Bev's BLOB Blog

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends.

Yesterday was a good day for me, to make up for my day of recklessness on Wednesday! I stayed well within my target range, and did the Tae Bo basic live #3 workout. Hoping to do the same today. Shouldn't be a problem, as that ice cream just didn't live up to my memories of it! LOL

Well I had a treat last night. Hubby and I decided we'd earned it after over 6 weeks with no cheating. We've lost 41 pounds between the two of us! I had a big honkin' helping of Ben and Jerry's ice cream (my biggest downfall). The only good thing about it, is that is really wasn't all that great, and I felt lousy after I ate it. I also didn't exercise yesterday, so today I'm kickstarting myself on for another month of great eating!

Well I made it through the dreaded old PMS cravings without the binging or cheating... was pretty tough this month! I am down another pound today, so I'm thrilled with that! This is a TOM where I normally put on several pounds, so to have dropped 2 this week is great! I went for a 20 minute power walk yesterday during my lunch hour, and haven't decided what I'll do for exercise today. I am off work for the next 4 days!

WHOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!! Finally... I'm down another pound! It took a week for me to lose another pound. During PMS, I guess that's more than satisfactory! I did Tae Bo basic live #3 on Sunday, and went for a 25 minute power walk yesterday, and today at lunch. Still sticking to program, with a grand total of 14 pounds lost.

TIP OF THE DAY:

When you don't drink enough water your kidneys can't function properly, and the liver must help. One of the livers main functions is to metabolize stored fat, and if it has to help the kidneys, it can't metabolize the fat at normal levels. So less fat is metabolized, and more remains stored in your body. That means no weight loss. By drinking enough water you allow the kidneys to function at full throttle, the liver to function at full throttle, and you allow fat burning to occur at full throttle! Keep in mind that water also rids the body of metabolic waste, and as you lose weight you have much more metabolic waste than normal. The heavier you are, the more water you need to make sure these processes function smoothly.

Joanne Bednar
The Motivation Station

Here's Dr. Phil's Five Steps to Losing Weight

Follow these five steps to create a strategy for your weight loss goal.

1. Set a very specific goal. Remember that losing weight requires a change in thought and behavior, so set goals for your emotions and weight. Don't just set vague goals like, "I want to lose some weight." Be specific: How much weight do you want to lose? How do you want to feel? Close your eyes and visualize yourself after you've reached those goals. Use this visualization to feel commitment and inner strength.

2. Work out a very specific strategy. Will power doesn't work! To lose weight and keep it off, you must have a strategy. Plan ahead: Get rid of your expandable clothes, stay away from fast food, and keep healthy food in your pantry.

3. Identify small, measurable steps. Implement steps that will fit your lifestyle, not somebody else's. Be sure to move toward a positive goal, not just away from being fat. Every step you take will bring you closer to being who you want to be.

4. Create a healthy, realistic timeline. Where will you be in a month? six months? a year? Fit your goals to your calendar, and stick to it. Don't expect to see huge results overnight; take the time to change your lifestyle, and you'll change your weight.

5. Create meaningful monitoring and accountability If you know you have to report your progress to someone, you'll be more likely to stick with your plan. "Go public" with somebody you trust. Find support when you need it, and celebrate your victories!

A FEW ENLIGHTENING COMPARISONS
by Katy Yocom

The new USDA dietary guidelines include an informative chart that makes a few saturated-fat comparisons. Here's the rundown. And remember, these numbers are for saturated fat, not total fat content:

1 oz. regular cheddar cheese: 6 grams
1 oz. low-fat cheddar cheese: 1.2 grams
3 oz. cooked ground beef, regular: 7.2 grams
Ditto, extra-lean: 5.3 grams
1 cup whole milk: 5.1 grams
1 cup low-fat (1%) milk: 1.6 grams
1 medium croissant: 6.6 grams
1 medium bagel: 0.1 grams
1/2 cup regular ice cream: 4.5 grams
1/2 cup frozen yogurt: 2.5 grams
1 teaspoon butter: 2.4 grams
1 teaspoon soft margarine: 0.7 grams

This is what we had tonight for supper, served with brown rice, and a side salad.

Savory Lemon Chicken

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 can Campbell's healthy request condensed cream of chicken soup
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon parsley flakes
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup chopped green or red pepper

1. Spray medium skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat 1 minute. Ad chicken and cook 10 minutes or until browned. Set chicken aside.

2. Add soup, water, parsley, lemon juice, paprika and pepper. Heat to a boil. Return chicken to pan. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Granish with lemons slices and fresh oregano. Serves 4.

Calories - 193
Total fat = 4 g
Saturated Fat - 1g
Cholesterol - 79 mg
Sodium - 360 mg
Carbs - 8 mg
Protein - 28 mg