Getting Back My Mojo

Mid-November.  My birthday.  One decision:  have a cupcake.

It seems things went downhill from there!

My resolve to eat no desserts and keep sugar out of my diet took a nosedive.  For almost 4 years I've done really well with my healthy eating efforts and have kept the weight off. 

But once I had that cupcake I was like a drug addict, wondering when I'd get another fix.  There was pie on Thanksgiving and a few treats here and there...until one night I thought I would absolutely DIE if I didn't have a pile of cookies!

All through the Christmas season and New Year celebrations it was so easy to indulge. So I figured I'd just wait till I got it all out of my system and get back on track.  It's hard to do but here I am.  Starting over with my clothes too tight and my confidence a bit rattled.  

Time to renew my efforts and remind myself that I don't have to remain derailed for the rest of my life.  Deuteronomy 30 talks about the choice we have for life or death.  I know when I'm eating right I feel better.  My life is better.  I want that ALL the time!  Verses 19-20 sum it up so well:

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Choosing to follow the Lord and take care of the body he's entrusted to me is once again renewed.  I hope you'll join me!  

Here's one of my favorite healthy meals.  Even Stacy says it makes ground turkey delicious and that's hard to do!

• 1 package Plainville Farms Ground Turkey (from Publix-the best ground turkey available and usually the least expensive!)
• 2-3 med to large yellow squash, sliced in small chunks
• 1 onion, sliced in bite-size pieces
• 8 oz package of mushrooms, sliced
• garlic
• handful of sliced bell peppers
• adjust the ingredients to whatever veggies you like or have on hand. sometimes I throw in a couple handfuls of spinach or chopped kale.

Season turkey as desired.  Brown in skillet with a little olive oil and crushed garlic.   Throw in all the veggies and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Add some parsley flakes or any other seasoning.  If it's too dry for your taste, use a little more olive oil or chicken broth.  Serve as-is or over rice.  I like it with Trader Joe's Brown Rice Blend.

How Did You Do It?

"How did you do it?"

My most-asked question!  And I'm so happy to share with anyone that will listen.  Why would I want to keep something so good to myself?  I feel better, have more energy, lower cholesterol and blood pressure and an overall better sense of well-being.  Of course I want to answer that question!

Only problem is, it's what we all know already.  Eat better and exercise. 

Boo!  Who wants to do that? 

Someone who has finally had enough of being where they are and feels ready to do something to make life better.  That's who! The quick answer is, "eat less, move more, pray about it!"  And for even more, click the link on the top page of the blog for just the weight-loss related articles.

To use the old cliche, if I can do it, anybody can!  If I can encourage you please don't hesitate to ask. :)

Worth the Work, Worth the Wait

When you decide you need to lose weight and begin a diet plan, generally a lot of thought and planning go into it.  After the first few meals, you:

• have been so consumed by thoughts of what you can and can't eat,
• have strained yourself doing exercises you've never considered before,
• have felt a little hungry, and 
• feel like you're being punished because of the meals you've had.  

By the passing of two or three days of sticking to this grand new plan you confidently step on the scale, certain you've lost 10 or more pounds.  But no...barely a pound or two!  What?!?  

You feel like giving up.  "How in the world could all this effort be worth it when I don't see any results on the scale?"  That's when you have to step back and give yourself credit for what you've accomplished and determine above all else to stick with what you know is right to do.  After all, your body didn't get this heavy and out of shape in just a few days.  Years of abuse take it's toll and it will take a while to undo all of it, but it is so very worth it.  

It's the same with the spiritual issues in our lives.  The apostle Paul had an issue that he spent a lot of time crying out to God about and as far as we know, never saw a healing.  However, God can change our attitude even if He doesn't change our circumstance. (Though I am a firm believer in still asking for Him to change the condition we're in while we do our part to see that change.) 

I have a friend that's been praying and waiting for years for a situation to change. As I pray for him and the family I know that they are in the place they are due to their own actions and choices that have had long-lasting effects and consequences.  But I also know they've been doing the right things for quite a while.  

Like me and my diet it takes a long time to see the results.  But they're worth the work and worth the wait.

  “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”-2 Corinthians 12:8-9. 

Forgetting the Former

“Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!...

Isaiah 43:18-19                                  

I woke up hungry this morning.  Hungry as in thinking about going down to Mema's in Satsuma for a BIG breakfast.

But I know I'm extra hungry this morning because over the last couple of days I've eaten more than I should of things I shouldn't, excess carbs mostly.  When I do that it takes a few days to get back on track.  It got me thinking about the change I've made in my overall diet/eating plan.

Right now I have a number of friends on other weight loss plans.  Mostly drinking shakes or wrapping themselves and having big parties to share their excitement.  I keep getting invitations to join them, though I have to tell them it's really not for me.  I am thrilled that they are seeing results and hope they continue to have success and then keep the weight off.

I've done some of those things before.  But once I arrived at my goal I foolishly went right back to how I used to eat.  Weight comes back on with great haste and has a way of making you feel like a complete failure.

I saw this in Health magazine a few months ago and it was a confirmation.  I'm not feeling deprived because I can't have something. I just don't eat that anymore.  Same as a person with an allergy to a particular food just doesn't eat it, I am allergic to weighing an eighth of a ton again so I just don't eat that stuff...because like an addict I know once I do I don't stop at just one of anything.

In Isaiah 43 God's mercy is recounted, how He made a way for them to be free with a path through the Red Sea, and those chasing them were swallowed up by it never to rise again.  Why go out and pull them to safety, only to continue to run from them again?  That's what I feel like I'm doing when I return to my former way of eating.  

Verse 19 says: "See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."  Even in the world we live in He can show us what is right for us.  Whether that is avoiding some sort of moral failure or eating healthy in the midst of sugar and fast food temptations.

Isaiah 43 may not have been written about our modern day struggles, but just like the rest of scripture, it is God-breathed and useful for application in our daily lives. It has encouraged me in many areas.  What does this chapter speak to you about?

Simple Math

Copied from someone's share on Facebook, so not sure who to credit.

All I know is that I have found it to be true!

Getting Back to the Basics

"How did you do it?" is the most common question people ask me these days.  Over the weekend I enjoyed a family event, seeing people I haven't seen in years.  Being 75 pounds lighter, that question came up a lot!  But I'm at a point where I have stopped losing and have slacked in my determination to really stick with my program.  Then when clothes feel a bit more snug (like after my delicious indulgences over the weekend) I get discouraged.  It's time to get back to the basics.

During my weight loss journey I've found some things that have worked well for me.  One of them is the helpful advice in the book Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst.  Re-reading chapter 2 yesterday helped me a lot, then going to back to just the things I originally highlighted in those few pages this morning was like a lightbulb moment:

• Because this wasn't really about the scale or what clothing size I was; it was about this battle that raged in my heart. I thought about, craved and arranged my life too much around food.
• Is it possible that we love and rely on food more than we love and rely on God?
• God never intended us to want anything more than we want Him.
• Each time I craved something I knew wasn't part of my plan, I used that craving as a prompting to pray.

Anything else can go in place of "food" in this scenario.  I was chatting with a friend about how we use food the same way an alcoholic does alcohol.  It's a go-to in times of stress, depression, celebration or whatever.  But nothing is to be that important.  The proper place to run is the Lord!

He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” .... For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

The adversary can be a thing, not a person or entity! 

Let's determine to give up the stronghold for the strong tower of the Lord!

Choices

When I started my weight loss journey a year and a half ago I had some pretty basic goals:

Eat better, move more, pray about it.

I figured if I could make better choices with my food and the amount of it, that would be beneficial, rather than too difficult to stick with.

I figured if I could just choose to move more rather than be forced to adhere to a particular strict workout schedule then I'd be more likely to achieve success.  

Turns out for the first time in my life I was right about something when it came to my weight issue!  Of course the prayer part is what brought that into reality.

For a while now I've been at a plateau.  People keep seeing me and saying how amazed they are at the way I look and how much weight I've lost.  But I'm just not feelin' it. For a variety of reasons, I've lost the motivation I had, though I think I found it today in my girl Erin's blog. 

It's another simple way of looking at what I'm doing and how to stay on track.  When it comes to the choices I am making either with what I'm eating or my amount of movement I need to look ahead and wonder how I will feel after.  

My goal now is to ask, "Will I be proud of myself or disappointed in myself?"  

• Disappointed in myself for sitting on the couch reading on Facebook about all the stuff people are doing, or proud of myself for getting up and doing something I would want to post?  
• Disappointed in myself for eating a second serving of Stacy's awesome enchiladas or proud of myself for being satisfied with the first plate and eating some fruit if I'm still hungry? 
• Proud of myself for taking the dogs on a walk even though it was only 10 minutes or disappointed in myself for just watching them run around the yard?  

This simple outlook could be so helpful in other areas of life, too. As the Apostle Paul so wisely pointed out, we seem to do what we say we don't want to do, yet don't do what we say we ought to do.   It's a paradox in dieting, addiction, apathy and just about every area of sin in life.  My new goal is to ask myself that question and try to be wise enough to choose correctly at least most of the time.  After all, I'd much rather experience freedom by being proud of myself than disappointed in myself because of a simple choice.

Coffee Confessions

I remember my grandmother telling me years ago, "I never enjoyed coffee so much as when I started drinking it black."  I thought she was crazy. 

Prior to beginning my weight loss journey last January, I thoroughly enjoyed my coffee every morning.  Actually what I enjoyed was the delicious flavored creamer and sugar, the coffee was just a vehicle to deliver the sweet flavorful caffeine!

The calorie count was way to high to justify so I decided to switch to drinking coffee black.  Grandma's sentiment (and the thoughts of giving up coffee all together!) rang in my head those first few days as I made a brew using the grounds in an econo-size canister of store brand coffee we had at work, which only days before was perfectly fine with that rich french vanilla added in. 

Then one day I went to Subway for breakfast (mmm...flatbread) and got a cup of coffee.  It was just plain black but tasted so much better than usual.  How can this be?  Until I noticed the brand:  Seattle's Best.

I promptly found out they have Seattle's Best at the grocery store so I got a coupon and decided to try it out.  

I always thought coffee was coffee.  Why pay more for different brands, what's the big deal?  Per ounce it may cost more than the mega can, but it sure does taste better. I've even bought it regular price without a coupon, that's saying a lot!!  Overall you spend much less making it at home than buying a cup at a coffeehouse.

I've gotten into the habit of brewing my coffee and sitting in the living room to read and have quiet time each morning.  Favorite mug, comfy chair, dog curled up with me...it's the simple things in life that make the whole day better.  

By now you may be wondering what the point is to this blog article or if I'm doing commercials for these companies.  Nope.  Just thinking about taste testing a few brands.  What do you think?

Don't Drink Your Calories!

People are always asking me what I've done to lose the weight.  One of the first changes I made that has really paid big dividends is not drinking calories.  I used to really enjoy my coffee in the morning, until I realized:

• Coffee:  5 calories
• Creamer:  approx. 200
• Sugar:  approx. 60

Ouch!  Sticking to 1200 calories a day and enjoying food as much as I do, it was a no-brainer to quit the coffee habit.  I have learned to drink it black.  It's still not my preference, but neither was the size I was in!!

I've long-since given up fully loaded sodas, and they are certainly big no-no's when it comes to dieting.  There's about 100 calories in a one-cup serving of cola.  One cup is 8 oz.  How many ounces are in those big cups at the convenience store or drive through? 

Drinking water has so many health benefits, and the calorie savings to dieters is assuredly worth it.  It takes a little getting used to doing the swap but after a while you really crave water.  And the good news is you can eat more yummy stuff when you're not drinking all your calories.

Even if you don't have tons of weight to lose as I did, give it a try and let me know what you think.  Getting all that sugar out of your system will help you feel better (after a few days, anyway!)

My Progress So Far

I've been so inspired by The Biggest Loser that I wanted to make a video like the ones I've seen on the show!

I'm almost to my original goal weight, though my ultimate goal is just to be healthy so I don't really have a particular number or size in mind anymore.

If I can do it, YOU can too!!!  Don't wait...the best time to start is right now.

What About CRAVINGS?

One of the biggest questions when sharing what I eat or don't eat is:  "What about cravings?  I just HAVE to have my _______."  My answer to that is:  "________ is what got you to where you are now!"

Now, that may sound harsh but it's the reality.  One of the biggest motivators to me along this weight loss/get healthy journey has been keeping a spiritual focus.  It's a whole lot more about my relationship with God and my spiritual health than particulars that I eat or don't eat. 

One Sunday my Pastor was talking about the fruit of the spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

I thought to myself as he went through the list, "I got this."  Until he said that last one.  I knew I had no self control, particularly in the area of what I ate.  My evening "dish" of ice cream was more like a day's worth of calories, yet I still wanted more.  I had to change my mindset. 

Our bodies don't physically crave those things.  Our minds do. Look at how Eve's desire changed once she went from seeing the fruit to entertaining the thought of what eating it would do for her:

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6

It's no wonder the very first sin, the absolute fall of mankind, was a woman and what she decided to eat.

Does that mean we can no longer have ice cream or cookies or pasta, or whatever your "craving" may be?  No.  But for me it has meant having none until I have self control in the area of foods I like.  I know I'm not there yet...the other day my co-host, Pastor Robin, was enjoying his hot cup of coffee and I could smell that creamy delicious french vanilla wafting across the desk.  I wanted some soooo bad.  (I've saved tons of calories by switching to drinking it black, but it's just not the same without the flavored creamer and sugar piled in!)  I had to make a choice to not give in to that temptation and decide to be happy with the cup-o-joe I had.  That's just a small example.  I know I'd still do terrible damage if I had cookies or ice cream!!

Many diet plans tell you to have a cheat day or to have a small amount of whatever that item is that you enjoy so much.  You have to find what is right for you.  For me it's total abstinence on some things.  This blog just tells you what works for me and it's my hope that it's an inspiration to you along the way.

It took a long time for me to finally get the motivation and determination to do something about my weight and health, and any time I can encourage someone else to do the same I love it, because I know what a positive difference it's made in my life. Please let me know if I can help you in any way.  It's not about being thin, but about being healthy and able to serve God without the physical and mental baggage getting in the way. 

Walking Off the Weight

I went for my evening walk yesterday, pondering what I'd just read in a magazine. An article was saying that just 30 minutes of walking each day would help to lower weight. Of course everywhere you look there are promises of every size to make us want to try just about anything!

But this one, I really have found to be true. And I've come to enjoy my daily journey with my doggies more than I ever thought I would. It's a great time to reflect, pray, or just think about nothing!

There are some obstacles, though. So many people with very busy lives often wonder how in the world they'd fit in 30 minutes! Or they think that it would be boring. What I used to struggle with is feeling like I needed to be accomplishing something rather than just out meandering.

So here are my suggestions to make taking a walk a priority as well as fun:

• My dogs look forward to it even more than I do and it's great for their health, too. (I am reminded of the vet calling my precious BelleBelle "moderately chunky") If you don't have a dog of your own, borrow one! Maybe you've got an elderly neighbor or church member that just can't get out to walk their dog. Pup and owner would love you for it!
• Grow your friendships at the same time. What a great way to spend time chatting with a friend. You don't need the extra calories of a pastry and latte, so lace up your sneakers and hit the trails to also spend some much needed friend time.
• Help a mother out! Besides having a friend to walk and talk with a mom you know might be dreaming of someone to come take her little one for a long walk in their stroller or little red wagon, so she could have a little time alone at home or to run errands.
• Listen up! If you think you don't have time to walk and don't have time to read, it's a great way to do both. We used to call it "book on tape" but of course now you can download entire audio books or podcasts on your phone or mp3 player. Shape up your mind and body at the same time. Or of course, listen to the radio!!

Some days I don't have time or energy to work out. But if I can at least take my walk I feel like I've accomplished something. It's helped me to continue with my major diet/get healthy plan of eating better and moving more.

Lace up and let's go!!

My First Turnip Experience

I've heard you either love 'em or hate 'em. Since I never tried a turnip, nor could I have picked one out of a lineup before now, I wasn't sure where I was on the love/hate scale.

After our trip to the County Line Produce Stand to stock up for our healthy eating plan we came back with all sorts of interesting things! The newly acquired and recently identified turnip came right off the back of this tractor...talk about fresh!

I found this recipe in my Better Homes & Gardens cookbook, surprised it fit with our diet plan since anything with the word "casserole" in the title generally means calorie-laden high-fat deliciousness. It's way different from anything I've tried before, but I had all the fresh veggies it called for so I figured I'd go for it.

Honestly, just slicing into the turnip had me skeptical about my even tasting it. But overall this dish was easy to make, delicious, and helped us stay on track with our meat-free healthy dinner attempt. Along with brown/wild rice this meal was a hit!

Turnip-Zucchini Casserole
2 1/2 cups cubed, peeled turnips

1 1/2 cups zucchini cut into 1/2 inch slices

1 cup cauliflower or broccoli flowerets

1/3 cup chopped onion

1 tablespoon margerine or butter

3/4 teaspoon dried basil, crushed

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 large tomato, seeded and chopped

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large skillet combine turnips, zucchini, cauliflower or broccoli, onion, margerine, basic, garlic, 2 tablespoons water, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to boiling, reduce heat. Cover; simmer 8 to 10 minutes or till tender. Uncover, cook 2 to 3 minutes more or till liquid is evaporated. Stir in tomato; heat through. Remove from heat. Top with cheese. Cover; let stand 1 to 2 minutes or till cheese melts. Make 6 servings. (from Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book).

The only thing I did different was add another 1/2 cup water during cooking. Wish I took a picture because it was really nice and colorful! We'll make it again for sure. Let me know about your turnip tastes!

Success with New Years Resolutions

New Years Resolutions make me think of the old saying: shoot for the moon and even if you miss you land among the stars. If, like me you've got a long list of ways you want to overhaul your life it can seem overwhelming. Simplify it to start with and you’ll accomplish much more by the end of the year.

Pick the one thing that matters most, focus on that one. The others can be secondary goals.

Think big picture: rather than an outcome like losing __# of pounds or saving $1,000, identify a value, like health or financial security, that becomes your focus for the new year.

Get real - if your new goals are overwhelming you, ask yourself: What was my original goal? If you signed up for marathon training to be more active, but now you’re so sore you spend every night on the couch—there’s your answer. Walk the ravines or spend an hour at the gym a few times a week instead of overdoing it each day.

Give yourself a break - don't be too hard on yourself. A lot of our goals are pretty lofty. You might need to set your goal, then cut it in half in order to make it more reasonable. Then you'll actually achieve something and you can increase the goal later on! I read this inspiring thought on another blog: I’m resolving to commit to less and follow through on more.

I am still amazed that I stuck with my goals from last year. I lost 60 pounds and I've been exercising. But maybe that's why it worked, I didn't start with the daunting task of "I have to lose x # of pounds." What I decided upon was to lose weight for my testimony and my health. I planned to do it by eating less, moving more and commiting it to the Lord. He made all the difference.

A great place to seek inspiration for why you want to accomplish the goals is Titus 2:11-12: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” With that in mind you don't want to lose weight/quit smoking/make more money only to improve yourself, but to live a right life. That focus makes it easier to say no to the smoke or the cheesecake!

May God bless you in this new year and infuse you with HOPE to accomplish all you set out to do for HIM.

The Dinner Challenge

Husband, shortly after being subjected to eating a small piece of chicken and bowl of salad for lunch: "Y'know what I want for dinner? Something that tastes rich, delicious and fattening but isn't."

OK, I'll accept.

So nice of him to join me in the healthy eating plan! But salad more than once a day sure won't cut it for him, though! So, what to do? Especially since all the ingredients have to already be in the pantry or freezer since I don't feel like going back out.

Digging in the recipe box I was reminded of something I found in a magazine many years ago, I think Woman's Day. I combined it with the recipe found online for a package of crabmeat that was in the freezer, and voila! Dinner: rich and delish!

"SLIM" Alfredo Sauce
3 tablespoons butter or margerine
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk (I use fat-free)
1 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Melt butter in 1 qt saucepan. Whisk in flour until blended. Slowly add milk and broth, whisking until blended. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, whisking occasionally until sauce thickens (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and whisk in cheese until blended. Makes 2 2/3 cups, 6 servings (enough for 1 lb of pasta). 115 calories, 9 grams fat each.

I used the sauce instead of the jar to make Crab Fettuccini Alfredo. I must say it did come out quite yummy! I limit my carbs so the pasta was a big splurge, but oh so good!! :)

What Weighs 60 Pounds?

I'm celebrating another milestone in my weight loss journey! With 60 pounds now shed, it made me wonder, what weighs 60 pounds? Here's a few items:

• 240 sticks of butter


• 640 Oreos


• 40 dozen eggs


• 8 gallons of water


• 4 Thanksgiving Turkeys


• a bushel of wheat


• a collie or husky or 5 weenie dogs!

I'm trying to imagine myself carrying around those turkeys or gallon jugs of water.
No wonder my knees were hurting and I was always so tired!!
Another twenty pounds to go. Bring on the gym and the health food!! :)

The Secret to Great Abs

A quick google search for ab exercises yields millions of results. Certainly not going to achieve great abs by reading through those for the ones you're actually going to try.

When I started at the gym in January, Leanne the trainer would have me do a few reps of ab exercises after each workout. I seriously thought I was going to die. Surely the same google search would show people have died from these torturous routines, right?

As the weeks went on, I did what I could with each new exercise she showed me. It was about 4 months later, having lost some weight, that I felt a lump in my lower abdominal area. I was a bit concerned (ok, freaked out) and shared with my husband I thought I might have something wrong with me...a scary lump. He laughed and told me the lump was called MUSCLE! Now that 5 more months have gone by I am truly noticing a difference. Not just ab muscles but the rest of me shaping up. It is amazing to me!!

sidenote: Just typing this feels quite boastful, but then again that's what blogs are for.

Ok, so the secret, right? Here it is: Sticking With It!!

It doesn't matter which one of the hundreds of ab exercises you try, just do them and do them some more. It's an investment of effort. Doesn't cost anything, just the time it takes to do them, though machines or mats or weights or gym memberships could be helpful. But just actually doing them for a long time will pay off.

It got me thinking...our spiritual lives are the same way. We read a chapter or some verses or start a devotional book and after a few days wonder why we're not a Bible scholar. Same thing...sticking with it and letting the messages truly soak in will pay off.

I've never really been so persistent in these two areas of my life, and since joining them together...making my weight-loss journey a spiritual journey...remarkable things are happening and I'm too excited about the results to keep them to myself! I hope it will encourage you. :)

Thanks for reading...but now that you know the secret, get to work!

More of What Works for Me

I'm in a season of life where, thankfully, I'm doing well in the one area that's been a struggle for all my 41 years: eating.
By reading the book, Made to Crave (www.madetocrave.org) by Lysa TerKeurst, I've realized I'm not the only one with such a difficulty. It's just that we don't generally put these things into words. Or *gasp* actually discuss them with others. Until now.

This is not a diet book, it's a look at why we crave food, or anything else for that matter, more than God. But even before I started reading it I finally had something "click" that got me going on a healthy eating and exercising plan. This is just one more tool that God has used to help keep me encouraged and on the right track.

People that see me are wondering what it is I'm eating to lose the weight. What I am NOT eating is more like it! So here it is, if you care or are wondering! And I think, like most bloggers, I'm writing this down to remind myself later on when I'm not being so victorious in this area!
I'm drinking lots of water. I find my weight loss to be greater and easier when I'm constantly drinking water throughout the day. Now if I could just sleep through the night without getting up to pee 5 times....

I'm not eating sweets or sugary things. None at all! I used to think this would be impossible. But I have found that once the sugar was out of my system I don't want that stuff. Most people will say just eat one cookie, or a small piece of cake.

Most people may be able to do that. Not this girl! Once I get a taste of it I crave sugary things and become like a drug addict looking for their next fix. It's been more than 5 months, I have not felt like I've missed out on a thing. I don't even want desserts made with sugar substitutes, it's too much like dessert, carries way to much temptation and calories, and no matter what they say it doesn't taste the same.
I'm limiting my carbs like bread and pasta. The more I eat it the hungrier I find myself for more. But I do love tortillas! Scrambled eggs and cheese wrapped in a tortilla for breakfast is one of my favorites. Even add in some sauteed onions and mushrooms, guac and salsa when I have time. Or for a quick lunch a piece of leftover chicken chopped up with cheese and lettuce and zapped in the microwave for a few seconds.

I try to eat salad at least once a day. I put all sorts of veggies in there and chop it all up really small so each bite is filled with lots of variety. By drizzling on low-fat or fat-free dressing, then stirring it all up really good, everything gets some dressing and I use a lot less of that calorie-laden stuff. And almost always I include a meat like chopped-up baked chicken, baked fish, or a can of tuna. Even sliced lunch meat if that's all that's on hand or what was on sale.

So there you have it. Or should I say, there I have it. Something to re-read when the inevitable happens. I'm prayerful that after this many times around the same mountain I've learned I need to remember this is my lifestyle now, not a temporary fix to lose a few pounds. If I go back to my old eating habits and lack of exercise I'm sure to be back where I was. It's been a great journey so far, with friends doing the same thing and I think I get more joy and excitement out of seeing their success than my own. Maybe I've finally learned my lesson.

Wanna join me?

What Works for Me

Today marks losing 40 pounds since the beginning of the year. *YAY!*

Over the years any time I see someone that's lost a lot of weight the first question is...come on, say it with me...."How did you do it?" Like they're going to say they found some magic pill or formula that enabled them to lose tons of weight without having to actually learn to eat right and exercise; and certainly they'll share it with me for free. (Of course illness or major surgery are a different scenario.) But for the most part everyone that's done it has found something that worked for them and they stuck with it.

I've done it. A few times. I certainly hope this is the last time I lose this same 40 lbs! Someone asked me the other day what I get when eating out. So I thought I'd give my top picks for restaurants. But first a couple of wise-gal answers:

1. Order something completely opposite of what you usually get and would really enjoy having!
2. Go with someone who is a healthy eater and let them order for you so you don't have to think about it!
3. Seriously, a little preparation goes a long way. Go to the restaurant's website and look at the nutritional info. You can decide what you're ordering before you ever walk in the door and smell all the stuff that would sabotage your diet. Plus, many times you'll find they have a printable coupon. cha-ching!

My top picks are all salads, but then again I really don't eat out that much. And these are all really good and very filling.

• #1 The BIG Salad at Sonny's. You can chose the meat you want, but the best option is smoked turkey. Only 253 calories. Be sure to go with fat-free or light dressing. I like the fat-free honey mustard.
• #2 The new Fresh Farmers Market Salad selections at Quiznos. They are low-calorie. I really liked the Harvest Chicken, it had: honey-dijon chicken, grapes, apples, dried cranberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, lettuce. Now how in the world it was only 220 calories is a mystery to me because it was big and really fabulous! One caution is the dressing that comes with it adds 230 calories. But a little balsamic vinaigrette would still be tasty and a better calorie option.
• #3 The Big Catch Salad at Beef-O-Brady's. Grilled or blackened fish with plenty of veggies and fresh grated Parmesan cheese. Yummy!

So what are your top picks for eating out and sticking to a healthy plan?

Better Than the Restaurant!

Spring Strawberry Salad with Chicken
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing
1 bunch fresh spinach, rinsed and dried
1 pint strawberries, sliced
4 ounces crumbled goat cheese
1 (5 ounce) package candied pecans (such as Emerald® Pecan Pie Glazed Pecans)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing

Place the chicken breast meat into a skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinaigrette over medium heat; cook and stir until the chicken is browned, no longer pink in the center, and the juice has nearly evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove the chicken to a bowl and let cool.

Place the spinach into a salad bowl; scatter the strawberries, goat cheese, and candied pecans over the spinach. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinaigrette over the salad and top with the chicken. Serve slightly warm or chilled.

By the way...to make it even more quick and easy - I cook a bunch of chicken ahead of time and cut it into pieces for use in salads and other recipes throughout the week. It also helps to have it on hand so you don't eat junk food or go out to eat, there's always something ready! Allrecipes.com is a great place to look for what to make with what ingredients you have.