Sasha White

Exercise can be fun.

My mom videotaped a show that was on television for me called “I can make you thin.”

I watched it, and it made sense, and I’m willing to try it. Mostly because I’m feeling sort of lazy about my eating habits right now, and being so close to deadline I’m not making it to the gym.

This show says if you follow these four “Golden Rules” you’ll lose weight.

1) When you’re hungry - Eat!
2) Eat whatever you want. (So no cravings and no binging)
3) Eat Consciously. (Eat slow and be aware of when you are full…don’t just keep eating because it takes good).
4) When you are full- Stop Eating!

Makes sense, right?
So since I have the hardest time paying attention to my eating when I’m NOT working out..I’m doing this. So far, I’ve not weighted myself, but I really feel no different.

If you try it, let me know how YOU feel.

As a single person living alone, I don’t like to cook full meals every day. And Sandwiches and salad can get very boring, and that leads to things like A&W onion rings and bacon cheeseburgers. One thing I do to keep myself away from the fast food places is buy frozen dinners. But when buying them you have to be careful.

Pay attention to the calories and the ingredients.

Here’s some tips for what to look for when buying frozen entree’s. There’s more to it than getting the ones that say Light or Healthy Choice.

~ Less than 400 calories.
400 calories is a meal, so you want to aim for that area. You also want more than 200 or 250 calories, because those won’t fill you up, and then you’ll be prowling the kitchen for something more.

~ Low Sodium
No more than 700 mg sodium per meal. Too much sodium wil lhave you retaining water and feeling bloated.

~ Low in saturated fat.
Aim for no more than 5 gm’s

~High in Fibre.
Fibre is important! Look for meals with at least 2gms of fibre.

~ Veggies.
There are many meals out there with the veggies in them. But to my eye, many of them are high in sodium, (That teryaki sauce in a killer) . So *I* tend to stick with pasta dinners, and have a can/glass of low sodium V-8 juice with it.

I’m not real great at getting all my potions of veggies in, so I’ve gotten in the habit of cheating with the V* juice. It helps. What helps you stay on track?

So, I gained 5 pounds when I was in New York. 5 pounds in 5 days.

However, I’ve also lost 2 pounds since getting home on Monday night. Traveling is hard on a person’s system. Dehydration, different foods, different schedules. All that, and the urge to jump off the healthy wagon and just enjoy your holiday.

I’m guilty of that. I know when I went to NY that I wasn’t even trying to be good as far as my eating went..and I expected to pay for it this week. I am.

However, I’m happy to report that I fit into the planes seats, and had no trouble with the seat belts. That doesn’t mean I felt like I was going to split the seam of my jeans on the way home. They were definitely tight than when I’d arrived in NY. Another thing is the swelling. My ankles and feet. Yep, I’ve always suffered from a sort of hypertension when flying. Strange that it doesn’t really bother me. BUt this time, I know, because I went to NY and back in 5 days, and then in 2 weeks I do the same but to Pittsburgh for the RT Convention, that I’ll be paying for it. That just means I’ll have to spend at least 20 minutes a day in the gym. The way to get rid of the swelling is to get your blood pumping again.

I’ll also be watching what I eat more at the hotel than I did in NY. Ny was a conference too, but it was just as much out and about…but the RT conference is so all-encompassing that I doubt I’ll see much of the town. Which is okay, cuz I’m going there to meet readers, and they’ll all be at the hotel!

Okay, so this was sort of a rambling post…but I want to stres that it’s okay to fall off the Slim Camp wagon..as long as you get back on.

So..how are y’all doing? Failures? Success Stories? Tip? Trials? Share please. The best way to stay motivated is to know you are not alone!

I don’t have a post for you…but Caridad Pineiro has something that all Sim Campers might find interesting. Pop over to her blog and check it all out!

Anyone watching The Biggest Loser?

I’ve always said I want Bob for my boyfriend, and Jillian for my trainer. And I stick by that, (despite the bit of man attitude Bob showed a couple weeks ago.)

Last night Jillian had a bit of a say and I had to laugh. That chick kicks ass!

As for the Black team’s attitude, I think they need to get over, stop feeling sorry for themselves and do the work. Who ever said losing wieght was easy? And Yes, men do lose it easier than women, but come on, stress and attitude can effect your efforts almost as much as your eating and work out habits. Look at Ali, she worked, she concentrated on herself and why she was there, and she lost a higher percent of them all…even all the guys. And she’s smaller than the other women, which means it’s even harder to lose… A female can win this, if they’d get past their emotions. (That said I almost wonder if it’s PMS week for the girls. You know it is true that women, when living/working together, their cycles can adjust to happen at the same time, and thats got to suck.)

Jillian nailed it when she said they were falling right back into the trap of emotional mindless eating that got them there, and they need to THINK!

I can only imagine after being there for 11 weeks how small their world has become. I mean, look at how small things can get blown out of proportion just in our little online communities. Or at work…I don’t know about all of you, but I know where I work, small crap things always get blown up into big deals.

And uhmm, now I need to kick my own ass to stay on track. LOL
And someone needs to tell me who went home, becasue I missed everything after the weight in, the silly chanel I was watching it on went blank and I missed everything after the weigh in!

AND Go see Beth and congratulate her on her win!

Rachael Ray is a fount of food knowledge. Besides her books and monthly magazine, her website is full of recipes - all sorts of recipes. Most of them are health conscious, all of them are worth checking out.

Now, I’m not a cole slaw fan. I’m also not a blue cheese dressing fan. But this recipe is absofuckinglutely fantastic. Try it!

Apple and Celery Slaw with Blue Cheese Dressing

4 ounces blue cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon sugar
4 granny smith apples
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced

1. In a small bowl, using a fork, combine the blue cheese, mayonnaise and 1/4 cup buttermilk until thick and lumpy. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup buttermilk and the sugar. Refrigerate.
2. Quarter, core and coarsely grate the apples. In a medium bowl, combine the apples with the dressing. Stir in the celery; cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

PS: I use Miracle Whip lite instead of Mayonnaise, but thats my preferance. and I didn’t have any buttermilk…makes me wonder how it would truly taste. Probably really thick and super rich..but I loved my version. :)

I think now’s a good time to remind everyone of a basic truth. Stress does not help you lose weight get healthier. And one sure way to stress yourself out is too worry too much about what you eat, or don’t eat, or don’t do (as in exercise.)

It’s good to be aware of what you eat, and of being active. It’s great to make an effort to improve your quality of life. It’s not good to make it your whole world. It’s not great, mentally or physically, to become to consumed with what you’re consuming.

Always remember the goal is to feel better. Don’t make yourself feel like crap if you mess up, overeat, don’t make it to the gym, or fail to meet one of your goals. Just remember that tomorrow is a new day, a new start, and you can do this right.

To help us stay on the right track, I want to share some basic tips to help improve your health.

Keep a Positive Mental Outlook ~ Think of one thing you are thankful for every day. The sun shining, your kids, your job, your car, the invention that is chocolate. Sing a song, smile at a stranger. Feeling good will help you stay on track.

Move More ~ Put some music on when you clean your house and dance with the vaccuum, take the stairs, do sit-ups during the commercials of your favorite TV show. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but you have to move more. Once you start, you’ll find your doing it more and more without even trying.

Quit Smoking ~ I don’t think I need to expand on this one, especially if you have children. Do you want them to grow up and smoke?

Reduce Stress ~ Easier said than done for sure. But find something that works for you, and stick with it. My personal favorite? Punching the heavy bag, going to the driving range or the batting cage. What can I say? I like to hit things. Sometimes just losing myself in a good book or a good movie is what I need, but find something that helps you decompress, and do it when you feel yourself getting snappish or pissy.

Floss Your Teeth ~ Not only does flossing improve your health, but it makes your smile (and your breath) better.

Indulge once in a while ~ The key is once in a while. But don’t ever completely deny yourself that cheesecake, or bag of chips. Just don’t always give in to the urge for them either.

Anyone else have a tip to add? Put it in the comments and be entered for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate. I’ll announce the winner on here on Monday.

Okay, Last week I slacked off on the Sim Camp post and I had no reason to becasue Amie sent me an amazing post for it. However, I was distrated by work and the V-Day fundraising, and forgot to post it.

So …When Aimie says last week on The Biggest Loser, she means the week before. For those of yu who watch the show, you’ll know what she’s referring to. (And since I give up my cable I’ve been missing it. )

So, Without Further introduction… Guest Blogger Amie Stuart

Issues

Last week on the Biggest Loser, Jillian brought her mom, a psycho-therapist in to talk about why the black team eats. Lots of deep issues were revealed. I thought it was really interesting that the three women on her team all had “been abandoned” by their fathers (in one form or another) at a young age (not to mention the child abuse whats-his-name went through).

Wow….just wow.

I agree with Jillian in that you’ve got to know your issues, you’ve got to know what trips your trigger, and not just when it comes to food. We ALL have issues; some of us just carry our baggage better than others. J

In the interest of, well, full disclosure, I’ll show you mine…please bear (bare? LOL) with me…but I don’t expect you to show me yours.

I have abandonment/rejection issues that I can trace way, WAY back (And in case you’re wondering how far back, I remember a story my parents used to tell and laugh about that I later realized wasn’t funny. My adoption was finalized in May ‘70, my dad was shipped to the PI shortly thereafter, and we followed months later. Once we arrived though, I wouldn’t have anything to do with my dad unless he had a Coke in his hand. Maybe I read too much into it; maybe not). Anyway, I think, somewhere along the way that whole rejection/abandonment thing came into play and I used food/weight as a way to hide. I was the kid who sat in the back of the class and never wanted to be called on even if I knew the answer(s). If you can’t see me, then you can’t judge me. The thing is, I’m tired of being invisible, so I’m definitely working on this one (if the nose ring and purple highlights are anything to go by).

However, I’m not sure I was actually an overweight child. Maybe I was just chubby but active. Unfortunately, having a mother who was 5′1 and weighed 100 pounds soaking wet (and didn’t look a thing like you) carting your ass off to Weight Watchers at 8 or 9 didn’t do much for my self-esteem. That’s not to say I *didn’t* have eating issues, I very well may have, but I think she could have handled them better. Hindsight is 20/20 though.

I’m *hoping* that I’m handling food better with my children. I try real hard *not* to nag about weight but I do keep track of how much and what they’re eating (especially my youngest who is definitely the chubbiest —and most sensitive–of the two). And I encourage them to stay active.

So what about you? Are there any issues that trigger your eating (or do you just have a sluggish thyroid?)? Is there a particular point in time you can look at and go, “See, there it is. Right there.”

Think about it for a while…I’ll wait. And I’m not asking you to share, but feel free to if you want. Otherwise, a simple yes or no would work.

*****

Thanks Amie!!

Well, I wanted to share … My progress so far.

03 / 90 pounds. 3% done!

Not a lot, but I’m thrilled I didn’t gain any while writing. Even better, in Feb when I was writing, I did gain 6 pounds. But in the last week I lost that again. (plus one) Probably water weight as I drank lot’s of soda while writing.

So my total loss since starting is 9 pounds..but I’m only 3 down from where I started..if that makes sense

Laurie has a gret post up on her blog where she’s intorducing her Think Thin Thursdays.
It’s a wonderful post on some basic guidelines that we all need to remember on this journey. Thanks, Laurie!

As for Slim Camp, check out this tidbit that Amie emailed me afetr my posting about PMS.

Here’s a side effect of poor snacking choices you may not be aware of — increased PMS, or premenstrual syndrome.

It’s true! Foods high in sugar, salt, caffeine, and alcohol aren’t just filled with empty calories, they can also increase the likelihood of mood swings, fatigue, bloating, and other menstrual misery in the days leading up to your period, says endocrinologist Susan Thys-Jacobs.
So instead of giving in to those cravings for chocolate and ice cream, reach for a healthier choice instead, like fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, and whole grains during snack time. Drinking eight glasses of water a day and taking a multivitamin can help, too.

Hmph!

As for me and my “must do” mindset this week…well, Mondya and Tuesday were good. Wednesday I had to really force myself to make it tothe gym. But I did. I only worked out for 30 mins, but it was btter than nothing.

I also made myself a new sort of stirfry that turned out great.

See, one of the staples to my own eating plan is that for dinner I eat either A) a Salad or B)a Stir Fry. Those are my two choices because they are easy and healthy. I always have either beef, chicken or the odd time, shrimp, with them too. Anyway. I was tired of the Brocollie, Cauliflower, tomato and carrot stif fry, so I tried one with Bok Choy.

It’s the first time I’ve cooked woth Bok Choy, and I impressed myself.

Recipe:
Chicken Breast (diced,and cooked )

2 Large stalks of Bok Choy (Chopped)
3 or 4 radishes (sliced)
4 or 5 mushrooms (quartered)

Heat Wok to HIGH. When oil is hot…Toss all ingredients into Wok, (including already cooked chicken) sprinkle some Garlic Salt and toss a few times until Leafy Bok Choy is limp.

Pu in bowl or on plate. Then chop a green onion and sprinkle on top. I also sprinkled a bit of Soy sauce. :) Not lot though, cuz soy sauce is very high in Sodium, not so good for us.

It was nice, and all in all took less then ten minutes. (Except for chicken..lol bt I cook threee or four breasts on Monday, and use all week)

How are y’all doing? Drinking any Pepsi? Eating any cookies? Working out?

Keeping up with your goals?