First Day of Lent = Amazing Opportunity

Are you giving up something for the next forty days of Lent?

I put serious thought into this, and with each idea that I came up with I realized that anything I give up that would challenge me that I would also seem to benefit from giving it up in the end. That doesn't seem to be as sacrificial as it ought to be, right?

But, then it dawned me that anything I do for God has got to a benefit for me by the very nature of God. He is our Great Caregiver. Anything He asks of us is ultimately in our best interest for our present state of life, or into the eternal. So I decided that as long whatever I gave up challenged me, and tested me, was worth offering to God during this Lent season.

Actually, I've chosen two things to sacrifice this Lent season, one of which relates to food. For the next 40-days of Lent (remember, Sunday's aren't included, as they are for celebrating) I will refrain from eating any morsels whatsoever of "goodies". This includes: chips, cookies, chocolates, cakes, munchy snacks, etc.

So, what about you. Will you be giving up a certain food during Lent in honour of God holding our lives in His hands. In anticipation of Easter, the greatest Love sacrifice of all time.

Lent offers that extra support we weight-challenged people could use. It is an amazing opportunity to get back on track eating wise. I encourage you all to consider that your body is a temple (1 Cor 6:19) and that we are to take care of our individual temples for God's glory and work to be delivered through us.

Blessings,

Eileen

Back at It.

Okay, the holidays got to me. Too many peanut butter balls and butter cookies, I guess.

So here goes my eating to plan again. I did it yesterday, stuck with it so far today, here's hoping I can do it for the next couple of weeks to get back to my goal weight again.

This is my plan. Try it if you like.

First, just so we're clear, I do measure and weigh my portions to be sure that a portion is truly a single portion. I consistently lost 2 lbs a week following this plan last year, so hopefully it'll do the same for me over the next couple weeks and you, too, if you try it.

6 to 8 glasses water spread out throughout the day (Yes, it's best to have easy access to the porcelain buddy!!)
2 servings protein (ie. a 5 oz serving of fish or chicken or 4 oz's of beef is one serving, 1 cup cottage cheese = 1 serving)
2 servings starch (ie. 2 slices weight watchers bread = one serving, 1/2 cup cereal = one serving)
2 servings fruit (ie. 1 large banana = 2 servings, 1 average apple = 1 serving)
3 servings vegetables (ie. 1 cup broccoli = 1 serving, 1/2 cup carrots = 1 serving, the starchier the vege, the less needed for a serving)
1 serving dairy (ie. 1 cup milk = 1 serving, 3/4 no-fat yogurt = 1 serving, 1/2 cup 1% cottage cheese = 1 serving)
2 servings fat (8 raw almonds = 1 fat, 1 tbsp oil = 1 fat)
1 Free exchange (that's any treat or pasta sauce or anything, really, that amounts to around 100 calories)

May we all succeed!!

Blessings,

Eileen

Doing Better

Not counting the small bag of chips I've consumed the last two days, I've been doing relatively well with the water and food consumption.

I'm back on the L-glutamine, and hopefully that will soon recharge me. I still have cravings for the bad stuff, but self-discipline (other than with the chips) has saved me so far. Hopefully soon the cravings will stop all together.

Costco sells a huge skinless, boneless salmon fillet that could feed our whole family twice. It's wonderful to cook up with a little lemon juice and a sprinkle of non-salt seasoning, and it's healthy for us, too. I've been feasting on it a lot lately. Along with fresh organic carrots, cucumbers, and clementines. Non-fat yogurt has been a joy to eat as well. The key for me is to limit the carbs, and these past two days I've done not too badly with that challenge. Hopefully I can keep it up.

Keep reaching for the healthy options, everyone, and you'll reach your goal!!

Blessings,

Eileen

Where has my self-discipline gone?

Oh, I'm getting so frustrated with myself lately. Snacking, snacking, snacking, and not on anything good, either. That's me lately.

Has the chill of the winter sent me into no-no land?

I hope not, because the cold has only just begun.

I've had salmon with veges two times in the last three days to try and keep my meals low calorie at least. But that isn't enough. I really need to curb my cravings for the bad stuff. Tomorrow I'm getting back on the L-glutamine to help me with the willpower, and tomorrow I'm starting to log e v e r y s i n g l e thing that I put in my mouth. No more dilly-dallying. It's time for action, and that means it's time to get serious about making wise choices for my food consumption.

I pray all of you are meeting your goals, and that you're not struggling like I've been lately.

Blessings,

Eileen

The Ill bug caught me.

I have a stuffy nose, painful ears, scratchy throat, and feel warm, too. I'm not doing too well lately.

The older I get the longer these bugs seem to stay with me. It's very annoying. To top this woe off tomorrow I head over to diagnostic imaging for a thyroid biopsy that I've not been looking forward to. So, needless to say, I'm sorry I haven't posted for a couple weeks, but life has been a little difficult on me as of late.

Okay, what does all this have to do with weight control? Well, when I'm sick, and anxious, as the case may be, I tend to want comfort foods, and that includes gravies, pastas, buns, etc. Not good for the diet, trust me. My parents visited this weekend and what do I make them, gravy saturated pork and chicken on a bun. At least I included a tossed salad as something healthy in the meal. This kind of meal has been the norm as of late, so I really need to get back on track. More fish, and less drippings!

Okay, I'm going to promise to down eight servings of vegetables/fruit each day to help me get back on track regardless of this silly cold and anxiety woes. I'll try and report in here often. My hope is that intaking that much "Excellent" sources of food will help me shrink the intake of all the "comfort" foods I've been craving.

Till next time, I pray you all are succeeding with your own weight management.

Blessings,

Eileen

Thanksgiving Weekend -- The Aftermath

Oh, boy, I'm still dealing with an upset tummy, and it's not from the two bushels of concord grapes I juiced with my Dad, either, or the Turkey dinner we attempted to enjoy on Monday.

I was extremely stupid and ordered a Big Mac Meal from McDonalds on the way home on Sunday afternoon from my parent's place. We had stopped at a Tack Shop in Beamsville on route home, and then ducked into the nearby McDonalds for lunch. BIG MISTAKE!

Usually, when we make use of a fast food joint, I order the salad. Salads are good, and good for you! But this time, since I hadn't had my turkey dinner yet I decided I'd splurge. I should have taken my husband's disbelieving glance as a serious warning when I ordered. He knew it wasn't a good idea, bless his heart.

But I didn't listen, and so four days later I'm still suffering the consequences. Bloated and my tummy aches as though it is always overstuffed. I'll not be ordering anything but salads from fast food joints for a good long time from now, I promise.

I'm going to sound like a broken record, I know. But water does seems to be helping. Today, the ache isn't quite as bad, though the bloating is still present. What do you do to rid yourself of tummy aches brought on by stupid choices? Any suggestions?

Blessings,

Eileen

A Year of Success--I'm celebrating!

This is my first anniversary of serious weight management. YAHOO, I made it! So I know you can too!! Get serious, and join me in celebrating, please!

It was one year ago today that I made the very serious decision to take control of my expanding body and reign it in. I sought out a support group, and for the next 20weeks I consistently lost 2 lbs per week, achieving my goal weight on target. And I am so happy to be able to say that I've maintained that goal weight for the remaining seven months of this year. I've bounced a pound or two here and there, as I've divulged in this blog, but I've come to realize that's a part of life, and as long as I take steps to bring it back down before it gets out of control, then I feel confident that I can maintain my goal weight for the rest of my life.

What about you? Have you made the conscious decision to take control of the temple God gave you? Are you worth the energy to discover confidence and optimal health? If you don't believe it, I do. And I pray that you'll find the support, courage, dedication, and will-power to achieve your goals!

Here's to a second year for me of eating for Him, and here's to all of you seeking to do the same! Praise God for His Amazing Grace!

Blessings,

Eileen