Things I have been told will help in weight loss efforts:

· Use a smaller plate at all meals
· Eat an apple ½ hour before all meals
· Drink iced water with lemon
· Drink iced water with lemon ½ hour before all meals
· Do not eat while watching t.v.
· Do not engage in any other activity while eating
· Eat a light meal before going to a party
· Don’t eat after 8:00 p.m.
· Exercise early in the day to reap all benefits of fat burning throughout day
· Eat mini meals (x6) throughout the day
· Limit meals to 3 main, 2 snacks
· Drink at least 6-8 eight oz. glasses of water
· Watch sodium intake
· Select fresh fruits and vegetables in place of canned whenever possible
· Watch carb intake
· Exercise a minimum of 1 hour daily (aerobic) to lose weight
· Dark chocolate is good for you
· Trim all visible fats from meat prior to cooking
· Grill – don’t fry
· Replace egg yolks with egg whites
· Substitute applesauce for oil in dessert recipes (i.e. brownies, cakes, etc.)
· Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night
· Use relaxation techniques to eliminate stress
· Write everything you eat down
· Plan your meals ahead
· Do not have “a lot” of meal choices – variety is not the spice of life when it comes to weight loss
· Do not grocery shop when you are hungry
· Shop the outer aisles of the grocery store (avoid stores interior)
· Deprivation leads to a binge
· Get your family and friends on board
· Ask for help
· Seek out support
· Acknowledge your successes along the way with non-food rewards
· Be realistic about your weight loss goals
· Never Give Up

I Can't Believe I Ate the Whole Thing

I just wanted to tell you that there is a LOT of food on the "Biggest Loser 30 Day Jump Start" program. (Too much food right now.) This morning I made "Egg Foo Yung" - made with egg white(s) and LOADED with veges. It really did taste delicious! But add to that a large tangerine, a slice of toasted "Ezekiel 4:9" bread and an 8 oz. glass of milk (I sooo love my milk!) ... & phew. I'm feeling fulllll!

If you are a person who, like me, always feels like they are starving on a "diet" ... feel that way no more. You will be pushing the plate away feeling SOOO much satisfaction. Or - you'll just plain feel totally stuffed! :-) But that beats feeling so hungry that you're constantly thinking of your next meal, right? With this program that is not the case!

I think I “get” where they’re going with this ~ they want people to have big, bulky breakfasts to heal their dead (or dying) metabolisms from the "ghosts of diets past!" (lol)

So – if you find my metabolism sitting at my desk but find that I am missing … you’ll know which one of "us" survived!!

"Flex Activities"

So -- the finish line is in view and I'm running like a cheetah to break the ribbon ... but the last lap in this particular race (i.e. course) is making make me quite winded! We are required to do something called, "Flex Activities." If you saw me attempting a push-up or toe touch you would know, immediately, that I am not very "Flex-able" these days! ;-)

Okay, so the project for my Psych class this semester doesn't actually require THAT kind of flex-ability but ... nevertheless. Wouldn't you have to agree that was a great segue into a rant about diets? lol

Ahhh - the dreaded "d" word. Yes, I need to be on yet another one. I don't want to be on yet another one. But - I have ceased to weigh myself because I cannot see past my ever increasing belly to view the numbers on the scale. No, I'm not pregnant ~ it wouldn't be THAT simple. I'm afraid this is simply a gestation of Reese's and Oreos and it NEEDS to be delivered in 9 mos. (sigh*)

I finally decided - once and for all - THIS is it. I have thrown down my own gauntlet! I have also decided that it is far less painful to just look in the mirror, admit that I'm no where near where I want to be and avoid the scale at all costs right now. Why deal with a number that screams, "You have at least 75 pounds to lose ..."

It's obvious I am not at my goal weight. When I get close and start to like what I see more ... THEN I'll venture onto the box with the numbers. Until then -- I'll check out the mirror and I will blog. THAT is my plan for the time being ...

I'll keep you posted ~ and maybe, just maybe, I'll post a "before" picture ... ("after" I'm at my goal weight! ha)

'me'