Hi, Guys:
Guess the extra carbs I've been indulging in lately have finally decided to take up residence. I reached my 2 lb increase, my alerting number, and now I'm sticking to the straight and narrow to banish it away once more.
I'm back to 2 carbs (in the morning only), 2 protein, 2 fruit, 3 veges, 1 dairy, 2 fats, and 1 freebee (100 cals or less) for the next few days to try and get rid of this extra poundage.
I don't want to be taking it with me on my weekend away with my sisters and Mom. So I'm determined to lose it before Friday at 3:00 p.m. when THE WEEKEND begins. Can she do it? You ask.
I hope so. I'll keep you all posted.
Feel free to join me in the fight. I love company!
Blessings,
Eileen
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Pizza
Every one loves pizza. Right? I know I do.
While I was losing weight I refrained from enjoying the traditional pizza one orders in, though.
As my family downed a couple boxes of greasy, and oh so tasty pizza, I pulled out a Weight Watcher's pita, spread a tablespoon of diet spaghetti sauce on it and sprinkled on my measured 1 oz of low-fat mozzarella cheese, then topped it with an array of fresh vegetables and grilled chicken. Next, I slid it into the oven and let it roast until the cheese melted and the veges softened some. Amazingly enough, I really enjoy this style of pizza and it contains far less fat and calories than the tradition pizza does.
Now that I'm at goal, I must admit I will now join my family for the odd slice of traditional pizza and my body does handle it well. But that's because I practice control. I don't eat more than a slice or two as my whole meal and I round it out with fresh veges or fruit to get some healthier food into me at the same time.
I still make those lower calorie pizza's on pita's from time to time and quite enjoy them, too. So, do yourself a favour and try creating your own personal pizza the healthy way the next time your family orders in. You may discover that you like them even better. Your body will sure appreciate the alternative, anyway!
Blessings,
Eileen
While I was losing weight I refrained from enjoying the traditional pizza one orders in, though.
As my family downed a couple boxes of greasy, and oh so tasty pizza, I pulled out a Weight Watcher's pita, spread a tablespoon of diet spaghetti sauce on it and sprinkled on my measured 1 oz of low-fat mozzarella cheese, then topped it with an array of fresh vegetables and grilled chicken. Next, I slid it into the oven and let it roast until the cheese melted and the veges softened some. Amazingly enough, I really enjoy this style of pizza and it contains far less fat and calories than the tradition pizza does.
Now that I'm at goal, I must admit I will now join my family for the odd slice of traditional pizza and my body does handle it well. But that's because I practice control. I don't eat more than a slice or two as my whole meal and I round it out with fresh veges or fruit to get some healthier food into me at the same time.
I still make those lower calorie pizza's on pita's from time to time and quite enjoy them, too. So, do yourself a favour and try creating your own personal pizza the healthy way the next time your family orders in. You may discover that you like them even better. Your body will sure appreciate the alternative, anyway!
Blessings,
Eileen
Friday, April 25, 2008
Granola
If you're like me you enjoy those wonderful yogurt, fruit, and granola parfaits. There's nothing wrong with that, really, especially if you use low-fat yogurt, and fruit, well all fruit is great for you. It's that last ingredient that can cause us some trouble.
Many granola products are high in sugar, in fact most are. If you're really trying to cut sugar intake and calories, then a better choice would be to substitute Kashi cereal for the granola. You'll still get the crunch, but with a whole lot less sugar.
That's my tip for today. Kashi verses granola. Try it and see what you think. Remember, you can still add a couple almonds to your parfait to get that nutty flavour.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. May the sky be shining in your part of the world!
Blessings,
Eileen
Many granola products are high in sugar, in fact most are. If you're really trying to cut sugar intake and calories, then a better choice would be to substitute Kashi cereal for the granola. You'll still get the crunch, but with a whole lot less sugar.
That's my tip for today. Kashi verses granola. Try it and see what you think. Remember, you can still add a couple almonds to your parfait to get that nutty flavour.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. May the sky be shining in your part of the world!
Blessings,
Eileen
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Mind Power
Hi, All:
I've been asked a time or two if I used "mind power" to achieve my weight loss goal.
Well...the simple answer is, YES.
I believe anyone purposely working toward losing weight is influenced by their personal outlook, and whether or not they practice a positive or negative attitude toward their set agenda will certainly affect the outcome.
Remember that old "I think I can. I think I can." chant? I challenge you to take it a step further and switch it to, "I KNOW I can, I KNOW I can..."
Believe in yourself and you've crossed the first hurdle of weight loss--you've gained the positive attitude that will help you overcome the inevitable setbacks that will test you along the way and continue to test you throughout the rest of your life during the perpetual maintenance stage.
Sorry folks, but that's the truth. If you are prone to packing on the pounds, this is a life long journey, it doesn't end when you reach goal, it's a cross you will bear the rest of your life so you would do well to accept it with a positive attitude!
Dare to imagine yourself with more energy, less fatty-tissue pain, clothes that fit comfortably that you can be proud to wear, an encourager for all who are struggling and can't imagine they'll be able to succeed like you have. But, oh, you're living proof that they CAN succeed. Envision yourself as an example of success. Dare to feel confident and secure in your choice to partake in that scrumptious cheese cake slice next time you socialize with friends or family. You've been disciplined all week, so you deserve the treat and won't feel a speck of guilt for enjoying it, afterall.
Dare to control your food intake and reap the benefits in so many ways!
Happy Positive Thinking Everyone!
Blessings,
Eileen
I've been asked a time or two if I used "mind power" to achieve my weight loss goal.
Well...the simple answer is, YES.
I believe anyone purposely working toward losing weight is influenced by their personal outlook, and whether or not they practice a positive or negative attitude toward their set agenda will certainly affect the outcome.
Remember that old "I think I can. I think I can." chant? I challenge you to take it a step further and switch it to, "I KNOW I can, I KNOW I can..."
Believe in yourself and you've crossed the first hurdle of weight loss--you've gained the positive attitude that will help you overcome the inevitable setbacks that will test you along the way and continue to test you throughout the rest of your life during the perpetual maintenance stage.
Sorry folks, but that's the truth. If you are prone to packing on the pounds, this is a life long journey, it doesn't end when you reach goal, it's a cross you will bear the rest of your life so you would do well to accept it with a positive attitude!
Dare to imagine yourself with more energy, less fatty-tissue pain, clothes that fit comfortably that you can be proud to wear, an encourager for all who are struggling and can't imagine they'll be able to succeed like you have. But, oh, you're living proof that they CAN succeed. Envision yourself as an example of success. Dare to feel confident and secure in your choice to partake in that scrumptious cheese cake slice next time you socialize with friends or family. You've been disciplined all week, so you deserve the treat and won't feel a speck of guilt for enjoying it, afterall.
Dare to control your food intake and reap the benefits in so many ways!
Happy Positive Thinking Everyone!
Blessings,
Eileen
Monday, April 21, 2008
Carbs--Don't we just love them!
Hi, All:
This site needed some colour so I added a few widgets that I thought might be of interest. Take a look over there on the right hand side and check out what they offer. I hope they provide some more tips as well as encouragement to us all. One of the widgets provides healthy recipes, if you try some of them out, please share your reviews of it in the comment box. I'm always looking for recommended recipes.
Now, onto my tip of the day. Carbohydrates. To many of us that is a nasty word because it is the main cause of our over-sized hips, protruding stomach, chafing thighs...the list could go on. We like our breads and we like our sugars, but they don't like us!
There lies the problem.
So, it is with a sigh that I go forward and say: LIMIT THE CARB INTAKE!
A good rule of thumb is to choose items that have less than 25% of it's carbohydrates from sugar. If you can get into the habit of looking at labels, take a look at the grams of carbs in a serving and then look into the detailed section to see what the number of grams of those carbs is derived from sugar. Do the math. Is the grams of sugar a quarter or less of the total grams of carbohydrates in a single serving of the product? If so, it is a healthy choice, if not, consider it a treat and make your decision of whether to partake in it's sweetness accordingly.
Again, think moderation here. It doesn't do to give up everything you desire, but by implementing discipline on a level you may find a challenge, but doable, you will reach your goal that much faster.
May your day be filled with good choices!
Blessings,
Eileen
This site needed some colour so I added a few widgets that I thought might be of interest. Take a look over there on the right hand side and check out what they offer. I hope they provide some more tips as well as encouragement to us all. One of the widgets provides healthy recipes, if you try some of them out, please share your reviews of it in the comment box. I'm always looking for recommended recipes.
Now, onto my tip of the day. Carbohydrates. To many of us that is a nasty word because it is the main cause of our over-sized hips, protruding stomach, chafing thighs...the list could go on. We like our breads and we like our sugars, but they don't like us!
There lies the problem.
So, it is with a sigh that I go forward and say: LIMIT THE CARB INTAKE!
A good rule of thumb is to choose items that have less than 25% of it's carbohydrates from sugar. If you can get into the habit of looking at labels, take a look at the grams of carbs in a serving and then look into the detailed section to see what the number of grams of those carbs is derived from sugar. Do the math. Is the grams of sugar a quarter or less of the total grams of carbohydrates in a single serving of the product? If so, it is a healthy choice, if not, consider it a treat and make your decision of whether to partake in it's sweetness accordingly.
Again, think moderation here. It doesn't do to give up everything you desire, but by implementing discipline on a level you may find a challenge, but doable, you will reach your goal that much faster.
May your day be filled with good choices!
Blessings,
Eileen
Friday, April 18, 2008
Appetite Reducer
I found another way to keep my appetite down.
STAY BUSY!!
Honestly, I've been so busy this week working on my writing and my writer's blog that I haven't had time to go upstairs and eat.
I sip my water and my coffee all day long and seem to forget lunch until it's nearly 2:00 in the afternoon. Then I force myself to go upstairs and eat. But because I have so much to do back down in my office, I grab my healthy raw veggies (all ready prepared in a container or bag, as the case me be, for quick snacking) and this week I sliced some precooked chicken breast onto a whole wheat pita that I slathered some low-fat tzatziki sauce onto and sprinkled it with diced cucumber and ta-da my tasty, healthy lunch was ready in minutes and went down the hatch even faster. Okay, you may breathe now. That was a mouthful wasn't it?
And, no, for those of you questioning if I eat the same thing every day, day after day, I don't. But this week my lunches were certainly consistent. I mixed up my breakfasts and suppers really well, though.
So, here is my tip of the day: Find a hobby, and no, eating is not a hobby! It is a necessity of life, but in moderation and with discipline adhered to most of the time.
Get busy and fill those hours that you usually tend to snack in with your hobby, or extra chores, or brown-nosing the boss by doing extra work. Around here the weather has been great lately (not that I've seen much of it since I'm down here in my little haven, aka office, but I do have to take my puppy out for potty training every once in awhile) so what about doing some spring chores, raking the yard, cleaning out the flower beds, beautifying your yard, and if you haven't as of yet, get rid of those "LET IT SNOW" signs before someone belts you one!
Okay, now I better get back to Curtis and Katrina and dream up some more conflict for them to traverse and somehow grow their relationship within.
Blessings and have a great warm weekend ahead!
Eileen
STAY BUSY!!
Honestly, I've been so busy this week working on my writing and my writer's blog that I haven't had time to go upstairs and eat.
I sip my water and my coffee all day long and seem to forget lunch until it's nearly 2:00 in the afternoon. Then I force myself to go upstairs and eat. But because I have so much to do back down in my office, I grab my healthy raw veggies (all ready prepared in a container or bag, as the case me be, for quick snacking) and this week I sliced some precooked chicken breast onto a whole wheat pita that I slathered some low-fat tzatziki sauce onto and sprinkled it with diced cucumber and ta-da my tasty, healthy lunch was ready in minutes and went down the hatch even faster. Okay, you may breathe now. That was a mouthful wasn't it?
And, no, for those of you questioning if I eat the same thing every day, day after day, I don't. But this week my lunches were certainly consistent. I mixed up my breakfasts and suppers really well, though.
So, here is my tip of the day: Find a hobby, and no, eating is not a hobby! It is a necessity of life, but in moderation and with discipline adhered to most of the time.
Get busy and fill those hours that you usually tend to snack in with your hobby, or extra chores, or brown-nosing the boss by doing extra work. Around here the weather has been great lately (not that I've seen much of it since I'm down here in my little haven, aka office, but I do have to take my puppy out for potty training every once in awhile) so what about doing some spring chores, raking the yard, cleaning out the flower beds, beautifying your yard, and if you haven't as of yet, get rid of those "LET IT SNOW" signs before someone belts you one!
Okay, now I better get back to Curtis and Katrina and dream up some more conflict for them to traverse and somehow grow their relationship within.
Blessings and have a great warm weekend ahead!
Eileen
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Fat requirements
Everyone needs to consume some fat for a healthy body. Isn't that great? I mean, really, fat is one of the great elements that provide taste, and I'm all for taste.
But when you are checking out labels be sure to pick up choices that get a maximum of 25% of their calories derived from fat. And of that 25%, no more than 50% should come from saturated fats and trans fats. It takes a little math, but well worth putting the left side of your brain to work for. You'll know you're eating mainly healthy fats if you take a moment to check this out.
Every food label should have the fats broken down for an easy calculation, so go ahead, the next time you see a choice of items, take a look at the label and make an educated choice--one your body will love you for.
Blessings,
Eileen
But when you are checking out labels be sure to pick up choices that get a maximum of 25% of their calories derived from fat. And of that 25%, no more than 50% should come from saturated fats and trans fats. It takes a little math, but well worth putting the left side of your brain to work for. You'll know you're eating mainly healthy fats if you take a moment to check this out.
Every food label should have the fats broken down for an easy calculation, so go ahead, the next time you see a choice of items, take a look at the label and make an educated choice--one your body will love you for.
Blessings,
Eileen
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