Friday Draft

Greetings Friends~

Yesterday was the final weigh in and I am extremely pleased to announce that my hard working sister Rebecca is our One Step at a Time winner. Over the course of her journey she managed to out shine us all and finished with a total loss of 71 pounds for a whopping 27.95% loss.

Congratulations Rebecca. You look great!

As far as myself, I have lost 70 pounds since I started last fall...give or take a Costco dog or two. I am pleased at my "new" energy level and greatly surprised by the changes that this has made for me mentally.

This will be my last post...at least until September. If I am able to get the rest of the weight off over the summer while working outside on the house, then I will be happy. If not, then I may start again in the fall. If I do, I'll let you all know.

I want to give a special thanks to Irish Girl who has continued to be supportive to all of us. Thank you for being so caring.

I also want to thank the other participants. Maybe we didn't achieve all that we wanted but, if nothing else, this may have at least stopped us a time or two from bingeing or making wrong choices.

Keep up the good works because we will be successful in many things if we do them One Step at a Time.
Happy Trails!

Week 20 Results

Greetings Friends~

Congrats to Rebecca for continuing what we started, and for being this weeks Biggest (and only) Loser.
She lost 1 pound for a .55% drop. Way to go!!

This is the last week for Part 2 and next Tuesday we will crown our winner.

As you can tell from my lack of postings, I haven't been very motivated with my weight loss, exercise program or this blog. I am the first to admit that this is pretty sad. Unfortunately, I have had several physical set backs. First my shoulder, and most recently, my back. I am not back to 100 % yet...physically or mentally.

But, that is all water under the bridge. I am looking on the bright side that I am down 70 pounds from last September and while I have a long ways to go, I am looking and feeling a lot better.

The best news is that I have a ton of energy which has resulted in me being able to accomplish a TON of things that last year I would not have believed possible. The farm is looking better, I have flats of tomatoes and peppers growing, a garden (or two) will be planted soon, the blue berries are pruned and fertilized for the first time in ages and the rest of the place is taking shape.

So, even if I don't win, I know that I have succeeded.

The journey is still in progress and I hope to keep reporting good results in the days, weeks and months to come.

Happy Trails!

Week 17 Results

Greetings Friends~

Congratulations to this week's Biggest (and only) Loser Sharon. I appreciate that you kept us from posting a big goose egg.

I am trying to claw my way back to a better place. I'll see you all when I do.
Happy Trails!

Call Me Ted Kacsynski

Greetings~

Here's the deal Travelers. I have nothing good to say, so as my Grandma Becky suggested many times, since I have nothing good to say, I won't say anything at all.

I'll post something when (or if) I am in a better mood (and place).

Seasons Change (And So Do We)

Greetings Friends~

It seems like it was just last week that I was making my New Year's resolutions and now it is April already. One day at a time, One Step at a Time, the calendar flies by.

I love this time of year for a variety of reasons, especially that the days are getting longer. I am a three season kind of guy. Well, maybe a 2.5 season kind of guy actually. I love March 1 thru September/October. The rest of the time I wish I lived in Palm Springs.

Anyway, this is my year. This is the year that I make myself better, both physically and mentally. So far, with three months gone by, I am on track. I may not get to the destination this year, or even next year, or possibly ever, but each day that goes by I am in a better place.

I am far from perfect though. Just when I think I have this thing called life figured out, something jumps up and surprises me. Physical and mental challenges abound but that's okay because it sure beats the alternative (death). There is no sense in worrying about those things that I can not control, especially since there are so many things that I could improve, which I do control.

My stress level at work the last month or so has been sky high and it is not likely to change until after the election in November. The saving grace for me is that I am able to burn away that stress, at least until tomorrow, by working out at the gym or by working on projects at home. Before, I would use food to make me feel better. I suppose that is still an option but not one that gets me any closer to my destination. I'm happy that food isn't the first thing I think of to elevate my moods.

Inspiration of the Day

It is not your aptitude, but your attitude, that determines your altitude. Zig Ziglar

Recipe of the Day

Here is a recipe, and a tip. Make this, enjoy a hearty meal, put the remainder into plastic serving sized containers and freeze. Now you have a quick easy lunch that is all ready to go. Just take it out the night before. Another benefit is this soup contains significantly LESS sodium than any store bought selection.
http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Diet-Soup-21892

Shopping Tips

Not the greatest week for shopping at area stores but here it is anyway.

Safeway has the following items on sale this week; Eating Right or Weight Watchers Smart Ones frozen entrees (selected varieties) for $1.88 each and deli counter turkey breast for $4.99 a pound.

Top Foods has the following items on sale this week; large navel oranges for $.39 a pound, tomatoes on the vine for $1.49 a pound, Fresh Express Baby Blend Salad Mix - buy one for $3.49 - get the second for free, english cucumbers or carrots by the bunch for $1 each, organic Cameo apples for $1 a pound and Oroweat Sandwich Thins or Mini Bagels at 2 for $5.

Albertson's has the following items on sale this week; Campbell's Select Harvest soups for $1 each, Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers without sauce for $1.29 each and Quaker Instant oatmeal for $1.40 each (must buy 5 to get this price) and Yoplait yogurt for $.50 each.

Today’s Link

Heart-Healthy Living



Happy Trails!

Week 16 Results

Greetings Friends~

Here are the results for Week 16.



Big kudos to Susan for being this week's Biggest Loser. Good job!

Each week that goes by gets me closer to my destination. Some weeks I lose weight and some I don't, much like the rest of the people I know that are trying to get healthy. Personally, the pound that I lose this week isn't the thing that gets me to the finish line. It is what I learn from each week that does that.

I have learned; that eating the correct kinds of food contributes greatly to how well I do, that eating the right kinds of foods in the wrong quantities is almost as bad as just eating one small "splurge" food such as a candy bar, that too much salt in and on my foods will cause me to bloat like a bull frog, that exercising or working outside or just being active makes a difference, that eating a larger meal in the morning is better than a larger meal in the evening. In the last 6 months I have learned, and re-learned, a lot.

I am happy to see that several of us have been able to lose enough weight that we can see a difference when we look at ourselves in the mirror. I am also pleased that many others who may not have lost all that they wanted are at least recognizing why and making some choices that are better than those that they may have made without the blog.

Success can be measured many ways. I hope that you look at the positive changes that you have made and see that you are a success. Telling yourself that what you have accomplished, however large or small, will be another step in your journey. Experience will also get us that much closer to our destination.

Inspiration of the Day

You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it. - Charles Buxton

Recipe of the Day

In the whole scheme of things, this recipe has a few more calories than what I prefer BUT the fat count is very low so I think there is a reasonable trade off. If you want to lower your per meal calorie intake with this, divide this into four portions and serve with a large green salad. http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Easy-Spicy-Shrimp-Pasta-Low-Fat-144728

Today's Link

A Healthier You

My small step for today is to skip the gym and get a workout by doing yard work before dinner.

Happy Trails!

Stay Positive

Greetings Friends~

If you read this blog, you know that I am a TOTAL Biggest Loser groupie. Seriously, if I had to do away with every other television program BUT the Biggest Loser, I could do it. While I LOVE Survivor, Lost, The Amazing Race and 24, the Biggest Loser is my all time favorite.

I checked out Bob Harper's new book, Are You Ready!, from the library recently. This is the second Biggest Loser book that I have checked out and this one is every bit as excellent as the cookbook I read earlier.

I must say that I am surprised about the content and style of the book. Seeing Bob week after week on TV, I would never have thought that he "suffers" from some of the same problems that all of us do. I won't go into all the details because I don't want to ruin it for any of you that might read the book but let me say that he certainly has gone through many of the same feelings that most of us have concerning how we feel about ourselves. This really amazed me. I always assumed that he was some kind of Superman.

I've only read a few chapters so far. I really like how he stresses that if we are to succeed in losing weight, and be successful in our lives, that we should concentrate more on the positives and less on the negatives. I am in complete agreement with him on that.

Instead of berating myself for not working out all three days this weekend, I should be pleased that I went to the gym twice. What difference does it really make that I chose to skip my workout today and instead substituted four strenuous hours of work in the garden? Why punish myself for missing a workout when I should be giving myself positives about how much I accomplished? Why be depressed that I might not lose an extra pound this week when the better choice is to feel proud that I made some great progress in getting "the place" back in order?

There are so many good messages that we can give ourselves but we so seldom do. I think this is because we have programmed ourselves to focus on the negatives, at least I do. I could have done more. I could have eaten less. I should have do this. I should have done that.

Take a few minutes and make a short list of positive things about yourself. Once you have made that list, read it and see how you feel. Then, when you are in one of those moods where everything you do seems to get you down, take out that list and read it again. Maybe even add an item to it. Before you know it, you may find that you have realized that there are a LOT more positive things about you then they are negatives.

Remember...fat may be WHAT we are...but not WHO we are.

Inspiration of the Day

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us. - Alexander Graham Bell, 1847-1922, British-born American Inventor of Telephone

Recipe of the Day

Salmon is one of the few kinds of fish that I like to eat. Well, that's not really true. I would probably eat any fish if it is deep fried so let me say instead that salmon and halibut are two of the only kinds of fish that I like to eat that don't have to be covered in batter and deep fried. So here is yet another recipe for salmon that will put some variety in your diet. http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Grilled-Orange-and-Bourbon-Salmon-Fillets-159338

Today's Link

How Many Calories Do You Burn A Day (BMR Calculator)

I'm off to my weigh-in at Group Health. Today is another opportunity to show myself that I deserve better health and that I am strong enough to acheive it. Don't forget your small steps Travelers.

Happy Trails!

The Two's -- Continued

Greetings Friends~

So if anyone is still actually reading my ramblings, then you know that the other day I spoke about how I can't be satisfied with just one of something so I have to have two. That's why I call it the Two's.

No sooner had I written that then the next day I read online about the guy in Georgia who also must suffer from the Two's. Seems Chad Ettmueller hadn't eaten all day so he decides to celebrate a family event by taking the kids to a sandwich shop. He orders the Wicked, which is a sandwich with 5 kinds of meat and 3 kinds of cheese. Wait. Remember how I said he must have the Two's? No, it would be too easy if he had order two. Not Chad. He orders the Wicked and wants DOUBLE MEAT AND DOUBLE CHEESE! Imagine how big that sandwich was.

So the sandwich arrives, he picks it up and tries to take a bite. LOL, this is too amazing to believe. He dislocates his jaw trying to get a bite of the sandwich! For the next 14 hours, he is worked on at the hospital until finally they are able to put his jaw back in place.

By the way, the picture at the start of the post is the Wicked but only single meat and cheese. That's not even the double that Chad ordered.

I thought getting a stomach ache was bad enough after I have the Two's. Guess there are some far worse possibilities.

Inspiration of the Day

If you put a small value upon youself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price. - Unknown

Recipe of the Day

I want the Two's with this salad! http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Turkish-Salad-82177

Shopping Tips

Safeway has the following items on sale this week; Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets for $6.99 a pound, Eating Right frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts for $1.99 a pound, organic oranges for $.99 a pound, Safeway frozen sweet potato fries for $1.99 a bag, Del Monte fruit cups at 2 for $5, Chicken of the Sea solid white albacore tuna for $1.25 each.

Albertson's has the following items on sale this week; Post Cereal for $1.49 each (first 4) (I am going to be stocking up on Grape-Nuts. Mmm, so good mixed with yogurt for breakfast), gallons of milk for $2 each, Progresso soups for $1.39 each, celery for $.98 a bunch, and green or red leaf lettuce for $1.29 a head.
Top Food's has the following items on sale this week;  Petite sirloin steaks (all natural/USDA Choice) in the value pack for $2.97 a pound (Fri-Sun), avocados (use in that salad recipe on yesterday's post) for $.69 each, iceberg lettuce 2 for $1, Cameo apples (my new favorite apple) for $1 a pound, Anjou pears for $.89 a pound and Jennie-O marinated turkey tenderloins (1.5 pounds) for $5.49 each.

Today's Link

The Truth About Oil

Yesterday at work I was exhausted from all the phone calls from customers. Going to the gym last night was the LAST thing I wanted to do but I figured I should go anyway. What the heck, it wasn't going to make me feel any worse and at least I would feel good knowing that I did my workout.

My small step for today is to do something nice for someone.
Happy Trails!

Week 15 Results

Greetings Friends~

Here are the results for Week 15.

Chip lost 5 pounds. Congrats to me. I am sure that the results will be better next week. Don't prove me wrong Poppits!

I am going to keep this short since it is so late in the day.

I want to talk about changes that members of this blog have made since we started. There are some people that have joined the gym and are exercising. One member gave up her gym membership because it didn't fit into her schedule but now she is finding time to take a walk after work, several times a week. Another member joined Weight Watchers. Members are paying attention to what they eat. Finally, there are some members that were able to keep from gaining their usual 10 to 20 pounds of winter weight.

Sometimes the results are not only measured in how many pounds you have lost but the progress that you have made overall. Maybe you aren't bingeing (yes, that word is spelled correctly, I looked it up) as much. Or, like Mrs B and myself, you have changed to turkey bacon and Egg Beaters.

Don't make the scale your only measure of success, because it isn't.

Inspiration of the Day

The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work. - Oprah Winfrey, 1954-present

 
Recipe of the Day

I was searching for something lite for today's recipe. This looks delicious and the reviews are excellent.
http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Avocado-Lime-Salad-207168

Today’s Link

Ten Things Not To Say To Someone Trying To Lose Weight

Never lose hope. Things do have a way of getting better for those of us that take charge of things in our life. I decided that instead of living a life full of despair, that I would travel instead on a journey which is filled with hope and possibilities. I know there are Travelers out there that doubt that they are strong enough to make the trip...to go the distance. You don't have to be. All you have to do is be strong enough for today by taking small steps, One Step at a Time. If you take care of today, the tomorrows will take care of themselves.

Happy Trails!

Some Weeks Are A Drag

Greetings Friends~

I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter weekend. Mine was rather non-eventful. No attendance at a family dinner or a restaurant. I am thankful for that because this was one less temptation that I had to worry about.
I did manage to follow my small steps. I drank lots of water and worked out Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Yesterday I ran another 2 miles on the treadmill. I think I am getting used to it but will not overdo it because I do feel a little pain in my knees afterward. I will attempt to keep running every 2-3 days and see how I feel after that.

My shoulder seems to be on the mend. I am no longer bothered by a constant sharp pain when I lift my arm. I did swim a half mile yesterday after my run. The shoulder was starting to ache so I hit the hot tub which felt great on all those throbbing areas.

I talked to Rebecca yesterday. She just got back from a trip to California with her son Andrew. It is hard to travel and vacation, while still attempting to diet. As we talked, I thought it was funny (odd) how we both seem to have some of the same bad habits. I could go on but I'm pretty sure that the list would be long, as yours probably is.

One of my worse habits is the Twos. In case you don't know how that works, I will tell you. When I bbq hamburgers or go to Jack In The Box, I have TWO hamburgers. When we are lazing around the house and we decide to make sandwiches, I have TWO. It doesn't matter that we are making them with those big long slices of sourdough bread from Costco and that each ONE is huge. I HAVE to have TWO.

Why? I'm not really sure. I think part of it is that I am a glutton. The other part may be related to childhood when we didn't have much money and food was tight. It seems like I am still trying to compensate for those desires to have more. I don't really know why but I do know that it is pretty stupid the way my brain works. Physically one hamberger or sandwich will fill me up. Mentally I can't seem to not want more.

When we used to buy pizza at Papa Murphy's, even after the kids had left the nest, I always had to order TWO. Why? Because I was afraid that one wouldn't be enough.

I hope that someday I can find a cure for the TWOs.

Inspiration of the Day

There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day. – Alexander Woollcott, 1887-1943, American Columnist and Critic

Recipe of the Day

As I have said before, asparagus is one of my favorites and that is just another reason to welcome spring. We eat is a lot when it is on sale. Today and Tuesday it is cheapest at Albertson's, $1.28 a pound with is a great buy. I think we will have this one tonight with a grill flat iron steak and a green salad.
http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Garlic-Roasted-Asparagus-with-Parmesan-88945

Today's Link

Make Friends With Your Scale

My co-worker, and main woman at work, Jennifer is on vacation this week. Today is going to be a bad one. I hope that I can use my small steps to keep from compensating by over eating. I have a feeling that this week I am going to have to do each day Once Step at a Time just to keep sane.

Happy Trails!

Mr. Mouse

Greetings Friends~

Lee sent me this in an email. I do not know the original author but I do like the "moral of the story".
I hope you enjoy it as well.

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.

What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - - - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning:

There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The pig sympathized, but said, “I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray”. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well, she died. So many people came for her funeral; the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember ---- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey called life.

We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

REMEMBER. . . . . .

EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD
IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY;
OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.

I hope you liked it. I know I did.
 
Happy Trails!

Weekend Update or How Strong Are You?

Greetings Friends~

I knew a man once who impressed me with his strength. Not the "I can bench press 300 pounds and rip a phone book in half" kind of strength. This was his iron will.

In his youth, he was a hell raiser. His biggest vice was alcohol. I don't know details about his behavior while drinking or the trouble that he got into because of it. What I do know is this. One day he decided to give up drinking for good, and he did.

Why is that so impressive to me? I'll tell you. It is because he stopped doing a destructive behavior "cold turkey". Just like that. One day he abused alcohol and the next he didn't. Not ever again. Not even a single drink. Not a drop. He realized that he had responsibilities, knew he had to make a change and did it just like that.

But that isn't the whole story. That isn't the whole reason why I said I was impressed with his strength.

Even more impressive is that he did it and then "walked the walk" by not having a single drink, for the remainder of his life. I don't know the exact number of years but I believe it was over fifty. That is the most impressive part to me.

I would love to be even half the man that he was. Sometimes when I think about how hard it is to follow through on a resolution, I think of his example to give me strength.

I am sure that we each know someone strong in our lives. Try to draw some inspiration and motivation from them. It can be helpful in those times that you do not feel like you have the strength.

Inspiration of the Day

You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it's a little thing, do something for others - something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. - Albert Schweitzer, 1875-1965

Recipe of the Day

Just in time for Easter. A delicious dessert that won't wreck the weigh-in for you. http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Low-Fat-Low-Calorie-Cool-n-Easy-Pie-26610

Today's Link

Another Success Story

I find my motivation from a variety of sources. Watching the Biggest Loser, reading about others that have lost weight, and from the example set by Mrs. B and Rebecca. Try to figure out what works to motivate you and then use it to the fullest. My small steps for today, and the weekend, are to remember to eat small healthy meals frequently, drink lots of water and to get in at least two workouts.

When I was in high school, I ran track. I hated the practices because we would go out and run for miles. It was easier for me if I told myself to run to that fence post a 100' away or some other landmark that was close. Before I knew it, each of those small goals added up to one long run. One Step at a Time is like that. Look at that small increment or goal that lies before you. Accomplish that and then look for another. It works for me and should work for you as well.

Happy Trails!

The Gym

Greetings Friends~

Today I am going to talk about something that I really hate. Ready? I hate the gym. I always have since I was a little fat kid who got picked last for everything and was the first one to get hit in the face with that stupid red rubber ball during dodge ball.

I think the only GOOD memory I have of gym is using the trampoline because even chubby kids can bounce up and down.

As an adult, not much has changed. Sure, we don't pick teams at the gym but I still hate doing most things there. Why? Because it's hard, and it is painful, and I'm not in the best of shape (yet).

Some days it is all I can do to just make it through my workout. As I am using the treadmill or the elliptical, I keep telling myself to finish so I can move on to more pleasurable things. Exercise, for the most part, is not fun.

I really miss playing racquetball. Now that is fun. It's like recess at school. Even the worst game of racquetball is more enjoyable than anything else within those walls.

Still, I am never going to lose the weight if I don't work out. So I will continue to do what has to be done in order to burn the calories.

Here is the upside. I ran for TWO miles tonight without stopping. I never would have dreamed that I could do that. Best of all is that my knees didn't hurt (much). I do believe that losing that most recent 20 pounds certainly did wonders for my joints.

I also started swimming laps again. I didn't overdo it because of the shoulder, but there was no pain involved at all, so that is major progress.

Sometimes we have to do things that we hate. The gym is no exception.

Inspiration of the Day

"About the only thing that comes to us without effort is old age." – Gloria Pitzer

Recipe of the Day

Spice up your life with this low fat recipe. Ole`! http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Low-Fat-Carnitas-4085

Today’s Link

Busted! 5 Major Eating Mistakes

Today is the big Spring potluck at work. Temptations are going to be many. My small step for today is to control my eating AND drink lots of water.

Take one thing in your life that is holding you back, and get rid of it. One Step at a Time, one bad habit at a time, things can get better. You are the person in charge of your life. YOU.
Happy Trails!

Smart Choices

Greetings Friends~

This Sunday is Easter. Don't worry, I'm not going to write about religion or the Easter Bunny or how there shouldn't be an Easter Bunny.

I am speaking about Easter as another holiday that involves food. As they say, where there is smoke, there is fire. Well, this weekend there will be a ton of lamb and ham devoured by the masses. Thank goodness we have no "organized" dinner plans so I shouldn't have to worry too much about overeating.

But this did get me to thinking about the rest of the Travelers that may be put in a situation where they are tempted to make a detour on the road to fitness. Now don't get me wrong, if you are satisfied with what you have lost in the last 14 weeks, eat to your heart's content, if you want. Occasionally we should reward ourselves.

I'm speaking to the others that haven't made the progress that they would like. What can you do to avoid temptation?

If you are going to cook dinner for a gathering, think about providing a healthy "second" choice. Maybe some poached salmon or some 97% lean ham or a platter of boiled shrimp. Use that as a foundation for a healthy plate of food. Make your deviled eggs with low fat mayo. Make a nice gourmet green salad that abounds in vegetables and offer some low fat choices of salad dressings.

As I have said repeatedly in the past, we Chubsters are a pretty savvy group. I am sure if you spend a short amount of time online, you can find some great alternatives to almost every fat laden dish that you usually make.

And, don't forget Bill Cosby's favorite, Jello. There is a huge variety of sugar free flavors available and they are all probably on sale this week (so stock up now). Even if you were to eat the entire package, which makes a quart, with fat free topping, you will only be into it for about 100 calories. Sure beats eating a piece of pie or cake and ruining your progress for the week.

Something that helps me avoid temptation is this. Picture yourself a mere three or four months from now, slim and trim, getting ready to devour an ear or two of fresh corn on the cob from the Farmer's Market. Isn't that worth waiting for? Worth a little discipline now in order to reap the results and rewards later?

I sure think so. Today I weigh 270. I can't wait to get into the 260's, and then the 250's.

I can forego the traditional holiday meal to acheive that that milepost on this journey.

Inspiration of the Day

In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it. - Robert Heinlein, 1907-1988

Recipe of the Day

Here is a recipe using my favorite vegetable. Hopefully you will enjoy it too. http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Roasted-Asparagus-50847

Shopping Tips

Safeway has the following items on sale this week thru next Tuesday; whole pineapple for $1.99 each, Eating Right frozen entrees for $2 each, Bumble Bee chunk light tuna for $.50 each and radishes or onions for $.79 each.

Top Foods has the following items on sale this week thru next Tuesday; fresh asparagus for $1.38 a pound, green seedless grapes for $1.48 a pound, Fuji and Granny Smith apples for $1 a pound, broccoli and cauliflower for $.89 a pound, Butter Ball frozen turkeys for $.79 a pound and Kraft salad dressing for $1.99 each.

Albertson's has the following items on sale this week thru next Tuesday; fresh asparagus for $1.28 a pound, Del Monte canned vegetables at $.50 each, Healthy Choice soups for $1 each, radishes and green onions for $.69 each, red bell peppers for $1.50 each and Jumbo sea scallops (previously frozen) for $7.99 a pound.

Today’s Link

6 Tips For Better Breakfasts

Keep up the hard work guys. Eveything you do today will effect that scale on Monday. My small step for today is to get in the gym and work up a sweat.

Happy Trails!

Week 14 Results

Greetings Friends~

Here are the results for Week 14.



Congratulations to Chip who is this week's Biggest Loser, and kudos to the other who posted a loss. A big raspberry to the rest of youse.

Not the greatest of weekends for me. Mrs B was busy for most of the weekend with Junior League responsibilities and I was on my own. While some people might enjoy the solitude or have the opportunity for some "me" time, I'm not one of them. After being around people all week, I guess it is kind of a shock to my system when it is just me.

I remember this one time...at band camp...oh, sorry...I remember this one time when I was about 5 years old and had done some serious mischief. My mother punished me by making me stay in our fenced back yard, for the entire summer day, all by myself. That was one of the worst days of my life.

Now, this weekend wasn't quite that bad but I had some of the same feelings. I worked in the blueberries for a good part of the day and then came inside. No one to talk to. No one listening to me. No one to cook for. No one to nag. Yeah, I admit it. I get lonely.

And, what do I do when I am feeling blue? You guessed it. I eat, and that is what I did. Nothing horrible like pizza or tater tots (crap, I'm getting hungry). No, this was the constant foraging of diet foods. Slabs of cheese, those damn vegetable chips from Costco, apples, oranges, and more.

The glass half empty guy is pissed at me because I over ate.

The glass half full guy is happy because they were healthy foods.

Me? I'm just pissed that I still turn to food. Guess I could have started drinking but that would lead to pizza and tots, so I knew that was a bad road to start down.

Once again, I am puzzled by my behavior. But, as I said yesterday, this is a new day and a new week. This process of evolving is really a bitch sometimes. Where is that magic wand when I need it?

Inspiration of the Day

The best opportunities in life are the ones we create. Goal setting provides for you the opportunity to create an extraordinary life. -Gary Ryan Blair {Goals Coach & Founder of The Goals Guy}

Recipe of the Day

I am always on the lookout for recipes that highlight a food which can be prepared in a lower calorie version without losing the flavor of the original. Make sure you read the reviews for some additional ideas of how to make this. http://www.recipezaar.com/Oven-Fried-Chicken-Chimichangas-28148

Today’s Link

Silent Signals That You Are Stressed

Spring has sprung and my small step for today is to drink more water. I've slacked off the last few days.
Have you set a daily goal recently?

Happy Trails!

Could This Be You??

Greetings Friends~

I would like to talk to you today about a friend of mine.

He is in his 50's, morbidly overweight and suffers from Type II diabetes. It appears that we have a lot in common. Our physical ailments are the result of years of abuse. Too many forkfuls of the wrong kinds of foods, and not enough exercise, have got us to where we are today.

My friend desperately wants to lose weight and lead a healthier life but he just can't get started. I am afraid that the longer he waits, the harder it will be, and the sickness will continue to deteriorate his body.

I am at a loss as to how to help him and this grieves me. It is like knowing an alcoholic and watching them drink themselves to death. Each day that goes by is one day closer to an untimely end.

Have you ever seen someone that dies from this disease? If they are lucky, they suffer a quick heart attack from their weakened heart. If they are not so lucky, the amputations begin. First the feet, then the lower leg and knee, and finally the leg is removed at the hip. Once this begins then the chance of a fatal infection becomes likely, and then, the heart attack.

Let's not forgot the damage to the kidney and eyes either. Kidney failure and blindness are two other possible outcomes.

I put a high value on his friendship, as I do the friendships that I have with many of you.

I know that I can not do this for him. I know that we each have to reach that point in our lives that we are so sick and tired of being overweight that we finally decide to REALLY do something about it. I pray that he reaches this point soon, while he still has some time left to reverse the disease.

Unfortunately, I have several friends like this. You probably do as well. Please let them know that you care about them and that this disease is controllable. It may not be too late. Yet.

Inspiration of the Day

If there is no struggle, there is no progress. – Frederick Douglass, 1817-1895, American Abolotionist

 
Recipe of the Day

Seafood is a great alternative to red meat. Here is an recipe for a delicious kabob, which I love.
http://www.recipezaar.com/Soy-Wasabi-Shrimp-and-Scallop-Skewers-Weight-Watchers-237064

Today’s Link

Mood Boosters

I didn't get as much accomplished this weekend as I would have liked. I'm feeling disappointed in myself for my lack of drive. But, today is a new day and a new week so I get a clean slate. My small step for today is to eat my meals as planned and to drink LOTS of water. I hope you are still taking life One Step at a Time.

Happy Trails!

Time -- Where Does It Go?

Greetings Friends~

Life seems so hectic, and time so short.

Monday through Fridays, paying the bills (working) takes up the majority of the day. After work we scurry around trying to do all sorts of things in the little time that we have left. There is never enough time.

The weekends are my time to get caught up. Unfortunately, once again, there is never enough time. Now that the days are getting longer, I am thankful for some extra daylight. But, the gym is still only open 8 am to 8 pm, so if I want to get a workout in, during that time, something else has to be sacrificed.

Last Saturday I skipped the workout. Maybe not such a huge deal since I worked in the yard. Still, I felt guilty about it. Sunday we were patiently waiting with the other die hards when the gym opened at 8 am. Kudos for that.

There has to be a balance but I'll be darned if I have figured it out yet. Mrs. B has Junior League activities all weekend so she knows she won't get much of a chance to hit the gym. I have more garden work to do on Saturday. I am hoping I can finish what I need to by 3 pm, that way I can still get in some quality time on a treadmill.

Often it isn't a shortage of time that keeps me from completing all my desired tasks. It is the distractions.

I could probably get everything done each day if I could just stay away from the television and the computer. Besides food, these are my two other addictions.

I have never been able to balance very well (or some would say I am un-balanced). I hope to get better at it when I grow up.

Inspiration of the Day

For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work. -- Doug Larson, Newspaper Columnist.

 

Recipe of the Day

Give this sandwich a try when you are watching basketball this weekend or for lunch after doing some yard work. http://www.recipezaar.com/Light-Toasty-Turkey-Club-Sandwich-283744

Today’s Link

Walk Off A Size In 4 Weeks

I have been using the library a lot lately. Today I picked up a copy of The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook. I was pretty sceptical about all the stuff that I see pitched on the show each week but if this book is any example, I am sold. There are a ton of tips and so many different recipes that I don't know where to start. Mrs B and I both have looked at the book and decided that we should buy it online. I will be sharing bits and pieces with you in the very near future and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Here is one example -- "Eat breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up. This will increase your metabolism dramatically and get you into a calorie burning mode".

You may have know that. I didn't, and any small things that I can do which helps me get to my journey by a shorter route, is greatly appreciated.

Have a great weekend Travelers and remember that there is still lots of time left to post a loss for the week. My small step for today is to get in a workout. I know today is going to be busier than usual and my body will need to get rid of some stress. I am getting stronger, and thinner, One Step at a Time.

Happy Trails!

It's All About The Portions

Greetings Friends~

If you watch any television, or read anything online or in a magazine, you are sure to see all sorts of ads for Jenny Craig, Nutrisystems, and many others, whose sole purpose is to make money off your desire to lose weight.

Obviously, the weight loss business is booming. If it wasn't, we wouldn't see all the celebrities hyping the products, telling us how we can be successful like they are. It is enticing to think that I can sign up for any of these groups, and voila, I am skinny.

I commit for a period of time, pay them a substantial fee and they send me their pre-packaged freeze dried or frozen food. The problem is, there is still no guarantee that I am going to lose weight.

It is all about portion control. That's what will help me lose weight and that's what will help me maintain the loss once I achieve my goal.

Why not design your own plan? Take an hour this weekend and see what you can come up with. It would be fun to see how creative you can be. On top of that, think of how much you can save by cutting out the middle man.

For instance, let's look at ideas for breakfasts. How about yogurt with some Grapenuts or other similar cereal? Mrs. B likes the flaxseed cereal at Costco with her yogurt. A small container of Raisin Bran with non-fat milk. Trader Joes sells instant oatmeal with apples and cinnamon that is sugar free and gets great reviews. I like an english muffin with some butter spray and a microwave poached egg. The options are limitless.

How about lunch? A Lean Cuisine or Eating Right frozen entree and an apple. Campbell's or Progresso soups make a filling meal. Cottage cheese with tomatoes. Sliced turkey lunchmeat with Dijon and some cheese, all rolled up. A 6" Subway sandwich.

The key is the portion size. You can make your own meals and figure out the correct serving portion (palm sized is a good general rule) or you can stick to a pre-packaged option from the grocery store.

The point here is to do SOMETHING because... let's be honest...looking at the results each week has made it pretty apparent that most of us haven't been trying very hard...with the exception of Rebecca. The rest of us obviously aren't doing what we should be in order to reach our goal. I am talking about myself most of all.

Inspiration of the Day

Dreams are the touchstones of our character. -- Henry David Thoreau

Recipe of the Day

Wow!!  The picture alone is enough to make me want to try this. http://www.recipezaar.com/Mustard-Grilled-Chicken-Light-278735

Today’s Link

Make Your Exercise Program Stick

Last night at the gym, I ran on the treadmill for the first time. I mean I've ran before but usually it's for half a lap. This time I ran for a mile and a quarter without stopping. Six months ago that wouldn't have been possible (or recommended).

I started at 334 pounds and this week I weigh 273. I'm proud of myself for starting and continuing on this journey. Yesterday, my morning blood sugar was in the 80's.

Things are getting better. Why? Because I am taking One Step at a Time in my search for better health. The destination is getting closer.


Happy Trails!

Never Too Late

Greetings Friends~

Spring has finally arrived, and with it, the promise of summer is right around the corner.

This is the time of year that so many things seem possible. Daylight hours are longer and the temperatures are warmer. The bright sunny days have a way of warming me to the tasks ahead.

Now is the time to work hardest, at this thing we call dieting, because soon it will be time to start wearing our shorts out in public, or God forbid, our swim wear.

Why am I reminding you of this now? Because each year when summer comes, if you are anything like me, you wish that you had done more to change how you look during the last year. So, even though you may not have made the progress that you would like, there is still time to work on it.

I don't think that most of us will be getting into Baywatch shape but think of how good you will feel if you drop a couple of sizes from last summer. Whether you are planning a cruise or going to the lake or maybe just hanging out at a back yard barbecue, feeling good about how well we have done in our journey so far this year is important.

I figure that I have a good three months to go before it is warm enough to start wearing those shorts on a regular basis so now is the time to make some progress towards sporting a new image this summer.

While it may be considered vain to worry about my looks and how I appear to others, I say "so what". If my quest to look better motivates a change, and this change results in me being healthier, then that is a major accomplishment.

Cut out a picture of those new shorts or that swim suit and pin it on your refrigerator...or in the bathroom by your mirror. Let it be a reminder of just another goal that you are working towards.

Inspiration of the Day

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact. -- William James, American psychologist and philosopher, 1842-1910.

Recipe of the Day

Here is a recipe for some lighter fare. Feel free to get creative with your own personal ingredients.
http://www.recipezaar.com/Light-and-Yummy-Fish-Tacos-107477

Shopping Tips

Safeway has the following items on sale this week; Fresh Express Salad for $1 each, Kellogg's Raisin Bran for $1.88 each, zucchini for $1 a pound, red peppers for $1 each, assorted pears for $1 a pound and mini peeled carrots in the 16 ounce bag for $1 each.

Top Foods has the following items on sale this week; Bosc pears for $1 a pound, carrots in the 2# bag for $1 each, Cameo apples for $1 a pound, ruby red grapefruit 4 for $1 and Alaskan Salmon fillets, 1-1/2 pounds each for $7.99.

Albertsons has the following items on sale this week; Cameo apples for $.88 a pound, Bumble Bee solid white albacore tuna for $1 each, Progresso Classic Vegetable soups for $1 each, Honeysuckle whole turkey breasts for $1.79 a pound, Wish-Bone salad dressings for $1.49 each and Healthy Choice frozen entrees for $1.99 each.

Today's Link

20 Ways To Eat Healthier Right Now

Last week was a better week for myself and several others in the group. Let's see if we can keep up with that progress. There is approximately 6 weeks left in Part II so there is plenty of time to still post a loss. My small step for today is to drink lots of water. Remember that each step you take gets you closer to your destination. One Step at a Time, one day at a time; prove to yourself that you can make a difference.

Happy Trails!

Week 13 Results

Greetings Friends~

Here are the results for Week 13.



Congratulations to Jamie for being this week's Biggest Loser!

Sorry that this post is so short but I had two fillings done this morning and a steroid shot in my shoulder this afternoon so I am looking forward to getting back on the couch and icing my shoulder.

Happy Trails!

Want To Break A Record?

Greetings Friends~

I'm going to make this first part short. The woman pictured above is Donna Simpson. She claims to weigh 600 pounds. You may have seen or heard about her in the news the last few days. It seems that this 42 year old mother of two aspires to be THE WORLD'S FATTEST WOMAN.

I'll let you think about that. If you want to know more about her, do a Google search. Personally, I believe that anyone that aspires to something like this is insane. I'll let you be the judge.

I have my own records I want to beat. How about..losing weight for 10 weeks running...or having the worlds loosest belt...or losing 50 pounds and keeping it off for 10 years. I could sit here all night and come up with these. Able to do 200 crunches without stopping...running in a race...climbing a mountain.

I feel sad that this woman's world is so small that all she can think about, and do, is to eat.

On to better things. There is still lots of time left in Week 13 to post a loss. If you have been struggling, take a deep breath and go for a walk. The weather is suppose to be gorgeous the next couple of days. Heck, you can even walk in the rain on Sunday. Whatever, and whenever, please do something for your health. We each have the possibility for greatness within us.

Inspiration of the Day

The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Recipe of the Day

Easter is quickly approaching and deviled eggs are a family favorite. Here is a twist on that, which may interest you avocado lovers. http://www.recipezaar.com/Avocado-Stuffed-Eggs-76494

Today's Link

Weight Loss Success Stories

This has been a great week for me so far. Not that I won the lottery or received a promotion or anything like that but I have done my steps and taken this week one day and One Step at a Time so I feel great. It's funny how success elevates my mood. My small step for today is to go to the gym. Mrs B has a party to go to this evening so it would be easy for me to skip but I need the workout.

Have a wonderful weekend, Travelers.

Happy Trails!

How Well Are You Running??

Greetings Friends~

The hardest part about losing weight seems to be getting started and then sticking to it. Once I have conquered that, then the rest is pretty simple. This week...so far, so good.

On the latest, episode of Biggest Loser, one of the female contestants only lost 2 pounds this week (her words, not mine). She was crushed because she believed she'd been eating right, and exercising 6 hours a day. She just couldn't understand how she could have posted such a low number.

I'm willing to bet BIG money that her weight loss (or lack of it...considering) was for one of the following reasons. Either she didn't drink enough water, didn't eat enough calories to fuel all that exercise or she ate too much sodium (those Subway sammiches are loaded with salt).

The physics of dieting are easy. It is the doing part that is hard.

Let me preface this part with my usual warning that I am not intending to offend anyone.

Compare dieting to owning a car. If you want your car to run in tip top shape then you have to take care of it; get the oil changed when it is due, get the car checked out and tuned up on a regular basis, wash it, wax it, and clean the trash out of it.

As an overweight person, my body works (or doesn't work) the same way. If I want it to run in tip top shape, I should eat right, take vitamins, get a certain amount of exercise, etc., so I can function well.

Maybe you saw the part above about washing and waxing and cleaning out the trash. I'd say this is important as well. If we care about how the car looks inside and out, it generally means that we are willing to do everything else to keep it like brand new. The desire to perform personal hygiene tasks and dressing well (just the opposite of wearing the same pair of sweat pants for two weeks running, without throwing them in the laundry) demonstrates how we feel about ourselves, to a certain extent. What I am trying to get at here is that when I'm feeling down or bad about myself, I will usually eat any old thing, skip the daily shower, and go to the store in an outfit that would make my wife embarrassed to be seen with me.

If we do the basic things that we all know are required to lose weight, then we will. Unfortunately, we get busy, and forget, and that is when the weight loss goes wrong.

Wouldn't it be grand if our bodies had a "Check Engine Light"?


Inspiration of the Day

Always remember that the future comes one day at a time. -- Dean Acheson, American statesman and lawyer, 1893-1971.

Recipe of the Day

Spice it up tonight with a low calorie version of the restaurant favorite. If you don't like it hot, adjust the pepper flakes according to you own preference. http://www.recipezaar.com/Weight-Watchers-General-Tsos-Chicken-162379

Today's Link

127 Foods That Fight Fat

Today my small step is to try to have more patience. Getting stress out doesn't help me to acheive my goals. Instead that stress pushes me towards the evil side. One day and One Step at a Time.
Happy Trails!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Greetings Friends~

There are certain foods that are like crack cocaine to me and corned beef is one of them. The only way for me to control my consumption of it is to either skip it entirely, or to cook such a small amount that I'm afraid Mrs B wouldn't get any.

I cooked two packages on Sunday night and served it for dinner Monday night with cabbage, carrots and boiled potatoes. I skipped it altogether and opted for a bowl of the leftover chicken stir fry instead. Not as wonderful as all-you-can-eat Irish fare, but I did maintain my plan to stay strong.

Yesterday at lunch I took a nice 30 minute walk down Capital Way to the Farmer's Market and back. It is great to get out of the office and people watch as I do my speed walking.

I am back to the gym full time now. My shoulder is getting better but it isn't anywhere near normal yet. I plan on trying to get a steroid shot next week. Hopefully that will relieve some pain.

So two days have gone by so far with no nocturnal eating mishaps or peanut butter massacres. Thank God for small things. Funny how just a couple of days worth of success can elevate my mood...well, that and the fact that the scale has shown a little progress.

Randy told me that he joined Weight Watchers Online. I wish him the best of luck and hopefully you will be seeing the results in the weeks to come.

Inspiration of the Day

Live out of your imagination, not your history. - Stephen Covey

Recipe of the Day

I wanted to find an Irish recipe for today but there doesn't seem to be anything low fat or low calorie so in the spirit of the day, at least this recipe has a lot of green in it, and it sounds down right tasty.
http://www.recipezaar.com/Avocado-Mandarin-Salad-27131

Shopping Tips

Safeway has the following items on sale this week; broccoli crowns for $.78 a pound, wild caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon for $7.99 a pound (for the whole side or $8.99 a pound for smaller pieces), Green Giant Frozen Vegetable Steamers 2 for $4, Large frozen raw shrimp 31 to 40-ct for $3.99 a pound (coupon), Cheerios for $1.49 (coupon) and Buddig Deli Cuts Lunchmeat for $1.77 each (coupon). Saturday and Sunday only; Foster Farms ground turkey in the 20-oz package $1.99 each (limit 4), Hass avocados for $.68 each, and Kraft Salad Dressing $1.29 each (limit 3).

Albertsons has the following items on sale this week; Weight Watcher Smart Ones (selected varieties) for $1.88 each, Post Raisin Bran cereal for $1.59, Yoplait yogurt for $.50 each, cantalope for $.48 a pound, assorted pears for $1.29 a pound and Fuji or Gala apples for $1.49 a pound.

Today's Link

I apologize for the commercial you have to endure to watch this but I think that overall you might be interested in this site for lots of useful ideas about fitting in some exercise into your busy day.

Help Yourself in 5 Minutes with Bob Harper

So far my new "plan" is working. Funny, the key seems to be...to actually do it. I have no idea what my small step for today is. I suppose I'll wing it. What I do know is, that after two days of doing what I said I would, there have been results. I know if I take this one day and One Step at a Time, that I will see the rewards.

Happy Trails!

Week 12 Results

Greetings Friends~

Here are the results from Week 12.



Congratulations to Rebecca for being this week's Biggest Loser. I saw her on Saturday and she looks amazing. Since last September, she has lost a total of 68 pounds!! That's my little sister folks!

As I said yesterday, and a multitude of times over the last couple of months, I have been sucking at this weight loss thing lately. It appears that I'm not the only one in that boat so some of you know exactly what I am talking about.

Here's the thing though. Over the last six months, I have gotten in much better shape than I was before I started. Not only physically but also mentally. When the weekends come around now, I look forward to getting outside, rain or shine, to do something around This Old House. I have to give myself a big slap on the back because I couldn't...and wouldn't...of done that last September.

I have had some people comment that I don't give myself enough credit, that I am too hard on myself and that the comments that I make concerning myself, like calling myself Fatso and Chubster, are offensive. You should understand this Travellers. I am hard on myself and I have never been anything but offensive. And, for those that know me best, you have heard me say a gazillion times, "why lie about it?" I'm not proud of it but I'm not ashamed either. It just is what it is...and will continue to be...until I do something about it.

That's the thing with me. I will be honest with you when it comes to almost everything, and I'll be brutally honest about myself. I figure that is all part of this blog.

Right now my Body Mass Indicator (BMI) is just barely under 40. What does that mean? Well, boys and girls, it means that I am packing...and I don't mean a firearm. I am fa...fa...fa...FAT. There, I said it. And I will keep on saying it until my BMI is under 30. Maybe then, I'll switch and call myself husky or slightly rotund. I don't know yet but it seems I have plenty of time to cross that bridge. And, if I ever get below that "magic" number of 25, I'll call myself George Clooney.

Why am I ranting about this? I'll tell you. I think in today's world that we spend too much time trying to be politically correct. Too much time avoiding reality. Too much time seeking a way to make our faults and failures acceptable.

That's why...and...that's not me. So, when I say I'm fat, it's because I am.

Is that WHO I am? No, and it is not WHO you are either. I'm just like you. A person that tries too hard, wants too much and succeeds too infrequently. But my "fat-ness" doesn't define me. And it doesn't define you.

Thanks for letting me vent. My name is Chip and I am a food-aholic.

Inspiration of the Day

Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long, WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." -- Walt Disney

Recipe of the Day

Sometimes I just need something that isn't "diet." I think that this will do the trick. Combine this with a nice turkey or salmon burger with all the works and I bet you will feel like you just cheated, but you didn't! This might be good with some of that garlic flavored cooking spray. Almost like Safeco Field.
http://www.recipezaar.com/healthy-low-fat-ranch-fries-416573

Today's Link

What is Your BMI?

This is the second day of that new week. I managed to follow all the things on my list from yesterday's post so I think I'm headed in the right direction. My small step for today is to eat at my scheduled times (and nothing else...lol). I guess I forgot that my success depends on me doing this One Step at a Time.
Happy Trails!

Monday Monday

Greeting Friends~

Ah...Mondays...weigh in day. I either love it or hate it. Seems like lately I hate it. Today was no exception. I suppose I could go on with blah, blah, blah and waaaa, waaaa, waaa, but I have no one to blame but myself.

So, instead of getting down on myself, I chalked it up to experience and have decided to concentrate on this (new) week.

That being said, I am going to take this week ONE DAY AT A TIME and prove that I can get back on track.

Here are some of the things that I will do (and not do) each day so I can see if I can get a handle on the funk I have been in for weeks.

• Do eat breakfast
• Do eat a morning snack
• Do eat lunch
• Do eat an afternoon snack
• Do eat dinner
• Do eat an evening snack (optional)
• Do drink 10 glasses (8 ounces each) of water per day.
• Do go to the gym daily.
• Do keep a salad container full in the refrigerator.
• Do keep a food log listing foods eaten and the calories consumed.
• Do not drink soda.
• Do not drink alcohol.
• Do not exceed 1 cup of black coffee per day.
• Do not eat foods that are high in sodium.
• Do not eat ANY FOODS AFTER 9PM. No excuses.

I am almost thru Day One and on track. I'll keep you posted about how I'm doing or better yet, you can look for the results in the Week 13 Results.
 
Inspiration of the Day
 
Success is dependent upon the glands -- sweat glands. – Zig Ziglar, American Sales Trainer and Motivational Author/Speaker
 
 

 
Recipe of the Day
 
I like the idea that this is low cal and a comfort food. I hope you like it. I think it would be good made with a lean pork loin too. http://www.recipezaar.com/Beef-Stroganoff-Low-Calorie-322411
 
Shopping Tip
 
March is Frozen Food month. For those of you that shop at Safeway, if you buy $25 worth of participating items in a single trip (like their Eating Right entrees and many other items), you get a coupon worth $10 on your next frozen food purchase. Mrs B and I went there and purchased entrees for our lunches. The next day we bought 5 more and our total bill was....aaaa...ZERO. This deal is good thru the end of the month so for you state workers, you still have time when you get that 25th of the month paycheck.
 
Today's Link
 
Walk Off The Weight
 
I went for a short walk at lunch today, bought a few used paperback books, enjoyed the sunny weather, and best of all, I was able to get away from the stress of the office. I'm hoping to make this a habit. My small step for today is to not eat anything after 9 pm.
 
Happy Trails!