals tastes like!
2. Drink Water
I already wrote about how you should drink more water and told you about some healthy alternatives to soda and other not-so-good-for-you beverages. But really…one of the simplest (and cheapest!) ways for you to adopt a more natural lifestyle is to stop filling your body with icky beverages and just drink water.
3. Exercise
Yeah, and this advice is coming from me…the girl who doesn’t really like to exercise. Guess what though?! My husband and I have made it a point to exercise together three days a week for the past few weeks and I’m actually starting to like it! I’ve heard people say that once you start exercising regularly, you begin to crave it. I never believed them. Until now.
It’s really not as hard as you think, but exercising is just like anything else you need to be doing…YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO IT. I know, profound. The main idea is this: Do what you can to not be sedentary.
A side benefit of exercising: You’ll crave more water and more real foods. Yeah, somehow having a candy bar and soda after exercising feels a little silly. Water and fruit sounds much better.
4. Stay Home More
This may seem like a weird item for our Natural Lifestyle list…but it doesn’t get much simpler or more natural than this. Stay home more. You’ll save money, your vehicles will last longer…and joy of joys…you may not be so worn out all the time! I find that when I’m running from here to there and back again…I am completely exhausted AND behind on all the work I need to do at home. We don’t need THAT much outside “stuff”. When you’re home more…you’ll find you’ll be more rested and more relaxed…naturally.
5. Waste Less
The more natural your lifestyle, the less waste you’ll have. If you make your food from scratch, you’ll have a lot less packaging trash. If you serve smaller portions and make it a point to eat leftovers, you’ll throw away less food. If you don’t buy stuff you don’t need, you’ll waste a LOT less money. If you use cloth napkins and let your kids draw on used scratch paper, you’ll save a lot of trees. None of these things are hard. You just have to be a bit more intentional.
And then of course there are all kinds of other things I’d recommend as you work your way to a more Natural Lifestyle, like planting a garden, buying locally grown produce and other foods, getting good sleep and eating lots of chocolate.
Just kidding. Chocolate may be natural, but eating lots of it would be “The Simplest way to Gain Five Pounds”. That‘s another post for another day.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
10 Commandments of Healthy Eating for Parents
another fantastic list from Spark People! This is the area where I really struggle. Because I am not YET an example of healthy eating, I feel like my son's health has been neglected. He's come a long way (in terms of trying new foods) but I must admit, I have relied on his sitter and his preschool to provide more of a balanced meal than I have ever provided! I'd really like to try some new healthy recipes that my son and husband will try. I bought The Eat Clean Diet for Kids and Family recently, so perhaps I'll find some kid friendly things to try. Thanks to my friend, Laura http://start-from-scratch-blog.blogspot.com/2010/06/fish-sticks.html,for providing a healthier alternative to processed chicken nuggets and fish sticks. I'm going to give both a try!
It's as simple as counting to 10!
1. Thou shalt not force, bribe or coerce thy child to eat.
2. Thou shalt set a good example by eating at least five fruits and vegetables, three whole grain products, and three dairy servings per day thyself.
3. Thou shalt make mealtimes pleasant.
4. Thou shalt encourage thy child to help in meal planning, preparation, and cleanup.
5. Thou shalt back off when mealtime becomes a power struggle.
6. Thou shalt accept food "binges" as phases that will eventually pass.
7. Thou shalt accept the fact that thy child is an individual and thus will dislike certain foods (and there may be many).
8. Thou shalt not give up on introducing thy child to new foods. Thou shalt realize it sometimes takes 10 tries to get a child to accept a food.
9. Thou shalt use this division of responsibility for eating: As the parent, thou art responsible for deciding when and what to serve. Thy child is responsible for deciding how much (if any) will be eaten.
10. Thou shalt give thy child a multivitamin-mineral supplement if he is a picky eater.
It's as simple as counting to 10!
1. Thou shalt not force, bribe or coerce thy child to eat.
2. Thou shalt set a good example by eating at least five fruits and vegetables, three whole grain products, and three dairy servings per day thyself.
3. Thou shalt make mealtimes pleasant.
4. Thou shalt encourage thy child to help in meal planning, preparation, and cleanup.
5. Thou shalt back off when mealtime becomes a power struggle.
6. Thou shalt accept food "binges" as phases that will eventually pass.
7. Thou shalt accept the fact that thy child is an individual and thus will dislike certain foods (and there may be many).
8. Thou shalt not give up on introducing thy child to new foods. Thou shalt realize it sometimes takes 10 tries to get a child to accept a food.
9. Thou shalt use this division of responsibility for eating: As the parent, thou art responsible for deciding when and what to serve. Thy child is responsible for deciding how much (if any) will be eaten.
10. Thou shalt give thy child a multivitamin-mineral supplement if he is a picky eater.
Friday, October 15, 2010
11 things that children can teach us about healthy living...
I found this list this morning, and absolutely LOVED it! It came from a SparkPeople email. Enjoy! And perhaps adopt some of these truths into your daily lives.
1. Everything can be a game. Why slog through the same workout routines in boredom, when you can add a little fun? Make up rules, shoot for personal records, and regain your competitive spirit.
2. Don't walk when you can run. Every day is full of opportunities to increase your fitness. This rule is closely related to "don't drive when you can walk."
3. If you don't like it, don't eat it. Chances are, your eating habits won't stick around long if you hate what you're eating. Healthy eating involves balance and moderation.
4. Laughter feels good. Kids seem to inherently know that laughter can ease blood pressure, help your brain function, give you energy, and help you reach your goals.
5. Playtime is important. We get so caught up in work, and "have-to's" that we forget to take time for ourselves. Not only does relaxing make life worthwhile, it has real health benefits.
6. The world should be full of color--especially on your dinner plate! Splash it with as many colors as possible; paint it like a rainbow with food. It's more fun to look at, the most colorful produce options often pack the most nutrients, and chances are you'll be eating a healthy, balanced meal.
7. It's always more fun with friends around. Children tend to gravitate toward other children. It gives them spirit and makes them want to play all day. Working out with other people is almost like having your own little playgroup.
8. Adventures are found outside, not inside. Every kid knows that the good stuff is in the great outdoors--fresh air, wide open spaces, limitless possibilities. You can't find those things cooped up in a tiny, stale gym. Open the door and start a new adventure every day.
9. It's important to use your imagination. You can be Major Fantasia or Stupendous Woman any time you want. Give yourself permission to believe in your own super powers and let your mind take you wherever it wants to go.
10. Anything is possible. No fear, no self-doubts, no negative self talk, no self-criticism, no worries, no destructive anxieties or thoughts of failure. To a child, he/she can do anything. And do you know what? They're right.
11. You have your whole life ahead of you. Here's your chance to do it right!
1. Everything can be a game. Why slog through the same workout routines in boredom, when you can add a little fun? Make up rules, shoot for personal records, and regain your competitive spirit.
2. Don't walk when you can run. Every day is full of opportunities to increase your fitness. This rule is closely related to "don't drive when you can walk."
3. If you don't like it, don't eat it. Chances are, your eating habits won't stick around long if you hate what you're eating. Healthy eating involves balance and moderation.
4. Laughter feels good. Kids seem to inherently know that laughter can ease blood pressure, help your brain function, give you energy, and help you reach your goals.
5. Playtime is important. We get so caught up in work, and "have-to's" that we forget to take time for ourselves. Not only does relaxing make life worthwhile, it has real health benefits.
6. The world should be full of color--especially on your dinner plate! Splash it with as many colors as possible; paint it like a rainbow with food. It's more fun to look at, the most colorful produce options often pack the most nutrients, and chances are you'll be eating a healthy, balanced meal.
7. It's always more fun with friends around. Children tend to gravitate toward other children. It gives them spirit and makes them want to play all day. Working out with other people is almost like having your own little playgroup.
8. Adventures are found outside, not inside. Every kid knows that the good stuff is in the great outdoors--fresh air, wide open spaces, limitless possibilities. You can't find those things cooped up in a tiny, stale gym. Open the door and start a new adventure every day.
9. It's important to use your imagination. You can be Major Fantasia or Stupendous Woman any time you want. Give yourself permission to believe in your own super powers and let your mind take you wherever it wants to go.
10. Anything is possible. No fear, no self-doubts, no negative self talk, no self-criticism, no worries, no destructive anxieties or thoughts of failure. To a child, he/she can do anything. And do you know what? They're right.
11. You have your whole life ahead of you. Here's your chance to do it right!
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