Baking Again

Photo by Aleksa D. Published on 30 November 2015
Stock photo - Image ID: 100381167

I made my own granola/protein bars last night.  I found a recipe that used what I already had in the house.  They are delicious. The only problem being, one of the two people I made them specifically for, does not like them.  That’s okay though more for me. 

I also made them healthy and surprise, surprise they taste good.  I think I am finally picking up on some of the substitutions for common foods like butter, and sugar.  They were a whole heck of a mess and I have a tiny kitchen.  Still worth it.

I also made a bunch of brown minute rice, which is the healthiest rice around.  It has a lot of resistant starch which is very good for us.  I plan on making a healthy fried rice and rice pudding.  It’s strange I get away from cooking, and baking some times, then once I do it again it’s so worth it.

I am still relearning how to cook.  I need to learn the different spices and how to use them.  In the past I have often used premade sauces and spice mixes.  Since then I have found out how full of sugar and salt and fat most of them are.  Butter was a 'go to' for making things yummy.  Of course butter is also pure fat.

I love the taste of butter.  The only reason I would have potatoes, rice, or bread was for the taste of the butter.  Let me know if anyone has found a good substitution for butter.  In cooking I use a lot of coconut oil.  In some ways cooking and baking healthier is very rewarding.  In some ways…  I miss the butter, salt and sugar. 

It was so much easier cooking things from cans and jars.  Sure this will someday be the natural way to cook for me, but for right now I am still relearning and it feels odd.  How goes it for others and healthier options?  Is it awkward or already feeling like the good new way?

Too much eating!

Photo by vectorolie. Published on 09 April 2014
Stock photo - Image ID: 100254201

Too much, and the wrong foods, have left me tired, drained, stuffed.  I just feel drowsy now. and uncomfortable. after eating every wrong thing so far today.  The worst thing is not only am I feeling low; I want more junk food to pump me back up.

I have so many things I want to do today. Now I can hardly keep my eyes open.  All I want to do is lay down, and sleep.  The thing is, I didn’t really need, or like, or enjoy what I had.  I likely would have enjoyed having far healthier foods more, and I would be feeling better.  Blah!

   

Some times after I over eat I ask myself “Why did you just do that?”  Why did I just stuff myself with food; I neither enjoyed nor needed?  Obviously my body did not require it.  I did have healthier options.  What is going on?  Is it self hate?  What about Emotional eating?  Eating out of fear or needing to hide.  Did I eat it because, I have enjoyed that food in the past?  Or did I just need an energy boost?

No matter the cause, it is important to recognize that I ate crap, and I feel like crap, and I can do better.  If I focus on the end results rather then the initial impulse it may help.  Besides that I need to stop with the ‘just one last day’ stuff.  You know the ‘I’ll just finish this junk food I have left.’  I’ll eat healthier tomorrow.  There’s always another tomorrow.  Sometimes I think I may do this just so I don’t get started and I don’t fail.

If I don’t start I don’t fail.  But I started a long time ago, this body did not just appear overnight.  It’s not going to just idle in the drive way till I get around to fueling

it properly.  I am doing it.  I am doing it now.  Each time I mess up I have an opportunity to do it right.  Every time I fall down, I can get back up.  Unless I leave it till it’s too late.  So I’m working my energy back up and, I am not going for a cookie.

Artificial Sweetners

Photo by holohololand. Published on 07 January 2014
Stock photo - Image ID: 100225601

I didn’t have a Hot Chocolate this morning.  I did buy one for someone else.  So I’m not sure whether that was nice or not.  I love the smell of Hot Chocolate.  I also started my day with a healthy green smoothie.  Yay me.  I need to celebrate and recognize every little triumph right now.

I did buy myself a diet soda.  Now I know diet sodas are just chemicals and could not by a long stretch be considered health food.  My conflict centered on how bad for you are artificial sweeteners.  Not if their good for you… chemicals not health foods. How bad they are for you.  In several otherwise well researched books I have read lately there has been a side note or paragraph saying splenda and stevia are bad for you.  Only there has been no research used to back this up.

Recently I did find out how bad for you sugar is.  It’s bad, really, really bad.  In my green smoothie in the morning I like to add a splenda or a stevia.  The question was whether I would have to stop doing this.  Does the bad out way the good?

Luckily from years gone by and university and other research papers I remembered I could do my own research.  One of the big questions with artificial sweeteners is the chicken and the egg question.  Which came first?  Did people use diet sodas because they were fat or were they fat because they drank diet sodas.  Again we know diet sodas are not good for you they are all chemicals and can crowd out healthier beverages like water.

I did find one scientific study (study not experiment) which suggested a correlation between artificial sweeteners and weight gain.  I also found a couple of more studies and experiments that were inconclusive.  They could not say one way or another.  I did find research that determined artificial sweeteners do not light up the addictive pathways or brain the way sugar does.  Additional experiments determined artificial sweeteners can be helpful in weight loss.  

So ya, I still need to way cut down on diet sodas, but I can now feel okay using the occasional artificial sweetener in my salad dressing or green smoothie.

Salad Dressing

Photo by KEKO64. Published on 7 Oct 2013
Stock photo - Image ID: 100206455

I just had a salad.  A very good salad, though I still add too much to it.  I like adding a little cheese, and often a protein.  Here is my concern:  Salad dressing.  How many salad dressings are there out there that don’t ruin or take away the health benefits of the salad.  I had an Italian dressing that was only ten calories but I doubt it was healthy and I can’t find it again.

I know that I am supposed to let my taste buds adjust and learn to like healthier things.  I just don’t know where or how far I want to go with this.  I know I want to cut out the whites (white rice, flour, potatoes, and sugar).  I also know that one of the best things you can do for your health is get as many photo nutrients as possible.  Photo nutrients are just plant nutrients.

A huge amount of research says eat your veggies.  Eat them raw, eat the steamed, eat them in a stream (if its summer).  Since all our streams are currently frozen. And I am not into making a lot of veggie soups or stews right now.  I want to have more salads.

I want to have more salads and I like salad dressing.  I think I could make a good tzatziki sauce that’s low in calories, fat, sugar, and salt and yummy.  However it would be using Greek yogurt and I’m unsure about how healthy milk products are.  Actually now that I’ve said that I think if I keep them to a minimum they could be okay.

I am so torn I have so much now knowledge that conflicts with my old knowledge.  I also know what I like now and what I like know is not healthy.  So eat more veggies is good, I got that much.  They are to be a primary food source.  Does anyone out there have good healthy salad dressing recipies? 

I am willing to eat large salads but I do want something on them.  I’m just not sure if that will be good enough to help me get as healthy as I want to be.  Any thoughts?

Eat your Veggies

Photo by KEKO64. Published on 28 November 2014
Stock photo - Image ID: 100299498

Eat your Veggies.  One of the few sayings that have stood the test of time.  We are beginning to see how poorly most of us in North America are eating.  We are also beginning to see the consequences of the way we're eating.  Not just in fat but also the sheer amount of health issues that come with poor eating.

A lot of the newest weight loss and health books agree on one thing.  That one thing is to eat your veggies.  There is literally a mountain of research that agrees veggies are healthy.

 I am trying to get to have a regular smoothie made primarily of veggies each morning.  I want to be having raw veggies as snacks most evenings.  I am starting to eat more salads (more on that tomorrow).

Now I just need to come up with the occasional soup, stew, casserole, stir fry or other made primarily of veggies.  We can eat a huge amount of veggies and fill up on low calorie options.  Not only are veggies super low calorie they also have a huge amount of nutrients.  Whenever people talk about healing foods they are usually talking about veggies.

I may start adding links to great recipes particularly those for veggies. Any one else want to start?  Here's to learning to love those veggies.

Sugar addiction

Sugar Addiction

Photo by Iamnee. Published on 27 March 2013
Stock photo - Image ID: 100151123

According to the latest research we are a continent of sugar addicts.  A hundred years ago the average person would have the equivalent of 20 teaspoons a year of sugar.  Now the average person in North America has at least 22 teaspoons of sugar a day.  No matter what form it comes in sugar creates a rush.  Some will feel it more then others.

It comforts us and gives us energy which it later takes away as it destroys our bodies.  They have found sugar is 8 times as addictive as cocaine.  Rats (even ones previously addicted to cocaine) would prefer to have sugar water to water with cocaine.  People are running around with varying degrees of addiction to sugar.

I have to admit I don’t like calling it an addiction.  I however am what can happen when poor eating takes control.  Some times I do wonder “how did I get here?”.   I have diabetes.  I have sleep apnea.  I weigh about 250% of what I should weigh.  Still I don’t want to call it an addiction.  I will get junk food and eat it without even enjoying it and still I don’t want to call it an addiction.

I have joked about being addicted to diet pop.  Ha Ha, turns out it’s no joke.  I get this junk food without really thinking about it.  Like all of a sudden I’m buying hot chocolate with out really considering what I’m doing.  The sad thing is when I have this hot chocolate that I don’t even remember wanting, I want more. 

Research shows parts of the brain light up when you take drugs.  More parts of the brain light up when you have sugar, in fact more parts of the brain light up when you even think about sugary things.  To start with I ate simple carbs to get a boost.  I have had depression most of my life.  I was raised eating very well but then I discovered fast food and junk food and it gave me a boost.  I remember the first time I tried a whopper.  It felt as good as it tasted, it was an experience.

Now I find myself not wanting to die.  I find I would like to experience real health again.  I used to like working out.  Now it terrifies me.  What shakes me up even more is the idea of really having to change my diet.  Its change the diet or die.  So I’m off to start breaking the sugar habit.  Wish me luck.

Soup

Salads and soups.    I don’t like saying loose weight because it rarely just gets lost and then it’s never hard to find again.  I prefer getting rid of extra weight but even that focuses on the weight, the fat, the dreaded obesity then surrounds me.  So I think most times I may stick with lightening up.  This year I will lighten up and live better and I love the idea of getting in better shape.

I have made a home made soup, at least it’s supposed to be a soup but it’s a little solid.  Who knew pearl barley would grow to about 100 times its original size?  Everything in the soup is there for a health reason and so far it’s been reasonably okay to eat.  I am already thinking of what I want to do for my next soup.

My idea is if I have a go to breakfast and lunch that’s reasonably or incredibly healthy that will help me lighten up and feel better.  I am also building in two snacks to keep me on track.  If I do something right or good a couple times a day it may be easier to stay on track.  Thus the home made soup for lunch and though it may not be my favorite yet it 1. Might get there, and 2. Will help keep/get me healthy and 3. I can keep having salads on other days and freeze this for when i want it..  I also need to appreciate it because I now have a bazillion servings of it or at least enough for the next two weeks.

There are so many recipes on line or in magazines for healthy, light, and diet soup it’s easy to find one to try.  There’s even miracle soup I just feel like I would be let down if I tried it and something amazing didn’t happen.  Even with all these recipes and choices I find I can rarely follow a recipe to the letter.  I’m hoping the intent is as important as the cooking.

For my next soup I want to use turkey, mushrooms, onions, a little bit of pearl barley, maybe garlic, spinach and other things that would go with these and make a delicious and healthy soup.  I plan on looking up other low gi, mega healthy foods to add to the list.  If any one has any ideas let me know.  We could create our own miracle soup and amazing things could happen.

Reigniting the Flame

By Simon Howden, published on 09 April 2009

Stock Photo - image ID: 1005771

 “We are souls manifest in physical bodies.  Respect the Booty!” Is my new affirmation set.  It seems fear of  failure and fear of success and low self esteem were creating a wall for me.

These things can take procrastination to whole new heights.  So after wasting many years with false starts I am back at it.

Time to make those positive life changes.  It’s not that I haven’t tried over the last few years it’s more like I was jogging in quicksand.  I am not at an all time high with my weight but I’m also not doing quiet as well as I was.  I weigh 270 pounds that’s an awful lot of extra weight.  I am also noticing that I lose my breath going up a flight of stairs, two flights and I’m breathing hard.

So it’s a new plan for me.  I am making certain commitments for 31 days.  It takes 21 days to form new habits.  I am diabetic and have been eating like I want to die.  One day a week I can eat simple carbohydrates, otherwise no.  The whites have been getting me –white sugar –white flour –white potatoes.  Now I know all whites aren't bad.  I have two white kids and I’m really very fond of them.  White food however, including unhealthy fats and oils, are going to be drastically cut down.  So for at least 31 days simple carbs are allowed only once a week.  Complex carbs like veggies are in, simple carbs out.

Next step, adding up the veggies.  There are so many books that talk about using food as medicine, and most of the foods they talk about are fruits and veggies.  I know veggies can be more expensive but I need to find the money for them because they are crucial to healthy eating.  For the first time in their lives my teens are actually eating salads!

Last food change right now centers around Protein.  Protein and how it keeps you full, and how it helps your muscle, skin, and more is everywhere.  The idea here is to have protein at most meals.  This way you lose fat and not muscle.

I may have lied about the last tip being the last food tip.  You decide.  The last change is drinking whole bunches of water.  I value diet pop.  It is the one thing I do not like to share.  Unfortunately sometimes you just need water, or at least I do.  I try to drink water at meals. I find it helps food taste better and slows down my eating, and helps fill me up.  I am also going to try sticking with strait water till mid afternoon.  That won’t sound like much to some but I think it will help me.

Now walking is the last part of my 31 day plan.  My idea is to walk everyday.  I still have not gotten out yet today but I’m psyching up for it.  We have a dog now so this is getting easier.  We have incredible amounts of cold so it is also not getting easier.  I’m not sure how far or fast I can walk to start with so I will try different distances and times until I get it sorted out.  So far twenty minutes is working and i'll try to edge up to thirty minutes

Okay best of luck to anyone joining me and best of luck to me.  On my website: 

 http://melanienhayes.wix.com/gettingmoreoutoflife

I have a article about water and why it’s important.  Now I am off to do the dreaded measurements that will help me keep track of how well I am doing.  Measuring myself will let me know how well I’m doing independent of the weight scale.  Hope this helps and I'd love to here how you're doing with your getting fit and losing weight in 2016

Why when I stub my toe must i cut off my head?

 Witthaya Phonsawat. Published on 27 July 2015
Stock photo - Image ID: 100342091

Begin again Finnegan.  I got off to a rocky start so I’m calling a mulligan.  Here’s my restart not to far in.

Why, when I’m watching what I eat, will I eat till I explode, once I’ve made a mistake?  If I hit a speed bump with my car I don’t go “Well I’ve blown it now might as well drive into a semi.”  If I get a stain on my clothes I try to get it out.  I don’t go  “well I messed up and throw paint all over my clothes and tear them up as well.”  So, why do I eat everything that can’t get away once I’ve made a mistake.  “Well I ate something I shouldn’t so now I need to stuff myself with foods that are bad for me and I won’t even enjoy”.

I think it may have to do with why I over eat.  I think I may eat out of fear some times.  Not fear that makes sense; more like fear of making these and other changes to my life.  Fear that I’m not worthy.  Fear that I should just hide myself away.  I know these things don’t really make sense.  I want to make these changes in my life, I believe everyone has innate value (I would never say any one else is not worthy), and I want to take part in life.

How do I address these fears when they don’t feel like fear they feel more like ‘I really need to eat something right now’  How do I stop myself and say “hey am I really hungry?  Yes, I messed up but now I can get back on track”.  When what I feel, feels so much like hunger or impulse?  So I guess right now I need to build in some ways to stop myself.  Some things I can do instead of eating.

I can repeat “I am safe” in my head because saying it repeatedly out load may get me locked up.  I could make a list of some of my touchstones and go over it. Go over the reasons I want to lose weight.  I could try and delay it till my one splurge meal a week.  I don’t know if that will help.  I will try the first two and consider any ideas anyone else has.

It's tough to stop and consider where this "I need to eat" impulse comes from when so often it does not come from really needing to eat.  A few more reasons people, myself included may need to eat include: strong emotions, or not wanting to deal with emotions, boredom, misdirected self love, and/or self loathing, and we like the rush we get from unhealthy foods.  I have depression that is treated but still does not always bring me up to level.  Fat, salt, and sugar have some serious (and temporary) feel good energy burst properties. 

Some people equate eating with love and security.  It's a social thing as well and the sense of smell is the strongest sense to bring back positive memories or feelings.  For a while I saw my fat as a fat suit that would keep me safe and distance me from others until i realized it was suffocating me in the process.  There are so many reasons we experience "I need this".  We need to whittle them down so we can feel We need to eat only when We need to eat.

I recently went 48 hours on only clear fluids to prepare for a medical test.  I only really got hungry twice and it passed.  Of course right now i am thinking about how much i want a hot chocolate.  Maybe I have some light hot chocolate instead of going out for the full sugar and fat stuff. 

I keep wanting to say you instead of I when I’m writing about fear to try and make it about someone else.  Hopefully if you read this you can consider whether it’s about you as well or not.  I’d love to hear from you.  Be well.

Success to build success

By hyena reality, published on 10 July 2013

All right I am hyped.  I went for a walk.  Yes that’s pretty amazing but don’t get to excited I have many more to go on.  Yes, it is back to the basics time but I’m doing it.  I’ don’t know why I’m so hyped about eating a little better and doing a half hour walk a day but I am.  Maybe because it took so much and so long to start.  Now I am adding in my gym time as well.

I actually wrote an article on my other blog about ‘how to get yourself to follow through on plans and goals’ and then incorporated those into my own plans.  I have built in consequences big and small.  I made myself a calendar with check boxes.  I even gave myself specific dates in which to do this.

My plan is a thirty one day plan that is actually thirty three days as I built in for occasional failure.  Doesn't mean I plan to fail, just means I've planned to get right back to it if I do.  Now I know I will not make a huge epic difference in my body in thirty one days but that’s not the point.  I have a year plus to do this in.  The point is it takes twenty one days to make a new habit.  The point is maybe after thirty one days I can keep it up and add to it.  The last point is it will make a difference to me and for me and give me some success to build on.
I can really use some success.  It’s one thing for people to tell you “look you've done x,y, and z and another for you to be feeling successful now.  These little check boxes for drinking water, walking, and eating simple carbohydrates only two or three times a week total show that I’m doing something now.  I have even told my teenage daughters what I’m doing so they can judge me if I cop out.  How much do I not want to look bad in front of my girls?  Oh an awful lot thank you.

Find what motivates you and stick with it.  If you need to give yourself small rewards, then big ones for accomplishing more do it.  If guilt or pride or challenges help use them.  It may be hard to get going but it really will feel better once you do it.  Celebrate your success here, we're with you all the way. 

Carbs, the good, the bad, and the why of it all

Simple Carbohydrates  and why I’m trying to cut down on them

Photo By mapichai, published on 22 October 2013

Simple Carbohydrates are made of one or two sugars that are quickly and easily digested.  There are some SC’s that are okay like milk or fruit but most are, well, sugar or white flour with little to no redeeming characteristics.  They digest rapidly and can cause a sugar high a quick little brain boost that will drop down later causing the opposite reaction in the long run.

The more you eat the more you crave.  Unlike most foods that lead to satiate or a feeling of fullness or satisfaction Simple carbohydrates leave you wanting more.  They also cause a quick jump in your blood sugar.  This leads to more insulin and more fat storage, or if your diabetic like me to a high blood sugar.  After a sugar rush there is always a sugar crash.

Now all Carbohydrates are not bad.  Complex carbs are actually very good for you and necessary for energy and brain function.  Veggies and whole grains will digest over time giving you energy without giving you sudden spikes in your blood sugar.

I am limiting my simple carbs especially the ones based on white flour and sugar because I am obese and I do not want to get any fatter.  Really I want to lose weight.  Also when I eat cookies, chocolate, potato chips I eat too many, too often, and then want more too much.  These are all simple carbs and not the best things for me.

When I do have fruit I try to pair it with a protein to slow its absorption.  Protein and fibre help slow the digestion of the Simple carbohydrates or really any carbohydrate.  Many healthy carbs like fruit and veggies have a lot of fibre naturally as well.  If you are having Simple carbohydrates you may want to add fibre to slow the absorption and keep you full longer..

 In the evening when I want a snack I’ve started having baby carrots and sugar snap peas.  This way I get more veggies (healthy for me and low in calories) and less junk food (unhealthy for me, simple carbs, and high in calories).   I have also added radishes, and baby tomatoes to keep my gut bacteria and flavor buds happy.

I am trying to eat more healthier foods in the hope that I then eat less unhealthy ones.  I’m not sure how well this is working yet but I do know if I start out eating healthy I’m more likely to continue to do so.

We did it.

We did it!

Photo by Feelart. Published on 28 February 2013
Stock Photo - Image ID: 100142619

The girls and i joined the gym.  Much excitement.  We have our intro to the gym Sat. morning.  I didn't realize how much this would mean for me.  I am seriously ready to get going.  My plan is to do aqua sizes in the morning first thing, then some time on the bike or treadmill and with weights.

Hopefully this will not be too much to start with.  I shall go gentle into this good night as i do not want any injuries or stalling out.  It is going to be an interesting balancing act to start with knowing how hard to go to make progress, while being gentle enough that i will be able to continue.

This is not a short term plan I really want to build this working out into something amazing.  I am trying to build a new lifestyle here.  Not only for me but hopefully for my whole family.

We are also splurging on food a little less all the time.

Any way to me this is a real sign of progress and i am very excited.

I'm back

Image courtesy of jesadaphorn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I’m back from some un health.  Today I started with a cheese string.  Yes, a cheese string.  I like them and better yet my bodies okay with it to.  I followed up with my ‘breakfast’ around 10:30.  

For breakfast I have gotten on to green smoothies.  They consist of almost three cups of water in a blender with two overfull stuffed cups of spinach with baby kale, or spinach with chard.  I blend them then add two Splenda or Stevia.  I am going to try to get away from Splenda later.  I also add to the blender one and 1/2 cups of frozen fruit and eight or nine ice cubes.  Just blend the heck out of this then you have your very healthy and delicious smoothie for one.

My Plan is for a smoothie at 7, and maybe 1/4 cap mixed nuts (no peanuts) at around 10-10:30.  I'll pre pack the nuts so I can just grab them and go.

My body is a little temperamental in the mornings and I can not handle much food at seven a.m.  but I know, or at least I have heard 20 million time how important it is to eat first thing.  This combo gives me the protein and nutrients I need and is oh so satisfying.   I do love Splenda but recently have heard it may affect stomach bacteria negatively.  I have to follow up on this.

I am restarting after some months.  Unfortunately the ill health and medicine helped me regain that delightful fat that I had lost.  Well, not all of it but, too much of it.  I heard something wonderful of late:  

You are not fat,  you have fat but, you are not fat.  You have fingernails, but you are not a fingernail.

I thought that was great.  For all of us who identify as fat or obese to remember we’re people too or maybe people first.  I mean you don’t want to be cruel to a person.  You don’t want to be destructive so they run and hide and take refuge in sloth or gluttony.  You want to be kind to people and help them lose that extra fat they carry and become healthy. 

Another new piece of information I picked up is fat breeds fat.  Okay it doesn't get together and make fat babies but, it still protects itself and leads to more fat.  Fat is not just a benign tissue it is (in mass) a hormonal  organ that help create more inflammation and illness and can adversely affect the brain.  So the problems with fat go far beyond appearance and the strain they cause on organs it can actually affect your hormones and your ability to stay well.

I knew I didn’t like the stuff anyway.

So today’s messages are: 

Healthy morning foods to you!  Find the right breakfast and snack in the morning and it’ll set you up right for the whole day.  Whatever you choose make sure it works for you meaning: you enjoy it, it has some protein and nutrients, it keeps you satisfied, and it makes you feel good.

You are not fat.  You are a person who may have a little extra or in my case a lot of extra fat but, you are not fat.

Fat sucks! Okay a little bit of fat a healthy amount of fat is healthy but a mass of it is way destructive and will harm you in many ways.

The last message I have not yet eluded to.  I need fat buddies to help keep me in line, who I can then help as well.  I am going to check out spark pages again which I may go on about them tomorrow.

Thanks for visiting.  Your thoughts are important here.

Ta Da!

Ta Da!

  A ‘new start’ for a new year.  I waited for the holidays to be over before I began.  What am I beginning?  A whole year of getting in shape and losing weight.  I’m weighing in at 271 to start.  My heaviest point was 294, luckily that was only for a short time.  Over the past few years my weight had stayed around 284lbs or hugemondous for some one who is 5’2”.

This year is about facing the challenge and living healthier.  I had always believed in fitness but strayed far away from it.  I was in excellent shape until my late 20’s almost a half a life time ago then depression, medicine, failed logic, emotional, and psychological eating and using weight as protection took its toll.

I’ve figured a lot of it out, the reasons I had for being and staying fat.   Like using excess weight to hide from the world, using carbohydrates to boost my brain and energy, and eating because of emotions and for amusement.
  

I have tried various methods over various years to lose weight.  So why will this time be successful?  Because I am ready.  Because I have looked at the priorities and passions of my life and what I want my life to be and being morbidly obese does not fit with any of them.

In the past I always enjoyed challenges.  This is my challenge get fit and healthy in 2016  I want to skate and ski and right now I can’t, not just because the weather has been in the -40s but because I’m to fat.  I want to travel again and be a better role model for my teens.  I want to be comfortable in my own skin. 

I want to have a partner in my life and I don’t think I would want one who would want me as I am.  I know that sounds harsh and this is not everyone’s truth but it is mine.  There are many larger women and men who are in happy relationships or just happy as they are.  That’s all good, it’s just not where I am.  Of course if I found a wonderful person who wanted to get fit and healthy with me, well, that would be all sorts of awesome.

Today is my first day and my first day is starting well.  I have already faced a lot of temptations but stayed on track.  I’m feeling pretty proud and motivated.  If anyone wants to join me in this at any time please do.  

 Welcome to day one.

The Great Weight Reduction Introduction

The great weight reduction

Obesity has reached epic proportions in Canada and the U.S.  Currently, 59% of adult Canadians are either overweight or obese.  In the U.S. that statistic is 69%. Adults who are overweight have increased risk of heart disease, cancer, strokes, sleep apnea, depression and type 2 diabetes.  In 2005, the total cost of obesity to Canadians was $4.3 billion.  Affected adults may die up to 3 to 7 years or earlier than counterparts with a healthy weight.

In Canada and the U.S. over 60 billion is spent on weight loss products a year.  Over 50 million people in the U.S. go on 4 to 5 diets every year.  Of those few successful dieters only 5% are able to keep the weight off. 5 years after losing the weight they wanted to 95% have gained it back.

 

University of Alberta recently did a study showing the negative depictions of exercise shown on weight loss shows actually turn people off exercising.  Tanya Berry, the Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity Promotion says. "People are screaming and crying and throwing up, and if you're not a regular exerciser you might think this is what exercise is — that it's this horrible experience where you have to push yourself to the extremes and the limits, which is completely wrong."

Many weight loss books show one way of losing weight often suggesting extreme, unrealistic, and unhealthy diets.  There are multitudes of products that are expensive and unfounded in science advertised every day.  Supplements are often confused with drugs and sold as a one type fits all solution.

‘The Great Weight Reduction’ will focus on one person’s journey. It will touch on what others are doing or have successfully done.  It will also offer healthy tips on lifestyle improvement.  It is meant to be inspirational, to touch on different things people can do and who can help.   The blog will demonstrate how weight loss can help transform people. 

Can you have fun losing weight?  Why should it be brutal?  True at times one will feel like giving up but can we embrace the challenge?  We would like to demonstrate how exercise is fun.  Unfortunately it seems that it doesn’t start out that way.  When does the fun start?

Changing eating habits can be a test but a short time in your tastes will adapt.   The worst is the first.  Is this true?  The human mind and body adapts to the rush and comfort it gets from sugary, salty, and fatty foods. If it is like an addiction how is it countered?  Different things work for different people; we will try and show what is and has worked for some.

A Blog will be written as we go for ease of reference.  There are no feature films on weight loss though there are many television shows which do a quick look at weight loss.  There are some you tube videos as well which are mainly ‘talking heads.  The videos will be available online, as will the book reviews, interviews and blogs.  We will talk to people who have lost weight and kept it off, people who are losing weight now, and others who are ready to join in the fun.