Water

Drinking water for me is a big part of the weight loss process.  I usually try to drink close to 1/2 my body weight in ounces.  When I do this I usually see the scale start to move.  That gives me a little hope that the weight can come off. 

Diets don't work concept

After it is all said and done, I have returned to the Diets don't work concept.  I counted calories and it worked for about 5 pound over a 3 or 4 month period and it gave me some perspective on how I was eating but I decided to go back and explore the concept of eating when hungry and stopping when no longer hungry  anymore. The calorie counting did help me go from 3400 calories a day to about 2000 calories naturally so I guess it was a really good thing that added to journey.    I want to rid myself of always thinking about eating.  I've have discovered that emotional eating is just that emotional eating.  You are always going to have emotions I just need to learn how to deal with them.  I've learned the only way to stop eating your emotions is to feel them not run from them by stuffing my face with pasta and donuts.  (thou, I do love a good doughnut).  When you feel your emotions with out food the emotions just calm down and now you can deal with the issue at hand.  

Why do I crave sweets

Some times the thought of sweets just take over my brain.  I could be sitting watching TV and the thought of a Toll House cookie in the cookie jar just won't let me rest.  All I can do is think is " Toll House Cookie", Toll House Cookie.  The Toll House cookie  marches though my head and I just have to have it.   About.com has an article that says it may be your family tradition to have something sweet after dinner or it could be the serotonin levels in your brain could be low. It explains that serotonin is a brain chemical that makes you feel content and happy.  It is amazing to realize that all these years of being over weight could have been just understanding the way the body works and making better choices in the foods you eat  .

Sparkspeople

Sparkspeople.com  gave me a reality check today.  Here I was counting calories and I am still so lacking in my eating habits.  I only realized today that I could lose 2 pounds per week which is 15 pounds by June 30, 2011.  I realize that is a very good goal by in the back of my mind I with it could be more.  I have keeping up with some of my exercises during this week.  What can I do to keep the calories down this week without dieting?

Trying to get motivated

Its the end of my first day of goal setting.  I started my goal from the previous post.  I started at 6:30am and rode the bike for 10 minutes and again at 7pm.  It really was not as hard as I thought, I promised myself to keep it up for 7 days.  I'm smiling to myself and feeling great.  I am grateful for or the small voice of my little cousin Yolanda who says "Exercise is 90% mental and 10 % physical ". After you get off the couch it feels really good. Small steps

How can I motivate myself to exercise.

Looking back over the past year, I've really wondered why I have not lost much weight.  I have gained happiness but not a whole lot to weight.  I no longer use food for emotional reason so why am I still so big?.  My little cousin listens to me as I talk about my weight loss and said in a whisper of  a voice.  Joy Joy, I don't think it's all about the calories your eating, maybe its because you don't move enough.  She added, I don't want to hurt your feelings but I only see you watching the television.   I started to explain,  "No No I ride my bike" then I paused, "every blue moon".  She was right, I talk a good game, so why don't I put my money where my mouth is.  So today I listed all the reasons why I don't exercise. When I started to think about it I realized, I'm just to lazy to exercise.  I want to stay in bed until I only have enough time to get ready for work and rush out  the door so that I won't be late .  Deep down I thought, exercise doesn't really work but it does make me feel better.  Then I thought, how do you know it doesn't work if you really don't give it a chance to work.  I usually start out and put all effort into it then the next day, my knees hurt so I start saying my body shouldn't feel this bad.  Then I quit and continue counting calories.

I decided to set a goal for exercising.  I will get up at 6:30am and ride the bike for 10 minutes.  Then at 7:00 pm I will ride it again for 10 more minutes and will continue for the next 7 days.  Small steps first. I will put my practice makes perfect in place and practice keeping my word to myself. Lets see what happens.

The Dukin Diet Review by Joy

The Dukin Diet Review

The Durkin Diet is a high protein crash diet that is said to bring awesome results .   The diet is said to be an ultra-slimming European diet that has hit the United States  by storm.  Pierre Dukan MD is the founder of the Dukan Diet.  He alleges you can lose more pounds than the Atkins protein diet.  

The diet in a nut shell   : Phase one The Attack Phase    

Fill up on unlimited lean protein and unlimited fat-free dairy products.  Drink plenty of water and season foods to taste with seasoning and herbs.  

Samples menus include a fat burning pancake made for us in the United States 

Fat-fighting Pancake eaten daily                                                                                                                                                                           
1 egg white
2Tbs Oat Bran
2Tbs fat free plain Greek yogurt

1tsp Splenda

Beat egg white until foamy.  In a separate bowl combine oat bran, Greek yogurt and sweetener.  Mix with egg white.  Cook in nonstick pan over medium heat like you would a regular pancake.  Flip and cook until done.  Serves 1

Sample Breakfast

1 whole egg plus unlimited egg whites
lean ham or turkey bacon

1 cup fat free milk or fat free latte

Phase Two: Cruise Phase  

Follow attack day with “cruise” day,  add unlimited non-starchy veggies to your protein and dairy regimen until you reach your goal.

Sample for Cruise day

Lean beef, seasoned to taste

Mushrooms sauteed in in 1tsp olive oil and garlic and parsley to taste

The Oat bran is not your regular Oat bran cereal.  May find it at Walts food store or your local health food store.