MIA No More!

I first want to thank those of you who sought me out 

to see if I was OK! 

 I apologize that I didn't place a post stating my circumstances last week.  So I'll brief you a little on what's been a-happenin' in my life.

Several projects that my hubby and I are involved in all seemed to accelerate into high gear all at the same time last week.  I found myself spending hours at a time either on the phone, emailing and shuffling papers.

On top of that, I started an online art class that I had signed up for a while back.  I, again, spent many hours getting to know the system we are using and meeting the teacher/students...many posts and projects the first week.  Not to mention doing the actual projects, taking pics and posting.  It's really a lot of fun...just takes time to get in the groove.

You can check out the artist and her classes here:   WYANNE

OK so moving right along!

My... ISSUE...seems to have worked itself out...so to speak...since I have started a routine of drinking the following as my breakfast first thing in the morning...

                           1 scoop Chocolate Jay Robbs Whey Protein Powder

                           1 scoop Super Seed  (thanks for letting me know about this Rosalie!)

                           8-12 oz Unsweetened Almond Milk

                           ice - depending on how thick you want it...
                           I use anywhere from 3-8 cubes

                           (I'm sure there are some other goodies,
                           like Barleans fish oil, you could include)

Blend all of the above ingredients in a blender until all the ice is crushed... pour and enjoy!  

This divine mixture has encouraged my system to LINE UP!!!  So, that part of my body is working better these days!

One other thing I dealt with last week was another health issue I have been fighting for almost 2 years. 

I have a patch (for lack of a better term) of psoriasis on the bottom of my foot that I just cannot seem to get rid of. Without going into all the gory details... it cracks, leaving me with open wounds that make it feel like I am walking with chards of glass stuck in the bottom of my foot! 

Having said ALL THAT... I did a number on that foot on Tuesday...while walking the dogs.  I was in great pain most of the week on top of all the other things I was involved in.  My poor hubby!  I do not tolerate pain well AT ALL!  He feels bad that he can't send me to the doc right now (no ins.)...so I try not to complain to much...but last week...I'm sure wasn't good for him either!  Feeling better today...but having to keep it bound pretty tight in order to function...and I know that isn't what it really needs.  Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!!

So needless to say... As I WANTED to do a post... I just never really had enough collective time to do so.  Thanks again to those who checked in!

Through all of the above last week fiascos... I was able to maintain my good eating habits and lose 1 lb!  I'll take it!  Slow as the weightloss is...that's ok as long as I'm feeling well, eating well, and losing a little here and there.  Haven't measured yet...but pants are def feeling a little looser!  (and for those of you who just said...Yeah, but I need to lose a whole lot of weight!...just know I have about 62 more pounds to go!)

Did ya'll like that list of Good Carbs last week?  I copy pasted them onto a Word doc and printed them out for me to keep in the kitchen.  So when I needed to expand my vision a little when it came to selecting a Good Carb for my snack or meal...I would check out this list again.  

One thing I did purposely do last week was to make sure I stuck to portion size and used smaller plates!  Including meats, cheeses, and veggies.  Just slipping a little larger portion or even seconds onto your plate can add extra calories that our bodies just don't need....so it STORES the excess  (right smack dab on my hips!)  

ALSO...speaking of storing... If you skip a meal...tsk tsk tsk!!!  This throws your body into a slight panic mode...falsely thinking it's not EVER going to get fed again so it better STORE UP that insulin just in case... Well guess where it stores it up?.... Yep! RIGHT IN THOSE SHRINKING FAT CELLS!  

Another thing is to make sure you eat a breakfast!  Be sure to BREAK your FAST from the night before.  What this does is ..."Gentleman/women... START YOUR ENGINES!"  Eating breakfast wakes up your metabolism...gets those juices flowing and starts your day off with ENERGY!  No food... No Energy!

So get out of your food poverty thinking and EAT your way into losing weight!  Choose those Good Carbs and EAT THEM!  Include those Good Fats and Vitamin Rich Veggies and Proteins and Chocolate!!!

And you will be well on your way to a healthier YOU!  

Love you all...and will try to post more often this week!  Here's a sneak peek at one of my pieces I'm preparing for my Nov. art show!  

Three Tiered Cupcake Tray
Annie-Bella's © 

CREDITS:  I "borrowed" the MIA title picture from a great site I found called just that, MIA /Missing In Action, a site which offers a book for new moms, helping them to reclaim their identity after bringing a child into this world.  I wanted to not only give credit to this site since I "borrowed" their pic, but also to pass the word on to any new moms out there!  Having been a new mom three times...I wished I had the support then that is available now.  I almost lost my sanity...but that's a whole nuther enchilada!!!!  So be sure to visit and enjoy...MIA!

I Do Solemly Swear...

Ok...some of you may have read my rant on Rosalie's blog...but in case you didn't here is the jist of it:
"Good Morning Rosalie!!! Dang it...you did it again..encouraged me to stick to it one more day! Ok, Ok... I'm going to stick with this thing...I can doooo it! But I've been stuck at the same weight now for 3 weeks! I'm so frustrated right now I could bust! (or is it burst?) I'm not cheating, I'm eating right...but still dealing with the "ISSUE" and all I can think of is I'm just full of S***! I keep telling hubby...if I ever get this part "normal" I'll drop 10 lbs instantly! Ok..thanks for the opp to spew my frustrations! Today on my blog I'm gonna make a commitment to myself and to ya'll...and face some skeletons I have still hanging in my closet! =O Love ya girl!"

So here goes my commitment to myself and YOU...my BFC friends!

I do solemnly swear that I will make sure I keep my frig stocked with healthy on the go, easy to grab, food and snacks so I won't go without or grab something that isn't on the BFC plan!

               Part of my problem I believe has been not eating all of my 6 servings of Healthy Carbs!  So I will make an extra effort to keep up with this in the future.

I do solemnly swear that I will STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTA!

         Eeek! This one's a tough one!  It's so easy to get lost following the infamous Rabbit Trails you are bombarded with each time you check your email, Facebook, your Blog List, and Forums!  I will even determine a time at which I will shut it down and find that I've gone over that by an hour or two!  Insane!
Some may wonder what this has to do with my BFC plan.... well my BUTT is spreading from here to there just for sitting hours at a time at this machine!  So I am making a plan to only check my email, FB, Blogs and Forums first thing in the morning and limit my time to 1 hour period!  Email one more time in the evening when I write my BFC post for the day.  The rest of the time will be spent doing creative and active things!

I do solemnly swear that I will kick the monkey off my bike and use it myself TWICE everyday!
          A friend of ours gave us the coolest exercise bike that sits not even 5 feet away from me in my art studio!  It even has one of those great cushy seats and computerized riding plans giving you a choice of challenges and resistance!  It even tells you how many miles you've gone,  how long you've ridden, and how many calories you burned!  So what is it that keeps me off of that wonderful riding machine...besides the monkey!  Well...here's one of my skeletons I referred to earlier... It's called SWEAT!  I hate sweating!
It makes me feel so yucky and sticky and more yucky and sticky!  I truly HATE it!  But I'm just going to have to face that sweaty skeleton and move past him...he's merely a fog and one that can be showered away! So I am committing today to ride twice a day and post my results so you and I will see that I'm doing what I promised. (Hubby reads the blog...so there's my accountability!)

I do solemnly swear that I will attend my NIA classes at least TWICE a week!

          Last week I was supposed to start my regular schedule of NIA classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Well, it never happened... First we had a monsoon rain on Tuesday and I also went to help my mom move to her new apartment...so Ok... I had a fairly good excuse... but Thursday rolled around and I just flat out chose NOT to go.  Why?  Remember Skeleton number 1 above?  Yep...SWEAT!  I didn't want to go out and sweat!  So I didn't!  Even though I LOVE the NIA classes and have a blast while dancing my heart out of my chest...I just wouldn't make myself DO IT!  So, I am confessing and committing all at once here... This week I'm gonna kick some skeletal A$$ and GO to my NIA classes!

Lastly... I do solemnly swear I will NOT use Ready Whip as an millinery adornment anymore and only use Ready Whip for occasional Sweet Splurges!
          Do I really need to explain my reasonings here?  Seems it's pretty obvious!  =D


I feel my lack of movement is causing my system backup as I mentioned in an earlier post and on Rosalie's blog today.  Even though I'm eating healthily, using the recommended methods for easier elimination, etc... I have had a serious problem and I feel that the only thing I haven't been doing to help things along is MOVEMENT! I truly believe it's a simple as that!  So now that my Sweat Skeleton has been exposed, hopefully I will be able to move on...get it over with... and shower it off!  I know I'll be better for it...in the end!   

ICBIF and Then Some!

I Can't Believe It's Friday!

What a wild week we've had here in Central Texas!  Some crazy storms coming from tropical storm Hermene dropped nearly 11.5" of water on top of the parched land of Austin... Although we desperately needed some rain...this amount in less than 24 hrs causes all kinds of havoc in our area!  The creeks, rivers, and lakes all overflowed...the water was rushing down all the hills like waterslides...and nobody here knows how to drive in rain, sleet or snow...so the roadways were a mess of mushed up metal!  Crazy!  

AND...to top it all off during the fury of the first deluge we were helping my 83 yr old mom move into her new apartment!  Thank the heavens above for my sister and Blue Whale Movers here in Austin, as they did all they could to keep her furniture dry!  So its been an exciting week for sure!

Haven't posted due to sheer exhaustion! But kept up with the diet through it all!

I made pizza on Naan bread (Sprouts Grocery) for hubby and I today.  If you haven't tried it on naan...you really are in for a treat!  The bread is only 1 carb point!  YUMMY!!!  This one is covered in chopped veggies and cheese but you can do all sorts of fun things with these pizzas!  Be creative and I promise you will not be disappointed!

How I make my Naan Bread Pizza:
Take one piece of Naan Bread and spread a tablespoon of low sugar pizza sauce on it.  I also add pesto on top of the bread.  Then top it with chopped veggies and meats of your choice (even pepperoni or bacon!) finishing it off with a little drizzle of olive oil, Italian seasoning, a little salt and a handful of grated cheese of your choice ...I used mozzarella. Put in preheated oven at 425degrees for 8-10 minutes and VIOLA'!!!!  Some of the best pizza you'll ever stick in your mouth!   Enjoy!
.

Also...today, while at Sprouts, I picked up a new tea.  It is called: GUAYAKI Yerba Mate "Mate Chocolatte".

After having my first cup tonight my conclusion is that it tastes just like Chi Tea!  I personally cannot detect the flavor of Chocolate in it, but I still like it very much!  It is a blend of Yerba Mate, Cocoa, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Stevia, and Clove.  It states that it helps to stimulate focus and clarity (which I need all I can get!), boosts your physical energy, aids in elimination!!!!!!!!(and we all know who needs THAT!), contains antioxidants and "traditionally used to support weight loss programs".  Truly a delicious tea that will delight your senses as well as your intestinal tract!  =D

I am hoping to have a productive day painting tomorrow...soon I'll post some pics for you all to judge...I mean see! 

Love you all! Bon Appetite and Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Do You Dream?

How Big Are Your Dreams?

Do you Dream?  I do...all the time...in the night...in the wee hours of the morning right before I'm fully awake...during the day...while painting....while driving...even while shopping!  Yes, I Dream...and sometimes I wonder...Are My Dreams Big Enough?

In my subconscious rendezvous in the middle of the night I have to say...I'm dreaming pretty darn BIG!  I sometimes wake in the morning, almost with a chuckle at the magnitude of what I had just been dreaming.  "Visions of Grandeur" I call them...then quickly dismiss them as frivolous and impossible....but are they?

In my art room minding my own business....utilizing my right-brained creativity to create something colorful and a seemingly non-connected thought crosses my airwaves and if I allow it to enter into my "zone", I'm surprised by it's frankness and purity.  I see myself walking on a beach in a gauzy dress as the wind whips through me and the waves tickle my ankles as my toes sink into the wet sand.  "What was that?", I think or say outloud to myself.  A completely random "dream" has just entered into my space and caused me to stop and ponder the very essence of it.  At this very moment...I have a choice.  I can sweep it under the proverbial rug or I can spend a few more moments realizing this beautiful "reality".   If I looked up and into the mirror that encompasses a whole wall of my art room, I would see, Ha! tis but a dream!  But if I take those moments and allow this "vision" to set, to permeate my being, to see myself truly walking on that beach, to feel that breeze, to smell the salty air, to feel my toes sinking into the wet sand.... I'm more than half way there!

Too many times we scurry quickly away from those Big Dreams...those Impossible Dreams...those Dreams that surely will never happen!  Instead...we should capture them...stick them in a bottle...save them...treasure them...dare to take another look at them!  And we tend to embrace those Little Dreams that seem doable...all the while fooling ourselves into believing we are not worthy to believe the Big Dreams!  Therefore we stop ourselves just short of achieving those Big Dreams...(which is aptly called self-sabbotage!)  

In my Big Dreams, I have unbelievable energy... I can scale mountains, I can play concert piano, I can jog, I have huge houses, I'm a speaker at conferences, My artwork displayed in collectors homes, I have a beautiful body and can wear most anything, I own my own art studio where many come to create, I travel all the time....  and on and on and on!!!

These may seem BIG...but ALL are all obtainable...I believe it so....and so it will be.  I believe in God...and I believe in the Dreams he gives me.  They are so Big sometimes that, like I said earlier, I just chuckle and actually try to suppress them...applying the Big "But" to most of them!  When in actuality, if I would just receive them, embrace them as mine to have, mine to obtain, possible to live... then nothing... NO THING ...can stop me from obtaining and living them out.

My Big Dream focus right now is my weight as it is connected to my health.  Yes, of course, I want to look good and buy clothes that I can tuck in, from the Ladies Dept and not the Women's World department...but my health is being affected by my weight and it is my health that will keep me living so I can enjoy my family, traveling, shopping, LIVING!  Time and time again I have tried to lose weight so I can look better...be cute in my jeans...wear a bathing suit...go to a school reunion (which I have not done ever because of my weight!).  But this time is different... I SEE myself healthy...running...climbing...swimming...and for that reason I have chosen to follow the BFC plan to accomplish this DREAM.  And It's happening!  All the other times I failed because my dream just wasn't BIG ENOUGH to keep my focus!  This time its BIG!!!  REAL BIG!!!  and This time I know it will be reality before I know it!

Some of us follow Rosalie on her blog Healthy Me Doing the Belly Fat Cure... and yesterday she posted about seeing herself in a reflection at the mall and took a double take at what she was seeing...or rather what she no longer saw!  She shocked herself at seeing herself slim for the first time in ages!  She is accomplishing her DREAM...her BIG DREAM!  She's living it right now, as we ALL are, and seeing the results in believing she can do it!  I'm so proud of her!  I'm so proud of YOU... and of ME!  We are ALL accomplishing that which we are setting our minds to do.... and that is BIG DREAMING!  

Keep those dreams alive!  Find a way to capture them!  Put them down on paper, paint them out, cut them out of magazines, find pics to remind you, make a mantra out of it, write a song with it in it and sing it out loud...DAILY!  Don't just write it down or paste it on your refrigerator and never look at it again!  Touch it, Feel it, See it, DO IT!!!  Believe me...if you believe it...you will be it!!!  What you think...You are!

DREAM IT

LIVE IT

BE IT!

"The best thing about dreams is that fleeting moment, when you are between asleep and awake, 

when you don't know the difference between reality and fantasy, 

when for just that one moment you feel with your entire soul 

that the dream is reality, and it really happened." 

"The only thing that can stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you!"

  

Laugh It Off!!!

I watched the cutest little video clip last night that made me laugh and laugh!  After it was all over I felt great and sort of euphoric! So I had a little fleeting thought... "I wonder if I had burned any calories laughing?"  Silly thought...I thought...until I Googled it!  (seriously this dictionary needs to recognize the word Google and it's counterparts!)  Anyway, sure enough, you can use an average of 1.3 calories per minute laughing!  Let's see... that would mean you would need to laugh approximately 76.92307 minutes in order to burn off that 100 calorie snack you just ate!  BUT WAIT!!!

Before you go all postal on me and put away your giggle box...you need to know that Laughter truly is the Best Medicine!  Look at all these amazing benefits to having a little chortle every now and then!

Laughter first and foremost helps to relieve emotional stress!  And who doesn't need a little of THAT removed from their everyday lives?  It does so by helping to reduce the level of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, dopamine, and growth hormones.  It's also responsible for helping to release the health enhancing hormones such as endorphins and neurotransmitters...causing you to feel happier and healthier!
Wow!  Little did I know what all is going on when I laugh!  

In fact, I think we should all test this out right now and watch this little video...all the while using up a few calories and releasing some goodness into our bodies!  I promise you wont regret it!



(disclaimer: No animals have been hurt while filming this video...but my dogs did get a little excited when they heard me laughing out loud while watching it in the middle of the night!)

Great!  How's everyone feeling? Hopefully a bit more cheerful!!! I just loved watching this little cutie trying to get around in those booties and funnel hood!  We just went through having our puppies neutered and watching them having to maneuver with those hoods on was just too much...they didn't stay on for long!  But I digress...

No only does laughing do all kinds of magic with our hormonal system but also to our internal organs!  Yes, it's true!  It helps work out our diaphragm, our abs and even our shoulders if it's a good hearty laugh...leaving all these muscles less tense after a great workout!  


So tell a few jokes with friends and laugh at yourself!  Or rent the funniest movie you've ever seen! (would love to know what that is for you!)  Read the comic strip!  (remember those?)  Go to YouTube and spend some time watching home vids! 


Or...you can just Craft Yourself into Laughter like these ladies did!

So Whatever makes you Laugh... 

Do It...Watch It...See It...Feel It!!!

Go Ahead Do Your Body Good........

Have a Good LAUGH!!!

TODAY!

I love this dog too!  Thanks for reminding me MFE!  Best part is it's in a convenience store parking lot! It so inspires me that I need to be much more spontaneous with my dancing!  LOL

In The Out....House!

Wow what a week!  Seems like it zipped right past and past me up!  I was thinking...."Wait! It can't be time for my weigh-in yet, I haven't had my (insert bodily function that gets rid of waste here) yet!  Yep, it was true, I didn't want to step on those scales because I knew what they would show...or rather...Not Show!  I knew that they would show the proof of my "excess baggage" that I hadn't been able to get rid of for days!  Yes, DAYS!

In a matter of 7 days I was only "normal" 3x's as of this morning.  Now, all those people who have said, "She's just full of $#!+!" are RIGHT!  I have been miserable, but faithfully sticking to the BFC plan!  Soooo, I made a little shout out to several of the BFC regulars for some help!  I'll share some of their remedies in a second...

First I must answer this question that others may have about the BFC plan.  "Why are people reporting that they get so constipated  (eek I said it!) on this plan?"  The BFC plan encourages you to eat a nice high protein diet which can cause a bit of constipation.  However it also encourages you to up your fiber via your carb swaps...thus the 6 Servings of Carbs that are recommended daily...which should amount to 25 - 30 grams of fiber total for the day.  (I believe I'm guilty for not getting ALL my good high fiber carbs in this past week!)

 To quote Jorge Cruise in his book The Belly Fat Cure:  Part of the problem with belly fat is "not eating enough of the right kinds of carbohydrates, which are a key source of fiber that moves out the hardened waste matter."  "The right kind of carbs can eliminate any "false belly fat" that may come from built-up waste in your intestines and colon." 

It was obvious then that even though I was sticking to the BFC plan...in staying under the 6 servings of carbohydrates rule... I was actually doing myself a disservice by not eating enough fiber I was needing for the day...thus resulting in a backup in the out flow dept.!   LESSON LEARNED!

Here are a few of the suggestions that were either shared with me today, listed in the BFC book or appear on other's blogs.  Hope this helps if anyone else finds them in a similar predicament!

First: Eat 6 Servings of Good High Fiber Carbs a Day!  DO NOT SKIP THIS!  

Second: Make sure you drink LOTS OF WATER!  8 cups of 8oz is all it takes to keep the fiber you are consuming moving in the right direction!    If you have a tough time getting water down... check out my post about WATER - Your Body's BFF

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 If you still need a little help getting things in balance you may want to try adding ONE of these remedies:

DO NOT DO ALL OF THESE IN ONE DAY!!!

Belly Fat Cure Drink:  Page 101 in BFC book   BFC  0/2

• 1 (20oz bottle) of Sobe Lifewater 0   (any PureVia-sweetened flavor)
• 2 1/2 Tbsp. Psyllium husks
• 3 probiotic capsules 

1. Mix the psyllium husks with Sobe Lifewater
2. Take the probiotics with the shake and drink remainder immediately.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daily Routine:     Shared by: Rosalie at ...Healthy Me! Doing the Belly Fat Cure... 
                              Rosalie has lost almost 60lbs as of this posting and is a great inspiration and help to me!
                             

Morning:
Take 2 Probiotics capsules
Add 1 tsp of Metamucil Clear Sugar Free Powdered Fiber to your coffee or hot tea or other drink.

Afternoon:
Mix 1 scoop of SUPER SEED in water (or other sugar free drink like Sobe) and drink.
(This stuff tastes GREAT but does have a thick texture!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BUG JUICE:  As Amber shares in her captivating and informative article "Don't Mind Me I'm Just Feeding My Bugs" on her blog Me and Jorge.
It's a MUST READ and a MUST TRY RECIPE!!!  (actually her whole blog is AMAZING!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GO TO WALMART!!!  Ha! I'm dead serious... I won't reveal who suggested this but I have to say...there are times when this (for whatever reason!) WORKS!    The only thing I can figure is this:  You are out doing something different...perhaps even shopping for a new outfit or craft stuff or building supplies and WHAM! the urge hits you and you have to find the restroom fast!  My theory is that we are 1. Getting some exercise. 2. Relaxing.  YEP!  I think it's the combo of those two factoids that cause your body to say...HEY!  Pay Attention... I want to get rid of some of that baggage you're carrying around! It's worth a try!

( WALMART Here I Come!!!)  =D

I'm sure there are many other safe and healthy remedies out there.... So if you would like to share your ideas in the comments... I'm sure they will be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL???

THEN HANG OUT WITH SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE!!!

and that includes successful dieters too!!!

Thanks Rosalie and Amber!!!

An Outhouse I Could Get Used To!

I'm Feelin' A Little Tipsy

Because It's RECIPE TIP NIGHT!

Who's in the mood for a Mojito!!! 

Well I know I am...always!!!  I love the minty zing of a freshly made mojito!  Before BFC I tried all the pre-made mixes and none are as good as the real thing! Besides they are chock full of sugar...take this for example: Bartles & James Mojito  BFC 42/3 !!!  Wow!  That much sugar would put me under...no need for the alcohol! 

The weekend before starting BFC I went to a party at a mexican food restaurant and even sang a song I made up about mojito's all the way there!  I was planning on having my last hoorah, thinking I was going to have to give up my favorite drink!  We get to the restaurant and right off the bat I order up my first mojito!  "Sorry maam but we don't have any mint."  WHAT???  It's a Saturday night in Austin, Texas...you're a bar...and you Don't have any MINT??? C'mon people!  (that's the rant that went off in my head...thank goodness it didn't slip out my mouth!)  I was ready to go to the local grocery and buy my own stinkin' mint so I could have my last hoorah...as planned!  But I didn't and so my hoorah turned into several other assorted drinks...but none could meet up to my pre-conceived expectations of a Fresh Minty Mojito...  

BUT... I have good news!!!  I have found a recipe that fills the bill AND it's Sugar Free! 

Hope you enjoy!  Ole'!

Minty Mojito a la Sugar-Free

Now, before we get into the recipe part I need to tell you a little about how a mojito is made.  Normally, you start with a tall glass 3/4 full of ice, mint leaves, lime juice and sugar and you take a muddling tool (usually a wooden pestle) and start crushing the mint and sugar together on the ice.  The ice helps break down the leaves and the sugar helps release the flavors within the mint much like sugar on strawberries makes a syrup.  BUT, instead you will be using either 1 Tbl erythritol or 2 packets of Truvia instead of sugar.  So you need to work it just a little bit longer than usual to make sure the flavors all get released and mixed well.  

Once you have completed this step you will continue on adding the Rum and the Club Soda to the muddled mint and ice mixture.  Stir and enjoy!  Some like to place all the ingredients in a shaker and shake before serving...it's entirely up to you!   Don't be afraid to ingest the mint...it's healthy and keeps your breath fresh longer too!  (you may want to check your teeth from time to time! lol )

Ingredients:

•  lime wedges from about a third of a lime squeezed to make about 2 Tbl of juice  BFC 0/0
• 8 mint leaves  BFC 0/0
• 1 heaping Tbl erythritol or 2 packets of Truvia  BFC 0/0
• 1 1/2 oz. white rum  BFC 0/0
• Club soda to fill  BFC 0/0

Preparation:

1. Fill tall glass 3/4 full of crushed ice, mint, lime wedges and Sugar Substitute
2. Muddle with muddling tool till mint and sugar substitute is fully mixed and mint is broken down
3. Add rum and club soda 
4. Stir or place in shaker and shake and pour in tall glass
5. ENJOY!

Please note:  You can easily leave out the Rum for a tasty Non-Alcoholic Sugar-Free Mojito!

Total BFC value 0/0                  

(the only thing that had measurable carbs was the lime and it was 1/1 for a whole lime; 

so if you have more than one drink, be sure to count these points)

 Remember to drink responsibly 

and 

DONT DRINK AND DRIVE!!!

 OLE'

W A T E R - Our Body's BFF

WATER...Our Body's BFF

How many of these do you drink a day?  I try to drink 64 oz a day.  Some days I drink less...some days I drink more.  I confess, it hasn't always been my BFF  (best friend forever)!  I used to drink a glass of water and just about gag at the thought of having to drink any more than that one 8oz glass!  Now, give me a Diet Coke or Iced Tea or Cranberry Juice and I wouldn't gag!  So what is it about water that causes some of us to run the other way?  

This is totally IMO (in my opinion) and NOT a scientific fact!  But I believe we train our bodies to expect certain things.  Such as that cup of joe we have every morning!  Try forfeiting that one day and see how your body responds!  Not only is it used to getting it's little caffeine fix but it is used to you putting that certain type of liquid down your throat at that certain time of day.  Our bodies LOVE habits!  I'm convinced they thrive on them!  

You may be saying..."You picked a caffeinated drink and our bodies are hooked on the caffeine...not the type of liquid."   Ok, fair enough, lets try something else then.  What if you drank Decaf coffee... how would you feel if you left for the office and you forgot your To-Go cup of Hot Decaf Coffee on the counter?  Would you throw on the brakes and run back in to get it?  or Stop by the drive-thru coffee shop on the way to work... I have a feeling most of us would say... Yep!   You see we condition ourselves to expect certain things in our daily lives...and Katy bar the door if we don't get them!  

So what does this have to do with WATER?   Well, I believe that those of us who have had a difficult time getting those "much needed" 64 oz. of water down have had this issue because our bodies are not used to actually being hydrated!  It all of the sudden has this new form of liquid shooting into its stomach and it almost acts like it's shocked!  Sometimes even cramping up, making us feel sick to our stomach!  So.. we say to our neighbor..."See!  I just can't drink water! It makes me sick!"  When actually the fact of the matter is...you're probably "sick" because you ain't drinkin' yo water!  

It's true, our bodies really NEED extra water, EVERYDAY!  Not just on a whim...but on purpose for a purpose!  Here is a link to a wonderful article about why we should drink water in the first place... About Water!

I could talk on the subject and give you miles of facts about WHY we should drink more water...but I'm writing tonight more about the HOW you can get more water into your body...without gagging! lol   At least I'll share how I was able to change my ways...and hopefully it will help someone else out there!

The first thing I did after realizing I needed to conquer this "issue", was to buy myself a pretty glass.  Yep, a Pretty Glass that I could call my own!  At the time, I was working, had my own desk and was allowed to have drinks at my desk.  Drinking water out of a plastic or paper cup was totally unappealing to me. (still is!) So, I went to a store that I knew would have cool glassware and seriously walked the aisles upon aisles of glasses and found just the right glass that I knew would be pleasing to me!  

Once I found this glass....I made sure before I started work every morning that my glass was cleaned and filled with fresh, cool water from our water purifier.  I prefer cool or cold water, others may prefer luke or room temperature water, either way is fine...the point is to make it appealing to you and your body!  Having that pretty glass there...available with beautiful sparkling water...I found myself drinking more and more water as time went on.  I would be surprised when I would reach for the glass and find it empty!  Little by little I started re-hydrating my body and it was good!  

Now, I no longer work away from home and I am more active during the day and not just sitting at a desk at work. Therefore I created a new "habit".   I purchased a pretty insulated water bottle in my favorite color and make sure every morning (when I get my coffee fix!) that I also clean and fill my water bottle with ice and fresh Alkaline water.  (Alkaline water...a whole nuther story for another day!)  I find I drink at least 64oz a day and probably more.  My body has learned to LOVE being hydrated and believe me it lets me know now when I'm needing water!  It's amazing!  I never felt that "need" before...but now my body is used to being filled with sparkling water and longs for it if I go without for even an hour or two!  

Todays post is how "I" was able to make WATER my BFF...You may find another way easier for you...perhaps you love drinking out of a straw or wish to add a little lemon or lime to your water... that's OK...DO what will help YOU to DO what You need to DO!  The point is to HYDRATE your Body...so you can FLUSH those yucky things out and cleanse your system!  You get rewarded with beautiful hair, fresh looking skin and a healthy body!  What more can you ask for?  

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH!

Get Your Groove On

I know...I know...I'm showing my age!   That's ok...I'm happy to be 53 and a child of the sixties/seventies!  We had a blast back the "olden days"!!!    So why not have a  BLAST NOW TOO!!! 

Well I for one can tell you that I've been too overweight to have a Blast (at least I thought!) and personally I got fed up with myself!  I had become a large bump on a large pickle and only had enough energy to make it to the kitchen and back to my pickle...I mean chair!  There's a saying that says, "Time is the only thing we cannot retrieve....once it's gone it's gone!"  And if we waste any part of it what have we in return?  Nothing but waste... or in my case "waist"!

So here I am, 53 and wasting this most precious gift given to me...Time.  None of us knows the hour or the day in which our time is no more...well, at least I sure don't...so given that bit of knowledge I have come to a place in my life (finally) where I am deciding to Experience Life To It's Fullest....while I can!  BUT...to do those things I long to do I must first not waste a moment more in preparing my Body, Mind and Spirit filling myself with Faith, Hope and Love!  We are a beautiful gift...we must honor that package and it's wrappings!

Just taking the step to publicly announce that I was seriously overweight and that I was changing my eating habits and joining the forces of those who follow the Belly Fat Cure was a HUGE leap off that pickle I was stuck on!  But oh what a great leap that was...and I'm heading in the right direction and loving every minute of this plan.  (It also helps to have such a beautiful support system around me ...like those who may be reading this right now...and my family!)

Now that I'm feeding myself a more balanced diet, I can almost feel my body changing and longing to MOVE.  Have you ever gone to watch a sport or a ballet or even watched people dance on a dance floor and you feel something stirring inside you...wanting and longing to go do something active or join in the dance?  Well I live in a very active city...joggers, bikers, walkers, golfers, swimmers, dancers...and the list goes on.  They are everywhere you look in Austin!  We are a very health conscience city.  And when I look around I "long" to be doing what they are doing!  So what has been keeping me from doing so?  Well I could give you a list a mile long and it would all be so justifiable to me...but the truth is... I am the only thing that has been standing in MY way!  Yep..."I" ! ! !

But you may say to yourself..."Yeah, but I'm too fat for a bathing suit."  or "Well, as soon as I lose some of this gut I'll start taking the dogs for a walk."  or how about this one... "I would only make it a half a block in this heat!"  HA HAHA HA!!!  I've said ALL these things!  Who said it????   "I"  did!
All perfectly justifiable to our minds and we believe ourselves when we tell ourselves these...lies!  YEP... LIES!  ALL LIES!!!  Ooops did I lose anybody here?  Hope not!

You see...The "I" in all of us can be very convincing...if we let it!

I said this in one of my earlier posts:

WARNING: Lying to yourself can be harmful to your health! 

So with that said... SHOW YOURSELF SOME LOVE AND MOVE!!!  Do Something...Anything...Just MOVE!  I know it's hard to get started...it was hard for me this morning when the alarm went off at 6 so I could make it to my 8 o'clock NIA exercise class!  And even though I enjoyed the heck out of it... when the clock goes off again on Thursday... I bet my bottom dollar I'm going to have a very similar conversation with "I" which goes much like this, "You never get enough sleep...why don't you just shut the alarm off and roll on over."  or  "You've already exercised once this week...you're new at this...give yourself a well deserved break."  or "I think I don't feel so good today....yeah that's the ticket... I don't feeeeeeeeeel good!"  I must give "I" some credit for at least being persistent and Full Of Intention... just the WRONG intention!

When we find ourselves in this precarious argument...Please...For The Sake Of Your Life...argue back!!!   Throw those covers off.  Don't hi-jack yourself into believing the lies...because they are convenient, believable or justifiable!  You will love yourself more for going against the grain and Just Do It...MOVE!!!  Go Have a BLAST!!!

Today, after winning the argument, I attended a NIA exercise class.  Amazing!  Incredible!  Doable! Fun! Outrageous! and did I mention FUN!!! I HAD A BLAST!!! Yes...still overweight and had a BLAST moving!!!
If you need to find a reason to Move... look up a class in your area.
Here is the link to watch NIA in Action. 
 


If you listened to the song... he says, "It's takes a Word to make an Action."
May you find the "Word" that will brings your Life into Action for YOU...cause...YOU'RE WORTH IT!

Since I'm learning to love myself...my word is:

WEIGH-IN DAY - Week One Belly Fat Cure

I'm afraid to look...somebody else look for me please!

DRUMROLL PLEASE!!!  

First Week Weigh-In

5.8 lb LOSS ! ! !

2" off my waist!

Oh wow!  Oh Wow!  Oh WOW!!!!!!!  I'm soo happy!!!  What a great start to my goal of losing 70 lbs!  

I know it won't be this way each week...but am thankful I started off at a healthy pace!

Some advise to start out with smaller goals and once you hit those goals to set another.  I'm sorry but for me...this time...ALL BETS ARE OFF!!!  I'm not going to play the game and set myself up to hit a goal and linger there until I'm ready to set another...which usually never happens and has been my repeated pattern in the past.  No, this time... I'm looking at the TRUE goal and I'm heading THERE...and not stopping till I reach THERE!  Actually, I see that this plan IS my Lifestyle eating plan that I can live with for a Lifetime! So once I reach my "THERE", I will (not "I plan on"..but "I WILL") continue maintaining my balanced sugars and carbs from here on out!  

I know I'm only one week in...but there's something different about this plan!  I have tried so many diets, exercise programs, more diets, other lifestyle changes...just short of surgery... that I should be called the guru of diet plans!  So when my friend and I were talking weight loss a few weeks ago and I told her that I guess the only truth to losing weight is:  "Eat less; Exercise More".....she stopped me and said...can you read just one more book?    Being desperate I said  YES!  She began to tell me about the Belly Fat Cure and how it had helped a friend of hers to lose 40+ lbs.  Thus my story begins... 

I knew once I read the book...The Belly Fat Cure...that this plan is different!!!  I can actually EAT and be satiated!  I can look forward to the next meal instead of dreading another salad or gagging on volumes of protein!  The best part was knowing it would give me a path to follow to rid myself of my sugar addiction! Unlike other plans that either slice your carbs to death or just make small suggestions on better choices...This plan is all about learning how to swap bad carbs for good carbs!!!  BALANCE is what I see within this plan...BALANCE is what I needed...BALANCE is what I am beginning to experience as my body responds to a more balanced diet!  

I have posted a new chart off to the right which will chart my losses over the months to follow.  I have set a realistic goal of April 1, 2011 to lose the 70 lbs.  It may happen sooner or it may happen later...but IT WILL HAPPEN!  As I said in my last post... I no longer own that 70 lbs!  Now my body just needs to catch up with what is TRUTH!  I am a healthy, active, 53 year old woman who loves to swim, hike and Enjoy Life To It's Fullest!  Woo Hoo!!!

I'm going to start compiling a list of Good Belly Snacks as that seems to be a repeated question on the FaceBook Forum.  Hopefully I will get this posted in the next day or two.  If you have any favorite snacks you would like me to include...please send them to my email:  nosugarjustspice@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to read...Please feel free to post your comments below!  I read them all and love and appreciate your support.  Let me know if you also have a blog!  I would love to add you to my blog list and help support your success as well!

The day I reach my goal...Will be the day this appears on the top of the page!

I Like My...

Wow! I LOVE THAT KID! What a cutie! But apart from that... what a lesson we ALL need to learn!  How many of us can say that when we stand in front of a mirror we actually say Affirmations!  I'm sure there are some who do, but I imagine that the majority of us actually say Accusations instead!

Those of us who have reason to speak an accusation or two should take some time to find something... ANYTHING... to Like.  Then Speak....No...SHOUT it out!!!  Even if it's only 1 thing... start there!  Scare the cat and tell him you LIKE him!  This little one didn't seem one bit ashamed to speak about those things she LIKED...Including Herself!  Anybody can pick things apart and find things we Dislike!  That's the easy part!  But to discover and claim those things that you LIKE...publically or otherwise is a whole different ball of wax!  Start small and end...BIG!!!  (sorta opposite of the weight loss journey!)  Come on people LIKE yourself!

Earlier today I was once again reading through Amber's posts on her blog Me and Jorge.  Specifically it was her week 4 weigh in and she was so excited that she had lost another 3.5lbs for a total of 14lbs so far.  She writes about taking back control of her body...the one she knew was inside...even before she had lost the weight she was needing to lose.  Reminds me of a verse in the Bible, "...calling things that be not as though they were." Rom 4:17

Here's what Amber says:

"I know there will be weeks when I lose less, or nothing, or even experience  a slight gain. 

I will not let these set backs stand in my way! In fact, I honestly believe I have actually already lost these 40lbs and just need to go through the process for my body to realize it. I am no longer that person who eats obsessive-compulsively.

My new mantra is:
This extra weight no longer belongs to ME, I have released it. It just will take some time to shed it from my physical body!"

WoW!  Those are some powerful words and they pierced right through me today!  I am choosing to do the same and release "possession" of this weight... 
the weight NO LONGER belongs to me!
And guess what...not only has she surpassed her original weight goal of 40lbs by 10lbs, but just today her success story was published in Woman's World magazine...less than a year since she started The Belly Fat Cure program!  Wow!  Way to go Amber!  I for one am so proud of YOU!  And you should be too!

I know I've included a lot about another person's success here today... but it is people like Amber and lil' Jessica and their determination to NOT QUIT, that inspires me to refrain from my own temptations...and doubts...and fears... and speaking those dislikes over myself so that I too can be successful!  

I'M INSPIRED!  

Hope you are too!

Here is  THE REST OF THE STORY of lil' Jessica...just too cute not to include it!

First Day First Week!

I had 3 fantastic meals today full of yummy foods I love! My favorite was the Parmesan Grilled Cheese and Avocado Sandwich we made at lunch! WoW!!!  I think I can live with this Belly Fat Cure meal plan!  The bread was whole wheat, sugar-free and low in carbs (yummy in flavor) so my Sandwich only "cost" me 2 carb points of my 6 points allotted me in one day!  

Here's the recipe for this incredible sandwich!

Parmesan Grilled Cheese and Avocado Sandwich

Serves 2

4  slices Sugar-Free Whole Grain Bread

4  1oz. slices of Cheddar Cheese

1/2 of Avocado - Sliced

Butter or Smart Balance Margarine

Shredded or Grated Parmesan Cheese

Butter one side of four pieces of bread.  Sprinkle each buttered side with Parmesan Cheese; lightly pressing cheese into butter.  Heat up non-stick skillet Medium High or sandwich maker.  Place 2 of the buttered slices of bread into the skillet, butter side down.  Add 1/2 the cheddar cheese and avocado on top of each piece of bread in skillet.  Place the two remaining pieces of buttered bread on top of the cheese and avocado, butter side up.  

Continue to cook sandwich flipping several times, until golden brown on both sides and cheese is melted.  

Enjoy!

0 sugar : 24 grams carbs =  0/2 per sandwich!

~ ~ ~ 

Going to finish out my day with 2 squares of Dark Chocolate! Mmmmmmm!

Yep!  I think I can live with this way of life! 

The Journey Begins

Welcome to my journey into the rest of my life!

If you read my About Me page you will see that I am tired of not living life to its fullest!  My body is only 53 years old and yet it feels like I'm bumping 80!  I'm around 70+ lbs overweight and even though my sweet friends tell me I look fine... I don't feel so fine.

This journal is my public way of telling my story as I live it...the good, the bad, and the ugly!

I have set aside the next two days to mentally and spiritually prepare myself for the commitment I'm embarking on.  To lay aside the years of pain I have slathered over myself and others.  To thoroughly educate myself on my new lifestyle of eating, physical activity, and spiritual and mental empowerment.  Then on Monday, I will embark fully on this journey, emotionally, spiritually and physically prepared to Embrace and Live Life To Its Fullest!

I hope you will join me on this adventure of a lifetime!  We'll have a blast...if we allow ourselves to!

Selah

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”  Charles Swindoll